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April 29, 2005
Guilty Fascination
When I first became interested in 'blogging' I was under the assumption that the constituents of its universe were comprised of primarily independent journalists, pundits and other pseudo-academics who used their websites as a way to comment on all those tasty nuggets of information too risque for print.
Though the aforementioned romanticized individuals certainly exist, the majority of 'bloggers' that I have come in contact with exist on sites like LiveJournal and the other countless services like it. Needless to say, I am utterly fascinated by the phenomenon and find myself wasting the fleeting precious moments of my life winding my way through its interconnected web of high school drama, self loathing and a desperate desire to be loved and accepted.
For those of you not familiar with the service, anyone interested in having a blog can sign up for free and begin posting information on the internet, unfettered by the bonds of censorship. The true beauty of LiveJournal is the comments system and friends pages which alerts you to other users and their similarly inane posts. Before you know it you are reading about what some girl in Texas ate for breakfast and the results of some quiz she took on which Civil War biographer she is most like.
Though the content you ingest is massive your brain never gets full because the information is comprised entirely of empty calories. The aforementioned statement could be cause for calls of incongruence to my prior claim of fascination but I am entranced by the notion that these journals are the places where youth come to vent their myriad tangle of daily frustrations. Some posts seem entirely too personal to be shared on the open forum of the internet by people who often claim to lead very private lives. I get the impression that a majority of this content is a desperately penned letter hastily encapsulated in an empty bottle to be cast into the sea in hopes that an understanding knight in shining armor on some far away beach would read it and subsequently come speedily to their rescue.
I, myself, am contented to reach down into the water, remove the parchment and chuckle as I peruse these private thoughts quickly deciding to replace the cork and toss it closer towards a distant shore when another gleam, cresting on a wave, catches my eye a few feet away.
I shudder to think of the impact this could have had on my life and those of my friends if we had access to it while still attending high school. My exploits in secondary academia were made confusing enough when AIM burst noisily onto the scene with the theatrics left in its wake something that, thankfully, I am now distanced from.
If you are interested in experiencing the phenomenon for yourself, here's a random one to start your journey.
Posted by Jon at 06:15 PM | Comments (4)
April 27, 2005
On Purchased Environments
Watch me geek out with my leeks out!
Four new Halo 2 maps dropped on Monday with half being offered free of charge and the remaining couple priced together at $5.99. I opted for the two free ones for now but was promptly informed by this fellow that I was 'cheap'. Mr. Soda, who was one of the founding members of the illustrious THM, plays a lot of Halo and I am sure he will squeeze every cent of value out of them. However, it seems quite silly of me to spend six dollars now when I can get them free on June 28th. Though it is inevitable that I will follow suit and part with my hard earned cash when Murph soon caves for the purchase, I have this vague feeling that I am somehow getting screwed.
As most of you well know, Bungie is owned by Microsoft and made them oodles of money on Halo 2. The profitability of the title will only increase due to the sale of these maps to Bungie's ever-increasing rabid fan base. It is not as though I don't understand that (1) we as fans are not owed any new content (2) Bungie put in quite a few hours perfecting these to create a quality product or (3) that if patience is employed all these maps will eventually be offered free of charge, my protest stems entirely from nostalgia.
Before my current love affair with Halo began over two years ago, the inital experiences of multiplayer gaming nirvana I had came from Half-life deathmatch (not to be confused with that boring waste of time, Counterstrike) during college and Quake II CTF (remember that amazing grappling hook?!) while in high school. In both of the aforementioned gaming arenas one key aspect that contributed to the longevity of those titles was the ability of the fan community to freely distribute any maps/mods they had created. For almost two years my friends and I at college played almost exclusively in this tiny map named 'small.bsp' that was perfect for the sort of fast-paced deathmatch we were all so fond of.
Enter my current love affair with Halo 2 and the relatively spartan (no pun intended) choices of virtual battlefields with which I am provided to kill my friends. I am not unhappy with the maps, nearly all of them are excellent (save Waterworks, it's WAY too big for even 16) it's just that inevitably within any fan community there will be some fourteen year old kid who crafts an amazing level, freely offering it to us for our enjoyment. Now, not only do I lack the opportunity of trying out the designs of the fan contingent (and I know the folks from HBO would not disappoint in that department) but if I want to experience any new levels at all I either have to wait two months or pay a half-dozen dollars to a company I know already has money in Scrooge McDuck proportions.
Now before my comments section loses its structural integrity due to presence of acrimonious flames let me clarify a few matters. I understand and vastly appreciate Bungie's continued dedication to both addressing bug fixes and creating new content for their fan community. The maps they have designed, both in the initial release and with the first content offering, have been top notch. No one should be expected to work for free...but it sure is nice when they do.
Whenever a fan takes it upon themselves to craft something in homage to a game they love, it is imbued with something intangible that a commercial endeavor cannot replicate. The labors of love that were New Mombasa and the Zanzibar project in the Halo CE community were absolutely magnificent. Granted, the boys at Bungie could have done a better job but the aforementioned freelance creators worked hard knowing full well they would release it for free with their only compensation coming from fellow fanboy adulation.
On the other side of the coin, I really appreciate the fact that Bungie continues to develop content, something otherwise unheard of in the console gaming business. The continued dedication they exhibit towards their fan base is something to be admired and I appreciate the studio's tenacity in continuing their practice of setting the bar higher and higher.
So, would I rather have a professional development team making excellent (but fewer) for-pay maps or an entire community armed with the tools for creating lower-quality levels to freely share with their fellow internet connected peers? Easy: both. I remember the golden age of Napster and as a result I have since demanded that all the quality wares I desire to be free.
Now if you'll excuse me I have six dollars to spend...
Posted by Jon at 06:36 PM | Comments (8)
April 26, 2005
A Departure
Usually I turn to the comfort of technology and the relative anonymity of the internet as a place of virtual residence when I find the offerings of the physical realm to be unsatisfactory. This website, in fact, is an organic outgrowth of my most recent escapes and serves as the stage on which I display those few things over which I can exert control: my opinions, cultural reflections, all manner of ranting etc. Lately, however, life has been simply magnificent and I have been content to masticate on those everyday, rather mundane, occurrences that occur with frequency in white suburbia sans feeling the need to document them.
For those of you who don't know me or haven't taken the time to read my various essays on _respondcreate_ it may come as a bit of a shock that I am a fully committed follower of Christ. Not that I have denounced my faith in any of my posts but I haven't been exactly forthright about the whole affair. This apparent avoidance of the topic stems not from shame but rather in my aforementioned affection for pontification on all things geek, with this site being my only viable forum for this type of discourse. Any novelty associated with the dissection of video game design and/or my rampant love for house music soon wears off to the layman, or more specifically laywoman. That is why I avoid both (1) E-Harmony as a viable outlet for meeting women and (2) the practice of bringing up why Nintendo's outlook on multiplayer gaming is the puss-filled pox upon their otherwise sound business model on any sort of romantic excursion. I have partitions in my life, built solely from the stones and mortar of experience, and thus far they have served me well.
Last night I had a wonderful conversation with my good friend Monique (seriously, go read) about contentment and the multifarious things in life we hope will bring it. When one decides to join 'Club Christ' a key part of the welcome packet is the assumption that your reason for becoming a member was because of your complete inability to find utopia apart from Jesus. Yet, most responsible Christians quickly forgo their daily search for him in order to seek after success and acquire wealth despite the fact that we have been warned of the aforementioned treasures being susceptible to both moths and rust.
When I finally surrendered the reigns of my existence/oh-so-idolized future and began treating them as utterly insignificant, the joy and contentment I experienced was as unexpected as it was magnificent. Calvin's father once quipped, 'They say that on your death bed you'll never wish you spent more time at the office,' and I decided to take his wisdom at face value.
If I choose to adopt the teachings of Jesus as my own and claim to have an intense love for Him, it only makes sense to begin a concerted effort of putting them into practice. If I do not, the blame rests solely on myself for my inability to both hear his voice and see the works of his hands, not on a claim that He is neither speaking nor acting. Our Lord needs but one action from us in order for Him to have license to freely work within our lives: absolute and unconditional surrender of self.
So far this approach has served me well and I encourage anyone else to do the same.
Posted by Jon at 11:59 PM | Comments (2)
April 21, 2005
Genius In France
I would be dishonest with all of you if I say that I didn't thoroughly enjoying bringing forth those sort of links that provide both entertainment and distraction from the mundane. In reflection on what would be supplied today I mused for a while on how exactly I am perceived in this role.
The internet is certainly a vast expanse with limitless amounts of content within which one is certain to discover a morsel they particularly enjoy. Perhaps you see me as an intrepid explorer, pith helmet tightly affixed like an acorn's cap, sweat beading on my tanned forehead as I tirelessly hack away with my virtual machete all the unimportant brush in search of a treasure all of you can enjoy back in Manhattan while dressed in a smoking jacket, enjoying a fine port.
In reality I am more like Dr. Rene Belloq, waiting for poor Indiana to emerge from the booby-trap laden temple holding the golden idol, so that I can snatch it and claim it as my own. Most of my 'finds' come from the fine link aggregators like BoingBoing et. al. so if you want to cut out the middle man you can become a regular reader such as myself.
My hope is that your regular attendance here is not based on what I link to but in the adroit commentary I so lovingly supply to accompany it. Think of me, not as Dr. Jones but, rather as his nerdy sidekick whose skill at recounting the archaeological adventures of his partner renders him entirely invaluable at all manner of social functions and society gatherings.
Oh right, what I wanted to show all of you...
Just as we are so inexplicably drawn to that which is evil (as I had mentioned before) so are we to those images and experiences that have the ability to raise bile from our midsections. This page contains an absolutely fascinating story on medical advances to combat the destructive effects of infected tissue. Contained at the bottom are images that are as captivating as they are repulsive. If you have recently ingested food, you may find it garnishing your keyboard after taking your first peek. The official warning has been issued though now that I have sowed the ravenous seed of intrigue I am sure you will be unable to resist its siren's song.
And I'm glad to see that Martha is able to keep in touch with all of us, at least electronically speaking.
Posted by Jon at 04:05 AM | Comments (2)
April 16, 2005
Artistic Legitimacy
In this current age of information the various means at our disposal to disseminate ideas are increasingly diverse. As new forms of media are created and find footing, often within a specific sub-culture, those in the establishment are often quick to cite their shortcomings and advocate a return to more traditional modes of communication. Others, with the intention of making a quick buck, seek to translate already established works into an alternate form hoping both the fans of the old and the previously unexposed masses will take part in the consumption of the new creation.
Typically this takes the form of movies being made from books with the most notable examples being the Lord of the Rings trilogy and the numerous comic-book conversions that top the list of summer blockbusters. Entertainment value aside, at the core of these enterprises sits an idea that was wildly successful in its original form with the assumption being that its translation into an alternate medium will increase its audience and therefore further legitimize it's already established success.Though I can understand the apparent logic of the whole affair, something inevitably gets lost in this rephrasing process.
Since a book can easily be put down to finish reading at a later date it can take its time to further describe specific details where a movie is forced to move along in order to accomplish the major plot points in two hours. Though I applaud Peter Jackson for his efforts, no rational being who read J.R.R. Tolkien's trilogy would disagree that the film version falls far short in it's power to convey the enormity inherent in the story on which it was based. The integrity of the original artists vision gets lost for sake of adapting to the current stage on which the idea now sits.
So why am I telling you all this?
Today I came across this wonderful comic entitled Mom's Cancer which chronicles one family's struggle to cope after their mother was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer. (Read it quick though, it was recently acquired by the publisher Harry N. Abrams, Inc. for a print run in 2006 and only remains online for a short while because it was nominated for an Eisner.) Though Harvey Pekar did a similar thing through his underground strip American Splendor the medium of comics is traditionally viewed as the stage for super-hero battles and other far-fetched story telling.
In Mom's Cancer the juxtaposition of caricatured imagery with simple ballooned dialogue powerfully conveys the multifaceted emotions and experiences revealed during this intense struggle. Each frame becomes an intensely private window where the viewer is given an unfiltered view into the differing characteristics of each member of the family's coping mechanisms.
Actors on a screen or over-descriptive prose could never accomplish what Brian Fies did in this magnificent expression of sequential art. This does not mean that the aforementioned forms of media are somehow inferior and could not do a satisfactory job in telling the same story. My contention is that though they could take part in a close emulation, prose or moving pictures couldn't tell this story with the same purity as it's original author and creator with his voice of the comic medium. If you need any convincing on the legitimacy of comics as a way to communicate mature themes to a demographic beyond adolescent boys then this masterpiece truly deserves your undivided attention.
Posted by Jon at 07:45 AM | Comments (3)
April 12, 2005
Her Spider Sense Was Tingling!
So I've noticed that most of my posts as of late, well as of ever, have had something to do with what can only be described as geeky stuff, i.e. webcomics, video games et cetera. It's not as if these are the only things I want to talk about but when I find myself in front of a computer, ready to write with my fingers tentatively hovering over the keys, those aforementioned subjects are the only things that come to mind. It's almost as if the glow from these fifteen inches of liquid crystal wipe away all non-nerd related material from my brain so I furiously begin documenting the thoughts that persist, afraid if any delay is tolerated that I might forget them as well.
As I had mentioned before, I really love Penny Arcade and anxiously await the days beginning in 'M', 'W' and 'F' in order to both read Tycho's words and see Gabe's Art. Frequently however, these tri-weekly doses of entertainment are not enough so, instead of doing something useful with my time, I started reading their archived posts from 2000.
Contained in this news write-up were some links to both pictures (Tycho, second from left; Gabe, in the middle with the G.I. Joe shirt) and videos of the pair. Though I realize that their characters are entirely virtual I was under the direct assumption (whether warranted or not) that their actual selves were closely analogous to their virtual representations. The lines of distinction between the 'real' Mike Krahulik and Jerry Holkins and the invented Jonathan Gabriel and Tycho Brahe when described throughout the site are non-existent with no attempt at differentiating between the two. If additional clarification is needed pertaining to an adventure shown in the corresponding strip the characters are appropriately referred to as 'Tycho and Gabe' and if the creator's actual sentient selves take a two week respite it's 'Tycho and Gabe' are on vacation.
My reason for over analyzing this minutiae (apart from its being posted on the internet and not in any sort of reputable print publication) is that when I saw and heard them they were in no way like their characters. Well, I guess I'll just say it, they were nerds. This is in no way an insult, since I often categorize myself into the same demographic, it's just that in the comic itself the characters are presented in such a hip, appealing way; it's as if somehow spending all your money, time and effort purchasing, playing and analyzing video games could somehow make you undeniably cool.
I could start to wax philosophic here about the implications this has on the perceived disparity between a creator's actual self and the image he or she seeks to represent but I feel as though that would truly bore you, the reader (if you aren't already). I'll just sum it up by saying that it was just kinda wierd to see that two heros of mine were somewhat socially awkward, well in the traditional sense at least.
Now watch me, as Kelly Clarkson says, 'break away' from the kingdom of virtual as I sail into the realm of reality...
I was recently informed that, pending any sort of uterus-related disaster, in roughly nine months I will be an uncle. This is achieved by my sister's miraculous ability to combine both sperm and egg together to form a smaller version of herself (I understand this process is somewhat automated). I must admit that I am very excited at the prospect though I have had no part in bringing this momentous occasion to light. I know babies are born every day but I am told this time it holds special significance because its mother once inhabited the same womb I did.
When Joanna first told me about it my initial inclination was to hang up the phone and tell everyone but she asked that I didn't, citing her desire to make sure her conjecture was actual fact. Initially I thought she was going on some sort of maternal 'Spider Sense' so I informed her that they have at-home tests for that sort of thing now. She replied with a sort of harsh sarcasm that betrayed her knowledge of their existence and promptly told me she had already taken four (all affirming the fact that she was with child) but wanted to be absolutely sure by visiting a doctor.
This whole course of action seemed ludicrous but with a human life (or lack thereof) seemingly in the balance who am I to argue? After taking some time to chew on our agreement I called her again and told her how ridiculous she was, citing her neoteric behavior being similar to craving a chocolate covered pickled beet, further proving her gestating innards. I mean, what could a doctor discover that a stream of urine and four positive test scores could not? She finally relented which left me pleased with both her pliability and my apparent persuasive skills. Her one request? That I don't go 'telling everybody' and I promised her that I wouldn't 'shout it from the rooftops or anything'.
Though the treads of my shoes have yet to touch shingles I just realized that I am doing the virtual equivalent, heck I'm surpassing it in terms of sheer audience potential. The amount of people audible from my roof compared to that of those with a grasp of the english language and an internet-ready computer are so disparate that using analogies of different ballparks to describe it still doesn't begin to explicate the breadth of the chasm. Though I am, in a way, breaking our pact I'm not to worried about it considering my current amount of readers.
Speaking of which, I have been wondering about the numeric specificity of the aforementioned amount. Whether you know it or not, it is possible to leave comments (just click on the 'Comments (#)' below the line at the conclusion of this passage) about my posts and I would encourage you to. Feel free to disagree with me, promote various websites, poke fun at my need to compensate for my failings as a man by using words I hardly understand or even congratulate me on my sister's apparent fertility. Though I will continue to write even if my readership wanes to cipher it would be nice to know if you exist and what you think of this whole endeavor.
Oh, I almost forgot about providing you with the requisite entertainment.
Posted by Jon at 12:19 AM | Comments (7)
April 08, 2005
Do You Feel Like Charlie McCarthy?
I have always been a big fan of science fiction and a large reason being that it often gives a glimpse into the distant future where our technological advances promise both ease of life and entertainment beyond what we can imagine. So much so in fact that often times we wish those technologies were available today where we could put them into immediate practice. Oddly enough we sometimes encounter a technological advancement that exists in our present world which causes such shock we wish it had stayed in the movies. This ultra-creepy video is a startlingly example of that exact kind of instance.
Great writing is great writing, no matter what form it takes whether it be an essay, prose, poem, fiction, non-fiction, etc. This is especially true when the subject matter happens to be humorous and if done really well it needs no accompanying image.
The goal of this wonderful webcomic is exactly that with what, at the outset, seems as an embrace of generic imagery (a lá clip-art) allowing time to be liberated so one could concentrate on forming the written word into the active ingredient in provoking laughter. Upon deeper inspection however, one finds that it is the image itself, which I ultimately believe is the source of each strips inspiration, that causes it to go from good to great.
It's as if this juxtaposition of recognizable generic imagery repeated thrice has more communicable power than individually drawn panels. In other words, I think it's genius.
I suggest starting at his first strip and moving through them chronologically. Though they are all wonderful I went ahead and selected a few gems for you, in case any further convincing is needed.
There is also some great stuff going on over at John's strip, Boots and Pup. He has been working very hard on it and it definitely deserves a look. If you haven't been keeping up with it you can go here and read them all in a row. Now if only I could find a way for him to pay me for those links, though I do doubt that the handful of hits I could bring him really warrants any sort of monetary compensation.
Posted by Jon at 04:56 AM | Comments (1)
April 04, 2005
The By-Products of Vacation
It is an absolutely foreign experience to me to be 'on vacation' other than the traditionally defined period of time from June to August normally referred to as summer. Since entering the working world about two years ago I realized that I no longer get two months off but rather two weeks, the only up-side to this forced agreement being that I am able to choose when I may redeem them. The inevitable yang to this yin is that I would like to use those fourteen days during the summer so my freedom of choice for furlough is in essence, not really needed. I thought about trying to explain this to my bosses but was reassured that they wouldn't be up for bartering away an additional six weeks for my willing reliquishment of volition.
Besides actually being on vacation right now my thoughts on it have also been prompted to my current visit at Cedarville University. I myself attended Messiah College but there are more parallels than not in the genre of predominately white, private Christian schools of America. They do have their differences but to the uninitiated the vehement disagreements on how one should be educated within this smaller caste makes about as much sense as the endless denominations present in the religion they base their mission statements on.
It is common to hear that college is in fact the 'best years of your life' but the more I am distant from the experience the more I disagree with it. They certainly were wonderful years but I find it depressing to think that my prime has passed and all I look forward to is the senior discount and death. College was a wonderful time to grow but it was only a treasured side quest on the greater trek of life, not the crown jewel on my entire existence.
I will be home soon, tomorrow night in fact, and as usual I have had time to reflect and sort of resuffle my priorities and goals for the coming months. My hope is that I can concoct a balance of both achievement and rest where I can afterwards claim that in its wake the nonpareil episodes of life effortlessly followed.
Posted by Jon at 09:25 PM | Comments (2)