Life in the Stencil Buffer

One way to create this game using OpenGL is to use a multipass algorithm. Keep the data in the color buffer, one pixel for each grid point. Assume that black (all zeros) is the background color, and the color of a live pixel is nonzero. Initialize by clearing the depth and stencil buffers to zero, set the depth-buffer writemask to zero, and set the depth comparison function so that it passes on not-equal. To iterate, read the image off the screen, enable drawing into the depth buffer, and set the stencil function so that it increments whenever a depth comparison succeeds but leaves the stencil buffer unchanged otherwise. Disable drawing into the color buffer.

Next, draw the image eight times, offset one pixel in each vertical, horizontal, and diagonal direction. When you’re done, the stencil buffer contains a count of the number of live neighbors for each pixel. Enable drawing to the color buffer, set the color to the color for live cells, and set the stencil function to draw only if the value in the stencil buffer is 3 (three live neighbors). In addition, if this drawing occurs, decrement the value in the stencil buffer. Then draw a rectangle covering the image; this paints each cell that has exactly three live neighbors with the “alive” color.

At this point, the stencil buffers contain 0, 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and the values under the 2’s are correct. The values under 0, 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 must be cleared to the “dead” color. Set the stencil function to draw whenever the value is not 2, and to zero the stencil values in all cases. Then draw a large polygon of the “dead” color across the entire image. You’re done.

http://www710.univ-lyon1.fr/~jciehl/Public/OpenGL_PG/ch15.html#id5553768

New flat is coming along, I need lots of posters to fill the walls - I only have five at the moment and three are the same :\ We have hot water, so we can shower, and sharp knives, so I don’t have to use a junior hacksaw to chop chicken breasts into small pieces. And internet, so I can post this, scrobble and restart downloading from eMusic. Though it’s still a flat, not a home.

And finally: In the news today.

“Very unfortunately Mrs Coles was locked into our public toilets overnight which was extremely unfortunate.
“We’re very sorry that this happened.”

But just a bunch of flowers in apology?

And: Why is GMail recommending me menstrual cups?

Righto.

Don’t try to tell me that’s unintentional.

Oh, don’t call me funny bunny
I’ll blow your money, money
I’ll get you to my bad ass spinning for you.

Gotta tease you nasty guy
So take it don’t be shy
Put your cherry on my cake
And taste my cherry pie.

Sounds hot?

This is the Ukrainian entrant:

Righto.

PS. Seems to have become a BBC themed post - more terrible lyrics.

Not posted any of these articles in quite a while, so here’s my favourite of all time. It’s from the Times some time in 2002. The manager’s decision just makes no sense whatsoever!

A worthy world record to hold. Apparently their punishment was quite harsh.

The quality of support and jousting and play between John Zorn on sax and Dave Douglas on trumpet is entirely ridiculous and each member of the quartet seems to know exactly what the others might do, any given moment, even at 90mph. Zorn’s solos squeak and squeal and wail everywhere, always getting ever more intense, never once faltering. Douglas’ counterpoints to Zorn work brilliantly. The rhythms supporting are tense and pumping with energy. It’s how jazz should be. I’d really love to see them live - it seems almost bizarre I’ve never heard of the group before.

Ne’eman and Nashon are particular highlights, scarily fast and complex.

I have this down under silly because it’s so, SO fucking good it’s unreal.

Only the EU could have created a situation where people who are not farmers are paid not to farm.

The stories accompanying the pictures here are wonderful .. this one especially. The man with a wink and a small coin is a strange recurrence and not one whose significance (if there’s any at all) I can decipher. Someone else’s moments.

Wayne Bridge, of Chelsea, after winning the Carling Cup.

0_o