Capt.ainment

Clip: It Doesn't Do Anything

2010-10-20T13:00:00.000-07:00

Clip: Fast Food Pizza

2010-10-20T11:35:00.000-07:00

Clip: Skipping a Bike on a Pool

2010-10-20T07:40:00.000-07:00

Clip: Burger Time Lapse

2010-10-18T10:41:00.000-07:00

Pic: Earth Clip

2010-10-17T07:43:00.000-07:00

From here.

Clip: Ice Cream Tricks

2010-10-13T11:48:00.000-07:00

Clips: Hand Attacks Weatherman

2010-10-13T07:50:00.000-07:00

Clip: Watermelon in the Kisser

2010-10-11T11:52:00.000-07:00

Clip: Hay Man

2010-10-11T07:54:00.000-07:00

Clip: Mayor of Sim City

2010-10-10T11:56:00.000-07:00

Clip: Grover Old Spice

2010-10-10T07:57:00.000-07:00

Clip: Girl Dancing Ad

2010-10-08T11:59:00.000-07:00

Clip: Cat Man

2010-10-08T08:00:00.000-07:00

Clip: SNL - Rescue Dogs 911 App

2010-10-07T08:01:00.000-07:00

Musical Interests of 1980

2010-02-09T08:00:00.000-08:00

Listed in alphabetical order by artist then track name. Numbers in [] indicate the order I ranked them for the year. The genre I use to organize music is noted in parenthesis as well as the ranking number the song is in that genre). Genre is by no means accurate and may be updated later.

19 Alternative (A) songs, 1 Dance (D), 14 Hip-Hop (H), 0 Mash-up (indicated with an underscore), 0 Metal (M), 0 Novelty (N), 3 Rap (R), 13 Soft (S), 0 Techno (T). For a total of 50 songs.

Abba-On & On & On [23] (Hip-Hop, H04)
Abba-Super Trouper [37] (Hip-Hop, H09)
Air Supply-All Out of Love [39] (Hip-Hop, H11)
Air Supply-Lost in Love [24] (Hip-Hop, H05)
B-52's-Private Idaho [36] (Alternative, A15)
Billy Joel-Don't Ask Me Why [15] (Soft, S01)
Blondie-Call Me [16] (Hip-Hop, H02)
Bow Wow Wow-C30 C60 C90 Go [28] (Hip-Hop, H06)
Bruce Springsteen-Hungry Heart [29] (Alternative, A13)
Christopher Cross-Sailing [33] (Soft, S09)
Cure-Boys Don't Cry [49] (Hip-Hop, H14)
Devo-Whip It [10] (Rap, R02)
Fleetwood Mac-Sara [22] (Hip-Hop, H03)
Gary Numan-Cars [11] (Hip-Hop, H01)
John Lennon-Give Peace a Chance [19] (Soft, S04)
Jona Lewie-Stop the Cavalry [50] (Soft, S13)
Journey-Any Way You Want It [2] (Alternative, A02)
Kate Bush-Army Dreamers [43] (Hip-Hop, H13)
Kenny Rogers-Lady [26] (Soft, S07)
Lakeside-Fantastic Voyage [27] (Rap, R03)
Leo Sayer-More Than I Can Say [32] (Hip-Hop, H07)
Madness-One Step Beyond [34] (Dance, D01)
Neil Diamond-Acapulco [18] (Soft, S03)
Neil Diamond-Amazed & Confused [20] (Alternative, A12)
Neil Diamond-America [6] (Alternative, A05)
Neil Diamond-America (Reprise) [7] (Alternative, A06)
Neil Diamond-Hello Again [25] (Soft, S06)
Neil Diamond-Hey Louise [4] (Alternative, A03)
Neil Diamond-Jerusalem [14] (Alternative, A11)
Neil Diamond-Kol Nidre-My Name Is Yussel [46] (Soft, S11)
Neil Diamond-Love on the Rocks [48] (Soft, S12)
Neil Diamond-On the Robert E. Lee [40] (Soft, S10)
Neil Diamond-You Baby [21] (Soft, S05)
Pointer Sisters-He's So Shy [42] (Hip-Hop, H12)
Police-Behind My Camel [45] (Alternative, A18)
Police-Bombs Away [31] (Soft, S08)
Police-Canary in a Coalmine [17] (Soft, S02)
Police-De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da [8] (Alternative, A07)
Police-Don't Stand So Close to Me [5] (Alternative, A04)
Queen-Another One Bites the Dust [12] (Alternative, A09)
Queen-Flash [41] (Alternative, A16)
Spinners-Working My Way Back to You [35] (Hip-Hop, H08)
Sugarhill Gang-Rapper's Delight [3] (Rap, R01)
Tom Petty-Don't Do Me Like That [9] (Alternative, A08)
Toto-Hold the Line [38] (Hip-Hop, H10)
U2-I Will Follow [1] (Alternative, A01)
U2-Into the Heart [30] (Alternative, A14)
U2-Touch (aka Trevor) [47] (Alternative, A19)
U2-Twilight [44] (Alternative, A17)
Vapors-Turning Japanese [13] (Alternative, A10)

Musical Interests of 2009

2010-02-08T10:09:00.000-08:00

Trying something different this year, here are the songs I listened to and recommended for the year. They are listed in alphabetical order by artist then track name. Numbers in [] indicate the order I ranked them for the year. The genre I use to organize music is noted in parenthesis as well as the ranking number the song is in that genre).

45 Alternative (A) songs, 37 Dance (D), 20 Hip-Hop (H), 12 Mash-up (indicated with an underscore), 0 Metal (M), 19 Novelty (N), 19 Rap (R), 16 Soft (S), 9 Techno (T). For a total of 177 songs.

Aggro1-Foo Fighters v Evil 9 [169] (Mash, _12)
Alli Sims-Driving Blind [174] (Soft, S15)
Annie-Songs Remind Me of You [55] (Dance, D12)
Annie-The Breakfast Song [86] (Dance, D21)
Aqua-Back to the 80's [56] (Dance, D13)
Aqua-Live Fast - Die Young [24] (Dance, D06)
Backstreet Boys-Bye Bye Love [155] (Hip-Hop, H17)
Basement Jaxx-My Turn [59] (Dance, D16)
Bit.Trip-ID [145] (Techno, T08)
Bit.Trip-Transition [143] (Techno, T06)
Bit.Trip-Transition Reprise [144] (Techno, T07)
Bobby Evans-Freak-a-Zoid Robotz [87] (Dance, D22)
Boys Like Girls-Love Drunk [34] (Alternative, A10)
Bran Flakes-Do You Want Salad With Your Taco [54] (Dance, D11)
Bran Flakes-Fifty Four Fifty [117] (Dance, D31)
Bran Flakes-Hi [57] (Dance, D14)
Bran Flakes-I Have a Friend [58] (Dance, D15)
Bran Flakes-Make a Funny Sound [84] (Dance, D19)
Bran Flakes-Stumble Out of Bed [91] (Dance, D26)
Bran Flakes-The Sidewalk Song [116] (Dance, D30)
Bravery-Slow Poison [124] (Alternative, A33)
Charlie Schmidt-Play Him Off Keyboard Cat [135] (Novelty, N10)
Circlesquare-Dancers [78] (Alternative, A22)
Cobra Starship-Good Girls Go Bad [35] (Alternative, A11)
Coconut Monkeyrocket-Bumblebee [118] (Dance, D32)
Colbie Caillat-Fallin' for You [64] (Soft, S01)
Collective Soul-Welcome All Again [165] (Alternative, A43)
Commercial Jingle-Nannerpus [107] (Novelty, N04)
Crystal Method-Black Rainbows [142] (Techno, T05)
Crystal Method-Divided by Night [29] (Techno, T03)
Crystal Method-Slipstream [132] (Techno, T04)
Crystal Method-Smile? [28] (Techno, T02)
Delerium-Dust in Gravity [175] (Soft, S16)
Depeche Mode-Miles Away the Truth is [127] (Alternative, A36)
Depeche Mode-Perfect [77] (Alternative, A21)
Dorrough-Ice Cream Paint Job [11] (Rap, R03)
Eels-That Look You Gave That Guy [40] (Alternative, A16)
Eminem-Crack a Bottle [154] (Rap, R19)
Eminem-Elevator [153] (Rap, R18)
Eminem-My Mom [94] (Rap, R11)
Eminem-Old Time's Sake [130] (Rap, R16)
Eminem-Same Song & Dance [15] (Rap, R07)
Eminem-We Made You [9] (Rap, R01)
Esmée Denters-Outta Here [158] (Hip-Hop, H20)
Fabolous-Throw it in the Bag [16] (Rap, R08)
Fever Ray-Stranger Than Kindness [52] (Dance, D09)
Flight of the Conchords-Carol Brown [176] (Novelty, N18)
Flight of the Conchords-Dreams [141] (Novelty, N17)
Flight of the Conchords-Fashion is Danger [137] (Novelty, N12)
Flight of the Conchords-Friends [110] (Novelty, N07)
Flight of the Conchords-Hurt Feelings [30] (Novelty, N01)
Flight of the Conchords-I Told You I Was Freaky [177] (Novelty, N19)
Flight of the Conchords-Rap (Is Not Very Good) [136] (Novelty, N11)
Flight of the Conchords-Too Many Dicks (On the Dance Floor) [139] (Novelty, N14)
Flo Rida-Sugar [96] (Rap, R13)
Franz Ferdinand-Lucid Dreams [162] (Alternative, A40)
Freemasons-Heartbreak Make Me a Dancer [26] (Dance, D08)
Go! Team-Grip Like a Vice [131] (Rap, R17)
Green Day-East Jesus Nowhere [161] (Alternative, A39)
Green Day-Know Your Enemy [31] (Alternative, A07)
Green Day-Lights Out [160] (Alternative, A38)
Green Day-Peacemaker [119] (Alternative, A28)
Iglu & Hartly-In This City [39] (Alternative, A15)
Insane Clown Posse-Juggalo Island [95] (Rap, R12)
Insane Clown Posse-Miracles [93] (Rap, R10)
Insane Clown Posse-Zombie Slide [129] (Rap, R15)
Iyaz-Replay [50] (Hip-Hop, H08)
Jay Sean-Down [48] (Hip-Hop, H06)
Jay-Z-Empire State of Mind [12] (Rap, R04)
John Mayer-Heartbreak Warfare [164] (Alternative, A42)
Kelly Clarkson-My Life Would Suck Without You [53] (Dance, D10)
Kid Cudi-Make Her Say [10] (Rap, R02)
La Roux-Bulletproof [8] (Dance, D02)
La Roux-Cover My Eyes [150] (Dance, D37)
La Roux-Fascination [148] (Dance, D35)
La Roux-In for the Kill [60] (Dance, D17)
Leona Lewis-Can't Breathe [51] (Hip-Hop, H09)
Leona Lewis-Fly Here Now [103] (Hip-Hop, H13)
Leona Lewis-Happy [152] (Hip-Hop, H16)
Leona Lewis-I Got You [47] (Hip-Hop, H05)
Leona Lewis-Love Letter [101] (Hip-Hop, H11)
Leona Lewis-Outta My Head [104] (Hip-Hop, H14)
Leona Lewis-You Don't Care [19] (Hip-Hop, H03)
Lily Allen-Fuck You [65] (Soft, S02)
Lily Allen-I Could Say [71] (Soft, S08)
Lily Allen-Not Fair [69] (Soft, S06)
Lily Allen-The Fear [67] (Soft, S04)
Little Boots-Meddle [61] (Dance, D18)
Little Boots-New in Town [85] (Dance, D20)
Little Boots-Remedy [115] (Dance, D29)
Little Boots-Stuck on Repeat [149] (Dance, D36)
Lonely Island-I'm on a Boat [111] (Novelty, N08)
Lonely Island-Incredibad [172] (Novelty, N16)
Lonely Island-Jizz in My Pants [171] (Novelty, N15)
Lonely Island-Like a Boss [112] (Novelty, N09)
Lonely Island-Natalie's Rap [138] (Novelty, N13)
Lonely Island-Shrooms [43] (Novelty, N02)
Mariah Carrey-Obsessed [18] (Hip-Hop, H02)
Martinibomb-Chocolate Caliente [114] (Dance, D28)
Mash (Annie Lennox)-Annie Mash [46] (Mash, _03)
Mash (Cyprus Hill & Cars)-My Best Friend's Insane [62] (Mash, _04)
Mash (Eminem & Billy Idol)-Rebel Yelling in the Closet [45] (Mash, _02)
Mash (GS Boyz & Devo)-Stanky Whip [98] (Mash, _07)
Mash (Kid Kudi & Cranberries)-Lingering Day & Night [168] (Mash, _09)
Mash (Lazy Town & Lil' Jon) -Cooking by the Book [44] (Mash, _01)
Mash (MGMT & Daft Punk)-One More Time to Pretend [63] (Mash, _05)
Mash (Murs & Weezer)-Beverly Hills LA [99] (Mash, _08)
Mash (Pearl Jam & Chemical Brothers)-Block Rockin Breathe [97] (Mash, _06)
Mash (Timbaland & Lady GaGa)-Poker Face I Are [140] (Mash, _10)
Mash (Whitney Houston, Sean Paul & Cyndi Lauper)-Girls Just Wanna Dance! [170] (Mash, _11)
Metric-Help I'm Alive [3] (Alternative, A03)
Mike Relm-Everytime [13] (Rap, R05)
Mos Def-Casa Bey [128] (Rap, R14)
Mos Def-Quiet Dog [14] (Rap, R06)
Neko Case-People Got a Lotta Nerve [66] (Soft, S03)
Neko Case-This Tornado Loves You [133] (Soft, S12)
New Boyz-Tie Me Down [49] (Hip-Hop, H07)
Norah Jones-Can't Stop [134] (Soft, S13)
Norah Jones-Chasing Pirates [74] (Soft, S11)
Norah Jones-Even Though [173] (Soft, S14)
Pet Shop Boys-All Over the World [88] (Dance, D23)
Pet Shop Boys-Beautiful People [89] (Dance, D24)
Pet Shop Boys-Did You See Me Coming? [23] (Dance, D05)
Pet Shop Boys-Love Etc [21] (Dance, D03)
Pet Shop Boys-Pandemonium [113] (Dance, D27)
Pet Shop Boys-The Way it Used to Be [68] (Soft, S05)
Pet Shop Boys-Vulnerable [70] (Soft, S07)
Pet Shop Boys-We're All Criminals Now [151] (Dance, D34)
Plumb-Hang On [73] (Soft, S10)
Priscilla Renea-Bacon n' Eggs [102] (Hip-Hop, H12)
Priscilla Renea-Lovesick [105] (Hip-Hop, H15)
Priscilla Renea-Mr. Workabee [100] (Hip-Hop, H10)
Priscilla Renea-Rockabye Baby [20] (Hip-Hop, H04)
Prodigy-Omen [146] (Techno, T09)
Prodigy-Stand Up (Dave Grohl Drums) [27] (Techno, T01)
Puddle of Mudd-Better Place [75] (Alternative, A19)
Puddle of Mudd-Spaceship [2] (Alternative, A02)
Puddle of Mudd-Stoned [121] (Alternative, A30)
Rathergood-Fat Man Can Can [108] (Novelty, N05)
Rathergood-I Injected My Knee With 120ccs Of My Faeces [109] (Novelty, N06)
Rathergood-Slayer [106] (Novelty, N03)
Raveonettes-Breaking Into Cars [80] (Alternative, A24)
Raveonettes-Last Dance [33] (Alternative, A09)
Röyksopp-Happy Up Here [7] (Dance, D01)
Röyksopp-Röyksopp Forever [25] (Dance, D07)
Röyksopp-The Girl & the Robot [22] (Dance, D04)
Röyksopp-This Must Be it [147] (Dance, D33)
Röyksopp-True to Life [90] (Dance, D25)
Rye Rye-Bang [92] (Rap, R09)
Shakira-Mon Amour [157] (Hip-Hop, H19)
Shakira-She Wolf [17] (Hip-Hop, H01)
Silversun Pickups-Substitution [123] (Alternative, A32)
Stellastarr-Freak Out [126] (Alternative, A35)
Stellastarr-Robot [42] (Alternative, A18)
Temper Trap-Sweet Disposition [81] (Alternative, A25)
Them Crooked Vultures-Gunman [163] (Alternative, A41)
Them Crooked Vultures-Mind Eraser, No Chaser [1] (Alternative, A01)
Third Eye Blind-Bonfire [122] (Alternative, A31)
Third Eye Blind-Can You Take Me [41] (Alternative, A17)
Third Eye Blind-Carnival Barker [125] (Alternative, A34)
Third Eye Blind-Don't Believe a Word [159] (Alternative, A37)
Third Eye Blind-Non Dairy Creamer [5] (Alternative, A05)
Tinchy Stryder & N-Dubz-Number 1 [156] (Hip-Hop, H18)
Train-Hey, Soul Sister [38] (Alternative, A14)
U2-Magnificent [76] (Alternative, A20)
U2-No Line on the Horizon [32] (Alternative, A08)
Vast-I'm Afraid of You [167] (Alternative, A45)
Vast-You Should Have Know I Would Leave [166] (Alternative, A44)
Weezer-If You're Wondering if I Want You to, I Want You to [6] (Alternative, A06)
Weezer-Prettiest Girl in the Whole Wide World [120] (Alternative, A29)
Weezer-Put Me Back Together [79] (Alternative, A23)
Weezer-Run Over by a Truck [82] (Alternative, A26)
Whip-Trash [36] (Alternative, A12)
White Rabbits-Percussion Gun [83] (Alternative, A27)
Whitney Houston-Million Dollar Bill [72] (Soft, S09)
Yeah Yeah Yeahs-Heads Will Roll [37] (Alternative, A13)
Yeah Yeah Yeahs-Zero [4] (Alternative, A04)

FastClicks of '10 Streaming

2009-11-29T23:12:00.000-08:00

Musical Interests of: '09, '08, '07, '06, '05, '04, Halloween, Christmas.

Prior FastClicks '09, '08, '07. Wiki '10: Radio, Music, Books, Theater, Home, TV, Games(v).

2009: Movies, Music, Books, Games, Internet, Products, Misc.

Top 5's

Top 5 Video: 1. DiggReel, 2. Diggnation, 3. Discovery News, 4. ROFL, 5. 1st Look.
Top 5 Audio: 1. Cort & Fatboy Podcast, 2. Dawn & Drew, 3. Frosty Heidi Frank Uncensored, 4. Stereo Radiation, 5. American Cliche.
Top 10 Shortcasts: 1. Brain Stuff, 2. Stuff of Genius, 3. Daily Dish, 4. You Can't Make This Up.
Top 5 Radio & TV: 1. Men's Room, 3. BJ Shea, 4. Danny Bonaduce Morning, 5. Wait Wait Don't Tell Me.

Top 5 News Bits: 1. NPR 7am Summary, 2. NY Times Front Page, 3. KUOW News, 4. NW Public Radio, 5. NPR Story of the Day.

Podcasts (Pod, Find, Bean, Alley)

Talk Radio Podcasts: Men's Room, BJ Shea (del), MorningX Dave & Chuck, Danny Bonaduce, Troubleshooter Tom, FreeTalk, Ron & Don, Fitz in the Morning, Jackie & Bender, Ricker, T-Man, NW News, Bob Rivers, Toucher & Rich, Mickey-Amelia-Spiegel.

ABC: Daily Dish.
NPR (& NYPR): 5Min News, KUOW News & Presents, Wait Wait Don't Tell Me, Story of the Day, Pop Culture, Discovery Now, Loh Down on Science, Sunday Puzzle, Dinner Party Download, Underreported, Car Talk.
CNN: Can't Make This Up, Hourly News.

NY Times: Front Page, Backstory, Science Times.

Talk Podcast with Radio Flavor: Frosty Heidi Frank Uncensored, Adam Carolla Podcast, Raizin Show.

How Stuff Works (HSW): Brain Stuff, Genius Video, Missed in History, You Should Know.

Pure Podcast Only Shows: Urban Coffee, American Cliche, Media Junkyard, Stereo Radiation, Interesting Facts, Blast the Right, Tank Riot, Plugged, Wreckless Media Radio, Drill Down, Overnightscape, Cheap & Dirty, Social Blend, Sci Friday, Mr Nice Guy.

Revision3: DiggReel, DiggNation, ROFL, Scam School, Digg Dialog, Co-op.

Mevio (V): Dawn & Drew, Coolness Roundup, 1st Look (V).

Techpodcast: Slashdot Review.

Stream Talk (All Comedy Radio)

Morning: BJ Shea 5-10, J&B 5-10. Afternoon: FHF , Men's Room 2-6.

Local Station & Music Favorites (RadioTime, iHeart)

Station Stream/Site: 1. 99.9, 2. 92.5, 3. 97.7, 4. 96.5, 5. 107.7, 6. 104.9, 7. 106.1 (HD2), 8. 95.7, 9. 101.5, 10. 89.5, 11. 93.3, 12. 97.3, 13. 94.9.

TV Streaming (StC, FH, QSS) My YouTube, Hulu Q

Daily Show, Leno, O'Brien, Fallon, Office (e), House (e), Chuck (e), Family Guy (e), Fringe (e), South Park (e).

Wii - Remote Tips

2009-07-21T14:32:00.000-07:00

Switching Remote Number Order
This also works for Syncing Remotes without clicking on the Console Sync button.
Press the Home button on the Wii remote. On the bottom of the menu is the Wii Remote settings button. Select that option and pick Reconnect. This will sever the wireless link between your Wii and your Wii remotes. Now, all you have to do is press the 1 and 2 buttons on the Wii remote that you want as Player One. Then work your way down the line of your other Wii remotes, doing the same for Player Two through Four in this fashion.

Wii Remote Volume
Press the Home button and select the Wii Remote option on the bottom of your screen. Then simply click the plus or minus buttons on the screen (or the ones on your Wii remote) and you'll be able to crank up or lower the audio of the Wii remote your using. Other players will be able to alter their volume option performing the same task on their Wii remote.

Charge Remaining
While your Wii is powered down you can press any button on your Wiimote and lights will flash. The number of lights flashing is the amount of charge left in your battery (1 is least charge, 4 is most charge).

Twist Menus
In the Wii menus, turn your wrist and the hand cursor will also turn.

Zunes

2009-06-12T15:36:00.000-07:00

Sync & Manage: with a USB to Xbox 360, and/or wirelessly to PCs. A simple Zune program allows for easy management and Marketplace access, and allows for ripping audio CDs. You can get the chords and plug into home/car stereos and television sets.
Music: WMA & MP3 Formats. They can be segmented by Artist, Genres, Albums, Songs or Playlists. As a song plays the device shows; Running Time Currently at, Running Time Remaining, Album Art, Song Title, Artists Name, Album Name.
Videos: Supports WMV Formats. View TV Shows, Music Video’s & Video Podcasts.
Pictures: JPEG Formats. Slideshows.
Podcasts: Subscribe to audio feeds, and manage settings (allows updating each up to 9 episodes).
Audiobooks: Supports online stores like Audible.com, and Public libraries using OverDrive media.
Games: Simple Casual Games can be added.
Social: Sync with friends (exchange files), view and sample their recent activity, Favorites, Top Artists and Badges. Badges are awarded based on number of plays per artist. An inbox for mailing and sharing.
Marketplace: Allows you to purchase and subscribe to things. Also informative with Mixtapes, Playlists, Top 100, New Releases & Recommendations. 1 penny (.01) is .0125 Points (p). Therefore;
39p - $.49
79p - $.99
100p - $1.25
500p - $6.25
1000p - $12.50
1600p - $20.00
2000p - $25.00
4000p - $50.00
5000p - $62.50
Zune Pass: For $14.99 a month plus tax, members can have a Zune Pass. Members get 10 “free” songs a month (credit does not rollover). So, the $5 a month provides unlimited access to “temporary” downloads of songs the length of the service, once subscription is up, access to the temporary downloads ends. Users may subscribe to Channels which download a whole playlist (and refresh at any wireless location). Members can instantly download songs you hear on the Zune players built-in FM Stations, and buy downloads instantly at wireless locations (there are over 10,000 wireless hotspots, including McDonalds). NBC & FOX have allowed some shows to be viewable. Up to 3 Zunes & 3 PCs can share the benefits of the Zune Pass.
Zune.net: RSS Feeds will allow users to follow an artist with news and updates, Music video previews, concert dates etc.
Zune HD: adds a touch screen, HD Radio and the capability of outputting video in HD resolution.

Random Facts 37

2009-06-10T11:17:00.000-07:00

Retail Music Costs
CD Album - If the suggested retail price is $16; the store makes $4.75, the record label (including marketing and distribution) makes $7.90, the manufacturer who packages the disc makes 83 cents, songwriters and publishers make 82 cents, and the recording artist makes $1.70.
Song Download - if a song is 99 cents; the store makes 34 cents, record label makes 47 cents, the songwriter and publisher share 8 cents and the artists and producers split the remaining 10 cents.
Uncle John's Bathroom Reader Plunges into Music, 2007, p.22.

Twitter
Twitter debuted March 2006 and now has about 14 million users who spend an average of half an hour a day posting a total of 2.25 million tweets.
The Week Magazine, 5.1.09, v.9, i.410, p.13.

Red-Light Running
Red-light running is the cause of 8% of all accidents. Municipalities have been installing cameras to snap photos of cars going through intersections and sending tickets by mail. Some have reduced the timing of the yellow light to collect more. The snapshots (which include current pictures of the individual) are also collected in a database.
The Week Magazine, 5.1.09, v.9, i.410, p.14.

Crayon Consumption
The average 10-year-old has used up 723 crayons. The crayon scent is one of the 20 most recognizable smells in the US.
Armchair Reader - The Book of Myths & Misconceptions, 2009, p.173.

Cats Purr
The Fauna Communications Research Institute in North Carolina has reported that a particular frequency of a cat's purring has been shown to lower the blood pressure of humans in close proximity - having the same soothing effect the cat has on itself.
Armchair Reader - The Book of Myths & Misconceptions, 2009, p.289.

Titanic Ship Fatalities
The Titanic sank in 1912, killing 1,500 people.
The Sultana sank in 1865, killing 1,700 people.
The Provence II sank in 1916, killing 3,130 people.
The Goya sank in 1945, killing 6,817 people.
The Dana Paz & Vector collision in 1987, killed between 1,525 to 9,000 people.
Armchair Reader - The Book of Myths & Misconceptions, 2009, p.379-380.

11 Types of Lightning Bolts
5 Take up to a mile high: Beaded, Forked, Ribbon, Zigzag, & Ball.
2 Reside at the 1-3 mile level: Spider & Energetic Narrow Bipolar.
1 Resides at the 3-15 miles up range: Bolt from the Blue.
3 Reside at the 15+ miles up range: Gigantic Jet, Blue Jet & Red Sprite.
Wired Magazine, Jun 2009, p.34-35.

Album & Disc Facts
In 2007 the number of recorded CDs sold was about equal to the number of blank CDs sold.
More than 10 million LP (long-playing) records are sold each year.
About 509 million songs were downloaded legally in 2006. 5 billion were downloaded illegally.
The average American listens to 45 minutes of recorded music daily.
DVDs hold 13 times more data than CDs.
Uncle John's Bathroom Reader Plunges into Music, 2007, p.115, 118, 305, 326, 433.

Melody
The chorus in Parliament's song Flashlight, is based on a Jewish bar mitzvah chant.
Al Dvorin said, "Elvis has left the building."
The melody to Twinkle Twinkle Little Star is from a 1761 French Song, the lyrics were created in 1806.
Uncle John's Bathroom Reader Plunges into Music, 2007, p.130, 141, 454.

Twinkle Twinkle (E, F, G) Yes Sir Yes Sir
The melody to Twinkle Twinkle Little Star is from a 1761 French Song, "Ah! Vous dirai-je, Maman." The lyrics were derived in 1806 from an English poem, by Jane Taylor - "The Star." In 1834 the melody was used for the "Alphabet Song," and "Baa Baa Black Sheep" was first printed in "Tommy Thumb's Pretty Song Book," in 1744 .
Uncle John's Bathroom Reader Plunges into Music, 2007, p.454, & Wiki.

MTV Facts
Most-aired MTV Video: Peter Gabriel-Sledgehammer in 1986.
First Rap Video: Run DMC-Rock the Box in 1984.
First Banned MTV Video: Duran Duran-Girls on Film.
Most Requested Video Ever: Nirvana-Smells Like Teen Spirit.
First Video on MTV2: Beck-Where it's At in 1996.
First Video on VH1: Marvin Gaye-The Star Spangled Banner in 1985.
Highest Rated Show in MTV History: The January 2002 premiere of the Osbournes.
Uncle John's Bathroom Reader Plunges into Music, 2007, p.25, 362.

Song & Artist Facts
First Rap Song to reach Billboard #1: Vanilla Ice-Ice, Ice, Baby.
First Download to sell 1 million copies: Gwen Stefani-Hollaback Girl in 2005.
First-ever song to debut at #1: Michael Jackson-You are Not Alone in 1995.
Most Solo Performer Concert Tickets Sold: Tina Turner.
The only Band whose albums all reached US Billboard Top 10: Led Zeppelin.
Most Singles on Billboard Hot 100 without a #1: James Brown.
First & Last Single of the 1980's: Rupert Holmes-Escape, Phil Collins-Another Day in Paradise.
Only Artist with Single before Signed to Record Label: Lisa Loeb.
First Singing Telegram: On 7.28.33 to Rudy Vallee, the song was "Happy Birthday."
Most Successful Song by Solo Female Artist: Whitney Houston-I Will Always Love You.
Nest Selling Solo Artist in US: In 2007 Garth Brooks passed Elvis Presley.
Oldest Female with #1 song on Billboard Hot 100: Cher at 59, the song "Believe" in 1998.
Uncle John's Bathroom Reader Plunges into Music, 2007, p. 31, 69, 138, 321, 343, 387, 436, 437, 463, 477, 487, 489, 493.

Mythbuster Collections - Episode Guide

2009-05-26T07:06:00.000-07:00

View actual season episodes at wiki. Season - S, Episodes - E, Specials - L.
2003 - S1: 3 Pilots, 8E. 2004 - S2: 16E, 1L. 2005 - S3: 19E, 7L. 2006 - S4: 26E, L2. 2007 - S5: 25E. 2008 - S6: 20E, L1. 2009 - S7: +.

Collection 1 (6E from S1, 4E-S3, 3L-S3, Total - 13)
S01E01 Ice Bullet, Exploding Toilet, Who Gets Wetter?
S01E02 Cell Phone vs Gas Station, Silicone Breasts, CD-ROM Shattering
S01E03 Barrel of Bricks, Peeing on the Third Rail, Eel Skin Wallet
S01E04 Penny Drop, Deadly Microwaves, Radio Tooth Fillings
S01E05 Hammer Bridge Drop, Buried Alive, Cola
S01E06 Lightning Strikes Tongue Piercing, Tree Cannon, Beat the Breath Test
S03E04 Toy car vs Viper, Yawning Contagious, Landing Buttered Toast
S03E05 Cooling a Six-Pack, Ancient Electricity, Dummy Car Drop
S03L05 Shop 'til You Drop
S03E06 Phone in Thunderstorm, Impregnanting Bullet, Boat with Attached Trailer
S03L06 MythBusters Revealed
S03L07 Hollywood on Trial
S03E09 Killer Brace Position, Driving Cell Phone
Collection 2 (9E-S4, 1L-S4, 3E-S5, Total - 13)
S04E04 Helium Football, Catching a Bullet with Teeth
S04E07 Bullets Fired Up, Vodka (cure poison oak, remove band-aids, low-end filter)
S04E11 Crimes & Myth-Demeanors Part 1: Laser Alarm, Climbing Ducts, Pressure Switch, Safe Cracking, Glass Hole.
S04E13 Killer Whirlpool, Snowplow Air Flip
S04E14 Diet Coke & Mentos, Helicopter Rotor Blade & Stamp
S04E17 Earthquake Machine
S04E18 Hurricane Straw through Tree
S04E24 Firearms Folklore - Bullet Through Sniper's Scope, Lodge in Revolver Chamber, Collide & Fuse, Exploding Metal Hammers
S04E25 Anti-Gravity Internet Devices
S04L10 Holiday Special - Falling Frozen Turkey, Rube Goldberg Machine
S05E01 Hindenburg Mystery, Running Zig-Zag from Crocodile
S05E02 Pirates - Knife in Sail, Eyepatch in Dark, Cannonball Splinters, Rum Cloth
S05E03 Underwater Car Escape, Folding Paper More Than 7 Times

Crystal Method - Divided by Night

2009-05-13T18:16:00.000-07:00

1 (3). Divided by Night 5:03
2 (9). Dirty Thirty 5:26
3 (6). Drown in the Now 5:49
4 (12). Kling to the Wreckage 4:06
5 (1). Smile? 5:36
6 (7). Sine Language 6:17
7 (8). Double Down Under 5:51
8 (11). Come Back Clean 4:59
9 (4). Slipstream 5:21
10 (2). Black Rainbows 6:23
11 (10). Blunts & Robots 5:51
12 (5). Falling Hard 6:39
13. Play for Real 5:01 (iTunes Deluxe Edition)

Green Day - 21st Century Breakdown

2009-05-13T11:01:00.000-07:00

1 (18). Song of the Century :57
Act I: Heroes and Cons
2 (12). 21st Century Breakdown 5:09
3 (1). Know Your Enemy 3:12
4 (10). ¡Viva la Gloria! 3:30
5 (15). Before the Lobotomy 4:37
6 (6). Christian's Inferno 3:07
7 (17). Last Night on Earth 3:56
Act II: Charlatans and Saints
8 (4). East Jesus Nowhere 4:35
9 (2). Peacemaker 3:24
10 (3). Last of the American Girls 3:51
11 (8). Murder City 2:54
12 (9). ¿Viva la Gloria? (Little Girl) 3:47
13 (5). Restless Heart Syndrome 4:19
Act III: Horseshoes and Handgrenades
14 (13). Horseshoes and Handgrenades 3:14
15 (7). The Static Age 4:16
16 (16). 21 Guns 5:21
17 (11). American Eulogy Part I Mass Hysteria Part II Modern World 4:26
18 (14). See the Light 4:35
Encore
19 (). A Quick One While He's Away (Who Cover, iTunes Deluxe Edition)
20 (). Another State of Mind (Social Distortion Cover, iTunes Deluxe Edition)
21 (). That's Alright Mama (Arthur Crudup Cover, iTunes Pre-Order Edition)
22 (). Like a Rolling Stone (Bob Dylan Cover, iTunes Pre-Order Edition)
23 (). Lights Out 2:16 (Know Your Enemy Single)
24 (). Hearts Collide 2:39 (Know Your Enemy Single)

Eminem - Relapse 1&2

2009-05-13T10:49:00.000-07:00

1 (18). Dr. West Skit 1:29
2 (7). 3 am 5:19
3 (4). My Mom 5:20
4 (9). Insane 3:01
5 (13). Bagpipes from Baghdad 4:43
6 (6). Hello 4:08
7 (20). Tonya Skit :43
8 (2). Same Song & Dance 4:08
9 (1). We Made You 4:30
10 (12). Medicine Ball 3:57
11 (17). Paul Skit :19
12 (11). Stay Wide Awake 5:20
13 (3). Old Time's Sake 4:35
14 (10). Must Be the Ganja 4:03
15 (19). Mr. Mathers Skit :42
16 (14). Déjà Vu 4:43
17 (15). Beautiful 6:32
18 (5). Crack a Bottle 4:58
19 (16). Steve Berman Skit 1:29
20 (8). Underground 6:11

TRACK LIST: 01) My Ambitions 04:29 02) Runion Ave 05:00 03) American Soldier ft. 50 Cent 04:30 04) R.I.P ft. D12 05:01 05) My Unit 04:00 06) Kill My self 03:38 07) They Say I’m Crazy 04:43 08) Kim (Skit) 01:08 09) Best Rapper Alive 04:45 10) Devil Inside 03:57 11) Barack Obama (Skit) 00:25 12) Cell 04:20 13) Biological Murder ft. Dr. Dre 04:35 14) Shady (Skit) 01:03 15) Lifeless 04:42)

Depeche Mode - Sounds of the Universe

2009-05-13T10:40:00.000-07:00

1 (12). In Chains 6:53
2 (9). Hole to Feed 3:59
3 (4). Wrong 3:13
4 (5). Fragile Tension 4:09
5 (10). Little Soul 3:31
6 (3). In Sympathy 4:54
7 (11). Peace 4:29
8 (6). Come Back 5:15
9 (7). Spacewalker 1:53
10 (1). Perfect 4:33
11 (2). Miles Away/The Truth Is 4:14
12 (13). Jezebel 4:41
13 (8). Corrupt 5:04
H14 (). Interlude #5 :42 (hidden song starting at 8:17-8:58)

The Berenstain Bears Books

2009-05-06T08:11:00.000-07:00

List
1. The Bears’ Picnic (1966)
2. The Bear Scouts (1967)
3. Vacation (1968)
4. Christmas (1970)
5. Nursery Tales (1973)
6. New Baby (1974)
7. Detectives (1975)
8. Science Fair (1977)
9. Go to School (1978)
10. & the Missing Dinosaur Bone (1980)
11. Christmas Tree (1980)
12. & the Sitter (1981)
13. Go to the Doctor (1981)
14. Moving Day (1981)
15. Visit the Dentist (1981)
16. Get in a Fight (1982)
17. Go to Camp (1982)
18. in the Dark (1982)
19. & the Messy Room (1983)
20. & the Truth (1983)
21. & the Wild, Wild Honey (1983)
22. Go Fly a Kite (1983)
23. Soccer Star (1983)
24. to the Rescue (1983)
25. Trouble with Money (1983)
26. & Mama's New Job (1984)
27. & the Big Election (1984)
28. & the Dinosaurs (1984)
29. & the Neighborly Skunk (1984)
30. & Too Much TV (1984)
31. Meet Santa Bear (1984)
32. Shoot the Rapids (1984)
33. & Too Much Junk Food (1985)
34. Forget Their Manners (1985)
35. Learn About Strangers (1985)
36. on the Moon (1985)
37. Toy Time (1985)
38. & the Week at Grandma's (1986)
39. & Too Much Birthday (1986)
40. Bath Book (1986)
41. Get Stage Fright (1986)
42. No Girls Allowed (1986)
43. & the Bad Habit (1987)
44. & the Big Road Race (1987)
45. & the Missing Honey (1987)
46. & the Trouble with Friends (1987)
47. Blaze a Trail (1987)
48. Go Out for the Team (1987)
49. On the Job (1987)
50. Trouble at School (1987)
51. & the Bad Dream (1988)
52. & the Double Dare (1988)
53. & the Ghost of the Forest (1988)
54. Get the Gimmies (1988)
55. Ready, Get Set, Go! (1988
56. & the In-Crowd (1989)
57. & Too Much Vacation (1989)
58. Trick or Treat (1989)
59. & the Prize Pumpkin (1990)
60. & The Slumber Party (1990)
61. & the Trouble with Pets (1990)
62. at the Super-Duper Market (1991)
63. Don't Pollute Anymore (1991)
64. Four Seasons (1991)
65. Say Goodnight (1991)
66. & The Trouble With Grown-ups (1992)
67. & Too Much Pressure (1993)
68. Big Chapter & the Drug Free Zone (1993)
69. Big Chapter & the New Girl in Town (1993)
70. Big Chapter Gotta Dance! (1993)
71. Big Chapter & the Nerdy Nephew (1993)
72. Big Chapter & the Red-Handed Thief (1993)
73. Big Chapter Accept No Substitutes (1993)
74. Big Chapter & the Female Fullback (1993)
75. Big Chapter & the Wheelchair Commando (1993)
76. & the Bully (1994)
77. New Neighbors (1994)
78. Big Chapter & the Galloping Ghost (1994)
79. Big Chapter & the Giddy Grandma (1994)
80. Big Chapter & the Dress Code (1994)
81. Big Chapter & the School Scandal Sheet (1994)
82. Big Chapter At Camp Crush (1994)
83. & the Green-Eyed Monster (1995)
84. & Too Much Teasing (1995)
85. Count Their Blessings (1995)
86. Big Chapter Media Madness (1995)
87. Big Chapter In the Freaky Funhouse (1995)
88. Big Chapter & the Showdown at Chainsaw Gap (1995)
89. Big Chapter Scouts & the Humongous Pumpkin (1995)
90. Big Chapter Scouts in Giant Bat Cave (1995)
91. Big Chapter Scouts Meet Bigpaw (1995)
92. Big Chapter Scouts & the Coughing Catfish (1995)
93. Big Chapter At the Teen Rock Café (1996)
94. Big Chapter In Maniac Mansion (1996)
95. In Big Bear City (1996)
96. Yike! Yike! Where’s My Trike? (1996)
97. Big Chapter Scouts Save That Backscratcher (1996)
98. Big Chapter Scouts & the Terrible Talking Termites (1996)
99. Big Chapter Scouts & the Sci-Fi Pizza (1996)
100. Big Chapter Scouts Ghost Versus Ghost (1996)
101. & the Homework Hassle (1997)
102. & the Blame Game (1997)
103. Big Chapter & the Bermuda Triangle (1997)
104. Big Chapter & the Ghost Of The Auto Graveyard (1997)
105. Big Chapter & the Haunted Hayride (1997)
106. Big Chapter & Queenie’s Crazy Crush (1997)
107. Home Sweet Tree (1997)
108. New Clothes (1997)
109. Big Chapter Scouts & the Sinister Smoke Ring (1997)
110. Big Chapter Scouts & the Magic Crystal Caper (1997)
111. Big Chapter Scouts & the Run-Amuck Robot (1997)
112. Big Chapter Scouts & the Ice Monster (1997)
113. Thanksgiving (1997)
114. Get Their Kicks (1998)
115. Lend a Helping Hand (1998)
116. Big Chapter Go Platinum (1998)
117. Big Chapter & the Big Date (1998)
118. Big Chapter & the Love Match (1998)
119. Big Chapter & the Perfect Crime Almost (1998)
120. Get the Don’t Haftas (1998)
121. Get the Screamies (1998)
122. Big Chapter Scouts & the Missing Merit Badges (1998)
123. Big Chapter Scouts & the Search For Naughty Ned (1998)
124. Play Ball! (1998)
125. Comic Valentine (1998)
126. Easter Surprise (1998)
127. Big Chapter Scouts Scream Their Heads-Off (1998)
128. Big Chapter Scouts & the Really Big Disaster (1998)
129. Big Chapter Scouts & the Evil Eye (1998)
130. Big Chapter Scouts & the Ripoff Queen (1998)
131. Mad, Mad, Mad Toy Craze (1999)
132. Think of Those in Need (1999)
133. & the Big Question (1999)
134. Big Chapter & the G-Rex Bones (1999)
135. Big Chapter Lost in Cyberspace (1999)
136. Big Chapter Wax Museum (1999)
137. Big Chapter Go Hollywood (1999)
138. Get the Noisies (1999)
139. Get the Scaredies (1999)
140. Big Chapter Scouts & the White Water Mystery (1999)
141. Big Chapter Scouts & the Stinky Milk Mystery (1999)
142. The Birds, the Bees & the Berenstain Bears (2000)
143. & Baby Makes Five (2000)
144. & the Big Blooper (2000)
145. Big Chapter No Guns Allowed (2000)
146. Big Chapter Great Ant Attack (2000)
147. Big Chapter Phenom in the Family (2000)
148. Get the Twitchies (2000)
149. Dollars & Sense (2001)
150. & the Excuse Note (2001)
151. Down a Sunny Dirt Road (2002)
152. & the Real Easter Egg (2002)
153. Funny Valentine (2002)
154. Ride Like the Wind (2002)
155. & Report Card Trouble (2002)
156. & the Papa’s Day Surprise (2003)
157. Too Small for the Team (2003)
158. & the Mama’s Day Surprise (2004)
159. We Like Kites (2004)
160. Brother Loves Dinosaurs (2004)
161. Sister Learns to Share (2004)
162. & The Bear Essentials (2005)
163. & The Baby Chipmunk (2005)
164. & The Trouble with Chores (2005)
165. & the Wishing Star (2005)
166. Bedtime Battle (2005)
167. & Too Much Car Trip (2005)
168. Clean House (2005)
169. Go Back to School (2005)
170. Go On a Ghost Walk (2005)
171. New Pup (2005)
172. Play T-Ball (2005)
173. Save Christmas (2005)
174. Seashore Treasure (2005)
175. Dinosaur Adventure (2005)

Treasuries:
1. Big Book of the Berenstain Bears ()

Little Critter Books

2009-05-06T07:33:00.000-07:00

Library.
Just For You (1975)
When I Get Bigger (1983)
I Was So Mad (1983)
All By Myself (1983)
Just Go to Bed (1983)
Just a Mess (1987)
I Just Forgot (1988)

A Very Special Critter ()
Bye, Bye, Mom & Dad ()
Good for Me & You ()
Happy Easter, Little Critter
Happy Halloween, Little Critter
Happy Valentine's Day, Little Critter
I'm Sorry
Just a Bad Day
Just a Baseball Game
Just a Bully
Just a Daydream
Just a Dump Truck ()
Just a Little Homework
Just a New Neighbor
Just a Piggy Bank
Just a School Project ()
Just a Secret
Just a Snowman ()
Just a Snowy Day
Just a Snowy Vacation
Just a Thunderstorm
Just a Toy
Just a Tugboat ()
Just Big Enough ()
Just Fishing With Grandma
Just Going to the Dentist
Just Grandma & Me
Just Grandpa & Me
Just Like Dad
Just Lost
Just Me & My Babysitter
Just Me & My Cousin
Just Me & My Dad ()
Just Me & My Little Brother
Just Me & My Mom ()
Just Me & My Puppy
Just Me in the Tub
Just My Friend & Me
Just Not Invited
Just Say Please
Just Shopping With Mom
Just So Thankful ()
Little Critter at Scout Camp
Little Critter Sleeps Over
Little Critter's Christmas Book
Little Critter’s the Best Present
Me Too
Merry Christmas Mom & Dad
Merry Christmas, Little Critter
My Trip to the Hospital
Sports Fun With Little Critter
The New Baby
The New Potty
This is My Family
Trick or Treat, Little Critter
We Love You, Little Critter
What a Bad Dream
When I Grow Up

Treasuries:
1. Just a Little Critter Collection (1995)
2. Little Critter Storybook Collection (2005)
3. I would like to see a volume for New Experiences, a volume for Family, a volume for Holidays, a volume for Sports & Play, and all the rest too, released in say...2010.

Random Facts 36 - Presidential Facts

2009-04-23T10:06:00.000-07:00

George Washington
Fact 1: Mason Locke Weems wrote "A History of the Life & Death, Virtues & Exploits of General George Washington" of which the alleged exploits included; chopping down the cherry tree, I cannot tell a lie & throwing a dollar across the Rappahannock river.
Fact 2: The Revolutionary War put Washington in series financial straits, and accepting the highest office in the land (something he loathed to assume) was the answer to his money troubles. Earning a salary of $25,000 (about a million today) of which 7% went to alcohol.
Secret Lives of the US Presidents, Cormac O'Brien, 2004, p.6 & 8.

Thomas Jefferson
Fact 3: Jefferson's original draft of the Declaration of Independence included a fiery condemnation of slavery, but the Continental Congress struck it from the document.
Secret Lives of the US Presidents, Cormac O'Brien, 2004, p.18.

Andrew Jackson
Fact 4: During the Creek War in 1813, an entire brigade of his men (including officers) threatened to return to North Tennessee exhausted and nearly starving. Jackson promptly rode his horse to the front of the column, leveled his musket and threatened to shoot anyone who moved that way - and it worked.
Fact 5: Rumored to have fought in over a hundred duels. .In 1806, in a duel, Charles Dickinson shot Jackson first dead center in his chest 24 feet away. Jackson staunched the blood flow with his left hand, and hit Dickinson below the ribs killing him. The bullet lodged close to Jacksons heart remained so for life.
Fact 6: In a 1813 scuffle, he received a gunshot wound in the arm and shoulder - and the bullets were removed 20 years later.
Secret Lives of the US Presidents, Cormac O'Brien, 2004, p.45-47.

Martin Van Buren
Fact 7: Van Buren's angst over the financial panic 1837 gave him a chronic upset stomach. His remedy was a concoction of soot and charcoal mixed in water.
Fact 8: In his autobiography he did not mention his wife, Hannah Hoes Van Buren, one time.
Secret Lives of the US Presidents, Cormac O'Brien, 2004, p.52-53.

Franklin Pierce
Fact 9: Two months prior to his swearing in, and shortly after boarding a train in Boston, the president-elect and family found themselves on a derailing car and rolled down an embankment. There was one fatality whose head was crushed, their 11-year old son Bennie.
Fact 10: First to have a full-time bodyguard on the governments tab. Thomas O'Neil served with Pierce in the Mexican War.
Secret Lives of the US Presidents, Cormac O'Brien, 2004, p.79-80.

James Buchanan
Fact 11: Only American President never to have married. He was briefly engaged at 28. His fiancee was Anne Coleman, daughter of one of the wealthiest men in Pennsylvania. Her parents were concerned she was to marry beneath her and that Buchanan was only after their fortune. Anne broke the engagement. She went to visit her sister, became ill and died. Rumors say she committed suicide. Buchanan wrote a heartfelt letter to Anne's father, and pleaded to follow her coffin in the mourning procession. The letter was returned unopened.
Secret Lives of the US Presidents, Cormac O'Brien, 2004, p.86-87.

Abraham Lincoln
Fact 12: As a child he was kicked in the forehead by a horse, and lived to tell about it.
Fact 13: In 1862, Sioux Indians on the verge of starvation attacked white settlements in Minnesota, killing more than 800. Union troops eventually subdued them and condemned 307 of them to hang. Lincoln interjected reviewed each one, and reduced them to 38 - which is the largest authorized mass hanging in American history.
Secret Lives of the US Presidents, Cormac O'Brien, 2004, p.93, 95-96.

Rutherford B Hayes
Fact 14: He and his family could be found every morning on their knees at prayer, and every night spent singing gospel hymns.
Secret Lives of the US Presidents, Cormac O'Brien, 2004, p.115.

Theodore Roosevelt
Fact 15: First to ride in an automobile, airplane, submarine and travel outside the US during the presidency.
Fact 16: Survived many accidents too - hurled through a glass window when his vessel collided in New Mexico, while boxing in the White House with heavyweight champion John Sullivan he received a blow that left him blind in his left eye, landed on his face when his carriage collided with a trolley - a large bruise on his leg swelled until doctors cut it down to the bone to remove dying tissue.
Secret Lives of the US Presidents, Cormac O'Brien, 2004, p.149-150.

William Howard Taft
Fact 17: Had the alarming habit of falling asleep.
Secret Lives of the US Presidents, Cormac O'Brien, 2004, p.155.

Ulysses S Grant
Fact 18: His wife Julia Boggs Dent Grant was severely cross-eyed as a result of being accidentally hit by an oar as a child.
Secret Lives of the US Presidents, Cormac O'Brien, 2004, p.175.

George HW Bush
Fact 19: Mary Tillotson was one of the first journalists to ask a sitting president about an affair. Those who knew him made plenty of claims that he cheated on his wife with many women including his secretary Jennifer Fitzgerald Bush remarked to Tillotson, "I'm not going to take any sleazy questions like that from CNN. I am very disappointed that you would ask such a question of me, and I will not respond to it."
Secret Lives of the US Presidents, Cormac O'Brien, 2004, p.255.

Random Facts 35

2009-04-23T10:01:00.000-07:00

370 MPG
In 1973 Shell Oil engineers designed a prototype car that got 370 miles per gallon.
Uncle John's Certified Organic Bathroom Reader, 2009, p.200.

Train Speed
Shanghai’s MagLev Train set a speed record in 2004 of 268 mph. Once the train hits 85 mph the wheels retract and magnets built into the sides of the train attract and repel other magnets lining the rails. There is zero pollution and no noise. The 20-mile track from Shanghai to the Pudong Airport cost $1.2 billion to build.
Mental Floss, May/June 2009, v.8, i.3, p.16.

Geothermal Power
The Geysers in California, the world’s largest geothermal power plant, makes enough electricity to power the city the size of San Francisco.
Uncle John’s Certified Organic Bathroom Reader, 2009, p.272-273.

Antiperspirants
Antiperspirants are classified as drugs by the FDA. Technically, they affect and/or alter your body’s natural functions. Aluminum chloride, the ingredient that blocks glandular openings and prevents sweating, is notorious for turning T-shirts yellow.
Mental Floss, May/June 2009, v.8, i.3, p.18.

LED Traffic Lights
New York’s high-efficiency LED traffic lights save the city $6 million a year.
Uncle John’s Certified Organic Bathroom Reader, 2009, p.245.

Broccoli Residue
Up to 93% of pesticide residue remains on broccoli after washing.
Uncle John’s Certified Organic Bathroom Reader, 2009, p.261.

Inkblots
There are 10 official inkblots in the Rorschach test.
Mental Floss, May/June 2009, v.8, i.3, p.72.

Phones in 2005
In 2005 there were more than 1.2 billion land-based telephone lines in use worldwide, but approximately 2.1 billion cellular phones.
Armchair Reader Weird, Scary & Unusual Stories & Facts, p.65.

Cereal Salt
By weight, most packaged cereals have more salt than potato chips.
Uncle John's Certified Organic Bathroom Reader, 2009, p.197.

NY Times vs Trees
A single run of the Sunday New York Times consumes 75,000 trees.
Uncle John's Certified Organic Bathroom Reader, 2009, p.115.

Glass Break Travel
When glass breaks the crack moves faster than 3,000 mph.
Armchair Reader Weird, Scary & Unusual Stories & Facts, p.41.

Tree Stats
One acre of mature trees produces enough oxygen to support 18 people for a year, and absorbs carbon dioxide produced by 26,000 miles of driving..
Uncle John’s Certified Organic Bathroom Reader, 2009, p.213 & 279.

Chopsticks vs Trees
China cuts down 25 million trees each year to make 45 billion pairs of chopsticks.
Uncle John’s Certified Organic Bathroom Reader, 2009, p.214.

Trash Methane
Tash rotting in landfills produces a third of all harmful methane emissions worldwide.
Uncle John’s Certified Organic Bathroom Reader, 2009, p.220.

Toxic Chemical Deaths
Globally, 5 million people die each year from exposure to toxic chemicals.
Uncle John’s Certified Organic Bathroom Reader, 2009, p.274.

Strawberry C
Strawberries have more vitamin C than oranges.
Uncle John's Certified Organic Bathroom Reader, 2009, p.208.

Apples
Apples are a member of the rose family.
Armchair Reader The Book of Incredible Information, 2008, p.232.

Current Facts 33

2009-04-23T09:50:00.000-07:00

Coal Plant Energy
The average coal-powered electrical plant can convert only 35% of coal’s energy into electricity – the rest is lost as waste heat.
Uncle John’s Certified Organic Bathroom Reader, 2009, p.13.

Game Console Standby Mode
If left on standby mode all the time, a Playstation 3 has an energy cost of $134 per year and if unplugged when not in use it drops to $12. An Xbox 360 costs $103 and unplugged $11. While the Nintendo Wii is $10 and unplugged $3.
Uncle John’s Certified Organic Bathroom Reader, 2009, p.180.

Computers
1. Exabytes - In 2006 the world produced 161 exabytes of digital information, 3 million times the amount of information contained in all the books ever written. Next year, the world will produce 988 exabytes of data.
2. Emissions - It is estimated that by 2020 computer servers will produce more emissions than air travel. Every Google search emits about 0.2 grams of carbon emissions.
3. Largest Data Warehouse - Operated by Sybase Inc & Sun Microsystems, the largest data warehouse contains one petabyte (1000 terabytes) of raw data.
4. Every day approximately 133,000 computers are thrown away.
The Week Magazine, 4.17.09, v.9, i.408, p.16. Uncle John's Certified Organic Bathroom Reader, 2009, p.40, 172, 252. BBC Knowledge, June 2009, v.1, i.5, p.83.

Zero Waste
In 2003, Kamikatsu, Japan, a town about 2,000 people banded together to reduce waste output. Separating 34 categories of recyclables, in 2008 they recycle 80% of all the trash generated in the town. They plan to be at Zero Waste in 2020.To compare – In America, the national recycling rate is 32%. 20% of the 400 million tons of municipal waste comes from homes, the rest is mainly manufacturing, construction, agriculture, and oil, gas and mining extraction.
Uncle John’s Certified Organic Bathroom Reader, 2009, p.10 & 207.

Animal Technology
1. Puffball Sponge “Chips” - This orange sponge does not have organs, digestive systems, or circulatory systems. The skeleton is a series of calcium and silicon lattices, similar to what we use to make solar panels, microchips and batteries…except without using tons of energy and toxic chemicals. The sponges release enzymes into the water that oull out the calcium and sillicon and then arrange the chemicals into precise shapes. University of California Professor Daniel Morse copied the technique in 2006 and has made a number of electrodes using clean, efficient sponge technology.
2. Lobster “X-Ray” – X-ray machines are large and clunky because x-rays don’t like to bend and are hard to manipulate, so a huge device is necessary to bombard radiation all at once. Scientists have been researching how lobsters use their own x-ray vision, creating the Lobster Eye X-ray Imaging Device (LEXID). This handheld “flashlight” can see through three-inch thick steel walls by shooting low-power X-ray. The returning bounce back signals funnel through the tubes to create an image. The Department of Homeland Security has invested $1 million in LEXID designs in hopes of finding contraband.
3. Sharkskin “Wrap” – 100,000 Americans die each year from infections picked up in hospitals. Unlike other large marine creatures, sharks don’t collect slime, algae or barnacles on their bodies – or even E. Coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Engineer Tony Brennan was trying to design a better barnacle-preventative skin for Navy ships, and while investigating, he discovered shark skin is covered in tiny bumpy scales (like a carpet of tiny teeth). His research inspired the company Sharklet, which began creating a coating to repel germs. They have produced a plastic wrap they are testing with reported success on most used hospital surfaces, light switches, monitors, handles…and plans forthcoming to work on catheters.
4. Bat “Cane” – England’s Leeds University led to the invention of the Ultracane, a walking stick for the blind that vibrates as it approaches objects. It lets off 60,000 ultrasonic pulses per second and listens to bounce back. It can also sense distance as well as low hanging items.
5. Toucan Bill “Car Panel” – A toucan bill is large, thick and hard enough to chew through the toughest fruit shells, sturdy enough as a weapon against other birds, and amazingly only as dense as a Styrofoam cup. The bill is made of a complicated network of tiny scaffolds and thin membranes. The scaffolds are made of heavy bone, but spaced apart in such a way that the entire bill is only one tenth the density of water. Professor of Engineering at the University of California Marc Meyers thinks that copying the pattern could create car panels that are stronger, lighter and safer.
6. Humpback Whale “Pwer Boost” - Frank Fish, a fluid dynamics expert and marine biologist at Pennsylvania’s West Chester University studied the softball sized bumps on the forward edge of Humpback whales flippers. These tubercles defy physics and are actually more aerodynamic because they are positioned in a way that they actually break the air/water passing over into pieces, like a brush running through hair. This “tubercle effect” as seen on fins and flippers can work on fans and blades – cutting through the air about 20 percent more efficiently than standard onews. Fish has launched a company called Whalepower to manufacture these ideas, and he hopes to revolutionize blades for wind energy.
7. Earthworm "Contamination Fighters" - In 2008 researchers at the University of Reading in England discovered an unknown type of earthworm. These worms eat toxic waste, including lead, zinc, arsenic and copper residue from mining. After they metabolize the waste, the poop is less toxic.
8. Bonus: Bacteria "Detoxing Energy" - Researchers at the Medical University of South Carolina resported in 2005 that some freshwater pond bacteria consumes harmful pollutants, including; PCBs and chemical solvents. Upon consumption they also generate electricity at levels that could be used to operate small devices 24 hours a day.
Mental Floss, May/June 2009, v.8, i.3, p.54-59. Uncle John’s Certified Organic Bathroom Reader, 2009, p.17-18.

Eco Technology
1. Pollution Eating Road - In 2006 the company Italcementi invented TX Active, a cement laced with titanium dioxide. THrough photocatalysis it transforms pollutants (such as caarbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide, and benzene) into harmless substances like nitrates and water. The cement is self cleaning with by-products washed away with rainwater. Testing a paved street in the town of Segrate showed up to 60% reduction of air pollutants.
2. Fly Ash Bricks - Fly ash is fine ash produced by birning coal and is high in mercury content.Coal plants typically captureas much of it as they can in chimney stacks and store them in slurry ponds. In 2007 Dr. Henry Liu of Columbia Missouri invented a process to safely turn the ash into bricks. Made at room temperature, they are 100% fly ash only and do not leach mercury - they actuallly absorb ambient mercury from the air (acting as pollution eaters).
3. Bio Sugar Battery - In 2008 Sony announced they designed a battery that runs on sugar. The battery takes advantage of electrons freed during the breakdown of sugars by enzymes. Four of the one and a half inch square batteries provide enough power to run a small mp3 player, which currently is the most power ever produced by a bio-battery.
Uncle John’s Certified Organic Bathroom Reader, 2009, p.105-106.

Metal
Over 70% of all metal is used only once, then discarded.
Uncle John’s Certified Organic Bathroom Reader, 2009, p.13.

Boeing 737s Electric Motors
Boeing 737s are to be fitted with electric motors that will propel them when they are taxiing. It’s been estimated that the change could cut over 400 tonnes of carbon dioxide per plane per year. The system has been developed by WheelTug, a subsidiary of UK-based Chorus Motors, and Delta Air Lines is expected to take delivery of the 737s equipped with the electric motor in 2010.
BBC Knowledge, June 2009, v.1, i.5, p.23.

Flat Screen TV Energy
A flat-screen TV uses 43% more energy than a traditional TV.
Uncle John’s Certified Organic Bathroom Reader, 2009, p.268.

Kraft Foods Energy
Kraft Foods is turning used whey, a by-product of the manufacture of Philadelphia Cream Cheese, into biogas, hoping to replace a third of the natural gas they use for energy – equivalent to what it takes to power 2,600 homes.
Uncle John’s Certified Organic Bathroom Reader, 2009, p.211.

Toilets
Toilets made after 1992 are water-efficient using as little as 1.3 gallons per flush. Pre-1992 toilets use between 3.5 and 7 gallons per flush. Caroma Indistries in Australia designed an efficient toilet with two buttons to flush. 1 for liquid waste which uses 0.8 gallons of water and one for solid waste using 1.6 gallons of water – which in Australia reduced consumption by 67% or about 9,000 gallons per toilet per year.
Uncle John’s Certified Organic Bathroom Reader, 2009, p.13 & 34.

CEO Salary
The median salary and bonuses for the CEOs of 200 large US companies fell 8.5% in 2008, to $2.24 million. It's the second pay decline since 1989. Corporate profits fell 5.8% over the same period.
The Week Magazine, 4.17.09, v.9, i.408, p.38.

Beijing Commuters
Beijing commuters who use bicycles, declined from 60% in 1998 to 20% in 2002.
History Magazine, Apr/May '09, v.10, n.4, p.5.

Cost of Trash
On average it costs $30 to recycle a ton of trash and $50 in a landfill.
Uncle John's Certified Organic Bathroom Reader, 2009, p.72.

Aluminum to Energy
In 2007 Americans recycled 54 billion aluminum cans, the energy equivalent of all the gas consumed in the US in a single day.
Uncle John's Certified Organic Bathroom Reader, 2009, p.98-99.

Pesticides in the Body
80% of commonly used pesticides have been found in human breast milk.
Uncle John's Certified Organic Bathroom Reader, 2009, p.146.

Recycle Bits
1. The Boeing 787 Dreamliner, built in 2008, is made of 50% recycled plastics.
2. If all American newspapers were recycled, it would save 200,000 trees a week.
3. A recycling operation creates 6 times as many jobs as a landfill.
4. You can get a tax credit donating DVDs to a library.
Uncle John's Certified Organic Bathroom Reader, 2009, p.9, 22, 171, 210.

Murder Rate
The US has a murder rate which is still the "highest among civilized nations." In March, over 50 deaths involved guns. The Second Amendment speaks of a "well-regulated militia" not an armed free-for-all in which angry loners and the insane can easily buy assult weapons made for military use.
The Week Magazine, 4.17.09, v.9, i.408, p.16.

Pet Shop Boys - Yes

2009-04-21T07:25:00.000-07:00

Released: 4.21.09
Discs/Tracks/Length: 1/12 – 48:39
Label: Astralwerks/Parlophone
Tracks:
1 (1). Love Etc 3:32
2 (5). All Over the World 3:50
3 (6). Beautiful People 3:41
4 (2). Did you see me Coming? 3:41
5 (3). Vulnerable 4:47
6 (12). More than a Dream 4:56
7 (11). Building a Wall 3:49
8 (9). King of Rome 5:31
9 (7). Pandemonium 3:42
10 (4). The Way it Used to be 4:43
11 (10). Legacy 6:22
12 (-). Track by Track Commentary 48:40
Non-US Bonus Tracks, Singles, B-Sides & Rarities:
B13 (13). Gin & Jag 4:29 (Love Etc Single)
B14 (8). We're All Criminals Now 3:55 (Love Etc Single)
Factoids, Extras & Eggs: None

80's Comedies (& a couple from '70's)

2009-04-16T07:33:00.000-07:00

Airplane (1980)
Airplane II The Sequel (1982)
Armed & Dangerous (1986)
Back to the Future (1985)
Back to the Future II (1989)
Beetlejuice (1988)
Better Off Dead (1985)
Beverly Hills Cop (1984)
Beverly Hills Cop II (1987)
Big (1988)
Breakfast Club (1985)
Brewster's Millions (1985)
Caddyshack (1980)
A Christmas Story (1988)
Christmas Vacation (1989)
Clue The Movie (1985)
Coming to America (1988)
Earth Girls Are Easy (1989)
European Vacation (1985)
Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986)
Fletch (1985)
Fletch Lives (1989)
48 Hrs (1982)
Funny Farm (1988)
Ghostbusters (1984)
Ghostbusters II (1989)
Great Outdoors (1988)
The Golden Child (1986)
Honey, I Shrunk the Kids (1989)
Howard the Duck (1986)
The Jerk (1979)
The Jewel of the Nile (1985)
Jumpin' Jack Flash (1986)
Lethal Weapon 2 (1989)
Life of Brian (1979)
Look Who's Talking (1989)
The Meaning of Life (1983)
Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975)
Naked Gun (1988)
Overboard (1987)
Planes, Trains & Automobiles (1987)
Raising Arizona (1987)
Real Genius (1985)
Romancing the Stone (1984)
Roxanne (1987)
Scrooged (1988)
Spaceballs (1987)
Three Amigos! (1986)
Three Men & a Baby (1987)
The Toy (1982)
Trading Places (1983)
UHF (1989)
Uncle Buck (1989)
Vacation (1983)
Volunteers (1985)
Who's Harry Crumb (1989)
Without a Clue (1988)
Young Einstein (1988)

Hasbro Family Game Night

2009-04-08T20:26:00.000-07:00

Games

There are 5 games with 40 variations of play - of those 19 mini-games are considered exclusively multi-player Party Games (PG), and 4 are Game Mode Settings (S) that change regular game play.
Battleship: 1. Classic, 2. Salvo (only 5 shots), 3. Five Super Weapons (Reinforcements - adds another boat, Lucky Shot - 1 hit will sink boat, Heavy Shot - five shot in cross pattern, Decoy - appear as hit but really a miss, & Missile - Fires down column, if none goes onto yours), 4. PG-Chase the Boat, 5. PG-Match the Pattern, 6. PG-Invisible Boats.
Boggle: 1. Classic, 2. Postal Cubes (flips 1st & last letter of selected word) & Panic Flip (reshuffles pieces near game's end), 3. Word Hunt, 4. PG-Survival Mode, 5. PG-Hidden Letters, 6. PG-Shake High Score, 7. PG-Flip Letter High Score.
Connect 4: 1. Classic, 2. Score Race, 3. Five Power Chips (2X - Double Score, Block - blocks column, Bomb, Newton - pushesentire column down one, & Heavy - knocks all out to bottom row), 4. PG-Blitz (Clear Opponents), 5. PG-One Chip Shot, 6. PG-Pattern Match, 7. PG-Final Move Find, 8. S-Column Drop.
Sorry: 1. Classic, 2. Five Bonus Cards (include; Freedom - everyone moves a player out from start, Sideswipe - move to next corner send all passed to Start, Wipeout - everyone moves furthest player to Home, Steal - take a players' card, & All Change - replaces entire hand).
Sorry Sliders: 1. Classic, 2. Advanced Counter-Clockwise, 3. Battle Box Power-Ups, 4. PG-Other Side Collect all 3, 5. PG-Bowlarama (clear as many pawns), 6. PG-Speed Way (score based on speed), 7. PG-Target Pulse (clear ghosts), 8. S-Danger Dots (white dots send back to Start), 9. S-Instant (Home or Start rule).
Yahtzee: 1. Classic, 2. Wild Dice, 3. Block Out (Compete & steal categorical high score), 4. GP-Match Pattern, 5. GP-Shaker, 6. GP-Dice Spinner, 7. GP-Weighted Dice Race, 8. S-Bottom Half Scorecard Only.

52 Unlockable Items (34) & Trophies (18) for Room

Battleship
Carpet: Sink all ships in Salvo in 4 turns.
Chair: Sink a ship longer than 3 units without missing.
Clock: Win two adjacent ships still afloat.
Coatrack: Hit a ship on first turn.
Lamp: Win Salvo with a submarine still afloat.
Mug: Win a game against a friend.
Picture: Win 20 games.
Pillow: Use all Super Weapons in 1 game.
Poster: Sink destroyer before other ships.
Slippers: Don't fall for decoy in Super Weapons.
Statue: Win with 3 afloat.

Trophies >

Heavy Hitter: Win with more hits than misses.

Minimal Loss: Win with at least 3 afloat.

Sea Commander: Win 20 games.
Boggle
Carpet: Uncover 75% of the words.
Chair: Win with 20 3-letter words.
Clock: Win a game of only 5 letter words.
Coatrack: Spell a 9 letter word.
Lamp: Win 10 Portal Cubes games.
Mug: Win a game.
Picture: Win 50 multiplayer games.
Pillow: Score 10 3-letter words in 1 game.
Poster: Win 5 games.
Slippers: Shake box longer than 10 seconds.
Statue: Score 5 6-letter words in 1 game.

Trophies >

Big 50: Win 50 games.

Gold 9: Spell a 9 letter word.

Mighty 8: Spell an 8 letter word.
Connect 4
Carpet: Win a horizontal line of 7.
Chair: Connect 4 under 2 minutes.
Clock: Connect 4 under 30 seconds.
Coatrack: Win 50 games.
Lamp: Connect 5.
Mug: Win a game.
Picture: Win Power Chips using all of the power types.
Pillow: Stale-mate, filled grid.
Poster: Win 10 games.
Slippers: Win 4 single player games in a row.
Statue: Win 5 multiplayer games.

Trophies >

Big 50: Win 50 games.

Criss-Cross: Win by 2 intersecting lines of 4.

Perfection: Win 4 single player games in a row.
Sorry
Carpet: Use Sorry card on opponent within one round of them using one on one of your pawns.
Chair: Send two pawns of each color back to start in 1 game.
Clock: Win multiplayer game under 10 minutes.
Coatrack: Use a yellow slide to send an opponent back to start.
Lamp: Win without sending a green pawn back to start.
Mug: Win a game.
Picture: Win after moving one pawn of each color back to start.
Pillow: Win without sending any teams' pawns back to start.
Poster: Win 5 multiplayer games.
Slippers: Use all bonus cards in 1 game.
Statue: Send an opponent's pawn back to start.

Trophies >

42 Eternity: Draw 42 cards in a game.

Rainbow: Send each player to Start.

Yellow Dart: Use yellow slide to send a pawn to Start.
Sorry Sliders
Carpet: Win without sending blue pawns home.
Chair: Knock out 1 pawn of each color with 1 slide.
Clock: Win under 5 minutes.
Coatrack: Win without falling into instant sorry target hole.
Lamp: Knock 4 pawns of the same color out in 1 game.
Mug: Win a game of battle boxes without collecting power ups.
Picture: Win 20 games.
Pillow: Win by using all the power ups.
Poster: Win without being sent back to start.
Slippers: Play for 1 hour.

Statue: Use the ice pawn 10 times.

Trophies >

Champion: Win 20 games.

Ice Man: Use the ice pawn 10 times.

Winner: Win 1 game.
Yahtzee
Carpet: Roll a Small Straight starting with 1.
Chair: Roll a full house with only 1's and 2's.
Clock: Roll a large straight ending on a 6.
Coatrack: Roll all sixes.
Lamp: Play for 1 hour.
Mug: Win against a friend.
Picture: Win 50 games.
Pillow: Fill the chance category with a score higher than 24.
Poster: Win 5 games against a friend.

Slippers: Shake dice for more than 10 seconds.
Statue: Roll 3 Yahtzees in 1 game.

Trophies >

Big 50: Play 50 games.

Lucky Roller: Roll 3 yahtzees in 1 game.

One Shot: Roll a yahtzee, full house and large straight on first roll.

I like this - but left sputtering. The Xbox 360 version additionally included Scrabble! I had noted some other Board Game to console releases once before - and I am taking this opportunity to note them all. Hasbro also has Monopoly & Trivia Pursuit out for the Wii as independent games. In the following below, NDS stands for Nintendo DS.

Hasbro (Milton Bradley & Parker Brothers): The tour guide for volume 2 should be Cooties and volume 3 a barrel of monkeys. Games to include in the same manner (with multiple variations) - Scrabble (Xbox 360), Cranium, Clue (NDS, Mobile), Life (Mobile), Candy Land (GBA), Risk (NDS, Mobile), Trouble, Stratego, Mastermind, Parcheesi, Guess Who, Memory (GBA), Hungry Hungry Hippos, Axis & Allies, Pictionary, Scattergories, Chutes & Ladders (GBA), Simon (GBA), Mouse Trap (GBA), Operation (PC), Perfection (NDS), Aggrivation (NDS), Rook, Hi Ho Cherry Oh, Taboo.

Mattel has partnered with Gameloft to make Uno (NDS) a WiiWare game. Maybe this will lead into Skip-Bo (NDS), Apples to Apples, Blokus, Mad Gab, Rockem Sockem, Outburst, Othello (Reversi), & more?

Crave Entertainment Wii - Solitaire & Mahjong.

PopCap Hits: Volume 1 - Bejeweled 2, AstroPop, Feeding Frenzy, & Zuma. Volume 2 - Peggle, Feeding Frenzy 2, Heavy Weapon.

Röyksopp - Junior

2009-03-31T19:27:00.000-07:00

1 (1). Happy Up Here 2:44
2 (2). The Girl & the Robot 4:28
3 (10). Vision One 4:59
4 (4). This Must Be It 4:41
5 (3). Röyksopp Forever 4:59
6 (9). Miss It So Much 5:01
7 (11). Tricky Tricky 5:59
8 (6). You Don't Have a Clue 4:33
9 (7). Silver Cruiser 4:36
10 (5). True to Life 5:50
11 (8). It's What I Want 3:06
Bt1 (). Were You Ever Wanted? 5:37 (Japanese Bonus)
Bt2 (). Across the Graveyard 4:23 (iTunes Bonus)

Musical Interests of 2009

2009-03-31T18:28:00.000-07:00

Charts - #'s in parenthesis note my playlist ranking order.

Alternative/Metal & Soft

1 (). All-American Rejects-Gives You Hell (Jan)

2 (). Hollywood Undead-Undead (Jan)

3 (). School of Seven Bells-Conjur (Mar)

4 (). Foals-Cassius (Apr)

5 (). Ting Tings-That's Not My Name (Apr)

6 (). 3OH!3-Don't Trust Me (Apr)

7 (). Whip-Trash (Mar)

8 (). Wayne Brady-Back in the Day (Jan)

9 (). Franz Ferdinand-Lucid Dreams (Jan)

10 (). Circlesquare-Dancers (Mar)

11 (). Santogold-Shove it (Mar)

12 (). Fol Chen-Cable TV (Mar)

13 (). Red Jumpsuit Apparatus-No Spell (Feb)

Rap/Hip-Hop

1 (). Eminem-We Made You (May)

2 (). Verb-Down the Hill (Mar)

3 (). KaboOse-Goin' Outta Control (Jan)

4 (). Mike Relm-Everytime (Mar)

5 (). The Go! Team-Grip Like a Vice (Apr)

6 (). Eminem-Crack a Bottle (Feb)

Dance/Techno

1 (). Sebastien Tellier-Divine (Apr)

2 (). Lady Gaga-Poker Face (Apr)

3 (). Bran Flakes-Spunky Left Two Three (Jan)
4 (). Coconut Monkeyrocket-Bumblebee (Jan)
5 (). Martinibomb-Chocolate Caliente (Jan)
6 (). Bobby Evans-Freak-a-Zoid Robotz (Mar)

7 (). Kelly Clarkson-My Life Would Suck Without You (Jan)

Mash (wiki, post)

1 (). Lazy Town & Lil' Jon: Cooking by the Book (Feb, YouTube)
2 (). Aggro1-Foo Fighters v Evil 9 (Feb)

Retro/Flashback

Nothing at present time.

Albums (Track # by Order # I like)

Lily Allen - It's Not Me, It's You (Feb, Post) Alternative

2 (1). The Fear (On Dec '08 Playlist)

3 (3). Not Fair
5 (4). I Could Say

8 (2). Fuck You

Bran Flakes - I Have Hands (Feb, Post) Dance
1 (3). Hi
4 (5). Stumble Out of Bed
12 (4). Make a Funny Sound
14 (1). Do You Want Salad With Your Taco
15 (7). Mini Mountain Queen
16 (6). The Sidewalk Song
22 (9). If I Loved You
23 (8). Fifty Four Fifty
29 (2). I Have a Friend

Crystal Method - Divided By Night (May, Post) Techno

1 (3). Divided by Night

5 (1). Smile?

9 (4). Slipstream

10 (2). Black Rainbows

12 (5). Falling Hard

Depeche Mode - Sounds of the Universe (May, Post) Alternative

10 (1). Perfect

11 (2). Miles Away the Truth is

Eminem - Relapse (May, Post) Rap

3 (4). My Mom

6 (6). Hello

8 (2). Same Song & Dance

9 (1). We Made You

13 (3). Old Time's Sake

18 (5). Crack a Bottle

Green Day - 21st Century Breakdown (May, Post) Alternative

3 (1). Know Your Enemy

8 (4). East Jesus Nowhere

9 (2). Peacemaker

10 (3). Last of the American Girls

13 (5). Restless Heart Syndrome

Ladyhawke - Self Titled (Jan, Post) Alternative

1 (5). Magic

3 (2). My Delirium
4 (1). Better Than Sunday

5 (16). Another Runaway
7 (4). Back of the Van

10 (3). Dusk Till Dawn
11 (6). Crazy World

Petshop Boys - Yes (Apr, Post) Dance

1 (1). Love Etc

2 (5). All Over the World

3 (6). Beautiful People

4 (2). Did you see me Coming?

5 (3). Vulnerable

9 (7). Pandemonium

10 (4). The Way it Used to Be

B14 (8). We're All Criminals Now
Prodigy - Invaders Must Die (Feb, Post) Techno
2 (2). Omen
11 (1). Stand Up (Dave Grohl Drums)
Röyksopp - Junior (Mar, Post) Dance/Techno

1 (1). Happy Up Here

2 (2). The Girl & the Robot

4 (4). This Must Be It

5 (3). Röyksopp Forever

8 (6). You Don't Have a Clue

10 (5). True to Life

The Sims - Complete Collection - PC (Feb) Soft

0 (1). Load Loadloop

0 (2). MakinMagic Sep7 BB 8
0 (3). Station Rap SHP 3

0 (4). Station Beach 3
0 (5). Station Rave 2
0 (6). Station Rave 1
0 (7). Superstar Sep6 BB 4
0 (8). Station Rock 5
0 (9). Vacation 1
0 (10). MakinMagic Build 3
0 (11). Nhood US 3
0 (12). Nhood US 1
0 (13). Buy 1
0 (14). Nhood US 2

U2 - No Line on the Horizon (Feb, Post) Alternative
1 (1). No Line on the Horizon
2 (2). Magnificent
Yeah Yeah Yeahs - It's Blitz (Post) 1-3, 8-9.

Nitro Circus

2009-03-30T07:34:00.000-07:00

MTV (TP-Travis Pastrana, JD-Jim DeChamp, JV-Jolene Van Vugt, ST-Streetbike Tommy, ER-Erik Roner, AB-Andy Bell, GG- Greg Godfrey)

S09E01.31 (100) Launch Special: 1. Fast Kid Wheel Intro, 2. Knoxville intro to Nitro Circus, 3. Knoxville’s Injury, 4. Travis, 5. Jim, 6. Jolene, 7. Streetbike, 8. Erik, 9. Andy, 10. ST-Heely, 11. Director Greg.
S09E02.07 (101) Welcome to Pastranaland: 1. Knoxville Opening :30, 2. TP Double Backflip :40-1:32, 3. TP Fast Home 2:07-2:28, 4. Slip n’ wade 2:28-4:01, 5. Slip & Bleed Loop 4:02-5:19, 6. Foam Pit 5:22-9:00, 7. TP Jersey Barrier Flip :05-:35, 8. Dirt Flips :36-1:43, 9. ST Box of Donuts 1:44-2:53, 10. TP-No Parachute Skydive 2:54-4:25, 11. ST Padded Fall :05-:40, 12. Pink Tricycle Backflip :40-3:30, 13. Pink Tricycle Revenge Mega Ramp :05-3:35.

S09E02.14 (102) Lake Medina: 1. TP Car Roll Opening :10-:43, 2. Lake House Flying Tube 1:16-2:30, 3. Parks Bonifay Pro Wakeboarder 2:31-3:20, 4. Wake Bike 3:21-5:25, 5. Heath Ross’ House – Biking in Texas:04-:59, 6. Cooper Tires Drifting 1:00-3:25, 7. ST Mud Traction 3:26-4:26, 8. Heli Lake Jump :05-5:05, 9. ST Bike Flip into Lake :05-2:00, 10. Crossing Lake by Bike 2:01-3:00, 11. Floating Ramp Flip 3:01-4:50, 12. Texas Goodbye 4:51-5:15.
S09E02.22 (103) Las Vegas:.
S09E03.01 (104) Hell Compound:.
S09E03.08 (105) Home Sweet Home:.
S09E03.15 (106) The Circus Heads West:.
S09E03.22 (107) Nitro In The Guinness Book:.
S09E03.29 (108) Hollywood Nitro:.
S09E04.05 (109) Panamania!:.
S09E04.12 (110) Puerto Rico:.
S09E04.19 (111) Nitro Winter Wonderland:.
S09E04.19 (Bonus) Cutting Room Floor:
S09E04.26 (112) Jamaican Me Crazy:.

Random Facts 34

2009-03-30T07:28:00.000-07:00

Space Shuttle RAM
NASA’s Space Shuttles use an IBM 5150 for the ships General Purpose Computer (GPC), which controls things like the entire launch sequence, runs on one megabyte of RAM. This is an upgrade of the 500-kilobyte computer the shuttles flew with until 1991.
Popular Science, February 2009, p. 75.

Newborns Swim
Tests have shown that when a baby is lowered face down into warm water with a parental hand under their stomach, they show no signs of panic and automatically hold their breath happily with eyes open. If the supporting hand is gently removed the baby starts making swimming movements.
Science News Magazine, 12.6.08, p.4.

Dolphin Tool
Dolphins off of Australia's coast dive to the bottom of channels with sponges on their snouts, pokingand brushing the sandy ocean floor to flush out small fish. They drop their spunges, gobble up the fish, and retreive the sponges to repeat the process again.
Science News Magazine, 1.3.09, p.13.

Birds
Passenger Pigeons once represented 25-40 percent of all North American birds – the last known one died in a zoo in 1914.
In the US alone, it is estimated that more than 100 million birds die each year after hitting windows.
About 3,000 birds collide with US Air Force planes every year causing an estimated $60 million in damages.
Armchair Reader The Big Book of Incredible Information, 2008, pg. 36-37.

Fresh Water Location
70% of our planet’s total supply of fresh water is locked up as ice in Antarctica.
Knowledge BBC Magazine, April 2009, v.1, i.4, p.38.

1943 Penny
There are about 40 1943 copper pennies in existence. One sold in 1999 for $112,500.
Armchair Reader The Big Book of Incredible Information, 2008, pg. 96.

Oldest Tree
California boasts the oldest known living tree, a Bristlecone Pine named “”Methuselah,” which is estimated to be 4,767 years old.
Armchair Reader The Big Book of Incredible Information, 2008, pg. 175.

Memory
The average person forgets 80 percent of what he or she learns in a day.
Armchair Reader The Big Book of Incredible Information, 2008, pg. 45.

Statue of Liberty’s Face
The Statue of Liberty’s face was modeled after designer Frederic-Auguste Bartholdi’s mother.
Armchair Reader The Big Book of Incredible Information, 2008, pg. 45.

President
Franklin Delano Roosevelt was related to 11 other presidents either directly or through marriage.
George W. Bush’s brother Neil was scheduled to dine with John Hinckley’s brother Scott, the day after Hinckley tried to kill President Ronald Reagan.
Armchair Reader The Big Book of Incredible Information, 2008, pg. 131.

Mario & Donkey Kong Compilation

2009-03-27T07:02:00.000-07:00

17/44
1. Donkey Kong (1981) wiki
*2. Donkey Kong Junior (1982) wiki
3. Mario Bros (1983) wiki
*4. Donkey Kong 3 (1983) wiki
5. Wrecking Crew (1984) wiki
6. Super Mario Bros (1985) wiki
7. Super Mario Bros Lost Levels (1986) wiki
*8. Super Mario Bros 2 (1988) wiki
9. Super Mario Bros 3 (1990) wiki
10. Super Mario World (1991) wiki
*11. Yoshi
12. Super Mario Kart (1992) wiki
*13. Yoshi's Cookie (1992) wiki
*14. Yoshi's Safari (1993) wiki
*15. Mario & Wario (1993) wiki mini
*16. Mario is Missing (1993) wiki mini
*17. Mario's Time Machine (1993) wiki mini
18. Donkey Kong Country (1994) wiki
*19. Hotel Mario (1994) wiki mini
*20. Super Mario World 2-Yoshi's Island (1995) wiki
21. Donkey Kong Country 2 (1995) wiki
*22. Donkey Kong Land (1995) wiki
23. Super Mario RPG-The Legend of the Seven Stars (1996) wiki
24. Super Mario 64 (1996) wiki
25. Donkey Kong Country 3 (1996) wiki
*26. Donkey Kong Land 2 (1996) wiki
27. Mario Kart 64 (1997) wiki
*28. Donkey Kong Land 3 (1997) wiki
*29. Diddy Kong Racing (1997) wiki
*30. Mario Party (1999) wiki
*31. Super Smash Bros (1999) wiki
32. Donkey Kong 64 (1999) wiki
*33. Mario Golf
*34. Mario Party 2
35. Paper Mario
*36. Mario Tennis
*37. Mario Party 3 (2001) wiki
*38. Super Mario Land (1989 Game Boy) wiki
39. Dr. Mario Online Rx (1990 Game Boy) wiki
*40. Super Mario Land 2-Six Golden Coins (1992 Game Boy) wiki
*41. Super Mario Land 3-Wario Land (1994 Game Boy) wiki
*42. Wario Land II (1998) wiki
*43. Wario Land 3 (2000) wiki
*44. Wario Land 4 (2001) wiki

Peanuts Specials

2009-03-24T20:25:00.000-07:00

Peanuts 1960's Collection (2-Disc) 6 Episodes (3:06:22)
1. A Charlie Brown Christmas (12.9.65) 25:26
2. Charlie Brown's All-Stars (6.8.66) 25:04
3. It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (10.27.66) 25:13
4. You're In Love, Charlie Brown (6.12.67) 25:22
5. He's Your Dog, Charlie Brown (2.14.68) 25:05
6. It Was A Short Summer Charlie Brown (9.27.69) 25:16
Featurette: Vince Gauraldi The Maestro of Menio Park 36:56.
Notes: Handy collection, however, this set does not include "A Boy Named Charlie Brown" aired 12.4.69, and the "Charlie Brown & Charles Schulz Documentary" aired 5.24.69. Previous Remastered DVD's included the following 3 Bonus Materials - "Featurette: A Christmas Miracle, The Making of A Charlie Brown Christmas," "Featurette: We Need a Blockbuster, Charlie Brown," & "Featurette: Unlucky in Love An Unrequited Love Story." wiki/tvd.
Peanuts 1970's Collection Vol 1 (2-Disc) 6 Episodes
7. Play It Again, Charlie Brown (3.28.71)
8. You're Not Elected, Charlie Brown (10.29.72
9. There's No Time for Love, Charlie Brown (3.11.73)
10. A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving (11.20.73)
11. It's a Mystery, Charlie Brown (2.1.74)
12. It's the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown (4.9.74)
Featurette: That Little Yellow Bird the Story of Woodstock.
Notes: Set does not include "Snoopy, Come Home" aired 7.14.72. Previous Remastered DVD's included the following 3 Bonus Materials - "Featurette: The Polls Don't Lie - The Making of You're Not Elected Charlie Brown," "Featurette: Popcorn & Jellybeans-Making a Thanksgiving Classic, & "Featurette: In Full Bloom - Peanuts at Easter." wiki/tvd.
Peanuts 1970's Collection Vol 2 (2-Disc) 6 Episodes
13. Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown (1.28.75)
14. You're a Good Sport, Charlie Brown (10.28.75)
15. It's Arbor Day, Charlie Brown (3.16.76)
16. It's Your First Kiss, Charlie Brown (10.24.77)
17. What a Nightmare, Charlie Brown (2.23.78)
18. You're the Greatest, Charlie Brown (3.19.79)
Peanuts 1980's Collection - 13 Episodes
19. She's a Good Skate, Charlie Brown (2.25.80)
20. Life Is a Circus, Charlie Brown (10.24.80)
21. It's Magic, Charlie Brown (4.28.81)
22. Someday You'll Find Her, Charlie Brown (10.30.81)
23. Is This Goodbye, Charlie Brown? (2.21.83)
24. It's an Adventure, Charlie Brown (5.16.83)
25. What Have We Learned, Charlie Brown? (5.30.83)
26. It's Flashbeagle, Charlie Brown (4.16.84)
27. Snoopy's Getting Married, Charlie Brown (3.20.85)
28. You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown (11.6.85)
29. Happy New Year, Charlie Brown! (1.1.86)
30. Snoopy!!! The Musical (1.29.88)
31. It's the Girl in the Red Truck, Charlie Brown (9.27.88)
Peanuts 1990's+ Collection - 11 Episodes
32. Why, Charlie Brown, Why? (3.16.90)
33. Snoopy's Reunion (5.1.91)
34. It's Christmastime Again, Charlie Brown (11.27.92)
35. You're in the Super Bowl, Charlie Brown (1.18.94)
36. It Was My Best Birthday Ever, Charlie Brown (7.1.97)
37. It's the Pied Piper, Charlie Brown (7.1.00)
38. A Charlie Brown Valentine (2.14.02)
39. Lucy Must Be Traded, Charlie Brown (8.29.03)
40. I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown (12.9.03)
41. It's Spring Training, Charlie Brown (6.14.05)
42. He's a Bully, Charlie Brown (11.20.06)
Previous Remasters Bonus Material;
Featurette: Dust Yourself Off & Pick Yourself Up (Dirt Biking)
Featurette: Together Again A Peanuts Voice-Cast Reunion (Snoopy's Reunion).
Featurette: Sibling Rivalry - Growing Up Van Pelt (I Want a Dog for Christmas)
Note if other featurettes are on Remastered DVDs post "I Want a Dog" and verify here - tvd.

Current Facts 32

2009-03-21T07:10:00.000-07:00

Millitary Fat
1 in 5 millitary-age Americans are too fat to join the armed services. The military has turned away 48,000 overweight applicants since 2005, a number greater than all the US troops fighting in Afghanistan.
The Week Magazine, 4.3.09, v.9, i.406, p.16.

Vacant Homes
1 in 9 homes in the US is now vacant. The 14 million houses, condominiums and apartments that are empty are just as likely to be in subdivisions as inner cities and many are priced at $500,000 or more (USA Today - The Week Magazine, 2.27.09, v.9, i.401, p.16). The median price of homes sold in Detroit in December was $7,500 (Chicago Tribune - The Week Magazine, 3.13.09, v.9, i.403, p.42). About 19 million homes and apartments in the US, or 1 in 7, are sitting vacant. Only 6 million of those are for sale or rent (New York Times – The Week Magazine, 3.20.09, v.9, i.404, p.38).

Cell Phone Future
Scientists say the cell phone of the future will be voice charged, doing away with plug-in charging. With the use of piezoelectric materials which generate voltage when a force is applied. Researchers have found these materials are most effective when produced in units the size of a few atoms.
Knowledge BBC Magazine, April 2009, v.1, i.4, p.20.

Millionaires & Billionaires
The number of US households with a net worth of more than $1 million fell by more than 25% last year, from 9.2 million to 6.7 million.
Only 793 people made the new Forbes billionaires list, down from 1,125 last year. The combined wealth of the world's billionaires was $2.4 trillion, down $2 trillion from the previous year.-Forbes.
The Week Magazine, 3.27.09, v.9, i.405, p.18, 38.

Landfills
Landfills are getting 30% less trash. People are buying fewer new consumer items, so there's less packaging to discard. Manufacturers are creating less waste, and a stagnanthousing market means less construction debris.-Washington Post.
The Week Magazine, 3.27.09, v.9, i.405, p.18.

Annual Rise in Sea Level
The sea level has been rising 0.12 inches annually since 1993.
Knowledge BBC Magazine, April 2009, v.1, i.4, p.81.

Malls
More than 400 of the 2,000 largest malls in the US have closed in the past two years.
The Week Magazine, 4.3.09, v.9, i.406, p.11.

Depopulation - Falling Birth Rates
In Europe, Russia, China and Brazil the average couple is having fewer than two children. In the US, 20 percent of baby boomers had no children at all. Birth rates are falling rapidly in Africa, the Middle East and Asia.
The Week Magazine, 4.3.09, v.9, i.406, p.12.

Telephone Industry Revenue
The annual revenue for the telephone industry is $210 billion, almost 8 times that of television and 23 times that of radio.
Armchair Reader The Big Book of Incredible Information, 2008, pg. 69.

Deducting Dairy
Falling milk prices and reduced demand for butter and cheese have forced farmers to sell of hundreds of thousands of dairy cows to be slaughtered for meat. This year, 1.5 million of the nation’s 9.3 million dairy cows may go to the slaughterhouse.-Associated Press.
The Week Magazine, 2.27.09, v.9, i.401, p.16.

Vehicle Repossessions
The number of vehicle repossessions in the US last year jumped 12 percent, 1.67 million.-USA Today.
The Week Magazine, 3.13.09, v.9, i.403, p.18.

Newspaper Decline
The Rocky Mountain News, a 149-year-old Denver daily, published its last edition last week. In recent months, four major newspaper companies filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection for 33 daily newspapers including – the Philadelphia Inquirer, Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune and Minneapolis Star Tribune.-Associated Press.
The Week Magazine, 3.13.09, v.9, i.403, p.18.

Freight Shipments
Railroad companies have idled 30 percent of their carrying capacity, 206,000 boxcars (end-to-end would reach from New York City to Salt Lake City).
The Week Magazine, 3.6.09, v.9, i.402, p.35.

US is Leading Manufacturer
Despite the recession, the US remains the world’s leading manufacturer, measured by the value of goods produced. US factories turned out a record $1.6 trillion of goods last year, nearly double 1987’s output. For every $1 of value produced in China’s factories, the US generates $2,50. –International Herald Tribune.
The Week Magazine, 3.6.09, v.9, i.402, p.35.

Consolidated Collections on DVD

2009-03-12T08:04:00.000-07:00

Amazon: Quad, 4 Film, Triple, Collection.

WB: 4 Film Favorites (B&N), Triple Feature, Double Feature.
Paramount: Triple Play Three Pack.
Universal: Triple & Quadruple Features (B&N), Favorites/Franchise Collection - Comedy.
Fox: Triple Features, Box Sets.

Some Examples:
Beverly Hills Cop Trilogy
48 Hours/Another 48 Hours
Hot Shots/Hot Shots Part Deux
Lethal Weapon (4 Film Favs)
Meet the Parents/Meet the Fockers
Vacation/European Vacation/Christmas Vacation/Vegas Vacation
Naked Gun Trilogy
John Candy - Uncle Buck/Great Outdoors/Bezerk
Whole 9 Yards/Whole 10 Yards
Matrix (4 film Favs)
French Kiss/Never Been Kissed/One Fine Day
3 Men & a Baby/Lady
Sister Act/Sister Act 2
4 Weddings & a Funeral/Say Anything/When Harry Met Sally
Along Came Polly/Reality Bites/Mystery Men
Must Loves Dogs/You've Got Mail
Tom Hanks: Money Pit, The Burbs, Dragnet

Releases I would Like to see
John Huges: Breakfast Club, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Weird Science, (Sixteen Candles)
Steve Martin: The Jerk, Roxanne, (The Man with Two Brains), Parenthood
John Candy: Volunteers, Armed & Dangerous, Planes Trains & Automobiles (Who's Harry Crumb)
Eddie Murphy: Trading Places, Coming to America, The Golden Child (Harlem Nights)
Chevy Chase: Spies Like Us, Three Amigos, Funny Farm, (Modern Problems)
Bill Murray: Meatballs, Stripes, Scrooged, (Groundhog Day)
Arnold Schwarzenegger: The Running Man, (Red Heat), Total Recall, True Lies
Richard Pryor: Stir Crazy, The Toy, Brewster's Millions, (See No Evil Hear No Evil)
Danny DeVito: Wise Guys, Ruthless People, (Throw Momma from the Train), Other People's Money
Matthew Perry: Fools Rush In, Three to Tango, Serving Sara, (17 Again)
Robin Williams: Hook, Toys, Jumanji, (Jack)
Farrelly Brothers: Dumb & Dumber, There's Something About Mary, Me Myself & Irene, (Shallow Hal).
Tim Allen: For Richer or Poorer, Galaxy Quest, Joe Somebody, Big Trouble.

David Lynn Golemon

2009-03-07T05:32:00.000-08:00

1. Event (Aug 06) EG#1
2. Legend (Aug 07) EG#2
3. Ancients (Aug 08) EG#3
4. Leviathan (Aug 09) EG#4

U2 - No Line on the Horizon

2009-03-03T07:45:00.000-08:00

1 (1). No Line on the Horizon 4:12
2 (2). Magnificent 5:24
3 (5). Moment of Surrender 7:24
4 (6). Unknown Caller 6:03
5 (10). I'll Go Crazy If I Don't Go Crazy Tonight 4:14
6 (3). Get on Your Boots 3:25
7 (9). Stand Up Comedy 3:50
8 (4). Fez – Being Born 5:17
9 (11). White as Snow 4:41
10 (8). Breathe 5:00
11 (7). Cedars of Lebanon 4:13

Prodigy - Invaders Must Die

2009-03-03T07:34:00.000-08:00

1 (6). Invaders Must Die 4:55
2 (3). Omen 3:36
3 (5). Thunder 4:08
4 (2). Colours 3:27
5 (8). Take Me to the Hospital 3:39
6 (11). Warrior's Dance 5:12
7 (4). Run with the Wolves 4:24 (Dave Grohl Drums)
8 (10). Omen Reprise 2:14
9 (9). World's on Fire 4:50
10 (7). Piranha 4:05
11 (1). Stand Up 5:35 (Dave Grohl Drums)
B1. The Big Gundown 4:21 (Lost Beats EP)
B2. Black Smoke 3:26 (Lost Beats EP)
B3. Wild West 4:15 (Lost Beats EP)
B4. Fighter Beat 3:32 (Lost Beats EP)

Bran Flakes - I Have Hands

2009-02-23T13:29:00.000-08:00

1 (6). Hi 1:34
2 (20). Rodeo Butterfly 2:39
3 (28). Klam :13
4 (3). Stumble Out of Bed 2:51
5 (27). I'm Not Feeling Very Well :05
6 (14). Marchy March 2:09
7 (29). Don Knotts :26
8 (11). The Girl That I Used to Be 1:36
9 (12). What It's All About 1:49
10 (19). Dance of the Sugarsnap Fairy 2:12
11 (22). Singing Dogs 2:05
12 (9). Make a Funny Sound :40
13 (23). You Can Do Most Anything 1:21
14 (1). Do You Want Salad With Your Taco :45
15 (5). Mini Mountain Queen 3:01
16 (4). The Sidewalk Song 2:16
17 (16). I Wonder Where My Grandmother Is 1:07
18 (18). Mr. & Mrs. Footsie 2:00
19 (13). Funky Feeling 1:20
20 (15). I Comb My Hair Sideways 2:03
21 (21). Van Pop 2:01
22 (8). If I Loved You 2:31
23 (7). Fifty Four Fifty 1:07
24 (10). Jump Up 2:39
25 (17). Beat Head 2:36
26 (24). The Crickets Ditty 2:00
27 (25). Sunshine Country 2:00
28 (26). I Am a Promise :41
29 (2). I Have a Friend 3:03
30 (30). Bye :22

Random Facts 33

2009-02-15T08:33:00.000-08:00

Speaking with Gestures
Gesturing with your hands while speaking improves memory.
Uncle John's 16th Bathroom Reader - Unstoppable, 2003, p.178.

Multiplication
111,111,111 x 111,111,111 = 12,345,678,987,654,321.
Uncle John's 16th Bathroom Reader - Unstoppable, 2003, p.199.

Last Names of Barbie & Ken
Barbie (the doll) has a last name - Roberts, and Ken's last name is Carson.
Uncle John's 16th Bathroom Reader - Unstoppable, 2003, p.245.

Pacific Ocean - Deepth
At its deepest point, the Pacific Ocean is 36,198 feet deep (about 6.85 miles).
Uncle John's 16th Bathroom Reader - Unstoppable, 2003, p.253.

No McDonald's
Montpelier, Vermont is the only state capital without a McDonald's.
Uncle John's 16th Bathroom Reader - Unstoppable, 2003, p.470.

Alcohol Rundown
Beer: Lighter Domestic Beer starts with Barley Malt (a grain thats sprouted then dried), cook the malt with Hops (dried flower bits from a vine in the hemp family) for flavor, then add yeast. Lager yeast stays at the bottom of the pot and Ale yeast floats. The brew ferments for days or weeks and the starches in the grain turn to alcohol. Different blends of grains, yeasts, hops and waters and maybe some caramel or sugar will get differnt beers like stout or porter.
Whiskey: Scotch is distilled mostly from barley malt heated over a peat fire for flavor. Irish is similar but without the peat smoke. In Canada they use wheat, corn and rye (along with the barley) and local water which brings a different taste. In the US, Bourbon is mainly from corn, straight malt (mainly barley) straight rye and blends. Whiskey is usually 40-50% alcohol.
Gin: is distilled from grains like whiskey but flavored with juniper berries. Added tonic water staves off malaria or vermouth for a martini. Vodka: was originally made from potatoes, these days substituted with grain. Most do not have a flavor and are an easy mixer. Rum: is made from sugar cane molasses, leads to Daiquiris. Tequila & Mescal are distilled from different agave plants from mexico, leads to Margaritas. Wine: is fermented grape juice and Brandy is distilled from wine or Cognac Brandy made near the French town of the same name. Champagne occurs after a second fermentation to add bubbles.
The Big Book of Vice, 1999, p. 40-41.

Wine Bottle Sizes
Fillette (375 milliters, half a bottle), Magnum (1.5 liters, 2 bottles), Marie-Jeanne (3 bottles occassionally used by Bordeaux France), Jeroboam (or a Double Magnum in Bordeaux France, 3 liters, 4 bottles), Rehoboam (4.5 liters, 6 bottles), Methuselah (or an Imperial in Bordeaux France, 6 liters, 8 bottles), Salmanazar (9 liters, 12 bottles), Balthazar (12 liters, 16 bottles), Nebuchadnezzar (15 liters, 20 bottles), Melchoir (sometimes called a Solomon, 18 liters, 24 bottles), Primat (27 liter, 36 bottles), Adelaide (largest ever blown, once, in 1958, held 26 gallons).
Uncle John's 16th Bathroom Reader - Unstoppable, 2003, p.255-256.

Playing Cards
French mass production of card decks created the suits to represent different classes of French society, Swords for Knights which became Spades, derived from the spanish word for knight, Espads. Hearts for the church, the Heart of French Society. Diamonds for Merchants and Clubs for peasants which represented three blades of grass.
First cards appeared in the 12 century in China for amusement. Gypsies brought paper cards to Europe in the form of Tarot. The most popular card game in 16th century England was a 3 card ancestor of Poker called Brag. In 1800s Faro was the game of choice in Mississippi riverboat casinos. In the 19th century the modern game of Poker evolved from New Orleans. A favorite in the Wild West, Wild Bill Hickok was shot dead in a game holding two pair, aces and eights - which went on to become known as a Dead Man's Hand. Gin Rummy comes in second most favorite. Bridge is a descendent from the English game Whist, revised by American millionaire Harold Vanderbilt (Contract Bridge) which is considered the game of choice amongst the ultra-rich. In 1930's US & England tried to make a fifth suit Eagles or Crowns but they did not catch on.
The Big Book of Vice, 1999, p. 145-148.

Billion
If you had $1 billion and spent $1,000 a day, it would take 2,740 years to spend it. The ratio of billionaires to the rest of the US population is 1 to 4.5 million.
Uncle John's 16th Bathroom Reader - Unstoppable, 2003, p.188.

Most Portrayed Character
Sherlock Holmes is the character most often portrayed on-screen with at least 204 films.
Uncle John's Bathroom Reader Plunges Into Hollywood, 2005, p.41.

Movie Attendance
In 1946 100 million Americans, out of a total population of 141 million, attended the movies every week. In 1947 it dropped to 90, in 1950 - 60, 1957 - 40, and leveled out at about 15 million in the 1970's. Today it is about 25 million out of a population of 295 million.
Uncle John's Bathroom Reader Plunges Into Hollywood, 2005, p.69.

Sequels
Charlie Chan: 44 Films - 1931.
Blondie: 28 Films - 1938, & 1 TV Season in 1957.
James Bond: 23+ Films - 1962.
Andy Hardy: 15 Films - 1937.
Sherlock Holmes (Rathbone/Bruce): 14 Films - 1939.
Uncle John's Bathroom Reader Plunges Into Hollywood, 2005, p.214-215.

Movie Theaters
The US has the most movie theaters - 32,992. India is second with 12,867.
Uncle John's Bathroom Reader Plunges Into Hollywood, 2005, p.419.

Raisinete Caffeine
50 rasisinets have more caffeine than a cup of coffee.
Uncle John's Bathroom Reader Plunges Into Hollywood, 2005, p.443.

Current Facts 31

2009-02-15T07:39:00.000-08:00

The Most Watched City
The people of London England are photographed 300 times a day by closed-circuit television cameras (CCTVs). The UK is home to an estimated 5 million surveillance cameras, 1 for every 12 citizens. Some CCTVs talk too, with watchers politely chastising the public (to pick up trash, etc). Radio Frequenc Identification Technology (RFID) uses radio waves to detect small implanted chips (already found in English passports, and travel cards Londoners swipe when using public transit). Experts fear they may be used to monitor purches and employees. They may some day be available implants as they are already available for pets.
Armchair Reader, The Colossal Reader, Oct 2008, p.314.

If the US stopped importing oil, used stockpiled and drilled domestically;
Following the energy crisis of the 1970’s, the US Department of Energy started storing oil in the Strategic Petroleum Reserve – a network of salt-dome cavers located around the Gulf of Mexico. Meant to safeguard against a major shortage, it currently holds more than 700 million barrels of crude oil. The US currently consumes more than 20 million barrels a day (more than any other country in the world). Factoring in the 5 million barrels a day we currently produce domestically, estimates suggest that our stockpile would last 58 days. The United States Geological Survey noted that drilling the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Northern Alaska could bring 4.3 to 11.8 billion barrels of oil. Which would keep the current rate of consumption going for one year, even though extraction would take a period of years. All told, including offshore oil (there are at least 23 billion barrels of oil under US territory that we know of) and sustain the current consumption rate, we would have three years of oil.
Mental_Floss, Jan-Feb 2009, v.8, i.1, p.46.

Fuel Economy
In 1975, Congress passed the Energy Policy & Conservation Act, which established corporate average fuel economy (CAFÉ) standards that required the gradual doubling of passenger vehicle efficiency for new cars – to 27.5 miles per gallon within ten years. By 1985 American passenger vehicle mileage went from about 13.5 to 27.5 while light truck increased from 11.6 to 19.5. The oil glut weakened OPEC and helped unravel the Soviet Union, then the world’s second-largest oil producer. President Reagan rolled the requirements back to 26 mpg instead of continuing the reduction of dependency. He also slashed budgets for alternative energy programs, let tax incentives for solar and wind start-ups lapse, and even stripped off solar panels from the White House roof. In 1989 Bush Sr moved the fuel economy back to the 1985 level of 27.5 mpg. The Michigan congressional delegation, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Big Three automakers and the United Auto Workers, pressured in a bill that expressly prohibited the use of appropriated funds for any rule making by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to tighten fuel economy standards for American cars and trucks – thereby freezing the whole process and banning mileage improvement standards through 2003. Bush Jr made a tiny adjustment upward in the mileage standard of light-duty trucks. At this point, China leaped ahead of the US standards. In late 200, 32-years after Congress ordered mileage improvements to 27.5, the standard was moved to 35 mpg (roughly where Europe & Japan are already) to be attained by 2020 – 12 years away! Sports-utility vehicles (introduced in 1979) were successfully lobbied to be labeled as light trucks so they would not have to meet the 27.5 mpg standard, but the light truck standard of 20.7.
Hot Flat & Crowded, Thomas L. Friedman, 2008, p. 14-17.

Fannie Mae & Freddie Mac
Fannie Mae was founded in 1938 as a government agency, part of President Roosevelt’s effort to help Americans gain access to mortgage funds during the Great Depression. In 1968 Congress released it as a private company. Owned by stockholders, but regulatory power was retained by the government. In 1970 Congress chartered a second company, Freddie Mac, to provide competition in the mortgage market. In general, they were set up to buy individual home loans from banks, then group them together and resell the bundled mortgages as securities to institutional investors. In turn, this gave banks the cash to make other mortgage loans, creating what is known as the secondary mortgage market. In theory, this was supposed to keep the American housing market stable, liquid and affordable.
Mental_Floss, Jan-Feb 2009, v.8, i.1, p.48.

Forests & Air
20 percent of the world’s oxygen is produced by the Amazon Rainforest. 1.5 acres of rainforest are burned cut or otherwise destroyed every second. At this rate, experts predict the Amazon rainforest will be gone in 50 years. There are 2,500 distinct fish species discovered in the Amazon basin – more than have been identified in the entire Atlantic Ocean. Imagine you are driving in your car and every mile you drive you throw a pound of trash out your window, and everyone else on the freeway in their vehicles is doing the exact same thing. People in Hummers are throwing two bags out at a time. That’s what we are doing, but you can’t see it. We are throwing out a pound of carbon dioxide into the air every mile we drive. Conservation International notes that in 20 minutes 1,200 acres of forests will be burned and cleared for development. The carbon dioxide emissions from deforestation are greater than emissions from the world’s entire transportation sector (cars, trucks, planes, trains, and ships combined).
Mental_Floss, Jan-Feb 2009, v.8, i.1, p.15. Hot Flat & Crowded, Thomas L. Friedman, 2008, p. 34, 148.

Food to Curb Hunger
Avocados, nuts, olive oils and other foods rich in unsaturated fats can curb hunger pangs between meals. The oleic acid in these foodstuffs elicits production of a hunger-fighting compound in the small intestine called oleoylethanolamide.
Science News Magazine, 11.8.08, p.4.

Thinning Fuel for Efficiency
Aplying a strong electric field to fuel a moment before it was injected into the engine's cylinders boosted fuel efficiency of a Mercedes-Benz 300D from 32 to 38 miles per gallon, and increase of more than 18 percent (others say it may be closer to 5-10 percent in real-world scenarios). If applied to all the cars and trucks in the United States, that fuel savings would add up to more than 300 million barrels of gasoline and about 150 million barrels of diesel per year. The field-generating device, which costs about $50 per cylinder could be retrofitted to many existing engines, applies 1,000 volts per millimeter accross the fuel line as it enters the fuel injector and makes the suel 10 percent thinner. Thinner liquids break into smaller droplets in the combustion chamber (like spraying water, instead of molasses) providing more surface area. Droplets of fuel burn at their surfaces, where the fuel meets oxygen in the air, so having more surface area means the fuel will burn more cleanly and efficiently.
Science News Magazine, 10.25.08, p.9.

Asphalt Energy
Rajib Mallick, an engineer at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, has devised a way to harness heat from baking blacktop surfaces and turn it into electricity. Water is pumped through copper pipes embedded in the asphalt. The water pulls the heat and produces steam to drive a turbine that cranks out electricity.
Popular Science, Jan 2009, p.40.

Growing Plastic
Researchers from Metabolix have found a way to affordably grow biodegradable petroleum-free plastic within the leaves of genetically engineered switchgrass. One day they could be grown to make thermal foam, food packaging and plastic bags - while consming less energy than current manufacturers do. The leftover switchgrass can be processed into biofuel.
Popular Science, Dec 2008, p.28.

Better Drywall
Serious Materials created EcoRock, a drywall that congeals without heat, uses recycled materials that don't require mining, and holds up better. The oven free process uses 20 percent of the energy used in the typical method (roasting ground-up rock in 500 degree F kilns, spewing 20 billion pounds of greenhouse gasses), and it is impervious to termites and mold. It is even about the same cost as high-end drywall.
Popular Science, Dec 2008, p.54.

Electric Grid Access
The World Bank estimates that roughly 1.6 billion people (1 out of every 4 people in the world) don't have regular access to an electricity grid.
Hot, Flat & Crowded, Thomas L Friedman, 2008, p.155.

Wheat & the US
The US is the biggest importer of wheat in the world, 6 million tons a year. So many American farmers were planting corn for ethanol, in place of wheat, that the price of wheat had gone up from $180 a ton at the end of 2006 to $390 at the end of 2007.
Hot, Flat & Crowded, Thomas L Friedman, 2008, p.197-198.

Gofers MPG
The average American golfer walks about 900 miles a year. On average, American golfers drink 22 gallons of alcohol a year. That means, on average, American golfers get about 41 miles to the gallon.
Hot, Flat & Crowded, Thomas L Friedman, 2008, p.203.

GMs Yellow Caps
GM put yellow gas caps on its flex-fuel cars (cars that could run on a mix of gasoline and ethanol). For years they never bothered to highlight or include it as a sales point with customers, because the only reason GM made a certain number of flex-fuel cars was that if they did so, the government would allow them to build more Hummers and pickup trucks and still remain under the CAFE fuel economy standard.
Hot, Flat & Crowded, Thomas L Friedman, 2008, p.205.

Geothermal Producer
Cheveron is the world's biggest private producer of electricity from clean geothermal sources (steam, heat, and hot water produced underground by volcanic material, providing the force to spin turbine generators).
Hot, Flat & Crowded, Thomas L Friedman, 2008, p.209.

Nuclear Power
An average nuclear power plant today produces about a billion watts (one gigawatt) of electricity at any given time. So if we tried to get all the power we would need between now and 2050 (almost 13 trillion watts) just from nuclear power, we would have to build 13,000 new nuclear reactors, or roughly one new reactor every day for the next 36 years starting today.
Hot, Flat & Crowded, Thomas L Friedman, 2008, p.214.

Vending Machines
noticed vending machines everywhere. There is now one soda machine for every hundred Americans. Humming away 24 hours a day 7 days a week, they use ten times more energy than the average household refrigerator (to cool the soda, lights and mechanics). Noah Horowitz met with store owners to improve them for efficiencies, then big companies met with him. They improved efficient compressors, fans, lighting, etc and the resulting design used half the energy of the old ones, saving 5 billion kilowatt hours a year - enough to run refrigerators in 10 million homes. Noah also worked with manufacturers to tighten performance standards for computer monitors - by 2010 EPA estimates this agreement will save $14 billion in electricity costs, and prevent almost 40 billion pounds of carbon dioxide out of the sky.
Hot, Flat & Crowded, Thomas L Friedman, 2008, p.280.

Coal During Elections
Of the 5 swing states (during election time) Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, West Virginia & Florida, the first 4 have one comonality - coal. Iowa and the Midwest bring biofuels - and by now you can see why terms like "clean coal" come up along the campaign trail.
Hot, Flat & Crowded, Thomas L Friedman, 2008, p.376.

Beastie Boys - Paul's Boutique

2009-02-12T08:17:00.000-08:00

1 (22). To All the Girls 1:29
2 (16). Shake Your Rump 3:19
3 (5). Johnny Ryall 3:00
4 (8). Egg Man 2:57
5 (10). High Plains Drifter 4:13
6 (6). The Sounds of Science 3:11
7 (20). 3-Minute Rule 3:39
8 (9). Hey Ladies 3:47
9 (21). 5-Piece Chicken Dinner :23
10 (3). Looking Down the Barrel of a Gun 3:28
11 (17). Car Thief 3:39
12 (18). What Comes Around 3:07
13 (2). Shadrach 4:07
14 (23). Ask for Janice :11
B-Boy Bouillabaisse (9 Track Suite, 15-23)
15 (4). 59 Chrystie Street :56
16 (13). Get on the Mic 1:14
17 (15). Stop That Train 1:58
18 (1). Year & a Day 2:21
19 (14). Hello Brooklyn 1:31
20 (7). Dropping Names 1:02
21 (19). Lay It on Me :53
22 (12). Mike on the Mic :48
23 (11). AWOL
B01 (0). 33% God (Hey Ladies Single, Japanese Album)
B02 (0). Dis Yourself in '89 - Just Do It (Hey Ladies Single, Japanese Album)
B03 (0). & What You Give Is What You Get (Shadrach Single)
B04 (0). Some Dumb Cop Gave Me 2 Tickets Already (Shadrach Single)
B05 (0). Your Sister's Def (Shadrach Single)

Lily Allen - It's Not Me, It's You

2009-02-11T08:17:00.000-08:00

Details: Released - 2.9.09 Label: EMI - 1 Disc/12 Tracks ~0:00:00.
Official, Google, VH1, MTV, Wiki, MySpace, Amazon, Yahoo, All, MC, LastFm.

1 (6). Everyone's at It 4:19
2 (1). The Fear 3:27
3 (3). Not Fair 3:21
4 (7). 22 3:06
5 (4). I Could Say 4:04
6 (9). Back to the Start 4:14
7 (5). Never Gonna Happen 3:27
8 (2). Fuck You 3:43
9 (10). Who'd Have Known 3:50
10 (11). Chinese 3:28
11 (8). Him 3:18
12 (12). He Wasn't There 2:56
Bt01 (0). Kabul Shit (Japanese Album) 3:45
Bt02 (0). Fag Hag (Japanese Album) 2:57
Bt03 (0). Womanizer (Britney Spears Cover, recorded unreleased)

Super Bowl XLIII (43) - Ads of 2009

2009-02-01T15:21:00.000-08:00

Rated based on my entertainment level - not by value of product.
64 ads with 30 seconds at about $3 million - NBC's total ad revenue is $206 million.
Average # Viewers: 98,732,000.

Neilsen: 48 unique brands (excluding NBC promos & PSA’s) aired 64 advertisements in 38 minutes and 5 seconds of comercial time. By category; Motion Pictures aired the most at 6 minutes and 50 seconds, Beer and Soft Drinks tied for second with 4½ minutes each, and Automotive aired 3 minutes. For the ninth year in a row Anheuser-Busch was the leading advertiser (4 minutes total). The highest-rated commercial minute was the Bud Light Lime and GoDaddy.com spots at 9:54pm ET, seen by 103.2 million viewers. The most-recalled ad was produced by Budweiser (Clydesdale Fetch). View complete ad records here. The Top 5 Best-Liked 2008 Super Bowl Ads are noted with "(#)" below.

My Top 5: 1. Monster: Need a New Job, 2. Pepsi Max: I’m Good, 3. Budweiser: Clydesdales Stick, 4. Doritos: Power of the Crunch, 5. Pedigree: Crazy Pets.

Ratings: A-0, B-12, C-26, D-11, F-0, & 10 Trailers. Overall Rating: C.

Audi: Transporter Chase - C+
Bridgestone: Moon Hot Item - C+
Bridgestone: Mr. Potato Head Taters - C
Bud Light: Drinkability Ski Resort - C+
Bud Light: Lime Bubble - C
Bud Light: Office Meeting - C
Bud Light: Swedish - D+
Budweiser: Clydesdale Circus - C
Budweiser: Clydesdales/Generations - C
(1) Budweiser: Clydesdale Fetch Stick - B
(5) CareerBuilder.com: Tips - C-
Cars.com: David Abernathy - C+
Cash4Gold.com: Heeere's Money - C
Castrol Oil: Dipstick - NR
Castrol Oil: Edge Monkeys - C
Cheetos: Gossip Girl Ugly Neighborhood - D
Coca Cola: Avatar - C
Coca Cola: Heist - B
Coke Zero: Mean Troy - B-
Dennys: Thugs - B
Denny's - Call Me Nannerpuss - B+
(3) Doritos: Crystal Ball - B-
(2) Doritos: Power of the Crunch - B
E-Trade: Baby Broken Wings - C+
E-Trade: Golf Skins - C
Gatorade: Mission G - B-
GE: Wind Energy - C+
GE: Scarecrow - C
Go Daddy: Danica Patrick Shower - D
Go Daddy: Enhanced - D-
H&R Block: Death & Taxes - C+
Heineken: John Turturro / Warrior (only shown in top 27 markets) - NR
Hulu: Alec in Huluwood - C
Hyundai: Angry Bosses - D+
Hyundai: Contract - D
Ivars: Half Second Ad (aired in Western Washington) - A
Kellogg's: Plant a Seed - C+
Monster: Director of Fandemonuim - D-
Monster: Need a new job - B+
NFL: Super Ad, Usama Young - B
Overstock.com: Bling & Boozer - D
(4) Pedigree: Crazy Pets - B-
Pepsi: Pepsuber - C
Pepsi: Refresh Anthem - C
Pepsi: Your Turn - NR
Pepsi Max: I’m Good - B
Pepsi Sobe: Lizard Lake - C
Priceline.com: Negotiator - C-
Sprint: Roadies - C+
Taco Bell: Overrated - Speed Dating - C+
Teleflora: Rude Talking Flowers - B-
Toyota: Faces - D
Toyota: Killer Heat - D+
Universal Studio Parks: Inner Hero - C
Vizio: Take a Look - D

Movie Trailers: Angels & Demons, Fast & Furious, GI Joe, Land of the Lost, Monsters vs Aliens, Race to Witch Mountain, Star Trek, Transformers 2, Up, Year One.

Ladyhawke

2009-01-24T13:14:00.000-08:00

Details: Released - 3.11.08 Label: Fugitive Recordings - 1 Disc/14 Tracks ~0:00:00.

Official Website, Google, VH1, MTV, Wiki, MySpace, Amazon, Yahoo, All, MC, LastFm.

Ladyhawke-Self Titled
1 (5). Magic 3:27
2 (11). Manipulating Woman 3:35
3 (2). My Delirium 4:16
4 (1). Better Than Sunday 3:28
5 (7). Another Runaway 3:17
6 (8). Love Don't Live Here 4:03
7 (4). Back of the Van 3:40
8 (13). Paris is Burning 3:49
9 (12). Professional Suicide 3:43
10 (3). Dusk Till Dawn 2:37
11 (6). Crazy World 3:35
12 (9). Morning Dreams 4:00

B1 (?). Oh My (UK Album) 3:24

B2 (10). Danny & Jenny (Paris is Burning Single) 3:31

Radio Broadcasts: Escape

2009-01-13T16:36:00.000-08:00

OTR
Escape 1 Operation Fleur de Lis
Escape 2 The Diamond As Big As The Ritz
Escape 3 Typhoon
Escape 4 The Sire de Maletroit's Door
Escape 5 The Ring Of Thoth
Escape 6 The Fourth Man
Escape 7 The Most Dangerous Game
Escape 8 A Shipment of Mute Fate
Escape 9 The Fall Of The House Of Usher
Escape 10 Pollack and The Porra Man
Escape 11 Th Suicide Club
Escape 12 The Young Man With The Cream Tarts
Escape 13 Casting The Runes
Escape 14 The Country Of The Blind
Escape Podcast 15 Confession
Escape Podcast 16 The Second Class Passenger
Escape Podcast 17 Leinengen Vs. The Ants
Escape Podcast 18 Time Machine
Escape Podcast 19 Three Skelton Key starring Vincent Price
Escape Podcast 20 Blood Bath
Escape Podcast 21 Abominable Snowman
Escape Podcast 22 Papa Benjamin
Escape Podcast 23 Three Good Witnesses
Escape Podcast 25 The Vanishing Lady (East Coast)
Escape Podcast 25 The Vanishing Lady (West Coast)
Escape Podcast 26 Snake Doctor (East Coast)
Escape Podcast 28 Snake Doctor (West Coast)
Escape Podcast 29 Ancient Sorceries (East Coast)
Escape Podcast 30 Ancient Sorceries (West Coast)
Escape Podcast 31 How Love Came To Professor Guildea (East Coast)
Escape Podcast 32 How Love Came To Professor Guildea (West Coast)
Escape Podcast 33 Grove of Ashtaroth (East Coast)
Escape Podcast 34 Jimmy Goggles, The God
Escape Podcast 35 Log of the Evening Star
Escape Podcast 36 Misfortune Isle
Escape Podcast 37 A Shipment of Mute Fate
Escape Podcast 38 Action
Escape Podcast 39 The Brute
Escape Podcast 40 Drums of the Fore and Aft
Escape Podcast 41 The Fourth Man
Escape Podcast 42 John Jack Todd
Escape Podcast 43 The Time Machine
Escape Podcast 44 The Match
Escape Podcast 45 Leiningen Vrs the Ants
Escape Podcast 46 Beau Geste
Escape Podcast 47 Country Of The Blind
Escape Podcast 49 She
Escape Podcast 50 Habit
Escape Podcast 51 The Man Who Would Be King
Escape Podcast 52 The Fugitive
Escape Podcast 53 S S San Pedro
Escape Podcast 54 The Diamond As Big As The Ritz
Escape Podcast 55 The Dream of Armageddon
Escape Podcast 56 Evening Primrose
Escape Podcast 57 The Lost Special
Escape Podcast 58 The Orient Express
Escape Podcast 59 Red Wine
Escape Podcast 60 Orient Express
Escape Podcast 63 Finger of Doom
Escape Podcast 64 Adaptive Ultimate
Escape Podcast 65 The Diamond As Big As The Ritz
Escape Podcast 66 Confidential Agent
Escape Podcast 67 General Died at Dawn
Escape Podcast 68The Great Impersonation
Escape Podcast 69 The Fourth Man
Escape Podcast 70 The Drums of the Fore & Aft
S47E12.31 Confession 12.31.47
Untouchable 9.27.53

Radio Broadcasts: Suspense!

2009-01-13T16:25:00.000-08:00

OTR
Suspense 17, Escape 70, Shadow 56, Sherlock 78, Green Hornet - 55
S43E02.02 Doctor Prescribed Death 2.2.43
S46E09.05 You'll Never See Me Again 9.5.46
S46E10.10 A Plain Case Of Murder 10.10.46
S47E01.23 One Way Street 1.23.47
S48E05.15 Deadline At Dawn 5.15.48
S48E08.12 Beware Of The Quiet Man 8.12.48
S48E12.02 Hands Of Doctor Ottermole 12.2.48
S49E11.10 Murder Of Aunt Delia 11.10.49
S50E11.16 On A Country Road 11.16.50
S51E01.18 Well Dressed Corpse 1.18.51
S54E05.03 The Giant Of Thermopylaer 5.3.54
S56E10.30 Red Cloud Mesa
S57E11.10 Pit And The Pendulum 11.10.57
S59E12.20 A Korean Christmas Carole 12.20.59
Suspense-1943 12-2 Black Curtain
Suspense-1955 4-12 The Lunch Kit
Suspense- Cave of Ali Baba

Radio Broadcasts: Sherlock Holmes

2009-01-13T16:05:00.000-08:00

AList, OTR
S38E09.25 Case of Alice Faulkner
S43E02 The Camberwell Poisoning Case 12.6.43
S44E00 Missing Bloodstains 5.15.44
S45E01 Book of Tobit 3.26.45
S45E02 Mendicant Society 4.2.45
S45E03 Case Of The Vienese Stranger 4.9.45
S45E04 Canary Trainer 4.23.45
S45E05 Unfortunate Tobacconist 4.30.45
S45E06 Purloined Ruby 5.7.45
S45E07 In Flanders Field 5.14.45
S45E08 Paradol Chamber 5.21.45
S45E09 Limping Ghost 9.3.45
S45E10 Colonel Warburtons Madness 9.10.45
S45E11 Out Of Date Murder 9.17.45
S45E12 Eyes of Mr. Leyton 9.24.45
S45E13 Thor Bridge 10.1.45
S45E14 The Vanishing White Elephant 10.8.45
S45E15 Manor Hourse Case 10.15.45
S45E16 Great Gandolf 10.22.45
S45E17 Murder By Midnight 10.29.45
S45E18 Gunpowder Plot 11.5.45
S45E19 The Speckled Band 11.12.45
S45E20 The Double Zero 11.19.45
S45E21 Accidental Murder 11.26.45
S45E22 Murder In Casbah 12.3.45
S45E23 A Scandal In Bohemia 12.10.45
S45E24 The Second Generation 12.17.45
S45E25 The Night Before Christmas 12.24.45
S45E26 The Iron Box 12.31.45
S46E01 Murder In Wax 1.7.46
S46E02 Murder Beyond Mountains 1.15.46
S46E03 Pigeon Feathers 1.21.46
S46E04 Demon Barber 1.28.46
S46E05 The Indescretion Of Mr Edwards 2.4.46
S46E06 Guileless Gyspy 2.11.46
S46E08 Terrifying Cats 2.25.46
S46E09 Submarine Caves 3.4.46
S46E10 Living Doll 3.11.46
S46E11 Blarney Stone 3.18.46
S46E12 The Girl With Gazelle 3.25.46
S46E13 The April Fool's Day Adventures 4.1.46
S46E14 The Disappearing Scientists 4.8.46
S46E15 Headless Monk 4.15.46
S46E16 Waltz of Death 4.29.46
S46E17 Twisted Lip 5.6.46
S46E18 Uneasy Easy Chair 5.13.46
S46E19 Haunting Of Sherlock Holmes 5.20.46
S46E20 The Baconian Cipher 5.27.46
S46E10.26 Hungry Cat
S47E12 The Tolling Bell 4.7.47
S47E23 Laughing Lemur 10.26.47
S47E26 Stolen Navel Treaty 11.23.47
S47E28 Moriarty & Diamond Jubilee 12.7.47
S47E29 Christmas Bride 12.21.47
S47E30 New Years Eve Off Scilly Isles 12.28.47
S48E00 Sudden Senility 1.11.48
S48E00 Sudden Senility 1.11.48
S48E01 Mazarin Stone 1.4.48
S55E00 Silver Blaze 3.27.55
S55E00 The Missing Three Quarter 1.06.55
S55E01 Charles Milverton 1.2.55
S55E04 Second Stain 1.30.55
S55E03.27 Silver Blaze
S55E04.29 Mazarin Stone
S59E06.30 The Beryl Coronet
S59E08.04 The Blanched Soldier
S59E08.25 Shoscombe Old Place
S59E08.11 The Copper Beaches
S59E08.18 The Noble Bachelor
S62E08.28 The Devil's Foot
S63E00 The Left Handed Corpse
S64E08.28 Bruce Partington
S64E10.09 Retired Colourman
S69E06.24 The Dancing Men
Sherlock Holmes Adventures 76 The Speckled Band
The Stockbrokers Clerk

Radio Broadcasts: Shadow

2009-01-13T07:55:00.000-08:00

Wiki Guide, Unofficial Guide, OTR
Guide: S - Season Year, E - Episode Date (Month.Day) Episode Title. * Notes Episodes I do not have. + Notes Episodes that are "Lost" which I do not have either.
18 Seasons, 639 Episodes (I own noted as IO# per season, total 68)

Season 1 (41) IO-31

S37E09.26 Death House Rescue
+S37E10.03 The Red Macaw
+S37E10.10 Danger in the Dark
+S37E10.17 Murder by the Dead
S37E10.24 The Temple Bells of Neban
S37E10.31 The Three Ghosts
+S37E11.07 Death Rides the Skyway
+S37E11.14 Terror Island
S37E11.21 The Ruby of Modoc
S37E11.28 Circle of Death
+S37E12.05 The House of Greed
*S37E12.12 The Death Triangle
*S37E12.19 Cold Death
S37E12.26 The Voice of Death
+S38E01.02 Goddess of Death/The Idol Talker
S38E01.09 The League of Terror
S38E01.16 Sabotage
S38E01.23 The Society of the Living Dead
S38E01.30 The Poison Death
S38E02.06 The Phantom Voice
+S38E02.13 The House of Horror
S38E02.20 Hounds in the Hills
S38E02.27 The Plot Murder
S38E03.06 The Bride of Death
S38E03.13 The Silent Avenger
S38E03.20 The White Legion

Special Summer Series (Extended Season 1)

S38E06.05 The Hypnotized Audience
S38E06.12 Death From the Deep
S38E06.19 Firebug
S38E06.26 The Blind Beggar Dies
S38E07.03 Power of the Mind
S38E07.10 White God
S38E07.17 Aboard the Steamship
S38E07.24 Murders in Wax
S38E07.31 Message from the Hills
S38E08.07 The Creeper
S38E08.14 The Tenor with the Broken Voice
S38E08.21 Murder on Approval
S38E08.28 The Tomb of Terror
S38E09.04 Death Under the Chapel
S38E09.11 The Caverns of Death

Season 2 (26) IO-17

S38E09.25 Traffic in Death
S38E10.02 The Black Abbot
S38E10.09 Death Stalks The Shadow
S38E10.16 Night Without End
S38E10.23 Gun Island
*S38E10.30 The Isle of Fear
*S38E11.06 Shyster Payoff
S38E11.13 Black Rock
S38E11.20 Death is Blind
+S38E11.27 Fountain of Death
S38E12.04 Murder in E Flat
+S38E12.11 Murder by Rescue
S38E12.18 Guest of Death
+S38E12.25 Give Us This Day
S39E01.01 The Man who Murdered Time
S39E01.08 Island of the Devil
S39E01.15 Ghosts Can Kill
*S39E01.22 Valley of the Living Dead
S39E01.29 Prelude to Terror
S39E02.05 Ghost of Captain Bayloe
S39E02.12 Hypnotic Death
S39E02.19 Friend of Darkness
S39E02.26 Horror in Wax
*S39E03.05 Sabotage by Air/Death by Violence
*S39E03.12 Appointment with Death
S39E03.19 Can the Dead Talk

Season 3 (29) IO-7

S39E09.24 Dead Men Talk
S39E10.01 Night Marauders

+S39E10.08 The Diamond Murders

+S39E10.15 Village of Doom

S39E10.22 House of Fun

S39E10.29 Phantom Fingerprints

S39E11.05 Mansion of Madness

S39E11.12 The Inventor of Death

S39E11.19 The Shadow Returns

S39E11.26 The Sandhog Murders

S39E12.03 Death Shows the Way

S39E12.10 The Flight of the Vulture

S39E12.17 Murder Incorporated

S39E12.24 The Stockings Were Hung

S39E12.31 The Cat That Killed

*S40E01.07 Murder in the Death House

+S40E01.14 Suicide Resort

S40E01.21 The Precipice Called Death

+S40E01.28 Murder Host

S40E02.04 The Return of Carnation Charlie

S40E02.11 Death is an Art

+S40E02.18 Coinage of Death

+S40E02.25 The Great Submarine Mystery

S40E03.03 Death on the Bridge

S40E03.10 Laughing Corpse

*S40E03.17 Murderer's Vanity

*S40E03.24 The Plot that Failed

+S40E03.31 Up from the Grave

+S40E04.07 Revenge Beyond Death

Others I Have (IO-13)

S40E12.22 Joey's Christmas Story

S41E01.26 The Ghost of Caleb MacKenzie
S42E10.25 The Mystery of Madman's Deep
S42E11.22 The Lady in Black
S45E03.25 The Destroyer
S46E01.25 Dream of Death

S46E03.03 Island of Ancient Death
S47E01.05 Werewolf of Hamilton Mansion

S48E09.19 Revenge is Murder

S48E10.24 The Drum of Obi

S48E10.31 Murder By a Corpse

S48E11.07 Evil in the House

S49E03.13 Ring of Mahlalayee

Radio Broadcasts - Subject List

2009-01-11T06:13:00.000-08:00

New OTR
The Shadow (18 Seasons, 639 Episodes - I have 48) 1937-54 Post
Green Hornet (? Seasons, ? Episodes - IH 53) POD OTR 1936-52
Escape (? Seasons, ? Episodes - IH 72) POD IA
Suspense (? Seasons, 945 Episodes - IH 13) 1942-62 IA
Sherlock Holmes (? Seasons, 220 Episodes - IH 76) 1939-47 AList

Movie & TV Reviews 2009

2009-01-03T21:00:00.000-08:00

Super Bowl Ads, Collection, '08, '07, '06, '05.
Wiki '09 Theater, Home, TV.

My Top 10 Movies: 1.

Total: 85. Viewed in Theater: 8, Online: 31, TV Series: 28.
J-8, F-15, M-4, A-6, M-17, J-15, J-4, A-16, S-0, O-0, N-0, D-0.
Rating Ranges: A-8, B-38, C-35, D-2, F-2.

Addams Family Season 1 (6.3, Hulu) B-
Addams Family Season 2 (6.16, Hulu) B-
Adventureland (8.30, Rental) C
All Creatures Great & Small Season 3 (8.13, Netflix Online) B+
All Creatures Great & Small Season 4 (8.21, Netflix Online) C+
American Gangster (3.29, Rental) C
Appleossa (2.1, Rental) C
Bangkok Dangerous (1.28, Rental) C
Bedtime Stories (5.9, Rental) B-
Body of Lies (8.8, Rental) C
Bubba Ho-Tep (2.6, Rental) C-
Burn After Reading (1.28, Rental) C
Choke (8.19, Rental) F
The Chronicles of Narnia - Prince Caspian (2.5, Rental) C
Chuck Season 2 (4.28, Hulu) B
CSI Season 7 (4.2, Netflix Online) C+
Crusoe Complete Series (2.10, Hulu) B
Ctrl Alt Delete Web Season 1 (8.25, Hulu) B+
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (7.20, Rental) B
The Day the Earth Stood Still (5.14, Rental) B-
Dick Van Dyke Show Season 1 (3.12, Hulu & Netflix Online) B-
Dick Van Dyke Show Season 2 (4.14, Netflix Online) B-
Dick Van Dyke Show Season 3 (8.6, Netflix Online) B-
Eddie Izzard-Dressed to Kill (7.19, Rental) B
Family Guy Season 7 (5.18, Hulu) B+
Fast Food Nation (5.24, Borrowed) B-
Final Destination 4 in 3D (8.29, Theater) C+
500 Days of Summer (7.29, Theater) B+
Fringe Season 1 (5.13, Hulu) B-
Ghost Town (1.7, Rental) B-
Going Berserk (3.12, Own) C-
Grace is Gone (1.23, Rental) B
Great American Road Trip (8.30, Hulu) C+
The Hangover (8.9, Theater) B
Horton Hears a Who (1.21, Borrowed) B+
House Season 5 (5.13, Hulu) A
How I Met Your Mother Season 1 (1.30, Borrowed) B
How I Met Your Mother Season 2 (2.3, Borrowed) B
How I Met Your Mother Season 3 (2.26, Borrowed) C+
Jarhead (2.27, Rental) B-
Jim Gaffigan King Baby (6.19, Rental) B+
Julie & Julia (8.18, Theater) B
Knowing (8.25, Rental) C+
Listener Season 1 (8.3, Hulu) B
The Mary Tyler Moore Show Season 1 (5.13, Hulu) C
Meet Dave (2.10, Rental) B-
Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium (2.13, Rental) C+
Mummy 3 - Tomb of the Dragon Emperor (1.8, Rental) B
My Name is Bruce (6.23, Netflix Online) C-
Mythbusters Collection 1 (5.22, Netflix Online) A
Mythbusters Collection 2 (5.27, Netflix Online) A
Mythbusters Collection 3 (6.17, Netflix Online) A
Nitro Circus Season 1 (5.14, MTV Online) B+
The Office Season 5 (5.17, Hulu) A
Over Her Dead Body (3.28, Rental) C-
Parks & Recreation Season 1 (5.15, Hulu) C+
Paul Blart Mall Cop (6.15, Rental) D+
Pineapple Express (4.3, Rental) C-
The Proposal (8.14, Theater) B-
Reaper Season 2 (5.27, CW Online) A
Religulous (2.21, Rental) B+
Revolutionary Road (6.21, Rental) D
Righteous Kill (6.24, Netflix Online) C+
RoboCop (2.15, Hulu) C
The Rocker (2.20, Rental) C+
Seinfeld Season 8 (3.20, Borrowed) B
Seven Pounds (6.9, Rental) C-
17 Again (8.23, Rental) C+
Smart People (6.7, Rental) C+
Star Trek (6.13, Theater) C+
State of Play (4.14, Advanced Screening) C+
Taken (5.18, Rental) C+
This Film is Not Yet Rated (NC-17 Rating, 2.18, Rental) A-
This is Howie Do It Season 1 (5.5, Hulu) B
Transformers 2 (6.25, Theater) C-
Transporter 3 (5.18, Rental) C+
Valkyrie (5.14, Rental) C+
Wanted (1.16, Rental) B
Web Therapy Season 1 (7.23, Hulu) B-
Web Therapy Season 2 (7.25, Hulu) B-
Weeds Season 1 (6.25, Netflix Online) B+
Weeds Season 2 (6.29, Netflix Online) B+
What Happens in Vegas (4.29, Rental) C-
What Just Happened (2.27, Rental) C
Who Killed the Electric Car (2.10, Rental) A
Yes Man (5.7, Rental) C+
Zack and Miri Make a Porno (8.17, Rental) F+

Television

South Park Season 13 (SPStudios) B (2nd half in fall)
Dirty Jobs Season 4 (Watch) B+
Mythbusters Season 7 (Watch) B+
Daily Show with Jon Stewart Season 14 (Hulu) A
Best Week Ever (VH1) B+
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno Season 17 (Hulu) B

The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien Season 1 (Hulu) B-
Late Night with Conan O'Brien Season 16 (Hulu) C+
Late Night with Jimmy Fallon Season 1 (Hulu) C+
Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson Season 5 (CBS) C+

Book & Magazine Reviews 2009

2009-01-03T20:44:00.000-08:00

Collection, BookLabel, Releases, ESpot, Previous,
Reviews: '08, '07, '06, '05, My Shelfari Page

Top 5 Non-Fiction: 1. UJ's BR 16th Unstoppable, 2. Secret Lives of the US Presidents, 3. UJ's BR Certified Organic, 4. ACR The Colossal Reader.
Top 5 Fiction: 1. The Last Oracle, 2. Event, 3. The Big Book of Lies.
Top 5 Magazines: 1. The Week Magazine, 2. Mental Floss, 3. BBC Knowledge, 4. History Magazine, 5. Science News Weekly.

Total: 35. Rated: A-1, B-18, C-13, D-2, F-0.
J-6, F-4, M-7, A-5, M-6, J-4, J-1, A-2, S-0, O-0, N-0, D-0.
NonFiction: 17. Fiction: 18. Comics: 5. Audio (A): 0.

Ancient - David Golemon (5.26) B-
Big Book of Little Criminals (1.17) B
Big Book of Vice (1.31) C-
Big Book of Weirdos (2.21) B
Big Book of the Berenstain Bears (5.13) A
Book of Lies - Brad Meltzer (6.16) B
ACR - The Colossal Reader (1.31) B
ACR - The Book of Incredible Information (3.24) B-
ACR - The Book of Myths & Misconceptions (5.6) C+
ACR - Weird, Scary & Unusual Stories & Facts (3.4) B-
Cross - James Patterson (3.12) C+
Cross Country - James Patterson (8.4) D
Dangerous Days of Daniel X - James Patterson (7.31) D
Double Cross - James Patterson (3.27) C
Event - David Golemon (3.12) B
Hot, Flat & Crowded - Thomas L Friedman (1.13) B
The Ice Limit - Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child (6.25) C
Indiana Jones (#2) & the Dance of the Giants - Rob MacGregor (4.30) C
Indiana Jones (#1) & the Peril at Delphi - Rob MacGregor (3.5) C-
The Last Oracle - James Rollins (6.10) B+
Legend - David Golemon (4.12) B-
Little Critter Storybook Collection (5.13) C+
Mental Floss - What's the Difference (1.27) B-
My Boring Ass Life - Kevin Smith (6.3) C-
Scarecrow - Matthew Reilly (4.27) B-
Secret Lives of the US Presidents - Cormac O'Brien (3.26) B+
The Six Sacred Stones - Matthew Reilly (2.27) C+
UJ's BR - Certified Organic (4.20) B
UJ's BR - Plunges Into Hollywood (2.17) C-
UJ's BR - Plunges Into Music (5.11) C+
UJ's BR - Sports Spectacular (1.20) B-
UJ's BR - Salutes the Armed Forces (4.28) C
UJ's BR - 16th Unstoppable (2.9) B
What if? Classic Vol. 5 - Marvel (5.2) C-
Wrapped-Up FoxTrot (Treasury 11) - Bill Amend (8.10) B+

Magazines

Subscriptions: The Week Magazine, Mental Floss, BBC Knowledge, Science News Weekly, Blender, CMJ New Music Monthly, Popular Science, Wired, Costco Connection.
Others I Enjoy: History Magazine, Popular Mechanics, Biography Magazine, Penny Press Quarterly - All Star Variety Plus Easy Sudoku, The History Channel Magazine, & Games Magazine.

Books in Que

Year's Best SF14 - Hartwell & Cramer, Third Term - Paul Begala.

Books That Seem Interesting

Essential - Spider-Man Vol. 9 (5.20.09)

Essential - Peter Parker Spectacular Spider-Man Vol. 4
Essential - Marvel Team-Up Vol. 3
Shootin’ The Sh*t with Kevin Smith (9/22)
Censored 2010-Top 25 Stories v.32 - Project Censored (Oct)
UJ's BR - Wise Up (Oct)
UJ's BR - 22nd Endlessly Engrossing (Nov)
Best American Science & Nature Writing 2009 v.10 (Oct)
The Associate - John Grisham (9.22.09)
Mental Floss/Maggie Koerth-Baker - Be Amazing (2009)
Blue Bike Bathroom Book of Colorado Trivia ISBN-13: 9781897278451
David Rubel - The Bedside Baccalaureate Second Semester (2009)
Jon Land - The Seven Sins (2009)
David Foster Wallace - Infinite Jest (1996)
Steven Levitt - Freakonomics (2005)
Malcolm Gladwell - The Tipping Point (2000)
Yes We Can! - Paula Munier (2008)
Only in Harback (I will be interested once in Paperback)
Jake Ransom & the Skull King's Shadow - James Rollins (4.28)
Doomsday Key - James Rollins (Sigma #5, 6.23)
The Altar of Eden - James Rollins (10.28)
Leviathan - David Golemon (8.4.09)
Pirate Latitudes - Michael Crichton (11.24.09)
Ford County - John Grisham (10.20.09)
The Five Greatest Warriors - Matthew Reilly (10/09)
Cemetery Dance - Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child (5.12.09)
Alex Cross's Trial - James Patterson (8.24.09)
I, Alex Cross - James Patterson (11.16.09)

Miscellaneous Events 2009

2009-01-03T20:35:00.000-08:00

Museums to Meetings & Milestones

Lindburg High School - Talent Show (2.10).

Concert - Flight of the Conchords (5.12, Paramount Theater).

Weddings

Antoine Butcher & Melanie Mattioli (8.28)

Adam & Summer (10.10)

Funerals

Wes Zylstra (1.27).

Products of Note 2009

2009-01-03T20:24:00.000-08:00

Food

Almond PB&J with Peanuts Raspberries & Strawberries (Sahale - QFC) B+
Cashews with Pomegranate & Vanilla (Sahale - QFC) B

Cheddar Ranch Pretzels (Archer Farms - Target) A

Jalapeno Pretzels (Archer Farms - Target) A

Light & Fit Yogurt Pomegranate Berry (Dannon) A

Gadgets +

BioBags (BioGroupUSA - QFC) A

Game Reviews 2009

2009-01-03T07:23:00.000-08:00

Grand Total: 19. J-5, F-4, M-0, A-0, M-0, J-1, J-4, A-5, S-0, O-0, N-0, D-0.
PC: 5, Console: 10 (Wii 4, Wiiware 6, Xbox360 0), Board/Card: 3, Cell: 1.
Rating Ranges: A-2, B-12, C-4, D-1, F-0.

Apples to Apples Party Box Expansion 2 (Board - Out of the Box Pub, 1.3) A
Boom Blox Bash Party (Wii - EA Games, 7.20) B
Diamond Detective (PC - Real Arcade, 1.2) C+
Farm Town (PC/Facebook, SlashKey, 8.17) B
5 Spots Party (WiiWare, Cosmonaut Games, 7.21) B-
Fluxx - Monty Python (Card - Looney Labs, 1.1) B
HB Arcade Cards (WiiWare, HB Studios, 8.11) B+
Jungle Speed (WiiWare - Playful Entertainment Inc, 2.1) B+
Must Pop Words (PC - Bonte Games, 8.8) B
Neves Plus (WiiWare - Yuke's, 6.22) B
Pinball Hall of Fame - The Williams Collection (Wii - Crave Entertainment, 2.26) B
Solitaire & Mahjong (Wii - Crave Entertainment, 8.9) A-
Space Invaders Get Even (WiiWare - Taito, 2.1) C
Super Collapse 3 (PC - Real Arcade, 1.2) B+
Where's Waldo (Cell - Capcom Mobile, 8.10) C
Wii Sports Resort (Wii - Nintendo EAD, 7.27) B+
Wild West Guns (WiiWare - Gameloft, 2.11) C+
Word Slinger (PC - Real Arcade, 1.2) D
Zonk (Dice, 7.9) B+

FastClicks of '09 Streaming

2009-01-02T16:29:00.000-08:00

Musical Interests of: '09, '08, '07, '06, '05, '04, Halloween, Christmas.

Prior FastClicks '08, '07. Wiki '08: Radio, Music, Theater, Home, TV.

2009: Movies, Music, Books, Games, Internet, Products, Misc.

Top 5's

Top 5 Video: 1. DiggReel, 2. Diggnation, 3. Discovery News, 4. ROFL, 5. 1st Look.
Top 5 Audio: 1. Dawn & Drew, 2. Frosty Heidi Frank Uncensored, 3. Stereo Radiation, 4. American Cliche, 5. Coolness Roundup.
Top 10 Shortcasts: 1. Brain Stuff, 2. Stuff of Genius, 3. Daily Dish, 4. You Can't Make This Up, 5. Science Fridays, 6. Dinner Party DL, 7. Loh Down on Science, 8. House Call Doctor, 9. Loaded, 10. Modern Manners Guy, 11. Howcast Home & Family, 12. Slashdot Review.
Top 5 Radio & TV: 1. Real Time Bill Maher, 2. Men's Room, 3. BJ Shea, 4. Danny Bonaduce Morning, 5. Wait Wait Don't Tell Me. Honorable mention (I started watching InfoMania & Rotten Tomatos Show as podcasts, but stopped once on Hulu).

Top 5 News Bits: 1. NPR 7am Summary, 2. NY Times Front Page, 3. KUOW News, 4. NW Public Radio, 5. NPR Story of the Day.

Top 5 Cut Talk Radio: 1. Frosty Heidi Frank, 2. Cort & Fatboy, 3. Adam Carolla, 4. Danny Bonaduce (1 hr show), 5. Tom Leykis.

Podcasts (PlayIt, Pod, Find, Bean, Alley)

Talk Radio Podcasts: Men's Room, BJ Shea (del), MorningX Dave & Chuck, Danny Bonaduce, Troubleshooter Tom, FreeTalk, Ron & Don, Too Beautiful to Live, Fitz in the Morning, Jackie & Bender, Ryan Monty & Wippa, Ricker, T-Man, NW News, Bob Rivers, Toucher & Rich, Mickey-Amelia-Spiegel, Mike O'Meara, Big O & Dukes, Joe Radio.

ABC: Extreme Video, Daily Dish, Buzz, Popcorn, Obama Weekly Address.
NPR (& NYPR): 5Min News, KUOW News & Presents, Wait Wait Don't Tell Me, Story of the Day, Pop Culture, Discovery Now, Loh Down on Science, Sunday Puzzle, Dinner Party Download, Underreported, Car Talk, On the Media, Tell Me More, Please Explain, Flashpoints (KPFA), Democracy Now, Your Health, What'd Ya Know, Kim Komando, AirTalk.
CNN: Can't Make This Up, Absurd Video, Hourly News.
BBC (Radio 1 2 4): Scott Mills, Friday Night Comedy, File on 4 Investigations.

Slate: Daily, Explainer, Culture Gabfest, Today's Papers, V Videocast.

NY Times: Front Page, Backstory, Science Times.

Talk Podcast with Radio Flavor: Frosty Heidi Frank Uncensored, Adam Carolla Podcast, Raizin Show.

Magazines, TV & Books: Real Time Bill Maher, Lifetime Celebrity Buzz, Popular Mechanics, Discovery, Lifetime's Street Doctors, Democast, NYTimes, Just Vocab, Webster WoD, Dictionary.com WoD, Reason.tv, Economist, Endgadget, Disinformation, Wired Science Video, PBS Nova, PBS Nature, 60-Sec Sci (Scientific American), PC Mag, TedTalks, MSNBC News, Spycast, IGN Daily Fix, EPN My Trivia.

Current TV: InfoMania, Rotten Tomatoes.

How Stuff Works (HSW): Brain Stuff, Genius Video, Missed in History, You Should Know.

Slate: Grand Unifed Weekly, Cultural Gabfest, Spoiler Specials.

CNet: Buzz Out Loud, Loaded, Green Show, CNet UK.
National Academies: News, Science, Engineering.

Pure Podcast Only Shows: Urban Coffee, American Cliche, Media Junkyard, Stereo Radiation, Interesting Facts, Blast the Right, Bugle, Tank Riot, Plugged, Wreckless Media Radio, Drill Down, Overnightscape, Cheap & Dirty, Social Blend, GabberJaw, PodCacher, SmodCast, Sound of Young America, Geek Nights, Sci Friday, Junkies, Cranky Geeks, Mr Nice Guy, 1Min How-To, You Look Nice, Mktg Matters.

Revision3: DiggReel, DiggNation, ROFL, Scam School, Digg Dialog, Co-op.

G4: Feed Daily, Around the Net.

Mevio (V): Dawn & Drew, Coolness Roundup, Best of YouTube (V), NewsPop Comedy (V), 1st Look (V), Fit Life (V), Cranky Geek (V).

Howcast: Home & Family, Fun & Games, Health & Beauty, Tech & Gadgets, Sex & Dating, Food & Drink.

Q&DT: Modern Manners, House Call Doc, Nutrition Diva, Legal Lad, Mighty Mom, Money Girl, Digital Marketer, Get-it-Done, Sales Guy, Public Speaker, Grammar Girl.

Twit.tv: Twit, Munch, Jumping Monkeys, Fun, Law.

Techpodcast: Slashdot Review, TechNest, Web Mix, Techiv, 1MinTip, Mr Excel.

Viral: Break.com, Rocketboom, BestAdsOnTV, Onion Video.

Old Broadcast Shows: Shadow, Sherlock Holmes, Green Hornet, Suspense, Escape (ComicWeb, SciFi, Adventures, Mystery, Suspense, Thriller, Super Heroes), Various (Mevio Sus, Mevio Mys, Mevio ScFi, Mevio Com, Mevio Drama).

Cut Shows: Free FM (Ended the following shows 2.20.09): Adam Carolla, Frosty-Heidi-Frank, Danny Bonaduce, Tom Leykis, John & Jeff. Then sadly as I became a bigger fan this year, KUFO (Portland OR) ended Cort & Fatboy.

Stream Talk (All Comedy Radio)

Morning: BJ Shea 5-10, Carolla 5-10 AD, T-Man 5-10, J&B 5-10.
Afternoon: FHF 12-2, Men's Room 2-6, Danny B 2-3.

Local Station & Music Favorites (RadioTime, iHeart)

Project Playlist: Alternative&Metal, 80/90’s, Rap&HipHop, Dance&Techno, Oldies.
LaunchCast Station, Last.FM/Pandora, & MusicMash Post.

Station Stream/Site: 1. 99.9, 2. 92.5, 3. 97.7, 4. 96.5, 5. 107.7, 6. 104.9, 7. 106.1 (HD2), 8. 95.7, 9. 101.5, 10. 89.5, 11. 93.3, 12. 97.3, 13. 94.9.

TV Streaming (StC, FH, QSS) My YouTube

Hulu Q: Daily Show, Leno, O'Brien, Fallon, Office (e), House (e), Chuck (e), Family Guy (e), Fringe (e), Crusoe (e).
Station Site: Nitro Circus (e), Ferguson, Best Week Ever, Reaper (e), South Park (e)..

Internet - Virals of 2009

2009-01-02T09:00:00.000-08:00

Guide - Virals: '08, '07, '06, '05, '04 & Xmas.
Note: If its Green - then you can view them all on the JTP (JohnTubePaste) YouTube link at beginning of the month.
Top 10 of '09:

Videos

Jan: SNL Doogie Howser Theme, Cat vs Bear, I Flip for You, Oren Lavie-Her Morning Elegance, Newspapers Online '81, Husky Stefani, Where is Matt Hoax, Internet Dog Feeding.
Feb (JTP): Sony's Stupid Piece, Lazy Town & Lil' Jon, Peter Griffin CakeRoll'd, Jimmy Kimmel Mac & Cheese Boxes, Facebook Hate, Forklift Accident, Howard 75 Bball, Bacon Explosion, Triumph Taunts David Blaine, Kittens on a Roomba, Kimmel-Jonas Bros, Nintendo Customer Service Training '91, Snail West, Fan Fall Iran.
Mar (JTP): I'm with Busey - Roadkill, Slayer Fan, Pogo Girl, Kid Can't Kick Ball, Rapping Flight Attendant, Exploding Cell, Exploding Lemon.

Cartoons/Animations

Jan: Bran Flakes-Taco, Elephant on Trampoline.
Mar: Printer is a Brat.

Games

Jan: TextTwist 2.
Feb: Cursor Caos.
Mar: Kutuke.

Other

Jan: Duck Tape (Pic), Rebellious Goat (Pic), Burger Bed (Pic), Guineapigosaurus (Pic), Save the Words (Site).
Feb: Ties (Pic), Newsmap (Site), Melon Mouth (Pic), Baby Pumpkin (Pic), Segwey Sledding (Pic), Darth & Kids (Pic), Hacked Road Signs (Pic), Snorting Coke (Pic), Music Text Composition Generator (Site), Cave Home (Pic).
Mar: Google Tip Jar (Site), Golf Ball (Pic), Virtual Legos (download), Toy Hunter (Pic), Long Necks (Pic), Drain Swim (Pic).

Other Sites

YTMND (Top of Month): Pi, Arnold Argh, Ordinary Rabbit, Where's Waldo the Movie, Tyson Drumsticks.
Fail (Pic): Bridge, No Playing on Pipe, Species.
LolCat (Pic): Stepped in it, Eww, Warmer, Rat, Thirsty, Bartender, Drill, Late, Legos, Bunny.
Vintage Seattle (Pics): 1st Ave 1912, Pavilion Arches, JFK, Aurora Bridge, 4th Ave Bldg '28, Airport Poles, Needle Interior, View from Smith Tower, West.
Big Pictrue (Pics): La Princesse, Tough Guy, Brushfire Australia, Inauguration Prep, Inauguration, Bolivia.

Services

2008-12-28T09:40:00.000-08:00

Finance

SECU & E-Statement, Amex, Modern Woodsmen, Annual Credit Report.

Unemployment (FWC) - Worksource.

Health

Overlake Medical: 1035 116th Ave NE, Bellevue WA 98004. (425) 688-5000.

Gentle Dental: 17220 140th Ave SE Suite C, Renton WA 98058. (425) 271-4000.

Providers: Lifewise.

Other

Bellevue Collection.

Older Info

Finance: Sallie Mae, Equifax, Interpublic ePay.

Health: CoreSource, Delta Dental, EyeMed.

Metlife, United Healthcare Provider, Vision: VSP.

Everett Downtown Storage: 3007 Rucker Ave, Everett WA 98201. (425) 252-1254.

Other: 5K, RockYou, EntBook, Kelly Services.

Dark Knight

2008-12-28T07:59:00.000-08:00

2008/Action, PG-13, 2Discs/~0:00:00
IMDB Yahoo All MC Wiki BOM
Crew: Christopher Nolan (Dir), Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Aaron Eckhart, Michael Caine, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Gary Oldman, Morgan Freeman. (includes IMDB links)
Details: Batman, Gordon and Harvey Dent are forced to deal with the chaos unleashed by an anarchist mastermind known only as the Joker, as it drives each of them to their limits. (IMDB summary)
DVD Extras:
Disc 1 ~0:00:00
1. Feature Film 2:32:05
2. Commentary Track with Director ___
3. Theatrical Trailer 0:00
Disc 2 ~0:00:00
Behind the Scenes - Gotham Uncovered: Creation of a SceneImax Scenes - 1. Prologue2. Hong Kong3. Armored Car Chase4. Lamborghini Crash5. Prewitt Building6. Final MontageGotham Tonight - 6 Episodes of News ProgramTrailersPhoto Galleries:Poster ArtProduction Stills
Eggs: None. (Eeggs, Eggs, DVD Town)
Factoids: 1. One of the featured extra's military uniforms bears the name "Philo," a nod to Joan Philo, the Illinois-based casting director for extras. 2. In preparation for his role, Ledger hid away in a motel room for about six weeks and delved deep into the psychology of the character. Developing every tic, the voice and sadistic-sounding laugh. Ledger's interpretation was primarily based off of punk rocker Sid Vicious combined with the mannerisms of Malcolm McDowell's character, Alex De Large, from A Clockwork Orange (1971). 3. The Batman Comic Books "The Long Halloween", "The Killing Joke", "The Man Who Laughs" and the first two comics to feature the Joker character served as an influence on the film’s storyline. Jerry Robinson, one of the original creators of the Joker back in 1940, was hired as a consultant on the film. 4. The actor who plays the older gentleman that confronts the Joker at the party thrown by Bruce Wayne for Harvey Dent is Vermont senior senator Patrick Leahy. Mr. Leahy is a huge Batman fan and arranged an early showing of the movie on July 12th as a fund-raiser for the children's section of the Kellogg-Hubbard Library in Montpelier, Vermont, the state's capital. He has also appeared in Batman & Robin (1997). 5. This film currently holds the box-office record for the largest opening weekend of all time. It made $158,411,483 in its first weekend of release. This film reached the $100 million mark the fastest, in only two days. With 4,366 locations, this film also holds the record for opening in the most venues on its release date. Set a weekend box-office record for IMAX venues with $6.2 mil. This film made $67.2 million in a single day, the most lucrative opening for any film. Because of its pent-up demand, midnight showings all over the country were sold out, resulting in $18.5 million in late-night showings alone. This film set a new record and reached the $200 million mark in only 5 days, $300 million mark in only 10 days, and $400 million mark after 43 days of release, which is less than half the time it took Shrek 2 (2004), the former record-holder. Made more money than Batman Begins (2005) entire domestic run in only 6 days of release. Reached $500 million mark the fastest, after 45 days. The former record holder was Titanic (1997) (98 days). 6. During the hospital scene, when The Joker is dressed as a nurse, his name tag on the outfit reads Matilda. This is after Heath Ledger's daughter by the same name. 7. Body count: 36. (IMDB, Moviemistakes)
Comments: My rating - A. (Date watched, rental, theater, television viewing). To be honest, I enjoyed Batman Begins, but not enough to own it, and for a while, I thought about skipping the Dark Knight. However, by March, with advertising and news bits...I wanted to see it.

Google Shortcut Keys

2008-12-22T06:51:00.001-08:00

RSS Reader
space/shift-space: moves the page down/up.
Shift+A: Marks all items in the current view as read.
Shift+X: Epands/Condenses selected folder.
R: refresh all.
S: stars or un-stars the selected item.
Shift+S: shares or un-shares the selected item.
G then S: goes to the "Starred items" view.
G then Shift+S: goes to the "Shared items" view.
G then A: goes to the "All items" view.
G then D: go to feed discovery.
?: Shows Shortcut quicklist.

Google Calendar
D/W/M/A/T: Day/Week/Month/Agenda/Today View.
S: takes you to Settings.
U: Brings you back to the default calendar view.

Superman Sequel Attempts

2008-12-22T06:45:00.000-08:00

IV: Reeve and the producers, father and son team Alexander and Ilya Salkind, assumed that the Superman films had run their course. Reeve was slated to make a cameo in 1984's Supergirl but was unavailable and Ilya Salkind sold the Superman franchise to Golan & Globus of Cannon Films. Golan & Globus did not have a script and Reeve admitted in his autobiography Still Me that he really wasn't sure that he wanted to do another Superman film, especially if it were going to be treated as a farce (like the third film) which he felt was disrespectful to fans and the source material. Reeves was offered in exchange for starring in the fourth film, production of any project of his choosing, and promised story input (including talk of having Reeve direct a fifth Superman film in case the fourth one proved successful). Warner Bros gave Cannon Films approximately $40 million to produce Superman IV. In the end they only used $17 million with poor special effects and heavy re-editing leading to the film's bad reception. The final words in this film, "See you in twenty," proved to be prophetic. The next Superman film, Superman Returns, arrived at cinemas in June 2006, nineteen years after Superman IV premiered at the box office. Returns discarded the events of III & IV and continued where I & II left off with some of Donners elements.

Attempt 1: Superman V - Cannon Films considered producing a fifth film with Albert Pyun as director, but financial troubles resulted in the film rights reverting back to Ilya and Alexander Salkind. They had finished four seasons of Superboy (the show ended to make room for Lois & Clark The New Adventures of Superman) and were inspired to produce another Christopher Reeve Superman film with Superboy writers Cary Bates and Mark Jones. The story had Superman dying and resurrecting in the shrunken, bottled Kryptonian city of Kandor (predating The Death of Superman).

Attempt 2: Superman Reborn - Upon viewing the success of The Death of Superman, Warner Bros decided to purchase the film rights of Superman from Alexander Salkind in early 1993, handing the project to Jon Peters. In return, Peters hired fellow friend Jonathan Lemkin to write the script. Lemkin's script featured Lois Lane and Clark Kent with relationship troubles that are only resolved after Superman's battle with Doomsday. When he professes his love to her, his life force jumps between them, just as he dies, impregnating Lois. She gives birth to a child who grows 21 years in three weeks, and is essentially, the resurrected Superman. Warner Bros was overly disappointed with the script, feeling it contained underlying themes with Batman Forever.
On May 27, 1995, Reeve became paralyzed from the neck-down, after his horse had a refusal and he fell off. The impact of his 215 pound body hitting the ground shattered his first and second vertebrae. After considering his situation, believing that not only would he never walk again, but that he might never move a body part again, Reeve considered suicide. He mouthed to Dana, "maybe we should let me go." She tearfully replied, "I am only going to say this once: I will support whatever you want to do, because this is your life, and your decision. But I want you to know that I'll be with you for the long haul, no matter what. You're still you. And I love you." Reeve never considered suicide as an option again.

Attempt 3: Superman Reborn Take II - Peters brought in Gregory Poirier with his script introducing Brainiac and creating Doomsday infused with Kryptonite blood. Superman tries to deal with being an alien in love with Lois Lane via psychiatric help. Once he falls dead by Doomsday, his corpse is stolen by an alien named Cadmus, a Brainiac victim. Superman is resurrected and teams with Cadmus to defeat Brainiac. Powerless, Superman wears a robotic suit that mimics his old powers until he can learn to use his powers again on his own (according to the script, they're a mental discipline called "Phin-yar", very similar with The Force). Other villains included Parasite and Silver Banshee. Poirier's script had impressed the studio, but when Kevin Smith was iin their offices for rewrite work (turning down Beetlejuice Goes Hawaiian), one of the projects that caught Smith's eye was Superman Reborn. He later convinced Warner Bros to let him write the screenplay, thinking Poirier's draft didn't respect the Superman comic book properly.

Attempt 4: Superman Lives - Kevin Smith pitched Jon Peters his story outline in August 1996, in which Peters gave him permission to write a screenplay with three rules - Superman wears an all-black suit, do not show Superman flying, and in the third act a fight with a giant spider (later he used this idea in Wild WIld West).
Smith's draft had Brainiac (Jason Lee) sending Doomsday to kill Superman (Ben Affleck), as well as blocking out the sun to make Superman powerless (Superman's energy is fueled by sunlight). Brainiac teams with Lex Luthor (Jack Nicholson), but Superman is resurrected by a Kryptonian robot, The Eradicator (David Hyde Pierce). Rather than Superman's lifeless body, Brainiac wishes to possess The Eradicator and its technology. Powerless, the resurrected Superman is sheathed in armor (The Eradicator becomes his protective suit) until his powers return, courtesy of some sunbeams and defeats Brainiac. With Linda Fiorentino as Lois Lane and Jason Mewes as Jimmy Olsen.

Attempt 5: Rewritten Superman Lives or Superman Reborn - Robert Rodriguez was offered the chance to direct, but turned down the offer due to his commitment on The Faculty (1998), despite liking Smith's script. Smith originally suggested Tim Burton to direct his script, and Burton signed on with a pay or play contract of $5 million and the studio set the theatrical release date in the summer of 1998, the 60th anniversary of the character's debut in Action Comics.[20] Nicolas Cage, a comic book fan, signed on as Superman with a $20 million pay or play contract, feeling he could "re-conceive the character." Kevin Spacey was approached for the role of Lex Luthor,[23] while Tim Allen claimed he was in talks for Brainiac[24] (a role heavily considered for Jim Carrey).[12] Courteney Cox was reported as a casting possibility for Lois Lane, while Smith confirmed Chris Rock was set for Jimmy Olsen. Burton decided to hire Wesley Strick to completely rewrite Smith's script. Strick's rewrite featured Superman questioning his existence and abilities, thinking of himself to be an outsider on Earth. In his wake he's threatened by Brainiac and Lex Luthor, and the two amalgamate into "Lexiac," what Strick called "a schizo/scary mega-villain."[29] Superman is later resurrected by the power of 'K', a natural force representing the spirit of Krypton, as Superman defeats Lexiac. The film's escalating budget (which went from $100 million to $190 million) forced Warner Bros. to ultimately put the film on hold in April 1998, and Burton left to direct Sleepy Hollow. Burton has depicted the experience of Superman Lives as one of the worst experiences in his life, citing various differences with Peters and the studio, stating, "I basically wasted a year. A year is a long time to be working with somebody that you don't really want to be working with."

Attempt 6: Warner Bros. enlisted the aid of Dan Gilroy to rewrite Wesley Strick's script as a means to lower the $190 million budget, which he brought down to $100 million. However, Warner Bros. was still less willing to heavily move forward on production. Disappointed by the lack of progress on the film's production, aspiring screenwriter/comic book fan Alex Ford was able to have a script of his (titled Superman: The Man of Steel) get accepted at the studio's offices in September 1998. Ford pitched his idea for a film series consisting of seven films, and his approach impressed Jon Peters and Warner Bros., though he was later given a farewell due to creative differences. Directors declined, and Cage dropped out of the project entirely in June 2000. in April 2001, The Hollywood Reporter revealed Paul Attanasio was hired to completely start on a new script, earning a salary of $1.7 million.

Attempt 7: Flyby -.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superman_film_series#Failed_projects

Current Facts 29

2008-12-14T07:22:00.000-08:00

Wal-Mart
When Bush cut taxes in 2004, the family that owns Wal-Mart increased their wealth by $91,500 per hour. Wal-Mart is the world’s largest private-sector employer, with 6,600 outlets in 15 countries. In 2005 it recorded sales of over $300 billion. In two-thirds of the 50 states it is the largest employer, over 1.8 million people work at Wal-Mart (1.5 million of whom are women). Shop-floor wages average $15,000 a year (and these “associates” are encouraged to complete work off the clock), that’s less than half of the $32,300 earned by the average non-supervisory worker on a 40-hour week. Stores actually put up posters to inform their workers how to apply for food stamps, Medicaid and other welfare benefits to the poor. So, state and federal taxpayers subsidize to the tune of $2,300 per Wal-Mart employee per year. One assessment states that for every two jobs created by Wal-Mart, three jobs are lost due to many smaller companies going out of business. Typically customers spend 20-25% less on groceries at Wal-Mart, but face reduced quality.
50 Facts That Should Change the USA, Stephen Fender, Disinformation, Sept 2008, p. 102-105.

Cluster Bomb Ban
93 countries signed a treaty to ban cluster bombs last week. But the world's top users (US, Russia, China, Israel, India & Pakistan) refused to sign. More than 90% of cluster bomb victims are said to be civilians, one-third of which are children. Cluster bombs contain small bomblets packed into larger shells, which scatter them over wide areas.
The Week Magazine, 12.19.08, v.8, i.392, p.8.

Loyalty Cards to RFID
Loyalty cards from places like supermarkets often provide customers with discounts while tracking and keeping a database of the purcheses you make and where. Some databases go back several years. The Wal-Mart chain (for example) admits they hold 460 terabytes of data on computers - that's more than twice the amount of information on the entire internet, or 23 times the information held in all the 128 million books in the US Library of Congress. loyaly cards assist businesses collect information of socio-demographics - from stages in your life, size of your household, your income and interests. Details in your shopping basket can determine if you prchased a new home, if you have a first child or teenagers...from toilet to lightbulbs the information can be very revealing. Suddenl customers may find themselves with rather specific offers. Collecting information is a hit-or-miss issue with most people. However, data has been used in court. One case for example a supermarke used receipts to defend a personal injury action - the plantiff claimed he fell on a spill, and the sore proposed to prove he was an alcoholic based on his purchases. In the wake of 9/11 one grocery chain voluntarily offered records to the FBI. Customers were never told this information was shared with the government. Federal agencies even created an algorithm that maps potential purchase trends similar of the terorists. Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags are a system that use a tiny transmitter chip, and can scan devices in a certain range. Initially acting like a barcode, it would help track goods from manufacturer to warehouse checkout, alert retailers if shelved in the wrong area or something stolen. Eventually in household appliances, a frozen chicken could tell an oven how to be cooked, a fridge could report of sour milk, and alert of food recalls. In theory, stores could "notice" you were expensive clothes and then raise its own prices, and could also potentially allow a persons movements and habits to be tracked all day. The potential for RFID abuse is equivelant to the benefits.
50 Facts That Should Change the World 2.0, Jessica Williams, Disinformation, Sept 2008, p. 36-39.

Facts in America
1. Throughout History, around one third of all immigrants to America have returned home.
2. 65 million Americans own handguns and use them to kill 35,000 other Americans every year.
3. At least once a week 42% of Americans eat out while on route somewhere else.
4. Only 18% of Americans adults hold a passport.
5. There is one car for every adult in the US.
6. Americans spend more on civil litigation than any other industrialized country, twice as much as they do on new automobiles.
7. More than 18,000 adults in America die each year because they don’t have health insurance.
8. Of the 239 elected mayors in the state of Oregon, only two receive annual salaries.
9. In 1983, 50 corporations controlled the vast majority of all media in the US. Today it is only 6 (Time Warner, Disney, News Corporation, Bertelsmann of Germany, Viacom/CBS, & General Electric/NBC Universal).
10. With 4% of the world’s population, the US produces a quarter of all carbon dioxide emissions, more than China, India & Japan combined.
11. 2.9 million Americans claim to have been abducted by aliens.
12. 65% of American adults are overweight (BMI 25-29.9), 30% are obese (BMI 30-39.9). By 2006, obesity killed 400,000 Americans annually, which is just short of 435,000 deaths of cigarette smokers.
13. More than 37 million, or 1 in 8 of the population live below the official poverty guidelines. As of January 2007, an individual needed at least $10,210, a couple $13,690, a couple with one child $17,170, and so on up to a family of eight at $34,570.
14. In 2006 16 million Americans had plastic surgery proceedures. 11 million were cosmetic (including nose, breast, liposuction, scar removal, laser hair removal and cellulite) proceedures. The number has doubled since 1997 (Botox popularity).
15. Black men born in the US today stand a 1 in 3 chance of going to jail.In June 2002 the US had 2 million people behind bars, surpassing Russia to have the world's largest prison population. In 2005 7 million Americans were on probation. 1 in every 37 Americans spent time in jail. 1 in every 15 American children born in 2001 will go to jail in their lifetime - of those, white males have a 1 in 17 chance, Hispanic males 1 in 6, and for black men 1 in 3. Today 1.4 million black men (13% of the black male population) cannot vote because of felony convictions.
16. Each week 54 children are expelled from schools for bringing a gun to class.
17. Americans discard 2.5 million plastic bottles every hour. Almost a third of waste produced is product packaging.
50 Facts That Should Change the USA, Stephen Fender, Disinformation, Oct 2008, p. 18, 42, 48, 54, 66, 72, 84, 96, 108-110, 132, 216, 234-235, 246-247. & 50 Facts That Should Change the World 2.0, Jessica Williams, Disinformation, Sept 2008, p. 61-62, 140-143, 185, 227-228.

World Facts
1. Of the 300 million obese people in the world, one-third (115 million) live in developing countries.
2. 94% of the worlds executions in 2005 took place in four countries, China, Iran, Saudia Arabia & USA.
3. Same-sex relationships are illegal in over 70 countries, pnealty is death in 9 of them. The single coomonality between countries is that the government themselves have taken to the perception that these are people who go against the norms of society.
4. For less than 1% of the income of the wealthiest countries each year, the wors effects of poverty could be greatly diminished (with enough to eat, basic health, education and other services). 1 in 5 of the world's people (about 800 million) live on less than $1 a day. 800 million people go hungry every day, 2 billion suffer chronic malnutrition, 18 million die each year from hunger related diseases. 2 billion people suffer from micro-nutrient deficiencies, and around half of the deaths of children under 5 (10 million a year) are associated with malnutrition.
5. Land mines kill or maim at least one person every hour.
6. Cars kill 2 people every minute.
7. One third of the world's population is at war.
8. Ten languages die out each year.
50 Facts That Should Change the World 2.0, Jessica Williams, Disinformation, Sept 2008, p. 11, 29, 46-47, 51, 66, 135, 145, 176.

Random Facts 31

2008-12-14T07:18:00.000-08:00

MGM Lion
The roaring lion in the MGM logo was named Volney and lived at the Memphis Zoo.
The Ultimate Book of Useless Information (#2), Noel Botham, 2007, p. 4.

Screen Kiss Censorship
Under the Motion Picture Censorship code (1934-68) a screen kiss could only last thirty seconds before being labeled “indecent.”
The Ultimate Book of Useless Information (#2), Noel Botham, 2007, p. 14.

Michael Jackson's State Anthem
Michael Jackson owns the rights to the South Carolina state anthem.
The Ultimate Book of Useless Information (#2), Noel Botham, 2007, p. 23.

Eye Spots
The spots of light you will see when you rub your eyes are called phosphenes.
The Ultimate Book of Useless Information (#2), Noel Botham, 2007, p. 71.

Shazam
The letters of the word Shazam, shouted to conjure up comic-book hero Captain Marvel, stood for Solomon’s Wisdom, Hercules’s Strength, Atlas’s Stamina, Zeus’s Power, Achille’s Courage, and Mercury’s Speed.
The Ultimate Book of Useless Information (#2), Noel Botham, 2007, p. 125.

Dr. Watson’s Moving Bullet Wound
In the Sherlock Holmes story A Study in Scarlet Dr. Watson’s bullet wound was in his shoulder, but in The Sign of Four it was in his leg.
The Ultimate Book of Useless Information (#2), Noel Botham, 2007, p. 121.

Names in the Bible
The most common name in the Bible, stated 33 times, is Zechariah. The three wise men were called Balthazar, Caspar, and Melchoir.
The Ultimate Book of Useless Information (#2), Noel Botham, 2007, p. 169.

Tic Tacs Content
Tic Tacs contain carnuba wax, which is often found in car polishes.
The Ultimate Book of Useless Information (#2), Noel Botham, 2007, p. 190.

Published Books
On average nearly 500 books are published each day.
Armchair Reader-The Colossal Reader, Oct 2008, p.213.

Super Bowl Ads
The cost of a 30 second tv commercial during the first Super Bowl in 1967 was $42,000.
Armchair Reader-The Colossal Reader, Oct 2008, p.336.

Corn on the Cob
There are 600-800 kernals of corn on the cob , and all corn on the cobs have an even number of rows.
Armchair Reader-The Colossal Reader, Oct 2008, p.510.

Bill Gates First Business
Bill Gates first business was Traff-O-Data, a company that developed machines to record the number of vehicles passing selected road points.
Armchair Reader-The Colossal Reader, Oct 2008, p.540.

Nintendo First Specialized
Nintendo was first established in 1889 as a company specializing in the production of Japanese playing cards called hanafuda. That term literally translates as "flower cards."
Armchair Reader-The Colossal Reader, Oct 2008, p.267.

Listerine & Bridesmaids
The phrase “Often a bridesmaid but never a bride” comes from an advertisement for Listerine which first appeared in 1925 and ran for more than 10 years.
Armchair Reader – The Colossal Reader, Aug 2008, p.185.

Oldest Message in Bottle
The oldest message in a bottle that has ever been found spent 92 years and 229 days at sea. The bottle was released on April 25, 1914 in the Norwegian Sea northeast of the Shetland Islands of Scotland. On December 10, 2006, that same bottle was found only about a mile away, rescued by a fisher named Mark Anderson of Bixter, a village on the Shetland Islands.
Armchair Reader – The Colossal Reader, Aug 2008, p.197.

47
The Declaration of Independence has 47 sentences. The Statue of Liberty’s pedestal is 47 meters tall. The AK-47 was designed in 1947.
Mental_Floss, Jan-Feb 2009, v.8, i.1, p.72.

Evesdropping
At one time, landowners weren’t allowed to build right up against a property line, they had to leave room for the eaves of the house as well as for water dripping. An “evesdrip” was only about 24 inches, a small enough space for a neighbor to easily hear what went on next door. Hence the evolution of ecesdropping.
Armchair Reader – The Colossal Reader, Aug 2008, p.65.

Fan
The term "fan" was first used to insult baseball fanatics in the late 1800s.
Uncle John's Bathroom Reader-Sports Spectacular, 2008, p.53.

Baseball Card Value
The most valuable baseball card is a Honus Wagner T-206, as of 2008, worth over $2 million.
Uncle John's Bathroom Reader-Sports Spectacular, 2008, p.91.

Olympic Motto
The Olympic motto is "Citius, Altius, Fortius," which is Latin for "Swifter, Higher, Stronger."
Uncle John's Bathroom Reader-Sports Spectacular, 2008, p.165.

Horse Race
In 2002 Tom Johnson ran a 80 kilometer race (about 50 miles) against a horse and beat it by ten seconds.
Uncle John's Bathroom Reader-Sports Spectacular, 2008, p.172-173.

Cracker Jack Baseball Cards
A complete 1915 set of 176 Cracker Jack baseball cards sold for $800,000 in 2005.
Uncle John's Bathroom Reader-Sports Spectacular, 2008, p.391.

Random Facts 30

2008-11-21T07:43:00.000-08:00

Extra Cat Whiskers
Cats have whiskers on the backs of their forelegs.
Uncle John’s Bathroom Reader – Curiously Compelling, V.19, 2006, p. 374.

Oldest Candy
America’s oldest candy brand is Necco Wafers, sold since 1847. NECCO is short for the New England Confectionery Company. The eight flavors include; lemon (yellow), orange (orange), lime (green), clove (purple), cinnamon (white), wintergreen (pink), licorice (black), and chocolate (brown). Recently they releases a new roll of Necco Wafers, Smoothies with five flavors; Blueberry, Banana Caramel, Tropical, Peach and Strawberry Crème. They have also (for some time) released a chocolate only roll.
Uncle John’s Bathroom Reader – Curiously Compelling, V.19, 2006, p. 63. Additional info from Wiki, & Site.

Song Factoids
She’ll Be Coming ‘Round the Mountain was originally a slave spiritual about the second coming of Jesus where “she” referred to the chariot he’d be driving. Railroad workers evolved “she” to mean the train itself. Blue Tail Fly was an African-American folk song, the lyric Jimmy Crack Corn derived from Gimcrack Corn, a slave slang for whiskey…so Jimmy crack corn and I don’t care, my master’s gone away thus means that the master has died, slaves are drinking and celebrating.
Uncle John’s Bathroom Reader – Curiously Compelling, V.19, 2006, p. 69-70.

Men & Sleep
One in 8 men snore, and 1 in 10 grind their teeth when they sleep. Men are four times more likely than women to sleep in the nude.
Uncle John’s Bathroom Reader – Curiously Compelling, V.19, 2006, p. 75 & 350.

Initial Radio Craze
In 1921 only 9 radio stations received licenses to broadcast. By the end of 1922 another 550 stations around the country were on the air.
Uncle John’s Bathroom Reader – Curiously Compelling, V.19, 2006, p. 79.

Strawberry Seeds
An average strawberry has 200 seeds.
Uncle John’s Bathroom Reader – Curiously Compelling, V.19, 2006, p. 174.

Movie Sales
An average movie makes about 5 times more from its video sales than its ticket sales.
Uncle John’s Bathroom Reader – Curiously Compelling, V.19, 2006, p. 189.

Walmart Employs
Wal-Mart has nearly 1.4 million employees worldwide, which is the entire population of Phoenix, Arizona – or 4% of the population of Canada.
Uncle John’s Bathroom Reader – Curiously Compelling, V.19, 2006, p. 242.

Oldest School
The oldest continuously operating high school in America is Boston Latin, established in 1635.
Uncle John’s Bathroom Reader – Curiously Compelling, V.19, 2006, p. 259.

Loss of Smell
You will have lost 20% of your sense of smell by the age of 20.
Uncle John’s Bathroom Reader – Curiously Compelling, V.19, 2006, p. 284.

Angels in the Bible
There are four angels mentioned in the Bible – Gabriel, Michael, Abaddon and Lucifer.
Uncle John’s Bathroom Reader – Curiously Compelling, V.19, 2006, p. 311.

America’s Most Wanted
The Fox show, America’s Most Wanted, by the end of 1989 (its first year) aided by viewer tips, helped to arrest 73 fugitives – an average of one arrest every 16 days with a success rate of 44%. As of August 2006 – 900 fugitives have been captured and 42 missing children returned safely.
Uncle John’s Bathroom Reader – Curiously Compelling, V.19, 2006, p. 332-333.

Bank Teller Losses
The average bank teller loses about $250 each year.
Uncle John’s Bathroom Reader – Curiously Compelling, V.19, 2006, p. 354.

Max Caffeine Absorption
You can absorb 300mg of caffeine (4 cups of coffee) at a time, any more goes right through.
Uncle John’s Bathroom Reader – Curiously Compelling, V.19, 2006, p. 469.

Mountain Dew Character
Early Mountain Dew bottles featured a cartoon character called, "Willy the Hillbilly."
Uncle John’s Bathroom Reader – Curiously Compelling, V.19, 2006, p. 376.

Lucky Charms Marshmellows
The marshmellows in Lucky Charms cereal are tecnically known as "marbits."
Uncle John’s Bathroom Reader – Curiously Compelling, V.19, 2006, p. 422.

1000 Billionth Crayon
Crayola's 100 billionth crayon was made by Mr. Rogers in 1996, it was "Blue Ribbon."
Uncle John’s Bathroom Reader – Curiously Compelling, V.19, 2006, p. 476.

First Science Fiction Novel
Jules Verne's Journey to the Center of the Earth is considered the first science fiction novel.
Uncle John’s Bathroom Reader – Curiously Compelling, V.19, 2006, p. 502.

Super Bowl Sunday
Americans consume 30 million pounds of snack foods, including; 11.2 million lbs potato chips, 8.2 million lbs of tortilla chips, 4.3 million lbs pretzels, 3.8 million lbs popcorn, 2.5 million lbs nuts, and 13.2 million lbs of avocados. Americans spend $50 million on Super Bowl snacks, and $237 million on soft drinks.
Uncle John’s Bathroom Reader – Curiously Compelling, V.19, 2006, p. 418.