2009 January | Kevin's Musings

Archive for January, 2009

Jan

how’d they do that?

By Kevin 2 Comments

Categories: gaming

As mentioned I play some Wii these days, with it’s nifty Wii remote, a wireless controller with a sensor that you place on or below the TV to detect it’s movements. Makes sense right? But how the crap did that old gun on the NES work? Remember Duck Hunt, with that annoying dog mocking you all the time? Here’s the explanation I found on videogamesblogger:

Stripped of the high-tech accouterments (by 1980s standards, anyway), it’s the oldest trick in the book. You think you’re using the gun to shoot at the TV, right? But really the TV is shooting the gun.

Here’s what happens…

You shoot at a duck, which appears on an ordinary TV screen. The gun is connected to the game console; pressing the trigger blackens the screen, then causes a duck-shaped white target to appear momentarily. If your aim is true, a photo sensor in the gun detects the shift from dark to light, and bingo–dead duck. In short, the TV emits the light pulse and the gun detects it, not the other way around.

Jan

Wiiiiiiii

By Kevin 2 Comments

Categories: gaming

We’ve been having a lot of fun lately with the Wii that my parents got us for Christmas. Gibson, Liz and I have all been playing Mario Kart, with a little bit of Wii Fit and Wii sports thrown in there to change things up. I started out logging some serious hours with the steering wheel until I read that for getting really fast times an old school controller is needed. Now while the wheel is still lots of fun, the controller does give you a lot more control, highly recommended. So far I’ve got first place in every race in all the different speeds except for the mirror mode, which I just unlocked last night. I’ve also unlocked 22 of the 26 characters and now I’m thinking that it’s time to move on to racing online, should be fun.

Tonight I received Super Mario Galaxy for my upcoming birthday (chocolate cheesecake anyone?). The Mario franchise has never disappointed me before and I anticipate hours of fun, challenging gameplay ahead. The game looks fantastic as well, even though the Wii can’t really compete graphically with the 360 or PS3.

Later this year the new Punch Out will be released. One of the all time greats is being re-made for the Wii and it looks good, I’m crossing my fingers for another classic. Here’s the first trailer for the game, King Hippo!!!???

Jan

frack ya

By Kevin 4 Comments

Categories: watching

Game on. Some of my favorite TV is back for another go. Battlestar Galactica is back for it’s final 10 episodes and I’m loving it. Liz and I watched the recent webisodes and then the new episode tonight. More twists then you can shake a stick at… what’s up with Kara? Is Saul’s wife the last cylon? Goodbye to Lt. Dualla. Can’t wait til next week.

If you’ve never watched BSG, I highly recommend it, it’s so much more than a sci-fi show. I know, your skeptical, Liz was too we until we watched the mini series way back when and now she’s hooked. And she’s not nearly as geeky as me.

Lost is back on Monday, but the real deal, The Flight of the Conchords, is back for season 2 Sunday night. So if you hear somebody laughing their ass off tomorrow, you know it’s me.

Jan

coupland’s musings

By Kevin 0 Comments

Categories: reading

We here at the chez Buhler read a lot of Douglas Coupland. Why? He’s a local guy who is smart, witty, funny, poignant and has great insight into culture. I read somewhere that his favorite book that he has written is Microserfs. So I put it on my wishlist and blamo I got it for Christmas!

Microserfs is about a group of employees at Microsoft. None of them have a life, but they attempt to get one by quitting their jobs at Microsoft to work together on a new independently funded and designed game called Oop! The book offers many quirky scenarios and anecdotes which shed light on geek culture, death, family, falling in love and being comfortable with yourself. Along the way Coupland is constantly imaginative and original. As I read and thought about what I would write here on the blog about Microserfs, I was kind of looking for a quote that really stood out to me, or was hilarious or just sort of summed up the book. Then I realized that on pretty much every other page there was some such quote. Let’s see if I can randomly find one right now:

“Todd apologized for calling me

a cryptofascist and called me ‘benignly centrist,’ instead.

The formatting for this paragraph is

obvious.” p.255

Jan

me and ben stein

By Kevin 0 Comments

Categories: thinking and watching

I hope all my peeps know why Ben Stein and I are forever linked… yes the former speech writer for Nixon and star of Win Ben Stein’s Money is also the teacher from Ferris Bueller’s Day Off who said, “Bueller, Bueller, Bueller,” in his overly monotonous voice. So basically he’s famous for saying my name.

I recently watched his movie Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed, which is a documentary about the scientists in the USA who would argue for intelligent design but are not given any credence to do so. The have been fired and shunned and are not taken seriously.

The ID scientists in the movie argue that they are not simply Creationists (which is fitting the Bible into science), but define intelligent design as the study of patterns in nature, best explained as a result of intelligence, i.e. God/higher power/aliens whatever you want to call it. They emphasize that though they may be religious they are not pushing religious propaganda, but just want the ability to debate and openly explore ID. The Intelligent Design scientists explain that though Charles Darwin had valid insights he did not the have the whole picture, that Atheist scientists will accept any explanation for the origin of life except one that is guided.

I initially like and enjoyed Expelled, I found it insightful and could identify with the scientists who were brushed aside as right-wing, leave you brain at the door Christians as soon as they mentioned ID. Not that I engage in debates over ID but sometimes people will not listen to what your really trying to say about a given issue because they think they already know what you, a Christian, should believe and think. Very annoying. No one likes to be stereotyped. I did find the movie a little Micheal Moore-ish at times, stretching and over emphasizing facts to make your point, however valid it may be.

After I watched the movie I did further research into the movie and wasn’t too surprised to find it being bashed, but it wasn’t only bashed, it got trashed. Worst of all the integrity of the movie and it’s makers is questioned, accusing them of setting up interviewees and misconstruing evidence. Some of the trashing is probably just Atheists lashing out at Creationists, their “hated rivals.” These guys have missed the point I think, lets have some non-snarky debate not more looking down your nose name calling.

In the end I’m left wondering about the credibility of the movie. I dunno. It has made me think more about Darwinism and Intelligent Design though and inspired me to hopefully do more research into what my stance on the origins of life are. Is it so foolish to think that God helped along our development instead of some lucky (I mean infinitely lucky) protein goo puzzle hitting the jackpot to create life?

Jan

passing the torch

By Kevin 2 Comments

Categories: kids

And now to come out of the closet… I am a geek. Tonight I have passed the mantle on to my son. Gibson and I broke out my old LEGO from when I was young and built ourselves a couple of spaceships, sweet. We were at it for over an hour, I had a lot of fun and I’m pretty sure he did too. Gibson’s super powerful ship is designed for one pilot, to shoot the bad guys and cruise really fast! Mine includes my classic (classic at least in my own bloated opinion) back hatch, out of which comes my robot vehicle to scan the alien terrain and of course shoot bad guys. It also features two side missiles and four laser guns, bad guys tremble! Actually I’m not sure Gibson is a geek yet, LEGO seems a little more age appropriate for a 3 year old than a 31 year old.

Jan

bad monkeys

By Kevin 0 Comments

Categories: reading

I just finished the first of my Christmas books, Bad Monkeys by Matt Ruff. It’s described as a science fiction Catcher in the Rye, I didn’t love Catcher in the Rye but it was better than this novel. That’s not to say that I didn’t enjoy the read, but I’m just not into books or movies where the whole point of the story is the twist at the end. Like the author had a great idea for a surprise ending and built the story around it, instead of the feint being more natural to the story. I may be splitting hairs but the ending just didn’t quite work for me, although I did not see it coming at all. The story revolves around Jane, who is in jail for murder. As she tells her wild story to the psychiatrist your left to wonder, is she nuts or she really apart of a secret society out to eradicate evil, her division being the Bad Monkeys. That’s how I would have left it I think, not knowing if the story is true or if Jane is full of it, kind of like Pi Patel in The Life of Pi. That beef aside I enjoyed the character of Jane and her bad attitude, along with some cool quirks like a toy gun that shoots heart attacks. Not bad, just not quite my shtick.

Jan

best of 2008

By Kevin 0 Comments

Categories: Uncategorized

MUSIC There is a reason that Oscar hopefuls are not released until later in the year, they are fresher in people’s minds and so more likely to win. That said, Protest The Hero’s album Fortress was released in January but I certainly have not forgotten. It was the album I most often listened to while running, it was played the loudest in my truck and it is ridiculous. So what if the guys are a bunch of jackass’ on stage, they are incredible musicians that always keep me interested. Fortress took the band further and heavier then Kezia, I would love to see these guys live again sometime.

BOOKS I have already written a glowing review for Blink by Malcolm Gladwell, but to say it again, I loved it. It was intriguing throughout, with thoughtful stories and insightful applications. A great read that makes you think and say “Aha!”

The other book that I found really energizing this year was The Colors Of God by Peg Peters, Dave Phillips and Quentin Steen. When I read this book I felt like the authors were reading my mind, except they explained to me in much clearer terms what I was thinking. The three authors are or were involved with a local church that my friends attend, I’m hesitant to call it an emerging church because the word is so charged for some people. I also think it means a lot of different things for different people, the way I once heard the term “alternative” used to describe Jars of Clay. The Colors of God is split into four sections, gospel faith, healthy living, inclusive community and cultural engagement. What separates this book from other “emergent” authors or thinkers is that it’s not just liberal for the sake of being liberal, or stirring the pot, not just deconstruction. I think there’s been a lot of thought and life experience put into the direction of the book and church and it seems practical to me, it works, makes sense to me as I see life playing out. Nor is it simply postmodern, wishy-washy, nobody ever takes a stand on anything crap, I think there is some real meat to it while still leaving room for the questions about faith that we all have but are sometimes afraid to ask.

MOVIES The Dark Knight. Everyone on the planet has already seen it twice so I won’t go on about how awesome it is.

And like my fellow mennoboy Matthew, I too thought The King of Kong was riveting. You’d think that a documentary about video game champions would be the most boring thing in the world, well it’s not. The characters really grab you, you cheer for the underdog/good guy/hero, and you want to choke out the weasel/bad guy. And the hair… the hair… the mullet really puts it over the top for me. Mullets are EVIL!

SPORTS A real highlight for me this past year was splitting Vancouver Whitecaps season tickets with our neighbors Ang and Edwin. It was fun to consistently see the team play and get to know the players, more like when you watch the Canucks every other night. Of course it didn’t hurt that they won the USL championship, this year I’m hoping they can win a spot in the champions league and are awarded a MLS franchise.

Jan