I learned something today.

Ok. So in gcc 2.95.3, you can't reinterpret_cast a uint32 into a float - because that could cause bad stuff. You can, however, trick the compiler by reinterpret_cast-ing the address of a uint32 to a float pointer and dereference it to get a similar result (and vice versa). This all seems to work fine and dandy until you get up to numbers between 4,286,578,688 and 4,290,772,991. That range of numbers, when reinterpret_cast-ing into a float has an invalid exponent, which means it is a 1.#NAN. Now, if you try and copy that float into another float, YOU AREN'T guaranteed that the two floats are bitwise equivalent! Turns out that 2^22 is added to the uint32 version of the number in the conversion! (4,194,304), which is the first digit of the mantissa. So, when you get someone who tries to pass a uint32 around by reinterpreting the data into a float, transmitting it over a network and reinterpret it back to a uint32, you get all kinds of problems when you get into the high ranges. When counting ticks, getting into those ranges is almost guaranteed.

Talk about a difficult bug to track down.

*The more you know*

Yearrrrggh!

Think of two of the best things in the world, EVER. Now pick one.

>_<

As the world turns...

We all get older. The pioneers of the gaming industry and the people that love games age, the target is moving. True?

The most interesting part of the article was this:

The social element of the MMORPG genre could also be a boon. Loneliness and isolation are problems often faced by those over 70. With a massively-multiplayer game, however, it's easy to maintain a strong, varied social circle without leaving the home. Videogames are also a hell of a lot more stimulating than watching TV - dozens of studies have concluded that mentally challenging activities can maintain cognitive abilities and stall the onset of dementia. These will surely be key marketing themes in the coming era of mature gamers.

Deep in thought

So I've been thinking a whole lot recently and am having a LOT of trouble coming to a decision - this isn't a small decision and warrants a lot of attention, but wow. O_O I spent over 4 hours seriously talking with a good friend of mine about what's the right and best thing to do, only to come to no conclusion - in fact, brought up another option.

*sigh*

I shouldn't be complaining, I'm in a good place - just need to find the right thing to do. I'll be more detailed about everything once I can.

Hrmm...

Herm - well, I'm in a good and bad place right now, but I have to make a choice. And a big one at that. Expect me to be pondering a lot in the next week or so.

Also, this makes me realize just how insanely meticulous people can be.

Oh. My. God.

I have news - if you're interested, email me, IM me or call me.

Gone.

I left that day, and for some reason, I felt like I was never coming back.

Well, I'm surpried

National Champions, Baby!

Holy freaking crap - the Rose bowl game was UNBELIEVABLE. I almost entirely lost my voice screaming watching the game at home! It was like 4.5 hrs of CONSTANT craziness! Vince Young will truly go down in UT history for what he did in this game!

Woohoo! Go horns! ^_^

Christmas Card

I have been doing lots of Christmas Shopping recently and came across some Christmas cards at Bookpeople - a little pricey, but I really liked them. The front is very simplistic, and has the quote:

"We shall find peace. We shall hear the angels, we shall see the sky sparkling with diamonds."