Day Break Mash Up
Posted by Rey
Day Break not ending is killing me. It was a great show with awesome potential then it disappeared with zero apologies and unfulfilled promises of episodes online. That being said, I’ve been playing a (cruel) game of “Spot the Day Break Moment”. My rules are simple: 1) watch any show, 2) see a scene that has ” Day Break” potential then 3) insert the scene.
Imagine “24: Day 12″. It starts off with Jack Bauer’s speech about this day being the longest day of his life when the beeping soundtrack scratches to a halt and the camera swings to the right exposing an angry Taye Diggs. “What the heck are you talking about; you think you’ve had a long day? I’ve been living the same day, all right, but different things happen!” Suddenly some fun and young music would kick in as Jack and Brett do some action-and-hilarity ala Lethal Weapon!
Or like Monday’s Prisonbreak when Michael is in the hospital and the nurse/receptionist hands him a phone. Right at that moment an angry Brett Hopper runs by and grabs the receptionist yelling “Rita! Listen to me, nothing is gonna’ happen to you! I’ve been here before!”
“Huh? This is the hospital. Brett, have we had this conversation before? I don’t—I don’t understand.”
“The day is the same, all right, but different things happen. Okay, it depends. Like, uh, um this lady at the coffee shop. One day I save her, next day (smacks hands together) she gets hit by a bus because I wasn’t there. You don’t see? You don’t see!”
In the foreground an uncomfortable Michael Scofield tries to figure out how he can use a repeating day to his advantage.
Man, I might need another hobby.
What Should I Buy: A Mac or A PC?
Posted by Rey
Shedding your Luddite skin you decide to join raging tides of modern society by purchasing a computer. You’re intrigued by Apple’s ads and surrounded by PC’s but you just aren’t sure; which territory will you side with? Underneath banners of chewed apples or flying windows, Geeks in both camps decry the evils of their enemies but you are wise enough to steer clear from the extremists. Although they quote their gods (Steve or Bill) with a passion, you know that you have to ask someone who is more even keel. You have to talk to someone like me.
1: Ask: “What Am I Going To Do With This Thing?” Geeks will start way into the discussion by asking “How do you use it?” but having no life affords that sort of time to worry about which is “simpler”. Both Macs and PC’s are ridiculously easy to use and they each come with their own learning curve so anyone saying differently is either a fanatic or a liar.
- If you’re itching to play the most recent video games you’re going to want to steer clear from a Mac. Lots of them don’t come out for it and the ones that do don’t get a ton of backend support for odd crashes. Macs make up a small segment of video game producer’s market share so if Mac Users are having problems its not something that can turn the name of the company into a pariah. But if PC Users are having a problem you can bet money that they’ll jump to fix it.
- Lean towards a Mac if you’re planning to do design work. Sure, PC’s are exactly the same in this respect but as a designer you’re probably already using a Mac so maximize your business dollars; stick with what you know. No one but designers will care for this bit but it must be mentioned: font management (like auto activation of fonts) is much better on the Mac.
- IT guys or coders might want to go with a PC because of familiarity and applications although you can easily set up a Mac to dual boot. But if you’re going to spend most of your time in that other environment anyway, why bother with a Mac?
- Now note: if you’re going to just use the thing for surfing the web, writing emails and maybe posting on your blog spending a boatload of money on anything expensive is just purely idiotic. Those very minor tasks (sorry they are) don’t necessitate a lot of power so put down the bazooka and focus on how to squash this bug of a problem. What you want to do is get a Mini-Mac or a mid-range PC. Both have security problems and both should have proper security protocols (like Anti Virus) put in place. (Anyone who tells you that Macs are immune to viruses is a moron. Viruses get on machines when end-users do stupid stuff with their machine that allows them to get in; this is true on both macs and pcs. Mac Viruses have come around but it affects such a small market share that virus creators just don’t bother tweaking their code). Either way you’ll want to buy a monitor.
2: Ask: “How long is this thing going to last me?” If you want upgradeability go with a PC; Mac’s have a time stamp that lasts as long as the next conference in June or the Christmas season. Anyone (including that guy behind the counter in Best Buy) can swap out any part of your PC for the most recent edition. The only time that becomes problematic is when a major change comes along (like Intel’s dual core chip) which changes the face of computer tech. But if you do buy a Mac (especially if you’re a designer) throw away all your MacZones for 2 years. Trust me.
3: Ask: “Is there anything I should avoid?”
- Avoid laptops: Laptops are only a necessary evil; buy one if you truly need to use it on the run.
- Avoid iMacs (the flat ones with the harddrive behind the monitor) because there are some serious heat issues and it consists of condensed technology like a laptop.
- Avoid E-Machines since they’re practically junk encased in plastic and shipped in cheap cardboard.
- Avoid building around peripherals: Mac’s and PC’s both can interact with printers, scanners and iPod so don’t buy a computer based on the peripherals you currently own.
- Avoid Apple’s Monitors: though pretty, they aren’t all that great considering their steep price tag. Shop around for a monitor because both Macs and PC’s can use them and it’s the one piece of equipment that might outlast your system. My ViewSonic is great for games, movies and detailed design work and is crisper than my Cinema Display. The Cinema Display cost over a thousand, the ViewSonic cost three hundred: ’nuff said.
- Avoid Old Tech: Focus on the mid-range folks. You want to get the most bang for you buck.
Now you’re armed with knowledge go join the fray; buy something. I own both but I am a designer, a coder, a writer, an emailer, a movie watcher and a gamer.
Testing Voice Dictation Software
Posted by Rey
I’m currently in the process of writing this block post using a voice dictation program and not too sure of its accuracy nor will I go back and copyedit any of the things that it says. I’m hoping that I can put in punctuation like white ” Thin said that are to be said and “. I know that on the outset this will not seem to make any sense, before I am after all learning this program. Bear with me.Links N’ Junk 21
Posted by Rey
- heroes. Samurai saves police; maybe Hiro finally got his sword. (HT: Curt). Plus, what’s my fantasy archetype: see below (HT: Kev)
- a-theology. People deny God in all three persons (but focus on the Holy Spirit in order to take a one way trip to hell, so they say) for a free dvd. Apparently they think that blaspheming a spiritual entity consists of physically moving your mouth and forming sounds. Also Cruise is Christ (HT: BHT)
- bible. how well do you know Christ’s Words? (I got 10, 8, 5. HT: Jenn) Kev also had this quiz which I got 100% and it called me a scholar (bah) but honestly, most of the answers you could do process of elimination on.
- politics. Darrell has an overview of the presidential candidates plus a gut reaction. And no, Christopher Walken is not on there..
- iLawsuit. More legal woes for Apple including a federal interview.
- celebs. Katherine MacPhee on Lonely Girl. Wraith Hive Queen (from SG-Atlantis) has a blog.
- design. Offer to die for; absolutely killer design!
| What Fantasy Archetype Are you? | |
 The Mentor You are the prestigous Mentor! You’re akin to Gandalf (Lord of The Rings), Merlin (ARthurian Legend), Obi Wan Kenobi (Star Wars), Aslan (Narnia), Door (Neverwhere), Dumbledore (Harry Potter) and Zeddicus Zu’l Zorander (Wizard’s First Rule). You are wise and knowing, and know that there is not much time left for the Unlikely Hero to defeat The Totally Wicked Villain. Only you know the true motives and past of The Villain, so it’s up to you to teach the Unlikely Hero all he has to know. Be careful as you’ll invariably regret not telling The Unlikely Hero things sooner rather than later. You like teaching and often care very much for others. |
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| Take The Quiz Now! | Quizzes by myYearbook.com |
Preview Spoiling
Posted by Rey
Look, I talk about Heroes in a few short words and then keep my conversation to the border of the show. I don’t watch previews because they give away too much. Piecing a story together from a preview is way too easy–no matter how much they try to pull a sleight of hand.
Yet people (MCF in the past before he knew better) have this ability to start asking questions that point to stuff they saw in the previews and spoil junk for me.
Not frakking cool.
iPhone
Posted by Rey
Remember back when I said Cisco owns the rights to iPhone and Apple had to come up with something cute like iFone? Well, we all know that Apple didn’t so now there’s another lawsuit in the works. Heh.Weird Existential Post
Posted by Rey
What makes me…me? I mean, there’s so much that makes up and defines Rey, particularly how he reacts and acts but in heaven, if I’m to be perfected, how different will that Rey be? Can I still be distinctly me? This was sparked by a conversation at a small faith.And just like that, my post ends.
Links N’ Junk 20
Posted by Rey
- tipsN’trix. You did your Christmas shopping at Amazon and you discover that there was a serious price drop on one of the things you bought. Well, Amazon will give you a refund for the difference. But no one wants to sit there refreshing all their purchases that’s why Refund Please stepped into the void and does it for you. (HT: LifeHacker)
- scopes. Anyone have this telescope lying around and willing to part with it on the cheap? Plus some advice on buying telescopes.
- church. House churches are more satisfying according to this survey. Also, iMonk’s church journey.
- tv. 120 inch tv for only 50K. I would pay the 50K but it’s only projection. Heh.
- lingo. Banished words like PWNed or i-Anything. I guess it’s not very successful at this point in time. (HT: Curmudgeon & Rebecca)
- bloggy-memish things. What’s your Blog juice nutritional value (This blog is 1.1 and the Bible Archive is 3.2. HT: Joe), Which Superhero are you (and I’m the Hulk or Green Lantern) and What’s your political leaning (depending on a couple of answers where I thought they needed better wording I’m either Hillary or dead smack between Colin and Bill) HT: Darrel on both of those.
- kids. My son performed on stage for the first time. He rocks.
- ilife. iPhone is here and it’s sexier than I imagined. Too bad they went with Cingular—ugh—which doesn’t justify $499 for a 2 year contract. They also have a headphone for it. My advice: wait for Wave 2 when they get the bugs worked out.
- sci-fi. SG-1 Movie, no season 11. I also have to update my reading list a bit.
- art. 2006 Best of Class.
So Very Strange
Posted by Rey
I’m currently sitting outside a Panera’s near Annapolis, Maryland wearing a short sleeved shirt and khakis. I spent the previous hour catching up on some comics over at B&N and was impressed by a Two Volume collection of the entire (presumably) WitchBlade comic series. I was thinking “man, more comics should do this” and looked to the shelf right above and saw that Spawn had done the same thing. Mind you, this isn’t like a collection of 5 issues. This is like 30 issues in one volume (and with a $60 price sticker on it!).
Anyway, I was just thinking how weird this all is. The weather is absolutely gorgeous. Anyone want to join me at Starbucks next?
Firefly, Serenity and Problems
Posted by Rey
So I did a
Firefly marathon the last couple of days culminating with
Serenity; I couldn’t articulate my original problems until seeing it all back to back. Don’t confuse my complaints for being the rants of a Non-Fan. I love the series and the movie both enough to employ Mal-isms in my daily vernacular. It’s just that Whedon’s a genius makes the following offenses glaring.
- Nasty Mal. I never liked the way Mal was treating the crew in the opening of Serenity when it’s obvious from the series that he has some serious ties to all of them. Mal’s previously illustrated honor (and huge commitment to “family”) doesn’t coincide with Mal’s actions.
- Non-Shiny Book. I didn’t like Book’s uncool comment that he was not part of the crew even though in the series there was mutual life-risking going on. Of course, taking Book’s one unsaid thought during the Early episode and taking the comic into consideration might put Book’s words into a different light but those two things alone don’t justify them and it also lead to my next problem.
- Book End. I’m disappointed with how much back-story they gave Book just to have his climax be the ending of a pointless chapter. Heck, the Shepherd/Preacher has high Alliance clearance, knows how Operatives work and Jubal Early the Bounty Hunter openly says “That’s no Shepherd.” Yes it leaves an option for a prequel/sequel but it’s not nice when his last words (to Mal) about his past are that it’s a closed book.True, it can be argued that in real life people die and secrets go with them to the grave but Firefly ain’t real life. If so, Mal would have long died, Jayne would be suffering from venereal disease, and the characters wouldn’t slip into Chinese swears (like the Spanish character in comic books who always has to add a Spanish cuss or question to establish that he’s Latino).
- Cultural Fade. Like I said, Whedon’s hanging plot threads may leave an opening for a sequel (Book, Blue Hands why two manned, Inara & Mal, Browncoats, etc.) but I fear they’ll just flap in the wind or flit into the unread comics nexus of obscurity.
- Box Design. Lastly, I completely dislike how much they hotted-up River for the box. She’s supposed to be seventeen and weird—not a bosomy space vixen. There, got that off my (ahem) chest with enough distance from July 23rd, 2006 so that I’m not crucified by Geekdom.
So there you have it; who aims to misbehave?
