RaffyJohn.com Rocks In My Head

Went to see The Golden Compass last night and I have to say, the one things that irks me about fantasy stories is the need to romanticize war.

There is always this clear division between good and evil in such movies and I find it frustrating. Yes. It is just a movie. A kids movie. But war is the central theme to most any science fiction or fantasy story. Not only that, but the story glorifies and romanticizes the fight against the impending evil. Why is this? Are we teaching kids, in order for good to triumph, to get what one wants, is to seek out evil and destroy it. I enjoy the idea of seeking out what may be hindering us and fighting it, but the source is rarely evil or purposely out to destroy us.

What would fantasy books and movies look like without war?

I’ve found myself lately inspecting technology, software and hardware, with the desire to learn something. A new online service comes along and I sign up, test drive it, and then move on. I rarely seem to actually “use” technology lately.

It is a really bad habit I have gotten myself into and I think it is because of my obsession to “know” everything I possibly can around technology. And this is just stupid. First off, there is no way to learn every bit of anything and the approach I am taking, as I am sure many do, is to consume mass quantities of something without any care for its usefulness. Secondly, why would I want to? I think I’d rather be an expert a few things that have some general knowledge in numerous things.

Use Technology
That’s what it is meant for. I will no longer buy a new product, sign up for a new service or download another piece of software unless I personally have a need for it. Not even for research will I do any of these things, because this is another way into fooling myself that I “need” to use a piece of technology.

It is a simple filter and I really hope that it will help keep my interests in tack.

“Coming Up On…” has to be one of the most irritating phrases in reality television.

Yes. Let’s waste thirty seconds showing highlights from a scene we are about to see. Program developers are so afraid that our tv-dope-sick mind will wander to another station that they will do anything to keep us watching.

Please. We are not idiots. We get it. A climax every six minutes followed by a commercial. Oh. Wait. The commercial is the climax.

We love TV. We’re addicted. We’re watching your show. Quit fucking with us!