Dad’s Birthday, the Power of Positive Thinking & Some Perspectives Offered

On By Scott HolstadIn Book Reviews, My Family, personal1 Comment

Today was my late father’s birthday and I feel down. He’d be 84 today. Dad loved books and especially ones like Peale’s The Power of Positive Thinking. He and I disagreed on much, including this type of book. But in honor of his birthday, I reread this book and am going to write a few words on it. However, true to form, just because I read it in honor and memory of my father doesn’t mean I’m going to treat this with kid’s gloves.

Book Review of Exploding the Phone: The Untold Story of the Teenagers and Outlaws Who Hacked Ma Bell

On By Scott HolstadIn Book Reviews

Exploding the Phone: The Untold Story of the Teenagers and Outlaws Who Hacked Ma Bell by Phil Lapsley My rating: 5 of 5 stars God, this takes me back. I remember Captain Crunch, phreaking, warez, War Games, my C64 (which I got in Fall 1982), BBS's, Usenet, CdC, 2600, etc., like it was yesterday. I …

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“The Crow” AI Dance Film

On By Scott HolstadIn Publishing, Science & Technology

THE CROW is an amazing short film in which its AI-created animation transforms a dancer from the film PAINTER into a crow. The result is a haunting and compelling piece that follows the crow through its brief dance in a landscape of post-apocalyptic barrenness, to its inevitable demise. One of the most hauntingly beautiful and stunning projects to date -- and it's the first time an AI project has won at the Cannes Short Film Festival. Do not pass this up!