The Magic Smoke

My computer kept crashing a couple nights ago. I vacuumed the dust off the CPU fan (it was pretty dusty) I thought maybe it was overheating. I have done this numerous times over the years and never had any problems. I tried to turn it on... nothing. I unplugged it from the back, and plugged it in again, and it came on, but only sort of. The power light didn't come on. The CPU fan spun but that was it as far as I could tell.

then bad came to worse...

I smelled something familiar yet very unwelcome-smoke.
I quickly hit the switch on the surge protector. Then sat back in horror, thinking of how this happened. The only thing I can figure is that static from the vacuum hose got to my PC (why I never had this happen before I don't know. It never occurred to me really.) so now I have to find out where it's fried and replace it I guess. I hope since the power light/button doesn't work it is the power supply, but I doubt it will be that simple. I won't have the money to fix it for who knows how long...

I remember in Electronics class we would often fry various components (usually resistors) many times it was intentional, a few times it was due to trying to overpowering a laser pointer or something. My friend and I would joke that once the magic smoke came out of a component, it would never work the same if it worked at all. Those were good times-these are not.

so, that is what's happening in The World Of Brandon

Yet another new (for me) digital toy

Well, I'm typing this on two computers. Sound strange? yea it is, and pointless for the moment. I have begun playing with RealVNC which allows me to view and control another computer from my own. So... I'm testing it out by blogging through the family computer (downstairs) from my computer (in my bedroom) I think it's super. Although so far I have not been successful in getting it to work completely remotely (on computer not on the same network) but I'm figuring it out.

you can find the program or one like it at the following sites:

TightVNC (the smaller freer version that is good for slower connections)
RealVNC (as the name should imply this is the real version which is a bit less free)

well, I'm done for now
goodnight.

Changes Ahead Mateys!!

Well, I have not posted on here in a while. So I guess I should get you caught up...


I had an interview Monday at a place called Palco Telecom. They repair Motorola cell phones mainly. I passed my soldering test (even though I have not used a decent iron in close to two years) and my interviews went very well. My previous experience seemed to help me out a lot.
I'm really exited about it all. The pay isn't really what I'd like to be making, but it's better than what I currently make, and it's only a start, I'll get raises, and benefits.

I passed the drug test and background check with flying colors :-) that was good news (I would have been very supprised if either returned bad results)

on to my next thing real quick then I'm off to bed-I know, I know but it's 4:30AM and I have to work tomorrow.

I modded my Cold Heat soldering iron (if you can call it that) It still doesn't work that well, and I don't recommend them, but if you have one and you want to try something simple to perhaps give it more power and save alittle battery juice, try disconnecting the light LED on the front. I just clipped one wire at the connection to the LED in case I needed to put it back on, it still works.

I saved this as a draft and finished it up today, my dad was up getting ready for work.

Thats all for this segment of The World Of Brandon