Forum posts

Posted 14 years ago2010-04-16 18:07:49 UTC
in A thought that struck me suddenly Post #280563
Isn't the team composed of volunteers to begin with?

How can a team without any budget go bankrupt?
satchmo satchmo“Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better. -- Samuel Beckett”
Posted 14 years ago2010-04-16 09:58:31 UTC
in Origins and Home Post #280542
Going back to the origin of my name. . .

Leslie was given to me by my father's friend in Switzerland. Leslie was my father's friend's best friend in school, and he was a doctor. Funny how I ended up becoming a doctor as well.

Leslie is mostly a feminine name in the United States, but it's mostly a masculine name in Europe. I was named after an European.

My last name, Young, means "willow" in Chinese. It's the tenth most popular family name in China.

My home town in China was in the Henan province. It's an ancient city. My grandfather was a wealthy landlord who ultimately became an air force pilot for the first Chinese air force. He flew one of those cool biplanes.

All of my grandfather's sons became pilots except for my dad, who worked for the post office in Taiwan before he retired.

I am the first physician in my family.
satchmo satchmo“Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better. -- Samuel Beckett”
Posted 14 years ago2010-04-15 20:19:08 UTC
in Origins and Home Post #280529
Wait, I thought America is about a decade behind Europe.

Having re-elected George W. Bush is enough reason to doubt any advancement Americans made in the past century.
satchmo satchmo“Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better. -- Samuel Beckett”
Posted 14 years ago2010-04-15 11:40:19 UTC
in Origins and Home Post #280515
Not at all. I bash America all the time.

Great countries need citizens to bash them to keep them from getting too arrogant.

Only weak nations cannot tolerate citizens dissenting.

I was born in Taiwan. Taiwan has a complicated political history. It's technically part of China, but it's entirely independent politically. Unlike China, it is not communistic, and the economy ranks among the top in the world. For an island country that is smaller than most states in the US, the national treasury boasts the fifth largest foreign reserve in the world. This means that the country is more wealthy than most European countries.

And most of the parts in your computer right now are probably manufactured in Taiwan (ASUS, Gigabyte, G.Skill, Realtek, Thermaltake, Acer are all Taiwanese companies).

I immigrated to the US with my family in 1985. I was thirteen years old at the time, and didn't speak a word of English. It took me about two years to master the language. By the time I was in high school, I was integrated into the regular school system (ESL before that).

My parents were both born in China, and my dad still has many relatives living in Taiwan. The last time I was back in Taiwan was March of 2009.

My wife is Chinese also, but she was born in the United States. That makes my son 100% Chinese.
satchmo satchmo“Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better. -- Samuel Beckett”
Posted 14 years ago2010-04-15 01:51:15 UTC
in Origins and Home Post #280511
I am half-way through watching "The Lives of Others".

It's a political film about the Stasi (German Secret Police) monitoring prominent Germans in East Germany in the 1970's. Obviously, this was prior to the reunification of Germany and the fall of the Berlin Wall, and it gives a glimpse into the oppression of every citizen under the communist government.

It's a real eye-opener for anyone who has never lived under such circumstances.

I grew up in Taiwan. Back then, Taiwan was still under one-party rule. The Nationalist Party ruled Taiwan under Marshall Law for more than thirty years. Similar oppression and government surveillance was in place, but as a student, I was only vaguely aware of such intense monitoring.

Only now do I think back and realize what it meant to be in such political climate.

Most Americans take freedom for granted. Freedom is all too often used as a punch line or to make a situation more poetic. But it's something very real and tangible, especially for those who have experienced life without freedom.
satchmo satchmo“Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better. -- Samuel Beckett”
Posted 14 years ago2010-04-02 19:31:12 UTC
in DirectX 11 Post #280214
This looks pretty nice too.
satchmo satchmo“Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better. -- Samuel Beckett”
Posted 14 years ago2010-04-02 11:03:09 UTC
in Portal 2 Post #280200
It looks like the player traces the way through the destroyed labs that have been abandoned for a while.

The mapping is much harder, since it's not all straight lines and circles.
satchmo satchmo“Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better. -- Samuel Beckett”
Posted 14 years ago2010-04-01 16:07:17 UTC
in Desktops of April Post #280170
What's your son holding there, Satchmo?
I think it was a seed, but it could be a dead bug.
satchmo satchmo“Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better. -- Samuel Beckett”
Posted 14 years ago2010-04-01 00:48:44 UTC
in Desktops of April Post #280152
User posted image
satchmo satchmo“Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better. -- Samuel Beckett”
Posted 14 years ago2010-03-31 08:36:27 UTC
in Last movie you saw? Post #280140
I am watching Ponyo, the latest film by Miyazaki.

It's wonderful, as usual.
satchmo satchmo“Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better. -- Samuel Beckett”
Posted 14 years ago2010-03-26 11:29:19 UTC
in Water Post #280012
Thanks, I'll try that.
satchmo satchmo“Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better. -- Samuel Beckett”
Posted 14 years ago2010-03-25 23:42:25 UTC
in Water Post #280001
Can you use water in a 3D skybox? I don't know.
satchmo satchmo“Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better. -- Samuel Beckett”
Posted 14 years ago2010-03-25 19:25:14 UTC
in Water Post #279994
Two questions:

1. water_lod_control: what values are reasonable for cheap water to start and end?

2. How do I make a sea of water without making an incredibly large water brush?
satchmo satchmo“Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better. -- Samuel Beckett”
Posted 14 years ago2010-03-22 23:39:49 UTC
in Help with monster_grunt_repel Post #279935
Make sure there's no prop or brush under the npc, otherwise they cannot repel downward.
satchmo satchmo“Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better. -- Samuel Beckett”
Posted 14 years ago2010-03-21 16:07:46 UTC
in Last movie you saw? Post #279871
I saw Dark City for the second time last week.

The first time I saw it, it just came out in the theater in 1998. I only have vague memories of the film, but I remember it was an enjoyable movie.

I have no regret revisiting the "Dark City" universe. I highly recommend this film, especially if you like the sci-fi genre.
satchmo satchmo“Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better. -- Samuel Beckett”
Posted 14 years ago2010-03-17 17:33:16 UTC
in Progress on project Post #279784
Along the long hallway, make some interesting supports (columns) to break up the space visually. The lighting can also break up the space so it doesn't look monotonous.
satchmo satchmo“Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better. -- Samuel Beckett”
Posted 14 years ago2010-03-16 18:59:29 UTC
in My Condominium Post #279762
It's looking great. I'd make the stairs steeper (shorter), but I suppose you were constrained by the shape of the model rails.
Exactly. You understand my constraint.

The stair railing model is a perfect match for the real thing, so I had to use it.

In fact, I actually shortened the stairs as much as possible already without making the mismatch too noticeable.
satchmo satchmo“Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better. -- Samuel Beckett”
Posted 14 years ago2010-03-16 13:09:22 UTC
in Desktops of March Post #279740
What's so shameful about porn?

Unless you have child porn.
satchmo satchmo“Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better. -- Samuel Beckett”
Posted 14 years ago2010-03-16 13:01:23 UTC
in My Condominium Post #279738
Here are the comparison real-life and Source shots:
User posted image
User posted image
User posted image
User posted image
satchmo satchmo“Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better. -- Samuel Beckett”
Posted 14 years ago2010-03-16 11:48:16 UTC
in Desktops of March Post #279734
User posted image
Desktop background is from a screenshot of one of my old maps.
satchmo satchmo“Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better. -- Samuel Beckett”
Posted 14 years ago2010-03-14 23:51:53 UTC
in Windows 1.0 Post #279698
Ahh, but that's short-sighted.

In the future, internet connection would be ubiquitous and nearly 100% reliable. Everything will be wireless, and everything will be transmitting at an extremely high speed.

Twenty years ago, people would never be able to predict the world we live in today, with internet, facebook, YouTube, and everyone owning a mobile phone.

Twenty years from now, the world will be a drastically different place. None of us would recognize it or even imagine it.
satchmo satchmo“Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better. -- Samuel Beckett”
Posted 14 years ago2010-03-14 19:12:26 UTC
in Windows 1.0 Post #279693
I wouldn't worry about Microsoft or monopoly. I think Google is well position ed to provide a healthy competition for Microsoft.

Have you heard? Chrome OS is going to replace Windows as the dominating OS in the world.
satchmo satchmo“Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better. -- Samuel Beckett”
Posted 14 years ago2010-03-14 12:31:40 UTC
in Windows 1.0 Post #279686
I really believe that Google is going to replace Microsoft within twenty years, or maybe less.

But Google has been innovative in most projects, so the future is brighter.
satchmo satchmo“Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better. -- Samuel Beckett”
Posted 14 years ago2010-03-14 02:32:58 UTC
in Windows 1.0 Post #279682
The most talented people don't get rich.

The people with the most street smart and business savvy do.

Look at the story behind the discovery of the DNA double-helix. Watson and Crick put everyone else's data together without doing any of the work themselves. But they're smart for having someone else do the hard work.

That's the law of capitalism. Take it or leave it.

No one would say that Bill Gates is stupid or lazy.
satchmo satchmo“Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better. -- Samuel Beckett”
Posted 14 years ago2010-03-13 22:02:26 UTC
in Windows 1.0 Post #279676
And here is the video for Windows 1.0
satchmo satchmo“Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better. -- Samuel Beckett”
Posted 14 years ago2010-03-13 20:27:34 UTC
in Windows 1.0 Post #279669
I just read this fascinating article about the birth of the Windows OS.

It's very personal to me, because I just got into computer programming (with BASIC and Pascal) and bought my first computer in 1986 when Windows 1.0 was created.

It's amazing how many Windows applications we still use today--Notepad, Calculator, Paint--already exist in Windows 1.0

In addition, did you know that Gabe Newell personally coded Windows 1.0?
satchmo satchmo“Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better. -- Samuel Beckett”
Posted 14 years ago2010-03-10 14:17:45 UTC
in Specs Opinion Post #279595
These portable computers are not really designed for gaming and mapping.

They are intended for people who want to check emails and maybe run office applications.

If you really want to map, I would use a desktop.
satchmo satchmo“Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better. -- Samuel Beckett”
Posted 14 years ago2010-03-08 15:00:40 UTC
in Post your screenshots! WIP thread Post #279560
The layout of Detritus really wasn't good for a single player map, either, but that didn't stop you.
I know, that's why I am trying to learn from my mistakes.

Besides, this layout is really bad for a single-player game.
satchmo satchmo“Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better. -- Samuel Beckett”
Posted 14 years ago2010-03-08 13:30:58 UTC
in Post your screenshots! WIP thread Post #279558
The layout of my house really isn't good for a single-player map, so I am not planning to convert it to single-player.
satchmo satchmo“Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better. -- Samuel Beckett”
Posted 14 years ago2010-03-08 03:58:19 UTC
in Post your screenshots! WIP thread Post #279551
I am mapping my condominium.

I am only about half-way done.
User posted image
satchmo satchmo“Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better. -- Samuel Beckett”
Posted 14 years ago2010-02-13 22:13:20 UTC
in Happy Chinese New Year Post #278910
It's the year of the Tiger.

And this was a video I made explaining the Chinese lunar calendar and teaching some phrases in Mandarin relating to the new year.
satchmo satchmo“Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better. -- Samuel Beckett”
Posted 14 years ago2010-02-03 17:16:01 UTC
in Problem with computer Post #278657
Do you use Microsoft Security Essentials?

I am quite happy with Avast! so far, I don't see any reason to change.
satchmo satchmo“Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better. -- Samuel Beckett”
Posted 14 years ago2010-02-03 17:11:41 UTC
in Sourcey Rooms Post #278655
In Trapt's map, how did those wheelchairs get pushed to the stair landing where there is no obvious wheelchair ramps?
satchmo satchmo“Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better. -- Samuel Beckett”
Posted 14 years ago2010-02-02 19:35:30 UTC
in Problem with computer Post #278633
Which Windows is that computer running?

Can you restore from an existing restore point?

What has been done on the computer? And like JeffMOD said, which virus scanner is it running?
satchmo satchmo“Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better. -- Samuel Beckett”
Posted 14 years ago2010-02-02 13:57:42 UTC
in Desktops of February Post #278629
User posted image
I am still playing through BioShock. It has taken so long because I get distracted so often.

Now I am making a new Half-Life 2 single player map.

I may never finish BioShock.
satchmo satchmo“Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better. -- Samuel Beckett”
Posted 14 years ago2010-02-01 20:06:41 UTC
in Trying Source.. Post #278616
Source maps look better, but it takes more effort to get there.

It's worth the trouble.
satchmo satchmo“Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better. -- Samuel Beckett”
Posted 14 years ago2010-01-25 23:20:24 UTC
in Prop lighting weird in map Post #278413
Did you build cubemaps? Simply having cubemap entities without building cubemaps after the .bsp has been compiled doesn't cut it.

And make sure it's the correct version of .bsp that you are executing and loading.
satchmo satchmo“Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better. -- Samuel Beckett”
Posted 14 years ago2010-01-25 18:33:57 UTC
in Windows 3.1 lives again....online Post #278399
I used 5 1/4" disks. And those were really "floppy" disks.

The 3.5" diskettes were actually rigid.

I used Windows 2.0 before upgrading to Windows 3.0
satchmo satchmo“Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better. -- Samuel Beckett”
Posted 14 years ago2010-01-23 02:20:58 UTC
in iPhone Saves Lives Post #278321
I wonder whether it could be used as a suppository.
satchmo satchmo“Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better. -- Samuel Beckett”
Posted 14 years ago2010-01-21 18:12:51 UTC
in iPhone Saves Lives Post #278246
this can't be true, the scientists in half life don't do it correctly.
I confirm that statement.

To perform CPR correctly, the compression must be 1/2 to 1/3 the depth of the thoracic cavity, and the motion must be exactly vertical up and down. The security guard's elbows were partly flexed, and the compressive movement was not straight up and down.

I actually examined that closely when I played Half-Life for the first time.
satchmo satchmo“Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better. -- Samuel Beckett”
Posted 14 years ago2010-01-20 20:58:53 UTC
in iPhone Saves Lives Post #278196
While he did use apps to treat his wounds, why couldn't he just use his GPS and call someone to give his exact location?
I imagine all the cell phone towers in the country were destroyed.
satchmo satchmo“Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better. -- Samuel Beckett”
Posted 14 years ago2010-01-20 19:16:26 UTC
in iPhone Saves Lives Post #278186
This guy owes his life to his iPhone.
satchmo satchmo“Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better. -- Samuel Beckett”
Posted 14 years ago2010-01-20 19:15:41 UTC
in Simple algebra fraction help Post #278185
The last time I solved a problem like this, Ronald Reagan was president.
satchmo satchmo“Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better. -- Samuel Beckett”
Posted 14 years ago2010-01-19 00:38:34 UTC
in Australia continues to censor Post #278134
The world is slowly becoming like China everyday.

Pretty soon, even the internet would be heavily censored.

Google has already abandoned China.

Now, imagine a world without Google.

We'll all plunge back into the Dark Ages.
satchmo satchmo“Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better. -- Samuel Beckett”
Posted 14 years ago2010-01-16 02:33:02 UTC
in Desktops of January Post #278010
I don't think "Black Mesa" is going to be released before 2014.
satchmo satchmo“Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better. -- Samuel Beckett”
Posted 14 years ago2010-01-14 13:54:52 UTC
in Ah, the things you do when you are bored Post #277917
I could never really tell the difference.
Software mode reminds me of the original Wolfenstein 3D. Everything is pixelated.

When I am bored, I read a book.
satchmo satchmo“Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better. -- Samuel Beckett”
Posted 14 years ago2010-01-10 21:11:15 UTC
in Map of mappers Post #277671
I live very close to the beach.

I can hear the ship's foghorn from my house.
satchmo satchmo“Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better. -- Samuel Beckett”
Posted 14 years ago2010-01-09 23:21:02 UTC
in Personal Sex Robot? Post #277635
I've had a girl who came to the ER because she got a vibrator stuck up so far her anus that she couldn't get it out.

The surgeon put his whole hand up her butt to retrieve it.

Must have been painful, but perhaps even more embarrassing.
satchmo satchmo“Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better. -- Samuel Beckett”
Posted 14 years ago2010-01-09 17:52:56 UTC
in Personal Sex Robot? Post #277612
Nah. I've got my wife already. I don't need a robot.
satchmo satchmo“Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better. -- Samuel Beckett”
Posted 14 years ago2010-01-07 03:56:41 UTC
in To Kill A Big Daddy Post #277459
I figured out an extremely easy way to kill off a Big Daddy.

I just use the security bullseye plasmid and toss it onto a Big Daddy, and I intentionally activate a security camera.

The virtually endless waves of flying security bots are very effective in killing a Big Daddy. Usually, I only need to trip the security camera once, and the Big Daddy falls down in less than 30 seconds.

I use a single dose of plasmid, and the Big Daddy is dead.

Perhaps it's a glitch in the gameplay. It's just too easy.
satchmo satchmo“Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better. -- Samuel Beckett”