Hurmph.

Well, the good news is that the iPod be not completely fried - I borrowed a friends USB cable and tried that - mounted without problems, until my battery died. What I get for leaving it plugged into a computer that wasn't on all night. Firewire, alas, does not work. Now, the question is, do I want to spend 'bout 10-15 dollars for a USB cable and go with that? Or should I spend 30 for a logic board off eBay? If I go with the logic board option, I may also grab a hard drive while I'm at it... there was one going for .99 last time I checked, although it's probably gone up by a lot. The other one was at about 50 something. Still... 10->20GB upgrade would be nice. Or I could try and get that broken iPod someone's selling...

In otherwords: Go for risky, self-install, but a recovery of all capabilities? Or play it safe, and use USB?

'cause at some point in the near future - 6 or so months, I'd expect, I'll need to replace the current battery. 'cause while having the backup battery pack there powering/charging it... doesn't quite work that well. 'cause I listen to my iPod 'bout 1-3 hours a day, between classes, and often while working on homework... so, walking time.. at least an hour a day... would deplete the backup battery pack in 10 days. Which is not a good thing... 9V batteries be annoyingly expensive at that rate.

Apple has been called, and a box is on it's way to me. Again. So I'll be computer-less for one to two weeks. Again. And this time with even less preperation - mail has not been migrated, although recent backups of my music and pictures folders means that the less recoverable large stuff is safe. Smaller items, like my class notes, recent acquisions/additions to my collection of links, clips, and random non-school documents, may be lost... rolling back to pre-collage point - not that big of a loss... I typically don't take that many notes that I'll refer back to. I don't recall if I had deleted aforementioned stuff (backups from the last logic board failure) of my external in a fit of cleaning and organizing though... I do, however, have an automated backup copy of my calendar - useful, actually, since that means I won't forget everything I need to do in the near future...

Link: https://netfiles.uiuc.edu/bjuang2/www/School.ics

I need backup scripts.

Yeah, it's 2 AM again. ::siiiigh:: at least I can say I had fully studied for tomorrow's test, despite not having my notes (got them off someone else - but I had been actively taking notes, which means, I knew most of the stuff, so all of it was reading-review-date memorizing.). Online reading was light, thankfully, and only took the past hour. Hardcopy-book reading was slightly longer, and took me from 11-12ish. Anyhow. Yeah, bed. Hopefully, that box comes soon... I need a compuuuter. >.> I should try and get a mac mini for these occations. Although I suppose that would mean needing to get a monitor as well... Buggers.

Great deals on ThinkGeek.

--MAILQUOTE/--
** SkyTag(TM) - Green Laser Pointer Aircraft Tracker !! **
We've always been enamored of the green laser pointer here at
ThinkGeek. The way it looks, the way it points, that mesmerizing green
beam it projects. But we became tired of pointing such an advanced
piece of physics on the white board, or using it to mess with cats and
dogs. That's why we created SkyTag, the world's first GPS green laser
pointer mounted in a motorized base that allows you to track and tag
aircraft at your own convenience! Pointing your green laser pointer has
never been more risky!
http://www.thinkgeek.com/stuff/41/tracker.shtml

** iCopulate(TM) - Quickly transfer files from iPod to iPod !! **
ThinkGeek understands that both you and your iPod need love and
attachment every so often. That's why we created the iCopulate. This
sleek and sexy device allows you to mate two consenting second
generation or later iPods together for an experience nobody will
forget. Transfer music and files between iPods digitally without a
computer! Have a pal with great iPod songs you've been wanting to own?
Why wait? iCopulate now. It's simply great pod on pod action that's
reasonably priced and fun to watch.
http://www.thinkgeek.com/stuff/41/icopulate.shtml

** Fundue(TM) - USB Desktop Fondue Set !! **
Here at the ThinkGeek offices we are surrounded by those traditional
suburbia food traps. The typical crappy deli and the occasional edible
pizza. So, we decided we would take desktop food culture into our own
hands and we created the Fundue, a USB powered desktop culinary
experience that will transform your lunches to a new realm. Get
instantly sophisticated now!
http://www.thinkgeek.com/stuff/41/fundue.shtml

** SnoozAlert(TM) - World's first sleep and then awake aid !! **
For generations folks have been taking medicines to fall asleep and
stimulants to wake up. The problem with this routine is not the damage
done to the body and mind, but rather the idiocy of not realizing it
can all be accomplished with a single pill. Enter SnoozAlert. The
World's first 'Sleep And Awake Aid' in a single pill. Every pill
features a knock-out quantity of dream-inducing goodness and also a
specially formulated time-released caffeine component that would wake
up a bear in winter. Check out the World's first alarm clock pill right
here.
http://www.thinkgeek.com/stuff/41/snoozalert.shtml

** Executive Desktop PONG - with wireless bluetooth paddles !! **
In honor of the video game that started the gaming revolution,
ThinkGeek has created the ultimate desktop PONG console. This small
footprint, Hi-styled unit features a DLP Multi-LED projector, an OLED
touchscreen display, and a pair of bluetooth wireless paddles that will
allow you to play the original game of PONG anywhere you can find a
flat surface. In style. One or two players baby. It's the most blinged
out PONG console humankind will ever create. And it pays ultimate
homage to what was the most important paradigm shift in computing the
world will ever realize. Just imagine the wizardry of PONG with the
benefit of modern technology and you'll know why we created this
masterpiece. Ping. Bling. Pong.
http://www.thinkgeek.com/stuff/41/pong.shtml

** MegaMags(TM) - Life size version of popular desktop Magnetic sets **
MegaMags are the most extreme magnetic home and outdoor construction
kit money can buy. Specially built for those who aren't satisfied with
building magnetic structures at their desk. MegaMags are life size
magnetic rod and ball kits and can help you to build some of the most
massive magnetic erections in the comfort of your own back yard or
parking lot!
http://www.thinkgeek.com/stuff/41/megamags.shtml
--/MAILQUOTE--

Ah, yeah, speaking of April Fool jokes...

I woke up a bit earlier to check for the nice boxy from Apple to send in my iBook. Not finding it, I decided to head to class a bit earlier. Where we were to have a test. So, I cheerfully took out paper, tape, and a pen, and proceeded to write up a notice: "Today's test has been canceled. Instead, there will be a three page essay. Please have pens (Blue or Black ink ONLY) ready. We will provide paper.", and at the bottom, "EALC250 04/01/05".

Got to include that date, yo~ And see who's awake enough to realize it.

So... the row in front of me got the joke and I heard, "Yeah, it's definitely an april fools joke", but behind me (a gaggle of blonds...) were frantically trying to find black or blue pens, and saying how much they hated the teacher. "She should just fall off a cliff and die!".

And later, "Busey-Evans (Oodles) has been closed, due to a kitchen fire. Management - 04/01/05". Much less believeable, I'm afraid, but probably more amusing.

Yeah. I was amused. Some people, less so. Eh well. Happy April Fools day, yo~

[edit] kinda surprised that google doesn't have anything up... You'd think they'd think of something, like... "Google has been purchased by livejournal and will no longer search the web. Instead, we'll be searching your journals. All of it. Including the private entries."

[edit 2]Hehe, brad, our livejournal god; http://www.livejournal.com/users/news/84435.html

Snow!?

And God thought it would be amusing to dribble snow for a brief while, as Neko was walking from the English Building to ISR. And so she did, and was amused as Neko shivered and tried to cast spells of shielding and warmth.

....God, you're not allowed to have April Fools Day. It's not your calendar. ;P