View From the Bushes

For the last few decades (maybe more), teachers have de-emphasized memorization and learning things by rote. The theory is that you can always look it up. Well, that's not necessarily true. You can't always look it up, plus it looks much more impressive if you don't have to. Allow me to offer a story to buttress the point. As I mentioned yesterday, I got a new GeForce FX. I also mentioned that I'm not a huge Windows fan.

When spec-ing out my new system, my "hardware buddy" talked me into getting a motherboard with a GeForce4 MX on board as a way of saving some money. When we got everything up and running my monitor wouldn't go above 1024x768 and maintain 32-bit color. We tried everything, but eventually my buddy felt so bad that he bought me an FX out of what I'd paid him to build the computer, which was above and beyond the call. So I took it home, slapped it in, and booted it up. Everything worked smoothly. I went and checked the display properties, and sure enough, this baby would go all the way to 2560x1920 in 32 bit color. So I thought, what the heck, I'm pretty sure my monitor can't handle that resolution, but I'm going to try it any way. It'll revert to the old setting if it doesn't work. It didn't revert....

Thus began a long and painful process of trying to get my monitor back. I pulled the card out and put it back in 4 different times. I tried messing with the bios. I messed with the monitor cable. I lit candles and prayed to my ancestors. I asked my four-year old son. At this point, there are many (okay two of my five faithful readers) out there who are saying why didn't you just start it in "safe mode?" Because I couldn't remember how. (BTW, if any one at Microsoft is listening, F8 is NOT intuitive!) And because my computer was unusable, I couldn't look it up either. Thus the point of the story.

Carpe Diem Quam Minimum Credula Postero,
Ross