Gaming, Reading, Movies, Star Wars and other Geek Culture

Biggs On: The Covid MLB Season

On August 31, 2020

In Biggs On, General Cogitation, Soapbox

I don’t talk a lot about sports on this blog; it’s not really a genre that is common in the geek and gaming subculture. However sports is heavy on statistics and numbers, which is right up the geeks alley so I guess it’s not that far out of reach. The baseball season this year is unique because of the covid (much like everything else). I’m having a hard time deciding if the covid MLB season is even worth it. In the end, will it even mean anything?

The Pros and Cons

Bernie and a Stormtrooper catching a Royals game

It does feel a bit normal to have baseball on the television again. Hearing the crack of the bat and the cheer of the crowd always makes me think of summer. However, this year the crack of the bat is met with silence. The lack of a crowd in the stands reminds us again of the state of the world right now. I do admire how the ball clubs are trying to have a little fun using cardboard cutouts and teddy bears to fill the seats for some much needed levity.

There are only 60 games this season; that’s 102 games fewer than a normal season. Initially I thought removing that many games cheapens the season. However my brother-in-law pointed out that now every game has meaning. This is true and something I hadn’t considered. Everyone watches the first 20 or 30 games of the season. Around the time of the All-Star break everyone’s interests peters out a little bit. As we approach the end the season everyone’s interest is restored, especially if your team has a shot at the playoffs.

A Cheapened Championship

However, without a full season and only 7 innings per game, a championship will feel ill-gotten and unearned. Players are getting sick and games or entire series are getting postponed. How can it feel like an earned win when you aren’t playing a team at its best. There are some teams that are so far behind their 60 games I don’t know how they are going to catch up. Will some teams only play 53 games?? That doesn’t seem fair.

As a baseball fan, I get it. We’re just glad to have some baseball to watch (or any sport for that matter). However, even if the Cubs were to win the 2020 World Series, it just won’t feel as glorious. I will feel “meh” about it. In the history books it will forever be known as the shortened, pandemic season. I also get it from a corporate perspective. Baseball is also a business and a business, just like all the other businesses in the country, has to meet certain stakeholder obligations. Honestly, this baseball season is more about the corporate bottom line and less about the fans.

After much consideration I’m still of the opinion that the 2020 MLB season should have been cancelled. At the minimum they should have at least cancelled the championship. I’m not excited about it, even with the Cubs in first place. I don’t care about the World Series. I waited 108 years for the Cubs to win, I’m content with skipping it this year. We didn’t have one during the 1994-1995 Baseball Strike, I think we can manage not having it again.

/cheers

I could accomplish so much more if I only had minions!

Book Review – Dooku: Jedi Lost

By Biggs

On August 29, 2020

In Book Review, Star Wars

Dooku: Jedi Lost by Cavan Scott
My rating: [rating=3]

I don’t give 3-stars to too many Star Wars books and I almost gave this one 4 stars. Honestly its my fault because I didn’t realize this book is meant to be an audio book. The print form that I read is the scripted version of the audio book; which has its pros and cons. It takes a little getting use to but once you’ve acclimated the book moves pretty fast. There is some nomenclature and acronyms that I didn’t know what they meant. Such as “SOTTO” and “BEAT”. Some of them I could look them up (ex: SOTTO voice means softly or quietly so as to not be overheard). Anyway, let’s get into the synopsis and review.

Brief Synopsis and Biggs’ Review

In all fairness, the story is interesting. It gives you a glimpse into the childhood and Jedi training of Count Dooku. You even learn a bit about how he becomes a “Count”. Dooku is looking for someone from his past and, to do that, he has called upon Ventress, whom he hopes to make his apprentice. He gives her clues and some holo-recordings to help her track down this person. During her investigation she learns about her soon-to-be master’s past, including his family.

Like I said, I think the story is interesting. It doesn’t jump around through time a lot, it stays pretty linear as Ventress explores his past. We meet a few more Jedi Masters and even get a glimpse into Sifo Dyas. Minor spoiler: it turns out Sifo and Dooku were good friends growing up, which is something I never gleaned from the movies. It’s really not a bad book and I’d suggest reading it just to see more about Ventress’ relationship with Dooku. You just have to get used to the scripted format.

/MTFBWY

“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.”
– Dr. Seuss

Sick and Tired of Covid

By Biggs

On August 26, 2020

In General Cogitation

Yes, I’m kind of going for the pun in the title there. Covid makes you “sick” and fatigue is a symptom, get it? Never mind, levity is my defense mechanism and this isn’t the time for jokes. It hasn’t been that long since my last covid post and I usually space them out more, but there’s a reason. This will be the last time I write specifically about this pandemic. I’m not writing a satirical post; I am sick and tired of covid, but not for the reasons one might think.

Obviously I don’t want people getting sick anymore, even if its only 4% of the population. I’m also tired of worrying about day care, and school and going shopping. This goes beyond the illness itself. I’m tired of the arguing and fighting.

Fear is the Mind-Killer

A 900 year old Jedi Master once said “Fear leads to Anger, Anger leads to Hate”. I feel like there was a lot of effort up front to instill fear in all of us. Some folks are still afraid. Some folks are more angry than afraid. Perhaps all this fear and anger is why there is so much hate in the country right now. I’m tired of the fear. I’m tired of worrying about my friends and family when they travel. Are they being safe? Are the other folks around them being safe? I’m tired of the sleepless nights that result the 10-14 days following their return.

I’m tired of the arguing and fighting over masks and testing and spikes. You have an expert that tells you one thing but I have an expert that contradicts your expert. I mostly abide by the rules and suggestions of the CDC, you march to the beat of your own drum, and yet we both remain unaffected. Who and what are we supposed to believe???

There is so much uncertainty right now that I get why some are just ready to risk it all. When I look at the statistics I’m even beginning to feel a bit disillusioned by the need for all the extra precaution. Granted it could be geography; other parts of the country are experiencing the pandemic differently. Regardless, I apologize if I’ve lectured you or made a diatribe against your choices. I’m hoping we are in the waning hours of this pandemic and 2021 will be a year for healing (literally and figuratively).

Be safe my friends.

/cheers

I could accomplish so much more if I only had minions!

HMDYK About Denis Lawson

By Biggs

On August 7, 2020

In HMDYK, Movies, Star Wars

Wedge in ROTJ (left); Wedge in TROS (right)

How much do you know about Denis Lawson? This guy is a much lesser known actor compared to the previous three I covered. In fact Denis Lawson does not have nearly as prolific of a career as Cushing, Lee or Guinness. However, while he isn’t as distinguished as the others, he is a fan favorite of the Star Wars universe. He is known for his role as Wedge Antilles, the ace Rebel pilot. In fact his role in Star Wars is about the only thing Denis Lawson is known for among his 98 credits.

Despite all the criticism of Disney for turning the Extended Universe canon into mythology, I’m glad they kept Wedge alive. To my knowledge, Wedge was never killed in any of the EU comics and books. So to see him alive, and survive, in Rise of Skywalker is awesome.

An interesting bit of behind-the-scenes trivia about Wedge, during the Rebel briefing in A New Hope, Luke is sitting next to “Wedge”, but it isn’t Denis Lawson. The actor we see is Collin Higgins, but he constantly struggled with his lines and he was ultimately fired. Lawson was brought in to film the remainder of the scenes. Collin Higgins’ “Wedge” would colloquially become known as “Fake Wedge” among fans. Coincidentally both actors voices were overdubbed by David Ankrum, a common practice in Star Wars.

The Force Is Strong In His Family

Denis Lawson was born in 1947 in Crieff, Perthshire, Scotland. He has one child, Jaime Lawson, and a sister. His sister was born Carol Lawson but would marry a man names James McGregor. They would have two children, Ewan and Colin. Whether its a little known fact, or just esoterically known by Star Wars fans, Denis Lawson is the maternal uncle of Ewan McGregor, the man that would play Obi-Wan Kenobi in the prequels. In fact his role as a pilot in Star Wars was inspiration for this nephews; Ewan to become an actor (ultimately in Star Wars) and Colin to join the Royal Air Force. If you ever listen to any of his interviews, he sounds a lot like Ewan McGregor.

I don’t want to say that Denis Lawson in unremarkable because his legacy is cemented in Star Wars canon. However, among his 98 credits, I can’t find anything that really stands out. He hasn’t portrayed any iconic characters. He’s mostly done a few TV shows that I’ve never heard of. Apparently he’s a musical comedy star in London and has even won a Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Musical.

If there’s anything you’d like to share about actor Denis Lawson, please leave it in the comments.

Biggs’ Top 5 Epic Microsoft Fails

By Biggs

On August 5, 2020

In Biggs Top 5, Microsoft, Technology

I’m going a completely different direction for the August Top Five. Technology. It’s pretty well known among my peers that I am Microsoft’s biggest critic. While I do make a living using their technology that doesn’t mean I drank the proverbial kool-aid. Granted even Apple and Google have had their technical slip-ups but their list isn’t quite as embarrassing as Microsoft’s. The lesson Microsoft seems to fail to learn is that just because someone else is already doing it doesn’t mean they can do it better. X-Box is about the ONLY success story. I digress. Here are my top 5 epic Microsoft fails.

Zune – MP3/Music player. This is the default fail everyone thinks of when they think of failed Microsoft products. EPIC FAIL!
Windows 8 – If you thought Vista was bad, that “start screen” is a dumpster fire of Teletubby vomit. FAIL!
Windows Phone – iPhone/Android competitor. I called this fail out back when it was first announced. Poor Nokia. FAIL!
Microsoft Band – FitBit/Garmin competitor. Did people even know Microsoft made a fitness tracker. Probably not. FAIL!
Microsoft Teams – Slack/Zoom competitor. The ONLY reason this product is surviving is the pandemic; without COVID this would be (and may still be) another pathetic footnote of failed products. FAIL IN THE MAKING.

The honorable mentions may be fairly obvious; Bing and Internet Explorer/Edge. IE has been a thorn in developers side for decades. Writing code to meet its sloppy standards has made it hated by many in the tech industry. Microsoft should have gotten out of the browser business decades ago. Bing is the Microsoft search engine to compete with Google. So few people were using Bing that Microsoft is actually trying to PAY people to use it with Microsoft Rewards. In fact you even get bonus rewards for using Edge. They are even paying you to use Edge!!! PATHETIC FAIL!

/cheers

I Have Spoken!

Covid Containment – The Introvert Cure

By Biggs

On August 1, 2020

In General Cogitation

The madness continues. When we last spoke I calculated the possible percent of the population that has been infected with the virus. The total number of cases, per the CDC, on May 23rd was approximately 1.8 million. Which is approximately 0.54% of the population. Exactly two months later, to the day (i.e. July 23rd) the total cases, per the CDC, is at approximately 3.9 million. Using basic math we are now at 1.2% of the population with confirmed cases. The numbers have doubled! I admit that the 3.9 million confirmed cases is likely a combination of:

cases counted multiple times (either accidentally or intentionally)
antibody testing (anyone that has the antibodies had the virus, whether they realized it or not)
encompasses all cases, past and present (i.e. these are not “active” cases but ALL cases)

Regardless, I have completely changed my stance on masks. I wear one everywhere I go (since about mid-June). I’m really tired of this shit and I just want it to be over. If wearing a mask will expedite that then I’ll wear a mask, albeit begrudgingly. But I digress.

The Introvert Cure

If this quarantine has taught me anything its that I will never take it for granted the ability to get out of the house. We’re home bodies. I’d rather sit in the air conditioning reading a book or playing video games as opposed to sitting on the beach. Honestly, that concept hasn’t completely changed, however while sitting on the beach is still quite out of the question other outdoor activities suddenly seem more appealing.

You know the saying “you don’t know what you have until it’s gone”, well that’s what I’m feeling now. I was clearly neglecting all the times I could have been at the ballpark or a family cook out. As much as I enjoy being at home and reading a book or playing video games, this pandemic has taught me that I need more out door time. I will never again take for granted going to a baseball or football game, seeing a movie in the theater or attending a family gathering (unless its at the beach, have I mentioned that I still don’t like the beach).

Finally, I really miss going to church.

/cheers

Biggs' Zone

A Geek's Cogitations, Conjectures and other Cortical Experiences