The Best Fragging Deal on iPhone and iPod Touch
Some time ago, someone asked me to participate in an exciting project.
Now, more than eighteen months later, I can tell all of you about it.
The project was to create a full featured multiplayer first person shooter for iPhone and iPod touch – and it is now available on the App Store.
If you are interested in my work, you can learn more about my part over here. If you just want to get straight to the iPwnage, go download the game now – low price, no gimmicks, no tricks.
Two Cents Each – 4/26/2010
- Alex Payne — How I Use TextMate
- TextMate is my second favorite editor – after vim of course
– and I love the bundles. - The Medium – Beep! – NYTimes.com
- A fun read about a great sound and a great word.
- Amazon: You Need To Change Your Idiotic Customer Reviews Policy Right Now
- I don't like that some authors withhold the Kindle version, but this is not the appropriate way to respond.
- Shut Up & Bring It | Talking Points Memo
- Yeah!
- Constitutionality of Mandatory Insurance
- The new health care reform signed into law is not unconstitutional. It might not be perfect, it might not even be good, but it's constitutional.
- UnMarketing » Blog Archive » How to lose friends and tick off people on FaceBook
- Wow! What a riot. Read this if you use Facebook and you'd like a good laugh.
- Incredible Izzo Again Defies Odds
- Another great post about math and sports. I love it.
- ‘Grrrr’ Means Many Things in Dog Speak | LiveScience
- "Even though the humans and their scientific equipment couldn't tell the difference, though, it seemed the dogs could."
Fascinating.
- Series: Why Did Jesus Come? « – Thinking Christian
- "in view of the Old Testament context from which he was quoting, it appears he is calling on oppressors to free those they are holding down unjustly. He came to liberate us from our own failings, and to call us to pass that blessing along by liberating others where we have power to do so."
Jesus spoke for just a few moment and decided to read from Isaiah 61:1. That should make us think twice about a few things.
- One sandwich to kill you all
- This is one of the funniest pieces I have read in a very long time. You will not be disappointed if you take the time to read the whole thing.
- A New Kind of Starting Pitcher? – Freakonomics Blog – NYTimes.com
- A fresh interesting idea but I don't see it catching on – see resistance number six – but I've watched some teams that would have probably benefited from this.
It Seems Diplomacy Has Failed
A much better film than I expected but not worth my time to review.
Texting – It’s Too Easy
Yesterday I wrote about new research which reveals some very interesting facts about text messaging among teens in the U.S.
All of this texting certainly raises serious concerns. Texting and driving, sexting, texting during class, the invasion of texting into academic work, and the complete destruction of the English language are certainly legitimate concerns (though that last one is an exaggeration in my opinion), but I am concerned about a couple of other issues. I wrote about one of those issues yesterday and I’d like to pick up with the other today.
It Impairs ~Some~ Social Skills
I don’t subscribe to the notion that all of our electronic communication makes us less social. To the contrary, I think much of it has increased our ability to communicate with each other.
My concern is that teens, because they are growing up with this technology available to them, may not learn other valuable social skills because of all the texting. While we are at it, let’s include Tweeting and Facebook updates, and even email.
I’ve noticed three trends that signal the problem:
- texting love messages
- breaking up, quitting, or firing via text
- emoticons
- teens prefer texting parents over calling
I’ll admit now that there is a positive side to numbers one and four. One could also argue that some of the problems I point out apply to other forms of communication which pre-date texting – like the folded notes we used to pass in high school, for example. Correct, but the issue – again – with texting is that it increases our ability to do something. Technology has a way of doing that. We use a technology to make a task easier, faster, or more convenient; thereby increasing all the negative associated with that task.
Let’s look at each one. These are not the problems. These are the signals that there is a problem.
Texting Love Messages
No doubt I see the positive side here. If texting can help a shy teenager strike up a conversation with someone he likes, that is fantastic. The problem begins, for me, when it becomes too easy to use texting and we don’t ever try to grow beyond that.
One writer puts it this way:
Personally, I find nothing interesting in the sms craze, except that it has boosted the confidence of some spineless fellows, who now find it easier to send love messages to girls they wouldn’t dare open their mouths to say the three little words. Campus VIBE Misuse of text messaging now borders on obsession
Learning to express your feeling verbally – over the phone and face to face – is an important part of growing up. If one shares his feelings only via texting, he is missing out on something. He is also depriving someone else of some very important things – not the least of which is the expectation of sincerity. Without the other signals present in verbal and face to face communication, one is left to wonder sometimes if the message was intended as a joke or something else.
Breaking Up (or quitting or firing) Via Text
I don’t know if firing is becoming a trend but I’ve read that it is starting to happen. Quitting via texting is starting to become more popular and I’m sure most of us have heard of someone using texting to break up with someone. This is just another example of using technology to avoid doing something difficult – something one must learn how to do.
It’s one thing to use an power tool to make a mundane task easier to accomplish. It’s another to apply the same logic to what, presumably, was an important interpersonal relationship between two human beings. Perhaps that is the problem – there was no real relationship there in the first place.
Using texting for one of these things is inexcusable. I am no expert at any of these situations – from either perspective – but I would have to guess that more than 90% of the time these things should be handled in person. The remaining 10% should be handled by telephone or some form of written communication. Texting – no way.
Starting a relationship with someone via texting may be okay – ending it is not.
Emoticons
Electronic communication is prone to misunderstanding and lacks the other signals present in verbal and face to face communication. This has led to the use of emoticons to make up for those signals. Unfortunately, it’s too easy.
If I were mad at you but I needed to communicate with you about something face to face, I’d need to work at treating you with respect, making my point clear, leaving our disagreement out of the conversation if it is not the point to our conversation, etc. If I were having that same conversation via text, I could type what I needed to type and use emoticons when necessary to “pretend” as if everything is okay.
Obviously, there is a place for emoticons. Remember, they are not the problem. The problem is that we use them so often in exactly the wrong way. It’s just too easy to make a sarcastic remark to someone and follow it with a to indicate that we are “only kidding.”
Teens Prefer Texting Parents Over Calling
As a parent I have to tell you – I prefer it too most of the time. I have two children. We don’t struggle with most of the things a lot of families do but I still find the parent-teenager relationship fascinating. When my son goes out somewhere I’d like to know what he is up to. As a good kid, he actually wants to keep me informed. He does not, however, want to sit amongst his friends and have an out-loud conversation with his dad. Can you blame him?
That is why I like it. I can text him and he will respond. I can ask him to text me when he gets somewhere and he will do it – most of the time. I can also usually ask as many questions as I want and he can answer in private. Same for my daughter.
But there is a down side – everything I’ve described above. Sometimes a phone conversation is necessary. There are other reasons teenagers prefer texting. When you text someone they can’t see or hear what is going on around you, they can’t tell if you’re drunk, they don’t even know it is really you. Many teens resort to texting as a way of keeping parents “off my back.” It’s more of the same – it makes my life easier so that must be better, right?
Something I read yesterday sums it all up really.
For Pam Zingeser, the big issue is not cost — it’s $30 a month for the family’s unlimited texting plan — but the effects of so much messaging. Pam wonders: What will this generation learn and what will they lose in the relentless stream of sentence fragments, abbreviations and emoticons? “Life’s issues are not always settled in sound bites,” Pam says. 6,473 Texts a Month, But at What Cost?
Texting Is A Distraction
New research reveals some very interesting facts about text messaging among teens in the U.S. and some of the numbers are staggering. According to the study by the Pew Internet and American Life Project, the average girl sends 80 texts per day (30 for boys) and 87% of teens say they sleep with or near their cell phones.
All of this texting certainly raises serious concerns. Texting and driving, sexting, texting during class, the invasion of texting into academic work, and the complete destruction of the English language are certainly legitimate concerns (though that last one is an exaggeration in my opinion), but I am concerned about a couple of other issues. I want to write about one of those issues today.
The Myth of Multi-Tasking
If you are like me you have grown very attached to at least one personal computing device. These devices – computers, smartphones, even our televisions – have the ability to do more than one thing at a time. They are literally “wired” to work that way.
Unfortunately, our minds do not appear to be wired that way. I’m sure the subconscious mind has a way of thinking of solutions to problems while we focus on other things which is probably why people have learned to “sleep on” things, but I am referring to something else. Most of us have tried to imitate computers by attempting to focus on more than one task at a time. This, I think, is a huge mistake.
Others have written about and discussed this subject, but the point I’d like to make today is that texting is another attempt to multi-task (in some cases). There is nothing wrong with having a conversation with someone via texting but it is another thing to send and respond to text messages all day long while attempting to focus on other things.
Frankly, the sheer amount of time spent texting scares me a little. Many of us don’t realize how much of our time is wasted in the physical act of stopping to text, followed by texting itself, followed by switching back to what we were doing – just in time to receive a reply. Sending 80 texts per day is bound to consume more time than it is worth.
More importantly, we are constantly drawing our attention away from something else we should be doing. It is not so much about which task is more important. I have no doubt that sometimes the thing I should be doing is texting but sometimes I should be doing something else – and NOT texting (or doing anything else). While trying to write this very short piece I was distracted by text messages more than a dozen times.
Kermit Ready to Walk Across Hot Coals
Can We Just Stop All the Shouting So I Can Think?
Opponents of health care reform are making so much noise that I find I can’t even think straight. I am not sure I like all the provisions of the bill that was signed into law, but how am I to carefully consider these things with all the shouting?!
I am beginning to think this is an intentional strategy. If none of us can think, we can’t consider the issues. If all we do is shout back, we lose time we could be using productively.
There is no question in my mind, many on the Right are overreacting – and it is not just those on the Left who agree. David Frum and Joe Klein, both of whom could be considered a friend (certainly not an enemy) to the Right, both point out the overreaction.
Let’s take a look at just a few examples. Note the exclusion of Rush Limbaugh and Glenn Beck. Overreaction is a standard part of their game and we all know it.
The Wall Street Journal called the bill a “federal takeover of the U.S. health-care system,” and Dennis Prager calls the debate a Civil War! and goes on to say:
After Sunday’s vote, for the first time in American history, one could no longer confidently believe that the American system will prevail. And if we don’t fight for it, we don’t deserve it.
Sen. Jim DeMint (R – South Carolina) has begins his rant with this:
There’s no fixing the government health care takeover Democrats forced through on Sunday. It must be repealed.
Repealed? Really? Is that the best approach? Bill Kristol is on the repeal kick too. One of my favorite bloggers had this to say about repeal:
And how about a legal challenge? It’s nice to see the GOP is now in favor of “activist judges.”
DeMint goes on to say:
After telling Americans in 2008 that they would lower spending, taxes and insurance premiums, Democrats passed a bill that breaks every promise. Using secret deals, kickbacks and carve-outs, Democratic leaders jammed through legislation to control more than one-sixth of the nation’s economy.
The plan will explode the national debt, raise $569.2 billion in new taxes, force taxpayers to fund abortions, and impose unconstitutional mandates on every American.
All of this was done in the face of overwhelming public outrage and bipartisan opposition in Congress. This process has been an insult to our democracy and threatens our nation’s prosperity and freedom.
The rhetoric gets worse, though. David Limbaugh had this to say:
The Democrats’ passage of socialized medicine Sunday night will spell either the beginning of the end of this great nation or the beginning of the rebirth of its freedom. The choice is still in the hands of Americans.
Is this guy serious? I understand rhetoric and I understand value overstating one’s point can have but this is just too much. He goes on …
To borrow a phrase from President Barack Obama, “let’s be clear” on a couple of things:
First, it’s not an exaggeration to say Obamacare is socialized medicine; in fact, it doesn’t go far enough simply to say it represents the government takeover of our entire health care system. It is also a major step (begun long ago) in the complete dismantling of the unique American constitutional experiment and of the social compact between Americans and their government. Obama’s now-realized goal of fundamental change is to make the government the people’s master instead of their servant.
Secondly, we should not suffer gladly those painfully naive people who will continue to say that Obama and his obedient congressional Democrats are not radical. It may make people feel better about themselves to promote congeniality and bipartisanship, but to fantasize about such quixotic goals under this type of radical assault on our nation is tantamount to enabling it.
Government takeover? Dismantling of the social compact? Radical assault? There is more …
Thirdly, Obama and the Democrats have been unconscionably deceptive about their aims, even though Obama couldn’t help but reveal his extremism from time to time. He certainly promised “fundamental change” but was so vague that many assumed his idea of “hope and change” meant something consistent with American values. Others knew full well what grandiose plans he had in store to overthrow America’s social compact. There was no mistaking his intent when you examined his radical background and radical relationships; his extremist position on human life, including supporting a form of infanticide; his promise to redistribute wealth; his obvious grudge against America; and his experience as a street agitator in Chicago.
Obvious grudge against America? Street Agitator?
I don’t want the government to control every facet of my life, but is that really what this will lead to? Do we not live in a democratic republic where we can influence the laws of the land? Isn’t that what this is all about?
Two Cents Each – 3/29/2010
- Alex Payne — How I Use TextMate
- TextMate is my second favorite editor – after vim of course – and I love the bundles.
- The Medium – Beep! – NYTimes.com
- A fun read about a great sound and a great word.
- Amazon: You Need To Change Your Idiotic Customer Reviews Policy Right Now
- I don't like that some authors withhold the Kindle version, but this is not the appropriate way to respond.
- Shut Up & Bring It | Talking Points Memo
- Yeah!
- Constitutionality of Mandatory Insurance
- The new health care reform signed into law is not unconstitutional. It might not be perfect, it might not even be good, but it's constitutional.
Great Ideas – 3/28/2010
- Say It With Chocolate – Business Opportunities Weblog – link
- Steve in a Speedo?! Gross!: Friday Funny 81: How to Get Your Lost Camera Returned – link
- Work Smart: Avoid Office Distractions With Time Blocking | Fast Company – link
- Op-Ed Guest Columnist – Ten for the Next Ten – NYTimes.com – link
- The Paint-Less Coca-Cola Would Save Earth One Can at a Time – Naked Coca-Cola Can – Gizmodo – link
Great Sites – 3/27/2010
- Create floor plans, house plans and home plans online with Floorplanner.com – link
- Huge List of Speed Traps | The National Speed Trap Exchange – link
- 300&65 Ampersands – link
- LivingCraigslist – LivingCraigslist – link
- RealClimate – link
- Information Is Beautiful | Ideas, issues, concepts, subjects – visualized! – link
I’ll get paid for killing, and this town is full of people who deserve to die.
March 23, 2010 marked the 100th anniversary of Akira Kurosawa – a brilliant filmmaker.
Let me say it simply, Kurosawa was my Master.
Martin Scorsese
Fortunately the ladies of the household were headed out on a shopping trip, so Billy and I treated ourselves to a double feature of Yojimbo and Sanjuro. Both of these films were new to us. Billy had not seen them only because he was waiting for a time to see them both together. Well, now we had our chance – on the birthday of a giant.
The films were brilliant, and I’m sure others can review them better than I. In addition to a brilliant film, I was intrigued by it’s place in movie history. The film is clearly inspired by American westerns yet it also had an influence on many films which would follow it. This is one of the earliest films to highlight the kind of main character we’ve grown accustomed to in American films – an amoral antihero who is driven mostly by his own concerns. Our “hero” is the kind of man we shouldn’t really care about at all. He is the kind of man who really does not deserve our respect or admiration, yet somehow we are on his side.
If you’ve not seen either of these films, do yourself a favor and check them out. As is my normal practice, I’ve linked to a Blu-ray on Amazon. I happened to notice in this case that the reviews of this version were not very good. I don’t think there is a better version available but if I learn of one, I’ll update the links.
My Oscar Picks 2010
NOTE: I wanted to post this before the show so all the links point to the same place right now. I’ll edit them later.
I usually like to see all the films nominated in the popular categories but this year I missed a few key films. I’ll make note of those when I think it matters.
Best Actor
The clear winner among the performance I saw is Jeff Bridges for his portrayal of a washed up country singer who is down on his luck and struggling with his addiction to alcohol in Crazy Heart. Bridges is an exceptional actor and this performance is brilliant.
I saw the other two films – The Hurt Locker and Up In the Air – twice and I would give second place to George Clooney. The second time I saw this film I found myself surprised that I’d not remembered his performance. It was a solid performance.
Unfortunately, I haven’t seen two of the performances – Morgan Freeman and Colin Firth. I understand both are excellent actors and I’m guessing both were better than Clooney and Renner.
Best Supporting Actor
I did not see The Lovely Bones or Invictus and I saw Inglorious Basterds twice.
I was thoroughly impressed with Harrelson’s performance in The Messenger. In any other year, he might be the clear winner, but I think the Oscar should definitely go to Christoph Waltz for his performance in Inglorious Basterds. His was one of the finest performances I remember seeing in any film.
Plummer’s performance was excellent in The Last Station was also excellent but I have to make Harrelson my second pick.
Best Actress
I’ve seen all of these films and I’m a fan of all these actresses, but I’m not excited about this category this year. Last year, I thought all five nominees were brilliant and I had no idea who would take the Oscar. This year I think there is a clear winner, but I’m still not that excited about it – even though it’s an actress I really love.
Julie & Julia was not nearly as good as expected. Streep is an excellent actress (and my choice for this Oscar last year) and I love Amy Adams but the people they were portraying were not nearly as lovable as the actresses themselves. I guess that colors my opinion of the movie and the performances.
Precious was a great film and Sidibe’s performance was solid – especially for a first performance – but not worthy of the Oscar, in my opinion.
Mirren was fantastic in The Last Station and I enjoyed the film, but the other two performances were better in my opinion.
I would give second place to Carey Mulligan for her performance in An_Educatoin. This is the first time I’ve seen her and I was very impressed. I’ve read that she is the favorite to win, but I think the Oscar belongs to Sandra Bullock.
The Blind Side is the kind of film I do not normally appreciate and this is no exception. I have to say I enjoyed the film more then I expected but it was not an excellent film. Bullock’s performance, on the other hand, was fantastic. My opinion might certainly be skewed by my undying love for Sandra Bullock, but I’d like to think I’m being objective. Two days before I saw this film, I’d seen her in another film where she plays a completely different role and the difference in characters was remarkable. She really did an excellent job in this film. Really? I’m not just sayin’ that because I like her.
Best Supporting Actress
I’m disappointed I did not get to see Nine. I’ve read that it was not a great film but the last few films in which I’ve seen her, Cruz has been fantastic.
I saw Up In the Air before the nominations were announced because I had read that it was going to be a favorite for Best Picture. I was very impressed with the film and with many of the performances. As I’ve already written, I wasn’t blown away by Clooney but his performance was good – as were the other performances in the film.
The performance that stood out for me was Anna Kendrick’s. I wasn’t sure if I’d just fallen for her character or not, but I loved her in the film.
When the nominations were announced I was very pleased she was nominated and I was a little confused about Farmiga’s nomination. I had not been nearly as impressed with her. When I saw the film a second time, though, it made more sense. It also confirmed my opinion of Kendrick. Her performance was excellent (and now I’m sure I’ve fallen for the character).
Then I saw Precious and a once in a lifetime performance by Mo’Nique. She was great from start to finish but her monologue late in the film was brilliant.
Just the other day I went to see Crazy Heart since I’d heard Bridges was great. I’m glad I did because Bridges is the clear winner in his category, but I don’t think Gyllenhaal wins this category. Her performance was solid and probably worthy of the nomination, but I don’t expect her to win.
I’d like to see Kendrick beat Mo’Nique, but I’d have to call this one a toss up.
Best Animated Feature
I’ve only seen two of these films but I’m certain Up wins this category. Before I learned that the best picture category was being expanded to ten films, I still felt as though Up was worth of best picture. It was that good. I assumed it wouldn’t be nominated and was pleased to learn when the field would be expanded to ten because I thought it might get a nomination. Turns out I was right but I still don’t expect it to win – because this category exists.
Anyway, I’m getting ahead of myself here.
Up clearly wins this and I have to give second to the only other film I saw – Coraline, which I think was a fantastic film too.
Art Direction ##
Only seen one of these films – Avatar – so I am going to guess.
The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus wins, Nine maybe.
Cinematograpy
I did not see Harry Potter (I’m a big fan of the Potter books and films, I just missed this one) and I did not see The White Ribbon.
I only saw Avatar once. I saw the other two – The Hurt Locker and Inglorious Basterds – twice.
I think Inglorious Basterds is the clear winner but any of the others could certainly win. So, I’ll have to go on my son’s recommendation on this one. He came home from Harry Potter and told me that it was one of the best “looking” movies he had ever seen. If you know my son, you understand that means a lot.
So, I’ll go with Harry Potter as my second choice. My son agrees, btw.
Costume Design
We received Bright Star from NetFlix about two weeks ago but we haven’t watched it yet. Haven’t seen any of these films so I’ll guess again.
Nine wins, Bright Star in second.
Directing
I’ve seen Avatar and [Precious][precous] once; Up In the Air, The Hurt Locker, and Inglorious Basterds twice.
I think this is an easy call really – Kathryn Bigelow for The Hurt Locker. Second place is a tougher call for me but I’d give it to Jason Reitman for Up In the Air.
Documentary Feature
I’ve only seen two of these and I think it’s toss up who wins. I’ll go with The Cove to win and Food, Inc. in second. They are both great documentaries. If you haven’t seen them, you should.
Documentary Short
Haven’t seen any of these and I’m not going to guess on this one.
Film Editing
I’ve seen Avatar and [Precious][precous] once; District 9, The Hurt Locker, and Inglorious Basterds twice.
I’m going to pick The Hurt Locker to win and Inglorious Basterds second.
Foreign Film
Also not going to guess.
Makeup
Star Trekwins and my second pick is Il Divo.
Score ##
Avatar wins and Up is my second pick.
Song
The Weary Kind from Crazy Heart and my second pick is Almost There from The Pricess and the Frog.
Best Animated Short ##
This is a tough one for me. I saw them all and they were all worthy of an award. I’m going to guess that A Matter of Loaf and Death will win but my favorite was Logorama.
Best Live Action Short
Also a tough one for me. I wasn’t a huge fan of The Door but I liked the others. My favorite was The New Tenants but I’ll make it my second pick. I think the winner will be Instead of Abracadabra
Sound Editing
I’ve seen all these films and I think this is another tough call. Up and Avatar are possibilities since they are both animated (essentially). Inglorious Basterds would also not surprise me, but I think the winner will be The Hurt Locker and my second pick is Star Trek.
Sound Mixing
I’ve seen all these and I can’t believe Transformers was nominated. That movie was one of the loudest experiences of my entire life. It sounded to me as though everything was at the same level. Perhaps it was just a problem at that theater. I hated the movie too, btw.
I think Inglorious Basterds will, and should, win. Star Trek is my second pick.
Visual Effects
I saw District 9 twice and the others once. Avatar will win, but I’d prefer either of the others win instead.
Adapted Screenplay
Along with District 9, I saw Up In the Air twice. I saw the others once. Up In the Air will win. Tough call for second but I’ll have to go with In the Loop.
Original Screenplay
I’ve seen two of these only once and the others twice. I am not going to be disappointed no matter who wins but I would choose A Serious Man or Inglorious Basterds.
Best Picture
Like I mentioned earlier, I am glad this category was expanded to ten films because I think Up deserves a nomination. It is worthy of the win but I don’t expect it to win.
I have seen all of these films – half of these movies twice – and I’d call all of them excellent films. I don’t think Avatar or The Blind Side are in the same category as the others, but they are still excellent films.
I saw Up first and I thought it was worthy of an Oscar from day one. The next film I saw was The Hurt Locker and was sure it would win for best picture. As I saw each of the next films, most of them made me wonder a bit but I stick by my original pick. My second choice is Up In the Air.
TWO CENTS EACH – 1/26/10
- 40 and 44
- Obama's first year in office is strikingly similar to that of Reagan's. Serioiusly.
- Girls just wanna have style
- Grant's vision was to find clothing that empowered girls in their development as individuals, not just sexual beings.
"I wanted to inspire them to be whatever they want in life, way beyond a princess or a diva." –Elena Grant
Good for you Ms. Grant!
- Tough Love Needed for Haiti by Jonah Goldberg on National Review Online
- "Why? Because American culture not only expects hard work, but teaches the unskilled how to work hard."
I'm not so sure I believe that??
- What the Vikings-Saints Game Shows Us About Systems and Mindsets
- An interesting point about systems. I don't completely buy the Favre argument about mindsets but I understand what the author is trying to say.
The Internet Is Fun
I know the Internet is a tremendous resource for any number of constructive pursuits, but every once in a while I am reminded of how much fun it is. I’m not talking about blatantly useless time wasting activities we’ve all engaged in – watching drunk animals or people getting injured on YouTube and things like that. I’m talking about something else.
Read more
King’s Other Dream
In a thought provoking piece entitled Martin Luther King’s other dream: Economic justice for all, John Gehring of the Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good writes:
As we pause to honor King’s legacy, it’s tempting to sanitize his radical call for economic justice or temper his prophetic words about war. We prefer King as an icon stored safely behind history’s glass case. When his words are quoted these days, we rarely hear the righteous anger of a preacher who denounced the Vietnam War and described America as the “greatest purveyor of violence in the world today.” We choose not to reflect on his warnings about the arrogance of American foreign policy. We avoid an honest grappling with his critique of capitalism as a system that permits “necessities to be taken from the many to give luxuries to the few.
Dr. King was an extremist. It seems that most of those who point this out do so as a judgement against him. Those of us who respect him and his work tend to forget it. Last year on this day I reflected on King’s extremism and did my part to express my thoughts about King the Christian and the American.
We need more extremists.
Remember his legacy by listening to some great songs inspired by his life and work.
AT&T – FAIL!
Every time I’m involved in a discussion about failed customer service it reminds me of my experiences with AT&T Wireless. And every time I wish I’d my experiences in a public place so I could give out a link and not have to talk about it anymore.
Today I spent an hour and seven minutes on the phone with AT&T to fix something that should have taken just a few minutes and I’m convinced, once again, that AT&T could not provide worse customer service if they were purposely trying to do so.
So, I’m here to detail the story of these fails so I no longer have to talk or write about them again.
Read more
Two Cents Each
- In Manhattan, Preparing for Kindergarten Admission Test
- This is simply ridiculous!
- Geeks Drive Girls Out of Computer Science | LiveScience
- Girls do seem to shy away from CS careers and that is unfortunate, but this "study" has not found the answer. I've not read anything quite so silly on livescience in a long time.
- E-books spark battle inside the publishing industry – washingtonpost.com
- Is anyone else growing tired of old school companies trying to stop innovation instead of finding a way to adapt?
- 100 Skills Everyone Should Master | Mighty Girl
- I don't think every item should be on the list but it's a great list anyway.
- Your guide to better chopstick etiquette (mostly Japanese) | Just Hungry
- A great list of tips if you want to use chopsticks properly. It does not explain "how" to use them but how to use them properly.
Great Sites
Posted via email from Bill’s posterous
Great Sites – 11/24/09
Gamebook SVG Flowcharts
- Very cool flowcharts from interactive gamebooks.
Fraidy Cats
- A log of who is and is not afraid of terrorists.
Data.gov
- The U.S. government attempts to be more transparent.
USPS Postage Calculator
- Not quite as cool as some of the other sites on this week’s list but I thought it was handy.
The Supreme Court Database
- An archive of cases from the SCOTUS. I follow a lot of the court’s cases and I love this site for catching up on some old ones.
Citizen Tube
- Digital activism.
Movies in Frames
- Another cool Tumblog. This one displays four frame summaries of movies. It’s a lot of fun
Tweeting Too Hard
- Pretentious twits and their tweets. Warning: you may find some of the tweets offensive.
In Bb 2.0
- A collaborative music/spoken word project.
RunPee
- Don’t miss any of the best parts of the movie because you have to tinkle.
- 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!
Link Roundup
-
Subscribe
-
What I'm Reading
-
What I'm Watching
-
About This Site
This website is simply a place for me to express my opinions. I post my thoughts on faith, family, freedom, and fun. -
About Me
Subscribe via RSS