Good Old Days

Here a pic of my good friend Mando and the legendary Stevie Ray Vaughn.

Losses

The year is drawing to a close and one of the more morbid things to do is look at all the people that have passed on in the past year. Here the ones I remember.

Eartha Kitt singer actor ground breaker.
Barry Moorse actor Space 1999.
Suzanne Pleshette actor Bob Newheart Show.
Roy Scheider actor Jaws, 2010 A Space Odyssey.
Sir Aurthur C Clark writer 2001 A Space Odyssey.
Charlton Heston actor The Ten Commandments, Planet of the Apes Touch of Evil.
John Archibald Wheeler physicist coined the terms Black Hole and Worm Hole.
Alexander Courage composer wrote music for Star Trek and other TV series.
Robert Lynn Asprin writer The Myth series.
Dick Martin director and co host of Laugh In.
Harvey Korman actor The Carol Burnett Show and Blazing Saddles.
Bo Didley guitarist Im A Man.
Satn Wiston special effects makeup artist Ailens.
George Carlin comedian Dirty Words.
Don S. Davis actor Stargate SG1.
Isaac Hayes singer Shaft.
Jerry Reed guitarist singer actor Someky and the Bandit, Hotstuff ,songs Eastbond and Down, When Your Hot Your Hot.
Bill Melendeze animater Peanuts specials.
Majel Barrette Roddenberry actor Star Trek.
Dr. Michael DeBakey heart surgen.

Post Christmas Shoping

We went to the local strip mall yesterday. There where lots of bargain hunters. I did not find anything worth buying.

Dallas Cowboys Lose

Dallas Cowboys 6
Philadelphia Eagles 44

In a game where the Cowboys must win they failed to even show up.

Cool

The cool front finally came in. There was a chill in the air and you had to bundle up to go outside. It was glorious.

Sheesh

Today we set a new record high of 90 degrees.
But we did get a new cool front so tomorrow should not exceed 70 degrees.
We need a cold front!

Happiness And Cheer

Christmas day has past. However in keeping with my moms wishes the tree will be up until January 1st.

I have already seen a Christmas tree thrown out waiting for the brush collector.

How quickly time moves.

I hope we get a good cold front Saturday. We have had to run the air conditioner the past few days.

I never found my Christmas stocking. I have no idea where it is.

Such is life.

Happiness

"Happiness is a large and caring family... in another city"
George Burns

Merry Christmas

Merry
Christmas
&
Happy
New
Year

A Cup Of Warm Coffie

It's still cold here and there was a line of seagulls sitting on a coffee shop enjoying the exhaust heat.

Top Five

Here in no particular order are my top five games of the year.

Sid Meier's Civilization
One of my favorite games this year. Brilliantly done from beginning to end and on all side.
Sharp audio and graphics and well done controls. Add to this a plethora of down loadable content including new seriousness and maps. a great deal of the DLC is free.

WWE Smackdown vs Raw 2009
After the train wreck of a game last year the series has greatly improved. Well done graphics and audio and improved controls. This is a must have for wrestling fans.

Call Of Duty World At War
Set in World War 2. An excellent game with plenty to do. The single player game is excellent and the on line play is exceptional.

Garnd Theft Auto 4
Outstanding game. Well written, great production and game play. On line play is endless.

Saints Row 2
Far better than the original. A clearly over the top game.

Boom Boom Out Go The Lights

I woke up this morning to either thunder or mortar fire. It traveled from one side of the house to the back yard then from one power pole to the other. My next door neighbor lost power and my other neighbor saw fireworks in my backyard.
I called the power company and they showed up in under an hour. After forty minutes of asking questions and staring at the power lines the power guy trimmed some trees and fiddled with this and that.
I have no idea what happened but the power is purring along fine.

Cowboys Lose

Dallas Cowboys 24
Baltimore Ravines 33

Just plain sad.

Busted

A disappointing Mythbusters this week. The show they claimed was new was in fact a rerun of a Christmas special from last year.
Here are a few of the results.
A snowman will melt slower if he is dressed in cloths.
An ice sickle can fall fast enough and be large enough to be lethal.
The temperature in the surrounding rooms of a house will decrees when you light the fire place.
I hope Jamie and Adam have some new stuff for the new year.

Short Sleeve December

It was in the low 80s here today. That and 100 humidity made for a very muggy day. Christmas stuff is now on sale at the stores but I did not find anything wort buying.
We should have a cold front tomorrow night or Sunday night depending on how fast the fronts travel. It is snowing all over the USA and I am envious.

Rectal Probe

I have been playing Destroy All Human Path of the Furon.
You play Cryptosporidium, a grouchy, grumpy, and greedy alien who sound like Jack Nicholson. Crypto had a bit of a bender and crashed his flying saucer into a Los Vegas hotel. He now manages that hotel and is not have fun as a family of bad guys want him out of business. Armed with rays guns, cloaking devices, mental powers, and rectal probes Crypto is out to take care of bussiness.
The game is fun, the scene of humor is childish, and the voice work is outstanding.
The graphics are poor for a next generation system.
The controls are fine.
The audio is well done.
I give this game a 3.5 mostly because of the sadly done graphics.
This is a rent if you want a silly game.

Passing

Majel Barrett Roddenberry, widow of Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry died today.
She died of leukemia at age 76.
She started out as second in command of the Enterprise in the unaired pilot, then played head nurse Christine Chapel in Star Trek the original series and then Lwaxana Troi in Star Trek The Next Generation. She also appeared in other Star Trek movie and TV series as the voice of the computer system. She also served as producer of two other TV seris.
Union Pacific railroad engineers enlisted her voice talents for their track-side defect detecor devices, used in various Union Pacific railroad locations deployed west of the Mississippi River. When a defect is identified, the system responds with her voice announcing information to the train's head-end crew.

Lazy Day

Today I did nothing but sleep and decorate for Christmas.
It still cold here but warming up but I for some reason just slept the day away.
They say we will have another cold front by Monday. Fine by me.
I have finished the decorating and wrapping but can not find my Christmas Stocking.
I hope to find it as I have used the same hand made one for as long as I can remember. That stocking and I have been through some nasty times together.

Are There No Prisons

Here my Christmas movie for the day.
A Christmas Carol made for TV in 1999.
This is a close retelling of the Dickens book, however a small bit of overacting and a absolutely silly ghost of Christmas Past make the a mediocre movie.
Patrick Stewart better know a Capitan Pichard from Star Trek The Next Generation plays a closed and tightfisted Scrooge. The film flowes wonderfully until the last two ghosts. The ghost of Chriistmas Present is over acted and the finnal spirt is down right laughable. The ghost of Christmas past is a man in a cloak with some kind of structure serving as the ghost head complete with two low powered LED lights for eyes. The shoulders of this ghost are far too low below the head of this ghost for it to be belivable and the constant close ups of the LEDs just make matters worse.
Patrock Stewart does a great job as a self centered and self absorbed Scrooge.
Liz Smith returns for a third movie appearance as the char women Mrs. Dilber.

Little People

How will you treat the little people?
They are just going about their business.
Singing Christmas carol and Santa is making his rounds and then you come along. You shake up the quite little world that lives inside an on line snow glob. You click the globe to shake it then thing go wild. Snow people and even Santa go wildly careening through their tiny world.

http://www.theweepies.com/snowglobe/

Hark

There where kids actually singing Christmas carols in our grocery store today.

Brr

You know it's cold when the paper mache pumpkin is wearing a Santa hat.

Roller Skating In L. A.

When in love some guys write poems, some sing songs, some fight wars, and some buy flowers.
Not Steve Martin. He makes a movie. A very funny movie.
"LA Story" made in 1991 staring Steve Martin.
This film is a love story between Martin, the city of Los Angels, and his then wife Victoria Tennant.
Martin plays a TV weatherman Harris Telemacher just trying to survive the insanity of life in Los Angeles California. Then Harris falls in love, with a girl played by Sarah Jessica Parker, a woman played by Tennant, and his city L A played by itself.
This movie is a cynical and warped look at L A culture, love, and cappuccino.

Chill

It is 38 degrees outside right now. The forecast calls for it to be in the low 70s this week but back in the 80s.

Christmas Island

Another of my favorite Christmas CD's is Leon Redbone's Christmas Island.
Redbone echoes the singing styles of days gone by.
The CD is just pure fun and the best track is his version of Frosty The Snowman with a guest appearance by Dr. John.

A Little Sting & Stuff

I finally got my flue shot today. I didn't even feel it. It hurts a tiny bit but otherwise everything OK.
It was strange getting a flue shot in a grocery store.
"Yes I like some beef jerky, oatmeal cookies, and a flue shot."
I am done with the wrapping and am waiting for my father to open his birthday present. He has been making a big deal about having a birthday present warped in birthday wrapping paper instead of Christmas paper.
I have also dug out all my Christmas CDs and have been listen to them. I have found some great Christmas Music CD's in the most unlikely spots over the years. Currently I'm listening to a collection of Christmas guitar works I bought in a gas station for under a buck.
It will be in the high 70's tommorow but we are expecting another cold front Monday night. Goodie more cold weather.
Saves money by not having to run the air conditioner.

Baby It's Cold Outside

Last night we set a new record low.
It was 30 degrees here beating the old record set in 1966 by 1 degree.
I love this cold weather. It makes breathing so much easier and I have energy to spare instead of being exhausted in a few hours.
We have about 60 more days of this before the weather returns to it's usual hell on earth standard.

The Pigs Says "Ah Crap!"

Today I had a serving of bacon.
This is the first bacon I have had in years and years. It was delicious!
Pigs of the world beware.

Santa's Little Helper

Opus is a kind and gentle soul.
Opus has a friend named Bill.
Bill the cat. Bill is the Kieth Richards of the cat world.
Opus also has a wish.
A Wish for Wings That Work.

Opus the penguin and Bill the cat appear in "A Wish For Wings That Work"
Made by Steven Spielberg Animation Studios in 1991.
Opus wrights Santa a letter asking for the power of flight.
Guest voices include Robin Williams as an angry kiwi and Dustin Hoffman as a cross dressing cockroach.

Not your usual Christmas fare but good for a laugh or two.

He's Too Much

The brothers are back. Everyones pair of bickering brothers the Misers are back in their own TV Christmas special.
Heat Miser and Snow Miser return in a sequel to the 1974 classic Year Without A Santa Clause a stop motion animation Rankin / Bass production.
The program will will be shown Saturday night on the ABC Family network. Micky Rooney will reprise his role as the voice of Santa.

Shame On Them

Do to some screw up I can no longer get into the email account I have been using for decades. This is maddening. You trust someone to provide a service and they only repay you with endless spam and incompetent service. May there stock crash and burn and the CEO's lose there jobs.
If you are not capable of doing a job do not go into business. You only shame yourself and harm the people that would deal with you.

Orders Sir

I have been playing Brothers in Arms: Hell's Highway.
Yet another World War 2 shooter.
You are placed in command of a squad of soldiers sent out to fight the Nazi menace.
The AI is brighter than most but still makes very stupid moves.
You position your squad to pin the enemy force down while you move around and flank the bad guys and pick them off.
This is a good game but nothing exceptional.
Everything is done nicely.
The controls are nicely done.
The audio is nicely done.
The graphics are nicely done but there are some pop ins.
The game play is nicely done.
There is noting outstanding but this is a good solid game.

3.5 out of 5.

Merry Christmas Chuck

Todays Christmas movie is not a movie but a Christmas tradition.
"Merry Christmas Charlie Brown" was made in 1965 and based the very popular comic strip series Peanuts and won an Emmy and a Peabody.
Produced and directed by Bill Melendez who also contributed the voice of Snoopy. The show still holds it's own even today.
The highlight is the speech given by Linus.
(Pay attention atheist idiots)


"'And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.' That's what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown."

There is also the ground breaking jazz soundtrack by Vince Guaraldi. The sound track is still one of the fastest selling Christmas albums available.

Simple this is a must see Christmas event.

More Carols

My next Christmas pick movie is the 1984 A Christmas Carol staring George C Scott.
This film is directed by Clive Donner who was an editor on the 1951 version of Scrooge.

To me this is one of the best tellings of the story original made for TV.
George C Scott plays a down right nasty Scrooge.
Brilliant production quality plus a truly frighting Ghost of Christmas Pasts. If you want to see a good retailing of the Dickens classic this is the one to see.

Cowboys Lose

Dallas Cowboys 13
Pittsburgh Steelers 20

A Sim Christmas

I thought I would talk about some great Christmas movies.
So lets start with one of the best.
"Scrooge" made in black and white in 1951 then released in the USA as "A Christmas Carol."
The film stars Alistair Sim as Scrooge.
There is also a great performance by Kathleen Harrison as Mrs. Dilber who is a char woman.
Also an appearance by Patrick Macnee from BBC TV's "The Avengers" as a young Jacob Marley.
After being played on PBS chanels in the USA the movie which opened to mixed reviews gain a cult following.

There is also the 1989 colorized version famous for colorizng the camera crew reflexion in a mirror that can be seen towards the end film as Scrooge wakes up from the ghosts visit.

There is also the 1971" A Christmas Carol" produced by Chuck Jones.
Alistair Sim provides the voice of Scrooge.
Michael Hordern also returned to reprise his role as Jacob Marley.

Pop some corn and lets the spirits play.

Hair Today

I have spent my day slowly wrapping presents and playing games.

I herd of a neat easter egg involving changing the hair color of your xbox live avatar.
It is pretty simple.
go to the screen that lets you modify your features.
select the hair box but do not click.
Without touching your controller wait 60 seconds. The box will rotate after a minute. When that happens click the hair you want and if you scroll far left or far right you will find even more hidden hair colors for you to use.

The Captains Chair

I watched the new talk show hosted by William Shatner.
The show is great. Shatner has a great interview style and the guest seem very relaxed. I can't wait for him to interview his former co star Lenard Nemoy.

Send In The Elves

I am done with my Christmas shopping.
Now I just have to do the most difficult part of Christmas. Wrapping the presents.
Oh the horror.
Wrapping is the devil attempt to ruin Christmas. However I have found a secret weapon against the vast plot against my enjoyment of the Holidays. Gift bags!
Yes brightly colored bag covered with preatty pictures. This is the best invetion in the past fifty years.

Now to deal with the Christmas cards.

Jobbers

This week The Simpsons had on of their best episodes ever.
It started with a great "couch gag" which is the opening visual joke. This time Bart had a large portable chalkboard blocking the couch and was writing "I will not bring the chalkboard home" over and over and over.
The first segment of the show was devoted to lampooning the whole Ipod or Apple cult movement. There was a great send up of Steve Jobs and his mindless minions I call Jobbers.
The rest of the show delved into bigotry, paranoia, and racism.
Great episode.

I Feel Like Dancing

Today is the final day of hurricane season.
Tropical Update: Nothing Cooking.
Stomach: Very Very Happy

Don't Eat The Roach

I've been playing Fallout 3.
This is a game made by Bethesda. They made one off my all time favorite games Oblivion.
The game is a lot like Oblivion but set in a post nuclear apocalyptic world. However the game is dull as a butter knife. As much as I wanted to like this game I just couldn't.
First off paint dries at a faster pace than this game moves.
Secondly everything is a depressing shade of gray.
Third everyone speaks in hushed tones like the are afraid of waking someone kid.
Finally all the none player charterers look like they escaped from an episode of Clutch Cargo.
Everyone stand or sits perfectly still and only moves their lips. The only NPC that does any real acting is a Robby The Robot rip off that guards the entrance of a town called Megaton.
I am very disappointed with Fallout 3.
This is a rent if you must game.

Once Again Into The Breech

I've been playing World At War. In fact I am stuck. I must clear out the gun crew of a few cannons and then work my way into a huge building. The big problem is there are no save points and I keep getting blown to bits by grenades. If that is not frustrating enough the headset for my 360 has broken.
I still recommend this game though.

Go Ask Alice

My cardiologist office called and he has taken me off one pill entirely. I don't know if this is good or bad but that one less pill to keep track of.

Cowboys Win

Dallas Cowboys 34
Seattle Seahawks 9

The boys are back.

Go Cowboys.

Parade O' Crap

The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade gets better every year. OK OK I'm sorry it's difficult to put sarcasm across in a blog.
The parade is now a long commercial for every pop star, soap opera, Broadway play, and Al Roker project under the sun.
In fact there hardly is any parade in this parade.
There more plugs in the parade in Elton Johns hair transplant.
I give up. I'll just line up my Hot Wheels cars and have a far more enjoyable parade on my table top.

Happy Thanksgiving Y'all

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone.
Here a list of things I am thankful for.
My Xbox Live friends Barry, Fish, Gavin, and Hellz.
The fact I'm not in the hospital.
The price of gas going down.
The Mythbusters.
My dads good health.

These Are The Voyages

The Biography channel has announced a new talk show.
William Shanter's Raw Nerve.
Premiering December 2nd William Shanter will be interviewing people one on one in a style only Shanter can do.
I think Shanter is one of the most fascinating people around and here he is interviewing people like Kelsey Gramer, Valerie Bertineli, and Lenard Nimoy.
Shanter interviewing Nimoy has to be good TV.

Good News

I saw my heart doctor today.
Other than some blood work next week there nothing to report. The biggest news was they have new wallpaper and everyone hates it.
I have gained 10 lbs over the past year.

Moma Said You Shouldn't Play With Elvs

I have been playing A Kingdom For Kerflings.
This is a game from the Xbox Live market place. You play a giant who must help his knee high friends the Kerflings.
Kerflings are not the brightest things walking but work hard and are very friendly although they do like being touched. You and the little folk build a kingdom (aperantly no one cares if the giant catches cold). You guide the moving and harvesting of resorces and build the places where they are put to use.
This is a simple pick up and play game with nothing fancy going on.
However it is a great deal of fun for the creative and bossy types.

Cowboys Win

Dallas Cowboys 35
San Fransisco 49's 22

The 49's grabbed an early lead but Cowboys took a decive lead in the second quarter and maintained it.

Today

Today I feel like absolute crap. The only good part was the final serving of Jello and the Dallas Cowboys won today.
I'm slowly feeling better.

Thought

There is nothing worse than being alone.

Fresh Off The Platypus

Rockstar has announced an expansion for their game GTA 4. This will be the first in a two part story entitled "The Lost & The Damned" There will be a new main character in this story. Also new vehicles and weapons. This is shedual for released in Febuary.

Like Old Times

I got to play Halo 3 with my overseas brother and friend "Fish."
We have not played together in ages and is was fun although I got stuck in the floor and spent most of the game watching people run by me.
I learned my friend Gav has closed his XBox account so I won't be playing with him anymore. Sad really. Poor old man having a business to run. He a kid really and owns his own business. Good work OLD man.

War Is Heck

I got Call of Duty World of War for the 360.
This game is a blast.
You play the parts of an average grunts in WW2. You fight overwhelming numbers of bad guys some of who behave like you owe them money.
There is also a "Death Card" collection. The cards behave much like the skulls in Halo 3. They open odd and some silly in game effects. There is a card that allows you to fire exploding bullets when you are injured and waiting for medical attention.
The graphics are well done.
The audio is also very well done.
The controls are easy to understand.
I give this game a 4.5 out of 5. (Based on the point there is no such thing as a perfect five game.)

Skylight

I saw my doctor today. All the usual stuff. While waiting afterwards I noticed this skylight. This is the best part of an otherwise stomach churning bad building.

Joy

The Thanksgiving decorations are out.
No plans have been made and we may not have guests for the first time in ages.
Hopefully this year the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade wont be one long ego feast for Al Roker.
Shut up Al I want to see the floats, the bands, and the balloons not your ego a go go.

Cowboys Win Romo Returns

Dallas Cowboys 14
Washington Redskins 10

The Redskins took an early seven point lead but the Cowboys came back in the second quarter and moved ahead in the fourth quarter to win the game.

Here that Gavin, MY Cowboys beat your Redskins.

This was the first game with Tony Romo back in charge.

Welcome back Tony.

Go Cowboys!

Christmas Music

My trip to the mall had a nice find in the Christmas cutout bend. I picked up two Cd's for under 7 dollars.
However the main cause for the trip was the controller for my 360 died. That was 50 dollars I would have much rather kept.

Finaly

As you can see by this photo of my inside outside thermometer it is finally below 60 degrees outside. Winter is more or less here finally. Now hopefully it will stay cool for a few months.

Intresting

I went to the mall earlier this week and found this interesting item in the parking garage.
There is a rumor that the mall will get a new book store. Yeah!

Stuner

THQ who published Smackdown vs Raw 2009 has released an announcement that a patch will be issued.
"The patch will allow fans of the leading fighting video game franchise to give all of their created Superstars full attributes after completing the new Career Mode one time through. Given the overall popularity of the Create-A-Superstar feature and the fans' ongoing demand for more flexibility, this new patch will greatly enhance the player's ability to fully customize many created Superstars at the same time."
Now the question is why didn't they see this flaw before the game was sent to retailers. Unlike the "Abbot Flaw" in Fable 2, this was so obvious the game should have been fixed while in development.
Someone was not thinking. I'm sorry but if your too damn lazy not to think things through you should lose your job.
I look forward to the patch. Now if only they would add a flame thrower to use on Triple H.
The patch will be released sometime before January 31st 2009.

Stop The Maddness

In July 4 1997 the Sojourner robot was sent to Mars to explore while its cowardly creators stayed in a nice safe warm building on Earth. The Sojourner died alone September 27 1997. Now the tragedy continues while two innocent robots perish in the vacuum of space. The Mars Phoenix Lander has died leaving only a sad binary message saying "Triumph". Also The Spirit Rover was consumed by a hateful Martian dust storm.
Why would the dieing breath of a brave robot be to plug a Canadian hard rock band?
When will the heartless madness stop. When will NASA cease sending defenseless robots to Mars only to die a bitter cold death.
Therefor I would like to announce the forming of an action comity called PETME.

People for the
Ethical
Treatment
of
Martian
Explorers

Unite and force NASA to stop this heartless course of action. No more of our robot brothers and sisters must die alone in space where no one can hear you scream.

Will Goggle Provide Some Soup

Goggle has announced that they can track an out break of the flue by tracking search requests on the topic of the flue.
Goggle will combine with the CDC (Center of Disease Control) to run a website with daily graphs showing where the flue is breaking out. The data will show the location and intestacy of flue out breaks allowing the CDC to react quicker to problemed areas.
OK everyone on Thanksgiving day at noon everyone do a search for The Plague.

Game Problems

I have fallen victim to the Abbot Flaw. In the game Fable 2 when you talk to a quest giver called the Abbot you must listen to his entire speech before heading out on the quest. If you head out before he is done the game will not allow you to talk to him again. This breaks the main storyline of the game. So I'll have to start all over again. Not so bad but annoying.

Friendly Voices

I got to talk to my UK brother today. It was nice to hear from him.

Deal

One of my all time favorite games is Texas Hold Em for the Game Boy Advance by Skyworks and Majesco. This is a real simple card game. The whole game is well done and kept simple and easy to understand. It was released in 2004. The background piano jazz riff is worth the price of the game alone. If you want a inexpensive card game for your GBA give this thing a try.

Can You Smell...

I have been playing Smackdown vs Raw 2009.
This game is far better than last years offering in the series. The create a wrestler is back and just as deep last time. Plenty to play with here. You can also add your own Entrance music from the hard drive of your 360. The graphics are on par with last years if not better and the audio is just as good. This leads to the games big flaw. The control system is still a jumbled mess and poorly laid out. It takes two buttons to get back into the ring. Y for finishers is the biggest problem. The 2007 system was easier to use and a more natural lay out.
The big plus of this years game is the create a finisher feature. You can pick from a list of animation moves and string them in order to make a finisher. The are up to ten spaces to use. The are moves that will make your opponent bleed. Oddly there are very few pinning moves.
On a scale of 1 to 5 I give this a weak 4 due to the poor and illogical control scheme. A must have for WWE and or wrestling fans and far better than the TNA game released earlier this year.
Must rent if not buy.

Tropical Update

Hurricane Paloma

Latitude 21.1N
Longitude 77.6W
Winds: 100 mph
Moving: North Eats 5 mph
Pressure: 975 millibars

Paloma course is projected North East away from the United Sates.

Mall Christmas

I went to the mall today. My friends did a great job of decorating their store front.
I dropped my camera, it's scratched up but seems to work fine.

Cable Greed

The Federal Communication Commission is looking into the rearranging of the channel listings for some subscribers. Some cable providers having be moving channel into their digital listings as to force some customers to subscribe to the more expensive digital packages.
The result being that subscribers are getting fewer channels for their money or paying for the more expensive tier to get the channels they had back.
The FCC has sent out a letter of inquiry.
The letter can be seen here.
http://arstechnica.com/news.media/CableLOI.pdf

The Great Bird Of The Galaxy

With the election of Obama I can't help but feel somewhere Gene Rodberry is smiling.

History In The Making

Tonight history was made.
The first black president of the United States of America was elected.
The are also changes made in congress. The Democrats have tightened their grip on Congress.
This is also the first time in ages two Senators have run for president. This is the first time scene president Kennedy that a sitting congressman has been elected president.
This may be part of America moving more towards the left.
Remember this date.

Toys In The Attic

A 1,400 pound tank of ammonia is falling towards us. The refrigerator sized tank was let loose from the international space station. Hopefully it will burn up in orbit and fall harmlessly to earth.
I can see the headlines now. "Man crushed by orbiting freezer."

Shock The Vote

“Bad politicians are sent to Washington by good people who don't vote.”

William E Simon

Some say they are sending a message by not voting, BS. The message your sending is "I'm lazy."
If you don't vote you are not taking any actions to change the political items that you have been complaining about. You are allowing the thieves and crooks to continue to steal from you unchecked and unpunished. If you don't like what the Democrat or Republicans have to offer vote for a third party candidate. Write in a vote for someone who you think can do a better job. Failing that write in a vote of someone out of protest. Vote for Bugs Bunny.
In any event go vote.

Cowboys Lose

Dallas Cowboys 14
New York Giants 35

The Giants maintained their lead throughout the game.

Dallas Cowboys Schedule

November 2 4:15pm New York Giants.
November 16 8:15pm Washington Redskins.
November 23 1:00pm San Francisco 49ers.
November 27 4:15pm Seattle Seahawks.

Go Cowboys.

Tricks N Treats

Last night was Halloween. We actually had a few more kids this year than last year.
Also my father was very bored so much to my surprise the Christmas Tree was up and fully decorated. The departments stores have nothing on us.

Tales of Music and Imagination

Here is some Halloween music to listen to.
Tales of Mystery and Imagination by the Alan Parson Project 1976.
The first rock album to use a voice corder. This album is a tribute to Edgar Alan Poe. There are seven tracks taken directly from Poe's work.

Happy Halloween

Here some Halloween night suggestions.
Nosferatu 1922. Possible the first horror movie ever. Staring Max Shereck. Black and white silent movie.
Dracula 1931. Starring Bela Lugosi. This is the classic vampire film and a must see.
Halloween 1978. The first slasher film which is more a thriller than a horror film. Staring Jamie Lee Curtis.

Do YOu Belive In Ghost?

Vincent

Instead of one film lets try a group of film staring one man... Vincent Price.
From 1960 to 1965 he stared in a series of films by Roger Corman based on Edgar Allen Poe stories.
The House of Usher 1960, The Pit and The Pendulum 1961, Tales of Terror 1962, The Comedy of Terrors 1963, The Raven 1963, The Masque of The Red Death 1964, and The Tomb of Ligeia 1965.
Prices unique voice and tall imposing form where perfect for horror films. Price was noted as a man with a taste for the fine arts and to be an excellent cook.
Price is also noted for starting a food fight on the set of the Batman series. He was guest starring as Egghead.

Abby Someone

The movie for the night is a light hearted tribute to all the old black and white horror films of yesteryear.
Young Frankenstein 1974.
This movie was written by none other than Mel Brooks. It star Gene Wilder as Dr. Frederick Frankenstein. The movie is packed with guest stars such as Terri Gar, Peter Boyle, Madeline Kahn, Gene Hackman but the film is stolen by Marty Feldman. Feldman plays a hunchback who knows its a movie and plays to the camera. He also has a hunch that seems to switch sides.
Much of the sets and props used in the film where actually used in older films.
Pop the corn and prepare to laugh, it's movie time.

Gates In A Box

Rensselaer Institute’s AI and Reasoning Lab have brought evil intellect to life. These guys have an artificial intelligence program capable of premeditated bad deeds that can knowingly harm others. Thats right it Hitler and Gates in a box.
Whats next a zombie body for the laptop of evil.?
Will this thing contact Skynet?
Here the whole article.
http://io9.com/5069465/a-computer-program-that-is-pure-evil

Look out the toaster is watching you.

Gargoyles

Another Halloween movie.
Gargoyles 1972.
This was a made for TV movie features great make up by Stan Winston who work can be seen in Jurassic Park, Aliens, and Predators movies.
A father daughter team investigate weird sights and sounds to discover a colony of real life gargoyles.
The true star beside Winston's great creature design is a memorable performance by Bernie Casey.
The plot is thinner than an onion skin but the make up and Casey's acting make this a good popcorn muncher of a movie.

Beware The Tall Man

Here my Halloween movie of the day.
Phantasm. A tall man and his army of evil zombie dwarfs are looking to rule the world. The tall man has other toys in the form of flying silver sphere that only want to drill a hole in your head.
Phantasm was made in 1977 and stared Angus Scrimm as "The Tall Man" Based on a nightmare Don Coscarellia who wrote, produced, directed, and edited the film. A pair of brothers investigate a rash of unexplained deaths they believe to be caused by the mortician they call "The Tall Man." The Tall Man played by the 6 foot 6 inch Scrimm is from another planet and is out to kill this small town as part of his plan in world domination.
So pop some corn and turn of the lights it's movie time.

Civic Duty

Today I early voted.
The line was short and the people in charge where very well organized.
The whole thing took 15 minutes and came with a free cookie.

Bliss

The first pecans of the season have shown up today.
I am so happy.

There Are No Stop Lights In Hell

There is nowhere to run, nowhere to hide, and no stopping THE CAR!
One of the movies I recommended is The Car.
The car is one of those it so bad it's good movies. Made in 1977 and featured James Brolin, Ronnie Cox, and R. G. Armstrong. However the true star is The Car.
Evil personified and hell on wheels literally.
The Car was made by George Barris (The TV Batmobile) It was in fact a 1971 Lincoln Mark 3 with a 455 cubic inch engine. The car was lowered and had a double glazed windshield.
Stunt driver Everett Creach had done stunts in 900 films and served as second unit director on 33 others.
The film even as Church of Satan leader Anton LaVey as a technical advicer.
This is a must see popcorn mucher of a bad movie.

Halloween Movies

Halloween is approaching. So here are some movies to set the mood.

Dr. Jeckyll and Mr. Hyde 1932 staring Fredric March.
Frankenstein 1931 staring Boris Karloff.
Dracula 1931 staring Bella Lugosi
Creature from the Black Lagoon 1954
The Car 1977

A Tall Story

I have been playing Fable 2.
This is a role playing game that puts you in the boots of a young hero. You travel the world doing great deeds and fighting evil. Or you can turn to the dark side and steals from shop keepers, farmers, and even commit murder. The game allows you to develop the main character in the direction you desire. You explore the country side. There are jobs for earning gold and even gamblers to lose your gold to.
This is not the open world of Morrowind. You are on a path and you must follow it. But that is far overshadowed by the way the game allows you to grow.
Another point of the game is the dog. You find a forgotten mut that becomes your best friend and constant companion. You can train your new friend to perform the usual canine tricks such as sit, roll over and beg. The dog can also locate treasure, and help you in fights. You will also learn the use of magic.
The game lay is great fun. The game is very British and shows in its Python style scene of humor.
The graphics are very well done.
The controls have a small learning curve but will be easy to use after awhile.
The audio is the only down side to this game. The sound is murky, muddy. The is a lot of mid raneg but very little high ends or bass to this game.
I give Fable 2 a high 4 out of 5.

A Sexy Word A Day

Say hello to Miarina Orlova.
She 27 and she a philologist. A hot philologist too.
A philologist is a person who studies the meaning and origins of words.
Miarina has two degrees in philology.
Teaching of Russian Language and World Literature Specializing in Philology and the Teaching of English Language Specializing in Philology from State University of Nizhni Novgorod Region in Russian Federation.
She has her own channel on You Tube and posts a new word every other day.
As David Lee Roth says... "... hot for teacher."

McCain Meets The Monster He Made

Presidential candidate John McCain has run afoul of the monster he and others have made.
The McCain team are upset that an interview of McCain by Kattie Couric of CBS was taken off YouTube after CBS demanded it removal.
YouTube removed the clip in accordance of DMCA (Digital Millennium Copyright Act) that McCain surported.
Enter the EFF. The EFF (Electronic Frontire Foundation) The EFF has told both CBS and YouTube that the clip was part of the "Fair Use" under copyright law. YouTube reply was simple we dont care. They are just following the DMCA.
Maybe and this is a big maybe McCain and others will take a second look at the DMCA.

Some People Can't Keep A Secret

Well the loud mouths at business week have announced that my home town is a great place to ride out a recession.
I'm sure that true if you rich to begin with. There are people here who are living from one check to another. People are losing their jobs and their homes to this recession.
Bussinessweek.com listed Corpus Christi Texas as one of the top 20 US cities in which one could live during a recession.
"Corpus Christi ... could do relatively well in a downturn as long as energy prices stay high and it isn't hit by Ike-like hurricanes,"
The article also noted are diversified economy.
The secret is out. I you love wind, mosquitoes, heat, seawater, rust, and seagulls you'll love my home town.

Polls Closed

If your an early voter and some smug idiot turns up and asks you who you voted for tell them it's none of there damn business. You do not have to tell anyone who you voted for.

Love For Da Hood

I have been engrossed in Saints Row 2.
This game is over the top. Way over the top. Way way over the top. Way way way... you get my point.
Despite the game habit of freezing. The game play makes up for it. There is plenty to do. You can drive tow trucks, ambulances, and firetrucks. There are a ton for you cars to collect. The side missions are plentiful. The main story involves you taking back the streets from an evil major corporation. You learn the fighting styles and mannerisms of the opposing gangs.
The create a character system is mush like the one you find in the WWE Smackdown series. You can change your voice, walking style, fighting style, and dress.
There is download content in the works.
All in all this is a must rent game.

Cowboys Lose

Dallas Cowboys 14
Saint Louis Rams 34

Ever have one of those days where almost everything goes wrong. That is what happened to day for the Dallas Cowboys. The Cowboys started the game with a clear lead of 7 points but once the Rams had the lead they kept it.
There was talk of putting an injured Tony Romo in the game but why ruin a season for the sake of a single victory. Hopefully this lose will spark the Cowboys to better things next game.

Get well soon Tony.

Go Cowboys.

!

Arrows Away

Last night there was a new episode of my favorite show The Mythbusters.
This time they took on Ninjas. Can a Ninja catch an arrow out of mid flight.
Yes. With condition. The arrows can not be moving at full speed.
Can a Ninja fire a killer dart through a blow gun while hiding under water. Yes.
Another great show from Jamie and Adam.

Blood On The Bricks

I got Saints Row 2. This is not a GTA killer. However it is a good game.
It should be noted this is an adult game featuring violence and strong language.
The graphics are bright and clear, Everything is easy to read. The audio is well done and can be clearly heard.
The cloths you wear are very customizable. You pick the colors.
You pick up weapons simply by walking over them. Changing weapons is easy. Fighting is easy using the triggers. Driving is odd. The gas and brakes are buttons not triggers. The cars are a little sloppy to response.
The game did freeze on me after 45 minutes of play.
I give it a 3 out of 5.

Tropical Storm Nana

Tropical storm Nana.

Latitude: 17.7 North
Longitude: 41.8 West
Winds: 35 mph
Moving: WNW 12mph
Pressure: 1007 millibars

Up, Up, & Away.

Monday (today) The Dow went up 800 points. This is the single largest one day gain on a point basis ever. Some claim this an indication that the worst of the economic crises is over.
Only time will tell.

Cowboy Down

Tony Romo quarter back for the Dallas Cowboys will be out of action for up to a month. Romo broke his right picky finger during the overtime game against the Cardinals. Romo has thrown 14 touchdowns.

Get well soon Tony.

Go Cowboys.

Cool Blog

I found a cool blog today.

It's called FotoEveryDay.

Two people post a different photo every day for your enjoyment.
Matt and Jim also give you notes on each photo and information on the equipment and setting used to take every photo.
If your a camera buff or just like very well done photos check out this blog.

Cowboys Lose

Dallas Cowboys 24
Arizona Cardinals 30

In a game with more turn overs than a bakery the Cowboys where simply out played by the Arizona Cardinal.

Please Remain Clam

Please remain calm.
Bungie has announced a new Halo game.
Halo 3 Recon places you in the boots of someone other than the Master Chief.
The game takes place at the same time as Halo 3 but this time you play as a Orbital Drop Shock Trooper. You find yourself alone in a city entirely under alien control.
The game will be here late next year.

Don't Panic

The news vultures are circling.
The media could not be happier with the current economic down turn.
There is nothing better to them than something scary that they can make down right apocalyptic.
The world according to them doom and gloom patrol (major media) is racing towards a depression. Even if the facts say other wise.
The thing they live for is to make a bad situation worse, inflating the bad news until it is a spirit crushing disaster. Other peoples hardships are gravy to them and when something bad happens to them they will try desperately to make themselves mortars. They will wrap theme selves in tears and beg for your sympathy.
Not scene 911 has the news outlets had something they could be multi orgasmic over.
In my view most reports are bottom feeders, praying on the misery and heartbreak of others. These people (and I lose the term loosely) are soulless, unscrupulousness, vampires, feeding off people who have found themselves victimizes by the greed and lust for money of others. They give no thought to how the reports they fie will effect there viewers. There is no effort put towards showing a solution or demonstrating ways to handle hard times.
My advice (Not That You Asked) is ignore the oracles of fear.

Hurricane Norbert

Hurricane Norbert

Latitude: 19.7 North
Longitude: 113.4 West

Winds 85 mph
Moving: 8 mph NNW
Pressure: 975 millibars

Stomach: Happy(the hurricane in a whole other ocean)
Tastes Buds: Waiting for the first pecans of the season.

Disturbing

Be afraid, be very afraid.

Weather

This morning it was 58 degrees. Todays high is 85. Still hoping for a real cool front next Tuesday.

Annoucment

I am sick of political ads.

I approve of this message.

Cool Front

Another cool front passed through today. It was hard to tell as the temperature was in the nighties. However the weathermen are promising it will get cooler the next few day and our first true cool front of the season will hit next week. That cool front that may be here next Tuesday may gives a high temperatures in the 70. I for one welcome that.

Christmas Comes Way Early To My Bathroom

This little guy just showed up but he all ready for Christmas.

And Their Off

My roof has become a race track for some squirrels. They are having early morning race around my roof at alarming speeds. They start on the far end of the front of the house race across the bedrooms and then race across the back of the house and again towards the front of the house. Usually two laps per race.

Go Speed go.

A Thought

Common scene and quantum mechanics are mutually exclusive.

Cowboys Win

Dallas Cowboys 31
Cincinnati Bengals 22

In a very tight game the Cowboys held the ball for 31:45 with 2 turnovers.

What Happened To Halloween?

I went to the grocery store today and the Christmas decorations where out and for sell.
What happened to Halloween?
Did I sleep through Thanksgiving?
PLEASE let us enjoy one holiday at a time.

OK Now What

Well the economic package has passed wooden arrows and all.
Actually the economic bill was attached to the wooden arrow bill.
And of course as with all bills tons of pork has been attached to the bill which means it's politics and greed as usual. No lesson have been learned. No thought to how this mess has effected the people in this nation who are living one day to the next. No thought on how this mess has effected the lives of people living in poorer regions of the world. How much medical aid will be slashed to pay for this? How much food aid will be cut to the starving in Africa and elsewhere? More over the shear fact some child will go to bed hungry it our very borders is unforgivable.

What was done by these banker in my view was treasonous. They endangered the economic health of the United States to line their own pockets. They put themselves before this country and that is treason. I think this people should be tried for treason as well as fraud and other gambits of crimes committed here. And if found guilty they should be punished as any other person guilty of treason is.
Death.

It Could Have Been Us

88 city workers in Robstown Texas gave up their employee bonus to buy 500 care packages for hurricane Ike victims.

Worker Robert Alameda said"What if it had been us? I think they would have done something to help us. I think what we did was something from our hearts."

The worker gave up safety bonuses to give Ike's victims a six pack cooler holding pen, paper, wipes, snacks, and drink packets.

Texas baby.

Boom De Yada

Upsetting.
No Mythbusters last night.
They where replaced by some show about the mob. The mob does not exists but Jamie and Adam do.
I want my Mythbusters, to hell with MTV.

And what has happened to Buster?
I personally think he has gone into retirement on some hidden tropical island surrounded by beautiful native girls. He sipping drinks with little umbrellas in them and and watching clips of Adam self-infilting some wound or the other.

Tropical Update

Nothing!
Zip, zilch, zero, da nada.

Stomach: Very happy thank you.
Taste buds: Waiting for the first pecans of the season.

Shut Up And Dance

"It seems to me that the folks who create and publish a game shouldn't stop receiving income from further sales." That's the word from Bungie audio director Marty O'Donnell.

I guess O'Donnell feels that he should get money when I trade an old game in.
Then why don't car companies get more money when you trade a car in for a newer model?
Should movie and television producers get money if I trade in a DVD of a show or movie for a new DVD?
What about used book sales?
Do the Dallas Cowboys get some money off the old cowboy t-shirt I bought at a garage sale?

Also, if your game so good why are people trading it in?

Personally, I was going to hang onto all my Halo disks forever but with comments like this I just might trade them in out of shear spite.

This is why audio guys get paid to listen and not talk. Marty, do yourself a favor.
Shut up and dance.

Moral Hazards

Moral Hazard: The idea that a party behaves differently knowing they will not be held accountable for there actions compared to their behavior if the knew they would have to suffer the consequences of their actions.

If we bail out these people responsibility for this mess we find our selves in there will be no lesson learn and this poor behavior will be seen again.

There MUST be consequences to their actions.

This applies not only to fiscals matters but to vandals, thiefs, con artists, and liars as well.

Localy we have people "tagging" or spray painting churches and grave sites of vetrens. When caught they are put on probation, warned and told not to do it again. There is no punnishment. As there is no punnishment the vandals repeat their crime over and over again. If they where punished with jail time they would at least be not able to perferm such acts while serving their sentance.

The same applies to bad roofers, plumers, and bankers.

No punnishment, actions repeated.

As long as these actions by the banking conmunity are forgiven with bailout after bailout no leason will be learned. No course of action will be altered. Responibilty will be evaded.

Attention Congress

The homeless have a very poor voting record.

Cursed.

There is a Chinese proverb that goes "May you live in interesting times."

Well welcome to those time.

While I am trying to wrap my head around this entire mess of mortgages and bailouts. One of the problems that I see causing in part and it may be a very minor part is instant gratification.

Humans, especially American humans are not a very patient lot. When they want something they want it now. Very little thought is given to the consequence.

Discipline is becoming a lost art. Ask any dentist

This not only applies to the people who bought houses they really could not afford but to the managers of the mortgage offices who made these loans and the banks who saw easy money.

But it's not just money matters where impatience causes problems. Personal problems, such a road rage, outburst of anger, and relationships falling apart could be traced to the inability to wait.

Impatience could be one and maybe a very minor cause for all this mess.

Between you and me I could do with a little less interesting times.

Definitions

Progress: Movement towards a goal or to improve.

Congress: 435 idiots with their heads up their asses.

Question

I keep hearing people say that they go to church religiously, I wounder if it possible to go to church agnosticly?

Stock Plumit

The Wall street stock market had it worse down turn in two decades.
1.2 Trillion dollars had fled the stock market like mice from a burning building.
The result was leaving everyone with that same shocked expression Joan Rivers has had on her face for years.

Microsoft Shifting?

The recent actions of lowering the price on it's "Arcade" console, canceling certain games, and moving towards more casual games.
Games like Your In The Movies, and Lips are the only games with the exception of Fable 2 that Microsoft own game studios are making. The hard core games such as Fallout, and Resident Evil 4 are all be produced by thirds parties. Gears of War which they own is being made by an outside company under Microsoft guidance.
Is Microsoft trying to move in on Nintendo's casual gamers market? Are they eyeing the pick up a play crowd?
Does this mean hardcore gamers will be an after thought in the next generation of consoles.

Mombasa

Today the boys at Bungie reminded the gaming world who was number one.
They released a trailer with no warning, no explanation, and no mercy.
Like all good Bungie stunts the trailer raises more questions than answers.
More than likely it is a tease of an upcoming expansion pack for the Halo 3 game, but being Bungie you never know.
One things for sure, someone gonna get their ass kicked.

Cowboys Schedule For October

Sunday October 5th 3:15 Cincinnati
Sunday October 12 3:15 Arizona
Sunday October 19 12:00 St. Louis
Sunday October 26 12:00 Tampa Bay

Go Cowboys

Cowboys Lose

Dallas Cowboys 24
Washington Redskins 26

In a back and forth game the Redskins pull an upset victory of the Dallas Cowboys.

All Jacked Up

Attorney Jack Thomson has been disbarred from practicing law in the state of Florida.

Thomson will no longer be allowed to practice law in the state of Florida due to what Judge Dava Tunis described as Thomson “repeatedly stated…that he will not change his conduct” and that she “finds no evidence whatsoever to indicate that respondent is amenable to rehabilitation.”
Thomson has also been ordered to pay "recovery costs" of $43,675.35.

Thomson has thirty days to clear out any current cases before he will be disbarred.

Thomson has filed an emergency motion in clear defiance of court orders stating he could not take such action but a lawyer in good standing could. Thomson is claiming that the disbarment is a retaliation to his book "Out of Harms Way" in which he claim the Florida Supreme Court is acting in defense of the entertainment industry.

Thomson is most notable noted for attacking the video game industry. In particular he has made a target of Rock Star games makers of the "Grand Theft Auto" game series.

Hurricane Kyle

Hurricane Kyle

Latitude: 36.2 North
Longitude 69.5 West

Winds: 75 mph
Moving: North at 23 mph
Pressure: 995 millibars

Kyle has strengthened into a level 1 hurricane. He is still moving north and may make landfall in Nova Scotia late next Sunday.

Bills Trip

Bill the cat commandeered my fathers scooter and took a trip.
Well in his imagination. As you can tell by the look on his face the trip was very serious stuff.
I have no idea where he was going but when he got back he had to have a large lunch and a long nap.

It's His!

The was a very angry bird guarding a box of spilt popcorn. The popcorn was his as possession is nine tenth of the law. He would charge and bluff anyone who dared to get near HIS popcorn.
Now thats entertainment.

Oh The Horor

I have been informed that by brother by another mother's x-box has died.
(Like I need another reason to detest Bill Gates)
England shall shake in his furry, mountains shall fall, and oceans shall dry up.
More like he will close a few pubs and chase some "birds".
Maybe he can talk his work mate into an x box party. Then again, the moon may be made of cheese, and the sun yellow bubble gum.
In any case I hope his x box is repaired soon.

Take care bro.

This Crap Didn't Happen To Criss

The Columbus ships are all aground.
The local replicas of the three "caravels" Christoper Columbus used for his journey to the Americas are all sitting high and dry looking sad, tired, and beaten.
Dry rot has weakened the decks of the ships to the point that they are unsafe for tourist and the masts have removed in fear that they may collapse.
The local museum is hoping to raise millions for repairs and maintenance.
A sad ending for a gift from the government of Mexico to our fair city.

"Trust Me..."

It is my personal experience that when a man hold out his hand asks you for money and says "Trust me..." the odds are very great that some portion of the money will wind up in his and his friends pockets. Even is the man is a former Eagle Scout.

Tropical Storm Kyle

Tropical Storm Kyle

Latitude: 26.5 North
Longitude: 68.3 West

Winds: 60 mph
Moving: North 12 mph
Pressure: 998 millibars

Kyle is not projected to make a direct landfall in North America however high tide will have an effect on the East coast.

Stomach: Happy

Round And Round

Everything is cyclical.

If you hang around long enough you will see the same old song and dance set to new music. That is what is happening here in the USA.

Every decade or so there is some huge economic disaster that requires taxpayers to foot the bill or face some form of disaster.
And the outcome each and every time is the innocent will be burdened for the actions of a few shiftless people. The thieves for the most part will get away free, clear, and unpunished.

Even sadder is this time two men are making political hay out of this colossal mess.

Still sadder, lessons will not be learned, pockets will be lined, and we will be doing the same old dance in another decade or so.

Time For The Enemas

Last night was the Emmy's.

I for one did not watch this long slow parade of self obsessed ass wipes breaking their arms to pat them selves on their own backs. And here some shocking news for the "stars" of television.
I do not care about your political opinions!!!
If this collection of clowns wants to do some real good in the world how about handing over a weeks pay to a charity without making a photo op out of it. Better yet go clean some disabled persons gutters. I be far more impressed if you joined former president Jimmy Carter by grabbing a hammer and help building a house. God forbid you should have to break a sweat.
How about how you demonstrated how two face you are when it comes to matters of sexism when you rip the tux of Heidi Klum to reveal a dress.
If this is the best prime time television can do I'll stick to The Discovery Channel.

Television can be used to do so much good and these pea brains could not beyond their own egos and paychecks.
You can use TV to fight crime and corruption. You can demonstrate proper ways to deal with health matters. Television can explore the worlds of arts, music, literature, and science that some people would otherwise never be exposed to.

What a waste of an amazing platform.

Fall

As of 4:30 pm local time fall is here.
The temperature will be lowered by a few degrees tomorrow mostly due to cloud cover. And as a reminder of the time of year the beginnings of what may become a tropical storm has raised it's ugly head.

Here cold front, come here boy.

Cry Havoc ...

This weekend September 26 - September 28 will be the "Grand Theft Auto 4 Cause Chaos Live Weekend"

All kinds of GTA goodies will be given away and you will get a chance to play with a Rockstar employee.

Fall In Texas Means Football

I went to the grocery store today and the store was covered in Cowboy blue, silver, and white. It's not that the store had been decorated for the upcoming game but that almost everyone was wearing Cowboys shirts, hats, pants, shoes, or even in one case diapers.
Football in Texas is a religion and The Cowboys are the church.

Cowboys Win

The Dallas Cowboys won in Lambeau Field for the first time in years.

Dallas Cowboys 27
Green Bay Packers 16

Go Cowboys

The New Carl Sagan

Met Dr. Michio Haku.
This Theoretical physicist has replaced the late Dr. Carl Sagan as the man of science for the common man.
Dr. Haku's relaxed demeanor and childlike curiosity is helping viewer of the cable television Science Channel explore the world of science.
I really like Dr. Haku.
He rarely uses big multi sylables words when simple words can do. And his enjoyment of the topic at hand is obvious. Mild and soft spoken he is not as preachy as the late Dr. Sagan.
Dr. Haku has a website as well... http://mkaku.org/ .
Finally someone has filled Dr. Sagan shoes.

The Doughnut Of Death

The LCH (Large Hadron Collider) or as I call it The Doughnut of Death has sprung a leak.
Don't worry micro mini black holes have not escaped but some helium has.
That right, the super collider cut one.
So much for super science.
The dang doughnut has a short and somehow a small leak of helium has occured.
A short between two magnets happened under the high voltage, no workers where at risk.
No word if Baron Karza has been spotted stomping around the control room but should the evil leader of the Microverse attack it will be nice to know the coo coo clocks will be among the first to go.
Where the Micronaughts when you need them?

Thinking Ahead

I have been thinking about Christmas.
With the economy the way it is I think it will be a very thin Christmas. I am however determined to put up a full size tree this year. The table top tree last year was a big disappointment.
My father has already found some thing he wants. He hardly ever gives a hint ha to what he wants.
I have no idea of what to ask for but maybe some books by Dr. Micho Kaku. I could always use a pair of pants. In any case Christmas is closing fast.
I wish time would slow down now that the nights are getting longer and the days getting cooler.

It's War

North star has opened a website for GTA: China Town Wars for the Nintendo DS.

http://www.rockstargames.com/chinatownwars/

They are promising the game this winter but do not say if it will be out by years end.
Will there be a special DS to celebrate this games release?

The Heat Is Back On

The cool front has passed and the heat of summer is returning. But hopefully not for long. The weather folks are predicting another cool front around the middle of next week. Yeah!
I am looking forward to the first cold front.

Power To The Man

The power is back on at our local police department.
Monday a small fire closed the building and Wednesday the power to the entire building died.
Who to blame...? Hurricane Ike.
The very high tides caused by Ike made it way into the under ground area of the police department and served the fatal blow to an already old and ill power delivery system that ran under the building. The power surge cause by the death of the power system took out the local 911 system, fried the water pumping system that ran throughout the building, and bricked most of the buildings computers.
The 911 has been running out of the emergency command center used by city officials at city hall during hurricanes and other crises.
The power has been restored and now the task of replacing and repairing the bricked computers lies ahead. Hopefully things will be back to normal in days.
Very thankfully this did not occur in the middle of a hurricane strike.

Mall Walker

I went to my favorite mall today.
The mall has been bought by a new company and they are claiming lots of changes.
That worries me.
The food court is being moved to the ground floor.
A waterfall has been planed as well as a much needed new elevator.
These all sound well in good but you know that the rent will go up and that will push out the small mom and pop stores.
The mall will be echo North Star Mall which at one point was full of interesting shops and carts. North Star is now so up scale that you can afford to buy anything. Popcorn there is 3.00 a small bag. There is no book store. A mall without a book store is unAmerican. And the book store in the mall here will close in one weeks time.
While I'm glade to see new money being brought to my home town I'm sad to see the small retailers being forced out of locations they have had for years. I'm sadder to see a great book store with great employees closing.
Times are changing.

New Mythbusters

Tonight on The Mythbusters Jamie and Adam looked into the myth that you could make a tazer out of a squirt gun. The first big problem was getting a constant unbroken stream of water to the target. The second was getting enough raw power in the stream of water for it to have any real effect. The solution. Simple but Jamie in a Tesla coil with a very simple and powerful squirtgun. Jamie squirted upon the target and the Tesla coil providied the power in the form of lighting.

Aftermath

There have been new photos released of the damage caused by Ike.
One of the most telling is a before and after showing the Galveston Island. In the before image there where eleven beach front houses and plenty of grass.
In the second image take after Ike only one house is left standing, the grass has been entirely striped away and all the trees are missing.

Our beaches have been doubled in width and sand dune after sand dune are simply gone. There are pieces of ruble, seaweed, trash, and broken lumber stand well over six foot tall.

How Bout Them Cowboys

Dallas Cowboys 41
Philadelphia Eagles 37

In an absolutely amazing game the Boys won.
The lead change side 7 times.

Go Cowboys!

Impact

I have played TNA Impact for the 360.
This is a first offering from TNA wrestling and Midway games. TNA signed a deal of a series of wrestling games.
This is not a pick up and play game.
The game offer no lesson in how to play. You will spend a great deal of time using trial and error to learn how to use the games controls.
The create a wrestler is slim compared to a WWF game.
You can not create your own entrance.
The graphics are last generation.
The sound is OK but not spectacular.
If you want a easy to play game skip this one but if you want a challenge you'll enjoy this game.

Seinfeld Gates

Jerry Seinfeld and Bill Gates have joined forces to promote Microsoft.
I can not think of two more repulsive people to hawk for a company who cares so little for its customers or the quality of it's products.

You are introduced to this post modern odd couple in a shoes store then you will follow them meeting "real people" by moving into a middle America white family.

Soon the hard sells will come. They will be shoving a Microsoft products down you throat.
I for one refuse to watch two self centered individual push crap of any sort.

Bring back Morris the cat. Now there a salesman!

Cool Front

While Hurricane Ike brought us no rain, today about 1 pm, a cool front came in and delivered from .40 to 1.25 inches of rain.
Fall starts September 22 this year.
This cool front is very welcomed at least by me.
The daytime temps will be in the eighties instead of the nineties or century mark and the night time temps will dip into the low seventies.
The resulting cooling of the coastal waters will make strengthening difficult for any future hurricanes.
Here comes the fall.
Stomach: Happy.

Here A Scary Thought

100 Days until Christmas.

Panic Now!

Hurricane Ike 10

Ike is now just a collection of winds.
The mass of winds are moving northwest at 50mph with gusts up to 75 mph.

Stomach: Happy

Hurricane Ike 9

Hurricane Ike made landfall at 2:10 am near Galveston Island.
Ike's maximum winds where 110 mph.
Ike now is a tropical storm after a life span as a hurricane for 9 days and 21 hours.
Tropical Storm Ike is moving north north west at 21 miles an hour. Ike will continue to be a treat by dumping heavy rain and strong wings until he blows himself out.
The people who stayed in Galveston Island and Houston Texas will have spent a season in hell they will not soon forget. Damages will run form 8 to 18 billion dollars.
There has been at least two deaths I know of and the guess the power will be out for a minimum of a week to more than a month.

I would not wish a hurricane like this on anyone even the nastiest of Nazis.

It's good to be home and under the iron paw of the ruling Bill the Cat

Home!

Home again home again, please no more roam again.
I'm home!
The ride here was uneventful except for a long line of military black helicopters flying south.
There was no accidents and no foul weather.
After talking to a neighbor and a close friend I learned there had been no rain fall or high winds in me neighborhood.
I did take a nap and talk to my friend in England.

I also got some mail. It was a car circular for a used car dealership The flyer showed a hurricane tracking map with a storm course projected directly at Port Lavaca. The depth of bad taste, poor choices, and ill timing is unforgivable. The ad firm behind this advertisement should be not only mortally embarred by the piece of crap but fired by the dealership. The dealership is all so to blame in the hidiously poor choices and deserved to be called on the carpet.

Hurricane Ike 8

Ike has moved away from my home town and seems to have taken at at Houston Texas. Ike is still below us but is moving in a more Northerly course.

Latitude 26.3 North
Longitude 90.4 West

Winds 10 mph
Moving WNW 12 mph
Pressure 956 millibars

Hurricane Ike 7

We are on the very edge of the "Cone of Uncertainty." In fact the people in San Antonio may come here to hide from the storm. However it is a hurricane and may stall, do dough nuts, or just change direction and make a bee line for us.

Stomach: SLIGHTLY even happier.

Latitude 24.9 North
Longitude 86.7 West
Winds 100 mph
Movement North West 7 mph
Pressure 944 millibars

The Peak Of Hurricane Season

Today September 10 is the peak of hurricane season. After October 20th the odds of being hit by a hurricane drastically decrease. The season official ends November 30th.
There are 80 days to the end of hurricane season.

Hurricane Ike 6

Stomach: SLIGHTLY happier.

Ike has moved a slight bit more towards the north and may make landfall late Friday north of us.

We are packed and ready to leave tomorrow morning. Ike may show up in San Antonio sometime Saturday or Sunday. By then he should be a lot weaker.

Latitude 24.5 North
Longitude 86.1 West
Winds 100 mph
Moving NW 8mph
Pressure 947

Hurricane Ike 5

Stomach : SLIGHTLY happier.

Hurricane Ike has moved into The Gulf of Mexico and is slightly less than a thousand miles away from us. Ike has made a tiny West North West turn. This is good news for us. IF Ike keeps this up he will come in well north of us.

We have booked a hotel in San Antonio and preparing to leave early Thursday. Ike may make landfall Friday or Saturday. I hope Ike keeps moving to the north.

Latitude 23.1 North
Longitude 84.0 West
Winds 75 mph
Moving WNW 10 mph
Pressure 969 millibars

Hurricne Ike 4

Ike is now aimed directly at us. The weatherman has he has a low reliance in the projected paths as the projections keep changing. I'm hoping that the storm changes to an even more Northerly course.

Stomach Unhappy

Latitude 21.8 North
Longitude 80.8 West

Winds 80 mph
Moving WNW 13 mph
Pressure 967 millibars

Hurricane Ike 3

Hurricane Ike is back over water and headed our way. If Ike follows his projected course he should make landfall north of us sometime Saturday.


Latitude 21.4 North
Longitude 79.7 West
Winds 80 mph
Moving West 14 mph
Pressure 965 millibars

My stomach hurts.

Hurricane Ike 2

Hurricane Ike is moving Westward following the coast line of Cuba. Ike seems to be set to enter the Gulf of Mexico.

Latitude 21.1 North
Longitude 75.8 West

Winds 120 mph
Moving West 13 mph
Pressure 945 millibars

Dallas Cowboys Win Season Opening Game

Dallas Cowboys 28
Cleveland Browns 10

The Cowboy pull ahead for an early lead and stayed there.
Tony Romo was knocked down and given a bloody chin but guided the boys to victory.

What The Hell

Yesterday I tried to play Mercenariness 2 on line with my friend who lives in the UK. The on line co op was one of the reason I bought this game.
Much to my great disappointment I discovered that I could not play with them because they where in a different regions.
If you are going to have on line co op why have region restrictions on your PAYING customers?
Is it that complicated?
Why is it other games have no problem with this?
Come on, speak up.
I hope there is a patch for this. I guess I'll add this to my growing list of why to rent Mercenaries 2 and not to buy it. This will go on the list after the game being buggy as a roach motel, unfinished, poor audio, and last generation graphics.
Again Mercenaries 2 World In Flame is a rent. Do not waste your money buying this game.

End Of An Era

Tonight marked the end of an era in local television.
The Chill With Phil Show has come to an end.
Chill With Phil was an old fashion "Let's watch a B movie with funny host program."
Phil took live calls and gave away prizes for answering trivia questions.
The show built a loyal following an a family of supporters.
Phil has had several eye surgeries. His vision has not returned as he has hoped and the station has "released" him from work.
I have no idea what Phil's future plans include but I wish him luck.

Good luck Phil.

The Day The Earth Stood Still

I pick up a dvd of one of the greatest movies ever made.
The Day The Earth Stood Still

This 1951 sci fi classic stars Michael Rennie, Patricia Neal, and Hugh Marlowe.
This is one of the finest movies ever made. And the DVD does have some goodies.
The is audio commentary by Robert Wise and Nicolas Meyer.
A 70 minute long documentary.
A restoration comparison.
5 stills galleries.
Shooting Script.
Theatrical trailer.

If you like classic movies or sci fi movies I recommend this DVD highly.

Hurricane Ike

Hurricane Ike has made a slight North West turn.
Ike has winds of 135 mph and is moving WNW at 14 mph.
Ike's pressure is at 945 millibars.
If Ike stay on his projected path he will move in to the Florida area around late Tuesday early Wednesday next week.

Hurricane Hanna

Hanna has turned towards Florida.
Latitude 25.5 North
Longitude 75.0 West

Pressure 988 millibars
Winds 65 mph
Moving NW 14 mph

Dallas Cowboys Football Schedule

Here the schedule for the next month.

September 7th Sunday at Cleveland
September 15th Monday Philadelphia
September 21st Sunday at Green Bay
September 28th Sunday Washington

Go Cowboys

Hurricane Ike

Hurricane Ike is headed west towards the Gulf of Mexico.

Position:
Latitude 21.7 North
Longitude 53.2 West

Winds 115 mph
Pressure 960 millibars
Movement WNW 18 mph