ARCS Workshop and other Geeky issues, Nerdcore Culture, Local and International Politics

[tcpip]

Just about to take the silver bird a short distance to Adelaide, where I'll be attending and presenting at the ARCS Video Collaboration Workshop. If you're a fan of Big Science then it doesn't get bigger than this (hat-tip, csamuel). Microsoft believes that six degrees of separation is true - after checking 30 billion emails. MIT researchers developing solar-powered fuel cells to save the world energy problems? (from mundens

I have a stack of old D&D material for sale on ebay and with more coming soon. My review of Chaosium's Basic Role Playing has been published on rpg.net. In general I think they've done a good job applying a 'thin glue' to a suite of games whose core system hasn't changed that much since 1978 (which is a credit to the original design). Last Sunday imajica_lj ran the first session of the classic Call of Cthulhu 'Masks of Nyarlathotep' which will incorporated with the equally classic 'Horror on the Orient Express'. On other nerdcore related activity on Saturday myself, _zombiemonkey, caseopaya and severina_242 went to see the The Dark Knight. I rated it average-good (and I simply don't 'get' claims of brilliance); Heath Ledger's performance as The Joker was excellent as was (and much understated) Gary Oldman's as Commissioner Gordon.

In other local political news, the federal Liberals have been really struggling over whether climate change is a reality and whether emissions trading is the proper solution to deal with the problem. The Liberals are tearing themselves apart and although the deniers have been defeated, the party is yet have made no policy development on the matter. Kerry O'Brien takes Nelson to task on the issue.

Internationally, any claims that the upcoming US Presidential election may be even remotely close are completely wrong. John McCain promoting his very own neverending war - a brilliant expose of his total warmongring dishonesty; via usekh). Longest serving Republican, Senator Ted Stevens indicated for felony of $250K worth of gifts from an oil company. Meanwhile the Chinese continue to show why even in a worst case scenario I'd prefer Pax Americana to Pax Sino; sending a teacher to a labour camp who took photos of the Sichuan earthquake and banning worship at Tibetan monastries deemed to be promoting national self-determination.

Comments

[synabetic.livejournal.com]

Great review on BRPG! Pretty much sums up my thoughts so far, too (which I plan to give in the next TPK in two weeks... mind if I link to your review?).

And I really hope that guy was joking about his nit-pick when reaming you on your research... LOL

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

Sure link away...

Yeah, it was a nitpick, but I'm not troubled by it...

[mrteufel.livejournal.com]

Re: The Dark Knight: I think claims of brilliance work best when you compare it to previous superhero fare - especially previous Batman movies. For example, I think the "ferries segment" is unprecedented in the genre.

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

That's a good point, which I didn't really consider. Most superhero films are pretty damn crap, especially of the mainstream heroic variety. Some exceptions which come to mind include Dark Man and The Shadow (even if it flopped and most critics didn't like it)...

and maybe Toxic Avenger :)

[phasmaphobic.livejournal.com]

Personally, I think Aaron Eckhart as Harvey Dent stole that movie for me. But Oldman was pretty damn fantastic, too.

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

The acting was pretty good, but the justification for his change in behaviour seemed a little slim to me which kinda ruined it.

Mind you, it's an improvement from the original comic story justification.

[grailchaser.livejournal.com]

Wow! What an interesting video on youtube about McCain. And I used to think he was the best Republican candidate in the last 20 years (being touted as a Maverick War Hero who supported Amerindian land rights).

Heck... he probably still *is* the best Republican of the last 20 years.

Kind of scary, isn't it?

I hope Obama lives up to even half of what he promises. As they say, if you reach for the Stars and fall short, at least your already out of the gutter. :)

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

I think that video is the sort of think that would change the mind of a swinging voter. The mendacity of the man! I hope it gets very wide circulation.

[decrypt-era.livejournal.com]

That story from MIT seems a little mangled,
esp considering it's published on one of their own sites.
Essentially what they'v got is a catalyst which aids the electrolysis of water;
how this becomes "a process which mimics photosynthesis", i don't know.
Here i was hoping for a vat of phytobacteria
which could directly generate electric potentials! Sigh.

Th article gets something right tho -
the crucial technology to enable renewable energy sources is energy storage.
For stationary applications, i vote for the vanadium redox battery.

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

The main advantages of the vanadium redox battery is that it can offer almost unlimited capacity simply by using larger and larger storage tanks, it can be left completely discharged for long periods with no ill effects, it can be recharged simply by replacing the electrolyte if no power source is available to charge it, and if the electrolytes are accidentally mixed the battery suffers no permanent damage.

That's great!

Well, you know more about this sort of stuff than I do. The MIT story caught my attention and yes - as you say - I would be fascinated to see how it mimics photosynthesis as well.

Mmmm.. Tree batteries.

[nicked-metal.livejournal.com]

A quick note to say I haven't forgotten!

I have no idea when I'm going to squeeze a moment of sanity out of the rollercoaster that is my life atm, but I haven't forgotten!

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

What times do you work at the moment? Perhaps I could meet you late afternoon some stage?

[nicked-metal.livejournal.com]

I'm working 8:30 to 5:30 on St Kilda Road, so an end-of-day thing can/should work :)

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

How does Thursday at Flinders St station under the clocks at 6pm sound?

[nicked-metal.livejournal.com]

Sounds good!

I can do earlier/elsewhere on Thursday, since I have that day off work. But there's dancing at 7pm in Fitzroy, so going into town would be a Good Thing (tm)

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

Crap, I now can't do Thursday.. How about Friday?

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

Yes? 6pm tonight?

[zey.livejournal.com]

The Liberals are tearing themselves apart and although the deniers have been defeated.

Ah, but, the greatest thing about being a global warming denier must be the the way they can close their eyes, shove their fingers in their ears, and cry, "Lalalalala! I wasn't defeated yesterday. It's all a fiction."

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

Sounds like the leadership position of the West Australian Liberal Party.

[zey.livejournal.com]

A few days ago, I'd have been warning you to avoid even thinking about where a leader of the West Australian Liberal Party might put his fingers ;-).

[darknova666.livejournal.com]

hopefully obama wins...but this is politics and u never know!

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

With the US voting system voting outside the two-party bloc is notoriously inefficient. The place really needs preferential voting.

I've noticed some conservative bloggers suggesting that various polls indicate a closer race; I think this is far from the mark and mostly inspired by some particularly odd figures from Raussman.

What is interesting is how incredibly split the United States is these days. It really is like two different countries.

[charlycrash.livejournal.com]

Odd, I was considering adding you about an hour ago..

Please don't take my pop at socialists in my top post to heart :P For one thing, I am one. Sort of.

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

Your careful, considered and critical defense of social democracy was the winner.

Plus you like the Manic Street Preachers.

[charlycrash.livejournal.com]

I have to admit that I find pure socialism pretty silly. To a fairly major degree. to my mind, SD'y is socialism that works, and that recognises the realities of economics, human nature et al.

And heh, if you like the Manics, you should definitely join manics_lolz, possibly the most awesome community ever.