April, 2010

Post — Comments Off
27
Apr 10

The Magic of Dance

If your kid (evidence only for kids <3) is acting out his/her terrible two part — there is a solution:  Queen and Michael Jackson.  My 2.5 year-old daughter asked for a few encores of “Rock You” song.  And, if you ignore the lyrics and just groove, PYT, Beat It, and Billie Jean are winners.   We jammed for a good 20-30 minutes — and she transformed back into her fun self.  I had forgotten how fun it is to break loose and dance.  I wonder what happens between the body and the mind that releases all those good vibes.

Evidence Exhibit A (weak)

Evidence Exhibit B (no science — but makes sense)

Evidence Exhibit C (getting closer):

Still, dance boosts mood more than does exercise alone. In a study at the University of London, researchers assigned patients with anxiety disorders to spend time in one of four therapeutic settings: a modern-dance class, an exercise class, a music class, or a math class. Only the dance class significantly reduced anxiety.

Evidence Exhibit D (seems like the real deal)

Post — Comments Off
17
Apr 10

Lost Touch

When a critic turns his aim towards a medium he doesn’t understand:  see Ebert’s article on why games aren’t art.  He’s handicapping his argument through a critique of a TED talk.  Nonetheless, his premise is flawed and mired in logical inconsistencies.

A quick example:  I would contend Ebert thinks some commercial films (and books) are works of art.

I allow Sangtiago the last word. Toward the end of her presentation, she shows a visual with six circles, which represent, I gather, the components now forming for her brave new world of video games as art. The circles are labeled: Development, Finance, Publishing, Marketing, Education, and Executive Management. I rest my case.

Why is he selectively ignoring the fact that any film studio or publisher has business structures like the above?

Most unsettling, and perhaps most demonstrative of his antiquated view, is the feeling that I think his main problem is that “players” control the narrative of the game.  He makes faulty logical arguments.  In the end he stands on taste.  And Ebert, stick to the movies, you’ve got a better sense of taste there.

P.S.  I usually like (even if I don’t agree with) his points of view.  This kind of article just makes him seem irrelevant.

Link — Comments Off
16
Apr 10

Under a New Waxing Moon

It’s hard not to try to find a story here — but rather than the connections between these — the big deal is that all this unrelated violence can happen in one single night.

Chicago Tribune

Micropost — Comments Off
12
Apr 10

Apple Thinkpad

Woman in airport is using an IBM Thinkpad with an apple  sticker right where you’d expect to see it on a mac.  Weird and rather strange  seeing that white apple on and ugly black-gray box of a laptop.