Slashdot | AVG Fakes User Agent, Floods the Internet
I've been a big fan of the free AVG Anti-Virus since I was introduced to it when I first started at Central. It sounds like that love might be running out though. Apparently the new safe search feature is causing a lot of problems for various websites as its webcrawler is disguising itself and flooding websites. These don't sound like the practices of an honest company or a responsible one. I'm going to wait and see how this pans out, but I might be looking for another anti-virus solution soon. Feel free to comment with your suggestions. Free and lightweight is definitely preferred.
It's still in beta and I don't know if it's available yet for everyone, but I just started using the new Digg recommendation engine. If it's available for you, you should be able to get to it via the link. I think it's really great so far. It makes the upcoming stories section much more usable since the unfiltered version is usually full of spam and junk stories. You can sort your recommendations by most recent, most matches (using Digg users with similar voting habits), and most Diggs. I think overall this will be great for Digg as a whole since stories that were once buried will have a better chance of getting noticed.
Believe Me, It's Torture: Politics & Power: vanityfair.com
But it's been well said that cowards die many times before their deaths, and it was difficult for me to completely forget the clause in the contract of indemnification that I had signed. This document (written by one who knew) stated revealingly:
Water boarding is a potentially dangerous activity in which the participant can receive serious and permanent (physical, emotional and psychological) injuries and even death, including injuries and death due to the respiratory and neurological systems of the body.
As the agreement went on to say, there would be safeguards provided during the water boarding process, however, these measures may fail and even if they work properly they may not prevent Hitchens from experiencing serious injury or death.
I remember a while ago Brendon and I were talking about how one of these days someone is going to try out waterboarding for themselves and make a video of it. Well, now it's been done. But what does this guy know? The White House has told us multiple times that this isn't torture. It's just a tough "enhanced interrogation technique." Yep.
So there's a new law that went into effect today in California. If you are caught on your cell phone while driving without using a hands free device you will be fined. I'm guessing the motivation behind this is that drivers are distracted by holding a cell phone to their ear. If this is true, why just ban cell phone use? Why not create a law saying both hands must be on the wheel at all times? If it's talking on the phone that is distracting, then why not ban cell phone use completely? Aren't people still going to be distracted whether they have the phone to the ear or not? I have no doubts that phone usage causes people to drive like morons but I don't think this law is the solution. People are still going to drive like idiots. I guess we'll wait and see.
McSweeney's Internet Tendency: Anticlimactic Twilight Zone Episodes.
Ah, McSweeney's. You are awesome.
Where Is Everybody?
A man emerges from his office to find the hallways mysteriously devoid of co-workers. He wanders the silent, empty building looking for signs of life but finds no trace of humanity other than coffee brewing, purses slung over chairs, and folders lying open on desks. Suddenly, he remembers a mandatory meeting in the first-floor conference room.
My Boring Ass Life » Curious George, the Shadow of the Bat, and Other Stuff
Without giving anything away, this is an epic film (and trust me: based on the sheer size and scope of the visuals and storytelling, that's not an overstatement). It's the Godfather II of comic book films and three times more earnest than Batman Begins
While I don't agree with Kevin all the time about movies, I would say I agree with him about 90% of the time. I absolutely cannot wait for this movie.
Oh man, are you guys ready for some crazy? I don't think you are.
Westborough Baptist Church responds to George Carlin's death - The charming folks that brought us "God Hates Fags" and disrupting military funerals are back with their thoughts on Carlin. I'm not sure if I should laugh or cry.
(via Friendly Atheist)
YouTube - Cold War Kids - Second Album Teaser
The album drops in September. I got to hear some of the new songs at their show in April and they were fantastic. They'll be on tour in the fall so check them out if they play near you.
Teaser from Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog on Vimeo.
Doctor Horrible's Sing Along Blog is Joss Whedon's latest project and stars Neil Patrick Harris, Nathan Fillion, and Felicia Day. Many other Whedonverse regulars have appearances as well. It's a three part musical that will be released via the Web. I'm really looking forward to the panel at Comic-Con since Whedon, Nathan Fillion, and Neil Patrick Harris are all pretty darn funny.
Troy McClure Film or Actual Terrible Movie?
This was a bit more tricky than I thought it would be.
In memory of one of my favorite comics of all time, GC, comedy central has put up a video tribute.
Check it out.
Director Kevin Smith Remembers George Carlin | Newsweek Entertainment | Newsweek.com
In 2001, George did me a solid when he accepted the part of the orally fixated hitchhiker who knew exactly how to get a ride in "Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back." When he wrapped his scene in that flick, I thanked him for making the time, and he said, "Just do me a favor: Write me my dream role one day." When I inquired what that'd be, he offered, "I wanna play a priest who strangles children."It was a classic Carlin thing to say: a little naughty and a lot honest. I always figured there'd be time to give George what he asked for. Unfortunately, he left too soon.He was, and will likely remain, the smartest person I've ever met. But really, he was much more than just a person. Without a hint of hyperbole, I can say he was a god, a god who cussed.
I definitely recommend any fan of Carlin or Kevin to read the article. It's a very loving tribute from Kevin, who in the end was just a huge fan of the guy. I'm curious though about this last bit. It almost sounds like Carlin was going to be the antagonist in Smith's upcoming horror film, Red State. That's just pure speculation on my part and I'm probably wrong, but I recall Kevin at one point saying the movie revolves around a religious figure. If you're looking to remember Carlin, there are video tributes and such all over the internet. While this is a sad loss, the guy definitely has left plenty behind for us to remember him by.
AFP: Comedian George Carlin dead at 71
Gringo emailed me the bad news last night. Carlin was one of my favorite comedians and he also appeared in three of Kevin Smith's movies. While some people did not enjoy Jersey Girl, his performance in the movie was pretty much universally praised. I am saddened we will not get to see him again on screen or on stage. Kevin has always praised Carlin for his work ethic. Even when he was shotting a film he was still doing his stand up act. The guy was on the road the majority of the year even at the end of his life. Here's to you, George. You will be missed.
I saw Get Smart at a test screening with Phil and Janelle last year. The film was pretty much complete but some of the effects weren't finished and the music wasn't final. I really enjoyed it. Having watched the original show quite a bit as a kid, I thought the movie did a good job keeping the tone of the show. There are quite a few clever references to it as well. I laughed quite a bit and thought there was a good mix of comedy and action. Steve Carell did a great job and I thought he and Anne Hathaway had good chemistry. Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson continues to impress me as a comedic actor. I should have known this after being a big fan of his comedic wrestling promos. He has definitely taken those skills and refined them even more for the big screen. The other highlights of the cast were definitely Terence Stamp and Alan Arkin.
If you're looking for a fun comedy and a break from the summer action movies I would recommend this one. Like I said, I saw an early cut of the film but it was really solid so I doubt the final product will be much different. If you're a fan of Carell, slapstick comedy, or the old series you will definitely enjoy it. I would actually pay to see it again but I'm a bit behind on my movie going thanks to the move. I definitely need to see The Hulk and really would like to see Prince Caspian. I think I'm going to save The Happening for the dollar theater. Decisions like these are why I enjoy summer so much.
The Raw Story | Book: McCain temper boiled over in '92 tirade, called wife a 'cunt' - There's no video of this incident, but the story is confirmed by three reporters who were there. McCain was asked about it didn't deny it. Is this a big deal? On the one hand, it's just one word that an ex-Navy man let slip at the end of a long day. On the other hand, it seems to be part of a pattern of anger and verbal abuse. What if he lets some foreign leader get the best of him at the end of a long day of negotiating? Can we risk having this man be our head of state? On the third hand, if Obama's preacher's words can be run in an endless loop on television, then this sure as hell is a big deal, too. It's something McCain actually said, not just one of his friends.
By the way, my wife made clear that if I ever called her a cunt I would have to finish the sentence 3 months later when they unwire my broken jaw.
I think that in time this will make it to the news and to the public's attention, along with the fact that he abandoned and probably cheated on his first wife after she waited for him during his time in Vietnam. Oh, and she was crippled from a car accident, too. Will the "family values" voters really choose this man over Obama?
(via Wonkette)
Girl Talk's new album Feed the Animals is up for pay-what-you-want download (320kbps mp3s). $5 or more adds the option of FLAC files and $10 or more includes a packaged CD when it becomes available.
If you've never heard of Girl Talk, he's a mashup DJ. A pretty good one too so I recommend giving this a shot.
I am paying $0.00 >:]
28 years ago today the planet earth became a little bit more brendoish. Raise a glass for the man, the legend, the one and only: Brendan Creecy.
The Associated Press: Stan Winston dies of cancer at 62
Hollywood has lost a true legend. His work speaks for itself. Even though we have moved into a digital age, there is still something special about awesome practical effects and the merging of both practical and CG. Stan Winston was definitely a master at both.
I don't know why I keep forgetting when Henry's birthday is since it is the same day as my friend Janelle. I can't believe it was nearly 7 years ago when I met Honzo in the CCCB parking lot. So much has happened since then. Even though I haven't gotten to see you in awhile, you're a good friend, man. You're one of the key elements of this here community and you are one of the smartest people I know. Hope you have a great day!
Time is ticking by so slowly this afternoon. I had thought I had packed my trusty iPod away in some random box during the move so I didn't have it for a couple weeks. I found it the other day in my backpack. Silly me putting things in logical places. Here's the rundown:
I've got to say this was a quality job on the part of the ol' iPod. Nice job. If I ever make a movie, I have decided I will use that Erasure cover during the credits both as a homage to Some Kind of Wonderful and a tribute to the band themselves. Is it weird that I actually have a movie soundtrack planned out but no real movie to accompany it? One day, perhaps. Hope you all have a good weekend.
So I essentially dropped $500 on a $60 game.
I hope this game sets my world on fire.
So last night I beat that mission in GTA IV I was stuck on. After I finished I decided to take a little GTA break and see if there was any new stuff on XBOX Live for me to try out. As I was perusing the new XBLA games I saw a new title called Wolf of the Battlefield: Commando 3. I was immediately curious since I loved the original Commando as a kid, playing it for many hours at the Boys and Girls Club when I was a young lad. In fact, it might have been the first arcade game I ever actually played. I also loved Bionic Commando, which is getting its own next-gen sequel and retro re-release sometime soon. Since I don't really have the money right now to go on an XBLA spending spree, I decided to just try out the demo version of the game. It's a ton of fun. It has the feel of the original game but with a little bit more cartoony graphics, kind of like Team Fortress 2 or something like that. The controls are a cinch and the firing controls work similar to those of SmashTV and Total Carnage. There is a new special attack feature as well as three playable characters, each with different attributes. The demo, while brief, gives you a good feel for the game. At 800 MS Points, it's definitely a buy for me.
After playing through the demo level of Commando three times I noticed the demo for Ninja Gaiden II had finished downloading. Having briefly played the first XBOX game and really digging it I knew I had to give this one a go. Yes, the game is more difficult than most, but it is a TON of fun. Imagine being a real ninja, jumping off walls, throwing ninja stars, and flipping out on people and you have the gist of this game. It's every child of the 80's dream come true. It's not your standard hack and slash game though. In order not to die a horrible death you have to learn various skills and blocking techniques. Button mashing will work for awhile, but as the game progresses it becomes a less viable tactic. I read many concerns about the camera in some reviews and I honestly didn't have a problem with it. I occasionally had to recenter the camera behind Ryu by pressing the right trigger but this wasn't a big deal at all.
Curtis (my new roommate) watched me play a bit and we talked about how awesome a Kill Bill game would be. It would be similar to Ninja Gaiden but probably a bit more cartoony as far as the violence went. A feature that would be cool would be if you could pause bullet time style and plan out your attacks. As you progressed through the game and leveled up the amount of attacks you could plan out would increase. Seriously, someone should do that.
The demo itself gives you a great taste for the game. I played for almost 20 minutes and haven't even finished yet. Thankfully there are save points throughout the level. I am definitely going to buy this once I finish GTA IV and a couple other games that have been sitting on my shelf feeling neglected. Sorry Mass Effect. I swear I'll finish you one day.
Fox News calls Michelle Obama "Obama's baby mama" - War Room - Salon.com
An alert reader wrote in just a little while ago to let us know about something he'd spotted on Fox News Wednesday afternoon. During a segment discussing conservative attacks against Michelle Obama, the wife of presumptive Democratic nominee Barack Obama, the network described the former as "Obama's baby mama."
First it was calling his fist bump a "terrorist fist jab" and now this. At least they had the sense to fire E.D. Hill, the woman who made the comment about the fist bump. Hopefully they'll do something about this. There's really no excuse. Someone probably thought they were being funny and had watched too much Chapelle's Show, I guess.
Since everyone is doing it and
The concept:
a. Type your answer to each of the questions below into Flickr Search.
b. Using only the first page, pick an image.
c. Copy and paste each of the URLs for the images into fd's mosaic maker.
-
The Questions:
1. What is your first name? Brendan
2. What is your favorite food? California Burrito
3. What high school did you go to? Torrey Pines High School
4. What is your favorite color? Red
5. Who is your celebrity crush? Lauren Ambrose
6. Favorite drink? Diet Coke
7. Dream vacation? Ireland
8. Favorite dessert? Ben & Jerry's
9. What you want to be when you grow up? No clue
10. What do you love most in life? Family and friends
11. One Word to describe you. Goofy
12. Your flickr name. brendoman
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