a-Musings 2.0 (Blog redesign)

Welcome to a-Musings 2.0! In case you haven't noticed, a-Musings has been completely redesigned using the ogleicious "Blogy Styleicious" template, which has a 2-column design. I have used this design to separate blog navigation tool-widgets (such as the blog archive, searchbox, etc.) from my frivolous widgets. Also, some slow, useless widgets have been removed from a-Musings and some new, nice widgets have arrived, such as "Recent Posts". Also, I have introduced ClickComments to a-Musings. That's the new icon-filled box at the top of every post I have. Use this self-explanatory box to tell me, in a nutshell, what you thought of my post. If you have more to say, post a comment! I hope you like this redesign. Tell me what you think in the comments...

Happy 1st birthday, a-Musings!

Ahh, this blog is 31,536,000 seconds old! Thank you, readers, for reading this blog and helping to make it good. Keep reading the blog, and don't forget to grab a slice of the birthday cake and give the blog a present*!

*- Giving the blog a present means posting a comment about a-Musings in this post's comments section.

Image from: http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y152/boo_licious/misc3/BlogBirthdayCake2.jpg

My Firefox themes!

I have created a Firefox theme for Firefox 3! JetFox Aqua, my first theme, is here. More coming soon...

PGR4 screenshots, with a CAPTION CONTEST!

It's time again for some video-game screenshots, this time from Project Gotham Racing 4. The caption contest is on the last image.



The splendor of Tokyo can be seen here.


Truly a cut above... :)



A drift on the snow-laden Nurburgring...


Loneliness...



CAPTION CONTEST!

Guess what this is and post your answer in the comments. Winner gets the awesome prize of NOTHING!!

Open-source = free?

Is open-source synonymous with "free"? Technically, yes-Any user prepared to compile some source code can get the software for free! By the definition, yes-

"Free Redistribution: the software can be freely given away or sold. (This was intended to expand sharing and use of the software on a legal basis.)."

However, a Mozilla Firefox (open-source web browser) developer has been stirring up some controversy by offering high quality free, not-completely-skinned themes on Mozilla Add-ons, while selling "premium", fully-skinned themes for $0.99 on their website. In the comments page of many of these "intentionally crippled" themes, fellow Firefoxers have complained. One unhappy observer has even gone so far as to buy the "premium" version of a theme and to distribute it freely on a download site!

The reason so many power Firefox users are unhappy is not only because they believe open-source = free, it is also because some of these disgruntled commentors helped work on earlier versions of the theme now selling, and only the seller-developer is getting the profits. (Hopefully this isn't getting too confusing, I don't want to name any names...)

Finally, it's time for my viewpoint. I think that this seller-developer has a right to sell their "premium" themes (think of the hard work they have put in!), but the other developers who helped should also get a share of the profits. Alternately, this seller-developer could instead ask for donations, which some other Firefox developers do. Also, technically, Firefox may be open-source, but the themes and extensions technically aren't!

Do you think open-source = free? Sound off in the comments! No flamewars, please :).

Image from: http://www.openlina.com/eulercode/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/opensource_logo.gif

Firefox 3-w00t!

Sorry for not posting in a while! I was really busy. Anyway, Mozilla Firefox 3 debuted yesterday with a Guinness World Record-earning unique download number of 8,249, 082! Firefox 3's new features:

• increased speed
• more native, smooth looking interface
• redesigns of critical components such as add-on and download managers
  
• enhancements such as "bookmark" buttons on the URL bar, most visited bookmarks, and others.

I am currently enjoying the new features immensely! I also love the minute UI details (the fade/brighten effects when buttons are rolled over and the sleek redesigns. In addition, most of my favorite add-ons are now compatible with Firefox 3 (Adblock Plus, Greasemonkey, AIOS, others.). However, not many heavily-skinned (incorporating UI elements, statusbar skinning, etc.) themes are not compatible with Firefox 3. However, one of my favorite themes, Abstract Classic, has been updated, but without UI elements and other features (for those you have to buy the "premium" version.). All of these problems will be fixed by the sands of time, though. To end, here is a poem about Firefox 3 (don't laugh!!):

Firefox, oh Firefox.
Since 2004 you have been a thing of yore
Using you is not a chore
Unlike Internet Explorer, which is quite frankly a bore (sorry, Microsoft!)
Now in 2008 our thirst for new Firefox was a-sate
As Firefox 3 awakened, followers' heartbeats quickened-
And the fox was unleashed!
Caught 8,249,082 times in 24 hours, it solders on through the Internet even now-how?
Why?
Because, my dear reader, Firefox is loved by most, especially people who roast wild Internet Explorers!

Was my poem decent? Did you discover any hidden meanings? What do you think of Firefox 3? Sound off in the comments!

Alter LegoKingdom Egos...

Often many of you wish you could just start over your life, such as when you discovered your messy friend breakups were being publicized to all of your Facebook subscribers! Here is a platinum opportunity to do just that; create your own page at MyLegoKingdom!

My real-life friend Caleb created this wiki, to house the amazing story of his Lego kingdom, created with a cornucopia of different Lego sets, retail and custom. You are free to add your own page here, as long as it is realistic, adheres to the story, and ISN'T SPAM!!! Please follow the standards set by these pages. If you happen to vandalize the wiki, Caleb will hunt you down (in World of Warcraft) and you will be sorry...

SHAMELESS SELF-PROMOTION:
Here is MY PAGE!!!!!

Forza 2 Photos-batch 2 + caption contest!

Here are more of my Forza 2 photos... The caption contest is for the bottom photo. All cars are from the March Car Pack DLC.


Ferrari F430 Scuderia art...

Lamborghini Murcielago LP640 art...

BMW M3 art...

Audi S5 art...

Create your own caption for this picture! Winner gets any Forza 2 photo on my blog, full-size... Post your captions in the comments!

Forza 2 Photos-batch 1

Hello, a-Musings readers, and here are 3 Forza Motorsport 2 photos from my Xbox 360. I got these photos here by uploading them in-game, then logging in using my gamertag @ forzamotorsport.net . Note that only the five most recently uploaded photos are stored by Forza's servers. Enough talk, picture time!
Speeders beware...

Poor Gallardo Superleggera!

Fun with a Gallardo Superleggera...

More photo batches coming soon...

It's Alive- X360s can blog!!

It seems that everything is going sentient in a way, from the programmed intelligence of an iRobot Roomba vacuum cleaner to your own Xbox 360! That's right, your Xbox 360 can blog!

To make your 360's voice heard, first you have to create a gamer profile on Xbox Live, if you haven't done so already. Then, you should visit www.360voice.com and register for a basic (just enter your Xbox Live gamertag and go, free!) or premium (extra features, but personal details required, still free) account, and you're off to the races!

Your Xbox 360 not only reports on your games played, and achievements unlocked, but it also adds interesting personal statements of its own...

My X360 Elite maintains its blog here:
http://www.360voice.com/tag/HDElite

If you own an Xbox 360, mosey over to this site and get your game console a blog! Sound off about this interesting venture in the comments.