I did that thing where you start reading something and you can’t stop until you finish it six hours later. And by the way, the last five pages or so of _The Prestige_ can be counted as among the scariest things I’ve ever read before bedtime.
Monthly Archive for January, 2007
Sat
Jan
27
2007
Is SciFi pulling a Firefly? 0 cmts
I watched the premiere of the new SciFi show _The Dresden Files_ last Sunday and thought it was fairly awful. Then I learn (from Wikipedia among others) that what I was watching was actually episode 3, and the two hour pilot has been condensed to one hour and shifted to episode 5. Now I don’t know if the pilot is any good, but I generally like to start watching a show by being introduced to the characters, environment, and, ya know, central conceits of the show (i.e. I’m a detective, but I’m also a wizard, and here are some of the things I can do and some of the limitations, and here is what “being a wizard” means in this universe). The new “first” episode didn’t really establish much of anything, and so didn’t hook me, and so SciFi (and the show) lost a viewer. Sucks, cause for all I know it might actually be a good show. Or not.
Fri
Jan
26
2007
Reflections from time on ‘the Ice’ – Antarctica – MSNBC.com 0 cmts
Wondering what life is like at McMurdo Station in Antarctica? For an in-depth look, tons of residents are blogging. For a tourist’s eye view (in 9 easily digestable journal entries), check out MSNBC reporter Miguel Llanos’s reflections from time on “the Ice”. Don’t miss the audio and picture slideshow. Link is to the oldest entry, click “previous” to move forward in time.
Wed
Jan
24
2007
George Bush isn’t a disappointment 0 cmts
Frankenstein says George W. Bush hasn’t been a “disappointment” of a president, rather he’s done everything we expected him to do! I can see his report card now: “met expectations.”
How to get into Disneyland 0 cmts
When this entry about the design of the Disneyland entrance area mentioned having to wait in five seperate lines before getting into the park, I could name them all, as that was exactly my experience when I went over Christmas. Ridiculous. Especially the useless bag check.
Life on Mars returns 1 cmts
Sam Tyler finds himself transported to the 70s (or perhaps stuck in a coma) in BBC hit _Life on Mars_.
Rumour has it [ _sic._ -- they're Brits] that the excellent 70s cop drama _Life on Mars_ will begin transmitting its second and final series sometime next month. I’ve dropped _Studio 60_ like a rotten watermelon to make some room in my schedule for my favorite British time-travel cop drama. I have mixed feelings about the Beeb’s decision to keep the show to a two season run (for a total of 16 episodes). I’m happy that they’re willing to try interesting new things, see them through to a logical conclusion, and not keep them on well past the expiry date. And I understand that the particular gimmick used in this show just can’t go on and on forever without resolution. But I’m sad because the show is so well done and I’m sure there are more good stories that could be told if the show were to stick around for another season. Plus 16 episodes isn’t even one full American season! (In fairness they *are* full hour episodes, rather than the 40-45 minute shows we air here).
On a related note, does the BBC understand that, given the opportunity, I would gladly pay the full UK television license fee if it meant I could download all of their television content from bbc.co.uk? I’m sure I’m not alone.
Sun
Jan
21
2007
The Hoot – Editorial: Upcoming speakers bring added confidence to Brandeis 0 cmts
_The Brandeis Hoot_, my favorite campus newspaper, is still going strong on its two year anniversary. Their most recent editorial reflects on the confidence boost the visit of President Jimmy Carter has brought to campus. The sentiment is good, and the last two lines are very much a trademark Danny Silverman editorial ending, which makes me proud. 
Courts are having trouble dealing with computer searches 4 cmts
My boss’s boss’s counterpart over at Stanford writes in _Wired_ about how courts are doing a very bad job of limiting the scope of computer searches. My laptop was purchased by Harvard, but I’ve got my entire life on it, and according to some recent rulings government agents have the right to search it without cause at any time. And instead of the standard limits placed on warrants which specify the scope of the search and the evidence being collected, with laptops often the entire hard drive can be trolled for anything potentially incriminating, even if it is well outside the scope of the original investigation.
The Socialist Senator 0 cmts
_NYT Magazine_ has an amusing profile of the only Socialist Senator, Bernie Sanders of the great state of Vermont. He’s an interesting guy, to say the least. Only in Vermont?
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