The Largest Picture in the World

Over at Slashdot, they're running a post about the largest picture in the world, an 8.6 Giga Pixel photo of the "Parete Gaudenziana" a 16th century fresco. It's stunning to look at. You can actually zoom in to see the chips in the paint where it's starting to decay. For reasons that are obvious, I can't post the entire picture here. The image I have captured happens to be my favorite part of the piece -- the betrayal of Jesus. Not because of the content, but because it's the darkest, most bleak portion of the piece.

Check it out at the Haltadefinizione website. It loads pretty fast, provided you have Flash.

Whitney Houston (Remix)

Since Whitney separated from Bobby Brown, she's apparently improved by leaps and bounds. Here's Whitney Houston at a recent event. Link to article here.

I don't know what she's doing, but she should keep doing it. If that means keeping Bobby at arm's length, so be it.

Below left is a picture of Whitney a few years back, when she was still with Bobby. I've seen Halloween costumes that were less scary.

Video: My Chemical Romance "Welcome to the Black Parade"

The band My Chemical Romance intrigues me. Not because they are incredibly talented. I caught their performance at the MTV Music Awards and remember thinking: these guys sound just like Queen! Their stage presence is ultra-dramatic, almost new-glam. And their music is anthemic, like it should be played during coliseum sporting events.

What is with new bands, lately? It seemed like a giant practical joke when everyone of these newfangled emo chumps showed up to the awards show dressed in Edwardian clothes. I couldn't tell the difference between one band and the next. In any event, I like this song, for some odd reason.

Game: Dynasty Warriors V: Empires (PS2)

Okay, so I'm a Koei freak. I'll admit it. I'm not ashamed.

I love slashing and hacking through ancient chinese, enemy combatants as I run around with oversized clubs, swords, spears, fans, funny-looking yoyos, and even nunchaku. There's just something poetically cathartic about running around a battle field looking for enemy officers to face off against. And indeed, while the voice acting has gotten a little annoying at times (If I have to hear "Why isn't anybody protecting that base?!?" again, I will pluck out each of my eyebrows with an Epilady), and even though the AI is completely unchallenging, there's an element of fun to the strategy, especially when you play the games on higher difficulty settings.

Dynasty Warriors V: Empires is not a great game, by any means. What it is, is very addictive. You do the typical Dynasty Warriors thang, by hacking your way across the countryside, but there is the new goal of unifying China--easier said than done. Yes, it's difficult, and at times you swear the computer is cheating to defeat you. The Strategy element is perhaps more meaningful than the hack and slash in this game, for once.

In fact, the hack and slash has taken a step back here. Samurai Warriors, another Koei game (and a superior one, when it comes to the hack and slash), has advanced the controls further along than the Dynasty Warriors series can. Picking up this game, I felt like I had taken a step back in Koei's evolution. But Empires is still fun and worth owning, if you can get your hands on a used copy. I wouldn't buy it new. In fact, I wouldn't buy most Koei titles new, considering they're all pretty much the same. And to think, I'm actually a fan.

Sifted: 7/10

Game: Galactic Civilizations 2 (PC)

Ever since I picked up a copy of Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri, way back in 1999, I have been addicted to Space Strategy games. And though Alpha Centauri (SMAC) had a definite Scifi element, it really wasn't even about space strategy; not as much as games that have followed, anyway. When Alpha Centauri got tiresome, I moved on to Masters of Orion, like most gamer nerds. It was adequate, but lacked depth, compared to the original kingpin. Finally, after the disaster that was Masters Of Orion III, I thought the genre of space strategy was dead in the water. Fortunately, Stardock released Galactic Civilizations back in March of 2003, giving new life to a genre that was in severe need of a defibrillator. It was astonishing, and really did space strategy the way it was supposed to be done.

Finally, we arrive at the present, and Galactic Civilizations 2 is out. Though this was released back in February (and played through and put away), I recently downloaded the patch off the Stardock website and started playing again. I was pleasantly surprised to find the game has become more challenging, with several surprise additions to the story. The developers and fans have been busy cranking out a few mods on the website. It's definitely worth checking out.

Sifted: 9/10

I have to lower the score because of a few minor technical glitches. For a game that's so heavy on user interface interaction, there is a little to be desired in usability issues. All the pointing and clicking grows a little wearisome after a while. It would be great to be able to select multiple units like you can in most RTS games these days.

TV: America's Next Top Model (CW)

So, I haven't bothered entering the fray regarding this masterpiece of reality programming because it's just so obvious! America's Next Top Model (CW - Wednesdays 8/7c) is truly one of the best shows on TV these days, exploiting the very fabric of 2nd Generation Reality TV programming in such a way that it will be a cold day in hell before this show falls out of primetime. The formula is simple: put a bunch of cute wannabe models in a house and have them compete for cash and prizes. Not only is this appealing to female viewers, but to males as well. This is a show that has truly been designed to appeal to everyone. Even Twiggy is there, representing for all the old birds has beens!

Perhaps the best thing about this program is how these ladies are tied to contracts that extend beyond the production. Winning the title is not only good for the model, but undoubtedly benefits the show as well. It's a win win!

Already, we're seeing members of the cast doing spin-offs (Jay Manuel has a show on fashion, and Tyra Banks has her own talkshow).

Who doesn't like a bunch of petty, catty women, always on the verge of scratching each others eyes out? Especially when they're hot!

Sifted: 10/10

Note to Miss Jay: Lose the Flock of Seagulls hair. You don't look like a bird of paradise; you look like a turd with spikes clown in a headvice.

PS. So long, Brooke (bottom row, center). Sorry you missed your graduation to be on one of the best TV programs of your generation.

Stripper Pole for Kids

Okay, so Boing Boing beat me to it. But it's gotta be linked to because it's just too rich. [Tesco Condemned for Selling Pole Dancer Toy]

I especially love the looks of the frowning parents. This is definitely not one of their better family portraits.

If little McKenzie wants to be a stripper when she grows up, what gives you the right to kill her dreams, huh?

Correct me if I'm wrong, but is that some paper money and a garter belt? Wow.

How To Iron a Shirt Collar with a Hair Straightener

Lifehacker has long been one of my favorite blogs. One of their favorite things to do is present simple aids for living and something they call the MacGyver Tip, in which they use a peculiar method to solve a common problem. Today's post features How to Iron Shirt Collars with a Hair Straightener. Not only is it an ingenious solution, but I wonder why someone hasn't marketed a conventional hair straightener as a collar iron?

Recently, I discovered that using a hair dryer is an easy way to defog your mirror after a morning shower. Some people might consider it odd that it's taken me 35 years to figure this out, but I've never had much hair, and therefore, have never needed to use a hair dryer. That, and I'm not too bright, obviously!

A few years ago, while travelling with a young co-worker on an insurance sales gig, I showed him how to keep his clothes from wrinkling by hanging them in a steamy bathroom after a shower. He declared me a god from that day forward.

Toddler Gets Stuck in Vending Machine

Wasn't this in a movie?

[more]

Beautiful Umbrellas

Oregon natives don't use umbrellas. You can always tell who isn't from here when you see one being used.

But this lightning and gust-proof umbrella caught my eye. Produced by Gustbuster®, it's the kind of umbrella I would buy, were I some sort of wimp who couldn't handle the Oregon rain.

Hack the Vote!

The voting process is officially defunct. If the Democrats win, they'll say the election was hacked. If the Republicans win, they'll say it was stolen again. In a system so dependant on voting, in a country so advanced that we don't even have to show up to the polls, why can't we get it right?

One thing is certain, voting third party for non-important offices will insure an eventual overthrow of those in power. It's not about toppling the ladder; it's about taking the ladder out from under them.

Website: the Ultimate Revenge

Boyfriend gets revenge on the guy who slept with his girlfriend by posting this damning website. Inspiring!

Microsoft Sends Cake to Firefox Developers

Not to be overly cynical, but I wonder if the cake was filled with laxative?

Video: The Kings of Myspace - Rap Video

This is hilarious. "I get more underage p**** than Ryan Seacrest!"

List of the 10 Most Censored Countries

Check out the CPJ’s list of the “10 Most Censored Countries.” China, surprisingly, didn't make the list.

Hip-Hop Suckers Sip Ace?

Someone over at the Hip-Hop Game is breaking it down and giving us the 411 on Jay-Z's "Cristal Killer", otherwise known as Armand de Brignac, or "Ace" for short. Having never tasted the Champagne (and, in fact, having an aversion to Champagne, in general), I can't speak for its quality.

However, the product placement Jay-Z is executing seems to be suspicious. This stuff is obviously some cheap $40 rotgut that's been put in a shiny gold bottle with a nice logo on the front. It wouldn't surprise me if Jay-Z had partial ownership in the company, at this point.

The article does a good job of digging down into what's really going on with "Ace." According to the marketing materials, it's real big in France. But a few calls made to France and supposedly no one has ever heard of it.

Things that make you go hmmm?

Bottom line: Stick with Dom.

VS Battle: Hell's Kitchen vs. Top Chef

VS

In this week's VS. Battle we have two Reality TV giants: Hell's Kitchen in one corner and Top Chef in the other. Since Top Chef debuted last week on Bravo, it's time to bring this post back and remix it.

Like all Reality TV shows, each of these programs have positive and negative traits that make them variably appealing to different types of viewers. The real question is: which is better?

Hell's Kitchen (FOX) pits aspiring chefs against each other as they try to run a restaurant, all while being chastised and berated by master chef, Gordon Ramsay. Ramsay is nothing short of foul in his method of hurling insults, sometimes referring to chefs as "fat pigs" and "donkeys." He is nothing less than obnoxious, rude, cheauvanistic, pompous, arrogant and downright cruel. He does everything in his power to give Brits a bad name. Unfortunately, Ramsay's petulant tirades are one of the show's more appealing aspects, because Hell's Kitchen certainly doesn't do anything to showcase the food or the skills of the competitors. In the end, the winner is not the best cook of the bunch, but the most capable of taking abuse while prepping kitchen service. If the aspiring chefs on this show are taught anything about food, the viewers rarely see it. Sadly, the sole judging by Chef Ramsay leaves a lot to be desired, opening various opportunities for favoritism or worse, personal prejudism.

Problem:

• Challenges don't really change from week to week. The chefs merely engage in cooking for Hell's Kitchen, angering patrons, getting yelled at by Chef Ramsay, then being punished for their poor performance when they lose, or being inadequately rewarded when they win. This makes for tedious television after week four, when Ramsay's insults start falling on the deaf ears of everyone, including the competitors.
• This show seems to be pandering to the lowest common denominator. The sad thing is that Hell's Kitchen could easily be reproduced in any industry. All it takes is someone with a big mouth and 20 people willing to take his crap.
  

Top Chef (Bravo), on the other hand, features chefs of considerable skill and budding talent cooking their own dishes. This season's opener has thrown down the gauntlet. These people know how to cook! The focus here is the food, not the egotistical rantings of a solitary judge on a quest for better book sales. In fact, the presence of multiple judges makes for a more egalitarian selection when it comes to winners and losers. Where Hell's Kitchen is like a vile dictatorship, Top Chef is run like a true republic. When someone wins this show, they truly deserve it on the basis of their cooking talent. Challenges change from week to week, so by the end of the program, the viewer has been treated to seeing a cook's true repertoire. But the lack of a power-mongering troll on Top Chef doesn't take away from the dramatic flair or conflict here; in fact, this show is ten times more anxiety-inducing than Hell's Kitchen because of the spicy interrelationships of the competitors. Perhaps most importantly, this show is educational. Viewers are treated to looking at food in an entirely new way: namely, from the perspective of an educated consumer, or foodie. The sophisticated things being done with food will make you want to sign up at the nearby Cordon Bleu school.

Problem:

• Being on Bravo places this show in an unfortunate cable ghetto. One of the large networks needs to buy this one and put it on Primetime fast; clearly, Top Chef is better than most of the fodder that the networks have there currently.
• Watching Top Chef will make your mouth water. A viewer is repeatedly stricken with remorse as the show features demi-glazed lamb shanks or black truffles. Definitely watch this one after you've eaten your Big Mac and fries. Here's a link to this week's winning recipe! How cool is that?!?!
  

Winner: Top Chef

My XBox is Broken!

For the second time, my XBox has decided to defy me. Around 18 months after buying it, games started getting glitchy and freezing up on me. If I rented a newer game, the chance of it working was minimal. I cleaned the drive and checked all the connections; still, I was plagued by the nuisance that was unpredictable stops in gameplay. I did some research and discovered the problem stemmed from a cheap hardware issue. To put it simply, the disc drives in some consoles have a tendency to break. I wasn't the only person experiencing this problem, or the burden of an expired warranty. What bothered me most was how quickly it broke. I hadn't even put in 1000 hours of gaming, and already my disc drive was crapping out on me.

I went through all the pains of locating an ebay seller who could provide me with a new drive. I waited the week it took to deliver the item, then I went through the hassle of installing the drive (pretty simple, but annoying). Around this time, my fiancé was kind and loving enough to gift me with a PlayStation 2. That meant I had two consoles to play, and that I could divide the workload between them, respectively.

Now, it's been about 18 months, and my XBox is petering out, once again. Same problem. Games freeze up and die in the midst of my button-mashing madness, causing me to toss my controllers and break them too.

I expect hardware issues in consoles that have to clock my manic gameplay. Nevertheless, it's frustrating and, eventually, detrimental to the entire line of XBox games. Before, when I had the option, I would buy an XBox game before a PS2 game. Faster load times, better graphics, and the ability to play my own soundtracks kept me coming back to the XBox again and again. My PS2 was like an ugly stepchild, only getting attention from me when there were rentals to be played that were only available on its console.

Now things have changed. I am handicapped in a sense, and only able to review PS2 games until I get this resolved. What this means is Sony ends up getting my money by default. I am not a Sony fan. I tend to think they are more evil than Microsoft. Still, I have never had any hardware issues with my PS2 (crossing fingers). Not that playing on the PS2 is a bad thing. With releases like Bully and Okami, I have a few months of gameplay before me. While the XBox has pretty much abandoned its old console in favor of producing XBox 360 titles, the PS2 seems to be making a final full-court press.

I'm not sure which I want to get first: an Xbox 360 or a PS3. Way back, when I got my Xbox first, I remember cursing myself for buying a console that was second to market. The games were often painfully weak in comparison to the PS2's stellar releases. I told myself that next time around I would buy the first console to make it to market. I convinced myself that the state of the games themselves would make the decision for me the next time the opportunity rose to get another console.

I had a chance to get a 360 recently, but I had second thoughts. Would I be investing in shoddy hardware by buying the console relatively early? I mean, it hasn't even been out a year yet. And there have been several reports of problems with the hardware, yet again. None of this makes me want to shell out $400 for a new system. And frankly, $400 is the only option available. I wouldn't spend $300 for the hobbled version. It wouldn't even be fun, having to deal with load times, memory cards, and all that lameness that comes with not having an onboard hard drive.

So, for the time being, it's down to PS2 and PC game reviews. Sorry.

Maybe I can dream that some Microsoft exec will read my stellar game reviews and decide to send me a shiny new Xbox 360? Not that it would sway my judgement, one way or the other. Crap media and crap hardware will always be exposed on this site; it's a personal crusade. So maybe it would be a bad idea for Microsoft to send me a 360, after all. Because I wouldn't pull any punches, and I suspect the 360 is a punching bag just waiting to happen.

Game: Bully (PS2) and a Rockstar Retrospective

First off, $40 is not a bad price to spend for a brand new game. I happened to stalk it run across it at Target. Not sure if it was on sale or not; I snatched it up simply because I am an opportunist.

I have played many, many Rockstar games over the years. I played Grand Theft Auto back in 1998, when it was still 2D, having scored a pirate version in a Singapore tech mall for $5. That was not a good thing. I was turned off to the notion of playing a silly 2D maze game on a laptop. The subject matter was interesting, but it just wasn't that good, really. Grand Theft Auto probably wasn't that intriguing to me because I grew up in the ghetto. The notion of stealing cars and (later) beating up hookers just seemed stereotypical and tired to me. This spoiled my expectations of every release of GTA that followed for several years to come.

In 2000, Bungie released a game called Oni. Inspired by Ghost in the Shell, Oni was a mesmerizing 3rd person shooter that played like a fine piece of anime film and kept me up late for days. I remember seeing the Rockstar logo on the loading credits of the game. Okay, so maybe they deserved a second chance? It was the beginning of a long love affair with their products.

These are the Rockstar games I've played (in somewhat chronological order) and how I rate them:

• GTA - 4/10. Frustrating, ugly, pixelated 2D mess. This game stressed me out and turned me off to the entire series.
  
  
• ONI - 9/10. The only improvement they could have made with this game was to make it multi-player. This was one of the first games to truly entrance me. Now I'm like a junkie, always looking to match that initial fix to satisfy my addiction. This game was before its time. It illustrated what could be done when you merged great cinematography with excellent gameplay. To this day, few games ever reach this level of synergy.
  
  
• Midnight Club: Street Racing - 8/10. Not bad, for a first generation console racing game. Unfortunately, the difficulty level ramped up a bit too fast for me to really get into it, but I chalked it up to my own old age, rather than a flaw in the game. This was one of the first games to showcase street racing and an LA car culture sensibility. Many have imitated it since, but most have humorously failed--think SRS (Street Racing Syndicate), with its semi-pornographic, stripper cutscenes.
  
  
• GTA II - Not memorable. I remember picking this game up and hardly playing it at all. It seemed like just more of the same, stressful nonsense I had played last time, only with better graphics. Okay, so maybe I didn't give it a chance.
  

• GTA III - 9/10. Impressive, but beating up hookers and beating down gangsters with baseball bats left a lot to be desired. Still, the gameplay was a masterpiece.
  

• State of Emergency - 6/10. This felt like GTA, only more clumsy. I never got into it, though I was starting to appreciate the free-roaming elements and I distinctly remember enjoying the run and gun gameplay.

• Midnight Club II - 9/10. This really showed what the PS2 could do. Nothing could compete with this for sheer fun arcade racing ... until Need For Speed Underground, that is.
  

• Manhunt - 10/10. This is truly a masterpiece. I nearly went insane playing this in the dark. And though I could never get into beating up hookers with a baseball bat in GTA, I sure as hell did enjoy beheading racists in a junkyard with the razor wire. Who knew?

• GTA: San Andreas - 8/10. Okay, so this is a great game. Unfortunately, the racial stereotypes really started to grate on me. It became entirely evident that this was a game for which I was not the intended audience (being an educated minority male). Although I was not offended by it (and in retrospect maybe I should have been), it did make me oddly feel like an outsider. I mean, for the first time in a game, I had the opportunity to play a minority character, but at the same time I was being asked to play as if I were a white teenage male who was playing a minority character. Mindblowing.
  

• The Warriors - 6/10. Adventure Fighting. Excellent movie tie-in, but the fighting was a bit cludgy, and it got really repetitive way too soon. The marketing budget for this game could have probably paid to send every gang member in the country to college on a 4 year scholarship. Ultimately, I was disappointed.
  
  
• Midnight Club 3: Dub Edition Remix - 9/10. Arcade Racing. Fun beyond belief, but it did get a bit too challenging after a while. The soundtrack to this game is astonishing, but even it has limitations when it's trying to be everything to everybody. From Techno to Reggae, Hip-Hop to Punk Rock, this game has a little bit of everything and not enough of anything. Nevertheless, when I picked this up, I had no clue I would lose a month of my life.

And finally, we come to Bully, Rockstar's latest release, which has gotten a ton of bad press even prior to production. It was partially the bad press which has led me to buy this game, in fact.

I do not believe in censorship. Period. I especially don't believe in calls to ban a game before it has been played. My decision to buy this game brand new is almost entirely inspired by my desire to spite those same folks who would like to ban games, or blame any and all of society's ills on gaming. Not only do I find that mindset offensive, but I find it threatening to the fabric of our national identity.

So long as this is a free country, my intention is to give an unbiased opinion of the game based only on my experience with it, having played it through a couple of sittings. Because $40 may not be much money to most people, but it is to me, and I know most teens don't want to spend that money on a game that sucks.

Disclaimer: I haven't played through the entire game. Nor have I ever felt a decent review required a total walk through of a game. In general, you can tell within the first 5 hours if you will enjoy a game or not.

To put it bluntly, this game is good. It is definitely worth the money. I have only gotten through 10% of the game after 5 hours of playing. That translates to high replay value. Graphics are decent (not stunning), precisely what is to be expected from a PS2 title. Controls are nice, though not customizable. Fighting and skateboarding seem fairly intuitive, but I would have liked the ability to change my button configurations. That's just a basic expectation of a game these days, as far as I'm concerned.

Perhaps the strongest part of Bully is the incredible storyline. There are plenty of missions here, but you are always brought back to the schedule of attending classes (with plenty of time for mischief in between).

Unfortunately, there are a few negatives to consider:

1. Load Times - The game has to load every time you enter or leave a building. And the load times are horrendous. This is compounded by being on a PS2. Sad. Load Times (for a perfect game score from Propaganda Sifter) need to be minimal!
   
2. Some funky camera - Rockstar is great at giving us the free-range camera. Unfortunately, there are some minor issues with it this time around. There were several times when the camera became a nuisance in the midst of trying to run away from danger. One moment I'm behind the character, and the next I'm in front of him looking backwards. This, of course, is disastrous to a review score by this Propaganda Sifter.
3. Repetition - Okay, so 5 hours isn't a lot of time to invest into a game, but there are already elements of tedium starting to rise up in the gameplay. When a game becomes too much like a job, it ceases to be fun. This is the main reason why I hate The Sims series. But for people who are into micromanagement and resource re-allocation, this might be entirely their cup of tea.
4. Sub-par Art Design - Okay, so I'm supposed to believe this kid is 15 years old, right? So why does he look like he's 12? At one point, the Principal raises his hand and the poly count is so dreadful that it looks like he's wearing mittens!
   
5. Deja-Vu - Okay, so it's more of a pet-peeve than an actual flaw in the game. But at some point--if you are out of high school, that is--you will most likely start to feel disturbed by this game. There are moments that will seem familiar and maybe even a little uncomfortable.
   

Bully is an exercise in being able to replay your high school years, only this time it's more treacherous. If you are still in high school, you probably won't enjoy this game. The ethical and moral dilemmas the main character has to endure are ultimately more satisfying if you've had to make these decisions in the real world. Congratulations to Rockstar for giving us a game that lets us be who we want to be. If we want to be thugs, we have that choice. If we want to be nerdy, we can pursue that as well. The choice is up to us. And frankly, I'm glad I live in a country where I still have a choice to make those decisions. Ultimately, This might be a good game for teenagers to play. They have a chance to see the outcome of their own decisions, be they ethical or unethical, before they make them.

One thing is certain: this game is tame, compared to some of the other fare Rockstar has produced. Maybe it's time to lay off them and let them do what they do best? Because I'd really enjoy the chance to live out my fantasies of becoming a crooked politician, for once. I have a feeling Rockstar could pull it off, if anyone could.

Sifted: 8/10

Don't Be Alarmed - Time for a Change

As you can see, I'm playing with the new Blogger beta, which is wreaking havoc on my template. Unfortunately, I was getting tired of all the grays and wanted to add a little more color. I will gradually be adding to and changing the blog over the next few days. Please keep coming back. I will be posting as usual during the dreadful reconstruction.

Toyota Making Houses

I wonder if they'll last a few hundred years?

Clearly, there's something wrong with the world when a car manufacturer decides to make houses as a side project.

They are quite beautiful, though.

[Toyota Housing]

Damn funny survey feedback

I never got funny survey feedback when I was a teacher, but now I wish I had.

Carved Crayons

The beautiful carved crayons of Diem Chau.

Website: Secret Wall Tattoos

I've long been a fan of the Secret Wall Tattoos website. See what's hidden behind all that dreadful wall art. Truly enlightening.

An Excellent Halloween Costume

[Halloween Costume - What on Earth Have We Become?]

Nice.

Application: Broadcast Clipboard

Ever wanted to copy and paste from one computer to another? Historically, this would require you to email stuff across the office. Now, you can use this handy app to do the same thing, with less clicking or saving. Just fire up Broadcast Clipboard on both computers and it's ready to go. Text only, for now.

TV: Project Runway Shocker

First of all, this is clearly one of the best 2nd Generation Reality TV programs being produced. I'm not, however, certain that last night's finale did justice to the designers who didn't win.

Jeffery presented his work first. He had an awesome collection, granted, but it would seem it looked much better up close than from a distance. Some of the garments looked like they had been produced from curtains and tablecloths! Of course, the zipper work was immaculate, and some of the leather pieces he--ahem--created were truly admirable. There was a question that was brought up in the last show by his competitors of whether or not he had done all the stitching himself. And though the producers did an exhaustive accounting of his receipts, there was one item that remained questionable AND he went over budget by $200! To be frank, his $8000 collection did not look like it was worth that much. The theme of his collection was disjointed and it didn't even reflect his Rock and Roll spirit very well.

Uli's collection was perhaps the most surprising. She gets all her inspiration from her tropical environment in Miami (we've heard this 10 times before, on every previous show, in fact). Her whispy collection was at once youthful and beautiful. She got a little carried away with the hippy prints, which may have cost her the competition, but her cuts and stitching were clearly the best of the three. There was a certain creativity to her collection that the other three designers lacked. And her outfits were utilitarian as well. One could see her models in a number of different environments wearing what Uli created. Personally, I thought her outfits shined above the rest, and though I don't like her very much, I feel her collection was the strongest.

Laura presented her work, which was astonishingly beautiful, composed mostly of evening wear, with ornate, ultra-chic cocktail dresses. This collection actually had a theme, but it felt a bit antiquated, and old fashioned. I could see someone wearing these outfits in the 1930's or the 1950's. Not so much today. Although, celebrities on their way to the red carpet would be wise to contact Laura. Her collection looked like it was worth $30,000. Not bad on an $8,000 budget.

Finally, Michael, oh Michael.... His collection, much like Uli's, was chasing after this trendy Urban Safari theme. Uli did it ten times better, though. Michael, who was probably the most talented designer this season, proceeded to have a showing that flopped. Where Uli created elegant, airy pieces, Michael devolved into ghetto-fabulousness. Not only were his clothes a bit tight and hoochy, but he had the worst models of the bunch! These were clearly dresses made for strong URBAN women (or should I just say black women?) The skinny, pale, sad-looking models that strutted his stuff did it no justice whatsoever. His work was sexy and sultry, but the models couldn't make it look good. He needed a troupe of chicken-eating sisters to parade his gowns, instead he ended up with heroine-addled, bulimic, half-asleep chicken heads. And though he won the popular vote by the viewers (and even the crowd's approval at the show), his clothes were clearly not something the average white female could pull off without a few random implants.

Anyway, Jeffery won. Don't ask me why. Uli's collection made his look sophomoric. But oh well.

Project Runway 3 Finale Michael Knight

Oh no he didn't!

Laura Bennett Project Runway 3 Finale

Laura's elegant collection looked like it was worth ten times her budget.

Uli Project Runway 3 Finale

Uli's collection was sharp.

Project Runway 3 Finale Jeffrey

See for yourself. Jeffrey's collection is a bit scattered.

Hilarious Essay

If only I had such a bright student when I was teaching Writing in college. It would have made my year. I can't tell what's funnier: the egregious gangsta style of the writer, or the hilarious grading done by the teacher. Unbelievably, the dude got a D- ?!?!?!?

[The Story of Oedipus]

Dirty Car Art

A couple of weeks ago I linked to a story about graffiti being produced on dirty walls. This week, it would appear the trend has moved to painting masterpieces from dirty cars. These are truly inspiring.

Cleanser Looks Like Sports Drink

Over on Agenda, Inc. they have a story about how a number of people have accidentally swallowed a cleanser thinking it's actually a sports drink.

Just a couple of years ago, I saw a stack of this stuff in the Hillsboro, Oregon KMart (Don't ask. I was there on business). Anyway, this stuff was sitting in the middle of the aisle, low to the ground, not far from the toy section. I brought it to the attention of one of the managers, who became irate with me when I mentioned that someone might accidentally drink it by mistaking it for soda. He said: "Well, that stuff is in the cleaning section too!"

I told him, "Hey, it's not like I'm making a big deal of this to be a jerk. This is as much for KMart's protection as it is for the children who might drink it." Another manager clearly understood what I was saying and told me he would make sure to move the items right away. Not sure if it was ever done, but I like to think I may have saved some kid from internal chemical burns and possible death, nevertheless.

No Wonder Our View of Beauty is Distorted

An excellent time-lapse video of the before and after of a model at a photo shoot. [Campaign For Real Beauty Website].

Fox News Article About Clint Eastwood's "Flags of our Father"

Okay, so Clint Eastwood has made a movie about Iwo Jima called Flags of Our Fathers. Fox News just ran an article mentioning how this film lacks any black soldiers.

From the article:

"There are some caveats about Flags of our Fathers that can't be overlooked, and again I think they have more to do with Broyles' script than anything else.
First, there don't seem to be any black soldiers at Iwo Jima. Outside of Beach's character, it's an all-white American army. This is historically incaccurate."

Wow, talk about the pot calling the kettle black. Since when does Fox News promote anything at all having to do with diversity? Did O'Reilly suddenly become a black man overnight? Did I miss something?

And the Bubble Bursts

Here's a website called I am Facing Foreclosure that is written by a 24-year-old, wannabe house flipper. He went to a seminar, bought a bunch of houses (like 8 of them) with no money down, then he tried to flip them for a profit.

And he failed.

Now, he's 2 million in debt, facing jail time for lying about his income on the loan applications, and, of course, blogging about the ordeal.

Reading this is quite entertaining, but you can't help but wonder: what was he thinking?!?!?

Advances in Litter Box Tech

"Oh yeah, well when I was a kitten, I had to poop in the dark, freezing cold basement litter box!"

If only we'd had one of these back in the day, all fancy and stuff. Hell, if you turn it around, most people wouldn't even know it was a litter box.

More nifty pet products.

Glassy Metals: Material of the Future

From an article on Glassy Metals at Discover.com: "The first nation to achieve that happy state will boast greener, safer vehicles, better homes and buildings, more potent arms and sturdier defenses, more efficient industries, and even more successful golfers, batters, and tennis players."

This is truly amazing stuff. Imagine being able to turn anything that is normally made of plastic into steel. Now imagine if that item was actually stronger than steel and more lightweight.

If I had a million dollars, I would invest most of it in glassy metals today.

PDA's RIP

There's an article over on Ars Technica stating that Smartphones are leaving PDA's in the dust.

Of course, it's a little late to be making such a grand declaration. This would have been news if it had been written two years ago.

I own an Audiovox SMT-5600. Best Smartphone ever. It does EVERYTHING. I can surf the net, check email, listen to MP3's, take pics or video. Pretty much anything. That is, anything that doesn't involve making a decent call to someone without the call being dropped. Although, the carrier is probably more to blame on that than the phone.

The Executive Coloring Book

It's frighteningly funny. Even moreso when you realize it was written in 1961

[The Executive Coloring Book]

The Cartoon reads: "THIS IS MY SALES CHART. When the line goes up, I feel good. When the line goes down, I get gas. Color me green." This was probably the most tame of all the images! Most of them were hilarious.

Race, Just a State of Mind?

Man takes DNA test, discovers he's not black!

And Now for the Decline of MySpace

It was only a matter of time. To think, this trend didn't even last a year!

This makes me yearn for my orange tech vest, back in the days when trends actually meant something.

Link to "Some Youth Rethink Online Communications"

The Biggest Gainer

I would definitely tune in to a reality show that got together a group of anorexic models to compete and see who could gain the most weight within a month.

Any Hollywood Producers wanna shake us down for some more ideas?

Taco ToWn!

Sounds yummy!

Republican Spin Resembling Whirling Dervish Gathering

Puhleeze. Am I the only person insulted by the nature of this spin tactic trying to make Mark Foley look less evil than he really is? Regardless of whether it was all a joke that fell into the wrong hands, or whether the page was "supposedly" over 18 (and the IM's seem to contradict that theory), there is still a great deal of impropriety involved, along with some questionable behavior from several GOP members.

It shocks me that the GOP would stoop so low to try to protect one of their seats.

People who aren't insulted by this (and Matt Drudge for trying to pull the wool over our eyes), deserve to have a seat reserved for them in hell.

To review:

Mark Foley isn't responsible because:

• it was the priests who molested him as a child who caused all this!
• it was the alcohol that he never really drinks
• it was a practical joke that fell into the hands of the evil Democrats
• the guy he IM'd was over 18! Honest injun!
• everyone knew but no one did anything about it
• the Gay agenda is to blame, because all gays supposedly want to bugger little boys ... right?
• it was a terrorist tactic by Al Qaida to make the Republicans lose the elections
• Democrats have done so much worse during their time in power
  
• Bill Clinton did it!

Yes, if you believe any of this, you're downright stupid; an apologist for a government that has been led astray and corrupted. Yeah, I said it.

How many more kids should die for tax cuts for the rich?
How many more excuses will you make for the men who are raping your country?

Catfights Might Spell Doom for Paris

Okay, so I'm no psychic, but if Paris keeps "interacting" with other actresses like this, I can easily predict that she's gonna end up with a proverbial "cap in her ass."

Yes, you're hearing it here first: Paris will be dead at the hands of some angry, jaded screen actress before the end of 2007. Then, of course, she'll be immortalized, thereby forcing us to endure her likeness throughout eternity....

On second thought, if Paris pisses you off, please exercise restraint, people!

Video: Top Gear GM Highwire

A friend over at Xerox just pointed out this great Top Gear episode focusing on the new GM Hy Wire using the fabled skateboard and hydrogen technology. Come on, government! Get us some taxbreaks now!

Video: (NSFW) Futuristic Sex robotz - F**K The MPAA (RIAA & BSA)

Not safe for work (NSFW). Nerdcore hip-hop reigns supreme!

Even More Bollywood Madness

Yes, indeed, Hollywood is doomed.

Video: Little Superstar

I blogged about this the other day, but for some reason, the post never showed! This is really taking the internets by storm. If stuff like this keeps emerging from Bollywood, Hollywood will soon be doomed!

Wonderful Wine Wheels

I can't drink wine, but here's a great site featuring some wine wheels with excellent information. Great for wine snobs and those who are just curious.

The Fart Heard Round the World

Oh, the sheer courage of the individual! Man farts disdain for Polish leadership. If we did it here, would it be considered freedom of speech?