30 Apr 2010
I live in a gated apartment complex in Athens, GA and since the complex is downtown we need security officers to man the gate so that non-residents don’t piggy-back in the gate. This is especially important on days when UGA has games, namely football. There was one time when I left on a Saturday to get groceries only to come back and not find a parking spot because there were so many non-residents in the parking deck taking up spaces that belong to residents. I had to wait like half an hour for someone to leave.
Anyways, I was walking home tonight from the bars and there’s this security guard who always mans the gate late at night – real nice fellow. He had this bored, almost sad look on his face and his hair was disheveled. I’ve talked to the guy before and it seems that all he wants in his night is someone to talk to. Despite all the drunken people – men stumbling home with ladies who’s tops are half way off their shoulders – I’m sure it’s lonely and bored checking for parking deck stickers all night long.
It kind of reminded me of the homeless man who sits patiently on Clayton Street who doesn’t beg, but waits – waits for a dollar, some change, or even some recognition. I walked home tonight and big him a good night, as I always do, and his silence was broken as if I’d paid him in diamonds. As with the security guard, I’ve taken a few minutes to talk to him, see what’s going, ask him if he’s heard or seen anything interesting… and it seems to perk him right up.
Sometimes a conversation, a “hello” or even just a smile can go a long way.
Note: This post was going to be about the couple who piggy-backed into my apartment complex after paying the security officer with a smile and a flirt, but I decided to make it more inspirational. I realize this might cancel out the optimism you had previously and I apologise.
08 Apr 2010
“According to the general theory of relativity, a black hole is a region of space from which nothing, including light, can escape. It is the result of the deformation of spacetime caused by a very compact mass. Around a black hole there is an undetectable surface which marks the point of no return, called an event horizon. It is called “black” because it absorbs all the light that hits it, reflecting nothing, just like a perfect black body in thermodynamics. Under the theory of quantum mechanics black holes possess a temperature and emit Hawking radiation.” (Wikipedia)
All that being said, my theory is that the island and its enormous amount of magnetic energy, is bending spacetime, thus creating the two timelines. It also might explain why the island is undetectable except during bursts of released magnetic energy.
As we saw in this episode, Eloise’s last name was Whidmore, instead of the previous timelines’ Hawking. And Daniel’s last name wasn’t Faraday in this alternate timeline, rather Whidmore. So, clearly lives are being mixed together.
On top of that, Desmond’s ability to shift (and survive) between the two time lines – and him being a (now) central figure – the “secret weapon” – just helps this theory.
Finally, Charles Whidmore said that if Desmond didn’t agree to help him, everything he knew would be “lost”. Does this mean lost as in dead, or lost as in stuck between two parallel time lines? I guess we’ll find out. But there are a few people who understand exactly what is going on, such as Faraday, Whidmore, and Desmond on a scientific level, but it’s only Desmond – as we’ve seen – who understands the personal magnitude.
This is, of course, the scientific theory. I feel there are deeper, more social, philosophical, and ethical theories too. We’ve already seen conflicting opposites – black/white, evil/good, free will/destiny – which I think play large roles in the show. Charlie, for example, returned to show Desmond that nothing else matters but finding “the girl of his dreams”. Which, Desmond already has in the other timeline.
We’ve also seen little things here and there like when Kate saw Claire at the airport in their alternate timeline, they somehow felt like they had met before. And they weren’t the only ones, there was also Desmond and Penny and Locke and Whidmore. Definitely some overlapping going on on a more subconscious level.
Then, what about the Dharma initiative? “Dharma” is an Indian religious term meaning “one’s righteous duty, or any virtuous path”. Coincidence? I think not. If you look at the beliefs of the Dharma initiative, you’ll see they have this overarching goal of protecting the island. Desmond spent years pressing a button for unknown reasons because he was told if he didn’t, something bad would happen. In a sense, the almost religious nature of the Dharma initiative (including the word ‘dharma’ itself) kinda resembles religion today. Some people follow orders based on faith rather than proof. Desmond blindly pressed the button, not really knowing what would happen. It wasn’t until Locke came in and asked “why” that Desmond stopped to think. And stopped pressing the button, which in turn caused the island to release enormous amounts of magnetic energy, thus causing a ripple in spacetime.
So, how do I think it will end? Logically and probably technically I don’t know how you’d “fix” the rippled spacetime. You can’t stop a ripple, only wait for it to die out, right? So, once the two time lines have been created, the only way to make things normal is to cut off one of them. That’s where the free will part comes in, or destiny according to some. Locke was trying to bring people back to the island because it was their destiny, but in the end, it’ll be up to each individual to choose which timeline they want.
If Jack wants Kate and so chooses a certain timeline, but Kate chooses another, what happens then? And what was Jacob saying about the island being essentially a “cork that holds in the evil”? It seems that Jacob is very pro free will and Locke is very pro destiny (free will versus faith, perhaps) so maybe what Jacob meant by “evil” was removing people’s idea of free will. So his battle was not only ethical, but in a sense spiritual.
What do you think?
08 Feb 2010
As always, the Super Bowl is host to many great and memorable commercials. This year was the first to feature a Google commercial (not that Google really needs a commercial) and I was pleased to see how simply perfect it was. It got me to thinking about the philosophies between the two companies who are battling for the ‘best search engine’ – Google and Microsoft.
Microsoft has always been – at least to me – a company who forcefully crams its way into lives. Whether it’s preinstalling Internet Explorer during Windows installations or shoving numerous bing commercials down our throats, Microsoft is just over the top with everything. Bloated operating systems and bloated commercials.
You ever heard the saying, “Jack of all trades, Master of none”? Well, this is Microsoft. They try to be everything to everyone – operating systems, gaming consoles, mp3 players, computer hardware, search engines, and who knows what else. How many of these flop? Nearly all of them. I think maybe the Xbox was their biggest success (at least in my book). And I’ll admit, Windows 7 ain’t bad. It sure took them long enough though.
Google is the best search engine because it’s simply that – a search engine. Now, granted Google does other projects too, but at least they all rally among a common theme – search. Google doesn’t need a “pretty” homepage to extend quality to the user. Google does just fine using the bare minimum (which I admire). Microsoft is the opposite… gradients, shininess, superfluous crap… I don’t need my OS to look pretty, nor do I need my search engine to look pretty. What I do need is for my OS and my search engine to work well and work efficiently.
Take a look at these commercials:
Microsoft Bing
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSkaTcjDIMk
Google
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jH5RRLgqzmI
Google and Bing are both search engines, yet it feels to me that Bing tries too hard. Google’s search engine is to the point. It’s simple. You can only do one thing and that one thing is search. And, you can search for the same stuff that you could search for on Bing (Google is even a calculator) – all from a well-dressed, simple, usable homepage. And how is Bing gonna go on about “search overload” when the entire point of search engines is to search? Lame.
Contrary to popular belief, people don’t really “surf” the web anymore. The web is a tool. We use it to accomplish tasks and goals. If we go to Google (or Bing if you prefer) we’re there to search for something, not sit and stare at (and get distracted by) pretty background images.
And as The Washington Post mentions, “Amid dozens of ads focused on cars, beer, and busty women, the Google spot definitely took a different approach: it tells a love story through a series of search queries.” Beautiful. Perfect. Simple.
Whatever search engine you choose I hope you find what you’re searching for efficiently and quickly. In the end that’s what it’s all about. I, however, will be searching with Google. Because it looks pretty.
Search on.
18 Dec 2009
There’s a reason Google is the top search engine of choice. Better yet, there’s a reason Google is the top ____ of choice: it’s because they know how to cater towards the user. I was doing some work for a client who said they specifically wanted to use a MapQuest map for their contact page. Myself, being as stubborn as it is at times, thought, “Psh, yeah right. Why? I recommend Google.” It’s like I go towards Google without even thinking about it at all. Default. Swallowing my pride I went to the MapQuest website to grab a screen of their office location and upon loading the homepage I remembered exactly why I love Google Maps so much. I took screenshots of both so I can illustrate why Google has become the company of choice for most people.
The MapQuest homepage
The Google Maps homepage
Just to give you a little information on the setup here: These screenshots were taken on a 24″ monitor. I use Firefox with the bookmarks toolbar turned off and only the main navigation bar and my tabs showing. I use the ‘small icon’ settings for the buttons, not the larger, default ones. And as you can see, there are no other toolbars or clutter to deal with.
Both MapQuest and Google Maps have one goal and that is to provide people with maps and driving directions. These are task-oriented applications meaning people come here to perform a very small set of tasks.
The MapQuest homepage has the map shoved down so far that you have to scroll to see it. And by scrolling you can’t see the directions panel up top or the navigation. In MapQuest’s defense it places extreme priority on driving directions/location search, so much so that it takes up almost 100% of the “expensive” screen real estate. And look at all that wasted space to the top right… what’s up with that?
In contrast, Google Maps places the map front-center filling the majority of the screen. The directions panel is there, very unobtrusive and can even be tucked away if desired. It provides the exact same functionality as MapQuest, but does it in a more elegant and appealing approach. Both company’s make it extremely easy to find locations and directions, but overall Google is more effective. Also, please note that with Google Maps the need to scroll is completely eliminated as the map resizes to fit your screen. Everything can be done at the start, no scrolling and no messing around.
(Once again) props to Google for their user-friendly, task-oriented approach to design.
30 Nov 2009
Not sure if I’ve mentioned this before here, but I only like to write with one type of pen. I really, really dislike pencils because of their scratchy, rough feels and broken lines when you write with them. Drives me nuts. However, the Pilot Precise V5 pens produce a smooth, clean, crisp and solid line and the weight of the pen feels great in my hands. The tip isn’t shaped like a triangle or a cone, but rather a clean, perfect straight tip. And it writes a nice fine line of .5mm. Don’t give me anything larger.
These are pretty much the only pens I write with, or at least the only pens I like to write with. I don’t like ballpoints because they make fat lines and the lines are often broken like a pencil. I don’t like gel pens because they run out too quickly making them not very cost effective, though they do write nicely.
And I go through these pens like you wouldn’t believe so it’s too bad the cost of them went up. I used to get a pack of five for $5, but I recently bought a pack of five for almost $8. What the heck…
Look at that fat clunkiness
Ah, that's more like it...