I've always wanted to own an unpainted Kaiju. There is something about the naked glisten of vinyl that's just tops. Rotofugi + Squibbles Ink held a lottery to sell off some of their SDCC Lake Monsters Big Muscamoot release and I got pulled for the Orange Factory Reject Unpainted model. Apparently, they had some manufacturing issues with their factory and some of the Orange figures didn't come out so perfect. Thats ok, I think I'm gonna make a Lake Erie custom.

Fuck Yea, Coon Cheese. (Via - The Bloglin)

One of my favorite rec events is putt putt. We normally go to Broadway Driving Range because they're cheap and the course is pretty fun. They keep the course extremely clean, the fountains stay blueish most of the time, and now they are replacing the astroturf on each hole. Its a totally different feel playing on new turf so definitely check it out if you love putt putt. They're located on Broadway near transit road in Lancaster/Depew. #snap

I'll always love the G1 for its physical keyboard, despite the fact that now its a dinosaur compared to its siblings the HTC Hero and Magic. However, I'm getting used to the fact that my next android device (the Sony Ericsson X3, or maybe a Hero) won't have a hard keyboard. Because of that, I've been shopping around for a soft keyboard substitute that I can be comfortable with. Yes it's true, the stock Android keyboard is a bit rough to use, not so smooth with error correction, and the keys are too close together. However, the beauty of Android is that you don't have to live with software you don't like, even the onscreen keyboard. Enter TouchPal, the latest addition to the world of alternate Android soft keyboards, and it types like a winner. Just released on the 9th of August, TouchPal was developed by CooTek, who originally developed TouchPal for Windows Mobile. The features are immense:

1. Mistype Correction: TouchPal senses where you press your finger and guesses the key you meant to press. The claim to be able to predict the right word with 98% accuracy. I say it works pretty damn well.
2. Smart Prediction: TouchPal tries to guess the word you want to say next. For example, type "this" and TouchPal will offer "is" as a suggestion for your next word (the phrase "This is about us" can be typed just from the predictive choices).
3. Quick Symbols and Uppercase swipes:  Swiping a letter upwards will input the caps version of that character, and a downward swipe will input the corresponding symbol. Hold the key a little longer and more character choices will appear.
4. Multiple languages: I've only tested English, but TouchPal supports 20 (four available right now) different languages packs that you can install from the market.
5. Multiple keyboards at a finger swipe: slide the keyboard to the left or right to switch between numbered, t9, or qwerty layouts with a smooth animation.

TouchPal is free in the Android Market until September 30th, but will eventually go for sale for $9.75USD. I think that's a good buy for the amount of features you get and how flawless the keyboard operates. It's quick, smooth, and accurate, and the t9 keyboard is perfect if that's what you are used to.

Bam. HTC's third Android device, the Hero, was recently launched in Taiwan on the CHT network for the low low price of free, when paired with a $60/month 2 year contract. Additionally, HTC's CEO, Peter Chou mentioned that their previous device, the HTC Magic had recently sold over 1 Million units. Not bad for 4 months time. Congrats HTC, now send the Hero to the US. KTHX. [via digitimes]

Just this Tuesday, a Texas judged ruled that Microsoft can NOT sell Microsoft Word in the US, due to patent infringement. Toronto based i4i apparently has patents on custom tags in XML and claims Microsoft went on with intentional infringement. The injunction prevents the sale of any Microsoft Word product that can open XML files (like .DOCX). Microsoft doesn't plan on pulling the product, nor will they stop selling it, instead they intent to appeal and/or settle within the 60 days they have to comply. The injunction reads:

PERMANENT INJUNCTION In accordance with the Court’s contemporaneously issued memorandum opinion and order in this case, Microsoft Corporation is hereby permanently enjoined from performing the following actions with Microsoft Word 2003, Microsoft Word 2007, and Microsoft Word products not more than colorably different from Microsoft Word 2003 or Microsoft Word 2007 (collectively “Infringing and Future Word Products”) during the term of U.S. Patent No. 5,787,449:

1. selling, offering to sell, and/or importing in or into the United States any Infringing and Future Word Products that have the capability of opening a .XML, .DOCX, or .DOCM file (“an XML file”) containing custom XML;
2. using any Infringing and Future Word Products to open an XML file containing custom XML;
3. instructing or encouraging anyone to use any Infringing and Future Word Products to open an XML file containing custom XML;
4. providing support or assistance to anyone that describes how to use any infringing and Future Word Products to open an XML file containing custom XML; and
5. testing, demonstrating, or marketing the ability of the Infringing and Future Word Products to open an XML file containing custom XML.

This injunction does not apply to any of the above actions wherein the Infringing and Future Word Products open an XML file as plain text. This injunction also does not apply to any of the above actions wherein any of the Infringing and Future Word Products, upon opening an XML file, applies a custom tranform that removes all custom XML elements. This injunction further does not apply to Microsoft providing support or assistance to anyone that describes how to use any of the infringing products to open an XML file containing custom XML if that product was licensed or sold before the date this injunction takes effect. This injunction becomes effective 60 days from the date of this order. __________________________________ LEONARD DAVIS UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE So ORDERED and SIGNED this 11th day of August, 2009.

Judge Leonard Davis, of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, also ordered Microsoft to pay i4i more than $290 Million in damages. Right. This is becoming a bigger trend eh? Claim patent infringement, get some redneck judge to go down, and cash in. Only when you meddle with Microsoft, it might not always work in your favor. The next 60 days are gonna suck for i4i. Who knows... sometimes the easier thing to do is to sign a check, but I seriously doubt the validity of this claim. via (everyone, sourced from Seattle pi)

So uh... Randall (my tattoo artist) and I have this weird fascination with Juggalos. Maybe because they are the most honestly trashy individuals in America, or maybe cause we just wanna fuck a few of em. Juggalos are quite the interesting batch of folk. Each year, because Lollapolooza is fucking gay, Juggalos from all over converge upon Cave-In-Rock, IL, for "The Gathering." To my Buffalo readers, imagine if all of South Buffalo went camping. To the rest of the world, imagine that kid in High School that was suspended because someone said he was gonna blow up the school, then imagine thousands of his kind, some with titties, cloned, and drinking Faygo. Faygo is the Ofishal drink of the Juggalos, mainly because it comes in "every fucking flavor." Attached are a few photos, and after the jump, a video taken by Derek Erdman (more photos at his site), who may or may not also be a Juggalo (I don't think so, the camera was pretty steady). (HT - Mishka Bloglin)

This event sponsored by Walmart, apparently Dummalo and Dummerlo? Intense. thats for sure.

So much more after the jump...

Titties are currency in these parts.

Faygo representing.That airbrushed look. Help a Juggalo out. I'm sorry.. I'd fuck this guy. Juggalo or not. right in his Great Milenko Ass. ICP, and the rest of the braided face painted people crew are the reason these people are here. Juggalos are kinky. and crafty. A hybrid breed of Juggalos mixed with douche bags. or Jug bags. Different strokes for different folks. oh yea... best quote ever:

"I'm just, I'm just trying to go home without fucking catching the HIV again.

He went to Vegas, and slept with them all, so now he's back in Buffalo. Ok, actually he's back for a teaching job, and we're glad to have him back. I suppose. Just kidding. He's staying at Casa la Summer St. for a few weeks till he finds a place. If you know of anyone who wants a bitchy musclebear for a roommate give me a holler. #snap.

I swear to God this works. Every. Time. #snap

I don't wear Nike... Never have never will. It's not because of their past with child labor (dude, little hands make the best stitches, that's why American soccer balls suck), it's not because I don't play basketball, it's because I wanted to see how far I could go in life without rocking the swoosh. That being said, I've been enticed more and more by the Nike SB line... made just for skateboarders. Ok, I don't skateboard anymore (twas a small bit of my childhood though), but I do enjoy a good flat sole skate shoe (despite my flat feet). as DVS, Etnie, and Vans make fatter uglier shoes, Nike's taking their incredible years of experience to make skate shoes that even I wanna break my no-swoosh rule to rock. Their advertising campaign doesn't suck either. Check out this extended commercial for Nike SB shoes, mainly the new Zoom Air Paul Rodriguez III, which is launched August 8th. Its a pretty sweet shoe... but the comercial spot, featuring Paul Rodriguez, Eric Kosten, and a few other celebrity cameos totally rocks. I believe it. (Via It's Nice That)