CS:S Setup

Very Niiice...

So long ago

So clear

Thx Vj

Touch Screen

Self timed touch screen rebooting Windows box.

Ubuntu on main PC

I've finally rolled up my sleeves and put Linux on main desktop PC, which has been for long a Windows XP box. Looked around a few Linux & BSD distributions and finalised the choice to Ubuntu. Finally a Linux distribution which is 'usable'. This OS is quite a joy to use with XGL and Beryl in action. Ubuntu is not only well integrated and automated, it's also based upon Debian's proven and mature packaging system. All the packages are specifically made for and 'supported' under Ubuntu, making software installations & dependency handling a breeze. Simply install and use.

By saying 'supported' I'm referring to the software begin specifically packaged for Ubuntu, this implies any software you install will work and be 'integrated' with it's surrounding environment. This practically eliminates post installation configurations & maintenance. (An example for the sceptics: install Enlightenment, and you'll have no need to go back handle dependencies and reconfigure your login manager to include it as a login session window manager option). In addition you will be notified about any software updates as new supported versions roll out.

Main struggle with Linux on main desktop PC has been non-integration, non-automation and things simply "breaking"/not working for whatever valid or invalid reason. This is quite history with Ubuntu (even Dell realises it).

Ubuntu Desk by ~eking on deviantART

Random notes:

• NTFS write support works well via NTFS-3G (although still chews up CPU).
• USB storage's detected, mounted and recognised automatically (iPod is different to USB Key).
• Plenty of Gkrellm plugins pre-packages (# apt-cache search gkrellm)
• RTCW:ET @ 1680x1050 32Bpp works just fine (if not better than in XP, # xmodmap -e "clear control", ~-Alt-Enter to "minimise" ingame)
• Internode usage meter for GNOME's neat, so is wmium
• Radio an TV Tuner card working by default

Slackware still remains steady on the server end for me.

Back to ET

Just like the good old times, never too late to overdo it:

Eastwoods's Duo

Clint Eastwood's Letters from Iwo Jima & Flags of Our Fathers are a truly unequaled movies when combined together. Two differing perspectives on the same historical event show the differences and similarities between both sides of the conflict in a very neutral manner. It's relieving to see that Clint at his 76 years of age still manages to retain his character, whether he'd be on stage or behind the scenes. His son, Kyle Eastwood, is now in a "family business", co-creating the movies' soundtracks. To my unexpected surprise, soundtrack are actually quite decent. The stories and side comparisons are the best characteristics of the two movies. Definitely worthy of a watch...

Renaissance 2054

A movie like Renaissance 2054 manages to come along once in a long while. The combination of computer graphics (on IBM equipmet), motion capture and fine attention to detail make this a real eye candy. Most of the scenes come to life when motion captured physics are revealed. Somehow the French lyrics audio track adds a nice essence to the movie. I'm suspecting this is the fact either because of the usual stylishness associated with the French or more technically all the motion capture was tuned to French lyrics...

Check out some of the hi-res in movie screens here. You could almost call this a French anime comic film. Attitude Studio has really entered the market well, with a great 1st full length movie production.

All-in-all: Big thumbs up, a definitive keeper.

WH40K DoW: Dark Crusade

Been playing Dark Crusade lately. Continental battles, multiple teams and no allies = yet another fine release of the Warhammer 40000 computer game series.

Battles and teams are fairly similar to Winter Assault. Unlike previously, there is no preset linearity about the overall game play. Continental province battles can be decided upon manually which results in a more strategic game play. Similarly to previous releases of the game series, Inon Zur still manages to compose a great soundtrack that complements game's mood very nicely (currently playing in Winamp thanks to this). I must note that this is one of the easiest to navigate RTS games. All you really need is a mouse and the occasional Ctrl key for multi unit selections. Still waiting for truly large scale continental battles of Supreme Commander.

/ MegA /'s back

Haven't played ET in ages now...

Got hooked up on classical HL:DM and the qUiCkSiLvEr server. Server's map is a port of dm_spookface, filled with many game play enhancing secrets:

Excuse the ping, the server's not exactly local ...

Agent Elrond

Made this one quite a while ago during the LOTR and Matrix sagas. Recently re-discovered on my computer during a routine cleanup.

Red Dwarf - Season 7 Episode 3

~21Min into the episode:

Arnold Rimmer: This is reality? But, how can we be sure?

The Cat: Why do you care? Nothing makes any sense no matter where we are...!

Bye Westnet, Hello Internode

In a recent light of ADSL price increases for Westnet plans it was time to hunt around for a better deal. Being a long time Westnet ADSL subscriber narrowed down the ISP/Plan expectations quite dramatically, thanks to their great support and overall reliable service. Being on an exchange without ADSL2+ support, practically the only other ISP that had similar reliability, quota and low pings was Internode.

Internode pros over Westnet:

• Lower latencies on their gaming servers
• Great unmetered content, most importantly 3Dgamers mirror ;)
• Access to premium usenet server
• No peak and offpeak quota divisions (use quota any time)
• Better webhosting service, PHP/Perl/CGI/Apache
• Interesting shaping methodology which aims to have no effect on routine browsing
• Dedicated network links

Internode cons over Westnet:

• Peered state traffic is counted towards quota (including downloads from internode users)
• Once shaped unmetered content does not run at full speed
• Lower shaped speed (64Kbps compared to Westnet's 72Kbps)
• Payments only through Credit Card (for those who don't know me: I hate CCs)

Update: Internode intros Direct Debit. ;)

x86 Fun

Who said all generic RAM lacks character?

Rambo tested and approved.

Half-Life 2: Episode One

Time: Fri Jul 14 21:44:56 AUSEST 2006

Status: Done.

Pros: The gameplay felt like the original Half-Life once again. Steam looking good at great gfx speeds even on my good old(ish) GeForce 6600 GT. (Thanks to HDRR)

Cons: Way too short & Not enough Gman.

-----

Let's hope we don't see too many of these short episodes. Valve needs to make a proper length release. Finally they have turned their focus away from improving Source gfx engine back to making good gaming levels. Initial Half-Life 2's gameplay was not up to their previous gaming standard, it lacked replay quality.

HL2:E1 comes with the original Half-Life Deathmatch ported to Source. I must say it's quite fun to hop on for a quick bash.

Extra, extra!: "Steam still sucks!"

Sengors

Thanks to the ever expanding internet my popularity seems to be increasing:

• Finally we have a town named after me [1, 2]
• I am also a senior PhD class geologist and an engineer
• A proud owner of an international company specialising in quality carpet sales
• Short documentary about me has also been released
• Co-author of few books [1, 2]
• Appeared on BBC TV & essential mix and a in a short story
• And many more

Not too bad considering none of the search engines would return any results for my name back in late 90s.

Blackadder - S4 - Goodbyeee

Baldrick: I have a plan, sir...

Blackadder: Really Baldrick? A cunning and subtle one?

Baldrick: Yes sir.

Blackadder: As cunning as a fox who's just been appointed professor of cunning at Oxford university?

Baldrick: Yes sir.

Blackadder: ... well I'm afraid it'll have to wait. Whatever it was, I'm sure it was better than my plan to get out of this by pretending to be mad... I mean, who would have noticed another madman around here?

You got rooted

Say: Thank you Sony. --- Via: Blubrick