Home Cookin': The Electric CD Acid Test

XenonOfArcticus writes "In the spirit if the Blair Witch Project: In 1993, Chris (Hanson), Dave (Kessner), Bob (Maple), Eric Schultz, Chris Hurtt, Earl Miles, and a few other malcontents found themselves in the possession of a microwave oven, a video camera, some worthless CD-ROMs, and a (then state-of-the-art) Video Toaster editing system. This recently-discovered footage is the actual result. " The mind boggles - the video is in QuickTime 4 format. Update: chrisd writes "I have mirrored the Home Cooking movie here." Update: 10/22 11:02 by H :Us e the mirror above, as, the Slashdot effect totally slaughtered the poor guy's ISP in the original story.

Comments

Re:Microwaving CDs just looks soooo cool!

[Trepidity]

Hmm, this is the only really on-topic post I see in response to this article, yet somebody's moderated it down from a 1 that some moderator gave it back to a 0. However, an off-topic article complaining that somebody's movie viewer can't view this format movie gets rated up to +2.

Whatever happened to quickies, anyway?

[Pascal Q. Porcupine]

Did CmdrTaco just run out of cool titles for quickie stories? He doesn't seem to make quickie collections anymore. I miss quickie-dumps. You get more silly content per day that way. :)
---
"'Is not a quine' is not a quine" is a quine.

Re:Whatever happened to quickies, anyway?

[Pascal Q. Porcupine]

Now, I like good karma just as much as anyone else, but come on, Score 5: Insightful? Jeeze, could you please use your moderator points on something more useful?
---
"'Is not a quine' is not a quine" is a quine.

some cool experiments

[RoLlEr_CoAsTeR]

I realize that this is slightly whacky, and the person who's page this is will probably growl at me, but, one of the slashdotters (can't remember his name/nick) has a page, here (or linked to from here, I believe) that should prove interesting.. in the field of microwaves an other such pyro-manageable items. and to whoever's site this is, many thanks and kudos!!

Now on Slashmirror

[Anonymous Coward]

ftp://128.253.254.56/homecookin.mov

Bad CD's go bye-bye

[blahtree]

I used to work for a small-ish company where we would burn cd's for a tutorial. Well, the cd burner we had really sucked, so it would eat a lot of cd's. Early technology. Anyways, one of the guys at work found this idea on the internet, so we took a couple up into the lunch room and turned off the lights. Pop, in they went, until things went crackle.

Out they came, and man do they look cool! Great coasters. Whenever anyone comes over and sees my "art" they are always enthralled! "Wow! Cool! How did you do that???" Great way to score chicks : )

View in Linux

[debrain]

Off topic yet highly relevent point:

How do I view this thing in Linux?
Not to harass the matter, but I am quite curious as to the state of Quicktime support for Linux . . .

Re:View in Linux

[noom]

Considering that such a high percentage of us (relative to most web sites anyway) run Linux, I think the management should avoid posting links to videos using the new (Sorensen?) Quicktime 4.0 codec.

Perhaps a boycott is in order?

Re:View in Linux

[Lord of the Files]

As far as I can tell from Apple's page there isn't any and they don't care.

It's really frustrating when /. links to stuff that can't be viewed under linux. Is there any easy way to convert a Quicktime movie to something like RealPlayer that we at least kind of sort of support? If so I can post the converted version.

Re:View in Linux

[Daniel]

Excuse me, but Windows and MacOS *do* constitute a majority of systems.

Unfortunately.

Daniel

Re:View in Linux

[Stephen VanDahm]

I wrote Apple a complaint about their lack of Linux support a while back and they sent me a stupid, form-generated "yeah whatever" reply. I think that Linux competes with OS X or something. At any rate, they are pretty ambivilant (sp) about it.

If you want to see some antics that don't require Quicktime 4.0 click here. The site was created by a former employee of SGI who had way too much time on his hands.

Take care,

Steve

Re:View in Linux

[alexhmit01]

If Linux is not adequate for your needs, then you should consider another (or additional) operating system. This is a web site for "News for Nerds," and people can post what they thing is appropriate for this forum.

This attitude that "Linux rules! I can't do X on Linux, so X sucks" is completely rediculous. If Linux is not adequate for your needs, then that is your issue not ours.

Every operating system has it's advantages and disadvantages. Quicktime is a pretty open standard, available on the vast majority of computer systems. If yours is not one of them, then that is your limitation.

Alternatively, do what those of us that want to run *nix apps that are available for Linux and Windows apps do, run NT and Linux. Either run Linux in VMWare, or set up a second box. There are a plethora of Xservers for NT, some commercial, some freeware. That way, you can run all applications.

You could run a VMWare session with Win95/98/NT, which would give your more application options. However, please don't extrapolate that because you use Linux and that many others use Linux that everyone here can only use Linux.

An operating system is a tool, it runs applications. If your operating system lacks applications that you want to run, it is time to come up with an alternative plan of action.

I'm certain that one day, Linux will have loads of applications, be as easy to use as Windows, and reliably, and the applications will run as reliably as Win32 apps (meaning, not very well), in the mean time, realize the Unix has been used for 30 years, and X for 15 years, but neither was designed as a desktop system. It's great that we have one, but it lacks full desktop support. Accept the limitations, don't force other to conform.

Linux (at least on my School's AFS system) has lots of great commercial engineering tools, because it is Unix-like enough to run them. I can't get them for NT. However, for streaming video, mainstream environments are where it is at.

If you want to do everything, get multiple systems. If you wish to do everything easily, pipe them into the same machine. If not, keep your issues to yourself, and don't demand that amusing links not be shown here because you choose to limit your options.

Alex

Re:View in Linux

[sjames]

This attitude that "Linux rules! I can't do X on Linux, so X sucks" is completely rediculous.

I agree that that's not a reasonable attitude.

However, there's a reason that nobody posts web pages in EBCDIC or baudot, interoperability in an INTERnet environment. I don't post EBCDIC pages and tell you that you should quit complaining and run OS/370 etc., etc.

For the entire history of computing, we have had the standard of the day alongside real standards. Vast amounts of money and time have been wasted converting the former into the latter, or buying otherwise unneeded things to support the former. Until people quit falling into the marketeer's trap and stick with open standards, this will continue.

Certainly, I don't advocate a 'technology freeze', but I do advocate insisting on OPEN standards. If nobody buys into proprietary (API, data structure, file format etc.) 'standards', all standards will be opened (or disappear).

Re:View in Linux

[Trepidity]

Since the majority of us do not use Linux to read Slashdot (according to the logs of /.'s webserver), I don't see the problem. Those of us who don't run Linux don't get upset when we can't run some new software program that Slashdot announces, so those of you who use Linux can show us the same courtesy by not objecting to things others may wish to see.

If there's another, better, format available, then sure. But if there's no other format, posting the Quicktime 4 link is better than posting no link at all, just as posting info about a Linux-only program is worse than posting a link to a highly ported program, but is better than posting no link at all.

Re:View in Linux

[Lord of the Files]

I know it's in bad taste to reply to myself, but I just tried it an xanim in fact can not handle it. It complains about the header being compressed in a proprietary way.

Re:View in Linux

[Pascal Q. Porcupine]

Although I agree with you in general, I have issue with your statement that Quicktime is widely available on many platforms. QT4 is only available, AFAIK, on Windows and MacOS. Yes, a variety of the older QT Codecs are available on quite a few systems (including Linux), but so far I've seen no intention from Apple to support anything but MacOS and Windows on this. Hopefully they'll change their mind, but in the meantime, our only choices are Wine (dunno if QT4 can be supported by this, though) and, as you pointed out, VMWare. However, the problem with VMWare is that you still need a copy of Windows. Part of what many Linux geeks (such as myself) are trying to do, for better or worse, is not have to have a copy of any OS that we don't want just for a few things we don't need. It's a personal choice. I don't try to inflict it on others, though of course others don't have exactly the same views as me...

But yeah, I agree, just because something isn't in Linux doesn't mean it sucks. However, to claim that QT4 is available on the vast majority of systems... well, on installed personal computers, maybe, but two OSes each on one platform certainly does NOT constitute the majority of the several hundred OSes and platforms out there. What if you don't even have an x86 box? What if you have a BeBox or an Alpha, or something StrongARM based, or an RS/6000, or a SPARC? Not everyone has a Mac or a Windows-capable box, after all.
---
"'Is not a quine' is not a quine" is a quine.

Microwaving CDs just looks soooo cool!

[Anonymous Coward]

You can actually see concentric rings of electricity and sparks dancing across the CD; sometimes in regular manner; sometimes rippling round and round. And different colored CDRs produce slightly different effects.

Note: the show's over after 1-2 seconds. After that the plastic will start to burn and smoke (toxic!) so microwave for no more than 2 seconds. Also, I set the cd on top of a small glass so the CD is no where near any of the walls inside the oven. All this, of course, is at your own risk if you choose to do this. No problems have resulted for me, though.

Re:Microwaving CDs just looks soooo cool!

[Imperator]

No problems have resulted for me, though.

I haven't had any problems either, except that one of the fish in the tank next to the trash has three eyes.

Mirror List

[Slash Mirror]

http://athena.student.umd.edu/HomeCook in.mov

ftp://128.253.254.56/homecookin.mov

http://dibona.com/slashmir

SlashMirror: Where to put files for fellow /.'ers

rename it

[gad_zuki!]

This article should be subtitled:

or the the future of all those Ricky Martin CDs

Sorenson Codec

[wowbagger]

Perhaps it is time to unleash the mighty power of the /. effect upon Apple: Why doesn't everybody who has bitched about not having Sorenson support under Xanim e-mail Apple, and ask them nicely to allow Sorenson to allow Mr. Podlipec to make a codec plug-in for Xanim. Since Apple is claiming to support Open Source, lets give them a chance to walk the walk, and not just talk the talk.

The Link

[BAKup]

Here's the link Microwaving CD's UF style

--Ben

Sig Error #666 -- The Devil made me do it.

Xanim and Sorenson Codec

[ddstreet]

I emailed Apple and Sorenson about working with Mark Podlipec (Xanim's creator) and below is the email I got back.

If we all email them maybe they will get a clue.
For reference, Xanim's home page (and mirrors)
http://xanim.va.pubnix.com/home.html
http://smurfland.cit.buffalo.edu/xanim/home.html
http://xanim.resnet.gatech.edu/home.html


Hello,

You're receiving this note because you asked for QuickTime for Linux, QuickTime for UNIX, or QuickTime for Amiga.

QuickTime is available for Mac OS http://www.apple.com/macos, Windows 95, Windows 98, and Windows NT 4. The next platform to be supported will be Mac OS X http://www.apple.com/macosx (including Mac OS X Server), which is Mach/BSD-based.

If you're interested in QuickTime for platforms other than Mac or Windows, contact your platform vendor and let them know that you would like them to license QuickTime from Apple.

If you're interested in QuickTime as it relates to servers, be sure to check out the standards-based Darwin streaming server project http://publicsource.apple.com (which works with any standards-based streaming media client).

Thank you,

--
Charles Wiltgen
QuickTime Technology Manager
Worldwide Developer Relations Apple Computer, Inc. "Don't compromise. Use QuickTime."
http://www.apple.com/quicktime
http://www.QuickTimeFAQ.org

QuickTime 4: The first standards-based architecture for networked media.
Recognized as the industry standard for Macintosh and Windows since 1991.

MPEG version

[Pathwalker]

Ok - I have permission to mirror and convert it.

You can get the original quick time version, as well as mpeg versions at varying bit rates from http://house.ofdoom.com/~hungerf 3/video/index.rxml

I'm sitting here with a stopwatch, and a fire extinguisher to see how long this server stands up.
(pentium 120, 96 megs of ram, FreeBSD, Roxen, on a tci-met cable modem)

MPEG mirror

[Pathwalker]

I'm putting MPEG versions up at http://house.ofdoom.com/~hungerf 3/video/index.rxml.

G2's now on SlashMirror

[Slash Mirror]

uploading works fine for me . . .

128k / 5.03MB ftp://128.253.254.56/homecookin-128k.rm

70k / 2.75MB ftp://128.253.254.56/homecookin-70k.rm

56k / 1.58MB ftp://128.253.254.56/homecookin-56k.rm

SlashMirror: Where to put files for fellow /.'ers

I mirrored it for everyone.

[chrisd]

I figured it'll be slashdotted anyhow, so I stuck it up on my website Here

Chris DiBona
--
Grant Chair, Linux Int.
VP, SVLUG

Re:I mirrored it for everyone.

[Lord of the Files]

I've also mirrored it here. I don't know how much bandwidth you have, but another mirror never hurts.

CD Testing

[Batwing]

Well, I don't know about you guys but I have been using this method to test the duribility of CD's for quite a while. in my experience there are 2 really good tests that can be used to determine the quality of a brand of CD's without burning them. First is the Light test, where you hold up to a light sorce and see how much light filters through. second is the Nuke test where you put the CD (it's best to wait until you do a bad burn because this is destructive) in the microwave for 10 sec. when you are done watching the pretty lights take it out and see how much of the CD is flacked. if the a lot of metal layer is flaking off then it is a poor quality CD. if not then it is a good CD.

Travis

Shouldn't be "frustrating" (Was Re:View in Linux)

[Cattywampus]

I'm relatively new to Slashdot (I've only been reading it for about a year now), but I can't help but wonder when it was that Slashdot became a Linux news site, as opposed to generally interesting news. And why I happened to miss that particular announcement from the Geek Compound that's developed Slashdot.

Originally, Slashdot started out as a small site in which Rob Malda posted his opinions on things that interested him, and grew from there. It shows; on Slashdot, you might find news about BeOS, or quantum physics. Biology, archaeology, or information theory. That's why I keep coming back to it.

You don't see everyone else around here who doesn't run a Linux or BSD system posting flamey bits because they can't run the new window manager on their MacOS or Windows system. So many Linux people like to talk about the "Mac jihad", but I think that in general these days the Linux userbase has become even more zealous than the Mac jihad. Which is kind of sad, really, and something I'd attribute to Linux' recent spike in public popularity.

Anyway, trying to keep this on topic: I really don't think anyone should complain or say "Shame on [Hemos|CmdrTaco|Space Ghost]" for posting something that doesn't jive with your Linux-only interest. That's really not very intelligent behavior.

You're all geeks, supposedly, and part of that means finding creative solutions to problems. So stop flaming and find yourself a solution, whatever it might be.

- Cattywampus, who forsake the ability to moderate this to instead add his opinion into the entropy pool.

Microwaves are for wimps. Real men use Tesla coils

[iapetus]

Coincidentally, Backbytes in Computing has been talking about microwaving CDs recently, and posted a link to some pictures of the Tesla coil version of the CD-microwaving trick.

Looks far more spectacular...

Re:Quicktime 4, Red Hat 6, and Wine 990815

[Pascal Q. Porcupine]

Would you happen to be able to give more information though? I mean, does it crash because it can't register itself as a plugin, or because it's trying to do some low-level stuff that Wine can't handle, or what? (I'm too lazy to download it for myself. :)
---
"'Is not a quine' is not a quine" is a quine.

Whoa! Great idea!

[Imperator]

Next time I have trouble reading a CD, I'll just stick it in the microwave. If not very much of the metal layer flaked off, I'll know it's a problem with the drive. To test the drive, I'll put it in the dishwasher. This a great, practical idea! Thanks!

(sarcasm-impaired: try the microwave testing on your gonads)

Safety Precaution

[MostlyHarmless]

No, I'm not going to caution everyone about the dangers of microwaving metal objects. Instead, I wish to talk about the much greater risk of Microsoft CDs (insert scary music as needed). You must take heed of my message and make haste to surround your CDs with protective deletium lest these infernal products jump out and smite thee on thy noggin, causing you to lose control of yourseff and install Microsoft Windows 2000 Beta, Microsoft Office 2000, and Internet Explorer 5 (overwriting your Linux partition in the process). The resulting quantum explosion caused by having these three rip^H^H^Hproducts on the same machine at the same time may cause a quantum explosion that will take out much more than your microwave. Beware!