Naxxfish

Oh, OrCAD.  If it weren’t for these little gems of error messages, I’d throw it out the window.

I’ve been in the lab since I finished work 4 hours ago.  I’ve still not managed to get my embedded system board routed.  I’m annoyed with:

• 40 pin TQFP packages
• IDC connectors
• OrCAD’s autorouter
• Having to mix surface mount and through-hole components because I can’t be sure what package certain things are labeled as in OrCAD.

I’m going home now >_<

Some of the wonderful questions I get asked at helpdesk:

Hi, I just got a printer with my laptop and it doesn’t work.  Does it have anything to do with the University Website?

(In the Library)
Where are the books?

• User: Printer 1 is jammed!
• Me: Um, no it isn’t.  What’s your username?
• User: ***
• Me: Right, well, it’s definitely not jammed because you didn’t print anything – you don’t have any printer credit left
• User: Credit?
• Me: Yes, you have to pay for printing.  Sometimes your Department will give you an allowance but if you go over that you have to pay it yourself.
• User: What, I have to pay for it?  Out of my own money?
• Me: … yes.
• User: Psh, screw that.  I’m using Printer 2 instead.
• Me: … you have to pay for that one as well.
• User: What about the one in Rutherford?
• Me: Yes, you have to pay for ALL of the printers around campus, unless you’re an Electronics students and their printers are free
• User: Oh, how do I become an Electronics student?
• Me: I think changing your degree over a 50p document may be a little extreme.

After being told to plug their console into the network so we can register it

• User: I’ve plugged it in like you said, what’s next?
• Me: Um, you’ll need to turn it on as well.

At 1800, just as the office is closing

• User: Hi, I need an appointment because I can’t get on the Internet. I need it TODAY
• Me: Well, I’m sorry, but I’m just about to lock the office up now. I can book you an appointment for tomorrow though.
• User: No, no, it’s got to be TODAY. I have an assignment in tomorrow
• Me: *sigh* What’s the problem?
• User: Mah laptop won’t turn on.
• Me: Well, I’m afraid we can’t help you with that, you’ll need to see a computer repair shop. I can give you a list of places who could help …
• User: Nah nah, they won’t be open will they?
• Me: No, they won’t – for the same reason we’re not!

There will be more.

Campus was closed after 1PM today due to snow.  Which of course means, SNOW FIGHT.

It’s snowing in Canterbury!  Whee.  Lots of dark clouds, and my patio has been turned into a giant natural etch-a-sketch (except with less vibration and more snow).

Also, I decided to buy some Wendsleydale cheese the other week and I’ve been wondering what to do with it.  After Ben did some googling for me, he came up with Rostis!  So, I grated a potato and some cheese, added some thyme, salt and pepper, squeezed it out to get rid of the excess moisture, added an egg and proceeded to fry away.  Had two of them with baked beans, and it was very tasty.  Probably the most complicated thing I’ve cooked in a few weeks.

Afterwards I decided to try Wendsleydale and Rasperry Jam on toast.  Surprisingly, it was very tasty!  I recommend it to anyone who has some Wendsleydale and doesn’t know what to do with it.

On the “how many kittens” front, I’m doing some research into the various parameters including positioning and power output of an average kitten.  It’s starting to become a rather complex problem.