What is On Jeffs' Mind

Lately my friend Dave and I have been doing some toy runs. I got out of doing the standard toy collecting as I have moved to on to collecting more higher end pieces. But Dave asked me to come along as he was out looking for stores that carry Sideshow figures. I have to say it has been a lot of fun to go check things out. On Thursday Dave twisted my arm on buying a Rebel Ground Crew person with Transport. It is basically a little transport that was seen in the Movies in the rebel Hangar that carries Pilots or Supplies. Sort of boring, but looks ok with Rebel ships. The good thing was it was on sale. That was the first Hasbro toy I had bought in quite some time.

On Saturday Dave and I went on a trip over to the south east side of Edmonton. We stopped off At Millwoods Town Centre, and I am not sure if I have ever been to this mall. If I have, I certainly do not remember when that was. Checked out a comic book Shop there, picked up a Star Wars Comic. After that we went to Capilano Mall, that was another mall that it has been years since I had been to. Found some Star Wars figures on sale at a winners that I bought. Not really for me, but something I might sell at the next toy show. I bought an Astromech I thought that I did not have, but when I got home, I realized I had it already. We went to a collectible store in the mall, which had some cool items. They had a replica of the Flux Capacitor from the Back tot he Future movies. It was cool to see as I have seen pictures of them, but never actually had seen one in person. All in all it was a fun day, and was nice to go out and check some things, as has been years since I had done that.

Tags: Collecting, Star Wars

I have found over the past few years that I have been losing my interest in all the tech that is coming out. I am not sure if the reason is that I am getting older, or that if all the tech coming out is more mobile in nature. I have been thinking about this a bit, and I think there might be a few reasons for my lack of interest.

Not a Mobile Guy

First off, I have never been a person who has really ever been interested in mobile devices. So I think that is probably a major reason why the shift over the past few years has not grabbed me at all. I have never been a big mobile phone guy. I have had a few over the years, but I have never been a person who felt the need to upgrade when something new came out. I will admit, that over the years, when people had showed me their new phones, some of the feature did amaze me. I think I liked the idea that there were so many different phones out there, all with different features, so a person could have a unique phone that was different then the next. But over the past few years with everyone moving to smart phones, there are just less and less models, and to me they all really do the same thing. I guess when I see someone pull out an iPhone, it does nothing for me, as that person and millions others have the same phone. There is nothing unique about it, even the interface from phone to phone is the same. Even with the Android phones, there are different makes and models, so they are closest to the days when there were so many different phones, but again they are essentially the same phone. The Blackberrys were cool at the time, but it seems like they have lost their magic. The Windows based phones never seem to get off the ground.

A couple of years ago I got caught up with getting a smart phone, so I went out and bought a Palm Pre, as at the time it was the new hot phone to have. I had seen some videos of demos of them, and found myself impressed with them. But after a month or so the magic wore off. It became very apparent that Palm was not going to be a player in the smart phone space, and the disappointment of next to no apps on the phone turned me off.  I still have the phone, it is pretty beat up, and I use it to check email mostly. I just got the option to upgrade the phone, but I just don’t have the interest. I looked at some of the new phones out there, all very nice, and full featured, but I get the nagging feeling if I move to another phone I am going to have the same feelings I have currently for this Palm phone. They all boast video play back on larger sized screens, but for me the reality is either I am not able to capitalize on getting the video, or the experience in not all the rewarding in the end when watching it. Also as I found with my Palm Pre, once you start using the phone and it’s processor, the battery discharges at a really alarming rate.

Truthfully, I am not a person who receives or makes many calls on my phone, so in a sense, I really do not even need the actual phone part of the phone. It can be debated that I do not need the data portion either, as I have a rather small circle of friends and family, which the majority do not use texting or other social media to communicate. So for the most part, I am not using the phone to communicate with people anyways, I am more just following others. I am weighing my options, if I should just let the contract  run out, depending on the penalty, I might just end it early as well. I think deep down, my introverted personality and phones just do not match up. In the new year I will make my decision on that.

Not an i Guy

I have never really been able to get on board with Apple products as there is something about them or the company that I do not get wowed about. This is sort of weird to say, as of right now in my household we have 2 iPod touches, 1 regular iPod, 1 iPad2, 1 iPhone 4S and a Mac Mini. I guess truthfully for me, I own a Mac Mini and a regular 30 GB iPod, the rest of the i devices are my wife’s, and it was not my decision to purchase them. I would not say I have a hate for Apple products, as I own some, but given the option, I will probably by a different product.  I think for me, Apple makes products that many people like, but the complaint is that they cannot be customized or changed, a person has to work in the constructs of what is provided. I guess for me, even though I am stating I losing my love for tech, I like the idea that something can be changed to suit me, or make what I have a bit different from the next persons. Also I have found with my thinking and how I approach things, I have never found Apple products intuitive or easy for me to use.

My Wife got an iPad2 as stated, but I have found myself not all that interested in it. I use it from time to time to play some games, or look at a website when I am not close to the computer, but beyond that it does not hold a lot of interest to me. I know there are a lot of people out there who are making a lot of use of it, like my good friend Rick who creates some awesome music with it. But I guess for me, I am not creative in that area, so I cannot make use of it in that fashion. I have not really looked that far into apps past a few of the popular games that we downloaded for it. I was told there is an update for the iPad2, but even that I have not felt compelled to download, as to date for what we have used the device for, haven’t run across the need. Maybe again, it is my feeling that it is a locked device forcing a user to only one experience that leaves me not that thrilled on it.  I do check out some of the Android tablets from time to time, as truthfully, for a few hundred dollars, I might have need for something that can browse the internet and do a few other things, but so far what is offered is more then I want to spend.

I do like my iPod, but I have had it for years. It does what I want which is play music and podcasts. I have not had any desire to get a new one, and will be with this one until it dies. I have to say I am very impressed with the life span I have gotten out of it. My wife wants to buy me a iPod touch, but truthfully, I am not very interested. What I would really want is another iPod like I have, with more storage space. All the rest on a iPod touch just feels like clutter to me, and really busy. I guess I also view the iPod though as a bit of a money pit, as there are probably a bunch of games a person can buy for it. I don’t buy a lot of music anymore, as most of what I listen to I have on CD and had for years, and podcasts are free. I guess at the end of the day, if an iPod can play music, then that is all I am looking out of it.

Nostalgic Guy

At my core, I am a really nostalgic guy. I spend a lot of time reliving some of my memories and times from when I was younger. I guess it is debatable if that is good or bad, but at the core, that is who I am and not going to change. So I think at times I get more excited about getting things that remind me of things I love like Star Wars or Star Trek, or reminiscent of my younger years.

When I think of tech, I think back to when I first got into it, and it was all about PC’s. I remember the first few computers I had, the fun I had on them playing games or even running programs or writing programs on them. I remember fondly building computers, and upgrading them. I would get excited over a new Video Card, or a Sound Card or even a Hard Drive. I loved going to computer stores with friends and checking out the new hardware, or games. I recall when we first got 3D accelerated video cards, how exciting it was to get them, put them into the computers, and all the great looking games to follow. My friends and I would always be trying to out do each other with our computers, and once someone got a new PC or part, the rest would follow suit. I remember the hours I would sit playing games like X-Wing, Tie-Fighter, IndyCar Racing or Nascar Racing. On the weekends we would have Lan parties, so we were excited with the advent on home networks. It was cool to pack up your computer and gear and head to someones house for an all weekend gaming session. So I sort of regretfully look forward at where computing is going, and might be why I am losing the interest. I think for the foreseeable future, I am always going to have a traditional computer sitting on a desk, as it is a bit of a link to the good memories of days gone past.

The one place I like to try and keep up on is with home entertainment. I think that has to do more with my love of Movies and TV, and wanting to have the best possible setup to watch them in. I am not as heavily into Home Theatres like some, as my stereo is a few years old, but things like TV and Blu-Ray player I am up to date one. I can no longer watch anything that is n Standard Definition and it has to be High Definition for me. When I got the Star Wars Blu-Rays I felt like I was in heaven, as they looked so good. It might be that wanting to relive those memories, that I strive to make sure that I can view them the best way I can.

I do a lot of collecting also, and found that I get much more excited over a new collectible then I ever could with a piece of tech today. I recently put a preorder in on an Original Series Battlestar Galactica prop replica Viper helmet. The big thing with this one, is it is based off the series one and it has lights, ooooohhhhhh. That is funny, as truthfully lights on a Helmet is really nothing to get excited about when compared to what can be done on a phone in your hand. But I guess for me, it just excites me more, as it reminds me as a youth watching Battlestar Galactica and how cool I thought their helmets are. I guess at my core that is the feeling I am going for. I have even found myself drawn to watching shows on TV like Pawn Stars or the Pickers shows, where people are digging up old stuff. I can see the appeal people have to the past, and even though I don’t collect antiques, some of the things these show dig up are really cool.

Its all good

Sort of a long post, but felt like I wanted to get my thoughts down on this. I find it a bit surprising that I have gotten to this point. I remember when I was younger I seemed to have such a good handle on tech, but now I am older and sort of reacting to it like the older generation would. I struggle on things like setting up my GPS unit, as I seem to only use it at it’s most basic functions. My wife will ask for help setting up her iPhone, and I am at a loss on it. I guess part of my interest has fallen more into building websites and the such, and not so much on all the gadgets that are out there now.

All the respect to the folks out there that have a handle on all this new tech, I am thinking I am going to need your help in a few years

Tags: Battlestar Galactica, iPad 2, iPhone, Palm Pre, PC's, Star Trek, Star Wars, Star Wars Complete Saga Blu Ray, Tech

Lately I have been thinking a lot about fandom and the area of negativity. With the release of the Star Wars Blu-Rays in September, it has opened up the debate again about Star Wars and peoples feelings on how George Lucas has cared for the franchise. I am a big Star Wars fan, so I will be honest, the negative criticism bothered me. But a positive from this is that it forced me to rethink how I view fandom in general and how I approach it.  I guess for me, I have decided, that I am going to hold my own negative comments to myself when I come across different things in fandom I might not enjoy. If there is a TV show or a movie I did not like, unless I have something constructive to add to an argument, I am not going to say anything, as there are people out there who might really be fans of them. It is not my right to bring someone down for enjoying something, feel like I felt when I had to go through the negative criticism for Star Wars, or even going back, all the negativity around Star Trek Enterprise years ago. To me, it is so awesome to be able to go somewhere and celebrate with others the excitement over a piece of work, it helps me appreciate it more, and really get excited about it. I understand nothing is ever perfect, and for some, debating the strengths and weaknesses is where they get their enjoyment, but that is just not for me. I guess it is a fine line, as if it is done in a way that there is a like for the material being debated, then that is cool, but if a person is coming from a point of dislike, then to be honest for me, I really do not want to hear it. Vice Versa, I am not going to inflict my own feelings on others if I did not care for something.

With Star Wars, I find there is so much more to the whole series then just the 6 movies. I get that some people only really care for the Original Trilogy, it might be something they grew up with, but for me, there is so much more. They are sort of the stepping stone to this much bigger and larger universe that I have gotten into. The Empire Strikes Back is my favorite movie of all time, hands down, after that the rest of the movies I am not sure I could rank in any particular order, as I think I like them all as a whole. I guess since I view Star Wars as a larger piece of work then just the first 3 movies, the changes to the movies over the year have not bothered me, as it just brings the universe all together. When people say they don’t care for the EU, or even the prequels, that is fine. They don’t really need it to enjoy the original trilogy. I will buy their argument though that the movies they know have been changed for it, even though to be honest they are really only minor changes. I don’t get how a few seconds here or there can ruin a whole experience of a movie, especially when it is not really changing anything with the plot of the movie. In a sense, for me even though I do not have an issue with the changes to the original movies, I wish George Lucas would re-release a Blu-Ray cut of the Original Movies, more so the quiet all the critics. That way they can have their movies, we don’t have to listen to them anymore, and the rest of the people can go on enjoying the larger universe.

The criticism for the prequels as well baffles me. People go on and on about them, and how much they dislike them. I guess my simple answer to that is, don’t watch them, don’t pay any mind to them. Those stories don’t exist to you, and should not hold you back from enjoying the Original Trilogy. Same goes for the Clone Wars or any other story that has been put out since the Original Trilogy. I am sure when the Phantom Menace comes out in 3D in early 2012, the whole prequel debate/hate will flare up again. I hear friends tell me they don’t get all the extra content in the Star Wars universe, they feel it is to much, just leave it at the movies.  Again, my answer is, leave your fandom at the movies, nothing in the rest of the EU is going to change what you see in the movies. Some people just enjoy a movie for what it is, others like to get immersed into something so much larger and more, nothing wrong with either.

I heard similar feelings about Star Trek Enterprise. People railed against it when it originally came out. They said it was an affront to the Original Star Trek series, and was messing with continuity. But I never bought that argument. If a person is just a TOS fan, then what ever happened in Enterprise, had no affect on TOS. Not one TOS episode changed because of Enterprise. If you did not like what was happening in that series, then don’t watch. Star Trek fandom for you ends at TOS, and anything past that, does not change anything with how a person views the original episodes. Like wise for TNG, Voyager or DS9, if a person liked or disliked those series, for the most part they did not affect the other series. If a person dropped Voyager, because they did not like it, nothing in that affected what happened in TNG. A person could end their fandom in Trek where ever they wanted, and what came since would not affect what they already saw.

It always bothered me that people were so vocal with Enterprise, in how it was ruining Trek and should be cancelled. Again why? If they had stopped watching, then the stories did not apply to the Trek they know. They could still come to their own conclusion on why things were in the Trek universe if they did not want to accept what was being done in Enterprise. Kirk was still Krik, Spock was still Spock. Klingons looked the way they did, the missions were still the same missions with the same outcomes. In a sense, sadly the negative people got what they wanted at the time. They said they would rather have no Trek then Enterprise, and that is what they got. Since then there has been no new Trek series, and now we are dealing with a rebooted Universe. I liked the new Star Trek, it was a great movie and looking forward to what is next, but I think my heart will always be in the Trek Prime universe. But I wonder if all those negative people pushing for the end of Enterprise ever imagined we would get what we got after it left. The old adage careful for what you wish for, it might come true. Just sadly for all us folks, who liked Trek, we got pulled along with them. But for me, Trek Prime remains alive in books, and again, a person can either accept them, or they don’t as they do not change anything to date that they have seen.

This was a bit of a rant on my part, but something I was thinking about for awhile. It has forced me to relook at things and how I relate to my own fandom.  So for me, if there is something I might not like, but others do, I am just keeping it to myself, they have the right to enjoy what they like to fullest they can. Maybe it goes against the spirit of debate, and even peoples right to express themselves, but at least I know I have not put a cloud over somebody’s fandom.

Tags: DS9, Enterprise, Fandom, Star Trek, Star Wars, The Clone Wars, The Phantom Menace, TNG, Voyager

Yesterday after work, I picked up a copy of Star Wars the Complete Saga on Blu Ray. Originally I was going to wait until my Birthday and ask for it then, but listening to people talk about it over the past week, just got me more and more excited, that I wanted it sooner. It is weird, what got me excited was people complaining about the changes that had been made, and it really sparked my interest to see these. They had been floating around on the internet, but I really just wanted to see these for myself on the discs first. Also the deleted scenes that they were including with the discs also had my interest in seeing.

I got home and put in Episode 4 A New Hope in and started watching. I found myself very excited to watch this movie, and at points felt like I was watching it for the first time, even though I have seen it many times over the past 34 years. To me it looked fantastic. I found some of the colours to be much more vibrant, the details the High Def picked up made me feel like I was right there. What amazed me a bit was the sound, they have added subtle little differences to it. The scene where Luke first meets Obi-Wan for the first time, almost felt magical when Obi-Wan was talking about not hearing the name for a long time. I have seen that scene many times, but just felt a bit different this time. They added in a new Krayt  dragon call from Obi-Wan, which many people are complaining about. To be honest, it doesn’t bother me, as I sort of view the dragon as being an out of this world creature, so it having a stranger sound is fine with me. They also cleaned up the lightsabers in the battle between Obi-Wan and Vader a lot, and they look much more brilliant. I also noticed so many different Astromech droids throughout the movie. Maybe it is because I collect them, that I pay more attnetion, but the HD I think also makes them really pop out in the scene.

I watched the deleted scenes for ANH after and some I had seen before and others not, but really liked them, especially the extended scenes in Anchorhead. I always like deleted scenes, as I find they give me a little more insight into the movie, the characters, and I like to try and rationalize why the film makers took them out. Sometimes I find that these scenes really do give a lot of insight into a movie.

Looking forward to getting into the rest of the movies over the weekend, and more into the extra material. Very excited about this Blu-Ray set and so happy to have it now.

Tags: A New Hope, Star Wars, Star Wars Complete Saga Blu Ray