MediaLogue

So much for being a role model

2011-04-11T16:39:00.003-05:00

So I was supposed to model for the little boy the discipline to sit and write on a regular basis.

OK, so I'm failing miserably, though I do intend to get back and talk about the things outlined in the last post.

That said, this weekend we did a hike with the cub scouts, and I needed to track the mileage. I've used MapMyRide a bit, but this time I tried MapMyWalk...same people: different site/not-a-different site. I logged in with my MapMyRide login, and created this map.

I really need to check out this site. The social networking aspect of outdoor sports is really exciting.

A walk mapped on 04/10/2011

Find more Walks in Naperville, IL

Dawning of a new day

2011-03-12T18:08:00.004-06:00

So here it is, 11 months after my last post, and I'm finally coming back to the blog. At the urging and support (or berating) of my friend, I shall again attempt to write on a regular basis, sharing thoughts on various items of interest, under the guise of "media". That said, the real reason I'm here is to be a role model for the little boy who has a hard time focusing and doing his writing.

For Lent, the family has decided to do something we should/always want to do, vs. giving up something that we shouldn't do; so for Lent this year, we have commit (committed?) to write daily, hopefully helping us all communicate a bit better, and of course share some of our thoughts on things with all of you.

Of course, this leads to the problem of what to write about. As many of you know, I am usually not at a loss for things to say--usually inappropriate. But, meaningful exchange of ideas are a bit harder than quips about music, games, TV, and the sorts. I remember back in college, one of my favorite classes, Photo Diary, required us to keep a journal. This was exciting to me at the time, as I had always wanted to keep a journal--sort of a structured reflection on my days, nights, struggles, and of course loves... (It should be said that the class was about much more than this, but this is what comes to mind right now.)

And of course, as many of you gathered, I failed miserably at this endeavor, as I lacked the discipline to write regularly. What I did find was that once a week I was sitting down, writing a short outline of the things that I wanted to mention in my journaling, and would then proceed to articulate my thoughts and emotions regarding those items. This seemed to work for me, and I really enjoyed this time. I would say that I was not very good at it, but that few hours every Sunday evening was something that I looked forward to every week that semester.

So here I am 25 years later, still struggling with the same lack of discipline (as my wife will vouch for me: its a struggle, lack of discipline, and STILL). And, as you can see from this blog, I always mean to get back to it, my intentions are there, but once the TV is on, and the DVR shows 2 episodes of V, 3 episodes of Glee, and (COOL) the new episode of The Big Bang Theory, I get side tracked and spend the evening watching TV. Yes I enjoy it. No, I don't think of it as wasted time (as I do enjoy it), but I do feel a little guilty all the time about not writing, not painting miniatures (for the game Malifaux), not playing a game (more to not having someone to play with than not having the time), and even for not reading.

So I guess where I'll start is the way I started back in college. I'll delineate what I want to share, and then spend the next several days writing about those things, and hopefully engaging in meaningful conversation and of course the requisite witty banter. So what can you expect from me in the next few days:

Over the past year I've done 3 of 4 things that I've wanted to do since I was a freshman in High School;
The iPad was almost everything I had hoped it would be, and has become and almost integral part of my life;
A review of recent purchases of Music;
A review of some games I've played recently;
and anything that might come up along the way that I feel takes higher precedence than what I've listed here.

So, since the little boy will be writing twice today (he missed yesterday and needs to make up for it--me: I wrote a report for work--I will probably be back again later this evening to begin this endeavor. Hopefully you will find this endeavor as interesting as I hope to find it. I guess we shall see.

Practice with the new iPad

2010-04-05T21:59:00.001-05:00

So for the first time, I actually went to a store before regular hours; stood in line; and purchased a new gadget. Not like I am not primed for such behavior, but the first is always the hardest.

So here I am, typing a blog on an iPad. Do I like it? Yes. WillI use it? Yes. Will it become an integral part of my media consumption? Probably.

Will it get me to blog more often? Maybe, if I actually get something that I can type quickly on (blue tooth keyboard). Typing on this little pad is not working very smoothly, though in a pinch it will work nicely.

Will give a full review once I play a bit more.

2 Movies 2day...

2008-08-01T18:30:00.002-05:00

After getting back from Memphis (a trip for work), we left the next day to go to Omaha to see the family. 5 days later, came back, went to work for a day, then took 24 hours of dragging to get myself back together...

So today--my last Friday off for the Summer--I decided to go to the movies and see what was a must see for me, despite the reviews, X-Files: I want to believe. Then, after I picked up Nathaniel from day-care, the two of us decided to go see Space Chimps.

I've been waiting for the X-Files movie excitedly when first hearing about rumors over 2 years ago. I think Chris Carter has a great imagination, and have very much enjoyed all of his work. All signs for me were pointing that this movie was going to be, at least, enjoyable. And it was, for a TV show.

It was like visiting some old friends that you haven't seen in a long time, whose relationship had progressed much further along than you would have guessed, and coming face to face with the fact that as your life moved on, so did theirs. Not that it is bad, just that it is not the same. However, it had absolutely nothing to do with the story.

The story was interesting, but a bit long. (I don't want to spoil it for anyone.) I'd have been happy with the typical TV show formula with the hinting at the relationship stuff, focus on the odd story, and get it over and resolved with an uneasy, uncertain feeling, all in 60 minutes. It would have been one of the best episodes. As a movie it didn't hold up. That being said, yes I'll be at the next one just because.

I hope that Chris Carter finds a new story and new characters soon. He is way too talented to be stuck in these same old (tired?) characters that I still hang on to.

As for Space Chimps, I was really looking forward to it. Recognizing that it was a children's movie, I thought Nathaniel would be all over it. Lately, everything for him is about outer space. We were a little late, but some nice people allowed us to cut in line, so we only missed the first 5 minutes. The story was simple, the characters flat, the gags--at times--were funny. The animation was good the special effects were cool, and everything was fine until the captain chimp got picked up by the alien and was about to get frozen in the puddle of freezing goo.

Nathaniel lost it. It didn't matter that he was laughing at the aliens getting frozen throughout the movie, when one of the chimps were going to get it (he didn't) Nathaniel could not handle it. He started crying real tears, and was visibly shaken by the situation. Of course, this was right after a part that was kind of scary where the cute little alien (named Kilowatt) sacrificed his life to save two of the chimps.

I got him to calm down and we continued to watch the movie another 10 minutes when the threat of freezing was brought up again. . . Nathaniel lost it, this time saying that he doesn't like this movie. It took all the way out of the theater and into the bathroom break before he totally calmed down...

So Space Chimps: Probably great for kids. . . a little too much for a little boy 2 weeks shy of his 5th birthday.

Web 2.0

2008-06-17T10:54:00.005-05:00

Here is a short article I did for the Illinois Community Colleges Online Newsletter:

Whether or not you buy into the idea of "Web 2.0" - the 2nd generation World Wide Web or a slick marketing term - its implications are changing the way that people consume and develop information. For a good review of the history and definition of "Web 2.0" see the YouTube video of the same name:

Web 2.0 on YouTube

In a nutshell, Web 2.0 is about creating, contributing, sharing, commenting, tagging, and a whole lot of other things. Notably, the technologies that make up Web 2.0 can be utilized in a number of ways to create or enhance online learning environments.To that end, Go2Web20.net provides a compilation of tools that are available that can be used in these learning environments. Although the list is not comprehensive (it doesn't include Wikipedia), it does include a number of the more common sites (Facebook, Twitter). Plurk intrigues me.

http://www.go2web20.net/

Is it their job to...?

2008-06-12T15:54:00.002-05:00

My first post about a news article:

The US Supreme Court ruled today that prisoners in Guantanamo Bay could challenge their detentions in civilian courts in the US.

On Comcast.net News, George Bush is quoted as saying, "It was a deeply divided court, and I strongly agree with those who dissented. . .And that dissent was based upon their serious concerns about US National Security."

I know it has been a long time since I had American Government, and I could be wrong, but is it the job of the Supreme Court to make rulings based on national security? I thought the Supreme Court could only rule on constitutional issues. As I said, I might be wrong, but the issue here is individual rights vs. government rights, and the Bill of Rights is specifically targeted at protecting individuals from the government.

I agree with the ruling. Even though other rulings have said otherwise, "...all men [people] are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." Notice it does not say "all US citizens."

Please correct me if I'm wrong about the Supreme Court.

I seriously doubt it will be worth it...

2008-05-30T15:39:00.003-05:00

Just came across a sentence in the June 9 2008 Time magazine regarding a Princess Bride online game. With a bit of googling...found this:

[This is where I was going to embed the video, but I could not find it. Go to the Princess Bride Game Website to see the trailer.

I loved this movie when it came out. I've seen the movie probably 25 times, and I've read the book 3 times. Yes, I'll try the game, but I'm expecting to be disappointed.

Special note: Mark Knopfler's score for the film was a perfect fit. I can't even read a fairy tale anymore without the themes running through my head.

A new commitment?

2008-05-28T20:23:00.003-05:00

Ok, so I finally did a third post--one that was no where near as interesting as the first two.

I was recently catching up on some of my RSS feeds, when a post from Pamela Gay on her Star Stryder Blog caught my eye. (Unfortunately I can't find the actual post so you'll have to suffer through my random recollections.) She was discussing how in the evenings her and her husband hang-out and do the Web 2.0 thing...blogging, and the sorts.

It made me think that I could blog about things while I'm watching TV in the evening, or even while playing a game with friends, or sitting around as my wife wonders aloud how she got stuck with the dishes when she cooked...I know, I'm working on it...

Anyway, since the point of this blog is supposed to be about media (defined loosely) I thought I really should be more consistent and timely in my posts. So, I'm recommitting my self to this blog. Hopefully I'll think about it more often and make my comments.

There are a few things I want to talk about like music (Vampire Weekend), and books (Darkly Dreaming Dexter), and movies (Speed Racer and Iron Man), and comics (Vertigo Fables)...Anyway...so much to talk about...

If I can just hold myself to my commitment.

The Excitement of new Stuff

2008-05-28T19:46:00.002-05:00

As the end of the year approaches, many opportunities come up to try new technologies that might not have been available earlier in the school year. Keeping with many of the goals I set for earlier in the year, most of the technology I have been trying lately relates to podcasting or to that incessant craving to develop a website for something or another.

The end of the year has provided the opportunity for me to buy a new MacBook Pro. When I was in college in the late 80's, like every other journalism at the time, I was exposed to the wonders of Apple computers. PageMaker was everywhere in journalism programs (and from what I heard at the time, throughout the industry.) I learned to use a desktop computer on the Mac my senior year in college. In grad school, I continued to use the Mac, and my dream computer at the time, I think, was a Mac IIsi. Well, I never got one, and as I moved into my career in education I became more involved with PC's. I did not buy my first computer until about 5 years ago, and because I used PC's at work, the prudent thing to do was to purchase a PC. I have been happy with my PC, and have done more with it than most users do.

However, the more I get into multimedia development and other interests, the Mac has been back on the horizon. So, I finally got one, and it will probably serve me well for the next several years as I continue to explore podcasting web development, flash development, and other things. If you have any ideas on things that I might want to try please let me know.

The next thing I'm really excited about is a Marantz Professional Recorder. The CDR310 is what we are trying as I explore the easiest way possible to create podcasts for faculty. This is a professional machine, one that you might find a radio reporter using to record audio for the creation of stories. There are certainly some issues that need to get worked out for the podcaster (like setting up the mic for best sound, and things like that) but once configured, this machine literally records the program at the touch of a button, then stops recording at a second touch, and, if I understand it correctly, records it to a CD-ROM that could be passed to a technologist for quick publication. I can't wait to give this a try.

We are also using iTouch to determine the possibility of offering online classes through the iPhone (to be purchased at a later date). I've been working with video on the iTouch, which is pretty easy. The CMS doesn't work to well, but that might just be some basic things that could be done with CSS. I look forward to working the faculty member on this project. Hopefully we'll have some things set-up by the end of the year. Currently there are not too many applications for the iTouch, but if you crack it, there are some apps that are interesting, but not too conducive for education at this time. With the release the SDK, it hopefully won't be too long before new apps start appearing. Maybe we'll have to get a grant to pay for a developer to create some good apps for distance learning environments.

The other thing that I'm interested in doing is to get back into some web development. In addition to setting up a development station on my new MacBook, I am hoping to set-up a SAKAI server to facilitate some collaborative work I do with the Board Game Designers' Workshop. For some reason the server is a bit daunting to me right now, but I think a friend of mine will be able to help me over the hump...if he's interested.

I will be trying Adobe Flex for the first time next week. Hopefully it will be something that we can use to help create some stronger learning environments. From what I've seen, it might be a bit much for my "clients" to learn (only because of time constraints), but with the new PT developer coming with the new fiscal year, that might be something he/she could do to get started in their new position. More later on this.

Oh, and one last thing.

The hazard of buying a new computer: $3000 later, and you still don't have any software...URGH!

My wife can't stop watching Dexter

2008-03-07T13:18:00.004-06:00

Several weeks ago, Dexter started on CBS. It was an unusual start date, but Wikipedia confirmed by suspicions that it was a midseason replacement caused by the writer's strike. I was immediately taken by the commercial which explained that Dexter was a serial murderer who worked for the police department. I thought he was a detective who specialized in serial murder cases and that he would be investigating his own crimes...

Of course, now that it was in my conciousness, I started noticing things, like it comes from the book Darkly Dreaming Dexter by Jeff Lindsay, and the show is really a Showtime Original series. Although I've not done the follow-up research to confirm, it appears that Lindsay has written a few books about Dexter.

Back in the 90's I was very interested in books about characters who were "insane" or had a different slant on reality. This led me to read several books--only two of which I can recall at this time: The Killer Inside Me by Jim Thompson and By Reason of Insanity by Shane Stevens--which allowed me to pursue this interest for a while. It was a bit of a dark time in my reading...but I still remember Stevens character who escaped from a mental instution, after spending his entire life there believing that he was the son of a brutal serial rapist/murderer: a product of one of the attacks. (NOTE: The exact details may be hazy, as it's been 15 years since I read the book). However, the detailed descriptions of actions and motivations in that book have stuck with me through the years (many of which I would feel uncomfortable repeating in this forum.)

So, naturally, I was predisposed to being drawn in to Dexter. Once I found out it was a Showtime Original, I was even more interested, as I was a big fan of Dead Like Me, a show that went off the air way before it should have. I will save any further comment on that until I get to watch all the episodes on DVD, with the extras. I promptly put it on my calendar, and Mary-Rita and I planned to watch it.

It was just as wonderful as I had hoped--although my initial understanding of the character/story was off. Turns out he is a serial killer who works for the police force as a blood splatter expert. He has a fascination with a serial killer that just started, in that there is no blood, "It's so clean," I think is what was said. The show plays out as a mystery that needs to be solved (who is the new serial killer), and a character study of Dexter, and how he deals with what he perceives as a personal egagement with him by the new serial killer--does that make sense?

Two things that I find especially interesting about the show is how Dexter became a serial killer, and his relationship with his girlfriend. Dexter's history, and how he got that way, is told in flashbacks with scenes with his father, who was also a police officer. I won't give anything away here as I'm still not certain how it will all playout once the history is told...but this is key to the story.

Now, the girlfriend is a little bit different, as the intersting part of the story is not the relationship itself, but how the two characters interact. Dexter met his girlfriend through his father. The father was called to the house for a domestic disturbance call (husband/boyfriend beating woman). The father thought Dexter would like the woman so he set them up to meet. They have been dating, but there is no hanky panky. Being a serial killer, he's just emotionally detached, and would prefer not to complicate things, and she being emotionally scarred from her previous relationship. Throw in a child for the woman and you have a really interesting situation. There is some wonderful tension whenever they are together...obviously they want to fool around, but there is always something there...which is always just fine with Dexter. He knows its going to come, but he's willing to just avoid it for as long as needed, not only to avoid the emotional complications...but sincerely out of concern for the emotional well being of his girlfriend.

So my wife and I sit down every Sunday night now, and watch the show. Me totally engaged by everything and her fascinated with the fact that she is even watching a show with a premise that she would normally find just this side of offensive. Its important to note that she spend the whole show sitting on the bed with the blanket pulled up over her nose...just in case something she doesn't want to see pops up quickly. She doesn't want to waste one second pulling that blanket over her eyes that she doesn't have to.

This is a really good show, and it's got wonderful characters. It makes me think about getting Showtime again so that we can see them first run without the editing. Now that the writer's strike is over, I may just have to get the DVD's to watch it. I'm hooked, and will probably read the books as well. I'd be interested in hearing if anyone knows other books that might be similar to those discussed here.

These are a few of my favorite thi...uh, podcasts.

2007-12-12T13:25:00.000-06:00

Ok, So I guess it is time to start really getting this blog going. I had a conversation today with a colleague today who had asked "what's up with this podcast thing?"

Are they radio shows? (Yes) Are they amateur radio shows? (Sometimes) How do I listen to them...and so on. After going over some stuff with him, I suggested a few for him to start with. Obviously these are geared towards my interests, but I think overall they are shows in which a number of people would be interested. All of these I look forward to with great anticipation.

The New England Skeptics Society sponsors the Skeptics Guide to the Universe. This is a weekly show which uses a panel format to discuss issues related to science, pseudo-science, and all things skeptical. The show is hosted by Steven Novella, MD, an academic neurologist at Yale University. Each show covers news, e-mails, an interview, and a little game show called "Science or Fiction" where 3 news items are read, and the panel needs to figure out which of the three is fiction. (My record at Science or Fiction is not very good.)

NPR sponsors a number of podcasts, my favorite of which is All Songs Considered. Bob Boilen hosts this online radio show covering new releases and old releases you might have missed in various genres of music. While his tastes do not always line up with mine, he is probably one of the best hosts out there reviewing music. His knowledge is incredible, and the references he makes are both at times obscure and right on. The podcast does not play the entire show which can be heard online, but includes snippets of all songs with the between song banter. Currently the 2007 year in review is up. These review shows, happen every 6 months or so and are always entertaining. Boilen includes several colleagues from various publications, all of whom obviously know their stuff. It's like sitting in a room and listening to the conversation as a group of friends make fun of each others picks and misses for the year. Again, you don't always agree, but every show offers something new, and every other show gives me something that I look for. Recent interests from the show include Arcade Fire and Okkerville River.

Astronomy Cast is a podcast focusing on Astronomy news and interests...and as they say at the beginning of the show, "what we know and how we know it." Frasier Cane from Universe Today and Pamela Gaye from University of Southern Illinois recently finished a field trip through the solar system, spending 1 show on each planet, 2 extra shows on the moons of Jupiter and Saturn, a show on Pluto and the Kuiper Belt, and then a show about what lies beyond that (which I have not yet heard yet, or I would have stated that last bit with a little more articulation.) These two have helped me remember why I was so interested in space when I was little, growing up in the 70's. Sure there was the whole NASA and the space program, but I had real interest beyond that until I discovered girls.

This American Life is one of the best radio shows on the air right now. I always missed it as I don't usually listen to the radio at home, however, with the podcast version, I can listen when I want to, and have time. Each week the producers of This American Life take a topic and explore it from various perspectives. Topics I've heard include birthdays, love, Harold Washington, and teaching/learning. Almost every show makes me laugh, and makes me tear up. Radio at its finest.

Finally WNYC's RadioLab. I always think about how various media tackle the idea of "multimedia". By definition it means words with music with Pictures, with whatever...but what happens when you go all hypertext aurally? RadioLab. These guys do an amazing job on helping you "see" the topic with your ears. Through sound effects, and tape loops (that probably aren't on tape anymore) and many other techniques they explore a specific topic. Typically a science show (for instance how does memory work), they do cover other topics as well sometimes. One of the few shows that I actually archive so I can listen to them again, or share them with friends.

Give these a listen. 4 hours of some of the best media you are going to find, and worth every minute.