Why Isn't This Taught In School?

Finally, a means of conquering brain freeze...


"Brain freeze" is the pain sometimes inflicted by devouring something cold like ice cream or a cold beverage, often very quickly.

The reaction is (obviously) triggered by the cold ice cream or beverage; coming into contact with the roof of the mouth. It triggers nerves that give the brain the impression of a very cold environment. To heat up the brain again, blood vessels start to swell, which causes the headache-like pain for approximately 30 seconds.

The temperature change in the roof of the mouth has to be rather drastic; this is why brain freeze often occurs on warm days.

The pain can be relieved by putting the tongue to the roof of the mouth, which logically will heat it up.

(from answerbag.com)

Recognition Deserved

I've been away for awhile but I wanted to drop by for a second to post a "HAPPY BOXING DAY" to all the Commonwealth folks who frequent my blog (especially you Canadians)!

Reno Balloon Race 2006

I'm posting this because I think it's fun to watch. Also, I like hot air balloons. I like the tradition that if someone lands a hot air balloon in your backyard they have to share cheese and champagne with you. Much like dry land, it's not a myth- I've seen it.

What's The Opposite Of Progress?

Here's a little factoid to make you feel like your federal government is concerned with the major issues facing us all...

Of the 383 pieces of legislation that were signed into law during the two-year 109th Congress, more than one-quarter dealt with naming or renaming federal buildings and structures - primarily post offices.

(info from CNN)

The Mob Has Spoken

NPR listeners have impeccable taste!

See? I'm Not Crazy

Today I came across an article on Reuters that supports my outrageous claims...

Blu-Ray Drive No Bonus For Most PS3 Buyers

HD Is For Me

For all my praise of the HD-DVD format, I figured I should provide some evidence supporting my claims. Below you will find two comparison screen caps between the standard DVD release of Return of the King and the upcoming HD-DVD version. While the differences aren't mind-blowing, there is a very noticeable improvement in clarity. Focus particularly on the stubble on his face and the individual strands of hair. As the term "high definition" would imply, the image is significantly sharper. It is also worth mentioning that the colors in the HD-DVD cap are not as washed-out and the shadows are much more clearly defined.

(click on the photo for a much larger version)

Star Wars Auditions

I'm posting this video in honor of Chris & Megan's swell Christmas party last night. She's fast enough for you, old man.

There Can Be Only One

I've put together a list of reasons why HD-DVD should be the chosen format for anyone interested in high-definition movies. I'm a big supporter of the format and I think it's the most logical choice. I believe that in order for both formats to survive, HD-DVD should be used for movies while Blu-Ray could be used for storage. As it goes right now, this unnecessary format war is hurting everyone involved.

1. HD-DVD players are much less expensive than Blu-Ray players. Sony's first stand-alone Blu-Ray player costs $999. Stand-alone HD-DVD players debuted at around $499 and a very good quality HD-DVD drive accessory is available for the Xbox 360 for $199.
2. HD-DVD movies have been out-selling Blu-Ray at a ratio of 11 to 1.
3. Most releases on the HD-DVD format have consistently demonstrated better picture quality than Blu-Ray due to its useage of the superior VC1 encoding technology.
4. HD-DVD discs can be manufactured in the same factories that make standard DVD movies. Blu-Ray discs require all new technology that is both costly and less efficient.
5. There are approximately seven times more HD-DVD players than Blu-Ray players in homes around the country.
6. HP, who originally sided with Blu-Ray at the outset, has now jumped sides and will soon be offering a $100 HD-DVD drive upgrade for their media center PCs. By comparison, Sony's Blu-Ray VIAO solution weighs in at $749.
7. When you look at Sony's history with introducing new formats to the masses, they've basically failed with almost every attempt. From Betamax to Mini Discs to UMDs, their track record is less than stellar.
8. Many people are viewing the PS3 as sort of a "trojan horse" in that Sony is using it to force Blu-Ray players on consumers whether they want it or not. Sony will tell you that the PS3 is a gaming system but what they are more concerned with is that it's a Blu-Ray player. When asked, the majority of consumers say they would have preferred that the drive be offered as an optional accessory like the HD-DVD is for the Xbox 360.
   

Experts say that unless one format is chosen, they both will very likely fail. I hope to see HD-DVD embraced as the new standard for high definition movies by studios and consumers alike.

(sources: Digital Trends, HD Now)

Richard Simmons' New Exploding Steamer

I Think We Have A Winner Here

Considering the plot, casting and director this could really be something special...

Potential Greatest Movie Ever?

(thanks to Chris for the link)

Dear Torrey #1

It has been requested that I start an "advice column" of sorts on the ole blog so here's my first attempt at an entry:

Dear Torrey,

What is the deal with the Wii? The controllers look odd and I am not entirely sure how they would work. Do you hold a vendetta against the Wii, as you do for the PS3?

Sincerely,
Wickedly Confused

Dear Wickedly Confused,

I will start off by stating that I haven't yet used a Wii console. Most stores didn't get interactives (for fear of injuries and lawsuits, among other things) and I haven't purchased one for myself. So everything I know is based on information I have read and from people who are playing the Wii for themselves. In summary, it's basically a souped-up Gamecube with funky new controls. The controller is shaped like a television remote and contains gyro technology that translates your movements to the images on the screen. If you're playing a golf game, you swing the controller like a golf club. Baseball? Swing it like a bat. The major push for the Wii is the promise that simpler controls make the system more accessible to a general audience. It's supposed to be a gaming console that the entire family can play with ease.

As far as my feelings about the Wii are concerned, I give Nintendo a lot of credit for trying something new. The system is extremely gimmicky but it does promise to offer a gaming experience you can't get elsewhere. It strives to be a "party" console and I can't fault it for that. I think they will succeed in reaching a lot of people who tend to shy away from the more "hardcore" systems. Judging from the amount of people I see clamoring for one at work, it seems like they have a hit on their hands; at least for the time being.

My ill-will for the Playstation 3 is based on months and months of negative press and ridiculous moves made by Sony. They have carried themselves as pompous and untouchable when they had no right to be either. And now it's coming back on them and I feel it is more than deserved. The PS3 "launch" was the worst I can remember and had such a low impact that it almost feels like it never happened at this point. Sony wasn't ready, isn't ready and now the future of their gaming division has an enormous up-hill climb ahead. Sony makes decisions purely for Sony's sake- they aren't thinking about the gamers who are laying down the cold hard cash. It's a system built to sell Blu-Ray and anyone who says differently is a fool.

And more important than all of this is the fact the Xbox 360 is better anyway.

Thanks for writing!

~Torrey

Casino Royale Review

HIGHS

• Bond has definitely been re-invented this time around and it all works out fine for the most part. The new Bond is a little more edgy and a little more ruthless. He has more street smarts and toughness than we've seen in the past, but he's still got the Bond staples we know and love (cars, guns, martinis and girls). This film seems more "real world" than previous Bond outings and by that I mean it feels more grounded in reality. That's not a bad thing by any means, you just won't find any jetpacks or ice castles.
• Daniel Craig makes a great Bond. Period. A lot of people were all up-in-arms because the guy is blonde and all other such nonsense but the bottom line is this: Once you see him put on that finely tailored tuxedo there's no questioning it. The man is Bond and I believe he can accomplish just about anything. Plus he has a very commanding screen presence which is probably most important of all.
• Villian with an obvious deformity? Check!
• I was pleased to see that Judi Dench returned to play M- I think that was a really important factor in helping us all transition to a new style of Bond. Some familiarity is always welcome when you find yourself in unchartered waters. I guess she's kind of like comfort food. Mmmm... Dame Judi Dench.
• It's worth mentioning that Casino Royale was helmed by Martin Campbell who also directed Pierce Brosnan's debut in Goldeneye (my favorite of the Brosnan Bonds).
• Tony made the point that the movie kind of felt like a big episode of 24. I think I agree with that statement.
• I nearly forgot, there were some great action scenes too. And what would a Bond flick be without sweet action scenes? Just don't expect exploding hot air balloons.
  

LOWS

• I miss the gadgets. Most of Casino takes place immediately after Bond achieves "00" status so I guess Q hasn't arrived yet. And no Q means no gadgets.
• Opening credits theme by the lead singer of Audioslave? Eh, I guess they've done worse.
• There's an obscene amount of Sony product-placement in the film- to the point that it started distracting me from the story. Vaio laptops, Bravia televisions, Cybershot cameras, Sony Ericsson cellphones, Blu-ray discs... if Sony makes it they put it in there ad nauseam. If Sony made guns, I'm sure they'd have used those too.
  

Torrey's Opinion:
5- Strongly Recommended
4- Recommended
3- A Mixed Bag
2- Sub-par
1- Don't Bother

Random related fact: Casino Royale is the longest-running Bond movie yet. At 144 minutes, the film surpasses On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969)'s 140 minute run time. That movie held the record for 37 years.

A Two-Part Question

Why does Jamie Kennedy make such poor life choices? And why does he want me to hate him so much?

Just Being Around Her Again Is Intoxicating

While on lunch today at work, Star Wars Episode II was playing on the TV in the break room. Where I was sitting, I couldn't see the TV but I could hear it and I came to the realization that it sounded very much like a sixth grade play. What little emotion there was coming from the dialogue sounded completely forced. And you know how inexperienced actors will put emphasis on the wrong words and whatnot? They did that too. I got a good chuckle out of it. Christ, those movies are terrible. That is all.

Actually, I'm not quite finished. Here are a few choice lines of dialogue I pulled from the film. Just imagine a junior high kid who didn't rehearse his/her lines enough delivering them. You'll feel as though you've been transported to the rolling fields of Naboo.

"I don't like sand. It's coarse, rough, irritating and it gets everywhere. Not like here. Here everything is soft... and smooth."
"I'm haunted by the kiss you should never have given me."
"I killed them. I killed them all. They're dead. Every single one of them. And not just the men, but the women, and the children, too! They're like animals, and I slaughtered them like animals! I hate them!"
"My heart is beating…hoping that kiss will not become a scar. You are in my very soul, tormenting me…what can I do? I will do anything you ask. [pause] If you are suffering as much as I am, please, tell me."

This from the guy who created Indiana Jones. For shame.

Seven Days Of Sony Blowing It Hard (Day 7)

Without explanation, Ubisoft has pushed back the releases of Rainbow Six Vegas for PlayStation 3 and PSP until January 30. The PC version was also delayed from November 28 to December 12, barely squeezing inside the holiday release window. Meanwhile, Xbox 360 owners are already deep into Vegas, which looks to restore the series' respectability after 2005's misstep Lockdown.

(from Joystiq)

This video shows some poor chap trying to load a game into his brand new PS3. It's pretty tough to watch and raises the question of how many others are suffering from a similar fate.

Seven Days Of Sony Blowing It Hard (Day 6)

Two once PlayStation 3 exclusives aren't so exclusive any more. Koei announced today plans to bring Fatal Inertia and Bladestorm to the Xbox 360.

In a press release Koei has just announced the futuristic racer Fatal Inertia is now also coming to Xbox 360. Bladestorm: The Hundred Year's War, announced as a PlayStation 3 exlusive at the time of Tokyo Game Show 2005, is now confirmed for a 2007 release on Xbox 360 as well.

(from jeuxfrance)

Best Foot Forward

Here are four interesting things that happened to me at the mall today, all PS3-related (when I commit to a theme week, I really commit to a theme week).

1. While inside Gamestop, I overheard a guy playing the PS3 interactive say, "Shit, the 360 looks better than this!"
2. The situation in EB Games was that of a number of gents huddled around the 360 interactive playing Gears of War while the PS3 stood beside it untouched the entire time I was in there. There were many customers in the store; wouldn't they want to play the hottest new gaming console out there? Oh that's right, they have been for a year now.
3. As I passed the PS3 interactive in Best Buy, I saw two noticeably frustrated guys staring at a frozen image on the screen. The system had obviously locked up. I couldn't resist making a comment so I said, "Hey guys, are we witnessing the power of the Playstation 3?" They chuckled and the three of us searched the unit for a way to reset the system. No dice. So we simply walked away in disgust.
4. Just before exiting the mall, I passed by the previously mentioned Gamestop and noticed that their PS3 interactive was now frozen in a very similar manner to Best Buy's. I think we have a winner here, folks.

Seven Days Of Sony Blowing It Hard (Day 5)

Sony's press is getting worse and worse after analysts took note of the PS3 launch. As predicted, Sony missed the 400,000 goal for US launch; many analysts predicted they only reached half that amount. To add insult to injury, some analysts expect Sony to only make roughly 10% of the original 4 million promised by year's end. Ouch!

In a report compiled by Bloomberg, Sony failed to ship even enough units to cover promised pre-orders to half of 150 stores surveyed. SooAnn Roberts, analyst with Kaufman Bros. (the company that surveyed the stores), is convinced that Sony may fail to ship more than 200,000 by year's end. Other analysts think Sony made 200,000 for launch and will struggle to match that number over the next month. Either way, Sony is in some serious trouble.

Even with all the problems they've had over the past year, the PS3 production problems will hit home with the consumer who rarely checks up on the news lines. While a myriad of issues plague the PS3's production, the biggest killer is the decision to use Blu-ray.

(from Joystiq)

Ever since I saw the first prototype for the PS3's design I've made comments that it looked more like a Foreman grill than a next-gen gaming system. It seems more than a few others have shared similar feelings and one gamer actually went and made it a reality. Behold, the Grillstation 3!

Seven Days Of Sony Blowing It Hard (Day 4)

Seth Schiesel from the New York Times logged more than 30 hours with 13 games for the PS3 over the last week. His early verdict? Sony has failed to deliver on their promise and the new video game system "just isn't that great." He criticizes the lack of in-box HD cables, having to connect "wireless" controllers to the console for recognition purposes, and the difficulty playing custom playlists in games. He basically deems the 360 the better machine for now calling it a "powerful but intuitive system" likening the PS3 to a "brawny but somewhat recalcitrant specialized computer."

From the article: "Measured in megaflops, gigabytes and other technical benchmarks, the PlayStation 3 is certainly the world's most powerful game console. It falls far short, however, of providing the world's most engaging overall entertainment experience. There is a big difference, and Sony seems to have confused one for the other."

The man does praise multi-player battles in Resistance: Fall of Man, but even Joystiq's own Chris Grant, quoted in the same article, believes the console "doesn't feel finished." Granted, all newly launched systems have hiccups. The real factor is how the manufacturer handles said hiccups moving forward.

Click here for the entire article.

(from Joystiq)

I also found a very interesting interview with a guy who develops games for both the PS3 and Xbox 360. Guess which platform he prefers...

Seven Days Of Sony Blowing It Hard (Day 3)

If you thought you heard it all when it came to the PS3 launch think again. Boston Mayor Thomas Menino plans to bill Sony for PS3 riots.

During Fridays PlayStation 3 release at Copley Plaza the city was forced to call in twelve police cruisers when a frantic crowd of 500 rushed the doors of Sony store at 5 a.m. Many of the customers were believed to be angered by the fact that the Sony store withheld actual console numbers while allowing a mass of people to stand outside and wait.

Menino, believes that Sony helped to provoke the riot by not providing adequate information about console supply in the store as well as little if no security. Menino is now calling that Sony pay for the extra security that they failed to provide.

(from 2old2play. thanks to Rawson for the link.)

Seven Days Of Sony Blowing It Hard (Day 2)

Today's info comes from Time Magazine. Could there be a more credible source than Time? I don't think so.

Sony's Playstation 3 Is Not Worth The Hype


I also found this humorous picture someone made based on the Dead Rising Cover Art...

The Choice Of The Next Generation

I typically loathe Penny Arcade for their unfounded smugness but today they came through with a clever comic for once.

Oh No He Didn't

Here is a picture I found today of a guy in a Wiimote suit flipping off some people waiting in line for a PS3.

Seven Days Of Sony Blowing It Hard (Day 1)

Since today was the official "launch" of the PS3, I've decided to kick off a seven-day extravaganza where I will be posting information I find from various sources around the Net supporting my claim that the PS3 is a big waste of money and that anyone who supports it is a fool. I put the word launch in quotes because with less than 200,000 units for sale, only a dozen games and very few (if any) accessories available at most locations, this was easily the most underwhelming system kick-off I've ever witnessed. Some have described it as "farcical" which sounds like an accurate claim. It's no secret that I'm a big fan of the Xbox 360 but I swear I'm not trying to be petty here- I legitimately think Sony has made a boat-load of mistakes with their new system and I'm happy to exploit them for the sake of anyone who might be swayed by their surreal advertising and cheesy-as-hell "Spider-man" font. So without further delay, here are today's points of interest...

So after all that hubbub about high-definition and the superiority of the PS3 to all other consoles ever, it appears that Sony’s neglected to include high-definition support for the full range of available inputs. IGN reports that the PS3 is actually making high-definition games look worse on some displays; HDTVs that don’t support 1080p or 720p inputs will be downgraded to 480p…the same barely-better-than-480i resolution we’ve been seeing on DVDs and PS2 games (when using component cables) for years. (Meanwhile the Xbox 360 happily upscales 720p games to 1080i…hell, it’ll upscale just about anything.)

(info from IGN)

In an article detailing the overall parts cost for the PS3, iSupply reveals that Microsoft is no longer losing money on the Xbox 360. Last year, the company reported that Microsoft lost $126 dollars on every 360 sold. Due to a reduction in overall component costs, iSupply estimates that it now costs Microsoft $323.30 per Premium Xbox 360 manufactured. Thus, Microsoft actually earns $75.70 on each unit sold.

On the other end of the spectrum, Sony loses a lot of cash on each PS3. The high end PS3 costs $840.35 to build, losing Sony $241.35 per console. The cheaper PS3 actually costs nearly the same to produce, so Sony takes a hit of $306.85. According to the article, the primary pricing differences between the 360 and PS3 are the processors, and of course, Blu-ray. The PS3's motherboard and Blu-ray drive cost Sony $500, whereas the 360's motherboard and DVD drive cost Microsoft $200 -- down from $370 when the 360 launched. Naturally, Sony's costs will decline over time -- especially if Blu-ray is adopted.

(info from Joystiq)

The Devil Made Me Do It

If anyone would like to see me working for "The Man" doling out PS3s to the masses this morning, click here. I really can hand out vouchers like nobody's business.

Also, here's an inside tip on this video: We were putting the PS3s in trash bags because our normal bags weren't big enough. Some nice irony to be found there.

I Smell Chapter 11

Nolan Bushnell, the founder of Atari (so yeah, he knows video games), had the following to say about Sony's Playstation 3 strategy...

"I think Sony shot themselves in the foot… there is a high probability [they] will fail. The price point is probably unsustainable. For years and years Sony has been a very difficult company to deal with from a developer standpoint. They could get away with their arrogance and capriciousness because they had an installed base. They have also historically had horrible software tools. You compare that to the Xbox 360 with really great authoring tools [and] additional revenue streams from Xbox live… a first party developer would be an idiot to develop for Sony first and not the 360. People don’t buy hardware, they buy software."

On a side note, the PS3 launch-line up just saw four titles either cancelled or delayed today. Maybe rushing the launch before Christmas isn't the best idea.

Things Are Looking Up

The Democrats take control of the House and Senate AND Rumsfeld resigns? Sounds like America is having the Best Week Ever!

Bootleg Goodness!

The Decemberists - Crane Wife 3

This is from the concert I went to Saturday night. Someone apparently smuggled a camcorder in and I thank them for it. I also thank Rawson for the link.

Concerning Redcoats & Meteors

Let this serve as public notice that The Decemberists rocked Beantown Saturday night like nobody's business. That is all.

Sneakers For Sneaking

Sneak King for Xbox 360 Trailer

I honestly don't know what I think about this but the video had me laughing the entire way through. The Nintendo Fan Boy who pointed me to the link says this may very well force him to buy a 360 now.

Show Your Bones

Bones Music Video

It's no secret that I'm a Tim Burton fan to the point of obsession so I had to share this wacky fun video he did for The Killers. This is, to my knowledge at least, the first music video he has done.

btw, someone should tell Brandon Flowers that no one under 35 looks better with a mustache. With the obvious exceptions being Burt Reynolds and Robert Goulet who obtained theirs from birth.

I Think We Found Our Man

I Envy A Wordsmith

The following are some great words found in lyrics by Colin Meloy (The Decemberists) that I enjoy saying. Although some may prove challenging, I would be most pleased to hear them used more in day-to-day conversation.

• Petticoat (a woman's slip or underskirt)
• Tamaracks (a deciduous tree found in North America with short needles)
• Parapet (a low protective wall)
• Dirigible (an airship)
• Chaparral (a dense growth of shrubs)
• Concubines (whores)
• Palanquin (one of those box-shaped carriages that were carried using poles rested on the shoulders of a handful of men. You know, like in Aladdin. "Prince Ali, fabulous he, something something something..."
• Magistrate (like a justice of the peace. they try minor criminal cases.)
  

Lost Revelations

Rawson and I decided tonight that "The Others" are most likely republicans because...

1. They claim to run a peaceful society, yet react violently when their way of life is threatened by change.
2. They act better than everyone else until something happens that is beyond their control. Then they must turn to competent people to help fix their mess.
3. They're jerks.
   

Worth Your Attention

Here are 7 movies I would consider to be largely underrated and too often overlooked. Feel free to share any choice flicks you may have.

1. Serenity
2. Galaxy Quest
3. Road To Perdition
4. Miller's Crossing
5. October Sky
6. Shattered Glass
7. The Contender
   

That's More Like It

Bored Now

Here are some generally useless but moderately interesting facts for your Tuesday...

• Pinocchio was made of pine.
• The one hundred billionth Crayola crayon produced was periwinkle blue.
• Strawberries contain more vitamin C than oranges.
• Pigs can run a mile in 7 1/2 minutes.
• Australia is the only continent without an active volcano.
• Rubber bands last longer when refrigerated.
• There are 293 ways to make change for a dollar.
• King Kong was Adolf Hitler's favorite movie.
• Maine is the only state whose name is only one syllable.
• The most productive day of the work week is Tuesday.
  

Eureka!

Marilyn Manson - This is Halloween

Whether you're a fan of Manson or not, this cover is super sweet. Plus, it suits the time of year! (credit goes to Schnepf for the link.)

Quote-Worthy

The quote of the week goes to Mr. Rawson Sillsby on the topic of the PS3's Blu-Ray Disc capacity...

"It's like a 15-inch dick that never gets hard."

Talkin 'Bout My Resolution

I realize many people won't care a lick about this topic, but I found it particularly informative. Basically, Bruce Dawson, one of the senior software designers for Microsoft, explains why 1080p gaming isn't as glorious as Sony would lead you to believe. If you're interested in next-gen gaming, you might learn something. I did.


(from Ozymandias' blog)

The really interesting statistic that popped for me is how much less time a game console has to render a 1920x1080 scene versus a 1280x720 scene. (Remember this is on the same console, whichever one you like. This is not a comparison of different console's rendering capabilities to each other.) Simply put, for a 1080i/p game the console has 55% less time per pixel to render any special effects, anti-aliasing, illumination, etc. than for a 720p game. Yes, even Resistance has fallen off the bandwagon and admitted they can't hit 1080i/p as previously claimed. (It also helps explain why Gran Turismo HD is so underwhelming.)

Here's Bruce's explanation:

Many developers, gamers, and journalists are confused by 1080p. They think that 1080p is somehow more challenging for game developers than 1080i, and they forget that 1080 (i or p) requires significant tradeoffs compared to 720p. Some facts to remember:

• 2.25x: that’s how many more pixels there are in 1920x1080 compared to 1280x720
• 55.5%: that’s how much less time you have to spend on each pixel when rendering 1920x1080 compared to 1280x720—the point being that at higher resolutions you have more pixels, but they necessarily can’t look as good
• 1.0x: that’s how much harder it is for a game engine to render a game in 1080p as compared to 1080i—the number of pixels is identical so the cost is identical
• There is no such thing as a 1080p frame buffer. The frame buffer is 1080 pixels tall (and presumably 1920 wide) regardless of whether it is ultimately sent to the TV as an interlaced or as a progressive signal.
• 1280x720 with 4x AA will generally look better than 1920x1080 with no anti-aliasing (there are more total samples).
  

A few elaborations:

Any game could be made to run at 1920x1080. However, it is a tradeoff. It means that you can show more detail (although you need larger textures and models to really get this benefit) but it means that you have much less time to run complex pixel shaders. Most games can’t justify running at higher than 1280x720—it would actually make them look worse because of the compromises they will have to make in other areas.

1080p is a higher bandwidth connection from the frame buffer to the TV than 1080i. However the frame buffer itself is identical. 1080p will look better than 1080i—interlaced flicker is not a good thing—but it makes precisely zero difference to the game developer. Just as most Xbox 1 games let users choose 480i or 480p, because it was no extra work, 1080p versus 1080i is no extra work. It’s just different settings on the display chip.

Inevitably somebody will ask about field rendering. Since interlaced formats display the even lines on one refresh pass and then the odd lines on the next refresh pass, can’t games just render half of the lines each time? Probably not, and even if you could you wouldn’t want to. You probably can’t do field rendering because it requires that you maintain a rock solid 60 fps. If you ever miss a frame it will look horrible, as the odd lines are displayed in place of the even, or vice-versa. This is a significant challenge when rendering extremely complex worlds with over 1 million pixels per field (2 million pixels per frame) and is probably not worth it. And, even if you can, you shouldn’t. The biggest problem with interlaced is flicker, and field rendering makes it worse, because it disables the ‘flicker fixer’ hardware that intelligently blends adjacent lines. Field rendering has been done in the past, but it was always a compromise solution.

Forget-Me-Not

So the other day Tony went to the dentist and after his check-up was finished they gave him a pink carnation. How random is that?

The Departed Review

HIGHS

• Scorsese always manages to get the best out of his actors and The Departed is certainly no exception. Jack Nicholson, Matt Damon and Leo are all fantastic. The rest of the cast is swell too, these three just particularly stood out for me.
• While I'm talking about the cast, even Alec Baldwin was great in this! For what may be the first time ever I actually thought he was useful in a film. Way to go, Marty.
• Something that stood out to me during the film was a particularly good use of soundtrack. Not just in the selections but also how they were implemented.
• You can always count on a Scorsese flick to be worth the price of admission. It's a cinematic truth.
• They even got the accents right! For once a film about Bostonians doesn't have them all sounding mentally retahded.

*SPECIAL FEATURE!*

Let's just take a second to compare the career pathes taken by Matt Damon and Ben Affleck after Good Will Hunting:

Matt Damon makes Saving Private Ryan, Ben Affleck does Armageddon
Matt Damon makes The Talented Mr. Ripley, Ben Affleck does Forces of Nature
Matt Damon makes Oceans 11, Ben Affleck does Pearl Harbor
Matt Damon - The Bourne Identity, Ben Affleck - Reindeer Games
Matt Damon - The Bourne Supremacy, Ben Affleck - Surviving Christmas
Matt Damon - The Departed, Ben Affleck - Clerks II

One of these actors' filmographies is not like the other...

LOWS

• Nothing to report. Go see it already.

Torrey's Opinion:
5- Strongly Recommend
4- Recommend
3- A Mixed Bag
2- Sub-par
1- Don't Bother

Random related fact: The apartment where Colin Sullivan (Matt Damon) resided in the movie had been that of New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady.

Be More Funny!

I was just thinking that I can't decide whose stand-up routine I enjoy less, Dane Cook or Carlos Mencia. I will re-visit this at a later date.

Frakin' Sweet

Sure, Lost is fun and all but THIS is the best show on television:

Hayden, I Need You

Lord of the Rings by George Lucas

Thanks to Cookie for supplying the link.

Not Far Off

I found this photo on a random gaming site and got a good chuckle out of it. There's a reason I refer to them as "Best Guess."

A Fine Wife

If you enjoy good music, The Decemberists have a new album out today!


If you do not enjoy good music, Evanescence released something as well.

Why, Screech? Why??

He may have played nerdy eighth-grader Samuel (Screech) Powers in the sitcom "Saved by the Bell." But former TV geek Dustin Diamond can now take his place with Colin Farrell, Tommy Lee and Kid Rock as the star of his very own sex tape.

Everyone who remembers Diamond as a lovable putz is in for a shock once they see a 40-minute video in which he engages in a kinky three-way with two women, sources tell us.

We can't get too graphic here, but word is that the action includes some bodily functions and an act known as a "Dirty Sanchez."

Phoenix-based agent David Hans Schmidt, who has brokered some of Hollywood's biggest celebrity-skin deals, confirms that he's acquired the rights to a tape featuring Diamond.

"Just when you think you have seen everything in this business," he tells us, "mankind has raised the bar another notch. Or lowered it."

Schmidt is in L.A., shopping the tape to Hustler's Larry Flynt, Vivid's Steven Hirsch and other major distributors of adult video.

Now age 29, the 6-foot Diamond is much brawnier than you may remember him. He's a black belt in karate, and, four years ago, he defeated Ron Palillo (Horshack on "Welcome Back, Kotter") on Fox's "Celebrity Boxing 2."

Diamond's manager, Roger Paul, said his client has become a successful standup comic and will appear on the ABC sitcom "The Knights of Prosperity."

"I haven't seen the tape," Paul told us. "I've heard rumors. Dustin has been trying to escape the Screech typecast. So this may help me get more bookings."

In 1996, former "Saved by the Bell" sweetheart Elizabeth Berkley bared all in the Paul Verhoeven-Joe Eszterhas trashterpiece, "Show Girls."

The sex vid's working title is "Saved by the Smell."

(from New York Daily News)

Now THAT'S A Wedding Cake

Buffy's Successor

Well, it was a rocky start but much to Cookie's delight I can say after completing the first season that I am officially down with the VM.

Best Game Ever Conceived By Man Or Woman!

(okay probably not, but it's fun as hell.)

Most Deserving Of A "WTF?"

This is the god damnedest thing I've ever seen...

Crazy Xbox 360 Video

If anyone is able to translate just what the heck is going on here, please share it with the rest of us.

My Uncle Was A Master Debater

I've no idea if it's credible but I'm pleased with the results...

Congratulations, Torrey! Your IQ Score is 133.

Your Intellectual Type is Insightful Linguist. This means you are highly intelligent and have the natural fluency of a writer and the visual and spatial strengths of an artist. Those skills contribute to your creative and expressive mind. And that's just some of what we know about you from your test results.

Take The Classic IQ Test

Pick Flick

The 10 Best High School Movies Ever (according to the Entertainment Weekly I got in the mail this afternoon)

1. The Breakfast Club (1985)
2. Fast Times At Ridgemont High (1982)
3. Dazed And Confused (1993)
4. Rebel Without A Cause (1955)
5. Heathers (1989)
6. American Graffiti (1973)
7. Clueless (1995)
8. Boyz N The Hood (1991)
9. Election (1999)
10. Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986)
    

My Personal 10 Best High School Movies Ever

1. Election (1999)
   
2. Mean Girls (2004)
   
3. Rushmore (1998)
   
4. Pleasantville (1998)
   
5. Back To The Future (1985)
   
6. Donnie Darko (2001)
   
7. Napoleon Dynamite (2004)
   
8. Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986)
   
9. Sky High (2005)
   
10. The Breakfast Club (1985)
    

DelayStation

The following is a break-up letter to Sony from a rightfully teed-off European gamer whose country got the shaft yesterday regarding the launch of the Playstation 3.


Dear Sony: It's Over

I'm sorry that it's come to this, but there was really no other way for me to tell you how I feel. By the time you read this I will be gone. I realise now that it's over between us and has been for a long time now. It's time to stop this charade and admit that we're not right for each other and probably never were.

Remember back in May, when when you showed me that stupid wireless controller thing that nobody else wanted? That was a rough time for me, and all my friends told me that I should leave then, but I stuck it out and I thought we worked past it. I was determined that our future together with the Play Station 3 was going to be worth all the troubles. Blue Ray! Metal Gear Solid 4! It was such a beautiful dream and I wanted it to be true no matter what.

Then you unvieled the price. Six hundred fucking dollars! Do you even know how much that is? And then there's the exorbitant markup that you gave the European market. I can't afford that. Nobody I know can afford that. And then you tried to placate me with excuses about how it's cheaper than other things, like that fancy computer from Tron. And like a fool i believed you! I even put down a pre-order! Looking back now, I realise i was being naive and that you were just using me for cheap thrills. Well, no more.

Today was the breaking point. Delaying the PlayStation 3 to March 2007 because you couldn't make enough machines in time is the ultimate betrayal. Remember that slide show you put up at E3, Sony?

It said November 17.

Not March 2007.

And then there's the reduced American ship numbers and the paltry Japanese launch - how long until you start letting me down on those promises, too? I can't wait for you to show me any sign of commitment any more. It's over. I've returned my pre-order slip. The lies, the delays, the embarassing press conferences...I've had enough. You can keep your precious Japanese and American release dates. Your pathetic indifference to the promise you made to me about the November release date show you just don't care about my happiness. Fuck you, you selfish prick.

I've found someone else. They're reliable. They're here for me. They have a cool range of cheap games. Even that Assassins Creed game that was apparently just for you. It's an Xbox 360 and we're going to be happy together forever now that I'm finally rid of you.

Goodbye.

-The Angry Gamer
(angry-gamer.net)

Blogger's Note: It's beginning to look a lot like a Wii60 Christmas! (for gamers with any common sense, that is.)

Riddle Me This

"Carnival Trick"

A boy was at a carnival and went to a booth where a man said to the boy, "If I write your exact weight on this piece of paper then you have to give me $50, but if I cannot, I will pay you $50."

The boy looked around and saw no scale so he agrees, thinking no matter what the carny writes he'll just say he weighs more or less.

In the end the boy ended up paying the man $50. How did the man win the bet?


If you think you know the solution, post it in the comments section. I will post the answer in 24 hour's time.

A Line From Scrubs That I Enjoy

"I would never compare you to the gays! I like the gays - I like their music, I like their sense of style, I especially like what they've done with Halloween."
-Dr. Cox

Bring In The Heavy Artilery

This one's for my online gamer pals.

Dumbest Price Is Right Contestant Ever

I never thought a simple pricing game could become such a train wreck. Click here to view the clip. Watch the entire thing- it builds to a stupefying crescendo.

The Word(s)

"Truthiness" and "Wikiality" -- two of the words popularized by political satirist Stephen Colbert on his TV show "The Colbert Report"-- were named on Sunday the top television buzzwords of the year.

Global Language Monitor defined "truthiness" as used by Colbert as meaning "truth unencumbered by the facts." "Wikiality," derived from the user-compiled Wikipeida information Web site, was defined as "reality as determined by majority vote," as when astronomers voted Pluto off their list of planets last week.

(from Reuters)

P.S.- Kiss my grits, Barry Manilow

Sound Advice

Little Miss Sunshine Review

HIGHS

• Little Miss Sunshine definitely pulls through in the category of casting. Everyone fits their parts very well, particularly Greg Kinnear who is always easy to dislike for some reason.
• The majority of the film's pieces come together to make quite an enjoyable package. It's not a great movie, it's not a perfect movie, but it is a fun little ride with some nice messages.
• I could watch it with my Mom.
  

LOWS

• There are a couple of parts in Little Miss Sunshine that I really wish were tweaked because I feel they took the film to places it shouldn't have gone. I'm not saying that the film is ruined by these instances, but they certainly are too ridiculous to be accepted along with the total package. I can't really get into detail without giving away plot points, so ask me if you wish to discuss specifics. While I've touched on the subject, there are a number of glaring plot holes along the way as well. But in the end, these things didn't hang me up enough to not enjoy the film. It was able to bounce back each time and delivered a solid finish that left me feeling fullfilled with the experience. I just think it's a shame that a few script tweaks could have really made an overall better film that would have been more consistent in its delivery.

Torrey's Opinion:
5- Strongly Recommended
4- Recommended
3- A Mixed Bag
2- Sub-par
1- Don't Bother

Random related fact: Little Miss Sunshine took five years to make, mostly due to financial reasons.

Everything Ends

So I finally saw the end of Six Feet Under tonight. Yes, I realize I am a tad behind but I've been following the show on DVD. I am truly in awe of the entire series. The finale was exactly what it should have been and I honestly think it's probably the best ending to a television program I have ever witnessed. On top of that, Six Feet Under absolutely has to be one of the most brilliant and important shows to ever air on television. I have never seen another program be so unabashedly honest with itself and its viewers. It truly is an unforgettable experience that I would urge everyone to take part in if you haven't done so already. The DVD sets are a bit pricey, however, a service like Netflix is a very cost-effective alternative.

To Mr. Allan Ball, I thank you for introducing me to The Fishers.

It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year

Delicious!

An Open Question To The Masses

Do you think a person's life might be in a rut when discovering a new type of bagel at the supermarket is the highlight of his/her week?

It's A Simple Question...

If the moon were made out of ribs, would you eat it?
	Yes
	No
Free polls from Pollhost.com

Lego Duck Hunt!

(from Wonderland)

Spoof-tastic

I'm A Wii And I'm A PS3"

well played, G4.

Talladega Nights: The Ballad Of Ricky Bobby Review

HIGHS

• Excellent casting all around. While Will Ferrell is as good as you would expect, the supporting cast is equally as strong. John C. Reilly, Gary Cole, Sacha Baron Cohen and even Michael Clarke Duncan help add to the hilarity.
• The jokes are more focused in this movie and aren't nearly as random as in Anchorman. This isn't particularly a high for me I suppose, as I still think Anchorman is a funnier movie, but I do think it makes Talladega more audience-friendly. For example, my dad wouldn't "get" a lot of the stuff in Anchorman, but I'm quite certain he'd get a kick out of Talladega Nights.
• Ricky Bobby's "Baby Jesus" dinner prayers are worth the price of admission alone.
• Outtakes are always a welcome treat during the credits.
  

LOWS

• Like many comedies before it, Talladega starts off strong through the first half, but the jokes become more infrequent once they try and kick in the story. That's not to say the latter part of the film isn't funny, the jokes just don't come packing quite the same punch.
• Please stop giving Molly Shannon roles. Please. She's repulsive.
  

Torrey's Opinion:
5- Strongly Recommended
4- Recommended
3- A Mixed Bag
2- Sub-par
1- Don't Bother

Random related fact: Producers pitched the movie idea to studios as: "Six words: Will Ferrell as a NASCAR driver."

How To Make A Conservative's Head Spin

Put one of these on your car...

Casual Viewing

Three movies I enjoy watching on a lazy Sunday afternoon...


























































Feel free to share your own recommendations. (Photos aren't necessary, I was just being flashy.)

Peaches

A link called The Ten Best Will Ferrell Skits Of All Time doesn't really need a reason to be posted, but I'll say it's in honor of his new movie coming out this weekend.

Burger Time

This would be an example of many individual elements coming together to form one fantastic image.

I Play Well With Boys

Top 20 Gayest Video Game Characters

I Knew It!

Photographic evidence that Ronald McDonald eats children. And furthermore, clowns are evil.

Good One, Liberal Veteran

I saw a great bumper sticker yesterday that read, "We are making enemies faster than we can kill them!"

A Scanner Darkly Review

HIGHS

• There's no denying how amazing this film looks. The best way I can describe it is sort of a living paint-by-numbers book. It's very obvious that a lot of time was spent covering the live action footage with a captivating and unique visual style.
• This is probably the best bit of acting Keanu Reeves has ever done.
• Much of the soundtrack was well done.
• The trailer for The Science of Sleep ran before the movie (this would be the high point of the evening.)
  

LOWS

• As fantastic as the film looks, it's a shame so many people spent so much time on something so... meaningless. I really wanted to like Scanner Darkly. I've been looking forward to it for months now; since I first saw the trailer online. Unfortunately I left the theatre disappointed.
• The film was all over the place with no clear direction. It had a point, sure, the war on drugs is a bitch. I get that, but I knew that going in. At no point did the movie make me feel for its characters. I disliked each and every one of them and didn't care at all about what they were going through. There was nothing to make me sympathize with them or wish they had things better. I was left completely underwhelmed by the entire experience.
• I'm willing to be very patient with a movie if I get the impression it's going somewhere. I knew it wasn't a good sign when after the first hour I started thinking about sneaking next door to catch the rest of Pirates. I'll flat out say it: A Scanner Darkly has little to no pay-off. The point they attempted to get across could have been summed up nicely in a 90-second PSA. In fact, with the clever animation style it would have no doubt been more effective that way.
• If you want a good "drugs are bad" movie, watch Requiem For A Dream.
  

Torrey's Opinion:
5- Strongly Recommended
4- Recommended
3- A Mixed Bag
2- Sub-par
1- Don't Bother


Random related fact: Charlie Kaufman wrote a script for A Scanner Darkly that was effectively thrown out when Richard Linklater became involved. I think a solid bit of advice for any young director would be to never pass over a Charlie Kaufman script.

Pirates Of The Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest Review

HIGHS

• The short version here is if you liked Pirates of the Caribbean, I see no reason why you wouldn't enjoy its sequel. The themes and humor are carried over nicely and all the important players are back for the second act.
• After the completely unexpected success of the first film, due in no small part to Johnny Depp's highly entertaining performance, a fear of mine going into Dead Man's Chest was that it would become something of a Jack Sparrow Comedy Show with endless over-the-top pratfalls and zingers. I was pleased to see that Capt. Jack was kept very much in check and the supporting cast gets a generous amount of screen time to boot.
• Easily some of the best special effects I've seen in any movie. Davy Jones in particular looks astonishingly realistic. It's always refreshing when a big budget film uses effects to enhance the story, not the other way around. I'm looking directly at you, Mr. Lucas.
• The film has a cliffhanger ending (with a surprise guest!) that can be enjoyed because we all know the 3rd chapter has already been filmed. No, Capt. Jack isn't sent back to the Wild West when his DeLorean is struck by lighting.
• This is, for all intents and purposes, what a summer blockbuster should be.
  

LOWS

• While Dead Man's Chest is very entertaining, the script isn't nearly as tight as the first one. This film meanders quite a bit and, much like Jack, doesn't seem to quite have its bearings a lot of the time.
• I still can't shake this feeling that Keira Knightley is faking her accent!
• I wish to institute a 3 Rum Joke Limit for all pirate films from this point forward.
  

Torrey's Opinion:
5- Strongly Recommended
4- Recommended
3- A Mixed Bag
2- Sub-par
1- Don't Bother

Random related fact: This film marks the first time Johnny Depp has ever reprised a previous role.

Racism You Can Take Anywhere!

What in the world was Sony thinking with this ad?

Small Talk

"...even Reagan was brighter than Bush and he had Alzheimer's."
-overheard while eating lunch yesterday at Mister Bagel.

Top 25 Worst Video Game Titles Ever

(as compiled by gamerevolution.com)

25) Booby Kids NES, 1987
24) Yo! Noid NES, 1990
23) Lee Trevino's Fighting Golf NES, 1988
22) Astro Fang: Super Machine NES, 1989
21) Divine Divinity PC, 2002
20) Eggs of Steel: Charlie's Eggcellent Adventure Playstation, 1998
19) Barkley: Shut Up and Jam! Genesis, 1993
18) Tongue of the Fatman PC, 1989
17) Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together Playstation, 1997
16) Rosco McQueen - Firefighter Extreme Playstation, 1997
15) Tobal No. 1 Playstation, 1996
14) Wargasm PC, 1998
13) GOLF Magazine Presents 36 Great Holes Starring Fred Couples Sega 32X, 1994
12) XEXYZ NES, 1998
11) No One Can Stop Mr. Domino! Playstation, 1998
10) Totally Rad NES, 1991
09) James Pond II: Codename RoboCod Genesis, 1991
08) Psybadek Playstation, 1998
07) Nuts & Milk NES, 1984
06) Huygen's Disclosure PC, 1999
05) Bad Dudes vs. Dragon Ninja NES, 1988
04) Pesterminator: The Western Exterminator NES, 1990
03) Mobile Suit Gundam: Gundam vs. Zeta Gundam Playstation 2, 2005
02) If It Moves, Shoot It! PC, 1989
01) Irritating Stick Playstation, 1999

Why You'd Want To Live Here

My buddy Schnepf was inspired by fark.com to create this Welcome to Florida sign with Adobe Photoshop. I now dedicate it to Brent and Bryan.

Leaves Your Breath Minty-Fresh

I'm considering inventing Junior Mints Cereal. Would you eat it?
	Yes
	No
Free polls from Pollhost.com

A Niche Market At Best

This guy brings up many great points about the high definition formats currently making their way onto the market. Personally, I think he's right on the money.

10 Reasons Why High Definition DVD Formats Have Already Failed

75-85 Is Considered Mentally Retarded

Draw your own conclusions about education vs. votes

                     AVG IQ   AVG Income   '04 Elect.
(1) Connecticut......113      $26,979      Kerry
(2) Massachusetts....111      $24,059      Kerry
(3) New Jersey.......111      $26,457      Kerry
(4) New York.........109      $23,534      Kerry
(5) Rhode Island.....107      $20,299      Kerry
(6) Hawaii...........106      $21,218      Kerry
(7) Maryland.........105      $22,974      Kerry
(8) New Hampshire....105      $22,934      Kerry
(9) Illinois.........104      $21,608      Kerry
(10) Delaware........103      $21,451      Kerry
(11) Minnesota.......102      $20,049      Kerry
(12) Vermont.........102      $18,834      Kerry
(13) Washington......102      $20,398      Kerry
(14) California......101      $21,278      Kerry
(15) Pennsylvania....101      $20,253      Kerry
(16) Maine...........100      $18,226      Kerry
(17) Wisconsin.......100      $18,727      Kerry
(18) Virginia........100      $20,629      Bush
(19) Iowa.............99      $18,287      Kerry
(20) Oregon...........99      $18,202      Kerry
(21) Colorado.........99      $20,124      Bush
(22) Michigan.........99      $19,508      Bush
(23) Nevada...........99      $20,266      Bush
(24) Ohio.............99      $18,624      Bush
(25) Alaska...........98      $21,603      Bush
(26) Florida..........98      $19,397      Bush
(27) Missouri.........98      $18,835      Bush
(28) Kansas...........96      $19,376      Bush
(29) Nebraska.........95      $19,084      Bush
(30) Arizona..........94      $17,119      Bush
(31) Indiana..........94      $18,043      Bush
(32) Tennessee........94      $17,341      Bush
(33) North Carolina...93      $17,667      Bush
(34) West Virginia....93      $15,065      Bush
(35) Arkansas.........92      $15,439      Bush
(36) Georgia..........92      $18,130      Bush
(37) Kentucky.........92      $16,534      Bush
(38) New Mexico.......92      $15,353      Bush
(39) North Dakota.....92      $16,854      Bush
(40) Texas............92      $17,892      Bush
(41) Alabama..........90      $16,220      Bush
(42) Louisiana........90      $15,712      Bush
(43) Montana..........90      $16,062      Bush
(44) Oklahoma.........90      $16,198      Bush
(45) South Dakota.....90      $16,558      Bush
(46) South Carolina...89      $15,989      Bush
(47) Wyoming..........89      $17,423      Bush
(48) Idaho............87      $16,067      Bush
(49) Utah.............87      $15,325      Bush
(50) Mississippi......85      $14,088      Bush

Bush..... IQ:  91
Kerry.... IQ: 128

(from The Daily Mirror)

From The Desk of Bill W.

This quote is dedicated to Cookie because it sounds like something she would say...

And by the way - whoever said "men don't make passes at girls who wear glasses" was either an idiot or a fraud, trying to keep all of the wonderful spectacled babes for himself. The hot librarian look is all that plus a stack of books.
-Bill Willingham, author of Fables

Shot Down Faster Than Dick Cheney's Hunting Buddy

(from the AP)
The Republican-controlled Senate smothered a proposed election-year increase in the minimum wage Wednesday, rejecting Democratic claims that it was past time to boost the $5.15 hourly pay floor that has been in effect for nearly a decade.

The 52-46 vote was eight short of the 60 needed for approval under budget rules and came one day after House Republican leaders made clear they do not intend to allow a vote on the issue, fearing it might pass.

The Senate vote marked the ninth time since 1997 that Democrats there have proposed — and Republicans have blocked — a stand-alone increase in the minimum wage.

Blogger's Note: Yeah, this raising the minimum wage thing is a terrible idea. Wealthy Fat Cat Republicans can't be bothered thinking about a monetary value that low. Now let's get back to the real problems at hand like gay marriage and abortions.

How To Earn My Respect

Three Albums You Should Own:

Awkward!

The New York Daily News reports that Federal Judge Shira Scheindlin was caught playing computer Solitaire while presiding over the most recent trial of John Gotti. Radio host Curtis Silwa, who was testifying as a witness in the trial, called 'shenanigans' on Judge Scheindlin.

Mentos: Meet Your Fresh-Maker

This is a pretty outstanding video of two guys using bottles of Diet Coke and Mentos to create one fantastical geyser art show.

(thanks to Cookie for the link)

Trample Partisan Gain

If you think Republicans should focus on real problems within our country rather than diversionary wedge issues like gay marriage, please click HERE.

The Most Important Poll This Year

I'm putting together a hypothetical summer mix tape and there's room for one B-52's song. Which is it?
	Love Shack
	Rock Lobster
Free polls from Pollhost.com

There's No Denying The Hotness Of Elves

The Legend of Zelda series has won numerous awards in its near two-decade run, but one magazine is calling out the game's hero, the boyish elf Link, as a perfect 10. The June issue of Out, a magazine focusing on gay and lesbian culture, named the green-leotard-wearing hero as the Hottest Video Game Character in its "What's Hot Now" section for his role in the upcoming GameCube and Wii release, The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess.

From the mag: "When darkness enshrouds the land, Nintendo's sexy farm-boy-turned-wolf sets out to save the day in this upcoming game. His weapons: a sword, a bow, arrows, and kick-ass grooming skills."

(from gamespot.com)

Ranch Dressing Accessory Included

A silly AIM conversation Cookie and I had about Lost tonight:
(a fair warning- there is a bit of a storyline spoiler involved.)

deviledHam79: do you know they are making Lost figures?
jugglinggeese: i saw the charlie one and its pretty amazing
deviledHam79: yeah it looks great
deviledHam79: I bet the Hurley will be recycled Fat Bastard figures from The Spy Who Shagged Me
jugglinggeese: lol
jugglinggeese: hahahaha
jugglinggeese: that is fucking priceless
deviledHam79: hehe
deviledHam79: and it will talk. "You killed Libby! Get in my belly!"
jugglinggeese: hahaha
jugglinggeese: i want to eat a hanso baby
deviledHam79: lol
deviledHam79: I want my Libby back, Libby back, Libby back

Those Who Can't Create...

Mission Impossible III Review

HIGHS

• MI:III does a respectable job of keeping intact what makes Mission Impossible fun. A small team uses really cool and undoubtably expensive gadgets to pull off seemingly unworkable tasks. Plus Luther is back.
• J.J. packs in a lot of action without completely forgetting about the characters. There isn't a ton of character development but there's definitely more than you'll find in your typical shoot 'em up.
• There is a sweet action scene that takes place on a bridge that almost feels like a tribute to True Lies, if I may be so bold. "The bridge is OUT!"
• In his typical fashion, Philip Seymour Hoffman doesn't have a lot of scenes but he does make the most of them. Simon Pegg is also a nice addition to the film playing the english Marshall (Alias fans will get the reference.)
• While I still feel the 1996 Mission Impossible was a more expertly crafted blend of action and intrigue, this third installment is leaps and bounds better than John Woo's suckfest that was MI:II.

LOWS

• The third act just doesn't seem as strong as the two leading up to it. While the first half of the film is fresh and clever, the journey becomes more run-of-the-mill as it continues on. That's not to say it ends poorly, it just doesn't keep the pop and sizzle going as much as it could.
• As I mentioned, MI:III has some decent character development but it does seem that J.J. is more conditioned to building relationships over the course of many episodes (i.e.- Alias and Lost.) In a 2-hour span he gets the characters where they need to be but it's in a way we've seen done before many times over.

Torrey's Opinion:
5- Strongly Recommended
4- Recommended
3- A Mixed Bag
2- Sub-par
1- Don't Bother

Random related fact: As a producer of the film, Tom Cruise signed on J.J. Abrams to direct based primarily on the episodes of Alias he had seen on DVD.

This Post Dedicated To Schnepf

Anyone else think that Meg might be holding back Jack White? Think it might be time to cut loose some dead weight? Think she might be a little tone-deaf?

A Random Thought For Sunday

Any "Pleasant Street" I've ever been on has failed to live up to the name.

Did Your Sister Eat Your Momma?

While sifting through a stack of DVDs at work today, my eye caught a particular quote on the back of the movie Kiss the Girls starring Ashley Judd and Morgan Freeman. The critical praise stated that the film was "A roller-coaster ride of thrills and chills. Think Seven times seven."

Now, even if you've never seen Seven, you know this statement couldn't possibly be true. It's like saying a brussell sprout is more delicious than a hot fudge sundae. But wait, here's the best part: the quote comes from one Anne Marie O'Conner of Mademoiselle Magazine. If ever there were a credible source for accurate film critiquing, boy howdy, she's it. Just because Morgan Freeman was in yet another psychological thriller, this does not necessarly make Kiss the Girls not one, not two, but seven times better than Seven... which is, by the way, one of the best thrillers every made. Don't insult The Finch by comparing his masterpiece to yet another half-baked Ashley Judd-driven vehicle. And leave the movie reviews to people who appreciate movies! Roger Ebert isn't covering your fashion shows, bitch.

The Always Topical Foxtrot

Friends Don't Let Friends Play WOW

This post is specifically targeted at my friend Bryan.

There's a command in World of Warcraft that tells you exactly how long you've played with your active character and how long you've been playing at your current level. All you have to do is type /played into your chat prompt to find this information out. If you're a regular player of the game, I think you should go and do that now.

*5/9 update- (cue the sappy Maury Povich follow-up music) Bryan recently bought a motorcycle and is expected to spend less time playing WOW.*

Clever Coffee

This is quite a brilliant bit of advertising... Folgers printed vinyl signs that stick to manhole covers and even have holes to allow the steam to come through.

Bummer

I thought I was having kind of a lousy day today until I read this...

Burning Bush

A true American hero, Stephen Colbert stuck it to the White House with a blistering "tribute" roast at the yearly Correspondents Dinner held this past weekend. Click the link below and enjoy.

This man has balls bigger than your head.
(His tribute is available in three parts, all of them well worth viewing)

*update* since the link died, I'll provide this Transcript of Mr. Colbert's Speech.

Remember When Clinton Balanced The Budget?

Here's a factoid I read today: If you were to take our national debt (which just surpassed $9 trillion) and spent that entire amount on gold at its current worth, you would be able to construct 28 Eiffel Towers out of pure gold.

He's No David Palmer

This should come as little surprise to those of us who actually pay attention...

(thanks to Brent for the link)

Blinding Patriotism

I found myself behind this pickup truck on my way to the grocery store this afternoon and thought it was so freaking ridiculous that I had to take a picture. My camera phone doesn't really do justice to just how outrageous this thing was.

An Open Question To All

When did Wynonna Judd get so fat? Did she devour her mom?

Black Gold

As gas prices threaten to surmount $3.00/gallon in most places around the country this summer, you'll be pleased to hear that Lee Raymond, the former Exxon chairman, has been given a modest $400 million retirement package. This includes pension, stock options and other perks, such as a $1 million consulting deal, two years of home security, personal security, a car and driver, and use of a corporate jet for professional purposes. Last November, when he was still chairman of Exxon, Raymond told Congress that gas prices were high because of global supply and demand.
"We're all in this together, everywhere in the world," he testified.

It's worth mentioning here that Exxon made $36 billion last year- the largest annual profit made by anyone, ever. I'm curious as to how an oil company posts the biggest profit in history during a supposed energy crisis.

(statistics courtesy of ABC News)

What Would Linus Do?

Another Easter, another no-show by Zombie Jesus. Ah well, there's always next year, right? At least we get ham and chocolate out of the deal. Oh, and Starburst Jellybeans. Those delicious little devils trump any water-into-wine parlour trick.

Knowledge Is Power!

Recently, several science gurus -- Nobel Prize winners, institute heads, teachers and others who spend most of their time thinking about science -- were asked, "What is one science question every high school graduate should be able to answer?"

Take their quiz and see how you do. You can find the answers in the comments section.

1. What percentage of the Earth is covered by water?
2. What sorts of signals does the brain use to communicate sensations, thoughts and actions?
3. Did dinosaurs and humans ever exist at the same time?
4. What is Darwin's theory of the origin of species?
5. Why does a year consist of 365 days, and a day of 24 hours?
6. Why is the sky blue?
7. What causes a rainbow?
8. What is it that makes diseases caused by viruses and bacteria hard to treat?
9. How old are the oldest fossils on earth?
10. Why do we put salt on sidewalks when it snows?

Extra credit: What makes the seasons change?

(information from startribune.com)

0wned!

A couple of nerds choreographed a lightsaber duel that easily tops anything Lucas put together for his films. It really is very impressive.

Click on the cheesy Star Wars cake to view the clip...

All Your Base Are Belong To Us

The Armchair Empire has compiled a list of what they think are the best in-game quotes of all time. Some of them I remember fondly (Shenmue, you were progressive in so many ways) and some I'm discovering for the first time (I regret missing out on this "tide of naughtiness" in Balder's Gate II.)

Click on Ryo Hazuki for the list...

One By One The Pod People Fall

Some evidence as to why I don't own any Apple products:

Failing The Bar

(thanks to Brent for the link)

Where Credit Is Due

The University of Georgia's college of Journalism and Mass Communication has annonced the winners of the 65th annual Peabody Awards, one of the most prestigious awards for excellence in electronic media.

Among this year's winners are the caustic cartoon show "South Park", BBC's adaption of Charles Dickens' "Bleak House", Martin Scorsese's biopic of Bob Dylan, "No Direction Home", while Sci-Fi Channel scored their first ever win with Ronald D. Moore's remake of "Battlestar Galactica".

South Park COMEDY CENTRAL
Primitive animation is part of the charm of TV's boldest, most politically incorrect satirical series. Its simple style also makes possible the show's unmatched topicality. Comedy Central.

Battlestar Galactica SCI FI CHANNEL
A belated, brilliantly re-imagined revival of a so-so 1970s outer-space saga, the series about imperiled survivors of a besieged planet has revitalized sci-fi television with its parallax considerations of politics, religion, sex, even what it means to be "human." NBC Universal Television Studio.

(from bitsofnews.com)

Blogger's Note: It's refreshing to see an award based on deserving talent rather than overblown popularity. Past winners include The Daily Show, Band Of Brothers, The West Wing, The Sopranos, Wallace & Gromit, Frasier and The X-Files.

A Wednesday Observation

Why is it whenever I'm trying to be quick at the grocery store there's always a lady in front of me at the express lane buying cigarettes with a personal check?

You Call This Archeology?

Which Indiana Jones Flick Is Your Favorite?
	Raiders Of The Lost Ark
	Indiana Jones And The Temple Of Doom
	Indiana Jones And The Last Crusade
Free polls from Pollhost.com