hmm...sounds like you guys are getting kinda screwed.  my local BB has been doing 1-day rentals for $2 on any release for a while now.  rent a movie any day of the week, and it's due back by midnight the next day...keep it longer, and you pay $1 for each additional day.  you also have the option of paying the old rates up front if you know you want something for more than a day or two ($3.49 for a duration dependent on age of the movie).  i live so close to a BB that i never need a movie for more than one day...pick one up the day i plan to watch it, then drop it off when i go out the following day.  i've actually found myself renting more often now that it's a little cheaper.

here's a little interesting Microman/Tansformers history for you...

did you know that Takara's Microman/MicroChange toy line from the 70s-early 80s was the first predecessor to the Transformers?  in the early 1970s, Hasbro licensed its GI Joe action figure line to Takara, who then created their Combat Joe line of toys.  robot figures were very popular in japan at the time, so Takara next turned the 12" GI Joe toy mold into a transparent transforming cyborg toy line...they made the Combat Joe body out of clear plastic so you could see the cyborg parts inside (see it here).  those cyborg toys were then shrunk down so that it would be easier to sell playsets and vehicles for them...and Microman was born.  in the early 80s, the Microman series was revamped into robots that transformed into vehicles, and they created the MicroChange series of robots that turned into everyday objects (microscopes, cassettes, guns).  in 1984, the Microman toys made a circle back to the US when Hasbro licensed them (as well as the Diaclone toys, another spin-off series) and renamed them Transformers.  the original Megatron TF from '84 (Walther P38 handgun) was actually a Microchange first released in japan in 1980...Optimus Prime was originally released by Takara in '84 as part of their Diaclone line (named Battle Convoy).  once Hasbro had licensed the transforming toys from Takara, they worked with Marvel comics to create a backstory and names for all the characters...and the Transformers mythology was born.  when the Transformers became a hit in the US, Takara re-imported the toys (and cartoons) back to Japan, where they were hugely successful and brought an end to the already dying Microman series.  Microman disappeared until the late 90s, when they were resurrected by Takara for both their 20th and 25th anniversary.  now that the Transformers are becoming popular in the US and japan again, we're seeing more and more imports of the latest iteration of Microman.  pretty interesting story if you're much of a toy collector

that said, i'm more of a TF fan...no Microman toys in my collection.  i think the highlight of my small collection is the 20th Anniversary Optimus Prime (Masterpiece Convoy in japan)...12" and 3.5 pounds of die-cast transforming goodness.  it's by far the coolest TF ever released and is definitely more of a collector's piece than a kid's toy due to its complexity, but it's an awesome addition to any toy collection.  the other great Transformers available now are the Alternator/Binaltech line...detailed replicas of real-world cars that are second only to 20th Anniversary Optimus for being the best TFs ever.

but i don't really know anything about Transformers toys...i'm 25 years old and don't play with that kiddy stuff anymore...

i've made all of them available here for your viewing pleasure...enjoy!

I haven't laughed so hard in some time. Thank you for the laughs.

i'm always happy to bring up the Outpost.com commercials again...can't let something that great fade into the past.  i guess it's fairly obvious after watching them why they didn't run for very long though

i'll be watching the debate (and Smallville) tonight as well, but i'll be able to play for about an hour once those two guys are done dodging questions, lying, and bad-mouthing.  so anyone else interested in some action at about 11pm EDT (8pm for the west-coasters)?

ok -- maybe this should go in hardware, butthat place is relatively dead...

nice looking laptop...but what the hell is a "butthat"?

i think you've got it right already.  it looks like a SATA cable and power adapter to me

i still think the commercials from Outpost.com a few years ago are some of the funniest i've seen.  the original one featured them trying to shoot gerbils out of a cannon and through the center of the O in their name.  unfortunately, their aim was a little off...

they had a whole series of them that were all great...the gerbils, releasing rabid wolves on a marching band, tattooing their logo on the foreheads of daycare kids...great stuff.  unfortunately, it wasn't long before they were pulled off the air...turns out someone must have been offended...

i've made all of them available here for your viewing pleasure...enjoy!

here's mine...same thing i've been looking at more almost a year now.  one of these days, i'll find the time to come up with something new...

(click the thumbnail for a full-size pic)

i use StyleXP to change my theme, and was lucky enough to find a guy that made matching skins for WinXP and Trillian...works great

i just picked up Sum41's new album Chuck on a whim while i was dvd shopping at BestBuy this evening...All Killer, No Filler was a fun punk/pop album, so i figured what the hell (doesn't hurt that it's only $9.99 either).  

so what do i think?  they went a little different direction this time and i'm really liking what i've heard so far.  they have a few mellow songs this time around, but the majority is an interesting punk/metal mix that actually makes for some really kick-ass songs.  if you're into punk and hard-rock/metal, i'd recommend checking it out

ahh...egrudzin caught my mistake.  now that he mentions it, i do remember that the actual account created by .NET was 'ASPNET.  in any case, you can still disable it and everything works fine.  i actually deleted the account entirely without any trouble...the .NET framework works fine without it there.

tonight's show was pretty good...although ken still had another runaway win.  they had a great category titled "Tricky Questions" and stumped everyone with the first clue...

The total number of each animal that Moses took on the ark

One of the other contestants said 2 and got it wrong...then ken rang in with "one of each" and was wrong as well.  everyone felt a little stupid when alex pointed out that the answer was zero...noah took animals on the ark, not moses

there is an even easier way to fix this than using TweakUI...although i do think that every WinXP user should have TweakUI available for all the other great things it can do...

for some reason, when you install the .NET, the generic "Guest" account is automatically activate.  the result is that people who have previously only had a single account that logs on automatically start seeing the login screen.  the solution?  you can either use a utility like TweakUI to set automatic logon for your usual account, or you can go to 'User Accounts' in the Control Panel and turn off the 'Guest' account (click on 'Guest' under "Pick an account to change," then click on "Turn off the Guest account").  

both methods work, but disabling the Guest account gets to the root of the problem, while setting an automatic logon just gets you around it.

all the server info is at Zaxxon's UT Server Stats page...complete with a real-time list of who's playing, and logs of every match played since the demo was first released

zaxxon...just a little thought about the server/stats...
is there a way to list all the mods/maps currently in use somewhere on the stats page?  that info might be worthy of a link somewhere that isn't dependent on a forum post...if it's not too much trouble...

i say open it up and give it a shot.  it really is a great game...you might be surprised.  if it doesn't work out, you can still trade/sell it away

i'll be picking up Invader Zim vol. 3 tomorrow...been anxiously awaiting the chance to finish the set

[sings]
Doom, doom, doom, doom, doom, doom, doom, doom, doom, doom...
[/sings]

Who the hell came up with this Columbus day stuff?  Most of us don't get the day off, but God forbid we try to mail something or do some banking.

i've been working at the VA hospital in Indianapolis this month, so i got the day off.  sometimes working at a government facility has its advantages

i've been with SBC/Yahoo! for almost a year and a half now...no real complaints so far.  my service has been consistent and you'll have a hard time beating the price...i pay $29.95/month, but the most recent deal is $26.95 i think.  i've had a few billing issues when i started and renewed my service, but they were actually pretty good about getting things worked out when i contacted them.

thanks for the heads-up RW...i'll be heading to TRU later today

Unreal Tournament 2004
Tie Fighter
Doom
Baldur's Gate 2
Planescape Torment

i'm with zaxxon...5 doesn't seem like enough.  there are so many more great games i'd like to put on that list...

looks great...very nice work  

one small comment though...
the white text on silver bars can be a little hard to read if the text is small.  for an example, look at the last silver bar at the bottom of a thread...you can barely see the words "Display posts from previous" before the option boxes.  that's a very minor issue though...otherwise a great theme.  thanks mike!

Bah I just uninstalled it awhile ago when you guys were playing after the new edition content was released.

you uninstalled UT?  my god man...what were you thinking???

i don't think i've ever uninstalled any version of UT...only time i've not had it installed since i got the original was short bits of time right after a reformat.  personally, i don't even know why they include an uninstall with the games.

UT...my own personal form of crack

Ninja Gaiden?  I remember that shot, just can't remember the game for sure!

Damn my aging brain!

you are correct Mr. Zaxxon!

while i don't think i've reached "addict" status yet, i do have a fairly rapidly growing collection.  currently, i have about 50 movies, a few music DVDs, and have collected the Transformers, Beast Wars, and Invader Zim TV shows.  i guess collecting complete seasons of a TV show might qualify someone as an addict of some sort

my Invader Zim collection will be complete this Tuesday when the third and final disc is available...makes me want to sing the Doom song  

that would be BattleToads...fun game at times, but definitely tough.

here's my contribution...

a shot from the opening cinematic to one of my favorite NES games...

good to see we're getting a start over here.  so is anyone willing to put Kohan2 down long enough to get some UT action going?  if anyone wants to play, send me an IM...i'll be around, but i do have other things i should be doing that keep me from just hanging in the server all night tonight...

No prob, bob.  How's your Trek been?

the bike's been great...although my busy schedule has kept me from riding much over the last couple weeks.  the weather is great today, so i'll be heading out later this afternoon though  

hey guys...just checking into what looks like our temporary (hopefully) refuge.  not sure i'd have thought about coming over here if it weren't for zaxxon...thanks zax!