Talking the Talk

I love talking conspiracy stuff. Granted, if you've ready any of my posts on the subject, I don't tend to take them seriously. However, I do keep an open mind about it. One of my friends has gotten deep into the conspiracy lore. He's so deep, he can't see anything but conspiracies. I'd love to talk about it with him but I can't, nobody can, because he's developed a sort of righteousness usually seen in the fundamentally religious. In point of fact, he is fundamentally religious. His religion is conspiracy.

The problem is that he continually wants to discuss his views. The discussion wouldn't be a problem if it were actually a discussion. What it is, in reality, is sermonizing. If anyone disagrees, he condemns not just their point-of-view but the person stating them, committing the classic ad-hominem fallacy in the process.

To me, this is a severe problem. I'm all for discussing, arguing, verbally battling, the whole nine-yards but the contest should never spill over into attacks on the combatants. It crosses the line.

So what's happened? Our resident preacher of doom posts yet another indictment of the world at large. No one responds because he has made it so fruitless to do so. He then attacks everyone for not posting responses. Let's see: we're all ignorant, delusional, blind, etc. etc. He, of course, is the great educator, come to save us, to show us the light. He's just so wonderful, you see, we just can't see it. Or something.

I guess what I'm talking around and around is this: we all believe some things that are our own, some "normal" by societal standards, some not. I'm not trying to judge the quality of his beliefs. However, he is. And given the nature of his beliefs, he has an incredible lack of empathy for those of us who choose not to join him on his run down the rabbit hole. He expects us to follow him for no other reason then, ultimately, because he says so. For someone who claims to be enlightened, it's not a very enlightened or mature attitude.

I love talking. I love arguing. I love discussing. But they all require multiple players. Our man in the dark side prefers to play alone. That's a one way street I do not prefer to follow him down. Judging from everyone else's responses (or lack thereof), no one else seems keen to follow him either.

Mr. Muji

MUJI
Originally uploaded by Critical Todd

As is my weekly wont, I was up at midtown during lunch today. On my walk, I passed by a now open MUJI on 40th street. I could have sworn that it was still under construction last time I was up here. I could be wrong before though. It's happened. Shocking, I know.

Having no idea what MUJI is, I hit up the website. Here's what they say about themselves:

What is MUJI?

MUJI is not a brand whose value rests in the frills and "extras" it adds to its products.

MUJI is simplicity - but a simplicity achieved through a complexity of thought and design.

MUJI's streamlining is the result of the careful elmination and subtraction of gratuitous features and design unrelated to function.

MUJI, the brand, is rational, and free of agenda, doctrine, and "isms." The MUJI concept derives from us continuously asking, "What is best from an individual's point of view?"

MUJI aspires to modesty and plainness, the better to adapt and shape itself to the styles, preferences, and practices of as wide a group of people as possible. This is the single most important reason people embrace MUJI.

MUJI - in its deliberate pursuit of the pure and the ordinary - achieves the extraordinary.

It reads like a series of marketing haiku. Maybe intentionally. And it doesn't tell me much about what's actually inside the joint. Anybody been inside?

Is it just me or are a lot of Japanese chains opening up stores in the city? Not that I mind. I still need to go back to Uniqlo. They've got some bad ass t-shirts.

Oh yeah, it's still ridiculously hot. I thought I moved away from Houston to get away from heat like this?

Even 350 Year-Old Wounds Never Completely Heal

If there was any doubt that George Orwell got it right when he said, "who controls the past controls the future", this could be the clincher.

A 350-year-old cavalry battle has become the latest irritant between Russia and its neighbor Ukraine after Russia's foreign ministry on Tuesday accused Kiev of using the clash to foment anti-Russian feeling.

The ministry said the 1659 battle of Konotop, in which a Russian invasion was repelled, was being distorted to fit the political agenda of Ukraine's leaders, who have angered Moscow by seeking NATO membership.

In the battle, a Russian force was defeated when it tried to stop a Ukrainian leader from entering into an entente with Poland and Lithuania -- with whom Russia had waged wars.

Source: reuters.com

The whole scene is decidedly Orwellian, down to the Russians claiming that Ukraine is twisting history to fit their current goals ("who controls the present controls the past"). I always find it odd that people claim the past has no meaning or import in today's affairs. The past always matters, whether it happened yesterday or 350 years ago. Let's hope both these countries learn from it and not try to repeat it.

A Different Kind of Cold War All Together

Tin Foil Hatter
Originally uploaded by Critical Todd

Erectile dysfunction a weapon of the enemy? Wasn't it Sun Tzu who said, "All war is based on flaccidity"? It makes so much sense... From AboveTopSecret:

According to The Center for Male Reproductive Medicine, erectile dysfunction effects approximately 20 Million American men. Think about it.. that means 1 out of every five guys you see has trouble obtaining or maintaining a satisfactory erection! This is a disorder of almost epidemic proportions, yet very little mention is ever made of it in the mainstream media. Why is that?

The most commonly stated causes are diabetes, high blood pressure, heart and vascular disease, stress, and hormone problems, but I believe the real cause is much more sinister. I believe it's a conspiracy designed to render the American male population passive and impotent.

Passive? It would make me angry, very angry (and you wouldn't like me when I'm angry). It's a good thing we've got Viagra and Levitra!

AT&T Takes A Leak All Over New iPhones

iPhone 3G official pics
Originally uploaded by momentimedia

Oh, corporate giant, fear the power of the internets. Gizmodo got a hold of an internal memo (thanks for the link, Chris) outlining the carrier's policy vis-a-vis the new iPhone. Particularly salient to me, are these bits:

Data Plans and Pricing:
...All iPhone 3G customers are required to have one of the new data plans and qualifying voice plan.
Customers intending to use the iPhone 3G for access to corporate e-mail, business applications, or access to corporate intranet are required to activate with Enterprise Data Plan for iPhone.
The 2G data rate plans will remain available for 2G devices until further notice.
IRU service discounts for both voice and data pans will apply to iPhone 3G, but not 2G iPhone.
CRU service discounts for voice and data will apply to both 2G and 3G, when on a qualifying data plan.
IRUs will not get a discount on device purchase for 2G or iPhone 3Gs.

Data Pricing will be as follows:
Consumer Data Plan (must be added to qualified voice plan):
$30 - Unlimited Data (E-mail/Web), includes Visual Voicemail

Upgrade Eligibility and Qualified Upgrade Pricing
Upgrade eligibility will be determined based on standard upgrade eligibility rules. Customers must be upgrade eligible to receive the qualified upgrade pricing. However, not all customers will be qualified upgrades. AT&T has not determined the price of the 3G device for non-qualified upgrades.

All customers will be required to sign a 2-year agreement. There will not be a "no commitment" price for the iPhone 3G.

Note: When the 3G device launches, all active postpaid customers in good standing with a 2G iPhone will be eligible to receive the qualified upgrade pricing for a 3G device regardless of service tenure. (Customers that would not otherwise be eligible due to tenure will be made eligible at launch).

Activation Process
The new 3G device will be activated in store in both AT&T and Apple stores. Customers must accept AT&T and Apple Ts & Cs, sign a 2-year agreement, and select the data plan for the iPhone 3G before leaving the store. The current iTunes activation process will no longer be required for iPhone 3Gs, however a short tether process to unbrick the 3G device will be performed in all AT&T stores (tether cords will be provided). Apple stores will also perform this tether process, however in the event that a customer's device is not tethered in the Apple store, their device will be inoperable until they get home and tether through iTunes. Prepaid and Pick Your Plan will not be allowed on the 3G device.

Given my previously disclosed fear, I'm sure if those fears should be allayed or not. It looks like I'll have to bite the bullet and go with a two-year plan this go-around. At least, it doesn't look like I'm going to get jammed as a current pre-paid customer. I guess I'll find out next month. Maybe I should take a lawyer to the store with me, just to sift through all this legalese.

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Misleading post title for the win?

New iPhone's Small Print Scares Me

By now, even a rube with the most rudimentary internet access (even AOL) has been bombarded by the news spewed forth from Apple's Worldwide Developer's Conference. The big news (only news?) was the official big reveal of the next generation of iPhone, due next month.

As if the bat-crazy screaming of the web was not enough, Apple saw fit to send me a e-pamphlet on the new phone: enterprise ready ("Number One, engage!"), 3G, GPS; it's faster, stronger, practically bionic.

A long time ago, I had remarked that it would take a sizable memory upgrade to get me to bite on a new phone. However, I find my resolve waning. Next month is oh so close and the price is is in the right ballpark. Damn you, Steve Jobs!

One thing gives me pause. At the bottom of the advert, there was an ominous footnote (at least for me):

...Based on iPhone 3G (8GB) and first-generation iPhone (8GB) purchases. Requires new 2-year AT&T rate plan, sold separately.

I'm not sure exactly what this means. Is the price based on a purchase of both a first-gen and new iPhone? Also, what's this I see about a new AT&T plan, "sold separately"? I took the month-to-month route with my first-gen phone, how will this effect me? No sir, I don't like the sound of this at all.

With a bit over a month until the phone actually streets, there's plenty of time for the internet to completely dissect everything the way only the internet knows how. Plenty of smarter people than I will shed some wisdom on the labyrinthine terms Apple is foisting upon us. Until then, I will remain optimistic on the new phone. Just a bit.

Night of the Flying Horror

Sunday night, at home, I was listening to ESPN's wrap-up of the Lakers-Celtics NBA Finals game and writing up a scintillating entry on my adventure at the Mars Bar. I had left one of my windows slightly open for a little extra air-flow to combat the hot night. Through this gap, a brown bullet shot into the living-room. Once inside, unfurling waxy wings, it turned once, twice, and finally landed on a pipe that runs from the floor to the ceiling of the room. It was the biggest cockroach I had seen since I moved back from Texas. It was monstrous.

Of course, with primal cunning, it kept the pipe between us. It scuttled in and down the pipe. I could hear its chitinous clawed feet clicking on the metal. I grabbed a cardboard poster tube (the only weapon I had) and took position, ready to knock it into next week. I waited for it like A-rod sitting on a 3-0 pitch.

The difference between a giant, feral, flying roach and a fastball became immediately obvious when the thing came at me like the devil's own knuckleball or, I should say, flew around me, as I impotently swung my cardboard bat, and dove straight into my bedroom. My god, I thought. My. God.

I gave chase and, after chasing it around the base of my bed once, twice, it disappeared into the wall. Into a section of exposed brick to be exact. I didn't see exactly where it went. As I stood there, speechless, it looked as if it had vanished. It had vanished but I knew, as darkness enfolded my soul, that it wasn't gone. That's it. No way I'm sleeping tonight.

I began looking for anything I might spray, spray over everything, including myself, to ward off this horrible creature. Would it fear canola? What about Endust? Lysol? My preparedness for this contingency was severely lacking. I felt like FEMA.

Being a man of science, I decided to investigate the scene of the disappearance. I examined the brick face and found a nook. It was just deep enough, just dark enough. At that moment, was it fate that intervened? I watched two eye-stalks emerge from the cranny followed slowly, oh so slowly, by the vast trunk of the insect. I was patient. I waited, waited perfectly still. I waited until the roach had emerged almost fully before, with one hiking boot, I rained down rubber-booted death.

It was, I must say, a bold gamble. One wrong move and it again could have taken flight or fled back into the darkness. It was a close thing. A close thing indeed. But I triumphed and, having triumphed, wept, for I had no more bugs to conquer. And I could go to sleep. Oh, sweet, sweet sleep.

Nothing But a G Thing

I was only slightly put out by issues on the G train line this morning. However, on my way back from work, the subway gremlins were still at work. As I stood with unnumbered commuters waiting for the G at the Hoyt-Schermerhorn station, I began to sense that all was not well.

When one gentlemen (not an official) began calling out that the Queens-bound G would be running on the Smith-bound side, I took pause. I looked over at the other platform and saw probably the same number of people waiting there that were waiting over here. There were no signs or indications of any kind to confirm what was going on. Had I known earlier, I could have stayed on the C train. But I was ignorant. And for that ignorance I would pay. Or not. I made an executive decision to walk home.

It was hot. It was muggy. But I, I had lived through more than ten summers in Houston, Texas. This is a normal Houston summer day. I did not dispair. I laughed. Yes, I laughed. Then I bought a bottle of water.

When I got to Fort Greene Park, it dawned on me that I hadn't really gone through it yet since I moved into the 'hood. I took the uphill walk and, reaching the summit, snapped a few shots:

Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.

For all I know, the G train could have shown up the second I took flight but the walk did me good. I got to burn off a few calories, sweat out some impurities, and bask in a bit in the green. Not such a bad afternoon after all. We'll see in the morning if the G gets back to normal.

The Antarctic Night Was Made For Lovers

Remember, it's all for the science.

WELLINGTON (Reuters) - One of the last shipments to a U.S. research base in Antarctica before the onset of winter darkness was a year's supply of condoms, a New Zealand newspaper reported Monday.

Source: reuters.com

How many is considered a year's supply and who got to conduct that research?

Mission to Mars

After the movie on Saturday, my friend and I ended up at the Mars Bar. The place is a wonderful shit-hole, wallpapered in graffiti with strange photos of rabbits and words like "Smegma" written in magic marker on the wall behind the bar.

We sat down at the bar. I was intrigued by a couple of punk girls in rainbow faux-hawks but someone was watching us. He stumble-bumbled, stumblebummed into us and forced his way into our conversation. He looked vaguely like Sloth from The Goonies in a wine-spattered "I Love NY" t-shirt. He claimed his name was Zachary, that he was Australian (his "accent" came and went like the tide), and that he was in New York for his mother's wedding (for the fifth time, he said). He was creepy but, at that moment, harmless.

You could not engage Zach in conversation. You could only wait, looking at his blank, slack-jaw face, his body swaying like a tree with a beer-gut in a breeze, and attend to his oracular monosyllabic outbursts. He also played punk songs on the jukebox and gyrated in something approximating a dance. After awhile, we tried our best to ignore him.

This didn't work for long. When Zach pilfered a dollar from the bar under the guise of groping for an empty wine glass. We decided things could only go downhill from there. Rather than risk provoking ersatz Aussie ire, we decided to retire to another establishment.

As I rose from my chair to go, I extended my hand in an honest attempt to leave on good terms. Zach did not take my hand. He just looked at me. His mouth was slightly open. The wine-stain on his shirt, in the dwindling afternoon light, took on the cast of drying blood. His body swayed slightly. His eyes, with only the merest glint of life in their dull depths, spoke of something like betrayal. I wasted no time making my exit.

I'm afraid that some way, some how, I have made an enemy on a far-off shore or, if not there, than in the East Village which, in some ways, is a far-off shore. So perhaps it's all the same. Whether I misplayed some dark custom of the southern hemisphere or whether he just didn't like the cut of my jib, I'll never know.

...No, I'll never know. The bar was pretty cool though.

The Adventures of Young Ghengis Khan

What I learned from watching Mongol yesterday: the Mongols were deathly afraid of thunder. What else I learned: Temüjin, the future Ghengis Khan, spent most of his youth running from people, getting caught, escaping, running again, and getting caught again. How do these two things fit together? I'll leave that to the film. Let me only say that Temüjin, like Lion-O of the Thundercats, must face his fear.

Mongol ticks off several items from the epic film checklist:

• Grand, majestic vistas? Check.
• Archetypal characters? Check.
• Climactic...err ...climax? Check.

What's missing from the film is a compelling characterization of Temüjin himself. There's nothing here to express why he was able to ascend to khan of all the Mongols, why men would follow him, what about his experience set him apart from the other thunder-fearing steppes-men. Wait, there is one thing: his destiny (for full effect, you have to say "destiny" in a deep voice, like the movie guy.)

Early on, and repeatedly thereafter, we learn that the gods favor Temüjin. They break his chains, trouble the dreams old men and monks, and give weathermen fits, all for their beloved Temüjin. With hammer-to-head subtlety. It's too bad the movie doesn't give Temüjin more of a chance to make his own destiny, instead of stumbling into it.

There is a love story here. Temüjin and Borte, Mrs. Temüjin, are loving khan-to-be and wife. It's a good thing to, since Temüjin needs his wife to bail him out of trouble in a big way. It's like Hart to Hart, only more violent.

When Temüjin and his band of merry Mongols do draw blades and go to work, the film comes into its own. The fight scenes are great: well choreographed, well-performed, with enough requisite blood-spattering to keep the kids in the audience happy. I just with there was more of it.

Mongol paints Temüjin as the Mongol of the next generation. Knowing a bit of history, I'm not sure he was so much a new sort of Mongol than the apex Mongol of his age. It's the choice the film makes and, I'm curious, how it will play out if what I heard is true and Mongol is the first film of a trilogy covering the entire life of the great khan. How will the no-woman, no-child killing Temüjin fit in with the city-razing, kingdom obliterating Ghengis Khan? I guess we'll find out in film #2 because there's no hint of that sort of character arc here.

Much more interesting than Temüjin is Jamuka, blood-brother and then rival. The actor, Honglei Sun, does an awesome job with the role. He's great fun to watch and steals every scene he's in. The movie really rises when he's on the screen and sinks down when he's not. I found myself more interested in his story than Temüjin's. That's probably not a good sign.

When we finally get to the great finale of the film, it's not quite as great as the build up would suggest. I won't spoil it but I found the denouement a bit of a bummer. Just as the movie was getting my blood flowing, it fumbles and let's me down. KHAAAAAAAN!

This may have been the worst time for me to see this film. I'm currently finishing a book, Story about building and shaping story arcs and plots (for a project I will discuss later) so I was hyper-conscious about the story elements of the film which I think is it's weakest link. Maybe if I had a lobotomy, the film might work better (that sounds harsher than I mean it to but what the hell!)

After all is said and done, I did have fun with it, but not as much fun as I was ready and willing to have. I was disappointed but it wasn't a complete failure. It'll fair better on video when I'll be able to skip to the good parts. As my friend Chris told me after we discussed the film over some Jameson on the rocks (him) and Diet Coke (me), he said, "I can see your criticisms and I agree but, whatever, I fucking loved it." There you have it.

Dancing Queens

I'm on my way out the door to see Mongol. Before I left the cool confines of my apartment, I wanted to drop a quick note about the burlesque show I took in at Sputnik last night.

I hadn't seen a burlesque before. I suppose, the question should be: would I see one again? Oh, yes.

All the girls were great - and had different looks and styles so that there was a good variety in the show. The MC, Bastard Keith, was, himself, highly entertaining. I must, however, give a special round of applause to the headliner, Gigi La Femme, who closed the show with a Star Wars disco dance that climaxed (yes, climaxed) with her reveal in the Princess Leia Return of the Jedi outfit. Oh, my.

Unfortunately, I was unable to take any pictures. However, a flickr photo search reveals much.

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Note: A co-worker and friend were supposed to accompany me but both bailed so I went lone wolf, or, as someone else might put it, creepy alone guy. Thanks, guys!

Sony Doesn't Need U to Spell Qore

So I said I'd give Qore a shot so I did. Here's a run-down of the content:

1. The Incredible Hulk Trailer (pre-menu, skippable)
2. Intro by host Veronica Belmont (pre-menu, skippable)
3. SOCOM Confrontation (from menu)
   • Weaksauce marketing-speech intro by Belmont (pre-menu, skippable)
   • commercial for MGS4 in a tiny window-box (pre-menu, skippable)
   • "The Ultimate Team" featurette (from menu) - I felt like I'd seen it before, the in-game footage was not new to me.
   • SOCOM Gallery - images from gameplay, concept art, etc.
   • SOCOM theme (triggered short commercial for Burger King) - opened up a download center showing the beta (currently unavailable), SOCOM theme, and Calling All Cars (Qore year-subscription bonus)
4. Soul Calibur IV / Afro Samurai - opens up a submenu, choosing Soul Calibur IV triggered a short commercial.
   • "A Fighting Game With Soul" featurette (from Soul Calibur IV menu) - no idea if the footage is new or not, looks good though.
   • "Out For Justice" featurette (from Afro Samurai menu) - it looks good (dunno if it's new)
5. Secret Agent Clank (triggered short commercial)
   • "Gadgetry of Robot" featurette
   • "Sneak Clank" featurette
   • "Gadgets and More" gallery
6. Star Wars: Force Unleased
   • Another weaksauce Blemont intro (skippable) (triggered short commercial)
   • "This Ain't Yoda's Force" featurette - cool footage (dunno if it's new)
   • "Explore the Galaxy" featurette - more good footage (a few repeats from other featurette)
   • "The Rancor Battle" - video of a jedi fighting a Rancor beast; it looked in-engine but not actual gameplay
   • Graphic Novel - teaser of The Force Unleased graphic novel
   • Game Art Gallery
   • Darth Katers - spoof of casting (did not watch)
7. What's Hot (triggers The Incredible Hulk trailer)
8. Download Center - same as in SOCOM menu

My overall impression of the premiere "issue" is that, video-wise, it doesn't have anything more in-depth or better than you could find on a site like Gametrailers and may have the same content- and with less commercial interruptions! The key then is the extras: entry into the SOCOM beta and a SOCOM theme. Are both of these absolutely exclusive to Qore? It's possible but I don't think so. Therefore, as if this episode, I can't say it was really worth the cash.

I would have thought Sony would have put their strongest stuff in this "issue", start things off with a bang, but if they tried they did not succeed. And I've already had enough of Veronica Belmont. I think I'll change her name to Insta-Skip. Maybe they'll do better next month but, as the saying (and deodorant commercials go), you only get one first impression. Qore failed to impress.

Head of the Class

I finally took my first shave with my new HeadBlade kit. My first impression? I like it, I like it a lot.

The wheeled razor transport looks like an old Volkswagen Beetle but it makes for a smooth, steady shave. It was quick and easy- a marked difference from my other marathon shaving struggles. With my new smooth skull, I'm ready for the burlesque house.

Now, all I need to do is shake my incipient laziness and consistently shave every day or every other day and I'll be able to reduce this down to a science. We shall see about that but, so far, I'm very happy with my purchase.

Mean, Green, and not Charlie Sheen

The buzz surrounding the The Incredible Hulk has not been good.  And that would be an understatement.  However, Ain't It Cool News has just posted an extremely favorable review (thanks for the link, Joey):

Louis Leterrier has made a HULK movie that first and foremost is badass, kickass and asskicking, but is most certainly not ASS.

Source: aintitcool.com

Ain't It Cool News aren't exactly bastions of journalism. However, if there is one thing they do better than most (maybe all) is capture the feeling of the fan, not interested in the composition of the mise-en-scene, just in whether the experience lives up to our primal filmic desires: does it kick ass or does it not kick ass?

I want to believe. I'm not totally sold yet but, reading that gushing geek geyser of a review, my excitement level is rising. I so what the Hulk to kick ass. Please, kick some ass. I want to believe.

Konami Lifts Review Veil of Secrecy...Mostly

A ban by Konami on certain elements appearing in reviews of the upcoming Metal Gear Solid 4 had raised concerns about the legitimacy of reviews that accepted the ban. To dispell the swirling fog of consipiracy, Konami has lifted the ban. Sort of.

The news arrives from a letter sent to Kotaku from Kojima Productions assistant producer Ryan Payton. Reviewers are still asked to refrain from discussing specific plot points and not disclose certain product placements (i.e. Apple’s iPod).

“As a former writer, I’m proud of the discussion this topic has sparked,” he said. “I hope Adam [Sessler], [Stephen Totilo], and everybody else who covered this issue continue to be diligent about restrictions placed on media outlets.”

That said, Payton said the restrictions were for the fans. “I do, however, hope gamers can appreciate the efforts we go through to keep them protected from reviewers that could spoil some of the “MGS4″ experience,” he concluded.

Source: multiplayerblog.mtv.com

Hey look, I can appreciate Konami not wanting to have the game spoiled by an over-zealous review but, please, riddle me this: how does the discussion of cutscene length (not its content) or the inclusion of product placement spoil the game for fans? Is that spoiling or discussing relevant topics in the review of any game?

My only conclusion is that the continuing ban on such things can only be to put off any sort of bad press on those aspects of the game until after the game comes out and after that first few days of massive sales. After that, if someone wants to howl at the moon over 45 minute cutscenes or Snake's newfound addiction to Tab (mmm, Tab), it will be too late: we'll all be complaining about something we already bought, ripped the plastic off of, and thus voided any ability to return the game for full price. A stealth-kill of the informed purchase decision.

Am I over-reacting? Probably. But there has to be some reason Konami are so bent on keeping secrets. Is that Snake over there decking into iTunes? No, it's just a box.

Hard Qore

Today, Sony introduced Qore, a new pay video magazine distributed via the Playstation Network. Qore has been nothing if not a touchstone for gamers. One the one side, the reaction has been: why should we pay for what essentially amounts to a Sony marketing piece? The other side dismisses this argument as yet another example of the internet generation not wanting to pay for anything: this program costs money to produce so why shouldn't people be expected to pay for it?

What is Qore? According to the Playstation blog:

Today we are announcing that Qore: Presented by the PLAYSTATION Network, a highly interactive, monthly lifestyle gaming program covering the world inside PLAYSTATION is on its way to PS3. Qore has been developed to give PS3 users early access to game related content at a level of quality, interactivity and depth. Everything is filmed in HD. Qore will feature exclusive news, developer interviews, in-depth game previews and behind-the-scenes looks at PlayStation games and special access to game demos, special beta invitations, game add-ons and other downloadable game-related content.

So, essentially, what we have is a digital version of an Official Playstation Magazine type product. OPM retails for ~ $10. Each "issue" of Qore is only $2.99. On this score, it looks like a good deal.

However, by monetizing portions of their online content that would otherwise be free, they are essentially going the XBox+Live route: some content is free, some content is now premium.

It will be interesting how content now shakes out between the free and premium services. How will cross-platform content be treated? Will only PS3-exclusive games go Qore or will the XBox 360 get some content free that becomes premium content on the PS3?

As for the video content, while it is Sony's perogative to charge for content that costs money to produce, the existing content model has been ad-supported for-free content. Unnumbered websites produce good quality HD video without charging the end-user. Qore must justify its price-point- if it is indeed an extended advertisement for Sony by Sony, this justification must be even stronger.

Before passing judgment myself, I'll try an "issue" or two. However, I wonder how this experiment will turn out. Also, I wonder what impact this monetization of content will have on Playstation Home. I've had the sneaking suspicion that Sony has been working to monetize Home significantly and this could be the first taste. Only time will tell.

My last question: will Qore episode one explain what the hell Qore is supposed to mean?

Stuck On You

I've just been blindsided (pun intended) by the arrival of the movie, "Stuck", based on a grisly real-life incident in Texas.  From Yahoo's review:

"Stuck" is based on a true story, too, which makes it even more riveting to see these events unfold on screen. It's inspired by a fatal 2001 car crash in Fort Worth, Texas, that earned the driver, Chante Mallard, a 50-year prison sentence. But this is no prime-time TV re-enactment, full of glossy lighting and stylish edits; Gordon and co-writer John Strysik strip the accident down to expose the ugliest elements of human behavior.

Source: news.yahoo.com

I remember reading about the incident and being literally stunned by it. Shocked, even. It wouldn't have been my first choice for film adaptation material but, from the sound of it, the filmmakers are taking the subject in interesting directions. Hopefully, no hobos were hurt during the making of the movie.

Only the Smart Die Young

This makes a lot of sense if you think about it. However, if you did just think about it, you've shortened your lifespan by a month. Well done.

It doesn't pay to be smart and ignorance really is bliss if you want a long life -- at least if you're a fly, according to new research by a Swiss university.

Source: dsc.discovery.com

Those longer lives were clearly unfulfilled. Clearly. Those dumb flies don't know how good they have it. If they did, they'd be dead. And then they wouldn't have had it to know how good it was. Well, there goes a month.

A Penchant For Duggery

Diggnation
Originally uploaded by Critical Todd

Now that I've had time to reflect (and sleep), I feel strong enough to delve into the maelstrom that was the Diggnation meet last night.

First of all, there was a massive crowd for the show. I heard people had been lining up since early in the afternoon and the line, when I finally deigned to join it, stretched three-quarters of the way around the entire block. It was mostly youngish men with a sprinkling of females. What was most surprising is the extent to which guys had traveled to get here: Rhode Island, D.C., and beyond. It really was a rock concert-like atmosphere.

Inside Studio B, the sea of people swelled around the raised stage in pregnant anticipation for the Digg Gods to emerge.

A bit of exposition: I do not know much about Diggnation or anything else about Revision 3. I don't watch the podcast (though I might try it now) and, while I enjoyed TechTV while it lasted, that was a long time ago. Consequently, as the crowd through out and responded to in-joke after in-joke, I was mostly confused.

After a short intro, Brian Brushwood put on a magic show. He ate fire (meh), hammered a nail into his face (not bad), passed a nail through from one eye to the other and from his eye to his mouth (somewhat disgusting), and performed a hand-puppet called "Mr. Happy Pants" (funny). It was a decent act. He also gave away copies of his book, Cheats, Cons, Swindles, & Tricks.

By this point, the crowd had coalesced into a slush of humanity. It was also getting warm, very warm.

After various false starts, the actual Diggnation crew got going. Judging from the reactions from the crowd, these guys really are rock stars, internet nerd rock stars, but stars nonetheless. People were going batshit for them. Literally batshit.

After listening to the banter for a bit- funny stuff- I was ready to go. I had come, I had seen, I had conquered. So I wept, sweat dripping into my eyes, and left.

I had come to the event with friend Dave who was a Diggnation fan and who had it much worse in the going than I. He had come direct from work in a suit. I don't know how he bore it. He's also somewhat shorter than I and so had real trouble seeing anything going on. It didn't help that a tall Brit stepped right in front of him just as the main event was starting.

For me, it was interesting to see. I'll check out the podcast now (knowing I'll never be on it since the only digg I get is from me- cue the mournful tune from the world's smallest internet violin) and I'm now interested to see what a regular Digg meet is like, without the vast press of humanity.

Having gone, I can say I took part in Internet Week 2008. I can say this with pride. I can say this knowing I had no idea it was Internet Week 2008. But I was there. I was there. Can you digg it? Yes, you can.