http://www.gis.net/~ripatt/index.html Planet Ripkil en-us Mon, 2 Nov 2009 04:47:53 GMT Sun, 1 November 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.gis.net/~ripatt/index.html#uid1257136113964 So I've still been playing the Torchlight demo, and it's still very awesome. I realized only today that character leveling in the demo is capped to level (...) So I've still been playing the Torchlight demo, and it's still very awesome. I realized only today that character leveling in the demo is capped to level 7. On one hand, it's sad, since I won't get to try out lots of the cool loot I'm picking up. On the other hand, it makes sense for them to cap it, since otherwise, I'd just keep playing the demo and using map portal scrolls to level up. For now, I'll strike a delicate compromise: using map portal scrolls to find loot that I'll never be able to use. Also, a quick search for Torchlight on YouTube presented me with a series of three videos on level editing (in particular, scripting). It looks so very easy and fun:
   Torchlight - Preditor Series 1 - Part 1 of 3 (HD) - Basic events/triggers
   Torchlight - Preditor Series 1 - Part 2 of 3 (HD) - Bridges, random level chunks
   Torchlight - Preditor Series 1 - Part 3 of 3 (HD) - Monster jump downs
On a different note, Little Boots (*gush*, *swoon*) has a new video out for her song, Earthquake. If you're as in love as I am, you will probably enjoy viewing it in HD. Ooooh yeah.
And lastly, continuing my series of awesome song covers, here's Christopher Walken with yet another cover of Lady Gaga's Pokerface. Wed, 28 October 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.gis.net/~ripatt/index.html#uid1256788308577 I have to say: Torchlight [Wiki] is really, really fun. Just spent the evening playing through the demo (which is decent in size!) using the Destroyer (...) I have to say: Torchlight [Wiki] is really, really fun. Just spent the evening playing through the demo (which is decent in size!) using the Destroyer (melee) class. It's basically everything that was good in Diablo 1&2 (humor, music, random dungeons, skill trees, socketable items), with a pack mule kinda like from Dungeon Siege but better (SERIOUSLY-It can make runs to the town to sell junk for you!!!) and also, guns, fishing (kinda like WoW I think), two weapon loadouts, and... yeah. Fun, fun, fun. Plus, it has low system requirements, and even a "netbook mode" (which I think just turns down settings, not sure). I am feeling a need to have the full game of this. Seriously impressed. Wed, 9 September 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.gis.net/~ripatt/index.html#uid1252549537313 Yup, I've been surfing youtube pretty hard lately. It's what I do. (...) Yup, I've been surfing youtube pretty hard lately. It's what I do.
First, kind of an addendum to my previous "Cover Songs" post:
  Poker Face
   Original, horrible, horrible version: Lady Gaga
   Way better (as in I can listen to more than 30 seconds of this one without wanting to burn my computer): You Me At Six
Secondly, if you're a regular reader here, you know that I've been in love with Lily Allen for a few years, and that this year I've also fallen in love with another UK female vocalist, Little Boots. I was watching videos by one or the other when one of the related videos was for Bat for Lashes, whom I had never heard before. The first video by them that I saw was What's A Girl To Do?. My initial impression was: "hmmm, this is kinda catchy, but now I'm going to have some whack-ass dreams or something". But, the more I listened, the more I liked. If, like me, you are intrigued, check out these other videos by them:
Bat For Lashes - Daniel (HD)
Bat For Lashes - Sleep Alone (HD)
Bat For Lashes - Pearl's Dream (HD)
Now, if you're still with me, I later discovered that the tour drummer in Bat for Lashes also plays or played with another group called New Young Pony Club. They're kinda catchy, and the girls in the band other than the lead singer are really pretty. The lead signer is alright too, I guess. Anyway, here's a few by them:
New Young Pony Club - The Bomb
New Young Pony Club - Icecream
Finally, if you're not youtube'd out by now, perhaps you'd like something that will get stuck in your head for the rest of your life the day (warning, video is slightly nsfw): Pitbull - Hotel Room Service (HD) It even spoofs the tv show Cheaters. What more could you ask for in a music video??? Sun, 30 August 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.gis.net/~ripatt/index.html#uid1251688743571 I've written about Little Boots before, to recap: I think she's awesome. Anyways, she recently released another single (okay it was about a month ago, (...) I've written about Little Boots before, to recap: I think she's awesome. Anyways, she recently released another single (okay it was about a month ago, which makes me sad that I'm only finding this out now): Remedy (or watch in HD here). The song is quite catchy and the video is kinda hot (it features her, after all). Now I just have to figure out why so many people are comparing her to Lady GaGa. Last I checked, Little Boots has an actual singing voice, plays multiple instruments, and... how do you say... is not a man! Sun, 2 August 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.gis.net/~ripatt/index.html#uid1249262900292 The shack had this thread (darn, the thread got nuked by the time I finished writing this post...) about cover songs that surpass the originals. I didn't (...) The shack had this thread (darn, the thread got nuked by the time I finished writing this post...) about cover songs that surpass the originals. I didn't agree with a lot of what was listed, but, I did find a few I agreed with.
First, the one that started the thread off:
  Hot n Cold
   Original: Katy Perry
   Way better: Los Colorados (If you only click one link in this post, CLICK THIS ONE!)
Others from the thread were more serious but also more obvious:
  All Along the Watchtower
   Original: Bob Dylan
   Better: Jimi Hendrix
  Hurt
   Original: NIN (Also, WTF, is there no official video for this song?!?!)
   Better: Johnny Cash
Another I thought was really good, but not as well known:
  This Must Be The Place (Naive Melody)
   Original: Talking Heads
   Better: Arcade Fire
So the thread got me thinking, what else is there? Also, some covers can be somewhat bad. Let's take a look, starting with a really obvious one:
  Come on Eileen
   Original: Dexy's Midnight Runners
   Way better: Save Ferris
  Monkey Man
   Original: Toots & The Maytals
   Better: The Specials
   Kind of horrible: Amy Winehouse
   I-feel-dirty-horrible: Reel Big Fish
  Conquest
   Original: Patti Page
   Better: The White Stripes
   Interesting: Some random guy
   Also Interesting: Some random girl
Anyways, I'm not 100% sure this post had a point, other than the awesomeness of the Ukrainian band's cover of Hot n Cold, and dissing Amy Winehouse - more like Amy Winebag lol amirite??
The only other thing I had to report is that I finished watching Spaced the other day, and it was awesome. So very, very let down that it only went on for two (seemingly short) seasons. I WANT MORE SPACED!!! I might have to rent/borrow/buy Shaun of the Dead for more Simon Pegg/Jessica Stevenson hotness, or Hot Fuzz for more Simon Pegg/Nick Frost hotness... Sat, 1 August 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.gis.net/~ripatt/index.html#uid1249186845023 Surfing YouTube as usual, when I came across Shakira - Loba. Alright, so my grasp of spanish is not so great, but I think we can all agree that whatever (...) Surfing YouTube as usual, when I came across Shakira - Loba. Alright, so my grasp of spanish is not so great, but I think we can all agree that whatever she's saying, Shakira's moves are muy caliente. Also, I later discovered that there is an english version of the song, called She Wolf (not to be confused with the Megadeth song of the same name). Anyway, this thing is hot from start to finish. I'll admit I am partial to the butt-lift at about 1:19. Okay, time to let the she-wolf out of my closet. I'm hoping mine looks more like Shakira than Dave Mustaine. Sat, 25 July 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.gis.net/~ripatt/index.html#uid1248498548912 Yeah, yeah, unoriginal title, but, I wanna make this quick. (...) Yeah, yeah, unoriginal title, but, I wanna make this quick.
1) Thanks to the shack, I watched the first 5 episodes of Spaced on Hulu. All in all, I really like it, can't wait to watch the rest.
2) I finally beat all the missions in Red Alert 3. I took a hiatus from the game for no real reason, but I worked my way through most of the Rising Sun campaign this week, completing all missions of each campaign. I think I enjoyed playing as Allies the best, and Rising Sun least, if only because it felt like I had to do way too much micro-management as well as rely heavily on superweapons with the Rising Sun. Or maybe, I just really stunk at using them effectively. That could be it too. Thu, 11 June 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.gis.net/~ripatt/index.html#uid1244694244976 In my quest to: A) enrich your lives and B) post more youtube links, I now proudly present: You Know What's Bullshit. It's a series of videos from the (...) In my quest to: A) enrich your lives and B) post more youtube links, I now proudly present: You Know What's Bullshit. It's a series of videos from the Angry Nintendo (err.. or Video Game) Nerd. Those videos are usually funny (particularly if you've ever seen or played the game(s) being discussed) and this series definitely hits the same humor levels, but have even more mass appeal since instead of focusing on a specific subject like video games, they deal with everyday BS that anyone can relate to. Thu, 28 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.gis.net/~ripatt/index.html#uid1243484068859 I've been hearing about this "keyboard cat" thing and really had no idea what it is. Maybe you're like me and are late to the party all the (...) I've been hearing about this "keyboard cat" thing and really had no idea what it is. Maybe you're like me and are late to the party all the time; if so, here's a news article to get you up to speed. Once you know the drill, you could head over to youtube for more videos than you can handle. There are also compilation sites such as http://playhimoffkeyboardcat.com as well as http://keyboardcat.com. The latter compilation site seems a little broken in the page navigation department, but it does have a random feature, which is kinda nice. Some of my faves are just treatments to classically funny videos, such as the dog humping one and the treadmill one. I also enjoy the ones where the cat prepares or even starts playing early, most notable is the golden girls one. Then of course you get new videos made for the sole purpose of being associated with keyboard cat, such as... keyboard gato. Anyway, keyboard cat is awesome.
The only other awesome thing I've got is courtesy the shack, and it's a video of some guy with an antique (1964) 300 baud modem.
Lastly, no, I don't know if I will post anything other than youtube videos for the remainder of this year. Wed, 6 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.gis.net/~ripatt/index.html#uid1241662513281 What? No, seriously, what? (...) What? No, seriously, what?
Since they just released info that they hit a milestone and are almost done, and stuff, I'm guessing (hoping?) that this is all a really sick joke. Mon, 4 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.gis.net/~ripatt/index.html#uid1241413011311 So here's the thing. I think by now we all know how much I love sitting in front of a computer, and how much I love the internet. It's really awesome. (...) So here's the thing. I think by now we all know how much I love sitting in front of a computer, and how much I love the internet. It's really awesome. One of the best parts is just cruising around youtube watching pretty much anything. I particularly enjoy watching music videos and live performances, and I've been turned on to lots of new music such as Lily Allen (whom I have posted about previously) as well as classics like The Pixies. I've recently been turned onto two new artists, which I shall proceed to blab about... now:

1) Battles [wiki]
I was cruising around for Don Caballero videos (I was turned onto Don Cab by a former co-worker/college friend) and hit up their wiki page to see what's new with them. I recently purchased last year's Punkgasm which is not bad by any means, but I do know they more or less totally re-formed as a band a few years ago. I followed a link to one of the former members, Ian Williams, to find that he is in a new band called Battles. Following yet another link, I read about battles and was surprised to learn that former Helmet drummer John Stanier was also part of the band. Enter: Youtube! I first found what I take to be their biggest hit, Atlas. Apparently, it's a song that is featured in the game Little Big Planet. Never played the game and probably will never. At any rate, it sounds Don Cab-ish enough, and so I continued to find another song, Tonto, which I like even better than Atlas. Really great groove going on right in the middle of it. Also, the video is awesome. I then found that you can hear their debut (and thus far only) album in entirety in someone's channel. Anyways, I'm really feeling it. It's a bit out there, but extremely well done.

2) Little Boots [wiki]
I found this artist tonight, as I was cruising around the latest uploaded videos from the Jools Holland show. It's an awesome show with incredible musical performances. I came across this performance of Meddle by Little Boots. I clicked it because; A) I had never heard of Little Boots, and B) because she looked kinda hot, well, in the thumbnail in the search results. I found that A) her voice is amazing, B) she is quite talented, and C) she is indeed attractive. She is known mostly for dance/techno (I guess), but she has her own channel with a bunch of awesome covers (listed here in no particular order):
   Estelle - American Boy
   Wham - Last Christmas
   Haddaway - What is Love
   MGMT - Time to Pretend
   Cyndi Lauper - Time After Time
   Madonna - Material Girl
Plus, today (May 4th) is her birthday!!

And, before I close the post, I might as well link another video, by the creator of the McDonald's Rap (linked a few posts ago): Whatever You Like: Cow Version. It's a parody of Whatever You Like by T.I., and in my personal opinion, it's vastly superior. I suppose your mileage may vary. Weird Al has also remade the song, (link) but I still find the Cow Version to be best. Wed, 29 April 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.gis.net/~ripatt/index.html#uid1241007179416 Oh yes. My day has officially been made. Also, even if it seems like it's getting lame, you HAVE TO STAY TO THE END. The last 16 seconds of this video (...) Oh yes. My day has officially been made. Also, even if it seems like it's getting lame, you HAVE TO STAY TO THE END. The last 16 seconds of this video are probably the best thing ever. Oh yeah, here's the link: Steve Porter's Slap Chop remix. Thu, 9 April 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.gis.net/~ripatt/index.html#uid1239319490195 Talking about the game here, not the browser. I have been seeing screenshots and videos of flock lately, and just heard that a demo is out! So, via (...) Talking about the game here, not the browser. I have been seeing screenshots and videos of flock lately, and just heard that a demo is out! So, via Steam, I downloaded it and gave it a try. And now, let me make with the hasty review:
PROS: The music is great, has a World of Goo feel to it, but it's very well done. That, and basically, cuteness abounds in this game. You can flatten wheat fields, make sheep babies, and, if a sheep jumps off a cliff, it dies and goes to heaven. You can even tractor beam the wool right off the sheep's backs.
CONS: So why did I stop playing somewhere around level 4? Either I really suck, or the controls really suck. I'm not here to argue which is the case, but I personally feel that the controls ruin this game. Why? Well, to move the UFO (which is essentially your character in the game) you have to left click on where to go. Moving the mouse alone does nothing. So you might be thinking, sure, if you move the mouse around, you can see more of the map, right? No. You're bound by the position of the UFO. Furthermore, when you move the UFO, it seems to sometimes wobble a bit at the beginning and end of it's movement. This gets really annoying when you're trying to precisely maneuver behind sheep in the direction you want them to go. And those, sheep... sometimes you scare them from a square away, sometimes you have to be right on top of them. Then again, sometimes they fall off cliffs (which is cute, as I mentioned earlier).
So anyway, yeah - Flock? Not so hot. I think if they made moving the mouse control the UFO (instead of left click), this game would have been about 200% better. At least the demo is free! Mon, 9 March 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.gis.net/~ripatt/index.html#uid1236640845002 Okay so last night I was going through my music collection and making a playlist for each cd. Then, I create shortcuts to those playlists sorted by first (...) Okay so last night I was going through my music collection and making a playlist for each cd. Then, I create shortcuts to those playlists sorted by first letter, and I have that all available from a folder in my start bar. It's quite nice, having any cd at the press of a button. Anyway, a few of my older cd rips didn't have proper ID3 tags and rather than edit them manually in VLC (which is a scary concept, trust me, I tried!) or re-rip them (which would have taken WAY long), I searched around and found MP3TAG. Seriously, this thing is the business. I went to a folder of mp3s with no tag info, pressed a button, and poof, it went to the web, found the cd info, tagged each file, and prompted me to ensure it was all okay. Upon confirmation, it saved all the new tag info, and yeah, seriously. It really is that easy. This app really is awesome if you have ANY mp3 tag editing that you want to do. I really can't say enough. Fri, 6 March 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.gis.net/~ripatt/index.html#uid1236319300306 Okay, this McDonald's rap is pretty good. (...) Okay, this McDonald's rap is pretty good.
Also, QuakeLive has turned on most of the stats collection. Time to watch my awards roll in. And by "my awards roll in", I of course mean "me get completely destroyed by people who play QuakeLive FOR A LIVING".