Halo

Seeing a bandwagon live for the first time in years this weekend

fekkin pumped

If anyone knows anything about laptops and audio tech...

Can ya give me your thoughts on the setup I'm considering? A knowledgeable friend has given his seal of approval on the audio setup and I know a fair amount about computers and I customised the laptop - but as many opinions as possible is always nice!

audiosetup

Audio setup is: Fostex PM-SUBmini subwoofer; a pair of Fostex PM.03s for the 2.1 stereo setup; and the Yamaha NSP51 to act as centre and rear speakers for the 5.1 surround system.

Asus Xonar u5 sound card is being bought with the laptop.

I'm splashing on the Fostex kit for the 2.1 because for once I'm in an okay financial situation and I'd rather spend now and have it be pretty damn future-proof. If anyone knows anything thoughts would be appreciated before I blow so much money on it ^^;

Total cost including sound card is around £340 or $480. Worth?

The laptop setup is in a spoiler below and again: splashing for future-proofness as I need this for my degree. Current laptop couldn't even run the most simplistic draft version of my first-year project so it just won't do for future computational work. I'll potentially need to run (Python or C++) simulations that include general relativity by 4th year so need some relatively powerful shit.

Cost will be around £1000 or $1400. Worth?

laptopsetup

CPU: Intel i7 6700HQ 2.6GHz
GPU: Geforce GTX 970m (the 3GB variant - fuck the 6GB variant. Nobody I've seen can get any value out of that extra VRAM.)
HDD: 1TB @ 5400rpm (for no reason there isn't a single 1TB 7200rpM HDD available.)
RAM: 16GB DDR4 2133MHz

Thank you in advance for any responses!

Anyone here play EVE?

Ditto 'lex. Everything I've heard about it makes it sound like Rand's wet dream. It's the ultimate laissez-faire capitalist economy in which the only space you're safe from murder and theft is that which is ruled by a small space-government. "Ayn Rand's Battle Speadsheet Simulator" is a choice quote I found after a quick google.

Okay guys, I need some advice

Gonna ditto the "fuck Wade's idea" from others. Not to put anyone down - that's just my view. It's not a group decision between everyone involved - it's your decision and yours alone. Doesn't need be discussed in any format other than you talking to the various options.

long shit

If I were in your shoes the first thing I'd do is rule out Virginia. You've committed to your puppy and you love the wee adorable beauty.

I'd also try as hard as I could to dismiss the influence this unwell friend of yours is having on your decision. It sounds like they're a close friend; I'm sure they wouldn't want you to stay based just on them. You can stay in contact and see them when you can - and they know you'll be there for them in a crisis. As you know yourself - you have to make these sorts of life decisions for you. Not for anyone else.
If you really can't rid yourself of your concern for them (and are the type of person who won't regret or feel resentful if you make a decision based on your friend and it turns out to be a bad decision down the line) then I guess that's a big plus for whichever option is closest to home. Another added bonus is being close to your parents - trust me when I say that you need a solid support network when moving away (particularly for the first time). Even if you're an introvert - you need people you can rely on for emergencies and to help get you acclimatised to a new place. Being near your parents and home is a huge "pro" in this regard.

For the same reason you need to think about how good these friends are. If you're to move far away to live with them they need to be both reliable and consistently fun (or at least chill) to be around. Just because you get along with someone as part of a social circle does not mean you could tolerate them as a flatmate. I couldn't live with many of my closest friends because we'd drive eachother mental (in the bad way, not the "oh you!" way.)

Also to consider is job opportunities. You said you're a grad student - are there opportunities for work in whatever field you studied? Or rather: whatever field you're currently working in and would like to pursue? Don't take word of mouth as gospel - look for job opportunities in each place online. Where has the most openings you're eligible for? What's the pay like? What's the cost of living like in that area by comparison to the pay? I have no idea but S.C could be half as expensive to live in as C.O and that could be a factor to consider as well.

As Awson said... there are a lot of factors. I've tried to summarise in the TL;DR.
Personally I'd echo others and - assuming the people there are indeed reliable and fun etc. - I'd choose Colorado. Of course I don't know the job/cost aspects though.

TL;DR: Factors to Consider (in order and bolded if especially key):
1. Dog - based on what you've said this contributes the most to no. 3 so I'm putting it at the top.
2. Viability. Job opportunities and cost of living in that place. If you aren't sure you can afford it or job opportunities are scarce - don't go. I know putting this above no. 3 is controversial-seeming to some happy-go-lucky folks but from experience... I live somewhere I can't afford. If you're destitute and stressed and can't find a job and can't feed yourself or your dog and blaaah blaaaah blaaaah you automatically violate no. 3 anyway - no matter how positive a person you are.
3. Happiness and wellbeing. How reliable and fun/chilled out are the people you're moving with? Are you positive you'll enjoy living with them? Do you have a good support network there? Don't be reliant on just one person (the flatmate you're moving with). Do you think you'll like the city (weather and atmosphere and things to do etc. etc.)?
4. Your friend at home (should you be unable to shed your worries about them).

Planning ahead for Valentine's day next year.

fuck you've found my spirit animal :'D

What's Got You Up At This Hour?

It's like 3pm dude what's with the third degree

What usually keeps me up is crashing at my friends' flat. They have even more of a fucked up sleeping schedule than I do and as I crash on their couch like 2 nights a week... them being up 'til 5am = me being up 'til 5am.

GBP conversion rates?

Thanks, @KnightShade, I would have looked like an absolute madman trying to convert my GBP to TLP.

As for Banters, however, would the conversion rate become more favorable if said Banters take place inside of a Nando's?

@Ace of Hearts

Only if the Nando's in question has HRM's Cheeky™ Seal of Approval.

How could I possibly say a single word to you...

deep.

Crazy, odd, weird and downright strange song titles

<Snipped quote by Halo>

Yep I agree. It's quite accurate that metal bands take themselves far too seriously. Have you listened to power metal, that shit can get as deep and edgy as the My Immortal fanfiction.

@SleepingSilence

I did specify metalcore
Asking Alexandria, BMTH, and Chiodos, these are the three bands that spring to my mind for long and weird titles... and they're all metalcore

Crazy, odd, weird and downright strange song titles

Almost anything by any metalcore band 'cause they all like to be deep dark and edgy