The things you find in the corners of the mind

On the 5PM live chat today, the subject of video games was brought up.  So, that leaves me wondering, what games do you folks in blog land like to play?  My top 10 favorite games, in no particular order,  are:

1.  Pitfall (for the Real 3DO)

2.  Road Rash (also for 3DO)

3.  The Legend of Zelda (NES)

4.  Castlevania (NES)

5.  Castlevania:  Symphony of The Night (PS1, also now available as part of Dracula X Chronicles for PSP)

6.  Grand Theft Auto:  San Andreas (for the PS2)

7.  Quake 3 (Sega Dreamcast)

8.  House Of The Dead 2 (also Dreamcast)

9.  DarkStalkers:  The Chaos Tower (PSP)

and last, but certainly NOT least:

10.  Ultimate Ghosts N Goblins (PSP)

Scanning through my e-mail today, I found a link to this article in a newsletter I get.  It's a bit late, and I apologize, but the idea behind it worries me.  Take a look:


NFL Wants To Remind You That Having People Over To Watch The Super Bowl On A Big Screen Is Copyright Infringement from the laws-written-by-lobbyists dept

What is it with sports leagues and their desire to limit how their fans can enjoy the game? There's Major League Baseball, who keeps trying to insist that they own the facts related to a game, and no one can use them without paying MLB first. Then, there's the NFL, who freaked out about TiVo and also tried to ban any broadcasters from using "unauthorized" video feeds to show what happens in the stadium (i.e., no sideline cameras any more). They've been particularly fussy about the Super Bowl, however, forcing advertisers to call it "the Big Game" or whatever, claiming excessive control over the trademark (remember, trademarks are really designed to prevent consumer confusion, not to give holders full control over the mark).

The latest situation is perhaps even more bizarre -- but tragically, seems to fall closer to a correct legal reading of a really poorly written law. The NFL apparently nastygrammed a church for planning to host a Super Bowl party. The original complaint was first that the church was charging people, but also that they used the term "Super Bowl" (as if people would somehow believe that the church was associated with the NFL?). After the church agreed to let people in for free and not use the term, the NFL continued to complain, saying that showing the Super Bowl on a screen larger than 55 inches represents copyright infringement. While we, at first, doubted the reality of this, Ben Austro sent in the fact that it is, indeed, spelled out in copyright law that once you get above 55", you may be talking about a "public performance," though, as Ben notes, the wording sounds like it was clearly written by a lobbyist. No matter what the law states, this seems ridiculously short-sighted by the NFL. It's hard to see how they lose out in any meaningful way by not allowing groups to watch the Super Bowl together. Of course, now that this particular quirk of copyright law is getting some attention, how long will it be until the MPAA starts cracking down on those of you with really big screen TVs from showing movies in your home theaters. What was a joke just a few months ago, may become real.

I don't know about you folks, but the fact that copyright law is based on screen size worries me.  Especially since the MPAA (Motion Picture Company of America) is now on the crusade against copyright law infringement, along with the RIAA.  Is it just me, or is this very troubling?

Don't really know what exactly to title this under, but having lost a loved one in a car accident, I was pretty taken aback by this article.  Tell me what you folks think:


Driver Who Killed Teen Sues for Damage
By HAROLD HECKLE, AP
7 hours ago //

MADRID, Spain — A speeding motorist who killed a teenage cyclist is suing the boy's parents over damage to his luxury car, the government says.

Enaitz Iriondo, 17, died instantly in August 2004 when businessman Tomas Delgado's Audi A8 crashed into him at 100 mph near Haro in northern Spain, an Interior Ministry traffic report said. The speed limit was 55 mph.

Iriondo was not wearing reflective clothing or a helmet, the ministry report said. As the sun had set when he crossed the path of Delgado's car from a side road, a regional court found both parties at fault and closed the case, the report said.

Delgado, whose insurance company paid Iriondo's parents $48,500 in compensation for their son's life, filed a suit in late 2006 to recover $29,400 in damages to his car and car rental costs, the ministry traffic report said.

"It's the only way I have to claim my money back," Delgado was quoted as saying by the newspaper El Pais, which first reported the story on Friday. El Pais said a ruling was expected next week.

Iriondo's parents were shocked.

"It's the final straw, a stab in the back," Iriondo's mother, Rosa Trinidad said, according to El Pais. "Before the lawsuit we thought the poor guy would find it hard to live the rest of his life with the thought of having caused our son's death.

The European Union's statistics office says Spain recorded 113 traffic fatalities per million inhabitants in 2004. The average for the 25-nation bloc was 95. In 2006, 3,016 people died on Spain's roads.

Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

All I really have to say on this right now is as follows: "Say WHAT?"

First off, let me apologize in advance for any spelling errors.  My new keyboard hasn't arrived yet, and this one's playing games. 


Reading through the news on my ISP homepage today, I ran into an article about a commentator for the Golf Channel.  In the interest of full disclosure, I could really care less about any sport, but this caught my eye for a couple of reasons, which is why I'm bringing it up here. 

Golf Channel Anchor Suspended for Remark
By DOUG FERGUSON, AP
49 minutes ago //

HONOLULU — Golf Channel suspended anchor Kelly Tilghman for two weeks on Wednesday for saying last week that young players who wanted to challenge Tiger Woods should "lynch him in a back alley."

Tilghman was laughing during the exchange Friday with analyst Nick Faldo at the Mercedes-Benz Championship, and Woods' agent at IMG said he didn't think there was any ill intent.

But the comments became prevalent on news shows Wednesday, and the Rev. Al Sharpton joined the fray by demanding she be fired immediately. Golf Channel didn't know who would replace Tilghman in the booth this week at the Sony Open or next week at the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic.

"There is simply no place on our network for offensive language like this," Golf Channel said in a statement.

Tilghman became golf's first female anchor last year when the PGA Tour signed a 15-year deal in which Golf Channel broadcasts the first three events of the year, weekday coverage of all tour events, and full coverage of the Fall Series and opposite-field events.

The suspension ends in time for the Buick Invitational on Jan. 24, when Woods will make his 2008 debut.

Faldo and Tilghman were discussing young players who could challenge the world's No. 1 player toward the end of Friday's broadcast at Kapalua when Faldo suggested that "to take Tiger on, maybe they should just gang up for a while."

"Lynch him in a back alley," Tilghman replied.

"While we believe that Kelly's choice of words was inadvertent and that she did not intend them in an offensive manner, the words were hurtful and grossly inappropriate," Golf Channel said in its statement. "Consequently, we have decided to suspend Kelly for two weeks, effective immediately."

Woods and Tilghman have known each other 12 years. She was picked to host a club demonstration with Woods in south Florida when he talked about new products from Nike Golf.

Tilghman was helped when Mark Steinberg, Woods' agent at IMG, said it was a non-issue and considered the matter "case closed."

"Tiger and Kelly are friends, and Tiger has a great deal of respect for Kelly," Steinberg said Tuesday night in a statement released by Golf Channel. "Regardless of the choice of words used, we know unequivocally that there was no ill-intent in her comments."

Tilghman had said in a previous statement she apologized directly to Woods, and the immediate support from Woods' camp was critical.

After Woods won the 1997 Masters at age 21 to become its youngest champion, Fuzzy Zoeller referred to him as "that little boy," and suggested that Woods not serve fried chicken or collard greens, "or whatever the hell they serve," at the Champions Dinner.

Woods, who had a different management team in his first full season, did not respond for three days to Zoeller's apology, and it took Zoeller years to recover from the fallout.

Tilghman's comment made the rounds Wednesday on TV shows such as CNN's Headline News, and it was prominently discussed on blogs and message boards on the Internet. It also was a topic on the practice range at the Sony Open.

"I'm sure Kelly wishes she never said that," Jim Furyk said. "I haven't spoken with Tiger, but I've been told that they've had their talk and they've discussed it. Anything I say is kind of just like pouring salt in the wound at this point. Obviously, she would love to not have said that and for it not to be news. I'm glad that her and Tiger spoke."

Fred Funk only heard about the comment Wednesday morning.

"There was no ill intent at all," he said. "I think it was just a slip, and they said that Tiger has already forgiven her. I think when you're in the TV tower for that many hours, you're going to wish you didn't say some things probably, and that was one thing that slipped out. I think you've got to give them a little grace.

"Her integrity, how Kelly is respected out here, is pretty good. I think Tiger really likes Kelly, so that helped squash it. Because Tiger could have run off with that if he took it the wrong way. But he didn't, so that was good."

Before her suspension was announced, Sharpton spoke earlier on CNN's "Prime News" and continued to push for her firing, saying he wanted to meet with Golf Channel because the comments were "an insult to all blacks."

"Lynching is not murder in general, it's not assault in general," Sharpton said. "It's a specific racial term that this women should be held accountable for. What she said is racist. Whether she's a racist ... is immaterial. She's a broadcaster. The channel has to be accountable to the public."

Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Now, I ask you folks:  Is it just me, or does the media need to stop hosting the likes of Al Sharpton?  As has been said on the blogs before, he's not stopping racism, he's SPREADING it.  If we stop allowing him to open his mouth on national TV, maybe he'll finally go away!

I just got done responding to Jeff_I's thread about Paste Magazine's list of the top 100 albums of 2007, and I figure that since none of my personal favorites made the list, I'd create a blog for those, and for any that you folks think are in the top ten of albums released this year.  So, here's my top ten:

10.  Radiohead "In Rainbows".  This actually made Paste's list at number 11, and it should have been higher on that list.  I've found it takes a couple of listens, but really gets under your skin.

9.  Dark Tranquility "Fiction".  This album didn't make Paste's list, but it's a great album from masters of blending melody with death metal extremes.

8.  Dimmu Borgir "In Sorte Diaboli".  Another album that didn't make Paste's list, this one plays like a death metal concept album opera.

7.  Christian Death "American Inquisition".  For all the diehard original lineup fans, I understand.  BUT, this lineup can still produce an entertaining album.

6.  Hellyeah "Hellyeah".  This album is a bit of a shock for me to actually list here, but the blend of members, and the fact that this album was made under the radar warrants a mention on this list.

5.  Stevie Nicks "Crystal Visions:  The Very Best Of Stevie Nicks".  Normally, I'm not impressed by "Greatest Hits" albums, but the mix of tracks, from live songs with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra to a Deep Dish tweak on "Dreams", this album made a very positive impression.

4.  Type O Negative "Dead Again".  After the disappointment of "Life Is Killing Me", this album makes it up to fans with a return to the classic musical style that made people want to play "Bloody Kisses" and "October Rust" continuously.

3.  Ministry "The Last Sucker".  The third album in the band's "Anti-Bush" trillogy, and the final Ministry album, this album takes the band out with a bang, again using sound bites to help make their case. 

2.  Nine Inch Nails "Year Zero".  Trent Reznor uses the concept album idea to build a subtler Nine Inch Nails sound, and it works.

1.  Tori Amos "American Doll Posse".  While I'm still playing the heck out of all of the albums in my top ten, this album has been getting the most play.  Newer Tori sound meets classic Tori songwriting makes for a very playable and enjoyable album.

So that's my top ten.  Now, how about you folks?  What do you think qualifies for the top ten of the year?

Since Chip brought up the topic of "Stupid School", it got me thinking on what exactly would be a required course of study.  Since most of the people who need it would need the 10 year plan (Sorry, Therapy?, but in this case, I think it'll work.), I've figured out the following courses.  Feel free to agree, disagree, or offer your own suggestions.  (Yes, Chip, especially you and Okie.  I'm curious as to what you two think!)


1.  Acting Like A Human Being 101:  This is an introductory course that covers the basics of what human beings are expected to do like breathing, eating, thinking, etc.  (Did I mention this is a very intensive and remedial school?  Well, I did now!)

2.  The Bill Of NO Rights.  This course covers the things that people do not have a guaranteed right to just because they live in America, but can get if they work hard at achieving them.  (Think things like Cadillacs, 12,000 dollar drapes, plasma TVs, etc.)

3.  Right And Wrong 101:  This course covers simple right and wrongs when it comes to behavior towards other people and especially children.  For examples of people who need this course, see the cases of the following people:  The father in Wrentham who let his girls ride in the trunk of his car over the summer because  they asked, the father in Spain who let his 10 year old run with the bulls, the mother in PA who bought her son (the kid arrested for planning another Columbine) a gun because he was unhappy and she thought it'd cheer him up, and to round out the short list, Deval Patrick and his caddy.

4.  Basic Decency And Kindness 101:  The prerequisite of this course is Acting Like A Human Being 101.  This course covers things like learning to calm down if you're offended over someone helping someone else.  (Case in point, whoever complained about the Boy Scout drive for care packages for the troops.)

5.  Ignoring the ACLU 101:  This is a general course of study that will last the whole 10 years.  It covers reasons why the ACLU aren't helpful, and gives history on a few of the cases that they've taken that should have been left alone.

And finally,

6.  Being an American citizen 101:  This course covers the things that being a citizen (born here or naturalized) requires of a person.  Topics include voting wisely, supporting our troops despite personal stance on a conflict and respecting the traditions of our nation, to name a few. 

That's what I come up with for now, if you folks have more you'd like to add, please, feel free!

Sitting here reading the list of guests for the upcoming Rock And Shock convention in Worcester, I discovered something incredibly stupid that I'd like to bring up.  Yes, it's not my usual stupid topics, but make no mistake, if it ain't painful, it should be!

 

In my wanderings through the list, I happened to click on the guest link for  Ari Lehman.  For those of you who don't know (or don't really care), he played the young Jason Voorhees in the first Friday the 13th movie.  Big deal, right?  Well, apparently, it is to him, since he's now fronting a band called (get this) FIRSTJASON.  Reading the bio page, (yes, I know, I know, I need to stop doing that!), I further learn that the band is "horror-rock forged in punk and metal".  So now I'm all kinds of interested and check out the music page.  There's 2 songs for free download, so sucker that I am, I download them both because it's intriguing.  (If I didn't have cable internet, I'd be mad as heck for wasting the d/l time!)  About 30 seconds later, they're both downloaded and I load them up to check them out, at which time I find out that the music is just horrible.  Which leads me to my point.  Apparently, Ari is an acclaimed musician in his own right, but founded FIRSTJASON specifically to appeal to horror fans who sought him out...So my question to you folks is this:  Does the idea of founding a band based on one horror role (all the music is apparently related to Friday the 13th, if you're wondering) seem like it should be as painful as a bad cover song or really bad production on one?  Bob Ward, I'd love to hear what you think!

 

If you'd like to check out FIRSTJASON's music (see if maybe you disagree with my assessment), you can get it on the music page of http://www.firstjason.com/

For more info on Rock And Shock, which is a 3 day convention with 2 days featuring evening metal band performances, you can check it out here:  http://www.rockandshock.com/index.html