Rick Aspden
@insanityinside.net
Grumpy ENM AuDHD bloke trying to haphazardly survive life. Senior sysadmin/security engineer at the moment, developer, infrastructure, architect, pick a hat off the rack depending on the day.
All opinions/comments/rants here are my own.
He/him
All opinions/comments/rants here are my own.
He/him
Had a good revival run on CoD DMZ, but sadly the in the last week it's full on fallen to the cheats. Between aimbots, wallhacks and undermappers, it's just not fun anymore. Shame, but the game has been abandoned for nearly 2 years.
RIP DMZ. It was fun while it lasted. Might be Arc next, we'll see.
RIP DMZ. It was fun while it lasted. Might be Arc next, we'll see.
November 20, 2025 at 10:03 AM
Had a good revival run on CoD DMZ, but sadly the in the last week it's full on fallen to the cheats. Between aimbots, wallhacks and undermappers, it's just not fun anymore. Shame, but the game has been abandoned for nearly 2 years.
RIP DMZ. It was fun while it lasted. Might be Arc next, we'll see.
RIP DMZ. It was fun while it lasted. Might be Arc next, we'll see.
I love when my body decides to randomly derp out, turn before I'm ready to, and try to fall sideways down the stairs. Definitely absolutely needed that to go with the rest of the aches I've got today. 🙄
November 17, 2025 at 1:59 PM
I love when my body decides to randomly derp out, turn before I'm ready to, and try to fall sideways down the stairs. Definitely absolutely needed that to go with the rest of the aches I've got today. 🙄
Windows 11: "These applications are preventing shutdown."
Option 1: Shut down anyway, and terminate the programs.
Option 2: Cancel.
Press option 2. Computer immediately shuts down anyway.
🤷♂️
Option 1: Shut down anyway, and terminate the programs.
Option 2: Cancel.
Press option 2. Computer immediately shuts down anyway.
🤷♂️
November 9, 2025 at 2:37 AM
Windows 11: "These applications are preventing shutdown."
Option 1: Shut down anyway, and terminate the programs.
Option 2: Cancel.
Press option 2. Computer immediately shuts down anyway.
🤷♂️
Option 1: Shut down anyway, and terminate the programs.
Option 2: Cancel.
Press option 2. Computer immediately shuts down anyway.
🤷♂️
You know what I'd find an absolute killer use for AI? Taking videos that describe how to do/fix something, and turning them into a Haynes-style manual that I can read with pictures that I can follow without pausing every 3s and having to rewind, and not have to watch a video in the first place.
November 6, 2025 at 10:17 AM
You know what I'd find an absolute killer use for AI? Taking videos that describe how to do/fix something, and turning them into a Haynes-style manual that I can read with pictures that I can follow without pausing every 3s and having to rewind, and not have to watch a video in the first place.
ADHD has been _rough_ this week. I've stuff I know I need to do, but I just can't quite get over the inertia and get started on anything. And it's making me miserable. Sometimes I feel like a prisoner in my own body and mind.
I put in the titration request this week. Fingers crossed it'll fix me up
I put in the titration request this week. Fingers crossed it'll fix me up
November 1, 2025 at 12:19 PM
ADHD has been _rough_ this week. I've stuff I know I need to do, but I just can't quite get over the inertia and get started on anything. And it's making me miserable. Sometimes I feel like a prisoner in my own body and mind.
I put in the titration request this week. Fingers crossed it'll fix me up
I put in the titration request this week. Fingers crossed it'll fix me up
Doing a re-watch of Agents of SHIELD. Forgotten how much I enjoyed watching Melinda May do her thing. Man, that woman does things for me, but I always did have a thing for charismatic capable women kicking arse. I'd even rate her above Black Widow.
Ming-Na Wen is a pleasure to watch in her roles.
Ming-Na Wen is a pleasure to watch in her roles.
October 27, 2025 at 10:32 AM
Doing a re-watch of Agents of SHIELD. Forgotten how much I enjoyed watching Melinda May do her thing. Man, that woman does things for me, but I always did have a thing for charismatic capable women kicking arse. I'd even rate her above Black Widow.
Ming-Na Wen is a pleasure to watch in her roles.
Ming-Na Wen is a pleasure to watch in her roles.
Jesus christ. The Natwest online banking is the worst I've experienced in a long time. Enter digits 4,3 and 1 of your pin, and letters 3, 10 and 18 of your password? Are you kidding me? I live in a world of password managers, and am pretty sure I'm dyslexic with all the other ND symptoms. Awful UX.
October 21, 2025 at 11:43 AM
Jesus christ. The Natwest online banking is the worst I've experienced in a long time. Enter digits 4,3 and 1 of your pin, and letters 3, 10 and 18 of your password? Are you kidding me? I live in a world of password managers, and am pretty sure I'm dyslexic with all the other ND symptoms. Awful UX.
Somehow I've either missed watching The Amazing Spider-Man 1 and 2, or completely forgotten I've watched it. First one was pretty good. Second one, I'm half an hour in and it's mildly melting my brain.
Course, it could be the fact my brain is pretty much mush today anyway.
Course, it could be the fact my brain is pretty much mush today anyway.
October 20, 2025 at 11:48 AM
Somehow I've either missed watching The Amazing Spider-Man 1 and 2, or completely forgotten I've watched it. First one was pretty good. Second one, I'm half an hour in and it's mildly melting my brain.
Course, it could be the fact my brain is pretty much mush today anyway.
Course, it could be the fact my brain is pretty much mush today anyway.
Installed ARC Raiders earlier. Loaded it up to try it out. "Why the hell is this running so badly? It's not even on remotely high settings."
Tweaked to death. Updated drivers. Searched for recommended settings.
Finally realise it was running on battery, with the AC power cable unplugged.
Derp.
Tweaked to death. Updated drivers. Searched for recommended settings.
Finally realise it was running on battery, with the AC power cable unplugged.
Derp.
October 17, 2025 at 10:35 PM
Installed ARC Raiders earlier. Loaded it up to try it out. "Why the hell is this running so badly? It's not even on remotely high settings."
Tweaked to death. Updated drivers. Searched for recommended settings.
Finally realise it was running on battery, with the AC power cable unplugged.
Derp.
Tweaked to death. Updated drivers. Searched for recommended settings.
Finally realise it was running on battery, with the AC power cable unplugged.
Derp.
In what will be a surprise to nobody that knows me (other than actually managing to get the appointment), I've finally been officially diagnosed with combined ADHD.
I will be rather happy if I can get through a day and actually mostly maintain focus once I get the magic pills.
I will be rather happy if I can get through a day and actually mostly maintain focus once I get the magic pills.
October 11, 2025 at 12:35 PM
In what will be a surprise to nobody that knows me (other than actually managing to get the appointment), I've finally been officially diagnosed with combined ADHD.
I will be rather happy if I can get through a day and actually mostly maintain focus once I get the magic pills.
I will be rather happy if I can get through a day and actually mostly maintain focus once I get the magic pills.
I see "Save this new number dad" is the new SMS scam of choice. Unless I'm getting a very unexpected surprise, good luck with that entrypoint.
This is where I could see a use for GPT if I could be bothered - hook the spammers up to a GenAI and waste their time.
This is where I could see a use for GPT if I could be bothered - hook the spammers up to a GenAI and waste their time.
October 1, 2025 at 10:23 AM
I see "Save this new number dad" is the new SMS scam of choice. Unless I'm getting a very unexpected surprise, good luck with that entrypoint.
This is where I could see a use for GPT if I could be bothered - hook the spammers up to a GenAI and waste their time.
This is where I could see a use for GPT if I could be bothered - hook the spammers up to a GenAI and waste their time.
I've been in the foulest mood known to man the last few days, and have absolutely no idea why. And now I have to take apart my nephew's PC and test components, because I think he's fried something with dust.
The excitement is... palpable. 🙄Things we do for family...
The excitement is... palpable. 🙄Things we do for family...
September 27, 2025 at 12:01 PM
I've been in the foulest mood known to man the last few days, and have absolutely no idea why. And now I have to take apart my nephew's PC and test components, because I think he's fried something with dust.
The excitement is... palpable. 🙄Things we do for family...
The excitement is... palpable. 🙄Things we do for family...
Having one of those evenings where everything is annoying me, including myself. I suspect I may need to just go to bed.
September 25, 2025 at 7:56 PM
Having one of those evenings where everything is annoying me, including myself. I suspect I may need to just go to bed.
Some days I could scream at my brain. It's doing everything it possibly can to avoid doing the tasks I desperately need to do at work, and I've no explanation, other than it's being a dick and I'm feeling a little tired. Argh!
Roll on the ADHD assessment...
Roll on the ADHD assessment...
September 17, 2025 at 9:33 AM
Some days I could scream at my brain. It's doing everything it possibly can to avoid doing the tasks I desperately need to do at work, and I've no explanation, other than it's being a dick and I'm feeling a little tired. Argh!
Roll on the ADHD assessment...
Roll on the ADHD assessment...
Wow, I'm doing well. Just tried to set my work status as "Not well, delays may be replied."
Apparently all my symptoms match up with the latest COVID-19 going around. That's just peachy. Did not sign up for these headaches, hot flushes, upset stomach and having my insides wring themselves out. Gah.
Apparently all my symptoms match up with the latest COVID-19 going around. That's just peachy. Did not sign up for these headaches, hot flushes, upset stomach and having my insides wring themselves out. Gah.
September 10, 2025 at 10:33 AM
Wow, I'm doing well. Just tried to set my work status as "Not well, delays may be replied."
Apparently all my symptoms match up with the latest COVID-19 going around. That's just peachy. Did not sign up for these headaches, hot flushes, upset stomach and having my insides wring themselves out. Gah.
Apparently all my symptoms match up with the latest COVID-19 going around. That's just peachy. Did not sign up for these headaches, hot flushes, upset stomach and having my insides wring themselves out. Gah.
It's a sad day. I saw someone being wrong on the internet on Reddit, and just thought "you know what, I can't even be arsed correcting you, nor be bothered with the potential followup reply, I've better things to do with my life."
September 7, 2025 at 9:50 AM
It's a sad day. I saw someone being wrong on the internet on Reddit, and just thought "you know what, I can't even be arsed correcting you, nor be bothered with the potential followup reply, I've better things to do with my life."
TIL American doesn't use crap fuel with low octane as I always thought, they just use completely different units to most of the rest of the world. Freedom Units!
For common numbers, subtract 4 to convert to American PON/AKI, so our regular 95 is their 91. Though you can often get lower grades too.
For common numbers, subtract 4 to convert to American PON/AKI, so our regular 95 is their 91. Though you can often get lower grades too.
September 7, 2025 at 9:45 AM
TIL American doesn't use crap fuel with low octane as I always thought, they just use completely different units to most of the rest of the world. Freedom Units!
For common numbers, subtract 4 to convert to American PON/AKI, so our regular 95 is their 91. Though you can often get lower grades too.
For common numbers, subtract 4 to convert to American PON/AKI, so our regular 95 is their 91. Though you can often get lower grades too.
First time I've ever lost a game of Spider Solitaire with no moves left because I cleared stacks and didn't have cards to fill the stacks to deal the next hand.
Amusingly, ~5 seconds before, I thought "cleanup phase, you'd have to do something impressive to lose now. Though it is possible..."
🤣
Amusingly, ~5 seconds before, I thought "cleanup phase, you'd have to do something impressive to lose now. Though it is possible..."
🤣
September 5, 2025 at 12:56 PM
First time I've ever lost a game of Spider Solitaire with no moves left because I cleared stacks and didn't have cards to fill the stacks to deal the next hand.
Amusingly, ~5 seconds before, I thought "cleanup phase, you'd have to do something impressive to lose now. Though it is possible..."
🤣
Amusingly, ~5 seconds before, I thought "cleanup phase, you'd have to do something impressive to lose now. Though it is possible..."
🤣
Just been told about this lovely bit of work by a Microsoft engineer - direct SteamVR support for Windows Mixed Reality headsets, which will resurrect my Lenovo Explorer from being a paperweight. Handy, as I just bought No Man's Sky.
Windows MR Headsets Revived By Free 'Oasis' SteamVR Driver
A lone Microsoft employee released an unofficial SteamVR driver for Windows MR headsets, called Oasis, re-enabling their use on Windows 11.
www.uploadvr.com
September 3, 2025 at 9:59 AM
Just been told about this lovely bit of work by a Microsoft engineer - direct SteamVR support for Windows Mixed Reality headsets, which will resurrect my Lenovo Explorer from being a paperweight. Handy, as I just bought No Man's Sky.
After completely misreading a subnet yesterday, one of my peers introduced me to the handy ipcalc command. Can't believe I've only just discovered it.
September 2, 2025 at 9:07 AM
After completely misreading a subnet yesterday, one of my peers introduced me to the handy ipcalc command. Can't believe I've only just discovered it.
I know I'm bad for not throwing things away, or putting things down and forgetting they exist, but I just noticed in my office that I've still got the original box for my Wii.
I'm not sure that's strictly necessary anymore...
I'm not sure that's strictly necessary anymore...
August 29, 2025 at 9:51 AM
I know I'm bad for not throwing things away, or putting things down and forgetting they exist, but I just noticed in my office that I've still got the original box for my Wii.
I'm not sure that's strictly necessary anymore...
I'm not sure that's strictly necessary anymore...
This current pollen level is driving me insane. My sinuses feel completely gunked up.
August 17, 2025 at 10:16 AM
This current pollen level is driving me insane. My sinuses feel completely gunked up.
Aww man. I finished watching House, finally, after a full rewatch and realised I'd missed several series. Now watching the lovely post-production episode. But man, I'm gonna miss wathcing that, and I'm glad I finally got around to finishing it off. 13 years after its final episode. Standard.
August 4, 2025 at 11:16 AM
Aww man. I finished watching House, finally, after a full rewatch and realised I'd missed several series. Now watching the lovely post-production episode. But man, I'm gonna miss wathcing that, and I'm glad I finally got around to finishing it off. 13 years after its final episode. Standard.
I think I finally figured out why the old Microsoft minutes had such a reputation for being wildly fluctuating and rarely accurate.
They've _got_ to have been designed by someone with ADHD.
They've _got_ to have been designed by someone with ADHD.
July 31, 2025 at 2:00 PM
I think I finally figured out why the old Microsoft minutes had such a reputation for being wildly fluctuating and rarely accurate.
They've _got_ to have been designed by someone with ADHD.
They've _got_ to have been designed by someone with ADHD.
Urgh. Monday. Shoo. Nobody likes you.
July 28, 2025 at 9:52 AM
Urgh. Monday. Shoo. Nobody likes you.