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

The Internet is an Experiment in Anarchy

On February 4, 2019

In General Cogitation, Random Cogitations

I’m on a Criminal Minds binge. There is an interesting episode called “The Internet is Forever” near the end of Season 5. If you are unfamiliar with the show, each episode begins and ends with a quote from some philosopher or influential mind. The closing quote in this episode suggests that the Internet is an experiment in anarchy. Here is the full text of the quote:

“The Internet is the first thing that humanity has built that humanity doesn’t understand, the largest experiment in anarchy that we have ever had.” – Eric Schmidt

Yes, ironically that quote is from Eric Schmidt, the CEO of Google (aka. Alphabet Inc). It is so profoundly accurate it sparks many thoughts of just how much anarchy the Internet is creating. I decided on this topic on the 25th of January and since that day I witness nearly daily examples. It’s equal parts frightening and uncanny.

The Internet has Made Us All Sociopaths

I wish I could say I am exaggerating. Surely there are not daily examples of Internet induced anarchy. How often is there a story on the news where someone’s behavior was the result of a post on social media? How many suicides or suicide attempts are the result of cyber bullying? If you don’t want to think about it then how about a couple of examples. Tide Pods. The cinnamon challenge. The Bird Box challenge. People are lemmings! Yes, people did stupid things in the 80’s and 90’s, before Facebook, but it wasn’t as widespread. The consequences were more prolific because it made the news.

Unfortunately anarchy has become the social norm; and I blame Social Media. Everyone feels so indemnified by the facelessness of Twitter and even Facebook (ironic, I know). We’ve all become sociopaths because we post things on the various forms of social media with a complete lack of conscious. People don’t care who they harm, all they care about is what’s trending. A perfect example is this “Fyre Festival” thing that Hulu has been advertising. It shows just how dangerous social media can be. I don’t think Billy McFarland is a criminal, I think it’s hilarious that those people got what they deserved.

The Internet is now the digital mountain top from which people scream their opinions thinking the rest of us care. I admit that some people do care and many agree. However, what makes it absolutely absurd are the people who are trying to promote tolerance and inclusion are first to demonize anyone that disagrees with them. You can’t preach inclusion but ostracize anyone that disagrees. This is as much of an example of cognitive dissonance as this entire blog post (yes, I’m fully aware of what I’ve done). I’ll openly admit that joining Facebook and Twitter has turned me into a sociopath. In retrospect, I should have avoided them completely.

/cheers

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

Book Review – The Straggler’s Mask

By Biggs

On January 28, 2019

In Book Review, Fantasy

The Straggler’s Mask by Juho Pohjalainen
My rating: [rating=2]
Link to the review on Goodreads.

It’s been a while since I had the opportunity to review a First Reads book that I won from Goodreads. In fact this is perhaps my third book since creating my Goodreads account. Be that as it may, let’s get on with my book review of The Straggler’s Mask.

Since this book is an ebook I had no idea how long it was; although I rarely check. The length of a book is hardly a factor as to whether or not I’ll read it (although it might be a factor as to when I read it). Good books that are long rarely feel long, for example the first couple of books in George R. R. Martin’s Song of Fire and Ice series (aka Game of Thrones). Unfortunately for this book, there are parts where it feels like it drags on. I’m actually going to skip the synopsis this time, and the reason for that will become clear shortly.

Biggs’ Review

Based on a few Amazon and Goodreads searches I couldn’t find any other book written by this author; therefore I’m going to assume this is their first book. I know it has to be hard to publish your first book not knowing how its going to be received by readers. As much as I don’t like giving mediocre reviews to a debutante author, I did struggle with this book, a lot.

This is a bugbear from Dungeon’s & Dragons

I found it difficult to keep track of all the characters as well as the story. Sometimes I forgot where they are as they traveled. I honestly forgot what their ultimate goal was (until I got to the actual face off with Nirvana). There are times when the point of view of the storyteller would change, without notice and I had no idea who was speaking in the first person. I went through about a 3 week dry spell where I didn’t pick the book up at all because I was bored. However, I still finished it because I refuse to leave a book unfinished, but it felt a little arduous.

Peal is an Interesting Character

I did enjoy the concept of the story (an unsuspecting creature picking up the mantel of a legendary hero). Peal is an interesting character, though his skittishness and small stature don’t really correlate to what I expect a bugbear to look like or behave. Granted that’s based on an old D&D reference point. The world the author created felt pretty imaginative and thought out. However I don’t know if I would have used Earth; otherwise you are setting the readers up to identify familiar areas of the planet which they’re not going to find.

I guess I’m more disappointed that I didn’t like it as much as I wanted to. I feel like this book could have been broken up into two novels. If you’re an aspiring new author, perhaps a 600+ page book with a complicated list of characters isn’t the way to start. This, by no means, deters me from reading more by this author, unless the next novel is equally as disappointing. Honestly, I may go back eventually and try to read it again to see if a second time will more easily capture my attention.

View all my reviews

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

RTotD: Once A LEGO Fan, Always A LEGO Fan

By Biggs

On January 15, 2019

In General Cogitation, Random Cogitations

Lego has a very humble origin story. They began with a carpenter in Denmark in 1932; The Lego Group formed in 1934 and they have been producing the iconic interlocking bricks since 1949. Of course that was long before I was born. Regardless, Lego is a timeless toy that is spanning generations. I grew up on Lego and now my kids are growing up on Lego. The funny thing is, even as an adult I still collect Lego sets. I have many friends that still collect Lego sets. So once you’re a Lego fan, you’re always a Lego fan.

Obviously as an adult in his late 30’s, I’m not constructing Lego sets for the purpose of post-construction entertainment. The sets I collect are mostly Star Wars themed and they sit on a shelf for display. The task of assembling is a perfect way to relieve stress and collect my thoughts. It has also become something I do with my daughter on the weekends.

Lego is clearly something you never outgrow; even as you age you just learn to appreciate them differently. There has to be a study out there that proves building Lego sets has some kind of positive cognitive impact. If there isn’t one, then someone should start one. When “adulting” has you in a death spiral, I’m glad Lego is there to straighten you out.

The things that go through my mind when I’m alone with nothing but my thoughts for entertainment is dangerous. Some might even say eccentric. Consider this your warning about today’s Random Thought of the Day

2018 Reading Challenge – Fail!

By Biggs

On January 6, 2019

In Reading Challenge

The 2018 Reading Challenge was 12 books. Since I barely missed 15 books from 2017, I actually started the year at 15 again thinking I could easily complete it. Half way through the year I was nearly 4 books behind so I reduced it down to 12 books.

I wish there is some brilliant excuse I could use to explain why I only read 9 books. I hit a huge lull late in the summer, which is right around the time I got a new First Reads book from Goodreads. Little did I know that book is over 600 pages. When it’s past June I rarely try to start a book that long so late in the year.

My 2018 Reading Challenge Book List

At any rate, below you will see the list of books I did read in 2018. I tried to write a review for all of them so feel free to click on the name if you’re curious about my thoughts. Below the list is the book I chose as the 2018 Best Read.

“Ready Player One” by Ernest Cline
“Star Wars: Thrawn” by Timothy Zahn
“Olympus Union: Jovian Wars” by Gary Bloom
“Star Wars: Dark Disciple” by Christie Golden
“Executed” by R.R. Haywood
“Star Wars: Ahsoka” by E.K. Johnston
“Star Wars: Phasma” by Delilah S. Dawson
“Lord of Shadows” by Cassandra Clare
“Star Wars: Thrawn Alliances” by Timothy Zahn

My Pick for the 2018 Best Read

Picking the best read for 2018 is difficult. These are 9 excellent books to choose from so its hard to pick just one! I want to go with Timothy Zahn, the man, the myth the legend. However, picking Timothy Zahn won’t work because 1) I read two of his books and I can’t pick just one; and 2) it’s Timothy frakking Zahn! It also wouldn’t be fair to pick Ready Player One because I re-read that one and I’d prefer to pick something that I hadn’t read before.

So there are the immersive worlds and cultures of the Olympus Union and the Shadowhunters, the suspenseful time travel of Executed or the remaining Star Wars books. It’s hard to pick one but I feel obligated to do so. I really enjoyed reading about Phasma’s origin and Ahsoka is my absolute favorite Jedi Padawan. However I’ve always had a soft spot for Ventress so learning more about her as written by Christie Golden is serendipitous. It is for that reason that I chose Dark Disciple as the 2018 best read.

FWIW, I recommend reading every book on this list!

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

[UPDATE] Book Review: Thrawn Alliances

By Biggs

On January 2, 2019

In Book Review, Science Fiction

Alliances by Timothy Zahn
My rating: [rating=5]
(Click here to see this review on Goodreads)

This is the second book in Timothy Zahn’s new Thrawn series (~~I’m assuming there will be a third book~~ the third book has been announced titled Treason). I really loved the first book (simply titled Thrawn)! You simply must read it if you haven’t already. It’s the story of how Thrawn came into the service of the Empire and how his strategic military prowess made him a Grand Admiral. At the end of the book we learn that the Emperor has a new mission for Thrawn, but he needs to work with Darth Vader.

Brief Synopsis

As we learned in the first book, Grand Admiral Thrawn is unaware that Anakin and Vader are the same person. Therefore, Zahn takes an interesting approach in this book; it takes place at two points in time. Both times it is Thrawn working with the same person, only he doesn’t realize it. In the past Anakin and Thrawn work together to find Padme. In the present Thrawn and Vader are on a mission for the Emperor to investigate a disturbance in the Force. Coincidentally both missions take place on the same planets.