Throwing the Alarm Clock out the window...
You've heard the old one about how the moron made time fly?
Well, I certainly have been making time fly in 2011. The year seems to have just started, and it's already late December. I feel as though I got nothing done, fell off my carefully laid plans from the beginning of the year, and generally flopped this year...at least regarding GTP and my responsibilities here. My list is as long as ever.
That said, I have another list I just took another look at. My HOUSE list. That list of all the stuff I hafta get done just to have a nice joint to live in with my family.
And, you know, it doesn't look that bad, after all. Turns out, with all the good weather we had this year, I was able to take a HUGE chunk out of my house list--it's still just as long, but that's just new jobs stepping in--and really left myself in a comfortable situation for the winter, as I focus more on my online activities.
Here's a sample of what I got done this summer (and into the fall):
-Replanted some grass
-Turned an old unused chimney into a viable chase: chiseled a hole, and ran phone, network, and cable right up through it.
-Jacked up my sagging roof and added some struts to hold it in place.
-Finished removing all my old siding, scraped the house, patched all the holes and rotten bits.
-Removed and old attic vent, replaced it, rebuilt the exterior wall, and added another.
-Trimmed up my trees
-A not inconsiderable amount of landscaping, many minor tasks too innumerable to be itemized here.
-Removed two old galvanized fence posts, and built a new side gate.
-Removed all the aluminum fascia and soffits (and scraped the bastards.)
-Removed all the old cedar shakes on my house--it's about 50% shakes, 50% cedar clapboard--and replaced them all with new shakes.
-Replaced the tongue and groove ceiling on my front porch, mudroom, and back door overhang.
-Added a storage area over our mudroom with a pulldown ladder for holiday junk.
-Rewired two outdoor security lights in preparation for painting.
-Replaced three casement windows in my living room.
Well, there's more, I know, but that's a durned good sample.
Never did get the house painted, or the front steps rebuilt, or...oh, and I'm still working on the wainscoating on the front porch, although that's waiting an a new door, and trim. This week I should get something done. Of course, there's the holidays around the corner, and I'm scheduled to gut, insulate, rewire, and rebuild my daughter's bedroom first thing in the spring.
Maybe I shouldn't have patted myself on the back so early...
How are YOUR house projects going?
--Sunday, December 18 2011
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Last Night at Turning Stone
Having been out of town and alone with my thoughts for far too long, I decided to stop off at Turning Stone on the way home last night. The tournament going off at 7PM EST was a deepstack no limit holdem with a $25 bounty, so total buyin of $100. (I understand that all their games are now deepstack turbos, with 15 minutes blinds, but cannot confirm until I return.)
I started off just as I had hoped, with the first hour allowing me to take down two bounties, and maintain a level of aggression that won me a couple of small pots along the way. We had a quick break to color up, and I got up to attend to business in the bathroom, and...
That was it.
I came back a weak and insipid shadow of my first hour self. My aggression and boldness had vanished, and I found myself folding hands I was PLANNING to raise with to preflop raises. I didn't see it until it was too late, but I lost the hunger. Maybe I was tired, maybe I was just finished for the day, but by the time I realized it, I was so card dead, that I pushed allin with J9 off (the first paint I'd seen in 25 minutes, and I was down to 5xBB) and was answered with JJ.
Overall, I still took down the two $25 bounties, so it was an inexpensive trip. I finished 14th out of 49, and know I could have done better had I kept playing. I can actually go over all those hands and poke holes in my every move that second hour...from limping with JJ to folding to allins I SHOULD have called...
Next time, next time.
--Thursday, March 31 2011
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D-Link DP-311P Wireless Print Server -- The OVERALL Solution
As everyone knows, I've been working hard on everything in the office over the last year, from this site, to my home network, to my home television solutions. So, now that the beta of the new site is up, I thought I'd start outlining some of the great things I've accomplished--well, I think they're great--and share them with all of you.
And, hey, the money you've saved can be better spent on your poker bankroll after all, right?
So, the first thing I'll tackle is one of those mysteries of the universe (at least it was for me for a couple of full days out of my life!) that plague us all: The configuration and set-up of the D-Link DP-311p wireless print server.
Why this particular model, when you can just buy a bigger and better one, or when you can now buy wireless printers, stock? Well, for starters, this is a parallel printer server, and THAT allows you to use your older black and white laser printers, and other perfectly good printers you may have laying about. Also, you can buy it for less that $20 shipped on eBay right now, for example.
Why, then is this a secret of the universe? Well, the documentation is horrible, and it's just plain hard to get right, right out of the box. Just checking around the web, you'll find hundreds of people who had problems getting it working, finally giving up. I spent two days the first time around getting it right, Googling all day and night to find documentation and assistance from other users. I finally found the complete documentation here, at Retrovo.com:
http://www.retrevo.com/support/D-link-DP-311P-manual/id/420bh434/t/2/
You'll need those if you're going to try to install this little baby.
Of course, I DID finally get it working just swell with my old Linksys WRTG router, but when I recently updated to my new Netgear machine, I spent another full day trying to get it set up. They simply wouldn't speak to each other. In the end, I gave up, and conceived of the FINAL, NO LOSE SOLUTION to the DP-311p conundrum.
AND, here it is:
It's all in Ad-Hoc. Now, you can wait until you have exhausted all other setup attempts before trying this, but this one works right out of the gate. It is slightly less convenient, because you'll have to manually connect to the server when you want to print, but it works, saves time and frustration, and really only takes a few extra clicks each time. And if you want wireless printing for your older printers for less than $20, this is the solution.
1) You'll need to be able to access the Configuration client in the browser.
The default IP is 192.168.0.10. Depending on your home network (if your router's IP is 192.168.0.1, then you're good. Some of them are 192.168.1.1. If this is the case, you'll need to at least temprarily change the IP of the computer you'll use to access the print server. This information is easily found online, just remember that if you DO change your IP for this project, change it BACK when you're done!) you may be able to log right in.
2) Set the DIP switch on the back to "config mode"
3) Connect to the new network, "WLAN-PS" (In windows, this is usually accomplished by utilizing the network icon in your task bar...just double click the name in the network list.)
4) Once connected, type 192.168.0.10 into your browser's address bar.
5) Click the "Configuration" tab on the top, then the "Wireless" button to the left.
6) On this screen:
a) select 802.11b Ad-Hoc
b) select and enter a Name for your Print Server Network
c) Under "WEP Settings" select "64 (40)-bit", "Hexadecimal", and then a 10 digit hex code of your choice. (It must be a combination of letters and numbers only, and write it down, you'll need it later!)
7) Click "Apply"
8) After the Server restarts, move the DIP switch to "Normal Mode" and unplug it.
9) If you changed your PC's IP Address Change it back now.
That's it, when you plug the Server back in, it will be broadcasting an Ad-Hoc signal with the network name you selected. Whenever you want to print, just connect to that network, and viola! Wireless printing!
BUT WAIT!
It's a pain, isn't it, having to log into that Ad-Hoc network every time you want to print? Well, then set it up permanently in every computer you want to print from. In Windows 7, it's like this (and should be similarly easy in other versions):
1) Open Network and sharing center
2) Click "Manage Wireless Networks"
3) Click "Add"
4) "Manually Create a New Network Profile"
5) Create the profile with the name and password you selected
NB:
Be sure to have ALL instances of the network turned off when creating it, or you will be unable to do so. So, the bets time to do this is when the print server is unplugged. Then, make sure each computer you add it to is OFF when you add it to the next.
Once they are all configured, you will not have to enter the key every time, just click on your print server network and print.
And there you have it, Network Printing with an out of date printer for less than $20, in less than 10 minutes.
Viola!
--Sunday, March 27 2011
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Slogging for that pittance
It was a foregone conclusion. As soon as I posted that bragging post about my last hot streak at the Carbon double-up tables, I was bound to hit a wall. It happens every time. A combination of variance and my own unerring subconscious ability to enact almost any self-fulfilling prophecy of doom (mostly that, I suppose) led me directly to the worst losing streak I've EVER hit.
From February 1st to the 14th, at the moment I posted that topic, I had gone 42-28, with my shift to $30 and $50 games accounting for a huge turnaround in my overall w/l totals. I had finally gone positive for the first time since July! I was ready to continue that streak, but of course, I had to open my big mouth. I followed that post with a 30-40 streak, losing at games in the $50 to $80 range, and going deeper than I could have thought possible in the negatives. I spent the next few weeks slogging along at the $1 and $2 range, getting nowhere, trying to get my head on straight.
I was finally able to get a deposit in on the 6th, and since then, have gone 10-6, going 10-2 in my last 12, focusing mostly on the root of my initial success, the $20 double ups. I have played few $30s and $50s, but for a while will be sticking to the $20s.
Why?
Well, according to my Sharkscope ROI, the $20 games are a huge reason my ROI and balance is in the negatives. Resubscribing to Sharkscope again this week, I'm going to focus on, and tackle one issue at a time, and that's going to begin with those pesky $20 double ups.
What else am I changing? I've gone back to one game at a time, instead of the 4 at a swing I was playing before.
So, I'm focusing:
1) Turn the $20 ROI around,
2) Play one game at a time, and get exactly what you went in for,
3) Don't overdo it. Don't get greedy.
There you have it. If anyone wants to follow my progress--at the risk of jinxing myself yet again, you can at:
http://www.sharkscope.com/?username=GottaTalkPoker&network=pokerdotcom&showgraphs=true
Good luck, and I'll see you ALL on the felt!
--Thursday, March 10 2011
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