Welcome to the next generation of DVD movies. Recently, Sony decided to pioneer the Blu-ray DVDs with the PS3's Blu-ray drive. XBox 360 is now brandishing a weapon in the opposing fight: it is selling an attachable HD-DVD drive. Who will win? HD-DVD is going to be the victor. Both DVD types have great graphic quality, but the proof is in the pricing. HD will cost less than Blu-ray, but what about people who want to have their video game consoles play the new discs? To buy the least-expensive PS3, you need to blow $500, plus tax. The XBox 360's most expensive version only costs $400, and to add the HD-DVD drive will drive the total likely just shy of the $500 mark. Or you could just get the $300 360 and get HD-DVD with that for only $400! HD-DVDs are the DVDs of the future, and they will war with each other until the next generation of cinema entertainment. Holograms, anyone?

Finally. Sony has actually had the balls to admit that the PS3 won't sell anywhere for 500 dollars. In Japan they dropped it to around 430 dollars, a significant drop, to say the least. The only price drop was in the 20GB PS3; the other one with the bigger HD is still hovering at $599. And this is only in Japan. As far as we know, the USA will still be paying upwards of $500 for even the smallest hard drive. Oh well. We all can dream. Screw getting a car, I have to save up for my PS3!

Seriously! The ESRB and the FCC have taken complete control over our media intake. Though they were kind enough to demote Super Smash Bros. Melee to an E rating, they still haven't given ground on other issues. For example, the editing of language in songs runs out of control. The word 'damn' in conjunction with 'God' must be edited out of songs in public places, only because of one large group of religions. However, there are plenty of songs played that promote underage sex, and violence against women. the FCC needs to get its crap together. A slur with the word 'God' in it is less worrying than a song that promotes violence. The odd thing is that I'm a Christian. I don't like it when people say things like that, but my opinions should not overrule artistic license. And the ESRB is just as stupid as the FCC. Pushing Oblivion up to M, and labeling "use of alcohol" in any game where you drink potions to get well. They are ridiculous, with hair-splitting ratings that harm companies' sales by giving them more mature ratings. If they want to do something to help society, they should take on thuggish games like Saint's Row and GTA. That's what I think. Love it, hate it, print it out and burn it repeatedly. I don't really care.

Allegedly, Pope Benedict said some offensive things to Muslims earlier this week. He apparently insinuated that Islam is a violent religion or something to that end, and that he does not approve of religion as an excuse for violence. Now, 5 churches in Israel were firebombed. Just great. Benedict just undid all the peace with Muslims that John Paul II had tried to create. I mean, Islam isn;t a violent religion. I know Muslims who say that violence is not the way of Islam. It's only the radicals who attack Israel and the USA who are violent. And Benedict apologized to any Muslims he offended, but no, the radicals didn't let it be. They are truly evil, and unwilling to stop their violence, all the while giving their fellow Muslims and countrymen a bad name in some peoples' eyes. Thankfully those eyes aren't mine.

This is just my opinion, but I think that rap music is truly helping to deteriorate society. I just think that with a majority of kids listening to it, they get nothing but impulses that drive them to swear, abuse women, and become moralless. I see how the terrorists could hate us if this is the only part of America they see. Luckily for me, I see the good parts too. I think that rap is a good genre of music with a lot of soul, but the lyrics are terrible and and drive America down a bad path. But that's just me.

I was walking through the woods and I came acroos a Xivalai? Arent' those things dremora? I have beaten the MQ, why are they still there? And I ran into a clannfear too outside an old Gate. What is up with this? Bethesda must have not realized that Daedra don't spawn after the Main Quest. Smooth move, guys. Whatever. I just killed it and took its heart and ate it to recover my health. Rant to be continued...

I just got my copy of TIME for the week of the 18th, and on the cover it says "Goes God want you to be rich?" I think that the idea is just complete sin. I don't think God really cares whether you're rich or poor, but I think He just wants you to do what is right, i.e. helping the needy when you're able, etc.

It has been five years since the terrorists drove the planes into the Twin Towers and Pentagon. Three thousand died that day, and they are still sorely missed. It's hard to believe that it has already been half a decade. Perhaps the constant fighting in the Middle East has kept the issue at the front of our minds. Either way, the fighting is getting us nowhere. Thousands are dead with no solution in sight. My hope is that in the elections that the Democrats will take back Congress and end this atrocious war in Iraq., and then the dying may subside. We all can dream...

is it just me, or is the field on Madden 07 really condensed? I personally think that EA could have zoomed in on the players a little more, at least until a play started. It still rocks though, but the Pats aren't invincible anymore. I can't just pass downfield with Hail Marys anymore...oh well. It's still the most realistic sports sim ever, I think. Patriots rule!

I heard some seriously weird Irwin stuff n the radio today. AOL homepage asked if Irwins death was a fluke. So I figure that this will go on until something more important comes along to the giant slob that is the media, forcing it to move to cover it. Anyways, I believe that Irwin actually landed on the ray's back when he jumped in the water, prompting it to stab him through the heart. Thus, Irwin pulled the barb out (which probably made it worse), and then died. I heard on a local radio show that Irwin's will states that if his death is caught on video that it must be shown. Obviously it was, since he was filming a documentary. Gory Internet footage ahead? Hope so...