The summer is winding down. After this week, I’ll only have two more weeks of work and then back to Atlanta to start another semester at Georgia Tech on August 18th. I’ve got a few projects left that I need to begin wrapping up, which I started doing on Monday. They all involve Access applications that have either been converted from Access 97 to Access 2002 and/or adding new features.
One of the applications needed to be transitioned from a frontend/backend model to a single frontend that connects to a SQL server database. It has probably been the most educational project I have taken on this summer. I now know a lot more about the structure of a SQL database and the SQL language in general. I can feel more confident when I’m ready to undertake some SQL projects of my own. My aunt suggested an application to track my CD and DVD collections and wishlists. I think that would be a good place to start.
On the home front, I’ve been absorbed either playing games (Diablo II), watching TV (Cartoon Network), or watching DVDs (Spirited Away, “Chobits”). Spirited Away is nothing short of a masterpiece and I highly recommend it to any fan of good entertainment. I purchased the DVDs for a couple of Miyazaki’s other films but I haven’t gotten around to watching them yet.
I also got out to see Pirates of the Caribbean and the new Tomb Raider movie. Of the two, Pirates was better but both were entertaining. Tomb Raider was, however, an unfortunate example of the distressing trend of theatres seeking to blast you out of your seat. I caught myself wishing I had brought a pair of earplugs.
Long time, no update. Rest assured, though, I’ve been busy. I have my job to keep me busy during the first half of any weekday and recently I’ve had my computer—now replete with a new processor, motherboard, memory, and video card—to keep me busy troubleshooting. For interested parties the specs of my upgrades are as follows:
- 2.4GHz Intel Pentium 4C with Hyper-Threading (800MHz FSB)
- Abit IC7-G I875P (Canterwood)
- 2 x 512MB Mushkin PC3500 High Performance Black DDR-SDRAM
- 128MB ATI Radeon 9500 Pro
It has been a learning experience, as is often the case with new items of this nature, especially for a different motherboard. You have to learn what you can and can’t do all over again. The memory timings on this new board seem particularly sensitive. I have experienced a fair number of random reboots while pushing the outer edges with the new system and I suspect it is due to the memory settings. I have found that I can fairly easily attain a 3GHz clock without sacrificing stability, which is cause for celebration. I’m also taking the opporunity now to revamp my watercooled case with a fresh set of tubing, a new radiator shroud fan and rubber washers to dampen vibration from the pump. It’s not done yet but I’m making progress with my Dad’s help.
I helped my dad pressure wash my grandfather’s driveway and vinyl siding this past Father’s Day. He said I could do that for his Father’s Day present. I did a few other things for him too, of course. My grandfather seemed extremely pleased with our handiwork, which made it all worthwhile. We had Outback carryout for supper.
I managed to find time to go see Finding Nemo a few days after it came out. It was another quality Pixar film and I can safely recommend it to anyone who enjoyed their previous work.
My twenty-first birthday is quickly approaching. It looks like I’ll be out of town by the time next Wednesday rolls around though. I get to attend a corporate brainwashing session in northern Alabama. I can’t say that I’m particularly looking forward to it.
