As promised :)

Column 1 is the 25bp marker
Column 2 is for the D3S1358 STR locus
Column 3 is D5S818 STR
Column 4 is D8S1179 STR
Column 5 is the Amelogenin gene STR (different lengths on X and Y, which is why there are 2 bars)
Column 6 is the 100bp marker

One girl ended up with a sample looking half female, half male. Poor girl. But it was a good laugh! :D

Nice bands there!
The DNA & RNA I extract from FFPE samples is mostly degraded as hell.

Nice. I have absolutely no idea what most of it actually means, but it's nice anyway.

Basically, everyone has different lengths of these repeats

I may have GATAGATAGATAGATAGATAGATAGATAGATAGATAGATA on one chromosome
but have GATAGATAGATAGATAGATAGATAGATAGATAGATAGATAGATAGATAGA TA on the other (one from each parent). In the second column I have 2 different copies (I think the top band is just a side product, other people got that too). In the third I have 2 different copies (but they're very close together). Fourth column looks like I have 2 copies the same length. Everyone has different combinations.

Firstly we purified our DNA, then amplified the sections we wanted by PCR. Various things are added, but the gist is that two primers are made specifically to bind to the section of DNA flanking the section you are after (in this case the repeated sections). An enzyme is also added. Then the DNA is melted to give 2 single strands, then it is cooled slightly to allow the primers to bind. Then it is heated slightly again to make the enzyme add more nucleotides. The cycle is repeated many times to have a pretty much pure sample of just the section of DNA that you want.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/87/PCR.svg/300px-PCR.svg.png

Then loading dye is added and the sections are separeted by gel electrophoresis. The larger sections don't travel as fast as smaller sections so they are separated by size, into the bands that you see.

No... I like the "magician with the microscope" explanation. It's much easier to understand.

*Star worms' post flies over thomasp's head*

Forgive me while I go back to my gas turbine design :p

:(

That was the simplified explanation...

:(

That was the simplified explanation...then I've been simplified twice :p

:(

That was the simplified explanation...
*Head a'splodes*

Give me axial and radial flow compressors and turbines any day. Rotors & stators, piece of cake! Velocity triangles? No problem.

...I can count to potato.

I went to a party and kissed a girl I really like. :)

*high five*

What happened to expressing an interest and courting girls these days?

What happened to expressing an interest and courting girls these days?

He may have done that first.

I thought that wasn't Blinx's style?

What happened to expressing an interest and courting girls these days?there are many different forms of that. enough so as to make it plenty logical that they could share a mutual kiss in that manner.

Woohoo! Passed my driving test this morning with only 4 minors! :D Only after it's finished had I realised how nervous I'd been about it.

Perhaps I'm old-fashioned. I'd never kiss the lady on the first date, it would be improper.

Perhaps I'm old-fashioned. I'd never kiss the lady on the first date, it would be improper.My word, who would do such a thing?

I kiss them before. :cool:

Perhaps I'm old-fashioned. I'd never kiss the lady on the first date, it would be improper.
How is it improper? If you enjoy it and she enjoys it, it's all good stuff.

Perhaps I'm old-fashioned. I'd never kiss the lady on the first date, it would be improper.
that's because you've never had a first date :cool:

Oh snap!

Perhaps I'm old-fashioned. I'd never kiss the lady on the first date, it would be improper.

My last girlfriend I kissed on the first date, but the date in question lasted eleven hours so I don't know if you want to count that.

Woohoo! Passed my driving test this morning with only 4 minors!

4 minor whats? Scratches? Dents? 4 Morris Minors, because you wrote off the first three? Or by minor do you mean child, only 4 minors stuck to the front bumper? :p

4 minor whats? Scratches? Dents? 4 Morris Minors, because you wrote off the first three? Or by minor do you mean child, only 4 minors stuck to the front bumper? :pThat's how driving tests are marked. 1 Major and you get a fail. 15 minors and you get a fail, which includes stuff like not checking the mirrors (although to make sure you don't get this one in a test you have to just deliberately move your head as they don't seem to realise that your eyes can look at them without your head moving).

My new iMac should arrive in a week or so. :3
IT HAS ARRIVED. Will pick it up tomorrow later today.
They called about right after I left for work, and my mom and brother couldn't find the receipt to go pick it up for me. Because I lost it. :p
It turned out to have fallen to the floor behind the printer tho.

That's how driving tests are marked. 1 Major and you get a fail. 15 minors and you get a fail, which includes stuff like not checking the mirrors (although to make sure you don't get this one in a test you have to just deliberately move your head as they don't seem to realise that your eyes can look at them without your head moving).My driving instructor's actually fixed another mirror to the inside of his car positioned so the examiners can see the eyes of his students. The whole thing is just that silly.

Can't you just state you're looking at the mirror every time you do?
"Looking... at the mirror, now."
And then you put on sunglasses to look like this -> :cool:

My driving instructor's actually fixed another mirror to the inside of his car positioned so the examiners can see the eyes of his students. The whole thing is just that silly.That would be quite off-putting: You'd glance over to check the left mirror and see a pair of eyes staring back at you...

Posting from my iMac. :cool:
So far it's pretty damn awesome. :p

Posting from my iMac. :cool:
So far it's pretty damn awesome. :p
if you need info about good apps, os x tips or whatever, just let me know

Posting from my iMac. :cool:
So far it's pretty damn awesome. :p
How about the power?
Can you run Windows XP via bootcamp and then play Steam games (and other) decently?

I'm getting better results with each test I sit.
Things are looking up.

I'm also going to work in a Pharmacy for work experience. :)

My driving instructor's actually fixed another mirror to the inside of his car positioned so the examiners can see the eyes of his students. The whole thing is just that silly.

That's a pretty standard thing to do here, didn't think it was that silly.

if you need info about good apps, os x tips or whatever, just let me know
Hey that'd be great! I haven't started looking yet but I'm going to need some good free apps mostly for drawing and stuff while I manage to get the good stuff installed. Does this thing come with any drawing apps in it? I haven't found one. :p
Oh and is the .Mac account worth having? Seems a bit pricey at $99/year. :-/
How about the power?
Can you run Windows XP via bootcamp and then play Steam games (and other) decently?
Haven't installed XP yet, gonna get to it probably on sunday, since I have the whole day. Although I'm afraid to ruin something. :p
I should probably upgrade my RAM too, I only have 1GB as of now, but that'd come till next paycheck.
There are some videos on Youtube of the iMac running some steam games trough boot camp and XP pretty decently tho, so I suppose it should work fine.

Oh and I love this keyboard. :3

You actually like the thin keyboard ... thing? It just got on my nerves :p

Dad installed Vista on bootcamp on his iMac, he wondered whether it was any good on a powerful PC (turns out it's still crap, and randomly accuses us of pirating it) and I've been able to run TF2, HL2: DM and Flatout 2 very nicely indeed on it, certainly better than on my ageing PC. It even just about copes with Crysis on medium.

I miss a lot less keys than on a regular keyboard, for some reason.

The only thing that nags me is the Date and Time app seems to take quite a while to load. I also crashed the Calculator just trying to see how may times I could multiply large numbers before it gave me an error. :p

Did my Chemistry titration.
Had to discover the concentration of the acid.
Calculated it to be, 0.14mol dm^3
Actualy answer was 0.13mol dm^3. But you got full marks if you were 0.1 off. So I'm happy.

Did my Chemistry titration.
Had to discover the concentration of the acid.
Calculated it to be, 0.14mol dm^3
Actualy answer was 0.13mol dm^3. But you got full marks if you were 0.1 off. So I'm happy.I swear that all chemistry ever is and was, is titrations.

I swear that all chemistry ever is and was, is titrations.Tell me about it. One highlight of my A-Level career was forgetting to close the tap on a burette while I filled it. Whee, big puddle of sodium hydroxide on the floor.

Tell me about it. One highlight of my A-Level career was forgetting to close the tap on a burette while I filled it. Whee, big puddle of sodium hydroxide on the floor.

Heh, same thing happened to me last term, just replace NaOH with HCl.

Tell me about it. One highlight of my A-Level career was forgetting to close the tap on a burette while I filled it. Whee, big puddle of sodium hydroxide on the floor.

One of the stupider people in my class, when we did that experiment where you breathe in and out through limewater and invariably end up drinking a little of it, accidentally used sulphuric acid in place of said limewater. I don't think he did chemistry at an advanced enough level to do any titrations. I'm only reasonably sure he survived that long.

One of the stupider people in my class, when we did that experiment where you breathe in and out through limewater and invariably end up drinking a little of it, accidentally used sulphuric acid in place of said limewater. I don't think he did chemistry at an advanced enough level to do any titrations. I'm only reasonably sure he survived that long.

How the hell did he manage that?

He don't read too smart.

Tell me about it. One highlight of my A-Level career was forgetting to close the tap on a burette while I filled it. Whee, big puddle of sodium hydroxide on the floor.Sodium hydroxide goes in the pipette...

Top 2 highlights of my chemistry A level:
1. My friend was heating a solution in a test tube on a Bunsen and the bottom of the test tube just fell off and the solution went everywhere
2. When a different friend threw a calculator at the teacher's face (teacher was supposed to catch it).

Sodium hydroxide goes in the pipette...Except in our chem classes where it went in the burette.

Because we used phenolphthalein, and it's easier to see a colour appear than it is to see it disappear.

Yes I know that NaOH clogs burettes. Didn't stop my lecturer. We used to wash the things out with HCl afterwards.

Because we used phenolphthalein, and it's easier to see a colour appear than it is to see it disappear.

That fact was lost on my Chemistry teacher.

Hey that'd be great! I haven't started looking yet but I'm going to need some good free apps mostly for drawing and stuff while I manage to get the good stuff installed. Does this thing come with any drawing apps in it? I haven't found one. :p
i don't have any recommendations for drawing apps, because i never draw on it (aside from pay apps like the adobe suite, obviously, which is a must-have, or corel painter if you have a tablet)
Oh and is the .Mac account worth having? Seems a bit pricey at $99/year. :-/
no, there are comparable services available for free

Highlight of chemistry was my teacher pouring cloridic acid on his finger.

Highlight of chemistry was my teacher pouring cloridic acid on his finger.
my teacher accidentally set a trash can on fire :cool:

Highlight of chemistry was my teacher pouring cloridic acid on his finger.Do you mean hydrochloric acid? I've spilled some on me before - no harm done (though it will obviously depend on the concentration). I've wafted my hands through a Bunsen too... water fights using pipettes and water bottles... squirting dye on people's lab coats...

One of our chemistry teachers was head of science. He showed us how to make a flamethrower by lighting the gas tap without a Bunsen attached.

One of our chemistry teachers was head of science. He showed us how to make a flamethrower by lighting the gas tap without a Bunsen attached.:eek::eek::eek:

Once I set my hair on fire with a Bunsen.:o

The funniest thing that happened to me in a chemistry lesson involved a toffee hammer and an ink cartridge.:p

I've burnt a fly on a Bunsen.

:eek::eek::eek:
what, my teacher did that too

How about the power?
Can you run Windows XP via bootcamp and then play Steam games (and other) decently?
Well just installed WinXP using bootcamp, and installed GTA:SA.
It runs great, runs with everything on high and anti-aliasing on 3 on 800*600, but if I go to higher resolutions I have to disable AA and on the highest resolution probably have to tune down the settings a bit.
The only thing that bugs me is that the cd drive seems to make a fair bit of noise while playing...
Haven't installed Steam games yet because I haven't configured my internet access on it, until I get a decent anti-virus or something installed there.

Oh and WinXP starts up almost as fast as MacOS X, only slightly slower.

I just went to rocketdock.com and installed a dock on my vista laptop!:)

I just went to rocketdock.com and installed a dock on my vista laptop!:)
man, i have not used rocketdock in such a long time, it's been so long since i was an active member of the whole windows theming community

good app, though

MtlAngelus - have you skinned your iMac's XP install to look like OSX yet? ;)

And yes, I have seen that done. XP, skinned to look like OSX and running on an iMac.

MtlAngelus - have you skinned your iMac's XP install to look like OSX yet? ;)

And yes, I have seen that done. XP, skinned to look like OSX and running on an iMac.

i used to do that before i had a mac, but now that i use os x on a daily basis i just find that stuff obnoxious because it actually makes windows less usable

No, the point is you're running XP on a mac, and then skinning it to look like OSX - when you might as well just boot into OSX if you want a nice UI.

No, the point is you're running XP on a mac, and then skinning it to look like OSX - when you might as well just boot into OSX if you want a nice UI.
right, that's exactly what i was saying

the mac os x ui works great on os x, but it works like crap in windows, and it doesn't make sense to mix the two

I had a maccy skin for XP once. It was quite nice, and very usable (because they weren't too fussed about mac-ising it when it didn't make sense) but all mac-style skins I've seen invariably make the windows two pixels smaller at the top so you can't resize them with the top of the window. I assume macs don't let you do that, but really, how is that useful, taking away that feature?

Pfft this is clearly the best UI skin: http://www.wincustomize.com/skins.aspx?skinid=4780&libid=1

Pfft this is clearly the best UI skin: http://www.wincustomize.com/skins.aspx?skinid=4780&libid=1
just what i needed thanks

Well we bought a new PSU for the PC and it works fine now. Saaafe! :p

47" Visio LCD TV.

:cool:

Sorry if I missed the discussion but Blinx are you considering becoming a pharmacist? That's another thing I was really considering doing (wouldn't be able to go to UCLA for that sorry Someperson :( )

How about the power?
Can you run Windows XP via bootcamp and then play Steam games (and other) decently?
Well just tried HL2. Everything on Max, except for the Reflections, were set to Reflect World instead of Reflect All, no AA and stuff. And Resolution 1920*1200, and it ran pretty damn smoothly. Only some stuttering every now and then.
My only issue is that it does this:
http://img150.imageshack.us/img150/700/d1trainstation050002hv3.jpg
*huge resolution show-off*
Notice how stuff that is further away goes gray, except for buildings. Which makes it look rather odd.

According to some random forum I found on google (http://forums.nvidia.com/lofiversion/index.php?t22111.html) :p that can be fixed by putting HL2 in Directx 8 mode.

It looks like quite an old thread though, maybe newer drivers fix it?

Well that fixed it. Thanks! :p
So for the first time in my life, I'm playing HL2 like it's supposed to be played. :cool:

With Alex's waist in high quality.

Sorry if I missed the discussion but Blinx are you considering becoming a pharmacist? That's another thing I was really considering doing (wouldn't be able to go to UCLA for that sorry Someperson :( )Ohh yes. I am indeed. :)

Well that fixed it. Thanks! :p
So for the first time in my life, I'm playing HL2 like it's supposed to be played. :cool:
were you running really really old drivers

were you running really really old drivers
I don't know. I'm running the ones that installed when running Boot Camp.

http://www.battlefield-heroes.com/

http://www.battlefield-heroes.com/lemme know when that gets released.

I just got a wattmeter thing to tell me how many watts I'm using at any given time. I'm currently using about 51 watts for my whole desk, including computer, clock, fish, phone which is rechargine, etc.:) And my laptop battery isn't done chargine, so it'll probably end up mid 40s when that's done.:) My desk is 8 watts with the computer unplugged. Yay for energy efficiency.

We tested out the blender. 230 watts. Not as bad as I expected, honestly... External hard drive and printer are each about 10 watts when I run those... My roommate's 60w lamp checks in at about 52. My 15w fluroescent lamp uses between 9 and 10 (goes back and forth). The overhead light uses 32w. My dorm room is pretty lower energy usage.:)

I just got a wattmeter
Try out an angle grinder or a microwave oven!

230 watts for a blender? Surely not! That's a surprise.

Isn't it amazing how a computer uses the same amount of power as a desk lamp?

Brand new gaming rig!

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y237/supsuper/Fotos/Imagem70.jpg
Asus P5E Motherboard
NZXT Lexa Classic Red LED 3 Fans
550W Power Supply
Intel Core Duo E6300 1.8Ghz (overclocked to 3.1Ghz)
2GB DDR2 800Mhz RAM
ATI Radeon X1600 Pro PCI-E 512MB
SoundMAX Integrated Digital HD Audio
Logitech Cordless Desktop MX3200 Laser

Time for a new camera!

That's my phone cam, too lazy to use a proper one.

Intel Core Duo E6300 1.8Ghz (overclocked to 3.1Ghz)
What? :eek:

What? :eek:
Yeah, SupSuper lives near the Arctic circle, where average yearly temperatures don't exceed 4°C.
That means he can overclock to much higher frequencies without worrying about overheating.

Also, his flat screen LCD monitor can be used as a snow shovel.

Modern mobo/CPUs handle overclocking much better, plus the case is fairly empty and has 3 built-in fans, so the CPU stays at a happy 40-50ºC

I was hoping for snarky jokes about the case, so here's a stock shot:
http://www.cluboverclocker.com/reviews/cases/NZXT/Lexa_Blackline/images/Media%20copy.jpg

I was hoping for snarky jokes about the case, so here's a stock shot:why does the case deserve snarky jokes? I'm using the silver version and my cousin has the red one. we both love the case. it's rather nice.

Why's it surprised tho?

!

:p

I reminds me of the original Xbox.

I was going to make a coment on the LEDs but decided not to :p

Why's it surprised tho?

!

:p

Clearly it saw a cardboard box start to move in front of it...

Want snarky comments? Well alright.. *finger crackle*

I like the front panel, it's very shiny and has a nice simple red line that would prove usefull when trying to find your computer in a pitch black room (seriously, this is a likely situation), but frankly everything beyond the panel sucks.

What's the point of having a window showing you the inside of your computer? Is it so you can re-assure yourself every ten minutes that nothing has magically dissapeared from inside the computer without having to open the door? "Hmm, this page isn't loading, I wonder if my network connector has fallen of the motherboard.. nope.. still there!"
That's really the only reason I can think of, because there is absolutely nothing cool happening on the inside of a computer that you would possibly want to observe through a clear plastic window. My TFT-monitor is the only 'window' into my computer that I need thank you very much!

It's not like in thoose old geeky computer movies from the 80's where you can see light traveling across the circut boards, because that would be worth watching.
Finally, who would want a bright red light eminating from the case anyway? It looks like the computer is constantly in danger of blowing up or something equally diabolical.

That said, I've had my window cases because I thought it cool at the time. But nothing can beat a clean and simple design like the Antec Sonata series IMHO.

there is absolutely nothing cool happening on the inside of a computer that you would possibly want to observe through a clear plastic window.My tea mug mat made from an old printed circuit board would like to disagree with you.

My tea mug mat made from an old printed circuit board would like to disagree with you.you had the tea mug mat inside your computer? :p

Along with a cricket one.

It wasn't my printed circuit board, you understand. I bought it from the Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester, I think.

I'm just saying that seeing the workings is kinda fun. 80's computer movie lines or no.

Just made my first sale on the Jump Leads tee-shirt store. That is, my first sale to someone I don't already know. And it was this shirt:

http://img.printfection.com/1/111/4062991/E4ZLy.jpg

Closer look at the image:

http://www.benpaddon.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/gmenp.jpg

Can y'tell what it is yet?

Just made my first sale on the Jump Leads tee-shirt store. That is, my first sale to someone I don't already know. And it was this shirt:

http://img.printfection.com/1/111/4062991/E4ZLy.jpg

Closer look at the image:

http://www.benpaddon.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/gmenp.jpg

Can y'tell what it is yet?
The Hill Valley time travel schedule.
Nice! :D

A winking frog chef?

Whee, Back to the Future...

Got a Logitech Cordless Desktop MX 3200 Laser. I was using my mom's old USB keyboard/mouse set, which was crap, since my old set was PS/2 and my new mobo will have none of that.

I always like Logitech's peripherals. The receiver is now dongle-sized and even though I never get used to most of the shortcuts, they always add this neat little things like horizontal scroll wheeling, dynamic zoom and... an LCD clock. It even keeps count of my keypresses, so that should fill up fast.

It also has that new keyboard layout with Insert shoved out of the way, which while it is a rather obsolete key, will take some time getting used to.

What's the point of having a window showing you the inside of your computer? Is it so you can re-assure yourself every ten minutes that nothing has magically dissapeared from inside the computer without having to open the door? "Hmm, this page isn't loading, I wonder if my network connector has fallen of the motherboard.. nope.. still there!"

it's for nerds who want to show off their ridiculously expensive components at LAN parties

it's for nerds who want to show off their ridiculously expensive components at LAN parties

It's the equivalent of welding a dustbin to your exhaust and taping blue strip-bulbs to the inside of your ridiculous skirted bodykit. It makes it appear that your PC is powerful and that you take these things seriously. And that you're a chav with too much money.

My case has a piece of transparant plastic on the side in the shape of an X. It has blue LEDs around it and a fan in the middle. Any possible useful view that may have existed with such a stupid shape was removed when they stuck the fan on (which is probably the only useful thing my case has).

I really wish they didn't bother with such a pointless thing.

True, if they wanna make it transparent they might as well go all the way:
http://us.st11.yimg.com/us.st.yimg.com/I/xoxide_1989_139621057

If the walls we're double sheeted you might be able to make some kind of thin lavalamp out of the case. :cool:

It's the equivalent of welding a dustbin to your exhaust and taping blue strip-bulbs to the inside of your ridiculous skirted bodykit. It makes it appear that your PC is powerful and that you take these things seriously. And that you're a chav with too much money.I just buy those kinds of cases cause I custom build my computers and therefore have to buy a case in the process. I find one that I like and buy it. sure, the glass on the side serves no purpose, but who cares? it's just there for appearance. use it if you like it, don't if you don't.

If the walls we're double sheeted you might be able to make some kind of thin lavalamp out of the case. :cool:Wouldn't that defeat the purpose of the cooling?

I like the glass on the side, means that I can check if all the fans and such are working. Plus if I'm gonna lug a big box around, it might as well look nice.

I wish they didn't have so many damn sharp edges though, my hands are all cut up from building the thing.

I wish they didn't have so many damn sharp edges though, my hands are all cut up from building the thing.where are these sharp edges? I don't remember any sharp edges last I moved mine... :confused: I may have simply missed it, so I'd like to be warned for future reference :p

So I exchanged my Ibanez S series guitar for a Yamaha Electro-acoustic Nylon strings guitar.
And I just recorded a fun test with it(a simple chord progression and improv on one of my favorite scales), also to test Garageband. Needless to say, I LOVE Garageband and I LOVE this guitar already. :P
http://mp3space.com/file/11953/test
Of course the instruments aren't perfectly timed, particularly around the part where the strumming rhythm changes... I was just messing with the program.:p The strumming and the soloing were recorded with the same guitar, although going trough different effects on Garageband.

Edit: Oh this is the guitar I got: http://www.brixtonexchangemart.co.uk/list.pl?id=109390
It is considerably cheaper than the one I exchanged it for, but this one works like a charm and my ibanez was actually quite... troublesome. So it all comes square. :p

Nice! I like nylon strings (mine is a nylon:p). And that one seems to pull off nylon without the pitfalls of a classical (such as flat fingerboard, neck meets body at 12th fret, etc.) which looks pretty fantastic.

Today I got a whole bunch of parts in the mail for the electric guitar I'm going to make.:) Whammy bar this time around, which is something the electric balalaika really missed. I'm really excited. I'm kinda mixing the Fender and Gibson styles a bit - I'm generally using Fender style construction with the offset headstock and stuff, but I'm using more gibson materials, with Mahogany for the body and ebony fretboard. (fender type maple neck though) Here's a sketch: http://img152.imageshack.us/img152/722/jagster2ai0.jpg (I've decided on humbuckers though) Abalone fret markers with matching abalone side markers and then the vol/tone knobs I got are like strat knobs but with abalone tops for matching-ness. (and they're chrome)

That sounds cool. I would love to build my own guitar but I don't have the tools, time and patience to do so... D: :p
Also I would rather do it the hard way, building all the pieces myself, but it seems to be a bit too hard and time consuming. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3t1ph6h_Tyg) :p
Good luck with that guitar, the design looks cool, although I personally prefer sharper edges and darker colours. :)

Wouldn't that defeat the purpose of the cooling?

What if you could use the excess computer heat to make the liquids move around, rather than some hot lamp. But I don't know what kind of temperatures are needed or what materials could be used, so it might not be possible.

That sounds cool. I would love to build my own guitar but I don't have the tools, time and patience to do so... D: :p
Also I would rather do it the hard way, building all the pieces myself, but it seems to be a bit too hard and time consuming. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3t1ph6h_Tyg) :p
Good luck with that guitar, the design looks cool, although I personally prefer sharper edges and darker colours. :)

Yikes, yeah, building an acoustic looks a load harder than building an electric.

I'm pretty much making all the parts myself. Like I'm making the body and neck and stuff myself, but the stuff I got in the mail was like the whammy bar and the kits to make the pickups (which I'll wind myself) and the tuning pegs and stuff like that. Because making a whammy bar on my own would be quite difficult all things considered...

I've seen a halogen bulb used for a lava lamp, it was 40W, I think.

I scoffed at the rising trend in transparent side panels but after a bit I grew to like them if it was done nicely. I wouldn't mind having a case with a transparent side and some lights inside. Have any of you seen those UV-reactive electroluminescent rounded drive cables with a spiral effect going down them?

Spore will be comming out for Mac! Yay! :p
It's kinda old news, but I hadn't head of it, so. :p

Spore will be comming out for Mac! Yay! :p
It's kinda old news, but I hadn't head of it, so. :p

Just that part would be news to me.

They've also just released the Spore release date: 7 September 2008

http://www.realvg.org/display.php?type=news&id=207

They've also just released the Spore release date: 7 September 2008

http://www.realvg.org/display.php?type=news&id=207damn it, that's not Q2 =(

It's my birthday in a week.

I got my presents early tho. The Stand and Gunslinger by Stephen King. Whoop. :D

Had band practice as the new four piece, and well tbh, it was amazing. Wrote a new song. Was kickass.

I've also realised, Some Electric Life (SEL), is named after our old webmaster! :D

Does your name derive from looking at an electricity meter in anticipation of it running out?

Is it what you said after turning off Second Life in frustration, your avatar a penniless and lonely husk of its original self?

still sounds too much like ELO to me

Makes me think of Electroplankton.

WWP saved my day. I had forgotten how much fun it can be in multiplayer. Cured my emoness.

I spent my weekend in Brisbane to see the Welsh band Budgie play. Probably the best gig I've ever been to. Budgie's music is rather over the top, so it's awesome live. There was a surprisingly good turnout, given hardly anyone's heard of them.

I've never heard of them, and I live in Wales.

Blinx?

Well, they're not exactly played on the radio, and they haven't been particularly active during our lifetimes. It's interesting how there can be such a contrast between them and the similar bands from their era: Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, etc. - though Budgie do have a different sound that fans of those other bands tend not to like.

I only know the Metallica covers of the songs "Crash Course In Brain Sugery" and "Breadfan".

That's where I first heard of Budgie, when Metallica released Garage Inc. I've heard the original of every song they covered on the album, and I've also heard the songs they decided not to include, but mentioned in the booklet. :p I discovered a bunch of favourite bands that way.

I feel sure I've heard of Budgie but I couldn't tell you from where.

I'm fairly sure I'm not thinking of the little helicopter.

I feel sure I've heard of Budgie but I couldn't tell you from where.

I'm fairly sure I'm not thinking of the little helicopter.I am. He rocked.

Meh, give me The Railway Series any day.

Take that Musharraf! http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/7255065.stm

I'm Seventeen today.

Happy Birthday to you.

Incidently, my first driving lesson is tomorrow.

Now there's a coincidence, my third driving test is tomorrow.

Nice. How'd it go?

Nice. How'd it go?

I can't really answer that question without switching to a different thread :p

I can't really answer that question without switching to a different thread :p

Hmm.

Well sticking with this thread's topic, my driving lesson went well.

There's a large number of frogs in our pond :)

I've enrolled with Ashworth University (http://www.ashworthuniversity.edu/) in an online course in computer programming. Paid in full up front.

It's gonna take some time, provided I can actually discipline myself into getting any of it done, but it's the very beginning of a movement to finally get the hell out of the hideous pit of my second-shift factory enslavement. I've got to do something.

I've enrolled with Ashworth University (http://www.ashworthuniversity.edu/) in an online course in computer programming. Paid in full up front.

It's gonna take some time, provided I can actually discipline myself into getting any of it done, but it's the very beginning of a movement to finally get the hell out of the hideous pit of my second-shift factory enslavement. I've got to do something.

good idea and i hope it works out for you

while on the valve site attempting to find the companion cube plush for my cousin I ran into this (http://store.valvesoftware.com/productpages/video/product_NoesisCharDesign3DStudMax.html). I looked through some more info from the developer site for the DVD and found a whole line of 3D modelling/animation tutorials and how to implement the created object in games, primarily HL2 (or in my case it's going to be GMod). I can't wait to give this a shot. might finally be able to learn 3D art! woo! :D

Cool, I should almost get that..

w00t earthquake ftw!

Cool, I should almost get that..
Hah, you edited your post. I recall you were scolding aku about that possibly not being for beginners and linking to the gnomon workshop as a good resource for tutorials.
:p

Hah, you edited your post. I recall you were scolding aku about that possibly not being for beginners and linking to the gnomon workshop as a good resource for tutorials.
:plooked that up too, actually. the one that I'M getting is meant for beginners :p the one in the valve store that I linked isn't, though.

specifically, this one is the one I got: http://www.noesisinteractive.com/index.php?x=products&y=item1

Why SoftImage of all programs? D;

Maya or Max is the most common and therefor has the largest community and the most free tutorials =P

Why SoftImage of all programs? D;

Maya or Max is the most common and therefor has the largest community and the most free tutorials =Pit also uses max, but for the first one it uses softimage for some reason. no idea why, but I'm willing to go with it.

I tried SoftImage XSI. It went something like *crash*

A trailer for Battlefield Heroes is finally here!

It be awesome (http://www.gametrailers.com/player/usermovies/183150.html)

A trailer for Battlefield Heroes is finally here!

It be awesome (http://www.gametrailers.com/player/usermovies/183150.html)
Indeed it will! :D

I liked how they confirmed how the game will be free of charge and free of teenage noobies.

A trailer for Battlefield Heroes is finally here!

It be awesome (http://www.gametrailers.com/player/usermovies/183150.html)holy crap, that looks positively astounding :D I can't wait :)

The game does look awesome, though that trailer is crap, link to the proper one (http://www.gametrailers.com/player/31298.html) next time.

oddly, the Noesis DVD already arrived. despite the ridiculous speed I only paid for standard shipping. so triple yay for having it, having it fast and having it free! :D:cool:

Jump Leads #1 is on sale now on the website, and I'll be mailing out the pre-ordered copies tomorrow lunchtime. Whee!

Brawl has *finally* been released, for real.
I've picked it up and said "goodbye life, I won't be needing you for a little while." (yes that is a positive event.)

Exactly. I never use my soul anymore, so I periodically lend it out to things, like Twilight Princess or Brawl.

PS: Hi. :)

PPS: See ya. :-/

I finally, finally, mailed off all of the Jump Leads comics people had ordered. Except for Pigbusters, because I ran out of envelopes and it doesn't look likely I'll get any before I fly out to England. So I'll mail it to him from there.

/me has shiney new Dell XPS laptop that can play Crysis.

/me happy.

/me has shiney new Dell XPS laptop that can play Crysis.

/me happy.gaming laptop.....*shudders*

I need something I can easily move about. I thought about a gaming desktop and something like an Eee PC, but this won out.

I need something I can easily move about. I thought about a gaming desktop and something like an Eee PC, but this won out.
i'd rather get a shuttle

I just got every acheivement in raptor safari.:) Except spread the love, because that one isn't in yet, and it's kinda lame anywho...

I finally, finally, mailed off all of the Jump Leads comics people had ordered. Except for Pigbusters, because I ran out of envelopes and it doesn't look likely I'll get any before I fly out to England. So I'll mail it to him from there.

WHY ME. :(

WHY ME. :(
Ha-ha![/nelson]

we had the GREATEST girls go through the casino today!

ok, so some random drunk girls came through completely out of their minds on drugs and beer and I don't even know what. they were asking glenn (my supervisor) and me "hey, when you smoke crack, how horny do you get?" and other off-the-wall stuff. well while I was holding onto the cart with their luggage, one of the girls comes up to me on one side and starts rubbing her ass all over my crotch while the other comes from behind rubbing her boobs all over my back (yay crazy drunken lap dance, lol). after a few seconds they walk off and start rubbing on the guy they're with and rubbing on each other (damn near masturbating each other right there in the valet booth). we go outside and they jump up on the cart and start dancing around so I say "wow, surveillance must love you two right now" and they ask OH! WHERE'S THE CAMERAS?! so I point to one and they go towards it waving at it and saying hi and such and one girl just takes down her top and starts prancing through the canopy with her boobs hanging out all over the place. one of the security officers is making his rounds just after this happens and he comes to the valet booth and is looking out the windows when the girls notice him and think they're in trouble, so the one who'd taken her boobs out and such walked up to the glass and said "I'm sorry" and peeled back her top again to show him her boob......they were greatness.

that is possibly the most hilarious story I've ever had from my work place. :D

we had the GREATEST girls go through the casino today!

ok, so some random drunk girls came through completely out of their minds on drugs and beer and I don't even know what. they were asking glenn (my supervisor) and me "hey, when you smoke crack, how horny do you get?" and other off-the-wall stuff. well while I was holding onto the cart with their luggage, one of the girls comes up to me on one side and starts rubbing her ass all over my crotch while the other comes from behind rubbing her boobs all over my back (yay crazy drunken lap dance, lol). after a few seconds they walk off and start rubbing on the guy they're with and rubbing on each other (damn near masturbating each other right there in the valet booth). we go outside and they jump up on the cart and start dancing around so I say "wow, surveillance must love you two right now" and they ask OH! WHERE'S THE CAMERAS?! so I point to one and they go towards it waving at it and saying hi and such and one girl just takes down her top and starts prancing through the canopy with her boobs hanging out all over the place. one of the security officers is making his rounds just after this happens and he comes to the valet booth and is looking out the windows when the girls notice him and think they're in trouble, so the one who'd taken her boobs out and such walked up to the glass and said "I'm sorry" and peeled back her top again to show him her boob......they were greatness.

that is possibly the most hilarious story I've ever had from my work place. :D
is there some sort of contingency plan that you guys have for ridiculously drunk guests

get laid

get laid
What if they're male? :p

What if they're male? :p
get gayed

is there some sort of contingency plan that you guys have for ridiculously drunk guestscall security. don't know what their policy is but once I've dialed security's extention it is no longer my problem regardless of what the drunk people do :p

in this case the driver seemed fine to drive so no one cares how drunk the girls were except for me becuase I was the one being sandwiched....well, me and the security guy who got flashed...

call security. don't know what their policy is but once I've dialed security's extention it is no longer my problem regardless of what the drunk people do :p

in this case the driver seemed fine to drive so no one cares how drunk the girls were except for me becuase I was the one being sandwiched....well, me and the security guy who got flashed...

An experience like that must have scarred you for life.

Uh oh!
I think this was an diversionary maneuvre!
They were not really drunk, with their antics they just covered their "driver", who snuck into the room where that one security guy came out. By now they probably have cracked & emptied the safe.

Don't you watch casino heist movies? :eek:

Could be undercover terrorism!

Uh oh!
I think this was an diversionary maneuvre!
They were not really drunk, with their antics they just covered their "driver", who snuck into the room where that one security guy came out. By now they probably have cracked & emptied the safe.

Don't you watch casino heist movies? :eek:many problems with that:

1. the security guard came out of a hallway of the associate's-only area
2. the safe is on the other side of the property guarded by a completely different set of guards
3. they were too ditsy to pull off anything of the sort
4. only one actual casino-security guard even responded and he was, as always, about 5 minutes late. the only guy that showed up was hotel security...they don't do anything... :p

4. only one actual casino-security guard even responded and he was, as always, about 5 minutes late.

Oh, how exploitable!

3. they were too ditsy to pull off anything of the sort

This would have been my main concern.

My guitar is coming along quite nicely:)

http://img291.imageshack.us/img291/2839/img0517rj6.jpg

That looks really cool. :cool:

My Wii is on the way and will arrive tomorrow.
With Mario Galaxy, Zelda Twilight Princess aaaaand Smash Brothers Brawl.
Imported from US trough a guy that goes there often to bring stuff for people.
HAPPY HAPPY JOY JOY.

Imported from US trough a guy that goes there often to bring stuff for people.
Illicit drug courier? :D
A bag full of electronics for distraction and a stomach full of cocaine...

Illicit drug courier? :D
A bag full of electronics for distraction and a stomach full of cocaine...

More like the other way around

More like the other way around
Or:
Drugs: Mexico -> USA
Electronics: USA -> Mexico

Our EP was released yesterday!

www.myspace.com/someelectriclife

Which is worse? A stomach full of drugs or a stomach full of electronics?

Uh, I'd rather fill my stomache with coffee than swallowing crushed motherboards. Less chance of slicing up my internal organs.

For anyone fed up with gas prices I suggest you look into this.
http://water4gas.com/

The price for E-Books is pretty expensive and you don't actually get a KIT or anything, so I'd just advise looking up the information on how to do it else where on the internet. But if you want a place to start looking, thats the place.

It appears to be doing good for me at the moment! Thought you guys might be interested.
My friend from work hooked me up. (thumbs UP)

Not *another* of those scams? Converting water into oxygen and hydrogen takes at least as much energy as you'll get from burning hydrogen. Conservation of energy / everything likes to be at the lowest enthalpy, etc.

On a side note, I'm off to Wales today. Cya all in a week.

Edit: Actually, that's not a new one, I think I've seen it before. Take a look at the magic 'HHO gas' :P

Not *another* of those scams? Converting water into oxygen and hydrogen takes at least as much energy as you'll get from burning hydrogen. Conservation of energy / everything likes to be at the lowest enthalpy, etc.

On a side note, I'm off to Wales today. Cya all in a week.

Edit: Actually, that's not a new one, I think I've seen it before. Take a look at the magic 'HHO gas' :P I think slick was mostly just worried about the amount of gas mileage he gets, not the environment. the environmental effects are just a plus.

The price for E-Books is pretty expensive and you don't actually get a KIT or anything
Usually that's because there's no legal requirement that information in books be correct, but there is a legal requirement that information used to promote products be correct (or at least well supported by evidence).

Edit: There's very much no such thing as "HHO". Water would be HOH. Possibly OHH at a pinch. If you're writing out the hydrogens separately, then it's because you're reflecting the structure, which HHO spectacularly fails to do.

I maintain that America doesn't know the meaning of "high gas prices".

I maintain that America doesn't know the meaning of "high gas prices".yes but also keep in mind that america doesn't know the meaning of "effective money-value maintainence" either.

For anyone fed up with gas prices I suggest you look into this.
http://water4gas.com/

The price for E-Books is pretty expensive and you don't actually get a KIT or anything, so I'd just advise looking up the information on how to do it else where on the internet. But if you want a place to start looking, thats the place.

It appears to be doing good for me at the moment! Thought you guys might be interested.
My friend from work hooked me up. (thumbs UP)
that is a scam-looking sort of thing!
yes but also keep in mind that america doesn't know the meaning of "effective money-value maintainence" either.

or fuel efficiency for that matter

"forces each Gallon of water to expand into gigantic proportions: 1833 Gallons of combustible gas!!!"
Lol.

"forces each Gallon of water to expand into gigantic proportions: 1833 Gallons of combustible gas!!!"
Lol.Actually, that's kinda true.

1 (American) gallon of water is three and three quarter litres, or three and three quarter (15/4) kilogrammes of water.

One mole of water weighs 18 grammes.

15000/(4*18) = 208 and a third moles of water in a US gallon.

Now, one mole of a gas (any gas) takes up 24 litres at Room Temperature and Pressure. There are two hydrogen atoms in every water molecule, so we have 416 and two-thirds moles of hydrogen = five thousand litres of hydrogen = 1,333 and a third (American) gallons of hydrogen at RTP.

So it's a bit out (that or I'm a bit out. Or they've heated it up a bit), but not as much as you might think.

I played Super Smash Brothers Brawl for the first time today, we've had it at school for a while. I can't beleive Melee came out only two and a half years after the original game. The difference between SSB and SSBM is much larger than that of SSBM and SSBB, and thoose are seven years apart. Heck, the new game is really just a mod where they added a few new characters and levels. There's no graphical improvement worth mentioning, in fact I think the interface looked much nicer in Melee. Anyway, the game was as fun as always, but Nintendo continues to prove their right to the title of the laziest gaming company in the world. :p

(this is my opinion having played about 5 matches against two other people, not touching single player or this so called "level editor")

In fairness, Nintendo pretty much lives off franchises.

Xinos, you are officially an Idiot. :p

Xinos, you are officially an Idiot. :pI dunno, he's somewhat got a point. SSBM was an AMAZING leap graphically in all aspects. brawl does definitely look better but it's not nearly as drastic (I would know, I looked for comparison screens :p).

though the gameplay with the editor and such is significantly better. I definitely do see his mod point.

I'm not sure I can imagine how the graphics could possibly improve significantly from Melee. Melee looked like stop-motion, only smoother and with better models. I guess you could do splinter-cell-style shadowing, but nobody would notice.

I dunno, he's somewhat got a point. SSBM was an AMAZING leap graphically in all aspects. brawl does definitely look better but it's not nearly as drastic (I would know, I looked for comparison screens :p).

Oh, come on. That's largely unfair considering that the N64 and the GameCube were leagues apart in terms of rendering technology, while the Wii is (quite intentionally) less of a leap. It's unfair to say "Oh, the graphics don't look that much better!" simply because the technology used to render the graphics isn't that much better.

I wonder if people would still be complaining about it if Brawl had been a late-generation GameCube title.

Oh, come on. That's largely unfair considering that the N64 and the GameCube were leagues apart in terms of rendering technology, while the Wii is (quite intentionally) less of a leap. It's unfair to say "Oh, the graphics don't look that much better!" simply because the technology used to render the graphics isn't that much better.eh, I was saying his point was somewhat valid. never said especially deep, just valid :p

Xinos, you are officially an Idiot. :p

Or maybe I just made teh funny? =O (the word troll is thrown around much too liberally nowadays) :p
I think what I tried to say in my last post was: "This game is awesome, but I don't want to admit, mostly because I don't own a Wii"

I really have nothing against shameless remakes with slight variations, not if the game is good and I want to play more of it. I will keep buying Advance Wars and Castlevania even though they are practically the same game repacked in a shinier box.
And as I mentioned, I based my opinions on first impression. Looks like I struck a nerve though, tee-hee!

Hello, my name is :p. I have been known to appear at the end of tongue-in-cheek comments or to indicate sarcasm. My best friends are :cool: and :(. I wish :( would cheer up.

People use facial expressions in real life too.

As your avatar clearly indicates.

"Oh noes! Somebody has released a sequel to a game and the graphics aren't 6million times more betterer-er!"

/me dies a little inside

http://img166.imageshack.us/img166/3624/seriousvt3.jpg

I will keep buying Advance Wars and Castlevania even though they are practically the same game repacked in a shinier box.I dunno, Dark Conflict makes some pretty big changes in terms of game mechanics with the whole CO Unit thing. I see your point, but my reaction was more "They've changed a lot of things, but it's still Advance Wars and it's still crack cocaine on a DS cartridge".

As your avatar clearly indicates.
yeah who is that dude

yeah who is that dude
Erik from Stockholm, I presume?

Oh no, you figured it out! :eek:

Exams are over!

JjAR drew me an awesome picture for my birthday, which if you're in England is today:

http://www.jump-leads.com/storage/birthday.jpg

Haha that pic is great. Also, Happy Birthday!

That picture is most excellent.

And the happiest of birthdays for you, Ben.

Fantastic. Happy B-Day stuff.

Ooh neaters! Happy Birthday!

Awesome. Happy birthday

Happy Birthday, Ben!

Happy birthday 'n' stuff

Thanks, everyone! :)

So anyways, met a girl on Friday night and got on pretty well with her. Not officially going out yet but I think a relationship is probably on the cards.

Were they a pair of queens?

Were they a pair of queens?ouch! that was good! :p

Damn you Dan, I'm going to be trying to come up with card puns all evening now :p.

Was that meant to be a joke? What do you mean?

Was that meant to be a joke? What do you mean?

. .

a relationship is probably on the cards.

I haven't posted in quite a while. jeez.

I got national merit scholar either commended or nominated. I won't find out until September but I am totally pumped either way. I get to be referred to two universities of my choice and i just need to figure out which ones right now:-/

Were they a pair of queens?
Were who a pair of queens? Is that the best card joke you can come up with?

I know. Wow, what a joker.

Oh, turn the Page, you Jack, Ben :P Give me Strength, you are sometimes a Fool, wringing jokes to Death.

(All these possibilities)

That's Ace, Matty.

Cheers, Ben, you're a Diamond.

ROFL

Card jokes? We've got 'em in spades.

Next person to make any card jokes will get hit with a club.

Just try it, and you'll be on the deck.

Alright, alright, no more card jokes. Deal?

I'm afraid that just won't cut it, Ben.

those jokes were so bad you all deserve a hand.

Sorry but I'm going to have to up the ante here.

I can't take these jokes anymore. I fold.

Holy crap I suck at this.

I can't take these jokes anymore. I fold.

Holy crap I suck at this.do you want to mulligan?

For those lousy jokes I'll go straight to hell, or at least end up face down in the dirt.

I'm a little flushed now after coming back from town. But seriously, we make a nice pair.

I'm a little flushed now after coming back from town. But seriously, we make a nice pair.sounds like someone had a full house last night.

You never miss a trick, Aku.