So about 3 years ago I got a 1st generation iPod nano, and that was the beginning of my relationship with Apple…so after that my dad got me a used Mac G4 which strengthened our bond. Soon after the Zune came out and Apple and I began to have problems and had to split and I got the Microsoft Zune. I was so happy…and very anti Apple. This relationship with Microsoft lasted for a about a year, then suddenly Zune began to let itself GO and we broke up around the beginning of school. After that I was digging trough old stuff in my closet and found my old reliable iPod nano and we re-kindled our relationship. We had some rough patches (Zune HD)…but our love prevailed. Around Christmastime I saw the lovely 3rd generation iPod Touch and fell in deep love. And I’ve been hooked ever since…thanks to iPod and Mac and am forever an Apple person.
I got my iPod Touch for Christmas of 2009 and have had it for about 2-3 days, depending on how you count, and I must say I love it. As some of you know I name many things in my life my cars, Pamela/Bertha, and Kate, TV’s Christmas trees, Bertha/La’Dynasty (Lady Nasty), and now my iPod Touch (Gogo Youbari). I don’t know why I name them but I do and it makes me feel special. Ok now on to the real reason for this blog…an iPod Touch review and app Suggestion Blog. FYI this review is not super in-depth but hey it can help you to solidify your choice.
Overall the iPod touch is great and I love it the touch screen is really smooth and slides easy. The screen is very responsive and there is no need to calibrate it works perfectly……you know what I’m really lazy and I don’t feel like writing all of this so I’ll just grab one off the web and post it here…I will cite it but I just don’t feel like doing this written review. By the way if you don’t care about this review then skip to the bottom for the app part where I’ll actually write stuff.
ALL PARTS OF THIS iPod REVIEW COME FORM CNET.COM
http://reviews.cnet.com/mp3-players/apple-ipod-touch-third/4505-6490_7-33770783.html
For better or worse, the first thing we noticed about the third-generation iPod Touch is how unchanged it looks. Side by side with the second-generation iPod Touch, you'd be hard-pressed to find a way to distinguish the two models from each other. Aside from minor differences in the etching on the back of the Touch, the second- and third-generation models are spitting images of each other
Just like its phone-wielding sibling, the iPhone, the iPod Touch is a touch-screen device with a glass-covered 3.5-inch screen that sports a 480x320-pixel resolution. In spite of its touch-screen interface, Apple includes a few physical buttons, including a slim volume control on the left edge, a hold switch on the top, and a home button on the face of the player, placed below the screen. The bottom edge of the Touch includes the same universal dock port and 3.5-millimeter headphone jack as previous models, piercing the otherwise unbroken expanse of chromed steel that wraps around the back and edges of the device.
The shape and dimensions of the Touch also remain unchanged (4.3 inches tall by 2.4 inches wide 0.33 inch thick), defined by a flat-glass front set inside a curved steel backing that feels natural in the hand but makes the iPod a little wobbly when you set it down on a table. Packaged with the Touch is an Apple universal dock connector USB cable, a pair of white earbuds that include a microphone and remote control on the cable, and a molded universal dock insert to use with any charging or speaker accessories.
I have some problems with this...it is correct but it talks about the 3rd generation being the same size as the 2nd generation as a negative when it’s a positive…for example when you go and buy a case, you can buy a 2nd gen and use it on your 3rd gen iPod. Another positive talked about as if it were a negative is the dock…be glad it’s the same size now you can you it on old stuff instead of having to buy all new accessories because “this new iPod doesn’t work with my old shit.” Aside from that this part is really good
Out of the box, the third-generation iPod Touch includes an amazing music player, podcast support, video playback (including iTunes rentals and a YouTube player), a Safari Web browser, photo viewer, an e-mail reader (compatible with Outlook, Exchange, MobileMe, Gmail, Yahoo, AOL, or any POP e-mail service), an integrated iTunes Store for music and video downloads, and a host of smaller utilities (weather, calendar, maps, stocks, notes, voice memos, clock, contacts, and calculator). Provided become proficient with its touch-screen keyboard, the iPod Touch is more pocket PC than an MP3 player.
An iTunes App Store, accessible from the computer or directly from the iPod Touch, lets you download and install thousands of applications, including Internet radio players, games, voice recorders, and social-networking tools. You can also extend the capabilities of the iPod Touch using third-party "Made for iPod" hardware accessories such as AV docks, external battery packs, and speaker systems.
Are you confused about what features are available on the 8GB Touch compared with the 32GB and 64GB versions? So were we. For the record, iPhone OS 3.1 features such as Bluetooth audio, Genius Mixes, and voice memo recording are available on all versions of the third-generation iPod Touch. Voice Control and accessibility settings, however, are the only features we've found so far that can only be found on the 32GB and 64GB Touch models (or iPhone 3GS).
There’s this thing called Genius on Apple I don’t know what it does nor do I care so I will omit any Genius talk in this blog…it’s not really a selling point anyway.
The iPod Touch now includes the capability to control playback using voice commands. To activate this feature, you'll need to press and hold the headphone remote control button until the Voice Control screen appears. Using the microphone built into the included pair of earbuds, you can call out a song, artist name, album, or playlist, and the iPod will interpret your commands and play the request. Playback features such as shuffle, skip, play, and pause can also be controlled using voice commands, but it feels a little unnecessary, since the earbud remote control is available to perform these functions without making you look like a crazy person.
I don’t use the voice commands much because in all the time I can do that I can just press it on the iPod…so I don’t use it… it’s nice to have but again I don’t use it.
Apple is pushing the speed barrier where users feel it most: gaming. With a promised 50 percent increase in processor power and a new OpenGL graphic processing system, the load time and responsiveness of games on the third-generation Touch have been quickened dramatically. A game of Spore that took 14 seconds to load on our second-generation Touch, launched in just 8 seconds on the third-generation model. If games are your distraction of choice on the iPod Touch, the improved speed and graphics capabilities of the 32GB or 64GB third-generation models are certainly the way to go.
Unfortunately, as much as Apple seems inspired to push the limits of processor speed and video game graphics rendering, the attention it pays to audio quality and sound enhancement is at a standstill. The arsenal of sound enhancement settings packed into MP3 players from Sony, Cowon, and Samsung, lay in stark contrast to the unchanged and marginally useful list of EQ presets included on the iPod. That said, the balanced and smooth audio quality of the iPod Touch is likely to satisfy the majority of listeners, despite the limited scope of its audio control. Like all iPods, the third-generation iPod Touch supports playback for MP3, AAC (including protected files), Audible, WAV, AIFF, and Apple Lossless. There's still no support for WMA music files, but you can always convert your WMA tracks to MP3 within Apple's iTunes software.
If you are looking for a way to take video on the go, the iPod Touch may just be your new best friend. You can load the iPod Touch with video podcasts, TV shows, and iTunes movie rentals, or watch endless amounts of free video clips using the included YouTube widget or other third-party video applications. The viewing angles weren't quite as generous on the third-generation Touch as our second-generation model, but it's not worth us raising a stink over. Whatever diminishment you may notice in viewing angles is made up for in what we perceived as a noticeable improvement to color balance and contrast. During testing, the 32GB third-generation Touch presented a cooler, more natural color balance than the second-generation Touch, and it seemed less prone to washing out at higher brightness settings.
One more thing there’s no camera on here.
Pictures of Gogo. (these are not to scale they may look a little longer/shorter in these pictures
all above pictures taken by ryangno@gmail.com
*************************************************************************************
APPS APPS APPS!!!!
So I my main reason for getting this iPod was the apps…which after about 2-3 days I have 72. Here I will make a list of my top 12… why 12?... because I feel like it. These are I NO order.
1. Tap Tap 3 (FREE)
- I didn’t originally want to get this but I caved in and to tell you the truth I’m glad. If you’ve played other Tap Taps then you already know how this game works. For those of you who don’t know Tap Tap is a game where you press balls as they come toward you while the move to the music…wow this is really hard to explain essentially its Rock Band/ Guitar Hero for your iPod. You set up and avatar and you play songs to unlock other songs and play more…the songs are fairly contemporary like Owl City’s Fireflies, and Lady Gaga’s Bad Romance (her song does set you back about 99 cents.
2. Hottest Free App (FREE)
- this has to be one of my favorite apps. This is an app that shows other apps that people get apple only shows the top 100 apps in the app store and some of the best apps go unnoticed and this helps to take care of that. It has a list of different apps and ratings on them then this app takes you to the app store to get the app of you want it. It shows both free and paid apps. (Wi-Fi required)
3. Facebook (FREE)
- do I really need to explain…you can get on facebook from here…you can chat from this app. (Wi-Fi Required)
4. PS Mobile- Photoshop.com mobile (FREE)
- this app lets you edit photos on your iPod you don’t do heavy editing like selections and layers but you get basic things like blur and color change…no brushes. I use it mainly to crop and rotate.
5. I Retouch Lite (FREE) no pic could'nt get one in time
- what I call the extension to Photoshop…it’s like the brushes for Photoshop and I use it to highlight stuff.
6. Music God (FREE)
- just a fun app that shows how you listen to music for example I have listened to 66% of all songs in my Library, and another one…my library costs $600.93.
7. Battery Master (FREE)
- this apps just lets you know how much batter you have life by percent and the time you have left to listen to music, surf internet, and watch videos.
8. FML (FREE)
- this app it just like the website (Wi-Fi Required).
9. MILA Lite (FREE)
- same explanation as FML. (Wi-Fi Required).
10. Mr. Aah…Lite (FREE)
- this is a game where you are this little gut that swings from a string and you have to land him on a pad safely. Really fun.
11. 20 Q Mindreader (FREE)
- this is like the normal 20 Questions game where you choose and object and you get asked 20 question to determine what it is. Really fun and not as boring as you’d think.
12. Bump (FREE
this is an app that lets you trade with other iPod/ iPhone users, you both have to have bump for this to work…here’s how it works…you both turn on Bump then bump iPods (while in you hands of course) you can exchange pictures and contact cards where you can then email things. (Wi-Fi Required).
Well that’s all the apps I’ll tell you about if you really want to know all the apps I have you can email me at ryangno@gmail.com , if I left out your favorite app post it as a comment to this blog.
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Friday, December 4, 2009
Getting Ready For It All.
Well it is that time again, where we all stress out over how we will buy the right thing for this person with out spending all of your money. You also have to plan this and plan that and cook this and cook that. Months worth of planning just for one day: December 25….the lovely Christmas. Well I’m here to help relieve some stress….in my own way.
In my plan….the way I get ready for Christmas it’s mostly on the whim…not much planning…mostly none. So that’s how your Christmas will be but with a little more planning.
Step 1. The first way you get ready for the holiday season is to get Christmas music. Any music you like but it has to deal with Christmas…weather you like songs like “Noel, Noel, Noel….” Or songs like “What do the lonely do…..at Christmastime,” you need to get some. Some of my favorites are (my list is what you can call…ethnic)..
Christmas A’int Christmas (Without the One you Love)-O’ Jays
What Do the Lonely Do at Christmas?- The Emotions
White Christmas- The Drifters
Someday At Christmas- Jackson 5
Merry Christmas, Baby- Otis Redding
Just go around on the internet and find songs you like then burn them to a CD or put them or your iPod or other music carrying device... and listen and enjoy….start this around the first week of December or the second week…depending weather or not Christmas is late in the month.
Step 2. This is up to you personally I don’t cook and if you don’t either then you go to your favorite department store (Wal*mart, Sam’s, Winn*Dixie, Rouses Save A Center etc.) and splurge on the best frozen dinners you’ve ever had…they have some dinners that are dinner’s you pop in the microwave for 10 minutes then BAM it’s a meal…get more if you have more guests coming…if you have so many to where u cant get T.V. dinners have them bring something if you invite enough they will now how to cook AT LEAST one thing. Some of my favorites are “Stouffer’s”, and “Bird’s Eye” just go and look and if I looks nice then you get it. Also most stores have pre cooked hams for the cooking inept. DON’T go cheap…unless you have to…. none of that “Swanson” stuff it’s bland. Then you bring your food out and it’s done! Get the food like 3 or 4 days before the dinner or you can get it like 5 days max before but keep it frozen…not the ham or turkey that has to be day before stuff.
Step 3. Decorations and a tree. This all depends on you money situation. If you have the money to spend on fancy stuff do it. Go to Pier 1 Imports, or Big Lots, World Market, Bed Bath and Beyond, even Wal*mart, and look for the nicest stuff keep it in the red, maroon, burgundy, whites, and gold sections… they can be used year round and they look “Christmassy” around this time of year. My mom like to go all out for Christmas and bys all kind of stuff this her glass beads here an this and that there. If you or the less splergy side or you want to save your money… go to Wal*Mart, and Big Lots and buy stuff, they have really nice stuff that is inexpensive. Bows, and Garlands, and tensile (which I don’t advise getting… makes you look cheap and lazy). On to the tree, get one that fits your budget do try and splurge on this unless you can afford to, you do not need to work this hard for something for this short of time. If you are on the less splergy side then get a plastic tree, they have some that look real, they last years and years and they don’t put pine leaves all over the floor. They come in all shapes and sizes, just don’t get a colored one …no whites not blues no fiber optic kind again looks cheap. One thing you should also do with and “artificial tree” is get one pre-lit…it makes decorating it SO much easier. If you buy a pre lit one they are “medium brightness” (meaning that they don’t have too may lights but enough the satisfy those who don’t care) so you will want to buy another pack of WHITE lights to brighten it up more…DO NOT get blue, red, or another color…JUST WHITE…its cleaner. Decorating your Christmas tree can be fun and a hassle…the main rule behind decorating a tree is to GET DECORATIONS THAT MATCH….they should match each other and match the decorations you buy for the house…red gold and white are the easiest ones to get just about ever store has some of them. To make it easier don’t decorate the part people don’t see…people will not look around your entire tree to see what it looks like to the wall. Just decorate the visible part…another rule decorate evenly make sure you have an even amount…by sight, of colors and styles of ornaments spread on the tree. Don’t put all the big red balls at the top and none at the bottom it looks gross… and makes your tree look heavy which you don’t want. Last rule for now one of the best decorations you can get is this thing called a sent diffuser…I think…its basically a jar of a scented liquid with sticks in it the liquid goes up the sticks and DIFFUSE out into the room and its smells nice. Try to start this like 2 weeks b fore Christmas and about a week and a half after, by January 10 Christmas is over don’t leave you tree up or the Christmas themed decorations.
Step 4: Presents. This is what stresses most people out. Here’s is how to lighten the load… for mom the best thing to buy a mother is a bath, or lotion spa set. These range in price from about $5 to $25 and come with lotions, sops, body sprays all that jazz….or if you mom is lazy like mine then buy her a robe slippers, or really soft and cute socks. Dad…who is usually harder than mom…I normally buy a nice sweater thing from Wal Mart, Old Navy get about 2 in a neutral color so he can actually wear it…or you can buy him ties if he works in an office. I know that clichéd but buy him some REALLY nice ties that he would want to wear…don’t by weird stuff like light up ties… its tacky. Siblings…for them its ok to ask them what they want…they your siblings…ask them and if you can afford it get it…if not they have these gift card credit cards that you can use anywhere but they have a set limit on it. It’s like a VISA gift card they range in price probably from $10- $100. Don’t forget get yourself a present. If all else fails and you absolutely have no idea as to what to get…then ASK! Start this like 3 or 4 days ahead of Christmas they have less people and its not too early I DON’T NOT GO TO BLACK FRIDAY SALES…waaaaaay too many people. And do not go on Christmas Eve that’s even more stressful.
That concludes this Christmas blog and this is how I do Christmas and it works our fine with me.. Another way to make it fun it go and do all of this with people it’s fun and enjoyable and u can get them exactly what they want. If you have anymore questions then email me at ryangno@gmail.com. So have a Merry Christmas and keep it stress free.
In my plan….the way I get ready for Christmas it’s mostly on the whim…not much planning…mostly none. So that’s how your Christmas will be but with a little more planning.
Step 1. The first way you get ready for the holiday season is to get Christmas music. Any music you like but it has to deal with Christmas…weather you like songs like “Noel, Noel, Noel….” Or songs like “What do the lonely do…..at Christmastime,” you need to get some. Some of my favorites are (my list is what you can call…ethnic)..
Christmas A’int Christmas (Without the One you Love)-O’ Jays
What Do the Lonely Do at Christmas?- The Emotions
White Christmas- The Drifters
Someday At Christmas- Jackson 5
Merry Christmas, Baby- Otis Redding
Just go around on the internet and find songs you like then burn them to a CD or put them or your iPod or other music carrying device... and listen and enjoy….start this around the first week of December or the second week…depending weather or not Christmas is late in the month.
Step 2. This is up to you personally I don’t cook and if you don’t either then you go to your favorite department store (Wal*mart, Sam’s, Winn*Dixie, Rouses Save A Center etc.) and splurge on the best frozen dinners you’ve ever had…they have some dinners that are dinner’s you pop in the microwave for 10 minutes then BAM it’s a meal…get more if you have more guests coming…if you have so many to where u cant get T.V. dinners have them bring something if you invite enough they will now how to cook AT LEAST one thing. Some of my favorites are “Stouffer’s”, and “Bird’s Eye” just go and look and if I looks nice then you get it. Also most stores have pre cooked hams for the cooking inept. DON’T go cheap…unless you have to…. none of that “Swanson” stuff it’s bland. Then you bring your food out and it’s done! Get the food like 3 or 4 days before the dinner or you can get it like 5 days max before but keep it frozen…not the ham or turkey that has to be day before stuff.
Step 3. Decorations and a tree. This all depends on you money situation. If you have the money to spend on fancy stuff do it. Go to Pier 1 Imports, or Big Lots, World Market, Bed Bath and Beyond, even Wal*mart, and look for the nicest stuff keep it in the red, maroon, burgundy, whites, and gold sections… they can be used year round and they look “Christmassy” around this time of year. My mom like to go all out for Christmas and bys all kind of stuff this her glass beads here an this and that there. If you or the less splergy side or you want to save your money… go to Wal*Mart, and Big Lots and buy stuff, they have really nice stuff that is inexpensive. Bows, and Garlands, and tensile (which I don’t advise getting… makes you look cheap and lazy). On to the tree, get one that fits your budget do try and splurge on this unless you can afford to, you do not need to work this hard for something for this short of time. If you are on the less splergy side then get a plastic tree, they have some that look real, they last years and years and they don’t put pine leaves all over the floor. They come in all shapes and sizes, just don’t get a colored one …no whites not blues no fiber optic kind again looks cheap. One thing you should also do with and “artificial tree” is get one pre-lit…it makes decorating it SO much easier. If you buy a pre lit one they are “medium brightness” (meaning that they don’t have too may lights but enough the satisfy those who don’t care) so you will want to buy another pack of WHITE lights to brighten it up more…DO NOT get blue, red, or another color…JUST WHITE…its cleaner. Decorating your Christmas tree can be fun and a hassle…the main rule behind decorating a tree is to GET DECORATIONS THAT MATCH….they should match each other and match the decorations you buy for the house…red gold and white are the easiest ones to get just about ever store has some of them. To make it easier don’t decorate the part people don’t see…people will not look around your entire tree to see what it looks like to the wall. Just decorate the visible part…another rule decorate evenly make sure you have an even amount…by sight, of colors and styles of ornaments spread on the tree. Don’t put all the big red balls at the top and none at the bottom it looks gross… and makes your tree look heavy which you don’t want. Last rule for now one of the best decorations you can get is this thing called a sent diffuser…I think…its basically a jar of a scented liquid with sticks in it the liquid goes up the sticks and DIFFUSE out into the room and its smells nice. Try to start this like 2 weeks b fore Christmas and about a week and a half after, by January 10 Christmas is over don’t leave you tree up or the Christmas themed decorations.
Step 4: Presents. This is what stresses most people out. Here’s is how to lighten the load… for mom the best thing to buy a mother is a bath, or lotion spa set. These range in price from about $5 to $25 and come with lotions, sops, body sprays all that jazz….or if you mom is lazy like mine then buy her a robe slippers, or really soft and cute socks. Dad…who is usually harder than mom…I normally buy a nice sweater thing from Wal Mart, Old Navy get about 2 in a neutral color so he can actually wear it…or you can buy him ties if he works in an office. I know that clichéd but buy him some REALLY nice ties that he would want to wear…don’t by weird stuff like light up ties… its tacky. Siblings…for them its ok to ask them what they want…they your siblings…ask them and if you can afford it get it…if not they have these gift card credit cards that you can use anywhere but they have a set limit on it. It’s like a VISA gift card they range in price probably from $10- $100. Don’t forget get yourself a present. If all else fails and you absolutely have no idea as to what to get…then ASK! Start this like 3 or 4 days ahead of Christmas they have less people and its not too early I DON’T NOT GO TO BLACK FRIDAY SALES…waaaaaay too many people. And do not go on Christmas Eve that’s even more stressful.
That concludes this Christmas blog and this is how I do Christmas and it works our fine with me.. Another way to make it fun it go and do all of this with people it’s fun and enjoyable and u can get them exactly what they want. If you have anymore questions then email me at ryangno@gmail.com. So have a Merry Christmas and keep it stress free.
Monday, November 30, 2009
TOP O' THE MORNING TO YA!!!!!!
So I had palnned on doing the whole “Interview with whoever” thing but I got really tired and decided I didn’t want to do that I just got really lazy and was like I’m not gonna do that. I might do that but I’ve changed my mind I think I’ll do Delicious and that’ll be it.
This topic is about the top 5’s on my life. (Many will be listed more than once)
Top 5…….
Movies
Kill Bill vol. 1
Resident Evil
Mean Girls
She’s the Man
Carrie
Horror Movies
Carrie
Orphan
The Exorcist
Thirteen Ghosts
Red Eye
Comedy Movies
Ghost town
Baby Mama
Bride Wars
Kug Fu Hustle
Borat?
Chick Flicks
She’s The Man
Mean Girls
Bring it On (1&3)
Bride Wars
The Princess Diaries
Guy Movies
Transporter (1 only 2 was ok)
Kill Bill vol. 1
The Long Goodbye
Crank
Shoot Em’ Up
Youtubers
Applesandmustard
Katers 17
Morethanablog
Nineteenpercent
Africano boi
Tv Shows
Bones
V
Dexter Laboratory
Family Guy
Boondocks
Obscure artists (6)
Sam Sparro
Noisettes
Zhara Hindi
Röyksopp
Miss Li
Andrew Bird
Amie Mirriello
Mainstream Artists (7)
Lady Gaga
Rihanna
Beyonce
Outkast (Andre 3000)
Christina Aguliera
Gnarles Barkley
Daft Punk
Rap Artists
Nicki Minaj
Missy Elliot
Kanye West
Common
Eminem
Musicals
Rent
Sweeny Todd
Chicago (Movie)
The Wiz
West Side Story
Favorite Children’s Movies/Tv Shows that give me nostalgia
Powerpuff Girls
Rugrats
Angry Beavers
Captain Planet
Magic School Bus
This topic is about the top 5’s on my life. (Many will be listed more than once)
Top 5…….
Movies
Kill Bill vol. 1
Resident Evil
Mean Girls
She’s the Man
Carrie
Horror Movies
Carrie
Orphan
The Exorcist
Thirteen Ghosts
Red Eye
Comedy Movies
Ghost town
Baby Mama
Bride Wars
Kug Fu Hustle
Borat?
Chick Flicks
She’s The Man
Mean Girls
Bring it On (1&3)
Bride Wars
The Princess Diaries
Guy Movies
Transporter (1 only 2 was ok)
Kill Bill vol. 1
The Long Goodbye
Crank
Shoot Em’ Up
Youtubers
Applesandmustard
Katers 17
Morethanablog
Nineteenpercent
Africano boi
Tv Shows
Bones
V
Dexter Laboratory
Family Guy
Boondocks
Obscure artists (6)
Sam Sparro
Noisettes
Zhara Hindi
Röyksopp
Miss Li
Andrew Bird
Amie Mirriello
Mainstream Artists (7)
Lady Gaga
Rihanna
Beyonce
Outkast (Andre 3000)
Christina Aguliera
Gnarles Barkley
Daft Punk
Rap Artists
Nicki Minaj
Missy Elliot
Kanye West
Common
Eminem
Musicals
Rent
Sweeny Todd
Chicago (Movie)
The Wiz
West Side Story
Favorite Children’s Movies/Tv Shows that give me nostalgia
Powerpuff Girls
Rugrats
Angry Beavers
Captain Planet
Magic School Bus
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
"V" Review
THIS IS NOT MY REVIEW IT IS ONE FROM LA TIMES!!!!!
Some story lines just never get old -- star-crossed lovers, mistaken identity, lizard men from outer space.It's impossible to tiptoe around the main plot device of ABC’s “V” -- those aliens may be smart and purty but they're up to no good -- because it is, of course, a remake of the 1983 miniseries. And even if it weren't, writers Kenneth Johnson and Scott Peters have infused the pilot with as many sly sci-fi references as CG special effects.
Which are pretty terrific, as is the pilot in general. Although fans of the first "V" may find themselves longing for Richard Herd's Supreme Commander in his jaunty jumpsuit and funky glasses, this "V" is not only sleeker, faster and more visually gripping, it promises to be thematically more compelling.Its opening sequence is a masterpiece of back-story compression. What appears to be a temblor startles a series of characters (and an almost flawless cast gathered from various sci-fi hits): Erica Evans ("Lost's" Elizabeth Mitchell) is an anti-terrorism agent with the FBI and divorced mother of Tyler (Logan Huffman), a basically decent but rebellious teen. Chad Decker (Scott Wolf from "Party of Five") is a newscaster who aspires to do more than "read the news"; Father Jack Landry (Joel Gretsch of "The 4400") is a young priest working among the homeless; and Ryan Nichols (Morris Chestnut) has just purchased the engagement ring he hopes to offer Valerie (Lourdes Benedicto).All of their plans are put on hold, however, when the quake turns out to be the arrival of an enormous spaceship, one of a matched set now hovering over all the major cities of the world. But even as the throngs prepare for the requisite scream-flee-and-die scene of mass hysteria, the underbelly of the craft becomes a screen and the lovely Anna ("Firefly's" Morena Baccarin) assures everyone in flawless English (and French and Egyptian) that "the Visitors" are here to offer technology in exchange for a few undisclosed but very renewable resources, and they come in peace.Undone by relief, Anna's Audrey Hepburn haircut and the promise that the Visitors can cure 65 of our diseases, humans, or at least New Yorkers, neglect to consider that they are a renewable resource themselves. Like the gullible little oysters in "The Walrus and the Carpenter," they quickly embrace the "V's," signing up for theme-park-like tours of the ship and, of course, merchandising like crazy.Fortunately, not everyone is convinced. Father Jack preaches caution only to be assured by his pastor that the pope is on board with the V's. Erica worries that "terrorist chatter," though down among many groups, shows one major spike -- one cell seems to be arming itself pretty heavily, planning an attack, she assumes, when everyone is distracted by the aliens.A mysterious old friend is harassing Ryan to man up now that "they're here," but it's Chad who gets the clue to the real nature of the V's. Anna asks him to be her first interviewer only to insist that he not ask anything that might cast her in a bad light. Being a good-looking, ambitious newscaster in a television show, Chad, of course, agrees.The original "V" drew obvious connections between the Visitors and the Nazis, and much has been made over the possible anti-Obama sentiment of this "V." The instant adoration, the attractiveness and rhetorical skills of Anna, the idea that the Visitors will woo us with universal healthcare and then destroy us all seem a right-wingish take on the president's ascendancy.Perhaps that is the creators' intent, but most successful science fiction contains an element of, if not outright humor, then the absurd. That the human race will be enslaved not through brainwashing or firepower but adequate healthcare is pretty hilarious in a dark and almost possible way. And Anna and her crew seem to embody more of a Wall Street deregulated/Bernie Madoff mentality -- big returns for minimum investment. And we all know how that turns out.Just like we all know how these "we come in peace" alien invader tales turn out -- a resistance forms to slowly but surely reveal the Visitors for who and what they are. (Kids, lock up your guinea pigs!) Along the way, they find a sympathetic alien or two, which leads inevitably to interspecies breeding (lizard babies rock!) and the deconstruction of the essence of humanity.But just because something's a chestnut doesn't mean it isn't worth watching. There is a reason we tell the same story over and over again. Our collective longing for an effortless happy ending provided deus ex machina, whether by a political administration, a religious leader or a bunch of dulcet-toned aliens, is humanity's Achilles' heel.As the plot of "V" progresses, no doubt we will see the subtle strangulation of democracy by fascism -- already the press has been corrupted -- and that is a story that cannot be told often enough. Especially when it comes, like the V's, in such a fine, fun and attractive package.
Which are pretty terrific, as is the pilot in general. Although fans of the first "V" may find themselves longing for Richard Herd's Supreme Commander in his jaunty jumpsuit and funky glasses, this "V" is not only sleeker, faster and more visually gripping, it promises to be thematically more compelling.Its opening sequence is a masterpiece of back-story compression. What appears to be a temblor startles a series of characters (and an almost flawless cast gathered from various sci-fi hits): Erica Evans ("Lost's" Elizabeth Mitchell) is an anti-terrorism agent with the FBI and divorced mother of Tyler (Logan Huffman), a basically decent but rebellious teen. Chad Decker (Scott Wolf from "Party of Five") is a newscaster who aspires to do more than "read the news"; Father Jack Landry (Joel Gretsch of "The 4400") is a young priest working among the homeless; and Ryan Nichols (Morris Chestnut) has just purchased the engagement ring he hopes to offer Valerie (Lourdes Benedicto).All of their plans are put on hold, however, when the quake turns out to be the arrival of an enormous spaceship, one of a matched set now hovering over all the major cities of the world. But even as the throngs prepare for the requisite scream-flee-and-die scene of mass hysteria, the underbelly of the craft becomes a screen and the lovely Anna ("Firefly's" Morena Baccarin) assures everyone in flawless English (and French and Egyptian) that "the Visitors" are here to offer technology in exchange for a few undisclosed but very renewable resources, and they come in peace.Undone by relief, Anna's Audrey Hepburn haircut and the promise that the Visitors can cure 65 of our diseases, humans, or at least New Yorkers, neglect to consider that they are a renewable resource themselves. Like the gullible little oysters in "The Walrus and the Carpenter," they quickly embrace the "V's," signing up for theme-park-like tours of the ship and, of course, merchandising like crazy.Fortunately, not everyone is convinced. Father Jack preaches caution only to be assured by his pastor that the pope is on board with the V's. Erica worries that "terrorist chatter," though down among many groups, shows one major spike -- one cell seems to be arming itself pretty heavily, planning an attack, she assumes, when everyone is distracted by the aliens.A mysterious old friend is harassing Ryan to man up now that "they're here," but it's Chad who gets the clue to the real nature of the V's. Anna asks him to be her first interviewer only to insist that he not ask anything that might cast her in a bad light. Being a good-looking, ambitious newscaster in a television show, Chad, of course, agrees.The original "V" drew obvious connections between the Visitors and the Nazis, and much has been made over the possible anti-Obama sentiment of this "V." The instant adoration, the attractiveness and rhetorical skills of Anna, the idea that the Visitors will woo us with universal healthcare and then destroy us all seem a right-wingish take on the president's ascendancy.Perhaps that is the creators' intent, but most successful science fiction contains an element of, if not outright humor, then the absurd. That the human race will be enslaved not through brainwashing or firepower but adequate healthcare is pretty hilarious in a dark and almost possible way. And Anna and her crew seem to embody more of a Wall Street deregulated/Bernie Madoff mentality -- big returns for minimum investment. And we all know how that turns out.Just like we all know how these "we come in peace" alien invader tales turn out -- a resistance forms to slowly but surely reveal the Visitors for who and what they are. (Kids, lock up your guinea pigs!) Along the way, they find a sympathetic alien or two, which leads inevitably to interspecies breeding (lizard babies rock!) and the deconstruction of the essence of humanity.But just because something's a chestnut doesn't mean it isn't worth watching. There is a reason we tell the same story over and over again. Our collective longing for an effortless happy ending provided deus ex machina, whether by a political administration, a religious leader or a bunch of dulcet-toned aliens, is humanity's Achilles' heel.As the plot of "V" progresses, no doubt we will see the subtle strangulation of democracy by fascism -- already the press has been corrupted -- and that is a story that cannot be told often enough. Especially when it comes, like the V's, in such a fine, fun and attractive package.
Interview With a Vampire: how it really went.
Interview With a Vampire: how it really went.
Set Up: I am in a room that is similar to a study and its color scheme is a mixture if brown and deep red. I sit in my soft Corinthian leather chair and begin to count the brass rivets on the armrests of the seats. I notice the seat is warm and soft and has a little bounce. There are lights all around me that give me headaches but slowly my eyes adjust. Then the production team brings in a shiny plexi-glass “wall” between me and the other chair I wonder why is this necessary then remember who I’m doing this interview with.
Some background on Central and Eastern Europeans and Russians included, Most use the Cyrillic alphabet, similar to ours but the way they pronounce things is a tad different the main difference is the “W” instead of pronouncing is like “water” they say “vater” their “W” has the “V” sound. So when the interviewee answers questions they will have a “v” in front just know it’s supposed to be a ‘w”
Let’s Begin.
Me: Hello how are you doing today? And what is your name?
William: I am Villiam, and I’m doing fine?
Me: How long have…
William: Vhy is zhis zhing in front of me? (He taps the plexi-glass)
Me: It’s uh here for my protection?
William: From Vho...Me?
Me: Yes.
W: Vhy?
M: Because you’re a blood sucking creature from the night.
W: Oh god, here ve go again. All vampires are not blood suckers…vell, yes ve are but ve aren’t all violent. So can you please move this or I vill cut zhis interview short.
M: Sure. Any funny business and you will get shocked with a cow taser and the wall goes right back up.
W: Okay. Okay…..vait a cow taser?
M: Yes. Back to my questions. How long have you been a vampire?
W: Vell it all started vhen I vas younger, mien fazher vas on a business trip and got bitten zhen he bit me. And zhat’s how it all started? By zhe vay zhat vas 400 years ago.
M: So how do you do it?
W: Do vat?
M: How do you just run up and kill a person?
W: Vell I need to eat and vhen I need to eat I do. Zhis is how it goes. I vun up to a able bodied human and then I bend and expose zhe neck and zhen I just bit and suck, it’s kind of like biting into a uh how do you zay it a uh….apple…then trying to suck the juice out of it.
M: Why do vampires bite the neck and not any other parts of the body?
W: Ve do bite ozher places like the arm but the neck is one of the easiest places to get blood for example it vould be zo hard zo get blood from a chest.
M: What do you think of Twilight?
W: Hate it. Zhe movie is not really hoe vampires act, ve do not drive nice cars, and live nicely, very often ve live alone, and zhat move is stupid.
M: Well thank you William for this interview I think we are done here.
W: Your Velcome, zhank you for having me here vith you.
Set Up: I am in a room that is similar to a study and its color scheme is a mixture if brown and deep red. I sit in my soft Corinthian leather chair and begin to count the brass rivets on the armrests of the seats. I notice the seat is warm and soft and has a little bounce. There are lights all around me that give me headaches but slowly my eyes adjust. Then the production team brings in a shiny plexi-glass “wall” between me and the other chair I wonder why is this necessary then remember who I’m doing this interview with.
Some background on Central and Eastern Europeans and Russians included, Most use the Cyrillic alphabet, similar to ours but the way they pronounce things is a tad different the main difference is the “W” instead of pronouncing is like “water” they say “vater” their “W” has the “V” sound. So when the interviewee answers questions they will have a “v” in front just know it’s supposed to be a ‘w”
Let’s Begin.
Me: Hello how are you doing today? And what is your name?
William: I am Villiam, and I’m doing fine?
Me: How long have…
William: Vhy is zhis zhing in front of me? (He taps the plexi-glass)
Me: It’s uh here for my protection?
William: From Vho...Me?
Me: Yes.
W: Vhy?
M: Because you’re a blood sucking creature from the night.
W: Oh god, here ve go again. All vampires are not blood suckers…vell, yes ve are but ve aren’t all violent. So can you please move this or I vill cut zhis interview short.
M: Sure. Any funny business and you will get shocked with a cow taser and the wall goes right back up.
W: Okay. Okay…..vait a cow taser?
M: Yes. Back to my questions. How long have you been a vampire?
W: Vell it all started vhen I vas younger, mien fazher vas on a business trip and got bitten zhen he bit me. And zhat’s how it all started? By zhe vay zhat vas 400 years ago.
M: So how do you do it?
W: Do vat?
M: How do you just run up and kill a person?
W: Vell I need to eat and vhen I need to eat I do. Zhis is how it goes. I vun up to a able bodied human and then I bend and expose zhe neck and zhen I just bit and suck, it’s kind of like biting into a uh how do you zay it a uh….apple…then trying to suck the juice out of it.
M: Why do vampires bite the neck and not any other parts of the body?
W: Ve do bite ozher places like the arm but the neck is one of the easiest places to get blood for example it vould be zo hard zo get blood from a chest.
M: What do you think of Twilight?
W: Hate it. Zhe movie is not really hoe vampires act, ve do not drive nice cars, and live nicely, very often ve live alone, and zhat move is stupid.
M: Well thank you William for this interview I think we are done here.
W: Your Velcome, zhank you for having me here vith you.
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Super Important Update
So here's to all my readers (the few of you who actually read this) I'm doing a major overhaul of this blog. As you can see from the layout there has been a change. Everything will go up in quality. Production will be better, I will attempt to proofread these a little more.
So on the agenda we have some things since its been a while since i posted like about 9 months (whoa in all the time I haven't posted someone could have gotten pregnant and had a baby.) Never mind after I posted this I realized that its been less more like 4 but I left the above part because I like it.
First things I am a senior in high school, and its cool, not as hard and stressful as I though it would be. The only thing I have to work on is organization, right now everything in my brain is kinda of all over like marbles that fall of the floor...kinda scattered. I'll try to get that together, I've started to look at colleges and see what for me, my parents aren't making me but they keep pushing the idea that I stay in state, which I've grown to accept, and kinda like, I want to go somewhere where I can be far enough so that i don't have to stay home but close enough that i can come home on the weekends if need be. I'm not gonna tell you where i want to go because frankly its none of your damn business besides some people are weirdos and will track me down and I can't have that. But that's it for now.
I've visited some colleges which look really good and I'm gonna go and visit more soon.
Next thing. right now its kinda late and i need to sleep so I'm just gonna brief you on what it coming soon.
I'm gonna start this series called "Interview with......." here I'm gonna set up and mock interview where I supply the questions and answers to interviews of famous people. I'm gonna base it off of quotes, and what ever else i find that will help to try and make these realistic.
So far on the list i have
1. William(vampire)
2. Lady Gaga (had to do it)
3. Andy Warhol
4. Jill Scott (maybe I'm not sure)
5. Delicious (too easy)
6. Lizzie Bordon
7. Alice (Residnet Evil movies)
*If you have any suggestions email then to me so I can see what I can do. ryangno@gmail.com
-So kick rocks till next time.
So on the agenda we have some things since its been a while since i posted like about 9 months (whoa in all the time I haven't posted someone could have gotten pregnant and had a baby.) Never mind after I posted this I realized that its been less more like 4 but I left the above part because I like it.
First things I am a senior in high school, and its cool, not as hard and stressful as I though it would be. The only thing I have to work on is organization, right now everything in my brain is kinda of all over like marbles that fall of the floor...kinda scattered. I'll try to get that together, I've started to look at colleges and see what for me, my parents aren't making me but they keep pushing the idea that I stay in state, which I've grown to accept, and kinda like, I want to go somewhere where I can be far enough so that i don't have to stay home but close enough that i can come home on the weekends if need be. I'm not gonna tell you where i want to go because frankly its none of your damn business besides some people are weirdos and will track me down and I can't have that. But that's it for now.
I've visited some colleges which look really good and I'm gonna go and visit more soon.
Next thing. right now its kinda late and i need to sleep so I'm just gonna brief you on what it coming soon.
I'm gonna start this series called "Interview with......." here I'm gonna set up and mock interview where I supply the questions and answers to interviews of famous people. I'm gonna base it off of quotes, and what ever else i find that will help to try and make these realistic.
So far on the list i have
1. William(vampire)
2. Lady Gaga (had to do it)
3. Andy Warhol
4. Jill Scott (maybe I'm not sure)
5. Delicious (too easy)
6. Lizzie Bordon
7. Alice (Residnet Evil movies)
*If you have any suggestions email then to me so I can see what I can do. ryangno@gmail.com
-So kick rocks till next time.
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Just an Update
I've realized how crappy this is and I'm frankly too lazy to fix it so it'll stay the way it was originally posted.
There is noting specail here just an update. I saw this in my friends blog and decided to do it too.
My YouTube Addiction:
As some of you know i have a YouTube addiction where i can spend hours and hours on it. i get withdrawl symptoms if im away too long I get on it EVERYDAY... if you want to get in touch with me that is the BEST place to reach me even better than email my youtube is http://www.youtube.com/user/rythebrain so go there and subscribe to it. i have videos but not vidoes wiht me in them. I have a camera but my shitty desktop computer cant handle all the work from it. so that will be a paused venture untill i get my Mac...hopefully in May for my birthday. When I get it i will make a whole blog about it so watch out for that in the summer.
So i am subscribed to about 28 people of whom i watch 5 on the regular they are (in order of when they make videos I have to watcgh them ness) applesandmustard, morethanablog, BarrettTV, nineteenpercent, and AfricanoBoiShow. some of my other favs are sxephil, alcoholharmony, and The Onion. oh yeah and of couse my.
When i have my YouTube withdrawl i get really angry and cranky and call people bad names which i won't say. But if i saty on for about 2 hrs than i can get my fix and be good for the next couple of days.
On a Youtube video there was one called "Cinco (5) Sense" where you say what are your favorite and least favrite things to sense (touch, see, smell, hear, taste) so here are mine
Touch-fav: smooth rocks
- least fav: Dish water eggs (when you make eggs and put the stuck on eggs in the dishwater and they get all soggy and gross)
See- fav: Water hitting the gound
Least fav: poop (dog, human, bird, any kind)
Smell- fav: crawfish, the vacum cleaner, gas at the gas station
Least fav: celery
Hear- fav: Good music
least fav: styrofoam rubbing against itslef and stuff squeaking agaisnt itself.
Taste- fav: Turkey bacon
least fav: mustard, tuna, salmon <-------tastes like cheap fish
Random facts:
If you stack one million US$1 bills, it would be 110m (361 ft) high and weight exactly 1 ton.
US citizens watch the most TV. By age 65, an American would have watched the equivalent of 9 years uninterrupted screening, viewing more than 20,000 TV commercials per year
On average, people can hold their breath for about one minute. The world record is 15 minutes 2 seconds, by Tom Sietas.
There is noting specail here just an update. I saw this in my friends blog and decided to do it too.
My YouTube Addiction:
As some of you know i have a YouTube addiction where i can spend hours and hours on it. i get withdrawl symptoms if im away too long I get on it EVERYDAY... if you want to get in touch with me that is the BEST place to reach me even better than email my youtube is http://www.youtube.com/user/rythebrain so go there and subscribe to it. i have videos but not vidoes wiht me in them. I have a camera but my shitty desktop computer cant handle all the work from it. so that will be a paused venture untill i get my Mac...hopefully in May for my birthday. When I get it i will make a whole blog about it so watch out for that in the summer.
So i am subscribed to about 28 people of whom i watch 5 on the regular they are (in order of when they make videos I have to watcgh them ness) applesandmustard, morethanablog, BarrettTV, nineteenpercent, and AfricanoBoiShow. some of my other favs are sxephil, alcoholharmony, and The Onion. oh yeah and of couse my.
When i have my YouTube withdrawl i get really angry and cranky and call people bad names which i won't say. But if i saty on for about 2 hrs than i can get my fix and be good for the next couple of days.
On a Youtube video there was one called "Cinco (5) Sense" where you say what are your favorite and least favrite things to sense (touch, see, smell, hear, taste) so here are mine
Touch-fav: smooth rocks
- least fav: Dish water eggs (when you make eggs and put the stuck on eggs in the dishwater and they get all soggy and gross)
See- fav: Water hitting the gound
Least fav: poop (dog, human, bird, any kind)
Smell- fav: crawfish, the vacum cleaner, gas at the gas station
Least fav: celery
Hear- fav: Good music
least fav: styrofoam rubbing against itslef and stuff squeaking agaisnt itself.
Taste- fav: Turkey bacon
least fav: mustard, tuna, salmon <-------tastes like cheap fish
Random facts:
If you stack one million US$1 bills, it would be 110m (361 ft) high and weight exactly 1 ton.
US citizens watch the most TV. By age 65, an American would have watched the equivalent of 9 years uninterrupted screening, viewing more than 20,000 TV commercials per year
On average, people can hold their breath for about one minute. The world record is 15 minutes 2 seconds, by Tom Sietas.
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