BG News Culture Shock

Nintendo DSi

2009-04-06T05:17:06Z

Technophiles rejoice, the Nintendo DSi is out. I know C & C Games has them in stock, too. I have a black DSi but do like the teal one too. So why should you care about the DSi?

New features include larger dual screens, improved audio, two cameras and an SD/SDHC card slot. The DSi now has a "Home" menu similar to the Nintendo Wii, and has its own online DSi Shop. There are five games available for purchase at launch, and the web browser is free.

So far I have downloaded WarioWare: Snapped! and Art Style AQUIA (you get 1,000 points free until October 5) and may end up grabbing the Brain Age Express: Math game as it adds a couple DSi-secific features.
Nintendo has a lot planned for DSiWare, with a number of Art Style games that look really fun. They also have a number of these Express games, such as Master of Illusion Express, and others that are not released yet.

DSiWare cost 200, 500, and 800+ Nintendo Points, which just like the Wii, easily translates to $2, $5, and $8+ for the downloadable games. You can save them on the internal 256 MB of memory, or to SD card.

The included photo and sound manipulation software is impressive, however your millage may vary, depending on how excited you get over taking 640x480 resolution pics or recording or playing with music to change the pitch, etc. Note that the unit only supports AAC files, no MP3 love here.

I really love the matte finish, the DSi has a really simple and stylish shell. They even went as far as taking the DS logo from the lid.

The battery live is not as good as the DS Lite, but still better than the original DS from 2004. I am going to guess this has something to do with the fact that the processor or more than twice as fast. Another downside that people may or may not complain about is the missing GBA slot. This hurts not just backwards compatability with existing software, but perephials for DS games too.

I am really looking forward to what DSiWare has in store in the weeks and months ahead.

True life: I'm a Dolph-o-maniac

2009-03-21T20:47:03Z

I think there is a serious lack of appreciation in our world for late 80s original action movie heroes. I am referring to only one here and this is "Masters of the Universe" featuring Swedish hottie Dolph Lundgren. Who? Who is that?! OHHH the Russian from Rocky 4!

No.

Dolph Lundgren is more than just Ivan Drago, he is HEMAN. Seriously. Have you ever seen it? It really upsets me when I mention this film and only a handful of people know what I am talking about. I saw it for the first time when I was in the third grade or so and immediately knew I would never be the same. Then again, I had zero restrictions as a child to what films and shows I watched, so maybe it is only natural I love this type of movie. That being said, I can't neglect others such as "Robocop" where a guy gets melted and "Total Recall" where the Governator's eyes pop out of his head. (Note: Two other under-represented cinematic treasures).

Not to mention, he is super smart. According to "DOLPH: The Ultimate Guide," he attended the Royal Institute of Technology. Spending time abroad in the U.S. on various academic scholarships, he attended Washington State University and Clemson in South Carolina. He received a master's degree in chemical engineering from the University of Sydney, Australia in 1982 and the next year was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship to MIT.

So now that you know everything about Dolph Lundgren courtesy of moi, go to Video Spectrum or any other local video store and check out those films aforementioned. Also check out "Rambo: First Blood" (no, not the most recent), "Cliffhanger," and "Universal Soldier" while you're at it.

Baby Boom

2009-03-19T23:47:37Z

In a news story today that I can't remember the source for (it could have been a facebook update), there was a statistic that showed that more babies were born in 2007 than in any year of the baby boomer generation.

When I was in San Francisco, I would have bet my life on it. There have got to be more babies per capita in the Haight-Ashbury neighborhood than prescription marijuana joints (pun intended). EVERY SINGLE PERSON UNDER THIRTY HAD A BABY. Not only did they have a baby, but they were flaunting it. These hip babies do not ride in precious little carriages, they are clinging on for dear life as their hip moms jet-set around the city.
They really just HANG off of things.

I think in a college town, having a baby and looking college age is kind of a faux-pas. When is the last time anyone saw a pregnant person on campus? BGSU is the new Children of Men world.

Project Runway turns Real-Life Villian

2009-03-19T23:23:05Z

It is the go to excuse for reality show contestants, whenever they get shown in a negative light on television they always blame it on the editing, insisting they don't act like that in real life. As viewers we never really know who to trust. Is Audrina really that dumb and naïve on "The Hills" or is it the editors' creation? Can Hugh Hefner really tell the "Girls Next Door" apart or is it just clever behind the scenes work?

Well for once we have a definitive answer to one of reality TV's great villains. "Project Runway's" Kenley Collins was arrested in New York for throwing a laptop, water, three apples and a cat at her boyfriend. Yes I said a cat. Kenley is PR's most notorious villain, being bitchy to other contestants, refusing to take advice from the judges and worst of all being rude to Tim Gunn. Like most people she pled the "it was editing" defense but this latest incident has proven it was not editing, Kenley is in fact the nasty person she was portrayed to be.

As a PR fan and as far from a Kenley fan as they get I felt almost vindicated when hearing of her arrest. I always doubted she had a career in fashion and I hope this puts the final nail in her professional career.

Talk about brand loyalty

2009-03-12T06:30:36Z

Apparently, Keiko Awaji, a famous 73-year-old Japanese actress, commented that she hopes she will be able to play at least two more "Dragon Quest" games before she dies. (For those who don't know, "Dragon Quest" is a traditional role-playing video game series that is wildly popular in Japan, but has only had modest success in North America.)

Can I just say that I love this woman? Any 73-year-old woman who remains aloof enough at her age to worry even slightly that she might die before she sees two more entries in one of her favorite video game series is cool in my book.

The camera crews should come to my house.

2009-03-06T02:08:59Z

The Bad Girls Club. The Hills. Keeping up with the Kardashians. America's Next Top Model. Project Runway. What Not to Wear. The Girls Next Door.

I love and watch these shows. I love these shows because every time I get a healthy craving for drama, I turn on the tube and sit and watch without experiencing. I have decided, however, that if Bravo, Oxygen, MTV, E! or any other channel wanted a REAL reality show, come on over to South College Drive. My house will keep you entertained for hours.

We have drunken visits from mom, a far-out roommate, two other roommates who practically despise each other, sicknesses, injuries and plenty of excitement. In fact, if my two roommates ever old school WWF smackdown, I will get a video camera and send in the clips. There are signs posted all over telling roommates what to do and what not to do, long sighs of annoyance and frequent anti-social quarantines. What is better than all that?

So stand back Lauren Conrad, watch out Tim Gunn. We have everything it takes to be on top.

My reality show name:

Project Keeping up with the Bad Models Next Door to the Hills' Runway.

Stay tuned.

All About Mystery

2009-03-01T23:00:32Z

I was reading my bi-weekly indulgence in the shape of a magazine called, RollingStone (you may have heard of it.)

In the March 5th issue, even though the annoying Ms. "Cry for me, my boyfriend sucks" Taylor Swift is gracing the cover, I found a real revelation within the pages.

Page 28 features a little Q&A with Stevie Nicks. Now, you may be asking what a washed-up hot mess like her has to offer me, but contrary to belief, she does.

In it she says the following: "The internet has destroyed [the record business.] I miss buying an album and lying on the floor for three days and going over it with a magnifying glass. I still go to the record store and spend hours there and buy a big bag of CDs. I don't have a computer or a cell phone, because I don't want to be available to anybody. I'm all about mystery. Little girls think it's necessary to put their business on MySpace and Facebook, and I think it's a shame."

Now... Let's dissect this, shall we?

1. I completely agree that life is all about mystery. I think there should still even be mystery within you and your closest friends, maybe even your spouse. I hate it when people lay out their entire lives for everyone to see, and not only on profile sites, even. It's completely unnecessary. I think people share too much these days, and there are just some things in life that I don't really want to know about others. I think people take in more pleasure in not knowing every detail. I want there to be mystery within me, and I would like to believe that I live my life daily holding some things sacred and to myself. I don't think there is anyone out there that really knows everything about me. There's a lot people don't know about me. There are things no one knows, and that's how I like it.

2. The internet has completely ruined every single thing that was once sacred in music. I hate that now, when an artist puts out something new, we hear it way before a CD is even completed. Downloading music is all too easy now, and music should be respected a lot more than it is. I may be one of the few still around, and power to all who agree, but I love buying CDs and completely diving into what I have purchased. I think you really connect and appreciate an artist that way, instead of just downloading the one song that the radio is going to play to death in another week anyway.

3. Finally. I really like the ideals that she laid down about not wanting to be available to people, and in this, she refuses to have a laptop or a cell phone. I really applaud her for this. I hate how every second of our day can be found out by combining our AIM away message, our Facebook status, whose wall you wrote on, and what song is playing on your MySpace. It's kind of lame that everything is ruled by these internet devices too. People that think they need an iPod Touch or Blackberry because they can't leave their house without internet access have a bit of a problem, whether they want to admit it or not. And this, kids, is just one of the many things that are wrong with the world.

Now, Ms. Nicks' ideals are earth-shattering, but a lot of you will jump at my throat and call me a hypocrite. It's true; my cell phone is in my pocket everywhere I go, and I did just give my mother hell because she wouldn't keep up with our generation's technology by sending me a simple text message instead of calling me. And yes, I think it would be quite a challenge to live without my precious Facebook, but her viewpoints, all in all, I respect whole-heartedly. Keep things sacred.

I still will buy CDs though. You can't get me to budge on that.

Fat Tuesday

2009-02-24T17:38:58Z

It's fat Tuesday, guys.

And I am giving up Kanye West for Lent.

Sometimes it's not fair that only Catholics get to deprive themselves of things for forty days. Things that they love for forty days. One of the strangest ones that I have ever heard came from government class in high school, where one person volunteered that they were "promoting silence" for Lent. What does this mean?

For this poor soul, it meant turning off her car radio while she was driving.

So if she was Catholic, and she was allowed to do that, I will be giving up the angriest false idol of them all and the biggest distraction to my work, Kanye West.

As I watched the video from 808s and Heartbreak I wanted to type, in all caps, about my love for the video "Heartless".

This thing is beyond entertaining to the point of mild paralysis while watching.
Kanye, in his typical Kanye style, is not dancing, he is not crumping, he is just being.
He's actually rapping too, which fans didn't hear in "Love Lockdown".

Anyhow, so he's doing his thing, in sunglasses, surrounded by the most neon-outfitted girls with, TEAL LIPSTICK. Somehow, a fashion tip that has not made it to campus yet.

And they are just walking around, not even paying attention to Kanye.

So that is what I must do for the next forty days.

I will ignore him. I will be so heartless.

Heartless-Kanye West

Live from the Oscars

2009-02-23T03:11:12Z

Even though Heath Ledger's win for Best Supporting Actor was the most certain win of the night it was still an emotional moment. Watching Heath's family accept the award on the behalf of his daughter Matilda was moving. So rare do we see actors and actresses show actual emotion and not hiding behind a character or their public persona. It is a testament to Heath to see the biggest names in Hollywood mourning his loss in the audience. With the "Dark Knight" being such a huge hit, Heath has still had a huge presence in our minds for the year since his death. I hope now with the Oscar win Heath will remain in our memories but also fade away from the bright spotlight he has been in and his family may finally have a sense of peace that I feel may have eluded them since his death.

Live from the Oscars

2009-02-23T02:58:39Z

The Seth Rogan / James Franco sketch was funny.
The musical number with Jackman, Beyonce and Efron was painful to watch. I enjoy musicals, but that number was what made muscials go out of style for so long with the top hats and penguin suits. Too much.

Live from the Oscars

2009-02-23T02:29:06Z

The wins for "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" in art direction and makeup are well deserved. The film was a sight to behold, absolutly stunning.
Still not liking SJP's dress.
The tribute to romance in 2008 was really nice. I like how they incorrporated everything from "Milk" to "Nick and Nora's Infinite Playlist" in the montage. The love story is what makes a film memorable.
So far this has been a pretty entertaining show.

Live from the Oscars

2009-02-23T01:48:04Z

Hugh Jackman's opening was good. It was very Broadway but it was also very much like Billy Crystal used to open the show when he hosted in the 1990s.
Random- Anne Hathway changed gowns from the red carpet to her little bit with Jackman. I understand why performs do at the Grammy's, but why did Anne? It seems like such a shame to have such a great gown for the red carpet and then change to a ho humm dress for when the majority of people will actually see you.
A Bowling Green connection at the Oscars... Eva Marie Saint who helped present Best supporting actress if from Bowling Green.
That was a nice way to present the award, it really does spotlight the nominees.
Loved Viola Davis crying, it really showed how over whelmed a moment like that can be. She barley was known a year ago and now here she is.
Good for P. Cruz, even it means I was wrong in my pick in the Pulse.
Ohhh Tina Fey looks great.

And the Oscar Goes to...

2009-02-23T01:06:40Z

So the show isn't really starting until 8:30 so ABC can do their own red carpet show. The network has been doing this for a few years now but it just does not work. Red carpet shows are best on basic cable, where they started so long ago with Joan Rivers.
Angelina and Brad look great, even if they aren't talking to anyone. They gave it a try with last month's SAG awards and it was a disaster so I don't really blame them blowing off Ryan Seacrest, but pretty much blowing off Tim Gunn? Thats low Angie and Brad, thats low. It appears they didn't even know who he was, are you telling me they have never seen Project Runway?!
Kate Winslet looks great of course.
Loucky mention #2. How mentions of Rourke's dearly departed dog will we get tonight? I wouldn't put it past Rourke to hold up a picture of him if he wins tonight.

Live from the Oscars...

2009-02-23T00:11:30Z

Or really from my couch while I watch the Oscars.

Tonight I will be blogging live as the Super Bowl of the entertainment industry goes down tonight on ABC and the pre-game on E!. Get my reactions on the gowns, the winners, the losers and all the stuff in between.

To see the Pulse's official picks of who should and who will win check out:

http://media.www.bgnews.com/media/storage/paper883/news/2009/02/20/Pulse/And-The.Oscar.Goes.To-3640388.shtml

My thoughts so far on the red carpet on E!...

I hate Ryan Seacrest mentioning American Idol to any and everyone who will listen. Why does he not realize tonight is not about him and his program?
Robert Pattinson and Zach Effron are set to be presenters tonight. Why exactly? Is this the Oscars' attempt at staying relevant with the young people? No one that watches "Twilight" or "High School Musical" even knows what the Oscars are.
I will admit I don't really like Sarah Jessica Parker and she is not helping matters tonight. Her dress is too much, it is clearly a "look at me, I'm a fashionista!" dress. I believe only nominees should wear dresses like that because they deserve to stand out, it is their night.
Case in point...Taraji P. Henson from "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button." She looks beautiful and she stands out just like she should.
How is that I know the name of Mickey Rourke's dog? Loucky,his dog's that died this week has been big news in the entertainment industry. Regardless, Rourke was excellent in "The Wrestler."

More soon...

Welcome to the 'Real World'

2009-02-20T05:57:54Z

I'm doing something I haven't done in years: I'm watching "The Real World."

The current season, which airs on Wednesdays at 10 p.m. on MTV, is set in Brooklyn, and features eight cast members instead of the normal seven, including an Iraq War vet, a virginal Mormon, a gay dolphin trainer, a dancer, a former lesbian who is now engaged to a man, a former beauty queen with aspirations in entertainment and a fitness-obsessed model wannabe. Which, of course, sounds like your typical "Real World" cast. Except for the last housemate, Katelynn.

Katelynn is transgender. Specifically, she is considered "post-op," which means that she has gone through all of necessary operations to complete her transformation from male to female. And after 20 seasons, she is the first transgender housemate to ever grace the landmark MTV reality series.

Now, I am notorious for not being a fan of most reality series. The amount of unreality in many of them is pretty reprehensible and only amusing for so long. (I mean, really, "A Double Shot at Love"? "Rock of Love Bus"? But I digress.) However, the inclusion of Katelynn makes it all worth it. Not to make her a poster child for transgender issues, but visibility has always been a strong force in achieving acceptance, tolerance and equality. It has worked for other minority groups -- TV shows like "Julia," "Good Times," "The Cosby Show" and even the divisive and problematic "Amos 'n' Andy" aided in normalizing black life and culture in the U.S. And now, as Katelynn's housemates are slowly learning more about her and her experiences, so do the thousands of the show's viewers. So, in short, bravo, MTV, for daring to go there. For as much as you're criticized for your programming, this is definitely a step in the right direction.

Agree? Disagree? Sound off below!