Thought and Freedom

So today I was curious what sort of open source games are available. Specifically, I was looking for an open source computer version of Settlers of Catan.

To my very happy surprise, I came across just that, and much more! Sourceforge, the popular open source uber site, has loads of opensource games that can be found.

I know what your thinking: “But I have to install Ubuntu, Right?” But lucky for you you don’t. The site has a list of games that run on Windows.

Hope you enjoy browsing the selection. It can be found at the SourceForge Open Source Games for Windows site.

I was talking to a friend of mine the other day that is obsessed with Starwars. It caused me to remember about a site I had once seen.

The site entitled “Star Wars ASCIIMATION” is perhaps one of the coolest Star Wars fan sites to date. The creators of the site have built ASCII Art and animated it to show the story of Star Wars.

This may be one of the ultimate nerd hangouts, but I thought it was awesome!

After looking into it a little bit, it appears that you can get the same ascii show through telnet (without opening a web browser). Nathan at nathanr.ca explains how to do this on his blog:

“You can try this yourself by going to Start / Run and type: telnet towel.blinkenlights.nl”

He also explained that some people were claiming that this was a hidden feature of windows, but actually it is not. It is simply using the telnet program built into windows to  connect to the server that provides the movie.

Be sure to check it out, it is pretty cool!

This Christmas, my mom gave me the strategy board game called Settlers of Catan. I will have to tell you, it was far better than I had ever expected.

It is not that I thought Settlers would be bad, but I did not know just how fun it would be until I played it.

I would say that it is like a combination of Risk and Bonanza (the bean game).

It is like Risk because you are essentially working on a map in close proximity to others that are trying to accomplish a goal that only one of you can achieve.

It is like Bonanza in the fact that a lot of your success comes down to how well you can adapt to a commodities market. You are able to trade and make deals with other players in exchange for favors (like telling them where to put the robber) or other resources.

This game is definitely intense, but also a game that is loads of fun. It will go into game hall of fames just like other strategy games like Risk and Axis and Allies.

If you get a chance, go get the game and play it with some friends (or if you know me, I will play it with you:-) . You will thank me for the advice after you play it.
P.S. My brother, Tim Pearson, pointed out that there is an Online version of Settlers that can be found at http://games.asobrain.com/. So if you want to learn the game before you purchase it, you can do so online now.

People are always talking about how exercise can help keep you healthy.  This is true, and most of us realize that we need to do more of it. However, what most people do not realize is that your brain also needs to be exercised.

There is a website dedicated to just such a cause. It is called SmartKit Brain Enhancement News. On the site, you will find the latest tips and news on helping you get the most out of your brain.

Looking on the right side of the page, you will see a category listing that will help you find specific topics of interest. These range from Accelerated Learning to Brain Teasers to Study Tips.

This site shows the importance of exercising your brain, and great techniques on how to do so. So go check it out future Einstein!

I love the holidays, and after seeing the Grinch that Stole Christmas, you may be in the mood for the following:

Bits Bytes Chips Clocks
Bits in bytes on chips in box.
Bytes with bits and chips with clocks.
Chips in box on ether-docks.

Chips with bits come. Chips with bytes come.
Chips with bits and bytes and clocks come.

Look, sir. Look, sir. read the book, sir.
Let’s do tricks with bits and bytes, sir.
Let’s do tricks with chips and clocks, sir.

First, I’ll make a quick trick bit stack.
Then I’ll make a quick trick byte stack.
You can make a quick trick chip stack.
You can make a quick trick clock stack.

And here’s a new trick on the scene.
Bits in bytes for your machine.
Bytes in words to fill your screen.

Now we come to ticks and tocks, sir.
Try to say this by the clock, sir.

Clocks on chips tick.
Clocks on chips tock.
Eight byte bits tick.
Eight bit bytes tock.
Clocks on chips with eight bit bytes tick.
Chips with clocks and eight byte bits tock.

Here’s an easy game to play.
Here’s an easy thing to say….

If a packet hits a pocket on a socket on a port,
and the bus is interrupted as a very last resort,
and the address of the memory
makes your floppy disk abort
then the socket packet pocket
has an error to report!

If your cursor finds a menu item
followed by a dash,
and the double-clicking icon
puts your window in the trash,
and your data is corrupted cause
the index doesn’t hash,
then your situation’s hopeless,
and your system’s gunna crash.

You can’t say this? What a shame, sir!
We’ll find you another game, sir.

If the label on the cable
on the table at your house
says the network is connected
to the button on your mouse,
but your packets want to tunnel
on another protocol,
that’s repeatedly rejected
by the printer down the hall,
and your screen is all distorted
by the side-effects of gauss,
so your icons in the window
are as wavy as a souse,
then you may as well reboot
and go out with a bang,
cause as sure as I’m a poet,
the sucker’s gunna hang!

When the copy of your floppy’s
getting sloppy on the disk,
and the microcode instructions
cause unnecessary risc,
then you have to flash your memory
and you’ll want to RAM your ROM.
quickly turn off your computer
and be sure to tell your mom!

Gene Zeigler