The greatest moment in history.
Photo of the Day – Jesus Leaves His Tomb Artwork of Greatest Moment in Human History
LifeHack #1 – Use Dental Floss To Cut Soft Foods, Pastries, Cakes, Cheese, Etc.
A very useful way to use dental floss!
Cut that cheese with some Dental Floss!
Cut that cake with dental floss!
How Do You Sit While Using the Computer, Cellphones, Tablets? 9 New Sitting Postures Technology Has Introduced
New sitting postures thanks to technology!
And these new ways of sitting are completely new to the human race, thanks to this technology! Wild huh!
So what are they? Below is the list, and check out the source article at Mashable for the full explanation.
Six new ways to sit thanks to technology (Cellphones, Tablets, Computers)
New ways of sitting include:
1. The Draw – Leaning back in a chair to read your tablet, cellphone.
2. The Multi-Device – Exactly like it says, reading your cellphone while also working the laptop!
3. The Text – Sitting at the desk to text…. Tch tch tch
4. The Cocoon – A girly reading posture where those female things pull their legs up…. weirdos.
5. The Swipe – Exclusively used for reading smartphones, as you lean your whole body over it.
6. The Smart Lean – Relaxed way to check your cellphone.
7. The Trance – Leaning into your computer, absorbed in whatever it is your watching.
8. The “Take-It-In” – A very manly posture, as guys lean all the way back in their chair to take in the important GameTrailer video/AMV/movie trailer they are watching.
9. The Strunch – A combination of stretching and hunching simultaneously!
Why Gas Prices Fluctuate (Did You Know 95% of Gas Stations Are Owned By Independent Convenience Store Companies?)
Why are gas prices too damn high?!
I came across this really interesting article on Herman Cain’s website CainTV (You’ll remember him as the black Pizza Businessman that ran for Republican President in 2012), posted on JobCreator’s.net, and thought I’d share it (which they encourage, they even write at the bottom of the article… “Please steal our stuff!” :D)
Gas Prices And My Mom
by KATHY HOEKSTRA
As I drove my kids home from school Monday, I noted a nearby gas station had regular unleaded posted at $3.74 per gallon. My children will attest to the next part. As we drove by, I announced to them that “after I drop you guys off, I’m coming back to fill up, because the two stations a half mile down the road has it for $3.99 a gallon.”
For a 2003 Ford Explorer, that’s a pretty significant savings.
Less than 20 minutes later, I returned to take advantage of this quarter-per-gallon difference, only to find the price had jumped to the same $3.99 per gallon as its competitors down the street.
When I realized how much more I’d be forking over to fill my SUV, I heard echoes of conversations my late mother and I had over gas prices. (“Conversations”, by the way, is a polite word for outright arguments between mothers and daughters.)
Notice of any fluctuation in the price of gasoline would inevitably prompt numerous complaints from my mom. The most common of which became the basis of our frequent ‘conversations’: Her belief that gas station owners collude with one another to rig prices so as to make tons of money from gasoline sales at the expense of hardworking, taxpaying motorists.
My mother was a smart woman. But her career path of registered nurse-turned-college instructor took her nowhere near energy policy or economics. Like many Americans, she simply never took the time to see how gas prices are determined and just who benefits from them.
My trade, on the other hand, is journalism that has conjoined with public policy. I tried to counter her arguments with at least rudimentary facts and logic to prove her wrong, but I failed on every level. I know fuel sales profits are miniscule for retailers. I know commodities futures play a role in wholesale gas prices, and this has a big impact on how retailers set their prices. I also know ‘Big Oil’ doesn’t own each individual retailer.
But try telling any of this to my mother.
I may have had more success if I had the National Association of Convenience Stores’ Annual Fuels Report 2011 in hand during these ‘conversations’. Since convenience stores (a.k.a. small businesses) sell about 80 percent of all the fuel bought in the United States, the NACS knows of which it speaks.
Everyone remembers this black guy? Right? RIGHT?!
I’d be able to tell my mom the following, and show it to her in black and white:
* The typical retailer averages about 3 cents per gallon in profit. This is based on the premise that it costs a retailer some 12 cents to sell a gallon of gasoline, with a five year average markup of 15 cents. Consider as well that credit card fees per transaction can eat into even that 3 cent profit. In fact, in 2009, credit and debit card fees averaged 4.7 cents per gallon, with plastic used for 60 to 70 percent of all transactions at the pump. Gas stations make a much bigger profit on non-fuel sales.
* Small businesses ‘often don’t have the resources to brand their stores as anything beyond the brand of fuel they sell.’ That leads people like my mom to think all gas stations are owned by ‘big oil’. In reality, 95 percent of stores are owned by independent convenience store companies (only one percent, by the way, is owned by one of the ‘big oil’ companies.)
* Motor fuel sales accounted for more than two-thirds of all convenience store sales in 2009. But with low profit margins, fuel sales brought in less than one third of the stores’ gross margin dollars. (In normal-speak, this means gasoline sales accounted for two-thirds of the stores’ revenue but only one-third of the stores’ profits.)
NACS also provides a handy primer on just what influences gas prices, boiling it down to two basic areas.
First, the retailer itself:
* Branded vs. Unbranded Fuel – This is like my local grocery store which pays much more to sell General Mills’ Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal vs. its generic brand called ‘Cinnamon Swirls’. Therefore, the store has to charge me more for General Mills’ cereals than its own brand. Like the grocery store, fuel retailers pay more for brand name fuel, which means they have to charge a little more at the pump.
* Dealer Tank Wagon vs. Rack – Basically, a ‘tank wagon’ delivers fuel right to the gas station. This may cost more than the retailer having to go get it from a ‘rack’ or terminal.
* Length of Contract – A retailer could have a long-term contract with a specific refiner. A contract can be for 20 years or longer, which NACS says can also affect the price a retailer pays for fuel.
* Volume – As with nearly all other businesses, fuel retailers could get a better deal buying in bulk.
Secondly, and much more impactful, is what happens before the gasoline even reaches the retailer:
* Crude Oil Prices – According to NACS, this is the granddaddy of all gas price influencers. Not only does the cost of crude oil account for 68 percent of the retail price of gasoline, but they can have “huge swings.” And with about 42 gallons in a barrel, “a rough calculation is that retail prices ultimately move approximately 2.5 cents for every $1 change in the price of crude oil.”
* Replacement Costs – Since stores typically sell 120,000 gallons of gas a month, they need to think about how much they’ll shell out for their next fuel shipment. As NACS puts it, “even slight wholesale price variations can increase a retailer’s replacement cost by hundreds – or even thousands – of dollars.”
* Taxes – These have nowhere near the impact on our day to day gas prices as the crude oil fluctuations. While there is much to be debated about the federal and state fuel taxes, it is highly improbable there was a 25 cents per gallon tax increase in the Michigan town over a 20 minute period on a Monday afternoon.
That leaves refining costs and distribution/marketing, which, like taxes, tend to be more static in terms of the frequent price hikes and drops we see on a day-to-day basis.
I’ll never know if all of these facts would have convinced my mom to let go of her lifelong stable of preconceived – and incorrect – notions about why gas prices at all the neighborhood stations go up the same amount all within a few hours of each other.
But it’s not too late to explain to my kids on the next trip home from school. And they’re both boys. I do not anticipate the same degree of ‘conversation’ on this topic.
Retro Review: Silent Hill 2 For PS2 (Also On: Xbox 360, PS3, Original Xbox, PC)
Read my entire Silent Hill 2 review (PS2) here.
Photo of the Day – Resident Evil 1 Dog Cerberus Breaks Through Windows Iconic Scene Wallpaper
A scene us 90s kids will never forget!
Naturally, this makes for excellent wallpaper. If you haven’t played Resident Evil 1, DO IT! Even better yet, play the awesome 2002 GameCube version, which you can read all about in my Resident Evil Remake review! :D
Here is a video of the iconic Dog Break Window Resident Evil 1 scene!
Retro Review: Fear Effect For PS1. Why No Fear Effect HD Collection? Come On Square Enix! DO IT!
The awesome cover artwork for a badass PS1 survival horror game.
Metal Songs of the Day – The Balance of Eternity + End of the Age (Becoming the Archetype Month. Lyrics Included)
Nothing more glorious.
Both of these tracks are absolutely incredible, and create an atmosphere of Godliness that is second-to-known, both of them deal with the Second Coming and the End of Days, which is as metal a topic as you can find, in all honesty. Both songs tackle this topic with incredible panache, and are two of the most enjoyable tracks in the entirety of BtA’s discography. The Balance of Eternity tells of the swelling of Believers, Christian souls who’s light melts the darkness, freeing the entrapped souls from the bondage of their sin through the Light of Christ (“the flame”), yet there are those who will never believe, and thus remain frozen in their death to sin. Forever. Yet the song ends triumphant, as Christ returns to reclaim His followers, wherein every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord. So. Awesome.
End of the Age in particular is an absolutely phenomenal song, that makes you want to praise the Lord with all your might, it has an incredibly triumphant sound that is second to known! The chorus in particular, “He is clothed in greatness, His voice resounds throughout the earth” and the way it is sung is absolutely epic. Enjoy!
The Balance of Eternity lyrics by Becoming the Archetype:
They stood just inside the walls of the fortress
And looked out upon an endless sea of ice
At first the only sound was of burning torches
But another sound was rising
That of thousands of souls groaning in bitter agony
Trapped just below the surface and awakened by the presence of fire
The sound of the souls crying out for rebirth continued to grow
It became deafening and caused all of the men there
To fall on their knees
They drove their torches into the ground and watched as the ice began to melt away
The enemy’s grasp was broken by the power of fire
And a great multitude of souls were reclaimed from the ice
But there were many others that did not respond
To the presence of fire
They remained frozen
Enslaved in darkness
Forever
When the mountains crumble into the sea
When the stars fall from the heavens and scorch the earth
Then every knee will bow before the flame
And every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord
Forever
End of the Age lyrics by Becoming the Archetype:
The earth is SHAKING
Because of His WRATH
The mountains TREMBLE
At the sound of HIS VOICE
He pulls down the sky
TO CRUSH HIS ENEMIES
He descends upon them
WITH FIRE
HE IS CLOTHED IN GREATNESS
HIS VOICE RESOUNDS THROUGHOUT THE EARTH
His vengeance no longer is contained
His light destroys THE DARKNESS
If He speaks
The Earth will CRUMBLE
IF HE MOVES the universe will fall
HE IS CLOTHED IN GREATNESS
HIS VOICE RESOUNDS THROUGHOUT THE EARTH
With the valleys of the seas exposed
And the surface of the Earth LAID BARE
He reached down
Into the void
HE REACHED DOWN AND TOOK HOLD OF ME
HALLELUJAH!
HALLELUJAH!
HALLELUJAH!
HALLELUJAH!
HALLELUJAH!
Before you go, be sure to watch this INCREDIBLE Lyric Video set to the music of Becoming the Archetype’s End of the Age; which features amazing pieces of Christian art. You’ll thank me! And then be sure to check out MetalCrusade777’s Youtube Channel and give him some love. Thank him for such an awesome video and leave a positive comment and give it a like!
Previous Becoming the Archetype Month Songs
February 1st 2013: March of the Dead, Into Oblivion, Epoch Of War, Mountain of Souls, Resonant Frequency of Flesh, Magnetic Sky, Ocean Walker
February 2nd 2013: Artificial Immortality
February 3rd 2013: The Epigone
February 4th 2013: Breathing Light
February 5th 2013: Autopsy
February 6th 2013: Dichotomy + The Great Fall
February 7th 2013: No Fall Too Far
February 8th 2013: The Sky Bearer
February 9th 2013: Necrotizing Fasciitis
February 10th 2013: Path of the Beam
February 11th 2013: Et All Metal Songs of the Day – The Monotolith+Construct&Collapse+Fire Made Flesh+Second Death+Deep Heaven+Eyes of the Storm+Weapon Breaker+Physics of Fire Quadrilogy
February 12th 2013: Immolation
February 13th 2013: Self Existent + How Great Thou Art + O Holy Night (Worship Metal/Christian Metal Trio)
February 14th 2013: Elegy Deception+Lament+Triumph
February 15th 2013: The Time Bender
February 16th 2013: Endure
February 17th 2013: Beyond Adaptation
February 18th 2013: Music of the Spheres + Elemental Wrath + Xenosynthesis
February 19th 2013: Ransom+Evil Unseen
February 20th 2013: One Man Parade
February 21st 2013: Reflect Refract + Internal Illumination
February 22nd 2013: Ex Nihilo
February 23rd 2013: Machine Killer + War Ender
February 24th 2013: Invisible Creature + Cardiac Rebellion
February 25th 2013: The Balance of Eternity + End of the Age
About Becoming the Archetype Month
February 2013 is dedicated to the Christian metal band Becoming the Archetype, arguably my favorite band (Along with Demon Hunter and The Showdown, both signed to Solid State Records) and follows January 2013 which was Demon Hunter Month. February will feature songs from BtA’s entire catalog featured daily throughout the month, one a day. Whether you like metal, believe in God or not, check these songs out as you may be pleasantly surprised and hopefully you will discover some new-to-your-ears music to enjoy. Becoming the Archetype’s sound is extremely heavy, and metalheads will be in Heaven. However all songs are deep with powerful lyrics that will make you think and ponder, as the sound takes you to new spaces between time and existence, Heaven and Hell. Enjoy!
Demon Hunter Month Songs
January 1st 2013: A Broken Upper Hand
January 2nd 2013: God Forsaken
January 3rd 2013: The Wind
January 4th 2013: Ribcage
January 5th 2013: Incision
January 6th 2013: I Have Seen Where It Grows
January 7th 2013: Beheaded
January 8th 2013: Desire the Pain
January 9th 2013: Annihilate the Corrupt
January 10th 2013: Dust & Smoke
January 11th 2013: I Am You
January 12th 2013: Deteriorate
January 13th 2013: We Don’t Care
January 14th 2013: Fiction Kingdom
January 15th 2013: Relentless Intolerance
January 16th 2013: Feel As Though You Could
January 17th 2013: Shallow Water
January 18th 2013: My Throat Is An Open Grave
January 19th 2013: I Play Dead
January 20th 2013: The Tide Began To Rise
January 21st 2013: Thorns
January 22nd 2013: My Heartstrings Come Undone
January 23rd 2013: Carry Me Down
January 24th 2013: Driving Nails
January 25th 2013: I Am A Stone
January 26th 2013: Blood In the Tears
January 27th 2013: Dead Flowers
January 28th 2013: LifeWar
January 29th 2013: Storm the Gates of Hell + Lead Us Home
January 30th 2013: The Flame That Guides Us Home + Not i
January 31st 2013: The Latest & the Last + Grand Finale
Music Album Reviews
9. Between Here & Lost By Love And Death (helmed by Brian “Head” Welch Former Korn Lead Guitarist) [Posted: January 25 2013]
8. I AM By Becoming the Archetype (Posted: September 14th 2012)
7. Find Your Worth Come Home By To Speak of Wolves (Posted: May 25, 2012)
6. Celestial Progression (Remix Album) By Becoming the Archetype (Posted: May 21, 2012)
5 Return to Life By War of Ages (Posted: April 28, 2012)
4. Thousand Foot Krutch – The End Is Where We Begin (Posted: April 20, 2012)
3. KJ-52 – Dangerous (Posted: April 16, 2012)
2. Manafest – Fighter (Posted: April 15, 2012)
1. Demon Hunter – True Defiance (Posted: April 10, 2012)
Videogame Reviews:
5. Turok: Dinosaur Hunter (N64) [Posted: January 31 2013]
4. Resident Evil: Code Veronica Review (Dreamcast) [Posted: October 5 2012]
3. Resident Evil 3: Nemesis (PS1, GameCube) [Posted: September 18th 2012]
2. Resident Evil 2 (GameCube) [Posted: September 3rd 2012]
1. Resident Evil Remake (GameCube) [Posted: August 14 2012]
Gilmore Girls Reviews
4. Gilmore Girls Season One Episode 4 – The Deer Hunters
3. Gilmore Girls Season One Episode 3 – Kill Me Now
2. Gilmore Girls Season One Episode 2 – The Lorelais’ First Day At Chilton Review
1. Gilmore Girls Season One Episode 1 – Pilot Review
LISTENTOMEPLAY podcasts:
* ListenToMePlay Resident Evil 0 Part 6
* ListenToMePlay Resident Evil 0 Part 5
* ListenToMePlay Resident Evil 0 Part 4
* ListenToMePlay Resident Evil Zero Podcast Part 3
* ListenToMePlay Resident Evil Zero Podcast Part 2
* ListenToMePlay Resident Evil Zero Podcast. RE0 Intro (Part 1)
* ListenToMePlay Resident Evil: Code Veronica Finale (Part 7)
* ListenToMePlay Resident Evil: Code Veronica Parts 5 and 6
* ListenToMePlay Resident Evil: Code Veronica Part 4
* ListenToMePlay Resident Evil: Code Veronica Part 3
* ListenToMePlay Resident Evil: Code Veronica Part 2
* ListenToMePlay Resident Evil: Code Veronica Podcast Part 1
* ListenToMePlay Resident Evil 3 Podcast Finale (Part 5)
* ListenToMePlay Resident Evil 3 Podcast Part 4
* ListenToMePlay Resident Evil 3 Podcast Parts 2 And 3
* ListenToMePlay Resident Evil 3 Podcast Part 1
* ListenToMePlay Resident Evil 2 Podcast Final Master Run (Claire Redfield)
* ListenToMePlay Resident Evil 2 Podcast (Leon Scenario A On Normal)
* ListenToMePlay Resident Evil Remake Real Survival Mode Chris
* ListenToMePlay Super Metroid Podcast
* ListenToMePlay Super Metroid Podcast Part 2
* ListenToMePlay Oblivion “Through A Virgin’s Eyes” Podcast Part 1 – Guest Mr. Z
* ListenToMePlay Oblivion Podcast Part 2
* ListenToMePlay The Witcher 2 Podcast Part 1 – Guest: RedWinged Angel
* ListenToMePlay The Witcher 2 Podcast Part 2
* ListenToMePlay Resident Evil Remake Podcast – Guest: MyDad
WatchMePlay Zelda: Majora’s Mask Let’s Play Videos
* WatchMePlay Zelda: Majora’s Mask Part 7 – Empty Bottle GET! Deku Palace And Magic Beans
* WatchMePlay Zelda: Majora’s Mask Part 6 – Granny Robbin For Blast Mask And Kamaro Dance
* WatchMePlay Zelda: Majora’s Mask Part 5 – The Thief And the Curiosity Shop Dealer
* WatchMePlay Zelda: Majora’s Mask Part 4 – Bomb Bag, Bremen Mask, Scarecrow’s Song
* WatchMePlay Zelda: Majora’s Mask Part 3 – Bomber’s Notebook
* WatchMePlay Zelda: Majora’s Mask Part 2 – Repeating Yesterday
* WatchMePlay Zelda: Majora’s Mask Part 1 – Intro and Opening
Other WatchMePlay Series
* WatchMePlay Perfect Dark Xbox 360
* WatchMePlay Super Smash Bros.
* WatchMePlay Super Meat Boy
Photo of the Day – Girl And Broken Window Wallpaper
Very cool.
Watch Us Play Games 