My Problem with TruTV's Bait Car

I really hate this trend of shows, where people get set up, to be arrested. Their are shows out there like NBC's "To Catch a Predator", then the plethora of prostitution sting shows and specials. I honestly can't stand shows of this type. The best way to describe what these law enforcement agencies are doing, is entrapment. If you present someone an opportunity to do something wrong where they seemingly won't get caught, they will be more likely to commit these crimes. It's part of being a human animal.

The reason "Bait Car"bothers me so much more than other shows, is the simple factor of intent. With prostitution stings, the intent to pay for a prostitute is there, or with "To Catch A Predator" the men show intent by talking to the girls, and driving to the house. With "Bait Car" it simply seems like waving candy in front of a kid. Most of these people go in without intent to steal a car, but given their socioeconomic standing, a chance to make a lot of money fast is almost irresistible.

The set up to this show is simple: put an unlocked car, with exposed keys, in a slightly hidden public area, and wait for someone to attempt to steal it. The car has a lot of surveillance and has security measures to make sure there is no way for a suspect to escape.

There is something severely wrong with this set up. It seems to me it's giving people the option of becoming criminals, as opposed to exposing intent to commit a crime. At that point we are exploiting human weakness, instead of exposing criminals. I could easily describe this show as entrapment, but maybe you have your own opinion. Leave your comments below, I want to know what you have to say.

My Favorite Video Games by Catagory

I have been playing video games for well over 12 years now. I believe in that time, I could consider myself a hardcore gamer. When I am not busy I play video games almost non stop. With all that said, I do kind of realize that I have never once made a blog about my favorite video games. Instead of doing the standard top __ games, I am going to categorize my choices and name a three for each category. Remember this is just a fun little list. Don't get but hurt if I don't agree with you. In fact you can go down in the comments and list your favorite games!

PARTY GAMES:
The much despised genre of games by the "hardcore gamers" (mainly those that don't have friends to play with), these are the games that are fun to play with more then 2 people. Normally known for fun puzzles and multiplayer madness, these are the games you NEED to have around when you have friends over.

Super Smash Brothers Melee
I might get some flack for this one. I know there are the million and one people who will say "Brawl is better", but as far being a party game goes, Melee is just the better choice and a game I personally have better memories with.
Now what makes this game one of the best all time party games? The frenetic controls quick game pace and the ability to play as any of your favorite Nintendo characters. Whether you're the master of power hit timing with link, or you love dropping in rock mode with Kirby, everyone has a favorite character and fighting type. Then once you plug in all controllers, everything goes crazy, between losing track of which character is yours, button mashing, randomly dropping items,and evolving maps...how can you NOT have fun.

Little Big Planet
Little Big Planet is an AMAZING game to break out during a party. Between large random platforming areas, and the big need for team work, LBP is just one of those games that everyone at a party will have a blast with. It's also a game I LOVE!

Just Dance (Series)

Dance Central might utilize the Kinect, but in the end I like the Wii version's of the Just Dance games. Some people may say easier is worse, but with a party game easier is really more fun. With only one hand needing a controller, dancing to songs is easy enough for someone with no rhythm to enjoy the game, while still being able to make a fool out of themselves. Plus Just Dance has the best song lists out of almost any dance game!

Role Playing Games

RPG's are my favorite genre of game probably, I love micromanagement, being able to make choices in stories, and exploring massive worlds. No matter the setting, or type of character you play, RPG's are some of the most involving deep games.

Fallout 3
To sing the praises of Fallout 3 would be...at this point for me, just beating a dead horse...if you really wanna know HOW MUCH I love this game read this blogpost right here

Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door
I derped out on this game pretty hard when i first played it. I spent countless days leveling up my team to do the Pit of 100 Trials, Setting up my Wrestling Team, and finding all the little secrets in the game. I probably spent a good 73 hours playing it the first time I beat it...just because of side quests, power leveling, and grinding. Not to sound like a bigger geek then I admit to being butttttt....yeah I love Paper Mario: TTYD

Digimon World 3

The word obsession doesn't even describe what this game is to me. Fun game play dynamics, a ridiculous Digimon worthy storyline, and memorable music. In a lot of ways this game is my childhood from ages 8 to 12 I can remember every theme, every boss fight and the different Digivolutions that i can obtain by going down different training routes. I mean at one point I had a Seraphimon which if you don't know requires Magna Angemon to be level 40! Gangsta stuff you know!

Shooters

First person or third person, doesn't matter I'll own you, question your sexuality, while tea bagging you. Bitches don't know about my own hammer in these games. Lets shoot em up. *pew* *pew*

Halo 3

Out of all of the halo games, Halo 3 has to be the best. Perfected weapon sets, fun vehicles, and probably the best story out of any of the other Halo games. I have a lot of good memories of playing multiplayer in Halo 3 at my friends houses, even though Halo rips off Unreal and Quake to a nauseating amount, it doesn't mater Halo 3 will always stand out as the most fun you can have playing a console shooter.

Doom
Doom isn't the first FPS but, damn was it the first successful one. I think everyone who was born before 2000 has played on incarnation or another of this game. It's on every platform...I played it on the PS1 the first time, and much later on I played it on the PC and it's easy to see why this game was so successful. Even though it's outdated now, my heart pounds every time I play this game, to the point where I have to stand back and say "this is just a game". If that's not the mark of a good game, I don't know what is.

Quake Live

Take Quake 3 Arena and then turn it into a free to play browser based shooter and you can see why Quake Live rocks. I have wasted many an hour playing this game just to get achievements and to get my kill to death ratio better. There is no other browser based shooter that is as good as Quake Live and I don't think there will ever be.

Platformers

Everybody's first game was most likely a platformer, doesn't matter if it's Sonic, Mario, Spyro, Crash, or even Conker, it doesn't matter, these are the simplest, most fun games ever, and they will always have a lasting memory in the consciousness of gamers.

Spyro the Dragon
This was the first game I ever owned, it was also the first game I played until it stopped working. I beat this game over and over again, explored the world got 100%, even did the final level Gnasty's loot and beat that. Though i liked the sequel Ripto's rage, I think the original Spyro game is the only one in the series worth mentioning.

Super Mario bros. 3
If you ask anyone about their favorite Mario game, 2 games will pop. Mario 3 and Mario World. While Super Mario World, is a fun game and all, it lacked the magic that Super Mario Bros. 3 had. Every levels unique and not over used, fun minigames that are a nice break to the action, plus that little awesome tail flying thing just make this game amazing. Though the most surprising thing is, this game was done on an 8 bit console. Many 16 bit consoles LACKED the depth that this game had (some even lacked the graphics Mario 3 had).

Crash Bandicoot 3: WARPED
As to avoid being called a Sony fan boy, all I have to say is this was a game I grew up on. It came with my PS1 Slim, so I have a lot of love for this game. It's the only game that I have played for hours on end that still works. Between the time trials, homages to other platformers, fun easy to pick up controls, great story line, and replay ability, you really can't get a better game then this in the genre. I love this game, I still have memories of my dad, my brothers, and myself beating this game all the way through.

Sports Games
The last category I am going over today, sports games are probably the most universally relatable games around. Everyone is into some kind of sport, and you can get people of all ages into these kinds of games because of this. For me not many sports games are that good but these are the 3 best in my opinion.

Madden 2002-2007
With Madden games...there isn't a lot of change. So I grouped together the best years of Madden. from 2002 to 2007 Madden games were fun to play and (if you wanted to geek out for hours) fun to play the micromanaging "Franchise mode" or just play a season or a quick game. It didn't matter, many rivalries between my brothers and I started because of this game. Being a Colts fan myself, I always had to play against the Niners and Pats because of my brothers. Which was easy for the former and very difficult for the later.

NBA Street

I got this game as a birthday present when i turned 14, and I got addicted. Once my team had Jordan and Shaq, no one could beat me. Tons of in your eye's all around. The unlockables in this game and the arcadey fun makes this game a must own for anyone with a previous generation console, who likes basketball.

Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2

Okay if I had to pick an all time favorite game...this would be it. This was the first game I got as a Christmas present...and oh boy did I love playing it. I got really good at this game because I lived in the living room of my house for about 8 months. During that time my brother and all of his friends would come over and wake me up at roughly midnight to play this game with them. Then my dad would play the game with me everyday when he got off work. This was back when i was only aloud to play my PS1 1 hour a day...so I wasn't complaining about the 8 plus hours a day I was playing the game. Though in hindsight I probably would have done better in elementary school if it hadn't been for this game.

I guess I should talk about the game play, this game is a tight arcade skateboarding game, and it is also tons of fun. Whether you're playing by yourself through the "career mode" or you're playing one of the multiplayer game modes or you just want to build your own skate park...you can do all that in this game! Also THPS2 has the BEST soundtrack of all time.

My Opinions About Eve Online

There is no secret that I like MMO's, I have found very few I have ever really gotten into, besides Guild Wars, Runescape, and Fusion Fall...but I like MMO's I have played a lot of them, so naturally I am looking for a new MMO to play since guild wars has gotten a bit tiring. Well I decided to try Eve Online...for a second time.

The first time I played Eve Online I played it for 20 minutes and was so exhausted from docking in my first station I quit playing. This second time, I was committed, to start playing and well....it worked out about as good as the first time.

Here's the story, I do the ungodly boring slow tutorial for about 30 minutes, until I ultimately get tired of playing the tutorial, I docked at a station and started my first mission, it is a simple misison go to a location find a cargo crate and bring it back. Its level 1 for gods sake how hard can it be.

After spending an ungodly amount of time on trying to figure out, I end up after numerous trial and error and reading help stuff, I get to a beacon which is suppose to be around where the cargo container is. Now I need to find said container, after reading the instructions and talking to people in the rookie help chat for about an hour, I end up finding out that boring slow tutorial is something you need to play through or else you can't figure out anything.

Also finding cargo and clicking on it is a 1 hour part of the tutorial. At that I point I just gave up playing, because if it takes me 3 hours or so to figure out the first noob mission, and I can't even figure it out. It is way to complicated of a game for me. Plain and simple, I am not sure how anyone figures out the game!

New Song, "Sunday Afternoons"

This is just the demo version, but here is Sunday Afternoons: Sunday Afternoons by Storey County Line

I hope you guys enjoy!

Also remember to like my band Storey County Line on facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Storey-County-Line/106309989452435

or follow us on twitter @SCLRock

Dragon Age 2: A Quick Review

Over the years I have found very few games I have fallen in love with as much as I have with Dragon Age Origins. The only other 2 games that even come to mind are Fallout 3 and Fallout New Vegas (BTW I think New Vegas is better than Fallout 3). It should come as n o surprised I have been hyped for Dragon Age 2 since I beat Dragon Age: Origins in roughly March of 2010....after waiting a year I finally got my hands on Dragon Age 2...and I am kind of disappointed!

I am always the optimist when it comes to sequels and video games, I thought the best Halo game of the original trilogy was 3, THPS2, Crash Bandicoot 2, and Spyro 2 are two of my favorite PS1 games of all time, and not to mention my absolute love of Fallout New Vegas....all these games are examples that sequels can be better then the original!

Then we get Dragon Age 2....what can I say...the world isn't as big, the game isn't as long, the story not as engrossing or engaging...Its all the inhumanity of I hated from playing Mass Effect 2...except multiplied by like 3 due to the small world.

All that said the game doesn't SUCK...its just not as much fun as DAO...its like Dragon Age wants to grow up and be Mass Effect and I am not sure I like it that much. I love the changes to combat...and I love the dialog and voice actors, but a lack luster story leaves me to wonder...whats the point of having Bioware make a B grade game...with no story...my suggestion for DA2 is buy it if you want a good 20-30 hours of fun in the world of Thedas...but don't ask much more of it!

Playstation Move Sucks!

As what can be easily called a "playstation fanboy" I should be all up for anything Sony releases, and be all like *GASM IMA BUY DAT*, well upon release of Play Station Move, I was...well I was like *GASM IMA BUY DAT*. Fast forward to my most recent visit to Best Buy, where I saw the PS3 had Move, I was like OH YEAH, so I get the move controller in my hand and start playing!!! It was awful...the movement wasn't 1:1 like the Kinect and the controller didn't even work as good as the Wii's. I even had the guy at best buy show me how to do a full recalibration...and the stupid thing still was god awful. Just stay away from the Move if you own a PS3 and buy a Wii!

Dear Script Kiddies that are Keeping My Site Down

You guys are pricks for making it so no one can see my main webpage! Hammy (my friend and webhost) has been under a massive DDoS attack, because he made a couple of you kids a lil a mad at one point or another...NOT COOL. Anyway FOR A BRIEF PERIOD my main site will be this blog which is http://blog.mlrtproductions.com sorry for any inconvenience these script kiddies may have caused you, I will update this post when my site is back up and running!!!

*UPDATE* Site and blog are back up!

Thank You, Happy Birthday (Cage The Elephant Album Review)

Cage The Elephant is one of my favorite bands to come out in the last 5 years, I praised their first album for reviving alternative rock, and the songs "Back Against the Wall", "In One Ear", and "Ain't Know Rest For The Wicked" are great tracks! Fast forward to now, and I have had a week to absorb their sophomore attempt; Thank You, Happy Birthday.

Like its predecessor the lyrics on this album are very metaphorical in some spots hiding great symbolism other times they can be blunt and brash. This fluctuation keeps this album from being to shallow as well as staying coherent. The lyrical theme of Thank You, Happy Birthday is that of...well there is none really, you have songs about drugs, booze, women, and fame.

Now what I am about to talk about, is what every reviewer has talked about, but just like Stan Lee said about comic book; Every review of an album is someones first review they've read about the album. This entire album sounds like The Pixies, which is not a bad thing at all. I am one of the biggest Pixies fans ever, and I am disappointed at the fact that they haven't released a new record since reforming a few years ago. So for me this album feels like a pixies record, the distortion distortion in the guitar , the wailing vocals, the hidden themes within the lyrics of what seems to be very shallow pop songs. Its all here, but beyond that not every song sounds like Pixies, "Always Something", "Indy Kidz", "Rubber Ball" and "Flow" sound like they could have been a songs off the first Cage The Elephant album, which is good! I do wish that this release would have been more like the Self Title, but instead I get a good record that sounds like the Pixies, so that is a positive.

Overall, Thank You, Happy Birthday was generally fun to listen to, you could hear songs were written to be fun to mosh to, which for those who don't know CAGE THE ELEPHANT HAS THE BEST LIVE SHOW EVER... the lyrics are strong. Though I do wish they would have made the record sound more like their own as opposed to a pixies tribute band, I recommended this to everyone it's a fantastic alt rock album that gives me hope for popular rock music. I give Thank You, Happy Birthday a 4 out of 5

I will leave you with the Unofficial Video released by the band for "Shake Me Down"

2010 in Music

201 IN MUSIC

an end of the year summary by Phillip Smith

This is going to be one of my biggest blogposts ever, and one of the very few that I will be dual shared on my personal blog and TGWTG.com, this is going through the past year of music, and with the last CD release day of 2010 being over, I believe its time we get on with the show!

Best Rock Album's of 2010

If your into Rock 2010 has been good to you. The amazing releases from many bands have shown that, beyond anything else rock is not dead! Choosing the Winner of best rock album, and the runners up WAS HARD beyond belief, and these choices were not easy to make at all! Before I list them I would like to make an honorable mention to to Exhibit B: The Human Condition by Exodus, that was just so close into making it into the second runner up spot and was probably one of the very few GOOD metal albums this year!

Second Runner Up: Light Me Up By The Pretty Reckless

A band that I really liked, that got awful reviews from pretentious critics who can't look past frontwoman; Taylor Momsen's acting career and personal life. Good CD if you are looking for a little bit of late 90s revival alt rock.

First Runner Up: Hurley by Weezer

Amazing album, what can I say. Combining the sound of old school Pinkerton and new school Red Album, it is Weezers redemption song....album. After how awful Raditude was, Hurley was a godsend.

Rock Album of 2010: The Dissent of Man by Bad Religion

I would place No Control at the top of any list of best albums albums of all time, that said...I think I might like The Dissent of Man better...being a BR fan since I was like 5 that's a heavy thing to say, but I think its true. Its a really hard call to make, but whether you agree or disagree, this is one of the best punk albums to come out in AGES! This masterpiece should be on every album to listen to before you die list.

Worst Rock Albums of the 2010:

Alongside the amazing feats that prove that rock music is alive and well...there are albums that...make me cry for humanity. These are them, the most god awful pray you never hear them again rock albums of the year!

Second Runner Up:There Is a Hell, Believe Me I've Seen It. There Is a Heaven, Let's Keep It a Secret by Bring Me the Horizon

This is a CD that I just don't understand why people like it. The lyrical structure is awful, the nearly non-existent solo's suck, and every song sounds like RAWGRAGRAGRGRWRGWFUCKRAGRARAGRSR.

First Runner Up: Invented by Jimmy Eat World

The most drooling same song being played over and over and over again album of all time. This LP should have been an EP. With a length of 55 minutes, the same song over and over again gets a bit repetitive.

Worst Rock Album of 2010: Will Never Die by Brokencyde

I am going to have to defend putting this album in the "rock category" which I can easily do. Brokencyde is kind of rock kind of pop...and which ever category I put them in they'd be one of the worst. Since I have a worse pop album (I know surprising), I decided to put them in the rock category, because they need the title of worst something! Brokencyde is so bad they are awful....no redeeming factors...yet 12 year old wanna be scene girls think they are cool. This album is so bad, I am in fact going to tell people to buy it just to annoy their friends!

Best Pop Albums of 2010:

POP MUSIC POP MUSIC POP MUSIC POP MUSIC...I may not show it a lot, but I love all kinds of pop music. From indie pop to R&B to hip hop I LALALALALALOVE IT. These are the best Pop Albums of the year!

Second Runner up: Harmony/What Is Love by NeverShoutNever!

I know its not fair for 2 albums to be second runner, but both of these CD's are roughly 20 minutes long, so together they make an LP. NSN is one of those rare bands that can make the emo acoustic pop thing work...and they do it well! Both albums being produced by Butch Vig and Butch Walker respectively...they are damn good albums that are worth a listen and a buy!

First Runner Up: Connect the Dots by Rabbit!

This was an LP I discovered through the band. Rabbit! started following me on twitter, I followed back and checked out their music and loved it. Even saying they were better than XTC...which got me crucified, but I don't care its true! Their indie pop style defines what the next generation of songwriters should be looking at!

Pop Album of the 2010: Teenage Dream by Katy Perry

Oh boy I am gonna get a mob after me for this one...I like it what can I say. Teenage Dream, TGIF, Firework, ET, and all the other tracks (minus the worst track on the album California Girls) are just perfect. The perfectly produced pop album that makes you want to listen to more mainstream stuff. Plus Katy is HAWT HAWT HAWT <3

Worst Pop albums of the year:

There were some Clunkers in 2010, from god awful pop country to god awful pop...pop! These are the lows of this year.

Second Runner Up: Speak Now by Taylor Swift

I hhhhhhhhate Taylor Swift, singing awful pop music with a southern accent doesn't make you country, it doesn't even make you pop country! In the case of Speak Now, it get sentenced to 25 to life for udder stuppidity!

First Runner Up: Plastic Beach by Gorillaz

If the previous Gorillaz albums weren't to pretentious and mind numbing rambling....MAYBE THIS IS THE ALBUM FOR YOU. If you aren't a hipster or a pretentious music snob, stay clear of this junker.

Worst Pop Album of 2010: The Incredable Machine By Sugarland

AGSGADADDasjdhsakjsdhaksjdh Okay I think I am better now. This album is the single worst abomination Pop Country has ever brought us, if you NEEDED another reason to burn down Nashville this is it! Horrible lyrics.... horrible everything...just ARGGRHHHH! Jennifer Nettles must be stopped before she destroys all of music!

Music Video's of the 2010:

Music videos can be effective ways to communicate the message of a song and these were my picks as the best of this year!

Second Runner Up: Take It Off (version 1 video) by Ke$ha

This video is awesome, the filters used make this a very pretty video. I honestly have to give director Paul Hunter props, he is a veteran in the music video industry, with credits ranging from the video for Everclear's Father of Mine, to Lenny Kravitz's American Woman, and Eminem's Superman! This video has everything, people exploding into glitter, trash cans being thrown, an empty pool, and a post apocalyptic desert!

First Runner Up: Teenage Dream by Katy Perry

The video tells the narrative of the of the song's story, it uses very soft lens and soft filters. It is very pretty music video, and I am glad it went viral!

Best Music Video of 2010: Here We Are Juggernaut by Coheed and Cambria

This is the single defining track in Coheed and Cambria's album Year of the Black Rainbow. The video stays true to the concept of the album. The special effects are amazing and it looks like it could be in a movie! Great video, matches the song perfectly, also the video got me really into Coheed and Cambria!

2010 in music a synopsis

In 2009 I was dissapointed and betrayed by the music industry. We had a good Eminem album and a good Green Day album then for 5 months nothing until Bowling For Soup's Sorry for Partyin'. This year we have seen so many amazing releases all year long, its a wonder I have been able to keep up.

2010 will be remembered as the year the music industry let a filthy hipster whore like Ke$ha make music...and it turned out good. The year Eminem was back..and not as Slim Shady, but as Marshall Mathers. The year new acts were born, like NeverShoutNever! and the Pretty Reckless, and old acts continued to do what they do, like Weezer and Bad Religion.

The thing I will remember 2010 as is the year that...music became good again. No filler, no garbage, just amazing albums from amazing artists.

From the looks of it 2011 will be just as good, with new albums from; Cage the Elephant, Saves The Day, Sum 41, Green Day, Weezer, Eve 6, Blink 182 and SO SO SO MANY MORE, I think I will be even busier than before ;)!

Visit my website http://mlrtproductions.com for more info on me, and links to my other hubs on the web!

Eggnog+Coffee=Pretty Damn Good!

What do you do when you have a ton of left over eggnog after Christmas? Try mixing it with things, like the classic eggnog and captain crunch, or how about eggnog milkshakes, or my new favorite eggnog and coffee. Heres what you'll need:

A coffee cup

Some eggnog (bonus points if its traditional hard eggnog, but negative points if you get drunk and puke)

black coffee no sugar

Put half coffee and half eggnog together, stir, drink, enjoy! Since I am a minor and don't drink, I used store bought eggnog, though friends who have tried this with traditional eggnog have said it tastes good! So there you go!