Rowan Atkinson

The last video posted was of Rowan Atkinson, or Mr. Bean as he seems to be more commonly known.

Here he is performing at the 2012 Olympics.

Invisible drum set

More drums, but comedy this time. Watch for the (invisible) cat at the end!

Top Secret Drum Corps

It's been a long time since I posted anything on here, so I'll soon have several more posts in short succession. Here is the Top Secret Drum Corps.

Honda Ad

This is one of the coolest advertisements I've ever seen:

You can see the motion tracking and compositing is a little weak in places, but even so, it's still pretty amazing.

Also, here's a link to the breakdown: http://vimeo.com/69175471

Space scooter update

This is what it looks like now:

Blender sci-fi

While on the topic of blender, here's my latest creation:

It's still a work in progress, the texturing still needs a good bit of work, but I'm pretty happy with the exhaust flames, just a few more tweaks and they'll be pretty good. 

Usually smoke or fire takes a really long time to bake, and then renders pretty fast.

With the adaptive domain, I've been able to compute the smoke pretty fast too; it took less than a minute and a half to compute 200 frames at 128 divisions and high resolution set to 2.

Blender

Blender is amazing! Here's their 2013 demo reel which should serve well as inspiration:

Every year it just gets better!

Neat key holders

If you want to carry your keys neatly, there are two good options that I know of:

KeySmart

~ and/or ~

Switchy

Now I just can't make up my mind!

Maybe I should put frequently used keys on a Switchy, and keep the rest on a KeySmart...

Kickstarter has some really neat products.

Dell CS-24SC servers

Dell CS24-SC:

Recently I discovered these servers on ebay. So far as I have been able to find out, the Dell CS-24SC was made by Dell for some undisclosed customer in large quantities. When they decided to upgrade, they flooded the market with these servers, and the prices show it. You can buy one of these with 8 GB of memory for about $140 (including shipping!) For a model with 16 GB of memory, the price goes up to the astronomical number of... about $165!

Image from ebay

Here are the specifications:

CPU: 2X Intel L5420 quad core @ 2.5 GHZ
SATA trays: 4, but make sure the seller includes them.
USB ports: 4 USB 2.0, 2 front, 2 back
Ethernet: 2X GBE + one for management
Video: Internal Intel chipset, 1X VGA (back)
Memory: Up to 48 GB DDR2 EEC

Some notes:

This is an incredible value. If you are going to build a renderfarm or compute cluster, it doesn't get any better than this. If you find a better deal, I want to see it!
It has a PCI-E slot, so you can add a better graphics card. It's single slot, so the maximum you could fit would probably be something like a GTX 640 (Though that starts to approach the cost of the server!) If you want more GPU power in something like this, you would probably have to go to liquid cooling.
 If you like this model, but need more memory, the Dell SC24-TY (oops, typo, Dell CS24-TY.) looks like the same model, but I've seen some specifications that indicate it will hold up to 288 GB of memory. (18 DDR3 slots, 18X16 GB=288) Those get expensive pretty quickly though.
I noted 16 GB maximum memory for the -SC model above, but I forget, it could be 24 GB.

Before getting this, I read some of the reviews (which are surprisingly scarce), and it was claimed to be loud. This is not the case. The fans spin up loudly, but once booted, they throttle down, and stay nice and quiet. I've got a Dell laptop right here that is louder than the server. The server also runs very cool, so the cooling is doing its job. I ran a smoke simulation in Blender for an hour, all cores at 100%, and it only got mildly warm. This was in a room with an ambient temperature of probably about 85 F.
If you're curious about how fast this is, here's a nice comparison chart:  http://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu.php?cpu=Intel+Xeon+L5420+%40+2.50GHz&id=1259&cpuCount=2 This shows that it's a little slower than a modern desktop, but remember that the entire thing costs somewhere around half of what just the CPU of a new computer might cost! At the cost, scaling out over multiple servers is a good option too.

I've run Linux mint, FreeNAS, and Ubuntu Studio on it. Boot time is rather slow, but I haven't timed it. When using onboard graphics the X server sometimes has to be started manually with startx. I haven't had any such problems with a graphics card.

All in all though, if you're looking for power without the price, it doesn't get any better than this!

More good advertising

This is good advertising, at least in concept. The video is somewhat sub-par.

I guess this reduces the possibility of a leaking liquid cooling system ruining your motherboard/CPU.

My first thought is that the coating will trap heat, but I guess some silicone based coatings have decent thermal transfer.

It also makes open air cases more attractive, though I like the ASUS Sabertooth armor too.

Now I'm just waiting to hear of this for laptop motherboards!

In the country...

You know you're in the country when you see signs like this:

(And cropped)

On the way back from our grandparent's farm we saw this, and I just had to get a photo! 

;D

Default Programs

When I install a new operating system, there is usually a set of default programs I want to install. Since I do this fairly frequently, (this may not be such a problem for many people!) it's nice when a distribution comes with most of the software I want so I don't have to go through a lot of installations. This is most noticeable on Windows, but many Linux distros come with a minimum of software too.

Enter Ninite!

What this website does is provide a single installation file to install multiple programs. You just select the programs you want, download the file, and install once!

Also, one of the really annoying aspects of some software installers is that they try to to install lots of junk software by default. (ASK toolbar for example) This website not only runs the installer automatically, it says no to the surplus extras!

It also detects whether the OS is 32 or 64 bit, and installs the right program version.

Want to update all the programs? Just run the file again! No matter when you made the installation file, all the programs will be up to date when they are installed.

Here are most of the Windows programs I like to install: (hyperlink)

Here's a file with most of the Linux programs I generally install (hyperlink)

If I remember I'll make a full list at some point.

Strandbeast

An impressive bit of mechanical engineering.

Don't mess with Marines

This is pretty old, but still good:

http://tigerhawk.blogspot.com/2011/05/messing-with-wrong-marines.html

Text reads:

Assailant suffers injuries from fall

Orville Smith, a store manager for Best Buy in Augusta, GA., told police he observed a male customer, later identified as Tyrone Jackson of Augusta, on surveillance cameras putting a laptop computer under his jacket. When confronted the man became irate, knocked down an employee, drew a knife and ran for the door. 

Outside on the sidewalk were four Marines collecting toys for the Toys for Tots program. Smith said the Marines stopped the man, but he stabbed one of the Marines, CPL. Phillip Duggan, in the back; the injury did not appear to be severe. after Police and an ambulance arrived at the scene Cpl. Duggan was transported for treatment.

"The subject was also transported to the local hospital with two broken arms, a broken ankle, a broken leg, several missing teeth, possible broken ribs, multiple contusions, assorted lacerations, a broken nose, and a broken jaw...injuries he sustained when he slipped and fell off the curb after stabbing the Marine." According to a police report.

From TigerHawkBlog.

Don't mess with marines!

EEC RAM

While reading through some operating system technical recommendations I came across this:

If the probability of an error is one in a hundred quadrillion, and if the memory system is running at 10 MHz (100 nanosecond), and if you have 125 Megabytes of RAM (1 billion bits), then you would expect on average to see one single-bit error every ten seconds and one double-bit error every thousand quadrillion seconds (somewhat more than the age of the universe). That is why ECC memory is worth using, and why it is designed to detect but not correct double-bit errors.

I'm not sure this is correct, but it is rather interesting. The rest of the page is here:
http://www.ohio.edu/people/piccard/mis300/eccram.htm
(Also note the date at the bottom!)

Why Atheists are Irrational

This was another video I liked on YouTube.

Global Warming

The whole global warming thing is pretty ridiculous. I think people are starting to realize that, and it's quieted down some, I don't hear about it as much as I did a few years ago.

I think they've also labeled it 'climate change', which is more believable. A few years ago we had two snowstorms back to back that each dropped about two feet of snow, and the next year the temperature hovered around 50 most days. Still, trying to mess with the climate is rather pointless.

Good advertising

I was looking through my likes on YouTube, and noticed that I hadn't posted some of them here, so the next couple of posts will just be some of those.

Here's one that was interesting, this is also good advertising.

For when you really have nothing better to do...

This is really pretty cool.

Advertisers take note!

Few things make an advertisement look worse than having photos in the wrong aspect ratio... Does this annoy anyone else?

Graphics designers seem to think they can just stretch images to fit whatever space they want. It doesn't work that way!

Crop or letterbox. It's not that hard.

Transistor software

Note to self (and all interested):

Here's a piece of software that looks like it could be quite useful: http://en.transistoramp.de/

It works fine running on WINE too.

Ice cream!

I've been pretty busy, and I really need to start posting here again. Here's a snippet from some of what I've been working on. (Take Back the Land video)

How do people think of things like this on the spot? Amazing! (And funny)

Take Back the Land

Early-bird pre-registration pricing for the northern Virginia

 

 conference ends in just three days!!  

Register now

 

 to get discounted pricing.  

For three more days, the prices are $25 per person and $55 per family.  On March 1st, prices go up to $30 per person and $65 per family.  

Lunch

 

 at the conference

Those of you attending Take Back the Land on Saturday can go to the website

 

 to order a lunch of pizza, chips, and fruit for $6.00 per person.  Those of you who have already registered can still order your lunch separately on the website

 

.  If you prefer, you can bring your own bag lunch.  

Enter the Giveaway!!

 

While you're registering, don't forget to enter the giveaway

 

 of the Duggar Family's books 20 and Counting and A Love That Multiplies.  These books are both autographed by Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar.  You can get the most points by registering for Take Back the Land, but you can also enter by sharing the giveaway with friends over email and social media or by joining the Take Back the Land Facebook page.  This giveaway will have two winners!  The giveaway ends on February 28th.

TAKE BACK THE LAND     a youth conference for families "Take your place in the battle for revival and reformation in America."

Northern VA / March 8 & 9 Rick Boyer   We're so excited about our conference, Take Back the Land!  We know you're as concerned as we are about the future of our beloved country and the freedoms we so desperately want to preserve for our children.  That's why Rick, Marilyn, Rick Jr. and Nate Boyer are bringing this ministry to northern Virginia on March 8 & 9, 2013 . This is the second Take Back the Land conference, and it's less than a month away! Go to our TBL web site  NOW and register your family:  www.takebacktheland.com.       We promise you will leave encouraged, challenged and equipped to effectively fight God's battle for American culture.   You know that America was established as a distinctively Christian nation.  You also know that we have drifted dangerously far from our founding principles.  You want to know what you can do--and what you can teach your children to do--to reverse the downward spiral of American spirituality, morals and leadership.  That's what Take Back the Land is all about.   You will learn how in only 2 Saturdays and 1 evening per year, you can help revolutionize the direction of your political party--no more voting for the lesser of two evils!   You will learn how to start a quiet reformation in your local church that will get members off the pews and into action for Christ.   You will hear how to "multiply yourself by 100" for the achievement of godly ministry objectives.   You will hear the keys to helping your sons and daughters find their place as mighty warriors in the spiritual warfare now raging in our culture.     There's so much more that we can't possibly squeeze it all into one email. Please go to www.takebacktheland.com    NOW and find out more.     You've been watching our culture deteriorate into secularism for years and wished there was something you could do.  Well, wish no more!  There's a ton you and your family can do to make a lasting difference in America.  Bring your sons and daughters to Take Back the Land.  Meet hundreds of like-minded parents and young people and help build a coalition of Christian families dedicated to turning this nation "right side up!"   Take Back the Land.  A youth conference for families.    Even if you're not a family or a young person, you're still welcome to come!

REGISTER TODAY!   Pre-Register before March 1st for a discounted price Conference Times: March 8th, Registration opens at 6 pm, Sessions from 7-9 pm.   March 9th, Registration opens at 8 am, Sessions from 9 am - 5 pm.  Click on the images to Learn more about the Speakers   Marilyn Boyer   Rick Boyer Jr. Nate Boyer Rck Boyer

Corning and thunderbolt

It appears that Corning is making fiber optics. I didn't see this coming, but probably should have, considering the properties of certain glasses from them. This is very interesting.

Fiber optic connections are nothing new. They have been used for a long time in networking applications. Thunderbolt is trying to bring this to consumers, in a more appropriate price range. So far they have not done a very good job of this, Thunderbolt being available on a very select few computers, and only slightly more devices. That being said, it does have good potential if Intel can manage to make it more widespread by approving more devices and computers, .

The big breakthrough here though, (at least from my point of view) is the 0 bend radius on this cable!

While on the topic of data, transfer and storage;

Non-technical people tend to get a bit blasé about how it is now possible to store multiple HD feature films on things that you can lose in your pocket, but the reality is quite astonishing. Ten years ago, the idea that you might be able to back up an entire video project on something costing £25, and that you could accidentally drop in your cup of decaff latte would have seemed completely wild. In fact, if you'd dropped the decade-old equivalent on your coffee mug, it would have smashed it and the table as well.

-Redshark

Take Back the Land update

Here is an update on the Take Back the Land;

Dear friends, 

The Take Back the Land conference is less than six weeks away! As it draws closer, we would like to give you a few exciting updates.  

Book giveaway!

Whether you can make it to the conference or not, be sure to enter for a chance to win a free copy of Rick Boyer's book Take Back the Land.  Earn extra points by spreading the word about the northern Virginia conference, exploring the website, liking it on facebook, registering for the conference, and more.  Don't wait!  The giveaway ends January 31!  

New Speaker
The speakers are Rick Boyer, Rick Boyer, Jr., and Nate Boyer. We are excited to announce that Marilyn Boyer will also be speaking!

Marilyn Boyer

Marilyn Boyer and her husband Rick are true pioneers of homeschooling. Beginning in 1980, Marilyn has taught all of her 14 children from kindergarten through high school. Her passion for putting Christian character at the top of her educational priorities resulted in the creation of the Character Concepts Curriculum. Marilyn has authored several books including Parenting from the Heart, Hand-on Character Building, and For You They Signed, which inspires children and adults alike by learning of the character of our founders. Her combination of compassion, godly wisdom, and rich insight into the hearts of children has made her a cherished resource for homeschooling moms all across America. Learn more of her resources for teaching character to kids atwww.characterconceptscurriculum.com.

Video of Jim Bob Duggar

Check out this video of Jim Bob Duggar, father of nineteen children, endorsing the Take Back the Land conference.  

For more information about Take Back the Land, visit the website http://takebacktheland.com/.

Finally, don't forget to register!  The discounted pricing for pre-registration ends March 1.  

Please send this on to any individuals or groups which may be interested.  

If you have any questions, feel free to ask the Grove family at: takebackthelandnova@gmail.com

Kickstarter

I'm still not entirely sure what this is all about...

But I thought it a rather more interesting and unusual Kickstarter project.

Take Back the Land!

The Boyers

There is going to be a Take Back the Land conference in March that I am helping to organize. There is also a free giveaway of one of the speaker's books. Click here to read more about it and enter to win!

Sign up here!

http://takebacktheland.com/

Whole room projection

Every once in a while, Microsoft does come out with some neat things, and this is one of them:

Seen here: http://www.redsharknews.com/technology/item/381-will-the-xbox-720-have-surround-video

It looks like a really cool idea, if they can get it to work and to market.

Computer building guide

Here's a short guide on how to build a computer. It's just an advertisement for Asus, but there's some good information nonetheless.

(This was posted partly just to test out the embed code)

Reactions to chemistry...

Some of my reactions when taking MIT chemistry:

(There are a number of weeks omitted in this list)

Week 1:     No problem! What's the big deal?

Week 2:     Woah, what happened? This stuff is hard!

Exam 1:     There's no way I'm passing; the question is just how long should I stick with it?

Week 7:     I've asked someone who majored in chemistry, and they have no idea how to solve these problems.

Week 9:     I've asked a college chemistry professor with a PhD, and they have no idea how to solve these problems.

Exam 2:     For some reason unbeknownst to me, I scored 4 % higher than on the first exam, but there's still no way I'm passing.

Week 10:     How in the world did I get a perfect 100 score for my homework ?!?

Week 11:     Whooho! No homework, and I only need a 44 % in the final exam to pass... Just maybe.. !

Week 12:     Whoo- AAH! The Final is this week!

Final (before):   It would take an act of God for me to pass!

Final (after):     -And a miracle occurs...

Never again!

YouTube fun

Try this: play the video, (it's just one of mine that I used) and click once on the screen to pause it, and again to start it. Now push and hold the right arrow then press the down arrow. If it doesn't work, try watching it directly on the YouTube page. Enjoy!

Classic game of snake!

Also something of how I feel about EULAs

Sometimes I just wonder why...

It should really only take a few lines to say whatever it is they are trying to say.

Something of how I feel about Windows 8

I hear some good and some bad about Windows 8, but I can't stand the interface, and I like Linux 

Another thing about Linux (at least most versions) is that it keeps its value.

If you want to sell it, it goes for exactly what you paid - $0!

Linux and its many flavors

Have you ever wondered just how many versions of Linux there are?

(apparently not enough!)

This chart from Wikipedia shows it nicely:

!!!

Just so you know- if you want to try Linux, there's no shortage of versions!

Too many options? I'm planning to do a review / comparison of some of the more popular ones soon

Facebook

Man, how do they know that? I'm not even on facebook! ;)

(Otherwise it could be rather more effective marketing!)

Really neat case mod

Here's an exceptional case mod from the Cooler Master competition (It won)

And here's a link about how he made it (always the most interesting part!)

http://forum.coolermaster.com/viewtopic.php?f=52&t=15670&st=0&sk=t&sd=a

Every once in a while I'm tempted to see what I could do with some of the old cases we have, but I'm just not really comfortable with having all the parts exposed like that, though it does look really neat.
(plus, watercooling is expensive!)

Happy new year everyone!

I don't really have much to post here right now, but I may have more later, so for now I'll just say Happy New Year!

P.S. Also testing out the scheduled post option.