Web of Webhead

My wife and I are suckers for “reality tv”, and one show that we’ve been watching is Dancing with the Stars.  But here’s the weird thing…now that we’ve been watching it for a while…I’ve realized that I recognize some of the dancers better that I recognize the “stars”.  I mean…what has the guy from 90210 been up to for 13 years?  I have no idea, but the girl he’s dancing with, I’d probably recognize her on the street since she’s “won” the event the past two go arounds.

When the professional dancers are more recognizable than the “stars” of the show…it may be time to get bigger stars.  I’m just saying is all. - B

I think a pop culture phenomen has peaked when you can know everything about it with never having to observe it directly.  American Idol is that way right now, even though it just started up again.  I’ve watched 2 minutes of it in passing, but I could tell you ALL about it if I had to, because I’m bombarded with “news” about the show.

With that being said…I find it worth pointing out that American Idol is not unlike a large tournament structure that you might find in a game like Magic…rounds of qualifiers, cuts to the top eight or whatever, a big old prize at the end.  It turns out…it’s a valid way of finding and developing talent.  Look at Carrie Underwood…instantly one of the most successful Country/Pop acts out there.  Slick marketing only takes you so far, talent takes you the rest of the way.  Of course, it works because they start with a significantly large enough pool to begin with I think.

Speaking of the shallow end of the talent pool…doesn’t it turn out that the best shows are those first ones where they show everyone that didn’t make the cut…by a large margin.  Who Wants to be a Superhero? was the same way, and I think they made a mistake by cutting that section down to the first half hour.  Contestants like Ice B!+@# deserve more than a moment to utter their catch-phrase (FREEZE MOTHER !$#^%&).  WWE’s Tough Enough was the same way…only with more body slams.  And really, wouldn’t more shows on TV be better with more Elbow Drops from the top rope?- B

I’d be the first to admit that I like to eat a hearty lunch.  BUT…Arby’s appears to be out of my price range.  I can usually get by at a fast food joint for say around six bucks for lunch.  Eight is pushing it…it better be good.  But yesterday, I went to Arby’s and picked up….

1. A small shake
2. A regular roast beef
3. A three piece chicken tender
4. and a five piece potato bites

Grand total - $10.63!!!  I usually go budget on the exclamation marks, but dang.  Over ten bucks?  What am I doing wrong here? - B

Welcome to the final day of the Marvel Attacktix previews. You’ll find previews here, at the Joe Attacktix site, and at the Master Attacktix site. Special thanks go out to Joe and Jason for all of their help in bringing these previews to all of you.

We finish the Marvel Previews with the Sentinel of Liberty…

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In the tradition of Clark W. Griswold, we (read - my wife) decided to get a live christmas tree this year.  Now, we’ve always had an artificial tree, and I was happy with that, especially the new pre-lit one I bought a couple of years ago.  But this year…it’s a live tree we (she) wants, so a live tree we shall have.

It turns out, the tree farm is nearby, after all, we live in the styx, and the place is hopping.  They have a refreshments stand, huge campfire, horse drawn wagon rides, the works.  They also charge for trees by the foot, from 6 to 12 dollars per, depending on variety of tree.

So, here is how it works.  You wander around until you find a tree you like.  Then you stand by it.  Eventually, a guy comes over with a chainsaw and a long stick.  The stick is to measure the tree.  Our tree was clearly pushing nine feet, he measured it at seven.  Then he cuts it, tags it, and gives you a slip go pay for it.  I asked if they take tips.  They do, without hesitation.

As an aside, if you are in middle of the woods with a guy with a chainsaw, you give him money if he even hints that he would take it.

Then you go pay.  Of course, we picked the 12  dollar per foot variety.  And, then you pull your car around, they shake the tree in a tree shaker (?), net it, throw it on top of your car.  (Tipping the guy that nets and loads it seems optional.)

About a hundred bucks later, you have a tree on top of your car, and the joy of unloading it and trimming it yourself. - B

Hey everyone, I hope you had a great Thanksgiving yesterday.  We had a traditional feast over at my folks place, followed by naps and then poker, as is  tradition.  My grandparents taught my sister and I poker when we were young (like 9 and 6 or something like that), and it’s been a family past time ever since.  Usually we play dealer calls the game, which is great, as each hand is played different from the last.  My grandpa in particular is very good at introducing new games he has picked up, and I noticed he never (or rarely) deals the same game twice in a night.  I think I’ve learned more from him than I would have thought when it comes to games.  What’s great, when you call the game, you can make it up on the fly, or tweak the variations as you go…a great mental exercise.

Anyway…back to Marvel Attacktix previews today…and with any luck they’ll be on the shelves soon… - B

Welcome to week 3 of the Marvel Attacktix previews.  You’ll find previews here, at the Joe Attacktix site, and at the Master Attacktix site.  We’ll be covering a figure a day each week day until we have covered all of the figures.

Today we take a look at the Marvel Origins starter version of Spider-Man (amazing friends not included)…

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The parent company of Scrye magazine has purchased gamingreport.com, one of the best sources for gaming news on the internet.  You can read the news on www.gamingreport.com.  I’m hoping that the eclectic range of both publications mesh well…I look forward to seeing how the too merge up. - B