Blog Archives
The Heights of Realism
The creative visions our imaginations can produce are powerful and limitless, which explains the larger-than-life scenes and characters that are constantly engineered for movies with the digital assistance of computer-generated imagery (CGI). This technology (which has been used now for decades) is as popular as ever with several directors in Hollywood choosing to utilize CGI’s dreamlike capabilities to establish mind-blowing worlds, characters and action sequences for their dedicated fans. Godzilla, X-Men: Days of Future Past, The Amazing Spider-Man 2, Captain America: The Winter Soldier and 300: Rise of an Empire are the most recent examples of cinematic adventures that interweave live action with clothing, settings or characters that are, simply put, invisible during the filming process.
However, despite the majesty of these digitally-enhanced realities, it’s nothing short of refreshing to see something and believe it for exactly what it is.
Seeing is believing, right?
The following video clip is from an action film released two and a half years ago, but its creative team should be applauded (again) for refraining the easier path of pressing a few keystrokes on a keyboard with the guidance of a mouse by instead pursuing a once-in-a-lifetime, white-knuckle thrill ride for the ages. Yes, there were safety wires used, but not much else.
Welcome to Dubai and the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building.
And I thought my Tuesday was going to be stressful…
Just surreal!
George Washington: It’s Been Too Long
For the past couple days, the top headline on major news websites has centered on the recent credit card information theft at Target. It’s a frightening, unnerving situation. How did it happen so easily, discreetly and to tens of millions of people? There is a lot of concern (as there should be) about how and what people who may fall into this category should do from this point forward.
There are essentially two recommendations: checking credit card transactions acutely with a magnifying glass for the next few to several months or ordering a new credit and/or debit card altogether. Frustrating either way. The most difficult part of using a credit or debit card should be whether or not there is enough money in the account and not if someone will steal the information one Saturday afternoon after buying a CD (and yes, this is still fun to do!) or toothpaste.
What to do now?
Beyond the recommendations listed above, the most secure option going forward may to become better friends with George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Alexander Hamilton and Andrew Jackson. And if you have the means to become BFFs with Benjamin Franklin, then kudos!
That’s right: cash.
Let the stories of nostalgia and yearned after innocence begin: “Back when I was your age…”
While fully aware this would constitute a major lifestyle change for a surreal number of people, it’s pretty much impossible for an identity to be stolen from public tender. In this scenario, the transition (slow and steady) back to the pre-Credit Card days would surely shake society with a seismic shift of sorts. Yes, no doubt. But this adjustment does not need to happen in an absolute sense for every expenditure, but maybe for the purchases at everyday stores like Target that are proving to be susceptible to mass theft. Major chain stores would fit the bill.
Maybe this would work? Maybe not? But it seems like a logical progression for consideration after the most recent news about Target.
Upon further reflection, the same should go for the U.S. federal government. As everybody knows, their use of our nation’s credit card has caused an identity theft of sorts for this country…
Jimmy's Daily Planet 