Biggs' Zone

A Geek's Cogitations, Conjectures and other Cortical Experiences

Official Episode VIII Title: The Last Jedi!

The Last JediDisney made the official announcement Monday, January 23rd, freaking out Star Wars geeks the world over. Star Wars: The Last Jedi will likely be about Luke Skywalker and where he has been since Ben Solo failed his training. Director Rian Johnson alluded to that in a recent interview. So it stands to reason that the title, while trite, sets the tone for Episode 8. I’m sure there are thousands of “so-called” fans rolling their eyes and crying that the title sucks (obviously Rian Johnson and Disney neglected to check with them first before making the title official). However I think the title is actually rather fitting.

Before you completely dismiss the title as hackneyed consider the following points. In the interview Rian Johnson explains that Episode 8 will answer the question “What’s going on with Luke Skywalker?” Why does he feel responsible for Ben turning to the dark side and now lives on an island like Oliver Queen? Also, in The Force Awakens they often reference Luke as “the last Jedi” so we knew back in December 2015. I mean, it seems fairly obvious to me!

The Plural Form of Jedi Is …

Then I was talking to my brother-in-law and he asked me a question that completely changes how to interpret the title. The plural form of Jedi is “Jedi” (just as the plural form of moose is “moose”). Talk about having my mind blown. Of course it’s possible the title has deeper meanings. George Lucas was never known for having deep, arcane names for his movies. I like a title that is subject to interpretation and the movie doesn’t clearly explain it either (ex: The Force Awakens). So “the last Jedi” could mean Luke and Rey because they are the last ones.

The title also has a connotation that it should be the name of the last movie in a series (i.e. Episode 9). While that certainly seems valid, the fact that it’s the title of the middle movie leaves me to believe that it’s about the present state of the Jedi and not foretelling the future.

Of course the thought on everyone’s mind now is when do we get the first teaser trailer??!? Perhaps during the Super Bowl (which is when we got the first trailer for The Force Awakens)?

/MTFBWY

The Force. It calls to you. Just let it in.

 

Soapbox: Facebook is a Harbor of Hatred

Facebook is a Harbor of HatredI have taken a break from Facebook. If you notice posts from me they auto-post as part of WordPress plug-ins which automatically sends a tweet for new blog posts. Anytime I submit a tweet to Twitter, it auto-posts to Facebook. While I will also avoid my Twitter feed, I can post to Twitter without actually having to see the latest nonsense. I have also disabled all notifications. Facebook is a harbor of hatred and I just can’t take any more of it right now. Warning: the following might be wrought with disdain and unpleasant suggestions (i.e. nothing will be politically correct).

When Mark Zuckerberg first created Facebook I’m sure his intentions were a means to unite friends across borders. It’s a way to keep in touch with people who have touched your lives in a positive way. Obviously you wouldn’t friend that dirty uncle who molested you at night. Over the past 13 years it has evolved into a harbinger of hatred. Keyboard jockeys share memes and posts to garner support for whatever cause/belief/nonsense they feel is impeding human evolution. However their “activism” ends there; it’s as I’ve said before, trolling. They just want to see how many people they can butt-hurt instead of actually caring about whatever they are bitching about.

Social Media is Not Activism

Activism requires more than sharing memes. I assure you no member of Congress, no judge, no presidential aid is going to change their mind because of a Facebook post! Don’t even get me started on those dumbass Facebook profile filters! All you will accomplish by sharing hateful remarks is alienating your friends and family. There are relationships that are being destroyed because people are not afraid to type what they are too afraid to say to someone’s face. Words are permanent whether spoken or written. While you might be able to repair what you say, the Internet never forgets what you wrote. Once its out on the Internet, you can no longer control its existence.

I really don’t think Facebook or Twitter has ever been successful in rallying people for any cause. Everyone posts shit because they know they can hide behind a monitor. I see people posting “I don’t want to start a fight but …”; don’t do that! It’s going to start a fight, regardless because people feel invulnerable when they are sitting at their keyboards or on the couch with their phones.

Nuclear weapons, WMDs, bio-terrorism, Donald Trump, Barrack Obama, none of those will cause the destruction of man. Social Media will be our destruction. The very tool that was created to bring us together will be exactly what tears us apart; it has already begun. So I’m going to avoid Facebook until I no longer feel the need to always check it. I have heard on numerous occasions that people feel happier when they spend time away from Facebook.

/endsoapbox

Book Review: Summoner of Storms

Summoner of Storms (Catalysts of Chaos Book 3)Summoner of Storms by C. Greenwood
My rating: [rating=4]

Summoner of Storms is book III of the Catalysts of Chaos series by C. Greenwood. I received a review copy of this book in advance of its release after subscribing to the authors newsletter. I really like reading ARC books, especially in genre’s that I enjoy. There are three main catalysts in this series and Geveral is my favorite. Perhaps that is why I was excited to read this book (since the first two seemed to be tailored toward the other two catalysts, Eydis and Orrick).

Please note, there are mild spoilers ahead but they will only be of consequence to you if you have read the first two books.

Summoner of Storms is definitely the climax of the series. A grieving Geveral befriends someone who gives him the keys to unlocking his power meanwhile Orrick’s past catches up to him. When the catalysts reach Silverwood Grove you will not want to put the book down. Eydis will have a startling revelation and we may have a glimpse into her possible destiny. We discover a secret to the oracle’s power whose life, as well as the fate of Earth Realm, hangs in the balance.

There Isn’t A Love Story

The conspiracies and mysteries, assassinations and betrayals will keep you reading. There isn’t a subtle love story, which works with the momentum and plot of the book. Honestly I think the lack of a love interest is refreshing. I am enjoying the confident, determined female hero whose goals will not be convoluted by infatuation.

I am really enjoying this series and I am looking forward to the final book, Clash of Catalysts. The title in-and-of-itself begs the question, is there tension growing among the catalysts? It’s clear that this will be the final battle for Earth Realm but Orrick’s sordid dealings make it difficult for Eydis to trust him. Will he find exoneration for his alleged betrayal? Is Eydis more powerful than she realizes? Is Geveral? Will they realize their power soon enough to defend Earth Realm?

View all my reviews

diablo3-reading“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.”
– Dr. Seuss

 

How Will Star Wars Survive Without Leia?

How Will Star Wars Survive Without LeiaMany of us are still lamenting the loss of our beloved princess. I know all of her co-workers are still beside themselves with grief. We all wish everyday since the Tuesday after Christmas, was a bad dream that we all will wake up from. Sadly that will not happen. We must endure and ensure every future generation knows the brilliance and beauty of Carrie Fisher (our Princess Leia). Aside from grief, we are all curious how will Star Wars survive without her?

WARNING: If you haven’t seen The Force Awakens (which is unheard-of) and you have, miraculously, avoided spoilers then stop reading. I need to talk about details of the movie to further this rumination.

Star Wars Without Princess Leia

It’s difficult to imagine Star Wars without Princess Leia. We were hopeful when she was stable, but when she passed you could have knocked us all over with a feather. Disney did confirm that all of her scenes for Episode VIII were complete but it still begs the question, what happens in Episode IX? After killing off Han it creates and interesting conundrum in regards to Kylo Ren’s story.

Kathleen Kennedy and the Lucasfilm team have a meeting coming up to discuss Leia’s future in the franchise. I do not expect that they will share her fate with us until the release of Episode VIII or Episode IX. I think their smartest move would be to kill Leia off-screen. Since Episode VIII is now in post-production, it’s possible they could edit something in at the very end. Personally I hope they edit in a dedication rather than an off-screen death.

The right move, I think, would be to write an off-screen death for the beginning of Episode IX and work it into Kylo Ren’s story. While Rogue One was fairly successful bringing Peter Cushing (aka Tarkin) back to life; I don’t think digitally inserting Carrie Fisher for all of Episode IX would be the right thing to do.

We’re Grieving. It’s a process.

Star Wars fans, the world over, will, beyond a doubt, miss our beloved princess. Episode VIII is going to be difficult to watch knowing its the last time we will see her. Granted it will nearly have been a year by the time the movie comes out and we will all have accepted her death by that time. I’m sure seeing her again will bring back some fairly painful emotions. I know that might sound ridiculous but, just as Robin Williams, she was a pillar of our childhood. I saw Rogue One the day after her passing and seeing her at the end, despite the fact it was digital, left me verklempt.

In a way, however, it’s almost poetic that Carrie Fisher’s last movie is Star Wars. She has done several other great movies (ex: Blues Brothers, The burbs, etc) but everyone knows her, and will remember her, eternally as Princess Leia. Disney has been far more successful and true to the franchise since they took the reins. I think Kathleen Kennedy will do the right thing. Star Wars will never be the same, but she will always be our princess.

/MTFBWY

The Force. It calls to you. Just let it in.

 

Biggs Declares 2017 Intentions (Not Resolutions)

2017 IntentionsI never make New Years Resolutions, I believe I’ve covered that before. As odd as it sounds, I have more motivation to complete a set of goals (instead of the proverbial “resolution”). So what are my 2017 intentions? I know this year will be a year of change but I’m not at liberty to say, yet, what will be changing. You will know when it happens because it will warrant a blog post (or two). I do not want to write another long-winded post so, for brevity sake, I’m going to get started.

Biggs Labs – Smart Home

I have all the components I need now to complete my Siri integration with SmartThings using a Raspberry Pi. I just need to make myself sit down to install and configure. My Christmas lights were the perfect test subject for programming automation using SmartThings Apps. While we were away for Christmas, SmartThings was programmed to turn on my outdoor Christmas lights and my indoor lights, thus making it appear that someone is home.

We have smart dimmer switches which we plan to install to control the LED ceiling lights. This will give us the capability to adjust the lighting, as necessary, using SmartThings/Z-Wave capable devices (i.e. our phones). Once the switches are installed and the Raspberry Pi is configured, I should be able to ask Siri to dim the lights (ex: for a movie, perhaps).

 2017 Goodreads Reading Challenge

In a previous post I took you through my year in books. I have already committed to the same reading challenge this year, however, I did not go crazy and set the goal to 25 books. I did set it to 15 books again because I know I came close last year. It’s going to come down to choosing the books carefully. Obviously the longer the book the longer it will take me to read it. I guess its good that George R. R. Martin doesn’t plan to release his next book this decade year. Here are a couple of books I am committing to this year:

  •   Summoner of Storms – I am currently about half way through book 3 of the Catalysts of Chaos series.
  •  War of the Ancients: The Sundering – Finish the final book in the War of the Ancients trilogy by Richard A. Knaak.
  •   Clash of Catalysts – Volume 4 of C. Greenwood’s Catalysts of Chaos series. The final chapter in Earth Realms battle against Rathnakar and his evil forces.
  •  Wrigleyville – A magical history tour of the Chicago Cubs. This is a book I’ve been wanting to read for years, however it is quite long.
  •  Heartless – The latest re-imagining of classic storybook characters by Marissa Meyer. I have high hopes for this book as Marissa Meyer tells a story about the Queen of Hearts, long before she was shouting “off with their heads”

 Fitness and Health

Flying Pig MarathonOf course I am doing the Walk to Mordor challenge again, in fact I will also complete the extra 1,625 miles for the “and Back Again” leg. This year I am determined more than ever as I need to drop 30 pounds (again). Around March I will start the Couch-2-5K training program again. I will complete it this time and I will then run my first 5K. If I miss all my other goals this year, running my first 5K will not be one of them. This is something I really want to accomplish. I haven’t chosen which 5K to run yet. It might be the Flying Pig or it might be the Red Legs.

If you are interested in trying the Walk to Mordor challenge yourself, I have a place where you can track your progress. Head over and sign up!

Professional Skills Development

One of my goals, every year, for my job is to learn a new technology that might be useful on a current project or on future projects. This will be important this year more than any other year. Therefore I am making it a personal 2017 goal to either learn something brand new and/or become proficient in something that has been recently updated. I don’t have anything specific in mind yet, but my preliminary thoughts are Angular 2 or Swift (iOS development language). I will be using my favorite online video learning sight, Pluralsight. It doesn’t matter what you do for a living, there is always an opportunity somewhere to improve on a skill or learn a new skill. It’s great for your career and its great for your mind.

All right, I’m starting to get too verbose. Stopping with this small list.

Good luck with your 2017 Intentions!

minions_icon

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

 

2016 Reading Challenge – More Cowbell!

2016 Reading ChallengeAs a member of Goodreads I participate in their annual reading challenge, therefore I did not discuss books in my “Year in Review” post. Considering it was already quite lengthy I decided the books I read warrants a separate post. My initial goal for the 2016 Reading Challenge was a lofty 25 books, however around June or July I realized there was no way I was going to succeed. I reduced my challenge to 15 books but I ended the year having only read 12.

I am not a fast reader, nor am I a slow reader by any means. My “literary ineptitude”, as it were, is primarily the result of time and prioritization. I need to allocate more time to reading if I am to achieve my reading challenge goals. Be that as it may, I am going to take a look back at the books I read in 2016.

My 2016 Reading Challenge Read List

Below are the 12 books I read for the 2016 Reading Challenge. If I wrote a “Book Review” blog post, you will be able to click on the title of the book to read the review. If the author’s name is a link, it will take you to their website (in case you are interested in learning more).

My Choice for 2016 Best Read

As you can see I read several great books last year. Picking the best read for the year really comes down to two books: Armada and Kubrick’s Game. Ernest Cline is also the author of Ready Player One, a book that is now at the top of my list as one of my all time favorite books. As much as I enjoyed Armada I don’t think it invoked those nostalgic feelings like Ready Player One, and Kubrick’s Game.

Therefore Kubrick’s Game is my pick for the best book of the year for 2016! It is the perfect combination of movie nostalgia and puzzle mystery.

Folks that know the tale as to how I found out about Kubrick’s Game may be rolling their eyes. They might assume I picked that book because I was contacted by the author personally to read it and provide a review. I assure you that my feelings for the book are 100% genuine. My loyalties are not so easily bought and my endorsement is not so easily influenced. It is my honest-to-God feeling about the book.

What books did you read in 2016? Which one was your favorite?

diablo3-readingThe more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.
– Dr. Seuss

 

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