I'm in the San Francisco airport waiting for a delayed flight to Salt Lake City. I always try to use this time to do something productive and so I thought I would put together a quick blog entry. I have been wondering what to write about when a flight attendant pulled out her phone and had a quick video call with her husband. It got me thinking about mobile phone etiquette and what behavior is acceptable and what is not. In looking through old blog entries, this is not the first time I have been intrigued by this topic.
Last week I had an experience where I was the one having the video call in public. I was at a restaurant when I got a video call from my 2-year old grandson. Had it been anyone else, I would have politely asked to reschedule the call so I could take it from the privacy of my boat or office. My grandson wouldn't have understood and I knew the call would only last a minute or two. So is it OK to take a video call if you know it is only going to be a few minutes?
I was at dinner with a friend from work and he asked me if I needed to step outside to take the call. Obviously he didn't want to hear my phone call, but he also didn't know it was my grandson. Should that make a difference?
Ultimately every situation is different and we need to be respectful of others when we take phone calls in public. Especially video calls where everyone can hear both sides of the conversation. It is not appropriate to start a video call from a public place like the flight attendant next to me. If someone initiates a call when you are in public, you have the option to decline the call or answer and quickly schedule a return call. And finally if you are in public and it is your 2-year old grandson, just ask forgiveness like I did at the restaurant instead of permission. My friend understood and he knows it is not something I do frequently.
Thursday, August 29, 2019
Wednesday, August 28, 2019
Game Review: God of War on PS4
Last week I finally finished playing God of War on the PS4. This is a different game than God of War on the PS3 or PS2. In the first 3 games, Kratos runs around killing all of the Greek gods so that by the end of the 3rd game there is nobody left to kill. So he moves up north and starts taking care of those evil Norse gods. This time he has his son to help him and the son makes a good accomplice as you run through the story.
I thoroughly enjoyed playing the game and put in something like 70 hours to complete the game. I would have done it sooner but decided to spend a bit of time honing my battle skills and ranking up so I wouldn't have a problem with the final boss battle that is so common in these types of games. I'm glad I did as I completed the event in one take and didn't die several times in the process. Now I am going back through the game finishing side quests that I missed earlier.
I have to warn you that God of War is one of those games that you don't want to quit. You'll find yourself justifying a few more minutes of play until it is 3 in the morning. If you lack self-control, you may want to avoid this game as it is one of the more addictive that I have played.
God of War is only available on the PlayStation platform and so if you are a fan of PC games or other consoles, you will be disappointed that you can't play it. I also have to say that it is the best of the God of War games and I have played most of them.
The game has an ESRB rating of M for Mature. This is because of violence and strong language. Earlier God of War games had cartoon nudity and so I couldn't really recommend them. This one I can for older teenagers and young adults as well as middle-aged men looking to spend their evenings killing bad guys.
I do have one more warning for you if you plan to play this game. Budget getting a new controller. I played God of War 3 remastered on the PS4 and ruined a controller in the process. This version of the game has put a lot of wear-and-tear on the left analog stick of my new controller and I will probably be replacing it in the near future as well. Those things are not cheap!
I got my copy of the game using my industry discount but think it is well worth the $30 you can get it for at most retail outlets.
I thoroughly enjoyed playing the game and put in something like 70 hours to complete the game. I would have done it sooner but decided to spend a bit of time honing my battle skills and ranking up so I wouldn't have a problem with the final boss battle that is so common in these types of games. I'm glad I did as I completed the event in one take and didn't die several times in the process. Now I am going back through the game finishing side quests that I missed earlier.
I have to warn you that God of War is one of those games that you don't want to quit. You'll find yourself justifying a few more minutes of play until it is 3 in the morning. If you lack self-control, you may want to avoid this game as it is one of the more addictive that I have played.
God of War is only available on the PlayStation platform and so if you are a fan of PC games or other consoles, you will be disappointed that you can't play it. I also have to say that it is the best of the God of War games and I have played most of them.
The game has an ESRB rating of M for Mature. This is because of violence and strong language. Earlier God of War games had cartoon nudity and so I couldn't really recommend them. This one I can for older teenagers and young adults as well as middle-aged men looking to spend their evenings killing bad guys.
I do have one more warning for you if you plan to play this game. Budget getting a new controller. I played God of War 3 remastered on the PS4 and ruined a controller in the process. This version of the game has put a lot of wear-and-tear on the left analog stick of my new controller and I will probably be replacing it in the near future as well. Those things are not cheap!
I got my copy of the game using my industry discount but think it is well worth the $30 you can get it for at most retail outlets.
Tuesday, August 20, 2019
Everyone Should Learn Python
If someone who wanted to learn a computer programming language asked me which one to learn, right now I would recommend Python. Back when dirt was new, dinosaurs roamed the earth, and I first started learning how to program a computer, BASIC was the language everyone learned. Then I moved onto Pascal before tackling C and C++. Nowadays I find that most of the coding I do is using Python and I love it.
I am currently working on a project where I need to display the size of a file on a web page. Most languages would require me to use IF..THEN logic show GB for gigabytes, MB for megabytes, or KB for kilobytes. In Python, I just need to use the "filesizeformat" filter. It automatically converts the number 2600000000 into 2.4 GB (don't worry about it not being 2.6 GB as 1 KB = 1024 Bytes, not 1000).
Python is a very compact language and doesn't require a lot of coding to get a lot done. Chances are that someone has already figured out how to do something that used to require thousands of lines of code and reduced it to a single line in your program. The only problem with that is you need to know what line to use. That is an easy-enough problem to solve though. Just type a short description of what you are trying to do into your favorite search engine and you will get a number of suggestions. Most of the time one of them will work perfectly.
Python also has the advantage that is the computer programming language of choice for data science and data analytics, which is what I do a lot of. For a while, people used R but now Python has overtaken it.
Yes I still remember BASIC and Pascal really helped me understand a lot of fundamentals for computer programming. But if you are starting out on the path of learning your first programming language, my recommendation would be Python.
I am currently working on a project where I need to display the size of a file on a web page. Most languages would require me to use IF..THEN logic show GB for gigabytes, MB for megabytes, or KB for kilobytes. In Python, I just need to use the "filesizeformat" filter. It automatically converts the number 2600000000 into 2.4 GB (don't worry about it not being 2.6 GB as 1 KB = 1024 Bytes, not 1000).
Python is a very compact language and doesn't require a lot of coding to get a lot done. Chances are that someone has already figured out how to do something that used to require thousands of lines of code and reduced it to a single line in your program. The only problem with that is you need to know what line to use. That is an easy-enough problem to solve though. Just type a short description of what you are trying to do into your favorite search engine and you will get a number of suggestions. Most of the time one of them will work perfectly.
Python also has the advantage that is the computer programming language of choice for data science and data analytics, which is what I do a lot of. For a while, people used R but now Python has overtaken it.
Yes I still remember BASIC and Pascal really helped me understand a lot of fundamentals for computer programming. But if you are starting out on the path of learning your first programming language, my recommendation would be Python.
Monday, August 19, 2019
You Can't Rely on Phone Service
I spent this past weekend on a backpacking trip in the Uinta Mountains. Before heading out, my son sent me a map that he created from CalTopo.com and I printed it on waterproof paper. Actually I printed 3 copies of the map: one for me, one for my son, and another for someone else on the trip. As my son and I have been to the exact same place before, the maps really were not that necessary, or so I thought.
Our group started the hike and everyone sped down the trail to our scenic destination while I pulled up the rear and enjoyed the journey. The first time I hiked this trail, I made a mistake on one section and left the trail because a lot of hikers before me had made a wrong turn at the exact same spot. This time I remembered the error and patiently waited on the correct trail while yelling ahead to the group to turn around and follow me. At that point several of the millennials in the group pulled out their phones and tried to use their map application. We were out in the middle of nowhere with no possibility of mobile phone service. Guess what? Maps don't work on your smartphone unless you have downloaded the maps before leaving mobile phone coverage. I just had to chuckle to myself as I watched this group of kids trying to figure out what to do without their smartphones.
There is a saying that "In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king." In my case, it is the dude with the paper map. Our hike continued uneventfully until we came to the area where we had to leave the trail and do a meadow walk to get to our destination.
For those that are not familiar with a meadow walk, it is a hiking technique to minimize damage to delicate alpine meadows. Creating a trail in such an area enables devastatingly destructive erosion so it is better for everyone to spread out, walk delicately, and take care not to trample the spectacular mountain flowers. We had three such meadows to cross before arriving at our campsite. Once again, the map proved its worth.
Our hike back to the car followed a different path around various picturesque alpine lakes and completed a loop as opposed to going back down the same trail we used to the previous day. We chose this path because neither my son nor I had traveled it and we wanted to see new places. The trail did not disappoint us and once again the paper map proved its worth.
The United States has great mobile phone coverage and sometimes we take it for granted. Unfortunately it is not everywhere and there is a good chance that it won't work when you are in the wilderness. Should you find yourself heading to camp in a remote area, be sure to print up a paper map before leaving home (or at least download the area to your phone). While it may not necessarily save your life, it may save countless miles of unnecessary detours.
Our group started the hike and everyone sped down the trail to our scenic destination while I pulled up the rear and enjoyed the journey. The first time I hiked this trail, I made a mistake on one section and left the trail because a lot of hikers before me had made a wrong turn at the exact same spot. This time I remembered the error and patiently waited on the correct trail while yelling ahead to the group to turn around and follow me. At that point several of the millennials in the group pulled out their phones and tried to use their map application. We were out in the middle of nowhere with no possibility of mobile phone service. Guess what? Maps don't work on your smartphone unless you have downloaded the maps before leaving mobile phone coverage. I just had to chuckle to myself as I watched this group of kids trying to figure out what to do without their smartphones.
There is a saying that "In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king." In my case, it is the dude with the paper map. Our hike continued uneventfully until we came to the area where we had to leave the trail and do a meadow walk to get to our destination.
For those that are not familiar with a meadow walk, it is a hiking technique to minimize damage to delicate alpine meadows. Creating a trail in such an area enables devastatingly destructive erosion so it is better for everyone to spread out, walk delicately, and take care not to trample the spectacular mountain flowers. We had three such meadows to cross before arriving at our campsite. Once again, the map proved its worth.
Our hike back to the car followed a different path around various picturesque alpine lakes and completed a loop as opposed to going back down the same trail we used to the previous day. We chose this path because neither my son nor I had traveled it and we wanted to see new places. The trail did not disappoint us and once again the paper map proved its worth.
The United States has great mobile phone coverage and sometimes we take it for granted. Unfortunately it is not everywhere and there is a good chance that it won't work when you are in the wilderness. Should you find yourself heading to camp in a remote area, be sure to print up a paper map before leaving home (or at least download the area to your phone). While it may not necessarily save your life, it may save countless miles of unnecessary detours.
Monday, August 5, 2019
A Fun Group Game
Saturday night I found myself at home with my youngest son along with my oldest daughter's husband. We probably should have been attending one of two family events happening that evening but rebelled and told our wives we didn't want to go. My youngest son suggested we find a video game that the three of us could play together. I had one that I had been wanting to play for a long time after playing it at work with some of my colleagues. The game is called Helldivers and is available for the PlayStation 4 console as well as the PS3, PS Vita, and the PC. We played it on the PS4.
We started up the game and immediately jumped into play without waiting for an update to load. That limited some functionality and so every time we completed a level, it wouldn't upload it to "Galactic Command." We didn't mind as we just wanted to spend a little time together killing time and bad guys.
The first time I played the game, it felt like being a part of the 1997 movie "Starship Troopers." You and up to 3 of your friends (if you have enough controllers) are sent to various planets with specific missions. As we just started the game, we had a number of really easy missions where we landed, cleaned out an area of bugs, robots, or cyborgs, and then got extracted. When we got that down, the missions got a bit more difficult and we had to do things like find some keys, get a black box, and then get extracted. For the most part, we kept the difficulty of missions to super easy while we got used to the top-down view of our players. As all 3 of us shared the same screen at the same time, we couldn't advance on the map unless we all moved in the same direction and stayed together. The moment one of us tried to go up while another tried to go down, scrolling stoped and we got stuck until we cooperated.
One problem that I experienced initially is that I kept losing track of which player was me. All of the characters have your name below them but I would get so caught up with one of the other players that I switched my attention to the wrong avatar and got scolded for not moving in the right direction. After about an hour of play, I figured it out and never lost track of my character again. It also took about that long for me to figure out the controls as I am more used to 1st-person views in the games I play.
I know I tell people to limit video game play to about an hour but we played for a couple and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. When my youngest son's wife returned from one of the family events for the evening, I suggested we might want to stop playing. My son pleaded that we do one more mission that would finish the planet and allow us to get some extra experience points. I gave in and it surprised him that he convinced me to play one more game so easily. Fortunately it was he who got in trouble with his wife and not me. We finished up the game and had an enjoyable evening.
Today I looked at what it would cost to buy the game today. You can get a basic version for $20 and that is well worth the price. The version I have is on disk and currently sells for $40 but we never got into any of the extra features that come with a higher purchase price. Helldivers is rated T for Teen by the ESRB because of cartoon violence with blood and gore combined with some mild language. I don't remember any language in the game other than the game's title.
My son, son-in-law, and I had a great time playing and I highly recommend it if you are looking for a family bonding activity with at least two other people. If you are by yourself, the missions are almost impossible and so you will want to partner with people online, which is also an option.
We started up the game and immediately jumped into play without waiting for an update to load. That limited some functionality and so every time we completed a level, it wouldn't upload it to "Galactic Command." We didn't mind as we just wanted to spend a little time together killing time and bad guys.
The first time I played the game, it felt like being a part of the 1997 movie "Starship Troopers." You and up to 3 of your friends (if you have enough controllers) are sent to various planets with specific missions. As we just started the game, we had a number of really easy missions where we landed, cleaned out an area of bugs, robots, or cyborgs, and then got extracted. When we got that down, the missions got a bit more difficult and we had to do things like find some keys, get a black box, and then get extracted. For the most part, we kept the difficulty of missions to super easy while we got used to the top-down view of our players. As all 3 of us shared the same screen at the same time, we couldn't advance on the map unless we all moved in the same direction and stayed together. The moment one of us tried to go up while another tried to go down, scrolling stoped and we got stuck until we cooperated.
One problem that I experienced initially is that I kept losing track of which player was me. All of the characters have your name below them but I would get so caught up with one of the other players that I switched my attention to the wrong avatar and got scolded for not moving in the right direction. After about an hour of play, I figured it out and never lost track of my character again. It also took about that long for me to figure out the controls as I am more used to 1st-person views in the games I play.
I know I tell people to limit video game play to about an hour but we played for a couple and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. When my youngest son's wife returned from one of the family events for the evening, I suggested we might want to stop playing. My son pleaded that we do one more mission that would finish the planet and allow us to get some extra experience points. I gave in and it surprised him that he convinced me to play one more game so easily. Fortunately it was he who got in trouble with his wife and not me. We finished up the game and had an enjoyable evening.
Today I looked at what it would cost to buy the game today. You can get a basic version for $20 and that is well worth the price. The version I have is on disk and currently sells for $40 but we never got into any of the extra features that come with a higher purchase price. Helldivers is rated T for Teen by the ESRB because of cartoon violence with blood and gore combined with some mild language. I don't remember any language in the game other than the game's title.
My son, son-in-law, and I had a great time playing and I highly recommend it if you are looking for a family bonding activity with at least two other people. If you are by yourself, the missions are almost impossible and so you will want to partner with people online, which is also an option.
Thursday, August 1, 2019
Video Game Addiction
I am at the airport waiting for a delayed flight and talking with one of the regulars on this Thursday evening flight. He is killing time by playing a casual game on his iPhone. It is one of those games with progressively harder levels. He has been playing it so long that he is up to something like level 2000 and having a bit of difficulty getting to the next one. I asked him if he has given up work to play the game and he responded that he has not. If he had, he might have a video game addiction problem.
Last week I ended up staying up until 2am playing my current video game (I will review in a future post). My oldest son suggested that I had a video game addiction. If I had given up sleep to play a game, then I would have agreed with him. Fortunately my schedule the next day allowed me to play the game well into the early morning hours without any negative consequences and so I took advantage of the opportunity. Usually I would not have done that. This week I continued playing the game and didn't have any issues with going to bed late, otherwise I might have a video game addiction problem.
I am not someone who is an expert on any type of addiction recovery. About my only qualifications for talking about video game addiction is that I work for a video game company. That makes me the least qualified person you should listen to. My job is to help create an experience so powerful that you give up sleep, food, and friends for it. In short, I am supposed to get you addicted video games.
Recognizing I am trying to get you addicted to video games, here are some signs that you may have a problem:
Last week I ended up staying up until 2am playing my current video game (I will review in a future post). My oldest son suggested that I had a video game addiction. If I had given up sleep to play a game, then I would have agreed with him. Fortunately my schedule the next day allowed me to play the game well into the early morning hours without any negative consequences and so I took advantage of the opportunity. Usually I would not have done that. This week I continued playing the game and didn't have any issues with going to bed late, otherwise I might have a video game addiction problem.
I am not someone who is an expert on any type of addiction recovery. About my only qualifications for talking about video game addiction is that I work for a video game company. That makes me the least qualified person you should listen to. My job is to help create an experience so powerful that you give up sleep, food, and friends for it. In short, I am supposed to get you addicted video games.
Recognizing I am trying to get you addicted to video games, here are some signs that you may have a problem:
- If you constantly miss work to play a video game, you could have a problem.
- If you constantly give up sleep to play a video game, you could have a problem.
- If you would rather interact with non-player (or playable) characters than real people, you could have a problem.
- If you think visiting an online world is better than visiting a tropical paradise like Hawaii or Tahiti, then you could have a problem.
- If you eat more than one meal in the day while playing a video game, you may have a problem.
- If you would rather do a fun and wholesome activity online than in real life, then you may have a problem. I had to add "wholesome" as I would rather die in a video game than in real life.
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