Category: TV

WWE PPVs Come to Xbox Live

Microsoft’s Major Nelson (not his actual military title) has announced that WWE programming — including pay-per-view events — is now available through Xbox Live. Naturally, the programming is only accessible to Xbox Live Gold members. While the WWE channel will feature all kinds of information that lets you, “See the WWE Superstars and Divas like never before,” the juicy news is that, “Starting today, all WWE pay-per-view events are available right from your Xbox 360.”

This is another strong move by Microsoft that strengthens Xbox Live’s non-gaming offerings. Considering that there’s a ton of overlap between the WWE’s core demographic and the people that play Xbox 360 games, this is a natural fit. Also, props to Microsoft for using images of AJ Lee to promote the announcement; she’s a true gamer-geek that used to be the ultimate woman (until she got too mainstream).

Will any of you be using your Xbox 360s to watch WWE PPVs?

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Fallon & Timberlake: History of Rap 4

While I didn’t enjoy it as much as the previous “History of Rap” medleys, I still had fun watching Jimmy Fallon and Justin Timberlake do their thing for a fourth time. These guys are great together. Check out the clip below and let me know how you think the fourth “History of Rap” measures up to its predecessors. On a side note, I’m thrilled that Fallon will be getting the big show (not The Big Show) in Spring 2014. I was never a big Leno fan and I’ve grown to dislike him for screwing over David Letterman and Conan O’Brien. I hope that Fallon will continue his tech and videogame segments when he gets the major time slot. Nerdism is mainstream now, baby!

Game of Thrones Season 3 Extended Trailer

March is going to be an outstanding nerd month. On the videogame front, there’s a ton going on with titles like Tomb Raider and BioShock Infinite leading the way. On television, millions of people are counting down the days until March 31, 2013. As some of you know, that’s when the season premiere of Game of Thrones hits. The extended trailer below hints that the third season will have as many epic moments as the first two. As a mark for the books and the TV show, I’m so looking forward to another batch of Game of Thrones episodes.

Check out the clip below and let me know what season three happenings you’re looking forward to. While dragons are always fun, for some reason I can’t wait to see the scene with Brienne in the bear pit. That should be cool.

The Walking Dead SNL Racial Profiling

Here’s a fun Saturday Night Live sketch that has been getting a lot of play in the nerd world. It’s a parody of The Walking Dead that pokes fun at racial profiling and political correctness. While I found it funny, most of the Internet thinks it’s way funnier. Check out the clip below and see for yourself. Personally, I don’t trust anyone that does the “Thriller” dance. Continue reading “The Walking Dead SNL Racial Profiling”

Handmade Gamer/Nerd Jewelry at Fangirl Emporium

My Facebook friend Amanda has a really cool Etsy store called Fangirl Emporium. Right now she has a bunch of awesome necklace pendants for sale. Gamer neckwear includes a Pokeball from Pokemon, the Umbrella logo from Resident Evil, the Halo symbol, and more. Nerd neckwear includes a Klingon symbol from Star Trek, the bloody smiley face from Watchmen, the Starfleet symbol from Star Trek, and more. It’s pretty sweet stuff!

Kindly check out Fangirl Emporium when you get a chance and leave a comment if anything from Amanda’s store catches your eye. I’d totally wear the Pokeball…but put it on a necklace that’s more masculine.

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School House Rock / Star Wars Mashup (Interjections)

School House Rock is awesome. Star Wars is awesome. Put the two of them together and you get on overload of awesomeness! Here’s a mashup video featuring School House Rock’s “Interjections” song set to scenes from various Star Wars movies. It’s a really well done video that’s funny, cool, and educational all at once. Continue reading “School House Rock / Star Wars Mashup (Interjections)”

Comcast to Punish Pirates By Being Obnoxious

ISPs are starting to reveal precisely how they’re going to punish violators of the Copyright Alert System six-strike anti-piracy policy. My favorite punishment, so far, is from Comcast, which will castigate its customers by being dicks. According to TorrentFreak:

After four alerts the ISP will “hijack” web-browsers of suspected serial pirates with a persistent pop-up notification, making it impossible to browse the Internet. The pop-up will disappear after the customer “resolves the issue” with a Customer Security Assurance professional.

Well…that’s one way to do it. For many people, losing Internet service is a worrisome penalty. Adding obnoxious pop-ups to the mix seems unnecessary. It also costs money to implement the notification system and to pay the Customer Security Assurance professionals that respond to appeals. It’s Comcastic!

*sigh*

This whole thing is a fantastic waste of time and money. It’s so frustrating, but hardly surprising, that ISPs are making huge efforts with the Copyright Alert System instead of taking Internet speeds — and technology that would take advantage of those speeds — to the next level.

I wish ISPs had faces, so that I could punch them.

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Powerpuff Avengers Opening Theme

My friend Tim posted a link to this sweet alteration to The Powerpuff Girls opening theme. It has Blossom, Bubbles, and Buttercup decked out as different Avengers! Watch cute versions of Captain America, Iron Man, and Thor do battle with Powerpuffed versions of Galactus, Magneto, Thanos, and more. It’s an adorable clip that should being a smile to even the most jaded comic-book fanboy. Continue reading “Powerpuff Avengers Opening Theme”

Coffee Talk #571: Are You Ready For the Six-Strike Rule?

Rumor has it that those evil Internet service providers will start using the Copyright Alert System six-strike anti-piracy policy today. The companies kicking it off are AT&T, Cablevision, Comcast, Time Warner Cable, and Verizon. The six strike part of the equation is easy enough to understand; your ISP will give you six warnings about downloading or sharing copyrighted material before punishing you. The consequences vary from provider to provider. They include bandwidth throttling, cutting off access to certain web sites, and temporary suspension of service.

There are some interesting pitfalls and…more

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, 2013 Oscar snubs, wishing herpes on J.A. Happ for breaking Curtis Granderson’s arm, or revisiting the PlayStation 4 unveiling now that you’ve had a weekend to think it over, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.

Rumor has it that those evil Internet service providers will start using the Copyright Alert System six-strike anti-piracy policy today. The companies kicking it off are AT&T, Cablevision, Comcast, Time Warner Cable, and Verizon. The six strike part of the equation is easy enough to understand; your ISP will give you six warnings about downloading or sharing copyrighted material before punishing you. The consequences vary from provider to provider. They include bandwidth throttling, cutting off access to certain web sites, and temporary suspension of service.

There are some interesting pitfalls and potential loopholes. How will ISPs handle offenses detected in shared environments? If you’re getting heat at home, will you be able torrent at a coffeeshop or shared office space? Will virtual private networks (VPNs) see a surge in business from downloaders that want to mask their activity? Implementing the six-strike rule is going to be a nightmare and I hope every major ISP in America suffers. Those companies deserve an expensive venture for reaping huge profits and not spending the money on infrastructure. They’re inhibiting technology and limiting consumers.

More importantly, how are you going to deal with the six-strike world? Are you going to quit torrents? Are you going to purchase a VPN subscription? Or will you throw caution to the wind and deal with the consequences as they come?

Jack Swagger and Zeb Colter Address Glenn Beck

Here’s a great video that starts off with a promo from WWE Superstars Jack Swagger and Zeb Colter. Shortly into the clip, the two break character and address the viewers as Jake Hager and Wayne Keown, the real people behind the characters. Political commentator Glenn Beck recently took issue with these characters and their anti-immigration stance against Mexican wrestlers like Alberto Del Rio. He referred to the WWE as, “Stupid wrestling people.” Hager and Keown do a phenomenal job shutting down the “controversy” Beck is trying to create.

While the WWE has done a lot of questionable things over the years, there are several instances of the company responding to the mainstream media’s (sometimes) stupid view on pro-wrestling. This is one of those instances. Of course the reality check is self-serving as well. WWE is wisely capitalizing on the media coverage it has been receiving as a result of Beck’s put-down. The company has even invited to Beck to appear on Monday Night Raw. Whatever comes of the situation, it’s nice to see the WWE turning something negative into something positive.

Check out the promo when you have a chance and let me know what you think (please!).