Mon, 30 November 2009 
Category: The Daily 5 -- posted at: 12:00 AM Comments[2] |
Fri, 27 November 2009  This week Lando and I have games on the brain again, this time the changing face of the gamer and the shifting level difficulty that has evolved alongside. Are gamers today radically different than in the past, and does that change have to do with the people or the games themselves? Also, has gaming culture broadened at the expense of challenge? Enjoy! Opening Music: "Alive WIP v2" by George Carpenter Closing Music: "Born Under A Bad Sign" performed by The Great Oglee Moglee Blues Band Comments[2] |
Thu, 26 November 2009
Category: The Daily 5 -- posted at: 12:00 AM Comments[0] |
Wed, 25 November 2009
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Tue, 24 November 2009
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Mon, 23 November 2009
Category: The Daily 5 -- posted at: 12:00 AM Comments[3] |
Fri, 20 November 2009 This week Lando and I are talking games, and specifically the effect of MMOs on our need for innovation. Have the successes of MMOs, and even other multiplayer-centric games, dulled our demand for improvement from developers? Or is the real issue that we have constrained developers into only making games that are all abut the same, with no room to shake things up? As usual, we manage to advocate something horrible (in this case, punching babies) in the course of our discussions. Enjoy! Opening Music: "Alive WIP v2" by George Carpenter Closing Music: "Born Under A Bad Sign" performed by The Great Oglee Moglee Blues Band Comments[1] |
Thu, 19 November 2009
Category: The Daily 5 -- posted at: 12:00 AM Comments[1] |
Wed, 18 November 2009
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Tue, 17 November 2009
Category: The Daily 5 -- posted at: 12:00 AM Comments[7] |
Mon, 16 November 2009
Category: The Daily 5 -- posted at: 12:00 AM Comments[0] |
Fri, 13 November 2009 This week Lando and I start off talking about the morality of video games, good and bad. From there we move into the murky world of magic, where rules are few and crappy implementations are many. Speaking of magic, we take some time to spotlight the magic blend that makes The Daily Show and The Colbert Report so good, and whether that formula could be replicated by anyone else. After that, some debate on the merits of content exclusivity and finally a bit of site news about the recent changes around here. Enjoy! Opening Music: "Alive WIP v2" by George Carpenter Closing Music: "Born Under A Bad Sign" performed by The Great Oglee Moglee Blues Band Comments[4] |
Fri, 13 November 2009
Category: The Daily 5 -- posted at: 12:00 AM Comments[0] |
Thu, 12 November 2009
Category: The Daily 5 -- posted at: 12:00 AM Comments[3] |
Wed, 11 November 2009
Category: The Daily 5 -- posted at: 12:00 AM Comments[1] |
Tue, 10 November 2009
Category: The Daily 5 -- posted at: 12:00 AM Comments[2] |
Mon, 9 November 2009
Category: The Daily 5 -- posted at: 12:00 AM Comments[3] |
Sun, 8 November 2009  I'll be posting these randomly as I find them: Be Her Mighty Night Predator Category: Blog Post -- posted at: 9:03 PM Comments[1] |
Fri, 6 November 2009 This week Lando and I butt heads over the idea of creation in the Internet age. Has the Internet brought new freedoms and landscapes to creativity, or had it diluted the waters so badly that nothing is really original anymore? Speaking of online content creation, will tiered internet kill this nascent medium? On both elements of this discussion, Lando and I are on very sides of the argument. Enjoy! Opening Music: "Alive WIP v2" by George Carpenter Closing Music: "Born Under A Bad Sign" performed by The Great Oglee Moglee Blues Band Comments[0] |
Fri, 6 November 2009
Category: The Daily 5 -- posted at: 12:00 AM Comments[3] |
Thu, 5 November 2009
Category: The Daily 5 -- posted at: 12:00 AM Comments[0] |
Wed, 4 November 2009
Category: The Daily 5 -- posted at: 12:00 AM Comments[2] |
Tue, 3 November 2009
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Mon, 2 November 2009
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Fri, 30 October 2009
Category: The Daily 5 -- posted at: 12:00 PM Comments[0] |
Fri, 30 October 2009 This week we've got a great show for you as we bring in an old friend for a very entertaining interview. Matt Snedecor is our guest for about 2 hours, and in that time you'll hear about his many experiences as an audio engineer. We cover his progression from starting out at the Hit Factory in NYC to doing all the footsteps you'll ever hear in Skate 2. Along the way, you'll hear Lando be the mature interviewer and I will play the part of juvenile idiot. Enjoy! Opening Music: "Alive WIP v2" by George Carpenter Closing Music: "Born Under A Bad Sign" performed by The Great Oglee Moglee Blues Band Comments[4] |
Thu, 29 October 2009
Category: The Daily 5 -- posted at: 12:00 AM Comments[3] |
Wed, 28 October 2009 Boy, for someone who just wrote about not enjoying writing about movies, I'm sure contradicting myself quick. Last night I watched Ronin for what must be the 50th time, and like every other viewing it still strikes me how good a movie it is. I'm always amazed at how unknown this movie is to many people, and if I remember correctly when it came out it merely did ok at the box office. What a crime. What I like about Ronin, what makes the movie for me is how un-movie like it often seems. Now don't get me wrong, I've never been an intelligence operative or worked in special ops, but the movie sure seems real enough to me. Among the things that stand out, and one feature of the film often talked about, is the car chases. For one thing, they use real cars. No Minis, no Porsches, no James Bond supercars, just Audis and Mercedes, cars that have the muscle but don't scream 'Hey, I'm about to be involved in some shit here!' In addition, when the car chases occur, there are no huge explosions or insane jumps. To spotlight another smart choice, even the weapons used are used sparingly and without any amazing Rambo-style stunts. The characters themselves are shown to be fallible and vulnerable, as their plan doesn't work out perfectly on the first try and one of the principals gets shot. Beyond these authentic touches, at least to the layman, what the film refuses to do is pander to the audience. Not everything is explained, and the motives of characters are murky at best in most cases. To quote the film, though, 'there is something more.' I think one of the most appealing aspects of Ronin is the interjection of spirituality, for lack of a batter word, into a world often portrayed as flashy and empty. Take the last few James Bond movies, for example, where Bond is largely a brutish machine, showing moments of emotion but mostly relied on for fists and fury. Ronin takes a different path, with several scenes of discussion between Robert De Niro and Jean Reno on the nature of what they are doing, who they are doing it for and why. Even more critical, there are no real answers. Speaking of the two leads, what a team they make here. So often these spy movies try for the buddy angle, or the straight man and loose cannon combo, and in many cases both archetypes feel forced or just boring. Ronin, again, takes a different path. Sam and Vincent will clearly never be vacation buddies, but each instantly sees a kinship in the other that bonds the two. As the film goes on, there is a sense of professionalism that develops into something as close to friendship as these men can truly have. By the end, it is clear that the two have each others backs covered, and it makes complete sense. I could really go on about this movie for hours. I haven't even touched the subtly wonderful score, another I bought right after seeing the film. If you want to see a modern spy movie that asks you to think a little, take the time to watch Ronin. It really does deliver something special. Category: Blog Post -- posted at: 11:51 AM Comments[7] |
Wed, 28 October 2009 Highlander II Spacehunter Runaway The Prophecy The Shadow Time Walker Enjoy! Theme Music: "Came from the Deep" by Film Noir World Comments[1] |
Tue, 27 October 2009 I think I mentioned recently that I have removed the 'Last Saturday Movie Reviews' from the site. It's not that I don't have a lot of reviews already in the can, it was more that eventually I'd run out and there just aren't that many movies lately that I've felt the need to review. There are always exceptions, however, and recently I got a chance to see a really beautiful little movie called Moon. To give the briefest of summaries, it's a film about a near future where mankind mines the moon for energy. On the moon, a solitary operator keeps things going for 3 year stints before going back home to Earth. Sam Rockwell stars as Sam Bell, who is a mere 2 weeks from going back to his wife child and is beginning to feel the weight of his isolated stay so far. The story really picks up when Sam has an accident out on the surface, then finds himself back in the infirmary with no idea how he got there. I won't go into more detail so that you can experience the story on your own, but beyond the plot points is the real heart of the film. What this movie is really about is our existence as people, and what tethers you to our humanity. One of the great things the movie does is play with our conceptions of what makes a person. Good example of this GERTY, the A.I. that operates the base with Sam and is charged with his safety. In the extremely minimal cast of the film, GERTY gradually becomes another person, as much a character who we connect to as Sam. The amazing part of this is that GERTY is quite clearly NOT a person. He is designed as a throwback to the older 70's conception of a robot, big and blocky with hardly any ability to convey expression besides a simplistic LCD that shows a few smiley or frowny faces. Even as this very simplistic automaton we begin to regard him as another being in the space with Sam. Unlike, say, R2-D2, who has some quirky mannerisms that evoke a child but never seems anything BUT a robot, GERTY evolves into a true presence. As the film progresses, you'll start to sense real motive behind his actions, something that seems a simple accomplishment but really isn't for a non-human entity. Beyond GERTY, Sam Rockwell does an astounding job in a movie that really demands he act with himself most of the time. There are long periods of complete lack of interaction, like the movie Cast Away, where the actor must fill every inch of the frame with himself. We luck out in that Rockwell manages it very well, and portrays the struggle of man trying to keep his grip with true realism. None of this would work, in my view, without the stunningly sparse score provided by Clint Mansell. The music works with the film in laying out the vast emptiness of the moon, yet still manages to punctuate the often intense moments that come in Sam's story. I ordered the soundtrack almost immediately after the movie ended. In the end, this movie is very simple but deeply moving. It's a great examination of the human spirit, and for fans of films like 2001 or Logan's Run, it will provide a welcome break from the usually special effects heavy but thematically light sci-fi fare that has become the norm. Category: Blog Post -- posted at: 7:14 PM Comments[3] |
Mon, 26 October 2009 Man, there sure has been a lot in the news and on the web lately about companies profiting off of dead people and what the ethical implications are. All these talking heads and blog commenters have had their say, so why shouldn't I cast a couple of pennies in? To get an idea of what I'm talking about, here are a couple of recent articles on the subject, the first being about Kurt Cobain appearing in Guitar Hero 5 and another about a new DirecTV commercial utilizing footage of Chris Farley. There's been a lot of chatter about this in the last few months, and I'm consistently amazed by how many people find this to be some sort of desecration of the dead. Really. You think so? Let's start with the ideas of the uses themselves. I assume there must be some kind of legal release that needs to be granted here, you can't usually just employ a likeness for commercial use without someone giving the ok and getting paid. That being the normal route these things take (and both articles indicate that some type of use was indeed granted), it seems if simply using the likeness of these people was so disturbingly morbid that those in charge of them would simply have said "No." But here they are, so clearly someone inked something ok'ing it, so there goes that first argument. That out of the way, we get to the actual uses of the likenesses. The main complaint against Cobain's appearance in GH5 was that he could sing along with any song, so inevitably videos were made showing the dead singer bouncing around ridiculously came out. Yes, it's silly looking. Does this now pass as desecration? It's not as if at the end of the song you could trigger a bonus move where he blows his own head off! Then, I could see people being irritated. On the other hand, what a way to finish the tune! As for Farley, the grumbling seems more about the pure profit being targeted with his use. Once again, I fail to see the reason for the uproar. They left Farley unaltered, instead just having David Spade saying new lines about DirecTV. This is hardly Fred Astaire dancing with a vacuum, which I can somewhat see some people looking askew at. Even in that example, it's a stretch. In either case, this is not desecration of the dead. Please people, get the hell over it already. Category: Blog Post -- posted at: 9:38 PM Comments[0] |
Sun, 25 October 2009 I've often heard people lament the loss of 'survival skills.' It's a theme often explored, from the film Fight Club to the book Emergency! I can see the benefit of being able to 'rough it,' but I'll tell you right now: I'm not one of those people. I enjoy convenience. I like having technology that works. I don't need that gritty nature feel. This all stems from the weekend trip my wide and I just took to Point Arena, California. We stayed at the Coast Guard Historic Inn, a bed and breakfast about 500 feet from the Pacific Ocean. The Inn itself was run by a very nice couple who brought us fantastic breakfasts the two mornings we were there. They were welcoming, made dinner reservations for us and pointed us to some great sights. All in all, a great stay. That said. The boathouse we stayed in was very small. Some would call that cozy. The cellular service was non-existent. Some would call this a welcome break from the constant connectivity of the modern world. There was no TV. Some would no doubt love a break from the 'boob tube.' The boathouse was a landmark, so it had no fans, and minimal heat. Some might enjoy this more rustic setting. As the boathouse was largely unchanged from when it was built, insects were everywhere. Some could see this as being in touch with the natural world. All of those 'Some' statements, well none of those apply to me. Luckily I had 2 laptops with me, one to provide noise to sleep to and another to watch movies on. Even my wife, who loved the setting, agreed it was nice to WATCH something other than the ocean. Make no mistake, the ocean was beautiful. The other folks staying at the B&B were nice, and our dog loved being on a trip with us. We really did have some great moments there, and I'm not sorry we went at all. The problem is, and always will be, that these secluded getaways have so much baggage. Let me run down what I mean. We stopped in a coffee shop to get some hot chocolate for my wife, and the hippie yokels were so busy having a discussion about some local BS that we waited a good 10 minutes for them to tell us the hot chocolate machine was out. Great, thanks for that. Yet another reason you ain't ever gonna find me living in a small town. The drive there and back were experiences in hell on earth. The roads are windy, right near cliffs and sometimes so narrow I genuinely worried that we might have an accident. On top of that, my wife gets very carsick and the turns were not helpful. Anything you'd want to buy was more expensive, seeing as how the whole town is about 500 people. It's just north of being a pure tourist trap, but there's just not enough town to support that. Hey, don't get me wrong. If you're into that 'go see nature, be one with the land, rough it like they used to, who needs toilets that work' kinda thing, enjoy baby! But as for me, I'm happy being dependent on certain assumed variables. When the nuke hits, or the quake shakes, or whatever apocalyptic scenario you like lands, I'll guess I'll be cattle feed. Maybe, maybe not. I do watch all the Mad Max flicks quite regularly, so maybe some necessary survival skills are lying dormant. Perhaps one day I'll find out. Category: Blog Post -- posted at: 9:22 PM Comments[3] |
Fri, 23 October 2009 This week we start with Amanda Palmer's blog and her feelings on how artists need to be paid. Following that, a bit of fun with the bankruptcy of California and who to kill in government to get anything done. After that, hatred lawsuits and a moment of silence for my PS3. Finally, a fruitless hunt for an iPhone glove and spatial writing. Enjoy! Opening Music: "Alive WIP v2" by George Carpenter Closing Music: "Born Under A Bad Sign" performed by The Great Oglee Moglee Blues Band Comments[1] |
Wed, 21 October 2009 I've often been accused of being anti-authority, and just as often branded as someone who likes to argue just to argue. These are fair and valid points in some measure, but they are often made in a way that makes these traits sound bad. I disagree with this assessment, and in fact I would argue that any group or company NEEDS someone who wants to pick apart most ideas. I recently read this article which subscribes to this negative view of the naysayer. I say, Champion The Naysayer! As long as those individuals have a basis for their dissents, stoke those fires and make sure that you've got someone keeping people around awake and ready to defend their ideas and beliefs. Since when is it so bad to disagree? Are we so scared of the fragility of being incorrect that we have to deny any contradiction to our theories? Now don't misunderstand. I'm not saying that there's value in every disagreement, but I think that life shows us that having to fight for your belief (in a verbal sense) might actually make you refine it. And beyond that, what if the naysayer ends up denting your previously untarnished view? Is that bad, or is it good that someone has forced you to address a weakness in thought? If doing this show week after week has taught me anything, it's the importance of trying to base my views on the broadest spectrum possible. In that vein, it's a good thing to have that base shaken once in while, to have a nice seismic rumble now and again to make me evaluate why I feel the way I do. Nature abhors a vacuum, and what else could you call it when you are so settled into a line of thinking that you never stop to consider anything outside the walls you're comfortable with? Dissent is desirable. Feed it! Category: Blog Post -- posted at: 7:39 PM Comments[3] |
Wed, 21 October 2009  Welcome to Lando's third 'listener comment' show. In this edition, Lando talks about his experience being an American these days. Enjoy! Theme Music: "Welcome To Frankfurt" by Charlie Hunter Comments[3] |
Tue, 20 October 2009  I am not one of those people that would ever be accused of being a huge sports fan. I don't know stats, can't tell you every name of every member of the ball club, can't give you the last list of the last 10 managers of one of the greatest teams in baseball. Is that what is needed to be a fan? Is it not enough to try to follow as many games as possible, to root for the team in good times and bad, to be confident in the ability of the club to rebound every year? If it's not, I guess I'm not a fan. That said, if I'm not, I do a mean impression. I'm writing this during game 3 of the ALCS series, where the Yankees are ahead by 7 in the game itself and up by 2 in the series. Wait. Make that up by 9, and I couldn't be happier. True, I missed some games this year. Then again, I know diehards who give up on the team within a month of the season opening because the pitching isn't up to snuff. Still, there will be those who say I'm a 'fair-weather fan.' There are worse things. All I can tell you is that right now, I'm as hung up on seeing the next pitch as the season ticket holders who never miss a game. To me, that's what matters. Diehard or once a year, a fan's a fan. Be a fan of something, it can be rewarding once in a while. For example, when your team is stomping a bunch of dirtbags from Anaheim 10-1. Category: Blog Post -- posted at: 11:22 PM Comments[1] |
Mon, 19 October 2009 One of the many things I took away from Blogworld last week, alongside the fact that truly anyone can produce web content now, is that there is a new form of activism that is finally gaining real traction. I think many of us in the States had started to see this already with the Howard Dean campaign in 2004, but with the election of Obama and the deterioration of print media I think it is becoming more and more clear that the future of activism will be online. As much as Twitter is beginning to become overweight with hype, it does highlight how quickly a truly appealing movement can gain traction and produce results literally within days. Don Lemon of CNN spoke at one of the Blogworld keynotes, and during that session he asked all of us there to start including the tag #beatcancer in our Twitter updates. The idea was to build up exposure of the cause and set a Guinness world record in the process. Sure, not exactly the purest aim, but awareness is awareness. What makes the story a lot cooler is that a number of corporate and private entities picked up on this and started pledging money based on the response. In the end, what started out as a mostly benign publicity grab turned into some positive action. This is a powerful, tangible outcome from what can be a very frivolous. nonsensical medium. This was just one of many things I saw at Blogworld, as well as talking to people who are getting some important voices heard, that has convinced me that this forum is the future. New media, whatever facet of it you subscribe to, has the ability to cross all borders and reach all corners. Our biggest need now is access for all. Too many people still do not have access to these great avenues of expression and discussion, and some of those who remain silent may have the most relevant things to say. In my last Blogworld special, I talked about trying to do my part to address these access gaps. I don't have millions to dole out to areas with poor internet penetration, but I can keep our door open to people who have a worthy cause and want to promote it. That's what I can do. Like we've always said, do what you can do. It may actually matter. Category: Blog Post -- posted at: 5:08 PM Comments[0] |
Sat, 17 October 2009  Theme Music: "The Gold (Dubmatix Runnin' Remix)" by John Brown's Body Comments[4] |
Sat, 17 October 2009 Category: Blog Post -- posted at: 10:00 AM Comments[0] |
Sat, 17 October 2009 Comments[0] |
Fri, 16 October 2009 This week we start with Lando's sleep issues, then we chat a bit about difficulty of reading The Odyssey. That leads us to a small discussion of The Thing, and then a recent find by Lando of a great little sci-fi story called Gallagher's Ice. The ice gives way to some left field porn we each have found, and then back to literature for a little bit on the 70s sci-fi habit of keeping detail to a minimum. From there we jump through the purity of violence, offensive humor, and why forgetting history might not always be bad. Finally, we ponder whether true patriotism is dead in America. Enjoy! Opening Music: "Alive WIP v2" by George Carpenter Closing Music: "Born Under A Bad Sign" performed by The Great Oglee Moglee Blues Band Comments[2] |
Thu, 15 October 2009 Theme Music: "The Gold (Dubmatix Runnin' Remix)" by John Brown's Body Comments[0] |
Wed, 14 October 2009 Theme Music: "Came from the Deep" by Film Noir World Comments[5] |
Fri, 9 October 2009  It's show 150 baby! This week we start off with some amusing stories of booze and college life, then meander into a deliberation on the evolution of political beliefs for individuals. From there we ramble our way into a discussion on the nature of ideals, and more specifically on the increasingly outdated concept of masculinity. Enjoy! Opening Music: "Alive WIP v2" by George Carpenter Closing Music: "Born Under A Bad Sign" performed by The Great Oglee Moglee Blues Band Comments[4] |
Wed, 7 October 2009  And now for something that will pay off a bit in the future. I want to know what movies you guys would like to hear my commentary on. Think of a Director's Commentary feature from a DVD, except in this case I'm doing the commenting. I've got a plan for these requests, so I'm hoping you guys come up with some good picks. Get to it and give me some good titles to work on! Category: Blog Post -- posted at: 1:00 AM Comments[13] |
Wed, 7 October 2009  Welcome to Lando's second 'listener comment' show. In this round, Lando talks about his introduction to science fiction, from William Gibson to Rudy Rucker. It's literature through the prism of Lando! Theme Music: "Welcome To Frankfurt" by Charlie Hunter Comments[1] |
Fri, 2 October 2009 This week we had some technical snags but still turned out another rambling narrative on quite the range of topics. We start off talking wingtips, move smoothly into the evolution of budgetary responsibility and then have jarring detour into the hygiene habits of Chewbacca and his ilk. Talking Star Wars brings up my recent discovery (thanks to a fan comment) of the fanedit community. After my system crashes (and you'll hear it coming on my end) we pick back up with a recent study on how the brain has the ability to subvert free will. Finally, the subtle functionality of alien intimacy. Enjoy! Opening Music: "Alive WIP v2" by George Carpenter Closing Music: "Born Under A Bad Sign" performed by The Great Oglee Moglee Blues Band Comments[7] |
Wed, 30 September 2009 Theme Music: "Nature Of The Experiment" by Tokyo Police Club Comments[1] |
Fri, 25 September 2009 You helped make it, and here it is! On tap this episode: weapons, weightlifting and writing. After that, Lando on being Lando, the call of the road and the life of a writer. Mirrored glasses recommended for best listening experience. Theme Music: "Welcome To Frankfurt" by Charlie Hunter Comments[7] |
Thu, 24 September 2009  Now it's my turn to enlist YOU for the next thirty. You guys have come through for Lando with some great stuff, now I want to know what you want in my next thirty minutes! As with Lando, any idea is up for consideration, so post anything you can think of in the comments below. Get to it soldiers, your podcast is depending on YOU to do your part! Category: Blog Post -- posted at: 12:00 AM Comments[5] |
Mon, 21 September 2009  This week, Lando is looking to YOU for help. He's getting ready to do another 'Midnight Ink' segment, and he wants to know what you want in it! Any idea is up for consideration, so post whatever comes to mind in the comments below. Get in there, he's leaving it to you to help craft the show! Category: Blog Post -- posted at: 11:31 PM Comments[13] |
Fri, 18 September 2009 This week we're running free range once again, and we start with the more symptoms of the ruination of cinema. After that, we remark on the deft writing required to gradually turn a protagonist insane without losing the sympathy of the audience and the questionable decision that sometimes gets made to attempt to finish the unfinished work of a dead author. Speaking of questionable decisions, we discuss the recent news that Disney is attempting to buy Marvel Comics, and while we're on the topic of comics we present a mini-review of the new Batman game. Talking about games gets us lamenting the loss of arcades, and the everlasting importance of jiggliness in the design of video game women. Finally, speaking of women leads to take a moment to bask in the magic of Milla, who I suppose I would call my muse. And hey, Mysterious Universe has relaunched! Enjoy! Opening Music: "Alive WIP v2" by George Carpenter Closing Music: "Born Under A Bad Sign" performed by The Great Oglee Moglee Blues Band Comments[2] |
Fri, 11 September 2009 We're back this week, and we're opening with a strange spotting of the Goblet Of Fire and a discussion of being unplugged from the daily compu-grind. After that, we climb into out own heads to talk about phobias for a bit and we even find a website with a cure for a common one! Speaking of the internets, we take some time to discuss the speed at which information spreads across the internet, correct or incorrect. We even start some nonsense ourselves! From there Lando and I butt heads on Puerto Rico, which I view as a model nation and Lando feels is a freeloader. As we near the end we get into a bit of language discussion and how our upbringing has factored into our word choices and even the structure of our conversations. Finally, we wonder if there exists a 'Big Question' that you could ask a room to truly gauge anyone, and has anyone out there heard it already? Enjoy! Opening Music: "Alive WIP v2" by George Carpenter Closing Music: "Born Under A Bad Sign" performed by The Great Oglee Moglee Blues Band Comments[2] |
Fri, 4 September 2009 Almost forgot to post this! We're taking this week off, but we'll be back as usual next week. Category: Blog Post -- posted at: 10:00 AM Comments[11] |
Fri, 28 August 2009 This week, one of our most singularly focused shows ever. We essentially talk about a few aspects of the potential of the human being. At first, we approach it from a purely physical sense, by commenting on pain and the limits of endurance. After that, we muse on the concepts of heroism and athleticism and what those concepts really mean. Once again, from very little topic matter we manage to construct an entire show. Enjoy! Opening Music: "Alive WIP v2" by George Carpenter Closing Music: "Born Under A Bad Sign" performed by The Great Oglee Moglee Blues Band Comments[7] |
Fri, 21 August 2009 This week, we're going freestyle as we start with one basic topic: overpopulation. From there, the conversation weaves into pop culture history, the modern American education system and finally, the drug war. As usual, what starts off very minimally ballons out all over the place. Enjoy! Opening Music: "Alive WIP v2" by George Carpenter Closing Music: "Born Under A Bad Sign" performed by The Great Oglee Moglee Blues Band Comments[5] |
Fri, 14 August 2009 Before we get started, a quick disclaimer: when we finished recording this, Audacity crashed on me and I had to reconstruct my end by pasting together 420+ audio files, so please overlook any small audio glitches you may hear. This week, we start off with a few different fun topics. First, the newest Blackwater scandal directed at the founder of the company, followed up by more legal shenanigans involving a woman being sued for Twitter comments she made about the response to a rental complaint, a student charged with modding Xboxes for profit, and finally a little more criminal nonsense regarding a recent question posed to me by one of our listeners. After that, a story about the closure of a Creationist theme park leads to an exploration on the nature of perception and reality. Finally, a bittersweet tale of saints and faith. Enjoy! Opening Music: "Alive WIP v2" by George Carpenter Closing Music: "Born Under A Bad Sign" performed by The Great Oglee Moglee Blues Band Comments[4] |
Fri, 7 August 2009 This week, dear listeners, is one of our bleaker shows. We start off talking about how food and our relationship with it has been engineered to the point now that sometimes you have to wonder if the word food has lost all meaning. From patented seeds to paltry science, we have become both victim and enabler in the downfall of our diets. Even the supermarkets are against us now. As if that's not enough, the general tone of political debate has gotten so bad that both of us are tired of it. Everyone with an opinion thinks they're completely right, and the concept of compromise to achieve a larger good seems to be a thing of the past. After that, an attempt to lighten the mood with a silly story about replacing Central Park with an airport. Opening Music: "Alive WIP v2" by George Carpenter Closing Music: "Blau.ton" by Rauschwerk Comments[9] |
Mon, 3 August 2009 Got this question from David, one of our listeners: Hey Joe, I was just wondering what kind of sentence you'd give this kid. Harsher or more lenient? Well, seeing as how the maximum term for manslaughter in Australia is 20 years, that's what I'd hit him with. I understand that this was not an intended death, but the fact remains that a death resulted. If we are to be an accountable people, then the penalty must match the crime. People will say that's harsh and it was only an accident, but that's not the issue. A human being is dead due to the actions of another, and that must be addressed. Good question David, feel free to fire more along. Maybe I'll make this a recurring segment if I get enough questions. Category: Blog Post -- posted at: 8:00 PM Comments[2] |
Mon, 3 August 2009 I'd almost say 'Thank God,' but that might be a bit hypocritical on my part. Father Guilty In Prayer Death Case. Fucking morons. Category: Blog Post -- posted at: 10:00 AM Comments[4] |
Fri, 31 July 2009 The mutation of conversation that happens on our show may be the best thing about it. We start off this week talking about the lack of innovation of the pen, and that evolves into the merits of buying features over usability. After that, we talk about the recent Microsoft 'You Find It, You Keep It' commercials and the story that Apple considered taking action over them. We move from that onto the death of Walter Cronkite, and what has happened to news since his time as the most trusted man in America. Finally, we move from a recent death to a possible future fatality: Blu-Ray. Can this format survive, or is it destined to be a niche market with a limited lifespan? Opening Music: "Alive WIP v2" by George Carpenter Closing Music: "Blau.ton" by Rauschwerk Comments[1] |
Fri, 24 July 2009 This week Cooter joins us as we open with a lovely discussion on the newest robotic innovation: corpse eating! After that, it's the political corner as we discuss the recent nomination hearings for Sonia Sotomayor and what they reveal about the lack of discussion in this country about race, and beyond that we each take a moment to reflect on some of our little differences. From there, it's the renewed fight between Microsoft and Google before we take some time to comment on the casting choices for the Green Lantern and Jonah Hex films. Finally, the big topic as we think about what a future war will look like. The days of trenches and tanks seem to be rapidly fading, so what can we expect out of the next big conflict? Opening Music: "Alive WIP v2" by George Carpenter Closing Music: "Blau.ton" by Rauschwerk Comments[4] |
Mon, 20 July 2009  40 years go today, at 20:17 UTC, one of the greatest moments in human history unfolded before a planet that was no doubt largely riveted to their radios or televisions. In a stunning example of how fear can drive innovation, the result of the Soviet-American space race came down to three men surviving a venture that spans roughly thirty times the diameter of the planet we all share. Looking back now, there can be little doubt on how perilous and grandiose this undertaking was. From the amount of planning and coordination needed just to compute how to make the trip to our planetary dance partner to the skill and courage of the men making the actual journey, it is a story that should never fail to captivate. In this age of technology advancing at what often seems the speed of light, it's easy to overlook what the moon landing involved. At any time public support could have faltered, as it almost did after the deaths of three astronauts during a test simulation in the Apollo 1 spacecraft. Instead of sever scares such as the Apollo 13 mission, the technology could have simply not worked. In place of the brave men who made possible the Mercury, Gemini and Apollo programs we might have had less capable men who would have cracked under the pressure. The reality is that this was far beyond an American achievement, but instead speaks to the possibilities that we have within ourselves to make what many would think impossible happen. Regardless of our religions, nationalities, race, gender...we all share the commonality of being human beings on the planet Earth. Perhaps one day when that becomes what we as individuals define ourselves by first and foremost, the petty concerns with which so much suffering and hatred arise will fall away. It's a dream, no doubt. But so too was the notion of a human being standing on the Moon, and we sit 40 years beyond the realization of that goal. for that reason along, this is an important date to remember for all of us. Category: Blog Post -- posted at: 1:17 PM Comments[5] |
Fri, 17 July 2009 This week we're skewing heavy into the tech sector, as we talk about the recent Google Chrome OS announcement. From there we begin a bigger discussion of netbooks, laptops, the future of OS design, and the lack of innovation in both hardware and software. We also consider the fact that the big bottleneck in evolving our interaction with technology may be US, not the companies making these products. Enjoy! Opening Music: "Alive WIP v2" by George Carpenter Closing Music: "Blau.ton" by Rauschwerk Comments[1] |
Mon, 13 July 2009 Theme Music: "Nature Of The Experiment" by Tokyo Police Club Comments[1] |
Fri, 10 July 2009 This week we start off talking about animals in the world, from the cute capybara to killer pythons. From there we talk about my favorite channel, Discovery, which is starting up a new series called The Colony and paying tribute to legendary infomercial host Billy Mays. Speaking of television and fame, we get into celebrity cannibalism and how being boring can help you dodge the paparazzi. After that, it's on to companies who manufacture fake receipts and the weight of temporal elasticity versus the need for Medieval Times. Moving on, we take some time to deliberate on TV and movie advertising, and on the opposite side, the recent sale of Pirate Bay. Finally, the incredibly powerful need for style over substance when it comes to packing material. Opening Music: "Alive WIP v2" by George Carpenter Closing Music: "Blau.ton" by Rauschwerk Comments[1] |
Fri, 3 July 2009 This week we're relenting and talking, if only tangentially, about the recent death of Michael Jackson and further about the divide, if any, between artist and art. From there, it's time once again for Recently Discovered Religious Icon Showcase, this year featuring the Ark Of The Covenant! Speaking of religion, if you live in a place where most people are faithful then apparently you are free to abuse a child in the name of the dominant religion. In a complete turnabout from that story, the Supreme Court finally struck a blow in favor of civil rights this week in a case involving strip searching a 13-year-old girl. Finally, leave it to Russia to invent a great new sport: pirate hunting! Opening Music: "Alive WIP v2" by George Carpenter Closing Music: "Blau.ton" by Rauschwerk Comments[6] |
Fri, 26 June 2009 This week Lando kicks things off with a requiem for style, something that seems to be following common sense into the deep recesses of memory. From there we talk about comic crossovers and false advertising featuring Alan Moore. I follow that up with some anger over the recent Letterman / Palin flap, one political discussion leads to another and next thing you know we're talking Twitter in Iran. Finally, we muse on whether Twitter itself is the canary in the cage labeled America. Enjoy! Opening Music: "Alive WIP v2" by George Carpenter Closing Music: "Blau.ton" by Rauschwerk Comments[5] |
Fri, 19 June 2009 This week we're talking quite a bit of tech, starting off Lando telling a story about an alarm clock that comes with a bonus heart attack. From there, we talk about my recently acquired Palm Pre. We go over the good and the bad of this 'Palm saviour'. After that, rather than spend an hour comparing it to the iPhone we go over the new iPhone announcements and whether this new version of the phone is that big a deal. Once we're done talking cell phones, we move into some morally questionable territory with the ethics of cents and the recent doubleTwist flap. Finally, we talk about the new Star Wars MMO that is big on promise and low on anything tangible. Can this new attempt to make the Lucasverse into a playable MMO avoid the fgate of SW: Galaxies? We have our doubts, and we'll tell you why. Enjoy! Opening Music: "Alive WIP v2" by George Carpenter Closing Music: "Blau.ton" by Rauschwerk Comments[3] |
Thu, 18 June 2009 Somedays, we get welcome surprises. Somedays, you get a chance to learn something you didn’t know. Somedays, you get to ask a legend a question. Cory Doctorow posted an article on BoingBoing a while back, allowing people a chance to ask Micheal Moorcock a question. For those of you who don’t know who that is, stop what you’re doing and get yourself to a bookstore. Moorcock is one of the genius science-fiction writers of the age and is one of the writers who inspired me growing up to think harder and dream further. Well, I left my question posted, number 18 on the list. Today, I was happily surprised to see that mine was one of the questions chosen. Chosen and answered, 13th question down. I just wanted to share my elation to you our listeners, because, I’m not always doom and gloom. This makes me happy. I have a new reading list, handed down by a master wordsmith, and only better days can lie ahead. Bless the internet for giving us access to people who once seemed impossibly far away. Are any of you guys out there Moorcock fans? Category: Blog Post -- posted at: 1:52 PM Comments[1] |
Fri, 12 June 2009 This week we've got Cooter back on the panel, and we start off with the disgrace that most people like to call Spiderman 3. We talk about the movie version of the character in general before we turn to another disappointing sequel, Left 4 Dead 2. Is this a sequel, or a cash grab by Vavle? That leads us into online gaming, which evolves into a discussion on the recent 'internet czar' to be appointed by our President and what impact that may have on the net in general. Then, a discussion on the gray area of illustrated child porn, specifically from a recent case involving a man being branded a pedophile for owning manga. Next, we talk about Project Natal and the potential for both success and failure of this amazing technology initiative. Talking about Microsoft leads us into Windows 7, which is shaping up to possibly erase the stain of Vista. Finally, we talk about Linda Carter (yes, Wonder Woman) and stem cell contacts. Enjoy! Opening Music: "Alive WIP v2" by George Carpenter Closing Music: "Blau.ton" by Rauschwerk Comments[3] |
Fri, 5 June 2009 One of our longtime listeners alerted me to this cool little site:  Very cool. Category: Blog Post -- posted at: 3:47 PM Comments[1] |
Fri, 5 June 2009 Though unintended, this show has a subtle undertone of examples where the intended actions of our subjects act against their own best interests. We start off with a lengthy discussion of the new Terminator film, which has done a great job of further sinking the franchise. We move into the fun world of jury duty for a bit, then skate into the current Republican war on itself. We finish with the fun of indefinite incarceration, that nutty Kim Jong Il and a little bit o' Blackwater. Enjoy! Opening Music: "Alive WIP v2" by George Carpenter Closing Music: "Blau.ton" by Rauschwerk Comments[5] |
Mon, 1 June 2009  The frequent listener may have noticed that there was no show this week, and if that person visited the web site they may have further noted that there was no announcement about the missing show. Nothing ominous or worrisome in this case, folks, I just got hit by drive-by jury duty. I just didn't have time to finish editing in time for Friday, so we're pushing that show out to this week. Until then, enjoy the newly minted month of June! Category: Blog Post -- posted at: 1:53 PM Comments[1] |
Sun, 24 May 2009  OK, for our second game night I'm going to need input from YOU. What times (let's go by GMT/Zulu since that's the standard) will work for you guys? We're going to schedule it for 3 weeks from today, so that's plenty of time to either comment or email with some options on times. Depending on out schedules, we may all be on or it may be 1 or 2 of us at a time. The game: Team Fortress 2. Once we have some times locked down I'll do another post and Twitter blast letting you know when we'll start. More to come as details get filled in! Category: Blog Post -- posted at: 10:10 AM Comments[4] |
Fri, 22 May 2009 A little business up front about this show. I was in Las Vegas for Interop when we recorded this at about midnight, and the recording was being done on a laptop running a freshly installed Win 7 RC candidate. Right as I went to save the show, Audacity wrecked. I was able to salvage the files, although it took manually reconstructing 828 sound files. As a result, I let my normally anal editing go a bit, so bear with us this week. This week we start out talking comics, from Sam Kieth to Ben Templesmith. After that, it's on to the possible collapse of GPS and a farewell to the Hubble. Later we get into the difficulty in finding a movie that takes you by surprise. From there it's a British Invasion with a little Doctor Who, some Ashes To Ashes and finally James Bond. We head into outer space after that to discuss the new Star Trek, and why Khan was a true ladies man. Opening Music: "Alive WIP v2" by George Carpenter Closing Music: "Blau.ton" by Rauschwerk Comments[0] |
Fri, 15 May 2009 This week we're over the flu and back to normal, as we open tearing apart the new Wolverine movie before contemplating our dream team of John Carpenter and Riddick. After that, we discuss the Kindle DX and whether it will do anything to stem the bleeding of the big league newspaper industry. We then meander into some new legislation outlawing 'hostile speech' content from the web, which leads to a larger discussion on violence among very young children. It's pretty much all downhill from there. Enjoy! Opening Music: "Alive WIP v2" by George Carpenter Closing Music: "Blau.ton" by Rauschwerk Comments[3] |
Fri, 8 May 2009 This week, it's the magical mystery tour that is the H1N1 swine flu. And yes, I know I say it wrong in the show, but it's the fear doing it to me! We're all gonna die! But if we do, will it be our own fault? Are we creating the ideal petri dish for our own mass demise? We take the few facts and a whole lot of conjecture and talk about the current health crisis. After that, we take a little time to lament the death of good death. Enjoy! Opening Music: "Alive WIP v2" by George Carpenter Closing Music: "Blau.ton" by Rauschwerk Comments[1] |
Fri, 1 May 2009 Originally I thought we'd be off for 2 weeks 2 weeks ago, but it looks like just this week we'll be off. Nothing more than me running out of time on editing, new puppy-ness just ate my time up this week. We'll see you back here in 166 hours or so! Category: Blog Post -- posted at: 10:00 AM Comments[0] |
Fri, 24 April 2009 This week, standard 2 piece band is on stage again. Lando and myself start off talking about the recent death of J.G. Ballard and the guilty verdict in the Pirate Bay case. After that, I take a moment (or 10) to give my take on the recent U.S. CIA torture memo flap, which leads into a discussion on the unwieldy weight of our nation in recent times. From there we talk about the Kryptos sculpture, the need to solve puzzles and the intersections of art and science. Finally, we talk about a recent article predicting the death of universities. Are our centers of learning a doomed species? Enjoy! Opening Music: "Alive WIP v2" by George Carpenter Closing Music: "Blau.ton" by Rauschwerk Comments[0] |
Fri, 17 April 2009 Wow. This week Lando and Cooter filled in for me, and the topics are quite exceptional. From road rage to toilet humor, this one's got it all. Enjoy! Opening Music: "Alive WIP v2" by George Carpenter Closing Music: "Blau.ton" by Rauschwerk Comments[4] |
Fri, 10 April 2009 Long awaited, here is a new Lando solo effort. In this episode, Lando starts off with a bit of his feelings on the falsehood of phantoms and other ghostly apparitions. After that, it's on to the Wolverine workprint leak and what he thinks of the film. Theme Music: "Welcome To Frankfurt" by Charlie Hunter Comments[14] |
Fri, 3 April 2009 I don't know about you, but I never expected Lando and myself to do a show about cars. And yet, here it is! Enjoy! Opening Music: "Alive WIP v2" by George Carpenter Closing Music: "Blau.ton" by Rauschwerk Comments[6] |
Fri, 27 March 2009 This week we're doing something a little different, as Cooter and I do the show sans Lando. We cover quite a bit of ground, starting with Ron Paul getting mighty uncomfortable with Sasha Cohen and whether ignorance is ever understandable. From there we move into some more scientific realms, starting with Cooter's ideas on clean fuel before moving into the potentially huge Wolfram Alpha project. After that, we talk another innovation that has some fantastic promise: Glasshouse. All this talk about the future and amazing technology on the horizon naturally leads to some musing on the stunning things we have with us right now. Flying cars, the commonality of touch screens, toy brain scanners...the future is now baby! Enjoy! Opening Music: "Alive WIP v2" by George Carpenter Closing Music: "Blau.ton" by Rauschwerk Comments[8] |
Thu, 19 March 2009 Normally I don't like to get into these stupid cross-blogging snipefests, but normally Gizmodo is a pretty decent blog. Normally. Then there's this post. Know what? Suck my dick, Matt Buchanan. I can't use chopsticks, but I do like teriyaki on my rice. Sorry if that makes me 'lousy,' but fortunately we don't have to eat according to your standards. These fuckin' guys. Listen, I know we say some harsh shit on our shows, but I think we always temper things with some open-mindedness (possibly not a real word) so it's not the same as this shit. And that's what it is: SHIT. That's my rant for today. Category: Blog Post -- posted at: 7:33 PM Comments[0] |
Sat, 14 March 2009 Category: General -- posted at: 12:39 AM Comments[0] |
Fri, 13 March 2009 This week, we open with a wide range of subjects, from lip plumper to the PS3 to HD porn. From there I show Lando a weapon in Fallout 3 he goes all lovey over, and we each talk a bit about how we're playing that game and what we think of it . After that, we move into the power of manufactured myth on American culture. From flight jackets to nationalism, we turn our eyes on the lies we tell ourselves as individuals and nations. Also, Volkswagen Toe Rags and Space Foxes. Enjoy! Opening Music: "Alive WIP v2" by George Carpenter Closing Music: "Blau.ton" by Rauschwerk Comments[5] |
Fri, 6 March 2009 This week, we open with the discussion and dissection of a lurching hunk of worthless cinema called Drawing Restraint 9. After we tear that apart, we talk a bit about false advertising and then move into the divergent approaches to fixing the economic meltdown that are fighting for dominance. Finally, we talk about one of the great strange items of interest in the homeland: the ever burning town of Centralia, Pennsylvania. Some things you just can't make up. Enjoy! Opening Music: "Alive WIP v2" by George Carpenter Closing Music: "Blau.ton" by Rauschwerk Comments[5] |
Wed, 4 March 2009  It's the first game night, and it's Left 4 Dead to start. I (Joe) will be on Steam starting at 3:00 AM GMT on Friday the 13th. Fire me a message (SteamID Godhammer) and we'll get a game going, or I'll invite you in if I've got one going already. Hope to see ya there! Category: Gaming -- posted at: 11:08 PM Comments[1] |
Tue, 3 March 2009  Episode 4 of the thirty here for ya. This episode: a live concert comparison review of my recent trip to see the Reverend Horton Heat, and then my current impressions on playing Fallout 3. Theme Music: "Nature Of The Experiment" by Tokyo Police Club Comments[0] |
Fri, 27 February 2009 This week we're doing a show with a bit of fluff and some hopefully interesting substance. We open talking about a movie we saw recently, the stop-motion feature Coraline. After that, we move into the meat of the show as we examine technologies are so woven into the fabric of daily life that we don't even notice it anymore. Fire, shoes, the phone....all so common we barely notice them, but how critical do they become when they're gone? Enjoy! Opening Music: "Alive WIP v2" by George Carpenter Closing Music: "Blau.ton" by Rauschwerk Comments[5] |
Fri, 20 February 2009 You'll have to excuse my voice this week, not sure why it was so rough but it was. We start off this week witht the question of what does 'buying American' mean, and does it even apply any more in our highly globalized society? This leads us to wonder if we arriving at a disconnect in our culture that is leading to issues like the recent salmonella peanut butter outbreak. Enjoy! Opening Music: "Alive WIP v2" by George Carpenter Closing Music: "Blau.ton" by Rauschwerk Comments[3] |
Fri, 13 February 2009 This week we're just floating along, no particular heading but still much on the sea to see. We start with some musings on the interesting effects of editorial changes in movies, triggered specifically with the changes made to the recent film Taken. The editing discussion gradually becomes a dialogue on censorship, and specifically on the boundaries of what we call censorship. We talk a bit about the recent California BART shooting, then blaze through some other much less important stories that have gotten bigger coverage, for example this one or the Christian Bale meltdown. Moving on, I espouse my love of Cracked.com, which bizarrely enough leads into a discussion on past military conflicts and also the power of mythology. Finally, we touch on the deep underlying philosophical meanings behind the Bill Murray film Groundhog Day. Enjoy! Opening Music: "Alive WIP v2" by George Carpenter Closing Music: "Blau.ton" by Rauschwerk Comments[4] |
Fri, 6 February 2009 This week we decide to see what our version of a train wreck show will be like. No structure, not everyone even showing up on time, along with some sound effects that may unseat Lando's chewing as the most annoying thing in the background yet. Enjoy! Cooter's gaming tags cooterhatesyou (Steam & xbox live) Lando's gaming tag rameshacklee (Steam) Joe's gaming tags godhammer (Steam) godhammer29 (PSN) Opening Music: "Alive WIP v2" by George Carpenter Closing Music: "Blau.ton" by Rauschwerk Comments[5] |
Tue, 3 February 2009 I'm sure many of you have read or heard about the recent flap with Michael Phelps after a photo of him with abong surfaced. Phelps ended up issuing a big apology for his actions, and as learned more about this I couldn't help thinking that this seemed an awful lot of attention over something pretty stupid. Then I read this article today and decided to post some thoughts on it. In some ways, this all goes back to the whole 'role model athlete' idea. Those who make it big in professional sports are supposed to be 'role models' for kids, or some nonsense like that. I've always thought this was a pretty silly notion, pointing to a famous athlete and saying, "Now Johnny, be like him!" Sure, there's a good reason to point to someone successful and tell your kid to strive for that, but isn't the idea of the 'role model athlete' a bit much? Are you really sure that having your child think he can be Michael Jordan is a good thing? The problem with many of the finer examples of athleticism is that they're so rare. For every Michael Phelps you have a Dennis Rodman, for every Michael Jordan a John Rocker. Barack Obama, on the other hand, makes sense as a person to try to emulate. It's highly unlikely you'll be President, but the effort to get there will still put you ahead in life. Studying, working hard, community service...all good things to be a part of. Trying to be a pro football player, though? Well, hope you don't blow that knee or be driven so hard in a school practice that you die. And even if you work really really hard, without the natural gifts most top athletes have, you probably won't make it. I'm not saying I'm against sports, they can be great socializing activities and they do contribute to a pursuit of excellence. What I am saying is that we need to stop making these people out to be above the rest of us in anything other than what's on the playing field (or swimming pool.) Michael Phelps, the top gold winning Olympian of all time, should not have to apologize for smoking pot. It's his life, let him do what he wants. Joe Category: Blog Post -- posted at: 1:03 PM Comments[8] |
Fri, 30 January 2009 This week Lando and I are discussing a wide range of topics, starting out with what finally put me over in deciding which TV survivalist I like better. After that, we move into the awesomely alternative Alzheimer's helmet that Terry Pratchett is using before talking about the new WETA blunderbuss and whether Steve Jobs has the right to alter the truth about his health. Finally, we discuss the big presidential inauguration and what it means to us, if anything. Enjoy! Opening Music: "Alive WIP v2" by George Carpenter Closing Music: "Blau.ton" by Rauschwerk Comments[2] |
Fri, 23 January 2009 After a quick break, we're back examining another oft-argued aspect of the human condition: dominion over the Earth. Do we as the most powerful species on the planet have a right to rule over this planet? Is survival of the fittest the way it should be, or is there a greater morality at play than that which we govern mostly ourselves by? A tricky topic, and another in which there seems to be no truly right answer. Enjoy! Opening Music: "Alive WIP v2" by George Carpenter Closing Music: "Blau.ton" by Rauschwerk Comments[4] |
Fri, 16 January 2009 Hey loyal listeners, No show for this week, mostly my fault due to a business trip and just falling behind on editing. Aside from that, though, had an idea that I wanted to float on by the masses: Ozone Multiplayer Weekends. Those of you who are gamers and want to hop on for a few hours of gameplay with your hosts, we just may be able to make that happen. First, on the PC side of things: Lando is a bit on the limited side here as he currently only would be able to play Team Fortress 2, but I'm up for TF2 or Left 4 Dead. Anyone out there with a PS3, that's just me but a lot more options: Burnout: Paradise, LittleBigPlanet, Metal Gear Online, GTA IV, Tekken Dark Resurrection or Super Stardust HD. So what's the opinion out there? Sound like something interesting or a dud? Comment or email and let us know, and we'll be back next week with a new show. Joe Category: Blog Post -- posted at: 10:00 AM Comments[3] |
Fri, 9 January 2009 It's our big end of the year spectacular! Well, actually it's coming out after the New Year and it's not much different from our normal shows, but it's the thought that counts. We start off with one of the big topics right now, the neverending Israeli-Palestinian conflict now currently flaring up in Gaza. As usual, our solution to the problem is both innovative and decisive. After that, we take a much lighter look at Chicago's own Mr. Blago and some Canadian political fun, and then we tackle the pervasive culture of impermanence that seems to increase each year. Finally, we talk about the Zunepocalypse that occurred on New Year's Eve (since explained) and why the console wars are all about character. Hope 2009 treats you all right! Opening Music: "Alive WIP v2" by George Carpenter Closing Music: "Blau.ton" by Rauschwerk Comments[5] |
Fri, 26 December 2008 We jump off the mark this week with a lament on the common science fiction trap of authors overstaying their welcome in their own universes. From there we move into the realm of twins consuming themselves in the womb, and the occasional leftovers that stick around when they don't finish their meals. After a quick commentary on killer neck massagers, we all offer our reactions to Apple's decision to stop coming to MacWorld after 2009, and also to the lack of Steve Jobs at that final keynote. Conversational evolution moves us into the discussion on Apple's larger future and the role of microtransactions for the tech industry in general. After we try to talk Lando into using either Pandora or Last.fm, we discuss the possible need within the space program for a transition from the government to the private sector. You may be surprised at who ends up arguing for more government. Enjoy! Opening Music: "Alive WIP v2" by George Carpenter Closing Music: "Blau.ton" by Rauschwerk Comments[5] |
Fri, 19 December 2008 Back into the body this week as we continue our journey throughout the biologic wonder that our brains control. We start out with the funt stuff, sex and reproduction. After that, we move into the realm of the senses, from the effect of the a good meal on your hearing to the impact of gender on smell. Opening Music: "Alive WIP v2" by George Carpenter Closing Music: "Blau.ton" by Rauschwerk Comments[3] |
Fri, 12 December 2008 This week we're joined by Cooter once again as we drift through a lovely blend of stories, from a purported cure for AIDS to a breakthrough in time travel. Of course, it's never all serious with us so you'll get a dash of monster discussion and a rather necessary needed addition to the Ice Pirates DVD. Beware the space herpe and enjoy! Opening Music: "Alive WIP v2" by George Carpenter Closing Music: "Blau.ton" by Rauschwerk Comments[5] |
Mon, 8 December 2008  Episode 3 of the thirty here for ya. This episode: a comparison review of the Rock Band and Guitar Hero game series, and then the iPhone and Blackberry Storm. Theme Music: "Nature Of The Experiment" by Tokyo Police Club Comments[0] |
Fri, 5 December 2008 This week we're taking a lighter (yet truly bizarre) look at the endlessly fascinating campus that is the human body. In this first half of our two part bio-spectacular, we're starting out with the brain. From the water content of our gray skull sacks to the amount of voltage needed to power it, we dig around the ridges of our most vital of organs. From there we move into digestion, hair, nails, and some other strange places. Enjoy! Opening Music: "Alive WIP v2" by George Carpenter Closing Music: "Blau.ton" by Rauschwerk Comments[3] |
