Archive for June, 2008

Okay, so I know it's been at least a week since I have returned from the great state that is Texas, but I only just saw this video today, thanks to Google Alerts.

At any rate, if you saw only the first Qik video Neal and Cali did from outside of Fry's you never got the end part, basically my reaction afterwords.

Special Thanks to Dave Curlee of RealcookN.tv, Cali Lewis and Neal Campbell of Geekbrief.tv, and Nick McKinney of thisweekinpodcast.com for letting me have a fun time.

So here is the video for you. Enjoy!

Steve “Snowball” Saylor Goes To Fry's from Dave Curlee on Vimeo.

As always, I remain, obediently yours.

Steve “Snowball” Saylor

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Hey geeks, geekettes, and cousin its!

Snowball here from our hotel room in Grapevine TX. This entire trip has been soooo cool! I can't believe how much fun I'm having! I'm so disappointed that I'm heading back on Monday morning. I've met some awesome people, reconnected with old friends, and just having a good ol' texas time!

Here are a few videos that were recorded by my friends Cali Lewis and Neal Campbell from http://geekbrief.tv

First one is the Live On Location video interview I did on Thursday night with Cali. It was too bad that the after show wasn't recorded because that was sooo much fun, but the interview was to me the coolest part because it was my first video interview!

Web TV provided by Ustream

Plus here is some of the Qik Live videos from the DFW Twitter Meetup that was earlier today.

Plus also here is a Qik video of me going into a Frys for the first time!!

This trip has been sooo awesome, and I have one more day left here and we leave on Monday morning, so I probably won't be updating the blog until later next week, but if you want to follow my updates on Twitter, I'll be twittering all week at http://twitter.com/stevesaylor

Take care, and as always I remain obediently yours.

Steve “Snowball” Saylor

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Things are gearing up at Snowball Central. Tests are being conducted, Scientists are scooping Snowballs from Mars, and the BBQ's are heating up. Today is a day for updates, this is update 4 of 4 for June 16th 2008.

Watch the video for details on our trip to Dallas Texas for the Iron Man of Gaming Tournament at http://ironmanogfaming.com

Here is the details for the whole trip:

Dates: June 19-22
Hotel: Super 8 Hotel in Dallas/Fort Worth
Grapevine, TX
http://tinyurl.com/3q7xzm

Events:
On Location with Cali Lewis
Thurs June 19th 8pm *Dallas Time
http://calilive.tv

Iron Man of Gaming 2008
Thurs June 19th – 22nd
Grapevine Convention Center
Grapevine, TX
http://ironmanofgaming.com

Dallas Meets Canada – Twitter Meetup
Sat June 21st 1:00pm to 3:30pm
Spring Creek Barbeque
315 State Highway 114W
Grapevine, Texas 76051
(Google Maps)

http://upcoming.yahoo.com/event/780600/?ps=2

Twitter Updates:
http://twitter.com/stevesaylor
http://twitter.com/birdmandodd

So that's all I could think of at any rate. Follow along with us as we go on this trip. Follow our Twitter accounts, keep an eye on our blogs http://thisweekingeek.net as well as http://stevesaylor.net and http://birdmanofsteel.com for video and blog updates from the road!

See ya'll in Dallas!

Yee-Haw!

As always I remain obediently yours.

Steve “Snowball” Saylor

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Things are gearing up at Snowball Central. Tests are being conducted, Scientists are scooping Snowballs from Mars, and the BBQ's are heating up. Today is a day for updates, this is update 3 of 4 for June 16th 2008.

That's right the not so jolly green giant is back on the big screen, hopefully to HULK SMASH the previous boring version to smithereens.

POTENTIAL SPOILERS AHEAD

Click “Read More” To Read the entire review.

Summary:

Marvel Studios, this summer, is hoping to bring back the glory of The Incredible Hulk to the big screen. After the studios glorious debut of Iron Man, a lot was to be expected and a lot to be weary about this version of the Hulk.

We all remember the first Hulk movie. The one where the director of Brokeback Mountain decided to not show any of the Hulk until the end of the film, and it took 2 hours of boring story to see it. Yeah we all remember “that version”. Well Edward Norton and his team over at Marvel wanted to do something better, bigger, meaner, and again, better, than the original. They decided to call this a requal, by not negating the first film, but allowing us to see how the Hulk should have been presented.

Did they succeed? Sort of.

Read on dear reader.

Here is how this review is going to smash up. First Story, then Characters/Actors, Special Effects, Geek/Fun Factor, then Overall review.

Story:

First of all, the story of the Hulk could be summarized in one sentence. Scientist, Bruce Banner gets exposed to Gamma Radiation, and when he gets mad, turns into a giant green monster. So how can you extract a 2 hour story from that? Letter by Letter? Well, Marvel Studios tried, and didn't do that bad of a job. You have to remember, even though the Hulk has a large history, there really isn't anything to his story other than Banner trying to get rid of the monster inside him. Which is literally the plot of this movie. Edward Norton plays Bruce Banner as he tries to get rid of the Hulk.

The great thing about the start of this movie is before the opening credits are finished, we see the entire origin of the Hulk in flashback form. We see Banner get exposed to Gamma Radiation, goes nuts, almost kills General Ross and his daughter/love interest for Bruce, Betty Ross, and then disappears…for 5 years! That's a long time for hide and seek.

Perfect way to tell the origins without re-treading already been done material.

Either way, I don't want to give away too much of the story, lets just say the Abomination shows up in the form of a soldier who is determined to take down the Hulk by making himself an uglier version of one. Let's just say there isn't a lot of story here. It's a good try, but no real depth to anything. Not as much as Iron Man had anyway.

I wish that Marvel Studios would've allowed Norton to make the movie he wanted to make, which according to him gave the story much more character and depth; but we'll have to wait until the eventual Blue Ray disc to see what was cut.

Either way, I wasn't entirely impressed, but I wasn't disappointed either.

Story = 3/5 Snowballs

Characters/Acting:

There really isn't much to say about this one other than Edward Norton is the one carrying this movie, much like Downey Jr. did with Iron Man. Norton does a good job at playing a troubled Banner, and definitely is careful in making sure he stays out of sight of the US Government. Norton still did a good performance, but not a great one. It's still Edward Norton, so you can't say anything bad about his acting.

Liv Tyler should have had more. I know the filmmakers tried to make her seem smart, but she came off as the “damsel in distress”. At least with Paltrow as Pepper Potts, she proved her smarts that she could do well on her own. But Betty Ross, although she was supposed to be a scientist, she didn't do any sciencey stuff other than wear a lab coat and wear smart people glasses. Great Actress, but under utilized.

William Hurt as General Ross is actually pretty good in this movie. He plays a war torn General quite well.

Tim Roth as the Abomination? I saw the drive, but nothing in depth.

After all is said and done, Norton is the only character that I wanted to see throughout the whole thing, and I wasn't disappointed either.

Characters/Actors = 3/5 Snowballs

Special Effects:

Okay now this is where I go and love whoever did the CG for this movie. The Hulk looked fantastic! He definitely got more screen time than the movies predecessor, and looked more believable. The fight scene between the Hulk and the Abomination was fantastic and I enjoyed every smashing moment of it.

I even liked the scene at the University when the army tries to stop the Hulk and the Hulk takes an armored jeep apart and uses it's doors as his own personal shields and smashing tools!

Great job!

Special Effects = 4/5 Snowballs

Geek/Fun Factor:

OMG, this movie is jam packed of Geek References to the Marvel Universe and the history of the Hulk franchise! Here is a run down of the geeky moments that I really enjoyed.

- Stan Lee Cameo (Definitely not as cool as Hef, but still memorable)
- You wouldn't like me when I'm…hungry? Oh yeah Norton tries to say that classic line in Spanish, but since he's still learning Spanish it comes out all wrong.
- Lou Ferrigno as a Security Guard
- Purple Stretchy pants
- HULK SMASH! – The Hulk actually says that line!
- WWII Super Soldiers – This totally sets up for a Captain America movie as General Ross tells the history of the project and that Banner's experiment was supposed to be an extension of that project! Woah way to tie two franchises together!
- Tony Stark Cameo – Robert Downey Jr.!!! I knew he was in the flick to tie in Iron Man, but man oh man did Downey deliver! Same charm, same humour, same hawesomeness! It's right at the end of the film, so you don't have to wait until the end of the credits to see this one.

All in all it was the geeky parts in this movie that I enjoyed the most. Fun Fun Fun all around for the Comic Book Geek in me.

Geek/Fun Factor = 5/5 Snowballs

Overall:

Okay, so overall I would have to say that the movie definitely leaves me wanting more, but still it is the Hulk and it's a much better movie than the last one.

Suffice it to say, Good, but not Great.

Overall = 3/5 Snowballs

So what did you think of the Incredible Hulk? Leave a comment, let me know what you think.

Now excuse me while I HULK SMASH something.

As always I remain obediently yours.

Steve “Snowball” Saylor

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Things are gearing up at Snowball Central. Tests are being conducted, Scientists are scooping Snowballs from Mars, and the BBQ's are heating up. Today is a day for updates, this is update 2 of 4 for June 16th 2008.

…

It's been a while since Black Shadow has finished it's run here at SSdN (That's short for http://stevesaylor.net), but for some of you, roughly about 524 of you have been left in the dark as to the final moments of Black Shadows fate. Does he die? Does he defeat the Demons from taking over the world?

It's been a rough ride for our beloved blind technologically advanced hero, and it's an even rougher ride for those who are listening.

Suffice it to say that is my fault and then it wasn't.

Let me explain, I released Episode 14 of Black Shadow about a month ago and it's been hard letting this story go. I have lived and breathed this story for over a year now and updating the Podiobooks.com version of the book is literally the last part left in this year long journey. As soon as the final episode goes live, that's it. The book is finally finished. Part of me doesn't want this to finish, and yet I know it must.

So I am here to tell you all that the final episode of the Podiobooks version of Black Shadow has been sent to the great team at podiobooks.com and soon (hopefully before mid-week)you shall hear the final chapters of my very first book.

Thank you all for being patient, thank you all for listening, and as always I remain obediently yours!

Steve “Snowball” Saylor

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Things are gearing up at Snowball Central. Tests are being conducted, Scientists are scooping Snowballs from Mars, and the BBQ's are heating up. Today is a day for updates, this is update 1 of 4 for June 16th 2008.

…

The 12th Disciple – A Status Update.

As I mentioned in the Sneak Preview June 15th was going to be the day for the first official episode of The 12th Disciple, well unfortunately due to some unforseen circumstances, the first episode is going to be delayed.

Want more info? Listen to the episode to find out more.

Use any other podcatching client by using http://feeds.feedburner.com/the12thdisciple
or
Download The12thDisciple-Update.mp3

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I have been waiting anxiously to be able to review this for you guys and gals for the past week or so. This is by far the coolest thing I have ever received to review for you my friends. Thanks to Miranda for getting this to me.

Good news is, if you are in Canada, today is the official launch of The Flip Video Family to the Great White North! You can buy the Flip Video's at WalMart's now and in Futureshop stores in mid June!

First of all, a Summary of the Flip Video. I did this as a Geek Gadgets Review for This Week in Geek. This was recorded on the Flip Video Ultra, as well as edited using the built in Software.

Click “Read More” for the full review…

Since it's a tech gadget review, I'm going to review this in several different categories. Ease of Use, Positives, Negatives, Geek/Fun Factor, and then Overall Summary.

So let's review!

Ease of Use:

You can't get any easier with this thing. Literally like the video above said, all you do is turn it on, push the big red button and that's it, You're recording! This little camcorder is not only for the Point and Shoot Crowd, but it is a perfect gift for your parents, your grandparents, or anyone that's not necessarily tech savvy.

Even the software is easy to use. All you have to do is plug it in to your computer using the built in USB Dongle and the software automatically loads up, and you can edit, or share your videos online!

There is nothing more simple than that. Pure Digital Technologies really got the simplicity with this one. They are the Apple Computers of the Camcorder World.

Ease of Use – 5/5 Snowballs

Okay so this is something I'm doing different with the reviews, mainly because it's harder to categorize a Tech Gadget review into simple categories. So no 5 out of 5 Snowballs here. Just simple Facts.

Positives:

1) Good Quality – Does 640×480, 30 Frames per second, mpeg quality video. This is perfect quality if you are on the go.

2) Size – Compact, light weight, fits in your pocket. As for the built in memory, you can get from 30 minutes up to 60 minutes of video footage. No need to worry about how much hard drive space you have left.

3) Software – Simple, Easy to Use. With the ability to upload video clips to YouTube, AOL Video, Myspace, and any other video sharing site, this is a bonus that you can do it right in the software itself. Runs on PC or Mac. For PC users, the Magic Mix gives you several Video Styles to edit your movies in. Plus, you can add music to the video using the built in music or you can add your own mp3.

Negatives:

1) Low light – This can have issues in regards to low light situations, but it still is a far better choice and a much cheaper choice than what you would get in this category.

2) Software – Now granted, the positives on the software are great, but on the Mac, it can be troublesome. You can't edit and splice together clips into one movie on the Mac, you can only view them and upload them. This may be fixed with a new software update, but for the current version (v.3.1) that's the only problem on that end. For PC users, the Magic Mix feature is great, but when adding music, the music does sometimes drown out the video and is a bit too loud, which you can't adjust. And the compressing quality of the video is not as great either. Like I said before, this can easily be fixed with a software update.

Geek/Fun Factor:

This thing is sooo fun to use, I want to do more video blog posts with this thing. It's perfectly suited for that! I can't say anything more than that.

As for Geek Factor, this is perfect for if you are at a tech conference or just a con in general and want to record a quick video of anything. Plus it's great for quick interviews if you are a podcaster, or just to do videoblogging.

Geek/Fun Factor – 5/5 Snowballs

Overall Summary:

With the negatives in mind, the positives still out weigh the negatives. This is a great video camera. Like I said in the video, don't expect to make a Hollywood Blockbuster Movie with the flip, but for those that want to shoot video on the go, it's perfect.

You can pick up the Flip Video at http://theflip.com or if you are in Canada you can now buy them at Walmart now for around $159 or you can pick them up at Futureshop stores in mid June.

Overall- 4/5 Snowballs

Make sure to check out this blog on June 17th to 23rd as I am going to be posting videos using the Flip Video Ultra while Mike and I are heading to Dallas Texas for the Ironman of Gaming Competition put on by the folks at http://screwattack.com.

If you are in Dallas or in that area, email me or contact me through Twitter http://twitter.com/stevesaylor and we will see about meeting up!

Anyway, if you would like to share your thoughts on this review or the Flip Video Ultra, by all means leave a comment below.

So that's it for this weeks edition of Snowball's Reviews, tune in next time, Same Snowball Time, Same Snowball Channel!!!

As always, I remain, obediently yours.

Steve “Snowball” Saylor

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