Crazy lucky video

It seems that nobody was seriously hurt in these videos.


This+is+some+crazy+shit!!!+MUST+SEE

Got it from a friend on Facebook.

Computer trouble #1: change Windows Server 2003 Volume License Key

Recently, many of the computers I'm using/taking care of had problems. For starters, I'm using a Compaq Proliant server at work so I can log to it remotely doing things involving huge data transfer between a separtate data server. It's running Windows Server 2003 with a volume license. Starting early this year, the volume license provided along with the server by an outside vendor stopped working and I can't get microsoft update any more. The vendor provided another license but they told me to reinstall everything in order to update the license key.

After some searching, I found out that you do not have to reinstall Windows to change the license key. Here's an Microsoft support article:

Briefly, I need to modify the registry so the windows to deactivate Windows. Once deactivated, Windows will automatically remind you to activate windows through the Internet or phone a MS customer service representative to get a new license key.

So I pretended that I called Microsoft and get the new license key. Once entering the new key, and reactivate Windows registry, everything works.

One problem the MS support article didn't mention is that there's an activation code field which is the default of the activation process. I assume that this is the code the MS call center gives out. In my case, since I have a new volume license key, I had to specifically choose entering CD-key.

Now one problem is out of the way, I can come back to deal with the failed hard drive on my X61 tablet. The annonying part is that the new Intel X-25M 80G SSD I ordered from NewEgg failed also. I had to mail it back for replacement. Will update that later.

The 230 mpg Chevy Volt

GM just said that their preliminary test on the 2011 Chevy Volt shown a health 230 mile per gallon in city driving. I assume this is great news comparing to the 14 mpg (city) on my old Explorer.

Wait a minute, this is a plug-in electric viehcle, what does the 230 mpg mean? My understanding would be if running purely on the gas generator, the car with run at 230 miles for each gallon of gas used. That will be translated into roughly 0.43 gallon or $1.3 per 100 miles based on today's gas prices of $3/gallon.

Not bad.

On the bottom of the Times' article, the author also mentioned that "GM... expected the Volt to consume as little as 25 kilowatt hours per 100 miles in city driving". Based on current California's consumer electricity price of 14.5 cents per KWH, it will cost $3.63 to drive 100 miles.

Now let's see whether I get this right:

According to this article, a completely gas powered electrical car will be about 2.8 times cheaper than the same car using electricity from the the grid.

There's something wrong with this picture or I am not capable of do 2nd grade math. If it's true, why would anyone want to plug in for 8 hours for each 40 miles single charge driving range?