Special Report | Gov. Sanford
Hey Girls and Guys, I would like to ask the City of Brotherly Love and Friends if they have any thoughts on my state’s Gov’ner Mark Sanford and his behavior. After all, when Pres. B.O. asked if the state of South Carolina would like some more money, my gov said no thanks. I guess he wasn’t thinking with his head that day hmm…
http://www.postandcourier.com/news/special_reports/sanford/
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Custom Transformers?
I was on Twitter when I came across this:
Apparently it’s a custom-made toy version of the oldest Autobot in the movie Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, which in case you didn’t know, is one kickass movie! It’s up for auction on eBay, and it’s going to go for a pretty penny. Ok, ok, a lot of pretty pennies. Over 30,500!
If you’re rich and like this thing, place a bid on it! Auction ends on July 8th.
Deathface McGee in: Hell Is Hot And So Is Your Wife
I don’t know why, but I’ve become obsessed with this online “game” called My Brute. It’s essentially an automated rock-paper-scissors contest, in which you, the user/creator, have no control over your character except who they next fight. But I’ll be DAMNED if I don’t go a day without logging on and getting in my three Arena battles allotted.
(For those interested, and in the interest of full disclosure [because I am all about transparency {as it were}], my Brute is named Deathface McGee, and here is his home: http://deathface-mcgee.mybrute.com Come say hello!)
You gain experience, earn new weapons and skills, gain proficiency in three areas (strength, speed, agility), and can even earn attack pets, like dogs, wolves, or bears. That’s right: BEARS. Your own attack bear. Totally great, right?
But don’t just take my word for it. Go ahead and click through this here link and create your own little fightin’ bastard.
If you make one, or if you already have a Brute, go ahead and share it by leaving a comment. Maybe you’ll get some interesting fights out of it.
THERE IS NO FEAR IN THIS DOJO. THERE IS NO MERCY IN THIS DOJO.
POST SCRIPT: I like to make up movie titles for every day of fighting I go through, because I am a giant nerd and easily amused. Hence: post title. Come up with some of your own, and share with the class, children!
WSW Presents: PWI Weekly (two parts)
This week on PWI Weekly, Brady discusses how WWE might go on without Rey Mysterio, looks at the concept of WWE employing a shaky cam (to maintain its PG rating), talks the idea of a possible Kennedy swerve, and runs down this Saturday night’s Legends of the Arena ECW reunion show. In part two, he takes a look at last night’s TNA Slammiversary and the potential ramifications of the card.
Courtesy of Who’s Slamming Who.
My Music Monday: The Clarks
Welcome to My Music Mondays. Each week I will be delving into my music collection and looking at a new artist going somewhat randomly currently but eventually from A to Z. I’ll examine why I first started listening to them, my favorite album and my top 10 songs for the artist. As my music collection is pretty extensive and I have a lot of one offs, I have set a qualification to be featured here. That is that I have to have at least two albums of the artist’s music before they can be considered. This week I look at The Clarks.
I’m not going to make any lame excuses about it. I dislike summer. I dislike the heat. I dislike the long days of sunlight. I pretty much dislike everything about it and would prefer to stay indoors away from the retina burning light of the sun. However its generally frowned upon so in an effort to stay social I do venture out in the sunlight on occasion. One thing that helps me get through the long, heat filled days (besides copious amounts of vodka) is music.
I have a very particular taste in music when summer roles around though, the music should generally be upbeat but not very heavy, almost laid back in a way but filled with the positive vibes that the sun is sucking out of my soul every minute I have to be out in it. Over the next few weeks for My Music Monday’s I am going to highlight some of my favorite “summer” bands. That’s not to say that their music isn’t good for me during more ideal forms of weather (like maybe a blizzard) but listening to these bands during the hot summer months always makes me feel less like killing small children than normal.
The second band on my small checklist is The Clarks. Despite being pretty big in the Pittsburgh area, The Clarks never seemed to latch on elsewhere, so despite being around for over two decades I never had heard of them until one fateful night last summer when I took my wife to the Beach to see one of our favorite bands, Sister Hazel. The Clarks opened up for them and while I wasn’t expecting much, what I got was a band that has a very polished rock vibe and was one hell of a live show. They sound a slight bit country and a slight bit pop but somehow they pull it all together to play their own style of bar rock.
Favorite Album: Let It Go
Let It Go is one of most polished rock albums I have listened to in the past decade. Sure it leans decidedly pop-rockish with its reliance on catchy riffs and hooks but it is a great listen and not only is it one of my favorite albums to listen to in the summer but any time.
10 Favorite Songs
10. Happy
9. Highwire
8. The River
7. Snowman
6. Let It Go
5. All the Things I Wanted
4. Shimmy Low
3. On Saturday
2. Better Off Without You
1. Butterflies and Airplanes
So what do you think of The Clarks? Better yet, how many have even heard of them as once again they are kind of a East Coast thing.
Perdie Across America
At 9am EDT on June 22, 2009, Matthew Perdie will begin his six-month journey across the United States of America. He will be traveling by foot, and carrying that massive American flag. Why? Because he has something he believes in. His ambition is to “bring awareness to the government’s spending and dangerous increase in power,”and to that effect, he is bringing his message to the people.
Most people will see problems with the world and be content to kick back and complain about it. Perdie isn’t so much complaining about it, and definitely not kicking back. His walk will take him from Long Island, down the East Coast, through the Deep South, and all the way to California. From there, who knows?
Last weekend was his sendoff party, at Through the Looking Glass Cafe in Jim Thorpe, PA. I listened as he talked about this passion. Listening to him, one couldn’t help but feel invigorated. His devotion to this project, his pride, and perseverance is very uplifting. And this guy knows how to succeed.
He’ll be filming his journey and posting episodes of the trip on his website, Perdie Across America. All he has is the flag on his back, a tent, and his video camera, and if you believe in his cause, you can send money to him.
Even though, by the time you read this, he’ll already be walking, you can still donate money through his website. If you have a PayPal account, he can have your donation right away. If not, I guess you’ll have to wait till he comes to town. Do you believe in his cause? If he’s coming through your neck of the woods, walk with him. Spending even a few minutes with this guy is like spending a few minutes with a dedicated individual with a goal. What do I mean, “like?” It is exactly like that, because Perdie is one dedicated individual, and he has a goal.
Perdie, I wish you the best of luck, and a safe and prosperous cross-country trek, and I hope your message is spread across hundreds, nay, thousands of people!
(Check out the Chronicles of Perdie for more information and insight into his decision to spread awareness through the country, and check out Perdie Across America for more detailed information about the walk, his mission, and what you can do to help)
Game Review: Punch-Out!! (Wii)
Like many gamers I have a long standing relationship with Nintendo and an innate love for many of their franchises. And while I wait with bated breath over every announcement for the newest Mario or Metroid, there is one franchise that I have wanted to be brought back for quite a long time now. That franchise of course is Punch Out!!. My history with the series dates back to when I first received a Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) as a Christmas present in December 1989. I did not receive Mike Tyson’s Punch Out!! alongside the system but it was the first game I ever purchased for the system. I spent many a long gaming session attempting to beat Iron Mike and sadly I don’t remember it ever happening.
My game cartridge stopped working a long time ago and no amount of blowing into it would get it to work. But a few years ago I was able to relive some of my childhood memories by playing the Mike Tysonless version of Punch Out!!. Attempting to take Little Mac to the World Title re-kindled my long forgotten love of the title and got me to think about how great an updated version of the title would be for the Wii. After all wasn’t the boxing portion of Wii Sports just begging to be made into a full game labeled Punch Out!!. Late last year my visions were answered when Nintendo announced that Next Level Games, developer of the generally well regarded Super Mario Strikers and Mario Strikers Charged, were going to be in charge of a Wii version of Punch Out!!.
The Chemicals Between Them
Chemistry is a funny thing. In one respect, it is supremely predictable; mix this chemical with that one, and you will get this result/reaction. But in others, it is amazingly unpredictable. Take for example, three films released over the past month: X-Men: Origins: Wolverine, Star Trek, and Terminator: Salvation. Each are special effects filled genre films, essentially sequels, attempting to cash-in on the built-in fanbase and name recognition, released in the prime summer blockbuster season. Each, in its own way, is a mix of certain chemicals. Yet the results have been far far different for each. Let us look closer, shall we?
Natalie Portman + Darren Aronofsky = GOLD
Entertainment Weekly reported today that Natalie Portman (pictured, right, obviously) is attached to star in a thriller about a ballerina who’s competing against another ballerina—who just so happens to be a ghost! The film is called Black Swan.What’s got me so excited about this? THE DIRECTOR!
Darren Aronofsky hasn’t really made a lot of movies, but what he’s made had been effin’ sweet! Let’s run through the list, shall we?
Π — Maybe I didn’t enjoy this movie so much, but I was able to see that it was something fresh, and definitely different from other movies I’d seen up to that point.
Requiem for a Dream — Based on the novel by Hubert Selby, Aronofsky expertly recreates the world of Harry Goldfarb, Marion Silver, and Tyrone C. Love. A simultaneously beautiful and haunting movie.
Below — I actually never heard of this! I may have to go and watch it now. Oh, wait, scratch that. He was writer/producer, not director. (or maybe I will, after reading a NYT review)
The Fountain — When I heard about this movie, I was “eh.” Then I read who directed it. Then I read that it was a time-travel type movie. I loved the hell out of it.
The Wrestler — Brady liked it. Nick liked it. I haven’t seen it yet. But I did see Marissa Tomei hangin’ out with some people when Brady invited me to a Ring of Honor show in Northeast Philly last year.
Also in the works for Aronofsky is a reboot of the RoboCop franchise. I’m always wary of reboots and remakes, as Hollywood is seeing more than her fair share of them—I mean, come on, Sorority Row???—but with this guy signed on as director, it can’t be all that bad. Hell, this could be as good or better than the Chris Nolan-Batman team-up!
New “Features”
A couple new features have been added o the site. They’re small, but I’ve always wanted them here. Click past the cut to see the additions (more…)
WSW Presents: PWI Weekly (two parts)
This week on PWI Weekly: a two parter. First up, Brady Hicks and DJ tackle Vickie Guerrero’s sendoff, Umaga’s dismissal, and several other subjects. In the second part, a former colleague from Pro Wrestling Illustrated calls up to offer some thoughts on a past show talking about WWE’s PG rating, as well as his own thoughts on Vickie.
Courtesy of Who’s Slamming Who.
My Music Monday’s: Pat McGee Band
Welcome to My Music Mondays. Each week I will be delving into my music collection and looking at a new artist going somewhat randomly currently but eventually from A to Z. I’ll examine why I first started listening to them, my favorite album and my top 10 songs for the artist. As my music collection is pretty extensive and I have a lot of one offs, I have set a qualification to be featured here. That is that I have to have at least two albums of the artist’s music before they can be considered. This week I look at the Pat McGee Band.
I’m not going to make any lame excuses about it. I dislike summer. I dislike the heat. I dislike the long days of sunlight. I pretty much dislike everything about it and would prefer to stay indoors away from the retina burning light of the sun. However its generally frowned upon so in an effort to stay social I do venture out in the sunlight on occasion. One thing that helps me get through the long, heat filled days (besides copious amounts of vodka) is music.
I have a very particular taste in music when summer roles around though, the music should generally be upbeat but not very heavy, almost laid back in a way but filled with the positive vibes that the sun is sucking out of my soul every minute I have to be out in it. Over the next few weeks for My Music Monday’s I am going to highlight some of my favorite “summer” bands. That’s not to say that their music isn’t good for me during more ideal forms of weather (like maybe a blizzard) but listening to these bands during the hot summer months always makes me feel less like killing small children than normal.
The first band on my small checklist is the Pat McGee Band. Some people have compared the Virginia based band to the Dave Matthews Band and I guess that isn’t a bad comparison being as both bands are quite similar in style. I don’t happen to like the Dave Matthews Band very much, mostly due to Matthews vocal styling. McGee in my opinion is a much better singer and the band is more focused on melodies and harmonies than just jamming. And maybe it is the fact that McGee never hit it big but I have always gotten a very approachable vibe from the guy and that is something I like a lott. Like many other bands I have “discovered” over the years, I came across the Pat McGee Band when they were opening for another band I was going to see. They put on a great live show and their music is uplifting, if a bit mellow, a perfect reason for them to work as summer music for me.
Favorite Album: Shine
Shine is a folksy-rock record with a nice mellow feel to it and I find myself listening to it a lot more recently.
10 Favorite Songs
10. Annabel
9. Now
8. Beautiful Ways
7. At It Again
6. Don’t Give Up
5. Must Have Been Love
4. Runaway
3. Rebecca
2. Shine
1. Haven’t Seen For A While
So what do you think of Pat McGee Band? Better yet, how many have even heard of them? They seem pretty regional to the East Coast.
The Final Destination Trailer
I am probably more excited about this movie than any sane person in the world, but I happen to like the series. Anyway, when I recorded 3×04 with Brady and Nick and Clause (pronounced Klauss) I mentioned my excitement over this movie, except at the time, the film was merely called Final Destination: Death Trip. I’m glad they changed the title, because it didn’t seem to mesh with the film’s premise at all.
Well, as I promised, a trailer (below the cut). I hope you enjoy it as much as I do, and I apologize to anyone who thinks the Final Destination franchise is a piece of loaded twa—uh, bologna.
Saw the Hangover Last Night
Hey. Just got home from seeing The Hangover, starring Brad Cooper, Ed Helms, Zach Galifianakis, and Justin Bartha, as four friends who go to Las Vegas for Doug’s bachelor party, only to wake up with little recollection of the previous night. And also no Doug.
It was very funny, and actually, plotwise, a very solid movie. Except for that random girl, chicken, and the whole tiger thing. But then again, they add to the mystery of the film. Little trivia for you: Brad Cooper, the lead in this film, is from Philly. I have no clue why I’m mentioning that, but I am.
And by ‘just got home’ I mean I’ve been home for hours, but I kind of slept for most of that time. I might get something more solid up here, but in case you wanted to see the movie, it’s still in theatres, so GO SEE IT.
3×08: EVERYTHING!
This episode is so long (almost 90 minutes), it took a week to get it online!!!
In this episode, Jay, Nick, Joe, and Sarah (who doesn’t give her name until halfway through the show) stay on topic for a grand total of three minutes, make fun of everybody, fight (and jay dies), and then we end the show twice.
To be fair, the first ending was a false ending.
Topics mentioned: Up, Transformers, glory holes, photography, luchador masks, Twitter, Star Trek: Deep Space 9, deep dish 9, comics, Drag Me to Hell, car names (I mean baby names), Baconnaise, Bacon Salt, the Munsters, the Addams Family, British TV, space, Adam West vs. William Shatner, and a so much more!
And then there’s a fight which totally destroys a mic cable.
Ryan Philippe and his daughter go somewhere!
I’m not a big celebrity news fan or anything, I swear. So believe me when I say I happened across this photo while accidentally strolling through x17online. And without further ado, I do not care WHO you are the daughter of . . . . .
. . . you do NOT wear Crocs, EVER!!!!
Anyway, the article starts off saying something like Ryan and Mini-Reese. She really does look like a younger version of Reese Witherspoon, doesn’t she?
But sadly, I don’t care because I WANT TO MURDER THOSE SHOES!!!
Win7 without IE, like a shining beacon of hope or something
So for all you techie computer geeks out there, who cares that Windows 7 — at least in Europe — is going to ship without Internet Explorer installed? At least, that’s what CNET is reporting today. After some anti-trust violations that put Microsoft in some hot seat, they decided to offer the EU version of Windows 7 without its flagship browser. Apparently, it’s not so integrated anymore.
That means European users don’t have to bother ever touching Internet Explorer just to get their favorite browser, though this also means they’d have to somehow get a copy of their favorite browser to install on their brand new PC. It’s like a sick version of Catch 22, where the dire consequences are being unable to access facebook.com/jonasbrosfannumber3.
The only problem I see with this is that, if PC sellers don’t install some other browser onto the computer before selling them, the not-so-tech-savvy people are going to be Internet-free! I mean, there’s a wealth of information on the web about using FTP, but what good is that if you don’t have a web browser to access those sites?
I think Microsoft is doing a good thing by making a non-Internet Explorer version, and I hope it’s released across the world. I mean, sure you’ll have your people who’d get their new computers, pre-installed by the seller with Google Chrome, or maybe use FTP and immediately download IE8, but I think the vast majority of Internet users out there shy away from Internet Explorer. It’s mostly because of the bad rap they got years ago. Remember when it was a piece of crap, and Netscape Navigator 4 was all the rage? Sure, times have changed, but I went straight to Mozilla Firefox from my Netscape, and only gave IE a chance when I was forced to at my workplace.
What are your thoughts? Do you use IE or not? If not, what do you use? Are you one of the few people out there who use Chrome? Why do you use that over other browsers? And who the hell uses Opera, anyway?
Facebook: Vanity URLs!
The hot news today is that, in an effort to be more like MySpace, Facebook is letting you have your own custom URL (source: PC Mag). Example, I am at myspace.com/bigcartoonjay. Now I can be at facebook.com/bigcartoonjay, too!
So who’s excited? Really?
Seriously. Anyone?
Hello?
WSW Presents: PWI Weekly
This week on PWI Weekly, Brady Hicks takes a look at last night’s WWE Extreme Rules ppv, and also debates the merit of putting main event level stars in Intercontinental title matches.
Courtesy of Who’s Slamming Who.
My Music Monday: Europe
Welcome to My Music Mondays. Each week I will be delving into my music collection and looking at a new artist going somewhat randomly currently but eventually from A to Z. I’ll examine why I first started listening to them, my favorite album and my top 10 songs for the artist. As my music collection is pretty extensive and I have a lot of one offs, I have set a qualification to be featured here. That is that I have to have at least two albums of the artist’s music before they can be considered. This week I look at Europe.
As some of you may or may not know I am a big fan of cheesy 80s rock, or hair metal. Whitesnake, Warrant, Motley Crue, Def Leppard, Bon Jovi, etc… I was never quite sure why bands of their ilk were considered heavy metal as I always viewed them as pop-rock (popular music with a rock edge). I suppose some of it is the fact that all musicians want to be taken seriously and generally pop-music is shunned because, well because it is popular. In anycase while attempting to rate all the songs I own in iTunes (a daunting task mind you) I got to a little band that I hadn’t listened to in quite some time.
Best known for their rock anthem that made VH1s list of top 40 Most Awesomely Bad Metal Songs, The Final Countdown, Europe was a band that I had pretty much forgotten about. Their 1988 album, “Out of This World” was a constant in my tape player in late 1988 and early 1989. Surprisingly, listening to them again I found I still enjoyed their brand of rock. Yes they rely a little to heavily on synthesizers but underneath it all Kee Marcello shines with some awesome guitar work and lead singer Joey Tempest brings it all home with a rock delivery reminiscent of some of the best vocalist from the 60s and 70s.
The Swedish band is mostly known, outside of The Final Countdown, for their ballads but I myself enjoy their straight up arena rockers. Great guitar work and fantastic hooks can go a long way to cover the stink of Aquanet and cheese.
Favorite Album: Out of This World
It’s filled with solid arena rockers from top to bottom. Even the ballads on the album rock.
10 Favorite Songs
10. I’ll Cry For You
9. Open Your Heart
8. More Than Meets the Eye
7. Just the Beginning
6. Tower’s Callin’
5. Let the Good Times Rock
4. All or Nothing
3. The Final Countdown
2. Superstitious
1. Halfway to Heaven
So what do you think of Europe?
Milo isn’t as real as you think
Did you watch E3 last weekend? Did yo usee Microsoft’s presentation? Did you see this?
I caught this a couple days after Chris wrote his piece. @jontilton mentioned Milo and I just thought he named his XBOX 360. Turns out that Milo was really the video above. I half believed it, and I 100% wanted to believe it, but I just didn’t buy it’s authenticity.
Well, thanks to PR.net, I found out that Milo isn’t really everything we saw in that video.
Read the article for more information. That British guy bothers me more now that I’ve read the article.
Legend of the Green Dragon
So, I remember playing this game as a kid, back when I had to dial my local BBS (using a modem) and Pennywise was the moderator. The game was called Legend of the Red Dragon*, LORD for short.
It was the best game ever. Then BBSes died out and the Internet took over. It seemed like all hope was lost of ever playing this game again, but luckily, there were a lot of other people who loved this game who had the skill to port it over to an Internet version called Legend of the Green Dragon.
I started an instance of the game at another site, and if you want to relive RPG fun at its textest-bestest, sign up at jasonvertucio.com/lotgd. There are no real graphics, just a lot of clicking, or typing, and a lot of reading.
__
* Not to be confused with the Jet Li film of the same name.
WSW Presents: The Main Show (two parts)
Pro Wrestling Illustrated’s Brady Hicks fills in for Brian Solomon to host THE MAIN SHOW this week on Who’s Slamming Who with Tommy Fierro. They run down all the events that took place at ISPW’s Highway Robbery show this past Saturday night, which featured the retirement match of 16 year veteran Danny Inferno. The two also discuss WWE releasing Mr. Kennedy, WWE/Denver Nuggets aftermatch, WWE’s Extreme Rules PPV this Sunday, and much more.
