theWEBiSODE

Former Phish Frontman Pleads Not Guilty

2007-03-01T09:12:00.000-05:00

Trey Anastasio, musician/songwriter, has pleaded not guilty to charges stemming from a traffic stop on December 15, 2006.

The 42-year old former front man of the jam band Phish, is facing up to 14 years in prison after being charged on seven counts, including a felony drug possession charge and a DWI.

During his arrest, Anastasio was found to illegally possess prescription painkillers and driving while impaired. He is also charged with possessing anti-anxiety medication that belongs to someone else, as well as heroin.

"He has a problem, he knows it and is working with it," Steve Coffey, Anastasio's attorney, said. Coffey also said that Anastasio has attended a 28-day treatment program in January to overcome his addiction.

"He told me `I'm here to face the consequences and work it out with the court and go on with my life,'" Coffey said.

Anastasio and his wife, Susan, declined to make any comments to the crowd of media outside the courthouse.

His next scheduled court appearance is March 27.

Fans of Trey Anastasio can even find T-Shirts online showing support for him, like this one here.

Nintendo Wii Launches News Channel

2007-01-26T09:30:00.000-05:00

PHOTO: Jason Squires

Nintendo has announced the launch of their News Channel accessible exclusively on the Nintendo Wii system.

Like the recently launched Weather Channel, the News Channel will have an interactive globe version of the Earth where users can zero in on an area of the world to get news related to that specific town, city or region.

The channel is available to Wii users now and will require an update to access it as well as the Wii's Opera browser downloaded. The news will be provided by the Associated Press.

"What Wii has done for video gaming, we hope it will also accomplish for news," says Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aime. "Just by pointing at your TV screen, you become your own interactive editor, instantly accessing the latest headline stories, whether they originate in Kansas City or Kyoto."

The interface is easy to use and allows Wii users to spin a virtual globe and point to the location of a news event using the Wii Remote. There are stories from various news categories including Business, Sports, Arts/Entertainment, Technology and Science/Health. The global view allows stories to be grouped by region instead of category.

Icons show which stories have been read, which stories are text-only and which ones come with news photos. Stories are constantly being updated if the "always-on" WiiConnect24 is being used. This will allow stories to be updated frequently, even while you are sleeping.

The Associated Press also is in talks with Nintendo to provide additional multimedia content int he future.

Now Tara Reid can party all night, get drunk and pass out and read about her awful state of a career on her Wii when ever she gets around to waking up.

Al Pacino Is Dali

2007-01-19T15:50:00.000-05:00

Varity is reporting that actor Al Pacino will star as surrealist artist Salvador Dali in an upcoming biopic.

Dali & I: The Surreal Story from Room 9 Entertainment will begin filming in New York and Spain in June with director Andrew Niccol at the helm.

The film will be based on the novel of the same name by Stan Lauryssen. It will primarily cover the later days of Dali's work focusing mostly on the artist's surreal direction in his work.

No word yet on who else has been cast in the film.

Rosie vs Trump: The Video Game

2007-01-05T08:56:00.000-05:00

Bored with the annoying Rosie vs Trump war of words? Now you can take that form of aggression out on an online video game where you fight with fists and mouths as either Rosie O'Donnell or Donald Trump.

The game launched Friday on GSN.com and is an online satirical game featuring an animated Rosie and Donald, who each punch, kick and inflict special attacks while insulting each other the entire time with actual barbs from statements made in the press, according to a GSN.com press release.

When playing the game, players must first must choose whether to play as Rosie or Donald. They both can punch, kick and can block attacks.

However, each has distinct special moves. Rosie can do a special tongue lashing, which the player can use to knock out Trump. The Donald's super power is, of course, his signature hair. Trump can whip up his hair and KO Rosie with lethal flips.

Players also can collect bundles of money that fall out of Trump's pockets or old Rosie Magazines that fall out of Rosie's jacket for extra points.

You can play the game for yourself here: http://www.gsn.com/minigames/minigame.php?id=13

Burger King Xbox Games Selling Well

2006-12-21T16:04:00.000-05:00

Burger King has announced the sale of 2 million of their Xbox collection of games since going on sale November 19th.

"We created the BK(R) Xbox games as a unique form of all-family interactive entertainment, and we're thrilled with the response thus far," said Russ Klein, president, global marketing, strategy, and innovation, Burger King Corporation. "Most video games are considered a blockbuster when they reach the 1 million mark in sales, and this collection has achieved twice that, thanks in part to the great value for the money and convenient holiday stocking stuffer appeal."

The three games sold are Pocketbike Racer, Sneak King and Big Bumpin'. Each title is sold for $3.99 with the purchase of a value meal. Each disc is playable on an Xbox or Xbox 360 system.

While none of these titles will impress anyone with great gameplay or graphics, they are worth adding to your collection if not for the price alone.

The favorite of the three, for me, is Sneak King. But, the game could have been better with more variety and better camera controls.

For tips and tricks on any of these games, visit here: http://www.bkgamer.com/TipsAndTricks.aspx

PS3 Price Raised

2006-12-04T21:04:00.003-05:00

It seems the price of a Playstation 3 has risen. The price tag now reads "Life". This past Friday a teen was shot to death by Wilmington, North Carolina Police Officers. The reason? A Playstation 3, of course.

This incident stemmed from the Playstation launch earlier last month. Peyton Strickland, 18, a student from Cape Fear Community College and a University of North Carolina Wilmington student allegedly beat and shot another UNC-Wilmington student for not one, but two Playstation 3s.

Not much is released from the police report. The police were assisting campus police in serving Strickland the warrant. After several attempts to make him answer the door, the police kicked it in. A witness said that Strickland was not armed, but was holding a Playstation controller(maybe they should have stuck with the crazy boomerang design). The police shot and killed both Strickland and his German shepherd.

A formal investigation is under way. The officers are on a paid leave of absence.

PS3 Related Deaths: 2

Wii Related Deaths: 0

Keep up the good work Nintendo.

UPDATE:

The police officer accused of shooting and killing Peyton Strickland was charged with second degree murder Monday.

However, the case against Deputy Christopher Long will be dropped thanks to a grand jury foreman checking the wrong box on indictment paperwork by mistake, according to CNN.

An investigation is being requested by the Strickland family.

"Yesterday, our son's murderer was going to have to answer for what he did," Don and Kathy Strickland said in a statement. "Today, we just don't know what is going on in Wilmington. We are upset, confused and searching for answers."

Blu-Ray Complete Release List

2006-11-28T13:05:00.000-05:00

Updated August 30, 2007

View our store for the hottest Blu-ray titles at GREAT prices!

09/04/2007:

09/11/2007:

Face/Off

09/18/2007:

The Condemned
Deliverance
Flashdance
House Of 1,000 Corpses
Jailhouse Rock
Saturday Night Fever
Viva Las Vegas
We Are Marshall
Zodiac

09/25/2007:

The Jack Ryan Collection

10/02/2007:

A Room With A View
Top Gun

10/23/2007:

Meet The Robinsons
Scary Movie

11/30/2007:

Badder Santa: The Unrated Version
Santa Clause 3: Escape Clause

Coming Soon:

2001: A Space Odyssey
Above the Law
Africa the Serengeti
Alaska: Spirit of the Wild
Amazing Journeys
Angels In America (TV)
Armageddon
Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery
Bad Boys II
Band of Brothers (TV)
Batman Begins
Belly
Blade
Blade Runner
Bram Stoker's Dracula
Braveheart
The Bridge on the River Kwai
Cabin Fever
Catwoman
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle
The Cronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
A Clockwork Orange
Coach Carter
Commando
Constantine
Contact
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
The Da Vinci Code
Dances With Wolves
Dark City
The Day After Tomorrow
The Dead Zone (TV)
Deadwood (TV)
Deliverance
Desperado
The Dirty Dozen
Dodgeball
Dragon's Lair
Dude, Where's My Car?
The Dukes of Hazzard
Dune (TV)
Elizabethtown
Eraser
Everest
Executive Decision
Eyes Wide Shut
Face/Off
A Few Good Men
Final Destination
The Fly (1986)
For a Few More Dollars
Forbidden Planet
Forest Gump
Frank Herbert's Dune (TV)
Friday
Friends (TV)
From the Earth to the Moon (TV)
Glory
Goodfellas
Gothika
Grand Prix
Grease
The Green Mile
The Guns of Navarone
Hamlet (Kenneth Branagh's Version)
Hannibal
Hard to Kill
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Harry Potter and the Prizoner of Azkaban
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
Heat
Hero
Hostel
House of 1,000 Corpses
Ice Age
Jerry Maguire
Kill Bill Vol. 1
Kill Bill Vol. 2
L.A. Confidential
Lawrence of Arabia
Legends of the Fall
The Maltese Falcon
Marie Antoinette
The Mask
The Matrix Trilogy
Maverick
Me, Myself & Irene
Monster's Ball
Moulin Rouge
The Music Man
Mutiny on the Bounty
Mystic River
National Lampoon's Van Wilder
National Parks Odyssey
Next of Kin
North By Northwest
Ocean's Eleven
Ocean's Twelve
Once Upon A Time In Mexico
Passenger 57
The Patriot
The Perfect Storm
Pi
The Player
The Polar Express
Poltergeist
Poseiden
The Princess Bride
The Professionals
Red Planet
Requiem For A Dream
Rod Stewart: Live at the Royal Albert Hall
Rush Hour
Santa Clause 3: Escape Clause
Save the Last Dance
School of Rock
See No Evil
Se7en
Sense and Sensibility
The Shining
The Silence of the Lambs
Soldier
Spawn
Spider-Man 2
Spongebob Squarepants: The Movie
Star Trek: First Contact
Stargate Atlantis (TV)
Starship Troopers
Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines
The Thomas Crown Affair (1999)
Tristan & Isolde
Troy
Turistas
Twister
Ultimate Avengers 2
U.S. Marshals
Vanilla Sky
Vertical Limit
Waiting
Weeds (TV)
Wild Wild West
X2: X-Men United

See the HD-DVD Release List

(All titles and release dates are subject to change, please check back often for the most current release schedule.)

Need It By December 24?

2006-11-20T12:45:00.000-05:00

The holiday shopping season has arrived and many of us are last minute shoppers. While you can always do your shopping the "old school" style by shopping in the crowded stores and malls, more and more are turning to online retailers for their shopping needs.

However, availability and shipping time can easily get in the way of the true goals of a last minute shopper.

Now, we have compiled a list of online retailers that will get everything you ordered to you by the Santa sanctioned deadline of December 22nd if you order by the online store's holiday shipping deadlines listed below. Check back often for added stores and any changes to the ones listed.

Here they are:

Amazon (Delivered by December 22nd):

Super Saver Shipping - Order by December 15th
Standard Shipping - Order by December 18th
Two Day Shipping - Order by December 19th
One Day Shipping - Order no later than December 21st, 3 p.m., EST

Best Buy:

Ground Shipping - No later than December 19th, 11 a.m., EST
2nd Day - No later than December 20th, 11 a.m., EST
Next Day - No later than December 21st, 11 a.m., EST

Books-A-Million:

Next Day Shipping - No later than December 20th, 12 p.m., EST

Kohls:

Standard Delivery - No later than December 18th, 12 a.m., EST
Priority Delivery - No later than December 21st, 12 a.m., EST
APO/FPO Delivery - No later than December 4th, 12 a.m., EST
Alaska/Hawaii - No later than December 16th, 12 a.m., EST
PO Box Delivery - No later than December 18th, 12 a.m., EST

theWEBiSODE's 100th Blog Entry

2006-11-16T14:47:00.000-05:00

Here we are. One year and 100 posts later. When theWEBiSODE.com first began we were lucky to receive 500 page views a month. Today we average more than 50,000 page views a month from just over 30,000 unique visitors.

The home page for theWEBiSODE.com is being reworked and should be live before the end of 2006. We will also be featuring a new section for up and coming comedian Danny Morris with news, a blog, audio clips and podcasts.

However, enough about us. While we are on the topic of celebrating special days like theWEBiSODE's first year and 100th blog entry, we will now consider another special day. It is one we all celebrate. A birthday. During a recent conversation we had with comedian Danny Morris, he gave us his view on birthdays and this is what he said:

Birthday's are great days, of course. But, we should condense everybody's birthday into the same day each year. Let's say July 1st for example's sake.

Here are reasons why everybody's birthday should be celebrated on July 1:

There will be no excuse for ever forgetting someone's birthday
Retail outlets would welcome another big holiday during the year besides Christmas
There would no longer be a need to go through the agony of hearing or singing that dreadful Happy Birthday song multiple times a year. Just like Auld Lang Syne is reserved for January 1st only, Happy Birthday will be reserved for July 1st only.
One day, one gift, one party gets it all over with quickly
No excuse for cheating on your diet for that slice of birthday cake each time a birthday comes a long
Saves valuable space on your calendar
Those born on February 29 will no longer be shafted
We picked a birthday for Jesus out of a hat, why not do the same for everyone else?

Makes sense if you ask me. Will it ever happen? Probably not.

Now, back to us for a moment. Over the last 99 entries, we've covered news with topics ranging from music, movies, video games and technology. Once in a while we even threw in some odd things like our review of the dessert ball, Kevin's experience with BrandsMart USA and the war on christmas.

Additionally, the "Gun Ad" for NightCops has forever been on the site with an always approaching release date. We promise you, the series will eventually show up on this site. We almost had an official trailer up at one point but was removed before it was actually published for the public to view. It was pretty much just a 20 second clip of NightCops' character Melvin H. Rodback on the toilet continuously farting. It is class A stuff if there ever was any. Another trailer is being worked on and will appear online in the near future.

As a final note, we'd like to thank you for continuing to visit theWEBiSODE.com and writing all of your comments.

New 9/11 Video To Be Released

2006-11-15T09:34:00.000-05:00

An FOIA lawsuit filed by plaintiff Scott Bingham has resulted in the FBI's planned release of a security camera video that may have captured American Airlines' Flight 77.

This is the plane thought to have flown into the Pentagon in Arlington, VA on September 11, 2001.

The security camera footage was confiscated from a Doubletree Hotel in Arlington, VA on September 11, 2001.

The planned release, by the FBI, for this footage is December 21, 2006.

Any legal documentation related to the FOIA lawsuit can be seen at www.flight77.info.

In the meantime, we can only speculate whether or not this video will put 9/11 conspiracy theorists to rest or if the video will only fuel their fire more.

Genesis Reunites For Tour With Phil Collins

2006-11-07T07:53:00.000-05:00

Phil Collins, Mike Rutherford and Tony Banks will be reuniting for a tour as Genesis in Summer 2007. The Turn It On Again tour will be their first tour together in 15 years.

While this is good news for Genesis fans, many instead were hoping for a true reunion that would include the return of Peter Gabriel and Steve Hackett.

To coincide with the new tour, EMI Records will be reissuing 14 Genesis albums remixed in 5.1 surround sound and 2.0 stereo sound on SACD and DVD beginning in March with A Trick of the Tail, Wind and Wuthering, ...And Then There Were Three, Duke and Abacab.

The releases will then continue in June or July with Genesis, Invisible Touch, We Can't Dance and Calling All Stations. The final releases will be in sometime late 2007 or early 2008 with Trespass, Nursery Cryme, Foxtrot, Selling England By The Pound and The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway.

There is no news or talk of any new recordings from Collins, Banks and Rutherford.

Visit here for official tour dates and information.

Update (11/22/06):
Here is an official statement released from former Genesis member Steve Hackett about the 2007 reunion of Genesis.

"First of all, I would like to congratulate Tony, Mike and Phil for flying the flag once again. Good luck to them and I really hope they have a very successful tour. I was originally approached to discuss the possibility of a five piece which would have included Peter Gabriel and yours truly but since Peter’s schedule precludes this, it makes sense for the other three to celebrate the band in their ‘own special way’ as it were ...."

Steve recently released Wild Orchids, a new album which has been described as his best album in years. Hackett is embarking on a Japanese tour later this month and is planning a series of UK shows early in 2007.

Related News:

1. Queen Recording New Album

HD-DVD Complete Release List

2006-11-06T16:56:00.000-05:00

Updated June 19, 2007

View our store for the hottest HD DVD titles at GREAT prices!

06/26/2007:

American Me
Army of Darkness
Being John Malkovich
The Big Lebowski
Black Snake Moan
Bulletproof
Deep Purple: Live in Montreux
Freedom:Vol.1
Hustle & Flow
Mallrats
Meet Joe Black
Mystery Men
Santana: Live in Montreux
Unleashed
The Watcher
Yes: Live in Montreux

06/2007:

Scent Of A Woman

07/3/2007:

Blood Diamond
The Untouchables
The Warriors

07/10/2007:

Billy Madison
Dante's Peak
Dead Silence
The War
The Wedding Date

07/24/2007:

The Bourne Identity
The Contract
Ghost
The Host
In Good Company
Nutty Professor 2: The Klumps
An Officer And A Gentleman
Streets of Fire

08/07/2007:

Hot Fuzz

08/14/2007:

Bell Witch: The Movie
Erin Brockovich
Meet The Fockers
Mercury Rising
What Dreams May Come

08/28/2007:

Dawn of the Dead (2004)
Face/Off
Heroes: The Complete 1st Season
The Hurricane
Notting Hill

09/18/2007:

Battlestar Galactica: The Complete 1st Season
Elizabeth
For The Love of the Game
The Last Starfighter
Legend
We Are Marshall

09/25/2007:

Cat People
Evening
The Getaway
Knocked Up
Patch Adams

Coming Soon:

The Aviator
Awake
Band Of Brothers (HBO)
The Black Dhalia
Blade
Blade Runner
The Blues Brothers
Braveheart
Brazil
Breaking And Entering
Bubble
Bullitt
Catwoman
A Clockwork Orange
Coach Carter
Conan The Barbarian
Cowboy Bebop
Dark City
Deadwood (HBO)
Decameron
Deliverance
Dirty Harry Collection
Elizabethtown
Enron: The Smartest Guys In The Room
Eraser
Executive Decision
Eyes Wide Shut: Unrated Version
Final Destination
Forest Gump
Friends
From The Earth To The Moon (HBO)
Ghost
Ghost In The Shell
Golgo 13
Gothika
Grease
The Green Mile:Special Edition
Grind House
Hamlet (Kenneth Branagh's Version)
Hannibal Rising
Hard To Kill
Harry Potter And The Chamber of Secrets
Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire
Harry Potter And The Prisoner of Azkiban
Harry Potter And The Sorcerer's Stone
Heat
Idlewild
Inside Man
Jaws
Killshot
L.A. Confidential
Last Legion
The Libertine
Lock, Stock & The Smoking Barrels
The Lord Of The Rings Trilogy
The Maltese Falcon
The Mask
The Matrix
Maverick
Mötley Crüe: Carnival Of Sins
Mrs. Henderson Presents
The Music Man
Mystic River
Next Of Kin
North By Northwest
Ocean's Eleven
Ocean's Twelve
Ocean's Thirteen
Ozzfest: 10th Anniversary
Passenger 57
The Player
Poltergeist
Pride & Prejudice (2005)
Psycho (1960)
Red Planet
The Return
Rush Hour
Save The Last Dance
Scarface
School Of Rock
Se7en
The Shawshank Redemption
The Shining
Sin City 2
Slap Shot
Soldier
Spawn
Spongebob Squarepants: The Movie
Star Trek: The Original Series
The Ultimate Star Trek Movie Collection
TransAmerica
Twister
2001: A Space Odyssey
U.S. Marshals
Vanilla Sky
The War At Home
The War Within
We Are Marshall
The West Wing - The Complete Seventh Season
Wild Wild West
Young Hannibal
Zodiac

See the Blu-Ray Release List
(All titles and release dates are subject to change, please check back often for the most current release schedule.)

Saw 4 Coming Halloween 2007

2006-10-30T09:03:00.000-05:00

SAW III opened to a $34.3 million weekend, the biggest debut weekend for the franchise. Because of the growing success of the Saw franchise, Lionsgate Films plans to add more films to the SAW series beginning with SAW IV in October 2007.

"The entire Lionsgate team has displayed boundless creativity, energy and marketing savvy, and they have been key to the success of this franchise. And there is still a lot of life in the SAW franchise," SAW producers Mark Burg and Oren Koules of Twisted Pictures said. "Writers have been hired and work is underway on SAW IV, which will continue the SAW reign of terror for Halloween 2007 ... After all, legends never die."

The opening weekend for SAW III also gave Lionsgate its highest-grossing weekend in its history. The previous record was held by SAW II which took in $31.7 million on its opening weekend.

"As a filmmaker and horror fan, it's been amazing to helm both of these films, SAW II and SAW III. This premise and franchise have so much substance to them, and with the devotion of the fans it is even more important that the SAW series continues," SAW III director Darren Lynn Bousman said. "We came up with a lot of great ideas and threads while making SAW III, and fortunately we were able to turn those ideas into individual scenes that perpetuate the SAW themes and motifs. Now that we've laid the groundwork for future SAW chapters, I'll hand off the filmmaking baton and look forward to next Halloween and another Jigsaw fix."

UPDATE (02/20/07): It seems that Bousman will not be handing off the baton afterall. Bousman, who also directed Saw II and Saw III, will return to the director's chair for Saw IV.

"It's not often that a filmmaker is given the opportunity to follow a genuinely compelling character through two films, much less three," Bousman said in a story on Mania.com. "So I'm very excited about picking up the reins on 'Saw IV,' and delving even deeper into the Jigsaw legend."

Related News:

1. Queen To Record New Studio Album
2. Play Classic Arcade Games Online For Free
3. Rob Zombie Writing, Directing Next Halloween Film

GameTap Comes To AOL

2006-10-18T13:47:00.000-04:00

GameTap, the online gaming service, is bringing a portion of its offerings to AOL.com. Millions of AOL members will be able to sample some of GameTap's over 600 titles by visiting www.aol.com/gametap.

The first nine games that will be available via AOL are Joust, Robotron 2084, Defender, Defender II, Rampage, Bubbles, Sinistar, Satan's Hollow and Tapper.

"We are excited about the opportunity for AOL's visitors to sample GameTap via our sister company's AOL Games," said GameTap Senior Vice President and General Manager Stuart Snyder. "Once this audience gets a small taste of our vast library, we are confident they will check out the full GameTap experience at www.gametap.com."

GameTap, launched by Turner Broadcasting in 2005, now delivers more than 600 console, computer and arcade games on demand, including original and exclusive episodic properties. GameTap also offers more than 400 original entertainment programs, popular video streams and thriving virtual communities to broadband-connected PCs. GameTap is a downloadable application that supports navigation and game play using keyboard and mouse, as well as most USB peripherals.

theWEBiSODE OPiNiON: While we love the GameTap service here at theWEBiSODE, we doubt these older arcade titles will spark much interest with gamers to sign up for the full GameTap experience. They just don't do the GameTap service justice at all.

RELATED NEWS:

1. GameTap Signs New Publishers
2. GameTap Revisited
3. Relive Your Video Game Youth (For a Small Subscription Fee)

Battlestar Galactica 'Webisodes' Coming to Sci Fi Channel Web Site

2006-09-05T15:46:00.000-04:00

Sci Fi Channel's Web site will begin posting 10 original Battlestar Galactica webisodes twice each week beginning Tuesday September 5.

Each new webisode will premiere on Tuesdays and Thursdays at midnight EST until the series premiere October 6 on the Sci Fi Channel.

This is a new marketing approach that seems to mimic the popularity of portable video devices such as the iPod and video over broadband with sites such as Google Video and YouTube.

“It was challenging on several levels,” said Erik Storey, vice president of programming at Sci Fi. “Each of the Webisode chapters had to be close-ended, with a beginning, a middle and an end, and each of those chapters is going to be three minutes, four minutes. And there had to be a little cliffhanger ending for each one.” - Quote taken from a New York Times story published September 5, 2006.

The 10 webisodes are available on the SciFi.com Web site.

While iTunes offers the Battlestar Galactica series, as of publication, they have not added any of the 10 webisodes.

Queen To Record New Studio Album

2006-08-16T16:49:00.000-04:00

Brian May and Roger Taylor of Queen plan to return to the recording studio in October to record a new studio album with former Bad Company and Free vocalist Paul Rodgers, according to a message on Brian May's Web site.

"I talked to Paul last night, the one and only Paul Rodgers, and confirmed that we will be heading into the studio in October .... at a secret location!" May says on his Web site. "We will be turning our heads towards the studio interaction which, just possibly, will bring us all to a new place. We will take it gently at first, the priority being to feel good, and put ourselves in the mood to create."

While some fans are excited to hear any new music from their classic rock heroes, others are not so keen on the idea. One member on the Queenzone.com message board said of the news, "Little by little, the Queen name comes tumbling down. What was once an untouchable and respectable ENTITY... is becoming more and more mortal."

There is no word yet on whether the surviving Queen bass player, John Deacon, will rejoin the group for the new album. He was absent from their most recent 2005/2006 U.S. and European tour. There is speculation that one or more of the tracks on the album may contain unreleased lead vocals from the late Freddie Mercury, but that has not yet been confirmed.

The last complete Queen studio album to be released was 1996's Made In Heaven album which mostly featured previously released and unreleased vocals from Freddie Mercury, as well as vocals from both Roger Taylor and Brian May.

UPDATE: October 30th, 2006

Brian May has released a few statements on his Web site related to the new Queen + Paul Rodgers album:

"Roger [Taylor] and Paul Rodgers and I have been in the studio the last few days working on NEW NEW NEW material ... quite an occasion really. Apart from our excursions with Dave Stewart for Nelson Mandela a couple of years back (most of which never got heard) this is our first QUEEN new recording session for about 15 years. It may turn into an album ... it may lead elsewhere, but right now we are HAVING FUN ! And ..... it sounds pretty amazing to my ears ... very different from anything Paul or Queen have ever done. And pretty epic !!" - Brian May, Oct 23

"Today my whole focus wheeled around again, back to music, as I went back into the studio to work on more new material with Roger and Paul. I have to say I'm very excited. We do feel like a band..... in a very natural way...." - Brian May, Oct 25

Related News:

1. Snoop Dogg's Hip Hop Video Gaming League
2. Queen + Paul Rodgers' Miami Set List

SYD BARRETT: January 6, 1946-July 7, 2006

2006-07-13T08:37:00.000-04:00

SHINE ON YOU CRAZY DIAMOND

Spiderman 3 Teaser Trailer

2006-06-27T10:24:00.000-04:00

So, it's official folks, the Spiderman 3 trailer will debut today at 2:30p.m. EST in the U.S. and 11:30 a.m. PST in the U.S.

You can catch the trailer here at those times mentioned above.

Hopefully there will be an HD version posted, as well.

In other related news, what is everyone's bets on how much Superman Returns makes betweentonight and Sunday? My bet is somewhere near $115 million.

Related News:

1. Science of Superman
2. Black Venom In Spiderman 3?
3. Rob Zombie Directing Next Halloween Film

The Science Of Superman

2006-06-12T12:12:00.000-04:00

We all have seen Superman in at least one form or another, the comics, the television series, the films and the lunchboxes. And now we will have a chance to take an even closer look at the caped superhero from Krypton.

The National Geographic Channel plans to air a documentary taking a look at how much science fact lies behind the super fiction.

On Thursday, June 29 at 9 p.m., the National Geographic Channel will air "The Science of Superman." This will be an inside look at what is possible based on real life physics and what is pure fiction.

The show will have behind-the-scenes interviews with Superman Returns director Bryan Singer and new Superman Brandon Routh as well as actual scientists.

"Viewers will learn how gravity, x-rays, ballistics and radiation might apply to a real-life Superman," a press release from the National Geographical Channel read. "The Science of Superman" also explains how an unstable planet composed of dense radioactive elements, such as Superman's home planet of Krypton, could actually explode, and how its greater gravitational pull could affect Superman's strength and speed on earth. The show even explains real-world theories on his powers of flight, from magnetic propulsion to an ability to generate gravitons within his body.

This should be an interesting show for the Superman and comic book geeks of the world. Others will probably stick to just watching Superman Returns on opening weekend.

Rob Zombie To Write, Direct Next Halloween Sequel

2006-06-05T16:51:00.000-04:00

NEW YORK, June 5 /PRNewswire/ -- Dimension Films is proud to announce that they will make a new "Halloween" movie with Rob Zombie ("The Devil's Rejects," "House of 1000 Corpses") writing, directing and serving as a producer.

Malek Akkad of Trancas International Films ("Halloween H20: 20 Years Later") will produce the feature along with Andy Gould of Vision Entertainment Group ("The Devil's Rejects," "House of 1000 Corpses").

Zombie will also serve as music supervisor on the film. Miramax Films will co-finance the development with Dimension Films. The announcement was made today by The Weinstein Company co- chairman, Bob Weinstein.

Zombie's vision of this film is an entirely new take on the legend and will satisfy fans of the classic "Halloween" legacy while beginning a new chapter in the Michael Myers saga. This new movie will not only appeal to horror fans, but to a wider movie-going audience as well. It will not be a copycat of any prior films in the "Halloween" franchise. The film is set for an October 2007 theatrical release.

Bob Weinstein stated, "Rob Zombie is a gifted musician and performer as well as a talented filmmaker. His vision for this new 'Halloween' is spectacular and I am thrilled to be collaborating with him and to work closely with Malek Akkad to continue the legacy built by his father, the late Moustapha Akkad."

Zombie said, "I have been a huge, huge fan of John Carpenter's original film since its release. So when Bob Weinstein approached me about this, I jumped at the chance to join forces with Dimension Films on this amazing project."

The "Halloween" story began with the 1978 release of "John Carpenter's Halloween," executive produced by the late Moustapha Akkad, founder of Trancas International Films and became the highest grossing independent film of the time. Moustapha Akkad's son, Malek, is now taking some of the reigns on this new "Halloween" project to continue the outstanding work begun by his father. Malek Akkad stated, "Trancas is very excited to be working with Rob Zombie and producing another 'Halloween' with Bob Weinstein and Dimension, the home of the franchise for the last three installments. It will be a fitting and worthy tribute to my late father."

I can honestly say that a fresh take on the Halloween franchise is most welcome. While I wasn't a very big fan of the previous Rob Zombie films, I believe he will still do the series justice.

UPDATE:

There are reports that this film may be delayed due to a re-write with the script.

Also, Rob Zombie has posted a defense on his blog of those who are negative about his upcoming Halloween film.

"Anyway, things change so much in a movie, from moment to moment, from second to second that all I can say is : see it for yourself and figure out if you like it or not." Zombie writes. "Really who gives a fuck what someone else thinks? Everybody likes different shit for different reasons. But deciding that you hate or love something that doesn't even exsist yet? Well, that's a little ridiculous."

Related Stories:

1. Saw 3 In Theatres Halloween 06'

Old School Taylor Hicks Songs

2006-05-26T16:53:00.000-04:00

If you are wondering what some original Taylor Hicks(the winner of American Idol 5, in case you have been living under a rock) songs may sound like you can check them out at http://www.wbhm.org/Tapestry/bands/TaylorHicks.html.

They are actually pretty good. The songs were from his aptly titled CD, Under the Radar. At the site you also can read an interview with Hicks from his December of 2005 appearance on 90.3 WBHM-Birmingham. Enjoy.

And there you have it, officially the shortest post from me to date. This also marks the only article I will write about American Idol.

Nike + iPod = SuperShoe

2006-05-24T18:09:00.000-04:00

Nike and Apple are joining forces to make the ultimate shoe. The brawn of a Nike shoe mixed with the brains of an iPod. And you thought you were cool with your iPod video. HA!

The Nike + iPod kit is what really allows these two giants to merge. The kit comes with sensors that you place in your shoes as well as a radio transmitter for your iPod nano. Think iTrip, but instead of sending your illegally downloaded music to your radio, you will be sending a plethora of running information to your iPod through the attachment that comes with the kit.

The sensors in your shoe relay the speed you are traveling, the calories you have burned as well as the pace and distance you have traveled.

Ok, so it's not a plethora but still pretty damn sweet, if you're into running.

After you're done with your run/walk/jog/trips to the fridge and back to the couch you can attach your iPod to your computer where you can send information to Nike's new website, NikePlus. Here you can chart your progress as well as get tips from the pros.

Apple has changed the music industry. Now, they are changing the jogging industry, where and when will they stop? Hopefully never.

GM to Lower Gas Prices to $1.99...sort of

2006-05-24T17:35:00.000-04:00

General Motors Corporation has announced they will cap gas prices at $1.99 per gallon on certain autos bought from them this year. The gas incentive is only available for cars purchased in Florida or California for the first year they own the automobile.

The owners of the cars will receive a gas card that covers the difference between $1.99 and the average price of premium gas in their state. The amount the owner receives will be based on how much they drive and the EPA rating for miles per gallon on the particular car. GM will use their On-Star service to determine how far a person drives per month.

Eligible vehicles in California include the 2006 and 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe and Suburban, and GMC Yukon and Yukon XL. In Florida, the Chevrolet Impala and Monte Carlo, Pontiac Grand Prix and Buick LaCrosse are eligible.

There is no limit on how much a person can drive the car. They only limit you to the first year you own the car; this is the same amount of time that you have the On-Star service for free.

Office 2007

2006-05-24T11:09:00.000-04:00

I have decided to give Microsoft Office 2007 a try. In fact I am writing and publishing this post all through a blogging feature within Word 2007. I haven’t had much time with Office 2007 yet, but the time I have spent using it has been nothing short of great.

The navigation and “look and feel” of the new version of Office is so beyond previous versions that it makes me wonder why Microsoft didn’t make an overhaul as good as this in the past.

The interface is so different yet somehow I was able to navigate through it with ease as if I have been using the program for months.

The design of Office 2007 will also blend seamlessly with the new Windows OS Vista.

However, I have one major problem with this Beta release. It installs great, but when it comes to the point of activating it, it doesn't work. An error message pops up every time saying that it can't connect to the internet. Unlike other software applications, you cannot activate over the phone either. I have about 40 attempts left before Office 2007 needs to be activated.

After a search online, I realized I am not the only one having this issue. Please Microsoft, if you release a public beta as big as this, I understand some minor bugs here and there, but an issue with being able to activate the program? WTF?

This sums up my preview of the Office 2007 beta. If you’re interested in trying out the beta, send me an e-mail and I’ll try and steer you in the right direction. But, I would wait until this activation thing clears up.

UPDATE: The activation has been cleared up by Microsoft now. So, feel free to download it. You'll find some screen shots of Office 2007 below. Notice the major changes to the interface with Word, Powerpoint, Access and Excel.

Word 2007:

Outlook 2007:

Excel 2007:

Powerpoint 2007:

Publisher 2007:

Access 2007:

The Sopranos Video Game

2006-05-04T09:03:00.000-04:00

Fans of The Sopranos will be able to live the life of the show this holiday season on their favorite video game consoles.

THQ and HBO are teaming up to release The Sopranos:The Video Game later this year. "We're excited to work with HBO on creating a game that captures the spirit of the groundbreaking series -- a modern classic that redefines the life of crime genre," said Kelly Flock, executive vice president, Worldwide Publishing, THQ. "The Sopranos has become television legacy for this generation and now fans and gamers can become part of the story and see if they have the muscle and wit to become 'made.'"

The story of the game will allow players the chance to play as the son of "Big Pussy." Completing various missions will win you respect with the Soprano family as you move up the ranks.

The game will be released for the Xbox 360, PS2 and the original Xbox. The game seems like it will be another clone of the Grand Theft Auto series. It also seems very similar to the Godfather video game released earlier this year.