***MAJOR SPOILERS***

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Scattercast is 68 … and it has been another long week.

- Guy Fawkes night.

- My condolences to all of those affected by the tragedy at Ft. Hood.

- What happened to this country coming together?

- Christmas is already upon us?

Here’s a link to the MP3 for those who wish to download it, subscribe to Scattercast via iTunes.

The official launch trailer for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 has hit TV and the Internet now … and wow.

If you haven’t guessed by now, I am beyond excited for this game, and my only hope now is that it lives up to the hype.  From everything I’ve seen so far, it will.  It has now been reported to be the most pre-ordered game ever, so if it does suck … well, expect mobs with pitchforks and torches beating down the doors of game developer Infinity Ward.

Any way, here is the launch trailer for the game … I am going to have to put on another bib before I watch it again.

In case you missed the other videos, here they are.

• Modern Warfare 2 Teaser Footage
• Modern Warfare 2 Trailer
• Modern Warfare 2 Multiplayer Features Unveiled
• Third Modern Warfare 2 Trailer

CBS has decided people love TV … and they love video games … so they should mix them!

Licensed properties have been a staple of the video game industry since its inception. Sometimes the games work, but most often they don’t. It’s hard to capture the essence of another medium in a video game, but this isn’t stopping television network CBS from licensing a truck load of shows into video games for 2010.

Worth Playing has the synopsis for each of the upcoming games … my thoughts after each one …

AVAILABLE 2010:

The Amazing Race (Ludia Inc.)
Get ready for around-the-world competition with the video game based on the eight-time Emmy® award-winning television series The Amazing Race where team players split up in pairs for a remarkable journey across exotic locations in a race against time. Players will face frantic challenges and tasks as they navigate through detours, roadblocks and other unpredictable game elements from the show. Working together strategically throughout the game is essential as each team tries to discover hidden clues that are crucial to getting them to the Pit Stop first – and one step closer to ultimate victory at the check-in mat. This video game will be launched throughout North America across multiple platforms in tandem with the show’s 16th season.

Sean’s thoughts: I love the Amazing Race, like crazy love.  I dream of going on the show constantly (mainly with The Diabolical Miss M as my team mate … whom I imagine I would carry in my pocket due to our size differences), but the idea of playing it on a game console?  Um … I guess it could be somewhat challenging?  Maybe something on the Wii where you would have to be physically involved?

Survivor (Mindscape)
This game is perfect for any fan of the show Survivor. Players will be able to live like the contestants on Survivor. With challenges such as fishing, collecting food and participating in Immunity challenges, players will compete to outwit, outlast and outplay in order to be crowned the ultimate sole Survivor. Available on Wii & Nintendo DS platforms.

Sean’s thoughts: This is a horrible idea.  90% of Survivor is the conditions you live in, you will never be able to capture that in a satisfying manner on a video game screen.

AVAILABLE FOR HOLIDAY 2010:

Diagnosis Murder (Merscom)
Available in early 2010, this is an adventure game where the player must find different items in a scene to use as clues in order to solve the mystery. Available for the PC/Mac, this video game will be sold on most casual gaming websites and at major retailers.

Sean’s thoughts: … this show has been off the air for almost 9 years.  Who in the world is the target demographic for this title?  My 88-year-old grandmother?

Criminal Minds (Legacy Interactive)
In the Criminal Minds game, players will be able to take on the role of different members of Behavioral Analysis Unit to solve a series of five shocking crimes. In order to track down the killers and solve each case, players will need to examine crime scenes for clues, interview witnesses and suspects, analyze evidence and build a profile based on real-life criminal profiling techniques. The videogame is slated to launch in the fourth quarter of 2010 on the PC.

Sean’s thoughts:  I’m going to guess the already released CSI games must be doing well …

Ghost Whisperer (Legacy Interactive)
Debuting in early 2010. Ghost Whisperer will be the first-ever video game based on the hit series. Written by Emmy Award-winning television writer Lance Gentile, the PC game calls for players to embark on the adventure of helping the recently departed move on to the afterlife and providing closure to loved ones left behind.

Sean’s thoughts: Having never watched the show, I’m guess it’s going to involve talking … a lot of talking.

The Hollywood Squares (Ludia, Inc.)
This timeless TV game show experience comes to fans everywhere on the platform of their choice. The Hollywood Squares game will feature all the favorite elements of the show as played on television, as two contestants play head-to-head in a bid to win money and prizes. Nine open-faced cubes make up the tic-tac-toe style “board” for the game which are occupied by celebrities/TV personalities. The stars are asked questions and players judge whether their answers are true or false, all the while incorporating outrageous “zingers” and “bluffs” to fuel the fun. Each correct answer earns the player a square on the board, and the first player to mark three squares in a row wins the game. Additionally, the game will incorporate bonus video of the funniest moments from the TV show. The North America-wide exclusive deal will result in games across major platforms including PC/Mac, consoles, iPhone™ and iPod® touch. The first of The Hollywood Squares games is slated for release in 2010.

Sean’s thoughts: Eh, I actually kind of enjoy The Price Is Right on my iPod Touch.

I guess there is a market for everything these days.  I don’t personally see myself buying any of these except maybe the Amazing Race, and I would need to see a lot of really good reviews for it before I would, but obviously someone has convinced all of these companies there is a market for these.  Wish I knew … I have a bridge I would love to sell them …

Welcome to another week of the daily edition of CobWEBs, the flagship podcast of The Cynical Bastards!

For those who don’t remember from the other episodes, this is a new format for the show as we are going to try giving you daily bite sized chunks of our patented brand of cynicism over everything in the tech universe. The show will have a rotating host schedule between Steven Hodson, Mark ‘Rizzn’ Hopkins and myself. You’ll always get two of us, you just never know which two!

Mark ‘Rizzn’ Hopkins and I have another discussion about e-readers this evening, but from a different angle than usual. Barnes & Noble are being sued by Spring Design saying that the Nook violates the intellectual property rights of the smaller e-reader known as the Alex.  Good times for all involved!

Push the big green button and have a listen in!

Day man
Fighter of the Night man
Champion of the sun
You’re a master of karate and friendship…for everyone
Day man, day man
Uhh ahhahh
Fighter of the Night man
Uhh ahhahh
Champion of the sun
Uhh ahhahh
Master of karate and friendship…for everyone
Day man, day man
Uhh ahhahh
Fighter of the Night man
Champion of the sun

For some reason I had never seen the appeal of It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia when I saw the commercials.  I skipped it for four seasons and then I spent an evening in a cigar bar in Boston this past August.

The Diabolical Miss M had been trying to convince me to try the show for ages, but I just kept blowing it off.  Well, as I sat in a cigar bar with her she ended up spending about a 1/2 hour acting out entire scenes from the show to try to convince me I needed to try it.  I finally relented and ordered the DVDs, and now I can say I am caught up to the most current episode in the fifth season which is currently airing.  So, thanks M … for sucking me into another television series.

Basically the show revolves around three childhood friends that co-own a dive bar, with the fraternal twin sister of one of them working as a waitress.  In the second season the twins’ father, played by Danny DeVito, joined the series.

While the concept sounds simple, what you don’t know until you dive into the series is that these people are, to quote Waitress, “are the worst people in the world!”  There really are no words to describe just how horrible they are.  It isn’t as if they set out to do bad things, they are just so insanely selfish and inconsiderate that they destroy the lives of every one that comes into contact with them (except for one woman named Artemis who seems to somehow escape their orbit unscathed every time she interacts with them).

While the concept doesn’t sound that funny, and there are some misfiring episodes, the series is amazingly funny, awkward, uncomfortable … and yet you can’t stop watching.  You are blown away by how these guys — the show was created by the three main actors Rob McElhenney, Glenn Howerton and Charlie Day — continually come up with these scenarios that have the crew at Paddy’s Bar walk away obliviously that they have yet again somehow messed up someone’s life.

Is the show for everyone?  No, not even close, but I do think you should give it a chance as you may be surprised by it as I was.  I honestly didn’t expect to like it, but I have burned through all of the episodes, and now find myself quoting episodes on a regular basis … although most of them are highly inappropriate for this blog …

If you’re looking for a new show to watch, something to catch up on during the winter months, give it a shot, I think you may be pleasantly surprised.  (and, yes, a begrudging ‘thank you’ to M for introducing me to the show … although I should have made her act out even more scenes)

Those song lyrics at the beginning of the post come from a song Charlie and Dennis write called “Day Man” which has become a bit of a running joke in the series.  You can watch the clip below of the original time the joke appeared.

Welcome to another week of the daily edition of CobWEBs, the flagship podcast of The Cynical Bastards!

For those who don’t remember from the other episodes, this is a new format for the show as we are going to try giving you daily bite sized chunks of our patented brand of cynicism over everything in the tech universe. The show will have a rotating host schedule between Steven Hodson, Mark ‘Rizzn’ Hopkins and myself. You’ll always get two of us, you just never know which two!

Steven Hodson and myself take Robert Scoble to task over his enthusiasm for Facebook FriendFeed Twitter lists.  We also take on the basic concept of the lists, and how Pete Cashmore of Mashable basically turned the lists into a pointless game in one post.  Oh well, in 30 minutes something else shiny will distract Scoble and the whole process will begin again.

Push the big green button and have a listen in!

Is it possible that a comic book movie could be trying to stack the deck to win some Academy Awards?

As more news about the upcoming Marvel Entertainment Thor movie comes out, one has to wonder what exactly is going on.  Starring in a comic book movie was once akin to an actor saying, “I have a house payment due, and it was quick money”, but now not only are big names flocking to them, but the extremely well respected.

The whole ordeal with Thor started when Kenneth Branagh was announced as the director.  He is best known for his Shakespearean work, and while Thor is rife with mythology and odd speaking habits (it is based on Norse mythology after all), it still seemed like a rather odd “get” for a comic book film.

Then came news of Natalie Portman (yes, I still want her to shut up in her everyday life) joining the cast.  While V For Vendetta was her first comic book movie, it wasn’t quite as traditional as Thor may be.  True, we’re dealing with Norse Gods here, but there are still capes, tights and bulging muscles, something her last foray into comic book movies was missing.

The biggest “you have to be kidding me” moment came with the announcement that Sir Anthony Hopkins was joining the cast as Odin, the leader of the Norse Gods, and most specifically, Thor’s father. While Sir Hopkins has made some less than stellar films in his career, they are so rare, they are difficult to name.  He is an amazing actor, and to see him in a comic book movie is just not something I ever envisioned happening.

The actor cast as Thor, Chris Hemsworth, is still a relative unknown to the majority of the world, but with the talent surrounding him on this project, it would be difficult for him not to shoot for the stars with his performance.

So, what exactly is Marvel trying to pull off here?  Are they just trying to make the best movie possible, or are they aiming for a bigger prize?  Could we possibly be seeing the first planned attempt for a traditional comic book movie to make a run at some Oscar nominations? (Road to Perdition was based on a comic book, although that was severely underplayed at the time of its Oscar nominations)  There is no saying how this film will play, even with these very talented people involved, but it just seems like Marvel is throwing a lot of weight behind this movie, a lot more than it has behind some of their other projects.

This is all pure speculation on my part, but something sure feels different about this project.

EDITED TO ADD: Yes, I forgot about Heath Ledgers’ Oscar for the Joker in The Dark Knight.  So, yes, a caped hero movie has won an Oscar already, but this still feels like Marvel is gunning for one of their own, and is loading the deck in its favor.

Natalie Portman, like Bono, needs to learn to shut up.

Every single person in this world is entitled to their opinion, and to their freedom of speech.  I obviously consider this one of the main tenants of the world as I shoot my mouth off here on my blog on a constant basis.  I feel everyone should have opinions, and they should also feel free to express them, but you know how that old saying goes about “opinions are like …”, you know the one I mean.  Well, Ms. Portman has apparently discovered that orifice on her body.

This story is a couple of days old now, and I have been debating since it broke if I even wanted to talk about it.  I am about to tell someone (believe me, I know I am writing this for myself and no one else) to keep a certain “I’m better than you” attitude to herself when I run a blog where I rant about Scientologists on a regular basis.  However, some things are just so monumentally stupid that you can’t stop yourself from commenting.

You see, Ms. Portman wrote an article for the Huffington Post about how she has converted from being a vegetarian to an out spoken vegan.  I have no problems with vegetarians or vegans in any way, my belief is that is their choice, good for them.  However, just like I won’t wave meat in their face, I prefer the not wave their choices in mine.  I’m willing to have open discussions on the subject so long as they remain civil, but this is one of those subjects like politics that rarely does.  I have known many of both types of people over the years, and we have never once had a problem … course, none of them before have likened me to a rapist.

Yes, you read that right … a rapist.

In her defense of Jonathan Safran Foer’s book,  Eating Animals, which she says is what brought about the change in her views, she postulates a scenario that would be the most awkward dinner conversation ever.

I say that Foer’s ethical charge against animal eating is brave because not only is it unpopular, it has also been characterized as unmanly, inconsiderate, and juvenile. But he reminds us that being a man, and a human, takes more thought than just “This is tasty, and that’s why I do it.” He posits that consideration, as promoted by Michael Pollan in The Omnivore’s Dilemma, which has more to do with being polite to your tablemates than sticking to your own ideals, would be absurd if applied to any other belief (e.g., I don’t believe in rape, but if it’s what it takes to please my dinner hosts, then so be it).

I think there is a small difference between eating, something all humans have to do to live, and an act of violence taken upon another human.

As I said earlier, I have known many vegetarians and vegans over the years, and to see me, you would have no doubt I eat meat.  I have always been able to get along because they know they aren’t going to change me, and I have no desire to change them.  I applaud their convictions to be honest, but when you begin preaching to me, that is when I have a problem with you, no matter what the subject might be.  If I respect your decisions, surely you can do the same for me?  The quickest way to turn me off to your beliefs or causes is to lecture me, which is exactly what it sounds like Ms. Portman plans to begin doing.

This has always struck me as one of the biggest problems with this sort of “debate”: the other party automatically assumes I have made my choice out of some form of lack of education on the matter, and it is now their duty to correct that.  You have no clue how or why I have made the decisions I have made, and you instead of trying to “educate” me, or confronting me at a dinner party about it (Anyone else think Ms. Portman’s dinner part invites just dropped like a rock?), how about you stick to your choices and I’ll stick to mine?

It is a beautiful thing to have convictions and to stand up for them, but if your plan to get your voice heard is to liken people such as myself to being a rapist, well … good luck with how far you’re going to get.

Only 35 articles this week … oh no, I dropped one from last week!

Photo.BLORGE.com

• Canon issues service Notice over EOS 7D residual images
• Eye-Fi wireless memory cards add direct Facebook uploads

SeanPAune.com

• And Hollywood Prepares To Unleash Another Slew Of Sequels
• Shut Up, Bono
• CobWEBs Daily Edition – Microsoft screwed if they do, screwed if they don’t
• The Cup Of Tears Trailer
• CobWEBs Daily Edition – What … Google is a search engine? Seriously?
• Oscar-Winning Writer Paul Haggis Leaves Scientology
• CobWEBs Daily Edition – Google are innovators but they are also market depressors
• R.I.P. Chuck Biscuits
• Avatar Trailer
• CobWEBs Daily Edition – Hey Robert it’s not all just about you – kthxbai
• Scattercast Episode 67: Google, What Is It Good For
• CobWEBs Daily Edition – Come on Microsoft, quit being such a wuss
• Celeberity Death Hoaxes

SiliconANGLE.com

• Mobile Monday: Mobile App News for Week of October 19th

SitePoint.com

• 10 Fantastic Spam Filtering Solutions

StarterTech.com

• Google Docs Adds Mass Downloading
• Sony Adding Netflix Streaming To Playstation 3
• Google Voice Now Lets You Use Your Own Number
• Amazon Video Game Deal: Spend $80, Get $40 In Credit
• Amazon Introduces PayPhrase To Ease Online Shopping
• Marvel Entertainment Joins The Downloadable Comics Game
• How To Report A Malicious Site To Google

Tech.BLORGE.com

• Daylight Savings Time isn’t until next weekend
• Netflix adds streaming service to Playstation 3
• Rumors of the Apple tablet spin up again as Apple denies
• Roku introduces two new set-top boxes
• Google’s Android 2.0 gets Google Maps Navigation
• Google launches new Music Search service
• Netflix Streaming coming to the Nintendo Wii
• WordPress launches iPhone app 2.0 with new features
• Apple Tablet may be mostly about video instead of books
• PDF error reveals how many users Google Voice has
• BlueBeat website offers up Beatles albums for download; lawyers drool

People that fake death reports are not high on my favorite people’s list at the moment.

I have no clue why there has been an uptick in fake reports of celebrity deaths as of late, but it has gotten to the point of being annoying, and it certainly isn’t funny.

The other day I wrote up a post about the passing of drummer Chuck Biscuits.  It has now been revealed to be a hoax, and Mr. Biscuits is alive and well.  While I am thrilled that he is alive, I couldn’t be more annoyed with the person who started spreading this rumor.  Now, I do not blame the original site, JG2 Land, he reported this news in good faith, and he believed himself to be in contact with the wife of Chuck Biscuits from as far back as this summer.  So, just to be clear, I do not feel that blog is at fault for this.

This is just one example of the numerous fake deaths reported this year, and I wish I could figure out what sort of sick and twisted individual gets a thrill out of leading friends, family and fans to believe someone is dead?  Is your life really that sad that you have to get your jollies from depressing other people?

Whatever the case may be, luckily Chuck Biscuits is alive, and I can now just go back to wondering what sort of idiot this person is that started this whole thing.

Welcome to another week of the daily edition of CobWEBs, the flagship podcast of The Cynical Bastards!

For those who don’t remember from the other episodes, this is a new format for the show as we are going to try giving you daily bite sized chunks of our patented brand of cynicism over everything in the tech universe. The show will have a rotating host schedule between Steven Hodson, Mark ‘Rizzn’ Hopkins and myself. You’ll always get two of us, you just never know which two!

Steven Hodson and myself tackle an entirely speculative subject today as to why Microsoft isn’t manufacturing its own computers. This is an unusual departure for us, but it was an interesting subject to tackle.

Stories mentioned in this podcast:

Should Microsoft be thinking about making their own PCs? – The Inquisitr
Episode 190: Apple Takes On Windows 7 – John Dvorak
Microsoft’s next step – MarketWatch
7 Reasons Why Microsoft Should Make PCs – Datamation

Push the big green button and have a listen in!