My company last friday announced an additional wave of layoffs that will trim our
workforce another 1,000 heads or so. Also, the Swiss subsidiary where I was hired several years ago will most probably be closed. Around here, HP just annouced it’s laying off 6,000 people, and JDS Uniphase is handing out pink slips to a similar number of employees. A new breed of ads has also started showing up on the radio, inviting listners to attend auctions where massive quantities of office and computer
equipment from dotcoms gone bust is being handed out for ridiculous prices.
Archive for July, 2001
Talk about chaos…
July 29, 2001Who says PCs are obsolete quickly?
July 26, 2001Since the CPU upgrade went so well, I figured I would try to see just how far this box will go. Well two 64MB SIMMs later, I’m running Windows 2000 with a total 160MB RAM. Who says PCs are obsolete quickly?
Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within
July 14, 2001At long last, Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within was released this week. We didn’t make it to the first showing but the day after that. Ok, so the CG actors are not perfect, the way they move around isn’t always satisfactory and the storyline is a little twisted.
But the bottom line remains: this movie marks a giant step in the history of computer-based animation. The digital actors are convincing enough that you find your mind constantly swinging between almost believing you’re watching humans – and your instinct which tells you these are just digital fantasies. Highly recommended, if only to witness the progress made since Tron or Toy Story. More information here and here.
PC upgrade
July 9, 2001I’m realizing that I’d better setup a specialized section for that kind of stuff because all of you probably care at various degrees about how my computer is doing. Anyway. After reading through tons of material related to upgrading CPUs, I picked an
AMD K6-III 400Mhz to replace my good old, trustworthy Pentium 200Mhz. I ordered the CPU + fan/heatsink combo over the Net a few days ago and got it today in the mail. Besides one trip to Fry’s (I had selected an incorrect plug for the fan), the installation went flawlessly. So much for computers that “become outdated as soon as you carry them out of the shop”. This one puppy is 5 years old, has USB ports, connects to the Net through ADSL and now cruises along at 400Mhz :-)
Los Angeles (FR)
July 1, 2001Jeudi 14 juin, depart pour Los Angeles. Nous avons choisi la voiture plutot que l’avion dans l’objectif de rentrer quelques jours apres par la Pacific Coast Highway (alias Highway 1) longeant l’ocean Pacific. Pour descendre ce jeudi nous optons pour un trajet plus direct via la Interstate 5 – ou I-5 pour les intimes. Depart a 6:30 du matin.
