Monday, April 25, 2005
I've decided what is my biggest bone of contention with video games.
You can't play them in a window
Its 10 years now we've been sold down this windowed world view to computing. And down this road we have not reached my holy grail of computing. I want to do more than one thing at a time. My favorite games are the ones that aren't knuckle biting action the whole time. I like a lazy game. Explore a gentle world to solve a puzzle. Quietly establish my own little world, with my eyes the ones of God. Set up my little civilization to co-exist peacefully with computer generated rulers. These games exist, but the means to play them does not. We can have dual-core CPU's, displays that can number into double digits, but a good game still monopolizes your display.
Why does it have to be this way?
You can't play them in a window
Its 10 years now we've been sold down this windowed world view to computing. And down this road we have not reached my holy grail of computing. I want to do more than one thing at a time. My favorite games are the ones that aren't knuckle biting action the whole time. I like a lazy game. Explore a gentle world to solve a puzzle. Quietly establish my own little world, with my eyes the ones of God. Set up my little civilization to co-exist peacefully with computer generated rulers. These games exist, but the means to play them does not. We can have dual-core CPU's, displays that can number into double digits, but a good game still monopolizes your display.
Why does it have to be this way?
Saturday, April 23, 2005
Friday, April 22, 2005
Thursday, April 21, 2005
I need to get something off my chest.
What's wrong with people? And this is primarily a shot at old people, as they are the ones that are most prone to this behaviour. You go to a fast food establishment, or for that matter, any location that serves its product in a fashion designed for speed. The whole menu is laid out for you, to peruse as you stand in the ever present line.
In my experience there are two types of situations you are likely to encounter in a place lie, for example, McDonalds. Condition A is, its an off-peak time, and you don't have to wait in line. But conversely, the counter staff are not being pressed to be quick, because there is no one else. Thus you have a few moments to examine the choices, and then make a selection. Condition B is, its a rush time, and every till has a line of people. Again, you have time to examine the posted menu, and make a selection.
So why is it then that you can get to the front of the line and either a) not know what you want or b) tell them you don't care, and you'll take whatever.
Condition (b) drives me right up the wall. The god damn menu is right up there for you to see. You had time to look it over. There's no mysteries hidden in it. You've probably been here 100 times before. Just pick something!!! The poor girl at the till doesn't know what you want. Her job is to take your order, place your order, and then deliver the food. All at a premium of time. Consulting with you about your beverage choice is not up to her. Just pick one from the list, tell her, and she'll get it for you. You screw up her whole procedure if she's gotta tell you the merits of all the choices, only to have you come back with, 'oh, I'll just take whatever is easy'
ALL THE CHOICES ARE EASY FOR HER!!! JUST PICK SOMETHING YOU IDIOT!!!
I will never understand humanity. And my frequent attempts to do so serve only to elevate my blood pressure. If you need me, I'll be the guy in the clock tower with his gun oil and a wet rag.
What's wrong with people? And this is primarily a shot at old people, as they are the ones that are most prone to this behaviour. You go to a fast food establishment, or for that matter, any location that serves its product in a fashion designed for speed. The whole menu is laid out for you, to peruse as you stand in the ever present line.
In my experience there are two types of situations you are likely to encounter in a place lie, for example, McDonalds. Condition A is, its an off-peak time, and you don't have to wait in line. But conversely, the counter staff are not being pressed to be quick, because there is no one else. Thus you have a few moments to examine the choices, and then make a selection. Condition B is, its a rush time, and every till has a line of people. Again, you have time to examine the posted menu, and make a selection.
So why is it then that you can get to the front of the line and either a) not know what you want or b) tell them you don't care, and you'll take whatever.
Condition (b) drives me right up the wall. The god damn menu is right up there for you to see. You had time to look it over. There's no mysteries hidden in it. You've probably been here 100 times before. Just pick something!!! The poor girl at the till doesn't know what you want. Her job is to take your order, place your order, and then deliver the food. All at a premium of time. Consulting with you about your beverage choice is not up to her. Just pick one from the list, tell her, and she'll get it for you. You screw up her whole procedure if she's gotta tell you the merits of all the choices, only to have you come back with, 'oh, I'll just take whatever is easy'
ALL THE CHOICES ARE EASY FOR HER!!! JUST PICK SOMETHING YOU IDIOT!!!
I will never understand humanity. And my frequent attempts to do so serve only to elevate my blood pressure. If you need me, I'll be the guy in the clock tower with his gun oil and a wet rag.
Wednesday, April 20, 2005
Tuesday, April 19, 2005
Monday, April 18, 2005
Spring has begun.
It may yet to aborted by a late season snow storm, but make no mistake, the beginnings of spring have taken root in this place of the world. My nose is twitching, and I can feel the burn in my nose that says pollen in the air.
Enjoy what promises to be an exhilarating part of the year!
It may yet to aborted by a late season snow storm, but make no mistake, the beginnings of spring have taken root in this place of the world. My nose is twitching, and I can feel the burn in my nose that says pollen in the air.
Enjoy what promises to be an exhilarating part of the year!
One of my friends is having a bad day. She's finding the weather in her office to be counter to that which provides comfort. I think we can all relate to that feeling about this time of year. Its just on the borderline between, do we turn off the boilers, and go to the A/C system, or is there another blast of winter, just around the corner?
I bring this up because it reminds me of something I was thinking about as I drove home from Regina last night. When its dark, and there's nothing else to do, I tend to have deep, introspective conversations with myself. One of last night's was about air conditioners.
Blog Question Of The Day:
Do I buy a $600, portable air conditioner for my bedroom so I don't have to remove the glass and frame structure from the downstairs window? Or do I remove the window, put in my existing small A/C unit and build in a replacement wood structure, to make it more 'break-in' proof?
I bring this up because it reminds me of something I was thinking about as I drove home from Regina last night. When its dark, and there's nothing else to do, I tend to have deep, introspective conversations with myself. One of last night's was about air conditioners.
Blog Question Of The Day:
Do I buy a $600, portable air conditioner for my bedroom so I don't have to remove the glass and frame structure from the downstairs window? Or do I remove the window, put in my existing small A/C unit and build in a replacement wood structure, to make it more 'break-in' proof?
Friday, April 15, 2005
I gotta say something.
I like it when people show initiative, and when you come to them with a problem, they accept it as their own, and help you solve it. That happened to me this afternoon. And I gotta say, I'm damn impressed.
We have, in previously built plants, canisters for holding fabric would filter cartridges. This is for particle filtration. If the particle is larger than 5 microns in size, it won't go through the filter. Or so the theory says.
We've now innovated this. The fabric material has been replaced by stainless steel. The size has been reduced to 4 micron, and its absolute. If you're a 5 micron particle, there's no way in the world you're getting through this cartridge.
The problem however, is the standard manufacturing of these stainless steel filters is such that they are just slightly larger than the fabric ones. And in one particular canister, because stainless won't 'squish', you can't get the fifth cartridge into the canister.
So I phone up the people in Watson that make us these stainless steel filters. The guy I talk to understands my problem, and he has a fix to get us out of this situation. Now, if you phone any ordinary manufacturer, they'd say we could have the fix in a week. My problem is, we just found this out, and we're going back to the place, who's name we do not speak. They happen to have these 5 cartridge canisters. Now this is where they guy saves me ass. No only does he promise to make me some blanks to make the system work, he promises to have them for 10:00 AM Monday morning. Now THAT is service.
If you need stainless steel filters, go to FPS in Watson. They rock.
I like it when people show initiative, and when you come to them with a problem, they accept it as their own, and help you solve it. That happened to me this afternoon. And I gotta say, I'm damn impressed.
We have, in previously built plants, canisters for holding fabric would filter cartridges. This is for particle filtration. If the particle is larger than 5 microns in size, it won't go through the filter. Or so the theory says.
We've now innovated this. The fabric material has been replaced by stainless steel. The size has been reduced to 4 micron, and its absolute. If you're a 5 micron particle, there's no way in the world you're getting through this cartridge.
The problem however, is the standard manufacturing of these stainless steel filters is such that they are just slightly larger than the fabric ones. And in one particular canister, because stainless won't 'squish', you can't get the fifth cartridge into the canister.
So I phone up the people in Watson that make us these stainless steel filters. The guy I talk to understands my problem, and he has a fix to get us out of this situation. Now, if you phone any ordinary manufacturer, they'd say we could have the fix in a week. My problem is, we just found this out, and we're going back to the place, who's name we do not speak. They happen to have these 5 cartridge canisters. Now this is where they guy saves me ass. No only does he promise to make me some blanks to make the system work, he promises to have them for 10:00 AM Monday morning. Now THAT is service.
If you need stainless steel filters, go to FPS in Watson. They rock.
Wednesday, April 13, 2005
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Tuesday, April 12, 2005
Seeing as how today is my birthday, I find myself reflecting on how I've changed. Specifically on my mind is the changes that have occurred in my abilities, and how I used to do some things that are now not possible. One of which is sleep, and how much of it I need.
I came home from work a little early today. Usually I'm there until 6:00 at the least. As today is my birthday, I figured I was entitled to an earlier day. By shortly after 5:00 I was at home. Oddly enough, I felt more tired than when I stay later. So I lay down on the bed. 3 hours later I awoke.
Now all of this makes me ask the question.
Blog Question Of The Day:
If I were seriously attempting to, how long could I go without sleep now?
I came home from work a little early today. Usually I'm there until 6:00 at the least. As today is my birthday, I figured I was entitled to an earlier day. By shortly after 5:00 I was at home. Oddly enough, I felt more tired than when I stay later. So I lay down on the bed. 3 hours later I awoke.
Now all of this makes me ask the question.
Blog Question Of The Day:
If I were seriously attempting to, how long could I go without sleep now?
Monday, April 11, 2005
I gotta get something off my chest.
Do people HAVE to wear those irritating sandals that go 'snap-snap' when they walk? That sound is SO irritating. I'm calmly sitting here, minding my own business and all I can hear, resonating within the canyon of my brand, is this horrendous 'whack-whack' noise, as one of the women in my office, walks around.
How can anyone not be annoyed by this? I don't get it. You walk around creating this cacophony of irritation and you're completely oblivious. I don't understand. Don't you FREAKIN' hear that!?!
AARRRGGGGHHHHH!!!!!!
Do people HAVE to wear those irritating sandals that go 'snap-snap' when they walk? That sound is SO irritating. I'm calmly sitting here, minding my own business and all I can hear, resonating within the canyon of my brand, is this horrendous 'whack-whack' noise, as one of the women in my office, walks around.
How can anyone not be annoyed by this? I don't get it. You walk around creating this cacophony of irritation and you're completely oblivious. I don't understand. Don't you FREAKIN' hear that!?!
AARRRGGGGHHHHH!!!!!!
Saturday, April 09, 2005
I've been watching WTBS a lot. The self-proclaimed 'Superstation' Turns out that the commercial free movie channels are a cultural wasteland of crap that holds NO appeal for me.
WTBS began its life as an Atlanta, Georgia station, and evolved into a cable basic throughout wherever I've travelled. But its still an Atlanta channel, and consequently, they still have some Atlanta-centric advertisements.
Take for instance the Remodel America commercial. And during this stellar piece of marketing, they are promoting the benefits of the CedarMax home siding material.
I hate this commercial. Is anyone duped by this? Its a total joke. And the commercial is just cheesy to a degree that I don't have words. How can any well-thought person be drawn in by this? Is the worst kind of obvious scam. At the very least, if you wanna sell me, make an effort. This commercial just pisses me off.
WTBS began its life as an Atlanta, Georgia station, and evolved into a cable basic throughout wherever I've travelled. But its still an Atlanta channel, and consequently, they still have some Atlanta-centric advertisements.
Take for instance the Remodel America commercial. And during this stellar piece of marketing, they are promoting the benefits of the CedarMax home siding material.
I hate this commercial. Is anyone duped by this? Its a total joke. And the commercial is just cheesy to a degree that I don't have words. How can any well-thought person be drawn in by this? Is the worst kind of obvious scam. At the very least, if you wanna sell me, make an effort. This commercial just pisses me off.