The Summer of Geek

A peer of mine in the global family of man has successfully unlocked the iPhone and has published a how-to absolutely free - but another company has an even easier unlocking method, and is going to charge for it.

But why exactly do we want or need to unlock this device? Astounding at all tasks it may be, we could easily wait for a few more months and get a fully functional and - more importantly - legal device. As miraculous to mobile communications as it is, it's not exactly going to increase your intelligence or the value of your house - it does, however, increase your 'street' cred and overall coolness level.

Of course, I'm underestimating the sheer pull of the iPhone and the way geeks such as I obsess over things. For instance, I have been hyping myself up over the rapidly nearing date of our upgrade to HD - we shall be picking up our new Sony Bravia LCD TV on Thursday. The HD DVD player we ordered has already arrived, and I have devoted myself to organizing my front room in preparation for the grand delivery of electronic magnificence. I was, in fact, quite surprised at the promptness of delivery - my past dealings with Amazon gave me the impression that I had neglected to perform some type of arcane ritual to receive my product, or skipped over the clause in the terms and conditions that detailed the epic quest that I must set out on in order to defeat my new arch nemesis - their distribution offices.

The full messianic power of the TV is, however, only proportional to the power of the input. In this case however, I believe I have chosen wisely - Serenity and Batman Begins, both in the Highest of High Definitions (this point is moot - first of all, the DVD player only sends a signal in 1080i, not 1080p; secondly, the television is only 720p in the first place). Stargirl shall be here for the first proper inauguration of this truly olympian device - nay, DUO of devices. I will, however, sneak myself a preview of the machination's beauty; both with a regular television signal and one of my new gems of diskette-loaded entertainment.

Regular readers (Hah! An overstatement of Hurculean proportions) may notice I have taken to writing in a new style for this post. Writing is an art form, but I have not attempted to honing my craft - I have not admired writing styles, or analyzed and brutally dissected the methods of great writers. With my final year of mandatory schooling encroaching rapidly - my GCSE exams nestled at the end like a snake's rattle - I realise I must now become studious in several aspects of life, and organised in others. As such, I have planned my new method of noting down information and generally keeping my studies in order, which I will be instigating upon my return to the dreaded and drab buildings of my school.

Some people may recognise the style I am emulating, which I will eventually incorporate into a style all my own (for now, however, it is going to be consistently inconsistent and a mutilated and horrible monster of styles based on wherever my whims take me). The enviable Jerry Holkins - known to Penny Arcade fans as his comic alter-ego Tycho - is the main inspiration for style of this day's post, and for my general outlook of writing in a sardonic and witty way. Some people have criticized his style, but I relish in it.

In any case, it is time for this post to end. I will attempt organise this blog also, and I promise that there shall be physical altercations if I fail in my goal. Shall it be twenty lashings for every week without a post or thirty?



Sraen out, with a flourish.