Cool Online Mapping Utility: MapMyRun.com

I just discovered a site called MapMyRun.com. It’s is a cool little site that integrates GoogleMaps with handy route-drawing tools. For example, you can map your route from home to work and calculate how many calories you can burn in doing so. Nifty!

I didn’t realize I can burn off a Big Mac by cycling to work!

Cool New Frogger Game

Interesting…a Frogger arcade game utilizing a Dance Dance Revolution type user interface. That would be pretty fun.

The New G.I. Joe Movie

I do not hold high hopes for the new G.I. Joe movie that is scheduled to come out next year. It looks like yet another movie designed to cash in on the nostalgia of 80s youth, but with many of the defining characteristics sucked out of it.

Here’s a list of some of the things that are terribly, terribly wrong with the new movie:

• Many of the main characters are way too young. The actor who plays Cobra Commander is less than thirty years old! These are supposed to be experienced characters.
• The distinctive uniforms of the Joe team appear to have been replaced with drab, undifferentiated ones. Everyone looks the same!
• Bad director. Stephen Sommers? Come on!
• Poor casting choices. There’s a freaking Wayans brother in there, for goodness’ sake!
• Destro doesn’t wear his trademark mask. Rumors say he only puts it on at the end of the movie.
• Look what they did to Stormshadow!!!

Just look at Stormshadow. On the left, we see a highly skilled ninja. Look at his eyes! You don’t screw around with a sword-wielding man with those eyes! He’s got knives and ninja stars ready to go — he’s ready for action!

This is what he’s probably thinking: “I AM GOING TO KILL YOU!!! RRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

Now, compare him with the “Stormshadow” on the right. He looks like some emo on his way to a comic-con. He’s got the “popped-collar douche” look going on and is sportin’ clean, white ninja sneakers. I can’t tell if he’s getting ready ready to kick some ass or if he’s preparing to go to a rehearsal as part of his buddy’s wedding party.

This is what he’s probably thinking: “Oh no. I forgot to upload the latest My Chemical Romance CD onto my iPod. I’m going to go cut myself.”

Man, why do so many film producers think that the things that helped turn toys, comics, and such into popular cultural themes are not necessary when an attempt is made at creating a film based on these themes? It was bad enough when Transformers got put through the Hollywood shit-grinder; now G.I. Joe, too?

Jupiter Gets Third ‘Red Spot’

A third super-storm on the planet Jupiter has been discovered (the smallest one on the left of the image shown here). The planet now has three ‘red spots’.

To give you a bit of scale, you could fit the entire planet earth in that smallest red spot.

I wonder if it would be possible to build some sort of gigantic wind-powered, floating generator and place it in one of these storms. Could it be possible to generate electricity that way and have it transmitted to a nearby relay station? Hmmm…

Carded Star Wars Figs On Display II

I’ve got almost all of my carded Star Wars figures on display now.

G.I. Joe 25th Anniversary Collection

My new G.I. Joe 25th Anniversary Collection is finally up.

Yo Joe!

I plan on revamping my G.I. Joe Collection page soon, now that I have found proper checklists for the 25th Anniversary series of figures at HissTank.com. That site looks like it’s a decent community for collectors as well. I might be able to work out some favorable trades with some of the Americans on the forums there.

Photoshop Funnies

Carded Star Wars Figs On Display

I just finished up preparing a part of a wall in my bedroom to display my carded Star Wars figures. I put hooks into the wall near the ceiling and hung those plastic product-strips with the hooks on them that you see in stores (I swiped a bunch from Walmart — new product comes pre-packaged on them, so I figured I’d grab some instead of having it take up space in a landfill).

I still need some more plastic strips, though. I have about a dozen more carded figures to put up there.

BTW, that’s a mini-Ark-of-the-Covenant sitting atop my LCD monitor.  I got that along with an Indiana Jones figure not too long ago.

Oh Fortuitous Happenstance!

LOL! Regarding yesterday’s post about having to buy two-packs in order to get certain Star Wars action figures, I went to the same chain of stores after work and saw that those items were 50% off now. Fortunately I had saved my receipt and was able to get half the money back that I originally paid for the Order 66 2-packs. Sweet!