Rocky Horror Picture Show Things

Photos

Videos coming soon...

Technorati Tags: Rocky Horror, photos

FBI raids creator of fake boarding pass generator - Homeland Stupidity

FBI raids creator of fake boarding pass generator - Homeland Stupidity:

And it’s not that he’s some evil hacker or terrorist, either. He’s a fairly well known security researcher at Indiana University who has also done security work for Apple and Google. He obtained an M.S. in Security Informatics at Johns Hopkins University and is engaged in Ph.D. research at Indiana University. Earlier this year he created a new anti-phishing tool.

This administration has to go. This warrant would not have been possible without the PATRIOT act. Kick the bastards out.

Technorati tags: security, politics, fear

Think Progress � Chuck Norris Sets The Facts Straight: Evolution Is ‘Not Real. It Is Not The Way We Got Here’

Think Progress � Chuck Norris Sets The Facts Straight: Evolution Is ‘Not Real. It Is Not The Way We Got Here’:

Alleged Chuck Norris Fact: “There is no theory of evolution. Just a list of creatures Chuck Norris has allowed to live.” It’s funny. It’s cute. But here’s what I really think about the theory of evolution: It’s not real. It is not the way we got here. In fact, the life you see on this planet is really just a list of creatures God has allowed to live. We are not creations of random chance. We are not accidents.

I mean, you would expect it when reading WorldNutDaily. This is the same eCrap producer that numbers exgays in the millions and resyndicates Jerry Falwell. But I didn't know Chuck Norris was such a retard.

Technorati tags: chuck norris, evolution, politics, stupid

Create Digital Music � Second Life for Musicians: Vintage and New Virtual Synths, Music Community?

CDM:

Second Life is one of those things I might try out one of these days, except that I’m quite busy with my first, second, third, and fourth lives at the moment. I’m surprised that while Tom at Music thing catches on to music gear sales in the virtual community, he misses out on all the synths. Search “synth” on the SLBoutique, and you’ll find lots of classic gear rendered in 3D form. Seen recently:

Conbrio Synth
Yamaha DX1
Roland JX10
TimewARP 2600 (a unique virtual version of a virtual version of a real synth - yikes!)

More from the "Oh dear God I wish I had time for Second Life" department. It just seems there is newer, cooler stuff on Second Life every single day. Now with more than 1,000,000 users, the platform gets more and more appealing.

God I wish I had time and a fast computer for it. While my trusty Powerbook G4 seems to render Second Life just dandy, laptop trackpads, mini arrow keys, and a shaky wireless connection just don't make for a good SL experience. And my Windoze tower is, well, not a gaming machine. Plus, I have too many other projects at home.

Anyway, hope everyone likes synth porn. ^.^

Technorati tags: second life, interesting, synth, gear

ITG Things

In The Groove:

Konami Corporation, developer of the Dance Dance Revolution(R) video dance game, and Roxor Games, Inc., developer of In The Groove(R) dance games, today announced the mutual settlement of the litigation between the parties in the U.S. District Court in the Eastern District of Texas. Under the terms of the settlement, Konami has acquired the intellectual property rights to the In The Groove(R) dance game franchise. It was further agreed as a part of the settlement that Roxor would respect Konami’s intellectual property rights.

You want to know what the future of dancing games is? Imagine a boot stamped in the face of games -- forever.
I have had nothing but disappointment with the Bemani (music games) division of Konami since DDR Extreme. Extreme 2 is the crappiest rhythm game ever released, with a retarted and frustrating game experience all around. In The Groove was a good addition to any library, with mostly techno music and challenging, interesting steps (instead of rehashing the same 3 patterns for every song for all eternity). It even had easier songs / difficulties to get beginners into the game. Graphically, it was a million times more polished than any Konami game, with the lack of annoying dancing robots, and subtler, dimmed backgrounds and actually nice-looking arrows. If Konami continues the franchise (which they most likely will not) there is no question that they will fuck it up completely.

I rented SuperNOVA through GameFly today. I didn't buy it when it came out because I figured the trend has been from decent -> crap -> the most horrible thing invented since feces. I guess if I want to continue playing console dance games, I'm going to have to get used to it. KeeL, Andy, Plaguefox, and all the awesome dudes who made ITG, I thank you deeply. Your line will be much missed.

Then again, there's always StepmaniaX.

Technorati tags: ddr, dancing, games

'boards - Screening Room

Dove Real Beuty Project

This impressive short video shows the process of creating a woman for a billboard ad, from the model walking into the screening room to the end-product photo. Sped up and shortened to 60 seconds - this is some impressive stuff.

Seriously, watch this. It'll blow your mind for today.

Technorati tags: beauty, awesome, video

Video Things

It occurred to me just a little bit ago that the Vimeo link in my sidebar does not do a whole lot. I have uploaded videos to quite a few places online, and haven't used Vimeo in a long time. So, in an effort to consolidate where all these crazy videos are, I will provide links here. Hopefully more to come soon.

YouTube

• Fireworks!
• Ohayocon 2007
  

Google Video

• Disney World Fireworks
• Masquerade from Ikasucon 2006

Vimeo

• Chopper Takeoff
• Super Bright Glowsticks
• Jesus Raves!
• Otters!
• Fire
• Storks Dancing
• Steel Drums
• Ocean Waves
• DJ SS Rave

Technorati Tags: video, links

Coming Out Day Things

Today is National Coming Out Day. The Human Rights Campaign has chosen to honor it by releasing it's Striaght Guide to GLBT Americans. Purdue's QRC organization has released some awesome "Come Out Rockin'" T-shirts. If I didn't already have more free T-shirts than I can deal with, I'd totally buy one.

As it is, I think telling my own story would be a good way to honor NCOD. Coming out is a four-step process, and not everyone comes out all the way (and honestly, some people's situations mean they shouldn't).

First, you come out to yourself. Some people will never figure out the reason they're not attracted to the opposite gender. Some people will permanently think that being gay is a choice, or a phase, or other backflips of logic that explain why they're not gay. I did this for about three or four years. I figured it was just a phase... that kept going on... for years. >.< I finally admitted I was gay at a summer programme at cambridge University. I met some really awesome people there, and as soon as I heard another person my age admit they were bi, it somehow seemed okay for me to be different, too.

The second step in coming out is being open with your friends. After coming back from the totally accepting atmosphere at Cambridge, it was kind of a low to be back in high school, where nobody else was gay, and being gay was a bad thing. I was switching peer groups at this time, and a lot of my new friends were in theatre, and seemed like really good people. So, I told one of my friends, which eventually became most of my friends. They took it really well, and their support made the next steps a lot easier.

The third step in coming out is being open with your family. This is a lot harder than with friends, even if you 'know' your parents and family will take it well. Parents and family have a huge amount of of power over kids, and even into adulthood we still value our relationships with our family a lot. So it's scary to reveal what has been a secret, with the knowledge that it has ripped many of your fellow gay folks entirely away from their families. My parents, however, being the coolest parents on Earth, took it really well, and their support is still a valuable part of my life.

The last step in coming out is being open to the public. You don't care who knows you're gay, and aren't afraid to mention hotties of the same gender, make jokes, and talk about romance in common conversation. This is the point where you are fulfilled and living honestly, and you have lost all the shame and secrecy that the closet creates. I took this step after coming out to my parents when I created a Gay/Straight Alliance in my high school. After living free and being me, openly and honestly, I could never go back in the closet.

Coming out is an important step for all gay people, not just the individual who does it. By making ourselves visible, we increase awareness and understanding with our straight brethren. It's much harder for Mrs. Fundie to bash gays when she knows good people who happen to be that way. But also, coming out of the closet and living honestly makes it possible to be proud of ones' self, and fulfilled in one's life and purpose. It is, I think, a necessary step in the growth and fulfillment of any queer person, and I feel for anyone who doesn't have the opportunity.

Update: I was supposed to post this yesterday, but I didn't get around to it. However, I can now post it in response to rserven's dKos diary. Happy days, all!

Technorati Tags: gay, politics, national coming out day

Updated Music Things

So, it got to the point where I have almost 200 MB of music online, and only 500MB of total space on my server over at Archmagus.us. Thus, I have transferred most of my music over to my profile at iCompositions. iComp offers a number of features I like, including unlimited storage space, creative commons licensing, and a podcast feed. So for those who dig the whole podcasting thing, you can automatically download my latest tracks.

As an added bonus, I have a few tracks up there that I never put here, including my latest and greatest: Rock is a Danger Zone, and A Forgotten Secret.

Anyhow, iCompositions has a great community, and a lot of talented folks, so if you're looking for a place to get or put music, I reccomend it. And despite the name, it's not mac-only -- their free loop packs are in .aiff format (usable by any program) and their upload is in either mp3 or mac-centric aac.

Technorati Tags: music, freeware, podcast

The Daily Show is as substantive as the "real" news

The Daily Show is as substantive as the "real" news:

The Daily Show is much funnier than traditional newscasts, but a new study from Indiana University says it has the same amount of meat on its bones when it comes to coverage of the news.

Alright, IU just rocked in my book. It's true, though - humor grants information along with mere jocularity. See The Show with Ze Frank. Not only does it provide lots of humor and enjoyment, but the explanations of the jokes are probably more informative than CNN. You can't make a joke about the Foley scandal without providing some kind of summary. The summary then tells people what is going on, and then people can laugh at your joke (or not), and also be updated. Humor and content are not exclusive.

Technorati tags: news, politics, funny

Sunrise on Sunday

Sunrise on Sunday
Originally uploaded by agius.

I might have stayed up all of Saturday night a little bit. But I got awesome pictures of the sunrise. Other pictures

• one
• two
• three
• four
• five
• six

.