Podcast 4 will be up today!

Yes folks, Podcast 4 of Idiopinions will be available later today.

Meanwhile, here are some hints as to what we talked about.

• History of Video Games, link here: http://www.strategygamersworld.com/
• Linda Hamiltons last movie was not a lifetime movie (But a UK movie which is close) so I owe you 5 bucks...
• The coolest video game ever (According to Mike)
• Woof!
  
  Enjoy folks.

Something completely Random

I was on CNN.com today, when I looked at my task bar and saw the following:

Seems CNN is more then just world news...

News and ANAL... SWEET.

Dungeons and Dragons co-creator dies

Excerpt from CNN.COM

David Lance Arneson, who helped trigger the global phenomenon of role-playing games as co-inventor of "Dungeons & Dragons," has died at the age of 61.

A statement on the game's official Web site, wizards.com, said Arneson died Tuesday evening "after waging one final battle against cancer."

Arneson "developed many of the fundamental ideas of role playing: that each player controls just one hero, that heroes gain power through adventures, and that personality is as important as combat prowess," the statement said.

The game's co-creator, Gary Gygax, died last year.

In 1974, Arneson and Gygax created "Dungeons & Dragons," which allowed players to assume roles in a magical world. They could be fighters or wizards, elves or dwarfs.

"As characters journey through various lands, they search for hidden treasures while battling menacing monsters with their own brains and brawn," a description on wizards.com says.

Some games would last days or weeks -- or even longer. "Game campaigns are as limitless as the player's imaginations," wizards.com says.

What began as a hand-assembled print run of 1,000 games quickly sold out. Young people all over the world started buying up the game. By 1982, sales broke the $20 million mark.

SIDE NOTE: In the battle against cancer, not even David's Cancer Slaying Knife, with a +6 against cancer could defeat the ever powerful natural 20 dealt by the deadly fiend.


SIDE SIDE NOTE: David already announced from heaven, he is rolling up a new character, an elf names Hizzerbogs.

People for the elaborate tribulations of assholes.

Or as I like to call it, “are these guys and girls fucking retarded or what?‘
OK, let me say I am not for terrible treatment of animals. I eat meat but I don’t run around with a shovel smashing cats…. Any more.

Anyway, I think PETA (people for the ethical treatment of animals) has finally lost their minds… Recently they asked the musical group, Pet Shop Boys, to change their name to the Rescue Shelter Boys to bring awareness to the poor conditions of animals held in pet shops…

This after the recently files a campaign to change the name of fish to “Sea Kittens” in the idea that people would not like to sink a hook into something called a Sea Kitten.

Seriously? Are these people for real? We are a society that could give a rats ass what something is called, or even if it is cute, as long as we can eat it or get it cheap…

I think people need to realize a few facts about animals…
1, they are food in most cases.
2, if not for animal testing we would not have many procedures and drugs that save HUMAN lives everyday.
3, If they are not willing to stand up for themselves, raise an army, and attack the human oppressors, FUCK THEM.

The Pet Shop Boys declined to change their name but posted the note on their website to bring “awareness” to the plight of the animals… and to PETA… in all their retarded monkey madness.

Side note: RATT will be changing their name to “Cuddly Rodents.” That is if they ever book another gig on Planet Earth.

Breaking Wind

The land speed record for a “sail” driven vehicle was broken recently by the Greenbird, a fiber composite vehicle that clocked at 125 MPH on the dry desert beds of Nevada.

The Greenbird, driven only by wind power is touted as part sail boat, part airplane, and part formula 1 car, and proves there is an effective method to harness wind power…

Assuming road lanes are 15 feet wide, there is a strong breeze, and you never drive with more than yourself and a coke can…


Side Note: Where the hell do you park this… One good breeze and it will end up 20 miles from your house.

Death of a salesman

In a recent one man show, Kirk Douglas (92) , takes stock of his life, career, his stroke… and more…

The show, a retrospective, covers such heartwarming topics like when he changed his name, the birth of his children, and his expansive film work.

Following the show I had an opportunity to talk to Mr. Douglas. Here is an excerpt of the article which will appear later this month in IDIOT magazine.

Idiot: So now that you have wrapped your show, what are your thoughts about the performance?

KD: Who are you?

Idiot: Having reflected on your life, if you could go back in time and change a single thing, what would it be?

KD: I don’t know, maybe not have a stroke… Then I would not have to make the show less than an hour to avoid shitting myself.

Idiot: What are your plans for the future?

KD: What time is it? 11:30PM? I am going to go have breakfast. Tomorrow, maybe die… We will have to wait and see.

Idiot: Thank you for your time Mr. Douglas.

Things that make me cry

This is a segment I call, “Things that make me cry” episode 1

I can easily admit that there are some things that make me cry. I consider myself a man’s man… I work with my hands, did construction, love technology, war, tits, and more…

But all that said there are still some things that make me cry. To better know me, let me help you understand the things that make an Idiot cry: Episode 1

War movies – You can take every sappy moment in every romantic comedy and never get a single tear from my eyes… but show me a half dozen men in the thick of battle, knowing they may never live to see another day, and look at each other knowing the can trust in their comrades, fueled by dignity and honor… and I weep. This is why I love war films. In the middle of some of the most inhumane circumstances, we find the best of human nature.

Special Picks: - Black Hawk Down or Saving Private Ryan.

Moments of Great Sacrifice – It may be watching a heroic rescue by firefighters (I cried for 6 days straight post 9/11, drank some tea, then cried some more) but actual and fictional acts of great heroism touch me deep inside. I think part of it is that I want to believe that I had the capacity to make such s strong self sacrifice for others, but also secretly hope I am never tested in that regard. My emotional attachment to such moments span from a a gun shooting where a young athlete found a small child alone and scared, covered him with his own body, and took a bullet to watching the Iron Giant fly into a atomic bomb to save the town below, smiling as he did it as it made him feel like superman...

Irony: Vin Diesel is in two of the movies I mention above…

Shit, now I’m crying again.


Before I short out my laptop, here are a couple more “Made me cry moments”

The end of Star Trek II

The entire 6 hours of the Star Wars prequel trilogy (nope, not in a good way, more of a raped my youth way)

Baseball movies like Field of Dreams and The Natural… Mostly because I never got to know how it felt to have a game of catch with my dad… and it looked really nice… or so I have heard… from guys who’s dads did that when they where young… I just got to pull weeds…

Next time… An Idiots guide to dealing with Daddy issues!

I want to live in Texas

I swore I would never utter those words. To me and my totally biased distorted views, Texas is the birth place of “W”, the cradle of gun toting hicks, and the place from hence all evil springs eternal in America… OK maybe not all evil, let us not forget about Alabama…

But when I heard that a Texas theatre was going to show a classic trek film (THE WRATH OF KHAN) but instead inserted the new Star Trek Film instead, and lucky Trek fans where able to get a sneak peak 1 month early, I thought about joining the LONE STAR state.

It seems Leonard “SPOCK” Nimoy helped make the switch to see crowd reaction to the film and reward some true TREK fans…

The thing that bothers me as a Trek fan myself, is that they held this in Texas. Trek fans are all over the world and the best we could do was Texas?

My favorite quote from one moviegoer, “My pants melted off!” Now I know to “double Khaki” myself when I see it in May. Thanks Jeb.

The Coolest April Fools Ever!!!

As reported on AVClub.com. ThinkGeek.com creates the awesomest April Fools joke ever.

But sometimes even a good joke can backfire in unexpected ways, and that’s what happened to the wisenheimers over at ThinkGeek.com, who announced a fake product that it turned out everybody wanted.

Star Wars fans—and they are still legion, despite over 20 years of nonstop setbacks—fondly remember a sequence in The Empire Strikes Back on the planet Hoth, an arid wasteland characterized by deadly sub-freezing temperatures. In order to save Luke Skywalker from certain death, Hans Solo carves opens the dead carcass of a Tauntaun (described on the Star Wars “Wookieepedia” as an “omnivorous reptomammal” that the Rebel Alliance used for transport) with his Lightsaber and tucks his little buddy inside. Sure, it stinks to high heaven, but nestled under the Tauntaun’s thick skin and warm intestines, Luke is saved from a grim fate.

ThinkGeek’s April Fool’s joke was the unveiling of the Tauntaun sleeping bag, a plush replica of the beast featuring a “built-in embroidered Tauntaun head pillow,” “a glowing Lightsaber zipper pull,” and “the exact synthetic compounds needed to recreate Tauntaun fur.” Funny, right? Because who would want to sleep inside an animal’s smelly intestines? Answer: The many, many people eager to fork out $39.99, that’s who!

In response to the overwhelming demand for this made-up product, ThinkGeek has posted the following:

ATTN Tauntaun Fanatics! Due to an overwhelming tsunami of requests from YOU THE PEOPLE, we have decided to TRY and bring this to life. We have no clue if the suits at Lucasfilms will grant little ThinkGeek a license, nor do we know how much it would ultimately retail for. But if you are interested in ever owning one of these, click the link below and we'll try!

That link? http://www.thinkgeek.com/brain/email_bis.cgi?id=bb2e

I thought the Superman sleeping bag I had when I was 5 kicked ass. I totally want one of these!!!

With Love from me to you… Get the hell out of the Country.

There is debate over 650 miles of fence line from California to Texas meant to control illegal immigration from Mexico.

• Some say the fence only slows the influx of illegals, not stop it.
• Some say, we need reform, as the fence is causing illegal aliens to take more risk, potentially costing them their lives.
• Some say the fence does as it was designed...
  

So here is my two idiopinion cents.

For those who complain it has not stopped, can we please have a reality check? Border patrol already shows that areas along the fence line which used to have 300 illegal crossing a day are down to 10. Do we still have some folks getting across… sure. If you want something bad enough you will try even if it means getting past 3 layers of fencing. But let us not overlook progress. 300 down to 10 in 3 years. That’s progress!

If I was on a sinking ship with a huge hole, would I suspend sealing it as best as possible even if I could not prevent the slow leaks. YES I WOULD. That gives us more time to work on a permanent approach while trying to reduce and or control the epidemic flooding.

Reform? Yes, we need reform. But we do not need to just let the problem grow by exponential volume while we work toward reform. It is the difference between no action today for action tomorrow. I think we need to take certain action today to help us make better actions tomorrow.

Some folks are taking more risks and dying as a result? Why are we so concerned about what people will do, or what happens to them, when they are taking illegal action. Do we cry for the murderer who kills himself, or Madoff for stealing money… no we condemn them for breaking the law. You died trying to enter the country illegally? Sorry, maybe you should have stayed home and followed process (shitty as it may be).

I follow process. I follow the law, and I pay taxes. Why do illegal aliens deserve better treatment or leniency then I do.

I stress illegal by the way since I want it to be clear my argument is not about a specific ethnicity. If you are here legally, be it citizen or not, and are part of the system proper, pull up a chair and stay a while. I have no concern where you hailed from, where you come from, or where you are going. But if you are here illegally, then I have a boot to introduce to your ass.

I can barely afford healthcare for myself having paid into the system for decades, but I should worry about fair treatment for illegal aliens? If I break the law I get fined, go to jail, etc… Seems if you are a huge money losing company you get bailed out and if you are Illegal, you get amnesty.

Did someone forget the rest of us who ARE AMERICA!?

Side Note: Turn the border crossing into a game show like the Running Man, and use the proceeds to help fund making those fences electric.

When is a tax cut not a tax cut?

If you follow this Blog at all, you will know I was not, am not, and never will be a fan of McCain or legacy Bush league economics. I don’t just believe we need change, but 8 years of the same practically proves that anything would be better then “staying the course”

I was also a big supported of Obama during the election… but before the first 100 days is over, I am having a moment of pause regarding our 44th President.

I recall the famous line, “Read my lips, no new taxes” by a certain president who would later raise our taxes. So it should not be a surprise to anyone that what was said on the campaign trail does not often lead to actual policy.

I am also adult enough to know that things change in this country quickly. The needs and the nation shift often so what we said yesterday may not be as sound today as a strategy…
But all that said… there are some things happening now that shake my faith. I still want change… but some of these changes scare the crap out of me…

Obama calls for tax cuts for the middle class… This is good right? Less money being taken out of my check? A stimulus that delivers a little bonus each week (about enough to get a Happy Meal)..,

So maybe the stimulus is not so stimulating… but hey it’s not an increase right?

Well maybe not as far as some taxes are concerned, but the recent news of Obama supporting a plan to tax Health Care money provided by employers to their employees? How is this not a tax increase?

I am a simple Idiot so when I think of no tax increase, I see that as I do not have to pay higher taxes overall the I did last year based on my income which health care supplemented by my employer was not part of.

Now the 9000 I get towards my healthcare from my employer will be taxed… out of my pocket? Smells like an increase to me.

So is it any wonder when Billions are going to companies to bail them out, we the people are footed the bill, and in order to support new initiatives, we have to pay even more… that we the people are getting angry.

I am glad to have a job (for now anyway) and I want to help support those programs that help other taxpayers who have fallen on hard times but eventually we will be paying so much out of pocket we will have nothing left to help us help ourselves… and we become part of the system asking for bail outs…

Side Note: Soon as I get a bail out, I plan to give myself a bonus of 125 million dollars. Worked for AIG, why not DSF.

Global Warming a Myth

At least according to a 40 foot whale that was found on a Massachusetts beach FROZEN in the ice. The whale surfaced near the shore where it was frozen in place and succumbed to the elements.

When I asked Al Gore about the this tragedy he responded, “I am here to save the Earth, not some fat bitch who went swimming in freezing waters.”

When we informed him the [fat bitch] was in fact a whale…he replied, “I bet she was.”

Learning a thing or two from the Peters.

If you have not read the previous post below, you may want to first.

I spoke about America needing a wake up call still following the tragic suicide/murder of a man, wife, and 5 children.

After writing it I saw an article about someone else going through a rough patch. A man, wife and 3 children who have put everything they own (not the kids) on Ebay to raise money to cover medical bills for their children.

A seemingly average couple and average family willing to do anything to help their children and willing to give away all they have to make good on paying their bills and protecting their children.

The bad news, their stuff has not sold since people feel bad about buying the possessions of a struggling family. The good news they have received more then 10 grand in donations helping them get through this time.

I think these recent bail out business’ could learn something from the “average” folks. When down, good people help other good people. When dealing with “real” adversity and hardship, we do come together. When this particular family received these donations… these little bail outs… did they go buy a new TV or reward themselves with a bonus, new car, or even new cloths… NOPE! They paid down their medical bills and made good on thier debts as best they could.

They are the Peters Family and they should make Corporate American fat cats feel ashamed… If I thought Corporate American fat cats had any feeling at all that is.

Economic Stimulus too late for some.

There is not happy spin to this. No funny or ironic catch phrase.

In LA, a man killed his 5 children, wife, and then himself, despondent after losing his job and unable to find work. In his suicide note he speaks how he has failed to support his family, and that his wife and himself felt that ending their lives, and that of their children, was better then the hole they found themselves in.

OK, so I think it was an over-reaction. Having two children myself I know I would do anything before harming them for any reason. I would swallow any pride I may have and sacrifice all I have to protect them so there are clearly some other issues this man and family were dealing with that led them to this tragic end…

But it does make me think just how low many American’s are during this economic crisis. It make me furious to hear about a 400 million dollar bonus program that one company gave to it’s employees (about 400 employees to be exact, or just over a million each). Why does this outrage me? Well, this is one of the companies that was “bailed” out from the Bush plan. So tax payer money just lined the pockets of 400 folks with 1 million dollars. Lined the pockets of the very folks, who based on records, where the very same folks that were at the center of the huge losses of said company and required the bail out in the first place.

So we reward absolute negligence and stupidity with a million dollars, and bring the common man to his knees where he feels (right or wrong) that death is better then a broken life.

For as far as we may think we have come electing Barack Obama, we have a long way to go America.

What You May Have Missed

As we can all agree Tuesday was a historic event. Nothing I write here could possibly do it justice or convey the gravity of what has taken place. That being said I'm sure we've all watched the coverage of the Obama's entire day on Tues., from Breakfast to the Prom to when I'm sure they made sweet sweet presidential lovin. So here are a few headlines you may have missed from Tues.

Reuters: Entire South African Airways crew arrested over drug bust

BRITISH customs officers arrested the entire crew of a South African Airways plane after finding cannabis and cocaine in baggage at London's Heathrow airport, officials said.
The crew of 10 women and five men, including the pilot and stewardesses, was held after arriving on a flight from Johannesburg.

New York Post: HOT DOG OF WAR ON LI

What a bunch of wienies!
An East Hampton man who proudly adorns his back yard with a 6-foot statue of a smiling hot dog, said his neighbors' gripes are a bunch of baloney.
"I love it," Rian White, 53, said of the giant-size sausage, a 30-year-old antique.
White, who clutters his lawn with various artifacts, said he's been skewered by neighbors and town officials. The freakish frankfurter landed him in front of a jury in East Hampton town court, which gave him a pass on an illegal-signage rap, but convicted him Friday of five misdemeanors relating to his property upkeep. "I'm not a slob," he insisted. "I'm a collector."

Arizona Republic: Man arrested after exiting plane, walking on wing

An airline passenger was arrested at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport on Tuesday evening after opening an emergency door on a Delta Air Lines flight as passengers were exiting at a gate. As people were getting off the plane, the man opened an emergency door and walked out on the plane's wing. Police and federal authorities questioned the man.

Christian Post Reporter: Evolution Disclaimer Proposed for Miss. Textbooks

A Mississippi lawmaker has introduced a bill that would require textbooks to include a disclaimer describing evolution as a "controversial theory" and advising students to keep an "open mind" to other explanations for the origin of life.

The proposal, if enacted, would require the State Board of Education to include the 200-word disclaimer on the inside front cover of textbooks that include evolution topics.
"The word 'theory' has many meanings, including: systematically organized knowledge; abstract reasoning; a speculative idea or plan; or a systematic statement of principles," the opening paragraph of the bill states. "Scientific theories are based on both observations of the natural world and assumptions about the natural world. They are always subject to change in view of new and confirmed observations."
"This textbook discusses evolution, a controversial theory some scientists present as a scientific explanation for the origin of living things. No one was present when life first appeared on earth. Therefore, any statement about life's origins should be considered a theory," the proposal continues.
"Evolution refers to the unproven belief that random, undirected forces produced living things. There are many topics with unanswered questions about the origin of life which are not mentioned in your textbook, including: the sudden appearance of the major groups of animals in the fossil record (known as the Cambrian Explosion); the lack of new major groups of other living things appearing in the fossil record; the lack of transitional forms of major groups of plants and animals in the fossil record; and the complete and complex set of instructions for building a living body possessed by all living things."
The textbook disclaimer would end with the following advice: "Study hard and keep an open mind."

Well there's just a smattering of what else happened on Tues., All in all Tues. showed the country at it's best and as you've read above at it's dumbest.

So until next time, don't forget. "Study hard and keep an open mind."

Shave and a Haircut – 2 bits

A young man was sent home and ordered to remove a symbol of a star from his head (made via a clever haircut) because the 5 pointed star is considered a gang symbol. The young man, an A/B student was given the haircut for free by a local barber knowing the Mom could not afford it, and chose the design based on a “reach for the stars” theme the young man was affiliated with at school. (The image to left is not the actual image, I do not want GANG signs on my Blog!)

The haircut was altered so the boy could return to school.

The Boy was upset
The Mom was crushed… saying he should be able to wear what he wants and express himself.

That is where the story ended…. But it got me to thinking…

I am all about being able to wear what you want etc… but a see what the school means. Mommy may be upset her kid cannot wear a certain shirt or symbols, but I bet she would be even more upset if her A/B student got shot never having been part of a gang. It is sad we need to make compromise and sacrifice on how we express ourselves because someone else stupidly thinks it means something gang related.

On a side note, the Gang affiliated with the Star Symbol – The Shoot at the Stars Gang said they are pleased with the schools decision as the student is a major geek and would bring a bad rep to their symbol.

This is Idio-1 signing off.

PEACE!