Now the Economic Crisis is Personal ... Mother's Cookie Company Goes Out of Business

The economic crisis hasn't really made a big difference in my life until today. I just heard that Mother's Cookie Company is going under. I bought one last bag of pink and white "Circus Animals". Apparently it will have to last me for ETERNITY. Where's the 700 billion dollar bailout for cookie companies? Forget the whales, SAVE THE COOKIES! Check out the AP story.

gtk.FileChooserDialog() mini-HOWTO

Enough is enough! It seems like every time I write a pygtk app I end up needing a file chooser dialog yet every time I can't remember the details. The reference page for gtk.FileChooserDialog() is excellent--for reference. I need a gtk.FileChooserDialog() mini-HOWTO. Here it is:

fc = gtk.FileChooserDialog(title='Open File...',
                                   parent=None,
                                   action=gtk.FILE_CHOOSER_ACTION_OPEN,
                                   buttons=(gtk.STOCK_CANCEL,gtk.RESPONSE_CANCEL,gtk.STOCK_OPEN,gtk.RESPONSE_OK))
        fc.set_current_folder(g_directory)
        fc.set_default_response(gtk.RESPONSE_OK)
        filter = gtk.FileFilter()
        filter.set_name('Audio Files')
        filter.add_pattern('*.wav')
        filter.add_pattern('*.mp3')
        filter.add_pattern('*.flac')
        fc.add_filter(filter)
        response = fc.run()
        if response == gtk.RESPONSE_OK:
            print 'ok'
            print fc.get_filename()
            self.entry.set_text(fc.get_filename())
            g_directory = fc.get_current_folder()
        else:
            print 'not ok'
        fc.destroy()

There, done! This page is also an excellent, more complete, example.

I knew I Could Do Better

After brushing up on the periodic table, and embellishing my education a little ... Beat that!

Mindless Drivel, but Entertaining Nonetheless

Review of "King of Kong: A Fist Full of Quarters"

Over the last three days (it's been several months ago now) I've had the extreme pleasure of watching "King Kong: A Fist Full or Quarters". You must see this movie.

It is, in my opinion, the quintessential American underdog story set to the music of Donkey Kong. On one side you have Billy Mitchell, a superstar in his own world. Arguably the best gamer of all time, but certainly the best classic gamer of all time. Billy is amazing--He's truly gifted. Unfortunately, like a lot of us in this world, his head is much bigger than it aught to be. (In Billy's case, his hair is longer than it aught to be too.)

On the other side you have Steve Wiebe, an apparent "screw up" (and I mean that in the nicest way possible). Of his own admission, he hasn't lived up to his true potential throughout his live. Highly athletic yet subject to "the chokes", gifted musically but prohibitively shy, highly intelligent yet awkward and sheepish.

"King of Kong: A Fist Full of Quarters" is their story.

I won't spoil the rest, but I will say this: be prepared for the subculture of classic gaming's superstars, groupies, officials, desperate wannabees, outsiders, insiders, family members, winners, and losers. It's a strange world, beyond description, even for a geek like me. After you've watched the movie, go check out the current record at Twin Galaxies.

Rock it out with Heart

Though I consider myself mostly an 80's-synth-pop-new-wave-2-tone kind of person, I still have a great love for classic rock. I think it was Homer Simpson who once said "rock peaked in '74, everyone knows that!" Amen, Homer, Amen.

I've been trying to play this song for +10 years now, oh well, someday I'll get it. Enjoy...