GhostMachine

Sorry, Idol, but Taylor Swift deserved Album of the Year, not Gaga. Though to me its a close call. Just glad the Black-Eyed Peas didn't win (only one song on that album I really like: Meet Me Halfway. Some other decent, but not great, songs on it) Kings of Leon winning anything at all is bullshit. I actually hate "Use Somebody" more than "Sex On Fire", which is the song of theirs that gets played to death ("Sex On Fire" would be good as an instrumental). "Halo" or "Poker Face" should have won Record of the Year and "21 Guns" should have won Best Duo or Group Rock Performance. Not too thrilled with the Best New Artist award, either, but since that award is often the kiss of death, I can live with it. (I would've given it to Kerri Hilson or The Ting Tings; haven't heard enough by the Silversun Pickups) I do like country music, but the Zac Brown Band is so-so.

Batman Year Two is also pretty good (don't let the fact Todd McFarlane does some of the art put you off), but I don't know if its been collected in a trade. And whatever you do, skip the sequel to The Dark Knight Returns. Its disappointing bigtime. Art is mostly awful and the story is LAME!

Anyone got any of the Dr. Pepper code downloads for it? There are 3 different ones, and I only had 1 code, so I got the Recon Hood. (Looks kind of like the headpiece Thane wears on missions where you need breathing gear) I am wondering when there will be more official DLC, even though it probably won't be free. One of them is supposed to be a new ground vehicle called the Hammerhead which is supposed to handle a LOT better than the Mako ever did, so I'm guessing that will mean more missions, as well. Oh, and the two characters from the first game you have on your team in ME2 just happened to be my two favorites in the first. If you want a good laugh, look up Kelly's romance scene on Youtube. And I don't mean the scene where Shepard invites her to his cabin for dinner.

Zaeed is pretty cool, and he has some interesting dialog if you take him on certain missions. If you haven't done Grunt or Mordin's loyalty missions, take him along on those, and be sure to look at the Varren fighting pit. His special power (Inferno Grenades) isn't really that good until you get it fully powered up, though.

Just keep in mind that the Mass Effect games are actually RPG/FPS hybrids.

Oh, its going to be an interesting Super Bowl. Its a win-win situation, sorta, for football fans, unless you hate Peyton Manning or the Saints. Either the best QB in the NFL gets another ring, or a team that's never been to the Super Bowl wins their first championship their first time in the big game. I'm not a Vikings fan, but I hope Favre comes back too. He really needs to stick around another season or two, provided he doesn't pull the retire then un-retire or wait until the last minute to decide he's coming back bull again. The Vikings also need to get AP some help/relief so they don't have to rely on him so much when they run. However, if Favre retires, the first thing the Vikings need to do is acquire a new QB, be it through a trade, free agency or draft. No way they're getting anywhere near the playoffs if they have to rely on Jackson, and I don't think they'd get real far with Rosenfels, either. But I'd start Rosenfels over Jackson.

I bought the strategy guide, and once you have Mordin you can research an improvement to the Normandy that improves the fuel capacity by 50%. It requires 3000 Element Zero. The med bay upgrade that gets rid of the scars is incredibly expensive, though. 50,000 Platinum. You're better off using Platinum on other things first. This game is definitely tougher than the first, because you do have to take cover; the first game you could shrug off a lot of shit that will kill you quick in this one. I've died about 4-5 times (mostly while trying to do the closing the shutters part of the Archangel mission), and I'm not too far into it. I've recruited Garrus and Zaeed (Zaeed is DLC and you just have to talk to him to get him, but he comes with a mission to do later) and just got the plague cure mission from Mordin. Haven't been to the Citadel yet. The first game I didn't die at all until near the halfway point of the game. One thing I don't like about this game is that not only do heavy weapons only carry a couple of shots, but ammo clips for them seem to be freaking rare. I've got the Blackstorm, but am only using it if absolutely necessary. (Wish I had been able to use it when doing the shutters part of Archangel....) I like the two hacking mini-games better than that lame one in the first, but some things can be a bitch to hack. I think I'm going to go buy that upgrade in Omega that increases your time to hack once I get done with Mordin. And Shepard's yeoman Kelly is freakin' cute!

Meh. I think I'll give it a pass, then, if the ending is like that. My favorite bookstore (a Waldenbooks in the local mall) is closing today and had everything left (which isn't much) on sale 65 to 90% (Almost everything I saw was 65%), so I checked to see what manga they had. I picked up The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya volume 1, but haven't had time to read it yet. I've been busy playing Mass Effect 2. Unless another, decent bookstore opens up here, I guess I'll be buying all my manga online now. The only decent bookstores here are clear on the other side of town.

Without dropping any major spoilers, since I haven't seen Soul Eater yet, it is a `what the hell is this shit?!' ending, a lame ending, or a fucked up ending (like School Days)?

Pre-ordered. Picking up at Gamestop some time today. Unfortunately, they had quit taking pre-orders for the Collector's Edition already, so I'm hoping they might have some cancels (guy at the store told me that might happen). I've read some spoilers, but nothing major, and I will drop one that shouldn't get anyone upset, because you'd have to have been living under a rock not to hear it: Apparently Dr. Pepper has a promotion going on where you can get codes to download content for various games (you pick the game, apparently). The ME3 download is a set of two helmets and a visor. Haven't seen pictures of them yet, though. And apparently its going to be easier to share your own Shepard facial design with others. Someone made a post over at GameFAQs and has started a site for people to send in their ME2 designs. Some people who already have the game (not sure if they're pirated; I've heard some stores released the game a few days early) have sent in theirs, and a lot of them look really cool. (One is based on HK actor Donnie Yen and looks pretty good, but there's an evil looking one based on Jason Statham, which looks pretty awesome except for the scars and red eyes) http://www.masseffect2faces.com is the URL. I plan on submitting my main game Shepard from ME after I get ME2, since I'm going to re-use the face unless its looks crappy when converted over.

Chase's outrage over the Terrible Towel is just dumb. Not only because of the Western Kentucky University information HTTK posted (which I didn't know about), but because you see towels being waived all over the place in other sports besides pro football all the time. I've even seen it done at baseball games. Now, that doesn't mean I don't get WHY Chase has his tighty whiteys (or whatever wears) in a knot, because I do know a bit about the background behind the Terrible Towel. And while I can't stand the Pittsburgh Steelers, I didn't approve when the Titans stomped on a Terrible Towel back in 2008 or when other teams have done stuff to one. Because its almost as if they're disrespecting Myron Cope and the school that the proceeds from the sales of them go to, not just the Steelers. Colts should have used a different font for their own towel, though. Besides, isn't the font the same one - or one similar to - used in the Steelers text logo, anyway?

Is she watching the sub or dub version? Vandread is a fairly decent series. I watched it on Starz or Encore (I forget which) when they used to show anime regularly a few years ago. Didn't find out about it being based on an H-game until a few months afterwards, though.

I pulled off something really cool earlier. Was doing a match vs. Randy Orton as a CAW. Orton hits a move that knocks me down, and starts doing the Hunting RKO taunt. So I get up fast and hit a move, and it looks like he gets up from doing the taunt right into a Shining Wizard. (Was the ground based one where you bounce off the ropes)

I wish Conan had done one last "In The Year 3000" bit while he was still able to insult NBC. Loved the "what to do with the studio" bit. Ending of the show was awesome, but I bet it gets cut from re-runs and Hulu, sadly. And if I was a donator, my name would be "Chip Whitley" right now.

R.I.P., NBC late night programming

Lately I've been on a Jpop kick again. I used to have a bunch of stuff (mostly music videos I got off Veoh) by Ayumi Hamasaki and Koda Kumi on my old computer (well, technically, I still do, but the motherboard and/or memory is fried), and I've downloaded a couple of things off iTunes. Can anyone recommend any Jpop groups/singers I should check out, that have stuff up on either Youtube, iTunes or Veoh? (looking for song recommendations, too, not just artists) I already know quite a bit about Ayumi Hamasaki, Koda Kumi, BoA, Do As Infinity, TM Revolution and La'Arc~En Ciel (last one probably not spelled right), but would still appreciate recommendations for songs by them (except Koda Kumi - I've got more than enough stuff by her), as well as other artists. Especially looking for recommendations for any songs by Gackt, and for more male artists I should check out. (What I've got off iTunes so far is "Devil Inside" by Utada Hikaru (have a live performance of it favorited on Youtube)and the video for "Ghost" by Gackt) Oh, and are there any Japanese artists besides Utada Hikaru (who was actually born in the U.S., if what I've read is right) and Koda Kumi who have done songs in full English? (Koda Kumi did an English version of "Real Emotion" for Final Fantasy X-2, but they used a version by someone else instead when they released the game, and its the only song in English I've found by her) Thanks a ton.

WIN. Wow! Definitely going to be hard to top that quote! And....

I've been checking out previews of songs on iTunes then looking up the songs on Youtube. Checking out some Jpop and downloaded the video for Gackt's song "Ghost". Sucks that iTunes has almost nothing by Kodi Kumi and no Ayumi Hamasaki videos (songs yes, videos, no), but I can probably get those off Veoh. Bought the greatest music video of all time a few days ago. Namely, "Sabotage"! The real, best version of Savatage ended when Criss Oliva was killed by a drunk driver in 1993. If you've ever heard of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, they're a spin-off from Savatage, believe it or not. And look up the song "Gutter Ballet", which is Savatage's most well-known song. Jon Oliva even performs it with his other band, Jon Oliva's Pain.

Someone over at another board I go to posted some spoilers for Dark Avengers #13, and after reading them in regards to Sentry, I think Bendis has lost his mind. Hopefully Sentry either gets severely de-powered or (even better) killed off during the Siege. (Doubt I'd get what I'd really like, which would be Sentry and Red Hulk beating each other to death.....)

Yeah, but a lot of the people over at DVD-VR are douches. And unfortunately, at least one of the moderators is. Its the only board I've ever been suspended at, and that's because Pete (I think it was Pete) decided to suspend everyone who posted in a thread that some people started flaming in for a week, rather than just the people who actually did the flaming. I don't think I've ever posted in the MMA section over there, and if I have its been a hell of a long time. I use a different name at DVD-VR, by the way.

I'm with you on this one. Nogueira/Lesnar would be one hell of a fight, and I hope it does eventually happen while Lesnar still holds the title.

To be fair Cowher and Gruden didn't wanna coach, Shanahan was offered huge money by Washington, and Billick...well, he's uh...Brian Billick. Brian Billick would still be a better choice than Chan fucking Gailey. Hell, I hope Jerry Jones has Billick on his list of coaches when he goes looking for someone to replace Wade Phillips after he gets fired next season, unless there's a chance of landing Cowher or Gruden. Then again, I think Cowher or Gruden coaching Dallas is about as likely to happen as Lane Kiffin setting foot in Tennessee again and getting out alive.

Phillips will definitely be gone after next season if the Cowboys don't win the Super Bowl. As for Brooking, he's an idiot and this isn't the first time he's ran his mouth off. He also did it when the Cowboys beat the Falcons. Personally, I don't believe in running up the score in the NFL, and I'm not just saying that because I'm a Cowboys fan. But I understand why teams do it. (Although, I'll laugh my ass off if one of these days the Jets thoroughly annihilate the Patriots and run up the score on them as revenge for Cameragate)

According to a report on ESPN.com, Adams had an enlarged heart which contributed to the heart attack. I don't get it. Players take physicals and have medical exams all the time. How was this problem not discovered?

Colin Cowherd is such an idiot. A few days ago, he sided with Lane Kiffin over the move to USC and had a shitty explanation. Then yesterday on SportsNation he did picks for the current round of the playoffs and picked the Cardinals over the Saints because the Cardinals have players who were bigger stars in college, then calls the Colts a one man team and picks them over the Ravens anyway. (I agree with those picks, but not his reason as far as the Cardinals/Saints game is concerned) oh yeah...by no means did I mean this board. I was talking in general. It just gets annoying with Cowboys fans. There are just so many of them and most of them talk like they are still in the middle of some dynasty when they have won 1 playoff game since '97. Not me. I actually think the Vikings will beat them. But if they don't, then the Cowboys are my pick to go to the Super Bowl - which doesn't necessarily mean they'll win. I'd love a Cowboys-Colts Super Bowl, because it would be a win-win since I'm a Peyton Manning fan, but that's not gonna happen.