Actually, the Sinus Show is one of the most consistently funny things I've seen. If you're a fan of MST3K you owe it to yourself to go. They also sell cd's of previous shows that you can play along with your dvd (though I've always wondered how the audio setup works of trying to play a dvd and cd at the same time). Check em out.
I didn't know at the time that light guns didn't work with LCDs, I'd just honestly never thought of it. Now a few years later, I saw the Topgun guns designed to work with any screen and immediately ordered two. They arrived last friday.
Given the two hours I've been able to play with them, here's what I can tell you so far:
* For use with a PC, the install cd will install the drivers, but did not install any configuration software or instructions on how to get them to work with Mame.
* You *CAN* have two guns plugged in at the same time.
* I have been unable to get past the configuration screen. I can get the laser to come on, shoot in the five locations that configure them, but upon shooting the fifth shot the laser does not turn off.
In looking, I did see that the manufacturer has a new set of drivers and software out, hopefully I'll get around to installing and testing this weekend. As for the design, the gun ROCKS! Good weight, feel, design. If you have kids, spray paint it orange. Personally, I like the realistic look.
If this were truly a concern in Texas, the annual Sales Tax revenue would be falling (oh wait, it's not) and we wouldn't have a surplus that both the Republican and Democrat governor candidates keep coming up with ideas to spend it on.
http://www.bizjournals.com/austin/stories/2004/06/ 14/daily3.html
Let's try a new take, refund the money. Oh, and while we're at it, let's lower property taxes and re-vamp Robin Hood. That's something the regular session and special sessions couldn't accomplish, instead spending time voting in new laws on how revealing high school cheerleaders uniforms can be and banning suggestive cheers.
In Texas, anyway, there is still one Dr. Pepper bottling plant that uses real sugar, the plant in Dublin. You can get it here in Austin at any of the Rudy's BBQ restaurants and select other locations. Check the bottle (Dublin still uses glass as well). It'll have the bottled in Dublin, Tx and "pure cane sugar" in the ingredients. They also have one of the largest glass recycling systems, buying back their own bottles and washing through a thorough sterilization process before re-bottling. That bottle you're drinking out of has served possibly hundreds of other sugar-cane soda lovers.
Totally with what you said, but you make one of my points for me. Criticizing the work is much different than labelling the artist an "animal".
Though OSC has addressed the Hitler issue numerous times regarding Ender, I think you have a valid point. I look at it this way, if I never read about OSC's world view then I can still enjoy his work and get out of it what I read into it. I assume the same thing goes for L. Ron Hubbard's sci-fi, but I've honestly never read any of his work because I read about scientology first. That's not to say that I wouldn't read his work though, just that I'd be biased against it.
My main objection was to the labelling of OSC as an "animal". I tend to reserve that word for people who deserve it, as in my previous OJ Simpson reference.
That's the problem with most "artists", but nobody says you have to agree with an artist's politics or views. Why can't you(we) just appreciate the good things? Whether it be a movie, book (Ender's Game was great), music, or whatever. If I "binned" the material of every "artist" who had different politics or views than I did then there would be very slim pickings.
So you'd have to say that Tom Cruise never put out an enjoyable movie, that you never sang along to a Michael Jackson song in the 80s, that OJ simpson wasn't a great football player. People are different, some of the most talented are flawed.
What there's no room for in the 21st century are the black/white reactionary actions you espouse. If you disagree with Card's politics, fine. If you don't want to buy or even keep his books, fine. But stating that there's no room for "animals" like him? Way to paint yourself into that extremist corner and lose any validity for your argument. Try formulating an argument, support it with facts, and allow your reader to determine whether this is someone they want to support.
Though he lives in America now, I don't think you can rightfully accuse him of 'Typical American Arrogance', though the movie listings are from Sony's site. Does that make it 'Typical Japanese Arrogance'?
Spawn two weeks AFTER the video release? Please tell me that your theatres in Canada now have color AND sound.:)
MIRRORMASK tells the story of Helena, a fifteen-year-old girl who works for her family's circus. Helena juggles, sells popcorn, and wishes that she could run away from the circus and join the "real world." Then, one day she wakes up to find herself in a magical world filled with fantastic beings and creatures, an alternate reality. It is a land of opposing kingdoms, one perpetually existing in light, the other in constant darkness. These lands have existed in perfect balance, until now. And Helena finds herself about to embark on a most remarkable journey.
MIRRORMASK is a new fantasy feature film in the tradition of The Dark Crystal and Labyrinth. Gaiman wrote the screenplay and McKean directed, using a combination of live-action and CG animation. Lisa Henson, Michael R. Polis and Martin G. Baker are Executive Producers and Simon Moorhead is Producer. The film stars Stephanie Leonidas as Helena, Gina McKee as Helena's mother Joanne, as well as the two Queens, Rob Brydon as Helena's father and Jason Barry as Valentine.
"Dave McKean and I created the story and the script for MIRRORMASK in the Henson family home in London, surrounded by memorabilia and artifacts from Jim Henson's astonishing career in television and fantasy filmmaking," says Gaiman. "It was a true challenge and inspiration to try to make something today that would be as visually rich, creative, funny, and as moving as Jim Henson's original works."
Hasn't the market shown time and again that a hobbled version of a product will quickly be beaten out by an unhobbled one? In the short term this might keep iPod sales up, but in the long run somebody else will offer a full function cell with mp3 capability (and yes, I avoided the typical, "In the long run.... We're all dead" statement).
I've never been a huge fan of Apple but I have to admit that the iPod has been a great success for them. Sad to see them repeating the history of their computers: establish a great product and cult following and then piss off your customers by limiting their growth options. They took enough body shots from Microsoft over the last 15 years that I would have hoped they learned their lesson.
A friend of mine who works for Sun said they got the internal message this morning that this was on the way and that they'll come with Windows on em. "Why?", I asked, to which he replied that the talk around the office is that Sun will be focussing on application software versus OS and Hardware.
He also said that airplanes with banners would be circling the skies of Austin this afternoon. Either way I'm curious.
The system comes in two parts. First, you have the Hydrogen fuel system in your vehicle, and then a Hydrogen generating system that remains in your garage. The Hydrogen generator is either powered by solar electric panels or a wind turbine set-up, either of which makes Hydrogen fuel at virtually no cost. This hydrogen is then stored in hydride tanks.
The tanks are filled with granulated Hydrides, and Hydrogen is pressurized into the material. Hydrides have many advantages over liquid & gas. One is that the density of the Hydrogen stored in the Hydride can be GREATER than that of liquid Hydrogen. This translates directly into smaller and fewer storage tanks.
Once the Hydride is "charged" with Hydrogen, the Hydrogen becomes chemically bonded to the chemical. Even opening the tank, or cutting it in half will not release the Hydrogen gas. In addition, you could even fire incendiary bullets through the tank and the Hydride would only smolder like a cigarette. It is in fact, a safer storage system than your Gasoline tank is.
Then how do you get the Hydrogen back out? To release the Hydrogen gas from the Hydride, it simply needs to be heated. This is either done electrically, using the waste exhaust heat, or using the waste radiator coolant heat.
Our kits heat the Hydride tanks electrically, and as soon at the Hydride is sufficiently warm, Hydrogen is released from the tanks and the on-board computer detects the presence of Hydrogen pressure. The fuel system remains in "Hydrogen" mode until the tank pressure begins to drop. If the tanks run out of Hydrogen, the engine will seamlessly switch over to Gasoline, which enables the car to run conventionally until the Hydrogen tanks are refilled.
I did the whole cabinet thing, threw in an LCD panel for flatness, and I've loved it. Next though? Why limit yourself to a small screen (or even 27" or 32") when you can play a pacman big enough to eat your head?
http://www6.tomshardware.com/howto/20041113/index. html
I figure an old cheap pc, overhead projector, discount 15" LCD, controller (x-arcade or slickstick) and a custom case and you have the ultimate Mame machine.
As one of the MTGO addicts since Oct last year, I originally had all teh same complaints voiced above. In looking at the product, however, I soon found the following:
1) Once you have collected a complete set of online cards, you can REDEEM them for the physical set of online cards. Check ebay, you can normally find a complete set in the $70-100 range, comparable to what the physical cards cost you. Buy the online set, play til you're sick of them, then redeem or sell the cards online and recoup your investment.
2) I just don't have the time/money/inclination to deal with local card stores, kids, and aggravation. I have numerous friends online, we talk, chat, and play games. Compared to the two other friends I had in the real world who played, this is infinitely better. At any time of the day or night I can find a match, play in a league, or enter a tournament.
3) I have become a MUCH better player playing online. I play almost daily, and in the first month alone I really began to understand the mechanics of the game that sometimes get lost in real world play. Ever try to figure out rules to something complex by yourself and then realize later you were doing it wrong? The computer forces you to learn properly here.
4) There is a thriving market on eBay for cards, tickets, etc. I've found that I sustain my habit by joining a league, playing for 4 weeks, then selling the cards when done. I buy new cards with the proceeds and continue. For my money's worth, I get far more entertainment than a comparable book, console game, or movie. There's just nothing that beats meeting and playing against real people.
5) Jerk factor is about 1/10. Most people are there to have a good time and play. Most punk kids you can whoop up on anyway.:)
My two cents
DVD-R is most compatible, and for now, cheapest. You can buy bulk media for around $1.10 including the case from places like www.shop4tech.com.
The Sony DRU-500A is the best drive to get, it burns all formats, so you're not locked in.
DVD-Shrink is an excellent free program for backing up Dual Layer DVD's that exceed 4.38 gb. I used DVD Decrypter (also Free) and Veritas Backup Now (comes with the Sony drive) to backup movies that are smaller.
I've used Nero, but found that it is somehow formatting my backups differently than other software, so those backups have not been compatible in my 3 different players (work in the Apex cheapo, not in the Sony or Toshiba). Those made with Backup Now work in all.
As for compatibility, with good DVD players under $100, and cheapos in the $30s, go with what you want. The way you backup your DVDs is going to have much more of an effect than what you play them in.
My two cents
Slashdot Mirror
Questron, Legacy of the Ancients, and a true to it's predecessors Bard's Tale
Actually, the Sinus Show is one of the most consistently funny things I've seen. If you're a fan of MST3K you owe it to yourself to go. They also sell cd's of previous shows that you can play along with your dvd (though I've always wondered how the audio setup works of trying to play a dvd and cd at the same time). Check em out.
I didn't know at the time that light guns didn't work with LCDs, I'd just honestly never thought of it. Now a few years later, I saw the Topgun guns designed to work with any screen and immediately ordered two. They arrived last friday.
Given the two hours I've been able to play with them, here's what I can tell you so far:
* For use with a PC, the install cd will install the drivers, but did not install any configuration software or instructions on how to get them to work with Mame.
* You *CAN* have two guns plugged in at the same time.
* I have been unable to get past the configuration screen. I can get the laser to come on, shoot in the five locations that configure them, but upon shooting the fifth shot the laser does not turn off.
In looking, I did see that the manufacturer has a new set of drivers and software out, hopefully I'll get around to installing and testing this weekend. As for the design, the gun ROCKS! Good weight, feel, design. If you have kids, spray paint it orange. Personally, I like the realistic look.
If this were truly a concern in Texas, the annual Sales Tax revenue would be falling (oh wait, it's not) and we wouldn't have a surplus that both the Republican and Democrat governor candidates keep coming up with ideas to spend it on. http://www.bizjournals.com/austin/stories/2004/06/ 14/daily3.html
Let's try a new take, refund the money. Oh, and while we're at it, let's lower property taxes and re-vamp Robin Hood. That's something the regular session and special sessions couldn't accomplish, instead spending time voting in new laws on how revealing high school cheerleaders uniforms can be and banning suggestive cheers.
In Texas, anyway, there is still one Dr. Pepper bottling plant that uses real sugar, the plant in Dublin. You can get it here in Austin at any of the Rudy's BBQ restaurants and select other locations. Check the bottle (Dublin still uses glass as well). It'll have the bottled in Dublin, Tx and "pure cane sugar" in the ingredients. They also have one of the largest glass recycling systems, buying back their own bottles and washing through a thorough sterilization process before re-bottling. That bottle you're drinking out of has served possibly hundreds of other sugar-cane soda lovers.
TacoCumander was taken?
Uh, can anyone say "TROLL"? Interesting my butt.
Though OSC has addressed the Hitler issue numerous times regarding Ender, I think you have a valid point. I look at it this way, if I never read about OSC's world view then I can still enjoy his work and get out of it what I read into it. I assume the same thing goes for L. Ron Hubbard's sci-fi, but I've honestly never read any of his work because I read about scientology first. That's not to say that I wouldn't read his work though, just that I'd be biased against it.
My main objection was to the labelling of OSC as an "animal". I tend to reserve that word for people who deserve it, as in my previous OJ Simpson reference.
So you'd have to say that Tom Cruise never put out an enjoyable movie, that you never sang along to a Michael Jackson song in the 80s, that OJ simpson wasn't a great football player. People are different, some of the most talented are flawed.
What there's no room for in the 21st century are the black/white reactionary actions you espouse. If you disagree with Card's politics, fine. If you don't want to buy or even keep his books, fine. But stating that there's no room for "animals" like him? Way to paint yourself into that extremist corner and lose any validity for your argument. Try formulating an argument, support it with facts, and allow your reader to determine whether this is someone they want to support.
Though he lives in America now, I don't think you can rightfully accuse him of 'Typical American Arrogance', though the movie listings are from Sony's site. Does that make it 'Typical Japanese Arrogance'?
Spawn two weeks AFTER the video release? Please tell me that your theatres in Canada now have color AND sound. :)
http://www.sonypictures.com/movies/mirrormask/thea ters/Theatre List
Quick synopsis:
MIRRORMASK tells the story of Helena, a fifteen-year-old girl who works for her family's circus. Helena juggles, sells popcorn, and wishes that she could run away from the circus and join the "real world." Then, one day she wakes up to find herself in a magical world filled with fantastic beings and creatures, an alternate reality. It is a land of opposing kingdoms, one perpetually existing in light, the other in constant darkness. These lands have existed in perfect balance, until now. And Helena finds herself about to embark on a most remarkable journey.
MIRRORMASK is a new fantasy feature film in the tradition of The Dark Crystal and Labyrinth. Gaiman wrote the screenplay and McKean directed, using a combination of live-action and CG animation. Lisa Henson, Michael R. Polis and Martin G. Baker are Executive Producers and Simon Moorhead is Producer. The film stars Stephanie Leonidas as Helena, Gina McKee as Helena's mother Joanne, as well as the two Queens, Rob Brydon as Helena's father and Jason Barry as Valentine.
"Dave McKean and I created the story and the script for MIRRORMASK in the Henson family home in London, surrounded by memorabilia and artifacts from Jim Henson's astonishing career in television and fantasy filmmaking," says Gaiman. "It was a true challenge and inspiration to try to make something today that would be as visually rich, creative, funny, and as moving as Jim Henson's original works."
Hasn't the market shown time and again that a hobbled version of a product will quickly be beaten out by an unhobbled one? In the short term this might keep iPod sales up, but in the long run somebody else will offer a full function cell with mp3 capability (and yes, I avoided the typical, "In the long run.... We're all dead" statement).
I've never been a huge fan of Apple but I have to admit that the iPod has been a great success for them. Sad to see them repeating the history of their computers: establish a great product and cult following and then piss off your customers by limiting their growth options. They took enough body shots from Microsoft over the last 15 years that I would have hoped they learned their lesson.
A friend of mine who works for Sun said they got the internal message this morning that this was on the way and that they'll come with Windows on em. "Why?", I asked, to which he replied that the talk around the office is that Sun will be focussing on application software versus OS and Hardware. He also said that airplanes with banners would be circling the skies of Austin this afternoon. Either way I'm curious.
You might know me, I'm kind of important. I have many leather bound books.
What did the five fingers on the artificial hand say to the face? SLAP!
Queue the order for a giant Rolaid, clothespin, or can of Lysol.
http://www.ohgizmo.com/2005/09/05/united-nuclears- hydrogen-fuel-systems/
second link pointing to the pseudo-science wizardry http://www.switch2hydrogen.com/h2.htm/
According to it:
The system comes in two parts. First, you have the Hydrogen fuel system in your vehicle, and then a Hydrogen generating system that remains in your garage. The Hydrogen generator is either powered by solar electric panels or a wind turbine set-up, either of which makes Hydrogen fuel at virtually no cost. This hydrogen is then stored in hydride tanks.
The tanks are filled with granulated Hydrides, and Hydrogen is pressurized into the material. Hydrides have many advantages over liquid & gas. One is that the density of the Hydrogen stored in the Hydride can be GREATER than that of liquid Hydrogen. This translates directly into smaller and fewer storage tanks.
Once the Hydride is "charged" with Hydrogen, the Hydrogen becomes chemically bonded to the chemical. Even opening the tank, or cutting it in half will not release the Hydrogen gas. In addition, you could even fire incendiary bullets through the tank and the Hydride would only smolder like a cigarette. It is in fact, a safer storage system than your Gasoline tank is.
Then how do you get the Hydrogen back out? To release the Hydrogen gas from the Hydride, it simply needs to be heated. This is either done electrically, using the waste exhaust heat, or using the waste radiator coolant heat.
Our kits heat the Hydride tanks electrically, and as soon at the Hydride is sufficiently warm, Hydrogen is released from the tanks and the on-board computer detects the presence of Hydrogen pressure. The fuel system remains in "Hydrogen" mode until the tank pressure begins to drop. If the tanks run out of Hydrogen, the engine will seamlessly switch over to Gasoline, which enables the car to run conventionally until the Hydrogen tanks are refilled.
I did the whole cabinet thing, threw in an LCD panel for flatness, and I've loved it. Next though? Why limit yourself to a small screen (or even 27" or 32") when you can play a pacman big enough to eat your head? http://www6.tomshardware.com/howto/20041113/index. html
I figure an old cheap pc, overhead projector, discount 15" LCD, controller (x-arcade or slickstick) and a custom case and you have the ultimate Mame machine.
As one of the MTGO addicts since Oct last year, I originally had all teh same complaints voiced above. In looking at the product, however, I soon found the following: 1) Once you have collected a complete set of online cards, you can REDEEM them for the physical set of online cards. Check ebay, you can normally find a complete set in the $70-100 range, comparable to what the physical cards cost you. Buy the online set, play til you're sick of them, then redeem or sell the cards online and recoup your investment. 2) I just don't have the time/money/inclination to deal with local card stores, kids, and aggravation. I have numerous friends online, we talk, chat, and play games. Compared to the two other friends I had in the real world who played, this is infinitely better. At any time of the day or night I can find a match, play in a league, or enter a tournament. 3) I have become a MUCH better player playing online. I play almost daily, and in the first month alone I really began to understand the mechanics of the game that sometimes get lost in real world play. Ever try to figure out rules to something complex by yourself and then realize later you were doing it wrong? The computer forces you to learn properly here. 4) There is a thriving market on eBay for cards, tickets, etc. I've found that I sustain my habit by joining a league, playing for 4 weeks, then selling the cards when done. I buy new cards with the proceeds and continue. For my money's worth, I get far more entertainment than a comparable book, console game, or movie. There's just nothing that beats meeting and playing against real people. 5) Jerk factor is about 1/10. Most people are there to have a good time and play. Most punk kids you can whoop up on anyway. :)
My two cents
DVD-R is most compatible, and for now, cheapest. You can buy bulk media for around $1.10 including the case from places like www.shop4tech.com. The Sony DRU-500A is the best drive to get, it burns all formats, so you're not locked in. DVD-Shrink is an excellent free program for backing up Dual Layer DVD's that exceed 4.38 gb. I used DVD Decrypter (also Free) and Veritas Backup Now (comes with the Sony drive) to backup movies that are smaller. I've used Nero, but found that it is somehow formatting my backups differently than other software, so those backups have not been compatible in my 3 different players (work in the Apex cheapo, not in the Sony or Toshiba). Those made with Backup Now work in all. As for compatibility, with good DVD players under $100, and cheapos in the $30s, go with what you want. The way you backup your DVDs is going to have much more of an effect than what you play them in. My two cents