http://www.overclock.net/blogs/elmikethemike/ An overclocking forum devoted to maximizing the performance of graphics cards, CPUs, motherboards, RAM and everything else found inside your computer case. en Wed, 25 Nov 2009 09:46:03 GMT vBulletin 1 http://static.overclock.net/images/oc/misc/rss.jpg http://www.overclock.net/blogs/elmikethemike/ http://www.overclock.net/blogs/elmikethemike/637-20-15.html Tue, 26 Aug 2008 14:53:53 GMT I've worn glasses and contact lenses for around 16 years of my life. My vision wasn't terrible...my prescription was something like -4.25 in each eye or so.

After my last yearly eye exam, my eyes hadn't changed at all from the previous year, so that basically made me a candidate for LASIK eye surgery.

I had to go through two exams before the surgery:

The first one they scanned my eyes with all their gizmos and mapped out my eyes. They did a typical eye exam to measure my vision. Then they stuck these little stick thingys underneathe my eye lids to measure my tear production. That part sucked. Finally, they numbed my eyes and tested my eye pressure.

The second exam they dilated my eyes and did a few more tests. Nothing painful, just bright lights. I couldn't read for about 5 hours afterwards and my eyes stay dilated until the next day. I was very light sensitive for a little while thereafter.

Then came the day of the surgery. I was pretty nervous to say the least. The idea of my eyes getting shot with a laser didn't sit too well. But the overall process was completely painless, just very uncomfortable.

With LASIK, a small flap is cut over the outer layer of the eye. It's then folder back, the laser hits you for your prescribed amount of time, then the flap is replaced, smoothed out, and that's it.

The flap creation process was the worst part. A suction ring is placed over your eye ball and inflated, making you lose vision in your eye. Then the machine is lowered on you, placing a pretty good amount of pressure over your eye socket. It took about 25 seconds for the laser to do it's thing. It didn't hurt, but I could almost feel the cutting. Very uncomfortable.

After each eye was done, the table I was laying on swung over to the other laser, preparations were done, and I was shot for 14 seconds in one eye, 11 seconds in the other. Completely painless, just very weird. And it smelled like burning hair or flesh.

When the process was done I could barely see because my eyes were tearing up tremendously. I had to sit in a dark room for about 30 minutes with my eyes closed to ensure the flaps stayed in place. The doc came and examined me, all was good and I was out the door.

I had the procedure on Monday. One day later, my vision is 20/15. My left eye feels perfectly normal, but my right eye sort of feels like there's a little sand in it. The suction burst a few blood vessels so it's a little tender. Doc says this is normal though and it'll go away in a couple weeks.

I've got no less than 6 prescriptions. Numerous eye drops, a few pills and pain relievers. But there's absolutely no pain at all. My vision isn't perfect as of yet though. There's sort of a haze around lights at night, but the steroid drops help relieve this and it should go away over time.

I highly recommend LASIK to anyone. It's an amazing procedure, virtually pain free and the recovery time is very fast.

The best part is, all exams, prescriptions, and the surgery itself were free to me since I'm in the military. I didn't have to pay a dime. :-) ]]> ElMikeTheMike http://www.overclock.net/blogs/elmikethemike/637-20-15.html http://www.overclock.net/blogs/elmikethemike/596-why-i-dont-fold.html Sun, 20 Jul 2008 05:18:39 GMT I pay my own electric bill.


The end.


Seriously - I'm an adult with living expenses and bills in the state of Maryland. I live between Baltimore and DC; if you're familiar with the area, you know how expensive everything is.

I've become an anal-retentive old man that makes sure every lightbulb is turned off when not in use. I monitor the A/C and use it only when I absolutely need to. TV goes off the second im done. Dishwasher - once a week at most. Clothes washing - once a week. Fridge door - Close that damn thing.

I never used to care about any of this...until I was out on my own.

Nope, I don't live in a college dorm or with my parents. I don't have roommates to split the bills with. I'm an independent adult in the real world.

Now maybe you're well off and can run your own folding farm or don't mind a steep electric bill. Good for you, I'm sure you've earned it - but you're in the minority. I don't wish to imply I'm broke or "monetarily challenged", because I'm not - I just have other things I'd rather spend my hard earned money on, the least of which being Baltimore Gas & Electric.

Now you might say F@H only uses the energy comparable to a light bulb, or some other hogwash. Well, I switched to the energy-efficient bulbs. The fact of the matter is computers and gaming consoles draw A LOT of energy. I don't leave them on when I don't have to.

You might call me selfish or self-centered - F@H is for the greater good! Well, I'm thick skinned, I can take it. I'll smoke my cigarettes while you work on the cure for lung cancer [/sarcasm]. Personally, I think donating money to actual cancer foundations is a better way of doing things, but that's just me. At least you can write off those donations on your taxes (assuming you pay them).


So why am I writing this?

I refrain from making comments such as these in the forums. I see all the folding threads and people preaching the wonders of it, even though I'm pretty sure most of them could care less about the cure and are far more concerned with their PPD and where they stand in the rankings so they can earn some "free" prizes. But rather than make infraction-worthy comments there, I'll share my opinion here. And by infraction-worthy, I mean any comments not in support of F@H. This is a tech website after all, and I stand in the minority of people here on OCN that do not wish to fold. We have a voice too. To shut us out wouldn't be right. ]]> ElMikeTheMike http://www.overclock.net/blogs/elmikethemike/596-why-i-dont-fold.html