Link Roundup

The Case Against Apple–in Five Parts
Jason raises some excellent questions – questions many of us have been talking about for years.
The 7 vices of highly creative people
So, your bad habits might be a sign of creative genius.
Happy (alleged) Birthday Mr. President
Very funny.
Five Ways to Fix Netflix
An interesting list of suggestions which actually reinforce what an excellent service NetFlix is.
Why My Wife Doesn’t Cook Dinner
So many people fail to consider opportunity costs. This is a simple example of how that might lead you to do the wrong thing.
Should Wedding Party In Viral YouTube Video Get A Cut Of Music Sale Profits?
No, they should not. I understand the point being made here and I agree that if anyone is going to claim right to profit it might be them but this is where the absurdity of intellectual properties leads
Why The FCC Wants To Smash Open The iPhone
Smash it open!
August 9, 2009 | Filed Under Fun | Comments 

Book Review: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone

On July 13 we began our Harry Potter movie marathon in preparation for the newest film. We’d all seen the films before but we wanted to enjoy them again. Billy went to see the new on for the midnight opening but the rest of us just got a chance to see it a few days ago.

Watching the films reminded me again of how wonderful the books are. I’ve read Sorcerer’s Stone several times and it never fails for me. It is simply a wonderful read. The story is quite predictable in a lot of ways and the characters are not particularly complex, but I was mesmerized by it the first time and it is just as much fun to read every time.

If you are one of the few who has not read the books you should do yourself a favor and check them out. The films are excellent but the books are even better.

August 6, 2009 | Filed Under Books, Reviews | Comments 

Great Site: How To Become A Hacker

While digging through my notes looking for a great site to post today I ran into this gem – How To Become A Hacker

I read this years ago but the information is still extremely valuable.

August 4, 2009 | Filed Under Fun | Comments 

A Lottery for Smart People?

A group of credit unions in Michigan has come up with Freakonomics dubs a “lottery for smart people.”

I can’t remember the last time I saw an idea that was as bad as this but seems right the first time you hear it.

August 3, 2009 | Filed Under Fun | Comments 

Link Roundup

'Birthers' must be stopped – Los Angeles Times
I am not a huge fan of Maher but I usually agree with about half of what he says. This is a funny read.
FCC Opens Inquiry of Apple's Ban of Google Voice – WSJ.com
If the feds feel they need to stick their noses in things at least this time they are making the right move.
11 Cool iPhone Keypad Codes
Some very cool ones on the list.
Do You Have These Core Human Skills?
Interesting list of core skills everyone needs.
Palin's Resignation: The Edited Version
No comment.
QB Michael Vick conditionally reinstated by NFL
but he can't play in games? I am not sure I understand why anyone would sign him until they know he can play.
Texting Raises Crash Risk 23 Times
Another study I'm not sure we needed. Texting and driving is dangerous. In case you didn't know that, read the study.
John Travolta 'scared to leave Church of Scientology'
The paranoia is real, John.
Science, Reason and Critical Thinking: Celebrity Quack Trumps
Disturbing but still funny.
Daily Kos: State of the Nation
Nicely done satirical letter to the President.
August 2, 2009 | Filed Under Fun | Comments 

How Do Ya Like Them Apples?

Good Will Hunting is a story about men and their ambitions, dreams, and emotions. I first saw the film in late January 1998 and was mesmerized by the story. I don’t know that I’ve seen another film that so eloquently touches on these issues. The film tells this wonderful story in a way that is emotionally honest yet still masculine. It’s like a “chick-flick” for men. I can’t describe it any other way.

I cannot say enough about the story itself. Matt Damon wrote an early draft of the screenplay for a university assignment and decided to finish it in 1997 along with longtime friend and roommate Ben Affleck, in order to take charge of their faltering movie careers. I’d seen Damon and Affleck in other films but I didn’t think they were anything special. I couldn’t believe that these two kids could write a story with insight far beyond their years. I left the theater certain they had nailed an academy award for the screenplay. The decision to finish the screenplay proved to be a genius move. The film indeed earned them Oscars and catapulted both of them to stardom.

In addition to a great story, the film features at least six solid acting performance. In my opinion, great acting can turn an average story into a excellent movie (see A Few Good Men
). The difference here is that the acting takes what might have been an average movie with an excellent story and transforms it into a classic film. Robin Williams and Ben Affleck deliver the best performances in my opinion. Damon, who is present for almost all of the important scenes in the movie, handles fast paced dialog and emotionally charged scenes like a veteran. Skarsgård and Casey Affleck turn in a performances that are much better than average and one could argue that Minnie Driver saved the movie with her performance.

To top it all off, the film contains some brilliant dialogue. In one memorable scene, Damon delivers his lines with perfect timing as Will takes on an arrogant Harvard student in an intellectual standoff that reminds me of a superhero standing up to an adolescent nemesis. In another, Damon does the same while turning down a very lucrative job offer. In yet another, Damon and Robin Williams work together and pull off one of the film’s best scenes and a turning point in the story. There are many scenes just as brilliantly done – several more with Damon and Williams, but others featuring all five of the major characters.

Many have given credit for the success of the film to fantastic direction by Gus Van Sant. I’m not an expert on such things but I’m guessing he deserves much credit for the solid performances from virtually the entire cast and perhaps some massaging of what some have said was actually only an average screenplay. I haven’t read the screenplay but if Van Sant accomplished what some have given him sole credit for then this was a work of genius on his part. I’ve seen only four of his films and I loved them all. I’m not sure that makes him a great director but I wouldn’t hesitate to see another of his films.

Finally, I should point out a couple of things. First, the title of my post comes from one of my favorite lines from the movie. I won’t share my favorite line which comes much later in the story because it is much more powerful in context. It drives home what is, for me, the point of the film. There are many lessons to learn from the film and at least seven of the men portrayed, but the ending, while not a major twist, left me satisfied in a way that I didn’t anticipate.

Second, this film explores the life of a young man from South Boston and some of his buddies. As a result, it features some very crude humor and whole lot of very foul language. I could have lived without the crude humor and I prefer less foul language but I can live with it when it seems in context. If you can’t handle the language you may want to skip this movie but I assure you that you will be missing something very special.

August 1, 2009 | Filed Under Movies, Reviews | Comments