I’m still decompressing after getting back from campus at 9:00—reading Wired and drinking cheap merlot. I figured it was high time I showed some effort over here at poor ol’ Duolab.

My desktop machine is now officially shit-canned until further notice. I’ve backed up everything important (I hope) and will be ordering a new CPU, motherboard, RAM and video card soon. It will be nice to have a fresh new system to work with; I’ve been feeling the urge to do some 3D modeling and perhaps stuff my face with Half Life 2. Too bad I’m too poor to make this a wise decision.

I’ll try to take cam shots here and there despite the slow decomposition of my desktop machine. No promises, though.

In the center column, the words “listening to” have become links to our mp3 playlists. You should click them.

We’re in the middle of San Diego’s annual January Heat Wave, and much to the chagrin of my friends in colder climates, I’m not pleased. Yesterday it was 85 degrees in my room, and I couldn’t keep my desktop computer on for more than 30 minutes without it overheating (yes, it is a decrepit piece of shit that will soon be gutted and re-filled with new hardware). Ironically, I don’t think it ever got more than 85 or 86 during the hottest parts of the summer, and while I normally loathe rain of any kind, I could go for a few good sprinkles right about now.

Shit, San Diego weather has really left me spoiled.

Again, many apologies for Duolab’s three months of down time. Our domain name expired in October, and Network Solutions (may they burn in hell) runs this cute little racket where they ‘hold on’ to your domain after expiration for you so that it can’t be snatched up by squatters. What it really boiled down to was 90 days of Network Solutions suggesting and hinting that I renew with them at $35/yr when all I really wanted to do was use 1&1’s domain registration for $6/yr. Yep, I’m a cheap bastard.

Anyway, at least Duolab is back up for the next twelve months. I’m still trying to get back into the blog-swing of things though, so feel free to remind me to update every few days.

Ian came down for the three day weekend (many thanks, MLK), and we did a little sight seeing and a lot of drinking. On Sunday we met up with Troy’s girlfriend in a strip club, and San Diego’s hyper-restrictive nude dancing laws really prevented the Body Shop (near Soma) from holding a candle to the last establishment we visited. (No nudity within six feet of the patrons, no nudity during private or lap dances. Bullshit.)

This weekend I’m expecting more visitors—Bekah from high school (and two of her friends), plus Mike if he decides to join their carpool south. I think they’re planning on attending Kimiko’s 20th birthday bash with me on Saturday, so I’m sure we’re going to have a blast.

The last two or three nights I’ve had a wretched sleep schedule: involuntary coma (aka ’surprise sleep’) from 11:00 pm to 3:00 or 4:00 am, then zombie-like consciousness until 11 rolls around again. Suck.

Anyway, back to business.

Soon.