Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: At home with the art-hackers

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  • Paul Campbell,

    I hope the microncontroller clicks with him - if he shows interest in actually making a board from scratch I recommend LadyAda's kits - easy to build, requires minor soldering skills

    Dunedin • Since Nov 2006 • 2623 posts Report Reply

  • Jonathan Maze,

    Thanks Purple Spheres is a very cool concept. I like the whole lo-tech attitude to hi-tech although I had to go to Wikipedia to find out what a multi touch interface was...

    Auckland • Since Jul 2007 • 29 posts Report Reply

  • dc_red,

    I love the parental advisory at the start of the Spore introductory video:

    "Animated blood. Comic mischief. Fantasy violence."

    Comic mischief!? What is the world coming to!?

    I wonder if they slap the same warnings on the front page of Shakespeare's more light-hearted plays?

    Oil Patch, Alberta • Since Nov 2006 • 706 posts Report Reply

  • dc_red,

    Yikes, having watched the remainder of the Spore video, it needs at least one more warning:

    "May make children susceptible to ravings of crazed creationists".

    Oil Patch, Alberta • Since Nov 2006 • 706 posts Report Reply

  • Danielle,

    I gather they played an "epic" three hours in Dunedin.

    Without chemical enhancement, that's my particular version of hell. I say get in, get out, leave them gasping.

    I wonder how I would have fared at all those six-hour Led Zeppelin shows in the 70s...

    Charo World. Cuchi-cuchi!… • Since Nov 2006 • 3828 posts Report Reply

  • danduran,

    Comic Mischief would make a totally awesome band name.

    Auckland • Since May 2008 • 9 posts Report Reply

  • Nigel Russell,

    Nice call on The Saints this morning....a brass section with loud guitars is hard to beat.

    Hunters & Collectors encored their last Powerstation show back in the 90's with a version of "Know your Product" which was nothing short of stunning

    auckland • Since Sep 2008 • 4 posts Report Reply

  • Simon Grigg,

    a brass section with loud guitars is hard to beat.

    Does that mean The Spelling Mistakes are gonna use The Newmatics brass section for a live take of Feel So good?

    Just another klong... • Since Nov 2006 • 3284 posts Report Reply

  • Rich of Observationz,

    six hour Led Zeppelin shows

    No Stairway

    BTW, thanks for the pointer at Purple Spheres.

    Back in Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 5550 posts Report Reply

  • Neil Graham,

    a programmable microcontroller

    Species? pic/avr/arm/8051/other

    I show people this with great enthusiasm

    Mostly I get confused looks and a few patronising smiles. It's a special kind of cool, Leo might get it.

    Mind Lego.

    Christchurch • Since Nov 2006 • 118 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    So the news is that Spore crashes at launch, reporting an "access violation" and a missing DLL -- after, of course, deciding it needs to update. Very disappointed boy.

    Windows sucks balls.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Simon Grigg,

    So the news is that Spore crashes at launch, reporting an "access violation" and a missing DLL -- after, of course, deciding it needs to update. Very disappointed boy.

    And the download site has been stuck in some hell loading-loop for two days

    Very disappointed girl..

    Just another klong... • Since Nov 2006 • 3284 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    And the download site has been stuck in some hell loading-loop for two days

    Very disappointed girl..

    And there's a three-activation limit on the game purchase, and if we we try and reinstall to restore the missing DLL file, we use up another one of those.

    We're not the only ones with these and other problems either.

    I'm of the view currently that EA needs to be crucified over this. They've released broken software and made it very difficult to fix because of the way they've applied their DRM.

    Wankers.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Simon Grigg,

    because of the way they've applied their DRM.

    Is that the same EA who screwed up my daughters computer so completely on a dozen different levels with their securom on The Sims 2 that I had to demolish the hard drive and reinstall everything to get it working again(she lost a bunch of long term homework in the process)?

    I guess it is....

    Just another klong... • Since Nov 2006 • 3284 posts Report Reply

  • Rich of Observationz,

    Wow Neil - bit bashing video on an Atmel FTW!

    Is this open source - like is there code and circuits?

    My microcontroller art project is Dance Dance Decoration which uses a PICAXE to drive the paint sprayer motors.

    Back in Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 5550 posts Report Reply

  • James Littlewood*,

    Sooo, I was engaged in my usual commuter stroll up Queen St yesterday with Hornblower when he deadpanned "oh look, we're in a Bravia ad". And sure enough, hundreds of purple sphere were rolling across the Queen/Victoria intersection. One plopped into my foot. "www.purplespehres.co.nz". Right. "Sounds like a Prince song gone wrong". Ho ho ho. Still, the design and innovation team at work were well curious.

    My only hope: none of them ended up in the Waitemata.

    And speaking of the environment, Green party campaign launch today:

    http://www.greens.org.nz/election08

    Why would you not?

    Auckland • Since Mar 2008 • 410 posts Report Reply

  • Neil Graham,

    The youtube description says:

    Full screen video, source code, schematics and more at: http://www.linusakesson.net/scene/craft/

    Christchurch • Since Nov 2006 • 118 posts Report Reply

  • Brent Jackson,

    @Neil Graham :

    Len Lye would've loved it.

    Cheers,
    Brent.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 620 posts Report Reply

  • andrew r,

    hmmm the kooks really are a shocker of a band truely insipid although yes the cover of kids is ..er... okayish . Not a patch on the original though as John Peel would have said - really , whats the point ? As for BJM sounds like that could be a guietly evolving riot of a show , just tried to get tickets but alas its sold out apart form a few door sales . drat . The KA will be rammed and very up for it tonight I'd say .

    auckland • Since May 2007 • 100 posts Report Reply

  • dc_red,

    Meanwhile, on Planet Loonytunes (considerably weirder than a Spore Planet), a would-be leader pronounces:

    "I'm going to fight to make sure every American has every reason to thank God, as I thank Him: that I'm an American, a proud citizen of the greatest country on earth"

    Sweet Jesus you couldn't make this shit up.

    Oil Patch, Alberta • Since Nov 2006 • 706 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    "I'm going to fight to make sure every American has every reason to thank God, as I thank Him: that I'm an American, a proud citizen of the greatest country on earth"

    Sweet Jesus you couldn't make this shit up.

    Good grief. It's like it's randomised or something. People buy this crap, don't they?

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Rich of Observationz,

    And speaking of the environment, Green party campaign launch today:
    ..
    http://www.greens.org.nz/election08
    ..
    Why would you not?

    It said to me: "Won't somebody think of the children!!"

    Personally I think they should be targetting new voters in the 18-21 age group (4% of the electorate). If they could get a third of those people to vote and vote Green then that's a 1% uplift.

    Back in Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 5550 posts Report Reply

  • dc_red,

    In their millions....

    Imagine the hilarity if John Key or Helen Clark tried the equivalent. I doubt they could even mouth the words without cracking up.

    It's just so ... preposterous.

    Oil Patch, Alberta • Since Nov 2006 • 706 posts Report Reply

  • Rich of Observationz,

    It's like it's randomised or something

    Because we must be strong. Because if we are not strong, then we will be weak. And if we are weak, we will not be strong....

    Back in Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 5550 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    Imagine the hilarity if John Key or Helen Clark tried the equivalent.

    Or if they tried to run the kind of palpable untruths that Palin trotted out in her speech. They'd be rightly crucified the next day. It's weird all right.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

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