Graphical Neoprene Full Face Mask at Tanga.com

I started typing this post back on November 19, 2011. I've been busy!

I guess you could say this is my fanboy tribute to Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3.

Actually, I just happened to see a sale on this thing at Tanga.com. The website is showing them for $6.99 instead of the regular price of $24.99...a 72% savings. And as usual, it was one of those products that I figured this price point is a good one to see if these masks were worth it.

These neoprene masks are pretty cool. I say 'masks' because I actually bought two of them. First the one in the included image and another one referred to as 'yellow skull.' I hope they are durable but also I don't see that I will be overusing them.

This one is a glow-in-the-dark skull (slightly hard to tell but you can see it once you're told what it is) and the other one I have is a ghoul—it's more of a pale goldish, yellow-greenish color.

I've actually worn them a couple of times since I purchased and also since I started this post and they are pretty warm. I think that the breathing, whether from my mouth or nose, helps warm it even more because it circulates between the back of the mask and my face. I've even turned it inside out to make the mask just all black. The graphic on the front didn't bother my face so it's nice to know this could be reversible if need be--you know, around the kiddies or skittish white folk in the neighborhood. LOL!

Overall, I think it's been a pretty decent purchase. Now I just need the really "cold" weather to give it a real test!

Dallas White Rock Marathon 2011

I was flicking channels and saw that they were televising the White Rock Marathon. I didn't know it was that big of a deal but I guess the local networks can air whatever they want when it's local. I'm not a runner and I'm not into watching marathons. I just started watching and got interested because there was only a couple of miles left. I figured I could watch the last few minutes—I guess it's like watching the highlights real of baseball or Nascar on ESPN. Anyway, this is what I've taken away from my first and probably last viewing of the White Rock Marathon or any marathon for that matter.

Maybe I don't understand marathons. I was watching the last part of the White Rock Marathon and I had to turn it off when they started interviewing the "winner" but I actually was getting angry during the last mile. The Kenyan ran the full 26 miles. The high schooler ran ONLY the last 2 miles of a relay. The commentators were bragging about how the high schooler was catching up to the Kenyan, passed him, and "won" the marathon. They were amazed the Kenyan faltered at the last few miles. Are you kidding me? 26 miles vs. 2 miles. I don't see the correlation and for the interviewer after the race to say something so stupid to the Kenyan as "When did you feel that the [high schooler] was going to beat you?" Again, WTF? They did say the Kenyan was the full marathon male winner but didn't acknowledge that the Kenyan ran 26 miles on tiring legs whereas the high schooler was fresh for the last 2. They just kept praising him for "winning." Sportsmanship should have come to the high schooler and he should have crossed the finish line with the Kenyan. Again, maybe I don't understand the race but for them to consistently praise this high schooler for "beating" the Kenyan was disgusting. The wife and I both could not watch it anymore.

Freaky hallway in an old folks home

For Thanksgiving, I went to the wife's grandfather's old folks home for lunch. This man is like 92 years old. He is definitely an old codger. He's almost deaf, or is deaf if it wasn't for the hearing aids, but he still has most of his mental abilities.

So, in truth, I guess this old folks home is really called an assisted living center. Above a convalescent home and below your own personal home. He has to sign out if he goes anywhere just so they know where he is/was if they do a bed check or whatever and he's not there. The staff were friendly and the food was good. The place seemed well kept and well run.

He gave us a tour of the place and the hallway right outside the door of his room kind of gave me that creepy feeling when I looked down it from his doorway. The photo below is what it looks like.

All that's missing is "The Grady Twins" and a little boy going, "Redrum, redrum, redrum."

3" LCD In-Dash DVD Player at Fry's Electronics

I ask, "What is the point of this?" It's bad enough to watch a movie or video on an iPod Touch, iPhone or Android phone but watching a movie on a 3" screen in your car? Really? While driving or sitting still, this is a ridiculous idea...to me only obviously because I've had close friends by such things for their kids or their kids bought it for their boy/girlfriend.

I don't really mind too much watching a movie on my iPod Touch if I have too. It's easy, convenient and portable. I don't always want to have my laptop on my lap to watch Netflix. The iPod Touch has worked nicely, surprisingly. This in-dash player is just stupid. Can I say it enough? I guess not so much that it's in-dash in your car when you are watching it but when you decide to quit driving and watching a movie or car time is over, you can't take the device with you. See the problem, now? Do I want to stay in the car watching my movie on a 3" screen just to finish it? I sure as hell don't.

As previously mentioned, I guess there's a market for it because I've seen all makes and models as well as same or slightly larger sizes. I just don't see how a family road trip can be broken up with a movie when the kids can't see this little ass 3" screen from the back seat whether in a car, van or SUV.

Oh well.

Canon T2i, T3i, and Snapchick

I was Googling the other day looking for reviews of the Canon T3i compared to the Canon T2i because I'm looking to upgrade my Canon XT. Yes, I still have the old, original digital Rebel! It's done great for me and I guess I really have no reason to upgrade other than I want a new, more recent version DSLR and I'd like it to have decent HD video capabilities. I'm not looking for complete video awesomeness. I just think it would be nice to be able to take video and DSLR photos through one device versus carrying DSLR or point-and-shoot and a video camera. The convenience of having the video option versus not at a time I'm out and about and wanting it is what I really am looking for as the reason of a DSLR/HD Video combination.

So, after visiting many links Google regurgitated upon my search, I'm thinking the Canon T3i in the long run is a slightly better camera for my purposes and preferences. Whether or not I push the virtual "add to cart" and "check out" buttons, is left to be seen. When the new camera can cost around $800 depending on the package or whatnot, it makes holding on to my XT much more appealing. I wouldn't get rid of the XT anyway. I'd give it to my oldest to use and abuse. Good hand-me-downs are always welcome in the Absent-Minded Jay family!

One website that did catch my eye was actually found from browsing YouTube. A video review of the cameras was done by someone and you know how YouTube always posts little video screens of other videos that have some relation to the video you are watching no matter how minute that connection is.

This girl in the video still was in a kind of workout tank top holding a camera. From the small image, she looked fairly attractive with a nice rack. So, it piqued my interest...and only my interest! LOL! Turns out she's pretty informed and somewhat educated about the world of photography and she has a nice range of tank tops and bikinis that she frequently wears/shares through her videos. A bonus in my book no matter what the haters comment on her videos. I mean not everything on a website can be just about photography. Changing it up once every 10-20 videos is not an issue for me especially when it's of this girl in a bikini or half of one in her pool. Who would freaking complain about that, male or female!?

Anyway, from her youtube site I went to her actual website. It is snapchick.com. I didn't join or anything because I'm not like the rest of the really perverted dudes and I don't need to pay for Internet nudity when I can get it at home or for free on the WWW.

One thing that did catch my eye was the part of her site that said, "Take Me Home." I was like, "SCHWING!" I clicked on the link and this screen capture below is what it took me to. Again, don't get me wrong. Snapchick is a very attractive girl in a weird kind of way for me...kind of like the girl that plays Brittany (I think) on Glee. She's not drop dead gorgeous or stunningly pretty but she's got a look to her that I just can't explain with words. No matter how hot or very attractive someone is to me, there is NO WAY IN HELL that I would pay $39.99 for an autographed 8x10 of Snapchick even though the way she looks in the photo is absolutely eye-catching and almost makes the weasel go "pop." I congratulate her on the ones she has sold to the poor, blind, hairy-palmed guys she has suckered into her web of lustful delusions. But this is one hairy-palmed guy that will not fall prey to such wickedness! However, I do have this image somewhat etched into my memory as one of my favorite no-nude images I've seen across the Internet. So you go Snapchick and continue what you're doing because in my opinion, you are informing us with actual, useful knowledge as well as entertaining us with your "natural talents and gifts."