da’blog

GlastonBury: The Doves

I cant tell you how excited ive been since noticing that my favorite band has been playing the UK’s Best Summer Festival of music. They were heading the “John Peel” stage on friday night. And i stayed up, putting everything on hold in order to see them live. And despite me getting the time wrong by one hour as  “Bloc Party” started at 10.30 so, i waited patiently, as my dad sleeps in the sitting room these days due to ill-health, i didnt have long to record and watch the “Doves”, he told me 12.30 was my limit.Despite this i prayed the “doves” would be on soon and at 11.30 on BBC3 (Via BBC2 with the Red Button) they were on and it was the best live gig ive ever seen.

I want to say a huge thanks to my favorite Doves Blog http://dovesmusic.blogspot.com/ for the videos and music from the best night ever. Despite being totaly confused about the way the BBC were showing the Doves, i recorded the best i could. Which Seemed to 45-60 minutes  of “bloc party” then the doves and vice versa. Which i felt was unfair and very confusing on BBC Digital, despite checking many times who was next etc.

The gig was amazing in everyway posable, from the crowds cheering to Jimis interaction. You cant beat “g,g,g,g,glastonbury” as a great feeling for folks being there and him thanking all “you magical fucking people”.Not to mention the Doves played there absolute best tracks that night.

10/10

If only Slane in ireland was like this:)

Fore more Doves News Visit:
http://www.doves.net
http://dovesmusic.blogspot.com/

PC Gaming Fail Just too much hastle these days.

Its the weekend and id thought id relax by playing some new games. First up is the game “Americas Army3″ which is FREE yes you heard me Free and you can get on steam.

Americas Army:
This game was made by the US Army for whatever reason maybe to brainwash americans into joing to US Army. Anyway the game doenst work at the moment which the developers claim is due to “overwhelming demand” on the games servers.

Last night i spent about 40 mins trying to get the game to work but it just crashes when you try to do the training. So a big sarcastic thumbs up for a company releasing a game that doest work.

Ghostbusters:

The second game that failed is Atari’s “Ghostbusters” a game that looks great fun. However the PC version of the game has some serious problems, the installer for the game seems to take forever and i mean that, its still running after about one hour now and from what ive read on the forums around the net there are some problems installing the game.

So another PC Game fails, PC Gaming is such a hassle these days. I was searching for a solution and i found a quote that sums it all up really;

This is why I don’t PC game anymore. The issues that go along with it like this, are so “pull your hair out” frustrating that it just…ugh.

Though I suggest checking your windows updates and so forth. Could be something to do with that.

Link

The so called fix from Atari makes things even more confusing;

Install on drive other than drive C:

This game will only install correctly on drive C: unless workaround is followed.

Install on drive other than drive C:

1. Use the custom install option to select the destination you would like to install Ghostbusters on your PC.
2. Once the installation is complete please re-run the installer. This time select the C: drive as the destination location. The second install should only take a few seconds.
3. When the second install is complete, copy the 7 files created in the “C:\Program Files (x86)\Atari\Ghostbusters” folder and paste them into the “Ghostbusters” folder you originally selected for your custom install.
4. You will then be able to run the game normally.

Fuck Microsoft and there XBox 360 Live Gold – Auto Renewal!

About 6 months ago i paid for what i thought was just 3 months of Xbox Live Gold Membership. Well it turns out that the folks at Microsoft dont tell you that they “kindly” renew your subscription without telling you. In these times of recession and lack of money, the Xbox is one those things that i dont need nor want.

So i contacted Xbox support but ended up being told more or less that i had contacted the wrong “country” as i should have emailed there support department in Ireland. The email was simpathetic but not helpful so of course i left it for a month.

So today i log back into my xbox and see that there is NO OPTION at all to TURN OFF AUTO RENEWAL and yes thats in caps because the idea is crazy to me. There should at least be the option of “Auto-Renew”. So i send another emal this time to there Support in Ireland and i await an answer, id like my money back to be honest but i guess i left it too long.

This is [x], with Microsoft XBOX Support services.

 

As I understand it, you want to have a refund on the charges of the auto-renewal of your Xbox Live Subscription Account.

 

I know how disappointing it is that you’ve been charged on your account. I sincerely apologize for any inconvenience you have felt regarding this matter.

 

With regards to this, you need to call our phone support to have a refund on the charges on your card that you’re using on Xbox Live. Accessing your account information via email Support requires a high level of verification from you and we don’t allow to access for the confidentiality and security of your account.

 

Thank you for your time and understanding.  

 

If you need to reply to this e-mail, please reply ‘with history’ (include any previous e-mail) or reference to Service Request Number 1100396440 so we can expedite our service to you.

 

If you would rather contact Xbox Phone Support directly for your console’s repair, you may call contact Xbox US and Canada Phone Support by calling 1-800-4MYXBOX (1-800-469-9269) at your earliest convenience, and we’ll be happy to help you. We are open everyday from 6am to 10pm US Pacific Time.

 

For international customers, please contact Xbox Customer Service in your local region. (To find the correct Customer Service number for your region first use this link http://www.xbox.com/en-US/ChangeLocale.htm to select the appropriate country and then use the contact number found under the support menu). You may also choose to call international assistance (direct dial to the US) by dialing 425-635-7180.

 

Thank you for visiting Xbox.com. If you should have future questions on Xbox products or services, please be sure to revisit our Web site as we are continually adding information to enhance our service.

 

Best Regards,

 

Microsoft XBOX Support Services

http://support.microsoft.com/

Best Tv Cop Show Possably Ever? The Wire

I love Cop shows, from the Bill to NYPD blue (which i love) to Law and Order Etc, i just love the idea of the good guys geting the bad guys.

Anway i was on some website a few months ago that kept mentioning “the wire” as a great show. At the time i loved “NYPD Blue” so it probably was something to do with this. So i ordered The DVD’s from Amazon and from the first episode the show was awesome. Maybe not as great as “NYPD Blue” but at least 2nd to that show.

The show ive seen was criticzied in the british press due to its “language” and reviewers not knowing what was said half the time.

Its kinda funny, the show is set in Baltimore,Maryland in the US, which is near a town we dont get to see called “Dundalk” which is where i live. From the TV show it gives the impression that this town is a Drug invested sewer, luckily the same town in ireland is not the same.

Not to mention that  two of shows characters came up with the name of a “fake infornmant” which they called “fuzzy dunlop” a name which made me laugh and that i use for some online games such as Valves Team Fortress 2. The main character of the show is a Detective by the name of “Mc Nulty” whos is an Irish-American Drunk with a good heart. The VEry Last episode in the 5 Series leaves “mc Nulty” in a Coffin and this great tune from the “Pogues”;

How To Fix: Windows Installer Hangs in Vista 64

Ive been using Windows Vista 64 since Vista came out and despite the reports of problems with hardware drivers ive found it to be quite stable. Well that was until When i went to install or Uninstall software that uses Vista’s “Windows Installer” where yesterday my PC keep Crashing or hanging. No matter which software it was, if it used “windows installer” it would just hang for over 10 mins.  So then i tryed out various registry repair tools such as Uniblues “Registry Booster” which i must say is quite good.

It also turned out that not only could i not install or uninstall some applications but windows “System Restore” kept failing so i couldnt revert windows back to an earlier time when everything worked. I also was unable to use my backup software “Norton Ghost 14” (which depsite some problems is a lifesaver for PC Problems) and i couldnt even run “chkdsk” (which can fix a corrupted windows drive).

Things we looking bad and i was looking a reinstall which is a nightmare in most cases. So i searched for a solution and most of them didnt as i couldnt do them due to the state of windows. Hard to fix a PC that wont let you;

• System Restore
• Run “Check Disk/chkdsk”
• Restore a backup copy with “Norton Ghost”

This is where a “Multi-Boot” PC comes in handy, as a last ditch attempt i booted my PC into Windows Vista 32bit (which i keep in case hardware doest work, for example TV Cards) and Right clicked on the C: Drive (The drive with the problems i.e Vista 64) and Selected “Properties” then “Tools” and then “Error-Checking”. And Rebooted and hoped for the best.

Windows Ran the Error-Checking Utility “Check Disk chkdsk” and after about 20 mins all was well. So the lesson there is always keep trying. Just posted this in case it helps anyone else in future.

I should add that along the way i foudn a great website for Windows Vista 64 problems and discussion called www.vistax64.com which is a must for anyone using Windows Vista 64.

Music: Creating Amazing Music with Albeton Live 8

Ive found what i think is the most amazing piece of music software ever made. Its called “Ableton Live 8″ and its just incredable.I was on youtube one night browsing videos and i found a video that was just incredable which demonstrated the software.

That video is below ive also added a video showing hot to make a trance track from those great folks at the sonicacademy.com a site which i joined straight away after seeing how superb there tutorials were on youtube, check out there youtube channel on;

http://www.youtube.com/user/SonicAcademy

Make music with Ableton Live

I love music and thats no understatement, i love all types from rock to dance and trance. Ive always loved to be a Dj or make some kinda of a dance song and this software lets you do that. My two favorite trance artists are “Paul Van Dyk” and “Dj Tiesto” so bearing that in mind i then found another amazing video from a website called the “sonicacademy.com”. This is an awesome tutorial showing you how-to make a trance track using the instruments in Ableton Live. Of course its not just dance music you can create the skys the limit with this software.

How To Make A Trance Tune – Tutorial 1

The Doves Live in Belfast-My First Ever Concert

Ive been a huge fan of this band since about 2002 since i heard the song pounding from their album “The Last Broadcast”. Since then ive bought every album theve released and followed them. The new Album “kingdom of Rust” is awesome and ive been listening to it since it was released.

Some time back in March i was checking out their myspace page and seen the UK Tour Dates and had the idea of going to see them in Belfast. So without thinking about booking the tickets i just said to myself “if i dont book these ill never get to see them live.”, So i booked the tickets got 2 seated for the gig in the Ulster Hall in Belfast.

Anyway booking those tickets was the best thing i ever did, the concert was fantastic, it was a small venue about 2000 people max i think and the atmosphere was electric. My sister took some photos and videos on my phone ive posted some below. The Doves were so good that if i could have i would have went down to dublin to see them the next day.

Theres a lesson in all this of course, sometimes thinking about doing something too much means you’ll never do it.

The Doves are Back!

Doves Kingdom of Rust

One of my favorite bands ever have realised two new songs from there upcoming “Kingdom of Rust”. The First song is the new single Called “Kingdom of Rust” and its fantastic the other song is called “Jetstream” a Free Download available from the doves website. Both songs are brilliant and if you like music you are bound to love the doves.

The Album doest come out until the 6th of april and i cant wait for it. Forget U2 coming up with the same old sound again with their new Album and usual Over-the-top Hype and Bonos huge Ego.

Official Site:
http://www.doves.net/

AnotherFriend.com – Online Dating Website and its Crazy Message Board Rules

I recently joined a dating website AnotherFriend.com and while the site has a lot of members and a good track record of couples i just dont like the rules on the site. The message board is the worst message board service ive ever seen there are like Nazis really with all there rules;

SHORT MESSAGE BOARD RULES:

• No Gossip please – Publicly discussing or referencing other members is prohibited.
• Think ‘Appropriate’ – No overtly sexual, voilent, insulting, racist or argumentative postings.
• Spamming or selling is not allowed.
• Posting messages for others or advertising your personal profile is prohibited.
• Insulting postings regarding public companies will be considered as libilous.
• Discussing the operation & admin policy of AnotherFriend.com is prohibited.

Crazy rules:
Now i can understand the first 3 rules but the last one “Discussing the operation & admin policy of AnotherFriend.com is prohibited.” is just crazy. You are not allowed to critise the site in anyway no thats what i call freedom of speech. You cant make suggestions about the site or say anything bad about it, your post simply wont appear.

Poor Profile:
There a few things on the site that i dislike the profile is just not good enough there isnt enough information there about somebody really. You need to know as much as possable about a person before you make contact even if its the small silly things like;

• Favorite Movie
• Favorite Actor
• Favorite Bands, Albums
• Last Movie you seen

The site seems more concerned about somebodys “star sign” that their personality. With many options about star-signs appearing. Who gives a monkeys about somebodys star-sign.

Worst Message Board Ever:
The Message board is the worst ive ever seen. I tried to make a post about the site and the things i dislike and it was never displayed on the site not only this but to send a message on the message board seems to take 10mins! I mean what the hell and to top it all and this is the worst when you click on a topic being discussed on the message board it takes you to the last page instead of the first! So you have no idea what the original poster of the topic’s question was unless you go all the way back to the first post. To make matters worse the text on the website is very small i know you increase the text size in your web browser but even so.

Virus Removal – And Free Online Virus Scans

My Avast! found “Win32:Tibia-BU [Trj]” in the lsass.exe which is a Trojan Horse virus while today i was using my PC and i started up my Anti-Virus “Avast 4.8 Home Edition” which is a great Free Anti-Virus package. Anyway when it started up it informed me that i had a virus which was surprising to me because i keep my PC Updated and im careful with what i download. Anyway alarms bells went off and i let the Anti-Virus Program delete the file that was infected.

So of course i had to run a full scan which took over 4 hours to finish. No other serious viruses were found however most of the reported viruses were from “Dodgy Software” i downloaded.

Online Virus Scans:
I wanted to be 200% sure that were no viruses so i went looking for an online virus scan website that would tell me if i had more nasty viruses.

Trend Micro:
Was the first online scan i tried and getting it to work was difficult and when it did work it gave strange results im going to run the scan again as im not sure if said i had more viruses or just that used it incorrectly.

Norton Online Virus Scan:
The Most popular anti-virus i would guess and so downloaded the installtion file and after 2 mins the viruses definitions were updated. I did a full scan so everyfile on my PC would be scanned and its very slow and seems to be slowing down my PC a good bit as it works away. However it has found a lot of viruses but most again are from “Dodgy Software” “Cracks,Keygens” etc.

Other Online Virus Scan Sites:

Kaspersky
Jottis Malware Scan
ESET Online Scanner