...And soon we will have to return to the glorious monotony of daily life.
I suppose then I should do more work on Chess's AI. I guess I will.
I've been making progress on the one novel I talked about earlier...I'm also reading some nonfiction books on writing, to get a better understanding of what I should do. Most of them say it should take me maybe a month or three to finish the first draft of a novel...that it's best to do it quickly before the idea(s) evaporate. Well, get this: One of my books (the first one I decided to write) I started 3 years ago (summer 2001) and I still haven't gotten very far in it! Talk about procrastination!
But now I'm working on my current novel on a completely different subject...and I want to finish this one first.
I'll keep you updated if I can.
Until next time, remember: Imagination is the key to invention.
---TDM
Friday, December 31, 2004
Monday, December 27, 2004
Artificiality
I've been working a little on the AI and I think it's going pretty well. There's still plenty of work to be done, but it's getting done (albeit slowly).
And when I finish Chess, I begin work on card games. There's only one problem with the card games, and that's how to play them so the other players don't see your cards (like over a LAN or internet connection). I'll have to figure that out, but later.
No more news for now.
Until next time, remember: Problems are just manifestations of solutions in a particular plane of thinking. Switch to another plane of thinking to see the solution.
---TDM
And when I finish Chess, I begin work on card games. There's only one problem with the card games, and that's how to play them so the other players don't see your cards (like over a LAN or internet connection). I'll have to figure that out, but later.
No more news for now.
Until next time, remember: Problems are just manifestations of solutions in a particular plane of thinking. Switch to another plane of thinking to see the solution.
---TDM
Wednesday, December 22, 2004
ANGER
Well, the holiday is coming. It's reflected in every person I see in school. Plus the "last ___ of the year" crap people were saying every 5 minutes today. Well guess what people?
It doesn't f***ing matter!
Here's the way I see it: The period of time between Dec. 31 @ 11:59 PM and Jan. 1 @ 12:00 AM is the same amount of time between July 3 @ 10:27 AM and July 3 @ 10:28 AM. But you don't see people celebrating the new year on July 3 at 10:28 in the morning, do you?
The new year is not a significant event! There is no difference between the change in 12/31 and 1/1 except the year number, which is primarily for recording purposes! One person I told that I don't believe in New Year's today said, "Would you celebrate birthdays, then?"
Birthdays are significant events because that was the time however many years ago that you were born. However, the Earth was not born on January 1. The human god you Christians bow down to was also not born on January 1. (so why don't you celebrate the new year on Dec 25, huh?) [Now, for someone born on Jan. 1, fine, celebrate, but unless I know you, I don't give a rat's ass.]
And if we actually wanted to place New Year's on an important date, why not at the beginning of spring? And why does the school year start in September? (Ironically, that's when the Jewish New Year begins).
We have too many new years, for one. Jewish New Year, Chinese New Year, secular new year, new school year, tax season, baseball season, football season, and so many more my head might explode if I try thinking of any more!
My view: As a whole, humanity cannot progress if we continue like this. There are too many languages, too many religions, too many governments, too many beliefs, too many ideals, too many borders, too many stupid people who believe that change means death! Well, hear this: Monotony can kill!
If we just wait around, avoiding change as much as possible, we will die out. We will become extinct, and it will have been because of boredom! Remember that next time you retreat into the safety of your routine.
Until we can unite as a species under a single government and language and without the prejudices of religion, we cannot move forward.
Remember that.
---TDM
It doesn't f***ing matter!
Here's the way I see it: The period of time between Dec. 31 @ 11:59 PM and Jan. 1 @ 12:00 AM is the same amount of time between July 3 @ 10:27 AM and July 3 @ 10:28 AM. But you don't see people celebrating the new year on July 3 at 10:28 in the morning, do you?
The new year is not a significant event! There is no difference between the change in 12/31 and 1/1 except the year number, which is primarily for recording purposes! One person I told that I don't believe in New Year's today said, "Would you celebrate birthdays, then?"
Birthdays are significant events because that was the time however many years ago that you were born. However, the Earth was not born on January 1. The human god you Christians bow down to was also not born on January 1. (so why don't you celebrate the new year on Dec 25, huh?) [Now, for someone born on Jan. 1, fine, celebrate, but unless I know you, I don't give a rat's ass.]
And if we actually wanted to place New Year's on an important date, why not at the beginning of spring? And why does the school year start in September? (Ironically, that's when the Jewish New Year begins).
We have too many new years, for one. Jewish New Year, Chinese New Year, secular new year, new school year, tax season, baseball season, football season, and so many more my head might explode if I try thinking of any more!
My view: As a whole, humanity cannot progress if we continue like this. There are too many languages, too many religions, too many governments, too many beliefs, too many ideals, too many borders, too many stupid people who believe that change means death! Well, hear this: Monotony can kill!
If we just wait around, avoiding change as much as possible, we will die out. We will become extinct, and it will have been because of boredom! Remember that next time you retreat into the safety of your routine.
Until we can unite as a species under a single government and language and without the prejudices of religion, we cannot move forward.
Remember that.
---TDM
Monday, December 20, 2004
I Don't Know Why
This is very strange. Very strange indeed. After fooling around with my calculator that allows me to do .5!, I discovered:
.5! = .5 * (-.5)!
and (this is the kicker)
(-.5)! = square root of PI.
Yep. (-.5)!(-.5)! = 3.14159265358979...
I wish I could explain why this is true, but I can't. Perhaps this man can.
The Gamma Function
I hope that clears some things up. I'm still partially confused.
Anyway...gonna work on AI.
Until next time, remember: May the sqrt(PI) be with you.
---TDM
.5! = .5 * (-.5)!
and (this is the kicker)
(-.5)! = square root of PI.
Yep. (-.5)!(-.5)! = 3.14159265358979...
I wish I could explain why this is true, but I can't. Perhaps this man can.
The Gamma Function
I hope that clears some things up. I'm still partially confused.
Anyway...gonna work on AI.
Until next time, remember: May the sqrt(PI) be with you.
---TDM
Sunday, December 19, 2004
Time Lag
I beat Myst IV: Revelation on Friday. Great game. Loved the ending. You should try it, but if you haven't played the first 3 (not Uru, that comes after Revelation, technically), you should do so first.
Now I'm playing Uru: The Path of the Shell. Had to start over from the beginning because of a computer crash much earlier this year. Ended up erasing the entire hard drive. I hadn't backed up my progress beforehand (stupid!) so I lost it all. It's alright to do it again.
I don't remember anything else that I intended to say on Friday. I just got a router and installed it, but for some reason I couldn't access the Net that day. Obviously, the problem has been solved.
Over the break, I have to do a book report on any book I've read so far this year. I think I'll do Richard Bachman's The Long Walk. (Bachman is Stephen King's old penname).
Sooner or later, I'm going to begin working on my Chess AI. My novel's on the back burner.
But I did read King's On Writing not so long ago. It told me to set writing goals for myself. So for a short while, I began writing one hour a day, before I slept. I got a little bit done on a novel I had not originally planned on doing. But I haven't done that for a little while. Maybe I'll start it up again.
Hell, maybe I'll do a blog novel. I've seen little remarks about that all over Blogger, but I've always said that I'd rather it (my novel) remain a complete secret until publication. (That way, it's more a surprise for the reader.
(Ironically, writing the above paragraph just convinced me not to do it. Oh well.)
Last night, I was thinking about factorials. For some reason, my calculator (TI 83 Plus) allows me to do (1/2)! (one-half factorial), which it tells me is equal to .8862269255... Since 0! and 1! both equal 1, I thought, "Well, maybe you can graph factorials as a quadratic function." So I went through the rigors of finding that equation.
I know: y = a(x-h)(x-h) + k
I assume: y = x!
Vertex is (.5, .886226). Other points are (0,1), (1,1), (2,2), and (3,6)
The equation is y = a(x-.5)(x-.5) + .886226
When I use the point (1,1), I get
a = 4(1-.886226) = 4*.11377 = .45509
When I use the point (0,1), I get the same value for a.
But when I use (2,2) to verify, a becomes:
a = (2-.886226)/2.25 = 1.11377/2.25 = .49501
Using (3,6):
a = (6-.886226)/6.25 = 5.11377/6.25 = .8522955
I continue to try to solve by saying "the a's should be equal in all cases", therefore:
4(1-.5!) = (2-.5!)/2.25
If I said .5! was a variable f, then I find that:
4(1-f) = (2-f)/2.25
4-4f = 4.5-2.25f
-.5 = 1.75f
f = -1/7
which is clearly not .5!
So I just proved that factorials cannot be graphed using a quadratic function.
Sorry to have wasted your time.
Until next time, remember: Uselessness = Usefulness = .5!
---TDM
Now I'm playing Uru: The Path of the Shell. Had to start over from the beginning because of a computer crash much earlier this year. Ended up erasing the entire hard drive. I hadn't backed up my progress beforehand (stupid!) so I lost it all. It's alright to do it again.
I don't remember anything else that I intended to say on Friday. I just got a router and installed it, but for some reason I couldn't access the Net that day. Obviously, the problem has been solved.
Over the break, I have to do a book report on any book I've read so far this year. I think I'll do Richard Bachman's The Long Walk. (Bachman is Stephen King's old penname).
Sooner or later, I'm going to begin working on my Chess AI. My novel's on the back burner.
But I did read King's On Writing not so long ago. It told me to set writing goals for myself. So for a short while, I began writing one hour a day, before I slept. I got a little bit done on a novel I had not originally planned on doing. But I haven't done that for a little while. Maybe I'll start it up again.
Hell, maybe I'll do a blog novel. I've seen little remarks about that all over Blogger, but I've always said that I'd rather it (my novel) remain a complete secret until publication. (That way, it's more a surprise for the reader.
(Ironically, writing the above paragraph just convinced me not to do it. Oh well.)
Last night, I was thinking about factorials. For some reason, my calculator (TI 83 Plus) allows me to do (1/2)! (one-half factorial), which it tells me is equal to .8862269255... Since 0! and 1! both equal 1, I thought, "Well, maybe you can graph factorials as a quadratic function." So I went through the rigors of finding that equation.
I know: y = a(x-h)(x-h) + k
I assume: y = x!
Vertex is (.5, .886226). Other points are (0,1), (1,1), (2,2), and (3,6)
The equation is y = a(x-.5)(x-.5) + .886226
When I use the point (1,1), I get
a = 4(1-.886226) = 4*.11377 = .45509
When I use the point (0,1), I get the same value for a.
But when I use (2,2) to verify, a becomes:
a = (2-.886226)/2.25 = 1.11377/2.25 = .49501
Using (3,6):
a = (6-.886226)/6.25 = 5.11377/6.25 = .8522955
I continue to try to solve by saying "the a's should be equal in all cases", therefore:
4(1-.5!) = (2-.5!)/2.25
If I said .5! was a variable f, then I find that:
4(1-f) = (2-f)/2.25
4-4f = 4.5-2.25f
-.5 = 1.75f
f = -1/7
which is clearly not .5!
So I just proved that factorials cannot be graphed using a quadratic function.
Sorry to have wasted your time.
Until next time, remember: Uselessness = Usefulness = .5!
---TDM
Wednesday, December 15, 2004
To paradox or to single-dox
It's time for a really random post.
Take a look at this sentence: This sentence is a paradox.
Now think about it. The sentence says that it's a paradox, meaning it contradicts itself. However, there is no contradiction in that sentence. Therefore, it's not a paradox.
But it says it is, so it's contadicting itself, so it is a paradox.
Now check this: This sentence has sofa six words.
Yes, there is a random word inside the sentence that shouldn't be there, but without it, the statement is false.
The following statement is true.
The previous statement is false.
This is a classic. If the first is true, then the second is true, but then the first is false, making the second false, in which case the first is true...
How about this? This sentence is false.
If true, it's false, so it's true, therefore it's false...
"The man said he always lied, but it turned out he was lying."
...And other Math.random() instances of random logic confusions.
Until next time, remember: Don't remember what isn't forgotten.
---TDM
Take a look at this sentence: This sentence is a paradox.
Now think about it. The sentence says that it's a paradox, meaning it contradicts itself. However, there is no contradiction in that sentence. Therefore, it's not a paradox.
But it says it is, so it's contadicting itself, so it is a paradox.
Now check this: This sentence has sofa six words.
Yes, there is a random word inside the sentence that shouldn't be there, but without it, the statement is false.
The following statement is true.
The previous statement is false.
This is a classic. If the first is true, then the second is true, but then the first is false, making the second false, in which case the first is true...
How about this? This sentence is false.
If true, it's false, so it's true, therefore it's false...
"The man said he always lied, but it turned out he was lying."
...And other Math.random() instances of random logic confusions.
Until next time, remember: Don't remember what isn't forgotten.
---TDM
Monday, December 13, 2004
Just some Strange Thoughts
I sneezed today, and it got me thinking on allergies. I said to myself, "What would happen if a person were allergic to sneezes?"
I believe the answer is that they would sneeze repeatedly, until they go unconscious or their heart stops.
Secondly, I was reading a book called Hyperspace, by Michio Kaku, and I was thinking about a tesseract (a regular polygon of 4 dimensions). I thought about a cube, the regular 3-d polygon, and wondered how to find the area of a tesseract. (That was easy; it's w*x*y*z). Then I wondered how one could find the [I don't know what to call it] of a 4-d spherical object. I'm still trying to figure out why the volume of a sphere is 4/3 (Pi) r*r, and not something like 2.
Anyway, I know this much: a Cube, 3-d. On each side is a square, 2-d. On each side of that square is a line, 1-d. At each point on that line is a point, 0-d.
Therefore: a tesseract, 4-d. On each side of the tesseract is a cube, 3-d. And so on...
That's all for today. I welcome your comments
Until next time, remember: Fun has infinite dimensions.
---TDM
I believe the answer is that they would sneeze repeatedly, until they go unconscious or their heart stops.
Secondly, I was reading a book called Hyperspace, by Michio Kaku, and I was thinking about a tesseract (a regular polygon of 4 dimensions). I thought about a cube, the regular 3-d polygon, and wondered how to find the area of a tesseract. (That was easy; it's w*x*y*z). Then I wondered how one could find the [I don't know what to call it] of a 4-d spherical object. I'm still trying to figure out why the volume of a sphere is 4/3 (Pi) r*r, and not something like 2.
Anyway, I know this much: a Cube, 3-d. On each side is a square, 2-d. On each side of that square is a line, 1-d. At each point on that line is a point, 0-d.
Therefore: a tesseract, 4-d. On each side of the tesseract is a cube, 3-d. And so on...
That's all for today. I welcome your comments
Until next time, remember: Fun has infinite dimensions.
---TDM
Friday, December 10, 2004
Yesterday, after Tomorrow
I must say, it's a very interesting feeling to have multiple look at you like you're insane. I said "HI" to a few people today, except not in English. In binary.
"01001000 01001001!"
Yeah, I guess I'm crazy. But then again, I have nothing better to say here right now today.
I hope you all enjoy your week-end more than I will. I still have work left to be done on Chess, but that'll be awhile before I'm willing to break from the new computer games I have to work on it.
And for my novel...I just finished reading Stephen King's book On Writing, and it provided some good pointers for writing, so I'll be working just a little bit everyday on various stories (not necessarily the novels, though).
And that's all for today.
"01000010 01011001 01000101!" ("BYE")
Until next time, remember: It's a helluva lot easier to speak in hexadecimal than binary, believe me.
---TDM
"01001000 01001001!"
Yeah, I guess I'm crazy. But then again, I have nothing better to say here right now today.
I hope you all enjoy your week-end more than I will. I still have work left to be done on Chess, but that'll be awhile before I'm willing to break from the new computer games I have to work on it.
And for my novel...I just finished reading Stephen King's book On Writing, and it provided some good pointers for writing, so I'll be working just a little bit everyday on various stories (not necessarily the novels, though).
And that's all for today.
"01000010 01011001 01000101!" ("BYE")
Until next time, remember: It's a helluva lot easier to speak in hexadecimal than binary, believe me.
---TDM
Thursday, December 09, 2004
Not Unwise
Someone said to me today, "You have too much time on your hands." This was in response to the following thing I did with my free time recently: I wrote "HAPPY HANUKKAH" in binary (yes, it's all caps). Check it out (I included spaces to ease your eyes):
01001000 01000001 01010000 01010000 01011001 00100000 01001000 01000001 01001110 01010101 01001011 01001011 01000001 01001000
That is quite a mouthful, however, so I shortened it to hexadecimal. Now it reads:
48415050592048414E554B4B4148
So, as you can see, that person had a very good reason for what he/she/it/they said.
...And the Adventures of The Dark Man continued!
Check this: When you have a velocity of 0, it means you're not going anywhere, or going nowhere. When your velocity increases by factors of large numbers, it means you're going fast. Therefore, if my velocity is 207x (where x is some number), I'm going fast in relation to something travelling at a velocity of 1x. But if x is 0, then my velocity is 207 times 0, and I am going nowhere fast.
So until next time, remember: All's well that ends with some crazy, irrelevant quote.
---TDM
01001000 01000001 01010000 01010000 01011001 00100000 01001000 01000001 01001110 01010101 01001011 01001011 01000001 01001000
That is quite a mouthful, however, so I shortened it to hexadecimal. Now it reads:
48415050592048414E554B4B4148
So, as you can see, that person had a very good reason for what he/she/it/they said.
...And the Adventures of The Dark Man continued!
Check this: When you have a velocity of 0, it means you're not going anywhere, or going nowhere. When your velocity increases by factors of large numbers, it means you're going fast. Therefore, if my velocity is 207x (where x is some number), I'm going fast in relation to something travelling at a velocity of 1x. But if x is 0, then my velocity is 207 times 0, and I am going nowhere fast.
So until next time, remember: All's well that ends with some crazy, irrelevant quote.
---TDM
Wednesday, December 08, 2004
Something Something Nothing
Okay, I signed up for the Java web community at java.net, but I haven't really had time to get started on anything, and it seems unlikely that I'll be doing a lot on the 3D project, because it requires Linux to test the thing, which, of course, I don't have. (figures!)
Not working on Chess today. Not working on my novel today. Today I play Myst IV: Revelation! I got it last night for Hanukkah! I love the Myst series, especially Myst III: Exile, which is one great game! If you have not tried any of the Myst series, I suggest you do. Get an anniversary edition or something, and start with Myst, then Riven...Exile, Revelation, and maybe somewhere get Uru...
But enough of me advertising (sorry about that)! I...um...have nothing else to say.
So until next time, remember: Life is that period of time between intervals of video game-playing.
---TDM
Not working on Chess today. Not working on my novel today. Today I play Myst IV: Revelation! I got it last night for Hanukkah! I love the Myst series, especially Myst III: Exile, which is one great game! If you have not tried any of the Myst series, I suggest you do. Get an anniversary edition or something, and start with Myst, then Riven...Exile, Revelation, and maybe somewhere get Uru...
But enough of me advertising (sorry about that)! I...um...have nothing else to say.
So until next time, remember: Life is that period of time between intervals of video game-playing.
---TDM
Tuesday, December 07, 2004
Happy Hanukkah!
First of all, let me wish all of you a Happy Hanukkah! (Or Chanukah, or however you want to spell it...) It starts at sunset tonight, so all of us Jews get to receive our presents wayyy in advance of Christmas, and over a period of 8 days (so all the gifts don't go to our heads)!
Moreover, Hanukkah doesn't have annoying music that's played everywhere you go from October 31st to December 30th.
But anyway, Happy Holidays to all those who aren't lucky enough to have been born Jewish or sane enough to convert later (and my apologies to any I've offended).
If I ever can get downloading from my site to work, I'll put up the current form of my Chess program so you can take a good and see how great it is. (Really, though, it's not that great, it's just Chess, for cryin' out loud!) Sooner or later I'll work on the AI, but very likely it won't be for a while.
One last thing: You know how all the Operating Systems (you know, Windows, Mac OS _, UNIX, Linux, etc.) are all the same? They're all flat planes with 2-D windows. But that's boring. How about something in 3-D? Check out Project Looking Glass on the Java main site to see a preview of the first 3-D operating system. (I think it's really cool, and since it's open-source, I think I'll see if I could help out in any way)
Until next time, remember: You shouldn't be afraid to try new things. It should be the new things that are afraid of you.
---TDM
Moreover, Hanukkah doesn't have annoying music that's played everywhere you go from October 31st to December 30th.
But anyway, Happy Holidays to all those who aren't lucky enough to have been born Jewish or sane enough to convert later (and my apologies to any I've offended).
If I ever can get downloading from my site to work, I'll put up the current form of my Chess program so you can take a good and see how great it is. (Really, though, it's not that great, it's just Chess, for cryin' out loud!) Sooner or later I'll work on the AI, but very likely it won't be for a while.
One last thing: You know how all the Operating Systems (you know, Windows, Mac OS _, UNIX, Linux, etc.) are all the same? They're all flat planes with 2-D windows. But that's boring. How about something in 3-D? Check out Project Looking Glass on the Java main site to see a preview of the first 3-D operating system. (I think it's really cool, and since it's open-source, I think I'll see if I could help out in any way)
Until next time, remember: You shouldn't be afraid to try new things. It should be the new things that are afraid of you.
---TDM
Monday, December 06, 2004
Creativity!
I think I finally did it. I think I finally finished Chess. Except, of course, for the AI, so I'm not really finished, but the gameplay works, and the save/load function works, the pawns don't move backwards, and the Kings can't move next to each other.
It feels so good to finally be almost finished again. (um...)
Okay, never mind.
Moving on, I haven't really done very much on the novels, except for that general timeline I made on Thursday. I suppose I'll do some more work on it maybe on Wednesday.
That said, I think I'll go do something that might actually be semi-useful.
Until next time, remember: Those of us who know good and avoid it are bad. Those of use who know bad and do it anyway are worse. Those of us who don't know anything are, of course, unencumbered by the bounds of sanity.
---TDM
It feels so good to finally be almost finished again. (um...)
Okay, never mind.
Moving on, I haven't really done very much on the novels, except for that general timeline I made on Thursday. I suppose I'll do some more work on it maybe on Wednesday.
That said, I think I'll go do something that might actually be semi-useful.
Until next time, remember: Those of us who know good and avoid it are bad. Those of use who know bad and do it anyway are worse. Those of us who don't know anything are, of course, unencumbered by the bounds of sanity.
---TDM
Sunday, December 05, 2004
Restart
I saw my brother in a play last night. He did very well. And just like any other play or movie, it got my imagination going again. Therefore, I have decided to dedicate today to working on my private projects Chess and the first novel.
As you've seen in my earlier posts, from time to time, I start getting lazy and unwilling to work too hard on my projects. Occasionally I will need to see a good movie or play to juice up my impetus and get me going again. Combined with my recent epiphanies about my life, I think it's a good idea. This is all I really have.
So I'll be working on Chess for a while here on this computer, and later I will move to the other computer (the one not connected to the Internet) and work on my novel.
I hope to finish Chess by June, but the novel may take a few more years. Plus, I don't plan to publish it immediately, either. I'm going to let it sit (while, of course, I write the rest) and then later I will reopen it and read it and make any last-minute changes before I submit it for review.
(This does seem like an awful lot of planning ahead for someone who so advocates procrastination, doesn't it?)
Now if you'll excuse me, I've got work to do.
Until next time, remember: Always write down ideas the moment you dream them up, even if you're not a writer, because a good idea will reward you for your moment of inspiration, if you wrote it down.
---TDM
As you've seen in my earlier posts, from time to time, I start getting lazy and unwilling to work too hard on my projects. Occasionally I will need to see a good movie or play to juice up my impetus and get me going again. Combined with my recent epiphanies about my life, I think it's a good idea. This is all I really have.
So I'll be working on Chess for a while here on this computer, and later I will move to the other computer (the one not connected to the Internet) and work on my novel.
I hope to finish Chess by June, but the novel may take a few more years. Plus, I don't plan to publish it immediately, either. I'm going to let it sit (while, of course, I write the rest) and then later I will reopen it and read it and make any last-minute changes before I submit it for review.
(This does seem like an awful lot of planning ahead for someone who so advocates procrastination, doesn't it?)
Now if you'll excuse me, I've got work to do.
Until next time, remember: Always write down ideas the moment you dream them up, even if you're not a writer, because a good idea will reward you for your moment of inspiration, if you wrote it down.
---TDM
Friday, December 03, 2004
Simple Complexities
Once again, we have passed another week and reached another Friday. I don't plan to do anything at all over the weekend, but I'll probably do a few things. Maybe I'll even work on Chess.
But for now, I'm going to try again to see if I can get downloads to work on my site.
And, of course, I'll be playing lots of games. I still recommend the Punk-o-Matic.
Until next time, remember: Simple complexies render complex simplicities rather confusing. Like this.
---TDM
But for now, I'm going to try again to see if I can get downloads to work on my site.
And, of course, I'll be playing lots of games. I still recommend the Punk-o-Matic.
Until next time, remember: Simple complexies render complex simplicities rather confusing. Like this.
---TDM
Wednesday, December 01, 2004
The Greatness of Nothing
There are many reasons why I don't seem to be sane. It may have something to do with how quickly I can change the subject.
Progress made on Chess since yesterday: 0. Progress made on anything since yesterday: 0.
Ahhh, procrastinating. Such a great way to not get things done. But I'll tell you more about that later.
Actually, I don't have anything else for you right now.
Riddle of the day: How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if I paid it $5,000? $10,000? A quarter?
Answer: None. But you'd have to question my sanity if I offered money to an animal.
Until next time, remember: Don't do today what you could put off till tomorrow.
---TDM
Progress made on Chess since yesterday: 0. Progress made on anything since yesterday: 0.
Ahhh, procrastinating. Such a great way to not get things done. But I'll tell you more about that later.
Actually, I don't have anything else for you right now.
Riddle of the day: How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if I paid it $5,000? $10,000? A quarter?
Answer: None. But you'd have to question my sanity if I offered money to an animal.
Until next time, remember: Don't do today what you could put off till tomorrow.
---TDM
Tuesday, November 30, 2004
Bored Dumb
Nothing new! I'm not going to work on Chess today. Probably not tomorrow either.
Actually, I do have something new. I came up with a killer idea for another novel. And I also came up with a way to tie it in with all my other novels. But I'm not going to give it out here...someone might steal it!
Maybe sometime later I might work on it, but I'm still trying to get the first one done.
Well, not really doing anything else.
So...until next time, remember: All great ideas come from other good ideas, not-so-good ideas, and even-worse-than-purple-ketchup ideas.
---TDM
Actually, I do have something new. I came up with a killer idea for another novel. And I also came up with a way to tie it in with all my other novels. But I'm not going to give it out here...someone might steal it!
Maybe sometime later I might work on it, but I'm still trying to get the first one done.
Well, not really doing anything else.
So...until next time, remember: All great ideas come from other good ideas, not-so-good ideas, and even-worse-than-purple-ketchup ideas.
---TDM
Monday, November 29, 2004
Monday Slumday
Well, it seems I made it through another Monday alive.
One thing, though: I was in Italian class today, and there's one word that I keep forgetting, so I have to look it up every time I see it. The word is sperare and it means "to hope". So I can quite literally say that "hope" is not in my vocabulary.
Chess, however, is another story. I've made significant progress on the loading section of the game, but it's still not fully functional yet. I suppose I could work on that today, but I might not. I'm not feeling particularly inspired today.
Here's a little word puzzle for you today.
Ph.D. Ph.D. Ph.D.
FREEZING
The answer: 3 degrees above freezing.
So, until next time, remember: Everything we do is a function of t, where t=time, and "do"="procrastinate".
---TDM
One thing, though: I was in Italian class today, and there's one word that I keep forgetting, so I have to look it up every time I see it. The word is sperare and it means "to hope". So I can quite literally say that "hope" is not in my vocabulary.
Chess, however, is another story. I've made significant progress on the loading section of the game, but it's still not fully functional yet. I suppose I could work on that today, but I might not. I'm not feeling particularly inspired today.
Here's a little word puzzle for you today.
Ph.D. Ph.D. Ph.D.
FREEZING
The answer: 3 degrees above freezing.
So, until next time, remember: Everything we do is a function of t, where t=time, and "do"="procrastinate".
---TDM
Sunday, November 28, 2004
Crazy People
Here's something interesting. Take a look at Artful Looter. As an Unhinged card, it contains several jokes that aren't always quite discernible. Here's what I've found so far:
- Its ability is the same as that of Merfolk Looter and it is named "Artful Looter"
- The painting it is stealing is the 7th Edition art of Merfolk Looter
- The windows are broken but the door is open.
- There is glass on the outside of the door, implying that the glass on the door was broken from the inside.
In the flavor text:
- The date of the paper is "Thursday April 1". The next time April 1st falls on a Thursday is 2006. The last time was 2000. (The date of the art was '03)
- The main headline "Priceless Pic Pilfered: Painting Found Abandoned in Graveyard" has alliteration (I don't know why), and the second line alludes to the discard portion of the ability.
- A smaller headline "Merfolk Decry Wizards' Treatment". The "Wizards", as in Wizards of the Coast, decided to remove the Merfolk as the blue race in the Core Set starting with 8th Edition. So the Merfolk are upset.
- The other small headline reads "Local Monster Goes AWOL: Police" and the rest is obscured. AWOL is another Unhinged card.
And that's all that I found.
Furthermore, Chess. I finished the "Save" portion of the program. But it's not worth anything if it can't be loaded, so I'm working on that now. Nothing else new.
Well, until next time, remember: Inside jokes are outside logic.
---TDM
Friday, November 26, 2004
Things you should be aware of
I'm going to open this post by telling you how I'll open this post. There. I did it.
Moving on, the holidays are approaching fast. Well, not really. They're getting closer at a rate of 1 (1 second per second). Never mind.
Anyways, I'm making some more progress on that Chess program. I wrote a few more songs on Punk-o-Matic. And I tried to post some songs on my home page, but that still doesn't work. Grrr.
I really have nothing else to say.
Until next time, remember: Say what you will, but mean what you say.
---TDM
Moving on, the holidays are approaching fast. Well, not really. They're getting closer at a rate of 1 (1 second per second). Never mind.
Anyways, I'm making some more progress on that Chess program. I wrote a few more songs on Punk-o-Matic. And I tried to post some songs on my home page, but that still doesn't work. Grrr.
I really have nothing else to say.
Until next time, remember: Say what you will, but mean what you say.
---TDM
Thursday, November 25, 2004
Some More Things
Time for another riddle: You are a farmer. You have a tame wolf, a chicken, and a bag of feed at one side of your farm. It's starting to rain, so you have to bring them to your barn on the other side of the farm. However, you can only carry two things at a time. If you leave the chicken with the feed, it will eat it. If you leave the chicken with the wolf, the wolf will eat it. What do you do?
Sane answer: Take the chicken across the farm and leave it. Go back, then take the wolf and the feed to the barn.
However, by this time the rain has fallen and your feed is spoiled.
Not so sane (but much quicker) answer: Take the feed halfway across the farm, then turn back and pick up the wolf. Bring them to the barn, reach into the wolf's mouth, and pull the chicken out.
I don't know why I just posted that...kinda bored right now...
Until next time, remember: all great men start out "good".
---TDM
Sane answer: Take the chicken across the farm and leave it. Go back, then take the wolf and the feed to the barn.
However, by this time the rain has fallen and your feed is spoiled.
Not so sane (but much quicker) answer: Take the feed halfway across the farm, then turn back and pick up the wolf. Bring them to the barn, reach into the wolf's mouth, and pull the chicken out.
I don't know why I just posted that...kinda bored right now...
Until next time, remember: all great men start out "good".
---TDM
Wednesday, November 24, 2004
Stuff Done
And hello again! I've been thinking about working on the save/load portion of my Chess program, but that involves using either the Serializable interface or something I have to come up with myself.
And here's my problem with the Serializable interface: the Board object stores references to its Pieces and each Piece object has a reference to the Board. The Player object stores references to its Pieces, and each Piece object has a reference to its Player.
I think I'll have to come up with my own way of encoding these objects. Using Serializable will probably be too much work.
And the more I think about it, the more I like the idea of making "invitations" to come either here or to my site...hmmm...
I think I should go work on my site right now.
Until next time, remember: All roads lead to mental institutions.
---TDM
And here's my problem with the Serializable interface: the Board object stores references to its Pieces and each Piece object has a reference to the Board. The Player object stores references to its Pieces, and each Piece object has a reference to its Player.
I think I'll have to come up with my own way of encoding these objects. Using Serializable will probably be too much work.
And the more I think about it, the more I like the idea of making "invitations" to come either here or to my site...hmmm...
I think I should go work on my site right now.
Until next time, remember: All roads lead to mental institutions.
---TDM
Tuesday, November 23, 2004
Attack of the Killer...Somethings...
Couldn't post yesterday because of some computer troubles. I believe they've abated, but who knows for sure?
In any case, I've been making some progress on my story, but it's nowhere near finished. And Chess...is on standby. Haven't checked back at my website for awhile, maybe they've fixed the problem by now.
And that Star Command problem...I don't think I can really fix it...but I'm getting to understand the data files! Except the serialization codes... So I'll just have to start over--but I'm keeping those files backed up! And I'll back up my new files frequently, too!
Then...
I don't really have anything else to say...
If you're bored, check this out: goto EvilDog's website and open up Punk-o-Matic. Click 'Load' and paste this into the window at the bottom (be sure to remove any spaces if you've copied them, too):
----3-------3---0---1-1---4--0---80---0---0-4-3---3---3---4-0---0---0---0---1---4-9--0---1---5-5-0--40---410---7--4---10---457-0---2---5-5-5-94--1---0---1---4---9494--c--3--03--03--0353-0-4-7-737-78-a-4-4a--3a4137-6-3--03--03--08-1--4-46-7-737-74843--0a--
Oh, yeah, it seems the post I made on Sunday didn't appear...figures...basically I was talking about how my weekend was horrible...I listed 3 bad things that happened. Maybe later I'll try to recreate it or something.
Until next time, remember: There are 3 types of people in this world: those who divide everything into two categories, those who don't, and dead people.
---TDM
In any case, I've been making some progress on my story, but it's nowhere near finished. And Chess...is on standby. Haven't checked back at my website for awhile, maybe they've fixed the problem by now.
And that Star Command problem...I don't think I can really fix it...but I'm getting to understand the data files! Except the serialization codes... So I'll just have to start over--but I'm keeping those files backed up! And I'll back up my new files frequently, too!
Then...
I don't really have anything else to say...
If you're bored, check this out: goto EvilDog's website and open up Punk-o-Matic. Click 'Load' and paste this into the window at the bottom (be sure to remove any spaces if you've copied them, too):
----3-------3---0---1-1---4--0---80---0---0-4-3---3---3---4-0---0---0---0---1---4-9--0---1---5-5-0--40---410---7--4---10---457-0---2---5-5-5-94--1---0---1---4---9494--c--3--03--03--0353-0-4-7-737-78-a-4-4a--3a4137-6-3--03--03--08-1--4-46-7-737-74843--0a--
Oh, yeah, it seems the post I made on Sunday didn't appear...figures...basically I was talking about how my weekend was horrible...I listed 3 bad things that happened. Maybe later I'll try to recreate it or something.
Until next time, remember: There are 3 types of people in this world: those who divide everything into two categories, those who don't, and dead people.
---TDM
Friday, November 19, 2004
Old Stuff, New Stuff, No Different
Well, another week of school has gone by, and I'm not much better off.
I don't really feel like working on Chess today, so instead I think I'll work on my novel. After all, I believe that is much more important.
And the Unhinged release event is on Sunday for me. I hope to go have fun (and win, of course).
Not really anything else.
One thing I do want to ask your opinion of, though:
I have an idea to print out little pieces of paper maybe slightly larger than business card size, saying, "You're invited to The Dark Man's Journal at www.thedarkman.blogspot.com" or something similar. Just to increase the traffic on this site (considering only one person I actually know reads this s***).
Until next time, remember: What isn't a lie isn't necessarily true, either.
---TDM
I don't really feel like working on Chess today, so instead I think I'll work on my novel. After all, I believe that is much more important.
And the Unhinged release event is on Sunday for me. I hope to go have fun (and win, of course).
Not really anything else.
One thing I do want to ask your opinion of, though:
I have an idea to print out little pieces of paper maybe slightly larger than business card size, saying, "You're invited to The Dark Man's Journal at www.thedarkman.blogspot.com" or something similar. Just to increase the traffic on this site (considering only one person I actually know reads this s***).
Until next time, remember: What isn't a lie isn't necessarily true, either.
---TDM
Wednesday, November 17, 2004
Apathy
Hey hey! It's Wednesday! That means absolutely nothing!
I may work on Chess later, but I might not.
One thing's for sure--today's a slow day. But I'm sure I can find something to do other than work...like a game...of Chess? Gaah! I keep coming back to that!
And apparently the Unhinged thing is on Sunday...but that's for another day (Sunday)!
Ah, well, if I can't find anything else to do, I'll work on more Punk-o-matic songs. Remember, they're located on EvilDog's web site.
Here's one of my songs as an mp3: Restless Dreams. (I'm just testing the link to see if it works, which it doesn't :P)
Till next time, remember: what doesn't work and never has probably just if missing a semicolon at the end of a line.
---TDM
I may work on Chess later, but I might not.
One thing's for sure--today's a slow day. But I'm sure I can find something to do other than work...like a game...of Chess? Gaah! I keep coming back to that!
And apparently the Unhinged thing is on Sunday...but that's for another day (Sunday)!
Ah, well, if I can't find anything else to do, I'll work on more Punk-o-matic songs. Remember, they're located on EvilDog's web site.
Here's one of my songs as an mp3: Restless Dreams. (I'm just testing the link to see if it works, which it doesn't :P)
Till next time, remember: what doesn't work and never has probably just if missing a semicolon at the end of a line.
---TDM
Monday, November 15, 2004
Monday all over again
Yep, another Monday. And it's 5:00 now, so I guess I'm not gonna get any work done (rationally).
However, I did finish most of my Chess game. I got the gameplay and the checkmate checking completed! Yay! All that's left:
However, I did finish most of my Chess game. I got the gameplay and the checkmate checking completed! Yay! All that's left:
- Save/Load
- AI
- Icons, so you don't have to look at "WK" and guess whether it's a King or Knight (I should probably change that, too.)
- Stalemate checking (though that shouldn't be too difficult, I guess)
Yup.
Till next time, remember: More or less, less is more.
---TDM
Sunday, November 14, 2004
Great Ideas
Some more progress on Chess has been made! Yay! Castling works now! I'm currently working on checking for checkmate.
I finished The Dark Tower late Friday night, and it was a great finish to the Dark Tower cycle. I highly recommend them all.
I suppose I really should say something else, but I got nothing.
Howzabout a riddle?
You have two coins totaling 55 cents. One of them is not a nickel. What are the coins?
Answer: The coin that is not a nickel is a half-dollar. The other is a nickel.
Till next time, remember: logical thinking means being as illogical as possible.
---TDM
I finished The Dark Tower late Friday night, and it was a great finish to the Dark Tower cycle. I highly recommend them all.
I suppose I really should say something else, but I got nothing.
Howzabout a riddle?
You have two coins totaling 55 cents. One of them is not a nickel. What are the coins?
Answer: The coin that is not a nickel is a half-dollar. The other is a nickel.
Till next time, remember: logical thinking means being as illogical as possible.
---TDM
Friday, November 12, 2004
Unfortunate Circumstances
I've lost faith in most of mankind. I just finished reading a few articles on how Kerry and the Democrats are horribly anti-Semitic, and how Bush is good for the Jewish people and Israel. It disheartens me to learn that the party I had placed my hope in is so actively against me.
I will now retract what I said about Bush on Wednesday the 3rd, because it seems that Kerry fits the description more accurately. Now I don't know how to vote in the next presidential election, and I don't know how to decide, but now I'm in a quandary:
Democrats are anti-Semitic. Catholics (who voted mostly for Bush because of moral issues) don't care for the Jews.
(If you haven't guessed by now, I'm Jewish.)
I'm always afraid that something will happen to us--like a Holocaust sponsored by the US government, especially after that glorious anti-Semitic Mel Gibson movie came out (and all the Catholics watched it religiously, even sending their kids to see it through the schools).
*Sigh*....
Despite how many Jew-haters there are, despite the fact that they outnumber the two-hundredths of a percent of Americans that are Jewish, life goes on.
And I must continue with Chess.
Sorry for dragging you all through today's dirt. I'm just feeling particularly down today.
Oh yeah, I just read a great quote from Stephen King's "The Dark Tower VII: The Dark Tower":
"When I die, I want to go peacefully, in my sleep, like Grandpa Fred. Not screaming, like the passengers in his car."
Till next time, remember: ...ah, forget it.
---TDM
I will now retract what I said about Bush on Wednesday the 3rd, because it seems that Kerry fits the description more accurately. Now I don't know how to vote in the next presidential election, and I don't know how to decide, but now I'm in a quandary:
Democrats are anti-Semitic. Catholics (who voted mostly for Bush because of moral issues) don't care for the Jews.
(If you haven't guessed by now, I'm Jewish.)
I'm always afraid that something will happen to us--like a Holocaust sponsored by the US government, especially after that glorious anti-Semitic Mel Gibson movie came out (and all the Catholics watched it religiously, even sending their kids to see it through the schools).
*Sigh*....
Despite how many Jew-haters there are, despite the fact that they outnumber the two-hundredths of a percent of Americans that are Jewish, life goes on.
And I must continue with Chess.
Sorry for dragging you all through today's dirt. I'm just feeling particularly down today.
Oh yeah, I just read a great quote from Stephen King's "The Dark Tower VII: The Dark Tower":
"When I die, I want to go peacefully, in my sleep, like Grandpa Fred. Not screaming, like the passengers in his car."
Till next time, remember: ...ah, forget it.
---TDM
Thursday, November 11, 2004
GRRR!!!!!
I'm so pissed off. I can't get the site to work at all now. Even the link I put under my profile doesn't work.
I'm most likely going to abandon the web site. I can't get it to work as I had wanted. Turns out the web host isn't as great as it seems.
I'm removing the link on the right, but not the one in the post a few days back. I'm lazy that way. You can still visit the site, but it won't amount to much unless I can figure out how to solve all these problems that are occurring.
Till next time, remember: It's healthy to take out your anger on something every now and then (especially if you suffer from stress (Translation: especially if you live)).
---TDM
I'm most likely going to abandon the web site. I can't get it to work as I had wanted. Turns out the web host isn't as great as it seems.
I'm removing the link on the right, but not the one in the post a few days back. I'm lazy that way. You can still visit the site, but it won't amount to much unless I can figure out how to solve all these problems that are occurring.
Till next time, remember: It's healthy to take out your anger on something every now and then (especially if you suffer from stress (Translation: especially if you live)).
---TDM
Piles of Boredom
Here's a riddle for you:
You're out camping (somewhere). It gets really dark and you enter a cave for the night. You take out your flashlight--your batteries are dead. (Figures, huh?) You rummage through your pack, and you find a candle, a lantern, a road flare, and a log (for a fire?). Unfortunately you only have one match. Which do you light first?
(That's my attempt to recall that riddle from the last time I heard it.)
The answer will appear at the end of this post. Ponder the answer as you read.
Okay, I worked on Chess yesterday, and I worked on the site, (but it still doesn't work!!) and last night I realized that my life was headed absolutely nowhere so I decided I would either work on Chess or my novel instead of lounging all the time working on my site. But I'm such a lazy case that it probably won't really happen...for a while.
I don't have anything else for you at this time....
The answer to the riddle is....
"The match, of course!"
Till next time, remember: People are the leading cause of headaches ages 16-24.
---TDM
You're out camping (somewhere). It gets really dark and you enter a cave for the night. You take out your flashlight--your batteries are dead. (Figures, huh?) You rummage through your pack, and you find a candle, a lantern, a road flare, and a log (for a fire?). Unfortunately you only have one match. Which do you light first?
(That's my attempt to recall that riddle from the last time I heard it.)
The answer will appear at the end of this post. Ponder the answer as you read.
Okay, I worked on Chess yesterday, and I worked on the site, (but it still doesn't work!!) and last night I realized that my life was headed absolutely nowhere so I decided I would either work on Chess or my novel instead of lounging all the time working on my site. But I'm such a lazy case that it probably won't really happen...for a while.
I don't have anything else for you at this time....
The answer to the riddle is....
"The match, of course!"
Till next time, remember: People are the leading cause of headaches ages 16-24.
---TDM
Wednesday, November 10, 2004
Loads of Nothing
Computer crashed again, just before I logged in to post here. :(
First order of business, my website: I can't figure out how to post my mp3s on the site. If anyone knows the html code to do that, please respond here. I'm trying to fix the problem myself, too, but any other help will be appreciated. (Plus you'll get to hear my songs as I post them on my site.)
Secondly, Chess. Using a JFrame, I can intercept the exit when the user clicks on it through my "File" menu, but when the 'x' in the corner is clicked, I can't stop the closing (even by using a windowClosing listener). Again, help? please?
Third: Chess. It seems like castling is currently illegal ("You're under arrest for castling! You have the right to remain silent...Any piece you touch on your turn must be moved if possible.") and all other bugs I am chasing with a hammer. (Ain't that a pretty picture?)
Those of you who want to reply to this post, you have until I post again tomorrow. That's the deadline. Hopefully by then, someone (or me) will have solved the problems.
I have nothing more to say. I will update my web page as I can, but...I'm lazy! Deal with it!
---TDM
First order of business, my website: I can't figure out how to post my mp3s on the site. If anyone knows the html code to do that, please respond here. I'm trying to fix the problem myself, too, but any other help will be appreciated. (Plus you'll get to hear my songs as I post them on my site.)
Secondly, Chess. Using a JFrame, I can intercept the exit when the user clicks on it through my "File" menu, but when the 'x' in the corner is clicked, I can't stop the closing (even by using a windowClosing listener). Again, help? please?
Third: Chess. It seems like castling is currently illegal ("You're under arrest for castling! You have the right to remain silent...Any piece you touch on your turn must be moved if possible.") and all other bugs I am chasing with a hammer. (Ain't that a pretty picture?)
Those of you who want to reply to this post, you have until I post again tomorrow. That's the deadline. Hopefully by then, someone (or me) will have solved the problems.
I have nothing more to say. I will update my web page as I can, but...I'm lazy! Deal with it!
---TDM
Tuesday, November 09, 2004
Website up!
After a long time of fighting with FrontPage to publish my files, I finally give up and just upload the darn htm file.
You can view my web site at http://thedarkman.freelinuxhost.com. Don't forget to bookmark it!
I'll put it somewhere here, too...
And anyway, there's not really anything else to say right now. I'm going to work on my web page some more, but there's no real guarantee that anything will ever get done. (ha ha)
As for Chess, I'll work on that today if I have the time (again, no guarantees. I'm sorry, I know how much you all wanted to see that finished in your lifetimes...)
One last thing before I go: I've enabled any person (fictitious or real) to post comments here. So go ahead, but please don't abuse this. I can turn it off whenever I want to.
Till next time, remember: Program and let program.
---TDM
You can view my web site at http://thedarkman.freelinuxhost.com. Don't forget to bookmark it!
I'll put it somewhere here, too...
And anyway, there's not really anything else to say right now. I'm going to work on my web page some more, but there's no real guarantee that anything will ever get done. (ha ha)
As for Chess, I'll work on that today if I have the time (again, no guarantees. I'm sorry, I know how much you all wanted to see that finished in your lifetimes...)
One last thing before I go: I've enabled any person (fictitious or real) to post comments here. So go ahead, but please don't abuse this. I can turn it off whenever I want to.
Till next time, remember: Program and let program.
---TDM
Monday, November 08, 2004
For Lack of a Better Title
Just when you think you're sane, you're presented with proof that you're not. But I won't go into that! (You all already know that much.)
In any case, I should probably be working on some project I've been putting off...but it's so much fun to simply not do it! Right now I'm recording a few of my Punk-o-Matic songs into mp3s. I probably will put them up on my website. (when I get one--too bad for procrastination!) Till then, you'll have to wait. (Maybe I'll do that today.)
Well, there isn't anything else to report at this time. I'll go make myself useful...(er...more useful than I already am?)
---TDM
In any case, I should probably be working on some project I've been putting off...but it's so much fun to simply not do it! Right now I'm recording a few of my Punk-o-Matic songs into mp3s. I probably will put them up on my website. (when I get one--too bad for procrastination!) Till then, you'll have to wait. (Maybe I'll do that today.)
Well, there isn't anything else to report at this time. I'll go make myself useful...(er...more useful than I already am?)
---TDM
Sunday, November 07, 2004
Return to the Land of Computing
After two whole days away from a computer, I'm finally back to continue my work on my various, incomplete (and far from it) projects.
The last time I ran my Chess program, I was able to move a Piece. The screen sorta froze at that point. I had assumed that what it was doing was a complete drain on the processor.
I just found what was causing the problem. The problem is in the following code segment:
while (isValid(newloc)) {
if (!isEmpty(newloc)) return objectAt(newloc);
newloc=loc.nextLocation(dir);
}
The method nextLocation(dir) returns the neighbor of the location loc. Because loc is not changing, neither is newloc, and the loop continues indefinitely. I'm going to change the last line to
newloc=newloc.nextLocation(dir);
recompile and try it again.
YAY! It allows me to move without freezing. But, I can't move my black pawns because then the white queen checks my black king (!) and there seem to be some other problems, too.
I'm going to work on them now.
Until next time, remember that small errors lead to big problems.
---TDM
The last time I ran my Chess program, I was able to move a Piece. The screen sorta froze at that point. I had assumed that what it was doing was a complete drain on the processor.
I just found what was causing the problem. The problem is in the following code segment:
while (isValid(newloc)) {
if (!isEmpty(newloc)) return objectAt(newloc);
newloc=loc.nextLocation(dir);
}
The method nextLocation(dir) returns the neighbor of the location loc. Because loc is not changing, neither is newloc, and the loop continues indefinitely. I'm going to change the last line to
newloc=newloc.nextLocation(dir);
recompile and try it again.
YAY! It allows me to move without freezing. But, I can't move my black pawns because then the white queen checks my black king (!) and there seem to be some other problems, too.
I'm going to work on them now.
Until next time, remember that small errors lead to big problems.
---TDM
Thursday, November 04, 2004
Fiction Day
Well, since I'm not actually yet leaving, I've got most of the day to do some creative work. I could work on my novel, or some music, such as Punk-o-Matic (at Marco Arsenault's site), or Chess.
There are so many things I have yet to finish! (I should probably get started instead of posting here all the time.) My work is never finished. At least I have some things to do on my days off and in my free time. (Perhaps I should also finish that book I'm reading...)
Anyways, see ya later.
---TDM
There are so many things I have yet to finish! (I should probably get started instead of posting here all the time.) My work is never finished. At least I have some things to do on my days off and in my free time. (Perhaps I should also finish that book I'm reading...)
Anyways, see ya later.
---TDM
Wednesday, November 03, 2004
Wednesday down, still more to go
Well, now, I suppose I should actually write something meaningful in this space...
I'm feeling much better today, and I might actually get some work done on...something. I don't plan on working on Chess today, but maybe something else.
The election is over, Kerry lost, :P. All I have to say is that Bush's reelection is the precursor to the fall of American civilization. Now before anyone (a Republican?) argues with me about that, allow me to say that electing Kerry would only have delayed the inevitable for a few years. I don't know exactly when the end will come, but I strongly believe it will.
I just hope they don't draft me. I'll leave the country to avoid serving if I don't believe in the cause.
Prediction for Bush term 2 (would it technically be 3?): War in another country, Middle East, mid-2005. More amendments to take away people's rights. [If you haven't been able to tell by now, I'm a Democrat.]
I feel really bad about voicing all my concerns like this, but what else is a blog for?
In other news, it's time to abandon all rational thought. I'm going away for a few days, and you'll have to entertain yourself by rereading this post over and over again. (or just wait till I return.) You'll hear from me when I get back.
---TDM
I'm feeling much better today, and I might actually get some work done on...something. I don't plan on working on Chess today, but maybe something else.
The election is over, Kerry lost, :P. All I have to say is that Bush's reelection is the precursor to the fall of American civilization. Now before anyone (a Republican?) argues with me about that, allow me to say that electing Kerry would only have delayed the inevitable for a few years. I don't know exactly when the end will come, but I strongly believe it will.
I just hope they don't draft me. I'll leave the country to avoid serving if I don't believe in the cause.
Prediction for Bush term 2 (would it technically be 3?): War in another country, Middle East, mid-2005. More amendments to take away people's rights. [If you haven't been able to tell by now, I'm a Democrat.]
I feel really bad about voicing all my concerns like this, but what else is a blog for?
In other news, it's time to abandon all rational thought. I'm going away for a few days, and you'll have to entertain yourself by rereading this post over and over again. (or just wait till I return.) You'll hear from me when I get back.
---TDM
Tuesday, November 02, 2004
Not too good
What a bad day. Got one helluva headache several hours ago and I still have it.
I just can't really think straight right now.
I might not get any work done on Chess today, certainly not my novel. Can't get onto my music site...I'll try tomorrow.
2 is my new unlucky number.
Not to mention, of course, the freaking election. Make no mistake, choosing one candidate over the other will very likely lead to either a collapse of American society, or the destruction of the entire world.
Did you know it was the Romans' taxing system that caused them to fall? The poor class couldn't pay their taxes, the upper class were too snobby to do so, and so the middle class got the brunt of the taxation. And so...did Rome fall. (I wonder if Rome fell in a day...)
Nothing else new...I suppose eventually I'll make a new website...but a while later.
...
I'm gonna go insert a counter here...cause I want to see how many people actually put up with my ramblings.
I just can't really think straight right now.
I might not get any work done on Chess today, certainly not my novel. Can't get onto my music site...I'll try tomorrow.
2 is my new unlucky number.
Not to mention, of course, the freaking election. Make no mistake, choosing one candidate over the other will very likely lead to either a collapse of American society, or the destruction of the entire world.
Did you know it was the Romans' taxing system that caused them to fall? The poor class couldn't pay their taxes, the upper class were too snobby to do so, and so the middle class got the brunt of the taxation. And so...did Rome fall. (I wonder if Rome fell in a day...)
Nothing else new...I suppose eventually I'll make a new website...but a while later.
...
I'm gonna go insert a counter here...cause I want to see how many people actually put up with my ramblings.
Monday, November 01, 2004
A New Beginning
Hello and welcome once again. After being locked out of my geocities account, I've decided to relocate to blogger and....well...blog. I'm not really certain whether I'll be able to post things like my fantasy Magic Cards, or anything else I happen to come up with.
In current news, Unhinged release events coming up on November 20. I'm hoping I can go, but conflicts tend to arise at bad times. I suppose we'll see.
My Chess program is well under way at this point, and all that needs to be done are the piece icons, the stalemate checking, the save/load feature, GUI, AI, and debugging issues. It sounds like a lot, but I'm doing a lot of work every day. I'll keep you updated.
In current news, Unhinged release events coming up on November 20. I'm hoping I can go, but conflicts tend to arise at bad times. I suppose we'll see.
My Chess program is well under way at this point, and all that needs to be done are the piece icons, the stalemate checking, the save/load feature, GUI, AI, and debugging issues. It sounds like a lot, but I'm doing a lot of work every day. I'll keep you updated.
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