Anonymous asked: Was curious how your Mass Effect armor was coming out. I am getting ready to make my first project out of EVA foam myself, thinking about using the Mass Effect N7 armor design for the chest plate of a character I am going to be portraying in a music video I will be working on. I need something that looks like a semi heavy chestplate armor for the character and I think just a plain black painted armor getup will do the trick.
I’ve taken a break for a while. I will re-start within the next month or two. I’ll publish progress.
No really. I hate them. Malice is in my heart. If Microsoft was a window, I’d break it. If it was a cat, I’d drown it. If it was a burrito, I’d eat it and chew really violently.
My anger burns like a thousand cans of Tinactin.
Let me explain.
April, 2010 - Microsoft officially begins supporting the ability to save, copy and move files to a USB device on the Xbox 360.
November, 2010 - CaptainAhmazing’s Xbox 360 dies in a Red Ring of Death. Three Red Lights.
November, 2010 - CaptainAhmazing takes his Xbox 360 hard drive to his local Gamestop (where he is known by the employees) and moves his game saves to a USB device, a SanDisk 8gb MicroSD card w/ USB adapter. CaptainAhmazing didn’t feel like copying the files individually so he moved them all to save time.
December, 2010 - CaptainAhmazing receives his Xbox 360 back after it has been repaired. The USB device with all the games saves is inserted into the Xbox 360. The Xbox 360 says “What? I don’t see anything on this USB device. CaptainAhmazing says “You’re….you’re sh***ing me right?”
December, 2010 - CaptainAhmazing learns that Microsoft programmers are failures. See following Twitter conversation with Xbox Support.
So I responded with: to which they responded with:
So, I lost ALL my XBOX360 games saves. ALL of them. From over 2 years of playing. Mass Effect 1 and 2? Gone. Assassins Creed 2 (right in the middle of playing)? Erased. Fallout 3? No more.
Even though my USB device “isn’t supported,” the Xbox STILL let me move the files over. WHY WOULD YOU PROGRAM A CONSOLE TO ALLOW A PLAYER TO MOVE DATA TO AN UNSUPPORTED DEVICE MICROSOFT?! WHY? ARE YOUR PROGRAMMERS SEA URCHINS? HOW HARD WOULD IT BE TO HAVE A POP-UP MESSAGE SAYING “We’re sorry. This particular USB device you’ve chosen to use is kinda iffy. We don’t want you to lose your game saves. Please try a different USB device.” IS THAT TOO HARD? YOU HAVE MORE MONEY THAN THE MAHARAJA! I’M PRETTY SURE YOU COULD DO IT.
Yeah, I hope you die Microsoft. I hope you die like a rat that has eaten that type of rat poison that doesn’t kill them right away, but makes them thirsty and then when they go drink water it kills them. I hope you die like that.
I know I said the next post would be about telescopes, but someone has asked a question and I need to answer it. Duty calls.
Indeed, your leader does know his way around the internets. Quite well. So well that he knows the answer to your question without having to research. Much.
This site collects data (and takes user submissions) regarding sales on other sites. You can find one-day sales (i.e. what SteepandCheap.com has listed for the day) and get coupons to use on outdoor gear sites.
Believe it or not, you can get really lucky here sometimes. Sunglasses and ski goggles especially.
Let us know if you find any other good sites for outdoor gear. Remember that most reputable companies that make quality outdoor products won’t sell to stores for deep discounts though. It’s a bit like Apple, most sellers sell the stuff for generally the same prices because they all get it for the same price. Usually.
Astrology is (according to Merriam Webster) the divination of the supposed influences of the stars and planets on human affairs and terrestrial events by their positions and aspects.
Let’s not confuse the two. My fellow geeks know that astrology is not a science and really a bunch of hogwash, so time will not be wasted here talking about such superstition.
Astronomy on the other hand is a hard science and one that can be done in one’s own back yard. It’s incredibly deep and complicated while at the same time approachable and enjoyable, even by those with the math skills of walrus. If you like pretty, shiny things and enjoy searching for hidden gems, you may just enjoy astronomy.
While astronomy may seem like a nerd’s pursuit, it really can be enjoyed by anyone willing to get past this unfortunate stigma. A hurdle for many would-be stargazers is purchasing the hardware. However, a good pair of binoculars, which many already own are a perfect way to enter into astronomy. I actually LOVE looking at the night sky through binoculars. It opens up hidden things in the sky that cannot be seen with the naked eye, especially in light-polluted areas.
Another way to get into astronomy without purchasing an expensive telescope is going to local star parties. Astronomy clubs host these gatherings of amateur astronomers in dark sky areas where everyone brings their telescopes and looks at targets in the sky. Luckily, almost every large city in the country has an astronomy club or 3. Here in Birmingham we have the Birmingham Astronomical Society.
At a star party you can learn what to expect looking through an amateur scope, ascertain constellations and deep sky objects, find out which type of telescope suits you and share in the wonder of the visible universe. Because, if you didn’t already know, it’s huge.
The dates of star parties can be found on individual clubs’ websites and generally occur on weekend nights during the new moon phase.
Nintendo announced its Money Printer (a.k.a. Nintendo 3DS) will be released in February in Japan and in March in the West.
$298 is what this beautiful piece of human engineering will cost you (in Japan).
No word on how much it will cost in the U.S.
Money Printer games worth noting:
Pilot Wings Resort
Metal Gear Solid 3
Splinter Cell 3D (Chaos Theory?)
Professor Layton and the Mask of Miracle
Ghost Recon Tactics
Nintendo expects to sell 4 million in the first month. I will most likely be one of the 4 million people buying one. Hopefully it will be under $250. I’ll have to start saving or something.
I’m using a steak knife to cut the foam. It’s pitiful. But I did manage to get a lot of the back done. Also did some engraving in the neck piece. It was messy.
For the engraving I used a hot knife and my new rotary tool I bought for $20 at Wal-Mart. It’s a Black and Decker RTX. I actually like it better than my dad’s Dremel. It has a handy lock and switch together near the head. It’s really nice.
Also, put the chest piece on the $20 mannequin I got off Craigslist. This will help shape the piece. Still need to trim it and sand the edges. Then I’ll make the grooves and paint it. The mannequin is a bit smaller than me, but it does the job.
The Cerberus Assault Armor is coming along. I moved all the materials to my house so I could gradually work on it at home. Made the collar, full front torso piece and shoulder straps tonight.
Konami cancelled their new Xbox360 Dance Dance Revolution game that was being developed. I received a call today from Gamestop informing me my pre-ordered copy would not be arriving this month, seeing as it’s been cancelled.
The decision was most likely made because Microsoft’s Kinect will be released soon and Konami most likely wants a piece of the mo-cap dance pie.
Black Rock Studio is a British developer that released the game Split/Second this year, which turned out to be the best racing game of the year. It has a spectacular OST (Original Soundtrack) and they have made it available for free! Go here and download it: http://soundcloud.com/split-second
At any given moment, the unexpected can occur. An earthquake shakes the ground you walk on, a mugger confronts you face to face, a power line snaps in your path, a zombie confronts you face to…decomposed face, an angry dog bears down upon you, a dirty bomb detonates in your area, an unattractive member of the opposite sex takes a little too much interest in you….the unexpected. Are you prepared for it?
The other night I was at a party and noticed a gentleman wearing shoes such as these:
My first thought was: “How does he expect to escape a situation in those shoes?”
You see, your dear leader does not wear anything he cannot scale a wall in. Be it a suit, pajamas, business casual or tuxedo, if I cannot sprint, jump or climb in it, then I do not don it.
“That is ridiculous,” you might think to yourself. Well, I seriously doubt a survivor of the Asian tsunami would agree with your thought. I spoke with many people in Thailand after the tsunami who recounted seeing many people (themselves included) surviving the unexpected waves by climbing the nearest balcony, transmission line pole, building, etc.
Above: image of the first wave coming in. Photo credit: Me.
Above: the waterline visible on the wall is almost 7ft. Photo credit: Me.
I also carry a man-purse. “Seriously?” you may inquire. Yes, seriously. Where else would I keep my knife, 550 paracord, flashlight, pain meds, iodine tablets, etc.?
I also never wear flip-flops. Try outrunning anything in flip-flops. You will fail.
Earth is the best planet. You can’t live on any of the other ones in this solar system, so by default, Earth is the best. Jupiter is about be really happy because on Sept. 20th-21st it will be the closest to the wonderful planet Earth it’s been in over a decade. Break out those telescopes and look at it. You won’t have an opportunity like this again until 2022.
The Boxee Box is now available for pre-order at Amazon.com.
This thing hooks up to your TV and runs around the internets to find videos, movies, and TV shows for your entertainment delight. Also, it’s in the HD’s. Also, it looks like it’s phasing through the floor like Kitty Pryde.
November. $200. Christmas present for me.
The Tokyo Game Show (a.k.a. TGS) is this weekend. It’s a trade show and is similar to a convention. There will be many Japanese cosplayers, video games, and nerds. TGS is not as big as it once was because Japanese video game developers have lost their dominance in the games market. With the advent of the Western RPG (i.e. Fallout 3, Oblivion, Borderlands, Mass Effect, etc), everyone now realizes the old staple Japanese RPGs are really not very fun at all. Japanese game developers simply have not changed along with the games market. That being said, I do have Capcom’s Marvel vs. Capcom 3 pre-ordered.
So I responded with:
