Y’know. Stuff

A dozen, a gross, and a score
plus three times the square root of four
divided by seven
plus five times eleven
is nine squared, and not a bit more!

-unknown, limerickdb.com

It’s right too.  Figure it out if you like.  I did. Although, it doesn’t believe in bedmas, it believes each line is a seperate function. ;)

More wedding updates to come, and soon, a massive picture post.

PMOG

What is PMOG you may ask.

I would answer thusly.

“That is a very good question. According to their website it is a ‘Passivley Multiplayer Game’, but the real truth goes a little deeper than that. Allow me to give you a link to where you can get it, and then I will discuss it further below.”

Perhaps the first interesting look at PMOG should be this webcomic detailing in sort of poetic form the descent of one into the PMOG world. That is to say, the underground of the internet in the real world.

You can find the original sized comics at http://pmog.com/codex/appendices/metamorphosis

Here is the general idea. First, you install a firefox toolbar. This “voluntary spyware” tracks your surfing history and you begin to gain coins and whatnot passively, while you surf normally. You can easily turn it off or on, and change lots of it’s settings.

Now that you have your toolbar enabled, you can “find” things that other people have placed on the internet. For example, I’m going to place a crate on my website with some coins in it. If you are the next “pmogian” to come along, you will see a crate pop up, and you can choose to take what is inside.

So, it’s sort of like a treasure hunt, right? Yep. It’s also a little more.

Pmogians can leave missions on websites too. Missions (should you choose to accept them) take you on a guided tour of the internet, linking from page to page. I’m going to build one based on my linked blogs on the sidebar.

Portals, when you see them, mysteriously take you to another website. Why? Well, you’d have to ask those who dropped them. Sometimes it might be because they like another site better, and want to let other pmogians know. Sometimes it could be because they just want to cause mischief. ;)

I haven’t figured out lightposts yet. Their description says “Lightposts light up the areas between web sites. They make visible connections that were dark before.” Ah, I see. If I read a little further it tells me that lightposts are required to make missions. Neat.

Mines can be dropped on websites, and when you step on one they take away some of your datapoints (coins).

Armour can be worn to protect against mine attacks.

Coins/Datapoints are collected at each new site you go to. (Each day, or ever, or something. I’m not quite sure. I’ve found a way of farming them, and in only a day and a bit have collected over 600 of them. Since I’m using firefox I do a search in google and go along and open every link in a new tab. I do this for as many as I have patience for and then close all tabs and start again! Whew! Internet surfing at speed!

Now, depending what you do there are different factions you will be joined to. Bedouins for example are known to wear armour to protect themselves. Vigilantes foil others mischief by placing St. Nicks on their profiles, blocking them from doing their next action. There are others, fly over to pmog.com to see what they are like.

Feel free to come along and join me. My username is Suprspi, and I’d be happy to have you as an acquaintance. Or just take my mission and see what I like best on the internet in the world of blogs, comics and random stuff.

I should mention that I found this game, like so much other cool stuff I’ve found on the internet, from Wil Wheaton. Will is also playing PMOG, but I don’t know his name yet. This is one of the coolest things I’ve seen on the internet in a long time, and I really encourage you all to check it out.

Yes, I am a geek.

Today I managed to get PGP encryption working with my gmail account. I had to install WinPT and PGP on my computer and generate a key pair. I have a private key, and a public key. I encrypt things with my private key, and anyone who has my public key can decrypt it. Decrypting it also proves that it was my private key that encrypted it – so if you got encrypted email from me you would know that it was me that sent it.

To get it to work with my gmail I had to install firegpg, which you can get at the link.

This is what a block of PGP encrypted text looks like.

—–BEGIN PGP MESSAGE—–
Version: GnuPG v1.4.7 (MingW32)
Comment: http://getfiregpg.org

hQIOA9FJ9FpNoFGwEAgAmtq5XTl04bP

BeFhNBUNhPbx33R30Nvgs3BlOMz/P9VNy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=G3YD
—–END PGP MESSAGE—–

So you can see, it’s not readable. The following text is a decryption from that email.

This is a test of PGP.–
https://jeffandsamplus2.wordpress.com
– The Family Blog
http://runfatboyrun.wordpress.com
– My Fitness Blog

“One of the advantages of being disorderly is that one is constantly making exciting discoveries.”
– AA Milne

“The ships hung in the sky in much the same way that bricks don’t.” – Douglas Adams

In case anyone is geeky enough to want to exchange encrypted email with me, this is my public key:

pub 1024D/E6707F9E 06/05/2008 Jeff Closs <suprspi@gmail.com>
Primary key fingerprint: C60F 0789 3667 C363 193B EFA7 5CCF 483F E670 7F9E—–BEGIN PGP PUBLIC KEY BLOCK—–
Version: GnuPG v1.4.7 (MingW32) – WinPT 1.2.0
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=vEcb
—–END PGP PUBLIC KEY BLOCK—–

So, there we go. My geekery for the day. If you have any questions, feel free to comment away.

comic of awesomness

Today’s Comic of Most Awesome Awesomeness.   xkcd of course.

happy non-denominational cupidy mass-market holiday

I’ve been sending Sam lolcards.  You need to check these out.  I haven’t sent any to anyone who isn’t sami, so don’t get sad that I didn’t think of you.

PS.  Did I mention these things are hawesome?

Our Family Stories

I launched a new blog today.

Ourfamilystories is a blog that is inviting contributions from anyone, anywhere in the world. I’m working on copyright license right now, but probably they will be released under a Creative Commons license with the authors permission.

I invite you all to take a look, and let me know what you think about this idea I’ve gone and had.

The sweetest thing..

This is the sweetest thing I’ve ever found on youtube.

Thanks to a link at Jonathan Coulton’s blog (see two posts ago, I’m too lazy to link again).

The video…

of the ending song in Portal. Not the cover by cupcakesandtea, you can find the link to that in my last post. I should find a video of actual gameplay for those who haven’t had a chance to check out this amazing game.

Lyrics below the video.

This was a triumph.
I’m making a note here:
HUGE SUCCESS.
It’s hard to overstate
my satisfaction.
Aperture Science
We do what we must
because we can.
For the good of all of us.
Except the ones who are dead.
But there’s no sense crying
over every mistake.
You just keep on trying
till you run out of cake.
And the Science gets done.
And you make a neat gun.
For the people who are
still alive.

I’m not even angry.
I’m being so sincere right now.
Even though you broke my heart.
And killed me.
And tore me to pieces.
And threw every piece into a pyre.
As they burned it hurt because
I was so happy for you!
Now these points of data
make a beautiful line.
And we’re out of beta.
We’re releasing on time.
So I’m GLaD. I got burned.
Think of all the things we learned
for the people who are
still alive.

Go ahead and leave me.
I think i prefer to stay inside.
maybe you’ll find someone else
to help you.
maybe Black Mesa…
THAT WAS A JOKE, HA HA, FAT CHANCE.
Anyway this cake is great.
It’s so delicious and moist
look at me still talking when theres science to do
when i look out there
it makes me glad I’m not you
i’ve experiments to run
there is research to be done
on the people who are
still alive.

and believe me I am still alive
I’m doing science and I’m still alive
i feel fantastic and I’m still alive
while your dying ill be still alive
and when your dead i will be still alive
still alive
still alive

The haters be hatin…

So…the best game I played last year has a couple of fans. The game is called Portal, and is pretty cool.

At the end it has a song called “Still Alive” written by Jonathan Coulton. It’s a darkly humorous song and has gathered lots of attention. A girl made a video cover of her singing it and put it up on youtube.

It’s gathered lots of attention today. Lots.

Wil Wheaton pointed to a comment by the writer of the song where he sticks up for this girls effort:

“It’s so pointless to even talk about, but what’s with the people who actually take the time to write inane negative comments on amateur YouTube videos? I understand: you’re 13, you’re trying to be witty, and you forget that there’s some human on the other end. And you come up with just the right clever little thing to say, some zinger like “OMG? I want to kill you noob,” or perhaps “I hate you,” some really eloquent expression of your criticism, and you can’t resist. Congratulations: you’ve just become extremely boring.

I had seen this list of the top 12 “Still Alive” covers on Joystiq, but I wasn’t aware of the little comments scuffle going on over CupcakeAndTea’s contribution until someone pointed it out to me. And, just, sigh. Really? This is a good use of your time, to make someone you’ve never met feel bad just because they made an amateur fan video about something they really like? Where’s your thing that you made and put online for everyone to see, you chicken-shit cockhole?”

The fact that Jonathan Coulton put up a defense on his blog for someone covering his own song is just made of awesome. The fact that he coined the phrase “chicken-shit cockhole” just takes it to new levels – some would call it “hawesome”

Edit:  It seems I was wrong about who originally coined the righteous new swear I learned today.   From Jonathan’s Blog comments:

A note concerning the last post.

First of all, and further to the last post, I want to give some kudo’s to the Library of Congress for putting these photos on flickr.  It’s pretty cool that someone there had the bright idea to share them on a public, super popular, photo sharing venue, instead of putting them on their own gov’t served webpage where dramatically fewer people would be exposed to them.

Further, it makes economical sense in a couple of ways.  First, they don’t have to foot the bandwidth bill for constant use of them – flickr is doing that.  In return flickr has an archive of historical photos that are royalty free.  Secondly, some of the people on the internet may very well be able to provide interesting and pertinant commentary and insight to these photos – something that I dare say would not have happened to the same extent had they only been hosted at the LoC website.

Example, a comment on Wil Wheaton’s Blog:

OK, this is weird. One of the very first photos is of a barn in the Catskills. The angle of the June sun puts the viewing angle as SE, and with the distance of the Catskill Mountains in the background, I would place this photo within 10-15 miles of the farm where I grew up. I can see why my grandfather bought those 400 acres in 1940. With a view like this, Brooklyn must’ve seemed a purgatory.

Posted by: leathej1 | January 16, 2008 at 10:04 PM

People often forget when they’re paying their taxes that these things are supported too.  That good works are being done by the the Gov’t. (this is an US example, but our Canuckian Canadian Gov’t is doing some good things too.)

I’m not going to make spiel about contacting your MP’s/Congresscritters or anything here – but I am going to make note that although we may not see  all the good projects are governments are involved in, but they do exist.  So it’s a good reminder to find someone to publicly or privately thank for those we like and support, and voice our opposition to those we don’t – otherwise, no institution, no matter how right thinking, can correctly gauge the community support for the projects proposed to it.