After the president’s speech in Connecticut yesterday on gun violence and the need for Congress to act, more focus is being placed on a group of Republicans who have determined that their “A” rating with the NRA is more important than the lives of the innocent people killed daily from gun violence. But their foolish decision to buck common sense gun reform is not going unnoticed.
Joe Scarborough, a Republican and frequent critic of dumb Republican decisions, stayed true to form today when he used his morning show on MSNBC to point out the pointlessness of those in his party. “It’s really hard to figure out what the political calculation is, “Scarborough said.
“It’s a 90/10 issue that involves the massacres of 20 children: Is anybody awake in my party on the Hill?” Of course the answer to How’s question is yes, they awake. But the priorities have never been the same as those held by a majority of the American people. Congressional Republicans have demonstrated on multiple occasions, that self-preservation and their childish need to see president Obama fail trumps the will of the people.
So anything the president is for, Republicans will be against. And it doesn’t matter how popular those things are, if the president is in favor of them, Republicans will automatically be against them. Call this unproductive relationship the Yin and Yang of politics.
Republicans’ foolish need for self-preservation and their desire to make the president fail, will ultimately be their demise. The American people are watching, and following the unbelievable massacre in Newtown Connecticut, they are paying more attention than ever before.
The Oscar-winner and her fiancé, Olivier Martinez, are expecting their first child together, and—as E! News revealed last week—the actress is pregnant with a boy and is reportedly about 12 weeks along.
Just days after word spread that Berry will be giving her 5-year-old daughter, Nahla, a little sibling, the star is speaking out for the first time about being on the baby way once again—an experience, she says, that’s been both immensely joyous and tremendously shocking.
“I feel fantastic,” the 46-year-old tells CNN.
“This has been the biggest surprise of my life to tell you the truth,” she adds. “I thought I was kind of past the point where this could be a reality for me. So it’s been a big surprise and the most wonderful.”
Berry, however, played it coy when it came to talking about the baby’s gender.
“I don’t know, I don’t know,” she said when asked whether she was having a son, stressing that all she wanted was for the baby to be “healthy.”
Ladies and gentlemen, may I please ask for a moment of silence to remember a once great gaming publisher, Lucas Arts.
Alas this once mighty game developer and publisher has been shuttered a few months after being acquired by The Walt Disney Company. While their more recent of games, I’m looking at your Kinect Star Wars, showed this companies complete and total disconnection from their gaming community; Lucas Arts was once at the forefront of the gaming world and continually pushing out great games for one of the best known franchises in the world.
The Knights of the Old Republic quickly became a favorite amongst gamers
Lucas Arts was created by George Lucas in 1982 to serve as the video game development arm of his original company, Lucas Film. At first Lucas Arts developed games outside of Star Wars such as the Monkey Island series and numerous military based simulators. Though Star Wars wasn’t licensed by Lucas Arts until the 1990’s, it soon became the cash cow for the developer. This became the case so much that during the late 90’s and very early 2000’s, there were so many Star Wars games being put onto shelves. Though soon the age-old rule of “quality over quantity” began to kick in and by 2002 Star Wars game started to get hit hard with poor reviews throughout the gaming community. This all started to change though when in 2003 Lucas Arts worked with video game developer Bioware to create the amazingly well review Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic. This game was the launching point for not only a sequel but the new wave of modern 3D graphics combined with perfect story telling within a game and lastly a very intelligent role-playing game.
In 2004 Lucas Arts was given a new president, Jim Ward, who did a total reconstruction of the company’s infrastructure. Behind Jim Ward Lucas Arts produced some of it’s most well-known and best games to date. Leading this charge would be the great Star Wars Battlefront, which became the best-selling Star Wars game of all time at that point. Battlefront quickly spawned Star Wars Battlefront II in 2005 which was also met very positively by critics and gamers, such as myself, alike. From 2005 to 2008 the Lucas Arts continued to pump out successful games such as Star Wars Republic Commando, Star Wars Empire at War, and Star Wars: The Force Unleashed. Between these amazing years for the Star Wars franchise, Lucas Arts continually scaled down its in-house developing and started to rely heavily on 3rd party developers, their relation with such companies was…unprofessional to say the least.
One of their best known release, Republic Commando never spawned a sequel though the community demanded it
Jim Ward left Lucas Arts citing personal reasons in 2008 and this marked the increasing decline of the once powerhouse publisher. A month before Jim Ward stepped down, Lucas Arts released Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II which was given mediocre reviews by most critics. Continuing this downward spiral, Star Wars: The Clone Wars-Republic Heroes was launched in late 2009 and once again was met with a barrage of negative reviews. In their darkest of years a small glimmer of hope appeared in the form of a big budget game and resurrection of a classic tag; In late 2008 Star Wars: The Old Republic was announced and in production at Bioware studios. This game was supposed to be a big boost to the failing Lucas Arts, sadly The Old Republic did not give the lift needed for them. On the day of it’s launched the game faced horrific installation problems on its first day out coupled with game crashing bugs and glitches; This was the final nail in the coffin for Lucas Arts. Between 2010 and 2012 numerous key people left and layoffs hammered the company to a shell of its former glory. On October 30, 2012, The Walt Disney Company acquired Lucas Arts for a sum of $4.05 billion. At first rumors spread of current in-house and under development games, such as the eye brow raising Star Wars 1313, were put on hold and moved behind other more important projects. Sadly on April 3, 2013, Disney confirmed the shuttering and immediate closure of Lucas Arts and the cancellation or exporting of any current projects.
The beautiful Star Wars 1313 trailer was shown once and soon after the project was cancelled
I am saddened by the news of Lucas Arts and it’s closure to say the least. The games they produced during their glory days were some of the best I have ever had the pleasure of playing. Perhaps though they had it coming to them. Sadly they never did listen to the gaming community on what we wanted, as we never saw Star Wars: Republic Commando 2 and the much beloved Star Wars Battlefront III never did see the light of day. On top of that Lucas Arts continually bullied 3rd party developers into releasing poor games or making poor financial decisions. Maybe then, it’s best a company that’s last Star Wars game was entitled Kinect Star Wars is buried and laid to rest.
President Barack Obama made an impassioned plea today for citizens to contact their legislators and demand action on gun control, saying he’s as “determined as ever” to pass tougher measures.
Speaking at the University of Hartford before a crowd that included families of the Sandy Hook shooting victims, the president said the contentious debate over gun control measures “shouldn’t be about politics.”
He singled out Republican lawmakers who want to use procedural maneuvers to block legislation, arguing that such a move would be akin to saying that public opinion doesn’t matter.
The president was introduced to the crowd by a woman whose son was among the 20 young children who were killed in the Newtown shooting in December. Six adults were also killed at the school.
“If you’re an American who wants to do something to prevent more families from knowing the immeasurable anguish that these families know, now is the time to act,” Obama said. “Now is the time to get engaged, to get involved, to push back on fear, frustration, and misinformation. Now is the time to make your voice heard from every state house to the corridors of Congress.”
Branden Lee is a blogger, screenwriter, producer, and actor, currently residing in Boston, MA. Follow Branden on Twitter @Brandeness and check out his blog .
Gossip site Media Takeout has constantly been keeping tabs on Kim Kardashian’s seemingly inflating/deflating baby bump. Kim seems to have a pronounced belly every other time she’s photographed by the paparazzi. All the other times her belly is unnoticeable, and it’s not just because of her unflattering maternity wear. Is Kim Kardashian pulling a Beyonce and faking her pregnancy all together, or is their actual trickery afoot?
This past weekend Kim tweeted out a picture showing her pregnant belly, in what can be believed is an attempt to dispel rumors that she is in fact faking her pregnancy.
Media Takeoutclaims they’ve contacted a “photoshop expert” and they claim that these photos have been altered.
In the picture on the left there’s a strange white area beneath’s Kim’s boob, which looks like the photo could have been badly photoshopped.
In the picture on the left they claim there’s a bizarre triangle shape on Kim’s leg.
Is Kim’s pregnancy a publicity stunt? Did she hire a surrogate or is there a different ending for this possible ruse planned? Kim’s due in July so we’ll all find out then if this pregnancy is the real deal. When it comes to Kardashian’s anything is possible, especially for publicity.
A few days ago, an article was written asking the question why are we so fascinated with celebrities. The author made the point that celebrities were just like us, but on a much larger scale, and he wanted to know why the public continuously place these people on pedestals, especially when they don’t belong on there.
And after that question was asked, we read today that Jada Smith has basically given her hubby a pass if he ever felt the need to cheat on her. According to Mrs Smith, Will is his own man and can do whatever he wants.
Hey, whatever works. Jada Pinkett-Smith addressed a longstanding rumor about her 16-year marriage to Will Smith** in a new interview with HuffPost Live: That she and Will, 44, have an open relationship.
“No, I think that people get that idea because Will and I are very relaxed with one another,” replied the actress and mother of actor-singers Willow**, 12, and Jaden, 14. The 41-year-old star then continued of the “persistent” rumor: “But I’ve always told Will: You can do whatever you want as long as you can look at yourself in the mirror and be okay,” she said, without going into further specifics.
“Because at the end of the day, Will is his own man,” she said of the Men in Black star. “I’m here as his partner, but he is his own man. He has to decide who he wants to be and that’s not for me to do for him,” she said, adding: “Or vice versa.”
The couple have battled more than one false report of an imminent divorce, most memorably in summer 2011, when the couple, who wed in 1997, slammed split rumors — and talk that Pinkett Smith had an affair with HawthoRN costar Marc Anthony** during his marriage to Jennifer Lopez.
Responding to criticism from the National Rifle Association over Connecticut’s new gun laws, Gov. Dan Malloy argued the pro-gun group’s executive vice president, Wayne LaPierre, is simply blowing smoke.
“Wayne reminds me of the clowns at the circus — they get the most attention. That’s what he’s paid to do,” Malloy said Sunday on CNN’s “State of the Union.”
The Democratic governor on Thursday signed into law some of the nation’s strictest gun regulations, following the state’s devastating school shooting in December in Newtown, which left 20 children and six adults dead.
The new Connecticut laws include the addition of more than 100 weapons to the state’s list of banned assault weapons — including the semiautomatic Bushmaster rifle, one of the firearms used in the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre. The law also bans the sale of magazines that can hold more than 10 rounds of ammunition, as well as armor-piercing bullets. Buyers will need a certificate to buy ammunition.
We all remember how surprising Apple’s decision last year to remove Google Maps as the default iOS Map was. We also remember the widespread criticism that followed, due to user non-satisfaction with Apple’s newly released Map. Well, this may have been just the beginning of a “war” for the dominion of the mapping technology market. In fact, on May 4 2013, the US Patents Trademarks Office published Apple’s new patent “3D Position Tracking for Panoramic Imagery Navigation” which describes a product similar to Google’s street view technology.
Two major differences with Google’s street view seem to be:
The use of mobile devices integrated sensors to navigate at street level allowing users to physically move the device up/down/left/right in order to virtually turn at street corner, enter/exit building, move up or down streets, etc.
The possibility to expand the panorama by using more than one adjacent devices simultaneously. As it reads in the patent text: “For example, two adjacent electronic tablets can be arranged in a variety of portrait/landscape configurations. […] Although the overall layout is consistent, the relative orientations of the tablets to each other allow for a rich interaction, such as filtering, layering information, navigation information visualization, etc. Additionally, a 3D layout of multiple devices enables observing occluded or interior information. Some of the devices can be static while others can be moving .”
The publication of this patent follows the recent acquisition of WifiSLAM by Apple last March. WifiSLAM is an indoor-GPS company that aims to make indoor location as accessible as possible using integrated sensors and existing indoor Wi-Fi signals. The appropriate use of these technologies combined allows WiFiSLAM to pinpoint users’ indoor location more quickly and more precisely than what GPS alone could accomplish.
Even though we have no clue about when these technologies will be incorporated into Apple’s current Maps, this new patent (along with the recent acquisition of WifiSLAM) suggests that Apple is actively working on its mapping product and willing to get the competition to a new level. Google has dominated the mapping technology market for over 7 years, and, as one might has predicted, Apple will do nothing but improve its Maps and probably catch up with Google Maps… unless Google has some mind-blowing tricks in store. We shall see!
Why are people so enamored with celebrities? I mean, really. Is it because of the lifestyle they live? The Fame? The Fortune? The Glitz? The Glamour? What is it? It can’t be said for 100% of celebrities in the world today but over 60% are in the news weekly, usually in negative connotations.
Lindsay Lohan
Since last summer, Lindsay Lohan single-handedly led the field of celebrities with news of courtroom dramas. She is continuing this year by staying in trouble, in the courtroom and in the limelight of tabloid heaven, thus in our living rooms weekly.
Justin Beiber, once the teenage heart-throb of millions of starry-eyed pre-teen girls, has also begun to find trouble. If it’s not with paparazzi, it’s nightclubs and his entourage muscling through crowds, and picture takers that, “were getting too close” to their superstar. And in his latest blow-up, Beiber got into an altercation with his neighbor who claimed Justin had spat in his face because the neighbor had complained about his noise from his home.
Chris Brown’s troubles continue. He’s been in the courtroom for a possible probation violation. Fights with Drake, a lawsuit pending and a feud with singer Frank Ocean has kept Brown in a negative spotlight. Now, claims are surfacing that the community service Brown was to perform from the domestic violence on girlfriend Rihanna – who has continued to show support for her troubled boyfriend – may have been fraudulent. As he stays in and out of courtroom and in and out of the tabloids, she remains loyal to his ‘badness’ and folks insist on showing their loyalty by following their every move.
Reality Shows. Why? The Hollywood Housewives, The Housewives of Atlanta, The Bachelor, The Bachelorette and OMG, the Kardashians are another form of Uck.
“Real Housewives”
Why THESE shows are becoming more popular than true actors of the Big Screens or even musicians that have a God-Given gift, crafted, trained and skillfully honed daily, some taking years to perfect, is a mystery…to me anyway.
I’ve never been a Fan of ‘Reality’ T.V. because it’s not reality. At least not my reality. If anyone can explain the fascination with these no-names-getting-on-TV-to-argue-fight-cuss out-share their intimacies, while drawing millions of viewers weekly, I’d greatly appreciate it.
You see, I don’t see how it’s interesting to see how a Multi-Millionaire lives, dates, loves, hates, breaks up, makes up, gets engaged, gets divorced, then makes his personal saga a series. I would think that your life is so much more interesting and sophisticated than theirs, but with less… materially speaking.
We’ve often been warned, be careful for what you wish for, or the grass isn’t always greener on the other side. Both are true. Even the millionaires have issues but theirs are magnified by a million because of their status and because the World is following them 24/7. They are no different than us if you take away the bright lights, the glamour and all that loot. And if the truth be told, many would love to trade places with you or me just to live a more ‘normal’ life.
I’m not saying we shouldn’t appreciate the talent of these great artist (not Reality Shows), but we should be careful in getting caught up in their world…because we don’t live there. We’re just visiting, just passing through, innocent bystanders in a world of Non Reality. Until they walk a day in my shoes, they’re aliens as far as I’m concerned. Nope, I take that back. I’m more interested in Aliens.
From the Final Four to the Final Two. With only one #1 Seed left in the March Madness tournament, the Louisville Cardinals will contend against the 4 Seed Michigan Wolverines on Monday night for the 2012-2013 Men’s Basketball Championship. And what a Final it should be.
In the first game of the evening, #9 Wichita St. gave Louisville all they could handle. With a one point lead at the half, Wichita St. jumped out to a 12-point lead with 13-minutes to go, leading 47-35. Louisville tried to slow the Shockers by trying the half-court press but to no avail. Each time, Wichita St. broke the press and scored with jump shots and easy layups After seeing his first stringers struggling to get a rhythm, Coach Rick Pitino called on his bench to initiate some energy to their flat offensive team. That move proved to be the boost the Cardinals needed.
George Mason transfer Luke Hanson scored 13 points in 12-minutes to help lift Louisville from its shooting slump and provided them with the jump starting motivation needed to overcome what would have been a ‘Shocker’ of an upset. With Kevin Ware – whose season ended last week with the terrible compound fracture to his right leg in the game against Duke – barely able to look on at times on the sidelines, the Louisville Cardinals advanced to the Grand Finale, scheduled for Monday night. They held off Wichita St., 72-68 with clutch free throws in the waning seconds and now move on against the winner of the second game of the night, #4 Seed, Michigan Wolverines.
The Michigan Wolverines and #4 Seed Syracuse Orange was yet another epic game between two feisty and tenacious teams where the Wolverines jumped out to a 36-25 halftime lead. Mitch McGary didn’t lead the Wolverines in scoring but his contributions were gigantic because it helped Michigan overcome a stubborn Syracuse Orange defense by a 61-56.
McGary had just scored 10 points, but pulled down 12 rebounds and dished out a team-best six assists. He’d made shots from the high post and the block. He’s averaging 16 points and 11.6 rebounds a game during the NCAA tournament, and that includes an impressive stat line (25 points, 14 boards) against one of the nation’s best frontcourt player in Jeff Withey at Kansas. Tim Hardaway, Jr. added 13 points in the Wolverines victory. Syracuse was led by C. J. Fair’s 22 points but it wasn’t enough as the Michigan Wolverines punched their ticket for the Final dance of the Season against the Louisville Cardinals.
So the question was posted after the games ended. Can Louisville’s defense stifle the offensive threats of Tim Hardaway Jr., Glenn Robinson III and Mitch McGary?
Well, if the sons of their famous father’s Tim Hardaway and Glenn Robinson can get an early jump on Louisville and McGary has another good night as he did against the Orange, this game could swing in the favor of the Wolverine’s. They look pretty good at times but I still think the Louisville Cardinals are #1 for a reason. This will definitely be a great finish to one of the best March Madness title runs to date.
And with that said, I won’t crown them champions just yet but, it is the #1 Louisville Cardinals that are favored. I’m going with the Favored.
Great comedy is very hard to come by these days, especially on TV. I’m not talking about some daytime show where you’ll have your eventual laughs or movies such as “The Hangover”. No, I’m talking about unscripted comedy where it’s going to be different every time you either go to see it or change the channel. Comedy that will make your sides hurt from laughing so much and make you wanting more once the show is over. Thankfully I’ve got great news to people like me who just want to laugh and laugh at great performers.
“Whose Line Is It Anyway” is returning to television this summer!
“Whose Line Is It Anyway” was originally a British improv show that soon got an American version on ABC and ABC Family channels from 1998-2007. The show consisted of three primary performers, Ryan Stiles, Wayne Brady, and Colin Mochrie, who were joined by a fourth special guest every show. They were given scenes that they would have to act out on the spot.
My favorite of these scenes would have to be entitled Weird Newscasters. Each performer was given a special personality and would have to act out their personality while also trying to report the news section they were given.
One of the greatest comedic duos to ever perform, Ryan Stiles and Colin Mochrie
The return of easily one of the best comedy shows to ever grace television is amazing news to me. It’s time for people to see what real comedy is. It doesn’t need to involve someone getting hurt doing some stupid stunt or a long movie about a bunch of friends getting so hammered they can’t remember what happened on their Vegas night (or their time in Thailand if you watched part 2). I will tell you now that if you have never seen it before, go watch it. You will not regret it one bit. And if you have seen it then you’ll be like me and jumping out of your seat over the news of its return.
“Whose Line Is It Anyway” will premiere on The CW starting July 16,2013.
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