WWSandMan

In case you're wondering why I took this photo instead of being at her side... I was setting up the camera to record the service on video (for family who couldn't be there, etc.) Meghan happened to walk up, not knowing I was in back getting the camera ready. When I saw her shoulders shaking though the viewport of the camera, I just instinctually snapped the photo. I didn't realize what I had captured until I was going through audio, video and stills this afternoon. Straight to the gut, this one.

Losing a parent is never an easy thing. Losing two within six months sucks. Meghan, sobbing, before the service for her mother.

Another musical master has moved on... Dickey Betts, guitarist, singer/doing-writer for The Allman Brothers Band passed away yesterday. Dickey was an unapologetic polarizing force, and a musical craftsman who never garnered the full credit he deserved. Seemed like folks who knew him either loved him or hated him, there was very little middle water with him. Regardless of what people thought of him personally, when he was on stage or in studio, his genius and talent were evident. As for The Allman Brothers band, there's only one surviving original member still with us: drummer Jaimo Johanson. Founding members rocking in heaven include Duane Allman, Barry Oakly, Butch Trucks, Greg Allman, and now Dickey Betts. Dickey Betts and Greg Allman, (Getty Images) : ~~~ Allman Brothers performing "Blue Sky" live in Boston, Aug. 9, 1995 (the day Jerry Garcia of The Grateful Dead passed away, the opening riff of this performance is in his honor) : https://youtu.be/tHcgmiQwEts?si=EaD9AGfBYHjOpdG6

Link to the WartHog page on Thrustmaster, with TARGET and associated driver, firmware and support links: https://support.thrustmaster.com/en/product/hotaswarthog-en/ The digital time-stamp on the latest Thrustmaster Target software is Jan 25, 2024 (so I'm a little slow on finding these) but the update includes some nice additions (from the Release Notes text file), especially the expansion of DirectX max buttons from 32 to 120. For my usage, since I rarely actually use the TARGET software to program my WartHog's buttons, I can now more easily assign button functions within each sim as DirectX inputs. So now I can make a single button press the same across different sims, without having to load a specific stick profile at the start of each sim amnd without 'running out of buttons' because of the previous 32 button limit. Simply assign commands to buttons within the sim itself. That option works a LOT better for my use. Yes, I lose the power that programming a specific profile meant for each sim gives, but I gain ease of use and muscle-memory quickness that (for example) 'increasing prop-pitch' is the same button press in MSFS as in IL-2 as in DCS.

The password book? That's how it looked new, too. I'm quite impressed this all looks so close to new. I think that was one of the first racing games I ever bought, I mean... look at the system requirements: "10mhz or faster recommended" LMAO

I volunteer Craven!

My daughter brought me a bunch of old scale model kits that were taking up space and collecting dust at my ex's place. In the collection of boxes, was this one. Anyone have a 3.5" or 5.25" floppy disk reader operational??

WoooHooo! Welcome aboard, WWDawg!

Yeah, the dust from this drama needs to settle down for a bit.

Getting there. Initial hook-ups made, no attention yet paid to cable routing, I just wanted to ensure the beast would run. Flew it Thursday evening, spent a few minutes on the airfield setting up necessary axis and key bindings. Machine handled IL-2 nicely.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/RueUFW8H1m4bJ2tt/?mibextid=oFDknk As with everything found on FB, peruse the comments for all kinds of story variations. The main point is that Eagle Dynamics hasn't been paying Razbam, creators of the recent F-15E module, as well as several others. Apparently Razbam name-dropped Heatblur in their Discord post shouting to the world about not getting paid, perhaps hoping to generate additional customer pressure on Eagle Dynamics. The problem with that is that Heatblur is getting paid by ED for modules, and have already posted that they have no issues with ED. What I do find intriguing is that all angles of the story on Facebook use Discord screenshots and links to support everyone's take on the matter. Congrats Discord, you've made it to the mainstream. I support Eagle Dynamics in this. Pay your third party module creators for good work, and with-hold payment for shoddy (Razbam-ish) work. I was skeptical of Razbam bring a DCS provider from my previous experience with Razbam products for MSFS 10. Those products were not at the same high levels as other add on creators.

To keep this off tracking thread heading in a direction that won't require an R rating... New box is in operation, but not thoroughly populated with stuff. Had a few issues on initial start up, such as the motherboard having no baseline nvme or networking software as part of its firmware. Installing Windows doesn't go well when the fancy new Gen 5 M2 drive can't be initiated. Or the "Everything is on the web, who needs a cd/DVD player?" *eye roll* Good thing I had multiple thumb drives available. Old box is in the basement next to the routers, but not yet plugged in. I need box one to be up before I start the side project.

All original equipment, dang it.Didn't even blow the dust bunnies out. My request for a little additional 'packaging' for my male package also went unfulfilled, though it did draw some interesting comments from the staff, and Meghan... Mostly grins, and "that's not my department, but yeah, you could use some help there." Meghan tried to defend my honor, but the nurse was sharper, saying something like "oh, honey, that's sweet. But you didn't get around much, did you?"

Boo, lost a long post. TL/DR version: Working on the new build: motherboard (cpu, memory, main m2 drive), power-supply, radiator and fans, case fans all installed. I have a couple steps before I disassemble the old one and start moving stuff around. Not trying to save existing software installs, will be re-installing everything from scratch and clearing/wiping existing drives. Putting most everything on the M2 drives, with spinning drives for mass storage (music/video/images/local backups.) Old box will maintain a single 1tb M2 drive for OS and limited other stuff. Might keep a 12tb spinner in that box if my networking idea works out. Have to work on re-cabling the house with CAT 8 (can handle up to 40gbps ethernet traffic on standard RJ45 connectors) ; that's a high priority issue.

I can do that, too... Here's a side view x-ray showing the four sets of stainless steel twist-ties holding my chest together: