Play My Cards Right

Perception

Luke — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 16:21:49 +0000

I’m beginning to believe that my perception of my physical self changes radically based on my workout and eating routines, regardless of actual, physical changes.

Influence

Luke — Sat, 19 Feb 2011 18:55:03 +0000

This:

Reminds me of this:

Spring day

Luke — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 21:23:23 +0000

Opposite of Simple (and Apple)

Luke — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 21:20:24 +0000

“Our philosophy is simple—when Apple brings a new subscriber to the app, Apple earns a 30 percent share; when the publisher brings an existing or new subscriber to the app, the publisher keeps 100 percent and Apple earns nothing,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “All we require is that, if a publisher is making a subscription offer outside of the app, the same (or better) offer be made inside the app, so that customers can easily subscribe with one-click right in the app. We believe that this innovative subscription service will provide publishers with a brand new opportunity to expand digital access to their content onto the iPad, iPod touch andiPhone, delighting both new and existing subscribers.”

Simple.

Voice Dialing Google Voice from iPhone

Luke — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 14:54:22 +0000

I’ve been using Google Voice for a few months now and I’m more or less happy with it. I occasionally get word that some calls haven’t gotten to me but I can live with it as telephony is not really my primary method of communication at this point.

The one thing missing from making GV feature complete for me was voice dialing from the iPhone- a feature I use quite frequently as I often need to make and receive calls while I’m otherwise too occupied to bring up the keypad. Really. Also, it’s cool.

Took me a while to figure this out but its quite simple:

Choose the contact you want to voice dial. For me there are only a few I’m really interested in so I’ve no need for this, though you can do something like that too if you want.

Add a new number for this contact or edit a current number, though I prefer to have their legitimate number in there as well. In the field for their new number add:

your google voice number, your google pin number, 2 (to make a call) and finally the number you are calling. It’ll look like this:

(777)555-1212,1234,2,4123919500

This page shows how to find the comma (pause) in the iPhone menu.

iBooks vs the world

Luke — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 02:38:35 +0000

Providing an iBook title is available on Kindle or B&n, there is absolutely no reason to do so through Apple. Hell it might even be worth paying extra for the competitor’s, just for the ability to read it on multiple platforms. A color LCD and snappy page turning animations aren’t enough.

Prowler

Luke — Thu, 27 May 2010 19:08:24 +0000

Taking a break from all my worries.

Luke — Tue, 11 May 2010 00:59:33 +0000

Suddenly its been a few weeks since I posted anything, so consider this a return. I went to an amazing wedding at the end of April, and had the opportunity to spend some much needed time with family.

I updated my PBT today and realized that I’ve only read one book so far this year. I’m not particularly upset about it but it was surprising. In related news, we scored some tickets to see Anthony Bourdain speak when he comes to Pittsburgh in June.

Lots coming up- family gatherings, playdates, weddings and birthdays and about six weeks from now we’ll be introducing Max to the ocean. Assuming it isn’t completely destroyed by then.

Whole Foods

Luke — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 00:39:15 +0000

Dracula ECCCCKKKSS

Luke — Sun, 18 Apr 2010 01:23:40 +0000

I know I’m getting old but goddamn it if every time I try to play this remake of a game that was never even released in the US I barely make it to the second stage before I throw the PSP off the bus. Maybe this is why I play RPGs so much- they don’t require the dexterity and willingness for torture that a game like this demands. Indeed this is what most games demanded back in the day. RPGs, especially the old school Japanese variety I’ve been playing lately feel like a walk in the park, repetitive, simple gameplay and a sense of progression whose only requirement is your time. Of course back then I was more than happy to use a cheat or code I picked up in Nintendo Power, these days I have some kind of purist mentality that demands I avoid gamefaqs unless absolutely necessary. Absolutely necessary should not be before I reach the end of the second stage. And what is the deal with hiding the aspects of this game that i actually want- Castlevania- Symphony of the Night and the original Dracula X ROM- within the game itself? This one is heading right up to the unfun category.