Thursday, May 22, 2008

Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick

Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick

I am really waffling on giving this a 2 or 3 out of 5. I'd give it a 2 just cause I was glad when it was done, and parts of it I little said (out loud even) "now this is just dumb." I'll give it a 3 though just out of charity. I'm amazed that the movie Blade Runner came out of this book, though now I have a greater understanding of why the films script was a tad muddled.

While I understand what the author was going for with the whole future folks' obsession with living animals, it just seemed so silly to me. The whole android psychology aspect was fairly interesting, but Mercerism didn't do anything for me at all. In the end it was hard to care about any of the books characters, and I always see that as the worst mark any story can have against it.

Oh and one final thing that bugged me the entire time. Why would the android producing corporation be hell bent on making replicants that are indistinguishable from normal humans? Would it be so much easier to just make all androids so they have an easily distinguishable feature to show they aren't a normal human? I'm thinking no belly button.

Then instead of making everyone take a stupid question and answer game, the cops just say show me the belly button. Quick, simple, and there ya go. Besides I never really got the point of hunting down the androids in the first place. Not like they're going to live very long anyway, just leave them be. Granted if they killed someone you'd just treat them like any normal crook.

Monday, May 19, 2008

Lily and Katie



Lily and Katie

Originally uploaded by FlipSide3.


The daughter of one of my best-est friends in the whole wide world came for a quick visit yesterday. Honestly I had completely forgotten when they were going to visit. I knew they where coming, but when was just a vague tickle in the back of my brain.

I'm glad I answered my cellphone, since I don't alway answer numbers I don't recognize. The last time I saw Lily, she wasn't all that much bigger that Katie. She's a darling young lady now, and looks just like her Mom did way back when.

Lily was quite impressed with Katie's smartness, calling her "quite advanced". Katie was rattling off the ABC song most of the time and counted her numbers up to around 7. For an almost 2 year old, I guess that's pretty good.

The next time we see Lily and her Grandma Marion will probably be in October 2009, and I can't wait!


NPR: Vampire Slayer Buffy Saves Iraq Reporter's Soul

Buffy the Vampire Slayer saved the world and the sanity of NPR's Jamie Tarabay while she was in Baghdad. Tarabay explores why she needed the slayer during her time in Iraq.

read more | digg story

Saturday, May 17, 2008

A Clash of Kings by George R.R. Martin

A Clash of Kings by George R.R. Martin

The 2nd book in the A Song of Ice and Fire series by George R. R. Martin continues with more misery for house Stark. Kings and their attempts at conquest fill the pages of this novel, with no less that 4 contesting each other. I'm still greatly enjoying the way Martin jumps perspectives between the various characters of the book. Feeling the events from different points of view gives the story a little more life than if it was constrained to only one character.

I'm eager to get started with the next book in the series just to see what happens the the Stark children. That and the dwarf of Lannister is becoming a favorite too. Plenty of books left in the series, so who knows where it'll all end up.

Monday, May 12, 2008

Bruce Lee’s Top 7 Fundamentals for Getting Your Life in Shape

This little piece using quotes from Bruce Lee caught my eye today. Just some general life tips and such. The part I liked best was when the author wrote this:

It just means that you realize – and remember in your everyday life – that the thoughts and emotions are just things flowing through you.

You are not them though.

You are the consciousness observing them.


Cool, no?

From digg:
Besides being an awesome fighter and iconic figure Bruce Lee also had some very useful things to say about life.

read more | digg story

Friday, May 2, 2008

Equal Rites: A Discworld Novel by Terry Pratchett

A Discworld Novel by Terry Pratchett



I really enjoy the Discworld series. I'm slowly working through the series, with the help of the library next door to my office. This book has more fun with the magic of Discworld, and the gender politics of its magic users.

The ending was a bit of a jumbled mess, but that was probably the point. I can see this as setting up people, places, and events for use in the future books. The humor was as sharp and witty as ever.

Free Comic Day

The infamous Geeky Artist Librarian has a Free Comic Book Day post that has some handy info on this most hallowed of holidays. But lest I forget to add some valuable information myself, take note that the 4th Annual Comic and Pop-culture Expo will be going on down in Dallas. Big important folks like Scott Kurtz and Kris Straub will be in attendance... as well as some other folks.

Will I get to attend and purchase a signed copy of Starslip Crisis: Volume 1... probably not. I imagine it'll be another weekend of crazy, exhausting, kid watching time.