$1.40 million dollar fine

Quick-link to Monte Carlo Post (I put too much time and effort into that post to just let it go down the blog quietly now)

ABC looks like they are going to be fined $1.4 million bucks... for /gasp/ showing a butt (and some serious side boob) on network TV

Seriously?

I'm so tired of the violence that is a non-issue (like, say on 24 where Jack has to hacksaw off someones head); but showing a hot girls ass it too much for impressionable viewers. Where the hell did sensibility go? I'm actually not saying that violence should be subjected to the same standards the 'nudity' is - I'm just saying if they think its good TV, show it. Let the public decide if they want to watch it or not. There's a rating system for these reasons.

Here's the horrible $1.4 million dollar footage. I'll admit, probably not 100% safe for all work environments.



Also, since I'm showing semi questionable material (and since its Wednesday) here's the next review from Zero Punctuation:



And I'm sure I'm not the only one - let me save you some time:

Anachronism

1. Something or someone that is not in its correct historical or chronological time, esp. a thing or person that belongs to an earlier time: The sword is an anachronism in modern warfare.

WRC 2008 - Monte Carlo

Okay, for the last couple years I've been bothered by many people about exactly how to get some of this "Greatest racing on the planet" coverage. Sadly, there's not a TV Channel (or direct website) that I've found yet that offers up good World Rally Racing coverage. American's just are not interest in a motor sport that is unable to sell beer and hot-dogs to you while you sit on your ass less than 1/2 mile from where you parked.

As with every year (since 1973) the World Rally starts in Monte Carlo, in January. This gives usually a wide variety of conditions; most notably the higher elevation stages have ice / snow. Though - this year the conditions were much more kind to the competitors.

Personally I find this rally to be fun from a historical standpoint, though I'm just not a big fan of tarmac (pavement) rallies; I prefer gravel or snow. That being said, its still one of the most iconic places on the planet.

As for the picture above - that is about the perfect picture of what makes rally, rally. That is a live stage - meaning that Subaru is going as fast as he can, right through the towns. Its a concept that isn't easily understood here in the USA, as finding a town that would want to shutdown a couple of its roads straight through town for a race is extremely difficult, whereas the folks of Monaco relish their 4 days of World Rally.

So, onto how to watch your own rally footage. Before we start I do want to preface this with a little disclaimer. Even though we have no way to get this footage, and even though it was aired on broadcast TV (I believe; I could be wrong), this might not be 100% legal. If anyone has a better way of getting these broadcasts, I would be very willing to hear it.

On the practical side, its a TV show, and I've yet to see any lawsuits, anywhere in the world over TV shows (all the hype has been over music and movies).

Onto the show:

First things first. In all likelihood you're going to need a better media player. VLC Media Player is what I recommend. Its a great little player. Very quick, works well and best of all, it doesn't have an "auto-updater". In other words, it won't bother you unless you bother it first; unlike every other media player on your computer.

Now to download the actual show you need to have something that handles a Torrent link. Yes, I understand this is a complex sounding idea, though I have walked many people through this over instant messenger. Its not as complicated as it sounds:

I use UTorrent. Just install that software. It really is that simple. If you have questions about how UTorrent works, shoot me an email and I'll give you a run down on it.

And now its time for the show! After installing UTorrent, just click the link below and select "open" (or Run, if you're using Internet Explorer)

Day 1 & 2 - 270 MB (10 second video hitch @ 16:30)
Day 3 - 270 MB
Day 4 - 270 MB
(Thank you www.rallytorrents.com for the links)

I expect Day 4 to show-up sometime today (Tuesday)

Also, I found another TV Stations coverage, which I've yet to watch - nor have no clue if I'll be able to find them for round 2 (its kind of nice to get used to one type of coverage). But, if you're feeling super rally inspired (me) or you're bored with the writer's strike (me), have at it:

WRC Monte Carlo 2008 Days 1-4 - 870MB


These files are not small if you haven't noticed, so if you're not on a high speed connection, don't even think about it (or plan on leaving UTorrent open for days...which is an option).

WTB: Good Media Coverage

Why is it that it takes a comedian to point out what's so horribly wrong with our media?

-sigh-

Quality Post

I know I've been updating at a fairly frantic pace - but I just keep coming across some real quality links that I have to share with everyone. Don't you feel lucky?

I made a realization yesterday when I noticed there was less than 1 day left on the count-down to the Monte Carlo WRC; I've been building this up for 20+ days now, and it just go "uhm, its going" kind of seems anti-climatic.

On that note: "uhm, its going" (maybe I'll come up with something this weekend)

Now, two quality websites. The first one is a website that claims to help get your monitor clean (if there is any dirt on it). I was extremely skeptical at first, but I have to say, it works best if you have your browser maximized when you click on the link:

http://www.linein.org/media/screenclean.swf

Second Website does a very good job showing how massive space is. I know I've linked a couple of these before, and blah blah you're a nerd - but this one just has a simple staged approach that leaves you feeling mighty small at the end.

It starts at 12.5 light years and lets you slowly zoom out. Take a moment to look at the page before zooming out. It ends with the 'estimated' known universe @ ~14 billion+ light years

http://www.ldps.ws/Mirror/Universe/12lys.html

Lastly, since I have your thinking caps on - some great Quotes from the brightest man alive right now.

Stephen Hawking's:

10. "Einstein was wrong when he said "God does not play dice". Consideration of black holes suggests, not only that God does play dice, but that He sometimes confuses us by throwing them where they can't be seen."

9. "I have noticed even people who claim everything is predestined, and that we can do nothing to change it, look before they cross the road."

8. "My goal is simple. It is a complete understanding of the universe, why it is as it is and why it exists at all."

7. "I find that American & Scandinavian accents work better with women." In response to a question about the American accent of his synthesiser.

6. "Someone told me that each equation I included in the book would halve the sales. In the end, however, I did put in one equation, Einstein's famous equation, E = mc2. I hope that this will not scare off half of my potential readers."

5. "My expectations were reduced to zero when I was 21. Everything since then has been a bonus."

4. "To show this diagram properly, I would really need a four dimensional screen. However, because of government cuts, we could manage to provide only a two dimensional screen."

3. "Life would be tragic if it weren't funny."

2. "The whole history of science has been the gradual realization that events do not happen in an arbitrary manner, but that they reflect a certain underlying order, which may or may not be divinely inspired."

1. "Eternity is a very long time, especially towards the end."

Best Game Reviewer

Okay, so I've been listening to this guy for a couple months now and I've been holding off putting him up on the blog simply because he is not what I would call 100% work safe.

That warning being said, I'm hard pressed to find anyone, anywhere, in any version of communication (Radio, TV, Movies, or the Internet) that has the shear week-in and week-out word-smith ability that this guy does. The pace at which he delivers is dizzying (coming from someone that notoriously talks fast)and if it wasn't for the small helpful visual queues that are also thrown at you I think 99% of people would get lost by his reviews. The combination though is brilliant.

Yes, this are video game reviews; but even if you don't own a video game system I think there's a level of appreciation for this guy's abilities that can be had.

You can find all his reviews up on The Escapist - though I'll link a couple of my favorite reviews right here.

Lastly, he posts every Wednesday so if you forget to visit his site I'm sure most of his reviews will be making scheduled stops in bryceblogland. So now, sit back and listen closely:

Guitar Hero III:



Assassin's Creed:



Crysis:

Ramblings

You know those self portraits you always see people taking - the ones where they group up with their friends and hold the camera out as far as they can hold it and snap a usually fairly awful looking picture?

Well, not every picture that is taken that way is awful - Case in point:



But as I said in one of my other points - I think that NASA photographers have a clear and distinct advantage.


I've been told that I'm fairly decent a reading people - a sensitive "bull-shit" scanner if you will. Its something I've noticed, but never really thought all that much about; I mean its neat when you're out with your friends (or on a date) to continually call them on their bull-shit - and maybe I'm really good at it because I spent so many years as a habitual liar (takes one too know one?). Well, I guess its not *all* in my head (though I didn't find this very challenging). The BBC has a test on their website. They show you a smile (only once) and you have to tell them if its fake or genuine.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/humanbody/mind/surveys/smiles/index.shtml

I got 20 out of 20. The only one I wasn't sure of was the guy 6 smiles in (young with short spiked hair).

Oh, and weight loss is for the freak'n birds I tell you. I ate very reasonably over the last 3 days, and worked out very hard (at least one full, hard hour) two of the days, and I'm now currently the same weight as I was on the 7th. (170.4). I have no doubt I'll make my goals for this month, but I'm seeing February as very problematic. We shall see. I really would like to not lose a couple hundred bucks.

Random Update Friday

Lots of random links, updates, and such to follow:

Sen. Rockefeller saying some very nice things about us:
http://www.sdc.wa.gov/2008/releases/Rockefeller/harrison.htm

A very intereting study about a new chemical / medicine that can reverse the symptoms of Alzheimer in minutes. Yes minutes:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/01/080109091102.htm

On that note - a hulu link (sorry foreign readers, you're left out):



I never remember my piano recitals being this exciting (yes, I'm nerdy enough to have been at, and performed in many piano recitals. Deal):



And Lastly - my own 2008 Challenge update:

Things started out with a bang, with the shedding of nearly 10 pounds in 10 days. Since then, its been basically a wavering around the same weight without much change. All I know is my physical therapist is enjoying the ability to kick my ass way too much. Yesterday she came up with multiple god awful exercises that today have left unable to move without remembering her. Not saying I didn't deserve to get my butt kicked - just saying its not a whole lot of fun.

There have been a couple major accomplishments for me so far:
1) Since the beginning of the year, zero fast food. That's probably been the biggest and easiest change
2) Actually getting to workout a couple times a week has been eye opening to my complete lack of fitness anymore. No wonder I'm moping around half the time; tired and run down.
3) Like what is said in the fat rant: Nothing tastes as good as fit and trim feels. Of course that guy never had my mom's french toast covered in fresh rum berry sauce (or whatever nectar of the gods in there).

Anyways - Then end of Janurary and the updated 2008 numbers should be very interesting to see. As far as I know everyone is still very much on their path to success (even if it wavers from time to time - damn you Gifford and those mozzarella sticks).

Internet Stardom

There's some people that have become famous simply because of the internet; and on that note, I give you "The Manualist":

Star Wars: Cantina Band (Gets even more impressive @ 2 minutes in)


And for anyone that played Guitar Hero 2

The Trooper - By Iron Maiden:

Excuses Excuses

Pfft.. Oldest Excuses in the book




yes, this is a very old video - yes its still making the rounds. Deal with it.

Tsukuba Circuit

For anyone that's played just about any racing game, you've been around Tsukuba Circuit (you'll usually remember it as that really tight and twisty one you hate)

Combining something a good portion of us have done digitally, with a car I own, pitting it against its biggest rivals, and doing 5 laps - then having all the dialog in Japanese? How can this video go wrong:

Short Info: Tsukuba Circuit, 2 Generations of Subarus, 3 Generations of Mitsubishi

True Photographer:

There's a lot of photographers out there that try real hard to accomplish even one or two good shots - and even then - so quickly you can be outclassed by someone that just had the true knack for shooting.

Click on the picture to see the gallery of a very impressive "photo-journalist".




Oh, and the 3 fat men (doug, james, me) have lost 22 pounds in 1 week - 11 of those being credited to James; but his girlfriend is a personal trainer, so I really think that's some for of cheating.

Challenge 2008 Update

Again, details of the challenge Here.

If you managed to get through the Homo Politicus post, you saw that Jason had to withdrawal due to fact that crafting a successful career at an international company, marriage, home, and MBA takes more than 24hours a day evidentially.

BUT WAIT! We have a new entry:

Kristy from Victoria (a fellow nerd). As you can tell she doesn't really need to lose any weight (like the rest of us left in the challenge), so here's her goals:

Step 1) Workout 12 times a month and perform a sucessful cleanse through January. No Flour, sugar, dairy, tropical fruits, fermented foods (alcohol, soy sauce, vinegar, black tea, etc), or peanuts for this month - plus a bunch of other restrictions she'll gladly tell you. She's also working on increasing her military press from basically heavy air, to something respectable.
Step 3) To create a fully flushed out marketing plan for her business. We will be working on coming up with quarterly goals.

Her blogspot is here: http://kristynyr.blogspot.com/ where she'll be keeping track of her resolution items =)


Also anyone feeling they need a bit of a push - don't forget the Fat Rant Post over on the right hand side.

Terroism Wins

As you might have noticed I'm doing a countdown to the start of the WRC - 2008. Right behind the WRC in my books is the Paris to Dakar rally. Its an insane race through the Sahara - for bikes, cars, trucks and more.

Well, this years rally (starts tomorrow), has been canceled due to terrorism....

Rally Mainpage

Based on the current international political tension and the murder of four French tourists last 24th of December linked to a branch of Al-Qaeda in Islamic Maghreb, but also and mainly the direct threats launched directly against the race by terrorist organisations, no other decision but the cancellation of the sporting event could be taken by A.S.O.

Homo Politicus

A very funny sounding book that I just might pick up for a chuckle or two. Written by Dana Milbank it is an "Anthropological" study of the two "tribes" in the political USA.

Here's a couple lines from the book:

Anthropologists often discover that tribal structures aren't always what they seem. Potomac Land is no different.

"When you step back and look at people who live in Washington, they steal from other tribes, like Jack Abramoff," Milbank says. "They hide their treasures in ice boxes like Congressman [William] Jefferson. And, if you follow the Scooter Libby case, they even engage in human sacrifice."

A couple phrases from Homo Politicus, and their English translation:

"You're doing a heckuva job."
You will be fired in ten days.

"Frankly..."
The following statement is false.

"You are either with us or against us."
You are against us.

"The senator will deliver a major policy address."
The senator is desperate to get on television.

"I will continue to do the people's business."
I expect to be indicted.


***Resolution Challenge 2008 Update***

We have our first victim:

Jason:

Well here I am sitting at my computer at 9:00 at night finally finishing up work (I thought management was supposed to be easy) and I realized that I am not even in school yet. With school starting in 5 days and the unfortunate fact that I have 6 months of exciting case studies left, plus at least one more multiple-week trip to India in the books I am not sure what I was thinking. I will be the first to invoke Tow's rule, this is just not the year for me (at least not the first 6 months).

Pfft - trying to advance at a international company, getting your mba and shopping for a new home. That's it? Fine. Jason's out. Now to see if Tow invokes "tows" rule - and its just me versus Doug.

In my opinion, I think Jason's wife needs to step in and take his place in this challenege. =)

To all the pregos:

Seems like I have a slew of friends and family that are either expecting or just popped on out - so on that note.

"Trust me, there's no evil in this child"

/queue evil laugh (@ 20 seconds)

Resolution Challenge 2008

Look over here, its yet another New Years resolution that someone is going to claim to do, but ultimately forget about.

But wait. This one has rules. And Points. And Players. ... and Money. What I like to call "teeth". And anyone can play. Yes. Anyone. So, lets get to the rules:

Step #1: Come up with a health resolution that can be charted and tracked over the year. Doug, Tow and I are doing weight. Jason is doing bench reps @ 225lbs (show off).

Step #2: Blog (your own, or email me and I post it) about this challenge once a month at minimum

Step #3: Come up with an additional thing in your life that needs to be accomplished. Break it out in some way that is trackable as well (see examples below)

Points: 2 Points for staying on your health goal per month. 1 point for blogging.

Loss of point: -1 point per month if fail at Step #3

Public Humiliation: Contestants will submit a picture taken this month of them in the mirror to be used if they fail 3 times at any of their goals.

Those in the challenge so far:

Me:

Step 1) To go from 176.4 to 162.5 by the end of 2008
Step 3) Doug challenge me to actually go out to a bar once a month and be social.

Doug:

Step 1) To go from 255 to 225 by the end of June - then maintain a weight below 230 for the rest of the year.
Step 3) I challenged Doug to finish his Kitchen redesign by the end of 2008. Pictures and a work schedule are to be submitted soon.

Tow:

Step 1) To go from 188.4 to 165 by the end of 2008
Step 3) To be decided

Jason:

Step 1) Quarter goals of 3, 5, 8 and 10 reps (3 sets) on 225 pound bench press. Each quarter will be point weighted appropriately.
Step 3) To be decided


You:

Email me to join in.


Winner gets:

Baring some begging and financial difficulty, $100 PER POINT from every person your ahead of (winner takes all). Ultimately everyone should have the same # of points at the end and none of us will owe anyone anything. If you can't do the $100 per point, manual labor, or some other form of public humiliation will ensue. We want this challenge to have teeth - not to make you poor. So if the dollar amount isn't something you'll be able to do, don't worry about it. I know I have a fence and a rock wall that need to be built.

Special Rule
Since this is my idea, and my rules: Anyone that beats me gets $100 per point - regardless if you're the winner. So, if you get 34 points, the winner gets 35, and I only get 30.. I would owe the winner $500 and you $400 (yes, you would come out $300 ahead)

I don't plan on losing though. =)


Pansy (Tow) rule: If you're unsure of your ability to do what you're hoping you can do, there is a withdrawal point of the end of January. Both Doug and I are already completely committed.