Lair - A Game Review

Bottom line: Don't buy or even rent this crap game. I don't know why I rented this game even though everyone said that the game was crap. The controls are too clunky; it uses the Sixaxis control scheme, which can be very annoying since your arms can get tired. The gameplay is weird, almost as if it is trying to be a free roaming version of Panzer Dragoon. Can't really comment on the story since the gameplay is sucktastic. Production values are high for the cutscenes, but sadly, this doesn't translate into anything worthwhile for the game.

DeskTopTwo

Another crack at a web based Desktop called DeskTopTwo. This one is entirely Flash based. It is blocked from the "corp "network though.

Intriguing literature site

The site Daily Lit helps you read over 500 books, mostly classics. It helps you read in manageable installments whenever you need a break and it will email a small chunk to you each day as well.

Web based MS Office 2007 file reader

I was looking for a way to read MS Office 2007 files, in particular the new XML based .docx and .pptx files. The site Think Free is in beta and is actually free. It reads MS Office 2007 files.

MMO Game Eve Online Billion ISK Heist

An ISK is the unit of value equivalent to a USD in the MMO game Eve Online. The most successfull heist to date in an online game was accomplished by a corporation on another corporation. A corporation in Eve is the equivalent of a clan or guild in other MMOs.

Transcoding MKV/OGM to MP4

After endlessly mucking around with transcoding MKV files to MP4 and going through many false leads from various Google searches, I've finally figured out a decent way to transcode from MKV to MP4 without too much of a problem. Here are the prerequisites in order to do the following task:

• Some Unix variant. In this case, I used Mac OS X Leopard. This should definitely work in Linux, though.
• x264/XviD codec libraries. For this example, I will be using x264, so be sure that the required libraries and binaries are available.
• faac/faad audio codec libraries. We want to be able to create a video file that is playable in both QuickTime and on the PSP/PS3, so using the AAC audio codec is a must.
  
• mplayer/mencoder binaries. The newer, the better. SSA/ASS support needs to be compiled for embedded font support for subtitles.
• (Optional) Multiple processors. This will definitely speed things up, so it is a must if you have a bunch of stuff to transcode.

After the prerequisites are met, you can do the following in order to transcode between formats:

1. Open two terminal windows.
   
2. In one terminal, create a work directory. I created a folder in my home directory called encoding.
3. In that directory, create a fifo pipe: mkfifo stream.yuv.
4. Dump the audio from the video file to a .wav file:
   # mplayer FILENAME -vo null -vc null -ao pcm:file=audiodump.wav
   
5. Start playback of the video file that needs to be transcoded within your work directory:
   # mplayer FILENAME -vo yuv4mpeg -ao null -nosound -noframedrop
6. In the other terminal, cd into your work directory and start the transcoding with the following:
   # cat stream.yuv | mencoder - -o OUTFILENAME.mp4 -mc 0 \
   -ovc x264 -x264encopts global_header:bitrate=400:\
   vbv_maxrate=768:vbv_bufsize=2000:partitions=all:\
   trellis=1:level_idc=30:threads=auto \
   -vf harddup,scale=480:-10,expand=480:272 \
   -sws 9 -audiofile audiodump.wav -oac faac \
   -faacopts br=128:mpeg=4:object=2:raw \
   -channels 2 -srate 48000 -ofps 24000/1001 \
   -of lavf -lavfopts format=psp
7. Wait for completion.

In this case, the mencoder command specifically creates a file that is playable on the PSP/PS3. As a consequence of the settings though, it is also playable in QuickTime. These settings are completely tunable, depending on what is needed. An entirely different codec, e.g. XviD/DivX, can be used instead in order to fit whatever requirements you may have.

From my limited experience, two-pass encoding with x264 is almost always better than only doing one-pass, even if it is more time consuming. I am not sure whether or not the resultant video stream that is piped into the fifo will be the same for both passes, but it should be a good estimation regardless. You probably do a two-pass encoding as follows, given that you have performed steps 1-4 beforehand:

# mplayer FILENAME -ass -embedded-fonts -sid 0 -correct-pts -vo yuv4mpeg -ao null -noframedrop -benchmark -nosound -really-quiet &; cat stream.yuv | mencoder - -o /dev/null -mc 0 -ovc x264 \
-x264encopts pass=1:turbo:global_header:\
bitrate=400:vbv_maxrate=768:vbv_bufsize=2000:\
partitions=all:trellis=1:level_idc=30:threads=auto \
-vf harddup,scale=480:-10,expand=480:272 \
-sws 9 -audiofile audiodump.wav -oac faac \
-faacopts br=128:mpeg=4:object=2:raw \
-channels 2 -srate 48000 -ofps 24000/1001 \
-of lavf -lavfopts format=psp
# mplayer FILENAME -ass -embedded-fonts -sid 0 -correct-pts -vo yuv4mpeg -ao null -noframedrop -benchmark -nosound -really-quiet &; cat stream.yuv | mencoder - -o OUTFILENAME.mp4 -mc 0 -ovc x264 \
-x264encopts pass=2:subq=7:me=umh:global_header:\
bitrate=400:vbv_maxrate=768:vbv_bufsize=2000:\
partitions=all:trellis=1:level_idc=30:threads=auto \
-vf harddup,scale=480:-10,expand=480:272 \
-sws 9 -audiofile audiodump.wav -oac faac \
-faacopts br=128:mpeg=4:object=2:raw \
-channels 2 -srate 48000 -ofps 24000/1001 \
-of lavf -lavfopts format=psp

Two new options for the x264 encoder: subq and me. These options will make the encoding significantly longer, so be forewarned. I prefer that the video to be of good quality, so I usually use them for the second pass. Which is why the recommendation for a multicore/multiprocessor system. Also, the quiet flag will completely squelch the output from mplayer, so take this out if you don't want this. For more information about any of the mplayer/mencoder options, please refer to the Mplayer documentation or man page.

Hopefully, this has been somewhat informative. So, get on with some transcoding now, eh?

Vince Carter

For any of the non-meebo users out there:
http://blog.meebo.com/?p=374

The post is an interesting take on the whether or not to get help from Venture Capitalists when starting a new company. I'm sure there is definitely one hydran that can relate to this:

The idea of starting a company’s pretty exciting. You have a vision, you begin to talk to people about it and form a solid team of folks to execute on the idea, and you begin work on the actual product. Of course, without money in the bank funding people’s salaries, an office, a copier and fax machine, etc, it seems pretty tough to actually get going. The result’s that more often than not, people wonder how to attract the attention of VCs when they’re just starting to build their product. My simple answer:

Don’t.

I would definitely agree in trying to avoid getting the help of VCs if at all possible. Not that I've ever started a company, but after speaking with numerous people and seeing what happens places it might best to pursue other means if possible.

Computer game for your viewing pleasure

Recent computer games, I realize, have quite extensive film making feature implemented. (e.g. Halo3, Tf2.. etc) So I search around on youtube for a bit and here are a couple of interesting ones that i came across.

Team Fortress2:





Halo3:



But none of them can top this:

One sided conversation + Link

Yesterday's picture came in the form of an e-mail forward and this one came in as an IM (xxx replacing sender of IM):

xxx: http://movies.aol.com/movie-photo/matt-damon-best-worst-roles
xxx: check this
xxx: your mancrush

I know there might by some readers that would disagree with the Legend of Bagger Vance call. I myself thought Brothers Grimm and Stuck on You weren't that bad. Then again Matt Damon is my "mancrush"

Whistler Blackcomb Pictures

Finally posted some pictures onto Picasa Web for my Whistler Blackcomb trip. As for a sample of pictures, here's a shot of the Little Peak on Whistler Mountain.

Always check your kid's homework

Here is a funny picture I got as an e-mail forward. I don't get e-mail forwards as often as when AOL2.5 was THE internet. The title of the e-mail was "Always check your kid's homework". I guess it gives a new meaning to career day.

Why I miss Tennessee

Warning, this video is not safe for work due to language. The video contains a daring stunt, slow-mo replay of the stunt, and color commentary. Video link in the first comment.

Anti-Drug public announcement

Website : TED - ideas worth spreading

An interesting web site offering short video talks, tutorials and short courses with outlines and such.

Talks Vilayanur Ramachandran: A journey to the center of your mind.

knol? thoughts?

Google announces Knol project

Another interesting link

I personally am a fan of Wikipedia but am beginning to get unhappy with things like lame (in my opinion) policies.

I'm still formulating thoughts on Googles initiative to have a wiki-esque product. What do you guys think of their approach/idea.

killing pablo the penguin

With Christian Bale's recent run of good movies and Javier Bardem's outstanding performance in No Country For Old Men, it is time they converge. Killing Pablo (Escobar, not the penguin from Backyardigans) looks to be a movie that I'll be eagerly anticipating. I'm always down to watch a movie about the Michael Jordan of drug dealing.

Space Shuttle vs. Giant Spider!!

I, for one, welcome our new insect overlords.


[via ... the whole internet]

Things I Didn't Know, December '07 Edition

Here are some of the things I've learned over the last couple of months:

— Phil Knight, founder of Nike, has been taking writing classes at Stanford, and is a good classmate.

— Nintendo has some excuses for its (mind-boggling, IMO) inability to meet the demand for Wii systems, as elaborated in Wired and in the WSJ.

— Bill Bellamy is Shaq's cousin (link to FHM, so maybe NSFW).

— There's a documentary about CalTech basketball called Quantum Hoops.

— PCs with some Award/Unicore BIOSes will, seemingly at random, play classical music to signal problems with CPU fans and power supply voltages!

— Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer, was created as an advertising gimmick for Montgomery Ward. His creator's brother-in-law wrote the now iconic song about Rudolph, sung by Gene Auntry, for a Max Fleischer cartoon.

— Speaking of Christmas music, there are tons of cover versions of "Last Christmas", Wham's gift to the world.

— The Ten Mafia Commandments.

— An expert Scrabble player would not have set the highest Scrabble score ever, given the same circumstances in which it was achieved.

— The first three-way tie in Jeopardy history (where everyone came back) was a true act of generosity, and the guy who made it happen planned it that way.

Cherry Chocolate Rain

If you haven't seen it yet, Tay Zonday is back, this time on behalf of Dr. Pepper.

How to Beat the Pats

For alliesglove, here's Slate's analysis of how to beat the New England Patriots:

The Patriots aren't unbeatable, but if you want to take them down, you'll need great players, great strategy—and some luck wouldn't hurt. If the Steelers, or any other team, want to end New England's reign, here's the master plan they'll need to follow.

The Eagles and Ravens came close, and provided the "blueprint", but it's hard for a team that hasn't executed for a full four quarters all year to suddenly do so in a single game, especially its biggest of the year. The Steelers don't fall in that category, though, so let's see what they can do.

Slate also re-printed an older article about why journalists deify Brett Favre, which asks, among other questions:

While Favre is lionized for playing through tragedy, Terrell Owens' success has never been given the same kind of context. [...] Why is every hurdle Favre has jumped over presented as the Pillars of Hercules, while a guy like Owens is dismissed as a loudmouth?

It's always good to remind ourselves that our perceptions of famous people really are shaped by the media, whether or not they fit those perceptions in real life.

(Jess + Peter Petrelli)/Skateboard

The dude who will always be Jess from Gilmore Girls (Milo Ventimiglia) in my mind I just found out can skate! I doubt he's better than Jason Lee (Many pros refer to his video part as one of the most famous ones)

rap as expressed in graphs

as linked on the great crail. a buncha charts linking to their respective videos. some are funny some aren't. some have poor spelinlg some don't. have fun

Here He Comes

USA Today provides first look photos of the Speed Racer movie, and AOL Moviefone has the trailer.

The filmmakers are clearly trying to preserve the colorful, campy, and over-the-top tone of the cartoon, but I'm not quite sure it translates to live-action film. As one blog commenter put it, it looks "like a rainbow barfed". They've translated some things faithfully — Speed's neckerchief — while making typical Hollywood changes to other things — turning Racer X's costume all-black, for example. Fans of the show in the blogosphere seem to be excited by the pictures and the trailer, though, so maybe the siblings Wachowski have hit their mark. As usual, for those unfamiliar with the 1960s cartoon, Wikipedia has a good summary.

To me, it's funny that the Wachowskis made this film. The "bullet time" effect, made famous by their film, The Matrix, always reminded me of the end of the Speed Racer title sequence (though their direct influences, I think, were two other manga/anime, Akira and Ghost in the Shell).

Speed Racer itself reminds me of middle school, since there was a time back then that my friend and I would play the computer game a lot. (I still have the installation floppies somewhere in my closet!) Maybe, then, it's fitting that the film turned out to look like a big-screen video game.

The Past Wasn't Always More Civilized

Robert Edward Auctions is not sure it wants to auction a piece of "blue" baseball-related memorabilia (contains images with potentially NSFW old-timey language):

Among the items was the 1898 document pictured above, entitled "Special Instructions To Players," regarding the use of obscene language by players at the ballpark, to intimidate umpires and opposing players, and to verbally battle with unfriendly fans. [...] This piece is ironic as it provides many examples of exactly the kind of "brutal language" that was being outlawed. In fact, it is so over the top that at first we thought it was some type of a joke.

It's somehow comforting to know that people living in the 19th century said things like, "You ****-****er!", "**** my **** you *** of a *****!", and "I'll make you **** my ***!". Heck, I even learned a couple of new ones!

[via]

Smart Kids are Strong Too, Right?

TIME says there's big demand for the Smart car:

To address safety, Smart has placed a steel safety cage and four air bags in the compartment to protect motorists and provides standard electronic stability control to help prevent the vehicle from swerving off the road. "Safety has to be a given," Zetsche said.

Well, I sure hope it's a given ... given that I've seen this video:

Brawndo — The Thirst Mutilator

It's got what plants crave! Now on sale!



Update: There's also a commercial, and a name for this trend of bringing products from movies into real life &mdash defictionalization. To steal a joke from the preceding link: I hope this trend doesn't extend to Soylent Green!

Bale in Terminator?

Christian Bale is apparently in negotiations to play the lead in the fourth Terminator film, to be directed by McG. Bale's resume speaks for itself, as does McG's. Despite my knowing nothing else about this film, this is the first role choice of Bale's in recent years that makes me go, "huh??" Obviously, Bale sees something he likes, so hopefully his fans will see something they like as well. This is a film I was planning to basically skip, but now I'll have to give it a look — if Bale does end up as its star.