http://blastmagazine.com Music, movies, tv, video games, tech, food, drink, young, hip, and sexy! Sun, 08 Nov 2009 04:50:59 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en With only a lone Republican crossing the line and nearly 40 Democrats going turncoat, the House of Representatives still voted, 220-215, tonight to pass a historic health care reform. Locally, Representative Edward J. Markey (D), issued the following statement after the House of Representatives passed a historic bill to reform the ... http://blastmagazine.com/the-news/national/2009/11/voices-on-both-sides-quick-to-sound-after-health-care-passage/ It's been 40 years since Sesame Street first started educating and entertaining children across the country. I can think of a few things off the top of my head that I learned about with my eyes glued to the television and my hand in a box of Cheerios as a child: ... http://blastmagazine.com/the-magazine/entertainment/tv/2009/11/40-years-of-sesame-street/ Ch-ch-ch-changes. The inclusion of Richard Dean Anderson in this episode of "Stargate Universe" was a happy anecdote. He's now a 3-star general. Totally changed is the senator's wife, role from a raging alcoholic who's emotionally out of control to this oddly grounded matron who has to comfort and reassure her daughter. I ... http://blastmagazine.com/the-magazine/entertainment/tv/2009/11/stargate-universe-earth/ ROME -- It had always been thought that Nero’s famous dining room, which actually revolved day and night, simulating the earth’s movement, coincided with the octagonal room situated on the Colle Oppio. However, in the course of reinforcing work carried out on the Palatine, the real coenatio rotunda emerged. Excavations in ... http://blastmagazine.com/the-news/world-news/2009/11/roman-emperor-neros-rotating-dining-room-found/ This year marks the 22nd year of one of Boston's most exciting musical festivities, Steppin' Out, a fundraising and gala event. Based on Boston's rich musical history (Boston boasts one of the oldest choral companies in the United States, and one of the most acoustically exact concert halls in ... http://blastmagazine.com/the-news/local-news/2009/11/lets-step-out/ EA Sports MMA is the Mixed Martial Arts game which EA has been developing. They have just announced that Strikeforce, a world-class mixed martial arts fight promotion, will be featured in the game. Legendary mixed martial arts referee “Big John” McCarthy will preside over the in-ring action to help deliver the ... http://blastmagazine.com/the-magazine/gaming/gaming-news/2009/11/strikeforce-joins-ea-sports-mma/ Players should be excited! They can now acces Fallen Earth via their iPhone. The iPhone app allows playesr to have constant access to Fallen Earth and allow them to view their in-game stats, mutations and trade skills, as wel as provide access to equipped and stored items. The release is ... http://blastmagazine.com/the-magazine/gaming/gaming-news/2009/11/fallen-earth-real-time-iphone-app/ MACHINE Studios released its first look at the gameplay trailers for bittos+. For those who are not familar with this game, it is a new arcade-style puzzle game. Check out the trailers below so you can experience the trippy, multicolored puzzle packed experience (and a really cute cartoon animal)! http://blastmagazine.com/the-magazine/gaming/gaming-news/2009/11/bitto-wiiware-trailer/ The word trial means temporary or something that will one day expire, but Electronic Arts and Mythic Entertainment don't care for dictionary's and their silly rules, they make their own! Announced today by the mega-publisher and developer is a never-ending trial for Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning, the ambitious MMORPG. Gone is ... http://blastmagazine.com/the-magazine/gaming/gaming-news/2009/11/the-never-ending-warhammer-online-trial/ Alternative rock band Mae woke yesterday morning in Philadelphia to find that their tour van and trailer had been stolen from their hotel parking lot. With the van, they were robbed of all of their instruments, equipment, merchandise and many personal items. "This misfortune has fallen among many ... http://blastmagazine.com/the-magazine/entertainment/music/2009/11/band-mae-robbed-van-and-belongings-stolen/ Over the past five seasons, “Supernatural” has quietly developed one of televisions most intriguing mythologies. Tonight’s episode, “Changing Channels,” proved that...and then some. “Supernatural” started as a really cool mash-up of “creature of the week” and proceeded with a solid genre plot. Sam and Dean Winchester drive around the ... http://blastmagazine.com/the-magazine/entertainment/tv/2009/11/tv-review-supernatural-keeps-getting-better/ Rihanna spilled her guts to Diane Swayer this morning on "Good Morning America" – a move likely choreographed to sync with Chris Brown's tell-all MTV interview. According to MTV.com, Rihanna said her relationship with Chris was just too intense. They started out as close friends, and their love bordered on obsession. ... http://blastmagazine.com/the-blogs/2009/11/surprise-rihanna-opens-up-too/ [rating:1.5/4] “The Men Who Stare at Goats” plays like a collection of scenes without a central thread uniting them. Perhaps worse than the film’s lack of cohesion is its smugness- the movie practically shouts at the audience, “Laugh already! This is really funny!” Unfortunately, more often that not, the movie simply ... http://blastmagazine.com/the-magazine/entertainment/movies/reviews-movies/2009/11/the-men-who-stare-at-goats-review/ [rating:2.5/4] The style that was so fresh, funny and enjoyable in 2004’s “Napoleon Dynamite” has become stale, predictable and merely amusing in this year’s “Gentlemen Broncos.” Writers Jared and Jerusha Hess returned to their home of Utah for the setting of their third film, recycling their kitschy, eccentric characters and ... http://blastmagazine.com/the-magazine/entertainment/movies/reviews-movies/2009/11/gentlemen-broncos-falls-short/ "The Wanda Sykes Show" premieres tomorrow night at 11 on FOX. The big finale this week is "Mad Men" on Sunday at 10 on AMC. VH1's "Tool Academy" finale is at 9, so get excited. [caption id="attachment_32877" align="alignright" width="360" caption="NUMB3RS might be getting the boot after six years."][/caption] CBS is making some ... http://blastmagazine.com/the-magazine/entertainment/tv/tv-notebook/2009/11/tv-notebook-11609-numbers-numb3rs/ Harmonix today announced next week's additions to the Rock Band Music Store naming selections from the White Stripes, Kasbian, The Damned, and a few more, as the tunes in question. Believe it or not, Jack and Meg White, who together form The White Stripes have yet to be featured in the ... http://blastmagazine.com/the-magazine/gaming/gaming-news/2009/11/white-stripes-make-debut-in-rock-band-universe/ After playing Grand Theft Auto IV for the first time, the first thing I said to myself was, "You know what this game needs?  More drugs, violence and storylines!" Of course, this was clearly an exercise of sarcasm as Grand Theft Auto IV was a perfect representation of how to develop ... http://blastmagazine.com/the-magazine/gaming/reviews/xbox-360/2009/11/grand-theft-auto-episodes-from-liberty-city-review/ Swashbuckling pirate stories, when executed properly are great fun. They're tales of fortune, misfortune, love, greed, lust, betrayal, and violence and altogether comprise epic fantasy worlds we love to escape to. From the Pirates of the Caribbean saga, to our nation's "Talk like a Pirate Day", these Arrr-speaking, sword-wielding fiends ... http://blastmagazine.com/the-magazine/gaming/reviews/computer-games/2009/11/tales-of-monkey-island-chapter-4-review/ Jared Hess, director of "Napoleon Dynamite" and the upcoming film “Gentlemen Broncos,” has made a career out of creating eccentric characters. First we had Napoleon, the nunchuck-wielding, moon-boot wearing dancing fiend. Then there was Nacho, the cook-turned-wrestler in “Nacho Libre.” In “Gentlemen Broncos,” we meet Benjamin Purvis, ... http://blastmagazine.com/the-magazine/entertainment/movies/2009/11/dangnammit-gentlemen-broncos-director-jared-hess-talks-with-blast/ The Medders’ self-titled album is also their first, despite the fact that most of the band members have known each other since…well, birth. This southern rock group from Georgia comprised of the three Medders brothers and one suspected narcoleptic, has a soulful sound that’s been 20 years in the ... http://blastmagazine.com/the-magazine/entertainment/music/bands/2009/11/band-of-brothers-blast-talks-to-indie-group-the-medders/ This week on the Vampire Diaries: witchcraft, relationship drama, and a vampire staking. For those that tuned in last week, remember that vampire Vicki is no more, and now the rest of the small town of Mystic Falls is coping with her disappearance. Meanwhile, an old female friend ... http://blastmagazine.com/the-magazine/entertainment/tv/2009/11/vampire-diaries-162-candles/ A slew of alleged Halo: Reach screens hit the Internet today, and leave us wondering; photoshop, or the real deal? The screens were posted in the Major League Gaming forums today from someone claiming to have played the game. Also, the tipster revealed new gameplay details including a new HUD with ... http://blastmagazine.com/the-magazine/gaming/gaming-news/2009/11/first-halo-reach-screens-trickle-out-allegedly/ I'm not typically attracted to the boldest pieces on the market, but lately I've been lusting over everything red! Have you seen the new Nordstrom Holiday catalog? Or Essie's winter collection. Maybe it's the frightening number of November Christmas displays clouding my judgment, but I'm in love. The Nordstrom Holiday catalog ... http://blastmagazine.com/the-blogs/2009/11/lady-in-red/ We just told you that the multiplayer demo for Battlefield Bad Company 2 would be available to Playstation 3 owners in two weeks, but now we've also got something shiny and pretty for you stare at whilst you consider your eventual downloading of said demo. The trailer doesn't show gameplay in ... http://blastmagazine.com/the-magazine/gaming/gaming-news/screens/2009/11/bad-company-2-multiplayer-trailer/ Atlus today announced that Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey would be making its way to North America in the spring of 2010. This game is very different from previous Shin Megami Tensei entries, as it is a first-person affair in a sci-fi setting, though it still retains RPG elements despite ... http://blastmagazine.com/the-magazine/gaming/gaming-news/game-announcement/2009/11/new-shin-megami-tensei-announced-for-north-america/ If you're like me and can't get enough Halo, you'll be happy to learn Halo Waypoint launched on Xbox Live today. No, it's not another Halo game. Rather, it's a destination, a hub, a waypoint, for all things Masterchief. According to Microsoft "Halo Waypoint features daily updates of fresh, exciting content such ... http://blastmagazine.com/the-magazine/gaming/gaming-news/2009/11/halo-waypoint-launches-today-on-xbox-live/ EA Sports today unleashed the NCAA Basketball '10 demo onto Xbox Live for gamers to try out and hopefully plan a purchase for down the road. Available today for XBL Gold members, and Nov. 12 for the rest of you, the demo allows gamers to play out the storied rivalry between ... http://blastmagazine.com/the-magazine/gaming/gaming-news/2009/11/ncaa-basketball-10-demo-out-now/ The original Bad Company is a fun and different Battlefield title, and the second looks to continue that by focusing very strongly on the multiplayer component. That's why it's no surprise that the demo for multiplayer in this squad-based shooter will be available for PS3 owners on November 19, assuming ... http://blastmagazine.com/the-magazine/gaming/gaming-news/2009/11/battlefield-bad-company-2-multiplayer-demo-launch-date/ Not much today. Bravo has the premiere of "The Real Housewives of Orange County" at 10 p.m., and Investigation Discovery starts "Cold Blood," also at 10. ABC announced that "The Bachelor: On Wings of Love" will premiere January 4 at 8 p.m. This is the 14th edition of the reality ... http://blastmagazine.com/the-magazine/entertainment/tv/tv-notebook/2009/11/tv-notebook-11509-housewives-bachelor/ Losing your voice on Fox's "American Idol" would be a nightmare come true for most contestants, but not for Syesha Mercado. During Hollywood Week, she communicated with a raspy whisper and handwritten notes, and then shocked the judges with a powerful rendition of "Chain of Fools," after which Randy declared ... http://blastmagazine.com/the-magazine/entertainment/music/2009/11/idols-syesha-3-is-now-on-top/ Capcom is really pushing for the new high-flying action game, Dark Void. They've just released a brand new Developer's Diary which has the lead producer, Morgan Gray, spilling some of the game's darkest secrets. It also shed's light on the characters' backstory. Never Before Seen Footage is always a plus ... http://blastmagazine.com/the-magazine/gaming/gaming-news/2009/11/dark-void-developers-diary-video-released/ Activision today announced the release of Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 downloadable content and a demo for the superhero action game for PS3 and Xbox 360. The DLC lets players experience the superhero civil war in an entirely new way with five brand new playable characters Carnage, Psylocke, Magneto, and Black Panther. Additionally, ... http://blastmagazine.com/the-magazine/gaming/gaming-news/2009/11/marvel-ultimate-alliance-2-dlc-demo-released/ Major Nelson, the Xbox Live Community man, posted the week's top-ten most fervently played games on Xbox Live today, and, as has been the staple of so many weeks in a row, Halo 3 remains firmly grounded atop the list. However, I can say with near certainty, that come next Tuesday, ... http://blastmagazine.com/the-magazine/gaming/gaming-news/2009/11/halo-3-remains-atop-xbl-ladder/ Electronic Arts and BioWare today announced a Mass Effect 2 Collector's Edition brimming full of premium goodies, and available in "limited" quantities. When Mass Effect 2 releases Jan. 26, 2010, gamers can pick up the Collector's Edition and be treated to the game wrapped in a hard-shell "tin case, a 48-page ... http://blastmagazine.com/the-magazine/gaming/gaming-news/2009/11/mass-effect-2-collectors-edition-detailed/ Smackdown vs. Raw is never a bad game; it always serves its purpose as a piece of WWE entertainment outside of the shows themselves, but it was in need of some new features in order to keep things interesting and improve on the ground that's been treaded over and over ... http://blastmagazine.com/the-magazine/gaming/reviews/xbox-360/2009/11/smackdown-vs-raw-2010-review/ We've set the flag at the Blast offices at half-mast today as the passing of Comic-Con founder Sheldon Dorf has left us gripped with sadness but at the same time amazed and in awe of his creation. As the Associated Press reports today, Dorf was a freelance artist and a comic ... http://blastmagazine.com/the-magazine/gaming/gaming-news/2009/11/comic-con-founder-dead-at-76/ "V" is a hit. There's no doubt. As far as science fiction on network television goes, it's primed to be the most successful one we've seen, maybe ever. Therefore, in good network television form, ABC is doing everything it can to totally screw it up. According to ABC, 14.3 million people watched ... http://blastmagazine.com/the-magazine/entertainment/tv/2009/11/abc-already-ruining-successful-v/ With the release of Modern Warfare 2 pegged at less than one week away, we're ready to call this new video the "launch trailer" for the game, even if it's not officially dubbed it. The new trailer seemingly shows off every last bit of frenzied mayhem gamers will experience in next ... http://blastmagazine.com/the-magazine/gaming/gaming-news/2009/11/new-modern-warfare-2-trailer/ For someone who writes such sad music, Alison Sudol certainly puts on a fun show. The 24-year-old singer-songwriter and pianist, who performs under the name A Fine Frenzy, wowed fans at The Paradise with an emotional yet lighthearted performance during her November 2 show. The show proved Sudol ... http://blastmagazine.com/the-magazine/entertainment/music/2009/11/a-fine-frenzy-gives-the-paradise-a-good-time/ There's something special about smoked ribs or beef brisket. It's the taste of picnics and summertime and good times. Unless you're a vegetarian, of course. The Weber Smokey Mountain Cooker is not your typical smoker. It's upright, and looks more like a space ship or a time capsule than something that slowly ... http://blastmagazine.com/the-magazine/culturefashion/food-and-drink/kitchen-and-cooking/2009/11/weber-smokey-mountain-cooker/