Depression

RANT

Reading this weekend USA Today, I sense a general feeling of depression. First, there was Joseph Stack who took aggresion to the government. Then there is Obama, who after being reminded by McCain of his campaign promise said that "The election's over". Also, there is Andrew Koenig, who apparently committed suicide after a long bout of depression. Then there is Otis McDonald of Chicago who fears of his life, and yet forbidden to carry a handgun in his home.

And let's not mention how stock market goes flat due to lack luster recovery. Jobs aren't up. Neither is spending.

Hurry up, President Obama, and give us the change you promised on the campaign trail! Health Care is important, but jobs is much more so.

I know that we are in trouble when hotels resort to advertising hauntings, ghosts, and other paranormal activities as tourist draw.

That's all in front page of USA Today newspaper Feb 26-28 weekend edition, and the fact that the page is dominated by Billy Demong's triumphant pose doesn't stop all this depressing going ons.

So much depressions, in fact, that Tilikum, the Orca Killer Whale of SeaWorld, decided to drag a trainer underwater to teach her a lesson, and Trainer Dawn Brancheau drowned.

I don't know about you, but I definitely seeing the after effects on people around me. One driver decided to retire due to insensitive treatments from his manager.

Sigh.

Accidents

TRAVEL

I saw so many cars in and around Des Moines, IA, on the side of the road. Apparently, the last snow storm was too much for them. That's unbelievable. Considering that this is mid-February, shouldn't they be used to winter driving by now? What's with all the accidents?

Extreme Hangman?

FUN

I was looking for a nice, new DSiWare. Saw "Extreme Hangman" by Gamelion. Alcohol Reference, Animated Blood, Mild Cartoon Violence. 2000 words vocabulary. Hmmm. Does this sound like "Combat Golf" to you? I wonder who the demographics for this game is.

Body Billboards

COOL TECH

I came across this at Sapps Brothers truckstop in Denver, CO. This was on my Christmas wish list, but they sold out by the time I get to it.

The operation is pretty simple and you don't need a computer. I haven't even read the instruction manual, yet.

Maybe this is one of those toys that will wear out quickly. We'll see. Not a bad deal for $15, though.

Bigger than small devices

COOL TECH

There are 2 devices that caught my attention: Nintendo DSi XL (LL in Japan) and iPad. They represent bigger versions of Nintendo DSi and iPod Touch, respectively. I think I will get that Nintendo DSi XL. It is a very useful device, and not just for playing game. It functions as a multi-tool for the intellectual, similar to PDA, except minus the geekiness factor. Of which, unfortunately, makes it less convenient to use although most of the functionalities are there.

The must-have DSiWare list are:

Flipnote

Browser

Clock (Photo)

Camera

Sound

Calculator (Animal Crossing)

Art Academy (First Semester)

When I get that DSi XL, these DSiWare will be on it!

I really want to include myNotebook, but as long as it has bad interface, I can't really recommend it. I also fail to see the point of myPostcard. Can't you just do it with Camera Graffiti?

Now, about iPad. Do you think Steve Jobs is losing it? iPad is a very useful device, and I can see how it makes a great ebook reader. However, the positioning of the device isn't that of iPod Touch XL, but rather iBook Touch Lite. Which is to say, a lot of people are going to be disappointed if they expect touch screen computer, instead of a touch pad with better user experience dimension, but is really to big for your pocket.

I think iPad can be a killer device, but it remains to be seen whether or not the public understand the true potential of the device, instead of complaining that it is simply a bigger, more expensive unit than iPod Touch.

Avatar Face Reading Technology

COOL TECH

So, I read in Popular Mechanics that Jim Cameron uses a camera mounted on a helmet to scan faces of the actors. Just one? He got guts. I'd have insisted on a minimum 3 cameras. Left-Center-Right. That way, I can use intersecting line algorithm to get 3D data from reference points, instead of interpolating 2D data into 3D performance. Reading the text, that must've been a painful experience, indeed.

Animal Puzzle Adventure Score, Help, and Walkthrough

FUN

Animal Puzzle Adventure (aka Chiiria no Doobutsu Koya)

Scores, Hints, Helps, and Walkthrough.

For those of you enjoying the game and just want to know what the par scores are, here are my scores:

Chapter 1, Stage 1-10: 8, 11, 15, 13, 15, 28, 19, 20, 26, 18

Chapter 2, Stage 1-10: 17, 29, 25, 22, 29, 54, 37, 28, 18, 44

Chapter 3, Stage 1-10: 20, 30, 19, 21, 23, 33, 36, 29, 21, 31

Chapter 4, Stage 1-10: 26, 38, 30, 32, 83, 51, 28, 32, 16, 40

Chapter 5, Stage 1-10: 19, 23, 24, 26, 42, 45, 71, 39, 33, 61

It is highly recommended that you do not read this document, lest your enjoyment of the program should suffer. It is in my opinion that the puzzles of this program isn't too terribly difficult. Although there are long solutions, the key diagram usually occurs between 20-30 steps, which is something a good puzzle solver can muster. In addition, there are patterns to be recognized. It is merely a case that if you are having trouble, it is a sign that you are doing it wrong and should change your approach. That is a good lesson to teach children.

That being said, there is a lot of people keep giving up and asking for hints. So, here they are. I suggest that you let somebody else read this. You simply ask for a solution to a particular stage. IF THERE IS A "(K)" symbol somewhere on the line, then that person should step through the solution until reaching it, and show you the diagram. It is a key position that will enable you to solve the puzzle. Wait 2 days before asking for more help, in which case, have him do it 5 steps at a time, every other days.

5 steps solution is only about 1000 combination at most, so hard work can certainly accomplish that, even if you burn through a lot of paper practising the skill. :)

Chapter 1 - Stage 1: (Par 8)

UURRL - UUU

Chapter 1 - Stage 2: (Par 11)

RRUUL - ULDRD - LUULU - U

Chapter 1 - Stage 3: (Par 15)

DDDRD - LDDRD - LUUUD - D

Chapter 1 - Stage 4: (Par 13)

UURRL- LLLRR - UUU

Chapter 1 - Stage 5: (Par 15)

RRRDD - DLLLD - RLDUU - UUU

Chapter 1 - Stage 6: (Par 28)

URRUU - URDRU - UULUL - LLD(K)UL - UURUR - RRD

Chapter 1 - Stage 7: (Par 19)

RUUUL - UDLLL(K) - UURDR- RLUU

Chapter 1 - Stage 8: (Par 20)

LLUUL - UURRR - RRRDD - DLURU - ULLLU - U

Chapter 1 - Stage 9: (Par 26)

RRDRR - UURUR - LDLDD - RRRUU(K) - RURUL - LUDRU - URDDU - U

Chapter 1 - Stage 10: (Par 18)

DDRLL - DDDDD - DRULU - UU(K)DDD - RRL

Chapter 2 - Stage 1: (Par 17)

LUURU - URRLD - RLLRD - LRUUU - UU

Chapter 2 - Stage 2: (Par 29)

DDRDD - LDDRU - UDLLU - DLUU(K)D - RUDRR -UDLD

Chapter 2 - Stage 3: (Par 25)

DDDRR - RUUUR - RDDDD - RRUUU - RRRRR

Chapter 2 - Stage 4: (Par 22)

UUURU - LULDD - RULUU - RD(K)URD - DULDD - DU

Chapter 2 - Stage 5: (Par 29)

LLLUL - LLLRR - U(K)RRUD - LLURD - LLLLL - DDDD

Chapter 2 - Stage 6: (Par 54)

DLLLL - ULULU - DLULU - RULUR - URURD - DDDLL - ULULU - RURRD - DDUUL - DDDUR - RURDD - ULURD - DD

Chapter 2 - Stage 7: (Par 37)

DDLRR - URUUL - LLDDR - ULLLD - RURRD - DDDDD - DRRUL - DLLDL - U(K)UDRU - RD

Chapter 2 - Stage 8: (Par 28)

DRRUU - DLLRU - L(K)RRUL - DLLUU - UUUUR - RUURU - LLULU - UU

Chapter 2 - Stage 9: (Par 18)

DDRRR - LDDUL - LLDRR - RDURD - URRLD - DDR

Chapter 2 - Stage 10: (Par 44)

LDRUL - DRRUL - RULLR - DLLLR - RULLL - LDDR(K)U - UULDR - RULDL - URRRR - RLLL

Chapter 3 - Stage 1: (Par 20)

URUUU - LLUUU - RDDRD - LLLUR - UU

Chapter 3 - Stage 2: (Par 30)

LLUUR - RDRUR - DRULL - LDDUU - UD(K)LLL - UUDLD - DU

Chapter 3 - Stage 3: (Par 19)

DRRRU - RDRUR - DDRUR - RRDL

Chapter 3 - Stage 4: (Par 21)

LLLLL - LLLUL - LLLLL - LD(K)RRD - D

Chapter 3 - Stage 5: (Par 23)

UUURR - URDDD - LLL(K)DR - RUURU - RRURU - R

Chapter 3 - Stage 6: (Par 33)

DDRRD - RRRUU - RULUR - UUUDL(K) - RDLLL - LRURD - DLLLL - LRU

Chapter 3 - Stage 7: (Par 36)

RRRUU - UURUU - RURRR - (K)LLULD - RRRUL - ULRUL - RULLU - L

Chapter 3 - Stage 8: (Par 29)

DRRRR - RUUUD - DRRDD - DLLUU - RRUUU - DDRR(K)U - ULDDL - DLLLL - LLLLR - U

Chapter 3 - Stage 9: (Par 21)

LLLLL - URDDD - DDRUU - UUUDR - R(K)LUUU - UDDD

Chapter 3 - Stage 10: (Par 31)

DDDRD - DRDDL - UUUDD - LL(K)ULU - LDDDD - ULDUR - DRR

Chapter 4 - Stage 1: (Par 26)

RRUUL - LUURU - RRRUL - UUURL(K) - DLDLL - URRRL - LL

Chapter 4 - Stage 2: (Par 38)

RRLLL - LDLLL - LUULL - LLLLD - DLDLU - UULUL - DDDDL - ULUUL - ULDDD - DLUUL - L

Chapter 4 - Stage 3: (Par 30)

RRRUU - RULLL - URRRD - DDDDD - DUUUU - DRLLL - L

Chapter 4 - Stage 4: (Par 32)

DDDUL - LDDDR - RRRDR - RDDDD - UULLL - LLURR - DDRDD - DL

Chapter 4 - Stage 5: (Par 83)

UUULL - UUDLU - URRUR - DDDDR - ULDDD - UULLD - DDDDR - RDRUU - UUUUR - URDLL - UUUU(K)D - DLLLL - LLLLL - LLURR - RDURR - RDULL - LLLL

Chapter 4 - Stage 6: (Par 51)

RRRRR - DDDLL - LLLLL - UUURR - RRULU - LUUUD - RDL(K)UL - DDDRD - LURUL - LDRDL - UR

Chapter 4 - Stage 7: (Par 28)

UUULL - LDRDU - URDLD - RRDLL - RRUUU - UUL

Chapter 4 - Stage 8: (Par 32)

LLLLL - DLLUR - RRRRR - RRRRL - LLULL - ULDRD - LLLRR - RRRLL

Chapter 4 - Stage 9: (Par 16)

LDDLL - DRRDD - URRUL - U

Chapter 4 - Stage 10: (Par 40)

ULLDD - RRDDD - RURDR - UUURU - UULLD - ULLLL - L(K)DDDD - DLRRU - UDL

Chapter 5 - Stage 1: (Par 19)

DDDLD - RRRLD - DDDUU - UUDD

Chapter 5 - Stage 2: (Par 23)

UULUR - LUURD - DDLDR - UUURR - RLL

Chapter 5 - Stage 3: (Par 24)

LUUUR - RDDLL - LLLLL - LURRR - URLLL - DDDDU - UUD

Chapter 5 - Stage 4: (Par 26)

RUURU - LL(K)RD - DDLLU - RLLUR - DDRRU - UDLUD - DDD

Chapter 5 - Stage 5: (Par 42)

RDRDR - RRRRU - LLLLL - RDURR - RRDLL - UL(K)DR - RRRUR - ULLUR - RLL

Chapter 5 - Stage 6: (Par 45)

URRRR - LLURR - DDRRD - DDDDU - RRULL - RRULL - UULLD - DDRRR - RRRDL

Chapter 5 - Stage 7: (Par 71)

DDRDU - RDRDU - RDRUL - DDLLL - LDRUR - DLLDR - RURDL - LRDLD(K) - RDLLR - DLRRD - LLULU - LLDDU - LLDDR - RUUUD - RRDRL -DL

Chapter 5 - Stage 8: (Par 39)

DDDDD - DLDUL - LLLDR - RRRRR - URRRD - LDRRL - ULD(K)RL - LRUU

Chapter 5 - Stage 9: (Par 33)

RRRRL - DDDDR - RLURR - RUURU - RDDUR - UD(K)LLL - LLRRR - RRR

Chapter 5 - Stage 10: (Par 61)

RRRRD - RRRRD - RDRUR - URURR - DRDDL - LUURR - RDULL - DLRRR - RLLL(K)U - UUUUU - UDDDD - DDDDU - LRRRR - LLLUU - UL

SEGA 18 Wheeler game high score

FUN

Played SEGA 18 wheeler game. I get 1st place at 99070 points. Woohoo!