Support Arizona Iced Tea

With all of the talk of a boycott of goods and services from Arizona, there is also a movement to boycott the delicious product of Arizona iced tea. I say thee nay! Arizona is one of the finest products on the market and its cool, refreshing taste is available for just a dollar in a 23.5 ounce can.

So buy more Arizona iced tea (they're actually based out of New York.)

http://www.drinkarizona.com/#featured_content

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Another Example of Why President Bush was The Man

I found this article on Snopes. President Bush was awesome.

From the Enquirer:

Bush Pauses to Comfort Teen
'This girl lost her mom in the World Trade Center on 9-11'

In a moment largely unnoticed by the throngs of people in Lebanon waiting for autographs from the president of the United States, George W. Bush stopped to hold a teenager's head close to his heart.

Lynn Faulkner, his daughter, Ashley, and their neighbor, Linda Prince, eagerly waited to shake the president's hand Tuesday at the Golden Lamb Inn. He worked the line at a steady campaign pace, smiling, nodding and signing autographs until Prince spoke:

"This girl lost her mom in the World Trade Center on 9-11."

"This girl lost her mom in the World Trade Center on 9-11."

Bush stopped and turned back.

"He changed from being the leader of the free world to being a father, a husband and a man," Faulkner said. "He looked right at her and said, 'How are you doing?' He reached out with his hand and pulled her into his chest."

Faulkner snapped one frame with his camera.

"I could hear her say, 'I'm OK,' " he said. "That's more emotion than she has shown in 21/2 years. Then he said, 'I can see you have a father who loves you very much.' "

"And I said, 'I do, Mr. President, but I miss her mother every day.' It was a special moment."

Special for Lynn Faulkner because the Golden Lamb was the place he and his wife, Wendy Faulkner, celebrated their anniversary every year until she died in the south tower of the World Trade Center, where she had traveled for business.

The day was also special for Ashley, a 15-year-old Mason High School student, because the visit was reminiscent of a trip she took four years ago with her mother and Prince. They spent all afternoon in the rain waiting to see Bush on the campaign trail. Ashley remembers holding her mother's hand, eating Triscuits she packed and bringing along a book in case she got bored.

But this time was different. She understood what the president was saying, and she got close enough to see him face to face.

"The way he was holding me, with my head against his chest, it felt like he was trying to protect me," Ashley said. "I thought, 'Here is the most powerful guy in the world, and he wants to make sure I'm safe.' I definitely had a couple of tears in my eyes, which is pretty unusual for me."

The photo has been circulating across the country, Faulkner said. Relatives have passed it on to friends, bosses and acquaintances. As they tell the story, they also share in Wendy Faulkner's legacy, which her family continues through the Wendy Faulkner Memorial Children's Foundation.

"I'm a pretty cynical and jaded guy at this point in my life," Faulkner said of the moment with the president. "But this was the real deal. I was really impressed. It was genuine and from the heart."

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Interview With "Haystack" of Hickpolitics

We at Jumping in Pools are proud to present the 42nd interview in our series. 'Haystack' writes for the excellent website Hickpolitics, a small but growing site. I have to admit, this is one of the best interviews we've had. So, thank you to Haystack and enjoy everybody.

Why did you start hickpolitics.com?

I got into politics and writing because of the “Father’s Rights” issue. Way back when, I was drawn into the Yahoo groups world; connecting with like-minded men (and women in some cases) struggling with a legal system that had become more concerned with giving politicos a few choice sound bites and brownie points with the “women’s vote” than in truly trying to find legislative solutions that could genuinely address “the best interests of the children.” We found and pursued State legislators…HARD…to enact more level-headed legislation to address Family Court and divorce/custody/child support laws. This was around the time so-called 50-50 custody was first coming into vogue.

I literally “fell” in to a newly launched National political website, Redstate, because some of the Yahoo group members found it and suggested we see what help their connections might give our own state level cause in NH. One thing led to another and I became hooked…and eventually became a Front Page Contributing Editor. My initial user name was “estrangedad”, and my political blogging career had begun.

Over time, I convinced myself I had enough talent (and enough to say) that I should go it alone, and start my own gig. Hickpolitics, and haystack, were born. The site ran for about three years, and then was turned off for most of the last year because my personal life came to a screeching halt. I had some pretty dark moments I had to endure, but with the many prayers from friends, family, and loved ones… and the abundant sustenance from God (and a little bit of my own dogged determination), I decided to come back and lend my voice to the debate.

“Why” I started it is simple enough-I needed a place where I could say and do whatever I wanted…outside the otherwise reasonable boundaries of a larger community with rules and requirements I didn’t always want to have to follow.

What has been the most interesting thing that you have learned or done since you've been running your site?

From hickpolitics came a side project called No End But Victory (now closed)…a totally mil blog focus that sent me to Fort Hood; interviews with Soldiers and time with their friends and families as they were awaiting deployment or re-deployment through the Iraq and Afghanistan theaters. Along the way, I did a segment on a radio show called “Troop Talk” for a while with an Iraq veteran/artillery Captain/West Point graduate that I spent the 4th of July with at Ft. Hood…THAT was interesting.

What I learned was that the American spirit, however much impugned or accosted, rests comfortably in our bellies waiting for the moments when we are called upon to express and display and act upon it. I am no more proud to know a fellow human being than to know a Soldier. They truly are what the rest of us can only dream of being.

President Obama has been in office for almost a year now. What do you think has been his biggest failure so far?

The shots at bad policy are too easy, and don’t really tell the Obama story. His biggest failure in my mind is how far he’s fallen and how fast-from his followers as well as the promises he made about how we were all going to “feel” about being Americans if we would only put him in the position to make it happen. We’re worse off as a “people” now. He and the Democrats have gone to such great lengths to accomplish campaign promises that they are writing bills we can’t read and jamming them through Congress without allowing sufficient debate and amendment. And now…this closed door nonsense with health care…Feeling better about being an American is impossible when our elected officials consider us with impunity and disdain, and convince themselves they know best what’s good for us while refusing to allow our participation in the process.

His greatest failure is that he has taken “we, the People” out of the game…and forgotten that it was OUR game to begin with.

Do you believe that the President has any plans in the works that will help the country?

I believe HE thinks he does. Unfortunately it looks and feels and smells like socialism, and it’s been shown to fail every time it’s been tried. What we know of the agenda suggests that, after healthcare, cap & trade and immigration will be next. Neither of these is going to help bridge the partisan divide, and they are certainly not going to give anyone any confidence that runaway spending and larger Government takeover of the private sector are going to be eased.

What is an important issue today in American politics that you believe is being overlooked by the Administration?

Absolutely, I believe the employment situation is being vastly overlooked. To my mind, having everyone working brings in tax revenue FAR more effectively than in taking more from those that ARE working in order to redistribute it to the growing number of those that aren’t. There’s only so much blood you can squeeze from a stone. Were the Administration to focus first and foremost on jobs, a great number of the other problems we’re all facing would be greatly eased.

The year 2010 is finally here. Do you sense that Democrats will lose seats in Congress this year, and if so, how many and why?

I’m not good at this game. Calculating seats, following polls, and watching trends have never been my strong suits. I DO, however, think Democrat seats will be lost in large enough numbers to change the dynamic in DC. In the Senate, we already know two Democrats aren’t running for re-election potentially lowering their number enough to kill the 60 vote majority they used to cram health care down our throats. It’s fair to assume some other Democrats are going to be “fired” for their stimulus, bailout, and health care votes by some of the more moderate constituencies. It’s also fair to assume we will gain seats in the House, though-as the eternal pessimist in such matters-I don’t think we’re going to re-take the majority there.

Do you miss George W. Bush as President?

I don't miss W, per se. He trended way too far to the middle in his last 2 years and got silly with spending. To my mind, he abandoned the principled among us with his immigration and prescription drug silliness. I DO miss what GWB brought to the American table though-strength, honor, America first…we’ve forfeited that through a man convinced his presence alone would re-define the office of President. Heck-I’d even take Bill Clinton back over this youngster, with no experience and a pitiful record on leadership.

Anything else you would like to add?

First and foremost, I appreciate being invited to participate in your interview series. It’s an honor. Second, I admire your site and what it is trying to accomplish. I think all of us- bloggers, writers, pundits, and every day citizens- have been drawn more directly into the national debate over our futures and those of our children and grandchildren. This is a very good thing. Sites like yours, and others, are perhaps the greatest things to look forward to in the fight ahead. “Taking America Back” starts with real Americans taking the fight to those that got us here in the first place-OUR employees, the politicians on the Hill-and we need more voices like yours and others to make that happen.

I hope Jumping In Pools continues to grow and be even more successful in the months ahead. Best of luck to you all...and to ALL of us engaged in this bloodsport called "politics."

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Interview With Professor Yuriy Malikov, Part Two

This is the second and final part of an interview with esteemed Professor Yuriy Malikov. In this half, Dr. Malikov answers questions regarding the Cold War, U.S. relations with Russia, and 20th century dictators.

Did you think the Cold War was going to end when it did, or did it come as a surprise to you?

Did it really end? NATO, the most powerful mechanism of the Cold War, still exists. More than that, it significantly increased its membership. US military bases still encircle Russia . Do a simple Google search on American military bases and you will see that the Cold War continues. And when did you hear anything good about Russia in American mass media? America needs an enemy.

After the collapse of the Soviet Union, US politicians tried to appoint China as America ’s arch enemy. Do you remember this hysterical reaction to the Chinese downing of the American spy plane in 2000? Fortunately for the Chinese, the American economy is too dependent on them to start a new crusade. The War on Terror cannot last long. On the other hand, Russia in this respect is not much different. It also needs to have an external enemy. Georgia and Ukraine are not more serious threats to Russia than Iran or North Korea are to the US . So, we will find each other again. “Enemies studies” positions in US colleges will again be filled with Russianists, rather than with specialists on the Middle East .

Where do you see Russian-U.S. Relations going in the next few years? Do you believe that our two nations can come together as true friends and allies, or will we still see each other as semi-rivals?

I think I have already answered this question. Unfortunately, Americans will “all be Georgians,” and Russians will “all be Venezuelans.” As a Russian proverb says: “Two bears will not fit in one lair.”

Adolf Hitler was a dictator that committed mass genocide, killed millions of innocent people, and started World War II. Joseph Stalin killed thousands of his own people and purged his government, military, and civilian population mercilessly. In your opinion, who was worse person of the two?

Many politicians kill people. How many people did George W. Bush get killed in Iraq and Afghanistan – both the natives of these countries and American soldiers? It sounds cynical, but killing in itself does not place leaders of a nation into the category of a tyrant.

What matters then to characterize a historical figure? Probably the results and the logic of his or her actions. Stalin, like Hitler, committed numerous atrocities. Without justifying these atrocities, in the case of Stalin, I can explain the logic of his actions and their aims. Military purges started after Stalin learned of the suppressed military coup in Japan . Rapid collectivization and industrialization in the Soviet Union could not be accomplished without human sacrifices. Cruel methods used against its own population during WWII made Soviet soldiers fear the enemy less than their own authorities. Stalin was cruel, but logical, and the ultimate purpose of his policies was achieved. The Soviet Union became one of the leading industrial countries, built a powerful army, and won WWII. I can always explain all Stalin’s actions (without approving them). Hitler, on the contrary, is beyond my understanding. I can explain gulags, but I cannot explain the Holocaust.

Thank you to Dr. Malikov for agreeing to the interview, it was fun to do it. You can also find the first half of the interview here.

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Interview With Professor Yuriy Malikov, Part One

We here at JiP are very proud to continue our interview series with Professor Yuriy Malikov. Dr. Malikov is ethnically Russian, was born and raised in Kazakhstan, and now teaches numerous History courses at the State University of New York College of Oneonta, SUNY Oneonta for short.


Highly esteemed in his field, Prof. Malikov speaks Russian and English, and has a basic understanding of Kazakh, German, and Hungarian. Here is Part One of a two part series:


If I am not mistaken, you were born and raised in Pavlodar, Kazakhstan . When you were young, was it even conceivable that in your lifetime that the Cold War would end, you would move to the United States, and that you'd a highly regarded college professor?

To be exact, I was born in the Soviet Union. Life in Kazakhstan was not very much different from the life in the other fourteen Union republics at that time. I do not think anybody in the 1980s could believe that the Soviet Union will collapse and that we would be able to choose a country of residence. I always dreamt of visiting other countries, but I would never believe it if somebody told me that I would be living in the USA .

What are the main differences between living in the United States and living in Kazakhstan?

This is a difficult question. I think there are more similarities than differences. At least, I do not experience any cultural shock when I go to visit my parents and friends in Kazakhstan . Thanks to globalization, people in Kazakhstan go to similar movie theaters as they do in America , where they watch the same Hollywood movies, eat in fast food restaurants, go to supermarkets, where they buy Coca Cola and Heineken, and work in their offices using the same computers. Everyday life looks pretty much the same as in the US , or in other Western countries.

As for the major difference, I think it is the attitude to laws. Most people in Kazakhstan do not respect them. As my friend in the Peace Corps said, traffic rules in Kazakhstan are recommendations, not laws. Almost in all spheres of life bribes and connections mean much more than laws or regulations. On the other hand, there are things, which are better in Kazakhstan than in the US - its foreign policy, for example, and its coverage in mass media. When I turn on the television in America, I get the impression that America is surrounded by enemies, and everybody either openly or secretly hates the Unites States. When I watch news in Kazakhstan, I see that Americans are our “strategic partners,” the Chinese are our “traditional friends,” and Russians are “brothers.” It would be great if Americans could watch news from Kazakhstan; it would force their own media to be less paranoid.

How difficult was it for you to learn English? How many languages do you speak?

English is not a difficult language to learn. It has rules, you learn them, and you speak. The Russian language has exceptions, not rules. Every noun makes its plural form in its own way, while every verb makes its past and perfect tense in the most unpredictable way. I am not good at languages. I speak Russian and English, and have some basic knowledge of Kazakh, German, and Hungarian.

Why did you want to become a professor?

History helps people to understand their society, to see where we are coming from and where we are going to. History allows people to challenge numerous stereotypes about different societies, which most take for granted. I like to challenge stereotypes and I also like to help others to challenge them. Being a professor of History is exactly the position that allows me to do this.

What are your feelings on the character Borat, portrayed by Sacha Baron Cohen?

I am quite neutral to Borat. Cohen used “ Kazakhstan ” to demonstrate to Americans their own country. He even tried to make Kazakhstan look as far from the reality as he could (being a Kazakhstani, I can easily see it). The belief of some people here that, after watching the movie, they have a better understanding of Kazakhstan upsets me. But again, it says more about some people here than about Kazakhstan.

Stay Tuned for Part Two.

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Final Fantasy VII Review

Now, how do I approach a review of one of the most widely popular games of all time? Oh, I got it, I'll put a picture in to ease into the article.
Whoops. I guess a fiery image of Sephiroth seemingly engulfed in flames is hardly a way to ease into things, but it's too late now. Yes, people, Final Fantasy VII is indeed one of the greatest games that have ever been made, and no, I'm obviously not the only one who thinks so.

The story, the music, the cast, and the memories make for a great game, one that catapulted RPGs into a major player in video games. But before I go into semantics, let's get this review done.
As you may have heard, the story of Final Fantasy VII is superb, even if it is at times hard to follow. The main character, of course, is Cloud, a so-called 'ex-SOLDIER'; the main villain is, guess who, Sephiroth, who was previously Cloud's superior. What ensues within is a struggle between the characters you love, the antagonist you hate, and the evil corporation Shinra.

In the beginning, Cloud is an unwilling participant of the terrorist group AVALANCHE. Headed by Barret, Cloud joins the squad to fulfill a promise to his childhood friend, Tifa. In a short amount of time, after some exciting explosions and what-not, you come to learn that the long-thought-dead super-soldier Sephiroth is still kicking and killing people left and right. What do you have to do, lowly Cloud? That's right, stop a one-man murder machine who intends to destroy everything and everyone in his path in order to get what he wants. Easy enough, right?

What follows is one of the greatest stories (with twists!) in video game history.
The characters in Final Fantasy VII are some of the deepest and fleshed out in video game history. This is the kind of stuff I like, getting to know your characters, feeling attached to them, coming to understand them. And having two of them as not necessary to beat the game? Holy crap.

Musically, this game stands with the very best to this day. Who can forget the chills when you heard One Winged Angel for the first time? No one, that's who. Shock and fear, love and energy; all are mastered in this Final Fantasy.

This game has an amazing load of side quests as well and the best leveling-up system I've ever come in contact with. Your emotions can run high and your mouth can grow dry with the way you feel about what's happening in the game.
As with everything that has ever been in existence, there are some incredibly small faults. The characters... yup, they're really blocky, but what do you expect from an early PS1 game? The pacing could be better, you shouldn't be raising chocobos when a (spoiler) is headed at you, blah blah blah.

So again, what can I say? Yes, it lives up to the hype, and no, it is not over-rated. What can I say, it's one of the greatest games ever made.

The Final Verdict: A 9.75/10, Almost Perfect

(And what the hell, just make a damn remake already!)


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Fullmetal Alchemist Review (Anime)

There are times when I get into a video game or a show and I spend hours thinking about the characters, their situations, their so-called lives. I become absorbed and half of my thoughts through a given day are about the story, the twists and turns. The second season of Yu Yu Hakusho, Final Fantasy VII, Max Payne are some of the very few that have done this to me. And yet, Fullmetal Alchemist puts them all to shame.
From the third episode, I was utterly hooked. The Elric brothers' quest for the Philosopher's Stone to restore their bodies, the ability to perform alchemy, the amazing characters, the animation, and so on and so on were incredible to me right from the get go. It was all so original, all so touching in its own ways.

The structure and character development over the 51 episodes of the series are by far the best I've ever seen. You learn who the characters are, what they think, and why they think it. And what's more, you feel the same way as the characters, your emotions being tied up with them throughout their journeys.

That indeed is probably the greatest strength of Fullmetal Alchemist: its characters. Each is nuanced and fully fleshed out by the end of the series. There are no generic, throw away characters; everyone has their own life, if you will. Ed, the state alchemist with an automail arm and leg, Al, a soul in a suit of armor, Winry, the young automail savant, Mustang, a tortured, yet moral, soldier striving to become the leader of his land, Riza Hawkeye, Teacher, hell, even the dog Din has a great back-story.
But where are my thoughts running to? Have I forgotten to mention the fan-freaking-tastic story. In the first few episodes, viewers not only learn of how and why Ed and Al Elric come to search for the Philosopher's stone, but also will become attached to the people themselves.

When still young, the Elric brothers stumble upon their long absent father's alchemy books. Alchemy, a way of creating or changing things via "transmutation circles," becomes an obsession of the boys, and they learn with great fervor. The very first thing they "learn" is that "to obtain, something of equal value must be lost," or alchemy's law of equal exchange.

But in this time of learning, their mother passes. Desperate for the mother they love, and blinded by the power they think they hold, the Elrics try a forbidden "human transmutation," a way of trying to bring their mother back from the dead.

The transmutation fails, Al loses his body, and Ed loses him arm, and gives his leg to attach Al's body to a suit of armor. Bleeding to death, Ed is carried by Al to receive the automail that Ed will become famous for. And thus, these mere children begin a journey for the Philosopher's Stone, a stone that ignores equal exchange, to restore their bodies.
Oh, and the Homunculi. Did I forget to mention them... Yeah, they'll blow your mind too. Interested? You better be.

The plot twists are also quite superb, including... well, I shouldn't spoil it, but anything, anything, I felt could happen when I watched.

The animation and background music were also superb elements in the show. The soundtrack made the emotions utterly palpable, and the animation was fluid and very high quality. These elements not only did their job, but did the job of their lazy co-workers, boss, and grabbed a second gig on the side.Unfortunately, not even this excellent show is perfect. Namely, the quite disappointing ending. There is a movie, which I am about to watch, that purportedly ties up some loose ends, but they should have been addressed in the show. I would have waited, really.

There is also the occasional non-sequitur, like... well, I shouldn't even spoil the non-sequiturs.

But regardless of these faults, Fullmetal Alchemist is the best anime I've ever seen, although I have only seen about a half dozen. Excellent story (except for the ending), excellent characters, great animation, great music. And don't forget the emotion that will have you watching episode after episode once the credits flash.

Final Score:
9.25/10, Nearly Flawless


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New on Amazon: Sir Chad's Book of Pro

Hello, gentlemen, I come with great news! New today at Barnes & Noble, and soon to be on the New York Times bestseller, Sir Chad's Book of Pro.

It features master plans for Warcraft III, DotA, any major video game release, and how to bed the most beautiful women in the world. Sir Chad has done it, my friend, and so can you! All you need to do is crack open this 1,400 page masterpiece and your life will never be the same.

Marvel at Sir Chad's ability to defeat his enemies in combat, while at the same time curing cancer. Having trouble with Hero Builds? Learn from the master and still be able to lift heavy weights at the same time.

Remember, one night with Sir Chad and your life will never be the same!

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BREAKING at E3: Final Fantasy XIII to be Released This Year

LOS ANGELES CONVENTION CENTER- The Microsoft News conference at this year's E3, which began at approximately at 10:30 a.m. PST, was headlined by surprising news: that Final Fantasy XIII would be released in the United States before the year's end.

The announcement, which was not confirmed before E3, was met with raucous applause by those in attendance. "I can hardly believe it," said Peter Carter, a self-described "avid gamer." "I thought that it would be released only in Japan this year and released in the U.S. next year at best.

"It's great news for me," Carter added. "I love Final Fantasy."

Though met with considerable positivity, the release of the game will not come without controversy. At the press conference, it was stated that, to release Final Fantasy XIII this year, major cuts had to be made in production.

"We always hope for the best," a Microsoft Executive stated, "but to reach our deadline, we may have to consider some unfortunate drawbacks. The thing of it is, the Holiday Season in the United States is just too lucrative to not release Final Fantasy thirteen this year, as opposed to an unknown date in 2010, or even 2011. Even though Square Enix disagreed with us at first, reps from their company relented recently."

When asked what aspects of the game may be weakened because of the early release, he stated, "I don't really know right now. Not only are we not in touch with the top brass at Sony, Square Enix simply told us to announce this news today.

"Maybe the graphics won't be as picture perfect as they hope. Maybe they won't reach the level of testing they normally hold ourselves up to. They may have to cut out some side quests, or even some of the main story.

"But regardless of what we do, I can assure the public that Final Fantasy XIII will be an excellent game that lives up to Microsoft's, and Square Enix's, standards."

Square Enix has not released a press release at the time of this article, but one is expected soon.

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Frodo the Puppet

One of the greatest Phil Hendrie bits of all time, brought to life by an animator:



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Stalin vs. Martians

Oh. My. God. This must be the greatest game to ever grace the glorious earth. I can hard believe it, but yes, this is a real game trailer for an up-coming game called Stalin vs. Martians in which aliens invade the Soviet Union in 1942, and there is a hundred-foot Stalin in the game. Feast your eyes:



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Bill Nye on Coast to Coast A,M.

I was listening to Coast to Coast, and what did my ears behold? Bill Nye the Science Guy! It was so cool...I thought he was dead. Just kidding, of course, but it was neat to hear a cool guy from my childhood on a show that I listen to now-a-days.

Bill! Bill! Bill! Bill!

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President Bush: Still Awesome

You know what. We're going to learn to appreciate our 43rd President. He was and is a great man, and when all of the childish insults and Daily Show "jokes" fade, his accomplishments will remind us of Truman.



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You're Tearing Me Apart, Lisa!

This is dedicated to Joe, who loves this movie very much, and never posts.



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Original Fallout Review

Although Fallout 3 was released last year, and although the original Fallout was released a dozen years ago, from time to time I find myself playing Fallout. So I suppose the time has come for a review.
Fallout, even today, stands as a great role playing game. Even today it is ground breaking, with its non-linear story line and choices upon choices. This is Fallout’s greatest strength. And even today, these points are rarely matched by games.
Yet Fallout stands above the modern competition in other areas. Its leveling-up system is high above most of the modern systems where you simply get extra strength, HP, etc. No, no my friend, there are perks every three levels. And what’s more, there is a bevy of perks; a couple dozen, actually.

Its story line lets you creatively deal with problems that you face. Steal or kill, be evil or good, betray or stay loyal? You actually get the choice, and what’s more, these choices have an effect on the gameplay. The ending of Fallout, unlike Fallout 3, does not disappoint. It goes over the communities you’ve travelled through and how you affected them, whether good or bad. It gives you a feeling of epic-ness and completion.

However, there are problems with the game. The biggest one, of course, is the bugs. Even with patches, the game still has a tendency to abruptly turn off, or this or that. Another problem is the people you recruit through your journey. Can someone tell me why you actually have to barter with them? Luckily, they took care of this in Fallout 2. Also, many of the perks and skills are totally worthless. Seriously, why would anyone want a high “unarmed” skill?
But regardless of its faults, Fallout is ground-breaking to this day. If you have never played, I urge you to, regardless of how much you like specific types of games or consoles. Play Fallout!

My Final Score: 8.25/10

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Fallout 3: A Better Ending

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At 2-year mark, R'ville wind "promising"

From the Times Journal:

"In the air and on the table, wind continues to be an issue in Richmondville.
Test results “look promising” for wind turbines on Warnerville Hill, a Reunion Power spokesman said this week.
At the same time, Richmondville town officials will be re-thinking their Wind Ordinance in a special workshop on Tuesday.
Steve Eisenberg of Reunion said his company’s wind test tower on the Huse farm is coming up on its second anniversary in May.
Mr. Eisenberg, whose company is considering wind turbines in Richmondville, said in September 2007 that a year of data would be necessary to determine whether the turbines would be feasible.
Months later, he said Reunion needed more data.
On Monday, Mr. Eisenberg said he “was not in a position” to release the wind test data, which he said were private.
But he did say, “It is promising. And our commitment and resources are still in place.”
He said Richmondville was one of several projects Reunion was looking at. Others are in the Capital region and Mohawk Valley, Mr. Eisenberg said.
Meanwhile, Richmondville town board members will meet with the town planning board after the planning board’s 7pm meeting Tuesday.
Described as a workshop, the session will have councilmen and planners review the Wind Ordinance.
Councilmen accepted the ordinance from a citizen’s committee in the fall. It was not approved as a law at the time and may still be changed.
Tuesday’s meeting will be at the RVES building. Although the public may attend, there will be no public input, according to town officials."


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Box Office Preview: 'Watchmen' will be No. 1, but how much will it make?

From Entertainment Weekly:
"Watchmen opens this weekend, in case you haven't heard. Word of the comic-based film's long-awaited debut did get out around Hollywood, apparently: The competition is completely steering clear. So, as the only big new release, Zack Snyder's anticipated adaptation of Alan Moore's geek bible certainly will be No. 1. But just how well will it do? Read on. Oh, and did I mention that it's long-awaited and anticipated? Just making sure."

"1. Watchmen -- $75 million
I still vividly remember the shockwaves that rumbled through Tinseltown when Snyder's last R-rated graphic-novel techy epic, 300, opened to a huge $70.9 mil on this weekend two years ago. (The ground shook so intensely that I felt tremors in Las Vegas, where I was that weekend.) That was huge. And this movie, with a similar pedigree, a similar fan base, a similar release pattern in more than 3,000 venues, including several expensive-ticket IMAX locations, should be pretty damn big, too. But will it be bigger than 300? Marginally, yes, I think. Watchmen could be hurt by its nearly three-hour running time, but it's based on a monumental book about which excitement has been building for two decades. What's more, it's opening in a few hundred more theaters than 300 did, and ticket prices have gone up in the years since the Spahhhhrtahhhns stormed the box office. Keeping track of its returns will be fun, indeed."

"2. Slumdog Millionaire -- $10 million
The Oscar winner got a boost after its Best Picture win and has now grossed more than $200 mil worldwide.

3. Tyler Perry's Madea Goes to Jail -- $9 million
In less than two weeks, Tyler Perry's latest movie has become his top domestic grosser to date, with nearly $70 mil in the bank.

4. Jonas Brothers: The 3D Concert Experience -- $8 million
Eh, don't feel so bad for the boys. They may not have made Miley-sized millions last weekend, but their big-screen extravaganza averaged almost $10,000 per theater -- and it should hang on strong this time around.

5. Taken -- $7 million
With little direct boy-baiting competition (except, maybe, Friday the 13th, which was only viable for one day, really), Liam Neeson's action flick has cruised to a $110 mil take at the box office during the past month. Which is to say: Watchmen's debut could finally hurt a bit."

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Gingerdead Man 2: Possibly the Greatest Movie of All Time

Prepare to be amazed, and make sure the bathroom is unlocked:


Gingerdead Man 2 Trailer - Watch more funny videos here

Mass Effect Review

I recently bought Mass Effect at Game Stop. My hopes weren't terribly high, although I knew of its excellent reviews when it came out. Game reviews have a tendency of giving high scores for popular games (for example, GTA IV and very recent Madden games). So was this game worth my time and is it worth yours? The answer is a resounding yes.

From the first couple of hours, I was engulfed in a story of galactic rouges and the volume of the worlds within the game. From the beginning, I knew this was the game's greatest strength: storytelling. The voice acting is some of the best I've heard for any video game, the movements of the characters were fluent and realistic, and the lip-syncing is straight out the best I've ever seen, and yes I've played GTA IV and Fallout 3. The story took me on a ride once I stepped foot on Eden Prime, a human colony in space, and even now I want more.

But the story becomes so much more. Galactic peace and galactic extinction hang in the balance with your actions. And yes, they are your actions. You choose how to go about things, when to go about things. Your actions matter, from getting other characters killed, to saving aliens thought extinct, to the death of one of the supporting characters. Your actions have resounding effects and are bolstered by nearly flawless storytelling.
Variation among weapon and armor upgrades also shine for this title. Dozens upon dozens of upgrades for ammo, heat, aiming, weapon stability, and extra shields for your armor are just a few of the many upgrades. And this does not even speak of the many types of armor and guns themselves.

I only had two problems with the game, one minor and one moderate. The minor one that I had was, once in a while, there was noticeable slowdown in the game. Normally it was smooth and fluid, but sometimes in battle it would slow down, or quickly flash a "loading" at the bottom of the screen, momentarily stopping the game. The moderate problem I had was the way battles were executed. You lead a squad of three, you control yourself and the other two are NPCs. Unfortunately, the NPCs are not always the brightest people, many times shooting blindly at walls in front of them, or even you. Also, the battles can end in the blink of an eye... with your death. Sometimes battles can be quick and hectic, so make sure you save often.In the end, this was an excellent game. I am quite happy that there is a planned trilogy, and I cannot wait to play the next one. So, a used game of Mass Effect is only fifteen bucks (used) at Game Stop, go pick up a copy.

The Final Verdict: 9.25/10, Nearly Flawless