Archive for April, 2006

Free Comic Book Day 2006

// April 29th, 2006 // 5 Comments » // My Stuff

Free Comic Book Day 2006Free Comic Book Day is next Saturday (May 6, 2006). Even if you aren’t normally a comic book reader, you should plan to attend this because you may not know what you’re missing. This is your opportunity to find out.

The lineup of what is available this year is pretty impressive. The offering from Marvel is primarily an X-Men/Runaways crossover, but the issue also contains Ultimate Spider-Man, Franklin Richards, and a preview of upcoming title Marvel Adventures: Mighty Avengers.

For those of us in northern New Hampshire, Geeks and Gamers will be participating so you have no excuse not to check it out. For anyone else, the Free Comic Book Day site has a locator for participating stores in your area.

comic book, comic books, franklin richards, free, geeks and gamers, runaways, spider-man, spiderman, ultimate spiderman, x-men, xmen

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Black Cherry – Another Variation on the Black and Tan

// April 28th, 2006 // No Comments » // My Stuff

Samuel Adams Cherry WheatStill experimenting with my Lagerhead Turtle, I’ve become pretty hooked on mixing something I’m calling the Black Cherry.

Murphy’s Irish Stout on top
Samuel Adams’ Cherry Wheat on bottom

Once again, you can subsititute Guinness Irish Stout, but I think Murphy’s is better in any black and tan. I’m sure this has been done by others and named other things, but oh well.

beer, black and tan, black cherry, cherry, cherry wheat, guinness, irish stout, sam adams, samuel adams, stout

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Nintendo Goes Wii

// April 27th, 2006 // 2 Comments » // My Stuff

nintendo wiiI was simultaneously notified today of Nintendo announcing the official title of their next generation console by Tom, Adam, and Jon… Nintendo announced the change from codename Revolution to calling it Wii. Check out the announcement video on Rewired Mind.

Then read this explanation of the name from Nintendo:

Introducing … Wii.

As in “we.”

While the code-name “Revolution” expressed our direction, Wii represents the answer.

Wii will break down that wall that separates video game players from everybody else.

Wii will put people more in touch with their games … and each other. But you’re probably asking: What does the name mean?

Wii sounds like “we,” which emphasizes this console is for everyone.

Wii can easily be remembered by people around the world, no matter what language they speak. No confusion. No need to abbreviate. Just Wii.

Wii has a distinctive “ii” spelling that symbolizes both the unique controllers and the image of people gathering to play.

And Wii, as a name and a console, brings something revolutionary to the world of video games that sets it apart from the crowd.

So that’s Wii. But now Nintendo needs you.

Because, it’s really not about you or me.

It’s about Wii.

And together, Wii will change everything.

As for now, Nintendo.com has been /.’d, so you’ll have to try again later if you want to read what they have to say themselves.

console, game, gaming, nintendo, revolution, video games, we, wii

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PHP 5 readfile Problem

// April 26th, 2006 // No Comments » // Technology Bits

PHP LogoIn PHP 5.0.x there is a known bug that can cause large (2MB+) files to be handled incorrectly by the readfile function. We first discovered this while working with Tiki Wiki. Today we ran into it again with the way we stream secured SWF Flash files off the file system.

Luckily, I found this great function on PHP.net in the user comment section. Simply drop this function definition in place and use it instead of readfile and the problem is gone!

PLAIN TEXT
PHP:
  1. <?php
  2. function readfile_chunked($filename,$retbytes=true)
  3. {
  4.    $chunksize = 1*(1024*1024); // how many bytes per chunk
  5.    $buffer = '';
  6.    $cnt =0;
  7.    // $handle = fopen($filename, 'rb');
  8.    $handle = fopen($filename, 'rb');
  9.    if ($handle === false)
  10.    {
  11.        return false;
  12.    }
  13.    while (!feof($handle))
  14.    {
  15.        $buffer = fread($handle, $chunksize);
  16.        echo $buffer;
  17.        if ($retbytes)
  18.        {
  19.            $cnt += strlen($buffer);
  20.        }
  21.    }
  22.    $status = fclose($handle);
  23.    if ($retbytes && $status)
  24.    {
  25.        return $cnt; // return num. bytes delivered like readfile() does.
  26.    }
  27.    return $status;
  28. }
  29. ?>

code, development, file, file handling, flash, large file size, php, programming, readfile

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2006 World’s Ugliest Dog Contest

// April 25th, 2006 // 10 Comments » // My Stuff

Sonoma-Marin Fair LogoIt is that time of year again, time for the 2006 Sonoma-Marin Fair World's Ugliest Dog Contest in Petaluma, CA. As many know, Sam was crowned world's ugliest dog the last two years. However, poor Sam past away on November 22nd.

This leaves the title wide open for a new ugly dog to try and fill Sam's shoes. The fair is June 21-24, the ugly dog contest is on Friday June 23rd. I will post the results as soon as they become available.

Of potential interest is that Tator's owner is Susan Newell who was Sam's owner up until his death. Rascal was a previous winner of the "World's Ugliest Dog" title, the only one of the group to ever hold the title. This in turn means Rascal is currently considered the "World's Ugliest Living Dog". Pee Wee, my personal choice, has been called "Son of Sam" by Newell on past occasions.

As of the posting of this article, Pee Wee and Munchkin are in a dead heat for the title.


Lucille Bald
Lucille Bald		 Munchkin
Munchkin		 Oscar
Oscar
Miss Ellie
Miss Ellie		 Tator Tot
Tator Tot		 Rascal
Rascal
Pee Wee Martini
Pee Wee		 Go Vote Now!

then check the results

contest, dog, fair, lucille bald, miss ellie, munchkin, oscar, pee wee, pee wee martini, rascal, sam, son of sam, sonoma-marin, sonoma-marin fair, susan newell, tator tot, ugly, ugly dog, ugly dog contest, vote, world's ugliest, world's ugliest dog

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The Sentry – Not Worth It

// April 23rd, 2006 // 1 Comment » // My Stuff

The Sentry #3Due to his member ship in the New Avengers, I started reading The Sentry. As of now, I'll be reading The Sentry no more. I hate to say it, but it's really quite terrible. This is the worst character I've ever encountered in the Marvel Universe. They really should be embarrassed.

As I try to read this, I find myself disengaged from the story line, bored out of my mind, and hoping I'll get to the end of each story. I've never found myself despising a comic like this. I can't find a single redeeming quality about The Sentry.

In my previous post on him I said:

In conclusion, Jenkins-Sentry is lame. Bendis resurrects with some success, but I still feel there is no place for the omnipotent hero in the Marvel Universe. [...] As I continue reading New Avengers, maybe the guy will grow on me.

Alas, he did not grow on me. Now I hope each time I read New Avengers that Sentry will not play a major (or even minor) role. Maybe we'll get lucky and they'll kill him off in the impending Civil War...

avengers, civil war, marvel, marvel universe, new avengers, sentry

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Black and Blueberry – A Variation on the Black and Tan

// April 21st, 2006 // 1 Comment » // My Stuff

Sea Dog: Blue Paw Wheat AleSince getting my Lagerhead Turtle, I've increasingly enjoyed experimenting with new stratified beer recipes. One I'm quite proud of I'm calling the Black and Blueberry.

Murphy's Irish Stout on top
Sea Dog: Blue Paw Wheat Ale on bottom.

You can of course subsititute Guinness Irish Stout, but I think Murphy's is better in any black and tan.

beer, black and blueberry, black and tan, blue paw, blueberry, guinness, irish stout, sea dog, stout, ale, wheat ale

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