Space Piracy!

Oh, snap!

2006-06-08T06:46:00.000-07:00

Technorati Tags: video

In which I challenge Flocons to a dance off.

2006-05-09T07:16:00.000-07:00

Battlestar Galactica has ruined, in whole, Star Trek, for me, forever.

In response to Ray's indefensible apology for Star Trek, I spew the following;

Ronald D. Moore was one of the most influencial writers on DS9. His vision for both DS9 and Voyager was to make it darker and ask harder questions about humaity in general.

But of course, in classic Star Trek fashion this didn't happen. Before the hard questions could be explored earnestly the story-line was candied up and made palatable for the utopian sect of Nerdism, regardless of his efforts.

Yeah yeah, everybody's happy. Quantifiable, hard science fixes all problems. The greater good prevails with what some might call MINIMAL effort on the part of our heroes. When science fails, it's time to sit back and let unseen "higher beings" intervene to wrap up the story before the hour is over.

The universe, in effect, is tamed and made benign by benevolent and incorruptible human masters.

It is known. All of it. And what is not known will be discovered within 45 minutes.

It's a great colonial wank-fest in grand Victorian style. It's almost a universe created by Lenin populated with Randian heroes.

Even the original Star Trek was darker than the most recent fecal discharges from the ST universe. Kirk broke the prime directive once per half hour and got it on with anything that had secondary female sexual characteristics.

Dystopian Nerds were left, of course, with more tripe like Andromeda (Kevin SORBO??) and Babylon 5 (aliens that look like Count Chocula? What the F?), until the more recent advent of Firefly and BSG.

If BSG is guilty of pulling themes from prior art, then Star Trek, at least the latest round, is twice as culpable. Worse, ST takes those themes, and much like the Barefoot Contessa, adds a pound of butter and two cups of sugar to the mix.

So why does BSG explore some of the same themes we've seen in Star Trek? Because Ronald D. Moore is the primary creative force behind the newly re-imagined Galactica. He had to eject, screaming from the Star Trek franchise to save his artistic message from the Sunkist-soda enema that is Starfleet.

My final deathblow against the artistic legitimacy of modern day Star Trek? The MF'n Star Trek Casino...

This is just here to rub it in...

This wins it.

2006-01-13T21:01:00.000-08:00

See what happens when you leave Ray?

Photo: lesbian kiss in Tiananmen Square under guards, Mao:
Xeni Jardin:

Link, and here is another angle, and another and another. (Thanks, Pete!)

Technorati Tags: life

CO2 Highest For 650,000 Years

2005-11-26T21:42:00.000-08:00

From Treehugger: we're all screwed...

CO2 Highest For 650,000 Years:

European scientists have analyzed ice taken from 3km below the surface of Antarctica and discovered from tiny gas bubbles trapped in the ice that "current levels of the greenhouse gases carbon dioxide and methane in the atmosphere are higher now than at any time in the past 650,000 years." Bad news. "Over a five year period commencing in 1999, scientists working with the European Project for Ice Coring in Antarctica (Epica) have drilled 3,270m into the Dome C ice, which equates to drilling nearly 900,000 years back in time. [...] 'We find that CO2 is about 30% higher than at any time, and methane 130% higher than at any time; and the rates of increase are absolutely exceptional: [...] Update: "Atmospheric carbon dioxide levels have risen 200 times faster over the past 50 years than at any other time during this period," says Thomas Stocker of the University of Bern, Switzerland, who led the analysis. ::CO2 'highest for 650,000 years', ::Greenhouse-gas levels highest for 650,000 years

Hands-on: Sony PSP Talkman - Translate, Speak...

2005-11-26T05:46:00.000-08:00

Hands-on: Sony PSP Talkman - Translate, Speak...:

Lik-Sang is running a feature on the PSP Talkman, which is a "Universal Translator" of sorts. Described as a voice-activated translation software application, it can translate between English Japanese, Korean, and Chinese.

I predict that it's somewhat frustrating to use but not as frustrating as being completely up the creek when it comes to communications in a foreign country... unless I'm mis-judging how far voice recognition software has come since I last fooled with trying to get a computer to understand what I was saying.

The Talkman will also make an attempt to teach you language with a game mode. I find that somewhat enticing. Any serious attempt at learning language as an adult, from what I hear, is best with the "Pimsleur series.

Of course, considering the Pimsleur stuff is often as expensive as a PSP with this software included, that'll be a tough call when I'm finally traveling to Korea.

I hope that's not unintentionally rude...

EyeToy Kinetic

2005-11-21T05:19:00.000-08:00

Looks pretty neat, and yes, I want one.

Where to begin?

2005-11-11T20:05:00.000-08:00

I'm afraid you'll just have to see for yourself.

I don't know why I'm committing further Internet resources to this...

2005-11-11T11:32:00.000-08:00

A Texan walks into a pub in Ireland and clears his voice
to the crowd of drinkers. He says,
"I hear you Irish are a bunch of hard drinkers. I'll give $500
American dollars to anybody in here who can drink 10
pints of Guinness back-to-back."

The room is quiet and no one takes up the Texan's offer.
One man even leaves.

Thirty minutes later the same gentleman who left shows
back up and taps the Texan on the shoulder.

"Is your bet still good?" asks the Irishman.

The Texan says it is and asks the bartender to line up 10
pints of Guinness. Immediately the Irishman tears into all 10
of the pint glasses drinking them all back-to-back.

The other pub patrons cheer as the Texan sits in
amazement.

The Texan gives the Irishman the $500 and says, "If ya
don't mind me askin', where did you go for that 30 minutes you were
gone?"

The Irishman replies, "Oh...I had to go to the pub down
the street to see if I could do it first".

The God of Small, Hidden Things

2005-11-11T09:11:00.000-08:00

The God of Small, Hidden Things:

Ancient statues give up their precious secrets in Hidden Treasures: The Inner Life of the Buddhas. By Jeanette Borzo from Wired magazine.

Five blades!

2005-10-19T08:38:00.001-07:00

I present, for your viewing pleasure;

An Onion article and
real life.

Yeah, ok, this IS kinda hot...

2005-10-19T08:38:00.000-07:00

Sony VAIO TX Series made of Carbon FiberIf I was a PC user I'd probably eventually be fooled into purchasing a Sony Vaio. Even though they have piss-poor customer support. Thankfully I'm not.

Question 24...

2005-10-04T19:43:00.000-07:00

24. It should be legal for two consenting adults to challenge each other to a duel and fight a Death Match.

... Strongly Agree!

You are a
Social Liberal
(71% permissive)

and an...
Economic Liberal
(36% permissive)

You are best described as a:

Democrat

Link: The Politics Test on Ok Cupid
Also: The OkCupid Dating Persona Test

You are a
Social Liberal
(71% permissive)

and an...
Economic Liberal
(36% permissive)

You are best described as a:

Democrat

Link: The Politics Test on Ok Cupid
Also: The OkCupid Dating Persona Test

Shut up, be happy!

2005-09-09T11:15:00.000-07:00

We interrupt this program with a special bulletin:
America is now under marshal law.
All constitutional rights have been suspended.
Stay in your homes.
Do not attempt to contact love ones, insurance agents or attorney's.
Shut up.
Do not attempt to think or depression may accure.
Stay in your homes.
Curfew is at 7 PM sharp after work.
Anyone gaught outside of gates of their suveillance sectors after curfew
will be shot.
Remain calm, do not panic.
Your neighborhood watch officer will be by to collect urine samples in
the morning.
Anyone gaught intefering with the collection of urine examples will be
shot.
Stay in your homes, remain calm.
The number one enemy of progress is question.
National security is more important than individual will.
All sports broadcasts will proceed as normal.
No more than two people may gather anywhere without promission.
Use only the drugs prescribed by your boss or supervisor.
Shut up, be happy.
Obey all orders without question.
The comfort you demanded is now mandatory.
Be happy.
At last everything is done for you.

Listening to this, over, and, over...

test

2005-09-08T12:24:00.000-07:00

How to get easy money:  ----------------------  Submitted by: Richard Flood
If you have access to the members world, go to Ardounge and enter the  house next to the cake stall. (This door needs a certain theiving level,  if you are not yet of sufficient level go to the opposite house, and train  on the door there and the chest inside.)  When inside the house, to the right of the door is a ladder. Go up this  ladder, and you will see two chests. In the chest farthest away from the  ladder, and nearest the bed is Nature Runes. Keep stealing from the chest  and you will get lots of Nature Runes. At current Runescape prices Nature  Runes are around 100-300gp.  If you are unable to access members world, dont worry. Go north of Falador  untill you rach the mountain. go round the left hand side of the mountain  so that you have the Goblin Viallge on you left. Keep going up untill you  reach the Wilderness. At level 3 Wilderness there is a Dark Wizard spawning  site. Collect runes here and sell them in Falador.
Hint:  -----  Getting money is very hard,but i got the best way.there are two ways to  make money very quick. first is to buy coal ore for 100 each then make  them into certs and sell them for 1k each.but u need at least 500 gp to  start this business.after a while u can make 2.5k a turn.many players  are trying to get coal ore.  second one is more dangerous but u make 30k in about 40min!!!i will tell  u while u playing. add me on runescape for this tip t o m a t o who is my  weak guy lvl 38.i will provide free help to any player or email me

a good and easy hex:  --------------------  while you are running runescape on ur character click on run then type  regedit.  it should go into some file then click ctrl and f type jagex stats it should  come up with some more files. dont click anything just press f3 untill it  shows this code 02434476 4438. now change the first 4 digets to s,s,s,s.  then hit enter,now it should come up with all your stats you have on  runescape.  if you want to change them so they go higher double click on them.  (recomend you dont put them higher than 95 or your player might get  detected)  cilck exit on the window and log on to runescape and your players stats will  be changed to what you changed them to. i surgest you dont tell everyone or  you wont be the best player because everyone will be the same.

Hint:  -----  best thing to do get money is to fight for money  or work for it fight monsters like lesser demon  that drop rune medium helmet it can be sold for  some money and you get very much money by selling  to a player
its only 7 k sold in shop but can be 20 or higher  sold to player. and dont fish except you know good  place where people need food. mine coal sell 100  normal each but sometimes they sold 45 gp its not  good idea to make that all others make and sell in  same shop.

Easy money:  -----------  Go to Port Sarim, west of Draynor village, and ask one  of the people in the blue uniforms to go to Karamja and  pay them 30 GP. When you get there, walk off the dock  and you should see a house. Enter the house and talk to  a man named Luthas. He will ask you to pick bananas.  Answer "Yes", pick bananas, put them in the crate, then  talk to Luthas to collect your moderately earned 30 GP.  If you would like more money in multiples of 30, ask him  to get another 30 GP for doing the job again. Stay here  for a long time if you need to spend several thousand on  items.

Hint:  -----  Combat levels, prayer levels, money, and good items:  Get a Brass Key by any means necessary. You can find  them far into the "dungeon/mines" of Edgeville. Go to  the locked little house with a ladder leading down  inside in between Varrok and the Barbarian Village.  Use the Brass Key with the door providing access.  Take the first turn to the left into a close room  (with a gate) filled with giants (level 36).  The giants give good experience, drop big bones  (better for prayer than normal bones), money (up  to 47 GP dropping at a time), and good items (steel  and iron items, gems of all grades except for diamond,  and all runes). Note: Bring a fly fishing rod and feathers  to fish for some food when down there.

Hex:  ----
Click on run,type RegEdit.Hold Ctrl and F and it should come up find,  (Note you must be running runescape at the same time as this)Type:  Jagex Software(you have to have the downloaded version of freeserver  or members)When typed Jagex software it should of gone into html files  Dont click anything,Just press F3,until it has your stats your mining  everything your runescape character has and your money(Note it cannot  detect armour)Then you can alter any of these things,Just double click  on the thing you wish to upgrade,the best you can put your character  to is 90,if you do it too high your character will be deleted you may  do it if u wish i recommend you dont.And the same with mining and  smithing and fishing and everything else,If you are a free member  you Cannot make any member sats higher E.G. Thieving herblaw anything  like that,you must be on a member's server and must have the members  version downloaded,it works on a freeserver,but i suggest you dont  tell anyone this cheat let them find it themselves,otherwise you wont  be the best becuase everybody will have high stats,and then the cheat  probably will be figured out.(So dont tell anyone)Exciting maybe but  keep it to urself,let others find it,otherwise i repeat:There will  be too many high ppl and u wont be the best.:)

Hint:  -----
In runsacpe when your battiling type avada kedavara and the person(or thing)  will die (no runes requierd.
when ur battilng a monster or guard,paliden ect,ect type imobyalis and  they'll freeze for 5 sec (note 25 magic lvl requiered and air,mind,chaos  and blood rune requiered.)

Hint:  -----  There are normally no runescape cheats, runescape is run by linux,  If you know linux command then you should have no trouble cheating on  runescape, if you goto the following I.P [http://209.120.136.106] , its  a link to the information you need on runescape. Now i cant exactly tell  you how linux works becuase, its something you cant learn straight away.  Linux is a software like dos, only its completely diffrent in loads of  ways. You can not cheat on runescape in any way becuase of this, i suppose  the site is also run in linux becuase it'll make it extremely difficult to  hack, The only other possible way you can hack runescape is using a £3000.  Software, a hack software. Now most people think Runescape is run by dos,  This is not the case, Visual basic and Linux are both used to make/run  runescape, The stats window is done on linux, and the inventory is done  by vb, (visual basic). Now i can hack runescape using linux, but like i  said its not a learn straight away thing. And even when i do hack it,its  still difficult to understand what you have todo, now andrew (runescape  creator)will probably see this cheat, but when he does If he does, he  will not be very happy. Now you probably think its a scam its a trick,  or he is gonna take my stuff, if u feel this then put your stuff somewhere  safe, like another character you own. If you give me your username and  password, or you want more info on how linux works e-mail me, but i will  not be able to teach you straight off it takes years to learn, Now dont  forget you have the recovery questions incase you think i am going to steal  your account, Do not Go On Any Fake RuneScape websites. There are no  possible  ways of hacking runescape, exepct this way, the reason i need your password  is i need to be able to access your characters ports meaning i need to be  online while doing this. I can not be bothered with newbs becuase it means  you wouldnt have had any playing in it what so ever, so please be at leas!   t lvl 35 so i know u have done half the work for the character, i was  not going to publish this cheat when i found it at first, but i thought  well if i did nobody would be using any f the FAKE cheats, now i cant  proove to you im not a scammer, but im not, obvisualy you think thats what  they all say huh?. But like i have said trade your stuff somewhere else and  do recovery questions if u havnt done them, All i know is that, becuase  there  are so many stupid cheat that arent real like the 1 above, i think people  should try and listen to Andrew, THERE ARE NO RUNESCAPE CHEATs, but there  is a way around everything, andrew will tell you there is no cheats so his  game doesnt become unpopular, anyways Please try and ignore Cheats that you  know arent real, there are no other ways of cheating in runescape.

Runescape cheat

2005-09-08T12:13:00.000-07:00

Runescape
Infinite Money Code:  Change your password to "$moneymoney$" to get unlimited money.

Yahar!

2005-08-26T10:19:00.000-07:00

Arr!

Arr matey!

2005-08-18T11:34:00.000-07:00

Testing me new Ecto poster.

[posted with ecto]

Technorati Tags: test, ghetto, assmojo, sure thing

Lego Star Wars for Mac

2005-07-26T07:27:00.000-07:00

I've been looking forward to this one; The insane Lego Star Wars game for MacOS.

A barrage...

2005-07-22T18:36:00.000-07:00

I promised to destroy the blogsphere, I shall deliver!

Yar har!!!

2005-07-22T18:30:00.000-07:00

Google Maps "Hybrid Mode"

2005-07-22T17:42:00.000-07:00

Check it... It is tey hotness.

Prescience

2005-07-21T13:08:00.000-07:00

Prescience was the word I was looking for. There we go. It's overused in the Dune novel series, and underused in day to day conversation.

Prescience isn't mystical, it's something you can have if you have enough data, enough confidence (or pessimism) and enough imagination.

You can lose it though if you come to a point that you have been predicting, but you haven't bothered to collect enough data along the way to divine the next point, the next destination.

That sucks. It's not painful, but it feels a bit like losing your wallet.

Don't forget to collect data along the way.

Yar Har Har!

2005-07-07T10:54:00.000-07:00

This be a pirate themed blog says I!

http://www.thechump.com/neverendingfall.swf