Mike's burogu http://blog.bsodmike.com Caution: May contain nuts... Fri, 12 Mar 2010 19:06:46 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 en hourly 1 Prototypal Inheritance and Nerds with Superpowers… http://blog.bsodmike.com/2010/03/13/prototypal-inheritance-and-nerds-with/ http://blog.bsodmike.com/2010/03/13/prototypal-inheritance-and-nerds-with/#comments Fri, 12 Mar 2010 18:34:38 +0000 Michael http://blog.bsodmike.com/?p=183 This was an example used in the article 12 Steps to MooTools Mastery over at Nettuts+. It’s an example of the prototypal inheritance model of Javascript – a great one at that!

Ohh, my sides still hurt! ROFLMAO at the IQ vs. hotness, where this equals actual hotness * ‘hotness multiplier factor’ resulting in perceived hotness!

I’ve added a few additions of my own…wish I could some how work ‘Spandex’ in there…

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function Nerd(iq) {
    this.iq = iq;
    this.glasses = true;
    this.pants = 'high';
    this.hasPocketProtector = true;
    this.playsWorldOfWarcraft = true;
    this.livesInBasementWithParents = true;
}

function SuperPowers() {
    this.strongerThanLocomotive = true;
    this.fasterThanBullet = true;
    this.canLeapBuildings = true;
}

Nerd.prototype = new SuperPowers();

Nerd.prototype.willWinGirl = function (hotness) {
    if(this.iq > (hotness * 20) || this.strongerThanLocomotive){
        console.log('maybe');
    }
    else {
        console.log('nope');
    }
}

new Nerd(140).willWinGirl(10); // logs "maybe"
]]> http://blog.bsodmike.com/2010/03/13/prototypal-inheritance-and-nerds-with/feed/ 2 Enabling GPRS/MMS Internet in Kuwait on VIVA http://blog.bsodmike.com/2010/03/09/enabling-gprsmms-internet-in-kuwait-on-viva/ http://blog.bsodmike.com/2010/03/09/enabling-gprsmms-internet-in-kuwait-on-viva/#comments Tue, 09 Mar 2010 18:03:37 +0000 Michael http://blog.bsodmike.com/?p=177 I called VIVA this evening to be greeted by a rather rude technician who seemed to be rather irritated that I knew what a ‘port’ was. He also seemed to keep insisting that URLs should start with http: and ‘backslashes’…*sigh*

He insisted that since I had a ‘Google Nexus One’ that they did not have the settings and it would simply not work – it was deemed an incompatible handset…right!

Since I knew I had to get the GPRS/MMS information out of him, and I really couldn’t be bothered to call back to get someone else, I told him that I had an iPhone (which I do) and that I’ll shift the SIM across.

I managed to get the following details, and a few extra bits that were not needed – at least for my Nexus One.

APN: vivamms
MMSC: http://172.16.128.80:38090/was
MMS Proxy: 172.16.128.228
MMS Port: 8080

I simply named the APN ‘VIVA’ and enabled it. WiFi was active at the time, so as I disabled it, and browsed to Google – the 3G indicator popped up with arrows depicting the upstream and downstream transfer of data. Just superb!

]]> http://blog.bsodmike.com/2010/03/09/enabling-gprsmms-internet-in-kuwait-on-viva/feed/ 0 JQuery, AJAX, and PHP Powered Salted Password Hasher http://blog.bsodmike.com/2010/02/28/jquery-ajax-and-php-powered-salted-password-hasher/ http://blog.bsodmike.com/2010/02/28/jquery-ajax-and-php-powered-salted-password-hasher/#comments Sun, 28 Feb 2010 12:52:53 +0000 Michael http://blog.bsodmike.com/?p=172 I decided to port the AJAX handling code to JQuery, as I have used the JQuery Validation plugin in the past and did not have to properly get to grips with the MooTools FormCheck plugin.

Ultimately, one needs to resort to using the form validating plugin’s submitHandler to ensure that the AJAX call does not go through unless the form is indeed validated.

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<script type="text/javascript">
$(document).ready(function(){  

    $('#myForm').validate({
        rules:{
            password: {
                required: true
            }
        },
        submitHandler: function(form) {
            $(form).ajaxSubmit({
                target: '#log_res'
            });
        },     
        invalidHandler: function(form, validator) {
        var errors = validator.numberOfInvalids();
            if (errors) {
                $('#log_res').html('');
            }
        }  
    });
});
</script>

If I wanted to stick with the MooTools framework alone, I would have had to used the FormCheck plugin and used its submitHandler as well; it will make good practice so that will go down on my ‘Todo’ list.

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submitByAjax // you can set this to true if you want to submit your form with ajax. You should use provided events to handle the ajax request (see below). By default it is false.
ajaxResponseDiv // id of element to inject ajax response into (can also use onAjaxSuccess). By default it is false.
ajaxEvalScripts // use evalScripts in the Request response. Can be true or false, by default it is false.
onAjaxRequest // Function to fire when the Request event starts.
onAjaxSuccess // Function to fire when the Request receives . Args: response [the request response] - see Mootools docs for Request.onSuccess.
onAjaxFailure // Function to fire if the Request fails.

View the Password Hashing Demo.

]]> http://blog.bsodmike.com/2010/02/28/jquery-ajax-and-php-powered-salted-password-hasher/feed/ 0 AJAX handling of form data with MooTools. http://blog.bsodmike.com/2010/02/27/ajax-handling-of-form-data-with-mootools/ http://blog.bsodmike.com/2010/02/27/ajax-handling-of-form-data-with-mootools/#comments Sat, 27 Feb 2010 08:00:06 +0000 Michael http://blog.bsodmike.com/?p=157 Check this out, the first is the easiest and simplest way to go about it and then I also got it working via a typical ‘Request’ AJAX call.

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window.addEvent('domready', function() {

    $('myForm').addEvent('submit', function(event) {
        //Prevents the default submit event from loading a new page.
        event.stop();
        //Empty the log and show the spinning indicator.
        //var log = $('log_res').empty().addClass('ajax-loading');
        var log = $('log_res').addClass('ajax-loading'); //no clear
       
        /*     
            //Set the options of the form's Request handler.
            //("this" refers to the $('myForm') element).
            this.set('send', {onComplete: function(response) {
                log.removeClass('ajax-loading');
                log.set('html', log.get('html') + '<br/>' + response);
            }});
            //Send the form.
            this.send();
        */
       
   
        //alternative ajax call
        //inspired by:
        //http://www.mooforum.net/script-request12/ajax-contact-form-for-mootools-t2929.html
        var req = new Request({
            method: 'POST',
            url: this.get('action'),
            data: { 'do' : '1' },
            onRequest: function() {
                log.set('html',  log.get('html')
                    + '<br/> Request made. Please wait...' );
            },
            onComplete: function(response) { log.removeClass('ajax-loading');
                log.set('html', log.get('html') + '<br/>' + response);}
        }).send(this); 
       
       
        /*
            //if the following was used, 'this' would need replacing!
            $('submitter').addEvent('click', function(event) {
           
            //alternative ajax call
            var req = new Request({
                method: 'POST',
                url: $('myForm').get('action'), //here
                data: { 'do' : '1' },
                onRequest: function() {
                    log.set('html',  log.get('html')
                        + '<br/> Request made. Please wait...' );
                },
                onComplete: function(response) { log.removeClass('ajax-loading');
                    log.set('html', log.get('html') + '<br/>' + response);}
            }).send($('myForm')); //and here.
        */
       
    });
       
});
]]> http://blog.bsodmike.com/2010/02/27/ajax-handling-of-form-data-with-mootools/feed/ 0 Review: El Rey del Mundo Choix Supreme http://blog.bsodmike.com/2010/02/21/review-el-rey-del-mundo-choix-supreme/ http://blog.bsodmike.com/2010/02/21/review-el-rey-del-mundo-choix-supreme/#comments Sun, 21 Feb 2010 10:57:23 +0000 Michael http://blog.bsodmike.com/?p=155 The El Rey del Mundo Choix Supreme is a hand-made Cuban cigar in the Hermoso No. 4 format, with its distinctive light coloured wrapper. I personally prefer using a quality guillotine cigar cutter. This particular cigar was constructed well and lit very easily whilst maintaining a consistent, slow burn, throughout the smoke. I only needed to take a puff every minute to keep it going, and it had no signs of extinguishing; a perfectly symmetrical head of ash formed at the end – sometimes as long as about an inch.

In comparison to the Montecristo Tubos, Por Lorrenaga Petit Corona, and the Davidoff 2000 in particular, I found this smoke to be very mild yet due to the slow burning nature of the cigar, it lasted a good 45 minutes. Notes of honey, creamy tones, and a floral taste were evident with a lack of spice. The flavour was maintained throughout till around the final 1/3rd.

The nicotine high was barely noticeable and I would highly rate once of these for a casual smoke. This particular cigar was enjoyed with several rounds of Glenfiddich 15-year Solera Reserve on the rocks.

]]> http://blog.bsodmike.com/2010/02/21/review-el-rey-del-mundo-choix-supreme/feed/ 2 Installing NVIDIA driver in Ubuntu via SSH with X11 Forwarding http://blog.bsodmike.com/2010/01/28/installing-nvidia-driver-in-ubuntu-via-ssh-with-x11-forwarding/ http://blog.bsodmike.com/2010/01/28/installing-nvidia-driver-in-ubuntu-via-ssh-with-x11-forwarding/#comments Thu, 28 Jan 2010 08:48:39 +0000 Michael http://blog.bsodmike.com/?p=153 Since my Ubuntu box has been running since 2006 (on the same install of 8.10!) as a headless terminal, I never bothered to install proper NVIDIA drivers…well, until today that is.

michaeldesilva@Ubuntu:~$ uname -ar
Linux Ubuntu 2.6.27-11-generic #1 SMP Thu Jan 29 19:28:32 UTC 2009 x86_64 GNU/Linux

I therefore downloaded NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-190.53-pkg2.run, the 64-bit version of the driver and ‘chmod +x’ed it to make it an executable.

GDM needed to be stopped, and was easily taken care of with a ’sudo /etc/init.d/gdm stop’. This is where I ran into a problem. I am using an Apple keyboard, and could not perform a ‘ctrl-alt-F1′ to get to VT1 from VT7, since VT7 has no prompt.

This is where I had the idea of firing up terminal on my Mac Pro and SSHed in with X11 forwarding. I needed to access root quickly, so ’sudo bash’ came in rather handy. The rest was quite straightforward where I ran the executable and I was able to interact with the installer from my Mac.

Upon exiting from root, I simply restarted GDM and all was well.

]]> http://blog.bsodmike.com/2010/01/28/installing-nvidia-driver-in-ubuntu-via-ssh-with-x11-forwarding/feed/ 0 24 Season 8: Episode 5 http://blog.bsodmike.com/2010/01/26/24-season-8-episode-5/ http://blog.bsodmike.com/2010/01/26/24-season-8-episode-5/#comments Tue, 26 Jan 2010 15:22:24 +0000 Michael http://blog.bsodmike.com/?p=113 Well it seems like Renee hasn’t lost her touch and manages to convince Jack that cutting off thumbs is not a bad idea.

More boring back story with Starbuck and her ex-boyfriend……oh, no, I’ve already got drool on myself. If only she was “Starbuck”, he’d be flat on the ground by now. The plot of this side story is quite simple – squeeze the girl for inside info from CTU. Wow, like that’s never been done before.

Oh yea, what’s with the name “Arlo”? I just chuckle every time I hear it :p

Seems like Mr. Prez likes to control people with fear; he also has his first spat with MPAT. Round two is with his wife; do we care? No.

The episode finally gets to the only relevant bit – Texas Chainsaw Walker gets to meet Vlad. It seems these bad guys have PhD’s in reverse psychology. This is how it works:

(1) “Hey, you’re a rat I’m going to shoot you”. “Noooo please don’t shoot” = DEAD!

(2) “Hey, you’re a rat I’m going to shoot you”. “Oooh, please shoot me. Shoot MEEEEEEEEE, I have no reason to live or anyone to go to…so KILLLLL MEEEEEEEE”. “Oh, you’re cool. You’re back in!”

…and that’s how Renee gets back in. I think Jack let out a brick right there in the car.

]]> http://blog.bsodmike.com/2010/01/26/24-season-8-episode-5/feed/ 0 Higgs Boson Particle… http://blog.bsodmike.com/2010/01/21/higgs-boson-particle/ http://blog.bsodmike.com/2010/01/21/higgs-boson-particle/#comments Thu, 21 Jan 2010 13:58:02 +0000 Michael http://blog.bsodmike.com/?p=109 This was rather brilliant!

Sheldon explains: “Hydrogen Atom, ‘H’. Three Pigs – “P” from pea = igs, Bow + General Zod stuck in the Phantom ‘Zone’, Pear + tickle.

Higgs, Boson, Particle!”

]]> http://blog.bsodmike.com/2010/01/21/higgs-boson-particle/feed/ 2 Thoughts on 24 Season 8… http://blog.bsodmike.com/2010/01/21/thoughts-on-24-season-8/ http://blog.bsodmike.com/2010/01/21/thoughts-on-24-season-8/#comments Thu, 21 Jan 2010 08:31:04 +0000 Michael http://blog.bsodmike.com/?p=103 I will admit, Season 8 did crawl up on me rather unexpectedly but I think it was a great idea for them to air the first four episodes right off the bat.

You will see some familiar faces this season – starting with the game show host from “Slumdog Millionaire”; this is certainly a step up for him and to have the honour of battling it out with MPAT (Madam President Allison Taylor) is quite something I guess. Next up is Starbuck, the hottie from Battlestar Gallactica – I guess it’s one of the perks of working at CTU; you’re life may be at risk but at least you’ll have something nice to stare at while you’re dying, well, that’s if the CTU blows up or something. That’s the draw back of field work…but is it?

Not if you’re Jack, as HAW (Hot Agent Walker) is back and can I say “Hot Damn”, her hair looks incredible :p Freddie Prinze is playing the role of “head of field ops” and is a pretty good one at that. Chloe is also back of course, minus her rather annoying ladies-shoe-sniffing’ husband.

Whilst Jack’s reputation precedes him – nothing has really changed in 24-land. CTU is still being run by some dumb schmuck, and they are focussing on the *wrong person* yet again. But then again, if they ever just *listened* to an iota of what Jack was on about, the show would be called “12″ or maybe “6″ :p That would be bad for business so there it is.

Another delightful character is the brother of President Hussan – Mr. Toupee – cause he has such a bad hair doo, it’s rather amusing. The highlight of the show so far though, at least for me, has been HAW. She’s back, and she’s like Jack when he was in Season 3. She’s hopped up on drugs, just loves torturing people, and making bad guys cry.

Jack has gotten rather soft since season Season 7, and I think she might make him cry in episode 5. So, do I prefer the “I’m going down a dark ally” HAW, or the “Texas Chainsaw Massacre” HAW? Not sure tbh, she’s still hot but there is an odd glint of “crazy chick” in her eyes now…it’s definitely got Jack worried and maybe just a wee bit hot for her too? Ah, only time will tell I guess.

I would highly recommend following Eddie @ TheBauer, once you see each episode for his brilliant take on affairs in 24-land. Most of the names above (apart from Mr. Toupee) were originally coined by him.

]]> http://blog.bsodmike.com/2010/01/21/thoughts-on-24-season-8/feed/ 0 Montblanc Charles Dickens WE FP: First for 2010… http://blog.bsodmike.com/2010/01/20/montblanc-charles-dickens-we-fp-first-for-2010/ http://blog.bsodmike.com/2010/01/20/montblanc-charles-dickens-we-fp-first-for-2010/#comments Tue, 19 Jan 2010 19:09:47 +0000 Michael http://blog.bsodmike.com/?p=97 This beauty arrived from Harrods on my Birthday. I cannot thank Amy enough; it fits the bill perfectly as I was looking for something ‘vintage-esq’ for my collection.

Like all WE pens, this has an aged resin star adorning the top of the sterling silver cap. This is the second largest star found in any of the Montblanc LE pens – the first being the Charlie Chaplin, limited edition of 88.

The cap is solid Ag925 sterling silver marked with the Swiss assay office hallmarks vertically below the clip. The classic St. Bernard can be seen, along with the fineness scales and StOD.

This particular pen paid a visit to the Montblanc atelier in Hamburg for a nib exchange to a B nib. I’ve currently got this inked with MB Sepia, and this particular nib has been ground to stubby perfection – bringing out the colour rather vividly on the yellowish Moleskine diary paper.

A keen eye will also notice the curved section, once again reminiscent of a ‘vintage-esq’ pen. It is very comfortable to hold and write with for extended periods. Of course, I never post my pens so the weight of the cap never comes into question.

The nib engraving comprises of an italicised ‘C’ and ‘D’, both of which have been woven and inextricably intertwined. It also features ‘2001′, the release year of this edition near the top, and the ubiquitous 4810 near the bottom of the 18k nib.

Coming back to the cap – the most striking aspect of this design – it has been designed paying hommage to the Victorian era post boxes. The barrel colour has been the subject of much debate amongst collectors and on TFPN. It changes depending on the light; at times, taking on a greeny-grey tone to a grey-blue tone. It is most definitely a colour that is an acquired taste – one that most certainly grows on you. It is also a fantastic tone that contrasts quite perfectly with the sterling silver cap, and band at the bottom near the piston screw.

One will also notice a small ring in the same tone of resin adorning the upper porting of the cap. This ring is etched ‘Montblanc’ on one side and has the pen’s edition number on the other. Considering that I was able to purchase this WE directly from Montblanc Harrods, whilst beating the 2010 price increase, I am quite thrilled with this acquisition.

My humble pen collection has grown in leaps and bounds in a very short period, and therefore I am considering taking a small hiatus from adding any new pieces in the near future. However, only time will tell…

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