Archive for November, 2011
Monday, November 21st, 2011
I was discussing with some folks that use OpenSim and SecondLife about the possibility of interfacing the Virtual World with the real world. I thought it would be cool to have a virtual solar panel and when your avatar is near it a USB charger would activate on your PC to charge your electronic device. We couldn’t think of a way to make it happen.
Then I was playing with a friends Xbox and his controller had a rumble pack inside it. Why couldn’t you use something like this? If your avatar was near an object, it would activate your game controller/black box and depending on what signal is sent to it various things would happen.
For instance you could have a little motor in your virtual world that only operated when the sun was up. When it is daylight in your game a signal would be sent to your black box and it could operate a motor. If you turned on a light in a dark virtual room, a USB lamp could turn on.
I wonder if the virtual world software is able to send feedback like this, and if not what could be done to make it happen?
Tags: avatar, feedback, open simulator, osgrid, second life
Posted in Computing, Virtual Worlds | Comments Off
Sunday, November 20th, 2011
Craig Ferguson stated in an interview that this about Punk. “It was a small subculture. It’s not what it is now. It was reviled. To be a punk was to be an outcast. It wasn’t “I shop at Hot Topic. I’m a punk.” There was no Hot Topic.”
I think that’s what bugs me about Steampunk. While I like how the genre has taken off and more people are aware of how wonderful it is, its also painful to see people buying their way into it.
It’s the same feeling I got when I saw people buying a Harley, putting all their leathers, helmets and other gear on their loan and calling themselves Bikers. They are Bikers the same way most people are Steampunks. Buying a leather tidbit and pinning it to your blouse doesn’t make you a steampunk. Hanging out with fashion designers, makers, and crafters who create steampunk items doesn’t make you a steampunk. Get a handle on WHERE steampunk came from, and WHY you think you want to be a part of this sub-culture before you dare call yourself a steampunk.
But feel free to keep buying wonderful items from my friends. Just stop calling yourself a steampunk, or I’ll have the faux bikers try and beat you up with their wimpy gloved hands…because they’d hate to get their hands dirty.
Posted in Steampunk | Comments Off
Sunday, November 20th, 2011
I’m working on making myself better though.
I found this CDC site showing how obesity has increased since 1990. US Obesity Trends That was when broadband internet and super sized fast food meals were just being offered. Any connection you may wonder.
The maps tell a lot, but I made this image which pretty much defines what they are saying.
Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off
Tuesday, November 15th, 2011
The the last post it was discussed how Time Travel effects the clothing of the time traveler. More research has been done and a connection was found between the Latitude of the time traveler and the amount of clothing they lose.
As can be seen in this photo, the young lady has only lost the very bottom of her skirt. This is due to her close proximity to the equator.
This young lady has lost almost all of her lower garments, along with her blouse and jacket. This is due to her Time Travels taking her extremely close to the poles of the Earth. A few degrees closer to the pole and we would have to place an adult rating on this photo.
The Traveling Academy of Unnatural Sciences will be conducting more research on this matter during the next year. Expeditions are being organized for the scientists and their guests, the dancers from the Folies Bergere. They will travel to the poles to study these effects on the ladies garments as they near the North and South poles.
The expedition will be photographed, documented, and the results published in many of the more popular Men’s magazines along with a large color photograph folded and placed in the center of the magazine that also has information on the dancers interests in life such as:
What’s the worst place for a gentleman to tell you he is attracted to you?
What’s the worst line of conversation you have ever heard from a prospective suitor?
What’s the best or most creative line of conversation you have ever heard from a prospective suitor?
What method of informing you that you are desirable by a gentleman is most likely to be agreeable to you?
How do you inform a suitor that you want him to pursue you?
Have two men competed for your attentions at the same time? Who won, and why?
What are your favorite things a suitor could do to pleasure you and put you at ease?
What are the worst things a suitor could do to displeasure you and put you at unease?
Tags: Traveling Academy of Unnatural Sciences
Posted in Science!, Steampunk | Comments Off
Monday, November 14th, 2011
It amazes me that very few people know about the old express way between Mount Rainier and Mount Shasta. All the volcanic activity up and down the coast caused a lava tube to be created that stretched across three states from Washington to California. The change in atmospheric pressure forced a powerful wind to flow South at over 70 miles her hour. A vehicle properly constructed for the voyage through the tube could achieve a speed of up to 200 mph, allowing a trip from Washington to California in a matter of hours.
The last time it was used was during World War II when it was used to ship lumber and other supplies to California to be used in the San Diego shipyards. It was a vital part in helping the United States stop the Pacific Island aggression.
The atomic tests after the war unfortunately collapsed part of the tunnel. Plans were underway to clear out the rubble when suddenly the tunnel was flooded.
In the first photo you can still see where the train rails were lain. The second image shows where the opening of the tunnel flows beneath the Cowlitz river. The third photo shows the another tube leading to this one, it was used by workers to access the main shaft.
Posted in Science!, Transportation | Comments Off
Monday, November 14th, 2011
When I see a steampunk prop gun or other device I often wonder what the maker intended to emulate as a power supply. There are vacuum tubes, faux boilers, etc on these devices.
I thought if you added another fantasy aspect to your props, it would give you a faux power supply, plus let you add more fun to your project. Might I suggest the use of fairies for power.
Build a small sculpture of a fairy into your props. It can be as simple as a floating light, or as complex as an animated doll.
Fairy power, it would certainly explain why they went extinct.
-Gary
Posted in Steampunk | Comments Off
Saturday, November 12th, 2011
I’ve been watching a few zombie movies lately, and they lead to some questions.
What if the zombie virus attached itself so something else to make it activate? Like it only affected people with peanut allergies. You could protect yourself by spreading Jif, Skippy or Peter Pan on yourself.
If a woman was pregnant when she became a zombie would the baby eat it’s way out? Would it continue to develop?
Your digestive systems loosen when you die. All Zombies would smell like shit, piss, and vomit.
Would rich people put zombies on their property to keep trespassers off.
Would zombies prefer brains by IQ, blood type, political leanings, or age. Would Einsteins brains taste better than a Southern Baptists?
Posted in Science! | Comments Off
Sunday, November 6th, 2011
I was at an event tonight where my wife’s band was playing. I took my tablet with me and typed all night while the music was playing, and the people were dancing.
About halfway through the night a young woman came up to me and said, “Are you so bored that you are doing work?” “Do you want to dance or something?”
I never thought that writing would be a turn on, but I guess some women are attracted to it.
-Gary
Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off
Friday, November 4th, 2011
I was drawing up plans for a periscope when I had an inspiration. I could put a digital camera in the top, and feed it down to a display at the bottom. You wouldn’t need to have a physical connection from the eyepiece, to the top. So you could put the periscope top on your barn, and have the display in your living room.
To rotate it, you would just use an antenna rotator which runs about $60.00, or can be found at thrift shops for under $5.00. It would be a fun toy to play with, and portable.
Tags: antenna, camera, periscope, submarine
Posted in Props and Projects, Science! | Comments Off
