Mix 103 – Set Adrift; Mixed by D Rod – Playtime 79 Min 23 Sec / 320 KBPS MP3 – A soothing Trance mix

Download a Copy of the Mix (with Cue Sheet) Here

01: Agulo feat. David Berkeley – Fire Sign (Steve Brian's Original Mix)
02: Maor Levi feat. Ashley Tomberlin – Chasing Love (Maor Levi's Club Mix)
03: Sensorica feat. Eva Kade – Sunlight Again (Duke Von Spirit Remix)
04: Claudia Cazacu – Cafe Del Mar (Claudia Cazacus Ibiza Mix)
05: System F – Out of the Blue 2010 (Tiesto Remix)
06: Mike Shiver vs Fandy – Sique (Ronski Speed Remix)
07: Jaro Sabo – San Rafael (Midnight Exodus Mix)
08: Garry Heaney – Spitfire (Guy Mearns Remix)
09: Several Dub – Way to My Heart (DJ Gard Extended Club Remix)
10: The Airstatic – Worldwide
11: Sasha Virus feat. Dilara – I Still Fall
12: Nacho Chapado & Smaz feat. Sue McLaren – Between Heaven & Earth

Well, it's back to school season again (seriously, I'm going back to school) and I need a new computer. Having worked years and years alongside Mac users in the web/graphics industry, I was pretty much set on getting an Apple computer. Well, we all know how the story ends here (by the title). I was at my local Staples and they had a demo Gateway PC on clearance. The thing was never plugged in or turned on so it was more of a display. The cheapskate in me won out (again) as I bargained and got a few freebies along with the computer; never mind I swore the day before that "I'll NEVER do work on a PC again!?!"

Features:
- 2.6GHz AMD Phenom II X4 Quad-Core 925 Processor
- Windows Vista Home Premium (upgraded to Windows 7 Home Premium 64-Bit onsite)
- 8GB 800MHz DDR2 SDRAM memory
- 1TB 7200RPM SATA hard drive
- ATI Radeon HD 4650 graphics with 1GB discrete video memory
- Blu-ray disc reader 18x DVD+/-R/RW
- 3 years extended warranty

The whole package (with the Acer 24" monitor) cost around $1,000 after tax… 1/3-1/4 the cost of a comparable Mac Pro package. Funny thing is; as soon as I walked out of the store with my new PC, I was already regretting it. I've used Macs before and no matter how old or obsolete the computer seemed, it ran all of its compatible software seamlessly… which is exactly the opposite of every single PC I've ever used (no matter how freakin' new it was). I hurried home, set up the computer and hope that this time around things will be different (ok, so maybe I shoulda wiped it clean first).

First off, the new PC was indeed lightning fast (for a computer released over a year ago). The only thing(s) slow about it at first were all the Windows 7 permissions and quirks. Seriously, the latest OS from MS feels almost as smooth as a Mac OS but the dam file/folder administration protocols are annoying as hell. I was a happy camper till I played StarCraft 2 on it (hmm… I wonder which game I'm gonna review next?). I was only able to get 25% percent above minimum graphics settings at full 1080P (for optimal game performance). I guess 8BG of ram and 1GB of video amounts to diddly-squat these days.

The 24" Acer H243 did the job quite well connected via HDMI to the ATI Radeon DH 4650 (the colors are vibrant and the graphics are crisp & smooth); the Blu-ray drive/DVD burner is fast and accurate. All the latest software I've installed loaded and performed better than expected… but Windows 7 makes this new PC feel more awkward than my old one (guess I'll just have to get use to it). My old PC is an HP and I also have a Gateway laptop; I like Gateway's designs more than HP's… that and my Gateway's more reliable.

For sheer versatility (especially in the software end) and value, getting a PC and it being the DX4300-01H does feel like the right choice. If I switch careers one day and end up having to bring work home with me that entails more than just Dreamweaver/Flash/Illustrator/Photoshop then I'll get a Mac… but ONLY for work. I'm a big computer geek; things a Mac user finds totally confusing and confounding about a PC is just a stroll in the park for me. I love hacking away with my computer and getting it to do things that a Mac can NEVER-EVER-DO. But I gotta admit, when it comes to doing things that a computer SHOULD DO, a Mac does it better and faster.

Oh crap, my Gateway and Acer impressions have turned into a Mac vs. PC debate between myself!?! To me, it's hilarious just how many of the people who swear by Macs/PCs get their priorities all wrong. Yeah I'm cheap but I'm good with technology (hardware and software) so I get a PC. If I want to be a true professional at home one day, I'll get a Mac (it's an investment that will pay dividends). So many PC people think that it's better than a Mac for work when it's not. Vice versa, so many amateurs spend (more like throw away) thousands of dollars on a Mac just because of their ease of use… never realizing the machine's true potential.

Pros:
- Updated truck mode is impressive, while traditional colors keep it authentic.
- Nicely detailed robot mode.
- Caliburst is a very cool looking sidekick/accessory.
Cons:
- Huffer's feet are too stubby.
- Very simplistic transformation.

G1 Huffer was the second Transformer I ever got when I was a kid. I had a lot of fun with the little guy, even though he was one of the least impressive of the minibots (dude had pipes for arms for heaven sake). I was going to pass on all the Power Core combiner toys (except for the Dinobots combo) but I just had to get Huffer for the nostalgia.
Huffer's extended front hood follows Optimus Prime's new truck upgrade… no more flat front truck designs. The truck is very detailed and looks quite imposing with Caliburst attached at the back in turret mode. His orangey-brown and black colors look super-vibrant and contrasts well with Caliburst's crystal blue and grey.

The transformation from vehicle to robot modes is very simple. There's nothing wrong with it… just a little boring; even compared to scout class figures. Huffer has a good deal of articulation and poseability. His feet are stubby but the combining latches at the back of them help keep the entire robot stable. Does this new Huffer remind me a lot of my little G1 toy? Not really… but he does have wickedly detailed looking fists (no pipes here).

Cailburst can be held as a gun on either of Huffer's hands or he can stand by himself as a tiny robot. His robot form doesn't look nearly as imposing as his turret mode though. Huffer will form a main torso (with head) that can combine with any limb portion of a Power Core combining figure… but what for?!? This guy stands better on his own and he's more than adequate as a tribute to G1 Huffer.

Truck Mode: 9/10
Robot Mode: 8/10
Transformation: 6.75/10
Articulation/Poseability: 7.75/10
- Head can rotate.
- Shoulders can angle and spread.
- Elbows can bend and rotate.
- Hips can angle and spread.
- Knees can bend.
Accessories/Gimmicks: 8/10
Value for the Price ($9.99 U.S.): 7/10
Intangibles (a nice tribute to an old G1 character): 9/10
Overall (not an average): 8.25/10 (Great)

I'm baaack… for a short while. A huge pile of goodies got shipped in while I was gone and I have a bit of spare time; so here goes the first of a few fast reviews. Bandai's DX VF-27 Gamma was an improvement over the VF-25 in both technical design and aesthetics. The VF-27 Beta is a repaint of the Gamma with a bonus flight pod.

Besides being exactly the same as the Gamma and a heck-of-a-lot-more expensive, the drab-looking gloss green jet (with a matte pink flight pod attached to its top) fails to impress. The Beta looks like a VF-27 that got puked on by a giant Vajra. As bad as the color scheme is though, it can't take away the sheer awesomeness of the mold… like I said already; it's exactly the same as the Gamma. You also get an extra blue pilot. There's room on the back seat for the upper torso of a passenger but Bandai elected to give us the replacement pilot instead. It would have been better if we got a mini Ranka figure instead. The pink flight pod fits nicely on top of the jet and it also comes with brackets that will allow it to fit on top of a VF-25.

For $250 ($100 more than the Gamma) shipped, only the most hardcore of Macross Frontier fans (or the well off) should consider buying this figure. It doesn't even come with the stand that the toy was displayed with during the numerous toy shows. It's a limited production toy which means sales/discounts are extremely unlikely; that and you're paying so much more for what I consider as a slightly inferior product to the Gamma (just because of the Beta's awful color scheme). Overall, I would give the Beta a 9/10 (Excellent)… just barely.

Mix 102 – Have a Nice Trip; Mixed by D Rod – Playtime 77 Min 56 Sec / 320 KBPS MP3 – Trance/Uplifting

Download a Copy of the Mix (with Cue Sheet) Here

01: Aly & Fila vs Bjorn Akesson – Perfect Red
02: Tom Colontonio – Nighthawk
03: System F feat. Armin van Buuren – Exhale (Olbaid Remix)
04: Tony Dark Eyes feat. Chela – Pure Desire (Katsarov Remix)
05: Running Man – Earth (Proyal Energetic Remix)
06: DNS Project pres. Whiteglow feat. Lo-Fi Sugar – Uncross These Lines (Vocal Mix)
07: Med & Phil Metcalfe – January (Paul Todd Remix)
08: James Williams – Lunatic Pandora
09: Klauss Goulart – Misty (Fabio Stein's Uprise in '99 Remix)
10: John O'Callaghan – Don't Look Back (Sly One vs Jurrane Remix)
11: Nervous Testpilot – Five Years in Singapore (Miikka Leinonen Remix)
12: Johan Ekman – Never Ending (Club Remix)

I've got way too much on my plate to continue working on the site. Maybe I'll return someday when I find the time. I will still post mixes from time to time. Keep collecting and keep having fun everybody!

It's a great day to relax at home and watch the World Cup final with friends. Soccer (or football to the rest of the world) isn't very big here in N. America, but me and a few of my pals that were born outside of Canada still remember the days when it was the only sport that we knew of. Another blast from the past was crispy fried fish cooked with peppers and fish sauce. Once you've tried it, you're hooked for life… kinda like soccer (and American football of course).

Ingredients:
- One 12" sea bass for every person eating (head, guts and scales removed)
- Lots of garlic cloves, sliced ginger and onion slices
- High quality fish sauce
- Hot sauce or sliced Thai peppers
- Salt & pepper to taste
- Lemon juice
- Peanut or grape seed oil  for cooking

Directions:
Salt and pepper the fish then heat a large non-stick pan with oil and add in the fish, ginger, garlic & onions when hot. Cook each side of the fish for 2 minutes so they turn crispy; then turn off heat. Mix in an adequate amount of fish sauce, hot sauce (or pepper slices) & lemon juice together and add into the pan with the fish. Stir contents evenly (so that all the fish get coated) then place the contents on top of a baking pan and into the oven to bake for 15-20 minutes at 350°F. It's best to stuff the herbs and spices into the belly of the fish before baking to maximize flavor. Plate each fish separately when done and enjoy with your favorite beverage.

Note: my recipe is Asian based but it uses the Western method of baking vs. deep frying (I think the result is healthier). I didn't mention the amount of the ingredients you need to use because it's all determined by the amount of fish you want to cook. This dish isn't complicated like baking or fine dining. Anyone who cooks should be able to measure the level of salt/spices/sauce required on the fly. P.S., hope you saved the fish heads, they can make for good soup stock.

Mix 101 – Uplifting Trance Vol. 3; Mixed by D Rod – Playtime 77 Min 41 Sec / 320 KBPS MP3 – Uplifting Trance

Download a Copy of the Mix (with Cue Sheet) Here

01: John Askew – Vellum (Johan Ekman Remix)
02: Mike Shiver vs Matias Lehtola – Snooze (Bjorn Akesson Remix)
03: Gravity – Cosmic Tek Love (Will Atkinson Summer Mix)
04: Solis – Cascade (Paul Miller Remix)
05: Airborne Angel – Apollo
06: Dimension – Queensland (Arctic Moon Remix)
07: DJ Ange – Seamless
08: DK Project – Blues Skies (Soundlift Remix)
09: Fergie & Sadrian – Save Me
10: 4 Strings – Daytime (Sean Tyas Remix)
11: Ciro Visone – Heroes
12: Bjorn Akesson – Sandcastle Express

Pros:
- Perfect motorcycle mode and great robot mode.
- Lots of articulation and poseability.
- A solid and stable toy in either mode.
Cons:
- Bizarre looking arms.

I love motorcycle based Transformers! But the recent ROTF releases were mostly stinky disappointments, and so I needed a pallet cleanser fast… now out comes Brimstone. This bike looks like a nicely detailed Harley Davidson. The seat has stitching molded on and there's a working flip-out kickstand. There are no visible kibbles and all the motorcycle's parts fit snug and flush. Brimstone definitely has the best looking bike mode of any TF I've owned… and he's just a scout class toy.

The transformation is logical and intricate. The engine splits to become the legs and the front tire is separated to become the arms. Brimstone has a great deal of articulation and poseability. However, his awkwardly shaped arms do detract from the robot's overall looks. The separated wheel becomes spinning saws/blades on each arm. With the kickstand flipped outwards, Brimstone can manage to stand with only his right leg. Brimstone's blue, green, black, gray and red colors make the figure look vibrant and organic.

All of Brimstone's joints are tight; both his modes are very solid and can handle plenty of abuse/handling. There's nothing flimsy or dangling in either modes. The high fun-factor of this toy will bring a smile to collectors and kids alike. Hasbro could have done a much better job on the robot's arms but they did perfect the motorcycle mode. Having cool bikes like Brimstone has gotten me interested in purchasing little G.I. Joe (or other) action figures to ride on them.

Motorcycle Mode: 10/10
Robot Mode: 8.75/10
Transformation: 9.25/10
Articulation/Poseability: 8.75/10
- Head can rotate and tilt.
- Shoulders can angle and spread.
- Biceps can rotate; elbows can bend.
- Forearms can bend and hands can sway.
- Thighs can angle and spread.
- Knees can bend forwards and backwards.
Accessories/Gimmicks: 6/10
Value for the Price ($7.99 U.S.): 9.5/10
Intangibles (the sweetest looking motorcycle mode ever): 9.5/10
Overall (not an average): 8.75/10 (Great)

Japanese TV Date: 2006 – North American DVD Release Date: 2009
Genre: Action/Romance/Horror
Number of Episodes: 25

Synopsis (from Anime News Network):
"Throughout the passage of time and the shifts in backgrounds, a particular war continues to leave its mark on history, extending its influence into the modern world. There are two major groups involved in the ensuring war. The first group consists of monsters known as Chiropterans who can change their appearances into that of human beings. They are actually immortals who feed on the blood of the living. The second group is an organisation known as the "Red Shield", formed to track down these monsters and exterminate them. Otonashi Saya is a high-school girl who lives a peaceful life with her family. The only problem is, she has no recollections of her life beyond that of the past year. However, her happy life will be destroyed by an event that will lead her to her destined fate."

Pros:
- Incredibly gripping plot.
- A heartwarming coming-of-age story with great romance.
- Even more action and suspense than part 1.
Cons:
- None.

Dam it's hot outside; but it's not nearly as sizzling as our heroine Saya in her continuing battle against her evil sister Diva and her spawn of chiropterans. I think my review of part 1 has already accurately described just how wicked this anime series have been. Part 2 takes the series over the edge into awesomeness as a juicer plot and new revelations made every single episode a must watch. Diva is now pregnant with twins by Riku of all people; after Riku was turned into a chevalier by Saya in order to save his life. Kai has matured into a brave and stoic young man while Red Shield (the organizations that fought against chiropterans) has been decimated.

Part 1 had a greater sense of mystery as confrontations and tragedies compiled over and over again upon Saya's crew. In part 2, everyone finds a way to band together; former enemies now align themselves against Diva and the Cinq Flèches Corporation. The drama intensifies and so does the relationships between Saya and her protectors (Haji's got a bit of competition this time). There many moments of sadness in the second set of 25 episodes but fresh faces also emerge to give our tested crew new hope.

After finally completing the entire series I feel like going back to some of my other anime reviews and rating them down a notch… that's how awesome I think Blood+ really is. If you're an anime fan, you owe it to yourself to watch all 50 episodes (if you haven't done so already). It proves that a show about youth and vampires don't have to by sissy or ridiculously lame. Blood+ is deadly serious, but it also has a very genuine human side that displays love and affection which forms the bond between (almost) everyone in the show (human or not). Now to go and cool off… did I already mention how bloody hot it is today?!?

Plot: 9.25/10
Animation: 9/10 – Audio: 9/10
Intangibles: Even better than the first 25 episodes.
Overall (not an average): 9.25/10 (Excellent)