Chat Log: *I’m Nicole. FYI. I was using her name since it’s registered to her.*

GWSI1202 says: Welcome to Gateway Chat. My name and badge number are GWSI1202. I am looking at your account and the information you submitted. I will begin troubleshooting with you in just a moment.
Nicole says: Hello.
GWSI1202 says: Thank you for staying online.I really appreciate your patience.
GWSI1202 says: Hi Nicole.How are you doing today?
GWSI1202 says: I have verified that the product is covered under warranty. However let me check how can I help you with this issue.
Nicole says: I’m fine. I’ll be better when I get this worked out. You’re the fourth technician I’ve had the pleasure of interacting with today.
Nicole says: Hello?
GWSI1202 says: Yes.
GWSI1202 says: From the information you provided I understand that you want to know how to flash the bios. Am I correct?
GWSI1202 says: Don’t worry. I will try to resolve your issue as early as possible.We apologize you for the inconvenience.
Nicole says: yes
GWSI1202 says: RESET BIOS1.Reset BIOS settings to default settings2.Press F2 at the splash screen to enter the BIOS.3.In the BIOS, press F9 to reset the BIOS to setup defaults. 4.At the confirmation screen, press Enter for Yes. 5.Press F10 to save and Exit. 6.At the confirmation screen, press Enter for Yes. The computer reboots.Note: If the computer has an add-in sound card, disable the integrated (onboard) audio after setting the BIOS to defaults.
GWSI1202 says: Please follow the steps provided and if you have any issues, feel free to get back to us at any time.
GWSI1202 says: Since this is a time consuming process, I cannot walk you through this. Please try this and if you have any issues feel free to get back to us.
GWSI1202 says: To save your chat log, please click on the “View Live Log” button at the bottom left side of the chat window. It will open a chat log window. Please use the option to “Save log to disk”. Keep in mind you do not need a disk or cd. You can simply save the log to your system.
Nicole says: okay wait
Nicole says: How do i update the BIOS.
Nicole says: I downloaded the new BIOS software, but cannot figure out how to install that.
Nicole says: An earlier technician said I needed to put the software onto a CD to boot from, but the LT 1000 series does not have a CD Drive.
GWSI1202 says: Please provide me couple of moments while I look for the solution to help you with this issue.
Nicole says: thanks
GWSI1202 says: Iam sorry to say this, for this computer we dont have cd/dvd drive..
Nicole says: I am aware of that.
Nicole says: I’m holding the computer, I can see that there isn’t a cd/dvd drive
GWSI1202 says: I request you to call local technician he will help you out.
Nicole says: what local technician?
GWSI1202 says: Any from local store.
Nicole says: yeah they said we had to contact Gateway directly.
Nicole says: so here I am. Contacting Gateway.
GWSI1202 says: Okay.
Nicole says: So…there’s nothing else you can do for me?
GWSI1202 says: To fix this issue, we need to send your computer for repair.
GWSI1202 says: It takes 7-10business days.
Nicole says: ok
GWSI1202 says: Just give me a moment.
Nicole says: ok
GWSI1202 says: Thank you for being online.
Nicole says: no problem
GWSI1202 says: You need to pay one way shipping charges.
Nicole says: the warranty doesn’t cover all shipping? that seems wrong.
GWSI1202 says: If it is okay with you then i sechdule your computer for repair.
GWSI1202 says: Iam sorry to say th free shipping charges is only for one month.
GWSI1202 says: Are we still connected?
Nicole says: we are
GWSI1202 says: Okay.
Nicole says: What do we need to do to schedule this?
GWSI1202 says: We need to sechdule your computer for repair, to fix this issue.
GWSI1202 says: Are we still connected?
Nicole says: Yes.
Nicole says: But what do I need to do to get it scheduled.
GWSI1202 says: Okay.
Nicole says: What’s happening?
GWSI1202 says: I would like to provide you with the lates bios update.
GWSI1202 says: Pleas use the below link to download the bios update:
GWSI1202 sent a link to . [http://support.gateway.com/support/drivers/getFile.asp?id=22623&uid=261772017]
GWSI1202 says: You need download the bios update from the link.
GWSI1202 says: After that you need to burn it to a disk as an ISO image.
GWSI1202 says: After you burn that you need to insert the disk and restart the PC.
GWSI1202 says: You will have the option to flash the bios or update the bios.
Nicole says: You seem to have forgotten that my computer doesn’t have a disc drive.
GWSI1202 says: In such scenarios you need to send your computer on depot repair.
GWSI1202 says: Is that okay with you?
Nicole says: Yes. We already went through this conversation
Nicole says: I’ve been waiting on you to tell me what to do to schedule such repairs.
GWSI1202 says: I will let you know.
GWSI1202 says: If I am right you are facing issue the battery, is that correct?
Nicole says: I assume so since the computer won’t recognize its existence.
GWSI1202 says: Please remove the battery and turn on the laptop using only the adaptor.
Nicole says: and then what?
GWSI1202 says: Let me know if the computer turn on or not?
Nicole says: it does.
GWSI1202 says: Alright.
GWSI1202 says: Have you tried checking using any similar battery to know if your laptop can detect other batteries or not?
Nicole says: Are you truly this daft or are you just messing with me now?
Nicole says: Why would I have extra batteries lying around, and if I were to have extra batteries that worked this would be a nonissue.
GWSI1202 says: As per the information provided the issue could be because of the laptop or the bad battery,
GWSI1202 says: Hence we need to tak your laptop for repair.
GWSI1202 says: Is that okay with you?
Nicole says: I think we’re done here.
Nicole says: This is the third you’ve said it needs to go in for repairs and I’ve said okay.
Nicole says: Clearly there is some miscomunication somewhere.
GWSI1202 says: For this you need to send us the computer to our authorized repair center, I would let you know about the address.
Nicole says: Which isn’t your fault really.
Nicole says: It’s your employers fault.’
Nicole says: If I seem upset with you, I’m not. Just so you know.
GWSI1202 says: I apologize for the inconvenience.
GWSI1202 says: Please let me know shall I go ahead now and place you a repair service.
Nicole says: No. I think I’m done dealing with this for tonight.
GWSI1202 says: Its okay.
Nicole says: I think that I’m at my wit’s end.
GWSI1202 says: You can contact us at any point of time.
GWSI1202 says: It was a pleasure working with you. My name and badge number are GWSI1202. Thank you for using Gateway Remote Assistance and have a great day.
Nicole says: Of course. I’m not entirely sure if I want to at this point.
Nicole says: Yeah enjoy your night.
GWSI1202 says: To save your chat log, please click on the “View Live Log” button at the bottom left side of the chat window. It will open a chat log window. Please use the option to “Save log to disk”. Keep in mind you do not need a disk or cd. You can simply save the log to your system.
GWSI1202 says: It was a pleasure working with you. Your Service Request number is1-64SYQF My name and badge number are GWSI1202. Thank you for using Gateway Remote Assistance and have a great day.

At first I really felt for Bernard, and disliked everyone else for the constant barrage of insults towards the only character that appeared to have any kind of enlightenment. However as the story progressed I found myself thinking of Bernard as just another fool in London, and couldn’t stand him for much past meeting John in New Mexico. I’ve done no research on the topic, and maybe that’s bad, but I don’t care currently, of how well Bernard is generally regarded among readers. If you’ve read this, what did you think of him?

John the Savage is the character I found myself caring the most about, but in the end still not particularly enjoying his acquaintanceship. Of course he’s the character who’s faced the most hardship. He’s a bastard child in the native tribe facing derision and exclusion daily. He takes find comfort in the world of Shakespeare’s characters, of course he’s greatly disappointed to learn that the “civilized” world isn’t aware of who Shakespeare was, with exception to some rule bending head honchos. Of course the reader is nearly forced to feel even worse for John when he is forced to come to terms with the fact that civilization isn’t quite as spectacular as Linda had made it out to be. You know, I’m going to go ahead and renege on not liking any of the characters, hate me if you will, but as I write this I’ve decided that John, I like.

Lenina, the apple of John’s eye, is annoying throughout the story.

Linda is abandoned by a past lover in New Mexico with the savages. She spends all of her time in the novel upset about having to be a mother, upset about having to drink alcohol and face a hangover each morning rather than popping pills, bedding men, or dieing.

Also, I haven’t decided how I feel about the dictator theme running through the characters’ names.

While it appears after writing this, and having some time to stew over the book, I didn’t enjoy it as much as I’d hoped I would. I’m still going to say that you should read it if you haven’t. Despite it not being a favorite of mine, it’s worth the read.

I’m not entirely sure how this list came to be, especially since some of the items are sort of duplicates of others, Hamlet and The Complete Works of Shakespeare.

I’ve striked the ones I’ve read, italicized the ones that are incomplete and made bold the ones I want to read.

1. Pride and Prejudice – Jane Austen*
2. The Lord of the Rings – JRR Tolkien**
3. Jane Eyre – Charlotte Bronte
4. Harry Potter series – JK Rowling
5. To Kill a Mockingbird – Harper Lee
6. The Bible
7. Wuthering Heights – Emily Bronte
8. Nineteen Eighty Four – George Orwell
9. His Dark Materials – Philip Pullman
10. Great Expectations – Charles Dickens
11. Little Women – Louisa M Alcott
12. Tess of the D’Urbervilles – Thomas Hardy
13. Catch 22 – Joseph Heller
14. Complete Works of Shakespeare
15. Rebecca – Daphne Du Maurier
16. The Hobbit – JRR Tolkien
17. Birdsong – Sebastian Faulk
18. Catcher in the Rye – JD Salinger
19. The Time Traveler Wife – Audrey Niffenegger
20. Middlemarch – George Eliot
21. Gone With The Wind – Margaret Mitchell
22. The Great Gatsby – F Scott Fitzgerald
23. Bleak House – Charles Dickens
24. War and Peace – Leo Tolstoy
25. The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy – Douglas Adams***
26. Brideshead Revisited – Evelyn Waugh
27. Crime and Punishment – Fyodor Dostoyevsky
28. Grapes of Wrath – John Steinbeck
29. Alice in Wonderland – Lewis Carroll
30. The Wind in the Willows – Kenneth Grahame
31. Anna Karenina – Leo Tolstoy
32. David Copperfield – Charles Dickens
33. Chronicles of Narnia – CS Lewis
34. Emma – Jane Austen
35. Persuasion – Jane Austen
36. The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe
37. The Kite Runner – Khaled Hosseini
38. Captain Corelli’s Mandolin – Louis De Bernieres
39. Memoirs of a Geisha – Arthur Golden
40. Winnie the Pooh – AA Milne
41. Animal Farm – George Orwell
42. The Da Vinci Code – Dan Brown****
43. One Hundred Years of Solitude – Gabriel Garcia Marquez
44. A Prayer for Owen Meaney – John Irving
45. The Woman in White – Wilkie Collins
46. Anne of Green Gables – LM Montgomery
47. Far From The Madding Crowd – Thomas Hardy
48. The Handmaid’s Tale – Margaret Atwood
49. Lord of the Flies – William Golding*****
50. Atonement – Ian McEwan
51. Life of Pi – Yann Martel******
52. Dune – Frank Herbert
53. Cold Comfort Farm – Stella Gibbons
54. Sense and Sensibility – Jane Austen
55. A Suitable Boy – Vikram Seth
56. The Shadow of the Wind – Carlos Ruiz Zafon
57. A Tale Of Two Cities – Charles Dickens
58. Brave New World – Aldous Huxley
59. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time – Mark Haddon
60. Love In The Time Of Cholera – Gabriel Garcia Marquez
61. Of Mice and Men – John Steinbeck
62. Lolita – Vladimir Nabokov
63. The Secret History – Donna Tartt
64. The Lovely Bones – Alice Sebold
65. Count of Monte Cristo – Alexandre Dumas
66. On The Road – Jack Kerouac
67. Jude the Obscure – Thomas Hardy
68. Bridget Jones’s Diary – Helen Fielding
69. Midnight’s Children – Salman Rushdie
70. Moby Dick – Herman Melville
71. Oliver Twist – Charles Dickens
72. Dracula – Bram Stoker
73. The Secret Garden – Frances Hodgson Burnett
74. Notes From A Small Island – Bill Bryson
75. Ulysses – James Joyce
76. The Bell Jar – Sylvia Plath
77. Swallows and Amazons – Arthur Ransome
78. Germinal – Emile Zola
79. Vanity Fair – William Makepeace Thackeray
80. Possession – AS Byatt
81. A Christmas Carol – Charles Dickens
82. Cloud Atlas – David Mitchell
83. The Color Purple – Alice Walker
84. The Remains of the Day – Kazuo Ishiguro
85. Madame Bovary – Gustave Flaubert
86. A Fine Balance – Rohinton Mistry
87. Charlotte’s Web – EB White
88. The Five People You Meet In Heaven – Mitch Albom
89. Adventures of Sherlock Holmes – Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
90. The Faraway Tree Collection – Enid Blyton
91. Heart of Darkness – Joseph Conrad
92. The Little Prince – Antoine De Saint-Exupery
93. The Wasp Factory – Iain Banks
94. Watership Down – Richard Adams
95. A Confederacy of Dunces – John Kennedy Toole
96. A Town Like Alice – Nevil Shute
97. The Three Musketeers – Alexandre Dumas
98. Hamlet – William Shakespeare
99. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory – Roald Dahl
100. Les Miserables – Victor Hugo

Read: 18
Incomplete: 5
To-Read: 14

These numbers don’t really bring me up to the full 100, however it does bring me over the requisite 6, but I don’t mind. I’m not interested in a lot of them at this time, but maybe that will change. Any good reasons I should read the unmarked ones? Leave a comment.

*This one is only in the running, because it has been released with new zombie upgrade.
**I started these and stopped. I attempted to read them at the height of my fantasy obsession, and couldn’t get through them. I’ll probably try again.
***This is probably the best series of book ever. I love Douglas Adams’ writing. I just picked up the sixth book in the trilogy. Adams had started it, but passed before finishing. It was written in his stead by Eoin Colfer.
****I don’t know why this is on here, but Angels & Demons isn’t. It was clearly the better book.
*****Probably my favorite book.
******In the top running for Chet’s Favorite Book.

For more information: [Wikipedia Article]

Also see: [User Friendly]

Hopefully this guide will help keep my review straight for those not privvy to the whole wide world of Ender Wiggins and his compatriots. Enjoy!

The Enderverse broken down to only its essential novels.

Now for the full review:

I’m not entirely sure what led me to decide that I should invest time into this book years after Frey’s exposure by Oprah on national television as a fraud. Maybe there was a part of me that decided that even though most of it was fabricated it would be a decent enough read, assuming the false parts improved the story. However, while the fibs did make the story more interesting, it did not prove to be a good read.

Most of the story is rather trite about a degenerate male who has spent most of his life, age 10 to 23, smashed on booze, drugs or an amalgamation of both. The book doesn’t so much focus on his formative years, as his time in a rehabilitation clinic in Minnesota. Here he meets some interesting characters, all of which have either moved on to better things or ceased to exist at this time.

I could never get my self to accept James Frey as the demented soul that, I think, he was trying to portray himself as. Maybe I don’t have enough respect or understanding for the struggle of a recovering addict, but I’m going to say that I just don’t like Jimmy Frey. His adventure in rehab is marked by him meeting mysterious mafioso, jazzy judges and a woe-some woman. Of course we’re also privy to his “fury”, which I liken to Dexter’s Dark Passenger except self destructive. I will admit that taken at face value the plot isn’t terrible, especially for those who love the underdog. I mean he did become clean and sober in one fail swoop on his own system that has a lower success rate than the 12-step system.

My biggest complaint toward this book is the dialog structure. It was a constant back and forth exchange, or very repetitive conversation. It seemed that Frey assumed that his readers wouldn’t have the mental capacity to keep up with which character was speaking without directly indicating who said what each time a line of dialog was written. There were several instances that I had to skip ahead in the book just to get through the painfully repetitive dialog.

All in all, if you want to read a book about an underdog who pukes and messes himself, goes through dental surgery without anesthesia, falls for a broken woman, escapes from a multi-felonious wrap sheet with a wrist slap and survives rehab all to have a fifth of Jack poured down the sink, then by all means, enjoy. However if you want to read something interesting, and explores the dark side of the human psyche, pick up Haunted by Chuck Palahniuk.

Here’s a link with a great chart for those of you who need more help: Learn Your Damn Homophones [NSFW]

Large scarlet fans circulate the rising heat. The air is polluted with the salty essence of sweat. Shadows fall and strobe lights beat with the bass line. As the crowd rushes the stage, a Zydijan crashes, a Gibson whines, Fender and Marshall boom filling the steel hall with noise. Portals of chaos open and close at random intervals. Bodies slam, energizing the heat-draft like uranium in an atom smasher. As the music wavers and falls away, Dasani begins to flow, rejuvenating the crowd like a burst of fresh air to a flame. The rumble of the bass and the stroke of Paul’s masterpiece overtake the room again, drowning the ambient scene away. The shadows coalesce at the apex of the noise, and portals swirl faster and faster. Limbs flail; eyes flash. Silence. The room reverberates as a .44 caliber love letter floods the night.

Often Ezra feels as though they are the crowning optimist. Especially with regard to other people, who are overly concerned with the perpetual marathon life has become. Little do they know, there are others among them. [link]

You all should check it out, give it a try, and share what you commit to the project in the comments below.