Posts from — March 2004

Microsoft is announcing a price drop on the Xbox starting tomorrow, March 30th. The price will go from $179 to $149. I had previously seen notes that this was coming, but that it was going to be a Wal-Mart only deal. This article doesn't mention Wal-Mart specifically, so it looks like it's going down in price everywhere.

I had thought to buy an Xbox a couple weeks ago. I'm glad I waited.

Here's the first artist rendering I can find of the new W Hotel Dallas. From the other posts on this subject, you can clearly make out the hotel rooms in the first 15 stories, followed by the Bliss Spa and Infinity Pool.

Floors 17-30 are the Residences.

The 31st floor will house the Ghost Bar – similar to the bar atop the Palms casino resort in Las Vegas.

When I first read about the design, I thought, "Hmm… OK…whatever." But seeing it here in rendered form, I'm thinking it looks like a million bucks. In the background you can see the "green building" (with the lighted green 'X') whose name escapes me right now and additional Dallas Skyline. My perspective may be a little off, but I believe the American Airlines center would be just in the foreground - but out of the shot slightly.

Still no word on why I'm so interested in this project. I guess I'm just being a hotel junkie right now.

Want to host your own MT blog server on your home computer? Jennifer has a great rundown on installing Movable Type locally on Windows XP. While I've blogged about this in the past, she throws a new tist into the mix by installing EasyPHP into the mix. Great work! A very complete tutorial and good step-by-step instructions.

One note - this is not for the "faint of heart". Unless you're serious about hosting your own blog server and using your home computer as a server, you probably don't need to be attempting this. For almost everybody, having a webhost is the way to go.

This is mainly just a reference for a few select folks. Non-geeks move on. [Read more →]

TaxAct is again offering free downloads of their 2003 Standard Edition tax software for Windows. You can file your entire printed return for free or file electronically for less the $8.00.

The software is pretty good and the help is decent. Even if your return is mildly complicated, all the forms you would need seem to be in place. You can also do your complete return online, but I haven't tried that aspect of their services.

I tried this against my TurboTax and was able to produce the exact same printed return in about the same amount of time. I could have loaded my previous return from TurboTax (2002 or 2003) and saved some time, but I was trying to compare them straight up. Now I'm wishing I hadn't bothered with the TurboTax because this one was free. Live and learn.

Ever wonder what causes your computer to slowdown so much after you've had it for a while? Well, if you're Windows computer has lost it's perk here's an application and a file list that can speed up your Windows computer again.
[Read more →]

I don't think everything is 100% back to normal. Grr.

Just a quick heads up on the blog. Comments have been a little crazy recently with errors. They all came through and posted, but I did have to clean up my DB a little. Sorry for the errors. I'm sure there will be more down the road, but — such is life.

Some of the more bored studious guests have noted that I added Google Adwords to the Computer Tips & Tricks archives and Weblog archives. Why? Well, I get about 8,000 page views/week in these archives. Might as well make a buck or two, right? My apologies for not disclosing it, I just really didn't think anyone would ever notice care.

Working a half day today and then…well, who knows. Maybe I'll tractor around the yard. Merrin's garage door needs new springs, so maybe I'll wrap up that project as well. I also need to steam clean the carpets. We'll see which of those projects get completed this weekend and in what order.

Ah, the drama of everyday life.

One of the cool perks of working in a nice hotel is the people you meet. Of course, you have to excercise a lot of discretion, because our guests do enjoy their privacy. So, when VIPs are on property - we can't talk about it. The list of past guests is pretty diverse: pop stars, rock & rollers, some golf legends, and some sports heroes - past & present.

That being said, I did get to see Ted Nugent last week. Seeing him reminded me that I have some camo resort hats on order.

If you've been infected with any of the most recent Windows viruses, you can download a free mini-scanner/cleaner from Network Associates. This free application, called Stinger, isn't a substitute for a virus scanner. It's the functional equivalent of having to go to the emergency room rather then having regular checkups. If you don't know if you're infected - download it and double check.
[Read more →]

He blog-proposed. She blog-accepted. All that's left is the blogrolling, I presume. Congrats, of course to these two. Now - spare us all and spend a little time offline, ok?

OK. I'm really going to need your help here. Merrin & I were in the process of planning one of those 'once in a lifetime' type trips to Ireland for our birthdays (May 29 & May 30). I've got the travel benefits from work to cover almost all of the costs, so it's something that we normally wouldn't do for ourselves (at least not at this juncture). Five days or so in Ireland traveling, seeing all the sights of my forefathers, and eating & sleeping in some of the most incredible places you can imagine.

Then today, they had to go and announce this. And it's not "just" a Jimmy Buffett concert (as if there is such a thing). It's Jimmy Buffett, Alan Jackson, and George Straight for like six plus hours at Texas Stadium on Merrin's birthday.

So, do we head off to Ireland and tell 'em to kiss our shamrocks, or do we load up the Mound crew, call in the babysitter (!), and go see one of the most incredible Memorial Day Weekend concerts ever?

Help!

Here's a little more info on the new W Hotel for Dallas. Groundbreaking (well, underground parking garage digging) will get started this week. The opening date is still the first quarter of 2006.

The hotel/condo combo will be a 31-story, wedge-shaped tower — lots of glass and stainless steel, and a signature cantilevered wing on the rooftop.

The first 15 floors of the 31-story tower will be for hotel rooms and suites, and floors 17 to 30 will be condos. The 31st floor will house the Ghost Bar – similar to the bar atop the Palms casino resort in Las Vegas.

The tower's first floor will have a restaurant featuring a yet-to-be-named celebrity chef, a lobby bar and a dozen retail stores, predominantly fashion retail, including apparel, accessories and shoes.

The 15th floor, tehcnically the top of the "hotel portion", will be designated the "Texas floor," with super-size everything. The ceilings will be 11 feet high, and the beds will be eight feet long – nicely targeted at those NBA teams headed to the AAC. The 16th floor will have The Bliss Spa (which Starwood owns) and Infinity Pool.

That's about it for now.

1. Take the car to the dealer for oil change, tire rotation, and recall notice.
2. Get some new sheep dog shears and do some shopping at Tractor Supply.
3. Got to the bank (because that's a given on Saturdays, right?)
4. Shop for baby gifts.
5. See a movie.
6. Catch up on basketball, blogs, and my new video game.
7. Haircut?
8. Tsjuz for tonight's par-tay.
9. Send a thank you note because for the first time in four years…we don't owe any taxes!

See y'all around town!

Despite the Buffett song about it being you every time the phone doesn't ring, if it is 2am, the phone better ring - especially if it's you.