High-Quality Editorial Content at WWE.com

A curious thing is happening over at WWE.com. Amidst the numerous fluff articles, vapid pieces where WWE Superstars stay in character, and countless photo galleries, are a bunch of high-quality articles. Some of them are really, really good — a genuine treat for smarts, marks, and smarks alike. Since the WWE pretty much has a monopoly on the wrestling business, the company has access to wrestling legends and current superstars. It has used this access to create some fantastic oral-history articles that cover various eras and territories in wrestling. Here are some pieces that I recommend:

Ring of Honor’s Impact on WWE
What if ECW Didn’t Close?
An Oral History of Smoky Mountain Wrestling
The True Story of the ECW Relaunch

The Ring of Honor story is my favorite. Some of my current WWE favorites like Daniel Bryan (Bryan Danielson) and Antonio Cesaro (Claudio Castagnoli) wrestled for this independent promotion. It was very cool to see loads of quotes from people that are no longer involved with WWE (Colt Cabana, who wrestled as Scotty Goldman in WWE) and people that have never been involved with the company (promoter Gabe Sapolsky).

ECW’s heyday was another one of my favorite periods of wrestling. It was fun learning details about how close the company was to getting the funding to remain independent. Likewise, it was nice to read some candid commentary on WWE’s (ill-advised?) attempt at relaunching ECW as a WWE sub-brand.

True wrestling fanatics are familiar with the Smoky Mountain Wrestling territory, but there are millions of WWE fans that have no idea about the impact this indie had on modern wrestling. It’s a nice behind-the-scenes look at one of the last territories that was successful before the Monday Night Wars changed pro-wrestling forever.

When you have a chance, please check out some of these articles and let me know what you think of them. If you only have time for one, please check out the Ring of Honor story. In retrospect, the crazy popularity of Daniel Bryan’s “Yes!” chant shouldn’t have surprised me. When he was Bryan Danielson, he managed to use the simple phrase of, “I have ’til five!” to get over. I miss that…but not nearly as much as Claudio’s, “Heeeyyyyyyyy!”

Bonus Ring of Honor match: Claudio Castagnoli vs. Colt Cabana!

Preacher Coming to AMC (Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg)

AMC has announced that it’s producing a television adaptation of the outstanding Preacher comic book. Written by Garth Ennis and drawn by Steve Dillon, Preacher tells the tale of Jessie Custer, a Texas preacher suddenly imbued with a spiritual force that’s a threat to God. Meanwhile, the Almighty has abandoned heaven, leaving the afterlife in disarray. Custer makes it his mission to find God (literally), while forces — both good and evil — are out to stop him. Along the way, he encounters numerous colorful characters that make his adventure bizarre, twisted, dramatic, and all kinds of entertaining.

The AMC adaptation of Preacher will be written and produced by Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg. The two are known for their side-splitting comedies, including Superbad, Pineapple Express, and This is the End. They’re also big-time fans of the source material. Here’s a quote from the duo via IndieWire:

This is amazing! We’ve tried for seven years to work on Preacher and we’re so psyched AMC is finally letting us. It is our favorite comic of all time, and we’re going to do everything we can to do it right. Humperdoo!

As many of you regular RPadholics know, Preacher is also one of my all-time favorite comics. Ennis’ writing is superb throughout the series. His story is a unique mix of drama, humor, violence, and flat-out wackiness. I’ve always been impressed by how he deftly incorporated drastically different elements and made sense of it all. I mean, how do you use a stone-cold serious character like the Saint of Killers and a completely ridiculous fellow like Arseface in the same comic? On paper, you can’t, but Ennis pulled it of marvelously for one of the greatest comics ever made.

So yeah, as a fan of the source material and the Rogen/Goldberg duo, I am completely psyched for AMC’s Preacher. How about you? Do you think it will play on television? Any casting ideas? I vote for Colin Farrell as Cassidy! Please, please share your thoughts on AMC’s Preacher in the comments section.

Source via Shooter McGarvey

Amazon Acquires Developer Double Helix, Amazon TV Box Next?

Amazon has acquired independent videogame development studio Double Helix Games. According to Wikipedia, the studio’s credits include Killer Instinct (Xbox One), Battleship (PlayStation 3/Xbox 360), and Green Lantern: Rise of the Manhunters (PlayStation 3/Xbox 360). While the move indicates that Amazon has aggressive gaming plans up its sleeve, there’s all sorts of speculation about the nature of those plans. Some pundits have postulated the Amazon will be making a videogame console, others believe that the company will have its own line of television sets with embedded videogame capabilities, and some believe that an Amazon set-stop box is on the way.

Personally, I believe a set-top box makes the most sense. I don’t see compelling reasons for Amazon to get into television hardware. A gaming-focused box doesn’t make much sense either. A streaming-Internet box (think Apple TV or Roku) that uses Amazon’s custom version of Android (see Kindle Fire) and revolves around Amazon Prime Instant Video content could be compelling. The company has tons of great movies and television shows available through streaming. Add some original gaming content to the mix and an Amazon Internet streaming box could be a big hit.

Then again, a box might not be necessary at all. Amazon Prime Instant Video is already available in hundreds of televisions from several top manufacturers. Perhaps a more robust embedded service that includes games is the next logical step. The issue here is inconsistency; I’ve seen Amazon Prime Instant Video apps run smoothly on TVs and I’ve seen them run like garbage. Controlling its own box with set hardware specs and a clear path to software updates would allow Amazon to offer a more consistent experience.

Now it’s your turn to speculate and get in touch with your inner Michael Pachter. Why do you think Amazon acquired Double Helix? Do you think the company is on the verge of offering an Internet TV box similar to Apple TV or Roku? Would you be interested in an Amazon box that offered Amazon Prime Instant Video and original videogame content? Share your sage thoughts in the comments section (please!).

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RPadTV 2014 Vaping Giveaway II: Win a Phantom Mod v2

Thanks to everyone that entered the first RPadTV 2014 Vaping Giveaway! Next up is a chance to win a sweet Filipino mechanical mod — the Phantom v2 by Ricardo Ferrer. This stainless steel Pinoy mech features copper contacts for hard-hitting performance. It accepts 18350 up to 18650 batteries. The Phantom v2 has a unique “palm tree” design that gives it unique looks and an ergonomic grip. For more information on this mod, be sure to check out my full review.

Remember, RPadTV Mod owners automatically receive five additional entries for every 2014 Vaping Giveaway they enter. Kindly consider picking one up to support the site and to increase your odds for winning prizes. For a chance to win the Phantom v2, all you have to do is:

Now for the boring contest rules:

  • Only one entry per participant (not including additional entries for RPadTV mod owners)
  • Contest closes on February 20, 2014 11:59PM PST
  • Winner will be chosen with a random number generator
  • Must 18 or older to participate
  • Must have a U.S. mailing address to be eligible
  • RPad Productions Inc. is not responsible for the prize being lost or damaged by USPS

Coffee Talk #613: Best Super Bowl XLVIII Nerd Movie Trailer

Confession: I totally missed most of Super Bowl XLVIII. Part of it was because I was bummed about the death of Philip Seymour Hoffman and part of it was because jet lag was totally kicking my ass. The thorough thrashing of the Denver Broncos performed by the Seattle Seahawks didn’t help keep me awake. That said, I did manage to catch the three Super Bowl XLVIII nerd movie trailers: The Amazing Spider-Man 2, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, and Transformers: Age of Extinction. The trailers are embedded below for your viewing pleasure, followed by some commentary and a poll. I’d love to hear your thoughts on these Super Bowl XLVIII nerd movie trailers. Kindly comment and vote when you have a moment…continued

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, adjusting (sadly) to life back in America, IHOP vs. Denny’s, or remembering your favorite Philip Seymour Hoffman movie, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.

Confession: I totally missed most of Super Bowl XLVIII. Part of it was because I was bummed about the death of Philip Seymour Hoffman and part of it was because jet lag was totally kicking my ass. The thorough thrashing of the Denver Broncos performed by the Seattle Seahawks didn’t help keep me awake. That said, I did manage to catch the three Super Bowl XLVIII nerd movie trailers: The Amazing Spider-Man 2, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, and Transformers: Age of Extinction. The trailers are embedded below for your viewing pleasure, followed by some commentary and a poll. I’d love to hear your thoughts on these Super Bowl XLVIII nerd movie trailers. Kindly comment and vote when you have a moment.

The Amazing Spider-Man 2: This lengthy spot was full of fun bits and full of elements that have me worried. The CGI effects for Spider-Man and Electro were sweet. Andrew Garfield seems to be doing better with the role (liked him as Spider-Man, but thought he was too cool as Peter Parker). Having too many villains (Electro, Rhino, Green Goblin) worries me. Will the movie be too unfocused?

Then there’s the “spurned lover” aspect of Electro, seen in such movies as Batman Forever (Riddler), The Incredibles (Syndrome), and most recent Iron Man 3 (Aldrich Killian). That’s been done do death. Lastly, as a comic-book fanboy, I don’t really like Harry Osborn as the Green Goblin. That role will always be Norman Osborn to me.

Captain America: The Winter Soldier: This was easily my favorite Super Bowl XLVIII nerd movie trailer. I’ve been high on this movie for months and this extended trailer just cements my fandom. The Winter Soldier is a great character and the trailer makes him look like a total bad ass. It was cool seeing more of 8-Mile’s Papa Doc as Falcon and seeing Scarlett Johansson is always an excellent thing.

While Chris Evans is a way better Captain America than I ever expected him to be, this movie is all about the villain. And really, aren’t the best superhero movies defined by their awesome villains? The trailer is full of acrobatic action, collateral damage (loved seeing the S.H.I.E.L.D. helicarrier crash into that building), and tense moments. I’m totally psyched for this movie.

Transformers: Age of Extinction: Ah, another Michael Bay disasterpiece. On the plus side, it has Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch Mark Wahlberg. Unfortunately, it has Optimus Prime riding around on Grimlock as if he were a trusted steed rather than a fierce Dinobot. Yeah…no.

Your Turn: Now it’s your turn to vote. Kindly pick your favorite Super Bowl XLVIII nerd movie trailer in the poll below and explain your choice in the comments section.

[poll id=”190″]

Nintendo Fusion Rumors Debunked?

Nintendo fans around the world were sent into full-fanboy mode when the Nintendo Fusion rumor hit yesterday. Nintendo News reported that the Nintendo Fusion initiative consists of a new home console (Fusion Terminal) and a new handheld system (Fusion DS). The web site posted a bunch of specs to back up its reporting. Many longtime Nintendo fans were hopeful (wishful?) that Nintendo Fusion would allow the company to compete with Sony’s PlayStation 4 and Microsoft’s Xbox One.

More recently, the specs Nintendo News posted have been called into question. VentureBeat’s “Dancing” Dean Takahashi (one of the best reporters in the videogame business) posted a great article with opinions from a chip engineer that call the rumored specs into question. Here’s a clip:

Pallab Chatterjee, a seasoned chip engineering editor and founder of the Silicon Valley Trade Council, said, “A couple of things don’t make sense.” He noted that the Adreno cores are part of the Qualcomm Snapdragon chip set and are not offered or licensed to AMD. The ARM architecture currently cannot run PowerPC code that IBM uses in the existing Nintendo products. That would mean a 100 percent loss of legacy code compatibility, Chatterjee said.

He also said the 3GB of memory in the portable device also seems small for the applications that will reportedly run on the machine, especially if the screen is a high-resolution one. The camera specs seem a bit light as well, Chatterjee said.

The initial rumor is interesting. The Wii U is a relatively new system (November 2012) and it’s unusual for any console company to release a followup so soon. It seems like a complete panic move, which would be highly unusual for the conservative Nintendo. Then again, the company’s last financial numbers were dreadful and the Wii U has been getting trounced by the competition. It can be argued that Nintendo Fusion is a bold and necessary step for Nintendo.

Naturally, I want your opinions on the matter. What do you think of the original Nintendo Fusion rumor? Is it legit or bunk (like those daily Apple rumors)? How about The Dancing One’s information from Pallab Chatterjee? Do you think that Nintendo needs to release new systems? Or should it bide its time for an all-new, all-different strategy in the rapidly changing field of videogames? Kindly fuse your thoughts into a comments box below!

Nintendo Fusion

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Vaping Diaries #172: Ahlusion Review VIII

Here’s a review of three very different e-liquids from Ahlusion. Orient Whisper is a complex fruit blend that really stands out. Next is Ahlusion’s excellent take on cherry cola. Wrapping things up is Sahara Blend, one of the best juices I vaped in 2013. As with the other Ahlusion e-liquids I’ve had, the flavors are delicious, natural, and masterfully blended. Read on to see if these three excellent Ahlusion juices are right for you.

Orient Whisper: A lovely fruit mix with lychee as the highlight, Ahlusion Orient Whisper is moderately sweet, creamy, and a little bit tangy. There are many tropical fruit blends on the market, but this one stands out. Orient Whisper is a unique and complex fruit medley that’s full of natural flavors. It has a thickness about it that reminded me a bit of The Vape Tree’s Pinoy Punch, but with a different blend of fruits. As lychee is one of my favorite fruits in the world, I adored this juice.

Orient Whisper blends wonderfully after two weeks of steeping. Early on, the bright and sweet lychee stands out. After two months, it starts to fade, with the creamy and citrus notes becoming more pronounced. For me, it was best after two weeks and before eight.

Juice Specs: 6mg nicotine, 50/50 PG/VG

Cherry Cola: Apparently cherries are a big deal in Michigan, where Ahlusion is based. It shows in the company’s Cherry Cola e-liquid. The cola and cherry flavors are very rich and authentic, with a slightly spicy bite. The blend tastes very much like a gourmet cherry cola, as opposed to generic Cherry Coke. While this is one of the sweetest Ahlusion juices I’ve had, the sweetness isn’t overpowering (a common e-liquid mistake). Objectively, this is one of the best cherry cola juices I’ve had. Subjectively, I prefer Clever Vape’s Brooklyn Pop, which has a much spicier kick. That said, I think that more vapers would prefer this juice.

Steeping this one is a little bit tricky. It’s really good fresh and great after two weeks. Early on, Ahlusion Cherry Cola has a fizzy sensation, similar to the one in the company’s W&A Sasparilla. It’s a very pleasant and unique thing, but it fades with time. My recommendation is to steep this juice for two weeks and finish it all before six. Carto/tank and clearomizer users should keep in mind that the scent and flavor of this juice tends to stick, particularly the scent. A thorough rinse and long alcohol soak will remove traces of the juice. Users of rebuildable atomizers will have an easier time, since they can just torch the flavor and scent remnants away.

Juice Specs: 6mg nicotine, 50/50 PG/VG

Sahara Blend: This was my favorite new juice of 2013. It’s a fantastic blend of Turkish and Virginia tobaccos. While it does have some flavor that’s reminiscent of the numerous artificial Turkish tobacco e-liquids on the market, it has far more complexity than any of those juices. Sahara Blend is spicy, sweet, and dry all at the same time. It’s a truly wonderful mix that I can’t get enough of. I quickly vaped through my 60ml review both and have consumed nearly 200ml of this excellent juice.

Sahara Blend is good when fresh, but six weeks of steeping really beings out the complexity. It’s sweeter early on, while the dry and spicy flavors become more pronounced over time. I highly recommend waiting for the juice to develop a pinkish hue before vaping it. When it becomes pinkish, Sahara Blend is divine.

Ahlusion Review Sahara Blend

Steeping and Review Notes (Updated December 29, 2013)
On the advice of Wlad from Ahlusion, I’ve been trying a new steeping method as of December 27, 2012. When the e-liquids arrive, I leave them uncapped for five minutes. Previously, I left them uncapped for about two days. After the liquids are given a few minutes to oxidize, the caps are put back on.

RPad.TV e-liquid reviews focus on the flavor of the e-liquids, since throat hit and vapor production can be altered by the PG/VG ratio and nicotine level selected. Each juice is vaped over a period of days in a bottom-coil silica atomizer (The Russian and Aqua), various rebuildable dripping atomizers, and a clearomizer.

Sacramento Kings to Wear Google Glass This Week

A few Sacramento Kings players will be wearing Google Glass on January 24, 2014 when the team takes on the Indiana Pacers. No, players will not be wearing Google Glass on the court. Instead, they’ll be donning Google’s wearable computers while they’re on the bench (likely sobbing from getting trounced by the team with the best record in the NBA). Fans will be able to get a first-person view of what it’s like to be an NBA player (that’s getting trounced by the team with the best record in the NBA). Here’s from from PC Magazine:

Some Kings players will don Google Glass and use technology from CrowdOptic to broadcast exactly what they’re seeing as part of the NBA game experience to the Jumbotron of the Sleep Train Arena, as well as those viewing on smartphones or televisions. Also included in the broadcasting mix are the game’s announcers, the Kings’ mascot, and the team’s dancers.

Some of you are probably wondering, “Why the hell would Google and CrowdOptic use one of the crappiest teams in the league to promote Google Glass applications?” That’s a fair question. Just keep in mind that the Sacramento Kings are owned by a group that’s headed up by Vivek Ranadive. The man has made millions in Silicon Valley, most recently at TIBCO Software in Palo Alto. Google is based in nearby Mountain View, while CrowdOptic is just a bit north in San Francisco. I’m pretty sure it’s a case of awesome nerds banding together to do awesomely nerdy things. That or they just want to make the jocks look silly by forcing them to wear Google Glass.

Anyway, check out the trailer below to see what the Google Glass Sacramento Kings experience will be like. After that, let me know what you think of this nerdy sports experiment. Are there any athletes or sports teams you’d like to see wearing Google Glass?

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Peyton Manning’s Omaha Call Raises $24,800 For Charity

In the RPad.TV Google+ Hangout, a bunch of us have been chatting about Peyton Manning’s “Omaha” call. The line-of-scrimmage shout has been getting a lot of play in the media lately. While Manning has been using it for a long time, it has been getting more attention thanks to the parabolic microphones NFL quarterbacks have been wearing for the last few years. While Omaha has become a wacky Internet sensation, Manning has turned it into a positive through his Peyback Foundation charity. In the AFC Championship Game, the Omaha call was used to raise $24,800 for charity.

According to ESPN:

Eight businesses will donate the money to Manning’s Peyback Foundation after they committed to donate a combined $800 for each time he said the word ‘Omaha’ at the line of scrimmage. Manning said ‘Omaha’ 31 times during Sunday’s game against the New England Patriots.

Businesses based in Omaha that donated the money included Omaha Steaks, Mutual of Omaha, FNB Omaha, CenturyLink, ConAgra Foods, Union Pacific, DJ’s Dugout and Cox Communications. Brown says he expects the program will now continue on to the Super Bowl, with each ‘Omaha’ Manning utters being worth more money since more Omaha businesses will participate.

That’s pretty cool. It’s great to see a high-profile athlete like Manning quickly react to the media and spin it into a charitable effort. Of course his agents and managers probably had everything a lot to do with it, but even that’s nice to see. Last week, all the sports shows were talking about Omaha. Hundreds of Internet videos popped up, making fun of Manning’s excessive Omaha usage. Hell, I was even saying it at the grocery because it’s fun and entertains my fellow shoppers.

To celebrate Peyton Manning’s charitable use of the Omaha call, I’d like all of you to say it (loudly) at least five times this week in public places. I will commit to a minimum of nine. Who’s with me?!?

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Vaping Diaries #171: CMII Double Cross 1.5 Atomizer Review

Crescent Moon Innovations International’s Double Cross 1.5 atomizer is one of the more innovative rebuildable drippers I’ve used. It has several novel features and was made with flat ribbon users in mind. There are many things I love about the CMII Double Cross 1.5, but there’s one aspect of the RDA that I was unsatisfied with. Read on for the full details of this unique atomizer.

What’s in the Kit: The CMII Double Cross 1.5 comes with the atomizer, a hex wrench for the posts, and an authenticity card.

Build Quality: The Double Cross 1.5 is made primarily from “food grade” stainless steel. The company notes that the posts are also made with this material; some vendors use cheaper metals for the posts, while CMII does not. The atomizer is available in all-steel or with a gold-plated sleeve. Overall, I was very happy with the materials CMII used to make the Double Cross 1.5

What I wasn’t happy with was the atomizer’s fit and finish. All three atomizers I had were filthy, with lots of gunk inside. Originally I thought it was machine oil, but was told, “there’s a big probability that something happened during the shipping.” While it’s possible that grime accumulated inside the (bubble-wrapped) atomizer during shipping, it’s quite unlikely, so I was unsatisfied with the answer I received.

After washing the atomizers with dish soap and water, a dark layer of tarnish developed. This hasn’t happened with any of the dozens of atomizers I’ve owned. I was told, “the topcap is really dark since it’s antique finish, that’s the original topcap color of DoubleCross V1.5.” However, after polishing the atomizers with Mother’s Mag and Aluminum Polish, the tarnish was gone. So again, I wasn’t happy with the answer I received. Antique and tarnish are two very different things.

All told, build quality of the Double Cross 1.5 — at least the three that I received — was mixed. I was happy with the materials and construction, but was unsatisfied with the fit and finish. I’ve never owned an atomizer that arrived so dirty and tarnished so badly after one washing.

Design: Using flat ribbon on the Double Cross 1.5 is a breeze. It uses post slits instead of common post holes. Threading flat ribbon through atomizer post holes can be tricky. Threading it through the Double Cross 1.5’s post slits couldn’t be easier. For people that use flat ribbon exclusively or occasionally use it, this atomizer is a joy to work with.

The air-flow control of the Double Cross 1.5 is also novel. It has two slits on each side, instead of common air holes. A sleeve on the main body can be adjusted to cover the slit. For dual-coil use, you have a wide range of air-flow options that will satisfy most flavor fiends and cloud chasers. Single-coil use is a bit trickier for vapers looking for a firm draw; it was tough to get a satisfyingly tight draw on this atomizer when only using one coil.

The features of the CMII Double Cross 1.5 are unique and different from the majority of atomizers on the market. As someone that prefers flat ribbon over wire, I loved how easy it is to set up this atomizer. I was also impressed by the broad range of air flow options with the “cyclops” slits.

CMII Double Cross 1.5 Review

Verdict: Aside from my disappointment with the fit and finish, I really enjoyed using the CMII Double Cross 1.5. There are many vaping products on the market that have unique features that are gimmicky. That’s not the case with the Double Cross 1.5. CMII implemented unique features that are practical for certain vapers. Ribbon users and vapers that frequently change air flow according to juice or mood will love using this atomizer.

I’ve seen the Double Cross 1.5 available for $80 to $90. The price is on the high end for rebuildable drippers, but it can be worth it for ribbon users looking for convenience and versatility. If you don’t use ribbon then there are better choice that offer similar versatility and better build quality for the same price or less.