Monthly Archives: October 2011

Halloween Humor

Candy Corn CannibalismHappy Halloween!

Jack-O-Lanterns

Diablo III Collector’s Edition Announced

Diabo III Collector's Edition

Gamers are still wondering when in the wild, wild world of sports will Diablo III will be released. Developer Blizzard claims they are in the home stretch of finishing the action-RPG sequel that was first announced over three years ago. However there is a hopeful sign that the game is getting closer to becoming a reality. During BlizzCon this weekend Blizzard announced plans to release a Collector’s Edition of the game.

This version of the PC/Mac game will have lots more than the game itself. It will also have a lot of extras. One is a 4 GB Flash drive that will contain a free version of the last game in the series, Diablo II, along with its expansion pack. The Flash drive comes in the shape of a soulstone that can be put into an included base that looks like the Diablo skull. It’s perfect for gamers who need something to show others how geeky …. er, dedicated they are to Blizzard’s creations.

Other extras in the Collector’s Edition include a two disk Blu-Ray/DVD set that goes behind the scenes of the game’s creation (after all this development time it should be pretty extensive) along with a 200 page art book, the game’s soundtrack on CD and some exclusive in-game content.

Today…

In 1886, the ticker-tape parade is invented in New York City when office workers spontaneously throw ticket tape into the streets as the Statue of Liberty is dedicated.

In 1929, the New York Stock Exchange crashes in what will be called the Crash of ’29 or Black Tuesday, ending the Great Bull Market of the 1920s and beginning the Great Depression.

In 1960, in Louisville, Kentucky, Cassius Clay (who later takes the name Muhammad Ali) wins his first professional fight.

In 1969, the first-ever computer-to-computer link is established on ARPANET, the precursor to the Internet.

In 1998, Space Shuttle Discovery blasts-off with 77-year old John Glenn on board, making him the oldest person to go into space. He became the first American to orbit Earth on February 20, 1962.

Happy Birthday, Charlie Daniels

Charles Edward Daniels is an American country music, Southern rock, and jazz singer, fiddler, and guitarist.

Charlie Daniels

Charles Daniels (October 28, 1936 - )

Wikipedia Link

RIP Rex Stout

Rex Stout

Rex Stout (December 1, 1886 – October 27, 1975)

Rex Todhunter Stout was an American writer noted for his detective fiction. Stout is best known as the creator of the larger-than-life fictional detective Nero Wolfe, described by reviewer Will Cuppy as “that Falstaff of detectives.”  Wolfe’s assistant Archie Goodwin recorded the cases of the detective genius from 1934 (Fer-de-Lance) to 1975 (A Family Affair).

Dreamliner 787 makes first commercial flight

Boeing Dreamliner lands in Hong Kong after 1st commercial flight

The Boeing Co Dreamliner, the world’s first carbon-composite airliner, flew to Hong Kong from Tokyo carrying its first paying passengers today in a flight that could set a new benchmark in air travel.

Its takeoff into clear blue skies after a salute and shower by an airport fire truck came exactly 53 years after Boeing’s first ever jetliner, the 707, began commercial services in the Pan Am colors.

The Dreamliner does not fly any faster than that first aircraft, but it is not supposed to. Instead, it is designed to make the hours aloft more pleasant for passengers and cheaper to fly for owners battling for profit amid the rise of low cost carriers.

Honda GRX

Honda GRX Concept

Click for larger image

Had it been built as designed, the Honda GRX concept would likely have been the true spiritual successor to the much-loved CRX. Created for the 2006 Michelin Challenge Design competition and shown at the Detroit auto show that year, the compact GRX was exceptionally light, and so its Honda Goldwing-derived 1,500cc six-cylinder, horizontally opposed engine was a viable powertrain.

RIP Roger Miller

Roger Dean Miller was an American singer, songwriter, and musician.
Roger Miller

Roger Miller (January 2, 1936 – October 25, 1992)

RIP Don Messick

On October 24, 1997, the animation industry lost a treasure. Don Messick‘s entertainment career spanned seven decades, with forty years of voice work in animation. Messick performed in over 100 animated programs, providing voices for some of the most beloved cartoon characters on television, including Astro and Rudy on “The Jetsons,” Bamm Bamm on “The Flintstones,” Boo Boo and Ranger Smith on “Yogi Bear and Friends,” Dr. Benton Quest and Bandit on “The Adventures of Jonny Quest,” Ricochet Rabbit on “Magilla Gorilla,” Papa Smurf on “The Smurfs,” and his most famous role, Scooby Doo, in countless formats.

Thank you, Don, for one of my most cherished memories of childhood. Scooby Doo was my hero. – James

Said the Obverse…

Said the Obverse to the Reverse
“You are evil, mad, and perverse”
Said the Reverse to the Obverse
“Neener neener you’re far worse”
Never knowing they were joined
Being two sides of one coin.

A Gem From the ‘Net

Gazebo ('nuff said)

Gazebo ('nuff said)

Thanks, Mr. Gartin

RIP, Mr. Cunningham…

Tom Bosley

Tom Bosley (October 1, 1927 - October 19, 2010)

Thomas Edward “Tom” Bosley was an American actor, best known for his starring and supporting roles on the television shows Happy Days; Murder, She Wrote and Father Dowling Mysteries, as well as the title role in the Pulitzer Prize-winning Fiorello!

Wikipedia Link

Happy Birthday, Robert Jordan

Robert Jordan was the pen name of James Oliver Rigney, Jr. (October 17, 1948 – September 16, 2007), under which he was best known as the author of the bestselling The Wheel of Time fantasy series. He also wrote under the names Reagan O’Neal and Jackson O’Reily.

Happy Birthday, Atari 2600!

Atari 2600

October 14, 1977

Wikipedia Link

White Christmas

White Christmas

The film was released in theaters October 14, 1954.

White Christmas is a 1954 movie starring Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye that featured the songs of Irving Berlin, including the titular White Christmas.

Wikipedia Link

Darth Valice in Wonderland

Darth Valice in Wonderland

(Click for larger image)

Bang Your Head!

Bang Your Head

Yup! Been one of those days!

Laser Pen Usage Graph

Laser Pen Usage Graph

I have a bug

Somethings buggy around here!