For all of you who have ever thought babies should come with instructions this is for you! Found via Neat-O-Rama.

Evidence of an auction house/trade market has been found in the gw.dat file:

The Marketplace List has been deprecated. Please travel to Xunlai Market and look for the market button in the party panel. Thank you for testing this feature!
Trading Post List[s]
You cannot drop your %str1% while it is listed in the Marketplace.
Use a Marketplace List to remove the item from the market if you wish to drop it.
List
Unlist
Your %str1% cannot be sold in the marketplace because it is customized.
Your %str1% cannot be sold in the marketplace because it is currently equipped.
Your %str1% cannot be sold in the marketplace because it is not tradable.
Your %str1% cannot be sold in the marketplace because it is unidentified.
You must first select an item to sell.

These strings have been added fairly recently, so there is a pretty good chance that this is legitimate. Although, the official word from Gaile has been:

What is the Xunlai Market and why do you ask?

You can view the on going speculation threads here and here.

Guild wars has awesome pop culture references.

A few weeks ago the LCD panel on my laptop quit. After doing a little research on the internets, I figured out that the LCD INVERTER was the problem. At first I thought it was going to cost me $70 or more to fix. Searching Ebay, I found a new one for $29.95 + shipping. So here is how I replaced it:

LCD INVERTER: K000017700

Step 1: Follow first 11 steps on this guide to disassemble a Satellite P30, but you don’t need to remove all the screws from the bottom of laptop. Be sure to note which wire goes where on the WI-FI antenna.

Step 2: Remove 4 screws hidden under rubber pads located closest to the sides of LCD panel (marked with red arrows, other pads do not have screws under them).

Step 3: Take a screwdriver or other small tool and carefully pry apart bottom of LCD panel. After starting the bottom use an old credit card or guitar pick to split the rest apart.

Step 4: Unplug 2 connectors and screw from old LCD Inverter.

Step 5: Install new LCD Inverter.

Note: The new inverter had a long plastic shield around it and would not seat correctly. I took knife and cut a section of the plastic out so it would fit.

Step 6: Reassemble laptop. The whole process took about an hour.

DISCLAIMER: I am not responsible for any damage you can cause to your laptop.

Need more info on repairing your laptop? Click here!

1. What did you do in 2007 that you’d never done before?

Nothing of consequence… I am going to work on that in 2008.

2. Did you keep your New Year’s Resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

No. They were to vague. I am setting goals for 2008 but they will be much clearer.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

Yes. My wife gave birth to our 3rd child.

4. Did anyone close to you die?

No and I have an air tight alibi.

5. What countries did you visit?

Tyria, Elona, and Cantha… oh wait, in real life none.

6. What would you like to have in 2008 that you lacked in 2007?

More sleep.

7. What dates from 2007 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

Jan 26th – Birth of Sadie.
July 10th – First day of new job.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

Got out of a really crappy job and into an awesome one.

9. What was your biggest failure?

Not getting out of my old job sooner.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

Nothing major.

11. What was the best thing someone bought you?

Nothing comes to mind.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?

My son. He has made huge progress in life and learning the last 4 months. He is really growing up. I am so proud of him.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?

Travis Chase due to his total lack of commitment to the greatest MMO in the world: Guild Wars.

14. Where did most of your money go?

Not really sure…. but I’m sure the IRS has a large portion of it.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?

Sadie’s birth. My new job. Guild Wars: Eye of the North.

16. What song will always remind you of 2007?

Deathbed by Relient K.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
Happier or sadder? Happier!
Thinner or fatter? Holding steady.
Richer or poorer? Richer… I think.

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?

Keep up with old friends. This is something I am going to work on in 2008.

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?

Wallowing in the state of “I don’t know what to do…”

20. How do you plan to spend Christmas?

Celebrated Christmas at home with my family. Then canceled our after Christmas trip to Texas when my son got strep throat.

21. Did you fall in love in 2007?

Still madly in love with my wife.

22. How many one night stands?

None.

23. What was your favorite TV program?

LOST. (Can’t wait for Season 4! 29 days and counting…)

24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?

Hmmmmm… better not say.

25. What was the best book you read?

Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman.

26. What was your greatest musical discovery?

Waking Ashland (Maybe that was from 2006….)

27. What did you want and get?

A new job.

28. What did you want and not get?

Nintendo Wii

29. What was your favorite film of this year?

Transformers.

30. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?

Party with family. I turned 32.

31. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

Fewer ice storms.

32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2007?

Fashion eludes me. Ask my wife.

33. What kept you sane?

Guild Wars (Sad, I know…).

34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?

None.

35. What political issue stirred you the most?

War in Iraq, but not enough to do anything… I am politically lazy.

36. Who do you miss?

I miss the daily bull sessions with Travis, Kent, and the rest of the guys at my old job.

37. Who was the best new person you met?

I have meet a bunch of cool people at my new job. Not sure who is the best.
Perhaps, I should pit them in a basketball court of 5 year olds to find the answer.

38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2007?

Pain, trials, and the like may not be God pouring out His wrath on me but His mercy.

39. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:

How long have I
been in this storm
so overwhelmed by the ocean’s shapeless form
water’s getting harder to tread
with these waves crashing over my head

If I could just see you
everything will be alright
if I’d see you
the storminess will turn to light

Lifehouse – “Storm” from the Who We Are album.

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Here’s to an awesome 2008! Found this year in review on brad wilson’s blog.