I changed a little something in my server settings so that now those Dutch people who keep hotlinking my images for their forum avatars will get a gay porn image instead. I made sure to heavily pixelate the naughty bits, but you can still tell what’s going on. I added a message as well. “HOTLINKING SUCKS STOP STEALING MY BANDWIDTH”.
Basically, if anyone tries to link to my images remotely (hotlink) so that it is using my bandwidth to decorate their page they will be redirected to this other image. If anyone notices anything weird caused by this please let me know. It should only disallow direct linking to my images in IMG tags from domains other than this one. People can still save anything I use here, but if they want to use it on their website they should save a copy to their server.
Technology
11
Jun 04
Hotlink protection
11
Jun 04
Unfilled notebooks
I buy a number of things based solely on my intentions for them. Today I bought a small, pocket-sized, quadrille-lined notebook, Moleskine (Mol-skin-a), to write down ideas and keep track of things. This is despite the fact that I have at least 2-3 other half-filled pocket sized notebooks. The Moleskine has some features that make it different: an elastic band to keep the book closed, a cloth ribbon to mark your place, and a hidden pocket on the back inside cover. They run about 10$ for the pocket sized ones, and you can buy them at most book stores. See the different styles here.
11
Jun 04
Try this MP3 to SWF (Flash) Program
Soundnails.com has this great tool for converting MP3’s to Flash files. Why is this cool? It’s cool because using Flash you can allow people to listen to music online without allowing them to download the songs and thus running afoul of copyright.
Click here to play Love T.K.O. by Teddy Pendergrass (No MP3 player necessary)
10
Jun 04
Today was a good day
Today was one of those days that just went alllllright. Work was nice and slow but just busy enough to keep my mind buzzing. I found my 
Olympus Digital Recorder that I had thought I had lost forever. I use it to make notes to myself. Like, “remember to feed the cat” because my memory is very badly organized. Lists and notes and recordings are my friend. Sometimes I wonder if I’m the type who will get Alzheimer’s disease, although I think my problem is more one of inattentiveness and disorganization rather than forgetfulness. Still, it does make me wonder. The recorder was in my backpack, which I swear I looked through at least ten times. How in the heck does that happen? I feel like I went through it thoroughly yet when I was digging in it today at work looking for my leatherman to open a bottle, there it was. It is a small thing but not that small! I was glad to find it after two weeks. At least once or twice a day, I thought about how stupid I was for losing it, especially since it was a Christmas present from Jody.
Today I also felt better about work and I had a few good interchanges with people which pumped me up. I get energized by talking to other people. If I go for a while without talking to my coworkers I start thinking they don’t like me or something. I do care a little too much about what other people think. It reminds me of a quotation by Goethe, “A vain man can never be utterly ruthless: he wants to win applause and therefore he accommodates himself to others.”
I also asked for the day off tomorrow since I’d like to actually work on a few pressing things. I feel like I’m busy all the time, but I really can’t tell you what. All I know is I get home around 6:45-7pm normally and then it seems to go by like nothing until it’s time to go to bed. The weeks and months just pour by.
09
Jun 04
Stylin’streamin’ sixties soul
I found a good soul radio station based in Oakland you can listen to online, KXGQ. Wow, so many good songs. It’s another “Love TKO“. They have some old-fashioned promos that are pretty bizarre “..where you won’t find 50’s doowop or 90’s rap.”
08
Jun 04
Blogamp working
That thing on the left, near the bottom, where it lists what I’ve been listening to, Blogamp, finally fixed it. Not that YOU would care. I have something I should be working on, so as a result I work on stuff I’ve been putting off rather than work on this thing I really should be doing.
I also noticed that Wikipedia has a new look. Super mignon!
08
Jun 04
Wanted: Trillian Pro Plugin Developer
I will pay someone to implement my Trillian Pro Plugin ideas. Plugins are basically addons to add extra abilities to the application. Usually, they are written by third-parties. I even had a dream I tried to persuade this chubby kid to write Trillian plugins for me. I’m obsessed. Here a few ideas I don’t mind blabbing about:
- Plugin to save chat logs as formatted HTML (colors and all) which can be saved locally and/or uploaded as blog entries
- Plugin to query whois records to look for new domains.
- Plugin to send a message to people when they log into AIM if you are not at the keyboard.
I have more floating around but I can’t remember just what they were at the moment. I need you mysterious programmer, if you’re out there. Send help.
he plugins I am very happy with now:
- Cabriometer (great weather plugin)
- News reader plugin
- Spellcheck for your IM’s
- POP3 Email checker plugin
There are a lot more, but there are so many it’s just best to load the ones you’ll actually use.
07
Jun 04
Hi, my name is Chris…
…and I am an eBay addict. I even bought a digital postage scale. This is probably a phase that will pass as soon as I unload all my junk. The good news is, it is an obsession that is making me a little money while ridding me of some unnecessary stuff. Here are a few things I’ve learned while researching and through my own experience:
- Start your auctions on the weekend since they will end on the weekend (for 7 day auctions) when most people are using eBay
- Don’t use any of the auction upgrades. They may help, but the costs are prohibitive unless you are selling expensive items. Instead of auction upgrades, add more photos (using your own image hosting) to your descriptions and spend some time writing good descriptions.
- Set your opening fee low, that way you capitalize on the lower listing fees and attract more bids.
- Figure out the shipping costs BEFORE you submit the auction. A few times I’ve either overcharged and had to refund, or undercharged and got stuck with the remaining due postage.
- Accept most forms of payment. It will bring you more bids and may save paypal fees.
- Maintain a good rating. Some people won’t buy from anyone with a less than perfect seller rating.
- Communicate with your buyers even though they can be really time-consuming with their requests.
I’m sure I’m forgetting some stuff, but that’s a good start. Ebay fees suck suck suck, but where else can you sell stuff to so many people?
11
May 04
Impulsive declaration
I was going to make some impulsive declaration about having some sort of blogging ennui, but I decided that would turn out to be a very temporary feeling. I do feel like I should have something important and/or profound to say, but I really don’t. I don’t even feel remotely self-promoting. I do feel a duty to a few individuals who expect the text here to rearrange itself from time to time. I feel like I’ve been pretty busy at work and everywhere else, especially with E3 coming this week. I’ll be working with people at the show… over the internet… via voicechat… while in game. That should be interesting for the first hour and then tedious, I would imagine. I’ll be helping demo one of our games from Austin to convention attendees in Los Angeles.
13
Apr 04
Battlefield Vietnam, the game
I don’t play many video games, but I do enjoy fps (first person shooters) because of their low commitment level and fast-paced gameplay. You don’t have to mess with levels and raising character stats. You just get in when you have fifteen minutes or more and play.
The one I’ve been playing lately, produced by my former employer, is Battlefield: Vietnam. It’s a lot of fun and has a lot of features that make it different enough to be worth purchasing.
Just like in Battlefield 1942, there are vehicles and different character classes. However, in BF: Vietnam you have at least two different variants for each class per map. For example, there are two different engineer kits, one with mines and one with a mortar. On the North Vietnamese team you have “pungi sticks” and boobytraps, or mortars and mines or explosion packs. It makes it pretty interesting. There are also lots of neat new vehicles; helicopters like in desert combat but easier to fly. Temporary spawn points can be created by each team, the NVA can make tunnels and the American team can drop mobile spawn points from helicopters. Some vehicles also function as mobile spawn points. All in all, it’s a great game. If you can muster the minimum system requirements you should definitely get it.