I was thinking about the film Moon today. Now, I haven't seen it since it was in theatres so my memory may be a bit hazy but hey, I'm still thinking about the film and that says something (about impressions, after-thought, echo-ideas, reverberatums and other words I just now made up).
I LOVE the model work, the sets, the lighting and the score, ellipses...however...
1. Having Sam be a clone (SPOILER ALERT!) seems to only introduce multiple failure points to the moon mining operation.
A: Each clone's stasis chamber must be maintained and any that fail is one less period of mining activity.
B: Reviving a clone is subject to failure.
C: Storing a limited number of clones means a limited period of operation before the moon's all mined up (out?) or more clones need to be made and shipped up there.
D: Disease
E: Injury (wait...what?)
F: Life Support Systems (how much food is up there?)
G: Having the clone return to Earth to snitch on the corporation. (wait...what?)
2. If the computer is so smart as to understand emotions in humans, offer help that is technically against his programming (the password to reveal the ruse) why the heck can't the computer just run the place? Rather than have multiple clones (Silly Rabbit, it's turtles all the way down, ya know) have a back up robot/computer or three.
3. If the computer ran the place there would be no need for a ruse (and additional point of failure).
4. With a robot running the automation there would be no need for FOOD, AIR, WATER, UNEXPLAINED GRAVITY GENERATORS (yes I saw the sign on the wall), LIGHTS, WARMTH & COOLING (to a human needs anyway), VEHICLES, TOILETS, WATER PURIFIERS, JAMMING TOWERS, BODY DISPOSAL, POWER TO RUN ALL THAT CRAP HUMANS NEED...see where I'm going here?
Having a human up there begets all this secondary support equipment and supplies and that adds cost and cheaper is better folks. Life is cheap, to be sure, but it's expensive to maintain.
5. If the robot ran the place and something did break that was beyond it's ability to repair, the humans to pick up Sam got there in what 14 hrs or something? So obviously the "rescue" crew would be able to hop up to the moon and fix whatever it was then leave and pass the savings onto you, the customer.
6. Heck why not run the thing remotely from Earth since it takes what, something like ≈1.27 seconds at 380,000km to send a radio signal there? (s=d/t. Betcha thought I forgot didn't ya Mr. Gordon!)
7. How does Sam have memories of his previous selves? Maybe I missed that but it's one of two things:
A: Somehow memories are genetic and incorporated into DNA. (Hint: No.)
B: Somehow the Corporation can "clone" memories as well and maybe inject them into people/clones.
If technology B is available there's a BUNCH more money and take-over-and-rule-everything-in-sight potential than mining some H3 from the Moon. Auxiliary uses of technologies in stories should be a requirement for High School graduation (or an entire study course in writing) because it's something filmmakers rarely think about…like Basic Physics. Baysic Physics...Michael Baysick Physics...Michael Bay[sic] Physics...(WWMBD?)
Did I mention that the Mining Corporation also has GRAVITY GENERATORS?
Yeah, so anyway, thinking about the film afterwards it started to bug me. There's Suspension of Disbelief and then there's Stasis of Disbelief.
2/19/11
GOP vs Availability of Information
Why does the GOP budget remove federal funding for Planned Parenthood on the basis of PP providing abortions since PP: does not provide abortions, does not use federal money for abortions and since using federal money for abortions is illegal already? It's even called the "No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act" which is a blatant misnomer as using federal dollars for abortions is already illegal.
A more proper accurate name would be "No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Information Act".
He also said that no federal funding should go to anyone that provides abortions or (and I'm quoting here), "information about abortions."
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/15/AR2011021506858.html
Isn't this just legislating morality and in the broader and more frightening sense, legislating information or at least pathways of access for information?
It's limiting the information available to women (not just abortion but the whole gamut of reproductive health including preventing disease, preventing pregnancies and child healthcare). It's taking a hatchet to an issue (abortion) when a scalpel should be used instead (see what I did there?).
The abortion proposal "reflects the will of the people," said Boehner. "It's one of our highest legislative priorities."
I see it as an attempt to keep the abortion option out of sight so that it's also out of mind. This is a workaround tactic to stop abortion since it is legal in this country (not to mention also a wedge issue).
Since abortion has been legal in this country since Jan 22nd 1973, and if the Gov't "reflects" the will of the people (but not "does"?), then the people want abortion in this country since the law has not changed (in principle) during times when both sides have had total control of the Gov't branches.
I see this as the GOP forcing their beliefs down the mental throats of those who disagree with them. It's another salvo in the culture wars everyone loves to talk about.
Zero democrats supported the bill and three Republicans voted against it which means Republicans are in the statistical virtual minority in pushing their agenda through.
Even more:
A new AP-GfK poll asked 1,000 adults to name the one thing they would want the federal government to do this year, if it accomplished only a single thing. The economy and jobs ranked first, cited by 38 percent of those surveyed. By comparison, 31 percent named health care, with some supporting Obama's health law and some opposing it.
No other issue exceeded 12 percent; abortion barely registered.
Isn't it actually more akin to other country's laws by similarly legally restricting choices women have and their access to information in the first place? It seems the GOP is more interested in creating the country they want rather than one the people (who are the country, by definition) vote for and request.
Justin Bieber recently said that he thinks abortions should be illegal even in the case of rape, while at the same time being highly unlikely to find himself pregnant after a rape. It's that disconnect that people have that allows them to comfortably decide for others what is best for them, of which politicians seem to indulge in the most.
He also said "everything happens for a reason" meaning I guess, that the rape was needed for some god's plan to come to fruition.
He also said "everything happens for a reason" meaning I guess, that the rape was needed for some god's plan to come to fruition.
I should not have a strong voice in matters that don't directly specifically affect me; the best I can can do is encourage all choices and all options for those I can't directly represent or empathize with. I cannot empathize with Native Indians (First Nations?) who had their land removed from them because I am not one of them. I cannot speak for African Americans being forced to use certain water fountains or doors or seats on busses because I am not African American. Likewise, as I can never be pregnant it is not my place to decide what those who can become pregnant can or cannot do.
Empathy is not sympathy. I cannot know better than them. The absolute best I can do is fight alongside for them to have the rights, abilities, freedoms and information to decide for themselves what is best for them. Otherwise, it's encouraging limitations on freedom by deciding and judging based on my limited and biased perspective.
Again, it's the "I know best, you're wrong. Here, let me fix you," mentality that fuels all of this (and I believe largely promulgated by religious beliefs). The definition of cult comes to mind.
If it is a religion's beliefs then those beliefs should not be forced upon others; rather the adherents to the religion should try (certainly not by law) to gather others into their religion rather than forcing (by law) others to conform to their [religious] beliefs.
Because, if you think about it a law is obeyed because of agreement or the threat (potential) of punishment. By creating a law -from an belief that's taught from a religion- is simply forcing people (who don't agree) to adhere to a religious tenet under the threat of punishment. Does that sound fair? Or familiar?
If it is a religion's beliefs then those beliefs should not be forced upon others; rather the adherents to the religion should try (certainly not by law) to gather others into their religion rather than forcing (by law) others to conform to their [religious] beliefs.
Because, if you think about it a law is obeyed because of agreement or the threat (potential) of punishment. By creating a law -from an belief that's taught from a religion- is simply forcing people (who don't agree) to adhere to a religious tenet under the threat of punishment. Does that sound fair? Or familiar?
This bill has even now famously caused Jackie Speier (D-CA) to speak openly on the House floor about her own abortion which was a medical emergency.
http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7357009n
That's from someone who went through an abortion, who essentially had no choice as it was a health issue who is being told she should have basically not had the abortion (or couldn't if the GOP has it their way and makes abortion illegal which is the same as Gov't forced pregnancies) and wait on the OR table in the hospital to see if she'd live through the birth of a pregnancy gone wrong. That's the GOP being completely out of touch with reality.
Also, the budget (which passed the House) removes funding for Title X (Pence Measure, which would prevent any abortion provider from receiving funds via Title X) which is largely based around making contraceptives (and information about contraceptives) available to low-income women. I don't understand why funding for it should be removed. Isn't this counter-intutitive?
The GOP is removing access to a wide range of reproductive information as well as access to contraceptives. They're saying "Lets eliminate abortion as well as methods and information to prevent pregnancies in the first place." I don't understand the reasoning here. It's simply not logical.
R-NJ-Chris Smith said recently:
“I think we need to pray. We need to fast. We need to pray for Obama. He is so obsessed with promoting abortion. All of his picks for secretary, under-secretary, assistant-secretary--all the gate-keepers in government--are now litmus-tested pro-abortionists, many of whom come right out of the abortion-rights movement. And these movement abortionists are trying to use everything when we know it, or sometimes when we don’t know it, behind the scenes, to promote this agenda. So this is an aggressive pro-abortion administration.”
The bill (now passed) could make and attempts to make distributing information illegal if funded by the Gov't.
Telling someone some information, if you are on the Gov't's dime is trying to be made into a Federal Crime.
I'm seeing great potential here of a return to the days of Comstock law. It's happening already with trying (it'll get vetoed) to defund PP and Title X.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comstock_laws
Plus how does this legislation create jobs? It actually eliminates (potentially) many. Didn't BOTH the GOP and DNC say jobs were their number one focus?
Yes they did.
"Jobs must be our No. 1 focus in 2010, and that is why I am calling for a new jobs bill tonight," Obama told lawmakers from the podium in the chamber of the House of Representatives.
It's actually surprisingly difficult to find a quote with a republican saying jobs are they're number one focus but it's easy to find this:
"Over the last two years since President Obama has taken office, the federal government has added 200,000 new federal jobs," Boehner said. "And if some of those jobs are lost in this, so be it. We're broke. It's time for us to get serious about how we're spending the nation's money."
The reporter who asked the question noted, however, that the government might have to pay federal unemployment assistance to laid-off workers, potentially adding more costs.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/15/AR2011021506858.html
Hidden Object Games
Some fun quotes about them:
"Once upon a time, otherwise-good adventure games were criticized for "pixel hunts". This sounds like some kind of nightmarish version of that."
"OK, so it's the computer equivalent of Highlights magazine's Hidden Pictures. Strung together, in this case, using a thin plot and with some rather bad writing. Color me somewhat surprised that adults are interested in playing such games."
"Yes, the hidden object genre is basically Where's Wally? (Where's Waldo?) but for miscellaneous objects, or a point-and-click scavenger hunt. That's basically the meat of the whole genre. "
"Once upon a time, otherwise-good adventure games were criticized for "pixel hunts". This sounds like some kind of nightmarish version of that."
"OK, so it's the computer equivalent of Highlights magazine's Hidden Pictures. Strung together, in this case, using a thin plot and with some rather bad writing. Color me somewhat surprised that adults are interested in playing such games."
"Yes, the hidden object genre is basically Where's Wally? (Where's Waldo?) but for miscellaneous objects, or a point-and-click scavenger hunt. That's basically the meat of the whole genre. "
2/3/11
On Healthcare
Someone forwarded this comment to me a little while go from someone named "bookmanjb"
"Here in Germany, where I moved 5 years ago from the US, they have this crazy thing they call "affordabl
But anyway, they have this other thing here. They call it, "universal health insurance.
What a tyrannical
For all of this, I pay about 500 euros a month and another 130 euros for my kid. And get this: it's PRIVATE insurance. That's right. Here they have a PRIVATE OPTION.
My wife is on public insurance. She pays 140 euros a month, plus 10 euros per quarter per doctor. Her bills are 100% paid. What an awful, horrible system. I really wish I was back in the US so that I could have my liberty back."
"Here in Germany, where I moved 5 years ago from the US, they have this crazy thing they call "affordabl
But anyway, they have this other thing here. They call it, "universal health insurance.
What a tyrannical
For all of this, I pay about 500 euros a month and another 130 euros for my kid. And get this: it's PRIVATE insurance. That's right. Here they have a PRIVATE OPTION.
My wife is on public insurance. She pays 140 euros a month, plus 10 euros per quarter per doctor. Her bills are 100% paid. What an awful, horrible system. I really wish I was back in the US so that I could have my liberty back."
12/8/10
Making out with the Dead in 2008
Make-Out with Violence (2008)
"A genre-bending tale of a boy trying to fulfill his unrequited love for a girl who has risen from the dead. It tells the story of twin brothers Patrick and Carol Darling, newly graduated from high school and struggling to come to terms with the mysterious disappearance of their friend, the bright and beautiful Wendy Hearst. When a drive through the countryside surrounding their suburban community leads to the discovery of Wendy's mysteriously animated corpse, the boys secretly transport the un-dead Wendy to an empty house in hopes of somehow bringing her back to life. As the sweltering summer pushes on, they must maintain the appearance of normalcy for their friends and family as they search for ways to revive the Wendy they once knew, or, failing that, to satisfy their own quests for love amongst the living and the dead."
Deadgirl (2008)
"The film begins in a school playground, where two teenagers, Rickie (Shiloh Fernandez) and JT (Noah Segan) are talking. JT gets Rickie to skip school, and the two decide to go to an abandoned mental asylum. They horse around for a while, before exploring the basement. In the basement, JT disappears and scares Rickie, before they hear a banging sound. JT says it isn't him, and a large dog appears and chases them. They escape and enter another room that they must pry a rusted shut door open to enter. There they see a nude girl chained to a table with a plastic bag over her head. Their first impression is that there is a killer in the room or near them, but then they see her move. JT thinks that they should keep her for themselves and Rickie is horrified and wants to call the police, but JT tells him not to and punches him and Rickie leaves.
Rickie comes back later with a gun, and JT tells him that after he left the girl has started struggling, but especially that she had been gnashing her teeth and repeatedly trying to bite him. He tells him that started hitting the girl to stop her (though she posed no threat because she was chained) and that he had strangled her to death twice. He then swipes the gun from Rickie and shoots her three times, but she doesn't die. JT concludes that she is dead and wants to keep her as a sex slave. Rickie, who had initially wanted to free her is unsure how to proceed, though he wants to do the right thing."
"A genre-bending tale of a boy trying to fulfill his unrequited love for a girl who has risen from the dead. It tells the story of twin brothers Patrick and Carol Darling, newly graduated from high school and struggling to come to terms with the mysterious disappearance of their friend, the bright and beautiful Wendy Hearst. When a drive through the countryside surrounding their suburban community leads to the discovery of Wendy's mysteriously animated corpse, the boys secretly transport the un-dead Wendy to an empty house in hopes of somehow bringing her back to life. As the sweltering summer pushes on, they must maintain the appearance of normalcy for their friends and family as they search for ways to revive the Wendy they once knew, or, failing that, to satisfy their own quests for love amongst the living and the dead."
Deadgirl (2008)
"The film begins in a school playground, where two teenagers, Rickie (Shiloh Fernandez) and JT (Noah Segan) are talking. JT gets Rickie to skip school, and the two decide to go to an abandoned mental asylum. They horse around for a while, before exploring the basement. In the basement, JT disappears and scares Rickie, before they hear a banging sound. JT says it isn't him, and a large dog appears and chases them. They escape and enter another room that they must pry a rusted shut door open to enter. There they see a nude girl chained to a table with a plastic bag over her head. Their first impression is that there is a killer in the room or near them, but then they see her move. JT thinks that they should keep her for themselves and Rickie is horrified and wants to call the police, but JT tells him not to and punches him and Rickie leaves.
Rickie comes back later with a gun, and JT tells him that after he left the girl has started struggling, but especially that she had been gnashing her teeth and repeatedly trying to bite him. He tells him that started hitting the girl to stop her (though she posed no threat because she was chained) and that he had strangled her to death twice. He then swipes the gun from Rickie and shoots her three times, but she doesn't die. JT concludes that she is dead and wants to keep her as a sex slave. Rickie, who had initially wanted to free her is unsure how to proceed, though he wants to do the right thing."
11/30/10
Wrath-Amon vs Serpentor
Wrath-Amon from the cartoon Conan the Adventurer looks a lot like Serpentor from GI Joe.
Wrath-Amon
Serpentor
Wrath-Amon
Serpentor