Topics

181

Not at the Dinner Table / "get into this here"

« on: December 14, 2010, 09:33:08 PM »

This thread is for Turtlekid1. 

http://themushroomkingdom.net/board/index.php?topic=12679.msg582278#msg582278

182

General Chat / NASA Sets News Conference on Astrobiology Discovery

« on: November 30, 2010, 09:12:03 PM »

NASA is set "to discuss an astrobiology finding that will impact the search for evidence of extraterrestrial life" on December 2nd at 2 p.m. EST.

Source:  http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2010/nov/HQ_M10-167_Astrobiology.html

What do you think they'll discuss?

183

General Chat / The beard thread

« on: November 19, 2010, 05:17:35 PM »

I had a food drive at school and let the class that brought the most food pick how to shave my beard.  It ended up a cross between mutton chops and Franz Joseph styles.  To my surprise I actually like it, but my wife and daughter don't and it's not really acceptable outside of mug shots and wanted posters.

I don't have a pic I can upload now, but it's something like this:  http://www.beards.org/images/displayimage.php?pid=10420&fullsize=1

When I find my micro SD and SD to USB converters I'll post some actual pictures here and on facebook. 

184

General Chat / Synchronicity

« on: November 11, 2010, 07:48:01 AM »

Synchronicity
Here's a random juxtaposition of acausal events that I just experienced. 

While listening to Pandora and using StumbleUpon to surf the web I noticed ZZ Top's Sharp Dressed Man playing out of sync.  Then I realized that the song was playing on Pandora while this video was playing:  http://wimp.com/wronggig/  I'd seen the video, but it randomly playing along with the song on Pandora was a strange coincidence. 

What are your experiences with synchronicity?

185

Forum Games / Destroy this page!

« on: October 18, 2010, 08:03:27 PM »

Here's a new (and IMHO the first ever true) "forum game":  Destroy this page! 

Follow the directions here (Language Warning) to get started.  Then destroy this page.  You can post a screencap or tell us your score, but that's not required.  Play any way you want.  Try for the highest score by destroying everything.  Destroy select parts to make a new version of the page.  Destroy MySpace or CNN.  Whatever.  Just have fun. 

186

Forum Games / Your Weapon of Choice?

« on: September 26, 2010, 07:52:01 AM »

Oh, great.  A half ream of paper.  Can paper cuts defeat zombies?  Maybe they'll have enough intelligence to play rock, paper, scissor, but not enough to remember the third option. 

Edit:  Image rehosted.  I already have a Firefox add-on to sync my bookmarks, passwords, history, etc, but is there one to sync add-ons?

187

General Chat / The only time I've ever cried because of somthing on the Internet.

« on: September 11, 2010, 04:00:54 PM »

I just watched http://www.ted.com/talks/benjamin_zander_on_music_and_passion.html and near end (you'll know when if you watch it) thinking of my late step-grandmother I cried uncontrollably.  This has never happened to me before.  I didn't even cry at her funeral or when I first heard of her death.  By the way, http://themushroomkingdom.net/board/index.php?topic=9323.msg553922#msg553922

188

Video Game Chat / Konomi announces DDR for PS3 for the 1st time.

« on: August 14, 2010, 06:57:15 PM »

"KONAMI ANNOUNCES DANCEDANCEREVOLUTION WILL BE AVAILABLE ON THE PLAYSTATION 3 FOR THE FIRST TIME" [this fall].

It's no real surprise that they'll include PlayStation®Move controls, but being able to record video from the PS Eye and upload it to social media sites was a little surprise to me.  Other obvious features include the ability to download songs, Dance Off, and the Workout Mode.  The later should make Arnold Schwarzenegger happy.

Count me in.  Who's with me?

Source: http://www.konami.com/article/KONAMI_ANNOUNCES_DANCEDANCEREVOLUTION_WILL_BE_AVAILABLE_ON_THE/114

189

General Chat / Luigison's Dual #2: Van Halen

« on: July 25, 2010, 10:18:30 AM »

While working a 12 hour night shift in a QC/R&D lab I was asked this question and simply answered, "Roth."  Later I realized that the lady was asking as a conversation starter to pass the lonely, but hectic night.  I should have explained my answer, but wasn't even sure why I'd pick Diamond Dave.  Maybe it was because I'd seen him (minus Van Halen) in concert.  Maybe it was because Hagar was pop at the time.  Or, maybe I was going with the answer I thought she would give since she was a few years older than me. 

Regardless, the first Van Halen album I ever owned was OU812* and that was a copy.  I played a little of "Black And Blue" on guitar from that album.  I'd also attempted to play "Spanish Fly" from Van Halen II. 

My favorite Hagar song is "Right Now" from For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge*, but that was probably more for the video than the vocals.  Still, I could argue that Hagar is a better singer, but Roth has more of a rock voice and energy.  It's hard for me to pick a favorite Roth song, but I think he was at his best as a singer on his solo Eat 'Em and Smile* album.

*insert stupid album name joke here

190

General Chat / Luigison's Dual #1: The Chinese Room

« on: July 19, 2010, 10:51:20 AM »

   I've given considerable thought as to what my next thread/topic should be, but in the end decided that all my ideas were old hat and that instead I should wait until I discovered a new (to me) concept that intrigued me.  So, here it is...

The Chinese Room
   You are trapped in what appears to be a small office store room with large stacks of paper and boxes of pencils.  On one side of the room is a slit in the floor that you assume  is for waste disposal and on the other side is a water fountain and snack machine.  There's a file cabinet filled with lots of empty folders and a table and chair in the center of the room.  You have a bound hard copy of an English computer program that translates Chinese in your backpack, but you can only speak English.  There's a dim light overhead that provides enough light to read the program.  After reading through the first few pages you notice a slip of paper sled into the room through the tiny slight under the door.  On the paper are Chinese characters that you painstakingly translate to English using the program.  You store what you've learned in the file cabinets and set our to write a response in Chinese.  When it's complete you slide your answer under the door.  This process repeats over several days, but eventually you are released.  You have proven to you captors that you are a fluent speaker of Chinese. 

   The Chinese Room is a thought experiment proposed in the 80's by John Searle to show that computers and A.I. don't understand their input and simply reply with output based on there programming.  In other words, computers cannot be sentient.  The person in the room uses the tools given to appear to be fluent in Chinese in the same way a computer may use its program(s) to appear to be intelligent.  To me this thought experiment begs two questions: 1) Can computers ever be sentient?  2) Is human intelligence essentially a flesh and blood computer program?  Or more specifically, is freewill real?

191

Latest News / Wii Games: Summer 2010

« on: June 30, 2010, 06:59:57 AM »

The Wii Games: Summer 2010 Event begins July 16, 2010 in New Jersey.  Competitors at various locations may win a trip to the nationals in Los Angeles, CA.  Other prizes include a team cruise, flat screen TV and surround system, a black Wii, and Nintendo Wii games for a year.  At the time of this announcement the home download kit wasn't available, but you can start practicing the featured games now.  Even if there's not an event in your area you can still enter the sweepstakes on July 16th for a chance to participate in the finals in Los Angeles, CA.  For more information visit www.wiigames2010.com or check out the press release.

192

General Chat / Luigison's Wager

« on: June 18, 2010, 07:34:21 PM »

I vow to no longer post in the angst, hopeful, you _, you _ threads, or anything on the forum games board.  If I do I'll take a self ban for at least one week.  To show my sincerity I'll ban myself now.  Maybe after a week I'll have something worthy of a new thread that's not copy/pasted from E3 press. 

193

Mario Chat / Mini Marios Mean Maximum Fun

« on: June 16, 2010, 06:14:44 AM »

Mini Marios Mean Maximum Fun
At the grand opening of Mario’s third theme park, the first 100 guests
receive a new Mini Pauline toy. Donkey Kong™ arrives as the 101st guest
and finds himself out of luck. He grabs Pauline and heads into the park
with Mario™ and his Mini Marios in hot pursuit. The fourth game in the
series adds new challenges and new opportunities for users to share
what they have created.

FEATURES:
• Edit and play: The latest installment to the Mario vs. Donkey Kong™ franchise to
arrive on the Nintendo DS family of systems is an exciting action puzzle game in
which players use the stylus to place objects like girders, springs, conveyer belts,
pipes and ladders to guide the Mini Marios to the end door of each level.
• Using an intuitive tool kit, players can create new level maps and share them with
members of the public near or far using the local wireless connection of the Nintendo
DS or Nintendo® Wi-Fi Connection and wireless broadband Internet access. People
can rate the levels and see which ones people like the best.
• Regular themed challenges will invite user-created entries that players can vote on.
The top rated levels will be announced at the end of the challenges.
• Mini Pauline toys join the other familiar toys in the series (Mini Mario, Mini Toad™,
Mini Princess Peach™ and Mini Donkey Kong).
• A help button, new map mode and an in-game reference guide, also referred to as
the Super Guide, make it easy for anyone to pick up and play.

194

Video Game Chat / The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3DS

« on: June 16, 2010, 05:54:44 AM »

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3DS








This wasn't announced at Nintendo's conference and the images were originally hidden and then taken down from http://e3.nintendo.com which lead many to believe that it was just a demo or mistake.  Since then it was confirmed at Nintendo's round table and on http://twitter.com/nintendoamerica .  The images are also now on the press site, but seem hidden there too as far as I know. 

195

Video Game Chat / Animal Crossing 3DS

« on: June 16, 2010, 05:32:35 AM »

Animal Crossing
• The world of Animal Crossing comes to life on the Nintendo 3DS system, complete with new game play and a new graphical look that, together with 3D visuals, breathe new life into the already living, breathing world of Animal Crossing.
• In Animal Crossing, players move out on their own to live a life of ease in a village of walking, talking animals. But this time around, unexpected circumstances suddenly put the player in the role of Mayor in a town they’ve only just arrived in. With the help of the many unique townsfolk and one eager secretary, players will enjoy making their new town a better place for all to live in.
• Animal Crossing will also take advantage of the enhanced wireless functionality of the Nintendo 3DS system.