10/31 SP Dealing with Easy Duplication and Distribution

It has occurred to me that our society’s inability to figure out how to properly control and govern software and deal with related issues partially stems from how incredibly easy it is to now distribute and duplicate information. Before the introduction of the computer and a text file the fastest way to obtain a copy of a book was to have one literally pressed onto paper from a printing press. These days acquiring a copy of a book is trivial, and even with a primitive network connection the amount of time and energy it takes to distribute it is trivial. The basis of our current law system never needed to take this triviality into account. If someone wanted information, it usually took some real effort to get it. How do you protect something from copy and distribution when doing so is essentially free? How do you properly protect ideas?

10/08 CE Why I Play Video Games

I have long wondered about what, exactly, drives me to be as obsessive about video games as I am. What is it about playing Final Fantasy X that makes me so saddened by the fact that I can’t ever realistically expect my wife to play through it of her own volition? I think it’s because games provide me with a real sense of participation in whatever ordeal is presented to me. This varies wildly from having the real ability to successfully make 2x2 same colored squares in Lumines to helping Yuna figure out how to defeat Sin once and for all. In a very real sense, when Tidus says “This is my story” at the beginning of Final Fantasy X I feel like he’s speaking with a distant echo of my voice even though I make no impact on the game’s outcome. I care about the fact that these complicated program will only progress due to my direct input, and I hope one day I can get my wife and others to understand this.

This post was inspired by this article.

10/03 SP A Slightly More Selfish Reason for Family History

Imagine you’re God and you’ve recently reached the decision to answer the prayers of the faithful and send an angel down to get Alma and his friends to stop actively trying to destroy the church. Without cheating, what message are you going to have this angel leave with these boys to make sure they stay on the straight and narrow? Personally I would not have chosen family history as a beacon for these wayward souls, yet family history it was. Honestly, I have never felt that family history helps me be anchored to my gospel progression. What does it tell me about my redemption? It wasn’t until I studied this part of Alma’s conversion that this aspect of the gospel came into focus. Read the conclusion of Alma’s final testimony to Helaman. Clearly, keeping family history has its spiritual benefits.

10/01 CE Quit Playing Candy Crush!

Every time I see someone playing Candy Crush Saga one a portable device I have an impulse to take said device and throw it for the person’s own good. Candy crush is the latest game to come out of the new free to play game genre, and one of the most despicable example of these games. These games harken back to the arcade days where every design decision was based around getting more quarters out of you. For example, the moment you purchase anything in Candy Crush the game gets harder. They know that since you've invested once to get an extra couple of turns for that 3rd star you are now more willing to do it again. There are reason known casino companies are investigating these games, and why Japan has laws regulating them. Yet, why can’t you see that match that’ll clear your last bit of jelly…

This current events post is brought to you by this article.

09/24 CE Content Creation Renaissance

Content creation is going through a Renaissance due to the pervasive use of ad blockers. One example of this is the website thewitecutter.com, their content focuses on finding what the best piece of technology is for a given category. Which tablet should I get? They suggest the iPad mini, if you have to get one right now, but make it clear that you should wait while they evaluate newer options. Typically tech site obfuscate a recommendation by forcing you through multiple reviews so you look at more ads, but the wirecutter doesn't since ad blockers make that strategy moot, their entire review is on one easy to read page. They monetize their site primarily through providing special hyperlinks that gives the site a referral bounty if it is converted into a sale. Take this in addition to the many people who make a living posting to YouTube just posting themselves playing games, it is a truly interesting time for content creation I just wish it hadn't taken ad blockers for it to come about.

This current events post is brought to you by thewirecutter.com and this article.