(no subject)

I always wondered why my Xbox wouldn't boot in non-modded mode. Since it died over Christmas, I thought I'd check it out (the X3CE lights on the front aren't illuminated, and long-press never did work).

Once of the lines was trapped under a screw and broken off, then taped down. I moved the tape, the wire detached, and the Xbox booted up unmodded. Does one take D0 to ground to select the X3CE flash, I wonder...

So I no longer have an XBMC setup, but the Xbox works. I think I will have a peer at where that line went to (D0, I am guessing) and repair it when I'm next in Birmingham. Assuming my X3CE isn't fried, of course. It's two years old now, so any attempt at asking for a warranty replacement would be laughable! If it is broken, would anyone want an X3CE front panel, LCD, USB component etc?

Unexpected present!

My dad bought me a birthday present!

An Ashdown Acoustic Radiator amp - 100W RMS guitar amp of very pleasant tone and rather nice design, intended for acoustic guitars with built-in pickups and supposed to have been there to go to Birmingham with my Lamaq apparently! I tried it with his Godin and Lowden guitars and it was most impressive, but it also sounds nice with my "vintage" Kramer (which needs the tone control repaired).

He apparently also ordered me a headset mic to go with the vocoder I was showing him in the Supernova II.

Makes me wish I could play guitar, really.

Everything else appears to be mostly up to speed now, Carphone Whorehouse are pissing me off immensely however. I seriously, strongly, recommend NOT DEALING WITH THEM. Ever. Normally I'd think buying the odd accessory was okay, but I am now so annoyed and disgusted with their behaviour that I will not set foot in one of their stores again. Essentially, they're trying to use a debt collection agency to collect a bill I've already paid because I still have an outstanding balance that consists of two bills they issued whilst delaying my disconnection request. There's no debt and no bill, they're just refusing to tell the agency that the bill has been paid until the account is closed.

Range Rover Sport. Yes, I looked at one. The seats are too hard, it uses too much fuel, and I'd hate myself, but I have at least removed it from the mental landscape now.