Disqus - Latest Comments for Gideon

Re: Leonard Cohen, Live From The Beacon Theatre

Gideon — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 21:32:49 -0000

Gonna see him next month in Ft. Worth! SO excited!

I just hope he doesn't bring his back up singers... :shudders:

Re: The New Kindle and the Audio Book Threat

Gideon — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 13:16:01 -0000

It is really terrible.

But you can also listen to audiobooks ON the Kindle. For a device without a whole lot of options they really made an effort to put it on there.

Re: Top Ten Versions of Leonard Cohen’s Classic “Hallelujah”

Gideon — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 09:36:31 -0000

Jeff Buckley - best version, no doubt about. Rufus's is just a bad imitation of Buckley's.

Cohen is an amazing song-writer - but his work is almost always best when sung by others.

Re: Christopher Hitchens on the Unalterable Celestial Dictatorship of God

Gideon — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 07:44:09 -0000

Hitchens is such a pain in the butt.

It's not that there are not good arguments against religion, and it's certainly not that all relgiion is good.

But how a man that smart ends up being such a twit when it comes to this is beyond me. He always ends up sounding like a shrill jr. high atheist all pissed at the world.

Despite what Harris and he may believe, there are many types of religions in the world - and many of them don't conceive of a god that behaves anything like that.

What a schmuck.

Re: Vintage Woody Allen (From His Stand Up Days)

Gideon — Sun, 07 Oct 2007 13:15:16 -0000

Heh heh... I think I had this on CD at one point.

I had forgotten how long it takes him to make a joke!

Re: Smart Links

Gideon — Wed, 14 Mar 2007 18:27:00 -0000

I think something may be missing in that last link ;)

Re: Apple iTunes: Music Subscription No, Movie Subscription Yes

Gideon — Thu, 12 Apr 2007 21:47:04 -0000

I think something is going to have to change, but I'm not sure what. I'd definitely advocate a video subscription model. But instead of movies, I"m concerned about tv shows.

When I buy a track for a dollar - its priced just about right. I get value from that track time and time again. but with most TV shows, once I watch it - it's over. The Season passes cost as much as the DVDs, and so most the time I just grab an episode here or there that I miss. Now, some shows I watch and I want to keep forever because I will watch it again - like Scrubs episodes. But if they make tv rentals and price them at a dollar, they'd have me. I'd probably watch every show I watch on iTunes.

Re: Which is worse - hatred of a religion or of a race?

Gideon — Mon, 11 Jun 2007 14:16:52 -0000

Well, you're right... largely, at least.

Race is unavoidable. But religion, even larger than just the tribal level where most people are religiously, is an expression of worldview and ethe, way of life, etc.

So, yeah. I think "hating a religion" in general is silly, as religion is much more complicated than well... anything. But in broad strokes, religion comes in two major forms: reflective and unreflective.

Religion as blind sheepery, religion as a tribal society, religion that serves to create others is the unreflective sort. It can be good, but its often not.

Reflective religion is almost always a good, almost always something that looks for unity and benevolence in the world aside from the ridiculous "us vs. them" attitudes. It becomes a source towards positive change in the world (not that this is exclusive to reflective religion, but it is the primary mover of such things.) There are reflective varieties within all the major religions, perhaps not as "movements" within but certainly within individuals.

As one of my professors is fond of saying, "religion is the source of most the evil in the world. It's also the source of most the good."

Re: A Journey I Can Relate To | Ephemeral Thoughts

Gideon — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 01:00:00 -0000

Thank you for your kind words, and I have faith you'll get back to whatever path you need to.

Re: A Journey I Can Relate To

Gideon — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 09:46:32 -0000

Thank you for your kind words, and I have faith you'll get back to whatever path you need to.

Re: Heart Orientation | Ephemeral Thoughts

Gideon — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 01:00:00 -0000

Its an interesting discussion. I think Lewis had a point, but its a tricky one. We walk a fine line between forest and trees.I was talking to my mentor today about ideologies, and why they are dangerous and why they are useful. At their best, an ideology gives you a bundle of values and ideas that help you interpret and articulate your view of the world. At the worst they calcify your understanding and lock you into your current ignorance.Faith is obviously a personal thing... and while I am suspicious of super-liberal theologies, not because they have no truth but more because of Lewis argument about the actual power of such faith in our lives, Im far more suspicious of conservative theologies that lock their ideologies down with a certainty that I do not believe for a moment is synonymous with what we call faith. I would have faith in the salvific nature of God, of a God that accepts and loves, everything else is window dressing. When we let the curtains begin to hide the God of love and acceptance, we are making a grave error.So doctrine and dogma provide good signs for us, they point the way, they tell us in which direction to look and help us make sense of something essentially unknowable - but they remain signs, vain attempts to capture that which is infinite in the finite. When we make our doctrines sacrosanct, we are committing idolatry.

Re: Heart Orientation

Gideon — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 02:02:15 -0000

It's an interesting discussion. I think Lewis had a point, but it's a tricky one. We walk a fine line between forest and trees.

I was talking to my mentor today about ideologies, and why they are dangerous and why they are useful. At their best, an ideology gives you a bundle of values and ideas that help you interpret and articulate your view of the world. At the worst they calcify your understanding and lock you into your current ignorance.

Faith is obviously a personal thing... and while I am suspicious of super-liberal theologies, not because they have no truth but more because of Lewis' argument about the actual power of such faith in our lives, I'm far more suspicious of 'conservative theologies' that lock their ideologies down with a certainty that I do not believe for a moment is synonymous with what we call 'faith.' I would have faith in the salvific nature of God, of a God that accepts and loves, everything else is window dressing. When we let the curtains begin to hide the God of love and acceptance, we are making a grave error.

So doctrine and dogma provide good signs for us, they point the way, they tell us in which direction to look and help us make sense of something essentially unknowable - but they remain signs, vain attempts to capture that which is infinite in the finite. When we make our doctrines sacrosanct, we are committing idolatry.

Re: Wintersong – Sarah McLachlan

Gideon — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 01:00:00 -0000

I already picked it up! It really is a lovely album, thanks again!

Re: Wintersong - Sarah McLachlan

Gideon — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 03:04:42 -0000

Thanks, Kay! That really is beautiful. Sarah has been a favorite singer of mine since I was about 16 (when Fumbling towards Ecstacy came out). I haven't followed her much in years, however (for no apparent reason.) I had no idea she had some Christmas/Holiday music.

Wow... I can never get over the beauty of her voice and writing ability. Oddly enough, on the way home from a family event "Dirty Little Secret" came on my iPod and I thought to myself that I hadn't listened to her much lately, and needed to.

Thanks so much!

Re: Wintersong - Sarah McLachlan

Gideon — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 12:24:28 -0000

I already picked it up! It really is a lovely album, thanks again!

Re: Know Any Good Fiction?

Gideon — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 14:11:12 -0000

I was going to mention Chabon as well, may want to check out Yiddish Policeman's Union.

Nabokov is great... "Pale Fire" is brilliant, especially if you're in academic land. Chekhov's short stories are incredible - always good reading.

Stephen King, who I'm not a huge fan of, also has a few good ones that I've read lately: Duma Key and Bag of Bones were both quite good.

Re: GoogleTalk updates

Gideon — Wed, 16 Aug 2006 20:52:50 -0000

I'm with you all the way on this.

I've avoided Messenger for years just on sheer... irritation. It is a great chat client, it has excellent features, and does many things well (and since I use a convertible laptop, the tablet functionality is nice as well....) BUT... I've spent years FIGHTING MSMessenger as it tried to load up at start up, couldn't uninstall it, and made itself a general nuisance. At this point these aren't such salient issues, but there is an inertia that has been built up.

I love GoogleTalk for exactly the reasons you mentioned, it is elegant and it works. The only drawback, and the only reason I don't use it (I use Gaim these days since it interfaces with AIM and GoogleTalk) is that while I know many people using gmail, I know so few who use GoogleTalk that it simply isn't practical and I don't like having more than one chat program running at a time.

Personally, I wish I could use Adium with a PC, but alas.

But you nailed the MS philosophy very well - too complicated, too in your face, and simply lacks elegance. I recently tested out their new security suite and found it far too cludgy when PC-cillin does the job so wonderfully without ever being in my face.

My initial impression of Vista was similar, as I got tired of "allowing" every single program I used to run. But, hey, at least it was somewhat stylish and I am weak to my aesthetic.

Re: Richard tells me to explain my view on Google Calendar

Gideon — Fri, 18 Aug 2006 18:01:35 -0000

I'm with you all the way.

The problem with these types of apps, and I really love them all in concept the execution that it depends on my having web access - as you say.

And, honestly, Outlook is simply more robust - and it's integration with Onenote being a HUGE thing for me, it simply can't be beat.

I played with a mac a few weeks ago, I admit to loving it more than I thought I would - but Entourage is not Outlook (though the Project feature is genius) and there is nothing like OneNote.

I think the tech is moving in the right direction, though, and as being "offlne" becomes more and more rare maybe this technology will deserve another look.

Re: Bad PR for Dell but not for Apple?

Gideon — Tue, 02 Jan 2007 10:25:37 -0000

I think, perhaps, there is something to be said about the 'saturation' of problems people have with Dell or Gateway or, etc customer service. Who doesn't have or know such horror stories? I've had a number of Dells, and before getting a Mac myself, I encouraged my family to do likewise - and we've still all experienced nightmarishly bad service time after time.

Mac market share is hovering around, what? 5%? The amount of 'dissatisfaction' in the air is nothing compared to the amount of people with Dell's and other PC's who have bad experiences with customer service. And there is of course, the general 'love' that Mac users have towards their computers that work against it. Who sits around talking about how great their Dell experience is? Very little works FOR Dell except that as far as PC's go, it's one of the better companies. Still, most users see it as a 'necessary evil.'

That's a big difference.

Re: “Default” racism

Gideon — Wed, 17 Jan 2007 03:42:22 -0000

I think there is a substansive difference between "I don't think he'll be elected because the color of his skin" and "I wouldn't vote for him because of the color of his skin."

One is racist. One isn't necessarily. For instance, I am by no means racist, but I also don't believe he would win because he is black. Why? Because a huge part of this country is still staggaringly backward and has all sorts of 'passive racism.' I don't know much about you or where you come from, Robert, but I've spent the vast majority of my life in the midwest - and it's still pretty bad here in 'red state land.'

Of those three - Obama or Edwards would have my vote. But I don't think we'll see a black president for a long time, still. Not for another generation or so. Too many old racists have to die first.

Re: Nokia users hate me…

Gideon — Tue, 03 Jul 2007 02:28:10 -0000

This stuff just blows my mind. People's devotion to one company or brand or whatever is astonishing to me. Not because one doesn't become devoted to one company or brand for good reasons, etc. But that people, in order to reinforce the quality of their own decisions, insit on deriding other companies - the equiliant of holding your hands over your ears, and cursing someone out.

The extent this happens in the gaming world is notorious, and obviously in the computer world (mac vs. pc. vs linux.) But it just boggles the mind - and I believe, Robert, you make a good point when you mention the "mouse and ui" issue - so many people make the same comparisions. But here's the deal.... UI does matter. That's why Apple has been so successful at so much lately, they realize that and they make use of it. Because the average person on the street is, as you say, quite out of the loop s far as tech goes. I may not be thrilled at the poor web2.0 aspects of the iphone, but the average person doesn't know squat about that - they just know they are suddenly USING stuff like that.

The iPhone is not revolutionary because it does something new. Obviously that's not the case, and all the various fanboys lining up don't get that. I've had Palms, I've had windows mobile devices - all do more or less the same thing, often more things... But the iPhone makes such processes enjoyable, it makes it a pleasant experience. What's more, it makes it something that is now accessable to the mass as a whole - which will, in turn, drive more devices to offer such functions as people learn to expect such functions. That's where the revolution is. Most of this tech isn't that new, but until the average person is using it we won't see a lot of innovation in the field nor more reasonable prices.

The iPhone is the revolution that makes that happen.

I like Apple. I only started using their products last year, but I've quickly come to love how well they work and how happy I am to be using them. There are still issues, and some of the decisions made regarding the iphone are somewhat dubious but.... Fanboy? Not at all. I have enough good experience with Apple that I'm willing to give them some slack, but I'm not going to start deriding the next company over because they are NOT Apple.

This iPhone business has been a bit overwhelming, admitedly. I'm interested, and I have one, and I'm sick to death of it too... but, the "resistance" is certainly getting rather vile.

Re: Nokia users hate me…

Gideon — Tue, 03 Jul 2007 02:36:46 -0000

I don't see any reason you shouldn't write about it, just like Engadget or Gizmodo shouldn't - it IS the news. We may all be getting a bit weary of seeing the same news in 20 places, but it IS the news. What are you going to do?

The fault, dear Brutus, lies not in our stars but in ourselves... People who can't tolerate hearing more about the iPhone have to take it upon themselves to ignore it. This attitude everywhere... with this disgusting sense of entitlement from the blogs they read... that they must quit telling the story because some people are sick of it, while the majority is still listening, is nauseating.

Hell, I write a culture blog and I have a hard time not writing about it, because it's what is going on.

And you're right - people do stop to see it. Seeing Transformers tonight I had everyone with 10 feet of me asking questions and talking about my iPhone - as I quite happily watched YouTube on the Edge service. No one cared about my Windows Mobile device, or Treo 650 back in the day.

Re: Slight diversion into politics…why is Ron Paul getting blog hype?

Gideon — Sat, 14 Jul 2007 07:28:24 -0000

I think part of it is this "Libertarian" mystique he has going on around him. People here libertarian, and especially fiscally, get all excited... They end up treating him like the type of candiate he isn't - which is to say, a legitimate one. Libtertarianism in a developed country is a joke. It could be allowed on the social level, but not the fiscal - we, unfortunately, need government to do certain things and pretending like it'll get done some other way is a joke. It's the exact same thing as communism - it looks great on paper, as long as you don't let that pesky reality/human nature thing get involved.

But, I know quite a few people who just get weak in the knees about this guy. Smart, educated people. Absolutely astounds me. Admitedly, none of the candiates do much for me (though, I tend to like Edwards a lot - he just doesn't seem to be getting a lot of steam.) But Paul's an idealogue, and honestly - after Bush, you'd think we'd be done with idealogues for a while.

Re: Chris cracks up…

Gideon — Sat, 28 Jul 2007 04:16:13 -0000

I'm kind of with the others in finding Chris's response a bit over the top, but I think the spirit of it is in the right. The guy in the video obviously takes himself WAY too seriously, and that itself is funny.

Perspective is a precious thing, and particularly sparse in the blogosphere. Chris seems to have a pretty good understanding of just how much of what is done around here really is pure bs. And that's fine. But, it remains, pure bs.

Re: Why doesn’t Microsoft get the love?

Gideon — Sun, 23 Sep 2007 16:32:57 -0000

I'm not sure it is about story with Microsoft. I do believe in the importance of these stories (Apple's recent dirvurgence from their story has left many people feeling a bit strange).

I think it's more that they've become the Ma Bell, the face of the computer world that so many people don't understand and don't get. They are the face of those files they lose, the viruses they get, and the identities that are stolen. And, for many people, the face of their work and the work that has changed so very much over the past twenty years. Now, this is, of course, the popular culture's "Microsoft Story."

What about people in the tech field? Well... I think you guys nailed it. But I believe there is a lot of seepage from this popular culture idea to the specialists - Microsoft exists as this strange behemoth that has set the stage so many are going to work from, and yet makes such collossal blunders and at times seems to have such a narrow vision. What are we to make of the OS and browser that can't seem to ever "just work" or offer us the slightest bit of security, or the Zune, or 30% of Xbox 360's dying, or the Zune being.. well, the Zune.

The story is part of it, sure. But there's more to it than that. Microsoft has become an agent of our zeitgeist, and for many it has come to represent that new technology that constantly betrays us and seems to hurt more than it helps (though that is certainly not the case, in reality.)

Re: Gizmodogate

Gideon — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 17:51:42 -0000

Well, Lifehacker is doing things a little different than most the Gawker sites. It's consistantly great, though... honestly, I find most of them quite good (and subscribe to both Gizmodo and Engadget).

People do stupid things. So do publishers. If the sites start going down hill because Denton wants to be the next Rupert Murdoch - I'll reconsider, but as of now it is all still quite good. And there's not much you could do to make me unsubscribe from Lifehacker. Best site on the net, hand's down.

Re: Gizmodogate

Gideon — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 18:13:14 -0000

True enough... the good stuff always gets around eventually.

Re: Gizmodo on integrity…

Gideon — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 16:01:19 -0000

Yeah, reading that little piece really riled me, too. I was pretty willing to give them the benefit of the doubt but now I'm thinking it's rather pathetic. I actually said pretty much what you did a bit ago over at Blogging Disobediance and the "Me Media"

There are a lot of ways they could have handled this.... moral highroad is NOT one of the ones I would have suspected or advised.

What can I say, they're keeping it "real."