Yup, I've got a new typepad blog, now. I'll be posting over there for the foreseeable future. All of my posts from here are now over there.
Where, you ask?
Here
http://madpoet.typepad.com
Please update your links appropriately. ;-)
Wednesday
Monday
CoH players, rejoice!
City of Heroes is about to get its own monthly comic book series. Now, I know that subscribers currently get a City of Heroes comic, but apparently that just wasn't enough for Cryptic and NCsoft. Now comic book fans who have been leery of paying the subscription fee and playing CoH themselves will have an introduction to the game. And current subscribers will get the new Top Cow comic with their monthly subscription to the game.
So, after hearing a friend discuss the current comic book ("It's really not very good"), maybe now he'll get a little more for his monthly service fee.
So, after hearing a friend discuss the current comic book ("It's really not very good"), maybe now he'll get a little more for his monthly service fee.
Friday
So now do I have to buy an Xbox?
Xbox's RPG selection has been a little thin, with a few notable exceptions (such as BioWare's Knights of the Old Republic, and the upcoming Jade Empire). But that may be set to change with this latest development.
Microsoft just hired Hironobu Sakaguchi, creator of Final Fantasy. I'd heard he had left Square to go out on his own, but I never imagined he'd be assimilated into the Great Microsoft Empire ©.
Remembering that competition is a good thing, here's hoping he shows those young pups he left back at Square how it's done.
Microsoft just hired Hironobu Sakaguchi, creator of Final Fantasy. I'd heard he had left Square to go out on his own, but I never imagined he'd be assimilated into the Great Microsoft Empire ©.
Remembering that competition is a good thing, here's hoping he shows those young pups he left back at Square how it's done.
Phew!
Glad I got that last post out of my system, but it's obvious that I need a system that allows for extended posts.
I'm late to this party...
And I can't bring beer, because I'm a Mormon.
As INCREDIBLY busy as I have been lately, it wasn't until today that I found out about the new book by Martha Nibley Beck, recently sponsored by O magazine.
First, let me be absolutely clear that I have not read the book, and am working from news articles and the responses of others. Particularly here. Apparently, in the book, Ms. Beck accuses her father (a well-respected LDS scholar who passed away earlier today) of having sexually abused her when she was about five years old. These accusations stem from "recovered memories" - memories that have been brought back to the surface through hypnosis.
Now, I have a B.Sc. in Psychology, and I'm going to law school, as a result of which, I know a little something about the reliability of statements made under hypnosis.
Hypnosis, almost by definition, is a state where a person becomes very susceptible to suggestion. Even suggestions that the hypnostist may not be aware of. In age regression, most often what we're seeing is the adult's perception of what a child would act like. John Kihlstrom, of U.C. Berkeley has this to say about age regression and hypnosis.
His article concludes with this statement:
The instant I heard that Ms. Beck had come to these memories as the result of hypnosis, I felt comfortable in assuming that they were false. In my Psych classes, we found out how susceptible people are to suggestion when we learned that people who are under hypnosis will pick up on subtle cues such as voice tone and emphasis to give the hypnotist the answer they want. For example, let's say that I age regress my wife back to her fifth birthday (Note, I am not a hypnotist, nor do I play one on TV). August 21, 1980. Let's say that I know that the correct day of the week is Wednesday. I ask her what day of the week it is, and she doesn't answer immediately. Or maybe she answers "Tuesday", and I say, "wait a minute, was it Monday? Tuesday? Wednesday?" At which point, she'll stop me and assert that it was, in fact Wednesday, picking up on subtle vocal cues from me that Wednesday is the right answer. The only problem is, I'm wrong. As you can see August 21, 1980 was a Thursday. But she believes it's Wednesday, I have implanted that suggestion in her mind. I can't find any evidence to suggest that hypnosis increases the accuracy of memory.
Now then, turning to evidence as far as law. Courts can and will allow testimony that has been "refreshed" by hypnosis. However, typically speaking, that testimony has to be corroborated by other evidence. In Borawick v. Shay (68 F.3d 597 - You'll need a Lexis password to get there), the 2nd circuit adopted (followed by the First Circuit, the Fifth Circuit, and the Tenth Circuit in later opinions) a "totality of the circumstances" test.
Dealing just with the factors I've emphasized, I don't believe that her testimony would be admissible evidence. Assuming that this was recovered under self-hypnosis, I think we have to doubt her qualifications as a hypnotherapist. As for corroborating evidence, I think the statement of her brothers and sisters - all of them, that the accusations of sexual abuse are not true, is telling. One sister shared a room and a bunk bed with her at the time the alleged abuse was supposed to be occuring. She also denies the accusations leveled by Ms. Beck.
This book also claims that "the incidence of sex abuse among Mormon families far exceeds any other group" (see here again). And I make a challenge here and now to anyone who can provide objective evidence that this is the case. I feel that statement is a vile, pernicious lie. Nor do I think that I'm without credibility in this area. My wife and I were licensed foster parents in Utah, and each of the girls that came to live with us had suffered some form of abuse. People aren't perfect, and there are instances of abuse in most, if not all populations. However, to make this kind of groundless assertion is dangerous, in that it fosters an atmosphere of distrust and suspicion. As a member of the LDS church, and as the father of a daughter of my own, I do not have the words to express my disgust at the idea that I would abuse my child. I am insulted, and I do not insult easily.
h/t bird's eye view
As INCREDIBLY busy as I have been lately, it wasn't until today that I found out about the new book by Martha Nibley Beck, recently sponsored by O magazine.
First, let me be absolutely clear that I have not read the book, and am working from news articles and the responses of others. Particularly here. Apparently, in the book, Ms. Beck accuses her father (a well-respected LDS scholar who passed away earlier today) of having sexually abused her when she was about five years old. These accusations stem from "recovered memories" - memories that have been brought back to the surface through hypnosis.
Now, I have a B.Sc. in Psychology, and I'm going to law school, as a result of which, I know a little something about the reliability of statements made under hypnosis.
Hypnosis, almost by definition, is a state where a person becomes very susceptible to suggestion. Even suggestions that the hypnostist may not be aware of. In age regression, most often what we're seeing is the adult's perception of what a child would act like. John Kihlstrom, of U.C. Berkeley has this to say about age regression and hypnosis.
Age-regressed adults may have the subjectively compelling experience of being children again, and they may appear to behave in a childlike manner, but what we see is an imaginative reconstruction of childhood -- not a reversion to the genuine article.
His article concludes with this statement:
Interestingly, hypnosis appears incapable of expanding awareness, so as to enable subjects to remember things that would otherwise remain forgotten. However, the social context of hypnosis, including widely shared (though false) beliefs about its capacity for memory enhancement (with or without age regression), and the suggestive context in which hypnosis occurs in the first place, renders the hypnotized subject vulnerable to various kinds of distortions in memory. Because the risks of distortion vastly outweigh the chances of obtaining any useful information, forensic investigators and clinical practitioners should avoid hypnosis as a technique for enhancing recollection.
The instant I heard that Ms. Beck had come to these memories as the result of hypnosis, I felt comfortable in assuming that they were false. In my Psych classes, we found out how susceptible people are to suggestion when we learned that people who are under hypnosis will pick up on subtle cues such as voice tone and emphasis to give the hypnotist the answer they want. For example, let's say that I age regress my wife back to her fifth birthday (Note, I am not a hypnotist, nor do I play one on TV). August 21, 1980. Let's say that I know that the correct day of the week is Wednesday. I ask her what day of the week it is, and she doesn't answer immediately. Or maybe she answers "Tuesday", and I say, "wait a minute, was it Monday? Tuesday? Wednesday?" At which point, she'll stop me and assert that it was, in fact Wednesday, picking up on subtle vocal cues from me that Wednesday is the right answer. The only problem is, I'm wrong. As you can see August 21, 1980 was a Thursday. But she believes it's Wednesday, I have implanted that suggestion in her mind. I can't find any evidence to suggest that hypnosis increases the accuracy of memory.
Now then, turning to evidence as far as law. Courts can and will allow testimony that has been "refreshed" by hypnosis. However, typically speaking, that testimony has to be corroborated by other evidence. In Borawick v. Shay (68 F.3d 597 - You'll need a Lexis password to get there), the 2nd circuit adopted (followed by the First Circuit, the Fifth Circuit, and the Tenth Circuit in later opinions) a "totality of the circumstances" test.
In conducting a case-by-case analysis, the district court should consider the following non-exclusive list of factors. First, it should evaluate the purpose of the hypnosis: whether it was to refresh a witness's memory of an accident or crime or whether it was conducted as part of therapy. In the former instance, the subject may feel pressured to remember details, to aid the criminal investigation, whereas when the subject has undergone therapy to explore the sources of her psychological ailments, she may be less inclined to confabulate or describe a complete coherent story. In the latter case, however, the court should be mindful of the possibility that the subject may have received subtle suggestions from her therapist that abuse or other traumas could be at the root of her problems. Thus, a second important consideration is whether the witness received any suggestions from the hypnotist or others prior to or during hypnosis such as a theory of the cause of the subject's ailments or key information relevant to the investigation for which she underwent hypnosis. A third and related factor is the presence or absence of a permanent record, which can help the court ascertain whether suggestive procedures were used. Ideally, the session should be videotaped or audiotaped. Fourth, a court should consider whether the hypnotist was appropriately qualified by training in psychology or psychiatry. A fifth factor is whether corroborating evidence exists to support the reliability of the hypnotically-refreshed memories. Sixth, evidence of the subject's hypnotizability may also be relevant. A highly hypnotizable subject may be more prone to confabulate and more susceptible to suggestion. Seventh, the court should consider any expert evidence offered by the parties as to the reliability of the procedures used in the case. Finally, a pretrial evidentiary hearing is highly desirable to enable the parties to present expert evidence and to test credibility through cross-examination.Borawick at 608, emphasis mine.
After consideration of all of the relevant circumstances, the trial court should weigh the factors in favor and against the reliability of the hypnosis procedure in the exercise of its discretion whether to admit the post-hypnotic testimony. Finally, we add that the party attempting to admit the hypnotically-enhanced testimony bears the burden of persuading the district court that the balance tips in favor of admissibility. Hurd, 432 A.2d at 97.
Dealing just with the factors I've emphasized, I don't believe that her testimony would be admissible evidence. Assuming that this was recovered under self-hypnosis, I think we have to doubt her qualifications as a hypnotherapist. As for corroborating evidence, I think the statement of her brothers and sisters - all of them, that the accusations of sexual abuse are not true, is telling. One sister shared a room and a bunk bed with her at the time the alleged abuse was supposed to be occuring. She also denies the accusations leveled by Ms. Beck.
This book also claims that "the incidence of sex abuse among Mormon families far exceeds any other group" (see here again). And I make a challenge here and now to anyone who can provide objective evidence that this is the case. I feel that statement is a vile, pernicious lie. Nor do I think that I'm without credibility in this area. My wife and I were licensed foster parents in Utah, and each of the girls that came to live with us had suffered some form of abuse. People aren't perfect, and there are instances of abuse in most, if not all populations. However, to make this kind of groundless assertion is dangerous, in that it fosters an atmosphere of distrust and suspicion. As a member of the LDS church, and as the father of a daughter of my own, I do not have the words to express my disgust at the idea that I would abuse my child. I am insulted, and I do not insult easily.
h/t bird's eye view
Thursday
Looking for new digs
We've decided to go to Texas after law school. Austin. Which is a good thing, Reeta's family is there, and we'll have a lot of support. I'm planning on taking the Texas Bar in February '06. Meantime, that leaves me in a bit of a quandary.
I mean, I've got to find a job to last at least that long. We've got to figure out HOW to get ourselves and all our stuff down there. Meanwhile, I know no-one in the legal community there. There are quite a few hurdles to get over. But it's the area of the country that we want to wind up in, and everyone I've talked to about it has said that it's a better idea to go straight there after school, take the bar there, and practice, rather than take the Oregon bar, work here a few years to get some experience, and then move down.
Also, because this site is maintained through my Comcast subscription, I'm coming to the realization that I will need to find a new home for my blog. (To go with the new home for the family). I've got a friend who's been using TypePad, and really likes it. I'll probably give that a shot, but it'll be next week.
I mean, I've got to find a job to last at least that long. We've got to figure out HOW to get ourselves and all our stuff down there. Meanwhile, I know no-one in the legal community there. There are quite a few hurdles to get over. But it's the area of the country that we want to wind up in, and everyone I've talked to about it has said that it's a better idea to go straight there after school, take the bar there, and practice, rather than take the Oregon bar, work here a few years to get some experience, and then move down.
Also, because this site is maintained through my Comcast subscription, I'm coming to the realization that I will need to find a new home for my blog. (To go with the new home for the family). I've got a friend who's been using TypePad, and really likes it. I'll probably give that a shot, but it'll be next week.
Wednesday
Burning the Flag
Court questions FCC's broadcast flag rules | CNET News.com
This makes me kind of hopeful. If the groups involved can overcome issues of their standing to bring suit, it sounds like they're making some good arguments against the FCC digital broadcast flag. Here's hoping they carry the day.
This makes me kind of hopeful. If the groups involved can overcome issues of their standing to bring suit, it sounds like they're making some good arguments against the FCC digital broadcast flag. Here's hoping they carry the day.
Monday
Friday
Hang your head for a moment... and start saving your pennies.
Naruto is now licensed for U.S. distribution, and will start airing on the Cartoon Network, third quarter 2005. See here.
So, now I need a new series to watch. Any suggestions? ;-)
So, now I need a new series to watch. Any suggestions? ;-)
Thursday
Outrageous Outrage
Today at the school, our branch of the National Lawyer’s Guild is holding a day of outrage over the recent conviction of Lynne Stewart. For those of you who don’t know, Lynne Stewart is a civil rights attorney. She was representing Sheikh Omar Abdel Rahman, a convicted terrorist (convicted in association with the World Trade Center bombing). As a part of her representation, she was required to sign a special document called a special administrative measure, or SAM, that stated she would not pass messages from her client to third parties.
She was accused of having passed messages on to her client’s organization, The Islamic Group, and of using time with the client to allow the interpreter to take statements from Rahman to pass on, including the issuance of a fatwah against the Jews. She was convicted by a jury of her peers.
So, what’s up with the outrage? Lawyers are expected to hold themselves to a high ethical standard. Lawyers are expected to follow the law. She had agreed to abide by certain rules, and then she broke her word. She was caught, prosecuted, and convicted. Silencing an advocate is not the goal of the administration, nor the goal of the Department of Justice, who prosecuted Ms. Stewart. It can't be alleged in this case, because what she was doing was not advocating for her client. I think the goal is to punish people who break the law, and the outrage seems misplaced, to say the least.
Nor was this decision rushed. The jury took thirteen days to return a verdict – guilty.
So excuse me if I’m talking today in class, responding to questions, and asking some of my own. I’m not at all outraged that the system put in place by the Constitution seems to be working. My outrage is reserved for someone who willfully, purposefully degrades, demeans, and betrays the public's trust in attorneys, who breaks her word and breaks the law, and expects to get away with it.
See more Here, and here. And my good friend, Mellow-Drama has a good post, and has spoken with someone close to the prosecution. See that here.
She was accused of having passed messages on to her client’s organization, The Islamic Group, and of using time with the client to allow the interpreter to take statements from Rahman to pass on, including the issuance of a fatwah against the Jews. She was convicted by a jury of her peers.
So, what’s up with the outrage? Lawyers are expected to hold themselves to a high ethical standard. Lawyers are expected to follow the law. She had agreed to abide by certain rules, and then she broke her word. She was caught, prosecuted, and convicted. Silencing an advocate is not the goal of the administration, nor the goal of the Department of Justice, who prosecuted Ms. Stewart. It can't be alleged in this case, because what she was doing was not advocating for her client. I think the goal is to punish people who break the law, and the outrage seems misplaced, to say the least.
Nor was this decision rushed. The jury took thirteen days to return a verdict – guilty.
So excuse me if I’m talking today in class, responding to questions, and asking some of my own. I’m not at all outraged that the system put in place by the Constitution seems to be working. My outrage is reserved for someone who willfully, purposefully degrades, demeans, and betrays the public's trust in attorneys, who breaks her word and breaks the law, and expects to get away with it.
See more Here, and here. And my good friend, Mellow-Drama has a good post, and has spoken with someone close to the prosecution. See that here.
Odd Thought of the Day
My Wills and Trusts professor's voice sounds oddly familiar. I think he sounds like Master Shake.
Except that what my prof says is actually intelligent.
Except that what my prof says is actually intelligent.
Tuesday
Unfortunate Comments
So, I'm in *UNDISCLOSED CLASS*, and the teacher is calling roll. She comes to my name, looks up, says "Zach's here. Wow, you make me hot just looking at you". Now, truth be told, I was wearing a heavy coat, so I'm thinking that's probably what she meant. But I wasn't about to attempt to correct it, because having that kind of conversation in front of fifty other people is just... embarassing.
I mean, don't get me wrong, I was still giggling for about five full minutes after she said it, as was someone sitting just down from me. I know I've made unfortunate comments like that several times in the past. And just blithely went on my way, not quite knowing what all the giggling was about.
I mean, don't get me wrong, I was still giggling for about five full minutes after she said it, as was someone sitting just down from me. I know I've made unfortunate comments like that several times in the past. And just blithely went on my way, not quite knowing what all the giggling was about.
A Matter of Contract
Mellow-Drama linked to an article today by John Coleman, arguing for the privatization of marriage.
I suppose that your view on this depends on what you think the purpose of marriage is. If your view is that traditional marriage is a contractual relationship that allows for property to be divided in certain specific ways, and that's all, then privatization isn't a huge deal, because it's just contract. If you feel that traditional marriage is a social good, that the union of a man and a woman in a commited relationship and their bringing up children together is a fundamental part of basic human society, something that should be encouraged as a matter of morality, then privatization doesn't look good at all, because now marriage can mean anything. Morality is simply not a consideration of (most) contract law. I'm not sure I understood his whole argument. To be honest, I'm not sure what his argument was, other than we should call for privatization of marriage... because government will screw it up... because back in the day they used it to degrade women, among other things.
Mr. Coleman makes a reference to a quote from President Bush which ends "Self Government relies, in the end, on the governing of the self." Privatization means that instead of governing the self, we contract out the exceptions and loopholes we want. So he cheated on you, and you want out of the marriage? What if clause 12 stipulates an open relationship? Now there's NO BREACH. No breach means that if you want out, you've got to be the one to break the contract. So he's an immoral, backstabbing, lowlife scum. And now YOU have to pay HIM damages, because you a) were an idiot in love, and didn't do much negotiating in the contract, b) didn't have the negotiating power to make real changes in the contract, or who knows what?
Private contracts are not made to last forever. Marriage, however, will not survive that kind of thinking. You cannot enter a committed relationship under an escape clause. Marriage should be a committed relationship between a man and a woman. Commitment. Fidelity. Service. Love. Honor.
I suppose that your view on this depends on what you think the purpose of marriage is. If your view is that traditional marriage is a contractual relationship that allows for property to be divided in certain specific ways, and that's all, then privatization isn't a huge deal, because it's just contract. If you feel that traditional marriage is a social good, that the union of a man and a woman in a commited relationship and their bringing up children together is a fundamental part of basic human society, something that should be encouraged as a matter of morality, then privatization doesn't look good at all, because now marriage can mean anything. Morality is simply not a consideration of (most) contract law. I'm not sure I understood his whole argument. To be honest, I'm not sure what his argument was, other than we should call for privatization of marriage... because government will screw it up... because back in the day they used it to degrade women, among other things.
Mr. Coleman makes a reference to a quote from President Bush which ends "Self Government relies, in the end, on the governing of the self." Privatization means that instead of governing the self, we contract out the exceptions and loopholes we want. So he cheated on you, and you want out of the marriage? What if clause 12 stipulates an open relationship? Now there's NO BREACH. No breach means that if you want out, you've got to be the one to break the contract. So he's an immoral, backstabbing, lowlife scum. And now YOU have to pay HIM damages, because you a) were an idiot in love, and didn't do much negotiating in the contract, b) didn't have the negotiating power to make real changes in the contract, or who knows what?
Private contracts are not made to last forever. Marriage, however, will not survive that kind of thinking. You cannot enter a committed relationship under an escape clause. Marriage should be a committed relationship between a man and a woman. Commitment. Fidelity. Service. Love. Honor.
Sunday
Milestone
Took almost a full year to get there, but somewhere back there we passed 10,000 hits. Yee-haw. Hopefully it won't take that long to get to two.
Movie Night
Reeta said I could pick a movie tonight, so, had to watch AvP. Always better with the lights on and your wife pointing out how silly everything is. So... many... plot... holes...
Glaring ones include - the Aliens in Alien3 recognized that there was an embryo inside of Ripley, and didn't kill her because of it. So, the QUEEN, didn't realize that there was an embryo inside of that last guy? We go from facehuggers to chestbursters to full-size aliens in a matter of, what, ten minutes time? And killing the host doesn't help? We've seen aliens survive the cold of space, and we've seen aliens swimming - practically amphibious. So, sending the Queen to the bottom of the Antarctic ocean means, what, we won? Padron me if I don't start jumping for joy immediately, because it seems a little like Br'er Rabbit and the briar patch. Predator masks that scan for an alien embryo INSIDE the body, and nobody thought to scan that last body before taking it on board? No one just HAPPENED to be wearing a mask?
Despite the glaring plot holes, the utter misuse of Lance Henrikson (loved him as Bishop, why was he in this?) and the incessant "Oh My Heck, That Is So Silly" coming from my lovely wife, there were Predators. And there were a couple of good scenes. In particular, a no-look slash that took the face off one alien. That was pretty cool, even if it was grandstanding. So, despite the deathly touch of Paul W.S. Anderson (responsible for so many movies that were JUST SO, FREAKIN' CLOSE! and just MISSED IT), I've got to give it (out of a possible +/- 2 Cokes), 0 Cokes. Great idea, unfortunately poor execution.
Last night, we saw the Chinese versioin of Shaolin Soccer. That got +1.5 Cokes. Actually funnier in Chinese with the subtitles. Anime/Kung Fu Movie Night at the Law School. We'll probably do one more close to the end of the semester. Last night it was Shaolin Soccer, Last Exile, Samurai 7, and Naruto (of course).
Glaring ones include - the Aliens in Alien3 recognized that there was an embryo inside of Ripley, and didn't kill her because of it. So, the QUEEN, didn't realize that there was an embryo inside of that last guy? We go from facehuggers to chestbursters to full-size aliens in a matter of, what, ten minutes time? And killing the host doesn't help? We've seen aliens survive the cold of space, and we've seen aliens swimming - practically amphibious. So, sending the Queen to the bottom of the Antarctic ocean means, what, we won? Padron me if I don't start jumping for joy immediately, because it seems a little like Br'er Rabbit and the briar patch. Predator masks that scan for an alien embryo INSIDE the body, and nobody thought to scan that last body before taking it on board? No one just HAPPENED to be wearing a mask?
Despite the glaring plot holes, the utter misuse of Lance Henrikson (loved him as Bishop, why was he in this?) and the incessant "Oh My Heck, That Is So Silly" coming from my lovely wife, there were Predators. And there were a couple of good scenes. In particular, a no-look slash that took the face off one alien. That was pretty cool, even if it was grandstanding. So, despite the deathly touch of Paul W.S. Anderson (responsible for so many movies that were JUST SO, FREAKIN' CLOSE! and just MISSED IT), I've got to give it (out of a possible +/- 2 Cokes), 0 Cokes. Great idea, unfortunately poor execution.
Last night, we saw the Chinese versioin of Shaolin Soccer. That got +1.5 Cokes. Actually funnier in Chinese with the subtitles. Anime/Kung Fu Movie Night at the Law School. We'll probably do one more close to the end of the semester. Last night it was Shaolin Soccer, Last Exile, Samurai 7, and Naruto (of course).
Friday
Newly looking for work...
Eason Jordan is printing out resumés. Free speech. But not free of consequences. Selah.
h/t Hewitt on the radio.
h/t Hewitt on the radio.
Low Tech Hacks
Not that anyone needs a reminder of how this works, but Pepsi (more particularly Mountain Dew) is once again conspiring against any resolution I might have to give up soda. Free iTunes songs under the lids.
Of course, if you catch the angle just right, you can loo through the top of the bottle and tell if the cap is a winner or not. I personally think of it as subsidizing my soda habit through music. And no one has said anything to me yet about checking under the cap for music before I buy a soda. (Retailers are still going to sell to me, and to those people who feel it's an ethical violation to look under the caps, or don't know how this works.) The only question now is, what do I want to listen to?
Of course, if you catch the angle just right, you can loo through the top of the bottle and tell if the cap is a winner or not. I personally think of it as subsidizing my soda habit through music. And no one has said anything to me yet about checking under the cap for music before I buy a soda. (Retailers are still going to sell to me, and to those people who feel it's an ethical violation to look under the caps, or don't know how this works.) The only question now is, what do I want to listen to?
Wednesday
Cheaters Beware!
Software license agreements can be very entertaining. Especially game software. Especially Epic Games' Unreal Tournament 2004 license agreement, a most recent copy of which can be seen here. It's a surprisingly good read, and happens to be a fairly non-restrictive license, granting rights to use stuff from earlier games to make mods for UT2k4. But looking at it today, during Corporate Counsel Seminar, I saw something that I swear I hadn't seen when I reinstalled my copy on my new PC this last week.
That's pretty harsh, IMO, but then again, cheaters suck anyway. Skillz, baby!
UPDATE: I'm curious. I'm going to send this to the school's cyberlaw/copyright prof., and see if she thinks it would stand up in Court. Meanwhile, feel free to chime in. Do you think this is fair? Do you think it increases or decreases the value of the game?
5. CHEATING. Nobody likes a cheater. It's a disgraceful way to earn a win and really is an insult to those players who earn their wins in on-line games the old-fashioned way—WITH TALENT. We're pretty hard on cheating in on-line games using the Software because it sullies the overall gaming experience and is JUST PLAIN LAME. With that in mind if you are caught cheating in an on-line game using the Software we will immediately and permanently ban your CD Key. At that point this License Agreement is automatically terminated and you must immediately delete this software from your PC. Failure to comply with this last bit (deleting the software) may bring on the wrath of the lawyers. Trust us…you don't want that.
That's pretty harsh, IMO, but then again, cheaters suck anyway. Skillz, baby!
UPDATE: I'm curious. I'm going to send this to the school's cyberlaw/copyright prof., and see if she thinks it would stand up in Court. Meanwhile, feel free to chime in. Do you think this is fair? Do you think it increases or decreases the value of the game?
Things Not to Do Late at Night
I don't know why they affect me the way they do, but I can't seem to watch an Alien movie and get a good night's sleep afterwards. Late last night, after cutting commercials out of five BSG episodes, I found myself staring at the AVP DVD. So I put it in. And scanned it at high speed, for fifteen minutes or so, looking for some of the scenes I'd seen in the trailer.
I knew I was in trouble when I started seeing things moving out of the corner of my eye. And hearing things. (We live in an old apartment building, and there's a lot of wierd noises at night).
And at three in the morning, with the lamp on, staring at the ceiling, Cartoon Network playing on the Computer, I wondered why I do this kind of thing to myself. Does everyone have a particular movie/series that does the same kind of thing? Or am I just one of those hypersensitive types that keys in on this?
I knew I was in trouble when I started seeing things moving out of the corner of my eye. And hearing things. (We live in an old apartment building, and there's a lot of wierd noises at night).
And at three in the morning, with the lamp on, staring at the ceiling, Cartoon Network playing on the Computer, I wondered why I do this kind of thing to myself. Does everyone have a particular movie/series that does the same kind of thing? Or am I just one of those hypersensitive types that keys in on this?
Tuesday
Farewell to Trek on TV, Hello to Trek the way I thought it should be.
Back in the day, I used to design my own Star Trek ships. Before the Next Generation, in between even numbered movies, I designed my first ship. A three-engined saucer section. I called it a "Dutchman" class, like the Flying Dutchman ghost ship of legend. I still have the print out from the awkward attempt I made at drafting the image on my old Apple II. Named after mythological warriors, the flagship was the Agamemnon.
When I heard that Voyager was ending, and that they were trying to figure out what the next series would entail, I had the perfect idea. In fact, I'm still convinced that it would have been an incredible series. I wanted to see the Trek universe from outside of Starfleet. I wanted to get inside the heads of people who weren't associated with the Federation government. I had it all worked out.
I never found quite the right name for it, though. Essentially my idea was to take a Federation trained pilot, and get him out of the Federation. William J. Durburough. "Wild Bill". Ex-Peregrine pilot. Joins a merchant crew transporting... well... anything. In the pilot episode, he and the crew find themselves shipless, looking for a new berth, when a Romulan offers them a ship, and a trade route inside the Empire. Normally, Will would jump at the chance, but it just doesn't feel right. Enter Will's brother, Christian. Starfleet Intelligence. He sees Will's situation as a chance to get more information on what the Romulans are up to at any given time. I thought this had everything. Intrigue, espionage, smuggling, adventure, economics. The possibility of romance. But then again, maybe it would never have worked. Roddenberry always said that there was no grease in Star Trek. Maybe that's the way it should be. But I'll always wonder what I could have done with that situation. I've tried writing it out as a short story, but never really been able to make it work, because I always felt that it had to take place outside the Trek universe (no grease, remember), and getting the right situation without referring too obviously to Romulans, Cardassians, the Federation, etc. always seemed too difficult.
I don't know. Star Trek: Prodigal would have been a cool name. And I always wanted to be connected with something that took on a life of its own, something that I felt would outlast me, catch the imagination of people.
Maybe with a little distance from the source material, I'll be able to get that down the way I want to. But I'll always remember that it was Trek that put the idea there in the first place.
When I heard that Voyager was ending, and that they were trying to figure out what the next series would entail, I had the perfect idea. In fact, I'm still convinced that it would have been an incredible series. I wanted to see the Trek universe from outside of Starfleet. I wanted to get inside the heads of people who weren't associated with the Federation government. I had it all worked out.
I never found quite the right name for it, though. Essentially my idea was to take a Federation trained pilot, and get him out of the Federation. William J. Durburough. "Wild Bill". Ex-Peregrine pilot. Joins a merchant crew transporting... well... anything. In the pilot episode, he and the crew find themselves shipless, looking for a new berth, when a Romulan offers them a ship, and a trade route inside the Empire. Normally, Will would jump at the chance, but it just doesn't feel right. Enter Will's brother, Christian. Starfleet Intelligence. He sees Will's situation as a chance to get more information on what the Romulans are up to at any given time. I thought this had everything. Intrigue, espionage, smuggling, adventure, economics. The possibility of romance. But then again, maybe it would never have worked. Roddenberry always said that there was no grease in Star Trek. Maybe that's the way it should be. But I'll always wonder what I could have done with that situation. I've tried writing it out as a short story, but never really been able to make it work, because I always felt that it had to take place outside the Trek universe (no grease, remember), and getting the right situation without referring too obviously to Romulans, Cardassians, the Federation, etc. always seemed too difficult.
I don't know. Star Trek: Prodigal would have been a cool name. And I always wanted to be connected with something that took on a life of its own, something that I felt would outlast me, catch the imagination of people.
Maybe with a little distance from the source material, I'll be able to get that down the way I want to. But I'll always remember that it was Trek that put the idea there in the first place.
Sunday
Fair Use and Napster Subscription
In response to Yasmín's comment to the post below: Fair use doesn't enter into this, because in this case, you never owned the music in the first place. You're simply being given a blanket license to play music on your personal equipment. I'm not saying it's an ideal copyright situation. I realize that there's no ownership.
What I am saying is... they're throwing in a 5 gig music player that also displays pictures, has a built in voice recorder, and USB 2.0 for fast transfers. (Me Likey the iRiver).
Also, it's an easy (maybe too easy) solution for parents or grandparents who are worried that their kid might be filesharing and who knows when that subpoena from the RIAA is going to come to the door?
Moreover, satellite radio is $10 - $13 a month, and I don't control the playlist, I just listen to what they send. This plan gives a subscriber control over what they're listening to, and the option to purchase if they want to add something to their permanent library. So, compared to satellite radio, this seems like a pretty competitive option. Once the tracks are purchased, we can start talking about fair use, and whether or not it exists under the agreements of the various download services.
UPDATE: After the Super Bowl ad, I shouldn't be surprised, but over 1000 people have signed up for the Napster to Go service, meaning that there is no more free mp3 player. Maybe I should have signed up this morning when I saw the service.
What I am saying is... they're throwing in a 5 gig music player that also displays pictures, has a built in voice recorder, and USB 2.0 for fast transfers. (Me Likey the iRiver).
Also, it's an easy (maybe too easy) solution for parents or grandparents who are worried that their kid might be filesharing and who knows when that subpoena from the RIAA is going to come to the door?
Moreover, satellite radio is $10 - $13 a month, and I don't control the playlist, I just listen to what they send. This plan gives a subscriber control over what they're listening to, and the option to purchase if they want to add something to their permanent library. So, compared to satellite radio, this seems like a pretty competitive option. Once the tracks are purchased, we can start talking about fair use, and whether or not it exists under the agreements of the various download services.
UPDATE: After the Super Bowl ad, I shouldn't be surprised, but over 1000 people have signed up for the Napster to Go service, meaning that there is no more free mp3 player. Maybe I should have signed up this morning when I saw the service.
A Tempting Offer
Saw an article today about Napster's new Napster-to-Go service. Now, you subscribe to Napster, and you can download music to a compatible mp3 player without playing the 99 cents per track and as long as you're still subscribed, the songs will work. To make it easier to get a compatible player, Napster is offering (to the 1st 1000 people who sign up for a year) a free iRiver 5 gig mp3 player.
Now, it's a little steep for me, but it seems like an interesting idea. All the music you want, portability, but I'm sure you can't burn to disc without paying the 99 cents. What do you think? Is this a good service? Would you pass? Would you rather rent or own your music? Personally, while I would prefer to own my music, this would certainly make it easier for me to try lots of different kinds of music. Who knows, maybe I'd find something I really liked?
Now, it's a little steep for me, but it seems like an interesting idea. All the music you want, portability, but I'm sure you can't burn to disc without paying the 99 cents. What do you think? Is this a good service? Would you pass? Would you rather rent or own your music? Personally, while I would prefer to own my music, this would certainly make it easier for me to try lots of different kinds of music. Who knows, maybe I'd find something I really liked?
Saturday
Weekly "What are you watching" update
Here's a couple of vid caps from the new card. Please note that these images are copyright their respective owners.
It's Mac, from Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends. Recorded my first episode last night, and it's working like a charm.
Colonial Vipers, from Battlestar Galactica. The effects look great, and the actors sell their parts well. I wasn't happy when I found out that Starbuck was going to be a girl (and Boomer, not only a small Asian girl, but a Cylon to boot? Come on!) But everyone's doing a fantastic job with this series.
And, Gankutsuo! This Japanese sci-fi animé re-telling of the Count of Monte Cristo is fantastic. The animation style is unique. Good stuff.
Also, people should check out Azumanga Daioh! if at all possible. Funny. Very, very funny. My personal favorite is Osaka. Like her, I spend the beginning of every semester thinking to myself "Get it together! Get it together!" But it never works out that way. :(
It's Mac, from Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends. Recorded my first episode last night, and it's working like a charm.
Colonial Vipers, from Battlestar Galactica. The effects look great, and the actors sell their parts well. I wasn't happy when I found out that Starbuck was going to be a girl (and Boomer, not only a small Asian girl, but a Cylon to boot? Come on!) But everyone's doing a fantastic job with this series.
And, Gankutsuo! This Japanese sci-fi animé re-telling of the Count of Monte Cristo is fantastic. The animation style is unique. Good stuff.
Also, people should check out Azumanga Daioh! if at all possible. Funny. Very, very funny. My personal favorite is Osaka. Like her, I spend the beginning of every semester thinking to myself "Get it together! Get it together!" But it never works out that way. :(
Slacker!
I feel like a bit of a slacker. I've been so busy with life, work, internship, school, etc., that it's really cut down on my blogging. And there are so many interesting things going on. The Copyright Office is asking for comments on what to do with orphan works. The State of the Union address. Condie's and Alberto Gonzalez' approval for their Cabinet positions. The Iraq Election, for crying out loud.
To be honest, I haven't commented on the Iraq election on purpose. It is a vindication of our actions in Iraq. But I don't feel comfortable crowing about it here. It's not my victory. It's theirs. And more power to them for it.
And what news is there really to say on the Cabinet appointments? Dems don't like Ms. Rice or Mr. Gonzalez. Which is a little odd, seeing as how their appointment would have been unheard of fifty years ago. I mean, a black woman being appointed as Secretary of State? A Hispanic man as the Attorney General of the U.S.? The civil rights movement should be trumpeting this accomplishment to the skies. Maybe I'm just an Idaho farm boy, but the attacks on them both just seem wrong to me.
There are bloggers who will cover this. A few of them are featured in my blogroll. Personally, I'm thinking it's high time for an animé update. After all, it's at least three weeks late.
To be honest, I haven't commented on the Iraq election on purpose. It is a vindication of our actions in Iraq. But I don't feel comfortable crowing about it here. It's not my victory. It's theirs. And more power to them for it.
And what news is there really to say on the Cabinet appointments? Dems don't like Ms. Rice or Mr. Gonzalez. Which is a little odd, seeing as how their appointment would have been unheard of fifty years ago. I mean, a black woman being appointed as Secretary of State? A Hispanic man as the Attorney General of the U.S.? The civil rights movement should be trumpeting this accomplishment to the skies. Maybe I'm just an Idaho farm boy, but the attacks on them both just seem wrong to me.
There are bloggers who will cover this. A few of them are featured in my blogroll. Personally, I'm thinking it's high time for an animé update. After all, it's at least three weeks late.
Friday
Wednesday
Some simple observations.
It's a lot easier to study for law school when you have books.
Getting books in the mail is fun.
New video cards breathe new life into old games.
Chapelle show, while horrifyingly offensive, is occasionally very, very funny. Best line from what I caught of it last night? "I'm Wayne Brady, B*#&$!"
I haven't done a Friday Animé Update for a few weeks. Looking for new animé is fun.
Gankutsuo is good. VERY good. Great job of ending the episode right at the most tense moment - carries you through to the next week.
However, the translation of Count of Monte Cristo that I'm reading now is also VERY good.
RahXephon was really wierd.
FullMetal Alchemist vol. 1 hits DVD on Tuesday.
Harry Potter 6 is coming.
Texas has its bar in July. The first deadline for application was Jan 30th, though.
They have another bar in February.
Microsoft Office is EXPENSIVE
Open Office is FREE and allows me to save directly to PDF
Mice can be patentable, and licensed. Whoa.
Getting books in the mail is fun.
New video cards breathe new life into old games.
Chapelle show, while horrifyingly offensive, is occasionally very, very funny. Best line from what I caught of it last night? "I'm Wayne Brady, B*#&$!"
I haven't done a Friday Animé Update for a few weeks. Looking for new animé is fun.
Gankutsuo is good. VERY good. Great job of ending the episode right at the most tense moment - carries you through to the next week.
However, the translation of Count of Monte Cristo that I'm reading now is also VERY good.
RahXephon was really wierd.
FullMetal Alchemist vol. 1 hits DVD on Tuesday.
Harry Potter 6 is coming.
Texas has its bar in July. The first deadline for application was Jan 30th, though.
They have another bar in February.
Microsoft Office is EXPENSIVE
Open Office is FREE and allows me to save directly to PDF
Mice can be patentable, and licensed. Whoa.
Monday
NewsFlash: Man Bludgeons Computer Into Submission...
Yes, the heavy, heavy mace of uninstalling and reinstalling various drivers has resulted in the previously unthinkable, unattainable goal - I can record TV onto my hard drive. Last night, I recorded about two minutes worth of (shudder) America's Funniest Home Videos. I swear I wasn't watching it on purpose. And now I've memorialized two minutes of it into the electronic Etch-A-Sketch that is my computer hard drive.
The weekend was fun. We've been living in apartments about a block from a particular pricey restaurant. I've wanted to go in there and have dinner ever since we moved in, but welive in downtown Lake O., and this is one of those restaurants attached to one of those too cool outdoor malls. But Saturday, we went and had lunch. Rotisserie chicken. Asparagus. Garlic Mashed Potatoes. And unlike the other pricey restaurant that Reeta and I have been to (we're the last of the big spenders - we've been to two restaurants that we thought were pricey but were probably well out of the 4 star range), this was actually satisfying. Good grief, I had something like 1/2 a chicken. Didn't eat it all, obviously, and that's okay with me.
But we've also discovered the "Two Brothers Texas Grill" on State St. in Lake Oswego. Brisket. 4 types of sauce. Unfortunately, Reeta and I didn't specify the kind of sauce we wanted, and they brought us the brisket drowned in "Memphis" barbeque sauce.
Now, maybe it's just me, but if the sign on the door says "Texas Barbeque", that sauce shouldn't be the Southern, Non-Texas-Style-Sauce. So, we'll go back, but we'll definitely tell them in advance that Reeta is a real Texan, and that we want a) to choose our sauce, and b) put it on the side, please.
We also went and saw Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events, which I thought was very cleverly done. And while death and destruction seemed to plague the Baudelaire children wherever they went, it was at the end a movie about hope, and going on despite obstacles, no matter what they might be. It almost makes me want to read the books, but honestly, I don't have the time. After all, I'm in law school.
And reading the Count of Monte Cristo. Edmond escaped from the Chateau d'If last night, gained the trust of a band of smugglers, and recovered the treasure. Then, he found the first of the conspirators, Caderousse, had opened an inn. He'll be dealt with tonight, I think.
The weekend was fun. We've been living in apartments about a block from a particular pricey restaurant. I've wanted to go in there and have dinner ever since we moved in, but welive in downtown Lake O., and this is one of those restaurants attached to one of those too cool outdoor malls. But Saturday, we went and had lunch. Rotisserie chicken. Asparagus. Garlic Mashed Potatoes. And unlike the other pricey restaurant that Reeta and I have been to (we're the last of the big spenders - we've been to two restaurants that we thought were pricey but were probably well out of the 4 star range), this was actually satisfying. Good grief, I had something like 1/2 a chicken. Didn't eat it all, obviously, and that's okay with me.
But we've also discovered the "Two Brothers Texas Grill" on State St. in Lake Oswego. Brisket. 4 types of sauce. Unfortunately, Reeta and I didn't specify the kind of sauce we wanted, and they brought us the brisket drowned in "Memphis" barbeque sauce.
Now, maybe it's just me, but if the sign on the door says "Texas Barbeque", that sauce shouldn't be the Southern, Non-Texas-Style-Sauce. So, we'll go back, but we'll definitely tell them in advance that Reeta is a real Texan, and that we want a) to choose our sauce, and b) put it on the side, please.
We also went and saw Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events, which I thought was very cleverly done. And while death and destruction seemed to plague the Baudelaire children wherever they went, it was at the end a movie about hope, and going on despite obstacles, no matter what they might be. It almost makes me want to read the books, but honestly, I don't have the time. After all, I'm in law school.
And reading the Count of Monte Cristo. Edmond escaped from the Chateau d'If last night, gained the trust of a band of smugglers, and recovered the treasure. Then, he found the first of the conspirators, Caderousse, had opened an inn. He'll be dealt with tonight, I think.
Sunday
A Mind Endless Tweaking
It's done. It was a little bit more than I wanted to spend, but it's done.
It's an Athlon 2000 Barton in an Asus nForce motherboard, with 512 Megs of RAM, 160 Gig HD, ATI 9800 AIW Pro video card, wireless internet, running Windows XP.
It took a little longer than I thought it would. I was up all Friday night, and didn't get to bed until Saturday morning at 6:00 AM. Wow. I still haven't gotten it to record TV, but I can watch, pause, rewind, etc. And it's got a DVD burner in it. But that doesn't do me much good until I can record TV.
Half-Life 2 and the Sims 2 are up and running. Reeta and I are trying to get a schedule going so we can each have turns. Fun stuff.
It's an Athlon 2000 Barton in an Asus nForce motherboard, with 512 Megs of RAM, 160 Gig HD, ATI 9800 AIW Pro video card, wireless internet, running Windows XP.
It took a little longer than I thought it would. I was up all Friday night, and didn't get to bed until Saturday morning at 6:00 AM. Wow. I still haven't gotten it to record TV, but I can watch, pause, rewind, etc. And it's got a DVD burner in it. But that doesn't do me much good until I can record TV.
Half-Life 2 and the Sims 2 are up and running. Reeta and I are trying to get a schedule going so we can each have turns. Fun stuff.
Friday
Downtime
Posting around here has been slow of late, I know. All my grades came back. What can I say? At least I'm consistent. All the same grade. Except for Ethics. At least I passed all of my classes, though I really didn't do as well in Cyberlaw as I thought I had. I guess that'll teach me to think a test is a lot of fun. I probably treated it that way. Ah well, at least I enjoyed it. And I got a B in ethics, so at least I'm a little ahead of the average ethically.
Started my internship at the local Corporation-That-Shall-Not-Be-Named. I won't blog about anything there specifically, but I will say that today I helped proofread and re-draft a Letter of Intent going to a big Japanese Firm. That was a lot of fun. And I've got to be there fairly early tomorrow, so I've got to cut this kind of short. I'm not sure how the rest of the semester will shape up, but so far, it's been okay - now if only I could get my computer working with the new AIW card. Bleah. Stupid imcompatibility issues... Tomorrow, the ultimate upgrade! A new Mobo. I've never installed a motherboard before. I've done pretty much everything else - even the power supply. I've installed OS's. I've swapped out hard drives. I've replaced RAM, sound cards, video cards, network cards, etc., etc., etc... Tomorrow, I get a new motherboard for the first time, and I'm a little intimidated by it. I'm going to scavenge as much as I can out of the old system - processor, hard drives, DVD roms. But there's no telling how much of it will work until I've got the motherboard in hand. Here's hoping all goes well!
Started my internship at the local Corporation-That-Shall-Not-Be-Named. I won't blog about anything there specifically, but I will say that today I helped proofread and re-draft a Letter of Intent going to a big Japanese Firm. That was a lot of fun. And I've got to be there fairly early tomorrow, so I've got to cut this kind of short. I'm not sure how the rest of the semester will shape up, but so far, it's been okay - now if only I could get my computer working with the new AIW card. Bleah. Stupid imcompatibility issues... Tomorrow, the ultimate upgrade! A new Mobo. I've never installed a motherboard before. I've done pretty much everything else - even the power supply. I've installed OS's. I've swapped out hard drives. I've replaced RAM, sound cards, video cards, network cards, etc., etc., etc... Tomorrow, I get a new motherboard for the first time, and I'm a little intimidated by it. I'm going to scavenge as much as I can out of the old system - processor, hard drives, DVD roms. But there's no telling how much of it will work until I've got the motherboard in hand. Here's hoping all goes well!
Monday
Comparative Excellence
Taking a look at some of the grades my compatriots have posted in their classes, and looking at my own less-than-stellar performance, I have to admit that I'm a little frustrated.
I feel like an idiot because I see my friends getting A's and B's, and I'm consistently getting C's. I have the sneaking suspicion that everyone else is really getting it, and for whatever reason, I'm just not.
But I also think to myself that I'm probably an unusual law student. I don't refer to hornbooks or study guides. I don't use emanuel's or other "helps". I've been working around fifteen hours a week, every week of law school from day one. I have a wife and daughter that are important to me, and that I need to be there for. I understand that, but it still twists the gut a little to see how well other people are doing, and how not-so-well I'm doing.
I feel like an idiot because I see my friends getting A's and B's, and I'm consistently getting C's. I have the sneaking suspicion that everyone else is really getting it, and for whatever reason, I'm just not.
But I also think to myself that I'm probably an unusual law student. I don't refer to hornbooks or study guides. I don't use emanuel's or other "helps". I've been working around fifteen hours a week, every week of law school from day one. I have a wife and daughter that are important to me, and that I need to be there for. I understand that, but it still twists the gut a little to see how well other people are doing, and how not-so-well I'm doing.
Impending Differences
This is the week.
This week, I should be able to get my hands on a new video card - the ATI 9600 AIW. AIW stands for All in Wonder. The local Frye's has a pretty good deal going on. There are a numberof reasons I'm going with that card, including the ability to pause, record, and "play with" broadcast tv. (I'll also be getting some more RAM, a larger hard drive, and a DVD burner). I prefer this solution to TiVO because (a) - I can burn my programs to DVD. I can take something like FMA, which shows very late at night on Cartoon Network, burn it to disc, and watch it the next day, or a week later, on the larger TV in the living room. I like to exercise while I watch my anime, and it makes better sense to do that earlier in the day rather than incredibly late at night when I may be keeping my downstairs neighbor awake. (b) - I can save programs in a variety of formats. I should be able to go to Divx video, or to MPEG. That allows me to control file sizes. And my DVD player plays DiVX files. Also good. (c) - No subscription fee. Once I buy the card and the bundled software, that should be it. No monthly charges to get schedules, no paying extra so my card will work correctly. (d) - Hacks. TiVO can change their system at any time, determining what can and can't be recorded. With a card in my computer, chances are greater that if something happens that starts to abrogate my fair use rights in relation to programming (like what's happening with HBO and their attempt to close up the analog hole), that someone somewhere will create and release on the web a workaround for that particular problem. Can't do that with TiVO. (e) Moving files around. With the AIW, I can save things to my hard drive, and make them accessible to other computers on my home network - like my laptop. I'll be able to take my laptop into Claire's room, and we can enjoy the latest Foster's together before she goes to sleep.
And of course, Ed Felten points out some interesting things happening in TiVO's corporate heirarchy, and addresses the mindset implications of what's going on. Ed's always good reading.
This week, I should be able to get my hands on a new video card - the ATI 9600 AIW. AIW stands for All in Wonder. The local Frye's has a pretty good deal going on. There are a numberof reasons I'm going with that card, including the ability to pause, record, and "play with" broadcast tv. (I'll also be getting some more RAM, a larger hard drive, and a DVD burner). I prefer this solution to TiVO because (a) - I can burn my programs to DVD. I can take something like FMA, which shows very late at night on Cartoon Network, burn it to disc, and watch it the next day, or a week later, on the larger TV in the living room. I like to exercise while I watch my anime, and it makes better sense to do that earlier in the day rather than incredibly late at night when I may be keeping my downstairs neighbor awake. (b) - I can save programs in a variety of formats. I should be able to go to Divx video, or to MPEG. That allows me to control file sizes. And my DVD player plays DiVX files. Also good. (c) - No subscription fee. Once I buy the card and the bundled software, that should be it. No monthly charges to get schedules, no paying extra so my card will work correctly. (d) - Hacks. TiVO can change their system at any time, determining what can and can't be recorded. With a card in my computer, chances are greater that if something happens that starts to abrogate my fair use rights in relation to programming (like what's happening with HBO and their attempt to close up the analog hole), that someone somewhere will create and release on the web a workaround for that particular problem. Can't do that with TiVO. (e) Moving files around. With the AIW, I can save things to my hard drive, and make them accessible to other computers on my home network - like my laptop. I'll be able to take my laptop into Claire's room, and we can enjoy the latest Foster's together before she goes to sleep.
And of course, Ed Felten points out some interesting things happening in TiVO's corporate heirarchy, and addresses the mindset implications of what's going on. Ed's always good reading.
Saturday
Explosively Surreal
So, I just watched "Napoleon Dynamite". And my mom had told me it was filmed in Preston, ID, which is just south of where I grew up. It was frickin' sweet seeing Idaho staples like a Ricks College shirt. And the Deseret Industries (where he bought the suit). And it looks just like where I grew up. So much so it's scary. Moon boots. Farm fields. I could probably identify the crops that were growing in the movie from personal experience. Heck, I've been on those sand dunes. Grandma went flying, and the first thing that went through my mind is "Oh, she's okay - sand's pretty soft" - then I thought about how packed that stuff is. Every outside shot was home sweet home. Green irrigated grass - brown hills with shrub. Lots of steak. Shooting the cow. Paper ninja stars. Girls with side-ponytails. Even the indoor shots were totally Idaho. I swear I never LIVED in a house that looked like that (my mother knows secret ninja decorating secrets from the government), but I certainly have BEEN in houses that looked like those. I've even taken my three-wheeled ATV off some sweet jumps, and caught like, three feet of air.
And that strange obsession with Tots...
And that strange obsession with Tots...
Friday
New in the "Just Calm the H#$$ Down" Dept...
FOXNews.com - Foxlife - SpongeBob Accused of Promoting Homosexuality
Come on! Personally, I'm worried that someone would ascribe sexuality to Spongebob at all. After all, he reproduces by budding. (Something the show has actually seen). Spongebob is asexual. Too bad intolerant, hypersensitive, would-be monitors aren't.
Come on! Personally, I'm worried that someone would ascribe sexuality to Spongebob at all. After all, he reproduces by budding. (Something the show has actually seen). Spongebob is asexual. Too bad intolerant, hypersensitive, would-be monitors aren't.
Thursday
p2p hunters
Apparently, California has just had a bill introduced that would make it a crime to create p2p software that can be used for distributing copyrighted works without taking "reasonable care in preventing use of that software to commit an unlawful act with respect to a commercial recording or audiovisual work". As I read this, it means that if a software author fails to take reasonable care in preventing copyright infringement, that person is guilty of a crime in CA, and the bill goes on to say that the penalty for breaking this law is a fine of up to $2,500 or up to a year in county jail.
Reasonable care extends to the amount of care that a reasonable person in that same place would take. What possibilities exist here? Software at this point has no means of identifying copyrighted works. There is no central database of all possible formats of Metallica's "Enter Sandman", for example. There is no copyrighted work watermark (thinking of the old SDMI project here). So, if the software can't do it, what has to happen? I think we're left with two ways of interpreting this bill.
First, the bill could be an attempt to legislate the author into a particular architecture - the Napster model, where you have one central server, and you can see what people are trading by looking at the list of files being traded on that central server. That way, someone can monitor and stop the sharing of copyrighted works. (I think this is the more likely outcome of the proposed legislation).
Second, the bill could just be an attempt to get the author to include warnings.
Third, the bill could be an attempt to halt the development of p2p software altogether. This may be more correct than anything. It's disturbing to see the lengths that some people are going to in order to prevent leaks in a system that resembles a pasta strainer. Bootlegs and copies will happen. It may be unfortunate, but it's reality.
BTW: Ed Felten points out that the definition of peer to peer software in the introduced bill clearly includes the web, probably the internet as well, so any program that allows you to connect to the Internet would be criminal. (Including browsers?)
Ed Felten is highly recommended reading for anyone on the 'Net.
Reasonable care extends to the amount of care that a reasonable person in that same place would take. What possibilities exist here? Software at this point has no means of identifying copyrighted works. There is no central database of all possible formats of Metallica's "Enter Sandman", for example. There is no copyrighted work watermark (thinking of the old SDMI project here). So, if the software can't do it, what has to happen? I think we're left with two ways of interpreting this bill.
First, the bill could be an attempt to legislate the author into a particular architecture - the Napster model, where you have one central server, and you can see what people are trading by looking at the list of files being traded on that central server. That way, someone can monitor and stop the sharing of copyrighted works. (I think this is the more likely outcome of the proposed legislation).
Second, the bill could just be an attempt to get the author to include warnings.
Third, the bill could be an attempt to halt the development of p2p software altogether. This may be more correct than anything. It's disturbing to see the lengths that some people are going to in order to prevent leaks in a system that resembles a pasta strainer. Bootlegs and copies will happen. It may be unfortunate, but it's reality.
BTW: Ed Felten points out that the definition of peer to peer software in the introduced bill clearly includes the web, probably the internet as well, so any program that allows you to connect to the Internet would be criminal. (Including browsers?)
Ed Felten is highly recommended reading for anyone on the 'Net.
Tuesday
Breathe, man, Breathe!
Second day of classes. Managed to contact the company I'll be interning for. Don't expect to see anything about them mentioned here. I'd like to build a good relationship there. Admin, Antitrust, Wills/Trusts, Patent Law & Policy, and the Corporate Internship Seminar, or CIS. Haven't bought books yet, waiting until I actually have some money in my account to do that. Meanwhile, life goes on. Expect more regular updates/commentary/etc. as I ease into the schedule.
Strange dynamic in classes. People tend not to sit by me. I bathe. Maybe it's the "W - The President" sticker on the laptop. And the "Peace through Superior Firepower" shirt. Am I the victim of silent ostracization? Am I just a lone wolf, on the prowl through the cold harsh realm that is law school?
And I just found out that one of my favorite professors broke her ankle. When? How? What?
Strange dynamic in classes. People tend not to sit by me. I bathe. Maybe it's the "W - The President" sticker on the laptop. And the "Peace through Superior Firepower" shirt. Am I the victim of silent ostracization? Am I just a lone wolf, on the prowl through the cold harsh realm that is law school?
And I just found out that one of my favorite professors broke her ankle. When? How? What?
Sunday
My Amazing Journey
So, last night, Reeta turned to me, and told me that we needed milk. It was my job(according to her) to procure said milk. Normally, this wouldn't be a problem, except for the tiny fact that we'd been having freezing rain all day. (Church was cancelled today, which is why I'm here at home blogging instead of leading the Primary kids in song).
So, I put on my trusty Airwalk sneakers, a scarf, my Combi snowmobiling gloves and my big winter coat (I grew up in Idaho - I'm prepared for snow). And off I went to 7-eleven. That was a harrowing journey of four city blocks. Uphill. On slick black ice. Early on, I thought I was doomed to failure, finding myself in a slight depression less than a block from the apartment. Darn handicapped sidewalk dips. Managing to find enough traction in the road to get out of that, I continued - cutting through some frozen grass, and up some slick steps. Went up those like I was an old man. One limb at a time. Hand. Hand. Foot. Foot. Hand. Etc.
Got into the parking lot of the police station a block from here, and they had put down lots of ice melt, so I was fine there, but it was still two blocks to 7-Eleven, and still uphill. At one point, I was down on one knee - having slowly, slowly lost footing until I sank down to regain a little traction.
When I finally got to the 7-Eleven, it seemed that I would be daunted, as the sidewalk was jusst to slick to go up the foot or two of rise between myself and the door. Once again, I took to the road, and managed to get to the door.
$2.69 for a gallon of 2%. No way was I risking my life for anything less. And no way could I carry anything else back. The milk was double bagged, and I started home. If you thought going up hill was difficult and scary after a good freezing rain, brother, try downhill with a gallon of milk to pull you off balance. A couple of times, I found myself skateboarding down the ice. Without a skateboard, naturally. But despite all that, I found myself getting home after that forty minute trek. Cereal for everyone! Hooray!
So, I put on my trusty Airwalk sneakers, a scarf, my Combi snowmobiling gloves and my big winter coat (I grew up in Idaho - I'm prepared for snow). And off I went to 7-eleven. That was a harrowing journey of four city blocks. Uphill. On slick black ice. Early on, I thought I was doomed to failure, finding myself in a slight depression less than a block from the apartment. Darn handicapped sidewalk dips. Managing to find enough traction in the road to get out of that, I continued - cutting through some frozen grass, and up some slick steps. Went up those like I was an old man. One limb at a time. Hand. Hand. Foot. Foot. Hand. Etc.
Got into the parking lot of the police station a block from here, and they had put down lots of ice melt, so I was fine there, but it was still two blocks to 7-Eleven, and still uphill. At one point, I was down on one knee - having slowly, slowly lost footing until I sank down to regain a little traction.
When I finally got to the 7-Eleven, it seemed that I would be daunted, as the sidewalk was jusst to slick to go up the foot or two of rise between myself and the door. Once again, I took to the road, and managed to get to the door.
$2.69 for a gallon of 2%. No way was I risking my life for anything less. And no way could I carry anything else back. The milk was double bagged, and I started home. If you thought going up hill was difficult and scary after a good freezing rain, brother, try downhill with a gallon of milk to pull you off balance. A couple of times, I found myself skateboarding down the ice. Without a skateboard, naturally. But despite all that, I found myself getting home after that forty minute trek. Cereal for everyone! Hooray!
Friday
Winding down? You wish!
It's the Friday before classes start. This is the final weekend of my INCREDIBLE GAMING BINGE!!! And it's been a fun couple of weeks. I've finished the Aielund trilogy, destroying the indestructible Ironlord only to find out it was a hero of legend. Then I killed him accidentally. Oops.
I've almost finished Hordes of the Underdark, making it all the way through the Underdark, and through a particular circle of Hell before coming up against the indestructible Lord of Hell, Mephistopheles. The fact that he is, in fact, indestructible (as opposed to the aforementioned "indestructible without the One Artifact that you Need to Destroy the Grim Menace" Ironlord) has put a bit of a damper on my completion of that particular adventure. It's the last fight, how do I win?
I've been fighting my way from power node to power node on various planets, flak cannon in hand, and discovered that I really, really enjoy looking at my enemies from inside the turret of a Goliath tank. Also that a microphone does wonders for my enjoyment of online FPS play.
And I've been defending my Homeworld against the ravages of the marauding Vaygr, battling my way to and fro across the galaxy, surviving against incredible odds, in a kind of Rocky-esque last-man-standing slugfest in space. I have found the Oracle. I have awakened the Gatekeeper of Sajuuk, only to find that my enemy not only has awakened his own Dreadnought, but has also located the Gate of Unknown Significance!
In short, I am having a freakin' blast! It all ends Monday morning, though. Sometime between now and Monday Morning, 10:00 AM, I have to complete my quest to unite the three cores and awaken He Whose Hand Shapes What Is. After that, I'll just be a weekend warrior, taking the occasional odd hour or two on Saturdays to slip my quiet, cautious way through City 17. I'll be the one with the glasses.
I've almost finished Hordes of the Underdark, making it all the way through the Underdark, and through a particular circle of Hell before coming up against the indestructible Lord of Hell, Mephistopheles. The fact that he is, in fact, indestructible (as opposed to the aforementioned "indestructible without the One Artifact that you Need to Destroy the Grim Menace" Ironlord) has put a bit of a damper on my completion of that particular adventure. It's the last fight, how do I win?
I've been fighting my way from power node to power node on various planets, flak cannon in hand, and discovered that I really, really enjoy looking at my enemies from inside the turret of a Goliath tank. Also that a microphone does wonders for my enjoyment of online FPS play.
And I've been defending my Homeworld against the ravages of the marauding Vaygr, battling my way to and fro across the galaxy, surviving against incredible odds, in a kind of Rocky-esque last-man-standing slugfest in space. I have found the Oracle. I have awakened the Gatekeeper of Sajuuk, only to find that my enemy not only has awakened his own Dreadnought, but has also located the Gate of Unknown Significance!
In short, I am having a freakin' blast! It all ends Monday morning, though. Sometime between now and Monday Morning, 10:00 AM, I have to complete my quest to unite the three cores and awaken He Whose Hand Shapes What Is. After that, I'll just be a weekend warrior, taking the occasional odd hour or two on Saturdays to slip my quiet, cautious way through City 17. I'll be the one with the glasses.
Thursday
Photographic Proof
Here's a picture of a poster at the local Babbages, displaying the ESRB rating system. The ESRB was the pioneer of putting language on the box that told you why something was rated the way it was (which we're now seeing on movie ratings). There's no law requiring that it be up.
I talked to the local EBX staff, who did NOT have the stuff up, nor did they have any literature or information on it (a huge disappointment to me - I always preferred EBX to Babbages in the past). They indicated that they would have that information up in all EB Games stores sometime in February.
So, maybe there's something to people saying that the ESRB ratings aren't understood. Maybe not. Anyway, Here is a link to the ratings and what they mean. Sure, we're after Christmas, but it's good information to have.
Wednesday
Why I should have been an engineering student at BYU.
My brother is currently an engineering student at the Y. He says one of his material science teachers ran an experiment where he compressed water to 40% of its normal volume. It got up to about 1 million psi.
And it exploded.
The other material science teacher owns a MiG fighter.
I am so jealous. But he keeps going off about the new mini Mac, so I'm scared that the engineering program is subverting my little brother.
And it exploded.
The other material science teacher owns a MiG fighter.
I am so jealous. But he keeps going off about the new mini Mac, so I'm scared that the engineering program is subverting my little brother.
Tuesday
Today's Claireism
So Reeta told me that the other day that she and Claire were watching TV. Reeta hates commercials, and immediately changes channels as soon as her commercial sense sees one coming. Claire turned to her the other night and said "Mom, I was watching that!" Reeta said "It's a commercial, I don't like commercials."
Claire's response: "You're gonna have to learn to deal with it, Mom."
Maybe all that training is paying off.
Claire's response: "You're gonna have to learn to deal with it, Mom."
Maybe all that training is paying off.
Monday
On Moral Responsibilities
This week's Homespun Symposium question comes from CJ at The Unmentionables.
What, in your opinion, are the moral responsibilities of the individual citizen in the United States (or your own country) today and how do you believe people should act upon (or react to) those perceived responsibilities?
To put it bluntly, the moral responsibilities of individual citizens are universal, regardless of their location. We should lead moral, honest, responsible lives. We should contribute and participate in our families, in our communities, and in our countries, as far as we possibly can. We should do our best to do our duty to God and our Country, to help other people at all times, to keep ourselves physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight - in the words of the Boy Scout Oath. The final part of the LDS Articles of Faith sums it up like this:
"We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul - We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report, or praiseworthy, we seek after these things."
I think that translates out well no matter what country you belong to.
Other Homespun Responses:
Weapons of Mass Distraction
Being Thomas Luongo
The Unmentionables
Ogre's Politics and Views
Little Red Blog
The Redhunter
Major Dad 1984
Three Men and a Blog
What, in your opinion, are the moral responsibilities of the individual citizen in the United States (or your own country) today and how do you believe people should act upon (or react to) those perceived responsibilities?
To put it bluntly, the moral responsibilities of individual citizens are universal, regardless of their location. We should lead moral, honest, responsible lives. We should contribute and participate in our families, in our communities, and in our countries, as far as we possibly can. We should do our best to do our duty to God and our Country, to help other people at all times, to keep ourselves physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight - in the words of the Boy Scout Oath. The final part of the LDS Articles of Faith sums it up like this:
"We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul - We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report, or praiseworthy, we seek after these things."
I think that translates out well no matter what country you belong to.
Other Homespun Responses:
Weapons of Mass Distraction
Being Thomas Luongo
The Unmentionables
Ogre's Politics and Views
Little Red Blog
The Redhunter
Major Dad 1984
Three Men and a Blog
Tech Firms Aim to Change Copyright Act
Tech Firms Aim to Change Copyright Act (washingtonpost.com - registration required)
This is something we talked about in Cyberlaw class. There's no way that we should hold ISP's liable for the bits and packets that flow over their networks any more than we should hold the U.S. government responsible for illegal drugs that flow over the highways. No one is suing the government for creating the interstate system. No one is arguing that the government is liable for creating something that facilitates the trafficking in illegal goods. Why on Earth is someone arguing that ISP's should be held liable for individual filesharers passing around a copy of... I dunno... Gigli. (THAT would explain those horrible box office numbers, right? Why, oh why can't Ben Affleck pick a halfway decent project?!? Matt Damon can do it. What's Ben's problem?)
It's my understanding that internet transmissions are broken down into packets, and then the packets flow out over the network and are reassembled at their destination for viewing on the computer. Let's break this down. I want to send my buddy a copy of Moby Dick, which I downloaded from Gutenberg. I take it, and break it out into individual words. The Gutenberg text of Moby Dick is 419 pages, 215,643 words. I take 215,643 of my good friends and neighbors, and give each of them a word, and my buddy's address, and they all traipse over and deliver their words. My friend then re-assembles the words into Moby Dick. All perfectly legal, because Moby Dick is in the public domain. No problems.
Let's say that I want to do the same thing with David Drake's "The Tank Lords" © 1997. I break it down into words - 118,101 of them - and send my friends and neighbors out again. Now then, the individual words aren't copyrightable. You can't copyright "the" or "tank" or "lords". The individuals distributing the individual words are not breaking the law. I am by sending a copy of a copyrighted work to my friend. But the individual distributors are not.
Let's take it one step further. Let's say that instead of breaking it into words and giving everyone a word on a piece of paper, I put them all in envelopes, and the individuals have no idea what's written on there? That's analogous to what happens when an ISP passes on a packet of information. They don't know what's in the packet, and to be honest, even if they could look at the one packet, it means nothing without the rest of them. ISP's should not be held liable for the copyright infringement of their end users. Nail the end users. Figuratively speaking, put their stuffed heads on a wall. But don't go after the ISP's. They are not responsible for it any more than those friends of mine and David Drake's book or any more than the U.S. government is with the interstate system and drug trafficking. Selah.
This is something we talked about in Cyberlaw class. There's no way that we should hold ISP's liable for the bits and packets that flow over their networks any more than we should hold the U.S. government responsible for illegal drugs that flow over the highways. No one is suing the government for creating the interstate system. No one is arguing that the government is liable for creating something that facilitates the trafficking in illegal goods. Why on Earth is someone arguing that ISP's should be held liable for individual filesharers passing around a copy of... I dunno... Gigli. (THAT would explain those horrible box office numbers, right? Why, oh why can't Ben Affleck pick a halfway decent project?!? Matt Damon can do it. What's Ben's problem?)
It's my understanding that internet transmissions are broken down into packets, and then the packets flow out over the network and are reassembled at their destination for viewing on the computer. Let's break this down. I want to send my buddy a copy of Moby Dick, which I downloaded from Gutenberg. I take it, and break it out into individual words. The Gutenberg text of Moby Dick is 419 pages, 215,643 words. I take 215,643 of my good friends and neighbors, and give each of them a word, and my buddy's address, and they all traipse over and deliver their words. My friend then re-assembles the words into Moby Dick. All perfectly legal, because Moby Dick is in the public domain. No problems.
Let's say that I want to do the same thing with David Drake's "The Tank Lords" © 1997. I break it down into words - 118,101 of them - and send my friends and neighbors out again. Now then, the individual words aren't copyrightable. You can't copyright "the" or "tank" or "lords". The individuals distributing the individual words are not breaking the law. I am by sending a copy of a copyrighted work to my friend. But the individual distributors are not.
Let's take it one step further. Let's say that instead of breaking it into words and giving everyone a word on a piece of paper, I put them all in envelopes, and the individuals have no idea what's written on there? That's analogous to what happens when an ISP passes on a packet of information. They don't know what's in the packet, and to be honest, even if they could look at the one packet, it means nothing without the rest of them. ISP's should not be held liable for the copyright infringement of their end users. Nail the end users. Figuratively speaking, put their stuffed heads on a wall. But don't go after the ISP's. They are not responsible for it any more than those friends of mine and David Drake's book or any more than the U.S. government is with the interstate system and drug trafficking. Selah.
Happy Anniversary to Us!
It sucks that this comes when we're both feeling under the weather, but today is our anniversary! Eight wonderful years. It hardly seems like any time at all, really. But I'm so happy, and grateful to have Reeta. Here's to another great eight years in the future (which I hoping will get better and better.)
Upgrades
I keep talking about doing this, but I think next week will finally see me upgrading the computer. Thanks again to the incredible Stuart for the processor, I'm finally taking the plunge. Here's what I've decided on. I have an aging Compaq computer. It's running Windows ME. Three PCI slots, and one AGP 2x/4x slot. Three slots for RAM.
I'll take the RAM first - three 256 Meg DIMMs. The manufacturer says that's the max, so we'll go with that.
Then, a video card - I've decided on the ATI 9800 All In Wonder, with the remote control. Video Capture a Go-Go, Baby! Plus Crankin' Video Performance.
I'll leave the current sound card there (unless I decide to pick up a cheap 5.1 card), and leave the wireless network setup. I'll take out the current Ethernet card, and replace it with a USB 2.0 card. I'll install a new 120 G hard drive as a D drive. I'll format the C:\ drive, and upgrade to Windows XP Media Center edition. I'm also installing a DVD burner (for to burn Foster's, Stargate, Battlestar Galactica, etc.) I may need a new power supply. That might just be a good idea anyway.
As for software, I'll pick up a copy of Nero. There are drivers and programs for video capture with the card. The only other serious outlay for programs I think I'll make is maybe a game for the GBA:SP (I'm thinking Metroid Zero Mission, Zelda: Minish Cap, or Final Fantasy Dawn of Souls), maybe Tales of Symphonia for the 'Cube (which I can get DIRT CHEAP at Gamefly), and (maybe) heaven help me, the Steam version of Half-Life 2. Not that I'll have a lot of time to play it (maybe an hour or two on weekends), because this new semester is going to be B-U-S-Y!
UPDATE: Nope, stupid student loan disbursement won't allow this to happen until Mid-March, or so. I'll see what I can do about the video card (the most essential part of the upgrade), but it'll all probably have to wait.
I'll take the RAM first - three 256 Meg DIMMs. The manufacturer says that's the max, so we'll go with that.
Then, a video card - I've decided on the ATI 9800 All In Wonder, with the remote control. Video Capture a Go-Go, Baby! Plus Crankin' Video Performance.
I'll leave the current sound card there (unless I decide to pick up a cheap 5.1 card), and leave the wireless network setup. I'll take out the current Ethernet card, and replace it with a USB 2.0 card. I'll install a new 120 G hard drive as a D drive. I'll format the C:\ drive, and upgrade to Windows XP Media Center edition. I'm also installing a DVD burner (for to burn Foster's, Stargate, Battlestar Galactica, etc.) I may need a new power supply. That might just be a good idea anyway.
As for software, I'll pick up a copy of Nero. There are drivers and programs for video capture with the card. The only other serious outlay for programs I think I'll make is maybe a game for the GBA:SP (I'm thinking Metroid Zero Mission, Zelda: Minish Cap, or Final Fantasy Dawn of Souls), maybe Tales of Symphonia for the 'Cube (which I can get DIRT CHEAP at Gamefly), and (maybe) heaven help me, the Steam version of Half-Life 2. Not that I'll have a lot of time to play it (maybe an hour or two on weekends), because this new semester is going to be B-U-S-Y!
UPDATE: Nope, stupid student loan disbursement won't allow this to happen until Mid-March, or so. I'll see what I can do about the video card (the most essential part of the upgrade), but it'll all probably have to wait.
Getting back in the swing of it/Nintendo's new A/V player
Been sick all weekend. Bleah! But I don't want to neglect this site, and I've got to start moving and functioning - emerging from my self-imposed gaming binge. Finished Golden Sun: Lost Age last night, and the one thing that went through my head (until the story finished - as the credits unfolded) was that there had to be a third Golden Sun in the works.
But maybe not. Instead, looks like Nintendo is looking at competing with the PSP for portable video.
Eurogamer.net - Nintendo unveils A/V playback adapter for GBA/DS
I don't know if the PSP will play movies off the Memory Stick Duo, but if not, I think Nintendo's format will be the superior one - I'd rather compress stuff down to a flash card than have to buy UMD's for movies - I'd get more flexibility for cheaper that way.
But maybe not. Instead, looks like Nintendo is looking at competing with the PSP for portable video.
Eurogamer.net - Nintendo unveils A/V playback adapter for GBA/DS
I don't know if the PSP will play movies off the Memory Stick Duo, but if not, I think Nintendo's format will be the superior one - I'd rather compress stuff down to a flash card than have to buy UMD's for movies - I'd get more flexibility for cheaper that way.
Friday
Admirers Anonymous
Spoke with the Admirer's Mom today. I was a little nervous about that, because we get the feeling that she (probably unwittingly) encourages this little crush. But I got an assurance that she'll talk to him about it. She already had an idea that something wierd had happened, so we'll see what happens. Also, she's picking him up from school fairly regularly now, so he won't be riding the bus so much.
But she said something interesting - she said that she thought it was much better that the kids came to us to resolve the situation rather than trying to resolve it on their own. That's something I disagree with in principle, at least. I think it's much better to give the kids the tools they need to resolve things. I understand that a six year old isn't going to know off the top of her head how to resolve this kind of situation, but as a parent it's my job to teach her - to give her tools - to practice with her, that kind of thing. I want her to come to me with problems, yes. But I don't want her to come to me expecting me to solve the problem for her. I don't know - maybe I'm misinterpreting what she said.
But she said something interesting - she said that she thought it was much better that the kids came to us to resolve the situation rather than trying to resolve it on their own. That's something I disagree with in principle, at least. I think it's much better to give the kids the tools they need to resolve things. I understand that a six year old isn't going to know off the top of her head how to resolve this kind of situation, but as a parent it's my job to teach her - to give her tools - to practice with her, that kind of thing. I want her to come to me with problems, yes. But I don't want her to come to me expecting me to solve the problem for her. I don't know - maybe I'm misinterpreting what she said.
Thursday
Advice sought
Claire has a little friend who has a big crush on her. And it's been cute. Until the day on the bus when he sat down next to her, and physically restrained her from switching seats. He sat down in the aisle seat, and when she tried to move to sit down next to one of her other frieds, he put his arms and legs up and wouldn't let her go. She got off the bus in tears. So, I've been trying to teach her how to tell him to back the heck off. And it hadn't happened again.
Until Monday. Luckily, one of Claire's friends saw what was going on, and told him that if he wanted to marry Claire, he had to let her do what she wanted to do. He let her move.
It bothers me that this kind of thing is happening. His mom thinks it's cute, and we get the feeling that she's encouraging it a little bit. But we've been creeped out about it, and now it's to the point where I'm more than creeped out. I'm wondering how to teach Claire to tell this kid to get a life and back off. She knows he really likes her, and he's asked me if he can marry her when they grow up (something I responded to with "We'll see" - his mom was standing right there). At this point, I feel like pulling out a shotgun on the kid. Any suggestions?
Until Monday. Luckily, one of Claire's friends saw what was going on, and told him that if he wanted to marry Claire, he had to let her do what she wanted to do. He let her move.
It bothers me that this kind of thing is happening. His mom thinks it's cute, and we get the feeling that she's encouraging it a little bit. But we've been creeped out about it, and now it's to the point where I'm more than creeped out. I'm wondering how to teach Claire to tell this kid to get a life and back off. She knows he really likes her, and he's asked me if he can marry her when they grow up (something I responded to with "We'll see" - his mom was standing right there). At this point, I feel like pulling out a shotgun on the kid. Any suggestions?
Great Offer
So, apparently, there's a media company out there that is offering bloggers free tickets to the upcoming Dennis Quaid/Topher Grace comedy "In Good Company". If you agree to blog a review of the movie, then you get two free tickets to an advance screening. And if you post an offer and a link to the trailer on your blog, you get entered in a drawing for your own private screening of the movie for you and anyone else you want to invite. And if you can get Instapundit to link to your post on the offer/trailer/etc., you get a leather briefcase.
So...
HERE is the link to the trailer. Now, it's up to Me, God, and Glenn Reynolds. Come on, Instapundit!
So...
HERE is the link to the trailer. Now, it's up to Me, God, and Glenn Reynolds. Come on, Instapundit!
What I'm doing
Sorry, posting has been extremely light over the holidays. School doesn't pick up again until the 17th. Until then, I'm helping Reeta here at the apartments, being a good dad (this involves lots of playing with Claire), and gaming. Lots of gaming. In particular, this has involved Neverwinter Nights 3rd expansion, Hordes of the Underdark, which I'm enjoying, but not as much as I enjoyed the Aielund Trilogy end (?) - Return of the Ironlord. That module had such great characters, I thought it was brilliant. Well done. I've also discovered online Unreal Tournament 2004, and the accompanying voice chat features (UT2004 has been greatly enhanced by the new processor I got a couple months ago - thanks again, Stewart!). I haven't enjoyed shooters online in the past because my aim sucks, and I hate having to type to co-ordinate team actions. Now with the UT2004, I just hit one button, and my mic is live, and my team members can hear me say things like "Who-ever's driving the tank, please stop shooting me. I'm on your team."
I'm also reading an unabridged translation of the Count of Monte Cristo. And I've got class things to co-ordinate. And a little exercise. One of the residents moving out has a recliner they don't need any more, so I will inherit that on Saturday. What can I say? Life right now is pretty frickin' sweet. Only 11 more days until my last semester kicks off again. Yee-haw!
I'm also reading an unabridged translation of the Count of Monte Cristo. And I've got class things to co-ordinate. And a little exercise. One of the residents moving out has a recliner they don't need any more, so I will inherit that on Saturday. What can I say? Life right now is pretty frickin' sweet. Only 11 more days until my last semester kicks off again. Yee-haw!
Monday
The Epic Trek
This week's Homespun Symposium Question comes from Considerettes (good reading, btw).
What was your favorite family vacation (when you were a kid), and why? If you have children, have you taken your kids on that same vacation? If so, what did they think of it?
My own favorite vacation was when I was pretty young - My mom, dad, myself, two sisters, two brothers (one of whom was a baby), one aunt, two uncles, and my Grandmother piled into our family Suburban, and went south from Rexburg ID, south through Utah, then into Arizona. Then we turned east, passing through New Mexico, Texas, and finally out to Shreveport, LA, where we visited some of the relatives on my Mom's side. Long, long, long trip. But it was a lot of fun. It was on this trip that I found myself talking to another little kid in the swimming pool about religion. (I was nine). I had so much fun talking to this kid, that I started talking to another kid at another swimming pool. It was at that point that my uncles cut my proselytizing career short when they told me it was illegal to talk about religion in public places.
It was on this trip that the air conditioning started acting really, really wierd - spitting water out at us all through Texas. My Grandma had me doing situps every night all the way east. (She was really disappointed when I stopped). I remember eating some of the best peaches I've ever had when we bought them at a little roadside fruit stand somewhere in Texas. We got to Sheveport, and my Dad, who had been telling us through this entire trip that we were going to make it all the way to Orlando and Disney World decided there that we should all just go back, because "It's all just rides" according to my relatives. That was a particularly bitter pill, let me tell you. I've never talked to those relatives since. To try to make it up to us, Dad took us to Six Flags over Texas on the way back, but it really wasn't the same (Besides, Six Flags really is "all just rides"). I was a chicken little kid at ten, and wouldn't go on any of the really scary rides. I was afraid I'd fall out of the roller coaster (something that I swear almost happened to me when I was even younger at Lagoon - the amusement park north of Salt Lake City - I distinctly remember riding that with my Aunt Carla, almost coming out of the car, and her grabbing me and pushing me down in the seat). It was on the way back, which took us up through Oklahoma, Kansas, Arkansas, and into the Dakotas (where we saw more relatives), that we saw E.T. in the theater. Then west through Montana and Wyoming and finally home. We replaced the Suburban after that trip.
We haven't tried anything quite so ambitious yet in our family - we've flown to Texas a few times to see my wife's family, and we've driven that from Salt Lake to Austin once or twice with my wife's parents, but nothing yet for just me, Reeta, and Claire. Maybe someday we'll make a go at a cross-country road trip. (Then again, maybe not). But if I do, let me say this - if I've all the way from Idaho to Louisiana, I'm pushing all the way to Orlando, baby!
Hmmm, Mapquest says that's another ... 900 miles. Okay, well, maybe not.
Other responses:
Being Thomas Luongo
Daddypundit
Ogre's Politics and Views
What was your favorite family vacation (when you were a kid), and why? If you have children, have you taken your kids on that same vacation? If so, what did they think of it?
My own favorite vacation was when I was pretty young - My mom, dad, myself, two sisters, two brothers (one of whom was a baby), one aunt, two uncles, and my Grandmother piled into our family Suburban, and went south from Rexburg ID, south through Utah, then into Arizona. Then we turned east, passing through New Mexico, Texas, and finally out to Shreveport, LA, where we visited some of the relatives on my Mom's side. Long, long, long trip. But it was a lot of fun. It was on this trip that I found myself talking to another little kid in the swimming pool about religion. (I was nine). I had so much fun talking to this kid, that I started talking to another kid at another swimming pool. It was at that point that my uncles cut my proselytizing career short when they told me it was illegal to talk about religion in public places.
It was on this trip that the air conditioning started acting really, really wierd - spitting water out at us all through Texas. My Grandma had me doing situps every night all the way east. (She was really disappointed when I stopped). I remember eating some of the best peaches I've ever had when we bought them at a little roadside fruit stand somewhere in Texas. We got to Sheveport, and my Dad, who had been telling us through this entire trip that we were going to make it all the way to Orlando and Disney World decided there that we should all just go back, because "It's all just rides" according to my relatives. That was a particularly bitter pill, let me tell you. I've never talked to those relatives since. To try to make it up to us, Dad took us to Six Flags over Texas on the way back, but it really wasn't the same (Besides, Six Flags really is "all just rides"). I was a chicken little kid at ten, and wouldn't go on any of the really scary rides. I was afraid I'd fall out of the roller coaster (something that I swear almost happened to me when I was even younger at Lagoon - the amusement park north of Salt Lake City - I distinctly remember riding that with my Aunt Carla, almost coming out of the car, and her grabbing me and pushing me down in the seat). It was on the way back, which took us up through Oklahoma, Kansas, Arkansas, and into the Dakotas (where we saw more relatives), that we saw E.T. in the theater. Then west through Montana and Wyoming and finally home. We replaced the Suburban after that trip.
We haven't tried anything quite so ambitious yet in our family - we've flown to Texas a few times to see my wife's family, and we've driven that from Salt Lake to Austin once or twice with my wife's parents, but nothing yet for just me, Reeta, and Claire. Maybe someday we'll make a go at a cross-country road trip. (Then again, maybe not). But if I do, let me say this - if I've all the way from Idaho to Louisiana, I'm pushing all the way to Orlando, baby!
Hmmm, Mapquest says that's another ... 900 miles. Okay, well, maybe not.
Other responses:
Being Thomas Luongo
Daddypundit
Ogre's Politics and Views
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
