While 64-bit x86 processors have now been on the market for more than 5 years, software support is only slowly catching on. 64-bit x86, or x86-64 as its inventors at AMD called it, not only offers programmers the ability to manipulate and address data in larger chunks, but added some other niceties like an additional 8 general purpose registers.
Transitioning assembly code from x86 to x86-64 is pretty straightforward, but there are some changes worth noting.
Masm, the Microsoft assembler, is the most commonly taught x86 assembler. Unfortunately, its use is limited to Windows. nasm is a free cross-platform x86 assembler which supports all the common x86 operating systems – Linux, MacOS X and Windows. Unlike the GNU assembler, it uses the same Intel syntax that masm does. Still, there are some differences.
What follow are my notes on converting x86 assembly code from use with mas to nasm.
I have also posted a simple example highlighting some of those changes.
Digital cameras are responsible for many wonderful things. They let us capture manner of events that were not practical or possible before. They enable us to post-process and alter our images quickly and easily. They make it possible to share our images with just about anybody at no cost and little effort.
What they have not done, at least for serious amateurs, is save us money over their film predecessors. This of course flies in the face of conventional wisdom. No more buying film. No more paying the drugstore to process our images (or buying the chemicals and equipment and processing them ourselves). No more paying for prints of every image on a roll of film. Etc.
I’ve climbed a number of peaks since 2002. Here is the list. Those done with the Peak Climbing Section are marked (PCS).
Well, this is a little embarrassing. No updates in almost a year.
Actually, I have been fairly busy, but not in ways that have lent themselves to posting here. Hopefully, that is changing.
In the meantime, for a peek into my current side projects, have a gander at www.openhorizonsphoto.com. My main camera just passed the 45,000 shot mark. Many more photos to post, when I get the chance!
Summary: From Mosquito Flat in the Little Lakes Valley, we followed the trail up over Mono Pass, and then descended down the main drainage to Lake Edison where we spent the night at the Vermilion Valley Resort. The next day we retraced our steps.
Participants: Chris, Dara, Fred and Sassan
Distance: Approx. 20 miles each way.Elevation: Westbound: 2400 ft. up, 4400 ft. down.
Mt. Shasta Take 2 – Avalanche Gulch
Participants: Chris, Dara and Sassan
Distance: Approx. 7 miles each way
Elevation: 7100 ft. up
In mid-June, we were part of George’s Shasta PCS trip. Before bad weather cut that adventure short, the climbing ranger had told us that conditions for the climb would likely be best about 4 weeks later. Most couldn’t make the date, but the 3 of us were free and decided to give it a go. To give ourselves the best chance of success (Sassan and I never having summited before), we planned to hike up to Helen Lake on the first day, and do our climb from there. In retrospect, a few weeks earlier would probably have been better, as the lower part of the mountain didn’t have much snow, which made progress, particularly the decent, slower than necessary. Happily we had no issues with the weather this time around.
For George’s birthday, he decided to climb Telescope Peak, near Death Valley. Having never been to that area we were happy to go along. We spent the first part of the day after the climb exploring Death Valley.
Summary
Telescope Peak and Death Valley: 4 December – 6 December 2009
Day 1: Driving to Ridgecrest (5h30 from Cupertino). Stayed at motel.
Day 2: Climb Telescope Peak from Mahogany Flat (14 miles, +3000 ft round trip). Drove to Furnace Creek. Stayed at motel.
Day 3: Explore Death Valley (Zabriskie Point, Badwater, Natural Bridge, Artist Drive and Rhyolite). Drive home (8 hours).
Participants (hike): 6
In late October, my dad and I went with a PCS group to attempt Virginia Peak, in northeastern Yosemite. Early snow prevented us from reaching the peak, but we enjoyed a fun early winter outing in an area I’d not previously seen.
Summary
Virginia Peak PCS Trip: 24 October-25 October 2009
Day 1: Green Lake trail from the trailhead, then a use trail over Virginia Pass (10,500 ft.) and going cross-country to camp in a basin southeast of Virginia Peak.
Day 2: Detour to Return Lake, then returning by the same route as the day before.
Participants: 5
Midway through October, I joined a weekend Sierra Club hike for my first climb of Mt. Langley in the southern Sierra.
Summary
Mt. Langley PCS Trip: 10-11 October 2009
Day 0: Driving to near Lone Pine.
Day 1: Cottonwood Lakes Trail from Horseshoe Meadow to Cottonwood Lake #5. 7 miles, 2000 ft.
Day 2: Over Old Army Pass and up Mt. Langley from SE face (class 2), returning via same route to Cottonwood Lakes and trailhead. 12 miles, 2000 ft.
Participants: 3