The Ranting Beaver

Been a while ...

2010-10-04T14:31:00.000-06:00

So yeah, I haven't posted anything new here for almost a month. A drought like that happens from time to time, but I think this time it is because I am debating on moving this blog elsewhere. Partially because I think Blogger isn't as good as it could be (and others are doing this MUCH better than a Google company, imagine that) and partially because I seem to be the only one posting anymore. I'm not even sure if people are seeing this anymore as we get little or no feedback/comments/etc.

Nothing is happening at the moment, but if I do move this, I will post a notice and go from there.

Thoughts? Comments? Whatever's clever.
- Ken

September 11th

2010-09-11T11:33:00.000-06:00

I think the lesson for today is to remember the power of a belief and to never underestimate how far someone is willing to go to prove they are right and someone else is wrong. Wars have been started, nations have been destroyed and life as we know it has been forever altered because of the power of people's beliefs. Believe in something, by all means. Having discussion and debate are great -- open minds and open hearts are better. You don't have to agree with everyone or change your beliefs, just allow others to have their own as well. Only through patience, tolerance and understanding will all people come to coexist. Love me or hate me, I don't care. Just understand me and know this is how I feel today.

It's Only Paper - Ozomatli feat. Jack Johnson HQ

2010-09-04T09:46:00.000-06:00

Advice for my kids ... Part 3

2010-08-23T22:21:00.000-06:00

I've decided that I may not remember all of the things I want to pass on to my kids, so it was best to at least write them down. Here is as good as any other place. Part 3 in the series ...

Learn to take a joke. Learn to tell one as well.
Know your strengths and weaknesses. No one can catch you off guard by pointing one out and you never know when you will be asked for them in an interview.
Like something because you genuinely like it, not because your friends do. That's how you end up listening to New Age music or becoming a Republican.
Smoking is a terrible, filthy and expensive habit. Don't do it. Seriously.
If you're going to sing along with a song, either learn the words correctly or do it when you're by yourself. For some reason, people get offended if you don't get the words right, no matter how hard it is to hear the actual lyrics.
Everyone has dirty or naughty thoughts. There's always the "right" time, the "right" place and the "right" person to share them with. Keep in mind that for best results to have all three of those right before sharing.
When no one is looking, dance to a song in your head.
Batting cages relieve a lot of stress if you imagine the source of your stress as the ball you're hitting.
Just because a book, song, movie, etc. is considered "a classic" it doesn't mean you have to automatically like it. Doesn't hurt to know what "the classics" are though.
Never enter into a debate without preparing first. Opinions become stronger arguments when you have facts and reasoning on your side.
Ideas can grow and change when you bounce them off other people. Don't keep them to yourself.
Always bring a notepad and pen to a meeting.
Try to have a good story to tell your grand kids on how you met the love of your life.
Appreciate what you have and don't stress over what you don't have.
Superstitions don't have any power if you don't believe in them.
Charm is an under appreciated talent. Not everyone can be naturally charming and some people try too hard to fake it.
No one says you have to wait until you're old or dying to cross things off your Bucket List.
Sometimes your words will be all you have. Once in a while they may be not enough. If you've learned to use them wisely, they will serve you well.
Don't make promises you can't keep. Trust is hard enough to earn the first time, let alone more often than that.
Don't underestimate the value of just being there for someone and listening to them when they need it. Don't judge or give advice, just listen.

I think I'll end this round on that note. Now that I've done a few of these, it's kind of cool to see them en masse. As always, comments/feedback are appreciated.

Christopher Titus Unauthorized Unreleased New Show

2010-08-11T10:46:00.000-06:00

I love Titus and this appears to be some new stuff for him.

I call this a win ...

2010-08-11T10:35:00.000-06:00

Wipeout - Big Balls of Fire

2010-07-30T16:35:00.000-06:00

Because it's Friday and who doesn't like laughing at someone biff it.

Crash Kings - It's Only Wednesday

2010-07-21T21:59:00.000-06:00

Advice for my kids ... Part 2

2010-07-17T17:55:00.000-06:00

I've decided that I may not remember all of the things I want to pass on to my kids, so it was best to at least write them down. Here is as good as any other place. This is another part in the series.

Never be afraid to come to us with anything. No matter what it is or how old you are.
If the grass looks greener on the other side, be sure to look for the can of green paint.
If you have a question, ask it. Guaranteed at least one other person is thinking about the same question and is waiting for someone else to ask it.
Reality TV is just as scripted as a sitcom or drama. They just make up the details and dialogue as they go along.
You'll make lots of friends, but they'll really be more like acquaintances. Not all of these people will really like you or can really be trusted. Still they will fill a purpose for you or you for them. This is how the world works.
Never underestimate the power of an 'inner circle'.
There is no such thing as 'just the tip'. Ever. Not in money, not in icebergs, not in intercourse.
Never loan money to family. If you expect or need to get that money back at some point, then you shouldn't be giving it out. If they can pay it back, they will, without you asking. Or they shouldn't be borrowing it.
Learn to use your hands. They really are a useful tool. Especially in cooking.
Someone who argues just to cause trouble is never going to see your point. Don't argue with them or they win automatically.
Anything you do or say has a certain permanence nowadays. Not everything has to be shared with everyone and once something is out there, it may not be able to be taken back.
Read everything for yourself. You won't see things through other people's eyes and you'll be better off for the experience. Some books are great, some are not so much -- even if they are so called classics. It's best to read them all and decide for yourself.
Speaking of books, remember that the point of a book is to tell a good story -- a good thing to remember no matter what book you are reading. Even autobiographies and the Bible.
Everyone has problems. We're all human. Yes, especially people with money. It's how you handle those problems that matters.
Mind your own house before paying attention to what others are doing.

That should be enough for this installment. I'll have more again soon. Feel free to comment or give feedback.

Travie McCoy: Billionaire ft. Bruno Mars

2010-07-14T21:04:00.001-06:00

I actually really like this song. Don't hate.

Random Thought - Family Guy edition

2010-07-07T00:38:00.000-06:00

Hands down, I think one of the funniest Family Guy clips is probably one of the most subtle ones and likely not everyone else's favorite. Here's the premise:

Peter comes across some protesters with 'Free Tibet' signs. He runs up to one and say's "I'll take it!" and then immediately runs to a phone booth. He dials a number and and says "Hello China? ... I have something you may want ... that's right, all the tea."

It's a well written joke that guaranteed, went over the heads of MANY people. Yet it makes me crack up, even playing it in my own head. Is that wrong? Is it too soon? Probably on both ... that's what makes it funny.

Go look it up or watch the episode it's on. If you don't get it, try reading something other than TMZ once in while.

Bonus: 500 Internet points if you can find a GOOD clip of it (please share if you do).

(I can't find a good clip of this one on YouTube, but had to share since it was in my head ...)

Advice for my kids ... Part 1

2010-06-20T17:18:00.000-06:00

Had this idea rolling around for a while and given that it is Father's Day, what better time than to kick this off.

I've learned some things from life and I'd like to share these things with my kids, but unfortunately they are too young to really understand or grasp them. By the time they get older, I imagine I will forget some of these things (or perhaps I'll get old and cranky so the views may change and become less relevant). So, I've decided to list them and here is as good as place as any. This is the first of likely multiple posts on the topic ... and away we go.

Speak your mind so that people know where they stand with you. However, keep in mind how you say something may be more offensive than the actual message you are trying to convey.
Always keep a sense of humor. Especially when things aren't going well. It will help with your sanity.
Don't care too much about what others think. It only leads to stress you don't need.
People who ask silly questions give you an open license to mess with them. Nothing harmful mind you, but enough to entertain yourself for a short while.
Most people are good. Give them the benefit of the doubt. Until they prove you wrong. And they will.
Forgiving and forgetting are two separate things. Always. It is possible to do one without the other.
Never underestimate the power of a belief. People are defensive of their own and will do whatever they can to change yours.
Never trust anyone who wears a bowtie on a regular basis.
Everyone has an agenda. It might be an innocent one or a small one or even with your best interests in mind, but they always have a some reason for doing or saying what they do.
You don't have to agree all the time with someone to love or like them. In fact, a little debate keeps things interesting.
Always hold the door open for a lady. Doesn't matter if she's 8 or 100.
Attitudes are contagious and misery loves company. Don't let others catch your bad attitude.

I think that's enough for now. Feel free to comment and let me know if you have some similar ones. Or if you think I am full of BS. Either way should be interesting.

Been doing some thinking lately ...

2010-05-25T23:17:00.000-06:00

I think it's just about high time I retire the filter between my brain and my mouth. I admired myself more when I didn't care what others thought or who I pissed off.

Dueling Mind Takers

2010-05-23T23:23:00.000-06:00

This cracked me up, but I suppose you have to be a fan of the show to enjoy it. Or high (as much of Adult Swim's demographic likely is).

Weezer - Pork And Beans

2010-05-14T16:22:00.000-06:00

I know it's a bit of an oldie, but I overheard the song today at lunch and had to go watch the video again. Since it's Friday, you should sit back and enjoy it too. See how many 'web celebs' you can recognize here.

Some Recent Logo Work

2010-04-15T09:11:00.000-06:00

Some of my recent work, trying to keep the skills sharp. Clicking will take you to my DeviantArt page for a larger view. Feel free to comment if you like either of them.

JVN Originals Logo by =kniel187 on deviant ART

Talented Octopus Logo by =kniel187 on deviant ART

Healthcare

2010-04-03T14:01:00.000-06:00

It's funny, you don't know how bad the healthcare industry is until you have to deal with it. I recently had to be in the hospital and while I was appreciative of the care I got, it blows my mind how inefficient the whole process is. For example, every time there was a new nurse on duty, I got the same 10 questions and had to re-explain what was wrong with me. I mean, don't they write this stuff down? Don't they have all the information on a computer? I am all for not assuming with patients, but shouldn't you reserve that for the important stuff -- like what medication was I given an hour ago and not how many days was I ill before I came into the hospital? On top of that, some of the equipment being used had to be almost as old as I am. I don't live in some backwater town, they should at least have more recent equipment. I know they charge you $300 for a box of tissues - where does that money go really?

I know we have issues with insurances (thank god I actually have insurance!) but realistically, I wonder how much time and money is actually wasted that gets billed to the insurance companies. Part of the problem certainly is the antiquated system that the hospitals have become. I think we need to review how this can be more efficient just as much as we are reviewing how insurance companies handle patients.

I know a lot of people are not crazy about the government option, but perhaps now that they will be involved a few of these items will be questioned. Maybe not, but one can always hope.

BEST BOWLING TRICK!!!

2010-03-30T00:08:00.001-06:00

I think I've actually made a similar shot. Granted, not on purpose. Heh heh.

Russell Peters - Louis Vuitton and Indians (LOOOZ WOOOTON) HQ

2010-03-15T22:40:00.001-06:00

Saw this again the other day. Been watching Russell Peters for a long time - he kills me.

Doesn't anyone have an original thought anymore?

2010-03-02T11:36:00.000-07:00

And no, surprisingly, this is not another rant about the state of Hollywood (although, I could go off on that too).

Two items came across my field of view today:
Apple is suing HTC for patent infringement
Nick Simmons (son of Gene) is apparently copying various manga for his comic

Both are two entirely different situations, but it boils down to the same thing -- if you can't do something, copy someone who can.

Couple of things up front:
1) I had no idea Nick Simmons was working on a comic. Or that he could (sorta) draw, really. I collect comics but apparently I have not been looped into what is going on in comics for some time. I am also a big fan of manga but no where near some of these folks who could make the comparisons they did.
2) I am not a big fan of Apple or it's tactics to ensure it's monopoly in the arena of music/players, and in this case cell phones. The real reason why you will never see the iPhone on Verizon is because Verizon is not stupid enough or desperate enough to accept the crap deal AT&T took. Not to mention all of the Droid and iPhone is on a lame network ads. I actually have an iPod touch and (grudgingly) like it.

Just wanted to point out that I am not a hater on Nick or HTC here. Still if they are guilty of what they have been accused of, then they should be held accountable. Granted, they won't be, they'll just be added to the ever growing list of people, companies, etc. that have decided it is easier to take the shortcut. And why not, it apparently pays off.

We Americans are a lazy bunch - we want our food fast and our TV/movies formulaic. We're dumb or at the very least dumbed down - and that is our comfortable place. Almost anything that strays from that or challenges a person to invest more than a few brain cells is quickly squashed. This is why big business sells us the crap we see - they buy into this notion, because it's not wrong. This is why we still have cars that run on gas and only get 26 miles to the gallon. This is why we get CDs with one or two "good" songs, only determined to be so because they have been in rotation for weeks on end on the Top 40 stations. This is why a TV show with some originality gets cancelled in a couple of weeks, because people are afraid to like it until the masses do. This is why we still have Jay Leno and not Conan O'Brien. Because it's safe and we like zombies fall in line.

In this country, invention is dying. Or at the very least it is being kept to the outer fringes. If you think about it, we haven't had a new product invented, probably since the cell phone but even that was an innovation to something we already had - a home phone. Much of what we have today is a riff on something that has gone before. As 3M might say, "We don't make the things, we make things better." This exemplifies the point I am trying to make here.

So, today I am calling to you all -- take a moment and think about what life would be like if things weren't so safe and comfortable. Imagine a world where competition was based on who produced a better product, not a better version of the same product. A world where more than the same lame choices existed in media. A world where good artists could get radio/TV time instead of some jackass who tried out for American Idol, knowing full well they were a jackass. A world where people didn't buy books because Oprah recommended them.

Your homework, should you chose to accept it, it to seek out something -- a CD, a book, a show, a movie, a cell phone, a gadget, an artist, a writer, a twitter page, anything! -- that would not typically appeal to the general masses and post it or a link to it in the comments. Hell, if it's your original idea/product/etc. even better. The one catch here is that it has to be something you genuinely like and not because you were told it was good. I look forward to seeing what you come up with.

The Future Soon - I Fight Dragons

2010-02-26T15:25:00.001-07:00

A little something for a Friday.

Events like today make me think ...

2010-02-23T22:42:00.000-07:00

So yeah, some random guy decided to go shoot someone (anyone?) at a school again today. In Colorado. Wasn't another kid or disgruntled teacher, but really some random guy who had no (apparent) business being near the school. Don't we have enough crazy people here already? Sigh.

I'm a dad. I'm not an overly protective one, but I have often said that if anyone wants to hurt my kids then they better hope the cops find them before I do. Not that I am a violent person or anything either, but I think that would be something to send me over the edge. Think Mel Gibson in the movie Ransom. It's probably the one time I could care less about the consequences of my actions. All bets are off, an eye for an eye, etc. - you get the picture. I can't believe more people don't feel this way and I am probably offending someone right now.

I'll move on from this topic, but I just want to say one last thing. If you are an idiot and want to shoot someone, just do us all a favor and shoot yourself.

Mr. Scary has a new hobby ...

2010-02-09T19:59:00.000-07:00

Mr. Scary is really starting to do take some awesome shots with his new camera and so I thought I'd share a relatively recent one he posted on DeviantArt. Check out the rest of his work too!

vain? by *bfoflcommish on deviant ART

New Look to the Blog!

2010-02-04T16:22:00.000-07:00

So yeah, was getting a little tired of the 'dots' template and it's not like Blogger had many others to choose from. Luckily, I am resourceful and was able to find something I liked from the good folks at ThemeCraft.

Updated a couple of things, removed some others, yada, yada, yada ... let me know what you think.

With renewed interest, I plan to be posting more. I'm calling Ricky and Rico out too -- pitch in brothas. Heh.

Carry on y'all.

Oh Hell No!

2010-02-02T15:14:00.000-07:00

Not much good news for the Mets lately, but here's something ...

2010-01-21T17:18:00.000-07:00

Must be rough in Brooklyn if the Mets can't get Bengie Molina to be the catcher. Couple of decent pitchers took a pass as well. Ah well, I'm sure they'll have just as crappy of a season elsewhere.

Something else did catch my eye though, looks like the Mets are finally recognizing Dwight Gooden and Darryl Strawberry by inducting them into the Mets Hall of Fame.

Say what you will regarding the twists and turns their respective lives took, both of them were probably my most favorite players as a kid. Heck, I even had a funky stance in the batters box like Strawberry, which looked really awkward on a white kid with glasses. I know. Kids shouldn't idolize sports figures and this is probably a prime example of why, but what did I know back in the late 80's. I'm really glad that both of them seem to have their lives back on track. They both deserve the fan fare -- they did help win the pennant and the series back then after all, and both had decent careers as Mets. I'm even willing to forgive Darryl those years as a Dodger. Mr. Scary may not agree with me there though ... might still be too soon. LOL.

I'm not sure if I can get tickets and then I'd have to get a plane ticket and so on, but I would love to go see the August 1 game and ceremony. Anyone want to make plans to do it, should come see me. I am so down.

Anyway, enough for now, talk at you later.

Oh, the things you'll see (on YouTube)

2009-12-20T18:58:00.000-07:00

I this is how they taught English in schools, we'd reach more kids. Just saying.

Reality TV is a harbinger of the apocalypse

2009-12-19T17:56:00.000-07:00

Let me say first that I actually like some "reality TV" - Ace of Cakes is one, Mythbusters is another - but by and large most of it is pure crap and more fake that a porn actress' chest. In fact, I often comment/joke that we love a train wreck so much (why else would these shows keep showing up?) that people simply aren't going to be satisfied until someone dies on live TV. I can't wait for the day that some TV exec thinks that actually making the The Running Man is a good idea. Good thing Jesse Ventura and Richard Dawson aren't doing anything, however they may have to wait for Arnold to stop being the Governor of California. It's coming. Just wait.

Think I'm wrong? Pay attention to how much CBS plays up the next time someone collapses on Survivor ...

This is not to even mention the lengths people are going to to get on these shows. If you're willing to break the law to get on a show, you're even more likely to do something worse to stay on it. There are no more boundaries at that point.

I was so glad to see I wasn't the only one that thinks things are getting out of hand, that I had to share. When I came across this today, it made me smile on a level that you may not understand. I am glad to know I am not the only sane person in a crazy world.

Good thing there is a sale on handbaskets, because we're all going to hell in a hurry. Some of us will just actually understand why.

Wind Chill

2009-12-10T23:31:00.000-07:00

Since it's been cold as hell here in the Denver Metro area, the subject of wind chill has come up again. Making it a point to give two different temperatures - the 'official' temp is and what it would be if the wind is blowing - is silly and helps no one. If you tell me it is -20 with wind chill, that is the official temperature in my book. I am not a thermometer, so what it feels like to me is the correct temperature. If the wind isn't blowing, and it feels warmer, then I say that's a bonus.

By the way, how the hell do they calculate that anyway? I'm sure there's some jenky math that could be used to explain it or some fancy doppler based 'wind-thermometer' but frankly I think it is nothing more than a SWAG. Much like the rest of predicting weather. This is why no two newscasters have the same answer, and some are as much as 5-8 degrees different from others. Must be much like interpreting art - each person is going to see the same thing different a way, but no one has a solid answer.

All I know is I don't put much faith in it all, especially the concept of wind chill.

I'm sorry but this is funny as hell ...

2009-11-18T10:22:00.000-07:00

The Beaver is going to hate this, probably my NY friends too, but I had to share.

For the Yankee fans, I know your team recently won the World Series and all, but it doesn't mean I dislike the Yankees any less. Sorry, there's no more room for me on the bandwagon (I'm not really sorry). After I saw all of the so called 'fans' come out of the woodwork, stuff like this cracks me up.

Thanks to The Chive for the image and the laugh.

The Actors on Family Guy are so talented ...

2009-11-09T17:43:00.000-07:00

Yeah, I know, not a huge news flash but sometimes we forget the talent behind the voices. Saw this on TV last night, had to share:

Wrong, yes. Funny as hell, also yes.

Want an alternative to your regular search engine?

2009-11-04T19:10:00.000-07:00

Been meaning to post these for a while ... been playing around with them both to see how much I like them.

I have two new items for you, one is a visual search engine and one will allow you to create a link for generating buzz on any topic you like.

First up is Spezify.
This is called a 'visual search engine' which means that the results come back in a more visual layout. This is actually really useful for pictures and video, both of which can be viewed without leaving the page. Includes Twitters too. You also navigate by dragging the mouse in a 3D motion. Definitely cool.

Here are some example results pages:
Mets
Olivia Munn
Venture Brothers

Next is Addictomatic.
This is kinda neat as it allows you to create a 'one-stop' page for any topic. The page contains multiple sources so you can have multiple links for your specific topic. You can then send this link out in a Twitter or as part of your Facebook status for example. Might also be good to see what others are saying about your topic. Seems useful either way.

Here are some example results pages:
V (as in the TV show)
Obama
Deviant Art

Feel free to let me know what you think about either of them.
- Ken

Is this a good use of resources?

2009-10-21T14:37:00.006-06:00

A couple of weeks ago, I was out and about and stopped at a Target on the south end of Denver. While I was in the store a tops of 10 minutes, a cop came by and wrote a 'warning' note to let me (and the whole world too) know that my car could be a target for a break in. Apparently he was going from car to car in the parking lot and leaving a note for everyone that could be considered a potential target.

Not only is this a waste of time and resources in my mind, they are thoughtfully doing all of the survey work for those that would actually break in to a car. I am not kidding -- there is a spot on the mass printed form where the cop could list what would attract someone to my car. Real smart. Oh yeah, let's make this easier for crooks.

By the way, the reason listed why my car could be a potential target? I had cash in plain sight or so was the claim.

Want to know how much? About $1.26 in change, mostly in pennies. Really? If you need $1.26 in change that bad, then breaking into my car is the least of your worries. Especially when the car next to me has an iPod and a cell phone in plain view. Know how I know? I read the lovely note left for the owner on their car too.

Apparently they consider this a service that "sets them apart from other police departments", and say so on their site. I'd rather they actually focus on solving crimes instead of helping crooks by giving them useful information. Glad I don't live on that end of town ...

Sometimes you just need a laugh ...

2009-10-07T13:27:00.003-06:00

There are a few web comics I review regularly. Penny Arcade is required reading, Sequential Art has also become a favorite but is likely lesser known. I recently stumbled upon a new one though that is actually quite funny, so I had to share: Least I Could Do. I have been enjoying it about two weeks now, but yesterday's strip had me rolling, likely due to my sick sense of humor. I could see myself saying something like that.

You should check it out. Let me know what you think.

Was Feeling a Little Nostalgic

2009-09-19T20:20:00.002-06:00

Was trying to explain Tex Avery to my 7-year old and it made me want to go look for one of my favorites. Thank goodness for YouTube. Enjoy!

I don't know what is more awesome ...

2009-08-20T09:46:00.003-06:00

... the fact that the person chose a hammer to assault (or worse) his friends or the fact that the police/reporter are trying to insinuate that it was spurred by Dungeons and Dragons. Really? I can't tell who is the bigger dumbass.

Read more about it here.

If we let them blame a board game for this (this involved adults for pete's sake, not kids) then it just opens the door wider for them to blame video games for crap like school shootings ... oh wait, I forgot, people already doing that.

Make them take responsibility and admit that they are fucked up and irrational and stop blaming unrelated crap to help you rationalize why the fuck someone would take a hammer to his friends. If nothing else, at least draw more conclusion that it was over a woman which would make MUCH more sense. Jeez.

I'm back bitches!

2009-08-17T08:50:00.003-06:00

Alright football season is upon us, haunt season is upon us, and thus means Mr-scary is upon you! Lots of new exciting things going on and i hope to keep more active this time. Be on the look out for denver haunted house news, some great football takes (of course!), as well as some future projects that will possibly includse us 3 and others!

Follow me on twitter @thescary1 and say whats up to your boy!

Amazon Awesomeness

2009-07-28T12:00:00.003-06:00

First of all, the item listed here is in a word ... classy! NOT.

Not only can someone procure such an item on Amazon should you like (you really can buy anything on the Internet), the reviews on the shirt are what make the effort worthwhile!

Check it out!
(Thanks to Bryan E. for the link!)

New Plan!

2009-07-23T10:31:00.002-06:00

So yeah, not really getting what I want out of life lately (I mean creatively, not personal life -- I'm actually good there), so I have decided I need to come up with one or two cool projects that perhaps no one has thought of or maybe have but I could do them better. Not sure what that would be yet, but I will think of something (suggestions are always welcome, especially if you want to participate - I'll give credit where due, I promise).

At any rate, some of the inspiration behind this was a link I saw:

30 Album Covers recreated with Lego

Some of them aren't quite so good, but most of them are. Still I really like the concept and it's making me think of what to do next. :D

Happy (almost) Friday!

In case you wanted to know why they call him Mr. Scary ...

2009-07-15T11:06:00.003-06:00

Furthermore, here is his Twitter, in case you want to follow him.

I was feeling a little motivated ...

2009-07-04T22:46:00.004-06:00

... and thought I'd share what I'd come across - a site full of those great (non-)motivational posters. A sampling below of some good ones:

Backup Plans
Chance
Your Boss
Signs
Perspective
Rule 34
Extreme Chess
Heaven

Feel free to look up almost ANY subject of your choosing here as well. Hope you become as motivated as I am now. Woo.

Best. Cartoon. Clip. Ever.

2009-06-19T20:55:00.004-06:00

Requires the slightest bit of knowledge of band names, but this is one of the funniest cartoon clips I have ever seen. Yes, even better than Dr. Tran and this one is clean. Thank heaven someone was able to find it and post it.

I miss the Animaniacs. Some of the best writing and ideas in a cartoon - fresher than the Simpsons and more clever than Family Guy. Subtlety should never be underrated.

Japanese Merchandising

2009-05-29T23:33:00.003-06:00

While searching for something else, I came across this:

Yep, that's a mousepad. I'm not sure whether to think it is clever or whether to shake my head at it, but I can't help but admire the idea behind it. Gotta love that it is anime and pretty much any male anime/manga fan from 13 to 85 will enjoy the novelty of it. Only the Japanese would have the balls to pull that off. Granted, ones made to show adult stars from the US can't be far off given the pervs that live in this country (us three included). I could easily see it.

I wonder if it's a silicone mousepad ... heh.

Somewhat related note, my new favorite Japanese word is oppai. You figure it out. ;)

Nostalgia - Broncos Style

2009-05-06T18:03:00.003-06:00

Had a chat with a co-worker yesterday and I had forgotten about this ... I had to go find it, to share. Thanks goes to Brice H. for the reminder.

It's so bad it's good. At least if you are from Denver anyway. Quality isn't all that great, but (a) it is from the 80's so can't be helped and (b) I think it adds to the atmosphere.

Posting this for my peeps. Mr. Scary, Beaver - enjoy some nostalgia fellas!

Reference Material

2009-04-22T16:53:00.004-06:00

Gotta love this comic. I imagine it hits a little too close to home for some. Not me of course, but it made me laugh out loud.

While you're at it, feel free to check out the past strips of that comic (hint, use the navigation arrows once you click the link above and see the one I pointed out). Good stuff!

BW3

2009-04-21T20:55:00.003-06:00

... or better known as Buffalo Wild Wings, is hands down one of the best places to get wings right now. I know it is a chain, I know it is a bit gimmicky - I don't care. The only thing I like more than BBQ is wings, and they know how to do it up.

Went again last night. Traditional wings with Asian Zing sauce is the way to go, with some sweet tea and a basket of fries. Just saying.

Check it out or better yet, go to one near you.

Flo, the Progressive cashier

2009-04-07T22:25:00.004-06:00

I'm sure you've seen the ads by now, some may even say that they've been annoyed by them by now, but you can't escape the overly enthusiastic character Flo. I'm sure you have said, "where the hell did this girl come from?" or "they actually had an audition to be that person?".

At any rate, little did you know, the actress that plays her has been around for some time. I noticed her in a small part in Mad Men, so I had to look her up. Her name is Stephanie Courtney and here is her IMDB page. Holy crap she's a busy gal.

Then I came across this gem as well ... a video of her standup routine:

A little rough, but entertaining. I love my comedians.

I guess the point here is this: we often see some character in a commercial as we zoom past it on our TiVos, often without a second glance, but we should probably remember them. They work almost as hard as any other actor, probably harder in a lot of cases, just to get a big break. Next time think about that when you catch yourself watching a commercial and hoping you had the remote in your hand to fast-forward. Show some respect and watch that damn commercial instead!

Well ... any of them except that annoying Geico commercial with the money and the googly eyes - go ahead and zoom past that, no one was working hard the day that was thought up. That's just plain creepy.

$240 Worth of Pudding

2009-04-01T12:04:00.002-06:00

Thanks to Michelle A. for finding this gem for me. It's crazy to see that much of anything in one place.

Click the link as they have turned off the embedding.

Just Because ...

2009-03-17T22:05:00.001-06:00

So awesome. And people worry about kids cartoons today.

Funkbuster: Stephen Lynch style

2009-02-19T21:09:00.004-07:00

Just because ...

Happy Friday!

New Shirt ... with a Message

2009-02-09T23:52:00.003-07:00

So, I have to say, I am tired of war.

We all know there is war in the world. Some of it has a cause, but most of it is purely political posturing. On top of this, Hollywood seems to think that people want to escape all the crap and the world and guess what ... see movies about war. What the hell? So, yeah, I am a bit over it all.

All this being said, here I wanted to say let's end war in my own way, so I put together a new shirt.

I call it 'End War 2.0'. It's pretty simple - black shirt with white letters, but I think it convey's the message. Also, it's a bit geeky, I know, but like I said, I wanted to say it in my own way. If you feel the same, order one today!

OMG

2009-02-04T11:58:00.002-07:00

Have you ever been to the doctors office for a date????????????? not me but 2 weeks ago i went in with my son to stich up an accident he had at school.. there was this lady in the lobby putting on her make up , In my mind i was thinking that she has to go to work after this but,,, if my eyes and ears are bad and i had to get comfremation from my daughter. This lady was getting ready for a date. she had her kids occupided with Mcdonolds and toys but when the nurse was asking for her and the kids she said can you wait one min. i need to go out side for a bit .. .. She came back in with a guy.. the first kid went in for check up and shortly she came out to check on her son with the new guy... then asked AM I EVERYTHING YOU THOUGHT.... i was lmao inside.. that chick did not hook up here in the doc office ...........................

Music and Dave Grohl

2009-02-03T23:41:00.004-07:00

I know what you're thinking, a 2001 clip on the Dennis Miller show, right. Dave Grohl - what the hell?

This interview gave me a lot of respect for Dave Grohl. The wife and I were talking about it the other day (it actually comes up quite a bit), so thought I'd find the clip for her (thank you YouTube!). The best part starts around the 5:30 mark when they start to talk about Napster and Metallica. Once again, respect I say. Enjoy!

P.S. - Jolene, I told you I'd find it.

Random Thought

2009-01-19T10:14:00.002-07:00

Given that Americans are so much overweight and some 'fast food' companies are trying a healthier approach, you gotta like the chutzpah of Taco Bell when they rolled out the Bacon Cheddar Gordita Crunch.

I think their goal is to see how many items they can get on the menu that can induce a heart attack in one meal. Just saying ...

How Smart is a Smarte Car?

2009-01-10T21:13:00.003-07:00

Saw one of these the other day and they get really good mileage (partly because they are so tiny, I'm sure), so I thought I'd check out their ability to survive a crash. Safety first y'know.

Here is what I found:

Not too shabby if you ask me. Granted, a Hummer rolls over one and that may be the end of that ... just saying.

Happy New Year!

2009-01-01T21:00:00.001-07:00

Just want to wish The Beaver and Mr. Scary a happy new year. I look forward to many more posts from you both in the coming year.

And to the rest of you peeps -- have a great year ahead. Have a laugh, have a rant, but just don't have a bad day.

- Ken

Bettie Page

2008-12-13T23:30:00.004-07:00

Crazy. Bettie Page has died.

I know I was too young to appreciate her in her prime, but I feel that she has always been a big influence on what we know today with regards to pin-up drawings and photography, not to mention an influence in what I consider to be attractive. Personally, I always liked the notion that she was neither super skinny, nor blonde - both of which have always been popular but neither appeal to me.

Whether she liked it or not, her look will forever be immortalized in the minds of many and an inspiration for others. I wonder if she truly realized the impact she's had, for better or worse.

Either way, I hope she spent the rest of her life happy.

Because we all need a laugh ...

2008-12-05T14:46:00.002-07:00

... and because this is one of the best toons from back in the day. Enjoy - Happy Friday!

How Bad Were We Being Screwed?

2008-11-30T00:51:00.003-07:00

Gasoline. We all want it and apparently, the breaking point is about $4.00 a gallon (give or take). The social experiment is over and now gas has settled back down to under two dollars a gallon. Seems a bit odd to me, but hey, we're all just happy to have the price more reasonable again, right?

I'm not a complainer. We'll OK, maybe I am, but not in this case. I actually like spending half as much for gas as I did a few months ago.

The thing that has been bothering me is that the price has never dropped so much and definitely not so quickly. Sept 4th - a gallon was $3.79 for me. November 3rd - a gallon was $2.21. That is a 41.6% drop in two months. Three weeks later the price was well under the $2 mark, at $1.64. That is another 25% drop in three weeks (and well over half-price since September). Craziness. This means one of three things - (1) things are REALLY that bad and the value of many things is virtually nil, (2) the oil companies have made all their profit for the year and wanted to give us all a break, or (3) gasoline was so overly inflated (you know our current leader is an oil man, right?) but the economy can no longer support it.

I'm not pointing any fingers, but it does seem kinda fishy that all this is happening amidst the banking and auto industry fiascoes. I'm hoping I'm not the only one to notice this. While we are distracted with the woes of those other industries, the price of gas has quietly slipped back down to normal. I am certain that the powers that be are hoping we are 'just happy to have cheaper gas' so we can spend our money elsewhere, including buying vehicles again. Meanwhile, the gas companies are quietly counting their millions and now are no longer square in the bullseye of the people's disdain. And the results of the social experiment are in, either people will not pay more than $4 a gallon or the economy cannot support it, so that IS the breaking limit. That is how badly we were being screwed.

MySoti

2008-11-06T23:43:00.004-07:00

Trying out a new site for prints and t-shirts - MySoti.com. I like it so far and it seems to have some more flexibility than CafePress with the layout afforded.

I've uploaded the Hotel Hallway @ 3a.m. image for prints. Looks pretty good I think, but I am open to feedback too. Check it out. Buy if you like. A few t-shirts likely to be added this weekend too.

I now return you to your regularly scheduled YouTube surfing for messed up videos.

-K

2008 Presidential Results Map

2008-11-04T15:41:00.004-07:00

For your convenience. Courtesy of Google.

Some Metaphors Should Be Left Alone

2008-10-21T13:15:00.003-06:00

Oh wow. Even I couldn't believe they went there:

You gotta know the saying to get the joke. Just saying.

Sale on Lead Lemming T-Shirt!!!

2008-10-13T11:59:00.003-06:00

I have lowered the price a bit on the Lead Lemming Dark T-Shirts, so if you were waiting to buy one, now is the time. Given the CafePress markup, this is the lowest I can go on the dark shirts (I am making hardly anything on these at all now).

Go check them out and buy one for everyone you know! I'm shooting to sell as many as possible this month, so don't wait! Prices to return to normal at the end of October.

While you're there, check out the rest of the store - you may find something else you like.

Ken

I really like scotch ...

2008-10-11T22:31:00.002-06:00

... just saying. In case anyone is thinking of a gift to get me.

In fact, I'll make it easy on you and point out my favorite brand -- Glencadam.

In other news, I have been reading a couple of online comic strips (yeah, beside Penny Arcade, of course). You should check these ones out:

Ugly Hill
Sequential Art

Happy Saturday!

Drunk, Sleeping Fan Victimized by Beer Cups at Shea Stadium

2008-09-26T22:57:00.001-06:00

Y'know. You can tell that fans have given up when what happens in the seats is more interesting than what happens on the field.

It's a long one, but it's funny.

Really Cool Wii Ad on YouTube

2008-09-23T11:07:00.002-06:00

WarioLand Shake for the Wii - just watch and wait. You won't be disappointed.

The game doesn't look to shabby either. Might have to pick up this one after all ...

New York ...

2008-09-20T21:19:00.006-06:00

So, a little disappointed in the Mets. Not fully and completely disappointed, but they are pushing it. They have the Wild Card, but after last year's self-destruct, you would think they would've taken the added measures to make sure they don't repeat. They have the talent -- I guess it is just a mental game at this point.

Two things are for sure, the Rockies proved well what a fluke last year was (c'mon Kaz couldn't have made THAT much of a difference ...) and the Yankees are no where near the playoffs. Sad for the Rox, not so much for the Yankees. Part of being a Mets fan is being happy that the Yankees are not doing well. LOL.

In other NY related stuff, I'm going to NY twice next month - just booked both trips. The late one may be interesting as I am traveling with my boss and I will be coming back on Halloween. We shall see. I hope the Mets are still playing, at least while I am there for one of the trips (hopefully both). Well, either way, it'll be nice to go back again.

A little crazy, but I'm proud

2008-09-02T08:58:00.002-06:00

My mom now has a MySpace page. You read that right.

At first, I wasn't sure what to think of that. Then I got a bit of pride because she's come a long way - she (a) used to be someone who was somewhat paranoid (probably still a bit) about people having access to ANY info about her and (b) was not the kind of person to get up in front of a group, let alone have an online 'persona'.

Now, this doesn't mean you can go and stalk my mom. Or hit on her. And don't spam her please! We don't want to scare her away. Heh.

But if you know me and her, feel free to add her as a friend. :)

- Ken

A few new shirts on the CafePress site ...

2008-08-31T12:32:00.002-06:00

... all with a similar theme. Testing out a couple of ideas lately and, let's face it, some are naughtier than others. Click on the image below to order one today!

Feel free to look around the store while you're there. If you want to go to the main store page instead click here.

Thinking outside the box ...

2008-08-29T09:19:00.004-06:00

I like Tiger Woods. I like to play the Tiger Woods games. Now, I like EA (the company that produces the games) even better. Or at least their ad agency. The person that came up with the concept of using a response to a video on YouTube to advertise their game should be given a bonus. The commercial is a little hokey, but the concept is great.

Check it:

Granted, some folks might have a problem with the comparisons made, but those who would take stuff too seriously. Really.

Yet Another Reason to Love Guinness

2008-08-09T18:56:00.003-06:00

Their advertising has always been clever. But never this good:

Guinness Reklama

I love it when people aren't afraid to amuse, even if it may cross someone's proverbial line. Have a good one!

- Ken

New Zombies T-Shirt

2008-07-30T11:25:00.003-06:00

New shirt added to the CafePress site. Click on the image below to order one today!

Thanks to Mr. Scary for the idea.

Feel free to look around the store while you're there. If you want to go to the main store page instead click here.

Wipeout

2008-07-30T11:18:00.003-06:00

If you are not already watching this show, shame on you. It's like G4's Ninja Warrior meets Spike's MXC meets Funniest Home Videos, plus a dash of bad humor (provided by John Henson, formerly of Talk Soup). See for yourself:

I like the parts where people have to cross the big red balls. Force + mud + bad judgement = funny.

I command you to add this one to the TiVo now. You won't be sorry.

- Ken

Mr- Scary's Dark Knight preview

2008-07-21T07:54:00.000-06:00

Hola Kiddies,

So I see Ken’s review here, and now it is my turn for The Dark Night. I know I am going to be vilified in my own circles, but here we go. Ok let me preface this by saying I am not a huge comic turned movie fan Iin fact I still have yet to watch spiderman 1 in full, haven’t watched a single second of spidy2, and really really disliked spidy 3. Hated the last superman, couldn’t stand the first Hulk a few years ago which is why I refuse to watch the latest hulk..etc etc etc) So there now you know where I am coming from.

BLAAAAAAAAAAAH is what I felt afterward.

Was it an entertaining movie….YES

Was Heath Ledger a great Joker…YES

Was it too long…YES

Was it all over the place when it didn’t need to be…YES

Is it possible to have the Main character not be in the top 5 characters in the movie…..after this YES

I had many different feelings watching this film. One of which, how can the movie be called Batman :The Dark Knight but your “main” character is probably the worst of the actors and did no justice to the part at all. In fact whenever he put on the suit why did his voice turn into something resembling Patty & Selma from The Simpsons? He just sounded so forced and fake, and most parts when he was just Mr. Wayne I found myself very bored and not into his part.

Next, Heath..ahhhhhhhh yes I am going to go there. He played a great Joker, that I cannot deny, But I think it was the script and the director as opposed to Heath himself. Watching the film I couldn’t help but think (thanks all the prehype from tv and internet) could anyone do what Heath is doing? And a few names popped into my head. I wouldn’t mind seeing the likes of J Depp, C Slater, L Dicaprio try their hand at this same role….I think they could easily pull off the same effect if not better given the same script and same director. And I hate to say this but I think his death is what is making people see Heath in a different light in this character.

Two-Faced….loved loved loved this actor! He stole the show from Batman almost as much as Joker did, and while this isn’t necessarily a bad thing the movie was called Batman, not Joker and friends. So that is part of my dislike, but again I loved the two faced character beginning to end.

Rachel Dawes….yaaaaaawn, anyone could have played this part and been better, Came off to me as a little spoiled crybaby with that letter at the end and all.

Pennyworth…can’t say anything bad, another bright spot

Lucius…again good character, but at the end also came off to me a little crybabyish…wahhh I didn’t sign up for this blah blah blah

So yeah that’s enough I guess. But umm yeah again..blahhhhh

Watchman trailer looked good, but again..comic turned movie makes me not want to run out and see it.

So out of 10 stars I give Dark Knight 7 stars.

The Dark Knight

2008-07-18T03:35:00.002-06:00

Not a huge surprise to many, but I just saw the midnight showing of this movie.

Two words: Blown Away

Not one character seemed two-dimensional, the movie was engrossing from start to finish, and it didn't have a campy or cheesy feel to it that comic book movies can get (especially sequels). On top of all this, you get to see the single most saddening thing ...

Heath Ledger gives the performance that is due the Joker. All due respect to Jack Nicholson, but this guy plays the part as it was originally written - crazy, psycho, unpredictable, funny, sick, twisted, and most of all human. He's not simply a patsy or buffoon - he is the Yin to Batman's Yang. It's subtle, but you do see it as the movie goes on. Sadly, the character will never be properly captured again - now that the bar has been set and Ledger won't be around to follow it up.

While watching him, I couldn't help but feel a bit saddened that such talent was now wasted. He did, however, go out with a bang. It will be what he will be remembered for. To say he stole the show would be wrong, it was his performance to give. He was the centerpiece and the rest were supporting him. It would have been this way even no matter what.

I don't want to ruin it at all for anyone, so no spoilers here. No secrets, no tidbits. To do so would be shameful. You have to witness this one for yourself.

Oh ... ok ... one tidbit. The previews included one of the Watchmen. Can't wait for that one now. Heh. That's how they 'keep ya coming back'.

Now that it is close to 4am, I bid you a 'good night'.

- Ken

Best Political T-Shirt Ever

2008-07-16T17:19:00.003-06:00

Why wouldn't you go out and buy this shirt right now, I ask you.

So awesome.

Seriously though, the whole site has some decent schwag. Go check it out.

Thanks to Michelle A. for sharing!

Funkbuster Coming At Ya

2008-07-09T11:14:00.002-06:00

I'm feeling a bit of funk, so I went to YouTube for a perk up. Here is what I found:

Enjoy!

E-mail and Perspective

2008-07-06T22:33:00.007-06:00

Don't you hate it when your e-mail application shows an unfortunate subject line? Here's an example in GMail that might get your attention.

Click for full view and share with your friends!

Father's Day was good ...

2008-06-17T09:31:00.004-06:00

Let me just say my wife is awesome. She (and the kids) sent me an Edible Arrangement for Father's Day. It was something different and so damn tasty. I took a quick picture before digging in - check it out:

Hope what you got was just as cool. If not, I hope you at least had a good Father's Day.

They've Done it Again ...

2008-06-14T08:42:00.001-06:00

Another great Orbit commercial. Check it out.

Whatever they are paying their ad agency, they are getting their money's worth.

Check your donkey door, indeed!

You Too Can Make Money from Facebook

2008-06-12T16:50:00.003-06:00

Apparently, if you have lots of time and focus, you can make money on Facebook without even creating another annoying application. All you have to do is create a bunch of bogus profiles and makes lots of friends. And then sell them.

That is exactly what someone did. Read about it here.

Almost wish I thought of it first. There's lots of lonely suckers out there. Need proof? Just log on to Facebook or MySpace and take a look around.

One Missed Call review

2008-06-09T13:39:00.001-06:00

Back with another kiddies!
Now I know I said I would stay away from bigger budget releases, but I sometimes can't resist...WHEN WILL I LEARN????
Now I will say there were a couple a good f/x, ok acting, but the actual plot and some of the happenings in the movie leave you scratching your head.
First off stop me if you have heard this sort of plot before....electronics can be the bearer of your death. Can anyone say Ring & stay alive just to name a couple of recent ones?
Now acting was ok, like I said f/x were nice, but come on! you get a voicemail from yourself with your last words? on top of that we have to assume that there will be a cop who was connected to the string of voicemails as well as he will let you just tag along to cool awesome places and break into homes with you. Add to that we are also forced to believe that whenever you get a death voicemail, video game, vhs whatever...that you are to follow this dark creature and it will lead you to safety not death. Oh yes but other believable parts are a college student has a very nice house that is not on campus, and someone who has seen 3 straight deaths in person and has a bad reason for them will never ever ever be named a suspect. Plus, all of this same town must have 1 cell phone to choose from, because they all have some awesome flip phones, no iphones or blackberry's or nothing like that for this bunch, just everyone with flip phones, sounds believable right?
1 thing I can say though, this movie did reiterate to me that evil babies, be it in porcelain, dream or real life form are AWESOME!
God why do I watch US remakes or big budget horror to begin
WHEN WILL I EVER LEARN??????

3 out of 10 stars

Web Comic Goodness

2008-05-31T15:22:00.002-06:00

So, one of the folks I watch on Deviant Art has a web comic. It's called Sequential Art and while it is a bit odd (at least two of the characters, sometimes more, are a cross between human and animal), it is pretty damn good. Some lowbrow humor, but damn it if we don't need more or that in the world today. Heh.

I suggest strongly that you check it out. There are 400+ posts, so feel free to peruse the past strips too.

Happy Saturday!

Rating Photos

2008-05-26T22:00:00.002-06:00

I know that this is something that can be subjective to each individual, but someone has put together a site where you can rate pictures taken by other people (and posted on Flickr or Picasa). Including a handful from yours truly. :)

Go check it out >>> Goodshotornot.com

If you're interested in getting yours added to the rotation, you can do so via the following:

Picasa - tag/label your pictures with "goodshotornot" (without the quotes of course)
Flickr - you have to submit your photos to the GoodShotOrNot group

If you want to rate mine, go here.

I F#%king Shot That

2008-05-18T00:38:00.005-06:00

Ok, so this is NOT a reference to the Beastie Boys movie of the same name. Nor a review -- I leave those to Mr. Scary. I just wanted an interesting title for this post.

Here's another picture I took with the new camera and I'm pretty damn proud of it:

If you click thru to the page, there is a download link where you can get it wallpaper size. Feel free to comment here too and let me know what you think. Thanks!

We so have to do this ...

2008-05-14T09:55:00.003-06:00

Not quite sure where they do this, but I can't believe how many people are in this video. Keep your eyes peeled for a the full on rabbit costume, the gorilla outfit and a bear on a tricycle.

The AQR crew + big wheel bikes + downhill = fun like no other.
(Thanks to Clint for showing me this one!)

Movie Review: Fido

2008-05-13T09:34:00.001-06:00

Movie Review: Fido

Hellllllllllllo Everyone. Todays review is on the little known movie Fido. Now when you think of the name Fido you think of mans best friend right? Well thats what you have here. A movie about the family pet. And of course not everyone in the family wants a pet, but the kids love to play with the pet, you have to go through the house training of the pet..yada yada yada you know the story and deal with pets, we've all had them.
But not like this you haven't! The world is being invaded by Zombies, and 1 company has taken upon themsleves to turn these zombie into house pets. Now don't leave me, sounds like a campy B movie that should be reserved for 3am on cable tv right? It's not! Sure you have semi mediocre acting, not the greatest f/x, plot not an A-list plot, etc etc etc...but this movie works! It's funny where it has to be but yet keeps the feeling of what will the zombies do next.

May not be for younger kids but most in the family could probably watch this as it is not over the top gory or scary. I mean come on, zombies as pets, a mom who loves the new pet and the pet who loves her back, dad not wanting the pet in the house, oh yeah lets not forget the part where the son loses track of the pet for awhile.
And with a catchy little tune that all the kids will be singing...through the heart and not the chest, headshots are the very best
I give this movie a 7 out of 10 stars....not bad for direct to dvd flick now is it? Now this is me. Someone not into horror, zombies, etc will probably be in the 5 or 6 range, but again...direct to dvd flick noone ever promoted...not bad at all!

Happy Mothers Day

2008-05-11T14:03:00.002-06:00

Hey to all the Men In the Blog . Get your ass up and take care of your ladies It is mothers day SHe is the Queen 4 the day .. na mean

Random Thought

2008-05-11T08:37:00.002-06:00

Is it just me or is it wrong to have a Chinese restaurant in 'da hood' with the name Ho Mei?

Just want to make sure I'm not crazy here ...

Best Commercial Ever!

2008-05-08T09:32:00.004-06:00

I know people may not agree with me, but this damn thing makes me laugh every time. Some of the best writing I've seen in a bit.

All I gotta say is 'What the French Toast?"

Movie Review: Sweeney Todd

2008-05-05T16:57:00.001-06:00

Hiddy Ho Blogarinos,
This weeks review will be the movie Sweeney Todd.

I was very hesitant going into this movie. I love Johnny Depp movies, I love Tim Burton movies, I love dark themed movies, I hate musicals. See the problem here? Going into the movie knowing full well what I was in for, I wanted to love it and wanted to give it a chance. But let me be honest, after 20 minutes I was just about ready to get up and turn the dvd player off.
That is where the bad part of the review ends. I really enjoyed this movie. The first 20 minutes was very much more on the musical side, then something either clicked with the movie or just myself but it got better and kept getting better. Outside of all the musicalness (I know it's not a word) of this I would say this was a perfect movie. Acting A+, Costuming A+, Editing A+, Musical score A+, ETC ETC ETC you get my point.
Who doesn't want to see a barber who slices peoples throats and dump them down a hole in his floor, only to have the bodies baked into some yummy meat pies from the girl who owns the restuarant below? I don't want to give anything away so I will leave my review only giving that away (but who didn't already know thats what the movie was about).
So if this moive would have been about half less with the musical parts and took that half into "acting" this movie would have been a 10....a 10 I tell you, but because the first 20 minutes bored me to death and there was still quite a bit, ready for it, musicalness, on the back half of the movie I give it a solid 8 out of 10 stars

Movie review: The Covenant

2008-05-01T08:27:00.006-06:00

Alright boils and ghouls, I am going to start a weekly movie review. Most of these, in keeping with my name, will be horror movies and on top of that may be some most have never even heard of or have only seen the titles on late night movie channel guides. I will also review bigger name flicks as I see them.

So the first film to review for you all is The Covenant.

If you read the summary and such on your tv guide it sounds pretty interesting. A small group of kids (4 to be exact) are bonded together by centuries old witch spells and therefore are a "tight" group. Well then things happen, hot chicks barely dressed come into play, etc etc etc you know your typical pg-13 horror movie, then things go wrong. The new girl is liked by 2 of the 4, but she only likes 1 of them. The one she likes things the other is doing things to get her....you know like the typical sending darklings and such...well it turns out another new kid has these same powers but they dont know it until later. Well some power fighting here, fake effects there blah blah blah...new kid wants one of the 4 kids powers before he ascends to make himself stronger.

Sounds decent right......I mean for a late night horror flick anyways......well thats where you are wrong.

The reason the kid wants more power and is mad at the world????????

HE GREW UP WITH NOONE WHO KNEW WHAT HE HAD GOING ON......oh boo hooo hoooo the kid didn't know about the "group of 4" unbtil after he had hatred and a thirst for power...blah blah blah.....bitching here, moaning there...another fake cgi fight, and you have boy saves girl and all is well movie ending.

LAME!!!!!

They had a decent plot but made nothing of it other than a cry baby mad because he had powers but didn't know why.

The effects made me think of a couple guys just getting there new computer programs and wanted to try them out on film.....thier "f/x" for fighting we nice power orbs they threw at eachother....nice and new right??? ugh! why the hell would witches have orbs of power they throw???

oh well... on a scale of 1-10 I give this movie 3 stars! Wasn't bad acting as you would think in a late night horror movie, like I said decent plot, and chicks scantily clad in a few scenes.....but it was pg-13 so don't expect much unless you are a 15 year old boy.

Well until next time kiddies keep that night light on, look in your closet before you go to sleep and don't forget to check for me under the bed!

Too Much Free Time - Family Guy Style

2008-04-17T10:31:00.002-06:00

Thanks to Mr. Scary for this one:

Good stuff!

Funkbuster - Latin Music Version

2008-04-07T13:49:00.003-06:00

Was feeling like a little Ozomatli today and thought I'd share. In case you are not familiar, here is a video:

You should pick up their CD(s) if you really like this. Highly recommended and good music to make the day go faster.

The freak in all of us

2008-04-04T02:31:00.003-06:00

Ken you are a freak and we all know it so next time the is a show i will call you and see if you want to go with hey I can get free ticks my sis has hook ups in the industry. the next vegas convention we are there all three of us, the TBR team ... did you miss me that much that you had to dump your dirty thoughts on us all..

Beaver

Guess who ????????

2008-04-04T02:16:00.004-06:00

oh yes ......
guess who is back and found time to check it out and say hay all....
IT IS ME THE BEAVER ,, this year has started out with a bang bang bang ( J. witherspoon) that is my boy check out the number one stand up comidian on dvd . I have been verry bussy and my fickin computer has been acting up.. I can use some help with my computer ..... plug ken I v u u know.. hey hey Who will i see at Monday Night raw may 26 I will be there repersenting AQR and The TRB .. now i must go I will post soon and soon

Peace the beaver

Today is a Bittersweet Day for Me

2008-04-02T18:12:00.003-06:00

While I am glad to still have my job, a number of folks I have known for years now do not. Sure, now I am part of one of the largest online companies (I think you know who I am talking about), but it surely will not be the same now that I cannot share that with some people I have come to know and trust quite a bit.

This sucks. I wasn't directly affected and yet, I feel probably as crappy as any of them do. Perhaps it is because I have been through something like this before and I can understand. Perhaps I am just pissed at how the whole thing was handled with very little discretion -- hell even the online rags knew more than us employees did and certainly long before we were given any info.

I wish employees were treated like people (yes! we are people!) and not as commodities to be bought and sold when the whim strikes. Often enough, employees have about as much value as office supplies and that is wrong. I'm just thankful that we don't depreciate in value (at least as quickly) as the rest of a companies property.

Today will be a hard one to get over. But get over it I must. Ugh.

Pictures, pictures and more pictures (to come)

2008-03-29T14:16:00.002-06:00

Two things:
1) I think I am going to try an idea that a friend of mine from work gave me - take at least 1 picture each day. She's been doing it for a few years now and I think I like the notion. Thanks Janice!

2) I am fairly proud of this picture:

Go see the larger version (by clicking the picture above) and let me know what you think!

Thanks!
- Ken

What is sexy?

2008-03-17T22:31:00.003-06:00

OK, so a friend of mine likes to send me things that 'aintquiteright' so that I can share them with you fine folks. When he sent me the latest link, I have to say that it is the complete opposite of sexy.

Judge for yourself ...

What is sad is the fact that she likely thinks she is sexy.

Here are some better examples of what IS sexy:

Link 1
Link 2
Link 3

At least one of those should appeal to someone. Take STOCK of what you like and decide what is sexy to you.

Really Bad Tattoo ...

2008-03-13T15:22:00.002-06:00

I know Rico is so going to go get one of these. Imagination + perversion = internet fun.

Thanks goes to Clint for pointing this one out. And for laughing his ass off for 5 minutes, of course.