Infotainment Empire

Kimber Ultra Stainless Raptor II

2012-02-06T23:26:00.000-06:00

My daily carry, a Kimber Ultra Stainless Raptor II. I will add more pics later. Current grips are the green VZ grips - I believe they are the Aliens series.

Colt LE6940 AR-15

2012-01-26T19:34:00.000-06:00

This is my gun. There are many like it, but this one is mine. Except there aren't really TOO many like this one, but I'm sure there are a couple of twins, or close to it at least.

Here it is stock:

Swapped out my stock grip for an MFT grip and foregrip:

Swapped out more parts, Magpul ACS buttstock, Magpul MIAD grip, GPS-02 gripod, Nikon m-223 (3-12x42) scope and mount:

Still need to get my Magpul ASAP mount and sling installed, but that castle nut is proving to be staked on VERY well.

Kimber Eclipse Target II .45 ACP 1911

2012-01-13T15:54:00.003-06:00

After installing a new mainspring housing on my Kimber Eclipse Target II, I figured I would post some photos of the gun on here. The grips were also recently swapped out with my knife as well, so y'all can see what the grips I had on it before look like too. Click on photos for larger photo:

Setlist.fm

2011-12-02T08:26:00.001-06:00

Why is it that I have only been looking at this website recently? I remember coming across it awhile back, but now I figured why not catalog all of the shows I've been to on one post?

Dave Matthews Band:
7/16/2003 - Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavillion, The Woodlands, TX
8/20/2004 - Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavillion, The Woodlands, TX
9/05/2005 - Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavillion, The Woodlands, TX

Guster:
9/10/2004 - Meridian, Houston, TX
2/04/2011 - The Tabernacle, Atlanta, GA
8/20/2011 - Patriot's Point, Charleston, SC

Modest Mouse:
02/20/2005 - Verizon Wireless Theater, Houston, TX
11/10/2005 - Palladium Ballroom, Dallas, TX

Weezer/Foo Fighters:
9/13/2005 - Cynthia Mitchell Woodlands Pavillion, The Woodlands, TX

The Killers:
2/04/2009 - Nokia Theater, Grand Prairie, TX

Coldplay:
11/19/2008 - American Airlines Center, Dallas, TX

ISP Bandwidth Caps are Ridiculous

2011-10-18T15:38:00.002-05:00

Currently, Internet Service Providers (ISPs) throughout the country are slowly going from unlimited bandwidth to a bandwidth cap. AT&T's DSL service is already capped at 150 GB while their U-Verse subscribers (think TV) has a cap of 250 GB. This cap includes both uploads and downloads. Comcast has had a 250 GB cap since 2008. Cox has a 250 GB cap. Time Warner has yet to relinquish unlimited bandwidth at the time of this writing, but they have "reserved the right to do so." It's a trend that will continue and not die. I understand mobile providers doing this in order to optimize their networks (then again who knows how much they are exaggerating or not exaggerating when it comes to network strain in relation to bandwidth hogs), but it doesn't make much sense when an ISP utilizes caps when the bandwidth does not cost them as much to supply (i.e. revenues from internet connections greatly DWARFS income spent on maintaining a good broadband network).

SuddenLink is my local ISP/cable provider. They offer excellent speeds at decent prices (the prices aren't the best compared to what other regions have, but it certainly is not the worst). They apparently have test markets in certain parts of the state to determine the feasibility and backlash, if any, of switching from unlimited to a limited cap. I first became suspicious of this when I received a letter talking about my internet usage. I thought it was interesting since I have an unlimited data plan with them. Quickly I realized it was just a matter of time before SuddenLink does what other providers have been, capping their bandwidth. I use up anywhere from 300 to over 400 GB of bandwidth per month. Some months I use just over 200 GB. SuddenLink plans on charging $10 for every 50 GB in overage use. Here is a chart since the end of March showing my bandwidth usage, as you can see I would be really screwed for about 3 months out of that time period (click to enlarge):

What takes up all my bandwidth? Streaming. Yes, streaming. Mostly Netflix and some Hulu, see, I don't have cable because I don't believe I should have to pay $40 for a service I rarely use. Netflix and Hulu combined are less than $20 before taxes for streaming content only. On demand to play whenever you want. Want to record that TV show? That'll be an extra $15 DVR charge and/or $10 for HD content per month. Need more than one DVR for another room? That's another monthly charge. Want basic cable without any DVRs? $40 please. That's way overpriced and the cable companies know it. Companies such as Netflix and Hulu are able to make deals with the same cable networks and bring it to you at a much lower pricing and almost the same amount of content.

ISPs that provide TV programming services realize this. So instead of making cable more competitively priced they decide to impose caps to limit what you watch. And if you're a gamer? Good luck, now all of those online multiplayer sessions are going to eat away at your data. Photographer? Amateur video maker? Have fun paying for the overages because you had to upload those 18 megapixel RAW files and 1080p HD video content. This is totally going to screw people over who have hobbies that revolve around ANYTHING that has to do with being online.

When I first got rid of cable and upped my internet speed I was a bit nervous I'd go through TV withdrawal. It turned out to be one of the best financial (and personal) decisions I've made. No longer do I sit around and waste more time because I'm watching something simply because it's on and everything else is uninspiring or uninteresting. At least when I waste time sitting on my butt watching Netflix or Hulu it's on MY time and I decide when, and what, I watch, with little to no commercials.

Does this piss you off? Does it make you mad? If the cable companies offered something like a $20 fee for unlimited as long as you get a basic cable subscription, I couldn't argue with that as much, so long as the OPTION for unlimited still exists. It's less of an issue to not have unlimited data on a phone than it is for a home's ISP that might be used by several individuals (think college housing). Oh, and forget about constantly streaming Pandora or Spotify too. Sure, they don't take up that much bandwidth, but everyday, a few hours a day, and possibly by a few different individuals... well, you see where this is going.

MLB.com is very... fair

2011-09-12T09:13:00.004-05:00

So the other day I wanted to get MLB.tv since I don't have cable in order to watch the rest of the baseball season and the playoffs. So I go to mlb.com and my stupid ass signs up for the MLB.tv package for phone only. Only problem is, the Droid 3 is not supported for video streaming! So I emailed the nice folks at mlb.com and asked them if I could get a refund and instead I would order the full package for $25 online and presto, they refund my credit card. I asked if Droid 3 support would eventually come but I guess not since they just refunded me without even asking or inquiring anything else.

This definitely makes me not worried to do business directly with mlb.com. Just wanted to give some props where they are due! Thanks mlb.com!

HP Touchpad 32 GB wi-fi Review

2011-09-06T14:37:00.003-05:00

HP Touchpad

Hello there, Touchpad. When you were first announced I was excited. When I finally held you in my hands, I became disappointed. But since then I have at least gained back some admiration for the tablet.

As always, here are a list of specs:

Qualcomm 1.2 Ghz dual-core processor

1 GB RAM

32 GB on-board storage

Beats audio

9.7" screen with 768x1024 resolution

1.3 MP front facing camera

Here's a quick rundown of what I like and dislike after using it sparingly for the last 4 days.

Likes:Rendering Webpages, Notifications, ability to close apps, 50 GB FREE Box storage!!!

Dislikes:App selection (obviously), seems laggy at times (but not always), would prefer more than one buttonFingerprint MAGNET both front and back, kinda bulky and slippery - I almost dropped it twice the first day I had it.

I felt so stupid thinking you could not close apps in webOS. My girlfriend (who cares not for gadgets like I do) was able to figure out to flick your finger upwards in order to close out a window/tile/app, which is nice to know you can close windows/programs to improve performance with more available RAM.

Update:

So now that it's been more than two weekends since I've had it, I still use the Xoom more. Text entry into browsers is smoother on the Touchpad but overall I like the Xoom more still. webOS is a beautiful OS but will probably not see anymore changes due to the lack of support since HP decided to kill off webOS and possibly spin off their entire PC manufacturing division (which is a total idiot move).

Not a bad device to have as a bathroom reader though...

Guster 8/20/2011 setlist Patriots Point, Charleston, SC

2011-08-29T09:30:00.010-05:00

1. Barrel of a Gun
2. Architects and Engineers
3. The Captain
4. What You Call Love
5. Demons
6. Center of Attention
7. On the Ocean
8. Manifest Destiny
9. This is How it Feels to Have a Broken Heart
10. Come Downstairs and Say Hello
11. Do You Love Me
12. Airport Song
13. Satellite
14. This Could All Be Yours
15. Ramona
16. Hang On
17. Amsterdam
18. Happier
19. South of the Border Jam (w/Andrew McMahon)
20. Careful (w/Andrew McMahon)
21. Young Folks (w/Andrew McMahon)

Encore information courtesy of setlist.fm.
Photos I took can be found here.

The North Face Summit Series Plasma Thermal Jacket review

2011-02-08T16:51:00.004-06:00

I was in Atlanta, GA last weekend for a Guster concert. I had a little time to kill, so a friend and I decided to go by TNF store. I was expecting to have to find an REI but to my surprise there was an actual TNF location in north Atlanta.

I wasn't going to spend this much money on a new jacket, but after I tried it on, I knew I was going to buy it. Luckily I paid $223 before tax instead of $300 since it was on sale! It literally feels like I have sleeping bags for each of my arms. It's so light and breathes so well. I haven't taken this jacket off in the last 3 hours and I'm sitting at work without sweating (it's usually cold in the office).

They are sold out online but I would HIGHLY recommend this jacket to anyone who is looking for a new awesome, light, VERY WARM, breathable jacket.

This hood fits perfectly, no need to tighten any drawstrings, it actually sits on the head well. The zipper is a little tricky at first, but I think it might be the newness of it. Some people complained about it online but I think they are whining a bit too much, I'm not having that much trouble with it - it just requires a little bit of attention to get it to shut.

Jacket weight is 900 grams (around 2 lbs for non-metric folk) with 100 of those grams being PrimaLoft One artificial insulation. This jacket is extremely lightweight and worn. It also has pit-zips to release heat from your body when you're getting hot inside of the jacket or when worn indoors.

I actually want winter to last longer so I can have an excuse to wear this jacket more!

The North Face - Men's Plasma Thermal Jacket

Guster setlist @ The Tabernacle, Atlanta, GA 2/4/11

2011-02-08T09:50:00.010-06:00

This was a great show. The only thing missing? Playing Do What You Want from the new album Easy Wonderful. Songs from the new album are denoted with an asterisk.

1 Ramona

2 Barrel of a Gun
3 Architects and Engineers*
4 Homecoming King
5 Hercules*
6 Satellite
7 Beginning of the End8 This Could All Be Yours*
9 In the Backyard
10 What You Call Love*

11 Airport Song
12 Two Points for Honesty
13 On the Ocean*
14 Come Downstairs and Say Hello

15 Do You Love Me*

16 Happier
17 Hang On... bridge to Billy Joel's My Life

18 Captain
Encore:
19 I Spy
20 Manifest Destiny

21 This is How it Feels to Have a Broken Heart*
22 Demons

23 Jesus on the Radio (all acoustic)

The crowd:

The crowd... upstairs

AirSync for Android/Mac/Windows

2010-12-03T08:21:00.004-06:00

The makers of the popular music player for Android called doubleTwist have released AirSync, a $1.99 add-on that allows for syncing your Android music, photo, and video library with a playlist or your entire library on your computer over wi-fi. I was able to snag this for 99 cents since they were offering a special on the first 10,000 downloads.

I would still pay $1.99 for this app if that was the price and I knew it worked this well (or if I read a blog like this one to re-assure me I wasn't wasting my money).

First you download the music program (for free) oMac or Windows computer at their website.

Then you download the doublTwist app (for free) on your Android device.

Now launch doubleTwist and click on the AirSync upgrade icon. Full instructions (with images) can be found at the website linked earlier, or by clicking on the image.

It took me very little time to figure out how to sync my media. I just changed the settings to sync only certain playlists. I created a playlist on the computer using doubleTwist and added whatever files I wanted to have on my device. Depending on how much data you transfer, it could take a while depending on your signal strength to your router.

I highly recommend this for Android and music enthusiasts who want an easy way to sync up their phone to media. You can also download media out of your phone to your computer using AirSync over the network.

$1.2 Million "Accordian" Watch

2010-11-29T09:26:00.004-06:00

Yeah it's pretty ridiculous. Full details here (or click either photo).

Oh those Spaniards...

2010-11-11T08:12:00.001-06:00

WD-40 isn't technically a lube, but it's still a funny ad.

Movie Review - Moon (2009)

2010-10-26T13:23:00.005-05:00

Title: Moon (2009)
Genre: Sci-fi/Mystery/Drama
Directed by: Duncan Jones

A couple of weeks ago I was in Dallas for two nights and decided to swing by Fry's Electronics to see if they had any Blu-ray movies on sale. A buddy of mine had mentioned the movie Moon (if you do not want the movie to be spoiled in any way, do NOT read the cast of Moon since one of the character's names will give away a little of the plot) to me awhile back. After checking it out a little it seemed pretty interesting for me to dive into a purchase (I prefer owning movies to renting them). It has frequently been compared to Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey for the setting, not only the physical location in space but also for the "work atmosphere."

Lucky for me, Moon was on sale so I promptly snatched up a copy.

The cinematography was excellent. As predicted, many scenes consisted of stark contrasts of light and dark. The effects and CGI was not overly done and therefore did not look cheesy. Sam Rockwell did an excellent job playing his character. The run time on the movie (about an hour and a half) is just long enough for a climax and resolution without dragging out the movie. There really aren't too many portions (if any) of the movie that are boring and tempt you to hit the forward button.

Sci-fi fan? Liked 2001? You'll love this movie. Watch it. Like NOW.

Rating: 9.5/10

Best version of Tron ever

2010-10-14T16:26:00.003-05:00

Check out this "sweded" film of Tron, courtesy of Gizmodo:

Tron

Nice shoes, wanna...?

2010-10-11T13:10:00.002-05:00

I ran across this post on Gizmodo with some interesting shoe designs. Figured I'd try to branch out here a little more and cover random things to hopefully lure new readers to the blog. Click on photo for original Gizmodo post.

F-Stop Watch

2010-10-11T09:38:00.003-05:00

Photography buff? Enjoy snapping photos? This might be the timepiece for you:

Source - Gizmodo

Europe is an amazing place...

2010-09-28T16:32:00.004-05:00

If you've never been, you really need to go. Go anywhere, it doesn't matter.

But if you want to go to some cool and interesting places that don't cost as much as one might think, then check back with the site in the next few days. I'll be writing about my experiences and the places I ate and stayed at while on my trip. Hopefully I can offer some tips if you plan on going on a long excursion of your own.

The cities I'll be writing about: Prague, Budapest, and several cities in Belgium. I'll also talk about more famous places like Paris and Amsterdam, as well as Berlin, Munich, Luzern (Switzerland), Salzburg, and Vienna.

I also have some awesome pictures put up here.

Equipment List for European Vacation

2010-09-03T09:51:00.005-05:00

This coming Thursday, September 9, I will be flying out of Tyler and heading towards Berlin, Germany. I will arrive on Friday afternoon, September 10, at 3:45 pm local time.

I have been planning this trip for over 9 months, and have dreamed about doing a trip like this for a long, long time. I only wish I could go for 3 months and not 2.5 weeks.

So what did I splurge on for this trip? Since I may never go back to these same exact places for quite some time, I decided a nice DSLR camera will have to be bought. So I picked up one, then some lenses, then some cases, and before I knew it, I had blown quite the wad of cash...

What I'm taking:

HP Mini 1000 netbook

Canon Rebel T2i/550D

50mm f/1.8 II

EF-S 18-55mm IS f/3.5-5.6 (kit lens)

EF-S 55-250 mm IS f/4-5.6

igotU - GT120 GPS logger

Case Logic DSLR sling

Small tripod

camera cleaning accessories

All of that equipment will actually fit on my DSLR sling. Of course this presents a problem - how am I going to carry my huge technical/hiking pack and my DSLR sling? Guess I'll just have to be really top heavy.

The igotU GPS logger is for me to plot out my travels when I'm on the train, as well as geotagging photos (you have to manually sync the clocks of the camera and GPS logger to do this, then use software that comes with the device to map it out).

I will be trying to post some pictures as often as I can, but I'll probably be busy resting up for the next excursion or something, or staring out the window of the train snapping photos.

I really do wish I had an extra battery... perhaps I'll get one over there if I need to.

New Domain - www.infotainmentempire.com !!!

2010-08-26T21:53:00.003-05:00

You heard that right, I finally quit being so cheap and registered infotainmentempire.com as a domain for this site. For now it will just redirect to this blog until we finally get around to building one.

If you like what you've read and would like to help us expand, please email us: infotainers@infotainmentempire.com and give us some ideas you have that you would like to write or post for us. We are all about getting writers from different areas of the country and world for different perspectives and opinions on the entertainment industry.

Fallout New Vegas

2010-06-12T11:09:00.004-05:00

I am so hyped for this shit, especially seeing that the gameplay is still very similar to Fallout 3.

AT&T's extinct unlimited data plans

2010-06-12T10:58:00.003-05:00

I wrote this on website Gizmodo the other day, and I figured I would share it with you guys.

Recently I purchased the HTC Evo that's on Sprint, leaving AT&T 6 months shy of my contract ending. The phone is ridiculous. But I wrote this two days before switching, regarding AT&T's recent decision as of June 7th new contracts will not have an unlimited data option.

The bottom line is that why THE HELL would a company want to decrease their revenues?

Any business, regardless of industry, has one primary goal - to make the largest profit possible. If 98% of their users will benefit - wouldn't that mean they'd make less money? If you follow the logic that AT&T is trying to pull over their customers (and future customers), then this would lead to:
1. less mobile traffic
2. people buying an appropriate amount of data they actually need
3. network gets better due to less activity on mobile network

Even with one "potential" benefit (which can be achieved through capital expenditures) of a better, more reliable mobile network, no company in their right mind would switch to tiered data if it actually HELPED the consumer.

It is a way to make more money, to squeeze more money out of people's pockets without them realizing the truth.

Didn't AT&T already offer unlimited data plans alongside plans with a set limit of data usage? Wasn't it AT&T who decided (along with other carriers I believe), "if you're going to buy a smartphone/PDA you MUST purchase unlimited data"?

Rather than do that, smartphones should not have required a data plan for purchase (if they want to require it for the rebate, fine, I can deal with that) in the first place. Data should have been optional. Had they have done this, fewer people would have unlimited and more on a tiered pricing structure (again, using the logic that AT&T says 98% don't use that much data).

Everyone just bail out on AT&T if you can. I emailed them a follow up email to one they replied after 3 days of me sending it - they never responded. It's been 9 days. They don't care about you as a customer. Or at least that's what they must want me to feel like through their customer services.

Sprint, on the other hand, has exchanged emails within me ALWAYS within 24 hours. They may not answer my questions completely, but when I ask back they always respond. Sometimes within a couple of hours.

Halo Reach Beta is Awesome

2010-05-06T11:18:00.005-05:00

Because I have renewed interest in the Halo franchise once again thanks to the Halo: Reach Beta that's going on now for the next week and a half, it has inspired me to find my best matches since I last posted my stats on here like a dork.

Remember, clicking on the link will bring up a bigger image!

28 kills, 9 assists, +19 kill/death spread
39 kills, 0 assists, +26 kill/death spread
10 kills, 22 assists, -2 kill/death; the high assist count would probably be from me driving the Warthog around and getting driver assists, but still, 22 is a nice number. :-D

Apple iPhone 4G (as in fourth generation)

2010-04-19T09:16:00.003-05:00

Well, the folks over at Gizmodo have somehow acquired the fabled "lost" iPhone that was found in a bar in California.

Apparently it's real, and they have a ton of photos, notes, and some videos about it, including a tear down analysis.

You can read all about it by clicking here or the image above. Enjoy!

Need an Incredible Droid?

2010-04-19T09:04:00.004-05:00

Make that a DROID Incredible. Boy Genius Report has put up their extensive review of Verizon's newest flagship Android device, which will be available on April 29th, 2010.

Read the full review here.

Quick specs:

Android 2.1 with HTC Sense UI
1 Ghz Snapdragon processor
512 MB of RAM, 512 MB ROM
8 GB internal storage
8 MP camera (no HD video recording)
$199 on contract, $599 without one

Texas Stadium goes down

2010-04-11T15:46:00.004-05:00

I wish I could put the video up but it won't let me embed (stupid ESPN), but here's the link to see Texas Stadium getting demolished.

Dr. Dre + Boston Red Sox =

2010-04-05T08:02:00.004-05:00

Those look sweet, eh? $400 though. I somehow approve of this corporate selling out partnership with two things/brands I like though. The regular pair of headphones cost $100 less, so you're basically payin' a buttload of money for the logos. Ahhh corporate whoring.

Via Gizmodo

Music Monday Mr Lif-Live from the Plantation

2010-03-29T11:20:00.000-05:00

Ty Warren goes back to school and gives up $250K

2010-03-16T17:47:00.003-05:00

Ty Warren of the New England Patriots is going to be losing a part of his paycheck in order to go back to Texas A&M and finish his degree. He says he's doing it to send a message to his kids about the importance of education.

Wow. I really wish we had more guys like him, not just athletes, but people in general who go to great lengths to show the importance of education.

Yahoo Sports

Adrianne Curry is AWESOME

2010-03-13T13:30:00.003-06:00

This is @AdrianneCurry, someone I follow on Twitter. She won America's Next Top Model in its inaugural season. Not only is she domestic and hot, she's a total nerd. She loves playing World of Warcraft and cosplaying. I honestly can say I really don't disagree with anything about her. I just figured I'd share this pic she posted on her twitpic account. Her husband (Christopher Knight - Peter Brady, the middle child) is one lucky guy. And we're also lucky that he's down with her having these pics up! In fact, I think he's the one taking them!!

Update: I knew I should've saved that pic to the computer... haha

The Hardcore Gamer's Test

2010-03-12T23:17:00.002-06:00

[Click image for larger size]

Think you're a hardcore gamer? Well click on the link above, read the text at the top right of the picture, and "test your might."

Interesting Google Search Suggestions

2010-03-10T19:09:00.003-06:00

I typed in "Why" in Google's search box and these are the suggestions:

Can someone please tell me why people are looking for the answers to their marriage, green poop, owning Canadians, and black people being loud? WTF people??

Today's Porn Filter Word Searches - NSFW words, no images

2010-03-09T14:19:00.002-06:00

From my IT buddy, "well today's nsfw list:
m.pornhub.com on someone's iphone looking at cumshots page 5
4tube.com
bestbosoms;
sexinyourcity.com

nsfwmodels.com

yahoo image search for Jenny Poussin"

Really? NSFWModels.com? Do these folks not know what NSFW stands for?

RIP Biggie

2010-03-09T09:09:00.004-06:00

Today marks the 13th year since the Notorious BIG (born Christopher George Latore Wallace) was slain on March 9, 1997. It sucks that I learned to appreciate him more after his death than before - but at least his that shows his music and work is that awesome. His words have inspired people beyond the grave. "Cuz I went from negative to positive, and it's all - good."

Favorite Song? Probably Juicy.

Click the image above for a Wikipedia entry on Biggie. Do a Google search for "Notorious BIG" if you want to stream some music.

Next music-related post will be on Thursday, when we celebrate 3/11 day!!

Time Lapses are Awesome

2010-03-09T09:04:00.002-06:00

The White Mountain from charles on Vimeo.

This is just one of the many reasons I love time lapse videos. Imagine what people saw when they looked up at the sky at night before electricity. Before cities and towns became populated by the thousands. The night sky must have been so much brighter than it is today.

Via HuffingtonPost

Post #555 - The Top 5 Search Terms in the Office [NSFW]

2010-03-08T14:52:00.007-06:00

What do people at YOUR workplace look at during the day when they're online at the office? You might be surprised.

A buddy of mine is the IT guy at an office in our town. I got this idea of having him send me screen grabs and just words that pop up in the firewall filter they have. Here's a list of what we came up with today so far.

[Hint: Click on images for larger view]

1. "Bazooka Boobs"

And yes, this guy is a white dude. But hey, it's showing you what progress has been made here in Texas.

2. A user of the site "Peachyforum.com"

I think he's trying to figure out what's more important to him.

3. And of course who wouldn't want to forget about a gallery for a porn star which I've never heard of? Remember people, these are websites someone is viewing while AT WORK.
4. Eskimotube.com - the name speaks for itself.

5. Taken from one day's worth of access logs (the file could scroll WAY over to the right):
Good to see that midget porn is still sought after.

New Xbox 360 Elite Bundle

2010-03-06T23:33:00.003-06:00

Supposedly Amazon will be selling this bundle (with 120 GB HDD) of an Elite with Forza 3 and Halo 3: ODST for $299. Not a bad price if you're in the market for a console, or need to replace one.

Via Joystiq

"World Champions" is such a bad way to describe a team

2010-02-18T14:46:00.008-06:00

I'm really starting to get tired of championships won by American teams in various sports leagues calling themselves the "World Champions" of _______. It's really egocentric and ridiculous in my opinion to call yourself the champion of the world when very few countries (if any) play the sport with the same exact rules.

This post was inspired by a poll by Mike and Mike in the Morning on ESPN. I didn't get to see the results, but they asked on Twitter what's a bigger deal, an Olympic Gold or Super Bowl victory. I say Olympic Gold HANDS DOWN to ANY sport, and here's why.

First let me tell you why I think winning an Olympic Gold is special and more important than any championship that is related to the major sporting leagues in the United States. Why? League champions are won EVERY year. They are a TEAM sport. Even if it's not a team sport, like the PGA, the same tournaments are played year after year, not once every four years.

Olympic Golds are also not as impressive to me in events such as Tennis for example (compared to Track and Field, skiing, gymnastics, etc.). The people who compete in the Olympics for a singles or doubles event faces the same people they see on the ATP. The ATP is not limited to the United States. The four slams are in four different countries - Australia, France, the UK, and the US. These people face people from all over the world every day they play. Hell, winning one of the major slams might be more impressive to me than winning a league championship title.

The Super Bowl
Canada is the only country that plays a game similar to the US. But the field looks crazy, rules are different, and it's where players in the NFL go before they retire or if they get kicked out (Ricky Williams). Or they start in the CFL before going to the NFL (Doug Flutie and Kurt Warner).

So who the fuck else plays football, as we know it? Not football as in soccer, but FOOTBALL. I guess you can say the Super Bowl winner can be called "world champion" since no one else plays American football. But it just seems like a cop out. It's almost like looking for a stupid record in the Guinness Book of World Records just to see if anyone has set it. Then you go set a "record" that no one has even attempted.

World Series
Japan has won the World Baseball classic twice in a row. Cuba, the Dominican Republic, and Asia are producing ridiculously talented players. Now there are a lot of international players in the MLB, but there aren't TEAMS from other countries. Remember where Daisuke Matsuzaka was before he got signed to the Red Sox? In Japan. Aroldis Chapman? Recently defected from Cuba and signed to the Reds. Yes, we have many foreign born players, but my point is there are still leagues in all of these countries and some gems that have yet to be discovered and brought to the MLB. But the MLB probably is the most competitive league in terms of how MLB talent as a whole team is.

NBA Finals
Ok, I know the rest of the world has somewhat caught up with the US since the Dream Team days, losing out playing for the gold medal in 2004 in Greece. The US Men's Team did get a gold medal in the last Olympics in Beijing. However, as I alluded to earlier, the rules and game play (even the court) is different in the Olympics and other international play than the NBA rules. There are leagues in Italy, Turkey, and even Iran. Yes, they're not as good as the NBA. Yes, even if they were BETTER than the NBA, it'd take a huge paycheck to get players to leave the USA and go overseas. But again, the rules and courts are different in the two. The court that is used in the NBA is easier to score and defend under NBA rules. International courts and their rules are easier to score and defend if you're used to those rules. Many of these international leagues use international rules and courts. That was one of the reasons why Team USA did so poorly in 2004 - we didn't have enough sharp shooters/pure jump shooters. International rules help shooters, not dunkers or players that drive down the lane.

Stanley Cup
Now I'll give hockey a bit of a break. Hockey might have the most players from other countries out of all the leagues. MLB could have more international players (number wise) but it might not be as high of a percentage as NHL players. I don't realize it, but a TON of the best players are not American. Sidney Crosby? Team Canada. Alex Ovechkin? Mother Russia. To be honest, I don't know that many names in hockey. But when looking at the rosters for the US team, I didn't recognize hardly any. The other teams and players though? Yep. If any sport calls itself the "world champion" it should be the Stanley Cup winner. If there are no other major leagues for hockey to compete with the NHL, then I retract everything I just said.

MLS Cup
Now I just added this because it still is a somewhat "major" sport in the US. Soccer might not be as popular as the other sports like football and basketball, but it's definitely more popular across the country than lacrosse and hand ball (for example). But I don't see as many headings as "World Champs" for MLS Cup winners. Hell, everyone in the MLS knows that they are a subpar league compared to the Bundesliga in Germany, Premiership in the UK, La Liga in Spain (how appropriate - The League), Serie A in Italy, and France's Ligue 1.

So yes, winning a gold medal in an individual sport is more impressive to me than winning a Super Bowl or other team sport league championship. Especially if the said championship is yearly. Now comparing Olympic Gold to a World Cup victory, that's a bit different... a TEAM championship that's held once every 4 years and takes chemistry between players. One person sucks, the team can lose. Individual sports - it's all up to the individual. But the fact that those championships are held annually nullify the fact that it's a team sport with chemistry vs a solo endeavor.

Free music Download: Quarters

2010-01-26T09:18:00.002-06:00

Download: Quarters

Heres my newest batch of Instrumentals, Quarters. Back in the day, Quarters were crucial to a gamer like me. Each one represented another chance to play any of the games in the arcade. I kinda see beats that way these days. They're important to the game, but are really just the creative starting point to a great song. Some are shiny, some are grimy, but each one has potential to get you that new high score.
So here they are.
Enjoy!

http://quarters2010.4shared.com/

Shake your leg unnecessarily? Might want to rethink that

2010-01-12T10:19:00.002-06:00

According to researchers, restless leg syndrome might be linked to erectile dysfunction!

My parents always would get onto me for moving or shaking my leg unnecessarily - but it was because in Korean tradition shaking your leg makes your "luck run out." But boy am I glad I listened to them! YouTube is blocked at work, so if you wanna see any videos go here from where I first read the post or go here to go to the original post.

Music Monday: Slum Village-Villa Manifesto

2010-01-11T08:50:00.000-06:00

First Single off "Villa Manifesto" released in December. Stop by the Slum Village website for more info on the EP.

9 Quick Review

2010-01-11T08:36:00.003-06:00

Theatrical release: 9/9/2009
DVD/Blu-ray: 12/29/2009
Rating: PG-13
Runtime: 80 mins
IMDB page
Amazon page

9 was a movie I wanted to check out since I saw previews for it before it hit theaters. I definitely enjoy animated movies, especially the darker movies that are not really made for the kids, but for an older crowd. After watching it, I would have to say I'm glad I bought the movie on Blu-ray as my first experience rather than paying $10 to see it in a theater with a bunch of annoying people.

The story is a bit deeper than what's on the surface; it's really a movie about saving humanity and utilitarianism. The viewer immediately sympathizes with these sack dolls right from the start of the movie. I don't want to go into too much detail about the plot - it can be read on its IMDB or Amazon page linked above.

The voice cast is excellent - Elijah Wood, Jennifer Connelly, John C. Reilly, and Crispin Glover all bring a unique voice to each of the characters. The characters actually show their feelings; the expressions and body language used reflects how they're feeling. This movie just looks badass in a nutshell.

I know this isn't my greatest review, but I just wanted to get the message out there. Check out 9 when you get a chance!

Charge a gadget using wi-fi signals!

2010-01-11T08:28:00.003-06:00

The folks over at Gizmodo re-posted this from ohGizmo about a little device by RCA called Airenergy. Apparently it uses the wi-fi signals and somehow stores a charge in the rechargeable battery. It took a BlackBerry with 30% charge to full power in about 90 minutes at the booth at CES.

The Decline of Humanity

2010-01-06T17:48:00.004-06:00

So I decided to write this because, well, I want to see what people online and my friends think.

I can't tell if I'm just cynical because of what I observe or what I observe is cynical because of me. With the ubiquity of computers and internet everywhere, it seems almost everyone can get online. With that, people from all different types of backgrounds can access the internet and its contents. This is great for humanity; we can share and exchange information much quicker and keep in touch much easier.

But what I have noticed in the last few years is that more and more posts, comments, status updates and the like are showing me just how poorly educated we as a society have become. People cannot distinguish between words such as to/too, you're/your, and there/their/they're. We also discover that racism and bigotry still exist in the world, even though we have the resources to better educate and teach those at an early age that it's not "ok" to be racist.

We also learn that people care way too much about celebrities and other people who really don't make a difference in the world. "Reality" television has totally screwed my generation. People care way to much about shit that NEVER will effect them. People still text and drive their cars into other cars or buildings. What is the deal?

Why can't survival of the fittest occur in decades rather than eons? If it did, perhaps we could have a better place to live in. This wasn't written exactly how I want it to - it's hard to find the right words to put on "paper." But if you've ever watched Mike Judge's Idiocracy you would totally understand how I feel.

Am I being too critical? Too cynical? Please, leave comments below.

8-bit Left 4 Dead free download

2010-01-05T13:19:00.003-06:00

Fan of the original Left 4 Dead game? Well look no further than here (or clicking the image above). Just look for the "Pixel Force: Left 4 Dead" on the right hand side. It is a fairly small .zip file download (21.4 MB).

Mike Leach, Texas Tech, and Craig James, bitch!

2009-12-29T15:05:00.003-06:00

So yesterday a story broke about ESPN analyst and former SMU standout Craig James' son, Adam James. Apparently Adam James suffered a concussion and was told to wait in a room by himself, and then later a closet, in the dark, with nothing to sit on for 3 hours.

I really find this difficult to believe, at least in the light that the James family has put it in. I know Leach has some weird disciplinary habits, like making a player study in the cold on the 50-yard line of the stadium, but he was a lawyer and should know his limits. I really think this is something blown out of proportion since Craig James works for a VERY large media outlet.

See for yourself, read what Cicero wrote here. And don't forget (like you could) to check out the great pic of Leach coming after the two James' hiding in the closet.

Get your free copy of Cicero Mode 2.0 today!

2009-12-29T15:03:00.003-06:00

Go cop a free download of Cicero Mode 2.0, the latest album to drop from my boy Cicero. Go here or click on the album art above.

Cicero's Avatar Quick Review

2009-12-29T14:53:00.003-06:00

Check out my boy Cicero's review on Avatar at his blog. If you want my opinion, you're going to have to write a comment and ask!

This Love/Hate Relationship with Apple is going to Kill me

2009-12-23T10:24:00.003-06:00

I love Apple. I love their product design and their service. I don't love the prices, but just about everything else about them I enjoy.

My only issue? I'm fairly certain the iPhone is the sole reason why AT&T users are getting the short end of the stick when it comes to new hardware. Why is it that Sprint, T-Mobile, and Verizon get all the Android OS love and AT&T has none? In fact, why did the HTC Lancaster, which was supposed to be the first Android device on AT&T, get canned?

The HTC HD2 and the Google Nexus One are both slated for T-Mobile. Now you can buy these phones unlocked and use them on AT&T, but you wouldn't get 3G speeds - which is kind of why you buy these phones in the first place - to surf the web, check email/facebook/what have you - all on a nice big screen. In fact, it almost seems like you can't get a single good touchscreen only phone on AT&T besides the iPhone. All of the other good touchscreen phones on AT&T have physical keyboards, they're not screen only.

Is this because Apple has forced AT&T to sell the iPhone as the feature phone for touchscreen only? I mean if this is the case it totally sucks. Why would HTC and Google want to do business with a company that has the shittiest 3G coverage (as far as actual square miles covered) in the country? Wouldn't that limit your potential buyers? If I had a single trace of a 3G T-Mobile signal where I live I would jump ship and sign up for either the Nexus One or HD2.

Shouldn't the manufacturers want to have the largest possible customer base? That makes Verizon a natural choice, but if you wanted to stick with a GSM system instead of CDMA, then AT&T would be the logical choice to me. Perhaps it's the heavy iPhone data users that scare away other phone companies and don't want sluggish network performance to be associated with their phones... but T-Mobile doesn't even have the technology in most of their markets to fully utilize a 7.2 mbps download speed when half of their metropolitan areas barely have 3.6 mbps...

So in short - Sprint has some of the fastest data connections in the country, AT&T has a large GSM customer base, Verizon has the most 3G coverage in the country, and T-Mobile falls under none of these categories. So can someone please explain to me how T-Mobile USA gets such badass phones? Is it their European relationship with phone manufacturers the thing that gets them deals in the US? Does T-Mobile offer naked pictures of Catherine Zeta Jones to lure manufacturers to subsidize through them? What is the deal? Someone please tell me, I want to know why AT&T gets crapped on these days...

Pac-man on CBS Nightly News!!

2009-12-21T17:52:00.004-06:00

Watch CBS News Videos Online

So DJ Cicero has informed me I made the national news tonight - CBS' Nightly News used a clip about 3 seconds long from my post on YouTube regarding being stranded on the tarmac in an airplane for hours.

It occurs right after the 8 hour animation for the Air Jamaica flight, so relatively early. Apologies for the loud, annoying commercial in the beginning.

Mario has a HUGE...

2009-12-21T13:54:00.001-06:00

... wardrobe. Go vote for this image that is currently in a contest by clicking here or the image above!

MAG Open Bega Jan 4-10

2009-12-21T13:16:00.003-06:00

Sony and Zipper Interactive have decided to make an open beta for anyone in the appropriate regions (like North America and Asian) from January 4-10, 2010 with downloads starting tomorrow, December 22. Go here or click on the image above for more details and how to sign up.

Fallout Boy Holiday Cookies

2009-12-21T13:13:00.002-06:00

Need to liven up your weaksauce holiday cookie line up? Then look no further than the Bethesda Blog to help you out! Find instructions here or click the image above.

Another edition of "I Want One"

2009-12-21T11:30:00.003-06:00

The Ninja Turtles were my favorite show/toy growing up as a kid. This Shredder hoodie is pretty awesome, but not awesome enough for me to throw down $60 on right away.

Avatar Quick Review

2009-12-18T16:55:00.008-06:00

Scores are best out of 5
Visuals: 5
Storyline: 2.5
Soundtrack: 3
Lasting Appeal: 4

Summary: Visually, this movie is amazing. I suggest catching it in the theatres while you have the chance. Nothing in Pandora seems forced, and it's purty easy to get engulfed in the Jungle/Amazon atmosphere of the movie. Its simillar to alot of American Indian movies plot-wise, (i.e Dances with Wolves) but without the drama to be effective. There's a nice cameo from JP of the stoner classic Grandmas Boy also. This is easliy the most effective 3-D flick I've seen on the big screen. My biggest complaint is probably in the music department. I guess a big technical budget can leave you having to use the score from Enemy at the Gates. (that little trumpet cue). That being said, if this is any indication of where action and sci-fi movies are going, hold on to your hats. Nice job James Cameron

Rad Blast MP3 player, voice recorder, mini boombox

2009-12-14T14:39:00.004-06:00

In need of a 2 GB flash drive that can also record sounds and play them through headphones or on the built-in speakers? Look no further than the Rad Blaster! Not too shabby for $60 - you get an MP3 player with an OLED screen to view tracks. It even comes with a necklace to wear around your neck! (that's total sarcastic excitement)

Italy's PM gets dapped on TV in the face!

2009-12-14T13:06:00.002-06:00

Silvio Berlusconi was attacked by a man who is said to have mental problems on Sunday. The man threw a statuette of Milan's cathedral right on his nose, breaking his teeth, and scarred his face. He lost about a liter of blood.

I would have put up a video, but I couldn't find one that showed the actual statuette hit his face. I saw that video this morning on the news before I left the house for work...

Thoughts on Tiger Woods

2009-12-14T07:50:00.002-06:00

When news and later confirmation of Tiger Woods' personal life leaked out, I wondered many things. First, when did he have time to do all this and have NO ONE know about it (at least media wise), second, why was he so stupid about it, and third, why did he even get married in the first place?

Tiger Woods is the #1 golfer in the world. He may be the best golfer to have ever walked the earth, only time will tell. I know quiet, well-mannered golfers usually don't have a paparazzi parade outside their house or the club when they go from point A to point B, but they're still millionaires and they're still human. They have the same desires and dislikes as we do. So how is it, if Tiger was chasin' all this tail in his spare time, was not spotted or questioned by the media that he's hangin' out with all these women at clubs and bars? I mean seriously! I know if I saw him somewhere, I'd think "shit I just saw Tiger Woods! Who was that hot ass woman that's not his wife with him???"

Couldn't you say his face might be one of the most recognizable faces in the world? Definitely in the US, people who don't care about golf still know who he is. People in Europe who care about golf know who he is... he's the face of many companies that sponsor him. How did he go around these public places with very few people to recognize him? Or at least report about the incidents? Maybe he paid everyone? Is that even possible?

The string of women who come out and say they were one of the mistresses. Are they attention whores or are they telling the truth? Unless they have some type of proof, I would normally just dismiss it. Why wouldn't anyone tell their story for millions of dollars from a tabloid? These all just don't seem to add up - what was it about Woods that would get these women to lie about it or not talk about it to the media until now? What was holding them back?

Is there some kind of "gangsta" version of Tiger we don't know about? "You tell anyone about us and I will backspin your ass with my lob wedge!" There are sooo many questions I have for him!

But I think we need to let this story die down. The man is entitled to do what he wants. I'm not condoning cheating, in fact I hate it, but it's his decision. Just like it was his decision to get married - which I have no idea why you would do that if you're the BEST at what you do, have BILLIONS of dollars, and are young and in shape. I would live the rock star life, but again, I'm not Tiger Woods.

Any sponsor who decides to drop him because of this will be sorry whenever Woods comes back. The best way to get people to forgive and forget? Play even better than you did before you left, show them it was stupid to make a business decision based on personal facts.

I'm curious how many employees of Accenture have ever been unfaithful - the people who made the decision to cut Tiger out of their budget are millionaires too, are they not? Surely some of them could sympathize with Tiger...

Timbaland's Beaterator Adult Swim ATL RMX for free!

2009-12-11T14:15:00.003-06:00

Click here if you'd like to download one, or all, the tracks from the Adult Swim ATL RMX.

On a side note, the AD of the University of Texas looks like he'd be related to Mack Brown. Just saw him on OTL on ESPN talking about Mack Brown's $5 million pay raise.

2nd Borderlands DLC drops December 29

2009-12-11T10:55:00.002-06:00

Included is a new "banking" system that allows users to store some of their prized guns... three new arenas and a mode similar to Firefight/Horde/Survival. Sweet.

12/29/09 is the date for Xbox 360, PC will be later and PS3 drops on January 7, 2010.

Traktor Kontrol X1 hands on

2009-12-10T16:35:00.001-06:00

Video courtesy of Engadget and DJ Rafik.

All you need to know about digital cameras

2009-12-10T09:57:00.003-06:00

This morning I read an excellent post on Gizmodo regarding digital cameras. For those who are in the market for a new one, or want to learn more about digital cameras, I highly recommend clicking on the link or photo above.

Roach-based Paintings

2009-12-10T09:47:00.001-06:00

So apparently there is an artist who uses the burnt end of roaches from joints and blunts to create art. This is just one of many. Click here (or on Snoop) to see other portraits of weed lovin' famous people.

Peter Gammons leaving ESPN for MLB Network

2009-12-09T08:08:00.002-06:00

Good luck Pete! I always enjoyed your commentary and insight at ESPN. It's understandable you want to go to a network that is devoted completely to baseball, even if said network is only two years old.

Virgin Unveils Galactic SpaceShip two

2009-12-07T15:27:00.003-06:00

Virgin adventurer Richard Branson just unveiled the Spaceship two. This ship is supposed to allow passengers to experience the weightlessness of space, and still make the trip back into earths atmosphere. Purty dope huh?

Trailer for a LEGO stop motion film with Zanzibar/Halo theme!

2009-12-02T12:56:00.003-06:00

The trailer speaks for itself. I hope the voice acting isn't too cheesy!

Taiwanese Media re-enactment of Tiger Woods' story

2009-12-02T11:17:00.002-06:00

This is hilarious and a must see! Just wait for it...

MNF Podcast Patriots @ Saints 11/30/09

2009-12-02T08:13:00.002-06:00

AT&T and LG partner up to bring you the eXpo

2009-12-02T08:01:00.002-06:00

LG and AT&T will soon be offering the eXpo - a phone with a massive 1 Ghz processor with a pico projector capable of displaying images up to 40 inches (article did not specify horizontal or diagonal) packing Windows Mobile 6.5. Not too many details right now, besides it's a 3.2" touchscreen slider (800 x 480) with a full QWERTY keyboard, 5 MP AF camera, bluetooth, and wi-fi.

11/23/09 MNF Titans @ Texans

2009-11-23T21:17:00.003-06:00

Live video chat by Ustream

Details on Warner Bros. DVD2Blu Program

2009-11-20T10:39:00.002-06:00

Warner Bros. is starting up a program similar to their Red2Blu program that allowed early adopters of HD-DVD to trade in their HD discs for its Blu-ray counterpart. All you have to do is send in your DVD with case, along with $8-10 depending on which flick it is, and $5 for shipping - unless you are doing this with $25 or more worth of movies, shipping is on the house.

Click here for WB program information
Click here for full listing of movies

Titans owner Bud Adams fined $250,000

2009-11-17T08:13:00.004-06:00

...for flipping the bird at the Bills bench at the end of the game on Sunday. Titans blew out the Bills 41-17. I think NFL Commish Roger Goodell was at this game as well.

Updated Forza 3 liveries

2009-11-16T09:01:00.004-06:00

The Texas Tech double T logo took 50 layers - mostly rectangles and a few triangles for the black 3-d shaping.

The Penn State logo from the hood was removed from the Porsche, added racing stripes, and took the photo on a track rather than in photo mode.

Walter the Weatherdog

2009-11-13T11:19:00.001-06:00

Best Buy Black Friday Ad leaked

2009-11-13T10:26:00.003-06:00

Want to view all the great deals? Click here.

Notable deals:
Lots of PS3 and Xbox 360 games for $34.99 - and these are new releases, such as Left 4 Dead 2, Dragon Age: Origins, and Madden 10 (not as new, but you get the idea). Slightly older games, such as Fallout 3 and Call of Juarez are going for $19.99.

A nice line up of HDTVs including a Samsung 46" LED tv for $1599.99.

MP3 players, digital cameras, and some pretty weak deals on cell phones. Click the link above or the Best Buy picture for a full list.

Vestax Spin USB DJ board

2009-11-13T09:18:00.003-06:00

This looks like it should go in my kitchen with other stainless steel appliances. For $250, this iTunes-happy DJ rig can be yours. Note: Only for Macs right now. Click the pic or here for more info.

Xbox Live gets Facebook, Twitter, Zune Video Marketplace integration Tuesday Nov. 17

2009-11-13T09:11:00.004-06:00

At long last, Facebook, Twitter, and Xbox Live (along with the Zune video store) will all mesh into one on the Xbox 360. I really could care less since the onscreen keyboard of the 360 is a non-QWERTY (read - CRAPPY) keyboard.

Cool kicks, but...

2009-11-13T09:07:00.002-06:00

They are ugly. As. Sin!

Some of my recent Forza 3 Livery

2009-11-11T23:19:00.006-06:00

Here are some recent vinyl graphics I've made lately. The new Infotainers ride featured at the top with twitter bird (with beak closed), General Lee, and a Penn State logo. Yes I know the Penn State Porsche looks tacky with all the logos, but I couldn't resist. Click on pic for bigger view. Enjoy!

Borderlands DLC "Zombie Island of Dr. Ned" Nov. 27

2009-11-10T16:22:00.004-06:00

And Gearbox is digging into our pockets once again. For 800 MS points (or 10 US Dollars), Borderlands fans can begin downloading on Friday, November 27. I think this might be one of the first DLCs I've seen available on a day other than Tuesday, when music, movies, and games usually come out. New weapons, new characters, and a new location.

Google Gives Free Wi-Fi to Travelers in 47 Airports til January 15

2009-11-10T11:24:00.002-06:00

Yep, you heard, or rather read, that right. Google is paying for wi-fi for travelers this holiday season beginning today until January 15, 2010. Patrons of Virgin American will be getting free in-flight wi-fi as well.

MNF Steelers @ Broncos Podcast 11/9/09

2009-11-10T09:06:00.004-06:00

Live Video streaming by Ustream

MacHeist free OSX Software

2009-11-09T17:45:00.004-06:00

Hurry and check out macheist.com to get free software such as a game called Hordes of Orcs, a twitter client Twitterrific, a program to help aspiring journalists and writers called WriteRoom, as well as two other programs called ShoveBox and TinyGrab.

U2 Fans Pissed for Wall blocking view at Berlin Wall coming down free celebration concert

2009-11-05T14:11:00.001-06:00

Yep, you read that right. Is that not ironic? I mean a free concert (apparently to a limited number of ticket holders) had a 6.5 foot tall metal fence/wall around it to block the view of people who didn't have a free ticket.

Are you kidding me? Oh what irony.

Link here

Free DLC Nov 17 for Forza 3

2009-11-05T13:26:00.004-06:00

Source

Funny take on the Yankess win...

2009-11-05T12:14:00.002-06:00

Hippie Hi-Jinks: Jamfest!!!

2009-11-05T12:05:00.002-06:00

Toyota Tacoma with 4 Xbox 360s

2009-11-03T09:20:00.003-06:00

I drive a Tacoma, but it's not near as flashy or crazy as this ride. Inside it has a slew of Monster energy drinks, 4 chairs that swing out, gullwing doors that swing up, and 4 LCD monitors that block the windshield.

Just make sure to check your blindspot when driving this rig and gaming please.

Click pic above or here for more photos.

MNF Broadcast Falcons @ Saints

2009-11-02T21:04:00.002-06:00

Free Webcam Chat at Ustream

New Nintendo DSi LL Announced

2009-10-29T11:42:00.004-05:00

Nintendo has just announced it's DSi LL (LL for the larger screen). Available in 3 colors, dark brown, wine red, and natural white. It will retail for ab out $220. The screen is 93% bigger, but the resolution/pixel count is the same. It will come pre-loaded with 3 games - 2 brain training games and 1 dictionary. I don't think you should count a dictionary as a game, but nonetheless. So this marks the 4th generation of the Nintendo DS (DS, DS Lite, DSi, DSi LL). This is getting a little ridiculous. Count me out. I don't even use my current DS Lite at all.

Click here for more information at the Kotaku post.
DSi and DSi LL comparison here.

NFL/FFL Week 7

2009-10-27T07:40:00.003-05:00

I decided to write a quick recap of what happened each week on Tuesday in the league so everyone can read if they get bored at work...

This week we had a few pretty close games and a couple complete blow outs, primarily due to people not paying attention to their line ups. As I said, the only rule we really have is to freakin' pay attention to posts (this includes trades) and change your line ups. Apparently that's too much to ask week in and week out from everyone. I'm sure some of us are fine with getting an easy win over an opponent with 2 or more bye week players.

Close matches:
Cicero Mode suffered his second loss of the season by 9.4 pts because Avant for the Eagles failed to do anything. Congratulations to the Otters for going on a 3-game winning streak. Tara's Team Again was looking a lot worse against Hail Mary Carey before the Monday night game, but made the match up a bit more respectable in the end.

Blowouts:
Vegas baby Vegas lost by almost 60, Team of the 2000s lost by almost 50, Bad Attitude got his second victory of the season with a 36 point win over Isn't that a shame. Brawny Man attack creamed Bowels of Hell by almost 140 points! Someone must have done something to piss Bodhi, leading to a very vengeful 69 point win. The Cuban Armada sunk in week 7 to 4th and Inches - can the Armada bounce back in week 8?

There's still hope:
Remember guys, first and last place is only separated by 4 games. You need to be in the top 8 to make it to the playoffs - which are the last 3 weeks of the season (15, 16, & 17). Tie-breakers are determined by points scored. Currently the worst record in the top 8 teams is 4-3, meaning it's just 2 games from last to 8th seed. Keep workin' hard, pull off some trades, and hunker down for the next half of the season.

Prizes:
Remember, first place gets a $50 Best Buy gift card, second gets a $30 gift card, and third gets a $20 gift card. We're thinking about making a trophy from a WWE championship belt or a replica Lombardi trophy. The only thing is if we get a trophy for the league champion, we kinda want it back for next season. We can put the league champion team name and manager name on it though for each year.

500th Post MNF Redskins @ Eagles

2009-10-26T21:35:00.002-05:00

Video clips at Ustream

Thanks for everyone who came out and watched and chatted!

Funny Mousepad

2009-10-26T10:46:00.003-05:00

So I found this on Kotaku (Gawker Media's/Gizmodo's gaming site) - a mouse pad that one can buy accentuating certain body parts. Only the Japanese... who is this person you ask? Chiaki Takahashi - a voice actress for a game called BlazBlue: Calamity Trigger.

The Rza and Technology

2009-10-22T12:31:00.000-05:00

Halo 3: ODST top selling game in September

2009-10-21T09:59:00.003-05:00

And the game came out with about a week left in the month to top it off. Halo 3: ODST racked up over 1.5 million copies sold. The Beatles: Rock Band sold more units than Guitar Hero 5. The Beatles: RB sold about 595,000 copies and GH 5 sold 499,000, including the PS2 version. The average price of a copy sold of The Beatles: RB was $100. Remember, GH 5 released a full 8 days ahead of The Beatles. Not too shabby Harmonix!

NPD @ Gamasutra

MNF Broncos @ Chargers

2009-10-20T06:22:00.002-05:00

Broadband a legal right and not a privilege?

2009-10-15T16:46:00.004-05:00

That's what the lawmakers of Finland are saying. Now another reason to go visit or live there besides healthcare and hot blondes.

1 MB Broadband Access

Confirmed: 250 GB PS3 to US 11/3/09

2009-10-15T16:39:00.003-05:00

Though not a bundle like some of the UK packages we've seen with Forza 3 and Uncharted, the US will be getting a slim PS3 with a 250 GB hdd for $349.99.

Balloon Boy!!

2009-10-15T14:39:00.003-05:00

Here's some footage of the kid trapped in a homeade hot air ballon. About halfway thru it pans out to show how ridiculous it is. Here's hoping they get em down...

Cool SXSW Timelapse

2009-10-13T09:28:00.002-05:00