Frank Zappa debates Kandy Stroud on Nightwatch, August 26, 1985.
1 2 3
Guess which side the host is on. Also, I am with Frank, what is wrong with masturbation?
Who is this nut?
- kired
- "You need to believe in things that aren't true. How else can they become?" T. Pratchett
5.1.07
Trans Fat Free Ain't Easy
An article for Business Week "How KFC Went Trans Fat Free," gives insight into how much it will take for the entire restaurant industry to go trans fat free.
Video Games are the new heavy metal
I have noticed as I go through life that people love to blame others for what is wrong in their worlds. Parents are especially prone to this self-deluded notion (in the name of transparency, I am a parent/person and prone to such things). In my life time I have seen heavy metal music, movies, prime time tv, and now video games blamed for all our social ills.
Today's Penny Arcade makes reference of a new documentary by Spencer Halpin titled "Moral Kombat" and its trailer on You Tube. I get the feeling that this trailer is designed to get parents and gamers in to see the piece by pushing the side claiming video games cause violence. I am in hopes that the documentary itself is balanced, even if the trailer isn't.
The continual propagation of the idea that video games cause violence and that people are incapable of distinguishing between real world and the cyber world is disturbing to me. I believe that these accusations are the providence of non-gamers and people who only look at a few select cases, and say "Video Games caused that." Instead of asking, where the parents were and why they weren't aware of what their child was up to, they blame game publishers, retailers, and gamers themselves.
So I ask, where are the parents? My parents spent a lot of time making sure I wasn't getting into things that were inappropriate for my age (of course they didn't always succeed, but I knew what I wasn't allowed). As they allowed me to grow into things (i.e. horror films, etc.) they would make sure I understood that it wasn't real, and violence against people is unacceptable. Hell, they used to make sure I understood that W. E. Coyote would be one dead dog in real life. Why isn't this occurring? Why are parents allowing their kids to play games like GTA-San Andreas (M for mature, now AO-adults only)? I don't have answers. I'm just asking. Dr. Phil I am not.
I have been gaming for all but 6 years of my life (the Atari showed up around 6), I am not violent even though I play violent games. In my opinion, those games allow me to work through the inherent human tendencies toward violence. It relaxes me to knock off some cyber beasties. As a parent, I research games, before my kids play them and as a gaming parent, I avoid playing really violent games when my kids are around. I also explain to my son that we can do things in games that can't be done in real life. Isn't that my obligation?
Back to the documentary, I love the fact that Joe Lieberman is so concerned about gaming violence when he voted to allow a war. I believe the word for that is hypocrisy. Jack Thompson has already made a name for himself as a hater of the 1st amendment by going after 2 Live Crew and N.W.A. back in the 90's. Anyway, I could go on all day about this stuff. The snarky side of me likes the Penny Arcade form of response. Too bad, the gaming industry doesn't have a Frank Zappa to point out how foolish all this is (You Tube part 1,2,3,4).
Today's Penny Arcade makes reference of a new documentary by Spencer Halpin titled "Moral Kombat" and its trailer on You Tube. I get the feeling that this trailer is designed to get parents and gamers in to see the piece by pushing the side claiming video games cause violence. I am in hopes that the documentary itself is balanced, even if the trailer isn't.
The continual propagation of the idea that video games cause violence and that people are incapable of distinguishing between real world and the cyber world is disturbing to me. I believe that these accusations are the providence of non-gamers and people who only look at a few select cases, and say "Video Games caused that." Instead of asking, where the parents were and why they weren't aware of what their child was up to, they blame game publishers, retailers, and gamers themselves.
So I ask, where are the parents? My parents spent a lot of time making sure I wasn't getting into things that were inappropriate for my age (of course they didn't always succeed, but I knew what I wasn't allowed). As they allowed me to grow into things (i.e. horror films, etc.) they would make sure I understood that it wasn't real, and violence against people is unacceptable. Hell, they used to make sure I understood that W. E. Coyote would be one dead dog in real life. Why isn't this occurring? Why are parents allowing their kids to play games like GTA-San Andreas (M for mature, now AO-adults only)? I don't have answers. I'm just asking. Dr. Phil I am not.
I have been gaming for all but 6 years of my life (the Atari showed up around 6), I am not violent even though I play violent games. In my opinion, those games allow me to work through the inherent human tendencies toward violence. It relaxes me to knock off some cyber beasties. As a parent, I research games, before my kids play them and as a gaming parent, I avoid playing really violent games when my kids are around. I also explain to my son that we can do things in games that can't be done in real life. Isn't that my obligation?
Back to the documentary, I love the fact that Joe Lieberman is so concerned about gaming violence when he voted to allow a war. I believe the word for that is hypocrisy. Jack Thompson has already made a name for himself as a hater of the 1st amendment by going after 2 Live Crew and N.W.A. back in the 90's. Anyway, I could go on all day about this stuff. The snarky side of me likes the Penny Arcade form of response. Too bad, the gaming industry doesn't have a Frank Zappa to point out how foolish all this is (You Tube part 1,2,3,4).
3.1.07
Sonic for 360
Sonic the Hedgehog for the 360 is ridiculous. The load times are a joke for a modern game, especially a platformer. The camera turns way to slow for a high speed game and the auto camera seldom shows you what you need to see. I don't think I should have to futz with the camera with the same thumb I need for jumping and attacking. The controls are crappy and not predictably responsive. The game does not give adequate explanation of, nor time to adjust to new skills before implementing them under a timed trial. The graphics are pretty but shudder badly when the character has certain object collisions. I personally find the music in the main area annoying as hell. Also, what is up with the lack of voice work. This is a next gen game right? You have to really love the Sonic franchise to have the patience to play this game; otherwise, don't waste your money. I am reselling it tomorrow.
2.1.07
What do a cheesy 80's movie and Harry Potter have in common?
A character name. The 1986 movie "Troll" has two characters Harry Potter Sr. and Harry Potter Jr. and of course you know about Harry Potter and his adventures. I came across this strange piece this afternoon on the Monsters HD channel. Michael Moriarty and Julia Louis-Dreyfus (in a leafy one piece) show up in this piece.
Back to my point, is this name just a coincidence? Did JK know about this Harry Potter in a magical story? I am not accusing her of anything here, just curious. I find the creative process an interesting endeavor and the places where inspiration are found are always unexpected. Just saying.
Back to my point, is this name just a coincidence? Did JK know about this Harry Potter in a magical story? I am not accusing her of anything here, just curious. I find the creative process an interesting endeavor and the places where inspiration are found are always unexpected. Just saying.
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