Today as I went to wired.com, as I do many mornings, to read whatever latest piece of information something slightly more personal caught my attention. The article was titled "Burning Question: Does My Gear Know When Its Warranty Is Up?" You can read it here http://wired.com/gadgets/miscellaneous/magazine/17-05/st_burningquestion
Now, this is quite an interesting question because I'm sure it's something that many of us have thought before. The article cleverly points out that most things we buy, whether it be a phone, computer, television, car, whatever only seem to work for about as long as they're guaranteed to. The explanation for this in the article is one that I had never really considered before and after reading find to be too probable to be false.
Now, I may be naive, but the idea of a company intentionally making a product that they're sure will only function for so long is just appalling to me. To me, the idea that someone wouldn't make something the very best they possibly could, is just unreal. I'm just weird like that. But at the same time, the idea that from a business standpoint making a product that will only function for a limited lifespan, thus forcing the buyer to go back for more seems terribly logical. If you make something that lasts forever, once everyone in the world buys one, you're out of business.
I guess I just had more faith in people than I really should. I guess I should just assume most people in the business would are out there just looking to turn a profit and aren't actually trying to provide a real service to the world. I guess not everyone is like that, but too many people are and so it creates a stigma about things. I guess we're due for a revolution...
Friday, May 15, 2009
Friday, May 8, 2009
Movie Review: Star Trek
Last night May 7th 2009 at 7:30pm PST I went to and early screening for the film Star Trek. Even though technically last weekend started the summer movie season, for me, it didn't officially start until I saw this movie.
Star Trek in this version of it as directed by J.J. Abrams, is perhaps one of the best science fiction film that I have or will ever see. Now, I went into seeing this movie with limited knowledge of the television show Star Trek in any of its incarnations, more or less "Average Joe Movie Goer" who happens to enjoy movies of the science fiction genre, but not more than any other type of film.
Without any particular bias for the world that the creator of the original series Gene Roddenberry, I feel qualified to be able to critique and review this movie. Why? Because as large as the legions of fans for the series are, they're still going to be infinitely out numbered by the general movie going populous. And if the general movie going populous is anything like me, they're going to walk away very happy with what they have seen.
In order to avoid spoilers for those who have not yet seen the film, and I highly recommend that you do, I'm going to discuss mostly elements of the film not directly related to the plot itself.
The thing that first and foremost stood out to me in this movie, that made me fall in love with it more than anything else was the characters. Yes, as a general fan of popular culture I've heard the names Kirk, Spock, and all of the rest of the crew of the Enterprise before, and I know some basic details about each of them, but it was the unique mix of personalities that were brilliantly portrayed by each of the actors in the film that really impressed me. Kirk's swagger and devil may care attitude, Spock's cold and unrelenting logic, McCoy's disdain for space and occasionally all those around him, just to name a few. All of these elements to the characters made the movie elevate to a level it would have failed to reach if the performance by each of the actors playing these iconic characters had failed to live up to what they are.
Visually, the film was stunning beyond belief. All of the sweeping landscapes of futuristic Earth, other planets like Vulcan, and of course space itself, really show that you are in another place. It's familiar, but still noticeably different, and it's a good thing. The opening space battle that makes up first ten to fifteen minutes of the movie sets the bar quite high for the rest of the film in terms of scope and depth, and that bar is met and raised throughout the rest of the film.
In the end, I walked out more of a fan of the film than I was expecting to be. So much so that I even want to go out and watch the television show now. I was never really compelled enough to go do so until after seeing this movie.
I highly recommend Star Trek to everyone, especially those who are fans of science fiction. But if you fall into that category, chances are, you've seen it already and would go see it again. This time, bring a friend or family member who you think may not necessarily like it, and see if you can change their mind.
Star Trek in this version of it as directed by J.J. Abrams, is perhaps one of the best science fiction film that I have or will ever see. Now, I went into seeing this movie with limited knowledge of the television show Star Trek in any of its incarnations, more or less "Average Joe Movie Goer" who happens to enjoy movies of the science fiction genre, but not more than any other type of film.
Without any particular bias for the world that the creator of the original series Gene Roddenberry, I feel qualified to be able to critique and review this movie. Why? Because as large as the legions of fans for the series are, they're still going to be infinitely out numbered by the general movie going populous. And if the general movie going populous is anything like me, they're going to walk away very happy with what they have seen.
In order to avoid spoilers for those who have not yet seen the film, and I highly recommend that you do, I'm going to discuss mostly elements of the film not directly related to the plot itself.
The thing that first and foremost stood out to me in this movie, that made me fall in love with it more than anything else was the characters. Yes, as a general fan of popular culture I've heard the names Kirk, Spock, and all of the rest of the crew of the Enterprise before, and I know some basic details about each of them, but it was the unique mix of personalities that were brilliantly portrayed by each of the actors in the film that really impressed me. Kirk's swagger and devil may care attitude, Spock's cold and unrelenting logic, McCoy's disdain for space and occasionally all those around him, just to name a few. All of these elements to the characters made the movie elevate to a level it would have failed to reach if the performance by each of the actors playing these iconic characters had failed to live up to what they are.
Visually, the film was stunning beyond belief. All of the sweeping landscapes of futuristic Earth, other planets like Vulcan, and of course space itself, really show that you are in another place. It's familiar, but still noticeably different, and it's a good thing. The opening space battle that makes up first ten to fifteen minutes of the movie sets the bar quite high for the rest of the film in terms of scope and depth, and that bar is met and raised throughout the rest of the film.
In the end, I walked out more of a fan of the film than I was expecting to be. So much so that I even want to go out and watch the television show now. I was never really compelled enough to go do so until after seeing this movie.
I highly recommend Star Trek to everyone, especially those who are fans of science fiction. But if you fall into that category, chances are, you've seen it already and would go see it again. This time, bring a friend or family member who you think may not necessarily like it, and see if you can change their mind.
Friday, May 1, 2009
Swine Flu or Pig Panic
doihaveswineflu.org
This website is an example of the mindset of most people in America right now. The latest media scare has hit, and it has appeared in the shape of a pig.
"Swine Flu" or influenza strain H1N1, is the hot talk of the town right now. This new hybrid strain of the flu which has originated in Mexico and spread to America due to it's proximity, will of course soon kill everyone in the world.
At least, this is what one would be led to believe if you have been watching the news at all during the past week. But, chances are, if you have been watching the news this week, you'll remember just how similar this was to couple years ago when avian flu was going to kill us all, and a few years before that when SARS was going to kill us all.
Now, you may be thinking that this is different. SARS and avian flu originated in Asia, and while it could easily spread to America via air travel, it's still far enough away in it's source to be easily ignored; swine flu is from Mexico, that's our neighbor to the south, it's a more imminent threat.
Now, I would have to agree with you there. You chances of getting swine flu are certainly greater because Mexico borders America than if it had originated in another country, especially if you live in a border state, like California, where I live.
Does this mean you will get swine flu? Chances are, you won't. In fact, currently not even 1% of the population of Mexico, the country of the current outbreak's origin, is infected with swine flu. Only 312 people have actually been confirmed by a physician to actually have swine flu. Of these 312, on 12 have been confirmed dead. The numbers are lower in America, where there are a confirmed 141 cases, and 1 confirmed death.
Now you may be thinking that more people must have it, because that's what you been told. I'm a skeptic, I'll admit this right now. I don't really listen to speculation, as credible as the man on the TV telling you whatever it may be seems.
But of course, that doesn't mean you should through caution to the wind and ask someone to sneeze in your face either. Common sense is what we need right now. Wash your hands, try and not share food or drinks with other people; little things like that will help make sure we all come out fine and healthy.
This website is an example of the mindset of most people in America right now. The latest media scare has hit, and it has appeared in the shape of a pig.
"Swine Flu" or influenza strain H1N1, is the hot talk of the town right now. This new hybrid strain of the flu which has originated in Mexico and spread to America due to it's proximity, will of course soon kill everyone in the world.
At least, this is what one would be led to believe if you have been watching the news at all during the past week. But, chances are, if you have been watching the news this week, you'll remember just how similar this was to couple years ago when avian flu was going to kill us all, and a few years before that when SARS was going to kill us all.
Now, you may be thinking that this is different. SARS and avian flu originated in Asia, and while it could easily spread to America via air travel, it's still far enough away in it's source to be easily ignored; swine flu is from Mexico, that's our neighbor to the south, it's a more imminent threat.
Now, I would have to agree with you there. You chances of getting swine flu are certainly greater because Mexico borders America than if it had originated in another country, especially if you live in a border state, like California, where I live.
Does this mean you will get swine flu? Chances are, you won't. In fact, currently not even 1% of the population of Mexico, the country of the current outbreak's origin, is infected with swine flu. Only 312 people have actually been confirmed by a physician to actually have swine flu. Of these 312, on 12 have been confirmed dead. The numbers are lower in America, where there are a confirmed 141 cases, and 1 confirmed death.
Now you may be thinking that more people must have it, because that's what you been told. I'm a skeptic, I'll admit this right now. I don't really listen to speculation, as credible as the man on the TV telling you whatever it may be seems.
But of course, that doesn't mean you should through caution to the wind and ask someone to sneeze in your face either. Common sense is what we need right now. Wash your hands, try and not share food or drinks with other people; little things like that will help make sure we all come out fine and healthy.
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