"That sounds like science fiction." "You live in a spaceship." "So?"

, Writing , C. David Dent ,

Author John Scalzi wrote an interesting piece over on AMC.com's site about how cool (or uncool) it would be to live in some of the various worlds.  Keeping his format, let's extend this some...

The rules: Movies only, I know there are a lot of worlds in books and such, but he has limited himself to movies (and let's say TV too just for yucks) so that's where we can start.

Star Wars, Star Trek, The Matrix and Serenity are taken.  You are welcome to grade them yourself, but do it in a way that expands on his arguments not just naysays them.

Dune

You live in a feudal society with trade guilds that control interplanetary trade and travel.  Technology is plentiful with the exception of robots (damn you AIs) but you have Mentats and region galore.

Pros: Even though you are more or less tied to a noble house and your daily existence is dependant on the whims of your benefactors, life is pretty good.  Work hard, doa good job and you might be taken care of well into your old age.

Cons: Your "benefactors" could be psychotic madmen, religious zealots, or power-mad despots.  And if you don't like who you get stuck with, you can't change your mind.

Overall Grade: D+ If you get lucky it's good, but otherwise it sucks.

 

Bladerunner

Few people get to see the worlds out there in space, most of them are stuck on an ecologically ruined Earth living in overcrowded, miserable slums.  There are a few perks in that tech is cheap and there are always ways to go off-world if you want it bad enough.  If you have ambition, there seem to be no limits.

Pros: Life is cheap and as a result ambition is king.  If you want it bad enough you can get it.  It might involve killing someone or selling your own body parts (but those can be replaced).

Cons: The ecology is ruined andeveryone is a downer most of the time.  Anything you get that might put you ahead is up for grabs by someone else who wants it more.

Overall Grade: C  This is a tough world cupcake. If you want to coast this isn't going to work out for you.

 

The Fifth Element

Aliens, Ancient Visitors, Galactic-level threats and virtually magical technology.  Flying cars (yay!) and super-cities. What more could you ask for? Even the worst of society have a place to live and ways to survive thanks to matter-conversion technology.  You want more, you can get it by working for it. Listen to Ruby Rod or just eat chinese food delivered to your window.

Pros:  Lots of toys, lots of people, and lots of things to see and do. It won't all make sense, but it is all there. Unlimited potential.

Cons: The paperwork will kill you, literally. Police have (almost) unfettered rights and they are armed and stupid.  Make sure your multi-pass is up to date or you might get fragged by accident.

Overall Grade:  B- As long as you stay ahead of the beaurocracy it is smooth sailing.

 

Any more?  Alien, Predator, Avatar, Battlestar, Flash Gordon, Gatttica, Evangelion?  The floor is yours.

Care to Comment?

My GOD man, why Facebook?

, Living , C. David Dent ,

For a while there I thought I might be able to hold out against the flood of friends and relatives on Facebook.  I was determined to do it.  I would be the last person in the world who wasn't on Facebook.  My wife was determined to stand beside me as we watched the lemmings swarm into the sea of Facebook.  And then the next thing I knew I was wading in the surf.

What happened?  How could it have happened o quickly?  Why did I abandon my principles without a fight? Well, it started last year, I think. Heather and I had planned a trip around the US.  Much of it was to be driving and so, for emergencies, we bought a cell phone.

I had, and still have, an aversion to cell phones.  I don't like them.  I hate to see people using them (while driving!  Gr! While walking in the store! While walking across the street!  Grr!).  I dislike using them (What button do I push to ....Can you hear me? How do I stop this thing from ringing?) And I have unnaturally thick fingers so they are always hard to use for me, even when I do know what I am doing.

But we bought one.  Heather carries it most of the time, and the rare few times I've taken it with me, it has been in order for more "phone savvy" people to find me. Still hate the thing.  But I compromised my principles for the sake of convenience, safety, and facility. And we've maintened the connection even after the immediate need has passed.

Despite the tech lust, I won't own an iPhone or other smart phone.  But saying that I have to admit to thinking about other smart devices like an iPad or iPod Touch with wifi and then using Skype.  See?  This is how it starts.

So when I deleted the fourth invite to Facebook and having told yet another person that putting a photo album online through Facebook meant I couldn't see it I just cracked.  I signed up.  In one day I had over 40 friends confirmed.  Most of them were people I was already connected through via email, Twitter, forums, podcasts, Google Buzz, Google Reader, MySpace, LinkedIn, Livejournal, Yahoo, AOL, MSN, ... well, just look at that long list to the right of this page. I'm on all of those.

And still people have said to me, "I couldn't find you online!"

It is really easy, just Google my name. I am the top search result for me (Duuuurrrr!).

So, people couldn't find me, but somehow they knew they could try (and fail) via Facebook.  Occasionally they'd find my email address and invite me (hense the four invites I got).  My mother was on Facebook as were people I talked to regularly.  How bad could the kool-aid taste?

Now, a week or so later, I'm not really regretting the choice.  Heather held out about 4-5 days longer than me.  I'm up to 132 friends and that number might climb as high as 200 or so and then level off.  I've determined (for what THAT is worth) to limit my friending to people I have actually met in person or talked to online. Although for celebrities and groups that I "fan" I may make a few exceptions.

I still have folks welcoming me to Facebook a week later and have continued to find folks I had been meaning to hook up with.  So, once I got used to the texture, the Kool aid isn't so bad.

I may have to reconsider my stance on some other things... like iPhones.

C David Dent | Create Your Badge

Care to Comment?