http://www.sanitysedge.org/ en-us Copyright 2010 Mon, 28 Dec 2009 21:03:01 -0500Thu, 28 Jan 2010 16:45:28 -0500 Wed, 10 Mar 2010 21:00:20 -0500 http://www.movabletype.org/?v=4.33-en http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss ]]> http://photos.sanitysedge.org/the-pistons-desperately-trying.htm http://photos.sanitysedge.org/the-pistons-desperately-trying.htm Mon, 28 Dec 2009 21:03:01 -0500 ]]> http://photos.sanitysedge.org/rip-getting-double-teamed.htm http://photos.sanitysedge.org/rip-getting-double-teamed.htm Mon, 28 Dec 2009 20:58:14 -0500 ]]> http://photos.sanitysedge.org/jonas-trying-to-get-in-positio.htm http://photos.sanitysedge.org/jonas-trying-to-get-in-positio.htm Mon, 28 Dec 2009 20:58:04 -0500 ]]> http://photos.sanitysedge.org/the-pistons-finally-converted.htm http://photos.sanitysedge.org/the-pistons-finally-converted.htm Mon, 28 Dec 2009 20:57:32 -0500 ]]> http://photos.sanitysedge.org/a-jump-ball.htm http://photos.sanitysedge.org/a-jump-ball.htm Mon, 28 Dec 2009 20:07:07 -0500 ]]> http://photos.sanitysedge.org/stuckey-finally-gets-a-foul-ca.htm http://photos.sanitysedge.org/stuckey-finally-gets-a-foul-ca.htm Mon, 28 Dec 2009 19:58:58 -0500 ]]> http://photos.sanitysedge.org/stuckey-runs-the-play.htm http://photos.sanitysedge.org/stuckey-runs-the-play.htm Mon, 28 Dec 2009 19:51:21 -0500 ]]> http://photos.sanitysedge.org/why-does-ben-wallace-have-the.htm http://photos.sanitysedge.org/why-does-ben-wallace-have-the.htm Mon, 28 Dec 2009 19:50:50 -0500 ]]> http://photos.sanitysedge.org/the-knicks-try-their-practiced.htm http://photos.sanitysedge.org/the-knicks-try-their-practiced.htm Mon, 28 Dec 2009 19:50:38 -0500 ]]> http://photos.sanitysedge.org/getting-ready-for-tip-off.htm http://photos.sanitysedge.org/getting-ready-for-tip-off.htm Mon, 28 Dec 2009 19:43:51 -0500 ]]> http://photos.sanitysedge.org/camera-points-to-jonas.htm http://photos.sanitysedge.org/camera-points-to-jonas.htm Mon, 28 Dec 2009 19:43:36 -0500 ]]> http://photos.sanitysedge.org/automotion-comes-out-for-a-cha.htm http://photos.sanitysedge.org/automotion-comes-out-for-a-cha.htm Mon, 28 Dec 2009 19:41:21 -0500 ]]> http://photos.sanitysedge.org/charlie-v-takes-the-ball-up-to.htm http://photos.sanitysedge.org/charlie-v-takes-the-ball-up-to.htm Mon, 28 Dec 2009 19:21:10 -0500 ]]> http://photos.sanitysedge.org/pistons-enjoying-circling-each.htm http://photos.sanitysedge.org/pistons-enjoying-circling-each.htm Mon, 28 Dec 2009 19:18:22 -0500 ]]> http://photos.sanitysedge.org/layups-were-going-well-for-the.htm http://photos.sanitysedge.org/layups-were-going-well-for-the.htm Mon, 28 Dec 2009 19:18:13 -0500 ]]> http://photos.sanitysedge.org/knicks-go-through-pre-game-pra.htm http://photos.sanitysedge.org/knicks-go-through-pre-game-pra.htm Mon, 28 Dec 2009 19:17:15 -0500 ]]> http://photos.sanitysedge.org/wallace-pumps-up-the-crowd.htm http://photos.sanitysedge.org/wallace-pumps-up-the-crowd.htm Mon, 28 Dec 2009 19:15:56 -0500 ]]> http://photos.sanitysedge.org/the-pistons-get-ready-to-roll.htm http://photos.sanitysedge.org/the-pistons-get-ready-to-roll.htm Mon, 28 Dec 2009 19:12:24 -0500 ]]> http://photos.sanitysedge.org/his-arc-still-looks-off.htm http://photos.sanitysedge.org/his-arc-still-looks-off.htm Mon, 28 Dec 2009 18:58:15 -0500 ]]> http://photos.sanitysedge.org/rip-gets-in-some-practice-shor.htm http://photos.sanitysedge.org/rip-gets-in-some-practice-shor.htm Mon, 28 Dec 2009 18:58:03 -0500 ]]> http://photos.sanitysedge.org/the-knicks-warm-up-that-shooti.htm http://photos.sanitysedge.org/the-knicks-warm-up-that-shooti.htm Mon, 28 Dec 2009 18:57:43 -0500 ]]> http://photos.sanitysedge.org/the-final-score.htm http://photos.sanitysedge.org/the-final-score.htm Sat, 07 Nov 2009 16:16:11 -0500 ]]> http://photos.sanitysedge.org/michigan-and-purdue-team-meet.htm http://photos.sanitysedge.org/michigan-and-purdue-team-meet.htm Sat, 07 Nov 2009 16:16:05 -0500 ]]> http://photos.sanitysedge.org/prelude-to-a-throw.htm http://photos.sanitysedge.org/prelude-to-a-throw.htm Sat, 07 Nov 2009 14:48:26 -0500 ]]> http://photos.sanitysedge.org/michigan-making-its-first-atte.htm http://photos.sanitysedge.org/michigan-making-its-first-atte.htm Sat, 07 Nov 2009 14:48:03 -0500 The iPad came out and I was right there reading as the gadget blogs spat out their words. What struck me with the device was just how far it wanted to go and my feeling that it was unsure what it wanted to do. The final product I think is a problem of where to straddle two lines and how exactly to bridge the gap of smartphone and desktop. The problem is that in borrowing metaphors and paradigms, the first iteration of the iPad might have chosen the wrong ones.

]]> http://www.sanitysedge.org/blog/observations_on_an_ipad.htm http://www.sanitysedge.org/blog/observations_on_an_ipad.htm Blog Thu, 28 Jan 2010 16:45:28 -0500 With Assassin's Creed II, Ubisoft Montreal has taken any perceived failings from their original game and significantly improved them. They once again recreate a fully realized historic world and fill it with people about their business. Through all of that the player takes on the role of an assassin, to mingle, conduct espionage, and assassinate. In the process, one gets to play one of the best games of 2009.

]]> http://www.sanitysedge.org/reviews/games/assassins_creed_ii.htm http://www.sanitysedge.org/reviews/games/assassins_creed_ii.htm Games Thu, 07 Jan 2010 13:54:07 -0500 In animation is the best place to realize the visions of graphic novel writers and artists. DC and WB have teamed up their veteran producers and brought back their voice actors to create a faithful adaptation of Jeph Loeb's Superman/Batman: Public Enemies. The movie distills the comic down to its essential, Batman and Superman against a host of villains and heroes. Along the way they also save the world. It creates a fun hour of entertainment with dialogue and visuals to match.

]]> http://www.sanitysedge.org/reviews/movies/supermanbatman_public_enemies.htm http://www.sanitysedge.org/reviews/movies/supermanbatman_public_enemies.htm Movies Thu, 29 Oct 2009 11:49:33 -0500 Batman: Arkham Asylum is a product of love and a steadfast dedication to the source and its spirit. This translates into a game that combines the best elements from the Batman mythos. Arkham Asylum is a compelling experience, with outstanding gameplay, and the possibility of realization for all Batman fans that they too can be the Batman of their dreams.

]]> http://www.sanitysedge.org/reviews/games/batman_arkham_asylum.htm http://www.sanitysedge.org/reviews/games/batman_arkham_asylum.htm Games Thu, 15 Oct 2009 10:05:51 -0500 Yeah, I know… It has been an abnormally long time since posting. The problem is that law school is rather time intensive and unfortunately by the time I get done with my day I need to decompress and want nothing more than sleep. A lot of that comes from the fact that I start my day 6:30AM. Yeah, I have an 8AM class and I do not have the comfort of Camille driving me half way. That is becoming more painfully aware as MI tumbles towards winter. It has already started getting abysmally cold. No, this post is not about the weather! You came for some real information… So what are some highlights of the last few weeks? I finished... http://www.sanitysedge.org/blog/been_a_long_time_posting.htm http://www.sanitysedge.org/blog/been_a_long_time_posting.htm Blog Wed, 07 Oct 2009 11:16:24 -0500 I got an idea from Shawn Blanc's website, where he chronicles user's desktops. I thought that people might be interested in my setup and the assortment of technology I use to keep up with daily life. Some of this can be mundane, but even the mundane is absolutely essential to a smoothly running day.

]]> http://www.sanitysedge.org/blog/setup.htm http://www.sanitysedge.org/blog/setup.htm Blog Wed, 02 Sep 2009 15:49:21 -0500 There is no doubt that Up is a good film. For that matter all of Pixar's films are good. They all feature great animation and a stock of interesting characters. The problem is that for all the progression that Pixar demonstrates, in its ability to engage with new themes and characters, it still sticks to its same formula. This makes for an entertaining film, but there is unrealized potential here that one aches to see brought to the fore.

]]> http://www.sanitysedge.org/reviews/movies/up.htm http://www.sanitysedge.org/reviews/movies/up.htm Movies Mon, 01 Jun 2009 11:18:35 -0500 "Common Code" was the last major project I worked on at LSA:DMC. Its scope encompassed a lot more than my minor portion, but the role I played was considerably more integral than during the LSA project. I pushed forward on a number of technologies, including AJAX, that helped push the LSA's websites in to Web 2.0 territory. In sum, I created a strong base for the "Common Code" sites to kick off from and over enhancements could be gracefully layered.

]]> http://www.sanitysedge.org/works/a_very_common_code.htm http://www.sanitysedge.org/works/a_very_common_code.htm Works Tue, 19 May 2009 12:17:04 -0500 J.J. Abrams does a remarkable job bringing Roddenberry's vision of the future once again to life. He reboots a beloved franchise, handling with care and humor. His wisest decisions come through his casting choices. His Kirk and Spock become adversaries, move towards friendship, and develop a meaningful relationship. All of this as space explodes around them.

]]> http://www.sanitysedge.org/reviews/movies/star_trek.htm http://www.sanitysedge.org/reviews/movies/star_trek.htm Movies Mon, 18 May 2009 10:51:28 -0500 If you look at my Xbox Live statistics you will see a disturbing trend. When it comes to games by Japanese developers, I have a low gamerscore and finish only a fraction of the available achievements. It could be chalked up to laziness, but amongst those I talk to there is a general consensus that whether listed as achievements or trophies (yeah you PS3 people are included too) Japanese developers just don’t know how to create achievements that are both fun and well… achievable. Now I could be wrong here, they may not “not know”, but instead they may not care, or they may be tailoring their work for a specific demographic. For all such reasons, the problem is simple,... http://www.sanitysedge.org/blog/how_to_achieve.htm http://www.sanitysedge.org/blog/how_to_achieve.htm Blog Mon, 27 Apr 2009 09:48:28 -0500 Over the last few years, the markup language of the web, a found of the Internet, has laid dormant. While the presentation layer, CSS, has gone through rapid development and implementation, the markup has been nary touched. This is all changing as two working groups, XHTML 2 and HTML 5, are pushing through a new framework for how the Internet will speak in the near future. Both come from different mindsets and each with their own goals and ideals. The unfortunate problem is that neither of them are working towards what is best both for the Internet and its users in the present and in the near future. The solution is simple, working together. The problem arises in changing their stances to focus on simplicity as well.

]]> http://www.sanitysedge.org/works/xhtml_2_vs_html_5_real_world_m.htm http://www.sanitysedge.org/works/xhtml_2_vs_html_5_real_world_m.htm Works Sun, 19 Apr 2009 16:08:01 -0500 I will be honest with you, if you couldn’t keep up with the changing projections of where my future is headed, well, I can’t really blame you. There has been a lack of information, coupled with a number of previous statements on what I want to do and where I want to go. The fact of the matter is until about a year ago I did not know exactly what I wanted to do. I had just graduated with an MA and I was working. I liked working, I was occupied for only eight hours a day and I had copious hours for playing video games. The stress was less, I had no impending and constant deadlines, and I had... http://www.sanitysedge.org/blog/a_direction_a_future_a_choice.htm http://www.sanitysedge.org/blog/a_direction_a_future_a_choice.htm Blog Fri, 17 Apr 2009 14:11:03 -0500 We were in Miami, South Beach was filled with warm weather and warm bodies. The beach was lovely and the night life actually went late (closing time for bars is 6 AM). But I was going down to Miami and there is something I have always wanted to do, go VIP. I suppose there is a certain allure to it, but also I wanted one last big hurrah before I went back to school. I have some money now and in three months I will have no money at all. Miami was a big part of this hurrah, but going VIP would be the coup de grâce. So I made it clear to all involved that I was going to... http://www.sanitysedge.org/blog/a_couch_at_mansion_is_vip.htm http://www.sanitysedge.org/blog/a_couch_at_mansion_is_vip.htm Blog Tue, 31 Mar 2009 13:46:56 -0500 It is truthful to say that Watchmen the movie was dutifully made for fans of Watchmen the graphic novel. For lovers of the former, it is difficult to extricate the movie from from its source. In light of that, the movie is a flawed creation that scores on its dutiful adaptation. In spite of its director's lapses, the film stands strong on the conviction of its source material that even in the worst scenes manages to shine through. There is a lot to grasp here for viewers of all ilk, but they are going to have to work a bit at it. Without love for the novel, it is hard to see why one would.

]]> http://www.sanitysedge.org/reviews/movies/watchmen.htm http://www.sanitysedge.org/reviews/movies/watchmen.htm Movies Fri, 13 Mar 2009 08:41:37 -0500 If that headline scared you my faithful readers, worry not! A regularly scheduled broadcast in my dulcet tones is to follow. Safari 4 came out yesterday and surprisingly Apple released a version of the beta for Tiger (10.4). Considering how quickly Apple takes to obsoleting perfectly good products, I was taken aback. But I wasn’t there to dilly-dally in the old. No! My RSS feeds had told me a new Safari was out and I wanted to be all over that, ready to consume it in a gulp. So I clicked on the link and downloaded and restarted. Hey, at least they let me use Safari while it installed the new version, something Adobe can’t get right still. I used... http://www.sanitysedge.org/blog/firefox_chrome_safari.htm http://www.sanitysedge.org/blog/firefox_chrome_safari.htm Blog Wed, 25 Feb 2009 10:33:57 -0500 http://www.sanitysedge.org http://www.sanitysedge.org/people/colophon.htm http://www.sanitysedge.org/people/colophon.htm People Fri, 20 Feb 2009 10:31:03 -0500 With a wonderful adaptation of Neil Gaiman's children's book Coraline, Henry Selick takes the viewer on a wonderful journey of imagination that has just the right twinge of fear. This movie is a dazzling feast for the eyes, and the 3D here is no gimmick. With some loving stop motion the world of Coraline comes alive in a spectacular way and helps bring issues of the psyche, imagination and fairy tales to its audience in an enticing package.

]]> http://www.sanitysedge.org/reviews/movies/coraline.htm http://www.sanitysedge.org/reviews/movies/coraline.htm Movies Tue, 10 Feb 2009 11:26:04 -0500 I think it is with all Detroit teams… They make us sing and then they make us cry. With the Pistons for the last six seasons it has always been, “They need to have more heart in their games!” “Oh they have the talent, they just need to put more effort in.” “Oh, the coach is screwing up the entire thing.” Alright that last one strays from the point of this post, but it is oft repeated. So often in fact that we have had a revolving door with coaches here, all of them trying to raise up the Pistons above their own malaise. Let us skip all the pleasantries and talk about that last game. A Sunday game, our... http://www.sanitysedge.org/blog/the_pistons_flawed.htm http://www.sanitysedge.org/blog/the_pistons_flawed.htm Blog Mon, 02 Feb 2009 11:24:29 -0500 Taken is Pierre Morel's movie, but it might as well be a Luc Besson one. Bestowed with the legendary action director's pacing, editing and sequences, it blows through its short running time with some very enjoyable action and a very simple plot. The two make for a winning combination with Liam Neeson in the titular role of action hero and a long list of bad guys.

]]> http://www.sanitysedge.org/reviews/movies/taken.htm http://www.sanitysedge.org/reviews/movies/taken.htm Movies Thu, 29 Jan 2009 14:27:25 -0500 Gran Torino feels like a requiem to Clint Eastwood's filmic life. In this film, he puts to rest his early roots, vehicles that made him great. At the same time, he tackles essential questions about American life and ideals. This all comes from an unassuming package of a vendetta film, but at its heart it is much more. Gran Torino is a film about a changing demographic, social and economic. It is about a changing America that no longer makes the cars that the movie is named after and with out of work towns that can barely sustain themselves. This is Eastwood preparing America for the 21st century, in cinema and reality, putting to bed his image, a symbol of cinema and America in the 20th century.

]]> http://www.sanitysedge.org/reviews/movies/gran_torino.htm http://www.sanitysedge.org/reviews/movies/gran_torino.htm Movies Fri, 23 Jan 2009 10:32:02 -0500 Windows 7 came out and the Microsoft tech world went into a furor. Windows 7 holds many an improvement over Vista. The intangibles like speed and performance are markedly improved, but it seems the designers took a moment to look around and realized that usability was in shambles as well. They started by looking around them and they distilled it all into a number of evolutionary features that promise to make the life of a Windows 7 user much better. The Taskbar One of the biggest changes centers on the defining element of the Windows user interface (UI) since 1995: the Taskbar. This staple of the system has performed a number of tasks, helping to keep users update on the... http://www.sanitysedge.org/blog/dock_to_taskbar_one_we_can_be.htm http://www.sanitysedge.org/blog/dock_to_taskbar_one_we_can_be.htm Blog Wed, 14 Jan 2009 20:03:35 -0500 Slumdog Millionaire is a movie about dreams, love, violence and fetid squalor. Danny Boyle's direction means that one never really has time to focus on the squalor, too busy jumping to the next tragedy or soaking in the emotional pangs of true love requited. This movie is entertainment and coupled with an able script, good actors and a backdrop of authentic India this implausible story becomes exceedingly possible.

]]> http://www.sanitysedge.org/reviews/movies/slumdog_millionaire.htm http://www.sanitysedge.org/reviews/movies/slumdog_millionaire.htm Movies Tue, 13 Jan 2009 15:52:03 -0500 http://www.sanitysedge.org/blog/updates_for_a_while.htm http://www.sanitysedge.org/blog/updates_for_a_while.htm Blog Tue, 06 Jan 2009 15:23:55 -0500 The new Prince of Persia is an ever-so-slightly flawed game, but a fabulous experience. The dichotomy arises from a focus on the experience and the subsequent loss of gaming staples. Traded in for difficulty is a seamless experience. The game unfortunately also suffers from the work of Montreal's previous endeavors that paint the latest iteration in a restricting light. Yet, if one can look at what this game tries to achieve, the pieces that are present are extremely well constructed and as a journey it is arguably the best experience of this year.

]]> http://www.sanitysedge.org/reviews/games/prince_of_persia.htm http://www.sanitysedge.org/reviews/games/prince_of_persia.htm Games Thu, 04 Dec 2008 09:31:55 -0500 My work on the "Giving Stories" site for the University of Michigan was notable for translating a designer's vision in the shortest time possible. The XHTML+CSS aside, a considerable amount of the time went into using MooTools, for the first time, in creating animations and transitions from scratch, while also providing the opportunity for AJAX content for the client.

]]> http://www.sanitysedge.org/works/helping_giving.htm http://www.sanitysedge.org/works/helping_giving.htm Works Mon, 13 Oct 2008 13:24:30 -0500