Pop Culture War!

Saddest Week Ever...

2008-04-16T11:51:00.001-04:00

So yesterday, I had to tell all of my coworkers and students that I am leaving at the end of the year.

Today, my Ipod was stolen (possibly by one of the aforementioned students) or lost. Yeah.

So my birthday is tomorrow, so hopefully the week will get better.

Bush slams Stewart

2008-04-16T10:52:00.001-04:00

I'll let the following video speak for itself.

George Bush slams Jon Stewart on the air.

Go read it.

2008-04-11T21:16:00.001-04:00

All Star Superman #10.

Seriously.

Go now.

I don't care if you read comics or not.

It may be the best I've ever read.

I know I'm a massive nerd...

2008-04-03T14:55:00.003-04:00

But,

This is a pretty awesome show done by the Cal Marching Band last year - a show inspired by all that we loved as youth. That, or inspired by what we spent way, way, way too much time doing - especially if you get all of the references in the show.

Enjoy:

Best April Fool's Joke EVAR...

2008-04-01T11:50:00.003-04:00

Well, maybe not EVAR - but it's pretty impressive in scope, and the test you have to take is brilliant. Have fun colonizing Mars!

Emo-SPLOSION!

2008-03-28T11:54:00.003-04:00

Wired has a great article depicting the plight that Mexican Emo Kids are going through right now. According to the story, Emo Kids in Mexico are being viciously attacked by their Punk and Rockabilly counterparts. But what makes the story so interesting is the sexual undertones outlined by Alexis Madrigal, the article's author. Go head over and check it out, it's pretty fascinating stuff.

There's a video in the article (you can find it below) from a Mexican TV news show, but it does give some interesting visuals to this story.

W... W.... What???

2008-03-27T08:24:00.004-04:00

The Hollywood Reporter is reporting that Elizabeth Banks has been cast as Laura Bush in the Oliver Stone directed George Bush biopic, W.

I don't know when the movie takes place, but damn if Ms. Banks is a bit young to be playing the first lady, and for that matter former Goonie Josh Brolin playing the afformentioned Dub seems a bit off too. But I do love those durn Goonies.

But I do trust the 'Stone, so I'll wait and see. Hopefully this comes off more like Nixon or JFK than, say, Alexander...

Sorry about the link for Alexander being messed up, but I figured images of things called Alexander might be more interesting than the film itself.

Check out the (fake) Trailer for W below:

Yeah Democracy!

2008-03-05T12:40:00.006-05:00

The Video Game Voters Network is reporting that the proposed New Mexico bill that introduced legislature taxing video game sales was struck down. This is a great win for the industry, and hopefully serves as a warning to other states trying to legislate the games we love. I'll let VGVN take care of the explanation, but I just thought I'd throw it out here as well.

Snap Judgement: Lost: Via Domus

2008-03-03T12:59:00.003-05:00

So here we go again, sorry it's been so long.

Lost: Via Domus is the official video game adaptation of ABC's hit show.
Unfortunately - the game is a 4. (on a scale of 4-42)

Despite an actually interesting connection to the show (the guy who is slammed into the roof of the plane during the crash in the pilot is actually after the character in the game) and terrific in-game character models, the game falls flat in every other respect.

Lets start with play mechanics. Is it 1997? Or is not being able to jump a retro thing? On the serious - the game control is atrocious. Your character (no name - he's a photographer with amnesia! SO ORIGINAL!) runs about the jungle following Vincent the dog or runnign from fuselage to fuselage navigating your way around. The sensitivity is ratcheted way up, so a simple tweak to the right spins the camera around like it's mounted on a stick of butter.

Stick of butter? Where did that come from?

Like I said before, the models are terrific (Claire looks a bit like a pregnant zombie) John Locke is a spitting image of Terry O'Quinn and Jack Shepard is a doppleganger to Matthew Fox. That being said, the quality of voice work runs the gamut. Jack's voice actor sounds pretty believable and Michael Emerson voices Ben Linus (the same character he plays in the series - other actors voice their video game counterpart).

The game is basically a 1999 PS1 survival horror game with prettier graphics and better sound. I wish that Ubisoft - the studio that created the relatively great Assassin's Creed had done more with this license that has such an abundance of terrific content and writers. But alas, as most licensed movie/tv games do, Lost: Via Domus fails to live up to it's source material.

Too Damn Long!!!!!!!!!!

2008-03-03T12:03:00.002-05:00

SORRY!

We've been MIA - but we're back, we're here and we are gonna blog like it's 1992.

Oh, wait.

2002.

Right.

Coming up - Lost: Via Domus (The Lost video game) snap judgment!

Word!

GO!

2007-12-07T08:46:00.000-05:00

Ok, so I'm excited... Speed Racer Trailer online!

GO!

ZOMG! Iron Man and The HULK?!?!?

2007-12-04T10:25:00.000-05:00

The folks over at Ain't it Cool News are reporting an awesome rumor that Both the Iron Man movie and Hulk movie are shooting a scene TOGETHER!!! Check out the story over there, and remember, it's still a rumor, so don't go getting too excited, but I sure as hell am!

Best Comic Description EVAR

2007-11-27T08:40:00.000-05:00

From Marvel's Website:

X-MEN: FIRST CLASS # 6
The Story: "Hey Cyclops, you seen my powers anywhere?"
"Naw."
"Ay-ay, where my wings go at?"
"Dag, I'm all havin' to lift up my coffee with my HANDS, yo."
"Dang. We cold done lost our powerz."

WATCH THIS NOW!!! Slapsgiving

2007-11-21T10:38:00.000-05:00

This is Marshall's Slapsgiving song, "You just got slapped." It's fan-freaking-tastic.

Word.

Watch this Now - YouTube

2007-11-20T11:16:00.000-05:00

This is Derrick Comedy. If you haven't watched them, do it now! Funny funny stuff. I know it's complete toilet humor, but you know what, it goes on just long enough to not be un-funny.

Word!

Krause, I hardly knew her!

2007-11-20T10:37:00.000-05:00

ABC, the first network to do so since the strike began, has picked up a half season show for the whole shebang. Than show is Dirty Sexy Money, and if you're not watching it, you suck.

I usually hate shows about people with money and problems, but the cast in this one is so damn good that it doesn't matter. The money is just a plot device, and isn't the focus of the show.

I'll watch Peter Krause read the paper, so it's pretty nice he can be on TV and such. Especially now that he's on network, not HBO (Which I don't get).

"Over my dead body will Colbert's name be on the ballot."

2007-11-01T12:04:00.000-04:00

It looks like mock pundit Stephen Colbert may hit a roadblock. The good folks over at CNN, a 'right thinking' news source, have posted a story describing what problems "Mr. America" will face in running for office in South Carolina.

In the article, it states that Colbert is planning on running as a Democrat in the state, simply because they charge less to run. It costs $2,500 to run for the Democrat Primary in SC, as opposed to $35,00 for the GOP.

But the money isn't the only problem. Colbert doesn't seem to be what the South Carolina Democratic committee deems "nationally viable," which simply means he isn't campaigning anywhere else.

Read more about it here, and make sure that you go and support the Colbert Nation!

"Stephen Colbert, the right choice for your future."

One more One Sentence Blog, By a Zombie

2007-10-30T12:21:00.000-04:00

MarahSHGADAHGAAAAAaaaaaaaa.

One Sentence Blog: Zombies

2007-10-30T11:38:00.001-04:00

The zombie apocalypse will happen, I found a list that gives the details. (Thanks Nat Cassidy)

The Best News EVAR!

2007-10-30T08:19:00.000-04:00

CRANK 2!

That's right, a sequel to the most frenetic action movie ever is slated to go into production ASAP. I just hope the script is done and doesn't get affected by the WGA writer's strike.

Crank 2: High Voltage

Here's the premise: "(Chev Chelios [Jason Statham]) faces a Chinese mobster who has stolen his nearly indestructible heart and replaced it with a battery-powered ticker that requires regular jolts of electricity to keep working."

How does that not rule to all ends o' the earth? Statham has decided to take this project on before the strike hits, so I can't wait.

Wolvie Gets Officialized

2007-10-22T07:49:00.000-04:00

Over at Marvel's website they have announced that the Wolverine movie, slated for a May 1, 2009 the film will officially be titled X-Men Origins: Wolverine. This makes it relatively clear that they are planning a whole host of X-Men Origins... movies, with Magneto being the subject of the next. Unfortunately, after these two, have any other characters from the films been at all compelling enough for their own feature? Let us know what you think!

HOLY CRAP! Parallel Universes Exist!

2007-10-17T10:22:00.000-04:00

So it looks as if those wacky bastards at DC Comics and Sliders were right, parallel universes do exist, according to this Oxford University Study.

Propers to Joe Shakespeare over at Brian K. Vaughan's Forums for cluing me into this story:

Parallel universes exist - study

Parallel universes really do exist, according to a mathematical discovery by Oxford scientists described by one expert as "one of the most important developments in the history of science".

The parallel universe theory, first proposed in 1950 by the US physicist Hugh Everett, helps explain mysteries of quantum mechanics that have baffled scientists for decades, it is claimed.

In Everett's "many worlds" universe, every time a new physical possibility is explored, the universe splits. Given a number of possible alternative outcomes, each one is played out - in its own universe.

A motorist who has a near miss, for instance, might feel relieved at his lucky escape. But in a parallel universe, another version of the same driver will have been killed. Yet another universe will see the motorist recover after treatment in hospital. The number of alternative scenarios is endless.

It is a bizarre idea which has been dismissed as fanciful by many experts. But the new research from Oxford shows that it offers a mathematical answer to quantum conundrums that cannot be dismissed lightly - and suggests that Dr Everett, who was a Phd student at Princeton University when he came up with the theory, was on the right track.

Commenting in New Scientist magazine, Dr Andy Albrecht, a physicist at the University of California at Davis, said: "This work will go down as one of the most important developments in the history of science."

According to quantum mechanics, nothing at the subatomic scale can really be said to exist until it is observed. Until then, particles occupy nebulous "superposition" states, in which they can have simultaneous "up" and "down" spins, or appear to be in different places at the same time.

Observation appears to "nail down" a particular state of reality, in the same way as a spinning coin can only be said to be in a "heads" or "tails" state once it is caught.

According to quantum mechanics, unobserved particles are described by "wave functions" representing a set of multiple "probable" states. When an observer makes a measurement, the particle then settles down into one of these multiple options.

The Oxford team, led by Dr David Deutsch, showed mathematically that the bush-like branching structure created by the universe splitting into parallel versions of itself can explain the probabilistic nature of quantum outcomes.

That was taken from here.

fighting the covenant in the name of doing good...

2007-10-16T07:58:00.000-04:00

I know I usually talk about gaming on here, and that's primarily because I'm the best player on the blog. But no, seriously, I am participating in an awesome Halo 3 Tournament on Saturday, October 20th. The tourney is sponsored by the Cavegirls, a group who hosts gaming fourms here. These awesome people have decided to host a tournament to benefit the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. More info on the tournament can be found by going to their forums, and if you don't want to play, you can still donate! Gaming for a cause! DO IT!

The Simple Reason Why Halo 3 Rules...

2007-10-11T21:10:00.000-04:00

Now, If you don't understand the following clips, that just means that you've not played Halo at all yet. These are two ridiculously awesome plasma grenade sticks...

The Orange Box

2007-10-10T20:19:00.000-04:00

Half Life 2
Half Life 2: Episode 1
Half Life 2: Episode 2
Portal
Team Fortress 2

Go buy it now.

It is awesome. I've played a bit of Portal, TF2, and HL2 so far, and here we go:

Portal: Great, great time, it's a first person action puzzler shooter. Yeah. Try that one on for size biznatch!

TF2: A bit laggy, but the most personality driven multiplayer only game I've ever played.

HL2: Looks ridiculous on the XBOX! They've added HDR (Geek speak for fancy lighting) and re-done a lot of the textures on everything (Makes everything/one look prettier).

SO, if you're waiting, don't. IF you don't have an XBOX 360, go buy one, Halo 3, and The Orange Box, that's essentially 7 games for the price of 2. How can you afford not to? I mean REALLY!

new meme: one sentence blogs: spider-man 3

2007-10-09T21:09:00.003-04:00

Spider-Man 3 was worse than Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer.

Why do I keep watching Prison Break

2007-10-02T18:50:00.000-04:00

Anyone? Anyone?

I mean, it's ok, but it seems to be a glorified MacGyver. only without Richard Dean Anderson. And if RDA isn't involved - what's the point?

I still watch every week, but it doesn't do so much for me.

I don't know, I just would prefer them to let shows like this to die after one or two seasons. It's like we need to force TV to be more meta than it needs to be.

Also, I'll try and not suck as a blogger. But no promises.

Also, Jersey does in fact suck.

Sony does SOMETHING right

2007-03-24T14:32:00.000-04:00

Check out this story from the Gamesindustry.biz folk - at the UK release of the PS3, Sony gave the first 125 customers in line free Sony Bravia LCD TVs valued at $2500.00. That's finally doing something right with this system by consumers.

AND no one got shot. Which is good!

-a

3 Things

2007-03-22T21:58:00.000-04:00

1) I had no intention of making M think that I in any way shape or form truly support anything DC does. I only meant to say that Marvel should rip-off their strategy.

2) D should never disagree with me, because if he does, It'll catch up with him. He knows what I mean.

3) I don't really have anything, it's just that 3 items always sound better than 2.

-a

Why Corporate Parenthood is Good for Comic Movies

2007-03-20T13:39:00.000-04:00

According to Moviehole, Warner Brothers is planning on using Superman in their upcoming Justice League movie. Wha huh??? This is about the best idea I've heard in a while. DC Comics is owned by Warner Brothers, which is the production company for all DC Comics inspiried movies. That means that Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman can be in the same movie, without going through more hoops than a trick poodle at a state fair. Marvel really missed out on this opportunity until they recently opened their own production company. Now, theoretically, Spidey can swing by in the background of the Wolverine movie, and the Avengers movie can actually come together, and still allow Captain America (R.I.P.) and Iron Man to have their own movies. I don't know if BJ Routh will be reprising his role as Supes, but I'm ok if someone else dons the Blue and Red. Different comic artists draw characters differently in different books, so why can't another actor play Superman? Although - for the sake of continuity - I hope he does come on board.

-a

Wii're Problematic

2007-03-09T11:15:00.000-05:00

I own a Wii. I love my Wii. But I have a problem. I am purposefully not finishing The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess. I am not doing this because it is too hard, or too long, or too disappointing a game, no I am doing this because I don't have anything to play when I'm done.

The Wii is suffering from a relatively familiar problem in the games industry, the first 6 month drought. Because of a number of factors about getting games published, most new consoles ship with one, maybe two, games that are actually worth playing. And no, Happy Feet ain't one of them. I'll possibly find time in the near future to finish up the newest adventure of Link and Zelda, but really I just wish console makers would be more on top of this problem so that during every new console launch we're not sitting around waiting for the next good game.

Super Paper Mario gets released on April 9, and Smash Brothers Brawl comes out this summer. But please Nintendo, get on your ball. Get some quality games out there soon.

-a