Old People Cheese

Online Scavenger Hunt

2011-01-25T15:35:00.003-08:00

For most of us the internet has become a huge part of our daily lives and is only going to get bigger. Internet research skills are therefore becoming more necessary than preferred to get ahead. The ability to find information within an infinite range of subjects using the internet as a tool is an invaluable skill, asset, and privilege to which no other generation before has had anything comparable. Most people don't realize how extremely valuable having so much information (or having access to it) can be.

For this reason, I am in the process of designing an online research competition, i.e. scavenger hunt. It will be open to all who want to participate and there will be a prize of a gift certificate to any (online) store/site the winner chooses. The value of this prize is dependent upon the level of interest and/or participation in the competition. I will start the prize at $20 but if public interest exceeds my expectations I will be inclined to raise the stakes.

The hunt will not involve or require any illegal actions by me or the participants, but it won't be like the scavenger hunts you did in grade school. It will require a high level of divergent thinking...and internet familiarity would obviously be an asset. It will be strictly web-based and involve internet sites and applications, all of which are and will be free and accessible by anyone.

I look forward to hosting this event and hope you will participate and invite your friends.

All pertinent information can be found at ResearchCompetition.blogspot.com

Things I am Selling on Craigslist

2011-01-25T15:31:00.000-08:00

These items I am currently selling on Craigslist in Tulsa, Oklahoma. I am willing to ship everything except the monitor to anywhere in the lower 48 if anyone wants to buy.

http://tulsa.craigslist.org/sys/2176353974.html

Video Editing/Converting Hardware & Software

http://tulsa.craigslist.org/ele/2176374541.html

Walkie Talkies

http://tulsa.craigslist.org/pho/2176368207.html

Canon Video Camera

http://tulsa.craigslist.org/sys/2176326143.html

!7" Flat Panel LCD Monitor

http://tulsa.craigslist.org/sys/2176305600.html

Computer Accessories

iPhone Security Tip

2011-01-24T16:06:00.000-08:00

We all know that about the iPhone's passcode lock feature which enables the user to set a 4-digit number which then must be entered prior to accessing the phone. This is a good security feature for people who have sensitive information on their phone such as bank account accessibility, passwords, or things they don't want their significant other to see. But for some a 4-digit code isn't enough security; while others think 4-digits is too much of a hassle to enter every time they use their phone.

That's where the Simple Passcode mode comes in. The default 4-digit passcode is what you get when the simple mode is enabled. It only allows combinations of 0-9. However, if you turn it off (on the same page where you create your passcode; Settings->General->Passcode Lock->Simple Passcode: Off), you are then allowed to use any of the 146 unique characters within the iphone keyboard to make a passcode with an unknown maximum length (longest passcode tested was 50 characters long). What's so good about this is that with more possible characters, the passcode becomes exponentially stronger, even with fewer digits, i.e.:

Number of characters available:
0-9 = 10 characters
a-z = 26 characters
A-Z = 26 characters
Diacritic Letters = 31 characters
Symbols = 53 characters
Total = 146 characters

Probability = Pⁿ, where P = Possible outcomes per digit and n = # of digits.

Simple Passcode: ON = 10⁴ = 10,000 possible combinations

Simple Passcode: OFF = 146⁴ = 454,371,856 possible combinations

Of course this amount raises exponentially with each additional character you add. And for the lazy people who don't feel like entering 4 numbers every time they use they're phone, even with a length of only 2 characters the passcode is still twice as strong: 146² = 21,316.

"The Town" Deserves a Razzie

2011-01-23T04:48:00.000-08:00

I finally watch the Ben Affleck project "The Town". I was kinda iffy about it before because the trailer looked decent but I was afraid it might suck. Well...it sucked.

The dialogue was laughable:

["Every pewee in town knows what an FBI rear antenna looks like. So in the future you guys need try to be slick, be slicker than a six year old!"]

["This is the not-fucking-around crew so get me something that looks like a print because this not-fucking-around thing is about to go both ways!"]
["I'm puttin this whole town in my rear-view!"]

Jon Hamm, who played FBI Agent Frawley, was surprisingly horrible. His scenes were not believable at all and made me think I was watching a reenactment on Unsolved Mysteries or something. This was definitely a change for the worse from his lax tv dramas.

Finally the story was kinda boring and mostly unoriginal. (Bank robber wants to go clean for a girl but is talked into one last big job which is the one that finally goes wrong.)

There were some positive aspects to the film though. The action scenes were well made and choreographed. Definitely original but not groundbreaking.

And lastly, they obviously hired a superb trailer editor who made this film look good enough to pay to watch.

Damn you, Ben Affleck.

2 Girls 1 Cup

2011-01-21T22:29:00.000-08:00

So I finally saw the infamous 2girls1cup video. My first reaction: "I must have the wrong video, everyone I talked to said it involved two hot chicks. Well, no, they're doing everything everyone described...but they're ugly...so who cares?!?"

Custom Painting My Coffee Table

2011-01-19T21:12:00.000-08:00

A while back i had an idea to give my boring coffee table a paint job. I wanted it to be the James Bond sketch from the poster for From Russia With Love. The easiest way I knew to do that was with a stencil. Since there wasn't a stencil already made for the job, I made my own using GIMP. The rest of the project can be followed in the photos below.

Since I didn't have a large scale printer, I used my projector to display the
image on the table so I could create a stencil.

I traced the image ironically onto another James Bond poster.

Detail of stencil. Notice the orange highlights where I chose to put
"bridges" to connect the islands.

I sanded and painted my brown coffee table white and later painted the legs
and underside flat black.

The painted table with stencil attached, pre-paint.

Flat black.

Results 1.

Results 2.

Text results. Notice the red hammer & sickle I added to match the original. I cut
out a tiny stencil for it while cutting out text.

Final piece.

Online Strobe Light

2011-01-15T02:05:00.000-08:00

I sometimes use my living room projector as a monitor for my laptop to stream movies I have on it...or just because its cool. I was wanting a strobe light for a party a while back when I thought to myself, "Hmm, I could really go for a hot dog right now."

After I had a hot dog I had a great idea that my projector could easily be turned into a massive strobe light. "Off to the internets for research!" I said with a dash...and found this site. Enjoy.

Strobe Light

Nic Cage as Everyone

2011-01-14T13:08:00.000-08:00

I love Nicholas Cage. Who doesn't? He is an extremely versatile actor who is never going to go out of style.

This site I found a while back is a tribute...kind of...to this great performer. It features everyone you can think of as if they were Nic Cage. Enjoy

Selling inventory on eBay: Individual or Lot?

2011-01-13T06:38:00.000-08:00

I have had an iPhone repair business for quite a while but have now lost the time and/or interest to do it and am selling all of my inventory (spare parts, used parts, broken but fixable parts). I figure there is about $400-500 worth of parts.

My question for you is should I sell it in a bulk lot or all individually or a combination of the two?

Thanks for your feedback guys.

Streaming BIRP!

2011-01-13T06:12:00.000-08:00

I've always been a huge fan of the monthly Indie/Rock Playlist torrent. I can remember back when it was run by criznittle back before he got his computers seized by authorities.

Well, since he left the game some others tried to take his place, but the one to come out successful was Blalock's Indie/Rock Playlist. With a fancy site and many features, this is way more advanced but still features great indie music with hidden gems.

My favorite feature is the ability to stream a playlist, which is usually 130-ish songs, before filling you hard drive. This allows me to have the torrent on standby and stream to find the ones I like and download them individually. Then if there are 2 or more songs I enjoy by the same band over a few months, I will try to find out if they have a record I can buy to contribute.

It is also an ad-free alternative to Pandora.

Here is this month's streaming playlist:

http://www.blalocksirp.com/streams/january2011.html

iphone ringtones

2009-12-01T18:56:00.000-08:00

Gist:

iPhone ringtones are of a certain uncommon file type known as m4r. These are available through iTunes for a fee, but I thought if I could figure out how to make them myself, why pay?

Meat &/or Potatoes:

These ringtones range in quality from 94-256 kbps and are generally 20-30 seconds in length from experimentation while learning the best methods for producing these.

Simply download from Mediafire and drag into iTunes. They will be in the Ringtones folder waiting to be synced to your iPhone.

http://www.mediafire.com/?sharekey=76090c47927884a7ab1eab3e9fa335caaa0e6e8ab08dc117

The above link is a 26mb folder of 70 random ringtones...I'm just too lazy to list them.

an exhibition

2008-06-28T19:47:00.000-07:00

hmm, a dead bird floating upside-down in a muddy puddle...you can interpret whatever symbolism you want. its a little morbid, i know i know, and a little "American Beauty" but whatever...

my new albums

2008-06-28T12:32:00.000-07:00

i have gotten a few new cds recently...here's what i think:::

Death Cab for Cutie - Narrow Stairs: Death Cab is one of those bands that you really have to be in the right mood to listen to them. with that said, i adore their new album. i dont think it will be as big as Plans, because plans was more catchy and upbeat...which appeals to more people. but i give DCfC props for making the first single like 8 or 9 minutes long and half instrumental. i think it rocks, but my personal fave is grapevine fires.

Mindless Self Indulgence - If: i used to sort of like MSI, but this album is pretty much the best cd ive heard in a loooong time. seriously, the punk/electronic group swats it out of the park on this one. from the first track, Never Wanted to Dance, a catchy dance anthem to Revenge, a cheerleader laced violent track. i jam to this whole cd regularly.

Girl Talk - Feed the Animals: sigh. i had my hopes up for a long time for this album, but it just wasnt as good as i was expecting. decent, yes, but not as good as the preceding Night Ripper in my opinion. but i still love you Girl Talk. when i read that he probably wont make another mash-up album a small part of my soul silently died.

Coldplay - Viva La Vida: listening to it as i speak...or type...and im impressed so far. unlike past albums, but then again not. its unique, i like it. on first listen i can already hear future classics.

PANIC AT THE DISCO:::NEW SONG

2008-02-04T07:37:00.000-08:00

myspace stuffffff

2008-01-24T10:24:00.000-08:00

backgrounds, icons, etc....plus just about anything by request:::

1. this is my rocketship background. click here to see it.

:::code:::

body {
background-color: rgb(0,0,0);
background-image: url(http://i26.tinypic.com/sndz0w.jpg);
background-position: center top;
background-repeat: no-repeat;
background-attachment: fixed;
}

this is my switchfoot "shadow proves the sunshiine" loop background. click here to see it.

:::code:::

body {
background-color: rgb(33,33,33);
background-image: url(http://i28.tinypic.com/2i9jcir.png);
background-position: center top;
background-repeat: repeat-y;
background-attachment: scroll;
}

heres my logo if you want to post it!

heres my merchandise store, if you want to buy or help sell stuff for me on your myspace/site:

Buy merch from Paperback Player at www.zazzle.com/paperbackplayer

[Copy this widget to your profile] [Create your own merch booth]

i have some good icons too
so, more to come....

hell may have officially frozen over.

2007-12-21T15:04:00.000-08:00

today i ressurected my comatos 2nd generation iPod. all my little buddy has done for the last four months is show me his little sad/dead face. but i went searching for help online. and i came across all kinds of things from taking it apart and tampering with it to dropping it off a 3 story building. but those were mainly 4th generation iPods, i'm talking about my 2nd generation baby...its a relic. so i found one forum post that said to tap each corner of it on a table as hard as you would to crack a hardboiled egg...tada! it worked! thank you online name Anonymous Coward...he's back!

Open Your Eyes

2007-12-17T11:55:00.000-08:00

From: Lord of War

Music: "For What It's Worth" -Buffalo Springfield

wars over blood diamonds are meaningless, especially when children are drafted into them. We may not be able to stop the wars but do what you can to help...they are people just like you. Blood:Water Mission

time for some REWORX

2007-12-16T16:44:00.000-08:00

Help Me Find My Way (mudge Remix)

i like this one. its not perfect, but a lot of time and effort went into it. its originally by Rooney, from their new album Calling The World, but it was purely orchestral until the final chorus refrain. that was what i loved about it...but it was also what made it vulnerable to my tamperings. let me know how it goes...

sound the horn...its time for a new mash-up!!!

2007-11-27T12:57:00.000-08:00

Now I'm Ridin Neon Mash-Up (3.64 MB)
Teardrop - Massive Attack feat. Portishead
Between Breaths (An XX Perspective) - Blaqk Audio
Shoulder Lean - Young Dro
Lux Aeterna - Clint Mansell feat. Kronos Quartet
Hello Zepp - Charlie Clouser
Summer Overture - Clint Mansell feat. Kronos Quartet

Crazy New Free Music

2007-11-21T14:45:00.000-08:00

i think i'm getting better. they are still just instrumentals, but i'm trying to work my way up. feel free to jam to 'em anytime you want.

Dance Symphony (2.08 MB)

17th of November (3.36 MB)

we'llneverbedone (3.56 MB)

UPDATE to the best songs in the world list

2007-11-18T11:34:00.000-08:00

upon first listening to Here It Goes by Jimmy Eat World from their new album Chase This Light, it automatically became an honorable mention. but now that i have become addicted to this song it has definitely jumped up to about the 6th or 7th position in the best songs in the world list (see previous post).

also, there are so many good songs on the new Say Anything album, In Defense of The Genre, that its hard to pick just one favorite.

the BEST* SONGS IN THE WORLD**

2007-11-14T06:28:00.000-08:00

*According to ME
**As of TODAY

these are my CURRENT all-time favorite musical numbers, a countdown from 10th...i've connected most of them to mp3 links found with SeeqPod. (right click, save target as... to download)

10. Hands of Time -Groove Armada feat. Richie Havens
9. Not Good Enough For Truth In Cliché -Escape The Fate
8. Admit It!!! -Say Anything
7. Pop Destroyed the Scene -Rookie of the Year
6. Do You Remember -The Summer Obsession
5. Konstantine -Something Corporate
4. Bruised -Jack's Mannequin
3. Part I: Broken Bride -Ludo
2. The Taste, The Touch -Asteria
and Number 1 is-(btw, drumrolls are gay)...Three Cheers For Five Years (Acoustic) -Mayday Parade

The following 150 or so songs were honorable mentions in the best songs in the world list...lets just say they tied for the 11th thru 20th spots. they are in alphabetical order of artists. you can use the google search at the top of the page to see if your favorite song and/or artist made the list.

Black Mamba -The Academy Is...
Apology (Acoustic) -Alesana
Bite Back -The All-American Rejects
Move Along -The All-American Rejects
It Ends Tonight -The All-American Rejects
Running From Lions -All Time Low
Say This Sooner -The Almost
Gone So Young -Amber Pacific
Paperthin Hymn -Anberlin
Car Underwater -Armor For Sleep
A Quick Little Flight -Armor For Sleep
Emily Kane -Art Brut
Boston -Augustana
Stars and Boulevards -Augustana
Bullets -Augustana
Pump It -The Black Eyed Peas
Between Breaths (An XX Perspective) -Blaqk Audio
The Love Letter -Blaqk Audio
Wake Up, Open The Door, and Escape To The Sea -Blaqk Audio
Into the Ocean -Blue October
Epiphany -Bowling For Soup
Girl All the Bad Guys Want -Bowling For Soup
Suzie -Boy Kill Boy
Thunder -Boys Like Girls
Me, You And My Medication -Boys Like Girls
Heels Over Head -Boys Like Girls
Broken Man -Boys Like Girls
Holiday -Boys Like Girls
The Minstrel's Prayer -Cartel
Zombies -The Cranberries
The Curse of Curves -Cute Is What We Aim For
Teasing to Please (Left Side, Strong Side) -Cute Is What We Aim For
Delicate -Damien Rice
9 Crimes -Damien Rice
We Used To Be Friends -The Dandy Warhols
New Age Girl -Deadeye Dick
Marching Bands of Manhattan -Death Cab For Cutie
I Will Follow You into the Dark -Death Cab For Cutie
Come On, Come On -Driving East
Till You Feel Something -Dropping Daylight
Encore [Curtains Down] -Eminem feat. 50 Cent & Dr. Dre
Situations -Escape The Fate
Get Busy Living or Get Busy Dying (Do Your Part To Save the Scene and Stop Going To Shows) -Fall Out Boy
A Little Less Sixteen Candles, A Little More "Touch Me" -Fall Out Boy
Hum Hallelujah -Fall Out Boy
G.I.N.A.S.F.S. (Gay Is Not A Synonym For Shitty) [Bonus Track] -Fall Out Boy
Grand Theft Autumn (Where Is Your Boy) -Fall Out Boy
Breakdown -Forever The Sickest Kids
Hey, Brittany! -Forever The Sickest Kids
Bounce That -Girl Talk
Drunk On Another Planet -Great Glass Elevator
Satellite -Guster
California -Hawk Nelson
Patent Pending -Heavens
Insurance? -the Higher
Speakers Blown -Hit The Lights
Wine Red -The Hush Sound
Don't Stop -Innerpartysystem
The Way We Move -Innerpartysystem
Holiday From Real -Jack's Mannequin
The Mixed Tape -Jack's Mannequin
I'm Ready -Jack's Mannequin
Dark Blue -Jack's Mannequin
Miss Delaney -Jack's Mannequin
Better Together -Jack Johnson
In Loving Memory (Unreleased) -Jamestown Story
Come Around Again -Jet
Here It Goes -Jimmy Eat World
Mr. Brightside -The Killers
Somebody Told Me -The Killers
Glamorous Indie Rock & Roll [Bonus Track] -The Killers
When You Were Young -The Killers
HourByHour -A Letter To You
Shoes -Liam Sullivan
Oxy Cotton -Lil Wyte
Lightning Crashes -Live
Hum Along -Ludo
Scotty Doesn't Know -Lustra
Here I Stand -Madina Lake
House Of Cards -Madina Lake
Now or Never -Madina Lake
Chain Me Free -The Matches
Jamie All Over -Mayday Parade
When I Get Home, You're So Dead -Mayday Parade
Monster -Meg & Dia
Aye Julian -Meriwether
The Future Freaks Me Out -Motion City Soundtrack
Jessie's Song (Demo) -My Getaway
Ride Wit Me -Nelly feat. City Spud
The Real -Nevertheless
Hold My Hand -New Found Glory
The Story of a Girl -Ninedays
Camisado -Panic! At The Disco
Build God, Then We'll Talk -Panic! At The Disco
My Harmonica -Paper Singles
crushcrushcrush -Paramore
Are We Accidentally At A Party?! -Peachcake
Did I Just Do That Or Was It Jim Carrey -Peachcake
If You Talk Too Much (My Head Will Explode) -People In Planes
Young Folks -Peter Bjorn And John
California -Phantom Planet
Penelope -Pinback
Fortress -Pinback
Running Up That Hill [Bonus Track] -Placebo
Breakdown -Plain White T's
Fireworks -Plain White T's
I Fucked Your Girlfriend -Plan B
Confines Of Gravity -PlayRadioPlay!
Madi Don't Leave -PlayRadioPlay!
Carnival of Rust -Poets Of The Fall
The District Sleeps Alone Tonight -The Postal Service
Sleeping In -The Postal Service
Face Down -The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus
Sadie's Hawkins Dance -Relient K
Better Way -Return To Arms
My Voice -Return To Arms
We Feel Like Kings -A Rocket To The Moon
Calling The World -Rooney
When Did You're Heart Go Missing? -Rooney
Stay Away -Rooney
Daisy Duke -Rooney
Sorry Sorry -Rooney
Baby Girl, I'm a Blur -Say Anything
Vexed -Say Anything
Every Man Has A Molly -Say Anything
Shiksa (Girlfriend) -Say Anything feat. Caithlin De Marrais of Rainer Maria
Summer of 98 -The Secret Handshake
Out Of Control -She Wants Revenge
Tear You Apart -She Wants Revenge
Walking Away -She Wants Revenge
Caring Is Creepy -The Shins
Le Disko -Shiny Toy Guns
How To Be Dead -Snow Patrol
Grazed Knees -Snow Patrol
Punk Rock Princess -Something Corporate
Heroine -Something Corporate
As You Sleep -Something Corporate
Space -Something Corporate
She Paints Me Blue -Something Corporate
Bedroom Talk -The Starting Line
Photography -The Starting Line
Sympathy For The Martyr -Straylight Run
8 AM -The Summer Obsession
Deeper -The Summer Obsession
MakeDamnSure -Taking Back Sunday
Slow Motion -Third Eye Blind
Drops of Jupiter -Train
With or Without You -U2
Smother Me -The Used
Bittersweet Symphony -The Verve
Trapped In The Drive-Thru -"Weird Al" Yankovic
Teenage Dirtbag -Wheatus
Find A New Way -Young Love
The Kill -30 Seconds To Mars

Check out the new All-American Rejects song!

2007-11-10T12:18:00.000-08:00

this is a live recording of the first single off of the next AAR album. it's called Moana Lisa and its really catchy. this was recorded in California at the second public performance of the song.
Moana Lisa (Live) (3.76 MB)

Free Tunes...Come and Get 'Em

2007-10-31T13:58:00.000-07:00

If you play the movies Napoleon Dynamite and Ferris Beuller's Day Off at the same time, this is what it sounds like: click here to download (711 KB)

Sound the Alarm (1.44 MB)
-Just a sample of a song I'd like to make
Armed With Snowballs (2.26 MB)
-Same story

New Free Music!

2007-10-26T14:08:00.000-07:00

Here's some more of my free tunes for you guys...I got a little more creative with these...

All of Your Love (tmudge Remix) (4.62 MB)
-"All of Your Love" vocals by Hellogoodbye

Heroine (tmudge Remix) [Incomplete] (7.63 MB)
-"Heroine" by Something Corporate

How We Mash (4.26 MB)
-"Party" by Clint Mansell
-"How We Do" vocals by The Game & 50 Cent
-"This Is How We Do It" by Montrell Jordan
-"Sweet Home Alabama" by Lynyrd Skynyrd
-"Bittersweet Symphony" by The Verve

Slim Shinoda (Lose Yourself/Remember The Name Mash-Up) (8.02 MB)
-"Lose Yourself" by Eminem
-"Remember The Name" by Fort Minor

Mighty Mash (5.41 MB)
-"Call Me When You're Sober" by Evanesence
-"The Stroke" by Billy Squier
-"All These Things That I Have Done" by The Killers
-"My Love" by Justin Timberlake
-"Stand Up" vocals by Ludacris
-"Crazy" by Gnarls Barkley
-"Chunk Up Tha Deuce" by Paul Wall
-"Hey There Delilah" by Plain White T's
-"Le Disko" by Shiny Toy Guns
-"Boston" by Augustana
-"The Kill" by 30 Seconds To Mars
-"Where Dem Girlz At" by Lil Jon & The Eastside Boyz
-"This Ain't A Scene, It's An Arms Race" by Fall Out Boy
-"Mighty Mouse Theme" by The Sandpipers
-"Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger" by Daft Punk

Patiently Mashing Away (Rough Cut) (11.26 MB)
-"Walking Away" by She Wants Revenge
-"The Mixed Tape" by Jack's Mannequin
-"I'm Ready" by Jack's Mannequin
-"Part I: Broken Bride" by Ludo
-"Not Good Enough For Truth In Cliche" by Escape The Fate
-"Patiently Waiting" vocals by 50 Cent & Eminem
-"Breakdown" by Forever The Sickest Kids
-"The Taste, The Touch" by Asteria
-"Warriors, Come Out To Play" by David Patrick Kelley
-"The Way We Move" by Innerpartysystem
-Twentieth Century Fox logo music by Alfred and David Newman
-"Confines of Gravity" by PlayRadioPlay!
-"Monster" by Meg & Dia
-"The Minstrel's Prayer" by Cartel
-"Turn It Up" vocals by Chamillionaire
-"This is the End" by She Wants Revenge
-"Wine Red" by The Hush Sound
-HeadOn commercial

Plenty more where that came from...