http://www.craiglotter.co.za The Musings of Craig Lotter Wed, 19 Jun 2013 06:00:37 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1 http://www.craiglotter.co.za/2013/06/19/photo-gallery-rico-suter-country-house-weekend-away-2013-06-17/ http://www.craiglotter.co.za/2013/06/19/photo-gallery-rico-suter-country-house-weekend-away-2013-06-17/#comments Wed, 19 Jun 2013 06:00:37 +0000 Craig Lotter http://www.craiglotter.co.za/?p=24056 This long weekend saw Chantelle book us in for a fabulous winter weekend away at the stunning Rico Suter Country House, nestled in at the foot of the Waaihoek Mountains. Weather was fantastic, we took trips out to Kleinplasie in Worcester, Slanghoek, and even crossed the Breede River, and in general just enjoyed our time out in the fertile fields. A proper weekend of rest and relaxation in other words!]]> http://www.craiglotter.co.za/2013/06/19/photo-gallery-rico-suter-country-house-weekend-away-2013-06-17/feed/ 0 http://www.craiglotter.co.za/2013/06/18/android-gaming-update-part-2/ http://www.craiglotter.co.za/2013/06/18/android-gaming-update-part-2/#comments Tue, 18 Jun 2013 06:00:52 +0000 Craig Lotter http://www.craiglotter.co.za/?p=23275 I recently purchased a Proline Smart AK888-13 9.7″ Dual-Core Tablet from Loot.co.za for the low price of R2,099, featuring a 1.6GHz Cortex A9 Dual-Core CPU, a 10 point multi-touch capacitive screen with a resolution of 1024×768 (4:3), 1GB memory backed up by a 16GB NAND memory capacity, and running the fantastic Android 4.1 Jellybean OS. No 3G but obviously Wi-Fi and BlueTooth capable. In other words, not a high-spec tablet like your Apple iPad or your Samsung Galaxy Tab, but a very serviceable, extremely well priced, Chinese manufactured (Proline simple imports and brands them) mid-range tablet with a nice solid and fashionable design, good handling and the surprising ability to play 3D games rather well. So with the wonderous Google Play store at my finger tips, this is part 2 of the list of games I find myself currently playing (and enjoying) on my new entertainment device: (You can find Part 1 of the list here). Note that all of these follow the so-called ‘Free-mium’ model, i.e. they are free to download and play, but do feature advertising and do offer additional in-app purchases that allow you to progress through the game faster or gain access to better equipment or abilities. You get what you pay for in the end… Angry Birds Star Wars (2013): By now pretty much everyone on the planet has been exposed to the addictive and enjoyable casual gaming experience that is Angry Birds, basically a game that allows you to catapult different types of birds [...]]]> http://www.craiglotter.co.za/2013/06/18/android-gaming-update-part-2/feed/ 0 http://www.craiglotter.co.za/2013/06/17/php-thousands-separator/ http://www.craiglotter.co.za/2013/06/17/php-thousands-separator/#comments Mon, 17 Jun 2013 08:00:55 +0000 Craig Lotter http://www.craiglotter.co.za/?p=23922 Large numbers aren’t quite so easy for the human brain to read. Our brains tend to like breaking things up into smaller chunks to better handle them, and thus when it comes to large numbers, the simplest solution is to simply group thousands together, achieved with something known simply as a “thousands separator”. Now the simplest way to add a thousands separator to your displayed numbers when coding in PHP is to make use of the built in PHP number_format functionality. This means that turning 45317 into a more recognisable 45,317 is nothing more than a simple function call away! The number_format function accepts either 1, 2 or 4 parameters: string number_format ( float $number [, int $decimals = 0 ] ) string number_format ( float $number , int $decimals = 0 , string $dec_point = '.' , string $thousands_sep = ',' ) From the documentation: “If only one parameter is given, number will be formatted without decimals, but with a comma (“,”) between every group of thousands. If two parameters are given, number will be formatted with decimals decimals with a dot (“.”) in front, and a comma (“,”) between every group of thousands. If all four parameters are given, number will be formatted with decimals decimals, dec_point instead of a dot (“.”) before the decimals and thousands_sep instead of a comma (“,”) between every group of thousands.” In action: Pretty useful. Related Link: http://php.net/manual/en/function.number-format.php]]> http://www.craiglotter.co.za/2013/06/17/php-thousands-separator/feed/ 0 http://www.craiglotter.co.za/2013/06/16/aim-for-the-top-gunbuster-cosplay-kazumi-amano-tsukiya-2/ http://www.craiglotter.co.za/2013/06/16/aim-for-the-top-gunbuster-cosplay-kazumi-amano-tsukiya-2/#comments Sun, 16 Jun 2013 06:00:17 +0000 Craig Lotter http://www.craiglotter.co.za/?p=1502 Japanese cosplayer Tsukiya (also known as Jet Hyp!) is a costume wearing girl who is not particularly shy of showing skin (or her behind for that matter), usually found with less clothes on than a conservative mom would like. However, that is not stopping her from putting on a great display as the reasonable covered Kazumi Amano, complete with her trademark pink socks and pilot uniform. In anticipation for the Earth landing of the Space Monsters, huge insectoid aliens discovered to be travelling through the galaxy, mankind is in fierce development of huge mechanical fighting suits to become the sword for all humanity – the RX-7 Machine Weapons. However, as advanced as these giant battle suits are, they are no more than training vehicles for the upcoming intensely powerful Gunbuster fighting suits, something that everyone at the pilot training academy are all too aware of. Current top pilot at the school is one Kazumi Amano, a gifted student who is both beautiful and talented, making her particularly competent behind the complex controls of the fighting suit. An idol to just about all other aspiring trainee pilots, this also happens to make her the natural target for challenger duels, something this hard working and talented girl is more than eager to take on! Related Link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gunbuster]]> http://www.craiglotter.co.za/2013/06/16/aim-for-the-top-gunbuster-cosplay-kazumi-amano-tsukiya-2/feed/ 0 http://www.craiglotter.co.za/2013/06/15/this-long-weekend/ http://www.craiglotter.co.za/2013/06/15/this-long-weekend/#comments Sat, 15 Jun 2013 06:00:27 +0000 Craig Lotter http://www.craiglotter.co.za/?p=24011 Thanks to the cold and wet weather last weekend, we didn’t get up to anything really worth reporting back about, and with Chantelle a bit busy on the Saturday, Jessica and I did the best to entertain ourselves by playing some Just Cause 2, stacking countless tuna tins, and sneaking out for rides on the push bike whenever a little break in the clouds would allow for it. Sunday on the other hand was a different story, with pretty much all the cloud cover gone, leaving behind a beautiful winter’s day which we made full use of by first doing a spot of shopping, and then following it up with a Sunday afternoon drive through to Grabouw, where we stopped off for a light lunch at the Red Tractor Cafe (part of the popular Peregrine Farm Stall), followed by a bit of a play session on their fun wooden play park. And as the attached video evidence goes on to show, this seems to really have knackered poor little Jessica, who ended up in bed long before her usual bed time! This long weekend however is going to be a whole lot more awesome. Chantelle has organised a weekend away for the three of us, booking us in at the remote Rico Suter Country House which sits on the Rico Suter wine farm at the foot of the Waaihoek mountain range, somewhere between Worcester and Ceres. We leave today and come back on Monday afternoon and hopefully with our thumbs [...]]]> http://www.craiglotter.co.za/2013/06/15/this-long-weekend/feed/ 0 http://www.craiglotter.co.za/2013/06/14/baby-lotter-2-makes-hisher-first-appearance/ http://www.craiglotter.co.za/2013/06/14/baby-lotter-2-makes-hisher-first-appearance/#comments Fri, 14 Jun 2013 11:47:34 +0000 Craig Lotter http://www.craiglotter.co.za/?p=23989 Chantelle and I just got back home from Doctor Wade’s offices, returning from our very first sonar inspection of Baby Lotter #2, and of course, armed with such good news I couldn’t exactly wait to share it: jellybean-shaped Baby Lotter #2 is sitting quite snuggly, his/her heart happily beating at quite a furious pace! From the measurements Doctor Wades estimates Baby Lotter #2 as being around 7 weeks and 2 days old, which means that the estimated full term birth date would be 27 January 2014. (Funnily enough, Jess’s original full term birth date was also late January as it turns out.) So that’s it then. Baby Lotter #2 is now conclusively a reality and we’re now officially on our pregnancy way!]]> http://www.craiglotter.co.za/2013/06/14/baby-lotter-2-makes-hisher-first-appearance/feed/ 0 http://www.craiglotter.co.za/2013/06/14/movie-update-iron-man-3-iron-man-rise-of-the-technovore-superman-unbound/ http://www.craiglotter.co.za/2013/06/14/movie-update-iron-man-3-iron-man-rise-of-the-technovore-superman-unbound/#comments Fri, 14 Jun 2013 06:00:55 +0000 Craig Lotter http://www.craiglotter.co.za/?p=23932 Iron Man 3 (2013) A deadly extremist terrorist has now moved from causing chaos in the Middle East to striking out directly against the United States of America, rocking the country with a series of devastating and untraceable explosions. But the Mandarin isn’t the only demon that Tony Stark, aka Iron Man, will have to track and face-down: there is an even more sinister, homegrown plot on the brew, not to mention his own damaged psyche to get under control following the alien invasion of Earth just a few months ago. In other words, things are going to get quite bad, quite quickly, and quite close to home. Director Shane Black takes over the reins from Jon Favreau for the final installment of what has been a thoroughly entertaining Iron Man big-screen trilogy, and pleasingly he massively delivers the goods, releasing a relentlessly enjoyable comic book action movie, filled to the brim with story, drama, action, humor and twists galore. Borrowing heavily on the concepts introduced by Warren Ellis’ epic Extremis story line, this particular script allows Robert Downey, Jr. to once again fully embrace the character of Tony Stark/Iron Man, with his usual combination of fun, intensity, irrelevance, and charm, and as per usual it is pretty difficult not to like the playboy inventor problem child Stark that Downey, Jr has so made his own in this trilogy outing. Visually Iron Man 3 is epic, the special effects are amazing and as per usual the suits are simply awe-inspiring, [...]]]> http://www.craiglotter.co.za/2013/06/14/movie-update-iron-man-3-iron-man-rise-of-the-technovore-superman-unbound/feed/ 0 http://www.craiglotter.co.za/2013/06/13/street-fighter-alpha-2-cosplay-sakura-kasugano-kyouji/ http://www.craiglotter.co.za/2013/06/13/street-fighter-alpha-2-cosplay-sakura-kasugano-kyouji/#comments Thu, 13 Jun 2013 09:00:03 +0000 Craig Lotter http://www.craiglotter.co.za/?p=22823 First appearing in Street Fighter Alpha 2, the youthful Japanese schoolgirl fighter Sakura is the target for today’s Cosplay entry, taken on by Japanese cosplayer Kyouji – fighting mitts and all! Sakura Kasugano is a player character from the Street Fighter series of fighting games, where she is portrayed as a young Japanese schoolgirl who idolizes Ryu, whom she wants to be trained by. Sakura first appears in Street Fighter Alpha 2, where she participates in street fighting after watching Ryu win the first World Warrior tournament. She searches for him and wishes for him to train her to be a better fighter. She eventually comes across Ryu who after a short sparring session, tells her he could not train her as he still has much to learn himself. In Street Fighter Alpha 3, Sakura decides to travel the world to find Ryu. After trying to save him from the warrior M. Bison, Ryu promises her a rematch. She is also playable in the spin-off Street Fighter EX3. In Street Fighter IV, years have passed since Sakura last saw Ryu, so she decides to find Ryu again for a match in the new worldwide tournament. In introduction sequences of Super Street Fighter IV, she is often seen in a group of three with Dan Hibiki and Blanka. In Rival Schools: United By Fate, Sakura is involved in the adventure between her school and various others in Aohura City. After helping her childhood friend Hinata and the others out from within [...]]]> http://www.craiglotter.co.za/2013/06/13/street-fighter-alpha-2-cosplay-sakura-kasugano-kyouji/feed/ 0 http://www.craiglotter.co.za/2013/06/12/weigh-less-an-update/ http://www.craiglotter.co.za/2013/06/12/weigh-less-an-update/#comments Wed, 12 Jun 2013 08:00:58 +0000 Craig Lotter http://www.craiglotter.co.za/?p=23903 A couple of months ago I announced here on the blog that Chantelle and I had joined Weigh-Less, and seeing as we’re now ten weeks into the program, I thought it a good spot to give a quick update on our progress to those interested. (That said, because weight is a deeply personal issue, Chantelle would probably kill me if I said anything regarding her, so I think I’ll give that one a skip then!) As for me though, I’m now standing at a total weight loss of 14.4 kg in the ten weeks, which means that I’m dropping at a nice steady pace, with pretty much no effort on my part at all! Seriously, it’s winter, so there’s no going for walks, no jogging in the morning, no gym, no home exercise – nothing, nada, zip! Basically it all boils down to me pretty much having eliminated my intake of excess sugar, fats and carbohydrates, meaning that my body can happily burn off more kilojoules during the course of the day that what I’m shovelling in. Marvellous. And bare in mind, I’m no stickler for the diet rules in the first place. (I’m not going to elaborate on this point just yet, just in case our wonderful Somerset West Weigh-Less group leader Lana happens upon this post when I’m not looking…) So yeah, pretty chuffed at this whole Weigh-Less thing thus far! :)]]> http://www.craiglotter.co.za/2013/06/12/weigh-less-an-update/feed/ 0 http://www.craiglotter.co.za/2013/06/11/ps4-official-playstation-used-game-instructional-video/ http://www.craiglotter.co.za/2013/06/11/ps4-official-playstation-used-game-instructional-video/#comments Tue, 11 Jun 2013 17:38:14 +0000 Craig Lotter http://www.craiglotter.co.za/?p=23910 I’m not a hardcore gamer by any stretch of the imagination, but even I am not terribly keen on the recently announced Xbox One, in particular its heavy Internet connection reliance and seemingly painful DRM system Microsoft seems so keen to implement. Which is probably why I’m already leaning towards Sony’s PS4 when the time finally arises to retire my current Xbox 360. And to be honest, this video on how to share a PS4 game with a friend did make me laugh: Can’t say I like the look, but at the end of the day, as long as it plays games I’d be happy.]]> http://www.craiglotter.co.za/2013/06/11/ps4-official-playstation-used-game-instructional-video/feed/ 0 http://www.craiglotter.co.za/2013/06/11/touhou-project-cosplay-hong-meiling-makiron/ http://www.craiglotter.co.za/2013/06/11/touhou-project-cosplay-hong-meiling-makiron/#comments Tue, 11 Jun 2013 06:00:56 +0000 Craig Lotter http://www.craiglotter.co.za/?p=22804 Japanese cosplayer Makiron does a take on the popular Touhou Project gaming franchise for this week’s cosplay entry, bringing to life the iconic green outfit of Hong Meiling. In the series, Hong Meiling is a youkai, though it isn’t currently known which specific category she actually belongs to. She’s the gatekeeper of the Scarlet Devil Mansion and is known for her mastery of the martial arts, part of which can be seen from her movement which is performed with Shin-Kyaku (a move in Chinese martial arts). Related Link: http://touhou.wikia.com/wiki/Hong_Meiling]]> http://www.craiglotter.co.za/2013/06/11/touhou-project-cosplay-hong-meiling-makiron/feed/ 0 http://www.craiglotter.co.za/2013/06/10/oops-we-did-it-again/ http://www.craiglotter.co.za/2013/06/10/oops-we-did-it-again/#comments Mon, 10 Jun 2013 06:00:17 +0000 Craig Lotter http://www.craiglotter.co.za/?p=23890 So Chantelle and I received pretty awesome news over the weekend… it has been confirmed that Chantelle is around 6 weeks pregnant with our second little one! :) Very unexpected and very unplanned, the news comes as a bit of a surprise to us considering we weren’t actually trying, but all in all I’m pretty pleased that Mother Nature has given us the nudge (or is that a shove), because while I had been ready to start extending the family pretty soon after Jessica was born, Chantelle understandably has been more than a bit hesitant based on what happened last time, and so had been pretty much putting it off indefinitely while no one was looking. This time around though we are much more prepared, and with Chantelle on a better medical aid plan than last time means that we can pick and choose in terms of healthcare providers, making for a very exciting prospect indeed. Now all I have to do is try and get little Jessica’s buy-in for the final piece of the Lotter Clan puzzle that’s going to be falling in place! :) Nine months and counting…]]> http://www.craiglotter.co.za/2013/06/10/oops-we-did-it-again/feed/ 0