Best and Worst of Big Brother U.S.

Posted: March 26, 2013 in Tv is good
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English: "Evel" Dick Donato from Big...

English: “Evel” Dick Donato from Big Brother 8 (U.S.) and Big Brother 13 (U.S.). This image has been modified from its original source to include the subject only. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Big Brother has been airing here in the United States of America since the year 2000, and over the course of those 13 years, there have been a wide variety of players who have entered the house. Many good players, some great players and of course, some piss poor players. There have been villains and heroes, love birds and enemies. So, with yet another season of Big Brother just around the corner, and one already airing in Canada, let’s take a look back at the best and worst that the Big Brother house had to throw at us.

Keep in mind, this entire article is based entirely on my opinion, and each person may have their own opinion.

Best Player: Without a doubt, I would have to give this to Evel Dick. He’s not my favorite player, but he was damn good at Big Brother. Not only did he win season 8, but I am fairly confident that if had remained in the house during season 13, he probably would have won that too! He played the game well, but he played the house guests even better.

Best Floater: Mike Dutz was one of my top 10 favorite players in Big Brother history, and out of those 10 was the only floater. Watching him was a blast, he was often times quiet and seemed to keep to himself, and on occasion it would seem as if he forgot where he was, or what he was doing. A look of confusion would wash across his face for the briefest of moments, before he returned to normal, often times leaving what he was doing behind.

Worst Player: This one goes to Ronnie Talbot, which I admit was a huge shock to me! I expected big things from him, and he talked a good talk. How ever, when it came to playing the game, it seemed like his strategy consisted of just lying to every single person in the house, which was the stupidest move imaginable! All it would take is any one person, to mention something to any OTHER one person, and it would come apart! Needless to say, his lies blew up in his face, and resulted in him hiding himself away in the HOH room from the angry mob below. While he claimed to be an expert of the game, it quickly became apparent that he was a horrible player.

Best Villain: Who can out-evil Evel Dick? His strategy which ultimately led to his season 8 win, consisted of him being the biggest asshole imaginable. Not only was he a huge villain, but also a fierce competitor. His strategy worked wonders for him, as his actions kept people stressed angry and on occasion unable to sleep. I find it hard to believe that this strategy could have been pulled off successfully by anyone other than Evel Dick.

Best Hero: When Jeff Schroder first appeared in Big Brother, I assumed he was going to be another musclebound jock. Much to my surprise he wasn’t. He formed a tight alliance with fellow houseguest Jordan, and a Showmance that developed into a romance outside of the house brought them even closer. Jeff quickly became the fan favorite of his season, and for good reason! He played honestly and with integrity. In a sea full of sharks, he stood his own, and went pretty far!

Best Cryer: While I would like to give this title to Rachel, who found herself in tears a lot, including at one point hiding and crying in a bush shortly after a competition. The real winner of this title would have to be Amber from season 8! She has probably outcried all of the houseguests combined, tear for tear.

Best Couple: The Big Brother house has seen more than it’s share of showmances and romances, but few have lasted long, or caught the attention of so many, than Jeff and Jordan. Fact is, they were two good people, and they were just cute together. Their relationship is still going, with all indicators being a happy relationship. Some could argue that the “Brenchel” should be best couple, and it was in the running. The only thing that kept it from getting the title, was rumors of Brendens unfaithfulness.

Best Enemies: My god, the house has had probably more enemies, than showmances. Something about being locked in a house with people, who are specifically picked to rub on someones nerve, has a way of…Well, rubbing on someones nerve!

The most entertaining enemy would have to be the Season 8 rivalry between Dick and Jen! The two genuinely disliked each other, and while I am not sure if that dislike carried on outside of the house, it sure was entertaining in-house! The fighting eventually culminated with Dick dumping a glass of Tea onto Jens head, and Jen retaliating by destroying Dicks cigarettes with Bleach.

Best Alliance: When it comes to Alliances, very few can argue against the extremely succesful Season 2 Alliance of Chilltown. Not only was it the first Big Brother Alliance, but it was between Dr. Will and Mike Boogie, two players whom many would say were in the top 5 best players who have ever played the game.

Best Twist: The motto of Big Brother America, is “Expect the unexpected”. This is because if there’s one thing Big Brother loves, it’s throwing twists into the game. Most seasons have one, which leaves a lot to choose between, however my personal favorite twist, was the Twin Twist from Season 5, where we saw twins Adria and Natalie unbeknownst to the houseguests, switching back and forth and playing the same role, much to the confusion of the houseguests, during the first part of the game. Afterwards, they were both allowed to enter and play.

Best Season: My personal favorite season was 8. This is because a lot was happening, and there was never a dull moment in that house! Live feeds were always exciting, and I just could not get enough. It was so interesting, that even my mom, who hates reality TV was tuning in each week, and yes, even got a Real subscription, just to watch the live feeds. Special note, she has never had that amount of interest in any following season.

Most Memorable: When I think back to all the past seasons, the player who sticks out in my mind the most is the lovable season 1 player known forever more as “Chicken George”. Was he a great player? No, but this isn’t a great player title. It’s most memorable, and I don’t think the image of him dancing around in his chicken suit will ever be wiped from my memory.

Personal Favorite: Frank Eudy, without a doubt. He played the game with honesty and integrity. Sure, it didn’t win him the game, but he played it well, and best of all, he left the game with his morals still intact, which is something that can’t be said for most people who find themselves competing in the Big Brother house.

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Gun control vs the right to bear arms

Posted: February 26, 2013 in News and current events
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Hello

Hello (Photo credit: ZORIN DENU)

Everytime I turn around, it seems like there is something on the news, about some guy who just snapped, and ran into a public building shooting people. It can happen anywhere, it has even happened locally in the small American town that I currently call home.

It should come as a surprise, to absolutely nobody, that these shootings would stir the pot in the decades old gun control debate. People would begin arguing about the pros and cons of gun control, People would shout about how it’s their right to bear arms! The interweb would come alive, and people would run to their facebook, twitter or blog to let their opinion be known!

Everyone has their opinion on the matter, myself included. However, I don’t feel the need to use this blog as a soapbox. My opinion will have little to no impact on what happens in the coming months and years. What I will say though, is that I find it amusing that many of the same people on the interwebs who went on about the war on Christmas, and arguing about how the bible isn’t taught in schools, are also the exact same people who are shouting about their guns, and how the government doesn’t have the right to take their guns, because it’s their damn right according to the 2nd amendment.

That’s all well and good, however I am curious how these people can and with a straight face, complain about how the government is trying to strip them of their inalienable right to bear arms, while also having no qualms about imposing their religious beliefs on others and stripping people of their right to freedom of religion.

One word: Hypocrites

Let me be clear on this, I have absolutely no objection to someone saying “I love my guns, and they better not take ‘em!” and then the next day say “If the bible was mandatory reading in school, none of this would happen.” I wouldn’t agree with it, but I wouldn’t have an issue with it. My problem lies in the majority, the ones who clearly state that the government is infringing on their 2nd amendment right to bear arms with the idea of gun control, while at the same time believe that religion should be taught in schools. Then you are a hypocrite, because teaching children what your holy book says is infringing on their FIRST amendment right to freedom of religion, or even lack there of.

You either stand up for all rights, or just sit down, and shut up.

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Best MMORPGs of 2013 (So far)

Posted: February 10, 2013 in Gaming
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We are well into a new year! So, I decided to bring to you my list of best free to play MMORPGs! It wasn’t so long ago, that a list like this would be pointless. MMORPGs that were free to play were few and far apart, and the ones that were out looked only slightly better than ASCII. Now, not only are there multitudes to choose from, but the majority of them don’t just look good, but look outstanding.

However, nice graphics does not always make a fun MMORPG. For me, a good MMORPG offers a compelling story or brings something new to the table. Something to make it stand out from the rest!

It’s not surprising that most of the games on this list were once subscription based. Games originally intended to be subscription only, tend to have a higher production value, and because of that, more time and effort put into the game.

I also want to say, that if you really enjoy any of these games, and find yourself playing one a lot, then I highly recommend subscribing to the game. You usually receive special perks, and you get full enjoyment out of the game, without having to spend time and extra money purchasing the needed content to continue your adventure.

Lastly, I will say right from the go: World of Warcraft is not on this list. Some may argue that it is sort of free to play, however they would be wrong. Sure, you can buy pets from a cash store, and yea, you can play for free. However you can only play up to level 20, and then no further unless you buy the game and subscribe. Although, even if it were free to play, I am not sure it would make it to this list, since at the time of this writing, it doesn’t really offer anything new to the MMORPG community.

Without further ado, the 10 best free to play MMORPGs!

10) Tera – This free to play MMORPG only went free to play last month, and it looks gorgeous! To fully appreciate the beauty of this game you need to have a fairly decent computer, however you can lower the settings, and play it on lower performance systems, but it doesn’t look anywhere near as nice. The game has a ton of races and classes to choose from, and features a detailed character creator.

The only thing keeping this game from being higher on the list is the controls. They are clumsy and awkward, though I am sure some will love them. I am used to traditional MMORPG controls, and this style, just fries my dome.

9) Star Trek Online – This MMORPG has been out for 3 years, and has only gotten better. If you are a fan of star trek, or Sci-fi in general, then this is definitely worth checking out. The game features voice talents of many Star Trek actors and actresses and some stunning graphics. After a short tutorial mission, you become a captain, and get your own ship! This ship also serves as your player housing, and as your mount. Piloting your ship takes a little getting used to, but afterwards, it becomes second nature. This unique blending of space missions and ground missions helps the game to stand out from other titles, but what really sets it apart is the Foundry. The foundry allows you to create your own quests and missions and share them with the community. Which means that there is a never-ending flow of new quests and missions being added daily, and since Star Trek fans are known for their passion and creativity, the majority of these missions are of higher quality than the official missions.

8) Age of Conan – An MMO that captures the savagery of Hyboria and the tales of Conan! The game has unique combat controls, which requires you to watch your enemies and attack where they are weakest. Sure, you can just button mash, but you won’t last very long doing that! It’s also important to note, that this game is based on the novels, not the movies, so don’t be surprised that people don’t speak in an Austrian accent. The only thing keeping this game from being MUCH higher, is the fact that after the starting area, the game seems less polished. Tortage is fantastic and gorgeous, and if the rest of the game was anywhere near as fleshed out as that area? This game would be number one with a bullet!

7) Lord of the Rings Online – This MMORPG is based on the novels by Tolkien, not the movies! Meaning, you will see and interact with characters not in the movie. The game takes place during the same time as the events in the books, and you play a character living in the world. Sometimes, you may find yourself bumping into the fellowship, or following in their footsteps, in your own unique story worthy of the title Lord of the Rings.

6) Fallen Earth – An MMORPG set not just in the future, but in a post apocalyptic future! A wasteland reminiscent of the Fallout universe, or Mad Max. The world is huge, the setting unique and the story? Well, the story is alright, but it’s there, and better than most MMOs.

5) Dungeons & Dragons Online – One of the earliest subscription based MMORPGs to go free to play, and still one of the best. The game is challenging to master, but easy to learn. If you are a D&D pen and paper player, then you should be playing this, if you aren’t already. The game is set in the Eberron Campaign, which admittedly is not my favorite setting, but the game is fantastic never the less. The controls can be remapped to any button(Or controller if you use an Xbox 360 controller for windows), which means the controls can and do fit everyones needs.

4) Champions Online – An action based MMORPG where you get to play a super hero! The game features graphics that are top notch, and resemble comics with their slightly cell shaded appearance. Not a fan of the look? Don’t fret! That graphic filter can be switched off, for more of a traditional gaming look. The game has deep character customization tools, so you can literally create the super hero of your dreams. Worried that your hero name will be taken? Not a problem either, since the can be multiple Super Heroes with the same name(whispers and mail is determined by your login name).

3) APB Reloaded – While it’s not your traditional MMORPG, it does have enough in common with other MMORPGs to appeal to the same userbase. The game takes place in a modern setting, and is similar in many ways to the grand theft auto games. Will you be a cop or a thug? Bring peace to the streets or anarchy? The choices are yours! The game is heavily group dependent however, so if you are a soloist, this might not be the best game for you. The controls also take a while to get used to, and since the game has recently gotten rid of its tutorial level, you are pretty much just forced to figure it out on your own. Which means, you will end up dying a lot at first.

2) Star Wars: The Old Republic – This game is made by Bioware, the same guys who made the Mass Effect, Dragons Age and Knights of the Old Republic games. So, you know it’s going to be kick-ass! The graphics are amazing, and the stories(the are different for each class) are unbelievable! Your actions shape the entire outcome of the game. How you play it is entirely up to you!

1) The Secret World – While not free to play in the same sense as the others on this list, it is still free to play. Sure, you have to buy the game, but that’s it! You can buy more items from the cash store, but not required for full enjoyment of the game. The game reminds me of the Story Telling games by White wolf, called World of Darkness. To be even more precise it reminds me of the Mage games. The game takes place in a modern world, wrapped in dark secrets on conspiracies. A world where hidden things do go bump in the night, where shadowy organizations pull the strings. This game borrows heavily from Lovecraft as well as numberous other writers, and is an insanely enjoyable experience.

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NCIS: The Game Review – PS3

Posted: February 1, 2013 in Gaming
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ncis

I will be upfront with this review. I am not a fan of the series, in fact I have never watched it. If I had, my views on the game might have been different.

What I expected was a game with similar play mechanics to the CSI titles. The premise isn’t much different, and it’s released through the same publisher.

Needless to say, it’s not what I got. The game was a mess! Sure the graphics were standard(For the time of its release), but the animation and voice acting were very sub-par, which is a shame since apparently the game uses the voice talents of the actual shows actors(Which leads me to question the shows entertainment value).

The game consists of you walking around the screen taking pictures of whatever one of the other characters tell you to take photos of. Basically, it’s a “Hidden picture” game. I say that in quotes, because the items aren’t really hidden. They usually are just right there. You may have to walk around a counter to see it, but it’s sitting in the blue.

Occasionally you might be asked move something, or help move something. During these scenes you are expected to press a combo of buttons. Kind of like a Quick Time Event, minus the Quick Time.

You also play as the medical examiner and perform autopsies, which sounds interesting at first, until you discover that an autopsy consists of you taking pictures of red glowing marks on a wire frame body.

You are probably wondering by this point, if the game has any puzzles! Yes, it does. If you have the same idea of puzzles as this game. Puzzles tend to be matching up a piece of evidence with another. Sometimes the puzzle is a memory game. Other times, its keeping your crosshairs on top of a moving target.

The only redeeming aspect of this game is the “deduction board” where you connect all of the gathered clues to reach a final conclusion. It reminds me of the Sherlock Holmes deduction boards, however, it too is fairly simple.

Overall, the game is nothing like what I expected, and was a huge disappointment from start to finish. perhaps if I was familiar more with the series, it might have left a better taste in my mouth, but from a purely gaming point of view, this is an abomination to video games! Sure, it’s not the WORST game I have ever played, but that’s not really a redeeming factor.

In the end, unless you a truly hardcore NCIS fan, I would stay FAR away from this title.

Abrams set to direct Star Wars

Posted: January 26, 2013 in Hollywood spotlight!
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abramsWell, it’s official! J.J. Abrams won’t be directing the next Star Trek film, and is now set to direct the upcoming Star Wars flick. Apparently the fans are rejoicing with this news. I am not exactly sure why! Maybe it’s fans of Star Trek that are rejoicing? Since now, they will actually be able to watch the next Star Trek movie without having to squint through a barrage of lens flares. Perhaps the rejoicing fans are fans of Lens Flares in general! Maybe, they are so excited about the idea of a possible light saber duel that can’t be seen because it’s entirely blotted out by one giant lens flare!

Surely the rejoicing fans can’t be fans of Star Wars right?  Apparently they are! Again, I am not sure why the rejoicing! Am I the only one who seriously finds Abrams over-use of Lens Flares to be more than a little annoying? Sure, his directing isn’t bad in general! I mean, I genuinely enjoyed LOST, but that was before the whole flare fetish thing kicked in. It’s now gotten to the point where his love of all things bright has ruined his actual talent as a director. At least to me, and judging by response of the Star Wars community, I maybe the only one in this mind-set.

I just think they could have went with better directors. Zemeckis would have been good,  Jackson would have been great, as would Spielberg! Hell, I would have even settled for Burton, granted I would have to tolerate Johnny Depp as a sith lord, with claymation troopers doing his bidding on a planet with a bunch of curly leafless trees, but it’s infinitely better than lens flares!

I’m not saying Abrams is the worst possible choice! There are plenty of worse directors for Star Wars! They could have stuck us with Woody Allen or Quentin Tarantino. However, just because there are worse choices, does not make the current choice a good one! Will he ruin Star Wars for me? Doubtful! If he didn’t completely ruin Star Trek for me, I doubt if he could possibly ruin Star Wars. He could however make the experience of watching it, highly unenjoyable.

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New Year Wish

Posted: January 11, 2013 in General
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brain power

I wish there were such a thing as a cerebral dictation device. If such a thing was ever released to the general public, do you know who would be first in line with credit card in hand? This guy! Yeah, This guy, that’s who!

The reason I even desire such a device is because it would make porn surfing much easier! No longer would I have to type in search queries into Google image search with only one hand!

I suppose I could also use it for other things, particularly blogging. In fact, I believe it might be at least equally useful for Blogging, as it would for Porn surfing! After all, there are many times that I am doing some mundane activity somewhere away from the computer, when inspiration hits! I could be taking a shower, and get inspired to write about the plight of the rain forest, I could be taking out trash and be zapped with inspiration regarding pollutants that contaminate our air, I could be taking a crap, and be reminded about that time I a giant boulder fell in front of our car during a long road trip!

When inspiration does hit me, I write this huge blog entry in my mind! usually a great one! A Blog entry that re-defines what we consider to be Epic! An entry that would inspire awe among the masses, that would make people pause and think. At the very least, make people stop and scratch their head as they exclaim “What the Fuckery?”. These are the types of blog entries that I mentally write, that never make it to physical or digital form, as the case may be.

So, why don’t I write them you ask? That’s a great question I reply!

Fact of the matter is, I have every intention of writing it, but the thing is, by the time I get anywhere near a computer with an internet connection, one of several things happens.

1) I sit at the computer and suddenly get bombarded by emails, Skype messages and/or calls. Many of these people are friends and/or family. Basically people I love and am close to. People who take priority over a blog post, so I go and respond to these people. Since I am a gentleman, I give them my complete attention. When our chats/discussions are over, I usually have forgotten all about the blog post I wanted to make!

2) I sit down at the computer, get ready to open my browser and “Accidentally” click the shortcut to “Star Wars: The Old Republic“, and when that happens? Well, you can just forget about anything else happening that night!

3) I just plain forget! I mean, I mentally write a huge ass entry! It’s a little difficult to remember all the ins and outs. Sure, I still have the basic idea, but when I sit down and start blogging on the topic, I can’t think of what to say! See, I find it hard to blog on command. It just comes so much easier to me, when I’m not even trying and especially when I am not ready.

Now, I have considered carrying a digital recorder around with me, so that I can record my thoughts as they creep up, and then transcribe those audio logs into digital blog form, but that requires talking into a digital recorded. You know, where people can hear me! Have you read my blog? I talk about some dumb ass shit on here! Stuff that would make the locals think I was super paladin nerd! I got a rep to protect man!

So anyway! Yeah, we need a mental dictation device. Especially for the added bonus of porn surfing ease.

2012 in review

Posted: January 1, 2013 in All about ME!, General
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The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2012 annual report for this blog.

Here’s an excerpt:

600 people reached the top of Mt. Everest in 2012. This blog got about 9,400 views in 2012. If every person who reached the top of Mt. Everest viewed this blog, it would have taken 16 years to get that many views.

Click here to see the complete report.

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