Trae Blain - Latest Comments

Re: An Open Letter to Environmentalist

Scott Franklin — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 23:21:42 -0000

I think one of the biggest problems is we listen to the loudest instead of to the masses. The more I've begun to listen and read what a large contingent of "creation care" writers are saying, I've learned that they are much more sensible and less polarizing than I had earlier given them credit for. The other problem is that the discussion is almost always started by one side trying to pick a fight instead of debating with an open mind to understanding each other's position. Thanks for writing and breaking these topics down.

Re: Jumping in Fantasy Football

Nick Flanigan — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 13:09:08 -0000

I hear Keyshawn Johnson and Jerry Rice are available!

Re: Jumping in Fantasy Football

Phelpsy — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 15:49:37 -0000

A little luck and no injuries will take you a long way my friend. - Texas Muddarts

Re: Johnathan’s Card Shut Down

traeblain — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 23:32:01 -0000

Where I agree he didn't setup a Terms of Use, that only goes to establish the fact the guy cannot be prosecuted.

The biggest ordeal goes with what the guy did. If he said he followed the stream and transferred money to a card to help save children. That would be, still uncool but just that, uncool. But this is what the guy actually did: 1) Decided he was going to siphon money from the card. 2) Wrote a Python script that automatically checked for funds and transferred the money when a balance was available. 3) Ran it on his computer while he just hung out in a Starbucks. 4) Wrote a post titled "How to use Jonathan's Card to buy an iPad" 5) Posted the Python code on Github.

So let's brake that down. 1) Officially an uncool move, 2) using his talents and proved a concept (not inherently bad), 3) Used it (here is where things go utterly wrong), 4) This post is what took a situation from "upset" to "livid", 5) instead of using some social responsibility, he shared it all.

The last item is where I took the biggest complaint. The first 3 items makes things uncool, the post establishes the douchiness of the guy, and the last item is what makes is "near criminal". If he would have done all the first stuff and instead of posting the code, spoke to Jonathan and Starbucks, things could have been much better. Starbucks might have had the ability to disable balance transfers on the card, Jonathan might have shut down the API temporarily to reduce this type of impact, or they might have been able to graciously shut down the project to much less fanfare.

It was a bad move all around only exacerbated by his failure to do the responsible thing. Also left his brother on the hook, doing what he could to be responsible and adding money in at the same time. Odio claims that when an experiment has a different outcome than expected people react like this, but since I indicated that the purpose is to emulate "take a penny, leave a penny" it would be like trying to create a clean burning fuel and developing the worst disease known to man, then telling everyone how to do it. It was horribly irresponsible. Sorry, I've said too much. hehe.

Re: Vegetarians….From Another Point of View

Trae Johnson — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 11:45:57 -0000

That was carnivores from another perspective. That was pretty funny though.

Re: Johnathan’s Card Shut Down

Trae Johnson — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 11:30:05 -0000

As stated on Google +: That's a tough one. It isn't his place to judge people
for wanting Starbucks, or skewing the data of an experiment BUT he did
leave card for everyone's use and didn't arrange terms of use. It's a
noble addendum to this experiment, but like a hostage situation in
Somalia: it is done for good reasons, but executed with such villainous
devices.Addendum: Fraud is fraud, and we can't turn a blind eye to it. The guy could have contacted Jonathan, I'm sure he would have been more than happy to find a way to do something close to his idea to feed starving children.

Re: Batman Equation

BigA — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 08:39:10 -0000

Yes, I got the same mess. I do not think it is possible to do it with one equation.

Re: Batman Equation

traeblain — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 21:32:43 -0000

Did you get the same mess in the first plot? I still need to figure that one out.

Re: Batman Equation

BigA — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 15:19:54 -0000

Very nice. Took your .m file and the original equation and did it on Octave and got exactly what you got.

Re: NBA Logo Redesigns

criner — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 16:07:11 -0000

These are brilliant.

Re: Movies for Math Class

traeblain — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 18:02:31 -0000

Building on your logic: Hawaii 5-0 or 90210?

American Idol also takes bets, so you could show that too!

Re: Movies for Math Class

mike — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 11:39:46 -0000

i'm not so subtle with it. movies about a math teacher for math teachers: "stand and deliver." call me old fashioned.

Re: Movies for Math Class

criner — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 10:11:04 -0000

or you could watch the TV shows

"Numbers"
"24"
or any sporting event and place bets on the final score.

Re: I Watch the Watchmen

traeblain — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 14:47:11 -0000

The thing about Akerman's acting was difficult to notice while watching because I wrote it off to thinking something else. 27 Dresses has been on the TV (HBO/Cinemax) and I've stopped a few times to watch a little, and within a week before watching Watchmen I saw the absolutely horrible movie The Heartbreak Kid. So I've seen her in these campy movies that she just needed to be pretty in and not necessarily act, and I just felt like this role was uncomfortable for her and didn't fit her well. Then afterward reading other people's descriptions of her acting, I've found it spot on.

I agree with you that many of the "high schoolers" that didn't read the novel before seeing the movie will probably not go read the novel. And I think this is solely due to the comedic giggles that happened due to the massive amounts of blue penis.

Re: I Watch the Watchmen

criner — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 14:34:30 -0000

I enjoyed the movie for the exact reasons you mentioned. I went away appreciating Snyder's attempt at a project that could have very well stayed in just a print form... and been fine. I'm disappointed since my hope was that people (from seeing the movie) would then go actually read the graphic novel, instead, the "blue privates" will be all they think of now.

I was bothered (maybe just a little uncomfortable maybe) for many of the reasons you mentioned ("blue privates" I think were overused). I suppose I didn't really notice Malin Akerman’s acting (or lack there of) just because I was more bothered by the "blue privates."

I totally agree though that Haley's portrayal of Rorschach was spot on... in fact it kindof made the movie for me.

That being said - if you're reading this - go read the book.

Re: Notify.me My Favorite Service (right now)

traeblain — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 09:01:41 -0000

Yeah I've been using it for various things and really liking it. I use Google Reader for my day to day, but for some of the important things, I'm liking Notify.me.

Re: Notify.me My Favorite Service (right now)

adski — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 07:13:56 -0000

This is top shelf stuff, thanks

I was using Notify.me for @ replies on Twitter, but didn't know it did RSS feed discovery for pages; that's handy to be notified in near-real-time :-)

Re: I Watch the Watchmen

traeblain — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 15:15:59 -0000

I thought the ending was ok. In fact it didn't bother me at all. I think the way people have changed in 25 years would have made the comic book ending extremely unbelievable. It was a good choice. Based on my expectations, I was pleased because they were met for the most part.

Re: I Watch the Watchmen

Tawcan — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 14:53:34 -0000

Great review. It's too bad they cut out so many things from the comics and completely changed the ending. I agree, Jackie Earle Haley's performance was awesome. Simply loved the character.

Yeah the blue penis was pretty distracting. I'm just glad that they didn't zoom all the way in lol.

Overall the movie was alright, I guess I was expecting a bit more.

Re: Why You Should Be On Twitter

traeblain — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 17:09:35 -0000

If you update your statuses on Facebook...you are ready to Twitter...

(You can even have Twitter update your statuses on Facebook automatically)

Re: Why You Should Be On Twitter

Kyle Black — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 15:39:20 -0000

I have not decided to twitted yet... I guess I haven't been brave enough to flap my wings and tweet. I'll have to start rethinking that decision.

Re: Movies that Mess With Your Head

traeblain — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 08:09:17 -0000

Memento...excellent. He did have a condition that affected his short term memory...hmmmm. nice.

Re: Movies that Mess With Your Head

criner — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 17:24:28 -0000

what about Memento?

Re: Movies that Mess With Your Head

traeblain — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 10:22:10 -0000

12 Monkeys!! I'm going to have to think about that one...mental institution...virus...time travel...I don't know but my first thought is that it would qualify...nice.

Re: Movies that Mess With Your Head

traeblain — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 10:15:21 -0000

The Island is good, not exactly messing with your head as clones used for transplantation isn't really messing with their heads. As for Secret Window, I have to admit I've never seen it. Although I hear John Tuturro was excellent in it. I'll have to add it to my list to get.