Monday 2 November 2009

Halloween; I love the internet

Shoo October has come and gone, and halloween with it, but with that, November is officially under way, and November is a huge month for video games. Modern Warfare 2 is coming out this month, and I think that Assassin's Creed 2 is coming out sometime soon too... not sure when though.
Anyways, Halloween was fun, just messed around really.
I was on youtube today, and its the best thing about the internet, the fact that you can just browse, and one thing will lead you to the next until you find this. And it makes you laugh, and leads you to like 5 other things. Its like a giant branch thing thing.
God I love the internet.
Honestly, I don't know how our parents procrastinated without the internet... Its a great tool.

Wednesday 21 October 2009

High kids; Borderlands

Today was alright. I've been getting more sleep lately, so I've been getting up a lot better, which is a really nice feeling to have when I have to wake up at 6 am. Actually, during my first period class this morning, there was this girl (and I don't know what her name is) but she was sooo stoned. It was actually really funny, and thank god we had a sub who wasn't really aware of anything, because she was complaining the whole class that she couldn't tell the difference between a lowercase "b" and "d."
Also, Borderlands came out!! Woohpee horray!!
I am actually excited though, I'll probably end up getting it at christmas, cause I need to conserve money so I can pay for the Modern Warefare 2 I preordered.
Hehe.
But it looks cool, mixture of FPS and RPG, which is hard to do, but apparently the pulled it off quite well. I would like its sort of like Fallout, except with a smaller world and more emphasis on the FPS aspect. Also, the developers describes it with the phrase "bajillions of guns" and apparently it hold true to that, and that can't be anything but good.

Tuesday 20 October 2009

Lucid Dreaming

Over the past day and a bit, I've been absolutely fascinated with the concept of lucid dreaming. Actually, its not even a concept. It happens, and everyone has the ability to learn how to do it. Which means that I am going to teach myself how to.
For those of you not familiar with lucid dreaming, its basically when you become aware that you are dreaming during a dream, and then have complete control of everything in your dream. You can fly, study, practice an instrument, go places; you name it, you can do it.
Its like a personal world that you are in absolute control of. If you have nightmares, you can turn around and confront your tormentor, or whip out a shotgun out of your pants pocket and shoot them in the face. Its a dream, anything is possible.
Its just like being in real life, in the sense that you cannot tell the difference between the two. There are several reality checks that you can do to see if you are dreaming or if you actually awake. Personally, I think that its like adding another dimension to your universe. It must be one of the most unique and amazing experiances that we can have.
Some of the reality checks are doing things like pinching your nose shut, and then trying to breath through a closed mouth. While this is impossible in real life, you can do it in your dream. So therefore, if you can breath, you realize that you are in a dream, and become lucid.
I was reading about it earlier today, and I actually went jittery with the amount of excitement and anxiety that I got from just reading about the different things that people had done. You can study for your test, practice playing an instrument, start to learn to play a new instrument, and everything you learn in your dream applies in real life, because your brain is still doing all the work.
I think its baffling if you think about it too much, but either way I think its completely amazing. The average time that it takes someone who is learning to have a lucid dream is two weeks to two months. I'm aiming at the one week to one month mark personally, and while I doubt that I will be able to accomplish this is one week, I hope that I will be able to do it within a month.
Ahhh god its got me so excited.
The more I think about it, the awesomer it sounds. Its like having a little slot during the night in which you are god. You can do whatever you want, however you want. You can control other people in your dream...
Gah.
I don't think I can talk about it anymore without melting or something.

Thursday 15 October 2009

Fun Weekend; Building Things

Well my friend came to Chicago to visit me last weekend. Was lots of fun. I haven't seen her for something like 9 months, which may not sound like a lot, but after seeing each other everyday for a few years, nine months become a really really long time. We didn't really do much that is worth talking about, I mean it was awesome, but it'll sound boring if I just type out what we did.
Also, I was going around the internets today and I found this guy who made this awesome amazing figure thing. The guy is called mindchamber (from newgrounds, I don't know if anyone knows about him) and he made mindchamber (who is this robot from some comic that I have never heard about). Either way, the guy is loaded with artistic talent and the final product is ridiculous. He made some stuff out of clay, and then backed is and painted it with something to make it look very metallic; its amazing, and very hard to explain. I'd like to try something like that, but a lot simpler; probably something made out of like strange bionicle and lego pieces. I doubt it'll come close to being as awesome as that thing was. I could also put some LEDs under the headpiece to make the eyes glow, which always adds a nice effect.
Either way, that's it for now.

Monday 5 October 2009

Models; Wingnuts

So this past weekend, I was over at my friends house. It was Saturday, I believe. Either way, it was fun, and we were sorta just chilling out, doing whatever, old video games, bothering siblings, the usual. We went into the garage to work on this little electric ukulele he's making from scratch, and I found it really relaxing to just stand there in the cold and work out all these measurements and stuff. So, while I don't think I have the patience for a long project like that, I've decided to go back to something I've been doing for most of my life; modeling little WWII airplanes. I've done two so far (one was already half way done when I picked it back up) and I think its a really good thing to do in the evening. I've done a Spitfire and a P-51 Mustang. Both nice planes I think. I'm going to do them all in the same scale too, so I can hang them up or whatever and it'll look right. i should take pictures and put them up here. I've been saying I'm going to do that forever, but I think I'll do it on Wednesday or Thursday. Also in the spirit of airplanes, I decided I'm going to re-download Wingnuts 2. I bought the thing a couple years ago in the first Macheist bundle. Great deal. Anyways, I never really finished the game, and now that my computer has stopped being all laggy when it comes to video games, I figured that I give it a go again.
I'll try and put of photos soon.

Wednesday 23 September 2009

Project Partners; Nice Pens

I hate it when your paired with someone for a project who doesn't work. I'm taking an international relations class, and there are like 250 people participating. Everyone gets the role of one country, and has to make treaties with others; etc. I have Syria, and it seems like all the other Middle Eastern countries are played by people who don't care about their grades. So is Russia. Who is another key player in the Middle East. I've been trying to contact Iran, Lebanon, Israel, and Russia for a week now, and none of them have sent back a response. I don't want to get a bad grade because someone else messed up. I guess I'll have to talk to my teacher so he can tell me what the fuck I'm supposed to do. Gah.
I also like nice pens. But not really. I like them, but I never get to use mine, because I don't take it to school and I like to be consistent with the pens I use. So it just sits on my desk, not being used, which is a pain, because its a really nice pen. Its an Acme pen, if anyone knows what that is. But I never get to use it for anything, because I think that if I take it to school it'll get stolen or fall out of my pocket or something. And the only thing I use it for is to write for non-school related things, which I do occasionally. I guess I'll just have to find something else that I can use it for.
Also, I finally got a few good prints made in photo class. Now its just a matter of scanning them in and uploading them. I tend to be a lazy ass when it comes to things like that though, but I'll get round to it sooner or later.

Tuesday 22 September 2009

Photo Developing; The Colony

Today was uneventful, but what else is new. I finally got some black and white photo paper for my photography class, which took me forever to get. I did get some though, so I was able to start developing my pictures. I think I ended up making 4 prints, but none of them really came out that good. I had to fiddle around with different filters and the negatives that I tried using either had scratches or were blurred. I guess I'll try some others tomorrow. Once I get a few good print, I'll scan them and upload them here, incase anyone is watching.
I also found out about "The Colony," which is a reality TV show that Discovery does. I'm usually not that into reality TV, but the colony reminded me a lot of Fallout. That sounds stupid, but its set in post apocalyptic LA (which is obviously a set), and the group of like 10 people have to live in a 80,000 square foot warehouse. The place reminds me of Megaton from the game. Of course, there are no zombies, or weapons or anything, but there are raiders who attack them with like lead pipes and stuff. No one is actually hurt, obviously, and there is a lot more focus on gathering resources like water and food, finding things to burn, propane, making ways to sanitize water, etc. I just saw one episode earlier, 38 weeks into the simulation. They ran out of propane, and found another way to fix food, but they had no way to sanitize water. So the scientist person ended up making a tesla coil that created ozone, and then bubbling that through water to make a sanitzer. They also fixed up an old record player so that they could listen to music, and fixed an old movie projector so that they could watch movies. They were also running low on food, and they ended up eating rats that they caught around the warehouse. While that sounds disgusting, I don't thing I'de have a problem eating rat that was seasoned in oil, rosemary, and garlic if I was starving.
Anyways, they want to try to leave the warehouse and find another place to survive, which is the next episode. Its good, and its interesting to watch. Its not like most reality shows where everyone ends up turning on each other in competition for land and things. They have a huge area, and they need to work together in order to survive.
Thats enough for today.

Monday 21 September 2009

FML

I've forgotten how funny FML is. I went back on it today and was looking at the different posts for at least two hours. I have to say, its exponentianally better than doing my homework. They are verrryyyy funny. Plus there are a load of new ones every day, so its not like they run out of stuff to read.
My dad also helped me hook up my computer to the surround sound system we have in the basement. With the plugin for iTunes that I have, the sounds is phenominal. So thats my evening activity.
FML and listening to music through this awesome sound system.
I guess my house will be a good party house.

Tuesday 15 September 2009

Filofax Organiser; xkcd book

So last night my dad gave me his old filofax organizer. I don't know what the material is, but its really soft and nice to hold. It was running short on paper, and all the calenders where outdated (from way back like 2004) so I went on the filofax website to find some refill paper. They had it at like $5.50 for a 50 sheet pad. Fine.
Then I went to look at what other organizers they had. I clicked on personal sized, and the first thing that popped up was a crocodile skin one for $2300 dollars! Then they had some others, like ostrich and god knows what else. They had a whooolle lot of pens that were over $200 dollars, and some even went as high as $700. Even if I had millions of dollars, I don't see why I'de waste 700 on a pen. I'm sure I could find a very nice pen for a lot less than that. I'de rather have something I like than something expensive that makes me look like I'm rich. I think that makes sense.
Also, the xkcd book came out. I'm hoping to get it today (or at least order it) because if you order it in the first 24 hours you can get it signed. That would give me a considerable amount of bragging rights. I also want to get one of the xkcd ties, and maybe later on some of the t-shirts that they have.

Saturday 12 September 2009

Weekend

Weekend was fun. Nice break from school. I went fishing with Max, which was fun, but we only caught like 4 bass, sooo that sorta failed. The pond was really nice though. Perfect temperature in the shade with a light breeze going through; very relaxing. Not much going on other than that.

Thursday 10 September 2009

SRS iWOW

Shoooooo I've decided to speak about the most awesome plug in for iTunes. Ever.
I don't know how it works, but what it does is amazing. It just makes everything coming out of iTunes much louder, and sounding 1000 times better. Get the trail and see for your self at here. No I'm not a salesman, its just really amazing what the software does. Its for mac and windows, so there really isn't an excuse. Get the trail, plug in the headphones, and try turning it on and off while listening to a song. You will hear the difference.

Wednesday 9 September 2009

Evening are Boring; xkcd

Well I have made an official statement/observation thing. I've decided that evening are boring. What the hell is there to do from 7:30 to 10? The house is a mess, the internet gets boring (I know this is an oxymoron, but there is only a certain amount of browsing that you can do without finding something interesting) and I can't play video games, atleast not on the xbox, and playing games on a mac is pretty pointless, especially with a 3 year old model. I like reading national geographic, but the most recent copies that we own are from late 2001. We have a wealth of magazines dating waaay back to 1992, and when I say a wealth, i mean like 40+, but the fact that its so dated makes a difference when you read some of the articles. "The probe will land in 2008 with its load of martian rocks." Great. Its 2009.
Its not the magazines fault, and its still a good read, but its a pain. I could watch TV, but there really isn't all that much on, and I can't watch a movie because there isn't enough time from start to finish. I could study extra, but I would rather aimlessly surf the internet that study. Music is something I could do, but there is no particular band out of the mainstream that I like, except maybe Muse, except they've just been pushed back in, according to iTunes. Also I would like to announce that today is 09/09/09, the special day of the year. I will only see three more of these special days in my life, unless I live to be 106, which I doubt.
In trying to remedy my bordem, I went on xkcd. Actually thats a lie, because I always go on xkcd, if I'm trying to remedy bordem or not. The comic is a lot funnier when you get the jokes. Todays comic was about biologists dating, and because we did the whole punnet square thing and I understand genetics, I thought that the comic was hilarious. Here's a link http://www.xkcd.com/634/
Good comic.
You want to know another good comic? No? Well I'm going to say it anyways. Jay Naylor (at www.jaynaylor.com) makes great comics, but they are different than xkcd. While xkcd is intelligent and funny, Jay Naylor's comics have a story and so far the only one he has finished has taken him 8 years to do. Its completely engrossing, and it draws you in. You will get attached to the characters, and you will read it several times through, as I already have. Its sad when it ends though. Fortuanatly, he's making another comic that acts as a sequel, but the pages come in painstakingly slowly. Understandable, I'm sure he has another job, but still, the story progresses slowly with 2 posts a week.
Either way, I highly recommend you check it out.

Holy shit that was a long post.

Tuesday 8 September 2009

Photos

I finished my homework at like 5 today, and I actually managed to get outside and take some photos. Now unfortuanatly, I don't live in a very favorable location for photography. I know that a good photographer is supposed to find opportunities wherever they go and blah blah... but there is only so much you can do with a small back yard and a relativly old digital camera. I got a couple good photos I think, but then again I was only out for around half an hour and I only took maybe 15 photos. Later this week I'm planning to go out to this field/forest thing thats sorta near my house and take some photos there. Either way, tell me what you think.

Monday 7 September 2009

Labor Day Come to an End

Well labor day is over... shame. I should have really done something else this weekend.
I don't want to complain too much about where I live, cause I like the area and everything, but I think its a shame we live right on the corner of a pretty major intersection. I used to live in the city, but I was in a nice, quiet side street, and the high street I was by was a 10 minute walk away, so we didn't get that many cars passing by. I think I'm more of a guy that likes a quiet local; I'd really like to have a forest in my backyard. It would be great to be able to go out and take pictures, because there is always something to photograph in the forest. It can be bugs, treeline, and exposed root, anything really. Maybe when I my drivers license I'll have more freedom to where I can go. Guess I'll have to live with what I have.

Sunday 6 September 2009

Fallout 3, Hard Drive Space

Well I went over to best buy the other fay to get Fallout. I've been wanting to get the game for ages, but I needed to wait till I moved and then save up the money; ect. I finally got my hands on it and its great. It looks amazing when its shown in 1080p high definition, so all the slow motion heads exploding and all that really looks great. So thats all joyous.
On a completely unrelated side note, my computer only has like 1.5 GB in it, which really prevents me from going out and taking photographs in bulk. I don't really understand whats taking up all the space... my hard drive is 80 GB (old computer, I know) and my applications folder is only 7.5 GB, so what the hell is taking up all the space? System files? I have no idea. If anyone knows space taker uppers, let me know please. So thats all sucky. But yah. Labor day weekend going well so far. I've mainly helped around the house, its still a mess and we are putting in covers for the basement windows so no water gets in... or some other reason. Its nice to have the time off from school though. Three days can be longer than it seems.

Thursday 3 September 2009

Foaming Pipe Snake

I was watching TV yesterday, America's Funnies Home Videos, just cause there wasn't anything else on, and I saw the same advertisment thats been bugging me for a while now. Its a plumbing product that cleans your drains, and its called "Foaming Pipe Snake." Now, I don't know about you, but I think thats a dumb ass name for a cleaning product. I think it would be a better name for a vibrator or some sort of sex toy than it would be for a cleaning product. Maybe I should sent the company a letter...?
No, that would be a bad idea. Maybe I'de get sued.
And all this relates to (but not really) something else I was thinking about. How would I get flim photographs onto my computer? Could you scan them? Would that work? I've just developed a roll of black and white film (by myself, I'll add) and I'd like to put them up here, but I don't know if I can scan them or not... I'll just have to try it. No harm in that. I have to go buy film paper first though, cause I need to enlarge the image from the film and all that jazz. But yah. Other than those thoughts I don't really have much to say today. I've been working my ass off for the last 6 hours doing a state profile on Syria. I guess I condsider myself lucky that I don't have Micronesia or something.
But yah.
Oh, and to end on a high note, LABOR DAY SOON!!
YAYAYYAYAYAYAY!!!!

Wednesday 2 September 2009

Duke Nukem Forever

I was chillin on the internet today, reading the xkcd blag, and I got linked to a Duke Nukem Forever (RIP) accomplishment list. For those of you who don't know what that is, Duke Nukem was a hugely sucessful game for the N64 and PC that came out in 1996, I think. It was a big deal cause it was one of the first games to be 3D, even though it dude use vectors rather than actual 3D models. Either way, it was largely impressive at the time, and lots of internet memes came from it, cause Duke was always handing money to strippers in the midst of blowing the shit out of some alien pig things. Anyways, in the enormous amount of time that it took to devlope and redevelope and ultimately not finish developing Duke Nukem Forever, many other things happened. Barack Obama went from winning his first election, following the longest presidential campaign ever, and eventually being elected president. The entire second world war and the entire manhattan project took less time than Duke Nukem Forever.
Yes, thats right, we were able to create the atomic bomb in less time than it took to make this game. It took less time for man to reach the moon, from Kennedy's challenge to Lance Armstrong taking the first steps on the moon. The international space station was assembled and has stayed in orbit for 8 years. The Wrights brothers designed and flew the first airplane. So many important things happened in less time than Duke Nukem Forever was nearly made in, its a bit absurd.
Here is the link for anyone who wants to check it out. Duke Nukem Forever Timeline

Diablo

I've always likes RPGs. And I've been going through an RPG stage lately. I think that Diablo II has just about anything in it that one would want in an RPG, save the dated graphics. The weapon choice is limitless, and the socketing system with all the gems and runes is ingenious. There are loads of different classes to choose from, making the game different each time it is played through. And its not a short game, I've been playing it for a while now and I still havent finished it. I've been taking my time in each of the areas, and it ends up being an extreamly imersive and fun to play game. Diablo 3 is in development too, and I think that is just going to be building on Diablo II and the few errors that it had. Frankly I can't wait for Diablo 3's release, I think its going to be the ultimate hardcore RPG avaliable on the computer.

Monday 31 August 2009

Modern Warfare 2 Prestige Edition has NVGs!!!

So I was looking at the multiplayer video for MW2 on youtube, and the unboxing of the prestige edition was on the sidebar, so I gave it a look. The prestige edition comes with night vision goggles. Holy shit!!! It is $150, but I mean I would so spend 150 dollars on a game I think we all know is going to be amazing, plus night vision goggles and all this other cool stuff that is included in the package. Plus in two years time I really want to be able to say "Yah, I did get the prestige edition. Here's all the cool shit you're missing out on." $150 is a lot of money, and it totally blows my plans to get ODST and Fallout 3 around this time, but for night vision goggles? Totally worth it.