This very morning, I woke up to some darn unpleasant news. I sat to my PC as usual, ready for work, when my MSN messenger, usually coming up at startup, suddenly blurted a strange message instead of logging in...



What the-?!! I mean... what does it mean "You MUST"?! Only things I MUST do is to pay taxes and die. But if I click "No", the program simply refuses to log in.

When they did it the last time, I was just mad, but I decided to obey, since the new version really was an upgrade. But what the hell is the crap "upgrade" of Windows Live 2009 supposed to be? Another Vista?

First, it's ugly as hell. Half the functions cannot be applied anymore. With Windows 7, you can't even minimize the program to tray! And half the computers are not able to connect to it, anyway. So you're just stuck with old version you're banned from and new version that's so bad it doesn't even work anymore.

Once again, Microsoft just proved themselves assholes who cannot even TEST a software properly before FORCING it on people. Both is bad, combination of those is exponentially worse.

And how could this happen, you ask, even without you installing any updates you know about? It's quite easy, actually - all Microsoft software's acting like the worst adware of any kind - yes, that kind of stuff they're warning you about all the time, that keeps downloading and installing unwanted stuff in your computer even without your consent or at least your awareness.

Luckily, there's a way around this whole ugly thing. Not exactly an easy one, but it's possible to cheat the system and win the fight over your trusty good old Windows Live MSN 8.5. Thank gods for the hacker crowd.

Oy, lucky me! Now I know I should appreciate my dear old versions more.


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I happen to be in a very... creepy situation. I ended up in a house arrest. What? No, I didn't commit any crime! House arrest is not yet in our legislative process, anyway. But I ended up stranded at home. And I cannot go out.

You see, I was supposed to attend a language course today, starting 10 AM. So I prepped my stuff and wanted to go out... and found out I have no way to transport over there. Normally, I would go via the subway and tram, but I found out I don't have a nickel to buy the public transport ticket.

Which would usually mean no problem, there's plenty to take from on my bank account. But since that is being transferred between the two different district offices right now and my card ceased to be valid with the last day of September, I cannot get to that money, either. I'll get a new one in a week and half.

I of course knew that in advance, so I asked my mother to lend me some spare cash. But we both forgot about it this morning.

I could usually use the SMS to buy a ticket, but my cranky cellphone refused to send the request. So I got out of home, went to the sub... and had to go back.

The car, my last resort, is useless as well, since there's no way I'd find a free parking lot for four hours in that part of the city.

Now... you still don't believe I bring bad luck? I'm already looking forward to explaining the reason for my absence.


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Guys, I'd like to ask you one thing.... grow up. Please?

There are many things that bug deviantArt. Of those, art theft and related issues are one of the most pressing.

There have been debates raging over art communities regarding art thieves, usually with a different outcome. And reading some of those is getting kinda creepy over the time.

The only thing I can agree with every one of those: Art theft is bad. But is it truly that bad? Is it worth casting out a member of the community for one mistake they did in their life? To behave like they committed a horrendous crime? To beat them with the art thief stigma for the rest of their existence?

Being an artist myself, I have no problems understanding why the authors want to claim their rights. But please, could we do it like civilized people of 21. century, without the witch hunting that usually goes with it?

I mean, unless the thief tried to make money out of your work, what that bad really happened? Most of the kids out there who do this only want to show the images they like, to share them with people. If you have signed your work, it's free advertisement!

And even if you mind using your art in that manner, it can always be resolved with cool. The arguments are better to get resolved with reason than with insults and shouting (or here, capital letters at least). We're an artistic community, not Spanish inquisition for Pete's sake!

And if you happen to be a witness to art theft, please, try to calm down your "dark avenger" mode. First off, inform the artist and get down from that. It's the ARTIST's word that counts. If they ask for your help in that matter, help them out. If they say they'll resolve the issue, let THEM resolve it. If they say they're fine with it, they really are, so do not go and report the deviation for a good measure, anyway.

dA admins are very specific creatures with no time on their hands and lots of stuff to flip through. They don't have time to read every comment on every deviation they delete (even though they should at least flip through them, since it's idiotic to delete something based only on a word of one person). So what you will do by your action is just cause unrest and anger.

And for both sides, remember - there is absolutely no point in following the former "thief" around, reminding them their past mistake. Art thieves are PEOPLE after all. People like you, me or your younger brother, people who make mistakes just like you or me. They deserve the same second chance as we had for the things they did wrong.

Please, remember that "fight against art thieves" is not supposed to be a war or a modern crusade. It's supposed to be about informing people that they did something wrong and how to avoid it the next time.

Consider it a constructive criticism in real life practice.



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I'm really beginning to wonder if I have anything like limits for the amount of bad news I can take per one summer before I break down. As of now, I'm just tired, but my will to fight back hasn't diminished as of yet. I wonder how long can that last.

A month ago, I thought my bad luck spree is finally coming to an end. I had great time on ČesFur (if you're from Central Europe, be sure to come next year - the more the merrier!), I had some time to finally take care of the stuff *I* wanted to do, I had plenty of fun reading CC's AMAZING X-Men: Forever (even though he killed Wolverine. Allright, no more of my favorite duo, then), and I've been told my computer was successfully repaired.

Oh well. Nothing nice ever lasts forever.

After getting my computer back, I found it... well, yes. Repaired. Hooray. No more frozen graphics. But. No more data, too. The asshole over at the repairs formatted my disc, wiping it totally clean (I even had to install a new operating system). Why? Because the VGA card was damaged. It's of course "totally necessary" to delete all the data on the hard drive, too.

Luckily, I backed up quite a large amount of my data while at Altair's place. But about 100 gigabytes of things I saved on it just prior to sending it over to the repairs is gone. Forever. Work-in-progress paintings and drawings, unfinished and recently finished articles for my X-MenCZ, most of my portfolio webcode. I can start it all over.

I kinda fail to see why he did it. Or if he fell some strange urge to delete my data, why couldn't he just pick up the phone and ask "Oh, there's about 300 or 400 GB on your hard drive. Are you SURE you will NOT need them anymore?"

Then, I have been told that my damaged Optimus Prime figure was accepted as a refund, since they have no way to get me another figure (in the meantime, it got out of stock). After Ironhide and Ravage (both pretty much out of reach for me), another one I won't have. Oh well.

Then, the San Diego Comic Con took place. Just as last year, I found out the Marvel chief editor is an even bigger ass than he was the last time I saw him speak out in the public. And I also reminded myself why mainstream X-Men books ceased to exist in my personal universe. Necrosha. Hell yeah, sure.

Ick.

Then, my gloomy mood was lifted a bit by the fact I ended up second in the Art Contest for EuroFurence conbook cover. It's the first time ever I placed in a such competition. I'm fighting back the urge to write to all the other contestants and apologize. Dunno for what, I just feel guilty.

And finally, one of the biggest hits I received. Yesterday, after more than a month since the "Big Car Crash" (see previous journal entry, if you wish to know more), the insurance group suddenly realized it's not their business resolving the issue, and they have to hand it over to a completely different company. Which will take another month or two. Now, I don't know how the hell am I supposed to get to EuroFurence this year, since I was to drive two more furries over there. Luckilly, my mother volunteered to drive us there... if we fit ourselves into her car... and if Altair and Charlie survive a trip with her (it's going to be like a fire and gasoline X_x)... and if I accept it, because she has enough of her own concerns as it is.

Plus, I have two weeks to finish at least four more paintings (I need to earn at least about 400 € on EF to last till the end of the year), learn for the bloody AC exam (or learn how to kick the teacher in the knee if she makes me fail again), finish my fursuit (which is probably the hardest thing to do, since I'm still missing two materials and my eyes are nowhere to be seen) and keep X-MenCZ up and running.

Oh my. I kinda miss the times when I could ask myself in the morning "Hmm, what would I like to do today?"


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And here... we... go. Again. No, the window - change went well, I still have my wall. But since the windows are already faulty, after only a week... you can't count that as a plus, either.

First, my computer, together with all my data, is STILL at the repairs. Yes. After... lemme count 27 days (the law states maximum of thirty) and their promise of an express service. Why? Because the guy over there is a bloody moron and instead of listening to me, he snapped I ain't a computer expert, so I should shut up and wait for his statement.
It was a very pleasant experience. Here, let me show you:

On June the 9th, tuesday, we brought the computer over to them. They promised they'll look onto it right away (express serivice, since the PC was there three times already) and let me know 'till friday.

Wednesday, thursday, friday - nothing.

On saturday, I called them myself and they stated that since the bug is not an easy one to recognize, the PC is on some thorough tests and those take longer than expected. But they will surely be done before wednesday.

Sunday, monday, tuesday, wednesday... no change, no call, no nothing.

At thursday, I called, still patient. The tech guy finally admitted he hasn't looked onto it as of yet (my patience was slowly wearing thin, but at least he admitted it, that was a small victory), but that he'll jump on it right away, run the tests and call me back to settle on further treatment. I additionaly told him I consulted the problem with another specialist and he told me, after a series of tests, that the problem is on 99% in the VGA card.

For the rest of thursday and friday, my phone used it's right to remain silent.

On saturday, I called again, a bit grumpy already. And I've been told by the man in the reception that the tech guy is not there on saturdays and that I'm to call back on monday, since he had no further information about my PC.

I armored myself with patience and waited 'till monday. After spending one WHOLE day repeatingly trying to reach them by phone, another day was wasted, since noone ever answered. Just then, at half past six PM, I finally triumphed and they picked it up... only to tell me the tech guy is there only from 9AM to 5PM and I'm to call the next morning.

I called the next morning... and finally reached the tech guy. Woohoo! But..:

Technician: "You again? What do you want?!"
Me: "Well, I'm sorry, sir, but I want to know what's with my PC and what the next progress will be."
Technician: "I told you twice before, I'll switch the parts for a Kingston and then let you know."
Me: "Wait, what? You told me you let me know BEFORE you start to do something!"
Technician: "And what good that would be to you? Are you a computer expert or what?"
Me: "I'm not a fool, either. Wait, Kingston? That's a RAM!"
Technician: "Yeah. So?"
Me: "Man, I told you TWICE before, that RAM is NOT to be touched. It's not bought from your store so you have no business poking your nose into it. Put it back, please."
Technician: "Well, that's gonna be a problem. First, I don't have yours anymore. Second, the glitch is probably in the RAM. 12% of this mark are faulty."
Me: "No, it ain't. The RAM is completely fine."
Technician: "Oh yeah? And how would you know?!"
Me: "I told you I'm not a fool. I can read, too. I ran a RAM test on it. Came out clean as a whistle."
Technician: "Oh well. Yes. They're fine. But I'd rather switch them, to be sure."
Me: "No way I'll let you switch a 4GB Corsairs for a 2GB Kingston. Put it back. And I don't care if you lost it, your mess is not my problem."
Technician: "I cannot repair your PC then. The problem is, the motherboard isn't reading the RAM correctly."
Me: "And is there some specific reason why not to switch the motherboard?"
Technician: "I already am!"
Me: "So why not switching it for something... compatible?"
Technician: "I want to try this one first! I tell you, the RAM are the problem."
Me: "And I'm telling you, it's not. They're completely healthy and fine... at least they were when I brought them over. I want them in. According to the Certified Vendors list, they HAVE to be compatible."
Technician: "Oh, if you're that good with computers, why not repair it yourself?!"
Me: "... first, I'm not. But I consulted with another specialist after *you* were unable to repair it three times. And second... why the hell should I? The PC is yet in a guarantee."
Technician: "Allright, allright, I'll switch it. But it won't work anyway. I'll let you know 'till friday."

Hell YEAH! What a customer service. Blow your nerves fast and easy!

On friday, I called him again. He told me the PC is on the tests and running fine for the moment. But that he'll keep it through the weekend to be sure.

On tuesday, I called him again. He said it's on tests since monday morning (he really HAS a mess over there) and running fine. I should call him tomorrow morning to see if anything changed and if it is to be fine, I can come along to pick it up.

On thursday, HE called me (I'm quite shocked), telling me it crashed again. And that he tried to switch the RAM again, for a Kingston (he has some sort of a RAM fetish, as it seems. No, really. An obssession. O.o ) and with that, it worked 15 hours straight without any problems. I failed to convince him it's just a luck, since we tested it with Kingston and it crashed with or without it. But claiming the RAM is not the one to be blamed (because according to the list, it just has to work) I managed to talk him into switching the motherboard once more, for a completely different mark. He said that's going to take some time, since he'll need to run the tests again... but hell, what are two more days? It's over there for almost a month.

Hooray. We might eventually get to the real problem - the VGA card! In a month or two...

Now, I'm waiting for a further progress. Today's a holiday, so maybe tomorrow... tomorrow I'll have a chance to end up with a heart attack.

But, that's just where the fun began.

Then, the institute I applied for didn't even reply on my note. Meaning I'm where I've been and have to start all over from a scratch. Nice.

Then, some drunk bloody imbeciles stole a neighbors car and took it for a ride... ending by crashing MY car (from the 236 cars on the whole block...). The rear end is busted, right where the fuel tank is. That will probably be damaged (it smells of gasoline when I try to start the engine). The whole rear axis is for a change, one of the wheels barely even holding to it. I don't know how fast did they go, but it must have been fast as hell, since "their" old Ford Orion ended up tossing my Ford Fusion (a car which is heavier and much sturdier) three whole meters and spinning it 90° around the clock. Niiiiice. But I'm finally convinced I chose a strong and safe car - comparing to what was left of the other one, ours has barely a scratch.

One problem is - the repair is issued for a month or two, and I'm supposed to act as a driver for both of the furry cons this summer. The assistence service lent me another, even larger than mine (after I mentioned I'll need to move lots of stuff - the man over there was really very kind), but getting used to it will be a bugger. It's a completely different mark (local Škoda). We'll see how it turns out.

But, there was an old and rusty Škoda Favorit (a very old car - back from 199...3, I guess) right behind my car during the crash. The rear end of my Ford stopped !literally! an inch from it's side (I measured - 3,2 cm). It doesn't even have a scratch in the paint. One lucky bastard. But I'm happy for them, at least. (since if that were to be the car that was hit, it would end up as spare parts. It barely holds together).

And last, not least: Working with Vista became increasingly difficult. Yesterday, the problems reached it's peak when it was saving ONE file for 21 minutes, during which it was totally frozen and thus unoperable. Nice, eh?

Plus, after succesfully evading all the crashes by fail-safe saving, I finished my 14 hours painting... and then, since it was 5 AM, I accidentaly overwrote it by failing to notice the extension I'm saving it with. So the originally 0.5 m canvas has now puny 640 pixels. I wanted to sell it's topclass canvas print on EuroFurence. Well. Goodbye to that dream, too. And why? Because Vista failed to ask me "Do you really want to overwrite the file?" Why should it ask, anyway. It knows better than me...

Now, after my three hours of sleep (cannot sleep longer, the weather's a killer, it's already 30°C in my part of the house - and it's barely 9 AM), I'm to resume my web works sleep-deprived, cranky and with a pain in the neck (literally). Now, what are the chances one can get hit by a meteorite? You can count on me breaking the statistic.

P.S. And like that weren't enough, I finally got to buying an Optimus Prime Voyager action figure... and after transforming it, I found it's faulty. It's missing a head.

Seriously, guys. I need a clover.



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