Will You Have Halo Flu?

Look at your co-workers on Monday. Study them closely…because chances are many of them will be calling in sick on Tuesday. Maybe they’ll even be out the rest of the week. It’s called Halo Flu around Arune.Com and it’s not uncommon.

Unless you’re completely unaware of pop culture, you’ve heard to the video game franchise Halo, which releases its third installment this Tuesday. It’s going to blow away records for first day revenue by a video game, film or anything else you can imagine. Those record breaking movie weekend numbers? Halo 3 is going to do more in one day. I’m not a huge fan of the second game, but I’ll be picking up the third installment this week (as an early birthday gift thanks to my family) and I’ll be playing it a bit each night. The first game was a true joy, combining an intelligent shooter with a gripping story about one man’s fight to defeat a seemingly unstoppable alien enemy. The ultimate action movie…and players were in control

So if you notice your office a bit more bare, just know that there’s a good reason: they’re playing what may be the most revolutionary video game in history.

One question remains: are any of you coming down with Halo Flu this Tuesday?

Access Denied

Earlier this week I found myself without Internet access for almost 48 hours and it was an interesting experience. That probably makes me sound sound an uber-nerd with no life or ambition, but the Internet has become quite integral to my life. I do my work for CBR over the Internet. I keep up contact with friends via IM and e-mail. It’s my gateway to the world. So when my ISP (internet service provider) stopped providing me Internet service due to weather related issues, suddenly my world felt smaller. I couldn’t talk to 5 people at once anymore. I had to call them or wait for them to call me. It felt…weird. I had a lot of free time on my hands and decided I should use it to do something useful. I figured it’d all pale to the wonders of the Internet, to which I’ve become accustomed to a degree admittedly, and that I’d be bored…

…but as is not so uncommon, I was wrong.

There’s not a lot I can do while still recovering from surgery, so I decided to do some cleaning and get my house in order, literally and figuratively. I’m a clean guy, but I tend to take time to get rid of belongings whose time has passed. Me being me, I decided that the best time was 11pm, after I’d been watching television (dude, Heroes was awesome!) and it was quite a sobering experience. Looking through all the old pictures of friends, experiences and traveling was quite an experience. Taking a few hours to look through photos really makes you appreciate your life and all that you’ve been given. I also read through some old birthday cards, old letters and it made me wish I’d kept in contact with some people I knew in high school. I know that people drift apart and we’re all meant to go our own ways, but it just makes me wonder how these people are doing and if I could do anything to help them.

The most touching things I found were a set of old drawings by my mother and gifts from my dad. In the case of the latter, I loved finding old tickets to baseball games and how much I enjoyed them. Hell, I even went to Game 6 of the 1993 World Series and got to see the Jays win the whole thing– from seats right behind home plate! Those kind of experiences can’t be replaced and doing it with my family makes it all the more memorable. The drawings from my mom were of random things, but she’s always been a talented artist and it reminded me how much she used to help me with school projects, always with a smile on her face.

I ended up being too tired to read any books and I stayed up watching a film (the superb The Prestige), but it was one of those times where I liked being disconnected from the rest of the world. It gave me a chance to reconnect with myself and that’s a rare, invaluable experience. I’m not saying that cleaning is the only way to find it, but it’s something I recommend to everyone– go through old photos, turn on some music and spend a few hours remembering the best times of your life.

My Name Is Not A Spelling Error!

I’m not sure if the rest of you ever have this problem, but most Microsoft programs seem to indicate that my name is a spelling error. It’s usually not too hard to fix this, but I find it so funny that so many ethnic names aren’t included in the spellcheck for those programs or even the venerable Apple’s iChat program, which refuses to acknowledge that a) my name is spelt correctly and b) my name is a word with meaning. Perhaps this means I’m a corrupt, godless creature at my core…no Kurt, that’s not a cue for one of your trademark humorous and well-timed zings. I don’t know if any of my readers have the same issue, but I always do a double-take when I type my name and see that red line under it, indicating I’ve misspelt the world. It’s even funnier when I do misspell my name.

Long Distance Calling

I remember, back in the day, when long distance calling within the US was expensive and when you moved, you needed to change your cell phone # to avoid those costs. I know this isn’t a huge epiphany, but I guess I just realized how much the communication industry has changed. You don’t get ranked on a speed dial anymore. You dial with area codes all the time now. It’s just amazing how much little things can change over time without you noticing and then snowball into change in your lifestyle. It’s also a sign of how small this world is getting. I can call my friend Kurt in Canada cheaply on my cell phone; I can travel to Australia with this same phone and not pay high roaming costs; at no time do I need to do anything different with my phone. Suddenly it’s easy to understand why cell phones are like appendages to some people because they’re your lifeline to the world. With products like Apple’s iPhone, that allow true web surfing and instant messaging, it’s understandable that some people are so attached to their cell phones. They may not be real people, but they’re like a friend who goes through all the highs & lows in life with you, connecting you to the rest of the world and to those you care about.

I guess this was all spurred by thinking about how much I’d be screwed if I lost my cell phone. It has so much contact info that I try to back up, but I can’t do much with the text messages I save nor do I want to have to re-enter all my contact info in a new phone. And yes, I know I can save it all to my sim card…which wouldn’t help me if I lost my phone!

AppleCare

I always find it odd that I’ve developed an emotional attachment to certain physical possessions, not because I think there’s anything wrong with that, but because I’m not one to get attached in other areas of my life. I love the handcuffs I was able to take home from work when I left (and no, I don’t use them for anything inappropriate); the handgun I own is one of my most prized possessions; and my Transformers toy called “Beachcomber” is probably the defining possession of my youth (it was stolen and I only found another one a few years ago). Still, none of those is even close to being as important to me as my laptop (a 2005 model iBook computer, not the swank new MacBook seen above). It sounds silly on the surface, but I recently began thinking about how much I use this computer to communicate with friends, cultivate those friendships and connect to the world– via business e-mails, downloading (legally) music and reading the news.

With that in mind, I was surprised to learn just how much I’d miss my computer if it stopped working or was stolen/destroyed. The other day I found that my wireless connection wasn’t working and the world suddenly felt smaller. It’s another statement that sounds stupid, but I’m used to being able to communicate with people all over the world at any given time and chatting with friends who otherwise might not be able to talk with you as frequently (you can chat with more people online at any moment than you can over the phone). Since I’m stuck sitting on my butt during the post-surgery recovery, I’m so used to looing at various message boards and news sites all the time, so much so that it’s gone from boring distraction to interesting daily ritual. Even when I’m travelling, I carry it in a heavy duty Zero Halliburton case, which has always seemed liked overkill to most people.

Sure, I’ll have to upgrade my computer some day in the future, but I think I’ll still hold onto this particular laptop. It’s travelled with me internationally, been my source of enjoyment during some tough times and helped strengthen already established friendships, not to mention the business networking it has allowed me. In a way it’s like a trusty friend who’s been a companion during some of the most interesting years of my life and with that perspective in mind, it doesn’t seem so ludicrous for me to be attached to it. It’s not only a memento of the past but also a gateway to my future.

Would You Want To Be A Cyborg?

That’s actually meant as a somewhat serious question, albeit one originally rooted in humor, and in considering my answer, I’m surprised how much there is to consider. Now when I ask this question, I mean “cyborg” as in having any cybernetic parts, from just a badass arm to going all out just like Robocop. Talking with my friend Frank, we actually hit upon a number of points that I thought were quite interesting.

• Fitness: For those who like to work out, lift weights and sculpt their bodies, having cybernetic parts would certainly change how you work out. If you have a bionic arm, how do you keep your body proportioned if one appendage can’t be worked out like the other ones? It would change the whole art of bodybuilding and would change how one works out. This may seem lik a silly concern, but to those who are very active, it’d be a major change.
• Earning Your Victories: This is an extension of the previous comment, wherein those with cybernetic parts would be faster, stronger and more coordinated…but would you really be able to claim any of the credit for those triumphs? If you’re “better” because of these cybernetic upgrades, how do you know if it’s your skill, dedication and fortitude that are contributing to your achievements? Since so much could be achieved physically with upgrades, I wonder if we’d see people placing more value on spiritual and mental achievements. Some might argue it’d be for the better, but a lack of balance is, to me, never a good thing.
• Obsession With Upgrades: People can barely keep track of all their new clothes, shoes and accessories as they continually look for the hot new thing, so one has to wonder how we’d change if given the change to continually customize our body with cybernetics. Unlike tattoos or piercings, you wouldn’t get a “do over,” so we might see a lot of people hating themselves because they rushed into something as a result of it seeming “cool.”
• Perception Of The World Around You: I wonder how it’d feel to lose your normal sense of touch in a limb. I keep using a cybernetic arm as my example because, well I’m a nerd, and because it seems like the coolest limb to alter. I mean, wouldn’t it be awesome if your hand transformed into weapons, tools and, uh, a cool bionic hand? But I wonder what it’d be like to feel like you’re missing a limb or if scientists could replicate the feeling that you have an arm, so your brain doesn’t freak out.

So would you want to be a cyborg? And how far would you want to go with the upgrades? I’m not sure I’d really want much done to me, except perhaps something like a skeletal reinforcement so my bones don’t break easily. Otherwise, I’m happy just being a mere mortal and I don’t see a need to change.

The Top 8 New Gadgets

By now you’ve all heard that the CES (Consumer Electronics Show) happened last week and there were some cool gadgets introduced, like the universal language translator featured on BBC News. I’m sure there are more comprehensive lists to work from, but CNN recently made a list of their top “8 New Gizmos for 2007″ and I thought they were worth a look. After all, how much more do you want to hear me talk about wrestling, eh? Ha. Keep in mind that Apple made their own announcements at MacWorld, so don’t expect the iPhone (pictured on the left) to be on this list, nor the equally cool Apple TV, which should be Apple’s first step towards bringing computers and your living room even closer together in style.

• S-XGen Ultra Mobile Portable Computer: It’s an interesting idea, but at $1400.00 I have to wonder who will buy it. You can buy a decent laptop for that price or wait for the iPhone, which should have decent Internet capabilities. This is more of a “real” computer, but I can’t see anyone really wanting to spend that much money on it.
• HP TouchSmart IQ770 PC: Still expensive, but I can see this becoming quite popular. The touch screen makes it a smart addition to the kitchen environment and it can easily be set up to provide some entertainment while cooking and/or waiting for something to finish simmering. Once the price drops, I can see a lot of people wanting to own a device with so much potential to help organize and entertain in a messy environment such as a kitchen.
• Taser C2: Because you can’t cause an intruder to writhe in agony unless the grip for your Taser is the right color. Tasers are awesome. We remember when I got hit by one and the world got a chuckle. Well worth the price and a real nice look.
• Nokia 6131 NFC: I remember seeing something on 60 Minutes about currency being traded ihttp://www.arune.com/wp-admin/post.php?action=edit&post=457n Africa via cell phone and it looks like that is coming to America. Frankly, phones are so easily to lose and have stolen that I’m not big on this idea, though with the proper safeguards, it could lead to smarter transaction technology. Definitely an interesting step forward.
• Sansa View: I really want the sure-to-be-coming Widescreen iPod to have some real competition, since competition is great for the market and consumers, but I’m not convinced that any company can make a media player worth purchasing in this iTunes era.
• Nokia N800 Internet Tablet: Now this is an interesting one, as they’re trying to reach the IM (instant messaging) community with this device, but honestly, $400? I don’t know about the rest of the specs, but it seems I can communicate just as well with a cell phone and decent data plan, or y’know, my computer. If I need to instant message someone that badly, I probably should call them, y’know?
• Samsung SCH-u620: I don’t want to watch TV on that small a screen or pay the crazy cell phone fees, but I’m sure lots of people will eat this up. I like the design and it looks very user friendly.
• LG VX9400: See above.

You might be wondering what I found so interesting, since I don’t seem enthused about most of the devices, and frankly that is a good question. The interesting thing is the trend towards mobile media and, frankly, how impractical it all seems. I understand that the technology needs to start somewhere, but considering the fees associated with these devices, it just seems crazy to invest in them. I’m not trying to say that only Apple Inc is innovating, but their products seem the most forward thinking of all the companies. The iPhone has a better screen, more intuitive control and a better price than these devices…and I still think it is overpriced. Who wants to pay cell phone fees for television? Why not just buy a DVR and watch your favorite shows later?

I know that we’re in a society of “gimme now” attitudes, but I have a hard time believing that people are going to invest all that money in devices with little potential return and general inability to backup purchases. As much as I praise the iPhone, I’d rather phones just be phones and stop trying to be everything in one. Sure, it may make the companies money in the short term, but they’ll never compete with the hardware dedicated to music, movies and television.

Apple Owns My Soul

No buttons.

Touch screen.

Camera.

Lots of software.

It’s like the greatest portable computer ever. Just imagine how this will affect the widescreen, touchscreen iPod that we’re supposed to hear about. Wow. Add in the announced Apple TV– known on the web as “iTV”– and I’m excited beyond belief. Here’s where my money is going this year. The above link is updating live from Macworld, so keep refreshing it to learn more.

I Am Time Magazine’s Person Of the Year

…and so are you. And you. But maybe not you. You know who you are.

Who are these people? Seriously, who actually sits down after a long day at work and says, I’m not going to watch Lost tonight. I’m going to turn on my computer and make a movie starring my pet iguana? I’m going to mash up 50 Cent’s vocals with Queen’s instrumentals? I’m going to blog about my state of mind or the state of the nation or the steak-frites at the new bistro down the street? Who has that time and that energy and that passion?

The answer is, you do. And for seizing the reins of the global media, for founding and framing the new digital democracy, for working for nothing and beating the pros at their own game, TIME’s Person of the Year for 2006 is you.

You can read the full story right here. Yes folks, that’s right, my love for Jack Bauer, Randy Orton, Battlestar Galactica, Superman and the NHL are saving the world. Boo. Yah.

Spam-A-Lot

If I were to become a secret agent like James Bond, I’d probably find all those people sending me spam via e-mail and kick their asses, y’know? Nothing too severe, maybe just a punch right between the eyes and a knee to the gut. It’s frustrating to wake up to so much e-mail each day. Two of my e-mail addresses are inundated each day, one of which I’ve given up on even trying to stop the e-mail. I filter away as much as I can but it doesn’t help, though according to CNN, I’m not alone: 9 out of 10 e-mails are now spam.

I get a lot of spam comments on the blog too, from a variety of porn/sex related persons, and it makes me wonder: why the hell would anyone want to spend their life spamming people? And how do they morally justify it? To me, the funniest part of the article is the idea that if people stop being interested in porn and sex toys, these spam e-mails would disappear. [Sarcasm] After all, the problem couldn’t be that the spammers are petty, selfish, self-indulgent people who are marking a conscious choice to con, swindle and disrespect people using the internet. That would never happen. [/Sarcasm]

So, next time you get spam, know that you’re not alone, and if you’re one of those people who doesn’t get spammed, well, I’m happy for ya. You’re not missing out on anything.