Pixelated

Sometimes, I just enjoy harassing sales staff.

I have nothing against them really, I just like to ask those tricky questions that take them off guard that not even sales reps know the answer to. Like my old RJ45 question. Not even sales reps know that kind of information. (In case you're wondering, last paragraph of http://is.gd/1Xp3s).

Today, I figured it'd be an easier one. "What is the major advantage of a widescreen monitor over a standard (4:3) one?"

Yeah. Easier. Right.

First stop: Dick Smith.

I was served instantly by Cameron, an Arts student of some type student dealing with some sort of international studies subject. There is nothing wrong with that degree in the slightest, just so you all know. But the big question, could he make me feel compelled to purchase a widescreen rather than that standard screen?

No. No, he couldn't. Not by a long shot. The moment he said something blatantly incorrect, I was hoping the next store had the answer. His "major difference" between the two: "widescreen has a higher resolution, and hence everything looks better"

Penis joke time, I'm comparing myself to the Arts student.

Let's pitch the 19" widescreen he was trying to sell vs. my 19" standard from home.His 19" thing had a resolution of 1440x900 and my 19" thing has a resolution of 1280x1024. Therefore, his is wider, but not as tall; and mines not as wide, but it has some height to it. Is there a difference between them in terms of picture? You betcha! Multiply them together.

1,440x900=1,296,000 (Whoa, that's a lot of pixels, but wait!)

1,280x1024=1,310,720 (Huge! I can fit a lot on my thing).

Evidently, my thing, exactly the same size, can fit "more" on it. Hence, is more useful. It's not the size that counts, but how you use it. Next!

Side note between stores: As a result of that mathematical finding, I'd expect the cost of standard screens to be greater. However, people seem to be happy to pay through the ass for something that apparently "looks better." (Assuming you're not an idiot and don't stretch the image anyway)

Second store: BCC (That one that you've never been inside)

I was rummaging through the bargain bin when someone came to help. "All I want to know is the major advantage of a widescreen monitor over a standard one."

"We don't sell standard ones. They don't make them anymore." Brilliant. That really answered my question. I explained I wasn't interested in buying one today, I just wanted to know for the future (ie. When I was interested). And for the reference, they DO still make them, and forever will (ie. Ten years, that's forever in tech speak).

"Oh, the widescreen one has a better resolution for DVD's." If I want to watch DVD's, I'll go watch them on a TV. I told him such.

"But they make games for widescreen now too." Ugh! Yes, they make them for widescreen now, but they've been making them for standard screen for a shitload longer... Now it's marketable to do both (and forever will be). Next!

Finally: JB Hi-Fi

I stood there for a while looking at the monitors, there were some ones here I actually liked the look of, even if they were widescreen. While over in external drives, I was asked if I required assistance.

"Well, widescreen better supports the native resolutions of DVD's and camcorders." Aha! Keyword of the day that I should have heard at every store, but didn't: Native! I asked which would be better use for everyday application, none of this video bullshit (Handballs off to Michael for that one).

"Well, then there's really no difference, just wider and shorter." I explained to him I'd want to use two monitors side by side, and asked if there was any benefit in having two widescreen monitors over two standard ones.

"None." Actually, there are only disadvantages: that you chew up more desk space than an accountant at tax time (as the monitors are wider).

So again, I left the store, well and truly amazed that people still buy widescreen monitors even though they have a perfectly good HD-TV in their house to watch DVD's on. Honestly, there's no real difference. If you plan on using multiple or for just everyday use, standard is better. If you plan to edit movies, widescreen is better (though you're likely to need two in this scenario anyway). As such, we still should have both on our shelves for purchase. I didn't see a single 4:3 screen in the stores today, quite depressing...

Nevertheless, there was a lesson learnt today: Putting an Arts student in Dick Smith selling computers is like hiring a convicted paedophile for a kindergarten teacher job. It's probably counter-productive.

Merry May

Last day of uni on the twenty-ninth, glad to have this semester (almost) done.

Work, work, work at the moment.

However, more interestingly, today is the last day of May, the last day of Autumn, and tomorrow the first day of Winter.

Fast run through of May, yeah?

Early May, Dad's birthday, lots of a very filling cake... Mmmm... Cake...

Moreover, Jesus Christ Superstar. Show was fantastic. So hot, it almost caught fire.

Middle of May, Tash's party, with a guest appearance from Jesus.

Also: JD's birthday; Pancake Parlour; Shopping in th

e city; Cancer (boo!); Crepes; Movie night.

Work every Wednesday (I have not been outside during daylight hours on a Wednesday this month).

In addition, I turned twenty. Fun things of note: Suit and associated items; items for my cuffs; subscription to a magazine I was planning to buy a subscription to next month; fan controller (see picture); enough money to fill my car up four times (or enough for two and a bit months); cards; hugs; and well wishes.

Plan for June: Work every Wednesday, and most Friday's. Study hard for exams, especially Math and Electrical Systems. Relax before another hectic semester. Visit friends all over Melbourne. Fiddle. Invent something. Increase my average sentence length...

Hope you've all had an awesome May 2009; now onto Winter!

Help!

Ideas?

Power to the Project!

After a couple of months of bitching, someone finally granted me a spare few months of spare time. In my first week of this spare time, I've been both bored, and inventive.

Sitting next to me is my now finished ATX power supply. With it, I am able to hook up my future projects to whatever voltage I desire without the need for masses of batteries, something that will no doubt save me many dollars in the future. Total cost of my money saving project: $3 plus a few hours of my spare time.

Parts required:

• That shit ATX PSU from that old PC sitting around. Under 600W, else you might as well re-sell it.
  
• Brain; if you have one already, then you won't need to find someone with one.
  
• Tools; call your nearest one over.
  
• Your preferred method of connecting wires (in my case, a terminal block).
  
• Switch; SPST is the minimum; rated to anything. You'll almost always have one in your spare parts box.
  
• LED's; any colour. Yes, don't lie; you do have some just sitting around.
  
• Two resistors; people recommend 330Ω, I used 470Ω. Reality: any that will make your LED's turn on with 5V will do.
  
• Heatshrink; compulsory. Yes, I know you wasted it on your last project because it's fun to use, this time you actually need it.
  
• Some form of non-conductive glue. Hot glue is perfect, I used bathroom sealant. Make your own choice here.

How to:

• After snipping off the assorted connectors take out your multimeter and measure the voltages from all the wires. Black is always ground, and if you don't know that, find someone to do the rest for you. After discovering that none of the wires seem to have any voltage, connect the green wire up to a black one. Try again. Oh... The green wire seems to be some sort of switch... Take note of that, as well as the voltages from all the wires. Also take note that same coloured wires are the same. Fancy that.
  
• Measure the internal resistance between 5V and ground. It's a switched mode power supply, and needs some sort of load to work. Mine was 100Ω. If it doesn't have a load, it might need a power resistor later on. If it works without, give yourself a pat on the back. Else you might need to look into a load later in the project.
  
• Leave it sit around for a couple of hours, disconnected from the mains. Anything with mains power these days is dangerous because of the quantity of components that hold power long after it is off. I've heard people recommend leaving it around for days. Your discretion here. If you feel like poking your hand around a capacitor with a couple thousand volts charged, be my guest; I take no blame for your stupidity; I did add "brain" to the parts required list.
  

• Open it up, once you've read the above note. Serious. I like you alive.
  
• Find some method for connecting a switch between the green wire and a ground one, use heatshrink to cover your shitty solder work and more importantly to prevent bare wire touching the case. Attach the switch to the outside of the PSU in your preferred fashion. I used the assorted nuts and washers that come with the switch, works a charm.
  

• Track down the purple, grey and two black wires and separate. Be inventive to connect up the LED's and the resistors here (series for those that are "brilliant" enough to ask). Again, heatshrink is compulsory. The purple will be your "Mains On" light; the grey your "Power Good" light. Mount. I used bathroom sealant.
  
• Close up that PSU. You should be done on the inside now. Test that plugging into active power lights the "Mains On" light and flicking that switch lights the "Power Good" light. Not working? See if I care, it worked for me...
  

• Separate the wires you want for your future projects. Can't remember what was what? I told you to write it down. Blue = -12V; White = -5V; Orange = 3.3V; Red = 5V; Yellow = 12V for most systems. Got a small brown wire? I'm informed it needs to be connected up to either 5V or 12V to work. Someone get back to me on this if that was your case. I had no such wire. Snip off the wires you don't want.
  
• Attach to your preferred method of connecting wires and neaten up remaining wires. I chose a terminal block because I can hook up anything with a screwdriver. I've seen people use banana plugs and mount them on the case of the PSU. It's already cramped in there in my opinion; the top of the PSU has plenty of room. If you do decide to protrude something from the case see my note before opening it up, and use heatshrink (it's like a condom for wires; protects you from shorts running around all over the place).
  

• Finalise... It took twenty four hours for my terminal to set in place on top of the case due to using bathroom sealant. It has a nice smell though now. Test. The case is part of the circuit, and you'll blow stuff letting wires touch it. Like the RCD in your house. It's there for your safety...
  
  

I'm now looking for more stuff to build/invent. If you have an idea of something I can build, pass it on. I have spare time and a desire to get electrocuted at least once these holidays.

Skid Marks

Did the Skilled Drivers Course a few weekends ago... Lots and lots of fun.

About half the people there were there on court orders, the other half had had serious accidents and wanted to learn to be safer drivers. Everyone, including me, was there for the 10% discount.

The morning consisted of some theory (but you didn't have to take notes) of accidents and how they occurred, how they could have been prevented and other contributing factors. We discovered accidents could be narrowed down to one or more of three things:

• Driving too fast;
• Following the car ahead too closely;
• Lack in concentration.

For those of you who are going to try and kick up a fuss and claim something like alcohol ain't there, that falls under concentration...

Also catching up on news, school is speeding along, and now that we should have finished the coursework, we are doing our trial exams.

Setting up the exam tables was quite fun... Until I woke up the next morning and felt my shoulders.

Exams completed to date: 2 of 5.

• English, where we had to write four essays. I did: Part 1, Citizen Kane (I can tell stories!); Part 2, Inheritance (Toilet paper...); Analysis of language (I did quite well I thought); and a Point of View (where I got really pissy with sporting people as a whole... It was worth it...).
• Methods CAS Tech Active. I found this far easier than I thought I would, which is a good sign...

I might as well explain my trial exam policy... I believe the whole purpose of trial exams is NOT to study your ass off, so that you can find out what you don't know. That way, when you get them back, you know what you need to study in the coming weeks and you don't repeat yourself by studying the wrong things. You can focus in on the areas that require work...

I will study for one exam though, Electronics. We've already been given the exam we'll be tested on next week and it's now a race to see who can memorize the most correct answers... If you want to see how EASY this exam is, check out the box down the bottom... Really really easy...

Now I'm at school again on the weekend, doing this aerobics thing. They took a break for lunch, where I assumed I would get more CD's to play, as I had run out...

They tried to start again without me having any CD's... Boy, was that ever cut short. I felt sorry for the girl that was on stage waiting for people to provide me with a stack of CD's to play. I felt sorry for myself, having an entire audience stare at me waiting for me to do something. I just stood there...

And as I wrote that sentence a CD I was supposed to play wasn't there... Nothing I can do, someone ran up and provided me with the CD for that one, as well as the next one (which was also missing). Thanks to whomever you were, with your spindle full of matching CD's...

So I'm stuck here till late tonight (finish about 10:30, but running an hour or so late) watching all these fake-tanned, underage (ie. Too young for ANYONE who reads this blog, even you Matt), barbie dolls prance about in their tight fitting, almost non-existent leotards to music that has been mixed really badly... Anyone watched "Little Miss Sunshine?" This reminds me of that...

Another post titled Fame!

And so Fame is over...

Upon reflection over the many years, school productions aren't just about the audience, aren't just about a great show, they're about taking out all the great moments we have when we bump in or out, have dinner together, or run the show.

And as usual, Fame has outdone itself with plenty of memories I will treasure forever... Confetti, a broken car, and the customary decorous conversation (yeah... RIGHT!).

I could explain how the show went, but if you don't know already then you should have bought tickets.

I could enlighten you as to the details of bump in and the construction of the set, or you could just look at the pictures and their descriptions down the bottom.

I could even inform you of our wonderfully exquisite conversation that we often had as we dined in fine restaurants, though I might not want that kind of conversation left in writing for the whole world to see.

So instead, just remember the days of hard work and hours of lost sleep shared by the crew:

Stewart Bell; Director.

Luke Hawley; Stage Manager.

Brett Pullyblank; Assistant Stage Manager, Locker mover.




Nic Frame; Assistant Stage Manager, Pain in the ass...

James Lescohier; I dunno, what did I do??

Jonathan Davies; Stage Crew.

Laura Matthews; Stage Crew.




Zabrina Batterham; Stage Crew, Locker mover.




Liam Burns; Stage Crew.




James Lee; Stage Crew.




James Panther; Venue Manager + more.

John Panetta; Lighting Design/Operator.

Steve Monkhouse; Lighting Queue person.

Alastair Bryant; Would-be Stage Crew.

Don Wallice; Sound, Music Industry teacher.

Matthew Sanderson; Wireless microphones/sound.
Linh Nguyen; Sound Queue Person.




Dale Krummins; Sound.

Steven Bowler; Pianist.




Kristy Kendall and Lauren Perfect; Dance and Choreography.




Clarabelle; King Cow...


There are plenty I have missed, let's not forget them too.

Thanks to all the cast too, though our jobs are usually easier without you!

We have lights!!!

So after two days of work (Thursday and today), we now have 95% of the lights hung from whatever they need to be hung from. Things like data and power are also 95% under control.

This is quite good, because it means we've done enough work to not really warrant the need to go into school again tomorrow (unless we want to work on the set).

Our IT guys, Pant and Rich, along with some useful but overall unneeded comments from the entire crew, managed to copy the entire pre-patched show to the GrandMA via a network connection. After which, they managed to install a wireless access point to the desk and connect a PDA to it and you can now control the entire show from anywhere within range, albeit on a very small screen and hard to do controls.

The pinspots, MAC 700's and Golden Scans were all hung from their various trusses today as the Cyber VL's had already been hung Thursday. The slight bow in the second truss indicated too much weight and we attached it from a third point to the roof.

The Miniscans also had to be hung from underneath the set which seemed a challenge as the bar we attached them to would rotate. My original idea was to attach clamps which sorta got ignored/not understood and wasn't used until we found that gaff wouldn't hold it quite right. In the end we used the clamps.

With a handful of extra pinspots we were a little stuck as to what to do with them, but I came up with the genius idea (if I do say so myself) of having them under the landing at the front of the stairs for a little bottom light (which I also remember Belly saying he'd like at one point) and it looks really sexy! Pant, however, will tell you it was his idea. We settled the matter by calling it "James' Idea." The whole design of the idea though involved me climbing under the set on the dirty dusty floor to put them in position and to address them correctly.

And so with the Parcans focused, the various moving lights in position, a couple of 2K's aimed at the stage and a hazer hidden away it seems like we're mostly up and going. I say mostly because we'll find work to do later, we always do.

Lunch today was also pretty fun. Luke took orders from everybody and we both went and bought it all from Hungry Jacks. I did the calculations and worked out the change... which mostly worked (everyone is out about 10c, some have more, some have less, I don't think you care though).

Make sure you take a look at the all of the photos at the bottom of the page that didn't make it onto this post. Also, there's a movie or two of people working.

A Fame Rehearsal

Well, I could tell you all about my day, or you could just read Luke's, Steve's or Jono's blogs...

I was there and did all that with them...

That's all I have to say really, I'm only writing this for my reference. Also this looks like my english homework to my mother...

Just a quick one...

Been playing round with the site and what not...

All my pictures/movies/music will be down the bottom probably, for you all to access as you want, and my link to Flickr and some people's blogs have been removed. Also, one new blog, Jonathan Davies (the roof bitch for Inheritance :P).

Also, expect more things for the site soon, I'm eighteen now, which means I can do a lot more with the internet (No Alastair, that's disgusting!).

Talk to you all soon!

Busy seems to be a running theme...

It's Friday afternoon, during my one and only spare during the day.

Homework to do, SAC's to study for and people to please.

I'm doing the latter, pleasing a bunch of you by doing numerous things:

• For those that have continually bitching and whining to me about the bus videos, they're removed, not even set to private. Reason: This weeks front page of the newsletter. They really seem like they're starting to get serious and I'd rather not get caught if I could avoid it. However they are not erased from memory and sit, encrypted, on a flash drive. I'm still considering allowing a few of you to have a copy. End of the year though (25th October) they'll all be up again, for the glory of us all!
• I've touched up a few of the photo's from Melbourne Girls Grammar Formal and plan to have them up very very soon (like tomorrow, when my upload limit for flickr gets reset). Assuming I get the time of course, I'm sure I'll manage.
• I've moved my computer outside on a permanent basis, so now can't be distracted by watching TV when I should actually be participating in the conversation we were having.
• I'm actually writing a post. Yup, I haven't done one for a while (I kept saying I'd do it tomorrow) so I figured I might as well keep you up to date.

And so what is keeping you up to date?

Well, since my last post I have been working hard to catch up with the school work I missed (still have an English SAC to catch up on, but that's tomorrow). Also, I have been to all the rehearsals for the school play, Inheritance (which has been fully discussed on Luke's, Matt's and Steve's blogs). I am the person that lifts the suicidal, depressed, farmers into the roof when they decide that life is just no longer worth living. Quite fun actually, who would have thought that killing people could be so much fun.

But I have only actually been at three of the four nights of the play so far, because I went to Izzy's formal on Friday 29th. My replacement, Martin Kinsey, did an excellent job of my work (the whole two cues) even if his feet were dragging on the ground. They did after all change the way it was going to be done (which is the reason why it didn't work that well).

Izzy's formal started with pre-drinks at somebodies place (You expect me to remember names! If it wasn't for my license I'd forget mine). Too many people there and it made it hard to talk to anyone (Not that I knew that many people to talk to, total of six). Izzy got a little tipsy after a few drinks, such is the price of not eating for most of the day (Actually, the same happened to me). The formal was fun, plenty of prizes (Compared to the three at ours), and music was good too (but the DJ had a Dale streak and played old music that no one wanted to hear). Food was fine, but I just didn't feel that hungry; but dessert was fun: chocolate ice-cream with chocolate moose and a choclate éclair. Ran though the rain to get changed (We could have walked, but the rain was evil, it also allowed us to get round the corners before the rest of our group). Taxi to afterparty, plenty of Pizza (Wasn't that right Christiaan? That's right, give Ian shit :P ). More dancing, but this time people had more alcohol in them. Didn't see Nick or Christiaan pulling off any smooth moves... disappointing... Went home, Izzy stayed the night (You know the story I think, if you don't then you need to ask me for it).

Pictures for the formal and after party are up HERE!

Also, last night of the play tonight, should be good, but we're all dog tired. This also means the after party for the play is on tonight. Late night perhaps? After my previous two? I'll be so tired tomorrow. Don't call me...

Proposal

I just finished my Electrotechnology Proposal and if you're curious, I've posted the final circuit diagram here - If you don't know how it works, ask and I'll do my best to explain it (its easy when you know the theory).


Total Cost: $151.61, assuming I don't blow something up!

Life's a little hectic at the moment... some of you might know why; but consequently some things are moving a little faster, and I might be picking up some benefits along the way (no promises). Though it generally doesn't mean things are any easier...

This week will be a busy one... I've got something written for every day except Thursday, which means that Thursday will be really busy, it always is.

And finally, my favorite video from YouTube: Kiwi!

Kafka Rules! (and so does Roger Waters!)

Luke was kind enough invite me to see Roger Waters live last night... it was awesome... The tickets were supposed to be a restricted view, but are seats were some of the better ones there; we were really close to the stage. It took quite a while for everyone to arrive; at 8pm (the supposed starting time) the place was only about three quarters full, but the show didn't start til 8:15 anyway.

The show included Pyrotechnics, Excellent lighting, Awesome sound (they're still ringing), A spaceman and a Flying Pig! The Pig was obviously a fan of Kafka's English lessons and displayed this prominently with the words: Kafka Rules!

I've never really listened to that sort of music, but I was still able to enjoy the show because it was just so fantastic... My download list now has quite a few Pink Floyd tracks.

Don't have a lot else to say at the moment; I'm very busy with homework because I received a lot more than I thought I would get for my first week... must be because of that term 4B thing and the teachers wanting to get back into it... or perhaps the start of the school year is always like this and I just never noticed.