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Coffee Talk #400: I’m Raymond and I’m Still Your Verbal Entertainer

I wanted to use this edition of Coffee Talk to reaffirm my message from Coffee Talk #100 and to thank you for your readership. Yes, I’m Raymond Padilla and I’m still your verbal entertainer. I’m not a journalist. I haven’t thought…

Welcome to Coffee Talk! Let’s start off the day by discussing whatever is on your (nerd chic) mind. Every morning I’ll kick off a discussion and I’m counting on you to participate in it. If you’re not feelin’ my topic, feel free to start a chat with your fellow readers and see where it takes you. Whether you’re talking about videogames, Intelligentsia’s La Tortuga Honduras, Mariano Rivera’s record-breaking save, or Charlie Sheen’s celebrity roast, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.

I wanted to use this edition of Coffee Talk to reaffirm my message from Coffee Talk #100 and to thank you for your readership. Yes, I’m Raymond Padilla and I’m still your verbal entertainer. I’m not a journalist. I haven’t thought of myself as one for a long, long time. I’m a verbal entertainer. My goal is to make you laugh, think, or cry with words. Sometimes it’s written word, sometimes it’s audio, and sometimes it’s video. While I enjoy posting stories, I get a real charge out of using them to start conversations with you all. That’s the best part of this site — the interaction with you guys and gals.

In the past I’ve said that calling most people that write about games “journalists” is an insult to actual journalists like VentureBeat’s “Dancing” Dean Takahashi and the LA Times’ Alex Pham. Being a verbal entertainer is a lot like being a professional wrestler. Certainly there’s an athletic component to pro-wrestling, but most people don’t consider WWE Superstars to be professional athletes. Similarly, there are journalistic aspects to what I do and sometimes I engage in actual journalism, but it’s not what I’m about. I’m a verbal entertainer!

The last few months of running the site have been difficult. Losing my Amazon Affiliate money in July was a huge blow that my bank account hasn’t recovered from. The hosting problems created by the morons at AnHosting caused the site’s traffic and ranking to take an enormous hit that it hasn’t recovered from. I wanted to make sure that you knew that I’m still committed to the site and still committed to being your verbal entertainer. I’m not going to be able to spend as much time on the site as I’d like due to my finances, but I assure you that it’s not going away any time soon.

Thanks for dropping by Coffee Talk #400. Let’s make our way to #500!!!

Coffee Talk #399: The Mayweather vs. Ortiz Controversy

Welcome to Coffee Talk! Let’s start off the day by discussing whatever is on your (nerd chic) mind. Every morning I’ll kick off a discussion and I’m counting on you to participate in it. If you’re not feelin’ my topic, feel free to start a chat with your fellow readers and see where it takes you. Whether you’re talking about videogames, the Boston Red Sox possibly missing the playoffs, Peter Dinklage winning an Emmy for Game of Thrones, or your favorite candybar, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.

“Pretty Boy” Floyd Mayweather, Jr. knocked out “Vicious” Victor Ortiz over the weekend, but did so in a controversial fashion. Before I get to the controversy, I wanted to make it clear that going into the fight I thought Mayweather was going to win, easily. During the fight I saw nothing that indicated Ortiz had anything more than a puncher’s chance. Prior to the knockout, I saw Mayweather well on his way to a decisive victory.

Now let’s get to the controversy! Late in the fourth round, it was clear that Ortiz was getting frustrated by his inability to land meaningful shots on Mayweather. Ortiz resorted to headbutts, including one so egregious that referee Joe Cortez (the “fair, but firm” guy) had no choice but to dock Ortiz a point. Ortiz tried several times to apologize. The action was set to resume when the fighters hugged. A split second later Mayweather landed a sharp hook on Ortiz, who was clearly not ready to fight. This was followed by a strong right hand that put Ortiz down for the count.

Some fans felt that this was a cheap shot. Customarily, when fighters hug or touch gloves, they wait a few seconds to resume boxing. Ortiz was obviously not ready and appeared to be waiting on further instructions from Cortez. Meanwhile, Cortez was looking towards the timekeeper to see if there was any time remaining in the round. While Mayweather did nothing illegal, some feel that it was unsportsmanlike. The fight-ending combo has been referred to as “a legal cheap shot” or a “by-the-books sucker-punch”.

Others feel that Ortiz got what he deserved. He blatantly cheated with the head butts. The last head butt did more damage to Mayweather than any of Ortiz’s punches. The feeling is that he punked Floyd and Floyd had every right to punk him back. Ortiz also forgot a set of instructions that’s given to boxers before every match: “Protect yourself at all times.” Referees say this before every fight and it was foolish for Ortiz to have his guard down. A boxer with more than 30 professional fights should know better.

On a side note, Mayweather’s post-fight behavior was probably more entertaining than the actual fight. HBO’s Larry Merchant was conducting a fair interview when Mayweather exploded on him. He went on an idiotic and profanity-laced tirade that shows what a mentally weak person he is outside of the ring. Merchant is an accomplished print journalist, an outstanding broadcaster, and a true boxing historian. He’s also 79-years old. It’s pathetic that Mayweather threateningly disrespected one of boxing’s treasures. It was hilarious that Merchant playfully yelled back, “I wish I was 50 years younger and I’d kick your ass!”

Ultimately, I think that Mayweather did himself a disservice. I believe he was angry about the head butts and wanted to nail Ortiz for the transgression. Winning this way was bad for his image. Some fans, particularly casual boxing fans, will think that he’s a cheap-shot artist. He could have easily won the fight without stooping to Ortiz’s level. It’s a shame for him, because he was putting on a boxing clinic and was going to school Ortiz. As HBO’s Jim Lampley said shortly after the knockout, “This isn’t going to win him any more fans.”

What do you think of the knockout? Was it a cheap shot by Mayweather? Was it amateur of Ortiz to forget the “protect yourself at all times” instructions? Does this win tarnish Mayweather’s reputation? Will the controversy increase his earning potential? Leave a comment and let me know (please)!

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More Quick Hits (Not a Review!) on DC Comics New 52

My coverage of DC Comics “The New 52” continues! This week I picked up five comic books from DC’s universe-wide reboot: Green Lantern, Batman & Robin, Deathstroke, Grifter, and Mr. Terrific. Were these relaunches exciting and new (like Love Boat)? Or did they stray too far from the source material. Read on and find out! (Minor spoilers ahead.)

Green Lantern #1: Hal Jordan has been stripped of his power ring! Sinestro is now wielding it! That was a helluva cliffhanger at the end of the last GL series and a fantastic way to kick off this book. I really, really enjoyed watching both characters adjust to their new lives. Sinestro is unsure what to make of the Guardians of the Universe allowing him to serve in the Green Lantern Corps and has a most interesting confrontation with a member of the Sinestro Corps. Hal pretty much sucks as a civilian. He misinterprets a situation and tries to save a girl, but ends up in the slammer. His longtime on-again off-again girlfriend Carol Ferris thinks she’s getting a marriage proposal…but Hal asks her to co-sign a car lease with him. Bwahahahaha!!!

This was a fantstic start to what’s surely going to be a great book. More importantly, the strong writing and great art help erase that crap Green Lantern movie from my mind.

Batman and Robin #1: While Bruce Wayne was off traveling in time during a nonsensical Grant Morrison adventure, his sociopath of a son Damian (the latest Robin) was wreaking havoc with the rest of the “Bat Family”. I loved watching Damian interact with Nightwing and Red Robin. While this book was very good, the dynamic between father and son just isn’t there yet. It was more interesting watching Dick Grayson’s Batman interact with Robin. The father-and-son relationship doesn’t feel distinct. Damian acts like the annoying dick he has always been. Bruce comes off as being too soft and giving his son too long a leash. I suppose it’s tough being a single father that doubles as a vigilante. Then again, perhaps it just feels old. I’ve watched Bruce raise Dick Grayson, Jason Todd, and Tim Drake. Hmmm, perhaps this makes Damian Problem Child.

As for as this particular storyline, I’m intrigued by the new villain and love how Bruce is changing the way he honors his parents. I see myself enjoying the rest of this run, but also getting annoyed at Bruce for not chucking a batarang at his son.

Deathstroke #1: This book begins with, “Deathstroke the Terminator–the scariest badass on the planet.” And that’s precisely what Slade Wilson is. He’s clearly a bad guy, but he’s so cool, calculating, harsh, and brutal that he’s fascinating. It was awesome watching him kick ass in this book. It was also awesome watching him work with upstart youngsters in the mercenary business. The book ended with people questioning whether Deathstroke still has the goods. That opens things up for all sorts of exciting possibilities…but I have to question the sanity of anyone that doubts Deathstroke. Just look at the panel below to see how wicked he is.

Objectively, this was probably my favorite book of the week (but I’m too much of a Green Lantern mark to really accept this). The writing, action, art, and dialogue were fantastic.

Grifter #1: Cole Cash was always my favorite member of the original WildC.A.T.s., so I thought I’d give his book a shot. It had some interesting panels, but there was too much setup and not enough of what makes Grifter cool. The plot has Grif captured by aliens and subjected to a malicious process. Before the procedure can be completed, he breaks out. The good news is that he can now detect the aliens. The bad news is that he constantly hears their voices in his head (which makes him the Randy Orton of the DC Universe). The worse news is that he’s the only human that can see the aliens; while he’s trying to kill the baddies, the rest of the world thinks he’s a murdering psychopath. The worst news is that the government has sent his brother in Spec-Ops, Max Cash, to bring him down.

Although I was mildly disappointed in this book, I’m probably going to give it another few issues. I love the Grifter character and hope there will be some cameos by other Cats in the future. Majestros and Zealot are cool.

Mister Terrific #1: The Michael Holt version of Mister Terrific was a wonderful modernization of one of DC’s most dated characters. This book makes him even more current. I love where writer Eric Wallace is going with this. Mister Terrific blends superhero action, one of DCU’s most eligible bachelors, and crazy science that almost seems mystical. It was fun jumping from Mister Terrific pounding a baddie to Michael Holt talking science to having a morning-after conversation with Karen Starr (Power Girl) to hosting a political fundraiser. It would be easy to dismiss Holt as an African-American Tony Stark, but he has a much different feel. So much of Mister Terrific is rooted in tragedy. Losing his wife at a young age impacts the lives of Michael Holt super scientist and Michael Holt as Mister Terrific.

If you’re going to take a chance on a character that hasn’t gone solo then I suggest Mister Terrific. Despite the goofy name and having the words “Fair” and “Play” tattooed on his arms, this is a cool book with a lot of soul (and no, I’m not saying that because he’s black!).

Coffee Talk #398: Pick Your Personal Entrance Music

Welcome to Coffee Talk! Let’s start off the day by discussing whatever is on your (nerd chic) mind. Every morning I’ll kick off a discussion and I’m counting on you to participate in it. If you’re not feelin’ my topic, feel free to start a chat with your fellow readers and see where it takes you. Whether you’re talking about videogames, Mariano Rivera’s 600th save, putting a dollar value on your work, or Dyson’s hot air multiplier, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.

I’ve always wanted my own entrance music. You know, like how pro-wrestlers have their own entrance music. When I was a kid, I thought it was awesome that Hulk Hogan used “Eye of the Tiger” (Survivor), Junkyard Dog used “Another One Bites the Dust” (Queen), and Kerry Von Erich used “Tom Sawyer” (Rush) as their entrance themes. Of course nothing beats Ric Flair hitting the ring to “Also Sprach Zarathustra“, more commonly known as the intro music to the movie 2001: A Space Odyssey.

Entrance music changed when Vince McMahon realized that he could save money in licensing fees and make money by selling his own music. Awesome songs by established artists were replaced by mediocre songs performed by no-names. Sure there are exceptions. Hulk Hogan’s “Real American” (Rick Derringer) seems completely appropriate for his character. Motorhead is awesome and Triple H is a mark for the band, so “The Game” makes total sense for him. While today’s entrance music isn’t what it used to be, most of it still works.

If I had my wish, I’d borrow “Sexy Boy” for my personal entrance theme. The lyrics are ridiculous and the music is cheesy. Most of you have known me long enough to have figured out that I’m ridiculous and cheesy. I would absolutely abuse my entrance theme (and spend a fortune in background fireworks). I would use it every time I entered groceries, office buildings, restaurants, courtrooms, etc. (I wouldn’t use it at funerals and when entering bathrooms.) The music fits my personality and would be my little tribute to “The Heartbreak Kid” Shawn Michaels.

If you could have your own entrance music, what would it be? Choose wisely!

Will Xbox Live Blow Up on Windows 8?

At Microsoft’s BUILD developer conference, the company revealed that Windows 8 will featuring heavy Xbox Live integration. Xbox Live functionality has already stepped out of the Xbox 360 through the Windows Phone mobile platform. With Windows 8, the service stands to get bigger than ever. Before I get into that, here’s the official word from Microsoft’s Major Nelson:

We are confirming that we will be bringing Xbox Live to the PC with Xbox Live on Windows. We are very excited about Xbox Live coming to Windows 8. Xbox Live brings your games, music, movies, and TV shows to your favorite Microsoft and Windows devices. Bringing Xbox Live to Windows 8 is part of our vision to bring you all the entertainment you want, shared with the people you care about, made easy. At BUILD we are showing that it is easy for developers to create games for Windows 8 that take advantage of the power of Xbox Live. We have much more detail to share about the capabilities of Xbox Live on Windows and look forward to the opportunity to do so in the near future.

Xbox Live is one of the best features of Xbox 360 and a huge part of why the console has been so successful. Adding a substantial social layer to gaming and having games “live on” after players have stopped playing them is huge. When I first heard about these features way back in 2005, I knew they’d be killer. Having the social aspects of Xbox Live integrated into an operating system is a brilliant move that will almost definitely take the service to new heights.

A lot of you use social media services like Facebook, Twitter, and Google+. They’re all great service, but none of them are integrated on the OS level. It takes effort to set up these services and to get the most out of them. Microsoft appears to be making Xbox Live on Window 8 easy as pie (preferably pecan). Being integrated into an upstart mobile OS like Windows Phone is one thing, but being integrated into what will be the most popular operating system on the market — one that will be used on desktop, laptop, and tablet computers — is tremendous. I believe ~~the children are our future~~ that being part of Windows 8 will increase Xbox Live use among existing users and help draw new players into the mix.

While I’m not too high on Windows 8 (yet), I’m loving the enormous potential of Xbox Live on Windows 8. What do you guys and gals think? Is it something you’d use? Do you think that OS-level integration will help the service blow up? Or am I just enamored with the potential and ignoring the realities of the concoction?

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Coffee Talk #397: Wacky Videogame Names

At Nintendo’s Tokyo Game Show 2011 presser, Square Enix announced Bravely Default: Flying Fairy for 3DS. The rest of TGS 2011 should be cancelled, because it’s not getting better than that. I love the name of…

Welcome to Coffee Talk! Let’s start off the day by discussing whatever is on your (nerd chic) mind. Every morning I’ll kick off a discussion and I’m counting on you to participate in it. If you’re not feelin’ my topic, feel free to start a chat with your fellow readers and see where it takes you. Whether you’re talking about videogames, Novak Djokovic’s remarkable season (tennis), playing “I Hope I Get It” over and over again, or Korean girls in skimpy sleepwear, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.

At Nintendo’s Tokyo Game Show 2011 presser, Square Enix announced Bravely Default: Flying Fairy for 3DS. The rest of TGS 2011 should be cancelled, because it’s not getting better than that. I love the name of this game! It’s cute and dopey and oh-so-Japanese. I loved this game before I knew anything about it. That’s how awesomely powerful the name Bravely Default: Flying Fairy is. After I learned that the excellent Akihiko Yoshida is creating art for the game, I loved it even more.

I haven’t had this much fun saying a game’s name since Drag-On Dragoon. Sadly, Square Enix renamed that game Drakengard in America. Hopefully the company won’t butcher the glory that is Bravely Default: Flying Fairy. Just say it thrice. It’s so much fun!!!

Are there any strange or unusual videogame titles that have stuck in your? Anything crack you up as much as Bravely Default: Flying Fairy cracks me up? Post the weirdest game name you can think of in the comments section (please)!

Coffee Talk #396: Bomb Threats, Gadgets, and You

Welcome to Coffee Talk! Let’s start off the day by discussing whatever is on your (nerd chic) mind. Every morning I’ll kick off a discussion and I’m counting on you to participate in it. If you’re not feelin’ my topic, feel free to start a chat with your fellow readers and see where it takes you. Whether you’re talking about videogames, Serena Williams displaying bad sportsmanship again, Klatch’s El Salvador Las Mercedes, or Korean girls in skimpy sleepwear, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.

Last Saturday my apartment complex was evacuated due to a bomb threat. Details were scarce. One minute the police were calling for one building to be evacuated. A short time later, my building was being evacuated. My initial thought was, “Where’s my phone?!?” This was quickly followed by, “Where’s my iPad?!?” and, “Should I nab my 3DS and PSP?!?” In the end, I decided to just grab my phone and quickly leave the building. If it were a bomb threat on any other day than September 11 then I would have taken more time and packed more gear with me.

How would you react in a similar situation? How precious are your gadgets and pieces of gaming gear? Would you try to pack as many precious geek goodies in a bag before evacuation? Or is it safety first? What do you think your answer says about you?

Quick Hits (Not a Review!) on DC Comics New 52

I picked up six issues of DC Comics’ “New 52” universe-wide reboot. I enjoyed the initial kick-off, Justice League #1, and was anxious to see what other changes would be made to the DCU. The six books I picked up on my iPad 2 (via the outstanding Comixology) were Action Comics #1, Animal Man #1, Batgirl #1, Detective Comics #1, Green Arrow #1, and Justice League International #1. Here are some random thoughts (not a review) on these six comic books. Light spoilers ahead!

Action Comics #1: I’m more of a story guy than an art guy, but I was totally captivated by Rags Morales’ artwork in this book. Grant Morrison’s writing is really hit or miss for me. He can be brilliant (New X-Men, Justice League) and he can be all over the place (Final Crisis, Batman R.I.P.). Action Comics is definitely the “good” Morrison. It’s a fresh take on a young Superman that’s just starting out. While Superman’s character development is going to take a few issues, the new Lex Luthor came off as a bad-ass through a handful of pages. There have been some awesome portrayals of Luthor over the years and I have a feeling that Morrison’s new Luthor will be one of the best ever.

Animal Man #1: This was one of my two favorite updates from this week’s batch. I absolutely love what Jeff Lemire is doing with this character. Animal Man is a reluctant, semi-retired superhero that’s trying to balance marriage, raising kids, being a superhero, and being a celebrity. Making AM a hero to liberals is a fresh and modern twist given the political climate in America today. I can totally see him being interviewed on The Rachel Maddow Show or being a frequent commentator on Morning Joe. I’m really looking forward to seeing how Animal Man juggles all of his responsibilities with his wants. Hmmmm, perhaps I’m projecting.

Batgirl #1: Gail Simone is one of my favorite writers (very underrated) and Adam Hughes is one of the best cover artists of all time. Also, redheads that can beat you up are sexy as hell. With that in mind, I knew I’d enjoy the new Batgirl. I’m completely lost as to how Barbara Gordon went from the wheelchair-bound Oracle back to the dynamic Batgirl, but I can’t wait to find out. I really enjoyed Babs’ inner monologue — her self doubt and flashbacks to getting shot in the spine by the Joker gave her an endearing sense of vulnerability. Plus…red hair and spandex!

Detective Comics #1: This was a good, but not great, start for the new Detective Comics. That said, I can see the first issue setting up a great arc. I loved the gritty feel of this book. Even though he’s the hero, I felt a little bit scared of Batman. The Joker felt revoltingly evil. It was cool seeing Batman’s relationship with the Gotham P.D. and how Jim Gordon seems to be coy about their one-on-one dealings (despite his giant Bat Signal). This single issue didn’t blow me away, but I’m pretty sure the entire arc will.

Green Arrow #1: Similar to Animal Man, I love this modernization of Green Arrow. Imagine a young Steve Jobs that uses his technological prowess and connections to fight crime — that’s Green Arrow! He’s definitely similar to Marvel’s Tony Stark/Iron Man, but writer J.T. Krul is making the character and tech easier for real people to identify with. For example, Green Arrow’s alter ego Oliver Queen is the founder of Queen Industries, makers of the hugely popular Q-Phone and Q-Pad. *snicker* I’m really digging this fresh, modern, and relevant take on Green Arrow. I’m also pleased that the new version is not sporting that ridiculous Errol Flynn mustache.

Justice League International #1: This was the only book that disappointed me. It was definitely fun and entertaining, but I was expecting more. The original JLI is my favorite series of all time. While I knew this book wasn’t going to be all “Bwahahahaha!!!” and Martian Manhunter addicted to Oreos, I just wanted…something better. This is more of a straightforward action book featuring B- and C-listers. It’s fun and I dig the international aspect of JLI (it’s great watching Russia’s Rocket Red and China’s August General in Iron interact). I’m also intrigued by the horny nature of Britain’s Lady Godiva. I’m definitely going to keep reading this series and I’m sure that I’ll enjoy it in the long run, but I sincerely doubt I’ll love it as much as the original JLI.

Coffee Talk #395: Your Dream Dinner for Four

If you could have dinner with three people from the history of the world, who would be at your table? They can be game developers, actors, musicians, etc. It’s your dream dinner for four and I’d love to hear your…

Welcome to Coffee Talk! Let’s start off the day by discussing whatever is on your (nerd chic) mind. Every morning I’ll kick off a discussion and I’m counting on you to participate in it. If you’re not feelin’ my topic, feel free to start a chat with your fellow readers and see where it takes you. Whether you’re talking about videogames, rain ruining my U.S. Open (tennis) background noise, why my coffee beans are late (again), or dinner/drinks with two excellent people, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.

If you could have dinner with three people from the history of the world, who would be at your table? The only condition for this game is that the people you choose have to be real (this is mostly to prevent one of you from choosing He-Man or Bugs Bunny). They can be game developers, actors, musicians, etc. It’s your dream dinner for four and I’d love to hear your picks! Here are mine:

Muhammad Ali: “The Greatest” would headline my dream dinner. I’d choose the Ali that was banned from boxing and speaking out against the war in Vietnam. Ali was already an extraordinary athlete with unmatched speed for a heavyweight boxer, but his stance against the Vietnam War made him so much more. He lost three prime years of his career, but inspired so many people while he was away from boxing. He became more than just an athlete. He became an icon.

John Lennon: My feelings about Lennon are similar to my feelings about Ali. He was already a renowned performance artist and songwriter, but his post-Beatles activism made him so much more. I love that he used his fame to spread positive messages and to get people to think. I also love the continued to write great songs when doubters thought he was washed up. I’d love to have ’70s John Lennon at my dream dinner.

Steve Jobs: My last spot was a tough choice. As I mentioned to you last year, I’d love to have a one-on-one dinner with Nintendo’s Shigeru Miyamoto. For some reason, I’m being a stickler with my dinner-for-four scenario and am disqualifying Miyamoto because he would require a translator (sorry Bill!). The final spot goes to Apple’s Steve Jobs. This would be 2005 Jobs, fresh off his Stanford commencement speech. In addition to getting his thoughts on making products people are passionate about, I’d love to hear about how he felt about getting booted from Apple, elevating Pixar, and returning to make Apple better than ever.

So that’s my dream dinner for four. Now let me know who’s sitting at your table (please)!

Coffee Talk #394: What’s the Most You’ve Spent on a Game?

Welcome to Coffee Talk! Let’s start off the day by discussing whatever is on your (nerd chic) mind. Every morning I’ll kick off a discussion and I’m counting on you to participate in it. If you’re not feelin’ my topic, feel free to start a chat with your fellow readers and see where it takes you. Whether you’re talking about videogames, the crappy playing conditions at the U.S. Open (tennis), celebrating Josh Beckett’s sprained ankle, or why people think Victor Ortiz has a chance against Floyd Mayweather, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.

Remember when you’d buy a game at a store and that was the end of your spending? DLC, online fees like Xbox Live, monthly MMO subscriptions, item packs, etc. have made gaming more expensive than ever. I’m curious to learn what game you’ve spent the most money on. Was it an MMO that kept you addicted for years? Was it an action game with consistently great DLC maps? I want to know!

As for me, it’s probably Dragon Age. In addition to buying the game, I’ve purchased all the playable DLC and an expansion pack. That’s more than $100 on a single game! I understand that the economics of gaming are different and BioWare has provided me with dozens of hours of entertainment, but damn! It just feels expensive when you add it all up (no regrets though, I heart BioWare).

So what’s the most you’ve spent on a single game? Kindly share the title and the estimated dollar amount. Was it money well spent? Or does looking through the retroscope give you buyer’s remose?