Places I've been recently

Here are a few places where you may or may not be able to find me online:

http://stackexchange.com/users/2245068/tophatproductions115?tab=accounts
http://www.scienceforums.net/topic/89467-a-new-look-at-powered-flight/#entry870615
http://www.cnet.com/forums/discussions/replacing-a-few-computers/?ts=14506308716037

Please be mindful - each of these sites have rules to follow. You won't be able drop by and randomly say 'hi'. These sites are primarily for active discussion of specific topics.

If you're interested, go on and join the discussion!

Computers and Operating Systems Help

A few years ago, I switched academic interests - I went from pursuing mechanical engineering and physics, to studying computer science (this explains why I'm here). In recent times, I have also acquired more computers.

Back in 2011, I had two computers:
- iMac G5, Intel Core 2 Duo, 1GB RAM, Leopard
- Dell, Intel-powered laptop, Windows Vista - no longer in my possession

I also had a Kindle Fire 1G, not rooted at the time.

Jumping into the current day, I now own the following (including those listed above):
- HP 15-g070nr AMD E-Series netbook
- HP Pavilion tx1305us AMD notebook
- Dell Inspiron 17 5000 Series (Intel®) laptop - no touchscreen, Core i5 2.2 GHz
- Also rooted the Kindle, and acquired a low-grade smartphone

While most of these devices are not really that powerful, I decided to have at least two Operating Systems running on each laptop I have - just to give myself a technical challenge.

On the tx1305us, I have Windows 10 and Linux Elementary running successfully (dual boot). On the Dell Inspiron, I have Windows 10 running natively, and am using VMware Workstation Player to test Mac OS X El Capitan. The HP 15 hasn't been easy to get setup yet, but I'm still trying. In addition to this, I did a few silly things as well - I jailbroke an iPod Touch 2G, and installed Chrome Remote Desktop on pretty much all of  the computers listed above.

As you can see, I did some outrageous things to unsuspecting computers. But, with this in mind, I now present an idea. I would like to do the following in this forum thread:
- test new apps and programs
- help out with computer questions and issues
- give tutorials for recent topics and issues

I would like to do this by using this thread to accept questions, and answering them for  all of those who have the same (or similar) issue(s). In addition to this, I also would like to encourage others to answer questions whenever possible, and even post the answers  on other websites if you so choose. In effect, this is a self-help forum that should be able to effectively alleviate issues with almost any system. Have fun, and feel free to ask any questions that are on your mind - just be sure to Google things first.

College - First Semester Comes to an End

As the  first semester comes to an end, I can look back and say that there are a lot of things that I liked about the last few months, and a few I wish I had done differently. Nonetheless, I intend to make the best of my time, and will be getting back to content production over the break, if possible. I have new videos planned, and really want to try out a few new ideas with the ever-growing audience of the TXP-Network. I also have a few things to try in terms of software development and programming as well:

https://github.com/AndroDevcd/Scorpion

As for programming tasks, I have chosen to redesign my private kernel implementation to revolve around five main tasks:

-memory management (new, malloc, remove, etc.) and paging
-safe/real mode switching management
-32-bit runtime support (allows for more CPUs to be supported - not everyone has 64-bit access)
-C/C++ runtime availability (through C++Abi and Linux)
-hardware virtualization (not yet confirmed)

The last  point would make hardware compatibility less of an issue later in development, when looking into code that requires direct access to hardware. Doing something similar to a VM, that would provide a generalized/generic interface for programs requesting access to bare metal. This would remove the need for a driver in the OS. This design is probably going to be difficult for me, but I'll figure it out.

As for new content on YouTube, stay tuned - more is on the way. I know that I've been offline for a while, but it's for a good cause. I intend to get a Technology based career that will allow me to tinker in both software and hardware if possible. But, it's getting late now.

Good night to the TXP-Network, and for any new users,

Welcome to the Galaxy!

Edit - New (Version of an old) Essay!

https://docs.google.com/document/d/13AyBdDJpQFFrivLMHFyS2_MBiv_aLtXEyZpPEa828ww/edit?usp=sharing
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1L-1lyJrv6000p5WWEPf9WBWOJNr5GuOXyJXexKwO1Ag/edit?usp=sharing

Yet Another Computer Configuration for AMD Users...

AMD Athlon II 2.8 GHz Dual Core Processor (ADX220OCK22GM)
http://www.ebay.com/itm/AMD-Athlon-II-2-8-GHz-Dual-Core-Processor-ADX220OCK22GM/321740916483?_trksid=p2141725.c100337.m3725&_trkparms=aid%3D777000%26algo%3DABA.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20141212152338%26meid%3D1530acc6340f493586d208cd1c7df33f%26pid%3D100337%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D1%26sd%3D262069920612

AMD Z7UH01R101 Aluminum Heat Sink & 2.75" Fan w/4-Pin Connector up to 100W
http://www.ebay.com/itm/AMD-Z7UH01R101-Aluminum-Heat-Sink-2-75-Fan-w-4-Pin-Connector-up-to-100W-/231732410828?_trksid=p2141725.m3641.l6368

Asrock N68-VS3 UCC Socket AM3 Micro-ATX Motherboard W/ PCI Onboard Video 2x DDR3 (NVidia GeForce Included)
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Asrock-N68-VS3-UCC-Socket-AM3-Micro-ATX-Motherboard-W-PCI-Onboard-Video-2x-DDR3/221785760700?_trksid=p2047675.c100009.m1982&_trkparms=aid%3D777000%26algo%3DABA.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20131227121020%26meid%3D89756d5d455546a5b47458075d4ff67a%26pid%3D100009%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D1%26mehot%3Dpp%26sd%3D171978533023

4GB 1333MHz 2Rx4 ECC Reg Samsung Memory M393B5170GB0-CH9
http://www.memoryamerica.com/m393b5170gb0-ch9.html?utm_source=m393b5170gb0-ch9&utm_medium=shopping%2Bengine&utm_campaign=googleproducts&gclid=CjwKEAiA9uaxBRDYr4_hrtC3tW8SJAD6UU8Gn9bIKrqTvBo_CNT_FLOpNLR6b6ZJfU-nBGAB-crgHRoCXDvw_wcB

Seagate ST3250310CS 250GB 7200 RPM 8MB Cache SATA 3.5" Internal Desktop Hard Drive - OEM w/1 Year Warranty
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA5AD1P56740&nm_mc=KNC-GoogleMKP-PC&cm_mmc=KNC-GoogleMKP-PC-_-pla-_-All+Desktop+Hard+Drives-_-9SIA5AD1P56740&gclid=CjwKEAiA9uaxBRDYr4_hrtC3tW8SJAD6UU8GdKsZY63-WO2uYnHqPQ25nqKZPKsCldtzh0Z_W0GXkhoCLbnw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

Basix Series Sdgr-500Bx 500W Atx12V V2.2 &Amp; Esp12V V2.91 Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA4S82C14044&nm_mc=KNC-GoogleMKP-PC&cm_mmc=KNC-GoogleMKP-PC-_-pla-_-Power+Supplies-_-9SIA4S82C14044&gclid=CjwKEAiA9uaxBRDYr4_hrtC3tW8SJAD6UU8GYptJUiedHh3MN5MnLSkwVc1uGGpeJZtEJLOm73tlRxoCkIjw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

This is my Optimal hardware/parts list for a killer micro-ATX computer

:)

Anonymous Quote #2

"It is the right of all beings to live without fearing for what their predecessors may have done before their time. They had no control over the outcome, and cannot be blamed for that which they had no hand in. With that said, it is still the responsibility of humanity to respect one another and their idiosyncrasies - whether it be in concurrence or in discord. In addition to this, however, it must also be understood that almost anything that we say or do can be interpreted in numerous ways. Therefore, almost anything can offend almost anyone, within some stretch of the imagination. While it should be so that all of mankind should have respect for one another, it is also the responsibility of all to mutually assume that we are not out to blatantly offend one another. Within the assumption of the condition opposing such lies the loss of our right to self-expression. A race that cannot do or realize such is doomed to conflict and division."

Original date of origin - 2015

Anonymous Quote #1

"We do not inherit obligations due to our pasts. It is simply the responsibility of humanity, in general, to enforce proper ethics and goodwill toward man (meaning mankind, not just men). The fact that someone's ancestors did wrongful deeds in the past does not mean that the future generations owe anything to a generation that can now benefit from an environment influenced by reflection and improvement from a malevolent system of the past. Modern, first-world society has moved on from the archaic ways of slavery and forced labor, and now provides more opportunities than ever for aspiring minds. The fact that the "white man" enforced slavery in the past, by no means, makes it so any caucasians have to pay for what their distant relatives did - they had no part in it. If it were otherwise, we would also have to chastise and punish other races as well - in many tribal areas across the globe, at one point in time or another, slavery occurred whenever one group won, in war, over another. This would include the Native Americans, numerous African nations, and even parts of the Middle East. The victors took the beaten group(s) as slaves and/or servants, and took many of their freedoms away in the process. It's an issue of how people treat each other when they are noticeably different from one another. It's a hatred of anyone that is different from you. It's the lack of empathy for any part of mankind that doesn't act like you. It's as simple as a lack of love, a lack of ethic, and a lack of Jesus, who tells us to care and love one another as brothers and part of the living church. It is truly the root of 'racism' - the nature of sin."

Original date of origin - early 2015

My Thoughts :: The Virtual Landscape

The world has changed substantially from the 1980s - esp. in terms of technology. Hardware was of just as much importance as the software that ran on it. Changes in hardware and software has pushed the boundaries of computing at an exponential rate - but now, changes in hardware won't have quite as much effect as they formerly did. Now, everything will be outsourced and virtualized, leaving users with less hardware in-hand, and focusing the modern experience more-so on software. But, it is important to take a step back occasionally - computers have been in existence since the time of World War II. They started out as mechanical counters and calculators, with primitive timing mechanisms denoting how fast they could operate and limited programmability. Machines like the Colossus, the world's first programmable, electronic, digital computer, were large enough to fill an entire room, and were not used by the public. The Colossus computer was a set of ten computational machines used by the Allies during World War II to crack the Lorenz cipher. Later milestones, such as ENIAC and EDVAC took computing a step further by introducing the concept of storing both data and programs in the computer itself rather than using removable media to do so. To add on to the mounting milestones set by these three machines, they were all Turing complete, meaning that they were able to emulate the functionality of a machine with the following traits:

• having a limited set of states
• having a (medium) with storage cells and a read/write device that can move along the medium
• having a transition function that allows the machine to switch states
• having its own working-alphabet (set of characters)

But the mentioned machines all suffered one subtle problem - they were multi-ton monsters, and could not be moved. While this wasn't an issue during the time of their use, modern computers would not exist today if they had stayed the way they were in the 40s to 60's. Even with the advent of the BRLESC and ORDVAC machines - whose computational power dwarfed their 20-years removed predecessors, they were only capable of up to five million operations per second (the BRLESC), and still had the problem of size. Companies with the likes of IBM and HP would have to change the scene, providing some of the first personal computers in the industry. This was the 1980s - the so-called Digital Age. The next major companies to appear afterward were Apple and Microsoft - Google arrived approx. 20 years later, in the late 90s. These companies initiated the development of the modern PC, which still is Turing complete to some extent, but can accomplish way more than their older counterparts - by leaps and bounds. But, even after all of these years, all of these machines have certain characteristics in common, including:

• having an input-output mechanism for accepting and returning data (or an acceptable set of characters)
• a central processing mechanism for modifying the input and performing calculations (limited set of interchangeable states, for processing)
• a form of storage for data that is either in use or saved for later (storage medium)

With this in mind, while no two computers are alike, all computers follow this model, which appears to be an indirect derivative of the Turing requirements.

With the advent of modern computers, the hardware has advanced substantially. Instead of flops measuring the number of calculations per second, gigahertz tell how many timing oscillations a computer's processor goes through in a second - in which billions of computations can be accomplished. The wires and circuits are not vacuum tubes, but instead silicon and fiberoptic. Soon, they'll even have diamond wire. It's highly unlikely that we will be able to see this first-hand, however. With the change in focus switching to software, having hardware might not be a common sight in the future. With the focus of technology switching from personal hardware to hosted software, what will be the effect on personal ownership, and when will it become more of a hindrance than a benefit? Is allowing someone, that we don't know, to manage our personal life and files on the network a good idea?

Virtualization is a branch of Autonomic computing (a self-managing computing model based upon the physiological autonomic nervous system) that emulates a specific environment, esp. when in an effort to increase efficiency and/or ease of use. By pooling various resources in calculated manner, virtualization allows for systems to exist that would otherwise be immensely uneconomical in physical implementation, and nearly impossible for the average person to understand or utilize. Cloud and web hosts use network and storage virtualization to allocate bandwidth and digital storage, from accross multiple servers, to various users. The catch is, the users never have to be bothered about where their data is stored or how their website is served. All of the heavy calculations pertaining to where data should go, which IP addresses should host which websites, and who should have what amount of bandwidth at any given moment are all handled by the servers' subsystems. Emulators, another form of virtualization, involve emulating hardware with software, to run legacy programs that required older systems to operate on. A more common form of virtualization is called a virtual machine, and it allows users to run multiple operating system images simultaneously on almost any modern computer in existence. With this advancement, those with the likes of Apple, Google, and Microsoft would never need to purchase spare computers to test their latest operating systems, curbing potential costs tremendously.

In this manner, computing power and resources can be efficiently rationed to tasks as needed from a network, without having to set up more network resources to handle the same load - esp. if the existing network/resources can already handle the load with whatever's left. It's like putting the unused cookie dough that didn't go through the cookie cutter to work - instead of tossing it, all of the dough gets used, reducing the amount of resources wasted. The newest forms of virtualization even allow you to run applications requiring a certain runtime environment on other operating systems, from a cloud-based instance on another server - removing the software compatibility issues that computers once had. In addition to this, one key feature must be noted - the system acts as one machine, making it difficult for the user to be able to tell that multiple machines in multiple locations are handling the task. While you sit at your desk uploading a file to an online backup server, the online backup server could be creating multiple copies of your files to protect against data loss, or storing parts of you folder on various servers to optimize space allocation and usage. And all of this is done without you having to lift a finger - quite different from the days of old.

As mentioned before, the virtual cloud has an immense list of benefits for the taking - with the best being that your personal computer doesn't have to do most of the work. With that said, here's a swift recap on the best parts of the Virtual/Cloud experience:

• Three types of virtualization/cloud services exist, all of which can partially or fully replace the need for local services that would normally need to be on your computer.
• Software as a Service (SaaS) provides common computer applications online for use on almost any platform available, removing the runtime compatibility issue
• Platform as a Service (PaaS) provides one of more frameworks, runtime environments, and APIs for customers to use in application development and/or providing virtual systems online that can replace desktop systems in some cases (VPS)
• Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) is the most common one you can come across, and includes a myriad of basic cloud storage and internet protocol - providing services, such as VoIP and Amazon AWS.
• With SaaS, organized collaboration becomes one of the easiest tasks on the internet - getting group projects done in an efficient manner is no longer a chore
• Due to hardware efficiency, Virtual/Cloud is also greener in cost and environmental impact than traditional IT

The virtual world of the cloud has never looked so attractive. But, there is a bad side to it.

Some of the largest drawbacks to the virtual cloud are also related to some of its shining features. Data ownership and rights in the cloud varies from service provider to provider. Facebook, Twitter, and Google Plus are examples of providers whose terms and conditions change constantly - esp. those relating to data ownership and content privacy on their networks. Data Privacy in the cloud also varies. It's hard enough dealing with the fact that you're tracked every time you open the web browser (cookies). Now, any data that you upload can be looked through as well, depending on the provider. If your provider says that they'll remove any copyrighted content you upload, or even revoke service from you if you choose to upload content that's questionable, that's a good indicator that they can (and possibly are) looking at your data - esp. Google. Reliable service is also key as well. If the service provider that you are using suddenly goes out of business or changes their service in a detrimental way, you have to migrate your data to another network. This field in general is ever changing, and service providers sadly come and go.

You also need to have reliable internet service to be able to use and access the cloud as well. Without an ISP (Internet Service Provider), you will end up dead in the water in some cases Places with bad internet reception become your worst enemies. The worst worry of dealing with the cloud is worrying about the safety of your data - if you don't have a local backup of your data, it's even worse in your case. The stakes couldn't be any higher, esp. with the new cracking methods and threats arising daily. Things like HeartBleed and ShellShock (of the past) quickly become the least of your concerns as newer forms of technological invasion are developed everyday. But the worst of this is, many breaches occur on an accidental basis in the corporate world. Typing in an incorrect URL while on your work network could accidentally reveal something confidential that you never wanted to know in the first place. For these reasons and more, many businesses and people in general have chosen to resist moving to the cloud, and simply work with whatever hardware they have available. By restricting use of the virtual cloud, they can avoid the pitfalls of allowing outsourced management of their bandwidth and data. But they lose the opportunity to utilize the virtual cloud's power as a result, which is a problem as well. With this in mind, it seems as though there has to be a functional median between these options.

The composite Hybrid Cloud uses a combination of local, private resources and cloud/public servers, with synchronization between the two platforms to provide more flexibility in operations. Where it may cost more to use the cloud, you could just choose to host locally instead. And vice versa. One instance could involve a business that makes use of local resources to host a private cloud for sensitive and critical services, and uses a third-party service, such as Amazon AWS and Google Compute Engine, to host less-critical, development workloads. Synchronizing software can facilitate the connections between the two halves, and the system as a whole can run as one machine. Systems of this design tend to be:

• More adaptable to changing conditions and workloads
• More reliable with processing of 'Big Data'

Ironically, however, the Hybrid Cloud also retains many of the same pros and cons of its constituents as well - the local and the virtual cloud. In fact, it may also introduce a few new issues as well:

• "...Hybrid cloud requires API compatibility and solid network connectivity" - because no network is ever 100 percent perfect.There will be connectivity problems - unless you're willing to act as your own ISP and manage every data packet that traverses your network (no one ever gets this anal about it). Also, APIs can have bugs/flaws as well.
• The public portion is esp. prone to having issues as well - "for the public cloud piece of hybrid cloud, there are potential connectivity issues, SLA breaches and other possible public cloud service disruptions."

While many of these issues can be accounted for and handled by capable IT, most people might not be able to pull off everything listed in this paper.

Upon further analysis of the given points, it is quite apparent that the decision becomes a matter of what you're willing to put up with in terms of the benefits and pitfalls you will experience. While the cloud has the advantage of being the newer and more efficient option, the environment itself is more dangerous. On the other hand, local networking is somewhat less efficient at times, and isn't as ubiquitously available. Hybrid networks attempted to fix the issue, but instead are faced with the compounded issues of both the local and the virtual realm. As it stands, the best choice is the one that you are willing to use, based upon your circumstances and limitations. With this said, I leave the decision to you the reader.

Sources and other content behind this paper can be found here:
https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0B98YR-Jm_dNAZUlmZ0ZEN1JNYm8&usp=sharing

Have a nice weekend!

My Thoughts on Science, Philosophy, and Religion

What is philosophy?

Before going any further, it is important to uncover what philosophy does (or at least is meant to do). Philosophy includes, but is not limited to: metaphysics, epistemology, value theory, ethics, aesthetics, and logic. Metaphysics is the study of sensual reality versus transcendent (not necessarily spiritual) reality. Epistemology is the study of theory and knowledge of truth. Value theory is a broad class that involves the study of subjective and objective values of all types. Ethics is defined as the study of moral values, placing this concept in the same class as value theory. Aesthetics is the study of the value of art and subjective concept of beauty. Before the last object is studied, it is important to note a significant difference between the former classes and Logic, the final topic to be discussed. While the former concepts listed were classes that referred to various fields of philosophical thought, Logic is more of a tool that is used, in conjunction to the others, to make sense of reality. Logic is defined as the formulation of principles of right reasoning. Now that reasoning has been mentioned, it is time to mention important factors of philosophy: reasoning, criticism, examination, and analysis. Philosophy is considered to be a rational and critical enterprise, involving the use of sound reasoning, logic, value analysis, personal examination, and an open mind to have full effect. One final item to note before reaching the definition of philosophy is the notion of philosophy not applying to modern life and everyday issues. That notion is incorrect. Such a notion overlooks the very structure of the human existence. Modern, complex issues stem from simpler issues - such as the basis of political issues stemming from personal ethics and populism, clashing in a struggle to decide the fate of a population via the actions of the individual. Philosophy,in the Greek, is equated to the "love of wisdom" and "pursuit of knowledge". Philosophy urges people to attempt to think rationally and critically about the questions deemed most relevant to human existence - especially the question of what is and isn’t (reality). The way in which philosophy is performed and practiced resides in that which is known as Philosophical methodology. Wikipedia:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philosophical_methodology

"Systematic philosophy is a generic term that applies to philosophical methods and approaches that attempt to provide a framework in reason that can explain all questions and problems related to human life. Examples of systematic philosophers include Plato, Aristotle, Descartes, Spinoza, and Hegel. In a meaningful sense, all of western philosophy from Plato to the modern schools of theoretical metaphysics. In many ways, any attempts to formulate a philosophical method that provides the ultimate constituents of reality, a metaphysics, can be considered systematic philosophy. In modern philosophy the reaction to systematic philosophy began with Kierkegaard and continued in various forms through analytic philosophy, existentialism, hermeneutics, and deconstructionism.[1]

Some common features of the methods that philosophers follow (and discuss when discussing philosophical method) include:

-Methodic doubt - a systematic process of being skeptical about (or doubting) the truth of one's beliefs.
-Argument - provide an argument or several arguments supporting the solution.
-Dialectic - present the solution and arguments for criticism by other philosophers, and help them judge their own."


What is Religion?

Religion, according to philosophy, is a concept involving the binding of a person to a subjectively ultimate concern and/or god-like figure. In terms of philosophy, it has not much to do with what one thinks, but more so what one does. However, religion is more like philosophy than one would assume from the given description. Religion also attempts to answer the ultimate questions of existence as well, but then proceeds to enter the metaphysical and spiritual realms of the human mind and decision-making processes. Religion is an organized collection of beliefs and views that relate humanity to an order of existence. Philosophy, in contrast doesn’t necessarily suggest the existence of a deity, but instead an ultimate reality and the existence of the perfect forms that exist in the “Ideal state”, theorized by Plato. Philosophy also bases ethics and value more so upon logic and what is deemed good, according to logic and certain basic truths. With philosophy’s method, more than one interpretation of right and wrong could emerge. Religion attempts to make only one set of ethics, for all who follow. Philosophy and religion both attempt to make objective the topic of ethics. If one were to infer which of Williams James’s philosophical inclinations/mindsets religion most closely follows, it would probably be the tender-minded. In limited terms, the tender-minded tend to relate more to conviction and belief, interpersonal unity, the realm of spiritual existence, the existence of free-will, and a base of general reasoning.


What is science, in relation to philosophy?

On the other hand, science is the empirical study of the natural world, with its Latin etymological origin coming from the word for knowledge - "scientia". While both science and philosophy are pursuits of knowledge, science is a more specific field that can only apply to the natural world and universe. Both science and philosophy have static methods of processing information and discerning truth. While philosophy is open to change in results, science is less flexible. In addition to this, science makes no attempt to delineate the the properties or nature of the metaphysical. Science does not delve into the realm of metaphysical and unexplained phenomena. Philosophy, on the other hand, cannot accurately do what the scientific method does - they are two different things. It could, however, use logical processes and reasoning to interpret and analyze data and empirical results to reach conclusions. If one were to infer which of Williams James’s philosophical inclinations/mindsets science most closely follows, it would most-likely be the tough-minded. The tough-minded philosophical mindset is associated with the existence of the "ultimate reality", the non-existence of free-will, the pointlessness of human and world history, the importance of disparity and evidence, and a general base of empirical decision making. Long story short, science can't go anywhere near the realm of metaphysical and unexplained phenomena without labeling it a randomly-calculated coincidence. But, science does have something that appears to mimic the Philosophical Method(ology) - the Scientific Method.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientific_method

"The scientific method is a body of techniques for investigating phenomena, acquiring new knowledge, or correcting and integrating previous knowledge.[2] To be termed scientific, a method of inquiry is commonly based on empirical or measurable evidence subject to specific principles of reasoning...

A linearized, pragmatic scheme...:

Define a question
Gather information and resources (observe)
Form an explanatory hypothesis
Test the hypothesis by performing an experiment and collecting data in a reproducible manner
Analyze the data
Interpret the data and draw conclusions that serve as a starting point for new hypothesis
Publish results
Retest (frequently done by other scientists)"


What Does This Mean?

Science and Philosophy, in order to revise knowledge that we know, works with a process that involves questioning the known/given, hypothesizing or arguing a new approach or view, and testing of the new hypothesis - in many cases, performed in a cyclical process, as both practices are everchanging and never complete.


Is there such a thing as a higher power?

While it is widely assumed that religion, esp. Christianity, is misplaced belief in lofty and/or unproven assertions, it is important to note that in multiple instances, scientific research and studies have proven parts of the Christian Bible and its claims to be correct. Moreover, religion in general has never actually been disproven. Science, on the other hand, has had its share of trashed theories and failed experiments. Even some of the Earth's brightest, non-religious minds have suggested, at the very least, the existence of a higher power. Those with the likes of Socrates and Paul Dirac have even touched on the possible existence of a higher plane of existence and a higher power of divine attribution, giving those very aspects of religion as the possible source of life in the universe and reason for the existence of the universe itself. Those with the likes of Isaac Newton and Albert Einstein were looked down upon by their very peers for having religious/Judeo-Christian ties, and never doubted the existence of a higher power. In Socrates' case, he was executed for his  views. Paul Dirac got off scot-free.

But what I would like to ask of the topic of ethics is this - what is the purpose of ethics, beside leaving people with a subjective veil of grey to navigate. Surely, there must be a reason to why we hold them dear to us, even when their subjectivity causes more conflict than peace. Could it be that at some time in the past, ethics were more universal than what we've made them out to be? Religion provides a dogmatic purpose for such moral values, in particular, Christianity. If one truly cares for another, why would one sin against another. The concept of sin now becomes an issue; one that I will not discuss, for the matter of right and wrong is a discussion for another day.


What does philosophy say about Christianity? Is it right or wrong?

Philosophy sees Christianity as a dogmatic religion. To an extent, it is correct to say so. But, so are some philosophers in their rejection of the existence of a higher power. One can neither prove nor disprove the existence of a god. Even scientists cannot fully disprove the concept; therefore, those who are opposed to it simply mock those who think otherwise. In a sense, science has become a faith as well. In modern times, it has become an attempt to explain the forces of nature while explaining away the "preposterous thought" of the existence of a higher power - that of which has been unsuccessful thus far. Nonetheless, philosophers do have the right to claim that Christians are dogmatic; Christians have a sturdily-supported faith thus far, in both the realms of the scientific mind and the tender-minded alike. A true faith requires a certain level of dogmatism from its followers, especially in holding strictly to what is stated in text - in this case, the Bible.


Concluding Thoughts

To compare the two, this paper will start with science. Science starts reality with the the singularity (also known as the ‘BigBang’) providing all matter and energy and the theory that states all things are made of matter and energy - the former being another form of the latter. Lacking any assumed truths (aside from the unexplained nature of the singularity), science follows the tough-minded side of philosophy quite well. It’s primarily empirical approach limits all of detectable, observable reality to the will of explainable calculation and provable theory. Contrary to such is the approach of religion. In many cases, based upon the existence of a higher power and certain fundamental assertions that underlie all of  existence, religion takes to the tender-minded mindset, and follows the line of philosophy referring to the existence of certain existing truths that simply can’t be proven; like mathematical postulates that scientists may use time and time again. Religion also provides a basis for objective values/ethics and the fact that there is distinguishable good and not-good (bad), with good being the basis for what humanity will inevitably concentrate toward, and the existence and impact of free-will. Science, in some cases, suggests against that of either the latter or both. In overall concept and structure, religion appears to more-closely follow the intended path of the pursuit of truth, set forth in the field of philosophy.

To conclude this flow of thought, philosophy shares a common link with all knowledge-seeking disciplines - the pursuit of knowledge and truth. How they go about their search is what distinguishes them from each other. While science uses an empirical, tough-minded approach that involves the scientific method, religion is tender-minded, and involves the use of certain assumed truths that underlie the rest of reality. Philosophy is the search for truth that, while having certain assumed truths, also has to abide by logic, and also extends into the metaphysical. While both science and religion seek truth, religion more closely follows the philosophical method.

For more:
https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0B98YR-Jm_dNAakNEYmhLU2h2NEk&usp=sharing

TRANSFORMERS: Devastation Behind the Scenes with PlatinumGames

Game Theory: Gamers, You're Getting Played

Game Theory: Yes, PewDiePie. YouTube IS Broken

Game Theory: Leave PewDiePie ALONE!

Yet Another Critique - Fantastic Voyage!

Here are the links:

Main:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1AaaF8BjDXO6HmzBLOknuS6Szo16F3TcXSlJPyLkgZgo/edit?usp=sharing

Synopsis:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1V3HnHImcbdVumhlFhGNsVFK0NNi2Eno5BR3KQQHvSeU/edit?usp=sharing

Enjoy!

Cookies and Stupidity

https://www.cookiechoices.org/

This is something that we all should have learned about back in grade school. Why the heck is it a surprise to so many? Personalized services come at a price - esp. free ones. The fact that the EU requires a notice for this really says something - with all of the tech gadgets and junk we've managed to make and get our hands on, we've become even less technologically literate. More people don't even know how things like this work, and explaining it to them ends up being a waste of time as a result. Where did Comp Sci: Grade School go? Instead of sitting around making shell apps all day and teaching web markup, we should be teaching people the basics of computing and (Big) data/IT. Whenever this finally happens, we'll finally get a break from people saying that they didn't know a cookie can track them - it's old news. It's up to you to Hide Your @$$.

www.hidemyass.com/
With that said, my rant is over. Now, for those of us who know better than to assume that no one is watching what we do online, a small joke:

http://james.hamsterrepublic.com/technomancy/

A Review of Ant-Man (w/ Sources)

Ant-Man is a MARVEL cinematic universe - based film that was released in 2015. This film involves multiple genres, including the Sci-Fi Thriller genre, Superhero, Action, and Adventure.In the original comic lure and the new movie, a scientist known as Henry "Hank" Pym had found a way to shrink the size and mass of matter. He later found a way to increase the size and mass as well. This was due to the existence of something known as the Pym Particle. With this new found discovery, Hank Pym is capable of superhuman feats, and acts as a superhero under the name of Ant-Man.. The Pym particles originally worked in conjunction with a populated dimension - but, this aspect of the story did not hold in the new movie. Instead, the particles now alter the space within the atoms themselves - this is a much more believable take on the science behind the Ant-Man’s ability to shrink.
Ant-Man is currently an alias donned by Scott Lange. In the movie adaptation, Scott Lange has just finished a short jail sentence, only to find that he is completely unable to hold a job under any circumstances. Meanwhile, an ousted Henry "Hank" Pym works to stop Darren Cross, his former apprentice, from perfecting the same technology that he had used so long ago as a means of changing the world and giving Hydra an upper hand. Hydra would surely use the Pym Particles for evil purposes. Since long-term use of the particles has adverse affects on the user’s health, Hank Pym can no longer act as Ant-Man - he enlists Scott Lang as the new Ant-Man, to stop Cross and Hydra from developing and obtaining their own Pym Particles. Along the way, we learn of Hank's late wife, Janet Van Dyne, and Hope Van Dyne, who may later become the new Wasp in subsequent MARVEL releases. Like many other Sci-Fi Stories in the MARVEL Cinematic Universe, Ant-Man presents the conflict of scientific advancement vs. ethics. Hank Pym and Scott Lang are both for keeping Hydra and other government entities from using the Pym Particles, while Cross and Hydra both appear to be in favor of letting the cat out of the bag with this scientific endeavour.
In relation to this, the main conflict becomes the struggle between those individuals of ethic and the corporations and government entities who lack thereof. The Ant-Man story makes use of the tried-and-tired evil-authorities-versus-individuals trope. While this does work in pushing the overarching theme of advancement versus ethics, the overused authority-versus-individual trope acts as a minor slight to the movie's overall creativity, potential, and believability. Plots like this are difficult to see as more than glorified fairytale. It’s very unlikely, and in the end, business and government entities are almost never on the same side - let alone, beat by a washed-up underdog. With that said, the movie itself is still enjoyable, and written well enough to convince viewing audiences to suspend belief for the plot. The science, on the other hand, is spot-on - director Peyton Reed has done well. The story for the movie was a new take on the original, with changes made all around. The changes made were beneficial for making it click with bothcomic book aficionados and viewers who have never even touched a comic book, or seen MARVEL's Avengers in 2012.
Character development is an important aspect of any movie - Ant-Man is no exception. The main characters include:

Henry "Hank" Pym, the discoverer - played by Michael Douglas:
Hank Pym is depicted as a former scientist, who was ousted from his company by his estranged daughter Hope Van Dyne and a former protege Darren Cross. He resigned from S.H.I.E.L.D. (Strategic Homeland Intervention Enforcement and Logistics Division - or the CIA on steroids) when they had attempted to, and failed to, recreate the Pym Particles, without his knowledge. He then swore to keep this knowledge from the world for as long as he lived. Years later, when he was horrified to find that his company, Pym Technologies, was attempting to recreate the science behind the Ant-Man. As a result, he turned to a makeshift hitman, who would later become the new Ant-Man.

Hydra:
Being featured recently in the MARVEL movie Captain America: Winter Soldier, Hydra was known as an international organization bent on total domination of the world.At this point, Hydra's recent infiltration of S.H.I.E.L.D. and fall at the hands of Captain America, the Winter Soldier, and Nick Fury has left S.H.I.E.L.D. in shambles and Hydra in pieces as well. However, they are still around - in fact, they want to buy the YellowJacket from Darren Cross.

Darren Cross, the apprentice - played by Corey Stoll:
Darren was a former protege of Hank Pym at Pym Technologies, and was quite interested in the now - rumoured Pym Particles. Having worked closely beside Pym for much of his career, Cross displayed extraordinary skill and zeal in his work, but soon began to cause Hank Pym worry, due to his obsession with the discontinued research in Pym Particles. Dr.Pym was disturbed because he saw too much of himself in Cross at the time. Darren, along with Pym's estranged daughter Hope Van Dyne, would oust Hank from his own company, allowing Darren to come out as CEO of Pym Tech. He later started project, which was supposed to be a recreation of the Ant-Man technology and science, geared toward use by the government and Hydra.

Scott Lang, the hitman - played by Paul Rudd:
Scott Lang is depicted as a reformed, well-meaning thief and electronics expert. When he wasn't able to make ends meet working on electronics for various clients, Scott turned to a life of crime, and was forced to serve jail time as a result when he was caught - during which he met cell mate Luis. In the 2015 movie rendition of this situation, Scott's wife divorced and remarried to a police man, leaving Scott on his own. Unable to hold a job with a jail record, he once again almost resorts to a life of crime, with Luis giving him details of a possibly lucrative steal - in this case, Hank Pym's Ant-Man suit. Hank Pym purposefully set up the gig as a way of testing Scott while in the Ant-Man suit. This is how Scott Lang starts his career as the new Ant-Man of the MCU.

Scott Lang’s backstory of having turned to a life of petty crime to support his family when his expertise in electronics couldn’t afford him enough to take care of his family is one that some people could resonate with who have lost jobs before, and weren’t able to support themselves - whether they turned to a life of crime is another topic. It made Ant-Man more humanly relatable. But the cinematic timeline that Ant-Man is involved with will be vastly different from what any comic book readers have seen so far - Ant-Man is no longer the prodigal genius and mad-scientist he once was since Hank is no longer the one in the suit. Instead, this version of Ant-Man is a well-meaning father and an after-the-fact heroic role model.

Ant-Man's costume department is the same one that works on the rest of the MARVEL Cinematic Universe. As such, the theme of composite fabrics, with leather and metallic gadgets interspersed throughout is quite prevalent. In this case, though, the Ant-Man suit now has a steam-punk biker outfit feel. The visual effects and cinematography of Ant-Man were spectacular, ranging from the normal human-oriented scenes to the heavily-augmented action sequences. It was filmed with IMAX 3D, and it graphics were provided by the prestigious ILM company - known for its involvement in numerous hits, such as the Terminator franchise, MARVEL's Avengers, Star Wars, and even the Transformers. The main visual appeal for this film was seeing the macro scenes in comparison to the micro scenes - scenes filmed in the real world, in comparison to the generated microscopic world that Ant-Man supposedly sees when he shrinks to incredibly small sizes. Seeing that Ant-Man spends a great deal of time in the world of micro, these scenes were key to creating a captivating environment for the viewers' eyes to explore during the movie. These scenes were artfully done, with a rich mixture of scientifically-believable detail and creativity from the art department.

Even the action sequences are works of art. The scene featuring Ant-Man and YellowJacket fighting, shrunk, in a briefcase was quite enjoyable, with their lasers-based weapons of choice sending bright colour across the battlefield and illuminating the inside of the briefcase in a way that gave the scene a completely different feel from what was expected. Instead of seeming like a cramped room, the briefcase suddenly became a strategic landscape and minefield, with small, non-obtrusive, explosions adding to the sense of danger, rather than drowning out the fight at hand. The macro world had decent sequences as well - during their infiltration of Pym Technologies, the Ant-Man was being chased by armed gunmen. In this scene, a crucial element is observed - a switch between the macro and micro worlds. When Ant-Man goes to take on the gunmen, he runs at them and proceeds to shrink, drastically changing the view from multiple gunmen versus a suited man in a room, to the edge of the lead gunman's pistol which acts as a dangerous ledge. Ant-Man then uses his size-augmented superhuman strength to force the gunmen into capitulation, but not before switching to a different landscape - a scaled city model of the Pym Tech. building and surrounding structures. As the delicate model took gunfire from the spooked gunmen, the land around Ant-Man became a full out war zone, giving the scene a new take altogether. Creativity in this interaction between the macro and micro was well played and kept in sync throughout the length of the scene, from the first gunshot to the final scene as Pym Tech. is destroyed by a mysterious implosion, resembling that of a small black hole. Balance was key, and balance was observed.

The film itself also sported some fitting comedy and James Bond - style action snippets in some cases. When Hank Pym is introduced to the new Pym Laboratories, managed and run by Darren Cross, the viewers get to see some old scenes of the original Ant-Man - Hank Pym - in action during various missions and classified escapades. In the words of Darren Cross himself, “Imagine a soldier the size of an insect, the ultimate secret weapon...” These golden years for the Ant-Man were somewhat like watching an old James Bond movie, to a limited extent. Even the original opening sequence that was planned for the movie was supposed to be like a James Bond movie - it was later scrapped. In terms of comedy, here’s how part of Scott and Hank planning to remove Yellow Jacket from the equation went down:

Scott Lang: "My days of breaking into places and stealing [crap] are over! What do you need me to do?"

Hank Pym: "...I want you to break into a place and steal some [crap]."

Scott Lang: "...makes sense."

The movie is speckled with light-hearted laughs and gags for audiences of all ages, and caters to the wide viewership quite effectively. Luis's character, played by Michael Peña, added comic relief to the film. In a hilarious scene, YellowJacket can be clearly seen, being run over by Thomas the Train while fighting Ant-Man in Scott Lang’s daughter’s bedroom. The film had other instances of gags as well, including a certain scene involving an oversized ant becoming Scott's wife's new family pet - I won't mention anymore than that, to avoid spoilers. The film's more down-to-Earth retelling of the original story can be appreciated by both avid comic book readers and those new to the superhero genre who haven't even heard of the Avengers, or the star team member Ant-Man. The movie also has other MARVEL character cameos, possibly attracting fans of other superheroes to the theaters in the process - effective move. In connection to this strategy, Ant-Man is also linked to the rest of the MCU during a post-credit scene that displays the heroes Falcon, Captain America, and the Winter Soldier. Ant-Man is now linked with the Avengers superhero team that was featured in the 2012 Avengers and 2015 Avengers: Age of Ultron films from the same MCU. Ant-Man is now part of a larger context. The sound science behind this film, along with its connection to other successful MARVEL films in the MCU really helps in pushing the movie from obscurity to fame. I would strongly suggest watching this movie - it is definitely worth the runtime.

Sources:
1) Ant-Man. Dir. Peyton Reed. Perf. Michael Douglas, Paul Rudd, Corey Stoll. Marvel Studios, 2015. Film.

2) "Ant-Man's Move Away from 007 Pays off." The HMSS Weblog. 19 July 2015. Web. 11 Sept. 2015.<https://hmssweblog.wordpress.com/2015/07/19/ant-mans-move-away-from-007-pays-off/>.

3) "Ant-Man." IMDb. IMDb.com, 2015. Web. 15 Sept. 2015. <http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0478970/>.

4) "Ant-Man (Scott Lang) - Marvel Universe Wiki: The Definitive Online Source for Marvel Super Hero Bios." Marvel Universe Wiki RSS. Marvel. Web. 11 Sept. 2015. <http://marvel.com/universe/Ant-Man_(Scott_Lang)>.

5) Dubow, Charles. "What Role for Government in American Business?" Bloomberg.com. Bloomberg, 15 Sept. 2011. Web. 11 Sept. 2015. <http://www.bloomberg.com/small-business/how-can-washington-help-american-business-09152011.html>.

6) Harris, Rob. "Ant-Man Was Originally "Almost Like A Bond Movie"?!" Moviepilot.com. 23 July 2015. Web. 11 Sept. 2015. <http://moviepilot.com/posts/2015/07/23/ant-man-s-scrapped-opening-was-originally-like-a-bond-movie-but-will-we-ever-get-to-see-it-3405646?lt_source=external,manual>.

7) Keyes, Rob. "‘Ant-Man': The Potential Problem With Pym Particles." Screen Rant. Screen Rant, 22 June 2015. Web. 11 Sept. 2015. <http://screenrant.com/ant-man-pym-particles/>.

8) "Kosmos (dimension)." Marvel Database. Marvel Database. Web. 11 Sept. 2015. <http://marvel.wikia.com/wiki/Kosmos_(dimension)>.

9) "Pym Particles." Marvel Database. Marvel Database. Web. 11 Sept. 2015. <http://marvel.wikia.com/wiki/Pym_Particles>.


Bonus Content!

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ZmNuaP0IdXeHYsIVWSs9gX7E7V5iKHpzDkHyNN-HTk8/edit?usp=sharing

TXP-MC Reviews: Minecraft 1.9 Beta Snapshot

TXP-Network Update: 8/30/15

A Personal Quote

People are like atoms. They have orbits of varying energy levels, with the furthest reaches of the electron cloud being interchangeable with other atoms.
People have orbits and networks consisting of other people in relative fashion. Those further away from centre are interchangeable and rarely make a difference.
Like a subatomic dance, the electrons, the people, frantically switch in and out of position as time and relationships progress - a play of sorts, organized chaos.

People and atoms also have properties that make them unique.
Personalities are like isotopes and moods are like ionic states. They can change over time.

But also like atoms, people all have binding properties that define us as one.
They all have the same parts.

Matter, like society, can't exist with out its components.
Matter needs atoms, and society needs people - responsible, dedicated, ethical people.

Human chemistry depends upon a change in a single factor - will you be that change?

TXP-Network Policy Changes

Due to recent events that I care not to mention, new policies are being implemented:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/adqx5a2e0wf5ihi/gaming_network_policy.txt?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/7hggm852soqzd38/limits.txt?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/lt3gxjwqu3mg2fz/social_media_policy.txt?dl=0

These policies will be enforced no later than July 1st 2015. Please study them.

BTW, if you actually want to contact me, pleas e-mail me first. Provide internet username and purpose before initiating further contact. If you do attempt to Skype me without an initiating e-mail, you will be ignored.

Good Day.

Coming soon to the ReadingRoom 101 home page!

Recent Headlines:

Greece is possibly going to default soon.
https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.vox.com/2015/6/8/8747195/greece-crisis-explained&sa=U&ved=0CA4QFjADahUKEwjx7MS4pY_GAhV4SYwKHdn3ANQ&client=internal-uds-cse&usg=AFQjCNGFpcW8xhuBiEwDdeDbehLvTTdxmA

Germany's not happy either.
https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.vox.com/2015/6/11/8764467/germany-foreign-policy-russia&sa=U&ved=0CAUQFjAAahUKEwii-sfIpY_GAhXtMowKHcb2AEU&client=internal-uds-cse&usg=AFQjCNH49avfn7jzIO3Dt5GmYDTyFXJmdg

ISIS likes social media (bad).
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/jun/13/islamic-state-winning-the-social-media-war-state-d/

The government's been breached/cracked (again - how do they still have their jobs?).
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/jun/13/white-house-pushes-30-day-cybersecurity-sprint-aft/

More tech-related security headlines.
http://www.wnd.com/2015/06/feds-didnt-even-discover-hack-themselves/?cat_orig=us
http://www.wnd.com/2015/06/feds-hack-attack-worse-than-admitted/?cat_orig=us

World news.
http://news.sky.com/story/1500959/head-transplant-brain-surgeon-explains-op
http://news.sky.com/story/1501893/europes-comet-probe-philae-has-woken-up

Market headlines.
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/this-may-be-the-smartest-way-to-trade-silver-right-now-2015-06-10

Minimum wage has some of us sitting on the fence.
http://blogs.wsj.com/economics/2015/06/12/small-business-owners-evenly-split-on-raising-federal-minimum-wage/

BWT, Boeing's in the news!
http://www.wsj.com/articles/airbus-boeing-supplier-urges-caution-on-boosting-single-aisle-jet-production-1434210995

Transformers: Too Complicated to Call!

The Transformers: G1 continuity has been pretty convoluted by some past events. Here is a snapshot of the original G1 story and concept:
http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Generation_1_continuity_family

Unfortunately, if you like to go by the Japanese/manga version of the events that transpired, you got the KissPlayers near the end, leaving a nasty taste in your mouth:
http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Transformers:_Kiss_Players_%28franchise%29

Then, Hasbro yelled "Reboot Time!". Thus, the Unicron Trilogy:
http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Unicron_Trilogy
http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Unicron_Trilogy_cartoon_timeline

But then, Takara and friends said that nothing is that simple. First, this:
http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Transformers:_Kiss_Players_%28franchise%29
http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Transformers:_Robots_in_Disguise_%282001_franchise%29#The_continuity_kerfuffle

Let's smash G1 and Beast Wars together!:
http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Robotmasters_%28franchise%29

Then, that:
http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Transformers_Cybertron#Galaxy_Force
http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Transformers:_Kiss_Players_%28radio_drama%29#Weekly_Kiss_Players_Position_shows

FYI, Brave Maximus (TF:RID 2001) crash-landed into various areas associated with the Unicron Trilogy in a space/time accident, essentially. Meanwhile:
http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Super_Robot_Magazine
http://tfwiki.net/wiki/The_Battle_of_the_Star_Gate

http://tfwiki.net/wiki/The_Battle_of_the_Star_Gate
(Let's not forget issue #4 - that's the WTF moment)

Which all leads to one thing:
http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Continuity
http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Continuity#Unified_Japanese_continuities
http://tfwiki.net/mediawiki/images2/6/66/Japaneseflowchart.jpg

Which then leads to this:
http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Continuity#Continuity_soup
http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Personal_canon
http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Continuity_family#Quibbles


Oh BTW:
http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Continuity_family#Live-action_film_series_2

Good thing that Transformers: Animated and the New Aligned Continuity is seperate from all of the previous content. That would be a mess all on its own. It all starts after the end of the Unicron Trilogy...

EDIT :: But now, we have a problem. I remember someone saying that the 2007 Live-action film was considered a part of G1 at one point (until something that left a bad aftertaste for years did something good for once).

http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Continuity#Unified_Japanese_continuities

If that's true, and TF: Rise of the Dark Spark happened, would Transformers: War for Cybertron, TF: Prime, and TF: Age of Extinction all be connected? By doing TF: Rise of the Dark Spark, Hasbro helped the Japanese link the Aligned Continuity with the Live-action continuity - that includes the 2007 movie as well. Which then connects to G1?

At least Kiss Players did this (still not off the hook): "also made the rather bizarre claim that the 2007 live-action movie also somehow took place in the Japanese Generation 1 continuity in 2007, but this was not reflected by the accompanying flow-chart, and was established to not be the case by the Kiss Players timeline (which noted that the movie-verse Autobots and Decepticons came from another universe)."

But, Aligned continuity is still connected to the Live-Action continuity. Where in the Live-Action continuity did TF: Prime fit in?

Well, that's just Prime.

Nuff said. With even my years of experience and research, this nearly destroys my brain. Any opinions/suggestions?

Update: May 31, 2015

I've uploaded two new YouTube videos and am working on getting an Android screen recorder (uploading MC:PE videos, as planned last year). Not only that, but I also have new DeviantART uploads planned. The ReadingRoom 101 will be updated sometime this week as well, and there will be possible updates to the TXP-VOS repo as well (involving Linux 1.0 kernel). My new netbook makes it difficult to record videos while gaming, due to lack of CPU resources (dual core 1.35 GHz), so Twitch will be on the unfortunate back burner (again). BTW, I am no longer updating the MinecraftForum page/profile I have, and plan to delete it. I will be working on doing WynnCraft, SpaceBlock and Technic/mod videos soon! I may even start up TXP-SMP again soon; stay tuned...

https://localmotors.com/True_THP115/a-not-so-new-spin-on-hydro-electric-power/
https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/flight-without-moving-parts.670461/#post-4319223
http://askubuntu.com/users/408654/tophatproductions115
http://superuser.com/users/446730/tophatproductions115
http://www.cnet.com/forums/discussions/whats-in-your-pockets-or-purse-for-edc-everyday-carry/

P.S. Happy summer! Be safe!
P.S.s. New mini-season starting this week!

Update: May 24nd, 2015

Hello, Again!

I'm planning at least two livestreams/upload events for this week, and a full TXP-Network content update as well. Stay tuned for details pertaining to individual events and updates. The videos will be for Mother's Day and Memorial Day, and will be done as Minecraft gaming (TXP-MC) updates. The website updates will occur on all TXP-Network news feeds that are still serviced (The ReadingRoom 101, TXP-Technologies, TXP-Network_Soft_Dev_Portal, and TXP-MC W.S.). We will also be trying to open the TXP-MC servers for the week, for new players. Hope your upcoming summer will be fun! We will be doing updates until mid August this year. During the Autumn and Winter, we will be pretty much completely offline, and my be able to return during the summer for the next content season. Updates will appear on a day-by-day basis.

http://socialblade.com/youtube/user/tophatproductions115
https://plus.google.com/u/0/101441171189354050141/about
http://tophatproductions115.deviantart.com/

P.S. College is life, college is busy.
P.S.s. DeviantART uploads coming soon!

TXP-Scholar Update #2 - I'm Going to College (again)!

Community college finals are coming up this week, and I have admissions requirements to meet (writing essays, getting doctor's notes, etc.). It's going to be a bit busy, but not as busy as it was when I last caught up with you guys (hectic to say the least). I hope that I will be able to top the Mother's Day event I pulled, because I didn't prepare for it as well as I usually do. I usually have video events, video guests, and new media uploads ready for you guys, but the tight schedule got in the way for the first time in months. So, I may try to do a late event/upload. That means I may do a new gaming video, update video, and blog post. I also plan to start updating all websites again before the summer hits. Stay tuned; I'm going to college before the fall season even gets a chance to settle in! I'll make sure to keep all of you in the loop where possible...

P.S. I'm always a student first, programmer second, content creator third!
P.S.s. I'll be busy for a while, now; what did I just get myself into?

Animes That I've Seen

Animes I've seen (all available episodes) - Excluding the OVAs (mostly):

Sword Art Online (all)
Accel World (all)
Infinite Stratos/IS (all)
Full Metal Alchemist/FMA Brotherhood (all)
Arpeggio::Blue Steel (incomplete)
RWBY (all - so far)
Akame Ga Kill (1 - first)
Date A Live (all)
Guilty Crown (all)
Angel Beats (1 - first)
Steel Angel Kurumi (1 - first)
A Certain Magical Index (1 - excluded A Certain Scientific RailGun)
Assassination Classroom (all)
Riddle Story of Devil (1 - first)
Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon (all)
Aldnoah.Zero(Netflix only)
Gonna be a TwinTail (all)
Birdy The Mighty: Decode - modern adaptation from 2011-2013 (all)
The Fruit of Grisaia (all)

Dragon Ball (full series - excluding newest one)

Gargantia on the Verdurous Planet
One-Punch Man (all current episodes and OVAs)

Working on:

Squid-Girl
GunXSword
More coming soon!
Stay Tuned...

Update: May 2nd, 2015

Hey, Galaxy Members!

I'm sorry for not getting back to you (in the form of updates and videos) in a while; I have a lot on my plate currently. Between school, driving lessons, and providing electronic device services, it's been tight in terms of finding time. I currently am, and have been for two semesters, attending both high school and college. The homework is tedious, to say the least, and essays are a common thing at this time. I'm also preparing for my first AP test, and will have finished my third college class by the time I graduate high school this month. But, I have also managed to update the TXP-VOS Google Drive repo, and have optimized the system desing a bit by removing a few dependency libraries. For more on that, go here:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B98YR-Jm_dNASjdUWHRMUU5TcGpabzd1c0NHMDR4NXA2Zm9B/view?usp=sharing

In terms of project updates (SWPUs), TXP-JSI, TXP-CGX (local CGI app runtime attempt), and TXP-VOS are the only current running projects. TXP-MC Server C-Panel, as stated before, was finalized a few months ago, and will not recieve any further active development. The TXP-MC Power Surge mod is another project that hasbeen put on hold, due to the fact that I am not as Java savvy as I once was, and I don't expect to finish the mod anytime soon. I also have due dates to meet (TXP-VOS), and can't afford to loose anymore time as it is (especially seeing that I brought back TXP-Cloud, against my own word - don't ruin it):

http://txp-cloud.grn.cc/

No more hacking attempts, okay? You guys (who hacked TXP-Cloud) realy messed up things; I had to push due dates back as a result. The next time, more than just TXP-Cloud will be killed off - for good :( I can't believe it even go this far (disappointment.png). As for TXP-Go!, that will be on the back burner until I finish dissecting the Linux 1.0 kernel/system copy I downloaded. I plan to use that as a basis for the boot loader, kernel, and C/C++ runtime environment that TXP-VOS will run on top of. The new repo doesn't reflect any of that yet because this attempt is somewhat new, and hasn't yielded any visible results yet (I'm also editing multiple essays, so don't start begging for updates). I'll return when I have something to show for the effort. In terms of TXP-MC:

http://txp-mc.freezoy.com/

Play time has been tight and hard to come by, so I haven't made any videos recently. With any luck, I hope to ate least make videos for the following days:
-Mother's Day
-First Day of Summer Break
-Father's Day

We also may have a new member showing up soon. The servers have been cold for a while because of recent security updates and lack of activity. A month ago, someone griefed the server while I was out, so I did something I never wanted to have to do; whitelisting. I had intended for the server to be open to anyone who wanted to see it or join TXP-MC and TXP-SMP. But, since the griefing incident, I have had no new players, and have chosen to close the server to any new players. As such, I will have to resort to using temporary servers whenever I want to host an open free-for-all (like I used to do, with my main server). As such, don't expect any big, open events anytime soon (at least until I finish high school in a couple of weeks). I also haven't done any new MC art; that's because I'm working on a new TF fanfic timeline, and will be trying to fishish editing it by the start of this summer. Also, it looks as though I won't be doing any MCPE activity anymore; I don't have to necesary software or devices to do it like I used to (screen recorder gave out, can't find a working one). Sorry.

But, in terms of new things, I am getting into proving new services on Fiverr! I will be mainly providing Jailbreaking, Rooting, Windows 7/Apple OS X, and Minecraft server help. So, if you have any questions about getting help with one of those things, contact me on Fiverr. I also have a new e-mail account, for those of you who would like to help fund the TXP-Network in new ways:

tophatprodxns115@ningo.me

To help with funding in other ways, simply make use of the links below:

TXP-Network - Main Site
http://cur.lv/ljnk0

TXP-MC World Series
http://cur.lv/ljnlo

TXP-Cloud
http://cur.lv/ljnmj

To start making money yourself, goto
https://coinurl.com/index.php?ref=TopHatProductions115

Speaking of jailbreaking and rooting, I have a jailbroken iPodTouch 2G (WhiteD00r and RedSn0w) and a rooted Kindle Fire G1 (vRoot and KingUser). They both work extremely fast, and I can't reccomend freeing up the mobile devices enough. For the crazy ones who wish to be a differnt type od user, go for it.

In terms of recent events, Baltimore city has seen its share of unrest recently, and as such, I am a bit concerned about the well being of the one and only Charm City. The news about the new curfew is also a bit worrying, but that is not the main issue. If people continue to destroy their community, there will be nothing for the next generation to have. I've already seen and heard about a few stores that weren't coming back after their franchises were robbed. This impacts the local economy and reduces the number of available jobs. Even if Freddie Gray's death was caused by police actions, does that give one the right to deprive others of certain needs by destroying the city they dwell in? This mindless, heartless destruction will seed nothing good in long-term. Also, if race truly is an issue, why isn't anyone paying attention to "black-on-black" violence and death rates? That should be handled too. Police aren't the main cause of death, and have a job to do; enforce law. They can't be there for everything, and are at risk of harm or even death on a daily basis. They have every right to worry for their own safety, and even have families that they want to return to at the end of a long day. The current times aren't as bright as they should be.

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/dec/21/holder-condemns-senseless-killings-new-york-police/
http://www.cnn.com/2014/12/21/politics/gop-pols-blame-nyc-mayor-for-cop-shooting/

Therefore, I ask of the protesters:

Please use peaceful means of protest, and be considerate of others. The community depends upon its people NOT tearing each other apart. Leave something behind for the next generation, and stop blaming the cops for African American deaths.

The race issue is no more. We are in an advanced age where no one or thing (but yourself) holds you back, and opportunities run abound. People from all over the world come to the U.S.to escape a terrible environment or to gain opprotunities they never had (while still many more sadly can't escape their situation), and there are those of us who claim that the U.S. is a bad place to live in. Try going to other countries and see if you can find better. Those who claim that racism is still a major issue have forgotten of what African Americans faced just 5 decades ago; times were much worse then. Part of making the U.S. better is getting an education; learn about your history and your government. Until then, to those who call the U.S. their home, don't tear down a nation, but instead make it better if you so choose:

“And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country.”

Your fellow Americans will thank you for it in the future. This is TopHat, signing out...

God Speed, and God Bless.

Yet Another Configuration...

Yet another AMD based computer configuration. Price range:
approx: 310 USD

CPU/APU (100 USD):
https://www.google.com/shopping/product/7087319015784324620?q=AMD+APU+GPU,+Quad-Core,+2.5GHz&newwindow=1&espv=2&biw=1366&bih=643&psj=1&bav=on.2,or.r_cp.&bvm=bv.88528373,d.eXY&ion=1&tch=1&ech=1&psi=mXwQVaC1MoKZgwSB-YCIAg.1427143829300.7&ei=rHwQVZGxOYKogwTt2ICwDQ&ved=0CNEEEKYrMAQ
http://www.neweggbusiness.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9B-19-113-280&nm_mc=KNC-GoogleBiz-PC&cm_mmc=KNC-GoogleBiz-PC-_-pla-_-Processors+-+Desktops-_-9B-19-113-280&gclid=CjwKEAjw876oBRCYr86w6KGfpkgSJAACIidwdUWcmvD8C0LDi-Ql4q__CuJgfh4Takc3qmJfJvTziRoCTDvw_wcB

MotherBoard (35-50 USD):
https://www.google.com/shopping/product/11790056312621415239?q=amd,+itx,+FM2+motherboard&newwindow=1&biw=1366&bih=643&bav=on.2,or.r_cp.&bvm=bv.88528373,d.eXY&ion=1&espv=2&tch=1&ech=1&psi=F30QVcKND8OVNuKagig.1427143955397.11&sa=X&ei=L30QVaGkFITBggTu94DYDw&ved=0CLMEEPMCMAI
https://www.google.com/shopping/product/11706820421885137804?q=amd,+itx,+FM2+motherboard&newwindow=1&biw=1366&bih=643&bav=on.2,or.r_cp.&bvm=bv.88528373,d.eXY&ion=1&espv=2&tch=1&ech=1&psi=F30QVcKND8OVNuKagig.1427143955397.11&sa=X&ei=L30QVaGkFITBggTu94DYDw&ved=0CJUFEPMCMAU

RAM (28 USD):
http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Other%20World%20Computing/1333D3ECC2GB/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=shoppingengine&utm_campaign=googlebase&gclid=CjwKEAjw876oBRCYr86w6KGfpkgSJAACIidwMD8N-imtjJVLqzMOe1MCekn1c8jmPtQPBD8kNRAVARoCPInw_wcB

Graphics/Video Card (25 USD):
http://www.aztekcomputers.com/GF315PCIE1GBCO-NVIDIA-4072516.html

External Optical disc Drive (17 USD):
http://www.tmart.com/Black-USB-External-DVD-Combo-CD-RW-Burner-Drive_p94292.html?cc=usd&fixed_price=us_us&fixed_stock=y&utm_source=base&utm_medium=organic&utm_term=NT504BL&utm_campaign=product&gclid=CjwKEAjwrbSoBRDok47Sv6Ci80wSJABFUszTSZahgB-UqvWyx8rMta9K2UFdEuU4zzixQqnr1SNP5RoCGsXw_wcB

HDD (33 USD):
http://www.provantage.com/dell-469-4180~7DELL2QM.htm?source=googleps&gclid=Cj0KEQjw7b-gBRC45uLY_avSrdgBEiQAD3Olx99N4m21cOLskwsl5_rR6UXqighbDezl4cQOrTe_gaIaAkMz8P8HAQ

Network Card (12 USD):
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833704060&cm_re=pci_express_network_card-_-33-704-060-_-Product

Power Supply (43 USD):
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817148044

Case (12 USD):
http://www.provantage.com/antec-vsk3000e~7ANTG07X.htm?source=googleps&gclid=Cj0KEQjw7b-gBRC45uLY_avSrdgBEiQAD3Olx1gI-UQu1qsy4_FM1klDXdXkOsU9g84Yg2gtVgfi_O0aAq-V8P8HAQ

Another, older configuration that I came up with. May have some compatibility issues...
Here are the basic specs:

AMD Quad-Core 3.0 GHz CPU
500GB HDD
8GB RAM
WLAN Wifi (single; not dual)
AMD GPU

Total (give/take $10): $260

Here are the parts:

-HDD (30):
http://www.provantage.com/dell-469-4180~7DELL2QM.htm?source=googleps&gclid=Cj0KEQjw7b-gBRC45uLY_avSrdgBEiQAD3Olx99N4m21cOLskwsl5_rR6UXqighbDezl4cQOrTe_gaIaAkMz8P8HAQ

Network Card (12):
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833704060&cm_re=pci_express_network_card-_-33-704-060-_-Product

RAM (50):
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA0ZX1926685&nm_mc=KNC-GoogleMKP&cm_mmc=KNC-GoogleMKP-_-pla-_-Electronics-_-9SIA0ZX1926685

Power Supply (40):
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA30R1MP3648&cm_re=micro_atx_power_supply_500w-_-1HU-0026-00003-_-Product

CPU (63/80 - you can choose one):
http://www.somenit.com/AMD-FD4200FRW4KGU-FX-4200-Quad-Core-Processor-3-3GHz-Socket-AM3-OEM-BG01580?find=ok

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819113369

MotherBoard (50):
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157292&cm_re=ASRock_AMD-_-13-157-292-_-Product

Case (13):

http://www.provantage.com/antec-vsk3000e~7ANTG07X.htm?source=googleps&gclid=Cj0KEQjw7b-gBRC45uLY_avSrdgBEiQAD3Olx1gI-UQu1qsy4_FM1klDXdXkOsU9g84Yg2gtVgfi_O0aAq-V8P8HAQ