Aviously

Because, aviously…

Lethal Weapon

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October 14, 2016

Murtaugh and Riggs. Those names should ring a bell for most people.

From the late 80s and thru the 90s Danny Glover and Mel Gibson played LA Detectives Murtaugh and Riggs.
And regardless whose butt was planted on the toilet and which one was threatening to kill themselves, the movies were just flat out fun and funny.

Recently there has been a resurgence in movie lines becoming TV Shows, but Rush Hour was a dismal failure, and there wasn’t a bright window for Lethal Weapon.

But Damon Wayans and Clayne Crawford are the Murtaugh and Riggs we need on our TVs these days.
The budget for this show has shown early that it’s quite large, with multiple explosions and car chases, gun fights and destruction.

And best of all, the banter between the two of them almost feels as good as the original duo…but I have a feeling it’ll get there.

While Rush Hour got canceled early, and they pushed out the final episodes in the summer months, of a 13-episode first season, Lethal Weapon just got an expanded order for an 18-episode season, and I hope it gets picked up for a Season 2.

lethal-weapon-poster

FIFA 17

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October 13, 2016

FIFA 17 has been out for a few weeks and after spending some time with it I’ve come to the conclusion that the Frostbite Engine, which debuted there and will show up in next weeks Battlefield 1, is insanely good.

The Presentation and Graphics in this game is flawless, I have yet to stumble across any glitches or bugs, and the Gameplay itself seems to follow a similar path.
While many games have that glitch (such as a double-deke + wrist shot to score on every shootout attempt) I have yet to come across one in FIFA 17.

With the new Frostbite the crosses are tough to land, as the realism level has come as close as ever, with passes no longer “sticking” to the receivers, and sliding tackles not automatically working on every play. In fact they are tougher than ever.

As far as modes go, I haven’t tried The Journey yet, after getting bored of a similar mode in last year’s NBA 2k game, but it’s supposed to be good, and I’m certain I’ll try it at  some time, and you can read about it in an article HERE.

The mode I’ve been playing most, one that I’ve never gone to in any previous FIFA game is the Online mode.
They use a “Season” to help determine who you should be playing against.
You start in the lowest league (League 10) and have to play 10 games each season, to determine if you will move up a league/move down a league/or just stay where you are.
I’ve gotten as high as League 7….where I promptly went 2-0-8 and dropped back to League 8.
Another great move is that even while only playing within your League, you also only play against teams of semi-equal “goodness”. So as I progress with the 2 1/2 star NYCFC, I never face a Barcelona/Real Madrid/Spain National team, and instead play a lot against Mexicana/Toronto FC/Celtic FC.

This game is outstanding and gets a 9.5 out of 10.

FIFA 17 Cover

Kickstarter: ANANKE: A Graphic Novel Series

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October 11, 2016

One of the people I went to college with, Natalie Raffaele, has worked on her first graphic novel for a few years, and now, together with Illustrator Aaron Parks, she is ready to crowdsource and fund the printing.

The title is “Ananke: The Prologue” and you can fund the Kickstarter HERE.

And now for a little about Ananke, from their main website:

Man has finally done it. We have created Artificial Intelligence that can think and emote entirely on its own.
They are called ConneXions.
Created by Latimer Industries on Earth, the ConneXion Series is the most innovative robotic line to date because of one feature: CRYSTAL TECHNOLOGY.  It is this component that gives A.I. a unique fingerprint and personal magnetism. As an ultimate test of A.I. capabilities, the company sends five ConneXions to ANANKE, a dwarf planet hidden in the Asteroid Belt, in search of habitable zones for human life.
It is on this quest that our story truly begins and a discovery is made that will change A.I. and humans forever.  Once found, there’s no turning back, and our ConneXions are thrust into a situation they cannot escape!

ANANKE: The Prologue is the birthplace of ANANKE’s epic three-part volume graphic novel series.  It is the catalyst for our characters’ motivations in the remaining three volumes to solving what may be the greatest mystery of mankind (and beyond…)!

Ananke: The Prologue

The Age of Fear

@iAmAviG

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October 10, 2016

This week’s Rolling Stone magazine had a great article on why it is that we live in the age of fear, with seemingly so many attacks and things that make us live out lives in fear of the world around us.

The full article by Neil Strauss can be read HERE.

One of the main points that I think is the reasoning: We live in a very connected world these days. The minute something happens everyone knows everything about it, whether the information is correct or not.

It’s not that MORE attacks/accidents/terrible things are happening, it’s just that we know about them easier. Between social media and 24-hour news cycles, there is a need to get as many stories on screen as possible.

A good example is the Hoboken train accident two weeks ago. Within minutes of the derailment there were pictures of it online and reports of a “Mass casualty event”.
In previous years we’d have heard about it on the radio/TV over the hours to come, and the info would usually be ironed out to be the most accurate that they have.
But now everyone wants everything NOW. So instead the media is forced to go with whatever they, regardless the accuracy, and fix it later…this is done because if they are even a few minutes slow on info, people turn to another source.

Look at your area. Look at your neighborhood. Your infrastructure, your transportation, your precincts crime rates. These are the things to be afraid of. And if you take NJT, you’re SOL.

Green Day’s Revolution Radio

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October 7, 2016

Green Day released their latest album this morning, Revolution Radio and it’s the great follow-up to American Idiot and 21st Century Breakdown.

The trio of albums that came out in 2012 was a mistake, as Billy Joe Armstrong pushed through treatment for substance abuse, but since then the group has gone through hell and back.

Billy Joe has cleaned himself up, Jason White has had family emergencies that the group stuck with him through and waited for him to get back, Mike Dirnt lost his mother, and Tre Cool continued to drum things up.

American Idiot helped the group cross over from their early amazing punk rock years into the political rock that they became more popular for.
21st Century Breakdown continued that storyline, and now Revolution Radio continues that narrative with talk of mass murderers and the likes, with political and punk rock mixed together.

But from the early notes of the album, there is no mistaking that it’s Green Day back at it’s finest. This album gets a 9 out of 10 and is instantly going on my replay loop.

revolution-radio-green-day

See Something, Send Something

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September 29, 2016

NY State government has put out an app to compliment their “See Something, Say Something” campaign.

The app, “See Something, Send Something” (further known as “SSSS”) lets you take pictures of something suspicious that you see, and submit it for the police/agencies to respond to.

My issue with the app is that it is so basic, moreso than it needs to be.

Take for example New York City’s 3-1-1 app, and the information it provides outside of its “Complaints” section.
They’ll give you a rundown of garbage pickup, alternate side of the street parking, and school closures, as well as updates to any complaints you’ve made.

The “SSSS” app needs to do more. Have it give OEM (Office of Emergency Management) notifications. Statewide alerts. Amber alerts.
Maybe just connect it to the Governer’s Twitter feed (or the aforementioned OEMs).

If you’d like to give it a try, you can find the app here.

See Something Send Something Logo

Marvel’s Ghost Rider

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September 23, 2016

Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. returned this week, and the new season is on a new course.

Coulson is no longer the director, Daisy/Skye has gone on her own path of destruction, and Jemma is trying to work her way up the chain of command.

But the biggest, and one of the more exciting changes to the season is the addition of Ghost Rider.

ghost-rider-shield

He is fierce, he is just trying to do (what he thinks is) good, and the actor playing him (Gabriel Luna) was fantastic in the first episode.

Looking forward to seeing how this one plays out.

Google Takes On Facebook – Allo

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September 22, 2016

Google started rolling out their newest messaging app on Wednesday, and Allo is set to take on Facebook’s WhatsApp.

The messenger app has a virtual assistant that you can talk to, and get answers to your pressing questions, set alarms and reminders, make dinner reservations and book a car, or just find out the top headlines and weather forecasts.

It’s still in its infant stages, so the assistant is relying heavily on user feedback to perfect itself, but the potential is certainly there.

The problem with the app, at this point, is privacy. Google is storing all messages on their servers, and will make them fully available if/when the police request them. Meanwhile, someone who knows a little something about internet security, Edward Snowden, added in his two cents on Wednesday:

So for now, I tried out Allo, simply talking to the assistant, and not any real conversations…but I’ve taken Snowden’s advice and deleted it from my phone until they protect our information a bit better.

Google Allo Logo

The Co$ts of Freedom – Cars

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September 21, 2016

How much does our freedom cost us?

We want to be independent and free to do what we want…but that involves a lot of things.

Having your own apartment, buying your own groceries, furnishing a place of your own, and having a car to get around.

But just how expensive is having a car? Let’s dive into the numbers:

Car – If you are leasing, it can be upwards of $200/month…if you are financing, the rates can be two or three times more.

Insurance – ~$150/month, depending on coverage.

Gas – My monthly average is about $70 in gas. This obviously depends on travel distances and time spent in traffic.

Tolls – Similarly with tolls, it all depends where you live and where you go. If you travel to/from NJ<–>NYC daily, you run bills upwards of $100 a month…if you stick to Brooklyn/Manhattan Bridges, your tolls plummet.

Parking – Everyone’s bills change on this. If you park at meters often, you can get $20-$25 a month…if you are parking in a lot in the city, it’s about $400-$600+…

And all that doesn’t even cover regular maintenance on the vehicle…so yes, no two people are alike, but having a car is truly an expensive expense (even once you fully own it).

Resiliency of New Yorkers?

@iAmAviG

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September 20, 2016

After the bombing in Chelsea on Saturday night it seemed like most New Yorkers just didn’t care.

While there was chaos on 23rd street, people seemed intent on “what streets are closed”, “is my train still running” and “can I still get to my bar”?

I don’t know if it is people feeling safe, even amongst terror…or if people just don’t care that their lives are in danger.

People seem to be more focused on issues than safety…they’d rather be a good person then be secure in their own lifestyles….they’d rather march thru Times Square then run and hide in terror.

I guess it’s good that New Yorkers don’t cower….but to not show any signs of caring?

The lack of Facebook posts about the attacks, from Saturday night through Sunday midday, was just sad…especially when you compare it to the amount of selfies, food pics, and make-up-artist requests I see on a daily basis.

From the failed Times Square Bomber in Faisal Shahzad to the foiled attack of Muhammad Yusuf, we seemed more concerned then.
Sure, one lit a fuse that never went off, while the other planned to do horrible things…but Ahmad Khan Rahami actually detonated one device in NYC. Had another that failed to go off. And detonated two more in New Jersey.

Are we becoming too sensitized to terror in NY? Or simply too much a “don’t give a sh!t” nation?

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