A Universe from Nothing: Why There Is Something Rather than Nothing (2012)

Creating a narrative that delves into the cutting-edge of cosmology and is engaging, simple to grasp, and educational seems like a difficult task. Avoiding the technical and mathematical can often limit a work’s ideas and glance over matters in a cursory way.  A Universe from Nothing: Why There Is Something Rather than Nothing does a terrific job of maintaining lay-terms and avoiding math-ese. Many of the concepts force us to reevaluate how we view time, infinity, creation, definitions of something/nothing, and so much more. Krauss’ book follows scientific discoveries throughout the ages and paints a picture of concepts and theories trying to explain matter, space-time, and the immensity of the cosmos. In the end, engaging the questions can be even more fulfilling than the answers.

While I think Why Does E=mc2?: (And Why Should We Care?) covers more territory and explains origins of the universe and physical laws more thoroughly, Lawrence Krauss’ book is valuable if you’d rather avoid theorems and the science nitty-gritty. However, if you really want to understandt the inflation of the universe, time before and after the big bang, and/or our universe accelerating into nothingness: you’ll have to get your hands a bit dirtier.

Jesus Camp (2006)

Depressing, down right depressing. Raising children to deny science, believe in the unfounded, and worship antiquated ideals and traditions holds back humanity and progress. The efforts to deny children access to models of the world and universe that are supported by evidence and create free-thinkers is a travesty. Children should be given the tools to assess the world around them and challenge any and all ideas freely and with support from their elders.

One of the most heart-wrenching moments in this documentary involved a young kid, maybe 9 or 10, who legitimately questioned the bible and the the existence of god. His inability to be like everyone else made him cry and pray with great pain. He felt like there was something fundamentally wrong within his-self. If only religious instruction waited to proselytize and convert people who were adults. Instead of the ingenious plan of consistent brainwashing beginning at birth. As a commentary against the Evangelical plot is a radio announcer, and Christian Religious moderate, that is baffled by the rise of militant Christianity that denies science and demands a theocratic government.

I grew up Catholic, went to Catholic school, attended prayer meetings, and went to church every week and on holy days. In short, it was mostly a waste of time. If I would have been given extra science/math classes or any class for that matter that wasn’t religion I’d have been better off. We can raise ethical and happy children without a boogeyman or promises of heaven. Rather, raising them to respect humanity, the world, knowledge, and each-other for its own sake. Studies support that the most happy and prosperous countries are the least religious. Religious teaching should be confined to history courses, english literature, and sections of philosophy. Its place as a moral guide is sickening when you see the effect on children. Parents deny their kids access to real medicine because it comes from the devil or isn’t in god’s plan. When religion becomes relegated to the sidelines it often enters a militaristic survival mode. Jesus Camp displays this to the umpteenth degree. And it’s not some small-sect of Americana at work here, this is millions of people who vote in large numbers and who were proud of George Bush Jr’s Presidency. Separation of church and State is a beautiful thing. Unfortunately it doesn’t extend to protect children from mental abuse at the hands of their pastors/parents.

Mass Effect 3 in Light of Skyrim

This is a rather nerd-centric post but I’m trying to figure out if I need to get Mass Effect 3. Not need in the sense of a colonoscopy at age 40 but close. As of late Skyrim has turned the video game world upside down. It offers a nearly endless and expansive world set in the times of mages, dragons, murder, and kings. The sheer amount of quests, missions, and guilds you can join is insane. Want to be a thief go for it. Want to murder people for money, sure why not. Want to hunt down dragons and destroy some rebels, you got it.

Mass Effect 3 won’t be like this. It’s a fairly linear game where working on the main quest is essential. Wandering around from planet to planet isn’t rewarding even in the sense of discovery. I loved the hell out of ME2 but I waited a year saved $50 and was fine. Skyrim I am glad to have had so soon.  ME’s multi-player doesn’t seem that fantastic and “better with kinect” isn’t going to sell the game. Essentially it’d be $60 for more of the same as ME1 and ME2 but with cleaned up graphics and streamlined game-play. I played through the ME3 demo and found myself fast-forwarding through the cut-scenes and not too engaged with the action. It was actually kind of boring after playing Skyrim for a zillion hours.

I’m wrapping up some things in Skyrim and will probably put the game down after this week to focus on Batman Arkham Asylum before ME3 comes out. Maybe I’ll give the demo another shot but I just can’t imagine picking up ME3 right away. Batman definitely will eat up the hours and by that time I may want to visit Skyrim again or check-out Fallout for the first time.

Tintin (2011)

Every so often there are movies that have to be seen on the big screen. Tintin astounds in 3D and just might be the best non-documentary 3D film I have witnessed. Or it could have been the recently upgraded IMAX theater with specially-designed glasses and first-rate everything that made Tintin unbelievably immersive. I seriously forgot I was wearing glasses. Another bias of note is that I’ve been a fan of Tintin since being a young lad.  Despite all that there is no denying that Tintin is action packed, full of surprises, and probably heralds a new/improved style of movie-making/watching.

Classics of Love (2012)

This is the dosage of punk you’ve been looking for in the new year. The latest release from Classics of Love is not a drawn out affair but a quick 23 minutes of energy and in your ears classic 80s-esque punk. You can stream the whole album here (or pick it up on the cheap from Amazon). The 4th track, Gun Show, is my current favorite.

 

Knapsack Jam o’ the day

A share along of Knapsack proportions, started by an idiot.

The Jealous Sound – A Gentle Reminder (2012)

The Jealous Sound is one of those bands from my High School days that upon listening brings back memories of setting off fireworks in the middle of the desert night and accidentally starting a brush fire that nearly consumed a small suburb. And driving around aimlessly, blasting albums of the time. I was lucky enough to see them play a short live set and have to mark it as one the best shows I’ve been privy enough to enjoy.

This latest album is a step above their past works in that it is more heavily produced. Bands today have access to Phil Specter-esque magical music machines. My main regret with the album is that I don’t have a high bit-rate loss-less format quality version at my disposal. The amount of  audio lost can only be guessed at. My last complaint is that the album starts is more Coldplay than not, meaning less rock and more in the way of roll.  The track “Equilibrium” is more on the rock mark. A Gentle Reminder is streamed fully here.

Kill the Irishman (2011)

Kill the Irishman offers a nearly all-star cast paired with a horrible script. It’s not a horrible movie per se, but it has been awhile since I have turned off a film and never finished and so far I have yet to finish this. It wants to be a British crime thriller, an American-mob film, and a conventional action-drama all-in-one. Unfortunately Kill the Irishman muddles through the story and develops unconvincingly. Things start to get a bit goofy when Vincent D’Onofrio tries to take the helm of a Cleveland crime family. A terrible waste, this film really could have been something, and I don’t know if I’ll watch the remainder.

theHELL – Sauves Les Requins (2012)

Sauves Les Requins is A-OK. Matt Skiba’s latest is more akin to the early days of The Alkaline Trio than his more recent synthy-prominent works. theHELL offers punchy punk beats with some catchy chorus tunes. Unfortunately it only clocks in at 4 songs. At the moment the first two songs stand on top.

Eagle vs Shark (2007)

When you consider Miranda July films you’re given characters who are often hyper-aware of their own existence. They are quick to impress us with their quirks, well-delivered lines and responses, and unbelievable conscious abilities. No doubt her movies are truly farcical tales. Eagle vs Shark is the opposite (in those terms but not in terms of quality). EvS’s main characters are barely aware of the world around them and live in a bubble of inanity. They are worse than caricatures as they don’t even amuse. The story-line takes the audience on a journey to nowheres-ville, New Zealand where absolutely nothing enjoyable or thought-provoking happens. I’d call it a train wreck but that would have been better.  Eccentric personalities and stylish-directing does not make a movie, rather they attempt to cover-up the scars of non-existent character growth and story developments, a plotless plot, and the sad fact that this movie is in total a complete bore.