SykoBeta: 2009

The JibJab Year in Review has just what you would expect, a comical look at the year past, enjoy it after the link. It's hilarious.

It’s That Time Again… The JibJab Year in Review

Happy 2010 from Syko.org!

According to the TrekMovie.com, J.J. Abrams Star Trek film was the top pirated movie of 2009, and here are excerpts of their report.

Star Trek topped a list of films compiled by the Web site TorrentFreak.com, which tracks the file-sharing program BitTorrent. According to that list, Star Trek was downloaded close to 11 million times, and other blockbusters dominated the chart: Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen was No. 2, with 10.6 million downloads; X-Men Origins Wolverine was No. 9, with 7.2 million downloads.

According to TrekMovie, this piracy has not gone without notice at Paramount. Last month the studio reported to the FCC that it had tracked more than five million IP addresses that downloaded one of six camcorded copies of the movie over the Summer. You can read the entire Paramount letter to the FCC here.

via TrekWeb - The full report can be found at TrekMovie.com

Snap Magazine features Dead By Sunrise in their December issue.

Dead by Sunrise break away from Linkin Park and Orgy associations on their debut, Out of Ashes

Given the stratospheric success of Linkin Park and Orgy, it might seem odd that any project comprised of their members would distance itself from their platinum glow. But as it happens, Dead by Sunrise–comprised of Linkin Park vocalist Chester Bennington, Orgy/Julien-K guitarists Amir Derakh and Ryan Shuck, and Julien-K bassist, drummer and keyboardist Brandon Belsky, Elias Andra and Anthony "Fu" Valcic–and their debut album, Out of Ashes, actually arose from a need on everyone's part to do something different.

DBS unofficially began in 2005 when Bennington wrote a handful of songs outside of the Linkin Park mold. Convinced of their merit, Bennington turned them over to Derakh and Shuck–friends since Linkin Park and Orgy toured early in both their careers–to get their input.

"When we were doing Julien-K, Chester was real interested and kind of wanted to be a part of it, but it didn't really make sense for him to be in the band," says Derakh. "Chester had been playing these ideas to Ryan on an acoustic, and Ryan was like, 'These are really good songs. What are you going to do with them?'"

Bennington proposed that Shuck and Derakh flesh out his acoustic sketches into full-fledged songs. The pair recorded Bennington strumming the song "Let Down" and singing a scratch vocal, and then spent a couple of days building up the track to essentially the '80s synth pop/contemporary wall-of-rock version that appears on Out of Ashes. Bennington was floored.

"He was like, 'Wow, I could never have imagined this,'" says Derakh. "He was really stoked. So we did a few more songs and he kept getting more and more excited about it and was like, 'Let's keep working on it; it'll be like my solo project, and we'll work on it when we can work on it.'"

That summer, the trio assembled over half of the songs on Out of Ashes, but Bennington had to split to concentrate on making Minutes to Midnight with Linkin Park while Derakh and Shuck focused on Julien-K. Last year, they were finally able to revisit the material, to which the remaining members of Julien-K had also contributed. Almost organically, the combination of Bennington and Julien-K morphed into Dead by Sunrise.

"It wasn't so much that we were recording these songs for Chester; it became a band," says Derakh. "It all sort of fell together the end of last year, and for all the right reasons. This whole record was done completely on our own, void of any outside influences business-wise–just friends making music together that they really love. It spans many decades: There's punk elements, new wave elements, rock elements, grunge elements, classic rock elements, and they're all sort of mixed together."

The collective is committed to keeping Dead by Sunrise together for more than a single album/tour cycle. They've done some well-received gigs for Out of Ashes, and while they'll have to work around the inevitable upcoming Linkin Park and Julien-K activities–and a possible Orgy reunion–Dead by Sunrise are definitely a living thing.

Via http://www.cbennington.com/2009/12/dead-by-sunrise-in-snap-magazine.html

Produced by Harry Fraud
from the mixtape Blestenation presents MBC DIGITAL
available at mbcdigitalmusic.com

Directed by Lennon Ficalora
Edited by FAFU
Painting by Josama

(MySpace Photo)
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) A 20-year-old California man calling himself Syko Sam rapped in his horrorcore lyrics on "the best feeling" derived from killing people slowly, watching their last breaths.

Richard Alden Samuel McCroskey III is now accused of killing a Virginia pastor, with authorities saying Sunday they expect to charge him in three more slayings at the home of a college professor. Police charged McCroskey of Castro Valley, Calif., with murder, robbery and stealing the automobile of Mark Niederbrock, a pastor at Walker's Presbyterian Church in Appomattox County.

Niederbrock has been tentatively identified as one of four people discovered Saturday in Farmville, about 50 miles west of Richmond, at the home of Longwood University professor Debra Kelley. Niederbrock and Kelley were separated, said Farmville police Capt. Wade Stimpson. He emphasized that the state medical examiner's office would not officially identify any of the victims until at least Monday.

McCroskey recorded horrorcore music, which sets violent lyrics to hip-hop beats, and his songs spoke of death, murder and mutilation. His MySpace Web page said he has only been rapping for a few months but has been a fan for years of the genre.

"You're not the first, just to let you know. I've killed many people and I kill them real slow. It's the best feeling, watching their last breath. Stabbing and stabbing till there's nothing left," McCroskey sings in "My Dark Side."

McCroskey will be formally charged with the other three killings once the bodies are identified, Stimpson said. He said "there are a number of factors relating to why" police couldn't identify the victims. He would not say how they were killed.

Police went to Kelley's home Thursday after a West Virginia woman called to say that it had been days since she heard from her teen daughter, who was staying with Kelley and Niederbrock's daughter, Emma, Stimpson said.

Investigators went to the home, where a man matching McCroskey's description told them the girls had gone to the movies. When the mother still didn't hear from her daughter Friday, police went to the home and found the bodies.

Police arrested McCroskey at the Richmond airport Saturday as he waited to take a plane back to California. He is being held in the Piedmont Regional Jail and has an initial court appearance on Monday to determine if he needs a court-appointed attorney.

Stimpson said messages posted online led police to believe McCroskey knew Emma Niederbrock and that he may have been visiting her.

On McCroskey's MySpace page, someone who goes by Ragdoll, which friends identified as Emma Niederbrock, wrote several messages to McCroskey. In a post dated Sept. 7, Niederbrock says she is excited for McCroskey's visit to her house.

"The next time you check your myspace, YOULL BE AT MY HOUSE!" the post reads.

A friend said McCroskey, Emma and her friend were brought together by horrorcore music.

Andres Shrim, who owns the small, independent horrorcore music label Serial Killin Records in New Mexico and performs under the name SickTanicK, said he saw all three Sept. 12 at an all-day music festival in Southgate, Mich.

Shrim said despite the morbid music he and his friends loved, they were not violent people.

"You look at the music we do and it's kind of harsh and somewhat brutal at times, but there's a different side of life that people aren't normally accustomed to, and being an artist, I think it's important to see both sides of life," he said.

Shrim asked others not to judge McCroskey by the lyrics to his songs or his disturbing Web pages.

"This is not something from the Sam I know," he said. "This is not something that I would ever, ever in a million years envision him doing."

Stimpson called McCroskey's songs and writings "a little disturbing," and said police were looking into that.

A phone message left Sunday at McCroskey's California home was not immediately returned.
Note: Syko.org and SykoPaths is not affiliated with Syko Sam in any way and never has been.

Via CrimeSider

Touchscreen menus. Corrugated metal. Red chandeliers. Brick. Burger King will add these elements to 12,000 locations in renovations costing franchisees between $300,000 and $600,000 apiece.
The goal? 'A contemporary, edgy, futuristic' look, according to CEO John Chidsey. One of an 'upscale restaurant.'
You can see the new design in the lead shot (AP Photo/Pat Sullivan). It certainly looks more industrial, like a motorcycle shop or maybe a Chipotle. But there are more aggressive design elements, like the saucer ceiling, that you don't really see in a stock chain restaurant...and that honestly feel a it more retro than they do 'futuristic.' (And on another note, are a couple of touchscreens randomly dispersed through the tables really enough to encourage casual, table ordering?)
Apparently 60 locations have already gone over the '20/20' makeover. Having witnessed their touchscreen menus in action, I'll say that while the system is somewhat intuitive, it's quite slow. Then again, maybe Burger King believes that if their restaurants are nicer, you might actually want to stay a while. [AP via ChipChick via Burger King Updating 12,000 Locations with 'Futuristic' Look [Architecture]"

I absolutely love the High Score theme they released for Gmail last month. You can read the post over at the gmail blog. Not only does it have a retro 8-bit feel to it, it changes from blue background during the day to black background at night. The Google Talk gadget looks like an arcade console and even has little icons that look like space invaders. To install this theme on your own Gmail, log into your account, click on settings and then click on themes. You will see High Score listed near the bottom, click it and you're set!

Sifting through the pile of rumors concerning Apple’s next move when it comes to its iMac lineup, one can only be certain that nothing is certain. But, although it’s all totally unofficial, most of the blogs devoted to Apple report the same thing: new iMacs are going to be cheaper, and they’ll feature a thinner industrial design.

The same sources claim that the new iMac line will feature a Blu-ray drive; a logical move, although a bit surprising considering that Steve Jobs had once said its licensing is too complex. But, there’s a time for everything, right?

The new iMacs could appear on the market as early as this month, AppleInsider claims, although it’s quite possible that Apple will wait a bit to spoil the party for the Windows 7 October launch.

via Mashable

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(from Cory Doctorow by way of John Rogers on Twitter) via Wil Wheaton

Oh, those smart rascals at Microsoft are on a roll. I love their Courier tablet concept, and now they may have found the way to make on-screen multitouch keyboards actually work great—even for touch typists like me.

The problem with screen keyboards is that you actually have to look at the screen to hit the keys correctly. With real keyboards, touch typists have a physical reference to position their hands. That's why they type blind. With a flat screen keyboard, however, you lose the physical reference frame.

The patent for this screen keyboard, however, uses multitouch technology to automatically align the keys to the position of the hand. Since the keys are always in the same relative position to your fingers, you will always have a physical point of reference: Your own hand. That way, you can blindingly hammer your keys against the screen, knowing that your fingers will always hit the keys they are aiming for.
The patent also details the way this virtual keyboard would appear anywhere on the screen: Just place your hands as you would normally do while typing, and the keyboard will pop up. [USPTO via WMPowerUser]

Via Gizmodo

What TV shows are you looking forward to this week? I'm looking forward to Heroes on Monday, Smallville on Friday on The CW, the CBS comedy Monday, Modern Family on ABC on Wednesday, and of course the return of Saturday Night Live next weekend. This is a great month for TV, I'm loving it!

Full schedule after the jump.

Sunday, September 20
8:00 - 61st Primetime Emmy Awards (CBS) - More nominees, same number of winners
9:00 - Curb Your Enthusiasm (HBO) - 7th season premiere, Seinfeld reunion imminent
9:30 - Bored to Death (HBO) - Series premiere; Jason Schwartzman, Ted Danson & Zach Galifianakis

Monday, September 21
8:00 - Dancing With the Stars (ABC) -- 9th season
8:00 - Heroes (NBC) -- 4th season 2-hour premiere
8:00 - House (FOX) -- 6th season 2-hour premiere; nice to see they're not keeping Monday's so competitive
8:00 - How I Met Your Mother (CBS) -- 5th season
8:30 - Accidentally on Purpose (CBS) -- Series premiere; the return of Jenna Elfman
9:00 - Two and a Half Men (CBS) -- 7th season
9:30 - The Big Bang Theory (CBS) -- 3rd season; which will emerge as TV's top comedy?
10:00 - Castle (ABC) -- 2nd season
10:00 - CSI: Miami (CBS -- 8th season

Tuesday, September 22
8:00 - Dancing With the Stars (ABC) -- Tuesday edition
8:00 - NCIS (CBS) -- 7th season
9:00 - NCIS: Los Angeles (CBS) -- Series premiere; do you want your NCIS back-to-back like this?
10:00 - The Forgotten (ABC) -- Series premiere
10:00 - The Good Wife (CBS) -- Series premiere

Wednesday, September 23
8:00 - Mercy (NBC) -- Series premiere
8:00 - The New Adventures of Old Christine (CBS) -- 5th season
8:30 - Gary Unmarried (CBS) -- 2nd season
9:00 - Criminal Minds (CBS) -- 5th season
9:00 - Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (NBC) -- 11th season
9:00 - Modern Family (ABC) -- Series premiere; Ed O'Neil's back
9:30 - Cougar Town (ABC) -- Series premiere; so's Courtney Cox
10:00 - CSI: NY (CBS) -- 6th season
10:00 - Eastwick (ABC) -- Series premiere; based on the Jack Nicholson movie

Thursday, September 24
8:00 - Flash Forward (ABC) - Series premiere; or is it FlashForward? ABC can't make up their mind
9:00 - CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (CBS) -- 10th season
9:00 - Grey's Anatomy (ABC) -- 6th season 2-hour premiere
10:00 - The Mentalist (CBS) -- 2nd season

Friday, September 25
8:00 - Brothers (FOX) -- 1hour series premiere
8:00 - Ghost Whisperer (CBS) -- 5th season

8:00 - Law & Order (NBC) -- 20th season; take that Gunsmoke!
8:00 - Smallville (The CW) -- 9th season
9:00 - Dollhouse (FOX) -- 2nd season
9:00 - Medium (CBS) -- 6th season; jumped to CBS from NBC
10:00 - Numb3rs (CBS) -- 6th season

Saturday, September 26
10:00 - 48 Hours Mystery (CBS) -- 13th season
11:35 - Saturday Night Live (NBC) -- 35th season; Megan Fox [is hosting]

All times are eastern and dates are tentative. Schedule via TvSquad.

This new Wiimote being offered in Europe looks really cool, with many features that the current set lacks; wireless nunchuck, rechargeable batteries built-in, and of course the kicker, MotionPlus+ support without the extra dongle. No word on whether this Wii Remote will be offered in the USA. It certainly packs a punch compared to the Mad Catz Wiimote and the Nyko Wand.

More info after the jump.

The Remote XL+ comes with integrated Wii Motion Plus, as well as an external sync button to make synchronising remotes that bit easier, and a built in battery which can be charged via usb cable.

To go with this is the Wireless Motion XL, which is basically a wireless Nunchuck. Being wireless it is obviously battery operated, but with the same charging capabilities as the Remote XL + and an off/on switch, the Nunchuck should have no problems pleasing everyone.

'We are pleased to offer innovative accessories that go Electronic Theatre Imagebeyond the usual offerings to our customers. The XL+ series was just the logical consequence of the market developments in recent months and the buyer will receive innovative and practical accessories from one source, without buying several gadgets.' Mike Steup, managing director of Sunflex Europe told us about the range of controls.

The premium controllers should be available around November 15, the prices for the controls are as follows:

• Remote XL+ - Around $94 AUD
• Wireless Motion XL - Around $56 AUD

Via MyWii

TvSquad has a great review of the Community Series Premier on NBC. Here is an excerpt:

The study group that Jeff accidentally pulls together to try and get into Britta's pants -- because why else would you form one -- is made up of just the kind of eclectic personalities you need to make a comedy like this work. Like Cheers, these are people from all different walks of life coming together.

I really enjoyed the premiere, and I look forward to watching this show every thursday.

via TV Squad

I enjoy KMK shows, and I've been a fan of Blestenation for years, so I'll try to go to one of these shows. Big props to the guys for signing with Subnoize. If you haven't heard BLESTe before, check out their videos.

"Blestenation is heading out to Arizona and New Mexico in October to hit the stage with the Kottonmouth Kings for a few special shows.

Be on the lookout for a new Blestenation EP coming real soon. Also look out for their debut album dropping this Winter on Suburban Noize Records."

via MBC Digital

So, our readers are the most important thing we have on a news blog, right? I figured I would tap that resource and ask you, the reader, what direction you think Syko should take.

Here are your options:

Movie News & Reviews - SykoFilm?
Television News & Reviews - SykoTV?
Gaming News & Reviews - SykoGames?
Internet News & Reviews - SykoWeb?
Leave it the way it is, a blend of them all - SykoNews

Please take a second and vote in the comments below. If you are viewing this in a feed reader you will need to visit the webpage to participate.

I don't know about you, but I am eagerly anticipating this new season.
Full Smallville Season 9 CW press release:

Soaring into its ninth season, this modern retelling of the Superman legend and its classic characters continues to blend realism, action and emotional depth to reveal a new interpretation of the enduring mythology. This season, as Metropolis' clock tower tolls our characters' darkest hour, we find Clark Kent (Tom Welling) finally making his first attempts to embrace his calling as a superhero.

After the events of last season, Clark takes on the mantle of protector of Metropolis, trading in his familiar red-and-blue for black-and-gray, sticking to the city's shadows and rooftops to become a solitary sentry simply known as "the Blur." While Clark wrestles with his identity, feeling forced to choose between his Kryptonian heritage and human past, he'll encounter even more powerful enemies and allies from across the DC Universe. This season will feature new and past nemeses, including Metallo (Brian Austin Green, "Terminator: Sarah Connor Chronicles"), the man with the Kryptonite heart; Roulette, a sexy mastermind; the return of Toyman; and the always-treacherous Zod (Callum Blue) as a young Major and leader of an invading alien army, who befriends fellow Kryptonian Clark just as his venomous side is beginning to emerge. This season will also feature an appearance by DC Comics' first all-star team of superheroes, the Justice Society of America, in an episode penned by renowned comic book writer Geoff Johns, who returns to the show after writing last year's fan favorite episode, "Legion."

After a year of protecting Metropolis as the "Red-Blue Blur," Clark Kent finished season eight with the weight and fate of the world on his shoulders, facing down Doomsday. Clark emerged victorious, but his decision to ignore the Justice League's warnings and save the human side of medic Davis Bloome (Sam Witwer) from the monster Doomsday came with a tragic cost – Davis turned out to be just as evil as the beast he'd been bonded to, and murdered Jimmy Olsen (Aaron Ashmore) in front of Chloe (Alison Mack), the woman they both loved. In the wake of Jimmy's death, Chloe retreated into her Watchtower, the Justice League disbanded, and Oliver Queen (Justin Hartley) went into a downward spiral, retiring his Green Arrow persona. And Clark turned his back on his own humanity, leaving behind life as "Clark Kent" to exist solely as "the Blur." Meanwhile, Tess Mercer's (Cassidy Freeman) obsession with Clark's Kryptonian origins came to a head when she confronted intrepid reporter Lois Lane (Erica Durance) about a mysterious alien orb that Tess thought Lois had stolen from her, resulting in the two women battling it out in the Daily Planet. During the fight, Lois touched Clark's time-traveling Legion Ring and vanished in a flash of light, lost somewhere in time. And Tess returned home to discover the orb had released a young version of the villainous Kryptonian, Zod, as well as the entire population of the lost alien city of Kandor. But Clark finished the season unaware of this new threat. Instead, he remains haunted by Lois' sudden disappearance, fearing the woman he cares about most could have been killed during his fight with Doomsday.

The season nine premiere takes place three weeks after Clark and Doomsday's epic battle. Obsessed with becoming the hero the world needs, Clark is now literally leaving his mark on Metropolis – having fully embraced his Kryptonian side in order to finish training with his father Jor-El, Clark has started wearing the iconic "S"-shield on his chest, and spreads the symbol around the city in an effort to give its people hope.

Whereas Clark is working alone, Chloe feels driven to reunite the disbanded Justice League. Her biggest challenge is Oliver Queen, who'd rather lose himself in underground fight clubs and drunken one-night stands. Oliver's friends will hatch a plan to bring him back from the edge. Reconnecting with the hero inside of him, Oliver will return with a renewed purpose, even searching out an apprentice in Mia Dearden, DC comics' teenaged sidekick "Speedy."

Clark and Oliver will find themselves caught up in a love triangle with Lois, as both men's passions begin to burn brightly for her. Returning from her trip through time, Lois starts experiencing nightmarish visions of the future. Could they come true? If so, one not-so-troubling image is playing itself over and over in her head – Lois and Clark locked in a romantic, erotic embrace. Meanwhile, Clark continues to be conflicted over his own feelings for Lois. As the sparks fly, Lois and Clark's relationship will deepen, leading to their first true kiss, and possibly something more.

Meanwhile, Clark and Chloe's relationship is starting to become strained. No longer content just being Clark's sidekick, Chloe uses Watchtower's powerful computers to spin her own web of influence and intrigue, manipulating people like chess pieces in the name of the greater good. But when Chloe begins to believe the ends justify the means, it sends her on a collision course with her friend and ally Clark.

When it comes to master manipulators, Tess Mercer has emerged as the rightful heir to Lex Luthor's legacy. Always inscrutable, Tess has her hands full this season with an army of Kryptonians, newly arrived from the lost city of Kandor and led by the infamous Zod. However, this incarnation of Zod is younger than the one we remember – he has yet to grow into the power-mad psychopathic dictator, General Zod. Season nine's Zod may only be a Major, but he's already a cunning strategist and charismatic leader who knows how to inspire his troops. But behind his magnetism and those piercing eyes, Zod is still very dangerous. When Zod and Clark eventually meet, Clark recognizes that if he can befriend his fellow Kryptonian, he might be able to influence Zod away from becoming an evil, twisted tyrant. While it's true this Major Zod has certain vulnerabilities, it may only take a handful of betrayals to turn him into Clark's deadly arch-nemesis.

"Smallville" was developed for television by Alfred Gough & Miles Millar ("Shanghai Noon," "The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor"), based on the DC Comics characters. Kelly Souders & Brian Peterson serve as executive producers, along with James Marshall, Mike Tollin, Brian Robbins and Joe Davola. The series is produced by Tollin/Robbins Productions and Warner Bros. Television. SUPERMAN was created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster.

Source: CW

Over at OSCK, they've posted a great new wallpaper for those interested in the 9th season of Smallville premiering Friday, September 25 on The CW.

From their posting:

Just to get you further excited about season 9 premiering on FRIDAY Sept 25th at 8PM on the CW, here is a wallpaper that I made of the pending confrontation between Clark and Metallo!

Go get the wall paper here in 3 sizes: 1680×1050 1440×900 1280×800

There are many returning shows premiering new episodes in the next week and I will cover some of my favorites. Today Supernatural season 5 premiers on The CW. I have been looking forward to this all summer. The story arc left off last season with the brothers Winchester facing off against the rise of Lucifer. Spoilers for this coming season of this show reveal God may come into play.

On Saturday, September 12, at the oddest time ever, in the slot where Talk Show with Spike Feresten used to be, right after the recently cancelled MADtv, is Sit Down, Shut Up, the most underrated animated comedy of it's time, which returns to play out the remaining episodes that were produced for FOX before it was cancelled.

The next day FOX will air a 1-hour series finale of King of the Hill, which is actually only 2 of the remaining 6 episodes made. The other 4 episodes will go into syndication as the show goes to cancellation heaven with the likes of Spike, MAD, and SDSU.

Monday, September 14 sees the premier of The Jay Leno Show in prime time, on NBC. I will give it a shot, will you?

Thursday, September 17th is a night I'm looking forward to. Saturday Night Live Weekend Update Thursday starts it's second season on NBC. Fringe comes back for season 2 on FOX, another show I love! This night is packed with goodness, as The Office returns for season 6 on NBC, and It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia returns for season 5 on FX.

Stay tuned to Syko.org for more TV to look forward to.

You may have noticed the new bar at the bottom of the screen when you visit this page, or you may have not seen it. Check it out, I'll wait. OK, seen it now? It's a great new service from Wibiya. I'll review it's features from left to right. Here's a picture of an earlier version of the bar.

Starting on the left you can choose many options:

Search menu, choose whether you want to search this site or Google, with text entry field.
A translation menu, for our international and non English speaking visitors.
Recent posts menu, easy way to find a recent post.
Post randomizer button, useful if you are not sure what you are SYKO about today.
Games feature, for if you get really bored and want to play some web games right here on Syko.org.

Next, over on the right side, there's my favorite parts of the Wibiya Bar:

RSS Feed subscribe button, which allows you to subscribe without leaving the page.
Share button to share on Facebook, Twitter, Delicious, StumbleUpon, Digg, BuzzUp!, MySpace, FriendFeed, Technorati, Google Bookmarks and Windows Live
Facebook Fan Pages "tab" where you can become a fan and see the latest activity on the Facebook fan page.
Facebook community "tab" where you can connect you Facebook and chat in the community shout-box.
The Twitter "tab" where you can see recent tweets about SykoNews and Syko.org and follow us on twitter.
The Wibiya Notifier, where the staff here at can add little notes to the reader about changes or recnet developments about the site.
The hide button, for some of you this may be your favorite spot on the bar.

I love the Wibiya bar and I think it is a great addition to the website, in addition to all the user features it adds to the website, it also records how many shares, visitors from the Facebook community, subscribes to the RSS and many other admin features that make it a must have tool for blogs and other social websites.

What do you think of the bar? Would you use it on your blog? Let us know in the comments.

PS: Go sign up for the beta and tell them Syko.org referred you because it could increase your chances of getting the bar while it is a private beta.

I've been looking a lot into ways to expand viewership of this website and my other projects I'm working on including my personal blog (I know, it sucks) and the unnamed hemophilia endeavor I'm batting ideas around on.

Firstly, I have started including full credits to source posts, whether from the title of the article, or at the bottom of the post labeled "Sources:", If you find your words on this website, please let us know so we can link them to your original words.

Secondly, we have added other authors for original work, namely CJ "ItsThe Girl" Heinemann who has already written for SykoNews, and Chris Hakim will be joining the staff shortly. SykoNews is meant to be a place where opinions are genuine and uncensored without big name companies hindering our message!

What do you think? There's plenty of room in the comments below.

It's time for a new feature here at SykoNews, the SykoDeal. The first one is a 1TB hard drive from Seagate which is very snazzy and screams WIN on any desktop. Right now you can pick it up on Buy.com for $89.99 with free shipping. While the product is normally $190.00, that's a 67% discount. Let us know if you have experience with this product in the comments.

From the product page:

"When its time to back up and protect your digital content--photos, music, documents, and more--it doesn't get much easier than the Seagate Free Agent Desktop USB Portable Hard Drive. Simply plug it in to any power source, connect the USB cable to any computer, and you're ready to go. This hip-looking hard drive takes up less room on your desk than an ordinary stapler, giving you more space for your other desktop items."

Get yours here - Seagate FreeAgent Desktop Hard Drive - ST310005FDA1E1-RK

We have all been waiting for it, we've seen the rumors of their return come and go, but here they are! Beavis and Butthead have returned to help out their creator, Mike Judge. In this video Beavis and Butthead review Extract, Judge's latest film. Enjoy!

Source: YahooMovies

Legendary northern Cali rapper Brotha Lynch is ready for a new chapter in his music career, as he lands a deal with Tech N9ne's Strange Music label.

Last week, the Sacramento based rapper announced the news, via his MySpace blog: "It's goin' down."

The indie touring juggernaut, Tech N9ne, was just as excited when the deal was finalized, and his business partner told him the news.

"Travis called me and said BROTHA LYNCH IS OFFICIALLY SIGNED TO STRANGE MUSIC! Sh** just keeps gettin better and better..." Tech revealed, via his Twitter page.

Lynch said that when he first met the Kansas City rapper, he was trying to get into his show, and now years later, he's been added to his roster of artists. Isn't it ironic?

"When I first met Tech, he was a fan. I let 'em back stage, now I'm signed wit em," he said.

According to Lynch's Twitter page, the first release via his new pact with Strange Music will be a project called Dinner and a Movie, which he's been working on since at least 2007. The album is expected to drop later this year.

Despite the long wait, Lynch feels his fans are in for his best work to date. "I feel my next album will be the best! Wait 'til ya hear the realness."

Until his official album hits, Lynch will be offering fans an appetizer. He's gearing up for the release of a new mixtape called Gas Station, which is available for pre-order via his MySpace profile at MySpace.com/OriginalSpydermann.

DISNEY TO ACQUIRE MARVEL ENTERTAINMENT

Worldwide leader in family entertainment agrees to acquire Marvel and its portfolio of over 5,000 characters. Acquisition highlights Disney’s strategic focus on quality branded content, technological innovation and international expansion to build long-term shareholder value

Burbank, CA and New York, NY, August 31, 2009 —Building on its strategy of delivering quality branded content to people around the world, The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS) has agreed to acquire Marvel Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE:MVL) in a stock and cash transaction, the companies announced today…

“This transaction combines Marvel’s strong global brand and world-renowned library of characters including Iron Man, Spider-Man, X-Men, Captain America, Fantastic Four and Thor with Disney’s creative skills, unparalleled global portfolio of entertainment properties, and a business structure that maximizes the value of creative properties across multiple platforms and territories,” said Robert A. Iger, President and Chief Executive Officer of The Walt Disney Company. “Ike Perlmutter and his team have done an impressive job of nurturing these properties and have created significant value. We are pleased to bring this talent and these great assets to Disney.”

“We believe that adding Marvel to Disney’s unique portfolio of brands provides significant opportunities for long-term growth and value creation,” Iger said.

“Disney is the perfect home for Marvel’s fantastic library of characters given its proven ability to expand content creation and licensing businesses,” said Ike Perlmutter, Marvel’s Chief Executive Officer. “This is an unparalleled opportunity for Marvel to build upon its vibrant brand and character properties by accessing Disney’s tremendous global organization and infrastructure around the world.”

Wow. Just when it seemed that Paramount pretty much had the lock on a distribution deal for all the in-house superhero movies made by Marvel Entertainment, Disney swoops in and buys Marvel whole hog, to the tune of $4 billion.

In a company press release that you can find at MarketWatch, Marvel CEO Ike Perlmutter said

"Disney is the perfect home for Marvel's fantastic library of characters given its proven ability to expand content creation and licensing businesses. This is an unparalleled opportunity for Marvel to build upon its vibrant brand and character properties by accessing Disney's tremendous global organization and infrastructure around the world."

In other words, just in case you were wondering, this is all about money. Disney has the better action figure manufacturing companies, apparently.

I have no idea what this means for the approximately 800 Marvel movies currently in development-- I had just assumed they would all be Paramount films, but I'm not sure how many of them Paramount actually has signed deals for. There's also the question of what it means for the characters themselves, given how beloved Disney figures like Cinderella or Simba have been put through the wringer thanks to direct-to-DVD sequels and toys that should embarrass anyone.

No matter what happens, it likely means big changes for all fans of the Marvel movies, and even more comic book overload in an already crowded market. We'll be holding our breath to see how this turns out.

UPDATE: Over at CHUD, Devin Faraci is on a conference call with the Disney-Marvel folks getting some key updates, such as the fact that current Marvel distribution deals will stay in place (Spider-Man stays at Sony, Iron Man at Paramount) until they expire, AND John Lasseter has met with the Marvel folks. Expect some crazy Pixar/Marvel hybrids that might make this whole deal worth it alone.

Sources: Cinematical and CinemaBlend

It's official; Supernatural will come to a conclusion at the end of its fifth season, as creator Eric Kripke has often hinted... but that doesn't mean that the series itself will necessarily end. Confused? Kripke explains his plan.

Talking to Entertainment Weekly, Kripke said,

I did set out [to] tell a five-season storyline... Quite frankly, I never expected [the show] to make it to five years. But now that we're in our fifth year, I have every intention of ending the story with a bang and not drawing it out or watering it down... That having been said, I'm looking at this season as the last chapter in this particular story. That doesn't mean there can't be a new story. Buffy did it. The X-Files did it. You close a chapter on a big mythology storyline and then you begin a new one.

According to the creator, who says that he hasn't decided whether or not he'll return for a potential sixth season, he'd like to 'answer a bunch of questions this season and then pose some new ones next season.' Does no-one remember that the post-Mulder and Scully X-Files was no good?

Sources: Entertainment Weekly and io9

Silver members on XBL, good news! Kinda. Facebook and Twitter will be accessible to you all. The 'kinda' part in this news: it's only for a limited time only.
Microsoft told VG247:

Facebook and Twitter on Xbox LIVE will be free to Gold members, with a free trial period also available for Silver members (emphasis ours). Facebook and Twitter on Xbox LIVE will offer a truly one-of-a-kind social experience, completely optimized for the TV and seamlessly integrated onto your console. Add to that exclusive access to Last.fm, Netflix instant streaming, demos, trailers and discounts, plus the best multiplayer gaming network on the planet, and we re confident Xbox LIVE Gold memberships is hands-down the best value in home entertainment. We re committed to adding new features and value for our Gold members, and will continue to do so.

There you go.

With how the internet is these days, this sounds reasonable. Very funny stuff.

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The NEWEST TV I've seen and have FALLEN in LOVE with are Fringe and Warehouse 13.

Fringe is just enough drama vs. Sci-Fi. All about conspiracy surrounding Massive Dynamic and the awesome ever so clairvoyant agent that links it all together. Every episode adds an almost world destroying tangent. No one knows whats coming next, spiny mutant humans that feed on, what else, spinal fluid, or interdenominational travelers. No aliens as of yet, thank goodness. I would classify this as cookie cutter TV; but its awesome to watch. The characters of course all have their own drama, but who wouldn't love the cute bubbly lab assistant, the handsome tech savvy guy, the quirky genius father, and the steadfast hard core agent. The minor characters are fun also: the boss that after a season realizes his agent is ALWAYS right, the corporate half robotic "you still might not want to trust her" gal, the always "in the wrong spot" co-agent, and tall bald guy who randomly is in the background of EVERY episode. It's a thriller and I CAN NOT wait till next season!

Warehouse 13 started out really well. Two agents, one stuffy and the other lighthearted, are recruited for an underground agency that is responsible for collecting artifacts that are increasingly being activated and causing havoc. Again cookie cutter TV, they have an issue, they see a possible solution, it fails, try again, fail, BIG problems arise, then all of a sudden the answer is derived and crisis averted. Although its interesting to watch, the characters have that after school special made for TV feel.

Other shows I've been delightfully surprised with:
Dexter, House, Burn Notice, Lie To Me, Numbers, Rescue Me, Weeds

So I spent the weekend working on this new look, and ive spent the past year thinking about it. What do you think about the new look? what is it lacking? What has gone wrong, and what do you miss from the old page? Let us know in the comments.

Also, we have a new staff member here at SykoNews, We welcome CJ AKA ItsTheGirl into the fold and look forward to hearing her take on new and old television, movies, video games, and technology.

Stay Syko!

Before I move the new layout over, I need to get some feedback. let me know if you find any problems here! Ignore the Images, they are for testing, though this one is pretty funny. It's a tech support cheat sheet.

Rob Zombie, whose Halloween II opens today, will write, direct and produce a remake of the 1958 horror classic The Blob , which starred Steve McQueen.

In the original, an object from space crashes into a field, containing a red blob-like substance that absorbs the humans it contacts and grows exponentially.

'My intention is not to have a big red blobby thing -- that's the first thing I want to change,' Zombie told the trade. 'That gigantic Jello-looking thing might have been scary to audiences in the 1950s, but people would laugh now.'

Zombie will produce with Genre Co.'s Richard Saperstein and Brian Witten; original 'Blob' producer Jack H. Harris; and Judith Parker Harris of Worldwide Entertainment Corp. and Andy Gould.

They are developing the project as an R-rated film that will cost around $30 million to make.

Production will begin next spring.

via ComingSoon

Hugh Pickens writes 'Scientific American reports that a new device called 'BrainPort' aims to restore the experience of vision for the blind and visually impaired by relying on the nerves on the tongue's surface to send light signals to the brain. BrainPort collects visual data through a small digital video camera and converts the signal into electrical pulses sent to the tongue via a 'lollipop' that sits directly on the tongue, where densely packed nerves receive the incoming electrical signals. White pixels yield a strong electrical pulse and the electrodes spatially correlate with the pixels, so that if the camera detects light fixtures in the middle of a dark hallway, electrical stimulations will occur along the center of the tongue. Within 15 minutes of using the device, blind people can begin interpreting spatial information. 'At first, I was amazed at what the device could do,' says research director William Seiple. 'One guy started to cry when he saw his first letter.'' There is some indication that the signals from the tongue are processed by the visual cortex. The company developing the BrainPort will submit it to the FDA for approval later this month, and it could be on sale (for around $10,000) by the end of the year.

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