CurrentlyHearing Bug & Fix
posted on october 25, 2002, tags: plugin
Many thanks to Pete of Monkiboi for catching this bug, and also for finding a simple fix! This only affects Windows 9x systems.
BUG: If you're running Windows 95, 98 (I would assume 98 SE or 98 ME as well), there is a slight bug when CH executes the FTP.EXE batch command. Windows initiates an application called "WINOLDAP," and this program does not automatically close upon the batch file's exit. "WINOLDAP" will therefore sit in your processes list, and will be cloned for each time a song is uploaded. This can cause hanging and stalling after many songs have played.
FIX: Browse to your Winamp/Plugins folder (usually c:program fileswinampplugins). You should see a folder called 'CurrentlyHearing.' Inside this folder, right-click ch_ftp.bat and select Properties from the context-menu. Then, click the Program tab, and check "Close on Exit." Click OK.
This should fix the bug. Note that it may also create a DOS shortcut to cf_ftp.bat, but you can leave that alone as it won't hurt anything. Please email me if you have questions, or post them in the forums.
Where Does Comedy Come From?
posted on october 22, 2002, tags: entertainment
If you have a chance to see Comedian, do. It was very funny, and at the same time touching and interesting. Watching Jerry Seinfeld in such a candid way was absolutely worth the money and the wait. To see someone who, in my opinion, is extremely funny have trouble and doubt himself gives you such insight into Jerry as a person and not just the former main character of a sitcom about nothing. At the same time, the up-and-coming comedian featured in the film, Orny Adams, is a complete ass. The juxtaposition of Jerry, a genuinely funny and nice guy, and Orny, a young guy who thinks he's the funniest guy you've ever met and deserves everything, only helped to make Orny look even worse. I can't understand why anyone trying to make their mark would behave so childishly in a film they knew would be seen by so many people. Either way, see the film if you can.
Winamp V-Day
posted on october 21, 2002, tags: plugin
It was frustrating. I was tired and cold. Winamp.com kept trying to flank me, but nothing could stop my blitzkrieg of complaints. And so, with much humility, Winamp.com surrendered yesterday and posted a correct listing for CurrentlyHearing. Since then, in just over thirty hours, the plugin has been downloaded 92 times, and good comments have been made. CH will always be found here at ManiacalRage, but if you'd like to post a rating and comment about CH for the viewers of Winamp.com to see, you can do so by clicking here.
Many thanks must again go to Reid from Exploding Fist for his excellent review of CurrentlyHearing and to Simon of AllSimon for his link and (what I hope are good) comments (they're in Danish). If you're using CH and I don't know about it, please tell me! I'm hoping to build a link-list to everyone using the plugin, so if you've got CH installed, please either email me or post your link in the proper forum thread.
Winamp War II
posted on october 18, 2002, tags: plugin
The battle with Winamp.com rages on, in attempts to get CurrentlyHearing published there. After two months, a short while ago it was finally posted and downloadable, but someone behind the scenes screwed up, mixing my plugin's info with another's. The result was an idiotic description claiming to be written by me (which it wasn't) and a "staff review" that had nothing to do with my plugin.
After writing to Winamp.com and complaining, I was told to contact the development team (why?), so I did and they never responded. Finally today I posted a message on the forums about it, and was told they would delete my plugin listing and I could resubmit. So now I'll probably have to wait another two months. Yay!
At least 75 people downloaded it from there, although with the wrong description, they probably didn't know what it was.
Even if Winamp.com never posts CH, it will always be available here at ManiacalRage, simply by clicking the link at the top of every page.
Fast Food, Slow Minds
posted on october 18, 2002, tags: me
I stood in line at McDonald's today, and, as always, worked my stare across the face of every person the tiny restaurant, sizing the other patrons up and creatively thinking about how I'm probably so much better on so many levels than everyone in there.
One particular man had a problem understanding exactly what goes into the McTasty burger, and needed several questions asked before he could cough up the one dollar. The questions started in broken English, quickly transforming themselves entirely into Spanish just after I heard the words, "No pickle pickles ketchup?" This just reinforced the fact that I was so perfectly ready to order, therefore how much better I was than him. I mean, let's get serious here—when I was told to "step down," I did so quickly yet smoothly, and delivered my order with clarity and precision. I did not have to be asked which kind of soda I would like. And, when the total was given ($6.70), I easily handed over the seven dollars I had already removed from my wallet whilst standing in line. Meanwhile, bumblefuck to the right of me is yelling, "Fry! I fry! Large meat dollar."
In the crowded small ordering area, things can get rough. You have to learn to roll with the punches, move with the masses, and never, ever step too far away. The trick is to step exactly once to your left and then once back, thus positioning you perfectly for a quick pickup once your meal is ready and bagged, yet also allowing plenty of room for the next person to step down and order. If you over step, you could lose your food forever, as it can be difficult to make it back to the front of the line with everyone pushing you and yelling, "Hey, the line ends back there, pal," and, "Fucker!" I saw a lady today order a small Diet Coke and a small fry, only to lose it to the floor shortly after due to excessive pushing. She wasn't as smart as me either. I tried to tell her that as she picked up a few fries, but she didn't seem to want to hear it.
It's funny, but my being better isn't only limited to patrons either. I'm better than the whole corporation. How do I know this? Well, on my way out I passed by a large standing sign for bobble-head toys. A small piece of paper had been taped to the left side of the sign, and it read, "Buy a bobble-head toy today and get one free hamburger!" Underneath "free hamburger" someone had taped a coupon for a free hamburger, apparently so you could see what one looked like (in case they hadn't quite sold you on the 'free' or 'burger' parts, but you really liked coupons). As I walked out, I glanced at the coupon, and saw the proof of my greatness. It was stamped, "McVoid."
Other Places
posted on october 15, 2002, tags: web
I've got a few links at the bottom of my site, all of which are daily reads. But since this design implementation, I've started to read a few more sites, which I think deserve recognition. Especially now that updates are extremely slow, fill your brain with some other web goodness (in no particular order): What Do I Know, Fireland, Exploding Fist, The Morning News.
Commuting
posted on october 15, 2002, tags: me
The last few weeks have been spent between my apartment here in New Jersey and Katia's apartment in Brooklyn, as I have been working during the week in New York. This seems to be something that might continue for a while now, so I assume this site will not see much attention for some time. Apologies to those who care. It's not dead, even though it looks as such, and I hope to start kicking soon.