Month: December 2006

Kill Bill, Volume 1 was a fun DVD last weekend. Volume 2 should arrive from Netflix tomorrow, and I’m looking forward to it. Quentin Tarantino was born to make this kind of movie, a pastiche of different styles, borrowing heavily from comic books and TV shows, stitched together with gratuituous violence but with a wink towards the audience. Not for everyone, probably, but I was pleasantly surprised. It was on my list to see, but it beat expectations. Metacritic score of 69 probably isn’t wrong, but better than that for me.

After Best in Show, Christopher Guest and the rest of his merry team earned the right to make most any movie they chose. With For Your Consideration, I’d suggest it’s time to revoke that license. Studded with funny actors, sprinkled with funny scenes, this extended sketch — sort of a movie novella — really doesn’t match up to previous work.

I’ll admit my disappointment was colored by the consistent cackles behind me. These inconsiderate folks fell over themselves laughing just at the first appearance of some of these actors. Sure, it was a Friday night, and I’m glad people are out to enjoy themselves. But when you interrupt my Friday night, I get grouchy.

Metacritic score of 70 feels exorbitant. Notably, the community there is voting the film at 5.8, a step lower. I suppose the critics got to see the film in a quiet screening; maybe I missed some of the jokes?

James Kim, 1971-2006

Like so many around the country (especially in the small-world of the San Francisco Internet industry), I followed the story of the Kim family over the last week. After the unexpected lift in spirits when the family was found, it was especially disheartening to get the bad news yesterday afternoon.

So, we doubled down. They found the family, we said to each other. Maybe they’ll find the dad too. [C.W. Nevius, SFGate]

I worked at CNET for five years, until May 2006, so my thoughts are with my friends and colleagues there now. I didn’t know James very well. But he was responsive and helpful the one time I made a personal request for his expertise. Every comment and report I’ve seen demonstrates that this was the norm.

I ache for those two children.

I’d like a clean inbox to start next week, so it’s time to pull out the tidbits which raised themselves up above the del.icio.us level of interest, and into the “I should check this out” tier. Of course, I really haven’t given these much attention, but if I put them up here, at least my personal e-mail inbox and conscience will be clear.

Oldest stuff first…

• Antisocial media reminds me why I love the Internet. Even as I curse the extra burden of self-service sometimes, I really treasure not having to talk to someone to complete every transaction.
• Jon Udell’s screencast about Dabble DB is still something I want to check out. Data without visualization is useless…but data without structure can’t even be visualized, so I’m curious whether this service really extends the power of databases beyond the software developer, or provides an online service for the software developer.
• A new free physical map of the United States is worth noting. I don’t need one (or have room for one), but just in case you do. Actually, you would do well to just visit Raven Maps and pay the reasonable fees for them to mail you one of theirs — fantastic stuff.
• NextBus sounds great, but I’m not sure it will change how/when I take the bus. Still, I’m pleased to see that NextBus now has more lines in San Francisco, including some I take more often.
• Amazon: Utility computing power broker is a CNET News.com article from three weeks ago about how all these new web services may be a good business for Amazon. Not news, really, but I’m a fan.
• Via The Map Room, I learn about the rules for NFL TV distribution. Doesn’t change my viewing habits, but the imposition of geographical boundaries on a media world which erases boundaries remains interesting. How long can these now-artificial limits survive?
• This flashlight does look like a Cool Tool.
• I know an Oklahoman who might enjoy these maps.
• Asteroid’s Revenge (Flash game) has an amusing premise, although it won’t occupy you for long.
• Via Slashdot, I learned about the BusinessWeek.com slideshow (crank those pageviews for the media model!) on how LEGOs are made. Or you can read the article.
• I think SUNW is worth keeping an eye on, financially.
• The team at silicon.com in the UK lauched atlarge.com this week. The original concepts for this site were discussed while I was still at CNET Networks. I’m glad to see the champions behind the idea did not get discouraged, even if they were delayed. The goal? “Read and write about internet access, at the airports of the world.” This is a functional site, not a media site, and it’s well done. It does need a bit of a jumpstart, of course. I don’t travel much, or I would do my part. I know I am often curious about what will be available for access, since I’m not yet an EVDO customer.
• I’m annoyed that by waiting just two days after getting the email, I was too slow to even get into the lottery to get an entry for the Escape from Alcatraz triathlon next June. I should have known, but damn. Last year, I got in the lottery, but did not get an entry. Didn’t even get that far, this year. And I’m really not interested in the Wildflower Triathlon in May, which just opened entries.
• While my message board research did not continue in public (mostly because I’m usually too tired to blog when I get home), I will say that I need to dig into Vanilla Add-ons over the next few days. I’ll detail more at some point.

Time to step away from the computer on a Saturday night.

Chad Dickerson asks “What was your first Amazon order?”

So I went into Amazon, flipped back through my transaction history, and found two books I ordered on December 17, 1997. This is back when Amazon mostly sold books. 😉

The two books were The Perfect Storm : A True Story of Men Against the Sea and Full-Time RVing : A Complete Guide to Life on the Open Road. Both were Christmas gifts; I’m pretty sure the latter was for my sister, as support material for her Airstream. Not a big seller, but still available. I can’t remember which family member received The Perfect Storm. Oh well. Good book (and movie), all the same. And still for sale, new or used.

Since Christmas is approaching once more, and I’m not a fan of shopping, I wouldn’t be surprised if I make my first Amazon.com purchase since June (the pre-order of Beautiful Evidence).

Thanks, Chad, for sparking this walk down memory lane. Nine years later, I’m still a customer, albeit a sporadic one.