Posts (page 2)

I'm having a lot of fun over at goodreads.com. I've always been a fan of the concept of social networks, but I have yet to find one that I really enjoy. Until now. I think one problem is the fact that other social networking sites are too broad in their social networking scope. I tend to like niches, or little organized groups over large, free-for-all networks.

But it's not enough just to be a niche. Flixter.com is a social networking site devoted to movies. The problem with that site is that its design and content attract a younger crowd. It's sort of like a Myspace for movie lovers. Case in point, Fast and the Furious 3: Tokyo Drift averaged 4 stars. -- Seriously?

Goodreads is a little more neutral, like Facebook rather than Myspace. And the simple fact that it's a website devoted to the love of books, helps it attract a much more sophisticated crowd. My only criticism would be with regard to the website's design and usability. Though it's not awful, it's definitely not great. They need to make it a little more intuitive to navigate around the site. The website could also use a Web 2.0 face lift; it looks very 1999ish.

Other than that, I think it's a really fun site with a ton potential. It was launched in January of 2007, so it's still young in Internet years. The user reviews (though not quite as good as Amazon's user reviews) are extremely helpful, and I have to imagine they will become even more helpful over the years. If you're a bookworm like me, go check it out. I'm going to try shelfari.com as well. Shelfari is another social networking site for book lovers, and is bit more established than Goodreads. Shelfari also seems to have all of the Web 2.0 features that I mentioned were lacking in Goodreads. But I can't be sure until I try it out for myself.

Speaking of books, I just finished Benjamin Franklin: An American Life. It was fan-freaking-tastic. I would highly recommend it.

I thought these three books were good enough to earn skyecade uber-elite seal of approval.

The Victorian Internet -- This book was fantastic. My daughter bought it for me at a library book sale for 50 cents. The Victorian Internet chronicles the rise of the telegraph, as well as the astounding effects it had on the world. The most fascinating aspect of the book, to me anyway, was the comparison of the telegraph to the modern day Internet. The cultures surrounding these two technologies were/are eerily similar, each having their own bevy of underground elites. Remember the heyday of IRC? Yeah, like that. This is a must read for any geek.

The Alchemist — First, let me say that I knew nothing about this book, except that it seems to be on every self-help bloggers "favorite books" list. Eventually, after reading about it for the hundredth, I bought the book. I'm really glad I did. The Alchemist is an inspirational (and motivational) book about a young shepherd boy named Santiago and his journey to fulfill his personal legend (aka: his dreams.) And that's the exact message the story is trying to convey, always follow your dreams! Excellent book if your looking for a good story and a little motivational pick-me-up.

The Dip — Ahh, The Dip. Here we have a well thought out collection of common sense. Yes, common sense. There probably isn't much in this book that you don't already know, but it's good to have a refresher course every now and then. Seth Godin tells us that whatever we do in life, be the best at it. And anything that we can't be the best at, quit. That's kind of a crappy summary of the book -- Seth actually does give good advice on how and why to live by the aforementioned guidelines. It's a quick read, less than 100 pages, and could easily be read in one or two sittings. Or in my case, a week. It's definitely not the best self-improvement book I've ever read, but for the money and time invested, it was well worth it.

http://failblog.wordpress.com

Poor bastards.

Get the @&$% out of here. Classic...

I don't know what everyone is making a big fuss about. I would love to have super cosmic space powers like Tom Cruise.

Tom Cruise on Scientology

Sign me up! I'm no f!@#ing spectator.

Now watch this guy.

I was in tears.

Let's say you have about $800 to $900 to spend on camera equipment. Let's also say you have no other camera equipment to speak of, and no ties to any specific brand (anymore), other than a little experience.

What would you buy? Here is what I'm debating.

a. The new Rebel XSi camera kit. (coming in April) I noticed the standard 18-55 now has image stabilizer. That's really nice, but it's still just an entry level lens, right?. = $900ish

b. The Rebel XTi body only with a decent lens, such as Sigma's 17-70mm f2.8-4.5 which seems to be getting good reviews. = $900ish

c. Or, since I have no more ties to Canon, make a complete switch to another brand such as Nikon. This scares me a bit since I have no experience with them, but you can't argue with their reputation.

Decisions, decisions, decisions...

Let's say you have about $800 to $900 to spend on camera equipment. Let's also say you have no other camera equipment to speak of, and no ties to any specific brand (anymore), other than a little experience.

What would you buy? Here is what I'm debating.

a. The new Rebel XSi camera kit. (coming in April) I noticed the standard 18-55 now has image stabilizer. That's really nice, but it's still just an entry level lens, right?. = $900ish

b. The Rebel XTi body only with a decent lens, such as Sigma's 17-70mm f2.8-4.5 which seems to be getting good reviews. = $900ish

c. Or, since I have no more ties to Canon, make a complete switch to another brand such as Nikon. This scares me a bit since I have no experience with them, but you can't argue with their reputation.

Decisions, decisions, decisions...

Okay kids, here it is. Our new Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare server, brought to you by [DDB]> and [RIOT]. Two of the best clans on this side of the net. Here are the details.

For more information, or to leave feedback, head over to zengeeks.com.

Where to begin?

Battlestar Galactica Razor was great, although, I was under the impression that it was the season premier. It wasn't. Needless to say, I was a little bummed saddened annoyed when I found out I have to wait until March for the next episode. Boo! A year and a half between seasons? This better be the best season EVER!

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Tin Man sucked. I hate giving negative reviews, but I just couldn't sit through it. In all fairness though, I'm a pretty harsh critic. I hated Firefly when I first watched it too, now it's one of my favorite television shows ever. I'll probably give it another shot, someday.   

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Facebook. Facebook. Facebook. I just don't understand the hype, I really never have. I get that it's a great social network, but isn't that all it is? How can it possibly be compared to Google? How can it possibly be valued at 15 billion dollars? What's going to happen to it when the next great social network comes along and people leave Facebook in droves in favor of the latest and greatest social phenomenon. 15 billion? Don't get me wrong, I think Facebook is great and they're really coming out with some innovative stuff, but it's just a social network. Internet platform you say? I seriously doubt it, it's far too proprietary for an internet platform. Open it up and we'll see, but until then, let's ease up on the hype a little. This is the kind of crap that makes bubbles burst.

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I recently finished David Allen's book, Getting Things Done. I really enjoyed it. I've been GTDing now for about 3 weeks and I can already see the benefits. Granted, I didn't really have a productivity philosophy before this, so I guess it had no choice but to help me. Regardless, the community is great and I would recommend it to anyone who is looking to tighten up their organizational habits. 

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I just found out that the author of one of my favorite blogs, healthbolt.net, will no longer be writing for said blog. Nooo! I've recommended this blog to oodles and oodles of people. Sara Ost, said author of said blog, is moving on to bigger and better things. What kind of things? I have no idea, but I've already subscribed to her new blog and await her witty remarks with bated breathe. Seriously though, I read a ton of blogs, and Sara's writing style is among my favorites. I'm curious to see what she's got up her sleeve. >>>> saraost.com.

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Cam is getting Mario Galaxy for Christmas. Sweeet.  I can't wait to try it for her to try it out. I also bought her another controller so I can kick her ass in Tennis. I don't care if she's nine, she's going down!

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Okay, that should do it for now. Oh yeah, I'm going to see "I am Legend" Friday with MLL. I'll let you know what I think. I've been dying for a good movie lately so cross your fingers.

I came across this podcast by accident. It's called Hardcore History, and I'm completely addicted.

The host, Dan Carlin, talks about all kinds of historical events and the impacts they had on the world, but he does so from unusual and thought provoking perspectives.

Unfortunately (and yet fortunately), the episodes are so in depth that only about one is produced a month. Believe me, they're well worth the wait. Each episode runs about forty minutes (give or take ten minutes) and focus on topics ranging from Hitler to the Great Depression to the Bubonic plague. But again, these are not your typical history lessons. -- I've listened to everyone.

Here is a list of the first fifteen episodes. I pulled these right from Dan Carlin's site. I hope he doesn't mind.

Show 15 - Desperate Times (.mp3 41:57, 30 Aug 2007)
The tough economic climate after the First World War fostered the growth of radicalism around the world. Did it also create tougher people? Dan looks at the connection between tough times and the “Greatest Generation”.

Show 14 - The Macedonian Soap Opera (.mp3 49:23, 18 Jul 2007)
When Alexander the Great bequeathed his empire “to the strongest” he set off a funeral contest that shook the world for decades. Murder, marriage, intrigue,and drama all feature prominently in the story.

Show 13 - Bubonic Nukes (.mp3 47:30, 13 Jun 2007)
What would happen if half the population died in a short period of time? Dan looks at the Black Death and other plagues that created almost apocalyptic conditions in the past...and maybe in the future.

Show 12 - Steppe Stories (.mp3 58:34, 8 May 2007)
Blood-sucking Scythian warriors, tattooed ice mummies, Amazons killing so they can mate, pot smoking head-hunters, scalp-taking, koumiss-drinking Mongols, Turks, Huns, and Aliens. What's not to like?

Show 11 - Thoughts on Churchill (.mp3 53:45, 11 Apr 2007)
We almost called this show “Things about Churchill that have interested Dan”. Dan takes a look at various elements of the dramatic life and career of the great British leader.

Show 10 - The What-Ifs Of 1066 (.mp3 47:31, 13 Mar 2007)
How might history have been changed if the events of the momentous year 1066 had turned out differently? Dan examines Normans, Vikings, Saxons, Bastards, Conquerers, Confessors, Godwinsons and Hardratas.

Show 9 - Darkness Buries the Bronze Age (.mp3 33:43, 16 Feb 2007)
What was the cause of the collapse of the Bronze Age? War? Famine? Natural disaster? Sauron the Dark Lord? Dan looks at all the potential villains...except for Sauron.

Show 8 - Scars of the Great War (.mp3 40:34, 27 Jan 2007)
Dan looks at the shock and awe caused by the First World War and marvels at how connected we still are to the empire-shattering effects of the conflict contemporaries simply referred to as The Great War.

Show 7 - The X-History Files (.mp3 31:55, 27 Dec 2006)
Napoleon is supposed to have said that “History is a set of lies agreed upon”. With that in mind, Dan looks at some of the alternative and pseudo history ideas that many people embrace.

Show 6 - Shield of the West (.mp3 59:04, 08 Dec 2006)
Spartans, Athenians, Persians and references to Star Trek all make appearances in this look at the dramatic and extremely consequential Greek and Persian wars.

Show 5 - Meandering Through the Cold War (.mp3 48:29, 14 Nov 2006)
Dan meanders through a conversation about causes and effects of the Cold War without ever talking much about the actual events of the conflict.

Show 4 - Romancing The Tribes (.mp3 31:43, 24 Oct 2006)
Native American chief Tecumseh and Gallic king Vercingetorix both tried to unify their tribal peoples to face overwhelming foes. Dan examines the romance of their lost causes.

Show 3 - Organization of Peace (.mp3 42:09, 4 Oct 2006)
The early 20th century League of Nations stood for peace, cooperation, disarmament and international understanding. What happened?

Show 2 - Guns & Horses (.mp3 34:53, 12 Sep 2006)
The West is Mike Tyson and the East is Muhammad Ali in this episode as Dan mixes Art Bell, with Hans Delbruck in this look at a possible reason for the military decline of the near East.

Show 1 - Alexander versus Hitler (.mp3 16:45, 27 Jul 2006)
Dan compares the way the modern world sees Adolf Hitler with the way history views Alexander the Great and wonders if the two men weren't more alike than different.