The Year In Review

Yep, it’s time for the obligatory celebration of a year that isn’t even over yet. Oh 2009, we barely knew ye. As ridiculous as it sounds to find sentimentality in such a short period of time, it couldn’t be more on the contrary. There have been some major things happen this year that will never be forgotten; both personally and globally. To me, this is the year a friend since elementary school got married, another got engaged (just happens to be the co-author of this here blog), and my sister is expecting her first child in May of the next year. To all, this is the year Michael Jackson died, a half-black president was inaugurated, the economy fell, music still sucked, The Beatles made a video game, and movies were still the same general ideas (you know, an endless 2 hour drama or a barely plus 1 hour ridiculous comedy). How do you send off a year like this? By ranking shit of course!

(To make this more interesting, pretend this is the acedemy awards.)

Best Story – The Death of Michael Jackson

It was truly the story of the year. It lasted from the moment he died all the way until his body was buried. Sure that sounds like would only be a week for most people, but this story definitely hit the bizarre with all the trouble with finding a place and time to plant this guy. The memorial service was the biggest since Princess Diana, and the fan outcry bordered on the insane (much like Lady Di. I mean, I know it is big deal that he died, but why do people have to act like he was some life changing force behind their lives? It’s truly disturbing, but I digress). And finally, the whole situation about the doctor giving him too much medicine causing the overdose made this the story of the year.

Worst Story – Balloon Boy

ugh…

Best Character – Barrack Obama

Let’s see, he’s been the focal person of this year. He’s made strides in helping the economy, put forward a controversial health care bill, and won the Nobel Prize. However, it is impossible to tell whether or not he has done anything great yet, and it’s obvious that he won the Nobel Prize for not being “The Decider.” Yet this is not why I chose him for best of the year; it was what he has done. He has shown to us that he is not going to allow the mistakes of the previous administration carry on any longer. A good example is the reinstitution of stem cell research along with new policies in Iraq. He is starting to appear to be the president we all hoped he could be, and that is enough for me.

Worst Character – Sarah Palin

Ok, here’s where I get blasted for having a dem. win the best with a rep. winning the worst, but she deserves it (ok, it was between her and Lady Gaga). I’ve never seen anyone try to gain so much steam into the future presidential race during the reigning President’s first year (she does know that there isn’t an election every year, right?) Don’t forget, the whole debacle with David Letterman really showed her to be another ridiculous mouthy conservative. (Hmm, maybe I should have made the winner Rush Limbaugh. Oh well, too late now)

Best Movie – (Mulligan)

If you know me at all, you know that I have reached the point where I no longer enjoy movies at any sort of regular rate. Most movies are these pretentious comedies (see Seth Rogan) or these drawn out boring dramas that are there for the sole purpose of getting dumb people to think on something (Benjamin Button). So I don’t waste my money on movies anymore until they hit DVD or HBO, and therefore have nothing to add other than I guess the Watchmen was pretty cool.

Worst Movie – The Curious Case of Benjamin Buttion

Awful, boring, awful, long, boring, awful…

Best Game – Dragon Age: Origins

Ah, this was close one. I agonized over this decision (well, as much as one can in about 15 seconds). There were a few good competitors, namely Assassin’s Creed 2 (I also didn’t play Uncharted 2 because I lacks a Ps3, and have yet to play Borderlands). However, Dragon Age was packed with all the things I love about an RPG while adding a few wrinkles (such as combat tactics, flanking, and trap making) that made the game play highly addicting. In an era of shooters, it is good to see a company like Bioware continue to make frontline RPGs.

Speaking of shooters…

Worst Game – Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2

Ok, this may be the one that I regret later. Granted, I probably should have picked a game that failed more spectacularly (WET, Halo Wars, etc…), but I think I picked it just because it seemed to not improve in any major way from Modern Warfare. I haven’t played it too much, and I think that is the indication to me that this is the most disappointing game of the year. To that end, the game just seemed like its sole purpose was to meet a deadline, and make more money. Multiplayer is still pretty much the same, and soon becomes no fun to play after a week or so of getting smashed by online diehards. Do I hate playing the game? No. I just feel like I already owned it when I bought it. And of course, single player lasts about as long as a 15 year old virgin, and leaves the player just about as satisfied.

Best Song – (Pass)

Worst Song – That song that Cartman sings of Lady Gaga’s

you’ve heard it. enough said.

(Yup, that’s two Lady Gaga mentions in one post; it’s time to wrap things up.)

Modern Warfare 2: revisited

Yes, just two posts ago I published a review on my thoughts of Modern Warfare 2.  The key word in this article is revisited.  I wish reviewers would go back and revisit many of the articles that they write to let you the reader know if their thoughts had changed with time.  The way I understand they don’t do this because they are always getting new items in that need their attention, but I feel like for big ticket items, revisiting and re-reviewing the item should be the norm.

Back to the re-review.  I still really like MW 2.  I like it a lot.  Having spent some more time on it, however, I am seeing some of it’s issues.  The biggest issue I have is the multiplayer online.  It sucks.  Not that the maps are bad or that the weapons are uesless, because they aren’t bad and they start out alright.  It’s the other players that suck.  Or rather, they are way too good for my abilities and as such I am dead often before I hit the ground.  There really is not point in playing online when I might get one kill per match.  I feel like I’d have to play a few hours a day to get to the point where it might be fun and if that’s the case, I’ll stick to single player games, thank you very much.

As per the single player action, I enjoy it still.  Do I enjoy it the same as when I played through the game the first time?  No, but I still enjoy it.  I was playing around with the idea of selling the game this week until I played the single player again last night and still found it fun.  The thing about this game, in my situation, is I haven’t played another first person shooter of it’s caliber in what feels like forever.  Not because there haven’t been the games, but because I haven’t played the games.  I’ll likely be buying Gears of War II or renting it sometime here in the future and once I play it, I’ll do a side by side analysis of the two.  Then we’ll see if MW 2 has staying power.

The Special Ops missions are still just there for me.  I haven’t felt compelled to play them.  That might change soon, though.

All in all, I find that I still greatly enjoy the game, despite realizing that the real long term aspect of the game, the multiplayer, is just a waste.  At the end of this re-review, I’ll give the game a solid B.

Predator Drone: $10.5 million, hijacking live data stream: $26

Yup, the military is at it again.  In the latest from the “We have no idea what the internet is or how to use it safely” desk, there are reports that Iraqi insurgents have been using a $26 computer program to hijack the live visual stream from the military’s unmanned aerial vehicles.  Nothing I’ve read indicates that the insurgents were able to take over any control of the vehicle, but they were able to see exactly what it was seeing.  That is definitely one time where you don’t want to see yourself on TV.

Here’s the story from a Wall Street Journal article.

Modern Warfare 2

Call of Warfare: Modern Warfare 2 is possibly the biggest video game to hit the planet bar none.  The game sold close to half a billion dollars in it’s first week.  That’s billion, with a B.  To celebrate this landmark gaming event, I feel it necessary to throw my ~$60’s in to the discussion (games aren’t cheap, you know).

First, the graphics.  This game looks awesome.  Obviously you are playing a game, but it is a damn good looking game.  The fluid movement of the characters and environments are great.  I appreciated the little details that were incorporated like the realistic looking dirt and grime.  I thought even the fire looked pretty decent (I have a pet peeve about how fire looks in games).  Granted, I played the game on the Xbox 360 using composite video and this is the first modern console game I have truly spent any time with, but all the same I thought it looked great.

As for the plot of the single player, I found it engaging, albeit brief.  Seriously, I think there may be ~15 hours of game play in the single player if you play straight through.  Sure, you can play on different difficulties and you can play attempting to get every challenge and that will take some time, but just playing through casually will take you no time at all.  This is my major beef with the game.
As for the Special Ops section over Xbox Live, Scott and I played for a few hours the other night and personally I found it enjoyable.  It is something that I look forward to doing again but not necessarily out of how awesome it was, but rather how burnt out I am playing other games right now.

The glaring omission in this ‘review’ is my lack of opinion on the online head to head multiplayer.  I haven’t played it.  I have heard it is epic.  I plan to find out.  Stay tuned to the blog and the podcast for more details.

In a true journalistic cop out maneuver, I’ll ask you for your opinion.  What did you think about the game?  Am I wrong?  Or should you just shut up and accept my opinion as the word directly from God himself?  Let me know in the comments.

Dragon Age: Origins

Dragon Age: Origins is the much anticipated Bioware release that has many people buzzing. Ok, cliche openings aside, this game is seriously a life ender. With over 80 hours of advertised gameplay and new adjustments to the RPG genre reminiscent of Mass Effect and Knights of the Old Republic, this is an absolute must have to the video game collection.

I could spend all day talking about the pros of this game, but I would rather be playing it instead. It’s a Bioware product, so here’s what you can expect…

1. A story driven game with several side quests to keep you glued to the controls
2. A revolutionary approach to the actual combat aspect.
3. The ability to determine your character’s moral compass.

And so, Dragon Age certainly has the mainstays at the core (along with much more not included), and that is enough to satisfy any RPG gamer.

However, there are some drawbacks to the game that really leave me scratching my head, such as…

1. With Mass Effect seemingly perfecting the dialog wheel, it really felt like the era of the mute hero was behind us, but, sure enough, that is what we get in Dragon Age. What’s up with that?
2. Graphics aren’t the best I’ve seen in recent games, and there are a few eyesore things in there.
3. The early game can be really frustrating, and early leveling mistakes can really hurt you.
4. Be prepared to die a lot if you don’t play on the easiest setting, and don’t bother managing your party.

Those four things aside, it is a truly wonderful game that will keep you thoroughly entertained. I give it a 10/10.

Look for a more detailed review this week on the ‘cast.

Mass Effect Revisited

In 2007, I made a large investment into my recreation time; I bought an Xbox 360. It was a great investment too, and after only a few months (and about a grand spent), I had a decent library of great games to choose from. Not only that, but the games released between then and 2009 seemed to rarely disappoint. “Force Unleashed” aside, I was able to spend countless hours wasting my life, and I couldn’t be more thankful.

Being almost 2010, it has come to the point where some of these games that started the cycle are now releasing sequels, and the game I want to focus on for this post is Mass Effect.

In late 2007, Bioware and Microsoft unveiled a game that would change the way we think about RPGs. Sure, when you think about RPGs, you quickly go to the idea of near motionless characters taking turns striking the air, causing a number to pop into the air denoting your effectiveness of that attack; but this is not the case here. Instead, you fought in a mixture of Knights of the Old Republic (a former Bioware product) and Gears of War. This brand of adventure allowed you to cut down enemies while being able to halt the combat to use special abilities that could either sabotage a weapon or disrupt shields. In addition, you were able to position your party using simple commands on the control pad, allowing you to effectively command your troops without needing to control them specifically. Finally, the story of the game rivals that of a great Star Trek episode or any miniseries on Sci-Fi network, and that just makes it a must have for any Sci-Fi Geek. Oh, and it had a sex scene in it that pissed off Fox News, so you know this game is truly a diamond.

With a sequel slated for release in 2009, I have been able to take time to revisit this truly magnificent product, and I can’t wait for Mass Effect 2 to hit the shelves on January 26. So, until then, here’s a link to buy and watch the trailers:

http://www.amazon.com/Mass-Effect-2-Xbox-360/dp/B001TORSII/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=videogames&qid=1256265446&sr=8-1

Dear Costco,

Costco, I love you no more.  While you are so incising with seemingly endless collection of things to buy from silverware to computers to food to clothes, I find myself distressed when I start to think about our relationship.  You are better than Sam’s Club, that’s for sure, but that does not make you as awesome as so many may say.  You do have awesome stuff.  Where else can I get enough toilet paper to last me until the end of time for so little money?  Just the other day I bought some microwavable instant noodle bowls from your store, which are delicious by the way, but I stand here looking at them now thinking “Why did I buy these?”

And there is the rub, Costco.  I don’t know why I keep buying things from you.  For everything I buy that I actually need, like a package of 30 AA batteries, I buy two or three stupid things that I don’t need.  I don’t need instant noodle bowls or the pocket multitool.  I don’t a trash can that will open when I wave my hand in front of it.  No, Costco, I don’t need these things.

Costco, I love you no more.

The Battle for My Cyber Surfing Soul (Round 9ish)

Ok. So, the Cardinals won’t be there in the end. Get over it; I have. (First though, I do have to say that I’ve never seen such public fervor for a guy getting plunked in the ol’ boys. Sorry, Matt Holliday.)

So, I’ve been browsing the internet for the better part of the decade now, and I have realized that though there are several different browsers available only a few have ever seemed viable. I first started out using AOL’s service, but soon realized the clutter nature of a computer screen was inconvenient, if not annoying (I don’t care if I have fucking mail!). After that, I was using Internet Explorer, and soon after that, Firefox was an option. Recently, I had been using the new Google chrome, but that soon changed whenever Chrome had problems with flash players, and would not even be able to run the NFL Rewind from www.nfl.com (A wonderful way to watch past games online. I think I’ve watched Tom Brady blow out his knee 20 times with this spectacular service). Firefox always seemed a little bit better at handling the pop ups than Internet Explorer, but recent editions seem to run slow (not to mention, getting about as naggy as AOL about the addons and toolbars). And something just never seemed right about Explorer.

So, the battle wages on; which one will ever exert their dominance upon the masses (oh, and you mac safari users can shut the fuck up; that program is dog shit). For now (for me), it is Firefox version 49.2 or whatever.

Barack Obama won the Nobel Peace Prize. That may be an eventual podcast topic. So sportsnat…er…Just BS asks:

Did President Obama Deserve To Win The Nobel Prize?

YesNoI Don't Care

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Angels vs. Twins

That would truly be Bud Selig’s ALCS nightmare. With the NFL in full swing, it would be hard to believe that many people would stay up till 1 am who live outside those two cities. Hopefully, that won’t happen, and we will get another Sox/Yanks match up. No one hates the disparity of monetary depth between baseball teams more than I do, but I will acknowledge that these two teams have fielded the only games that have mattered this year. The Cards may be left when it’s all done, but give me a good ALCS, and no one will care who wins the World Series…and that’s a good thing. Oh, tune in tomorrow; the playoffs begin (not that anyone noticed).

Working Hard or Hardly Working?

It certainly has been an interesting tenure as President for Mr. Obama. Health care, the economy, and the Iraq War (you know that thing no one talks about anymore) aside, the most concerning thing has been how Mr. Obama spends his time. (http://sports.espn.go.com/chicago/news/story?id=4510742). What do you think?

Does President Obama Spend His Time Properly?

Yes; he's a great multi-taskerYes, but I could do without the sports stuffNo, but I'm still behind him...No; I'm ailin' for McAlin!

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End of An Era

Well, the decade is coming to an unceremonious end. That’s right; we are finishing off the 2000’s this year! Just think about all stuff you have been a part of since January 2000. Yeah, your life really does suck that badly. So instead, let’s reminisce on the pop culture of the time. Over then next few posts, we will bring you the best and worst of the decade. This post is all about the movies.

Movies

It’s hard not to be disappointed when looking back on the movies of the decade. Though there were some gems, this decade will be one that should easily be forgotten. Here is the list so far.

The Good: Gladiator, Snatch, Proof of Life (uh oh, 2 russel crowe movies in the first three), Spider-Man 1 & 2, Anchorman, Old School, Semi-Pro, The Fellowship of the Ring, Batman Begins, Dark Knight, Garden State (a touch pretentious, but still good), Borat, Kung Fu Hustle, The Ring, Wedding Crashers, Taken, Fever Pitch (blow me; it was good), Team America, The Departed, Tropic Thunder, Formula 51, Bad Santa, American Psycho (despite the ’80s music), Beerfest, Super Troopers, and The Watchmen

The Bad: Bewitched, Kicking and Screaming, Land of The Lost (only because I hold you to a higher standard that others, Will Ferrell), Spider-man 3, A Beautiful Mind, Daredevil, Both Hulk movies, Gigli, Charlie’s Angels 2, any of the Final Destination movies, the Saw saga, The Ring 2, Club Dread, All the Mummy Movies, Superman Returns, Rules of Attraction, The Matrix Sequels, Anger Management, Mr. Deeds, Reign of Fire, 50 first dates, Pay it Forward, The Village, Signs, Terminator 3, All the Bond movies of the decade, The Notebook (No movie has punished more young men than this drivel), 40 year-old virgin, Wolverine Origins, Star Wars 2 and 3, Mr. Woodcock, Phone Booth, Van Helsing, Snakes on a Plane, , Bruce and Evan Almighty, The Number 23, All The Freddy and Jason Movies, Alien vs. Predator, Terminator: Salvation (We’re Fucking Done).

There you have it. Get pissed, and leave a comment about how this list is horribly wrong.

Mickey Mouse hires Captain America to be security at theme parks

It is official.  Disney has bought Marvel for 4 billion dollars.  Analysts are debating the merits of this acquisition, we’ll debate who wins in a fight: The Mickey Mouse fan club or The New Avengers.  Odds are it won’t be pretty.

Potential Topics for the 'Cast

Apparently the race to be the governor of the state of Virginia is in full swing.  Normally I wouldn’t care, and still don’t really, but I find interesting the debate over whether a candidates thesis can be used against him.  Note that this thesis is ~20 years old.  Look for a discussion on this in the future.

Sites Worth Seeing

Here’s a first edition to Sites Worth Seeing.  These are some of the sites I check daily or damn close to it.

1. CNet.com’s The Cheapskate.  Daily posts on some good tech deals.
2. Woot.com.  One deal a day.  Always pretty random stuff, sometimes some awesome deals.
3. Shirt.woot.com.  See above description.
4. Sellout.woot.com.  See above description.
5. news.google.com.  Computer generated news aggregation site.  Can be slanted, usually pretty good.
6. PCmag.com.  Awesome computer and tech site.  Pretty good commentary by the writers, as well.
7. live.twit.tv.  The TWIT podcasts are great for tech and computers, so why not watch them recorded live?

Stay tuned.  More to come later.

Another Reason AT&T Sucks

In an attempt to solidify their position as douches, AT&T has now made a corporate policy that users with smartphones that are not paying for the smartphone package must start paying for one as of September 6th.  AT&T reasoning?  They want people with smartphones to pay for the possibility that they might use the AT&T data network.  Want to buy an unlocked smartphone and use it with a regular, non-smartphone plan?  Too bad if AT&T catches you.  They will go ahead and start charging you for one.

Check the link for more information from PCMag.  This one will definitely be on the next edition of This Is Just BS.

Edit: Information Week has another story about this.

Possible show topics for show #3

Just to give you a heads up as to some possible topics to be discussed this weekend on This Is Just BS:

Michael Jackson to be buried (finally) on his birthday (creepy) August 29th according to family. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8208188.stm

Favre joins the Vikings this season.  Which team will it be next season? http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/don_banks/08/18/vikings-favre/

Stay tuned for more possible topics.  Let us know what you want to hear about in the comments.

Hide Your Beagle…

Michael Vick’s an Eagle. Recently released from prison, the ex-con will be on the gridiron Sundays this fall. Some believe justice has taken its course, and others are outraged. Which are you?

Should The Eagles Have Signed Michael Vick?

YesNo. It was a football mistakeNo. It was a moral mistake

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This Is Just BS introduction

Hello,
Welcome to the site that is all about the show, This Is Just BS, hosted by Brad and Scott.  This site is to be a supplemental resource to the show where you can find links to some of the topics we talk about, when there are topics, and other interesting things that we may find during the week.  To say this is in its alpha release is to give it too much credit, so don’t expect too much yet.  Hit us up in the comments if you have something to say.
-Brad