Moloko - The Time is Now

Great song!


I updated to v3.9 of the K-lite Codec Pack and again ran Aquasky's Most Wanted video clip to see if there are any changes in terms of audio and video quality. As the familiar audio tracks played, my curiosity got the better of me and I decided to search for the band Moloko in YouTube. What I found surprised me --- I thought the band has a sexy, beautiful black woman singing. Instead I found that the vocalist, Róisín Murphy, is a sexy, beautiful white woman.

It's one awesome song. Enjoy.

Too bad the band split though.

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How to Remove Worm.win32.otwycal.ag Virus - False Positive?

Wolf.



Well, it appears to be a false positive. If you're using A-Squared Free and have detected Worm.win32.otwycal.ag in your Explorer.exe file this day (May 12, 3:32pm GMT), it may be a false positive. Check out this thread in the Emsisoft forums.

I would like to add details but I gotta hit the sack.

Do not put it in quarantine or worse, delete it. Check out the above link first and make out of it what you can. Update --- as I think they have put out a quick fix already --- and scan again; it should not appear in the list in subsequent scans.

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Nvidia Graphic Drivers Benchmark Tests

Updated (October 6, 2009): Tested the Nvidia GeForce 191.03 video card graphic driver. See below. (Or type ctrl-f and type "Nvidia GeForce 191.03" without the quotes.)

Settings for Nexuiz:

(Ingame) Resolution: 1024; Skins: Best; All settings off. (Nvidia Control Panel) AF: Application-controlled; AA: None; Force Mipmaps: Trilinear; Texture Filtering- Trilinear Optimization: On; Texture Filtering - Quality: High Performance; Texture Filtering - Anisotropic xx: all On.

Settings for F.E.A.R.:

(Ingame)

• CPU: Physics: Max; Sound: Max; Particles: Med; Shells: On; World Details: Min; Corpse Detail: Med
• Effects: Effects: Med; Model: Max; Water: Max; Reflections: Med; Volum: Off
• Graphics: Anti-aliasing: None; Light: Medium; Shadows: Off: Texture Filtering: Bilinear; Texture Resolution: Max; Videos: Med; Shaders: Med; Resolution: 640.
  

(Nvidia Control Panel) All settings at default except: Multi-display/mixed-GPU Acceleration; Single Display Performance Mode; Texture Filtering - Quality: High Performance; Texture Filtering - Negative LOD Bias: Clamp; Triple Buffering: off.

Update:

I erased most of the old video card benchmark tests; they won't be of much use now that I've made several more tweaks to my PC. I kept the old Tribes: Vengeance pictures though. :D

Also, I am now using Nexuiz V2.4.2 (demo1) and Lightsmark 2008.

(You might also notice the low scores of these video card benchmark tests. I am using a very old rig with only a stock 7300 GT, a P4 2.4Ghz CPU, and 2Gb of RAM. Don't ask about the mobo. It's old; it was manufactured back in the time when fish first grew legs.)

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Nvidia 175.19

3DMark 2001 SE: 11146 3D Marks

Cinebench R10: 2252

Lightsmark 2008: 39.5

Nexuiz (v2.4.2; demo1): Min: 46 Ave: 70 Max: 100

F.E.A.R. (v1.08): Min: 17 Ave: 44 Max: 85 (23%/25%/52%)

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Nvidia 177.40 (Leaked beta; Source: Guru3D)

3DMark 2001 SE: 11309 3D Marks

Cinebench R10: 2262

Lightsmark 2008: 39.8

Nexuiz (v2.4.2; demo1): Min: 32 Ave: 70 Max: 120

F.E.A.R. (v1.08): Min: 19 Ave: 45 Max: 85 (21%/25%/54%)

NOTE: This driver wasn't fully compatible with my system; I found out that my system couldn't play VCDs and DVDs anymore. Uninstalling the driver fixed it of course.

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Imba awardee: :D

Nvidia 177.92 (Beta; Source: Nvidia)

3DMark 2001 SE: 11325 3D Marks

Cinebench R10: 2235

Lightsmark 2008: 39.5

Nexuiz (v2.4.2; demo1): Min: 25 Ave: 74 Max: 112

F.E.A.R. (v1.08): Min: 20 Ave: 45 Max: 85 (22%/27%/51%)

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Imba awardee: :D


Xtreme-G 177.92 (Source: Tweakforce)

3DMark 2001 SE: 11167 3D Marks

Cinebench R10: 2262

Lightsmark 2008: 39.5

Nexuiz (v2.4.2; demo1): Min: 25 Ave: 71 Max: 107

F.E.A.R. (v1.08): Min: 20 Ave: 45 Max: 84 (21%/25%/54%)

It is a very rare instance when a new video driver takes your breath away with the image quality (IQ) it churns out for your system. The last one was Tweakforce's Xtreme-G 163.67 SE. The Nvidia 177.92 beta drivers made me quietly mumble awe-inspired invectives when I played games with it.

It's even rarer when a tweaked Nvidia driver makes your PC perform even smoother with IMPROVED image quality than the vanilla driver it is based from. This new Xtreme-G 177.92 driver is definitely a keeper. (The frames might be a tad lower but games play smoother.)

I've been doing video card benchmark tests for three years now and only three I consider as my Hall of Famers: Xtreme-G 163.67 SE, Forceware 177.92 Beta and --- the best so far: Xtreme-G 177.92.

Kudos to the people at Tweakforce!

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Nvidia 178.13 ( Source: Nvidia)

3DMark 2001 SE: 11402

Cinebench R10: 2204

Lightsmark 2008: 39.5

Nexuiz (v2.4.2; demo1): Min: 43 Ave: 73 Max: 109

F.E.A.R. (v1.08): Min: 19 Ave: 45 Max: 85 (25%/21%/54%)



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Xtreme-G 178.13 ( Source: Tweakforce)

3DMark 2001 SE: 11307

Cinebench R10: 2239

Lightsmark 2008: 40.0

Nexuiz (v2.4.2; demo1): Min: 27 Ave: 73 Max: 107

F.E.A.R. (v1.08): Min: 18 Ave: 46 Max: 85 (21%/23%/56%)

Better scores in F.E.A.R.; spectacular IQ --- perhaps the best so far. It's just the DV bug that's holding this and the stock 178.13 back.
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Nvidia leaked 178.15

3DMark 2001 SE: 11182

Cinebench R10: 2203

Lightsmark 2008: 39.9

Nexuiz (v2.4.2; demo1): Min: 27 Ave: 72 Max: 109

F.E.A.R. (v1.08): Min: 20 Ave: 46 Max: 85 (18%/27%/55%)

Slightly improved figures in F.E.A.R.; DV bug fixed (The Image Sharpening slider still doesn't work though); slightly improved IQ.

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Nvidia 178.24

3DMark 2001 SE: 11212

Cinebench R10: 2252

Lightsmark 2008: 39.6

Nexuiz (v2.4.2; demo1): Min: 55 Ave: 76 Max: 122

F.E.A.R. (v1.08): Min: 20 Ave: 46 Max: 85 (16%/26%/58%)

This version displays unprecedented clarity. It's not much but it's noticeable. The DV bug is back with a vengeance though; the DV and Image Sharpening sliders aren't working again.

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Xtreme-G Quadro 178.26

3DMark 2001 SE: 11371

Cinebench R10: 2178

Lightsmark 2008: 39.8

Nexuiz (v2.4.2; demo1): Min: 55 Ave: 75 Max: 121

F.E.A.R. (v1.08): Min: 20 Ave: 46 Max: 85 (18%/26%/56%)

Mixed results; slightly better IQ; the DV slider works; still no luck with the Image Sharpening one --- the thing is still disabled.

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Xtreme-G 180.42

3DMark 2001 SE: 11303

Cinebench R10: 2243

Lightsmark 2008: 40.1

Nexuiz (v2.4.2; demo1): Min: 24 Ave: 70 Max: 118 (Averaged results from 2nd and 3rd runs: Min: 64 Ave: 87 Max: 148)

F.E.A.R. (v1.08): Min: 18 Ave: 45 Max: 85 (21%/25%/54%)

PHENOMENAL IQ; Desktop color sliders are all bugged --- talk about paying the price for something so beautiful. :D

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Nvidia (leaked) 180.70

3DMark 2001 SE: 11253

Cinebench R10: 2173

Lightsmark 2008: 39.7

Nexuiz (v2.4.2; demo1): Min: 25 Ave: 69 Max: 116 (Averaged results from 2nd and 3rd runs: Min: 61 Ave: 86 Max: 142)

F.E.A.R. (v1.08): Min: 18 Ave: 45 Max: 85 (21%/25%/54%)

Exact same performance in F.E.A.R. but slower at all other video card benchmark tests; this is probably the best vanilla Nvidia driver in terms of IQ though.

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Xtreme-G 180.70

3DMark 2001 SE: 11137

Cinebench R10: 2229

Lightsmark 2008: 39.8

Nexuiz (v2.4.2; demo1): Min: 47 Ave: 71 Max: 104 (Averaged results from 2nd and 3rd runs: Min: 62 Ave: 86 Max: 144)

F.E.A.R. (v1.08): Min: 19 Ave: 44 Max: 85 (18%/29%/53%)

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Nvidia GeForce 180.84

3DMark 2001 SE: 11200

Cinebench R10: 2262

Lightsmark 2008: 39.8

Nexuiz (v2.4.2; demo1): Min: 56 Ave: 76 Max: 123 (Averaged results from 2nd and 3rd runs: Min: 62 Ave: 87.5 Max: 146.5)

F.E.A.R. (v1.08): Min: 20 Ave: 45 Max: 85 (20%/26%/54%)

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Xtreme-G Nvidia GeForce 180.84

3DMark 2001 SE: 11277

Cinebench R10: 2260

Lightsmark 2008: 39.8

Nexuiz (v2.4.2; demo1): Min: 45 Ave: 74 Max: 116 (Averaged results from 2nd and 3rd runs: Min: 62 Ave: 87 Max: 146)

F.E.A.R. (v1.08): Min: 18 Ave: 44 Max: 85 (21%/23%/56%)

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Xtreme-G Nvidia GeForce 181.00

3DMark 2001 SE: 10971

Cinebench R10: 2223

Lightsmark 2008: 39.6

Nexuiz (v2.4.2; demo1): Min: 24 Ave: 72 Max: 118 (Averaged results from 2nd and 3rd runs: Min: 61.3 Ave: 87 Max: 145.6)

F.E.A.R. (v1.08): Min: 17 Ave: 43 Max: 85 (20%/30%/50%)

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Dox Optimized Nvidia 181.20

3DMark 2001 SE: 11268

Cinebench R10: 2221

Lightsmark 2008: 36.8

Nexuiz (v2.4.2; demo1): Min: 57 Ave: 76 Max: 124 (Averaged results from 2nd and 3rd runs: Min: 62.7 Ave: 88 Max: 146.7)

F.E.A.R. (v1.08): Min: 20 Ave: 44 Max: 84 (22%/25%/53%)

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Dox Optimized Nvidia 185.68

3DMark 2001 SE: 10743

Cinebench R10: 2141

Lightsmark 2008: 39.2

Nexuiz (v2.5.1; demo1): Min: 46 Ave: 61 Max: 100 (Averaged results from 2nd and 3rd runs: Min: 55.33 Ave: 75 Max: 119)

F.E.A.R. (v1.08): Min: 16 Ave: 41 Max: 85 (25%/27%/48%)

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Nvidia GeForce ION 190.38

3DMark 2001 SE: 10451

Cinebench R10: 2171

Lightsmark 2008: 38.6

Nexuiz (v2.5.1; demo1): Min: 45 Ave: 61 Max: 99 (Averaged results from 2nd and 3rd runs: Min: 55 Ave: 75 Max: 118.67)

F.E.A.R. (v1.08): Min: 14 Ave: 40 Max: 84 (30%/21%/49%)

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Nvidia GeForce ION 190.62

3DMark 2001 SE: 10623

Cinebench R10: 2173

Lightsmark 2008: 38.8

Nexuiz (v2.5.1; demo1): Min: 47 Ave: 62 Max: 101 (Averaged results from 2nd and 3rd runs: Min: 57 Ave: 77 Max: 121.33)

F.E.A.R. (v1.08): Min: 16 Ave: 40 Max: 85 (33%/19%/48%)

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Xtreme-G Nvidia GeForce ION 190.62

3DMark 2001 SE: 10668

Cinebench R10: 2202

Lightsmark 2008: 39.5

Nexuiz (v2.5.1; demo1): Min: 46 Ave: 61 Max: 100 (Averaged results from 2nd and 3rd runs: Min: 53.67 Ave: 75.67 Max: 118.33)

F.E.A.R. (v1.08): Min: 15 Ave: 40 Max: 85 (30%/21%/49%)

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Xtreme-G Nvidia GeForce 191.03

3DMark 2001 SE: 10511

Cinebench R10: 2174

Lightsmark 2008: 38.8

Nexuiz (v2.5.1; demo1): Min: 45 Ave: 61 Max: 99 (Averaged results from 2nd and 3rd runs: Min: 54 Ave: 74 Max: 118)

F.E.A.R. (v1.08): Min: 17 Ave: 41 Max: 84 (27%/25%/48%)


As with all software, USE THEM AT YOUR OWN RISK. What might work for me might not for you. Please use a registry backup restore software before installing 3rd-party anythings just to be on the safe side.

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Sequels: Far Cry 2 and Doom 4!

Fire, brimstone, and --- more fire.



While the news about the sequel to Crytek's first-person shooter PC game that awed everyone some years ago is already old news, the one about Id Software's sequel totally took me by surprise. Their official site proclaimed that the sequel is going to be in the works just two days ago. According to the article posted on their site, Todd Hollenshead, the company's CEO, has announced:

"DOOM is part of the id Software DNA and demands the greatest talent and brightest minds in the industry to bring the next installment of our flagship franchise to Earth,"

I really hope it's everything I wrote about in an article in my other blog 9 months ago:

"Seriously though, when is Id gonna release "Hell on Earth"? I mean imagine this: San Diego restaurants overrun with Imps, Cacodemons hovering over Times Square, Hell Knights stomping around malls. And it’s just you and them in a desolate cityscape. Or maybe not so desolate; Half-life 2 already got the devastated cityscape atmosphere so why not blue skies and a bustling, prosperous city (New York, San Diego?) when the first portals open?

Think about it. Id! Give us Doom 4!"

Meanwhile here's a video uploaded by Origina1as; it features how fire behaves in the new Far Cry.

Fire that spreads according to where the ingame wind is blowing --- the game's engine is unprecedented.Gamespot has also uploaded trailers of the sequel. No trigens in sight though.

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The Optimism of the Pilot of the Millenium Falcon

The power of positive thinking in the face of rejection

We all heard their stories --- struggling would-be celebrities, being rebuffed by directors or recording companies and then finally hitting paydirt.

I just didn't think that Harrison Ford belonged to this common story.

I came across this clip when I was editing an article about the actor. Listen to the reply he made to the Vice President of Columbia when the veep scorned his acting skills (The story about that exchange starts at 6:05 in the clip below):

More adamant than his fictional late Wookie sidekick. (Clip uploaded by WhiteSharkFilm)

And speaking of Harrison Ford and Wookies, I remember complaining some years back "Why, oh why didn't Lucas make a movie that focused on the wars fought by the clones?" I was an avid player of Star Wars Battlefront back then, Jedi for me were getting old, and the clones' armors were so cool back when they served for a republic. Like DotA ("I'm terrible at microing, why didn't Blizzard make a game that uses heroes only?!" - me) the upcoming CGI by LucasFilms stuffed my thought down my cranium:

I don't care if they came from embryonic or adult stem cells. Republic clones for the win! (Uploaded by OnTheWing2007)

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