Notes from the PK Institute

2004-07-22T15:24:00.000-04:00

Still here

And yet another year goes by. Gee, maybe I can have the first annually updated blog!

2003-07-17T15:31:00.000-04:00

I'm back!

Wow, it's been exactly one year since I've posted anything to this blog. I'll try to post updates a bit more often!

2002-07-17T23:27:00.000-04:00

Why John Stewart Rules

What a joy it was just now to watch John Stewart completely tear apart any semblance of respectability that Ann Coulter may have had. He gave her anough rope to hang herself, made several jibes that went completely over her head, then launched into a thorough reaming of her pompous stance.

If you're wondering why so many young adults prefer to get their news from The Daily Show, there's your reason.

2002-07-12T15:35:00.000-04:00

Why we'll never talk to our computers

It amazes me that people are still predicting that one day we'll interface with our computers by talking and listening to them. This will never happen--at least on a wide scale. Nevermind the difficulties in implementing speech recognition--that's just a technical limitation that'll be solved eventually. No, the problem lies with the fact that our brains just aren't wired to receive a number of options audibly. Do you know anyone who like to navigate through voicemail? No? Voicemail is a simple, menu-driven exercise--imagine that experience amplified up to dealing with a complex operating system! Nope, for the future we'll still be interfacing with our computers via a tactical-visual feedback mechanism.

2002-07-10T20:53:00.000-04:00

New Math

Let me get this straight: Star Wars Episode II makes $110 million in its first 5 days and is considered a disappointment, while Men in Black II makes $87 million in its first 5 days (on 400 more screens and a much shorter running time) and is considered a smash hit?

2002-07-10T18:53:00.000-04:00

Wagging the Dog

Today, the government watchgroup Judicial Watch filed suit against VP Cheney and his former company, Halliburton--already under investigation by the SEC, for Enron-style accounting fraud. (Judicial Watch you may recall were also involved in Paula Jones's lawsuit against President Clinton.)

Not coincidentally, the Bush administration continues to issue its vague warnings about 'possible terrorist attacks,' doing the terrorists' job for them by keeping us all on edge, presumably so that we'll be too scared to ask questions about members of the Bush administration's dealings with corporations.

2002-07-09T23:16:00.000-04:00

Quis custodiet ipsos custodes

Having the Bush administration police corporate fraud is like asking the foxes to investigate the mysterious disappearances at the henhouse...

2002-06-17T09:58:00.000-04:00

The Thin Grey Line

"I don't think it's overstating things to suggest [librarians] are the thin grey line between literacy and barbarism." - Neil Gaiman

2002-06-13T10:25:00.000-04:00

United We Stand - July 1942

The Smithsonian has an interesting online exhibit about a campaign back in July 1942 that featured the image of the American flag on the covers of over 500 magazines.

2002-06-11T16:28:00.000-04:00

Library Reference Haiku

When things get slow at the library reference desk, it's time to write haiku!

You seek a journal

One that we do not have

You must I-L-L

The system is down?

Fear not, young student learner

All will be well soon!

More to come as inspiration/boredom strikes...

2002-06-09T23:13:00.000-04:00

Thou Shalt Not...

Falwell and his cronies are up to it again!

According to this story from E!, the religious reich is upset because ABC deleted an utterance of "Jesus" by Joy Behar on The View. If they'd paid a bit more attention, they would realize that Behar's usage of the word was not reverant, but rather was in vain. In other words, they're upset with ABC for blanking out a blaspheme!

Again, never let the facts get in the way!

2002-06-09T23:02:00.000-04:00

What Disappointment?

Have you noticed how the media seems to enjoy ripping on Attack of the Clones?

Take for instance this story from Reuters, wherein Clones is said to have had a "dissappointing run" because it is projected to end up making 'only' $300 million! Only in the twisted minds of Star Wars haters could $300 million be considered disappointing. Despite the fact that nearly every real person who has seen the movie has enjoyed it, the news media insists on telling us that it is a disappointing movie. Never let the facts get in the way of a good story--JJJ would be proud!

2002-06-05T10:51:00.000-04:00

Strange Movies

Recently I've been on a strange movie kick.

First up was Mulholland Drive, the latest weirdness from David Lynch. What an amazing movie. Easily my second favortie from 2001 (Lord of the Rings being my #1). It is probably the quintessential Lynch film, effectively bringing together all of the good stuff from his past efforts in a feast for the eyes and mind. The strength of the film is in the way that it purposely defies explanation. You can try to put together an explanation of what was going on, but there is always at least one thing that supports a different explanation.

Next was Donny Darko, the debut feature from writer/director Richard Kelly. It's about high school, time travel, schizophrenia, the end of the world, and a guy in an evil bunny suit. An 80s John Hughes movie is trying to happen, but a Philip K. Dick-inspired flick keeps bursting out instead. Kudos to stars Jake Gyllenhaal and Jena Malone for carrying this wonderfully strange flick.

Finally, last weekend I watched Picnic at Hanging Rock, an early movie by Peter Weir. This bit of atmospheric strangeness has been cited as an inspiration for Lynch's Twin Peaks series, and it's easy to see why. There's a mystery with no explanation--it's all about the atmosphere. Great stuff.

A word about the DVDs: While both excellent movies, I must admit to being disappointed by the DVD presentations for Mullholland Drive & Picnic at Hanging Rock. After having rented MD, I went out and bought the DVD, as I knew this was something I was going to want to watch again and again. Alas, I didn't realize that there are no chapter stops on the DVD--the only way to get to a specific scene is to start from the begining and fast forward! Aparently this is what Lynch wants--he insists that the movie be experienced as a whole from the begining. That's fine for him, but irritating for us. The director's cut of Picnic leaves out several scenes from the original release--aparently Weir wanted to make the film more obscure. That's fine for him, but this would have been a perfect opportunity to include the cut scenes as extras on the DVD. What a shame.

2002-06-04T19:12:00.000-04:00

Okay, this is the first entry to my blog. What will we cover here? Generally my thoughts and ramblings on whatever strikes my fancy, including (but not limited to) comic books, libraries, television (esp. Buffy), politics, books, music, etc.