We’re screwed. The time to secure our own oxygen mask before helping others is long overdue. Big government for the loss or bust, because there are no such thing as global bailouts.
China, Japan, others: “Hey America, time to pay up.” America: “Sorry, we can’t.” China: “Then we’ll crash your currency by calling in your debts. Have fun scrambling for a solution. You’ll soon be destitute, out of options, and out of international friends because you borrowed all their money and defaulted on your loans. If you won’t liquidate your remaining assets or sell them to us on the cheap, we may collectively do it for you (aka invasion).”
See also:
- What is your occupation right now?
Video game critic
- What are you listening to right now?
New Keane album
- What was the last thing that you ate?
Delicious diet shake
- Can you drive a stick shift?
Yes
- How old are you today?
29
- What is your favorite sport to watch on TV?
College football Continue reading…
I didn’t vote for Obama yesterday. I voted Ron Paul (knowing he wouldn’t win) because I believe limited government is what’s needed most right now as this country approaches bankruptcy. You can’t change the world or serve the people as a government if you’re broke.
But I was happy nonetheless last night with Obama’s election — it was an exciting and historical moment. While I strongly disagree with his big government ideas, I take comfort in his upcoming presidency for the following reasons: Continue reading…
Continue reading…
For reasons beyond me, my three year old has begun using her hair clips to lock all the doors in our house. With clip in hand, sure turns the outside locks from the horizontal position to vertical, “to keep things safe,” she tells me.
In honesty, it’s been kind of annoying over the last two weeks. I’m forced to grab a nickle almost every time to unlock either the bathroom, office, or bedroom.
Last night, I went to check on my sleeping 1 year old. I turned the knob, and of course, it was locked. Rather than becoming frustrated, however, I found a nickel and smiled — perhaps this is my daughter’s way of reminding me she’s here.
The big games this year are hard to miss: “Gears of War 2,” “Fallout 3,” “LittleBigPlanet,” “Guitar Hero.” But what about the low-profile ones that are just as good, if not better? The games that come out of nowhere to delight, inspire and surprise us?These are the best Cinderella games of 2008. If it’s the new and innovative you seek, don’t overlook these hidden gems.
Continue reading at MSNBC…
Unplayable cut scenes, cinemas, or in-game movies have been a part of video games for more than 20 years. They help advance the plot, serve as a rest area for players and produce shock and awe like any good movie.
While the technique is evolving (some developers like Valve shun them altogether in favor of total interaction), cut scenes often make games feel bigger than they really are. And nobody does it better than the following games when it comes to memorable cinematics.
Continue reading at MSNBC…
Ghosts may be the first thing you think of when you hear the word “spooky,” but they make for lousy Halloween costumes. They have a rich history with video games, and for that, I respect them. So in the spirit of disembodied souls and our favorite pagan holiday, I give to you the best video game ghosts of all time.
Continue reading at MSNBC…
Microsoft says its “New Xbox Experience,” which rolls out Nov. 19, will “change the face of home entertainment for every Xbox 360 owner.” It doesn’t.
In reality, the New Xbox Experience is more appropriately described as a new menu system. It won’t revolutionize your console, but it will improve your experience. Ironically, the most interesting feature about this revamp to a game console’s user interface has nothing to do with games. It’s about movies.
Continue reading at MSNBC…
It’s a little difficult to read, but that posh, Geo Prism promises you can make $20k a month while working from home. Now I understand a lot of millionaires drive run-down cars, because cars are a lousy investment. But something tells me this guy isn’t a millionaire (hint: it’s the tasteless ad written in long hand).
[Photo by Mark Ormond, while driving even]
Apparently, the umpire wasn’t serious, John McEnroe. A new study of 4,000 points by The Daily Mail has found that tennis umpires overwhelming get “out” calls wrong, thanks to an optical allusion phenomenon. Who knew?
Illustration credit: Ian Dennis/Daily Mail
Lindsey and I have been playing World Tour all weekend with friends. The game is Guitar Hero’s response to the popular Rock Band. The early verdict: World Tour improves upon Rock Band in almost every way, save for scoring, star power, and when someone fails. Plus, anything that has Van Halen gets bonus points from me. My full review at MSNBC…
It’s almost impossible to hear the word “Atari” and not reminisce on joysticks, paddle controllers, stick-men animation, beeps and blips and countless gaming classics. If it weren’t for Atari, there probably wouldn’t be Nintendo, PlayStation, or Xbox – at least as we know them.
While arcade hits make up the lion’s share of popular games found on Atari systems, original favorites also call the platform home. Wooden-panel consoles, we salute you with the best Atari games.
Continue reading at MSNBC…
Lindsey, the girls, and I drove the Alpine Loop for the first time yesterday. While the number of trees are admittedly more barren and less colorful than East coast foliage or the Appalachian Mountains, the scenic drive reminded me of my roots just the same, with some lovely mountain vistas not seen anywhere else. Screenshots or it didn’t happen. Continue reading…
If millions of lifeless blogs and apologetic “sorry for not updating” posts were any indication, blogging isn’t for everyone. And if you’re hoping to make a national name for yourself as an amateur wordsmith, you’re about 3-4 years late to the party.
For everyone else (people with opinions, writers, pundits, and social networkers) regular blogging is still a worthwhile pursuit, provided you have something original to say. It can be used as a platform to start a career in writing, it can influence others, and for some, even subsidize a mortgage or provide a modest living.
I find it comical (not to mention anti-competitive) then when a blogger from the popular Silicon Vally gossip rag encourages lone stars to throw in the towel on blogging. Dumb. That’s like a used car salesman saying there’s no money in automobiles. While I admit blogging is over-saturated, it’s in no way a dead end. And it’s certainly more pervasive than Facebook, Twitter, and Flickr.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fVyTnTdijog[/youtube]
And by better I mean more convincingly, funnier, and with more style — whether that definition is accurate or not is up for debate.
DISCLOSURE: I operate both Windows XP and Mac OSX machines.
Associated Press
Slate has an enlightening story on how failure became “fail” in popular, always-abbreviated, internet speak. Not only is “fail” a hilariously fitting disciption for utter incompetence, it seems the nerb (or voun) is here to stay, just like other verb to noun combos such as “to bike” and “bike,” and “to lock” and “lock”. Definitly not fail.
Sweep the leg, Johnny.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xrSNzSkvi70[/youtube]
Haven’t been a fan of LL since the “Mama Said Knock You Out” days, but this is hilariously clever advertising. Nice!
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-A_JfkzPwww[/youtube]
I downloaded World of Goo yesterday on Wii, and it’s crazy good. Played for like four hours already. If you like clever writing, brilliant puzzles, Tim Burton visuals, or Danny Elfman music, you must get this game. Something special like this comes only once every 1-2 years — don’t miss it.
Amazingly, the game was created by only two people. It is available as a download on Wii for $15 or on PC for $20. A demo can be downloaded here.
Developers have made more than 2,400 games for PlayStation 2, Sony says. That’s easily the most of any console, which makes sense, considering that a whopping 140 million of the units have been sold since its debut eight years ago.
With a library and audience that big, there truly is something for everyone on the system, and new games are still being released. The following five are the creme de la creme – and found only on the PS2 system.
Continue reading at MSNBC…
Gamepro.com — If it’s in the game, it’s in the game.
For U.S. senator Barack Obama, that means being the first presidential candidate to buy ad space inside a video game.
According to the Associated Press, Obama’s mug can now be seen in nine different EA games connected to the internet, including Madden NFL 09 and Burnout Paradise, in an effort to appeal to the hard-to-reach 18 to 34 year-old male demographic.
Continue reading…
In the early 80s, video game programmers did all the work: sprite design, writing, music — you name it. Often times, one or two people was all it took to develop a hit.
But these days, hundreds of programmers, artists, and designers work together to create our favorite games. Here’s a handy explanation of some of the most common jobs held inside a game studio.
Continue reading at GamePro…
The following metaphor is reputedly written by David Kamerschen, a professor of economics at the University of Georgia. In it, Kamerschen makes a convincing case for equal taxation, one that I generally agree with.
But those substantial tax credits (read: the distribution of wealth) that I receive every year just for having kids are really, really nice. So consider me undecided on the matter (wink, wink).
Suppose that every day, ten men go out for beer and the bill for all ten comes to $100. If they paid their bill the way we pay our taxes, it would go something like this: Continue reading…
Though I used to be a Nike man, I now fly the Puma flag and have for the last five years. It’s Romas or die, for me. But what about you? What’s your preferred maker of athletic shoes? Do tell.
What’s your favorite brand of sneaker?
( polls)
Reducing the most memorable video game quotes to just five is a tough task. From classic “Duke Nukem” one-liners to the inadvertent hilarity of poor Japanese-to-English translations, the options are virtually endless.
And while a mention of “All your base are belong to us” is perhaps more than deserving (the phrase spawned a major Internet meme at the turn of the decade, after all), the following extracts are the ones that truly define the medium – the most choice video game quotes of all time.
Continue reading at MSNBC…
Associated Press
… The world financial markets fall more than they would have, because financial markets are based entirely on confidence. And when you have intimidating officials like President Bush and McBama spreading FUD like, “the worst economic crisis since the great depression,” fickle investors will believe them, and global bank markets struggle.
I’m not saying there wasn’t a partial bomb to begin with — there was thanks to a greedy and irresponsible Wall Street — but that still doesn’t mean top officials can frighten the public with said statements just to bail out their Wall Street buddies who donated lots of money for special interest (which they succeeded in getting this time). Just like yelling “Bomb!” in an airport is illegal, so should it be for individuals in power crying “depression” just to get their way.
Continue reading…
Lindsey and I are going to the Real Salt Lake stadium opener on Thursday, and I’m pretty stoked after seeing these newly released photos. In my life time, I’ve only seen soccer from a distance in make-shift football stadiums. Should be fun.
More pics after the jump…
Continue reading…
[Via email. Thanks, Tim.]
Answer: They all support $700 billion bailouts for reckless Wall Street investment banks. And they don’t care if taxpayers absorb the mistake, because taxpayers pay said officials’ mortgages.
I’m no conspiracy theorist, but if that’s not proof that Wall Street has its hand in the pockets of big politicians, more so than normal, I don’t know what is.
And you’re kidding yourself if you think this country still runs a two-party system. There is no such thing as “Decision 2008.” McBama (aka big government) is going to win.
Nevertheless, make your voice be heard and write-in Ron Paul for president. If he siphons even just one or two states from The Nationalist Party next month, the publicity will further propel his message of the Constitution, free markets, greater state power, and responsible spending necessary to save the dollar.
Erich Remarque of Magnolia, Arkansas is pissed. After waiting three years to play Spore, he’s being treated more like a suspect than paying customer.
“[Spore] incorporates a draconian [digital rights management (DRM)] system that requires you to activate over the internet, and limits you to a grand total of 3 activations,” he writes in his glaringly critical review of the game on Amazon.com. “If you reach that limit, then you’ll have to call EA in order to add one extra activation. That’s not as simple as it sounds, since when you reach that point EA will assume that you, the paying customer, are a filthy pirating thief.”
Emotion may have got the best of Remarque, but he has reason to be upset over Spore’s limited use policy, which is extreme. And he’s not the only one who thinks so. At the time of writing, 85 percent of 3,000 user reviews on Amazon.com have given Spore a one-star (out of five) rating, almost all of them slamming the strict digital rights management employed by Electronic Arts.
Continue reading at Crispy Gamer…
Here’s how, in three painless steps:
- Search your elected officials here using your zip code
- Select “president and congress officials.” For today, click on all representatives and email them under the contact tab (Utah residents should email Rep. Cannon at cannon.ut03@mail.house.gov)
- Paste the following email using “Vote ‘against’ the revised $700 billion Wall Street bailout” as the subject.
Rep. [last name]
On behalf of friends, family, and my influence as a local blogger, please vote against the revised $700 Wall Street bailout this Friday (Oct 3).
Thank you,
[You name]
[city, state]
The whole process from start to finish will only require a minute of your time, but you must act today! Isn’t saving the dollar easy?
At the recommendation of my surgeon, I started doing calisthenics this week in an effort to stretch my healing back and start building my core (so my lower discs don’t have to work so hard). I also need to lose more weight — I currently weigh 212 lbs. Not so fun fact: I weighed 185 at my wedding five years ago. But I digress.
After almost three months of atrophy, I’m amazed how quickly the human body becomes unfit. I’m breathing like crazy after only 10 push ups, whereas three months ago I was in the best shape I’ve been since high school. But I must say, the stretching and light work outs alleviate the lingering pain in my leg caused by a once flattened sciatic nerve. Is nice!
I’m anxious to get back to running, but have to wait another month before doing so. So have you been exercising? Tsk, tsk.
Later this month, 20th Century Fox will release “Max Payne,” the most recent video game to get a Hollywood makeover. But if history is any indication, the movie will be a critical stinker, as have been the majority of cringe-inducing, game-related feature films.
That’s not to say there haven’t been any good ones (or at least a handful of bearable ones). And from time to time, there have even been some great ones, particularly those that use video games as a backdrop, as opposed to driving the central story. And these are the best – the ones that will leave you minimally embarrassed or even impressed.
Continue reading at MSNBC…
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHX8jezNBTk[/youtube]
I told you skateboarding was pretty.
Continue reading…
A market economy, that is. Thanks for showing some faith today, boys. You make me a proud citizen of Checks and Balances against a corrupt and colluding executive branch. The Associated Press reports:
The House has defeated the $700 billion bail-out legislation for the financial industry.
More than enough members of the House had cast votes to defeat the Bush administration-pushed bill, but the vote was held open for a while, apparently as efforts were under way to persuade people to change their vote.
On Wall Street, stocks plummeted as investors followed the developments in Congress.
These are troubled days, and they could be for a while. But there’s sunrise on the horizon. Just let the market do her thing.
UPDATE: This is a great quote: “Like the Iraq war and patriot act, this bill is fueled by fear and haste,” said Lloyd Doggett, D-Texas.
I sure hope so, because unlike milk farmers from the 30s, I can’t pour out my internets to artificially raise demand. (full story)
Have a great weekend, everyone. We’ll get her done, hopefully without that ridiculous $700 billion proposed bailout.
In January, I made the switch from an unlimited data plan to email only. This means I no longer have access to T-Mobile internet.
I had the unlimited data plan for two years (service is a little slow, but still convenient), but I’m happy to report I’m doing fine, saving a little money, and likely to father fewer Blackberry orphans as a result of my downgrade.
What’s more, my trusty Curve supports Wi-Fi, so if I really need access to the internet on my phone while not at home, it’s not that difficult to find a public connection.
For as technologically inclined as I am, it’s ironic how technology averse I can be, in an effort to maintain some level of privacy and social sanity. Do you ever feel the same?
“There is no way we’re putting that there,” my wife tells me.
We’ve just spent 20 minutes surveying our 1,100-square-foot apartment in search of a spot for our new “Dance Dance Revolution” pad. The only place to stash it is under the couch, and my wife knows it.
”OK,” she concedes, allowing the unorthodox storage given our growing game-related gadgetry.
I’m not the only one with an increasing stockpile of video-game peripherals. According to The NPD Group, the official bean-counter of U.S. video game sales, consumers spent a record $1.3 billion so far this year on plastic guitars, steering wheels and other add-ons, the result of games like “Wii Fit,” “Guitar Hero,” “Mario Kart Wii” and “Rock Band.”
Continue reading at MSNBC…
Review scores are too complex. What began as a useful tool for players to compare and prioritize games has now become a confusing, lopsided, and political mess.
Consider score explanation guides, which often appear in magazines and review sites to interpret what should be easily understood: is a game any good? Furthermore, “average” games routinely score in the 80th percentile now, and the credibility of ratings are compromised when sly publishers allegedly work the system in exchange for favorable reviews (see also: Jeff Gerstmann).
So what’s a gamer to do? Should scores in reviews be thrown out altogether?
Continue reading at GamePro…
Her Southeastern beauty may be unmatched, but Georgia has her share of irritants.
I moved to Utah from Georgia six years ago in pursuit of a degree from BYU (Go Cougars!). I came for the education (okay, not really), but stayed for the girl. It’s a place I call home and a state in which I’m happy to reside.
Earlier this month, Lindsey and I took a trip back to Georgia to see the family — something we hadn’t done in almost three years. Despite the laughs, good company, and unrivaled hospitality, I quickly recognized some things I don’t miss about Georgia. Here are seven of them: Continue reading…
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1sfUKZOHtRs[/youtube]
In honor of International Talk Like a Pirate Day, it’s the best buccaneers.
“Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate’s life for me. We pillage, we plunder, we rifle and loot. We kidnap and ravage and don’t give a hoot…” when playing games, that is.
Tired of incessant World War II-themed shooters? Then drink up me hearties, these are our top five video game pirates – with choice gameplay to boot. After you check out the list, tell us your favorite gaming buccaneers.
Continue reading at MSNBC…
I fear for the future value of my hard-earned dollar. I no longer trust the federal government with spending, nor do countries abroad. When that happens en masse, the dollar will crash.
Sadly, that’s the price we pay for electing big-government knuckleheads into office, and for letting the Federal Reserve buy 80 percent of AIG for $95 billion without a vote, even though U.S. taxpayers will have to pick up the tab.
Man, is our federal government broken (I trust state government so much more right now). When will they understand that “this insanity and the problems we face economically will only occur when we allow the economy to find its own equilibrium. We have to allow the market to endure a recession, we have to allow failure.” — Joe M.
For the sake of our country, at the least to make a statement, write in Ron Paul for president this November. It appears McBama will only continue the trend of frivolous spending and federal intervention.
See also:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HrmF-mPLybw[/youtube]
The above ad is better than the Seinfeld mashup, but it doesn’t make using a PC feel any cooler. Plus, the soft response to Apple’s “I’m a Mac” ads only make me think of Apple, not Microsoft. Sorry, but again, this is fail.
While visiting Atlanta last week, Lindsey and I took the girls to the Georgia Aquarium. Here’s the photogenic proof with captions (shot with a Rebel XTi — the photos, not the captions). Continue reading…
Lindsey and I took the girls to visit their grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins in good ‘ole Georgia last week. We found a smoking deal on airfare, which just so happen to be on Continental — a first for yours truly who usually flies Delta (for no other reason that low fares and a sky miles account).
I must say, I was impressed with the “service to Atlanta.” First off, Continental coach is way more roomy than any other consumer airline I’ve flown over the last decade, maybe ever. The seats aren’t leather, but they’re comfy, and I’d take legroom over leather any day. Continue reading…
