Checksum Arcanius

Thanks to a Y-cable donation by Dan the man, I was able to install Windows tonight. However, it hung in the same place as before that started this whole mess after a reboot having installed service pack 2. Hm…

Movies that gain something with subsequent viewings are a rare commodity in this world. Movies that you like the first time, AND gain something with subsequent viewings are rarer still.

Indeed, Primer is a very rare movie. From first time producer, writer, director, actor, editor, and promoter Shane Carruth comes this complex and engaging cerebral sci-fi idea thriller. What Carruth lacks in budget (the entire movie was made for $7,000, “About the price of a used car”) he more than makes up for with a stellar screenplay that puts his few resources to the best use. Instead of leaning on hollow effects that look more like cheese-whiz than science, the props are grungy boxes and hacked-together electronics – how prototypes are in real life. Along with the grainy look of super 16mm film blown up to 35mm, decisions like this lend an authentic feel to the film that helps ground the viewer as they embark on a journey that will have but a few reference points thereafter.

The first time through, I lost my grounding about half the way through. This time, I faired much better, not getting significantly lost until later in the film. Future viewings, I hope, will continue to clarify more what is going on.

This movie also makes for excellent discussion afterwards, from the physics to the ethics and the paradoxes in between. Highly recommended – the movie to see this year, if it is opening near you. Check out trailers and schedules at primermovie.com

At the Seattle Robotics Society‘s Robothon 2004, I bought 50 raffle tickets to help support the cause, and to get a t-shirt along with it (a $20 additional value!). I stayed through the prize drawing, and was disappointed, but not unexpectedly, when I didn’t win anything. About a week later, I was very surprised to get a call from the SRS saying that, in fact, I had won three prizes. It turns out that they had read the “M” on the tickets as a “W” – the three-prize-winner who wasn’t there turned out to be me. So I recieved the package with the three prizes in it today. There are a good number of motors, controllers, and a 6-axis robotic arm kit from Lynxmotion. The kits should provide ample things to do at upcoming hack sessions.

My good friend Maneesh was in town today for a local consulting contrat he’s working on. We met up after we were done with our respective work, and ate as Azteca before cruising around Redmond talking about girls, women, and various females before ending up in his hotel room watching Bad Boys II on HBO, while continuing to talk about, well, girls, women, and females. When Maneesh and I get together its usuallt one of those three topics. Sure, work and life comes up every once in a while, but not so much really.

Needless to say, it was awesome seeing him again, and who knows – he might make a habit out of this travel to bellevue thing. It’s a very real possibility, apparently.

Thats all for today, folks.

The most recent post on a blog I only occasionally get around to reading is one of the best commentaries on America, Americans and the modern world that I have ever read. And its not that long either.

The site is slow, but its well worth the wait for this one.

First (for all us nerds): On my way to Ichiro’s record-breaking game…

Second: At Edgar’s final game – as a player, at least.
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