Keefer Madness

Our Household's Personal Dell Versus Apple

// December 8th, 2008 // No Comments » // Apple, Computers, Reviews

So a little caveat before I compose this. I am definitely slanted toward Apple. I used to work in one of Apple’s local retail stores and have been a Mac user consistently since the iMac G4 was first released.

So here’s the deal – I’ve always been a desktop type of guy. You pay for portable and typically the most power comes from a desktop tower and I’ve never had any real need for mobile computing. I’ve had laptops for work. Two jobs ago, I had an IBM Thinkpad, and my last job, I had a Dell laptop. Both were decent computers and I didn’t have any real complaints.

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Gears of War 2 Rocks

// November 13th, 2008 // No Comments » // Game Reviews, Gaming, Reviews, Xbox 360 Review

So my copy of Gears of War 2 for the Xbox 360 (as opposed to what other system, right?) arrived this afternoon. Finally! It couldn’t have come at a better time – it’s been a rough and stressful week, and it’s only Wednesday. Anyway, as soon as I got home, I started playing through the single-player campaign mode on the second to hardest skill level and got stuck pretty quickly – damn incoming mortars.

Ultimately though, the real fun came tonight playing with guys from work in the Horde mode. The level we were on, I found good spots to perch and take on the waves and waves of exponentially harder villians. I’ll be diving more into the game as the days and weeks progress. For any fan of the first game, this is more of the same, but that’s not a good thing. They’ve expanded on the theme ever so slightly and the scope of levels, enemies, etc. is bigger and harder. If the first was a lot of fun for you, so too will this one. But if the first wasn’t your cup of tea (I’m sure there are a few of you out there… somewhere), this one won’t be either.

iPhone Apps I've Kept on My Phone – Part II

// October 17th, 2008 // No Comments » // Apple, Internet / Web, Misc Reviews, Reviews

In case you missed my post just a few days ago, I started writing up the applications that have made it onto my iPhone and stuck. Sure, many an application have come and gone, but there are 14 applications that have stood the test of time and have proved quite useful.

8. Ambiance – This was one that if it was any more than a buck, I wouldn’t have done it, but for $0.99, I thought it was worth a shot. It’s basically a set of looping ambient sound effects including rain, city traffic, crashing waves and a whole slew of others that you can use as background noise whether you’re trying to take a nap, or trying to concentrate on work. The developer has multiple times added new sound effects. All of the sound effects add up, and the app is pretty big. But you can customize which sounds you want on the phone to drop the app’s file size. You can also set sleep timers to have it play for an allotted period of time.
Cost: $0.99

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iPhone Apps I've Kept on My Phone – Part I

// October 10th, 2008 // 2 Comments » // Apple, Internet / Web, Misc Reviews, Reviews

Like the majority of iPhone and iPod Touch users, I’ve used the iTunes App Store a ton, downloading and installing a ton of applications.

Most stayed on my iPhone only a few days, or in some cases, only a few minutes. There are a ton of apps available from the store – both free and pay. A big bit of them are junk. Below is my list of applications still on my phone – the ones I use regularly, and a quick review of their utility and/or amusement.

All in all, I’ve got 14 applications installed on my iPhone presently. Below are the first 7:

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Cycling Product Reviews at Keefer Madness

// September 23rd, 2008 // No Comments » // Cycling Products, Keefer Madness, Reviews

While I’ve been a bit slack on writing reviews, I’m trying to get back into the swing of things with the Keefer Madness reviews. I haven’t gotten any games lately to do reviews, and I guess I should go back and write reviews of the games I already own. I’m putting that on my list of things to do. But, with my time and interest in cycling skyrocketing over the lat 3 years or so, I’ve created a new category of reviews on Keefer Madness – cycling products.

Now I just need some products to review. I put out a Twitter message in hopes I would get some review products. Nothing so far. So consider this a plea from those of you with cycling product hookups. If you’ve got connections, let me know. I’d love to review all kinds of cycling products – nutrition, components, bikes (yeah I wish..)

Grand Theft Auto IV Initial Review and Thoughts

// May 11th, 2008 // 1 Comment » // Game Reviews, Gaming, Reviews, Xbox 360 Review

So I snagged “Grand Theft Auto IV” for the Xbox 360 last week and finally got to put some real time in with it last night and I’m really enjoying it. Thus far, I’m not finding anything crazy different from the prior games, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. The previous games were hours upon hours of fun and this one will be too.

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About Done With American Idol

// February 21st, 2008 // No Comments » // Kelly Clarkson, Music, Reviews, TV Reviews, TV Talk

So we’re sitting here watching last night’s American Idol and for the second show in a row, I’m bored to tears. I’m just not engaged this year one iota. None of the contestants are standing out to me. There’s not a single contestant I’d waste my time and effort to call in and vote for! The bickering between the three judges is tired. Randy is lame. Paula is incomprehensible, and… well I usually agree with still. Plus, I’m so tired of Fox dragging the show out night after night *and* Fox’s shameless self-promotion and product placement.

So anyway, I’m bored with the show and I think Amanda’s getting there too. I’m this close to cancelling TiVo’s season pass. The show’s run its course. They ignited the careers of Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood and Chris Daughtry. Now it’s time to close the curtain on the show.

Added Comments (Amanda): Yeah, I am totally done with American Idol. I was so frustrated and utterly bored last night with the performances, lack of talent, the bickering between the judges, the goofy youthfulness of the contestants… the whole thing was annoying and old. They’ve worn out their welcome for sure. Long gone are the days of Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood and Chris Daughtry.

Rock Band Rocks, Except For the Faulty Hardware

// December 10th, 2007 // No Comments » // Game Reviews, Gaming, Reviews, Xbox 360 Review

So last Monday when I was working from home, I also took the time to call around to see if any of the local Game Stops had any of the Rock Band Special Editions in for the Xbox 360 (Special Edition is just the game, the drum kit, guitar and mic). None did initially, but I’m glad I called around, as a couple just said no, while others informed me that they expected some via UPS later that day.

Late that afternoon, I snagged one from the closest Game Stop and since I had sold my PS2 hardware and all the games back, I had a massive store credit. Brought it home and did a little drum and guitar playing solo. Lots of fun!

But the real fun came yesterday when Bret, Tina and JC came and we had a full band. It really rocks with a group of people, and there’s a good variety of tasks in the career mode. We really were rocking out on a lot of tracks and had the most success and fun when Bret was on drums, Tina on bass, JC on vocals and me on guitar.

The only downer came toward the end of our extended session. Reports have been widespread about faulty hardware (EA Acknowledges Rock Band Guitar Defect, Promises Replacements, Rock Band Users Discovering Hardware Issues).

I was hoping since I didn’t get a box from the initial release batches, I’d be fine. But by the end of Sunday’s extended jam session, only upstrums were working on the Fender Rock Band Guitar. My guitar strum bar is slightly limp, hanging down from its usual centered home position. Luckily, EA is doing a two day turnaround on the faulty equipment, so a new guitar should be here Wednesday or Thursday this week – plenty of time before the next D’ Bagz jam session commences this weekend.

Local play was great, but is greatly enhanced by having a few friends in the room with you. I have yet to play online. I tried late Saturday night to, but gave up on trying to hook up with people to play with. I kept getting kicked out of the initial join “lobby.” I’m thinking I didn’t have enough experience. Maybe I’ll make it through on a couple of instruments solo and with the D’ Bagz before any further foray.

Despite the hardware issues, I highly recommend this game, especially if you have a few buddies that will be into it with you. The price tag is steep, but oh so much fun. I feel that I’ve already got my money’s worth, but there’s still a lot of fun, achievements, content and songs yet to unlock and/or tackle.

Speed, Action Save Import Racing Picture With Lame Plot

// June 29th, 2006 // No Comments » // Film, Movie Reviews, Reviews

Import racing and import customizing is huge across the nation. After-market and speed shop auto parts make car-related companies big bucks It was only a matter of time until a movie was made about the racing culture. “The Fast and the Furious” does a decent job of showing off that world. The action is great. The storyline is lame.

The film stars Paul Walker and Vin Diesel. Walker plays a new-to-the-racing-scene racer who’s actually an undercover cop, trying to find out who in the import scene is hijacking trucks of Panasonic consumer electronics. Diesel plays the leader of a gang of racers.

The whole premise is pretty weak. A group of thieves are using souped-up Honda Civics to roll up on tractor trailers hauling consumer electronics. One of the Civics pulls in front of the semi and the passenger in the car jumps onto the truck, using a hook and rope, taking the driver out and hijacking the whole truck.

Walker comes in as an undercover cop who gets caught up in the scene and adrenaline rush associated with the racing and is torn between loyalty to Diesel and his job as a cop.

The biggest hole in the movie though is this loyalty. Walker quickly becomes buddy-buddy with Diesel and most of his group and the bonds just do not seem to make a lot of sense. The same can be said for the relationship that blossoms between Mia (Jordana Brewster) and Walker’s character. The bonds are there, it just seems like they were fused way too quickly. Maybe some of that character development ended up on the cutting room floor to make way for more racing — fair enough.

The cars are great and the racing scenes are amazing, with great attention to detail, and that is obviously why viewers are going to see this film. I am making the assumption that you go to see this movie, taking it for exactly what it is — a showcase for presenting high-horsepower cars.

Being a big fan of Toyota, I was happy to see Walker’s car in half the movie was a Supra Twin Turbo, but for the most part, the movie was about Mitsubishis, which I found a little strange. I’m not vastly into the import scene, but I always thought that the Mitsubishis, while customization was available, I thought it was mainly Honda that was the brand to go with. The movie seemed to have an overabundance of Eclipses though.

Regardless, the movie’s racing is great. The sounds and slick filming of the movie make it a worthy watcher. Just don’t go in expecting too much of a story.

Short Set Shows Kelly Clarkson is the Real Deal Rocker

// July 31st, 2005 // No Comments » // Music, Music Reviews, Reviews

The opening act for Miss Clarkson was the Graham Colton Band at the Cricket Arena in Charlotte, NC, July 24, 2005. Nothing special about GCB honestly and I think that a lot of the audience saw them as a lot different than Kelly Clarkson’s music. Both are rock-oriented though. GCB were fine, but nothing spectacular. They came right on at 7:30 and were off right at 8:00, which is perfect for an opening act.

Then Kelly came right out at 8:30. The set was pretty cool. There was a little part of the stage that jutted out into the middle of the audience. Several horizontal light bars that could change colors (kind of like those new Aqueous TVs) werea ll over the stage. The main lights spanned vertically up the stage on four diagonal towers covered with curtains. Then above that, were two flat panel screens that off and on showed Kelly’s eyes blinking, looking up, down, left and right. That was kind of weird.

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