The Future. December 2, 2007
Posted by adrenjarvi in Philosophy.Tags: Future, ImagineCup, JBJ, Microsoft, Music, Philosophy, SBJ, Tech, Zune
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This is technically my 100th post. I decided I was going to look into the future, and touch on some interesting things that I think will change the way we live. This is a very Steven B. Johnson post, but that is probably because I (finally) sat down and read “Emergence” all the way through.
Lets start.
MUSIC
Lets face it, folks. Music is essentially done- as a corporation. The proliferation of… “Piracy” allows for essentially any music to be downloaded for free.
But there is another fact: People will pay for music. Lets look at the recent Radiohead experiment- where radiohead released their new album , “In Rainbows”, on a pay-what-you-want digital download scheme. At first, this seems like a moronic and truly irresponsible move. How can they make money for giving something away for free? Well, apparently a lot. The cost of the album is only in pre-production; actual recording of content and such. There is no cost for the production of the album as it is digital (maybe peanuts for hosting, webdesign, etc). Now, lets say you are a radiohead fan. Maybe you pay 12 dollars for it. Now here I am, someone who is only loosely affiliated with radiohead. I don’t want to put down any money for it, so I download it. and there are a whole slew of people who paid in-between (the rumored average was 5 dollars). Now, if Radiohead released their new album in a physical form, I would have paid what I paid the first time; Nothing. Here, I got to hear their music, and I’ll tell you, I liked what I saw. So I marched my (virtual) ass back to the website (here) and promptly gave them 5 dollars. That 5 will most likely get a lot less chopped up then the ‘physical 12′, and hopefully the majority will go to the artists. Shocking, I know.
Radiohead’s management ( in a move which undercuts the spirit of this post) said it was only to bolster sales for the real physical album. This doesn’t make sense. But what Radiohead did does; lets imagine a future where physical records are obsolete (save for vinyl, which in a totally odd discordian context is making a comeback). Now, where as the label of yesteryear was a device required to spread music, now we have internet radio shows. The vastness of social networking sites allows users to post music, that music gets shared and viewed. People interested can download at the artists site. This means that big-name artists are famous because, steady your breath: People listen to them.
Brave new world.
Games
In a similar move, they are going to go independent. Big-name studios are not going anywhere, but I envision an open platform coming; Something like an XNA portable. Microsoft announces a portable platform with a big screen, Custom OS, and the use of “XCards” as a proprietary Cartridge system.
Quick note on this; I have noticed that we, as a people, constantly move from circles to squares to circles when it comes to our media. Giant spools of video , move to VHS, move to DVD, move to HDD recording. Music is even more dramatic: Records, Cassettes, Discs, Mp3’s. Meh, whetever. I am weird.
Anyway, this platform uses a proprietary system (integrated with windows) to let users build games in a similar way that their XNA system does now. Users can both build and test games on this platform (slide out qwerty?) and then send them in for certification to Microsoft. Add some brief media functions, an internet browser, an Xbox Originals integration…. you have an interesting evolution.
Me
Really, why else are you here?
I think my little evolution might be over with for now. For those close to me, ever since something happened, I have been on this odd maturity tip. I feel different, and my lifestyles have changed somewhat to address these. Well, this is premature, but I am going to make these creeds now before new years, and do my damndest to stick by them.
I want a game, be it chalkboard warrior or otherwise, under my name before I become a junior.
I need CCSU to recognize my whims, for better or worse.
I will make an impassioned speech in front of a group of individuals, and they will cheer. This will be important.
I will travel.
I will record some ‘rhymes’.
I will go to the imagine cup.
Lofty, yes. But by posting it here, I get to keep all you bastards on my case .
-F9
Emergence; Blondes; Traffic Singles; Sex. September 2, 2007
Posted by adrenjarvi in CCSU, Games, Ludology, Nerd.Tags: CCSU, Dance, efficiency, Emergence, Events, JBJ, Metroid, NiWiFi, Samus, SBJ, Wii
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Four quickies, all dancing around what this blog is primarily about.
Emergence; I Finally got around to purchasing Emergence:The Connected Lives of Ants, Brains, Cities, and Software by Steven Berlin Johnson. SBJ is an awesome guy, also the Author of another favorite, Everything Bad is Good For you. Both of these books are like crack to techo-intellectuals like myself, and others. SBJ spoke at CCSU in Fall 06′, and I had the pleasure of eating dinner with him, along with spending time on a panel, where ( as hindsight happens to do) I realize I should have asked a lot of more questions, along with many more important ones. The night boosted my morale, and gave me some strong connections within the school. Not to mention, I get an academic high from attending panels, counsels, etc etc. Rah, rah, sis boom bah.
Blondes; Not what you might think. I am currently running through Metroid Prime 3: Corruption on the Wii, and it is a delight. The FPS controls are simply perfect, and the two things that I can think of that the game could improve on are the following;
1. This Screams online gameplay. Please, make MP4 online, please.
2. The fact that this game has an ending pisses me off .
Must purchase for the enterprising wii owner.
Traffic Singles; I was Perusing the “Welcome week” activities schedule at CCSU; A carnival! that seemed cool. Outside showings, yeah, super. On Saturday, however, they had a “Traffic Light Mixer.” Immediately I was struck by the fact I did not know the definition of Mixer ( no need to go to a mixer when taken, right? ….Right?) so I jumped over to wikipedia to make sure I had it down. Apparently, it is like a party. Or A chemistry accessory.
Two, I looked at the supposed plan for the Mixer; No doubt following the facebook trend of displaying sexual availability, they have envisioned a seemingly innocent plan; Attendees are to dress color-coded to the event, based on their availability. Singles are to dress in green; for ‘Go ahead, your in college!’, i’d imagine. Taken are to Dress in Red, A Definitive ’stop.’ And those clad in yellow are to be representing the confusing “It’s complicated.”
Immediately I envision a few scenarios. One; Boyfriend comes ready in red, Girlfriend is yellow clad. But on a more base level, the very idea of ” It’s complicated” is not something one wants to ‘mix’ with. If you are asking to buy a car, and the owners manual says “It’s complicated” ( or even better, the old owner still wants to drive it on occasion) you probably won’t buy the car. Yellow then, in this case, screams ‘EMOTIONAL BAGGAGE’, and/or crazy ex girlfriends/Psycho asshole ex boyfriends to deal with. Not very Welcome.
The green fit in, although it leaves some room for thought. One is obviously here and wearing green, meaning they are attending a mixer with the intent of mixing. Mingling. Searching. They are the most at home here, as by a very obvious visual clue, you know the person is single and interested, at the very least, in browsing. After all, they came to the mixer.
The Red…. Wait a minute, you are taken? Shouldn’t you be off having sex somewhere?
This is all juxtaposed over the universal constant that many college students won’t give two shits about the arbitrary dress code and decide to show up in whatever makes them look/feel/seem good.
I knew there was a solution; my brain snapped into effect. Within moments, I had devised the scheme.
All you need are 5 color bracelets; Red, Yellow, Green, Pink, And Blue, all in abundance. The young mixer’s are allowed to wear whatever they would like (within code) and upon entering, they get the patented “Jarvis five second questionnaire.” They are presented with a choice of bracelt colors, the choices being red/yellow/green on the dominant arm, and on the other arm, blue/pink.
Green Here means; I am single! Come look for me.
Yellow means: Not Looking; Convince me I should.
Red Means: Taken/ Not Looking.
On the off hand;
Pink: I like ladies!
Blue: I like guys!
Now, in this system, you have Much more information at first glance then before; you have their actual feelings, with no immediate fear of emotional baggage ( I am sure that comes later). You have their sexual preference- no need to hide! This is a Mixer! get what you want! And also, you get their dominant hand- southpaws hooking up with southpaws, or at least a gentlemanly way to shake hands properly ( always go with the lady.)
Upon displaying my revamped system to a friend of mine, I came to the realization I would have to blog this; half because I think it is brilliant, and half because I spent actual time that I could have used to do other things writing this little scheme.
I need help.
-F9
Edu-ma-cation: A year in review August 9, 2007
Posted by adrenjarvi in Education.Tags: CCSU, Education, Games, Gualladet, JBJ, Ludology, memories, Nucleus
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It has been more than a year since I have begun my college experience. Below are Twenty experiences that have changed me forever.
20. Giving a Lapdance. To a Male. Faculty Member.
19. Revealing my name to a group of people, and then have them burst into outcry; YOU’RE ALEX JARVIS???
18. Discussing Video Games with a man who is very knowledgeable, weeks before school begins.
17. Realizing the single moment that I lost a friend.
16. Showing up for class an hour earlier than everyone else.
15. A lightsaber Battle in the middle of the night, endorsed by the New Britain Police.
14. A single blip, transmitted from Xbox to Screen, that promises the world.
13. Buying Goya beans as ammo.
12. Talking about nothing and everything until it was tommorow.
11. Camping outside of a bathroom door, very close friend inside. In case.
10. Seeing a very close friend in a very bad place; helping him get out.
9. Discussing video games with a man who knows much more than I do, and attributing this discussion to another knowledgeable man.
8. Going to a funeral for a friend I never knew as well as I could have.
7. Standing in the middle of campus, certain, very certain, that I had ended my life.
6. Screaming at the top of my lungs to the man sitting four feet away.
5. Singing in the middle of class and holding the floor for a full five minutes because of it.
4. Being green in philosophy.
3. Hearing a very little man declare affinity for star wars, and shock that I, too, knew what it was.
2. Being alone, in an unfamiliar way.
1. Having your professor, in front of Himself, students, and God, stare at you just as everyone got quiet, and ask you point blank: “What’s this I hear about a Lapdance?”
Year one, ladies and gentlemen.
Year One.
-F9
No, I said "Tweed". July 8, 2007
Posted by adrenjarvi in silly.Tags: , Coat, Doctor who, Goodwill, Humor, JBJ, Outback
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I have an odd fixation on a particular bit of clothing. It is very odd, and it has only crawled out of my subconscious after seeing it repeatedly in a familiar setting. Namely, it is the tweed jacket. Specifically, it is the leather elbow patches of the tweed jacket.
Why, I found myself asking….myself. Why these? Are they some subconscious power thing? Some sort of standard? Are they slimming? Do I want to look like the Doctor? I know not; but I know some.
Well, it had been completely erased from my mind until this afternoon. The Family had decided to go out to eat – we where all over the place today, so we where meeting there in two separate cars. When I arrived, I saw my mother had a glass of wine and was laughing at various things. I smiled for two reasons; one, she would laugh like a hyena at any mild joke. But two, it means I would get to drive home, a wonderful passtime of mine – just taking the long roads, to hell with the gas prices.
In the course of our meal, my mother mentioned charity work she hoped to accomplish, and mentioned the opening of a new goodwill store in the area. I put down my macaroni and cheese-covered-fork and turned like a man who has heard another confess to murder.
“Goodwill store?”
she nodded.
Within minutes, my plate was empty, and I awaited the check to come- the muted ‘all clear’ telling me I could bolt now.
And bolt I did, to that store, and there on the shelf- the only one- it lay waiting for me. $9.99, and by got it fit me like a [used] glove. I put in on the plastic, and when the woman moved it to the bag, I stopped her.
“No need.” I smirked. ” I am going to wear this puppy out.“
So, in pure adolescent fashion, I present to you an awkward self-pic of me, my new awesome jacket, and the elbow pads to match.
Doc.
Elbow-jacket Cage match for the Title.
Bring it.
-A F K
