J Marcus Daily
Gamestop.com - Home
Don't be a sucker.
Video games are some of the most overpriced entertainment items you can buy today. Gamers spend hundreds and thousands of dollars each on games every year. When a game is first released it is priced anywhere from$40-$60. Depending upon popularity and availability the price quickly drops over the coming weeks and months after its initial release. Walking the clearance bin or previously played game area is one of the best ways to get good games at bargain basement prices.
Sure there are a few amazing games that have to be purchased the moment the come out. Pre-ordered, you wait in line on release day waiting to take it home a crack the seal. It's a rush. Like going to see Lord of the Rings on opening day or getting floor seats for your favorite band.
Still, those games are few and far between. Most are average at best and some are a plain waste of money. Recently I spent some time scouring the bargains and have found some good games, a little old perhaps, no longer gleaming with new hyped media pride, but good nonetheless. Icewind Dale 2 (14.99), Wizadry 8 (4.99), Knights of the Old Republic(19.99), Master of Orion 3 (4.99): all for less than the price of KOTR when it first released.
If you love getting ripped off then keep doing what you've been doing. If you don't mind being a SUCKER, and have money to burn keep buying games at full price. Otherwise, if you are like me and want to get more for your money wait. You'll always have something new to play and you won't lose your shirt.
JBL - Home Audio
Installed a new stereo system in my office today; the JBL SCS160SI 7-piece Home Cinema Speaker Package will be my theater system in my den for at least a week or two. As a electronics product reviewer I get to play with a wide range of toys. It's fun, but after spending the better part of a day playing with RCA jacks, Digital hook ups, Monster cable, S-video and everything in between-I'm done. At least for the night. (Look for a full review of the JBL speaker system in two weeks.)
I also have the opportunity to play with a stand-alone DVD Recorder. Marked as the digital replacement for VCR's recordable DVD's have been available on computers for years as well as expensive stand alones. As with all things, the prices are coming down and with all the options out there I thought I'd put this technology to the test. Can recordable DVD's truly replace our ailing VCR's? There are many legal and compatibility issues to overcome, but is the technology itself worth the purchase? This review will also follow in the coming weeks.
As for me, I'm going to watch Lord of the Rings on my new system and see if I can stretch these speakers to their limit.
Nielsen Media Research - U.S. - Unlock the Power of Media
Top Ten Primetime Broadcast TV Programs
For week of 3/01/04-3/07/04 As reported by Nielsenmedia.com
Rank/Program Network/Household Rating/Total Viewers/
1 American Idol - Tuesday FOX 14.5 25,480,000
1 CSI CBS 14.5 22,739,000
3 Survivor: All-Stars CBS 13.6 23,304,000
4 Apprentice NBC 12.9 20,215,000
4 CSI: Miami CBS 12.9 19,900,000
6 Princess Diana: Secret Tape 1(S) NBC 11.8 16,826,000
7 Without A Trace CBS 11.5 17,461,000
8 American Idol - Wednesday FOX 11.4 19,313,000
8 American Idol-Uncut (S) FOX 11.4 19,687,000
10 Friends NBC 11.2 17,000,000
Reality TV: Who watches this crap anyway?
It seems to be America's dirty little secret. The Nielsen ratings show Reality TV brings in a strong loyal following. With this last week being a prime example by holding five of the top ten slots. But who are these people watching these shows? I can't seem to find them.
I ask my friends. They don't watch.
I ask neighbors. Most of them don't watch.
The guy running on the treadmill next to me. Of course, he doesn't watch.
My kid sister...she's watching. I figured on that one, she still likes Blue's Clues.
Except for her, everyone I talk to doesn't watch reality TV. At least that is what they tell me. I'm getting the sinking suspicion everyone is lying. It kind of like asking who watches soap operas or Golf. Who would admit to that?
Perhaps I'm one of the few people left in America who isn't into Survivor or American Idol. I don't know. The only saving grace in my mind for last week was there wasn't anything else for people to watch. When the networks keep running repeats of their best shows, it doesn't leave alternatives. Moreover, this much is clear, the television audience when left with no alternatives will watch whatever they can find. Heaven forbid they go find something else to do when there is nothing on-read a book, visit neighbors, exercise. No, if it's on TV, someone is going to watch it even if it is God Awful Bad.
Now that I've alienated most of the television audience and probably the two people reading this, I'll go watch the Osbournes.
MSN Encarta - On This Day
Here it is Sunday and I don’t feel like doing much of anything. Have you ever noticed it seems like different days of the week each have a particular feeling to them. The dreaded Monday blues, and the ever popular TGIF Fridays are the most well known. The workweek is divided by getting over the hump on Wednesdays and Saturday nearly everywhere is a day of play. Sundays are best spent lying around doing as little as possible.
Of course, this is all nonsense. There is no scientific or logical reason why a particular day of the week gives us a sense of feeling different. They are simply products of our own imagination, ways to deal with the stress of the workweek and so on. Still, I can’t get over the feeling that I don’t want to do anything much today: even write this column.
Sunday, so named because it was anciently dedicated to the sun, or to its worship. For Christians, Sunday is the first day of the week, consecrated among Christians to rest from secular employments, and to religious worship; also known as the Christian Sabbath and the Lord's Day. For many it is a day of church, wearing your Sunday’s best, and going for leisurely drives (Sunday driver).
For my part, this is a Sonday in the clearest sense of the word for I’m going to spend the day playing games with my son, Tristan. Inside of course because while it may say Sunday on the calendar a quick look outside dedicated this day to the clouds.
TiVo.com | What is TiVo
Is this the future of television?
Whether the TiVo service survives, the competitive consumer electronic market is anybody’s guess at this point. They clearly have a strong market presence and the predominant lead in the industry. However, that is no sure indication of ultimate success. TiVo is merely a service designed to power TiVo branded Digital Video Recorders (DVR), the much-heralded replacement to the VCR. No more tapes. DVR's use hard drives digitally to store 40-120 hours of television and in doing so allow for a host of other features such as pausing live television and commercial skipping. (As a DVR user, I can say it changed the way my family watches television.)
TiVo has its work cut out for it as a company. They have led the industry in educating the public about DVR technology and in fact have become synonymous with digital recording. Owners of Dish network DVR's only have to say TiVo for the uninitiated to understand what they mean when they talk about Digital Video Recorders or Personal Video Recorders (PVR). Same thing just another name for it. The company has softened up the ground with advertising since the company's inception in 1997. The company has released information stating they now have over 1.3 million subscribers, which accounts for a majority of the company's profit. With the word out on DVR technology, other companies are quickly jumping on board with their own services. The question remains whether it will be TiVo or other rivals who come out ahead. Clearly, it's a brave new world for home entertainment.
MSN Encarta - How Do You Tell a Democrat from a Republican?
The Presidential election is beginning to ramp up the campaign rhetoric. Political conversation heats up at this time when there are only two real choices for President: Republican or Democrat. Invariably these conversations pit various people with their never-ending platitudes of right and wrong against one another. Moreover, during the debates the topic will invariably lead to the core beliefs of both Democrats and Republicans being discussed ad nausea. Before you open your mouth and make a mistake, make sure and read the above-abbreviated information on the history of both parties.
In a world where information overload is a daily reality people still find plenty of opportunities to be wrong. And when I say wrong, I mean wrong, not a matter of opinion- A retort trodden into the ground by those having no better way to make their point. When facts are erroneously construed and become the basis of incorrect thinking, these opinions are not worthy to be spoken. Sure, they have the right to be stupid but why do we extol the moronic and sophomoric.
So, get your information correct before you form those opinions you have such great right to blather on about. Read a book. Find a good website with real information. Pick up an encyclopedia or a dictionary. Never stop learning. Instead of quoting one-liners from the front of the newspaper, get the real scoop. Mistakes will be made. At least it won't be because of bad information.
MSNBC - Can you change this $1 million bill?
A million doesn't buy what it used to. A recent customer of a Georgia Wal-Mart learned this one the hard way. Of course, this was only after attempting to purchase over fifteen hundred dollars worth of merchandise with a million dollar bill. Do I even have to say more? This one should be featured on America's stupidest criminals.
Oh, and just in case you didn't know it, the U.S. Treasury doesn't even make a million dollar bill. I'm sure everyone out there reading this already knew that one.
I love stupid people, I really do. Without them, how would an average Joe like me get to sound so brilliant? Everyday I get to write about the world, make observations, insights, and weave them into the complex fabric of my storytelling. So, hats off to those donning forty watt wit for without you I wouldn't have a day job
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eDiets.com: News | Diet & Nutrition
Living a healthy lifestyle doesn't come easy for me. In the fantasy world of my mind, I feel like I do lead a healthy lifestyle. I don't drink, smoke or do drugs. I don't have extramarital sex. I don’t' drive recklessly. In the fantasy, I leave out a few things.
I like to eat. I like to play video games and watch movies on my home theater system. I like to write and with it comes hours of sitting on my ass. I'm not a complete sloth: I enjoy going for walks. Taking pictures with my digital camera. Going on vacations. Being active. Chasing after my two-year-old son. But none of that equates to exercise.
Sum it all up and you get a 239 pound 31 year old man with a few flakes of grey.
This week I began an exercise regimen- 5 days a week, 2 hours a day at the local YMCA. A beautiful facility out here in suburbia of which we have been members for over a year now. Tristan, my son, has spent more time swimming and taking classes there than I have exercising. All that changed this week. Exercising everyday should put me on the right track to good health. Making it a part of my lifestyle, and not a flash in the pan idea of the week, will be the real trick.
Then I'll have to work on my diet.
Here are a few updates on this blog. Over the next few weeks, this blog will change to fit the content on the website. Instead of writing features into my blog those will go onto the website separately. This way my blog will remain free for the exploration of my daily ramblings.
I hope that this will help make the content on the website more interesting and allow for a better blog experience. Because, if I’m not having fun writing my blog how I can expect anyone to enjoy reading it.
As always, thanks to all my loyal readers. Take care.
Be seeing you.
