GET SOME CRUNK IN YO SYSTEM
Sunday, July 31, 2005
Me, dad and the cat chilling in '85
Friday, July 29, 2005
Sunset on the Desktop
Friday, July 29, 2005
Well, at least my computer has some form of style. I opted for a radical makeover and went for BLUE. I think it came out pretty good. Shame about the weather outside, the rain came when Samantha left for Edinburgh and she's gone for the month.
Labels: Desktop
Attic Treasures and Easy Rider Rare Vintage Posters
Tuesday, July 26, 2005
In a bid to clean up parts of the house we decided to rummage through our attic to make space for more boxes of things we don't really need but like to keep. We removed some old boxes and looked through them, most of it was junk. Door handles, screws, locks, metal brackets, paint brushes, wallpaper, broken things and lots of dust. However we did come across a bag containing two large rolls, upon closer inspection they were my Dad's old posters. These posters look pretty darn cool and I'm trying to value them at the moment.
Easy Rider Posters, very rare and vintage:
Black and White, 29" x 51.5", Peter Fonda and "Chopper", in Las Vegas on scene for filming
Poster date: February 16th 1969 (pre-release)
24.5" x 33.5"
25" x 34"
One of the greatest posters I have ever seen at a massive 34" x 51.5"
Jimi Hendrix:
Black Sabbath:
Soft Machine
Random Science Fiction Monthly Posters
This one's pretty cool.
Che Guevara
Black and White, 29" x 51.5", Peter Fonda and "Chopper", in Las Vegas on scene for filming
Poster date: February 16th 1969 (pre-release)
24.5" x 33.5"
25" x 34"
One of the greatest posters I have ever seen at a massive 34" x 51.5"
Jimi Hendrix:
Black Sabbath:
Soft Machine
Random Science Fiction Monthly Posters
This one's pretty cool.
Che Guevara
If you are interested in purchasing any of these, feel free to contact me at kangoophoo NO at SPAM gmail dot com, state how much you are willing to pay also. Most of these posters are in mint or very good condition and have been rolled away in the dark for 20 years.
Labels: Life
The irony of banning GTA due to sex
Monday, July 25, 2005
Inside Firefox:
"Gamestop has decided to stop stocking Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. Probably because parents might buy this game for their kids, and it has (shock) sex in it now accessible via a difficult to apply mod (on the PS2 at least). I guess using a prostitute, killing her and taking the money back, massacring pedestrians and stealing things is fine family fun, but consensual sex isn't? For shame, Gamestop. You try and act like you're above this, but instead you show how unenlightened you actually are."
I just read this at InsideFirefox linked to above. I agree completely and think this "hot coffee" mod thing is going a little too far. Although I'm sure the british 18 certificate adequately covers this.
"Gamestop has decided to stop stocking Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. Probably because parents might buy this game for their kids, and it has (shock) sex in it now accessible via a difficult to apply mod (on the PS2 at least). I guess using a prostitute, killing her and taking the money back, massacring pedestrians and stealing things is fine family fun, but consensual sex isn't? For shame, Gamestop. You try and act like you're above this, but instead you show how unenlightened you actually are."
I just read this at InsideFirefox linked to above. I agree completely and think this "hot coffee" mod thing is going a little too far. Although I'm sure the british 18 certificate adequately covers this.
Labels: Gaming
I'll miss my old room
Monday, July 25, 2005
Tales of Bus Fares and Film Certificates
Wednesday, July 20, 2005
About time for another blog entry I feel, something today specifically focused on the lovely new changes made by the BBFC (film classification company in Britain) and the First bus company in Bristol, England.
A few months back I watched one of this year's greatest films, Batman Begins. I thoroughly enjoyed the feature and plan to see it again with my girlfriend at a local IMAX theatre. However, during the more violent and scary aspects of the film my thoughts debated the choice of certification. In Britain, Batman Begins has been rated with the fairly recently created 12A certificate (after the Spider-man violence debacle).
This means that a six year old would be allowed in to watch this film. A nagging child desperately wanting to see the latest super hero flick would be the most likely candidate. However, if I were a parent there would be some scenes I would just not want my child to see. For instance the scarecrow and drug induced hallucinations. Most of the violence and battle scenes consisted mostly of quick camera changes and flashes and these didn't bother me. It was more the frightening aspects and themes that some of my twenty something friends were afraid of that bothered me. Introducing drug induced paranoia and scary hallucinations to a young child could really scar(e) them and keep them up at night. I questioned why a simple 12 rating was not used, anyone over the age of 12 would love this movie. Had this film been released in the early nineties a 15 certificate would be guaranteed.
I have now returned from seeing the latest War of the Worlds adaptation by Spielberg. There were no violent scenes, bad language or sex acts in this movie and there were fantastic special effects, combine this with Spielberg and a 12A rating and you'd think this would be a perfect movie for a group of eight year old's and a birthday party. In fact it was a similar combination that led me to take my girlfriend on a date to see this flick. We settled down with our Fanta and chocolate buttons hoping for another fantastic summer blockbuster. We were gravely disappointed (the ending... seriously wtf, Spielberg you douche). I'd read interviews that talked about how 'berg would concentrate on the human and dramatic aspects of an alien invasion and he did exactly that. There may be some spoilers below, so don't read on if you are afraid of me ruining moments. Dysfunctional families, a lazy yet loving father, distraught children faced with death on a massive scale, images of multiple dead bodies flowing down a river, humans being turned to dust, crazy lunatic hitch hikers frantically attacking the only working car resulting in gun shots and murder, insanity and murder for survival, booming sirens and shuddersome aliens, humans being ground into fertilizer and sprayed across fields, complete hopelessness, fear and death. These were the themes of the movie that were incredibly realistic and terrifying, such that my twenty year old date cowered behind her hands for much of the second half of the movie. I was shocked at the brutal reality of parts of the movie and if this was the aim of Spielberg then I applaud him in his success (although all those narrow escapes were ridiculous). Once again my thoughts turned to the rating of this movie. It was 12A. If I were a parent there would be no way I would ever let my son or daughter watch this movie, even if they were over 12. The themes in this motion picture are simply things an eight year old should not be confronted with in the search for entertainment. What were the BBFC thinking? A film certificate should be a guide to parents and in this country also a governed restriction. Five years ago this movie would have been a 15 or even 18 certificate yet today a six year old can see this with his ignorant misinformed parents. By the time I am a parent I'm going to have to watch all the films they might want to see beforehand just in case they are not suitable. Whatever happened to standards?
BBFC and the 12A certificate
Moving on, to another note entirely. Today I travelled into Bristol city centre to enjoy the day in town. In lacking means of transportation we decided to take the "First" bus (badger line). It used to cost £3 for a single during rush hour and £2 off peak. However since June 28th prices have gone up. Now off peak travel costs us £3.60 each and a massive £5 return. A 40 minute bus journey into town and back for two costs us £10. Comparing this to the bus I take to university which takes 50 minutes and costs £1.80 return (each) during peak periods and the coach tickets to London (return) that cost £16.50 then you see that this price is extortionate. Where a short trip to the next suburb used to cost £1 it now costs three. No wonder people don't want to use public transport.
I'm done, stick a fork in me. (Why doesn't blogger create £ signs without the annoying A-hat before it?)
A few months back I watched one of this year's greatest films, Batman Begins. I thoroughly enjoyed the feature and plan to see it again with my girlfriend at a local IMAX theatre. However, during the more violent and scary aspects of the film my thoughts debated the choice of certification. In Britain, Batman Begins has been rated with the fairly recently created 12A certificate (after the Spider-man violence debacle).
Children under the age of 12 will be able to see a '12A' film at the cinema if they are accompanied by a person of 18 years or over. The adult must watch the film with the child or children and not just pay for the ticket.
This means that a six year old would be allowed in to watch this film. A nagging child desperately wanting to see the latest super hero flick would be the most likely candidate. However, if I were a parent there would be some scenes I would just not want my child to see. For instance the scarecrow and drug induced hallucinations. Most of the violence and battle scenes consisted mostly of quick camera changes and flashes and these didn't bother me. It was more the frightening aspects and themes that some of my twenty something friends were afraid of that bothered me. Introducing drug induced paranoia and scary hallucinations to a young child could really scar(e) them and keep them up at night. I questioned why a simple 12 rating was not used, anyone over the age of 12 would love this movie. Had this film been released in the early nineties a 15 certificate would be guaranteed.
I have now returned from seeing the latest War of the Worlds adaptation by Spielberg. There were no violent scenes, bad language or sex acts in this movie and there were fantastic special effects, combine this with Spielberg and a 12A rating and you'd think this would be a perfect movie for a group of eight year old's and a birthday party. In fact it was a similar combination that led me to take my girlfriend on a date to see this flick. We settled down with our Fanta and chocolate buttons hoping for another fantastic summer blockbuster. We were gravely disappointed (the ending... seriously wtf, Spielberg you douche). I'd read interviews that talked about how 'berg would concentrate on the human and dramatic aspects of an alien invasion and he did exactly that. There may be some spoilers below, so don't read on if you are afraid of me ruining moments. Dysfunctional families, a lazy yet loving father, distraught children faced with death on a massive scale, images of multiple dead bodies flowing down a river, humans being turned to dust, crazy lunatic hitch hikers frantically attacking the only working car resulting in gun shots and murder, insanity and murder for survival, booming sirens and shuddersome aliens, humans being ground into fertilizer and sprayed across fields, complete hopelessness, fear and death. These were the themes of the movie that were incredibly realistic and terrifying, such that my twenty year old date cowered behind her hands for much of the second half of the movie. I was shocked at the brutal reality of parts of the movie and if this was the aim of Spielberg then I applaud him in his success (although all those narrow escapes were ridiculous). Once again my thoughts turned to the rating of this movie. It was 12A. If I were a parent there would be no way I would ever let my son or daughter watch this movie, even if they were over 12. The themes in this motion picture are simply things an eight year old should not be confronted with in the search for entertainment. What were the BBFC thinking? A film certificate should be a guide to parents and in this country also a governed restriction. Five years ago this movie would have been a 15 or even 18 certificate yet today a six year old can see this with his ignorant misinformed parents. By the time I am a parent I'm going to have to watch all the films they might want to see beforehand just in case they are not suitable. Whatever happened to standards?
BBFC and the 12A certificate
Moving on, to another note entirely. Today I travelled into Bristol city centre to enjoy the day in town. In lacking means of transportation we decided to take the "First" bus (badger line). It used to cost £3 for a single during rush hour and £2 off peak. However since June 28th prices have gone up. Now off peak travel costs us £3.60 each and a massive £5 return. A 40 minute bus journey into town and back for two costs us £10. Comparing this to the bus I take to university which takes 50 minutes and costs £1.80 return (each) during peak periods and the coach tickets to London (return) that cost £16.50 then you see that this price is extortionate. Where a short trip to the next suburb used to cost £1 it now costs three. No wonder people don't want to use public transport.
I'm done, stick a fork in me. (Why doesn't blogger create £ signs without the annoying A-hat before it?)
Labels: Life
Konfabulator is great!
Saturday, July 16, 2005
I have spent the evening looking for a method of skinning iTunes for windows XP, I'm fed up of the grey scheme and would like the library to take more advantage of the cover art each of my music files has. I really wanted to browse by artist and beneath the artist there would be the album title and cover and to the right a tracklisting / track details. This is what I want for iTunes and I haven't yet found it. However, on my trek across the internet I stumbled upon Konfabulator 2, the stylish, simple and effective widget machine:
What Is Konfabulator?
Konfabulator is a JavaScript runtime engine for Windows and Mac OS X that lets you run little files called Widgets that can do pretty much whatever you want them to. Widgets can be alarm clocks, calculators, can tell you your WiFi signal strength, will fetch the latest stock quotes for your preferred symbols, and even give your current local weather.
What sets Konfabulator apart from other scripting applications is that it takes full advantage of today's advanced graphics. This allows Widgets to blend fluidly into your desktop without the constraints of traditional window borders. Toss in some sliding and fading, and these little guys are right at home in Windows XP and Mac OS X.
I decided to install and experiment. Previously I have used rainmeter and samurize clients to display information on my desktop. Such clients have been slightly annoying to position, congifure and match with my current theme. Konfab' comes with several preconfigured widgets for you to use; an analogue clock, CPU monitor, Wifi signal monitor, weather forecasts and various others. I used to have a weather add-on for Rainmeter yet the advanced configuration and work to find the local forecast code number was not worth the hassle of the forecast only showing every 3 reboots. So I tried this aspect first, I entered my home town and country and there it was, the forecast in all it's simple and brilliant glory, directly to my desktop. It also shows the current stage of the moon's cycle and puts temperatures in a METRIC format. Next up, time to browse the third-party widgets (http://www.widgetgallery.com/).
Here I found an iTunes remote that looks like an empty cd jewel case. Upon playing it shows the album cover in the ID3 tag, if not tag exists the widget searches Amazon for an appropriate cover. Upon rolling over the top half a set of controls to change track, etc... appear, rolling over the bottom half brings up the progress bar, track name and artist name. Simple and eloquent. It also has some advanced features such as hiding itself when iTunes is closed, bringing itself to the front upon track change and hotkeys for control. It also has three spearate sizes for album covers, in the screenshot below it's on the middle setting. So here's an image of my current desktop, click for larger.
Labels: Technical
Optimus (concept) Display Keyboard
Friday, July 15, 2005
A goon over at forums.somethingawful.com pointed this out to me and I relished the idea of having one of these so much that I decided to make a blog entry about it. At the moment this is only a concept piece, however there are patents pending and from the forums thread their is significant interest in such a product. It is ingenious without a doubt.
"Every key of the Optimus keyboard is a stand-alone display showing exactly what it is controlling at this very moment."
"Additional block of keys on the left is meant for switching between programs or modes"
Standard keyboard in English, same keyboard different display when playing Quake, showing the controls.
"Every key of the Optimus keyboard is a stand-alone display showing exactly what it is controlling at this very moment."
"Additional block of keys on the left is meant for switching between programs or modes"
Standard keyboard in English, same keyboard different display when playing Quake, showing the controls.
The possibilities of this are endless. So many times I have played video games and forgotten the controls, had difficulty remembering keyboard shortcuts, wanted improved functionality and quick (and obvious) one key commands (I have this to some extent with my MS natural keyboard but you need to remember each button's function). This keyboard can also be sold internationally as it incorporates very easily all the different setups and arrangements of keys and characters, i.e. the Russian or Greek alphabets. It's a simple aid and solution to common key memorization problems, customization and adaptability and it looks incredibly cool. I want one.
Images © 1995–2005 Art. Lebedev Studio
Images © 1995–2005 Art. Lebedev Studio
Labels: Technical
What a load of shit
Tuesday, July 12, 2005
In Case of Emergency (ICE)
Tuesday, July 12, 2005
I've just read about this on the BBC website and I think it is an excellent idea and should be widely adopted. It is a simple and efficient method of identifying who to call in the case of an emergency.
BBC says:A campaign encouraging people to store personal details on their mobile phones to help identify victims of accidents and disasters has taken off since the bomb attacks in London.Users are being urged to enter a number in their phone's memory under the heading ICE - In Case of Emergency.
Paramedics or police would then be able to use it to contact a relative.
The idea is the brainchild of East Anglian Ambulance Service paramedic Bob Brotchie and was launched in May.
This Weeks Listening Chart
Monday, July 11, 2005
| 1 | The Microphones | |
| 2 | The Arcade Fire | |
| 3 | Idlewild | |
| 4 | RJD2 | |
| 4 | Pink Floyd | |
| 4 | Eva Cassidy | |
| 7 | Les Savy Fav | |
| 7 | Moby | |
| 7 | Lightning Bolt | |
| 7 | The Postal Service |
Labels: Music
Bug in Gmail's Rich Text editor
Saturday, July 09, 2005
I was happening to enjoy writing a lovely formatted email one evening and I decided I'd like to include a quote from a website at the end of the email. Gmail's rich text editor is fantastic at interpreting html from the clipboard and it implements all formatting, URLs, images and code. I love this feature and it is extremely handy. In this case I was copying a block of text, however mid sentence there was a small image that was a useful link for the website but was not required in the email. The text-editor added it as expected and I motioned to remove it. However, it wasn't just your standard image linked to web page because upon clicking to delete the icon it proceeded to load the page it linked to... within the rich text editor. The code for the image looked something like this:
This page that loaded replaced my carefully worded email much to my annoyance yet I grew excited at the prospect of being able to send web pages to friends with ease. My mind was traveling along the lines of,
"If I could exploit this bug, I could create a simple PHP script, render some code for the desired URL and then get the full web page up in the editor which I can then send"
Although these plans were somewhat thwarted when I noticed the SEND and save draft buttons had become completely defunct after rendering the url's html. I've given up re-writing the original email because I'm tired.I should also point out that this bug only occurs in firefox. Make of this what you will. Although I do fear it could open up some security issues such that the loading of malicious html within gmail could pose a serious threat.
<a href=" url"
onclick="{ window.location.href='url that loads'; return false; }"
onmouseover="status='url'; return true;"
onmouseout="status=''; return true;">
<img style="width: 402px; height: 378px;" src="image url" border="0">
</a>
This page that loaded replaced my carefully worded email much to my annoyance yet I grew excited at the prospect of being able to send web pages to friends with ease. My mind was traveling along the lines of,
"If I could exploit this bug, I could create a simple PHP script, render some code for the desired URL and then get the full web page up in the editor which I can then send"
Although these plans were somewhat thwarted when I noticed the SEND and save draft buttons had become completely defunct after rendering the url's html. I've given up re-writing the original email because I'm tired.I should also point out that this bug only occurs in firefox. Make of this what you will. Although I do fear it could open up some security issues such that the loading of malicious html within gmail could pose a serious threat.
Labels: Technical
The worst of things bring out the best in us
Thursday, July 07, 2005
What an eventful week this has been.
Live8, a global protest and collaboration in an attempt to urge on the G8 leaders to cancel debt, provide increased aid and most importantly to improve trade relationships and give Africa free trade; all in an aim to bid poverty goodbye. Millions upon millions gathered, watched and pledged their support on Saturday to the Live8 cause, the level of participation in this international protest/campaign was unprecedented. Despite uttering of hypocrisy and the usual critics, people rallied to show that they do still care, that they want change and enforce that people can make a difference. With the resources and money we have, there should be no poverty in the democratic and fair countries of Africa and we should do everything possible to combat it. It is from the education and presentation of extreme poverty, hunger, corruption and death that we, as a people, can rally and use our power to influence events. It is from the utmost worst of things that we show our true human spirit in a bid to do good.
And today, London Terrorist attacks, brought the city of London to a stand still. Four underground explosions and a bomb on a double decker bus have left 40 people dead, the city at a stand still and complete disruption to the city. A most terrible and terrifying event aimed at murdering innocent British citizens. I've watched it all unfold throughout the day, from 10am this morning I've watched BBC News 24 and debated on Internet fora as more explosions, deaths and happenings unfold. I've seen Chinooks and Apache helicopters fly over and I've seen the nation's businesses on high alert. The combined, swift and excellent aid services have got the needy to hospitals as fast as humanly possible, locked down central London, taken control and successfully prevented panic and unneeded grief; the people of London have stayed calm. I have nothing but praise for the efforts of the services. But once again, it is this most disastrous of incidents that has brought out the best in us. The stories of good will, support and kindness to others are phenomenal; from people giving free lifts out of congested London and people giving up accommodation to those who need it to the bus services helping to cart the injured to the hospitals, the extra hospital workers and volunteers called in, the nurse that's in London on her day off that goes to the nearest hospital to help out, the builders that hear the news on the radio and all head to donate blood generously and instinctively.
In a world that more and more people are calling uncaring, withdrawn, separated, corrupt and commercial, it is these events that have reinstalled my faith in humanity. We still have it in us to do good, it's just we need something disastrous and horrible to remind us of our capabilities.
Live8, a global protest and collaboration in an attempt to urge on the G8 leaders to cancel debt, provide increased aid and most importantly to improve trade relationships and give Africa free trade; all in an aim to bid poverty goodbye. Millions upon millions gathered, watched and pledged their support on Saturday to the Live8 cause, the level of participation in this international protest/campaign was unprecedented. Despite uttering of hypocrisy and the usual critics, people rallied to show that they do still care, that they want change and enforce that people can make a difference. With the resources and money we have, there should be no poverty in the democratic and fair countries of Africa and we should do everything possible to combat it. It is from the education and presentation of extreme poverty, hunger, corruption and death that we, as a people, can rally and use our power to influence events. It is from the utmost worst of things that we show our true human spirit in a bid to do good.
And today, London Terrorist attacks, brought the city of London to a stand still. Four underground explosions and a bomb on a double decker bus have left 40 people dead, the city at a stand still and complete disruption to the city. A most terrible and terrifying event aimed at murdering innocent British citizens. I've watched it all unfold throughout the day, from 10am this morning I've watched BBC News 24 and debated on Internet fora as more explosions, deaths and happenings unfold. I've seen Chinooks and Apache helicopters fly over and I've seen the nation's businesses on high alert. The combined, swift and excellent aid services have got the needy to hospitals as fast as humanly possible, locked down central London, taken control and successfully prevented panic and unneeded grief; the people of London have stayed calm. I have nothing but praise for the efforts of the services. But once again, it is this most disastrous of incidents that has brought out the best in us. The stories of good will, support and kindness to others are phenomenal; from people giving free lifts out of congested London and people giving up accommodation to those who need it to the bus services helping to cart the injured to the hospitals, the extra hospital workers and volunteers called in, the nurse that's in London on her day off that goes to the nearest hospital to help out, the builders that hear the news on the radio and all head to donate blood generously and instinctively.
In a world that more and more people are calling uncaring, withdrawn, separated, corrupt and commercial, it is these events that have reinstalled my faith in humanity. We still have it in us to do good, it's just we need something disastrous and horrible to remind us of our capabilities.
Labels: Life
Exam Results
Monday, July 04, 2005
- Systems and Control (CG203): 85%
- Signal Processing and Communications (CG204): 94%
- Analogue Design (ES21J): 81%
- Applied Linear Algebra (ES21L): 92% (7.5 cats)
- Design of Measurement Systems (ES21Q): 70% (7.5 cats)
- Digital Design (ES21R): 80%
- Electronic Systems (ES21T): 79%
- Software Development (ES22E): 92%
- Starting a Business (IB229): 58% (7.5 cats)
- ULSI (PX258): 70%
Overall mark is 81.4% a First. Im so happy, I only really did badly in the "Starting a Business" module, a completely coursework assessed module with little to no relevance to engineering. The majority of people I know who took that module got 58%. Im a little angry because I worked so hard for the write-up. But overall I am overjoyed, 94% in the hardest module kicks major ass and reflects the unprecedented amount of work I had to do for it.
Labels: Life
Invision Power Board and SDK
Monday, July 04, 2005
The trivial being forums that I and my co-web host run use the "Invision Power Board". It has served us well and now accommodates over 50,000 posts and 1200 members. An aim for all of my websites is to make them community orientated. This has been fairly difficult with the minimal IPB-site integration I was capable of. However, now I have discovered IPB SDK.
I can now use the extensive and growing forums as the central hub to multiple user services, new sites and much much more. Additionally it is free and open source! I have already began incorporating it into my current sites, primarily my Evangelion Live Action site which I have recently redesigned. This new discovery will greatly enhance my future sites and provide highly valuable user interaction and member only sections.
As aforementioned, I decided to redesign the live action website. I really despised the old design, it looked hideous, consumed bandwidth and it was messy, incredibly messy, not only the look but the code running it. I have since completely revamped the site basing it around IPB SDK and a CSS style sheet to replace all the annoying font tags. This is version 4.0 of the site and people have been querying as to what v1-v3 looked like. I only have memories of them myself and I feel sometimes I would like to just glance at them again, for old times sake or something. So, if I ever change the current design (v4), here's an archived picture version of how it looks now:
IPB SDK is a library of PHP functions, which will help you develop advanced applications on your site. Integration between your forum and site is essential in the websites of today. IPB already has a great member system, why re-write another one if you can use one member database for both?
I can now use the extensive and growing forums as the central hub to multiple user services, new sites and much much more. Additionally it is free and open source! I have already began incorporating it into my current sites, primarily my Evangelion Live Action site which I have recently redesigned. This new discovery will greatly enhance my future sites and provide highly valuable user interaction and member only sections.
As aforementioned, I decided to redesign the live action website. I really despised the old design, it looked hideous, consumed bandwidth and it was messy, incredibly messy, not only the look but the code running it. I have since completely revamped the site basing it around IPB SDK and a CSS style sheet to replace all the annoying font tags. This is version 4.0 of the site and people have been querying as to what v1-v3 looked like. I only have memories of them myself and I feel sometimes I would like to just glance at them again, for old times sake or something. So, if I ever change the current design (v4), here's an archived picture version of how it looks now:
