Surrogates

An incomplete piece, but if I don't post it soon I never will.

tags: movies, technology

7 aug 10

A interesting movie. Better than I thought, this movie took a lot of care
to not be a complete piece of fluff.

Obviously it used a lot of CGI effects, but they also paid a great deal of
attention to how they set up and filmed each shot. They went to Panavision
and asked for some slant lenses, which hadn't been used since the 1960s.
Slant lenses have a different focal length across the width of the lens,
allowing the camera to keep two different points at different distances in
focus, which is how they framed many of their shots.

They explored the concept of action at a distance (occasionally a safe
distance) throughout the movie, and the advantages and disadvantages of it.
They also played with the huge social implications of these machines,
specifically the idea of deception. First in the arena of personal
appearance (to include age and gender masking), through the full spectrum to
include impersonating someone by taking over their surrogate (after
murdering them) to fatal effects.

There were a couple of ideas they didn't really play with, such as one
operator controlling many surrogates, or of computer control of surrogates,
creating in effect an autonomous robot.

(Incidentally, I think the widespread use of "surrogates" by the populace as
depicted is unlikely. There are technical reasons, but I think the biggest
is that the machines would be expensive (lots of metal, lots of moving
parts), beyond the reach of most people. They would be the mark of the rich
and powerful. Their use in combat as depicted seems quite likely.)

photo meta-data

Continuing the inconsistent series on digital history...

Facts about files are often written into the files themselves. This
information is called metadata. A common example of this is digital photos.
Most digital cameras will record stuff about the photo, such as the model
camera used, the date and time the picture was taken, camera settings like
f-stop, etc. Newer devices like the iPhone that have built in GPS receivers
will also add lat-long coordinates, which allows for some very cool indexing
after the fact, like listing all photos by location, or by location and
time. (It also leads to some pesky security problems, such as a photo
posted to flickr giving away your location.)

This metadata is referred to as exif, and you can view and edit it with the
appropriate software. See below for more.

http://regex.info/exif.cgi

http://www.friedemann-schmidt.com/software/exifer/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exif

tags: software, history-digital, privacy, security, links

Splice

Seriously?

This was a crappy movie the first time I didn't watch it, when it was called Species.

The GWOT

Just a thought I had as I was studying my Air Force doctrine / PME on the War on Terror.

We invaded Iraq and Afghanistan in prosecuting the war not because this was (necessarily) a direct attack on AQ, but because we believed they were terrorist safe havens. We needed a way to disrupt those safe havens. We chose regime change, and specifically regime change through direct armed intervention.

The Hurt Locker

I've been trying to decide whether or not to write an entry on The Hurt Locker. I finally decided to, because of the movie Restrepo. I didn't know they were making a movie; I saw the author of the book interviewed on The Daily Show and that alone was moving. I'm planning on watching it on the 4th of July, if not sooner.

Expect another entry on Hurt Locker, like what they got right and what they got wrong.

http://www.restrepothemovie.com/

As you entered the banquet hall this evening, you may have noticed a small table here in a place of honor near our head table. It is set for one. Please let me explain. The military caste is filled with symbolism. This table is our way of symbolizing the fact that members of our profession of arms are missing from our midst. They are commonly referred to as P.O.W./M.I.A. We call them "Brothers". They are unable to be with us this evening, and so we remember them because of their incarceration.

*
This TABLE set for one is small - symbolizing the frailty of one prisoner alone against his oppressors.

*
The TABLECLOTH is white - symbolizing the purity of their intentions to respond to their country's call to arms.

*
The single ROSE displayed in a vase reminds us of the families and loved ones of our comrades-in-arms who keep the faith awaiting their return.

*
The RED RIBBON tied so prominently on the vase is reminiscent of the red ribbon worn on the lapel and breasts of thousands who bear witness to their unyielding determination to demand a proper accounting of our missing.

*
A SLICE OF LEMON is on the bread plate to remind us of their bitter fate.

*
There is SALT upon the bread plate - symbolic of their families' tears as they wait.

*
The GLASS is inverted - they can not toast with us this night.

*
The CHAIR - the chair is empty - they are not here.

REMEMBER - all of you who served with them and called them comrades, who depended upon their might and aid, and relied upon them, for surely, they have not forsaken you.


~~~
http://www.homeofheroes.com/hallofheroes/1st_floor/flag/1bfb_disp9cc.html

http://regimentalrogue.tripod.com/srsub/mess_dinner_organization_c.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toast_%28honor%29

Holly Graf

Once again, I don't have time to give the subject it's full due, but it sounds to me like Holly Graf was a terrible leader and she got what she deserved, if the Time article is reasonably accurate. Note as well how her leadership has discouraged younger people from serving...I've seen the same thing happen in the Air Force.

My favorite quote: "I don't have time to train junior officers..." Wrong. Unless it's interfering with the hour to hour running of the ship, training junior officers is you most important duty.

Link