Who says a grown-up can't have fun with mirrors?
Tuesday, May 30, 2006
Still down
My PC's been down over a week, but no one seems to be affected that badly--it seems the game Mafia has a strange hold on people even 5 years after its release.
Anyway I called Dell again, asked why in heaven's name a powerful graphics card breaks down after just one year... and chun chun after the warranty ends. The guy at tech support said to run a game with the casing open, since the problem may have come from overheating...
It's worth a try. Wish me luck!
Anyway I called Dell again, asked why in heaven's name a powerful graphics card breaks down after just one year... and chun chun after the warranty ends. The guy at tech support said to run a game with the casing open, since the problem may have come from overheating...
It's worth a try. Wish me luck!
Wednesday, May 24, 2006
Tuesday, May 16, 2006
The Da Vinci Hype
OK, anyone thinking of releasing Leonardo da Vinci-related merchandise, especially anything named the Da Vinci (something). No harm intended, but come, sit around. Please, let's talk.
First of all, it's not going to work. I know it sounds like a second chance to push your ideas through to the stores, and an even bigger one too, since many who haven't read the Book will flock to see the Movie. Y'know, the imagination-vision gap? I understand the feeling; a movie will carry you along in ways a book will not, and vice-versa. If that means the message of the Code will reach a wider audience than before... why ever not?
Please, let me tell you why.
There are only so many times the human mind can process the same thing, the same themes, before fatigue sets in. I mean, The Da Vinci Code has been made into a game. Is what we really need another about his lost manuscripts? It's not even flogging a horse that's been dead five centuries--it's standing it up and demanding it run. There's just so much da Vinci paraphernalia floating around the stores it's laughable--my brother (my favourite critic of all things PC-related) took one look and muttered, "This is going too far."
In three words, I. Am. Tired.
But more than tired I'm a little sad. With a bestselling novel and movie (I haven't even suggested it might be false) about serious issues and the faith of billions through human history at stake, I highly doubt you're going make much out of people too saturated by Da Vinci Hype even to give your products, books or games a second look.
Do us all a favour, and let this pass. I won't be alone in thanking you for it.
First of all, it's not going to work. I know it sounds like a second chance to push your ideas through to the stores, and an even bigger one too, since many who haven't read the Book will flock to see the Movie. Y'know, the imagination-vision gap? I understand the feeling; a movie will carry you along in ways a book will not, and vice-versa. If that means the message of the Code will reach a wider audience than before... why ever not?
Please, let me tell you why.
There are only so many times the human mind can process the same thing, the same themes, before fatigue sets in. I mean, The Da Vinci Code has been made into a game. Is what we really need another about his lost manuscripts? It's not even flogging a horse that's been dead five centuries--it's standing it up and demanding it run. There's just so much da Vinci paraphernalia floating around the stores it's laughable--my brother (my favourite critic of all things PC-related) took one look and muttered, "This is going too far."
In three words, I. Am. Tired.
But more than tired I'm a little sad. With a bestselling novel and movie (I haven't even suggested it might be false) about serious issues and the faith of billions through human history at stake, I highly doubt you're going make much out of people too saturated by Da Vinci Hype even to give your products, books or games a second look.
Do us all a favour, and let this pass. I won't be alone in thanking you for it.
Saturday, May 06, 2006
Some words
I know I'm not old enough to vote yet (anyway my constituency kena walkover), but sorry, I just can't not say a little something about the most crucial issue in our elections...
There're several car companies working the market. One, a super-powerful conglomerate we'll call Poppa's Cars, decides to hold a referendum because, hey, people have the right to decide which car they want to buy, right? So they have trade rallies, yell through loudhailers to get people to buy from them because their competitors have no proven track record, and just because you know how to relate, talk on a casual and nontechnical level it doesn't mean you can provide good cars and service, right?
The competition, particularly one company we'll call Hammerton, goes in swinging. One particular salesperson, let's call him Jim, made a mistake the last time a market survey was held, and is understandably nervous. So ol' Jim has another go at it, making sure to obey every law of the road you need to follow to rally... only some Referendum Board member soon produces CCTV footage of Jim illegally parking on a road corner so he can dash out and buy rojak.
"Hammerton's chief is covering up this guy's illegal parking!" Poppa's cries out the next day.
"Jim is trying to discredit the Referendum Board with his deceitful parking!" Poppa's representatives concur.
"So sue us, if you think we're wrong!" a senior executive challenges.
"Jim must admit it!" letter after letter demands.
Hammerton eventually decides not to sue, since, erm, suing the market leader is never a wise option. It's agreed the future of the market's at stake, and the Jim issue's used up more print than it's worth.
There're several car companies working the market. One, a super-powerful conglomerate we'll call Poppa's Cars, decides to hold a referendum because, hey, people have the right to decide which car they want to buy, right? So they have trade rallies, yell through loudhailers to get people to buy from them because their competitors have no proven track record, and just because you know how to relate, talk on a casual and nontechnical level it doesn't mean you can provide good cars and service, right?
The competition, particularly one company we'll call Hammerton, goes in swinging. One particular salesperson, let's call him Jim, made a mistake the last time a market survey was held, and is understandably nervous. So ol' Jim has another go at it, making sure to obey every law of the road you need to follow to rally... only some Referendum Board member soon produces CCTV footage of Jim illegally parking on a road corner so he can dash out and buy rojak.
"Hammerton's chief is covering up this guy's illegal parking!" Poppa's cries out the next day.
"Jim is trying to discredit the Referendum Board with his deceitful parking!" Poppa's representatives concur.
"So sue us, if you think we're wrong!" a senior executive challenges.
"Jim must admit it!" letter after letter demands.
Hammerton eventually decides not to sue, since, erm, suing the market leader is never a wise option. It's agreed the future of the market's at stake, and the Jim issue's used up more print than it's worth.
Isn't it interesting...
... how the latest Gnostic allegation always "will rock Christianity to its very foundations" but none has ever "rocked the very foundations of Christianity"?
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