Monthly Archives: April 2009

Video: Doctor Who

Posted on April 30, 2009 by midiguru

Watched one of the new Doctor Who stories last night on Netflix — “Voyage of the Damned.” I haven’t paid a visit to the good Doctor in many years, but this episode was just as delightfully and spectacularly cheesy as … Continue reading →

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Stimulus & Response

Posted on April 28, 2009 by midiguru

Last week I was bewailing the sludgy, trapped-in-goo pacing that seems to be inevitable in interactive fiction. The glacial pace with which events move forward, I theorized, makes IF not terrifically fun for the player when IF is compared to other entertainment media. … Continue reading →

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Brakes & Accelerator

Posted on April 25, 2009 by midiguru

News and commentary lately are devoting a lot of ink and air time to two topics — the global economy and climate change. What’s odd is that we’re talking out of both sides of our collective mouths at once, saying … Continue reading →

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Pushing the Boulder

Posted on April 23, 2009 by midiguru

The release today of a new version of Inform 7 has me, I’ll admit it, excited. I’m not sure exactly why. Okay, seeing my upcoming Inform 7 Handbook prominently listed on the News page may have something to do with … Continue reading →

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Viewing: Aeon Flux

Posted on April 23, 2009 by midiguru

As science fiction films go, Aeon Flux is a cut above. Mavens and cognoscenti will note that I’m calling it science fiction, not sci-fi. The difference is mostly in the eyes of the science fiction community, but it’s significant. What … Continue reading →

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Us vs. Them

Posted on April 21, 2009 by midiguru

This morning I saw a bumper sticker in a parking lot that said “Liberalism is a Mental Disease.” This made me angry, of course. As the anger subsided, I started to feel sad — and sorry for the poor schmuck. … Continue reading →

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Move along, folks. Nothin’ to see.

Posted on April 19, 2009 by midiguru

The human brain is not good at absorbing, understanding, and acting on the basis of abstract information that arrives from distant places. There’s no reason why evolution should have equipped our ancestors with that ability. In sub-Saharan Africa, where our … Continue reading →

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Power Tools

Posted on April 17, 2009 by midiguru

There are few things more disturbing to a musician (to this musician, anyway) than the sound of a power lawn mower, blower, or edger cutting across the afternoon when you’re trying to practice. Except during the winter, this type of … Continue reading →

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Economic Recovery (anecdotal evidence)

Posted on April 16, 2009 by midiguru

The economy is starting to turn around. You know how I can tell? Three months ago my student roster had fallen from 22 students to 15. The students who weren’t serious about it had mostly dropped out, leaving only the … Continue reading →

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Burning Down the House

Posted on April 14, 2009 by midiguru

Mr. Stupid-Head has a system. He knows that he has a tendency to put the kettle on the stove, turn on the stove, and then wander into his office (which is at the far end of the house) and not … Continue reading →

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