Pretty Dead Things...

OK, here's the quick version, since Blogger has once again kindly reminded me to keep these things short and sweet...seems once I get rolling on an entry, the browser crashes. Guess we don't share the same sense of humour...? Actually, I'm gonna type this up in NeoOffice, which auto-saves every minute, then add the links later, let's see them try to stop me now!

I was in the process of telling the story about how my Maxtor One Touch II external 200GB drive died this weekend. I had been using it flawlessly for the past week at my work to provide some extra room for my projects. On Friday when I was done, I re-saved everything back to the internal drives so our server could back it up, and so I could bring my drive home.

However, once I got it home and plugged it in, the two blue LEDs on its face would just blink in unison. The drive still sounded like it was still spinning up, and a Google search suggested that the enclosure itself is probably dead, but most people pop the drive out into another enclosure with good success.

Fortunately, I already had such an enclosure. So I popped the Maxtor case open, removed the drive, and stuck it in the Ultra. Attaching it to my Mac in the usual fashion (via Firewire)...nothing. Ok, try the other FW port...nothing. Hmm. Try the USB port. Nope. The drive inside wasn't spinning up, similar to how it was in the Maxtor. But it wasn't my ports.

Yes, the Ultra enclosure turned out to have died also. Yes, extremely weird timing.

So, a quick perusal of the usual online hardware retailers (NCIX, FutureShop, Best Buy, Staples) and I found the AcomData 590 USB at Staples for $43. So far, it's working great. It's kind of a hassle to get the drive in there, the instructions are actually missing a couple steps (such as “screw the stand to the actual drive, don't just leave it hanging loose like sleeve of wizard”) but once it is, it ain't movin'! And it's fanless, which is required for me, I can't tolerate fan noise, hence the iMac.

Also, I picked up a Digital Research Technologies 500GB drive for $200 at Best Buy on Friday. Now my iMac has it's 500GB safely mirrored externally, and it can be booted from in case of emergency, thanks to SuperDuper, the ultimate drive mirroring software for not a lot of money.

So, I didn't lose any data, but it was quite a couple of days. Anyway, better post this before Blogger gets angry again. I was using FireFox, but that's two strikes, so I'm back to Safari. Safari integration is pretty sad though, it doesn't let you do any sort of formatting, check spelling, add pictues, or even links. Stupid. But it's free.

Marlies Losing Money

Just a quick one today. According to Richard Peddie, distinguished President of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, moving the AHL Marlies to Toronto from St. John's, isn't quite the money making scheme they hoped it would be. Basically they're just having a little trouble filling the arena, getting about half the crowds they expected.

And all this time I thought the point was to save on flights when calling up players to fill in for injured Maple Leafs...surely they've made up the difference this year alone!

And one more thing...Apple announced the iPhone yesterday. Here's a more fun link, all the fake mockups and speculated images people were putting together ahead of yesterday's keynote. See if you can pick out the real one...

There, I didn't want to be the only blog in the world to not mention it. Might be a while 'fore it shows up in Canada of course...but that's nothing new.

New Jersey New Arena aka My Blog Ate My Homework

Ok, well, up until three minutes ago I had a witty little post written up about the Devil's new name for their new arena...alas Blogger.com (with help from Firefox via the Devil's web site and a Flash blocking plugin) decided to unceremoniously trash it. Guess I'll be hitting that "save as draft" button down there a little more often!

Anyway, "The Prudential Center" is the new name. I had looked up "prudence" on m-w.com (since that's what sportswriters do when they're stuck for a hook) and found this:

1 : the ability to govern and discipline oneself by the use of reason
2 : sagacity or shrewdness in the management of affairs
3 : skill and good judgment in the use of resources
4 : caution or circumspection as to danger or risk

Then I believe I said something about how numbers 2 and 3 actually fit the New Jersey Devils and their management very well. Blah blah blah Lou Lamoriello's magic wand had removed Malakhov and Mogilny's salaries from this year's books, thus tucking the team safely under the cap, with room to re-sign Scott Gomez, etc. Also fits the team's mastery of the defensive "trap" system, which fueled their way to three Stanley Cup championships in the '90's and '00's, and some of the most boring hockey you've ever seen.

And that's where it died on me.

Anyway, I don't think I even mind the corporate names so much (who else can pony up $100 million for a hockey rink?), maybe it's mostly just the last word in the name, in this case "center". Course they use that word cause it'll also house rock concerts, wrestling, bake sales and car washes, anything that more than one person will pay money to get into. I just miss the old days I guess, with Arenas, Forums and Gardens. But, whatever, it's not the name that matters, it's the caliber of hockey being played under it.