Monday, December 19, 2005

Yes! I'm MANAGER You Too!


Oh man, this was funny. I picked up some computer components, and there was a bonus package containing a keyboard, mouse and speakers.


Includes gems like:
You are a Manager & our products is your best assistant. A totally new idea of....

Use [keyboard] your emotion will be like a runner.

With [mouse] Original surfing is between your finger...

And the ultimate:
Yes! I'm MANAGER You Too!

No, I'm certainly not concerned about the quality of the components... *grin*

Saturday, December 17, 2005

Christmas Open House



We're having a Christmas Open House! Contact us for more information.

Sunday, October 09, 2005

Replacement icon for Cygwin

OK, this is definitely for techies.

I use Cygwin on my Windows desktop to allow my to run all sorts of UNIX scripts. It's awesome.

Problem is, I don't really like the default icon that comes with it. A guy named August Mayer created a new one, but I always have to trouble finding it.

So here it is. Download and rename the file to cygwings.ico. You can also get it here.

Sorry to bore the rest of you!

Tony

Wednesday, September 07, 2005

Conditional Code Segments and JavaScript

...it was bound to happen, I'm writing a technology-related post...

Conditional coding is the backbone of all programming - but the manner in which you code a conditional statement can vary drastically, especially depending on it's application.

Traditionally, IF statements are used. IF statements are, by nature, simple, but of course any programming task can grow out of control easily. Thus, SWITCH blocks and CASE statements come in. But these are all topics that have been thrown around for years, in most every programming language in existence.

Additionally, the inline conditional values in JavaScript add much needed functionality. Assigning a value with an IF statement is lathargic, but assigning a value purely using brackets, with a question mark to dictate the TRUE condition, and a colon to dictate the FALSE condition. Even these have been around for a while.

Just recently, I found a new method to approach conditional assignments/function calls. In the form of:
[Conditional Expression]&&([Command [, Command...]])[||([Command [, Command...]])]

The conditional expression can be most anything that you would put in an IF statement, but the entire syntax after that is completely different. Using two ampersands, you can specify multiple expressions to be evaluated for the TRUE condition. The set of commands should reside within two brackets, and each command seperated by a comma.

The FALSE condition is dignified using double pipes. Following that, as with the TRUE condition, you can specify multiple commands to be executed when the conditional expression is FALSE. Again, these commands should reside within two brackets, and each command seperated by a comma.

In example, try the following:

bVal && (str = "The boolean value was TRUE", document.write(str))||(str = "The boolean value was FALSE",document.write(str));

If bVal was a BOOLEAN and set to TRUE, the string "The boolean value was TRUE" would be assigned to a variable and that variable would get printed to the document. Otherwise, the string "The boolean value was FALSE" would be assigned to a variable and that variable would get printed to the document.

This concept basically combines both the traditional IF statement as well as the conditional value statements.

Tuesday, September 06, 2005

Yoda and R2D2 at Tynan's party

Thanks to Mark for making these awesome styrofoam Star Wars figures - Yoda and R2D2.

Wednesday, August 24, 2005

The line between reality and obscurity

[SCENE FOUR]

(Enter slightly more angry, gradually tanned freak - looking around, he begins to growl - an all-encompassing growl that shakes from the bowels of the earth and slowly matures to a edgy snarl)

Distinguishing reality is more widely expressed as a common function of the brain - however, after the brain become altered - and everyone's brain is altered at a young age - it begins to inherit qualities more typical of a skill or talent. Determining what and where reality is, at this point, is not a notion readily available.

The concept of "vacation time" puts another spin on the whole process. Just as when you were younger, someone alots you a portion of time whereby you can do pretty much whatever you want. Only this time, it's your boss, and the boundaries are more rigid. You find yourself falling into older mindsets during vacation, and it's much easier to notice wasted potential.

Now I could ramble on with endless rhetoric forever - but I rather point out the good, and the couple of flaws I've found between Canada and the states. Let's start with the good things.

OzzFest. Single-handedly the best concert I have ever seen. A huge stage bordered with 6/7-storey tall stacks of amplifiers (YEAH!!) and an extremely complex lighting arrangement sprawling across the roof. A small section of bleachers, followed by a grass field slightly larger than a football field. Wow. That was nothing, compared to the raw talent of the bands of the bill.

Rob Zombie. Mudvayne. Shadows Fall. Iron Maiden. Black Sabbath. Mastodon. Soilwork. Trivium. As I Lay Dying. Not to take anything away from the other bands, but these are the bands that brought the 20,000-some people at the show slightly closer to hell. And OzzFest was only the beginning of the road trip. Continuing on, hung out in Mountain View for a day, went onto Santa Cruz to try surfing for the first time (YEAH!!), went to the Fisherman's Wharf for a while - it was all a lot of fun, and I wish that I didn't have to come back for a while. Hence the term "vacation" is used again.

On another note, musically I seem to have taken a more profound approach to both the writing and the playing processes. For my own music, I still write songs based of a heavy mindset, but much different than the bludgeoning hardcore/thrash styles that I had previously adopted.

In terms of DUI, the project that takes most of my effort and focus, we seem to have evolved even further - not neccessarily in style, but in songwriting complexity and forward thought. Looking onwards, a full album will ensue soon, with songs even more amazing and thought-provoking than the five tracks from the Shell of Solitude EP.

The drunken, drug-induced misfit that I once was is observing me from through the grave - only this time, he will not possess me as such a demon will be.

Tuesday, August 23, 2005

Google releases Messenger software Google Talk


Wow, how cool is this.

After all the rumours, it turns out to be true. Checked talk.google.com this evening, and found a piece of software available for download. In true google style, this first version of the software if simple and clean, and uses open standards.

I can't wait to play around with it.
Message me at brandner-at-gmail-dot-com!

Tony

The best Scrabble game ever!


While camping, Shawna had the best Scrabble game of her life! A nice long word on a triple word square got her 150+ points. Her final score was 420.

Good for her, woe is me.

Tony

Friday, July 22, 2005

Microsoft-Free Home - The Linux Home Theatre PC

Good article, and not too biased in terms of an anti-M$ stance.


Microsoft-Free Home Part 4: The Linux HTPC--ExtremeTech Build It: "Getting a Linux-based HTPC has probably never been easier"


Now I want one!


T

Monday, July 18, 2005

First mix of the "Shell of Solitude" EP

[SCENE THREE]

(Last week's mix tape is seen flying out the window, with an eerie bass sound resonating in the background)

(Two deranged alchoholics come forth from the darkened cave with bloodshot eyes, bleeding fingers and bloated egos)

After another full weekend of no sleep or food, lots of beer, and music, we've come through the weekend with a 5-song EP. This, of course, is only our first mix, but it turned out surprisingly well. The MP3s are available at http://brandner.hopto.org/dui. You may or may not need a username/password, so if you do send me an email request at kit@serebra.com. I look forward to hearing any constructive criticism, good or bad, that anyone has (after listening to the music, of course).

In a shell of solitude, thoughtless and unprovoked, one can achieve perfect unison between music and emotion, whereby a truism through music is derived.

Wednesday, July 13, 2005

The Weekend Recording Sessions

[SCENE TWO]

(The theme music from JAWS playing quietly in the background, gradually getting louder in anticipation of a bludgeoning force lurking in the shadows)

(Enter dark, ghoulish figure with bald, scaled head and excessive amounts of hair pertruding from it's chin)

The recording sessions took all weekend, with one simple goal in mind: we were going to have our five most solid tracks recorded, mastered, and burnt to a CD by the end of Sunday. So we started on Friday after work, and went all weekend until about 5:30 on Monday morning. We didn't quite reach the goal of having a CD burnt, but we did manage to engineer drum beats, come up with some real track titles and record all five songs by the end of it all.

All being well, look for some actual music availble by next week. All that's left now is mixing, equalizing, any additional mastering and then burning it all onto a CD. It's taken 5 years to get to this point, and if the natural evolution of the music is fabricated in any way all this work is almost pointless, so it seems we'll be playing the waiting game again.

A road less travelled is a road with fewer limitations, and it makes it easier for you to drive with your head in the clouds.

Monday, July 04, 2005

Another chapter comes to an end, and music flourishes

After years of aiming towards a THRASH or some other form of token death metal project, I've recently found that the line between music and noise is much more well-defined than I once thought. The newest project - in the works for about 4/5 years now - is nothing at all what I thought would become of my musical persona and expectations. With the bass, it seems that my strengths are accented - jazzy, funky bass lines mixed with psychadelic guitar riffs and a blend of vocular arrangements that, altogether, construct a discliplined and innovative sound.

The project is simply titled "DUI", but the meaning and depth behind the concept is more along the lines of "Disestablishmentarianism for the Underprivelaged and the Isolated" - hence "DUI". The fact that both of us are alcoholics is purely coincidental. Coming straight from the forest, half-cut and sanity lost, we've (the band, as it currently stands is only myself on bass and vocals, and j.c. on vocals and guitar) matured and evolved so quickly and so perfectly that the end result is nothing short of amazing. This, of course, comes with so many other major life changes. With hair on my head for the first time in years, my license returned after waiting for 4 years, and an oppurtunity to make things right finally, this may prove to be the most productive year musically, creatively, mentally and just otherwise beneficial.

We fully plan to record and master some of our better songs, without any drum tracks at this point, and posting some of the material on the net somewhere (possibly even here).

On a closing note, I would just like to say cheers to all the people that still remain in my twisted realm of existence and my monolithic scope of reality - I appreciate you and anyone else that has endured and/or continues to endure my relentless pursuit of newfound ideals and dreams. I have finally become everything that I ever wanted to be, and the foundation continues to grow.

Friday, June 24, 2005

Father and Son in Seattle







A nice long day in Seattle


Butterflies at the Seattle Science Center

Trip to Seattle - Space Needle





Dylan, Tynan and I went to Seattle for the day, and we had a blast. We checked out the Science Center and the Space Needle, and went for a long walk through downtown Seattle to Pike's Market.

It was a great day!

Monday, June 06, 2005

Kayaking Mayne, Saturna and Pender Island


Standing at the cabin, recovering.


Stitched image near Pender Island.


Paddling towards an island.


The group of four, ready to leave.

Wednesday, May 11, 2005


Davin and her friend make a wee bit o' mess Posted by Hello

Saturday, April 16, 2005

Prince and Princess


Davin as a Princess and Tynan as a Prince Posted by Hello

We went to a Prince-themed birthday this afternoon, so we dressed the kids up. They had a great time.

Thursday, April 14, 2005


Pictures of Davin and Tynan crashed after DisneyLand Posted by Hello

Tuesday, April 12, 2005

Well, we're back from Disneyland (and Legoland), so I thought I'd put up a few pictures to share.

Brandners at Legoland Brandners with Mickey
Tynan and Dale Tony and Davin in Teacup
Davin in Honey Brandners with Donald Duck Brandners sitting in Disneyland
Shawna and Tynan at Electric Parade Davin at Electric Parade

We had a wonderful time, as you can tell.

Tony

Thursday, March 10, 2005

Sick kids

You HAVE to hate when kids get sick. They can't tell you what they feel.
Oh well, hopefully Tynan starts feeling better soon.
 
Welcome to Jennette! I can't wait until you post something!
 

Do you know the difference between a website and a web application?

By my definition, a website is a [usually] publically accessible site that reflects fairly static data and doesn't provide for much in the way of functionality (it doesn't DO anything, it just displays information).

A web application if often for an Intranet (but can easily be public), is usually very dynamic, and is based around one or more functions (it DOES stuff).
These days, the lines are quite blurry. For example, many corporate websites are filled with very dynamic information and web applications (like press releases, job application forms, etc).

The reason that it matters, is that the design of your site or application should be driven by the purpose, and the purpose of a website is usually quite different from that of a web application.

Here is an article I found online that seems to agree.
Think about the Web sites you visit. What do you find there? Content. You see lots of text, graphics, color, animation, and sometimes even glitz and gimmicks, right? Most Web sites are designed to encourage browsing, searching, and exploration.

Now think about the applications you use. You use them to complete tasks. Rarely do you see exciting graphics ... Rarely do you browse, search, or read lots of text. You are a fairly captive audience and don’t need glitz or fascinating content to keep you there. What you do need are quick and easy methods to complete your tasks.

--Jean Tillman

Wednesday, March 09, 2005

A few pictures of the kids from the end of last year. Cute, eh?

Davin Davin Tynan and Davin