Found an Old Picture I took

What do you think?
Click on the image to see a full size.


-Bastian Gatten

Grand Theft Auto on the iPhone?!

TouchArcade.com reports that Rockstar games will be bringing Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars to the iPhone and iPod Touch later this fall.

"Chinatown Wars is a perfect match for the iPhone and iPod touch," said Sam Houser, Founder of Rockstar Games. "We are very excited to bring this incredibly ambitious version of Liberty City, with this level of detail and immersive gameplay on Apple's new gaming platforms."

This game is already available to the Nintendo DS and has been anounced that it will be coming to the Sony PSP and of course now the iPhone and iPod touch platform. It already has been a well recieved game on the Nintendo DS platform.

I am definately excited about this game. I have played countless hours stealing people's cars and picking up hookers. In the game of course. No word yet on how much it will cost.

Watch the youtube video below to see the trailer for the DS version to get an idea on what it will look like.

-Bastian Gatten

Photo by my favorite Brit

Here is an awesome photo by my favorite Brit Liam in the UK.

If your lucky you can follow him on twitter.

Correspondence from Senator Coburn

About a month ago I sent my state senator inquiring his thoughts and details on Obama's healthcare reform bill.

Today I receive this response:

'Dear Friend: Thank you for taking the time to write me. I have received your letter and I value your input, which is why I will take the time to personally read your letter. I have a policy to read each individual letter that I receive from Oklahoma. I practiced this policy as a U.S. Representative from Oklahoma's 2nd Congressional District and intend to continue to do so as your U.S. Senator. Please allow me time to review your correspondence and make sure you receive an accurate, detailed and thoughtful response to your inquiry. I appreciate your patience as you await my response. In addition to the time it takes for me to personally review and respond to each letter, mail to the U.S. Senate is delayed more than I would like due to the new security measures. However, I look forward to reading your letter and my staff is already processing it. Sincerely, Tom Coburn, M.D. U.S. Senator P.S. For time sensitive matters, please contact my office at (202)224-5754, my staff is ready and happy to help you.'

I figured I would have got at least a generic response about the bill from him. But I got this instead. I am sure he is getting a lot of mail regarding this issue. Well maybe the next email in another month will have more details. I will post that when I get it.

-Bastian Gatten

Microsoft Racial? Indeed.

From the US Microsoft site.

From the Polish Microsoft site.

Can you tell the difference between the two images above? No? Well look closer. The first image has a black man in it. But in the second picture his head is photoshoped out and in place is a white man's head. Probably a polish man I would figure. You think they would have photoshoped his hand white too. Yes look again its black.

Microsoft has displayed no excuse of this so far except for an apology and the promise to remove the image from their site. Do they really care? No they probably don't. But they stated that they will be looking into the matter. They are probably just sorry they got caught.

I mean come one. Does it really matter if you black or white. According to the late Michael Jackson it doesn't. Its just ignorant.

Too soon!?

I bet someone gets fired over this one.

-Bastian Gatten.

31st Street River Bridge Photos

Here are a few photos I took today at the 31 street River Crossing Bridge in Tulsa, Oklahoma.















Click here to see the full album

A Beautiful Day in Oklahoma

It is a beautiful day out in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Its all calm. The sun is out. Not a cloud in the sky. Its not hot or cold; just perfect. And the birds are chirping.

I would love to go on a walk if anyone is interested. Its a perfect day for a walk.

I can't believe im sitting here blogging about it. Get out and enjoy the weather.

-Bastian Gatten

Google, Apple, and AT&T fight it out with the FCC

Well its all out in the open. From the summery of Engadget it looks like no one is going to really step up to the plate and say Apple and AT&T are in bed together on approving apps for the iPhone. Read Engadget's post and summer of the FCC filings here.

It kinda appears that Apple and AT&T knows that they are in a bind here. Apple says they are still reviewing the official Google Voice Application. Don't get me wrong or anything but didn't Apple officially reject it weeks ago? I do believe so. So how are they saying they are still reviewing the Google Application? (crickets)

It is kinda perfect timing for Apple to approve the new Qik video streaming app for the 3GS today allowing people to upload video via the 3G network. Since the first version was only approved to work with wifi only. HMM!!! Isn't that interesting. I see skype coming to a 3G network near you soon.

Google doesn't really seam to be putting up a fight though. But maybe they don't have to be. I believe that the FCC is going to change up some rules and I think were going to see some changes in the way our wireless companies do business and conduct their policies.

Shall we now open up the networks to some scare. Maybe its time to catch up with companies like O2 and Orange in the UK that provides solid 3G networks and even are ahead on LTE support already. We in America are about 3 to 5 years behind other countries with wireless technology. And we are going to continue drifting farther away unless we allow some real competition between the wireless networks.

I would imagine that if the iPhone was available to other American markets companies like AT&T would spend more time and money on making their network the best network that they presume to claim.

Where is Jessie Jackson and the Rev. Al Sharpton in all this? I bet they would get it all approved. HA!

Just a little rant from Bastian Gatten.

See more links about this subject below:
Macrumors.com
iphonehacks.com
betanews.com

Logic 101

A. The Japanese eat very little fat and suffer fewer heart attacks than the British or Americans.

B. on the other hand, the French eat a lot of fat and also suffer fewer heart attacks than the British or Americans.

C. Conclusion. Eat what you like. It's speaking English that's killing you.

That concludes our lesson for the day.

God bless America and save the Queen. Amen. hallelujah! Where's the Tylenol? Or the paracetamol?

...Whatever

-Bastian Gatten

Texting while driving

I just found this political cartoon of police cracking down on texting while driving. Its kind of ironic because I was just talking about this to a friend last night.

Found on Townhall.com

Now Hang up and drive!









-Bastian Gatten

TomTom iPhone App fail? Maybe later?

Ok so I was waiting all summer for the TomTom iPhone app to hit the app store. I am a bit disappointed in the lack of options. I of course waited for others to download and try. Or should I say point out all the missing features and glitches. I'm surprised no one has mentioned that you can't change the pointer to look more like your car. What's up with that?

Here are a few screen shots I took from the app store of customer reviews. Actually none of them sound at all promising.

I'm also thinking that this app probably works better on the 3GS than the 3G because of the upgraded processing speed.

Click on each image to read the comments.

















So TomTom I think its time to take it back to the garage and make a better app. Preferably more like one that you offer on all your stand alone units.

I won't be buying this app anytime soon. I think ill just stick to my good old google maps. Oh wait I have turn by turn with Onstar. And I just love that.

From the laptop of Bastian Gatten

Wikipedia Mobile released for iPhone

Wikipedia Mobile is now available though the iTunes store. This is the official app from wikimedia. The app offers an alternative to browsing Wikipedia's mobile version via the Safari app. Its App Store description states that the app's code is "100% open source and community built" and programmers are welcome to help with the app. So far it just offers simple search and history.

I would love to see an auto landscape and zoom mode. Maybe some bookmarks. Or maybe the ability to save an wiki for offline use. The use of copy and paste however does work with this app. Thanks for that. I look forward to future updates of this product.

Wikipedia Mobile is available for free though itunes app store using this link that takes you directly to the app store in iTunes on your computer or iPhone.

Screen shots are from my little test run.

So go download and wiki from the comfort of your iPhone or iPod Touch

Not sure how the open source of this project works. But by all means play with it and improve upon it.

-Bastian Gatten

Picture of the storm rolling in

Click on the photo for a bigger picture.

Here is a picture of a crazy hail storm I took a few months ago at
work. Today reminded me of it with all the storms going on today.

But isn't it beautiful?

Who is the joker?

So the artist of what I think is one of the funniest political markups of this administration has been revealed. He is a 20 year old college history student of Palestinian decent. Firas Alkhateeb is the name of that student. He states that this was just something he made up at home and posted on his flicker account to show his friends. But somehow someone copied it and printed the words "Socialism" under it and started appearing in posters all over the nation.

Alkhateeb said he doesn't support Obama. "In terms of domestic policy, I don't think he's really doing much good for the country right now," he told the Times. "We don't have to 'hero worship' the guy."

You are right kind sir. We do not have to hero worship him. We also can make funnies about it too. As long as its not anything threatening. This is why it is so great to live in America. You can make all kinds of political jokes about the leader of this country and there really isn't anything anyone can do except protest about it. Which is another great freedom in this country. Or they can sue. In most cases they will probably lose. Either that or time magazine will sue for copyright infringement for use of their photo. In that case I wouldn't be surprised either because everyone is copyright sue happy in this country anyways.

So I say kudos to you Mr. Photoshopping of presidential photos guy. You are a constant remind of why this country is so great.

Photos and news story is from foxnews.com. Click here for the main fox news story.



All I can say I hope no one tries to take legal action against him because of the content. Otherwise i'll be protesting.

Bastian Gatten

Wearing Pink in Protest

Inspired by two students at Central Kings (CK) Rural High School in Cambridge, Nova Scotia the Nova Scotia Government has declared the second Thursday of every school year as Stand Up Against Bullying Day. Students will be encouraged to wear pink to spread the anti-bullying message.

The story began when a poor student started school at a new school wearing a pink shirt to school. A few bullies decided to, well, bully him. Ten bullies surrounded the kid, mock him, and threaten to beat him up—because wearing pink means you’re a homo.

The next day 2 other students decided that they wouldn't stand for this. Two boys by the names of David Shepherd and Travis Price, 12th Graders, decided to do something about it. They used the Internet to encourage people to wear pink and bought 75 pink tank tops for male students to wear. They handed out the shirts in the lobby before class last Friday—even the bullied student had one.

From the Chronicale Herald : 'When the bullied student put on his pink shirt Friday and saw all the other pink in the lobby, “he was all smiles. It was like a big weight had been lifted off is shoulder,” David said. No one at the school would reveal the student’s name.

Travis said that growing up, he was often picked on for wearing store-brand clothes instead of designer duds.'

Where were these kids when I was in school? I wish this were more students out there like this to stand up to bullies that are biggots and pick on kids that can't defend themselves. I Commend them.

I know this student probably wasn't a homosexual. Maybe he was. But still for upper class students that don't even know him to stand up and do something about it and rise above the bullies is something amazing. Especially doing it in a manner that wasn't violence.

I also read that one of the bullies thew some objects at school in rage over the students that did this notorious act. And that is freaking funny. One would wish they could be a part of something like this.

Kudos from Bastian Gatten to these two students David and Travis.

Interesting random Message on Aim from someone in Belgium

PrankedCoho: Cherry pits are delicious.
Me: Who is this
PrankedCoho: you just asked if enjoy porridge ..
Me: What?
PrankedCoho: "Do you enjoy porridge?
broodingcoho @ 18:14"
Me: It's 11:14 and I didn't say that. Who is this
PrankedCoho: You did.
PrankedCoho: it's 18:14 in Europe
PrankedCoho:So a) you're a spambot, or b) you've got a virus
Me: Since I'm not logged into aim no.
Me: And I'm not a spambot
PrankedCoho:Then the only option is that you _did_ ask me if I enjoy porridge.
Me: No I did not. What is porridge
PrankedCoho:Food, I guess.
PrankedCoho: "Porridge is a dish made by boiling oats (rolled, crushed, or steel cut) or sometimes another cereal in water, milk, or both. It is
PrankedCoho: usually served in a bowl or dish."
PrankedCoho:Know your classics.
Me: I'm not in to classical.
PrankedCoho:You might refer to it as "oatmeal", if you're an American citizen ..
Me: Ya I don't eat that either
PrankedCoho:Me neither, that's why my answer was "no" when you asked me if I liked porridge.
Me: I think the three bears liked it.
PrankedCoho:Yeah, possibly.
PrankedCoho:If it's 11:14, I assume you live in Chicago and prefer pancakes for breakfast?
Me: Actually I live a little further south. But don't normally enduldge in breakfast. But if I do I prefer eggs and bacon
Me: What part of Europe are u from

Ok not extreamly intersting. But yet random. Thought I would share.

P.E.T.A.

Well were going to talk about the left extremist group P.E.T.A. today.

First off I am going to give you my opinion. As this is an opinion blog. My opinion, not your's, is the only one that counts here. Unless you leave a comment.

I think they are all a bunch of psycho nut jobs that should find better things to spend their money on case in point the Hollywood protest sign.

Photo thanks to ecorazzi.com

I mean seriously. Really?!?! This takes the cake for the dumbest thing I have ever read or seen. And no this isn't real (yet). It's actually photoshoped.

Then of course there is the most recent Obama fly swatting incident. Read about it here from Reuters. Really people. Its a fly! I have one of those fly zapper things under my desk at work and absolutely love it. Give Obama one of those. I would say go Bama for the first time ever if he had one up at the podium during a press conference. And that is saying a lot coming from me.

These people you will notice that they are sporting they new and trendy 'Go Veg' stuff. Veg? What is this a new catch phrase to bring in new people? Kinda like Radio Shack changing their name to 'The Shack.' How stupid is that. I just wonder the money wasted in these spectacular name changes. I do know however The Shack has ran out of money to change all their signs. That is hilarious by all means.

Vegans are another group of people that scare me too. Not to be confused with vegetarians.

So anyway. PETA... I know they 'try'' to mean well. But they are still crazy nut jobs in my book. Mainly by their crazy means of protestation. Sometimes very violent.

I also think members of this organization should be looked into for cases of beastality. They obviously love animals more than humans.

The only PETA I approve of are 'People Enjoying Tasty Animals.' I think I just might have me a big juicy steak tonight!

From the mind of Bastian Gatten - Good eats nom nom

And for some extra reading - 7 things you didn't know about PETA

unapproachable

Tonight I met someone that informed me that they have noticed me many times over the years and had the unconrolable urge to come and talk to me. Yet he could not bring himself to approach me and say a word. It took coming across me in an online chat to say anything to me at all.

This is not the first time I have hurd this statement before from someone. I have had friends and coworkers tell me I am 'unapproachable.' They say it is the way I carry myself. They say its my deminer. That its all in my looks. That I surround myself with upscale people. Some even go as far that I come off as an 'ass.' Not just that but one whom is full of himself.

I will have to say I am not surprised at this; but at the same time surprised. I do not try to be 'uptite' or an 'ass.' I am formost for sure that I am not full of myself. It just comes naturally to me. Or so some of my closest friends tell me jokingly. Then again maybe they arn't.

In a way I quite enjoy hearing this from someone. I, in a way, feed on it. It gives me that warm fuzzy feeling inside that someone thinks before they even meet me that I am above them. Or that they are not good enough for me even before put to a test or trial.

I will have to admit though that I can easily get someone I don't want and be able to turn them down. Yet the few people that I try to associate myself with are playing me at my own game.

So I leave you saying...

Your move kind ma'am or sir. Your... Move.

-Bastian Gatten