- Blood. How may ragdoll stick figures do you find that bleed explosively?
- Random comments. I rarely see repeats, and they're all hilarious.
- Simple. The concept, design, and game play are simple.
Wednesday, August 30, 2006
Some awful person on Digg posted this game. It is addicting for a few reasons:
posted by Chad at 10:33 PM
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Friday, August 25, 2006
Nothing special today, just a random Firefly reference.
I return to college tomorrow morning. That means:
posted by Chad at 8:48 PM I return to college tomorrow morning. That means:
- lots of homework
- bad food
- less spare time
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Wednesday, August 23, 2006
In response to the Control+Alt+Delete Comic of Monday:
I propose the immediate implementation of Throat-Punch Technology in all controllers sold to those 18 years and younger that play on Xbox Live. Of course, the microphone would toggle this device on and off depending on the pitch of voice and the amount of profanity.
Throat Punch allows another player who is tired of the prepubescent noises from "the squeaker" to throat punch them, and thereby silence them for the duration of the game. The action can be repeated as frequently as necessary.
It behaves somewhat like the "eject" feature of Xbox Live, but is so much more satisfying. A small dialogue will popup once Throat Punch has determined that the squeaker has met the criteria:
1) a high pitched / immature voice
2) 60% of all words are profanity
On that note it took forever to get someone to kill me so I could grab a screenshot. Why does it take so long when you want to get betrayed?
posted by Chad at 5:24 PM I propose the immediate implementation of Throat-Punch Technology in all controllers sold to those 18 years and younger that play on Xbox Live. Of course, the microphone would toggle this device on and off depending on the pitch of voice and the amount of profanity.
Throat Punch allows another player who is tired of the prepubescent noises from "the squeaker" to throat punch them, and thereby silence them for the duration of the game. The action can be repeated as frequently as necessary.
It behaves somewhat like the "eject" feature of Xbox Live, but is so much more satisfying. A small dialogue will popup once Throat Punch has determined that the squeaker has met the criteria:
1) a high pitched / immature voice
2) 60% of all words are profanity
On that note it took forever to get someone to kill me so I could grab a screenshot. Why does it take so long when you want to get betrayed?
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Tuesday, August 22, 2006
Personally, I like two things: 1) clean context menus and 2) media players other than Windows Media Player. There is a quick and easy way to to be rid of the 17 different buttons that WMP adds to your right click context menus.
Go to Start --> Run and insert regsvr32 /u wmpshell.dll
If for some bizare reason you wish to restore these items, run regsvr32 wmpshell.dll
posted by Chad at 12:04 PM Go to Start --> Run and insert regsvr32 /u wmpshell.dll
If for some bizare reason you wish to restore these items, run regsvr32 wmpshell.dll
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Tuesday, August 15, 2006
I am not a fan of having more than a few icons on my desktop. The Recycle Bin is one of those annoying icons that adds unnecessary clutter. There are at least three methods for removing it, and each method is easily reversible.
Method One (2000/XP Pro Only):
Method Two (Registry Method):
To remove it, you need this Registry Patch (also included is an undelete patch). However, the Recycle Bin is still rather handy to access.
Method Three (TweakUI Required):
Retain Usability:
Note: I use Josh Karlin's Launchy for all of my program launching needs. I just moved the shortcut into my "Launch" folder. This solution works equally well if you use the Start Menu or some other "non-desktop icon" method.
posted by Chad at 9:41 AM Method One (2000/XP Pro Only):
- Start > Run..
- Run "gpedit.msc" (opens the Group Policy Editor)
Navigate: Local Computer Policy > User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Desktop- Right-click "Remove Recycle Bin icon from Desktop" and then click properties.
- Enable the setting (and click ok).
- Restart
Method Two (Registry Method):
To remove it, you need this Registry Patch (also included is an undelete patch). However, the Recycle Bin is still rather handy to access.
- Run the patch
- Delete the Recycle Bin
Method Three (TweakUI Required):
- Download and Install TweakUI
- Open TweakUI
- Click on "Desktop" option
Uncheck Recycle Bin- Click Ok
Retain Usability:
- Enable Show Hidden Folders/Files
- Navigate to C:\RECYCLER
- Create a shortcut of the one item in that folder
- Move the shortcut somewhere useful.
Note: I use Josh Karlin's Launchy for all of my program launching needs. I just moved the shortcut into my "Launch" folder. This solution works equally well if you use the Start Menu or some other "non-desktop icon" method.
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Monday, August 14, 2006
I've developed an affinity for retractable cables over the past few months. I find them excessively useful and practical. They make things much easier to clean up and keep tidy. However, I have been in search of a way to add this feature to random cables. Zip Wrap is at least partially that solution.
I quite literally stumbled across them in a Best Buy in King of Prussia, PA. I'll have to purchase a few of them in the near future for proper testing, but they look to be ideal. Are there any other such products available (aside from the usual Zip-Linq)?
Update:
I purchased them last weekend, and they are one of the most marvelous products on the market. It is much easier to simply push a button than to bother with untangling random wires continuously.
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Friday, August 11, 2006
I know. I already posted a list of Firefox Extensions a few weeks ago. The difference is that those were nearly essential. These are more related to aesthetics and ease of use. Nonetheless, I highly recommend all of them.
posted by Chad at 10:16 AM - Search Bar Auto Sizer - This automatically resizes the search bar to match the length of text input.
- Search Engine Ordering - Drag and drop search engines in the search bar or alphabetize them. It also makes deleting unused ones quite simple.
- Map This - Adds two context menu buttons: Map This and Map To This. They are both links to Google Maps, one for simply mapping a selected address, and the other for bringing up directions from a default location to the selected address.
- All Your Maps Are Belong to Us - Automatically convert links from other mapping services to Google Maps. Here is the White House via Mapquest.
- URL Fixer - Do you suffer from Fat Finger Syndrome? I do. This extension corrects small annoying errors when typing URLs, like typing .con instead of .com.
- Wikipedia Lookup - Adds a right click context menu button for looking up a selected term in Wikipedia.
- SourceForge Direct Download - Choose your favorite mirror and this bypasses that annoying step. This is a must have if you use SF regularly.
- Copy Plain Text - This copies and then strips text of its formatting for quick pasting. This can be selected as the default copy action.
- Screen Grab! - This extension saves an entire webpage, a window, or just the current viewport as a .PNG image.
- Box Check - Select a range of checkboxes by shift clicking the first and then the last. It works just like selecting multiple files in windows.
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Thursday, August 10, 2006
Finally.
Lifehacker’s Download of the Day happened to be a program called TigoTago. It is an extremely clean, simple, and quick way to manage the ID3 v1 and v2 tags of mp3s. I've been looking for one for a few months, and this is the easiest and fastest one I've found.
Features include:
Not convinced? Check out these demonstrations:
Beware: it uses .NET Framework.
posted by Chad at 6:27 PM Lifehacker’s Download of the Day happened to be a program called TigoTago. It is an extremely clean, simple, and quick way to manage the ID3 v1 and v2 tags of mp3s. I've been looking for one for a few months, and this is the easiest and fastest one I've found.
Features include:
- Spreadsheet style interface
- Tags from names
- Multiselect
- Find and replace
- Import from FreeDB
Not convinced? Check out these demonstrations:
Beware: it uses .NET Framework.
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Wednesday, August 09, 2006
We saw Superman Returns last night. The one detail of awesomeness was that it was in IMAX 3D. There’s something about a 50 by 75 foot screen, the 14,000 Watts of speaker power, and eye-popping 3D images that really make it an IMAX 3D Experience.
For the first time in my life I found the theatrical trailers that preceded the film to be as engrossing as the movie itself. Since they were presented in 3D as well it was a delightful teaser for what was to come.
The 3D technology that IMAX utilizes is inexpensive and over 50 years old, but still highly effective. It is a simple matter of polarizing the two cameras that project the images and handing out some special glasses (see above image) that do the same.
The key is that the left and right lenses and cameras are polarized in different directions. You can test this yourself by inverting one pair of glasses and then holding them over the lenses of another pair. With the left and right lenses overlapping, both pairs will be nearly black.
Note: Polarization is different from anaglyph glasses which use red and cyan colored lenses to filter images for the left and right eyes.
As I mentioned before, two cameras are necessary for producing a 3D image. They superimpose two images over each other and merge into a single 3D picture when viewed with polarizing lenses.
Human depth perception is primarily based on separate images that result from the slightly different angles seen from each eye. The brain assembles these two images into one coherent image through a process called stereopsis. Current 3D technology embraces this concept and provides independent images for each eye.
The net result is a fantastic film. I wish the entire 2 hours and 34 minutes of film had been converted into 3D instead of just 20 minutes, but those few minutes were extremely well done. I hope that we’ll be seeing more of this technology in the not too distant future. After all, a little bit of science goes a long way.
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Monday, August 07, 2006
New Jersey has a beautiful shore. Here's one of my random pictures from the day we spent there. I also included a fun bit of code that makes the image grow when the mouse hovers over it. The source for which can be found here.
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Friday, August 04, 2006
I’m going to New Jersey for a week. New posts are rather unlikely for the immediate future. Hopefully, I'll come up with some new material in the meantime.
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I’ve been playing with Pivot - a free stick figure animation program - quite a bit lately. The interface is quite intuitive; it just takes time to animate each individual frame. A single stick figure with 10 joints is more than enough for my humble purposes. Perhaps I’ll be able to conjure up a tutorial in the near future. Here is my latest endeavor.
Again, here is a high resolution version.
posted by Chad at 10:54 AM Again, here is a high resolution version.
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Thursday, August 03, 2006
I have been experimenting with animating stick figures for a few hours. The only natural thing for them to do is fight. This is the first scene I have created. Hopefully I’ll post more clips and tutorials in the future.
Sadly, YouTube’s compression of the video is terrible. Here is a high resolution version (divx warning).
posted by Chad at 8:11 AM Sadly, YouTube’s compression of the video is terrible. Here is a high resolution version (divx warning).
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Wednesday, August 02, 2006
This is not a complete college supply list. However, it is a good baseline of the bare essentials. This college survival kit is special because it fits inside a single quart sized Pyrex Cup. These items may be small, but they are nonetheless essential to survival.
- Quart Pyrex Cup - This is the one item that should be included in any kitchen set. It is microwave safe and large enough to accommodate most human quantities of Ramen Noodles and Easy-Mac. The only down side is that it is not really disposable, the ease of washing it makes up for this fact.
- White Towel - In homage to Douglas Adam’s Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, you should always know where your towel is. It is useful for dusting television screens, drying spills, and surrendering.
- Duck Tape - It has a light side, a dark side, and holds the universe together. It’s nice to have some with you at all times.
- Mini Mag-lite - A year at college will involve two particular elements: hours after the sun has gone down and consciousness. They will frequently react and result in stumbling around and banging into things. This reaction can be avoided by having a source of light.
- Black Sharpie - These are commonly used for labeling things, signing shirts, and redacting sensitive data.
- Whiteout - This is useful for correcting a few of the numerous mistakes that are made in college.
- Cell Phone - A piece of cellular technology is essential in the college world. It is needed for communicating with friends and ordering pizza
- Power Splitter - There are not enough power outlets in any room, and dorm rooms are the worst offenders. This three way splitter gives you at least two more. Several surge protectors are preferable, but do not fit in the Pyrex.
- Chapstick - There are few colleges that do not have some form of cold weather. There are even fewer for which it is impossible to remain indoors and avoid said cold. Therefore chapped lips are a fact of life.
- Gum - In all likelihood the statement "you stink" will be accurate at some point in time during the year. This will at least remove one source of odor.
- Playing Cards - A single deck of cards can provide quite a bit of sanity in between homework, studying, and terrible meals. Halo is preferable, but did not fit.
- Mini Stapler- Stapling papers together is a task that goes hand in hand with writing them.
- Quarters - Rather than being the “stinky kid” at an institution of higher learning, bring quarters and do some laundry. These multipurpose pieces of metal can be used to acquire beverages and munchies.
- Multi-tool - If you’re not one to carry a complete set of tools to college then acquire a Leatherman or equivalent (I prefer the Wave). If you are going to bring a set of tools, then you probably have one already. When armed with such a tool it is easy to find a MacGyver-esque solution to every dilemma that will arise. A proper multi-tool will at least involve a knife, screwdrivers, and pliers.
- Thumb or USB or Flash Drive - A T/U/F drive is handy for transporting a significant portion of your life from computer to computer.
- iPod - This is another item that is necessary for psychological reasons. It has the ability to supply the continuous auditory stimulus craved by most college students as well as provide a bubble of sanity while attempting to be productive.
- Credit or Debit Card - A plastic source of money is necessary for ordering things online and protecting your funds from skulking thieves. However, if you lack financial responsibility, don’t bother.
- Spoon - The spoon is the perfect utensil for college studenst. Enjoy any banquet from Ramen Noodles and Instant Oatmeal to Easy-Mac with this tool.
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Tuesday, August 01, 2006
Here is a list of books that are good to be familiar with. There are two reasons for this, one is that they are frequently referenced, and the other is that they are excellent, thought provoking, reading material.
- Douglas Adams - Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
- Dan Brown - Angels & Demons
- Orson Scott Card - Ender's Game (series)
- Tom Clancy - Sum of All Fears
- Tom Clancy - Debt of Honor
- Jeffery Deaver - The Blue Nowhere
- William Golding - Lord of the Flies
- Robert Heinlein - The Moon is a Harsh Mistress
- Aldous Huxley - Brave New World
- George Orwell - 1984
- George Orwell - Animal Farm
- Mary Shelley - Frankenstein
Nonfiction
- Scott Adams - The Dilbert Principle
- John Gray - Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus
- Steve Johnson - Everything Bad is Good for You
- Ray Kurzweil - The Age of Spiritual Machines
- Sun Tzu - The Art of War
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