Godzilla vs. Mecha-Quickies 180
Moo-ha-ha. CmdrTaco is on vacation (and sending his e-mail to /dev/null, so please don't even try), so I'm doing Quickies this week. On to the good stuff. DigitalDaedalus wrote in to tell us about the SGI 404 pages. Cute. For those with that not-so-fresh feeling, dodobh wrote in to tell us about the Slashdot Purity Test. No, I won't tell you my score. In the 'ear candy' bin, casret told us that they posted the results of the XMMS plugin contest. Time for some stuff from the 'exploding stuff' bin. Aardappel wrote in about
Fisheye Quake, and Kintanon caught my eye with Fun With Grapes.
Charles Helfenstein told us about the anti-cubicle. Very cool. Fanmail used the force and wrote in about George Lucas In Love. With all the X-Men hype going on, Link wrote in about Mutant Watch. Smurfy cared to share AIEEE, the Acronym Interaction, Expansion and Extrapolation Engine. fwfr told us about the Sim-William Shatner. You'll need Flash.
Last but certainly not least, The Welcome Rain wrote in to tell us about your friend and mine, Robot Frank.
aura (Score:2)
Re:aura (Score:1)
Grapes: A Fine Tradition. (Score:5)
What happens is that the sliced, somewhat-conducting grape is just about the right size to act as a microwave antenna. Large currents are set up in the grape, which cause the (very thin) junction between the halves to go *poof*.
You could probably enhance this effect by sprinkling the open surfaces with salt to make them more conducting.
SGI Pages (Score:1)
Of course, I'm trying to get a 8 year old IRIS 4D/310 VGX going, so I am used to disappointment.
Re:Grapes: A Fine Tradition. (Score:1)
Another amusing site (Score:2)
Have a listen to some of the stuff at Fun Sounds [lilredtruck.com], especially this [209.235.102.9] news story about two men and their gerbil...
Even more amusing: Ball lightning in the microwave (Score:3)
We've seen Aura before (Score:1)
--Jim
Parody? (Score:2)
The show had a brief interview with the person who made "lucas in love", and the person said that he had created the movie as kind of an 'homage' to Lucas and the whole Star Wars franchise.
The question that then occurred to me: Could I extend this idea to games?
The whole Star Wars mythology is full of characters, settings, and an entire ethos - great building blocks for, say, an RPG. None has been made as yet, and - if recent movies are any indication - we're likely to be disappointed if one is. So what if someone created a Star-Wars like game in homage?
Obviously, it can't be called "Star Wars". But how much of the SW franchise is trademarked? Suppose we make something set in a Star Wars universe, that refers to the "force" (A generic enough term, right?) and possibly "Jedi", and then build a story and game around it?
Granted, it might not be an original idea, but many of us are star wars fans, and I know that I, for one, would love to see a well-done game out of it.
Re:We've seen Aura before (Score:1)
Wow...forget cubicles. (Score:1)
Re:Grapes: A Fine Tradition. (Score:1)
It should work with red grapes too, or anything else conducting and about the right size and sliced so that it has a thin membrane in the middle of the "antenna".
Disclaimer: I haven't tried this.
Seeds shouldn't make much difference, though if one heats up enough to go *poof!*, that could be mildly interesting.
"Charred-donnay" is a good guess for the wine result. Mmm. Carbon.
I do not appreciate (Score:1)
Re:We've seen Aura before (Score:2)
AIEE!! (Score:2)
-Ryan Dietrich
Purity Test (Score:1)
Goddamn I suck.
---------
To hell with you, I never liked you, you are no friend of mine...
I WANT ROB BACK! (Score:1)
Yo Emmett (Score:1)
You pulled it pretty quickly!
Ten SGI babies! (Score:4)
There are 10 babies!
Check it out:
http://www.sgi.com/images/404_babies/1.j pg [sgi.com]
http://www.sgi.com/images/404_babies/2.jpg [sgi.com]
http://www.sgi.com/images/404_babies/3.jpg [sgi.com]
http://www.sgi.com/images/404_babies/4.jpg [sgi.com]
http://www.sgi.com/images/404_babies/5.jpg [sgi.com]
http://www.sgi.com/images/404_babies/6.jpg [sgi.com]
http://www.sgi.com/images/404_babies/7.jpg [sgi.com]
http://www.sgi.com/images/404_babies/8.jpg [sgi.com]
http://www.sgi.com/images/404_babies/9.jpg [sgi.com]
http://www.sgi.com/images/404_babies/10.jpg [sgi.com]
Who sais I live to make a fool of myself? :p ... Oh and is it me but are 8 and 9 the same?
What the Faarooq? (Score:5)
That purity test...called me a Microserf.
A MICROSERF!
Just for that, I'm going to whore the article [home.com] I submitted last week [home.com], but didn't get posted [home.com]. It's at my website [home.com]; now to find out [home.com] if I can see [home.com] the Slashdot effect [home.com] in action [home.com].
I hope JonKatz comments on it, or I'm going to kill him. And pour hot grits down his pants.
Of course, this article is going to get moderated down, because the moderators always moderate down dissenting viewpoints, right? Especially if they're Microserfs like I supposedly am.:)
...must go customize Slashboxes now...wonder what Slashdot looks like...
Re:Grapes: A Fine Tradition. (Score:1)
If you want another real kick, check out his wife's web site [tamucc.edu] and look at her Coups de Gueule pages. Yes, she really is that brutally honest.
Hey if any of you nutcases from Blucher read this, check in once in a while...haven't heard from you guys in a while!
- Brad Hartin
Re:Ten SGI babies! (Score:2)
Ack! (Score:1)
Okay, it was a pretty cool test.
> You answered "yes" to 105 of 200 questions, making you 47.5% slashdot pure
> (52.5% slashdot corrupt).
Woah, what do you have to do to get a good score on this thing?!?! I should have lied more...
> According to the scoring guide, your slashdot experience level is: JonKatz Wannabe
Okay. Forget this test. I can't *imagine* a worse insult to a slashdot poster.
(Oh, and I used "No Score +1 Bonus" and "Preview" to post this.
"Gee, I bet I'll get moderated down for this..."
---
pb Reply or e-mail; don't vaguely moderate [152.7.41.11].
Those 404 errors pages... (Score:1)
purity dropping by the second (Score:1)
...but I think by doing so, I just lost a couple of percentage points of purity.
[TMB]
Fisheye Quake (Score:1)
And 'mid this tumult Kubla heard from far
Ancestral voices prophesying war!
It's funny (Score:2)
I tried out one of those Aura setups at a friends work once. He works for a state run company, and each employee gets a yearly budget. He didnt replace his workstation for a few years, and bought that thing. Its enormous and he practically lives at work now.
I'd like one for my home office.
On another note, what plugins do you people use for xmms? I haven't been using anything fancy for it.
There is one plugin I would love (and all you Pink Floyd fans should want it too) is a no gap plugin. When one plays The Wall there are not supposed to be any gaps between tracks. It's a common problem for MP3 players to put a gap between tracks... the popular WinAmp for that other OS has a plugin to remove those gaps.
Any plugin coders know how to do this? I dont know the first thing about sound programming... although I dont think it involves sound at all... just some sort of output plugin to prebuffer the next song or something.
Re:Parody? (Score:2)
I don't really know but I'd guess that George Lucas holds tight rein over the trademarks from Star Wars, and to produce anything using them you'd have to come up with a hefty license fee, which is probably why there haven't been any projects of the kind you describe (although there was a Star Wars RPG by Mayfair Games IIRC).
Also pardoy is allowed by the US Constitution as part of free speech whereas the situation here is very different - you are not using your right to comment on the Star Wars genre, you are using it as the basis for your own work. At least, I'm sure that's how his lawyers would see it.
Re:Ack! (Score:1)
--Ith
alternate title for this topic. (Score:1)
sorry, move along now.
78% pure (Score:1)
Re:What the Faarooq? (Score:1)
Not only is my number under 10k, it's under 5k! Whoa! I feel like feeding my ego some more now.
Anyways, this is Gaussian Local Y-value Terminal Channel Hardware,
D'oh! (Score:1)
Re:aura (Score:1)
There's _already_ a Star Wars RPG (Score:2)
47%? JK Wannabe? I'm user 1428 so I don't care. (Score:3)
My score =). (Score:1)
You answered "yes" to 53 of 200 questions, making you 73.5% slashdot pure (26.5% slashdot corrupt).
According to the scoring guide, your slashdot experience level is:
Microserf
Hehe.
Re:Ack! (Score:1)
Is that better or worse than a "First Post"?   Heeheehee.
Okay. Forget this test. I can't *imagine* a worse insult to a slashdot poster.
Nah...  you're right.
By the way, linophiles can get Flash here [macromedia.com] to see that SIM-WILLIAM SHATNER.   It's kinda lame and the voice is lamer but at least the animation's close to on target...
Re: Microserf? (Score:1)
What are all the rank titles? Anyone got the list?
Thanks.
Petrified. (Score:1)
Let's see...replying to my own post...there's another point for me on the Purity Test. I'll be half-impure in no time.
Karma whorin' for Natalie Portman...
Re:I WANT ROB BACK! (Score:1)
Re:Fisheye Quake (Score:2)
--
George Lucas... (Score:1)
Re:What the Faarooq? (Score:2)
I answered 69 out of 200 questions. (Judging by some of those questions, I'm pretty sure I'm one of the more well-behaved members of Slashdot.)
61. [ ] Have you ever continued a flame war over private email?
Jeez! heh
-- Give him Head? Be a Beacon?
Slashdot purity (Score:5)
I'm working to expand the Slashdot Purity test into a 500-question test, but I need suggestions for questions, and some other ratings (yes, I agree, JonKatz wannabe and Microserf are both lame but I couldnt think of anything funnier)
If you have any suggestions email em to me! [mailto]
________________________________
Grapes, Flaming Toothpicks and Pickles (Score:5)
The flaming toothpick in a microwave actually results in a plasma at the burning tip. There was an article here some time ago. (Too lazy/busy to search)
For another interesting effect, take a power cord, strip the insulation at the end, stick the two ends into a pickled dill and turn on the power. If done properly, you will end up with a nice glowing pickle. Dont do it for too long since it starts burning and stinking up the place.
Do the above at your own risk
O'Flecky's Slashdot Purity Test and How It Works (Score:1)
This is the way the test works:
You answered "yes" to 0 of 200 questions, making you 100.0% slashdot pure (0.0% slashdot corrupt).
You answered "yes" to 200 of 200 questions, making you 0.0% slashdot pure (100.0% slashdot corrupt).
Dig?
I love O'Flecky's Books. Always straight to the point.
Re:What the Faarooq? (Score:2)
________________________________
Tell me about it! (Score:1)
I answered, like, 93 questions... and I'm still a... "Microserf".
BLECH!!!
(on a side note, though, Q.198 was interesting. "Did you cheat on this test?" Well... no, but then if I click this box, then yes, thereby cheating in the process. That means that I have, so I'd be right. But... wait. That would mean that I hadn't cheated... so... so... so... ummmmmm.
Urk.
Must get back to "Gödel, Escher, Bach".
It's a fine line between trolling and karma-whoring... and I think you just crossed it.
--
- Sean
Re:Ack! (Score:1)
No, Jon Katz is a moron. Although his last rant was actually intelligible, even if he was preaching to the choir...
---
pb Reply or e-mail; don't vaguely moderate [152.7.41.11].
{fight negative sterotyping of robots} (Score:1)
MutantWatch helps... (Score:1)
My responses:
Your Name: Rick Casals
Your E-Mail: fleck@linuxmafia.org
I am over 13 years of age
Suspected Mutant's Name: HugeSchlong-X
Suspected Mutant's E-Mail: hugeschlong99@aol.com
The individual in question has a tendency to: spew toxic gasses from multiple orifices
The individual will often: shoot looks that kill
The individual has frequently demonstrated: an affinity for spandex
The following phenomena have occurred in the presence of the individual: increased hormonal response
The individual appears to possess: razor-sharp tongue
When in close proximity to the suspected individual, you sometimes: feel hot and tingly
in a perfect world: the moderator(s) think this is "2: Funny"
Hmm, I am wondering... (Score:1)
Re:Yo Emmett (Score:2)
--Emmett
Re:Fisheye Quake (Score:1)
nmarshall
#include "standard_disclaimer.h"
R.U. SIRIUS: THE ONLY POSSIBLE RESPONSE
Re:Slashdot purity (Score:1)
hehe...
How about charts, and graphs for those who scored. Just like back in the college days to see where I fell under (or outside) the bell curve. Speaking of getting graded in college, remember looking up exam results by social security number? Well, how about a similar invasion of privacy [politechbot.com] by listing our IP addresses so we can look up our scores as well as others we know.
The meak John Katz wannabee posts anonymously
Re:What the Faarooq? (Score:2)
For instance, it GIVES you a point for having to go to your user page to look up your karma score. REAL Karma Whores check up on that all day every day, and wouldn't have to make a special trip to their page to find out.
There's a bunch of examples of that, adding a point for the more newbie-esque behavior. Ah, well. All in fun, I suppose.
--
Re:What the Faarooq? (Score:2)
And I scored JonKatz wannabe. This test is broken. Clearly the JonKatz wannabe and microserf categories should be switched.
I'm now motivated to protest. In public. Maybe that will raise me out of JonKatz territory.
--Shoeboy
Red Grapes DO work (Score:1)
It should work with red grapes too, or anything else conducting and about the right size and sliced so that it has a thin membrane in the middle of the "antenna".
Fun with Grapes - A case study: II
Last updated March 6, 2000
Author
JDax
Abstract
Per the previous Fun with Grapes - A case study, this study was performed to validate it, as a good little scientist should.
Introduction
No need to do that and become redundant.   Read the one here [tamucc.edu]
Materials Required
Well...   same as here [tamucc.edu]
Observed results (the cool part)
Upon setting said microwave to "HI" for 40 seconds, the first sparks began at exactly 32 seconds in the countdown.   Sproadic on and off sparks were observed until approximately 8 seconds left on the clock when a magnificent FLARE occurred and lasted approximately 2 seconds, followed be a few intermittant sparks until said microwave cycle ended.
Discussion and Conclusions
Cool!   One whole half of the grape was neatly burnt up.   The plate didn't break (at least yet) and the two halves separated approximately 1.5 cm from each other.   Sorry no pictures, my digital camera's battery is dead.
Re:Another amusing site (Score:2)
Fullfilling #197 on Purity Test (Score:1)
Re:What the Faarooq? (Score:1)
I mean...eat penguin shit you cocksmoking ass spelunker.
Can we take this to e-mail now? Does this count as a flamewar?:)
Noticed you also left out stuff on Beowulf clusters, LinuxOne, and new moderation/article categories. Also "Have you ever accused Slashdot of selling out..." and "...before Andover was bought by VA Linux?" "...before Andover, period?"
just a few helpful suggestions, of which I'm sure you're receiving many, some in not-so-nice e-mails, by now:)
Seriously, enjoyable stuff. When's the IPO?:)
George "Papa Smurf" Lucas (Score:1)
also found here! (Score:2)
Grr... still waiting for the Marathon -> Unreal conversion.
Pope
Re:Slashdot purity (Score:1)
Re:Ten SGI babies! (Score:1)
Re:/. Purity Test (Score:1)
Re:Slashdot purity (Score:1)
average geek my ass!!
*removes +1 bonus*
--
Gonzo Granzeau
put your name into that acronym machine! (Score:1)
Global Enhanced Optical Font File
I never knew my name could sound so professional!
---
http://www.spiderinteractive.net
I'm a Microserf???? (Score:1)
I don't think so....
Was it Tim that said 63000 bugs should be found in a rain forest?
F1r5+ P0s+!! (Score:1)
-- Anonymous_Troll@microsoft.com
PS: I'm just trying to up my 76.5% Slashdot Purity into the 90th percentile!
Slashdot Purity Test (Score:2)
Wow, it says I'm a JonKatz wannabe. How'd they know? I mean...
*insert 10k of redundant drivel here*
:)
and Slashdot stands for... (Score:1)
Small Linear Asymmetric Systems Hardware Direct Output Technology
Gödel, Escher, Bach... (Score:1)
The Mind's I
not as techie as GEB, but makes you think that you are starting to get it, then you (on a hight level) think that you dont, mean while you realize that you dont like reply's that never get to the point and that dont know what a sentence is...
nmarshall
#include "standard_disclaimer.h"
R.U. SIRIUS: THE ONLY POSSIBLE RESPONSE
Authorization (Score:1)
Re:What the Faarooq? (Score:2)
Not that I've got anything against J.K. (I may be in a minority here), but it gave me pause...
In fact, I tried to shoot for "Microserf" but just didn't make it. Then again, knowing my karma points without going to my info page should have scored me a plus instead of a minus - right?
And I DID preview this at least 4 times! Yes!! So what?
BTW I had to post my score because I promised to do so on the test...
Re:ATTENTION MODERATORS!!! (Score:1)
I don't think it's meant to be interpreted that way. For example, think back to your days as a small child. When your mother said "Shoeboy, have you eaten your vegetables?" you knew damn well that she knew damn well that you hadn't eaten your vegetables. The question, therefore, is simply a more polite and indirect way to suggest that maybe, just maybe, you ought to eat your vegetables
On the other hand, I am morally certain that CmdrTaco smokes crack, albeit for reasons completely unrelated to meta-moderation.
Re:There's _already_ a Star Wars RPG (Score:1)
65%, JonKatz Wannabe on my slashdot purity test! (Score:1)
1) FIRST POST!!!!! -- +1 or 2
OOPS, looks like i missed it by by a few
Ah well, FIRST POSTERS ARE LAME ASSES!! -- +2
2)JonKatz is a FAG!!! -- +1 or 2
I'm going to burn down his house +1
3)Now I'm going to use the VERY (hehe italics are +1) acurate slashdot poles to right a sientific paper, and solve world hunger with their valuable data. -- +4
5)Okay, next I'm going to make an atempt at creating a table in this post. -- +1
And trust me, I'll be VERY suprised when it doesnt work -- +1
6)Hmmm, what else can I do... well I guess I could run around my neighborhood naked yelling "Slashdot is a gift from Allah!" Thats not on the test, but it should give me at least +3 random effort points.
7)I guess that is it... wait if I just select yes to all the fields anyways, then I could also get +1 for the "did you cheat on this test" field!
DONE!after previewing this about 12 times and still leaving in a bunch of mistakes (+3) I think I should do okay next time I take the slashdot purity test. :-)
Re:ATTENTION MODERATORS!!! (Score:1)
Oddly enough this is what I used to say to my ex-girlfriend when I wanted to get her in the mood. (s/shoeboy/sarah/i) Didn't work. Can't imagine why not.
--Shoeboy
Sim-Shatner (Score:1)
Sparking Grapes? How 'bout Flaming Pop-Tarts? (Score:1)
Patrick Michaud [mailto], the Researcher responsible for the grape experiment, has also performed ground-breaking Pop-Tart research. Check it out at:
Strawberry Pop-Tart Blow-Torches [tamucc.edu]
Re:Parody? (Score:1)
Someone showed the film to Lucas -- he laughed himself silly and I believe he offered the guys jobs at ILM.
Even if it had made direct references to Star Wars, I seriously doubt it would be pursued.
Re:Slashdot purity (Score:2)
--
grappler
Incident in my room (Score:2)
I had to explain it all to him, starting by telling him what a 404 message is.
--
grappler
AIEEE fun with Slashdot names (Score:1)
Cmdr Taco: Common Modular Disk Router Turbo Array Client Object
Hemos: Hierarchical Equipment Multi-Overlay Software
Emmett: Electronic Media Multi-Enhanced Text Terminal
JonKatz: Joint Overlay Node Known Asymmetric Technology Zone
Rob Malda: Recording Option Bus Multi-Architecture Logical Desktop Array
Jeff Bates: Journalling Engine Floppy Format Bidirectional Asynchronous Technology Equipment Software
Any others? It kicks back a new one every time...
Grapes? Sure. CDs? Sure! (Score:1)
I object to questions 82-84! (Score:2)
Gee whiz, perhaps honestly answering questions like that is why I am an "Average Geek"...
Cheers,
Ben
more ?s (Score:1)
SGI 404 Errors (Score:1)
Stupid Kitchen Tricks (Score:2)
I have a friend who likes to do stuff like that. The pickle lit up like an incandescent bulb.
He also likes to make fireballs with his stove. Here's how to do it:
---
Zardoz has spoken!
Aura (Score:2)
This on a web page not updated since November 1998 is NOT an encouraging sign.
Re:aura (Score:2)
Your coworkers don't know you don't really have a LAW under your desk. First time you ned to eject one, pull it and start waving like a lunatic.
On a side note, I do have a man-portable rocket launcher around here made of much the same stuff. Uses four 'C' cells for propulsion, and wire whiskers on the nose of the rocket to keep it from veering into the side of the tube in case of a partial misfire. The PVC will even take a double motor explosion gracefully enough to keep you alive! Granted, I ended up jacketing the proximal end with steel HVAC piping after the second in-tube explosion, but hey!
Re:Grapes? Sure. CDs? Sure! (Score:2)
It's like a huge AOL CD!!!
Hemos is a mutant (Score:2)
Actually, looking at the comments posted on
Gaps (Score:2)
Re:Another amusing site (Score:2)
I'm sorry, but how cool is that? It's one of those things which is just so bad that it's good. *pika* *pika* :)
Re:Stupid Kitchen Tricks (Score:2)
Don't stop with the pickle. They are cool as a dill, but might I suggest underwater lightning complete with sinister sound effects?
Get a neon tube transformer, or something with at least 4,000 volts. And one coffee cup filled less than half full of water. Stick the in the probes and watch underwater lightning. Ever heard water hum loudly in a menecing way? Note that this method is the fastest way to heat a cup of coffee.
An "Average Geek" speaks out on the Slashdot Test (Score:2)
123. Did you check your user info page to answer the above question?
I would have worded that, "Did you know your Karma without checking because you've looked at your User page in the past hour?"
Some of the other questions contradict each other. For example:
64. Do you ever forget to use the Preview button?
65.
66. Have you ever previewed your post several times to get it ``just right''?
67. Do you think previewing is for weenies?
While it is a bit rough around the edges and should be labeled Version 0.1, it has potential, and it shows some understanding of the dynamics of Slashdot.
Oh, and it looks like it is being "used to gather demographic information".
Re:Grapes? Sure. CDs? Sure! (Score:2)