Biggs' Zone

A Geek's Cogitations, Conjectures and other Cortical Experiences

Book Review: Catching Fire

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On August 29, 2013

In Book Review

Catching Fire (The Hunger Games, #2)Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

My [rating: 5]
Click here to go to Goodreads.

A-mazing!

I thought GRRM was good at cliffhangers, but the end of this book had me opening the next book immediately even when I was half asleep.

I’ll admit that I kind of guessed at a few things in this book but I’m not going to get into that as I don’t want to include any spoilers. If you have read the first book but on the fence about the second, get off the fence and start reading! You could easily get through the book before the release of the movie. I don’t say that because the book is relatively short. Once you start reading you’re probably not going to put the book down!

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Soapbox: Dropping the Ballmer

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On August 23, 2013

In Microsoft, Soapbox, Technology

Steve BallmerI heard today that Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer has announced that he will retire sometime within the next 12 months.

Finally some good news for Microsoft!

Ballmer, in my opinion, has been less than stellar (and that’s me being kind). He hasn’t had a clue since the first time he came running and screaming out on the stage. He definitely knew how to wake a crowd up … and then put them all back to sleep. I think once he retires the only direction Microsoft can go is up. He doesn’t have too many accolades to be proud of since becoming CEO.

Windows Phone – FAIL.

Windows Surface – FAIL

Windows 8 – FAIL

XBox One – Almost a FAIL, but there’s still time.

Windows 7, and all the Visual Studio developer tools, are really the only noteworthy products that has come out of Microsoft’s doors in years (aside from the XBox 360, but I’m speaking specifically computers but the 360 is also a really great product!).

I really am pulling for Microsoft that the next guy to step up to the helm not only has a clue on how to market a product but really knows what the users actually want. Microsoft should no longer be trying to dictate to the user, they should be responding more on what they user wants and try to anticipate based on industry trends. I know, I make it sound so easy, so why shouldn’t I just do it. Yea, no thanks! Crazy, not stupid (though Ballmer was a bit of both – maybe a bit heavy on the “crazy”).

/endsoapbox

The MMO Times: Running Late

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On August 21, 2013

In Gaming, MMO Times, MMORPG

mmotimesheaderIIIssue 88: I started a new client which always means I fall behind with my periodic posts such as the MMO Times. I know there are going to be a few items in this issue that are well over a week late and probably are old news which is why I pretty much rushed the rest of this issue to get caught up.

Gamescom is this week so a lot of the news is coming out from there, as I expected. There are a couple of big reveals and some release dates announced. The next WoW patch, 5.4, will be out September 10th which will bring the current expansion to its epic conclusion (I’m anxious to hear about the next expac at BlizzCon this year). Some more FFXIV news and some details about the LOTRO expansion (which hasn’t been in my list of topics in a while). Check it out folks, Gamescom was pretty good to us this year!’

Also, if you hadn’t heard, Blizzard’s newest title, Hearthstone, has officially entered its closed beta. Make sure you go out to your battle.net account and sign up to try to get an invite. Let me know if any of you have yours and if you have tried it out, I’m interested in your impressions.

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Book Review: The Hunger Games

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On August 16, 2013

In Book Review

The Hunger Games (The Hunger Games, #1)The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

My [rating: 5]
(Click here to read this review on Goodreads.)

I have seen the movie several times prior to reading the book but that didn’t affect how quickly I was drawn into the story. As is pretty typical of all movies based off of books, the book is better. Much better. There are things going on that the movie doesn’t even begin to cover; and that’s not even the biggest difference between the two.

Don’t get me wrong, I still think the movie is great, but I think its great independently of the book. You almost need to separate the two and enjoy them on their own merits.

If you’re on the fence or even remotely thinking about reading the book, I’ll tell you right now – read it! I don’t care if you seen the movie a dozen times, reading the book will give you a completely different perspective.

View all my reviews

Biggs On: Taking A Lunch

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On August 16, 2013

In Biggs On

Biggs OnThe average work day is 8-to-5 where normally people (usually on salary) will take an hour for lunch. I never take an hour for lunch. In fact, I rarely even take a lunch at all. Personally, I can finish eating in about 10-15 minutes (normally because 98% of the time I bring my lunch). If I take an actual lunch then I am sitting around doing nothing for 15-45 minutes. I find that not only excruciatingly boring but extremely unproductive (unless I have good company).

In fact, on days where I am in complete problem-solving-mode, my brain doesn’t stop coding or analyzing even when I am sitting away from the computer. It doesn’t make sense to me to deprive my brain of coding opportunities when I can be so much more productive if I remain at my desk.

I do find the occasional half-hour to hour lunch to be refreshing especially on those rough days where nothing seems to work and the world is clearly “just out to get you”. Honestly though, if I’m really on a roll, I would rather just eat my lunch while I keep coding, stopping only to take a bite or maybe nuke my food.

Honestly I think this works out great to my benefit as a consultant. Since clients pay for me by the hour then not taking a lunch, or a shortened lunch, results in a shorter day for me. Otherwise it can result in working more than 8 hours a day. I’m sure that can get expensive.

What about you? Do you always take your full allotted lunch time, or do you just work through it and try to leave a little early?

New Respect for Ashton

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On August 15, 2013

In General Cogitation, Movies

[embedplusvideo height=”388″ width=”640″ editlink=”http://bit.ly/1a7QYb2″ standard=”http://www.youtube.com/v/zuBSRC1zpHw?fs=1″ vars=”ytid=zuBSRC1zpHw&width=640&height=388&start=&stop=&rs=w&hd=0&autoplay=0&react=1&chapters=&notes=” id=”ep4098″ /]

Whether you’re a fan of Ashton Kutcher or not, the advice he gives in this video is almost as important as the audience whom he is addressing. He won a Teen Choice Award and, as you can tell from the video, he has thousands of screaming fans. You know there are teens hanging on his every word and when you have a captive audience who is easily influenced by celebrity behavior, I’m glad he took the opportunity to provide sound, practical advice instead of trying to influence teens with some hippy, celebrity political nonsense.

I think what I love most about his speech is the passion in which he delivers some of the key points. The notion that opportunities don’t always just fall in your lap, they are acquired through lots of hard work is something that I think is lost in younger generations. You learn to appreciate the things you have when you work hard to obtain them. I love his attitude toward his success as an actor and that he had to do all the shit jobs before he got his big break.

I wasn’t all that motivated to see his latest movie where he portrays Steve Jobs. I had a hard time imagining “Kelso” as one of the biggest innovators of the modern era. I even joked that Kutcher as Jobs seemed about as plausible as American Pie’s “Steve Stifler” as Bill Gates. However, after watching this video, our Kelso has grown up. He even admits that one of the points he makes in his speech was something he just learned after playing the role of Steve Jobs. It’s rare to see a rising star appear humble in front of thousands of screaming, doting girls.

It’s that humility, and his great advice, that has given me new respect for Ashton Kutcher. Now I do feel motivated to go see his new movie.

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