| 18 apr 2001 so. day 6 (or is it 5?) of my computer/camera woes has brought forth a resolution. i think. i downloaded this awesome utility from gateway that sifts through my device drivers and finds anything that has an upgrade. so it immediately went and flagged the fact that my monitor drivers were all jacked, so i installed the new ones. and everything now worked beautifully. this gateway utility and my 2-hour call to microsoft reminds me that great service is really not appreciated enough. i mean, during my microsoft call, i was never on hold for more than 5 seconds. and the gateway thing is just rad. good service means never having to ask for it. never having to wait around or wonder where the hell help is going to come from next. it's truly an often-overlooked thing that makes a huge difference in our lives when we need assistance. i'm pretty happy with my dealings with those two companies' support centers; they made my life so much easier and enjoyable. ----- last night i forced myself to watch _weakest link_, a combination of _millionaire_ and _survivor_. it was pretty uncomfortable to watch. mainly because that host woman is just such a bitch. or maybe i just don't digest rude, snobby british attitudes very well. plus, it's really sad when one of the contestants gets booted off, because it's done to such little fanfare... it's just rude! i think the testimonial stuff is pretty silly, when they talk to the people who have been kicked off. i mean, it's just a game. take it easy, dudes! one of the most uncomfortable things they do is ask people why they voted for a certain person to be pulled. i mean, isn't that kind of confrontational? i guess i'm a real stickler for peace and harmony. but THE MOST annoying thing is how the host says "weakest link." she says is SUPERfast, so it comes out like "weakeslink." and EVERY time she says it, she rips through those two words as fast as she can, as if it were the most dramatic phrase ever. how dumb. ----- my current music fascination is back on one of my old faves, st. etienne/sarah cracknell. sarah is the lead singer for st. etienne. the music is just so catchy and cool. it's not pretentious or aggressive... just laid back and groovy. not psychedlic groovy, but the epitomy of modern cool chic style. i saw them in concert about... two years ago? it was the happiest concert i've ever seen. the crowd was just so bouncy and kitschy. and the band was also a joy to watch, with just a tiny hint of glamour added. the only bummer was that they ran out of concert t-shirts. i always buy a t-shirt to every concert i see. and wear it the next day. it's my way of marking my history with what i've seen and where i've been. if anyone wants to know which st. etienne album to try out first, i highly recommend _good humor_, their next-to-latest, and an old one, _so tough_. the former is a good collection of pop-length songs, and the latter is a bit more experimental, but still very accessible. oh, and who introduced me to st. etienne in the first place? the diva of style, kristie, of course. ----- i was telling someone yesterday (i can't remember who) how i miss being in love. like i said, i've been in love with someone practically every day since i was 4 years old. i like having my heart on constant overdrive. right now, it's just idling around. it's the second time since kathy kohatsu at age 4 that i'm not mad for someone. so needless to say, i'm not quite used to the dullness of my life right now. my world seems rather muted and listless. *yawn* oh, first cuts of san jose taiko audition are tonight. cross your fingers for me. i hope i make it. |