tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-57454092024-03-06T19:50:28.211-08:00rogtopiaOccasional thoughts.Roger Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01900258748423193036noreply@blogger.comBlogger35125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5745409.post-28394182644074946142011-02-14T20:46:00.000-08:002011-02-14T20:52:16.499-08:00Dirty, rotten scoundrels?I don't normally like to write about politics because it often just leads to pointless and endless arguments. But, this idea has been rolling around in my head for a while and I wanted to check into it.Basically, I've noticed the number of Republicans caught being hypocritical to their "family values" message and being forced to resign. I'll admit to being a bit biased and enjoying Roger Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01900258748423193036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5745409.post-86196068005817488672009-11-12T07:38:00.000-08:002009-11-20T07:05:22.004-08:00Disproving Dudeney's DissectionI've written a document describing how the "Haberdasher Puzzle" was only apparently solved by "Dudeney's Dissection". This is a puzzle from 1902 where you are asked to transform an equilateral triangle into a perfect square.EDIT: Ah, I finally figured out my mistake. Now I can see where I went wrong. I'll edit my document & republish soon.See http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2009/09/Roger Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01900258748423193036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5745409.post-53881116582337284742009-07-02T22:48:00.000-07:002009-07-02T23:06:38.250-07:00Python Skeleton Code: base.pyI have a snippet of code I use whenever I start a new python commandline tool. Today, I read a post that added the use of the logging module to their skeleton code. I didn't realize how simple that module was. For some reason, I got bamboozled into thinking it was more complicated by earlier examples. So, I really appreciated that post. Then I thought I should put my skeleton out there for Roger Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01900258748423193036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5745409.post-90920288561041578032009-06-16T22:11:00.000-07:002009-07-02T23:07:43.655-07:00ramuJust a link to my python code for playing around with music.http://ramu.googlecode.com/I thought that perhaps doing my (very slow) development in public might encourage me to keep at it. It's only barely usable, but it is a start.Why do I do this instead of using another library?http://www.graficaobscura.com/future/futman.htmlRoger Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01900258748423193036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5745409.post-32682164034040560542008-07-29T08:35:00.000-07:002011-02-14T20:43:58.421-08:00A Trackball Camera for PygletA week or so ago, I needed to write a simple OpenGL demonstration program. I decided to use pyglet since it is such a great utility. Of course, it is always nice to be able to move around your demo, so I looked for a "trackball" to control the camera. But, I came up empty.So, to scratch that itch, I remembered & found the old GLUT example code in trackball.c and ported it to python. It Roger Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01900258748423193036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5745409.post-20749275537819205812008-05-25T15:21:00.000-07:002008-05-25T15:26:53.536-07:00wii2stdoutI few months ago, I wrote a simple commandline utility demonstrating how to use the WiiRemote Framework to connect to the Wii controller and capture events. Inspired and enabled by the darwiin-remote project. I just wanted something simpler to use as a starting point for my own projects.This code is written using (and includes) the svn repository WiiRemote Framework 0.6 code.OutputRoger Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01900258748423193036noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5745409.post-75231025136113774352008-05-25T11:32:00.000-07:002008-05-25T15:27:32.695-07:00Music/Midi & Mac UpdateA comment on my earlier post reminded me that I should publish my latest Midi code.I've updated my code a bit in the (gasp) 3 1/2 years since I posted that original code. In the meantime, I've taken to using a client/server model. It turns out that GarageBand doesn't seem to take kindly to a midi connection appearing and disappearing often. So, the server is started once per session and keeps Roger Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01900258748423193036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5745409.post-1138142779379167152006-01-24T14:39:00.000-08:002006-01-24T14:46:19.390-08:00Third Chimpanzee Species = Us?Follow the link to some interesting research that seems to show that chimpanzees are more closely related to homo sapiens than other apes. Sienna & I were just chatting about this the other day & I didn't know the answer--apparently no-one did until now. :^)The article also mentions that an earlier report had put us in the same genus as the chimpanzee and the bonobo. I think that's kind ofRoger Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01900258748423193036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5745409.post-1133652145089621642005-12-03T15:17:00.000-08:002005-12-03T15:22:25.100-08:00Generation @I saw the first reference to "Generation @" just now. Apparently, I'm a "Gen X"-er and my kids are part of "Generation @"--the 1st generation that will grow up online.I wonder if this will stick. We'll just have to see...Roger Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01900258748423193036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5745409.post-1131483004922520392005-11-08T12:41:00.000-08:002005-11-08T12:50:04.940-08:00Wind ColumnI wonder about random things. One of these things is wind power. I've never gotten past the idea that these 3-wing propeller-type generators seem to require a lot of engineering precision, complexity and cost to build. There has to be a simpler, better way. One way, it seemed to me would be to extend and stand the propeller up on its side, kind of like a silo with fins, instead of putting it Roger Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01900258748423193036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5745409.post-1129299228413234352005-10-14T07:05:00.000-07:002005-10-14T07:13:48.446-07:00Mac DVD to iPod tutorialWell isn't this a nicely done tutorial? I didn't even realize there was a GPL dvd ripper for the Mac and here's a tutorial on how to transcode a DVD to the new video ipod. AFAIK, this is completely legal and legitimate action when you own the DVD.The programs used are: DVD extractor: MacTheRipper and VOB->MP4 transcoder: HandbrakeCheers.osxRoger Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01900258748423193036noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5745409.post-1128780571577146392005-10-08T06:58:00.000-07:002005-10-08T07:09:34.216-07:00tip: windows explorer viewI found this when I finally decided to bother to search for it. I wanted to always have the explorer folder view active in windows. As with most things Windows, it is something that makes little intuitive sense until it is explained. Gee, why couldn't this be part of the attributes that are saved with a normal "make these settings apply to all folders". Nah, that would make too much Roger Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01900258748423193036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5745409.post-1128313157398062012005-10-02T21:11:00.000-07:002005-10-02T21:19:17.416-07:00TGFG!TGFG = Thank Goodness For Google.Here is another reminder that no computer is truly "user friendly", not even the Mac. My daughter couldn't login to the iMac anymore. The darn thing just hung up and didn't move. I'm lucky that I know how to ssh and ps -aux from another computer so that I could see that it was hung up on this process: /System/Library/LoginPlugins/MCX.loginPlugin/Contents/MacOS/Roger Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01900258748423193036noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5745409.post-1122493993313889312005-07-27T12:44:00.000-07:002005-07-27T12:53:13.323-07:00Violence, Sex & Video GamesThe L.A. Times is running an editorial/open-letter to Hillary regarding the latest videogame probe. I recommend reading it.I'm also quite amused that a little sex was what launched all this hoopla. I guess its okay for teenagers to simulate violence (the game features beat/rob/steal/kill/etc-ing), but for teenagers to simulate sex--that's over the line. I wonder what the arguments for/against Roger Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01900258748423193036noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5745409.post-1121203257049142382005-07-12T14:09:00.000-07:002005-07-12T14:20:57.056-07:00Long NowI rediscovered the Long Now website today and was really taken by the ideas that Brian Eno brings up in his Nov 02003 talk here (pdf) on the seminars page.I'm struck by a couple thoughts so far:1) the kind of "short now" thinking he attributes to the 1970s is alive and well in Silicon Valley. It might be a global epidemic.2) I really should look at the book "The Evolution of Cooperation", by Roger Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01900258748423193036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5745409.post-1119996612760243682005-06-28T15:08:00.000-07:002005-06-28T15:10:12.766-07:00Google EarthThis software is now free for download. An EXCELLENT use of 3d graphics for something other than shooting people. I'm a customer, I know people who work on the software and I recommend it highly.Roger Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01900258748423193036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5745409.post-1115080202149585612005-05-02T17:27:00.000-07:002005-05-02T17:30:02.150-07:00Pacific Coast Trail HikerMy friend/co-worker Scott Heeschen is hiking the Pacific Coast Trail for the next 6 months. I thought I'd post this here to keep a link to his journal. http://www.trailjournals.com/scoot2005I'm all jealous. This sounds like an amazing and fun journey.Roger Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01900258748423193036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5745409.post-1114551330331895972005-04-26T14:32:00.000-07:002005-04-26T14:35:30.333-07:00bugmenotFrom Dan Gilmor's Blog. A site that gathers login/passwords for annoying sites on the web that force you to login, even when there is no charge. You tell it the site you want, it gives you the login. Read the tutorial here.Roger Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01900258748423193036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5745409.post-1113246803026787632005-04-11T12:08:00.000-07:002005-04-11T12:13:23.026-07:00gigapxlJust heard about a company/project by a former co-worker Michael T. Jones--The Gigapxl project. An amazing camera & project built with (apparently) U2 Spy Plane cameras that take 4 gigapixel images. Woah.Roger Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01900258748423193036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5745409.post-1109923528972794442005-03-03T23:50:00.000-08:002005-03-04T00:05:28.973-08:00Surreal Google...So today I got in touch with someone I hadn't talked with for years. Googled her name, found a .Mac account, sent email and sure enough, that was her. During our email conversation she mentioned another name (Mac MacDougal) and I decided to google him, too. Well, apparently Mac worked at Amdahl in the early 80s (I worked there after meeting Mac at Apple) and this article mentions him: http://Roger Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01900258748423193036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5745409.post-1109739915030921272005-03-01T20:59:00.000-08:002005-03-01T21:05:15.033-08:00Mac Home/End KeysReading slashdot today, I ran across this cool tweak for OS X and I'm really looking forward to trying it out. One bit of windows that I actually like is the way the Home & End keys work. But, on the Mac, the keys normally just do nothing--quite irritating. Hopefully, this gets things working.../* put this in ~/Library/KeyBindings/DefaultKeyBinding.dict *//* Home/End keys more like Windows */{"\Roger Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01900258748423193036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5745409.post-1107015671556947292005-01-29T08:13:00.000-08:002005-01-29T08:21:11.556-08:00JHymn keeps iTunes aliveI haven't had a need to use this program yet, but if each of us in Casa Allen has a couple computers & music players in the future, I might have to use a tool like this:
http://www.hymn-project.org/jhymndoc/
It's nice to know we have some options to keep our purchased tunes alive forever. I'm reminded that I've had several Macs over the past 20 years starting with System 6 (I think) and I Roger Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01900258748423193036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5745409.post-1106325930435906062005-01-21T08:45:00.000-08:002005-01-21T08:45:30.436-08:00Paul Graham's Graduation Advice<!-- Converted from text/rtf format --> I found a lot of truth in this essay. Note that Paul Graham is a hacker/programmer, and his essay comes from that point-of-view, but he certainly has a way with words. I like to think that I have followed his advice along the way to where I am, but in some ways I know I haven't. I think I'll make a point of re-reading this off-and-on.&Roger Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01900258748423193036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5745409.post-1106086688819541632005-01-18T14:18:00.000-08:002005-01-29T08:27:28.366-08:00LaminaDesign<!-- Converted from text/rtf format --> I finally found out where Paul Haeberli is: http://laminadesign.com/ As always, very cool stuff.
[Paul Haeberli is a graphics futurist who had an office near mine when I worked at SGI/AGD in 7 Upper. He's quite well-known in the 3d graphics industry. Here's a pointer to his Grafica Obscura page.] Roger Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01900258748423193036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5745409.post-1105859600236704862005-01-15T23:10:00.000-08:002005-01-15T23:13:20.236-08:00TivoToGoI posted this to the TiVo Support forum:
I'm very interested in using the TivoToGo service to download shows to my PC. This should be a great new feature. However, as I wait for my first shows to download, I thought I'd send my feedback in the hopes that it will reach the Roger Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01900258748423193036noreply@blogger.com1