Without any doubt, better than the first season. Story is better, there is a lot more jokes, the actors are more free, and the madness continues. We can look to Lost Girl to some kind of X-Man. Instead of mutants, you got Fae. And you have Fae for all kinds of taste. Of course, you can guess the one I prefer. If you still didn’t understand why I see this Series, look into the screenshots. And yes, it should be good. They are preparing the third season.
Castle, Season 4, Episode 23
And another season if over. Castle is a great series on murder investigation (homicides), where Castle, a fiction writer, gets to join Kate Beckett, the homicides detective, to get inspiration for his books. Of course he ends up helping Kate a lot, and getting in love with her. And this season is mostly that, Castle trying to get to Kate’s heart, Kate closing her heart, until Castle get tired of waiting, and tries to make Kate jealous, and it all continued back and forth. Nevertheless, they end this season with a kiss. So, season 5 promises them together. Finally.
What I like in this series is that they focus on the murder, and their story is going around it, not the other way around (like what happens with House, where his story is the main part, and not the patient, as it was in the first seasons).
So, here we are, waiting for season 5, probably taking the time to read some of Castle books (first one, Heat Wave, already read. you can find a review on it (in Portuguese) in my other blog).
This weekend was the Beta Open Weekend, or the Stress Test Weekend. This fact is already interesting. I do not know any other company with any similar initiative. This is not only great for them as a mechanism to check how good their servers can cope with the game and some hundreds or thousand players, but also because this works a demo. I would love to know how many players made the pre-order during this weekend. I am one of those.
There are lots of critics about this game. Most of them are funded. The characters don’t seem as dark or scary, but more comic-like, the magic system is more simple, the inventory items are smaller with less detail, etc. I defend that we need to be open to new approaches to the same game. If it is all similar, just an enhanced version with new enemies and new characters, that doesn’t get that interesting (my opinion).
We expect some issues to improve in the final release, but we can’t expect much changes.
I didn’t play much, but my main complains are that for two times that the game returned me a black screen only with a cursor when exiting (Mac OS X), and that it doesn’t have any logic to have a character (witch doctor) whose primary weapon is a jar full of spiders. And, as far as I could dig, I can’t have a standard weapon instead of those “magic” weapons. But probably I didn’t dig enough.
Now, waiting for the release in May.
Puss in Boots
After Shrek I was looking for a movie with the Boots’ cat. Finally watched it, and, I am sorry to say it isn’t as good as I was expecting. The animation is good, the Puss is very cute, the story is nothing interesting. Even for children, I don’t think the story is near any of the Shrek movies (and I consider the third very very bad).
Although I can cope with a movie like Shrek, where all characters are different (cats, ogres, horses, eggs, whatever) it gets strange when you mix cats and humans, talking to each other. And it gets yet more strange, when you add.. one egg! An then, they all talk to each other. But the poor goose (mother or child) are unable to talk. Gah, I think they need some more work to put a movie out.
Probably is that the reason that Puss in Boots: The three Diablos wasn’t almost mentioned anywhere.
7/10!
I can’t see how people say Java is an end-user language, whose applications are for general user usage…
SEVERE: Exception
javax.xml.transform.TransformerException: org.apache.fop.fo.ValidationException: "fo:inline" is not a valid child of "fo:block"! (See position 1870:716)
at org.apache.fop.cli.InputHandler.transformTo(InputHandler.java:302)
at org.apache.fop.cli.InputHandler.renderTo(InputHandler.java:130)
at org.apache.fop.cli.Main.startFOP(Main.java:174)
at org.apache.fop.cli.Main.main(Main.java:205)
Caused by: javax.xml.transform.TransformerException: org.apache.fop.fo.ValidationException: "fo:inline" is not a valid child of "fo:block"! (See position 1870:716)
at org.apache.xalan.transformer.TransformerIdentityImpl.transform(TransformerIdentityImpl.java:501)
at org.apache.fop.cli.InputHandler.transformTo(InputHandler.java:299)
... 3 more
Caused by: org.apache.fop.fo.ValidationException: "fo:inline" is not a valid child of "fo:block"! (See position 1870:716)
at org.apache.fop.events.ValidationExceptionFactory.createException(ValidationExceptionFactory.java:38)
at org.apache.fop.events.EventExceptionManager.throwException(EventExceptionManager.java:54)
at org.apache.fop.events.DefaultEventBroadcaster$1.invoke(DefaultEventBroadcaster.java:175)
at $Proxy1.invalidChild(Unknown Source)
at org.apache.fop.fo.FONode.invalidChildError(FONode.java:534)
at org.apache.fop.fo.flow.Inline.validateChildNode(Inline.java:123)
at org.apache.fop.fo.FOTreeBuilder$MainFOHandler.startElement(FOTreeBuilder.java:267)
at org.apache.fop.fo.FOTreeBuilder.startElement(FOTreeBuilder.java:171)
at org.apache.xalan.transformer.TransformerIdentityImpl.startElement(TransformerIdentityImpl.java:1072)
at org.apache.xerces.parsers.AbstractSAXParser.startElement(Unknown Source)
at org.apache.xerces.xinclude.XIncludeHandler.startElement(Unknown Source)
at org.apache.xerces.impl.XMLNSDocumentScannerImpl.scanStartElement(Unknown Source)
at org.apache.xerces.impl.XMLDocumentFragmentScannerImpl$FragmentContentDispatcher.dispatch(Unknown Source)
at org.apache.xerces.impl.XMLDocumentFragmentScannerImpl.scanDocument(Unknown Source)
at org.apache.xerces.parsers.XML11Configuration.parse(Unknown Source)
at org.apache.xerces.parsers.XML11Configuration.parse(Unknown Source)
at org.apache.xerces.parsers.XMLParser.parse(Unknown Source)
at org.apache.xerces.parsers.AbstractSAXParser.parse(Unknown Source)
at org.apache.xerces.jaxp.SAXParserImpl$JAXPSAXParser.parse(Unknown Source)
at org.apache.xalan.transformer.TransformerIdentityImpl.transform(TransformerIdentityImpl.java:484)
... 4 more
---------
javax.xml.transform.TransformerException: org.apache.fop.fo.ValidationException: "fo:inline" is not a valid child of "fo:block"! (See position 1870:716)
at org.apache.xalan.transformer.TransformerIdentityImpl.transform(TransformerIdentityImpl.java:501)
at org.apache.fop.cli.InputHandler.transformTo(InputHandler.java:299)
at org.apache.fop.cli.InputHandler.renderTo(InputHandler.java:130)
at org.apache.fop.cli.Main.startFOP(Main.java:174)
at org.apache.fop.cli.Main.main(Main.java:205)
Caused by: org.apache.fop.fo.ValidationException: "fo:inline" is not a valid child of "fo:block"! (See position 1870:716)
at org.apache.fop.events.ValidationExceptionFactory.createException(ValidationExceptionFactory.java:38)
at org.apache.fop.events.EventExceptionManager.throwException(EventExceptionManager.java:54)
at org.apache.fop.events.DefaultEventBroadcaster$1.invoke(DefaultEventBroadcaster.java:175)
at $Proxy1.invalidChild(Unknown Source)
at org.apache.fop.fo.FONode.invalidChildError(FONode.java:534)
at org.apache.fop.fo.flow.Inline.validateChildNode(Inline.java:123)
at org.apache.fop.fo.FOTreeBuilder$MainFOHandler.startElement(FOTreeBuilder.java:267)
at org.apache.fop.fo.FOTreeBuilder.startElement(FOTreeBuilder.java:171)
at org.apache.xalan.transformer.TransformerIdentityImpl.startElement(TransformerIdentityImpl.java:1072)
at org.apache.xerces.parsers.AbstractSAXParser.startElement(Unknown Source)
at org.apache.xerces.xinclude.XIncludeHandler.startElement(Unknown Source)
at org.apache.xerces.impl.XMLNSDocumentScannerImpl.scanStartElement(Unknown Source)
at org.apache.xerces.impl.XMLDocumentFragmentScannerImpl$FragmentContentDispatcher.dispatch(Unknown Source)
at org.apache.xerces.impl.XMLDocumentFragmentScannerImpl.scanDocument(Unknown Source)
at org.apache.xerces.parsers.XML11Configuration.parse(Unknown Source)
at org.apache.xerces.parsers.XML11Configuration.parse(Unknown Source)
at org.apache.xerces.parsers.XMLParser.parse(Unknown Source)
at org.apache.xerces.parsers.AbstractSAXParser.parse(Unknown Source)
at org.apache.xerces.jaxp.SAXParserImpl$JAXPSAXParser.parse(Unknown Source)
at org.apache.xalan.transformer.TransformerIdentityImpl.transform(TransformerIdentityImpl.java:484)
... 4 more
---------
org.apache.fop.fo.ValidationException: "fo:inline" is not a valid child of "fo:block"! (See position 1870:716)
at org.apache.fop.events.ValidationExceptionFactory.createException(ValidationExceptionFactory.java:38)
at org.apache.fop.events.EventExceptionManager.throwException(EventExceptionManager.java:54)
at org.apache.fop.events.DefaultEventBroadcaster$1.invoke(DefaultEventBroadcaster.java:175)
at $Proxy1.invalidChild(Unknown Source)
at org.apache.fop.fo.FONode.invalidChildError(FONode.java:534)
at org.apache.fop.fo.flow.Inline.validateChildNode(Inline.java:123)
at org.apache.fop.fo.FOTreeBuilder$MainFOHandler.startElement(FOTreeBuilder.java:267)
at org.apache.fop.fo.FOTreeBuilder.startElement(FOTreeBuilder.java:171)
at org.apache.xalan.transformer.TransformerIdentityImpl.startElement(TransformerIdentityImpl.java:1072)
at org.apache.xerces.parsers.AbstractSAXParser.startElement(Unknown Source)
at org.apache.xerces.xinclude.XIncludeHandler.startElement(Unknown Source)
at org.apache.xerces.impl.XMLNSDocumentScannerImpl.scanStartElement(Unknown Source)
at org.apache.xerces.impl.XMLDocumentFragmentScannerImpl$FragmentContentDispatcher.dispatch(Unknown Source)
at org.apache.xerces.impl.XMLDocumentFragmentScannerImpl.scanDocument(Unknown Source)
at org.apache.xerces.parsers.XML11Configuration.parse(Unknown Source)
at org.apache.xerces.parsers.XML11Configuration.parse(Unknown Source)
at org.apache.xerces.parsers.XMLParser.parse(Unknown Source)
at org.apache.xerces.parsers.AbstractSAXParser.parse(Unknown Source)
at org.apache.xerces.jaxp.SAXParserImpl$JAXPSAXParser.parse(Unknown Source)
at org.apache.xalan.transformer.TransformerIdentityImpl.transform(TransformerIdentityImpl.java:484)
at org.apache.fop.cli.InputHandler.transformTo(InputHandler.java:299)
at org.apache.fop.cli.InputHandler.renderTo(InputHandler.java:130)
at org.apache.fop.cli.Main.startFOP(Main.java:174)
at org.apache.fop.cli.Main.main(Main.java:205)
Just great. Now I know exactly what to do. Cry!
I am the Chair of the Symposium on Languages, Applications and Technologies. It is the first year this conference will take place, but some of its tracks have some history. There are three main tracks, on Human-Human Languages processing (processing of natural languages), Human-Computer Languages processing (processing of programming languages) and Computer-Computer Languages processing (communication languages, serialization languages, etc).
The conference will have its proceedings published in OASIcs, and a printed version will be available for the participants. A keynote by Alexander Paar is already confirmed. He will talk about an interesting topic. His presentation title is From Program Execution to Automatic Reasoning: Integrating Ontologies into Programming Languages.
The conference call for papers is still open (until March 28th).
Yesterday I gave an invited class on Classification Systems. I prepared some slides that are available on Slideshare. It is an opinionated view on four different types of classification: folksonomies, taxonomies, thesauri and ontologies. The online version lost some quality, but you can download the PDF version. Hope this is interesting for someone.
FEBRUARY 29TH, 2012
By AMBS
Thor (2011)
Yeah, I agree. It is kind of strange that for the Thor movie I post this picture. But to be sincere, I tried to capture one before, but I was too slow. This was what I get but I didn’t dislike it. So, here it is. Not really a Natalie Portman fan, but she is cute, and this picture shows her beauty. Taking the chance to talk about girls, I also liked Jaimie Alexander as Sif.
Well, but the movie… while the other two (Captain America and Iron Man) are more Sci-Fi, this is more Magic. That is kind of weird. Also, it is kind of weird to expect Thor as a super-hero in Earth, when he ends the movie in Asgard. Nevertheless, I wait to see how they connect in The Avengers.
There is a fragile connection to Iron Man, as Stark is mentioned, and some connection with Captain America (but only after the credits). If The Avengers were already been planned, I think the plot could be better written.
Not sure if I liked this more than Captain America or the other way around. They are two different kind of movies, and probably I have a preference for human Super-Heroes. Nevertheless, will give 8/10 @ IMDB for Thor.
Oh, btw, Natalie Portamn reminds me of Stana Katic (Kate Beckett in Castle).
FEBRUARY 27TH, 2012
By AMBS
Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)
Yeah, I couldn’t resist on posting here a screenshot with all these girls.First of all, a disclaimer: I am not a fan of Marvel Comics (the original books), but I am enjoying Marvel attack on the cinema. But I had in mind that Captain America didn’t use a gun. But probably I am wrong.
Regarding the movie, it seems that Marvel is in its origins stories. If I watched a few time ago X-Men First Class, where some heroes are presented in their beginning stories, here again, we learn how Captain America is born. Yet again, not sure if this is the official story, but that is not that relevant.
Regarding the movie itself, it is not bad, but it is not good. I think more could be done. Too much time is used in the Captain America dances, making it kind of boring (specially if you recall that the movie is 2 hours in length).
Nevertheless, there are some interesting scenes, there are some jokes, and Hayley Atwell is around. My vote is 8 @ IMDB. Next, Thor. I need to prepare for The Avengers. But unfortunately it seems we will not have the Black Widow movie 
.
Edit: I forgot an interesting fact. I loved the idea of adding Stark as a scientist, and showing a science fair, etc, making it somewhat parallel or related with Iron Man. Well, at least, my understanding is that Mr. Stark that appears in this movie should be Iron Man’s father.
FEBRUARY 26TH, 2012
By AMBS
Open Season (2006)
2006 seems to be the year of animal movies. Over the Hedge and Madagascar (2005) are more or less from the same time. But unlike these two, Open Season is warm movie. No big features, no big story, a minimal with no quality soundtrack and just some cool animation and a hand full of jokes. To help, the voice of Martin Lawrence for the main character (Boog, the bear).
Unlike other movies, like Shrek, Open Season lacks adult jokes. You know, when you take a kid to the cinema to watch a movie, you don’t sit him in the room and get to the next room to see a horror movie. You sit together with your kid, and watch the same movie. If you can make the adult enjoy the movie as much or more as the kid, in the future this same adult with bring the kid again to the cinema. In the other hand, if the adult gets bored, he will not take the kid that much times to watch animation movies. So, I defend these movies should be as much interesting as possible for everybody.
Voted 7 in IMDB.
