Wall E, Iphones, and BATMAN!!!

Pixar has once again created another visual masterpiece. It must be a double standard that I have with the movie, but even though the first 30 minutes of the movie is without dialogue, I didn't even begin to think that it was something to worry about. I don't even believe I noticed, they did such an amazing job of conveying emotion through action and sound effects that I felt as though there WAS dialogue.

The story is compelling and expressed concern for humans attitudes towards, not only the planet but themselves as well. That our disposition for lethargy may ultimately lead to our downfall and the destruction of everything we hold dear. The moment we are more inclined to lay in a chair and play internet golf on a holo screen with friends, instead of go outside and fish or play golf, is the moment that we are putting ourselves in danger.

While there was an obvious message to be gleaned from the movie, one could easily ignore it entirely and focus on the amusing antics of WallE.

Overall, it was a cute film and an amazingly well put together film, and if you wished, contained a meaningful message.

On a side note:
While out at dinner after the movie. We got into a very interesting discussion in regards to the AI of WallE and the other various types of AI that were represented throughout movies and other media.
Two that made the case were Hal from Space Odyssey and Cortana from the Halo series. That while it may seem that some of these robots are "evil" in essence they are not. Through time, the information they have learned (human behavior especially) and their directives, they may be led to process information differently. Being machines they don't have the ability to ignore or to reason. They know what they have to do, and will do it by any means necessary.
Also, my friend Sean pointed out that an AI that has become self aware, for example as WallE did, any other machine that he came in contact with also seemed to gain a similar or growing sense of self awareness. As he calls it, "he's crazy in a good way, and makes other constructs he meets crazy by proxy."
The real problem is what way will they be "crazy?" Will they be crazy in a good way, like WallE. Or will they be crazy in a bad way? Really, a subject to be explored at a later date, since I feel my consciousness isn't able to keep up a rant of this great a philosophical magnitude. So let's move on shall we....


IPHONE NEWS

Crying over how unfair the new data plan is for ATT? Think that you have it all bad? Then don't bother complaining to the Canadians. Apple signed a contract with Rogers Communications for exclusive rights to the Iphone in Canada.
So, our friends to the North will need to spend from $60/150 minutes/400MB of bandwidth/75 texts to $115/800 minutes/2GB of bandwidth/300 texts. OUCH! That's right, no unlimited data for $115?! The upside to all this is that they still get unlimited nights and weekends, and incoming text messages are free. ATT will charge you for incoming and outgoing text messages regardless (AIM is included in the text limit, wtf, I know).
In addition to the horrible data plan. An internal Rogers Communication memo was leaked, seemed their voice plans aren't the only thing that the Nazi's inspired.

the following is an excerpt from the memo:

ABSOLUTE NOs:
No Promotions/Contests
No Countdowns
No Posters out of the store
No Flyers
No Radio remotes
No Mailers
No Alteration of Store Hours
No Swag
No Tshirts with any reference to Apple or Iphone
No advertising until 13 weeks post launch
*end*

One thing that seems to have been confirmed is the "tethering" process that is going to take place at the store.
Your new Iphone will in essence be a very cool looking paper weight until you have it "unbricked" INSTORE via a new "Activation Only" version of Itunes.
I personally am surprised that Apple and ATT even came up with what seems to be an effective way to put a massive halt on the unlocking community. However, this does not mean that I condone any "exclusivity" contract that Apple signed with ATT. I personally would unlock and jailbreak the hell out of my Iphone. Between us, I'm still going to Jailbreak the new one, even if it only means downloading a meager offering of other apps available from third party groups.

IPHONE APPS:
Its been rumored for a while now. A veritable remote control for your Iphone/ITouch that can control your Itunes via your Wi-Fi Network. Confirmed now as being "Icontrol." Pretty awesome stuff, the most awesome is that its going to be available...get this...for FREE!
Also, a friend of mine was telling me about a program available via Apple Download that will automatically switch you from ATT network while out and about, to a VOIP while in range of a Wi-Fi network.

To conclude todays little Iphone rant....




BATMAN ARG (Viral Marketing)

As some may know, I got really heavy into the Viral Marketing campaign that a company called 42E has been running for Warner Brothers to promote The Dark Knight.
This is the most amazing and profound marketing campaign I've ever seen...for anything, period.
What this campaign did was place the players into the shoes of goons of The Joker and would solves clues, puzzles, even live scavenger hunts in which the people on the ground communicated to the people online to solve clues. The rewards to these games have been anywhere from new trailers, background videos, and exclusive glimpses of characters. Some have been receiving real life swag such as Batman Masks (made by citizens for batman), special phones which they receive messages from the Joker, copies of the Gotham times, etc. The goal is to tell the story of everything that has happened since the end of Batman Begins and lead it all into the opening of The Dark Knight.

Just today I was inducted into the group of people that have received swag from this group.
I received some stuff from Citizens for Batman, with a note from the leader saying that we should make our presence more known and should gear up for something MAJOR on July 8th.











Pretty awesome I must say.

So, I leave you with this. Its a working LEGO CROSSBOW!!!
According to the website, only 1,050 copies of the instruction book were made because of LEGO's rules against using their trademark in connection with guns.