Yes, it’s finally here.  After numerous empty promises and delays, I have activated a new theme as default on my blog.  This is a modified version of the Night Whimsy theme by Terea Jones - I kept the same basic layout and structure but changed the header, footer, background pattern, and colors used in text and links.  If you’re wondering how in the blazes I made that header image, then look no further than Apophysis, a free fractal renderer.  I goof around with it every once in a while and usually do random things until I get something that I like.  I played around with an automatically generated fractal in Apo to come up with the header.  I then used Photoshop to create the blue bars, logo text, etc. to make it complete.  A special shout out to Rohit who helped me code the “hover” effect on the top navigation bar and to those that shared their opinions on the header design - I can’t remember whom I asked since it was so fucking long ago.

I’ve removed all other themes save for this one and my previous default.  This theme is not 100% complete, but enough for me to feel safe in unleashing it on my dear readers.  I will tweak some things here and there and maybe add a Flickr stream in the sidebar, or some adverts.  You’ll see the changes as I make them.  So, like I had said before, I HAVE released a new theme before the summer slips away.  Pretty close, eh?  Leave suggestions, criticisms, and whatnots in the comments.

I last posted a blog entry on August 3 and so, it has been almost 20 days since then.

A lot has happened in the meantime.  I got done with my GRE on Wednesday and scored a useful 1490/1600 so I’m hoping to get into some top graduate programs.  I still have to wait for my writing score, which should show up in the next couple of weeks.  I changed dorm rooms, although, unlike what I said in my last post, I only had to move once as they let me go straight to my fall assignment.  For once, housing wasn’t being completely unreasonable.

The new semester starts up again on September 2, so life will become crazy busy once again.  I’ll still be doing research.  Speaking of which, progress has been slow due to certain roadblocks that we just haven’t been able to figure out how to get over.  My adviser got back from his summer trip this week, and maybe, things will be clearer when I meet with him on Monday.  Maybe.

My laptop quest still hangs in the balance with no new consumer laptops forthcoming from Dell and the Precision M4400 being a tad too expensive.  I think the most logical choice is the ASUS G50V but the gaudy orange trim and high-gloss lid are turn-offs.  I’m going to try and get my hands on a actual G50V this weekend at a local Best Buy to judge the size, weight, and looks for myself.  Also want to see Tropic Thunder…

Last, but most definitely not the least, the new theme WILL go up in the next couple of days.  For now, I’m going to get back to reading Batman: Year One.

I haven’t made a blog entry in a week. This past week was busy at work and will probably stay that way for a while. With my GRE test less than three weeks away, I’ve started putting more time into prep work. Have been practicing the essays and taking practice exams from various sources. My scores are all over the place, though. Different sources have different difficulty levels, but I’ve been scoring consistently within a 100-point range. I hope to be able to achieve an official score on the higher end of that range when August 20 comes around.

I’ve been “almost done” with my new theme for more than a week now. Last weekend, I didn’t finish it because of The Dark Knight (see it in IMAX if you can) and GRE stuff. This weekend, it was mostly the GRE stuff that kept me away. I’m still on track to put it out before the summer slips away - promise! Talking about the summer slipping away, it’s less than a month until school starts again. I’ll have to move to a temporary room for a week or so starting the 15th, before they let me move into my fall assignment. Not looking forward to it.

Still haven’t finalized what laptop I’ll be buying to replace my aging Inspiron 9100. Dell and Apple still haven’t announced Montevina laptops. The new Dell Latitude E-series has been leaked, but the business line usually costs more than the consumer line. There are rumors of a complete MacBook overhaul with lower prices, as well as a new 16″ XPS to replace the current M1530. Supposedly, it won’t be a lot bigger than a 15.4″ laptop, as evidenced by the pretty Sony VAIO FW. I was tempted to choose the FW, but it carries a weak graphics card. I’m hoping that Dell put the Radeon Mobility HD3850/3870 in their new 15.4/16″ XPS. At least I won’t have to worry about possiblly defective Nvidia chips. Seriously, Nvidia have been acting like a bunch of douchebags lately. First, they claim that they are going to open a can of whoop-ass on Intel. Now, after the problems with the mobile chips are well-known, they still haven’t come clean on exactly which cards are affected, and more importantly, how many of them. Way to open that can of whoop-ass, Nvidia. Perhaps the supermarket sold you the wrong kind of whoop-ass can.

I do have a few more incomplete 10-Song Playlists that I’ll post over the next few days. A sneak peek of the artists I’m working on: Pearl Jam, R.E.M., Rush, and The Decemberists. I can’t promise what order they’ll show up in, or if I’ll make some changes to accommodate certain bands’ humongous catalogs. You’ll just have to wait and watch.