Iterating on Light and Dark

Yes, indeed, we are (as a society) due for some form of earth (nay, existence) shattering event:  the kind that strains apart the very fabric of civilization, leaving nothing but the frayed, tattered ends of culture to pine for its once lustrous, cohesive weavings.

Indeed, we are due for an apocalypse, and truly, there are only several kinds of apocalypses we could realistically have:

• Astronomical apocalypse:  bodies from space destroying us all
• War-related apocalypse:  weaponized bodies launched from earth that fall from space to destroy us all
• Zombie apocalypse:  deceased bodies searching for brains to destroy us all
• Robot apocalypse:  metalized, mechanical, soulless bodies bent on destroying us all

Let’s air on the side of realism here and eschew the first two:  I mean, the likelihood that we’ll all die by meteor is, well, astronomical, and if we haven’t managed to kill ourselves already (we had such a quaint acronym for this - “M.A.D.”, which was actually quite ironic if you think about it, and I’m not sure if its creators were very clever or simply oblivious) I’m sure we’ll somehow survive.  Oh no, gentle reader, the truth is, the only realistic apocalypses to be had are either robotic or zombiatic in nature.  In today’s essay, I will describe how Google ™ has demonstrated the only truly concerning apocalypse is of the zombie variety (and thusly, driven me to buy a shotgun).

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I’m typing this while watching an “original” movie, though it might just be a “presents” sort of scenario:

Lake Placid 2

I have to once again admit to appreciating the original movie, the one that was actually released in the theaters.  That was amusing, entertaining, etc.  So far, this “sequel” is about as bad as it gets.  I’m disappointed in Cloris Leachman for starring in this movie.  Special bonus for being the marquee name, listed as “…and Cloris Leachman” at the end of the opening credits.  While we’re at it, shame on Sam McMurray and John Schneider.  Shame indeed, especially for Sam McMurray’s terrible “accent”.

Things that are bad so far:

• Acting
• Line-reading
• Clear over-dubbing
• Script
• Faux-letterboxing
• Sets
• Editing
• Soundtrack

What’s not bad:

• The SciFi channel bug in the lower right hand corner looks pretty tidy
• Time between commercial breaks isn’t too long

I hate shilling, and I’m not.

I also hate this concept that’s been thrown about that the iPhone is a gaming platform.  It’s not.  Let me repeat this again, so that everyone can understand (including the iPhone fanatics / fanboys out there):

The iPhone, while a passable communications device shrouded in “the shiny”, is not a gaming platform, and lacks the most basic of controls to appropriately, effectively provide a solid gaming experience, mobile or not.

There.  I said it.  There’s nothing wrong with this fact.  The sorts of games you can get on the iPhone that play the best are simplistic games like Bejeweled that require little in the way of precise controls and more about providing momentary diversions.

That said, I found a game that I can absolutely recommend from here on out till all of eternity:  “Fieldrunners”.  (continue reading…)

I like all sorts of sci-fi.  Not just because I grew up on things like Knight Rider and Star Trek.  Science Fiction plays towards my nerdy tendencies - the likes of which I can’t pretend to hide given the fact that I have so many blogs, work in the Internet industry, prefer riding scooters more than motorcycles (and sold my last motorcycle), and have a Wii, PS3, PS2, DS, and PSP sitting on my home theater right now.

No, I’m a nerd, and I like scifi.  Hell, look at my DVR list:

• Fringe
• Terminator:  The Sarah Connor Chronicles
• Dollhouse
• Battlestar Galactica

But, that’s not really much a confession these days - hell, tons of people like scifi related things.  The real confession here is that I like SciFi Original Movies.  I know, I know, but hear me out… (continue reading…)

So, yeah.

(many of my posts will start off this way - not particularly well spoken, but beggars can’t be choosers)

My MacBook Pro was delivered while I was at the gym.  This is not a bad thing.  I come home and a tidy little package was waiting right there for me, which is fantastic.

One of the things I think Apple really does well is creating a gestalt - everything about the unboxing process, about the materials you get, all of it - it’s done in such a way to make the user feel like they’re getting something special.  I can’t imagine this doesn’t in some way aide in generating the “Macolyte” behavior / fan-boy-ism that is oft associated with the Apple brand.

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Anyone who’s known me for about 30 seconds knows that, for the longest time, I’ve been a hard-core advocate of not-Apple products.

I know, I know - how is it that one can legitimately hold such a stance? They’re almost always beautiful. They almost always have some sort of “experience” wrapped around them. And Justin Long is dreamy in ways that no one else can truly be.

(no, he’s not)

Much of my irritation with Apple devices have been of the sort that obstinate geeks such as myself have with technology. Certain types of people, myself included, dislike when choices are explicitly made for you and configurations are obfuscated from you in the interest of “protecting” a user from themselves. I consider myself in that odd nether-area of pro-sumer and professional when it comes to my tech toys, and Apple in many ways does not talk to me as almost a philosophy.

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Actually, it’s not.

It’s right at the tail end of the year 2008, and my office has been closed since about noon of December 24th.  It will not re-open until the fifth of January.  This is somewhere between fantastic and odd.

Part of me decided to randomly make a new site named KaizenScuro.  It’s something I think I can explain to basically anyone, but is one of those things that at first glance people will think I’m nuts about.

I have a lot on my mind, entering 2009.  This is not uncommon for anyone, of course:  that’s almost the entire point of the new year.  There’s much to reminisce on, a lot of nooks of nostalgia to get lost in.  While I’m normally oft to let myself get drawn in to such things, I’m actually taking the opposite tack.

This year has felt a lot like winding out your second to last gear for every ounce it has, fully aware that you can’t pull the last were you to shift.  It’s wearing, consuming…  but thankfully at this point I feel the opportunity to breathe.

I have engaged in all sorts of lazy.  I insist on continuing so until it’s time to not, and then start up again.