Get A Big Mac for $1

Order a Double Cheeseburger off the McDonald's Dollar Menu, take generous liberties with their "have it your way" motto to add the sauce, onions, sesame seed bun and the $1 double cheeseburger is transformed into the Big Mac. Toss in some fries and it all becomes, The Ghetto Big Mac.

The bonus is that since the Ghetto Big Mac doesn't have bread between the two patties, less carbs. After all, when eating fast food, this counts.

I love America.

Back Seat Driver's Manual

Back seat drivers of the world, rejoice! Volkswagen, as part of an advertising campaign, has come out with a (humorous) back seat driver's manual. Someone has taken the time to scan the pages and post them online. Find it here.

Bush Drops The S-Bomb

Oh, dear me. The press is all over this one. While attending the G8 Conference in St. Petersburg, Russia today, President Bush was unaware that a microphone was still on and picking up his private conversation with British Prime Minister Tony Blair as they discussed what the UN and other international leaders should do regarding the situation between Israel and Hezbollah. This is what Bush said. Be warned, this quote contains adult language:

"See, the irony is what they really need to do is to get Syria to get Hezbollah to stop doing this shit."

See the video footage.

Ooh! Somebody send Barbara Bush to Russia to spank Georgie and wash his mouth out with soap! That's all he said? Big deal. What he said to Blair was absolutely correct. Syria or Iran need to step in and tell Hezbollah to stop it.

Tony Snow, press secretary told reporters that he mentioned to the president about what happened.

"Actually his reaction first was, 'What did it say?' So we showed him the transcript, then he rolled his eyes and laughed."

One British newspaper said that Bush was "more like a rapper than a statesman." Blair on the other hand, really seems to be getting the worst end of it.

Most UK papers agreed that Blair had fared the worse over the microphone mishap. The remarks provided a unique insight into the relationship between the two men, said The Independent.

It had "done little to rebuff suspicions that the prime minister is something of a Washington poodle." said the Opposition Conservative-supporting Daily Mail.

SOURCE

Pirates Treasure Trove

In spite of all the bad reviews, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest is raking in the money. According to CNN, the sequel has,

...earned $62.2 million in its second weekend, raising its 10-day total to $258.2 million, according to studio estimates Sunday.

The movie has quickly become the year's top-grossing film, rocketing past "X-Men: The Last Stand," which has taken in $232 million in eight weeks. The "Pirates" sequel has grossed an additional $125 million overseas.

Arrr, Matey, 'tis a treasure chest for Johnny Depp and crew. Arr!

Solving Sudoku

The Brain Age game I have for the Nintendo DS includes a great implementation of Sudoku. It's so good that people are calling for it to be on its own. The only nit I have about the game is that I am only allowed 5 mistakes before the game calls me a loser boy. Nonetheless, I'm starting to really get used to Sudoku and finding it a nice waste of time.

Here's a great guide on how to solve Sudoku puzzles:

http://www.wikihow.com/Solve-a-Sudoku

WikiHow.com has other great how-to articles so rummage around.

The View From Here

To prove that there are no true friends in Hollywood...

"I hope you'll stay with us as long as you want." - Barbara Walters, to Star Jones, on the day Jones announced she was leaving The View.

"Regrettably, Star will no longer be on this program." - Barbara Walters, the next day.

Not only that, the opening credits for the show the next day were sans Star Jones. The website is the same way. Stalin still inspires.

Teddy Bear USB Drive Gets Stuck In Computer

I can understand why someone would want to make a USB flash drive inside a teddy bear but while everything looks good on paper, the final product didn't. In this case, you take the teddy bear's head off to reveal the USB adapter, plug it in on the computer and it can look like the cute bear is stuck in the computer. READ

James Woods Poker Face

James Woods, one of my favorite actors, is a serious poker player.

11:52 a.m.
Clad in all black, wearing aviator sunglasses and a HollywoodPoker.com shirt, and carrying a white iPod Nano cranking Rolling Stones, Bob Seger, and Aerosmith ditties, Woods settles in: table 3, seat 3. Here, he's known as Jimmy. "I don't need luck because I'm going to win the f---ing thing. I'm serious."

I'd love to see the playlist he has on that iPod. I've heard Woods is a cool guy and the Entertainment Weekly reporter who was there for the tournament noted that Woods said hello to everyone he could, stopped playing to pose for a photo with a fan and danced a jig later in the evening. Seriously had fun.

Swigen Is Back!

Deadwood has returned to HBO for 12 episodes. Unfortunately, it looks like season 3 will be the last. HBO and David Milch, the show's executive producer, writer and creator, said there will be two two hour movies to wrap up the series.

In the meantime, check out the real versions of the various characters here.

With the demise of Deadwood and The Sopranos, maybe it's time for me to really think about getting rid of all the movie channels and explore services like Netflix and Blockbuster's similar offering as an alternate.

Cell Phones Don't Lie

al-Zarqawi (on cell phone): Eh? Can you hear me now?
NSA Agent tracking call: Sure can, bud! Sending my calling card right now!
F-16 pilot overhead: Yippee-Kiyay Mo-Fo!
Bomb: boom!

Apparently the military was able to track al-Zarqawi to his location at the safehouse via his cell phone. Read.

Cell Phone: Free with new service.
Tracking bad guy to administer justice: priceless.

Nintendo's Game

This Sunday, the Nintendo DS Lite will be officially released in the United States. I mentioned that Sunday, June 11 is the official release date because some Target, Toys 'R Us and Walmart locations have broken the release date by putting them on the shelves shortly after Memorial Day.

This dual-screen handheld game console is total redesign of the Nintendo DS released in 2004. While the original DS was pretty good, the industrial design could have been better and the Lite intends to remedy all that. The biggest change is a much smaller and slimmer case and a brighter screen.

In the good ol' days, you hooked up several Nintendo GameBoys to have multi-player action in Tetris. Now, it's all wireless and you can even connect with a special server to play people all over the internet for free.

While I like my Sony PSP handheld game console, I find the Niintendo DS to be a better gaming handheld. Sure, the PSP can play video, display pictures, connect to the internet with a web browser and play music and the graphics may be better than the Nintendo DS but it tries so hard to be everything. The DS is simply a gaming console and tries not to be anything more. I originally thought the dual-screen to be a novelty but instead, has turned into something very useful. Not only that, at $129, is a better price point for kids than the PSP.

The one thing the PSP has that I wish the DS had is expandable memory. That memory card slot has made the PSP a favorite with hackers who have come out with homebrew games. Sony is trying hard to combat the homebrews but maybe it will be worth it to embrace the hacking community. Both could tolerate having a small keyboard for entering text.

Personally, I don't like comparing one videogame system to another. They all have their pluses and minuses. I also think the Nintendo DS and Sony PSP are targeting different things.

Now, back to those stores that broke the June 11 street date. Some folks have come up with crafty ways to pry the DS Lites out of the stockrooms at Targe and Walmart. I checked at my local Target but the electronics department manager is wise to the whole thing. He won't pull the DS Lite pallet out of the stock room until Sunday morning because he wants to make sure he has enough units on hand that day because the DS Lite will be in the Target ads included with the Sunday newspaper.

Unlike the Xbox 360, I'm pretty confident there will be units available for purchase Sunday because the handheld games are not as popular as things like the Xbox 360, PS2 or the soon-to-be-released Playstation 3.

Nintendo will release their new gaming console in Novmeber. The development project for this new console was called Revolution. The release name will be Wii. Don't let the stupid name fool you. I've been reading up on the Wii and it looks to be something to check out.

Aside from being cheaper and smaller than the Xbox 360 or Playstation 3, the Wii will be sporting a unit hand controller. By moving the controller in a certain fashion, you can, on-screen, wield a sword, hike a football, swing a tennis racket or aim a futuristic rifle at hostile Martians.

A product manager at Electronic Arts said the new controller system is challenging their game programmers in a positive way. You have to take games like Madden Football and totally rethink the controller code.

Speaking of new ideas in videogaming, there is a new game for the Nintendo DS called Brain Age. This is a videogame of sorts that allows you to exercise your brain. There are also some word and number puzzles. I might pick this game up to check it out. You can find out more about Brain Age here.

Wikipedia.org, of course, has some nice write-ups on the Nintendo DS, Nintendo DS Lite, and Sony PSP.

Brannigan...Must It Be On DVD?

The Good
John Wayne as Rooster Cogburn
Humphrey Bogart instead of Ronald Reagan in Casablanca
Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones

According to Entertainment Weekly, here are some other famous close calls that didn't happen. Let's call it The Bad.

— Chris O'Donnell and Claire Danes in Titanic.
— Cher and Melanie Griffith in Thelma & Louise.
— Molly Ringwald in Pretty Woman.

This was in an article about the release onto DVD of the John Wayne movie, "Branigan."

And then, there's The Ugly. Castings that happened that really shouldn't have.

- I still contend that while he did a decent job, Mel Gibson was improperly cast in Hamlet. He was too old.
- Leonardo Dicaprio in Titanic. He redeemed himself with The Aviator.
- George Clooney as Batman. Chris O'Donnell as Robin was pretty repulsive too.

There were some great comments online to the story. One of the best was this:

I've read the comments that John Wayne can not "act." I feel that people tend to judge him based on his later-years, off-screen persona, when he himself confused the "man" with the "legend." John Wayne did not become an icon because he could not act! He became an icon because he projected what it meant to be "American" and "heroic" at a time when people needed someone and something to believe in. He was, is, and will forever be a "Movie Star" - an icon of the Silver Screen. Pop "The Searchers," "Red River," "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valence," or "She Wore a Yellow RIbbon" in your DVD player and watch a world-class actor at the peek of his talents. Sure he made some duds, but name a legend who didn't. As far as his not joining the army, remember that he was in his 40's with a family. Well past the average age of recruits. He "played" heroes even if he was not one himself...and that is okay. Clark Gable did not fight in the Civil War, nor did Bogart ever step foot in Casablanca...

Still, Brannigan was pretty bad. Make your DVD player feel better with The Quiet Man, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, El Dorado/Rio Lobo, The Sons of Katie Elder, Sands of Iwo Jima, They Were Expendable, The Wings of Eagles (a personal favorite), Donovan's Reef, North to Alaska, True Grit/Rooster Cogburn, The Shootist (his last film), In Harm's Way, and way too many others.

I've never seen The Quiet Man but I've heard so many people say it was his best role. Hmmm...rental time.

Congress Out Of Tune

From CNN.com this morning:

The Senate is set to vote this morning on a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage, even though supporters concede the measure doesn't have enough votes to win. "I don't believe there's any issue that's more important than this one," said Republican Sen. David Vitter.

How about the economy, immigration, Social Security or even the little things like congressional ethics.

Yeah, clearly another sign that Congress is out of touch with the American people.

Conservative Top 50

I love lists and the New York Times has created a list of the Conservative Top 50 Rock Songs with explanations. On one hand, I can see the subtle humor. On the other hand, this is a pretty cool list of tunes.

READ

My favorite was number 1 and the comments about The Who:

The instantly recognizable synthesizer intro, Pete Townshend's ringing guitar, Keith Moon's pounding drums, and Roger Daltrey's wailing vocals make this one of the most explosive rock anthems ever recorded — the best number by a big band, and a classic for conservatives.

The writer must be a Who fan too. You want explosive music? Listen to the entire Who's Next album this song is on as well as Quadrophenia. Both albums will give your speakers a serious workout.

Time to haul out the DVD of their live concert footage, The Kids Are Alright.

Miscellaneous

"Senator Hillary Clinton is being criticized because she recently called today's college kids lazy and uninformed. A spokesperson for college kids said: 'Whatever, lady from TV.'"
-- Conan O'Brien

"In the wake of reports that the NSA is monitoring phone records, Senator Arlen Specter, the Judiciary Committee chairman, said he would subpoena phone companies to appear before his committee. The phone companies said they would try to be there sometime between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m."
-- Tina Fey, on Saturday Night Live's Weekend Update

"If I heard the Lord right about 2006, the coasts of America will be lashed by storms."
-- Rev. Pat Robertson, revealing what he says God has told him

"Why do we have to say that English is the language that we speak in America? Are we that insecure about ourselves?"
-- Sen. Barbara Boxer, California Democrat, during last week's debate on immigration and making English the nation's official language

----------
$17,316 Total value of personal gifts to President Bush last year, including a $5,474 bicycle

$39,722 Value of gifts to Vice President Cheney, including a $6,125 Colt revolver

----------
1¢ Amount Jacqueline Williams of Flint, Mich., owed her energy company when her power was shut off for seven hours last week

----------
6 Number of mostly Muslim countries among the top 10 nations in which Google users are most likely to search for the word sex. Pakistan, Egypt and Iran lead the list

10 Number of Canadian, Australian and U.S. locales among the top 10 cities in which Google users are most likely to search for the word drugs

----------
1.23¢ Cost to the U.S. Mint to manufacture a penny, a 27% jump from last year, attributed to skyrocketing metals, manufacturing and transportation costs

5.73¢ Cost of producing a nickel, up 19% from 2005

Source 1
Source 2

Miscellaneous

"Senator Hillary Clinton is being criticized because she recently called today's college kids lazy and uninformed. A spokesperson for college kids said: 'Whatever, lady from TV.'"
-- Conan O'Brien

"In the wake of reports that the NSA is monitoring phone records, Senator Arlen Specter, the Judiciary Committee chairman, said he would subpoena phone companies to appear before his committee. The phone companies said they would try to be there sometime between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m."
-- Tina Fey, on Saturday Night Live's Weekend Update

"If I heard the Lord right about 2006, the coasts of America will be lashed by storms."
-- Rev. Pat Robertson, revealing what he says God has told him

"Why do we have to say that English is the language that we speak in America? Are we that insecure about ourselves?"
-- Sen. Barbara Boxer, California Democrat, during last week's debate on immigration and making English the nation's official language

----------
$17,316 Total value of personal gifts to President Bush last year, including a $5,474 bicycle

$39,722 Value of gifts to Vice President Cheney, including a $6,125 Colt revolver

----------
1¢ Amount Jacqueline Williams of Flint, Mich., owed her energy company when her power was shut off for seven hours last week

----------
6 Number of mostly Muslim countries among the top 10 nations in which Google users are most likely to search for the word sex. Pakistan, Egypt and Iran lead the list

10 Number of Canadian, Australian and U.S. locales among the top 10 cities in which Google users are most likely to search for the word drugs

----------
1.23¢ Cost to the U.S. Mint to manufacture a penny, a 27% jump from last year, attributed to skyrocketing metals, manufacturing and transportation costs

5.73¢ Cost of producing a nickel, up 19% from 2005

Source 1
Source 2

How Common Is Your Name?

If you think my first name, Roger, is common, I beg to differ. Check out the NameVoyager for proof. What is interesting is that Roger was popular during the 1950s and 1960s, around the time I was...err...born.

I won't argue the fact that my last name, Smith, is pretty common.

So, which names are currently popular? The Baby Name Wizard Blog reported,

2005's Hottest, Nottest

The fastest rising and falling baby names make up a time capsule of a given year. They show off changing fashions, cultural trends, and even world events. The biggest movers of 2005:


RISERS

Girls
1. Ciara
2. Ava
3. Estrella
4. Danica
5. Sienna
6. Emerson

Boys
1. Talan
2. Braylon
3. Leland
4. Amare
5. Landon
6. Johnpaul


FALLERS

Girls
1. Hunter
2. Laisha
3. Sheila
4. Jessica
5. Celeste
6. Christian

Boys
1. Kanye
2. Ashton
3. Alexis
4. Kyle
5. Colby
6. Justin

As to what are the most common...the blog noted that the Social Security Administration listed these as the most popular names for 2005:

GIRLS BOYS
Emily Jacob
Emma Michael
Madison Joshua
Abigail Matthew
Olivia Ethan
Isabella Andrew
Hannah Daniel
Samantha Anthony
Ava Christopher
Ashley Joseph

Mapping Languages

Global Mapping International has downloadable maps of the distribution of languages across the world.

Fascinating to see the makeup of language in the world. Some of the maps are quite complex.

Apple Store Marriage Proposal Update

Earlier, I posted a story about some guy proposing marriage to his girlfriend via the webcam at the new Manhattan Apple Store opening last weekend. Here's a happy follow-up, she said yes.

Read

Hicks Gets More Votes Than Bush

Taylor Hicks is now the 5th American Idol. He won on the show, American Idol last night.

According an AP story, "More than 63 million votes were cast, 'more than any president in the history of our country has received,' [Ryan] Seacrest said."

Ahh...but he didn't win the electoral vote!

Maybe John McCain should add him as his vice presidential running mate. Alabama's a red state right?

One OutsideTheBeltway.com reader noted,
Yes 63 million votes is more than any American president has received (62 million for Bush in 2004), but you are comparing apples to space ships. As noted above, you are drawing from a different pool of voters. Also, the 63 million was to total vote for American idol. The 122 million total vote in 2004 was considerably higher. This would be like comparing the 62 million votes for Bush in 2004 to the 62 million votes for Ike and Adlai combined in 1956.

I like Ike!