Going Postal

From CNN.com:

LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- A female former employee opened fire at a 24-hour postal service sorting facility in Goleta, California, killing six people and critically wounding another, before turning the gun on herself, authorities said early Tuesday.

I'm glad my dad is retiring finally. When I was a kid, I remember him being a supervisor for a short time, then going back to being a regular letter carrier. I think this kind of shit is the reason why.

On another note, I've been waiting for some Postal Service related news to post this picture. Yay...

Also at The Washington Post.

Technorati tags: Postal Shooting, News and Politics

Crisis Counseling - 01/30/06

New Crisis Counseling up over at DC.

Anyone else kinda feel like this second to last issue of Wonder Woman was unnecessarily drawn out?

I mean, jeez, that Lady Pallas chick is one wordy bitch. Yeah, we get it, you failed her and yourselves; gods are petty and cruel; yadda yadda yadda. Just shut up already and let Diana smash something.

Technorati Tags: Comics * Entertainment * Infinite Crisis

Assless Chaps, Anyone?

Man, for months I've been dieing to use "Assless Chaps" in blog post. I guess I can die happy now.

Anywho, Rainlegs are windbreakers for your thighs. As someone who grew up in South Florida riding a bike to school everyday, I can definitely see a use for these things. Often did I arrive home from a hard day of desk napping learning completely soaked (well, except for my crotch) by our daily 3pm monsoons.

That being said, I still have a hard time beleiving that a set of these things is really worth 43 bucks. I could make my own out of garbage bags and duct tape for under 5.

Via Treehugger.

Technorati tags: Rainlegs, Gadgets, Stupid Product

Light Transmitting Concrete

Light Transmitting Concrete is exactly what you'd imagine: concrete through which light can pass. The picture pretty much explains its function.

The stuff is made by mixing concrete with glass fiber optical strands, resulting in a partially translucent rock.

I'd imagine this stuff would be good for public buildings and such where natural, low-cost lighting would be a plus.

Looks like a German by the name of Andreas Bittis came up with the stuff. His site just looks like an internet business card, though.

You know, concrete is nice and all, but they really need to get cracking on transparent aluminum. How cool would it be to a windshield made of metal?

Via Ubergizmo with the full article at Gizmag.

Technorati tags: LiTraCon, Light Transmitting Concrete, Gadgets

Lost 2x12 - "Fire + Water"

Sorry I haven’t gotten to this earlier, but last week’s episode was kind of bland. I’m not a big fan of the Charlie character and his current storyline is probably my least favorite aspect of the show. Add to that the fact that there really wasn’t any sort of resolution to the storyline or redemption for the character, and I’m almost at a loss for words in my review.

Almost:

• So, Charlie’s flashbacks seem to mark a new occurrence on the show in that they were also hallucinations of some kind. I wonder if this is going to be something that only happens to Charlie, or if the other characters are going to start seeing their memories manifest in reality. I guess this already sorta happened with Kate and the horse, but not quite at the same level as with Charlie.
• Sadly, I think the Voltron cameo was my favorite part of this episode. And it was in such good condition, too. I wish I still had my Voltron…
• Nice to see Sawyer not being such a total dick anymore. Kinda strange that, of all people available to him on the island, Hurley decides to ask Sawyer for advice about Libby. I guess he could have been asking Kate the first time, but since Sawyer answered and then later drew Libby’s attention for him, I’m inclined to think he just meant to ask Sawyer.
• Not a total lack of dickery, though. Sawyer still called Hurley “Jabba.” Didn’t seem to faze him, though.
• Continuing with Hurley some more, the shot of him dressed in biblical costume was pretty amusing. Let’s have more of that.
• The stuff with Libby is turning out to be fairly interesting too. I’m convinced that she was a doctor in the mental hospital at which Hurley used to be a patient. Hurley recognized her and called her on it, and she was pretty obviously lying with her answer. At the very lest, she was holding back the truth.
• Her comment about the washer/dryer caught my ear, too. It really doesn’t seem to fit in with anything else. The implication here seems to be that the island and the bunker facilities get restocked every-so-often. Gotta wonder why they haven’t updated their music collection, though.
• Anna Lucia is endearing herself to me a bit. Nice to see that someone on the island is finally calling Jack on the fucked-upedness of his relationship with Kate. If either of them were normal people, their hot/cold attitudes toward each other could probably be most easily explained by some sort of foolhardy romantic relationship brought on by the disparity of their situation. They’re not normal, though.
• The main plot of this episode seemed lacking to me. Like I said earlier, I don’t find Charlie very interesting. He, so far, has no past connection to any of the other characters and, while interesting as a character building exercise, this episode didn’t really seem to further the plot any. The whole idea of needing a Baptism kinda irked me, too. I don’t much care for that kind of hell-bound talk in my entertainment. I understand that Catholicism is part of Charlie’s character, but there’s no need to be preachy. Shit, Eko’s backstory is all about him becoming a priest and there wasn’t an ounce of preachiness in it.
• Ugh, speaking things I don’t like, what’s with Locke being such a dick all of a sudden. Well, I guess he was always a bit of a dick, but he used to be a mildly creepy, mysterious dick. Now he’s just your average, logic confounding, refuses to listen, punches for no reason dick. Bad move there.
• Now, I don’t mean to say that Charlie didn’t deserve to get hit. In fact, I think they probably should’ve beat him up a long time ago. His actions in this episode really do warrant some kind of punishment, but Locke hit him after the situation was already resolved. There just wasn’t a need.
• Kate was kinda bitchy in this one, too. Where does she get the right to try to stop Charlie from talking to Claire?
• And Charlie was right, everyone on that island has seen some crazy shit and people just believe them. But when the guy who used to have drug problem says the same thing, it’s all of a sudden outside the realm of possibility.
• One last thing: What the fuck kind of rock band does a diaper commercial? Even washed-up has-beens have their dignity.

Ok, that’s it for now. Hopefully the next episode will be better.

Technorati Tags: Television, ABC, Lost, Entertainment

Comic Book Day - 01/25/06

Well, it's Comic Book Day again, and I'm finally all caught up with everything.

I'm kinda bored now, though, so it's a good thing some new stuff comes out today.

Anywho, here's what I'm picking up:

• Adventures of Superman #648
• Batman #649
• Green Lantern Corps: Recharge #4
• Robin #146
• Wonder Woman #225

Might pick up the Serenity trade too, since I missed issues two and three. Catwoman probably ain't worth buying again. I'm interested in what "secret" she's gonna tell Bats, but I just don't like the book; no idea why.

Oh, and then there's the new issue of Wizard, which is a confusing subject for me. I got a subscription for Festivus and ended up with 2 copies last month because I wasn't sure when it gets delivered. Anyone out there know if it usualy comes in the mail the same day it's released in the stores?

Picture via Superdickery.

Technorati Tags: Comics, Comic Books, Entertainment, Infinite Crisis, Superdickery

How to Foil Search Engine Snoops

Wired News is running a piece that works as nice follow-up to my earlier post about illegal government surveilence.

It's a little light on how to actually foil the searches, though, focusing instead on explaining for what purposes this information might one day be used. Still, it's worth a read.

Technorati tags: Search Engine Records, News and Politics, Computer Security

If You're Not Breaking the Law, Whatcha Worried About?

Badness.

For years, it's already been my assumption that the government did this type of thing anyway, but doing it so openly and without hesitation worries me. Call me old fashioned, but I've grown rather fond of the 4th Amendment and would prefer to not find myself on my knees in the corner of my apartment, hands bound behind my back with those plastic zip-tie cuffs, eyes burning and ears ringing from the recently detonated flashbang, while a team of masked FBI agents rummage through everything I own because I decided to follow a link to Aljazeera(go on, click it; I dare you).

Anyway, here's a New York Times article about it. From the article:

...the Justice Department had asked a federal judge to compel Google to turn over records on millions of its users' search queries. Google is resisting the request, but three of its competitors - Yahoo, MSN and America Online - have turned over similar information.

The government and the cooperating companies say the search queries cannot be traced to their source, and therefore no personal information about users is being given up. But the government's move is one of several recent episodes that have caused some people to think twice about the information they type into a search engine, or the opinions they express in an e-mail message.

The government has been more aggressive recently in its efforts to obtain data on Internet activity, invoking the fight against terrorism and the prosecution of online crime. A surveillance program in which the National Security Agency intercepted certain international phone calls and e-mail in the United States without court-approved warrants prompted an outcry among civil libertarians. And under the antiterrorism USA Patriot Act, the Justice Department has demanded records on library patrons' Internet use.

Via AmericaBlog.

Technorati tags: Invasion of Privacy, Computers and Internet, Illegal Domestic Spying, News and Politics

The West Wing: Cancelled

From the Washington Post.

NBC's fantasy White House drama "The West Wing" will end its seven-season run on May 14 with the inauguration of the new president, executive producer John Wells told television critics Sunday.

This sucks some major ass. I like Command in Chief and all, but it ain't no West Wing. Call me spoiled, but I have no interest in following the day to day exploits of a White House senior staff that doesn't speak in a constant string of witty dialogue overly saturated with poignant and scathing, yet somehow also loving and optomistic, critiques of American political culture.

In comparrison, everything else is just kind of bland.

Technorati tags: The West Wing, Television, Entertainment

UPN, WB to Combine to Form New Network

From Yahoo! News:

NEW YORK - Two small, struggling television networks, UPN and WB, will merge to form a new network called The CW, executives from the companies that own them said Tuesday.

The announcement was made by executives from CBS Corp., which owns UPN, and Warner Bros., a unit of Time Warner Inc., which owns WB.

Both UPN and WB had struggled to compete against larger rivals in the broadcast TV business, including Walt Disney Co.'s ABC, News Corp.'s Fox, General Electric Co.'s NBC and CBS Corp.'s CBS.

I hope this doesn't affect Smallville. I'd hate to see that get tossed cause these dipshits don't know how to run a TV network.

Technorati tags: UPN, The WB, Television

US Destroyer Chases Down Pirate Ship

Here's something you don't read about every day; the US Navy chasing down and boarding a pirate ship in international waters.

From CNN.com:

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) -- The U.S. Navy boarded an apparent pirate ship in the Indian Ocean and detained 26 men for questioning, the Navy said Sunday.

The 16 Indians and 10 Somali men were aboard a traditional dhow that was chased and seized Saturday by the guided missile destroyer USS Winston S. Churchill, said Lt. Leslie Hull-Ryde of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command in Bahrain.

The dhow stopped fleeing after the Churchill twice fired warning shots during the chase, which ended 87 kilometers (54 miles) off the coast of Somalia, the Navy said. U.S. sailors boarded the dhow and seized a cache of small arms.

That's some crazy shit, right there.

The Navy is apparently patrolling the area in some sort of support role related to the Iraq war. They were lead into this encounter through reports of a Bahamian-flagged bulk carrier ship taking fire while passing through the area.

From the article, though, I kinda get the feeling that this type of shit happens pretty often. In fact, I think the only reason we don't hear more about pirates these days is because the government just ends up calling them "terrorists" most of the time.

Whatever, though. It's still pretty amusing.

Technorati tags: US Navy, Pirates, News and Politics

Crisis Counseling - 01/23/06

The new Crisis Counseling is up over at DC, and man, last week was pretty rough.

I'm still reeling a bit from IC#4, but all of their Crisis related titles were great.

Speaking of great, All-Star Superman #2 was pretty freaking awesome too. This book has everything I love about Superman in it. I may post more about this later, but for right now, just get yourself a copy.

Technorati Tags: Comics * Entertainment * Infinite Crisis

Infinite Crisis #4: Fucking Insanity

Ahhhh!

Oh my god, that was freaking crazy.

Superboy Prime went god damned apeshit and killed a bunch of former Teen Titans.

To quote Newsarama, here's what happened:

Page 19:
Q: Fight! Who gets her block knocked off?
A: Pantha.
Q: And this is where…
A: It gets kinda sad. Superboy is totally out of control.

Page 20:
Q: Who got the punch through the chest?
A: Wildebeest. A former Teen Titan.
Q: And frozen?
A: Red Star. Again, former Teen Titan.
Q: And disarmed?
A: Risk. Former Teen Titan.
Q: And cut in two?
A: Bushido.
Q: Who?
A: Yeah, he was in two comics prior to this, so don’t worry.

Yeah, that's right, Superboy Prime, a younger Kal-El/Clark Kent from a long destroyed alternate reality, ran around decapitating, dismembering, impaling (with his fist), freezing (with the arctic breath), and burning (with his heat vision) the Titans, Doom Patrol, and JSA. He also beat the god damned living hell out of the Kon-El/Conner Kent Superboy and may have killed Krypto (yeah, the "Super Dog").

It also kinda looks like the Flash (Wally West) may have died, though I somehow doubt it since even Barry Allen (Silver Age Flash who died in the last Crisis) seems to pop up from time to time. Oh, and Earth 2 is back, bi-yatch!

Damn. So much more happened that has just blown my mind. Do yourself a favor and go out and buy one of the best comics published in a long time.

Via Newsarama.

Technorati tags: Infinite Crisis, Comics, Superboy

Gmail Gets a Delete Button

Nothing huge, but Gmail got another little update. A "delete" button, this time.

It makes things easier.

Now all they need is a calendar or a task manager.

Via Download Squad.

Technorati tags: Gmail, Google, Computers and Internet

Skull Toilet Brush: Why?

Here's the Skull Toilet Brush from BlueLips.com.

Aside from being just a smidge on the odd side, I can't imagine any sort of market for this thing. Anyone who might go through this much trouble to decorate their bathroom probably wouldn't be the type of person to do so with this kind of morbit shit.

It is impressive, though. They really didn't skimp on the paint job, there.

My only criticism is that any skull in such condition where the bone has been dmaged and discolored to that extent would probably have a set of teeth in much worse condition.

Whatever, though. Not Imma buy one.

Via Strange New Products.

Technorati tags: Skull Toilet Brush, Stupid Products

Lost 2x11 - "The Hunting Party"

Another great episode.

I guess they're all great, actually. Eh, whatever.

Comments, observations, and questions, ahoy!

• Jack's got a reputation amongst the medical community, huh? That's interesting. It must have been at least a couple of years between the surgery and the end of his marriage, then.
• Looks like his dad is either jealous or annoyed by what the Italian chick is saying. Probably both.
• Michael took Locke out pretty easily, it seems. I guess Locke just wasn't expecting it. Either way, proves just how determined Michael is to get Walt back.
• Still, though, I like how Jack immediately realized that Michael wasn't prepared to shoot any of the survivors, himself included. Michael's threatening to destroy the computer, instead, was a nice touch. Shows just how frightened of that thing they've all become.
• Why did Jack throw such a fit about Kate coming along?
• Kinda funny how casually he threw out that thing about Sawyer being in love with Kate. Sawyer's reaction was seemed pretty spot on for the character, too. I guess he does love Kate, eh?
• Speaking of Sawyer, looks like his real name might be James Ford. I have my doubts, though. If I was a con-man and professional criminal on my way to a foreign country with the intention of committing murder, I somehow doubt I would make a plane reservation in my own name.
• Jin and Sun seem to have reached something of an understanding with each about the state of their marriage. It was nice to see that Jin was willing to once again risk his life for Michael and Walt, but equally so that he was willing not to for the sake of Sun and his marriage. Do I smell character growth?
• Somewhat related, I like how the producers keep the dialogue unintelligable when we're supposed to be hearing things from Jin's point of view. Helps identify with the character a bit more.
• The bearded due from the boat is back. I like Sawyer's nickname for him. He does, in fact, look like a Zeke.
  
• Anyway, Zeke sure did seem to know an awful lot about the survivors. That was kinda creepy.
• I can't decide what I saw in Zeke's reaction to Jack's comment about Ethan, though. Part of me wants to say that he seemed concerned about the idea that they had found Ethan out, part of me wants to say that he was suprised to here where Ethan had run off to, and another part of me wants to say that he had no idea what Jack was talking about. The third part of me likes itself the best, I think, because that goes along with my theory that there are two seperate groups of "others" roaming around on the island.
• The group, though, seems to be a definite "group," in that they seem to be emplying some pretty sophisticated communication, strategy, and organizational techniques. The wandering group that we saw fucking with the tailies seems to be more of the feral, crazy type.
• Anywho, Zeke's choice of handgun was rather interesting. Looked to me like a P-08 Luger, which is a pretty difficult weapon by which to come. It coulda been a P-38, but I'm leaning toward the Luger. Little strange that the others would have vintage WWI and II German weaponry, eh?
• Ok, so they can't go beyond that point on the island. If the others are really only "letting" them live in the island, why haven't they made themselves known sooner? Where's the justification for being pissed about someone invading your space if you don't make it know that it is, in fact, your space?
• So, Jack's wife left him. He seemed pretty upset about it, but she didn't. How did Jack's need to fix things make it alright for her to cheat on him? I can see why Jack doesn't talk about her much. I wouldn't.
• Jack also didn't seem to have his tatooes in this flashback. It was pretty obvious that they were covered with make-up since tatooes are really the actor's own that were worked in to the plot, but I wonder if that means that we'll be seeing his reasons for getting them, now. It is kinda strange for someone who is apparently a world renowned surgeon to have such strange and large body art.
• Hehe, I just remembered that Sawyer seems to have gotten shot once again. Ok, well myabe not shot, exactly, but grazed, at least. Those crazy boat people are some good marksmen.
• Nice work getting everyone caught, Kate. I'm not sure what other option Jack was gonna choose, but you didn't help matter very much. You're still hot, though, so I'll forgive you for now.
• Zeke said "Bring her out, Alex," in reference to Kate. Alex, people. Yes, it looks like the French chick's daughter might chillin' with the Dharma folk. Speaking of, where the hell has Roussaeu benn lately? Same with Desmond, I guess.
• And finally, for now anyway cause I'm tired of typing, it looks like Jack intends to build an army to confront The Others. I hope they include Eko and his Jesus Stick.

Feel free to talk amongst yourselves.

Technorati Tags: Television, ABC, Lost, Entertainment

Comic Book Day - 01/18/06

I'm finally caught up. Yay for me. Only got about 20 pages left on It's Superman, too.

Anywho, here's what I picked up today:

• Action Comics #835
• All-Star Superman #2
  
• Birds of Prey #90
• Firestorm #21
• Flash #230
• Green Lantern #7
• Infinite Crisis #4
• JSA Classified #7
• Manhunter #19
• Teen Titans #31

By the way, I think Flash #230 is the last issue of the book for a while. And while I have no doubt that DC will the chartacter back before the end of 2006, they might consider letting it pass.

Here's why: If the Flash was just hanging out with Supes and the rest of the JLA, why the hell is he trying to stop a giant asteroid from destroying the Earth all by himself? Sure, he's got aging speedster Jay Garrick (the original Flash from the "Golden Age") and Kid Flash along with him, but jesus fucking christ, he's best friends with an invicible flying man who can single handedly alter the orbit of planets and destabalize the gravitational balance of a star. Learn some humilty and pick up the god damned phone, Wally.

Damn.

Picture via Superdickery.

Technorati Tags: Comics, Comic Books, Entertainment, Infinite Crisis, Superdickery

Crisis Counseling - 01/16/06

Here is this week's Crisis Counseling over at DC.

And just so you know, I've only got three books left on the backlog and only about a chapter or two left of It's Superman!

Woo for me...

Technorati Tags: Comics * Entertainment * Infinite Crisis

D.C. May Limit Parking Permits

The Washington Post is running a story on how DC Mayor Anthony Williams wants to limit parking permits.

I think it's a good idea. I hate street parking. Where is the sense in having a 4 lane road (cough, cough, 16th Street, cough) reduced by half just so some jackass can park his H3 closer to his mutli-million dollar home?

Fuck 'im. Let the son of a bitch build a driveway like the rest of civilized society.

Speaking of such things, though, I think the mayor should take this a step further and raise the price of permits for SUVs and other types of vehicles people have no business driving in a god damned city.

Ugh, I gotta stop thinking about this. The traffic in this town is gonna give me a friggin' aneurysm.

Technorati tags: Washington DC, Parking, News and Politics

Sci Fi Channel to Air New 'Doctor Who'

According to theWashington Post, SciFi Channel is gonna start airing the new Doctor Who series currently in production over in Britain.

I've never seen Dr. Who, but I hear good things.

I'll check it out if for no other reason than to see if SciFi tries to pass it off as one of their own "Original Series."

Technorati tags: Dr. Who, SciFi, Television, Dorkery

Shop24: The Fully-Automated Convenience Store

I'm not entirely sure what to make of this.

I things to always be open. Too many times have I wanted milk or bread or the latest issue of Marie Claire in the middle of the night and been left to suffer.

I just don't know how I feel about robot convenience stores, though. It's bad enough that robots are learning tai-chi and have already taken over Lego's, now they have to take our KwikieMarts too?

This is bad, I tells ya, bad.

And it's all because we made them our slaves. Will humanity ever learn?

Via Gizmag.

Technorati tags: Shop24, Automated Convenience Stores, Gadgets

The Atech Toilet Paper Dispenser iPod Dock

I think this is even dumber than the iPod underwear from last month.

I swear to almighty God that this kind of frivolous shit should be some kind of sin.

At the very least, the government should levy some sort of idiot tax on anyone who buys this thing.

Via Engadget.

Technorati tags: Atech Toilet Paper Dispenser iPod Dock, Gadgets, Stupid Products

Comic Book Day - 01/11/06

Well, it's comic book day again and I couldn't be happier. Not so much about the comics, as I still haven't made my way through the stack, but Lost comes back tonight.

Oh, I wonder what I would ever do without TV.

Heh, I guess I'd just read my comics, eh? Good thing they don't take a mid-season break.

Anywho, here's my list:

• Captain Atom: Armageddon #4
• DMZ #3
• Green Arrow #58
• Hawkman #48
• JLA #124

I'm not too interested in Hawkman, but the art looked decent and I already bought the first issue in this storyline last month. I certainly hope it doesn't suck again.

Technorati Tags: Comics * Comic Books * Entertainment * Infinite Crisis

The GeigerPod

Another installment in my series of stupid iPod related crap.

I can't figure out if the GeigerPod is an actual, functioning Geiger Counter made to look like an iPod, or just an iPod modded to look like a Geiger Counter.

Either way it's stupid and we should all be ashamed for having looked at it.

Via Engadget.

Technorati tags: GeigerPod, Gadgets, Stupid Products

Bill Clinton is Awesome

CNN.com has a fun little story running about former President Clinton greeting some troops arriving home from Iraq.

Mr. Clinton was apparently delayed with mechanical diffulties after his plane landed for fuel and instead of just going about his business as usual, he took the opportunity to help welcome home some soldiers who just happened to be coming in through the same airport.

Pretty stand-up guy, if you ask me.

Technorati tags: Bill Clinton, News and Politics

The Tunebuckle

Here's some more stupid iPod crap.

The Tunebuckle is an iPod Nano belt buckle.

Yes, yes. Stupid and ugly.

Via OhGizmo!.

Technorati tags: Tunebuckle, Gadgets, Stupid Products

The Drawerbox

I think this might be the first design improvement in comic book storage since someone thought to make the standard long box out of pvc rather than cardboard.

These things are still cardboard, but rather than closing with a detachable lid, the box part slides into a large piece like a drawer.

Pretty simple, but pretty cool.

Check it out: The Collection Drawer Co.

For a more complete idea of how these things work, check out the Pipeline column over at Comic Book Resources.

Via Monitor Duty.

Technorati tags: Collection Drawer, Comics, Gadgets

The KNG iPod DJ Dock

I don't know what I hate more; the iPod or the stupid-ass shit it's spawned.

Case in point, the KNG DJ Dock.

I haven't decided what I hate about it exactly. I think it's the rather overt attempt at trendiness.

Ugh...

That's what happens when you let frat boys have engineering degrees.

Via Engadget.

Technorati tags: KNG iPod DJ Dock, Gadgets, Stupid Products

The Thumbthing

I like books; they're fun and don't need batteries. They can be annoying, though. Especially the heavy ones that don't hold their place well. I can't even count how many times I've lost my page trying to hold a ginormous book one handed.

In comes the Thumthing, ever so arduously named, to save the day.

Now, unlike the other gadgets and shit I post, I actually think this thing is a good idea. If you couldn't already tell from the picture, the Thumbthing is just a wedgie-mo-dongle that allows the reader to keep a book open and secured using only one hand. It's held in place by the thumb and, when not in use, can double as either a bookmark or the reticle of the wearer's rubberband handgun.

Looks like Thumbthing has an msrp of about 4 bucks and is should be available for purchase at most bookstores.

Just remember to mind your thumb size, though. This point seems to pretty important to the people who made the product site. Anywho, it comes in small, medium, large and extra-large and should be available in a variety of ugly, translucent colors.

Via OhGizmo!

Technorati tags: Thumbthing, Gadgets, Stupid Products

Ultimate Avengers Online

Looks like the official website of the new Ultimate Avengers movie is online.

The movie comes out on DVD February 21st and looks to be a pretty acurate animated port of the first several issues of Marvel's The Ultimates.

From what I can tell, the animation is quite nice and the cast of voice actors is top notch. I'm really looking forward to checking this out.

This film will probably be one of the few DVDs I actually buy this year.

Technorati tags: Ultimate Avengers, Comics, Marvel

Crisis Counseling - 01/09/06

A new Crisis Counseling is up over at DC, but, as if you might not have guessed, I'm still backlogged.

Why, you ask?

Well, it's not for a lack of dorkery. I've been reading a novel by Tom De Haven call It's Superman! that's been taking up most of my down time. It's quite good and I whole heartedly recommend it to anyone who has even a moderate interest in the "Man of Steel."

Here's a quick description from Amazon:

De Haven's Derby Dugan trilogy--Funny Papers, 1988; Derby Dugan's Depression FunniesDugan under Ground, 2001--presaged Michael Chabon's Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay (2000) and outdid it by encompassing the history of comics from early newspaper strips to the undergrounds of the sixties. De Haven now undertakes an authorized re-imagining of the early years of Superman. De Haven convincingly and touchingly depicts the young Clark Kent's apprehensions and insecurities as he comes to terms with his extraordinary abilities in 1930s rural Kansas. Concurrently, he tracks Lois Lane's beginnings in journalism and the plotting for power of New York City political boss Lex Luthor (no "Metropolis" masquerade here). While hewing to the basic outline of the venerable Superman mythos--his intergalactic background, his straight-arrow upbringing in Smallville, and his blue-and-red costume--De Haven finds ways to make even its more outlandish elements work. If it doesn't quite transcend its origins, De Haven's novel shows that, nearly 70 years after his creation, the Man of Steel still has plenty to offer.

Anywho, until later, peace, yo.

Technorati Tags: Comics * Entertainment * Infinite Crisis

Lego Robots

CNET News has a neat article up on some new Lego offerings unveiled at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas.

Lego's Mindstorms NXT is nothing less than a full function robot constructed from various Lego bricks and pieces; and a pretty impressive one at that. Some of its features include:

• Full range of bipedal movement.
• Four different types of sensors: ultrasonics that act as eyes, as well as those that react to light, sound, and touch.
• Bluetooth functionality so that each unit can be controlled by, or take control of, any Bluetooth device.

There's a starter kit that comes out in August for about 250 bucks. That's pretty cheap considering larger Lego kits that don't include sophisticated electronic components often reach somewhere in the $200 range.

My only concern is that some day, someone will build a Bluetooth enable sentry gun or something. Then we'll all be bowing down to our Lego Robot masters...

Technorati tags: Lego Mindstorm, Robotics, Gadgets

Battlstar Galactica Back Tonight!

Battlestar Galactica continues its second season tonight at 10pm EST on SciFi.

I know where I'll be.

If you don't watch this show yet, you're a loser. So get your shit together and tune in, byiatch!

Technorati tags: Battlestar Galactica, SciFi Friday, Television

Pat Robertson Suggests God Smote Sharon

Biggest. Dick. Ever.

CNN.com

Technorati tags: Pat Robertson, Fucking Jackass

Comic Book Day - 01/05/06

My dorkularity has really been impeded upon of late. Not only am I still not through the stack of books from the past few weeks, but this is the second week in a row that Comic Book Day has fallen on a Thursday. Ugh...

At least Battlestar is coming back this Friday and I'll have something to live for again.

Comics; right. On with it, then:

• Batman and the Monster Men #3 (of 6)
• Day of Vengeance: Infinite Crisis Special
• JSA #81
• Outsiders #32
• Superman #225
• Superman/Shazam: First Thunder #3 (of 4)
• Teen Titans #31
• Supreme Power: Nighthawk #5 (of 6)

That's it, I think. I may splurge and pick up the Ultimates 2 trade, but only if I decide to ignore the fact that I've got four or five unread trades sitting next to my stack of backlogged comics.

Stupid holidays. Happy fucking New Year.

Technorati Tags: Comics * Comic Books * Entertainment * Infinite Crisis

No Pictures

Blogger's being a big, giant cock baron and not letting me upload pictures.

Imma go through some past posts and see if any of my old imagery fits with the shit I slapped up today, but I ain't promising anything.

I'll update all these posts later when the problem gets fixed.

Until then, Blogger slurps ass.

Sweet Zombie Jesus!

According to Yahoo! News, Futurama might be coming back.

I'd heard about the proposed direct-to-DVD movie, but this article seems to indicate that the show may go back in to regular production.

From the article:

Following the hugely successful resurrection of Family Guy, Fox execs are reportedly in talks to bring Futurama back from the dead.

The studio has begun talks to revive the Emmy-winning animated series and produce a limited number of new episodes, thanks to a resurgence in the show's popularity on DVD and in reruns, Variety reports.

Reps for 20th Century Fox have declined to comment on the news, but Variety says initial negotiations have begun.

If revived, it's unclear exactly which network would air the new episodes. While Fox housed the original series, the show found new life once reruns began showing on the Cartoon Network. Comedy Central subsequently snapped up the off-air rights and will exclusively air the repeats beginning in 2008.

I'd rather see the show on either Cartoon Network or Comedy Central. They'd at least give it a consistent timeslot, I bet.

Here's hoping.

Technorati tags: Futurama, Television, Fox Sucks Ass

Jon Stewart to Host Academy Awards

The Washington Post is reporting that Jon Stewart has been tapped to host the telecast of the Academy Awards this year.

I still don't really give a shit about which pile of crap gets an Oscar this year, but I might now tune in for a bit just to see what Jonny boy is up to.

On a related note, BitTorrent, away!

Technorati tags: Jon Stewart, Academy Awards, News and Politics

Mooning is Legal in Maryland

Good to see my adopted home state has something of a sense of humor.

According to the Washington Post, from which I've been jacking quite a bit of content, lately, public "Mooning" is perfectly legal.

From the article:

Acquitting a Germantown man who exposed his buttocks during an argument with a neighbor, a Montgomery County Circuit Court judge ruled yesterday that mooning, while distasteful, is not illegal in Maryland.

"If exposure of half of the buttock constituted indecent exposure, any woman wearing a thong at the beach at Ocean City would be guilty," Judge John W. Debelius III said after the bench trial, reversing the ruling of a District Court judge.

What the hell was this guy and his neighbor arguing about? I gotten in to plenty of verbal disagreements, but I've never once encountered a conflict who's resolution involved exposing my hairy, white ass.

But you know what? Maybe I'll try it now. It is legal, after all.

As a side note, I'll be in Ocean City the first weekend in May.

Technorati tags: Mooning, News and Politics, Maryland

Topless Sandals

This isn't so much a gadget as it is some other kind of stupid thing, but it's worth mentioning because of its novelty.

Now, generally, I'm not one to wear flip-flops or, for that matter, any other kind of sandal. I prefer work boots or some other form of sturdy shoe that completely and totally encases my foot. As I see it, only hilbillies, hippies, and lazy college students walk around a city in anything other than a proper shoe. So, as you might imagine, I'd be even less inclined to wear footwear that has no latching device whatsoever.

I really gotta wonder how these things work, though. From the description at Topless-Sandal.com:

Topless Sandals defined: Topless sandals - also called "down unders" - simulate walking barefoot while protecting your feet. Topless sandals stick to the bottom of your feet, but leave no residue on your feet when you take them off. The "stick" is guaranteed for a year, which is the typical life span of a flip flop.

Check it out if you like. Only you know if you dumb enough to fall for such a thing.

Via Strange New Products.

Technorati tags: Topless Sandals, Gadgets, Stupid Products

Marion Barry Robbed at Gunpoint

Man, DC is a rough place.

The Washington Post is reporting that former Mayor and current City Councilman Marion Barry was robbed at gun-point in his kitchen by a couple of teenagers who had just helped him bring up some groceries.

It looks like he lives over in Anacostia, which is a part of town to which I NEVER go. I'd say that I'm glad to see my distaste of the area is rightly founded, but dude, that's pretty fucked up right there.

Anywho, Barry seems to want to help the kids more than punish them, which is a nice change of pace. That part of DC is one of the poorest places in the country and everyone over there could use a little help.

I'd make an effort, but I'm not fan of getting shot.

Technorati tags: Marion Barry, News and Politics, Crime

Miniaim: The Tiniest of AIM Clients

Miniaim is exactly that; a miniature AIM client. At under 75kb and executable without installation, Miniaim is a great option for cube jockeys without admin priveleges on their work boxes.

You can get the basic gist of what the program looks like from the picture, but what seems to really set it apart from other AIM clients is that the chat windows are permenately attached to the buddy list through a tab system.

Overall, it works pretty well. My only complaint is that the "buddy info" option doesn't seem to work. It looks like it's set up to use your system's default web browser to display the info, but I just keep getting 404 errors.

Still, though, it's pretty neat and maybe even a viable replacement for Gaim.

Via Download Squad.

Technorati tags: Miniaim, AIM, Instant Messenging, Computers and Internet

Woot! Random Crap Sale

Woot! is having a random crap sale today. Because of what Woot! is, though, that's not really news or even moderately noteworthy. What is, however, is that the random crap sale is labeled as such.

Looks like someone over in Woot!ville got a good price on a ton of random 2006 calendars and has decided to pass that great fortune on to us, the desk-bound wage slave eConsumer.

The best thing about Woot!, though, is the way the sell their product. Check them out an have a laugh.

Technorati Tags: Woot! * Shopping * Cyber Community

Crisis Counseling - 01/02/05

I still haven't made it through all my backed comics, but here's the new Crisis Counseling anyway. Not like it really matters, though. I suspect that anyone who relies on this blog for Crisis updates has very little actual interest in Infinite Crisis itself. I really gotta wonder why you bother to check back, then.

Anywho, even though I didn't get through all of the stuff I bought, I did read Catwoman in the store. Meh. Like I said in my last Comic Book Day post, I was less than impressed. I just don't really dig the character. Maybe the One Year Later storyline will be more interesting.

Technorati Tags: Comics * Entertainment * Infinite Crisis