tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-72176699961160942242012-02-16T22:36:41.227-05:00my take on some of my favorite topics, and my random rantingsMachttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02626756792414768425noreply@blogger.comBlogger431100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7217669996116094224.post-5757132083574454572010-09-24T07:00:00.001-05:002010-09-24T07:00:05.833-05:00

Earlier this week I experienced my first rehearsal for the 17th degree that I am participating in during the Fall reunion of the Valley of Detroit. I have never done any stage acting before and I'm very excited to be jumping in with both feet. It is a small part, only 7 lines, but they are full of big emotions (and hammy overacting on my part)! I had a really good time during the rehearsal, lots

Machttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02626756792414768425noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7217669996116094224.post-48414700411017665342010-09-23T11:20:00.003-05:002010-09-23T12:44:01.691-05:00

Both my blood sugar levels (over 300 which is BAD) and my couch-potato, net-surfing ways need to change drastically or I'm headed for an early grave. Not like, next month or even next year, but Type 2 Diabetes is no joke and will definitely shorten the ol' lifespan. That is without even considering the related health issues associated with carrying around an extra 80lbs or so. So, there will be

Machttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02626756792414768425noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7217669996116094224.post-19264281491902119852010-08-08T19:26:00.001-05:002010-08-08T19:29:26.049-05:00

I'm not really one to buy into the whole Mayan 2012 prophecy, or that any sort of end times are upon us. Granted, I think it would be cool to be able to see the northern lights from my back porch. That might just happen if this whole solar maximum thing is for real. Admittedly, the northern lights stretching further south than usual and possibly a blackout (very very slight chance) is about all

Machttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02626756792414768425noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7217669996116094224.post-54227953164364534962010-08-05T10:02:00.000-05:002010-08-05T10:02:23.890-05:00

It has been quite a while since I have ranted or posted anything at all. I hope you will all forgive me as this little guy has been the complete and total focus of every waking minute for quite some time. He still is, of course, but I have gotten much better at time management. I have also grown so weary of the political stupidity going on in this country that I have tuned out from the madness.

Machttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02626756792414768425noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7217669996116094224.post-21642057379824088082009-10-01T12:48:00.000-05:002009-10-01T12:48:36.984-05:00

You can always count on Bachmann to come up with a great comment from the tin-foil hat wearing right. This time I think she hits an all-new high. I don't think that she is currently campaigning against having a school nurse in public schools, and I'm not sure I see a gigantic difference between that and what the bill is proposing. But she somehow translates having school based health clinics

Machttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02626756792414768425noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7217669996116094224.post-76310506004567326352009-09-28T12:21:00.000-05:002009-09-28T12:21:43.906-05:00

I cannot believe that our elected leaders have to spend their time discussing whether or not basic maternity care needs to be a part of health insurance coverage. Leave it to a republican to make this awesome statement: I bet he wants to be sure that there is coverage for male impotency in the bill. Using his obviously flawless logic (can you feel the sarcasm dripping off that?) there should

Machttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02626756792414768425noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7217669996116094224.post-27574610018042983522009-09-23T07:56:00.002-05:002009-09-23T08:00:02.920-05:00

Sure, I fully admit to be a complete gadget geek, among other varieties of geekdom to which I subscribe. I have had the Amazon Kindle on my gadget lust list ever since it came out, but I keep waiting for it to get better. I mean, it's very very cool as it is and if I wasn't completely focused on my Dave Ramsey inspired plan to be completely free of all consumer debt, I would have already

Machttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02626756792414768425noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7217669996116094224.post-83006137365248880582009-09-22T10:30:00.000-05:002009-09-22T10:30:22.659-05:00

I mean really?!? Why are we trying to hurt those guys? They have been taking such good care of us for so long how can we turn our backs on them now? Protect Insurance Companies PSA from Will Ferrell

Machttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02626756792414768425noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7217669996116094224.post-43100854543846397302009-09-22T09:39:00.000-05:002009-09-22T09:39:24.861-05:00

Really folks, I mean it, if you want your opinion to be heard you have to actually make the call. It takes at most two or three minutes if all you want to do is register your support. Just click the image below and you can input your zip code and get the phone numbers to your senator's offices. Of course, if you don't support the health care reform then nevermind... forget I mentioned it

Machttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02626756792414768425noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7217669996116094224.post-7494940489289478592009-09-03T17:03:00.006-05:002009-09-03T17:14:20.862-05:00

I can officially shout from the rooftops that the wife and I are expecting our first little bundle of joy. I have been informed that the actual amount of joy may seem to vary at times, but it is all worth it of course.Everything is going well and both Mom and McB are doing great so far. We're both pretty scared and excited in altering waves which I've been assured is completely normal. I tend to

Machttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02626756792414768425noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7217669996116094224.post-17141146071923175102009-08-28T10:57:00.003-05:002009-08-28T11:03:45.956-05:00

First thing on heard on the way to work this morning was this interview with Dick Armey on NPR. Let me just say that is not the way to begin a calm relaxing commute to work. This pack of lies nearly made me ill.FreedomWorks is just a corporate AstroTurf front for the conservative agenda. The anxiety people are coming to town hall meetings with is a direct result of the type of false "Death Panel"

Machttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02626756792414768425noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7217669996116094224.post-57740095056881396702009-08-28T10:52:00.006-05:002009-08-28T10:55:24.419-05:00

I'm stunned time and again about the lies and dis-information that the conservative right and the health care industry are using to try to sway the public.Good story on NPR about this very tactic:

Machttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02626756792414768425noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7217669996116094224.post-35795149097239474092009-08-28T05:30:00.003-05:002009-08-28T05:32:23.198-05:00

COME ON!!! How can you get elected to Congress and not realize that the phrase "Great White Hope" is a completely racist sentiment?Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Machttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02626756792414768425noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7217669996116094224.post-15525232923365750202009-08-24T07:48:00.002-05:002009-08-26T13:02:08.361-05:00

New game that goes with the James Cameron movie Avatar (no not the last airbender). I have no idea what this will eventually become, but if this is in-game footage as it claims, damn it looks good.I remember reading that Cameron was working on a new IP that would bring a movie and MMORPG to market at the same time. I really wish him all the best in trying this, but we all know that games

Machttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02626756792414768425noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7217669996116094224.post-21048273622457144352009-08-20T17:45:00.004-05:002009-08-21T07:55:29.067-05:00

I had a great exchange of views with an old friend on Facebook today. I am posting this exchange here. It is quite long so I completely understand if you have better things to do than to read my email convos.I have removed the name of the person I am corresponding with here to keep that confidence. I don't mind shouting my opinions from the virtual rooftops all day long but this friend of mine

Machttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02626756792414768425noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7217669996116094224.post-45648968096254859282009-08-20T11:38:00.002-05:002009-08-20T11:41:16.928-05:00

My darling wife sent this along to me this morning. I think this is a very good explanation of our current health care reform debacle we find ourselves in.Healthcare Napkins AllView more documents from Dan Roam.

Machttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02626756792414768425noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7217669996116094224.post-28065886115415554322009-08-19T11:48:00.002-05:002009-08-19T11:53:08.334-05:00

Sometimes I agree with Barney Frank, sometimes I don't, but in this instance I really have to hand it to him. He gave that woman exactly what she deserved. I just don't understand the idiocy of these people. Comparing our government to the Nazi regime is not just a giant stretch of the imagination, it is a flat out insult and clearly meant to be nothing more than a lame sensationalist

Machttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02626756792414768425noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7217669996116094224.post-36310108707528065242009-08-18T16:06:00.001-05:002009-08-18T16:06:52.083-05:00

Freedom to suffer with an inferior system that leaves a large percentage of our fellow Americans without any means to pay large health care bills.Freedom to be forced into bankruptcy by devastating illness because the out of control costs when even those with insurance get slammed with maximum coverage amounts and potential loop-holes that the free market insurance companies write into

Machttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02626756792414768425noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7217669996116094224.post-85596998212245440192009-08-18T09:20:00.002-05:002009-08-18T09:23:41.867-05:00

An amusing Twitter exchange with the Boston PD. Let's hope they aren't really covering up the first stages of the inevitable Zombie apocalypse.

Machttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02626756792414768425noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7217669996116094224.post-84353059833372689512009-08-11T13:57:00.003-05:002009-08-16T14:51:47.577-05:00

Had to share this one. I know I'm a little late to the party on this one, but it was too funny not to share with folks.The Ballad of G.I. Joe from Olivia Wilde

Machttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02626756792414768425noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7217669996116094224.post-3356134309352619912009-08-11T10:24:00.002-05:002009-08-11T11:08:43.281-05:00

I might have said the same thing, but Olbermann said it so much better.Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Machttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02626756792414768425noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7217669996116094224.post-90058290275870756452009-08-10T09:21:00.006-05:002009-08-10T09:27:45.042-05:00

After Sarah Palin spouted off on her Facebook page about the fictional "Death Panels" that she believed would be created by the health care reform bill, she has suddenly decided that she needed to put out a call for civil behavior in the town hall meetings. Also this week, Alaskans will join Senators Murkowski and Begich in town hall meetings to discuss the current health care legislation. There

Machttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02626756792414768425noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7217669996116094224.post-7145064410243468062009-08-08T09:54:00.004-05:002009-08-08T12:14:30.428-05:00

The right wing wackos just make me seethe with rage sometimes... It really doesn't seem to matter that they are so wrong about all the facts. Just so long as they can scream the loudest and convince each other of whatever uninformed, unintelligent crap the GOP is spreading.Please, please, please stop spreading lies that the "Obama-care" health care reform bill is going to do any of the following:

Machttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02626756792414768425noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7217669996116094224.post-42179793093357677372009-07-30T13:57:00.003-05:002009-07-30T14:04:15.253-05:00

I have been a long time away dealing with some tiresome real world events in my life which I won't get into here, believe me, you really wouldn't be interested. I'm looking forward to only one game in the next few months and that is Aion.Sure there are lots of other interesting prospects on the horizon, but nothing that I really think will actual go gold prior to the end of the year. Don't get me

Machttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02626756792414768425noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7217669996116094224.post-91552639588174297572009-07-30T12:51:00.001-05:002009-07-30T12:51:52.247-05:00

This policy is valid from 30 July 2009 This blog is a personal blog written and edited by me. For questions about this blog, please contact McCormick Dot Mac At Gmail Dot com. This blog accepts forms of cash advertising, sponsorship, paid insertions or other forms of compensation. This blog abides by word of mouth marketing standards. We believe in honesty of relationship, opinion and identity.

Machttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02626756792414768425noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7217669996116094224.post-17408503876761791582009-03-06T11:37:00.002-05:002009-03-06T11:40:29.903-05:00

Yes, I fully admit that I am a total geek. I had serious reservations about the upcoming Star Trek movie, but after this trailer it is a foregone conclusion that I will be going to see it.I'm also definitely headed to see The Watchmen this weekend. Equally geeked about that movie.

Machttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02626756792414768425noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7217669996116094224.post-4516241510382822412009-03-02T12:50:00.002-05:002009-03-02T12:55:28.853-05:00

Saw this on today on Engadget.com, very cool video montage of possible future of computing.This kind of stuff is mostly possible with existing technology, some of it is way out there, but I am eagerly anticipating this kind of tech.

Machttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02626756792414768425noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7217669996116094224.post-90002464920143417022009-02-26T10:56:00.004-05:002009-02-26T11:05:26.573-05:00

Trying to get our "extra" house in Plymouth rented and it is amazing me how scattered some people can be. We have been going round and round with this potential renter. Admittedly the fellow is doing exactly what I would be doing. He is looking a lot of properties before he reaches a final decision. That is only the smart way to go about finding a place.But, to keep putting off the decision and

Machttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02626756792414768425noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7217669996116094224.post-60558181321462710422009-01-09T10:33:00.003-05:002009-01-10T18:50:29.970-05:00

The Microsoft powered Sync system in Ford vehicles just has so much potential it's frightening.This is one of the reasons that my next vehicle will be a Ford product.My wife has Sync in her Mercury Milan and it is the single best feature of that car, which is actually saying a lot since the rest of the car is very nice as well.

Machttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02626756792414768425noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7217669996116094224.post-37263451548371971272009-01-09T09:25:00.003-05:002009-01-09T09:43:43.450-05:00

So, once again NAIAS arrives at Detroit. Strangely it does not seem like such a giant deal this year. So many automakers have pulled out of the show, and the ones that are still participating don't have a heck of a lot of good news to share.I remember the auto shows of years ago as these giant festivals of excess celebrating the insatiable lust for sex on wheels that America used to have. There

Machttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02626756792414768425noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7217669996116094224.post-17527500240487954222008-12-29T14:49:00.002-05:002008-12-29T14:52:53.607-05:00

Back in the office after a much needed break. I'm still shaking my head sadly at the Detroit Lions going an entire regular season without a win. I'm glad that organization is making some changes, but I'm not entirely sure that the changes they are making will be enough to make a difference.The holidays were great aside from the rotten news that we need some repairs made to the roof and areas that

Machttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02626756792414768425noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7217669996116094224.post-68193477992451388452008-12-24T17:35:00.001-05:002008-12-24T17:38:31.528-05:00

As a little Christmas present early, our roof started to leak this afternoon.I am thankful that I have a roof over my head, a loving family, my health, blah blah blah....I'm still pissed about the roof though.

Machttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02626756792414768425noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7217669996116094224.post-69208605542230742452008-12-22T13:18:00.000-05:002008-12-22T13:19:18.455-05:00

An important letter from Santa Claus to all children:In preparing your letter to Santa, you must submit a 100-page turnaround plan documenting how you expect to be good.If approved by the Grinch from Alabama, you will receive half your presents at Christmas and the batteries to run them in March.Note that all end-of-year allowances must be forfeited, and current parents must be dumped, even

Machttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02626756792414768425noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7217669996116094224.post-7944442605937415882008-12-19T10:53:00.002-05:002008-12-19T10:54:16.237-05:00

I know folks around here must have missed my rantings on comics, games, and stuff. But i'm back and broadening the list of topics here to anything that I care to rant about.

Machttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02626756792414768425noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7217669996116094224.post-45686573091601066182007-03-22T08:26:00.000-05:002007-03-22T10:29:13.912-05:00

I hate to come off as a total Bioware fanboy but a few tiny details have been released about the character classes in the upcoming Mass Effect game. It looks like there will be a total of 6 playable classes. The fine folks over at IGN were kind enough to relate the details of three of them. They have also jumped on the embeddable flash movie clip bandwagon so I can directly share tasty videos

Machttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02626756792414768425noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7217669996116094224.post-62545986840797997522007-03-14T16:46:00.000-05:002007-03-15T15:06:21.472-05:00

I have been deathly ill. First some sort of flu thing that made my whole body ache, then some nasty stomach virus that made me wish i were dead. During this time something huge goes and happens in the comic world and I'm completely in a media blackout. With what strength i have left I'm trying to check my office email and my wife pokes her head into the room to ask if I know what's going on with

Machttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02626756792414768425noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7217669996116094224.post-85393410304440500392007-03-02T13:26:00.000-05:002007-03-22T10:29:40.538-05:00

I just finished the second trade of DMZ and now I have to head to my local comics store this afternoon to hopefully pick up the next few issues that are available. There probably won't be another trade until the fall, and I can't wait that long, I'm totally hooked.The guys behind this book, art and writing Brian Wood (Demo, Channel Zero, GLOBAL FREQUENCY) and art by Riccardo Burchielli, have such

Machttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02626756792414768425noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7217669996116094224.post-75554934751776666502007-03-01T15:20:00.000-05:002007-03-01T15:30:20.229-05:00

Now that the epic seven part series is over and I have had time to digest it all and make my peace with it; I have come to the conclusion that I wanted a whole lot more out of this series.I enjoyed the fact that there was a ton of commentary on our current political situation at the beginning of the series, but that all seemed to fade away in the last few issues. I know it's just a comic and not

Machttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02626756792414768425noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7217669996116094224.post-58483446766616214252007-03-01T14:59:00.000-05:002007-03-22T10:30:04.253-05:00

Okay, so maybe it just completely slipped my mind, but in any case. The other day I was talking about games on the horizon that I'm excited about and I only mentioned Mass Effect, which is going to be fantastic (fingers crossed). Yes, I'm geeked about that game, but I completely forgot about Assassin's Creed from Ubisoft. Another game that looks completely amazing.If they can really pull off the

Machttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02626756792414768425noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7217669996116094224.post-5878301459742537072007-03-01T09:11:00.001-05:002007-03-01T09:16:41.507-05:00

"Digg augmented the pre-existing categories on the site today with 'Microsoft' and 'US Elections 2008'. Conspicuously missing from the mix is the much vocally demanded 'Pictures' category. Here's a look at why this may be the case, and how it may ultimately be implemented."Sorry for all the Digg stories today, but I am fascinated by this one. I personally believe that it is the possibilty of NSFW

Machttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02626756792414768425noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7217669996116094224.post-82676458410697246362007-03-01T09:00:00.001-05:002007-03-01T09:15:44.779-05:00

"A sneaky web service offers to get you to the front page of the popular news aggregator for $1 per digg. We'll see about that."Wired wrote a very interesting article about buying votes/diggs on what might just be the most popular social/web 2.0 news site out there. I know i check it every day, many times a day, but if this is true... it just might cast some doubt on how some stories make it to

Machttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02626756792414768425noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7217669996116094224.post-90411432015144745732007-02-27T11:02:00.000-05:002007-02-27T11:22:28.649-05:00

I have just recently discovered high dynamic range (HDR) photography and I'm completely hooked on the concept. In a nutshell the concept is this: The human eye can perceive far more contrast and color than any film or digital photograph can hope to capture, but, by combining multiple exposures with some software magic, we can come close to the level of contrast and color range that the human eye

Machttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02626756792414768425noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7217669996116094224.post-75310228349246128952007-02-26T11:47:00.000-05:002007-02-26T14:43:08.270-05:00

I'm often asked what the next big game is that I'm all excited about. Right now I have to say that the only game on the horizon that has my hopes up is Mass Effect from Bioware (on the 360, of course). I know, I know, I hear you saying "But what about Halo 3 and Halo Wars for 360?" And to that I say, sure, sure, they will be cool, but really, haven't we all played Halo a few times already? Is it

Machttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02626756792414768425noreply@blogger.com0