katlalog archive april 2008

080424 04:15 War

I'm so glad Arthur C. Clarke didn't live to see this happening.

Battlestar Galactica has done it again. Undoubtedly the best writing in Scifi. In the latest episode they led you to an emotional and shocking but ultimately predictable and cop-out end, where you caught yourself suppressing a moan. For a moment you were actually disappointed. But maybe that was a cunning plan to distract you, so that - wham - you didn't see that coming at all. Damn. Just when we started to like the cylons.

Here's io9's spoiler-filled summary of the episode.

080412 23:52 Business

When Tech Innovation Has a Social Mission

The New York Times is running a piece on how some emerging companies in the tech industry are focusing on social missions rather than profits despite having successful business methods. The startups are modeling themselves after organizations like Mozilla and TechSoup, who have both grown to significantly affect their respective markets. The article also discusses some of the non-profit support groups, such as the EFF, who contribute specific services to the field.

080412 01:41 Media and Fear

Yesterday i listened to WNYC's radiolab podcast about Orson Welles' War of the Worlds radioshow, about how mass media can create panic, and today i'm getting suckered in by 12 Ways To Prepare For The Next Great Depression.

I know, i know, i've been watching too much post-apocalyptic sci-fi, but i've always thought that this was a likely scenario. Currently i'm getting increasingly paranoid about the BBC's recent focus on the world food crisis.

You always thought that a crisis was decades away. And suddenly decades have gone past and you realize that things are happening far more gradual than you expected. But they are happening, and are getting more urgent.

Need to find me a unicorn chaser now. Pictures of cute kittens.

...and tomorrow i'm gonna go and stock up on beans and rice.

080406 21:11 Comix / Science

The laugh-out-loud moment of the day.
Background story.

080406 05:26 D&D

Wired Celebrity D&D Characters:

George W. Bush

17th -level politician
Chaotic Neutral Human
Strength: 11
Intelligence: 10
Wisdom: 6
Constitution: 12
Dexterity: 10
Charisma: 16
Special Abilities: Always wins eligible elections, takes no damage for corporate connections, has the ability to prevaricate perfectly, and always goes first in initiative in attacks via other countries.

Richard Dawkins

22th-Level Evolutionary Biologist
Lawful Neutral Human
Strength: 12
Dexterity: 13
Constitution: 10
Intelligence: 18
Wisdom: 22
Charisma: 25
Special Abilities: Spell Resistance Infinite (because magic is not real).
All Cleric-Priest within 60 feet gain 2 negate levels due to logical paradox.
Special Equipment: Spectacles of Trueseeing (always sees things as they really are).