Warcraft: is it for you?

So you got hooked by my picture of Warcraft. You thought this would be all about how I love to play these games--how I play these games for hours and hours. You would be right about me just a few years ago, but not today.

I started playing the orginal warcraft several years ago. Chop down those trees and construct the those buildings. Build defenses and then go after the bad guys and cut them down. Splatter their blood everywhere. Destroy them to the last man. Victory, victory, and more victory. Learn the trick to defeat the enemies, and do it over and over again. Then I go on to Starcraft.

Starcraft has more detailed characters and excellent war vehicles. The destruction is more spectacular and the deaths more gory. I am the general, and my power is keen unless I lose a round. But then I keep playing sometimes until four in the morning when I figure out the strategy that makes me invincible.

Warcraft and Starcraft games by Blizzard are so mesmerizing and addictive, a person can become totally lost. Hours and hours can go by without realizing the time. This can become a problem, but I don't think I was having a real problem controlling the amount of time I played the games. My wife will tell you something different, but that is another story.

What finally made it apparent that I needed to stop these games was a special program I watched on Iraq war veterans. The piece on television made it so very clear how difficult it was for many of these vets to integrate back into society. They had played real Warcraft with real people dying. The program on these vets made me realize that I needed to get my head out of simulated warfare and focus my time on more constructive and positive endeavors. I haven't played any shoot em up or war strategy games in probably over a year. I don't really miss the games that much either.

I have spent a lot more of time lately learning how to develop websites and produce video segments. I am glad I did. What scares me about this whole gaming world is what it is doing to the minds of humans today. These games only promise to be more realistic and addictive as the technology improves. I truly believe that gaming is as addictive as gambling or even drugs. We will see the need for Gameaholics Anonymous in the future.

I know this is an unpopular topic because so many people love to play games on the computer. I just felt it was my responsiblity to tell my story. Perhaps this will make some folks think.

"Doll Face" to Make You Think

I think this video is excellent for several reasons. Technically it has excellent special effects. I especially like the part where she inserts a new eyeball. The movement of the robot body is very well done. The music adds an eerie quality to the whole piece. The editing is brilliant. We start with the wide shot and then switch back and forth between the TV and the face. The background is this very neutral gray just like the doll's face. Did the myth of Pandora occur to anyone in reference to this video?

I was pleased that many of my students seemed to make some personal meaning out of this piece. I think it has a lot to say of the narcissism of our society today. Our technological age is partly to blame for this. The effect of television on our society is far reaching.

Check out Andy Huang's website at http://www.betweenframes.com/

Alison Krauss

Mr. Mann likes country western music–say no. I don't listen to very much CW music, but I make an exception when it comes to Alison Krauss. About a year or so I heard this 20 Grammy winning vocalist on the radio, and since I have been hooked. To call Krauss strickly a country western singer is to minimize her talents. This latest CD can attest to that. There is some country, some gospel, some Irish, some folk, and some that is hard to categorize. She even partners with James Taylor on one cut. JT is one of my favorites. On her newest album she sings with Robert Plant lead singer for Led Zepplin–pretty crazy. You can check her out on YouTube at the following link. (You can't of course look at this at school because of our filter.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EvKtxTsVoMo&feature=related

Jim Brandenburg, Photographer

Jim Brandenburg is a former National Geographic photographer. You can visit his sight at http://jimbrandenburg.com. He has published two awesome collections of nature photography. His most recent collection called Looking for the Summer I received from my wife as a  birthday present. Most of his photographs were taken in northern Minnesota. They are just breathtaking. In my other life I would be a National Geographic photographer, but then I don't think I am quite artistic enough to compete with photography like this.

Visit to Wisconsin

Last night Cindy, Eric and I returned from our trip to Shawano, Wisconsin. After 592 miles, we were happy to be home. I am always happy to get home after a trip somewhere; there is nothing like sleeping in my own bed.

We rented a Toyota Corolla and averaged 40 miles to the gallon. It was not as comfortable as my Lincoln of course, but alsodidn't put an additional 1300 miles on the Lincoln. I liked the Corolla, but Idon't think I would buy one. The car handles quite well but doesn't take the bumps in the road very well.

The weather was great in Wisconsin even though itwas a bit on the chilly side. I would much rather have it a bit cool than too hot. We spent a couple days with my sister Gail. The grilled chicken and freshwatermelon, cantaloupe, and strawberries were excellent. I got to see my great nephew who is 5 months old. It was a very relaxing time. I also watched Tiger Woods do his magic while I was there. It is impossible what he is able to accomplish.

Shawano was a beautiful as always. Shawano Lake,where my mother has lake front property, is about three miles wide and seven miles long. Shawano Lake was my favorite place to go when I was a kid. My Grandma and Grandpa Mann had a cottage on west shore. Image waking up to the clanging of a wood burning store and hearing and smelling bacon and eggs sizzling in a pan. I would walk out into the living room, sit on the couch, and watch the light of the early morning sun ripple off the sparkling waves. When I am stressed or depressed, I can take myself to these memories.

Even these days, when I see light dancing on gentle waves anywhere I happen to be, I get a small jolt of happy feelings.

Will I Use Wordpress this year?

I am not sure I want to use Wordpress. The site I am using takes too long to come up for my tastes.