It's a feature in the making. I'm talking to Peter Jackson as I write this - how Digg, Nintendo and a bunch of self proclaimed celebrities on the Internet killed the Flee Circus through my iPod.
The premise is simple - "here's this up and coming blogger from the burbs. He's onto a good thing, establishes a good fan base and is riding the ultimate power-slide that is freedom of speech on the Internet. But like any superstar, he comes to a defining moment; The crossroads that will make or break his claim to fame - boredom!!?!"
I'll admit Pete is having issues with the material, but I'm not interested in the finer details of how a brontosaur makes friends with a giant monkey. It's not going to help tell this story either. Here's the plain truth - Podcasts, video games and big budget television has dominated my life of late. To tell it all would breech the small print in the Geneva convention (under the cyberspace rules of engagement). You know, the bit that says to make a friggin' point when writing a blog? Okay, so I'm I walking this line precariously. Fine, I've been absent because I've had better things to do, like listening to podcasts! In fact, I've been listening to so many podcasts that I'm ready to make a list of my top 10:
10. Frederator - in it's early days it was arguably the coolest video podcast available. Dedicated to free CGI shorts and vintage cartoons, it boasted some of the best material available for showing off your flashy new video iPod. Not to mention the kick-ass name! Unfortunately for the red helmeted warrior, it's creators made the crucial mistake of making cameos in their shows. Since then they've gone from bad to worse and seem to be coaxing more of this "hill billy's on ice" demo out of the woodwork than I'd care to see. But occasionally they'll release something juicy for the subscribers to make it worth the wait.
9. Movie trailers - definitely worth it when you're window shopping for something to, uh, obtain free of charge from your friendly Internet people!
8. Jamie's Podcast - I just love this guys food. I tried reading a book once, but really, this guy needs to be watched in fast forward. If you try and take in details, all you get is a whole lot of cockney and metric on how much saliva ends up in your food.
7. Football Focus - For an English football fan, this is pretty much a dream come true. It's run by the BBC and features respectable ex-pros that consistently get it wrong (great if you're into sports betting).
6. Mysterious Universe - Quite easily the best sounding podcast on the Internet, this show is run by an ex-sound tech who has an interest in the paranormal and "alternative science". Definitely one for the believers or if you're still suffering withdrawal symptoms from the X-files and those 80's alien autopsy shows. Not to mention that the host of the show married my sister!
5. The Best of Youtube - nuff said. Just try not laughing when you're in a packed bus watching this show.
4. The Chasers War on Everything - if you're an Aussie and don't know what this show is about, try crawling out from under the rock you've been hiding under first. The world is a big and wonderful place.
3. Game Trailers: Wii - yep, there really isn't any need to revisit the topic of how good the Wii is (see older posts on the Flee Circus). All I can say is that this podcast is the perfect companion for any Wii owner. However, I must issue a warning to any prospective down-loaders of this show. You will wish you were Japanese.
2. Dr Karl - I've been listening to Dr Karl for as long as I can remember. The fact that I can now listen to him whenever I want is god-sent. Yes, in essence it is a geeky show, but Karl makes it cool because he also makes it easy! By far the most accessible and influential science advocate of my time. Not to mention his obsession with the mystery of flatulence is mind boggling!
1. Diggnation - this may come as a surprise for some given I can't stand Alex's voice (one of the hosts and founders of www.digg.com), but my obsession with Digg (a social news website) has made diggnation an easy choice for the number one spot on my list of best podcasts. The video version of their podcast also makes it easier to live with Alex's shortcomings - sympathy is as natural a response as any I guess, especially for an over-opinionated bikey on a diet that makes Alvin of the chipmunks look like Chuck Norris!
So there it is, Flee's top 10 podcasts. I hear the Internet crying for peace, so till next time...
The image speaks.
Listen, then follow:
http://tokyopia.com/tk/archives/000378.php
Admittedly, MomoTheCow is a cooler name then bethereds... damn cow!!?!
...
Point? Go to www.digg.com and read this article. Then ponder the thought of who'd win in a fight between captains Malcolm Reynolds (Serenity) and Han Solo (Millenium Falcon).
This particular set of reasons to buy a Wii comes courtesy of "Darth Mullet" and at the expense of a $5 steak. Being the only list that apparently required an essay and a questionable bribe, it comes to you in it's entirety, un-cut and in it's own post on the Flee Circus.
DISCLAIMER: There are no refunds for lost innocence here.
1. HOW COULD YOU NOT BUY A CONSOLE NAMED AFTER A BODILY FUNCTION?
The only way a console could be more appealing to me is if it had
an actual offensive bodily funtion related name.
Ie. The sony anal discharge or the upcoming (you heard it here first)
Atari infected herpes sore! Can't wait!!
2. Chiks and other non-geeks dig it.
I have noticed something very interesting about the demographic
the Wii seems to attract, it's not your typical pocket protector,
thick glasses, odd musky scent gamer geeks, it's people who don't
normaly play computer games at all.. many of them female!
I obviously feel no shame in admiting I am totally out to exploit
this fact.
3. WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
I know thats not really a reason, but Fred bort me a steak lunch in
exchange for writing this dribble and I have to admit I'm having
trouble comming up with even clsoe to 10 good, or even crap reasons
for this list. I will probably re-use this reasons around #7 or so.
4. Z E L D A
Although I'm totally manly and tough, and it go's against allmost
everything I belive in to play a game that not only is the main
charecter a poxy little elf (who I would smash in a fight) and has
the word "princess" in the game title. You best belive this game
alone allmost makes the Wii worth owning. If your fairly well informd
about console games your prolly saying right about now, "but garth
you can get the zelda game on the gamecube aswell" to which I would
say "shutup" possably followd by "jerk". Ninjas Know.
5. The crazy crontols
Everyone probably mentions this one (at least everyone else who Fred
has roped into doing one of theese lists), but I have to admit when
I first heard about the controls or even saw videos on the interweb2.0
of people using the wii, I though "hey what a gay console!, ooo look
this site has links to porn". But after several gigs of porn and
speaking to some people who had actully played it, I thought I'd give
it a second chance. So after re-assuring myself of my sexuality (mainly
through porn) I actualy played one, and it rules.
6. Price
I actully want a Xbox360 and a PS3 and some other cool shit that I
don't even know about yet, but it obviously has lasers and super hi-def
"shit your pants"[tm] real graphics. But do you know why I don't have
them (Ok the last one dosn't even exist which is obviously a preety big
draw back, but the other 2 at least)? It's the $PRICE$! I really don't
want to pay $700 for a game console, thats money I could be spending
on hookerz, booze, crack cocaine and gambling (in that order).
The Wii on the other hand is cheap.
7. WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
I told you I would re-use this one. Although there is one less "E"
in it this time, to reflect it's position in the list.
8. Simple crap games are fun again
Seriously, I've played bowling on Wii Sports more than anything, and
it's shit. It's the most boring simplistic crap game, but the fact
that you stand there and actully have to do the bowling motions
makes it fun. My top score is is 247, Rekonize suckerz.
9. Several of my friends think it's crap.
Several of my friends think the Wii is shit, they payed no mind to
it and basicly rekon it's not a real console. I am basicly a jerk
and proving my friends wrong at anything/everything I can is one
of the small pleasures I get in life. I have converted 4 people
so far, there will be MORE.
10. NINTENDO
I was a teenager in the early-mid 1990's. There was 2 types of kids.
SEGA or NINTENDO. I was nintendo, the super nintendo was the best
thing since slice bread. Street Fighter II and Street Fighter II
turbo on the super nintendo pissed all over everything, life was
good. Then those jerks at Sony FUCKED EVERTHING UP.
Paybacks a bitch isn't it?
Breaking Wii virgins has become one of my favorite past times of late. It's just too much fun watching every soul that meets it being won over by this console. I'm know I'm not the only one to experience this, but it's simply a juggernaut in the battle to destroy social barriers! They should just drop a couple thousand of these in Iraq to solve all their problems. (If my mother gets it, everyone can!)
There does however, seem to be one slight problem (as was discovered in my last Wii-sharing exert) in Nintendo's obvious aim for domination in the console world; there are still people who need something more to inspire them, beyond reason, to go out and buy one!
Queue-in Google search for, "10 reasons to buy a Wii"... disappointment much? "Cheapest next-gen console, revolutionary controller, Zelda, size, Blu-ray sucks, blah blah blah" - it's the same geek crud everywhere! So I decided to go out and ask a few proud owners in my local demographic why it was that they chose to buy a Wii.
The Nose:
-
To be cool;
-
Avoid the outdoors and bad TV;
-
To download/play Sonic;
-
To do something with the spare double-A's about the place;
-
They (??) might come out with good games;
-
Computer games aren't meant to be hi-res;
-
Cost effective; accessories aren't available;
-
On average, domestic arguments become less serious;
-
You can get a sore arm without the inconvenience of going to a gym;
-
News & weather is available on demand on your TV.
JD
...stay tuned for more.
This has been an obsession with a small group of people with whom I acquaint for a number of years now. We've been playing in a fantasy football competition that follows the English Premier League - If you haven't already noticed, this post will translate to gibberish to anyone who is outside the circle; just a disclaimer for any damages incurred by reading further.
The idea is simple. You put together a team of your favorite players in the league, subject to an imaginary budget and selection rules. Then, based on each of your players weekly performance stats, your team earns points. The self proclaimed Sir Phil (manager of the Galacticos), has dominated this competition for as long as anyone can remember... until now!
He stumbled earlier in the season, but recovered the following week as we all predicted, displaying the poise, skill and luck that has earned Sir Phil is notoriety. All that went to hell over the Christmas break! As you can see in the table below, Phil-killing has become a bit of a popular sport. We'll be opening a club for qualifying managers shortly. Watch this space for details.
Not "Why", not "We", not even "Nintendo Wii". It's simply "Wii".
I picked up mine at the midnight launch and took the day off work to play it. The first thing that becomes blatantly apparent is that the next generation of geeks will no longer sport under-nourished physiques and drink Red Bull and coke... They will have buff upper bodies and drink Gatorade and water.
The photo shows Mollet, formerly known as the local network Nazi; and Jengels (code monkey aka "bitch'o clam") proudly showing off the last Wii available in Sydney's CBD only a day and a half after the midnight launch.
Now all their base are belong to us...
Wii
It is 2:14am on a Sunday morning. There's a paddy wagon outside my apartment with two police around the scene of a smashed vacuum cleaner in the driveway, which appears to have plummeted to it's death from the 3rd floor (above ours).
This isn't the first time a ruckus has broken out upstairs, but for the past hour Steph and I have been entertained to some of the best real-life drama that high density living has to offer! Our walls aren't exactly thin in this block; the kids next door have been discovering the joys of non-parental guidance, the ensuing parties and loud music for months now and its only bothered us when we opened our front door to come and go from the apartment, but we could pretty much make out all of what was going on with these clowns upstairs. In a nutshell, "she" isn't getting enough R.E.S.P.E.C.T. and "he" needs to find a lawyer... so it's only logical that the vacuum cleaner needs to die!
House-hold appliances apparently, are the real victim's of domestic violence.
WARNING! Innocence can die here... but then watching it die is half the fun!!?!
