xset

Friday October 6th

// September 30th, 2006 // No Comments » // Personal

It’s amazing how quickly this year has gone by. The summer is already waning (we have a robin already) but the autumn brings with it one of my most anticipated events – the release of Battle Star Galactica Season 3

According to the buzz, on the 6th Sci-Fi will be airing a 2 hour season preview to the US market. Unfortunately, the UK doesn’t get the series until early 2007 … although I’m sure you’re aware of alternative methods for acquiring the shows

I can’t remember the last time I got this excited about a TV show. The preview looks fantastic (although EJ Alamos really needs to sort out that ‘tache) and considering the way season 2 closed I can’t wait to see what they set up for the next 20 episodes.

DOS Box – play older DOS games on your PC or Mac

// September 29th, 2006 // No Comments » // Personal

(Cross posted at XSet so they have something to read!)

A long, long time ago, before the invention of OpenGL and the XBox, when the SNES and Megadrive ruled the console world, when at least one of your friends had an Amiga and it was the dogs bollocks, when modems peaked at a heady 28KBPS… a long time ago PC gamers used to play marvelous games on a platform known as MS-DOS.

These days, modern emulators allow businesses to revisit the days of DOS and Windows 3.1 but they lack one crucial element for gamers. You see, business emulation (VMWare, Virtual PC etc) are deigned to run the OS and programs as quickly as damn possible. This is great for business use but it sucks for gamers simply because, a long time ago games were written to use the CPU speed to regulate the speed of the game. Consequently, most old games are completely unplayable on modern emulated systems as they run at 900+ FPS.

Enter DOSBox – a DOS emulator with one key difference – it allows you to specify the CPU speed and memory you want emulated! Using the CPU steps you can slow down your emulated PC to any speed and therefore run all the clock based games you want. DOSBox includes full sound card support (actually it provides 3 different sound cards), multiple graphics modes (from Tandy up to VGA) and, in it’s 6th incarnation supports a massive number of games. I’ve successfully used it to run all sorts from Worms United, to Kindom o Magic and Syndicate Wars right the way down to the good ole boys like Galactic Conquest, Spacewar and Scorched Earth. I can even run Windows 3.11 on the damn thing … if I wanted to.

Configuration can be a little tricky as you either provide a config file or mount drives from the DOS prompt but about 15 minutes with the user manual should have you up and running.

My only regret is that I dumped all those old DOS games years ago!

DOSBox – Play DOS games on any system

// September 29th, 2006 // No Comments » // Tech

A long, long time ago, before the invention of OpenGL and the XBox, when the SNES and Megadrive ruled the console world, when at least one of your friends had an Amiga and it was the dogs bollocks, when modems peaked at a heady 28KBPS… a long time ago PC gamers used to play marvelous games on a platform known as MS-DOS.

These days, modern emulators allow businesses to revisit the days of DOS and Windows 3.1 but they lack one crucial element for gamers. You see, business emulation (VMWare, Virtual PC etc) are deigned to run the OS and programs as quickly as damn possible. This is great for business use but it sucks for gamers simply because, a long time ago games were written to use the CPU speed to regulate the speed of the game. Consequently, most old games are completely unplayable on modern emulated systems as they run at 900+ FPS.

Enter DOSBox – a DOS emulator with one key difference – it allows you to specify the CPU speed and memory you want emulated! Using the CPU steps you can slow down your emulated PC to any speed and therefore run all the clock based games you want. DOSBox includes full sound card support (actually it provides 3 different sound cards), multiple graphics modes (from Tandy up to VGA) and, in it’s 6th incarnation supports a massive number of games. I’ve successfully used it to run all sorts from Worms United, to Kindom o Magic and Syndicate Wars right the way down to the good ole boys like Galactic Conquest, Spacewar and Scorched Earth. I can even run Windows 3.11 on the damn thing … if I wanted to.

Configuration can be a little tricky as you either provide a config file or mount drives from the DOS prompt but about 15 minutes with the user manual should have you up and running.

My only regret is that I dumped all those old DOS games years ago!

And I said Hey Hey Hey Hey …

// September 27th, 2006 // No Comments » // Personal

What’s goin’ on?

I promised a life update and so you shall have one.

I suppose I’d better start with the job stuff as it’s foremost in my mind. As you’re aware things haven’t been going so well on that front recently, something that has recently changed for the better. In a nutshell Rubicon was floundering, primarily due to a couple of lost opportunities. In an ideal world I’d be able to fall back on a bit of my VC and company savings and ride it out. Problem was I didn’t have any VC and the savings only lasted a month. With figures stacking up on the right of the balance sheet and nothing new on the left I was forced into a re-apraisal of my situation.

Dusting off my CV I readied myself for a foray into the job seeker’s world and was prepared to do pretty much anything to get some cash. Fortunately I was saved from the yuck that is temping by an unlikely series of events that led to an interview 3.5 weeks ago for a developer position in a reasonably new and pretty small local company. They offered my a job and after taking a weekend to think it through I accepted.

I started on Monday and, whilst there is a heck of a lot to learn, it certainly feels like I’ve made the right call. The people are friendly, the office pleasant and the remuneration is not to be sniffed at. I’m going to do my best to keep my new employer a secret (at least from the community online) but I can tell you that I’m working in PHP and eventually Perl on an enterprise level application used in over 10 countries.

What does this mean for Rubicon? Well the company will continue to exist as a legal entity as a framework for my existing clients and any “spare time” work that comes my way. I’m actually hoping to expand on the charitable side of the company’s work as one of my big plans for the future. More on that later.

Outside of work? Well being broke for a couple of months meant my social life was put on hold. I did manage to find time for two days at the Jersey CAMRA Beer festival. I’ll stick up a review when I find a minute. Oh and I also managed to hold onto my title as the St. Mary’s Petanque Club Singles Champion … this year I got a cup and everything. The final was a little odd as I was playing one of my good friends whom I normally partner with in the doubles.

And the rest of it? Well this site is going pink for October which I’ll explain in October I’m quietly addicted to CSI and am about 4 hours away from finally getting hold of a copy of Kingdom O’ Magic … which will mean nothing to most of you.

Ciao for now!

and we’re back

// September 27th, 2006 // No Comments » // Personal, Tech

Sorry for all those who popped by during the recent (i.e. 24 hour!) downtime. And sorry to those who I also happen to host. I don’t know about you but it left something of a hole in my RSS this morning.

Anyway the downtime was due to a hard disk failure on the server (no smart monitoring then) and for some reason it took 24 hours to restore everything (no raid either). Hopefully we’re back up to full speed but if you see anything funky going on then please either drop a comment or and email to robert@xset.co.uk.

Tommorrow – life update! And it’s a biggy…

Starwars Shortened

// September 22nd, 2006 // No Comments » // Personal

From some of the RSC (Reduced Shakespeare Company) comes the entire 6 movies crammed into about 20 minutes. (and then again in less than 60 seconds)

Look out for – Ode to an AT-AT, The Jedi Song, Jabba the Tent, the Graph for the Lady in Birmingham (who doesn’t get it) and of course … YODA!!!

Part one

and

Part Two

Enjoy

PS I know this has been around for a while but I was only reminded of it by my lil sis a couple of days ago

Style? I Never had none anyway

// September 22nd, 2006 // No Comments » // Personal, Tech

Do not adjust your browser! I’m well aware that this site currently looks worse than a monkey’s butt but it’s art of a grand plan.

I’m using a new theme called Sandbox and, as the name suggests, it’s a semantic basis for developing other themes. So I’m going to ease the site gently into a new format over the next couple of weeks.

In the mean time, if you find yourself thinking the theme is plain butt ugly – take a peep under the hood – that’s beautiful!

Meme Time (2 of 2)

// September 22nd, 2006 // No Comments » // Personal

And damn is this a biggy!

1. (x) Smoked a cigarette.
2. ( ) Crashed a friend’s car.
3. (x) Stolen a car.
4. (x) Been in love.
5. (x) Been dumped.
6. (x) Shoplifted.
7. (x) Been fired/laid off.
8. (x) Been in a fist fight.
9. (x) Snuck out of your parent’s house.
10. (x) Had feelings for someone that didn’t have them back.
11. ( ) Been arrested.
12. ( ) Gone on a blind date.
13. (x) Lied to a friend.
14. (x) Skipped school.
15. ( ) Seen someone die.
16. ( ) Been to Canada.
17. ( ) Been to Mexico.
18. (x) Been on a plane.
19. (x) Purposely set a part of yourself on fire.
20. (x) Eaten sushi.
21. ( ) Been skiing.
22. (x) Met someone in person from the internet.
23. (x) Taken pain-killers.
24. (x) Love someone or miss someone right now.
25. (x) Laid on your back and watched cloud shapes go by.
26. (x) Made a snow angel.
27. (x) Had a tea party.
28. (x) Flown a kite.
29. (x) Built a sand castle.
30. (x) Gone puddle jumping.
31. (x) Played dress up.
32. (x) Cheated while playing a game.
33. (x) Been lonely.
34. (x) Fallen asleep at work/school.
35. (x) Used a fake I.D.
36. (x) Watched a sunset.
37. (x) Felt an earthquake.
38. (x) Touched a snake.
39. (x) Slept beneath the stars.
40. (x) Been tickled.
41. ( ) Been robbed.
42. ( ) Been misunderstood.
43. (x) Petted a reindeer/goat.
44. (x) Won a contest.
45. (x) Ran a red light.
46. ( ) Been suspended from school.
47. (x) Been in a car accident.
48. (x) Eaten a whole pint of ice cream in one night.
49. (x) Had deja vu.
50. (x) Danced in the moonlight.
52. (x) Liked the way you looked.
53. ( ) Witnessed a crime.
54. (x) Questioned your heart.
55. (x) Been obsessed with post it notes.
56. (x) Squished barefoot through the mud.
57. (x) Been lost.
58. (x) Been to the opposite side of the country.
59. (x) Swam in the ocean.
60. (x) Felt like dying.
61. (x) Cried yourself to sleep.
62. (x) Played cops and robbers.
63. ( ) Recently colored with crayons.
64. (x) Sung karaoke.
65. (x) Paid for a meal with only coins.
66. (x) Done something you told yourself you wouldn’t.
67. (x) Laughed until some kind of beverage came out your nose.
68. (x) Caught a snowflake on your tongue.
69. (x) Danced in the rain.
70. (x) Written a letter to Santa Claus.
71. ( ) Been kissed under the mistletoe.
72. (x) Watched the sun rise with someone you care about
73. (x) Blown bubbles.
74. (x) Made a bonfire on the beach.
75. (x) Crashed a party.
76. ( ) Gone roller-skating.
77. ( ) Had a wish come true.
78. ( ) Worn pearls.
79. (x) Jumped off a bridge.
80. (x) Ate dog/cat food.
81. (x) Told a complete stranger you loved them.
82. (x) Kissed a mirror.
83. (x) Sang in the shower.
84. (x) Had a dream that you married someone.
85. ( ) Glued your hand to something. (more than once)
86. ( ) Got your tongue stuck to a flagpole.
87. (x) Kissed a fish.
88. (x) Sat on a rooftop.
89. (x) Screamed at the top of your lungs.
90. ( ) Done a one-handed cartwheel.
91. ( ) Talked on the phone for more than six hours on one occasion.
92. (x) Stayed up all night.
93. ( ) Didn’t take a shower for a week.
94. (x) Picked and ate an apple right off the tree.
95. (x) Climbed a tree that had a tree house.
96. ( ) Been told by a complete stranger that you’re hot.
97. ( ) Ever had a one night stand.
98. (x) Ever missed someone so much it still hurts to think of them.
99. (x) Ever loved someone that you knew wouldn’t love you back.
(didn’t we have this one already?
100 (x) Ever been to a professional football, or tennis game in a stadium ground.
101.(x) Went hiking in the mountains.
102.(x) Smoked a cigar.
103.(x) Had a crush on someone you worked with but never told them.
104.( ) Wished you had the chance to change your profession.
105.( ) Ever cremated and kept the ashes of a pet you cared a lot about.
106.( ) Wished you could live your life over again from age 21.
107.( ) Been baptized?
108.( ) Rode a horse.
109.( ) Sent flowers to someone you never met

(borrowed, 109 questions ago, from Itsi)

Meme time (1 of 2)

// September 22nd, 2006 // No Comments » // Personal

A pretty random collection of thoughts as seen at World of Soil:

1. Your favourite swear word?
Twat! It slams off the tongue like a shotgun blast plus it always reminds me of Blazing Saddles – “Shut up you Teutonic Twat…”

2. Your most disliked swear word?
Dunno. I think most of them have their place in this world but any swear word that’s delivered without requirement is a waste of breath and so is the speaker.

3. Your best loved saying?
Let’s make like shepherds … and get the flock outta here!

4. Your most disliked saying?
Anything from Forrest Gump and anything that you’d hear a football commentator saying … “At the end of the day” … at the end of the day what? and it’s not the end of the day you half brained moron, it’s the end of 90 minutes from said day and for most of the planet that 90 minutes was about as uneventful as the other 1,350 … twat.

5. What would be your preferred weapon in a duel, swords or pistols?
Both … he/she gets swords and I get pistols

6. Defend or attack?
HEY! Trick question. Everyone knows that the best defense is offense, so I try to make sure I’m as offensive as possible. (and don’t believe J when he says defend – I’ve played this guy at UT2004 enough to know a berserker when I see one)

7. Head or heart?
Are we still talking about attacking with swords here? Head, every time.
If we’re being metaphysical then still head. The heart simply gets people into trouble. When did you last hear of someone doing something really stupid because they’d sat down and completely thought it through? “Man drowns ex-lover in beer” is the heart talking, the head would tell him to give it up, move on and maybe have a drink …

8. Your favourite stand up comic?
Bill Hicks although he’s dead so Eddie Izzard comes in a close second.

9. Your most disliked stand up?
Any of the “old school”, mother-in-law gag comics … especially Freddie Starr … twat.

10. Your favourite song where only the original will do?
Tricky. By definition the original of any song is the best version and therefore this question only applies to songs that have been covered. I’d say anything that’s been adopted by rap artists (Sting or Oasis anyone?) and anything that was defining when it was released …

DOH! Just realised the sweary filter is still running on this post. You’ll just have to use your imagination for number 1

Free Omnigraffle Templates

// September 13th, 2006 // No Comments » // Tech

One of the main things I can’t imagine leaving behind from the Mac world is the amazing software by the Omnigroup. Graffletopia is a cracking resource for users of Omnigraffle (like Visio for the Mac) and provides a load of templates and stencils for you to download and use.