Phase I

next up on blinkmiss: after the dreamland's movies and games presented before, some of the excellent documentaries that are out there. oh, and to make Phase 1 to work for you like seen in Minority Report

Well, it might be well out of 14 phases, so let's kick start:
1. your browser
2. your OS
3. shortcuts and gestures
4. your CPU

1. Browser [update, plugins here]
I am really not going to impose what browser you like. I use 3:
- Firefox mainly, because it has a huge base of plugins from where I made it look, feel and behave like a virtual glove
- Chrome, because it has some plugins and it's fast on its scripts; besides it gives me 2 distinct contexts, when in normal vs incognito mode (you can select what extension runs where)
- Safari is virtually pluginless, allowing me to see how anyone would, the webpages unmodified by addons
- Well, and I do Opera Mini too - for mobile - because it has the best interface for this purpose


2. Operating System basic tuning [update, see the two _example_... files] <- latest: Oct 23 2010
Contextual stopping/starting services and applications, and use only the bucket that you need at one time. Huge improvement.
For this we'll use some scripts, and we'll start by installing >AutoHotKey<
If you feel brave (and have some experience under your belt), GeoShell wonderfully replaces the clunky standard explorer within lower system resources; virtually no more crashing, and all the UI is elegantly hidden when you don't need it (almost all the time, that is). Everything will stay in its own "bar" that collapses when not needed. Truly a designer's dream. It's been around for years now, but apparently so good it didn't need further development, therefore is good only for XP 32bits afaik. Vista 32bits too, but there might be a problem with the "search bar".

3. Shortcuts and gestures [update, shortcuts] <- latest: Nov 24 2010
Making all the clicks and long chains of "habits" possibly within only a click or so, to better link with the feeling and execute before your brain's working memory gets clunky.
>AutoHotKey< is again the perfect choice, along with >gMote< for mouse gestures.
And >Launchy< does the best job of starting an application or custom command, via a small string.
If you're worried that Launchy tends to steal resources, don't. Besides we'll set it on shortcuts stopping and starting it when we need to.
[update] Oh, I almost forgot to mention the wonderful space organizer and screen estate mogul:>Virtual Dimension<
For the hardcore owning a gamepad I found Xpadder 5.3 the best free option, highly configurable and very responsive.


4. CPU load
After the junk of the OS is filtered at 2., this 4th step reserved usually for the tech-savvy, it is now for everyone in need to squeeze some more power, especially when multitasking/multi-threading a lot.
With these little tools:
>DTaskManager< to replace the default task manager, giving us many additional powers among which reclaiming our precious memory (right mouse on Processes' tab, and there you have Trim memory)

>CPU-Control< to easily make profiles of forked processes. That is, you'd want your antivirus and other "unimportant" processes not be able to steal your resources when you want its focus on your current editor for example. This little one achieves this by enabling you to tell what process on what processor should optimally run.


Would you be so curious to give them a spin? None of them bites, but from the evil Overload, minus Geoshell that I would highly advise to know what you're doing before doing it.
I'll add the details at every point, how to make the best use of, but better to have them already installed at that point.
Basically I'll add a list of essential scholar's plugins for Firefox, some code, and learning tips for AutoHotKey.



P.S. There will not be 14 phases, too scary for me and definitely for you :)
Look for the dynamic label: I'll make modifications to this post and I will fork it via links to ease the load on your eyes. Usually on Saturdays :)

Games

Hey! Wanna play?

If you are inclined for the more direct >brain related games<, <- here I keep a track of them.


The Independent Game Festival this year was truly inspirational, and I'm not talking about the stunning redhead, but more of the quantity of quality games that made it. If you are a little nerdy inclined, I urge you to see it all here:
>IGF Awards<

Also from here forth there are some genial (and free) games that you may delve into right now:

>Dreamside Maroon<, in an attempt to to make Susan Greenfield green with envy and brighten up her unfortunate, uninspired nor researched speeches about games.

>Devil's Tuning Fork<, if you have some time, you have to try it.

From the genial inspirational vein of Braid, the free version in the >company of myself.<

If you are a fan of the original Crayon Physics, you might enjoy this spin-off(?) right now:
>Magic Pen<

While the bloom in this one will remind you of the genial Okami, the way you solve the puzzles is bound to bring back the memory of the excellent although completely different Omikron:
>Puzzle Bloom<

Also if you like puzzles, this one is more classical than the former and asks little of your gaming capabilities but more of your cog...nitive ones:
>the Cogs demo<


Oh, I have music for you too, you will enjoy making it while playing this one:
>Auditorium<

For closure, at least until I will update this post, (see the "dynamic" label for updates), another twisted adventure that is bound to challenge your nerves or your brain:
Yes: >Closure<

Tell me a story!

One from Mr Lopate, about dreaming. The whole program is wonderful for explaining in mundane terms things that are coming to the attention of general public rather unexplained.

A nice movie to follow suit, surprisingly not Inception but Gilliam's Parnassus. If you haven't yet, see it as a rather richer experience in psychological terms than Inception though if more subtle at that. BTW, the latter is based more on the psychological "stuff" linked directly to Jung rather than on neuro as it was overadvertised in some brain blogs.
Or, if you've seen them all, and if you have the stomach for something darker, you may still enjoy the psychological thriller with strong aesthetics named The Cell.


Want more free shorter smart stories? While for the hardcore scientists may be just a delightful way to relax their neurons (wasting time is a part of good consolidation for the brain... quick: think brick thick!), for the wannabes and general interest there is potent content in the genial podcasted series of Radiolab. You may start here: Stochasticity as the only link I recall even remotely related to the previous economics posts of blinkmiss. Or here: Time , as it is funny well balanced and you can relate to it from anywhere you came from, constrained only that's from this Universe.
Or anywhere, really.

From a very serious reality where "values" interfere absolutely wonderful, there you have another story about the veils of truth in Chinatown, uncovered in a funny tone.

And two more, from the same vein of storytelling, this time just because they are funny and slightly twisted romantic.

> What Dreams May Come

> Paprika ( and Akira, but only for the hardcore ones who would like to taste the diclonius spirit one more time)

> Ghost in the Shell - if you want more anime and have a knack at philosophy and what will happen after we'll merge with the machine; you may also try for that matter: WWW from the writer of FlashForward (the book was really nice compared to the movie series)
- Ghost in the Shell SE - hey, it has a music clip incorporated in the middle of the action that takes you by surprise, artistically speaking!
- Ghost in the Shell 2 - as an even more twisted Japanese psychological pov, you have to see it twice, I know I did and that's really an event :)
- The series, Stand Alone Complex and 2nd Gig - as an entry point for newbies to the "hard" problem; the series are lighter and more digestible with a humorous approach
- Ghost In The Shell - Solid State Society, supposedly a movie that follows the series if you want to learn Japanese at first sight, it's plain as that