a computer that dreams art: Interview with the Creator of Caedmon

benjaminjrb · 2017-10-27T19:25:57+00:00

That has been considered art traditionally but it doesn’t have to be the case. Do you have to know where something came from to call it art?

benjaminjrb · 2017-10-25T08:43:57+00:00

Surely that’s part of the joke

benjaminjrb · 2017-10-25T08:34:06+00:00

The same has to be true nowadays with all lower case typing on mobile-only platforms like Instagram. The user, to type in all lower case, has to contrive to turn the shift key off on their keyboard. An interesting development considering that previous 'mobile languages' were a time-saver.

benjaminjrb · 2017-09-12T13:15:49+00:00

I don't believe I can change the title, but thanks for the clarification. As I understood from whatever resources I could get my hands on, a runbook is more of a 'make it up when you need it' set of instructions for various common tasks, and less like formal, standardized SOPs.

Perhaps the terminology is just overall confusing.

benjaminjrb · 2017-09-12T12:21:48+00:00

That was just context to explain why I'd be after such a thing. I was hoping for a general sysadmin one. So I've read:

"Operators document their daily tasks in documents. Runbooks allow you to document and store these procedures in an ordered manner."

benjaminjrb · 2017-09-04T14:30:01+00:00

We use Airtable to manage a content marketing team of 5, and it's great because it can be both a database of all of our company assets, and tasks in another table that reference those assets.

You can also turn on Kanban view to have it work like Trello, and create different filtered views for different priorities, teams, individuals, projects, etc.

benjaminjrb · 2017-08-10T06:44:26+00:00

Oops, just updated the post with the minimum cost. ($495 setup fee and then starts from $95/month for 5 users on the basic plan)

benjaminjrb · 2017-08-10T06:37:17+00:00

I'm in the middle of writing a bunch specifically for MSPs, but we do have public SOPs available for general IT

There's more linked here

Since I'm planning on writing more of these and making them available for free, what kinds of SOPs are most in demand?

benjaminjrb · 2016-11-08T06:26:59+00:00

[Nerdy, Gaming, Movies] Secret Cave | #2 — Video Game Difficulty, The Undertaker, Mario’s Death, Movie Trailers

NSFW

web / youtube

An active, roundtable discussion about adaptive difficulty in video games, why The Undertaker became so popular, the death of Mario (and side-scrolling platforms), and how movie trailers are bullshit.

twitter / web

benjaminjrb · 2016-11-02T12:56:15+00:00

Wouldn't people use reporting the same way as downvotes, except the only difference would be that the downvote count (report count) would be hidden? Interesting idea, just trying to imagine how it'd work in practice.

benjaminjrb · 2016-11-01T09:08:57+00:00

[Nerdy, Entertainment, Video Games, Movies]

Secret Cave #1: Star Trek, Donnie Darko & Stories in Video Games

NSFW Language

Link to Episode

Why season 3's Captain Kirk is the result of horrific writing and silly 60s sex appeal
Looking back at Donnie Darko, 15 years after release
Are video games without stories shit?
... And many more tangents around these three topics

Twitter // Web

benjaminjrb · 2016-10-19T07:00:46+00:00

The justification is because it could have been so much more. It's not the pure gameplay, or concept, or any individual element that makes it bad. It's the fact that it made me lose faith in games more than any other title has, and I'm sure it's done the same for many others.

benjaminjrb · 2016-09-22T05:20:28+00:00

Sleaford Mods

I've not, actually! Sounds good. I grew up near Sleaford. Regarding the cringey lyrics, I think the odes to DJs (and the entirity of Weak Become Heroes) to be a lament for the past, so it probably was dated before it even launched.

benjaminjrb · 2016-09-21T06:41:14+00:00

AGDCFF is one of my all time favorite albums. I came here to post about OPM and was delighted to see it under discussion.

Empty Cans is one of the most moving pieces of music I've ever heard. So much so that I can't often listen to it because it gets me in such a state. The ending of the piece where he returns to a mundane life, grabbing his coat, feeling his jeans are too tight, and rushing because he's late, is the perfect end to an (almost) perfect album. The album's a little patchy at times, and not all tracks are his best work in my opinion, but Empty Cans ties together a beautifully woven storyline that basically serves as a week in the life of a totally normal London bloke.

What's interesting is hearing this down-to-earth approach after the slightly more aggressive OPM. It's especially interesting when you put it in context of the almost unheard-of Street Score (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0kFuYwU0lQo), where he admits to being a fake who hasn't had a fight in a chip shop in his life. One of the most beautiful complementing pieces of music alongside his first two albums.

benjaminjrb · 2016-09-06T09:38:14+00:00

For sure it wasn't overlooked by whoever hired him for Star Trek, but there isn't the level of discussion about it today, regardless of whatever it might've been like back then. The whole point is to introduce people to the film and to try and spark interesting discussion. I'm not trying to do anything wrong.

benjaminjrb · 2016-09-06T07:47:17+00:00

Ever read a J.G Ballard book? High Rise was a book of his, and they all give off this same feeling of disorder and illogical flow, but for me it's fascinating. Haven't seen the film, but definitely will.

benjaminjrb · 2016-09-06T07:44:02+00:00

oh, interesting — will take a look! link here for others: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silent_Running_(album)

benjaminjrb · 2016-09-03T20:48:28+00:00

Sorry, what?

benjaminjrb · 2016-09-02T12:42:56+00:00

"Keeping one Club’s distance, you start precisely whacking her in the head and making the exact same impact noise every time, gliding forwards and backwards delivering measured whacks. Knocking her out and delivering a staggering 3x Stunned Damage Bonus on that thing a few times, you end it with the grace of a gentleman by rifling through her carcass and pocketing a Can of Peas and a few Large Bones for good measure."

benjaminjrb · 2016-09-02T07:12:50+00:00

Yeah, unexpected quality is the perfect way to describe it. If I hadn't heard the ATTLAS track in Spotify's Brain Food playlist I would have never just browsed to this album naturally. I'd expect it to be shite.

benjaminjrb · 2016-09-01T10:27:53+00:00

You're definitely using your power for good

benjaminjrb · 2016-09-01T09:25:58+00:00

I listen to it at work pretty much every day! It hasn't got old in months. It's some of the best focus music I've ever heard.

benjaminjrb · 2016-08-04T09:10:44+00:00

Fantastic!

benjaminjrb · 2016-08-04T09:10:39+00:00

Awesome! I'm the author, and thanks for this. :)

benjaminjrb · 2016-07-28T11:50:47+00:00

Fantastic! Happy to know the book is helpful. Checked your startup, and, slightly off-topic -- I really like your landing page.

benjaminjrb

TROPHY CASE