News, rants, verbal assaults from the past...
	07-05

Just a re-cap on the "Beat the Meat2" LAN Party coming-up, guess it was a little presumptuous to assume everyone knows what it is and since I'm getting a lot of EMail asking what it's all about, I'll re-cap (...for those who's scroll bars are jammed  :) ...).  On the long weekends, we host at residence (...that being Abattoir home base, or my 'home' for the laymen...) a LAN Party.  You sign-up, (...send me EMail saying, "I want in!"...) then Saturday, July 4th, you come to the Abattoir with your PC, we have tables and cables all ready to go (...we even vacuum the joint!...), we install ethernet cards (...if you need one...) free of charge, hook you up, then beat the living 5h1t out of you in Quake2...  What could be more phun!?  =)

It's a great time to get to know the people you shoot in the back on the Abattoir, we'll do a little BBQ'ing, some DM, then we'll divide up into two teams and start into some CTF...  This "Beat the Meat2", we're sporting a lovely 225" Quake Projection Wall!  If you cannot bring your PC (...which you kinda' need if you want to play...) it's Okay, we have an extra or two about, and we'll be able to squeeze you in at some point...  So get off your ass and sign-up marine!!
 

(Sgt.Slaughter's Birthday!) (Beat the Meat in 5 days)Mon - Jun 29th - 08:30 pm

Happy B'Day to Sgt.Slaughter!!  Click here to wish him a happy 30th!  Let's flood his mailbox with happy B'Day wishes!  (...I just found out a second ago!...)  Guess we'll have to go easy on him during the LAN Party!  (...old man! Hehehe...)
 

(Beat the Meat in 13 days)Mon - Jun 29th - 08:20 am

Sgt.Slaughter's put together the new NT Server for this July 4th "Beat the Meat2" LAN Party, tonight we'll start loadin' her up with all the goodies!  Input here people -- We're thinking of running Quake2 CTF from "ThreeWave" as opposed to CTF from "TeamFortress"... I've never played the TF version, but from what I can see, if we decide to play it, there'll be a "Whole Lot'a Key Bindin' Going On!"...  I just wanna shoot someone!  :)   There's always LM, Jailbreak etc...

Just a note here: If you have a copy of Unreal, please bring it with you as we will probably crack into a game of that as well!  Still room to get in, if you're coming and know of a friend who you think would enjoy the LAN Party experience, by all means, throw the invite out to him / her...  Just be sure to let me know.
 

(...Yawn!...) (Beat the Meat in 16 days) Fri - Jun 26th - 02:25 am

Unbelievable weather system rolling thru right now!  I've not seen lightning like this before!!  We have bolts dropping everywhere and there are constant claps of thunder!!  Sgt.Slaughter and myself awoke to blinding flashes and screens all over the house blowing in, there's hail the size of small gravel falling and the power is cutting in and out!  Sorry folks, have to down the server!  We'll be back up in the morning (...if we're still here!!...)  Batten down the hatches!
 

(Beat the Meat in 16 days) Thu - Jun 25th - 09:45 pm

So much for the Abattoir surviving power failures (...as it states in the Main page...), today was havoc day for computers and microwaves, fridges and VCRs in Oakville...  I was home coding for work, Aka, Telecommuting, Aka, jerking-off and getting paid for it, and we were hit around 1:00/ish with a super electrical storm that came in like a pimp that's been short changed...

I was typing away, it started to get dark (...real fast!...) then it started pouring (...and I do mean pour!...).  I get up to crank a few windows closed and directly across the street -- BlaM!!! -- 500 Points!  Direct hit!!...  Talk about knocking me to the floor, one minute later, CraCk!!!  About a mile away, another landed...  I'm scrambling around the house as the juice starts to flicker on and off like my house was hit by a photon-torpedo (...it's a sci-fi thing...) unplugging microwaves, arcade machines, anything electronic I didn't quite feel like throwing out just yet.  The Abattoir is totally protected and power backed-up, but I didn't feel like laughing in the face of Murphy's Law, so I downed all the computers too...

Half hour, it was all over, so up goes everything...  and off I went to hit my first ever bucket of golf balls with my father (...my very first shot with an 8 Iron was as straight as an arrow, and went 120 Yards!  The club, it went about 20 Yards!! -- True story...).  When I returned, I found out from my neighbour the powers been off for over 3 hours...  Oops!

Sorry for anyone who couldn't connect, but my little 600UPS can only run a machine this juice hungry for so long!  All's well now (...Murphy flash-back, better save this update now!...)

"Beat the Meat2", looks like we're getting our new NT based LAN Party Server tomorrow!  And also (...drum roll please...) We will have a 225" Wall'O'Quake at this July 4th LAN Party -- That'll add some phun having Quake projected over an entire wall!  Get your names in if you're coming, and I still need confirmation on a system count people!!
 

(Beat the Meat in 18 days) Tue - Jun 23rd - 09:00 am

Okay, all's going well with the upcoming LAN Party, I'm off to purchase some tables today (...rather then dragging them back and forth from MK, we'll just hard-wire a couple to keep on site permanently...)  If you've not already done so, please check the LAN Switch to see if your name's up there, if it isn't and you're coming, please let me know!

Also, be advised we're cancelling MK LAN Parties till after the 'Beat the Meat2' LAN Party.
 

(Beat the Meat in 19 days) Mon - Jun 22nd - 11:50 am

With ICQ switching to a 'pay for use' format in the future (!?), the race is on to replace!  Loyal ICQ'ers may find a more 'game oriented' ICQ clone running a tight second soon...  EGN is out (...almost...) by EnterNET Global Network and it's a spitting image of ICQ when it was in its infancy.  Pak (#29276), Disinfect (#29296) and myself (#29330) have played with it this morning and It's not too shabby!  ICQ has a million features and configurations, but this pre-release version will soon catch-up.

Getting good feedback on the "MeatMan's Abattoir LAN Party at Residence2", (...including a request to play from Utah, I think he's not too sure on the concept of travel...).  Let me know if you're coming out!  Robes and dudio are even going to make the jaunt from Niagara (...Cool!...).  So, let's get a head count and PC count in please, I have to know in advance how many tables to set!  :p
 

(Beat the Meat in 22 days) Fri - Jun 19th - 01:25 pm

Brandon!  Call PaK, he thinks you're dead!  (...this has been a public service announcement...)
 

(Beat the Meat in 22 days) Fri - Jun 19th - 10:45 am

The weekend is upon us, and I'm in need of some serious Quake therapy (...what a week!...).  We've added Sgt.Slaughter's system to the Abattoir pool last night, he's now on the Hub under a separate IP (...getting a little in-house network action going here...)  Wonder if he'd be interested in running our Abattoir Unreal Server?  Think he would if we ask real nice!?  :)  It's been two weeks without a LAN Party, so I'm in a fraggin' mood large!

For those who've not come out to a Friday Nite LAN Party, here's another opportunity for ya;  "MeatMan's Abattoir LAN Party at Residence2"...  Want to bring in Canada Day with a bang (...or RL blast?...) then mark this long weekend down on your calendar.  We're hosting another LAN Party Saturday, July 4th...  Come on out, bring your box (...PC that is...) bring your kids, bring some beer (...we have a Coke machine on site for pop and beer, so that's optional...) and lets do some BBQ'ing!  Doesn't that sound great!? (...right dudio!?...)  Beer, Hot Dogs, Special "MeatMan Gibb-Burgers" and strippers (...Oops, let that one out ;) ...).  Please drop me a note to let me know you're coming and if you can bring your PC, like before, we will supply DLink Ethernet cards for everyone (...available to purchase at a great price for future LAN Parties, or borrow for the day at no charge...).  Again, we're gettin' out the tables and laying the cables... It's a great time so come on out and get your head blown off!  :)
 

Mon - Jun 15th - 09:40 pm

Can anyone slip a few more hours in the day so I can get a chance to really go at Unreal!?  :)   News, Okay, Sgt.Slaughter has moved in to the Abattoir and all's going great (...did the move in record time, now we need more air in the Abattoir computer room!...).  Tonight we switched to Lithium 1.03 and you'll like what you 'feel' when you play with the Rocket Launcher.  We've turned on 'Pro-Rocket', which helps bring back the frag action and kick of the Rocket Launcher from Quake Classic (...God, I miss those bouncing Gibs!...).  Pro-Rocket hopes to be the 'standard' in Q1 to Q2 crossover (...with respect to the physics of Q1's RL...) and I think the settings are about right!  Give 'er a try!

Torn has a new, new home...  The boys have moved over to UnrealNation now...  New EMail addresses will follow.  I want to apologize for the loss in LAN Party action last week, it's been busy and stuph does come up at the last second that can kill a game, but this weeks game is a go for sure, so come out and get a RL in the...  Never mind...

Sgt.Slaughter and myself will be on the Abattoir tonight if you're into pain, come out and join in!  :-)
 

Fri - Jun 12th - 09:40 am

Goofing with Unreal again yesterday, I had the Abattoir Server really pounding it out last night!  At 5:00 pm yesterday, the Abattoir was doing the following: Running the Quake2 Public Server, running the SuperFTP Site, running an Unreal Public Server, Running Unreal again with me playing!  (...the machine still had its finger up its port!  :) ...)  not to mention ICQ and all that crap...  Then when I was surfing around the net, I could receive my EMail, but couldn't respond to it, Unreal was blocking (...strange...)  Anywhooz, Unreal had a few stability issues that'll have to be resolved before we consider running an Unreal Public server too...  We'll see.

Room still for tonight's' game, let me know if you want in...
 

(...Lisa says Hello!...) Tue - Jun 09th - 10:05 pm

Just played a few minutes of Unreal, and after a mere 45 minutes of play, I can say it's a game you should drop coin on...  4 years in the making and every inch of it reeks action!  Well done GT, a real winner on your hands for sure!  Now, I'll wipe the sweat off the brow and have a cold one to relax! :)
 

Tue - Jun 09th - 07:30 pm

Just ICQ'ing with PaK, seems he's been busy with a site I took a quick peek at called the 3D Edge, full of reviews and engine links galore, go check it out!  Just returned from purchasing Unreal, so you can tell I'm typing this update rather fast! ;) and you just know I'll have a word or two to say about it after the review Disinfect gave (...let's see what the hype's all about!...).

News update on the Abattoir front:  Sgt.Slaughter's moving into Abattoir H.Q.'s this month!  Yuppers, Steve will be taking up residence at the Abattoir (...and with our 'in-house LAN', you know no one will get any sleep around here!...)  We're also back on track for this friday's LAN Party, so get your name in if you wanna' play: "MeatMan's Abattoir -- Bringing people together, so you can blow them apart!"
 

Tue - Jun 09th - 10:25 am

Version 1.02 of Lithium has been released, we'll be updating the server tonight, followed by another two updates when Zoid gets the source for Quake 3.16 out.  (...Ugh!...).  In other non-related news, ever wonder why Netscape's pushing AOL Instant Messenger?  Well, it's because AOL just bought out ICQ from Mirabilis! Looks like the free ride's over folks, it's only a matter of time before AOL bastardizes the great ICQ we all know and love then start charging for the service...  Hey, it's only fair!
 

Sat - Jun 05th - 01:05 am

Just returned from seeing "The Truman Show" opening night at the new big screen digital theatre's in Mississauga.  Great movie, recommend it to all.  Just had to throw this out there though...  Lisa (...MeatMan's Abattoir's own CrackWhore, who was out on her birthday...) and myself saw the movie with the other 48,000 people and when the movie ended -- Everyone turns and faces the back to start the long line out to the parking lot, I turned around, looked at the screen, and then pulled a 'Truman'...  We just did a 180 and walked out the exit down at the screen.  Funny in a way, everyone left out the lobby, we just walked out the exit and were standing in the parking lot...  Dunno',  guess you'll have to see the movie to appreciate the total irony in that...  :)  Good night all!
 

(Lisa <PMS666> 28th Birthday...) Fri - Jun 05th - 07:45 am

Okay, we have the new Torn site's address, the team has been picked-up by a division of Telefragged called "Unrealism".  Brandon (...Disinfect...) can be reached at his new EMail address "disinfect@unrealism.com".  You'll have to use the link to Torn I put up here, cuz Unrealism's doesn't work (...Hehehe, give 'em a break at Telefragged, they just started it!...).  Scott Brandley (...from Volt Computer...) asked me what the hell does my video card have to do with the Abattoir server (...with reference to the hardware profiled on the Welcome page...) which reminds me to get moving on the hardware page!  Thank God I took today off, too many thing to do!
 

Thu - Jun 04th - 02:45 pm

Ooh!  Remember the 17" monitor I won from MTC Computers?  With a little(?) more cash, Steve (...Sgt.Slaughter...) allowed me a little 'upgrade', I just popped over and picked-up my new 21", now I'm going to feign an illness so I can go home and see Quake big style! :)  Thanks again to everyone at MTC, you've definitely made my month! (...Hey, Scorpio...  Feel free to come over, we'll see if this 21" bounces as well as yours! <GriN!>...)
 

Thu - Jun 04th - 09:45 am

So, where the hell is Quake 3.16?  No idea, last word was a re-patch was going to be popped out within less then 24 hrs., that, of course, was some 88 hours back and there's still no word, but we'll keep on top of it and have it on the SuperFTP the moment the patch is available.  These are the kind of things that drive us Admins. kinda' nuts...  The Abattoir has been (...for the most part...) vacant as many people fall into the 'what the hell version should I be using tonight' quandary, it often takes over a week after a patch before things settle down and it's back to normal havoc.

EMail!  Okay, okay...  I've been pounded by EMail's with regards to the PPP-Boost I put up tuesday.  "Is this a fix for Quake2?", "Can I use this with Win98?", "How much time's left on my parking meter?".  Let me clarify a tad...  The PPP-Boost program alters the MaxMTU registry setting changing packet size to be optimized for "Dial-Up" accounts (...those are them, modem people...) as opposed to being optimized for a LAN situation.  This will allow surf speeds in excess of 2x the speed you may normally experience.  I ran the PPP-Boost at work (...no reason to at home, I'm on cable :) ...) and with my 56k Sportster, the results were nothing shy of impressive.  Now, this is not one of those "I just spent 5 hours cleaning and waxing my car, and now it seems to ride and drive better" kinda' submittal fixes, it does work.  Please keep in mind, you are dicking with your registry files, so please make a back-up of it first, if you have the Win95 CD, you'll find a registry back-up program in your "/other/misc/cfgback/" folder, it takes a second, and stores a registry backup right on your hard drive (...another little piece of 'not too well known' help there...).  Even if you're not playing with the registry, you should load this backup utility and do your registry files once a month, if you've ever had them go 'astray' on you, you'll know how important that is!  Next point: This is being referred to as a 'fix' because Microsloth themselves recognize the MaxMTU settings are not optimal for Dial-Up, rather they've been set for LAN (...and we're all using one of those at home...).  Next, Next Point:  This is for Win95, not Win98 (...Beta or other...), You will not even find a MaxMTU in the 98 registry (...so I'm told...) Win98 has these set-up already.  Speed-up Quake?  Who knows!  I'd like some feedback on that people...  Take note, as of 3.15, the ping you see is represented accurately, pings shown in previous version of Quake2 were much lower then their actual.  Although 3.15 has additional connection speed settings in the muliplayer menu, this is above and beyond that.  Hope that clears a few clouds...  :)

More news, the LAN Party's off for this friday, sorry folks...  I have sooooo much work to do on the home front, I've been forced to take friday off work just in an attempt to get caught-up!  Don't cry though, anyone in for this friday's LAN Party will automatically be rolled over to next friday, "apologies go out for any inconveniences this may cause you" (...learning that line from the Cable company! ;)  ...).

More, more news... (...Ugh!...)  Congratulations go out to the Torn team, they've been picked-up for hosting by an Unreal host site (...they were actually approached!...)  We'll keep you posted on Torn as updates become available (...Brandon, I need that info!..).
 

Tue - Jun 02nd - 01:40 pm

Ask yourself this question; "Would I care to speed my Internet dial-up connection to twice it's speed for free in less then 5 minutes?".  I guess I'll not bother to wait for your answer, rather I'll just show you how to do it!  Click and download PPP-Boost, this utility from C3 Systems has uncovered a 'fix' to the Win95 Registry that changes the packet size for your TCP/IP connection, you can read all about it on the site.  This fix is instant and take it from me, works just like it's supposed to...  I've just logged back on after running it, and I cannot believe the difference!!  Ahem...  You're welcome! :)  (Note: This is for Win95 Only)
 

Mon - Jun 01st - 04:45 pm

As of now, there has been no word on Quake2 3.16, the waiting game continues (...sorta' speak...)  Aren't I a lucky MeatMan though!  MTC (...MultiTask Computers, here in Mississauga...) celebrated their 10th year of outstanding customer service, and to mark the occasion they had a draw for two TTX 17" monitors...  Looks like the MeatMan won!!  (...and it wasn't even rigged!!...).  I'd like to throw my thanks out to everyone at MTC and also chuck a deserved plug in too.  As you know, all the equipment the Abattoir runs on as well as all computers and networking at MK Power Products was put together by MultiTask...  If you're looking for a new machine for office or home, or even to upgrade your present equipment, I implore you to do yourself a favour and drop a call to Steve at MTC (...905 890-0337...).  Not only will you get top quality product, but service rivalled by none (...and I've personally been with many! <computer suppliers that is!>...).  Thanks again MTC, it's been and continues to be a pleasure doing business with you. (...21" would be really nice!! ;) ...).