ASUS EAH4870 dead fan

Written by: adekun on 17 November, 2008 7:22 pm - Filed under: blog — No Comments »

It would appear that Dell are not going to offer a satisfactory solution to address the many problems I have encountered since purchasing one of their high-end laptops. At the start of the month, I ordered the components to build a desktop which I hoped to reduce the risk of future troubles.
A week after assembling the new system it shut off in the middle of defragmenting the hard drive. Restarting the found that all the files were lost and that the fan was no longer spinning on the graphics card. (continue reading…)

Tags: craptop, whinge

Another cooked card

Written by: adekun on 18 August, 2008 4:20 pm - Filed under: blog — No Comments »

I can add a second whinge today. As I was publishing the last post some patterns appeared on the screen. Having to reboot, the only thing to reappear was a blank screen. I just popped the previous faulty card in, which at least brings up a garbled Dell logo. Seems as though the replacement graphics card is cooked along with the replacement battery. Maybe I should be sitting in an air-conditioned office or something?
It didn’t appear to be running too hot and if it was shouldn’t there have been a warning? In a quandary, yet not flustered. There isn’t much I can do about it. Anyway, I hope to somehow continue posting every couple of days.

Tags: craptop, whinge

2008 Summer Olympics

Written by: adekun on 1:54 pm - Filed under: blog — 2 Comments »

While across the globe the world watches the Beijing* 2008 Summer Olympics, here in Japan it’s the Peking Olympic. In this second guise the viewer gets to see Team Japan take on the world’s top athletes along with prejudiced commentary.
Fortunately those interested in watching the rest of the games (those events in which Japan is not good), have at least the internet.

Tags: whinge

Milking the cash cow

Written by: adekun on 10 August, 2008 4:08 pm - Filed under: blog — 2 Comments »

A couple of months back there was a report on the cash crisis. An American mother was in tears complaining milk being at the same price as gasoline? Although disparate in the UK, it made me recall dairy farmers protesting against their diminishing share of the end retail price.
I can understand cost increases being passed through, but do wonder if it’s all a bit off-kilter. Here in Japan, something that doesn’t need a reminder is the cost of food.
In one of the less affluent prefectures I’m thoroughly disgusted at the following:

Milk c. ¥250 a litre
Butter ¥408 for 200g (naturally the shelf was bare).
Imported Devon cream 170ml just under ¥2000. That’s almost a tenner in English money.
Grated ‘Pizza’ cheese 320g ¥688
Cheese 100g around ¥500

It’s not just dairy products. The overpriced ¥300 Japanese garlic is now suddenly ¥400 a head. Is this a fair reflection of cost? Are you taking the Michael? Perhaps what I should come to terms with is that it price isn’t an issue. People now are so dependant that if that’s the price then it shall be paid with little more than a grumble - at best. The corporations are at liberty to charge what they like and there will be no riot.

Tags: food and drink, news, politics, whinge

Out with the old and in with the old

Written by: adekun on 2 August, 2008 6:35 pm - Filed under: blog — No Comments »

Today sees ailing Prime Minister Fukuda’s new cabinet inaugurated. The forbearing Japanese can now look forward to a raft of reforms instead of the usual dithering and inaction. If the latest reshuffle doesn’t upset the apple cart, the golden age may last until next September when an equally dynamic team get elected.

Long live the gerontocracy!

Tags: news, politics, whinge

Butter my arse

Written by: adekun on 30 May, 2008 10:06 pm - Filed under: blog — 2 Comments »

Towards the end of March notices appeared above the empty butter shelves. The general theme was an apology from the supermarket manager saying they are unsure when the next delivery will be. Although it hasn’t been the most fervent of searches, Monday brought an end to over a month without any respite. I spotted a few blocks. They must have just had a delivery and I was in the right place at the right time. A steal I thought at ¥368 for a scant 200 g. Along with the ridiculously priced apples and flour, pie making will have to wait (probably indefinitely). I also spotted seven cherries for ¥298.
There have been many stories covering this phenomenon. Hashimoto an official at the Ministry of Agriculture was quoted “Drought in Australia which pushed up the cost of cattle feed and bulging demand for butter elsewhere in Asia are making butter imports more expensive and shoppers are turning to made in Japan butter. The bottom line is, however, butter is not our staple food. Personally, I can happily switch to margarine.” (continue reading…)