Uniqlo Dance Team Astounds

In this day and age of CGI and special effects, it’s wonderful to see real life being this synthetic.

Restrictions on Grassroots Defeated

We really dodged a bullet here where a 55 to 43 vote successfully removed Section 220 from the new Ethics Bill. Looking at the map you can tell which states wanted the Bennet Amendment (which killed Section 220) and which fought it.

We’ve got to give credit to the handful of Democrats who broke rank to make the better decision for Free Speech in America:

• Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT-)
• Sen. Evan Bayh (D-IN-)
• Sen. Kent Conrad (D-ND-)
• Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-ND-)
• Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-LA-)
• Sen. Ben Nelson (D-NE-)
• Sen. Ken Salazar (D-CO-)

The idea of cleaning up our political lobbying system is a good one, but there’s a reasonable way to go about it. For more info, visit The Loft.

Vick Caught Smuggling Weed Onto Flight

Why is this water bottle important? Because it’s the kind of super-secret, spy bottle Michael Vick used to try and smuggle some chronic onto a flight out of Miami on Thursday.

The diligent TSA agents wouldn’t allow Master Vick to bring a water bottle onto the plane (thank you idiot terrorists), so Vick tossed it into a garbage can. Suspicious of Vick’s repeated attempts to bring the bottle with him (not to the mention the righteous odor dude coming from a water bottle), the agent retrieved it from the garbage to find a “suspicious substance” in a hidden compartment.

The official report on the substance hasn’t come back yet, but I’ll give you better odds than the Falcons’ new head coach getting an ulcer in year one, that it’ll be some form of grass, herb, ganja or hippy lettuce.

[BTW, if you have a little smuggler on your gift list, you can buy this water bottle and so much more and everyone's favorite crime inducing Web site—the Spycatcher!]

Dojo Info 1/19/07

1. Demand the Media “Tell the Truth!”
   Everyone is entitled to their opinion in our great country, but the media isn’t supposed to deal in opinion, but in fact. Lately, it’s become worse and worse as many in the mainstream media can’t contain their joy at the Democrats regaining majority in Congress to the point where they’re behaving like marketing machines. It’s dispicable. Report the news and shut up. Please.
2. The Most Super Fantastic, Unbelievablely Awesome Blog Ever Written
   Long overdue blog post by Zach Braff after he went to the Golden Globe Awards. Crazy fool.
3. This is the World’s Worst Criminal of ever!!!
   Dumb gets dumber with booze.
4. How can someone die from drinking too much water?
   Little known fact, my brother and I have an ongoing bet to see who can hold it the longest. After reading this, I’m conceding the victory to him and never pushing it again. Scary.
5. Mexican Gov’t Blasts Killing of Migrant
   What have we become that we let another country tell us how to handle our own laws?!? How about this? “Don’t enter our country illegally and you won’t run the risk of being shot.”

Paladin’s Wishlist for New Guitar Hero Songs

I hear you now, “Guitar Hero? Again?!?”

Look! I’ve already admitted that I’m an addict, so GET OFF MY BACK! Cool? Let’s move on.

I’ve just spent the better part of 4 hours reliving old favorites thanks to a stellar site I found called iLike. (Yes, it’s an Apple product so it’s well designed and easy-to-use. Yummy.) So what I now present to you are songs that I hope beyond hope make it into some future release of GH.

Favorite Bands

These are some of my favorite bands growing up.

Rush – “Spirit of the Radio“
There are so many guitar-strong songs by Rush, I had a tough time choosing. With YYZ receiving grand praise on GH2, I’m hoping the good folks who make these choices will be adding another Rush song to the playlist. Other good choices would be: Limelight, Anthem, or La Villa Strangiato.

Van Halen – “Eruption“
The ultimate guitar solo of my generation. I get chills just hearing it. If you want to go with a more traditional VH song, “Panama” would kill. Yes, this would do nicely as an encore song.

Def Leppard – “Photograph“
Again, Def Leppard has a boatload of strong tunes to choose from, but from the opening riff, you know who this band is. Runner-up: “Armageddon It”

Journey – “Separate Ways“
Yes, the video may be one of the worst of all time, but the song is rocks. Journey is known for their love ballads so they don’t have that many hard rock-type songs so this is my pick. “Any Way You Want It” would also do nicely but I can’t stop thinking of Rodney Dangerfield dancing on the golf course.

Boston – “Don’t Look Back“
Boston was a breakthrough band with a totally new sound that took the country by force. “Don’t Look Back” led that charge. Runner Up: “Smokin’”

Led Zeppelin – “Black Dog“
Even though they were a bit before my time, their music was decades ahead of their contemporaries. “Black Dog” is perhaps their strongest guitar-based song. “Heartbreaker” would also be a great song for GH.

Huge Rock Bands

The following big guns in rock music are in alphabetical order. Each deserves at least one song in the playlist.

AC/DC – “For Those About To Rock”
Here’s a tough choice because “Thunderstruck” is also a strong song but it’s intro lasts just a bit too long, even though I really like it.

Cream – “Sunshine of Your Love”
Classic, classic tune. “White Room” would be great as well.

Eagles – “Hotel California”
Would they? Could they?

Foreigner – “Jukebox Hero”
It just makes so much sense. He “bought a beat up six string in a secondhand store” right? “Cold As Ice” would also be pretty cool.

Jimi Hendrix – “Purple Haze”
What the heck is “Spanish Castle Magic”? Why not “Purple Haze” or “All Along the Watchtower”?!? C’mon people… these things matter!

Ozzy Osbourne – “Crazy Train”
There are several killer guitar melodies in Ozzy’s music but “Crazy Train” is the premiere track and should be on Guitar Hero. I won’t take no for an answer. Well, unless they put on “Flying High Again.”

Pink Floyd – “Run Like Hell”
You just don’t want to go too mellow. “Comfortably Numb” is an awes0me tune, but “Run Like Hell” just begs you to play the lead.

REO Speedwagon – “Roll With the Changes”
“Ridin’ the Storm Out” is another great song. I’d be fine with either.

Steppenwolf – “Magic Carpet Ride”
I just hope Chevrolet hasn’t spoiled this song for all of us.

Styx – “Renegade”
A lot of Styx’s songs are symphony styled tunes, but not this puppy. “Blue Collar Man” would also work.

The Doors – “L.A. Woman”
Even though The Doors have mountains of hits, in so many the keyboard plays the primary melody so it’s kind tough finding the leading candidate, but you’ve gotta have a Doors song, right? “Love Me Two Times” would also work in a pinch.

The Scorpions – “Rock You Like a Hurricane”
Frankly, I’m surprised it didn’t make GH1 or GH2, I mean, it’s “Rock You Like a Hurricane.” My second favorite would be “No One Like You.”

The Who – “Won’t Get Fooled Again”
I went back and forth on this one. While, The Who isn’t my favorite group, they aren’t kind of legendary so you’ve got to include at least one of their songs right? “Baba O’Reilly” would also be fun, even though it’s less guitar focused.

ZZTop – “Tush”
I was thinking “Gimme All Your Lovin’ ” but it’s so similar to “Sharp Dressed Man” that was in GH1 that I said, “Nah.” (At least that’s what went on inside my head.)

Super Strong Singles

While these guys didn’t produces loads of great music, they did have some fabulous singles.

Sammy Hagar – “Three Lock Box”
One of the first songs that came to mind was this one. Oh pretty please.

The Outlaws – “Green Grass and High Tides”
You think “Free Bird” is a long song? Try this puppy out and see how long your fingers last.

Molly Hatchet – “Flirtin’ With Disaster”
Another classic southern rock song that thrills as it kills.

Ted Nugent – “Free For All”
The original Gonzo! “Cat Scratch Fever” would work as well.

Jane’s Addiction – “Been Caught Stealing”
Fun, fun and more fun.

Not 80s, But Monster Tunes

Here are some songs that came to mind that are newer than 1989.

Stone Temple Pilots – “Wicked Garden”
“Trippin’ On a Hole in a Paper Heart” is a good song, but “Wicked Garden” is just plain awesome. The massive grunge guitar effect calls to me as I sleep. “Vasoline” would also be good.

Smashing Pumpkins – “Cherub Rock”
Do any of my readers have special pull with Activision? Can anyone please make this happen?

Pearl Jam – “Evenflow”
While not my favorite of bands, this song is epic. It’d be great fun to play.

Nirvana – “Lithium”
This is the song they should have put in instead of “Heart-Shaped Box”.

Ok, now I’ve given you my favorites, what have I left off? What say the loyal 21st Century Paladin readers? There’s bound to be a song or two I’ve overlooked as my dementia is growing by the day.

Real Guitar Modded for Guitar Hero

You know, I thought it was possible, but it always surprises me just how fast someone out ther gets the job done. In this case, Toolmonger builds a Guitar Hero controller from a real guitar… and it’s wireless! Sweet!

Dojo Info 1/17/07

1. iPhone Round-Up
   There are about a thousands points to this post, if you’re interested.
2. 10 Kick Ass Opening Credit Sequences
   Also from kottke, very cool stuff. What gets me is when the artistic power of a film far outweighes the film itself, which happens all too often.
3. High-Power MRI Helps Surgical Team Predict Outcomes
   “In three cases the tumor was predicted to be distinct from the main sciatic nerve, and the tumor was safely removed.” Awesome. I love when technology is applied in a way that truly helps humanity.
4. Millions of Hindus Wash Away Their Sins
   Is it the “water” or the “God” that removes the sin?
5. Video: Round-up: Tiny PCs big hit at CES
   In this day and age, the smaller the better. Well, not if they’re hard to use. We shall see.

Tour UK’s New Practice Facility

Bradley and Crawford take us on a tour of the nation’s premiere basketball practice facility. Fun to watch the guys loose and talking from the hip. And that building isn’t too shabby either.

Staying Fit, Hoop-a-Lot

“Take it to the rack, Grams!”

The Future of Guitar Hero and How I Lost 6 Hours One Saturday

I’m sure some of you are sick of hearing me go on and on about Guitar Hero. That’s fine. I understand. You’re all stupid!! Ha! (That was the evil me speaking, sorry about that.) But it’s true that I’ve found something that’s created an almost instaneous addiction within me. It’s combined two of my life’s favorite pastimes—music and videogames. And for that, I’m eternally grateful to the kind folks at Harmonix. (Here’s hoping MTV doesn’t screw up a good thing.)

The latest news is that I’ve beaten all the songs on Hard mode and earned the coveted Snaketapus Guitar. (Actually, I didn’t purchase it… I’m sorry, but I’m not 9.) So I’m onto Expert mode where I hope to gain fame and fortune among all the today’s “cool” kids.

But what I’m even more excited about is… Guitar Hero III! Yes, you read that right. Now that Activision has announced they’re purchasing RedOctane, they’ve also announced there will be a Guitar Hero III available sometime at the end of 2007. Bet you can guess what I want for Christmas next year. There’s already a forum with 27 pages of song suggestions for the next release. I’ll be creating mine in the months to come, complete with compelling rationale, so stay tuned.

Are you ready for more? Can your heart possibly handle it?!? I’ve also learned that they’re going to release an 80s version of Guitar Hero! Can I get a “whoop whoop”? I knew I could count on you.

OK, I’ll stop now and let your heart rate return to normal. But you are warned… more GH madness shall follow. Oh yes, it shall.

Are Sport Polls Meaningless Drivel?

If statistics are “lies” than what are polls? How in the world can Kentucky be #5 in the RPI and #3 in the Strength of Schedule and not be in the Top 25 polls? Ludicrous.

(To be honest, I don’t care where we are in the polls. All that matters is that the team in consistently getting better. It’s all about March Madness baby.)

My Dream Car Continues to Impress

*drool*

Dojo Info 1/12/07

1. Officer Frees Bald Eagle With One Bullet
   Jesse James eat your heart out.
2. Mysterious online puzzle game leads back to Microsoft
   I love Marketing like this; hits the right target audience in a way that’s engaging and memorable. Plus, it’s probably the cheapest promotion they’ll deliver on this product.
3. Gamers Raise Over $1,000,000 for Children’s Hospitals Through Child’s Play Charity This Holiday Season
   See? Shooting down demons isn’t all that gamers do. Geez.
4. $100 laptop could sell to public
   Now that’s an innovation.
5. YouTube coming to your TV (in several ways)
   YouTube doesn’t know what to do with themselves. Amazing. The opportunities are there is they’ve move on them.
6. CES 2007: John Carmack And Todd Hollenshead Speak
   GameInformer has a massive interview with the big guns from id. It’s a very in-depth piece and what I always like about Carmack, is that he shoots from the hip. No BS there.

Senate Bill Looks to Deny Citizens Information

By the people and for the people, that’s what our country was founded on. Now, if the current Senate Bill 1 is any indication, these elected officials want the people to be in the dark.

By calling it Lobby Reform, most Americans will not give it another thought. But it’s a dangerous Bill. Please let your representatives that you don’t support it. If it is passed, groups like the AFA will be forced to do unnecessary paperwork and pay meaningless fines. It’s an attempt to weed out the grassroots organizations who seem to trouble the “important” Representatives with communications.

It boils down to this: Our elected officials don’t want to be bothered by us. Shameful.

Crysis Demo Shows Amazing Physics

Speaking of Crysis, there’s this. Oh my those physics rock!