CouchCast With Integratechs

Integratechs: Best Practices in IT Outsourcing. Eric Hansen and Terrance Crowe from Integratechs will join us to discuss current and future trends in IT Outsourcing. http://www.integratechs.com



Visit CouchCast.org for all of our shows. Come and be part of this sometimes wacky, sometimes funny, and sometimes techie podcast. Hosted by Robert Merrill, Matthew Reinbold and Thom Allen.

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New Movie; WarGames: The Dead Code

A couple of days ago I wrote a post about WarGames turning 25 this year, and how MGM is coming out with an updated version of the movie. Today I wanted to let you know about the sequel, WarGames: The Dead Code. It's supposed to be released in theaters the same day as the 1983 version is released on DVD, July 29th, 2008.

I watched the trailer (I wish I could have legally embedded the trailer, but you can watch it here), and it seems to be a cross between 24 and The Bourne Identity. I hope I'm wrong.

The problem I think the sequel will face, is the original movie used technology that was brand new, only a few geeks even knew what a modem was, or how to interact with terminals. Today, you carry computers a hundred times more powerful as the one Matthew Broderick had in his bedroom, in your pocket. The computer shouldn't be the draw this time, but I think the story is written that way. And, the terrorist angle has been played to death. I was really hoping for something a little more original.

I'll be sure to follow up with a review of the movie.

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CouchCast With Jayce Hall

Jayce Hall comes on the show to tell us about the Second Annual Utah Open Source Conference happening in August this year.

The Utah Open Source Conference 2008 will be held at the Salt Lake Community College, Redwood Road campus from August 28 - 30, 2008.

Visit CouchCast.org for all of our shows. Come and be part of this sometimes wacky, sometimes funny, and sometimes techie podcast. Hosted by Robert Merrill, Matthew Reinbold and Thom Allen.

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War Games 25 Years Later

On July 29th, MGM will release a 25th Anniversary edition of War Games. This movie was an icon to geeks the world over. We longed to find an open line with our war dialers. Finding some unprotected computer system and taking a look around was the ultimate prize.

By the way, a war dialer was a program that automatically dialed numbers and checked for a modem tone on the other end. If a tone was found, the number would be captured for later use.

I must admit my VIC 20 and Commodore 64 paled in comparison to Matthew Broderick's computer of the day, but I didn't let that stop me from trying to hack into a few computer systems myself.

Most of today's kids would not get the significance, or even care that your could, connect to other computers through the phone. Bulletin Board Systems, or BBS for short, were the precursors to public Internet access. BBS's allowed people to share information and files, start discussions, and were basically very early social networks.

The movie didn't have any impact on technology, but it did give the audience a glimpse of what the United States Government was using to run its defense systems. The WOPR, a mainframe type computer, depicted in the movie as a very large metal box with a bunch of LED lights, was the master mind, or central computer. This computer took on a life of it's own, when a young kid, played by Matthew Broderick, some how finds a back door using a war dialer, and starts a war simulation.

Eventually the computer completes the simulation, but nearly started world war three in the process. The movie plays on the attitude, and fear, most Americans had at the time, about an all out nuclear war with the Russians. Interesting how the use of geeky technology was used to make some sort of political statement.

If its been a while since you've watched War Games, go rent it, or download it. If you've never seen the movie before, go rent it, you'll be glad you did. But most of all, buy the anniversary edition when it comes out at the end of the month.

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Star Trek: The Experience To Close

Captains log, star date, well, today. It's sad to learn that Star Trek: The Experience will be closing its doors at the Hilton Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada, on September 1st.

This attraction was a unique opportunity to see Star Trek memorabilia, get sick on a few rides, and spend some of your hard earned cash in the souvenir shops. I was able to take a couple of photos with a Borg and a Klingon Woman when I was there not too long ago. It was a blast. I really hope CBS listens to the fans and finds a new home for the attraction in Las Vegas, and even expands it. Great time to do this with a new movie coming out. I really hope the fans aren't screwed again by Paramount and CBS.

Long Live Star Trek!

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