SelfUnfocused

On Saving Cash

2008-10-19T17:36:00.000-07:00

90 day Netflix hold.

I have a lot of subscription based services tying up my funds; Netflix, E-Music, etc... Often these act to save me money. I used to purchase a few DVDs a month. I haven't bought any in 2008 thanks to Netflix. However, this month I've been much too busy to watch films. Why pay 14 dollars to have a few DVDs sit around unviewed? Netflix will let you pause its service for up to 90 days. I'll save 30 dollars or so. See you in January, DVD player!

A helpful tip from Moneywasting Matt. Don't live like me. Save cash.

Trustocracy

2008-10-16T12:20:00.000-07:00

My latest project is Trustocracy, a somewhat more focused blog. It's about tech, politics, society...you know, the small things. I'd appreciate it if you'd mention the site to any policy nerds you think might find it interesting. Thanks.

CNN

2008-07-27T19:40:00.000-07:00

I'm glad I don't pay for cable.

I just watched a few purported news clips from CNN.com. How the mighty have fallen. Back in the mid-ninetys, when I was an intelligence analyst, CNN was my informative wallpaper. We kept it on 24/7. Why? Because it kept us informed, the commentary was useful, and there was nothing else like it. Well, Fox News started getting crazy ratings by entertaining instead of informing and CNN sure jumped on that bandwagon (have any of you ever seen an actual bandwagon?).

So tv news is crap, newspapers are useless, and vote weighted sites like Newsvine.com are so overran by the frivolous that finding anything pertinent is an hour long event. Somebody freeze me and wake me up in twenty years when this is all straightened out...or when cars drive themselves. Whichever comes first.

Play This Game

2008-06-28T18:24:00.000-07:00

A Flash based time travel puzzle game. What isn't to love?

I love Sarcasm. No, Really I do.

2008-06-04T09:18:00.000-07:00

The New York Times has an article on the neurology of sarcasm.

To her surprise, though, the magnetic resonance scans revealed that the part of the brain lost among those who failed to perceive sarcasm was not in the left hemisphere of the brain, which specializes in language and social interactions, but in a part of the right hemisphere previously identified as important only to detecting contextual background changes in visual tests.

It's really cool to know that detecting a change in intent is similar to recognizing foreground/background differences visually. It makes me wonder if highly emotionally and socially intuitive people have a skill that's similar to staring at those odd pictures that turn 3D if you see them right.

Interest Trinity

2008-05-30T14:23:00.000-07:00

This week's three links, sans comments, include a piece on poetry and synesthesia, China's coming effect on food prices, and some tunes.

Tarzan as Poet

Pork Fried Rice

A Beautiful Voice

Roots: Like LeVar Burton

2008-05-29T11:37:00.000-07:00

Here is the video that is taking Holland by storm. Apparently, I am a Dutch speaking savant. Who knew?

My new little buddy

2008-05-28T11:40:00.001-07:00

My new little buddy
Originally uploaded by selfunfocused

I have my Asus eee pc 900, Linux version. It is tiny and awesome like a young Joe Pesci.

Bring Out Your Dead

2008-05-28T09:27:00.001-07:00

New York City is working on plans to have a specialized vehicle collect the recently dead and get them to the hospital quickly. I mean, STAT!

New York City is working on a plan to deploy a special ambulance to collect the bodies of people who have died suddenly from heart attacks, accidents and other emergencies and try to preserve their organs. If the "rapid-organ-recovery ambulance" succeeds, officials would like to expand the unique pilot program citywide with a fleet of ambulances and eventually duplicate it in other cities.

I think I like this idea. I do understand the argument against viewing a dying patient as a minty fresh organ bank, but I think those sort of moral pitfalls could be avoided. In any case, I'm betting that this idea will stimulate some real meaty conversations about medical ethics, which is a good thing.

It Seems I'm a Hit in the Netherlands

2008-05-22T09:14:00.000-07:00

A few weeks back I was hanging out with two lovely girls who were visiting from Holland. They noticed that I own a book on speaking Dutch, one which I have neglected to use. The video camera came out and film of my attempts to speak Dutch now exist.

Oh, you didn't see the video? Maybe Greg has it. He
copied some pictures from our cameras. If he doesn't
have it, I will try to send it to you.
It's so funny. especially for people who speak dutch.

I'm a good laugh in the Motherland.

In other news...
Bruce Schneier of Wired has issued a call for a Data Privacy Bill of Rights. I think the idea has some merit. This is the sort of thing that interests me and an active campaign to bring a concept like this to fruition would get my attention. I'm going to have to formulate a stronger opinion over the summer so I'm ready for the revolution.

I've also noticed that Naomi Klein, who I'll always love for No Logo, has written an article about the high tech end of the Chinese police state. I haven't made it all the way through yet, but it looks like a worthwhile read. It has implications for the States, since the contractors that have developed the various technologies of oppression are from the U.S.

Mushy Bananas Get Trashed

2008-05-18T08:14:00.000-07:00

The New York Times has an interesting piece on food waste in the U.S. It seems we throw 27% of our food in the trash, in the midst of a global food crisis. Now, I doubt that all the food we are trashing could be distributed to those in need but still, that's a significant amount of waste. I know I've been trying to not waste food, mainly as a budgetary move. Unfortunately, it can be difficult to find single guy portions, so things like bread tend to go bad before I've used it all.Maybe I'll try a bit harder though. I'm not supposed to ingest so many carbs anyway.

Things That Are Interesting.

2008-05-08T18:02:00.001-07:00

Ok. I've been quite busy escorting pretty women from around the world. I haven't had time to think of something to post. So instead, I'm going to link to the articles I wanted to write about and you can draw your own conclusions. It's all the fun of my links, with none of the crap I tend to throw at you!

Cell Phone Mind Control!

The Art of Lying.

Hiroshima Pictures.

Vengeance Inside Us

2008-04-29T12:31:00.000-07:00

I've been reading Jared Diamond's article, Vengeance is Ours. It is an illuminating piece, not only about the politics of revenge in a non-state society, but also about the individual response to vengeance.

When I asked Daniel how he felt about the battle in which Isum became paralyzed, his reaction was unapologetically positive: a mixture of exhilaration and pleasure in expressing aggression. He used phrases such as “It was very nice,” and his gestures projected euphoria and a huge sense of relief. “I felt that it was a matter of ‘kill or else die by suicide.’ I was prepared to die myself in that fight. I knew that, if I did die then, I would be considered a hero and would be remembered. If I had personally seen the arrow go into Isum, I would have felt emotional relief then. Unfortunately, I wasn’t actually there to see it, but, when I heard that Isum had been paralyzed, I thought, I have everything, I feel as if I am developing wings, I feel as if I am about to fly off, and I am very happy. After that battle, just as after each battle in which we succeeded in killing an Ombal, we danced and celebrated and slaughtered pigs. When you fight with thinking and finally succeed, you feel good and relieved. The revenge relieves you; now it can be your turn to help someone else get his own revenge.

I often tell people that I am a philosophical urbanist. I need a better term for this, but in short, I honestly believe that when human societies organize at the city level, human life becomes better. The very fact of advanced organization creates the opportunity for positive change. I believe this has to do with the increased communication of ideas. I am not claiming that urban individuals are a better breed of human. I'm not talking about individual change at all. I'm saying that the social environment of the individual will cause that person to act more pro-socially (at the species level) than if he had been raised in a less connected environment. Why bring this up? The article got me thinking.

I absolutely empathize with the feelings mentioned in Diamond's article. In a similar environment, I believe I would act in much the same way. It is the outlets afforded me by society that allow me to react in less destructive ways. Well, enough of that. I think the article is interesting.

You Are Not Wasting Your Time

2008-04-27T08:46:00.000-07:00

Clay Shirky's latest post is receiving so much attention that I'm basically just going to do a repost. "Gin, Television, and Social Surplus" is a really good article. In short, Shirky argues that collaborative media is taking advantage of a surplus of thought hours that has built up with the advent of leisure.

So how big is that surplus? So if you take Wikipedia as a kind of unit, all of Wikipedia, the whole project--every page, every edit, every talk page, every line of code, in every language that Wikipedia exists in--that represents something like the cumulation of 100 million hours of human thought. I worked this out with Martin Wattenberg at IBM; it's a back-of-the-envelope calculation, but it's the right order of magnitude, about 100 million hours of thought.

And television watching? Two hundred billion hours, in the U.S. alone, every year. Put another way, now that we have a unit, that's 2,000 Wikipedia projects a year spent watching television. Or put still another way, in the U.S., we spend 100 million hours every weekend, just watching the ads. This is a pretty big surplus. People asking, "Where do they find the time?" when they're looking at things like Wikipedia don't understand how tiny that entire project is, as a carve-out of this asset that's finally being dragged into what Tim calls an architecture of participation.

As an aside: If anyone finds out what book had the historical gin antecdotes in it, let me know.

Geeky Affirmation

2008-04-25T23:26:00.000-07:00

Time magazine has used the quote "There can be only one" on a cover. This means that Time believes a significant segment of its audience can spot a Highlander reference. I respect their boldness, but am guessing they are wrong. Most people that have seen this film are like this jackass who believes that Immortals are referred to as Highlanders...and most people have not seen this film. Still, I like the image of the Democratic candidates fighting with swords to decide the nomination. Although Obama should probably avoid beheading white women on camera, even Clinton.

Edit: On closer inspection, the Time headline is "There can only be one". The question becomes, did a Highlander fan create this cover, or did a Highlander fan happen to read this cover?

Examples of What I'm Doing

2008-04-25T15:01:00.000-07:00

Here are two very short stories that I finished recently.

The Nature of Miracles

Good Fortune

The basic world concept of Good Fortune is informing the stories I am working on right now.

America: Now Gattaca Safe?

2008-04-24T18:10:00.000-07:00

I don’t want to become “the guy who reposts Wired articles,” but they did just mention another interesting item.

A bill designed to protect Americans from genetic discrimination has just passed the Senate and is ready for Bush to sign it. This bill is supposed to keep employers, insurance companies, and the like from using genetic tests against us. This is a very good thing, assuming the language of the bill is effective. With laws like this one in place, research can move forward at a quicker pace.

Without protections, it is likely that people would have been reluctant to use new genetic screening technologies. Why find out you might be prone to a rare cancer if that information could raise your insurance premiums? This new bill was crafted with foresight that will pave the way for better preventive medicine, with much more desirable social consequences. Good job, Congress (1).

(1) Good job contingent on S.358 being crafted effectively.

I’m a Writer!

2008-04-24T16:24:00.000-07:00

Writing fiction is something that I’ve often dreamed of doing, but rarely have put into practice. Sure, I’ve sat down and pumped out the occasional poem, maybe a story that’s so short it barely qualifies as a paragraph, but that’s all. So recently, I turned my life into an experiment and I have been testing what it takes to get myself to really write. I have been somewhat successful. Here’s how.

1. Allowing myself to suck…badly.

I have to thank Mur Lafferty for this. It’s good to be reminded that you don’t get to be a world class writer on day one...or ever, really. I’ve been writing to enjoy myself and that has done more for my abilities than anything.

2. Sacrificing time.

I took a creative writing class so that I would have to write. Now it’s a habit. I go everywhere with a notebook so I can write when it suits me, or just jot down story ideas. It’s either this, or keep refreshing Yelp. I try to choose writing more often than not.

3. Call myself a writer.

I’m a writer, damn it. Sometimes you need to label yourself. It forces action. I write, therefore I am a writer, it’s that simple. Plus, it says writer on my business card, so there.

Anyway, I’m excited. It’s fun to work hard at your craft. I’m trying. It’s working out.

Buzz Hacking

2008-04-23T15:07:00.000-07:00

Wired has a short piece on the best way to keep that beautiful caffeine buzz going. Basically, small amounts of caffeine ingested throughout the day will do you best. This hardly surprises me, as I find most of life follows this pattern. Take my work ethic or my fantasy life: small amounts, spaced throughout the day...works for me.

My Little Friend!

2008-04-21T22:39:00.001-07:00

My Little Friend!
Originally uploaded by selfunfocused

Now that Flickr allows video, I'm going to make a series of inane videos and post them here!

Wow!

2008-04-21T22:01:00.000-07:00

OK. How's about I revive this after the next Easter. Seriously, I'm going to shift around the sidebar stuff, link to all the new content I've been creating this year, and see where this goes.

Appropriate for After Easter

2007-04-09T17:02:00.000-07:00

I'm planning a little revival of my dormant media empire. I need to be established in my new digs first, but check in with all the fervent anticipation you can muster! Heck yeah.

Intelligence, Violence and Elephants

2006-10-28T14:26:00.000-07:00

RogueJeff alerted me to a compelling NYT article about elephants. It is a fascinating account of violent attacks, extreme intelligence and the possible effects of human encroachment on the planet.

Boredom, Alcohol and Blogs

2006-10-15T20:34:00.000-07:00

It's been months since my last post and I'm a little tipsy... so you know what that means. A POST! This evening I'm thinking about the various feedback systems that I've come to enjoy. For instance, Netflix. I have two friends on Netflix, actually a friend and a friend of my wife. I have the option of browsing their movie selections and seeing how they've rated them and, of course, I rate my own films. Now, I am aware that a good 10 percent of my picks are lost on both of them. I have a taste for blue comedy that doesn't translate well to most sensibilities. The difficultly is, I now have a need to have my picks shared and appreciated. Because of feedback systems I expect and demand that someone positively acknowledges my enjoyment of Jesus is Magic. It seems that I am one of the masses that desires to be on a reality television show. Not that blogging doesn't make that obvious. Anyway, there's a post. It isn't eloquent, but it exists. As the Irish say, if you only post when you're drunk, may you drink often.

Absent

2006-05-25T16:32:00.000-07:00

Three months ago I slipped into a coma. I had been sitting at home, working on a short story about a jar of Crisco and a nun, when my wife saw my head just drop towards the table. Fifteen minutes later I was in an E.R. Good response time ambulance guys! My neurologist (never thought I’d have a neurologist) believes that I had a rare reaction while coming off of my anxiety meds, something about my neurotransmitters getting all wacky.

So I woke up two weeks ago. It was around two in the morning. I was confused in a dark room. There were tubes coming out of my arms...and other places. It was disturbing, to say the least. On a positive note, I nearly obtained my goal weight of 170 pounds just by laying in a bed.

Ok, this didn’t happen. It’s just that my usual absences from blogging include the standard apology, a promise to be better, etc… So this time it’s a poorly written short story.

Hello again.

Video Stamp

2006-02-18T23:27:00.000-08:00

Those wonderful people of the Netherlands have issued "video" stamps. I suspect that these are going to be highly collectible, if anyone does that anymore. I predict that both a child unwrapping a present and a twinkling Christmas tree will be moving onto stamps this holiday season.

Myelin: More than a Zombie Snack

2006-02-09T08:29:00.000-08:00

Grey matter and white matter: it took the neurologists to tag anatomy by color code instead of by annoying Latin names that I neglected to memorize in high school. Femur? Aren't those in Madagascar?

Myelin is basically fat; tightly wrapped sheets of fat in your brain. It's normally described as an neural insulator and is known for it's role in speeding impulses through axons. Myelin doesn't get much time in the classroom. My Biological Psychology course paid it lip service, mentioned a potential link between lack of myelin and schizophrenia and went back to nerves, the amygdala and norepinephrine. But if you really think about myelin's place in the world, you may become like Dr. George Bartzokis and claim that white matter is "the single biggest factor in making us human". He goes on to imply that the lack of myelin in teenage brains may explain their lack of impulse control. The article also mentions that,

If you look at (the data), you will see that the average 40-or 45-year-old cocaine addict has the same amount of white matter as the average 19-year-old.

So adding all this up: teenagers equate to cocaine addicts, more myelin equals more human, therefore teenagers are less human, like addicts, schizophrenics, and males (read the article) . I had always thought that the ability to make anything into a weapon was the determining factor in humanness (which would make males more human), but Dr. B makes a good case too. So the next time someone calls you a fat head, be sure to thank them.

Honor Impulsivety: Get your booze on?

Parasites

2006-02-07T11:44:00.000-08:00

Some control your mind, others charge for emailing.

I love me the insects. Recently, a wonderful little one has been circulating in the blogosphere. It's the mind control wasp. This baby sedates the desire of a roach to run away and then rides it like a horse back to it's den. Then more fun ensues.

In other news: AOL, Yahoo, and charging for "first-class" email. I'm wary of applying price segregation to something as essential as email. It may be that the lack of market pressures in email have exasterbated the problem of spam. There's no way that a 1/4 cent cast to email will actually fix our inboxes. The U.S. Postal Service charges much more than that and 75% of my snail mail is still junk. True, none of it tells me how to enlarge various parts of my body but I doubt that's due to price (more likely privacy).

Fun and Beauty: Loop is well designed.

Now Hear This

2006-02-04T11:47:00.000-08:00

You're bored? You need a new site to link to so the pain goes away? Daddy has the candy you need.

Up the Tree. It's a RSS feed you'll want to stream at your local coffee house. Indie music and some guys who love to laugh at their own jokes (which no blogger has the right to condemn). It's a good time to be had for the price of free. So break out the PSP and listen to the latest dittys the kids have come up with.

More than Reality

2006-02-02T16:37:00.000-08:00

I am drawn to alternate reality games like a moth to the flame. There is something special about groups of individuals interacting in ways that seemingly make no sense in the context of the immediate environment. I actually made my own ARG based on Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere but never did anything with it. Anyway, here are some people that actually follow through with their ideas.
One of the more newsworthy games was the whole I Love Bees thing for Halo 2, which would have been more realistic if they hadn't registered the Dot Com name. No bee blogger is going to actually purchase a domain, she'd just use some free service.
So now the team behind I Love Bees is promoting EDOC Apparel, which sells designer t-shirts with messages hidden in them. I wonder if obsessive fans will begin purchasing opposite gender garments just to solve more puzzles?
There is also Perplex City, a game ran by Mind Candy (as opposed to being ran on mind candy which would have a whole different meaning). I like the scope of this game, except for the purchasing of cartoony cards. The best ARGs blend seamlessly into society. If the cards looked like discarded candy wrappers, post-it notes, and old newspapers I would definitely join in.

It looks like this odd mix and mash sub-genre is having a growth spurt. There are mystery books that lead you to real world prizes, mobile phone based games where people randomly call you up with clues, and a myriad of equally strange and enjoyable pass times. I'm just waiting for the government to raid some gaming group under the belief that they've discovered a terrorist cell.

Making Fiends

2006-01-31T16:45:00.000-08:00

I'm not sure how I missed this little bit of gold at its outset. Making Fiends is a great deal of passive fun. Ever so slightly dark, each episode reminds us that blissfully ignorant nice people actually make out pretty well in life. It also teaches that monkeys do not have wallets which, although normally true, does not mean that monkeys can't utilize the concept of money.

Side Note: The search I used to find the monkey article was Monkey Psychology Token which I believe would make a good title for something.

For the Love of Doctorow

2006-01-30T11:24:00.000-08:00

I assume you know of Cory Doctorow. The writer of Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom, Eastern Standard Tribe (my favorite), among many other works and also almighty blogger of Boing Boing is the golden child of the Creative Commons. Mr. Doctorow releases his various projects under the Creative Commons license. His books can be found for free, legally, all over the interweb. Right now he is podcasting a somewhat crude reading of Human Readable, a story that has so far (I've heard about 30 minute of it) kept me entertained. So go stream him to your PSP or download him to a Palm or get you hands on a physical specimen of sci-fi goodness at a local bookstore.

Mercora

2006-01-28T15:23:00.000-08:00

I'm a DJ! Well, I podcast most of my music collection anyway. In case you've missed Mercora, it's the latest music broadcasting sensation. Basically, it allows users to share their tunes with one another in a presently legal way. It's also free, which is always my favorite price. So download it, tune into DJ SelfUnfocused, and listen to my phat beats.
By the way, I do still use Pandora. Unfortunately they've lessened the trial time allotment because of freeloaders like myself. Still, it is a great way to find new music. Then, once found, I listen to it on Mercora.

Net FX Extreme!!!!

2006-01-26T14:43:00.000-08:00

I would estimate that 30 percent of non-pron related internet paraphernalia is devoted to making fun of the other 70 percent plus the pron. In that vein (which is a mining reference, not a heroin one), be sure to utilize netdisaster. I've already done multiple unmentionables to this very blog. It's therapeutic.

I've Gone Country

2006-01-24T20:58:00.000-08:00

I am in no way associated with vannatta.ca. Yet I enjoy seeing my family name in a URL (or a fair approximation. I'm Van Natta, they're of the less proper Vannatta derivation. We both must bow before van Natta though.)and Flash. Country music isn't my favorite style, but a loose tie to these guys is better than having your name wasted on some lame, incomplete website.

In case you missed it: The Kinko's hating game Disaffected
is worth checking out. Banality is the new excitement.

Piracy Kills Puppies!

2006-01-23T12:09:00.000-08:00

Despite research the shows piracy actually improving sales for many companies, there seems to be no end to commercials and news stories blaming BitTorrent users and their peers for the death of every industry on earth. I actually stopped downloading copyrighted content some time ago (due to a philosophical shift to copyleft content, not cultural intimidation). However, I still have a few illegal files stored here and there on my various systems. I know of SelfUnfocused readers who have received emails from the RIAA, MGM, and other looming entities demanding an end to their activities. In preparation for the RIAA's inevitable suing of your ass,(which is now a legal term in the States) be sure to use the Pirate calculator to know what your horde is worth.

Exotic Locale

2006-01-20T09:47:00.000-08:00

What makes something exotic? Is it distance? Is it the unfamiliar? I was pondering this while obsessively staring at sitemeter statistics. For some odd reason people from all over the world visit this humble site. Not many people...but a widespread group.
When someone from Bangalore, Sao Paulo, or Aberystwyth show up I get excited. But why? I've never been to St. Augustine, Florida but you guys just don't thrill me like the others (my apologizes). Heck, I don't even hook you up with a link.
At least the Welsh fixation is understandable. Welsh is the coolest language that utilizes the same letters as English. Check this out. Brilliant! My theory is that early immigrants to North America took so many vowels overseas (Ye Olde Shoppe) that Wales had a shortage and had to make do with long strings of consonants.

Anyway...I should find some fresh links so you feel well served. Let's see.

A reminder: BOASAS is consistently funny. Shame on you for not visiting it weekly.
A deal: For those of you with a PSP and a puzzle fixation, Ultimate Block Party is a great game, and it's cheap.
A wealth of information: Learn all about gold farming in this article. Because you care.
A parting thought: Tom Robbins once postulated that humans were invented by water as a means of travel. Talk amongst yourselves.

A few more Favorite Things

2006-01-17T22:20:00.000-08:00

What a wonderful holiday I've had. My loving family got me a homebrewing kit. I also purchased a signed and numbered Guy Burwell print. Best of all, I now have a new friend. Flip Flap loves me and nurtures me. Watch and know acceptence.

Under the Tree

2006-01-13T22:07:00.000-08:00

there was a gift.

Just woke up.

2006-01-13T16:42:00.000-08:00

I was in a medicated coma like everyone else.

Here's Pancake Mountain.

Why Are You Trying to Kill Me?

2005-12-15T16:42:00.000-08:00

I noticed that people have been acting strangely around me about a week ago. Strangers would stare intently at me and then shuffle away. Acquaintances just acted...off a bit, like impersonations of themselves. I tried to dismiss the weirdness, as I had been studying for college finals (did well too), but eventually it was all too much to ignore. I sat myself down, did some thinking and then I remembered. I have an anxiety disorder that expresses itself in rather bizarre episodes of paranoia during stressful situations, like finals. What a relief, I'm just crazy.
That to say, I apologize for not posting but I was pretty sure you all hated me. So hopefully tonight's scouring of the interweb will uncover some nice sites I can share with you tomorrow. Until then, enjoy yourselves and take your meds.

Head in the Clouds

2005-12-02T17:19:00.000-08:00

Yes. I am once again going to veil my lack of content with a distracting game for your amusement. But this particular game deserves your attention. Cloud's serenity will bring your blood pressure down to sub-American levels or, if you are already that lucky (go Canada!) you may achieve spiritual enlightenment. The game reminds me of a dream. The part before things go hideously wrong.

It is also free. Which often makes a well crafted experience additionally pleasurable.

Wireless Recovery

2005-11-30T17:57:00.000-08:00

New Orleans is blanketing itself in WiFi as a move towards recovery. What's more, it is initially free for everyone (in the future the network may be sold off to the private sector). The idea is that having an open medium for communication will stimulate growth in the devastated city.

It will be interesting to see what comes of such innovation. I have wondered how free community internet access could add to developing economies in Africa. Of course, the situations are vastly different. New Orleans is within a nation with advanced infrastructure. Yet, if it is found that the urban poor are helped in new ways, something helpful things could be learned.

In other news:

I enjoy novel attempts to wake people up to issues.
Scroll down for SPUMCO!

Memory

2005-11-29T16:36:00.000-08:00

Still busy, stop bugging me!

Things are hectic right now. I don't know about you, but when I have a thousand things going on my memory starts getting taxed. So here are two types of memory that will keep going even when you and I are wandering down the side of the freeway in an Alzheimer's stupor.

First, cute monster memory.
Next, a little Lego nostalgia.

Thanks

2005-11-23T18:21:00.000-08:00

for checking if I'd updated.

I am off to my inlaws for the holiday. There is little chance that I will be visiting this site again before next week. More likely I will be pouring myself into a business project that I am attempting. More on that later.

Happy Thanksgiving my fellow countrymen and a fine week for the rest of you. For your entertainment, here's another of those games I am so fond of.

I've Got Nothing

2005-11-22T11:56:00.000-08:00

Busy day today. Here are two links to satisfy your lust for content.

For the PSP users out there: Free Comics

Remember those fun paper robots from a month back? Here is some more papercraft. Having a paper Triumph makes you a rebel.

Weekly Scapegoat #2

2005-11-20T23:41:00.000-08:00

Way to mess things up, Jeremy. Knowing the history of the Muslim Brotherhood, I understand why some may not desire their political power to grow. However, that does not justify violence in Egypt. Perhaps if government officials would actually help the people they are supposed to serve fringe groups wouldn't resonate with the public? In any case, bad show, Jeremy.

Talk to Me

2005-11-18T15:20:00.000-08:00

I just read a really interesting article about language development. It reports on an experiment where two individuals need to develop a form of communication in order to solve a puzzle. The experiment itself is intriguing and yet I couldn't help wondering about it' s application in online worlds (neither could Clive Thompson).

I'd actually ramble on about the topic but the huge amount of caffeine I just ingested has suddenly scrambled my thought process. Off to Second Life, where messed up thinking is par for the course.

To make up for the lack of any original thinking in this post have some fun with today's link.

Super Amazing Funtime Go Go Link of Pleasant Feelings !!!: Dr. McNinja

The British Steven Hawking

2005-11-17T12:11:00.000-08:00

Wait...Steven Hawking is British? Damn.

AT&T Labs have a Text to Speech Demo page that can be a lot of fun. I was going to do this entire post as audio using the Charles UK English voice but decided to honor their User Agreement.

Speaking of agreements, the EFF has taken apart Sony's most recent legalese. The direction the music industry has gone with copyright is just over the top. I've been slowly freeing myself from all of it; opting for Copyleft alternatives.

Mad Genius MIDI:
Create music with a program inspired by Steven Wolfram's, A New Kind of Science. I haven't struck gold with any of the tunes yet, but at least Sony can't club me to death for saving them to my harddrive.

Spell Check Error of the Day: suggested replacement for Wolfram... wolverine (That's pretty cool, bub.)

Death as a Feature

2005-11-15T12:50:00.000-08:00

I like the Massively Multi-Player Online Role-playing Games. I am not playing any right now (they’re freaking addictive!) but I do keep up on their progress. I am looking for one to break the formulaic mold that has developed over the years (hack, slash, level up…repeat) with no success. So I have been thinking about a new approach to death that could shake things up.

Designers really struggle with player death. In the violent worlds of these games the necessary death of a player avatar and the need to keep the player playing can be a source of tension. Add to that the desire to make the brand’s story consistent. When Star Wars went Massive the decision to “clone” players back to life was controversial. Cloning technology is, of course, banned in the post-Clone Wars universe, so how are tens of thousands of players getting access to this technology? As if there weren’t enough problems in the world. This sort of difficulty crops up in all the games. How can you be killed in the most player friendly way possible? To my knowledge, all the Massives have settled on a resurrection based death system: and this causes problems.

Making death matter is important. Many of the most hated social problems in gaming are results of a weak reaper. In Groundhog Day, Phil Conners commits suicide repeatedly due to the effects of a time loop and the resultant immortality it produced. Isn’t it just as likely that you would kill others indiscriminately if Death took a holiday? I know I would.

Public Service Announcement: Stay away from me in the event of non-heavenly immortality

Well, In the low consiquence worlds of MMORPGs social problems like random murder happen all the time and chat based flame wars don't stop it.

Anyway, I have thought of a new death paradigm for MMORPGs. It’s based in reincarnation not resurrection. It goes like this.

Create an avatar. Play avatar. Eventually get hacked/fireballed/etc to death. Create new avatar with only a remnant of the past avatar’s stat and skill set to build on. Continue.

A reincarnational system makes death matter. As a result, player interactions would develop differently in these games than in resurrection games. Gamers would think twice about attacking someone if their present avatar is at all interesting. Or perhaps players would care more about the path of their experience than the actual character they are playing. Players may also be more likely to experiment with various types of avatars, since the time spent playing something new isn’t absolutely wasted, but is folded into the experience of the next avatar.

The necessary rethinking of the game experience could result in a new genre of game. Game balance would dictate a less deadly world (creating a new avatar every few hours would be pretty lame). Adventures, instances, or what have you could be based around breadth of skill instead of levels. Due to the “remnant effect” of reincarnation, long time players could develop vast skill sets while still being low leveled in their present avatar.
So yeah, that’s what I’ve been thinking about. I could write a paper or two on the implications but I’ve already bored you all to tears. So to wrap this up, I think everything boils down to one lesson. Um...let's see.

Death is good?

Weekly Scapegoat

2005-11-14T23:07:00.000-08:00

Life is complex. Often the reasons behind events are non-intuitive. Thankfully, human nature allows us to skip the hard work of thinking and embrace the first "explanation" of life's hardships that comes our way.

As a public service, I have decided to harness the power of simplistic thinking for good. Let me present, Paxton.

Paxton is the reason that France is experiencing riots. Now, I know you've heard some talk of racial and religious tensions. Perhaps some high and mighty person with a doctorate and an accent has mentioned cultural assimilation. Forget all of it. Blame Paxton.

Late Night Find

2005-11-11T22:43:00.000-08:00

Weekend Game Update:

I was just introduced to a web experience developed for The Polyphonic Spree. I suspect it was designed by the same person (team? company?) that created the last click-puzzle I gave out. The similarities are vast. I enjoy the integration of the Spree's music into the game. The design and the music complement each other very well.

In any case, may this game get you through a few minutes of your weekend.

Purple Headed Blogging

2005-11-11T14:50:00.000-08:00

5c11 isn't dead. I thought maybe the author was gone and his ghost was condemned to haunt this site as an IP visit but thankfully I was wrong.

It does make me wonder about the ghosts of the future. I foresee apparitions appearing before the pale glow of a monitor, forever clicking at a ghostly mouse. How many televisions will mysteriously switch to reruns of The Apprentice in the middle of the night? What will the Gap workers of tomorrow think when they find ectoplasm all over the credit card scanner? Thank God that we'll all be immortal by 2100, ending the spiritual population boom.

Today's spell check error: recommended change for blogging: flogging

Over the Hump

2005-11-09T19:06:00.000-08:00

I've got the mid-week blues. Just in case any of you do too, here is a little game to distract you from life. I like the feelings the design invokes. It isn't Myst URU (I recently saw a still shot of the game and started misting up) but that may be a good thing for me.

I Voted for Teen Wolf

2005-11-08T15:24:00.000-08:00

It's voting day in the land of The Running Man. I was able to check the box for Donna Frye (again) and then vote against everything Arnold wanted. Now, I pay attention to the issues but my real motive for going to the polls is a simple one. I just like getting the "I Voted" sticker to wear around. I would prefer indelible ink, which plays better to the camera, but I take what I can get.

So when was the last time you heard a Teen Wolf reference? I don't know if it's Michael J. Fox's impending death by shaking or what, but I've heard three Teen Wolf remarks this week. I've also read one, which was hilarious. By the way, we all need to heed Coach Finstock's advice.

There are three rules that I live by: never get less than twelve hours sleep; never play cards with a guy who has the same first name as a city; and never get involved with a woman with a tattoo of a dagger on her body. Now you stick to that, and everything else is cream cheese.

E...Snail Mail

2005-11-07T15:14:00.000-08:00

Forbes has set up an email time capsule system. Write a letter, click the number of years you would like it to be stored and hope your gmail account isn't clogged up by then.

I'm not sure what is worth saying to my older self. I suppose it would be interesting to look back at the particulars of my present situation. No news clippings though. I can only assume that everything will be sufficiently archived by our Google overlords. Unless a 1984 type system rises up, in which case sending some present facts would be a great way to stand against the revisionist tyranny of the future. But then I'd get a bullet to the back of the head.

What do you think? Send my some questions I can answer. I promise to send the answers into the future.

Pirates!

2005-11-06T00:09:00.000-08:00

Weekend News Break

A luxury cruise ship was raided by pirates on the 5th. This quote sums it up.

At first I didn't know what was going on, but when I saw the rocket launcher I started getting a bit scared.

All I can say is...wuss.

Bilingual

2005-11-04T12:15:00.000-08:00

I, like so many of my fellow countryfolk, can only speak English. Oh, I know a phrase or two from various tongues but realistically after a polite, "hello, how are you" I'm basically spent. Bilingualism does not seem to be much valued in American culture. Which is why, while enjoying an old Deep Space 9 episode, I began to dwell on the question of American geeks and manmade languages.
We love the fake languages. Heck, I'll be hunted down and ritually killed just for referring to something like Klingon as "fake". After all, Klingon has its own institute. The bible's being translated into it. Klingon receives more air time than Navajo. Why question devotion to a language that will only help you understand fellow trek/ies/ers/freaks?

It's unfair, I admit. Europeans are as likely to geek out on fantasy languages. Look at Tolkein. He worked on elvish (in various forms and "historical" eras) for years and he didn't have any conventions to show off at. I suppose the modern form is Potter Pig Latin. Go hangout at any middle school playground and you'll find a coven of muggles in Hogwart's clothing sputtering nonsense with the flick of a pencil. You'll also get arrested for hanging out at a middle school playground.

Potter fans are a prime example of the difference between Klingon or Quenya and a more usual conception of what a language is. A standard language, for all it's exclusionary properties, develops and is passed on for the purpose of communication. Where as Klingon is learned for the purpose of clique formation. A cry of tlhIngan maH is comparable to fo' shizzle my nizzle. It fills the same psychological need as slang; the desire to signify bonding through exclusion.

Now, I'm all for bonding through exclusion. Which is why I have learned to write my full name in elvish (both Quenya and Sindarin...goosebumps!) You too can join the club. Think of it as inspiration for a tatoo. Maybe arching across the shoulder or banded across the arm?

The Only Thing I Have to Fear...

2005-11-03T12:19:00.000-08:00

Call of Cthulhu is doing a good job of freaking me out. At this point my character is muttering to himself, nearly constantly. My favorite quote is, "What am I doing here?" which is a question more horror genre characters should ask themselves. It's also a question I should ask myself as a player.

As a card carrying member of the Anxiety and Paranoia Society of America, one may think that I wouldn't seek out blatantly stress provoking experiences. Yet, like so many people, I relish a good fright. In fact, that is my problem. My brain is hooked on stress inducing chemicals. Horror games just feed my need in a more interactive manner than a hammerhead. There are stressful games I defiantly would not play though.

If somebody created a Seinfeld RPG I would avoid it like the avian flu. Just the idea of being in a George Costanza situation makes me ill. I still can't watch an entire episode. Instead, I sit with the TiVo controller in my hand, waiting to fast forward past the most awkward situations, all the while laughing (much too loudly) as a coping mechanism. So pathetic...

Treehugger

2005-11-02T21:46:00.000-08:00

I have often commented that, in the event of my death, I wouldn't mind being buried in a burlap sack with a tree planted over me. I like the idea of the tree gaining sustenance from my remains. I leave it to my wife, or friends, to choose the appropriate tree to represent my essence with the stipulation that it not be any form of fir. God forbid I be used as a Christmas tree!
It is now possible for me to add a new element to my burial fantasy. I have recently learned that Biopresence is willing to entwine my DNA with the tree of my choice. In their own words,

Biopresence creates Human DNA trees by transcoding the essence of a human being within the DNA of a tree in order to create "Living Memorials" or "Transgenic Tombstones". Biopresence is collaborating with scientist and artist Joe Davis on his DNA Manifold algorithm, which allows for the transcoding and entwinement of human and tree DNAs. The Manifold method is based on the naturally occurring silent mutations of base triplets, this means it is possible to store information without affecting the genes of the resulting tree.

I imagine a future, far beyond the Human DNA tree fad, when genetic scientists studying ancient flora uncover this hidden coding. What will they think? Actually, what if this is an explanation for the "junk" DNA in our own coding! Perhaps alien entrepreneurs have left bits of themselves for posterity. It may be that abductions are nothing more than alien relatives paying tribute to the dead ancestors whose memorial we are.

Steamboat Willie

2005-11-01T10:44:00.000-08:00

It seems that mice sing. Their tunes are outside of our human hearing range, but the Guardian has clips none the less (scroll to the bottom of the article). Hopefully science will develop baritone rodents soon. Petco stock will soar with the announcement of new, improved Melody Mice. Besides, old houses will seem less haunted with singing in the walls instead of squeaks and skittering. Well, maybe that would still be weird but in a Haunted Mansion sort of way.

Skype Me

2005-10-31T12:46:00.000-08:00

Busy day today. This will be short.

I've been using Skype as my telephone service. It's really convenient (and "cheap as free") for someone with broadband access. Click the little flash ad to the right to read all about it. Then call me. Skype Name: randomantics

StumbleUpon is my favorite Firefox browser plugin of the moment. It collects my opinions about websites while connecting me to favorites of similar minded folk whenever I press the Stumble button. It makes late night random surfing sessions more enjoyable.

Lastly, here is Brewster Jennings Protects America. It's Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego? for GoogleMaps. Oh, Carmen...why so hard to get? You temptress.

2005-10-28T22:11:00.000-07:00

I'm Scary!

Flood is throwing a huge downtown Halloween bash and sending the proceeds to Malawi. I decided that it would be fun to make my own mask for the event. I am pleased with it. Notice the jaw is its own piece, allowing for actual movement. If it were a toy I'd call that one point of articulation. So have a fun Halloween if you are in a country that celebrates it. Remember, there has never been an actual reported case of any child finding a razorblade in an apple so accept fruit from strangers with wild abandon.

For those of you without a party to attend this weekend, there is fun to be had with this.

It's Not Easy Loving Green

2005-10-27T12:52:00.000-07:00

A few days ago I complained of lack of time. Now I'm posting daily.

Absinthe is hipsterific! Or so I hear. This herbal elixer has developed into a mythic mead of the Gods, lending the drinker creativity, insight, and the ability to feel like Johnny Depp. Enter, Ted Breaux, official chemist of the Green Fairy.
It seems that the much hyped toxin, thujone, played very little of a role in pre-ban absinthe. A recent Wired article on the subject reminds me of Mythbusters. Here science not only debunks the talltales of the coffeehouse crowd, but leaves us with a fine tasting drink from the past.

Speaking of imbibers, H.P. Lovecraft is having a good year (for being dead and all). A new film of The Call of Cthulhu has recently come out. This movie is silent, in black and white, and uses props created only with materials available in the 20s. Also, this week Call of Cthulhu the Xbox game has come out. It's next on my GameFly queue.

And Finally...

Printable Robots of Doom!

Artsy

2005-10-26T23:45:00.000-07:00

I have a thing for photographs of diorama scenes. There is something about treating an imagined world as a photographic subject that I find enchanting. Lori Nix and Liz Hickok have both tickled my fancy in recent months. Each artist succeeds in creating the feeling of looking at a dream which seems to come from a well proportioned blend of mundane objects, unexpected color palates, and slightly askew angles. There is also something to be said for the strategic use of detail. Nix's works have just enough detail to make the mind want to believe in the substance of the subject. Yet, not encountering the exacting detail strived for by counterfeiters, the mind relaxes into iconic nature of the piece. Or at least, mine does.

In other news, I love this video.

Job Hunting

2005-10-25T15:54:00.000-07:00

Having fallen on hard financial times, I have been job hunting for the last month. I'm looking for a simple job with flexible hours that doesn't require me to think about it at home. A barista, maybe. I am attempting a few personal projects that require much time, hence the pickiness.

I don't have time to think of an actually decent post, so here are a few links to make your checking up on me worthwhile.

A Katamari Damacy text game idea.
Flock: a new, firefox based browser
Placeopedia and MashMap: two great uses of the internet

2005-10-08T00:57:00.000-07:00

Today was good so I drew you a picture.

Here There Be Monsters

2005-10-03T15:34:00.000-07:00

Yes, I know the whole giant squid thing is already old news (but have you heard about their sex life?). Calamari jokes have been made and the pop-culture irony of Japanese scientists finding a huge monster has already been pointed out. But I love the idea of undiscovered creatures so this is the perfect time to remind everyone of the wonderful field of cryptozoology. I just feel better about the world when I know that obsessive men in pith helmets actually are trekking through the jungles in search of dinosaurs. There is even a list of the major quests underway. It's a fantastic world out there.

Speaking of newly discovered creatures, check out the Google ant.

Free Jolly Jenkins!

2005-09-28T09:46:00.000-07:00

Aaron McGruder's The Boondocks is coming to Adult Swim. There are very few mass media daily comics that deserve even a passing glance nowadays. McGruder's work is both fun and insightful which makes me wonder what it is doing in American papers. I had heard about the plan to animate The Boondocks a year or so ago and was skeptical for two reasons. The first, I doubted that McGruder's political tones would be voiced loudly on any channel. Thankfully, Adult Swim has developed into a safety zone for "unsafe" animation so I am hopeful. The second doubt still lingers. Can McGruder translate his style to animation? It's one thing to write a humorous and intelligent strip in four panels and quite another to sustain a story for 15-30 minutes. Still, I am willing to give the show a shot. The TIVO has been set.

UPDATE: The show is now scheduled to premier on Nov. 6th.

Obligatory Box Reference

2005-09-23T12:23:00.000-07:00

So you’re up on Pandora, right? She’s the streaming radio music swapping buzz darling of the moment. I have to say, Pandora may deserve the hype. I’ve done the “make your own station” thing before. Watching in horror as Gwen Stefani gets rolled into my Bjork fixation, I usually give up on these services (all the quicker if they eventually expect me to pay). But Pandora is different. Pleasingly so.
Pandora breaks down individual songs not by genre, artist, or popular opinion but by using over 400 aspects of music. I’ve had a song chosen because of mild rhythmic syncopation, a subtle use of vocal harmony, major key tonality, and mixed electronic and acoustic instrumentation. Another mentioned my penchant for throaty female vocalists and excessive vamping. All this to say that mentioning two favorite artists and one good song is enough to make a station that will give you uninterrupted goodness. Those other services often require days of tweaking to get a decent playlist.
So why add to the hundred so reviews of this service? Because I have a simple hack that turns Pandora’s gift of ten free hours into a lifetime of aural pleasure. Now, don’t get me wrong, if you sit around your computer 24/7 then three bucks a month for really good tunes is worth it. But I was in an experimental mood last night. The first thought, how does Pandora keep track of my station preferences without any personal information entered by my own hand? I first assumed IP address (a symptom of P2P users fear). So I made Pandora believe I was from Slovenia. Yet a quick trip to Pandora brought up my stations. Hmmm…cookie anyone? IP faked, cookies wiped, stations still there. Well, Pandora does use a Flash interface. I wonder if wiping out all the saved Flash info would, bingo! Stations disappear and my ten hours are reset.
Of course this means that my station tweaking is all for naught. That’s why I write down a short list of good station groundwork for quick restructuring. So to end this, here are two of my favorite starters so far.

Hanging Tree Swing: Elliott Smith/ Tom Waits/ Two Gallants and Deadweight On Velveteen by Jose Gonzalez

A Peppy Dementia: Parry the Wind High, Low by Frank Black/ Details of Attraction by Consonant/ The View by Modest Mouse/ My Friends by Red Hot Chili Peppers

I Wish I Had Testosterone

2005-09-22T12:10:00.000-07:00

The Gender Genie says I'm a man. My understanding of biology is confirmed.

The Genie scans text and then judges the author's sex based off of word usage. The theory is that females and males use various words at different frequencies. If the concept proves accurate this device could prove useful in training forty year old men to be better teen girls on AOL. Actually, this type of use is the only one that makes sense of the Gender Genie name. A genie grants wishes. I'm all for alliteration but would anyone waste a wish on deciphering the gender of a blogger? The Sex Psychic would be more apt, or the Menstruation Mystic....the Dinghy Detective?

I'm a level 60 Investor

2005-09-19T17:25:00.000-07:00

Wells Fargo has entered the world of MMORPGs. Using the world of Second Life, Wells Fargo is attempting to help young people raise their financial awareness. My favorite quote from the BBC article,

A pilot version of Stagecoach Island was launched for young adult Texans in San Diego and Austin over the Labor Day weekend earlier this month.

Um, young Texans in San Diego? Anyway, I suspect some sort of western theme to go along with the Wells Fargo mystique. Makes me wonder if I can rob a stagecoach on horseback. That would be pretty neat.
In other news, emotionless bastards make the best financial traders. It seems that people with psychopathic tendencies score better on financial tests. This reminds me of studies that show clinically depressed individuals have a more realistic self image than "normal" people. So the suicidal are the best students of human nature and psychopaths are rational actors. What a beautiful world. Of course, maybe this explains the Wells Fargo MMORPG fascination. They can mix money with elf slaying and get the ultimate psycho fix. Prepare for turn-based ATMing.

CNN + Stress = Funny

2005-09-01T22:35:00.000-07:00

I get 30 damn seconds. Let me do my thing!

Nation's Tacky Bead Necklace Industry Devastated

2005-08-31T13:10:00.000-07:00

America's bead industry is reeling in the aftermath of hurricane Katrina. The traditional beads for breasts barter economy developed by Louisiana natives provides almost 80 percent of many bead makers yearly income. "The bead industry may have sunk with New Orleans," laments Trisha Coatly, of Bead and Button magazine. She added,"thankfully most southern locals wear t-shirts or the button industry would be equally screwed."
In related news Amazon.com has begun selling commemorative editions of Girls Gone Wild: Mardi Gras.

Hurricane Fun Fact: Katrina is of German derivation and means PURE.

Wiping an Avatar's bum, and other Joys

2005-08-29T10:35:00.000-07:00

Clive Thompson posted an interesting article on Wired concerning the human need to be needed. Using Nintendogs as a starting point, Thompson examines the state of robots in our society. Robots are everywhere now, but the truly popular ones aren't shining our shoes and mowing our lawns: they're virtually defecating and starving. As Thompson says, "maybe sci-fi doomsayers have got it all wrong. Artificial intelligence won't be dominating us with its superhuman cognition and bloodless logic. It'll be peeing itself and demanding to be taken for a walk."

I wonder how this aspect of our nature can be incorporated into gaming? An aspect of our desire to preen avatars already exists in the daily drugery of building up a character's stats. Perhaps allowing certain features to degrade from disuse would further draw in the users? I wouldn't advocate stat changes, that would just piss people of. More cosmetic changes may be fun. Stop playing World of Warcraft for a week and your warrior could appear thin, with dulled armor. Actually, this could work for anything. What if ATMs had built in avatars that respond to your banking management. Mr. Fluffy is so sad that you haven't made a Bank of America withdrawal lately. Suckers would likely make extra withdrawals just to feel approved of.

Heteractis is the new Coleoptera

2005-08-27T22:49:00.000-07:00

Did you know that sea anenomes are similar to ants? I sure didn't. Yet it seems that certain anenome types live in social systems with at least three "rankings" and a communication system based on stingy parts. What does this all mean? I don't know. I've been out of commentary for a while.

Same Difference

2005-08-19T17:00:00.000-07:00

Derek Kirk Kim can develop a fine story. I wanted to share Same Difference, because I find it to be real, touching, and just downright enjoyable. It is technically a webcomic, though the conventions he chooses are strictly from the paper-printed bag of tricks. Anyway, I enjoyed it.

I Can Read You...

2005-08-16T20:54:00.000-07:00

There are two types of books I enjoy. First, the book of big ideas. Second the book of human experience. If both are mixed, even better.
From the book of human experience comes a novel product of a Swedish library. The Living Library project will let you borrow a person for 45 minutes. I would like to check out a Japanese Salariman and talk over sake. I suppose one can't find many of that type in Sweden.

Um...

2005-06-13T21:10:00.000-07:00

Here's a little link. Disturbing. So very disturbing.

Open Source Beer

2005-06-13T16:48:00.000-07:00

No joke. Some wonderful Danish people have decided to publish a beer recipe under the Creative Commons licence. If anyone chooses to brew up the recipe, let me know how it tastes.

Remember, find my most recent stuff at BrightDays.

I'm Over Here...

2005-06-10T17:09:00.000-07:00

What? You thought I was slacking. I've been setting up a Malawi based blog at BrightDays. I'll be on my flight to Africa on the 20th of this month. So that's that. I'll be posting there until I leave and soon after I return. I'll put something else here later.

Television on the Brain

2005-04-01T11:14:00.000-08:00

A paralyzed man recently received a mindreading chip that translates his thoughts into action. Since this man is an American, he chooses to use the powers of technology to control his television, not his legs or wheelchair or something useful. OK, he probably didn't get the option to use his legs, but I am sure the researchers could have picked something other than a TV to tune the chip too. Heck, there are all those stories of monkeys moving cursors with their mind, at least the Internet gives useful information and not just reruns of SG-1.

In other complaints, the Pope will be dead soon. I can only hope this isn't a Vatican plot to sap the fun out of April Fool's Day by making it a dead Pope holy day. Let's all pray that the Pope makes it till tomorrow. Actually, it might be nice if he actually dies tomorrow. Then April 2nd could become a Pope remembrance day, with fasting and what not. April 1st would be the day before a holiday, and we all know what Catholics do with days like that. Mardi Gras anyone?

The Joy of Cable Cutters

2005-03-18T12:00:00.000-08:00

My bike was stolen yesterday. It was a great vehicle, there was history behind it. Thankfully, I've been pretty Zen these past few days, so I wasn't angered by the theft, just disappointed.

The bike was becoming a big part of my life. I've been attempting to live more slowly. I cook more. I read or mosaic instead of watching the television. There was a time when I lived life at a more comfortable pace. I'm trying to return there.
So the bike was important. I was riding it to school every day. The college is a twenty minute bike trip away from my new place. It was nice arriving for class with a quickened pulse. Physical activity seems to be good for me, who would of thought it.
Now it seems I can either walk to school (a 45 minute adventure) or drive my car (a 45 dollar adventure if gas prices keep rising). I would like to say that hoofing it is a definite, but I know myself too well. Still, the allure of slowness is potent. Kierkegaard said that men pursue pleasure at such a pace that they often pass it by. I've lived that. How disappointing.

I Gave Up War for Lent

2005-03-16T11:32:00.000-08:00

I was listening to elitist radio and was struck by a strange story. The news began as background noise, some talk of India, Pakistan, and their mutual dislike for one another. Normally the story would have made zero impact, but the BBC correspondent decided to mention cricket.

India has invited Pakistan's president to a cricket match. This was unlikely to catch my ear as well. I have no interest in cricket. I do, however, have an interest in nuclear cricket. It seems that while inviting Pres. Musharraf for a sport's weekend, the Prime Minister's office also noted India's disapproval of Pakistan's nuclear program. Now, I find that bizarre. It just seems that an invitation to a sporting event and the mentioning of nuclear weapons should be separated. I don't know why they should. I have never taken a course in international diplomacy. Perhaps I just don't want to envision men standing around a missile in cricket gear. Feel free to explain to me why I am naive. It just makes me uneasy.

Invisible Posts

2005-03-11T23:19:00.000-08:00

I hope you all figured out how to access my many hidden posts during the past months. I thought that it would be best to keep the commoners from reading them, seeing as the subject matter was so risque. Some of you obviously took offense. Your comments were absolutely cutting. No matter. I do not apologize. Each word needed to be said.
These recent months have been filled with productivity. I have moved to a larger, more lively apartment. My job has been fulfilling and time consuming. Evenings are spent cooking. By that I mean actually putting raw ingredients together and applying heat. I've missed cooking.
There was a time that I could bake a mean loaf of bread. There is something very satisfying about preparing food. It slows down the mind, allowing for reflection. Baking in particular exposes moderns to textures and smells which remind us of the senses least minded within this new world.
For those few of you that are aware of my tile art project, cooking a nice herbed chicken meal gave me a new idea. So be on the lookout for new urban fauna.

That's all. Future posts will not be obfuscated.

Musical Chairs

2005-01-25T13:10:00.000-08:00

Have you been to 15 Megs of Fame? I highly recommend it. Users can easily get exposed to new music and download it for cheap as free. It's also great for those of you that like to mix up your own tunes. All music on 15 is under Creative Commons licensing.
I'm still working on abandoning the traditional music industry. Sites like the aforementioned make it easier. The major labels have no monopoly on talent, just exposure. Each new artist I find helps me rotate out an overblown band of lesser talent but greater fame. It's refreshing to have an iPod stuffed with goodies no one else can recognize.

2005-01-24T13:29:00.000-08:00

The continuing adventures of...

Selffocused

2005-01-22T22:37:00.000-08:00

No, I haven't drunk an entire bottle of wine, just half. What better state to update in? First, allow me to say that I have not played World of Warcraft for over a week. My lack of updates can not be blamed on addiction, just lack of motivation. However, PROTESTant gave me a burst of energy. Well, the energy first came from digging out old game designs and actually creating a working prototype. Yes, I enjoy creating board and card games. Speaking of games, here comes the first link. Pokethulhu blends Pokemon and H. P. Lovecraft into wholesome evil comedy. Oh, the beauty of it all...moving on.

After mentioning my half bottle of happiness I want to bring everyone up to speed on my church based activities. I am going to Africa. Particularly, I am heading to Swaziland. I will be flying over in March to help a group of individuals plant edible gardens in squatter villages. The idea is to give a potentially perpetual food source to people, instead of handing them a bag of milled grain and wishing them good luck. The main obsticle is raising the money to go. I trust it will happen though.
Finally, this Tuesday is my final therapy session. I know that I haven't mentioned my Social Anxiety thing recently. That's because the drugs are working. Seriously, the therapy has been extremely helpful and the therepist thinks I can go it alone. Just me and my Paxil. I feel good about that. So there you go. Selfunfocused has been updated, complete with a pathetic webcomic. Bloggers Unite!

2005-01-20T18:00:00.000-08:00

This is what happens when you ask me to update.

Happy Decemberween!

2004-12-19T23:33:00.000-08:00

I'm off to Illinois for a week. I feel obligated to give everyone of you a great holiday present. So here it is. William Shatner caroling. Well, ok, he isn't caroling but he is bringing us all good tidings and cheer. Give it a listen, it beats every other time he's attempted a tune.

Hitchhiking

2004-12-14T10:41:00.000-08:00

The original text based Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy game is online here. I remember being absolutely annoyed by it as a child. I hadn't read the book, had been give zero direction as to how to approach the game, and had yet to begin popping pills. But now it's nostalgic. Ah, the lies of memory. Someday I will laugh about the New Kids on the Block.

Brian Dewan is the New Black

2004-12-10T15:06:00.000-08:00

Oh my gosh and golly! You must see this. Brian Dewan is a musical genius on Manhattan public access television. He plays old political songs on the accordion and a zither. Thank you Daily Gusto for exposing me to the goodness that is Dewan! I beg all of you to go listen. You will thank me.

I’m Going to War Tomorrow

2004-11-22T19:01:00.000-08:00

I’ve been drafted by Blizzard. Tomorrow is the release of World of Warcraft, a game that will either be a light bit of fun for me or will turn me into a pale, emaciated shell of a man. Ah, the allure of persistent virtual worlds. Hell, I practically cry every time I play a Myst game. The bliss is spiritual. What will happen when I can interact with others?
Actually, I expect to be annoyed by thirteen year olds with broadswords. The consistent reminder that people can be really stupid will probably ground me in reality. All this said to let everyone know where I am if I don’t post for awhile. Not that that will really surprise anyone.

Reference This!

2004-11-11T14:52:00.000-08:00

Thank God for coffeehouse flyers! Today I was introduced to Radical Reference. RR is a site ran by volunteer librarians who use their know-how and time to research questions for the foot soldiers of social change. I am positive that this resource is going to help me tremendously. Go and check it out. It is worth it.

Why the Bush Victory is good for Liberals

2004-11-03T15:26:00.000-08:00

That’s right, this was a good thing. I’m not saying that Bush can’t do terrible damage to our country’s standing in the world. And yes, he very well might destroy any hope the poorer segments of society have for a better life. I’m sure he’s going to taint our Supreme Court with a right leaning judge. Still, all in all, this was a good event for liberals and even radicals like me.
Why? There are at least two reasons: shock value and Hillary ’08.

How many liberals our there are reeling right now? I am convinced that a large portion of progressives were positive that Bush couldn’t really win. “Fifty percent of the voting population can’t be that crazy (read conservative)!” they were thinking. Oh, but they can be and they are. I just saw an add for Channel One that said 55% of 12-13 year olds surveyed wanted Bush to win. These children of the corn are going to just miss the next election. Yes, America could quite possibly tip towards the right for a long time.
Back to the benefits. The shocking realization that our culture isn’t locked up for liberalism can bond liberals in a manner that will give them power. The progressive environment is expanding. Groups like Move On are joining individuals into collectives. Liberal focused media like Air America helps create a common experience and information base. Progressivism has the ability to become a potent force in our culture within the next decade.
Second, the reign of Hillary Clinton. Why vote in the child of a President when you can vote in his spouse? Seriously, Hillary is a strong, intelligent woman and an potent leader. She would make an outstanding President and the fact is, with Kerry in office we would have never had the chance to see what she can do.
Think about it. If Kerry were elected, then he would run again in 2008. Hillary couldn’t run until 2012. And what if Kerry won in ‘08? Chances are Edwards would have gotten the nod to be the next candidate. At this point Hillary is most likely out of the running. That would be a real loss.
In any case, progressives have been given four years of prep time. The only major obstacle is self-pity. Depression will just dampen the flames of indignation. The solution is to nurture annoyance or to cause positive change by applying your energies to fixing our nation. I suggest the annoyance route. It’s easier and more visible. Swing voters like things to be obvious.

Tentacles are the new Black

2004-11-02T13:10:00.000-08:00

The changing world environment brings surprise after surprise. Sci-Fi has shown us a human damaged planet, barren and dull. However, the Australians paint a more colorful picture, or at least a more tentacled one. It seems giant squid are taking over the world. Squid now represent more biomass than the human race. Now, I believe that plankton also outnumbers our biomass but squid can eat all our sashimi and attack our underwater cities and nuclear powered submarines!

Some humans have embraced the coming rule of cephalopods. However, I will not role over and die. I am firmly against squid rule. That’s right. I’m saying what others won’t. I didn't vote for a human today just so some punk squid can take over by force!
Ok, this is going nowhere. Until next time.

The Lot Falls in the Lap

2004-11-01T18:21:00.000-08:00

So I’ll be voting tomorrow. I don’t know what to think about this election. On the one hand, it feels like the decisions made this year will have ramifications throughout my lifetime. If Kerry is elected, for instance, Europe might decide that we aren’t absolute morons, just buffoons. On the other hand, my thoughts on the election may be driven by a deep seated need to complain and be iconoclastic. Frankly, I couldn’t handle agreeing with the majority. Even when I do, I come up with some twisted reasoning as the basis. So, yeah, Greens for Kerry and all that. Prop 71 is good….yipee.

Here’s a little love for you. Enter those polls and cross the streams. I’ll see you on the other side.

Brain by Intel

2004-10-22T11:12:00.000-07:00

Wired reported on a device that mimics the hippocampus, a brain area involved in memory. Assuming this works, I wonder about the implications. The human memory is easily affected by the emotional state of an individual. Trauma victims often find it difficult to recall terrible events, a biological blessing. It is, after all, those who remember such things vividly and often that are the most damaged. Our memories are chemicals (or are built and recalled by chemicals at least). How many drunken and idiotic nights am I blissfully unaware of?
I doubt that the prosthetic hippocampus will be as kind to us as our finicky neurons are. It is, of course, possible that the hippocampus has nothing to do with the strength of recall, so my musings become moot. The process we call memory is quite complex.
I still wonder. I understand the desire to help those who have lost access to their memories. It is a noble quest. But the cure may hurt. I find there are more things I would like to forget than recall. Blessed are the forgetful.

A Thought for the Restless

2004-10-08T17:47:00.000-07:00

How many times have you sat alone in a coffee house and stared into the liquid black abyss of your coffee cup to see the blasted reflection of your own mortal futility staring back at you as you sit still while being jettisoned towards the end of your life? Your thoughts ricochet like wild bullets fired into an iron-walled room. Getting older. Every day closer to death. Never took advantage of your youth. Squandered your resources. Old relationships come back to haunt you as you reference them against the one you’re trapped in now or the one you wish you were. Your obsessions scream and taunt you from the corners of your eyes. Your thoughts smash down like a neural hammer on your cranial anvil. One thing becomes clear as you look at the tables full of people chattering away like dolphins on speed – only the strong dare to drink from the bottomless insomnia mother pool alone. That would be you.

-Henry Rollins-
Intro: TMCM’s Parade of Tirade

Why the quote? It describes an aspect of my life. It reminds me that even the loners have a thousand others just like them, separated by geography and time, yet joined in soul and spirit. A hundred times I’ve taken a seat in some dim corner, making it obvious that this table for two is now a table for one. I’ve wondered about the last person in my position, then the next person. Are we different? Are we kin? Is my best chance for friendship occupying the same space, but just a few frames ahead of me? It’s the power of the temporal. An hour separates two people more completely than a thousand miles. What could be more distant than the parallel?

2004-10-06T17:05:00.000-07:00

My Future