Face the Music

I've recently got back into making music again, going hog wild with acquisitions. I suppose with all the compact guitar effects pedals now, one might assume the boy can't play a note. This isn't far from the truth. I showed Chris a few chords, a scale, & a few techniques about a year or so ago & he out-licks me! I need to get over the hump so I've commissioned a local cat to show me some ropes. I'd just like to be able to feel comfortable in improvisation enough to have fun. I read over some old songs in college i wrote.. patheticism. A couple weeks ago however, I finally conjured a dandy. Deep, dark, almost Alice In Chains. Truthfully, I've always been interested in audio engineering so I see a http://www.mackie.com/products/cfx12mkii/index.html in my future.

Port Angeles Halibut Derby 2006

After pumping $1700 into the boat this year, we did well at the Port Angeles halibut derby taking 4th place & $1200 which was split 3 ways. It was our first one & we landed it beautifully. Justin sure was proud & Casey was happy to share in the prize money. I was just glad they had a good time & with my share I can defray some of the cost of the trip. We'll be eatin' high on the hog for some time as the freezer now holds more fish than bait!

Pivot Stickfigure Animator

Create your very own stickman movies! Get it now at Snapfiles which by the way is my favorite repository of free software. There are of course a few good links to go with it:

Pivot Group
Stick Page
Stickdude Forums

Just be sure to check out Xiao Xiao, he creates the best stick-movies by far. Numbers 3 & 5 are my fav.

Sony's PSP = Best Device Ever!

I've had mine for about 10 months now & at first I didn't really do much with it besides hack a D00M-wad onto it for a little Quake action. Lately even though Sony forced us to upgrade the ROMs, I'm loving it even more. More features & capabilities are welcome & rumor states we may even be getting some office apps with future updates! There are literally billions of accessories for those hipsters who require decking out.

I simply must grab another memory-stick or two.. preferably a 4 or 8GB which should be on the street soon. In the meantime, I think I may purchase an audio cradle with an earthshaking sub to watch those movies. A great little project that can be done in a matter of 10 minutes is a USB-charger. This gadget does it all but will inevitably be superceded by chip implants into our temples & a serial tatooed on the back of our necks someday. Until then of course, it maintains supreme reign over all that is cool.

Here's a list of great things this little powerhouse does for me:

1. Play the absolute best portable games (duh;P
2. Display high-resolution photos
3. Hold & transfer files like a USB drive
4. Listen to flaming gobs of MP3s with playlists
5. Rip & watch DVD movies (courtesy of high-cap memory sticks;)
6. Subscribe to RSS audio feeds (Podcasts)
7. Wirelessly browse the internet including Javascript apps & games
8. Reading Gutenberg e-books via HTML instead of converting to jpgs

Wishlist:

1. GPS & cellphone obviously tops the list
2. Shockwave Flash support
3. Email & IM
4. Biometric security & PKIs
5. Document & spreadsheet apps
6. Master remote control of Sony A/V components
7. Integral FM-transmitter for playback on car radios
8. Alarm clock

PSPortal is Online

Ok kiddies, I've got the latest update on my PSP & have been wirelessly browsing the web, listening to RSS audio casts, & rippin' DVDs to the sucker. My latest effort is the creation of my very own portal for PSPs everywhere. The page renders perfectly on the PSP but looks slightly off in IE. Nonetheless, keyboard input on the PSP isn't the greatest so the PSPortal definately helps get around the usual sites including a few that favor the PSP exclusively. I still need to implement a quick-entry field for URLs prepopulated with "http://" but ran into problems without a PHP backend. I can't wait for Sony to support mailto: so I can email myself that last thought before slipping away for the evening.

PSP Nettin' Like a MoFo

So after a couple flash updates forced upon me by games I installed, I finally have a browser for my PSP. Ok, I couldn't actually get it talking to my LinkSys router for a while but now its runnin' WEP like there's no tomorrow. Note to self: "Always remember, the problem is usually configurational!"

Page rendering is extremely good, much better than I expected. Now I can surf lesbian pr0n from the sheets! Mwuhahaahaaaa... The tabbed interface is decent except for the fact that there is no keystroke to close a tab. Anyway after the flash upgrade to 1.5 (now 2.0), all hacks I had configured are toast, corrupt, gone, *poof*! Needless to say I'll miss running the Quake port & chess, but roaming internet access more than makes up for it considering the fact I hardly play the games hehe. Crap, now I gotta run into town & pickup at least a 1GB if not a 2GB Sony memory stick. Maybe then I can start ripping DVD movies onto the unit.

Plebes beware, we geek to a whole new level 'round these parts :)

Xbox 360 In the House!

That's right. All you wannabes drool while we waste our lives with the world's latest gaming console. They are sure are hard to find. I certainly hope Microsoft adds another fan to the unit or something. The power connector is HUUGE & one can almost fry an egg atop the case! Gads, its hot in more ways than one.

BONUS: Check out Ambient Design for an award winning, very cool freebie that allow you to paint in oils!

Death to the Fatman...

So, I load up OO-buck & hunker down in the bushes near my house. All those years of disappointment soon come to a head. Red & white no longer hold meaning in my life unless its running rich down the drain. I think I hear bells in the distance; ears strain against the thick night. The metal receiver is burning cold against my palm as a faint smirk emanates from my thin lips. My breath hangs heavy in the midnight air as bells become louder. Grip tightens; beating heart pounds with anticipatory revenge. Suddenly, through the light fog, highlighted by the nearby streetlamp I can barely makeout flailing hooves. My aim is true, 28 feet 10 inches behind the glow of red. Waiting, tracking, sights align, weapon shouldered, there is a deafening roar as screams cut through the darkness. The beacon hits the snow near my feet as wooden trains scatter randomly about. Reports come from all directions as the heavy vehicle dives erratically. One shouts, "I've got him!" Another, "He's mine!" My claim is challenged but my soul knows of the truth. Rewarded for tears every Christmas morning I silently rejoice in the spirit of the season. Vindication has been slow in coming yet, I feel as though I've broken the everlasting bond of the old fatman & his partners in crime... Easter will come soon enough & that bow-tied bastard of a rabbit will finally get his. Carrots & potatoes slowly simmering among delicate strips of pale flesh. Hoffenpepper for all.

Bah, humbug!

I hate Christmas. There, I said it. Sure I love the snow, the extra money from grandmother, & all the presents but its such a commercial hassle I can live without it all. Its lost the magic & I yearn for a simpler time. I'm beginning to think that Santa is dead & he just isn't coming this year. If I break the news to my youngest, I can save a bundle! Hmm.. now should I go down & get that big screen or blow all the savings down at Susie's? At least at Susie's I can get a free roll-over & that happy ending! Mwuhahaaaa...

Oh, & for those of you who dedicate yourself to improving your lot in life by subscribing to New Year's resolutions, Grow a Nut! I mean c'mon.. haven't you any mere shred of discipline within? Oh ok.. you quit smoking everyday. Big deal. Take charge of your life & just do it. Don't wait for some magic point on a calendar. Must everything be an excuse? Remember, there's nothing about you that changing yourself entirely won't fix.

Samorost

Thankfully, I've run across two very cool Shockwave Flash games which I assume are a bit like Myst. Samorost & Samorost 2. They can be tediously ripped out of your Temporary Internet Files; don't ask me how I know that heh, I'm a god ;) Go play them now & burn a half hour or so. Now if I could only get my hands on Chapter II.