So, just as anything else, gaming is a business with huge potential for returns on investment. Every so often, something comes along that revolutioniszes the whole "gaming as a business" concept.

One such thing was online gaming, like MMO's. It was really a fabulous idea to design huge seemingly neverending online worlds where you can game with people from all over the real world...and charge $15 a month for it! Ingenious!

Another innovation was Xbox live. Again, charge a fairly nominal monthly fee to allow gamers to connect with friends and/or other gamers from all over the world...only now, instead of just in one world, it is for a seemingly neverending array of games!

Gamecrush.com is a site where men can pay hot women to play video games with them. Yep. That's it in a nutshell. Another way for women to be whores without having to spread their legs...makes me ALMOST want to join the site. Almost. But then, as I said, I also feel kind of dirty and violated as a gamer.

Has society hit an all new low with a site like this? Men pay $6.60 for a ten minute play-date with a hot female to play a video game with him. I think, from what I can tell, the women and then site then split the profits. So the women who play the games get paid for playing.

In other words, it is a video game brothel; an online pimp so to speak.

Says a lot about how far society has come. Should we, as gamers, be happy that prostitution (in a sense) has even now come into our world in this way? That video gaming has become so maindstream that a site like this can have a chance at success?

Or should we be disgusted?

Admittedly, I am on the fence.

Tags: Gamecrush Playdates Gaming As A Business

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What can be cooler about a chick whose hair IS her outfit and at times during battle, it comes off and turns into a demon and eats things?

The answer is, I am not sure much is.

A friend of my husbands and mine bought the game Bayonetta and didn't like it. Shame on him. We had played the demo and thought the game was not only beautiful, it was fun to play.

So, since the friend of ours doesn't like the game, it is on indefinite loan to us. Bayonetta is this super hot kind of mixture between a Gothic and a Steam Punk chick. Her storyline is really cool. Basically she is an uber powerful witch that can travel to heaven, hell and purgatory just about anytime. She hunts demons, fights angels...and there is something special about her. I won't spoil that. Though they hint at it really early on in the game.

She is on a quest to figure out the key to her lost memories. She woke up 20 years ago, at the bottom of a lake with no memory of how she got there. Has been kicking ass ever since. Things come back to her in a flash here or there throughout the game.

I admit, the game is a button-masher. I know what the buttons do, but even then...it is still just a mash the buttons as fast as you can and kill the giant demon or all the enemies as fast as you can kind of a thing. So, when you fight a particularly difficult enemy, your wrists and your hands WILL CRAMP UP. But what self-loving gamer will let that deter them from a fun and gorgeous game like this?

The game has its drawbacks.

There are so many damned cut-scenes that you finally get to a point where you are just like 'really? I mean really? Another one? Didn't we JUST see a cut scene like 3 minutes ago?'

There is a creation system where you can create your own stuff, like health and energy replenishing candy, but it isn't all that easy to figure out. I did finally figure it out, but it wasn't just as simple as hitting a few buttons. So be ready for that.

Bayonetta is quirky and a smartass. It is endearing at first. But is can, and will, get annoying.

Overall, I am loving the game. I still think the graphics are beautiful and I don't even have an HD television to enjoy the game on. I bet it is GORGEOUS on HD.

Tags: Video Games Bayonetta Sega

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So, the growing number of 1980's celebrity deaths is starting to become truly startling. The 1980's were not so long ago that the celebs from that era shouldn't be dropping like flies, but lo and behold they are.

It really began to happen with disturbing speed during 2009 with the losses of John Hughes (director/writer of The Breakfast Club, Pretty in Pink, Sixteen Candles, Home Alone...ect.), Michael Jackson, Ferrah Fawcett, Patrick Swayze, Bea Arthur (The Golden Girls) and it has continued now in 2010 with the loss at the end of February of Andrew Koenig (Boner in Growing Pains) and today Corey Haim.

Of course there have also been a ton of other celebrity losses that weren't necessarily 80s celebs, such as Heath Ledger, Brittney Murphy, Gidget (Taco Bell mascot) and Ed McMahon all in 2009.

So, my sister in law brought up a couple of interesting theories. The first is really great! Perhaps we have a very beautiful zombie apocalypse to look forward to. I mean if these are the people who will rise again and eat our brains, let me be the first in line to let them! Heath Ledger, Corey Haim or Patrick Swayze are all welcome to eat my brains any day...zombie or not!

So, with all of these celebs dropping like flies, perhaps we are just about upon some weird, yet beautiful zombie apocalypse! Usually we geeks have to be ready to fight zombies, but I can name more than one geek guy who would gladly get Ferrah eat his brains. 

If this is going to be the zombie apocalypse, then the human race may be doomed!

But, lo and behold, my sister in law had another equally plausible theory. 

Today is Chuck Norris's 70th Birthday!

>

Do you suppose it is possible that Chuck Norris requires a steady diet of amazing stardom to stay Chucktastic? It would make sense that as he gets older it would require that he needs more and more and a higher caliber as well. Of course he did devour Michael Jackson and Ferrah Fawcett in one week, so that held him off for a while, but he has picked back off.

Is Chuck Norris eating our celebrities?

Did he steal away Heath Ledger and Brittney Murphy? And now Corey Haim? What about Boner? 

Chuck? Who will be next? You are making all of us 80s and 90s kids super sad!

So what do you think?

Zombie Apocalypse?

OR

Chuck Norris?

Tags: Celebrity Deaths Micheal Jackson Corey Haim

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New Orleans was fabulous. And, believe it or not...the RPG behaved herself. I know...some of you may be disappointed. But I got lots of beads anyway. 

My Booty

You don't have to expose yourself for beads, in fact they arrest people for that! I am too pretty for jail and I have a smart mouth. I would get in more trouble by running it...or I would cry. One or the other.

There were many highlights to my trip. One would think I would say my favorite thing was the Mardi Gras Parades. While I did love them, they are not numero uno for me. For me, I am, and always will be, in love with the French Quarter and any time I can spend just walking around (even if my feet hurt like a bitch). So much beauty, so much history there. I love the wrought iron on the blaconies, I love the Jackson Cathedral. I just love the French Quarter.

Jackson Cathedral

A street in the French Quarter

Another Favorite of mine in New Orleans, and a tourism MUST while there, is the Cafe Du Monde. You go there to eat Beignets and Cafe Au Lait (chicory coffee and milk). The Beignets are FABULOUS. Unfortunately for me...apparently my stomach and chicory coffee don't get along. I ralphed an hour or two after that breakfast. But oh well. Its New Orleans, how many people DON'T ralph while they are there. Just most people have alcohol related emptying of their stomach contents.

Beignets and Cafe Au Lait

Okay, so the parades for Mardi Gras. Those are pretty darn awesome, very colorful and I learned that there is an art to catching beads without getting hurt. Some of the beads they throw are pretty big, some have big medallions on them and sometimes they throw large quantities all bunched together! You can get beaned in the head or if you hand is really cold it can feel like you shattered your finger when the beads hit it just right upon the catch. 

But the floats are amazing and fun and beautiful! I would love to go back just to see them again! Here is just a few pictures, of the MANY I took. 

Oh, so gambling was fun. Now I admit. I was no big money gambler. I didn't even hit the poker tables or anything like that, but we did head to Harrah's and played with the slots for a while. I was delighted when I realized I could MIX my uber geekdom with gambling when I discovered the Start Trek slot machine!!!! Oh hell yea! I even came out ahead on that that one...put in $20, came out with $25.06!

I found some fabulous graffiti while I was there, and noticed for some reason...Cthulu is quite popular as graffiti. I wonder what the story is there? I thought it rocked though. 

Cthulu Gaffiti

Oh and last but definitely not least in New Orleans is the Muffaletta sandwich. What is that you may ask? Only one of the best sandwiches like EVER invented and you can only get them in New Orleans. Now once upon a time THE place to get them was a little place in the French Quarter called Central Grocery. I had one there 12 years ago and it was fabulous. I heard, however, that their heads have gotten big over the years and since they are THE place to go they skimp on what they give you because they can. So I got my sandwich from another shop in another part of town. And it was OH SO GOOD.

We also hit the French Market, the River Front, the Street Car and much more. There is a lot more there we wanted to do and didn't because there is only so much you can do in four days...especially during Mardi Gras. 

Guess I will have to go back again soon.

Tags: New Orleans Mardi Gras

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For as long as I can remember, I have been in love with the city of New Orleans. Even before I had the fortunate opportunity to visit the city in 1998 I was fascinated with the history and in love with the gorgeous pictures I had seen of it.

Once I visited the city in '98, my crush on New Orleans turned into a full blown love affair. In 2005 I cried as the media flooded the world with pictures of that great and noble city after it was devastated by Hurricane Katrina. But I also knew the city and its people would bounce back and be greater for it. That is the great thing about that city. It has been destroyed not once, not twice but three times. Twice by fire and once by hurricane; but it always comes back fighting.

I have a million reasons why I love it there. Maybe it the fact that I am drawn to the supernatural and I love all things vampire and that city celebrates its connection with vampire mythology. Perhaps it is the fact that I study the occult and what better place to see and be a part of the occult than New Orleans. Perhaps it is the friendliness of the people of the city, or its rich history and its beauty. Maybe it is how the people know how to take any day and make it count, celebrating life and taking joy in the little things.

Maybe it is all of those things and more.

I celebrate today with that city and its people in their team's first appearance and victory at the Superbowl. I am not a football fan, but even I can recognize a good game and an exciting moment in history for the people of New Orleans and Louisiana as a whole.

I imagine this year's Mardi Gras will be an especially fantastic one and I just found out I get to go! 

It has been twelve years since I have visited New Orleans and heard her sing to me. My heart jumps for joy that in about a week I will be seeing her, smelling her and feeling her surround me. And oh what a wonderful chance to be attending the cities most famous celebration, especially right after the Saints' Superbowl victory.

New Orleans, here comes the one and only RPGgdds!

Although I have never lived there, I almost feel like I am going home and I can't wait!

Tags: Saints Superbowl New Orleans Mardi Gras

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So, it is almost Superbowl Sunday. 

I am so excited! *insert sarcasm here*

I have to admit, I just don't get why so many people are so into watching sports of any kind on television...especially football. It only annoys me to think about the insane amounts of money these men are being paid to play a fracking game. 

I used to watch the Superbowl each year for the commercials. But honestly, the commercials don't even really excite me any more. Most of them are boring and typical and you always get a chance to catch them any of the umpteen millions other times the commercials will roll during your favorite shows in the coming weeks following the almighty Superbowl.

One of these years, I am going to have an anti-Superbowl party where we play Rockband, Magic the Gathering and other boardgames instead of watching even one second of the stupid Superbowl.

I wonder how many people would come?

It won't happen this year. My whole city and state is going bonkers because the Colts are in the Bowl again. See, I live in Indiana. We are a fickle people apparently. When the Colts are doing well, the people of the Great Hoosier State bleed blue and gray. But if they aren't doing well, people whine and bitch that we have a crappy team and their support goes elsewhere.

I am not a Colts fan. If I liked football, I would still not be a Colts fan. 

Why you might ask?

It's simple really. 

I cannot stand all the worship and man-love directed at the Colts. It is just plain disgusting. During the play-offs, like half the people on Facebook that I follow were posting a version of The Lord's Prayer that had been altered to pay lip service to the Colts and Peyton Manning.

I am not religious, at least not Christian really, so it wasn't the prayer that bothered me as much as the blatant idolatry was just annoying.

Then there is the issue of the announcers during any game the Colts play. I wear they are in complete man-love with the whole team, especially Peyton Manning. WTF? Really? Why don't you beg them to allow you to do them sexual favors and be done with it? Because frankly, I am sure I am not the only one that gets tired of hearing you go on and on about how awesome and unstoppable they are.

I am ready for the Superbowl to just be over so we can move on to more important things...like when is the nest season of True Blood going to start?! 

Tags: Football Gaming Superbowl

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You know what I think is sad?

The loss of sewing skills today. It may seem girly, or uninteresting to learn how to sew, but it is one skill men and women alike should not go through life without learning. Personally, I think every child should have to take at least one year of sewing and cooking aka a home ec. style class...because these skills are important in forming adults who are able to care for themselves and their future children.

Case and point. My daughter is 15 and is in the school band. They recently bought new concert attire for all of the students (tuxes for the boys and formal dresses for the girls). I measured each kid (80 of them) and now that the attire is here, the tux pants need hemmed, the girls dresses need hemmed and several of the dresses need other alterations as well. 

I went in to measure the first 10 kids, a group who play in a special string ensemble that have a concert coming up this week. Their attire needed to be done asap. So I went in and got them marked up and meanwhile and e-mail was sent out to all of the band and orchestra parents calling on parent volunteers to help with the 80 outfits that need work.

Do you know what kind of a response we got? Nada. My mother and I are the only ones who volunteered. 

I think that is ridiculous. First off, I could have taught them how to do hems. Secondly, there are 80 sets of parents and not a one could sew or volunteer their precious time to help.

I am sure this is a reflection of the loss of sewing as a skill. It used to be that every woman worth her salt knew how to sew and most men could handle sewing on a button or hemming his pants.

Now? I wonder how many men currently aged 30 and below could even thread a sewing machine or sew on a button! 

One of our other bloggers, "booklover" recently blogged about his/her mother forcing them to learn how to sew. Well I applaud this mother. Even if it doesn't seem like an important skill, in the future you could help your kid's band out or heck...you might save a bit of money on the clothes you would have otherwise had to take to a tailor to have buttons replaced!

Tags: Sewing Skills Life Women Men

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Sony have you lost your ever loving minds?

I have let the idea of Sony moving forward with a new Spiderman movie without Sam Raimi at the helm and now with a whole new cast simmer in my mind for a few day. At first I was just annoyed. I thought 'what an asinine move you morons.' But now that the idea has festered in my head for a few days, I am flabbergasted.

First of all, history shows that rarely does a movie franchise do well when they recast the main role, let alone the whole freaking cast! I don't care what your reasons behind doing it are, people get used to certain faces portraying characters. Plain and simple.

I have heard many people say they never though McGuire was right for the role of Peter Parker/Spiderman. Touche. Maybe so. I disagree, I liked him in the role. I thought he was the perfect combination of quirky and punny. But I i digress. The rumors out there say some of the possible top picks for the recasting of Peter Parker/Spiderman include Robert Pattinson and Michael Cera. To that I have to say, Really Sony? Really? Are you crazy? Have you seen either of them act?

Let's take a look at Robert Pattinson...the gay sparkley vampire man himself. Let's set aside the fact that the script for the Twilight movies have been pretty atrocious, he has been pretty stinky in them as well. A decent actor would at least make what he could of a bad script. But not Pattinson. His performance as Edward the emo vampire who falls in love with the mortal girl, fall flat and boring. So come on Sony! Really? The only thing he would bring to the role is goofy hair and a bunch of teeny boppers who barely know who Spiderman is flocking to the theater to catch a glimpse of their dream stalker.

But maybe that is what you want?

Michael Cera? I don't even know what you would be thinking there. He couldn't be any more wrong for the role. First of, Micheal Cera can only play one role...awkward teen. So, that might work for the role of Peter Parker, especially if Sony insists on taking the timeline back to Parker's high school days, but can anyone really see Cera pulling off Spidey? I sure can't. Too awkward, not versatile enough as an actor to pull it off, imo.

Of course, then there is the whole issue of taking the timeline back to Peter Parker's high school days. You know what Sony, that might have been good thinking and MAY have even helped pull off the idiotic recasting IF you hadn't ruined that in the first movie you make when Peter Parker didn't even become Spiderman until his senior year in high school.

Personally, I think Sony should quit while they are ahead on this one. Leave well enough alone before you ruin a good thing. Go pick up a different comic book hero if you insist on casting Pattinson or Cera.

Tags: Spiderman Sony McGuire Raimi Cera Pattinson

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I was never much of a television junkie. Don't get me wrong, there were lots of television shows I would have loved to have watched over the years, but I have always hated the idea of having to keep a time schedule around what is on television.

Nothing annoys me more than people who say 'oh, I can't hang out at that time...my show is on then.' Seriously, I think those people are more pathetic than any gamer geek on the planet. 

But with the advent of Hulu, I have become more of a television show junkie then ever! I have so many shows I keep up with it is crazy. The great thing about it is, I don't have to worry about keeping any sort of schedule around the stupid network programming. I simply have my Hulu queue and when I feel like sitting down and watching, I do. 

And boy do I.

I often find myself watching my shows while I do daunting housework like folding laundry, tidying up the living room and other boring things like that. I just set my queue to play and off I go. 

The best thing about it all...limited commercial interruption. Seriously. I think my husband and I have been spoiled by Hulu. We got so used to watching Heroes on Hulu that last week when we watched the two hour mid-season premier on regular television, we about died of impatience because of all the darned commercials!

There are other websites out there that try to be like Hulu. Joost comes to mind. My husband and I even used to use Joost, even though it is far inferior to its competition. We used Joost because we wanted to watch Star Trek the original series from beginning to end and it wasn't available on Hulu, but it was on Joost. We got about halfway through season two before we couldn't take it anymore. Joost is awful. The connectivity is atrocious, they can't quite get the commercial breaks where they should go so they just interrupt sentences instead of falling at a nice break in the action...it is ridiculous. 

Thank god for our Media Center computer. We have it hooked up to our television and can now watch the rest of the original series through Media Center and it is so much better. 

So, I wonder when the networks will start competing with Hulu or maybe even working with it. Right now, if fans of a show wait and watch the show on Hulu instead of when the show airs, then the show doesn't get the ratings. That could be bad for an otherwise popular show. I think that could be part of what happened to a show I like to watch called Dollhouse. I think the networks should find a way to include the Hulu watchers in their ratings, that could be done somehow, right?

I think internet television is the future of tv.

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