All the cool kids are linking to it...
So I thought I might as well: Ancient Roman 20-sided die.
Key quote: "Several polyhedra in various materials with similar symbols are known from the Roman period. Modern scholarship has not yet established the game for which these dice were used."
Duh, D&D IV.0
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Gravitationally Stable Three-Body System.
I've had this system running stably in Dave's Gravity Simulator for about two-and-a-half hours, with no end in sight. I have never seen a three-body system run so smoothly for so long, without any gravitational perturbations messing it up. The closest I did get was a three body system in which there were two planets orbiting in intersecting, counter-directional orbits for quite a long time, before one was perturbed enough to break orbit. What was interesting about that one was the two planets orbits were in 1:3 phase-resonance with each other, such that even though they were orbiting in opposite directions, and their orbits crossed, they never came very near to each other. This one, however, looks to be even more stable. I'm going to let it run overnight and check back in the morning.
--UPDATE 6/18 7:30am--
This is what I saw when I came in this morning.
It's actually not the same system. The number of starting planets is different (648 vs. 777). Also, this one has to have been running all night to rack up a score of 140,000. I was hoping that when I came in this morning, even if the system from yesterday evening wasn't running, the high score would at least indicate how much longer it had run. Unfortunately, this new system overwrote its high score. Crumb.
--Update 6/18 12:54pm--
The system just broke 200,000 points, and still isn't showing any signs of stopping. Further bulletins as events warrant.
--Update 6/18 4:33pm--
The system's at 240,000 points and still going. That means it's gaining about 100,000 points per nine hours, indicating it was running for about 13 hours or so before I got in this morning. I'll leave it overnight and see what happens.
--Update 6/19 8:03am--
The system died sometime last night shortly after I left. I got in and found a new system running, at 120,000 points. The final score for yesterday's was 268,911.
--Update 6/20 2:56pm--
The system that started night before last is still running, with over 400,000 points. I'm going to let it run over the weekend and see what happens.
I've had this system running stably in Dave's Gravity Simulator for about two-and-a-half hours, with no end in sight. I have never seen a three-body system run so smoothly for so long, without any gravitational perturbations messing it up. The closest I did get was a three body system in which there were two planets orbiting in intersecting, counter-directional orbits for quite a long time, before one was perturbed enough to break orbit. What was interesting about that one was the two planets orbits were in 1:3 phase-resonance with each other, such that even though they were orbiting in opposite directions, and their orbits crossed, they never came very near to each other. This one, however, looks to be even more stable. I'm going to let it run overnight and check back in the morning.
--UPDATE 6/18 7:30am--
This is what I saw when I came in this morning.
It's actually not the same system. The number of starting planets is different (648 vs. 777). Also, this one has to have been running all night to rack up a score of 140,000. I was hoping that when I came in this morning, even if the system from yesterday evening wasn't running, the high score would at least indicate how much longer it had run. Unfortunately, this new system overwrote its high score. Crumb.
--Update 6/18 12:54pm--
The system just broke 200,000 points, and still isn't showing any signs of stopping. Further bulletins as events warrant.
--Update 6/18 4:33pm--
The system's at 240,000 points and still going. That means it's gaining about 100,000 points per nine hours, indicating it was running for about 13 hours or so before I got in this morning. I'll leave it overnight and see what happens.
--Update 6/19 8:03am--
The system died sometime last night shortly after I left. I got in and found a new system running, at 120,000 points. The final score for yesterday's was 268,911.
--Update 6/20 2:56pm--
The system that started night before last is still running, with over 400,000 points. I'm going to let it run over the weekend and see what happens.
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
This just in....
This randomly appeared in my inbox just now:
**begin transmission**
Hi, Joe.
Thank you for taking the Instant IQ Test.
You scored: 50
Your IQ Range is Below 70 and You are WELL BELOW AVERAGE.
Congratulations on completing our IQ test! Based on your answers to the test questions, your IQ is below 70. IQ scores are based on a scale where a score of 100 is the average score. Your score range of below 70 indicates that your intelligence is well below average based on this test. Your intelligence level can say a lot about how you approach life. By having a score which is below the average range, you have indicated that you often view the world differently than those around you. While most people may look at a problem and see only one solution, you are often able to come up with many solutions, most of which are more creative and unique than the traditional solution. People in this IQ range are often more creative than their peers and sometimes work as actors, singers, artists, musicians, and writers. Use your unique view point to your advantage.
Thank you for taking our fun IQ test!
InstantIQTest.com
LeaderMarkets LLC
53 Prospect Park West
Suite 4C
Brooklyn, NY 11215
**end transmission**
Apparently, my IQ is so low this company felt the need to e-mail me out of the blue to let me know, even though I never took their test.
Either that or someone incorrectly entered my e-mail address instead of their own when taking an online IQ test. Is it any wonder that someone who can't remember their e-mail address would score 50 on an IQ test?
This randomly appeared in my inbox just now:
**begin transmission**
Hi, Joe.
Thank you for taking the Instant IQ Test.
You scored: 50
Your IQ Range is Below 70 and You are WELL BELOW AVERAGE.
Congratulations on completing our IQ test! Based on your answers to the test questions, your IQ is below 70. IQ scores are based on a scale where a score of 100 is the average score. Your score range of below 70 indicates that your intelligence is well below average based on this test. Your intelligence level can say a lot about how you approach life. By having a score which is below the average range, you have indicated that you often view the world differently than those around you. While most people may look at a problem and see only one solution, you are often able to come up with many solutions, most of which are more creative and unique than the traditional solution. People in this IQ range are often more creative than their peers and sometimes work as actors, singers, artists, musicians, and writers. Use your unique view point to your advantage.
Thank you for taking our fun IQ test!
InstantIQTest.com
LeaderMarkets LLC
53 Prospect Park West
Suite 4C
Brooklyn, NY 11215
**end transmission**
Apparently, my IQ is so low this company felt the need to e-mail me out of the blue to let me know, even though I never took their test.
Either that or someone incorrectly entered my e-mail address instead of their own when taking an online IQ test. Is it any wonder that someone who can't remember their e-mail address would score 50 on an IQ test?
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
How do you?
How do you get to that one unreachable place in your stair way that is midway between the landing and the upstairs. Your wife wants you to hang a picture right there in the middle, but you can't reach it from the second floor since it is too far out, and you can't reach it from the only place you could put a ladder since it's too far from there too. It's too high up so your short self can't reach up to hammer a nail that way either. Well, how do you do that?
How do you, you ask? I'll tell you: Duct tape, duct tape, duct tape. That's how.
How do you get to that one unreachable place in your stair way that is midway between the landing and the upstairs. Your wife wants you to hang a picture right there in the middle, but you can't reach it from the second floor since it is too far out, and you can't reach it from the only place you could put a ladder since it's too far from there too. It's too high up so your short self can't reach up to hammer a nail that way either. Well, how do you do that?
How do you, you ask? I'll tell you: Duct tape, duct tape, duct tape. That's how.
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
A Day in the Life.
Outside my window...is a pitched battle as my massive Imperial Fleet crushes the pitiful Rebellion once and for all.
I am thinking...this Skywalker kid has a lot of chutzpa walking in here and talking about my weaknesses.
I am thankful for...planet-destroying Super-lasers and the ability to shoot lightning out of my fingertips. That just never gets old. Fire at will, Commander!
From the kitchen...I can smell the fried Mon Calamari with a side of Bantha wafting up from the bottomless pit. Who's idea was it to put that thing there anyways, with minimal guard rails? I'm going to have to have a talk with the chief architect. The thing's an accident waiting to happen.
I am creating...aside from the Death Star itself, a feeling of hatred and anger in Young Skywalker. Soon his journey towards the Dark Side will be complete!
I am going...to crush this insignificant Rebellion like an insect! Then I'll turn Skywalker to the Dark Side, let him and his dad, Mr. Whiney-pants, duke it out and take the victor as my apprentice.
I am wearing...a dark black robe. Damn, I look badass in this thing. I mean, I normally look badass, but when I pull on the hood? REALLY badass.
I am reading...The Evil Overlord's list. Great advice for today's ubervillain.
I am hoping...we can finish up this whole battle before 4. I don't want to miss my tee time on the Endor greens. They give you a complementary Ewok with each club membership.
I am hearing...Vader taunt this Skywalker kid. Vader sure does have a sexy taunting voice. But can he cackle like yours truly? Hell, no.
Around the house...I think my Royal Guard are using the downtime to practice Rock Band for the All Death Star Rock Band competition. As if their puny band can defeat The Siths. I mean, Vader can five-star "Green Grass and High Tides" on expert, playing both Guitar and Bass at the same time. And when you throw in my awesome singing voice and epic drum skills, those guys don't stand a chance. Not like winning would do them any good anyways, because Vader would just freak out and Force-strangle them anyways.
One of my favorite things...aside from killing Ewoks, is to crush my enemies, see them driven before me, and hearing the lamentation of their women.
A few plans for the rest of the week...Well, once I finish the Death Star and crush the Rebellion, there won't be much left to do except fly around in this awesome thing terrorizing the galaxy. That and doing glitterstim lines off the belly of some hot Twi'lek chicks.
Here is a picture thought I am sharing for you...
It never gets old.
(With apologies to Mrs. Pickles. ;-p)
Outside my window...is a pitched battle as my massive Imperial Fleet crushes the pitiful Rebellion once and for all.
I am thinking...this Skywalker kid has a lot of chutzpa walking in here and talking about my weaknesses.
I am thankful for...planet-destroying Super-lasers and the ability to shoot lightning out of my fingertips. That just never gets old. Fire at will, Commander!
From the kitchen...I can smell the fried Mon Calamari with a side of Bantha wafting up from the bottomless pit. Who's idea was it to put that thing there anyways, with minimal guard rails? I'm going to have to have a talk with the chief architect. The thing's an accident waiting to happen.
I am creating...aside from the Death Star itself, a feeling of hatred and anger in Young Skywalker. Soon his journey towards the Dark Side will be complete!
I am going...to crush this insignificant Rebellion like an insect! Then I'll turn Skywalker to the Dark Side, let him and his dad, Mr. Whiney-pants, duke it out and take the victor as my apprentice.
I am wearing...a dark black robe. Damn, I look badass in this thing. I mean, I normally look badass, but when I pull on the hood? REALLY badass.
I am reading...The Evil Overlord's list. Great advice for today's ubervillain.
I am hoping...we can finish up this whole battle before 4. I don't want to miss my tee time on the Endor greens. They give you a complementary Ewok with each club membership.
I am hearing...Vader taunt this Skywalker kid. Vader sure does have a sexy taunting voice. But can he cackle like yours truly? Hell, no.
Around the house...I think my Royal Guard are using the downtime to practice Rock Band for the All Death Star Rock Band competition. As if their puny band can defeat The Siths. I mean, Vader can five-star "Green Grass and High Tides" on expert, playing both Guitar and Bass at the same time. And when you throw in my awesome singing voice and epic drum skills, those guys don't stand a chance. Not like winning would do them any good anyways, because Vader would just freak out and Force-strangle them anyways.
One of my favorite things...aside from killing Ewoks, is to crush my enemies, see them driven before me, and hearing the lamentation of their women.
A few plans for the rest of the week...Well, once I finish the Death Star and crush the Rebellion, there won't be much left to do except fly around in this awesome thing terrorizing the galaxy. That and doing glitterstim lines off the belly of some hot Twi'lek chicks.
Here is a picture thought I am sharing for you...
It never gets old.
(With apologies to Mrs. Pickles. ;-p)
Monday, May 19, 2008
Ren Faire...
...was attended by us yesterday. Rie not only got her hair done, but she dressed up as well. I thought I'd share pictures so I could gloat over how pretty my wife is and make you all jealous that she's mine.
When I'm rich, I'll hire a hair stylist to come in every week and do Rie's hair like that.
...was attended by us yesterday. Rie not only got her hair done, but she dressed up as well. I thought I'd share pictures so I could gloat over how pretty my wife is and make you all jealous that she's mine.
When I'm rich, I'll hire a hair stylist to come in every week and do Rie's hair like that.
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