The Universe is doomed.

I am saying this because the Federal government under the guise of the IRS did something right. The Federal tax forms are available as PDF files that can be filled out and saved with the free Acrobat reader. They don't calculate themselves, but they are great for those of us who are penmanship challenged.

Network

We watched this 1976 film last night, it still resonates today. The networks and main stream media are not out to elevate the discourse in this nation. They are corporations out to make a buck, and more than willing to throw any one who gets in their way, under the bus.

Always remember, the "liberal media" is owned by the conservative corporation.

On the value of naps

Monday, upon arriving home from work, I was on my way to change when I saw Addy asleep on her floor. Erik said she took a very short nap at daycare. I am inclined to believe him.

Time for a round of "Guess why this pisses me off"

CNNMoney.com story "K-Fed spot fires up burger flippers."
GGGRRRRRR!!!! I am so glad that they have exacerbated the issue with an insulting story title.

A New Sith, or Revenge of the Hope

In case you don't read Penguin Monkey the way that you should.

A New Sith, or Revenge of the Hope
Reconsidering Star Wars IV in the light of I-III

Very amusing stuff, and just as good an explanation as any.

38-34 Colts

'Nuff Said

Guild Master Kired

I have inherited a guild on World of Warcraft. I am actually pretty excited, so please make a toon on Khaz Modan so you can join.

Maine Guard May Be Redeployed

BDN
I am so mad I could /spit.

Arianna Blasts Mainstream Media

In Arianna's post today on the Huffington Post, she makes a good point about the malformed discourse about Iraq in the mainstream media.

Diary of a Guantánamo Attorney

I can't express the distress that this Alternet post about our government's abuse of constitutional rights, causes me. It makes my stomach turn.

Blizzard of Downloads

I will be so glad when Burning Crusades is out and stable. I am getting very tired of having to download a patch every time I fire up WoW.

*sigh* Maybe next year *sigh*

Well as many of you already know, the Eagles have been knocked out of the playoffs. What a game, and as Ellyn points out, it could have been to a team I hate. Looking at that game, I blame two critical penalties for the loss. The illegal contact on the Breese sack and the false start on the 4th and 10 when Garcia completed to get the first down, which made it 4th and 15.

At this point I have to look forward to next year. With the balanced play calling, a healthy McNabb, Kearse, and Sheppard, and should be pro-bowler Brian Westbrook 2007 should be a good season for the Eagles.

Whoopie Cake

Ellyn brought home some whoopie pies that she bought at school from some fund raiser. Addy has decided that they aren't whoopie pies, rather they are 'Whoopie Cakes."

Beer prices may increase

What ever will we do, if beer prices increase? Personally, I am not too worried about, I prefer better tasting beers which tend to be pricier anyway. I feel for the college students, however will they afford to get so drunk that they have to poop in their own trashcans.

God Inc.

Funny stuff, God Inc. Episode 1 and Episode 2.

The Empire trys Marketing to Strike Back at Rebel Attitudes

A Business Week article on Walmart's new PR campaign. IMHO, Sam Walton is spinning in his grave.

Woot!! E-A-G-L-E-S Eagles!!!

Great now I get to stress out for another week. Why couldn't I have taken up knitting?

Stressful

I think things were easier before I was a football fan. I barely slept last night and I am all stressed out worrying about the game today. I want the Eagles to win so badly; which is a sentiment that also causes discomfort, because I am worried about how Erik will take it if his Giants lose. I think, either way, someone is crying today.

Violent games are abhorrent, unless they are Christian

This Daily Show clip and this Alternet Article are about a violent video game called "Left Behind:Eternal Forces" based on the Left Behind series. This just continues to bolster my belief that the Christian Right is about control, not morality. I would like to note that Jack Thompson, is nothing if not consistent. He apparently broke ties with the publisher he shares with the series, when this game was announced.

More Zappa V. PMRC Rhetoric

Frank Zappa debates Kandy Stroud on Nightwatch, August 26, 1985.
1 2 3
Guess which side the host is on. Also, I am with Frank, what is wrong with masturbation?

Trans Fat Free Ain't Easy

An article for Business Week "How KFC Went Trans Fat Free," gives insight into how much it will take for the entire restaurant industry to go trans fat free.

Video Games are the new heavy metal

I have noticed as I go through life that people love to blame others for what is wrong in their worlds. Parents are especially prone to this self-deluded notion (in the name of transparency, I am a parent/person and prone to such things). In my life time I have seen heavy metal music, movies, prime time tv, and now video games blamed for all our social ills.

Today's Penny Arcade makes reference of a new documentary by Spencer Halpin titled "Moral Kombat" and its trailer on You Tube. I get the feeling that this trailer is designed to get parents and gamers in to see the piece by pushing the side claiming video games cause violence. I am in hopes that the documentary itself is balanced, even if the trailer isn't.

The continual propagation of the idea that video games cause violence and that people are incapable of distinguishing between real world and the cyber world is disturbing to me. I believe that these accusations are the providence of non-gamers and people who only look at a few select cases, and say "Video Games caused that." Instead of asking, where the parents were and why they weren't aware of what their child was up to, they blame game publishers, retailers, and gamers themselves.

So I ask, where are the parents? My parents spent a lot of time making sure I wasn't getting into things that were inappropriate for my age (of course they didn't always succeed, but I knew what I wasn't allowed). As they allowed me to grow into things (i.e. horror films, etc.) they would make sure I understood that it wasn't real, and violence against people is unacceptable. Hell, they used to make sure I understood that W. E. Coyote would be one dead dog in real life. Why isn't this occurring? Why are parents allowing their kids to play games like GTA-San Andreas (M for mature, now AO-adults only)? I don't have answers. I'm just asking. Dr. Phil I am not.

I have been gaming for all but 6 years of my life (the Atari showed up around 6), I am not violent even though I play violent games. In my opinion, those games allow me to work through the inherent human tendencies toward violence. It relaxes me to knock off some cyber beasties. As a parent, I research games, before my kids play them and as a gaming parent, I avoid playing really violent games when my kids are around. I also explain to my son that we can do things in games that can't be done in real life. Isn't that my obligation?

Back to the documentary, I love the fact that Joe Lieberman is so concerned about gaming violence when he voted to allow a war. I believe the word for that is hypocrisy. Jack Thompson has already made a name for himself as a hater of the 1st amendment by going after 2 Live Crew and N.W.A. back in the 90's. Anyway, I could go on all day about this stuff. The snarky side of me likes the Penny Arcade form of response. Too bad, the gaming industry doesn't have a Frank Zappa to point out how foolish all this is (You Tube part 1,2,3,4).

Sonic for 360

Sonic the Hedgehog for the 360 is ridiculous. The load times are a joke for a modern game, especially a platformer. The camera turns way to slow for a high speed game and the auto camera seldom shows you what you need to see. I don't think I should have to futz with the camera with the same thumb I need for jumping and attacking. The controls are crappy and not predictably responsive. The game does not give adequate explanation of, nor time to adjust to new skills before implementing them under a timed trial. The graphics are pretty but shudder badly when the character has certain object collisions. I personally find the music in the main area annoying as hell. Also, what is up with the lack of voice work. This is a next gen game right? You have to really love the Sonic franchise to have the patience to play this game; otherwise, don't waste your money. I am reselling it tomorrow.

What do a cheesy 80's movie and Harry Potter have in common?

A character name. The 1986 movie "Troll" has two characters Harry Potter Sr. and Harry Potter Jr. and of course you know about Harry Potter and his adventures. I came across this strange piece this afternoon on the Monsters HD channel. Michael Moriarty and Julia Louis-Dreyfus (in a leafy one piece) show up in this piece.

Back to my point, is this name just a coincidence? Did JK know about this Harry Potter in a magical story? I am not accusing her of anything here, just curious. I find the creative process an interesting endeavor and the places where inspiration are found are always unexpected. Just saying.