Tuesday, July 31, 2001
Turbo! Turbo! Turbo my name! Turbo!
Monday, July 30, 2001
What a load of pseudo-mystical crud! There is no such thing as a fleshling. And I think it's pretty weird that Gali and Lewa are so cheek-by-jowl with Throwbots even if they are of a kind..
Scuba is now once again by my side. But the fleshling is mad and should be dealt with.
This communication with the non-Bionicle is untoward. We will keep our own counsel.
You can't swing a dead Roborider around here without hitting another Throwbot. Don't you think it's time we cleared the decks a little for some breathing room? I mean, how many Flares are there around here? Three? Four? And what's all this talk about a problem monster or whatnot coming down the pike? Bah.
We thank you for bringing us to our friend Amazon. We see no need to grieve over her hurts received in glorious battle. Bring us to our friend Turbo and there may be peace between our peoples.
There is a possibility that I can extract an entire Turbo from the BPoP and the Fusion. That might be the sign that sages have been seeking for untold ages.
Sunday, July 29, 2001
I was able to extract most of an Amazon from the BPoP, but the right torso and arm were unaccounted for. I replaced them with black parts which give the impression of a functional, yet uncosmetic surgical repair. She looks pretty dangerous.
Scuba, Torch and Ski are now represented in their basic, non-Fusion form. The players are almost all in their places. Soon the music can begin.
Scuba, Torch and Ski are now represented in their basic, non-Fusion form. The players are almost all in their places. Soon the music can begin.
Saturday, July 28, 2001
LEGO parts have arrived: the big pile o' parts, which seems to include an Amazon Throwbot (oooo!) and almost certainly an entire destroyer droid (ahhh!) plus two or three Throwbots of undetermined identity. Actual Throwbot kits have also arrived: Ski, Granite, Scuba and Torch. Granite is redundant but parts is parts. (Turbo remains to be represented in toto.)
I can see the Sea Fair parade from my window at work, but it's pretty dull from 16 stories up in the twilight.
Tron
Tron. The non-existent CD.
UPDATE: That situation has been corrected. There is also a DVD now.
UPDATE: That situation has been corrected. There is also a DVD now.
Friday, July 27, 2001
Grilling!
Wednesday, July 25, 2001
So many twigs! So many!
Tuesday, July 24, 2001
Heh. Age. Heh.
I caught the last 15 minutes of Picnic this morning and I'm looking right at that guy, you know, the big star, the one who was married to Stephanie Powers and died prematurely and ... I cannot remember his name!
This racking of stupid, stupid brain goes on for a while (I ID Arthur O'Connell instantly, though!) until the phone rings. I say 'hello' and William Holden's name comes to mind unbidden and luminous.
I caught the last 15 minutes of Picnic this morning and I'm looking right at that guy, you know, the big star, the one who was married to Stephanie Powers and died prematurely and ... I cannot remember his name!
This racking of stupid, stupid brain goes on for a while (I ID Arthur O'Connell instantly, though!) until the phone rings. I say 'hello' and William Holden's name comes to mind unbidden and luminous.
Monday, July 23, 2001
Thanks, Vince.
If I was any good at all, those little pics would be the result of a time-dependent script that would add and remove them automatically. If I was really really good, the camera would function as its own inventory-taker: recognizing the objects and creating a page reflecting the dynamic contents of the surrounds. The scripts would also create a transparent overlay (or heads-up display) with links, mouse-overs, pop-ups and frozen daiquiri dispensers. Unrecognized objects would either be ignored or disposed of. (Grabber arms or lasers, I can't decide.)
If I was any good at all, those little pics would be the result of a time-dependent script that would add and remove them automatically. If I was really really good, the camera would function as its own inventory-taker: recognizing the objects and creating a page reflecting the dynamic contents of the surrounds. The scripts would also create a transparent overlay (or heads-up display) with links, mouse-overs, pop-ups and frozen daiquiri dispensers. Unrecognized objects would either be ignored or disposed of. (Grabber arms or lasers, I can't decide.)
LOVE the snazzy "New!" .GIFs in use on the right hand directory of objects.
Sorry! Webcam wedged!
Sunday, July 22, 2001
New corporate / government crapola:
Slashdot | Sklyarov Arrest Follow-up
EFF Alerts
a quote: "Nah, we have found the natural evolution of American activism: outsource our patriotism to Russians. Let Russians stand up for our rights. Yeah, that's the ticket!"
Nitrozac's take
Slashdot | Sklyarov Arrest Follow-up
EFF Alerts
a quote: "Nah, we have found the natural evolution of American activism: outsource our patriotism to Russians. Let Russians stand up for our rights. Yeah, that's the ticket!"
Nitrozac's take
This is just brilliant:
"The lava flow, 400 metres across at its widest, has damaged several chairlifts dotted over the volcano, which is also a popular ski resort. Tourism representatives have said the magma is so hot that it is unlikely any snow will settle this winter."
Etna spews molten lava towards village
"The lava flow, 400 metres across at its widest, has damaged several chairlifts dotted over the volcano, which is also a popular ski resort. Tourism representatives have said the magma is so hot that it is unlikely any snow will settle this winter."
Etna spews molten lava towards village
Saturday, July 21, 2001
Cabana Boy No More
Don't worry about me, mistress! I have new friends now. I had hoped to tell you some other way, but I've fused with Turbo, Ski and Torch. Ski says I don't have to be your cabana boy anymore.
Friday, July 20, 2001
You amuse me, Gali. I'll sort your parts last.
Your strange words dismay us, fleshling. Return my servant, Scuba, and we will overlook this mad talk.
Although I have spent a little more than I wanted to, I now have the means to provide the Bionicles with a real challenge. Tarakava? Bah! Mana? Bah and bah again! From the depths of a package from Illinois will come a creation so terrible, so ruthless, so, so, so ... really, really mean that even working together with their rivals, the Throwbots and Roboriders, they cannot hope to prevail! Muah ah ha ha ha!
Oops. I won an ebay auction that I really didn't think I would. Still less than retail or Brickbay. Mostly.
Thursday, July 19, 2001
Little children came to my door asking for work. It was positively Dickensian. I sent them away without a single copper.
Second in a series of photos of freshly baked bread. Consistency is the key word here.
The project was to time-lapse film a block of ice melting. The gag was that I had frozen a Bionicle inside. I had hoped that the time-lapse would look like the figure was emerging from the ice. Well, it didn't. The ice just melted and that's what it looked like. It was interesting from a "how DOES ice melt" perspective, but it had no drama at all. Oh, it melts strictly from the outside in. If there is a supporting structure (say, a Bionicle) it will melt UP. So, the ice just shrinks.
The first test was a disk of ice with Kopaka. That fell over several times. It was pretty amusing to watch it skid around as the center of gravity changed. It quickly became annoying. The second test was a tall cone of ice with the Fire guy. This actually went very smoothly. For almost the entire melting, the block of ice was supported by the model's feet. The first thing that melted was the bottom of the cylinder where it touched the drain plate. So, here's this quart of ice with two little feet sticking out.
The cam set up is a bit disarrayed, it'll take a little doing to get it back in order.
The first test was a disk of ice with Kopaka. That fell over several times. It was pretty amusing to watch it skid around as the center of gravity changed. It quickly became annoying. The second test was a tall cone of ice with the Fire guy. This actually went very smoothly. For almost the entire melting, the block of ice was supported by the model's feet. The first thing that melted was the bottom of the cylinder where it touched the drain plate. So, here's this quart of ice with two little feet sticking out.
The cam set up is a bit disarrayed, it'll take a little doing to get it back in order.
Wednesday, July 18, 2001
Web cams are off on a project. They'll be back tonight.
Tuesday, July 17, 2001
Danish toy in a Danish freezer:
Gali can be pretty mean to her devoted priest Nokama.
A lady bug came into my house! I put it outside.
The fridge door will be replaced. Hooray! No mere service representative has a chance against Ginny. That's gotta eat into the ol' profit margin. Oh well.
The Bionicle toy known as Onua fell off my desk onto a fan that was sitting on the floor. Not to worry! No harm done. Amazingly, his claws stuck in the finger guards in the most realistic way:
Monday, July 16, 2001
The new fridge has arrived. It is all that was promised. A fine, efficient refrigerator with a small footprint.
One problem - the stainless steel door has a blemish. A smudge, a scratch, an oops. But it's right in the damn middle of the door! Argh!
Lookit here.
One problem - the stainless steel door has a blemish. A smudge, a scratch, an oops. But it's right in the damn middle of the door! Argh!
Lookit here.
Sunday, July 15, 2001
Order has been restored to the webcam universe at least for a little while. I don't know what these machines were doing while I was at work.
And another poll. This poll is harder to answer because I already own all the obvious must-haves. This is a battle between tadpoles in a shrinking puddle. Or something.
Saturday, July 14, 2001
Posted another poll. This one is about James Newton Howard.
The web cam controller was down all day. The fix is available - I'm just too lazy to install it.
The web cam controller was down all day. The fix is available - I'm just too lazy to install it.
Posted a poll (using a canned script) about some John Williams scores.
Friday, July 13, 2001
Very interesting about the cam skewing magenta. I love it that slightly wonky technology can contribute an artistic flair. BTW, the shield boss is not someone I'd want to meet in the back alley...Lego Fire Department nearby or not. Did I mention: MOBILE CAM? How about a toaster cam? It could move up and down, and show us the fresh toast.
Added a link (up there at the top) to a new blog: notes on film scores, There's no content (except for a wish list).
The webcam controller is kaput again.
Danish refrigerator will arrive on Monday. Whee!
The webcam controller is kaput again.
Danish refrigerator will arrive on Monday. Whee!
There's something chilling about this shield boss.
Manjit blogs. Kyle is not alone.
re: old pictures. That's really unlikely. Feel free to put up any old pictures of me that you might have.
re: old pictures. That's really unlikely. Feel free to put up any old pictures of me that you might have.
Does anyone else post things to Kyle's website besides Kyle? Hmmm, doesn't look like it.
We would like Kyle to post some old photos of himself on the website. Preferably high school prom pictures. If Kyle is our friends, he will do this small request for us.
- the NOC
- the NOC
The turquoise balls that are near the 2001 scene are giving the camera fits. Interesting fits. Weird. When the balls are filling the top of the picture, the rest of the image is skewed - way skewed - to the magenta part of the spectrum.
It had escaped my attention that today is Friday the Thirteenth until just now. And me having put together a calendar only the day before yesterday.
Oh, Vince, the mobile camera will happen in its own sweet time. The mobile camera does not measure time the same way that we poor mortals are bound to do. When you are a dried-up frizzle of a 120-year-old man being tended by mysterious aliens in orbit around Jupiter, perhaps then the mobile camera will come to you and say, "Look! Look around the corner from Kyle's office and behold the wonders there!" The mobile camera is coming, but the time and manner of its coming is known only to the mobile camera. What seas must the mobile camera drink and mountains it eat before the mobile camera will make itself known? What stars will burn away their iron hearts in impatient fury before the mobile camera might appear? Is your heart ready to be filled with the love of the mobile camera?
Oh, Vince, the mobile camera will happen in its own sweet time. The mobile camera does not measure time the same way that we poor mortals are bound to do. When you are a dried-up frizzle of a 120-year-old man being tended by mysterious aliens in orbit around Jupiter, perhaps then the mobile camera will come to you and say, "Look! Look around the corner from Kyle's office and behold the wonders there!" The mobile camera is coming, but the time and manner of its coming is known only to the mobile camera. What seas must the mobile camera drink and mountains it eat before the mobile camera will make itself known? What stars will burn away their iron hearts in impatient fury before the mobile camera might appear? Is your heart ready to be filled with the love of the mobile camera?
Thursday, July 12, 2001
The ways of the internet are indeeed mysterious. With no intervention from me, the main webcam server has spontaneously reappeared with all services running. I can only assume that it was never actually down.
The main webcam server apparently went down at 4:09 Pacific time. I'll look in on it as soon as I can.
Kyle, as much as we love this stuff...WHEN will you have a walking, rolling, or otherwise mobile cam??
Added a link to a calendar that shows my wacky work schedule.
Wednesday, July 11, 2001
Went to a computer store with the intent to buy a so-called KVM (keyboard/video/mouse) switch. I experienced severe sticker shock for such a non-essential item. (I suppose if I only had one monitor, I'd think it more essential) so I re-thought the whole problem. The answer: two more Bionicles!
Tuesday, July 10, 2001
The Roborider MOC naming contest is over. The winning name is ...
MUMPY
I cannot resist a challenge. The other Bionicle is picking up a Biggie fries and a chili.
An overview
A certain charity takes appliances away for a small fee but there is a condition: the appliance should be "on the level" or "on the first floor."
So, I mention, there are the stairs to the front door on the first floor. Is that a problem?
How many steps? they ask.
Six, I say.
We'll do five.
What if you take it to the door, do the top five steps, I'll do the sixth step, and you take it to the truck?
OK.
!!!
So, I mention, there are the stairs to the front door on the first floor. Is that a problem?
How many steps? they ask.
Six, I say.
We'll do five.
What if you take it to the door, do the top five steps, I'll do the sixth step, and you take it to the truck?
OK.
!!!
I heard a really hard trivia question today. It'll be on that millionaire show soon.
That bread was delicious.
My "that bread looks delicious" comment doesn't seem to show up on the page. Anyway, I bought one of those 3M Precision Mousing Surfaces. It's fantastic. It's almost as cool as a Throwbot overcoming two Bionicles in the drive-thru at Wendy's!
Monday, July 09, 2001
That bread looks delicious.
Too hot to write. Here's a picture of some bread that I just baked:
Sunday, July 08, 2001
Picked up a mini-Bionicle.
Saturday, July 07, 2001
Just saw AI.
Friday, July 06, 2001
Good old Brickbay! I found some Throwbot parts.
- Projectile Yellow Technic 8 long liftarm with round rubber bumper 4
- Black Panel 3 x 5 Solar/Clip-On/Deltoid 12
- Black Technic Wing Back 4
- Dark Grey Technic Connector with Axlehole 6
- Green Technic Ankle, 2 x 3, w/ cross block (Part is GREEN) 16
- Light Grey Radar Dish 4 x 4 4
- Light Grey Radar Dish 8 x 8 2
- Tan Technic 32173 Leg, 3 x 7, w/ ball joints (Part is TAN) 24
- Tan Technic Throwbot Head 20
- Turquoise Round Ball, from Cyber Slam set 8269 Cyber Stinger 4
- Black Cone 2 x 2 x 1 & 2/3 Octagonal 10
- Dark Grey Cone 4 x 4 x 2 4
- Tan Technic Ankle, 2 x 3, w/ cross block (Part is TAN) 24
Thursday, July 05, 2001
The panning motor pulley has slipped! No left and right tonight.
Wednesday, July 04, 2001
Granite and Spark hitched a ride to work. Here they are playing with a password generator. Ha ha! Funny Throwbots reading the password files! I'll have to wipe their memories, of course.
Ack! 91°! That's almost 33°C!
Am I hot or not?
WebBrick server rebooted at 10:30 am Pacific time.
It's the Fourth of July! I, however am at work.
My workplace is notable for a lack of air conditioning during weekends and holidays. I'm going to take a thermometer in and monitor the heat. (The thermometers in the thermostats don't seem reliable. Now we can calibrate.)
My workplace is notable for a lack of air conditioning during weekends and holidays. I'm going to take a thermometer in and monitor the heat. (The thermometers in the thermostats don't seem reliable. Now we can calibrate.)
WebBrick server rebooted at 8:24 am Pacific time.
Tuesday, July 03, 2001
The cam is happy to note the presence of a new observer:
Gali-cam! Ha ha ha ha!
Great news for those who like to drive the pointable cam: I've switched cameras. This means that the fast camera, the LEGO cam, is now attached to the internet-enabled mount. The old Quickcam, the eyeball, has been relegated to just being pointed at things. The big benefit is much faster throughput on streaming video. This is less a camera problem than a server problem. Small and slow is bad. Big and fast is good. Unless you're a car, in which case, the opposite holds.
Enjoy!
Enjoy!
Monday, July 02, 2001
Recent changes:
- Adjusted inventory page
- Added "Pohatu as Atlas" slide show
- Added "Monkey" slide show
- Added "Unnamed MOC" slide show
- Added image maps to title pic
- Added start/stop video to second webcam
- Added 'archives' link
- Put second webcam on its LEGO mount and pointed it out the window.
The name-the-MOC contest will end, oh, I don't know ... in a week. 11:59:59 PM on Sunday, July 8. The submissions so far have been FANTASTIC. Outstanding. Just outstanding.
Sunday, July 01, 2001
