I Read Stuff!!

Hanlon's Razor: Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity.

Wednesday, November 29, 2006

Read More

There is a meme floating around listing one group's top 50 Sci-Fi/Fantasy books. The idea is you bold the books you've read, strike the books you hated, italicize the books you didn't finish, and star the books you love.

I love the genre. So even though I don't agree with this particular list, I decided to participate. What I discovered is I am woefully behind when it comes to 'the best' novels. In my defense this list leans heavily into the Sci-Fi arena while my tastes lean towards Fantasy.

1. The Lord of the Rings, J.R.R. Tolkien*
2. The Foundation Trilogy, Isaac Asimov
3. Dune, Frank Herbert*
4. Stranger in a Strange Land, Robert A. Heinlein
5. A Wizard of Earthsea, Ursula K. Le Guin
6. Neuromancer, William Gibson
7. Childhood’s End, Arthur C. Clarke
8. Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, Philip K. Dick
9. The Mists of Avalon, Marion Zimmer Bradley
10. Fahrenheit 451, Ray Bradbury
11. The Book of the New Sun, Gene Wolfe
12. A Canticle for Leibowitz, Walter M. Miller, Jr.
13. The Caves of Steel, Isaac Asimov
14. Children of the Atom, Wilmar Shiras
15. Cities in Flight, James Blish
16. The Colour of Magic, Terry Pratchett
17. Dangerous Visions, edited by Harlan Ellison
18. Deathbird Stories, Harlan Ellison
19. The Demolished Man, Alfred Bester
20. Dhalgren, Samuel R. Delany
21. Dragonflight, Anne McCaffrey
22. Ender’s Game, Orson Scott Card*
23. The First Chronicles of Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever, Stephen R. Donaldson
24. The Forever War, Joe Haldeman
25. Gateway, Frederik Pohl
26. Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, J.K. Rowling
27. The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, Douglas Adams*
28. I Am Legend, Richard Matheson
29. Interview with the Vampire, Anne Rice
30. The Left Hand of Darkness, Ursula K. Le Guin
31. Little, Big, John Crowley
32. Lord of Light, Roger Zelazny
33. The Man in the High Castle, Philip K. Dick
34. Mission of Gravity, Hal Clement
35. More Than Human, Theodore Sturgeon
36. The Rediscovery of Man, Cordwainer Smith
37. On the Beach, Nevil Shute
38. Rendezvous with Rama, Arthur C. Clarke
39. Ringworld, Larry Niven
40. Rogue Moon, Algis Budrys
41. The Silmarillion, J.R.R. Tolkien
42. Slaughterhouse-5, Kurt Vonnegut
43. Snow Crash, Neal Stephenson
44. Stand on Zanzibar, John Brunner
45. The Stars My Destination, Alfred Bester
46. Starship Troopers, Robert A. Heinlein*
47. Stormbringer, Michael Moorcock
48. The Sword of Shannara, Terry Brooks
49. Timescape, Gregory Benford
50. To Your Scattered Bodies Go, Philip Jose Farmer

Tuesday, November 28, 2006

I Bet There Is A Sign

I'm not sure who is the bigger idiot. The people driving or the people who designed this system. On the one hand, this road block is highly effective. On the other, who expects anything to rise out of the road like a damn magic trick?

Wednesday, November 22, 2006

Soul Shattering Disappointment

Well we all knew it would happen, and now it has. Look on and weep at the ineffective wiimote lanyard, and its destructive power.



This poor guy was playing Wii Sports: Bowling when the lanyard snapped and speared his 60" TV.

Bowling!

Monday, November 20, 2006

Signs of Addiction

Lore pointed to one of the most ridiculous products I've ever seen.

A sherpa coffee sleeve.

Why would you buy one of these instead of a regular coffee mug?

You might be thinking to yourself that this is going to save a bunch of paper sleeves. It'll cut down on litter and save the environment. You would be wrong. A regular sleeve and cup are made out of paper and will biodegrade. The cup's plastic lid on the other hand will last thousands of years. How many of those have you tossed into the trash?

Perhaps for sanitary reasons because you would fail to wash the regular mug. This would be even worse with the sherpa sleeve. Think about all the little dribbles that would collect in that fake lambs wool. Think of all the wondrous colors it will turn from the coffee, the oils on your hands, and the grime currently found in your cup holder.

I'm sure it wouldn't stink at all.

Wednesday, November 15, 2006

Space is Cool

A Space Shuttle launch as seen from the International Space Station.


Tuesday, November 14, 2006

HELLOMOTO

Motorola to buy Netopia in $208 mln deal

Motorola to acquire Netopia for $7 per share

Motorola Buys Netopia

Thursday, November 09, 2006

I'm Connected

My father and I went on a hunting trip in Colorado a few months ago. The drive to the hunting ground was a bit of a trek through some pretty small towns in the middle of nowhere. In one such town, he and I stopped off for a quick breakfast. My dad picks up a newspaper, and runs across a blurb in one of the side columns which he reads aloud.

"1,538, the Number of attorneys who have contributed to Democratic gubernatorial candidate Bill Ritter's campaign."

A spokesman for the Republican gubernatorial candidate had this to say,

"1,538 lawyers? This must be part of Bill Ritter's 'No Lawyer Left Behind' plan."

We had a good laugh at the clever remark and the ridiculousness of the statistic in general. A few moments later a man approaches us. He explains that he had heard his name come up in our conversation and wanted to meet us.

He introduced himself as Bill Ritter.

Yes, the new governor of Colorado happened to be moving through the same middle of nowhere town. He just happened to stop at the same coffee shop to hear a Kansan and a Okie talking about him. What are the odds?

He was a very good sport about the newspaper article and we all shared a laugh. I figure I can spin that chance meeting into a new career in politics.

Vote Me for Office

Tuesday, November 07, 2006

Child's Play

Penny Arcade has kicked off their annual children's hospital charity event. This is a super fun charity to get involved with because you actually buy video games for kids who are stuck in the hospital. It's made more fun because you can pick out the specific games you want to give from a Amazon wish list that the hospitals set up. The cherry is that Children's Mercy in KC is now on the list, and our very own home grown doctor is currently working there.

That means you can find a particularly special book, DVD or video game. Buy it for Children's Mercy and our little doctor will have to read or shout over your contribution. You get the satisfaction of charity, helping kids, and directly effecting our Doc's day.

Joy!

Wednesday, November 01, 2006

Evolution, by Dove

Watch as this lady gets transformed from everyday to celebrity. Don't worry, it's time-lapsed.



It's the photoshop sessions that really slow me down in the morning, but I don't know how I could face the world without them.


Games
GameInterestRelease Date
Civilization IV1
C&C 31
Company of Heroes1
Half Life 21
Half Life 2: Episode One1
Supreme Commander1
Call of Duty 22
Darwinia2
Dungeon Runners2
Dungeon Siege II2
Far Cry2
Galactic Civilization II2
Hitman: Blood Money2
Jade Empire2
Neverwinter Nights 22
Prey2
Psychonauts2
Sam & Max: Episode 12
Titan Quest2
Dark Messiah Might and Magic3
Defcon3
Heroes of Might and Magic V3
Indigo Prophecy3
KOTOR II3
LEGO Star Wars3
Marvel Ultimate Alliance3
Space Rangers 2: The Rise of the Dominators3
STALKER: Shadow of Chernobyl3
Stubbs the Zombie3
War Front3
Warhammer: Mark of Chaos3
Infernal35/8/2007
Shadowrun25/9/07
Pirates of the Burning SeaM6/1/2007
Enemy Territory: Quake Wars?6/5/2007
Two Worlds?6/26/07
Sins of A Solar Empire?8/1/2007
BioShock18/21/2007
Mass Effect19/7/07
Age of ConanM10/30/07
Crysis1Fall 2007
Elveon?Fall 2007
Half-Life 2: Episode Two1Fall 2007
Portals1Fall 2007
Spore1Fall 2007
Stranglehold?Fall 2007
Tabula RasaMFall 2007
Team Fortress 22Fall 2007
Dragon Age?Winter 2007
Fable 2?Winter 2007
Field Ops?Winter 2007
Halo Wars?Winter 2007
Gods & Heroes: Rome RisingMWinter 2007
Haze?Winter 2007
Hellgate: London1Winter 2007
HuxleyMWinter 2007
Kane & Lynch: Dead Men?Winter 2007
Left 4 Dead?Winter 2007
The AgencyMSpring 2008
Empire Earth III?Spring 2008
Guild Wars 2 MSpring 2008
Jericho?Spring 2008
Sacred 2?Spring 2008
Savage 2?Spring 2008
Time Shift2Spring 2008
Universe at War: Earth Assault3Spring 2008
The Witcher?Spring 2008
CellFactor?2008
Darkest of Days?2008
On The Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkeness: Episode 122008
Warhammer OnlineM2008
Alliance: The Silent War??
Alone in the Dark??
Assassin's Creed??
BioWare MMO??
The Crossing??
Dungeon Hero??
Fallout 3??
Lego Batman??
Mythos??
Overloard??
Space Seige??
Culdcept SagaPC??
Gears of WarPC??
God of WarPC??
Beautiful KatamariPC??
OkamiPC??
Resistance: Fall of ManPC??
Odin's SpherePC??
Castle CrashersPC??

1 - I will buy it
2 - I'll buy it at discount
3 - Other people think it's good, but I wasn't interested when I first heard about it
M - Mainly Multiplayer. See if friends get interested.
? - Find out more about this game
PC? - Will it be released on the PC?