Flying just gets easier and easier.

Those of us gadgeteers that travel alot have become accustomed to the hurdles that must be jumped in order to get on a plane these days but now there's a new hurdle. According to a release from the Department of Transportation, as of Jan. 1 2008 they will now limit the number of spare batteries that you can have with you when get on a plane. The new rules now prohibit packing loose lithium batteries in checked baggage. Batteries that are already in your gadgets are okay and you can carry plastic bagged batteries in your carry on luggage (only two though).

Supposedly its because the batteries now pose a fire hazard that can't be handled by existing fire-protection systems in baggage hold. But its okay for me to have spares on me in the cabin?! Is this non-sensical to anyone else? If you think that terrorists might use explosives that look like batteries then feel free to ban them (remember when you couldn't take liquids on the plane) but what is this about?

Just the kind of late Christmas present/way to ring in the New Year we'd expect from the Federal Government.

Who knew brutally killing people could be so damn pretty (and so much fun)?!

No, I'm not referring to going off the deep end at some holiday family gathering (although the thought may have crossed my mind) rather the hours of gameplay logged on Assassin's Creed (AC).
Rarely has a game "wow-ed" me but this game will visually blow your mind. Halo 3 might have had great framerate and gameplay but its got nothing on AC. Not only are the environments detailed and lush but from your "eagle-eye" perches (which just also happen to be places you can take gorgeous swan dive-like "leaps of faith") are EXPANSIVE. You can literally see for miles and miles as well as all the inhabitants milling about through that distance. Trust me, this is what was meant by next-gen gaming.
Oh yeah, there is actually a story going on here. You're a Crusade-era ninja in charge of taking out important targets. The story is compelling and once you find out how we get to this place in time you'll see that there's plenty of sequels left in this story. How many of these missions have I completed thus far in my 14+ hours of gameplay? A mere 2. I spend time just walking, running, building climbing, swan diving (never get tired of that) and riding my horse around the HUGE environment. Yeah, if you think riding a horse in Zelda is cool, wait 'til you ride around on this steed.

Not to mention I have a crush on two women involved in this game. Jade Raymond, the game's producer (who knew geeks could be so hot?!) and Kristen Bell who is one of two scientists in the game working with you (she makes me feel funny like when I used to climb the rope in gym class).

Okay, everyone knows I'm a cheap bastard and I never buy games at retail. But.....if you got gift cards or money for Christmas, or just just crappy presents or whatever...you HAVE to go and buy this game. You'll thank me, I promise.

Cloverfield is coming.

There's a new movie coming coming out from the minds behind "Lost". The teaser stuff looks wicked and there's some cool alternate reality gaming tied to it as well. Early take is that its "Blair Witch" meets "Godzilla". Its gonna be good, really good, check it out.