Two things come to mind: the first is you make a KML file with a NetworkLink that will poll your server every few seconds. You can specify that in GE's URL query string it sends information about your current view. Check out the <viewFormat> on the <Link> element. So then your server script extracts the the lat/lon and zoom-range from these URLs. This is easy and doesn't require the user to do anything but click on a link initially.

The other is that Google... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Xelf at 3:49 PM on May 21, 2008 marked best answer

There are USB and bluetooth GPS devices that can speak to your laptop. They all generally behave like a serial port that you can continuously read standard NMEA strings from. At work I've enjoyed using the Holux GPSlim240 (tiny and bluetooth with good positional accuracy), but I'm sure there are plenty, shop around. Devices with SiRF III chips will give you the best accuracy.

So to program for it, you just need to open a COM port and parse the GPS strings to grab a... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Xelf at 1:15 PM on May 12, 2008

PS. All of the above will work both on your notebook and on Windows Mobile 5+ phones; I've paired bluetooth GPS with 'em just fine.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Xelf at 1:18 PM on May 12, 2008

I'm the same way. Make some short films! Shooting/animating and producing a movie is super multidisciplinary and with some dedication you've got a pretty impressive final product. It sounds like you can cover all the component roles; get bored with one, switch to another:

guitar - write & record the soundtrack
sketching - storyboard, brainstorm shots, or animate
poetry, prose - writing storylines, dialog, voiceover
photography -... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Xelf at 1:39 PM on October 1, 2007

I do exactly this in Java, with JTS and geotools with the shapefile reader. It's really straightforward, I'll toss some example code that won't compile but has all the relevant bits here. And some .jars you might need, though I recommend downloading the official distributions. Oh, and to test whether a point is inside the hull, you'd just do if(bounds.contains(testpoint)) That should get you started, good luck!... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Xelf at 10:45 AM on June 26, 2007

PS. Feel free to email me with questions, address is in profile.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Xelf at 10:49 AM on June 26, 2007

In the Simpsons' Treehouse of Horror IV, the vampire segment, Bart floats outside Lisa's window. SNPP says it's a nod to Salem's Lot.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Xelf at 5:36 PM on June 20, 2007

(woops, I should read the [more inside] shouldn't I? :P)
posted to Ask Metafilter by Xelf at 5:38 PM on June 20, 2007

Sounds a lot like the Crucible in Oakland -- classes, tools, artist workspaces, etc. You might try emailing some folks there, it's not unlikely they'd have some advice on starting something in your neighborhood.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Xelf at 9:32 AM on May 18, 2007

Have you been to the Tarot group on tribe.net? There's a fairly active community there who I bet could offer some discussion & advice -- heck, a recent thread covered essentially this topic. (Also swing by the hermeticism, magick, kabbalah, etc. tribes if you've idle internet time.. :P)
posted to Ask Metafilter by Xelf at 6:16 PM on December 5, 2006

You may want to watch the gender: peius is the neuter form (for "it could be worse") whereas peior indicates he/she could be worse. I would also omit the esse for just peius potest... mottos should go for simplicity, IMO.

"(And has been)" I'd do as "(fuitque)" -- the -que being a more graceful form of et.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Xelf at 5:42 PM on November 29, 2006

Here are some more you might like... Tristeza, the Album Leaf, Fridge, Nightmares on Wax, destroy all dreamers, Four Tet, M83, Ulrich Schnauss, and others on Temporary Residence such as Sonna, Parlour, Sybarite, or Tarentel.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Xelf at 11:56 AM on November 6, 2006

I like the articles and interviews at Sound On Sound a lot -- anything more than 6 months old is free online -- they have tons of reading about production techniques and the process of writing an album in the studio, about a wide range of artists & engineers. Was just reading the one (Feb 06) on the Darkness, for a fun example of some mad studio excess (e.g. 160 guitar parts in a song), hehe.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Xelf at 10:57 AM on November 1, 2006

Nobody's mentioned Backpack? Sounds like just what you're looking for. To-do lists, notes, a calendar & reminders; very simple but versatile. It's sort of a lite, personal version of Basecamp.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Xelf at 4:01 PM on October 30, 2006

I've been into making wraps lately: get some big tortillas (I like the tomato/basil or spinach/herb flavored ones) and a tub of [spicy] hummus. Lay down a wrap, spread a couple spoonfuls of hummus on. Chop a bunch of different veggies into bits; I use cucumber, mushrooms, tomatoes, green peppers, avocado, sometimes sprouts, whatever you like is good. (You could theoretically also toss in some tofu or seitan or something, though I've never tried.) Sprinkle everything on and... wrap it... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Xelf at 6:03 PM on October 17, 2006

This has come up before...
posted to Ask Metafilter by Xelf at 3:17 PM on July 21, 2006

Scrapbooks & drawings & postcards are awesome, and if you want to share online too, wayfaring (maybe platial too) lets you draw your route and pin pictures & stories to maps.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Xelf at 10:20 AM on July 13, 2006

Some great advice in this thread.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Xelf at 11:31 AM on February 24, 2006

Some of the advice in here tends toward the "just do it" or "think differently" schools of thought, but personally I wouldn't find that practical. When it comes down to the actual situation where you want to do something but hesitate, once you've thought about the decision, you've already lost. Stuck in the anxiety, you're not going to Do It if there's even an option not to.

So don't give yourself that option. To hell with baby... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Xelf at 11:21 AM on February 15, 2006

PS. After seeing ruminant's comment, I realize I need to second the music: some strong, upbeat tunes can make a huge difference. In fact, go read this neat post by loquacious about one of the best destroyers of inhibitions and makers of confidence there is, IMO. Dunno how I forgot about that.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Xelf at 11:41 AM on February 15, 2006

Since you didn't mention which CD you found, I'll ask... did you actually listen to the new Sigur Ros album (Takk)? Because it really sounds like what you're describing, especially tracks 2 and 3, which I've been obsessing over lately. Amazon's samples are a taste but miss the huge awesome parts... You'd probably like it even if it's not the particular song in question.

Also, I think some Urban Outfitters will just play whatever CD the staff feels like... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Xelf at 11:35 AM on February 3, 2006

Anything from Explosions in the Sky, though I'd recommend stuff offa Earth Is Not a Cold Dead Place the most. Other songs: Snow and Lights, Greet Death, Yasmin the Light, Glittering Blackness...

Some instrumental Hendrix I've been digging: Born Under a Bad Sign, Country Blue, the 7-minute Bold As Love from the recent Experience box set. Also Stevie Ray Vaughan's Little Wing.
posted to Ask Metafilter by Xelf at 12:48 PM on July 26, 2005

Here you go!
posted to Ask Metafilter by Xelf at 9:31 AM on June 16, 2005 marked best answer

Yeah, I used to get the sciencedirect.com requests too when I was on a university network. Often wondered about those...
posted to Ask Metafilter by Xelf at 4:37 PM on June 12, 2005

Yea, lots of different phenomena at work here. This is a pretty good summary of hallucinatory patterns generated by your brain/retina, like the pressure phosphenes originally asked about. Similarly, an article simulating it with a neural network has pictures! So yes, they've mathematically modeled it. Another method not yet mentioned is the dream machine, which creates flashes of light to supposedly induce the right brain waves (or seizures).

Not in the same class:... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Xelf at 10:02 PM on March 2, 2005

Ideally I’d like 3-4 weeks after an offer might be extended. Is it reasonable to ask for this sort of time to wrap up current work, figure out living arrangements (especially if relocation is involved), have a break to travel, etc? And what’s the best time to discuss these things if I don’t want to jeopardize my chances or irritate my new boss: before an offer, between the offer and my decision, or after I’ve accepted? (I’m currently interviewing / waiting for their decisions, no offers made yet.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by Xelf at 10:55 PM on February 15, 2005