tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-66470212024-03-07T12:24:43.260-06:00FOXYMORON SUCKS!(rants from travis fox)Travishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14247110803781028001noreply@blogger.comBlogger897125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6647021.post-10457407163030387472011-01-14T00:28:00.003-06:002011-01-15T23:36:06.800-06:00EVERYONE'S GOING TO HEAVEN (AND COMING BACK WITH A BOOK DEAL!)Listen, we all know I'm not the most religious guy on the planet. Okay, I'm not even close. But working at Borders for the past six months has made me realize that some things are less "miracles" and more "makin' a buck."<br /><br />About a month or so after being hired, I was assigned the awesome job of re-arranging the entire Religion section. All the Bibles, all the Christian Inspiration, all the Christian Fiction, all the Jewish, Hindu, Atheist, Muslim, etc...everything needed to be arranged and spread out to new shelving in order to make room for new product. So, over the course of two or three shifts, I became very, very, VERY familiar with a lot of books I had never crossed (zing!) paths with prior to this.<br /><br />One of those books was a bestseller entitled, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/90-Minutes-Heaven-Story-Death/dp/0800759494/ref=pd_sim_b_4">90 Minutes in Heaven</a>.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://img.amazon.ca/images/I/51rwN21MlNL._SL500_AA300_.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 300px;" src="http://img.amazon.ca/images/I/51rwN21MlNL._SL500_AA300_.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />You see, this guy was in a horrible car accident. Died. Went to Heaven for 90 minutes (I guess they have clocks in Heaven) and then woke up alive? Oh, AND THEN decided to write a book about it. And it sold a shitton. (That's a lot)<br /><br />But that book came out in 2004. <br /><br />A couple months ago, I started getting lots of people coming in asking about, "This book about a kid who went to Heaven and came back..." and I'd tell them, "Oh you mean 90 Minutes in Heaven," as I walk them over to the Religion section. But they'd stop me and go, "No, I already read that one, this one is about a kid in a wheelchair!"<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://img.amazon.ca/images/I/41c5Lht4qML._SL500_AA300_.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 300px;" src="http://img.amazon.ca/images/I/41c5Lht4qML._SL500_AA300_.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />Yes, there's apparently <span style="font-style:italic;">another</span> book about going to Heaven and coming back. So, I made a mental note and went about my days working and sorting books. Then, around November, a new round of customers came in looking for, "This book about a kid who went to Heaven and came back!" As I go to grab "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Boy-Who-Came-Back-Heaven/dp/1414336063/ref=pd_sim_b_12">The Boy Who Came Back From Heaven</a>" they stop me and say, "No, I already read that one, this kid <span style="font-weight:bold;">isn't</span> in a wheelchair!"<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41SxDCvWK1L._SL500_AA300_.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 300px;" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41SxDCvWK1L._SL500_AA300_.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />Ugh. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Heaven-Real-Little-Astounding-Story/dp/0849946158/ref=pd_sim_b_1">Heaven is for Real!</a> Soooooo, TWO books about children going to Heaven and coming back come out within months of each other?! Seriously?! I know I'm a cynical asshole, but c'mon!!! You got to admit that's pretty far fetched...even if you believe in Heaven and religion in general. <br /><br />But, my absolute favorite is a guy who wrote a book not about going to Heaven and back, but <span style="font-weight:bold;">HELL</span>!!!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51BTQ3ObvYL._SL500_AA300_.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 300px;" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51BTQ3ObvYL._SL500_AA300_.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />He even wrote an amazing follow up entitled, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/23-Questions-About-Hell-DVD/dp/1616380276/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1295154351&sr=1-1">23 Questions About Hell</a> which answers incredibly complex questions such as, "Isn't God mean for making Hell?" and explaining that Hell is actually within the center of the Earth. Yeah, you didn't know that?! Hell is exactly 3,700 miles underneath the Earth's center. Which means we can totally go visit if we just dig deep enough!<br /><br />Oh, and course all of these books are located in the Christian <span style="font-style:italic;">Inspiration</span> section, not Christian <span style="font-style:italic;">Fiction</span>...Travishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14247110803781028001noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6647021.post-59475978853504056282010-01-01T17:42:00.005-06:002010-01-03T18:10:25.976-06:00BEST MOVIES OF 2009! (THAT I SAW)(keep in mind, I did not see: THE HURT LOCKER, MOON, A SINGLE MAN, A SERIOUS MAN, THE INFORMANT, PRECIOUS and a few others...but I did see these...)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">10. WATCHMEN</span><br /><img src="http://images.eonline.com/eol_images/Articles/20080718/425.watchmen.071808.jpg" /><br />Yes, it was long. Yes, it was based on an unfilmable graphic novel. Yes, it was visuals over characters...but dammit, it was also awesome. So much so that my wife, who hadn't even read the comics, LOVED this movie. And last time I checked, she was a chick. So it did something right. (Maybe it was just the large naked blue guy?!) I'm curious to see what Zack Synder does next and I'm pretty sure Jackie Earle Haley is a fucking star now. It wasn't the best movie of the year, but it was definitely one of the most interesting and visually stunning films of the year.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">9. AVATAR</span><br /><img src="http://filmonic.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/avatar-movie-game.jpg" /><br />Speaking of impressive visuals, James Cameron never lets you down. His stories are pretty "ho-hum" and tacky, but they get you through with awesome flying creatures and big gunned robots. And, if nothing else, it gets the "Travis Award" for being one of the only IMAX 3D films that didn't get me light-headed or give me a weird headache. James knew what he was doing and lit the scenes with enough light that they literally pop off the screen. It goes without saying, but you should see this in theaters...cause even on Blu Ray, it's not going to be the same experience.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">8. STAR TREK</span><br /><img src="http://www.cryptomundo.com/wp-content/uploads/e84d7f6d-f465-4d98-a6be-de33db7083dblarge.jpg" /><br />Seriously. Fucking Star Trek?! I know, believe me, I know. I've NEVER been into Star Trek. My friend Jon used to watch The Next Generation with his parents and I'd sit there, rolling my eyes, wondering when we could go do something, ANYTHING else. Molly was into the TV shows as well, and since this had J.J. Abrams involved, I decided to give it a shot. Holy shit, it was really good. Exactly what a Summer Blockbuster should be. Lots of action, awesome and fun characters, and just overall a thrill ride. Nothing Earth-shattering, but dammit...a good movie. Period. Look past the fact that it's titled "Star Trek" and you'll be surprised.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">7. DISTRICT 9</span><br /><img src="http://cpham3.files.wordpress.com/2009/08/district-9-movie.jpg" /><br />Another one I had ZERO interest in seeing. I saw the trailers. Thought the "shrimp" aliens looked cheap and lame. Heard about the $30 Million budget and wondered why this wasn't going "direct-to-DVD?!" Then started seeing the good reviews and heard nice word of mouth and gave it a Saturday night. Not at all what I was expecting. Shot as if it were a documentary, treated as if aliens had actually landed here, not as in "take us to your leader" or "prepare to die!" Instead, they were refugees. Put up in slums, treated as a disease none of us wanted to deal with. They've been here for decades, and aren't even the main focus of the story. The alien angle was more of an excuse to challenge how we treat one another. Probably a better movie about apartheid than Invictus. And the last 20 minutes were better than ALL of the shitpile that was Transformers 2. <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">6. AWAY WE GO</span><br /><img src="http://pleasepassthepopcorn.files.wordpress.com/2009/08/large_away-we-go-review.jpg" /><br />Missed this one in theaters, but on a whim we rented it and watched it at home. Kickass, quirky love story. Hipster, independent 30-year-olds find out they're going to have a baby and want different advice on what the best way to raise the kid would be...So they decide to take a road trip and visit family and friends. A really funny, really simple, and sweet movie. <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">5. THE ROAD</span><br /><img src="http://www.bscreview.com/wp-content/gallery/the-road-stills/the-road9.jpg" /><br />Why the fuck did I see this one? I knew the ending. I read the book. I have a kid now and lost my Father recently. But I went. And cried. And feared the scenes I knew were coming, dealt with the dread and sorrow that weighed on my shoulders. But damn, John Hillcoat is an impressive director. And the kid, the fucking kid nailed the scenes at the end. It was moving, it was gut-wrenching, but it's exactly the kind of movie you need to see once and then never again. It hangs with you for weeks after you leave the theater.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">4. UP</span><br /><img src="http://www.filmofilia.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/up-pixar-carl-boy.jpg" /><br />Onto happier movies...sort of. I didn't realize how many people felt this movie was a downer until my Step-Mom saw it recently. She cried the whole time. At the beginning, at the end. I didn't get that sad while watching it, but will admit that it was able to jerk a few tears out of my eyes. It also goes on record for having one of the best 4 minutes segments in the history of cinema. Don't believe me?<br /><br /><object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/yeLgjGEBWcY&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/yeLgjGEBWcY&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">3. FANTASTIC MR. FOX</span><br /><img src="http://blog.timesunion.com/movies/files/2009/12/fantastic-mr-fox.png" /><br />I usually enjoy Wes Anderson films, but his last two films, The Life Aquatic and The Darjeeling Limited, were sort of "meh." This one, however he did it, was ingenious. I think the think that perfected this film, (besides all the lil' details hidden throughout the scenes) was his way of capturing the voices. Instead of keeping each actor in a soundproof box, reading their lines all alone, he took them out into a farmhouse, with microphones, and let them play out entire scenes. It's the most natural ensemble animated movies ever. They cut each other off, take pauses, never missing a beat. You almost forget you're watching stop-motion animation after awhile. But more than anything, it oozes "Wes Anderson movie." Even with miniature puppets, he was able to give this world his unique touch. All three of us, Molly, Lex and I, all had smiles on our faces throughout the entire film. Hell, I'm ranking it above a PIXAR film, how much more good can you strive for in animated features?!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">2. INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS</span><br /><img src="http://www.channel4.com/film/media/images/Channel4/film/I/inglourious_basterds_xl_02--film-A.jpg" /><br /><br />Quentin Tarantino has never let me down. I liked Jackie Brown. I liked his 1/4th part of Four Rooms. I'll defend that Death Proof was far more ambitious than the B-Movie "cheese" it was supposed to be. But still, I had no idea how entertaining a movie about killing Nazis would be. This film was probably the funniest movie of the year. It also holds the title of "Most Intense." It takes it's fucking time, lets entire scenes play out for over 20 minutes, and you simply cannot take your eyes off Christoph Waltz's "Jew Hunter." Tarantino needs to win Best Screenplay for this character alone. Christoph deserves Best Supporting Actor without anyone else even needing to show up. If I wasn't such a hopeless romantic, and didn't like the movie below better, this would have been my #1 movie of the year.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">1. UP IN THE AIR</span><br /><img src="http://paramountpresskits.com/site/UpInTheAir/Midsize/UP-02397mid.jpg" /><br /><br />But alas, I'm a sucker for love stories. Oh, AND I have a man-crush on George Clooney. The man is legendary. He's from the old-school Hollywood leading man period. Classic. Charming. And he just puts himself into each role naturally. Him and Vera Farmiga share a chemistry that is sexy, intense, and the kind all of us hope for. But Clooney's character, (pretty much the closest thing to playing himself) isn't interested in long-lasting relationships, and cherishes living in hotel rooms and traveling 320 days out of the year. Still, you root for them, for him to slowly fall for Farmiga's charms (how could he NOT?!) which makes the way director Jason Reitman decides to end it (it's unconventional, like everything he does) all the more reason to sigh. But dammit, you'll enjoy the ride and all the emotions associated with it. And you have to give it up to Reitman for making a film that is directly on the pulse of what is currently going on all around us. To make a romantic drama-comedy about a guy who has to travel the country firing people, and not allow it weigh down the entire film...it's remarkable. The fact that he used real people, who were recently laid off, in the scenes where people are being fired was a nice touch. Overall, filmmaking doesn't get any better than this.Travishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14247110803781028001noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6647021.post-75606775887504438732009-12-08T15:42:00.003-06:002010-01-01T14:15:47.627-06:00BEST ALBUMS OF 2009<strong>10. DARK WAS THE NIGHT / WAR CHILD PRESENTS: HEROES</strong> (tie)<br /><img src="http://andersonlibrary.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/dark-was-the-night.jpg" /><br /><img src="http://s3.amazonaws.com/adaptiveblue_img/music/war_child_presents_heroes/various_artists" /><br /><br />Yes, I'm cheating again. Technically, I'm not sure that you're supposed to include compilations on your "Albums of the Year" lists, but whatever. Both of these collections were stellar. Dark Was The Night included unreleased cuts from Spoon, Beirut, The National and just had a darker tone overall. War Child: Heroes was a nifty idea where legendary artists, (Bruce Springsteen, U2, David Bowie) asked new, rising, (The Hold Steady, Elbow, TV On The Radio) artists to cover their songs.<br /><br />Both albums were much better than they should have been. A rare treat.<br /><br /><strong>9. PHOENIX * WOLFGANG AMADEUS PHOENIX</strong><br /><img src="http://a4.vox.com/6a00d4143e25be685e01240b805a24860e-500pi" /><br /><br />They made a great first impression on SNL, a great album, but ultimately, it just faded away once the months piled on. Kind of like Vampire Weekend, the buzz and radio play might have harmed them. Still, I'll be interested in seeing where these guys go next!<br /><br /><strong>8. DAVID GRAY * DRAW THE LINE</strong><br /><img src="http://pedroteixeiraneves.files.wordpress.com/2009/09/david-gray.jpg" /><br /><br />This is when the eye-rolling begins. I like David Gray. I don't give a fuck that you don't, or that when you think of his music, John Mayer also comes to mind. David Gray is fucking good, he writes impressive, emotionally powerful music. And while this album wasn't the powerhouse that Life In Slow Motion was, it was still a nice record. One I listened to a lot in my car at the end of a long day.<br /><br /><strong>7. WHITE RABBITS * IT'S FRIGHTENING</strong><br /><img src="http://img.sharedmp3.net/files/pics/1069/1068717/img_1_pr.jpg" /><br /><br />These guys are incredible and I hope they get more buzz with their next album. I've searched some "Best of 2009" lists already, and they ain't on any of them...which is a damn shame. I saw them open for Spoon two years ago and they blew me away. Intense, raw, catchy. Even got Britt Daniel to produce this album for them. They're going places, so watch out.<br /><br /><strong>6. JAY Z * THE BLUEPRINT III</strong><br /><img src="http://trickledown.files.wordpress.com/2009/09/jay-z_blueprint3_cover.jpg" /><br /><br />I actually have my brother to thank for this one. He's always telling me how good Jay Z is and besides a "99 Problems" here or his collaborations with The Roots there, I've never picked up one of his albums before. While he tells me this isn't near the "classic" status as the first Blueprint, it's still easily one of the best albums of the year. A few songs are skipable, but the combo of the first five songs are as perfect as anything else released this year. Whoever says "albums are dead" needs to remind Jay Z. Cause he ain't interested in merely releasing singles and stuffing the rest with filler.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">5. KAREN O & THE KIDS * WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE</span><br /><img src="http://jonesthought.files.wordpress.com/2009/09/b002m2n9ma.jpg" /><br /><br />Soundtracks are usually worse than compilations when it comes to being spotty and "5 shit songs for every 1 decent one." But god damn, this soundtrack is something special. Way more ambitious than it needed to be. You can't but wonder if Karen's past relationship with Spike Jonze came into play. They shared a vision of this not being some lame "kids" movie. The music had to be as interesting and challenging as the film itself. And it came out way more awesome than it needed to be.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">4. PEARL JAM * BACKSPACER</span><br /><img src="http://indymusic.files.wordpress.com/2009/09/backspcr-pearl-jam-cvr.jpg" /><br /><br />Well, hello boys! Long time no see. Your last album, self titled, was nice and nifty, but lacked that certain "edge" your early work had. Looks like you found it again with this release. Songs like "Got Some" and "Supersonic" packed a punch unlike anything you've released in years. You found the passion again, you sound like a brand new garage band, out to rock the world with a sense of purpose and drive that no one can damper. This was my "surprise of the year." I wasn't expecting it to be this damn good, and I'm glad they proved me wrong.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">3. HOCKEY * MIND CHAOS</span><br /><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2724/4063889239_5edb8c8416.jpg" /><br /><br />These guys were making all sorts of hype and word-of-mouth on the festival circuit earlier in the year, and who knew if their debut would live up to all the hoopla? Good thing they seemed unfazed by the attention and set out to just focus on the music. Out of nowhere they became one of my favorite bands and I can't wait to see where they go from here on out! <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">2. BOB DYLAN * TOGETHER THROUGH LIFE</span><br /><img src="http://politicapop.files.wordpress.com/2009/04/dylan-together-through-life.jpg" /><br /><br />When he's not getting arrested for wandering the streets of New Jersey, or releasing a collection of Christmas tunes for a feed-the-homeless charity, he's still producing some of the best work of his entire career. Much like Clint Eastwood, he seems to just keep making interesting, important work by never letting up. He's been on his "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Never_Ending_Tour">Never Ending Tour</a>" since around 1988. Together Through Life hearkens back to my personal favorite, "Time Out of Mind" in that he's reflective of the world around him, while still longing for true love and deep attractions. It would have been my favorite album of the year if it wasn't for...<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">1. ELVIS COSTELLO * SECRET, PROFANE & SUGARCANE</span><br /><img src="http://andersonlibrary.files.wordpress.com/2009/06/elvis-costello-secret-profane-and-sugarcane.jpg" /><br /><br />I've only gotten into Elvis Costello fairly recently, but I always assumed he was rock n' roll. Imagine my surprise when I read that one of his very first gigs was singing a duet with country music legend, (and my Dad's all time favorite artist) George Jones! This album takes Elvis back to his honky-tonk roots and he brings along legendary producer T-Bone Burnett just to make sure it leaves the rest of the music industry in the dust. They recorded the entire thing in three days and songs like "I Felt The Chill Before The Winter Came" and "Sulphur to Sugarcane" just drip good ol' country. Toby Keith and Taylor Swift could learn a thing or two...Travishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14247110803781028001noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6647021.post-1502916725733749082009-12-07T15:32:00.003-06:002009-12-07T17:29:00.151-06:00BEST GAMES OF 2009Yes, it's that time of year again...the BEST OF lists begin!!!<br /><br /><strong>10. MODERN WARFARE 2 / KILLZONE 2</strong> (tie)<br /><div style="width: 480px;"><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=8,0,0,0" id="gtembed" width="480" height="392"> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="sameDomain" /> <param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /> <param name="movie" value="http://www.gametrailers.com/remote_wrap.php?mid=58369"/><param name="quality" value="high" /> <embed src="http://www.gametrailers.com/remote_wrap.php?mid=58369" swLiveConnect="true" name="gtembed" align="middle" allowScriptAccess="sameDomain" allowFullScreen="true" quality="high" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="480" height="392"></embed> </object><div style="font-size: 10px; font-family: Verdana; text-align: center; width: 480px; padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px; background-color: black; height: 32px;"><div><a style="color:#FFFFFF;" href="http://www.gametrailers.com" title="GameTrailers.com">Video Games</a> | <a style="color:#FFFFFF;" href="http://www.gametrailers.com/game/call-of-duty-modern-warfare/11043" title="Modern Warfare 2">Modern Warfare 2</a> | <a style="color:#FFFFFF;" href="http://www.gametrailers.com/video/review-modern-warfare/58369" title="Review">Review</a></div><div style="padding-top: 3px;"><a style="color:#FFFFFF;" href="http://xbox360.gametrailers.com/" title="XBox 360">XBox 360</a> | <a style="color:#FFFFFF;" href="http://ps3.gametrailers.com/" title="PS3">Playstation 3</a> | <a style="color:#FFFFFF;" href="http://wii.gametrailers.com/" title="Wii">Nintendo Wii</a></div></div></div><br /><br /><div style="width: 480px;"><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=8,0,0,0" id="gtembed" width="480" height="392"> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="sameDomain" /> <param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /> <param name="movie" value="http://www.gametrailers.com/remote_wrap.php?mid=45019"/><param name="quality" value="high" /> <embed src="http://www.gametrailers.com/remote_wrap.php?mid=45019" swLiveConnect="true" name="gtembed" align="middle" allowScriptAccess="sameDomain" allowFullScreen="true" quality="high" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="480" height="392"></embed> </object><div style="font-size: 10px; font-family: Verdana; text-align: center; width: 480px; padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px; background-color: black; height: 32px;"><div><a style="color:#FFFFFF;" href="http://www.gametrailers.com" title="GameTrailers.com">Video Games</a> | <a style="color:#FFFFFF;" href="http://www.gametrailers.com/game/killzone-2/1668" title="Killzone 2">Killzone 2</a> | <a style="color:#FFFFFF;" href="http://www.gametrailers.com/video/review-killzone-2/45019" title="Review">Review</a></div><div style="padding-top: 3px;"><a style="color:#FFFFFF;" href="http://xbox360.gametrailers.com/" title="XBox 360">XBox 360</a> | <a style="color:#FFFFFF;" href="http://ps3.gametrailers.com/" title="PS3">Playstation 3</a> | <a style="color:#FFFFFF;" href="http://wii.gametrailers.com/" title="Wii">Nintendo Wii</a></div></div></div><br /><br />Yes, I'm already cheating, but both of these games are FPS, (First Person Shooters) both are a lot of fun to play with engaging stories. But sadly, they are short, quick adventures and get a lot of their added gameplay online. Where, an old fuck like me doesn't dwell much. (You can only get your ass handed to you so many times by a 12-year-old boy before you just realize you ain't <em>THAT</em> good.)<br /><br /><strong>9. SPIDER: THE SECRET OF BRYCE MANOR</strong><br /><br /><div style="width: 480px;"><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=8,0,0,0" id="gtembed" width="480" height="392"> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="sameDomain" /> <param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /> <param name="movie" value="http://www.gametrailers.com/remote_wrap.php?mid=55418"/><param name="quality" value="high" /> <embed src="http://www.gametrailers.com/remote_wrap.php?mid=55418" swLiveConnect="true" name="gtembed" align="middle" allowScriptAccess="sameDomain" allowFullScreen="true" quality="high" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="480" height="392"></embed> </object><div style="font-size: 10px; font-family: Verdana; text-align: center; width: 480px; padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px; background-color: black; height: 32px;"><div><a style="color:#FFFFFF;" href="http://www.gametrailers.com" title="GameTrailers.com">Video Games</a> | <a style="color:#FFFFFF;" href="http://www.gametrailers.com/game/spider-the-secret-of-bryce/11979" title="Spider: The Secret of Bryce Manor">Spider: The Secret of Bryce Manor</a> | <a style="color:#FFFFFF;" href="http://www.gametrailers.com/video/debut-trailer-spider-the/55418" title="Debut Trailer">Debut Trailer</a></div><div style="padding-top: 3px;"><a style="color:#FFFFFF;" href="http://xbox360.gametrailers.com/" title="XBox 360">XBox 360</a> | <a style="color:#FFFFFF;" href="http://ps3.gametrailers.com/" title="PS3">Playstation 3</a> | <a style="color:#FFFFFF;" href="http://wii.gametrailers.com/" title="Wii">Nintendo Wii</a></div></div></div><br /><br />Probably the best game I've played yet on the iPhone! So easy to control, so much fun to create webs and capture bugs. Only reason it's so far down the list is because it was over WAY TOO SOON. It was this studio's first game and basically, a test-run to see if you could create something unique for the iPods. I imagine the next one will be much longer (and more expensive than the STEAL of $2.99!!)<br /><br /><strong>8. FAT PRINCESS</strong><br /><div style="width: 480px;"><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=8,0,0,0" id="gtembed" width="480" height="392"> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="sameDomain" /> <param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /> <param name="movie" value="http://www.gametrailers.com/remote_wrap.php?mid=53968"/><param name="quality" value="high" /> <embed src="http://www.gametrailers.com/remote_wrap.php?mid=53968" swLiveConnect="true" name="gtembed" align="middle" allowScriptAccess="sameDomain" allowFullScreen="true" quality="high" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="480" height="392"></embed> </object><div style="font-size: 10px; font-family: Verdana; text-align: center; width: 480px; padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px; background-color: black; height: 32px;"><div><a style="color:#FFFFFF;" href="http://www.gametrailers.com" title="GameTrailers.com">Video Games</a> | <a style="color:#FFFFFF;" href="http://www.gametrailers.com/game/fat-princess/9364" title="Fat Princess">Fat Princess</a> | <a style="color:#FFFFFF;" href="http://www.gametrailers.com/video/review-fat-princess/53968" title="Review">Review</a></div><div style="padding-top: 3px;"><a style="color:#FFFFFF;" href="http://xbox360.gametrailers.com/" title="XBox 360">XBox 360</a> | <a style="color:#FFFFFF;" href="http://ps3.gametrailers.com/" title="PS3">Playstation 3</a> | <a style="color:#FFFFFF;" href="http://wii.gametrailers.com/" title="Wii">Nintendo Wii</a></div></div></div><br /><br />I had a lot of fun with this title...before the wave of other games came out and distracted me from leveling up and feeding princesses cake. A multiplayer feast with 32 people battling it out in "capture the flag" type match. Plus, the quirky art style gets bonus points!<br /><br /><strong>7. KATAMARI FOREVER</strong><br /><div style="width: 480px;"><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=8,0,0,0" id="gtembed" width="480" height="392"> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="sameDomain" /> <param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /> <param name="movie" value="http://www.gametrailers.com/remote_wrap.php?mid=56335"/><param name="quality" value="high" /> <embed src="http://www.gametrailers.com/remote_wrap.php?mid=56335" swLiveConnect="true" name="gtembed" align="middle" allowScriptAccess="sameDomain" allowFullScreen="true" quality="high" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="480" height="392"></embed> </object><div style="font-size: 10px; font-family: Verdana; text-align: center; width: 480px; padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px; background-color: black; height: 32px;"><div><a style="color:#FFFFFF;" href="http://www.gametrailers.com" title="GameTrailers.com">Video Games</a> | <a style="color:#FFFFFF;" href="http://www.gametrailers.com/game/katamari-forever/11049" title="Katamari Forever">Katamari Forever</a> | <a style="color:#FFFFFF;" href="http://www.gametrailers.com/video/launch-trailer-katamari-forever/56335" title="Launch Trailer">Launch Trailer</a></div><div style="padding-top: 3px;"><a style="color:#FFFFFF;" href="http://xbox360.gametrailers.com/" title="XBox 360">XBox 360</a> | <a style="color:#FFFFFF;" href="http://ps3.gametrailers.com/" title="PS3">Playstation 3</a> | <a style="color:#FFFFFF;" href="http://wii.gametrailers.com/" title="Wii">Nintendo Wii</a></div></div></div><br /><br />I'm a sucker for the Katamari. I had both games for the PS2, one for PSP and came close to buying an Xbox (total lie) to get my hands on Beautiful Katamari. Good thing I didn't, cause this collection takes all the best levels from those games and puts them on one disc with amazing 1080i visuals! I played this nonstop for three weeks and STILL didn't find everything out there, which means I might have to go back and finish it one of these days...<br /><br /><strong>6. BATMAN: ARKHAM ASYLUM</strong><br /><div style="width: 480px;"><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=8,0,0,0" id="gtembed" width="480" height="392"> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="sameDomain" /> <param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /> <param name="movie" value="http://www.gametrailers.com/remote_wrap.php?mid=54790"/><param name="quality" value="high" /> <embed src="http://www.gametrailers.com/remote_wrap.php?mid=54790" swLiveConnect="true" name="gtembed" align="middle" allowScriptAccess="sameDomain" allowFullScreen="true" quality="high" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="480" height="392"></embed> </object><div style="font-size: 10px; font-family: Verdana; text-align: center; width: 480px; padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px; background-color: black; height: 32px;"><div><a style="color:#FFFFFF;" href="http://www.gametrailers.com" title="GameTrailers.com">Video Games</a> | <a style="color:#FFFFFF;" href="http://www.gametrailers.com/game/batman-arkham-asylum/10111" title="Batman: Arkham Asylum">Batman: Arkham Asylum</a> | <a style="color:#FFFFFF;" href="http://www.gametrailers.com/video/review-batman-arkham/54790" title="Review">Review</a></div><div style="padding-top: 3px;"><a style="color:#FFFFFF;" href="http://xbox360.gametrailers.com/" title="XBox 360">XBox 360</a> | <a style="color:#FFFFFF;" href="http://ps3.gametrailers.com/" title="PS3">Playstation 3</a> | <a style="color:#FFFFFF;" href="http://wii.gametrailers.com/" title="Wii">Nintendo Wii</a></div></div></div><br /><br />A GOOD video game based on a comic book?! Scratch that...a GOOD BATMAN GAME?! Folks, this has never, ever happened. Written by Paul Dini, this game takes place in one long evening...as the Joker traps Batman in Arkham Asylum and all hell breaks loose. A great fucking game, but once you beat it, there's little reason to go back and play it again.<br /><br /><strong>5. PEGGLE</strong><br /><div style="width: 480px;"><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=8,0,0,0" id="gtembed" width="480" height="392"> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="sameDomain" /> <param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /> <param name="movie" value="http://www.gametrailers.com/remote_wrap.php?umid=312980"/><param name="quality" value="high" /> <embed src="http://www.gametrailers.com/remote_wrap.php?umid=312980" swLiveConnect="true" name="gtembed" align="middle" allowScriptAccess="sameDomain" allowFullScreen="true" quality="high" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="480" height="392"></embed> </object><div style="font-size: 10px; font-family: Verdana; text-align: center; width: 480px; padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px; background-color: black; height: 32px;"><div><a style="color:#FFFFFF;" href="http://www.gametrailers.com" title="GameTrailers.com">Video Games</a> | <a style="color:#FFFFFF;" href="http://www.gametrailers.com/game/.html" title=""></a> | <a style="color:#FFFFFF;" href="http://www.gametrailers.com/user-movie/movie/312980" title="Still Gaming: Peggle Review XBLA">Still Gaming: Peggle Review XBLA</a></div><div style="padding-top: 3px;"><a style="color:#FFFFFF;" href="http://xbox360.gametrailers.com/" title="XBox 360">XBox 360</a> | <a style="color:#FFFFFF;" href="http://ps3.gametrailers.com/" title="PS3">Playstation 3</a> | <a style="color:#FFFFFF;" href="http://wii.gametrailers.com/" title="Wii">Nintendo Wii</a></div></div></div><br /><br />Another one for the iPhone. (Although it just came out for the PS3 as well) Best described as pure video game crack. This simple lil' game isn't anything special, but you CANNOT QUIT PLAYING IT. Ever. You will try one level, then another, then another, and once you get past the unicorn and onto the King Tut cat, you just have to admit you have a problem. It's like Plinko mixed with pure awesomeness. There's no other way to describe it. Just play it and deal with withdrawl when you're forced to go to work.<br /><br /><strong>4. THE BEATLES: ROCK BAND</strong><br /><div style="width: 480px;"><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=8,0,0,0" id="gtembed" width="480" height="392"> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="sameDomain" /> <param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /> <param name="movie" value="http://www.gametrailers.com/remote_wrap.php?mid=55514"/><param name="quality" value="high" /> <embed src="http://www.gametrailers.com/remote_wrap.php?mid=55514" swLiveConnect="true" name="gtembed" align="middle" allowScriptAccess="sameDomain" allowFullScreen="true" quality="high" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="480" height="392"></embed> </object><div style="font-size: 10px; font-family: Verdana; text-align: center; width: 480px; padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px; background-color: black; height: 32px;"><div><a style="color:#FFFFFF;" href="http://www.gametrailers.com" title="GameTrailers.com">Video Games</a> | <a style="color:#FFFFFF;" href="http://www.gametrailers.com/game/the-beatles-rock-band/11389" title="The Beatles: Rock Band">The Beatles: Rock Band</a> | <a style="color:#FFFFFF;" href="http://www.gametrailers.com/video/review-the-beatles/55514" title="Review">Review</a></div><div style="padding-top: 3px;"><a style="color:#FFFFFF;" href="http://xbox360.gametrailers.com/" title="XBox 360">XBox 360</a> | <a style="color:#FFFFFF;" href="http://ps3.gametrailers.com/" title="PS3">Playstation 3</a> | <a style="color:#FFFFFF;" href="http://wii.gametrailers.com/" title="Wii">Nintendo Wii</a></div></div></div><br /><br />It would have been easy for Harmonix to just slap The Beatles's name on their Rock Band game, added some lame character models and a few of their songs and called it a day. But noooooooooo, they <em>had</em> to treat this project with the utmost care and respect. What they ended up creating is less "game" and more "interactive documentary." It's a thing of rare beauty, and yet, something that your 5 year old, and parents in their 50's can enjoy right alongside you. Watch the video review up above and feel sorry for yourself that you right off video games as "teenage junk."<br /><br /><strong>3. FLOWER</strong><br /><div style="width: 480px;"><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=8,0,0,0" id="gtembed" width="480" height="392"> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="sameDomain" /> <param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /> <param name="movie" value="http://www.gametrailers.com/remote_wrap.php?mid=46064"/><param name="quality" value="high" /> <embed src="http://www.gametrailers.com/remote_wrap.php?mid=46064" swLiveConnect="true" name="gtembed" align="middle" allowScriptAccess="sameDomain" allowFullScreen="true" quality="high" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="480" height="392"></embed> </object><div style="font-size: 10px; font-family: Verdana; text-align: center; width: 480px; padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px; background-color: black; height: 32px;"><div><a style="color:#FFFFFF;" href="http://www.gametrailers.com" title="GameTrailers.com">Video Games</a> | <a style="color:#FFFFFF;" href="http://www.gametrailers.com/game/flower/5528" title="Flower">Flower</a> | <a style="color:#FFFFFF;" href="http://www.gametrailers.com/video/review-flower/46064" title="Review">Review</a></div><div style="padding-top: 3px;"><a style="color:#FFFFFF;" href="http://xbox360.gametrailers.com/" title="XBox 360">XBox 360</a> | <a style="color:#FFFFFF;" href="http://ps3.gametrailers.com/" title="PS3">Playstation 3</a> | <a style="color:#FFFFFF;" href="http://wii.gametrailers.com/" title="Wii">Nintendo Wii</a></div></div></div><br /><br />Easily the most beautiful game on the list. Easy as hell to play too. You just control the pedal with the controller, shifting it left or right, back or forward...no buttons or combos or score or anything! The worlds start out dead and colorless, and as you float along using the wind to pollinate the ground, more and more life grows and illuminates the world. Once we finally got an HD TV this year, this game took on a life of its own. One of the first things to "burst" off the screen and implant itself into my brain.<br /><br /><strong>2. RESIDENT EVIL 5</strong><br /><div style="width: 480px;"><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=8,0,0,0" id="gtembed" width="480" height="392"> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="sameDomain" /> <param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /> <param name="movie" value="http://www.gametrailers.com/remote_wrap.php?mid=46358"/><param name="quality" value="high" /> <embed src="http://www.gametrailers.com/remote_wrap.php?mid=46358" swLiveConnect="true" name="gtembed" align="middle" allowScriptAccess="sameDomain" allowFullScreen="true" quality="high" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="480" height="392"></embed> </object><div style="font-size: 10px; font-family: Verdana; text-align: center; width: 480px; padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px; background-color: black; height: 32px;"><div><a style="color:#FFFFFF;" href="http://www.gametrailers.com" title="GameTrailers.com">Video Games</a> | <a style="color:#FFFFFF;" href="http://www.gametrailers.com/game/resident-evil-5/2036" title="Resident Evil 5">Resident Evil 5</a> | <a style="color:#FFFFFF;" href="http://www.gametrailers.com/video/review-resident-evil/46358" title="Review">Review</a></div><div style="padding-top: 3px;"><a style="color:#FFFFFF;" href="http://xbox360.gametrailers.com/" title="XBox 360">XBox 360</a> | <a style="color:#FFFFFF;" href="http://ps3.gametrailers.com/" title="PS3">Playstation 3</a> | <a style="color:#FFFFFF;" href="http://wii.gametrailers.com/" title="Wii">Nintendo Wii</a></div></div></div><br /><br />Not only is it fun killing zombies, but doing it online, with your boyfriend is even better! Much to Molly's amusement, Kevin and I spent many a nights in separate houses, killing zombies and swearing at one another. (We're on a team, and more times than I'm willing to discuss, I was responsible for killing us both.) Tons of levels, lots of replay value, and the fact that you can play the entire campaign online with a buddy, it was one of the best games of the entire year...<br /><br /><strong>1. UNCHARTED 2: AMONG THIEVES</strong><br /><div style="width: 480px;"><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=8,0,0,0" id="gtembed" width="480" height="392"> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="sameDomain" /> <param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /> <param name="movie" value="http://www.gametrailers.com/remote_wrap.php?mid=57257"/><param name="quality" value="high" /> <embed src="http://www.gametrailers.com/remote_wrap.php?mid=57257" swLiveConnect="true" name="gtembed" align="middle" allowScriptAccess="sameDomain" allowFullScreen="true" quality="high" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="480" height="392"></embed> </object><div style="font-size: 10px; font-family: Verdana; text-align: center; width: 480px; padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px; background-color: black; height: 32px;"><div><a style="color:#FFFFFF;" href="http://www.gametrailers.com" title="GameTrailers.com">Video Games</a> | <a style="color:#FFFFFF;" href="http://www.gametrailers.com/game/uncharted-2-among-thieves/10562" title="Uncharted 2: Among Thieves">Uncharted 2: Among Thieves</a> | <a style="color:#FFFFFF;" href="http://www.gametrailers.com/video/review-uncharted-2/57257" title="Review">Review</a></div><div style="padding-top: 3px;"><a style="color:#FFFFFF;" href="http://xbox360.gametrailers.com/" title="XBox 360">XBox 360</a> | <a style="color:#FFFFFF;" href="http://ps3.gametrailers.com/" title="PS3">Playstation 3</a> | <a style="color:#FFFFFF;" href="http://wii.gametrailers.com/" title="Wii">Nintendo Wii</a></div></div></div><br /><br />...But not THE best. This is THE best. Uncharted 2 was nonstop, action, adventure, mind-blowing set pieces, incredible high speed chases, fun while tough boss battles...the whole fucking package. You couldn't spend $60 better this year. It put the best Hollywood action movies to shame. Made you realize the power of how intelligent writing, powerful voice acting, and production values can make the perception of mere "video games" shatter into a million pieces.Travishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14247110803781028001noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6647021.post-65378467467553084932009-12-01T16:18:00.003-06:002009-12-01T19:03:11.167-06:00PRISONERS <3 HUCKABEEI smelled something sour as soon as reports started coming in that four police officers were shot and killed inside a coffee shop outside Seattle. No one else was injured. No attempt at any sort of robbery. Some nutjob simply walked into a coffee shop, brutally murdered four police officers, and left.<br /><br />Then, once they announced the name of the suspect they were pursuing, and Mike Huckabee's name was attached as being the one who let him out of jail <em>the first time</em>, it smelled even worse.<br /><br />Turns out that Maurice Clemmons wasn't the first inmate Huckabee granted clemency to. Nor was he the last.<br /><br /><strong>In 10 1/2 years, Governor Mike Huckabee granted 1,033 pardons and commutations.</strong> <br /><br />It was so out of hand, FOX NEWS actually did a news story about it back in <a href="http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,316312,00.html">December of 2007!</a><br /><br /><em>"During his years as governor, Huckabee granted clemency an average of about once every four days. Huckabee's successor, Mike Beebe, has issued 40 so far this year, fewer than one a week. Bill Clinton, Frank White and Tucker granted 507 clemencies in the 17 1/2 years they served as governor."</em><br /><br />See, this isn't the first time Huckabee has been associated with letting someone get out of prison, only to have that person commit an even worse crime. <strong>Wayne Dumond</strong> was sent to prison for raping a distant cousin of President Bill Clinton. Seriously. He supposedly "found God" while in prison and ended up raping and murdering a girl in Missouri. While Huckabee to this day says it wasn't HIS FAULT Dumond was released, <a href="http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/front/la-na-huckabee8dec08,1,1727258.story">parole board members said they felt pressured</a>. <br /><br />Joe Conason over at <a href="http://www.salon.com/news/opinion/joe_conason/2009/11/30/mike_huckabee/index.html">Salon.com</a> has an incredible article linking all of Huckabee's mistakes and pardons and commutations together...and it all comes down to if they'd become "Born Again" or not.<br /><br />In fact, there's even a case where Huckabee moved up an execution, (instead of just reducing it to a life sentence like both Mother Theresa and the Dalai Lama had wanted) and that criminal converted while in prison as well...to <span style="font-style:italic;">Buddhism</span>.<br /><br />Oops, wrong God, dumbass.Travishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14247110803781028001noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6647021.post-24252273220776093742009-11-30T22:03:00.002-06:002009-11-30T22:07:51.109-06:00KEITH OLBERMANN ON OBAMA'S AFGHANISTAN DECISION.Mark me down as not liking Obama's decision to escalate our troop presence in Afghanistan one bit.<br /><br /><div><iframe height="339" width="425" src="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22425001/vp/34214291#34214291" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe><p style="font-size:11px; font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #999; margin-top: 5px; background: transparent; text-align: center; width: 425px;">Visit msnbc.com for <a style="text-decoration:none !important; border-bottom: 1px dotted #999 !important; font-weight:normal !important; height: 13px; color:#5799DB !important;" href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com">Breaking News</a>, <a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032507" style="text-decoration:none !important; border-bottom: 1px dotted #999 !important; font-weight:normal !important; height: 13px; color:#5799DB !important;">World News</a>, and <a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032072" style="text-decoration:none !important; border-bottom: 1px dotted #999 !important; font-weight:normal !important; height: 13px; color:#5799DB !important;">News about the Economy</a></p></div>Travishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14247110803781028001noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6647021.post-52824325378711751512009-11-20T00:02:00.002-06:002009-11-20T00:23:35.511-06:00GLENN BECK AIN'T GETTING ANY UN-CRAZIER<div><iframe height="339" width="425" src="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22425001/vp/34052277#34052277" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe><p style="font-size:11px; font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #999; margin-top: 5px; background: transparent; text-align: center; width: 425px;">Visit msnbc.com for <a style="text-decoration:none !important; border-bottom: 1px dotted #999 !important; font-weight:normal !important; height: 13px; color:#5799DB !important;" href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com">Breaking News</a>, <a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032507" style="text-decoration:none !important; border-bottom: 1px dotted #999 !important; font-weight:normal !important; height: 13px; color:#5799DB !important;">World News</a>, and <a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032072" style="text-decoration:none !important; border-bottom: 1px dotted #999 !important; font-weight:normal !important; height: 13px; color:#5799DB !important;">News about the Economy</a></p></div><br /><br />And I know that everyone who has a Playboy subscription says they "read it for the articles," but I actually do and <a href="http://www.playboy.com/articles/triumph-of-the-conservative-underground-review-of-glenn-beck/index.html">this one by Thomas Frank</a> completely tears Beck's tactics to pieces.<br /><br />Here's a small sample:<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">The funny thing is, Beck’s political views and even his vision of the founding generation are actually repudiated by the very founder Beck loves most. I refer to Thomas Paine, the Revolutionary War pamphleteer upon whom Beck and so many other wingers these days are weirdly fixated. Beck named one of his 2009 books after Paine’s famous 1776 pamphlet, Common Sense—not because of any specific insight, it seems, but because he likes to imagine we are living today under an “out-of-control government” every bit as offensive to “common sense” as that of George III. During his Common Sense Comedy Tour last summer Beck reportedly took to the stage dressed as Paine.<br /><br />But Paine gave the world more than those two words. And when we open Paine’s even more famous work, The Rights of Man, a defense of the French Revolution, we find that it begins with a denunciation of the very idea of one generation binding future generations. “You must heed the call of generations past,” Beck pontificates in his homage to Paine. “The vanity and presumption of governing beyond the grave is the most ridiculous and insolent of all tyrannies,” Paine slapped back in 1791. “Man has no property in man; neither has any generation a property in the generations which are to follow.”<br /><br />Should we read The Rights of Man all the way to the end, we find Paine calling on the English government to furnish the public with old-age pensions, subsidies to the poor, payments to mothers on the birth of children (welfare!) and guaranteed employment for everyone in the large cities. Should we carry our interest in Paine so far as to read his 1797 pamphlet, Agrarian Justice, we will find—I hope you are sitting down for this, Beck—that Paine proposed a national pension system based on a property tax! Now, hating Social Security is such a no-brainer on the right—the host himself has called it a Ponzi scheme—that perhaps Beck’s followers can be excused for assuming that old Tom Paine was right there with them down to the last shake of their Ayn Rand placard. Still, they might have bothered to consult the Social Security website, where they will find Paine’s pamphlet reproduced as one of the “key early documents” in the struggle for old-age security.<br /><br />And there is something more than a little peculiar about a devoted Mormon like Beck being a Paine fan. Until a short while ago Paine was mainly remembered as the man who despised organized religion. Debunking religion’s historical claims was, in fact, the subject of Paine’s most famous work, The Age of Reason (1794), in which the pamphleteer trashes the Bible book by book, describing the story of Jonah, the virgin birth and the crucifixion all as bad jokes on a gullible mankind. In a famous passage this scoffing founder wrote, “Of all the systems of religion that ever were invented, there is none more derogatory to the Almighty, more unedifying to man, more repugnant to reason and more contradictory in itself than this thing called Christianity. Too absurd for belief, too impossible to convince and too inconsistent for practice, it renders the heart torpid or produces only atheists and fanatics.”</span>Travishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14247110803781028001noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6647021.post-9232730610839867632009-11-18T16:26:00.001-06:002009-11-18T16:26:56.409-06:00UP IN THE AIRI'm tired of having to wait...I wanna see this movie NOW!!!<br /><br /><object width="480" height="295"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/5xIUtRrTlgo&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/5xIUtRrTlgo&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="295"></embed></object>Travishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14247110803781028001noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6647021.post-38117845743525333322009-11-14T15:06:00.002-06:002009-11-14T15:20:23.670-06:00GRRRRR...THAT LIBERAL MEDIA AND IT'S ELITE "FACTS"<img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2703/4101201084_9360a28011.jpg" /><br /><br />The AP has a lenghty look at her <strike>coloring book</strike> autobiography and <a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091113/ap_on_el_pr/us_palin_book_fact_check">fact checks the shit out of it</a>.Travishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14247110803781028001noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6647021.post-6292756130083915622009-11-03T16:34:00.002-06:002009-11-03T17:11:33.007-06:00RISE OF THE REPUBLICANS!!!No, it's not a new horror movie coming to theaters, it's Drudge's latest headline today, on the heels of special elections around the country...
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<br /><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2441/4073463594_8005dc8695.jpg" />
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<br />Now, true...as of me writing (typing) this, the outcomes aren't known yet. But if the polling holds up, and chances are it will, Republicans will win most of the elections tonight.
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<br />Virgina would be getting a brand new Republican governor, which would be a nice win for them. But Virginia is the only state in the Union which doesn't allow it's governors to serve consecutive terms. So every four years it's a toss-up, and this year goes Republican after currently having a Democrat in office.
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<br />New Jersey could be getting a Republican governor as well...which happened back in 2002 as well, so it's not like it never, ever happens.
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<br />But the one that is getting all the attention is New York's 23rd District. You had a Democrat and Republican going at it, when out of nowhere a third party candidate named Doug Hoffman entered the race. Suddenly, what was assumed a Republican victory became a 3-way tie. In fact, mere days ago, it appeared that the Democrat might actually win the race! (This district has constantly gone Republican since the late 1800's!)
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<br />And suddenly, you had two wings of the Republican party supporting two different Conservative candidates. The Republican, Dede Scozzafava, garnered support from the NRA, Newt Gingrich, and (for a while) Head of the GOP, Michael Steele.
<br />
<br />Meanwhile, the wackier, tea-baggier side of the party, including Sarah Palin, Fred Thompson, and Glenn Beck all threw their weight behind Hoffman. <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/11/03/doug-hoffman-calls-glenn_n_343676.html">In fact, Hoffman even called Glenn Beck a "mentor" on his radio show!</a>
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<br />Over the weekend, The Republican candidate pulled out of the race, and as an extra "fuck you" to the GOP, endorsed the Democratic candidate!
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<br />Who knows what will happen as a fallout of all of this, but let the Republicans pat themselves on their backs! They were able to hold onto a tiny district in New York that has gone Republican all the way back before the turn of the century!
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<br />Bravo boys!
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<br /><table style='font:11px arial; color:#333; background-color:#f5f5f5' cellpadding='0' cellspacing='0' width='360' height='353'><tbody><tr style='background-color:#e5e5e5' valign='middle'><td style='padding:2px 1px 0px 5px;'><a target='_blank' style='color:#333; text-decoration:none; font-weight:bold;' href='http://www.thedailyshow.com'>The Daily Show With Jon Stewart</a></td><td style='padding:2px 5px 0px 5px; text-align:right; font-weight:bold;'>Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c</td></tr><tr style='height:14px;' valign='middle'><td style='padding:2px 1px 0px 5px;' colspan='2'<a target='_blank' style='color:#333; text-decoration:none; font-weight:bold;' href='http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/mon-november-2-2009/indecision-2009---vote-or-keep-going-about-your-day'>Indecision 2009 - Vote or Keep Going About Your Day<a></td></tr><tr style='height:14px; background-color:#353535' valign='middle'><td colspan='2' style='padding:2px 5px 0px 5px; width:360px; overflow:hidden; text-align:right'><a target='_blank' style='color:#96deff; text-decoration:none; font-weight:bold;' href='http://www.thedailyshow.com/'>www.thedailyshow.com</a></td></tr><tr valign='middle'><td style='padding:0px;' colspan='2'><embed style='display:block' src='http://media.mtvnservices.com/mgid:cms:item:comedycentral.com:253753' width='360' height='301' type='application/x-shockwave-flash' wmode='window' allowFullscreen='true' flashvars='autoPlay=false' allowscriptaccess='always' allownetworking='all' bgcolor='#000000'></embed></td></tr><tr style='height:18px;' valign='middle'><td style='padding:0px;' colspan='2'><table style='margin:0px; text-align:center' cellpadding='0' cellspacing='0' width='100%' height='100%'><tr valign='middle'><td style='padding:3px; width:33%;'><a target='_blank' style='font:10px arial; color:#333; text-decoration:none;' href='http://www.thedailyshow.com/full-episodes'>Daily Show<br/> Full Episodes</a></td><td style='padding:3px; width:33%;'><a target='_blank' style='font:10px arial; color:#333; text-decoration:none;' href='http://www.indecisionforever.com'>Political Humor</a></td><td style='padding:3px; width:33%;'><a target='_blank' style='font:10px arial; color:#333; text-decoration:none;' href='http://www.thedailyshow.com/videos/tag/health'>Health Care Crisis</a></td></tr></table></td></tr></tbody></table>Travishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14247110803781028001noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6647021.post-2009946985198227332009-10-27T13:37:00.003-05:002009-10-27T13:51:00.507-05:00WHAT WE'RE UP AGAINST...<strong>Scalia On Brown v. Board Of Education: I Would Have Dissented</strong><br /><br /><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3598/3676257183_e772ff3fe3_o.jpg" /><br /><br />There are major differences between Conservatives and Liberals. One group wants to advance the cause of equality and civil rights for all...<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/10/27/scalia-on-brown-v-board-o_n_335591.html">the other would have kept our schools segregated</a>.<br /><br />I know Justice Thomas is also Conservative, but you know deep down inside him, he wants to punch Scalia in the gut.<br /><br />In other, happier, progressiver news...it appears <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/10/27/secretary-of-the-army-say_n_335335.html">Don't Ask Don't Tell will be coming to an end soon</a>.Travishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14247110803781028001noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6647021.post-41652268152840311292009-10-27T10:45:00.002-05:002009-10-27T10:49:21.361-05:00MY COMIC ON THE "FRANKEN BILL" NONSENSERan last week in <a href="http://www.pitch.com/">The Pitch</a>.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/travisfox/4049328604/" title="foxhole 29 by thefoxymoron, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3096/4049328604_1b0257993d.jpg" width="500" height="494" alt="foxhole 29" /></a><br /><br />Remember to check out <a href="http://www.comicstripjoint.blogspot.com/">Comic Stripjoint</a> for more of my comics.Travishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14247110803781028001noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6647021.post-41885238805076750432009-10-27T10:03:00.003-05:002009-10-27T10:38:47.654-05:00MUSIC THAT I WANT NOW......but have to wait. "The waiting game sucks, let's play Hungry Hungry Hippos instead!!!"
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<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">NIRVANA * LIVE AT READING</span>
<br /><img src="http://www.shockwaves.tv/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/Nirvana-Live-at-Reading.jpg" />
<br />Their legendary 1992 performance at the UK's Reading Festival is finally getting an official release.
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<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">JULIAN CASABLANCAS * PHRAZES FOR THE YOUNG</span>
<br /><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1lLmUiiHsozbrbYgka2nuTmH4IxqZoX7_Dcrl6vHkpEdDtMuJduVIDf-ecsIEYhh00V1U8UaFbhkYmJlc-vN30bJXk1R-MrzUHMj-T5-VOaQj1LsAHFUX77lDIB625d4HnzwT/s400/julian452.jpg" />
<br />Debut solo album from The Strokes frontman.
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<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">FANTASTIC MR. FOX SOUNDTRACK</span>
<br /><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7ZeuvTeyato/SrZKpD582FI/AAAAAAAAAw8/rDeLRQbggl8/s400/Picture+3.png"
<br />Wes Anderson soundtracks always kick ass.
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<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">JAMIE CULLUM * THE PURSUIT</span>
<br /><img src="http://ziknation.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/jcullu-pursui-thumb-400x400-1433.jpg" />
<br />It seems like forever since the last Jamie Cullum album came out.
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<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">TOM WAITS * GLITTER AND DOOM (LIVE)</span>
<br /><img src="http://thehelplessdancer.files.wordpress.com/2009/10/glitter-and-doom.jpg" />
<br />Couldn't find a bigger photo of this one, but make no mistake...Tom Waits live in concert demands your attention.
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<br />Travishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14247110803781028001noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6647021.post-48107735730067762472009-10-17T01:30:00.002-05:002009-10-17T09:53:19.305-05:00WATCH AL FRANKEN TEAR THE LAWYER FOR KBR A NEW ONEAn added bonus from the horrific story of the woman who was gang-raped in Iraq. Seeing Senator Al Franken take the lawyer for KBR apart in front of her and America is quite beautiful.<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Y6kiZIlMFto&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en&feature=player_embedded&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Y6kiZIlMFto&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en&feature=player_embedded&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Travishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14247110803781028001noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6647021.post-8399901469221501262009-10-16T16:12:00.002-05:002009-10-16T16:14:57.757-05:00GRAB A MOP.Obama is fucking <a href="http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2009/10/grab-a-mop.html">brilliant</a>.<br /><br /><em>What I reject is when some folks say we should go back to the past policies when it was those very same policies that got us into this mess in the first place. (Applause.)<br /><br />Another way of putting it is when, you know, I'm busy and Nancy busy with our mop cleaning up somebody else's mess --- we don't want somebody sitting back saying, you're not holding the mop the right way. (Applause.) Why don't you grab a mop, why don't you help clean up. (Applause.) You're not mopping fast enough. (Laughter.) That's a socialist mop. (Laughter and applause.) Grab a mop -- let's get to work.</em><br /><br />But seriously. Beware of the socialist mops.Travishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14247110803781028001noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6647021.post-75112987694809108952009-10-15T09:49:00.002-05:002009-10-15T10:16:22.771-05:00THIS STORY WILL MAKE YOUR HEAD EXPLODEAl Franken, who is kicking major ass as a US Senator, introduced his first major bill. He wanted to make it illegal to have companies write in a "You can't sue us if you get gang-raped on the job" clause into their contracts.
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<br />Crazy? Something that no company would ever think of doing?!
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<br />Sorry, it already occurred...
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<br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Ez9fFRuJB-4&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Ez9fFRuJB-4&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>
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<br />It happened in 2005, that 20/20 report is from 2007.
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<br />Recently, <span style="font-style:italic;">it took THREE YEARS fighting the courts</span>, she won the right to sue KBR. But seriously, should anyone ever have to go through with this again?! Last night The Daily Show brought some light to the manner, including the <span style="font-weight:bold;">30 Republicans</span> who voted against it.
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<br />Yes, 30 Republicans don't think it's a good idea to meddle in the business of "<span style="font-style:italic;">Ehhhhh</span>, you <span style="font-style:italic;">did</span> sign a contract saying we <span style="font-style:italic;">could</span> rape you."
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<br /><table style='font:11px arial; color:#333; background-color:#f5f5f5' cellpadding='0' cellspacing='0' width='360' height='353'><tbody><tr style='background-color:#e5e5e5' valign='middle'><td style='padding:2px 1px 0px 5px;'><a target='_blank' style='color:#333; text-decoration:none; font-weight:bold;' href='http://www.thedailyshow.com'>The Daily Show With Jon Stewart</a></td><td style='padding:2px 5px 0px 5px; text-align:right; font-weight:bold;'>Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c</td></tr><tr style='height:14px;' valign='middle'><td style='padding:2px 1px 0px 5px;' colspan='2'<a target='_blank' style='color:#333; text-decoration:none; font-weight:bold;' href='http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/wed-october-14-2009/rape-nuts'>Rape-Nuts<a></td></tr><tr style='height:14px; background-color:#353535' valign='middle'><td colspan='2' style='padding:2px 5px 0px 5px; width:360px; overflow:hidden; text-align:right'><a target='_blank' style='color:#96deff; text-decoration:none; font-weight:bold;' href='http://www.thedailyshow.com/'>www.thedailyshow.com</a></td></tr><tr valign='middle'><td style='padding:0px;' colspan='2'><embed style='display:block' src='http://media.mtvnservices.com/mgid:cms:item:comedycentral.com:252468' width='360' height='301' type='application/x-shockwave-flash' wmode='window' allowFullscreen='true' flashvars='autoPlay=false' allowscriptaccess='always' allownetworking='all' bgcolor='#000000'></embed></td></tr><tr style='height:18px;' valign='middle'><td style='padding:0px;' colspan='2'><table style='margin:0px; text-align:center' cellpadding='0' cellspacing='0' width='100%' height='100%'><tr valign='middle'><td style='padding:3px; width:33%;'><a target='_blank' style='font:10px arial; color:#333; text-decoration:none;' href='http://www.thedailyshow.com/full-episodes'>Daily Show<br/> Full Episodes</a></td><td style='padding:3px; width:33%;'><a target='_blank' style='font:10px arial; color:#333; text-decoration:none;' href='http://www.indecisionforever.com'>Political Humor</a></td><td style='padding:3px; width:33%;'><a target='_blank' style='font:10px arial; color:#333; text-decoration:none;' href='http://www.indecisionforever.com/2009/09/23/ron-paul-on-the-daily-show-tuesday-sept-29/'>Ron Paul Interview</a></td></tr></table></td></tr></tbody></table>
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<br />Included in those 30 Republican "NO" votes?
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<br />Kansas Senators, Sam Brownback and Pat Roberts and Missouri Senator, Kit Bond.
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<br />Unfuckingbelievable.Travishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14247110803781028001noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6647021.post-18329051665205463262009-10-13T10:39:00.003-05:002009-10-13T10:48:01.990-05:00HERE'S SOME FRIENDLY ADVICE TO YOU OBAMA-IS-A-NAZI DUMBASSES...<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/travisfox/4008823858/" title="swastika on golf course by thefoxymoron, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2559/4008823858_3d94c2237b_o.jpg" width="320" height="240" alt="swastika on golf course" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swastika">The Swastika goes the other direction.</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/travisfox/4008058271/" title="swastika on golf course 2 by thefoxymoron, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2619/4008058271_1f625a64a9_o.jpg" width="389" height="205" alt="swastika on golf course 2" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www1.whdh.com/news/articles/local/BO126794/">Sigh.</a>Travishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14247110803781028001noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6647021.post-86420281564057126522009-10-11T13:02:00.003-05:002009-10-11T13:09:20.424-05:00OBAMA: I WILL END "DON'T ASK, DON'T TELL."Good for him.<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/FKOTX0OmlNk&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/FKOTX0OmlNk&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />It's nice to have a President who speaks to us as grown-ups. And doesn't let disagreements within his own party derail him from what he wants to do. The man makes no excuses, he owns up to what he does and acknowledges that he's still got a long way to go.<br /><br />Good thing he has another 3 years to get even more progressive.<br /><br />(I bet that just makes the Conservative's heads explode)Travishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14247110803781028001noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6647021.post-255132234053046352009-10-09T10:04:00.000-05:002009-10-09T10:05:11.225-05:00POOR GLENN BECK...It's just too easy to make fun of this assclown.
<br />
<br /><table style='font:11px arial; color:#333; background-color:#f5f5f5' cellpadding='0' cellspacing='0' width='360' height='353'><tbody><tr style='background-color:#e5e5e5' valign='middle'><td style='padding:2px 1px 0px 5px;'><a target='_blank' style='color:#333; text-decoration:none; font-weight:bold;' href='http://www.colbertnation.com'>The Colbert Report</a></td><td style='padding:2px 5px 0px 5px; text-align:right; font-weight:bold;'>Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c</td></tr><tr style='height:14px;' valign='middle'><td style='padding:2px 1px 0px 5px;' colspan='2'<a target='_blank' style='color:#333; text-decoration:none; font-weight:bold;' href='http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/252013/october-08-2009/bend-it-like-beck'>Bend It Like Beck<a></td></tr><tr style='height:14px; background-color:#353535' valign='middle'><td colspan='2' style='padding:2px 5px 0px 5px; width:360px; overflow:hidden; text-align:right'><a target='_blank' style='color:#96deff; text-decoration:none; font-weight:bold;' href='http://www.colbertnation.com/'>www.colbertnation.com</a></td></tr><tr valign='middle'><td style='padding:0px;' colspan='2'><embed style='display:block' src='http://media.mtvnservices.com/mgid:cms:item:comedycentral.com:252013' width='360' height='301' type='application/x-shockwave-flash' wmode='window' allowFullscreen='true' flashvars='autoPlay=false' allowscriptaccess='always' allownetworking='all' bgcolor='#000000'></embed></td></tr><tr style='height:18px;' valign='middle'><td style='padding:0px;' colspan='2'><table style='margin:0px; text-align:center' cellpadding='0' cellspacing='0' width='100%' height='100%'><tr valign='middle'><td style='padding:3px; width:33%;'><a target='_blank' style='font:10px arial; color:#333; text-decoration:none;' href='http://www.comedycentral.com/colbertreport/full-episodes'>Colbert Report Full Episodes</a></td><td style='padding:3px; width:33%;'><a target='_blank' style='font:10px arial; color:#333; text-decoration:none;' href='http://www.indecisionforever.com'>Political Humor</a></td><td style='padding:3px; width:33%;'><a target='_blank' style='font:10px arial; color:#333; text-decoration:none;' href='http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/250350/september-23-2009/capitalism-s-enemy---michael-moore'>Michael Moore</a></td></tr></table></td></tr></tbody></table>Travishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14247110803781028001noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6647021.post-20177199391309640672009-10-06T15:52:00.004-05:002009-10-06T15:59:44.854-05:00I LOVE THE FACT THAT I NO LONGER HAVE TO HANG MY HEAD IN SHAME WHEN I TELL PEOPLE I PLAY VIDEO GAMES...Bask in the intense awesomeness of this Modern Warfare 2 trailer.<br /><br /><div style="width: 480px;"><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=8,0,0,0" id="gtembed" width="480" height="392"> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="sameDomain" /> <param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /> <param name="movie" value="http://www.gametrailers.com/remote_wrap.php?mid=57265"/><param name="quality" value="high" /> <embed src="http://www.gametrailers.com/remote_wrap.php?mid=57265" swLiveConnect="true" name="gtembed" align="middle" allowScriptAccess="sameDomain" allowFullScreen="true" quality="high" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="480" height="392"></embed> </object><div style="font-size: 10px; font-family: Verdana; text-align: center; width: 480px; padding-top: 2px; padding-bottom: 2px; background-color: black; height: 32px;"><div><a style="color:#FFFFFF;" href="http://www.gametrailers.com" title="GameTrailers.com">Video Games</a> | <a style="color:#FFFFFF;" href="http://www.gametrailers.com/game/call-of-duty-modern-warfare/11043" title="Modern Warfare 2">Modern Warfare 2</a> | <a style="color:#FFFFFF;" href="http://www.gametrailers.com/video/infamy-trailer-modern-warfare/57265" title="Infamy Trailer">Infamy Trailer</a></div><div style="padding-top: 3px;"><a style="color:#FFFFFF;" href="http://xbox360.gametrailers.com/" title="XBox 360">XBox 360</a> | <a style="color:#FFFFFF;" href="http://ps3.gametrailers.com/" title="PS3">Playstation 3</a> | <a style="color:#FFFFFF;" href="http://wii.gametrailers.com/" title="Wii">Nintendo Wii</a></div></div></div><br /><br />And those weren't "cut scenes." That was actual gameplay footage. <br /><br />We've basically reached the point where we're able to "play" movies, instead of simply watching them.Travishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14247110803781028001noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6647021.post-50213732489078883942009-09-29T15:47:00.006-05:002009-09-29T17:27:25.287-05:00AIN'T NO RACISM...I listen to a lot of talk radio. Okay, not a lot...but at least 20 minutes of Glenn Beck in the mornings, (depending on how late I am) and a good 15-30 minutes of Rush Limbaugh on my lunch break. <br /><br />This is my daily routine. Craaaaaazy, I know...but part of me thrives on the idea that if someone is talking about politics, even if I 100% disagree with them, I'll listen in. Plus, I feel like this is my peek inside the world of "the other side." You'd be amazed at how quickly you'd become paranoid, angry, and afraid listening to talk radio. It's easy to get caught up in what they're ranting and raving and warning you about...and I almost feel sad for the people that listen to all 3 hours of this programing, every single day, and worse still...take it to heart. <br /><br />I guarantee you a lot of the people who listen to talk radio do not think it's entertainment. For them, they're getting the <strong>truth</strong>. The <strong>real news</strong> that the (cue pounding drums) <strong>LIBERAL MEDIA</strong> doesn't want you to know.<br /><br />I watch The Daily Show and Colbert every single night, but not once do I go, "Right on man! You start a revolution, a march on Washington, and I'll be there to take this country back!" They're entertainers. They're comedians. And Glenn Beck backs away from criticism all the time by pointing out, "I'm just a talk show host...an entertainer..." all while declaring that his listeners and viewers be vigil. Keep an eye on ACORN. Put pressure on Van Jones. These Czars are bad news. This President is friends with Marxists. Communists. He, himself is racist who has a deep seeded hatred for the White man!!!<br /><br />It'd be funny, if it wasn't taken as some sort of gospel.<br /><br />So anyway, I'm listening the other morning, and it's a fill-in host. I guess Glenn saw his shadow that morning and held up in his Panic Room counting all of his gold coins. (He constantly sucks off <a href="http://www.goldline.com/">Gold Line</a> because as we all know, the dollar is just a mere couple of months away from being completely worthless...and nothing is more valuable in a Mad Max-type wasteland than gold fucking coins that you bought off the internet.)<br /><br />And this guy who's filling in for Glenn plays this new Republican talking point of, "Gee, I guess ANYONE who criticizes the President is racist now, eh?" <br /><br />First off, no one, and I mean <strong>no one</strong> is saying that <em>anyone</em> who criticizes the President is 100% automatically racist. It's a bullshit argument that has gotten more and more popular because it simply wipes away every cry of racism in one quick swoop.<br /><br />And secondly, are these idiots really trying to act like there isn't a huge upswing in people hating Obama simply because he's black? <br /><br />The way people are up in arms over the whole ACORN scandal, you'd think they were selling white people's babies on the street corner. All these Senators suddenly want investigations? And to remove their funding? Meanwhile Blackwater, Halliburton, and countless other organizations are just roaming free?!<br /><br />Right, they weren't caught on camera giving advice to a white girl and her "pimp." Carry on, then...<br /><br />(and don't get me wrong, I'm not losing any sleep over ACORN being busted and losing these connections. It's just catching the smallest fish ever. And I wish these people who claim to be soooooo interested in "rooting out corruption" would go after some of these companies who are in the <strong>business of killing and torturing people.</strong>)<br /><br />But whatever...back to this dumbass talk radio guy's point...<br /><br />"I guess you can't criticize Obama anymore without being called a racist?!"<br /><br />No, but specific things can be highlighted to prove that racism still exists in this country, and plenty of those on the Right are using it to their advantage.<br /><br />Case in point, here's Limbaugh's show-prep, (you can seriously know exactly what Rush is going to talk about on his radio show by peeking at Drudge Report an hour before the show starts) Matt Drudge offering up not one, <em>but two</em> <strong>BOLD, ALL-CAPS HEADLINES</strong> showing violent black kids. <br /><br />This one ran a couple weeks ago.<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/travisfox/3966455509/" title="drudge 2 by thefoxymoron, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2474/3966455509_d84535c655.jpg" width="500" height="311" alt="drudge 2" /></a><br /><br />This one (as of writing this) is currently the headline on his website today.<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/travisfox/3967233214/" title="drudge 1 by thefoxymoron, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3528/3967233214_0c13447a0c.jpg" width="500" height="225" alt="drudge 1" /></a><br /><br />See what he does there? The first example was on a school bus outside of St. Louis. I dunno if you have ever ridden a school bus before, but kids get beaten up <em>all the damn time</em>. I must have witnessed it a handful of times myself growing up.<br /><br />But see, this was a bus of mostly black kids, beating up on a white boy. This is a <strong>NATIONAL</strong> story. This needs to go at the top of the page at once! <strong>GIANT LETTERS NEED TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE KNOW WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THIS COUNTRY!!!</strong><br /><br /><a href="http://thinkprogress.org/2009/09/28/white-bus-limbaugh/">(Sad truth...Limbaugh discussed the story on the air and Neo-Nazis marched cause he claimed it was a "hate crime.") </a><br /><br />The second example was of a after-school beating that took place between rival gangs in Chicago. It's a tragic story. One student was beaten to death and the lack of sympathy shown in the video (police released it, hoping someone could ID the suspects) depresses me more than anything else. How far have we fallen as a society, that a boy lying dead in the street, killed in front of your eyes doesn't make you realize that this is wrong...that this isn't a way to live...<br /><br />But you know what? That story happened <strong>days</strong> ago.<br /><br />Huffington Post had a story on it back on September 27th.<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/09/27/beating-death-of-derrien_n_301319.html"></a><br /><br />But not Drudge. Not the source of all things Conservative-leaning. No, he waits until today. Days later. A day <em>after</em> it's announced that Obama is going to personally try and get Chicago the Olympics in 2016. Then, he's able to tie it all together.<br /><br /><strong>BLACK THUGS FROM CHICAGO KILL PEOPLE IN THE STREET! HEY, ISN'T OBAMA FROM CHICAGO?! HMMMMMMM...</strong><br /><br />And if you're thinking, "Gee, Travis...that's kind of a stretch, no?" ask yourself this...<br /><br />Why wait days later? Why put the story up as the main story in the first place? All day long. Nothing else is going on? Is the story <strong>that</strong> important?! Outside of Chicago, who does this story truly effect? And really, is Chicago that much more violent than LA or Atlanta or Moscow or Mexico City or plenty of other cities that held the Olympics? <br /><br />It's just another example of subtle racism and how it's used against this President on a daily basis.Travishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14247110803781028001noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6647021.post-29138456472936127702009-09-26T14:40:00.002-05:002009-09-26T14:44:08.911-05:00MICHAEL MOORE ON CNNMichael Moore gets a lot of flak for being "radical." A Left's version of Glenn Beck, if you will. But as these lengthy clips of him on CNN show, the man really doesn't have radical, extreme ideas at all. And I love how absurd Wolf Blitzer's questions come across in this interview...he literally asks Moore if he's a Socialist.<br /><br />Sigh.<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/NqRvpBqEgCE&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/NqRvpBqEgCE&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/LIiZJ5axu80&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/LIiZJ5axu80&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Travishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14247110803781028001noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6647021.post-70776304305949211202009-09-26T11:25:00.002-05:002009-09-26T11:33:33.230-05:00GLENN BECK REFUSES TO EXPLAIN "WHITE CULTURE."<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/FKZ1qbDyKOM&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en&feature=player_embedded&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/FKZ1qbDyKOM&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en&feature=player_embedded&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />Hey Glenn, maybe instead of us asking ourselves "tough, tough questions," you could try and answer simple, simple ones. I mean, all she did was ask you to explain your own words. <em>Your own phrase</em>. That's not a "trap." It's giving you the opportunity to prove that you're not a wacky racist...and you failed.Travishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14247110803781028001noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6647021.post-8105914886979222282009-09-21T10:43:00.002-05:002009-09-21T11:00:49.897-05:00WHAT RACISM?!A lot of Conservatives are pushing back against this sudden idea that perhaps some of the insane, batshit hatred of Obama miiiiight have something to do with the color of his skin.<br /><br />And I feel for them. Really.<br /><br />What's the world coming to where you can't simply disagree with the President of the United States by calmly calling him a secret Muslim, or suggest that he was born in Kenya, or that he single-handedly founded ACORN and will be forever connected to any scandal they're ever involved in for the rest of time, or that he's a Socialist, Marxist, Hitler, Stalin, a voodoo witch doctor, wants to kill grandma, pals around with terrorists, and wants to destroy America...without people thinking it's all because he's black?!<br /><br />So imagine my shock when I woke up this morning and found out that some vandals up at Penguin Park, (the park my mother would take us to on a weekly basis as children...the park Lex adores and I have so many found memories of) <a href="http://www.kmbc.com/news/21028027/detail.html">spray-painted <span style="font-weight:bold;">SWASTIKAS</span> and lots of <span style="font-weight:bold;">FUCK OBAMA</span> all over the playground equipment.</a><br /><br />Grrrrrr. Why must facts continue to have a liberal bias?Travishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14247110803781028001noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6647021.post-52306423199775377812009-09-18T16:04:00.002-05:002009-09-18T16:08:38.672-05:00ALL OF YOU TEABAGGERS, PLEASE SIGN AND DATE THIS.(taken from <a href="http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2009/9/18/783895/-The-Teabagger-Socialist-Free-Purity-Pledge">Daily Kos</a>)<br /><br />I, ________________________, do solemnly swear to uphold the principles of a socialism-free society and heretofore pledge my word that I shall strictly adhere to the following:<br /><br />I will complain about the destruction of 1st Amendment Rights in this country, while I am duly being allowed to exercise my 1st Amendment Rights.<br /><br />I will complain about the destruction of my 2nd Amendment Rights in this country, while I am duly being allowed to exercise my 2nd Amendment rights by legally but brazenly brandishing unconcealed firearms in public.<br /><br />I will foreswear the time-honored principles of fairness, decency, and respect by screaming unintelligible platitudes regarding tyranny, Nazi-ism, and socialism at public town halls. Also.<br /><br />I pledge to eliminate all government intervention in my life. I will abstain from the use of and participation in any socialist goods and services including but not limited to the following:<br /><br />•Social Security<br /><br />•Medicare/Medicaid<br /><br />•State Children’s Health Insurance Programs (SCHIP)<br /><br />•Police, Fire, and Emergency Services<br /><br />•US Postal Service<br /><br />•Roads and Highways<br /><br />•Air Travel (regulated by the socialist FAA)<br /><br />•The US Railway System<br /><br />•Public Subways and Metro Systems<br /><br />•Public Bus and Lightrail Systems<br /><br />•Rest Areas on Highways<br /><br />•Sidewalks<br /><br />•All Government-Funded Local/State Projects (e.g., see Iowa 2009 federal senate appropriations)<br /><br />•Public Water and Sewer Services (goodbye socialist toilet, shower, dishwasher, kitchen sink, outdoor hose!)<br /><br />•Public and State Universities and Colleges<br /><br />•Public Primary and Secondary Schools<br /><br />•Sesame Street<br /><br />•Publicly Funded Anti-Drug Use Education for Children<br /><br />•Public Museums<br /><br />•Libraries<br /><br />•Public Parks and Beaches<br /><br />•State and National Parks<br /><br />•Public Zoos<br /><br />•Unemployment Insurance<br /><br />•Municipal Garbage and Recycling Services<br /><br />•Treatment at Any Hospital or Clinic That Ever Received Funding From Local, State or Federal Government (pretty much all of them)<br /><br />•Medical Services and Medications That Were Created or Derived From Any Government Grant or Research Funding (again, pretty much all of them)<br /><br />•Socialist Byproducts of Government Investment Such as Duct Tape and Velcro (Nazi-NASA Inventions)<br /><br />•Use of the Internets, email, and networked computers, as the DoD's ARPANET was the basis for subsequent computer networking<br /><br />•Foodstuffs, Meats, Produce and Crops That Were Grown With, Fed With, Raised With or That Contain Inputs From Crops Grown With Government Subsidies<br /><br />•Clothing Made from Crops (e.g. cotton) That Were Grown With or That Contain Inputs From Government Subsidies<br />If a veteran of the government-run socialist US military, I will forego my VA benefits and insist on paying for my own medical care<br /><br />I will not tour socialist government buildings like the Capitol in Washington, D.C.<br /><br />I pledge to never take myself, my family, or my children on a tour of the following types of socialist locations, including but not limited to: <br /><br />•Smithsonian Museums such as the Air and Space Museum or Museum of American History<br /><br />•The socialist Washington, Lincoln, and Jefferson Monuments<br /><br />•The government-operated Statue of Liberty<br /><br />•The Grand Canyon<br /><br />•The socialist World War II and Vietnam Veterans Memorials<br /><br />•The government-run socialist-propaganda location known as Arlington National Cemetery<br /><br />•All other public-funded socialist sites, whether it be in my state or in Washington, DC <br /><br />I will urge my Member of Congress and Senators to forego their government salary and government-provided healthcare.<br /><br />I will oppose and condemn the government-funded and therefore socialist military of the United States of America. <br /><br />I will boycott the products of socialist defense contractors such as GE, Lockheed-Martin, Boeing, Northrop Grumman, General Dynamics, Raytheon, Humana, FedEx, General Motors, Honeywell, and hundreds of others that are paid by our socialist government to produce goods for our socialist army. <br /><br />I will protest socialist security departments such as the Pentagon, FBI, CIA, Department of Homeland Security, TSA, Department of Justice and their socialist employees. <br /><br />Upon reaching eligible retirement age, I will tear up my socialist Social Security checks. <br /><br />Upon reaching age 65, I will forego Medicare and pay for my own private health insurance until I die.<br /><br />SWORN ON A BIBLE AND SIGNED THIS DAY OF __________ IN THE YEAR ___.<br /><br />_____________ _________________________<br />Signed Printed Name/Town and StateTravishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14247110803781028001noreply@blogger.com0