The other day I was channel surfing, and I came across a gaming channel. The game they were playing was Fifa on the computer from what I could tell.
If you have ever watched a Star Craft tournament, it was very much like that. Two teammates play on one system, working together to crush their opposition, who sit at another system on the other side of the room. The team's consisted of blurry eyed Asians staring at their screens with a focus you normally see them direct at textbooks. They even wore the team shirts of the soccer teams they represented: Manchester United and Real Madrid.
The thing that truly disgusted me was the commentary. The commentators treated the tournament as if it were the real sport. Let me give you idea of what I witnessed.
"Ronaldo is dribbling down the field, but he has two men on him. Oh, he's crossing it and OH MY GOD, it's off the crossbar."
"It looks like we have an offsides, Jim. I don't know if that call is correct, but this is a computer, so I guess we'll have to accept it. There are problems with programming sometimes though."
"Manchester United is looking really strong today. Their footwork is impeccable in losing their defenders. I'm sure we'll see more interesting gameplay in the second half when both teams are warmed up."
"We have some incredible players on the field and I can't wait, Jim."
Really? Really? They argued about whether the computer judged the offsides correctly. They were talking about the dribbling down the field as if it was really happening. Congratulations! You pushed the arrow key in the correct direction. They talked about footwork, and discussed each goal in detail. They questioned whether the teams were getting warmed up properly. It was disgusting.
The actually playing of soccer is more difficult because of the physical prowess necessary to play the game. You almost have to be picked by God to play in the professionals. I remember a boy I played with who had practiced his skills to perfection, but his body was so weak he could only play half of the time.
The sport requires the entire body and mind to work as one to execute the tactics necessary to score on the opponents. The player cannot see the whole field, and he can only hope his 9 other teammates are doing what they should be. The body has to be capable to play at the level. Any athlete should be acknowledged on their physical prowess.
Computer games only require a sharp mind and fast fingers to exploit the programing. They often only consist of teams of 2. The morale of a team is not affected in computer games. Instead of relying on gut shots, one relies on the mathematics written into the game. Any hack with enough time and patience can pick up the controller and master it. I fear that someday this may become the future of soccer. As people get more overweight, people will play the computer game that gives them the illusion of playing the game perfectly instead of the real game.
I don't know. Watching the gaming network made me think.
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Perchance to Dream
I am alive, forum! By the power of fried chicken and an In 'n' Out burger, I finally have the energy to blog again. I was sick for the past week. I delivered a speech to my public speech class, which quickly turned it into a public humiliation class. After a humble ride home, I crawled into bed and slept for 12 hours straight. I awoke to read some manga and Norman Mailer's "The Naked and the Dead" for 5 hours and passed out for another 12 hours. With the sleep, I've had plenty of opportunity to dream of blog topics to talk about.
"To die, to sleep; To sleep, perchance to dream." Now, for the well-read, perhaps you may recognize the Shakespeare quote. It comes from the "To be or not to be" soliloquy by Hamlet. (Stop being a Hamlet, Andrew! Sorry, it was too good to pass up.) The phrase "Perchance to Dream" has been used as a title for a Twilight Zone episode, and even a Batman: The Animated Series episode. Both episodes challenged my perceptions of dreaming.
I watched the Batman: The Animated Series episode when I was about 10 years old. Bruce Wayne discovers himself in a life where he isn't Batman. His parents are alive. He's getting married to the love of his life Selina Kyle, who you probably know as Catwoman. In fact, there is another Batman protecting the city. He has a hard time relinquishing the drive to protect people, but he finally starts to settle into his peaceful life. He sits down to read the newspaper, but he can't. The text is all gibberish. In a frenzy, he flees his house and goes to the cemetery to confront Batman because Bruce knows Batman knows what is going on. I don't want to give away the ending, but needless to say, the ending for this episode blew my 10-year-old mind. I found the episode in parts on YouTube: part 1 and part 2. I think this a must-see for the Batman fan.
The Twilight Zone episode appeared more than 30 years earlier, and it contains another thought-provoking message about dreaming. A man goes to a psychiatrist to help him with a problem. The man has a weak heart, so he can't do anything too stressful. In his dreams, he is visited by a woman who makes him take thrilling rides, which make his heart want to burst. He knows the next time he falls asleep, it will be his last. Another incredible ending which will make you think. If you ever have the opportunity, I suggest you watch it. Sorry, I couldn't find the episode on YouTube for you.
Now, I've talked about two television series and their mischievous dealings with dreams. How does this concern me? Whenever I get sick, I have a perchance to dream.
In the 7th grade, we were required to read a book called "The Hero and the Crown". I was running a fever, so I was lying in bed trying to keep up with school work. I was reading the book, but I kept fading in and out of reality. The forest and shrubbery became more than words, I had become one with the book. I will never forget the description of the man's skin as "milky-white". It was all so vivid. Think Avatar 3-D, and kick it up a couple of notches. Unbeknownst to me, my fever had run up to 106 degrees. My mom rushed me to the emergency room, and I was fine.
Ever since, when I'm sick, I have a tendency to dream. Unlike "The Hero and the Crown" incident where I was forced into the book, I tend to have the capability to experiment with my dream. I was reading "The Naked and the Dead" which takes place in World War II in the Pacific campaign. I dreamt of the Pacific beaches that had to be stormed, how a life is held so precariously by Chance as a soldier creeps through the jungle growth, and attitudes of the men. I erase the story as I go, making it my own. It's a weird experience I cannot describe.
My manga chapters led my dream to wander in metropolises overrun by demons and their hunters. It was very reminiscent of Blade Runner. Santa Claus was on the corner trying to give Christmas cheer to the neo-tropolis. The style of dress was terse like the people who wore them. Action scenes unfolded in my mind. Each thrust and parry of the hunter's sword were performed to perfection. Vapor trails of bullets laced the scenery making into a grim artistic display of death. All of this played out in my mind while I rested. In fact, my dreaming is part of the reason for my long hours of sleeping. I want to see the ending. So, I sleep, perchance to dream of the next story.
Author's Note:
I did some reviewing of the forum, and would you believe I was wrong about the 100th post. We had written a 100 posts, but we hadn't published all of them. So, I guess you can say, I screwed up.
If you are interested in the endings for the Twilight Zone and Batman episodes, I can publish them in the comments section. Let me know if you want to hear more.
So, do you guys dream often? Stephanie told me she doesn't.
"To die, to sleep; To sleep, perchance to dream." Now, for the well-read, perhaps you may recognize the Shakespeare quote. It comes from the "To be or not to be" soliloquy by Hamlet. (Stop being a Hamlet, Andrew! Sorry, it was too good to pass up.) The phrase "Perchance to Dream" has been used as a title for a Twilight Zone episode, and even a Batman: The Animated Series episode. Both episodes challenged my perceptions of dreaming.
I watched the Batman: The Animated Series episode when I was about 10 years old. Bruce Wayne discovers himself in a life where he isn't Batman. His parents are alive. He's getting married to the love of his life Selina Kyle, who you probably know as Catwoman. In fact, there is another Batman protecting the city. He has a hard time relinquishing the drive to protect people, but he finally starts to settle into his peaceful life. He sits down to read the newspaper, but he can't. The text is all gibberish. In a frenzy, he flees his house and goes to the cemetery to confront Batman because Bruce knows Batman knows what is going on. I don't want to give away the ending, but needless to say, the ending for this episode blew my 10-year-old mind. I found the episode in parts on YouTube: part 1 and part 2. I think this a must-see for the Batman fan.
The Twilight Zone episode appeared more than 30 years earlier, and it contains another thought-provoking message about dreaming. A man goes to a psychiatrist to help him with a problem. The man has a weak heart, so he can't do anything too stressful. In his dreams, he is visited by a woman who makes him take thrilling rides, which make his heart want to burst. He knows the next time he falls asleep, it will be his last. Another incredible ending which will make you think. If you ever have the opportunity, I suggest you watch it. Sorry, I couldn't find the episode on YouTube for you.
Now, I've talked about two television series and their mischievous dealings with dreams. How does this concern me? Whenever I get sick, I have a perchance to dream.
In the 7th grade, we were required to read a book called "The Hero and the Crown". I was running a fever, so I was lying in bed trying to keep up with school work. I was reading the book, but I kept fading in and out of reality. The forest and shrubbery became more than words, I had become one with the book. I will never forget the description of the man's skin as "milky-white". It was all so vivid. Think Avatar 3-D, and kick it up a couple of notches. Unbeknownst to me, my fever had run up to 106 degrees. My mom rushed me to the emergency room, and I was fine.
Ever since, when I'm sick, I have a tendency to dream. Unlike "The Hero and the Crown" incident where I was forced into the book, I tend to have the capability to experiment with my dream. I was reading "The Naked and the Dead" which takes place in World War II in the Pacific campaign. I dreamt of the Pacific beaches that had to be stormed, how a life is held so precariously by Chance as a soldier creeps through the jungle growth, and attitudes of the men. I erase the story as I go, making it my own. It's a weird experience I cannot describe.
My manga chapters led my dream to wander in metropolises overrun by demons and their hunters. It was very reminiscent of Blade Runner. Santa Claus was on the corner trying to give Christmas cheer to the neo-tropolis. The style of dress was terse like the people who wore them. Action scenes unfolded in my mind. Each thrust and parry of the hunter's sword were performed to perfection. Vapor trails of bullets laced the scenery making into a grim artistic display of death. All of this played out in my mind while I rested. In fact, my dreaming is part of the reason for my long hours of sleeping. I want to see the ending. So, I sleep, perchance to dream of the next story.
Author's Note:
I did some reviewing of the forum, and would you believe I was wrong about the 100th post. We had written a 100 posts, but we hadn't published all of them. So, I guess you can say, I screwed up.
If you are interested in the endings for the Twilight Zone and Batman episodes, I can publish them in the comments section. Let me know if you want to hear more.
So, do you guys dream often? Stephanie told me she doesn't.
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Night Shift
Nighttime is so different. Everywhere.
Went to downtown Palo Alto (aka one street) on Saturday for my birthday. Night life is weird. Restaurants turn into bars. Rich, yuppie professionals become rowdy bar hoppers. Gone are the annoying little kids. They are replaced by annoying big kids. Yet I can still see the appeal in night life.
Took a nighttime walk around campus yesterday. So peaceful and quiet. The church was especially beautiful. No bicycles zooming by, no swarm of camera-touting tourists. Though people were toiling away inside the buildings. Especially the math building. But even some of the humanities buildings! (No offense).
Today: Grocery run at 12:51 a.m. Empty streets, empty parking lot. The Safeway plaza was brightly lit, but no one in sight. So strange. Happily shopped for my goodies with no one in my way. No one, that is, except for the night crew restocking and rearranging shelves. That was somewhat of a nuisance. But I made sure to be extra polite. Working at 1:02 a.m. in Safeway isn't ideal. Productive grocery run. Fresh fruits and veggies! I've been feeling lethargic and gross lately, and I realized that I haven't eaten very well. Stupid interviews, psets, and conference calls get in the way of quality food.
I like the night shift. Especially when it doesn't entail working "overtime."
Went to downtown Palo Alto (aka one street) on Saturday for my birthday. Night life is weird. Restaurants turn into bars. Rich, yuppie professionals become rowdy bar hoppers. Gone are the annoying little kids. They are replaced by annoying big kids. Yet I can still see the appeal in night life.
Took a nighttime walk around campus yesterday. So peaceful and quiet. The church was especially beautiful. No bicycles zooming by, no swarm of camera-touting tourists. Though people were toiling away inside the buildings. Especially the math building. But even some of the humanities buildings! (No offense).
Today: Grocery run at 12:51 a.m. Empty streets, empty parking lot. The Safeway plaza was brightly lit, but no one in sight. So strange. Happily shopped for my goodies with no one in my way. No one, that is, except for the night crew restocking and rearranging shelves. That was somewhat of a nuisance. But I made sure to be extra polite. Working at 1:02 a.m. in Safeway isn't ideal. Productive grocery run. Fresh fruits and veggies! I've been feeling lethargic and gross lately, and I realized that I haven't eaten very well. Stupid interviews, psets, and conference calls get in the way of quality food.
I like the night shift. Especially when it doesn't entail working "overtime."
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Silence is Golden
No, I am not making a pun on our blog's name. "Silence is Golden" is a song that was originally performed in 1967 by a British group known as The Tremeloes. The Tremeloes was one of the British groups that tried to make the transition to the American music industry. During their tryouts in the United States, they actually beat out The Beatles for an audition to tour with a famous imitation group, but I guess you could say The Beatles got the last laugh since not many remember The Tremeloes.
"Silence is Golden" made it to the #1 spot on the UK charts and the #11 spot on the U.S. Billboard top 100. My mom claims the song reached the #1 spot for the Los Angeles area, so I bet it's that damn Midwest that prevented the song from reaching the coveted #1 spot on the billboard.
All of the band members were strong singers, so they have heavy harmony throughout the song. It's difficult to identify the lead singer because the lead seems to jump around the group creating an emphasis on certain words. In my opinion, this simple harmony truly enhances the song. It's a sound you don't hear often in today's music which emphasizes strong soloists who prefer to sing all over the place to show their range. *cough* Mariah Carey *cough*
The reason this song stood out to me was the lyrics. It's a song that has a romantic longing feeling. This man is watching the love of his life getting cheated upon. He can't bear the thought of telling her because he doesn't want to see her cry. Besides, he knows she won't believe him. So, he looks on as his love loves another who is being unfaithful to her. He would like to do something, but all he can do is remain silent. For this reason, silence is golden.
There are rich emotions in this song. It's a complicated situation where there is no correct action. I can only imagine what the guy is feeling. He wants to tell her, but at the same time, he is conflicted. Is he telling her out of love? Or out of selfishness to have her for his own?
Even though the cheater is the real one at fault, often times, the messenger is blamed as well. She may living a dream, but to wake her from it would be just as harsh. The singer knows this, and he can't hurt her by revealing the truth. It's quite a conundrum: to have her be happy in ignorance or know the truth.
I, especially like how he is reminding himself not to break his rule of not telling her. "Mind your business, don't hurt her, you fool." He knows it's foolish to love someone who is already taken, but he can't help it. And to watch them hurt themselves is unbearable. Only the insane or those in love torture themselves like this.
If the video doesn't work, click here to hear song.
Lyrics
Oh, don't it hurt deep inside
To see someone do something to her
Oh, don't it pain to see someone cry
Oh, especially when someone is her
Silence is golden, but my eyes still see
Silence is golden, golden
But my eyes still see
Talking is cheap, people follow like sheep
Even though there is nowhere to go
How could she tell, he deceived her so well
Pity, she'll be the last one to know
Silence is golden, but my eyes still see
Silence is golden, golden
But my eyes still see
How many times will she fall for his line
Should I tell her or should I keep cool?
And if I tried, I know she'd say I lied
Mind your business, don't hurt her, you fool
Silence is golden, but my eyes still see
Silence is golden, golden
But my eyes still see
Any thoughts on the song? What would you do? Would you watch in silence?
Author's note:
I wouldn't tell her because I'm a coward, as we all know.
"Silence is Golden" made it to the #1 spot on the UK charts and the #11 spot on the U.S. Billboard top 100. My mom claims the song reached the #1 spot for the Los Angeles area, so I bet it's that damn Midwest that prevented the song from reaching the coveted #1 spot on the billboard.
All of the band members were strong singers, so they have heavy harmony throughout the song. It's difficult to identify the lead singer because the lead seems to jump around the group creating an emphasis on certain words. In my opinion, this simple harmony truly enhances the song. It's a sound you don't hear often in today's music which emphasizes strong soloists who prefer to sing all over the place to show their range. *cough* Mariah Carey *cough*
The reason this song stood out to me was the lyrics. It's a song that has a romantic longing feeling. This man is watching the love of his life getting cheated upon. He can't bear the thought of telling her because he doesn't want to see her cry. Besides, he knows she won't believe him. So, he looks on as his love loves another who is being unfaithful to her. He would like to do something, but all he can do is remain silent. For this reason, silence is golden.
There are rich emotions in this song. It's a complicated situation where there is no correct action. I can only imagine what the guy is feeling. He wants to tell her, but at the same time, he is conflicted. Is he telling her out of love? Or out of selfishness to have her for his own?
Even though the cheater is the real one at fault, often times, the messenger is blamed as well. She may living a dream, but to wake her from it would be just as harsh. The singer knows this, and he can't hurt her by revealing the truth. It's quite a conundrum: to have her be happy in ignorance or know the truth.
I, especially like how he is reminding himself not to break his rule of not telling her. "Mind your business, don't hurt her, you fool." He knows it's foolish to love someone who is already taken, but he can't help it. And to watch them hurt themselves is unbearable. Only the insane or those in love torture themselves like this.
If the video doesn't work, click here to hear song.
Lyrics
Oh, don't it hurt deep inside
To see someone do something to her
Oh, don't it pain to see someone cry
Oh, especially when someone is her
Silence is golden, but my eyes still see
Silence is golden, golden
But my eyes still see
Talking is cheap, people follow like sheep
Even though there is nowhere to go
How could she tell, he deceived her so well
Pity, she'll be the last one to know
Silence is golden, but my eyes still see
Silence is golden, golden
But my eyes still see
How many times will she fall for his line
Should I tell her or should I keep cool?
And if I tried, I know she'd say I lied
Mind your business, don't hurt her, you fool
Silence is golden, but my eyes still see
Silence is golden, golden
But my eyes still see
Any thoughts on the song? What would you do? Would you watch in silence?
Author's note:
I wouldn't tell her because I'm a coward, as we all know.
Monday, February 1, 2010
documentation
when you look on facebook, it is amazing how many photos are up there. i just looked at a facebook recruiting pamphlet (yes facebook recruits at mit for software engineers) that claims that 1 billion photos are uploaded to facebook each month. and i bet that the number is only increasing. which suggests to me that in fact, more and more of our lives are being documented. whether by photos, or videos, or other methods, our lives are increasingly becoming visible to the public eye.
now let's extrapolate that. this trend suggests to me that there may be some point in the future, where your entire life may be recorded, for posterity (including your future self) to review and enjoy. of course, i would imagine that you wouldnt review your whole life, or there might be times where you'll turn the "camera" (whatever the equivalent technology may be at that point in time) off. but it is interesting to me that we want that record so much. don't ask me what that suggests. but aiyah, what a world we may be living in 20 or 30 years from now...
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