Some time ago I was doing a longform series on Exocortex, my cognitive prosthetic system. I left off with some fairly broad and open-ended questions about the implications of such a software system for identity and agency. Before I go on, though, I think I'd better define some terms. Identity is one of those slippery concepts that you think you get until you have to actually talk about it. One possible definition is "the arbitrary boundry one draws between the self and another," or "I am me and you are you." A more technical definition might be "the condition or …

Last night, after some juggling of schedules, Lyssa, Laurelindel, and I went to see Prometheus, the long-awaited prequel to the Alien movies which feature the designs of (and inspired by) the artist H.R. Giger. I have to admit, we had some trepidation going in because the Alien movies are some of our favorites (and there were only three, we maintain) and unless it was done right the prequel was destined to suck.

Well....

Prometheus is a deeply flawed movie. The writing is good in some parts, okay in others, but it has a few scenes that should have been …

A couple of nights ago I went to see Tron: Legacy again with Jason, and we spent much of the evening afterward discussing it, as we are wont to do. I haven't been keeping up with reviews of it, to be honest, I just know what a couple of people said about it. Largely, their opinions were that the movie was visually stunning (it was), the effects were top notch (they were), but the plot was somewhat lacking and relied a little bit too much on references to the original movie. If nothing else, the soundtrack is awesome and I …

At long last, Starcraft II.

The front cover folds out to reveal more about the story.

DVD-ROM in its sleeve and what passes for the manual.

Bonus: a notepad bearing wanted posters for Jim Raynor.

We also ran into something all too common at lunch that Sunday whilst leafing through the contents of her just-purchased copy of Starcraft 2. I happened to be leafing through what passes for the game's manual (which is largely a recap of what happened during the origial Starcraft and Starcraft: Brood War). At one point our waiter came up to refill our drinks and made …

If I am ever the unlikely hero, I will not try to keep important secrets from my associates ("It's for your own protection.")

I will explain to them exactly what's going on so they understand the stuff happening around them better; at least they'll have context for two city blocks suddenly exploding in neon yellow enamel. They'll probably be able to help more effectively and thus get all of us out of whatever's going down.

Chances are if things go pear-shaped the bad guy will kill them along with me, anyway, so there's really no more bad that can come …

Yep, once again it's October 31st, and Halloween, Samhain, whatever you choose to call it is here for a few scant hours.

No costume parties for me this year, I'm afraid - nowhere to go and no time to do anything. I can't honestly say that this sits well with me, but I guess that's a sign of getting older: You do what you need to do however you can. Oh, well. just like undergrad.

With that cheerful sentiment, I think I'll leave you with links to some of my favourite reading and listening these days. First on the list is …