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With Verizon finally
releasing the latest WP8 update, it was time to
address my
update error. I knew the easy solution was a hard reset, so my first order of business was to
fling 5,000 birds and
earn 100,000 coins since,
for whatever reason, the cloud backup doesn't include app settings. While I worked the long grind to complete the games, I had a useless
conversation
with Windows Phone Support in the hopes I might avoid a hard reset. While prompt and responsive, they had no answer for me. After popping the final cheevo on both games, I took the plunge
and did the reset. The restore was pretty extensive, missing only my start screen and app settings. Now able to update the phone, I got me some
portico goodness which hopefully includes
group MMS messaging.
Comparing before/after it looks like I got some additional firmware updates as well, and hopefully something that prevents
my update check from pooping out for next update.
Despite my better judgement, Senator Kelley convinced me to pre-order the new SimCity after showing me the last beta. With the second beta having now arrived,
my pre-order put me in the special sucker category of eligible. Still limited to an hour of gameplay, for whatever reason (most likely to prevent boredom and then pre-order cancel).
This time trains were teased with track running the north border of my city, but I was unable to build any track of my own.
I protested by running 50 rail-road crossings along it, but none of my citizens seemed to mind. I learned putting a park every 4 squares will peg residential demand, and industrial
areas don't care if you put a sewage outflow pipe in the center of their zone. I can't wait for final release so I can build an all-rail city and execute any citizen that complains about lack of roads.
An intense game of Conquest in BF3 with Cheffords, George and Myrn got an added perk of the unkillable soldier. While capping a flag, we each emptied an entire clip into
an enemy who reacted by not moving at all (or dying). Curious, we swarmed him and proceeded to lay clip after clip (and tank round) into him with no effect. It was a bug equal in
curiosity to the
giraffe neck, probably caused from a lag disconnect that left the server trying to decide what to do
with the character. Much fun was had by all, and the anomoly eventually disappeared, but the memories will last forever.
In contrast to Lila's
first birthday of too many people, Lisa originally planned a smaller group to celebrate this year.
Those plans were derailed when the bowel goblins decided to attack and she was disabled in the hospital. Rather than leave it at that, a secret party was arranged for
family members only to help induce stress while she recovered. Despite the 15+ attendance, Lisa refused to host the secret party downstairs where there is ample room, resulting in yet
another cramped Lila party. Next year it's time to move to Chuck E. Cheese.
After years of suffering with a pale pink server room, I decided to re-invent this neglected space with a dark blue makeover and a discontinued space themed border. I actually bought the border over 2 years ago, but extreme procrastination delayed it's unveiling. It also turns out I'm exactly 20 ft short of the discontinued border, leaving a nice unpainted gap to remind me why I should stop procrastinating. I also took the opportunity to convert it into a full-fledged office so Lila can continue her manifest destiny of the house and inherit the old one as her new toy closet.
After an email informing me the
free media center add-on to Windows 8 was about to expire,
I panicked and decided it was time to upgrade
Electron to Windows 8. After my final Win7 backup to my home server, I nuked the system
partition and loaded up Win8, which seemed to go pretty quick. It found all the drivers except InfiniTV which was a quick download (and firmware update), then proceeded with the standard CableCARD readyness check
and TV guide setup. While I managed to get Win8 to auto login on startup,
this article
confirmed the "start media center on startup" option was deleted, so my upgrade was actually a downgrade. Everything else looked identical, so I definitely don't recommend the switch.
My guess is the new Xbox will have some sort of centralized DVR function, making my media center obsolete, but I'll keep this downgrade for now and see if it's any less stable.
A surprising
12 person turnout responded to
Tigerbombs BF2142 LAN call, and we actually had 11/12 of the attendees all playing 2142 at the same time. This only lasted a few hours of course, with 4 people eventually being jerks and playing a 4-person max game while everyone else struggled in the giant maps of 2142. Tigerbomb was uncharacteristically silent, due most likely to a lack of bourbon. He was no where near his all time high of
two years ago. The Senator and I made sure our toddlers were uncomfortably close to all the childless folk, and James got his first taste of Starcraft II.
Webcam and
timelapse to excite your loins.
Despite what the
weather station says, it officially hit 0° today according to my Focus.
I feel the need to report this since my last
Cougar frost post was over 2 years ago, and
now that the Cougar is abandoned in the barn it's time to move on.
My first
NAIAS without the Senator since
2006 was focused entirely on Lila.
Her initial shock from the crowd and lights wore off quickly, and she was more than accomodating with me placing her in inappropriate and irresponsible places. Eventually, I made the mistake of
letting her linger in the back of a pickup truck longer than I should have and she got comfortable. Moving on involved an extended tantrum that was only quelled by introducing her to the Fiat
display where the cars were just her size. After she fell in love with a green couch occupied by a creepy sleeping teen, another tantrum convinced me it was time to go, but not before using her
siren wail to beeline for the basement. There I found the disappointing Focus ST Shelby variant, which had no performance changes whatsoever.
A physical letter arrived in my mail today notifying me of a new upgrade for the Sync system in my Focus ST. Suddenly giddy, I hopped on my computer
to find a 1.5GB download required for the update. While it downloaded, I actually read the letter that said I had to order a physical SD card replacement before the upgrade or my nav wouldn't work.
It took me 10 seconds to decide to upgrade anyway, blinded by upgrade excitement. The letter also said "up to an hour" and "keep your engine running during the upgrade" which turned out
to be good advice, as it was almost exactly an hour before the upgrade
completed, and then another 10 minutes before it
really completed.
Aside from yelling about the wrong SD Nav car everything seems to be working fine, but no major changes other than the exterior temp now shows up at the top. Hopefully the
replacement SD card will show me a world of wonder with the new nav system.
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With Verizon finally releasing the latest WP8 update, it was time to
address my update error. I knew the easy solution was a hard reset, so my first order of business was to
fling 5,000 birds and earn 100,000 coins since,
for whatever reason, the cloud backup doesn't include app settings. While I worked the long grind to complete the games, I had a useless conversation
with Windows Phone Support in the hopes I might avoid a hard reset. While prompt and responsive, they had no answer for me. After popping the final cheevo on both games, I took the plunge
and did the reset. The restore was pretty extensive, missing only my start screen and app settings. Now able to update the phone, I got me some portico goodness which hopefully includes
group MMS messaging. Comparing before/after it looks like I got some additional firmware updates as well, and hopefully something that prevents
my update check from pooping out for next update.
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