Project Silence

Testing a post from Flickr

2007-07-04T13:58:00.001-05:00

Test from my iPhone
Originally uploaded by Silence99.

This is a test of posting an image from my Flickr account!

Second Verse, Same as the First, We're Moving Back to Wordpress

2007-05-18T07:10:00.001-05:00

As you all know, I recently tried moving ProjectSilence.com to Wordpress, while I really liked it, I decided to return to Blogger based on the fact this site makes no money, and I couldn't justify the cost of web hosting.

Recently while I was talking to a good friend of mine (Brian of TheCyberGurus.com) generously offered to help host the site, for free. He said he had more server space and bandwidth than he could possible use, and I was welcome to it. Now that's a good friend.

So all of you head over to TheCyberGurus.com, returned from the dead as Brian's own personal site and tell him thanks.

This move will only make Project Silence better. Blogger is a good system, but a few features that I really want to use have just never worked for me (such as mobile blogging, Blogger supports it, but my mobile provider and Blogger just don't seem to get along).

The move should take place this weekend (likely Saturday). It will take some time to move all the content over, so until that time, if you would like to see something on this site, you can use the URL: http://projectsil.blogspot.com.

I still recommend Blogger to anyone starting out, as it's ease of use and the fact that it is a free service are just fantastic, but once you reach as certain point you just want more. More control, more features, more.... betterness. Thanks to Brian, Project Silence will now have that.

The Halo 3 Beta

2007-05-17T02:47:00.000-05:00

I had the chance to play the Halo 3 Beta today. There really isn't much to say about it, along with the other people present, I was very underwhelmed. I don't know what I expected, but I really didn't expect a Hi Resolution version of Halo 2 with some of Halo 1's weapons brought back along with the addition of a few new toys and all new maps (only one of which was any good, the other two felt so lifeless I was shocked). This game really didn't feel any different than a Halo 2 map and weapon pack. Now, that wouldn't be a bad thing, except Halo 2 launched the single most annoying feature in the history of Xbox Live. Matchmaking.

Matchmaking destroyed my (along with most of my friends) experiance with Halo 2, and it seems to be the only way Bungie will build an online game. In and of itself, matchmaking isn't a bad idea, not at all. The real problem lies with Bungie's utter lack of playlist variety. Want to play in a party with 8 of your friends? Sure, but it has to be objective games, no Slayer for you. Want to play with a guest? Sure, but no Slayer for you at all. Want to join a Rumble Pit match? Sure, but you'll have to do it alone, we don't trust you at all, you bastard cheaters. All of my friends and I agree, we simply don't like objective games. Oddball, CTF and the like are OK once every 5 or 10 games, but the rest of the time we just want to blow shit up. Sorry, that's a no go as far as Bungie is concerned. It's a real problem, and one that needs to be addressed.

Are you listening Bungie?

Halo 3 Release Date-9/25/07!

2007-05-15T23:57:00.000-05:00

That's right folks, on this eve of the Halo 3 beta (which both Silence and myself will be playing-look us up on Live), comes this official announcement from Bungie themselves-Halo 3 will be released on September 25, 2007. That's pretty impressive, and much earlier than I personally expected (I was looking at a November release). So, there's the good news for all of us, and especially good for the rest of you that are missing out on the Beta.

Falwell Dies, Heaven Rejoices

2007-05-15T21:57:00.000-05:00

Normally, ProjectSilence.com is not a place for religion. But in this case, I will totally take the time to say Hallelujah! I fell a bit guilty for being pleased with a man's death, but in this case, maybe not. Fallwell is a man I consider to be one of the people responsible for the collapse in our society, which is ironic, considering his preaching of the Moral Majority. But his bringing religion back into the politics of the U.S. has brought more harm than good, and caused a great rift among good people. Not to mention his other numerous attacks on issues he knew nothing about. Somewhere in heaven right now, angels are high fiving, and God is laughing at the Devil's misfortune of Hell's newest resident.

Boobs!

2007-05-15T14:47:00.000-05:00

I don't normally post such extremely amazing stuff, but these are so great, you just can't look away. Somewhat NSFW!

The Dark Knight

2007-05-15T07:23:00.000-05:00

Sometimes a Director just understands his source material so well, he is simply destined to hit one out of the park. Lets hope it happens again.

A PSA Worth Your Time

2007-05-14T06:02:00.000-05:00

Sir Ian McKellan Discusses Acting

2007-05-11T06:20:00.000-05:00

Sir Ian is a fantastic actor, both on the stage and in film. Here he describes his technique, so you can be as great an actor as he is. From the British television show Extras.

The Worst Movies Ever

2007-05-10T05:07:00.001-05:00

You had no idea that movies could be this bad. Next time you complain about how aweful all these summer sequels are (I'm looking at you Pirates of the Caribbean), just remember this video.

George Lucas Continues to Destroy My Childhood Memories (2 More Star Wars Movies)

2007-05-10T01:26:00.001-05:00

George, why can't you just stop?

You've proven already that you cannot write or direct. The original Star Wars was a fluke. The next two were good because you were smart enough to get talented people to do the heavy lifting.

Now you've made three films on your own and the results have been less than spectacular. There is absolutely no reason to prove that you can still make a good movie by making two more Star Wars films.

If you want to impress people with your film making talents the only way to do it is by creating an entirely new property, not abusing the great franchises of your past. If you are simply after more money, stop. You already have more then your fair share, honestly. If you're just bored, stop by my place, we'll play a round of golf.

This letter may sound mean spirited, but it isn't. I still like you, George, even respect you for the things you've done, the technology you've pioneered. Please don't spoil that.

Your friend,

Jay Alan

Joost Beta

2007-05-10T01:04:00.000-05:00

After months of trying (unsuccessfully) to get into the Joost beta, I have finally managed to snag an invite. I've only been playing with it for a few moments and am already very impressed. The technology seems to work very, very well. This could very well be the future of television.

Special thanks to Steve Spillman from ThePreposterous.com for the invite!

A Dark, Dying Sky Over Death Valley

2007-05-09T13:11:00.001-05:00

I remember when I was young (not really that long ago, I far from an old man) and in boy scout camp, the night sky was really something to be impressed by. I was lucky enough to grow up in Iowa, where you didn't have to go far to escape the city lights and see incredible views the poor folks in larger city's have probably never seen. It's sad that even in my short life, the view of the night sky has diminished so much. Enjoy it while you can.

Nasa.gov

Test Drive Unlimited 2?

2007-05-08T09:25:00.000-05:00

I don't normally post rumors on this site, I'll reserve that for the thousands of shitty celebrity sites, but when I hear a rumor about a possible sequel to Test Drive Unlimited, I just have to talk about it.

TDU is the best game you didn't play. Thousands of miles of open road in a virtual recreation of Oahu (Hawaii), hundreds of cars that all look and feel very different, seemingly infinite exploration and racing challenges, I can go on and on about how much I love this game. It has become my second favorite racing game of all time (after the original Need for Speed, the version on 3DO, not the junky Playstation or PC ports).

Online play where you can drive with others in the game from around the world. This is the one thing that let me down. There should be thousands of people driving around the virtual Oahu at anytime, yet I rarely see more than 2 or 3. That has always lead me to believe sales of this game aren't what they should be. If you enjoy racing games and massively open environments, I should see you on the streets. Yet I don't.

If this rumor holds true, I honestly hope more people jump in and enjoy this series. It's the only thing that can make me (a big fan) enjoy it even more.

Breakfast of Champions?

2007-05-07T21:28:00.000-05:00

Yet Another Mac Ad Spoof

2007-05-07T06:41:00.000-05:00

If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, Apple's recent Mac ad's must be seriously smitten. I've seen more more Mac ad spoofs lately then whores at the bus stop. Let me tell you, that's a lot. Not that I hang out at the bus stop or anything. And if i did, I certainly wouldn't be looking for whores. Or anything.

Here's one of the better spoofs I've seen.

Caution! This is Sparta!

2007-05-06T21:32:00.001-05:00

I'm a Marvel...and I'm a DC

2007-05-04T21:39:00.000-05:00

The first in a series, this is a hilarious parody of the recent hilarious Mac commercials. All of them have been excellent, so be on the look out for more here on ProjectSilence.

Conan Visits Industrial Light and Magic

2007-05-03T04:50:00.001-05:00

If I've said it once, I've said it a hundred times, Conan is the man. I honestly can't wait until he finally gets to take over The Tonight Show. Jay Leno isn't funny, sorry Jay.

Babylon 5 - The Lost Tales DVD on July 31st

2007-05-03T01:34:00.000-05:00

Babylon 5 was and is the finest Sci-Fi television series of all time. This isn't opinion, it is an inarguable fact.

Warner Bros. has released everything B5 on DVD already, and the success was such that they decided that needed more B5 to sell. Enter: The Lost Tales.

Warner went back to JMS (the original creator and writer of Babylon 5) to write and direct all new, direct to DVD movies to satisfy some of the demand for B5 (and make WB some cash in the process).

The term, "direct to DVD movie" doesn't exactly make you think of the greatest cinema of all time (cough, Starship Troopers 2, cough), but it really seems WB is getting this right. JMS is back to write and direct, with some directing help from Sara Barnes, who worked with JMS on the highly underrated series Jeremiah on Showtime, a good idea since JMS has only directed once before (the last episode of the original B5 series, which is amazing). They've also managed to get most of the surviving cast members to reprise their roles (with plans for all of them to return in future releases). All that and the effects team that has done some amazing work on Battlestar Galactica the last 3 years to handle the new visuals. Sounds good to me.

In fact it sounds almost too good to be true. Can the new films hold up to the original series, which has achieved cult status among fans? Or will it disappoint like the attempted spin-offs, Crusade and Legend of the Rangers?

Either way, as a huge fan of the series I am incredibly excited to rejoin some of my favorite characters in television history. I'll be first in line to buy my DVD on July 31st.

The DVD details on Amazon

Call of Duty 4 Trailer

2007-04-30T06:59:00.000-05:00

Call of Duty is pretty well known as a great series of World War II First Person Shooters. Call of Duty 4 is changing all that and bringing the series into a modern setting. This first trailer looks very promising. Plus it has what sounds an awful lot like Micheal Ironside's voice, which just so happens to be the coolest voice ever, in a small "Sam Fisher-esk" cameo.

Link

Soldier Throws A Grenade At A Car Full Of Anti-Tank Mines

2007-04-30T06:53:00.001-05:00

This needs no more description, other than I wish my job involved blowing stuff up.

Dutchman Builds Noah's Ark

2007-04-30T06:48:00.001-05:00

A real life Dutchman has built a recreation of a fictional boat that carried two of every creature on earth (say that seven times fast). This guy clearly has way too much time on his hands.

I don't even have a label that could fit this post, so let's just call this guy: crazy.

Link

South Park Has A Silent Partner

2007-04-30T06:40:00.001-05:00

Trey Parker and Matt Stone are credited with creating one of the most intelligent, original shows television has seen in a long time. Parker has written and directed every single episode for the last 7 years, this left many people (including me) wondering, just what the hell does Matt Stone do (other than laugh and tell Trey how awesome he is).

Turns out, he does a lot:

While Parker is handling the creative side of the show, someone needs to pull together the other elements of production. That's particularly true on a show like South Park, where episodes are routinely written and produced only a few days before they air. So while Stone occasionally directed episodes in the early years of the show, he's found his niche as the person who coordinates the episodes, making sure they arrive on time and under budget. This is the business side of things, which Parker can't handle because he's too busy writing and directing. Stone has no problem with focusing on his producing duties; he recently told IGN.com that "I am not a good director, I know that. I am not a very good actor either, and I know it, but it is good to know that."
Another important job Stone appears to have is as Parker's minder, his show-business babysitter. Like a lot of talented writers, Parker is self-admittedly anti-social, and prefers to stay home and work rather than deal with conflict. So Stone does it for him: a profile of the team in Rolling Stone magazine explained that Parker "doesn't like confrontation" -- it's Stone's job to fight censorship and contract battles with the network executives.

Hit the link below for more, it's quite an interesting read.

Link

Best Theater PSA Ever!

2007-04-27T21:57:00.000-05:00

See, thats what I need to do, just learn the force choke, and going to the theater might not suck so badly.

My Little Pony Skeletor

2007-04-26T21:25:00.000-05:00

Someone has way to much time on their hands. Sadly (?) someone already won this item for almost $200. Wow.

Air Sex? Only in Japan

2007-04-26T21:19:00.000-05:00

Air sex is a sport created by Japanese men who can't find real women to have sex with (never mind that there are something like 8 million every 2 square blocks... Japan's crowded). The basic idea is to look like you are having sex with a real women, even though none is present. They have even gone so far as to turn it into a contest.

Everyday there is one more thing in this world that I just don't understand. It is somewhat depressing.

The Cocoa Killer Bloopers

2007-04-25T08:58:00.000-05:00

We started filming a new episode of Project Silence Films last week. We won't be able to finish it this week due to all of us just being too busy, so it will be at least another week.

This episode is by far the most intricate and dialog heavy yet. We didn't realize how awful we are at remembering lines.

The mantra of this episode: Acting is hard. Enjoy our mistakes.

Sometimes Windows Can Suprise Even Itself

2007-04-24T15:11:00.000-05:00

Order of the Phoenix Trailer 2

2007-04-24T15:03:00.000-05:00

A few days ago I posted an incredibly rough version of the new Potter trailer, here it is in it's entirety and better quality.

The Potter movies have been a roller coaster ride so far, the first two decent, the third abysmal and the fourth fantastic. This one looks to be on the right path, it seems to have the feel of GoF, at least that's the feeling I get from the trailer. Here's hoping.

The CIA, Jack Kirby, Fake Movies, Hostages-This Story Has it All!

2007-04-23T21:51:00.000-05:00

I was recently reading some of Wired Magazine's online content when I happened on the most interesting article. I'd never heard about it before, but seeing as it happened the year I was born, I could understand. I was sucked in, as the story unfolded and began to sound like the perfect Hollywood movie (hell, it involved Hollywood). Let me give you the cliff notes version, and if that doesn't make you want to read the full article, nothing will. It seems that in 1979, the CIA needed to get some hostages out of Iran. They used a fake sci-fi Hollywood movie, with Jack Kirby providing conceptual artwork, a fake production company, and more tricks than Mission Impossible, Alias, and James Bond to accomplish saving 6 American lives. This is just the best story-I demand to see the Major Motion Picture of it!
So if your interest is piqued, click here.

Captain America Arrested With Burrito In Pants

2007-04-23T21:43:00.000-05:00

Sometimes, the headlines just write themselves. The best part, it's all true. At least we know now that the death of Cap was all a ruse, and he's just hiding in Florida.

The Ettatorial For the Week of 4-18-07

2007-04-22T10:37:00.000-05:00

A decent week of releases this week, dominated by DC's WW3 event. While decent reads, they failed to live up to the must read quality of the rest of 52. Thankfully we have my pick of the week, Ex Machina #27 to fill that gap. A great must read book, and my pick of the week for all of you.

Space by NASA

2007-04-21T21:30:00.001-05:00

NASA continues to amaze with some stunning imagery.

Link

Second Harry Potter 5 Trailer

2007-04-21T21:26:00.000-05:00

A second Harry Potter trailer has leaked out. This one is taken from Japanese television and is pretty bad quality, but you can see what looks like some pretty kick ass scenes here.

Xbox 360 Backwards Compatibility Updated

2007-04-20T21:30:00.001-05:00

Lots of great stuff in the spring BC update. Jet Set Radio Future and Panzer Dragoon Orta are both classics gamers have been begging for.

The lack of NFL 2k5 makes two grown men cry, Etta and myself. Also, the lack of Rallisport Challenge 2 makes one cry, me.

Thankfully we do still have All Pro Football on the way...

Link

The Bourne Ultimatum

2007-04-20T21:26:00.000-05:00

I don't even know if I have already posted this, but The Bourne Ultimatum is easily my most anticipated movie of the summer and the one movie that I will actually go see in the theater (something I never do). Check out the trailer.

How NOT to Celebrate

2007-04-20T21:19:00.000-05:00

This is not the appropriate way to celebrate anything.

Is Ethanol the Answer?

2007-04-20T06:35:00.001-05:00

I live in Iowa, the countries top producer of corn, which also happens to be what Ethanol is primarily made from. We have used Ethanol here for as long as I have been driving. It seems it may not be as environmentally friendly as previously though.

Link

Art With Wires

2007-04-20T06:31:00.001-05:00

Some people have too much time on their hands and they do nothing with it (or at least, nothing impressive). This on the other hand, is very impressive.

Link

Canadas Phones Are Still A Hell of A Lot Better Than Ours

2007-04-19T05:49:00.000-05:00

Why is it that Virgin Mobile actually offers good, useful phones in Canada for the same price as cheap, crippled phones in the US? Is the United States doomed to be five years behind in the cell phone world forever?

Feeding the Homeless

2007-04-18T07:23:00.001-05:00

This is one brilliant way to take care of America's homeless population.

Too Much Bacon 'Bad for Lungs'

2007-04-18T06:53:00.000-05:00

Etta loves only two things in life. Comics and Bacon. Sure he may enjoy some other things, friends, family, maybe the occasional video game. But there are two things that have become sort of his life's work. Comics and Bacon. I guess he probably has some pretty nasty lungs, kind of like that old lady down the block that breaths from an oxygen tank, yet still smokes three packs a day. Maybe someday Etta will walk around the nursing home, pulling his oxygen tank in one had, holding a BLT in the other.

Thou Shalt Always Kill

2007-04-16T21:56:00.000-05:00

I'm totally not the audience for this. I'm a guy who lives in Iowa, in the middle of the country where radio won't be playing this anytime soon. I'm generally not one for spoken word, electronica, or hip-hop (yes, there are always exceptions, I do have eclectic tastes, but I'm working on a bit here, so humor me). But after hearing this, I really enjoyed it. I actually listened to it a couple times, which is always a positive sign. And I even researched the guys behind this "Dan Le Sac VS. Scroobius Pip", listening to them on a radio show after the song garnered them a whole lot of attention (which for those reading, I didn't even know was happening) and found both to be intelligent, cool guys who seem to have their stuff together. Maybe I'm just a sucker for British accents, or some nods to actual good culture and music, who knows. So go on, give it a listen, it's been a while since ProjectSilence had some music, and I figured we needed something new and different.

The Ettatorial For the Week of 4-11-07

2007-04-14T23:20:00.000-05:00

Well, you may have noticed the lack of Ettatorial last week-its not that I didn't have some picks, its the fact my image hosting site server was down, and I couldn't get images. It's also the reason for this week's Ettatorial lateness. I had to go elsewhere for my cover image, so if anyone can point me in the direction of a quality image hosting site that specializes in comic covers, feel free to email me about it. It was a great week of new releases this week, and while I could pick multiple suggested books, I'm going to pick the cream of the crop. So , without further ado, and any more excuses, I give you the pick for this week: Fell #8

A Hampster Powered Paper Shredder

2007-04-12T08:33:00.000-05:00

One cool invention for the home office if I do say so myself. Consider this a must buy for Silence.
Thanks to Gizmondo.

Squirrel Photography

2007-04-11T16:50:00.000-05:00

Wow. This looks like a lot of work.

Flickr

Homeless James Bond

2007-04-11T16:27:00.000-05:00

This is one of those great ideas that is simple, yet brilliant, it makes me wish I had thought of it.

Snow?

2007-04-11T09:13:00.000-05:00

Today is April 11th, and this is what it looks like out my window. I love the spring.

The Cardinals Are in First

2007-04-11T08:36:00.000-05:00

Just thought you all might like to know, after losing the first three games of the season, the St. Louis Cardinals, after defeating the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Cincinnati Red's lose, are back where they belong, first place in the NL Central.

Halo 3 Beta Starts May 16

2007-04-11T08:24:00.000-05:00

Bungie has finally released some solid information on the Halo 3 beta:

The Halo 3 Multiplayer Beta will go live on May 16th at 12:00 AM PDT and run through June 6 ^that 11:59 PM PDT. That means that folks who purchased specially marked copies of Crackdown, or won a spot in the Beta through the “Rule of Three” or other regional promotions, will be able to log into their Xbox Live Gold accounts, download and play the Halo 3 Multiplayer Beta and enjoy an early peek at the multiplayer aspect of the game.

The Beta itself consists of three maps – Valhalla, High Ground and Snowbound – graphically improved since our first MP screenshots – and all three will be playable in Matchmaking only (that is after all, what we’re Beta testing here). All three maps are suitable for a wide variety of gameplay types, and you will have the chance to try all manner of game types, familiar and new.

There are a number of new features you’ll get to test out – including a new grenade type, a completely different class of weapon and some of the enhanced online functionality we plan to bring to the game – but it should be noted, a lot of secret features are hidden in this Beta. We’re keeping a lot of our powder dry for Fall. In May, when your firing the Spiker, sniping vehicles with the Spartan Laser and sticking fools with the Brute Spike grenade, remember that it’s just a peek-a-boo fraction of what’s to come.

There is also a new Multiplayer video:

Bungie.com

Staff From 24 Send Matt Stone and Trey Parker a Snuke

2007-04-11T08:00:00.001-05:00

The South Park 24 parody was an instant classic, and it seems the cast of 24 didn't miss out on the joke. In fact, they sent the staff of South Park a real life Snuke.

Blog Post
Pictures at South Park Studios

Xbox 360 Spring Update Looks Great and Could Be Great for Home Theater

2007-04-10T09:05:00.000-05:00

Microsoft has released details of the spring update for the Xbox 360, to be released May 7th. Updates include integration with Windows Live Messenger to chat back and forth from 360 to PC (using the super cool keyboard attachment), a dedicated Marketplace Blade (not sure if we really need more blades) and better codec support for video playback (this is where things get interesting).

What really gets me excited is the improved codec support. As of now the Xbox 360 will only playback video encoded in WMV, which is utterly useless, closed proprietary systems are good for no one, those WMV encoded files will also play back on exactly... zero other devices I own. With this update Microsoft will be adding support for both Mpeg4 and H.264 codecs. Codecs that are high quality and worth your time, but also quickly becoming industry standards. Both Mpeg4 and H.264 will playback on a Video iPod, AppleTV and PS3. Like it or not, Apple and Sony are the major competitors to Microsoft for living room space, so Microsoft has to keep up. It's nice to see that they are.

Now what really gets me salivating is the potential here. Imagine taking all those DVD's you own (I'm not talking piracy here people, I'm talking fair use), ripping them to your computer (Mac or Windows) with a program like Handbrake and being able to watch the same video file on your Video iPod and on your widescreen Hi-Def television using the Xbox 360 (using Windows Media Player 11 or for the enlightened Mac users Connect 360 is amazing and actually works better than Microsoft's own solution).

I love the thought of being able to select any movie I own without having to even leave my chair. I'm an Apple fan all the way, but I already own an Xbox 360 and by simply adding a little codec support Microsoft may have just built an AppleTV killer without even realizing it.

I Wish I Lived in Brazil

2007-04-10T09:03:00.000-05:00

This isn't really anything. It hardly even counts as a post, more of a random thought, but some days I sure do wish I lived in Brazil.

I Have No Idea Where This Came From...

2007-04-08T20:31:00.000-05:00

...but it's funnier than the real Garfield has been in 20 years.

Bond vs. Bourne

2007-04-06T20:33:00.001-05:00

I'm a huge Bond fan, have been for a long time. But compairing Daniel Craigs Bond to Matt Damon's Bourne just isn't fair. The Bourne movies reinvented the spy genre (with great effect) and while the new Bond tries to do the same, Craig (and the writers) just weren't quite up to the task.

Hackers Dissect Apple TV to Create the Cheapest Mac Ever

2007-04-06T20:26:00.001-05:00

Six Hundred dollars for a Mac mini just a little to expensive for you? Well, now that you can install Mac OS X on a $300 Apple TV, Macs just became as cheap as thouse crappy Dells you can buy for around the same price (and probably just as slow).

Source:Wired.com

Yet Another iPod Video Converter

2007-04-06T20:17:00.001-05:00

I posted recently about how much I love to use iSquint, but it's a Mac only product. I can't say how good or bad Free iPod Video Converter is (great generic name), but I thought I'd give a quick link for you stuck on Windows users who would like to convert their video to an iPod compatible format.

I haven't tried it myself yet, I just found it on Digg, but once I do give it a try I'll let you know how it compares.

Alanis Morissette "My Humps"

2007-04-04T10:22:00.001-05:00

I'm no Alanis Morissette fan, but then again I didn't realize she finally found her long lost sense of humor. Give her credit, the best way to make fun of awful, "Gansta Rap" is to mock it by playing it serious and showing just how ridiculous it is.

The Ettatorial For the Week of 3-28-07

2007-04-01T17:43:00.000-05:00

A bit of a delay this week, as getting the images of the covers for my picks were much more difficult than usual. I pride myself on getting the actual covers images as you'd see them looking at them on the rack, which means covers with copy on them, and I refuse to get images that are unclear or have watermarks of other sites on them. I finally was able to get them, so without further ado, your picks of the week are Daredevil #95 and Godland #17.

There Is Something Weird on Mars

2007-04-01T08:03:00.000-05:00

First of all this is not an April Fools joke. You all know I enjoy a good practical joke as much as anybody, but the whole posting fake stories on April Fools Day has gotten lame (not to mention cliché).

So what in the bloody hell is this thing (click the picture above for a larger version)? Speculation ranges from simple sand dunes to giant Martian worm overlords. Personally I don't think either makes much sense, but whatever this thing is, I would like some more research done. Anyone have any other ideas as to what it might be?

Here's a link to the original story, although I wouldn't bother clicking it, I hosted the picture above so you wouldn't have to, they've been dugg.

"The Emperor of Evil Raps?" or "This Constitutes News?"

2007-03-31T15:05:00.000-05:00

I don't know which is more disturbing, that this actually took place, that it made the news ( oh wait, it was Fox News, nevermind) or that the black guy actually took part in it.

I Don't Want to Sound Gay or Anything, But I Think Unicorns Kick Ass

2007-03-30T15:55:00.001-05:00

Warning: this video has a bit of fowl language, turn it down if you're at work. This is the funniest, must unexpected thing you will see today.

Frypod

2007-03-30T07:24:00.001-05:00

Frypod
Originally uploaded by Silence99.

I never understand why apple is ok with this.

Peyton Manning and the United Way: Update

2007-03-25T20:34:00.000-05:00

These NFL commercials are getting ridiculous.

Update: As Etta was kind enough to point out, NBC is run by a bunch of f'ing idiots who have no idea how to use new media like YouTube to generate positive word of mouth about a failing program that could use any good publicity it can find. Instead they forced YouTube to remove all copies of the video. The good news: you can still see the video on NBC's site. The bad news: you will have to sit through advertisements, and while this was a decent bit, SNL isn't really a good enough show to be bothered. Seriously NBC, Viacom, Big Buisness in general, get a fucking clue already.

Adam Sandler Monologue on David Letterman

2007-03-25T06:27:00.001-05:00

Adam Sandler is still a pretty funny guy (although his recent movies are no indication). Dave Letterman was sick so Sandler took over hosting duties, here's his monologue. And just so you aren't surprised, Paul is still as annoying as ever. I half expected to see Rob Schneider on keyboards (which would be equally annoying, behind every talent is a really annoying sidekick).

Unintentionally Funny Comic Panels

2007-03-25T05:46:00.000-05:00

One of my biggest guilty pleasures is trolling the Neo-Gaf forums. I've read posts there for years, it's one of the most popular forums I've seen, and I've never even registered.

There is a great thread going on comic panels that are unintentionally funny or funny when taken out of context. I highly recommend you check it out.

Borat Sign Generator

2007-03-25T00:21:00.000-05:00

The internet can be a wonderful place full of useful tools and ideas that can benefit all mankind. This is not one of them.

The Most Frightening Thing You Will Ever See

2007-03-25T00:09:00.000-05:00

This video is so frightening, I don't even know where to begin. This girl will one day murder someone and that will be the cold, dead look on her face.

Jesus I wish the sun would come up.

The New Project Silence is the Old Project Silence: WTF?!?

2007-03-24T23:33:00.000-05:00

Sometimes I hate myself. I get an idea in my head and I just have to try it.

Recently I switched to Wordpress for Project Silence. I thought it would allow me to do some of the things I couldn't do with Blogger. This was true, but I found I really didn't need (or even want) most of the functionality.

I thought it would increase my exposure, traffic and motivate me to update more often. This was not true.

In the final analysis Wordpress is a good system. It does what it promises and it does it well (for the most part, the WYSIWYG editor is junk, Bloggers is much better), but Blogger is simple and still more than powerful enough for what I need, plus, it's completely free, where as with Wordpress I had to pay for my own hosting, an expense I just can't justify for a blog three people read.

So I swear to you, loyal readers (and Etta), Project Silence is staying at Blogger (until I get some other stupid idea).

I will probably be updating less. I had this silly notion that if I did enough to Project Silence maybe I could make some money. I now realize this will likely never happen and just want to use the site for more personal issues, so when I do update, I'll make it count. I'll likely still update once or twice a week. OK, now I should make all this worth while, but I'm going to hide it (no paragraph break), so if you read all that crap, heres a reward. My favorite joke that is so wrong, you can't help but laugh and feel terrible at the same time. What's better than winning a gold medal in the special olympics? Not being a retard. There you go, now it was all worth while wasn't it? Thanks for reading!

The Ettatorial for the Week of 3-21-07

2007-03-24T22:28:00.000-05:00

A small week of releases this week for me, but 2 were good enough to be picks of the week. Both from DC, which is nice to see in the current Marvel post-Civil War market. Your picks of the week are Brave and the Bold #2 and Checkmate #12. Totally different in tone, but excellent examples of great final products.

12 Ways to Pimp Your Office

2007-03-24T22:26:00.000-05:00

You could also read the title as 12 over-priced items the hippy management at Google might buy. Useless items abound, such as a $130 bean bag and a desk named after a dairy beverage that is so expensive they won't even tell you the price.

Although all of these items are more expensive than you can actually afford (unless you finally broke down and just started dealing that meth), not to mention useless, some of them are actually pretty cool. Check out all 12 at PositiveSharing.com.

Want to Convert Virtually Any Video File Fast? iSquint

2007-03-24T22:25:00.000-05:00

iSquint is a program for the Mac that took me far too long to discover. What does it do? Simply put it converts any video file into Mac (or iPod or AppleTV) friendly Mpeg4 and H.264. The great thing about Mpeg4 and H.264 is that they are also Windows friendly (can't we all just get along?).

With the recent release of the AppleTV and the annoyingly common use of WMV (which just doesn't work well on Macs, Flip4Mac tries, but it's 30 bucks if you want to import into iMovie, and at times it can be painfully slow on my Intel Mini), iSquint is a cheap (as in free, as in beer), fast, elegant alternative.

It's programs like iSquint that make me glad I own a Mac. You just don't see programs that do everything as advertised, simply and quickly (and did I mention free) on any other platform.

Amazing Pictures of the Sun (and Earth)

2007-03-24T22:23:00.000-05:00

It's been far too long since I've posted any cool space shots. Here's a great shot of our Sun, with the earth in the background. Check out the source for more shots.

Source: DevelopmentCenter.info

YouTube vs Viacom: The Daily Show

2007-03-24T22:21:00.000-05:00

First off, The Daily Show is a show on Comedy Central, which is owned by Viacom. Because of this fact I have to present this video to you with the crappy Comedy Central player. Sorry.

This is a decently funny bit, which is just dripping with irony, so I had to bring it to you.

Source: Mashable.com

Start Laughing Now, Symantec Names Windows Most Secure OS

2007-03-24T22:20:00.001-05:00

Despite popular opinion, I do not hate Microsoft. I really want to get my hands on a copy of Vista (it seems to be a number of steps in the right direction), I'm only held back by the price tag. However, that being said, the thought of Windows as the most secure OS on the market is simply ridiculous, but Symantec believes it to be true:

The information was a part of Symantec's 11th Internet Security Threat Report. The report, released this week, covered a huge range of security and vulnerability issues over the last six months of 2006, including operating systems.

The report found that Microsoft Windows had the fewest number of patches and the shortest average patch development time of the five operating systems it monitored in the last six months of 2006.

In the study Symantec found that Windows had only 39 security vulnerabilities and fixed all critical ones within 21 days. Red Hat Linux had 208, requiring 58 days to address and Mac OS had 43 vulnerabilities requiring 66 days to address. Going solely on those numbers, Microsoft seems to win, but is there more to the picture? I would argue, yes.

Of the security issues, 12 in Windows, 2 in Red Hat and 1 in Mac OS were considered severe. What does this tell us? It tells us that the underlying foundation of Red Hat and Mac OS seem to be much more secure than that of Windows. Personally I'd rather have a stronger foundation, but how do you feel about the issue?

Source: InternetNews.com

A NiGHTS Sequal for the Wii?

2007-03-24T22:17:00.000-05:00

According to Spong.com a new NiGHTS game will be coming for the Nintendo Wii:

SPOnG can confirm that recent speculation of NiGHTS remake holds truth today, as fresh details emerge of a game that has reached epic proportions before a single jot of official information is revealed.

Of note with this remake is the fact that it's going to come from a new studio and not from within Sega itself. Yuji Naka, creator of Sonic The Hedgehog and a legendary developer in his own right, was believed to have become frustrated with Sega as it revised its core business operations, following the shift away from former parent CSK to pachinko giant Sammy. It is believed that his autonomy was reduced and the central Sonic Team diluted and relocated to other teams and projects.

This caused Naka to seek allegiances with the Sega old guard, which were successfully gained, and start a new company, called Prope (the Latin word for 'beside' or 'next-to'). Prope was set up in May 2006 with 10% funding coming directly from Sega itself - more than an indication that it going to develop product around Sega IP from the off.

This news honestly sounds way too good to be true. Not only is it a new NiGHTS game for the hottest console on the market right now, but Sega is going to go out of there way to make sure Yuji Naka is in charge even though he left Sega proper to start his own studio? This sounds like what we all wish would happen, not anything that could ever come true in the cold, harsh, real world.

God, I hope it's true.

Spong.com

3 Red Lights of Death

2007-03-24T22:15:00.000-05:00

My Xbox 360 just died. I bought it on launch day at midnight. Time of death, March 20th 7:16 AM. Cause of death, unknown, possibly Lego Star Wars II (the game I was playing at the time). It served me well for over a year, but I guess it is now time to Jump Out.

Great timing. I actually had a small amount money saved up so I could take a small vacation, the first one of my adult life and now my 360 dies.

Donations anyone?

The Ettatorial for the Week of 3-14-07

2007-03-24T22:14:00.000-05:00

A pretty good week of releases this week, led by some great Marvel issues. While Civil War has divided the fan community, count me in on the side that is enjoying some of the books coming out of it. Your picks of the week are New Avengers #28 and Thunderbolts #111

Conan: Meet the Press (for Idiots)

2007-03-24T22:11:00.000-05:00

Simply put, Conan is a genius.

2007 Rally of Mexico

2007-03-24T22:10:00.001-05:00

I love the WRC, but living in the United States is not condusive to loving any racing that doesn't involve driving in circles for hours on end. I'm also a Petter Solberg fan, this also seems to be incompatible with actually enjoying the WRC. I was just able to watch the Rally of Mexico yesterday, better than a week after it was ran. Yay for the good old U.S.

Subaru finally debuted the 2007 Impreza at the Rally of Mexico and. wow, did it look good. For three legs. Petter was able to win the first three legs soundly, out-pacing even Sebastian "The Robot" Loeb, proving he's still got the stuff.

I love the look of the Impreza, it's a beautiful car, but early in the afternoon mechanical problems once again forced Petter to retire. How long can this go on for? Petter is a driver capable of competing for championships, if he wasn't constantly plagued with problems. Subaru is one of the classic WRC competitors, they should be embarrassed at the results over the last year. Yes, Sebastian Loeb and Marcus Gronholm are amazing drivers and we should take nothing away from what they have done for Citreon and Ford respectively, but Petter and Subaru need to be at least competitive.

Oh well, there's always Portugal.

Wife Googled 'How to Commit Murder", then Kills Husband

2007-03-24T22:08:00.000-05:00

At exactly 5:45:34 on April 18, 2004 a computer taken from the office of the attorney of Melanie McGuire, did a search on the words "How To Commit Murder."

That same day searches on Google and MSN search engines, were conducted on such topics as `instant poisons,` `undetectable poisons,' 'fatal digoxin doses,...

Ten days later, according to allegations by the state of New Jersey, McGuire murdered her husband, William T. McGuire, at their Woodbridge apartment, using a gun obtained in Pennsylvania, one day after obtaining a prescription for a sedative known as the "date rape" drug.

In my experience I have found that there are some things even Google cannot help you with. This is not one of them.

DailyRecord.com

The Alar: World's Ugliest Lamborghini?

2007-03-24T22:06:00.000-05:00

I love Lamborghini's. They are, in my opinion, the absolute pinnacle of automotive mastery. The words, "Ugly Lamborghini" are like an oxymoron. They shouldn't exist. Yet here we are, a Lambo that is actually, pretty ugly.

The Alar is actually just a modified Diablo. Why it still keeps the Lamborghini name is really not known. Hit the link below for more pics and info.

AutoBlog

RIAA Lawsuit Hits Family with No Computer or Internet Access

2007-03-24T22:04:00.000-05:00

"I don't understand this," James Walls told his local paper, the Rockmart Journal. "How can they sue us when we don't even have a computer?" The confused family believes that the copyright infringement must have been the work of their home's previous occupant, as they have lived there for less than a year. It's not hard to believe however, as the RIAA has in the past filed a lawsuit against a dead woman.

Yet another example of how the RIAA's tactics are wrong both morally and technically. When will they and the court system wake up?

AfterDawn

Daily Flickr

2007-03-24T22:01:00.000-05:00

Sunset
Originally uploaded by Silence99.

Super Mario Bros. Mega64 Video

2007-03-24T21:59:00.000-05:00

If you don't know who, "that Asian guy" is near the end. Shame on you.

The Pirate Bay’s Torrents Quadruple in a Year

2007-03-24T21:56:00.000-05:00

Like most other BitTorrent sites, The Pirate Bay has grown explosively over the last year. They are now tracking 500.000 .torrent files and almost 5 million peers, what makes them by far the most popular BitTorrent tracker. In comparison, a year ago they tracked only 125.000 torrents.

Why did I post this story? Because for some reason every time I post anything about The Pirate Bay, my traffic doubles. So here you go. That's a whole lot of pirating going on.

TorrentFreak.com

Maybe This is What it Feels Like

2007-03-24T21:55:00.000-05:00

I had a dream last night. You know the kind, where everything looks and smells and feels real. I've only had dreams like this a few times in my life and when I do I can remember them vividly, as if they were actual memories.

In my dream I walked though a small town at night. Probably not a town like the one you live in, where the night is dark, desperate and sometimes even frightening. In this town the night felt warm, inviting and safe.I walked along a wooden path near a river, every 5 meters or so were lights to guide the way. Again, not the cold, harsh street lamps of most city's, but the cool, warm glow of small town street lights, the kind that glow like paper lanterns. They have a sort of, warmth.

The homes were old fashioned, wooden and dark, built more by human hands them by machines. For some reason no lights glowed in the windows, but this didn't bother me one bit, it was late, around 10 0'clock and most people were likely safe in their beds for a long nights rest.

A fog hung, not a deep fog that obscures your vision, but the kind of light fog that adds an atmosphere, one that gives you that subtle smell of humidity and ozone. I love that smell. The river trickled quietly in the background, there were no rapids here, nor for miles around.

After a short time I encountered a women. No one that I knew, but her hair glowed blonde and she had light green eyes. Nothing about her seemed extraordinary. She didn't look like a supermodel, nor dress like one, but she had a warm, welcoming air about her, perhaps enhanced by the night around me. Something about her positively glowed and I found her the most beautiful women I had ever seen. Normally were you to encounter a lone stranger at night you probably might not say a word to them, you may even cross over to the other side of the street, just to be safe. It's a shame really, but you are probably right in, "playing it safe".

For reasons unknown to me the women and I began to talk. I found her enchanting. We talked and walked and laughed for what seemed like hours, but as this is a dream, was probably more moments. We talked about anything and everything, she laughed at all the right moments and gave that nice sad look that only a women can give, you know the one, the one that with a simple look tells you she understands exactly what you are saying. We could say whatever was on our minds and always agreed, and were glad to hear what the other had to say. She somehow made me feel happy and warm and content and cared for all at once, a combination of feeling's that I rarely even feel singularly in the real world.

After a time we came to a small stairwell heading down that we knew lead to a small bar where we could rest our feet for a time (I don't know how we knew what was at the bottom of the stairs, but this is a dream and in dreams you know everything you need to). We walked down the stairs and I opened the door for her, she walked though saying nothing, not having to, she smiled a smile that said more than any words ever can.

When I entered after her I entered a long dark room, lite by small fires around the edges with three long tables running the length and one perpendicular table at the end where the old women running the bar stood. It was mostly empty, save for the old women (whom I've already mentioned) and five people sitting at the table to the far left, all looking warm and content. I couldn't make out the five peoples faces, but I had the distinct impression that I knew them all personally, not as friends but as acquaintances, or people I hadn't seen for some time.

Initially we traveled to the other side of the room to see what the bar had to offer. The old women looked like a lunch lady from when you were young. Not the mean kind you've heard sung about by comedians, but the kind who reminds you of your grandmother and cares deeply for the food she prepares.

It was late and most of the food was cold and not much was left, but she happily offered us what we wanted and we were thankful for her kindness. I remember we had sandwiches and baked beans.

We took our plates and sat down with the people I knew but didn't really know and ate our food and talked with the other patrons. I remember the mysterious women commenting about how delicious the baked beans were, how amazing they would be if they were still warm and fresh. I would have given anything to make those beans warm for her and told her as much. She smiled and reassuringly told me she was happy just the way they were.

We talked with the other people and (mostly) with each other at the table for a time and all seemed well with the world. It was one of those nights you simply wished could go one forever. Sadly time is one fate none of us can defeat, the beautiful thing about dreams is you can forget that and enjoy the moment, unlike the real world where every tick of the clock seems to suck away you enjoyment, just enough so you can't be perfectly content.

Suddenly the entire room began to shake. A rumble came like powerful thunder in the distance. The people around me and my mystery woman all began to fade as the world grew fuzzier and darker. None of them panicked however. I was the only one concerned with the sudden violence, in fact I was the only one who seemed to notice, and the mystery women smiled that warm smile until she faded into darkness.

Suddenly I awoke and realized the thunder in the distance was simply an inconsiderate driver who enjoyed his rap music loud and didn't care if he tore you away from a happy moment, or a nights rest.

I slowly fell back asleep, but of course didn't return to my dream. I slept a dreamless sleep and the next morning I awoke with no memory of my dream, but I was in a fowl mood. After a while something sparked a memory of that foggy night and the river and the small dark town with lights like paper lanterns. The floodgates of memory opened and I remember every detail of the dream (as you have read above) and my mood improved.

I knew the memory's weren't real, but they seemed real and happy memories will always improve your mood when you are feeling down and if that is the effect of memories, real or fake, I welcome them all equally.

The wonderful images used in this story were taken by Flickr members and used under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike2.0 license by Oneras and Cernavoda.

Frank Miller's 300 and a Bit About Wordpress

2007-03-24T21:52:00.000-05:00

I just got back from an opening night show of Frank Miller's 300. A little background is in order. I wouldn't say I'm a Miller fan, he's had great works and bad works. I love Dark Knight Returns of course and I did enjoy 300, however I consider it to be the last good thing he did. I'm not really a Sin City fan, I didn't really enjoy the film (although, admittedly, it has something to do with the fact that cannibalism is the one thing the honestly really creeps me out).

So with all this in mind I went into 300 with low expectations, expecting to be entertained at best. I can say it honestly exceeded my expectations on all levels. The acting was solid, not great, but solid. The action was intense and well paced, never overshadowing the story (this was my concern, I worried it would be all stylish action, something I get bored with quickly). The scenery and cinematography are phenomenal. Some of the best I've seen, even the trailers don't truly do it justice. All in all it was a good experience, not the best movie I have ever seen, but well worth the price of admission (and that's rare enough these days).

On a side note, my local theater has finally upgraded to DLP digital projectors. Wow. Stunning, I may have to actually start seeing movies in the theaters more often.

On another side note, the first day of Project Silence on wordpress went very well. My host seems to be working great and everything was easy to setup and configure, these kinds of moves can be a nightmare, but wordpress made it easy, if you are looking for blogging software I can highly recommend it. It seems even traffic is incresing, or maybe it was just a big day being a Friday and all, we'll see in time I guess.

Thanks for reading, have a great weekend!

The Ettatorial for the Week of 3-7-07

2007-03-24T21:48:00.000-05:00

Well, after the a few weeks of small releases, I'm back this week with a multitude of picks. Though I'd love to give Captain America #25 my pick, seeing as I haven't gotten it yet, I won't. Instead, my picks of the week are Mighty Avengers #1, Criminal #5, and New Universal #4. All 3 are deserving of your dollars, full of reading goodness.

A small move for Project Silence

2007-03-09T07:10:00.000-06:00

I have been wanting to move from blogger to wordpress for some time but I really didn't want to pay for hosting. The main reason being that most hosting company's require you to pay for a full year in advance, what a joke. What if they suck? I'm stuck for a year. Well, I found one for a modest price that only had me pay for 2 months and I can pay month to month if I wish. No plugs on who they are yet, I'll plug them if they don't suck.

So the point is, Project Silence may be down, slow or other wise unavailable at times for the next week or so, but don't worry, it will all be for the best in the long run. Stay tuned, it's going to be another chapter in an already interesting story.

Babylon 5 'Lost Tales': Part One

2007-03-08T14:19:00.001-06:00

The Path and Production of J. Michael Straczynski's 'Babylon 5 'Lost Tales.'

“I've always said you can get more with a kind word and a two-by-four than you can with just a kind word.” from the B5 episode Ceremonies of Light and Dark by J. Michael Straczynski.

read more | digg story

Captain America #25-It Better Live Up to the Hype!

2007-03-07T18:07:00.000-06:00

Captain America #25 was released today, March 7th, 2007. "Why is this important?" you might ask? Because apparently Marvel chose to make this a media frenzy book, with a "big event" inside driving speculators and lapsed fans in to purchase a comic book they haven't even glanced at in years. The AP, CNN, and other major media gave a ton of coverage. People haven't been this insane about a book since '93s Death of Superman. And why is Etta writing about all this? Is it a recommendation for the book? Well, kind of. I'm a huge fan of Captain America, have been since I was 8 years old. And the current run by Brubaker and Epting might just be the best Captain America has ever been. And today I actually wasn't able to get this issue. I was told (actually, my lovely wife was told, seeing as she's the best wife a guy could get, who goes and gets his comics while he's at work) that the distributor is sold out. After frantic calls, I exhausted all my options locally. I checked some online comic shop subscription services, and they too were sold out. I moved to the dreaded Ebay, where copies are astronomically high, averaging at $30 for a low cost. I was heartbroken. Would I ever get this issue? I lucked out, finding a online shop (with a great reputation) and did something I haven't done in a long time-I paid a bit extra to get this issue. Granted, it was shipping that did it, but I'm not one to spend over cover price. So, once I get this issue in hand, you'll definently hear if it lived up to the hype.

The Ettatorial For the Week of 2-28-07

2007-03-04T16:53:00.000-06:00

Wow, this was not a good week. Weather delays on shipping, missed shipments, a small week of purchases (made even smaller by the missed shipments-damn you Diamond and/or UPS!) and a genuine lack of good material makes this Ettatorial a hard one to pick. So, instead of just picking from my lack of new material, I'm going instead to pick a classic. Astro City: Confession is a personal favorite. It collects 7 issues from the superb Astro City series, and can be read without any knowledge or past readings of Astro City. It's easily available at your local comic shop, or online at Amazon. So there you are, your pick of the week. Go forth and enjoy this classic story.

Daily Flickr

2007-03-03T05:01:00.001-06:00

Swans On The Test
Originally uploaded by rhys400D.

Hey good buddy

2007-03-03T04:48:00.001-06:00

Gen. Wesley Clark: Decison to Attack Iraq Made 9/20/01

2007-03-03T01:00:00.001-06:00

This long interview with Clark includes many amazing comments and statements. He thinks about running for president every day. We should close Guantanamo. Bush & Co. planned to attack Syria, Lebanon, Iran and several other countries in Middle East. Surge is useless.

read more | digg story

Daily Flickr

2007-03-02T14:23:00.001-06:00

Boston Police Forced to Blow Up Suspicious Looking Man

2007-03-02T14:20:00.001-06:00

Boston, MA – There were more tense moments today after Boston Police were forced to blow up a suspicious looking man near a lamp post. An alert city worker called in the man after noticing that he had been leaning against the lamp post for more than ten minutes. Police later learned the man, Evan Johnson, was just waiting for his girlfriend.

read more | digg story

The Ettatorial For the Week of 2-21-07

2007-02-24T17:58:00.000-06:00

Well, while a big week of releases, nothing truly stood out. And even though I'm loathe to just put a book as my pick of the week, this one partially feels like that's just what I'm doing. My pick of the week this week is Civil War #7, the final issue of the Marvel event. While it's a good comic, with some great parts, and art work that truly is beautiful, I'm conflicted putting it as my pick. Yes, it does entertain and open up a realm of story-telling possibilities, but it's also the last issue of an event mini-series. So while I do suggest it for some people, those who either are not into the super-hero set, or those who are coming in late should look at some other books that have come out this week.