Hidden Messages in Twitter Trending Topics
I've always suspected that there were hidden messages in Twitter's trending topics, and today I found a perfect example via the Canadian trends:
The order wasn't edited - only the boxes and snarky comments added.
Non-Tech: Implementing Traumas in to AD&D 3.5e
I've been playing Dungeons and Dragons with a group of friends for years, but in our latest campaign we decided to try something different. Our DM added in the Trauma system from the Palladium-based Robotech RPG. What this meant for the story portion of the game was that when a player comes close to death (or actually dies, and is then raised/resurrected) they have to roll 1d20 - a roll of 1-8 (if your health drops below 0, but you are saved - otherwise a roll or 1-10 if you actually die and come back) means you then need to roll a percentile die (or, rather, 1d100 + 1d10) and match the result to the Trauma table from the Robotech player's handbook.
I last night's game, my character (a Lawful Good Paladin played to the tune of a Whitecloak from Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series) nearly died in combat. As such, I rolled a 1d20 with a result of 2. As such, I rolled the percentile and came with with a 5. From the Trauma Table (which I can't reproduce here due to copyright restrictions), a 5 resulted in an Alignment Reversal. My Lawful Good Paladin became (after a short side trip) a Chaotic Evil Blackguard.
The Trauma Table doesn't come in to play that often, but the result can be small (my friend Mike's character can't stand to be around music) or game changing.
Non-Tech: Unintentional Humour from Valve
When Valve was first leaking details about Steam for Mac, they released a series of images parodying 'classic' Apple ads. This was one:
I get what they're trying to say - the PC is boxy and old-fashioned while the Mac is shiny and new. The unintentional humour is that while the Portal turret does it's job adequately in its game, it's easily defeated. The PC (or Team Fortress 2 turret) on the other hand starts out small and meek, but can be easily upgraded in to a massive powerhouse. That said, which would you rather have? Effective but locked down, or less-than-pretty but easily customizable?
Of course, I could just be reading too much in to things again.
Non-Tech: The A-Team vs. Star Wars Syndrome
A friend and I went to see the A-Team movie with very low expectations. Both of us are under 30, and therefore obviously didn't watch the TV series when it aired. In fact, I didn't really experience the A-Team until only a few years ago, and my friend just started watching the series. After the movie ended, we both agreed that it was far better than we expected it would be -- I'd rate it 'good' to 'very good'.
However, as we were leaving (after watching the 'after-the-credits' parts), another patron commented to us that he hated the movie -- "fucking terrible" was pretty close to what he called it. He then proceeded to explain that he watched the original series when it aired, and this didn't stand up to it. What this guy was experiencing was classic 'Star Wars Syndrome'.
Star Wars Syndrome is a different way of saying that someone is looking at something through rose coloured glasses. When the 'new trilogy' of Star Wars movies came out, fans of the original series were quick to say that the new episodes were complete crap and didn't hold up against the originals. But really, the original movies weren't that great. The effects were overdone, the acting wasn't anything to write home about, and there were plot holes and cock-ups all around in the writing. But when the series was just out in theaters, it was excellent, and that's how people who experienced it in theaters remember it.
However, for 'kids' who only saw the original trilogy a few years before the new movies (like myself), they didn't have that gap in time between them to tint their views. As such, the new movies look just like the old ones, only with modern effects and updated writing styles to reflect current world states and views. A good summary of this theory is represented in this PVP Online comic.
But enough about Star Wars.
The guy who told us that the A-Team movie was terrible was simply going through the same thing. He watched and admired the A-Team when he was younger, around my age, but the years since have changed his own personal views. He remembers the A-Team as being good, but now due to these changes in his mindset, it just isn't the same. So, when he watches the new movie, even though it holds true to the original, he sees it as being inferior.
I have to admit, I suffer from Star Wars Syndrome when it comes to 'Transformers'. I grew up watching the Transformers and loved it. Then I watched the 'Beast Wars/Machines' series, and loved that. But, when I try to watch the original Transformers now, I can't stand it. I remember loving it, but times have changed, and I look at it from another point of view.
So was the A-Team movie really any good? I say yes, and others say no. Will you like it? Probably the best way to answer that is, were you a fan of the original series, and if so, when was the last time you watched it?
Non-Tech: The Fine Art of Seat Selections in Theaters
While sitting in the theater the other night, waiting for Iron Man 2 to begin, and holding four extra seats for some friends, I had time to contemplate the fine art of Seat Selection.
It's interesting to watch how people choose where to sit when the theater is empty. Some immediately go for the seats in the furthest back. Others will go to the least populated section. Myself? I try to get as close to the middle of the theater as possible, or at least the middle of a row (to avoid watching on an angle).
Much like the basic rules that go in to using a urinal, there are a few general guidelines for choosing your seat in a theater when it starts to fill up.
- Never sit directly next to someone unless there are no other blocks of seats available for your group (in which case it is polite to ask before sitting) or the theater is full enough that only single seats are available.
- If someone has placed a coat over a seat, respect that it is reserved. If you choose to sit next to it, refer to #1.
- Although most theaters stagger their seating, some do not. If you are wearing a large hat, take it off so that those behind you can see the movie. If you're above average in height, try to sit in front of an empty seat if one is available (possibly as a result of #1).
- If you have small children with you (and it should be noted that just because you can bring a child to an 18a rated movie doesn't mean you should) at a movie that isn't a "children's movie" per say, try to arrive early rather than late and sit in a relatively empty area. This will give those without children the chance to sit as far away from you as possible. This is for your benefit as well as ours.
- If you arrive late (after the previews have finished) and no one is holding a seat for you, find the most available seat and take it. Don't spend minutes walking up and down aisles trying to find the 'perfect place' - you missed your chance.
- If you are saving a seat for someone, let them know in advance the general area where you're sitting. This will prevent them wandering up and down aisles, searching rows and talking loudly.
It was really fun to watch these guidelines in action the other night - it kind of gives me hope because for the last few years going to see a show hasn't always been the most enjoyable experience. Now, if only they could makes these in to actual rules, punishable by a beating with a sack of sweet Valencia oranges....
Non-Tech: The Prize
I went to check my mail at the post office today and was happily surprised to see a parcel card in the box. I wandered over to the post office counter, and the clerk informed me that I'd have to pay $6.44 plus GST (note: after July, this same transaction will cost more due to the incoming HST). As I was expecting a few different packages, I paid the fee, and the Postie returned with an over-stuffed envelope. From the logo on the return-to-sender portion of the envelope I knew immediately that it was the prize I won for being @Telus's 4,000th follower on Twitter.
Pictured: The meerkat, the envelope, and my receipt.
Immediately after I posted about this on Twitter, the nice representative Direct Messaged me, apologized, and offered to reimburse me for the expense. I declined (as, after all, a matter of ~$7.00 isn't worth taking their time over). Besides, it's actually pretty funny - I regularly get 'bent-over' by my cell carrier, Rogers (get it? Bent over? Rogers? Rogered? Huh? Come on, it's funny!). At least Telus apologizes when they do it accidentally!
Short Non-Tech Rant: Tim Hortons
Wow. I've got quite a long history with Tim Hortons, but for some reason I keep going back (probably because of Roll Up The Rim). This morning at the drive-through was about par for the course.
Her: Welcome to Tim Hortons, how can I help you?
Me: Hi. Can I please get an extra-large tea, with two milk and two sugar?
Her: <several seconds of silence> Ummm, so you want a decaf tea?
Me: Actually, I just want a regular tea.
Her: Okay. Do you want anything in it?
Me: Yes. Two milk, and two sugar.
Her: <several seconds more of silence>. So two cream, and one sweetener?
Me (trying not to sound frustrated): No. Two milk. <pause> And two sugar.
Her: Oh! Okay!
I'm surprised that I didn't end up with a Double-Double instead, as has been known to happen before.
Non-Tech: Zap Straps
Manager: Laslow, I need some Zap Straps. Do you have any?
Me: Yep, they're in that cupboard.
Manager: *Pulls out half-a-dozen* Are these the longest you have?
Me: Ya, but you can just link them together if you need longer.
Manager: *Scratches head* How do you do that?
Me: ...
I'll leave you to figure it out on your own.
Photography Page Updated
The Photography page has been updated again with two new galleries: the Kal Park Fire, and the Terrace Mountain Fire. More to come eventually!
Support
Hosted By:
TDRevolution
If you've found this site useful, consider donating to help cover my hosting costs:
Twitter Feed
- You cannot unsee the Dog Masks. http://i.imgur.com/XSVIy.jpg #MetroTwit 1 day ago
- Two things that would get me on #MetroTwit - Native retweet, and the ability to mark your position in the timeline. 1 day ago
- My review of iTunes 10 in 99 characters: *Thhhhhhhhbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbb* 2 days ago
- So what now? http://twitpic.com/2l14is #android #angrybirds 2 days ago
- Our TV has no concept of audio normalization. #firstworldproblems 2 days ago
Tags
Categories
- "It's a Feature" (24)
- Android (22)
- Apple (10)
- Beta Testing (10)
- Gaming (11)
- Google (16)
- Hack (7)
- Hardware (34)
- howto (22)
- IDNK (1)
- iPhone (9)
- Linux (13)
- Makes Sense (8)
- Meta (15)
- Microsoft (34)
- Networking (7)
- Non-Tech (14)
- OS X (4)
- photography (2)
- Rants (28)
- Scripts (3)
- Servers (16)
- Short (36)
- Software (28)
- Support (28)
- Tales from Support (11)
- Tomfoolery (10)
- Troubleshooting (49)
- Twitter (6)
- Virtualization (1)
- Windows (11)
- Windows 7 Beta (7)
- Writing (1)
- Xbox 360 (3)