The problem with many people is they're waiting for a train but when some old bus comes along, and they see the train so far away in the distance, they go ahead and take that bus, even when it's going the wrong way.

A short summary of the skills I've accumulated throughout my life, almost all of which are self-taught (school only confused me and made up names for things I was already doing <_< ).  Much thanks for the support from online gaming communities I was active with in 2003-2007 back when the internet was much smaller.  I have been programming and making games since I was 12, creating short films and composing music since I was 14, and trading stocks since I was 18.  My latest projects and activities can be found at my creations page.

Technology and Multimedia
• Programming: HTML/CSS, PHP, (My)SQL, Java(Script), AS3, C++/#, Hadoop, Ruby, Python
• Video/Photo: After Effects, Premiere, Encore, Flash, Photoshop, Illustrator.
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To the Moon by Kan Gao

Found the best view for New Year's Eve fireworks on top of my apartment in SF, which overlooks the Bay Bridge and Ferry Building.  Now I got to get my camera skills back up to par.

Before I even speak, they walk away... A string of unthrown surprises, never to see the light of day.

I totally agree with a recent article here about many "ambitious" ventures nowadays being rather small in vision (or not really world changing as the author describes it):
http://www.mercurynews.com/michelle-quinn/ci_24582668/quinn-startups-lack-ambition-but-may-save-world

The article nails what has been bugging me ever since I moved to the bay area. The hard part about describing this is that technically these projects are ambitious since they're already going outside the set career path and all, but it's like doing the bare minimal community service hours to claim you volunteer actively.

It's hard to tell if it's a Bay Area thing or something trending amongst society as a whole. My hope is that it's just a regional thing, or else my moving away to start over will be in vain. Yet where do you move to find people who actually want to take over the world (as opposed to just making some app to help you find a taxi -_-)?

Battle for Immortality (for Houdini SFX Reel 2012) by VideoHelper

Can't wait to use this.  Sounds just like "Multivac" from The Last Question if you've read it.
http://www.pcworld.com/article/2063500/ibm-to-offer-watson-supercomputer-as-cloud-development-platform.html

Anyone want to partner up and code for it when it becomes available?

Jack of all trades? Maybe if I were a master of none and each of my trades alone were not better than your mastery of one.

Childhood's End by Arthur C. Clarke

We started on a planet once located in the Asteroid Belt, but that exploded.  We came to Mars, but the atmosphere blew away.  Finally, we came here but hit our heads and called ourselves Earthlings.

Last of Us Cover by Elspeth Eastman

Something I noticed lately is that most spam comments in Coppermine Galleries contain links.  An easy way to block this type of spam (when they get past CAPTCHA which you should also have) is to add the following code in your db_input.php file:

After:
[code]
    check_comment($msg_body);
   ...[More]

Forget the Lockheed Martin jetpack; this one is way better.
Jetman: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6zgZw3Fgi7I

Going to wait for this to become commercial instead of the LM jetpack which is more like a propeller-powered hovercraft.

If only I was born a few decades later when these are already mainstream.

Such a sad interview...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8qSTvD0Roog

So much logical fallacy employed here, mostly Bulverism.  Unfortunately, it's hard not to run into these types of fallacious arguments nowadays in any subject or discussion.

Studying logical fallacies and inductive reasoning should be mandatory for all disciplines, if only to avoid stuff like this.

No matter how far I travel, I can never seem to reach the stars.

Sapling by Denny Schneidemesser

See that rock that fell from the sky? That's the one that hit me.

     These days I don't know what I'm doing anymore.  It seems completely illogical that I'd be on the path I am now given my history.  What am I doing just making songs or chasing stocks when I used to make games, movies, entire websites, etc?

     Sometimes I forget my frustrations, but every once in a while something like this shows up and just really tests my patience with myself:
     http://all-things-andy-gavin.com/2011/02/10/crash-bandicoot-as-a-startup/

     Besides the fact I use to play those games when I was younger, being able to form a team and produce something on that scale was something I've always dreamed of doing.  It's tough finding finding people of equal or better calibur though and even tougher to find those who share similar ambitions and drive.  Like the author, I also learned most of my programming myself (home-brewed), so it's really hard to relate to colleagues who otherwise...[More]

There is sadness behind these eyes, but because there is nothing I can do about it, for the moment, I smile.