by simon baird
Thursday, May 15, 2008
More from Pythagoras Switch
Pi ta go ra su wi chi (Pythagoras Switch) seems like it might be a pretty cool show. Here is a compilation of another of their regular segments:
And here's some more if you're as addicted as I am now:
The Algorithm March
Let me tell you about the Algorithm March. It comes from a segment on a Japanese children's TV show called Pythagoras Switch (pronounced pi ta go ra su wi chi). There is also the Algorithm Taiso (exercise..?). The Algorithm Taiso you do with two people standing still. The Algorithm March you do in a conga line with many people. Here is the march performed by the two guys from the TV show and some ninjas. Someone has subtitled it for us (thank you whoever you are):
Now that's probably the best of it but if you liked that then read on. The taiso you can see at the start of this video (you can skip the rest):
Now that you're up to date with the Algorithm March please enjoy the following:
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
python otherwise
Well other than the venting in my last post on python, it's actually not been too bad. Random thoughts from a part-time ruby programmer learning python:
def my_thing
// do something cool
end
end
"Hello there".my_thing
I just read that and it sounds a little like I'm bitching. What I'm trying to say here is that python is alright. But also, that I like ruby a lot. Did that come across..?
- the self thing in class methods is a little funky but it's not bothering me at all.
- the ternary expressions I've started to really like. ie: x = 'foo' if some_condition else 'bar' beats x = some_condition ? 'foo' : 'bar' hands down for readability
- the significant indenting thing is okay. It took a little adjustment, but yeah whatever. a shift width of two isn't enough for me though. four is fine.
- stuff like str(some_object), len(some_object), int(some_object) versus some_object.to_s, some_object.length, some_object.to_i, I can stomach, but it feels like a backwards step
- it took me ages to figure out how to display local time. it seems over-complicated.
- http://docs.python.org/lib/lib.html seems less helpful that http://www.ruby-doc.org/core/ (but it could just be I'm more accustomed to it)
- Can python do stuff like this? Maybe it can. (I'm a noob, bigtime).
def my_thing
// do something cool
end
end
"Hello there".my_thing
I just read that and it sounds a little like I'm bitching. What I'm trying to say here is that python is alright. But also, that I like ruby a lot. Did that come across..?
Dunedin
Yoshimi* is periodically obsessed with moving to New Zealand's South Island and buying house. I think she's really on to something. Take a look at this!
It's like the Tenenbaum's! Did you notice the price? $380k. For that you would get a modest one story three bedroom in the outer suburbs of Townsville. At it's NZ dollars! They're like pesos I think. Dundedin - it's 90 minutes from some of the worlds best skiing. And there are penguins
and lovely buildings like this one.
It's the home of the Regent Theatre 24 Hour Book Sale. On the downside it's cold, it rains a lot and the people talk funny (but they are nice). Who's with me? We'll have plenty of room there I think. I have cousins that can show us where all the good cafe's are.
I almost forget it's about five blocks from the octagon (that's the center of town in Dunedin), probably has ocean views, and is across the road from a park with a statue of some kind.
View Larger Map
* not her real name
I almost forget it's about five blocks from the octagon (that's the center of town in Dunedin), probably has ocean views, and is across the road from a park with a statue of some kind.
View Larger Map
* not her real name
python bitching
>>> x = [ ... "foo", ... "bar" # oops missing comma ... "etc" ... ] >>> x ['foo', 'baretc'] >>>eh? wt..?
python, you owe me an hour of my life, which is about how long it took me to find this 'bug', if you could call it that. I'd call it a syntax error. one hour!! a syntax error!!! GAHHHH.. :P
watch and learn:
irb(main):001:0> x = [
irb(main):002:1* "foo",
irb(main):003:1* "bar"
irb(main):004:1> "etc"
irb(main):005:1> ]
SyntaxError: compile error
(irb):4: syntax error, unexpected tSTRING_BEG, expecting ']'
"etc"
^
(irb):5: syntax error, unexpected ']', expecting $end
from (irb):5
irb(main):006:0>
ah, sanity returns
Monday, May 12, 2008
allrealestate.co.nz: email message from simon.baird@gmail.com
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Sunday, May 11, 2008
what happens when they mention your web site url on the triple j morning show
even though they said it wrong twice...
So Robbie, Marieke and the Doctor are pretty funny at times. Marieke is cool (and sexy btw). She has a blog (which I may have previously mentioned). (Rosie Beaton however make me want to stab out my ear drums. Can someone get her off the radio? Sorry Rosie, I'm sure you're a nice person but perhaps you could try a different job for a while).
So Robbie, Marieke and the Doctor are pretty funny at times. Marieke is cool (and sexy btw). She has a blog (which I may have previously mentioned). (Rosie Beaton however make me want to stab out my ear drums. Can someone get her off the radio? Sorry Rosie, I'm sure you're a nice person but perhaps you could try a different job for a while).
groovin the moo wrapup
from the townsville bulletinme on townsvillemusic.com
mini reviews:
- that one guy. i heard of him before. he was alright. only caught the last part of his set. he was interesting if a little gimicky
- the custom kings. never heard of. nice harmonies. they started out a little bit alt-country, a little bit gomez, which I liked, but i lost interest a little with the saxophone
- karnivool. I never heard of them. karnivool rocked so hard. they were a little bit tool, a little bit 30 seconds to mars. not really my style of music normally. everything was perfect. amazing songs/vocals/guitars/charisma. one of the highlights of the day. here's some myspace and website
- gyroscope. they have a big hit at the moment, which I think they closed with. i lost interest in them because they were so blown away by karnivool. karnivool and gyroscope are both from perth
- the herd. they are australian hip-hop royalty. i've not seen them before and wasn't disappointed. nice grooves and live bass and guitars. they really don't like john howard. this was one of their highlights. wakeup was great. the one about scallops, well it's not my favourite but it was good too. some new ones were good.
- spiderbait. australian rock royalty. they did a pretty good set. personally i found it a little tired and old. closed with a long version of black betty. were blown away by sneakies who played next.
- sneaky sound system. these guys are pretty huge in aus at the moment. well it was fully dark by now. they setup some fluro stage decos and hung up their banner. smoke, face melting 80s synth. the beardy guy coming out looking like star trek. the first time the bass kicked in in the opening song. the jazz break. oh, sweet heavens, yes. the crowd and myself were in their futuristic palms.
- the presets. also pretty big at the moment. they've been described as the pet shop boys drinking lighter fluid which I think is good. the have a real drum set which is weird but cool. they were impressing me with their sounds. they're a lot less poppy than the sneakies. i was tired and thirsty and stuck up the back so I left before they finished, which I now regret.
- facilities. needed more bar staff. it was about a six hour queue to get a beer I think.
- sound system. the sound system was fantastic. it was possibly the best quality sound i've ever heard at a big rock festival.
some sneakies videos
and here's a little presets video:
Thursday, May 08, 2008
Wednesday, May 07, 2008
and the most watched video on godtube is...
This one. I got half way through. I challenge you to get further. Like commenter rone08, I too, was brought to tears. (check the comments).
update... okay I watched the rest. you should too. it gets totally awesome when the hippie guy gets pumped by the music wailin in the background and starts flippin out ninja style on the uni students and they're like fightin him on the arms and the hippie guy is like, yeah? well, BAM!! and elbows them all at once in the nose and totally knocks them unconscious. and you can tell that later on he totally scores with that chick.
apologies to REAL ultimate power!!!! (and anyone else i've just offended ... :)
update... okay I watched the rest. you should too. it gets totally awesome when the hippie guy gets pumped by the music wailin in the background and starts flippin out ninja style on the uni students and they're like fightin him on the arms and the hippie guy is like, yeah? well, BAM!! and elbows them all at once in the nose and totally knocks them unconscious. and you can tell that later on he totally scores with that chick.
apologies to REAL ultimate power!!!! (and anyone else i've just offended ... :)
sigur rós splendour sideshows
Tickets go on sale Friday 23 May
via faster louder (and last.fm)
Friday 1 August – Festival Hall, Melbourne
Saturday 2 August – Hordern Pavilion, Sydney
via faster louder (and last.fm)
radio
i bought a radio yesterday. i've not had one for a while. it's a clock radio with ipod dock. it was an impulse buy at my supermarket. $39. it's pretty decent. cube shaped. wake to ipod. usb connection. whatever. this morning i was listening to it for the first time. i'm half asleep. i hear my friend les on the radio. apparently he's going to tattoo the doctor on friday morning, live on air. i guess he's australia's number one celebrity tattooist now. anyway, he is also an accomplished and prize winning artist. take a look at his web site at artintimidatinglife.com.
Tuesday, May 06, 2008
books
i finished the world according to garp last night. it became unputdownable after the 'incident' (it's about two thirds through). the ending is wrenching, if not perfect. i've been thinking about it all day. it's good. and I don't know really but I think it must have been significant to feminists in the late 70s when it was published. I don't think I want to see the movie though. robin williams as garp. john lithgow as roberta, well okay. glen close? she could be good. I'm trying to read Irving in chronological order, but I screwed up slightly by reading Saving Piggy Snead (which includes The Pension Grillparzer) before Garp. But never mind that. Next: Hotel New Hampshire. (I vaguely recall enjoying that movie. Young Jodie Foster and young Rob Lowe. Hopefully it won't spoil the book). And next after that: Cider House Rules. (I'm certain I don't want to see that movie. The Spiderman guy...). John Irving (wikipedia link). (just one link, okay..? ;) Check out the recurring themes matrix...!
let the music play (CLAP CLAP)
I looked at your blog today. not that impressed with it. too many links to things.
well you're on dial up. that's why you don't like to click on stuff. it's too slow. you should get broadband.
and lame for posting the feist and colbert thing.
it was cool, they were flirting with each other. if you had broadband you'd have seen it. you might have liked it.
I saw it on TV. I TOLD you about it. duh.
oh, yeah. well other people might not have seen it. other people read my blog. like scott. he reads it.
whatever. who cares. I'm tired of links to things.
you want more original content. less recycled junk from the internet.
yeah.
it's a fair point.
well you're on dial up. that's why you don't like to click on stuff. it's too slow. you should get broadband.
and lame for posting the feist and colbert thing.
it was cool, they were flirting with each other. if you had broadband you'd have seen it. you might have liked it.
I saw it on TV. I TOLD you about it. duh.
oh, yeah. well other people might not have seen it. other people read my blog. like scott. he reads it.
whatever. who cares. I'm tired of links to things.
you want more original content. less recycled junk from the internet.
yeah.
it's a fair point.
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