Ever since Apple’s iOS devices started allowing apps, my dream has been some app to allow remote scanning from my phone into Delicious Library (DL2 from here-on). I THOUGHT this would be the case when the Delicious Library app was released, but alas, that just allowed a copy of your library to be synced/stored on your iOS device. =/ So when I found iCody I about jumped out of my skin. I quickly bought it, and only after found an article that said it didn’t work with DL2 (which, as it turned out, was incorrect). Anyway, after conversing with both the developers of DL2, and iCody, and then them speaking to each other, I have found a solution that works, and works well ((As well as Appthology pulling the page saying it didn’t work.)). And since I haven’t seen the info anywhere else, I figured I’d post here in the hopes someone will find it useful.
Archives for April 2012
The Hunger Games
Last night I went and saw “The Hunger Games” movie at the local theater. Let me first say that I have not (yet) read the books, but they’re on my shortlist after the Stieg Larsson books. But my understanding of the plot is that at some point greater than 74 years prior to the movie, the “country” was divided into 13 districts, with one district being wealthy and affluent, and the rest being not so much. The 12 other districts revolted against the one, and were eventually beat back down. And as penance, each year the 12 revolting districts are forced for “offer” up 1 male and 1 female for a “last man standing” game for the benefit of the affluent colony. Kinda like “The Running Man” only the participants aren’t criminals. Participants for these games are based on a lottery, that is weighted toward people who have used the most resources (seemingly). So if you need extra food, or I’d imagine medical attention, your name ends up entered again into the lottery. I’d imagine if you’re arrested this also ends up as an increased chance of being selected.
Anyway, my understanding is that the books are quite popular, and that they’re aimed at the young adult market (which makes sense, since the movie seemed aimed that way as well, though it still worked for an adult audience). I’ll say I was a bit skeptical since the last series of movies with this kind of fervor were the Twilight movies, which like the books, are pretty terrible (from my limited knowledge). But from what I know of the books, and the author, they are well written, and fairly consistently end up highly regarded on “Best of” lists.
The movie, therefore, didn’t disappoint, even for the uninitiated. The movie starts with some basic introductions of characters, evolves into showing how the main characters get picked for the games, how they get to experience the opulence of the “capital” district. The callousness of the people with regards to the people that die in the games, etc. I’d guess there is no shortage of references to ancient Rome in this regard (or the US). Filming was largely done in North Carolina, so it’s a lot of east coast style wooded areas. Costumes all seemed very, odd. The poor districts all wore clothing from the 1800’s, and the affluent district wore… something. Was actually kind of hideous, but I’d imagine that was the point. The biggest names in the movie were Woody Harrelson, Donald Sutherland and Elizabeth Banks (which aren’t exactly high profile actors, but are enjoyable). Acting was well done, story was well written (again, haven’t read the book, so I’m not sure how much it strayed. But I’d imagine it was adapted as “well” as the Harry Potter’s), and even to an outsider, it was enough to keep me interested the whole movie. I found some parts a bit formulaic, but it was never a problem.
All and all, without having read the books, I’m happy with it, and will probably see the sequels (I will have read the books by then).
[xrr rating=4/5]
My quest for paperlessness
I recently purchased a Fujitsu Scansnap S1300 (review coming in the next few weeks) after borrowing both a S1500M from work, and an S300 from a coworker. I hate having to deal with paper ((Heck, I hate people printing at work (it’s an ongoing debate in the building… it seems like I’m sometimes the only one saying we need to curtail printing) )). My hope, with this in hand and some knowledge gained from here, I can turn years of files in my filing cabinet, into years of digital documents in Dropbox that can be searched, easily found, and worst case, printed (if absolutely necessary). I’ve been shredding personal documents for years, so the thought of being able to scan something, then quickly shred it, just makes me all kinds of happy. My goal, then, is the “myth” of paperlessness ((Also, this is the first post in what will probably become an ongoing topic on my site (such that I’ve created a new category for it).)). (which I don’t consider as much a myth as some). While paperlessness may be a lofty goal, my hope is to become closer and closer as time goes on (now that most banks, utilities, etc offer paperless billing, much to the USPS’s dismay).