Talk about disappointment. Alright, I heard that the movie was bad, but well...Percy Jackson's pretty much the kind of teenage novel series that I'd not mind reading. The premise is familiar: Some supernatural kid fitting in with mundy society is pulled back into some supernatural struggle. The rest is history. I like the premise, what with supernaturals mixing with mundies. But that does not mean I liked the movie.
One of my friends commented that the emotions (i.e. romantic relationship brewing) were not genuine enough and that the story was a rip of the Perseus tale. I can live with that, since I'm never very good at assessing emotions anyway. Frankly I didn't notice that one. Ripping off old stories...well it's a tried and tested strategy.
What does irk me is the way they did the animation for Hades (not to mention the voiceover), and really the delivery of the whole thing. It simply lacked the oomph one would expect when a teenage urban fantasy novel turns into a movie. Not much else for me to say except that I cannot recommend this one. 4/10 I'd give less, but then again I do have a soft spot for such premises...better luck next time.
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Friday, February 19, 2010
The Ills Of Gambling
People who have talked to me before will likely know that I really really really do not approve of the idea of gambling. Gambling is a racket by which everyone knows that they will lose on average, but want to try anyway on the false hope that maybe they'd strike it rich. Everyone who's a serious gambler would want that, and therein lies the catch. Seriously, gambling is a big scam that is effectively a tax on the dim witted.
Allowing large scale gambling serves only to turn things somewhat sour. Inevitably, some poor sod would get addicted to the thrill of nearly losing money and wind up losing oodles of it. That, or just sheer bad luck wipes everything out. Then he/she would get upset and likely do something desperate to make up for the very real loss. The list of perps is long, including leveraged financial WMDs, noise trading, honest to goodness casino-style gambling...
It does not help to set up barriers to entry. Someone intent enough on participating will find their way in one way or another. Exotic derivatives can be cooked up to allow trading that was previously forbidden. Sometimes, the only real solution is to say no. Otherwise, it is only a matter of time before illegal moneylenders and other criminals begin to have their say.
Allowing large scale gambling serves only to turn things somewhat sour. Inevitably, some poor sod would get addicted to the thrill of nearly losing money and wind up losing oodles of it. That, or just sheer bad luck wipes everything out. Then he/she would get upset and likely do something desperate to make up for the very real loss. The list of perps is long, including leveraged financial WMDs, noise trading, honest to goodness casino-style gambling...
It does not help to set up barriers to entry. Someone intent enough on participating will find their way in one way or another. Exotic derivatives can be cooked up to allow trading that was previously forbidden. Sometimes, the only real solution is to say no. Otherwise, it is only a matter of time before illegal moneylenders and other criminals begin to have their say.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Pickle Barbecue
I witnessed the incineration of my aunt's pickle today. The event, presided over by a pastor, was solemn, with the usual touching hymns and sermon. What struck me, though, was just how automated the cremation process was.
It basically involved a mechanized trolley that could be operated by a single person, which moved the coffin onto a computerized forklift. After inputting some commands, the operator could just step back and let the forklift deliver the coffin straight into the cremation chamber. As the forklift approached the hidden double doors at a stately pace, it opened up and the forklift deposited the coffin in the chamber, and then the door closed again.
The event was over as quickly as it began, and involved none of the discomfort of showing an actual cremation to those witnessing. There was also the niggling feeling that perhaps the body was not cremated after all, since there was no evidence that it actually happened. Perhaps this is of some comfort to the bereaved.
Nonetheless, the overall process was fuss free, and there wasn't even any visible smoke involved. Dealing with the dead has become so much simpler, compared to the days of jolly bonfires with unpickled bodies roasting atop the flames, or towers of solitude that allowed the birds to slowly reduce corpses to poo.
It basically involved a mechanized trolley that could be operated by a single person, which moved the coffin onto a computerized forklift. After inputting some commands, the operator could just step back and let the forklift deliver the coffin straight into the cremation chamber. As the forklift approached the hidden double doors at a stately pace, it opened up and the forklift deposited the coffin in the chamber, and then the door closed again.
The event was over as quickly as it began, and involved none of the discomfort of showing an actual cremation to those witnessing. There was also the niggling feeling that perhaps the body was not cremated after all, since there was no evidence that it actually happened. Perhaps this is of some comfort to the bereaved.
Nonetheless, the overall process was fuss free, and there wasn't even any visible smoke involved. Dealing with the dead has become so much simpler, compared to the days of jolly bonfires with unpickled bodies roasting atop the flames, or towers of solitude that allowed the birds to slowly reduce corpses to poo.
Facecopter
My graphics card was repaired today, so I got to head down to the repair shop to pick it up. This is a truly joyous day, when I can finally get my equipment at its best and run things at decent settings again. But as always, I do tend to be less than alert in the daytime.
After I got my card, I was walking down the mall when I noticed an oldish guy looking at me in surprise and making a strange surprised sound. While I walked towards him, wondering why he was making the sound, I heard a whirring and saw a blur in front of me. Then something hit my face and landed on the ground. I realized it was a toy helicopter.
It turns out that I walked right into a toy copter hovering just at my chin level while trying to figure out why the old dude looked surprised. I'm rather bad at reading faces, but my best estimate of his expression afterwards was a mix of surprise and annoyance, presumably because I facecoptered him. There's a lesson to be had here, and it is that if one tries to facecopter Fenris, they get facecoptered instead. Fenris's face is tougher than most toy copters.
Of course, this is a fairly unusual situation since I have pretty adequate reflexes even (or perhaps especially) when sleepy. It's probably because the copter completely bypassed my IFF system. Besides, it's got an effective threat value of zero except if/when it manages to score a crit. Still, it's amusing and I do wonder if the toy was permanently damaged. I wouldn't be sorry if it was, since the old dude failed to keep it out of my path in the first place.
After I got my card, I was walking down the mall when I noticed an oldish guy looking at me in surprise and making a strange surprised sound. While I walked towards him, wondering why he was making the sound, I heard a whirring and saw a blur in front of me. Then something hit my face and landed on the ground. I realized it was a toy helicopter.
It turns out that I walked right into a toy copter hovering just at my chin level while trying to figure out why the old dude looked surprised. I'm rather bad at reading faces, but my best estimate of his expression afterwards was a mix of surprise and annoyance, presumably because I facecoptered him. There's a lesson to be had here, and it is that if one tries to facecopter Fenris, they get facecoptered instead. Fenris's face is tougher than most toy copters.
Of course, this is a fairly unusual situation since I have pretty adequate reflexes even (or perhaps especially) when sleepy. It's probably because the copter completely bypassed my IFF system. Besides, it's got an effective threat value of zero except if/when it manages to score a crit. Still, it's amusing and I do wonder if the toy was permanently damaged. I wouldn't be sorry if it was, since the old dude failed to keep it out of my path in the first place.
Memento Mori
While I was tidying up my room during spring cleaning, I popped open the drawers at my desk and looked at all the junk contained within. Logically, if the junk is there and not to be thrown away, it has to serve some kind of purpose. Otherwise, I should just dump the stuff and free up the storage space. It's kinda like inventory management.
So basically I found that my stuff turned out to be junk and mementos. Not to be confused with Mentos. The mementos could be further separated into my stuff, and stuff people gave me or stuff that's related to other people. After sifting out the stuff, I realized that most were obsolete anyway so they went into the junk pile.
What remained were basically items from my past, and stuff from people who are now dead. So I wound up reserving one drawer as a time capsule of sorts, and the other as a dedicated memento mori drawer. Sort of like a memorial drawer, which is pretty much what I'm calling it at this point.
Currently, 3 ex-peoples' stuff occupies the space, though a 4th person's stuff is too big so it's in my shelf. 4 and counting. Well, at least I now have an excuse to keep some sorts of junk...errr...mementos... around.
So basically I found that my stuff turned out to be junk and mementos. Not to be confused with Mentos. The mementos could be further separated into my stuff, and stuff people gave me or stuff that's related to other people. After sifting out the stuff, I realized that most were obsolete anyway so they went into the junk pile.
What remained were basically items from my past, and stuff from people who are now dead. So I wound up reserving one drawer as a time capsule of sorts, and the other as a dedicated memento mori drawer. Sort of like a memorial drawer, which is pretty much what I'm calling it at this point.
Currently, 3 ex-peoples' stuff occupies the space, though a 4th person's stuff is too big so it's in my shelf. 4 and counting. Well, at least I now have an excuse to keep some sorts of junk...errr...mementos... around.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Death's Follow Through
My 3rd aunt died early in the morning today. The wake was quickly put together by the casket service, and we attended it to have one last look at the body. After talking to the sons about the past month and her travails, I was rather peeved that it seems quite apparent that the doctors were not very proactive about dealing with her health problems as quickly as possible. The observation by one son that she seemed dazed and drowsy was largely ignored by the doctor and dismissed as a regular result of dialysis. It does seem that being in a 3rd class ward means that patients get 3rd class medical care.
I noticed today the different ways people deal with death. Some family friends bowed before the casket but did not attempt to look at the body. Others went in to have a look. I asked the sons whether they would be alright with my taking photos of the scene, and they expressed no objections. I figured it would be a good way to remember the day, but it seemed that they were (understandably) not inclined to have a documentary memento of this day of bereavement.
My parents were quite horrified that I decided to take pictures of the body, given some sort of taboo about taking pictures of the dead. They were rather insistent that I delete the photos of the body itself. I did comply, since it is quite pointless to keep the pictures if nobody was intent on seeing images of the body (specifically the face). One does not argue with cultural sensitivities, since everyone is entitled to their choice of opiate. Death portraits were quite in vogue elsewhere, not too long ago. However, I figured it was even more disrespectful of the meat to have it pickled and displayed before others, then barbecued in a specialized kiln, and have the ashes picked out later to be stored in a jar.
Of course, the follow through of death is simply a matter of opinion. For practical purposes, a body is just a body and really...it matters little what one does with the body. It is meat like any slaughtered cattle, and due no more respect than other pieces of meat. Yet, it remains a symbol of what was once a person, and where I think an image does the ex-person more justice, others think not having the image would serve better.
As for myself, if/when I do become a lump of meat, I would much prefer incineration followed by scattering or being fed to the wolves than to be gutted, pickled, barbecued, then stuffed in an urn. To me, the last option would be a rather undignified way to treat a lump of meat, and does no honor to its meaty goodness.
I noticed today the different ways people deal with death. Some family friends bowed before the casket but did not attempt to look at the body. Others went in to have a look. I asked the sons whether they would be alright with my taking photos of the scene, and they expressed no objections. I figured it would be a good way to remember the day, but it seemed that they were (understandably) not inclined to have a documentary memento of this day of bereavement.
My parents were quite horrified that I decided to take pictures of the body, given some sort of taboo about taking pictures of the dead. They were rather insistent that I delete the photos of the body itself. I did comply, since it is quite pointless to keep the pictures if nobody was intent on seeing images of the body (specifically the face). One does not argue with cultural sensitivities, since everyone is entitled to their choice of opiate. Death portraits were quite in vogue elsewhere, not too long ago. However, I figured it was even more disrespectful of the meat to have it pickled and displayed before others, then barbecued in a specialized kiln, and have the ashes picked out later to be stored in a jar.
Of course, the follow through of death is simply a matter of opinion. For practical purposes, a body is just a body and really...it matters little what one does with the body. It is meat like any slaughtered cattle, and due no more respect than other pieces of meat. Yet, it remains a symbol of what was once a person, and where I think an image does the ex-person more justice, others think not having the image would serve better.
As for myself, if/when I do become a lump of meat, I would much prefer incineration followed by scattering or being fed to the wolves than to be gutted, pickled, barbecued, then stuffed in an urn. To me, the last option would be a rather undignified way to treat a lump of meat, and does no honor to its meaty goodness.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Realistic Rationality
Efficiency is often explored at a theoretical level. Even then, it is difficult to define what exactly is regarded as "efficient". Will it be private benefit, social benefit, an average of both, or are there other forms of benefit that can be rationally evaluated? From the Prisoner's Dilemma, it can be seen that rational choices can be exceedingly disadvantageous to the counterparts. It is also established that people are largely law-abiding, though it seems advantageous to kill everyone in sight and take their money.
The thing that keeps most people from doing socially appalling things on a regular basis seems to be social costs in their various forms. They can range from social censure to actual laws. Those serve to hold back the more socially undesirable conducts. If anything, they force irrational conduct. More specifically, they force a response that fits the situation.
If rational actions go unregulated, the negative externalities may well exceed actual gains. This is seen in the rational solution to the Dilemma, whereby both prisoners are disadvantaged while they would create a net overall benefit had they colluded. This does raise the question of what, exactly, rational conduct is. In the presence of inefficiencies and social costs, it is actually rational to be irrational, because the network of costs in an irrational system only maximally rewards appropriately irrational conduct. To be irrational...is to be efficient!
The other common barrier to rational solutions is switching costs. For example, while I may rationally switch from the QWERTY keyboard to a more efficient layout, I am consciously unwilling to do so because that would involve learning a whole new layout all over again. Due to the learning curve, I would be facing reduced productivity until my aptitude increases to match my QWERTY proficiency. Moreover, inefficient information prevents me from knowing for sure whether my switch would provide net benefit, since a whole new massively efficient input paradigm may come out in the next decade thus rendering my new learning moot. In short, switching costs make the irrational decision to stay seem more efficient than the rational one to switch, though in perfect knowledge the decision may be entirely wrong.
Combining the two does seem to provide a basis for why so many seemingly dumb things are being constantly tolerated in the world. If anything, it would prove exceedingly difficult to convince a majority of individuals to switch around to more rational conduct. However, it is not impossible to force change by a drastic change in circumstances. How unfortunate...
The thing that keeps most people from doing socially appalling things on a regular basis seems to be social costs in their various forms. They can range from social censure to actual laws. Those serve to hold back the more socially undesirable conducts. If anything, they force irrational conduct. More specifically, they force a response that fits the situation.
If rational actions go unregulated, the negative externalities may well exceed actual gains. This is seen in the rational solution to the Dilemma, whereby both prisoners are disadvantaged while they would create a net overall benefit had they colluded. This does raise the question of what, exactly, rational conduct is. In the presence of inefficiencies and social costs, it is actually rational to be irrational, because the network of costs in an irrational system only maximally rewards appropriately irrational conduct. To be irrational...is to be efficient!
The other common barrier to rational solutions is switching costs. For example, while I may rationally switch from the QWERTY keyboard to a more efficient layout, I am consciously unwilling to do so because that would involve learning a whole new layout all over again. Due to the learning curve, I would be facing reduced productivity until my aptitude increases to match my QWERTY proficiency. Moreover, inefficient information prevents me from knowing for sure whether my switch would provide net benefit, since a whole new massively efficient input paradigm may come out in the next decade thus rendering my new learning moot. In short, switching costs make the irrational decision to stay seem more efficient than the rational one to switch, though in perfect knowledge the decision may be entirely wrong.
Combining the two does seem to provide a basis for why so many seemingly dumb things are being constantly tolerated in the world. If anything, it would prove exceedingly difficult to convince a majority of individuals to switch around to more rational conduct. However, it is not impossible to force change by a drastic change in circumstances. How unfortunate...
Monday, February 08, 2010
The Opiate Of the Masses
Religion is truly the opiate of the masses. I think it is remarkable that some religions can preach goodness and submission in exchange for comfort. What a great deal! All you have to do is surrender your will to something greater than you are, and you'll get comfort in exchange.
Strangely enough, it seems like precisely what a monarch would want to ensure a docile populace. Now, I have nothing against goodness and good deeds. Those generate social benefits and these positive externalities are almost certainly welcome. I do, however, take issue with the concept of submission.
In my opinion, there is a difference between submitting one's will to a higher authority, and dedicating one's deeds and thoughts to a higher purpose or authority. The first involves a surrender of free will, and taking on the will of the higher authority. The second involves a redirection of free will to align oneself with the higher authority or purpose. The distinction here is that the first opens one to abuse by others claiming to know the will of the higher authority, while the second is a matter of free will and there is discretion involved.
This discretion is essential in ensuring that one's deeds and thoughts are properly aligned with what one believes of one's higher purpose. Otherwise, it is possible for one to be told that food is good, and for that someone to continue forcing more good food down the gullet of a goose to give the goose more goodness. Poor goose. How tasty.
Strangely enough, it seems like precisely what a monarch would want to ensure a docile populace. Now, I have nothing against goodness and good deeds. Those generate social benefits and these positive externalities are almost certainly welcome. I do, however, take issue with the concept of submission.
In my opinion, there is a difference between submitting one's will to a higher authority, and dedicating one's deeds and thoughts to a higher purpose or authority. The first involves a surrender of free will, and taking on the will of the higher authority. The second involves a redirection of free will to align oneself with the higher authority or purpose. The distinction here is that the first opens one to abuse by others claiming to know the will of the higher authority, while the second is a matter of free will and there is discretion involved.
This discretion is essential in ensuring that one's deeds and thoughts are properly aligned with what one believes of one's higher purpose. Otherwise, it is possible for one to be told that food is good, and for that someone to continue forcing more good food down the gullet of a goose to give the goose more goodness. Poor goose. How tasty.
On The Styx
It seems that ultimately the prognosis of my third aunt is effectively hopeless. Too much brain damage, a shattered pelvis, renal failure and a fever that refuses to go away simply means it's just a matter of time.
What does disturb me is that the whole matter smacks of incompetence. The doctor reportedly claimed that her fever was due to brain damage interfering with homeostatic body temperature. The pelvis fracture was recently discovered. However, since she was admitted to the hospital after a fall, it seems likely that her pelvis was fractured then. If anything, it should have been something that was tested for first. As for the brain damage, she was able to speak when at the hospital, but was already running a fever at the time. Unless it was a brain fever or some other infection, it seems improbable that her brain was so damaged that it could no longer regulate body temperature.
Just a couple days back, they found that she had no running infection, but continued antibiotic treatment nonetheless because of the fever. What seems unusual is that she was diagnosed with sepsis at the time of admission, which was what was proposed to have caused her fever in the first place. It would be probable that her sepsis was associated with kidney failure rather than an infection. More importantly, a fracture can also be associated with the onset of sepsis due to the fact that the fracture was identified as "severe", and necrotizing of tissue in the fracture area is probable.
On the whole, the claims of the doctor do not make sense and could indicate that she was experiencing some rare condition or that the medical personnel at the time did not take the necessary actions to ascertain the nature of her injuries and determine appropriate treatment. It may also be probable that there was a misdiagnosis involved either due to staff overwork or inexperience.
What does disturb me is that the whole matter smacks of incompetence. The doctor reportedly claimed that her fever was due to brain damage interfering with homeostatic body temperature. The pelvis fracture was recently discovered. However, since she was admitted to the hospital after a fall, it seems likely that her pelvis was fractured then. If anything, it should have been something that was tested for first. As for the brain damage, she was able to speak when at the hospital, but was already running a fever at the time. Unless it was a brain fever or some other infection, it seems improbable that her brain was so damaged that it could no longer regulate body temperature.
Just a couple days back, they found that she had no running infection, but continued antibiotic treatment nonetheless because of the fever. What seems unusual is that she was diagnosed with sepsis at the time of admission, which was what was proposed to have caused her fever in the first place. It would be probable that her sepsis was associated with kidney failure rather than an infection. More importantly, a fracture can also be associated with the onset of sepsis due to the fact that the fracture was identified as "severe", and necrotizing of tissue in the fracture area is probable.
On the whole, the claims of the doctor do not make sense and could indicate that she was experiencing some rare condition or that the medical personnel at the time did not take the necessary actions to ascertain the nature of her injuries and determine appropriate treatment. It may also be probable that there was a misdiagnosis involved either due to staff overwork or inexperience.
Friday, February 05, 2010
Humans And Crows
Crows are a rather maligned bird. They are black (ugly), sound harsh (another minus) are big (scary) and highly intelligent (scary as well). I was watching the rifle guys shooting crows in my neighbourhood, with a government permit no less, simply to keep the crow population down.
Now, lest people think that my neighbourhood has a crow population like something out of Alfred Hitchcock flicks, I should point out that I see them only occasionally. In fact, I see far more sparrows and mynahs, along with large flocks of pigeons. Strangely enough, the crows have crosshairs painted on them while the pigeons are allowed to fly all over the place. Presumably pooping on heads and laundry while they are at it.
Could it be disease spreading? Well...crows in large numbers will most certainly spread disease, but then again so will large numbers of pigeons, other birds or even humans. Perhaps we should shoot surplus humans to curb the spread of disease. If anything, I believe this enmity between humans and crows is akin to what Hans Landa says about rats in Inglourious Basterds: There simply is something about them that people detest.
They don't look particularly cute, and neither do they sound nice. They're smart enough to feed themselves at will, and big enough to defend themselves. If anything, I love crows. There is a metallic sheen to their feathers, and their harsh cries are simply another form of birdsong. The fact that they are big and able to defend themselves is yet another endearing trait, and I rarely see a crow chewed up by the neighbourhood cat, unlike the occasional hapless pigeon or mynah. Maybe humans simply don't like competition.
Now, lest people think that my neighbourhood has a crow population like something out of Alfred Hitchcock flicks, I should point out that I see them only occasionally. In fact, I see far more sparrows and mynahs, along with large flocks of pigeons. Strangely enough, the crows have crosshairs painted on them while the pigeons are allowed to fly all over the place. Presumably pooping on heads and laundry while they are at it.
Could it be disease spreading? Well...crows in large numbers will most certainly spread disease, but then again so will large numbers of pigeons, other birds or even humans. Perhaps we should shoot surplus humans to curb the spread of disease. If anything, I believe this enmity between humans and crows is akin to what Hans Landa says about rats in Inglourious Basterds: There simply is something about them that people detest.
They don't look particularly cute, and neither do they sound nice. They're smart enough to feed themselves at will, and big enough to defend themselves. If anything, I love crows. There is a metallic sheen to their feathers, and their harsh cries are simply another form of birdsong. The fact that they are big and able to defend themselves is yet another endearing trait, and I rarely see a crow chewed up by the neighbourhood cat, unlike the occasional hapless pigeon or mynah. Maybe humans simply don't like competition.
Wednesday, February 03, 2010
Me And My Stuff
I do seem to have an interesting propensity towards developing fairly deep emotional attachment to some objects. Primarily my handkerchiefs. Especially my favourite amongst the bunch. Just today, I noticed another one of them was fraying. This will not make much sense, but all I can say is that I feel their pain. In fact, it feels like a sense of loss quite akin to what I'd feel when a friend is passing on. Of course, that's a purely irrational feeling (not that they ever are rational) since hankies aren't gona have feelings and I can always get another. I think. But like Linus' security blanket, it just wouldn't be the same if I got another.
On a side note, I realized why the exhaust airflow in my computer casing is so sluggish despite having an obscenely powerful 120mm box fan fitted. It seems that the front grill of a Coolermaster Centurion casing is hardly efficient at letting air through. It appears to reduce airflow by at least 50%, which is logical given that the perforations are 50% of the total surface area or less. I dare not think just how much I had been sacrificing in airflow before I removed the foam filters, which would have further reduced airflow. No wonder my graphics card overheated.
On a side note, I realized why the exhaust airflow in my computer casing is so sluggish despite having an obscenely powerful 120mm box fan fitted. It seems that the front grill of a Coolermaster Centurion casing is hardly efficient at letting air through. It appears to reduce airflow by at least 50%, which is logical given that the perforations are 50% of the total surface area or less. I dare not think just how much I had been sacrificing in airflow before I removed the foam filters, which would have further reduced airflow. No wonder my graphics card overheated.
Monday, February 01, 2010
Types Of Humor
Indeed it does seem that not everyone is able to appreciate every kind of humor. While I am capable of finding most jokes funny even when others do not, some jovial statements serve only to bewilder. Just today I was reading an article about a young lady being teased for going vegetarian. One example of the tease was about having stray pigs and cows running around as a consequence of people going vegetarian.
I suppose this sort of humor can be regarded as a form of hyperbolic absurd humor, since it is indeed possible (albeit in a purely absurd way) that farmed animals could become strays and wander all over the place. The mental image of farm animals wandering about a city is somewhat amusing, though forced at best. I suppose the very unlikeliness of the scenario proposed does pretty much outweigh any form of amusement at its absurdity.
Then again, I do tend to have a sadistic streak in enjoying physical comedy to an extent. Hell, I'd even laugh at certain scenes in Ingluorious Basterds for their sheer absurdity despite the gore. Of course, I suppose my benchmark for humor requires a certain degree of likeliness before it qualifies. Otherwise, it is merely an absurd or, in rare occasions, a simply offensive statement.
I suppose this sort of humor can be regarded as a form of hyperbolic absurd humor, since it is indeed possible (albeit in a purely absurd way) that farmed animals could become strays and wander all over the place. The mental image of farm animals wandering about a city is somewhat amusing, though forced at best. I suppose the very unlikeliness of the scenario proposed does pretty much outweigh any form of amusement at its absurdity.
Then again, I do tend to have a sadistic streak in enjoying physical comedy to an extent. Hell, I'd even laugh at certain scenes in Ingluorious Basterds for their sheer absurdity despite the gore. Of course, I suppose my benchmark for humor requires a certain degree of likeliness before it qualifies. Otherwise, it is merely an absurd or, in rare occasions, a simply offensive statement.
Friday, January 29, 2010
Diffusion Of Responsibility
Indeed, it does seem that diffusion of responsibility has quite an effect, especially in crowded cities. Today, I was at a food court and a young lady had a rather bad epileptic fit. She fell to the ground and probably bit her tongue in the process. There was quite a bit of bleeding, and one of the men near her (friend/relative, presumably) shoved a spoon in her mouth while another lady tried to get her settled down without moving her off the floor.
What was interesting was the small concerned crowd that gathered almost immediately, gawking at the scene. A majority of the people in the area noticed what happened, but did not move in to help in some way. What was quite remarkable was that despite all this attention, it took nearly five minutes before someone decided to call for an ambulance. It seems likely that diffusion of responsibility was at play here, since nobody (myself included) felt particularly inclined to make the call...assuming that someone would.
It is scenes like these that make me feel that there are a goodly number of Patricia Tannises in the city, since those of us who did not immediately go to gawk or render assistance seemed perfectly capable of enjoying our meals while someone else was convulsing on the floor. In fact, I did feel a mild irritation at the inconvenience of the timing of the fit, as it was interrupting my magazine reading. I like reading at the meal table. It gives me something to do, and adds a sense of accomplishment to what would otherwise turn out to be "just" a meal.
Of course, I did not eventually decide to knife her or shoot her several times in the back, then figure that her name was Leslie and how she had a troubled childhood from having a guy's name. There may yet be some remaining dreg of my ever fading sanity.
What was interesting was the small concerned crowd that gathered almost immediately, gawking at the scene. A majority of the people in the area noticed what happened, but did not move in to help in some way. What was quite remarkable was that despite all this attention, it took nearly five minutes before someone decided to call for an ambulance. It seems likely that diffusion of responsibility was at play here, since nobody (myself included) felt particularly inclined to make the call...assuming that someone would.
It is scenes like these that make me feel that there are a goodly number of Patricia Tannises in the city, since those of us who did not immediately go to gawk or render assistance seemed perfectly capable of enjoying our meals while someone else was convulsing on the floor. In fact, I did feel a mild irritation at the inconvenience of the timing of the fit, as it was interrupting my magazine reading. I like reading at the meal table. It gives me something to do, and adds a sense of accomplishment to what would otherwise turn out to be "just" a meal.
Of course, I did not eventually decide to knife her or shoot her several times in the back, then figure that her name was Leslie and how she had a troubled childhood from having a guy's name. There may yet be some remaining dreg of my ever fading sanity.
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Visiting Aunt
We visited 3rd aunt today, and it seems that she is doing quite poorly at this point. What I had initially mistaken for a plump, healthy appearance was in reality a result of bloating from renal failure. It is readily apparent that she is incapable of movement or speech.
However, it seems that she is quite capable of sight and comprehension despite her otherwise near-complete paralysis from the stroke. She could blink her eyes appropriately in response to questions, and had a limited capability to smile when amused by humorous quips. Moreover, she could move her eyes to look at the visitors.
From the movement of her tongue, it seems that she is making attempts to speak, though she is currently incapable of forming words proper. It is fortunate, though, that she appears to be able to recognize the visitors and what little can be ascertained of her cognitive faculties suggests a positive prognosis. I am making a mental note to do something downright hilarious the next time we visit, to see if she is capable of laughter.
However, it seems that she is quite capable of sight and comprehension despite her otherwise near-complete paralysis from the stroke. She could blink her eyes appropriately in response to questions, and had a limited capability to smile when amused by humorous quips. Moreover, she could move her eyes to look at the visitors.
From the movement of her tongue, it seems that she is making attempts to speak, though she is currently incapable of forming words proper. It is fortunate, though, that she appears to be able to recognize the visitors and what little can be ascertained of her cognitive faculties suggests a positive prognosis. I am making a mental note to do something downright hilarious the next time we visit, to see if she is capable of laughter.
Friday, January 22, 2010
A Sad Day
Just today, I learned that my 3rd aunt's condition worsened. It seems the toxins in her bad leg are still wreaking havoc in her system, despite the hospital's best efforts at administering daily dialysis. It seems that besides the failed kidneys, her brain's taking some damage. To be precise, her brain's probably already damaged at this point, since the last report from her son indicates that she's developed a fixed gaze. Loss of brain function, and she's now pending a brain scan. Frankly, I do not have high hopes at this point. At best, if needs be, I do hope she goes peacefully without dragging it out.
One thing that bothers me to no end is how sad her life had been from birth till today. And it is ironic that a simple fall led to a chain of events that would probably do her in. First something got damaged in her bad leg, causing toxins to leak into her blood stream. Then she was hospitalized, where they found that she was developing sepsis. Even after loads of antibiotics and dialysis, the situation has not improved.
Of course, lots of similar things happened as a result of a simple fall. Assuming that the fall is not immediately fatal, it can easily lead to one becoming bedridden and developing complications as a result of that. Or say the injury from the fall turns gangrenous. Something like that.
Anyway, c'est la vie, non? Humans are mortal and fragile. That much should not be forgotten. Memento Mori.
One thing that bothers me to no end is how sad her life had been from birth till today. And it is ironic that a simple fall led to a chain of events that would probably do her in. First something got damaged in her bad leg, causing toxins to leak into her blood stream. Then she was hospitalized, where they found that she was developing sepsis. Even after loads of antibiotics and dialysis, the situation has not improved.
Of course, lots of similar things happened as a result of a simple fall. Assuming that the fall is not immediately fatal, it can easily lead to one becoming bedridden and developing complications as a result of that. Or say the injury from the fall turns gangrenous. Something like that.
Anyway, c'est la vie, non? Humans are mortal and fragile. That much should not be forgotten. Memento Mori.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
The Importance Of Freedom Of Speech
I was watching documentaries today, and the content of the documentaries really got me thinking about the importance of freedom of speech. One featured very guarded and tentative criticisms of the government's lack of environmental consciousness, while the other was an outright criticism of another administration's failures.
Indeed, the practical value of freedom of speech is limited to the administration's willingness to listen. If the people speak up and the comments are deemed undesirable for any reason (stupid, inappropriate, untenable or seditious, for example), obviously nothing would be done about it. Indeed, it is also possible for the admin to pay lip service to the comments, and do nothing about it at all.
Yet, one should not discount the value of free speech. In the absence of commentary on the lack of environmental consciousness, valuable biodiversity could have been lost. Corruption could go unchecked. Incompetence could have been swept under the carpet. Indeed these will be criticisms of the admin, and can be interpreted by those in power as seditious by virtue of the comments being damaging to the admin's reputation and therefore destabilizing the country by increasing discontent.
However, the truth of the matter remains. It is an irresponsible admin that ignores its own flaws. In fact it is no less than treason on the part of the leaders. One need only look towards the collapse of dictatorships to see how the minds of leaders can be poisoned by the ignorance that they themselves encouraged in a bid to cling on to power. It does not suffice to have free speech alone. What is needed is a listening ear, and an inclination towards reform that accompanies it.
Indeed, the practical value of freedom of speech is limited to the administration's willingness to listen. If the people speak up and the comments are deemed undesirable for any reason (stupid, inappropriate, untenable or seditious, for example), obviously nothing would be done about it. Indeed, it is also possible for the admin to pay lip service to the comments, and do nothing about it at all.
Yet, one should not discount the value of free speech. In the absence of commentary on the lack of environmental consciousness, valuable biodiversity could have been lost. Corruption could go unchecked. Incompetence could have been swept under the carpet. Indeed these will be criticisms of the admin, and can be interpreted by those in power as seditious by virtue of the comments being damaging to the admin's reputation and therefore destabilizing the country by increasing discontent.
However, the truth of the matter remains. It is an irresponsible admin that ignores its own flaws. In fact it is no less than treason on the part of the leaders. One need only look towards the collapse of dictatorships to see how the minds of leaders can be poisoned by the ignorance that they themselves encouraged in a bid to cling on to power. It does not suffice to have free speech alone. What is needed is a listening ear, and an inclination towards reform that accompanies it.
Monday, January 18, 2010
The Protestant Work Ethic
It is strange how jealous people get when they encounter those of privilege who do not work. While much of the readily available work out there is less than enjoyable (especially so if it involves interacting with humans), it does not follow that the perceived idleness of the non-workers is somehow damaging to themselves.
I remember how some people asserted that the idle people had too much time on their hands, and thus developed mental disturbances from excessive mental ruminations or started doing mean things to other people. I find that an absurd claim, since mental disturbances or mean inclinations are really quite independent of one's work status. Indeed, I think one who commits suicide from work stress is quite mentally disturbed. As is the rich career person doing mean things to subordinates.
The origin of these absurd notions seems to come from some variant of the protestant work ethic, whereby work is not just a means towards an income for survival, but a sort of duty that is somehow cleansing. One would recall the proverb that the idle mind is the Devil's workshop. Yet it must be noted that not all who are NEET are necessarily idle. It may well be that they have a kind of routine going that simply does not earn money. Would that, then, be considered idleness and subject to the absurd notions associated with idleness?
I remember how some people asserted that the idle people had too much time on their hands, and thus developed mental disturbances from excessive mental ruminations or started doing mean things to other people. I find that an absurd claim, since mental disturbances or mean inclinations are really quite independent of one's work status. Indeed, I think one who commits suicide from work stress is quite mentally disturbed. As is the rich career person doing mean things to subordinates.
The origin of these absurd notions seems to come from some variant of the protestant work ethic, whereby work is not just a means towards an income for survival, but a sort of duty that is somehow cleansing. One would recall the proverb that the idle mind is the Devil's workshop. Yet it must be noted that not all who are NEET are necessarily idle. It may well be that they have a kind of routine going that simply does not earn money. Would that, then, be considered idleness and subject to the absurd notions associated with idleness?
Saturday, January 16, 2010
The Vagaries Of Fortune
Today, my 3rd aunt was admitted to hospital after she fell in her bathroom. Apparently, she sustained some injuries at her leg, which is afflicted with elephantiasis. Unfortunately, that also means that she's now experiencing sepsis. The doctors are attempting to fix her up with antibiotics, followed by dialysis. The situation does not look good. Sepsis is always a nasty thing.
Sometimes these things make me think about the vagaries of fortune, and just how random the world is. Some people get extreme good luck, others get extreme bad luck, and all this is independent of how they are as people. Take my aunt for example. She's quite the kind soul, but has never had a stroke of good luck at any point in her life. If there was some sort of cosmic system of justice influenced by one's goodness, it's either totally buggy or nonexistent to begin with.
Of course, in a way, this is a cause for guilt. Do the more fortunate creatures move in to help the less fortunate ones? Where does one draw the line for helping others? Yet the guilt may be misplaced. In my aunt's case, not only was her problem unforeseeable, it also stemmed from a small complication in an operation decades ago resulting in her case of elephantiasis. What help could have been granted? And the next question would be how much is due...
Sometimes these things make me think about the vagaries of fortune, and just how random the world is. Some people get extreme good luck, others get extreme bad luck, and all this is independent of how they are as people. Take my aunt for example. She's quite the kind soul, but has never had a stroke of good luck at any point in her life. If there was some sort of cosmic system of justice influenced by one's goodness, it's either totally buggy or nonexistent to begin with.
Of course, in a way, this is a cause for guilt. Do the more fortunate creatures move in to help the less fortunate ones? Where does one draw the line for helping others? Yet the guilt may be misplaced. In my aunt's case, not only was her problem unforeseeable, it also stemmed from a small complication in an operation decades ago resulting in her case of elephantiasis. What help could have been granted? And the next question would be how much is due...
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Video Cooling
It seems I may have fried yet another video card no thanks to the extreme heat in my computer casing. The card started producing the typical overheated video ram/GPU artifacts, like weird flickering artifacts obscuring the entire game display, sudden freezes and the like.
The card was sent for servicing under the warranty coverage, and I managed to persuade the supplier to get me a loaner unit. Unfortunately, despite the loaner being a lower end card, it started developing heat issues. I decided to go open casing.
The drawback of open casing setups is that first the case is highly exposed and very vulnerable to liquid spills, bugs entering, etc. More importantly, the open casings have less efficient air flows if not actively cooled and in the same confined area as my current comp.
My solution was to have one of the small but extremely powerful sound system cooling fans and fit it in such a way that it directly feeds cooler air to the vid card. It's the heavy variety of 120mm fan that has incredible output, with a metal frame and blades. Relatively quiet, to boot.
However, as it was feeding in the air from the side of the casing near the rear end, it was in danger of recycling the warmer air from the exhaust vents at the rear of the casing. To minimize air recycling, I installed a cardboard baffle at the exhaust to direct the hot air away from the new fan's intake.
First tests before the fan's installation indicated that CPU temps were around mid 50 degs C on load, and the casing temp was around 50 degs as well. The top of the casing itself felt warm, which indicated a hot air buildup. Not acceptable at all. Obviously, the heatsink on the CPU is blasting it with hot air. My loaner card did not have an electronic temp monitor, but it stands to reason that 50 deg air was bad for it.
After powering up the new fan, casing temps quickly dropped to 34 degs, which is a few degs warmer than the ambient. However, the top of the casing still felt warm on load, suggesting heat issues. Moreover, the CPU temp was largely unchanged, indicating that the fan's cool air was not hitting it at all. The CPU was located somewhere above the vid card.
My solution was then to elevate the fan using a brick, so that it spewed the cool air towards the CPU as well. This greatly improved the air flow over the vid card and hit the CPU as a bonus. This time, not only did the CPU and casing temps drop, the top of the casing did not feel warm anymore. A test of a video game demonstrated that the graphics card glitches were now completely absent.
I expect that the heat issues should be gone with my graphics card when it comes back from servicing. However, only a test of the system on load will be able to definitively prove that.
The card was sent for servicing under the warranty coverage, and I managed to persuade the supplier to get me a loaner unit. Unfortunately, despite the loaner being a lower end card, it started developing heat issues. I decided to go open casing.
The drawback of open casing setups is that first the case is highly exposed and very vulnerable to liquid spills, bugs entering, etc. More importantly, the open casings have less efficient air flows if not actively cooled and in the same confined area as my current comp.
My solution was to have one of the small but extremely powerful sound system cooling fans and fit it in such a way that it directly feeds cooler air to the vid card. It's the heavy variety of 120mm fan that has incredible output, with a metal frame and blades. Relatively quiet, to boot.
However, as it was feeding in the air from the side of the casing near the rear end, it was in danger of recycling the warmer air from the exhaust vents at the rear of the casing. To minimize air recycling, I installed a cardboard baffle at the exhaust to direct the hot air away from the new fan's intake.
First tests before the fan's installation indicated that CPU temps were around mid 50 degs C on load, and the casing temp was around 50 degs as well. The top of the casing itself felt warm, which indicated a hot air buildup. Not acceptable at all. Obviously, the heatsink on the CPU is blasting it with hot air. My loaner card did not have an electronic temp monitor, but it stands to reason that 50 deg air was bad for it.
After powering up the new fan, casing temps quickly dropped to 34 degs, which is a few degs warmer than the ambient. However, the top of the casing still felt warm on load, suggesting heat issues. Moreover, the CPU temp was largely unchanged, indicating that the fan's cool air was not hitting it at all. The CPU was located somewhere above the vid card.
My solution was then to elevate the fan using a brick, so that it spewed the cool air towards the CPU as well. This greatly improved the air flow over the vid card and hit the CPU as a bonus. This time, not only did the CPU and casing temps drop, the top of the casing did not feel warm anymore. A test of a video game demonstrated that the graphics card glitches were now completely absent.
I expect that the heat issues should be gone with my graphics card when it comes back from servicing. However, only a test of the system on load will be able to definitively prove that.
Friday, January 08, 2010
Color Management
I have always been wondering why people were often unimpressed or had strange comments about the images I churned out. At first I assumed it was a matter of monitor calibration, though it is quite rare for monitors to be wildly out of calibration. Basically, what looked great on my monitor did not look terribly good on theirs.
Then I remembered the color profiles inherent in my pics, and the simple fact that most users simply did not use color management. While it is indeed possible for me to display gamut in Photoshop and tweak each individual image to suit the color profiles of most other users, that would involve a lot of effort on my part and completely throw off the color accuracy of my prints. After re-enabling color management on Firefox, the issue was resolved and my colors displayed correctly again.
When I do set up a site to get my pics marketed, the first thing I would do is provide a tutorial for users to enable color management on their browsers such that all images would appear as they are intended. On a side note, it is also pretty remarkable how much more sensitive I was to "off" colors in my food than I was with most of my other pictures. Indeed, slightly different colors for landscape shots went largely unnoticed, and did not really require any tweaking. For food, however...the difference in the reds determines the line between yum and yuck.
Then I remembered the color profiles inherent in my pics, and the simple fact that most users simply did not use color management. While it is indeed possible for me to display gamut in Photoshop and tweak each individual image to suit the color profiles of most other users, that would involve a lot of effort on my part and completely throw off the color accuracy of my prints. After re-enabling color management on Firefox, the issue was resolved and my colors displayed correctly again.
When I do set up a site to get my pics marketed, the first thing I would do is provide a tutorial for users to enable color management on their browsers such that all images would appear as they are intended. On a side note, it is also pretty remarkable how much more sensitive I was to "off" colors in my food than I was with most of my other pictures. Indeed, slightly different colors for landscape shots went largely unnoticed, and did not really require any tweaking. For food, however...the difference in the reds determines the line between yum and yuck.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)