supplementary notes

for my benefit

Friday, August 01, 2008

⇒ design

http://www.designfloat.com/
http://9rules.com/
http://vandelaydesign.com/blog/design/minimalistic-web-design/
http://www.rgbgarden.com/content/darkvibrant-web-designs
http://inspiredology.com/so-fresh-and-so-green/
http://inspiredology.com/webs-brilliant-blues/
http://inspiredology.com/32-wicked-white-websites/
http://inspiredology.com/43-decent-dark-websites/

http://www.boogiesbc.ro/blog/photoshop-tutorials/weekly-top-quality-photoshop-tutorials-14/
http://www.designioustimes.com/freebies/free-vector-illustrations.html
http://dzineblog.com/2008/07/portfolios-of-the-month-july.html
http://www.afterglow.ie/

http://bestwebgallery.com/
http://www.vectorstock.com/index/
http://www.seodesignstudio.com/
http://flashden.net/
http://page-flip.com/?c=69
http://www.jam-factory.com/

http://www.haveamint.com/
http://www.speaklight.com/
http://www.afterglow.ie/signatures.html
http://www.microangelo.us/xpref/How-to-make-icons.asp

http://w3-markup.com/example

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⇒ new phone!

comments about the c902 (thus far):
fantastic handset, very slim, sleek and classy design. .
The design also has a

Pros: 1.Shape--such an upgrade from the K750i. I barely feel it in my front pocket of my flat-front trousers. Additionally, ever since the boom of 'sliders' and now 'touch' style phones, it's becoming increasingly difficult to find a really special 'candybar' phone. This model strangely enough still manages to incorporate some features of both 'sliders' and 'touch' phones. I picked the c902 over the g900 or most others
2. Operating system--again, an enormous leap between this and the K750i. They've reorganized everything into slightly more coherent categories. The software plays VERY NICE with Mac OS X 10.3.9, while K750i didn't. Add to that, it's got flight mode and can set multiple profiles (USB mass storage, phone mode, etc.) and it's a winner.
3. Media player--very pleasing to the eye and simple interface which doesn't sacrifice control.
4. Feature rich--alot of functions and capabilities, and keep in mind this isn't a 'smartphone', but it will do more than I'm probably capable of using. For comparison, I probably only used about 70% of the features on my K750i, as compared to 90% on the Samsung E700 and 99% on the Nokia 8310.
5. Processor--fast enough to throwdown 5MP photos in 1s. Powerful enough to run 3D gaming. But of course, I'm greedy--I want more speed, more power! MOAR!
6. Everything in the box--charger, booklet, support CD, USB connector, hand's free, the gang's all here. Straight out of the box, you get everything you need. Only need to spend if you really want to kick it into wireless headset/8GB memory/etc. Did I mention the charger has a pass-thru port so you can plug in more than one thing at a time? How about a standard 3.5mm jack included in the handsfree? Sweet. Oh and the box itself is super sleek--they've really outdone themselves in terms of product design.

Cons: 1. No dedicated 'media' button--K750i could start playing music with a single touch without looking at the device. I gotta go thru 3-4 menus to start music now.
2. No flashlight function (or I haven't figured it out yet). Really? Why remove one of the best/most practical functions of a LED-bearing phone? People tout 'Xenon', but I can't miss it if I've never had it.
3. Dust collecting flaw: the planes where edges meet always and very easily collect a lot of dust. Beats the K750i though--the gaping hole around its 'joystick' let dust run rampant into the unreachable areas of the phone's screen.
4. Numeric buttons are almost too 'tight' though--should've used smaller buttons and given breathing room in-between, like the K810 or perhaps W890i

in-between: 1. The touch interface is a very nice gimmick, but I don't feel I'll be relying on it too much.
2. Battery cover. WTF?!? Why is it so gddmn hard to remove? Sure, the battery won't be falling out, but I can't quickly switch my SIM without using a watchmaker's toolkit!
3. The camera. Being branded a 'Cyber-shot' brings certain expectations, especially on the back of K750i's goodwill. The camera thus far has been both good and bad. The good? FAST. 5MP snaps in 1s. It's about 5-10s faster than K750i's 2MP shooter; more control over settings; faster processing and playback. the bad? photo resolution somewhat blunt--it lacks the sharpness of the K750i I'm accustomed to. I rarely fiddled with K750i's settings to get good-great photos. I guess there's a learning curve to getting good pics with this 5MP shooter (I hope!)

To be realistic, we are talking about a camera phone (I guess the K750i was f#cken exceptional in it's time!), and that the phone is 10.5mm thick, yet houses a 5MP? Crazy!

Keep in mind this is my experience with it THUS FAR (3 days). Maybe my opinion of certain things will change as time goes on.

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⇒ during the week of 17

crazy mobile phone escapades. Why was it so damn hard to transfer ownership and switch from post-paid to pre-paid?

China's '08 Olympics: my early analysis? Set to be the worst, most media-censored, government-dictatorship-run bestest games in history!

pop quiz, hotshot!
http://blogs.amctv.com/future-of-classic/2008/07/ultimate-fan-quiz-jaws.php
http://blogs.amctv.com/future-of-classic/2008/07/jaws-cinemania.php

Apple+Nike's 'Human Race' http://nikeplus.nike.com/nikeplus/?locale=en_au

http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/22/joystiq-holidaze-explaining-the-ps3-skus/

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⇒ weekly #17, section2

that internet error
Different analogy:
Before the attack: A bad guy has a one in sixty five thousand chance of stealing your Internet connection, but he can only try once every couple of hours.
After the attack: A bad guy has a one in sixty five thousand chance of stealing your Internet connection, and he can try a couple thousand times a second.
After the patch: A bad guy has a one in a couple hundred million, or even a couple billion chance of stealing your Internet connection. He can still try to do so a couple thousand times a second, but it�s going to make a lot of noise.
summary from http://www.doxpara.com/?p=1189

http://www.the1secondfilm.com/
http://www.renderosity.com/

http://www.westciv.com/wiki/Main_Page
http://www.thinkvitamin.com/
http://www.netmag.co.uk/
http://futureofwebdesign.com/2008/newyork/
http://twitter.com/
http://www.powerset.com/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aspect-oriented_programming
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ubiquitous_computing

http://www.squarespace.com/?source=thedeck&campaign=v5-1
http://www.overnightprints.com/main.php?A=deck&code=BC100&from=21693&adt=119994811&ONPSESS=e01a841d0135bc43f2657d63893bd580

http://faculty.arch.usyd.edu.au/kcdc/farewell.html
http://www.alistapart.com/topics/design/layout/

pelagic (of or pertaining to the open sea)
oneiric (of or pertaining to dreams)

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⇒ search and tech

http://bluray.highdefdigest.com/1303/humanbody.html
http://www.engadgethd.com/tag/bravia/

google 'rival' Cuil:
http://www.news.com.au/technology/story/0,25642,24089734-5014239,00.html
http://www.cuil.com/
Cuil? More like Fail
http://searchengineland.com/

http://searchengineland.com/080723-111732.php

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⇒ gaming charts awesome

A wild Japanese Hardware Sales Chart attacks!

Go, Fanboy!
Fanboy uses Defense Force!
Fanboy's DEF sharply increased!
Sales Chart uses Red Arrows!
It's not very effective...
Fanboy uses Faulty Logic!
Sales Chart counters with Embarrassing Correction!
Fanboy self-destructs!

I choose you, Developer!
Developer uses Hype Beam!
It's very effective!
Sales Chart uses Green Arrows!
Sales Chart regains health!
Developer is counting down...
Sales Chart uses Publisher!
Publisher interrupts the countdown!
Developer uses Big Reveal!
But it fails...
Sales Chart uses Negative Fan Reaction!
Developer fainted!

The enemy is weak, go get 'em, Blogger!
Blogger uses Sarcatsic Post!
Blogger made a typo!
Sales Chart uses Angry Editor!
It's super effective!
Blogger uses an Ultra Ball!
Blogger caught a Japanese Hardware Sales Chart!

- PSP: 74,024 17,026 (29.87%)
- DS Lite: 54,531 5,991 (12.34%)
- Wii: 40,803 965 (2.31%)
- PS3: 11,253 1,205 (9.67%)
- PS2: 9,535 870 (8.36%)
- Xbox 360: 4,208 401 (10.53%)

[Source: Media Create]
See: Would you like to rename the captured archives?


http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/26/the-best-of-big-download-july-20-26/

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⇒ games, ps3

http://www.kotaku.com.au/games/2008/07/jim_lee_dishes_on_dc_universe_online-2.html

http://www.ps3sacd.com/faq.html
Bioshock
Initial D Extreme Stage
Resistance: Fall of Man
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burnout_Paradise
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Devil_May_Cry_4
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Theft_Auto_IV

Patience, we will be together soon!

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⇒ all time at once

just imagine these disjointed posts as being experienced all at once for me...if you can.

http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/26/costumes-of-comic-con-08-days-1-and-2/
http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/25/tera-patrick-hired-as-special-producer-on-saints-row-2/
http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/25/playstation-2-travels-through-time-to-kill-children/
http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/25/see-first-posters-date-for-max-payne-flick/
http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/25/rigopulos-on-why-air-drumming-doesnt-work/
http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/24/marvel-ous-new-ultimate-alliance-2-trailer/
http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/24/wallace-and-gromit-go-episodic-with-telltale/

gave my sister a belated gift--that Cities of Gold DVD set. She absolutely loved it! A genuine reaction to it--she was thrilled with it and almost hysterical.
Suddenly, I realized/remembered that I was supposed to be bitter and jealous of her--I've felt that way all week and it's cast an extreme pallor over each and every day.
I don't know why but at that moment I suddenly felt like 'aww, it's ok, why am I being such an ass?'. This might indicate that in spite of my recent dedication to 'selfishness, before selflessness', I may still have some capacity for redemption and 'good' after all. What is the distinction between 'what is right' and 'what is good', if any?
I started off today really badly, but everything suddenly turned around for me today--I've no idea how or why but things just fell into place today. Maybe it's me-my attitude. Something about me. I need to be stronger and change the way I am, cause that's the way it's meant to be.
I've rebooted my career and I'm only 4 months in the game, I need some patience...I can be better--I will be better. I will bide my time and in the end I will have proven my point: no one is above me. I'm just as good as any and better than the rest. All the pride and 'reputation' mean nothing to me--I'm my own man now.

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⇒ weekly #17, part 1

ttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/26/zune-guy-calls-microsoft-liars-says-zune-situation-is-f-in/

finally, a device that harnesses heat-energy:
http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/25/another-team-figures-out-how-to-convert-waste-heat-into-energy/

http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/25/brandos-usb-m-a-d-game-pad-has-removable-steering-wheel/
http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/25/back-to-the-future-hoverboard-up-for-auction-30k-to-play/
http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/24/nes-belt-buckle-most-inelegant-awesome-nes-in-a-whatever-mod-o/
http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/23/robot-dragonfly-gets-outfitted-with-camera-plans-to-record-upri/
http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/22/golden-shellback-waterproofing-defies-water-reality/

Nadal wins Toronto masters. He is definetly the player of the year! 29 consecutive wins now, including a double-stomping of Roger Federer in 2 grand slam finals (Roland Garros and the All-England Club)

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Tuesday, July 29, 2008

⇒ why me?!?!?

why isn't anything working out for me?
why do i live? there's no joy, no pride, no accomplishment.

why must i beg for my hardest earned money?!?!? why won't you pay me back?!?!? I HAVE NEEDS TOO!. It's all just fucking convenient for you, isn't it? You're accustomed to getting what you want, so it doesn't matter how many toes you step on or cry about.

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⇒ FUCK YOU VODAFONE

FUCK YOU, VODAFONE!


assholes want to gouge $50 off me for a ownership transfer. What kind of bullshit is that?!?!? This 'policy' came into play only 2 weeks ago--money grubbing motherfuckers!

It's all about lining their pockets with iPhone plans and ignoring all your loyal customers of 6+ years [repeatedly], leaving you on hold for 10 minutes [fuck you, Vodafone Lara!] and telling me to fuck off disguised as 'call 1555'. If you don't want to serve your customers, don't open a motherfucking bricks and mortar store!

go to hell and just fucking die, redsim motherfuckers!

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Sunday, July 27, 2008

⇒ bits and pieces from the week

News.com.au story about a cane toad eating its natural predator, a snake here

Jackass mother takes 8 yr old son to TDK, resulting in fun and laughs for all. Story from an equally vapid reviewer.

Guide to all things Batman here
best Batman according to Cracked.com...awesome!
An electric car that doesn't look crap
Transistors on paper
Baton phone
S60 touch interface
Audi's new MMI
Uber-luxe Bentley laptop
Unisex tennis tourney coming. Preidiction? It will be played once, and never again. Ridiculous rule changes or not, Nadal/Federer's awesomeness will embarrass/destroy everyone else, especially female players who've never played all rounder-specialists like the two kings. I'm a realist, not sexist--just think about it. If you're rallying, the last person you want to rally against is Nadal, and he regularly thrashes people over 5 sets--how many female players regularly play 5 setters? The under-arm serve is utterly ridiculous/stupid. How will any one serve volley?
Genesis climber Mospaeda
Cheat Sheets. Tres useful
Hardware and tech how-tos
Wikipedia GPS entry.
10 ways to troubleshoot a slow PC
Latest Bush-ism. "Wall St got drunk"
Ridiculous RAM from Texas Memory
Photovoltaic window cells
HDTV Calibration
Hologram progress

Small venture capitalists: Y combinator. Good idea, if a bit greedy.
SE roundup
Kojima comments on gaming
Squidoo. Point your 'lens' over topics you know about and earn...something.
Wikigroaning. Gddmn hilarious!
LittleBigPlanet for PS3
Cracked.com video about amazing trick shots
Cracked.com article about Celebrities who might be superheroes
Cracked.com article about 7 who cheated death

Old Santa with humorous physics/joke (I remember bringing this in to my Physics class back in 2001):
Physics Of Santa Clause - Santa Is Dead Theory

As a result of an overwhelming lack of requests, and with research help from that renowned scientific journal SPY magazine (January, 1990) - I am pleased to present the annual scientific inquiry into Santa Claus.

1. No known species of reindeer can fly. BUT there are 300,000 species of living organisms yet to be classified, and while most of these are insects and germs, this does not COMPLETELY rule out flying reindeer which only Santa has ever seen.
2. There are 2 billion children (persons under 18) in the world. BUT since Santa doesn't (appear) to handle the Muslim, Hindu, Jewish and Buddhist children, that reduces the workload to to 15% of the total - 378 million according to Population Reference Bureau. At an average (census) rate of 3.5 children per household, that's 91.8 million homes. One presumes there's at least one good child in each.
3. Santa has 31 hours of Christmas to work with, thanks to the different time zones and the rotation of the earth, assuming he travels east to west (which seemes logical). This works out to 822.6 visits per second. This is to say that for each Christian household with good children, Santa has 1/1000th of a second to park, hop out of the sleigh, jump down the chimney, fill the stockings, distribute the remaining presents under the tree, eat whatever snacks have been left, get back up the chimney, get back into the sleigh and move on to the next house. Assuming that each of these 91.8 million stops are evenly distributed around the earth (which, of course, we know to be false but for the purposes of our calculations we will accept), we are now talking about .78 miles per household, a total trip of 75-1/2 million miles, not counting stops to do what most of us must do at least once every 31 hours, plus feeding and etc.This means that Santa's sleigh is moving at 650 miles per second, 3,000 times the speed of sound. For purposes of comparison, the fastest man-made vehicle on earth, the Ulysses space probe, moves at a pokey 27.4 miles per second - a conventional reindeer can run, tops, 15 miles per hour.
4. The payload on the sleigh adds another interesting element. Assuming that each child gets nothing more than a medium-sized lego set (2 pounds), the sleigh is carrying 321,300 tons, not counting Santa, who is invariably described as overweight. On land, conventional reindeer can pull no more than 300 pounds. Even granting that "flying reindeer" (see point #1) could pull TEN TIMES the normal anount, we cannot do the job with eight, or even nine. We need 214,200 reindeer. This increases the payload - not even counting the weight of the sleigh - to 353,430 tons. Again, for comparison - this is four times the weight of the Queen Elizabeth. 5.353,000 tons travelling at 650 miles per second creates enormous air resistance - this will heat the reindeer up in the same fashion as spacecrafts re-entering the earth's atmosphere. The lead pair of reindeer will absorb 14.3 QUINTILLION joules of energy. Per second. Each. In short, they will burst into flame almost instantaneously, exposing the reindeer behind them, and create deafening sonic booms in their wake. The entire reindeer team will be vaporized within 4.26 thousandths of a second. Santa, meanwhile, will be subjected to centrifugal forces 17,500.06 times greater than gravity. A 250-pound Santa (which seems ludicrously slim) would be pinned to the back of his sleigh by 4,315,015 pounds of force.

In conclusion: If Santa ever DID deliver presents on Christmas Eve, he's dead now.

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⇒ DIABLO III

awesome production art:

plenty more from here
can't wait!

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