Douglas´s blog

PERTURBANDO O "STATUS QUO": OPOSIÇÃO X SITUAÇÃO

2012-02-12T11:51:00.000-02:00

PERTURBANDO O "STATUS QUO": OPOSIÇÃO X SITUAÇÃO

HP dv5t

2009-01-20T15:53:00.005-02:00

Got a new toy! The HP dv5t. It's a Pavilion laptop. I recommend this forum for those owning the same computer:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=277341

Some useful tips there, like, reduce heat by lifting the back of the laptop.

Now I can play Team Fortress 2! :-D

KERNEL_DATA_INPAGE_ERROR

2008-10-08T15:46:00.005-03:00

I got a bluescreen a few times on my computer (a Compaq Presario V2665US) with the message "KERNEL_DATA_INPAGE_ERROR". I still don't know why it happened. Can be several reasons. But after a few times that happened, the Windows XP operating system began to be very slow. It was specially slow when accessing the hard disk drive. So I figured out that DMA was disabled. DMA is a feature that makes data between hard disk drive and computer's RAM to be exchanged without having to pass by the CPU.

In order to put DMA to work again you have to uninstall the primary IDE controller. This is how you do it:

Right click on "My Computer". Select "Properties". Select tab "Hardware". Hit the button "Device Manager". Expand IDE ATA/ATAPI controllers. Right click "Primary IDE Channel" and hit "Uninstall". Reboot the Windows XP operating system and you're done. If you want to be sure DMA is enabled, right click "Primary IDE Channel" and select "Properties. Then, select "Advanced Settings" tab. If "Current Transfer Mode" shows something about PIO, DMA is disabled.

News:

The laptop is fixed. Had to do multiple things to had it working properly: completely clean it; replace hard disk; replace one of the memory sticks.

Let´s make the world better

2008-02-29T10:17:00.006-03:00

All,

Let´s make this world better. A few things I would like to ask everybody to do:

Be an honest person;
Don't be too lazy;
Take good care of nature;
Let´s make this chain: give your children a better life than the life your parents were able to give you. If you can´t give´em that, don´t have children!

To do these things people have got to be not so selfish. But what a world would it be, right? Let´s pratice all these and teach other people to do it too.

Deep Purple back in Curitiba

2008-01-21T16:11:00.001-02:00

If you missed Deep Purple last time they came to Curitiba, don´t miss it now. They´re coming in February 23th this year, 2008!

Best Wii Games

2008-01-21T15:56:00.007-02:00

I will keep this post updated with my choice of the top games for Nintendo Wii. The ones I think you should try and will probably like. Of course I haven´t played all Wii games available, so I might be missing some great titles. The list is not ordered.

Super Mario Galaxy
Wii Sports Resort
Grand Slam Tennis
Tiger Woods 2010
Mario Strikers Charged
Resident Evil 4
Super Paper Mario
Zack and Wiki Quest for Barbaros Treasure
Mario Kart Wii
Metroid Prime 3 - Corruption
Wii Sports
Wario Ware Smooth Moves
Wii Fit
Super Smash Bros. Brawl
Fire Emblem Radiant Dawn
No More Heroes
Shaun White Snowboarding
Big Brain Academy

You can find at this link the best Wii games taken in consideration the scores given by the greatest videogame magazines and websites. You should be fine if you stick to the green scored ones on that link's list. But go on and check other titles if you're interested. There are some not-green that I like very much like Big Brain Academy and Samba de Amigo.

List last updated on September 10, 2009.

Running games in Wide Screen resolution

2007-06-26T10:06:00.000-03:00

ATI has an updated version of the driver for the integraded graphic chip Radeon XPRESS 200M. I am very happy about that because, finally, I can play Counter-Strike: Source and Pro Evolution Soccer 6 in wide screen resolutions (848x480 and 720x480) in my Compaq Presario V2665 laptop.

Get the latest driver here: http://ati.amd.com/support/drivers/xp/integrated-xp.html

If you have the same laptop I do, check out the other tips: http://doug-not-the-funny.blogspot.com/search/label/computer

Configuring wireless in Ubuntu

2007-06-09T10:51:00.000-03:00

Configure wireless network on Ubuntu 7.04 ("Feisty Fawn") for a Compaq Presario V2665 is not hard at all, once you know the steps you have to take:

Install ndiswrapper.
Get the drivers for Broadcom BCM4318 wireless device (bcmwl5).
Important trick: install the package bcm43xx-fwcutter.
Install the drivers: ndiswrapper -i bcmwl5.inf. You can use the graphical tool for this as well. It might be available in System > Administration > Windows Wireless Drivers.
Now you are able to configure networking. I use WPA cryptography in my network.

If you have the same laptop I do, check out the other tips: http://doug-not-the-funny.blogspot.com/search/label/computer

Cooling down and saving battery

2007-05-08T10:25:00.000-03:00

I was looking in the internet for the best practices to make my laptop's battery life longer. It is a Compaq Presario V2665 with an AMD Turion processor. It's really hot. I mean, the laptop really gets warm when I am using it.

I went to AMD website (www.amd.com), into the processors drivers and utilities section and downloaded an application called AMD Clock. When I ran it I saw that the processor clock was always on 1.8GHz. I read somewhere that I should update the processor driver, so I did that. At the same page I got the AMD Clock application, I downloaded this driver:

AMD Turion™ 64 Mobile Technology Driver for Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 Version (x86 and x64 exe) 1.3.2.16

After installed this driver, ran the AMD Clock application again and now the clock is going down to 800MHz when the processor is not in use. That saves power, which means battery, and heat as well.

If you have a AMD Turion based laptop, update your processor driver right away!

Some basic tips: If you keep running lots of programs, more processing will be required. If you are not downloading anything, shut down your torrent or edonkey software. If you are running on batteries and not using internet, disable the wireless device. Lowering the screen brightness will also save batteries.

If you have the same laptop I do, check out the other tips: http://doug-not-the-funny.blogspot.com/search/label/computer

Jethro Tull show was...

2007-04-30T12:11:00.000-03:00

... incredible! They play so well. Really beautiful.

Songs they played (not all):

Have some sample with the video below.

Jethro Tull in Curitiba

2007-04-13T10:59:00.000-03:00

Oh, yeah! I got my ticket. Jethro Tull will play in "Teatro Guaira", Curitiba, in April 25th.

Yes, they are another old band like Deep Purple. They are from the late 60´s, too. But someone said: you are never too old to rock´n´roll. ;-)

See you there!

Jethro Tull - Aqualung

2007-03-27T09:43:00.000-03:00

Sitting on a park bench
eyeing little girls with bad intent.
Snot running down his nose
greasy fingers smearing shabby clothes.
Drying in the cold sun
Watching as the frilly panties run.
Feeling like a dead duck
spitting out pieces of his broken luck.

Sun streaking cold
an old man wandering lonely.
Taking time
the only way he knows.
Leg hurting bad,
as he bends to pick a dog-end
he goes down to the bog
and warms his feet.

Feeling alone
the army's up the rode.
Salvation a la mode and
a cup of tea.
Aqualung my friend
don't start away uneasy.
You poor old sod.
You see, it's only me.
Do you still remember
December's foggy freeze
when the ice that
clings on to your beard is
screaming agony.
And you snatch your rattling last breaths
with deep-sea-diver sounds.
And the flowers bloom like
madness in the spring.

Jethro Tull video playing Aqualung.

JMVM

2007-03-23T14:24:00.000-03:00

Let me introduce you to the final project for my graduation, the (Java) MIPS Virtual Machine, a.k.a. JMVM. It is an emulator of the MIPS plataform and it has some special commands to play sounds or graphics. This is the project page: http://sourceforge.net/projects/jmvm.

Innovation by Apple

2007-03-02T11:33:00.000-03:00

New way of using your computer.

New job

2007-02-11T16:40:00.000-02:00

Just got hired by DTS, a consulting company. I am going to work for IBM. As I can work from home, I will live some months in the town I was born: São Bento do Sul.

This is also a goodbye to the city I lived the last 5 years: Florianópolis. Adios!

Finding an IT job in Brazil (for free)

2007-01-03T13:33:00.000-02:00

These are websites where you can look for IT jobs in Brazil, for free:

http://www.empregonaweb.com/
http://www.infoemprego.com.br/
http://www.apinfo.com.br/

I found these because I'm leaving Florianópolis and need to get a job! ;-)

When looking for a job you should also talk to your friends. Maybe they can point you to a company you will like.

SCJD - too expensive!

2006-12-06T09:59:00.000-02:00

Now that I am certified as Java Programmer, I thought about taking another exam. I was checking the Sun Certified Java Developer, but OUCH! US$ 400.00 is TOO expensive! I will leave it behind, by now... Maybe, someday, the company I work for wants me to be SCJD and pays the exam. :-P

The next one I will take is probably going to be the Web Component Developer certification (SCWCD). The test costs US$200.00. It´s the same price for the SCJP. In Brazil, the cost is currently R$330,00.

"Every year is getting shorter"

2006-12-01T11:45:00.000-02:00

Have you ever heard something like "wow, this year passed so fast!"? Why every year seems to pass faster than the older year? Are we getting too busy? Are we worried about the end of our lives?
I heard this explanation: every new year is a smaller part of our life. For instance, when we are 10 years old, 1 year is 10% or our life. But, when we are 50, 1 year is only 2% of our life. So, we feel like the years are getting shorter. Do you agree?

After the show, SCJP!

2006-11-28T13:40:00.000-02:00

Just became Sun Certified Java Programmer. Hurray! I got a tip for those who wants to take the exam: do not take it in portuguese. The translation sucks.

I took the exam by the morning after the show. Sleepy, but happy. ;-)

By the way, the show was great! They played all the songs I listed and a lot more. The place was small but the music awesome. Check out these videos:

If you search for "Deep Purple" and "Curitiba" in YouTube, you will find some more.

Deep Purple show next Sunday!

2006-11-20T17:16:00.000-02:00

I am excited. Going to a Deep Purple show in November, 26! Kowabunga!!! :-D They made huge success in the early 70´s but keep rocking. ;-) The show is going to be in Curitiba.

Some of my favourite songs:

Lazy
Highway Star
Black Night
Fireball
Perfect Strangers
Smoke On The Water

Of course, there is a lot more. :-)

Online games

2006-11-19T21:25:00.000-02:00

Some online games are great. This one is so simple but very cool: www.linerider.com. At YouTube you can find videos about it. Some of them are amazing.

American food in Curitiba

2006-11-18T15:13:00.000-02:00

If you like north american food and you are in Curitiba, you have got to get to this place: Mustang Sally (http://www.mustangsally.com.br). It is not a restaurant, exactly. But they have very good ribs. The barbecue sauce is great.

Greetings

2006-11-17T17:24:00.000-02:00

This blog has no specific purpose. So, I do not know why would anyone read it. I will just write whatever comes to my mind. :-P