Things Smackie Thinks You Need to Know...

[vansmack]

In the ongoign dismantling of the franchise...

Jack Wilson and his $8 Million salary to Seattle with Ian Snell for Ronny Cedeno, Jeff Clement (to replace LaRoche next year, and right-handed pitching prospects Aaron Pribanic, Brett Lorin and Nathan Adcock.

I don't mind this deal much, except that Clement can't DH in the National League.  Ian Snell is going to be good in Seattle.  Fucker.   

[godsshoeshine]

dismantling a team that hasnt had a winning record since i was in 10th grade might not be the worst thing ever

[vansmack]

dismantling a team that hasnt had a winning record since i was in 10th grade might not be the worst thing ever

Well, now with Grabow and Gorzellany gone, their $19 Million payroll is a lot like that 10th grade team...

[godsshoeshine]

long live 'clutch 22

[vansmack]

I voted for Brandon.
Smackette voted for Jeannine.

We both think America will wrongly vote for Evan.

[kosmo vinyl]

Didn't realize smackie's thread had got spammed, but  a couple clicks of the mouse and it's gone.

Oh and the real reason I stopped by....

The level of stupidity from content providers continues to boggle the mind.  Hulu is now blocking PS3 users from being able to watch material on their sites.   It would appear that it's due to content providers not comfortable with PS3s being used as distribution platform, because they directly connected to TVs and not a standalone computer.  Guess those clueless morons never heard of a computer directly hooked to a TV...

[sweetcell]

Things sweetcell doesn't think smackie needs to know but is going to tell him anyways: about to lose my Virgin virginity. Presently at IAD wait to get on VA's direct flight to SFO. Internet on plane = ability to work = client ok with non-preferred airline... Not that I plan on getting any work done.

I'll in San Jose for 2 days and then taking the red-eye back (on United - booooo), so unless you happen to be down in shark-land we will have to postpone a meet-up yet again.

[vansmack]

Oh and the real reason I stopped by....

The level of stupidity from content providers continues to boggle the mind.  Hulu is now blocking PS3 users from being able to watch material on their sites.   It would appear that it's due to content providers not comfortable with PS3s being used as distribution platform, because they directly connected to TVs and not a standalone computer.  Guess those clueless morons never heard of a computer directly hooked to a TV...

Yes, Hulu is missing a huge chance here.  They have no chance of signing a deal with MS for the 360 (well, "no chance" may be harsh, but....) - I have seen Media Center for Win7 (WMC7) and it clearly has a place holder for Internet TV (currently in beta) so I'm guessing if MS wanted to port that directly to the 360 and not keep it solely for those using WMC, they could do so very simply.  A lot of this has to do with MS developing Silverlight and basically avoiding paying Flash royalties to Adobe (Apple is a little behind on it's own technology, but that's why they don't support Flash on mobile devices).   The public is going to learn a lot more about WMC7 in the first month of September at CEDIA.

You are probably correct that there are limitations in the content agreement that prohibit Hulu from making their content available on the TV and the PS3 has no way of being displayed except on a TV, but they really should be bridging this gap before MS does.  Their agreement should focus on the "streaming" aspect and not the end device.  The content providers probably want their own deal(s) with MS and Sony...

I'm pretty sure most 3rd party apps still work though.  I didn't buy the final version of PlayOn, but it worked pretty well for the month I had it.  Tversity Pro worked for a while too.  My latest test product is JamCast to bring Pandora to my 360...

[vansmack]

Things sweetcell doesn't think smackie needs to know but is going to tell him anyways: about to lose my Virgin virginity. Presently at IAD wait to get on VA's direct flight to SFO. Internet on plane = ability to work = client ok with non-preferred airline... Not that I plan on getting any work done.

I'll in San Jose for 2 days and then taking the red-eye back (on United - booooo), so unless you happen to be down in shark-land we will have to postpone a meet-up yet again.

No, I made my bi-annual trip to San Jose last week for the No Doubt show...let's make your next trip further up north or during hockey season (the only other reason I would head to San Jose...)

Oh, and send a message to the cute girl sitting in row 8 for me.  Just for old time sake...

[vansmack]

XBOX Officially the only Console able to Stream Netflix - Apologizes to Kosmo

At the very bottom of Microsoft's long list of details surrounding today's Xbox LIVE update, we're clearly told that the Netflix Watch Instantly integration is now an "exclusive partnership," with Microsoft going so far as to say that the "Xbox 360 will be the only game console to offer this movie-watching experience, available to Xbox LIVE Gold members who are also Netflix unlimited plan subscribers."

[Venerable Bede]

No, I made my bi-annual trip to San Jose last week for the No Doubt show...let's make your next trip further up north or during hockey season (the only other reason I would head to San Jose...)

mountain view is soooo not san jose.   

[vansmack]

My friend David Pogue has been on a quest over at the NY Times to end the annoying instructions that follow every call to someone's mobile voice mail.  He's working with at&t, T-Mobile and Verizon to get them to change their policies of requiring the instructions. 

Sprint allows you to turn it off by doing the following:

* Sprint: Change it yourself

Sprint already lets you eliminate those instructions. It's not simple, and it's not publicized, but it's possible. If you're a Sprint customer, I encourage you to make this change right away:

Access your voicemail box (if the messages start, press * to get to your options). Press 3 for personal options.
 Press 2 for greetings.
 Press 1, to change your personal greeting.
 Press 3 to add or remove the caller instructions.
 Follow the prompts to turn instructions on or off (currently pressing 2 turns it off, but that has cahnged in the past).

I have done this for you when you call me, will you please do this for me when I call you?

[vansmack]

Today is my first furlough day, so I caught up on the Teen Choice awards which have been on the DVR for a little while.

Here's what I learned:

I'm (still) never having daughters.

The chubby Jonas Brother is my favorite and I suspect he'll have a Danny Bonaduce breakdown that we can only hope is filmed live on a reality show.  And Frankie Jonas has no chance in life.    He'll be arrested before 18 for sure...

Kristen Bell is the voice of Gossip Girl.  Somehow I never knew this...Why is somebody that hot only lending her voice?  If this Heroes thing doesn't work out, she's got a job waiting for her.

Chuck Bass is British in real life.  So is Edward of Team Edward fame.
I'm left wondering who they support.  I'll guess Edward is an Arsenal fan, and Chuck, I have no idea. (I actually googled it - I was right about Team Edward, and Chuck Bass supports Chelsea.  I heart the intertubes)

Chace Crawford is going to have 10 times the career of Zac Efron when it's all said and done.  You heard it here first.  Chace has room to grow into a serious actor where Zac will always be a teenager, despite turning 22 next month.

Who's more typecast - Cam Gigandet as a villain or Zac Efron as teenager?  Sub-question - did you ever think Volcheck would get another role in your life, let alone a role on the hottest movie of the year?

I hate Comcast, but I love these new FBI commercials with Shaq and Ben Stiller.  Speaking of commercials, I had to hit the 30 second skip button an average of 10 times to get back to the program.  That's ridiculous.  I rarely hit it more than 5 times.

I'm thoroughly enjoying the resurgence of Mike Tyson.

I can't wait for Glee.  Seriously. 

Do you think Rupaul is jealous of Miss J's fame?  I know Rupaul really wanted a teen choice award.  Who wins that bitch fight, BTW?

Miley Cyrus is really growing up.  Quickly.  But I still can't get over that mouth.  How long is Emily Osment going to be living in her shadow? 

I'm going to go out on a limb and say that Hayden Panettieri is going to be one of the hottest late 20's/early 30 something's on the planet next decade.

Britney didn't perform, which is a shame.  Is your career over when you receive a lifetime achievement award from the Teen Choice Awards? I also wanted Paramore to perform, but they didn't.  We did get 2 Jonas Brothers songs, Sean Kingston, the Black Eyed Peas and the clear winner - Miley Cyrus for her use of a trailer and the trash that comes with it.

Alright, that's all I got.  I'm off to the beach.

[xneverwherex]

Ed Westwick is also in a band called Filthy Youth. An English band (obviously - or not so obvious for some of you) and hes got quite a voice. Hes also nice to look at and if you catch them in NYC, odds are all youll catch most the GG folk in tow.

He also has a bit part in the movie Son of Rambow. Great film and English (so you can catch him speaking in his native tongue).

Hard to believe anyone might not know Kristen Bell is the voice of GG. I recognized her voice the moment I heard it. Granted I also watched Veronica Mars way too much!

[chaz]

Smackie your passion for teen pop culture is mystifying.