Biggs' Zone

A Geek's Cogitations, Conjectures and other Cortical Experiences

The Big Bang Theory Does Not Mock Geeks

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On September 21, 2016

In Geek Canon, General Cogitation, Soapbox

My favorite type of sitcoms are, what I call, highbrow comedies. Fraiser was the first, and will always be, my favorite highbrow comedy. I enjoyed it because the dichotomy that people with an extensive vocabulary are not necessarily haughty or persnickety. Despite their affluence they still found themselves in the same awkward predicaments as Ross, Rachael, Monica, Chandler, Joey and Phoebe. When Fraiser ended in 2004, after 11 seasons, I thought it was the end of highbrow comedy, until I found The Big Bang Theory.

Big Bang Theory Does Not Mock Geeks

I own the same caffeine molecule shirt BEFORE I saw it on TBBT

I was surprised to learn there are other individuals like myself (i.e. geeks) who felt the show made a mockery of geeks. I disagree, I think The Big Bang Theory does not mock geeks. In fact, it teaches us to embrace who we are and it teaches the world to accept us the way we are.

The Big Bang Theory paralleled my life in some capacity. Actually it was almost uncanny in many situations. When I saw Leonard wearing that caffeine molecule shirt I knew I was going to enjoy how the show was analogous to my life. It starts its 10th season this year, and the show still makes me laugh myself to tears. It’s the intellectual, re-imagining of Friends.

The Tropes are the Pillars of Our Identity

The show does make heavy use of geek cultural tropes. Comic books, Star Wars, Star Trek, super heroes, video games, etc! These are not tropes, they are the pillars that define us! It is that sense of identity that makes the show so easy to relate to. Let’s face it, we were all socially awkward and intimidated by the opposite sex when we were younger. It’s possible some are the same as adults. When we were growing up, because we preferred books to booze and video games to sports games, we were “geeks”. Today, “geek” doesn’t have the same negative connotation.

When I was a kid, it was a huge insult to be a geek. Now it’s a point of pride in a weird way. – J. J. Abrams

Perhaps those that find the show offensive to geeks are marred by the demons of their past. When you spend your whole life trying to discard that label, you have a hard time letting go of that negative association. If The Big Bang Theory has taught us all anything, it’s that our perseverance will pay off. Penny and Leonard’s relationship shows us that smart is the new sexy; they don’t ignore the “nerdy guy with the hot girlfriend” dichotomy. We can “get the girl” and still be true to ourselves.

Geek is Passion

So I do understand why some may find the social structure in The Big Bang Theory difficult to believe. Bullying back then was just as awful as bullying is today. It’s very difficult to overcome. Our damaged self-esteem makes us believe we will live a lonely and clandestine life. The Big Bang Theory shows us that you can overcome bullying, love something with unbridled passion, and NEVER be afraid to show it. Let go of those old wounds because, in reality, we are all geeks about something.

Being a geek is all about being honest about what you enjoy and not being afraid to demonstrate that affection. It means never having to play it cool about how much you like something. It’s basically a license to proudly emote on a somewhat childish level rather than behave like a supposed adult. Being a geek is extremely liberating. – Simon Pegg

minions_iconI could accomplish so much more if I only had minions!
Legion Leveling

Legion Leveling: My Shadow Priest Is 110

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On September 15, 2016

In Gaming, MMORPG, World of Warcraft

Legion LevelingAbout a week after launch, I finally reached level 110 on my shadow priest. In all fairness I did have other things going on. It’s strange for me to say that my shadow priest is the first character to reach level 110. My poor paladin is still sitting at 100. This is the first time since 2005 that I did not level my paladin first. I’ll admit it feels a bit strange but I did it for the raid team. Obviously I will immediately began leveling my paladin. At any rate, I’m not writing to lament about my paladin, this is about the Legion leveling experience.

In a previous post I talked about reading War of the Ancients in preparation for this expansion. Blizzard exceeded my expectations. My biggest lamentation (other than my paladin) is not having finished the other two books before the expansion. Beyond a doubt I am convinced that my leveling experience was enhanced by those books. It’s the same feeling I had when I was leveling in Wrath of the Lich King.

It Feels Like Wrath of the Lich King

Speaking of Wrath of the Lich King, Legion feels a lot like that expansion. Unlike Warlords of Draenor the quests in Legion actually have context in the dungeons and raids. Wrath of the Lich King used the same mechanic with its quests and dungeons. The thing that made leveling fun in Lich King was the story that carried you through each zone and to the final encounter with Arthas. Legion is also off to a good start using a similar leveling experience. I think what helps me enjoy this expansion is the connection I feel with the lore. I shared a similar connection in Lich King. It’s amazing how a little bit of lore can change your entire perception.

It’s strange never receiving a new weapon as a drop or quest reward. You receive your artifact weapon at the very beginning and another weapon never drops. You will receive items for every other slot on your character but the only thing that will change on your weapon are the artifact runes and artifact points. While some people (trolls) might see that as lackadaisical of Blizzard, I think it adds a new level of mystery and excitement to your character’s story. If that isn’t enough then I have two words for you: “Ashbringer” and “Doomhammer”!

Legion Leveling: Order Halls and Zone Scaling

As part of your quest to acquire your artifact weapon you will also unlock your Class Order Hall. The Order Hall is the next evolution of the Garrison from the previous expansion. However, at the Order Hall you will see other players of the same class instead of just your toon. It’s your base of operations against the Burning Legion and each Order Hall is located in different parts of Azeroth (depending on the class).

Ironically Khadgar referred to your garrison as a base of operations but I don’t think it ever really felt like that. The Order Hall has that wartime feel with generals standing around massive scouting maps, NPCs and players running around, it feels more alive. Don’t get me wrong, I did enjoy the concept of the garrison but once you are done leveling it doesn’t feel connected to the story anymore.

The zone scaling is brilliant as it is scary. When you begin leveling in Legion you actually get to choose which, of 4 zones, you want to start in (with the exception of Suramar). You will ultimately quest in all 4 zones before you reach 110 (unless you dungeon crawl the entire way). I don’t know how Blizzard pulled it off but the mobs are just as difficult for someone of level 110 as they are for someone of level 103 in the same zone.

The scary thing you have to get used to is, for example, if you begin in Val’Sharah and return there when you are 110 you may think they will be easy pickins. No, they are the same level as you and they can kill you just as easily at 110. The algorithm to pull off that kind of scaling, to me, is genius and mind-numbing. I will get lost in thought just trying to figure it out on my own; but I like it.

TL;DR

All right, this post is bordering on long-winded. I’m going to stop here. Obviously I am enjoying my Legion leveling experience and I could talk more about the things that I like about it. Perhaps I will write a “Part II” or follow-up post after I spend more time leveling other characters and hitting the first raid – Emerald Nightmare, how cool is that!

duke-nukem-smIf zombies attack the world, everyone will run and hide. Except for us gamers, of course. We’ve been waiting for this all our lives!

Tech Talk: Apple’s Decision to Remove the Headphone Jack

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On September 14, 2016

In Apple, Tech Talk, Technology

Apple's Decision to Remove the Headphone JackApple has, yet again, sparked relentless controversy on the Internet with their recent announcement of the iPhone 7. The new iPhone will not have the standard headphone jack. You would swear Apple is trying to abolish Twitter. Everyone lost their minds. The ironic thing is Apple isn’t even the first company to do it! Many are going to accuse me of being a fanboy because I support Apple’s decision to remove the headphone jack. My reason is very simple: USB.

Folks are clamoring that removing the headphone jack is absurd. The 3.5 mm jack has roots that extend all the way back to 1878 when switchboard operators used 6.35 mm jacks. It is a technology that has withstood the test of time remarkably well. However, I pose this question for all those folks: do they still use the stereo jack for their headphones on your computer? I am willing to bet most people plug their headphones into their computer using a USB port instead of the 100-year-old 3.5 mm stereo jack.

USB Headphones Are OK but Lightning Headphones Are Not??

So this is what I don’t get. When the PC industry converted everyone over to USB headphones, nobody batted an eye. In fact I was rather pleased with the transition. It’s technological progress. The same can be said for using the Lightning Adapter for your headphones. What is the difference between using a USB for sound and using the Lightning Adapter for sound? Technically there isn’t. Sound waves are a form of data and both transmit data, ergo the headphone jack is superfluous.

There is one particular scenario I am curious about. What if you need to charge your phone but wish to listen music on your headphones at the same time? I find myself in this specific situation quite often, especially at work. The only solution I have seen Apple provide so far are wireless ear buds with Bluetooth. I’m not a fan of ear buds, they never stay in my ear so they aren’t a viable solution for me. So that issue remains unresolved and may just be a victim of progress.

in·no·vate(ˈinəˌvāt/) – verb – 
make changes in
something established,
especially by introducing
new methods,
ideas, or products.

“Times change and you have to adapt” – Jerry Cantrell

Apple’s decision to remove the headphone jack isn’t completely leaving 3.5 mm headphones out in the cold. Apple has promised to include an adapter with all the new iPhone 7’s. I don’t know what that means for future iPhone versions but headphone companies have a year to engineer new lightning adapter capable headphones.

I think people just like to target Apple, especially the Android community. The soliloquy on “courage” may have been overly dramatic but it has merit. You can call it crazy. You can call it “courage”. You can call it “user-hostile and stupid”. It was bound to happen eventually and I think you are going to see more companies doing the same thing. Removing the headphone jack may not have been revolutionary but it’s certainly evolutionary.

However, I don’t know about those wireless ear buds …

minion_keboard_smThe people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do
– Steve Jobs
Suicide Squad

Movie Review: Suicide Squad

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On September 7, 2016

In Comic Books, DC, Movies, Reviews

Suicide Squad

Suicide Squad

Directed by: David Ayer
Starring: Will Smith, Jared Leto, Margot Robbie

My Rating: [rating=4]

It has been a while since my last movie review post. Batman vs Superman (BvS) may have been the last one I did so it’s serendipitous that Suicide Squad is next. I can’t believe there was no warning that you should see BvS before you see Suicide Squad. It picks up shortly after the events of BvS so you should watch that first, if you don’t want a spoiler.

Suicide Squad is esoteric to comic geek canon. In other words, if you are not familiar with DC villains then you probably have no idea what the “Suicide Squad” is. The Joker (Jared Leto) will be the most recognizable name among this motley crew. Those that are slightly more enlightened will recognize Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie). The lesser known villains in this movie are Deadshot (Will Smith), Killer Croc, Boomerang and Diablo. They are all villains that have been captured by either Batman or The Flash, both of which make cameo appearances.

[Quick Plot Summary]

When the kind of justice Gotham needs isn’t the kind Superman or Batman are willing to provide, a new kind of vigilante is needed. The most dastardly of Gotham’s villains are locked away and forgotten. However, assembling the right group of them will provide a set of skills that can thwart meta-human terrorist threats. The trick is, how do you control them so they don’t start their own terrorist plots.

Don’t Believe All The Critics

Despite what many other critics and movie goers have been saying, Suicide Squad is a good movie. Granted I am not a big DC comic nerd or pundit. I don’t know how well each actor portrayed their respective villain as it pertains to canon. Will Smith is the biggest name in the movie and I’m glad he didn’t turn it into “The Will Smith Show”. He did share the spotlight well with the other characters, especially Margot Robbie. There is good chemistry between Deadshot and Harley Quinn, and the rest of the crew to be honest. So with that said, I think Suicide Squad is a better movie than Batman vs Superman in terms of plot and the quality of the acting.

One final note. I firmly believe that the music makes the movie and this wouldn’t be a “Biggs Movie Review” if I didn’t comment on the music. Keep in mind that I am referring to the score soundtrack and not the album soundtrack. The film’s composer is Steven Price and an hour into the movie I began wondering if it was available on iTunes. The mood of the music matched the mood of each scene perfectly. When you don’t realize that you have been completely bewitched by a scene, that is a sign of good music. Hats off to Steven Price.

film_reelThe screen is a magic medium. It has such power that it can retain interest as it conveys emotions and moods that no other art form can hope to tackle.
– Stanley Kubrick

Read Kubrick’s Game, You Will Love It

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On August 29, 2016

In Book Review

Read Kubrick's GameKubrick’s Game by Derek Taylor Kent
My rating: [rating=5]

Have you ever finished reading a great book that you enjoyed so much you have to tell everyone about it? The problem is you don’t know where to start. It was a problem I faced after reading Ready Player One, and it’s the problem I am facing after finishing Kubrick’s Game. Coincidentally Kubrick’s Game has been compared to Ready Player One, and rightfully so. It’s another puzzle-adventure novel whose clues and characters will keep you turning the pages.

Kubrick’s Game is about a brilliant UCLA film student named Shawn who receives a very unusual package. The contents will take him on a quest to solve a puzzle left behind by the late Stanley Kubrick. The answers he seeks are buried in the legendary filmmakers movies and his life. A prize awaits the first person that completes the game; a prize that will “change the course of history”. Shawn’s task isn’t going to be easy, there are other nefarious groups also on the quest and trying to stop him.

A Book For The Movie Nerd

I am a huge movie nerd and I love a great movie so I appreciate Stanley Kubrick’s films. Granted I haven’t seen all of them, but just a couple of chapters into this book and I was ready for a marathon! Many times I thought about popping in 2001 or The Shining just to see the clues for myself. Throughout the whole book I was trying to anticipate how it will end and what the prize will be. Just when you are convinced that you know what is going on the author throws in a twist as clever as Stanley Kubrick himself, and your mind is blown. A part of me was waiting for the cliché reward at the end but instead, it’s perfect. It’s a prize worthy of the puzzle and the man who created it.

Kubrick's Game Audio Book

Narrated by Jonathan Frakes (aka Commander Riker)

I had the privilege to read Kubrick’s Game before the publish date (on September 26th) and it’s definitely comparable to Ready Player One and other great puzzle books like The Da Vinci Code. The author uses a perfect balance of fiction and non-fiction similar to writers like Ernest Cline and Dan Brown. He collaborated with the founders of The Fantastic Race to create the film-based scavenger hunt. By the end, Kubrick’s Game easily claims a spot in my top 5. If you love movies, and especially if you love Stanley Kubrick’s films, then this book is a must read!

If audio books are more your speed then the treat gets even sweeter. Jonathan Frakes, Star Trek’s Commander Riker, provides the narration with Yvette Nicole Brown providing the voice of Desiree Jackson. The audio book will also be available September 26th on Audible and iTunes.

Additional Links

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

War of the Ancients Prepares You For Legion

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On August 25, 2016

In Gaming, World of Warcraft

War of the AncientsWhen Blizzard announced the release date of Legion I began reading War of the Ancients by Richard Knaak. My thought is that it would be a great warm up for the coming expansion. Unfortunately I feel behind, as I often do because life happens, however, I did complete the first book in the trilogy, The Well of Eternity. I’m obviously not going to finish the other two books before launch, which is this coming Tuesday. Granted we don’t know if Blizzard even considered War of the Ancients so any correlation could just be coincidence.

If you haven’t read any of the books, or you’re teetering on the fence about it, let me share my thoughts. Maybe it will help make the decision a little easier. It will also help if you are familiar with what is coming in Legion. The book mostly takes place in Suramar, which is a zone where we will be questing. It’s also the location of Malfurion’s home. Of course there is Illidan who teams up with Lord Ravencrest and they will travel to Black Rook Hold.

While the Burning Legion is the main antagonist, Malfurion will confront Lord Xavius at the end of the book. After reviewing a few of the dungeons, Lord Xavius is a boss in one of them. I’m a little curious how that is possible, and you will see what I mean when you reach the end.

I really enjoyed reading the first book and now I can hardly wait for Legion. I think Richard Knaak has a “knack” for articulation in story telling (see what I did there). His writing style isn’t convoluted or complicated which makes it a pretty fast read. It helps when you reach a point where you can’t put the book down. After I read the last page of Well of Eternity, I barely took a breath before I read the first page in Demon Soul. If you are going to play Legion, or you enjoy Warcraft lore then I would recommend at least reading Well of Eternity.

Now, “you are prepared”!

duke-nukem-smIf zombies attack the world, everyone will run and hide. Except for us gamers, of course. We’ve been waiting for this all our lives!

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