In case of fire ...

I recently had an appointment down at the hospital, and I noticed that the sign by the parking garage elevator had been subjected to this funny, and possibly ironic, doodle.Side note to you gamers: the flame on the right (which the camera phone couldn't get with the rest comprehensible) appears to have been made into a flower. Is the man with the cigarette responsible for the blaze, or can it be traced back to a certain Italian plumber?

It was a bright and stormy night ...

Man, that was quite the thunderstorm last night! For at least three hours, there was bright lightning flashing constantly, at times accompanied by really loud thunder. The lightning just wouldn't quit; there were rarely any bolts to see, but the whole outdoors lit up in rapid, succesive bursts every two seconds or less.

I wanted to stick warning signs on the windows like you see when you turn on a video game: "If you suffer from epilepsy or have experienced seizures from repeated flashes...."

The quick brown fox?

Remember the pangram, "The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog"? I was just checking out what's new at a certain ROM hacking site, and there was a new section for font files to insert into games. I clicked on one to see what exactly they were, and it happened to use a hilarious example screenshot of the font in Final Fantasy 6. Too bad it doesn't use every letter of the alphabet.

Reality Isn't Virtual Enough

Well, now that I have time to blog that coincides with the internet connection working and my brother not using the computer, I've got something interesting to post.



It seems Microsoft decided to top the Wii as far as interactivity. Other videos show different features and ways they are put to use, but I have a comment about what is shown in this particular one. I think it points to a problem with our society.

The designer in the video stressed two things: the ability to hold a relationship with this virtual person, and how lifelike the system is. My first thought (or perhaps second, after "wow") was: "Why not meet someone in real life?" We (as a culture) don't interact with our fellow man enough, and when we do it is far too often through some online organization. It's rather ironic that the activities with Milo are, or at least can be, so organic. And if one can recognize the value of such experiences, they ought to put the stress on reality, this incredible, nonfictional world in which we live. It reminds me of parts of the movie Wall-E ; such as the moment when two of the computer-rules-their-lives people realize there's an amazing life to take part in, if they simply turned off their screens and looked around; or the captain's utter fascination with farming, dancing, and other activities familiar to the human race back on Earth long ago.

Of course, a common opinion is likely to be that Milo "cares about you, no matter what" and is "a friend without problems." The appeal of this idea is dangerous, to be frank. It is not wise to attach yourself to someone who, artificial intelligence notwithstanding, is not real. As God made us a social people, we are here to walk together.

I'm not saying the technology is bad. Indeed, it is my hope that it will serve as an awakening, a reminder of the importance of these things. As for Milo himself, you can have as much fun with him as you like; just never forget that his existence is a fantasy.

Clean What Won't Be Seen

My second-eldest brother is having a friend from out-of-state over, and my chore this week happens to be trash+bathroom. So I just finished cleaning the bathroom, as per my mother's wishes. I must admit, the sink and mirror look much nicer; but as I was wiping the floor down and did around the back of the toilet, I questioned the necessity. One would have to purposely look for filth back there to notice any. This reminded me, as many happenings do, of a piece from a book I've read. This one is "The Good Bad Boy," an enjoyable little read that is supposed to be the diary of a boy in the eighth grade. The passage I thought of goes:

"Why do people have to clean the whole house when they expect company? Father Foley will only see the dining room and parlor. Besides, Father Foley is coming to eat, not to look for dirt."

If C3PO Talked Like Dr. Suess...

"I would not be flown here or there, I would not be flown anywhere! I do not like to fly, oh no, I do not like to, Han Solo!"

"Wockets? In our pockets? We're in danger! I must tell the others -- OH NO! I'M IN SOCKS!!"

"They're heading in this direction. What are we going to do? We'll be sent to the waiting place and wait for who knows what!"

"We'll have no more of this 'Obi-Wan Kenobi' gibberish! And don't talk to me of your hunch either!"

Squiggly, Green Underlines: I'm not sure what you wrote is what I think you wanted me to read.

Yep, sometimes I just can't ignore MS Word's grammar check. These occurred when I was typing my chemistry term paper some time ago.