title_0

{"item":{"status":"visible","url":"\/2011\/11\/23\/meissonier-sergeant\/","trash":"","name":"meissonier-sergeant","parent":"","title":"Meissonier - The Portrait of a Sergeant (1874)","date":"2011-11-23 10:27:07","filepath":"posts\/2000824_meissonier-sergeant.xml.json","type":"post","content":"<a href=\"http:\/\/www.8bitrobot.com\/media\/uploads\/2011\/11\/Meissonier-The-Portrait-of-a-Sergeant.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-825\" title=\"Meissonier - The Portrait of a Sergeant\" src=\"http:\/\/www.8bitrobot.com\/media\/uploads\/2011\/11\/Meissonier-The-Portrait-of-a-Sergeant-258x300.jpg\" alt=\"Meissonier - The Portrait of a Sergeant 1874\" width=\"258\" height=\"300\" \/><\/a><\/p>"}}

title_1

{"item":{"status":"visible","url":"\/2011\/11\/21\/magenta\/","trash":"","name":"magenta","parent":"","title":"Magenta exists only in your mind","date":"2011-11-21 10:58:27","filepath":"posts\/2000798_magenta.xml.json","type":"post","content":"<img class=\"alignleft\" style=\"margin-right: 5px; margin-bottom: 5px;\" title=\"color wheel\" src=\"http:\/\/0.tqn.com\/d\/chemistry\/1\/0\/O\/8\/1\/colorwheel.jpg\" alt=\"color wheel\" width=\"180\" height=\"180\" \/>Here's in interesting bit of information on how your brain interprets the real world: \u00a0There is no Magenta color in the real world.\n\nMagenta manifests itself on the wavelength boundaries of human vision. \u00a0For example when you look at a rainbow, you see the colors that range from Violet to Red and Magenta is curiously absent.\n\nA color wheel, however, is created by gradually blending colors, which is why you perceive blending red and yellow light as orange. \u00a0What is happening is your brain perceives an average of the wavelengths, which makes RGB televisions\/monitor pixels so effective.\n\nIf you look at the visible color spectrum, you will notice Violet and Red are on opposite sides of the scale:\n<img class=\"alignnone\" style=\"margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 5px; border: 5px solid black;\" title=\"visible spectrum\" src=\"http:\/\/z.about.com\/d\/chemistry\/1\/0\/N\/8\/1\/visible-spectrum.jpg\" alt=\"visible spectrum\" width=\"363\" height=\"69\" \/><\/p>\nSo, when the color wheel gradually blends the Violet and Red color area it is basically bending the visible color spectrum and connecting the ends; the result is Magenta. \u00a0Instead of averaging the wavelengths into the expected Green, your brain experiences Magenta while trying to make sense of the edges of visual perception.\n\nWhat could be a better choice for Alpha\/Transparency\u00a0than a non-existent color?\n\nSo, look around. \u00a0You will not see the color Magenta in nature unless it is the product of a blend of Red and Violet light.\n\nSpeaking of edges of visual perception<\/em>, the brain does interesting tricks while compensating for limited sensory input. \u00a0The interpretation of field-of-view is also odd once you try to\u00a0experience\u00a0the edge of your peripheral vision<\/em>.\n\nFix your eyes on a point, then take your hand and explore the edge of your sight. \u00a0You can see your hand at one point, then you can no longer see it once it passes beyond the corner of your eye. \u00a0But where did it go? \u00a0It didn't pass into a black<\/em> visual space. \u00a0But, what did it pass into?\n\nYour brain does not comprehend sight outside of the field of vision and it does not allocate visual cells for the area behind yourself. \u00a0For that we have a mental\u00a0construct\u00a0of the world around us. \u00a0Your hand is passing from a visual existing object to a purely conceptualized object in your mental space<\/em>.\n\nPassing an object over this\u00a0boundary\u00a0is exciting since you almost feel a shudder as it loses all visual existence and only remains positioned in your mind. \u00a0No wonder it takes children a long time to learn people and things don't cease to exist when they are no longer visible.\n\nIt makes you wonder why there isn't a Magenta <\/em>equivalent in the transition between opposing edges of your field of vision...\n\ninspiration from <a href=\"http:\/\/chemistry.about.com\/b\/2010\/02\/17\/what-is-the-wavelength-of-magenta.htm\" target=\"_blank\">Anne Marie Helmenstine<\/a><\/em>\n\n \n\n "}}

title_2

{"item":{"status":"visible","url":"\/2011\/11\/20\/1q84-youre-killing-me\/","trash":"","name":"1q84-youre-killing-me","parent":"","title":"1Q84: An Immense Disappointment","date":"2011-11-20 19:34:35","filepath":"posts\/2000812_1q84-youre-killing-me.xml.json","type":"post","content":"<a href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/0307593312\/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=zygmy-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=0307593312\" style=\"float: left; padding-right: 10px\"><img alt=\"1Q84\" border=\"0\" src=\"http:\/\/photo.goodreads.com\/books\/1316729331m\/10357575.jpg\" \/><\/a><img src=\"http:\/\/www.assoc-amazon.com\/e\/ir?t=zygmy-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0307593312&camp=217145&creative=399373\" width=\"1\" height=\"1\" border=\"0\" alt=\"\" style=\"border:none !important; margin:0px !important;\" \/><a href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/0307593312\/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=zygmy-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=0307593312\">1Q84<\/a><img src=\"http:\/\/www.assoc-amazon.com\/e\/ir?t=zygmy-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0307593312&camp=217145&creative=399373\" width=\"1\" height=\"1\" border=\"0\" alt=\"\" style=\"border:none !important; margin:0px !important;\" \/> by <a href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/entity\/Haruki-Murakami\/B000AP7AFI?ie=UTF8&ref_=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1&ie=UTF8&tag=zygmy-20&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=390957\">Haruki Murakami<\/a><img src=\"https:\/\/www.assoc-amazon.com\/e\/ir?t=zygmy-20&l=ur2&o=1\" width=\"1\" height=\"1\" border=\"0\" alt=\"\" style=\"border:none !important; margin:0px !important;\" \/><br\/>\n1 out of 5<\/strong><\/em> \nIt has become apparent Murakami has lost steam. His stories and style of writing are forced and repetitive, almost to the point of being a symptom of dementia. As with <a href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/0307278735\/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=zygmy-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0307278735\">After Dark<\/a><img src=\"http:\/\/www.assoc-amazon.com\/e\/ir?t=zygmy-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0307278735&camp=217145&creative=399369\" width=\"1\" height=\"1\" border=\"0\" alt=\"\" style=\"border:none !important; margin:0px !important;\" \/>, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/0307593312\/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=zygmy-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=0307593312\">1Q84<\/a><img src=\"http:\/\/www.assoc-amazon.com\/e\/ir?t=zygmy-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0307593312&camp=217145&creative=399373\" width=\"1\" height=\"1\" border=\"0\" alt=\"\" style=\"border:none !important; margin:0px !important;\" \/> has been lackluster and surmounted to nothing more than a waste of time.<br\/><br\/>I do not recommend <a href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/0307593312\/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=zygmy-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=0307593312\">1Q84<\/a><img src=\"http:\/\/www.assoc-amazon.com\/e\/ir?t=zygmy-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0307593312&camp=217145&creative=399373\" width=\"1\" height=\"1\" border=\"0\" alt=\"\" style=\"border:none !important; margin:0px !important;\" \/>. Save your money and time (this book is about a thousand pages on poor quality paper and binding... all which way about 30 pounds). The only reason I didn't sell the book to a used book store halfway through was my respect for Murakami... Sadly, the book only worsened to a point of being a vile droll non-story, degrading my almost idolistic worship for the author.<br\/><br\/>Having finished the book, I have nothing but sympathy for the Japanese readers who read the first release that ended with the 2nd book. Murakami probably felt \"compelled\"<\/em> to write more and produce the 3rd book because of the resulting backlash from the critics and readers. Knowing this, the 3rd book is an even more trite supplication that reads like hydrochoric acid sprayed as a fine mist onto your corneas.<br\/><br\/>In all, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/0307593312\/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=zygmy-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=0307593312\">1Q84<\/a><img src=\"http:\/\/www.assoc-amazon.com\/e\/ir?t=zygmy-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0307593312&camp=217145&creative=399373\" width=\"1\" height=\"1\" border=\"0\" alt=\"\" style=\"border:none !important; margin:0px !important;\" \/> appears to be a social experiment in testing the will of his readers. In this work, Murakami has played the role of a literary torturer imposing benevolence on his fanbase. If Murakami doesn't have the desire to write, he should hang up his hat and gracefully bow out instead of creating constipated byproducts like <a href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/0307593312\/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=zygmy-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=0307593312\">1Q84<\/a><img src=\"http:\/\/www.assoc-amazon.com\/e\/ir?t=zygmy-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0307593312&camp=217145&creative=399373\" width=\"1\" height=\"1\" border=\"0\" alt=\"\" style=\"border:none !important; margin:0px !important;\" \/>.<br\/><br\/>Still, Murakami has produced some amazing works and I apologize for my overly critical review of <a href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/0307593312\/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=zygmy-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=0307593312\">1Q84.<\/a><img src=\"http:\/\/www.assoc-amazon.com\/e\/ir?t=zygmy-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0307593312&camp=217145&creative=399373\" width=\"1\" height=\"1\" border=\"0\" alt=\"\" style=\"border:none !important; margin:0px !important;\" \/> His short stories are spectacular and <a href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/037571894X\/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=zygmy-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=037571894X\">A Wild Sheep Chase<\/a><img src=\"http:\/\/www.assoc-amazon.com\/e\/ir?t=zygmy-20&l=as2&o=1&a=037571894X&camp=217145&creative=399369\" width=\"1\" height=\"1\" border=\"0\" alt=\"\" style=\"border:none !important; margin:0px !important;\" \/> is unmatched.\n\nI'm not sure why you would want to, but you can <a href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/0307593312\/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=zygmy-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=0307593312\">get 1Q84 from Amazon<\/a><img src=\"http:\/\/www.assoc-amazon.com\/e\/ir?t=zygmy-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0307593312&camp=217145&creative=399373\" width=\"1\" height=\"1\" border=\"0\" alt=\"\" style=\"border:none !important; margin:0px !important;\" \/>.<\/em>\n"}}

title_3

{"item":{"status":"visible","url":"\/2011\/11\/20\/spotlight-hooray-for-earth\/","trash":"","name":"spotlight-hooray-for-earth","parent":"","title":"Spotlight: True Loves - Hooray for Earth","date":"2011-11-20 09:22:20","filepath":"posts\/2000760_spotlight-hooray-for-earth.xml.json","type":"post","content":"<iframe width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Mf6JCpJjdiY\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\nDirected by Cyriak\n\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/B004VAL0OU\/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=zygmy-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=B004VAL0OU\">buy it<\/a><img src=\"http:\/\/www.assoc-amazon.com\/e\/ir?t=zygmy-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B004VAL0OU&camp=217145&creative=399373\" width=\"1\" height=\"1\" border=\"0\" alt=\"\" style=\"border:none !important; margin:0px !important;\" \/><\/em>"}}

title_4

{"item":{"status":"visible","url":"\/2011\/11\/19\/aeon-flux-original-pilot\/","trash":"","name":"aeon-flux-original-pilot","parent":"","title":"Aeon Flux Original Pilot","date":"2011-11-19 11:46:00","filepath":"posts\/2000795_aeon-flux-original-pilot.xml.json","type":"post","content":"From MTV's Liquid Television.\n\n<iframe width=\"420\" height=\"315\" src=\"http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/D5GJ7qSgKtU\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>"}}

title_5

{"item":{"status":"visible","url":"\/2011\/11\/18\/amazon-api-breakage\/","trash":"","name":"amazon-api-breakage","parent":"","title":"Amazon Product Advertising API Update","date":"2011-11-18 15:42:03","filepath":"posts\/2000806_amazon-api-breakage.xml.json","type":"post","content":"<a href=\"http:\/\/www.poptoken.com\"><img class=\"alignnone\" title=\"poptoken\" src=\"http:\/\/www.poptoken.com\/img\/logo.png\" alt=\"poptoken\" width=\"91\" height=\"23\" \/><\/a>\n\nIt took me about 18 days to discover that Amazon changed the Product Advertising API by adding a new requirement to each request. \u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.poptoken.com\/\">Poptoken.com<\/a> was down for a long time. \u00a0Embarrassing.\n\nAfter digging this error popped up:\n<blockquote>\"Your request is missing required parameters. Required parameters include AssociateTag.\"<\/blockquote>\nAssociateTag... hmm....\n\nAfter more sleuthing I determined what the Associate Tag (aka Associate ID) is. \u00a0It is the generated account name linked to your Product Advertising API.\n\nSo, once you sign in, you'll see on the page \"Signed in as\" with a name below it. \u00a0That is your Associate Tag. \u00a0In many cases your Associate Tag will be the same as your Tracking ID.\n\nTo get things working again, just put an \"AssociateTag\" parameter in your aws request before signing it.\n\nNow you can send music songs and mp3's to friends as a gift with <a href=\"http:\/\/www.poptoken.com\/\">PopToken<\/a>."}}

title_6

{"item":{"status":"visible","url":"\/2011\/11\/18\/dianne-feinstein-defense-auth\/","trash":"","name":"dianne-feinstein-defense-auth","parent":"","title":"Email to Dianne Feinstein about the Defense Authorization Bill","date":"2011-11-18 14:42:16","filepath":"posts\/2000801_dianne-feinstein-defense-auth.xml.json","type":"post","content":"<a href=\"http:\/\/www.8bitrobot.com\/media\/uploads\/2011\/11\/congress.png\"><img class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-802\" style=\"margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 5px;\" title=\"congress\" src=\"http:\/\/www.8bitrobot.com\/media\/uploads\/2011\/11\/congress.png\" alt=\"congress\" width=\"127\" height=\"68\" \/><\/a>In regards to the <a href=\"http:\/\/blog.sfgate.com\/nov05election\/2011\/11\/18\/dianne-feinstein-squares-off-on-detainees\/?tsp=1\" target=\"_blank\">Defense Authorization Bill<\/a>:\n\nThank you for taking the floor and defending our core rights. \u00a0Everyone has a right to Due Process<\/em> in our country. \u00a0Please do not allow our government to attempt to unconstitutionally militarize.\n\nCitizens are governed by themselves; not by the government military.\n\nNext up, please try to restore Habeas Corpus<\/em>. \u00a0Our nation is embarrassing ourselves.\n\nBest.\n\nAfterthought:<\/strong> I should have said \"Citizens are policed<\/em> by themselves.\""}}

title_7

{"item":{"status":"visible","url":"\/2011\/11\/18\/five-pearls-of-scottish-wisdom\/","trash":"","name":"five-pearls-of-scottish-wisdom","parent":"","title":"Five pearls of Scottish wisdom","date":"2011-11-18 11:04:00","filepath":"posts\/2000785_five-pearls-of-scottish-wisdom.xml.json","type":"post","content":"Here's something my Father emailed me:\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.8bitrobot.com\/media\/uploads\/2011\/11\/Five-pearls-of-scottish-wisdom1.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-787\" title=\"Five pearls of scottish wisdom\" src=\"http:\/\/www.8bitrobot.com\/media\/uploads\/2011\/11\/Five-pearls-of-scottish-wisdom1.jpg\" alt=\"Five pearls of scottish wisdom\" width=\"500\" height=\"222\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n1. Money cannot buy happiness but somehow, it's more comfortable to cry in a Mercedes Benz than it is on a bicycle.\n\n2. Forgive your enemy but remember the bastard's name.\n\n3. Help a man when he is in trouble and he will remember you when he is in trouble again.\n\n4. Many people are alive only because it's illegal to shoot them.\n\n5. Alcohol does not solve any problem, but then neither does milk.\n\nfrom the tubes of the internet...<\/em>"}}

title_8

{"item":{"status":"visible","url":"\/2011\/11\/17\/notes-on-mjpg_streamer\/","trash":"","name":"notes-on-mjpg_streamer","parent":"","title":"Notes on mjpg_streamer","date":"2011-11-17 10:46:12","filepath":"posts\/2000774_notes-on-mjpg_streamer.xml.json","type":"post","content":"<h3>Initial config:<\/span><\/h3>\n* Ubuntu 10.10 Desktop on a netbook<\/p>\n\n<h4>Step 0: Is your camera working?<\/h4>\n<blockquote>$ ls -i \/dev | grep videoYou should see your camera listed (e.g. video0)<\/blockquote>\n<h4>Step 1: Install the mjpg_streamer Debian package<\/h4>\na)\u00a0Download with your browser: <a href=\"http:\/\/sourceforge.net\/projects\/mjpg-streamer\/files\/\" target=\"_blank\">http:\/\/sourceforge.net\/projects\/mjpg-streamer\/files\/<\/a><\/p>\nb) Install the package (just \"open\" the file with the downloader) in your package manager.<\/p>\nc) Install more packages:<\/p>\n\n<blockquote>$ sudo apt-get install libjpeg-progs<\/blockquote>\n<h4>Step 2: Run it<\/h4>\n<blockquote>$ sudo mjpg_streamer -i \"input_uvc.so -d \/dev\/video0 -y\" -o \"output_http.so -p 8090 -w \/usr\/www\"<\/blockquote>\n<h4>Step 3: View it<\/h4>\na) Open a browser and go to: http:\/\/localhost:8090<\/p>\nb) You should see a welcome and info page. \u00a0Click around to see your stream.<\/p>\n\n<h2>Surprises and info:<\/h2>\n* Where is mjpg_streamer installed? <\/strong><\/em><\/p>\nAnswer: <\/strong><\/p>\n\n<blockquote>\n$ which mjpg_streamer<\/p>\n\/usr\/bin\/mgjpg_streamer<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n* Where is output_http.so installed? <\/strong><\/em><\/p>\nAnswer:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n<blockquote>\n\/usr\/lib<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n* Where are the web files? \u00a0Did you get one of these messages? <\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n<blockquote>\n\"400 Not Found!: No file extension found\"<\/p>\n\"404 Not Found!: Could not open file\"<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\nAnswer: <\/strong><\/p>\nYou need to specify the location of mjpg_streamer's www files. \u00a0They are installed in: \/usr\/www<\/p>\n* Why am I getting the following error? <\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n<blockquote>\n\"Unable to set format: Invalid argument<\/p>\nInit v4L2 failed !! exit fatal<\/p>\ni: init_VideoIn failed\"<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\nAnswer: <\/strong><\/p>\nYour camera <a href=\"http:\/\/blog.metamatt.com\/post\/1501411580\/mjpg-streamer-from-openwrt-with-cheap-webcams\" target=\"_blank\">only supports YUV<\/a> and doesn't support MJPG in hardware. \u00a0Tell mjpg_streamer to do the conversion for you with the \"-y\" argument.<\/p>"}}

title_9

{"item":{"status":"visible","url":"\/2011\/11\/16\/smile-train\/","trash":"","name":"smile-train","parent":"","title":"Message to those that show Smile Train Advertisements","date":"2011-11-16 11:48:11","filepath":"posts\/2000781_smile-train.xml.json","type":"post","content":"<a href=\"http:\/\/www.8bitrobot.com\/media\/uploads\/2011\/11\/nsfl.png\"><img class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-782\" title=\"nsfl\" src=\"http:\/\/www.8bitrobot.com\/media\/uploads\/2011\/11\/nsfl.png\" alt=\"nsfl text image\" width=\"117\" height=\"46\" \/><\/a>\n\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.8bitrobot.com\/media\/uploads\/2011\/11\/nsfl.png\"><\/a>Here is a message sent to websites and magazines that display Smile Train Advertisements<\/strong>.\n<blockquote>The advertising content displayed on your website is offensive and should be removed. \u00a0The Smile Train image of a deformed child is not proper advertising material and is grotesque.\n\nWhat is the difference between Smile Train and ads with kids that suffer from Progeria, Cyclopia, or Anencephaly? \u00a0There is none. \u00a0The the ads are simply inappropriate.\n\nAdvertising should targeting the general population (as in rated G). \u00a0The smile train ads are extremely disturbing and amount to emotional blackmail.\n\nIn addition, Smile Train itself appears to spend more on advertising than on actually fixing the deformities. \u00a0Someone is benefiting from it, but it sure isn't the children or the people looking at the ads.\n\nI reiterate: Please remove the Smile Train advertisements from your website.\n\nThank you.<\/blockquote>\nYou can see ads of children with cleft palates in newspapers and magazines like the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.sfexaminer.com\/\">SF Examiner<\/a>, <a href=\"http:\/\/discovermagazine.com\/\">Discover Magazine<\/a>, the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.smithsonianmag.com\/\">Smithsonian<\/a>, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.nationalgeographic.com\/\">National Geographic<\/a>, and many more...\n\nSomeone should look into Smile Train and follow the money."}}