 |
Sunday, 30 April 2006
Compassion
Every once and a while, I'll mention a cause I support financially, but usually just when they're offering something cool, so it's less about the cause than the opportunity -- the Save the Saturn V bricks, for example, come to mind. As a rule, though, I'm pretty slow to proselytize on the blog.
Today, though, is Compassion Sunday, when the child sponsorship group Compassion International asks its sponsors to participate in an awareness campaign. So, yeah, I support Compassion, and think it's a decent cause.
OK. Sermon over.
Saturday, 29 April 2006
Apple Versus Apple Update
Per MacNN:A judgment in the Apple Computer versus Apple Corps court battle will likely be handed down on Monday, May 8th. Both sides have been arguing their cases since late March when Apple Corps, which is owned by the former Beatles and their heirs, filed a suit against Apple Computer for breaching a $26 million settlement in 1991. Apple Computer agreed to veer away from the music business, while Apple Corps was awarded rights to the name for "creative works whose principal content is music." Apple Computer was allowed to use of the name for "goods and services... used to reproduce, run, play, or otherwise deliver such content." The presiding justice Edward Mann will decide whether to grant an injunction preventing Apple Computer from using its logo within iTunes, according to Macworld UK.
Friday, 28 April 2006
The Other Coupland
In one of the little throwaway bits that populated his book Microserfs, Douglas Coupland included something along the lines of "If there were two of me, which would win?"Well, in a case of life imitating art, there now are two of him, as life imitates art. Yeah, it's kinda meta.
Anyway, Wired has an interesting feature about the two Douglas Couplands.
Jobs At Disney Update
Per MacNN:Steve Jobs, CEO of Apple and Pixar today at Apple's annual shareholder's meeting in Cupertino said he has no interest in becoming an executive at Walt Disney, but rather plans to spend more time at Apple once he is free of his duties as Pixar's executive officer. Disney recently agreed to acquire Pixar for $7.4 billion, which will simultaneously place Jobs on Disney's board of directors and make him the company's largest shareholder, once the deal is complete. An Apple shareholder asked Jobs at the meeting if he had any interest in becoming the Michael Eisner of Disney, according to the Associated Press. Jobs responded, saying that "it's not because I want to be a senior manager at Disney. I don't want to do that." Jobs added that Robert Iger -- the current CEO of Disney -- "is the best person to run Disney."
Also, per MacRumors:
Apple today held its annual shareholder meeting. While Apple kept to its policy of not discussing upcoming products, Apple's CEO Steve Jobs said that the upcoming products are "the best I’ve ever seen in my life". He also reportedly replied "we hear you" when one shareholder requested that the company make the "ultimate media center," including personal video recorder functionality.
Jobs also mentioned a new TV ad campaign to launch next week, although the campaign's topic (iPod, Mac, etc.) was not specified.
Thursday, 27 April 2006
The New Adventures
This week's new Hatbag strip carries on the story arc started last week.And thanks once again for the help with the comics directory rankings. Last week I set a goal of breaking the top 400, which, as of this morning, we had done on Buzzcomix, where we're currently 397.
While Buzzcomix and TopWebComics had been very similar in their ranking up through about 500 or so, moving up has been much slower on the latter after that, and we're currently 463 on TopWebComics.
Anyway, again, we really appreciate the help.
Congrats, Crip!
Per NASA:Former NASA astronaut Bob Crippen, pilot on the first space shuttle mission in 1981, has been honored with the nation's highest award for spaceflight achievement, the Congressional Space Medal of Honor.
Twenty-eight astronauts have been honored with the award, 17 of them posthumously. Crip's recognition is well-deserved, and I'm glad to see him receive it.
Happy Anniversary, Stennis
I'm late posting this, but happy anniverary to Mississippi's Stennis Space Center, which on Sunday celebrated 40 years of rocket engine testing."At the time the Mississippi Test Facility (as it was then called) was built, it was the largest construction project in Mississippi and the second largest in the United States."
What's going to be really cool, though, is when, in the next few years, things get old-school at Stennis. The first engine test at Stennis in 1966 was of five J-2 engines, on a Saturn rocket stage developed to go to the moon. Before too long, it appears Stennis will once again begin testing J-2 rocket engines, once again developed to go to the moon.
Cylons All These Years
I've talked on here and with friends several times over the past years about things that I would watch as a Battlestar Galactica spin-off series -- the fight on Caprica (now wrapped up) or a good "Battlestar Pegasus" spin-off, in which, instead of running like BG is doing, the BP would actually engage the Cylons.Anyway, SciFi has apparently agreed with me in general if not in specific -- a BSG spin-off series is in the works. But, rather than a real spin-off stemming from characters or events in BSG, it's going the route of all modern sci-fi: the prequel. "'Caprica' will be set more than 50 years prior to the events of 'Battlestar Galactica' and focus on the lives of two families -- the Adamas ... and the Graystones. Humankind's Twelve Colonies are at peace and on the verge of a technological breakthrough: the first Cylon. As 'Battlestar Galactica' is about a lot more than space battles, 'Caprica' will be as much family drama as sci-fi tale."
So my first thought is that I can see it being a decent mini-series or short-term show. The concept, on the surface, just doesn't seem to have enough meat to sustain it for a long period of time.
That said, though, who would have thought that "Battlestar Galactica" would be one of the best shows on television? I'll reserve judgment until I've seen the show. I wouldn't be surprised if they surprised me.
Wednesday, 26 April 2006
STS-121 Update
Since I've already run one big picture today, and since I did a slightly different version of this yesterday, I'm having to fight the temptation to run this as a giant picture today. Darned if it isn't pretty, though.The larger image, and others, can be found at the KSC STS-121 Multimedia page.
Today In History
Twenty years ago today...
Ripping Blu-Ray
iPodHub is reporting that Apple is asking studios to include iPod video content on Blu-ray discs. The story doesn't specify what sort of content they're talking about, whether it would be the movie itself or just some sort of special feature. If it's the movie, that'd be kind of cool -- you could buy a movie, watch it on your TV in high-def, and then also "rip" a copy to your iPod. The story makes the case that Apple is in a strong position to make it happen, because both Disney and Sony are already in the Blu-ray camp. While it may be very possible to talk Disney into including the iPod versions, Sony might be a bit tougher, even if they are using Blu-ray, since providing iPod content could potentially compete with the PSP (particularly since it would mean you could get an iPod version of a movie for free, and have to pay for a separate PSP version). In Apple's favor, though, is the fact that the battle of the high-def discs is shaping up to be a new VHS/Betamax war, and the iPod versions could be another weapon in Blu-ray's arsenal.Tuesday, 25 April 2006
STS-121 Update
(Of course, there could still be issues to be worked out down the road. But it's nice to see the assembly process begin.)
Dark Star
UPDATE: The link has been fixed. Thanks, Jordan.It's an idea that's long been the topic of speculation, but there's been little to no actual, you know, evidence for it.
Now, though, a group of astronomers are saying that the highly unusual orbit of the KBO Sedna provides physical evidence that our sun has a companion star.
It's a counterintuitive idea on the surface; as a layman it's hard to believe astronomers could miss an entire star in our backyard, but apparently it's possible. The article speculates that the search for such a star may be gaining momentum.
Monopoly Voting
You know, in this day of retro kitsch, what would be cool is if the Monopoly board game, given its love of pop-culture special edition, came out with a new version that used all sorts of iconography from the Monopoly board game. Like, one of the properties could be Boardwalk, and it could have bunches of Rich Uncle Pennybags stuff and everything. Wouldn't that be cool?Anyway, right now, though, they're working on the Monopoly Here and Now edition, which features properties based on real locations from real cities. They're letting people go to the Web site and vote for which locations they want to be included. The reason I'm posting this is that I'm lobbying for the ATW community to go and cast their vote for Johnson Space Center to be picked to represent Houston. While you're there, check out some of the other cities and the choices offered. (It's interesting to me that two of the three choices for New Orleans are the French Quarter and Bourbon Street. In my opinion, they should have offered choices that were not, you know, a subset of other choices. I was also disappointed that the Seattle area won't let you vote for Microsoft HQ, which would be an amusing Monopoly location.)
Ad It Up
Since everyone's reporting it. Per Apple Insider:Apple Computer may soon disrupt the purity of its iTunes interface by introducing visual advertising spots that would appear within the ubiquitous jukebox application.
Citing content partners who have been briefed on the matter, AdAge is reporting that the company's current plans call for the ads to appear only in the lower-left corner of the iTunes library.
The ads would display "while users listen to podcasts from their computers rather than from portable devices."
Participate
Going to Blockbuster this weekend, I made one of those cool finds that made me happy -- I bought previewed copies of the first season of Knight Rider and the entire series of Buck Rogers for $13 each. Not only that, but they were on a buy-two-get-one-free sale, so we also bought the Bewitched movie for Nicole, who liked it enough to get it for free.So I opened it up last night, and in an amusing twist -- at least, I'm asuming this is what happened -- someone had accidentally stuck in a flyer that should have been in Good Night and Good Luck for the "Participate" group that is the political tie-in to George Clooney's movies (or, at least, that's my layman's understanding, the link provides better info).
I'm assuming it was supposed to be in GN≷ it didn't say anything about any particular movie, it just read: "Movies have the power to inspire you. You have the power to act! To find resources, information and ways to take action on the issues presented in this film visit www. participate.net"
Uh, the issues presented in Bewitched? Like I said, I'm assuming it belong in another box. But, what I like best about it is that, basically, by being switched from one box to another, the flyer went from fighting the ideas of McCarthyism to supporting a witch hunt.
Yeah, I'm A User
Tron!Tron! Tron! Tron! Tron!
I'd heard quite a while back that a new Tron comic book series was in the works, but then it seemed to go away. Anway, turns out the first issue hits shelves tomorrow. The series will continue the story of the Tron 2.0 video game, following the adventures of Alan (Bruce Boxleitner) Bradley's son Jet. The cover artwork looks pretty cool, and the first few pages of the preview they posted look pretty promising, too.
Man, I loves me some Tron.
Monday, 24 April 2006
Shenzhou VII Update
China announced a while back that its next manned spaceflight, Shenzhou VII, would not be launched until 2008, creating a longer gap between flights than occurred between the first two, but an early 2008 launch could have meant a delay of only two years and two months, which wouldn't have been terribly much longer.Now, though, they've announced that the mission won't launch until Sept. 2008 after the Beijing Olympics, nearly three years after Shenzhou VI.
The third Soviet spaceflight came just over one year after the second. The third U.S. spaceflight was only seven months after the second, and used an entirely different launch vehicle. The Chinese program has the advantage of access to modern technology and decades of spaceflight history, and yet flies a program that, going full steam, is equivalent to NASA's flight rate when the fleet is grounded.
I don't understand why anyone takes the Chinese space program seriously, when they clearly don't themselves.
Colorful Fruit
Sync Magazine has a brief profile of Rob Janoff, the guy that created the six-color Apple logo.You know, I was so disappointed when the changed from the old logo -- somehow "I bleed in one color" just didn't have the same ring to it -- but, yeah, I've gotten used to the new one over the years, and have reached the point where the old one looks less Apple-y. That may just be that I've gotten used to seeing it, or it may be how Apple has changed over the years.
Going Native?
Per MacNN:Apple may be planning to implement the Windows API (Application Programming Interfaces) directly in Mac OS X 10.5, which would allow Mac users to run Windows XP applications natively in Mac OS X without rebooting and without the need for virtualization software. Robert Cringely, in his latest column, also reiterated that Apple may migrate Mac OS X to a faster kernel, abandoning the older Mach microkernel presently in use. Apple and Microsoft in 1997 agreed to a five-year patent cross-licensing agreement, which ended in August of 2002 -- 10 months after Windows XP began shipping. The columnist believes Apple may be planning to utilize Microsoft's own Windows API, coupled with a faster kernel under the hood to offer users the ability to run Windows XP applications natively from their Mac OS X desktop, with the optional ability to dual-boot into Windows Vista once it ships in 2007.
So, what do you think? Is this something you would even want Apple to do, or not?
Prime Concerns
Finally, some good news on the Robot Holocaust front. Oh, sure, it's easy to believe that our nation's military is utterly unprepared for the threat posed by a robot uprising, but some comfort can be taken from this bit of information from Michael Bay on Ain't It Cool News about the upcoming Transformers movie:He flipped through the stack as he was telling me that he has the full support of the US Armed Forces for this film and has met with them repeatedly to discuss how they are portrayed in the movie. With a smile, Bay said that if the world ever had a giant robot problem how we see the Armed Forces deal with them in TRANSFORMERS is how we'd see them deal with them in real life.
Friday, 21 April 2006
Down At The BU
OK, here's something I never thought I'd say:You know what might be a really cool place to work? Microsoft.
Alias: Lost Trek
Sheesh. OK, what do I think about the news that J.J. Abrams will be directing a young Kirk and Spock movie? You know, I'm really not sure.First off, of course, I'm kinda dubious. There's been too many announcements about stuff that has just completely fallen through, so I'm taking this with a grain of salt. I'll believe it when they install the seatbelts in the theaters.
Second, I'm curious. There's been a lot of attention lately paid to the Harve Bennett Starfleet Academy script, which recently got leaked. In retrospect, was that just coincidence? Is this based on that? The rough description -- "...will center on the early days of seminal "Trek" characters James T. Kirk and Mr. Spock, including their first meeting at Starfleet Academy and first outer space mission." -- sounds a lot like the Bennett treatment, but, of course, that may just be because it's pretty vague. I can't believe that Abrams and Lindelof would work directly from a decade-plus-old script, but it could be a retooled version.
Third, I love me some Kirk and Spock. I really do. But I'm not sure what I would think of this version. They would have to be darned sure that in the casting, the acting, the lines, the way they're written, everything, it's really Kirk and Spock. Frankly, I think as much as I love TOS, if I had to choose between either this or the Jendressen(sp?) Band of Star Trek Brothers concept going forward, I would choose the latter.
My only experience with Abrams has been with Lost, which I do enjoy. Never seen the Alias. Guess I'll have to go see MI:3 now. For a while there I was keen on the idea of giving Brian Singer a shot at the franchise since he's expressed a real interest in it, though the more I see of the upcoming Supes movie, the less ardently I feel that way. I'm glad to see a name being brought on, but it takes more than talent to make good Trek. You really have to "get it." And I don't know enough about Abrams to know if he does or not.
Anyway, that's my two bits. I'll be curious to hear from the rest of the ATW crowd.
Thursday, 20 April 2006
Godspeed, Scott Crossfield
Test pilot Scott Crossfield has made his final flight.
Psychohistory
So, yeah, this week's new Hatbag strip is now online.And thanks for the help last week with the comics directory rankings. With everyone's votes, we've reclaimed enough lost ground to make it up into the top 500 on each listing. I'd love to see if we can make 400 by next week. Again, the votes are really appreciated, y'all.
Would You Like Meat On That?
Ah, you gotta love Hardee's.So, yeah, you can now go in and order a burger with a third of a pound of meat. Topped with more meat.
The meat-on-meat Philly Cheesesteak Thickburger, launched Tuesday, features one-third of a pound of Angus beef, along with both Swiss and American cheeses, green peppers and onions. And piled atop all of that is thinly sliced steak meat.
"We actually found in this case, the only way to make a burger taste like a cheesesteak was to literally put the steak on it," said Brad Haley, executive vice president of marketing for the St. Louis-based chain.
OK, so, yeah, I want one of those.
The Fix
Apple fans may or may not have heard that the company is building a second campus in Cupertino over the next three to four years to consolidate various locations its spread into after outgrowing its Infinite Loop headquarters.But, with the lack of "true video iPods" and non-Pro MacBooks lately, anyone going through serious Stevenote withdrawal is welcome to check out the video of Steve announcing the new campus to the Cupertino City Council. That said, I think I'll pass.
Shipping Windows
You very rarely see an Apple product offered for less than the price Apple sells it for. I'm not entirely sure how that works -- my understanding was that Apple set the minimum price, but, on the flip side, every once and a while you do see someone (Amazon, Buy.com) sell something a bit cheaper.Regardless, what you do see is retailers, particularly catalog and online retailers, trying to outdo each other with special little bonuses that make that Apple-set price a better deal. For example, when I bought my iMac, I got it from the place I did because they threw in an extra half-gig of RAM, without having to mess with a rebate or installation fee.
I read yesterday that the same company, Expercom, has an offer on the MacBook Pro that may very well be a first -- Buy a Mac from them, and they'll throw in Windows.
Their price on the MBP is $30 higher than Apple (though they offer 1 cent shipping and don't charge sales tax; the latter of which makes it a better total price than Apple's [though I'm not saying that you shouldn't, of course, pay appropriate sales tax on any online purchase when you file your taxes]). But, for that price, your laptop comes with BootCamp and the latest version of Windows XP Pro pre-installed, and with a licensed XP disc in the package.
So, yeah, as of now, Macs are shipping with Windows. Who woulda thunk it?
Their product description, by the way, ends with: "We don't support Windows XP - and neither does Apple. We'll install it for you, but, hey, we're Mac people, so we can't help answer Windows questions!"
Tuesday, 18 April 2006
Star Wars Kid Settlement
You know what? There's just not a whole lot of interesting stuff -- to me, at least -- in the news today, and I'm really not in the mood for blog-fodder-scouring. Somebody say something interesting on the board. (Or, for Lain the literalist, please come up with some interesting content that could provide the groundwork for discussion, and then share it with us on the board.)
In the meantime, in the lack of anything worthwhile, it turns out the Star Wars Kid has reached a settlement in a lawsuit against his former schoolmates: "The settlement annuls a civil trial set to begin on Monday that would have scrutinized one of the world's first and most-publicized cases of cyber-bullying."
Monday, 17 April 2006
Shoeless Yuri
I hate resorting to do big quote posts in a row, but I found this bit about why Yuri Gagarin was chosen for the first manned spaceflight interesting:He was hand picked for one of humanity's greatest ever solo missions - the Soviet Union's bid to stake the hammer and sickle flag in the heavens. But, 45 years after Yuri Gagarin became the first man in space, the real reason why he was chosen for his country's high honour has finally emerged. Contrary to popular myth, the deciding factor that won him the single seat in Vostok I ahead of five other candidates was not his physical toughness,