Hey I'm Joe... How you like me so far?

FUCK!! DAMN !!

2009-10-02T12:06:00.000-07:00

So if I pay a chunk of my salary to get health insurance so I don't have to worry about if get sick or need a procedure, why am I getting bills in the mail that my insurance companies are not paying? Oh wait, I SEE.. the insurance company thinks a procedure should only cost THIS much but my Dr. in their pre-approved network of Dr.'s charges THAT much, and I get the bill, and not allowed to know the cost before hand to anticipate the cost coming up? AND does it realy cost $500 to suck the snot out of a kids nose? cause that what the guy that did that in the delivery room charged us.. really I was there thats ALL he did... I'm sorry was that out loud?

Blog Fodder?

2009-05-30T12:21:00.000-07:00

I love my internet customer service chats... they make great blog fodder...

heres what happens when you try to get a deal with Charter communications...

Please wait for a site operator to respond.
You are now chatting with 'Larry'
Larry: Hello.
Larry: Welcome. How can I help you today?
you: actually we have an account and ned to change it
you: possibly*
Larry: I will be happy to assist you.
you: see the bundles for internet and tv.. whats the price AFTER 6 months
Larry: What services do you currently have?
you: cable
Larry: How many digital boxes do you currently have?
you: one, maybe 2
you: just one
Larry: May i have your home address please?
you: sorry its my grandothers house, a bit cluttered,
Larry: No problem. What is the address?
you: one sec
you: 123main st anywhere, bla bla
Larry: And the zip code please?
you: 00001 (<-- like a binary solo)
Larry: Well, we wouldn't be able to get you the 74.98 offer, but we do have a promotion on hi speed internet for you.
Larry: Charter High-Speed Internet $24.99 per month for 6 months
Larry: An additional $10 monthly charge will apply for customers who only subscribe to Charter High-Speed® Internet service.
Larry:
Larry: High-Speed Internet
Larry: Included Features and Promotions:
Larry: $100 Cash Back
Larry: Get a FREE Motorola® Cable Modem
Larry: No Contract Required!
Larry:
Larry: Would you like to take advantage? I just need your name, phone #, and email address if you would like to get started.
you: no it doesnt make sense unless its bundled
you: how come it cant be bundled
you: and ho much after 6 months
you: casue we are paing a riduclus amount now, that seems very unfair
Larry: 44.95 for the internet after the 6 months -
Larry: Are you looking for an option to reduce your cable pricing? Or are you looking to upgrade with internet.
you: so with an already 80 dollar cable bill that would be outragous pricing
you: BOTH
Larry: Bundled offers are only for new customers. We would have to leave your cable t.v. alone.
you: it seems if i sign up now ill be rewarded, but for being a loyal customer i get nothing
Larry: You are saving a lot of money with the 24.99 offer. Are you sure you don't want to take advantage?
you: in fact it seems im on an ld pricing tier that had een forgotten to be updaed as we have no majot channles but get charged almost 2X the amount of satelite..
you: and you are aware FIOS is coming to the nieghborhodd soon? withmuch better offers and 2 year price guarantees
Larry: Well, i should inform you that we offer a service that is more beneficial than satellite, with more capabilities.
Larry: Please contact customer service directly at 888 438 2427 for options to reduce your cable billing.
Larry: Also, Fios service experiences a lot of problems.
you: what problesm are fios havng?
Larry: First off, Fios Does not have as extensive variety of On Demand services.
Larry: Also, you need a box on each TV to get anything above the most basic of local channels.
you: just like didigital cable
Larry: 1 year contract minimum with Fios. This is not good.
Larry: No, With Charter, we do not require a digital box for each t.v.
you: to get digital channels you do, so the comparassion is apples and oranges
Larry: Also, with installation of Fios phone service, customers are unable to revert back to traditional phone major installation issues. Sometimes it is impossible.
you: i dont use traditional phone services
Larry: I assure you, our service will work better than satellite dish and Fios.
Larry: Please contact customer service directly at 888 438 2427 for options to reduce your cable billing.
Larry: If you want the 24.99 internet promotion, you can visit back at this website.
Larry: Is there anything else I can help you with today?
you: ok i will jump thru the hoops to try and discount my price

OHHHHHH, DISH How I once loved thee....

2009-05-28T09:59:00.000-07:00

So here is an example of exactly why I recently left Dish Network. I had been with them for the past 7 years and up until late 2008, was EXTREMELY happy with them. But it seemed as the economy turned rules that has apparently always been there and never enforced became a huge focus and red tape and the most ridiculous catch-22s became what a loyal Dish customer had to deal with.

After giving Dish almost every chance to make up for their short comings and match the price i was getting from the competitor. they fell short as anything they offered meant a 2year commitment with only a 1 year price guarantee or discount. So that combined with the above mentioned grumblings of their customer service, it was time to leave. Like many TV service providers, you lease the equipment and when your done they want it back. So here come the boxes and return labels...

BUT I have 3 set top boxes yet only received 2 return labels and packing materials... oh what to do... so I call, and frustration ensues...

Please wait while we find a representative to assist you...
You have been connected to (23-12-3) Joanne C..

(23-12-3) Joanne C.: Thank you for being a valued DISH Network customer, I will be happy to assist you today. Please give me 2-3 minutes to access your account and review the information you have already provided.

(23-12-3) Joanne C.: I understand you are returning equipment and want to know if some of the equipment is purchased by you?

Joe Blow: well I have 3 boxes to return, I only received 2 shipping boxes from your support center

(23-12-3) Joanne C.: For account security, would you please verify your zip code for me?

Joe Blow: EDIT

(23-12-3) Joanne C.: Thank you. I show that the two 522 DuoDvr receivers are leased and need to be returned.

Joe Blow: are there serial numbers so I return the correct one, I have 3 receivers it appears I own that one...

(23-12-3) Joanne C.: The are standard definition and both go to two TV’s. So you would have 4 remotes that also need to be returned.

(23-12-3) Joanne C.: Sorry. They are standard definition and both go to two TV’s. So you would have 4 remotes that also need to be returned.

Joe Blow: so the HD receiver does not need to be returned?

Joe Blow: that doesn’t sound right

(23-12-3) Joanne C.: Please give me 2-3 minutes to research this.

(23-12-3) Joanne C.: I show that you upgraded to the HD receiver that needs to be returned also.

(23-12-3) Joanne C.: So all three need to be returned.

Joe Blow: ok no problem. Is there a center I can just drop them off instead?

(23-12-3) Joanne C.: Unfortunately, we don't have any centers in your area.

(23-12-3) Joanne C.: You can use a bigger box if you have one available to send them back.

Joe Blow: ok then I will need an additional shipping box sent to me for the 3rd receiver

(23-12-3) Joanne C.: I can request one to be sent. It can take up to 7-14 business days.

(23-12-3) Joanne C.: If you have a box that will fit two of the receivers you can use that.

Joe Blow: well can you note the account so I do not get charged for this

Joe Blow: I will look for a box but not sure I can get one

(23-12-3) Joanne C.: I can note the account, unfortunately that won't stop any charges.

Joe Blow: so... i am honest enough to bring this up, Dish Networks mistake, but I will still be charged, and you can’t provide a drop off option... I can’t see how that’s fair...

(23-12-3) Joanne C.: You can drop them off at any UPS drop off station.

Joe Blow: but it appears your asking me to buy a box for them

(23-12-3) Joanne C.: You can use any box that will fit both receivers.

Joe Blow: this type of service (which is 180 degrees from what it was before) is why I left Dish Network

(23-12-3) Joanne C.: I apologize for any inconvenience.

(23-12-3) Joanne C.: I have requested a box to be sent.

Joe Blow: ok well ill do what I have to, to get the receivers back to you. And your absolutely sure that I owe 2 522 DuoDVRs and one VIP722?

(23-12-3) Joanne C.: Correct.

Joe Blow: ok

(23-12-3) Joanne C.: Is there anything else that I can assist you with?

Joe Blow: I will send them out... no that’s all I needed to hear.

Are you picking up what I'm putting down , Internets? FRUSTRATING...

Gay Home PRide Bread

2009-05-18T14:04:00.000-07:00

me: hi

http://www.speedtest.net/result/476493487.png

Sent at 1:45 PM on Monday

Scott: that your connection

me:

Scott: damn youporn here i....

ill leave it there

Sent at 1:50 PM on Monday

Scott: well with that bandwith you could get the radio show up again with a webcam

me: easily

problem is everyone wants to do it from thier house..

which im cool with except the bandwidth now is defintely here

Scott: well if you have the connection i think that its your call

me: same probs as before... oh and now erin is pregnant

Sent at 1:55 PM on Monday

Scott: you breaders

me: that makes you sound gay

Scott: i stoped caring

me: or a webers white bread fan.. not sure which

Scott: typo

me: maybe wonderbread?

Scott: mmmm wonder bread in a ball

me: ..thinkgs you can do to a split topo home pride loaf

Scott: take like 5 slices pull the crust off put a glob of peanutbutter in the middle fold slice around

then layer more peanutbutter and attach slices to the side squeezing all the time

Sent at 2:00 PM on Monday

Scott: you wind up with a ball of layered goodness that is like a pellet

me: and then do it with medicated PB...

and get some strawberry jam dipping sauce

Scott: it manages my stree

stress

me: yeh im copying and pasting this convo

posting it in the web some place

Scott: blackberry jam in between the layers of butter and peanutbutter

great I am a non reproducing bread lover that can be interpreted in so many different ways.

Verizon Sucks...

2009-01-02T13:44:00.000-08:00

Verizon... I will never, ever support Verizon in any way for as long as I live.

Now you may think with a statement I am coming from a political stance. Like they support some stupid bill or prop that may offend me, but no. Plain and simple, Verizon has the worst most convoluted, broken customer service setup EVER. I have to believe something so complex and so hard to navigate is by design

I am not exaggerating, that I have spent about 8 hours on the phone with them (2 of those sessions 2 hours long each) all over a bill mistake. As I write this, I am on hold with Verizon to cancel, not going to complain, or even go into what the problems are, just going to cancel with them... So here's the story...

In June of 2007 I decided the best bet for me was to consolidate my internet connect, telephone service and eventually TV service to one company. Saving a few bucks now and even more later when FIOS came online in my area. So as stated FIOS was not yet available so I went with middle of the road DSL and Verizon was ever so eager to save me and extra $15 by upping my current phone service to add things like VoiceMail, Caller ID, etc ,etc. As I normally only have bottom of the barrel phone service "just in case' all my cell service, and everyone's' around me goes bad, an upgrade in phone service was like a bonus for me. I thought maybe I can get a nice fancy phone and save some battery juice on my cell phone when I'm at home.. hmm well whatever. BONUS. COOL.

Everything sounded so good, I was all setup to go. They got the DSL modem self install kit to my house relatively fast, about a week. I went to install it and since I'm an all MAC house as expected there were a few issues. No biggie, I'm a IT Manager (helpdesk at that) for a living so I was expecting and prepared to be on the phone for a bit with support while they perform their 'MAC users' workaround for the IE required setup that this type of DSL required. Well that turned out to be 4 hour phone call(s), and to no avail. They scheduled a tech to come out and troubleshoot the line, etc. They came out twice, no go. Thankfully, I did not cancel my cable internet yet! But wait, cause that's not the problem I have with Verizon, that's just the back-story.

(BTW 16 minutes on hold with Verizon now, still no service)

So after 2 weeks of techs coming out to no avail, and considering the pain of all this I called and canceled all extra service, returned the modem in the mailer they provided, and was convinced by a very nice Retention Specialist named Donna to keep the super basic phone service, "Just in Case". I obliged asked if all credits are applied to my account and she confirmed with a cancellation order number, and all was well in my world.

Then comes October, and my less than 25 monthly bill from Verizon jumps to 170. I immediately call and ask what's going on. They profusely apologize and say it was an error and the bill returns to its normal nominal amount. Guess what I get in the mail around Dec. 15th? A Collections notice (from Verizon's own internal (but separate, more on that later) collection company) for 133. My wife opened this bill so she calls and was not only put through the automated phone system ringer was then YELLED at and hung up on, left with no explanation. The next day I call, I tried same day but Verizon is very keen at closing shop at exactly 6p, and without exaggeration I was transferred to 12 people over a 2 hour phone call I took while I was driving to work. This was a classic finger pointing as every one I was transferred said they couldn't access the account because it was in the others department. This happened again when I came back from lunch that day and still have not received a call. Almost like a system... and again was promised a call back, that never happened.

(25 minutes in someone finally answers!)

Overall I talked to over 20 people and was promised a call back 3 times, never received one. So I have made it this point to inform everyone I know the best know way I know how to please reconsider using Verizon, as it seems obvious that there system is designed to annoy you to just pay. I have wasted much more of my time to try and save 130 rather than just pay it and move on Verizon Free for the rest of my life... In fact I am glad to learn this lesson as I was really considering moving all my services to get this wonderful FIOS TV everyone is talking about. After learning how amazingly hard it is to deal with ANY type of bill discrepancy.. I couldn't imagine any TV service being worth it, and trust me I watch allot of TV...

So 40 Minutes into this phone call with apparently the 'right person' and I'M ON HOLD AGAIN. I really just want to cancel and move on, and IF they ever pick up the phone again... I'm going to just do that.. and then I'll pay their collection agency as slow as I can so I don't pay a cent more than I need to.

At 47 Minutes I have finally closed the account and to make this conclusion. The woman Anna on the phone was not shocked at what just went down, oh she tried to save the account and even help me with the wayward charges but she couldn't get anyone on the phone with her that would help her.

Hows that for customer service?

Starting this off again...

2008-02-08T11:10:00.000-08:00

I been emailing alot my freinds links here and there so instead of that i'm just gonna post them here!!

Ladies.. just for you

Truth in advertising for all the college goers out there..... is goers a word?

And of course, the Guido mating dance

Had to link couldnt get the embed code to work.

Also a huge new source of work relief of mine is the ridculus and mostly form Jersey DOUCEHBAGS!! (with hot chicks)

well its been a while.... LOST season finale spoiled..

2007-05-18T16:00:00.000-07:00

I cant tell you who this I'm having the IM with is.. but i guarantee this is 100% the finale for LOST..

[14:28] nononono: so lost
[14:28] nononono: here is how it ends
[14:28] funkly mang: this season right?
[14:28] nononono: Jack has been trying to reach somebody all through his flashback
[14:28] nononono: yeah this season
[14:28] nononono: he's depressed
[14:28] nononono: suicidal
[14:28] nononono: steals drugs
[14:28] nononono: sees his exwife pregnant
[14:28] nononono: goes to a funeral
[14:28] nononono: just dark stuff
[14:29] nononono: all the while trying to call somebody
[14:29] nononono: at the end of the episode he finally reaches this person and arranges to meet them
[14:29] nononono: It turns out to be...
[14:29] nononono: (drumroll please)
[14:29] nononono: Kate!
[14:29] nononono: The flashback is not a flash back
[14:29] nononono: it's actually present
[14:29] nononono: and they are off the island
[14:30] nononono: Jack pleads with her to go back
[14:30] nononono: to the island
[14:30] nononono: she refuses and drives off and he is just standing there screaming "We have to go back!"
[14:31] nononono: So nobody is sure if the next season takes place after they get off the island and just tells how in flash back and then they go back later on or what.
[14:34] nononono: Holy shit

....

Rube Goldberg Officeplace Contraption

2006-10-27T17:53:00.000-07:00

TENACIOUS D - Jack Black on Piracy

2006-10-25T09:15:00.000-07:00

YouTube - TENACIOUS D - Jack Black on Piracy

Daily Show: What Exactly Is President Bush's Job?

2006-10-06T09:28:00.000-07:00

Partys!!

YouTube - Daily Show: What Exactly Is President Bush's Job?

Did anyone else notice Criminal Minds took a jab at Kevin Rose?

2006-10-05T14:43:00.000-07:00

While never actually saying that the online male teen hustler's full name was Kevin Rose, they repeadtly called him Kevin, and his father's full name Dwight(i think) Rose, who is in prison and left his son to fend for himself... and the only way he knows how is to whore himself out for a bunch of internet pervs.

Overall the ep was great, a little disturbing, but I must say to learn that this kid who played the part was only 16, I am impressed. But i guess when your on TV from birth, you get to hone your craft.

If your interested in seeing the episode, I think CBS has some lame online free player called InnerTube. but you could probably just as easily find it in HD on some torrent site or something.

This is why the guitar was invented...

2006-10-05T09:25:00.000-07:00

and for my all time favorite song ever, in the world, by the only guitarist that can make me cry...

..and yes i know Jimi wrote the song, this only furthers my point, SRV was the best ever, the only man that do Jimi better than Jimi...

Scientology Oreintation

2006-07-29T23:18:00.000-07:00

Get this video and more at MySpace.com

I know i cant spell.. whatever.. is it clear why Tom Cruise is so crazy now?

Colbert, viewmaster, un-american congress woman, and fillets'

2006-07-28T12:07:00.000-07:00

The Daily Show revisits net neutrality

2006-07-20T17:04:00.000-07:00

YouTube - The Daily Show revisits net neutrality

South Park Mormons

2006-07-20T16:43:00.000-07:00

YouTube - Mormons

Kevin Smith confronts an asshole critic

2006-07-19T15:13:00.000-07:00

Go get 'em Kevin!!

As seen on Break.com

I have a huge man crush on this guy... hes brillant

2006-07-19T13:16:00.000-07:00

Cooking Episode 2

2006-07-16T14:37:00.000-07:00

I still consider this show in 'pilot' mode. This is my second one, and just getting into the groove of it. Its still available on my 24 Podcast feed... but here is a player right here to listen to as well!!

I will make its own podast feed soon... Also here is a link to the orginal reciepe....

Hope you guys enjoy it!!!

Here is some info on The Scoville Scale

This is so very cool..

2006-07-11T07:42:00.000-07:00

so proud
Originally uploaded by megamommatron.

Give a kid a jar of peanut butter to roll around on the floor, they eventually will open it.. cause that is so much more fun!!

I LOVE my mac.. but this shit is funny..

2006-07-07T23:24:00.000-07:00

The cooking show?

2006-07-04T12:13:00.000-07:00

This is one of my most popular family food items... theres never any leftover...

Mascarpone dip with Vanilla baked fruit

What your gonna need...

SOFTWARE

2 8oz Mascarpone
1 lb sugar (white, granulated)
2 vanilla pods
4 tbls spoons heavy cream
White Wine, never cook with something you wouldnt drink
1 tbls butter
Variety of fresh fruit

HARDWARE

Food processor
wire strainer, bowls, spatula, knife

What is mascarpone?

Mascarpone is one of the foods that make the food police quiver and stop dead in their tracks. It is a fresh, very rich cow’s milk cheese — double or triple cream (60% to 75% milk fat) — that is sold in teensy little containers in this country. Its texture resembles a sticky pudding and it is the color of cream.

Here is some links to further definitions of Mascarpone

And what about the Beans?
Vanilla Beans are only second to Saffron as the highest priced spice on earth. I my self do not like vanilla flavored things, like ice cream, lotions, puddings, etc. But when you use real vanilla beans in your reciepe, and you have access to your newly created vanilla sugar, life will never be the same.

Here are some links to all things vanilla bean.

So now you got all the stuff you need, a little bit of background on your ingredients.. now what?

Listen to the podcast to learn the reciepe.

Bush is such an ass...

2006-06-14T14:59:00.000-07:00

Linked via Dlisted

Its over....

2006-06-10T11:20:00.000-07:00

Google Browser Sync

2006-06-09T16:32:00.000-07:00

I like it.. maybe.. dunno yet.. seems a good idea... could be used for evil?

Google Browser Sync

Jamie Kennedy's Rollin with Saget Music Video - Unedited!

2006-06-09T16:12:00.000-07:00

yeh baby!!

Water Car... is this real?

2006-06-09T14:48:00.000-07:00

I need to know... does ayone know about this? You've heard the rumors, years ago someone inventing a water car, oil companies conspired and killed... you know all that conspiracy theory talk. But this appears to be either an elobrate hoax, joke or real. Where do you fall in this debate?

With Al Gores new movie and all, this could just be a well timed hoax.

Funny... yes IT IS!! Dont tell me its not.. I'll Kill you..

2006-06-02T14:31:00.000-07:00

Music Thing: MIDI-powered Roomba Vacuum Cleaner - Engadget

2006-05-26T15:31:00.000-07:00

Music Thing: MIDI-powered Roomba Vacuum Cleaner - Engadget

Jack Black is my Hero!!

2006-05-24T15:17:00.000-07:00

Best Week Ever » Blog Archive » ICYMI: Jack Black’s Musical Number on Ellen

You have to be F'in kidding me!!

2006-05-19T15:17:00.000-07:00

The future look of gaming... ???

2006-05-12T11:46:00.000-07:00

With Ninendos new WII (formely the Revolution) players use a remote control like spacial senistive controller. Although this seems like a "revolution' of an idea, its gonna make you, and your gaming family members look pretty silly doing this on the couch...

And in the spirit of journalism...

Best explaination of Net Neutrality EVER!

2006-05-11T16:00:00.000-07:00

Orginal post at Ask A Ninja...

Apple - Trailers - Superman Returns - Large

2006-05-03T12:00:00.000-07:00

Apple - Trailers - Superman Returns - Large

New Scientist Invention blog: Riot slimer

2006-05-03T11:47:00.000-07:00

New Scientist Invention blog: Riot slimer
Rioters could soon be in for a slippery surprise. Researchers at the Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio, Texas, US, are working on a new non-lethal weapon that could quite literally bring them to their knees – by sliming them.

The institute has developed a super-slimy substance. When fired at an unruly mob it causes rioters to simply slip over.

Riot police or troops would wear a back pack with three cylinders – one containing compressed air, another filled with plain water and a third containing a supply of very dry, finely ground, polyacrylamide powder. A nozzle, resembling a shower head, would blasts two separate jets, containing the water and the polymer powder, in the general direction of an ugly crowd.

As the two jets mix in the air, after clearing the nozzle, they create a slimy mixture that covers the ground and causes everyone in the area to fall down. Even vehicles should be unable to get a grip on the goo, the patent says. And because the gel is non-toxic, it should cause no permanent harm, besides a few bruised bottoms, that is.

Read the full patent here.

Funny as hell...

2006-03-23T13:41:00.000-08:00

just a draft of something i am working on...

2006-03-20T14:31:00.000-08:00

So heres something I am working on... finished product will be on the 24podcast.net site

Its pictures of alot of the peoples from the myspace and frappr site!! If you have a picture you want to see your picture in here... add yourself to the frappr map!

Snakes on a mutha fukin plane!!

2006-03-17T11:41:00.000-08:00

Thats right all the hype and just plain absurdity all leads up to this...

the trailer

And Sam talking about it..

'nuff said? comment....

Guns N Roses Songs Leaked!!

2006-02-17T16:10:00.000-08:00

Get'em while there fresh!!
Song 1 IRS
Another Link to it
A small 80 secong preview
Howard Sterns comments
I LOVED Gun n Roses, I taught myself to play drums to

I am going to reserve judgment.. but so far THIS IS NOT GUNS N F'IN ROSES!!!

Joe

Still Here!! F' YOU NBC!!

2006-02-17T12:04:00.000-08:00

Lawyers from NBC "had to stop sharing" the video that actually made SNL popular with a big segment of a new generation.. STUPID ASSES.. well here's what were not allowed to share anymore...

Here is a link to the article!!

And for some reason it doesn't work well in some browsers.. so DOWNLOAD IT and share!!
Right click save as... bla bla

So I did it.. I bought an i(ntel)Mac, now what?

2006-02-13T09:41:00.000-08:00

My loyal, faithful, and wonderfully smart, savvy, and beautiful readers, I have gone to the (light?) side and bought a Mac. First thoughts are I LOVE IT. Its everything I remember from the OS9 days, but better, and DDDAAAYYUUMMMM!!! Its Fast!

So what I would like to know, and feel fre to leave it in comments or email me with any tweaks, hacks, or must haves I have to get for my new baby. The only caviot, its an Intel Mac, so if there are any limitations that would be the one.

Also any paticular Automater script sites I should be visiting?

Looking forward to a ton of comments!!!

F'ing Amazing!!!!

2006-02-08T09:40:00.000-08:00

The rumor is Apple is looking at this technology for there upcoming iBook Tablet.

Peanut Butter Federline!!

2006-02-01T11:12:00.000-08:00

Jobs to scoop $3.5bn as Pixar board approves Disney takeover

2006-01-22T09:24:00.000-08:00

The board of Pixar Animation Studios, the digital animations company, is set to meet tomorrow to approve the company's $7bn (£3.9bn) takeover by Disney.

The all-share deal will make Steve Jobs, the chief executive of Apple, around $3.5bn and the single largest shareholder in Disney. Jobs created Pixar in 1986 when he paid $10m for the computer animations division of Lucasfilm, owned by Stars Wars creator George Lucas.

Disney has struggled to compete with its rival's cutting-edge computer animated films, which have become increasingly sophisticated over the past few years.

Disney already has a distribution agreement with Pixar, which is due to expire in June. Pixar's summer blockbuster is a film called Cars, while its previous hits include A Bug's Life, Finding Nemo, Monsters, Inc, Toy Story and The Incredibles.

Disney's first computer--generated film, Chicken Little, was released in the US in November and currently has worldwide box office sales of $279m.

But the giant entertainment company has failed to produce a hit animated film of its own in years. By contrast, the six films that Pixar and Disney have made together since the 1995 release of Toy Story have grossed more than $3.2bn.

Despite the impending takeover of Pixar, Robert Iger, the chief executive of Disney, pledged in November that "animation is, and will remain, at the heart and soul of Disney".

Telegraph | Money | Jobs to scoop $3.5bn as Pixar board approves Disney takeover

Martin Sargent.. hmmm... I miss unscrewed..

2006-01-21T15:40:00.000-08:00

Intelligent Design FLAW!!!

2006-01-21T10:53:00.000-08:00

It used to be that there was a whole lot of education that went into becoming a scientist. Scientists were respected for their knowledge and dedication. To be a scientist you actually had to study stuff. And not just easy stuff like, "Who’s the president of the United States?" (Hint: she was in Earth Girls Are Easy and A League of Their Own.)

As a scientist, you were expected to know chemical formulas such as H-2-0 (water) or 2-Pac (rapper). People considered scientists to be experts and consulted them on important matters like what kind of hangover you’d get if you mixed lemonade and Jagermeister, or how to set up a crystal meth lab.

But alas, Frodo, that was in the olden times....

These days anyone can weigh in as a scientific expert, especially in places like Kansas where “intelligent design” is being taught as part of the science curriculum. The last time the educational bar was set this low was when the Scarecrow got his Doctorate in Thinkology from the Wizard of Oz.

Charles Darwin falls victim to one of his most popular theories.

Supporters of intelligent design argue that the universe is so complex and beyond our understanding that it had to be designed by a superior being (like Rush Limbaugh or Barbara Streisand) or super-intelligent aliens (like Henry Kissinger or Salma Hayek). Intelligent design enthusiasts want their ramblings to be presented as an alternative to the science of evolution. The idea here is that one theory is just as good as another, regardless of any supporting evidence. Kind of like Ashlee Simpson being advanced as an alternative to Melissa Etheridge.

Or to put it another way: if Paris Hilton had a theory of evolution, it would be intelligent design.

Hey, we get it. The universe is amazing and complex. So is a microwave oven. That doesn’t mean it was designed by aliens...although Tom Cruise might give you an argument on that.

A cursory examination of the two sides of this debate would seem to favor evolutionary theory. First off, Charles Darwin had a beard. A beard is a good thing when you want to be taken seriously as a scientist. And Darwin's beard wasn't some scruffy, patchy beard like your grandmother has. Darwin had a big, bushy beard that spoke to his stature as a scientist. It was as if he were saying, "If I wasn't an expert in my field, would I really be able to walk around looking like the lead singer of ZZ Top?"

In contrast, the evangelical preachers who advance the intelligent design agenda usually sport shiny suits and ties with gigantic knots. Listen, if the knot in your tie is roughly the size of a St. Bernard's head, it is very difficult to be taken seriously on any topic, let alone the origins of the universe.

Second, Darwin's book on evolution has a weighty title: On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, or the Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life. You have to be long-winded just to say the title in one breath.

In contrast, the textbook most often proposed for teaching intelligent design is Of Pandas and People. You can’t possibly hope to be taken seriously if your science book has a title with that kind of alliteration. I don’t mean to be picky, here...all I’m saying is the directors of 2 Fast, 2 Furious didn’t try to sell it as a documentary.

But the main problem with the view that the universe was created by a superior being is: who created the superior being that created the universe? And who created the superior being who created that superior being? This is what’s known in scientific circles as an infinite regret. As in, “I regret ever trying to have an intelligent discussion with a religious zealot.”

Still, the creationists might be right...

The world is a magnificent and complex place. We marvel at the color and symmetry of a leaf in autumn. We feel humble when we gaze up at a star-filled night sky. We watch in awe as a sunrise unfolds in wisps of clouds and a symphony of pastels.

It would appear as if there is only one conclusion to be drawn from the beauty and intricacy of the universe: god is gay. To quote the The Book of (Elton) John, "In the beginning was the Word and the Word was...FABULOUS!" Furthermore, since the universe is so complex, it is unlikely that only one gay god was involved. Think about it. There are five consultants on Queer Eye for the Straight Guy alone...

It’s time we started teaching children that the universe was just too big and too important a task to be assigned to just one god. It just makes sense. You pretty much need a grooming guru and a culture vulture at a bare minimum. You can read all about this controversial new theory in my new book, "Queer Creation for a Nervous Nation." It makes a great gift for that hard-to-buy-for evangelical Christian on your list.

So, come on, Kansas. Get with the program. One theory’s just as good as another, isn’t it?

The Onion has a podcast now!

2006-01-19T14:18:00.000-08:00

I'm amazed nobody posted this on Digg yet...The Onion (quite best fake news satire, in case you have been living under a rock) has a podcast now! Hilarious as always, and quickly is becoming one of the top daily podcasts on iTunes.

read more | digg story

Disassembled iMac (Core Duo) by KODAWARISAN_Page1

2006-01-15T10:35:00.000-08:00

Disassembled iMac (Core Duo) by KODAWARISAN_Page1

Frank Zappa on Crossfire

2006-01-04T14:56:00.000-08:00

I just came across this and I got to say, this man should have been president. This is an airing of Crossfire on CNN, and it seems reminascent (in a retroactive, prorated way) of Jon Stewarts appearance on it last year. Basically Zappa tears apart the ideas of the 'witch hunt' censorship trials.

The sad part is that this was back in 1986, and thanks to a couple of Super Bowls ago, we are in a much more strict police state compared to back in the day.

Well here it is, sorry about the quality it is 20 years old. UPDATE EDIT: Well you tube didn't do so well with the encoding, and it comes out all scrambled, but the audio is what you really want to hear. Just imagine 3 old white guys and Frank sitting in some chairs. enjoy... just click the lil play button....

Quote of the Day...

The future is here. It's just not widely distributed yet.
William Gibson (1948 - )

and a little somthing i just found to fuel a fire

Mel Gibson's Easter Egg of the apocalypse

2005-12-24T02:16:00.000-08:00

Ahhh Mel Gibson, the newest crazy ass mofo from Hollywood. I miss the days of Lethal Weapon, Braveheart, and Mad Max. It's a shame that this guy just went off the deep end.

But in a sort of cool little stunt by Mel, he inserted a single frame 'Easter Egg' in the trailer for his new film "Apocalypto". Here is the link. It's about 1.46 into the trailer, just go frame by frame from there.

I have no idea what the film is about, and don't really care. But its kind of cool that he did the first "Easter egg" in a trailer. And if I'm wrong about this being the first one of its kind, please feel free to flame me. Really I don't mind!!

Dick Cheney, a man clearly in touch with the people and not blinded by power and greed, insists that Americans don't mind being spied on

2005-12-21T16:32:00.000-08:00

GEORGE BUSH'S decision to bypass court review and authorise domestic wiretapping by executive order is part of an effort to rebuild presidential powers weakened in the 1970s as a result of the Watergate scandal and the Vietnam War, the US Vice-President, Dick Cheney said.

Mr Cheney, who cut short a trip that included the Middle East and Pakistan, said threats facing the country require that the President's authority under the constitution be "unimpaired".

"Watergate and a lot of the things around Watergate and Vietnam … served to erode the authority I think the President needs to be effective, especially in the national security area," Mr Cheney said on Tuesday as he flew back to Washington to support Mr Bush.

His remarks came after US District Judge James Robertson, one of 11 members of the secret Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court, resigned in protest at Mr Bush's secret authorisation of the domestic spying program, sources told The Washington Post. Judge Robertson sent a letter to the Chief Justice, John Roberts, on Monday notifying him of his resignation.

Associates said Judge Robertson had privately expressed deep concern that the warrantless surveillance program was legally questionable and may have tainted the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court's work.

Mr Cheney, however, dismissed the idea that Americans were concerned about a potential abuse of power, saying that any backlash was likely to punish the President's critics, not Mr Bush.

"The President and I believe very deeply that there is a hell of a threat," Mr Cheney said, calculating that "the vast majority" of Americans support the Administration's surveillance policies. "And so if there's a backlash pending, I think the backlash is going to be against those who are suggesting somehow we shouldn't take these steps in order to defend the country."

On Capitol Hill, calls for a congressional investigation escalated, with a group of Democrats and Republicans on the Senate intelligence committee asking to join hearings already scheduled by the Senate judiciary committee.

Barbara Boxer, a Democrat, said she had written to several constitutional scholars to ask whether Mr Bush committed an impeachable offence by ordering the National Security Agency in 2002 to engage in warrantless surveillance within the US.

■ Osama bin Laden may no longer be able to run al-Qaeda and has not been heard from for nearly a year, the US Defence Secretary, Donald Rumsfeld, said yesterday.

Mr Rumsfeld, who was visiting Pakistan a day after Mr Cheney's trip, said: "I think it is interesting that we haven't heard from [bin Laden] for close to a year.

"I don't know what it means, but I suspect … if he is alive and functioning, that he is spending a major fraction of his time trying to avoid being caught."
"Fear the Future"

Soldiers testing cooling vests in Iraq

2005-12-20T17:27:00.000-08:00

By Gary Sheftick

December 20, 2005

WASHINGTON (Army News Service, Dec. 20, 2005) – About 500 liquid-filled cooling vests are now being tested by Humvee crews in Iraq and Kuwait.

The vests are worn under body armor and a hose from each vest is plugged into the Humvee’s on-board air-conditioning system. Liquid from the vehicle’s AC system circulates through the vest, cooling its wearer.

The vests were developed by the Army’s Tank Automotive Research, Development & Engineering Center, known as TARDEC, in coordination with the Natick Soldier Center. They were sent to Kuwait this past summer and then forwarded to Iraq.

The Humvees with add-on armor were fitted with air conditioners after TARDEC engineers in Warren, Mich., were given the requirement to figure out how Soldiers in armored vehicles could be kept cool under the desert sun.

Some of the same engineers had designed the add-on armor kits for the M-998 and M-1025 Humvees in theater. But with the extra armor and doors closed, temperatures inside the vehicles could reportedly reach more than 130 degrees.

“It’s like putting somebody in a toaster oven on low heat,” said Charlie Bussee, an engineer at TARDEC.

So the engineers began “backward designing” to fit an air-conditioning system into the rear of the Humvees.

About 21,000 of the air-conditioning systems have been ordered for Humvees in theater and more than 13,750 already have the AC systems installed, Bussee said.

But even with air conditioning, temperatures inside the armored vehicles could still reach 95 degrees in the sun, Bussee said. So something more was needed.

Design of the vests actually began in the spring of 2004 said Brad Laprise of the Natick Soldier Center in Massachusetts.

“We learned a lot about physiological conditions and cooling since then,” Laprise said.

Each Humvee cooling kit consists of four water-filled vests known as Air Warrior Microclimatic Cooling Garments or MCGs. Fungicide-treated water is chilled by the AC system in the Humvee and circulated through the garment

A rapid-release system allows Soldiers to quickly disconnect the hoses so they can jump out of the vehicle and keep the vests on.

“All of this was a logical extension of the armor and the heat issue,” Bussee said.

For the collaboration between TARDEC and NATICK in developing the vests, the two commands received the 2005 Research and Development Laboratory Collaborative Team of the Year award by the assistant secretary of the Army for Acquisition Logistics and Technology. The award was presented at the Association of the U.S. Army annual meeting in October.

Some of the vests are now being used by Soldiers operating ambulances in theater, TARDEC officials said. Others are being used on convoys.

“Since we have had the vests, they have become increasingly popular with the platoon,” said 1st Lt. David J. Dixon Jr., 18th Airborne Corps, who provided feedback via e-mail to TARDEC engineers. “They argue over who gets to wear them. They wanted me to ask for more.”

Operational assessments of the cooling kits are being made to gather Soldier performance evaluations, TARDEC officials said.

Yeshua, the real name of Jesus

2005-12-20T16:04:00.000-08:00

So we have been calling the guy by the wrong name all this time! No wonder the world is falling apart! :)

Bill & Melinda Gates & Bono Persons of the Year!!

2005-12-19T15:19:00.000-08:00

These are not the people you expect to come to the rescue. Rock stars are designed to be shiny, shallow creatures, furloughed from reality for all time. Billionaires are even more removed, nestled atop fantastic wealth where they never again have to place their own calls or defrost dinner or fly commercial. So Bono spends several thousand dollars at a restaurant for a nice Pinot Noir, and Bill Gates, the great predator of the Internet age, has a trampoline room in his $100 million house. It makes you think that if these guys can decide to make it their mission to...

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It's Here! The First Mass Producible Quantum Computer Chip

2005-12-19T10:38:00.000-08:00

Researchers at the University of Michigan have produced what is believed to be the first scalable quantum computer chip, which could mean big gains in the worldwide race to develop a quantum computer.

read more | digg story

Spray on Concrete!

2005-12-15T15:41:00.003-08:00

Spray Grancrete over a frame of Styrofoam, metal, woodâ��even woven sugarcane stalksâ��and in 20 minutes you have a waterproof, fire-resistant structure that has more than twice the strength of traditional concrete and can withstand extreme temperatures without cracking.

read more | digg story

NEW Firefox Extensions from Google [via GoogleBlog]

2005-12-15T15:41:00.002-08:00

Google has just released two new extensions one called "Blogger Web Comments" and another called "Google Safe Browsing for Firefox."

read more | digg story

Apple Posts Transition Videos - Hints at Intel Release?

2005-12-15T15:41:00.001-08:00

In the Introduction to Universal Binaries video, he states that the Transition Resource Center will be your friend for the "next couple of weeks." Am I reading into this too much? Did he just hint at something?

read more | digg story

The Story of an Arcade Cabinet Built in 24 Hours

2005-12-15T15:41:00.000-08:00

A cool arcade cabinet with very helpful tips for you to build your own. Also check Hak.5 vidcasts 4 and 5 as a multimedia aid to this story.

read more | digg story

Motorola RAZR V3i Gold Razr....

2005-12-15T15:40:00.001-08:00

From the Auction:

This limited edition gold handset marks the launch of the newest model - Motorola RAZR V3i. Only a thousand are being made and they've all been sold out or reserved for VIP's etc.

Note: It has iTunes on it though.. soo.. the inner early adopter in me is wrestling with such a moral dilemma.

read more | digg story

The Real Thing; Coca-Cola Rival Will Include Cocaine Ingredient

2005-12-15T15:40:00.000-08:00

Coca Sek, a golden, carbonated drink, will go on sale this week in parts of Colombia. The new soft drink made from coca leaf extract and plan to market their product as an alternative to Coca-Cola.

it has Cocaine in it!!!

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Tylenol is the leading cause of liver failure

2005-12-15T15:37:00.002-08:00

Acetaminophen/paracetamol (AKA Tylenol) is the leading cause of acute liver failure. The number of cases doubled between 1998 and 2003â��which I find interesting, because over the last several years, regular strength (325mg) Tylenol has been gradually disappearing in favor of the extra-strength (500mg) varieties.

read more | digg story

Photoshop Experts Reveal Their Secrets in Tutorial Archive

2005-12-15T15:37:00.001-08:00

Professional (book cover artists) come together to show you how to "paint" in PhotoShop in a series of tutorials.

read more | digg story

Freeware that Recovers Deleted Files in NTFS and FAT12/16/32 Partitions

2005-12-15T15:37:00.000-08:00

"Magically" unerase files that were emptied from the recycle bin.

read more | digg story

OpenOffice templates

2005-12-15T15:36:00.000-08:00

Some cool templates for everyday needs.

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PGP creator cooks up Net phone protection

2005-12-15T15:32:00.000-08:00

Zimmermann has developed a prototype of an Internet telephony application that encrypts calls to prevent eavesdropping. He plans to unveil the prototype on Thursday at the Black Hat Briefings security industry conference in Las Vegas.

read more | digg story

Shuttle Discovery Blasts Off

2005-12-15T15:31:00.000-08:00

Discovery and seven astronauts blasted off Tuesday on America's first manned space shot since the 2003 Columbia disaster, ending a painful, 2 1/2-year shutdown....

read more | digg story

Why Everyone Should Mod Everything

2005-12-15T15:30:00.002-08:00

Electrical engineer David Randolph on how and why everyone (even the biggest n00bs) can and should find the inspiration to become modders and what it really means to be a "modder".

read more | digg story

Diggnation Video Torrent Files

2005-12-15T15:30:00.001-08:00

Here are .torrent files of all 3 diggnation videos. (And for the people who already have them, it would be greatly apresiated if you'd seed them.)

read more | digg story

Digg podcast featured on Odeo

2005-12-15T15:30:00.000-08:00

Diggnation is now featured on the Odeo homepage. Thanks everyone for your support - another release coming soon!

read more | digg story

Western Digital 300GB Hard Drive $125.00 AR $2.99 Shipping

2005-12-15T15:29:00.000-08:00

Newegg has a Western Digital 300GB hard drive at 7800 RPM with an 8 MB cache. Included with the hard drive is a 3 year manufacturer warranty.

read more | digg story

WarTuning

2005-12-15T15:27:00.000-08:00

WarTuning: Wardrive using your WiFi enabled laptop to listen to (download?) other people's shared music through iTunes.

read more | digg story

The hundred-buck PC

2005-12-15T15:26:00.000-08:00

The founder and chairman of the MIT Media Lab wants to create a $100 portable computer for the developing world. The low-cost computer will have a 14-inch color screen, AMD chips, and will run Linux software. AMD is separately working on a cheap desktop computer for emerging markets. It will be sold to governments for wide distribution.

read more | digg story

Google Homepage...

2005-12-15T15:12:00.000-08:00

Its very easy to use, i remmeber when the first 'personalized 'home pages came out, it was so complex to think that a normal user would even go through the trouble of putting it all together, Google solves with it style, you can drap and drop on a live web page, and for you geeky folk... you can add a custom RSS feed, something like Digg, or even you custom Digg feed.... Cool stuf!!

Windows 95 Still On Some Homeland Security Computers

2005-12-15T15:05:00.000-08:00

A recent extended downtime of Homeland Security computers only added to a list of issues the department is having with their network. Also included are system reverted back to Windows 95 after a failed Windows 2000 upgrade and databases only being linked to certain computers, meaning data must be entered repeatedly on different machines.

read more | digg story

Next episode of The Broken 75% done

2005-12-14T16:19:00.000-08:00

Kevin reveals that the next ep of The Broken is about 75% finished. I hope we see it by the end of the year.

read more | digg story

Here are some REAL COLOR pictures from 1939

2005-12-14T11:44:00.000-08:00

There is an exhibit going at the The Library of Congress... here is a link... if your in the area i would suggest taking a look.. let me know how it was too...

Free Rootkits!!!

2005-12-13T16:28:00.000-08:00

You gotta be f'in joking me!!

Motorola RAZR V3i Gold Razr....

2005-12-13T15:24:00.000-08:00

I can't believe the crazy things people will buy, I for one HATE gold, and this with blatant branding just makes me want to puke gold... If anybody reading this knows me, I have a fear of puking, and when I say I'm going to puke, its that serious!!

From the Auction:

This limited edition gold handset marks the launch of the newest model - Motorola RAZR V3i. Only a thousand are being made and they've all been sold out or reserved for VIP's etc. and each one is specially engraved with a personalised serial number.

The updated model adds a megapixel camera and MicroSD slot and this exclusive model's blinged up version adds a D&G badge on the front and matching screen wallpapers. It also comes loaded with iTunes with a capacity for 100 tunes.

-EXCLUSIVELY LIMITED TO 1000 UNITS!
-LIMITED RELEASE IN EUROPE ONLY - ALREADY SOLD OUT OR RESERVED FOR VIP'S.
-BRAND NEW ORIGINAL MINT CONDITION MOBILE PHONE!
-UNLOCKED FOR ALL NETWORKS - WORLDWIDE
-ALL ACCESSORIES INCLUDED!
-PERSONALISED CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICITY AND EXCLUSIVITY!
-EACH PHONE ISSUED WITH A PERSONALISED ENGRAVED SERIAL NUMBER SENT DIRECT FROM THE FACTORY ONLY.

LINK

Google doesn't Dig Digg as Tech News

2005-12-13T14:00:00.000-08:00

Just an interesting thought.... Click here to see for yourself...

The Real Thing; Coca-Cola Rival Will Include Cocaine Ingredient

2005-12-13T12:59:00.000-08:00

BOGOTA, Colombia -- A group of Indians in southern Colombia have created a new soft drink made from coca leaf extract and plan to market their product as an alternative to Coca-Cola.

Coca Sek, a golden, carbonated drink, will go on sale this week in parts of Colombia. But its makers expect they won't be able to export to the United States due to rules blocking the entry of coca, the main ingredient in cocaine.

The soda looks like apple cider, has a tea-like fragrance and a flavor somewhere between Seven-Up and ginger ale.

David Curtidor, a Nasa Indian who heads the small community company producing the drink, says that aside from being refreshing, the drink also is intended to make a political statement against transnational companies. Curtidor says Coca-Cola "symbolizes imperialist domination" and does not buy its raw ingredients in Colombia.

He says people in the tiny southwestern town of Calderas where the soft drink was created prefer not to drink Coca-Cola. So they are offering a substitute.

Coca-Cola dropped cocaine from its ingredients decades ago, although the soda maker's secret formula still calls for a cocaine-free coca extract produced by the New Jersey-based Stepan Company, which Peruvian officials have said buys dried Peruvian coca leaves.

Nintendo On Real or Fake?? Now.. Discuss...

2005-12-12T16:20:00.000-08:00

By now almost every Nintendo fan that has the Internet has seen the now famous Nintendo ON video. Still today over 7 months later the Nintendo ON is still a controversial subject. I have created this simple guide on the reasons why I think the Nintendo ON is fake and reasons why I think the Nintendo ON or a similar idea could really exist.

Reasons Why The Nintendo ON Video Is Fake:

1. Reggie Fils-Aime of Nintendo said it was fake at E3. Miyamoto said he never saw the video before.

2. Pablo Belmonte came out claiming to have created the video and showed exclusive high resolution pics of the ON. He also did several interviews including one with 1up where he showed even more pics of how he created the video and some stuff that was not even in the video. He also showed some of the other CG Nintendo related videos that he had made in the past.

3. Nintendo has already shown the console and the controller.

4. The costs of developing a 3D Visor that also has some form of Augment Immersion technology (demonstrated in the video) would be very high. Possibly cost more then the Xbox 360 and PS3. Nintendo has said that their next gen system will cost the cheapest. That simply isn’t the ON.

5. Nintendo had attempted to create a 3D Visor before called the “Virtual Boy” and it failed misserably and sold poorly.

6. In The Nintendo ON video it showed the user controlling the game with his bare hands when obviously the game will be controlled via the Freehand Style controller shown at TGS.

7. The console shown at E3 had one DVD drive in it and the ON had two. Why would Nintendo need so many drives? Now even if what was shown at E3 was fake I hardly doubt Nintendo would put two drives in any kind of console.

8. Nintendo claims that they want to draw in the non and casual gamers (women and parents). The ON would be the worst way to go about achieving that goal.

9. The graphics in the ON video were really good and can not be accomplished on a system only two times as powerful as a GameCube. Especially since the ON graphics showed practically no aliasing at all and looked better then any of the Xbox 360 games unveiled so far.

10. In the ON video Mario’s overall design was similar to the other Mario video Pablo Belmonte did. In the videos when Mario runs he puts his hands behind him as shown here. It is also worth noting that the overall designs for both Mario and Metroid where not only weird but kind of generic in design.

11. The dates in the beginning for each of the consoles are from the European releases. Pablo lives in Spain so this would make sense. However if Nintendo was targeting the American audience with this video they would have used the American release dates for the consoles.

12. Developers would know about the ON by now and it most likely would attract more developers yet no developers seem to be aware of such a device.

13. Casual gamers would be turned off by something you had to wear.

14. Why would there be two systems? Even if one was a fake it would be a waste of time to develop such a good fake system.

15. Multi player support would be limited to online wifi as it would be extremely expensive to have to but new controllers and Visors to play multi player with your friends in your house.

16. During the video they list the GameBoy Advanve as 2 Designs. If this video was intended for E3 they would have listed 3 Designs which would have been the GameBoy Micro.

17. Poor English is used throughout the video. “Most Sleek” “Surround Headphones” to name a few. Pablo is a 23 year old Spanish college art student.

Reasons Why The Nintendo ON Or Similar Technology Could Be Real (Also Includes Crazy Conspiracy Finds):

1. Pablo Belmonte did three known interviews. In his first interview he claimed that it took him two weeks to make the ON video. In his second interview he claimed it took him one week to create the ON video and in his third interview with 1up he claimed it took him 5 days to recreate the ON video.

2. He claimed that it originally took him four weeks to create the ON video but that he lost everything in a hard drive crash however he was able to save the famous castle scene of all things. If you have a hard drive crash how could you save part of it but not the other parts? Doesn’t make sense to me. Especially since the part claimed to be saved is the coolest part of the entire video.

3.The Quotes:

“I think maybe if I could do anything, I would make it so you don’t have to sit in front of a TV and play. If you could have a machine that you just plugged in and played inside a virtual world that - would be just great.” -Miyamoto (E3 2005)

“We invented the current way a console is played - in front of a television and holding a controller - but maybe that image will change.” -Satoru Iwata (Around E3 2005)

In the future, what do you think video games will be like? “It’s convenient to make games that are played on TVs. But I always wanted to have a custom-sized screen that wasn’t the typical four-cornered cathode-ray-tube TV. I’ve always thought that games would eventually break free of the confines of a TV screen to fill an entire room. But I would rather not say anything more about that.” -Miyamoto (After TGS 2005)

4. The controller is designed to manipulate 3D space and would work amazingly with a 3D Visor.

5. If you turn up the volume very loud during the part where all the castles are zooming by it sounds like they repeatedly say:

Reggie… Nin-ten-do

Reggie… Nin-ten-do

Reggie… Nin-ten-do

Reggie… Nin-ten-do

ETC!

This has been talked about by many people and it sounds like a robotic voice. I listened to it myself and yes it does really sound like it’s say that. Pretty clear if you turn it up as loud as you can.

6. Throughout the video there are several strange reflections that look like the console shown at E3.

7. I personally can’t see how it is possible to recreate the entire Mario castle scene so perfectly and many many times. One person emailed me saying that they could have pulled the graphics out of the rom set, however, how could they also anime it so well like the moving flag and also since the music with it perfectly? It’s just to perfect and even if they could take some stuff out of the rom it’s obvious that the graphics engine would not be running in the art program.

8. Not really big proof but the Nintendo ON logo is the exact same on logo on the console shown at E3 and the Freehand Style controller. Yes the ON logo is a standard on logo for any appliance but I never seen it used on a console before.

9. They have not unveiled the final name of the console yet or shown any games yet. Why? They could have shown at the very least a few tech demos. UNLESS it would give away all the secrets which could be a new way to view the game. A 3D Visor perhaps?

10. There was a second Nintendo ON video which was only 11 seconds long. It was shown on May 19th which was the very same day Nintendo showed off their console. The design was very similar to the ON video made by Pablo Belmonte and it showed other sides of the ON not previously shown which would indicate that it had to be done by Pablo Belmonte. I can’t see someone else being able to completely mimick the same design as Pablo Belmonte. Especially in only hours from the Revolution’s unveiling at E3.

11. The Nintendo ON video was released on May 12th which was the same day that the Xbox 360 was unveiled on MTV.

12. Pablo Belmonte made quite a splash with his ON video and yet Nintendo never offered him a job. Unless he already works for Nintendo and that could be how he got all the high resolution renders for the video. Perhaps he works for Nintendo and was given the task to create the ON video.

13. He calls him sell Psyco3leR Why is the P and the R captialized? “Public Relations” perhaps?

14. The music for the entire ON video was extremely well done. Is Pablo also a music expert? He was able to combine unique Mario tunes with some of the music featured in the movie “The Rundown” starring The Rock. However I never heard of some of the music variations before and it was combined together very professionally.

15. In the ON video it shows the ON next to a GameCube and a square box with arrows pointing to the ON video. The square box looks very similar in design to the Revolution. Could this be some kind of a hint? Could the GameCube be signifying backwards compatability? Could the box with a ? on it be similar to this theory?

16. Software developers have not yet seen final software development kits and some smaller developers have been turned down. Most likely to hide whatever big secrets Nintendo has.

19. “When you see the Revolution’s graphics you will saw Wow” -Iwata. Well considering the specs are vastly underpowered and Nintendo even said that they don’t care about having the best graphics why would the president of Nintendo make such a statement? Well if theres a new way to view the game like a 3D Visor that could be why he said that.

20. If there wasn’t something super big in the works then why is the console taking so long in development? It is not scheduled to come out until late 2006. Nintendo said sometime in 2006 but face it, the are not going to fully unveil and start marketing it until E3 in May and they are going to want to put a few months of advertising in so that people will learn about it before Nintendo releases it. Also developers said they were told it would be released around Thanksgiving. Why so long? The specs are low and it looks like a very simple system and the games have been in development for quite a while now or at least they should be. The games for the Xbox 360 where in development for less then a year before coming out. So whats taking the Big N so long? A 3D Visor perhaps?

21. I have spoke with several art designers who claim that there is no way the ON could have been in the short amount of time Pablo Belmonte claimed so.

22. This is kind of a weird one but a while back I was on a site who hosts thousands of commercials one of the commercials was Pablo’s Majora’s Mask commercial which was listed as a Japanese promo for the game. Japanese often times use CG for commercials. Could this have just been a simple mistake? Or did Pablo take the video from that site and claim it to be his work? Doubtful but you never know.

23. On May 9th last year a site appeared www.smashbrothers3.com on the site it played the ON music in the background and has some weird numbers on it. The site soon disapeared and now takes you to another site. Anyhow the site was made days before the ON appeared and is still registered to end on May 9th of 2006. The same day the Revolutio will be truly unveiled. Kind of strange.

24. The share quality of all the special effects and animation in the video is just crazy. So many tiny details and some I hard to imagine someone easily rendering. For example in some parts of the video where the camera pans around the ON you can see through the vents in the base of the ON. Thats pretty weird actually. If it was just a simple render then this would not be the case. You can also see between the Brain and the Visor that lays on top of it. Amazingly high quality CG if thats all it is.

25. In the beginning where they show the N64 and Mario 64 during the part where they are going through the systems they show what appears to be an early beta version of Mario 64. I have never seen videos on the internet from an earlier version of Mario 64. I tried to find some and couldn’t find anything. How would he have gotten them and surely he wouldn’t have used beta footage thats hard to find over regular release version footage.

26. At E3 Nintendo said that you will be able to make small loki style games on the Revolution. In the ON video it says “Make Games”.

27. At E3 Reggie said “Let your right brain run wild” and in the ON video the base is called the Brain.

28. In the ON video it shows that the Brain can hook up to a TV or a Monitor. If this video was suppose to have been made weeks before E3 then how would Pablo know the Revolution could hook up to a monitor when that feature wasn’t unveiled until about a week before E3 in an IGN interview?

29. Strange logo appeared on one of the Nintendo webcams during E3. Just simply saying “ON” and then “Nintendo” on the right of it.

30. Both the ON and the Revolution shown at E3 has a Auto Loading DVD slot.

31. The original slogan for Revolution was “Touching is good but feeling is better” which in the ON video it says “Feel Games”.

32. The site www.nintendoon.com appears to go through a masking site so you really can’t see who owns the site. At least I can’t find the original owner. The UK ON site is no longer around.

33. Even before the ON video was released rumors ran crazy with the existence of a 3D Visor. Many blogs surfaced claiming to have inside information regarding the Revolution’s unknown secrets. One of the more convincing of blogs is by a guy that goes by the name of N5_DEV and his blog can be found here. Before TGS where the Freehand Style controller was unvieled:

I asked N5_DEV some questions:

First I asked: How do you control that game itself?

With 2 controllers : one in each hand. They are motion sensitive. You can use one to aim someone in a FPS for example. You can simply walk in the game by using one of the pressure sensitive buttons.

I asked: When can we expect the Visor to be fully unveiled? TGS?

He said: The main part, but probably not the whole thing, will be detailed during the TGS.

Could he be talking about the controller being a part of the Visor?

I ask: How powerful is the console compared to the Xbox 360 and PS3?

He says: You cannot compare these systems because revolution uses a totally different way for graphics. But if you compare grahics and not hardware, Revolution is by far the most powerful.

He seems to be hinting that the Revolution is underpowered but that you will still be amazed because of the way the graphics are displayed.

So far everything he says has accurately described the the controller. HOWEVER he could have been hinting at a controller design similar to this which seems to also accurately fit his cryptic hints.

34. What is stopping the Nintendo ON from simply being an addon to the console? What if Nintendo released a standard $200 package which included the console shown at E3, the Freehand Style controller with Numbchuck attachement and perhaps one NES, SNES, N64 game of your choice for download? Then as an addon feature you could purchase the ON for an additional $200-300. Perhaps thats what the ON video was trying to show then they showed the Brain next to a square box with a ? on it. Nintendo really might try to market both products. It would cater perfectly to the casual gamer who may not want the Visor functionality and yet give the hardcore gamer the chance to use the 3D Visor to furthermore enhance their gaming experience. So if the Visor idea failed a second time it wouldn’t kill the Revolution as it was only an addon. Nintendo said that there will be a lot of addons for the Revolution and considering they invested quite a bit of money researching wireless and WiFi technology and said that the Revolution will support WiFi out of the box you can’t help but wonder why this couldn’t work with the ON? The Xbox 360 and the PS3 won’t even support WiFi. You have to buy an adaptor for them and the Xbox 360’s adaptor is $100 for a part that probably costs them $1 to make. Again N5_Dev claimed that the ON was an addon.

35. The video just ended in the middle of the Mario scene. Most of the other videos Pablo made had at least some sort of ending like his logo. It just cut off in the middle of the audio and video sequence. Almost like it was ripped from something. He claimed that he lost the rest of the video and that is all he could recreate. What was the rush? Why did he feel that he HAD to release it on May 12th? If the original version was 30 minutes long and he was recreating it why did he not redo everything up to the 30 minute mark like the original? Doesn’t make sense to me. Why the rush? He said he worked on it day and night? Why?

36. In the pic where it shows the Brain, GameCube and the square box with the ? in it could

mean that the GameCube stands for backwards compatable with the Brain and the square box could simply stand for the older systems for backwards compatability.

37. Nintendo has never said that a Visor or anything like it was in the works. They simply said the ON was fake. Maybe a different Visor is in the works or maybe the ON has been change and is no longer called the ON.

38. Without HD it might be possible to accomplish the ON video’s graphics in HDless resolutions depending on the graphics capability. Miyamoto is known for changing Mario over the years so it is possible that the Mario design in the video is really Miyamoto’s newer version of Mario. OR it could have simply just been some prerendered stuff to give people an idea since the games are still in very early development when that video was released.

39. Why would Nintendo rent the largest theater if there wasn’t going to be something big unveiled. Check this theater out. Also there are a few people getting confused because Nintendo used a smaller Kodak theater. Let me clearify that Nintendo has never used this specific theater. This is a big thing for Nintendo. You can see in the older E3 Press videos that their older theaters they used where not even close as luxuriest as the theater they are using next year. Microsoft and Sony has never used such a theater either so I bag the questions “Why Nintendo?” The emmy awards are handed out in this exact theater. I hardly doubt it’s going to be used to show a few more details for the Revolution and thats it unless they really do have something major in the works. I don’t consider Displacement Mapping, Cube Mapping, Nurbs, price for console, backwards compatability, or a small extra controller functionality a big secret and I highly doubt they would not only use the Kodak theater to unveil it. Specially considering they are already advertising about E3 to major press members.

40. It has been reported that the console shown at E3 was hollow and had nothing in it. Also the front slot would not open as if it was glued there. Of course this was a simple prototype design but still a bit strange none the less.

41. Where is Pablo Belmonte these days? He has no website, doesn’t even say anything online that I am aware of and he doesn’t seem to be working on anymore videos. Supposely he made this video as it has his logo on it as well as is in Spanish but for some reason it doesn’t seem to fit his style. Why did he call it Nintendo ON V.2? Kind of weird.

42. Kind of a strange thing happend. A while back I emailed Emagin asking if they where partnered with SeriousGamer007. This was when SeriousGamer007 was really pushing that he was working with Emagin. I got a responce back FROM SeriousGamer007 saying yes he was. Did Emagin forward my email to SeriousGamer007? Kind of strange that they would do that and it would also show they don’t read through peoples emails. I think I still have the email if anyone requires proof.

43. OK many of you may or may not remember the phone call with Bruce. It was a 1 minute video that was supposely a conversation with a guy who works for Emgain which is a company who makes 3D Visors and according to the guy Nintendo is indeed working with them. A lot of people claim this phone call at the least to be real. You can listen to it here.

44. This is kind of a strange one. About 5 minutes and 16 seconds into the video on the part that goes over you head you can see two small black dots. It looks like it perhaps connects to the Brain for maybe recharging the batteries. Would Pablo Belmonte go that far into detail for just a small fan video?

45. Another strange quote:

Well, the concept of a home system today is defined as hardware that you tether to a box, and you are tethered to it via a controller; we think that’s an old paradigm. We think that the consumer wants something much more innovative than that. Coupled with the concept of strong community and immersion into the gameplay, we think that’s what we need to deliver on from a consumer proposition standpoint. -Reggie Fils-Aime (Around E3 2005)

This is a weird quote. I really don’t know what to think of this one. It would explain the theory of the ON attachement and the theory of there being several parts to the system (Base Unit, Visor, Controller, Possibly a Memory Module). Either way you look at it, it’s just a very strange quote that seems not to make much sense as well so far we are seeing that standard system with controller and TV yet Nintendo is saying that image might change. They keep on pushing out those hints.

46. This is a cool video I just found thats about the ON. Don’t know who made it and I am almost sure it’s fan made but I still like it. Check it out here. Also this video from a GIC in August was pretty weird as well. Though it doesn’t answer the secrets to the Revolution.

47. This is kind of a strange one. About 5 minutes and 16 seconds into the video on the part that goes over you head you can see two small black dots. It looks like it perhaps connects to the Brain for maybe recharging the batteries. Would Pablo Belmonte go that far into detail for just a small fan video?

As you can see there is enough information to fuel the ON/Visor rumors for a lot longer. There has been nothing that completely debunks the possibility of a Visor ever being in development. Half of what Nintendo says hints at a Visor with all their crazy quotes and half of Nintendo seems to be targeting a totally different stragedy. So what do I believe? In the end I would have to say that I do not believe that the ON or anything like it is coming for the Revolution for all of the reasons I stated in the first post. That said I still can’t confirm this 100% and there really are a lot of crazy stuff that supports the ON/Visor theory. I don’t care who you are you can not say with 100% certainy that a Visor is not coming. Nintendo isn’t talking and has hardly revealed anything yet. I do think something big is in the works and I do think it has something to do with viewing the game but what exactly I just don’t know. Something is strange. Nintendo is to calm. Though the GameCube made them money their home consoles have sold horribly and now Nintendo is as calm as ever. They know they have something big that will change gaming forever. They show no signs of fear or worry. Would the Freehand Style controller alone be enough to conquer the next gen game consoles?

___

1724 Friends??

2005-12-10T18:03:00.000-08:00

Some thing is going on over at Digg.. 1724 Friends??
Click the image for bigger version...

A Christmas Gory

2005-12-08T10:09:00.000-08:00

What if Ralphie was in a horror story.... hmmmm..

Well I am a big fan of making movies..

2005-12-05T15:55:00.000-08:00

Didn't have much to work with but here it is...

there is also another copy of it at my personal moblog.. http://joefilip.textamerica.com

And for a full episode...

2005-12-02T16:51:00.000-08:00

Hak5.. check 'em out at Hak5

if you like these they got plenty at there site!!

Now for some more Tech...

2005-12-02T16:50:00.000-08:00

Hak5...

ok thats enuff tiki for now..

2005-12-02T16:47:00.000-08:00

one last one.. for now..

and some more drinks anyone?

2005-12-02T16:46:00.000-08:00

more tiki tiki tiki...

More Tiki.... tiki tiki tki

2005-12-02T16:45:00.000-08:00

yehh... drinks are good...

tiki bar interlude..

2005-12-02T16:39:00.000-08:00

I'm gonna guess you like this...

Textamerica Times..

2005-12-02T15:36:00.000-08:00

Something they were expirmenting with for Textamerica... first and last episodes for TA Times...

here is some playing in between episodes

2005-12-02T15:35:00.000-08:00

FUN to microwave discs!!

Funky Sweet Chicken Ep3

2005-12-02T15:32:00.000-08:00

Here they got all systm on yo ass.. and YES that is Yoshi!!

Funky Sweet Chicken Ep2

2005-12-02T15:31:00.000-08:00

As you can see here the boys got a little stuck up and were very diffucult to work with...

The kids (funky sweet chicken).. episode one

2005-12-02T15:29:00.000-08:00

Here ya go Ep1... please feel fre to comment... flame whatever!!

A Transparent Desktop... The newest thing from Apple, or a complete hoax.. Discuss..

2005-12-02T11:12:00.000-08:00

MPs topple Liberal government, trigger election

2005-11-28T16:37:00.000-08:00

MPs topple Liberal government, trigger election

The opposition parties banded together Monday to defeat the Liberal minority government and set the stage for an election that is expected to culminate in a mid-January vote.
Paul Martin gives a thumbs-up as he receives applause in the House of Commons.

In a 171 to 133 vote, the House passed a historic no-confidence motion exactly one year and five months after Canadian voters elected the Liberals.

Prime Minister Paul Martin will now have to go see Governor General Michaëlle Jean Tuesday morning and ask her to dissolve Parliament.

As the vote was conducted, parliamentarians stood up to applaud MPs who will not be running in the next election.

* INDEPTH: Divided Parliament

The Liberal defeat marks the first time a government has fallen on a straight motion of no-confidence in Parliament.

Other minority governments have been forced into elections after losing budget votes or censure motions interpreted as loss of confidence.

Last week, Opposition leader Stephen Harper officially tabled the motion of no-confidence which read: "That this House has lost confidence in the government."

The Liberals have 133 seats, followed by the Conservatives with 98, the Bloc Québécois with 53 and the NDP with 18. There are four seats held by Independents and two are vacant.

According to a poll conducted by Environics Research for the CBC, 35 per cent of decided voters said they would vote Liberal. The Conservatives came in at 30 per cent and the NDP was picked by 20 per cent.

* RELATED STORY: Canadians want majority, expect minority: poll

With a margin of error of plus or minus 2.5 per cent, 19 times out of 20, the poll puts the Liberals and Conservatives at a virtual dead heat.

Federal elections have to be held on a Monday and the campaigns have to be at least 36 days long. Martin is expected to call for a slightly longer campaign, setting the vote for mid-January, either the 16th or the 23rd, with an agreement among the parties to take a holiday break and stop campaigning between Dec. 23 and Jan. 3.

An eight-week campaign would be the longest the country has seen in two decades.

The last time a government fell at the hands of the opposition was Joe Clark's Conservative government in 1979.

Monday's vote means a number of bills will die on the order paper, among them an act to decriminalize small amounts of marijuana and an animal cruelty bill.

Joey's Jui Jitsu Tournament

2005-11-20T22:47:00.000-08:00

This is a test

Alex Albrecht: TSS is DEAD...

2004-11-11T19:40:00.000-08:00

Alex Albrecht: TSS is DEAD...: "I made up a form letter to send into G4techtv.com

Just input a small amount of info and send it off.

To: info@g4techtv.com

Subject: BRING BACK THE SCREENSAVERS

Body:

To Charles Hirschhorn,

My name is NAME, and I have been a loyal fan of The Screensavers for NUMBER years now, and to hear that you have revamped the show AGAIN in so little time is not only an atrocity, but an insult to the cast, crew and audience. You gave them no chance at improving ratings before you let the ax fall. Shame on you. Your network has taken a very useful, well-liked channel, Tech TV, and turned it into a video game 24/7, teenage free-for-all. I never watch any other shows on your channel because I can only take so much of video games, and it only adds to their uselessness and trivial nature. You have taken many good shows: The ScreenSavers, Unscrewed, Call For Help and so many more and flushed them down the toilet in leu of video games and their fleeting ratings. The ScreenSavers and the old TechTV shows were the only things keeping me coming back to your channel, but now you have lost me, and I'm sure many more loyal fans for good. I will wait to laugh when I see your ratings drop, the shows slowly be canceled and the eventual fold of the channel.

A former die-hard, everyday watching fan,"