Today, after we (me and Tomáš Baldýnský) stole the "Kristalova Lupa" awards (two of them, had to return one), I talked with Ivo Lukacovič (founder of biggest Czech search engine) about women and relationships. Why can't I have normal relationship with my soul mate(s) like these two nice people, for example?
Friday, November 24, 2006
Wednesday, November 22, 2006
Wii "sensor bar" doesn't sense anything!
I remember when I was very small and I got my first TV game which included the light gun. And I thought: How can the TV detect when I hit the white square on the screen and pass this information back to the console? What kind of magic is this? Of course, the "magic" was that the whole "shooting" actually happened backwards. The TV "shot" its light and my gun just detected it.
It's somehow similar with Nintendo Wii and its innovative controllers, as the guy in the following video explains (rather erratically). The "sensor bar" is actually not "sensing" anything at all, it just contains two sets of infra LEDs and the sensors (infra cameras) are inside the Wiimotes! That's why they are so expensive. This means you can theoretically place flower pot or your cat in front of the sensor bar and - as long as the ends of the bar aren't obscured - the Wiimotes will work perfectly!
It's somehow similar with Nintendo Wii and its innovative controllers, as the guy in the following video explains (rather erratically). The "sensor bar" is actually not "sensing" anything at all, it just contains two sets of infra LEDs and the sensors (infra cameras) are inside the Wiimotes! That's why they are so expensive. This means you can theoretically place flower pot or your cat in front of the sensor bar and - as long as the ends of the bar aren't obscured - the Wiimotes will work perfectly!
Saturday, November 18, 2006
Monday, November 13, 2006
Watch this!
I was just thinking about buying a new wristwatch because I am not happy about Orient watch I bought last time. I bought really simple and rather elegant analog mechanical watch with no fancy functions. However, I found out I have a real problem with its precision. It drifts by about 1 minute each week. I guess this is normal with mechanical watches (this was not an expensive piece of jewelry).
However, that's why I decided to go for something really fancy this time. First I thought about radio-controlled watch, then about GPS watch. I wanted some "bizarre digital technology", not necessarily expensive, but not looking like $20 shit.
But then I discovered TokyoFlash.com which sells dozens of ABSOLUTELY BIZARRE, unique and totally unpractical digital watches. Reading the correct time on some of them requires rather complex math operations.
If you order stuff for more than $85, the shipping is free worldwide. And if you discover the special code, you can have $16 discount (I did).
However, that's why I decided to go for something really fancy this time. First I thought about radio-controlled watch, then about GPS watch. I wanted some "bizarre digital technology", not necessarily expensive, but not looking like $20 shit.
But then I discovered TokyoFlash.com which sells dozens of ABSOLUTELY BIZARRE, unique and totally unpractical digital watches. Reading the correct time on some of them requires rather complex math operations.If you order stuff for more than $85, the shipping is free worldwide. And if you discover the special code, you can have $16 discount (I did).
Wednesday, November 08, 2006
My Celebrity Look-Alikes
I really don't know what to say about this. Just look at it. You can get your own at www.myheritage.com, although you have to register and give them your e-mail address which they will probably use to spam you...
Sunday, November 05, 2006
The Kites Aren't What They Used To Be
When I went with my friends to "fly a kite" yesterday, I had no idea it would be a monster with 3m (10 ft) span (the SMALLEST of these).
I guess these are primarily for riding on skateboards or surfboards but they are nicely controllable and great fun even on foot. You can appreciate the drag force in this video. Even with yesterday's erratic wind gusts.
I guess these are primarily for riding on skateboards or surfboards but they are nicely controllable and great fun even on foot. You can appreciate the drag force in this video. Even with yesterday's erratic wind gusts.
Monday, October 30, 2006
Saturday, October 28, 2006
Aural Torture
Another blast from the past! A nice person sent me an MP3 of an old song I programmed for Commodore Amiga in 1991 (and I thought it was lost forever). Note that this music is "oldskool" even by 1991 standards (it uses synthesis, not samples) and might be unbearable for most people.
My even older songs (for ZX Spectrum) can be downloaded here, their recent remixes are here (except for "hubbard_bytefest.mp3" which is, of course, originally by Rob Hubbard, not by me).
My even older songs (for ZX Spectrum) can be downloaded here, their recent remixes are here (except for "hubbard_bytefest.mp3" which is, of course, originally by Rob Hubbard, not by me).
Saturday, October 21, 2006
Protect your Hive
Today, let's talk about boardgame called "Hive" which has been available for several years as a "deluxe wooden edition" and just recently released (even in the Czech Republic) as the cheaper bakelite edition with nice carrying pouch (pictured).
(The above is a valid in-game configuration of playing pieces, but probably not very strategically sound. I just wanted to squeeze them all to that small space.)
I'm not going to explain Hive rules to you. They are available at the official site (where you can also play against computer opponent [who sucks]). The object of the game is to protect your queen bee from being surrounded while at the same time trying to surround opponent's queen bee. Various insects have various rules of movement (yes, I know spider is not an insect, smartass) and the playing pieces themselves form the playing board (the "hive"), which must never be broken up (although it constantly changes shape.
Interesting feature (rare nowadays) of this game is that "Hive" has absolutely no randomness. Both players have the same pieces, there is no dice or random drawing of playing pieces, it depends solely on your strategic skills. It's just like Chess (probably slightly less complex rules than Chess).
One game lasts about 20 minutes and the only drawback is that "Hive" can only be played by exactly two players.
(The above is a valid in-game configuration of playing pieces, but probably not very strategically sound. I just wanted to squeeze them all to that small space.)
I'm not going to explain Hive rules to you. They are available at the official site (where you can also play against computer opponent [who sucks]). The object of the game is to protect your queen bee from being surrounded while at the same time trying to surround opponent's queen bee. Various insects have various rules of movement (yes, I know spider is not an insect, smartass) and the playing pieces themselves form the playing board (the "hive"), which must never be broken up (although it constantly changes shape.
Interesting feature (rare nowadays) of this game is that "Hive" has absolutely no randomness. Both players have the same pieces, there is no dice or random drawing of playing pieces, it depends solely on your strategic skills. It's just like Chess (probably slightly less complex rules than Chess).
One game lasts about 20 minutes and the only drawback is that "Hive" can only be played by exactly two players.
Wednesday, October 18, 2006
Sweet Dreams!
First, a short explanation:
I don't believe in "supernatural". I don't believe in God, reincarnation, chakras, psychic energy, all that bullshit. However, I believe in vast powers of human brain, which are, amazingly, mostly untamed (huh, huh). I definitely believe in placebo effect and I have no problems accepting the fact that sincere belief in God can actually improve someone's physical health, for example (and this in no way proves existence of God). In the same way, it's perfectly plausible for someone to sincerely believe that he saw God or Four Horsemen or Flying Spaghetti Monster. But that does not mean they exist.
I have personal experience with hypnosis, self-hypnosis, Neuro-Linguistic Programming or Lucid Dreaming (by the way, this stuff also works and you don't really have to pay for it if you know something about the stuff mentioned before, which you can read about for free). I know this stuff works. By the way (I know you want to know it), this stuff is also real (and all the people on the stage are really enjoying it) but you must remember that subjects in stage hypnosis are chosen from the whole audience and you cannot expect an average person to be as suggestive as these people.
However, all of these things have nothing to do whatsoever with anything supernatural. It's all just a question of how your brain works, how it can be manipulated and how the subjects themselves want to be manipulated (yes, many people WANT to be manipulated, subconsciously or consciously, and it makes them feel good). Of course everyone's brain is different and the process of consciously altering your (or anybody else's) mental state is too subjective to even be described in words (just remember when you tried to describe your dream to someone and the words just weren't enough). That's why there are no simple "scripts" or "textbooks" to guide you when using this stuff (however, I must stress, it cannot possibly be dangerous when you experiment with it, unless the subject [you] is already seriously messed up [i.e. has epilepsy, was raped by his parent etc.]).
The point of all this is that I found this nice introduction to Lucid Dreaming which lists some cool methods that beginners can use. Yes, I know it just "sounds stupid" to write down / record your dreams. But you've got nothing to lose and much to gain. The feeling of being in your own "virtual reality", where you can experience anything you wish without any side effects or hangover, is really great and makes me wonder why people use illegal drugs when they could have this for free. Just try it until you have your first Lucid Dreaming experience. And remember, with practice, it gets better and easier!
I don't believe in "supernatural". I don't believe in God, reincarnation, chakras, psychic energy, all that bullshit. However, I believe in vast powers of human brain, which are, amazingly, mostly untamed (huh, huh). I definitely believe in placebo effect and I have no problems accepting the fact that sincere belief in God can actually improve someone's physical health, for example (and this in no way proves existence of God). In the same way, it's perfectly plausible for someone to sincerely believe that he saw God or Four Horsemen or Flying Spaghetti Monster. But that does not mean they exist.
I have personal experience with hypnosis, self-hypnosis, Neuro-Linguistic Programming or Lucid Dreaming (by the way, this stuff also works and you don't really have to pay for it if you know something about the stuff mentioned before, which you can read about for free). I know this stuff works. By the way (I know you want to know it), this stuff is also real (and all the people on the stage are really enjoying it) but you must remember that subjects in stage hypnosis are chosen from the whole audience and you cannot expect an average person to be as suggestive as these people.
However, all of these things have nothing to do whatsoever with anything supernatural. It's all just a question of how your brain works, how it can be manipulated and how the subjects themselves want to be manipulated (yes, many people WANT to be manipulated, subconsciously or consciously, and it makes them feel good). Of course everyone's brain is different and the process of consciously altering your (or anybody else's) mental state is too subjective to even be described in words (just remember when you tried to describe your dream to someone and the words just weren't enough). That's why there are no simple "scripts" or "textbooks" to guide you when using this stuff (however, I must stress, it cannot possibly be dangerous when you experiment with it, unless the subject [you] is already seriously messed up [i.e. has epilepsy, was raped by his parent etc.]).
The point of all this is that I found this nice introduction to Lucid Dreaming which lists some cool methods that beginners can use. Yes, I know it just "sounds stupid" to write down / record your dreams. But you've got nothing to lose and much to gain. The feeling of being in your own "virtual reality", where you can experience anything you wish without any side effects or hangover, is really great and makes me wonder why people use illegal drugs when they could have this for free. Just try it until you have your first Lucid Dreaming experience. And remember, with practice, it gets better and easier!
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