Gagarin's Grave

Happy Holidays

noreply@blogger.com (aplett) — Fri, 22 Dec 2006 23:44:00 +0000

I just want to take a moment and wish everyone from BECA 670 a Merry Christmas. This semester was a blast!

Anyway, here's a addictive little holiday flash game I found while cruising the web. Enjoy!

Winterbells

Project Up and Running

noreply@blogger.com (aplett) — Fri, 01 Dec 2006 06:40:00 +0000

Well, I've finally got my project site up and running.

HypeFiction is the name of the game. I've started a few stories (more like kernels of story) so if anyone is interested in logging in and contributing, by all means go ahead. I'll work on some stories I've got fermenting in the ol' noggin and get them up as soon as I find time.

Any problems, feel free to drop me a line.

Final Project III-- The Details!

noreply@blogger.com (aplett) — Wed, 29 Nov 2006 07:02:00 +0000

Okay, if you've been reading my last couple of posts, then you know that I plan to create a detective hyperfiction website for my final project. Soooo.... I suppose some details are in order.

A). Following the suggestion of a computer guru/net geek friend of mine, I've scored a cheap website over at GatorHost.

B). I'm currently in the process of installing and configuring a version of Drupal content managment system to run the web site. (Also suggested by techie/guru/nerd friend).

C). Once up and fully running, individuals will be able to create user accounts that will allow them to post and edit stories. They'll also be able to participate in online polls, discussion forums and leave comments on items that catch their eye.

Final Project II

noreply@blogger.com (aplett) — Sat, 11 Nov 2006 21:46:00 +0000

After reexamining my initial project proposal, I’ve decided to scrap the idea of creating a video short of some type. It would be fun and all, but I don’t think I’ve got the time or the facilities to realize any of my ideas.

Instead, I think I’d like to create a hyperfiction website, similar to what we did in class last Thursday. I don’t know about the rest of you, but I had a lot of fun working on my piece. Plus, doing this would give me a chance to try my hand at some web design, something that I’ve never really tried before.

I think for the most part I already have all the tools I need for this project:

1) For the creation of the html files, I have a copy of Dreamweaver. I honestly have never played around with it, so I might need some help from the more web savvy people in the class. Then again, my project will be pretty much just text and graphics, very similar to the 24 Hours With Someone You Know. I know, I know, that’s vintage web design— maybe I could get some suggestions from the class on how to kick things up a notch.

2) Photoshop, Illustrator, and a camera (for creating the aforementioned graphic elements).

3) Some time and a bit of creativity.

The actual concept for the site would be pretty much like I outlined in my Hyperfiction II post. I’d start things off with a one or two fiction pieces, then either give readers the option of submitting stuff via e-mail or figure out how to let them create their submissions on-line like Dark Lethe. That second option is where I’d need some real help with building.

Anyway, that’s my (new) idea. What do ya’ll think?

P.S. I've played around with the html files we made in class with Dreamweaver, and this is the result... pretty simple, eh?

I've lost an hour of my life and I want it back!

noreply@blogger.com (aplett) — Sat, 11 Nov 2006 00:48:00 +0000

Well, for my foray into that wild and wooly world of MMORPG gaming, I made the mistake of playing Tibia. I should have known I was in for trouble considering the game shares a name with part of the human anatomy… oh well. Tibia is pretty much your run of the mill MMORPG, set in a fantasy/medieval locale. Evidently, eventually you can encounter fearsome beasts and monsters, but after an hour of play, I was still stuck in the newbie hometown; though not for a lack of trying.

All I managed to accomplish was killing a rabbit (probably someone’s pet) and a sheep (also a likely pet). Talk about fun. Oh yeah, I also blundered into some sort of market square, where other players were selling items they had won in their quests. Neat, except that the screen got so crowded with text, player names, and sales pitches that it became nigh impossible to navigate.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m sure Tibia, and by extension most other MMORPGs are fun, so long as you either stick with them, or manage to get in on the ground floor. I just don’t think that they’re really suited for the casual gamer (like me).

It's interesting to note that, at least according to Wikipedia, Tibia is supposed to be one of the oldest and most popular MMORPGs out there... go figure...

Hypertext Literature II

noreply@blogger.com (aplett) — Fri, 10 Nov 2006 22:07:00 +0000

Well, after having given it some thought, here's my proposal for an interactive fiction/hyperfiction/game world/whatever you wanna call it.

Basically, the site would be a collection of case files, notes and musings from a real, old fashioned hard-bitten gumshoe: think Sam Spade or Philip Marlowe (though not Mike Hammer, he's an asshole!) There would be plenty of room for exploration of human condition, comments on society etcetera. Plus, who could resist writting about a character with a kick-ass name like...um...er.. Hal Brockman!

Anyway, here's what I wrote in class.

The Orchard

Hypertext Literature

noreply@blogger.com (aplett) — Fri, 10 Nov 2006 20:55:00 +0000

Perusing the Electronic Literature Directory, I came across 2002: A Palindrome Story. What I find amazing is that the authors managed to write (with the aid of a program called Deep Seed) such a long palindrome that actually makes sense. No, really, it does! Maybe not the first time through, but read it a second or third time, and you’ll get it. It’s actually quite good. Then again, if disjointed, hallucinatory stream of consciousness narratives aren’t your thing… maybe you’ll want to pass.

To read this takes a lot of patience, but it’s worth it. Passages that don’t make sense in the first half, end up being important details in the second half, when they’re read in reverse. Plus, because of the story’s disjointed nature, there is room for a great deal of personal interpretation of its events.

Here’s some possible interpretations of the plot. Personally, I’m of the opinion that the events are taking place over the course of one or two days, not a whole year, but that’s just me.

Another discovery I made on the Electronic Literature Directory was 8 Minutes. While the narrative is kind of interesting, the presentation leaves a lot to be desired, in my opinion. The story is broken up into little segments, each with their own web page.

Ok, that’s fine. However, each page has a timer, and will automatically proceed to the next page in the sequence. Ok, that’s not so good. For some pages the timer was too fast, meaning the page changed before I was finished reading the text. For others, the timers were a tad slow.

Either way, it made for a kind of passive experience that I didn’t care for. If I only wanted to watch something flash at me, I’d choose something with color and graphics, not just text.

Dammit Mickey, quit listening to Judas Priest!

noreply@blogger.com (aplett) — Tue, 31 Oct 2006 06:17:00 +0000

I just came across the oddest thing... a vintage comic strip of Mickey Mouse trying to commit suicide! I don't know how legit it is (Walt was always a lil' crazy I hear), so maybe I'll just let you make up your own minds...

Suicidal Mickey

Regardless if these are fakes or not, for some reason this panel makes me laugh...

I agree with Ed.

noreply@blogger.com (aplett) — Fri, 27 Oct 2006 00:17:00 +0000

For the record, the links for my Technorati/del.icio.us accounts...profiles...whatever are in the sidebar under Miscellanea.

Please no more accounts, I beg of you!

Submission Update...

noreply@blogger.com (aplett) — Tue, 10 Oct 2006 05:03:00 +0000

I just got an e-mail from the editors at Transfer Magazine. It looks like one of my short stories made the cut! Look for it when the next issue comes out at the end of the semester.

Blogs that I subscribe to...

noreply@blogger.com (aplett) — Tue, 10 Oct 2006 03:37:00 +0000

What follows is a list of blogs that I subscribe to in no particular order...

1). Tool Monger

A blog devoted to guys' obsession with powertools. I like that it has a wide range of features, including product reviews, project ideas, and my personal favorite, the D'oh of the Week. I highly recommend this feature if you have an interest in reading stories about various shop related accidents (anvil on foot, setting pants on fire while welding, shrapnel wounds etc.) It's a hoot!

2). Бирский фотоблог [Birsk photoblog]

I stumbled across this site while I was searching for a good photoblog. It's great because it combines two of my hobbies- photography and Russian language/culture. As its title suggests, its a photoblog about the city and people of Birsk. I like that the photos aren't from a professional photographer.

Some of my favorite photos:

Intensive Clouds

A Recent Moment

3). The Secular Outpost

This is a blog that is maintained by members of the Internet Infidels, a collection of secularists and free thinkers that I highly enjoy reading. They tend to focus heavily on the Evolution/ID/Creationism debate, something that I find interesting.

Shameless Self Promotion....

noreply@blogger.com (aplett) — Sun, 08 Oct 2006 06:21:00 +0000

Well, considering the subject of Flunk Arnold was broached in class, I've a confession to make: I submitted an entry titled Unwise Things To Do. Why not take a look and maybe throw a vote or two my way?

A Modest Project Proposal

noreply@blogger.com (aplett) — Thu, 28 Sep 2006 21:31:00 +0000

For my final project, I was thinking of doing something with video: perhaps a total rip-off of Ask A Ninja, such as “Ask a Thirties Gangster” or “Ask a Beatnik” or "Zombie Hunter Tales" (I don't know!)— something that could be repeated fairly easily and with a minimal amount of props.

Another option I was thinking about doing was creating a short-form documentary and submitting it to Current TV and see what kind of response I could get. Topics I was thinking about include a highlighting the efforts of an animal rescue group in the North State that my wife volunteers for; or highlighting my old employer’s efforts to stay competitive against a new big box store. (Local Lumberyard vs. Home Depot).

Or another option would be a vlog on how to video blog on the cheap. Segments could be: how to choose equipment; going over the features of some free video editors (Avid FreeDV) and open source editors (VirtualDub, Avidemux, and Cinelerra) and audio for video (Audacity).

Anyway, those are my rough, early phase ideas for the final project.... any thoughts?

Stuff...

noreply@blogger.com (aplett) — Mon, 25 Sep 2006 01:47:00 +0000

You know, I tried really hard to find a vlog that I thought was good enough to share with the class. I mean,I searched and searched and all I found was crap. I think we already covered all the decent ones in class. Everything else was boring, amateurish or took too long to load.

So instead, I thought I'd share a short little video that I enjoy.

I enjoy it not just because it’s got clever lyrics and hilarious illustrations, but also because it pokes fun at our tendency to inflate our heroes. Take a moment and think about all the stories you’ve heard about politicians, sports figures and entertainers… a fair number of them probably aren’t true…

…except the story about Isadora Duncan’s death— that’s true.

"Adieu, mes amis. Je vais à la gloire."
What a way to go...

Digital Soapbox (with pictures!)

noreply@blogger.com (aplett) — Thu, 14 Sep 2006 20:13:00 +0000

I'll be the first to admit that I hate dogs. In fact, I hate them and their furry little asses with the white hot intensity of 1,000 suns. I can say this because I DO own some dogs and they piss me off to no end.

(If you're wondering why I don't get rid of them it's because A) my wife wont allow me, B) I’m a responsible individual and C) my wife wont allow me)

That said, I would like to share a few websites with my faithful readership.

Find the Pit Bull
Understand-A-Bull

It irks the living shit out of me to see otherwise intelligent, thoughtful people swallow fear-mongering tripe about a dog unquestioningly. I swear, some people seem to think of Pit Bulls as the animal equivalent of nitroglycerin—ready to go off at any second.

Come on people! Educate yourselves!

>steps off soapbox<

Oh yeah… here’s some more shots of my f@&!ing dogs:

If anyone bothers to try and find the Pit Bull, please post how many tries it took you to find it... that or submit captions for my f@&!ing dog pictures.

Media Matters

noreply@blogger.com (aplett) — Mon, 11 Sep 2006 22:07:00 +0000

Well… in the interest of community building (whatever that means) I though I’d share some websites that came up during a discussion of Media Ownership in my BECA 390 class. (My apologies if this is old hat for some).

The first comes from the Columbia Journalism Review. It’s a partial list of media companies and their subsidiaries. While we all know Disney owns ABC, did you know that they also own E! and A&E? How about KGO and KSFO? Look around—you might be surprised.

The second site is pretty nifty, even if it might be a bit dated (circa 2004). They Rule is a flash site that illustrates and maps who sits on which corporate board or boards as the case may be. You can also see to which organizations or political parties individual board members make donations.

I think the interesting thing about They Rule is all the information, including donating history, is (apparently) gleaned from public information. It just sort of reminds you how transparent our lives can be in the (duh-duh-Duuh!) Age of Information.

Random Crap

noreply@blogger.com (aplett) — Sun, 10 Sep 2006 06:21:00 +0000

Not one for regurgitating random Internet crap (Intercrap?) I’m sort of surprised that I’m passing this along. I admire the dedication this guy has for seeing this project through. Lord knows I probably wouldn’t make it more than a couple of months.

(Be sure to have your volume up before clicking!)

Now Mit Oscar!

noreply@blogger.com (aplett) — Thu, 07 Sep 2006 21:18:00 +0000

One week in the blogosphere and all I got was this lousy t-shirt.

noreply@blogger.com (aplett) — Wed, 06 Sep 2006 17:56:00 +0000

Having had no real interest in blogs, blogging or bloggers, I was dubious that I would find anything out there to pique my interest. For most part, I was right, though I did find one shining ray of hope.

Billmon's Whiskey Bar is actually interesting, well written and dare I say it: thought provoking.

Why don't 'cha give it a whirl?

I'm sorry that I've not been very active this past week, but things are still pretty crazy, what with the start of the new semester. This week was especially bad as I spent most of my free time polishing the stories I plan to submit to SFSU's own Transfer Magazine. I'll try to be more diligent about future updates...

The quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog...

noreply@blogger.com (aplett) — Thu, 31 Aug 2006 20:48:00 +0000

...and landed on his head.

BECA 670 Blog