Where do I begin?
I think the first thing I thought when we finished 2001 in class was that I would definitely need to watch it again on my own time to fully understand what was going on. Not only that but the fact that we watched it in sections didn't help.
From what I gathered, this movie can be broken down and analyzed on several aspects. It is indeed a slow-moving movie with lots of slow cut scenes with either 20 minute scores or long periods of complete silence. HAL is a character I found to be surprisingly deep. At first I thought him not to be a major part of the story but in fact he is a very dynamic character. It's creepy how calmly HAL addresses Dave when he is manually shutting him down. "I really think you should sit down and take a stress pill, Dave." I think the programmers who made HAL should have given him different tones of voice so people who interact with him understand what he's trying to convey better. But that's just me.
My internet is starting to go out so I'll pick this up another time..
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Sci Fi Log: Electronic Soldiers
FFW stand for "Future Force Warrior." It's a program that the army is carrying out that will completely re-invent our fighting men and women. It consists of a bunch of technologies that will all be put in to place by the year 2020. Some more liberal estimates put the deadline at 2030-32.
I'm studying the FFW program for my Synthesis Prompt and I must say it's very interesting to see what systems will (hopefully) be used in later years. Some I'm more skeptical of others. however. I mean, liquid body armor? I'm not so sure..
Already in service as part of the FFW program are the Stryker attack vehicles. They are heavily-armored mobile platforms that can perform a multitude of tasks. There's a Stryker for evacuating the wounded, one with a large carrying capacity for troop transportation, a Stryker with a large cannon on it for artillery support and even a Stryker vehicle with a vast array of sensors and communications equipment that is used for command and control.
Next to be put into service will be the Land Warrior system. This is a man-mounted computer and sensor system that will greatly reduce what is know as 'The Fog of War.' Or battlefield confusion. The Land Warrior system has a Heads Up Display (HUD) that the soldier wears on his helmet. It gives him up-to-date status on other platoons, enemy locations, reinforcement status, and many other important bits of information. All of this information is transmitted through wireless internet mounted on the soldier's back. This system will be improved upon in the future to include physiological monitors and will be more compact.
Far into the future, the army plans to implement liquid body armor. This is achieved by having an oil or silicone-based liquid with iron particles suspended in it. When impacted with an object at high velocity, the iron particles become electrified and harden instantly. I'm skeptical of how this is going to work but scientists have assured the press that it will be in place in later years.
Being a Military buff, the FFW program has been an interest of mine for quite some time and I saw this Synthesis Prompt assignment as a way to display all that I've learned about it up until now. I could talk for hours on the subject but I don't think there's enough bandwidth for me to do that.. so on the note I'll take my leave.
I'm studying the FFW program for my Synthesis Prompt and I must say it's very interesting to see what systems will (hopefully) be used in later years. Some I'm more skeptical of others. however. I mean, liquid body armor? I'm not so sure..
Already in service as part of the FFW program are the Stryker attack vehicles. They are heavily-armored mobile platforms that can perform a multitude of tasks. There's a Stryker for evacuating the wounded, one with a large carrying capacity for troop transportation, a Stryker with a large cannon on it for artillery support and even a Stryker vehicle with a vast array of sensors and communications equipment that is used for command and control.
Next to be put into service will be the Land Warrior system. This is a man-mounted computer and sensor system that will greatly reduce what is know as 'The Fog of War.' Or battlefield confusion. The Land Warrior system has a Heads Up Display (HUD) that the soldier wears on his helmet. It gives him up-to-date status on other platoons, enemy locations, reinforcement status, and many other important bits of information. All of this information is transmitted through wireless internet mounted on the soldier's back. This system will be improved upon in the future to include physiological monitors and will be more compact.
Far into the future, the army plans to implement liquid body armor. This is achieved by having an oil or silicone-based liquid with iron particles suspended in it. When impacted with an object at high velocity, the iron particles become electrified and harden instantly. I'm skeptical of how this is going to work but scientists have assured the press that it will be in place in later years.
Being a Military buff, the FFW program has been an interest of mine for quite some time and I saw this Synthesis Prompt assignment as a way to display all that I've learned about it up until now. I could talk for hours on the subject but I don't think there's enough bandwidth for me to do that.. so on the note I'll take my leave.
Sci Fi Log: Crazy Mr. Hammond
(Sorry these are late, i made some hard copies during some down time i had and lost track of where I put them. Won't happen again!)
"So my park wasn't a success, I see now that I was trying to manipulate nature in a way that I could not. I only hoped that people could come from around the world to see these beautiful creatures in all of their glory. Living and breathing right in front of their eyes. We were so close, but in the end Malcom was right. I had a false sense of control over the park and ultimately that was my downfall. For a moment there I thought my grandkids weren't going to make it out alive. This is why I've decided to cancel any and all further plans with Jurassic Park and the InGen corporation...for now"
-Mr. John Hammond (Richard Attenborough) at the end of the film "Jurassic Park."
"Those damn fools! If Nedry hadn't bugged the system, if all of the park systems had stayed online and the animals hadn't reproduced I would have my dreams laid out before my eyes right now. It's all their fault. I could've made billions of dollars off of this park, billions. Instead I'm sitting on this god forsaken hill with a broken leg. I sacrificed everything for this park, is this how I am to be repayed!? Imagine what the investors will think, or even the public once the story gets out. Nevermind that, I have more urgent problems, I hear something chirping in the bushes. It's coming closer, compy's!"
-Mr John Hammond (Crichton's Character) at the end of the book.
Of course these aren't real quotes, I was trying to compare the Hammond in the book to the Hammond in the film. In the book I see a crazed, money-hungry businessman who is angry and frustrated that things didn't go as planned. He seems almost childish at the end of the book, fuming. He had dreams of endless fortunes and fame, only to die alone on a rocky hillside.
And in the movie, he basically has an outlook of "Oh darn, Jurassic Park didn't work out after all. Better luck next time." He's an old man that just wanted for people to enjoy his work, not make money. I much prefer the book's ending over the film's because not only is it justice that the mad man that is Hammond dies, but it brings more closure to the story because the creator of all Jurassic Park ceases to exist. Of course in the movie they left room for John Hammond to be in the second movie. Hollywood, always looking to make a buck.
"So my park wasn't a success, I see now that I was trying to manipulate nature in a way that I could not. I only hoped that people could come from around the world to see these beautiful creatures in all of their glory. Living and breathing right in front of their eyes. We were so close, but in the end Malcom was right. I had a false sense of control over the park and ultimately that was my downfall. For a moment there I thought my grandkids weren't going to make it out alive. This is why I've decided to cancel any and all further plans with Jurassic Park and the InGen corporation...for now"
-Mr. John Hammond (Richard Attenborough) at the end of the film "Jurassic Park."
"Those damn fools! If Nedry hadn't bugged the system, if all of the park systems had stayed online and the animals hadn't reproduced I would have my dreams laid out before my eyes right now. It's all their fault. I could've made billions of dollars off of this park, billions. Instead I'm sitting on this god forsaken hill with a broken leg. I sacrificed everything for this park, is this how I am to be repayed!? Imagine what the investors will think, or even the public once the story gets out. Nevermind that, I have more urgent problems, I hear something chirping in the bushes. It's coming closer, compy's!"
-Mr John Hammond (Crichton's Character) at the end of the book.
Of course these aren't real quotes, I was trying to compare the Hammond in the book to the Hammond in the film. In the book I see a crazed, money-hungry businessman who is angry and frustrated that things didn't go as planned. He seems almost childish at the end of the book, fuming. He had dreams of endless fortunes and fame, only to die alone on a rocky hillside.
And in the movie, he basically has an outlook of "Oh darn, Jurassic Park didn't work out after all. Better luck next time." He's an old man that just wanted for people to enjoy his work, not make money. I much prefer the book's ending over the film's because not only is it justice that the mad man that is Hammond dies, but it brings more closure to the story because the creator of all Jurassic Park ceases to exist. Of course in the movie they left room for John Hammond to be in the second movie. Hollywood, always looking to make a buck.
Thursday, October 4, 2007
Sci Fi Log #3
Happy Sputnik anniversary!
I want to start off this blog with a shoutout to Mr. Inloes whose melodious tones fill the air at last night's powder puff football game where early in the game, the Juniors showed a firce offense, crossing the field in a mere three plays for a touchdown. It was 16-25, Juniors when I left but apparently the game ended closely at 22-29 in favor of the Juniors; the curse is back. Mr. Inloes played the national anthem with his 1974 Fender Stratacaster (probably not it's real name.. I don't know guitars). It was a nice change from the usual not-so-great, over-energized ladies who usually sing the anthem at other venues. I liked the ending the most, joyful and triumphant.
I don't like how Alan Grant is portrayed as a guy who doesn't like kids in the movie. It makes the story a lot more interesting to read because Alan is constantly talking to Tim about different dinosaurs and such. It's also fun to see Tim get so excited about having someone else in his life who likes dinosaurs as much as he does. I can relate to Tim when he was describing his visit to the dinosaur museum. His family was barely interested and he was completely exhilaerated about the all of the exhibits. this happened to me when I went to Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio in the seventh grade. My family showed similar disinterest when I was beaming and poking around all of the airplanes. This has happened repeatedly when we went to the Smithsonian in D.C. and to the HMS Hornet docked in South Carolina. Tim's dad wanted to go home and catch the end of a sports game. My dad usually had to sit down more towards the end of the day, his ankles aren't in the best shape. It's good that Tim gets this role model, especially one who's book he has read. I'm glad Tim and Alan get to bond in the book, even if they are being chased by dinosaurs.
The bell's about to ring.. transmission terminated.
I want to start off this blog with a shoutout to Mr. Inloes whose melodious tones fill the air at last night's powder puff football game where early in the game, the Juniors showed a firce offense, crossing the field in a mere three plays for a touchdown. It was 16-25, Juniors when I left but apparently the game ended closely at 22-29 in favor of the Juniors; the curse is back. Mr. Inloes played the national anthem with his 1974 Fender Stratacaster (probably not it's real name.. I don't know guitars). It was a nice change from the usual not-so-great, over-energized ladies who usually sing the anthem at other venues. I liked the ending the most, joyful and triumphant.
I don't like how Alan Grant is portrayed as a guy who doesn't like kids in the movie. It makes the story a lot more interesting to read because Alan is constantly talking to Tim about different dinosaurs and such. It's also fun to see Tim get so excited about having someone else in his life who likes dinosaurs as much as he does. I can relate to Tim when he was describing his visit to the dinosaur museum. His family was barely interested and he was completely exhilaerated about the all of the exhibits. this happened to me when I went to Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio in the seventh grade. My family showed similar disinterest when I was beaming and poking around all of the airplanes. This has happened repeatedly when we went to the Smithsonian in D.C. and to the HMS Hornet docked in South Carolina. Tim's dad wanted to go home and catch the end of a sports game. My dad usually had to sit down more towards the end of the day, his ankles aren't in the best shape. It's good that Tim gets this role model, especially one who's book he has read. I'm glad Tim and Alan get to bond in the book, even if they are being chased by dinosaurs.
The bell's about to ring.. transmission terminated.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
