Pretty much the only network television show that I watch with any regularity is Friday night's Numb3rs. Despite the minor aggravation of typing a numeric digit into the title of the show, it has captured my attention and warmed over the cockles of my heart. The basis of the show is the relationship between two brothers. The first one, Don Eppes, is an FBI agent who fights crime with his gun and his wits. The second one, Charlie Eppes, is a math professor at CalSci who fights crime with his chalkboard and his brains. Together with their retired father, Alan Eppes, they make up an eccentric, humorous, and brilliant family.
Besides the family dynamics, the true shining aspect of this show, is the way it presents its mathematical side. Charlie's work is actual math that is being portrayed in a realistic manner! I have seen almost all of the episodes of the first three seasons (my parents are kind enough to buy them for me on DVD when they come out every year), and I find the unique blend of crime drama, nerdy antics, and character humor to be as seductive as when I first heard about the show.
I do have one complaint though, and that is that they got rid of my favorite character, Charlie's intellectual cohort, physicist Larry Fleinart. Larry is the epitome of an entertaining and well-developed side character. He is a physicist, but he always voices his belief that the universe and existance is much bigger than the science we currently use to describe it. He gets motion sickness and believes in eating all-white food for aesthetic reasons, yet he also took up living in between his car and the sewer system of CalSci at one point. Larry provided of semi-foil to Charlie's exuberant empiricism. He was his colleague and his friend and often helped him with a human insight that Charlie was over-looking in his rush to solve the problem.
They eventually wrote Larry off of the show by sending him into space on the show. Not being content with just having him mysteriously disappear, they sent him him into orbit in style, with the help of two famous Johns. Guest star, John Glenn, was called in to escort him from the FBI building to the NASA training facility and a few strains of Elton John's timeless classic "Rocketman" were used in an emotional scene where the characters watch the space shuttle supposedly carrying eccentric Larry Fleinart on his existential mission to slip the surly bonds of earth and somehow touch the face of God. It was quite beautiful.
If you even remotely have an interest in math or crime dramas and you have never seen this show, I heartily recommend it.
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Empire at War
Last night, I got to go back and play one of my favorite computer games of all time, Star Wars: Empire at War. It is a real-time strategy game (RTS) where you build and manage units of troops or ships, telling them to attack enemies, defend positions, scout for resources, or other various commands. What makes Empire at War so great, is that it is Star Wars, and it is done correctly. It was made by a group of guys called Petroglyph who used to work for Westwood studios on the Command and Conquer games. They brought Empire at War to a level of class and polish that was previously unseen in other Star Wars RTS titles.
The reason this game is so much fun, is because it feels like Star Wars. The space combat segment (what I played last night) has a simple strategy system that is lots of fun to execute. Fighters beat Capitol Ships, Capitol Ships beat Picket Ships, and Picket Ships beat Fighters. However, numerous little intricacies make the game come alive. Rebel capitol ships have the ability to augment their shields at a time of need, Imperial Capitol Ships have a tractor beam that keeps picket ships from running away, Rebel fighters can increase their speed temporarily at the cost of their firepower, and so on. All-in-all, this makes for a very dynamic battle.
Other than playing this addicting game, what sweetened the deal was getting to do so with my former and future roommate, James. We worked together as a team to bring down multiple AI opponents and had a lot of fun in the process. Of course at the same time we shot the breeze and caught up on how each other had been doing the last few weeks. What a great bonding experience it is to annihilate electronic star ships while talking about life!
This game makes me happy, because it makes up for previous Star Wars RTS semi-failures: Rebellion, Force Commander, and most notably Galactic Battlegrounds. Rebellion was great because you got to manage the entire galaxy, but it had a very poor combat system. Force Commander was an interesting game with some unique mechanics, but it was very difficult to control and poorly balanced. Galactic Battlegrounds was a fine game, but it was a direct rip-off of Age of Empires 2, and therefore didn't feel very much like Star Wars. I had fun with each of these, but they all also left me feeling a little empty inside. I'm glad that emptiness has finally been filled with the wonderfulness of Empire at War.
The reason this game is so much fun, is because it feels like Star Wars. The space combat segment (what I played last night) has a simple strategy system that is lots of fun to execute. Fighters beat Capitol Ships, Capitol Ships beat Picket Ships, and Picket Ships beat Fighters. However, numerous little intricacies make the game come alive. Rebel capitol ships have the ability to augment their shields at a time of need, Imperial Capitol Ships have a tractor beam that keeps picket ships from running away, Rebel fighters can increase their speed temporarily at the cost of their firepower, and so on. All-in-all, this makes for a very dynamic battle.
Other than playing this addicting game, what sweetened the deal was getting to do so with my former and future roommate, James. We worked together as a team to bring down multiple AI opponents and had a lot of fun in the process. Of course at the same time we shot the breeze and caught up on how each other had been doing the last few weeks. What a great bonding experience it is to annihilate electronic star ships while talking about life!
This game makes me happy, because it makes up for previous Star Wars RTS semi-failures: Rebellion, Force Commander, and most notably Galactic Battlegrounds. Rebellion was great because you got to manage the entire galaxy, but it had a very poor combat system. Force Commander was an interesting game with some unique mechanics, but it was very difficult to control and poorly balanced. Galactic Battlegrounds was a fine game, but it was a direct rip-off of Age of Empires 2, and therefore didn't feel very much like Star Wars. I had fun with each of these, but they all also left me feeling a little empty inside. I'm glad that emptiness has finally been filled with the wonderfulness of Empire at War.
Monday, July 30, 2007
Pool
I took Sunday off to go see Kelsey all day. This will have to be a normal occurrence for the summer. I was busy all day in Searcy and was exhausted and went straight to bed when I got home. That will be that.
On to something with more substance, hopefully. My parents have a pool table upstairs, which I really enjoy playing on. Sometimes I will put on my iPod and listen to podcasts will just shooting a round or two with myself. It really helps my mind and body relax, and it makes for good practice when friends come over. I've found pool to be an interesting game. It is one of the last survivors of an old form of entertainment called parlor games. Before the dawn of the electronic age, the radios and televisions and computers, people needed simpler games to entertain company and relieve boredom, and pool was one of the best.
Pool is such a uniquely fun game because it is quick and simple to learn, and playing provides a wide set of variations: Straight pool for marathon hangouts, nine ball for exposes of expertise, eight ball for the classic two-player version, and cut-throat for a killer three person game. It is extremely accessible and social, which makes a good pool table a very useful implement at a social gathering. It is also a universal games which makes it a great ice-breaker when at parties or social gatherings where you don't know many of the other guests.
And don't get me started on watching professionals play. Their precision makes the game seem more of a kinetic art form than a competition. Their pure manipulation of the laws of physics and the axioms of geometry transcend mere mathematics and become something truly extraordinary in form and function. I just lost twenty minutes watching breath-taking pool shots on youtube.
In short, I like pool. In long, you should probably like pool as well. It is not only fun, but it is also useful.
On to something with more substance, hopefully. My parents have a pool table upstairs, which I really enjoy playing on. Sometimes I will put on my iPod and listen to podcasts will just shooting a round or two with myself. It really helps my mind and body relax, and it makes for good practice when friends come over. I've found pool to be an interesting game. It is one of the last survivors of an old form of entertainment called parlor games. Before the dawn of the electronic age, the radios and televisions and computers, people needed simpler games to entertain company and relieve boredom, and pool was one of the best.
Pool is such a uniquely fun game because it is quick and simple to learn, and playing provides a wide set of variations: Straight pool for marathon hangouts, nine ball for exposes of expertise, eight ball for the classic two-player version, and cut-throat for a killer three person game. It is extremely accessible and social, which makes a good pool table a very useful implement at a social gathering. It is also a universal games which makes it a great ice-breaker when at parties or social gatherings where you don't know many of the other guests.
And don't get me started on watching professionals play. Their precision makes the game seem more of a kinetic art form than a competition. Their pure manipulation of the laws of physics and the axioms of geometry transcend mere mathematics and become something truly extraordinary in form and function. I just lost twenty minutes watching breath-taking pool shots on youtube.
In short, I like pool. In long, you should probably like pool as well. It is not only fun, but it is also useful.
Saturday, July 28, 2007
The Rocky Horror Show
Oh. My. Goodness. What an experience.
Jeremy, Matt, and I went to see the stage production, The Rocky Horror Show, last night. It was an experience that is hard to describe without using profanity of some sort, but I will give it my best shot. I am very glad that I was able to experience the Rocky Horror phenomenon in this medium for my "virgin" (yes, they really do call first-timers that) experience. Rocky Horror is an overly-sexualized send-up of old sci-fi and horror classics. Much as the original authors of works such as Frankenstein and Flash Gordon used the medium to present their progressive viewpoints about current events, Rocky Horror parodies those works to present its viewpoint of modern society in a very Alfred Kinsey manner.
It is one of the few shows outside of childrens' theater where audience participation is encouraged. Audience members are encouraged to act along during certain parts with their own props, costumes, and off-the-cuff lines to yell at the characters onstage. That part was quite raunchy, because all of the good examples I want to write down here are extremely vulgar, usually involving multiple f-bombs or extremely lurid details of human actions. Rest assured though, it fit in with the show and was extremely hilarious to be a part of.
I am also very glad that I did not view any form of this at a younger age than I am right now. There were very scandalous songs, costumes, and choreography, and there were multiple sex scenes. Yet, at no time did I ever think it was too wrong or out-of-control. It was actually very well done and extremely humorous and entertaining. It wasn't a gonzo affair, but more of a satirical one.
There was even an exposed male butt at one point. It had a large tatoo on it as well. I wasn't expecting that.
Besides the humor, the soundtrack was probably the best part. The songs were pretty campy, but they were also very catchy and lots of fun. I even still remember some of the lyrics.
In short, it is worth going to see, but you have to be prepared for what you are getting yourself into.
Jeremy, Matt, and I went to see the stage production, The Rocky Horror Show, last night. It was an experience that is hard to describe without using profanity of some sort, but I will give it my best shot. I am very glad that I was able to experience the Rocky Horror phenomenon in this medium for my "virgin" (yes, they really do call first-timers that) experience. Rocky Horror is an overly-sexualized send-up of old sci-fi and horror classics. Much as the original authors of works such as Frankenstein and Flash Gordon used the medium to present their progressive viewpoints about current events, Rocky Horror parodies those works to present its viewpoint of modern society in a very Alfred Kinsey manner.
It is one of the few shows outside of childrens' theater where audience participation is encouraged. Audience members are encouraged to act along during certain parts with their own props, costumes, and off-the-cuff lines to yell at the characters onstage. That part was quite raunchy, because all of the good examples I want to write down here are extremely vulgar, usually involving multiple f-bombs or extremely lurid details of human actions. Rest assured though, it fit in with the show and was extremely hilarious to be a part of.
I am also very glad that I did not view any form of this at a younger age than I am right now. There were very scandalous songs, costumes, and choreography, and there were multiple sex scenes. Yet, at no time did I ever think it was too wrong or out-of-control. It was actually very well done and extremely humorous and entertaining. It wasn't a gonzo affair, but more of a satirical one.
There was even an exposed male butt at one point. It had a large tatoo on it as well. I wasn't expecting that.
Besides the humor, the soundtrack was probably the best part. The songs were pretty campy, but they were also very catchy and lots of fun. I even still remember some of the lyrics.
In short, it is worth going to see, but you have to be prepared for what you are getting yourself into.
Friday, July 27, 2007
Prey
First off, I just want to say, Wow. I did not expect that book to end like it did. I won't spoil it for you, but the ending definitely gives a nice feeling of closure while raising some interesting questions about the overall themes of the book.
Oh, yeah, did I mention this book is about a flock of predatory nanites that are smaller several times smaller than a red blood cell? There are trillions of them in a "swarm" and they all act together using a limited but efficient intelligence; a hive mind. It truly makes for a creepy and gripping thriller. I've read Michael Crichton's most famous work, Jurassic Park, and I thoroughly enjoyed it and the ideas it presented on chaos and genetics. I do not think that Prey was darker or more chilling, I just believe it had more of a technological bent to it, a different kind of scariness if you will.
Crichton certainly knows how to write them though. I hope he is one of those writers that gets remembered favorably by academia studying American literature of the late twentieth century. You never know who is going to be remembered by scholars. I'm sure there are several people out there right now who I know nothing about who are going to be incredibly famous in retrospect in the future.
Prey was intelligent and gripping, but it is time for me to move on to Joel Garreau's Radical Evolution. I hope that it has some of the grip that Prey did, because I am going to need it to make it before the big back-to-school rush.
Oh, yeah, did I mention this book is about a flock of predatory nanites that are smaller several times smaller than a red blood cell? There are trillions of them in a "swarm" and they all act together using a limited but efficient intelligence; a hive mind. It truly makes for a creepy and gripping thriller. I've read Michael Crichton's most famous work, Jurassic Park, and I thoroughly enjoyed it and the ideas it presented on chaos and genetics. I do not think that Prey was darker or more chilling, I just believe it had more of a technological bent to it, a different kind of scariness if you will.
Crichton certainly knows how to write them though. I hope he is one of those writers that gets remembered favorably by academia studying American literature of the late twentieth century. You never know who is going to be remembered by scholars. I'm sure there are several people out there right now who I know nothing about who are going to be incredibly famous in retrospect in the future.
Prey was intelligent and gripping, but it is time for me to move on to Joel Garreau's Radical Evolution. I hope that it has some of the grip that Prey did, because I am going to need it to make it before the big back-to-school rush.
Cataan
Pronounced (unfortunately in my belief): Cu (as in cuff) - tan (as in unnaturally orange).
In my world, it would be pronounced more like the first part of the word katana, because I think that is more distinguished and cool-sounding.
Cataan is an imaginary island that is the setting for a board game I've become addicted to over the summer. In this game, you (and two or three others) play a group of settlers who have just come to the island and are trying to take advantage of all of the opportunity in this resource-rich land. You compete against your fellow man to try and earn ten "victory points" by using the resources you are harvesting to build additional settlements, cities, and roads. Doing this allows you to harvest different types of resources and more of them and contributes to a snowball effect which will hopefully carry you to victory. The game is astutely titled, "Settlers of Cataan."
There are five different resources, wood, brick, wheat, sheep, and ore, and they are used in various combinations to build or buy different things. One of the hallmarks of this game (and why it is so awesome) is that the game board itself is different every time. Not only are resources in different locations, but they also have different values. This means that there are no hard-and-fast strategies or methods of play, because what works great one time may not work so great the next.
The other hallmark of this game, and probably its greatest feature, is the trading element. You can always trade with the bank (for a very bad deal), but you can also trade with your fellow players, which is much more interesting. Bartering can get pretty fierce and the judicious application of politics can edge you that much closer to victory.
All of these things serve to disguise the true nature of the game: math. It is fundamentally built on the principles of probability and ratio. It is very deceitful like that, and I find it utterly fascinating.
Victory can be achieved through strategy, luck, or politics, but it is usually the combination of all three that carries someone past the ten point marker. It's an easy game to pick up, and is completable in one to two hours, so it is a perfect balance between the casual players and the more hardcore ones.
In non-Cataan thoughts, I'm almost done with Prey. I would have been done last night had exhaustion not caught up with me. Probably a post forthcoming about it. Suffice to say, it is quite good.
In my world, it would be pronounced more like the first part of the word katana, because I think that is more distinguished and cool-sounding.
Cataan is an imaginary island that is the setting for a board game I've become addicted to over the summer. In this game, you (and two or three others) play a group of settlers who have just come to the island and are trying to take advantage of all of the opportunity in this resource-rich land. You compete against your fellow man to try and earn ten "victory points" by using the resources you are harvesting to build additional settlements, cities, and roads. Doing this allows you to harvest different types of resources and more of them and contributes to a snowball effect which will hopefully carry you to victory. The game is astutely titled, "Settlers of Cataan."
There are five different resources, wood, brick, wheat, sheep, and ore, and they are used in various combinations to build or buy different things. One of the hallmarks of this game (and why it is so awesome) is that the game board itself is different every time. Not only are resources in different locations, but they also have different values. This means that there are no hard-and-fast strategies or methods of play, because what works great one time may not work so great the next.
The other hallmark of this game, and probably its greatest feature, is the trading element. You can always trade with the bank (for a very bad deal), but you can also trade with your fellow players, which is much more interesting. Bartering can get pretty fierce and the judicious application of politics can edge you that much closer to victory.
All of these things serve to disguise the true nature of the game: math. It is fundamentally built on the principles of probability and ratio. It is very deceitful like that, and I find it utterly fascinating.
Victory can be achieved through strategy, luck, or politics, but it is usually the combination of all three that carries someone past the ten point marker. It's an easy game to pick up, and is completable in one to two hours, so it is a perfect balance between the casual players and the more hardcore ones.
In non-Cataan thoughts, I'm almost done with Prey. I would have been done last night had exhaustion not caught up with me. Probably a post forthcoming about it. Suffice to say, it is quite good.
Thursday, July 26, 2007
Transformers
Robots in disguise.
I went to see the movie, again. It was just as good the second time around as it was the first. I learned that the only non-GM "car" besides Optimus Prime was Barricade. I thought he was a Dodge Charger police cruiser, but in fact he was a Saleen Mustang police cruiser. I reaffirmed that even though I did not watch anything of the original cartoon or movie, Peter Cullen has one of the coolest voices ever, and it is hard for me to imagine anyone else being the voice of robot Jesus.
You did know that Optimus Prime pretty much represents Jesus, right?
And I know it's been said, but even when your token-black guy is a talking Pontiac Solstice, he still does not escape cliched death at the hands of the evil villain.
Other things about the movie I immensely enjoyed included the massive amounts of military hardware that were on display: the carrier fleet group, the numerous destroyed M-1 Abrams, A-10s and Yf-22s, and the coolest of the cool who gets almost no respect in movies, the C130 gunship. Yes we actually have those, and yes they are that awesome.
Just like I told my friend Dave, if I ever flew in the air force, it would be in an A-10, one of those lovely fixed-wing beasts with the two massive jet engines mounted high on either side of the body. They fly close ground support and they can carry quite an impressive armament. I figure that if you're going to fly, you might as well do it loud, low, locked, and loaded.
I don't think my parents are too hot on me joining the air force.
I went to see the movie, again. It was just as good the second time around as it was the first. I learned that the only non-GM "car" besides Optimus Prime was Barricade. I thought he was a Dodge Charger police cruiser, but in fact he was a Saleen Mustang police cruiser. I reaffirmed that even though I did not watch anything of the original cartoon or movie, Peter Cullen has one of the coolest voices ever, and it is hard for me to imagine anyone else being the voice of robot Jesus.
You did know that Optimus Prime pretty much represents Jesus, right?
And I know it's been said, but even when your token-black guy is a talking Pontiac Solstice, he still does not escape cliched death at the hands of the evil villain.
Other things about the movie I immensely enjoyed included the massive amounts of military hardware that were on display: the carrier fleet group, the numerous destroyed M-1 Abrams, A-10s and Yf-22s, and the coolest of the cool who gets almost no respect in movies, the C130 gunship. Yes we actually have those, and yes they are that awesome.
Just like I told my friend Dave, if I ever flew in the air force, it would be in an A-10, one of those lovely fixed-wing beasts with the two massive jet engines mounted high on either side of the body. They fly close ground support and they can carry quite an impressive armament. I figure that if you're going to fly, you might as well do it loud, low, locked, and loaded.
I don't think my parents are too hot on me joining the air force.
Dickey-Stephens Park
Good ole Dickey-Stephens. You have so many promotions and give away so much free stuff. That's really what minor league baseball is all about: rowdy fans getting to cheer and boo players and officials, and lots of silly promotional games between innings where free crap you never needed is given away. These two forces are what bring people to games and keep their butts in their seats long enough to buy overpriced food. I always have my fill before I go because I can't stand to drink a $3 coke.
The Springfield Cardinals rallied five runs in the first two innings to none put up by the Travelers. It was pretty disheartening because there was one dropped fly ball and one foul ball called fair that let in a few of those runs. The fans got rowdy and started booing players and officials. It seemed like the first of our two forces was going to dominate the game. True story: I was once at a Travs game where it was going so badly that they decided to sing the Seventh Inning Stretch in the middle of the fifth. But then, in the bottom of the second, the second of our two forces came into play. It was announced that this was the Shorty Smalls home run inning and that if a Travelers player hit a home run, we would all get coupons for free appetizers from Shorty Smalls. Right after the announcement was made, the first pitch was thrown, and Travs Shortstop, Sean Rodriguez, cranked it over the left field wall. Fans got on their feet and cheered and applauded his efforts in winning them free stuff, and abruptly the momentum took a swing for the Travelers. They wound up blowing the Springfield Cardinals out, 13-8.
As if not content with handing us multiple free appetizer coupons at the gate, we were also given complimentary loaves of bread. Even after sleeping on it, I still have no clue why.
Prey is getting harder and harder to put down. I can't wait to finish this book!
The Springfield Cardinals rallied five runs in the first two innings to none put up by the Travelers. It was pretty disheartening because there was one dropped fly ball and one foul ball called fair that let in a few of those runs. The fans got rowdy and started booing players and officials. It seemed like the first of our two forces was going to dominate the game. True story: I was once at a Travs game where it was going so badly that they decided to sing the Seventh Inning Stretch in the middle of the fifth. But then, in the bottom of the second, the second of our two forces came into play. It was announced that this was the Shorty Smalls home run inning and that if a Travelers player hit a home run, we would all get coupons for free appetizers from Shorty Smalls. Right after the announcement was made, the first pitch was thrown, and Travs Shortstop, Sean Rodriguez, cranked it over the left field wall. Fans got on their feet and cheered and applauded his efforts in winning them free stuff, and abruptly the momentum took a swing for the Travelers. They wound up blowing the Springfield Cardinals out, 13-8.
As if not content with handing us multiple free appetizer coupons at the gate, we were also given complimentary loaves of bread. Even after sleeping on it, I still have no clue why.
Prey is getting harder and harder to put down. I can't wait to finish this book!
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Ask-A-Ninja
Not feeling sufficient to just get caught up on my Onion podcast today, I also finished up my archival viewing of the brilliant podcast, Ask-A-Ninja. Ask-A-Ninja continues to be my favorite podcast of the video variety because of its lightning-quick sense of humor that mixes a healthy amount of pop (and not so pop) culture references with a light amount of the absurd. It's unique in that the only visible feature of our protagonist, the ninja, is his eyes, but he manages to convey lots of emotion through the combination of his speaking pattern and his wild hand gestures.
The comedic duo behind it have a very sweet setup, and their sharp wits and subtle-yet-effective editing skills make the ninja an internet force with which to be reckoned. He is a front-runner in defining ninja culture on the internet and a big talking point in the ongoing ninjas vs. pirates vs. robot dinosaurs with flamethrowers on their heads debate.
My big secret about Ask-A-Ninja? They make me want to become a professional movie editor. I like editing.
You can tell I stay quite busy at work. Prey is still very good. Going to the Travs game tonight.
The comedic duo behind it have a very sweet setup, and their sharp wits and subtle-yet-effective editing skills make the ninja an internet force with which to be reckoned. He is a front-runner in defining ninja culture on the internet and a big talking point in the ongoing ninjas vs. pirates vs. robot dinosaurs with flamethrowers on their heads debate.
My big secret about Ask-A-Ninja? They make me want to become a professional movie editor. I like editing.
You can tell I stay quite busy at work. Prey is still very good. Going to the Travs game tonight.
The Onion
This morning, I finished listening to my archive of Onion Radio News podcasts. I had about 100 of them backed up on my iPod from the last few months, and it felt good to finally be caught up on them. The Onion has such an incredible satire and wit about it, I must share some of the headlines by which I was just entertained.
"Army Of Dead has no Problem Meeting Recruitment Goals"
"Civil War Enthusiasts Burn Atlanta To Ground"
"GEICO Saves Fifteen Percent Or More By Discontinuing Advertising"
"Area Mom Freaking Out For No Reason"
"John Glenn Installed In Smithsonian"
"Google Steps In To Help U.S. With Google Navy"
The Onion usually contends with the Weekly World News for being my favorite publication to read idly. The entertainment value in each is beyond reproach with the Onion claiming to be "America's Finest News Source" and Weekly World News claiming to be "The World's Only Reliable Newspaper." Together, they represent my two favorite forms of humor: satire and the absurd.
Prey is very good. The introduction and first chapter alone kept me up a half hour longer than I thought I would be. I have a feeling I won't be able to put it down later today.
"Army Of Dead has no Problem Meeting Recruitment Goals"
"Civil War Enthusiasts Burn Atlanta To Ground"
"GEICO Saves Fifteen Percent Or More By Discontinuing Advertising"
"Area Mom Freaking Out For No Reason"
"John Glenn Installed In Smithsonian"
"Google Steps In To Help U.S. With Google Navy"
The Onion usually contends with the Weekly World News for being my favorite publication to read idly. The entertainment value in each is beyond reproach with the Onion claiming to be "America's Finest News Source" and Weekly World News claiming to be "The World's Only Reliable Newspaper." Together, they represent my two favorite forms of humor: satire and the absurd.
Prey is very good. The introduction and first chapter alone kept me up a half hour longer than I thought I would be. I have a feeling I won't be able to put it down later today.
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
Technopoly
I just finished reading Neil Postman's Technopoly today. It was a very interesting read. It was also required read for Human Situations II with Dr. Garner this fall. Mr. Postman had a unique way of writing circles around what he wanted to say without actually saying it. What his message basically boils down to is that we are living in a society where unchecked technological progress has destroyed the moderating forces of religion and politics, replacing it instead with the worship and proliferation of unfiltered information.
If you combine this book's message with George Orwell's message in 1984, you have a very scary situation on your hands. A situation where information is the god that man worships, and whichever man has the greatest ability to manipulate information has the greatest potential to wield an authoritarian control over people's lives. Postman shares a lot of his ideas over the technical control of language with Orwell, such as its ability to limit the realm of people's thoughts. They both believe that a word like truth becomes warped in its meaning with the progress of society and that information glut has the power to change people's concepts of truth and by consequence, reality.
I still have to read Michael Crichton's Prey and Joel Garreau's Radical Evolution for this class. I have the feeling it will be one of the highlights of my next semester. I begin Prey tonight.
If you combine this book's message with George Orwell's message in 1984, you have a very scary situation on your hands. A situation where information is the god that man worships, and whichever man has the greatest ability to manipulate information has the greatest potential to wield an authoritarian control over people's lives. Postman shares a lot of his ideas over the technical control of language with Orwell, such as its ability to limit the realm of people's thoughts. They both believe that a word like truth becomes warped in its meaning with the progress of society and that information glut has the power to change people's concepts of truth and by consequence, reality.
I still have to read Michael Crichton's Prey and Joel Garreau's Radical Evolution for this class. I have the feeling it will be one of the highlights of my next semester. I begin Prey tonight.
The Culture Liveblog
So, I decided to start something beyond mere Xanga. We'll see how often it gets updated.
My goal and objective with this blog (I didn't bring order to a previously chaotic group of ones and zeros for no reason) is to have a place to write my thoughts and opinions about articles of culture as I experience them. This isn't the place for a topical survey of everything I've done today or a list of cool links I've been sitting on for awhile. Those (the few entries that they are) will go over on the Xanga page.
This is the space for any personal life experiences I deem a part or product of the various elements of culture I submerge myself in, such as television or video games or Facebook or physical books or family or classes or art or history or technology. The point is, it is whatever I am currently experiencing, hence the "live"blog aspect of it. My hope is that I will at least have something brief to update about every day. My second hope is that I will have something substantial to update about every week. I am going to try and blog about EVERY activity I deem significant, and I will try and provide some reason why I believe so, or some further account of this object if I have previously posted about it.
So with that being said, and a total readership of one, me, right now, I officially launch this blog. I will slowly tell people about it after I can steel my resolve and have a week's worth of updates on it.
My goal and objective with this blog (I didn't bring order to a previously chaotic group of ones and zeros for no reason) is to have a place to write my thoughts and opinions about articles of culture as I experience them. This isn't the place for a topical survey of everything I've done today or a list of cool links I've been sitting on for awhile. Those (the few entries that they are) will go over on the Xanga page.
This is the space for any personal life experiences I deem a part or product of the various elements of culture I submerge myself in, such as television or video games or Facebook or physical books or family or classes or art or history or technology. The point is, it is whatever I am currently experiencing, hence the "live"blog aspect of it. My hope is that I will at least have something brief to update about every day. My second hope is that I will have something substantial to update about every week. I am going to try and blog about EVERY activity I deem significant, and I will try and provide some reason why I believe so, or some further account of this object if I have previously posted about it.
So with that being said, and a total readership of one, me, right now, I officially launch this blog. I will slowly tell people about it after I can steel my resolve and have a week's worth of updates on it.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
