Because it's in-tents!
No semester of undergrad can compare to how hectic its been in the last few days. There has been an absolute ton going on almost all the time. Getting into the swing of things has been tough and I'm also doing a lot of stuff I've never done before. Tons of changes. It is not like getting a bachelors degree at all.
I'm currently only in two courses - so I'm hardly ever in class while I'm on campus. One of my courses is a "how to do grad school seminar" which may be more challenging than my actual course - which is advanced cryptography.
I'm instructing two labs: Csc 110 - which should be fun - and Csc 355 - which may be tricky. I'll also be doing some other related work and perhaps helping write up with one of the 110 assigments. Still the fact that I could be teaching things to people - some of which are only 2 years behind me - is a little frightening. Still the best way to learn is to teach right.
I have an office! It pwns! If you're ever in ecs and bored you could drop by. It is theoretically a shared office, but I'm all alone in here so far. I'm actually typing this in my office right now. Having an office is awesome - mostly just as a quiet space I have control over. My office is currently sports a tribble - proving that I do belong here. I may owe some folks tribbles.
I need to get starting on doing research and defining what my research area is. Perferably by the 13th which is freakishly soon.
Anyway I now have to run to a meeting about a project with the Hertzburg Institute of Astrophysics. Life is insane.
-Liam
Friday, January 7, 2011
Tron: Legacy and Why It Draws My Ire
I could talk about the new tron for awhile. It sucks. It's bad on so many levels.
The special effects are dull, boring, and feel irrelevant. Scenes involving them aren't interesting either. All they really try to do is one up tron and and make it look cooler, bigger and brighter. They somehow manage to fail.
They're also really contrived. Most of the action scenes are in there only because they were in the first movie. He gets put on the game grid, why? Because they thought they could make lightcycles look cooler. Nope.
It's impossible to care about the characters. In the first movie everyone is likeable and believable - and well rounded. You cared about them. In this one, they just feel meh. This is probably also why the action sequences suck. They're more or less the same as the first one, except instead of having 3 characters you cared about, now you have the new young star and 4 random guys - who's faces you never see. They drop like flies. woot.
The plot is ultra contrived. It feels like an afterthought. I suspect they had a checklist of action scenes and required elements: bike scene, hot female lead, young male lead, role for jeff bridges, shiny stuff. Once they had it checked off, then they decided they needed a central thread and they'd be damned if it made sense in any context or was believable in any way.
For instance there is a location that's supposed to be impossible to get to. Heavily gaurded, no direct path, etc, etc, etc. But you can take a train to it - so they can have a scene on a train.
"What on earth were they thinking?" is what I pull away from the entire plot.
They also decided to take some pages out of the matrix sequels books. Honest to god shit like, "We need to find the keymaster, he can get us into anywhere." Woot.
They also seemed to think that audiences wouldn't understand the concept of being inside a computer. They honestly sit down and eat a dinner of sausage and shit at one point. Why would programs need to eat sausage? Where did that come from?
In the first one, everyone was clearly programs. They acted like it to. One guy is a banking program - he isn't programmed to fight. Bizzarly they come off as a hundred times more human than anyone in Tron: Legacy.
Not the biggest problem, but it bothers me that Tron isn't really in the movie. He's in the title, but apparently Bruce Boxleitner isn't a big enough star to warrant more than five minutes of screentime. Sure he's old now, but seriously. It's called Tron. Tron should have been in there.
Basically, I would say that everything that made Tron great has been mercilessly gutted and replaced composite parts designed to be "better". It has none of the character, charm or wonder of the original.
In terms of terrible its probably better than the prequel trilogy and the crystal skull, but it has a lot of the same elements that made those movie spectacular.
Don't go see it. You have better things to do with your time.
-Liam
For more reviews (or actual ones) you could go here:
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/10011582-TRON_legacy/
But seriously, your time is better spent elsewhere
The special effects are dull, boring, and feel irrelevant. Scenes involving them aren't interesting either. All they really try to do is one up tron and and make it look cooler, bigger and brighter. They somehow manage to fail.
They're also really contrived. Most of the action scenes are in there only because they were in the first movie. He gets put on the game grid, why? Because they thought they could make lightcycles look cooler. Nope.
It's impossible to care about the characters. In the first movie everyone is likeable and believable - and well rounded. You cared about them. In this one, they just feel meh. This is probably also why the action sequences suck. They're more or less the same as the first one, except instead of having 3 characters you cared about, now you have the new young star and 4 random guys - who's faces you never see. They drop like flies. woot.
The plot is ultra contrived. It feels like an afterthought. I suspect they had a checklist of action scenes and required elements: bike scene, hot female lead, young male lead, role for jeff bridges, shiny stuff. Once they had it checked off, then they decided they needed a central thread and they'd be damned if it made sense in any context or was believable in any way.
For instance there is a location that's supposed to be impossible to get to. Heavily gaurded, no direct path, etc, etc, etc. But you can take a train to it - so they can have a scene on a train.
"What on earth were they thinking?" is what I pull away from the entire plot.
They also decided to take some pages out of the matrix sequels books. Honest to god shit like, "We need to find the keymaster, he can get us into anywhere." Woot.
They also seemed to think that audiences wouldn't understand the concept of being inside a computer. They honestly sit down and eat a dinner of sausage and shit at one point. Why would programs need to eat sausage? Where did that come from?
In the first one, everyone was clearly programs. They acted like it to. One guy is a banking program - he isn't programmed to fight. Bizzarly they come off as a hundred times more human than anyone in Tron: Legacy.
Not the biggest problem, but it bothers me that Tron isn't really in the movie. He's in the title, but apparently Bruce Boxleitner isn't a big enough star to warrant more than five minutes of screentime. Sure he's old now, but seriously. It's called Tron. Tron should have been in there.
Basically, I would say that everything that made Tron great has been mercilessly gutted and replaced composite parts designed to be "better". It has none of the character, charm or wonder of the original.
In terms of terrible its probably better than the prequel trilogy and the crystal skull, but it has a lot of the same elements that made those movie spectacular.
Don't go see it. You have better things to do with your time.
-Liam
For more reviews (or actual ones) you could go here:
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/10011582-TRON_legacy/
But seriously, your time is better spent elsewhere
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Chainmail Necklace
I'm home for the holidays and nothing says home for the holidays like cable TV and chainmailling. I've got all the tools and fair bit of wire.
I cranked out a quick necklace/chain. It's using something like a Full Persian weave, but not. I'm not entirely sure what it is. It's built by adding an extra ring to 4-1 European chain to make it more like a cylinder.
Here are some pictures:
Next project will probably also be a necklace. I really like this one,so that may be what happens. I'd need to make some really small rings.
I also really like the RSD Weave. So that might happen too.
-Liam
I cranked out a quick necklace/chain. It's using something like a Full Persian weave, but not. I'm not entirely sure what it is. It's built by adding an extra ring to 4-1 European chain to make it more like a cylinder.
Here are some pictures:
 |
| The necklace |
 |
| A good look at the weave |
 |
| I have played Duke Nukem Forever |
Next project will probably also be a necklace. I really like this one,so that may be what happens. I'd need to make some really small rings.
I also really like the RSD Weave. So that might happen too.
-Liam
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
I Want to Write a Sci-Fi Book
I want it to be about the kind of people who leave home behind to go out into the unkown. I want it to be about the crew. Everything from how they feel and what they do.
What makes them go into space? What do they do out there? What is their job aboard the ship? How do they kick back and relax? How do their ideas and concepts about going into space mesh with reality?
Anyway, I totally know what I would do and why I'd go up, but I'd really like to grab other peoples perspectives on why they'd go up, or why they think other people would. I made a super quick form using google forms, so if people want to send me their thoughts, that would be awesome:
https://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?formkey=dGYxa0tMVGFSY2RWUktOSlgwdjNsWEE6MQ
It's pretty open ended, you don't have to fill in anything you don't want to. If you feel a form is too restrictive, don't be afraid to email me at 4liamk@gmail.com.
Also of note, if anyone wants to get in on this and wants to write some stuff, I'd be totally down with collaborators. I know some pretty talented people are out there.
-Liam
What makes them go into space? What do they do out there? What is their job aboard the ship? How do they kick back and relax? How do their ideas and concepts about going into space mesh with reality?
Anyway, I totally know what I would do and why I'd go up, but I'd really like to grab other peoples perspectives on why they'd go up, or why they think other people would. I made a super quick form using google forms, so if people want to send me their thoughts, that would be awesome:
https://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?formkey=dGYxa0tMVGFSY2RWUktOSlgwdjNsWEE6MQ
It's pretty open ended, you don't have to fill in anything you don't want to. If you feel a form is too restrictive, don't be afraid to email me at 4liamk@gmail.com.
Also of note, if anyone wants to get in on this and wants to write some stuff, I'd be totally down with collaborators. I know some pretty talented people are out there.
-Liam
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Space Slayer: Earth's Last Hope
Made this for a class in second year! Fun times. Woot gamemaker.
Fly and Be Free
They came just as we thought they would. They began their attack from orbit, destroying our major military installations. With no ability to defend ourselves, their ground troops had no problems enslaving the human race. In days we became nothing, but they made a mistake. One of their interplanetary crafts, dubbed The Shrike, crashed near a pocket of resistance fighters. Unfortunately the controls were a mystery.
You were one of those resistance fighters lucky enough to stay alive. Your entire family, friends and acquaintances were killed by the invaders. Fueled by your thirst for revenge you managed to figure out that you moved with the arrow keys, and shot with the Z key. Your mission is to take that ship into space, and find the alien home world. There you will find the alien overlord. Rock On!
You were one of those resistance fighters lucky enough to stay alive. Your entire family, friends and acquaintances were killed by the invaders. Fueled by your thirst for revenge you managed to figure out that you moved with the arrow keys, and shot with the Z key. Your mission is to take that ship into space, and find the alien home world. There you will find the alien overlord. Rock On!
Game Executable. Click here to play!
Game Design Document
User Manual
Going to Grad School
As of a few days ago, I'm officially going to be working towards a Master Degree at the University of Victoria come January. Should be really fun.
There are a variety of plans and projects in the works with some really cool people and organizations.
The big reason for going to UVic is that the faculty is awesome. I've had the opportunity to work with some great people. Yvonne Coady for one has really helped me along.
I've joined a team of people who are going to be awesome. The only thing missing is a team name. It has to be catchy, awesome and probably have something to do with parallel programming. Woot computer science!
-Liam
There are a variety of plans and projects in the works with some really cool people and organizations.
The big reason for going to UVic is that the faculty is awesome. I've had the opportunity to work with some great people. Yvonne Coady for one has really helped me along.
I've joined a team of people who are going to be awesome. The only thing missing is a team name. It has to be catchy, awesome and probably have something to do with parallel programming. Woot computer science!
-Liam
Friday, September 24, 2010
Liam's Open Source and Free Poker Timer - in Python
You can download it here
I really like to play poker (in this case texas holdem), but games of poker can take a long time. In my head, an ideal game of poker would take about 2 hours and let people live normal lives.
An actual game of poker can take 5+ hours. This is undesirable. Specifically when your friends only play poker to humor you.
As such, tournaments often raise the blinds by x after 20-30 minutes. This can totally be done for your games too, but I found a serious lack of help with such a task. In particular if you want a program which does this, it'll cost you 10+ dollars or require you to sign up somewhere.
Like Seriously?
I decided to make one, it took me an afternoon and fills all my requirements. It's python so you can run it almost anywhere. Also you can change it to fit your purposes.
It raises the blinds every 15 minutes like this. The value here is the small blind, the big blind is twice that.
1
2
3
4
5
10
15
20
30
40
50
60
+20
This should hopefully go for the 2 hour games mark and also make the first hour pretty relaxed. Everyone should be able to play for an hour, and even new players won't have a hard time. After an hour it will become an increasingly hard game and really take some skills, but the blinds shouldn't get rediculous.
This assumes 200 chips. If you do 1000 - multiply everything by 5. I just don't see the point of playing with 1000 fake dollars when you could do 200 and play the exact same game.
It requires python 3.1 and the pygame library. Also, in the same directory as the script, you need to have a song or sound file named "song.mp3". I suggest you put your favourite song there.
You can download it here
Once again this is beer license software and was developed to alleviate a huge and pressing gap in python poker timers. You may edit and redistribute it as long as you keep the beer license notice and don't make any money off it. Anything else requires my permission. Thank you!
-Liam
if you have any questions or comments, let me know!
I really like to play poker (in this case texas holdem), but games of poker can take a long time. In my head, an ideal game of poker would take about 2 hours and let people live normal lives.
An actual game of poker can take 5+ hours. This is undesirable. Specifically when your friends only play poker to humor you.
As such, tournaments often raise the blinds by x after 20-30 minutes. This can totally be done for your games too, but I found a serious lack of help with such a task. In particular if you want a program which does this, it'll cost you 10+ dollars or require you to sign up somewhere.
Like Seriously?
I decided to make one, it took me an afternoon and fills all my requirements. It's python so you can run it almost anywhere. Also you can change it to fit your purposes.
It raises the blinds every 15 minutes like this. The value here is the small blind, the big blind is twice that.
1
2
3
4
5
10
15
20
30
40
50
60
+20
This should hopefully go for the 2 hour games mark and also make the first hour pretty relaxed. Everyone should be able to play for an hour, and even new players won't have a hard time. After an hour it will become an increasingly hard game and really take some skills, but the blinds shouldn't get rediculous.
This assumes 200 chips. If you do 1000 - multiply everything by 5. I just don't see the point of playing with 1000 fake dollars when you could do 200 and play the exact same game.
It requires python 3.1 and the pygame library. Also, in the same directory as the script, you need to have a song or sound file named "song.mp3". I suggest you put your favourite song there.
You can download it here
Once again this is beer license software and was developed to alleviate a huge and pressing gap in python poker timers. You may edit and redistribute it as long as you keep the beer license notice and don't make any money off it. Anything else requires my permission. Thank you!
-Liam
if you have any questions or comments, let me know!
Friday, September 17, 2010
Pax was Awesome and the Chainmail was a hit!
Pax was awesome, start to finish, but the coolest thing was how well the chainmail went over. A lot of people liked it and I got a ton of compliments. I met some cool people and it was a great conversation starter. My only regret is I did not wear the chainmail sooner, as I only wore it on Sunday.
I bumped into some serious chainmail people, particularly was the girl who runs Knitted Steel. Apparently you can buy stretchy rings which make awesome bracelets, I may have to try that out.
I also played Duke Nukem Forever! Say What!? That's a pretty big deal.
I bumped into some serious chainmail people, particularly was the girl who runs Knitted Steel. Apparently you can buy stretchy rings which make awesome bracelets, I may have to try that out.
I also played Duke Nukem Forever! Say What!? That's a pretty big deal.
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Done my Chainmail!
Sort of want to post pictures, but I mostly just want to show up places wearing it. I hope they make a lot of movies set in fantasy realms (or the past; I prefer fantasy realms). I'll be that guy!
I also cranked out some bracelets which really rock. Three were made in totally and I gave two away to awesome people. Might post pictures of the one I still have left. We shall see.
All in all, it was a fun, relaxing and rewarding experience. It actually helped me get through some tough times. There is a week of my summer known as "Hell Week". You literally have no idea how bad that week was. I swear to god, making chainmail bracelets saved my sanity. I am not in an asylum because of them, and they make great gifts!
Also, I figure I should link the two sites which really got me started and continue to be incredibly useful:
-Liam
P.S. Next project - bean bag chair. Anyone have a sewing machine I can borrow/use? Anyone know were you can buy the beans?
I also cranked out some bracelets which really rock. Three were made in totally and I gave two away to awesome people. Might post pictures of the one I still have left. We shall see.
All in all, it was a fun, relaxing and rewarding experience. It actually helped me get through some tough times. There is a week of my summer known as "Hell Week". You literally have no idea how bad that week was. I swear to god, making chainmail bracelets saved my sanity. I am not in an asylum because of them, and they make great gifts!
Also, I figure I should link the two sites which really got me started and continue to be incredibly useful:
- CG Maille: Awesome site full of tutorial and know how. The big thing is they really show you how to make good weaves with easy to understand diagrams that look beautiful.
- Chainmail Basket: Really good knowledge base for tools, technique and unorthodox projects. I still really want to make a cube.
-Liam
P.S. Next project - bean bag chair. Anyone have a sewing machine I can borrow/use? Anyone know were you can buy the beans?
Buy Games New
Purchasing used games from EB really rips off developers. EB get's all the money and they keep it for themselves. You should really buy new games as that supports the people who made it and then they can make more.
Essentially when you buy a new game, you're sort of paying for that one, but mostly you're paying for them to make the next one.
To the developer, when you buy a used game, it's like piracy, but you gave your to money to EB games instead of keeping it. Literally they see just as much money from someone who bought a used game as from someone who stole it.
Spend the extra 5 bucks, so great companies like Bioware can keep making the games we love to play.
-Liam
Essentially when you buy a new game, you're sort of paying for that one, but mostly you're paying for them to make the next one.
To the developer, when you buy a used game, it's like piracy, but you gave your to money to EB games instead of keeping it. Literally they see just as much money from someone who bought a used game as from someone who stole it.
Spend the extra 5 bucks, so great companies like Bioware can keep making the games we love to play.
-Liam
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