Whizzball is a sort of addictive game/puzzle from Discovery Kids. I just rounded 100 k points - and that put me in the "Top 50 000 Players"...(ranking as 49 009) so still a bit to go to reach the top 100 hall of fame :D
Good fun for kids of all ages in other words. Nice for a quick break (be sure to set a timer!) Wonderful use of Flash as well as user-contributed content - the players also build the various puzzles.
Tuesday, October 26
Wednesday, October 20
Counting down
Election Scorecard: "Where the presidential race stands today" is a number crunching Slate article today, running up the different states that still have a bit of "uncertainty" in the polls.
End result? Kerry ahead by 14... but Bush more "solid" states (ie bigger margin in the polls). Stay tuned! Or make it even more intense - Ladbrokes (owned by Hilton Group) offers spread betting, both on overall result and state-by-state winners. Kerry taking Florida? 6-5
End result? Kerry ahead by 14... but Bush more "solid" states (ie bigger margin in the polls). Stay tuned! Or make it even more intense - Ladbrokes (owned by Hilton Group) offers spread betting, both on overall result and state-by-state winners. Kerry taking Florida? 6-5
Monday, October 18
Bundling a snack
A local pizza chain is taking the next step in bundles - or menus. For quite some time several companies have offered a large pizza, with softdrink and a video or dvd for a set price. But now Dolly has upped the offerings;
first off an extended movie deal: for a small add-on you get two movies (ie both the first Spiderman and the recently released Spiderman 2)
and then there is the gametime offer: get a PS2 or Xbox game along with dinner!
Now, if only they delivered where I live... or maybe it's better that they don't deliver? Enough to keep my distracted as it is.
...and the sun - is on vacation, rain is all I see...
first off an extended movie deal: for a small add-on you get two movies (ie both the first Spiderman and the recently released Spiderman 2)
and then there is the gametime offer: get a PS2 or Xbox game along with dinner!
Now, if only they delivered where I live... or maybe it's better that they don't deliver? Enough to keep my distracted as it is.
...and the sun - is on vacation, rain is all I see...
Wednesday, October 13
Size matters
Did a little bit up Windows fixing today, namely the monthly download of various updates. Noticed a slightly amusing thing;
3,1 mb - size of the PATCH for Internet Explorer 6
4,5 mb - size of full download for Firefox
trustworthy it was.
3,1 mb - size of the PATCH for Internet Explorer 6
4,5 mb - size of full download for Firefox
trustworthy it was.
Oiling it
NWAnews : "oil prices are more than 80 percent higher than a year ago" - and here in Norway the gas price reaches a three-year-high at suggested retail 10,50 NOK per liter. Guess that makes it around USD 5,9 for a gallon... compare that to a US average of $ 2 [current as of posting]
Asylum or free range?
"Larry Keeley [?] jokes that the automatic-flush urinal in an airport bathroom is more aware of his presence than his desktop computer" [p 163 in The Inmates Are Running the Asylum, by Alan Cooper]
Rather good book, even if it does suffer a bit from the "my way is the greatest in the world and will surely make the world a wonderful place"-phenomenon. Or put more simply, he keeps referring to his company and Goal oriented design, and downplays the role of specifications in computer science. Not everyone in CompSci is a programmer - nor do they want to be. But still, there is ample evidence to support his "dancing bear" accusations. Things could and should be a lot better. And by things I mean everything from digital cameras to software to next-generation "media pc" or televisions.
One interesting thing is his ignorance that somewhere, a lot of things are better. He rants on about ATMs not telling him what he needs to know, but here in Norway you instantly get information both on the max withdrawal limit (usually for a week) and the current balance. Also, since the card is tied to a specific account you don't get the ridiculous checking/savings dilemma.
Toyota branching on
The Prius hybrid will be launched in China, in collaboration with the Chinese company "China Faw Group Corporation" (FAW). It will be rebranded for the Chinese market, and production is set to start during 2005. [msnbc also has it, with lots of neat additional interactive information]
...and the sun ...
Rather good book, even if it does suffer a bit from the "my way is the greatest in the world and will surely make the world a wonderful place"-phenomenon. Or put more simply, he keeps referring to his company and Goal oriented design, and downplays the role of specifications in computer science. Not everyone in CompSci is a programmer - nor do they want to be. But still, there is ample evidence to support his "dancing bear" accusations. Things could and should be a lot better. And by things I mean everything from digital cameras to software to next-generation "media pc" or televisions.
One interesting thing is his ignorance that somewhere, a lot of things are better. He rants on about ATMs not telling him what he needs to know, but here in Norway you instantly get information both on the max withdrawal limit (usually for a week) and the current balance. Also, since the card is tied to a specific account you don't get the ridiculous checking/savings dilemma.
Toyota branching on
The Prius hybrid will be launched in China, in collaboration with the Chinese company "China Faw Group Corporation" (FAW). It will be rebranded for the Chinese market, and production is set to start during 2005. [msnbc also has it, with lots of neat additional interactive information]
...and the sun ...
Tuesday, October 12
Wired rush
A quick coffe break - with a new blend/burn: Colombian espresso, sweet kikck! Might end up a little jumpy if I have to many, but it sure feels good. Really like my gaggia.
Saw a TiVo printed ad, sort of fun catch: get a personal trainer for your TV - make it lean (ie only offer the stuff you want to see). I'm not to sure I would want to have one (if it was available over here, which it currently isn't). Every day there are two or more episodes of Raymond, one Simpsons, at least one other sit-com, Totally Spies on Jetix, BBC learning for six hours and evey now and then CSI, Angel, Buffy or Krøniken (Emmy nominated, Danish). So, if I could easily see everything of interest, I'd spend way to much time in front of the TV.
Talking of ads - saw a nice one in Wired for Auburn, drawing people to move by talking of "$75 k colonial housing" is a nice touch. Too bad the site adress isn't up to speed (checked Google, got the same one)
And word of the week: "inverse graffiti" [1, 2] - using templates to clean away part of the dirt on walls, therby leaving a message/tag!
...and I'm off for another doppio!
...and the sun almost made it onto the picture in the last post...
Saw a TiVo printed ad, sort of fun catch: get a personal trainer for your TV - make it lean (ie only offer the stuff you want to see). I'm not to sure I would want to have one (if it was available over here, which it currently isn't). Every day there are two or more episodes of Raymond, one Simpsons, at least one other sit-com, Totally Spies on Jetix, BBC learning for six hours and evey now and then CSI, Angel, Buffy or Krøniken (Emmy nominated, Danish). So, if I could easily see everything of interest, I'd spend way to much time in front of the TV.
Talking of ads - saw a nice one in Wired for Auburn, drawing people to move by talking of "$75 k colonial housing" is a nice touch. Too bad the site adress isn't up to speed (checked Google, got the same one)
And word of the week: "inverse graffiti" [1, 2] - using templates to clean away part of the dirt on walls, therby leaving a message/tag!
...and I'm off for another doppio!
...and the sun almost made it onto the picture in the last post...
Monday, October 11
and then some
And then some loose thought related to gaming - for more on Machinima, there is (as always?) the Wikipedia . The Strangerhood is already listed under links! Even if there is only a trailer out! Hyping it up anyone? (yeah, I'm doing it as well... really looking forward to it!)
For an interview with Wil W on the original Sims, back then (in 2001) he estimated 40% female users - 30% registered and a bit more "taking over" from their boyfriends after a bit. He also has some thoughts on Sims 2, so have a look and compare it the final game... was he right?
For an interview with Wil W on the original Sims, back then (in 2001) he estimated 40% female users - 30% registered and a bit more "taking over" from their boyfriends after a bit. He also has some thoughts on Sims 2, so have a look and compare it the final game... was he right?
History of machinima
High-Performance Play: The Making of Machinima [500 kb pdf]
Starts of with: "Do not cite or distribute. To appear in: Videogames and Art: Intersections and Interactions, Andy Clarke and Grethe Mitchell (eds.), Intellect Books (UK), 2005. "
...hence I'll settle for telling you that it is an interesting read, on Machinima, 26 pages including 50 notes and references - many of them online. All in all a good place to start if you are interested in learning a bit more about the phenomenon. Then head on over to the Strangerhood and wait for episode one to appear!
(hmmm... is it OK to cite the comment that it the paper should not be cited? Since the goal probably is to avoid being held to points that might change during final editing, I guess the information is fair use. And no, I'm not distributing it - HE is on his own website... I merely mention that it is available ;D)
No amazon link for the book yet, and not much on the publishers site either. Oh well.
...and the sun is shining but not giving much warmth anymore...
Starts of with: "Do not cite or distribute. To appear in: Videogames and Art: Intersections and Interactions, Andy Clarke and Grethe Mitchell (eds.), Intellect Books (UK), 2005. "
...hence I'll settle for telling you that it is an interesting read, on Machinima, 26 pages including 50 notes and references - many of them online. All in all a good place to start if you are interested in learning a bit more about the phenomenon. Then head on over to the Strangerhood and wait for episode one to appear!
(hmmm... is it OK to cite the comment that it the paper should not be cited? Since the goal probably is to avoid being held to points that might change during final editing, I guess the information is fair use. And no, I'm not distributing it - HE is on his own website... I merely mention that it is available ;D)
No amazon link for the book yet, and not much on the publishers site either. Oh well.
...and the sun is shining but not giving much warmth anymore...
Saturday, October 9
A new manifesto?
Two young men have presented a stand. They represent the "Manifesto foundation" (trans.) - and their goal is a new view on the world, and how to divide us. The Norwgeian title is Livsnytersosialismen - would be something like "kick back and enjoy- socialism" [have to think about it, maybe find a better term]. The message? The old red vs. blue, socialism vs. liberalism, market forces or government control, and so on... is plain wrong - or outdated at the very least. So we need a new view of ourselves and politics. It is not us against them, but all of us together. A radical individualism... and the article made it onto the "most emailed articles" list for the newspaper. Not bad for something containing no traces of Paris Hilton, or own royal Ari & Märtha, or the Becks.
...and the sun brings summer back for a short while...
...and the sun brings summer back for a short while...
Getting away?
Owe Wikström, a Swedish professor of Religious Pshycology has written a book called "The law of slowness" (or "La dolce indifferenza dell´ attimo" as the official Italian translation reads, "Långsamhetens Lov eller faren ved å köre moped genom Louvre" is the full Swedish title). "The dangers of riding a motorcycle through the Louvre" is the subtitle. So, here are some of my thoughts on his stress-escape-keys;
Novel/book - oh yes, nothing like escaping to the Discworld, right now with Monstrous Regiment, how many books in total? Surely close to 50 by now... (including the various kids series) and more on the way. Still a nice journey!
Sidewalk cafe - nothing like a good view with a coffe, be it a home brewn espresso (sweet and strong, warm and fresh) or a mixed somewhere else. Makes the mind wander. Like this morning, was sitting looking down the valley - and noticed the fumes coming from the huge chimney. The trash-destruction. Burning it all up - to generate heat and energy. It is always going, red lights on top at night, pure white against a crisp blue sky today. Fluid, changing, moving, smoke in the air - yet still tranquil - everything turning into nothing, drifting gently away in mixing with the rest. And that sort of links on to the point of Venize (or actually sound of water, drips and waves)
Diary - a silent friend that you can talk to, or a letter to yourself at some later time. Well, this good ol'blog sometimes serves the same purpose - a reminder of thoughts and the times going by.
That leaves music and poetry...and in closing, been watching MTV Icons (not permanten info?) on Metallica - and Avril did a great rendition of Fuel. Power! Oh yeah. You could see Lars "air drumming" and wanting to jump up there on stage and join in....
"MTV Icon: Metallica MTV honored Metallica[sml pic] with performances and testimonials from Sum 41, Avril Lavigne, Korn, Rob Zombie, Limp Bizkit, Sean Penn and more."
...and I'm not real happy with the blogger.com way of formatting text - using "span style" for each bold or italic is rather overkill If they want to avoid the old "i" and "b" they should take a step back and use the proper "em" and "strong" since they are open for definiton by css in terms of presentation (ie red or bold, all caps or 48 pts)
Novel/book - oh yes, nothing like escaping to the Discworld, right now with Monstrous Regiment, how many books in total? Surely close to 50 by now... (including the various kids series) and more on the way. Still a nice journey!
Sidewalk cafe - nothing like a good view with a coffe, be it a home brewn espresso (sweet and strong, warm and fresh) or a mixed somewhere else. Makes the mind wander. Like this morning, was sitting looking down the valley - and noticed the fumes coming from the huge chimney. The trash-destruction. Burning it all up - to generate heat and energy. It is always going, red lights on top at night, pure white against a crisp blue sky today. Fluid, changing, moving, smoke in the air - yet still tranquil - everything turning into nothing, drifting gently away in mixing with the rest. And that sort of links on to the point of Venize (or actually sound of water, drips and waves)
Diary - a silent friend that you can talk to, or a letter to yourself at some later time. Well, this good ol'blog sometimes serves the same purpose - a reminder of thoughts and the times going by.
That leaves music and poetry...and in closing, been watching MTV Icons (not permanten info?) on Metallica - and Avril did a great rendition of Fuel. Power! Oh yeah. You could see Lars "air drumming" and wanting to jump up there on stage and join in....
"MTV Icon: Metallica MTV honored Metallica[sml pic] with performances and testimonials from Sum 41, Avril Lavigne, Korn, Rob Zombie, Limp Bizkit, Sean Penn and more."
[filling my head with the beats of: The House Jack Built - Metallica ]
...and I'm not real happy with the blogger.com way of formatting text - using "span style" for each bold or italic is rather overkill If they want to avoid the old "i" and "b" they should take a step back and use the proper "em" and "strong" since they are open for definiton by css in terms of presentation (ie red or bold, all caps or 48 pts)
Still a year away
pick off another Potter pal: "J.K. Rowling has committed another killing" - or at least decided that one more character will meet his/her finale in the sixth installment. This is turning out like Rocky - every movie another friend dies, and it the final installment you sort of wonder if it will be all over for the "real" hero.
And if you haven't had a look already, visit her (sort of) new site and enjoy the flash cluttered-desk-interface!
And if you haven't had a look already, visit her (sort of) new site and enjoy the flash cluttered-desk-interface!
Friday, October 8
classic gaming fun
Found a nice page paying homage to some of the sort-of-old classic games (late 80ies...) Such as Hillsfar, a forerunner for Neverwinter and Baldurs Gate... wonder if it will work as well on a PC as on my old Commodore 128d?
Underdogs: Hillsfar: "Although not a full-fledged RPG, it's a fun diversion set in the D&D universe"
Underdogs: Hillsfar: "Although not a full-fledged RPG, it's a fun diversion set in the D&D universe"
[filling my head with the beats of: Wasted Youth - Meat Loaf ]
...well, is it?
...as seen on TV
JibJab.com has put out a follow-up to the hillarious "This land"... but "Good to be in DC" falls a bit short of the first one. So stick to the "classic" fun and watch it one more time (even if the other one was premiered on Leno)
[filling my head with the beats of: Whirly-bird - Count Basie ]
Wednesday, October 6
Competition brings out...
Google jamming: "Every autumn, thousands of programmers sign up to tackle the most ego-deflating problems Google's engineers can come up with, in a race against time and their fellow coders"
...way! would have been fun to take part just to try it - but since the qualifier was on the 15th last month, I'll have to settle for reading about it.
On the note of comp - I put up a post on "Commando Raid" a while back, well - now the event has been held with 19 participating teams. Mainly from Norway, but also danes, italians and germans (who won). Honorable mention to the team "Grey Nuts" - why? Because the are grey; aged 61, 63, 66 and 70 the completed the approximately 30 kilometers of cross-terrain running, with shooting (pistol, machineguns, sharpshooter rifle, 40mm grenade launcher - just another day in the woods?) and other challenges en route. Oh yes, just to make it more fun the event kicked of at 03:00
Semper fi.
...way! would have been fun to take part just to try it - but since the qualifier was on the 15th last month, I'll have to settle for reading about it.
On the note of comp - I put up a post on "Commando Raid" a while back, well - now the event has been held with 19 participating teams. Mainly from Norway, but also danes, italians and germans (who won). Honorable mention to the team "Grey Nuts" - why? Because the are grey; aged 61, 63, 66 and 70 the completed the approximately 30 kilometers of cross-terrain running, with shooting (pistol, machineguns, sharpshooter rifle, 40mm grenade launcher - just another day in the woods?) and other challenges en route. Oh yes, just to make it more fun the event kicked of at 03:00
Semper fi.
Sunday, October 3
Cozy and then some
There is a word in Norwegian "kose" - which can be used to describe a state; "koselig" - then it is more or less like cozy in English. But it is also a verb, "å kose seg" - to have a nice, comfortable time, enjoying life and the current place. I guess hobbits would be masters of "kose seg".
According to an article about regional food, the expression might have roots in the French "causer" and old-Germanic "kôsôn" - and hence bringing it in line with the modern German word "Gemütlichkeit". And with some Googling I got some other input on the term. Seems several of our neighbours have similar concepts, and similar problems translating/explaining them in English... what a shame for the brits!
Gemütlichkeit : "There is no direct translation for the word . However, G. is the warm, comfortable feeling one receives from pleasant surroundings and atmosphere."
"Warm friendliness; amicability. German, from gemütlich, congenial"
"Gemütlichkeit is a German abstract noun whose closest English equivalent is cosiness. ... connotes, much more than cosiness, the notion of belonging, social acceptance, cheerfulness, the absence of anything hectic and the spending of quality time. Activities pursued are never work-related but are expected by the people getting together to be productive in a non-economical sense. The Dutch have a very similar word, gezelligheid"
...which gives a nice lead to one of the better written pieces on the subject - from Canada: "most frequent translation of gezellig is "cozy," though the word is still inadequate." (last three paragraphs in particular)
According to an article about regional food, the expression might have roots in the French "causer" and old-Germanic "kôsôn" - and hence bringing it in line with the modern German word "Gemütlichkeit". And with some Googling I got some other input on the term. Seems several of our neighbours have similar concepts, and similar problems translating/explaining them in English... what a shame for the brits!
Gemütlichkeit : "There is no direct translation for the word . However, G. is the warm, comfortable feeling one receives from pleasant surroundings and atmosphere."
"Warm friendliness; amicability. German, from gemütlich, congenial"
"Gemütlichkeit is a German abstract noun whose closest English equivalent is cosiness. ... connotes, much more than cosiness, the notion of belonging, social acceptance, cheerfulness, the absence of anything hectic and the spending of quality time. Activities pursued are never work-related but are expected by the people getting together to be productive in a non-economical sense. The Dutch have a very similar word, gezelligheid"
...which gives a nice lead to one of the better written pieces on the subject - from Canada: "most frequent translation of gezellig is "cozy," though the word is still inadequate." (last three paragraphs in particular)
Saturday, October 2
Stranger and Strangerhood
Strangerhood: the new series from the team behind RedvsBlue - only a trailer/intro out so far, but looks like it could be good fun. Guess the Sims are ready for a little machinima as well - bring on the geeks!
Interactive Fiction Comp
The 10th Annual Interactive Fiction Competition: "For fans of the old Infocom games as well as for newcomers to the genre, the competition is a chance to enjoy some of the best short adventure games available anywhere"
...if only I had the time to download and play around a bit with the games! Maybe in the wintertime?
...if only I had the time to download and play around a bit with the games! Maybe in the wintertime?
Seeing what we can't see
Catching up before I get to far into the latest issue of Wired;
Discovery Channel had a nice segment on "Proof Positive" about an image enhancement/visualization tool - possibly (but not likely) from MinXray, used to create 256 shades of gray from a basically monochrome picture - and presenting it in 3D as valleys and hills - thereby making for easier comparison and understanding (think fingerprints, xrays and writing)
And coming up - virtual history (Norwegian link) - a computer-assisted view on the world as it was.
So you thought you were safe on your cell? Punksms.com puts another nail in that coffin by sending out sms with a fake/chosen number. So, spoofing is coming to a phone near you... are you sure your girlfriend asked you to buy a catsuit, or that you are invited to a party at the boss' house? Maybe not anymore. (Technical note: exploited a vulnerability/feature of the GSM network, hence not applicable directly worldwide - put it is all about using IP to transmit and initiate messages)
And a short snippet from the holiday;
"Floating, hardly moving, not really here at all. The sea is so clear, feel it, smell it, letting it move me about as a float gently on the surface. No boat, no guide. Just water holding me up."
(yes, I finally got around to downloading and installing the winamp connection for w.bloggar again)
...and the sun is deeply missed today, on a cold and gray fall day...
Discovery Channel had a nice segment on "Proof Positive" about an image enhancement/visualization tool - possibly (but not likely) from MinXray, used to create 256 shades of gray from a basically monochrome picture - and presenting it in 3D as valleys and hills - thereby making for easier comparison and understanding (think fingerprints, xrays and writing)
And coming up - virtual history (Norwegian link) - a computer-assisted view on the world as it was.
So you thought you were safe on your cell? Punksms.com puts another nail in that coffin by sending out sms with a fake/chosen number. So, spoofing is coming to a phone near you... are you sure your girlfriend asked you to buy a catsuit, or that you are invited to a party at the boss' house? Maybe not anymore. (Technical note: exploited a vulnerability/feature of the GSM network, hence not applicable directly worldwide - put it is all about using IP to transmit and initiate messages)
And a short snippet from the holiday;
"Floating, hardly moving, not really here at all. The sea is so clear, feel it, smell it, letting it move me about as a float gently on the surface. No boat, no guide. Just water holding me up."
[filling my head with the beats of: Bad Seed - Metallica ]
(yes, I finally got around to downloading and installing the winamp connection for w.bloggar again)
...and the sun is deeply missed today, on a cold and gray fall day...
Oil Above $50
"Oil Closes Above $50 a barrel for the first time yesterday as concerns linger about damage to oil production in the Gulf of Mexico from Hurricane Ivan" (W. Post)
-and another "mark" is reached. Being here in Norway it certainly gives mixed feelings; first it feels good for the future of our nation, sweeping in the oil and gas profits by the barrel ("crude" pun...). And the thought that maybe, just maybe the average American will have to consider when and how to use his car. But on the downside the continued high price might lead to slower economic development around the globe, and continued exploitation/exploration in enivromentally fragile areas... and there is all to often the good 'ol "oil for blood" - corruption, despotism etc in certain oilproducing areas.
"for want of a nail, the kingdom was lost" - mostly a proverb about details, but also about consequences; one thing leads to another, who in time has its own impact on events. Money to a rebel group today - big trouble down the road anyone?
-and another "mark" is reached. Being here in Norway it certainly gives mixed feelings; first it feels good for the future of our nation, sweeping in the oil and gas profits by the barrel ("crude" pun...). And the thought that maybe, just maybe the average American will have to consider when and how to use his car. But on the downside the continued high price might lead to slower economic development around the globe, and continued exploitation/exploration in enivromentally fragile areas... and there is all to often the good 'ol "oil for blood" - corruption, despotism etc in certain oilproducing areas.
"for want of a nail, the kingdom was lost" - mostly a proverb about details, but also about consequences; one thing leads to another, who in time has its own impact on events. Money to a rebel group today - big trouble down the road anyone?
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