The Move

Missing all your favorite posts? Or missing posts in general? That's because the Contingency.Arc has now officially been moved to [1amgeek.com/blog]. What will happen to the C.A I'm not entirely sure, but you can still get your fix so no worries.

The Week (of 3.20.11)

On to week 12 and Zack Snyder's anticipated original film Sucker Punch gets released. On top of that, Castle and How I Met Your Mother return this Monday, a few trilogies get HD remakes for the PS3. Lastly, if you're still in an alien invasion mood since you saw Battle: Los Angeles, you can always pick up Skyline on Blu-Ray or DVD this Tuesday. Plus there's plenty of other things to look forward to this week. We're almost a quarter of the way through the year folks. Imagine that.

The Rhythm (12)

While it may have been a long and slow week for some of us, the rest of the world keeps spinning. This week's Rhythm is a bit light thanks to certain upgrades that are being worked on and hopefully be in place sometime in the coming week. For now, check out how gamers can support Japan, what the economy is doing to hurt geeks, and an early review for the 3DS. Plus, rumors about NGP pricing.

The Rhythm: following Nathan Fillion on Twitter since 1971.

The Review (Rango)

My background: I've never been a huge fan of westerns, in fact the only one I own is Back to the Future Part III and that is seriously pushing it. However, I am a fan of Johnny Depp and I used to be a kid so I can stand to watch a Nickelodeon film. Let's get to the review.

Review: Cliché human story makes fun animated story. Eastwood might laugh.

Verdict: worth it.

Also, I was totally fooled by Timothy Olyphant as the Spirit of the West (a.k.a. the Man with No Name).

Dream on.

[END TRANSMISSION]
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The Trailer (Hanna)

Now, this is by no means a new trailer, but it is for a movie that is expected to drop on April 8 (and I'm a bit behind on my posting today). Same old, same old here. A girl who appears to be genetically abnormal is trained by her father to be an assassin and ends up being hunted down by Galadriel across Europe. Yeah, I know, nothing new right? Check out the trailer for Hanna starring Saoirse Ronan, Eric Bana, and Cate Blanchett.


It seems more techno-ish bands seem to be getting into the soundtrack game, so even if you're not interested in the plot (which is lame because it seems interesting) then it seems like the Chemical Brothers could be putting together a worthwhile soundtrack. I've actually previewed some of it and does seem pretty good, but I'll wait for the whole thing to come out before I reserve total judgement and compare it to Daft Punk's Tron: Legacy. Be on the look out for this girl assassin April 8.

Dream on.

[END TRANSMISSION]
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The Trailer (Attack The Block)

While Americans may be fighting the good fight against alien invasion on the shores of LA in Battle: Los Angeles, a similar fight rages on in South London. Though instead of marines and heavy artillery, London's taking them on with teen gangs and super soakers. Check out the trailer for Attack The Block starring Paul (coming to theaters this Friday) and Shaun of the Dead alum Nick Frost.


The 2011 Moviegeddon is seriously in love with aliens. Maybe there should be a movie where we just give up the planet. Not necessarily lose, but just leave instead. I hear Mars is nice this time of year. Anyway, Attack The Block lands in the UK on May 13, but no word as to when it hits the shores of the US.

Dream on.

[END TRANSMISSION]
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The Science

Here's a little 1amscience preview.

Do you know anything about particle physics? Astrophysics? Physics? Well, even if you don't, if you're at this site you probably know a little bit about time travel (if not I'll direct you to Back to the Future, Flight of the Navigator, or any of a few thousand time travel films, but not Primer. At least not to start). If you haven't heard about the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) I'll do my best to sum up what it does in a few words: it's a big ring that smashes atoms that move very very very fast at each other. Accelerating protons up to a very small fraction below the speed of light is pretty awesome, but just don't stare at the picture of the LHC below for too long because it looks like it might swallow you whole.

The Replay (5)

Wow, haven't seen one of these posts in awhile. On this week's Replay, check out this wonderful video which debuted at SXSW (South By Southwest) and opened the "Title Design Finalists Screening".


A Brief History of Title Design from Ian Albinson on Vimeo.
One of my favorite parts of going to the movies is the titles. I know it's a little weird, but as a cinephile and amateur movie maker, I always like to try and figure out how they made them and see if I could do the same thing, or something completely new. It's fun for me. Either way, I hope you enjoyed this look into the history of film titles. That will be all for today's lecture in Cinema 102.

Watch on.

[END TRANSMISSION]
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The Plumber

Ha! Gotcha! The title is incredibly misleading as Mario wasn't a plumber first, he was actually a carpenter (just like Jesus). So props to those who actually knew the correct answer or Googled it. Anyway, now that I've got your attention...

The 5 (Stalkerish Songs)

As a member of the cliché geek community, we are often painted with a brush which consists of watching our romantic crushes from a distance since we don't have the conjones to go over and say hi or whatever. This is not always the case of course, but that's not what I'm here to convince you of. I'm here to show you that the label of stalker should probably be applied to these artists rather than the geek community on the whole. So here you have it, 5 stalkerish songs for those of you who love to watch from afar...for the most part.

The Office (of 3.11.11)

Welcome to Box Office Tuesdays. I know, it doesn't really make sense since all this data usually surfaces on Mondays, but I've got pretty busy Mondays as it is, so you'll have to deal with a day late. Check out the top ten movies of the past weekend.

The Monday (3.14.11)

Incoming Tom Sawyer Monday everyone! This one hails from Boston, not the city but the band (though both are equally great). Turn on your music to start the day, close your eyes and slip away. Well, you should probably actually be going to work or class or whatever is you do to earn your keep. But you know, if you can, enjoy some tunes.




Also, who the hell is Marianne? And why the hell is she walking away? And what is the Secret of Nimh? You know, just forget about those questions. Tune in to this or your favorite song, and as usual...

Get your week on.

[END TRANSMISSION]
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The Week (of 3.13.11)

Week 11 of 2011 and the hits just keep on coming...mostly. In theaters this week is Limitless staring everyone's new favorite, Bradley Cooper. It releases alongside Simon Pegg and Nick Frost's new comedy Paul. On the small screen Chuck is back this week and there are plenty of other new episodes of your favorite shows as well. It's kind of a light week for video games with Homefront being the biggest of them, and a new entry in the tennis series, Top Spin 4 hits all consoles. Lastly, on DVD and Blu-Ray this week comes another Oscar nominee for best picture, The Fighter, but if that's too serious for you, you can always check out Sharktopus.

The Review (Battle: Los Angeles)

My background: Aliens never really get old for me. I'm a huge scifi fan, so whenever Earth gets involved in some sort of invasion, it's definitely usually a fun ride. Aaron Eckhart is a pretty good actor in my opinion. I've checked him out in Meet Bill, Thank You For Smoking, Paycheck, and of course The Dark Knight. His roles generally seem to inhabit somewhat duplicitous characters, but he definitely does a good job playing it up and making it different each time. Also, I've never been to Los Angeles. Let's go to the review.

Review: Black Hawk Down meets Independence Day. Ooh-rah!

Verdict: worth it.

Dream on.

[END TRANSMISSION]
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The Trailer (Super 8)

If you haven't heard of the slew of alien packed films heading to theaters this year, kicking off with Battle: Los Angeles today, then you've missed out on J.J. Abrams and Steven Spielberg's latest. Super 8 takes place in some town, some where, where a group of kids are filming a video using a super 8 camera when there's a train crash that seems to be more than an accident. You know what, here's a better synopsis from [Shock Till You Drop]:

"In the summer of 1979, a group of friends in a small Ohio town witness a catastrophic train crash while making a super 8 movie and soon suspect that it was not an accident. Shortly after, unusual disappearances and inexplicable events begin to take place in town, and the local Deputy tries to uncover the truth – something more terrifying than any of them could have imagined."

Check out the latest full-length trailer.


I'm excited for this one since it looks like a return to Spielberg's earlier days (even though he is only a producer), and Abrams clearly knows what he's doing behind a camera. You can expect this new alien ride to land June 10.

Dream on.

[END TRANSMISSION]
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The Rhythm (11)

Another week brings us news from around the intertubes. First, this morning there was a massive earthquake in Japan with huge tsunami waves hitting the west coast of the US. After the serious stuff is out of the way, Facebook trying to beat out Netflix? News on the Zelda 25 Anniversary straight from Reggie Fils-Aime (president of NOA) and Simon Pegg and Edgar Wright talk about the next film in their trilogy. Of course, you come for the news and stay for the rumors: GTA V and MIB 3. Read on.

The Rhythm: We hate Navi just as much as you.

The Haddaway

To be or not to be? That is not the question. What is love? Now that is the question.

[WARNING: This post does not contain any information about video games and to some the idea may be mushy, stupid, or lame. For those people, just don't read on. For others, feel free, and I encourage you to post comments, questions, answers, anything to help me with this question. You've now been given fair warning.]

The Review (The Adjustment Bureau)

My Background: I've never actually read a Philip K. Dick story all the way through but I touched upon them in my Philosophy of Science Fiction class for awhile. In case you don't know who Mr. Dick is, you may have seen something that was based off of his work such as Blade Runner, Total Recall, Minority Report, A Scanner Darkly, or Paycheck, of which I have seen all of them. I've spent a fair amount of time thinking of the whole free will thing, whether or not there is a plan or destiny or anything like that, so this film seemed right up that alley. Also, I'm a fan of Matt Damon and I think Emily Blunt is gorgeous. Okay, on to the review.

Review: Throws you into a non-traditional love story. Straightforward and enjoyable.

Verdict: worth it.

There are some religious undertones to this movie, and by some I mean they are pretty obvious. Still, it was a playful way of talking about it without really saying it and I like when movies can do this to you. Plus, I'm a sucker for what my friends and I call "capital 'M' Moment movies", and this had some Moments in it.

What's next to be reviewed? Battle: Los Angeles. Look for the review this Friday.

Dream on.

[END TRANSMISSION]
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The Versus (Pirates vs. Ninjas)

Since the dawn of Spike TV, back when it was TNN, there has been one question: Pirates or Ninjas? What a fitting discussion for International Day of the [Badass]. So, who wins when it comes down to it: the swashbuckling, rum swilling, dirty lords of the sea, or is it the silent, but oh so deadly, stealth assassins of the far east?

The Badass

Some may think its a little odd to have International Day of the Badass during Women's History Month, but it has to be today, for our ancestors. Who might they be?

The Office (of 3.4.11)

Screw Wednesdays, Tuesdays need a little love too. Check out the top ten of the box office for this past weekend of March 4.

The Trailer (8)

I'm a fan of those somewhat obscure movies that will probably not make a dent in the box office, but look fun. In particular comes this gem, Dylan Dog: Dead of Night, based on an italian comic series where a detective investigates crimes of monsters, as they would be called in Being Human, be they werewolves or vampires or zombies. Apparently, one human is appointed to be an impartial investigator of such crimes, and that man is Brandon Routh, a.k.a. Dylan Dog. Check out the trailer below.

The Brains

Welcome to America (rated M for mature), where violence can be found on your television, movie screen, or any sort of device capable of playing video games. In the past decade or so, there has been a lot of backlash against the entertainment industry and their distribution of such violent material. Ratings have been put in place, such as the ESRB (Entertainment Software Rating Board) for video games and MPAA (Motion Picture Association of America) for movies, but that doesn't seem to be enough. Underage kids are still getting their hands on violent material that is clearly marked and meant for adults. Not only that, developers do their best to only market their products to adults. Parents and law makers are constantly worried about the effect this has on their children, which leads to blame for horrible incidents like Virginia Tech on video game developers.

The Monday (3.7.11)

Another Tom Sawyer Monday comes to you live today from March 7. If where you are it is not March 7, you're either lucky because you've invented time travel, or you may just be severely inebriated/hungover because yesterday was/today is your birthday. Anyway, back to more important matters, starting your week off in a good mood. Returning to the band that made this weekly tradition possible, Rush brings "Spirit of the Radio" to you today which starts off with the best advice possible on a Monday morning: "Begin the day with a friendly voice".



Any requests for a tune Monday morning for next Monday or any Monday for that matter? Post it here. Also, keep in mind that this evening Stargate Universe returns to Syfy following Being Human. Enjoy your Tom Sawyer Monday, and as always...
Get your week on.
[END TRANSMISSION]____________________________________________________________________________________

The Week (of 3.6.11)

We're 10 weeks into 2011 now and it still seems like spring is holding out on us. For those of you heading off for vacations, I envy you. Enjoy them. As for those of us heading back to school I can hear your collective sighs. And then those who are a part of the working class, this is just another week. Wrong, every week, every day is something new, so let's see what's new this week.

The Review (127 Hours)

My Background: I'm not really a huge mountaineer. In fact I wouldn't consider myself a mountaineer at all. I have spent some time out in the deserts of New Mexico, and in the canyons out there. As for James Franco, I also have little experience with his works. I've only seen him in the Spider-Man Trilogy and Freaks and Geeks. I liked him in those, but I don't think those works are ones you really base your career around. I knew this film had been nominated for quite a few Oscars, and it took home none. Of course, that's not always a bad thing.

Review: Franco is phenomenal. Triumphant and raw documentary. Call your mom.

Verdict: worth it.

Want more? Check it out for yourself, or you could always email me for a longer review. I'm more than happy to discuss any of my reviews. If you don't know where to send your emails by now, send them to archymedius@gmail.com.

Dream on.

[END TRANSMISSION]

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The Rhythm (10)

My apologies for another late post, but vacation is vacation, and mine is winding down. So while I'm waiting for 127 Hours to download on my PS3 so I can review it, I figured I would take this chance to report the bitesized news about the week that was. It seems the past week mostly was about technology with GDC and the 3DS, as well as PS3 woes, and the iPad 2. Of course, it's not all tech as we get rumors about movies, tv, and oh yeah, did you forget Star Wars is going 3D? Check it all out below.

The Rhythm: supporting Lou Bega and [Mambo No. 5] since 1999.

The 5 (Proposed Empire Improvements)

The Galactic Empire was pretty formidable in its day. Conquering nearly an entire galaxy far, far away and doing it all with a prune-faced emperor at the helm, and his black-clad cyborg acting as its iron fist was no easy task, and running it was even harder. Especially considering those annoying Rebels. So, what could the Empire have done to prevent their downfall at the hands of a few X-wings and cuddly teddybears? Here are the top five suggestions for Empire improvements that could have prevented their downfall.

The GDC

This week marked two big events in the technology industry. The iPad 2 was revealed, and the iPad 3 was revealed game developers conference (GDC). Don't know about the GDC? Well, to put it simply any professional in the field of game development shows up to discuss game development, design tools, audio, networking, and technologies and more. It's kind of like the prequel to E3. The week long conference is heading into it's fourth day, but already we've seen some pretty interesting stuff.

The Results (Contest 5)

While I'm a little late on this, and if you didn't read the instructions on the last 1amgeek [contest], it is indeed closed. The winner was...

The Office (of 2.25.11)

Wondering which movie is ruling the box office this past weekend? If not, you're probably a normal person who is more concerned with what is going on in your own life than how much money is being spent to see a potential Oscar nominee for next year. If you're like me, this is some interesting stuff that details how exactly our country operates and interacts with media...more so it's just interesting to see where people's money is going.

The Interaction

First off, I'd like to take this opportunity to apologize for my lackluster posting as of late. I'm on vacation which has turned out to be more busy than I expected, but most vacations turn out that way for me. Anyway, I'm onto a more important topic, or rather query that has infiltrated my mind as of late courtesy of shows like Being Human: is it possible to have a scripted television show (to clarify: no cartoons, sketch shows, or game shows are considered) where there is no sort of love/romantic relationship?

The Monday (2.28.11)

The end of February should hopefully spell the winter, but from where I'm sitting it doesn't look like it will be ending in the immediate future. However, you're not here for a weather report, it's another Tom Sawyer Monday, so you're here to get your week off on the right (or left) foot and this time we'll be doing that with the help of the Kinks.



Featured in Pirate Radio, this classic rock song from the UK hit in 1964. Almost half a century old, this tune has definitely aged well. Let's hope, that like this song, we'll all last forever...or at least through the coming week.

Get your week on.

[END TRANSMISSION]
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The Week (of 2.27.11)

The ninth week rolls around and so does the end of February. What does that bring for you? A ton of theatrical releases for one. Topher Grace is back in the 80's themed Take Me Home Tonight, while Vanessa Hudgens and Alex Pettyfer are up for the interesting take of Beauty and the Beast in Beastly. A little less is new on the television front, but there's plenty to still check out. And be sure to check out 127 Hours, one of the Oscar nominees for 2011. I haven't seen it yet, but I hear it's a powerful movie.

The Trailer (7)

Yes, the rumors are true, there is The Hangover Part II. My rhyming abilities aside, it seems the Wolfpack is back and this time heading to Bangkok for Stu's wedding. We saw what reckless mischief they got up to in Vegas, I can only hold back the laughter and cringes as to what they'll bring to Bangkok. Check out the teaser trailer below.





So what do you think? There doesn't seem like much to get out of this teaser, except for what seems to be a prison, a dirty hotel room (which is nothing new), Zach Galifianakis's head gets shaved, and once again there is no sign of Justin Bartha a.k.a. Doug, though he is in it. Also, so is Liam Neeson. This could definitely be awesome. Sober up for The Hangover Part II hitting theaters May 26.

Dream on.

[END TRANSMISSION]
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The Rhythm (9)

You may be sick of zombies, but Michael Bay isn't. Plus, Browncoats use the internet to unite for a Firefly takeover, and the iPad 2 announcement you probably didn't know you were waiting for. And let's not forget rumors from EA, and Amazon slaps Netflix in the face with the white glove of streaming content..sort of

The Rhythm: transmitted and translated from the depths of cyberspace.

The Trailer (6)

Are you a fan of ridiculous comedies starring guys who refuse to grow up? Sigourney Weaver? Aliens? Well if you're not a fan of aliens you're going to have a hard time with majority of this year's blockbusters, but if you are into all the other stuff, and Simon Pegg and Nick Frost, then you'll probably into Paul. Paul is the story of the aforementioned gentlemen traveling the US when they encounter an alien outside of, you guessed it, Area 51. Still interested? Check out the red band trailer even if you're not, it could change your mind.

More Paul Videos

Early reviews are in for the film and state while it may not be up to par with Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz, it's still a fun ride. Count me in. Paul hits theaters March 18.

Dream on.

[END TRANSMISSION]
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The 100

Welcome to the 100th post of The Archymedius Contingency! That's right, we've reached 100. I say "we" because I didn't do this all on my own, and I don't plan to forever. So what can you expect now that 100 has been reached?

The Versus (Samus Aran vs. Mega Man)

So who wins the showdown of stylish armor, discombobulated pasts, and arm-mounted weapons of mass destruction?

The Creation

Imagination. Without it, pretty much any form of entertainment you hold dear would disappear, or rather never be brought into existence in the first place. Think about it: Star Wars, Stargate, Zelda, Mario, Lord of the Rings, [zombies], you get the idea. How does it work? Your guess is as good as mine.

The Anniversary (The Legend of Zelda)

25 years ago today, Link first graced Nintendo consoles in The Legend of Zelda. Since then, his struggles to save the nearly always in danger princess of Hyrule have brought excitement and joy to many a Nintendo fan. So what is Nintendo doing to celebrate the half-century birthday for one of the greatest franchises it has given rise to?

The Stream

When Hulu was launched in 2007, it was a streamed kick to the shins to the cable industry. Many network websites had been offering streaming versions of their television shows, but Hulu would combine all of those together, and offer shows from ABC, Fox, and NBC, with ads for free. Dominating the internet with legal streaming of television programs for free, Hulu stood to even make a dent in YouTube and Netflix. Now, almost four years later, Hulu may be screwed.

The Monday (2.21.11)

Monday, Monday. Here comes another Tom Sawyer Monday. The classic rock station will be experiencing a commercial break this week, so here's a bit of wisdom for you from RWE.

“To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson

In the simplest terms, and most convenient definition, be yourself. I think that's always good advice. Don't let your job change you, don't let the world change you. But if you're not happy being yourself, that's when you should change you. I know, a little heavy for Monday morning, but it's something to think about. Now...

Get your week on.

[END TRANSMISSION]

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The Week (of 2.20.11)

Week 8 and the end of the second month of 2011 draws near. There's a little bit of something for everyone this week.

The Trailer (5)

You know, since Cloverfield, the "found footage" motif has been making the rounds. In some cases it can be done well, but in others not so much (I'm looking at you Quarantine and Diary of the Dead). Apollo 18 is another film in that vein, except that the vein takes us back to the moon for an alleged 18th Apollo mission. Check out the trailer below and see why we never went back...allegedly.


Ridiculous right? I also like how they totally try to pass this off as real, with posting "the following footage has not been altered or enhanced". I can't imagine that this movie will do spectacular at the box office when it comes out April 22, but considering the other theatrical releases set for that time this year, I could very well be wrong.

Dream on.

[END TRANSMISSION]
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The Replay (4)

I've been doing my scouring of the web this week trying to find some big video that you shouldn't miss, but it seems that the Dead Island [trailer] was that one for this week. It trended on Twitter in a matter of hours after being released, and then rehashed a few more times since then. I'm sure you've all had enough of [zombies] for the week, so I've been looking for an alternative...

The Contest (5)

Get excited folks, another contest is here so soon. I gave a hint in the results for the last contest that this one will deal with TV. So what exactly is the second 1amGeek Contest...

The Rhythm (8)

A late post, and a little lackluster but something is better than nothing. From Govenators and Jeopardy! conquering computers to a real Playstation phone and Coca-Cola releasing their secret recipe, it might as well be Judgement Day.

The Rhythm: 0.3% of your daily vitamin C. I know, you're probably wondering how we fit that much in here. It's not easy.

The Trailer (4)

So it seems like today is just filled with zombies, we just can't seem to get enough of them. Check out the trailer for Dead Island, a zombie FPS headed to PC and Xbox 360 sometime in the future.

More Dead Island Videos

I would probably just go see a movie like this, and not even play the game. The cinematic visuals look great and it was interesting to see the before and after coming together to one point. But honestly, who doesn't want another FPS where you can go around a tropic island dismembering zombified tourists?

Bring out your dead.

[END TRANSMISSION]
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The Zed

How many zombie references can I make in one post? Challenge accepted!

The Review (Summer Wars)

My background: I'm a fan of anime, but I haven't watched anything new since 2006. Since I want to get back into art and drawing, I figured I would get back into watching it since that was what inspired me in the first place. Plus, I use the internet, and you obviously do too.

Review: Family. Internet. Armageddon. Math. Animated War Games meets Second Life.

Verdict: worth it/rent it.

This review kind of depends on how you feel about anime and the internet, hence why it got the "worth it/rent it" review. If you like anime, I figure you might want to add this to your collection, but you should definitely check it out either way. Maybe I'm just a sap, but I really enjoyed this, and it was refreshing after such a long absence from the art form.

"Please tell me you didn't break the internet."

Dream on.

[END TRANSMISSION]

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The Spoils (3)

It seems like most of the spoils coming out of the entertainment industry as of late have been about Spider-Man, and I'm not talking about the musical. Sony has officially released the name of the reboot to the web-crawler's series. Ready for it?

The Valentine

Happy Valentine's Day! I mean that sincerely.

This day is generally meant for lovers, couples, married people, and chick flicks, but that's not why I'm here today. I'm here to wish a Happy V Day to all of those people who don't have someone to share it with, either by choice or by circumstance. To those who received pity valentines in elementary school, or never received any. To those who make work their lovers, or fantasy their lovers, or...you know whatever floats your boat. To the black, the white, all colors of the rainbow. Basically, what I'm trying to say, and probably not doing a good job about it, is no matter who you are you should feel love on a day like today. I take that back, you should feel love everyday, and today is no different. Commercially it's built up that today should be the above-and-beyond day, which makes the rest of us feel left alone and tossed by the wayside. That's not true.

I've had a hate-hate relationship with this holiday since elementary school (and of course there's a story to go with that), but I've come to realize it's time to grow up. Let the lovers have their fun, just make sure you have fun too. I know, super sappy and somewhat cliché but deal with it, it's V Day. It will always be better than D Day or J Day.

I'll leave you with a quote,

"Wealth is not money. It’s not possessions. It’s not something you can count. Wealth is never having to go a day without knowing someone loves you." - Archymedius

And a message [To The Difference Makers]. Okay, enough of this sappy stuff. I need to see something blow up right now. (Be aware, if you've never seen V for Vendetta, the following could spoil it for you, even briefly)

V For Vendetta Finale - Funny blooper videos are here

Love on.

[END TRANSMISSION]
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The Monday (2.14.11)

It's Valentine's Day, so let's make this Tom Sawyer Monday a great one by changing it up. Inspired by Rush and Mark Twain, Tom Sawyer Mondays will now include classic rock and/or some important quote from some important person beyond just the original two. Kick love in the ass and get your week started off right.

The Week (of 2.13.11)

The 7th week of the year opens up with Valentine's Day. Don't have any gift ideas yet? Check out all of these releases, perfect for your loved one. Pick up Unstoppable, featuring Denzel Washington and Captain Kirk, or the Gears of War: Triple Pack to shred up the Locust horde together. Or, Hyperdimension Neptunia which actually sounds like a pretty decent game that apparently is about goddesses, based on video game consoles, fighting some weird overlord which is probably named after some codenamed console. Yeah, weird I know, but it's an RPG and the guys over at IGN said that it was actually interesting. Totally off topic. Read on for this week's releases.

The Review (It's Kind of a Funny Story)

My background: I never read the book, and yes there apparently is a book. Who doesn't love Zach Galifinakakakakakakis? And who hasn't felt a little depressed or trapped inside your own head? Exactly. Plus, I'm a huge fan of good "capital M Moment" movies.

Review: If you're not smiling by the end, you're cold hearted.

Verdict: worth it.

Dream on.

[END TRANSMISSION]

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The Results (Contest 4)

And this week's 1amGeek [Contest] is closed! Our winner is...

The Replay (3)

Here's another interesting video I've run into through my internetional travels this week. We've all played or at least seen a fighting game being played before. You know, the crazy button mashing games where only experts can master the crazy combos needed to end you in one 18-button-combo felled swoop. These guys over at [Thousand Pounds] are some incredible martial artists, and here they pay homage to Street Fighter 4 and the ultra finishing combos. Beautifully shot, and intensely executed, these guys do it right and bring the video game experience to the real world. Enjoy.





I totally want to go out and fight right now, just so I can hear someone yell "K.O." I think I'll settle for Scott Pilgrim instead.

Dream on.

[END TRANSMISSION]
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The Trailer (3)

X-Men fans get ready for the prequel that probably will trump X-Men Origins: Wolverine (we hope). If you're unaware because you've been wearing your attempt at a Magneto helmet, X-Men: First Class tells the story of Charles Xavier and Erik Lensherr before the Xavier School was put in place. Apparently, it also deals heavily with the Cuban Missile Crisis and life for mutants before they realize that there were more out there. Check out the first trailer for it below.

The Excused

It was brought to my attention by a friend of mine, Schuyler, a.k.a. Skizzle Fresh, that people are meant to have lists of celebrities that they are allowed to have sex with if the opportunity presents itself, with no consequence within the bounds of a relationship they may be in. These lists of "excused" hook-ups are...well, I'll just let him tell you about it. Here's the second guest post written by Fresh, and the third guest post ever.

The Rhythm (7)

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.

The Shrine

So some people actually liked last week's post about the [5 worst Zelda temples/dungeons], but of course there will always be people who are going to disagree with me. In particular, Amy Weston, a.k.a. Dokami, felt that there was a different temple that should be at the top of the list. I encouraged her in return to write a post about her dealings with this wretched temple, and thus I give you the second guest post of the AC chronicling her journey through her #1 worst Zelda temple/dungeon experience.

The Versus (The Beatles vs. The Rolling Stones)

To the victor goes the United Kingdom and the rightful crown of British Classic Rock. And the island goes to:

The 5 (Best Queen Pump-up Anthems)

Having a bad day? Things just not going the way you hoped? We've all been there. We've all felt like there was no way to get back on that proverbial horse that people are always taking about. So what do you do? Reach for your mp3 player and crank the classic rock!

The Trailer (2)

Super Bowl 45 had a lot of good commercials (Volkswagen and Star Wars), but for a movie buff like me it's the movie trailers that always catch my eye. Previously, I posted the tv [trailer] for Captain America, and now I've put together a few other tv spots for upcoming 2011 blockbusters. In case you missed them, here they are:

The Monday (2.7.11)

I've chosen to start this week off with some Twain rather than Rush, so here you go:

“The human race has only one really effective weapon and that is laughter.” - Mark Twain

Start your week off with a laugh, and make sure you laugh a bit each day. As a scoundrel once said, "Laugh it up fuzzball." In that vein, here's my attempt to make you laugh, or at least smile here on this Monday, "Star Wars: Retold (by someone who hasn't seen it)". Just so you know, I was crying with tears of happiness mixed with sadness at this girl's attempt to tell the story of the original trilogy.

Star Wars: Retold (by someone who hasn't seen it) from Joe Nicolosi on Vimeo.

Get your week on.

[END TRANSMISSION]

__________________________________________________________________________________

The Trailer (1)

So I'm sure you all watched the big game and already got a look at this, but check it out again, the first official spot for Captain America: The First Avenger.

The Nerves

This weekend, after playing through Mega Man Legends 2, I figured it was time to try something a bit more modern with Dead Space. Okay, well I was heading for that direction but instead, to ready myself for DS, I tried the demo for Dead Space 2. I know, it doesn't make much sense, and from what I've heard, the first is darker than the sequel, but before devoting my sanity to the original, I figured I would at least try the gameplay first. The result? I clearly don't have the nerves the play through this game.

The Week (of 2.6.11)

On to week 6 and bring on the releases. For TV, video games, and DVDs, get ready for the deluge of things to watch and play. I highly recommend It's Kind of a Funny Story which was a movie that kind of slipped under the radar but was very good, and I would consider it a capital "M" Moment movie. As usual, Monday and Thursday are stacked with new episodes and Tuesday is packed with releases, including quite a few re-releases in Blu-ray form such as Uncle Buck and Flipper. I'm not entirely sure whose movie library these will be fitting in, and why exactly we need HD versions of them, but go for it. Plus, Katy Perry on How I Met Your Mother this week. Like every other musician that's appeared on the show before her, she plays someone that doesn't have enough brainpower to light up a single Christmas light.

The Reason

I'm sure there are people who are wondering why exactly I am doing these [contests] and giving away all this free stuff. Why? To be honest, I know a lot of people who find alternate ways to watch movies without paying for them and I figured this is another way that people can watch these movies and not have to pay for them, but the money can still get where it's meant to go. I know, I sound like a lame puppet for the entertainment industry, but hey, if you don't want to pay for it you don't have to, I'll do that. Being someone who is actively pursuing trying to get into the entertainment industry (and by actively I mean underneath all of the other stuff I am currently working on) I'd rather not see parts of the industry fall apart. Hate me if you want, but let's be real, I'm offering you the same stuff, probably at better quality, for the same price. And, it's completely legal. What's there to lose?

Plus, I like giving things away. I'd give you a list (which is clearly my new favorite thing) of stuff I've given away before these contests got started but there's no need for that. Giving is fun. It puts a smile on someone else's face and one on mine as well, so why not do it more? The result is these giveaways. So please, take advantage of it. It's not hurting anyone, and it's awesome. And Free.

I'm done with preaching or explaining myself or whatever it was I was doing above. My ultimate philosophy is to not damage your philosophy if that's what keeps you going. But just one more thing to note about the contests, I've already had one entry for the current one, and the last one had the most yet. Just have fun with it. If you're at work and really don't want to do work, pull out a pad and scribble out an entry. It shouldn't take too long and it's free stuff. How many times do I need to say free before it sinks in? FREE! Okay, I'm done. Enjoy your weekend, and enjoy your life.

Move along, move along.

[END TRANSMISSION]

The Contest (4)

Hello ladies and gentlemen, are you ready for another contest? I sure am. This will be the first 1amGeek Contest. What exactly does that mean for you? Well, not much really. I just thought it was a cooler name. Why 1 am? Well that's usually when I'm up coming up with these ideas. Also, the am could stand for archymedi modus, or mode of archymedius, but that's just me trying to make use of three years of latin. Anyway, the contest and the free stuff, that's why you're here. This week's contest is...

The Replay (2)

This week's Replay is courtesy of the guys over at [Rooster Teeth]. If you haven't heard of them or the Red vs. Blue series you should check them out because they have definitely brightened some of my rainy days. So what's the background for this video, well it's footage of a guy playing a video game. Now, we all get to those points in some games where the difficulty just gets to be too much. You yell, scream, steam, throw stuff, it's not a pretty sight. And it usually ends up in you quitting and walking away, this would be known as a rage quit. It's never fun for the participant, but it can definitely be fun for those watching. Check out LtMkilla play through some of Super Meat Boy and hopefully his anger will help you lose some of yours. Be advised, there is some intense language, but probably nothing you sailors can't handle. Enjoy.

The Rhythm (6)

This week the Rhythm gets it's own segment: The Mill, as in the Rumor Mill. Each post will now exclusively have some rumors floating around the net and the entertainment industry. For starters we've got Bruce Willis and Die Hard 5, Johansen and Adams for Uncharted, the blizzaster, and geek like an Egyptian.

The Rhythm: Now with more rumors, and barrels of salt.

The 5 (Worst Zelda Temples/Dungeons)

Let's be real, lists are awesome. They get to the point, and if all you want to know is number one you can just skip right to it. All of the best magazines and television programs do it. Why shouldn't I? This is the first 5 that I'm doing, and since I'm on a retro gaming kick, I've picked to do the top 5 worst Zelda temples or dungeons or what-have-you. Be warned, if for some reason you've never played a Zelda game, I could very much be spoiling it for you. Also, if for some reason you've never played a Zelda game, we need to talk.

The Groove

It's amazing how much I end up posting about music considering that my original intent for "music" posts were revolving around UTA. But, seeing as I'm about 500 miles away from the rest of the band members, I'm stuck talking about other people's music. Fair enough.

So I'm here, sitting in my apartment, trying to figure out just what to post about today. The Snowpocalypse fail? No, we'll save that for later. Egypt getting their internet back? Hmmm, not yet. Image reduction processes in astrophysics? Yeah I know, but that's what I spent most of today working on. Then, it hit me thanks to a friend's tumblr post: the groove (or in some cases it's known as the zone). What is the groove? It's something you're in, and when you're in it you know it, and when you're not you struggle to find it. Where is it? It's all relative I'm afraid, but it's based on your mindset.

The Progress (1)

With the impending snowpocalypse here in the northeast, I figured I should give you something to read in case you get snowed in. Or...you know...just something to read because that's what I do.

The Absentee

As we all know, the Nintendo's [3DS] and Sony's [NGP] are heading into the battle royale of portable gaming, with Apple's iPhone/iPod ready to jump in and be an annoyance to both of them. So where's Microsoft in all of this?

The Monday (01.31.11)

Another week, another Tom Sawyer Monday. This one is brought to you by Shakespeare. That's right, your old friend Bill traveled through time to help Rush write the lyrics to "Limelight" (you can find them below the music). Click the video to listen and sing along. Get your week on Brit Lit style.

The Radio

When was the last time you actually listened to the radio outside of your car? I'm going to guess it wasn't within the last few months, quite possibly years. Why is that? Because radio is dying. I would say the cliché, "video killed the radio star", but that's not really true. Internet killed the radio, and standing over the frayed wires of those transistors are Pandora and iTunes. Much like the scene in Office Space where Peter, Michael, and Samir beat the hell out of a printer, the internet, Pandora, and iTunes have done the same to the radio. How? Simple: one part listen to what you want, one part no commercials (for the most part).

The Week (of 1.30.11)

Week 5 of 2011 follows up the release of Dead Space 2 with...well nothing impressive. Stick with your TV sets this week folks since not much else that is new will be gracing the shelves. If you're looking for a James Cameron film to tide you over until Avatar 2 news starts filtering in again, check out Sanctum 3D. Otherwise, sit tight, a new month is on the horizon and hopefully with it will come more awesomeness that we're expecting out of 2011.

The Adaptation

Lord of the Rings did it rather successfully, Scott Pilgrim also to some extent, and lets not forget Harry Potter. But lets not kid ourselves people, the adaptation of a book, or dare I say video game, to the silver screen has its difficulties and most of the time Hollywood finds a way to cheapen it or just all around fuck it up (Prince of Persia, Doom, etc.).

The Retro (Mega Man Legends)

What year was the most recent game you played made in? 2009? 2004? Try 1998. I recently picked up one of my favorite games for the Playstation this January. Why, when I have Dead Space in my current gaming queue would I play a game that's 13 years old? Because, it's awesome. 

These days it seems that retro is making a comeback, especially with virtual consoles and digital downloads of PSOne games, NES, SNES, Sega Genesis, N64 and more. No matter how good the graphics get, how good the gameplay gets, and how well written the stories are, there's plenty of good times packed in the nostalgia of those dusty cartridges and discs. Of course, there are definitely drawbacks to playing your favorite old games: the load times, the fact that every character looks like Pokémon Porygon, the ridiculous dialogue including poor synching, and the lack of controls. Still, every once and a while we blow on those cartridges like harmonicas and wipe those discs down like waxing a car, just to get that feeling back once more. This is my tale of dealing with one of those games: Mega Man Legends.

The PSP2

The war has begun. The handheld war that is. Okay, so the war started a long time ago against Nintendo and Sony, and the handheld off shoot of the total war started in 2005, but Sony has lost presence in the past few years. Now, they return with the true sequel to the PSP, the PSP2 NGP. The new portable was revealed at a Playstation event in Japan today (well, yesterday for them) and below are the details gathered from [Kotaku] and [IGN].

The Rhythm (5)

It's only Wednesday and there's already been some decent sized news this week. Like what you ask? Try an internet hoax aimed at resurrecting Keanu Reeves in the Matrix, a car that has an estimated fuel economy of 261 MPG, and the horrors of not accepting a friend request. Let's not forget The Fantastic Four aren't as Fantastic when one of their own dies, and how exactly does your heart react to the multiplayer madness of Halo: Reach?

The Rhythm: The news you didn't know you wanted to know that answers questions you probably never had.

The Review (Red)

My Background: I think Bruce Willis is awesome. I take that back, he's legendary. One of the real action heroes that still has it despite all the special effects these days. As for the comic book this movie is based on, I've never read it, and I only learned of its existence a month or so before the movie was released in theaters.

Review: Willis. Freeman. Malkovich. Parker. Mirren. Urban. And guns. Good times.

Verdict: worth it.

Apparently, there's a sequel in the works. Surprised? After seeing what other projects Hollywood is [staging] how could you be?

Dream on.

[END TRANSMISSION]

The Replay (1)

"Take your nerd card out of your wallet. Hand it to me, I'm going to tear it up." That is a line I would definitely love to say to some people, I'm just sorry I didn't come up with it earlier. Welcome to The Replay, where I bring to you a video worth watching for geeks, nerds, and random folks. Why? Why the hell not?

In my internetional travels I happened upon the video below for The Jace Hall Show. Ever heard of it? I hadn't, but after watching this one, I think I may be hooked. Why? Stargate Universe and Star Wars: The Old Republic in one episode. Sounds pretty awesome. Apparently, this guy, Jace Hall, just goes around interviewing people and whatnot. I am jealous. Check it out.

The Versus (Star Wars vs. Star Trek)

So here are the results from the most recent versus poll: Star Wars vs. Star Trek

Star Wars 81%
Star Trek 18%

I was actually a bit surprised at this. For most of the week Star Wars was ahead with a 100% backing but then out of nowhere came some Star Trek supporters to give the Force a run for its money. Of course, by the end it was clear that Star Wars was the true winner. I'm quite curious about this result. Don't get me wrong, I like Star Trek, I just love Star Wars, and apparently most of you do as well. So why is that?

I know what draws me to Star Wars is the mythology. The Force, the jedi order, Darth Vader, and freaking lightsabers. A quest of a young man to fulfill his destiny and bring balance to the galaxy. Though is it really balanced if it's 90% good and 10% evil? That doesn't seemed balanced to me. So maybe when Anakin became Vader he was actually fulfilling his destiny to bring balance to the Force because by then there were two Sith and two Jedi (sort of). I'm going to stop this theoretical stuff for now before I cause your eyes to roll into the back of your head from all of this nonsense. Or is it nonsense? Tangents. Anyway, Star Trek was more of a serial deal. A team of adventurers on a ship, which was basically like a submarine, flying through space with teleporters, phasers, and William Shatner. Plus, multiple series were spun off from the TOS (as it is called by Trekkers, which I always get confused with Tales of Symphonia, but that's just me) such as The Next Generation, DS9, and Voyager. In sheer volume of time, I suppose Star Trek would have to win, but in awesomeness, legendary appeal, worldwide sex appeal, and recognition with geeks and those who claim they are not, Star Wars wins by 12 parsecs.

Here's a chance to explain yourself voters: Why do you like Star Wars more than Star Trek?

May the Force be with you.

[END TRANSMISSION]

The Staging

So, as I run across the media sites and such that I read on a daily basis, I've come to realize something. There are a hell of a lot of movies that are in the development/production stage at the moment, plus another handful that are in the pre-development phase, a.k.a. the rumor mill has been working over time. It seems like Hollywood is on overdrive these days trying to suck a buck out of any writer or producer worth a damn. That's why I'm thankful for directors like Christopher Nolan and J. J. Abrams who take their time and produce awesome pieces of work rather than rush along three movies, one after another. Of course, this does work in the sense of Lord of the Rings and Peter Jackson, but there are cases where doing this can ruin things, such as a certain Pirates series.

Exactly what does Hollywood have going on back stage? Well I've compiled a list of some interesting projects to keep your eye out for that are a year or two away (not in any particular order):

The Monday (01.24.11)

In case you haven't heard, I've declared that all Mondays shall henceforth be known as Tom Sawyer Mondays. Why? Well, firstly it's because I have that kind of power. Secondly, I always thought that the lyrics to Rush's "Tom Sawyer" started with "A Monday warrior", but in actuality it is "A modern day warrior". So that's the reason. What should you expect? Simple. I'll post a Rush song in video form here, with lyrics. Or, I'll post a Mark Twain quote. See what I did there? Because Mark Twain wrote The Adventures of Tom Sawyer...okay so that was a bad joke, but I'll still be doing that anyway. These will be just short, quick posts to start your work/school/whatever week off just right.

The Week (of 1.23.11)

Onto week four we go. It starts with Tom Sawyer Monday and rolls on through to Jason Statham on Friday. The day Mr. Statham goes the route of Vin Diesel and The Pacifier I will still be there to watch him be a family action star. Anyway, this week marks the second week for the return of your favorite television shows. So sit down and tune in, plus Bruce Willis hits the shelves with Red, where he basically just stars in a documentary about his life as an action star. Narrated by Morgan Freeman. Okay not really, but its a fun ride and deserves to be checked out, plus I hear there's a sequel on the way.

The List (1)

My recent [reply] post has made me realize something, lists are good. Top 5 lists, top 10 lists, worst 10, middle 10, you get the idea. So here's a little list that I've cooked up. Warning: the number of items on this list is much much greater than 10.

In 2008 I had a New Year's Resolution. That resolution was to watch a movie a day for an entire year. Of course, 2008 was a leap year so that meant 366 movies. Out of those 366 I challenged myself to watch at least 100 movies that I had never seen before. An added challenge was that I would be spending three weeks in Russia over the summer, complicating the movie a day deal, thus I allowed myself to watch more than one movie a day, as long as I met my goal of 366. Since January 1, 2008 I've been keeping a list of every movie I have seen, and here it is:

The Reply (The Dual)

In response to the comments I'm amassing over at [The Dual], I figure I should clear up a few things:

The Dual

So I haven't ventured too much into philosophy as of late, doing my best to keep things rooted in technology and media, but I did promise that there would be some philosophical debates lurking within the digital pages of this blog. Here's a serving for you. Do keep in mind that I am not a philosopher in the strict sense of the profession, and I haven't touched a philosophy textbook in over four years. These are just the thoughts that run through my head that I feel other people might have thought of or might have something to say about.

dualism - (noun) the division of something conceptually into two opposed or contrasted aspects, or the state of being so divided

The Rhythm (4)

A cable company and a cable network align forces to dominate the galaxy media industry, 10% of kids are in danger of the Legend of Zelda, and that girl from the Princess Diaries is Catwoman.

The Rhythm: coming at you in spectacular 4D.

The Review (Buried)

My Background: I'm familiar with a few Ryan Reynolds films, such as Van Wilder and Definitely, Maybe and his role as Deadpool in Wolverine. I've come to realize his acting strengths lie in his wit, and from what I knew about Buried, that was one tool he wouldn't really be able to rely on. Also, I don't have claustrophobia or fears of being buried alive.

Review: True to the title. Different. Jarring. Emotional ending. Quality film.

Verdict: rent it.

Just a word about the verdict scale since I never really explained it:

• Must see - this speaks for itself.
• Worth it - it's worth paying the money to see it in theaters, which means its pretty good and of high quality.
• Rent it - a quality film for sure, just not one you'll need to have in your collection but worth seeing once.
• Avoid it - don't see it, don't rent it, put it out of your mind now.
• Guilty pleasure - not amazing, probably decent, and will probably get a seriously low score by Rotten Tomatos, but you'll probably enjoy it any. Probably.

And a side note about Ryan Reynolds, I sure hope The Green Lantern is awesome.

Dream on.

[END TRANSMISSION]

The 3DS

The Empire Strikes Back.

In case you weren't aware, this morning Nintendo of America and Nintendo Europe jointly announced a few details about the soon to be released portable gaming platform the 3DS. Are you ready? No really, are you ready for the details because I have them courtesy of [IGN] and [Gizmodo] for you here in this one convenient post. Here we go.

The Pilot

Why do they call it a pilot anyway? Is it because it's the first episode of the show and it's flying the series? That sounds incredibly lame. So I'm not sure why it is called a pilot, but the television pilot is the premiere episode for a new television series, for which the goal is to establish characters, plot, mood, and direction from which an entire series may be spawned. Sounds easy right? I'm sure you've had a good idea for a TV show, I've had a few myself. And I've even gone as far as writing a pilot for one of them and I'm thinking I may begin working on the second soon. The hard part is getting it in the right hands and getting it made, but I'm not here to talk your ear off (or is it write your eyes out) about that part of a pilot, I'm here tell you about what they mean for us, members of the public who watch them for entertainment.

The Experiment (1)

[UPDATE] You guys need incentives don't you? So here you go: if you can come up with a sentence that can be read in more than two different ways, and I'm talking a substantial sentence here, not something like "I lv cts", try 10 words or more (the more the better), if you can do that you'll get two free movie tickets from Fandango. Get to it! Furthermore, what to do with "y". In the case where "y" is acting as a vowel get rid of it, in all other cases it can stay in such as "yodel", but not "baby". Get it? Got it? Good.

Here's a nifty thought/social experiment a fellow student and I just came up with while working on some general relativity. Could the English language work if we removed all vowels? Except for "I" being used as a pronoun and "a" as an article of course. The internet and texting has already created a language that is filled with abbreviations, but can we abbreviate the abbreviations further? I'm not a linguist. I mean, my mom always told me that English was my worst language and it also happens to be my first. This is definitely an interesting challenge. Could you come up with the ultimate ambiguous sentence that could be read multiple different ways? I'm not sure, that's the beauty of the experiment.

So here are a few simple examples I've come up with:

Th clr rd s wsm.

S spt rn.

Here's a longer one:

W bgn b rxmnng mprtnt dscvr md b Frd n th lst cntr.

Can you understand them? Post what you think they are below or Twitter or Tumblr (the links are in the new "A Link For Your Thoughts" section on the left). If you can create something that is entirely ambiguous I think you'll deserve a prize. Show me what you've got.

Drm n.

[ND TRNSMSSN]

The Formula

"Get Kill the bad guys."

That's pretty much it, that's the whole formula for making a video game. Okay, admittedly we can add "save the princess world" in there too because that's pretty much a given as well.

From Super Mario to the Legend of Zelda and even wrapped within Halo 3, Red Dead Redemption, and Gears of War, and pretty much any video game you can there lies the simple formula. Given it's simplicity, the formula is easily maleable and can be formed to fit nearly any storyline. For instance get the bad guys and save the world can be adapted to get the bad Covenant and Librarian and save Cortana and the local universe for Halo 3 and get the Locusts and save (what's left of) humanity for Gears of War. Or in a quite litteral sense for Mario and Link, get the bad guys and save the princess. I'm not trying to completely diss the video game industry for lack of creative ideas or originality because clearly they know their target audience, someone like me who will play a good series forever even if bosses, temples, stories, and quests clearly get reused over and over again. There are plenty of people who would complain about that, understandably, but to those people I say "go play WoW then".

The Week (of 1.16.11)

Week 3 of 2011 means you better make sure your couch is ready to be sat on for an extended period of time, or your Hulu account will be seeing a lot of activity. This week marks the return of many students to college TV shows that have been on vacation. Tune in. As for movies, I honestly don't know much about these films except that Tommy Lee Jones is in one and Natalie Portman is in another.

Movies:
1.21 The Way Back
1.21 No Strings Attached
1.21 The Company Men

Television:

1.17 Chuck - "Chuck Versus the Balcony" @ 8 pm ET

1.17 House - "Larger than Life" @ 8 pm ET

1.17 How I Met Your Mother - "Last Words" @ 8 pm ET

1.17 Being Human - "There Goes the Neighborhood Part 1" @ 9 pm ET

1.18 White Collar - "Burke's Seven" @ 10 pm ET

1.19 Blue Mountain State - "Riot" @ 11 pm ET

1.20 The Big Bang Theory - "The Love Car Displacement" @ 8 pm ET

1.20 Bones - "The Body in the Bag" 9 pm ET

1.20 Community - "Asian Population Studies" @ 8 pm ET

1.20 Perfect Couples - "Pilot" @ 8:30 pm ET
1.20 Royal Pains - "Mulligan" @ 9 pm ET

Video Games:
1.17 Monday Night Combat (PC)
1.18 Mindjack (Xbox/PS3)
1.18 LittleBigPlanet 2 (PS3)
1.18 Mass Effect 2 (PS3)
1.18 Mystery Tales: Time Travel (DS)
1.18 Plants vs. Zombies (DS)
1.18 Ys I & II Chronicles (PSP)

DVD/Blu-ray:
1.18 Buried (Blu/DVD)
1.18 Takers (Blu/DVD)
1.18 Death Race 2 (Blu/DVD)
1.18 Merlin - The Complete Second Season (DVD)

Suggestions: Get LittleBigPlanet 2 and DVR because you'll need one to record all those shows airing around the same time on Monday night. And check out Buried and let me know how it is because I really wanted to see it (but avoid it if you are severely claustrophobic). Get your week on.

Dream on.

[END TRANSMISSION]

The Spoils (2)

Super Minor Spoilers Ahead

I guess it's costume week in the movie industry, because while we got to reap the [spoils] yesterday in the form of Andrew Garfield's new Spidey suit, now we're getting a better look at Captain America suit that Chris Evans (evil ex number 2 from Scott Pilgrim and previously Johnny "Human Torch" Storm of The Fantastic Four series) dons courtesy of Entertainment Weekly. Check it out.

As with all new superhero uniforms, the colors are muted from their original comic glory and there's always a modern twist to them. Though, this is supposed to be during World War II so it shouldn't be too modern. Chris Evans is no stranger to the superhero game so it will be interesting to see how he takes on this new Marvel role compared to his previous Marvel role. From arrogant thrill seeker to honorable defender of justice. Yeah, I can see that. Look for Captain America: The First Avenger this summer.

Dream on.

[END TRANSMISSION]

The Contest (3)

Bruce Willis and music. Together at last.

It's time for another contest folks. This one will be different and easy. Inspired by the musical [vice] I posted about earlier this week, all you have to do is comment on this post with what you consider the most embarrassing song in your music library. That's it. Give the artist and title and you're done. Your entries will be tabulated and fed into an anthropomorphic algorithm and determined which is the most embarrassing. In other words, I'll be choosing which one appears to be most embarrassing. Because of that you can throw in a story, or a link to a YouTube video of you dancing to it, whatever you think could help me make my decision easier, do it. The winner will get a copy of Bruce Willis' latest release Red, featuring Morgan Freeman and John Malkovich, on release day January 25 (I hope).

The contest is open now until Wednesday January 19 at noon. That gives you just about five days to rack your brain and search your library. Good luck.

So...what's your most embarrassing song?

Dream on.

[END TRANSMISSION]

The Spoils (1)

Super Minor Spoilers Ahead

So you see that poll to the left there? Well it deals with the new Spider-man movie staring Andrew Garfield, the ex-best friend from The Social Network. Check out this first look at the new Spidey suit. Click it to get a better look.

What do you think? It does share a resemblance to Tobey McGuire's suit, but there are subtle differences that definitely feel like the upgrade all the comic movies have been getting lately. I wonder how the "I've got super powers" scene will go this time around. I hope they keep "Shazaam" in it. Or not.

Dream on.

[END TRANSMISSION]

The Thought

[DISCLAIMER: It's been a long week and I'm not really feeling well at the moment, so bare with me on this one because frankly the English language is not my priority at the moment.]

It's the thought that counts right?

The Review (The Social Network)

My Background: I use Facebook.

Review: Well written Facebook movie. Not boring. Pokes not mentioned.

Verdict: worth it.

Okay, so this movie is out on DVD and Blu-Ray now, and in essence this review is a little late, but hopefully it will help you make a wise decision in regards to seeing it On Demand or however it is you watch movies without paying for them these days.

Dream on.

[END TRANSMISSION]

The Rhythm (3)

Verizon, Sony, and IBM enter a blog post and the author says...well you'll have to read on for the punchline.

The Rhythm: A second chance to get your technological fix in one hit.

The Game (1)

Gamers might think that the white whale of the gamer world isn't the perfect game, but rather the perfect person to play that game with. Male (and certain female) gamer geeks are always looking for playmates, whether they are in magazines or in real life, but to score meet one and engage one in conversation, or if you're lucky enough a relationship is a different story. That's where we turn to someone with more expertise than myself, that would be Skizzle Fresh. I've mentioned him before in reference to [The Hypothesis] and I'd like to state that he's a bit of a con-man. Not in the dirty criminal kind of way, but a litteral confidence man. I mean he's full of confidence and he rightfully should be. Read on for the guest post written by Mr. Fresh and hear what he has to say about playing The Game for a gamer girl.

The Vice

Hint: this doesn't involve the city of Miami.

The Update (1)

So I realize that my posts have been a bit more scattered as of late, but these are the things that pop into my head and I figure they are worth sharing. Some things more than others. As the writer of this blog I'm here on my technological knees begging you not to stop reading just because you haven't exactly found what you are looking for here. You will eventually, especially if I had more feedback (that was a blatant hint that you should comment on the posts whether you agree or disagree or whatever).

The Plan

It's been awhile since anyone has posted on my [petition] or my [rant] about Stargate Universe being cancelled, but I've been made aware of other efforts to save SGU. Brian J. Smith, aka Lt. Scott tweeted about Save Stargate Universe's campaign to save the show. The Plan is to follow [The Plan]. After the jump you'll find a set of instructions on how we can help spread the word about Universe being cancelled, and help generate opportunities for the show to continue on. Follow The Plan and we could definitely work on ensuring the future of the series. Not only could this be good for SGU but it could also be helpful for all past and future sci-fi television series. TV has become a cornerstone to society, and science fiction is a way for us to see new worlds that can give us better insight into our own and ourselves. Let's do our best to prevent the injustice done to Stargate Universe and the fellow sci-fi series Caprica. I'd even go as far as suggesting a change in the name of the campaign from "Save Stargate Universe" to "Save Sci-fi Television".

Follow Save Stargate Universe's progress to save the show on [Facebook] and [Twitter] and stay tuned here for new info on the status of the Stargate franchise.

Later gaters.

[END TRANSMISSION]

The Gap

We are the iGeneration. They are not.

The Review (True Grit)

Seeing as this is my first official review I will tell you how this is going to be: 10 words or less, and then a verdict as to whether or not it is worth your $10-$15. Keep in mind, this is coming from some guy behind a computer screen (aka me) and our interest in movies may not quite align. So I plan to do my best to be as open minded as possible (most likely after this one) and give you a sentence or two about where I am coming from in reviewing this.

The Week (of 1.9.11)

And so it begins, the epic movie release year known as 2011 is upon us, kicked off by The Green Hornet. Can you handle it? Well if not you could always go see The Dilemma, or find something else on this list of releases, such as The Social Network, that could keep you busy until the summer, or the next big thing.

The Legend

"Hey! Listen!" There's only one Legend and it ain't the Legend of Zorro. Okay to be fair, there are like something like fourteen, but we're here to talk about one in particular.

The Tanorexic

Words you learn in school: tangent
Words you learn in bars: tanorexic

The Resolution

Okay, so here goes, an honest to Thor personal post (yeah I know I posted earlier already, but a friend inspired me to write something more personal).

I'm in grad school and it's a lot of work. More work than I was expecting to be honest. What makes it worse is that I ended up only getting into one school and that one school happens to have quarters instead of semesters which made coming back to school after the (short) winter break extremely difficult and jarring. I was happy to come back to my apartment and be surrounded by all my stuff in one place, my movies and TV and video games and computer. Don't get me wrong, I miss home and the people I left behind, but this feels like where I need to be, not necessarily where I belong, but where I need to be right now. It's complicated of course, but life in all of its simplicities is pretty complicated.

That's where the Contingency comes in: plan for the worse, live for the best, and never let the things you care about slip by. Technology and media are important to me, they help me prepare for the worst days and help me live through the best, but they'll never replace people and they aren't who I am, and they shouldn't be who you are either. What I am lives in everything I do, in everyone that has touched my life, and to some extent in every post here. 2011 is a new year, and one that I aim to make my own, and you'll probably bear witness to that evolution, much like a Pokemon trainer. My resolution: risk furiousness for bliss, get beyond the past that tries to bring me to my knees, start the path towards the legendary person I aim to be, and earn the strength to accept whatever else happens to come my way and the things that don't. So its a little long, and maybe a bit deeper than losing weight or learning a new skill, but I need to grow. I'm in my early 20s, I've been in school for 17 straight years, and I'm going to stop before this gets too too personal. The point, take this opportunity to resolve to improve yourself. You are already awesome, come on, just accept it, now it's time to become legendary.

Yeah I know, this post is wicked wishy washy for what might be considered a media blog, but beneath this technologically shielded chest does lie something that resembles a human heart (as far as I know anyway, I've never actually looked in there).

What's your resolution?

Dream on.

[END TRANSMISSION]