Adam Karkowski @adz@mastodon.technology

So I've been thinking about my ideal version of a social network...
1. It should be built on encrypted chat systems. So all DMs should be E2E encrypted. Public messages should be signed (to prevent spoofing) but not encrypted. Importantly, it should be a federated system, like Mastodon or email. This is definitely possible since Signal (TextSecure, at the time) used to federate with WhisperPush by CyanogenMod.

Here's something I've been thinking about for a while.

If an ultra secure messaging system were to be subverted by the developer(s) compromising the app by adding a silent/invisible extra party to all conversations (i.e. all 1-on-1 chats become, in effect, group chats), would there be any way to know? That is, this silent/invisible extra party would get all messages and replies for anyone the developers wanted to spy on (if, for example, they were served with a warrant or any other reason).

Yesterday was my wife's birthday. Made her a birthday dinner because neither of us wanted to go out. Ribs, rosti and steamed veggies.

Is your governmental overthrow underperforming? Having trouble maintaining a coup? Well here at AMCIA, we have all the best solutions for insurrectile dysfunction!

9. I have a possible theory on how and why (but not from whom) Max gets her powers. I'll put that in another thread I think.

8. Overall, I'd say the game most reminds me of the film "Donnie Darko." Both in the themes ans setting (time travel and high school), but also pacing, the ending and how it stayed with me for days afterwards.

7. Also, I should have put this in earlier, but the music was very well done. The game uses licenced music from known artists and it's well mixed into the gameplay and cut-scenes to give the game a cinematic feel.

6. Others say it was a manifestation of Max's desire to save Chloe and she simply didn't know the implications of her actions. But Max didn't recognise Chloe at all in the bathroom and even refers to her as "that poor girl." No one refers to their best friend like that in their internal monologue. This would mean she had no special interest (other than preventing a murder) in intervening in Chloe's death.

5. My main nitpick with the plot is that (spoilers) it's never explained how Max got her powers. I've read some stuff on the web and none of it rings true. One theory states that Rachel's spirit causes Max to get powers in order to get justice or revenge. But in the end, Mr Jefferson is exposed because Nathan is arrested for Chloe's murder. He then reveals Mr Jefferson's crimes under questioning. Rachel (or Max) are not required for this to happen.

4. There's some plot points that I don't quite understand. (Spoilers) One is when Max goes back in time and rips up her photo (as the only change), it's not clear to me why that causes her to end up in the Dark Room with Mr Jefferson. I understand why the plot needs that to happen, but logically, it doesn't make sense to me.

3. It's visually very good. The quite realistic body movements and physics, coupled with a slightly cartoonish art style really works. Also the scenery is quite picturesque and well composed.

2. The acting is quite good for a computer game. I'm not a big gamer, but most other games I've played, the acting is not good and generally also cheesy. I understand that games usually have smaller budgets but also due to the player-choice mechanics, a smooth delivery can't always be managed. Frequently it has to be broken up into chunks so that it can be mixed and matched at runtime.

1. It's the best plot to a game I've ever played. Adventure games require some plot, but usually it's pretty cheesy and somewhat perfunctory. Someone put a lot of effort into this aspect.

I've been thinking about the game for days since I finished playing. I've never been affected by a game like this before. Books, film and TV shows sure, but never games. I have some thoughts and possible nitpicks about it.

Just finished playing Life is Strange. It's an odd game. Very immersive and has some fucked up themes. I would recommend to anyone who likes slower, decision based adventure games. The puzzles are not that challenging, it's mostly a vehicle for a choose-your-own-adventure story.

Once they make it available in Australia I will purchase it. Until then, tide yourself over.

Here's a link to the documentary "SEVEN." For some reason they geo-restricted it and the only way to watch it outside of the US is something like this.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c0DdZRL_UGM