That's Just Me

Happy New Year

2009-12-31T23:26:00.000-08:00

An end to a busy decade. Can't believe how far I've come. Here's hoping to go much further in the next ten years.

It Doesn't Look Fake...

2009-06-20T07:58:00.000-07:00

This is Josh Womack, a former second-round pick of the Seattle Mariners in 2002, who currently plays for the Long Beach Armada of the Golden Baseball League. What makes this guy special is that he’s got one heck of a wicked bat trick. The thing is, it doesn’t actually look real, but it doesn’t look fake, either…

I doubt the trick is faked because, well… why would you fake something like this with an independent-league baseball player? There’s no marketing behind it and nothing to be gained from it except a few curious baseball fans. He plays up the freeway from us with, so maybe I’ll go check him out.

Post-It Obsession

2009-06-17T15:46:00.000-07:00

Some people have too much time on their hands... or use it effectively, depending on the way you look at it.

DEADLINE post-it motion, by Bang-yao Liu

And this one is also on my Tumblr account (which I use for things that are more personally inspirational):

Post-It Love

Big Rap

2009-05-23T23:12:00.000-07:00

Who didn't love the movie Big?

I can't believe Hanks can still pull off the whole thing. I know he probably practiced, but really...

Transforminators!

2009-05-22T21:51:00.000-07:00

Smash two would-be summer blockbusters together... and don't forget to wash your hands.

Do Not Try This at Home

2009-05-21T23:05:00.000-07:00

I do not want to meet this girl in a dark alley and have to throw down.

FYI, this is Julia Dales, a 17-year old from Canada who won the open auditions for the World Beatbox Championships. She'll compete on May 29th.

Ten Years Later

2009-05-19T08:19:00.000-07:00

Ten years ago today, I'd waited in line for eighteen hours at the Irvine Marketplace 10 to see Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace. At midnight on May 19, 1999, I scrambled into the theater to watch the most-anticipated movie of all time. The movie was disappointing, but the excitement prior to the release was incredible. I'm not ashamed to say that it was one of the greatest experiences of my life.

It's been thirty-two years since George Lucas' magnum opus opened. We can't thank him enough for creating it, nor can we beg him enough to leave it alone.

Both photos above were shot by famed photographer Annie Leibovitz for Vanity Fair (a magazine which has had an odd love for Star Wars over the years). Anybody who can score me a big print (at least 36" wide) of the 2nd photo will have my love and devotion for life.

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In other Star Wars news, the long-awaited Fanboys debuts on DVD today. It's the story of five friends who head out to see The Phantom Menace before its debut - at Skywalker Ranch, and before one of them succumbs to cancer. Starring Jay Baruchel, Kristen Bell, Dan Fogler, Sam Huntington, and Chris Marquette.

I Kinda Wish I Was Actually So Inclined...

2009-05-11T09:32:00.000-07:00

I actually wish I had the drive to do something as unusual as this...

I'd Use It

2009-05-01T11:27:00.001-07:00

Every pizza place should order these! Brilliant.

Nostalgia Packs a Real Punch

2009-04-16T09:41:00.000-07:00

As a kid, G.I. Joe was the first cartoon series I was really into. Hasbro road that pony all the way to a huge profit from my parents, who were kind enough to buy me pretty much every G.I. Joe figure ever made.

Now, we ready for the next generation. Thank goodness others in my generation have been put into positions to be able to create shows like the above G.I. Joe: Resolute, which, by the way, has nothing to do with the less-than-promising summer movie G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra.

Anyway, G.I. Joe: Resolute debuts on AdultSwim.com this Friday, April 17. It’s set to air in ten, five-minute episodes on the website, with the entire set to air with a ten-minute finale on April 25 at midnight on Cartoon Network.

Here's some footage from last year's San Diego Comic-Con that gives more of the feel of the series... Yo, Joe!

The Enterprise Project

2009-04-13T20:33:00.001-07:00

With J.J. Abrams’ Star Trek coming out on May 7 (well, showings at 7 pm local time), Paramount Pictures sent out some U.S.S. Enterprise models made by Quantum Mechanix to various artists and designers around the country to detail as they saw fit. One of the writers over at Gizmodo was sent a model and produced the model above, which is where I saw the link to the rest of the models.

There are 30 total models in all, which can be seen here. Here are some of my favs:

Geek Chic

2009-04-04T12:58:00.000-07:00

If I had an iPhone, this would be the case/wrapper I'd want for it:

Nothing sez "old school gamer" better than a Nintendo Game Boy iPhone case/wrapper. Found in Japan here.

Guitar Hero: Final Four Edition

2009-04-01T11:28:00.000-07:00

I'm willing to bet money that none of these guys has ever played Guitar Hero. Still, people do surprise...

As You Wish

2009-02-27T00:59:00.000-08:00

Westley's a dick.

From xkcd.com.

Best Shot from NBA All-Star Weekend

2009-02-18T10:39:00.000-08:00

I’m wondering if Bango (the Milwaukee Bucks’ mascot – the one who got it) took the head off of Rufus (the Charlotte Bobcats’ mascot) in the locker room afterwards.

You're Welcome

2009-01-22T08:42:00.000-08:00

Nearly every morning, I make Kindra a mug of coffee to take on the drive to work. The other day, she told me that I'd made her the best cup of coffee she'd ever had.

It was the Starbucks she'd brought home the night before.

Thanks, Sweetie.

Impossible Basketball Shot of the Day

2009-01-21T12:22:00.000-08:00

No. Freaking. Way.

Today's Superhero

2009-01-20T07:33:00.000-08:00

"NOW Is the Time"

2009-01-19T08:39:00.001-08:00

How'd They Do That?

2009-01-07T11:47:00.000-08:00

Ever wonder how they draw that yellow line across the football field marking the first down? This is why productions are such costly processes:

Think about it. That’s a lot of machines and people needed to slap that yellow line down. And on top of that, a bunch of engineers had to sit around for what I’m sure was quite some time to figure out how to merge all the available technology together to paint a line on the television screen telling you how far your team has to go to get the first down. That’s nuts.

Turning Japanese

2009-01-06T23:40:00.000-08:00

The Watchmen Japanese trailer:

I’m thinking they showed more big-picture scenes as opposed to the straight action of the American trailers because a) the Japanese audience is more about story than spectacle and b) not as many Japanese know what Watchmen is about.

I’m hoping that there isn’t a delay in the March 9 release date because of the rights issues between Warner Bros. and Fox.

Happy New Year

2009-01-04T15:24:00.000-08:00

Pick your poison:

Andre Rieu

Julie Andrews

We'll All Watch the Watchmen... If We Can

2008-12-31T16:24:00.001-08:00

Watchmen Exclusive

One of the Worst (and Best) "The Price is Right" Players EVER.

2008-12-30T23:37:00.001-08:00

This'll make you want to throw something at this girl. BUT... Bob Barker's reaction at the end is totally worth it.

Holiday Peeve

2008-12-17T15:36:00.000-08:00

I’ll start off by saying that I had a really nice experience this morning at Target, when a gentleman let me go in front of him in line because he saw that I had only three small items. I really appreciated that, even though he didn’t have a ton of stuff.

While that experience was refreshing (and actually happens a fair amount of the time to me – especially given that I’m prone to buying two things at Costco), it brings me to one of my biggest pet peeves, especially around the holidays: inconsiderate strangers.

No, really.

I hate people who don’t say, “Thank you,” when you hold the door open for them, don’t wave from their car when it’s obvious you let them into your lane, don’t make a little bit of effort to give room when you pass them in a narrow area, or who can’t wait their turn at a crowded four-way stop.

It just reminds me of all the little things in the world that aren’t the way they should be. I just think it’s nice to give a little show of courtesy when the opportunity arises.

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Just for fun, the Penny Arcade comic of the day: