Fresh new episode for today.
https://anchor.fm/ryan-sullivan1gaj/episodes/Episode-32-Coronavirus-Edition-2-ec6otk
Tuesday, March 31, 2020
Sunday, March 29, 2020
Food, Party of 35 Thou!
Authorities are taking any deliberate attempts to spread the coronavirus very seriously. There was a man in I believe New Jersey who was charged with terroristic threats after coughing and spitting on people and telling them they had the virus. This lady from Pennsylvania is charged with the same crime, but with a different kind of awfulness.
So, what happened earlier last week? This lady went into a grocery store. If you go into one, you'll find plenty of food, but some may have certain aisles wiped out. Unfortunately for customers, she went on to cough and touch 35 thousand dollars worth of food, including what I would assume a lot of boxed foods and canned goods along with bakery items and more. Obviously, the store had to throw all of it away and that is sad in itself, but they had no choice. Not worth risking other people's lives. The lady has been jailed and now has been charged.
There are non-believers in the virus. You're not going to make everyone believe. But this goes beyond anything. Not everyone is fortunate to have multiple grocery stores. Not everyone can afford the same kind of foods. And it goes without saying the store needs customers and they will take a big loss if supplies haven't come in since the incident. I believe this lady will be doing some hard time. Nothing too lengthy, but enough to make a point about doing something in a time of crisis and regretting it.
If you thought society couldn't get worse in a bad time, there's your example.
So, what happened earlier last week? This lady went into a grocery store. If you go into one, you'll find plenty of food, but some may have certain aisles wiped out. Unfortunately for customers, she went on to cough and touch 35 thousand dollars worth of food, including what I would assume a lot of boxed foods and canned goods along with bakery items and more. Obviously, the store had to throw all of it away and that is sad in itself, but they had no choice. Not worth risking other people's lives. The lady has been jailed and now has been charged.
There are non-believers in the virus. You're not going to make everyone believe. But this goes beyond anything. Not everyone is fortunate to have multiple grocery stores. Not everyone can afford the same kind of foods. And it goes without saying the store needs customers and they will take a big loss if supplies haven't come in since the incident. I believe this lady will be doing some hard time. Nothing too lengthy, but enough to make a point about doing something in a time of crisis and regretting it.
If you thought society couldn't get worse in a bad time, there's your example.
Friday, March 27, 2020
Thursday, March 26, 2020
No Olympics! Come Back One Year!
This doesn't come as a huge shocker. Inevitably, this was going to happen. You won't see the Olympics until next year Japan.
I don't blame countries for wanting to not participate this year. The fact you got everyone in the world going to these events is a huge factor. Even if everyone had a clean bill of health, fans and participants could still fall ill to the virus. I look at Japan wading out before making this decision a couple days ago. You don't get those fans, your profits on the Olympics go down the drain.
There isn't much else that can be said for the time being. It's something that obviously wasn't going to be cancelled. The last time that happened was back in 1944 because of war. This has been a huge money maker for the winning city. Expectations are always high and cities would be prepared very well in advance.
Delaying will help them out when things get better.
I don't blame countries for wanting to not participate this year. The fact you got everyone in the world going to these events is a huge factor. Even if everyone had a clean bill of health, fans and participants could still fall ill to the virus. I look at Japan wading out before making this decision a couple days ago. You don't get those fans, your profits on the Olympics go down the drain.
There isn't much else that can be said for the time being. It's something that obviously wasn't going to be cancelled. The last time that happened was back in 1944 because of war. This has been a huge money maker for the winning city. Expectations are always high and cities would be prepared very well in advance.
Delaying will help them out when things get better.
Wednesday, March 25, 2020
Easiest and Hardest YouTube Videos I've Done
I've kept the same YouTube channel for over seven years. Quite a bit of videos I'm pretty happy about. A bit of others that could have been better. Some might think it's that easy, but it's not. If you're very familiar and really good, it can be. For something a little different, I'll talk some of the easiest and hardest games I've done into videos, starting with easy.
Medal of Honor (1999): This was fun to do. Going through the levels at a good pace. Showcasing my approach to playing it and the run and gun feel in some of the areas. Probably one of my proudest playthroughs.
Sonic and Knuckles: These are a little complex with doing both characters and getting the Emeralds. After that, it was simply finding the path to the bosses and gaining lots of rings. It was always great to look at the level design and see the strengths and weaknesses to who you were playing as. Sonic 3 and Knuckles is one I would want to do at some point in the future.
Altered Beast: It's a very simple game. A lot of it is memorization, but I don't think it's necessary. Even an average person could get through it with such ease. The only blemish I had in the video was the fourth level and losing some health. Other than that, it was a perfect run. It's one game I would like to come back to and showcase the difficulties.
Now to hard:
Crash Bandicoot: You don't get to go back to the bonus rounds. One chance and that's it. Some of the later levels are really tough and getting a perfect run of a level is next to impossible at points. You can't die if you reach a checkpoint either. Fun game to play, not fun to do videos of. The second and third game would be a bit easier to record if I want to do videos of them.
Tiny Toon Adventures: Buster Busts Loose: This was done on hard, but doing it on normal for a practice run was not great, either. The health system sucks. I would argue the football level was not the best designed and the Star Wars parody level was not designed well. Add in that the hard difficulty has visual graphics in the end credits (which was a dumb move), and it's one of the tougher playthroughs I've done for videos. Great game, but one you need to have a lot of memory of knowing when to jump, attack, and whatever else.
Driver: Even if you don't record, undercover can be very brutal. The cops are the main gripe and they will usually determine if you will succeed or fail a mission. Pursuit missions don't leave you with much time. Some of the time limits are a bit ridiculous. You don't know how long these missions will last. And the late missions are a huge hassle. I've been on the fence of doing Driver 2, but I think if I were to come back to this, I would do the driving games, training, and show the cheats off for it. There's more to Driver than its undercover.
Three easy and three hard games I've done videos of. Maybe I'll do more in the future, but they will not be common blogs. Happy reading.
Medal of Honor (1999): This was fun to do. Going through the levels at a good pace. Showcasing my approach to playing it and the run and gun feel in some of the areas. Probably one of my proudest playthroughs.
Sonic and Knuckles: These are a little complex with doing both characters and getting the Emeralds. After that, it was simply finding the path to the bosses and gaining lots of rings. It was always great to look at the level design and see the strengths and weaknesses to who you were playing as. Sonic 3 and Knuckles is one I would want to do at some point in the future.
Altered Beast: It's a very simple game. A lot of it is memorization, but I don't think it's necessary. Even an average person could get through it with such ease. The only blemish I had in the video was the fourth level and losing some health. Other than that, it was a perfect run. It's one game I would like to come back to and showcase the difficulties.
Now to hard:
Crash Bandicoot: You don't get to go back to the bonus rounds. One chance and that's it. Some of the later levels are really tough and getting a perfect run of a level is next to impossible at points. You can't die if you reach a checkpoint either. Fun game to play, not fun to do videos of. The second and third game would be a bit easier to record if I want to do videos of them.
Tiny Toon Adventures: Buster Busts Loose: This was done on hard, but doing it on normal for a practice run was not great, either. The health system sucks. I would argue the football level was not the best designed and the Star Wars parody level was not designed well. Add in that the hard difficulty has visual graphics in the end credits (which was a dumb move), and it's one of the tougher playthroughs I've done for videos. Great game, but one you need to have a lot of memory of knowing when to jump, attack, and whatever else.
Driver: Even if you don't record, undercover can be very brutal. The cops are the main gripe and they will usually determine if you will succeed or fail a mission. Pursuit missions don't leave you with much time. Some of the time limits are a bit ridiculous. You don't know how long these missions will last. And the late missions are a huge hassle. I've been on the fence of doing Driver 2, but I think if I were to come back to this, I would do the driving games, training, and show the cheats off for it. There's more to Driver than its undercover.
Three easy and three hard games I've done videos of. Maybe I'll do more in the future, but they will not be common blogs. Happy reading.
Tuesday, March 24, 2020
Track and Field (NES) Review
There aren't too many Olympic games that follow the basic standards of the games. Track and Field got a lot of enjoyment from many back in 1983 with excellent graphics and presentation along with the button mashing gameplay. It was ultimately brought to the NES in early 87 with events from both the arcade and the arcade sequel, Hyper Sports. Quite a bit of fun but in short bursts and not one you'll go back to frequently.
It's eight events, each with a required time or point request to qualify. You have three types. There's running with the 100 meter dash and 110 meter hurdle. Beat your opponent and qualify to advance. Mashing the buttons is all you have to do. Then you have the jump and throw events. Add in the jump by pressing up on the directional pad. High jump, triple jump, and long jump have degrees and finding the sweet spot when you jump will give you the best numbers. Going over the line means a foul on one of your three tries. The same can be said for the javelin throw, which has the same rules and mechanics.
Last are shooting events. Be ready on the button. Skeet shooting has you shooting skeets once they reach your cross hairs. Starts slow, but gets faster. Archery has you hitting a moving target with arrows. Try to get the sweet spot to nail those bullseyes. The wind could hurt your chances, making it the weakest event. There is the ability to play with another person and difficulty modes if you want fun or a challenge. The events are quick and easy to get into.
It's a colorful game graphically. Nice areas and character modeling are a big plus for an early game. Not to mention lots of smooth animation, something that was very uncommon for NES games. The audio is not anything to write home about. Decent tracks in the music. Sound effects boiling down to running and stuff being thrown most of the time. No voice samples, but that's a given. The difficulty is adequate and the qualification requirements go up every time you go through all eight events.
Give Track and Field a shot on NES. The only question would be your tolerance on arcade gameplay. It's a pick up and play one that you can get through very quickly. Solid effort, though something you'll want to pull from your shelf every few months.
Score: 7 out of 10
It's eight events, each with a required time or point request to qualify. You have three types. There's running with the 100 meter dash and 110 meter hurdle. Beat your opponent and qualify to advance. Mashing the buttons is all you have to do. Then you have the jump and throw events. Add in the jump by pressing up on the directional pad. High jump, triple jump, and long jump have degrees and finding the sweet spot when you jump will give you the best numbers. Going over the line means a foul on one of your three tries. The same can be said for the javelin throw, which has the same rules and mechanics.
Last are shooting events. Be ready on the button. Skeet shooting has you shooting skeets once they reach your cross hairs. Starts slow, but gets faster. Archery has you hitting a moving target with arrows. Try to get the sweet spot to nail those bullseyes. The wind could hurt your chances, making it the weakest event. There is the ability to play with another person and difficulty modes if you want fun or a challenge. The events are quick and easy to get into.
It's a colorful game graphically. Nice areas and character modeling are a big plus for an early game. Not to mention lots of smooth animation, something that was very uncommon for NES games. The audio is not anything to write home about. Decent tracks in the music. Sound effects boiling down to running and stuff being thrown most of the time. No voice samples, but that's a given. The difficulty is adequate and the qualification requirements go up every time you go through all eight events.
Give Track and Field a shot on NES. The only question would be your tolerance on arcade gameplay. It's a pick up and play one that you can get through very quickly. Solid effort, though something you'll want to pull from your shelf every few months.
Score: 7 out of 10
Sunday, March 22, 2020
Under Center: NFL Free Agency March 2020
Even with the pandemic going on, the NFL still continues on in its offseason. Some notable players have made their way to other teams. Let's get cracking on my thoughts.
A number of quarterbacks have found other teams. The most noticeable is Tom Brady. Now he will never be a forever player for one team with him signing a two year deal with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. I'm not sure how that will pan out. Same can be said for Philip Rivers going to Indianapolis for a year. He can still throw for yards, but too many bone headed decisions have hurt his chances. Another quarterback war in Chicago could happen with Nick Foles getting traded from Jacksonville to the Bears. Make or break is going to happen for Mitch Trubisky.
Arizona gets a deal right now for Kenyan Drake. He will provide decent purposes at running back along with the team getting DeAndre Hopkins via trade from Houston. The Cards might provide a nice display of offense for the upcoming season. Atlanta gets a huge threat in Todd Gurley. Last year was abysmal for their run game. Hopefully that and a healthy defense gets them back to relevancy considering their mediocrity the last two years. Cleveland gets a competent receiver with Austin Hooper, though the team should focus on fixing the defense and helping Baker Mayfield throw less interceptions.
Defensively, Darius Slay boosts the secondary in Philadelphia with a three year deal, but how much of a boost will be a big question. A couple other players filling in spots at linebacker and the secondary as well. Malcolm Jenkins returns to New Orleans with a four year deal. Chicago is bulking up with Deon Bush and Artie Burns for its secondary. A number of players going to Ohio teams. The Jaguars and Patriots looking to boost their defenses. Some big name players heading to the Chargers.
A couple notable cuts include Clay Matthews and Flacco. Some teams are cleaning house on players like Detroit. Plenty are making cuts to make room for guys to protect their quarterback. If the season is on track to start in September, it should make for some interesting transitions. I don't think we're quite done. Still a bit of notable players waiting for their chance to get new contracts.
A number of quarterbacks have found other teams. The most noticeable is Tom Brady. Now he will never be a forever player for one team with him signing a two year deal with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. I'm not sure how that will pan out. Same can be said for Philip Rivers going to Indianapolis for a year. He can still throw for yards, but too many bone headed decisions have hurt his chances. Another quarterback war in Chicago could happen with Nick Foles getting traded from Jacksonville to the Bears. Make or break is going to happen for Mitch Trubisky.
Arizona gets a deal right now for Kenyan Drake. He will provide decent purposes at running back along with the team getting DeAndre Hopkins via trade from Houston. The Cards might provide a nice display of offense for the upcoming season. Atlanta gets a huge threat in Todd Gurley. Last year was abysmal for their run game. Hopefully that and a healthy defense gets them back to relevancy considering their mediocrity the last two years. Cleveland gets a competent receiver with Austin Hooper, though the team should focus on fixing the defense and helping Baker Mayfield throw less interceptions.
Defensively, Darius Slay boosts the secondary in Philadelphia with a three year deal, but how much of a boost will be a big question. A couple other players filling in spots at linebacker and the secondary as well. Malcolm Jenkins returns to New Orleans with a four year deal. Chicago is bulking up with Deon Bush and Artie Burns for its secondary. A number of players going to Ohio teams. The Jaguars and Patriots looking to boost their defenses. Some big name players heading to the Chargers.
A couple notable cuts include Clay Matthews and Flacco. Some teams are cleaning house on players like Detroit. Plenty are making cuts to make room for guys to protect their quarterback. If the season is on track to start in September, it should make for some interesting transitions. I don't think we're quite done. Still a bit of notable players waiting for their chance to get new contracts.
Saturday, March 21, 2020
The Universal Stream Appeal
Obviously, a lot of businesses are trying to make sure that there isn't huge crowds at their places. Movie theaters are a huge example with many shutting down for the time being. The time it would be to reopen, who the hell knows? And that is why some of the studios have attempted to get into the streaming apps to deliver on content for movies that released in theaters over the fall and winter. Disney has been generous with Frozen II and the latest Star Wars movie.
But what Universal is doing is something that could be seen as an acid test. They are one of the very few studios to put movies of theirs that had gotten into theaters within the last month and a half and are putting them on streaming. The cost would be 20 dollars, roughly what a DVD cost would be. This includes The Invisible Man and The Hunt or example. One that hasn't seen release yet in theaters is Trolls World Tour and one or two other films.Maybe more, maybe less.
The ultimate question is this is. Will people bite at 20 dollars? Yes and no. What people may perceive as good value could factor in. Not every theater charges the same amount. If you pay five to seven dollars for a ticket, it may not be worth it. If you go to one that is double digit prices or if you have a family of four or five, then I can see the justification from some individuals. The Trolls film will be interesting as this acid test. Will parents go out of their way to spend 20 dollars for the streaming of the newest movie? Who will budge? That's what I wonder. I look at it as being easier to judge on an adult film than a kids film.
Regardless, it's something to help keep moviegoers at bay until the pandemic is over. Is going the streaming route the future? Maybe. When it could happen, I don't know. But these studios know they have to treat their customers with a decent amount of respect. Get comfy for a while and understand when things go back to normal, they will want you back in the theaters.
But what Universal is doing is something that could be seen as an acid test. They are one of the very few studios to put movies of theirs that had gotten into theaters within the last month and a half and are putting them on streaming. The cost would be 20 dollars, roughly what a DVD cost would be. This includes The Invisible Man and The Hunt or example. One that hasn't seen release yet in theaters is Trolls World Tour and one or two other films.Maybe more, maybe less.
The ultimate question is this is. Will people bite at 20 dollars? Yes and no. What people may perceive as good value could factor in. Not every theater charges the same amount. If you pay five to seven dollars for a ticket, it may not be worth it. If you go to one that is double digit prices or if you have a family of four or five, then I can see the justification from some individuals. The Trolls film will be interesting as this acid test. Will parents go out of their way to spend 20 dollars for the streaming of the newest movie? Who will budge? That's what I wonder. I look at it as being easier to judge on an adult film than a kids film.
Regardless, it's something to help keep moviegoers at bay until the pandemic is over. Is going the streaming route the future? Maybe. When it could happen, I don't know. But these studios know they have to treat their customers with a decent amount of respect. Get comfy for a while and understand when things go back to normal, they will want you back in the theaters.
Friday, March 20, 2020
Wednesday, March 18, 2020
Geeks and Jocks: Episode 31
A coronavirus edition of the podcast. Stay healthy and protected
https://anchor.fm/ryan-sullivan1gaj/episodes/Episode-31-Coronavirus-Edition-ebjrbu
https://anchor.fm/ryan-sullivan1gaj/episodes/Episode-31-Coronavirus-Edition-ebjrbu
Tuesday, March 17, 2020
Onward Review
I've seen a good majority of Pixar's movies. From what I've seen, I'd say they were good to excellent depending on what was in question. Onward might be the first one that I was not impressed with watching. Since the first Cars, I haven't seen too many films from this company outside of sequels. This came off as an overhyped movie and I'll be in the minority of this by saying this was disappointing.
Here's the thing. It has an interesting concept, which is something Pixar excels at in order to hook an audience in. The film is about magic. Long ago, it was used for many things. But as technology progressed, it became useless. In the modern world, brothers Ian and Barley are given a gift granted to them from their late father. A magic staff is handed down to them along with a spell to bring him back for a day. Ian winds up bringing him back to life, but only the lower half of his body. This spell only lasts 24 hours, and this awkward teen goes on a quest with his slacker brother to get a gem that would hopefully bring them their dad.
This is a road trip film for most of it. I would also say this is borderline a dramedy. I was expecting more humorous stuff judging by the trailers. But it's a depressing movie and one that has a lot of teen cliche moments. I wouldn't understand losing a direct family member (parents, siblings), but I have friends that have. I'm sure there's a message and meaning behind the point of the movie, but the biggest problem is the first half of the film. Nothing stood out and I found it rather dull and boring. And even if the second half was good, which it was, it's first half drags the entire film.
What's sad is that the fantasy moments are eye candy and under utilized. If there is ever plans for a sequel, they should expand more on the magic. The performances from the main leads are wasted on it. It's sad, because Tom Holland and Chris Pratt could be like actual brothers with the relationship Ian and Barley have throughout it with their acting. I did find Pratt to be a little annoying in some spots and Holland, although good, comes off as that nerdy cliche. The rest of the cast is solid enough and provide more of the humorous side of the film.
Even with the coronavirus invading the world, I still would not recommend Onward to anyone. Nothing about the first half helped and the second half can't do enough to save it.
Score: 5 out of 10
Even with the coronavirus invading the world, I still would not recommend Onward to anyone. Nothing about the first half helped and the second half can't do enough to save it.
Score: 5 out of 10
Monday, March 16, 2020
March 2020 Update
This is more of an idea on what to expect out of this blog. So far, it has been a small decline for these first couple of months, but still getting pageviews. So far, March has been good, but with this virus thing going on, it's a bit difficult to know what to do next.
I could experiment by doing a bit more reviews, but still continue to do YouTube videos on Fridays as usual. Some stories will happen throughout this pandemic that don't relate to the virus, so entertainment and other stuff will still get the treatment. Either way, some things will be in motion.
I'm struggling to find the words in this blog since this sickness a lot of people are getting goes beyond just normal flu symptoms. Stay healthy. Don't go out in public if you don't have to. Other than that, protect yourself. The world will get through this. Hopefully the recovery is a good one.
2020 will be looked at one day as a weird way to being a year and a decade.
I could experiment by doing a bit more reviews, but still continue to do YouTube videos on Fridays as usual. Some stories will happen throughout this pandemic that don't relate to the virus, so entertainment and other stuff will still get the treatment. Either way, some things will be in motion.
I'm struggling to find the words in this blog since this sickness a lot of people are getting goes beyond just normal flu symptoms. Stay healthy. Don't go out in public if you don't have to. Other than that, protect yourself. The world will get through this. Hopefully the recovery is a good one.
2020 will be looked at one day as a weird way to being a year and a decade.
Sunday, March 15, 2020
Cleansing, My Brothers
There's always jackasses in times of crisis.
Maybe it's a good thing Amazon stopped this. Some brothers thought it would be cute to buy over 17 thousand bottles of hand sanitizer and try to overcharge to many on the site. At least it was stopped before people got suckered into what is essentially price gouging. Anytime there is a major incident, whether it's hurricanes or illnesses, you know the M.O. Towns and states will take advantage of people who have no idea of how the world handles crisis.
I have a friend in Tennessee where this sanitizer incident happened. He'll probably get a good laugh out of it. No one is that crazy. Also, you would think people would hoard more so food and water than toilet paper and hand sanitizer. Any way you slice it, it's a bad situation. My personal thoughts is that this virus fear should be gone by the end of next month. Regarding the brothers, I have a feeling they will get some big punishment. No way are they getting away scot-free.
What's next? Paper Towels?
Maybe it's a good thing Amazon stopped this. Some brothers thought it would be cute to buy over 17 thousand bottles of hand sanitizer and try to overcharge to many on the site. At least it was stopped before people got suckered into what is essentially price gouging. Anytime there is a major incident, whether it's hurricanes or illnesses, you know the M.O. Towns and states will take advantage of people who have no idea of how the world handles crisis.
I have a friend in Tennessee where this sanitizer incident happened. He'll probably get a good laugh out of it. No one is that crazy. Also, you would think people would hoard more so food and water than toilet paper and hand sanitizer. Any way you slice it, it's a bad situation. My personal thoughts is that this virus fear should be gone by the end of next month. Regarding the brothers, I have a feeling they will get some big punishment. No way are they getting away scot-free.
What's next? Paper Towels?
Friday, March 13, 2020
Thursday, March 12, 2020
The Real Space Jam
This is becoming a bit like the movie, but this isn't fictional, nor is it funny. The Oklahoma Thunder and Utah Jazz game was canned the night before and players and staff were quarantined. All because Rudy Gobert of the Jazz tested positive for the coronavirus. Whatever plans the NBA had in mind was gone and they have now suspended the season to figure out what to do and to have an idea on what can be salvaged in order to finish up the season.
Reports now are that Gobert mocked the coronavirus. He went on to touch various stuff in the locker room, including teammates belongings. And the news is that Donovan Mitchell has the virus. Whether he got himself or from Gobert, I don't know. But it's uncharted territory. Plans were made to not have fans in the arenas in some areas such as San Francisco with the Golden State Warriors. But it leads to a new situation that goes beyond the NBA.
What does the NHL do? The MLB when regular season play begins? And the NCAA? March Madness is one of the big money makers for college and brings tons of fans over. Rooting for the underdog is a huge incentive and loyal fans traveling to see their group try and hang with the best. The route of no fans in the games except essential staff families is happening. A few leagues like Ivy has canned their tournaments. I know kids want to win a championship, but at what cost? Until one of their own gets sick? I know the NCAA and CBS want to make millions, but they might need to take a loss if they postpone it or at worst, can the whole thing. Even a broadcaster can get sick.
With baseball, the only one that is affected for the moment is the Seattle Mariners. Where they'll start the season in two weeks, no one knows. Spring training field when they face the Texas Rangers? Or another stadium? I read that Globe Life Field will not be ready in time. I'm sure something will be found, but other teams could get affected. Same with the NHL. They could follow what the NBA is doing. They could and more than likely suspend the season today. This isn't to take lightly.
I know this blog is more about talking video games, sports, TV, film, and whatever is on my mind. But with this virus becoming more notable by the minute, I don't think there is much choice but to talk the coronavirus. It's already postponed a few movies. People stunned about Tom Hanks getting it. This is getting scary serious with all the stories and incidents over the last week or so. Classes getting cancelled for schools.The best you can do is always washing your hands and avoid contract with many things. If you are quarantined, you will have to explain to your employer.
This panic is far from over.
Reports now are that Gobert mocked the coronavirus. He went on to touch various stuff in the locker room, including teammates belongings. And the news is that Donovan Mitchell has the virus. Whether he got himself or from Gobert, I don't know. But it's uncharted territory. Plans were made to not have fans in the arenas in some areas such as San Francisco with the Golden State Warriors. But it leads to a new situation that goes beyond the NBA.
What does the NHL do? The MLB when regular season play begins? And the NCAA? March Madness is one of the big money makers for college and brings tons of fans over. Rooting for the underdog is a huge incentive and loyal fans traveling to see their group try and hang with the best. The route of no fans in the games except essential staff families is happening. A few leagues like Ivy has canned their tournaments. I know kids want to win a championship, but at what cost? Until one of their own gets sick? I know the NCAA and CBS want to make millions, but they might need to take a loss if they postpone it or at worst, can the whole thing. Even a broadcaster can get sick.
With baseball, the only one that is affected for the moment is the Seattle Mariners. Where they'll start the season in two weeks, no one knows. Spring training field when they face the Texas Rangers? Or another stadium? I read that Globe Life Field will not be ready in time. I'm sure something will be found, but other teams could get affected. Same with the NHL. They could follow what the NBA is doing. They could and more than likely suspend the season today. This isn't to take lightly.
I know this blog is more about talking video games, sports, TV, film, and whatever is on my mind. But with this virus becoming more notable by the minute, I don't think there is much choice but to talk the coronavirus. It's already postponed a few movies. People stunned about Tom Hanks getting it. This is getting scary serious with all the stories and incidents over the last week or so. Classes getting cancelled for schools.The best you can do is always washing your hands and avoid contract with many things. If you are quarantined, you will have to explain to your employer.
This panic is far from over.
Wednesday, March 11, 2020
Viral Cancellation
This coronavirus is a bit more serious than people realize. I think this outbreak will be gone within a month or so, but it's hurt a lot more than some may realize. One of the big aspects is the stock market. It's not going to make the world go into a depression, but enough to make everyone panic.
Tons of events have been canned as a result. The most recent one has been E3 in Los Angeles. It has been going since 1995, but a few factors do kick in. Not as much interest and several companies not being interested in the event. The coronavirus accelerated it to the point where a cancellation probably was their only choice. Other game conferences have been canned as well. Whether E3 comes back next year, I don't know. If it doesn't, it had its time in history and tried to press on in an era full of Internet and live streaming.
I'm not a James Bond guy, but there is worldwide appeal. Europe is a big market. And probably one of the reasons why the No Time to Die film got pushed back to November. One of the most affected is Italy. There have been a lot of cases in that country and with quite a bit of casualties. I'm surprised there hasn't been any other films that haven't got the push back to another date because of this. You would think some Disney material or anything for kids that would appeal worldwide would be a pressing concern.
Sports is growing to the point where the idea of an empty NBA arena could be a likelihood. I don't think they would like it themselves, but cancellations of games could happen, though no one wants to see that. Possible relocations to other places. Locker stuff for them, NHL, MLB, Soccer, have come down to not having the media in and only doing one on one interviews. This is a way to prevent the spread of the virus so 30 media aren't getting infected when they go into a locker room. I'm sure there's other events for other sports or events.
When it comes to local stuff, be aware of your surroundings. Keep your hands clean and stay clean all around. Hopefully, we've reached the end of this panic. With warm weather coming in soon, it should disappear. Stay healthy folks.
Tons of events have been canned as a result. The most recent one has been E3 in Los Angeles. It has been going since 1995, but a few factors do kick in. Not as much interest and several companies not being interested in the event. The coronavirus accelerated it to the point where a cancellation probably was their only choice. Other game conferences have been canned as well. Whether E3 comes back next year, I don't know. If it doesn't, it had its time in history and tried to press on in an era full of Internet and live streaming.
I'm not a James Bond guy, but there is worldwide appeal. Europe is a big market. And probably one of the reasons why the No Time to Die film got pushed back to November. One of the most affected is Italy. There have been a lot of cases in that country and with quite a bit of casualties. I'm surprised there hasn't been any other films that haven't got the push back to another date because of this. You would think some Disney material or anything for kids that would appeal worldwide would be a pressing concern.
Sports is growing to the point where the idea of an empty NBA arena could be a likelihood. I don't think they would like it themselves, but cancellations of games could happen, though no one wants to see that. Possible relocations to other places. Locker stuff for them, NHL, MLB, Soccer, have come down to not having the media in and only doing one on one interviews. This is a way to prevent the spread of the virus so 30 media aren't getting infected when they go into a locker room. I'm sure there's other events for other sports or events.
When it comes to local stuff, be aware of your surroundings. Keep your hands clean and stay clean all around. Hopefully, we've reached the end of this panic. With warm weather coming in soon, it should disappear. Stay healthy folks.
Tuesday, March 10, 2020
The Call of the Wild Movie Review
The Call of the Wild is one of the most recognized books of the 20th century. It is one that has been read by literally tens of millions since it was first published back in 1903. This was inspired by author Jack London's experience in the Yukon. There have been several adaptations over the years. This one does a fairly good job of trying to be accurate to the book, but has changes, which is no surprise with any of these adaptations.
Story-wise, it is centered on the dog, Buck. He is pampered and causes mischief. With the gold rush in the Yukon reaching an all time high, a Santa Clara citizen kidnaps him and ships him off to there and work as a sled dog. From there, the St. Bernard goes on various adventures with a team of dogs and whatever owners own him. Along the way, he meets John Thornton, who has had his share of troubles with family.
Considering the standards of animal rights these days, there is a bit of computer generated stuff throughout it. There is no way that they were going to do this with PETA coming in if things went south. And even then, teaching dogs to act is not easy. Terry Notary plays Buck and the CG and mannerisms help the performance. I know it ruins the authenticity for some, but for something like this, I don't think there was much choice.
As far as the adaptation goes, I would say it does a great job covering most of the story. Like I said, there is changes. You don't see any major deaths until late in it. They do alter the mid part and end of the book in this version. I look at this being a PG movie and not wanting to be completely dark. Not to mention there are a few parts at the end that are rather insensitive if they had filmed those parts. Even with this being PG, this is not a kids film. This is for adults. If you do take your kid to it, I'd be weary of a couple scenes.
I like the cinematography quite a bit. A lot of good use of color lighting for a number of scenes. There is a music score throughout the entire film and it is excellent. Harrison Ford plays John Thornton well and the writers make him someone you sympathize for. Dan Stevens' few scenes as Hal provide conflict in place of the original scenes. I enjoyed Omar Sy and Cara Gee's scenes early on as Buck's first caregivers in the Yukon. The sledding parts were a blast and can put you on edge. It moves at a good pace. There isn't too much to say.
I don't have any real complaints. Maybe one or two scenes that drag and that it's not completely faithful. Considering other adaptations takes, this is more than likely the best one. A plot that stays true to the book somewhat. Nothing convoluted. The Call of the Wild is one I would check out in the theater before it gets pulled. Definitely enjoyable.
Score: 8 out of 10
Story-wise, it is centered on the dog, Buck. He is pampered and causes mischief. With the gold rush in the Yukon reaching an all time high, a Santa Clara citizen kidnaps him and ships him off to there and work as a sled dog. From there, the St. Bernard goes on various adventures with a team of dogs and whatever owners own him. Along the way, he meets John Thornton, who has had his share of troubles with family.
Considering the standards of animal rights these days, there is a bit of computer generated stuff throughout it. There is no way that they were going to do this with PETA coming in if things went south. And even then, teaching dogs to act is not easy. Terry Notary plays Buck and the CG and mannerisms help the performance. I know it ruins the authenticity for some, but for something like this, I don't think there was much choice.
As far as the adaptation goes, I would say it does a great job covering most of the story. Like I said, there is changes. You don't see any major deaths until late in it. They do alter the mid part and end of the book in this version. I look at this being a PG movie and not wanting to be completely dark. Not to mention there are a few parts at the end that are rather insensitive if they had filmed those parts. Even with this being PG, this is not a kids film. This is for adults. If you do take your kid to it, I'd be weary of a couple scenes.
I like the cinematography quite a bit. A lot of good use of color lighting for a number of scenes. There is a music score throughout the entire film and it is excellent. Harrison Ford plays John Thornton well and the writers make him someone you sympathize for. Dan Stevens' few scenes as Hal provide conflict in place of the original scenes. I enjoyed Omar Sy and Cara Gee's scenes early on as Buck's first caregivers in the Yukon. The sledding parts were a blast and can put you on edge. It moves at a good pace. There isn't too much to say.
I don't have any real complaints. Maybe one or two scenes that drag and that it's not completely faithful. Considering other adaptations takes, this is more than likely the best one. A plot that stays true to the book somewhat. Nothing convoluted. The Call of the Wild is one I would check out in the theater before it gets pulled. Definitely enjoyable.
Score: 8 out of 10
Monday, March 9, 2020
Thoughts of Yahoo at 25
It never occurred to me that last week marked 25 years since the debut of the site Yahoo. There have been changes over the years that I can see the difference between what it was like in the 2000s and what it is today.
I don't remember much until around 2004 or 2005 when going to the Yahooligans section, which was for kids. There was also the games section. It's where I got to enjoy playing Collapse for the first time. Other first time games include Rocket Mania (underrated flash game), Dynomite, and a few other games. Their pool game was one anyone could get into, one that my own dad got hooked onto back then. And beyond the flash games, it was home to what I used for email. I never used AOL or anything at that time.
There was such a huge focus on trying to get everyone into Yahoo. Appeal for everyone. You don't see that now. They got bought out by Verizon in 2016 and it's a different kind of site. More focus on celebrity stories. A lot more bias when doing politics. Writers who don't know how to make articles, which even in the 2000s wasn't good either. I remember nobody liking the sports guy Chris Chase, who was a horrible sportswriter. But all that aside of him, lots of articles felt like clickbait or had a link to go to the site they pulled a story from. I'd like to see what could happen today because I know they haven't made huge money in a long time. They tried many things and it hasn't helped.
Yahoo isn't what it used to be. The perils of hell considering Verizon wants to dictate what people see. But what website or conglomerate doesn't? Those joys of the 2000s will never be reached again.
I don't remember much until around 2004 or 2005 when going to the Yahooligans section, which was for kids. There was also the games section. It's where I got to enjoy playing Collapse for the first time. Other first time games include Rocket Mania (underrated flash game), Dynomite, and a few other games. Their pool game was one anyone could get into, one that my own dad got hooked onto back then. And beyond the flash games, it was home to what I used for email. I never used AOL or anything at that time.
There was such a huge focus on trying to get everyone into Yahoo. Appeal for everyone. You don't see that now. They got bought out by Verizon in 2016 and it's a different kind of site. More focus on celebrity stories. A lot more bias when doing politics. Writers who don't know how to make articles, which even in the 2000s wasn't good either. I remember nobody liking the sports guy Chris Chase, who was a horrible sportswriter. But all that aside of him, lots of articles felt like clickbait or had a link to go to the site they pulled a story from. I'd like to see what could happen today because I know they haven't made huge money in a long time. They tried many things and it hasn't helped.
Yahoo isn't what it used to be. The perils of hell considering Verizon wants to dictate what people see. But what website or conglomerate doesn't? Those joys of the 2000s will never be reached again.
Saturday, March 7, 2020
Book em! The Final Crimes
I've probably said it before on this blog before. I am not a huge fan of crime shows. Most of them feel generic, ultra serious, and repetitive. And one of the bigger names is the remake of Hawaii Five-O. A lot of people are feeling stunned that it's finishing up in a month. It gets good ratings, which is phenomenal for a Friday night program. Ten years in and still pulling viewers into the mystique of crime in the Aloha state.
So why is it ending? Possibly contracts, but reading that one of the big things is injuries to lead actor Alex O'Loughlin, who plays Steve McGarrett. It's part of being on an action show doing some of the stunts and choreographed action sequences. But there is a breaking point for some. Maybe it has reached the point where he can't keep doing the show. When you lose your main lead, no one would watch, even if some of the same actors were to come back. Fans need to understand that not everyone wants to come back to be on the same show for 15 plus years more or less.
Some actors do get tired of the role. What dramas don't lose actors? I'm willing to bet that a lot of dramas over the last 30 years have had changes in casting. Maybe O'Loughlin and Scott Caan felt like they contributed more than enough for a decade. But beyond actors, one aspect that can also turn viewers off is repetitive episodes if you don't have a hook like Hawaii for example as a location or a diverse group of characters. Eventually, you're scraping the bottom for episodes. Doesn't matter if you're inspired by real-life incidents.
Hopefully, fans understand that not everything lasts forever. You get anywhere from seven to ten or twelve seasons, that's good. Five-O has done ten, which is excellent for a remake considering the original ran for twelve. Not many programs get the same kind of luck they did. Embrace the show for what it did and don't feel bad about it getting canned. It had a strong run and won't get the CSI or NCIS treatment of overstaying its welcome.
So why is it ending? Possibly contracts, but reading that one of the big things is injuries to lead actor Alex O'Loughlin, who plays Steve McGarrett. It's part of being on an action show doing some of the stunts and choreographed action sequences. But there is a breaking point for some. Maybe it has reached the point where he can't keep doing the show. When you lose your main lead, no one would watch, even if some of the same actors were to come back. Fans need to understand that not everyone wants to come back to be on the same show for 15 plus years more or less.
Some actors do get tired of the role. What dramas don't lose actors? I'm willing to bet that a lot of dramas over the last 30 years have had changes in casting. Maybe O'Loughlin and Scott Caan felt like they contributed more than enough for a decade. But beyond actors, one aspect that can also turn viewers off is repetitive episodes if you don't have a hook like Hawaii for example as a location or a diverse group of characters. Eventually, you're scraping the bottom for episodes. Doesn't matter if you're inspired by real-life incidents.
Hopefully, fans understand that not everything lasts forever. You get anywhere from seven to ten or twelve seasons, that's good. Five-O has done ten, which is excellent for a remake considering the original ran for twelve. Not many programs get the same kind of luck they did. Embrace the show for what it did and don't feel bad about it getting canned. It had a strong run and won't get the CSI or NCIS treatment of overstaying its welcome.
Friday, March 6, 2020
Thursday, March 5, 2020
Geeks and Jocks: Episode 30
Made it to 30 episodes in the past year and a half.
https://anchor.fm/ryan-sullivan1gaj/episodes/Episode-30-Circus-of-FearTurmoil-eb7qr6
https://anchor.fm/ryan-sullivan1gaj/episodes/Episode-30-Circus-of-FearTurmoil-eb7qr6
Wednesday, March 4, 2020
Spiked Dolan
The more and more these incidents happen, the more I wonder when the NBA's worthless commissioner Adam Silver will intervene. Would someone dying or getting injured cause him to intervene with the Knicks? This time, it wasn't a nobody that has issues with owner James Dolan. It was filmmaker Spike Lee, arguably one of the most famous fans of the team.
Trying to make sense of it, it feels like a mess. I guess from the story, Lee had gone through an area he has gone through to go to the court at Madison Square Garden. He got his ticket scanned, goes to an elevator, then someone tells him to get off. It becomes an issue with security, telling to go another way to the arena. Later on, there was a talk with Lee and Dolan. It's all jumbled, but you're mainly going to hear Lee talk since Dolan is very private about what he does. And supposedly, everything seemed good with the Knicks PR, but Lee doesn't think so.
I will not say all of this is on Dolan, because Lee can be a bit of a nut. It could be a ploy for attention, but who knows. Bad attention is still good to some, right? But with the owner's past of being a complete baby and an asshole towards fans, it's not a huge surprise. The "sell the team" fiasco happened back in January. Last year, he banned a fan. He has targeted fans and called them alcoholics. There is no professionalism from this silver spoon of a moron. If it was a recently struggling team, okay, but this team has suffered for 20 years.
What will it take for the NBA to get involved? They were quick to get involved with Donald Sterling and rightfully so. But they don't want to ruin ratings for New York. Forget the bottom line you want, Silver. You keep allowing Dolan to act really bad and the writing is on the wall of fans getting restless and tired of the product they see on the court and TV. Add in a disastrous public relations group and the last five years of belittling fans, there has to be motivation to intervene.
Stop being a turd, Silver. Overthrow Dolan and get someone that actually wants to own the Knicks and make them a winning team again. Because these incidents get louder and louder and you can't hide in your office, waiting for it to wither away. If you don't, there will be more and more of these kind of incidents and it will leave a stain on your legacy.
Trying to make sense of it, it feels like a mess. I guess from the story, Lee had gone through an area he has gone through to go to the court at Madison Square Garden. He got his ticket scanned, goes to an elevator, then someone tells him to get off. It becomes an issue with security, telling to go another way to the arena. Later on, there was a talk with Lee and Dolan. It's all jumbled, but you're mainly going to hear Lee talk since Dolan is very private about what he does. And supposedly, everything seemed good with the Knicks PR, but Lee doesn't think so.
I will not say all of this is on Dolan, because Lee can be a bit of a nut. It could be a ploy for attention, but who knows. Bad attention is still good to some, right? But with the owner's past of being a complete baby and an asshole towards fans, it's not a huge surprise. The "sell the team" fiasco happened back in January. Last year, he banned a fan. He has targeted fans and called them alcoholics. There is no professionalism from this silver spoon of a moron. If it was a recently struggling team, okay, but this team has suffered for 20 years.
What will it take for the NBA to get involved? They were quick to get involved with Donald Sterling and rightfully so. But they don't want to ruin ratings for New York. Forget the bottom line you want, Silver. You keep allowing Dolan to act really bad and the writing is on the wall of fans getting restless and tired of the product they see on the court and TV. Add in a disastrous public relations group and the last five years of belittling fans, there has to be motivation to intervene.
Stop being a turd, Silver. Overthrow Dolan and get someone that actually wants to own the Knicks and make them a winning team again. Because these incidents get louder and louder and you can't hide in your office, waiting for it to wither away. If you don't, there will be more and more of these kind of incidents and it will leave a stain on your legacy.
Tuesday, March 3, 2020
Impractical Jokers: The Movie Review
Come summer time, it will be five years since I first got hooked onto Impractical Jokers. It waned within a year, but there's always highlights in the episodes. The group's movie is nothing more than being a bigger, more expanded version of the show. Judging by the plot, it had a route similar to what Jackass had with Bad Grandpa, but still in that light tone.
In the 90s, Joe, Sal, Q, and Murr all disguise as security guards to go to a Paula Abdul concert. Things go south really fast and a riot ensues . Twenty five plus years later, and Abdul spots them and sends an invite to a concert in Miami. One problem is that there are only three lanyards. As they drive down, they do hidden camera challenges and the one who loses the most does not go to the concert. Very simple story weaved in with real reactions.
Each Joker gets an opportunity to shine on their own with a challenge along with the group challenges offered. There's a decent balance between getting to the story and having the challenges. Nothing was notably cringeworthy, though one can be seen as embarrassing. It's nothing gut busting, but the humor involved will have you laughing constantly. The fact that they are doing this stuff in public and the reactions from strangers. It's an extended version of the show and the scope is bigger. They don't go that overboard in trying to have movie versions of the challenges.
With the scripted material, it's more than passable. I couldn't tell a huge difference between what was real and what was scripted. The Jokers acting is believable. I didn't find anything too cheesy. It ran by pretty quickly. No filler plots or anything. Just an overall funny movie that probably won't last too long in the theater. Definitely go see Impractical Jokers: The Movie. An adaptation that hits the marks very well.
Score: 8.5 out of 10
In the 90s, Joe, Sal, Q, and Murr all disguise as security guards to go to a Paula Abdul concert. Things go south really fast and a riot ensues . Twenty five plus years later, and Abdul spots them and sends an invite to a concert in Miami. One problem is that there are only three lanyards. As they drive down, they do hidden camera challenges and the one who loses the most does not go to the concert. Very simple story weaved in with real reactions.
Each Joker gets an opportunity to shine on their own with a challenge along with the group challenges offered. There's a decent balance between getting to the story and having the challenges. Nothing was notably cringeworthy, though one can be seen as embarrassing. It's nothing gut busting, but the humor involved will have you laughing constantly. The fact that they are doing this stuff in public and the reactions from strangers. It's an extended version of the show and the scope is bigger. They don't go that overboard in trying to have movie versions of the challenges.
With the scripted material, it's more than passable. I couldn't tell a huge difference between what was real and what was scripted. The Jokers acting is believable. I didn't find anything too cheesy. It ran by pretty quickly. No filler plots or anything. Just an overall funny movie that probably won't last too long in the theater. Definitely go see Impractical Jokers: The Movie. An adaptation that hits the marks very well.
Score: 8.5 out of 10
Monday, March 2, 2020
Analyzing 17 Mil
Broadcasting has its perks. Cool things you can do, places you go to. See events unfold for a few hours. Sports brings out an energy to broadcasters. In only a few years, give credit to CBS man Tony Romo. It feels natural and the predictions are scary good and intelligent.
Is he worth 17 million a year? Absolutely not. He gets to stay with CBS for ten years. And we're not even sure if the network will still have football. (anything can happen, but I believe they will still have NFL rights) But its ridiculous to overpay. Playing devil's advocate, a network like ESPN would have swooped in and grabbed him in an attempt to make Monday night broadcasts look better, which haven't been up to par since 2017.
Some current players are bothered by that kind of pay. But do others really care? Not really. The average viewer may view an athlete's salary from a big contract as being huge overpay. And most broadcasters are content with what their salary is for calling games. Romo is a commodity because of his ability to be entertaining and thought provoking during an NFL game. Like a free agent, networks wanted him. And he continues to stay home with the network that has had him the last three seasons. But that doesn't justify the huge pay that most players don't make in a season.
I believe Romo will still be himself and still be excellent. Blame the networks for wanting him and his voice. Not his fault he is well regarded in a broadcasting booth.
Is he worth 17 million a year? Absolutely not. He gets to stay with CBS for ten years. And we're not even sure if the network will still have football. (anything can happen, but I believe they will still have NFL rights) But its ridiculous to overpay. Playing devil's advocate, a network like ESPN would have swooped in and grabbed him in an attempt to make Monday night broadcasts look better, which haven't been up to par since 2017.
Some current players are bothered by that kind of pay. But do others really care? Not really. The average viewer may view an athlete's salary from a big contract as being huge overpay. And most broadcasters are content with what their salary is for calling games. Romo is a commodity because of his ability to be entertaining and thought provoking during an NFL game. Like a free agent, networks wanted him. And he continues to stay home with the network that has had him the last three seasons. But that doesn't justify the huge pay that most players don't make in a season.
I believe Romo will still be himself and still be excellent. Blame the networks for wanting him and his voice. Not his fault he is well regarded in a broadcasting booth.
Sunday, March 1, 2020
Corona: The Virus You Can Fear
I'm not sure I would call it a panic, but I'd be worried.
This coronavirus thing that's going on has the world on its heels. Economically, it's hurting many. People don't want to travel. There's restrictions and a million other situations. But it could be like all the other fears we have had for a long time. And no, The Simpsons didn't predict shit. Not to mention a potential cure that could happen with this virus.
The best you can do is protect yourself. Stay clean, stay sanitized. Make sure your foods are not covered in germs. Always keep yourself ready with wipes and germ killing products. If you have it, check with your doctor and see what goes from there. And when the next viral fear occurs, have a contingency or back up plan for it. This isn't exactly a how to survive blog, but always be ready for the future. And if you do that, the effectiveness of caution can last very long.
This coronavirus thing that's going on has the world on its heels. Economically, it's hurting many. People don't want to travel. There's restrictions and a million other situations. But it could be like all the other fears we have had for a long time. And no, The Simpsons didn't predict shit. Not to mention a potential cure that could happen with this virus.
The best you can do is protect yourself. Stay clean, stay sanitized. Make sure your foods are not covered in germs. Always keep yourself ready with wipes and germ killing products. If you have it, check with your doctor and see what goes from there. And when the next viral fear occurs, have a contingency or back up plan for it. This isn't exactly a how to survive blog, but always be ready for the future. And if you do that, the effectiveness of caution can last very long.
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