Archive for March, 2008
A great article in ‘Popular Mechanics’ on the use of Robots within the US Army, and a preview of what we could expect to see in the field within the next five years.
Last June the Army deployed the first-ever armed UGVs. Three SWORDS (Special Weapons Observation Remote Direct-Action System) robots landed in Iraq, each equipped with an M249 light machine gun. These UGVs are essentially guns on tracks, a variant of the remote-control Talon bots routinely blown up while investigating improvised explosive devices. When the trio was approved for combat duty, the potential for historic robot-versus-human carnage lit up the blogosphere. Never mind the dozens of air-to-ground Hellfire missiles that have already been launched by a squadron of armed Predator drones over the past seven years—this was a robot soldier, packing the same machine gun used by ground troops.
Link: http://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/military_law/4252643.html?page=1
Continuing in my role as the self proclaimed Sweary Ukulele Troubadour, I bring you…
This track was number 1 in 2005, and amazingly spawned the No 1 ‘response’ hit - ‘(F.U.R.B) Fuck you right back’ by ‘Frankie’…
Fuck What I did, was your fault somehow
Fuck the presents, I threw all that shit out
Fuvk all the cryin’ it didn’t mean jack
Well guess what yo, fuck you right back
Charming!
I dare say if you played it in C you would get a nice ‘Am’ instead of the ‘Bm’ - but still, its all practice 
Maffu’s new robot overlord
I dont know many people with robots, or rather i didnt, until Maffu showed me this beast!!!
This is either MASSIVE, or Matt is a tiny tiny man!!
I was hoping those things above his hands were for playing badminton, but apparently not. Matt says…
Those are his ‘gauntlet sensors’. They help him to walk without punching things. Somehow.
He can see, but not very well in low light and only in an arc of about 90 degrees in front of him. His ‘GS array’ (as I like to call it) comes in handy when he’s flailing his hands around like Joey Deacon.
I WANT!!!
I thought I was pissed when I first read the description of this video!
But no, it is indeed true…
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=10d_1204204698
Im hoping this will be the opening act at the Bejing Olympics
My mother came over at the weekend, and brought with her a pressie for zym 2.0..
how great is that!!!
Its made out of crochet by the Dutch Designer Anne Claire Petit.
At the risk of sounding like an American - i just love the fact that it looks so European 
Kotaku have a story about Alchemic teaming up with Larry Niven to create game set in a Niven world/universe
Larry Niven is one of my favourite Sci-fi writers - and the prospect of a ‘Larry Niven game’ makes me VERY EXCITED.
Theres no mention of what type of game it will be - FPS, RPG, 3rdPS etc, but there are a few tantalising details..
The gameplay takes place entirely in zero gravity - the only time you’ll have your feet firmly planted on the ground is during the game’s cutscenes. The player starts off as a miner just learning the ropes of zero-g movement, using tools, etc. The early stages of the game will introduce the mechanics that will turn you from a fledging miner into a zero-g warrior, and you’ll have real technology to back you up.
Mmmmmmmm… Crystallized floaty blood 
Ideally, i would like a Larry Niven version of Mass Effect, ie something thats both FPS & RPG, but either way i’ll be watching this one carefully.
http://kotaku.com/362450/larry-niven-teams-with-alchemic-for-free-fall
I hate Amy Winehouse. Her and her rich boyfriend can go fuck off and die for all i care. In fact, I do care, and I hope they do die.
I almost hate them as much as I hate that worthless twat with the hat.
BUT…
I have to admit that THIS is a cracking tune, and i DO like it.
Also…
a) It is easy to play on the Uke,
b) Its a track people recognise, and will have a little sing along with.
c) Everytime you play it, Amy Winehouse dies a little bit inside (hopefully)