As the second week of my semester comes to completion . . .
I wanted to get another quick post done. I fear my life will become too hectic and busy to keep much of a regular schedule going. Perhaps only the odd "View from the Second City" and torch article will be posted over the next few months. Hopefully, I'll be able to find some time for a cute picture. But I don't think I will be able to write a huge amount, which is a shame because I need all the practice I can get.
Why is it that when I tell anyone my choses educational path and future profession, they all tell me how bad the media is? Does this happen with any other job. Doctors I guess. People are always telling them why they are wrong. Why they know better. Who else?
I've been considering where I want to end up. One of my classes, War and Media, has me intrigued. I'm reading "The First Casualty," for the class. An historical look at war correspondence. I've never really considered that, but I don't know. The book talks about the "first" war correspondence, William Howard Russell. He really wasn't the first, he is just remembered better. "Russell covered teh war between Schleswig-Holstein and Denmark, the Crimean War, the Indian Mutiny, the American Civil War, the Austro-Prussian War, the Franco-Prussian War, the Paris Commune, and the Zulu War of 1879. He helped to topple the British government, was indirectly responsible for the employment of the first war photographer, and helped keep Britain from intervening in the American Civil War. He was appointed a Knight of the Iron Cross, an Officer of the Legion of Honour . . ." and on and on and on. If I got 1% of what he did done, I would be very happy with myself.
Some how politics keeps pulling on me and peaking my interest. I've always said I don't want to go near that crap hole. To much heartache and not enough gratitude. But it's interesting. The stories can be epic. And I think the public needs to know the secret--the whole things is a game. Republicans and Democrats are deeply divided on merit between the hours of 9 and 5. More like 10 and 3 Monday-Thursday. Then at the bar no body cares. Same thing with Journalists. The job is just a job and everyone is a friend with a beer in your hand. I once told Chris that maybe I wanted to be "a corespondent to the insane." They are the ones who most need understanding and have the biggest obstacle--a different language of the mind.
Politics is the ultimate in insanity and maybe they need me to translate. (I don't often get so high on myself. Maybe I'm just tired. Please don't judge me for this.)
I don't really know anything that I want to do beyond go to bed right now.
Good night all.
Thursday, February 05, 2009
Thursday, January 29, 2009
View from the Second City (First column)
(I wrote this after Christmas, and it was published in this weeks Journal Republican, the newspaper from my hometown. It's the beginning of my monthly column comparing Chicago and Monticello/White Heath. I hope to show everyone that it's not so different.)
Most people think Chicago greets commuters with heavy traffic and billboards but I prefer to wait until I see the el for the first time to welcome myself to the Second City. The train system is the cities bloodline and when you drive North on Interstate 57 it pops out of the ground like an animal. The roar silenced by the passing cars.
The el splits into several lines named for colors. Each line cuts through the different neighborhoods linking the diverse people and places.
Mine is the Red Line. It runs from the North Side down to the South Side and soaks up the intricacies of each neighborhood in between. It goes from tunnels to street level between the interstate; then back underground and final becomes elevated again after downtown.
The Brown Line circles downtown, creating “the loop,” and then runs northwest. The Blue Line links the west side with downtown and then goes back west. Each line has its own feel, its own personality.
I grew up outside of White Heath, but I now live in Chicago on the North Side. It is hard, sometimes, to know which is my home. I am comfortable in Chicago, but my roots are in the country.
After an emotional Christmas break my mother drove me back to Chicago--back home. I love the drive North on 57. The monotonous interstate drive is broken up by a few surreal oddities: the 20 foot tall Abraham Lincoln, the Kankakee hand clutching the world. It reminds me of our Midwest humor, dry and spars and often very strange.
Unfortunately, on this drive I missed the Lincoln because of a semi we passed at the exact wrong time.
Clouds covered the skyline until after we first saw the Red Line. I prefer the skyline coming from the South. Maybe because my first glimpse of Chicago was from this angle or maybe because the buildings look more compacted than the usual picture from the East.
The lake greets me after we pass the Bears’ playground. My first lake sighting tells me that I am finally home. We just have a little more to drive on Lake Shore before I am technically there, but I already feel good. It has been a while since I had a visit that lasted longer than a weekend. It was nice to be in Piatt County for so long, but I am glad to be back to my life.
Most people think Chicago greets commuters with heavy traffic and billboards but I prefer to wait until I see the el for the first time to welcome myself to the Second City. The train system is the cities bloodline and when you drive North on Interstate 57 it pops out of the ground like an animal. The roar silenced by the passing cars.
The el splits into several lines named for colors. Each line cuts through the different neighborhoods linking the diverse people and places.
Mine is the Red Line. It runs from the North Side down to the South Side and soaks up the intricacies of each neighborhood in between. It goes from tunnels to street level between the interstate; then back underground and final becomes elevated again after downtown.
The Brown Line circles downtown, creating “the loop,” and then runs northwest. The Blue Line links the west side with downtown and then goes back west. Each line has its own feel, its own personality.
I grew up outside of White Heath, but I now live in Chicago on the North Side. It is hard, sometimes, to know which is my home. I am comfortable in Chicago, but my roots are in the country.
After an emotional Christmas break my mother drove me back to Chicago--back home. I love the drive North on 57. The monotonous interstate drive is broken up by a few surreal oddities: the 20 foot tall Abraham Lincoln, the Kankakee hand clutching the world. It reminds me of our Midwest humor, dry and spars and often very strange.
Unfortunately, on this drive I missed the Lincoln because of a semi we passed at the exact wrong time.
Clouds covered the skyline until after we first saw the Red Line. I prefer the skyline coming from the South. Maybe because my first glimpse of Chicago was from this angle or maybe because the buildings look more compacted than the usual picture from the East.
The lake greets me after we pass the Bears’ playground. My first lake sighting tells me that I am finally home. We just have a little more to drive on Lake Shore before I am technically there, but I already feel good. It has been a while since I had a visit that lasted longer than a weekend. It was nice to be in Piatt County for so long, but I am glad to be back to my life.
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Second Practice Onion Article
(I think this one is a little better. It's longer at least.)
Obama's Economic Stimulus Plan Includes Obama Memorabilia
President Obama announced Friday that Obama memorabilia will account for nearly 20% of his $900 billion stimulus plan.
"We are struggling as a country. Parents can not provide for there children because they have lost their jobs. It is the Government's responsiblity to provide for its citizens and that is why I am signing this stimulus package with 200 thousand 'January 20th, 2009 commemorative plates,'" Obama said in his speach on Friday.
The package also includes 2 million silver dollars with "Obama's likeness embossed on the front," 100 thousand Obama bobble heads and 30 thousand January 20th Inauguration plaque with Obama's speech "etched into 24 karate gold."
The plan is meant to help out the nations failing QVC economy. "QVC is the cornerstone of the American economy. If we don't help now, Americans all over the country will no longer be able to buy worthless junk over the phone," Obama said on Friday.
Sandy Wallis, a retired teacher from Greenwich NY, says she supports the plan. "I would hate to see QVC disappear. I bought this Hello Kitty diamonique sterling pendant for only $79, with five easy payments. And that's something you can wear anywhere."
While the QVC plan is becoming very popular with the public, Economists and Republican Senators both say they see flaws.
"We all want to support the bobble head initiative," said U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.). "But I think we need to do more. We need to also help the falling Sky Mall stocks and keep Sharper Image from bankruptcy. Our nation's crap economy is suffering a crises and QVC alone can not be its sole supporter."
Obama's Economic Stimulus Plan Includes Obama Memorabilia
President Obama announced Friday that Obama memorabilia will account for nearly 20% of his $900 billion stimulus plan.
"We are struggling as a country. Parents can not provide for there children because they have lost their jobs. It is the Government's responsiblity to provide for its citizens and that is why I am signing this stimulus package with 200 thousand 'January 20th, 2009 commemorative plates,'" Obama said in his speach on Friday.
The package also includes 2 million silver dollars with "Obama's likeness embossed on the front," 100 thousand Obama bobble heads and 30 thousand January 20th Inauguration plaque with Obama's speech "etched into 24 karate gold."
The plan is meant to help out the nations failing QVC economy. "QVC is the cornerstone of the American economy. If we don't help now, Americans all over the country will no longer be able to buy worthless junk over the phone," Obama said on Friday.
Sandy Wallis, a retired teacher from Greenwich NY, says she supports the plan. "I would hate to see QVC disappear. I bought this Hello Kitty diamonique sterling pendant for only $79, with five easy payments. And that's something you can wear anywhere."
While the QVC plan is becoming very popular with the public, Economists and Republican Senators both say they see flaws.
"We all want to support the bobble head initiative," said U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.). "But I think we need to do more. We need to also help the falling Sky Mall stocks and keep Sharper Image from bankruptcy. Our nation's crap economy is suffering a crises and QVC alone can not be its sole supporter."
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Ill-Fated Attempt to Write Like The Onion
(This is practice for my dream job at the Onion. I think I might have to work at it more. Is it funny at all? Some constructive criticisms would be much appreciated. It's a lot harder to make up the news then I thought.)
Sign Language Interpreter Mocks Representative During Speech
Stephen Dorr, congressional sign language interpreter, stopped interpreting Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) and started making fun of him at Thursday's Congressional meeting.
"Look at this Douche. Does he even know what he is talking about?" signed Dorr.
McCarthy was speaking on the "importance of the detection of early childhood disabilities." To which Dorr signed, "I'm sure he knows all about early childhood disabilities." And then he added, "Oh right, that's what he is talking about . . . early childhood disabilities. What a Douche."
In an interview during the congressional break, Dorr said he was tired of listing to "blow-hards" and wanted to make his friends laugh.
"Really, I don't even think anyone was paying attention," Dorr said.
Samantha Renaldo, a deaf woman sitting in on the meeting with a tour, said she didn't even notice.
"I think I might have fallen asleep when he was talking," Renaldo said.
When asked his thoughts, McCarthy said, "He did what now?"
Sign Language Interpreter Mocks Representative During Speech
Stephen Dorr, congressional sign language interpreter, stopped interpreting Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) and started making fun of him at Thursday's Congressional meeting.
"Look at this Douche. Does he even know what he is talking about?" signed Dorr.
McCarthy was speaking on the "importance of the detection of early childhood disabilities." To which Dorr signed, "I'm sure he knows all about early childhood disabilities." And then he added, "Oh right, that's what he is talking about . . . early childhood disabilities. What a Douche."
In an interview during the congressional break, Dorr said he was tired of listing to "blow-hards" and wanted to make his friends laugh.
"Really, I don't even think anyone was paying attention," Dorr said.
Samantha Renaldo, a deaf woman sitting in on the meeting with a tour, said she didn't even notice.
"I think I might have fallen asleep when he was talking," Renaldo said.
When asked his thoughts, McCarthy said, "He did what now?"
Thursday, January 15, 2009
I Love TED Talks
TED Talks is basically a podcast of smart people talking about smart things. It's on the specific side of the spectrum. Where as when I am watching it I am on the general side. Speakers at TED know everything about one subject while I am gaining a tiny bit of information on a huge amount of subjects.
I drew up an interesting kind of document depicting this.
Here are a few of my favorite TED Talks:
A surprising parable of foie gras
The stories and song of Appalachia
Where have the bees gone?
How things in nature tend to sync up
Who is General Tso? and other mysteries of American Chinese food
Understanding comics
The art of baking bread
I drew up an interesting kind of document depicting this.
Here are a few of my favorite TED Talks:
A surprising parable of foie gras
The stories and song of Appalachia
Where have the bees gone?
How things in nature tend to sync up
Who is General Tso? and other mysteries of American Chinese food
Understanding comics
The art of baking bread
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Saturday, January 10, 2009
One of those Heavy Issues I Teased Earlier or 100 Post!!
I've been thinking about where the media is heading. That Publish2 contest was part of it. (I think I lost that by the way. Oh Well.) But even before that I've been a little concerned about the future.
I'm definitely not part of the old media who is scared of change, but I'm also not part of the opposite side of the spectrum. I don't worship at the alter of the Internet. I see it's problems and I see how to fix it. Not to stroke my own ego, but I think that might have lost me the contest. Publish2 is 100% into the internet, and I wrote about how that's not necessarily the best thing to do. (Please don't take this as me bashing on the website or upset about loosing.)
But, like everything else good in the world, the internet is far more complicated than most people like to think.
A lot of people often argue about the use of advertising in the media. The argument is that advertising will effect the news. Meaning: If a company advertises in a newspaper, the newspaper is less likely to report on bad news about that company.
This is a flawed argument by people who don't know the inter-workings of a newspaper office. Advertising and Reporting are two separate sections of the office. Reporters don't know what ads will be used and advertisers have no idea what the news will be. And no one knows what the finished product looks like until they read there newspaper. There are moments in history where this balance was corrupted, but too few to be anything but exceptions.
The interesting part of new media is also what I have the biggest problem with. A lot of these podcasts and what-not are produced by one person or at most a small group. This destroys the balance perfected by years and years of the old media. Now the reporter, director, writer, and advertiser are all the same person.
A few podcasts I listen to do advertising like early television. When they would stop in between stories to talk about cigarettes, "Ohhh-that smooth flavor." And then go back to the show.
The biggest problem I see with new media is that the internet wants to forget the lessens old media learned long ago. Maybe like a teenager, the internet needs to learn the lessons for its self. And old media needs to let go and hope the growing-pains doesn't kill it.
I'm definitely not part of the old media who is scared of change, but I'm also not part of the opposite side of the spectrum. I don't worship at the alter of the Internet. I see it's problems and I see how to fix it. Not to stroke my own ego, but I think that might have lost me the contest. Publish2 is 100% into the internet, and I wrote about how that's not necessarily the best thing to do. (Please don't take this as me bashing on the website or upset about loosing.)
But, like everything else good in the world, the internet is far more complicated than most people like to think.
A lot of people often argue about the use of advertising in the media. The argument is that advertising will effect the news. Meaning: If a company advertises in a newspaper, the newspaper is less likely to report on bad news about that company.
This is a flawed argument by people who don't know the inter-workings of a newspaper office. Advertising and Reporting are two separate sections of the office. Reporters don't know what ads will be used and advertisers have no idea what the news will be. And no one knows what the finished product looks like until they read there newspaper. There are moments in history where this balance was corrupted, but too few to be anything but exceptions.
The interesting part of new media is also what I have the biggest problem with. A lot of these podcasts and what-not are produced by one person or at most a small group. This destroys the balance perfected by years and years of the old media. Now the reporter, director, writer, and advertiser are all the same person.
A few podcasts I listen to do advertising like early television. When they would stop in between stories to talk about cigarettes, "Ohhh-that smooth flavor." And then go back to the show.
The biggest problem I see with new media is that the internet wants to forget the lessens old media learned long ago. Maybe like a teenager, the internet needs to learn the lessons for its self. And old media needs to let go and hope the growing-pains doesn't kill it.
Friday, January 09, 2009
View from the Second City: Beginnings
I've got a column in a paper.
It's a monthly column in the Journal Republican, my hometown weekly newspaper. I'm calling it "View from the Second City." Most people live in a small town because they don't like big cities and I'm trying to literarlaraly (*made up word) show the similarities between Chicago and Piatt county.
I'm pretty excited about it. I'll post them after they are printed so everyone can see.
It's a monthly column in the Journal Republican, my hometown weekly newspaper. I'm calling it "View from the Second City." Most people live in a small town because they don't like big cities and I'm trying to literarlaraly (*made up word) show the similarities between Chicago and Piatt county.
I'm pretty excited about it. I'll post them after they are printed so everyone can see.
Saturday, January 03, 2009
3-2-1--Blast Off
My little brother just started to get into rockets, like I did when I was his age. This morning we took his bright orange two stage rocket out to shoot off. At first it didn't go off, but then after a new set of engines it shot off with a "PPPPHHHUUUSSSHHHH."
Yesterday, I noticed he left his rocket out with engines intact. And next to the fire place. That's my brother the safety expert. I told him I didn't want to see him grow up to be the NASA launch person. His response, "That red flashing light . . . it's fine."The first stage went off and feel away. And then we lost the rocket in the sky. It literally disappeared. We looked all over and we couldn't find it. We found the first stage, but the main rocket is lost . . . perhaps it made it to orbit.
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Something Not-So-Cute
(Picture is from here)Can you believe people actually dress there dogs like this? Look at its face. It's just so ashamed.
Anyway, I was just writing something because I haven't written something in a while. This dog is not so cute. More sad. But I thought I would put it up anyway. Having to much of a break makes me a little rusty.
I had a good Christmas, as I hope everyone who celebrates it did, too. Went to Texas to visit with family. Played some pool and saw a steer and drank some wine. Other things too, but to hard to remember. Fun time.
I've been thinking about some heavy things lately. A few topics to bring up here, but that is for another time. Tonight, I just wanted to touch base and show this dog who may or may not have tried to bite through its own wrists after this picture was taken--just to end the humiliation.
Thursday, December 18, 2008
The Battle of the Bureaucracy
For the last month or so I have been working hard to get my Magazine, New Stone Circle (everyone should go look at it), not-for-profit status. It is really hard to move through the crap--file this here, give this place $50, mail this 500 page report here. It's a lot of bureaucracy to move through. I wouldn't have even started if it wasn't for this website I got from the nice people at CHIRP (you should go there, too).
I thought maybe I should keep track of my escapades with my blog. Unfortunately, now I'm almost done. I hope. But if anyone is looking into making that sort of company, you should definitely look at this website. It is a tremendous help. There are a few things missing. Nothing I didn't figure out by completing the step before, but it was a little unnerving to not know something was coming up.
I still can't shake the feeling that I am doing something completely wrong. I'm afraid that I'm accidentally creating like a hundred cooperations I will have to pay taxes on. Or maybe I'm hiring illegal immigrants in a sting operation I am unaware of.
Let's hope none of that is true.
So far all I have left to do is apply for tax exemption. I'll let you know what becomes of it. Hopefully I'll be done soon and will then be able to move onto more important things.
I thought maybe I should keep track of my escapades with my blog. Unfortunately, now I'm almost done. I hope. But if anyone is looking into making that sort of company, you should definitely look at this website. It is a tremendous help. There are a few things missing. Nothing I didn't figure out by completing the step before, but it was a little unnerving to not know something was coming up.
I still can't shake the feeling that I am doing something completely wrong. I'm afraid that I'm accidentally creating like a hundred cooperations I will have to pay taxes on. Or maybe I'm hiring illegal immigrants in a sting operation I am unaware of.
Let's hope none of that is true.
So far all I have left to do is apply for tax exemption. I'll let you know what becomes of it. Hopefully I'll be done soon and will then be able to move onto more important things.
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Publish2 Contest and Other News . . . um . . . news
Above is a badge with a link to my entry in the Publish2 contest. I think it's pretty good and I am pretty proud of myself. If you would please read it and rate it, I would be much obliged. (That's something people say, right?) While I would love it if you agreed with me and rated it high, please don't feel like you have to. If something doesn't look right tell me. I would like to have a discussion on this topic.
Also besides holding contests, Publish2 is a pretty cool social networking/news aggregator/something-something new media. I have been trying it out for a week or so and I still don't have it all figured out. It seems pretty big and a little confusing. Let me know what you think about that, too.
Comment. Comment. Comment. Please.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Well that didn't take long . . .
Forget my old post saying Chicagoans are walking around happy. Our dear fearless leader Gov. Rod Blagojevich ruined that right quick. Here is the Chicago Tribune's covearge (Keep in mind, Blago tried to get the editorial board fired so they have a bit of a bone to pick with him. Not that any of this is a lie. Just keep it in mind.)
Any good-will collected by my city, from the last election, has been broken by our Gubernatorial foul mouth. Sure it's sad to see our state become the butt of so many jokes, but what I find most insulting is that our elected official sounds like a 10 year old just out of ear shot from his parents.
It's interesting to note, the day after the Presidential election was sunny and clear and happy. The day after the Governor's perp-walk was dingy, cold morning. Is the universe trying to tell us something? No, not at all. The weather and our political system have nothing to do with each other. It's just interesting to note.
Any good-will collected by my city, from the last election, has been broken by our Gubernatorial foul mouth. Sure it's sad to see our state become the butt of so many jokes, but what I find most insulting is that our elected official sounds like a 10 year old just out of ear shot from his parents.
It's interesting to note, the day after the Presidential election was sunny and clear and happy. The day after the Governor's perp-walk was dingy, cold morning. Is the universe trying to tell us something? No, not at all. The weather and our political system have nothing to do with each other. It's just interesting to note.
Wednesday, December 03, 2008
Graffiti
I saw this outside my window the other day and felt compelled to photograph it. The building used to be a home for the old, I think. But a few months ago, before it got cold, they tore it down to build some big condos.People who are bothered by Graffiti tend to explain their feelings with one of two categories. The Broken Window syndrome: in which a broken window left unattended will lead to gradually harsher crimes. There has been scientific research to back up this idea.
Or
Graffiti artists use other people's property as there own canvas.
But, when the building is sitting destroyed for months, what is there to complain about.
The person who owns the building obviously don't care about the original building or they wouldn't try to replace it. And if a broken window leads to other crimes, what would could a broken building lead to?I guess I'm just making a leap of faith. I have not heard anyone complain about this graffiti, but I'm sure someone dislikes it. This is really just some thoughts running through my mind. And also taking the pictures was an exercise in moving outside of my comfort zone.
Anyone else have thoughts?
My blog is huge.
I just noticed a huge jump in people looking at my blog (well, huge, really it was a jump from 10 a day to 35 today).
Anyway turns out someone from the webecoist.com linked a picture back to me. They found the really cute picture of the Mexican Walking Fish on my blog and cited me. Like I was a real expert on cute things.
Looks like a pretty good article. And hello everyone coming from the webecoist.com. Can y'all fit?
Anyway turns out someone from the webecoist.com linked a picture back to me. They found the really cute picture of the Mexican Walking Fish on my blog and cited me. Like I was a real expert on cute things.
Looks like a pretty good article. And hello everyone coming from the webecoist.com. Can y'all fit?
Monday, December 01, 2008
World of Goo
This weekend I've been home for Thanksgiving and my Birthday. I've been able to hang out with my younger brother Ellis. The other day, Ellis bought World of Goo for his Wii. He put it pretty well when he said "This is the best game ever!"
Maybe not the "best game ever," but it is Pretty Fucking Close.
In the game, you move these little balls of goo that connect to each other to make structures. The structures need to be strong enough to travel to a pipe that sucks up any extra goo's. It's a really simple idea that is designed really well.
Each level is nicely even. I have yet to hit a level that is so hard it stops being fun, but they're not too easy ether. The writing is great, too. The mysterious sign maker keeps making signs that continue the story line. The signs are funny and self deprecating. And they lovingly poke fun at the gaming community and Internet culture.
My only complaints are really only annoyances that come from this type of game play. There are little fireflies flying around that reverse time to go back a turn; they are incredibly easy to hit accidentally. And sometimes, in the excitement of the game, it is easy to pick up the wrong piece of goo. When the structure of your goo tower is failing, it can be a little frustrating to pick up a water goo when you wanted a green one.
I would like to see more downloadable content from them, with new levels and new goo's. The game is a little quick (I think I have 2 more levels left). But it is fun.
Maybe not the "best game ever," but it is Pretty Fucking Close.
In the game, you move these little balls of goo that connect to each other to make structures. The structures need to be strong enough to travel to a pipe that sucks up any extra goo's. It's a really simple idea that is designed really well.
Each level is nicely even. I have yet to hit a level that is so hard it stops being fun, but they're not too easy ether. The writing is great, too. The mysterious sign maker keeps making signs that continue the story line. The signs are funny and self deprecating. And they lovingly poke fun at the gaming community and Internet culture.
My only complaints are really only annoyances that come from this type of game play. There are little fireflies flying around that reverse time to go back a turn; they are incredibly easy to hit accidentally. And sometimes, in the excitement of the game, it is easy to pick up the wrong piece of goo. When the structure of your goo tower is failing, it can be a little frustrating to pick up a water goo when you wanted a green one.
I would like to see more downloadable content from them, with new levels and new goo's. The game is a little quick (I think I have 2 more levels left). But it is fun.
Monday, November 17, 2008
I just want art in my mailbox.
I don't think I have talked about this before, but in the last few months I have been working on a project. It is not anywhere near completed but I do need your help.
For years, my mom worked on her own Literature magazine. I have decided to take it over and make it my own. So far we (me and some friends/editors) have our website up NewStoneCircle.org. Like it says, we are far from the printing press, but we are looking for submissions. Send us your work (Look at our submission guidelines for what and where to send). Tell friends who like to write or draw, maybe they would like to submit. Send us a donation (we are in desperate need of some money before we can get to much more). But you might want to wait for us to get nonprofit status so it's tax deductible for you. Just help us out and we promise to bring you something very enjoyable in the very near future.
I'm really excited about this and I can't wait to read your stories.
For years, my mom worked on her own Literature magazine. I have decided to take it over and make it my own. So far we (me and some friends/editors) have our website up NewStoneCircle.org. Like it says, we are far from the printing press, but we are looking for submissions. Send us your work (Look at our submission guidelines for what and where to send). Tell friends who like to write or draw, maybe they would like to submit. Send us a donation (we are in desperate need of some money before we can get to much more). But you might want to wait for us to get nonprofit status so it's tax deductible for you. Just help us out and we promise to bring you something very enjoyable in the very near future.
I'm really excited about this and I can't wait to read your stories.
Friday, November 14, 2008
Bulls Testicles and Pig Blood
I assume the title will make everyone dry heave. I'll give you a moment.
. . .
Done? Good.
I'm interested in why most people would have such a problem eating this type of food. There are cultures who don't see a problem with eating the balls of a male cow. A few generations ago, you would have seen nothing wrong with it ether. Something has changed to make parts of the animal like blood a taboo.
I think it comes from our gradual movement to an urban society. We rely on other people to deal with our food. In the past, people who wanted to eat some bacon had to go out and kill the pig first. Now people who want bacon just have to cross the street and pick up shrink-wrapped and precut bacon.
Now, people are soft (a phrase I would rather not use, but just might have to). The idea of killing an animal is so disturbing because it has been bred out. When it was second nature, we didn't waste any part of the animal. Blood and organs were not offensive like they are now.
I have never been one to become nostalgic for a bygone day, and I'm not doing so right now. I am more arguing for new experiences. I'm not talking from experience, myself. I have not killed my own animal; seen an animal slaughtered; or even gotten to know an animal and found it on my dinner table. But It seems like a more healthy life. Perhaps watching death would make us think twice about what we eat.
The Reader has a great article in this weeks paper, kind of about this issue.
I'd like to be able to experience this for myself. It's sounds like a of part of the slow food movement, which is something I've been skeptical about. Maybe I'm changing my mind.
. . .
Done? Good.
I'm interested in why most people would have such a problem eating this type of food. There are cultures who don't see a problem with eating the balls of a male cow. A few generations ago, you would have seen nothing wrong with it ether. Something has changed to make parts of the animal like blood a taboo.
I think it comes from our gradual movement to an urban society. We rely on other people to deal with our food. In the past, people who wanted to eat some bacon had to go out and kill the pig first. Now people who want bacon just have to cross the street and pick up shrink-wrapped and precut bacon.
Now, people are soft (a phrase I would rather not use, but just might have to). The idea of killing an animal is so disturbing because it has been bred out. When it was second nature, we didn't waste any part of the animal. Blood and organs were not offensive like they are now.
I have never been one to become nostalgic for a bygone day, and I'm not doing so right now. I am more arguing for new experiences. I'm not talking from experience, myself. I have not killed my own animal; seen an animal slaughtered; or even gotten to know an animal and found it on my dinner table. But It seems like a more healthy life. Perhaps watching death would make us think twice about what we eat.
The Reader has a great article in this weeks paper, kind of about this issue.
I'd like to be able to experience this for myself. It's sounds like a of part of the slow food movement, which is something I've been skeptical about. Maybe I'm changing my mind.
Monday, November 10, 2008
The Call
I just got a call from some guy. When I answered he said "Hunny?!?" I said hello again. "Who is this?" he asked clearly befuddled and a little mad.
Do you think he thinks his "Hunny" is cheating on him. One can only hope, hmm.
Do you think he thinks his "Hunny" is cheating on him. One can only hope, hmm.
Thursday, November 06, 2008
Cute! Part Deux
About a year ago, I found a picture of some sort of swimming salamander/fish with legs/smiling cuteness. I didn't know what it was or if it was even real, but I figured it should be on my blog.
Here's the picture if you don't remember.
Today I found this article on Digg.com. Apparently, it is real and it's called Axolotls (ACK-suh-LAH-tuhl) or "Mexican walking fish." And treehugger.com says the Axolotls "is seriously threatened with extinction because of habitat destruction and water pollution."
Here's the picture if you don't remember.
Today I found this article on Digg.com. Apparently, it is real and it's called Axolotls (ACK-suh-LAH-tuhl) or "Mexican walking fish." And treehugger.com says the Axolotls "is seriously threatened with extinction because of habitat destruction and water pollution."
Wednesday, November 05, 2008
Hell of a Day to be in Newspapers
Update: The first run of Chicago Tribune's paper yesterday was at 690,000 copies, with a rerun of 410,000 extra copies, said the Tribune. Today, they will sell more copies at convenience stores. Here's the link.
I don't think there is an unclaimed copy of the Tribune, Sun-Times or Red Eye left in the city. And I wanted to read today's paper. Ok ok and maybe I wanted to keep something as a memento.
I heard that they were selling reprinted copies downtown at the Tribune Tower. I went down and ran into this . . .
They said they were selling posters of the front page for $3 and something just came over me. Money exchanged hands and I was told there would be a 10 minute wait for the actual paper. I waited with about 50 other people inside what can only be called the Gothic Cathedral of my kind. A huge room with high ceilings and notable quotes of famous journalists written into the walls.
After a 15 or 20 minute wait a woman came in calling out that the truck was on the bridge. Her declaration met with applause. The truck rolled up and a few burly men ran in with papers in hand.
Really I just wanted to read the newspaper.
I don't think there is an unclaimed copy of the Tribune, Sun-Times or Red Eye left in the city. And I wanted to read today's paper. Ok ok and maybe I wanted to keep something as a memento.
I heard that they were selling reprinted copies downtown at the Tribune Tower. I went down and ran into this . . .
They said they were selling posters of the front page for $3 and something just came over me. Money exchanged hands and I was told there would be a 10 minute wait for the actual paper. I waited with about 50 other people inside what can only be called the Gothic Cathedral of my kind. A huge room with high ceilings and notable quotes of famous journalists written into the walls.
After a 15 or 20 minute wait a woman came in calling out that the truck was on the bridge. Her declaration met with applause. The truck rolled up and a few burly men ran in with papers in hand.
Really I just wanted to read the newspaper.
Second City Syndrome
Last night we all watched history being written. I could almost see myself telling my grandchildren what I was doing when Obama was elected President. But the intricacies of the historical context should be discussed in another blog, by another more knowledgeable person. I can only talk about what I know best: living in Chicago and feeling inadequate.
Today, November 5th, is the happiest day for Chicago. Today seems brighter, the air smells better, people are more polite. People don there Obama '08 T-Shirts and walk around smiling. I was on the bus today and people were laughing. The bus driver was joking with the passengers.
This city has always been talkative. Chicago is a Midwestern sensibility with a large population. Strangers will always tell you what they do or do not like about you. But todays seemed less crabby; less of the do not and more of the do. This comes from the destruction of what is called the Second City Syndrome.
The Chicago contradiction is that we think the Midwest consists of only Chicago, but we think we are always second best. "Where Chicago goes, Illinois goes," probably should be our mantra. But we will never meet the expectations of a New York or a San Fransisco.
This is how we Chicagoans think, but our minds are changing. Last night we saw the countries newest President Elect give his acceptance speech in our backyard. We saw our beautiful city on TV sets across the world. Obama is a person who cut his political teeth helping make the South Side a better place to live and he calls Chicago his home.
Chicago has always been on the map, but now it is in our minds. Now we can see what a wonderful city it really is.
Today, November 5th, is the happiest day for Chicago. Today seems brighter, the air smells better, people are more polite. People don there Obama '08 T-Shirts and walk around smiling. I was on the bus today and people were laughing. The bus driver was joking with the passengers.
This city has always been talkative. Chicago is a Midwestern sensibility with a large population. Strangers will always tell you what they do or do not like about you. But todays seemed less crabby; less of the do not and more of the do. This comes from the destruction of what is called the Second City Syndrome.
The Chicago contradiction is that we think the Midwest consists of only Chicago, but we think we are always second best. "Where Chicago goes, Illinois goes," probably should be our mantra. But we will never meet the expectations of a New York or a San Fransisco.
This is how we Chicagoans think, but our minds are changing. Last night we saw the countries newest President Elect give his acceptance speech in our backyard. We saw our beautiful city on TV sets across the world. Obama is a person who cut his political teeth helping make the South Side a better place to live and he calls Chicago his home.
Chicago has always been on the map, but now it is in our minds. Now we can see what a wonderful city it really is.
Friday, October 31, 2008
Zombies and Reality TV
In my small sample of British TV I've been able to digest, I've noticed a recurring theme. It seems the British like there TV with heavy meta aspects. Last year, I think, I watched a bit of a show I can't quite remember about the writers of another show, that I can't quite remember. This week has another meta mini-series, Dead Set. Basically, 28 Days Later if it took place on The Big Brother set.
Zombies and Reality TV, that sounds awesome. The show seems to ask if you want Reality TV stars to be some of the last humans alive in the Zombie apocalypse. It doesn't seem like it.
Over all this show is great. It's scary and jumpy when it when it needs to be. (I've been watching it late at night with the lights off and my stomach hurts from being tensed so much) The only problem I have is the over use of the trendy shaky cam technique. It makes sense in a chase scene but when characters are being develop the camera man with Parkinson's probably shouldn't shoot the scene.
The series only ran for this week and ended today on Halloween. So far I've only watched through the 3rd episode.
The first episode blew me away. And maybe because it was so good, the next two episodes seemed to be like a parody of the show. Not that it was funny, it just didn't hit as completely as the first episode.
I definitely love watching it. And I want more like it.
Zombies and Reality TV, that sounds awesome. The show seems to ask if you want Reality TV stars to be some of the last humans alive in the Zombie apocalypse. It doesn't seem like it.
Over all this show is great. It's scary and jumpy when it when it needs to be. (I've been watching it late at night with the lights off and my stomach hurts from being tensed so much) The only problem I have is the over use of the trendy shaky cam technique. It makes sense in a chase scene but when characters are being develop the camera man with Parkinson's probably shouldn't shoot the scene.
The series only ran for this week and ended today on Halloween. So far I've only watched through the 3rd episode.
The first episode blew me away. And maybe because it was so good, the next two episodes seemed to be like a parody of the show. Not that it was funny, it just didn't hit as completely as the first episode.
I definitely love watching it. And I want more like it.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
iPod Games
I downloaded and paid for my first real iPod game a little while ago: Square Enix's Song Summoner: The Unsung Heroes. This seems like the only real game for the iPod video, too.
You play as Ziggy, who is a Conductor and creates Tune Troopers to fight against evil robots. Zero, your brother, gets kidnapped and you need to save him. So you wait five years and then go out to find him. If I was Zero I would be a little pissed if my brother waited five years before saving me. Really? That's an awful long time.
The cool, kind of trap of the game is you use the songs on your iPod to make Tune Troopers. This is why I bought the game. I wanted to see how this worked. Unfortunately, it really seems to be randomly generated characters. The tempo or volume level of the song doesn't seem to effect the type of fighter created.
The controls are god awful, too. The iPod click wheel was not made to be used this way. It's clunky when it's inconvenient and slippery, too. Basically, the iPod touch would have a better control system, but it's not made for the touch. And I don't know why.
The story is solidly an RPG story. Robots try to take over the world and humans need to fight back. Only one person has the ability to fight back and he must save all the good in the world. Beyond that the RPG is really simple. It's not good but it's not bad either. Or it is bad, but it's on the freaken' iPod.
Over all the game sucks, but for $5 it's nice. Also it's nice to play on the bus when I have an hour to kill and 50 strangers in my personal space.
You play as Ziggy, who is a Conductor and creates Tune Troopers to fight against evil robots. Zero, your brother, gets kidnapped and you need to save him. So you wait five years and then go out to find him. If I was Zero I would be a little pissed if my brother waited five years before saving me. Really? That's an awful long time.
The cool, kind of trap of the game is you use the songs on your iPod to make Tune Troopers. This is why I bought the game. I wanted to see how this worked. Unfortunately, it really seems to be randomly generated characters. The tempo or volume level of the song doesn't seem to effect the type of fighter created.
The controls are god awful, too. The iPod click wheel was not made to be used this way. It's clunky when it's inconvenient and slippery, too. Basically, the iPod touch would have a better control system, but it's not made for the touch. And I don't know why.
The story is solidly an RPG story. Robots try to take over the world and humans need to fight back. Only one person has the ability to fight back and he must save all the good in the world. Beyond that the RPG is really simple. It's not good but it's not bad either. Or it is bad, but it's on the freaken' iPod.
Over all the game sucks, but for $5 it's nice. Also it's nice to play on the bus when I have an hour to kill and 50 strangers in my personal space.
Sunday, October 26, 2008
TV Shows
I've been watching The Clone Wars. I assume it's the Cartoon Network show fallowing the movie that recently came out. It's entertaining, and the animation is ok. What's fun about it is you can see the cannon from in between the main movies. What's annoying is that there are a lot of stupid jokes. Droides and any unimportant characters are always saying something quick-whited and cutesy.
Also,
I wrote about a pretty good British show called Life on Mars a long time ago. Now, in the great American TV way, Life on Mars has been transformed into an slightly crappier American show. The first episode was basically a shot for shot recreation of the first British episode, except it was based in America. There is really no need for this show, but it is.
Also,
I wrote about a pretty good British show called Life on Mars a long time ago. Now, in the great American TV way, Life on Mars has been transformed into an slightly crappier American show. The first episode was basically a shot for shot recreation of the first British episode, except it was based in America. There is really no need for this show, but it is.
Windy City Comicon
I went to the First annual Windy City Comicon.
I guess Chicago is big enough to have its own Comicon. Why not earlier?
It was fun if not a little small. Seriously, only one guy dressed up like a storm trooper? Does it really count as a Comicon then?
I bought 3 comics for myself for $1 each. I honestly went there not wanting to spend any money but only a $1 for a comic book . . . and I had 3 in my pocket. Sounds like kismet to me. I got one "Nick Fury, Agent of SHIELD,""The Invincible Iron Man" #153 and "New X-Men" #130.
Keep in mind I know nothing about comics. I didn't grow up reading them or even read them in high school, when a nerd is supposed to come into his own. (Maybe this means I can't call myself a nerd anymore)
All and all, I had fun and I'm glad I could go. Good on Chicago for getting a Comicon and becoming a real city.
I guess Chicago is big enough to have its own Comicon. Why not earlier?
It was fun if not a little small. Seriously, only one guy dressed up like a storm trooper? Does it really count as a Comicon then?
I bought 3 comics for myself for $1 each. I honestly went there not wanting to spend any money but only a $1 for a comic book . . . and I had 3 in my pocket. Sounds like kismet to me. I got one "Nick Fury, Agent of SHIELD,""The Invincible Iron Man" #153 and "New X-Men" #130.
Keep in mind I know nothing about comics. I didn't grow up reading them or even read them in high school, when a nerd is supposed to come into his own. (Maybe this means I can't call myself a nerd anymore)
All and all, I had fun and I'm glad I could go. Good on Chicago for getting a Comicon and becoming a real city.
Friday, October 17, 2008
Fat Suit
What is it about famous Black comedians in there 40's, that compels them get into a fat suit for comedy. I watched D.A.G.'s new Comedy Central show, Chocolate News, the other night. I thought it was going to be a humerus African American perspective on the news today. Sort of a Colbert Report only less white.
I was excited for that. And it started out pretty good, with a funny rant about Hip-Hop being dead. But then he brought out the makeup and body prosthetics. Maya Angelou one minute, some old guy the next, a gross rapper after that. Really?
David Alan Grier was funny. Why does he need to make the same noise dive into concrete as Eddy Murphy?
This could have been good, too. It could have extended the Daily Show/Colbert Report hour into an hour and a half Chocolate News/Daily Show/Colbert Report news explostion. Instead Fat Suits.
I was excited for that. And it started out pretty good, with a funny rant about Hip-Hop being dead. But then he brought out the makeup and body prosthetics. Maya Angelou one minute, some old guy the next, a gross rapper after that. Really?
David Alan Grier was funny. Why does he need to make the same noise dive into concrete as Eddy Murphy?
This could have been good, too. It could have extended the Daily Show/Colbert Report hour into an hour and a half Chocolate News/Daily Show/Colbert Report news explostion. Instead Fat Suits.
Saturday, October 04, 2008
Michael Moore's "Slacker Uprising"
I watched Michael Moore's "Slacker Uprising" the other day. The movie is free to download iTunes for now. And everyone seems to think it's great to see big name movies online for free.
In my youth I was really into Michael Moore/liberal/Bush-bashing. I probably considered myself a punk and I think I liked to finally have the ability to say no. "No, I don't like the President's opinion," I would have said many times not really knowing what his opinion really was. (Not that I agree now, but I know more then before)
So I liked Moore's books and movies. I went to see Fahrenheit 911 and enjoyed it. I wrote an embarrassingly biased report on Moore in high school. I thought I was sticking it to the man.
That all being said, this movie is awful. It's boring. It's slow.
All it is is a camera following Moore on his Slacker Uprising tour, 60 cities before the 2004 election. He rails against everyone. It's everyone else's fault. The media is biased, conservatives are honorable, the public is stupid. These are the feelings I get from the movie and I think I'm just tired of that.
It's also a little annoying to think that the money he gets from even one speech probably paid for the production coast. That doesn't make me feel great about it being distributed for free. It makes me feel worse that eventually someone will pay money.
Sunday, September 28, 2008
In my few years of learning what Journalism is, I've stumbled upon this truism that works for both Journalism and Science. Journalism, and Science, is the search for truth. Science being the truth in the natural world and Journalism the truth in everything. Why, if they are so closely identifiable, do they not work well together?
The controversy most famous in the last few years, that made my heart bleed from the journalistic incompetence shown by many in the media (which is a bloated term I hate using), is Global Warming. While liberal and conservative pundits, politicians and people on the street argue over if its real, scientists know for a fact that it is. Conservatively its not as clear cut if it was our fault or if we can do something about it. But the constant debate over weather or not Global Warming is real spreads the untruthful idea that it is a matter of opinion.
Recently, another debate raged around the scientific community and I had a conversation with someone that made me think about this issue. A few weeks ago the Large Hadron Collider was turned on. The debate over mini-black holes made national news. The conversation I had was with someone who worked in the Media for a long time. We started to talk about the LHC during class and he said something about how it could destroy the world. I raised my hand and said "But to be fair, no Scientists actually believe that will happen." And he said that I should listen to NPR. This made another student question why turn on the LHC if there is even the possibility of a problem. To answer her, there is no possibility. The black holes are too small to do anything and the reaction happens naturally anyway.
The idea that a Scientific debate needs two sides sounds right, but can be very wrong. Science is always right according to the evidence available and an opposing opinion can be only based on faith. While its not wrong necessarily, faith is not science.
No one is really at fault here, everyone is just using the same flawed information. But if the idea of Journalism is to spread truth, then any non-truth ultumitly destroys Journalism.
This is a bit text heavy and sounds a little conspiracy theory-y so here is the cutest thing ever.
The controversy most famous in the last few years, that made my heart bleed from the journalistic incompetence shown by many in the media (which is a bloated term I hate using), is Global Warming. While liberal and conservative pundits, politicians and people on the street argue over if its real, scientists know for a fact that it is. Conservatively its not as clear cut if it was our fault or if we can do something about it. But the constant debate over weather or not Global Warming is real spreads the untruthful idea that it is a matter of opinion.
Recently, another debate raged around the scientific community and I had a conversation with someone that made me think about this issue. A few weeks ago the Large Hadron Collider was turned on. The debate over mini-black holes made national news. The conversation I had was with someone who worked in the Media for a long time. We started to talk about the LHC during class and he said something about how it could destroy the world. I raised my hand and said "But to be fair, no Scientists actually believe that will happen." And he said that I should listen to NPR. This made another student question why turn on the LHC if there is even the possibility of a problem. To answer her, there is no possibility. The black holes are too small to do anything and the reaction happens naturally anyway.
The idea that a Scientific debate needs two sides sounds right, but can be very wrong. Science is always right according to the evidence available and an opposing opinion can be only based on faith. While its not wrong necessarily, faith is not science.
No one is really at fault here, everyone is just using the same flawed information. But if the idea of Journalism is to spread truth, then any non-truth ultumitly destroys Journalism.
This is a bit text heavy and sounds a little conspiracy theory-y so here is the cutest thing ever.
Friday, September 26, 2008
WaMu Buy Out
I live catty corner to a WaMu bank. This morning I walk out and see this. I thought "Aw crap. WaMu failed didn't it?." I took this picture at about 10:40a.m. At 1:00p.m. people were still there.
JPMorgan Chase bought there assets for $1.9 Billion from FDIC, said Chicago Tribune.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
It's almost like I'm a real Journalist.
I wrote an article for my School newspaper. It's right here if anyone wants to read it. I wouldn't mind if you did.
Friday, September 12, 2008
Cartoons
I love cartoons. I'm talking something different from Animation, which I also love. Cartoons are animations specifically made for children to enjoy. A good cartoon makes me feel like I felt when I was a child. That's a good feeling to have on occasion, so some Saturday mornings I just want to sit down and watch what ever comes up. A few Saturdays ago I did. These where some of the worst cartoons I have ever seen.
I feel like I need to repeat myself.
These where some of the worst cartoons I have ever seen.
These where awful, even worse then the commercials for toys everyone seems to like to say they loved. The stories where bad, the animation was bad, the songs where god awful which sounded like they took 5 seconds to write.
I realize that these arguments could be placed on cartoons from my childhood, and ones before that, and before that. But there was some good original cartoons, and there are some made now. But I feel like these where particularity bad.
I feel like I need to repeat myself.
These where some of the worst cartoons I have ever seen.
These where awful, even worse then the commercials for toys everyone seems to like to say they loved. The stories where bad, the animation was bad, the songs where god awful which sounded like they took 5 seconds to write.
I realize that these arguments could be placed on cartoons from my childhood, and ones before that, and before that. But there was some good original cartoons, and there are some made now. But I feel like these where particularity bad.
Tuesday, September 09, 2008
Some TV I watched the other day
I watched a few shows the other night, to relax before my busy day that is today. Two made me really excited.
Dexter Season premier:
This made me jump with joy. I think I'm starting to understand the people who get excited about shows I don't care about, like Gossip Girl perhaps. This show is essentially the soap opera about a serial killer. It's not really the story, it's the characters that attract me. (Which is essentially the argument for Gossip Girl I believe)
It started by recapping the last season which made me very happy. And they did a good job starting the story and ending on a huge plot point. So excited to start watching this again.
Sons of Anarchy series premier:
This show let me down so much. For the last few months a friend and I have been watching the Sopranos. It's going a little slow, just about done with the first season now. It is an amazing show. I love the characters and the story and the idea of good vs. evil (which doesn't exist) I also love that my friends and I talk about the characters like they are real people.
I wanted Sons of Anarchy to be the Sopranos on motorcycles. I'm sure the creators wanted this too, but they did not deliver at all. The characters seem to be very flat. Everyone is bad except for the main character who wants to get out of the life.
There doesn't seem to be much based on reality story-wise. People let things happen that probably wouldn't happen.
With S of A there is nothing new. The same with Dexter but in a good way.
Dexter Season premier:
This made me jump with joy. I think I'm starting to understand the people who get excited about shows I don't care about, like Gossip Girl perhaps. This show is essentially the soap opera about a serial killer. It's not really the story, it's the characters that attract me. (Which is essentially the argument for Gossip Girl I believe)
It started by recapping the last season which made me very happy. And they did a good job starting the story and ending on a huge plot point. So excited to start watching this again.
Sons of Anarchy series premier:
This show let me down so much. For the last few months a friend and I have been watching the Sopranos. It's going a little slow, just about done with the first season now. It is an amazing show. I love the characters and the story and the idea of good vs. evil (which doesn't exist) I also love that my friends and I talk about the characters like they are real people.
I wanted Sons of Anarchy to be the Sopranos on motorcycles. I'm sure the creators wanted this too, but they did not deliver at all. The characters seem to be very flat. Everyone is bad except for the main character who wants to get out of the life.
There doesn't seem to be much based on reality story-wise. People let things happen that probably wouldn't happen.
With S of A there is nothing new. The same with Dexter but in a good way.
Thursday, September 04, 2008
History of Food
This class was even better then I could have thought. The only problem, it made me incredibly hungry.
First Day of School!
I just got out of my first class of the semester. Pretty good: Law and Ethics of Journalism. Now I'm waiting for my next class at 2. This is what I'm really excited about. History of Food. This seems right up my ally. I like food; I like history; I like the history of food.
Wednesday, September 03, 2008
My last few hours of summer.
Tomorrow I start classes again. This is going to be my first semester past my four years normal people go to college. I'm kind of glad this summer is almost over. When I go to classes I feel like I'm at least doing something productive with my time. But this last summer has been the biggest wast of time. Soon I will do stuff and that feels good. Hopefully I will learn new stuff.
Wired is doing something that makes me incredibly excited Storyboard is a blog devoted to complete openness for a story they are writing. It's meant to be an experiment and a nod to the topic, screenwriter and brand knew director Charlie Kaufman, but to me it's a way to learn the workings of a magazine. They will post email conversations, notes, and interviews; anything that gives a little information about the writing of the article. And I get to use it as a way to learn how to be a real journalist. Which is missing from my school teaching.
With these two things, maybe I'll make it.
Wired is doing something that makes me incredibly excited Storyboard is a blog devoted to complete openness for a story they are writing. It's meant to be an experiment and a nod to the topic, screenwriter and brand knew director Charlie Kaufman, but to me it's a way to learn the workings of a magazine. They will post email conversations, notes, and interviews; anything that gives a little information about the writing of the article. And I get to use it as a way to learn how to be a real journalist. Which is missing from my school teaching.
With these two things, maybe I'll make it.
Sunday, August 31, 2008
GustavReporter
Follow him on twitter. And while your at it follow me too. Dill9 He's sending updates from New Orleans as he hears things. A real 24 hour reporter type. This is a really interesting way of using Twitter. And a good way to keep track of Hurricane Gustav.
I think that went pretty good.
I'm talking about the interview I had at the cafe. Hopefully soon I'll be doing some of this.
Or maybe this.
Or maybe this.
Friday, August 29, 2008
Finding a job is hard
This is what I've found out in the last few years. As a student, I don't really have to have a job. It's not life or death. I can not spend money and save my student loans. But I've found out that there is nothing more soul crushing and depressing then not contributing anything to society. So I need to find a job.
But lately I've found out another thing. Finding a job is hard. It's a lot of work. And really depressing work, too. Some people say no and most people don't even say that. My mom (who seems to love anything web 2.0) tells me I should blog about my attempts at getting a job, a la BloggingAwayDebt.com. Which is a pretty remarkable blog about a couple who got into deep, deep debt and now want to blog out of it. Oh, the marvels of the internet.
I don't really think this would work. There really isn't much excitement in a post entitled "Sifting through Craigslist again." And I don't see much more then that happening most of the time. But maybe I could just write in this sometimes, and see what happens. At the very least it might make me feel better about doing nothing to better humankind.
I have two dream jobs at the end of two very different dream paths. But I probably could do both, if I really tried hard. One: Barista or Coffee Roaster at local Chicago, coffee shop Metropolis. It's one of the two best cafes in Chicago and my favorite place to drink coffee. Really good coffee, really good atmosphere. Two: Chicago (if at all possible) corespondent to Wired Magazine. I really love reading this magazine. I like the style and the content. And I think I could work well there. I like science, I like science things. I once had to wear a lab coat for a job and miss it so much. Man that was a cool job.
I have some experience in both these fields. I was a Barista for a year at Strawberry Fields, a hippy dippy cafe/food store in Urbana, IL. And I have been going to school for a while for Journalism.
I would need to work up to both jobs. Starting at a smaller cafe and waiting for 8 or so months then talking to people at Metropolis about a job. Or finishing school, working at local newspapers for a while and developing my resume.
Right now, I think I can do both. I can use a cafe job to get myself through college then work as a Journalist for the rest of my life. Maybe down the long line I could open my own cafe. I'm working on both. I just started writing for my college newspaper The Torch and I have an interview with a South Side cafe tomorrow.
So that did make me feel better. Sorry about the long post. I'll go back to putting up pictures of cute things tomorrow. And maybe something about my interview.
But lately I've found out another thing. Finding a job is hard. It's a lot of work. And really depressing work, too. Some people say no and most people don't even say that. My mom (who seems to love anything web 2.0) tells me I should blog about my attempts at getting a job, a la BloggingAwayDebt.com. Which is a pretty remarkable blog about a couple who got into deep, deep debt and now want to blog out of it. Oh, the marvels of the internet.
I don't really think this would work. There really isn't much excitement in a post entitled "Sifting through Craigslist again." And I don't see much more then that happening most of the time. But maybe I could just write in this sometimes, and see what happens. At the very least it might make me feel better about doing nothing to better humankind.
I have two dream jobs at the end of two very different dream paths. But I probably could do both, if I really tried hard. One: Barista or Coffee Roaster at local Chicago, coffee shop Metropolis. It's one of the two best cafes in Chicago and my favorite place to drink coffee. Really good coffee, really good atmosphere. Two: Chicago (if at all possible) corespondent to Wired Magazine. I really love reading this magazine. I like the style and the content. And I think I could work well there. I like science, I like science things. I once had to wear a lab coat for a job and miss it so much. Man that was a cool job.
I have some experience in both these fields. I was a Barista for a year at Strawberry Fields, a hippy dippy cafe/food store in Urbana, IL. And I have been going to school for a while for Journalism.
I would need to work up to both jobs. Starting at a smaller cafe and waiting for 8 or so months then talking to people at Metropolis about a job. Or finishing school, working at local newspapers for a while and developing my resume.
Right now, I think I can do both. I can use a cafe job to get myself through college then work as a Journalist for the rest of my life. Maybe down the long line I could open my own cafe. I'm working on both. I just started writing for my college newspaper The Torch and I have an interview with a South Side cafe tomorrow.
So that did make me feel better. Sorry about the long post. I'll go back to putting up pictures of cute things tomorrow. And maybe something about my interview.
Thursday, August 28, 2008
I think I owe you something cute
These kittens like to dance. Or maybe they are trying to learn how to walk upright like humans. Or they are in a fight to the death and trying to claw each others livers out. What ever it is-it sure is cute.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords
I got this game the other day and played it for about 4 hours the other night. I would say this is both a great game and the worst game in the world. It's great: it has an interesting twist on the puzzle game and great RPG qualities. The story is only interesting enough to not skip, but the game is fun.
But it's the worst in the world because it is so fucking frustrating it brings out my Tourette syndrome. My neighbors must be a little scared every time I my guy dies.
I'm not the greatest at puzzle games, but still I shouldn't be dieing so much.
The game has a lot of strategy to it, but it seems like there is one glaring omission that kills it. The pieces fall down randomly and there is no way of knowing what is coming next. It seems like if there was a way of knowing what comes next, the whole board could be used strategically. But those are really my only grips. It's a great game otherwise.
But it's the worst in the world because it is so fucking frustrating it brings out my Tourette syndrome. My neighbors must be a little scared every time I my guy dies.
I'm not the greatest at puzzle games, but still I shouldn't be dieing so much.
The game has a lot of strategy to it, but it seems like there is one glaring omission that kills it. The pieces fall down randomly and there is no way of knowing what is coming next. It seems like if there was a way of knowing what comes next, the whole board could be used strategically. But those are really my only grips. It's a great game otherwise.
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Architecture School
I like free things and sometimes iTunes gives things away for free. This makes me very happy, but I get even happier when I know what is free and when. Thanks to this I know it all.
The other day I saw that a show called Architecture School was starting, and I could download it for free. I did and I watched it and I really enjoyed it. The show fallows an Architecture class as they design houses for use in New Orleans. The best design will be built by the students in the end. What I liked so much was they didn't shy away from criticism from the community. Most people said the houses where ugly. It seems like it's a reality tv show with more reality then tv.
The other day I saw that a show called Architecture School was starting, and I could download it for free. I did and I watched it and I really enjoyed it. The show fallows an Architecture class as they design houses for use in New Orleans. The best design will be built by the students in the end. What I liked so much was they didn't shy away from criticism from the community. Most people said the houses where ugly. It seems like it's a reality tv show with more reality then tv.
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Obama/Biden 2008
Obama is brilliant really. Hiding who he picked for a running mate turned an ordinary presidential bid into Christmas, full of wonder and excitement. Every news channel, news paper, news feed, news junky were all a flutter over who he wanted for VP. And he was there the whole time to say "I know who . . . but I'm not gonna tell you." (Not an actual quote)
I got into it myself. I spent about 8 hours yesterday on the couch with my twitter feed and my news twitter feed up (with twitter friends: the AP, CNN, Chicago Trib) because I had heard he was going to announce it then. He kind of did, but only after I gave up.
But after an entire week of free publicity, he announces Senator Joe Biden of Delaware. Here is an article on the Chicago Tribune website, with a ton of information I couldn't write about unless I wanted to write my own Jayson Blair style memoir. (sorry, just a little journalism joke)
So I am very excited about this, even if I did miss the announcement when it happened.
I got into it myself. I spent about 8 hours yesterday on the couch with my twitter feed and my news twitter feed up (with twitter friends: the AP, CNN, Chicago Trib) because I had heard he was going to announce it then. He kind of did, but only after I gave up.
But after an entire week of free publicity, he announces Senator Joe Biden of Delaware. Here is an article on the Chicago Tribune website, with a ton of information I couldn't write about unless I wanted to write my own Jayson Blair style memoir. (sorry, just a little journalism joke)
So I am very excited about this, even if I did miss the announcement when it happened.
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Chirp Chirp
I just got back form my meeting with CHIRP people (CHicago Independent Radio Project). It was a fun time. As I waited for it to get started an old guy on the street asked me if I knew how to make wine. I told him no.
We met in Dank Haus, a historic German building on Western and Lawrence. There were a lot of people there. And we took a big tour of the place. It's going to be the home of the CHIRP internet radio station, so we saw where the station will be, and a ball room, and a bar, and another ball room, and another bar. It looks awesome. Then we went up on the roof/balcony and saw the beautiful view. You can see most of the city from downtown on up North. And Western travails under from horizon to horizon.
All in all it makes me glad I'm a part of it. And hope I will do more.
We met in Dank Haus, a historic German building on Western and Lawrence. There were a lot of people there. And we took a big tour of the place. It's going to be the home of the CHIRP internet radio station, so we saw where the station will be, and a ball room, and a bar, and another ball room, and another bar. It looks awesome. Then we went up on the roof/balcony and saw the beautiful view. You can see most of the city from downtown on up North. And Western travails under from horizon to horizon.
All in all it makes me glad I'm a part of it. And hope I will do more.
Just a Little Trouble.
I've been a little down for a while. I don't seem to be doing anything, but I guess that happens every summer when I'm out of school and don't have a job. I'm just kind of stuck in all aspects of my life. I don't have a job so I don't have money so I don't have a social life. Soon it should change but it's just waring down on me significantly lately.
I guess everyone goes through this sometimes. And sitting here complaining about it doesn't help any. I need to go out and do something about it. Which I guess I am. I should be getting a job soon.
I think most of my problem comes from a fear of failure. I don't want to look stupid so I don't do anything. And that goes against what really should happen. We learn by being stupid. And then the whole "You can't win, if you don't play the game" Bla Bla Bla. (Read with sarcastic tone)
I haven't written anything for a while for this very reason. And I have a fear that I can't get back into it. But I'll just have to get over that fear and all my fears and just do something.
This is something I have to write about every few months or else I forget. I'll go back to writing about video games or posting pictures of dogs in dresses tomorrow. I just needed to think about this today.
I guess everyone goes through this sometimes. And sitting here complaining about it doesn't help any. I need to go out and do something about it. Which I guess I am. I should be getting a job soon.
I think most of my problem comes from a fear of failure. I don't want to look stupid so I don't do anything. And that goes against what really should happen. We learn by being stupid. And then the whole "You can't win, if you don't play the game" Bla Bla Bla. (Read with sarcastic tone)
I haven't written anything for a while for this very reason. And I have a fear that I can't get back into it. But I'll just have to get over that fear and all my fears and just do something.
This is something I have to write about every few months or else I forget. I'll go back to writing about video games or posting pictures of dogs in dresses tomorrow. I just needed to think about this today.
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Video Games
Two games I have been playing for the PSP.
* Every Extend Extra
* Capcom Classic Collection Remixed
I rented both from GameFly and returned them very quickly. This doesn't mean I didn't like them, I just got over them pretty quickly. EEE was a great shooter/rhythm type game. (although that doesn't really describe the game so well.) There were a few frustrating parts in the auto saving system. A few times I got far in the game and lost it when it didn't actually auto save. It would also be a better game if there were a few more game types. But these are small quibbles that don't take much from the fun game.
To a lot of people, Capcom is a big part of childhood. For me there were very few Capcom games in my early years. That being said I played this game for a while and had fun. It's a collection of a lot of early games. It is fun, but because I don't have the memories, the game didn't mean much to me.
Both are good games, but they didn't hold my attention very long.
* Every Extend Extra
* Capcom Classic Collection Remixed
I rented both from GameFly and returned them very quickly. This doesn't mean I didn't like them, I just got over them pretty quickly. EEE was a great shooter/rhythm type game. (although that doesn't really describe the game so well.) There were a few frustrating parts in the auto saving system. A few times I got far in the game and lost it when it didn't actually auto save. It would also be a better game if there were a few more game types. But these are small quibbles that don't take much from the fun game.
To a lot of people, Capcom is a big part of childhood. For me there were very few Capcom games in my early years. That being said I played this game for a while and had fun. It's a collection of a lot of early games. It is fun, but because I don't have the memories, the game didn't mean much to me.
Both are good games, but they didn't hold my attention very long.
Monday, August 18, 2008
Well I do apologizes
I once said I would be a better net citizen. Apparently I lied, because I stopped posting things again. There are several things I want to do that would require me being better at writing and posting things online. And really I think the only thing stopping me is my crippling fear of being crappy.
So that's something I need to get over.
Right now I'm getting frustrated trying to figure out how to put my twitter stuff on this blog. twitter.com/Dill9 If anyone knows how let me know.
So I promise I will update regularly from now on, and keep writing more stuff.
So that's something I need to get over.
Right now I'm getting frustrated trying to figure out how to put my twitter stuff on this blog. twitter.com/Dill9 If anyone knows how let me know.
So I promise I will update regularly from now on, and keep writing more stuff.
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Friday, July 06, 2007
Citizen Internet
I've been thinking a lot about the internet, lately. I'm not such a good citizen of the internet. That is what I have come up with, that I'm not a good citizen of the internet. Right. I am a consumer of the internet. I read digg.com but I don't digg anything. I feel afraid of facebook and the like.
This is going to change. I'll be more of a producer from now on.
This is going to change. I'll be more of a producer from now on.
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
Thursday, June 14, 2007
Dude, this is awesome.
I really like this idea of pacmans skeleton. There are so many other video game characters that would look great as skeletons. Purhaps Yoshi, maybe Kurby (I guess that one would be primarily cartilage).
Sunday, June 10, 2007
Sunday, May 27, 2007
Thursday, May 24, 2007
Americone Dream update
Huzza!
I have tasted the sweet nectar that is Steven Colbert's Americone Dream. It blew my mind, which left my gut to make decisions from here on.
Here's a tip: I engect Bovine Growth Hormone directly into the ice cream. It adds that additional punch of flavor and allows me to see past time and space. I need to cut back a bit; just today I gained 500 pounds and I picked up a bus and threw it at a broken down ATM. Take that hippy, leftest Ben and Jerry.
Domonics on the corner of Foster and Sheridan, your off notice.
I have tasted the sweet nectar that is Steven Colbert's Americone Dream. It blew my mind, which left my gut to make decisions from here on.
Here's a tip: I engect Bovine Growth Hormone directly into the ice cream. It adds that additional punch of flavor and allows me to see past time and space. I need to cut back a bit; just today I gained 500 pounds and I picked up a bus and threw it at a broken down ATM. Take that hippy, leftest Ben and Jerry.
Domonics on the corner of Foster and Sheridan, your off notice.
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
Cartoons!
I enjoy comics and cartoons and other such mediums. I guess I like the unlimited worlds possible. I have found many to my liking and here is one more.
It is called Frenchy, Bob, and the Hat. (I wish I could put the movie directly into the post, but I can't find it so well.) I like the animator's, Dave Creek other things, too. He has a very designer website.
I enjoy the simplistic dialogue while having an incredibly deep story, and especially the realistic style of another absurdly haphazard universe. It reminds me of Dr. Seuss.
It doesn't seem to be the normal technology vs. nature story-line. In the end, the machine saves nature (as played by a cricket) from near-drowning. The inventor absolutely knows it worked, but seems a little sketchy on what it was supposed to do, meaning technology will enviably drag us into something great, without our immediate knowledge of what that greatness is.
Anyway I'm sure I'm wrong. Any other ideas?
It is called Frenchy, Bob, and the Hat. (I wish I could put the movie directly into the post, but I can't find it so well.) I like the animator's, Dave Creek other things, too. He has a very designer website.
I enjoy the simplistic dialogue while having an incredibly deep story, and especially the realistic style of another absurdly haphazard universe. It reminds me of Dr. Seuss.
It doesn't seem to be the normal technology vs. nature story-line. In the end, the machine saves nature (as played by a cricket) from near-drowning. The inventor absolutely knows it worked, but seems a little sketchy on what it was supposed to do, meaning technology will enviably drag us into something great, without our immediate knowledge of what that greatness is.
Anyway I'm sure I'm wrong. Any other ideas?
Thursday, May 03, 2007
iGoogle
The other day I went to google, I use the Google homepage app so that happens every day, and I saw they had changed the logo to "iGoogle." I thought, maybe it was an anniversary for iPod or iMac or some iCrap. But it looks like they changed the name of the homepage app.
What are they doing? Are they so money rich they want to taunt the caged copyright bear? Apple has attacked with copyright suites any 'i" product or anything that sounds like an "i" product or anything that sounds like it should sound like an "i" product.
But they are Google they can do anything. They rule the world.
What are they doing? Are they so money rich they want to taunt the caged copyright bear? Apple has attacked with copyright suites any 'i" product or anything that sounds like an "i" product or anything that sounds like it should sound like an "i" product.
But they are Google they can do anything. They rule the world.
Tuesday, May 01, 2007
Monday, April 23, 2007
Mike Daisey
Mike Daisey, a comedian monologer, I guess you would call him, was protested in an odd way, and he jumped back very well. It's hilarious to see him sit stunned, in his "Well I'll be." moment and then proceed to whity remarks.
Congratulations Steven Colbert
Americone Dream keeps being sold out. I still have not had any. Damn it.
Saturday, April 21, 2007
The Zimmers
These are my favorite people. They completely changed the meaning of the song in a good way. Not like that other girl who covered the song and changed it to "I hope I don't die before I get old." Who ever that was.
Friday, April 20, 2007
It's too late
Found an amazing TV show today. UFO--a BBC SciFi show from the 70's--full of over sexualized characters, uncomfortable jumpsuits. questionable scientific understanding, and big push buttons. (Thats what are technology needs today, big push buttons) Yep this is definitely from the 70's. Beyond the campy-ness, there's little more. No more or less intelligent then any other bad SciFi. If you have access to UFO I would encourage you to watch it, but don't seek it out. I've only seen the first episode, maybe I'll be pleasantly suppressed.
Oh yeah, the music is pretty sweet. Very fitting. And the models are surprisingly good.
In researching this show I stumbled upon this website. My Science Fiction Life: The story of science fiction in Britain. It just peaked my interest. Do the English like Science Fiction more then Americans? Is it more ingrained in there culture?
Grindhouse
I watched this movie last week. A brilliant premise with a brilliant movie by Rodriguez, followed by brilliant mock-trailers, followed by complete crap by Terinteno. Rodriguez followed the exploitation grindhouse zombie movie perfectly, and Terinteno gets off from his own ideas. Any redeeming qualities--mostly Kurt Russell--was completely ruined by Terinteno trying to be, um, something. Thats all I have to say.
Oh yeah, the music is pretty sweet. Very fitting. And the models are surprisingly good.
In researching this show I stumbled upon this website. My Science Fiction Life: The story of science fiction in Britain. It just peaked my interest. Do the English like Science Fiction more then Americans? Is it more ingrained in there culture?
Grindhouse
I watched this movie last week. A brilliant premise with a brilliant movie by Rodriguez, followed by brilliant mock-trailers, followed by complete crap by Terinteno. Rodriguez followed the exploitation grindhouse zombie movie perfectly, and Terinteno gets off from his own ideas. Any redeeming qualities--mostly Kurt Russell--was completely ruined by Terinteno trying to be, um, something. Thats all I have to say.
Monday, April 09, 2007
Batman Begins
I just watched Batman Begins. What do I think of this 2 hour anti-drug campaign? Well, there needed to be more hallucinogenic sines, much more of the Scare Crow, and less corny jokes that only seemed to happen when the Batmobile was involved. Other then that it was the best Batman film I've ever seen, and I liked Tim Burton's Batman.
For the most part, it was exactly what the new Batman should be. Dark and action packed, except for the ill advised Batmobile jokes. He's not overly vengeful, except for end which i didn't really like. It seems as if every good point of this movie has an equal and opposite bad point, but it doesn't take to much out of the film. Hopefully the next one will be as good.
For the most part, it was exactly what the new Batman should be. Dark and action packed, except for the ill advised Batmobile jokes. He's not overly vengeful, except for end which i didn't really like. It seems as if every good point of this movie has an equal and opposite bad point, but it doesn't take to much out of the film. Hopefully the next one will be as good.
Wednesday, April 04, 2007
Highrise
www.highrisehq.com
"Highrise is a shared contact manager that helps you keep track of who you talked to, what was said, and what to do next." This is how the people of 37 signals discribe this web app. The website explains the usefulness for journalists, which peaked my interest as a journalism student. Looking at it, I realized how it would help me as a student, too. I could keep my teachers contact info and assignments in one place--online.
I've only used it for the last hour or so, which let me sign up and enter my school projects. So far, I'm pretty impressed. Each teacher has his or her own tab. Each one with my notes and different tasks and when they are due.
But this seems to be only the very peak of what can be done. Ultimately, the point of Highrise is to keep track of conversations had online, in person, or on the phone. And to keep track of what needs to be done or has happend. Lets say . . . you are a journalist, writing an article on the recent up-rise on little kids acting like the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, the likes of which has not been seen sence the late 80's. You would talk to some kids on the street, their parents, the creator of the TMNT, some physiologist, perhaps somebody involved in the original cartoon. How could you keep track of all this crap? Well, supposedly Highrise is to help with this. I haven't been able to work with this part at all yet so I would have to talk about that later.
So far it seems like a workable, useful tool. More on it later.
"Highrise is a shared contact manager that helps you keep track of who you talked to, what was said, and what to do next." This is how the people of 37 signals discribe this web app. The website explains the usefulness for journalists, which peaked my interest as a journalism student. Looking at it, I realized how it would help me as a student, too. I could keep my teachers contact info and assignments in one place--online.
I've only used it for the last hour or so, which let me sign up and enter my school projects. So far, I'm pretty impressed. Each teacher has his or her own tab. Each one with my notes and different tasks and when they are due.
But this seems to be only the very peak of what can be done. Ultimately, the point of Highrise is to keep track of conversations had online, in person, or on the phone. And to keep track of what needs to be done or has happend. Lets say . . . you are a journalist, writing an article on the recent up-rise on little kids acting like the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, the likes of which has not been seen sence the late 80's. You would talk to some kids on the street, their parents, the creator of the TMNT, some physiologist, perhaps somebody involved in the original cartoon. How could you keep track of all this crap? Well, supposedly Highrise is to help with this. I haven't been able to work with this part at all yet so I would have to talk about that later.
So far it seems like a workable, useful tool. More on it later.
Saturday, March 31, 2007
Two cop shows. Holy Crap!
Raines
It's the normal cop drama/comedy, but with one distinctive difference. Like all the police featured in these shows, this cop is a bit insane. He sees dead people, but not in the normal "twist." In this he imagines the dead people. Wooo. But thats not the distinctive difference referenced above. The distinctive difference is, and this is what makes the show pretty good, the cop is played by beloved actor and nerd god Jeff Goldblum.
It's only three shows in, and so far it has been entertaining. It's one of the few shows that is different enough to peek my interest, but not so much that either the majority of Americans won't get it or NBC will think the majority of Americans won't get it.
It's watchable. a bit obvious sometimes but still fun. Jeff Goldblum really give it his all. Real acting--like in Jurassic Park when the T-Rex is chasing after the car, kind of acting.
Life On Mars
This BBC show is in it's second season, and I've only seen this last season so far. It's about cop, Sam Tyler, who gets hit by a car and wakes up in 1973. He's trying to figure out if he's in a coma or really back in time while still maintaining his cop job.
The idea is basically the best cop show ever made. Sam knows an awful lot about his 70's era British crime, but to his cop coworkers he just seems eerily good at his job.
Sometimes it feel like the writers and director are trying to hard to prove it's actually 1973. A perfectly framed album cover put out that year--the technological backwardness. They seem to try to make the sexism a running theme, but to me the one working woman (she's a pretty high ranking police officer) seems kind of dumb and dull. But despite some problems it's still bloody brilliant, (said in your best Cockney accent) and it's better then any of the crap cop shows we have here.
It's the normal cop drama/comedy, but with one distinctive difference. Like all the police featured in these shows, this cop is a bit insane. He sees dead people, but not in the normal "twist." In this he imagines the dead people. Wooo. But thats not the distinctive difference referenced above. The distinctive difference is, and this is what makes the show pretty good, the cop is played by beloved actor and nerd god Jeff Goldblum.
It's only three shows in, and so far it has been entertaining. It's one of the few shows that is different enough to peek my interest, but not so much that either the majority of Americans won't get it or NBC will think the majority of Americans won't get it.
It's watchable. a bit obvious sometimes but still fun. Jeff Goldblum really give it his all. Real acting--like in Jurassic Park when the T-Rex is chasing after the car, kind of acting.
Life On Mars
This BBC show is in it's second season, and I've only seen this last season so far. It's about cop, Sam Tyler, who gets hit by a car and wakes up in 1973. He's trying to figure out if he's in a coma or really back in time while still maintaining his cop job.
The idea is basically the best cop show ever made. Sam knows an awful lot about his 70's era British crime, but to his cop coworkers he just seems eerily good at his job.
Sometimes it feel like the writers and director are trying to hard to prove it's actually 1973. A perfectly framed album cover put out that year--the technological backwardness. They seem to try to make the sexism a running theme, but to me the one working woman (she's a pretty high ranking police officer) seems kind of dumb and dull. But despite some problems it's still bloody brilliant, (said in your best Cockney accent) and it's better then any of the crap cop shows we have here.
Friday, March 30, 2007
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
Seriously?
I'm trying to write an essay on a fantastic book "When Heaven and Earth Changed Places" and I found an horable fucking joke of a bug. Eveyone knows I can't spell for crap so I rely heavily on words spellcheck. I'm using Microsoft Word 2004 for Mac version 11.2
Ok, so I write the the string of letters "wrighting" and of course it is picked up by the spellcheck. I left click on it to make it correct and Word crashes. I tried it again and it did it again. Every time I've repeated the test Word crashes. What the fuck is that.
I thought I would publish my pain, so there you go.
Ok, so I write the the string of letters "wrighting" and of course it is picked up by the spellcheck. I left click on it to make it correct and Word crashes. I tried it again and it did it again. Every time I've repeated the test Word crashes. What the fuck is that.
I thought I would publish my pain, so there you go.
Hey guess what I saw today.
Down Michigan ave. in Chicago. R2D2 wants your mail. Anyway I got a picture with my phone, but its stuck on it.
Monday, March 26, 2007
Chicago Asian American Showcase
The Chicago Asian American Showcase is coming: march 30th through April 12th. I just found this because wired had an interesting article. Bruce Lee died making his last movie, Game of Death, and they had to replace him with many different actors. It was very obvious, apparently. Asians all look the same.
Anyway, Justin Lin has made a parody of the movie. A pho-documentary, about the casting of Game of Death after his death.
It sounds pretty awesome, and I'd really like to go see this. But I probably wont have the time or money or energy to. that sucks.
Anyway, Justin Lin has made a parody of the movie. A pho-documentary, about the casting of Game of Death after his death.
It sounds pretty awesome, and I'd really like to go see this. But I probably wont have the time or money or energy to. that sucks.
Thursday, March 22, 2007
I'm so glad they put this up
This American Life the TV show is up on Showtimes website. It's awesome they have it online, I was worred I wouldn't be able to see it.
I watched it and I would say I liked it. It was enjoyable. They did a pretty good job formating the video to feel like the radio show, and there was a lot of really nice cinematography. But it was lacking in something. When I saw Ira Glass live, he talked about the intimate feeling of radio. Listening to the radio show there is a connection with the stories, thats not completely there with this TV show. The characters were visable, which was the whole point of the TV, but it replaced the all important imagination the show should create.
Saying that, I still liked the Television verson of This American Life. I wouldn't rate it as high as the original, but thats expected. Definitely worth watching, and I will try to watch the rest of the season.
I watched it and I would say I liked it. It was enjoyable. They did a pretty good job formating the video to feel like the radio show, and there was a lot of really nice cinematography. But it was lacking in something. When I saw Ira Glass live, he talked about the intimate feeling of radio. Listening to the radio show there is a connection with the stories, thats not completely there with this TV show. The characters were visable, which was the whole point of the TV, but it replaced the all important imagination the show should create.
Saying that, I still liked the Television verson of This American Life. I wouldn't rate it as high as the original, but thats expected. Definitely worth watching, and I will try to watch the rest of the season.
Pining for Some Sort of Community
After listening to my History profecer talk about the history of chicago, and walking home to run into a wall of cop cars on Argyle St, I've been pining for a community. We discused things like Muddy Waters and Maxwell St. and Emit Till--I don't think I'll be seeing the next one of these where I am right now.
I think thats why I want to go into Journalism. So I have to be in the middle of everything that's happening.
I think thats why I want to go into Journalism. So I have to be in the middle of everything that's happening.
Sunday, March 18, 2007
Spring Break Woo
Last week was my spring break. Kind of boring. Only went to Datona Beach and judged pretty lady contests all day and smooched all night with the pretty ladies.
And then had the cutest car chase in histroy!!
Or I actually sat around not doing homework. Either way it was alright.
And then had the cutest car chase in histroy!!
Or I actually sat around not doing homework. Either way it was alright.
Thursday, March 15, 2007
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
Hey Everybody Pi Day
Tomorrow is March 14th (3/14) isn't that awesome. Go here for more information.
Have this.
Happy Pi Day.
Edit: Oh also beware the day after. Those crazy Ides of March and all.
Here's a picture of that for good measure.
Have this.
Happy Pi Day.
Edit: Oh also beware the day after. Those crazy Ides of March and all.
Here's a picture of that for good measure.
Sunday, March 11, 2007
Im a little down again
Although I did find a dollor on the ground today. But still a little down.
HUGGS!
HUGGS!
Thursday, March 08, 2007
Is this creepy of me.
Wednesday, March 07, 2007
Tuesday, March 06, 2007
This American Life is Awesome
This Thursday I went to see "This American Life Live" at the Chicago Theatre. This was so exciting, and I'm really glad I went--even though I paid out the ass for it. This American Life is my favorite radio show, Ira Glass is my favorite radio host. Obviously Ira hosted. Sarah Vowell, Jonathan Goldstein, and Dan Savage wrote stores about everyday people--themselves. Director, Chris Wilcha talked about making the upcoming TV version of This American LIfe. And Mates of State was the house band.
I'm going to call This American Life TAL from now on in this blog--not to sound douche baggy, but because This American Life is to long to write and sounds odd over and over.
Anyway TAL is really something I want to emulate in Robotic Bacon. For those of you who don't know, TAL has been on public radio for more than 10 years and is stories about everyday life. And they interview everyday people. Ira Glass holds the show together with his silky radio voice. He knows a great deal about how the radio works and how to keep people entertained. This is a video clip of him spreading his knowledge.
I like to think I'm at the point he is talking about. I understand what makes most things good or crappie. And I like to think that one day I'll be up to his hight. This is part 3 of 4 if you want to watch the rest go here and go down to Tuesday, February 27, 2007.
Anyway, back to the show I saw. It had an interesting mix of Northern Red Liners and Northern Brown Liners. Hipsters, who like the look of the dirty subway and rich elitists who like the lack of the depressing poor on the EL. A combination of ironic t-shirts and purls.
This was my favorite thing I've done in a while. I'm so glad I went, even though I was by my self. Mates of State was really cool and TAL was hilarious and very informative. If anyone is trying to become an entertainer or journalist or radio host I think TAL is an important study. Very recommended, um if you can go back in time, or go to one of the other cities its going to be at. I believe it's all over by now so your best bet is to go back in time.
The TV show will debut March 22nd on Showtime. And the radio show plays every weekend on local Public Radio stations, or as a free podcast every monday. Download it from the website.
I'm going to call This American Life TAL from now on in this blog--not to sound douche baggy, but because This American Life is to long to write and sounds odd over and over.
Anyway TAL is really something I want to emulate in Robotic Bacon. For those of you who don't know, TAL has been on public radio for more than 10 years and is stories about everyday life. And they interview everyday people. Ira Glass holds the show together with his silky radio voice. He knows a great deal about how the radio works and how to keep people entertained. This is a video clip of him spreading his knowledge.
I like to think I'm at the point he is talking about. I understand what makes most things good or crappie. And I like to think that one day I'll be up to his hight. This is part 3 of 4 if you want to watch the rest go here and go down to Tuesday, February 27, 2007.
Anyway, back to the show I saw. It had an interesting mix of Northern Red Liners and Northern Brown Liners. Hipsters, who like the look of the dirty subway and rich elitists who like the lack of the depressing poor on the EL. A combination of ironic t-shirts and purls.
This was my favorite thing I've done in a while. I'm so glad I went, even though I was by my self. Mates of State was really cool and TAL was hilarious and very informative. If anyone is trying to become an entertainer or journalist or radio host I think TAL is an important study. Very recommended, um if you can go back in time, or go to one of the other cities its going to be at. I believe it's all over by now so your best bet is to go back in time.
The TV show will debut March 22nd on Showtime. And the radio show plays every weekend on local Public Radio stations, or as a free podcast every monday. Download it from the website.
Think I got my gaming libido back
The other day, WTF came in my mail. Holy Crap this is a good game. It brought my love of video games back. It's funny. It's entertaining to play. It's causing horribly panful repetitive motion syndrome in my thumbs.
WTF: Work Time Fun is full of mini games similar Wario Ware, (witch is one of my favorite game franchises) but unlike Wario Ware they are basically never-ending. For most of the games, you get paid for the length of time you spend, and then you use the money to buy new "Jobs," "Tools," and "Trinkets" out of vending machines.
This is probably the major problem. You can buy new jobs, but I havn't found a way to non-randomly pick them to play. Thats kind of pissing me off. But it's still a great game and making me not hate my PSP.
WTF: Work Time Fun is full of mini games similar Wario Ware, (witch is one of my favorite game franchises) but unlike Wario Ware they are basically never-ending. For most of the games, you get paid for the length of time you spend, and then you use the money to buy new "Jobs," "Tools," and "Trinkets" out of vending machines.
This is probably the major problem. You can buy new jobs, but I havn't found a way to non-randomly pick them to play. Thats kind of pissing me off. But it's still a great game and making me not hate my PSP.
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
Feeling Down Today
Today kind of sucked. To make myself feel better I found this.
I don't know if it's real, but I do know it's awesome.
I don't know if it's real, but I do know it's awesome.
Monday, February 26, 2007
The secret Life of Brian
I grew up watching my father watch Monty Phython. This group has been more influential then any other comedy group, with good reason. It's nice to get the back story of easily there best work. The controversy is completely insane, and much funnier then it is supposed to be. The very fact that people are complaining about the absurdity of a comedy is so much more absurd then anything they could have written. That's like complaing that there's too much sex in a Porn, or to much rambling in a blog.
I got this from the blog for the "Public Radio show about things that are awesomeness"--maximumfun.org
I Feel Bad.
Why?
Because I've been disrespecting blogs everywhere. I've been trying to actually write somewhat articles, instead of writing blogs. Blogs tend to be the drunk dial of the internet world, spewing emotions in a very loud and constant voice. I guess thats only true if your constantly drunk. And on the phone. Anyway I'm going to try to blog everyday and with less of a point. Something more like this.
Look a Monkey smoking.
Because I've been disrespecting blogs everywhere. I've been trying to actually write somewhat articles, instead of writing blogs. Blogs tend to be the drunk dial of the internet world, spewing emotions in a very loud and constant voice. I guess thats only true if your constantly drunk. And on the phone. Anyway I'm going to try to blog everyday and with less of a point. Something more like this.
Look a Monkey smoking.
Sunday, February 18, 2007
Monsters
I've been really enjoying Daily Monster. It's video of artist, Stefan G. Bucher, drawling monsters. Pretty much awesome. He starts with a line and builds off of it and creates really cute little guys. Then he has people submit stores about the characters. I'm a little conserned because lately they have been saying
"out of 100."
Also I just saw these--to go along with the monsters theam. Artist renderings of kid drawlings. Here and here. I think this is a really cool idea, and they all look sweet. My favorite is the "Whare dude"
"out of 100."
Also I just saw these--to go along with the monsters theam. Artist renderings of kid drawlings. Here and here. I think this is a really cool idea, and they all look sweet. My favorite is the "Whare dude"
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
I have to apologies to my loyal fanbase
I'm sorry for not posting for the last two months or so. But I'm sure that no one has noticed because no one reads this.
Anyway
Two things
A little plug in for iTunes thats pretty freaking sweet. iConcertCal alows you to view when and where your favorite bands are playing in your city. Awesome. Even better I sent an email to tell them how much I like the app and tell them about a bug, and they replied that day. Freaking awesome.
And Just quickly
LEGO Star Wars II: The Original Trillogy Kicks ass on the PSP. It works. The only small problem is the controls, a little fucked up, but its the PSP and every game has to suck in the way of controls. Fun, intersting, humoris, LEGO's, Star Wars--the original not the crappy new ones. very little wrong with the game. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to find anything different from the other platforms.
Anyway
Two things
A little plug in for iTunes thats pretty freaking sweet. iConcertCal alows you to view when and where your favorite bands are playing in your city. Awesome. Even better I sent an email to tell them how much I like the app and tell them about a bug, and they replied that day. Freaking awesome.
And Just quickly
LEGO Star Wars II: The Original Trillogy Kicks ass on the PSP. It works. The only small problem is the controls, a little fucked up, but its the PSP and every game has to suck in the way of controls. Fun, intersting, humoris, LEGO's, Star Wars--the original not the crappy new ones. very little wrong with the game. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to find anything different from the other platforms.
Friday, December 15, 2006
Finally Got Around to Watch a Few Movies
Shaun of the Dead and Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow
Shaun of the Dead is a fantastic film along with a great zombie movie, and also really fucking funny. The best zombie weapon = Shaun's cricket bat. And. um . . . I admit I came close to tears a few times, it has great heart warming moments. Shut up.
Sky Captain, was a movie that came out a while ago, that was completely done in front of a blue screen. A Film Noir . . . remake? (no not a remake, not a spoof) rebirth? (no didn't bring anything back as an art) Really I don't know what to call it, it seems to have been made just so they can say they were able to make a Film Noir in today's world. It was full of clichés, only some on purpose, and started a little slow for my taste. I was actually a little mad for the first ten minutes of the movie. When I hear about a movie set completely made up of computer generated content, I imagine a movie full of amazing, impossible shots, but the beginning is full of shots that would never been in any movie because they were incredibly boring. But then Sky Captain totally redeemed it's self. One word "Gigantic, Metal, Robots."From then on it was a good movie, not a great movie, but . . . well . . . I wouln't buy it.
But it brought up one question for me. The movie is full of 1950's, fake, cool looking, technology from the 21ST CENTURY. My question is: Where the hell is my Hundred Foot Killer Robot? Where's my Ray Gun? Where's my freakin' Personal Jet Pack? We live in the 21'st century now. Why arn't we living on the moon, rapped in cellophane and plastic covering our crotches, with a gold fish bowl on our heads? That's all I want. Come on people lets get it together and get to where we are supposed to be.
Shaun of the Dead is a fantastic film along with a great zombie movie, and also really fucking funny. The best zombie weapon = Shaun's cricket bat. And. um . . . I admit I came close to tears a few times, it has great heart warming moments. Shut up.
Sky Captain, was a movie that came out a while ago, that was completely done in front of a blue screen. A Film Noir . . . remake? (no not a remake, not a spoof) rebirth? (no didn't bring anything back as an art) Really I don't know what to call it, it seems to have been made just so they can say they were able to make a Film Noir in today's world. It was full of clichés, only some on purpose, and started a little slow for my taste. I was actually a little mad for the first ten minutes of the movie. When I hear about a movie set completely made up of computer generated content, I imagine a movie full of amazing, impossible shots, but the beginning is full of shots that would never been in any movie because they were incredibly boring. But then Sky Captain totally redeemed it's self. One word "Gigantic, Metal, Robots."From then on it was a good movie, not a great movie, but . . . well . . . I wouln't buy it.
But it brought up one question for me. The movie is full of 1950's, fake, cool looking, technology from the 21ST CENTURY. My question is: Where the hell is my Hundred Foot Killer Robot? Where's my Ray Gun? Where's my freakin' Personal Jet Pack? We live in the 21'st century now. Why arn't we living on the moon, rapped in cellophane and plastic covering our crotches, with a gold fish bowl on our heads? That's all I want. Come on people lets get it together and get to where we are supposed to be.
Monday, December 11, 2006
Idiots, and Muppets - or My Saturday Night!
Well no, not really. My saturday nights are generally filled with me pretending to get homework done, surfing random websites, and drinking good beer until I fall asleep. At least I drink good beer. But I digress, these are just a few shows I have been really enjoying lately.
I'll go in revers order from the title.
Muppets: "Well it's not quite a mop, not quite a puppet, but man. . . So, to answer your question, I don't know." -Homer Simpson (I don't know if that is completely accurate, so screw you)
Basically dotBoom, is my new favorite podcast. Well technically it is more of a online sitcom you can watch as a podcast for free. . . with muppets.
The story follows a web design firm, and the crap everyone has to deal with. . . with muppets. I really like muppets, I like saying muppets, but I like this show for more then just the muppets. You can tell the people who make this every week have been in the exact situations. It really comes out in the writing, which is hilarious. The charters are varying, and funny, and cute. They have stories you really care about, which really separates it from most sitcoms.
The design is professional. The intro and credits are fun to watch and they, especially the credits, have a style not used much. They make many mistakes in the production. Sometimes you can hear a dog bark for no reason, the green screen goes over the charters a bit, and a few times was just completely missing. These mistakes make the show more human to watch, as opposed to the lifeless comedies on tv. And really you just got to remember, there doing this for free.
This is what I have been looking for as long as I have been downloading podcasts. They have been great for news, and some have been funny, but I haven't found any that replace the half hour situation comedies. Now there is dotBoom. Now there are muppets.
Idiots: Stella was a show on Comedy Central a while ago. I thought it was very funny since seeing the pilot, which I got from in some magazine, but missed most of it when it was on air. It got canceled, like most great shows. But now they have the DVD out. The other day I decided to pick it up and watch it. It was fantastic, my favorite episodes are still the pilot and also "Coffee Shop," and the commentary from the three Stella guys are great. The extras are things like "The History of STELLA" and a blooper reel. I wish there was a little more but there's not much I can do about that. I would recommend it to anyone who liked the show, or anyone who likes un-categorizable comedy.
Writing a review for the show is hard, because I can't really explain what it is actually about. It is incredibly easy to laugh at it, but it is also incredibly complex. It has it's own style, but shows homage to all the great comedians ever since laughter evolved. And you start to care a lot about the three guys, even though they are huge dicks. I guess this is why I like it so much. There is almost no correlation between any of the jokes unless you look at the the show as a whole.
It's a great show that I like a lot, but if you don't think it's funny, you would hate it. Try to watch a few episodes before you buy the DVD, to make sure you don't wast your money on something you don't like.
I'll go in revers order from the title.
Muppets: "Well it's not quite a mop, not quite a puppet, but man. . . So, to answer your question, I don't know." -Homer Simpson (I don't know if that is completely accurate, so screw you)
Basically dotBoom, is my new favorite podcast. Well technically it is more of a online sitcom you can watch as a podcast for free. . . with muppets.
The story follows a web design firm, and the crap everyone has to deal with. . . with muppets. I really like muppets, I like saying muppets, but I like this show for more then just the muppets. You can tell the people who make this every week have been in the exact situations. It really comes out in the writing, which is hilarious. The charters are varying, and funny, and cute. They have stories you really care about, which really separates it from most sitcoms.
The design is professional. The intro and credits are fun to watch and they, especially the credits, have a style not used much. They make many mistakes in the production. Sometimes you can hear a dog bark for no reason, the green screen goes over the charters a bit, and a few times was just completely missing. These mistakes make the show more human to watch, as opposed to the lifeless comedies on tv. And really you just got to remember, there doing this for free.
This is what I have been looking for as long as I have been downloading podcasts. They have been great for news, and some have been funny, but I haven't found any that replace the half hour situation comedies. Now there is dotBoom. Now there are muppets.
Idiots: Stella was a show on Comedy Central a while ago. I thought it was very funny since seeing the pilot, which I got from in some magazine, but missed most of it when it was on air. It got canceled, like most great shows. But now they have the DVD out. The other day I decided to pick it up and watch it. It was fantastic, my favorite episodes are still the pilot and also "Coffee Shop," and the commentary from the three Stella guys are great. The extras are things like "The History of STELLA" and a blooper reel. I wish there was a little more but there's not much I can do about that. I would recommend it to anyone who liked the show, or anyone who likes un-categorizable comedy.
Writing a review for the show is hard, because I can't really explain what it is actually about. It is incredibly easy to laugh at it, but it is also incredibly complex. It has it's own style, but shows homage to all the great comedians ever since laughter evolved. And you start to care a lot about the three guys, even though they are huge dicks. I guess this is why I like it so much. There is almost no correlation between any of the jokes unless you look at the the show as a whole.
It's a great show that I like a lot, but if you don't think it's funny, you would hate it. Try to watch a few episodes before you buy the DVD, to make sure you don't wast your money on something you don't like.
Friday, December 01, 2006
Google Docs & Spreadsheets
I heard about an office-like application from Google, but this is the first time I have seen it. It looks pretty simple for the most part and it seems descent. There is no automatic spell checking with the right click like on most text editors, which is pretty damn important to me. Edit: the spell check is a bit weird to get used to but it's not bad. It would be kind of cool if I could write a blog and then post it directly to blogger, (Edit in Blogger: yeah it works pretty well. I wish it was faster, but most of that is my internet connection and Firefox. It was supposed to take the title of the document and make it the title of the post but I don't think it did. At least I had to edit it in. Also it has a feature where multiple people can edit one article. That would be cool for multiple authored blogs. Just ideas.) and if i can put HTML right into this and it would go right into blogger that would be great. (if this link goes to the Google homepage then it works. Edit: the link works well and lets you do a lot of different things.) It doesn't work in Safari witch sucks kind of because that's what I use. If someone can tell my why Firefox is so slow on my mac then I would use it but right now its Safari for me. There is an insert tab for images and stuff
and a revisions tab and an edit HTML tab. All and all it looks pretty cool. A few things could be done better but not bad, Google.
Over-thinking 1337 or Under-thinking Lanugage
My mother, a hippy and teacher at university, has always had a progressive view on the English language. Any correction of improper English would usually be met by "Proper English was invented by rich, white guys trying to keep minorities down." Then she would sprout examples of different dialects that, while not text book proper, still should be considered completely acceptable. That was usually met by me rolling my eyes, because I heard things like this all my life, but her basic thesis was not lost on me. Language should be solely used for communication. If my feelings are understood by you, then it shouldn't matter how I communicate them. This effects me especially, being pretty severely dyslexic (kind of amazed I could get that word spelled right) and tend to make up words and grammar.
A few sundays ago, UserFriendly.org, a nerdy web-comix, made fun of New Zealand schools for allowing "students to use 'Text Speak' in their answers." Since reading this I have been considering how I felt about the rout we, the internet connected, immediacy demanding, ADD evolved youth culture, have been taking the English language. Leet, (Yes I'm attempting a serious discussion about 1337 on our society. I'm as shocked as anyone else . . . I feel a little dirty. Editors note: this will not be very serious) according to Wikipedia and the horde of nerds spending hours and hours debating such definitions, "is a sociolect variety used primarily on the Internet, particularly in online games." (Wikipedia seemed appropriate to use, I would not use if for a serious article or paper, unless it was about something like leet) This seems to cover the whole gambit of the internet language. (i.e. Emotocons, abbreviations, and ASCII) What benefits does this new way of communicating have on the world, or does it further degrade it? Does it segregate from or add to the beauty of our great communicators? Is it the next evolutionary step in our language or just something dreamed up by Ingsoc?
My thoughts: It's so much more complicated that any of that. Leet was dreamed up more out of a necessity for ease and privacy, then a new communication. Newspeak, from George Orwell's 1984, was a way to stifle the power of words, to take there emotional value, but leet and leet-like-speach can arguably show more emotion then it's english counterpart. LOL is more commonly used (weather for real or ironically or double-ironically or how-ever-much-ironically you want) and more emotionally charged then "Laugh Out Loud." What worries me is the title "Leet," derived from elite. This reminds me too much of the rich elite, who created the standard of language, my mother always warned me about. This word comes from geek counter's need to find an area where is is superior, but it creates underlings of everyone outside of the geek sphere. There is only a fine line. Between what, I have no idea, but it sounded like an appropriate way to end.
A few sundays ago, UserFriendly.org, a nerdy web-comix, made fun of New Zealand schools for allowing "students to use 'Text Speak' in their answers." Since reading this I have been considering how I felt about the rout we, the internet connected, immediacy demanding, ADD evolved youth culture, have been taking the English language. Leet, (Yes I'm attempting a serious discussion about 1337 on our society. I'm as shocked as anyone else . . . I feel a little dirty. Editors note: this will not be very serious) according to Wikipedia and the horde of nerds spending hours and hours debating such definitions, "is a sociolect variety used primarily on the Internet, particularly in online games." (Wikipedia seemed appropriate to use, I would not use if for a serious article or paper, unless it was about something like leet) This seems to cover the whole gambit of the internet language. (i.e. Emotocons, abbreviations, and ASCII) What benefits does this new way of communicating have on the world, or does it further degrade it? Does it segregate from or add to the beauty of our great communicators? Is it the next evolutionary step in our language or just something dreamed up by Ingsoc?
My thoughts: It's so much more complicated that any of that. Leet was dreamed up more out of a necessity for ease and privacy, then a new communication. Newspeak, from George Orwell's 1984, was a way to stifle the power of words, to take there emotional value, but leet and leet-like-speach can arguably show more emotion then it's english counterpart. LOL is more commonly used (weather for real or ironically or double-ironically or how-ever-much-ironically you want) and more emotionally charged then "Laugh Out Loud." What worries me is the title "Leet," derived from elite. This reminds me too much of the rich elite, who created the standard of language, my mother always warned me about. This word comes from geek counter's need to find an area where is is superior, but it creates underlings of everyone outside of the geek sphere. There is only a fine line. Between what, I have no idea, but it sounded like an appropriate way to end.
Thursday, November 16, 2006
This is Hard to Watch, But Eveyone Should See It.
Seeing this makes me sick, but it also shows me where we are going in this world. A huge question of any society has always been, Who polices the police? The answer has always been, the citizens, but until now it has basically been a losing battle. As much as people, me included, make fun of the internet and most modern technology, their has been some amazing achievements. Before this huge rush of technological advances, fuck even 10 years ago, an incident like the above would have been impossible to prove. Now I bet 80% of those students had camera phones or blogs or something, and within the hour they were posting this story. This shows the goodness, and true reason for, this technology, and I am happy it is being used.
Hopefully soon these cops are put in jail, where they belong.
This article has more information.
Tuesday, October 31, 2006
I've been PSPeed on
I have had a PSP for awhile now, yes I fell into the huge hype that was the PSP launch. I saw the beautiful screen, wifi enabling, and movie and music compatibility; combined with the promise of good PlayStation games and flash memory for storage, in a cool looking portable. I flipped the fuck out. But after the initial drooling and epileptic fits, due to too much excitement, and actually using it to play games, I realized it um . . . sucks. The games are terrible (I was hoping Final Fantasy or some other great games would be ported, but nope), the movies cost about the same as a DVD but with no extras, and downloads . . . what downloads.
Now I have heard that there is a reason for the crapyness. Apparently, PlayStation is waiting for the release of the PS3 to give the promised applications. This confuses me, the DS, is supposedly going to have functionality with the Wii, but it survives on its own as a great hand held.
So this rambling is going somewhere, I'm not just a year behind all of the internet. I just wanted to talk about the one game I have seen that has done everything right, so far. I have only been able to play the downloadable Loco Roco demoes, yes the one instance were you can download a demo. They released a demo and a special Halloween level, both great. It has great game play and an interesting and fun story. It has difficult areas, but not so hard as to stop being fun. I can't wait to play the full game, and actually using the PSP with out wanted to throw it.
Now I have heard that there is a reason for the crapyness. Apparently, PlayStation is waiting for the release of the PS3 to give the promised applications. This confuses me, the DS, is supposedly going to have functionality with the Wii, but it survives on its own as a great hand held.
So this rambling is going somewhere, I'm not just a year behind all of the internet. I just wanted to talk about the one game I have seen that has done everything right, so far. I have only been able to play the downloadable Loco Roco demoes, yes the one instance were you can download a demo. They released a demo and a special Halloween level, both great. It has great game play and an interesting and fun story. It has difficult areas, but not so hard as to stop being fun. I can't wait to play the full game, and actually using the PSP with out wanted to throw it.
Tuesday, October 24, 2006
Share your Music Taste
I have been using a new web application, still in its Alpha stage, called iLife. It is a social networking website used to spread your musical taste. I am really enjoying it. The website has a clean, easy-to-understand layout and so far it hasn't become to big or complex.
While the website helps to keep track of your friends, find new friends, send messages to your friends, and all around wast time, the real music magic happens in the iLike sidebar. This sidebar attaches to iTunes (or most other music players, I think) and displays music "related" to whatever is currently playing. It separates the songs into copyrighted music, which can be bought at the iTunes music store, or my favorite, what they call "free music by new artists." This is a great feature that will be able to give upcoming musicians a larger voice online. In the mean time it gives me quality music for free and I like free music. iLife was created by the designers of GarageBand.com, a website for independent artists to distribute there music online for free. They now use iLife to distribute these artists.
I have only been using it for a few days and the only problems I have seen is the sidebar slows my computer down a tiny bit and there aren't nearly enough people using it to get really good peer recommendations. A few additions I think they should add to the next few updates, is a section showing recently downloaded songs using the webpage and perhaps, because I am a little obsessed with podcasts, a page recommending podcasts based on which ones are playing. But there will definitely be major changes in the leap from Alpha to Beta and on.
This is definitely a website everyone who likes music should check out. The designers can change and fiddle with the website but, it will only get better when more people contribute. You'll find me as Die-Lon, be my friend I only have one.
While the website helps to keep track of your friends, find new friends, send messages to your friends, and all around wast time, the real music magic happens in the iLike sidebar. This sidebar attaches to iTunes (or most other music players, I think) and displays music "related" to whatever is currently playing. It separates the songs into copyrighted music, which can be bought at the iTunes music store, or my favorite, what they call "free music by new artists." This is a great feature that will be able to give upcoming musicians a larger voice online. In the mean time it gives me quality music for free and I like free music. iLife was created by the designers of GarageBand.com, a website for independent artists to distribute there music online for free. They now use iLife to distribute these artists.
I have only been using it for a few days and the only problems I have seen is the sidebar slows my computer down a tiny bit and there aren't nearly enough people using it to get really good peer recommendations. A few additions I think they should add to the next few updates, is a section showing recently downloaded songs using the webpage and perhaps, because I am a little obsessed with podcasts, a page recommending podcasts based on which ones are playing. But there will definitely be major changes in the leap from Alpha to Beta and on.
This is definitely a website everyone who likes music should check out. The designers can change and fiddle with the website but, it will only get better when more people contribute. You'll find me as Die-Lon, be my friend I only have one.
Thursday, October 05, 2006
Seasons
Some say there favorite season is what ever is the next one, and never this. Mine is always the same. I love Fall. Something about the change everything goes through, changes me. The cool, crispness makes me feel more alive. Most importantly the colors, the wind, the longer nights make for great story telling. The cool, outside temperatures combined with warm inturnal temperatures brought on by hot ciders, helps their enjoyment. None of the other seasons have the perfect combination of variables, quite like Fall.
Tuesday, October 03, 2006
Shooting War
I was looking through the current issue of Wired, when I ran into an article for this serious, online, comic book, Shooting War. I, being a wannabe comic book nerd and too poor to support my wannabe habbit, jumped all ove this. Honestly though, I thought it was going to be the normal overzealous, teenage boy's wet dream that most comic books resemble, and the fact that it was free and avaliable online didn't fare well for the quality. But, happily, I was proven wrong. Writer and creator Anthony Lapp and artist Dan Goldman, have made a spookly realistic look into the future. In the year 2011, the war in Iraq has erupted with no sign of ending, attacks on US soil are happening regularly, and humanity has all but destroyed its self. Jimmy Burns was a video-blogger, until he was swallowed up by a huge news network and spit out into the middle of Iraq as a war correspondent. What is his place, as a "Citizen Journalist," amongst the "real" Journalist? How will he survive Armageddon in this alien environment?
Awesome. I'm hooked and I can't wait for the latest chapter.
Awesome. I'm hooked and I can't wait for the latest chapter.
Sunday, October 01, 2006
Happy Independence Nigeria
October 1st 1960 Nigerians gained there freedom from British Colonialism. Fourty-six years later I try to cross Sheridan, weaving through there parade. I hate doing this. I feel like I'm interrupting there fun. Historically I have never really liked parades, but this has been the second one I have stoped to watch and really enjoyed. I think it has to do with the participants. At the occasional Homecoming or Fourth of July parade, that I have seen, people seemed to be more exited to watch then to be on the floats. But here people are singing, dancing in the streets, really proud to be Nigerian or what ever they are celebrating. I like this. It makes me proud to be human.
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