I set up a new blog today over at eustaceclarence.com to provide easy updates on my first kid, and it got me thinking: thankfully, the personal blogging craze has largely died.

To wit: of the 5 links in my blogroll as of the time of this writing, the last updates were written:

1. October 31, 2007
2. March 29, 2010 (Previous before that was Jan 2, 2009)
3. September 27, 2009
4. July 22, 2009
5. …and one blog is no longer available on the internet

All of these blogs were written by guys involved with technology at a higher-than-average level: they could all probably tell you what AJAX is, and why IE6 is the bane of all that is internet. Yet, like 99.9% of people who started blogging in the last 5 years, none of them blog anymore.

Why? Because no one has time to write (much less write well), and for those that do…nobody cares. The only posts on this blog than anyone reads are the ones written on how to fix annoying computer problems, not the ones about my thoughts on the latest political whatnot. The only personal blog I read anymore is my sister-in-law’s, because she puts up great pictures of her kids all the time. (Ideally, Eustace will get similar treatment from me).

What it really boils down to though is that no one has enough time for all of that. Myspace died when everyone realized that the cacaphony of colors, spam, ads, and random musings available there was an utter waste of time. Twitter’s in vogue, but I’m pretty sure most people use it for a month or two before they realize that, too, is a completely ridiculous way to waste every spare minute of peace and quiet you might stumble upon during your day. I’m moving on.

I think Facebook is the big thing with the best chance, but I’m hearing a lot of people who are sick of it and despise the time they waste on it (me included)–it’s an addiction though, like a crackberry, and will likely last a few years before the next big thing comes along. It’s darn handy for planning class reunions or the like, but for doing anything else worthwhile? Not so much.

Sooner or later we’ll all melt down from the stress and insanity that comes from being plugged into too many people, too many streams of info, and too many responsibilities 24/7. As for me, I’m just hoping that a move back to the Dakotas/Minnesota might bring a few more years of sanity…

For an actually well-thought perspective on this over-saturation phenomena, you could read the paper I wrote on it for a class I took (Like Butter Spread Over Too Much Bread: Multiphrenia in America 10 pages, .pdf)…or you could just ADHD your way back to your Twitter feed and forget I mentioned it (though, kudos for lasting this long if you made it to the end of my post!)

I’m trying to find out what the performance specs on Sam’s Club Member’s Mark batteries is–the best I’ve got so far is some hearsay from a forum post about them being made by Duracell.

BUT, in my search I found a post discussing rechargables vs. alkalines, claiming that 1 AA could save you up to $500. The post is interesting, but bears some observations.

1. Energizers might cost you $1/each in the grocery store, but a 48 pack of AA batteries is $10 at Sam’s (confirmed by me today) — that’s about $0.21/battery, and means your max savings is down to about $100/battery
2. At $3 vs. $0.21, you’re not saving any money until you recharge the 15th time: saving $100 is only going to happen if you actually recharge that single AA battery 500 times.
3. Rechargeable batteries eventually lose capacity. I’m going to assume that they’re relatively useless after three years of use. (Just look at your cellphone battery) You COULD go on using them, and you might, but they’re not going to last long enough to be worth your while.
4. What are you going to do while your batteries are recharging? You’re still going to end up sticking alkalines in your devices every once in a while to tide you over, whether that be for 1/2 hour or 14 hours, depending on your charger–so, your savings will be less than indicated.

OK, so what does that look like then?

1. Remote control:
   • Average time to change batteries? Maybe twice a year.
   • Time to savings: 7 years
   • Capacity of rechargable batteries after 7 years (if they even work after 7 years)? 0
   • Savings: $0
2. Battery-hogging Wireless Mouse (2xAA):
   • Average time to change batteries? Once a week
   • Time to savings: 4 months
   • Useful battery life: 3 years (150 actual charge cycles)
   • Savings (life of 1 set of 2 rechargeables): $57
3. Clock (1xAA):
   • Average time to change batteries? Maybe once a year.
   • Time to savings: 14 years
   • Capacity of rechargable batteries after 7 years? 0
   • Savings: $-1.53
4. Wii Controller (2xAA):
   • Average replacement? (@25 hrs of gameplay = between 3 – 30 days)
   • Time to savings: 42 – 196 days
   • Useful battery life: 3 years (between 36 – 365 charges)
   • Savings: $15 – $150

Bottom line: some things are worth using rechargeables for. Some things aren’t. $500 in savings per battery is a bit sensationalistic though–it’s more likely you’ll see $50-100 in savings over 3-5 years per battery if you use them consistently and vigorously: and that assumes that the rechargeables last as long as the Alkalines do, which may or may not be true depending on usage.

It’s also interesting to note that some things (like Wii Controllers) may be worth using both for. Let’s say you have kids who play 24/7 with two controllers, but you have two controllers for the parents or friends to use, which get used maybe 4 hours a week. It’s going to take you 2 years of use to justify buying rechargeables for the mostly-unused controllers, assuming they get consistent weekly usage. If they’re not going to get that kind of use for more than 2 years, use alkalines for the rarely-used devices, and stick rechargeables in the others.

Thanks to the Always Frugal lady though for bringing it up again! Even at dirt-cheap $10 for 48 AA’s at Sam’s, I probably should invest in a rechargeable system for two Wii controllers. Just don’t go counting $100-500 in savings per battery as you pick up rechargeables for every electronic device in your household!

It’s easy to find horror stories on Customer Service issues all over the internet–I had just a great experience with the HP Home and Home Office Store that I felt almost obligated to share it with the world (or, the small percentage of people that read this blog).

To make a long story short, I placed an order for some ink after reviewing some information that was a bit misleading. After discovering that the “Custom” ink cartridges actually contained less ink than the normal cartridges, I contacted HP to return the item.

On the first phone call, the lady (whoever you are, Sandy, thanks!) actually listened to my situation, noted it in my account, and agreed to process a return. Here’s where it gets amazing though: she processed a refund right there, and told me I didn’t have to return the item! She called it a token of their appreciation of me as a customer. All I can say is, I appreciate them as an above-and-beyond sort of company.

Since I will likely never purchase another (overpriced) Apple laptop computer, HP may have just won themselves my future purchases. Certainly, I will continue to shop their store, and recommend it to anyone who will listen! So, here it is: I heartily recommend the HP Online Store, http://www.shopping.hp.com/

HP Customer Service: 6 stars out of 5

It’s nearly 1AM and I can’t go to bed. I just did 121 pushups (in groups of 20-30) and I’m all pumped up! If you’re wondering why I’m doing that many pushups… check it out.

It’s over at Amazon.com, and it’s free shipping. Get the hottest thing to hit the XBox since…well…never mind. It’s a nice upgrade though from what you used to get.

Get it now!

So, Apple currently doesn’t offer an (easily) upgradable PC (as in “personal computer”, not “Windows Computer”) that’s affordable to the mainstream. To upgrade a Mac Mini requires a few putty knives, a lot of determination, acute care, and nerves of steel. To upgrade anything else they make (Besides the $2800+ Mac Pro) is pretty much impossible.

Some people don’t like this: after all, why should I have to buy a whole new computer every time I want to add another Hard Drive, or get a faster graphics card? And speaking of graphics cards…why should I have to buy a computer with a built-in monitor (iMac) or shell out nearly $3000 (Mac Pro) if I want to play a 3D shooter or two? Select any $800 windows box, spend $140 on a GFX card, and you’re rocking some decent fun!

Yet, because the EULA on OSX does not allow for installation on hardware that isn’t “Apple-labeled” (whatever that means), no one else can sell computers to install OSX on. And yes, OSX is worth installing.

All of that is (possibly) about to change.

Actually, it most probably will not change, but Psystar is going to try to sell non-Apple computers with OSX Preinstalled. Wait for it, wait for it…

Lawsuit.

Personally, I think this is awesome. Allow other people to enjoy the goodness of OSX without being constrained to a chioce between 5 or 6 different computer models. Let competition do its thing. But, alas, Apple will probably throw a ton of money at the justice system and just out-litigate Psystar. <sigh> As usual, the whole situation can be aptly summed up by Dumb and Dumber:

Lloyd: What do you think the chances are of a guy like you and a girl like me…ending up together?

Mary: Not good.

Lloyd: You mean, not good like one out of a hundred?

Mary: I’d say more like one out of a million.

Lloyd: So you’re telling me there’s a chance. Yeah!