Spontaneous Scholar: daquell

New Year’s Eve Movie Rant

Wraith Daquell — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 03:50:54 +0000

So, I just finished watching Michael Scott’s The Most Wonderful Time of the Year, a wonderfully romantic film that pulls you in with its dreamy scenes and nice-looking people. Of course, in typical show-biz fashion, it’s pushing a worldview on you that is un-Biblical. I expect three responses at this point:

But Warren Christie is cute!
But Richard is so boring!
But the ending is so sweet!

None of these in any way calm any of my concerns. Before you decide that I have gone off the deep end, remember that the world does not always attack head-on. Sometimes it merely shifts the dial slightly a few hundred times. The final direction is the same.

Note that from this point there will be spoilers. You have been warned. The movie is themed around a breaking down of relationships. While its peripheral themes (supposedly main themes) are Love, Christmas, Happiness, etc., the opening depicts a single-parent home, the middle consists of an uncle and a stranger who make the poor woman lose all faith in her boyfriend, and the end depicts a lovely engagement breakup. I think all the girls should see this film! That last sentence, by the way, was sarcastic.

The primary breakup is between Jennifer, the single-parent, and Richard, her boyfriend. Morgan, the stranger, convinces Jennifer over the course of the film that Richard is the “bad guy.” Richard is not spontaneous. Naturally, spontaneity is a cardinal virtue that a man must have to be date-able . Richard is wealthy. Richard is not happy all the time. Actually, Richard sounds rather human (except he is successful and hard-working, true). Of course, Jennifer and Richard do not discuss these problems to any length, because of course relationships have to happen, they cannot be hammered out. If someone makes you unhappy, break up with him! What else could you do? Don’t think about that question or you might realize the answer. Naturally, Morgan wins in the end because he is a smooth-talker and possesses the right qualities, which I will now enumerate.

Morgan is the ideal guy. Girls should all find guys like Morgan and date them. If you want your girl to be happy, find her a Morgan. What does Morgan look like? Let’s see…

He is a Traveler. He lives life up, goes to extremes to find excitement, roams the world in search of adventure. Girls, if your guy likes to stay at home, if he’s never thrown caution to the wind, if he’s never gone missing for a few days to fulfill his wonderlust, break up.
He is Mysterious. His broad past leaves many questions about where and when. Namely, where does reality end and imagination (*cough* lies *cough*) begin? Also, what and how. Namely, what did he do with whom, and how did he accomplish his goals?
He is a Tough Knight. The goal is the greater good. So, once he decides what the greater good is (it can change with his mind), anything goes to accomplish it. Breaking the law? Not too much. Telling a lie? Just a white one or so. Deep down he is good, naturally.

At this point I was going to list Jennifer, the ideal girl. However, I was too steamed about the movie and left before gathering enough data. To avoid ignorance, I’ll pass.

Perhaps my post is poorly written, and perhaps you disagree with me. If you do nothing else, I implore you to think hard. About everything. Every movie that you watch (what have I learned after seeing this? how has it changed me mentally? emotionally? spiritually?). Every book that you read. Every lyric that you hear. The world is out there, and it wants to get into your head. Keep it out. (2 Pet. 1:5-9)

Hiatus

Wraith Daquell — Fri, 25 Dec 2009 22:41:37 +0000

Another semester, another few months of empty blog. How can I ever make it up to you, my non-existent readers? I shall recount the semester…

It was intense. There are these little things called Block Courses that meet ten hours every week for three weeks which nearly killed me.
It was amazing. Because my girlfriend is amazing.
It was stretching. God gave so much strength—I am not sure how one survives without the peace and strength God gives except that He is merciful even to people who do not know Him.

Enough of this semester. I won’t beleaguer you with the gory details of classes, homework, and life general, or the fine details of dating outings and personal growth. Perhaps later. On to Christmas! In my next post.

It’s Coming

Wraith Daquell — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 03:37:50 +0000

This site hasn’t seen an update since July. It has been lying latent, undisturbed, like an ancient Sphinx waiting to be uncovered by daring scientists and treasure-hunters.

Unlike a latent Sphinx, something is coming. Something big. Bigger than was ever attempted here. And, if that is not all, something even bigger than that is coming – as big as was only imagined in the days of yore (CCC). It is nigh the door. Its hand is on the handle. It is turning the knob. But I may not blog about either. Stay tuned.

Dr. Downunder and the Compaq Deskpro

Wraith Daquell — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 03:53:05 +0000

This is my first Vlog (video blog). If you ever have trouble putting RAM into a Compaq Deskpro, watch Dr. Downunder’s amazing step-by-step guide.

Five Sites for Free Software

Wraith Daquell — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 15:27:04 +0000

The best things in life aren’t free. It’s a reality that has not yet dawned on most computer users. They are either apathetic or unknowledgeable on the subject. I’ll revisit that topic in a later post.

The best things in life aren’t usually free, I should say. In other words, the best things in life are those that would not in normal circumstances be free but are for a limited period of time. The trouble is, then, to find these best things during that small window of time. I’ve compiled a small list of sites that periodically offer free software (or ways to get it) and thought I’d pass it on. From these sources, I’ve obtained a free copy of Flight Simulator X Deluxe, Windows Vista Ultimate, Windows 7 Ultimate (well, I’ll get it free when it begins shipping), $100 cash, among other things. Interested yet?

All about Microsoft - A blog on… Microsoft. This comprehensive blog, usually updated multiple times a day, links frequently to sites where one can test–and sometimes get a release copy gratis–new software releases.
istartedsomething - Long Zheng posts muses and interesting information not to be found elsewhere. I don’t know where he gets his information, but it’s reliable and legitimate.
Slashdot - This site is incredibly liberal and biased, and it does not have the usefulness it once did, but nonetheless it still has good offerings occasionally. Scan it once a day, take what you can, and close the browser.
Microsoft Report - Ed Bott is a master of debunking myths and misperceptions on Windows, and he does it scientifically. He also introduced me to the Windows Feedback Program.
Windows Feedback Program - This site is a must-see for any non-terrorist who wants free software. I say non-terrorist, because to enroll in the WFP you really have to install a small piece of software that monitors your computer activity. If you have nothing to hide, like me, there’s no danger… and getting hundreds of dollars-worth of free software isn’t too bad, either!

That’s my list. The secret’s out. Do you have any more that should be added?

Movie Review – Bolt (November, 2008)

Wraith Daquell — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 02:35:41 +0000

Who wouldn’t want to be a superhero? I’m talking about lightning-fast reflexes. I’m talking about laser-vision. I’m talking about running faster, jumping higher, and blasting away enemies with a superbark! Superbark? Yes, you heard correctly…

I recently watched the movie Bolt and instantly became a fan. Maybe it was John Travolta’s way of getting the dog’s teeth into his voice, or the beautifully orchestrated score that popped in and out appropriately. Whatever the case, I have officially replaced the hamster as Bolt’s #1 fan. This movie gets 5.1 stars out of 5.

Plot

While I am not an experienced movie critic, it seems that the plot progresses well and ties everything together in the end. Without spoiling the film, I can say that I was not left hanging with any loose threads. Also without spoiling the film, I can say that I would have ended the movie differently.

Most scenes are fast-action, which should keep children drawn in. They aren’t too fast, though, to scare away us older folk with slower minds. A major complaint I have heard is that the plot is just too predictable. Conceded. Sometimes it is refreshing to watch a movie with a straightforward plot; in Bolt’s case, I would recommend it.

Actors

I am not a big fan of John Travolta, but he did an excellent job with this movie. With all the recent dog films released, I would not have wanted to fill his part of trying to make yet another dog hero interesting. And yet he did it, all the same. Bolt’s “person,” Penny, is voiced by Miley Cyrus. If I am not a fan of Mr. Travolta, I am definitely not a fan of Ms. Cyrus. She did not hurt the movie for me, though, because I didn’t know it was her until the end credits began to roll. All the voices fit their characters to a T.

Conclusion

5.1 out of 5 stars is the highest rating I have ever given a serious film (Grizzly Adams hardly qualifies…). My suggestion? Rent this film. Then buy it. If you don’t like it, hopefully some day your taste will mature, and then you’ll be glad you have it! :)

Windows Prophecy Revisited (ie. Part II)

Wraith Daquell — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 03:57:32 +0000

It’s interesting how life throws curveballs into the linear progression of thought. When I speculated over a year ago about Windows 8, the ultra-amazing next-gen OS from Redmond, I remember thinking, “What fantasy! This will whet appetites, but it’s not likely to come true.”

In short, I was wrong. The curveball swept around my petty thoughts of the upcoming Windows 7 and landed my dream of Windows 8 early! Allow me to break it down in all its fantasy and show the reality that will emerge in mere days.

Virtualization

Windows 8 will make heavy use of virtualizing [sic] technology. Backwards-compatibility cruft will be ported to a separate subsystem

I claimed that Windows would take a bite out of Apple’s book, emulating OS Classic with, well, emulation. In Windows 7 Professional and above, a fully licensed copy of Windows XP is included gratis, incorporating an optimized update to Virtual PC.

APIs and Drivers

Most, if not all, of the kernel’s APIs will be managed.

Windows 7 still relies heavily on an unmanaged code-base. However, Microsoft has not left aspiring developers in the lurch. Their answer to our pleas is the Windows API Code Pack. With this gem, anyone writing for the .NET framework can incorporate Libraries, Jump Lists, Sensor Platform APIs, and a whole slew of other OS-wide improvements, without directly invoking a single COM object.

Most hardware will use a radically newer driver technology.

This was an unneeded improvement. The Vista driver framework worked great. They tweaked it (it now works with older, XP hardware better than Vista does), but they didn’t overhaul it.

UI Improvements

…the Startbar as we know it will be gone, and the desktop itself will be more portal-like…

…touchscreen and voice technology will be incredibly easy to use.

…user switching, storing settings and applications remotely, etc. will allow desktop on demand…

The Redmonites really delivered here. The new taskbar (aka Startbar) is beautiful, fluid, and it works. It took me about a good, solid day to get used to the marriage of Quicklaunch and the general programs bar, and after that I was flying. My recycled Point of Sale touch-screen (older than old) functions great. With the advent of Windows Live, transferring settings like Favorites is a breeze. However, “desktop on demand” is still an idea that is in its infancy.

Subsystem

True, modular components will emerge with Windows 8.

Windows 8 will run on stripped-down hardware.

Windows 8 will probably have these features in the future, but Windows 7 has them now. The few programs that haven’t been ported over to Windows Live are mostly removable. Even Internet Explorer can be disabled (eat that, EU!)! Stripped-down hardware is an understatement. I’m running the Windows 7 RC on a dinosaur 7-year-old PC with no upgrades but a few extra sticks of RAM, and it zips right along!

All in all, my vision of Windows 8 became the reality of Windows 7. Since the product was well into development when I posted my prophecy, I can’t take the credit. I’ll just have to resign myself to rest in the glow of a well-made OS…

Windows Prophecy Unravelled, Part 1

Wraith Daquell — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 04:07:32 +0000

A little over a year ago, I published two posts trying to predict the future of Microsoft’s battleship, Windows. I thought it might be fun to take a trip to the past and revisit those predictions, seeing which came true and which did not.

First, my muse on Windows 7, that mysterious OS of the past few years only recently revealed.

I speculated that Windows 7 would not be completely modular; at the time, the blogosphere was rapt with comments such as, “The next consumer release will likely be a standalone OS stocked with an array of built-in and subscription-only modules.” I did not think it would be modular at all. Microsoft found a happy medium: the OS is pseudo-modular. Windows Mail and Movie Maker, among others, have been repackaged as a free downloads and IE can be deactivated. Fine-grain modularization, though, will have to wait.
The concept of a radically different Windows was popular a year ago. Something about completely altered API’s and driver models seemed to spark blogging interest. I predicted that Microsoft couldn’t afford another big change since Vista, and it seems that happened to be right.
My epic fail statement: Windows 7 will be an interim release. Windows 7 is anything but interim. Where Vista was pwned on a number of levels, Windows 7 shines like 1337 gamerz.
Widget engine predicted. Widget engine received.
IE9 predicted. IE9 not received. But, IE8 is almost there… keep working, IE team!
Enhanced security predicted. Received on a vast number of levels. It will be interesting to see whether Windows 7 is hacked to any frightening degree. My prediction starts with an N and ends with an O.

The bottom line? My hopes for Windows 7 were too small. It was a far better cookie than I predicted. Whereas Vista was slow, the Seven OS is fast. Whereas Vista had shoddy hardware support, The OS Of The Perfect Number makes friends with all of my electronics. Vista crashed too often to mention; Seven has yet to crash even once… and this is prerelease code! Some of my predictions were correct, but I underestimated the giant awoken in Redmond.

Next up… how my thoughts on Windows 8 played out…

10 Tips for College Freshmen (from a senior)

Wraith Daquell — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 21:36:25 +0000

Freshmen are immature. Sophomores think they know too much. Juniors are bossy. Seniors are too willing to shed useless advice.

And since I’m now a senior, I’ve got to start sharing useless advice. Well, hopefully not entirely useless. Here are 10 things that I wish I’d known as an incoming freshmen.

Buy Early – Start buying supplies, like pencils, paper, bedsheets, as soon as your highschool graduation balloons are tucked into the closet. These items are usually cheaper at the beginning of summer than at the end.
Don’t Buy (text)Books Early – Unless you are certain what textbooks to buy, don’t purchase them until commanded by the school. Teachers are apt to change their minds about textbooks, even up until the day school starts. The last thing you want is to be stuck with “167 Arcane Chemicals, A Philosophical Muse” and not be able to sell it! Exception: Buy the following books whenever; just find the cheapest price:
- Dictionary – Even though there are many free dictionaries online, you will want a hardcopy just in case the campus network goes down. This happens more often than you think. Trust me.
- Thesaurus – Don’t buy a Thesaurus. I know they want you to, but the online ones are more than sufficient.
Read Your Textbooks - Many freshmen, myself included, assume that textbooks are sort of like reference works — useful only at sundry times. Or, you think that the teacher will just give you all you need to know in class. Hint: not true. Read your assigned textbook readings. If you must, get a friend to keep you accountable. You will be thankful when Finals Week rolls around!
Quality Time ≠ Quantity Time – Three hours of studying in a noisy room is not as productive as a half-hour of studying in a quiet library. Find a friend-free spot on campus that is within a few minutes of your dorm-room (or somewhere away from your family if you commute). The time you will save is worth the few minutes of travelling. Tip: Don’t bring your laptop along unless you must have it. This will keep you from being distracted by email.
Curb Your Email – Set two or three appointed times during the day to check and respond to email. Any more than that is simply a waste of time.
Get A Social Life (or restrict your social life) - You must find a happy medium between being with friends and getting to know your textbooks. Don’t be a closet-nerd (like I was), and don’t be a pack leader with a .78 GPA.
Early to Bed, Early to Rise – Ben Franklin had it right. Resist the temptation to stay up late studying. Instead, go to bed at a decent hour and study during the morning and afternoon.
Remember Your Family – Call home every once in a while (at least once a week). You don’t have to gab for an hour – twenty minutes a week will keep them informed. Make sure you listen as well as talk about yourself.
Get A Job – Even if you don’t need to work to pay for tuition, get a job with at least a few hours a week. This will provide for small cash, and it will force you to discipline yourself.
Pack Light*** - The *** means that this is incredibly important. When packing for your first year, the tendency is to overpack. Don’t ask, “Will I need this at school?” Ask, “Can I live without this?” Your roommates will thank you, and you’ll have less to sort out and clean up after three months of school.

Well, that’s it. If any of these have helped you in the past, or if you have any to add to this list, please say it in the comments below!

2008 in an Orange Peel

Wraith Daquell — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 05:03:09 +0000

Because Oranges are better than Nuts, an Orange Peel must be better than a Nutshell.

My four most significant events of 2008 follow. While a good blog post will not be written quickly, this one is, purposefully. This way, the four most readily available, or the most impactful, events of 2008 should come to my mind.

Africa! Aballah, Cameroon! Only 13 days, but my life will never be the same. The wealthy, the poor, the crowded, the spacious, the Christian and the heathen all together, this first time of leaving the country will be forever cemented in my brain.
Pulpit Speech. For this one, I only have three main points and then I’ll be done. 1) We notice the Training of this class. When I finish it in May, hopefully my sermons will be more able to reach God’s people. 2) We notice the Timelessness of this class. The things I learn now will still be in use when I preach as an older man. 3) We notice finally the Teacher of this class. Mr. McGonigal is an amazing man.
The blooding. This year, I got my sword. Shortly thereafter, I christnened the blade unplanned when I sliced three fingers, one to the bone. The nerves have not yet grown back, and my piano playing is not where it was. Perhaps not a repeatable experience, but a very memorable one as my roommates helped me do even basic events like getting dressed.
I kissed the teen years goodbye. Note that this is logical reckoning. Imaginative reckoning still plants me solidly in the teen league, though I sometimes lapse into fits of adulthood.

As I wipe away a tear for 2008, I look forward to a frabjous 2009. What were some of your most memorable experiences of the past year?