User:	khyron
	Date:	2009-12-21 00:18
	Subject:	because this little gray rock sells for twenty million a kilo
	Security:	Public

Now that it's sunk in for a few days, I'm going to put down my thoughts on Avatar. I really want to see it at least one more time in theaters though, and will probably do so during the holidays at some point (perhaps without the 3D this time).

In brief, the folks who are saying stuff like "this reminded me of the first time I saw Star Wars" are smoking crack. It's nothing like that at all, for reasons I'll get into in a second. However, I identify pretty strongly with the folks who say "this reminded me of the first time I saw Jurassic Park" because that comparison actually resonates pretty well with my experience.

I am not a typical James Cameron fanboy, and I often disagree strongly with folks who are. You won't catch me saying apologetic things about Titanic, not even about the special effects. You'll also often find me arguing with someone over how much more I personally enjoy The Abyss than T2 or Aliens, or anything else he's ever done. If these kinds of ideas strike you as heresy, you might want to stop reading now.

( or click here to keep going... )

Sitting here thinking about it, I can't wait to see it again. I'd love to hear what other folks think. Finally, is it just me, or were certain elements of Pandora unapologetically lifted directly from Laputa?

*geeky*

	User:	khyron
	Date:	2009-12-11 16:15
	Subject:	you are likely to be eaten by a grue, so buy this film now
	Security:	Public

I'm taking a break from studying, and while doing so thought I would share what I'm up to because I'd like other geeks to join me...

I'm about to click and pre-order GET LAMP, a documentary film about "text adventures" from Jason Scott. You may already be familiar with his previous work, the amazingly comprehensive BBS Documentary (if not, I highly recommend checking it out as well).

Here is an excerpt from the film's official web site:

"...in the early 1980s, an entire industry rose over the telling of tales, the solving of intricate puzzles and the art of writing. Like living books, these games described fantastic worlds to their readers, and then invited them to live within them.

They were called "computer adventure games", and they used the most powerful graphics processor in the world: the human mind.

Rising from side projects at universities and engineering companies, adventure games would describe a place, and then ask what to do next. They presented puzzles, tricks and traps to be overcome. They were filled with suspense, humor and sadness. And they offered a unique type of joy as players discovered how to negotiate the obstacles and think their way to victory. These players have carried their memories of these text adventures to the modern day, and a whole new generation of authors have taken up the torch to present a new set of places to explore.

Get Lamp is a documentary that will tell the story of the creation of these incredible games, in the words of the people who made them. "

Scott is a dyed in the wool geek, a staunch open source advocate, a determined historian of what I'll call "computer nerd lore" and above all, quite a talented independent filmmaker. His work is among my primary influences in going back to school, and someday I hope I'll be listing him (in addition to many of you fine folks) when giving thanks in the credits of some works of my own. By supporting this film, you'll also be supporting other worthwhile nerdy endeavors, such as Archive Team.

*anticipatory*

	User:	khyron
	Date:	2009-12-09 12:52
	Subject:	it's a dirty job, but somebody gets to do it
	Security:	Public

As the semester comes to an end, I've had a lot on my mind that I've wanted to sort through and share...but there's a catch 22 between how passionately I feel about what's going through my head and the realities of exam and paper deadlines. Thus, I've been pretty much silent around these parts.

I think that's going to change late next week, but for now, I want to share a video from TED that really drives home a few key ideas that I've been spending a lot of time on lately.