Wednesday, August 31, 2005

Blockbuster Stops Renting VHS Titles

IMDB Article
Blockbuster has virtually banished videocassettes from all its outlets, with the exception of some children's and Spanish titles, Home Media Retailing reported on its website Monday. It quoted a Michigan Blockbuster employee as saying, "It's definitely phasing out." However, a company spokesman denied that Blockbuster is dropping its VHS rental business, telling the trade publication that it is continuing to appraise product and format allocations on the basis of customer preference.

Not to sound like a snob but for someone who bought his first DVD in 1997... ITS ABOUT TIME! VHS now officially belongs to the last era.

The Producers

The Producers are coming to the movies this december. It'll star Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick who made the show a success on broadway. And yes its going to be a musical. Yeah!!! **cheer** who says musicals are dead.

The movie does not have an official website or trailer yet, but here's some links to tide you over.

Tuesday, August 30, 2005

Batman Bonanza


For all batman fans, remember the date 18th Oct 2005. They are not only going to release Batman Begins but all the previous batman movies and cartoons.

Movie - Corpse Bride


In case you didn't know, Tim Burton's done it again. If you enjoyed A Nightmare before Christmas, then you'll want to check out Corpse Bride. Check out the trailer at the official site.

Pong anyone?



Remember this old game? Heh well its back again in flash. Enjoy!

Katrina



My heart goes out to all affected by the latest of mother nature's fury. The current count is 55 dead and about $9b in damages.

Sunday, August 28, 2005

The 4400

I just finished watching the Season Finale for The 4400. I LOVE THIS SHOW!!! Its a lot like the Stargate series in that all the episodes have a reason for being shown and as the series goes on they tie in what's happened in previous episodes into the main plot. The best part is that you know there is a main plot line that they are working towards.

Because the series is so short (Season 1 is only 6 episodes, season 2 is 13 episodes) there's very little time for "filler" episodes. So every episode does tie into the main plot line.

** SPOILERS **
The bombs they dropped are:
- Jordan is still alive
- There is a WAR and it has just started
- The little baby? She disappears from her crib, appears in Shawn's breakfast table naked and about 16 years old... literally overnight.

Saturday, August 27, 2005

Latte Art

My first impression was to dismiss this and say "What a waste of time!". But on second thoughts ... it occurred to me that looking at gorgeous men could also be construed as a waste of time. At least this guy's hobby takes skill and can be considered art.

Hence, as an apology for my narrow minded first thoughts, I'm displaying pictures of the latte art here. If you want to see more pics go here.

Memoirs of a Geisha


Memoirs of a Geisha is looking to be a pretty interesting film. But the thing that really makes me sit up and take notice is that the star of the show is "Zhang Ziyi ", a chinese who is playing a Geisha which is uniquely japanese. For those who don't think this is big deal, imagine if they were making a film called 'Memoirs of a great American Quaterback', and cast a Russian in that role.

I don't have an adgenda or a specific opinion about this. I'm not that deep a thinker. I just found this interesting.

Click for a Movie Clip of 'Memoirs of a Geisha'

Thursday, August 25, 2005

Hunk of the Week


Name: Brent van Zant

I first discovered Brent on the cover of one of this year's DNA magazines and I have to say that I think he is literally one of the most beautiful men I've ever seen. Auzzies rule! (At least I think he's auzzie). The perfect blend of next door boy + silver screen good looks and the body of adonis.

Nintendogs


I did it! I finally caved and bought a Nintendo DS so that I could finally have that pet dog I've always wanted.

I know there are probably some of you out there rolling your eyes and saying get a real dog. But when you live alone and are away from the house 12 hours a day, that's not really an option. Also, while I would love to hug and play with a real puppy, the thought of pee and dog hair on the carpet makes me cringe.

Ah well at least I'm happy. And I'm now the proud owner of a Pembroke Welsh Corgi named Anago.

PS. If anyone knows how I can take clear pictures from my Nintendo DS, I'd appreciate it if you could drop me a line.

The first MMORPG to die

Dear AC2 subscribers,

In spite of our hard work and the launch of Legions, AC2 has reached the point where it no longer makes sense to continue the service. We will be officially closing the Asheron's Call 2 service on 12/30/05. Until then, we plan to run live events, but we will not be adding any content or features.

We deeply appreciate the many dedicated fans of AC2 who have stood by us over the years. You have our sincerest gratitude.

Best regards,

Jeffrey Anderson
CEO, Turbine

This is the first MMORPG I know of that has officially closed its doors. Heck even Ultima Online which was the first MMORPG to debut in 1997 is still around. I tried AC2 when it was in beta and I have to say that I'm not surprised it closed its doors. It didn't impress me then and its done nothing since.

Wednesday, August 24, 2005

Heroes of Might and Magic 5 Beta Signups




Click here to go register for HOMM5 beta signup's. The screenshots looks super. Now if it can just improve on the bomb that was HOMM4 and revive the legacy that is Heroes of Might and Magic.

Sound Familiar?

This movie clip is a little long but fun to watch. You've heard all 5 of their voices before now see what they look like.

Click to watch the movie clip

The Class of 2009

In case you've never heard of it, every year BELOIT COLLEGE releases what is called the COLLEGE MINDSET LIST for the incoming freshmen year to educate professors about the lives of their young students.

I love this list. I find it very entertaining to read, and as each year passes it also reminds me that... I'm getting up there. Here's the list for the CLASS OF 2009.

Most students entering college this fall were born in 1987.


1. Andy Warhol, Liberace, Jackie Gleason, and Lee Marvin have always been dead.
2. They don't remember when "cut and paste" involved scissors.
3. Heart-lung transplants have always been possible.
4. Wayne Gretzky never played for Edmonton.
5. Boston has been working on "The Big Dig" all their lives.
6. With little need to practice, most of them do not know how to tie a tie.
7. Pay-Per-View television has always been an option.
8. They never had the fun of being thrown into the back of a station wagon with six others.
9. Iran and Iraq have never been at war with each other.
10. They are more familiar with Greg Gumbel than with Bryant Gumbel.
11. Philip Morris has always owned Kraft Foods.
12. Al-Qaida has always existed with Osama bin Laden at its head.
13. They learned to count with Lotus 1-2-3.
14. Car stereos have always rivaled home component systems.
15. Jimmy Swaggart and Jim Bakker have never preached on television.
16. Voice mail has always been available.
17. "Whatever" is not part of a question but an expression of sullen rebuke.
18. The federal budget has always been more than a trillion dollars.
19. Condoms have always been advertised on television.
20. They may have fallen asleep playing with their Gameboys in the crib.
21. They have always had the right to burn the flag.
22. For daily caffeine emergencies, Starbucks has always been around the corner.
23. Ferdinand Marcos has never been in charge of the Philippines.
24. Money put in their savings account the year they were born earned almost 7% interest.
25. Bill Gates has always been worth at least a billion dollars.
26. Dirty dancing has always been acceptable.
27. Southern fried chicken, prepared with a blend of 11 herbs and spices, has always been available in China.
28. Michael Jackson has always been bad, and greed has always been good.
29. The Starship Enterprise has always looked dated.
30. Pixar has always existed.
31. There has never been a "fairness doctrine" at the FCC.
32. Judicial appointments routinely have been "Borked."
33. Aretha Franklin has always been in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
34. There have always been zebra mussels in the Great Lakes.
35. Police have always been able to search garbage without a search warrant.
36. It has always been possible to walk from England to mainland Europe on dry land.
37. They have grown up in a single superpower world.
38. They missed the oat bran diet craze.
39. American Motors has never existed.
40. Scientists have always been able to see supernovas.
41. Les Miserables has always been on stage.
42. Halogen lights have always been available at home, with a warning.
43. "Baby M" may be a classmate, and contracts with surrogate mothers have always been legal.
44. RU486, the "morning after pill," has always been on the market.
45. There has always been a pyramid in front of the Louvre in Paris.
46. British Airways has always been privately owned.
47. Irradiated food has always been available but controversial.
48. Snowboarding has always been a popular winter pastime.
49. Libraries have always been the best centers for computer technology and access to good software.
50. Biosphere 2 has always been trying to create a revolution in the life sciences.
51. The Hubble Telescope has always been focused on new frontiers.
52. Researchers have always been looking for stem cells.
53. They do not remember "a kinder and gentler nation."
54. They never saw the shuttle Challenger fly.
55. The TV networks have always had cable partners.
56. Airports have always had upscale shops and restaurants.
57. Black Americans have always been known as African-Americans.
58. They never saw Pat Sajak or Arsenio Hall host a late night television show.
59. Matt Groening has always had a Life in Hell.
60. Salman Rushdie has always been watching over his shoulder.
61. Digital cameras have always existed.
62. Tom Landry never coached the Cowboys.
63. Time Life and Warner Communications have always been joined.
64. CNBC has always been on the air.
65. The Field of Dreams has always been drawing people to Iowa.
66. They never saw a Howard Johnson's with 28 ice cream flavors.
67. Reindeer at Christmas have always distinguished between secular and religious decorations.
68. Entertainment Weekly has always been on the newsstand.
69. Lyme Disease has always been a ticking concern in the woods.
70. Jimmy Carter has always been an elder statesman.
71. Miss Piggy and Kermit have always dwelt in Disneyland.
72. America's Funniest Home Videos has always been on television.
73. Their nervous new parents heard C. Everett Koop proclaim nicotine as addictive as heroin.
74. Lever has always been looking for 2000 parts to clean.
75. They have always been challenged to distinguish between news and entertainment on cable TV.

Tuesday, August 23, 2005

Serenity - The Hunk

OK, last post about Serenity ... for now. Here's another reason to love the show.

Serenity - The Cast

Heh In case you can't tell I LOVE this series, and I'm sooo excited about the movie.

How much do I love it? I'd pass a night with Derek Cameron, or Erik Hanson, or Hal Rockland, or Jeremy Penn, even Lukas Ridgeston. But not Pavel Novotny!
If you don't know who those names are, you're probably not gay.

The Charming Captain

The tough badass 2nd in command

The funny pilot, who is also married to the tough badass 2nd in command

The beautiful worldy woman of the night. (Whore <- That's what the charming captain calls her)

The big dumb tough guy

The innocent and pure mechanic

The hunky handsome doctor who saves his sister

The deranged sister who harbors a deep dark secret

The preacher who seems to know all the right people

Serenity Reviews


Reviews for Serenity have started to flow in. In case you're wondering, the show has not been released yet, but they have shown many many previews in various states.

So is it good? bad? Seems as if the reviews are mixed. But one thing is for sure, if you're a fan of SciFi, or a fan of Joss Whedon (Creator of Buffy and Angel), then you owe it to yourself to go watch Firefly - The complete series. Then run to watch Senerity when its released September 30th, 2005. Seems as if to really enjoy the film you've got to know at least some of the history between the characters, which is only possible through watching the series.

Link:
IOFilm - Serenity Review
IOFilm - Second Serenity Review
ScreenDaily.com -Serenity Review
My Previous Blog on Serenity

Source: The Solar Flare

Top 40 Retail Satisfaction Index

ForeSee Results and FGI Research measured customer satisfaction among site visitors of the Top 40 online retailers' websites, according to Internet Retailer magazine's Top 400 Guide.

Not too many surprises if you're addicted to the internet (like I am). Amazon and Netflix are among the top 2 rated sites, although I am getting a little peeved with Netflix for slowing down their mailing out of DVD's. The one site that I'm extermely happy to see on the list is www.newegg.com. I thought this site was one of the best kept secrets among computer enthusiasts.

I can't even begin to tell you how much I love this site. If you need anything computer related and electronics related try them out. They have some of the best prices and by far the best mailing times of any other store I've ever been to. For example, I ordered my digital camera Monday afternoon and it arrived on my doorstep Thursday (This was standard delivery).

Monday, August 22, 2005

Nintendogs


Click the picture to see a sample of this game.

Ohhh it looks so cute. I'm seriously considering buying a Nintendo DS just to get this game. You can choose one of several breeds of dogs as your virtual pet, and the best thing is that I get my doggie fix and don't need to vacuum the carpet every other day :) Do you think I should?

True Harry Potter 4 Trailer



Click on the picture to see the movie from the-leaky-cauldron. This is a real trailer not the teasers we've seen up till now. It looks awesome!

Sunday, August 21, 2005

Priesthood anyone?


This poster is not a joke. Its the brain child of Father Jonathan Meyer to entice the younger generation to join the priesthood.

I do applaud the church in trying to reach the younger generation. But it should be through changes in philosophy. I'm not expecting them to do a 360 and openly accept gays, but what about accepting women as equals and acknowledging that contraception is necessary in this day and age? Anyone else agree? disagree?

Stepping down from the soapbox now

Funny Pic of the Day

Source: Recent Runes

DVD - The Wedding Date

Click here for my review of this show. I rated the show a 7/10 with the caveat that you like romantic comedies and the 2 main stars, Debra Messing and Dermot Mulroney. Here's something else to note and scale your expectations of the movie:
The budget is only $15 million. As a comparison, Wimbledon had a budget of $30 million. So that's why this show suffers a little in the plot and characters. But it did make money, it grossed a total of $46 million which is pretty damn good.

The 2nd problem is the director. Being an avid movie watcher, it becomes more and more apparent that directors are what makes the show. Clare Kilner, has only directed 1 other show. And to my thinking romantic comedies are fairly easy to direct. GOOD romantic comedies are perhaps the hardest movies to direct.
Here are some eye candy scenes from the movie:



And as an added bonus... 2 pics I call crack and 2 cheeks.