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09.27.10 by Wolven @ 8:25 pm  Warren Ellis' Global Frequency is relevant to my interests because it contains cogent explorations of weird science, magick (neurolinguistic programming, perceptual manipulation, and the scientific-type investigation of the darker recesses of the human psyche), Parkour (more on this at a later date), and biofeedback, among many other things. It's been on my mind again lately because we've been watching a whole lot of John Rogers' phenomenal series Leverage, and a friend of mine whom I introduced to the comic series arranged a Global Frequency photoshoot at Dragon*Con 2010, and then it's been coming up on Twitter a whole bunch. All of this has me thinking about the injustice of television markets, and the capriciousness of Networks in the face of overwhelming clamour and demand from those who would be their core audience... What do you mean, what the hell am I talking about? Categorized as: Stimuli
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08.26.10 by Wolven @ 7:32 am  Humans and their thinking, autonomous creations have had a rough relationship for a long damn time and Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles (T:SCC) was looking to change that, right around the time it got canceled. I've gone off at great length about what I call the twin heads of this relationship, namely "the Pinocchio Complex" and the "Frankenstein/Shellian Syndrome" (again, 1 here, 2 here, 3 here, 4 here, 5 here, 6 here, 7 here, 8 here, and most recently 9 right here ). Pinocchio Complex stories are those where the creation wants to be a "Real Boy," and, in the end, to some degree or another, gets to be. In Frankenstein/Shellian Syndrome (F/SS) stories, the creation may start out wanting to be real or it may start out confused or with a clear purpose--but the hubris of the creator is shown and she is forced to try to destroy it, ultimately being destroyed by it. This last has been around at least since the ancient tale of the Golem created by a Rabbi to wipe the land clean of those who would oppress and kill Jews, and that really speaks to the age of this feeling, in humanity. Categorized as: Stimuli
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08.07.10 by Widge @ 5:36 am  I've always been of the opinion that zombies improve just about everything. That's easily said, of course, when you're talking about taking something good and making it even better. But what if we put this to the test: what if we tried to take something that was crap and improve it with the judicious application of the undead? I found seven films and tried a thought experiment: could zombies improve them? Here are the results. Please note: the object was not to turn the films into instant classics but rather to simply improve them. You might argue that adding just about anything to the following films would improve them, whether it's zombies or cotton candy or even just painting over the screen with black paint...but duly noted and let's move on. 7. Showgirls. Infamous for being the only film in the history of cinema that copious amounts of nudity could not save, can the undead win where boobs did not? Perhaps. When Elizabeth Berkley's character knocks Gina Gershon's character down the stairs...instead of Gershon being put out of commission and into the hospital, what if she died? And then came back to life in a call back to EC Comics-style revenge stories and brought gnawing death to all those who had wronged her, ending up with Berkley and then finally, Joe Eszterhas and Paul Verhoeven themselves? Categorized as: Stimuli
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07.11.10 by Widge @ 6:07 pm  My recent brush with the cable company--we had trees go down all around Atlanta, giving us no power for around nineteen hours or so--reminded me about how much fun it is to deal with the cable company. And for many of us, cable is the best option. We don't get FiOS, DSL just doesn't deliver the speeds we want, and all the mom and pop companies that could have given us an alternative are gone. We're left with cable. And we don't get to choose our company. So in the interests of trying to promote harmony through ranting and a smidge of profanity, I offer the following ideas for any and all cable providers to consider. (You may not have these problems with your cable company. And if that's the case, hug them. Because this is what I've run into over the years. And it doesn't appear to be improving with time.) 1. Stop asking me for information twice. People, it's 2010. Why do I have to enter in my phone number and THEN tell the customer rep my number? I know the first time is to access my account information...but isn't that what the second time is for? What do you think would set my mind at ease as a customer more: having to tell you something twice, or having you pick up the phone and say, "Is this Mr. Walls?" Then you perform your check to make sure I'm me and we proceed. I know this might be a nit from my end and I can hear some of you now: "That's 20 seconds, Widge, depending how easily confused the customer is and how slow the computer is. You're going to lead off with that?" Look at it from the cable company's perspective: how many times do they lose twenty seconds a day per call? 180 calls later and you've lost an hour of time. Do you think they only get 180 calls a day? Implement this and everybody wins. Categorized as: Stimuli
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07.07.10 by Widge @ 8:10 pm  One of the stops we made on our recent road trip was in Metropolis, Illinois. For those who don't know, this is "Home of Superman." It features a huge Superman museum, a gift shop, and...a ginormous Superman statue. Showing here... Categorized as: Stimuli and Video Podcasts
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07.03.10 by PhantomV48 @ 7:44 pm  If you're anything like me, if something catches even your slight interest, you need to find out anything and everything about it that you can. Who was that band who does that song? I must find everything that they've ever done. Who invented that thing? Wow, I must know how they invent that, and anything else that they've invented. I can get lost in Wikipedia for hours. My latest obsession is a bit of a strange one. For once, I decided to write down as much as I can about this obsession before I veer away from it. At least then it'll serve a purpose for others. What was it this time? Owning a pet wallaby. Categorized as: Stimuli
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06.29.10 by Widge @ 3:35 am  Ever since I saw Sir Ken Robinson (it would be awesome if he was a relation) deliver his speech at TED from 2006 I have wanted to hear more from this guy. Everything I've thought about education and the lack thereof in this country he speaks on with authority. So if you told me we were going to bring him in as a consultant to the Department of Education on how to tear down everything and start over, I would not be sad in the least. Now he's back with a "sequel" of sorts to his previous talk. And it's everything I could have hoped for. His book from 2001, Out of Our Minds: Learning to Be Creative, is being reissued in August. Categorized as: Stimuli
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06.25.10 by Widge @ 11:37 am The video basically explains all--and other videos will expand upon this: but our visit to the Creation Museum was actually rather pleasant. At times...perplexing...but pleasant all the same. The people there were all very nice and not pushy in any way whatsoever, they only respectfully asked that we not film any of the video presentations. So we didn't. But I did make a new friend, recorded our meeting, and also delivered a message to him that is near and dear to my heart. I hope you find the experience as emotionally moving as I did. Categorized as: Stimuli
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05.31.10 by Cosette @ 1:26 pm  Hellpuppy Kora has been with us a whole year now, and she's grown a lot (and not just in size). We've been through all sorts of puppy and adolescent behavior over the last year, and although she's still a puppy in many ways, our little Kora is definitely growing up. When we spoke to Kora's foster moms before adopting her, they warned us that she was not the type of dog that you would want to go jogging with. We eventually stopped laughing at the thought of either of us jogging and told them that it wouldn't be a problem. Kora's mom, Niobe, apparently has 10-15 minute bursts of energy and then totally sacks out for a while. But we don't want you to get the wrong idea, that our hellpuppy lives a live of luxury, nomming on souls with abandon. No, she has an extremely busy life and we thought we'd share with you how she spends an average day. Categorized as: Stimuli
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05.27.10 by Widge @ 5:23 am  I was wondering whatever happened to the quest by The Department of the 4th Dimension for "the ultimate tastemakers." Because really it translates into the ultimate coffeemakers. If you don't know what I'm talking about, check out the previous two vids about espresso and syphon coffee and their proper creation. But now they return to Intelligentsia Coffee for a look at how to make a proper and serious cappuccino. And it's a look, for me anyway, as to why we pay baristas for this. Because I just don't have the patience to worry about whether or not my milk is at the proper heat. Or what height I'm pouring it from. I've come to terms with my own laziness. However, I will say it's awesome to see somebody else do it, especially somebody who has it down to a science, albeit a slightly mad one. Categorized as: Stimuli
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