Edit0r’s Bloog

So I got sent Jonathan Coulton’s Mandelbrot Set song. This got me thinking about fractals (again), and I ended up first on Wikipedia, then buried in some books. I decided to make a Mandelbrot fractal generator, just for fun (and possibly to procrastinate the boring scientific programming coursework I had to do). As I don’t know any graphics stuff in Java or C, I decided the easiest option would be to code in PHP. So, boys and girls, here you have it: The PHP Mandelbrot Fractal Generator!

Here is a sample picture:

And another with centre: 0.001643721971153, 0.822467633298876 and zoom: 200,000

A very nice friend of Other Andrew kindly gave me a shoulder massage a while ago, as my neck and shoulders ache like stink. The reason for this is that this weekend has been a good one for my computer collection. Well, not directly in some cases, but I’ll explain. I found a home for the last two Superbrain computers I mentioned in my last post. A collector from Glasgow heard about my plight indirectly via the Old-Computers.com and came to pick up my machines. Apparently, he wants to do something related to music synthesis with them, so I think I’ll stay in contact with him and keep this site updated on his progress, because making music with a Superbrain is just all kinds of cool. The third machine was brought to Edinburgh by train and carried up 4 flights of stairs to Iain and Ulf’s flat, where it is now sitting happily waiting for me to clear some space here for it. So in other words: crisis successfully averted!

On Friday I saw one of those things computer collectors dream about: a big pile of old computer equipment cleaned out from a department and awaiting disposal. This was in the JCMB in Kings Buildings, which is where a lot of the sciency type stuff is. After a few inquires, I found that the origin of these machines was the graphics department. This pleased me immensely, as there were several big monitors, and I’ve been looking for a replacement monitor for a few months. There were also a good many scanners, external SCSI hard disks, as well as some high end (at the time) IBM and Silicon Graphics machines. I decided to take home a 21″ Triniton monitor as a replacement for my own, and a Mac G3 to sell. Getting these home was a laugh, and it took Iain and I a good half hour to carry both items to the bus stop just outside KB. We made a sling of sorts out of Iain’s coat, so we could take swapping between carrying one of of the monitor with two hands, or carrying the monitor with one hand and the G3 in the other hand. I can honestly say that this monitor is one of the heaviest it’s been my dubious pleasure to carry. But boy, was it worth it! The thing gives an absolutely fantastic rich, crisp picture, with a native resolution of up to 1600×1200 (though it can handle higher modes at the wrong dot pitch). I’m going to pick up an IBM machine tomorrow to see what I can make of it. Also, I obtained an incredibly small Toshiba laptop, but more on that later. Right now, I’ve got media center to build and server to set up…

I’ve been talking a lot about computers lately, but I should really be spending less time on them and more on studying, though I suppose my scientific programming coursework is due on Wednesday, so I’ve got plenty time. Anyhoos, if I fail my degree I could always just open up a computer museum and become a technology historian! Oh, and before I forget, quick shout out to Rosy and her new blog at tkeya.net. It should be up by the time anyone clicks the link. Probably.

So my sleep is kinda screwed right now. I was using stimulant drinks as a substitute for sleep last week and it’s screwed me over a bit. Though maybe that’s worn off now, and it’s just my own laziness which is preventing me getting up in time for lectures in the mornings. Whatever it is, I think getting a proper alarm clock will help, as Sarah is pretty fed up with having to literally shove me out of bed onto the floor every morning.

As some of you may know, I collect old computers. My dad used to work with old Intertec Superbrain computers, and he managed to acquire about 5 of them over the years. Recently, my parents decided to convert the loft into a proper room (for some unknown reason), and said that all the old computers in the house were now mine and could I kindly get rid of them. I reluctantly sent two of these lovely machines to a collector in England, while idly looking for people who would take two more, leaving me with one for myself (which is unfortunately all I have space for). Last week, my dad gave me a final warning that the two extra machines would be put in a skip if they weren’t rehomed by Saturday, so I stepped up my efforts. I’ve hopefully found homes for both of them now, but I’ve already had one person fall through, and I honestly don’t expect that the two people I have lined up will do any better. Maybe if I had a bit more time things would be different, but alas, due to my own tardiness I don’t. We shall see what happens, and I keep you all updated. Right now, I think it’s time for a herring sandwich…

Hello, and welcome to the (counts on fingers) 7th iteration of Edit0r.com! I have been meaning to put up a proper bloog here for a while, and in a great departure from tradition I’ve actually carried through this time! I don’t really have much to say right now, but I’m sure I’ll think of something soon. Right now, I’m going to go and watch some Stargate Atlantis. Ciao!