Who Wants to Be a Rock Star?

We grew up playing air guitar to rock songs on the radio...well...at least some of us did. Ok...IO still air guitar (and drum) when nobody is around. Now, with the introduction of console gaming and the Guitar Hero line of products, we can actually play air guitar with a fake guitar in hand and control the sound that comes out of your TV. I guess it's not "air guitar" if you have a guitar in hand. Anyway, If that wasn't enough, now there's Rock Band that lets you simulate an entire band, the lead guitar, bass guitar, drums, and vocals. You could almost start your own touring band if it weren't for the fact that you're limited to a given setlist and your instruments being plastic with colors on them to guide you. Sort of like a paint by numbers...that's what this is...it's "band by colors".

So, the other night, there were four of us...one for each instrument and we switched off because apparently we're more talented than a REAL band (aside from the fact that we can't read music). It's a realistic experience as you play a lot of the same songs at different venues, you get mystery requests, you're asked to play encores...oh yeah, and when you screw up, the boo you off tha stage. We engaged in a battle of the VANS and got our tour bus shortly afterwards. The only downfall of the product is, it really does require four fun people to get the true Rock Band experience and that's hard to coordinate. Otherwise, it was so much fun and everyone should get it. You CAN play it on your own...technically I could do guitar and vocals, but I need you all to convince Katharine that she needs to play the game because I SUCK at the drums. I admit it.

Thankfully I Live in a No "Honey-Do" List Zone

I'll start right off by saying that Katharine doesn't do this, but I know a lot of people have the "honey-do" list in their house, and I'm not saying it's right or wrong or that my way is the right way...blah...blah...blah. But I'm sitting here watching QVC (that's a whole different issue), and they're selling the Little Giant Ladder, 24 in 1 Multifunction...again...blah...blah...blah, and every woman that has called in so far is getting this for her husband for Christmas so it'll make it easier to do his "honey-do" list. Now I know a lot of guys that would love this ladder for Christmas...as a gift for him because he likes to putter around doing handywork around the house and he wouldn't have to buy it himself. However...most of them are saying how much their husband hates doing that work around the house, but she's hoping that this will make it easier for him so he won't hate it.

I'm going to tell you here publicly...if your husband hates working around the house...a Little Giant Ladder for Christmas isn't going to help; it's going to make him hate working around the house more because it was his Christmas present when he REALLY wanted the Playboy Girls Next Door calendar. Having a nice ladder is not the problem...the problem is, he hates doing the projects because they're not HIS projects. Sure, it's his house too, but it's not something he wants in his house, or maybe he thinks you should hire someone in the case that it's something the house NEEDS. Maybe he wants to sit and play videogames on a Saturday and he'll do house things on Sunday.

Now let's say that this is one of those projects that you just WANT and the house doesn't need...your husband is probably willing to HELP you with your project, but try presenting it that way. If you're getting him a Little Giant Ladder for Christmas to finish up his "honey-do" list faster...shouldn't that be YOUR Christmas present? I think so.

And to those wives, like Katharine, that don't EXPECT their husband to do those chores but appreciate it when they do...good for you!

XBOX 360: Smackdown Vs. Raw 2008 or How It Feels to Be the World Tag Team Champion

SLAM! POW! CRASH! No, I'm not watching the 1960s Batman (only because it's not released on DVD and I didn't go to SuperMegaFest where Adam West and Burt Ward were apparently selling bootlegs)...that's the sound of me going through a table in the new Smackdown Vs Raw 2008, the latest in the series of wrestling games sanctioned by the WWE. The 2008 game is lacking some of the features of the 2007 game, like the ability to play story mode and general manager mode at the same time, it has a shortage of superstars, and half of the people it does have have either quit of been fired from the WWE in real life.

What it lacks in some of the features, it makes up for a bit in graphics and gameplay...the characters are mostly perfect down to individual tattoos (aside from CM Punk's Pepsi tattoo which apparently was considered advertising and left out). I actually thought I was watching the show for a second last time I played. 2008 plays a bit better online...the 2007 version would lag and an ass whopping wasn't far behind (almost as if I had a dial up connection to the Internet or something. This version also lets you create a closer duplicate of yourself than the previous version, and of course it's always fun to create your friends and family to fight with you. I decided that I would create my brother as my tag team partner and now we've gone on to win the Tag Team Championship.

As you can see by looking at us, we kick ass...and I've been playing on hard mode so the outcomes aren't always in my favor. What fun would that be?

Hey Mom...Apparently Sesame Street Wasn't Good For Me

This update brought to you by the letters W-T-F. You've got to be kidding me...according the the New York Times article (which I don't read regularly), the original seasons of Sesame Street are being released on DVD, but they're warning you: DO NOT to let your kids watch them!

"According to an earnest warning on Volumes 1 and 2, “Sesame Street: Old School” is adults-only: “These early ‘Sesame Street’ episodes are intended for grown-ups, and may not suit the needs of today’s preschool child.”

Read the rest if you dare

Lock up your children, close all the blinds, turn off all electronic devices, and put on your tin foil hats. Holy shit...it's a wonder we survived growing up.

Best Car Buying Experience in the Last 10 Years

Since Katharine starts working next week, and her new job is in an opposite direction from mine; I just got back from Subaru of Wakefield; I bought myself a 2008 Subaru Impreza Wagon 5Dr Automatic.

I feel the need to tell everyone that it was the BEST car buying experience I've had in 10 years if not EVER. I even made a point to stop by the owner's office, where they happened to be holding a manager's meeting, to tell them all of my most positive of experiences.

I told them what I wanted, they didn't do a lot of bickering, I didn't do a lot of bickering, I got a fair price, and I don't have a headache; which to me is probably the best part of the whole deal. I orginally was going to get a used car until I realized it would be the same price or cheaper to get a new one with the special interest rate they were offering on the new cars. That, and the fact that the new car has the full bumper to bumper warranty out the gate, secured my decision.

So I pick it up on Wednesday night and I officially turn the Jeep over to Katharine who says that the first thing she's going to do is to get it washed and "get all of your crap out of it". How about that?

TELEVISION: Dexter (2006) - Seriously, He's a Good Guy Serial Killer!

You know a show is good when you're willing to stay up until 3am to watch the final 4 episodes of the first season. I haven't done this since Season 1 of The Sopranos, when it was still a quality series. But this isn't about The Sopranos, it's about Dexter...the best new premium cable show which happens to have its first season available on DVD and iTunes RIGHT NOW and you should get it.

The title character, Dexter Morgan is a good guy...except that he kills people when he's not working as a forensics detective (in particular, a blood expert)for the police department. When I first started watching, I was wondering how they would make Dexter likeable. Then I learned that he only kills people when there's proof that they've committed a horrible crime and they've gotten away with it. It's a sickness that needs to be fed and Dexter feeds it in the most acceptible way possible by following the "Code of Harry"...the teachings of his adoptive father who was a good cop (as far as we know). Dexter is cool about everything he does until it comes to his personal relationships when he becomes socially awkward.

My explaination of this show does not do it justice...Dexter is one of the best shows on TV and you should be watching it!

World Wrestling Entertainment Lays Smackdown on CNN

I always knew that Fox News was shit, but I thought that CNN reported the news as it was...that it was a respectable news station. Apparently I knew nothing about the news...most likely because I don't watch it anymore because it's all negative. Well CNN...you're officially busted like Ashley Simpson lipsyncing on SNL...you've been caught editing a piece together to make a story sound how you wanted it to sound for ratings. You've proved yourself to be just another shit news station...congratulations. Here is the proof from WWE.COM (hopefully they won't mind me borrowing a story from them since it's in their favor and I'm helping to spread the word...if they do, they just have to tell me and I'll take it down).

The question was presented to WWE Superstar John Cena regarding steroid use and his answer was misrepresented to the public as seen in both video clips:

Interview aired by CNN:
http://vmsvideo.wwe.com/vms/wm/videos/2007/november8-14/cacc30fe901359d2740d6e429e746da7.wmv

Full Unedited Interview:
http://vmsvideo.wwe.com/vms/wm/videos/2007/november8-14/99c6213ecdc38a621b7c397c33562096.wmv

Tsk Tsk...bad CNN. May you be hit in the nose with a rolled newspaper. Just for that, I might just have to get Smackdown Vs. Raw 2008 for the XBOX360 when it's released on Tuesday.

I Saw Van Halen at the Garden and All I Got Was This $35 T-Shirt

Just about 20 years ago, I saw Van Halen with front man Sammy Hagar at the Providence Civic Center in Rhode Island, which is now the Dunkin Donuts Center. A few days ago, I saw them again at the TD BankNorth Garden, which used to be the Boston Garden before advertising took over the world...only this time, touring with the band for the first time since 1985, was original lead singer "Diamond" David Lee Roth.

The first thing I did was find my earplugs...I remember the days of concerts past when you walked out and couldn't hear a thing except a loud humming noise and the muffled sounds of your friends speaking at you. I didn't want that. In case you want some, I get my ear protection from Etymotic Research and it's worth every penny.

I arrived at the show a bit early and ignored all of the fake t-shirt vendors...$15 for a shirt seems reasonable, but they're not REAL. Last time I saw Van Halen, I got a fake shirt...this time it was going to be official merchandise only. So I searched...and found...all of the official shirts were $35-$40...OUCH. That hurts, but it's real. Cost almost as much as the $47 ticket.

The opening act of the night was Bob Marley's son, Ky-Mani Marley, who sang all his dad's old tunes. Not sure I see how reggae and Van Halen go together, but it was music you could dance to...it was a relaxing way to start the night. I even considered buying his album...if he had one.

The lights came up and the stage was cleared. Two miniature blimps floated around the arena with the old Van Halen logo on them until showtime. "We heard you missed us...we're back", they started and went right into "Hot for Teacher" and they were off to 2 hours of all pre-Hagar music. the music was louder than loud (thanks Etymotic Research), and then it was louder than that. And if you think I'm dwelling on how loud it was...even with earplugs, I left with the muffle ear sounds of old that I tried so hard to avoid. I can't imagine not having that protection.

But Dave was Dave...he and the band (minus Michael Anthony who was unfortunately replaced with 16 year old Wolfgang Van Halen) put on a hell of show that blew away the Van Hagar show from 20 years ago. The kicks were not quite as high...the splits weren't there, but Dave, Eddie, Alex...they were full of energy. Wolfgang...well...to steal a line from a review I read...he looked like a contest winner but played his part as if he'd been around all along.

It would have been cool if they all toured together, Eddie, Alex, Mike, Dave, Sammy, and even Wolfgang...that would have been awesome and may happen one day if all the egomaniacs can ever get it together. But I'm so glad I went to see this...if for no other reason...the Van Halen brothers are bound to kick Dave out of the band again after this tour, so this was a once in a lifetime show. And I liked it.