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I prefer the first one.  As stated, it depends upon what look you're going for but the first seems less stereotypical in lighting scheme.  I would like to see slightly more exaggerated light (a bit more contrast and more greenish highlights).  One thing that sticks out is the light line around the beam - it just looks out of place.  I'm not sure what I'd do differently but maybe a bit more reddish and closer to the median color.

Since this thing's been resurrected, I thought I'd add an observation.  LucasArts has severely reduced their PC Games for sale list.  They don't seem to offer the archives anymore and I could find no page relating to Sam and Max (Original or 2k4 Cancelled one).   It's rather a pain to  try to find something other than Star Wars on the site. 

Good luck.  I have no idea what'll help.  I've been smoking for 10 years (18-28) and have been thinking about what I'll do to quit.  My feeling is that I have to either not enjoy it or very much want to quit.  Difficult with everybody I interact with regularly being a smoker (sister, ex, all friends). 

So, my feeling on it is that I'll cut back as much as possible, setting times I can have a cigarette or a max per day (going ultra-light/light may help but you might end up just smoking them harder for a near-equal amount of nicotine).  After I've cut back a bit (cutting back seems smart..  going from Xmg per day to 1/2Xmg per day can't make withdrawl any worse) I'll plan on an isolation period.  I'll get away from most stresses, take a couple days off, sleep a lot and keep busy with art, chores, whatever I can find to do where I don't regularly smoke. 

I know I should but I really don't want to right now.. I don't have noticable health problems (shortness of breath, phlegm in the morning, coughing, etc.) so it makes it more difficult for me to rationalize the need.

I haven't heard of/experienced this problem either.  As for bookmarks, etc., whenever a version of FF comes out, I backup bookmarks, uninstall FF and reinstall the new version.  Maybe something to keep in mind for the future?

Good question though: Is this an update over the old version or a complete uninstall/reinstall?

Now had you said you like to ritualistically torture small kittens well ...

Hmm...

I've got a Wacom Graphire2 3x4 and Wacom Intuos 12x18.  The 3x4 worked wonderfully and I used the hell out of it.  Getting a cheap and small tablet's probably the way to go if you're just starting out.  For the first week of use, I didn't think I'd want to keep using it.  Later, had to go larger out of minor frustrations with the 3x4. 

The Intuos vs. Graphire features differ somewhat.  There are additional pens available for the Intuos, they've got more levels of pressure sensitivity as well as tilt-detection.  I suppose it all depends on whether you're doing painting-style stuff or quick sketches.

A standard-sized scanner ought to do it.  Common sense applies here - it only needs to be as large as what you're scanning.  If you use large sketch paper, you might need something more customized or just restrain yourself a bit.

I picked up an Epson Perfection 2480 for about $70 and it's got all the bells and whistles I could conceive of using (as well as photo negative/slides brackets/scanning capabilities).  I've found that the majority of the time I use some basic scanning settings but end up tweaking the hell out of images in photoshop anyway.  My advice would be to avoid generics but go cheap (unless there are specific features you need).  One feature I don't find often on scanners and miss from my old one: an Off button.

Stargate..  unaired segment found on episode special features, yeah?  I couldn't help getting sucked into that series.  I think, in large part, due to Richard Dean Anderson

By the way, Yakspit, apparently Microsoft have excellent customer service when it comes to their products, aside from bug reports. That is, report defective hardware, or a broken disc or such and they'll replace it in a snap. Their attitude may stink towards security, but not in all areas...

You're right (on the hardware as well - my intellimouse optical lasted 7 years and I replaced it not because it broke but as an upgrade) their customer service is better than average.  I hate the WinXP authorization crap and it's handled poorly but it was resolved quickly every time I had to use the telephone.  When I stated that they don't care much about individual licensees, I was referring to the company as a whole.  However, especially considering how irate people can get (like when they add a stick of RAM and have their auth-code/cd-key voided) they deal with it well.

I can't say that MS just plain sucks but after watching recent trends it seems like it'll get worse: More dumbed-down, more restrictive and catering more to the DRM and anti-piracy themes that end up hurting honest users. 

'tis not hypocrisy - merely a necessary evil.

I'm not fond of its policies nor its current trends of yielding to the wishes of corporations and specialized industry.  It's a company that caters not a whit to the home user except when it suits them.  They care about security only as much as it provides a PR podium. 

However, for gaming (both retro and new), it's the platform most suitable.  I keep meaning to give Linux a more thorough go-round but for now I'm not eager to figure out how to run X game or X graphic application, let alone complete projects that are difficult to finish on the platform they're based around.

Agreeing with previous posts, Trillian or GAIM are both decent programs for maintaining IM contact without commiting to any one (or multiple) IM client(s).  I personally prefer Trillian just because I'm rather attached to a skin or two it has but think GAIM is the more well-designed product.

A lady with a green living hat:


Next up: My only reason for getting up in the morning...

Considering that the employee premier of the film is on May 7th, and the beginnings of the new Lucasfilm - Singapore collaboration, seems strange it'd be delayed for a month.  My sympathies.

STFU andial!!1 yuo probably sux0r at halo 2 adn aers jealus yuo fag LOLOLOL kthxbye

I was going to praise this post with a "wtf andail UR 50 pwnd!!1" or something to that effect but even that little effort made me faintly nauseous.  Congratulations upon your intestinal fortitude DG. 

I do play some Halo 2..  not on the Live though.   

Yak, that's an easy fix. Click the bar in front of the task and drag it behind the quick launch.

Thanks.    It was an example . . . one in which double-clicking doesn't work.  One should also note that you have to drag it at an angle, not simply right up directly up.  It's rather picky, I think.  There really ought to be a reset-to-default option aside from probing the registry.

I still haven't managed to duplicate RtF's problem.

A couple of ideas.  Without getting into more advanced methods . . . try right-clicking the taskbar and selecting "Lock the taskbar", then right-click, select toolbars, deselect "Quick Launch." After it vanishes, re-enable "Quick Launch," right-click, unlock the taskbar.  This should reset it to default size.

Another option is to go to desktop properties and up the resolution.  The taskbar segments shrink with higher resolutions and you may be able to find your mark from there.  Keep in mind that you're looking at the quick-launch originating from the right and stretched left.  You've probably tried it but dragging the dots from one side of the taskbar to the other ought to do it.

maybe a couple notes different but I've definitely heard it before.  I can't quite finish the tune or fill in whatever lyrics there might be in my head.

With Flash MX, you ought to be able to place vectors with gradients and transparency, right? It would be a bit of work but not that much more than in photoshop...  and, of course, nobody's saying you have to do it entirely in Flash (I need to get around to learning that someday).  I love the line-smoothing bit, particularly since I use a tablet.

I really like the style.  It's one of the few backgrounds where gradients work well.
If you're dead-set against adjusting lighting/coloring then ignore this but the light-source seems to be too much to our left.  It looks as though the TV is the source of light for the room. 

I dunno about you, but in a room like that, I'd have the TV pointed a bit more towards the armchair.  The chair's lighting makes it look as though it's catching quite a bit of light towards something (the pillow especially) so it's mainly the floor that throws me off.  Of course, if you redirected the lighting on the floor, the doorknob's lighting would be a bit too bright for its received light. 

What program are you using?  If photoshop or some other layered bit, it wouldn't be that difficult to do the highlighting Helm mentioned.  Just throw an adjustment layer over it and use a low opacity brush (or eraser if you're doing it in reverse) to give the highlights even shading.

I found the movie pretty damned amusing.  However, I prefer it when they tackle a film that's an utter disaster rather than one that actually wasn't too bad for its time.  Unfortunately, studio pressure forced them to use a more decent movie than they'd had in mind. 

The Mike v. Joel situation; They both had their merits.  Mike's got more personality and actually delivers many of the lines better but Joel had a nice mellow don't-give-a-crap tone to him.  Mike had been in place for awhile before the movie came out.  Since there wasn't much choice concerning the movie used or the primary human, can't blame the MST3K crew too much.  The movie, like any other, is a matter of personal preference.  If you watched and enjoyed it, best of luck securing a copy.

I have to say - the image loaded and my jaw dropped.  It's quite good.  Is it 3D-based or hand-drawn? 

I think the problem with the columns is that they probably shouldn't be columns.  Perhaps just square posts with a good amount of scoring and aging to them.  I really like the sand texturing as well.. usually people end up making it too cartoony or putting sharp lines for dunes.  It's a WIP, obviously, but adding some smaller/lighter markings in the sand in the distance would add a lot of depth.

I also don't believe the horizon line wouldn't be quite that low unless there's higher elevation there.  From the angle of the building and height of the horizon, I'd say the view was approximately halfway between the porch and rooftop of an adjacent building.    It also looks like you can see some of the top of the balcony when it should be obscured at this angle (or at least a normal viewing angle).  The coloring is excellent but some of the posts seem a tad flat - like a sprite fenceline in a 3D game. 

I'm being damned nitpicky on all the above though..  I have to pick on slight imperfections or simply say, "Wow."   I thought the former would be more productive.