If I have a go to channel, this is one of them. It's been on and off with videos over the past year, but I'll see what they do. For farfromsubtle, I remember them way back.
We're talking 2006, 07. Literally when they first started with their Awesome Video Games show, which was a parody of the 80s and 90s video game shows. It would take a while to load due to slow Internet, but they were very short. Whether it was YouTube or ScrewAttack, loading the videos was a hassle. Then somewhere around 08 or so, I stopped watching them. I think I just lost interest, but not because I didn't care.
What got me back into them was when they did a tribute to the late Harold Ramis and the various films he worked on. My brother showed me the video and then I started looking at other videos from them. A lot changed in five, six years. They were doing a lot of modern games with another show, and fixated on what is going on with the industry. An example of a channel also that does stuff via Twitch and then the content to YouTube.
I would say they are mostly tolerable. At least the reactions aren't forced when they play through games. And one thing I'd give credit is trying out more than the big name titles. Watch some of their four player game videos. It gives me the college vibe of playing games with others and getting very competitive. The cursing does get a little excessive, but it's not fully deliberate. They're not following.
What farfromsubtle should do is keep doing what they are doing. It may not get them every user, but what they have done the last 10 years is something to be pleased in accomplishing.
Monday, September 30, 2019
Friday, September 27, 2019
Thursday, September 26, 2019
Jealousy Worth Killing?
You hear jealousy stories. Most times, it's not like this situation like that Long Island teen from last week. Walks a girl from school to make a guy she used to date jealous. It shouldn't escalate to a stabbing a mall, but it did. And the other peers that witnessed didn't do a fucking thing. A number of them recorded the stabbing and witnessed the kid die.
While I hope there is justice for the victim, I hope there is a lot of regret from the ones who recorded. Anytime a major incident happens, people just pull out their phones and record instead of being good Samaritans. They are the Kramer of this (watch The Finale episode of Seinfeld to understand what I mean). I don't know if intervening would get themselves in trouble, but I wouldn't think it would. They could have kept the victim from dying, but instead, go for their 15 minutes of fame in hope attracting people to their YouTubes, Facebooks, and Instagrams.
I hope it was worth it for the recording ones. Because they are a problem with society.
While I hope there is justice for the victim, I hope there is a lot of regret from the ones who recorded. Anytime a major incident happens, people just pull out their phones and record instead of being good Samaritans. They are the Kramer of this (watch The Finale episode of Seinfeld to understand what I mean). I don't know if intervening would get themselves in trouble, but I wouldn't think it would. They could have kept the victim from dying, but instead, go for their 15 minutes of fame in hope attracting people to their YouTubes, Facebooks, and Instagrams.
I hope it was worth it for the recording ones. Because they are a problem with society.
Tuesday, September 24, 2019
Rambo: Last Blood Review
Do people change? Some do. If you're John Rambo, you can't always escape the hell you've been dealing with for 50 years. Especially when it hits close to home. Last Blood seems like it has reached the end of what Rambo can do in his life without involving military personnel. Personally, it's a step above the 08 film and III. Roughly equal with the second film, but not as good as the first.
Rambo lives life in Arizona on his ranch and takes care of his niece, Gabrielle. Before heading to college, she wants to know more about her life and her father, who lives in Mexico thanks to help from a friend of hers. He refuses to let her go over the border, but she defies him. Similar to the missionaries in the 08 film, things go real bad with the Mexican cartel and she gets captured in the process. It leads to Rambo putting together a plan to save her and get back at the cartel.
As far as plot goes, it reminds me of a bit of III since it is a bit personal to Rambo. Gabrielle is Trautman in this situation and he gets help in this movie from journalist Carmen and Gabrielle's friend, Gizelle. I don't know what other routes they could have gone with. It's stretching thin on other places you can have him go to. It's not military, but Mexico does have its issues. Consider the drug wars. Central America in general, which is what I imagine the film was inspired about.
The series has had Rambo go through various moments of pain and torture. One scene was one of the more brutal moments, though not as severe as the 08 film. Some parts involving drugs being injected might make you squeamish, but nothing too shocking. Like the last few sequels, it moves at a brisk pace and the music is used to full effect very well along with the cinematography that helps set the mood for the drama and tension that is seen in the film. It is a suspenseful and thriller, similar to the first one. Like the second film and the 08 one, it saves a lot of its action for last.
Part of me thinks of various projects. It makes me think a little bit of Taken, although the plots are a little different. Without spoiling, the end of the film, I get a vision of if The A-Team was a lot more adult with their gadgets and traps. But I also see a bit of the guerrilla warfare tactics at points in the film, very similar to some scenes in the first two films.
I don't think the film is a message regarding politics. That being said, it does seem like there weren't multiple ideas on where you can have Rambo be. It can be a little gruesome, and I would advise on having somewhat of a strong stomach. Last Blood is a decent way to end the series of movies on a note that isn't as bad as III an the 08 film. Would I recommend seeing it in theaters? I don't know. Depends on how you feel. I see it as a good film, but your mileage may vary.
Score: 7 out of 10
Rambo lives life in Arizona on his ranch and takes care of his niece, Gabrielle. Before heading to college, she wants to know more about her life and her father, who lives in Mexico thanks to help from a friend of hers. He refuses to let her go over the border, but she defies him. Similar to the missionaries in the 08 film, things go real bad with the Mexican cartel and she gets captured in the process. It leads to Rambo putting together a plan to save her and get back at the cartel.
As far as plot goes, it reminds me of a bit of III since it is a bit personal to Rambo. Gabrielle is Trautman in this situation and he gets help in this movie from journalist Carmen and Gabrielle's friend, Gizelle. I don't know what other routes they could have gone with. It's stretching thin on other places you can have him go to. It's not military, but Mexico does have its issues. Consider the drug wars. Central America in general, which is what I imagine the film was inspired about.
The series has had Rambo go through various moments of pain and torture. One scene was one of the more brutal moments, though not as severe as the 08 film. Some parts involving drugs being injected might make you squeamish, but nothing too shocking. Like the last few sequels, it moves at a brisk pace and the music is used to full effect very well along with the cinematography that helps set the mood for the drama and tension that is seen in the film. It is a suspenseful and thriller, similar to the first one. Like the second film and the 08 one, it saves a lot of its action for last.
Part of me thinks of various projects. It makes me think a little bit of Taken, although the plots are a little different. Without spoiling, the end of the film, I get a vision of if The A-Team was a lot more adult with their gadgets and traps. But I also see a bit of the guerrilla warfare tactics at points in the film, very similar to some scenes in the first two films.
I don't think the film is a message regarding politics. That being said, it does seem like there weren't multiple ideas on where you can have Rambo be. It can be a little gruesome, and I would advise on having somewhat of a strong stomach. Last Blood is a decent way to end the series of movies on a note that isn't as bad as III an the 08 film. Would I recommend seeing it in theaters? I don't know. Depends on how you feel. I see it as a good film, but your mileage may vary.
Score: 7 out of 10
Rambo Series Thoughts Part II
Part II with the last two movies prior to Last Blood.
Rambo III's story is a lot more simpler. Colonel Trautman is captured after trying to help the rebels in Afghanistan against the Soviets. He tried to get Rambo to help, but he refused. When the capturing happened, Rambo decides to save his mentor from torture and possible death. Out of the entire series, it has the most action and it has a good pace between having the dramatic moments and then squeezing in some action here and there. The cinematography made great use of lighting and the script is decent.
That being said, it is very over the top. A lot more than the second film. With all the stuff Stallone made Rambo do, I wonder how much of it tried to imitate or take over Schwarzenegger for ridiculous action. The amount of one man army gunplay and set ups to kill the enemy is a lot to swallow. There isn't much use to the guerrilla warfare, but a lot more of the arrows and knife kills. One thing before I forget is the soundtracks done by Jerry Goldsmith. The first three films have similar motifs and themes, They work very effectively and add to the tones of the movies. As a whole, Rambo III is the weakest of the bunch and the one I would more than likely skip if I want an action film from the series.
Score: 6 out of 10
Twenty years later came a new film in the series, simply named Rambo. Living life in Thailand, where it was actually filmed, Rambo leads a quiet life and after some begging, reluctantly agrees to take a Colorado missionary group to Burma to help villagers. It goes sour very quick after he drops them off, which leads to him and a mercenary group a couple weeks later doing a rescue mission. As far as story goes, it's as simple as the third. Not to mention it is a lot more grounded in reality without being as ridiculous as III and not having any cheese like the second one. It is very gritty and some of the shots, I hope some of you have strong stomachs.
This is a very gruesome movie. It doesn't have a lot of action and it's more along the line of the second film, though less action. I wouldn't be surprised at how that part of the world is. There are places where civil war is still a big issue. The first half is about the drama and the missionaries, where as the second half starts the rescue and the action, which is mostly reserved for the last 20 minutes. The pacing is very quick and you get to see some drama and a new composer taking over with new music that is different but fits the film to full effect.
I don't have too much else I can say with 08 Rambo. Less cheese is a good thing and I would watch this instead of III. That being said, the second film I would put above it just because it didn't go that overboard in its kills. I don't mind it in its own ways. Not a great movie, but not as bad as the third.
Score: 6.5 out of 10
Rambo III's story is a lot more simpler. Colonel Trautman is captured after trying to help the rebels in Afghanistan against the Soviets. He tried to get Rambo to help, but he refused. When the capturing happened, Rambo decides to save his mentor from torture and possible death. Out of the entire series, it has the most action and it has a good pace between having the dramatic moments and then squeezing in some action here and there. The cinematography made great use of lighting and the script is decent.
That being said, it is very over the top. A lot more than the second film. With all the stuff Stallone made Rambo do, I wonder how much of it tried to imitate or take over Schwarzenegger for ridiculous action. The amount of one man army gunplay and set ups to kill the enemy is a lot to swallow. There isn't much use to the guerrilla warfare, but a lot more of the arrows and knife kills. One thing before I forget is the soundtracks done by Jerry Goldsmith. The first three films have similar motifs and themes, They work very effectively and add to the tones of the movies. As a whole, Rambo III is the weakest of the bunch and the one I would more than likely skip if I want an action film from the series.
Score: 6 out of 10
Twenty years later came a new film in the series, simply named Rambo. Living life in Thailand, where it was actually filmed, Rambo leads a quiet life and after some begging, reluctantly agrees to take a Colorado missionary group to Burma to help villagers. It goes sour very quick after he drops them off, which leads to him and a mercenary group a couple weeks later doing a rescue mission. As far as story goes, it's as simple as the third. Not to mention it is a lot more grounded in reality without being as ridiculous as III and not having any cheese like the second one. It is very gritty and some of the shots, I hope some of you have strong stomachs.
This is a very gruesome movie. It doesn't have a lot of action and it's more along the line of the second film, though less action. I wouldn't be surprised at how that part of the world is. There are places where civil war is still a big issue. The first half is about the drama and the missionaries, where as the second half starts the rescue and the action, which is mostly reserved for the last 20 minutes. The pacing is very quick and you get to see some drama and a new composer taking over with new music that is different but fits the film to full effect.
I don't have too much else I can say with 08 Rambo. Less cheese is a good thing and I would watch this instead of III. That being said, the second film I would put above it just because it didn't go that overboard in its kills. I don't mind it in its own ways. Not a great movie, but not as bad as the third.
Score: 6.5 out of 10
Monday, September 23, 2019
Rambo Series Thoughts Part I
For today and tomorrow, I want to give my thoughts on the series of Rambo films that have been around since 1982. Today will be my thoughts on the first two films and tomorrow the last two and the one that just hit theaters. Let's get cracking.
First Blood had a lot of trouble getting made as a film before releasing in the fall of 82. I can't say much for the book since I have never read it, but I've heard of the changes made to it. Some of it done by leading man Sylvester Stallone. Despite that, it's the best of the series. It's more along the line of a suspenseful and survival movie. Rambo will do anything to survive and get rid of Sheriff Teasle and the rest of the Hope, Washington cops. And this comes after constant harassment from Teasle and the effects of being in Vietnam and various torture with PTSD coming when the cops want to shave him.
It's well crafted. Great cinematography for the 80s that makes it feel like it could be filmed from any era. A nice showcase of Rambo living off the land during his fight for survival. Stallone is excellent as the character. Add in solid performances from Richard Crenna as Colonel Trautman and Brian Dennehy's Teasle, who both create excellent drama with their clashes in how things should be handled, and you got one of the great movies of that decade. It is a little ridiculous at the end, but you can't blame Rambo for wanting to wreak havoc and get back at them. But the end dialogue is something you don't expect for that era of action heroes. The must watch film of the series.
Score: 8 out of 10
Now, First Blood Part II. Rambo is given a chance for freedom by participating in a mission to find POW's in Vietnam. A pardon may be made for him. With help from Trautman and stationed military guys in Thailand, he finds himself in a different kind of era of war. However, things don't go as smoothly and when the mission backfires, he must use whatever methods to escape and accomplish the mission at hand. I don't think this movie is that bad. Not as good as the first, but I don't see it as being that ridiculous compared to Commando or other Schwarzenegger action films.
It saves a lot of its action for the last 20 minutes when Rambo goes nuts and takes matters into his own hands to free the POW's. But it feels like two movies. The first half is a basic military film with redemption and a little action. Then the second half has some thrilling and suspenseful moments that ultimately becomes a popcorn flick action film. Some cheese, but it's not that over top. There is a love that feels a bit forced and the plot might confuse viewers. It's a very quick film that gets from point A to point B very fast without having additional storylines. The showcase of Rambo's ability to survive is not the greatest, but it has some stuff like resisting torture and using some of his guerrilla warfare. Out of the sequels, it's the best of them. It's just a matter of how much you can handle the cheese and action towards the end.
Score: 7 out of 10
First Blood had a lot of trouble getting made as a film before releasing in the fall of 82. I can't say much for the book since I have never read it, but I've heard of the changes made to it. Some of it done by leading man Sylvester Stallone. Despite that, it's the best of the series. It's more along the line of a suspenseful and survival movie. Rambo will do anything to survive and get rid of Sheriff Teasle and the rest of the Hope, Washington cops. And this comes after constant harassment from Teasle and the effects of being in Vietnam and various torture with PTSD coming when the cops want to shave him.
It's well crafted. Great cinematography for the 80s that makes it feel like it could be filmed from any era. A nice showcase of Rambo living off the land during his fight for survival. Stallone is excellent as the character. Add in solid performances from Richard Crenna as Colonel Trautman and Brian Dennehy's Teasle, who both create excellent drama with their clashes in how things should be handled, and you got one of the great movies of that decade. It is a little ridiculous at the end, but you can't blame Rambo for wanting to wreak havoc and get back at them. But the end dialogue is something you don't expect for that era of action heroes. The must watch film of the series.
Score: 8 out of 10
Now, First Blood Part II. Rambo is given a chance for freedom by participating in a mission to find POW's in Vietnam. A pardon may be made for him. With help from Trautman and stationed military guys in Thailand, he finds himself in a different kind of era of war. However, things don't go as smoothly and when the mission backfires, he must use whatever methods to escape and accomplish the mission at hand. I don't think this movie is that bad. Not as good as the first, but I don't see it as being that ridiculous compared to Commando or other Schwarzenegger action films.
It saves a lot of its action for the last 20 minutes when Rambo goes nuts and takes matters into his own hands to free the POW's. But it feels like two movies. The first half is a basic military film with redemption and a little action. Then the second half has some thrilling and suspenseful moments that ultimately becomes a popcorn flick action film. Some cheese, but it's not that over top. There is a love that feels a bit forced and the plot might confuse viewers. It's a very quick film that gets from point A to point B very fast without having additional storylines. The showcase of Rambo's ability to survive is not the greatest, but it has some stuff like resisting torture and using some of his guerrilla warfare. Out of the sequels, it's the best of them. It's just a matter of how much you can handle the cheese and action towards the end.
Score: 7 out of 10
Sunday, September 22, 2019
Implication of Strikes 2019
I would have wanted to make a blog of something better, but when you have a dipshit umpire in Joe West, what can you do?
It's not a surprise if you are into baseball, and seeing some of my thoughts on the worst umpires my thoughts on West. But it's September. The way he screwed the Astros last year and the Yankees right now, it's sad that the Umpires Union keeps him working. How many more chances is the league going to give him? I know he's been in the league for well over 30 years, but MLB needs to put him in his place. More than just a simple suspension.
Now, the fear I have is whenever West calls behind the plate or makes that critical decision that determines a team's fate. In an age of social media and a lot more emphasis on instant replay and reviews, making that huge mistake and hearing about it spreads a lot quicker than they realize. I hope for his sake, he doesn't become the next Denkinger. Otherwise, that big mistake come playoff time will become something that gets louder each passing year until he retires.
It's not a surprise if you are into baseball, and seeing some of my thoughts on the worst umpires my thoughts on West. But it's September. The way he screwed the Astros last year and the Yankees right now, it's sad that the Umpires Union keeps him working. How many more chances is the league going to give him? I know he's been in the league for well over 30 years, but MLB needs to put him in his place. More than just a simple suspension.
Now, the fear I have is whenever West calls behind the plate or makes that critical decision that determines a team's fate. In an age of social media and a lot more emphasis on instant replay and reviews, making that huge mistake and hearing about it spreads a lot quicker than they realize. I hope for his sake, he doesn't become the next Denkinger. Otherwise, that big mistake come playoff time will become something that gets louder each passing year until he retires.
Friday, September 20, 2019
Thursday, September 19, 2019
Trust Farmers?
It might be a bit cooler now, but be aware of how potentially bad this upcoming winter might be.
I kind of buy into the Farmer's Almanac. I do feel like we are going to see a winter like it was a couple years ago with plenty of snow even as spring began. A gut feeling. That's what the Almanac is saying, but hard to tell.
I buy more into the temperatures. Frigid stuff is bad enough, but when it gets everyone sick because they don't bundle up? That's another thing. You can do all you want to protect yourself with tissues and other ways to beat the cold, but a bug spreads very quickly. I'm anticipating days where I'm downing Nyquil severe night medicine for a few days to feel much better.
What do you think? Does the Northeast have as bad a winter as the Almanac says? What about the places you live in?
I kind of buy into the Farmer's Almanac. I do feel like we are going to see a winter like it was a couple years ago with plenty of snow even as spring began. A gut feeling. That's what the Almanac is saying, but hard to tell.
I buy more into the temperatures. Frigid stuff is bad enough, but when it gets everyone sick because they don't bundle up? That's another thing. You can do all you want to protect yourself with tissues and other ways to beat the cold, but a bug spreads very quickly. I'm anticipating days where I'm downing Nyquil severe night medicine for a few days to feel much better.
What do you think? Does the Northeast have as bad a winter as the Almanac says? What about the places you live in?
Wednesday, September 18, 2019
Lethal Vape
I don't smoke. Let's get that out of the way first. But about half the staff I work with at my job does. Most are your typical cigarette ones. One does cigars, and a few do vaping. The few that vape should be worried.
Maybe there is something in the vapes that makes it a lot stronger than a cigarette. Sure, there's trying to cut back on nicotine, but my gut tells me it has to do with the chemicals to make it. Electronic smoking is a thing as well, but I think that's a fad that's slowly dying out. With the number of people dying from it and the illnesses associated with it, it's going beyond panic to figure out the problem with vaping.
It should be clear to not deal with people outside of legal stores that allow vaping stuff. I would hope some don't go overboard in how much they vape. That could be a reason for collapsed lungs. But how much the government will intervene, I don't know. It's very strong right now as they want vapers to be aware of what they are vaping. I would hope also that they don't charge high prices. That won't solve anything.
Might be a new era, but same shit, different day.
Maybe there is something in the vapes that makes it a lot stronger than a cigarette. Sure, there's trying to cut back on nicotine, but my gut tells me it has to do with the chemicals to make it. Electronic smoking is a thing as well, but I think that's a fad that's slowly dying out. With the number of people dying from it and the illnesses associated with it, it's going beyond panic to figure out the problem with vaping.
It should be clear to not deal with people outside of legal stores that allow vaping stuff. I would hope some don't go overboard in how much they vape. That could be a reason for collapsed lungs. But how much the government will intervene, I don't know. It's very strong right now as they want vapers to be aware of what they are vaping. I would hope also that they don't charge high prices. That won't solve anything.
Might be a new era, but same shit, different day.
Monday, September 16, 2019
Horror and Revenge
If I'm a studio, I'm looking at STX and Warner Bros right now. The former just did well for an opening weekend and the latter continues to carve a path to it's own slice of horror competing with Blumhouse Productions.
STX has produced a lot of films over the last five years. They are that kind of that third pillar, but they are able to find success whether it's nominations or just having modest budget movies that make four to five times its budget. This Hustlers film that just came out has already made its budget and did so in grand fashion. This is why you need smaller companies and studios. They provide a different outlet of films compared to your run of the mill Disney and Universal material.
Now Warner has gotten its horror groove on with the newest It movie and it has been on a warpath these last two weekends. When I first talked about the first one from a couple years, I made the notion that people want a legit horror film. While it didn't kickstart that, it is still true. Last year was Halloween being the talk of the town. There's also all those Conjuring movies, Purge, and a handful of other movies. I don't think we've reached a peak yet for this latest trend of horror movies. I'd continue riding that train until the genre tires out everyone, which I think is going to be a good while.
Ain't it good when non-Disney properties lead the way?
STX has produced a lot of films over the last five years. They are that kind of that third pillar, but they are able to find success whether it's nominations or just having modest budget movies that make four to five times its budget. This Hustlers film that just came out has already made its budget and did so in grand fashion. This is why you need smaller companies and studios. They provide a different outlet of films compared to your run of the mill Disney and Universal material.
Now Warner has gotten its horror groove on with the newest It movie and it has been on a warpath these last two weekends. When I first talked about the first one from a couple years, I made the notion that people want a legit horror film. While it didn't kickstart that, it is still true. Last year was Halloween being the talk of the town. There's also all those Conjuring movies, Purge, and a handful of other movies. I don't think we've reached a peak yet for this latest trend of horror movies. I'd continue riding that train until the genre tires out everyone, which I think is going to be a good while.
Ain't it good when non-Disney properties lead the way?
Saturday, September 14, 2019
20 Concussions... For Real?
I don't know about this. I really don't know.
If you have 20 concussions, wouldn't there be big health risks, regardless of how old you are? At some point, when does someone say enough is enough? Maybe that's why Rob Gronkowski is retired. Beyond leg issues, the fact that he has sustained that many concussions in his life is terrifying. To reveal that on national television is beyond stunning as well. Having one or two is enough for some to quit. Guys like Steve Young and Troy Aikman, albeit different positions, have had their careers end because of that kind of injury.
I'd like to see New England and the NFL answer questions to all this. Everything is a calculated risk with whoever you get, but if he had a lot of concussions before entering the league, were they willing to let him continue on or did they let him just play the way he always played? In the end, it paved well, but at some point, the costs could outweigh the positives. Hopefully Gronkowski doesn't go nuts beyond the party animal act he does.
If you have 20 concussions, wouldn't there be big health risks, regardless of how old you are? At some point, when does someone say enough is enough? Maybe that's why Rob Gronkowski is retired. Beyond leg issues, the fact that he has sustained that many concussions in his life is terrifying. To reveal that on national television is beyond stunning as well. Having one or two is enough for some to quit. Guys like Steve Young and Troy Aikman, albeit different positions, have had their careers end because of that kind of injury.
I'd like to see New England and the NFL answer questions to all this. Everything is a calculated risk with whoever you get, but if he had a lot of concussions before entering the league, were they willing to let him continue on or did they let him just play the way he always played? In the end, it paved well, but at some point, the costs could outweigh the positives. Hopefully Gronkowski doesn't go nuts beyond the party animal act he does.
Friday, September 13, 2019
Thursday, September 12, 2019
Defying MLB: Mets Tribute
What is normal? That was a question in 2001 following terrorist attacks on September 11th. For New York City, baseball and football was an afterthought. But when play resumed a week later, you have to wonder what players were feeling. Fast forward to yesterday, and Peter Alonso may have become THE player to talk about for New York City and sports.
Even though he grew up in Florida, he put up a special thought for last night's game against the Arizona Diamondbacks. That result was cleats in tribute to the victims that died in the attacks. He didn't even bother to ask MLB for permission. The league rejected an idea of wearing special NYPD FDNY hats, which is really stupid. While it may not be something other teams would do, it means something if it's a team like the Mets. And at the time baseball resumed in 01, both them and the Yankees had special moments, beginning with Mike Piazza's emotional game winning home run at Shea Stadium's first game since the attacks.
MLB doesn't understand how much it means to the Mets and Yankees. They say they won't fine Alonso, but I'd hold on and wait because they can fine him behind his back. This guy has done everything right in his rookie year and could win the award this year. His 47 homers are the majors best at the moment. He's done great things for charities and seems like an all around nice guy. But what he did yesterday will be extra special to the Mets and New York City. You can't go wrong with him. He is the next gen superstar that the Mets need to rival guys like Aaron Judge.
Even though he grew up in Florida, he put up a special thought for last night's game against the Arizona Diamondbacks. That result was cleats in tribute to the victims that died in the attacks. He didn't even bother to ask MLB for permission. The league rejected an idea of wearing special NYPD FDNY hats, which is really stupid. While it may not be something other teams would do, it means something if it's a team like the Mets. And at the time baseball resumed in 01, both them and the Yankees had special moments, beginning with Mike Piazza's emotional game winning home run at Shea Stadium's first game since the attacks.
MLB doesn't understand how much it means to the Mets and Yankees. They say they won't fine Alonso, but I'd hold on and wait because they can fine him behind his back. This guy has done everything right in his rookie year and could win the award this year. His 47 homers are the majors best at the moment. He's done great things for charities and seems like an all around nice guy. But what he did yesterday will be extra special to the Mets and New York City. You can't go wrong with him. He is the next gen superstar that the Mets need to rival guys like Aaron Judge.
Wednesday, September 11, 2019
Modern Warfare Reboot Feelings
After Call of Duty: Ghosts, I stopped playing the series. The whole futuristic thing turned me off. In the last six years, WWII is the only one I've gotten into and it's nice to see Activision lay off on the future. That's why the Modern Warfare reboot impresses me a lot more and I'm looking to get into when it comes out at the end of October.
It's nice to see single player come back. Being set in the present day or equivalency of it is a breath of fresh air. What I'm curious about is the 64 player online thing and the attempt at being a more tactical game. While I'm betting this sells better than Battlefield games, the idea of it going towards an objective based online leaves me with a lot of questions. A lot more than you realize. On the other hand there is the Spec Ops mode, which is something I loved about Modern Warfare 2. And I hear the new engine is going to be fantastic.
Getting back to modern basics is not a bad thing. If WWII can be refreshing despite not doing anything new, so can this Modern Warfare reboot. Hopefully it steers Call of Duty back in the right direction.
It's nice to see single player come back. Being set in the present day or equivalency of it is a breath of fresh air. What I'm curious about is the 64 player online thing and the attempt at being a more tactical game. While I'm betting this sells better than Battlefield games, the idea of it going towards an objective based online leaves me with a lot of questions. A lot more than you realize. On the other hand there is the Spec Ops mode, which is something I loved about Modern Warfare 2. And I hear the new engine is going to be fantastic.
Getting back to modern basics is not a bad thing. If WWII can be refreshing despite not doing anything new, so can this Modern Warfare reboot. Hopefully it steers Call of Duty back in the right direction.
Monday, September 9, 2019
Sega Dreamcast at 20: 9/9/99
When I think Sega, I think back to when I was a toddler, playing a number of Genesis games up until I was seven in 1999. I only played a Saturn once a year prior and never played the Game Gear that my older brother had until the end of the 2000s. One system I have yet to play turned 20 and as the title of the blog mentions, it is the Dreamcast.
September 9th, 1999 may not seem much, but it was for Sega. After the failure of the Saturn and 32x, they rebooted and went full force for a good year until the PlayStation 2 came out. When 2001 started, they announced their departure from doing hardware. After it's final titles in 2002, it amassed about 250 games. The launch price was cheap at 200 dollars and had four player capabilities from the get go, similar to the Nintendo 64. A big deal was the online. Even though the Saturn had it, this had more games using it and felt revolutionary.
Some of the design is very similar to Xbox, which Microsoft actually helped Sega on making the Dreamcast. The controller is similar in certain ways. Obviously, online was powered by Windows. That's just the tidbits to what people consider one of the greatest or most underrated systems ever. It has that appeal for everyone. You have a variety of genres to pick and it was one of the last systems that had an arcade appeal to it. Tons of ports such as Soul Calibur, Crazy Taxi, and the numerous Capcom fighting games made a loved one for fans of the arcade. There were a lot of things the Dreamcast did right in the last hurrah for Sega.
It's one of the few systems I would love to get, but I do have my concerns with how much longer it could last because of the laser and some of the early games having issues running on it. I always have a soft spot for Sega, but hey. The love the company has gotten lately, fans will never forget the swan song.
September 9th, 1999 may not seem much, but it was for Sega. After the failure of the Saturn and 32x, they rebooted and went full force for a good year until the PlayStation 2 came out. When 2001 started, they announced their departure from doing hardware. After it's final titles in 2002, it amassed about 250 games. The launch price was cheap at 200 dollars and had four player capabilities from the get go, similar to the Nintendo 64. A big deal was the online. Even though the Saturn had it, this had more games using it and felt revolutionary.
Some of the design is very similar to Xbox, which Microsoft actually helped Sega on making the Dreamcast. The controller is similar in certain ways. Obviously, online was powered by Windows. That's just the tidbits to what people consider one of the greatest or most underrated systems ever. It has that appeal for everyone. You have a variety of genres to pick and it was one of the last systems that had an arcade appeal to it. Tons of ports such as Soul Calibur, Crazy Taxi, and the numerous Capcom fighting games made a loved one for fans of the arcade. There were a lot of things the Dreamcast did right in the last hurrah for Sega.
It's one of the few systems I would love to get, but I do have my concerns with how much longer it could last because of the laser and some of the early games having issues running on it. I always have a soft spot for Sega, but hey. The love the company has gotten lately, fans will never forget the swan song.
Saturday, September 7, 2019
Diva Brown
It's only a matter of time before Antonio Brown finds himself in the news again. An argument between him and Raiders general manager Mike Mayock resulted in a fine and possible suspension. Earlier in August was the whole helmet debacle. He addressed an apology yesterday. Now, he wants to go somewhere else.
This guy has been a headache over the last couple of seasons. The cooler tantrum in 2017 was very obvious. Whether he felt committed to playing for Pittsburgh last year is another one. He was out in the last game of the year. The Steelers could have made the playoffs, but didn't. But similar to Odell Beckham, Brown seems more concerned about himself rather than his team. Maybe it's not a surprise why he was drafted in the 6th round in 2010.
The Steelers have moved on from a few of their big name players. It's group of players should be fine considering the strong seasons from James Conner and Juju Smith-Schuster. I doubt most of them will miss Brown as the season goes on. Oakland is a circus and it should help their team in avoiding distractions. A healthier outlook, it should also provide fireworks to an AFC North that could have all four teams competing for playoff spots. 2019 might be the year for that division.
This guy has been a headache over the last couple of seasons. The cooler tantrum in 2017 was very obvious. Whether he felt committed to playing for Pittsburgh last year is another one. He was out in the last game of the year. The Steelers could have made the playoffs, but didn't. But similar to Odell Beckham, Brown seems more concerned about himself rather than his team. Maybe it's not a surprise why he was drafted in the 6th round in 2010.
The Steelers have moved on from a few of their big name players. It's group of players should be fine considering the strong seasons from James Conner and Juju Smith-Schuster. I doubt most of them will miss Brown as the season goes on. Oakland is a circus and it should help their team in avoiding distractions. A healthier outlook, it should also provide fireworks to an AFC North that could have all four teams competing for playoff spots. 2019 might be the year for that division.
Friday, September 6, 2019
Wednesday, September 4, 2019
Why Eating Right Matters
So this story just came to my attention. There was a teenager who has gone blind. No injuries. The cause was a very poor diet of eating just as the articles say, Pringles, french fries, white bread, and pork. It made me think a little bit about what I eat and how grateful I am for at least trying to not eat a lot of junk.
I'm not thin, but I'm not this obese person, either. I tend to eat cereal most of the time. I eat ham and cheese sandwiches, peanut butter sandwiches, chicken, steak, pork chops, potatoes, fish, pizza, macaroni and cheese, hamburger, hot dogs. I'll do eggs, toast, and waffles every once in a blue moon, though I do want to get back into having eggs, or do omelets. Snack stuff consists either of granola bars, ice cream, or fiber bars. Some chips, but very rarely. I'm not huge on vegetables, but I'll eat some. My drink of choice is milk with cola and water as other options.
You could say I'm a little fussy and picky, but not to the level of this kid. Only eating four things just about every day is not healthy. I read on a Reddit once of someone only eating chicken nuggets and fries only. Not sure how true that is, but that is about as unhealthy as this story. The amount of fat, sodium, and even cholesterol is staggering. Not to mention the lack of specific vitamins and minerals.
As much as I want to feel bad, the blindness of the kid is on him and his family. This was something that they noticed a few years ago and didn't fix the problem until it was too late to fix it. It should be a warning to people. Try to at least make a good diet and variety of foods instead of a limited number that is basically junk. Do that and you will feel a little happy for doing the right thing.
I'm not thin, but I'm not this obese person, either. I tend to eat cereal most of the time. I eat ham and cheese sandwiches, peanut butter sandwiches, chicken, steak, pork chops, potatoes, fish, pizza, macaroni and cheese, hamburger, hot dogs. I'll do eggs, toast, and waffles every once in a blue moon, though I do want to get back into having eggs, or do omelets. Snack stuff consists either of granola bars, ice cream, or fiber bars. Some chips, but very rarely. I'm not huge on vegetables, but I'll eat some. My drink of choice is milk with cola and water as other options.
You could say I'm a little fussy and picky, but not to the level of this kid. Only eating four things just about every day is not healthy. I read on a Reddit once of someone only eating chicken nuggets and fries only. Not sure how true that is, but that is about as unhealthy as this story. The amount of fat, sodium, and even cholesterol is staggering. Not to mention the lack of specific vitamins and minerals.
As much as I want to feel bad, the blindness of the kid is on him and his family. This was something that they noticed a few years ago and didn't fix the problem until it was too late to fix it. It should be a warning to people. Try to at least make a good diet and variety of foods instead of a limited number that is basically junk. Do that and you will feel a little happy for doing the right thing.
Tuesday, September 3, 2019
Turbografx-16 Mini: An Introductory?
Almost a week ago, the Turbografx-16 turned 30 years old. It was a huge hit in Japan when it came out in 1987 as the PC-Engine. Going stateside in 89, it flopped. This is where I look at this mini that is coming out next year as a question mark.
For 100 dollars, you get over 50 games and a couple of controller ports, an improvement over the original which only had one port. Some of the notable titles include some Bomberman games, a couple Bonk games, Castlevania, Galaga, Splatterhouse. That's just the tip of the iceberg. It's a mix of games that were on the Turbo but also on the CD add-on and Japan only Supergrafx. That means Ghouls 'n Ghosts and the first two Y's games make it onto here. This and the Sega Genesis Mini show that when done right, it can do the same stuff as the NES and SNES Classics.
Unfortunately, it is going to be sold only through Amazon. At least for the time being. My biggest concern also is whether this will do good. In Japan, I would think so, but in the States, it leaves me guessing. The Turbo does have a fanbase, but not to the level of the Genesis and SNES. That being said, I do think it can be a good turning point for anyone wanting to get into it. The mix of titles released in the US and Japan make it a good commodity. A number of the titles go for quite a bit in price. I personally think this could be a good introduction to the third pillar of the 16-bit era.
Maybe if it appears in stores, I'd get it. But I would want to check on how it performs. Hopefully good, because I hear a lot of good things about the Turbografx-16. Can't leave that system behind.
For 100 dollars, you get over 50 games and a couple of controller ports, an improvement over the original which only had one port. Some of the notable titles include some Bomberman games, a couple Bonk games, Castlevania, Galaga, Splatterhouse. That's just the tip of the iceberg. It's a mix of games that were on the Turbo but also on the CD add-on and Japan only Supergrafx. That means Ghouls 'n Ghosts and the first two Y's games make it onto here. This and the Sega Genesis Mini show that when done right, it can do the same stuff as the NES and SNES Classics.
Unfortunately, it is going to be sold only through Amazon. At least for the time being. My biggest concern also is whether this will do good. In Japan, I would think so, but in the States, it leaves me guessing. The Turbo does have a fanbase, but not to the level of the Genesis and SNES. That being said, I do think it can be a good turning point for anyone wanting to get into it. The mix of titles released in the US and Japan make it a good commodity. A number of the titles go for quite a bit in price. I personally think this could be a good introduction to the third pillar of the 16-bit era.
Maybe if it appears in stores, I'd get it. But I would want to check on how it performs. Hopefully good, because I hear a lot of good things about the Turbografx-16. Can't leave that system behind.
Sunday, September 1, 2019
Angels With Filthy Meds
When Len Bias died in 1986, an initiative was made to stop narcotics no matter what and bring punishing sentences for anyone involved. That death was because of cocaine. The latest news involving the late Tyler Skaggs, who passed away two months ago, might have bad consequences for the LA Angels. His cause of death has been revealed to be from alcohol and opioids. Opioids are legal if it is a prescribed medication. The stories from sites like the LA Times have said about the pitcher having fentanyl and oxycodone.
The big kicker could be someone within the Angel organization giving him those opioids illegally. If that's the case, someone is going to jail. But as I said, it's legal if it's prescribed. It could have been an accidental death on his part and if it was someone that gave it to him, I do think that person will still be in trouble. When you have drugs or medication combined with alcohol, it messes you up really bad. You hear these stories, whether it's the local person or someone famous, of their fatal cocktail before they succumbed to what they just had.
Sports and drugs have been an issue for sports leagues. I'm still trying to figure out how fertility sex drugs can be a performance enhancer. Obviously, steroids are bad. Anything like weed and pot is a huge concern. I'm not sure if there is anything the Skaggs family can do other than their attorney looking into the investigation, which is in Texas where Tyler passed as the Angels were preparing for a couple series in that state. Obviously, the Angels have their own attorneys looking into this. It's sad, because that no-hitter hours before his birthday on July 12th may not mean anything to some players. This story is going to grow more and I don't think there is a conclusion that will come any time soon. All you can hope for is some closure and maybe justice if someone gave Skaggs the opioids illegally.
The big kicker could be someone within the Angel organization giving him those opioids illegally. If that's the case, someone is going to jail. But as I said, it's legal if it's prescribed. It could have been an accidental death on his part and if it was someone that gave it to him, I do think that person will still be in trouble. When you have drugs or medication combined with alcohol, it messes you up really bad. You hear these stories, whether it's the local person or someone famous, of their fatal cocktail before they succumbed to what they just had.
Sports and drugs have been an issue for sports leagues. I'm still trying to figure out how fertility sex drugs can be a performance enhancer. Obviously, steroids are bad. Anything like weed and pot is a huge concern. I'm not sure if there is anything the Skaggs family can do other than their attorney looking into the investigation, which is in Texas where Tyler passed as the Angels were preparing for a couple series in that state. Obviously, the Angels have their own attorneys looking into this. It's sad, because that no-hitter hours before his birthday on July 12th may not mean anything to some players. This story is going to grow more and I don't think there is a conclusion that will come any time soon. All you can hope for is some closure and maybe justice if someone gave Skaggs the opioids illegally.
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