Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Gaming Meet a video-game character against killing
Posted by Tristan Schmid on Tue, Jan 31, 2012 at 2:30 PM
The real-life, broomstick-wielding, battling monks we posted about last month could learn a thing or two from Felix the Peaceful Monk.
The vast majority of video games, from Super Mario Bros. to Grand Theft Auto, celebrate your vanquishing of creatures and your fellow human being. But not The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim character Felix, who prefers peace over annihilation.
Check out the video, narrated by Felix's creator, Daniel Mullins: "I have not killed a single thing... My favorite weapon is the Steel Mace of Fear... This bad boy makes them run... It does a little bit of damage, but it does not kill them, because my character is against that. Killing is wrong."
A tip of the hat to NUVO News Editor Rebecca Townsend for letting us know about Felix.
Sports & Rec Off Base: Nuns offer big package
Posted by Justin Cross on Tue, Jan 31, 2012 at 9:45 AM
5. Nuns offer big package
Two Super Bowl tickets, two Pacers tickets, food, a cozy bed and a ride to the big game: This all could have been yours thanks to Our Lady of Grace Monastery in Beech Grove, Ind. The super prize pack, donated by local businessman Frank Mascari, was up for auction with bidding starting at $2,000; Andrew K. Canada won it with a winning bid of $8,012.33. Proceeds went to the Benedict Inn, a facility for spiritual retreats.
4. 5 million-dollar bird
Brian "Birdman" Williams, co-founder of Cash Money Records, put $5 million on the New England Patriots to win Super Bowl XLVI. At last year's Super Bowl, Birdman placed a $1 million wager on the Packers to win it all. The rich get richer.
3. Goalie stuffs White House
It's standard for league champions to visit The White House and schmooze with the president. Boston Bruins goalie Tim Thomas put on his verbal pads and deflected his chances for a visit. "I believe the Federal government has grown out of control, threatening the Rights, Liberties, and Property of the People," said Thomas in a post on his Facebook. (Read more from Thomas.)
2. No butterfingers here
The Australian Open tennis tournament is full of fast-acting athletes... including the ball boys.
1. I got five on it
The Super Bowl allows viewers the chance to bet big bucks on the color of Gatorade dumped on the winning head coach. Here are some other unique prop bets available for Super Bowl Sunday, my predictions included. Leave yours in the comments!
How long will it take Kelly Clarkson to sing the National Anthem?
Over/Under: 1 minute 34 Seconds (I'll take
the over.)
Will Kelly Clarkson's bare belly be
showing when she sings the National Anthem?
Yes (only): 3/1 (No. At least I hope not.)
What color will Madonna's hair be when
she begins the Super Bowl Halftime Show?
Blonde: -400
Other color: +250 (I'll take straight-out-of-the-bottle platinum blonde.)
Will Madonna be wearing fishnet
stockings at any point during the Super Bowl Halftime Show?
Yes: -110
No: -110 (Absolutely, and I'm
not happy about it.)
How many times will Peyton Manning be
shown on TV during the game?
Over/Under: 3 ½
(Over. They'll show him
at least a dozen times.)
How many times will Gisele Bundchen be
shown on TV during the game?
Over: 1/2 (-150)
Under: 1/2 (+110)(However many, it won't
be enough.)
Saturday, January 28, 2012
Dining Out Red-hot romance at White Castle
Posted by Justin Cross on Sat, Jan 28, 2012 at 10:45 AM
Tired of eating fast food on the couch with your significant other on Valentine's Day? This year, go out while still forgoing expensive wine lists and heavy silverware (what's that third fork used for, anyway?) in lieu of the some-may-say sexy aroma of greasy, steam-grilled burgers: White Castle restaurants are now accepting reservations for Valentine's Day. So if you really want to show your sweetie how much you care, do so by sharing a large soda and a slew of sliders. And since it's a special occasion, go ahead and splurge with some fried onion rings and a milkshake. You can burn it all off later, if you know what we mean.
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Television Local actor wants Super Bowl votes
Posted by Justin Cross on Thu, Jan 26, 2012 at 7:30 AM
In December, we wrote about local filmmakers and actors producing Doritos commercials in the hopes of having their commercial televised during the Super Bowl and winning some spectacular prizes.
Now, six weeks later, many roads are closed in Indy, hotel rooms are reserved and the buzz surrounding the city is palpable - it's nearly kick-off time. Some say the best parts of the Big Game are the commercials, usually produced to make us laugh (and always, of course, to make us buy).
David Leo Schultz, a Warren Central High School and Anderson University graduate, is part of the team that created "Bird of Prey," one of the top five finalists in the Doritos Crash The Super Bowl contest.
If the funny, "fowl" commercial gets the most votes by Jan. 29th, it will be shown Super Bowl Sunday. Get your orange-dusted fingers out of the Doritos bag and vote if you want to help a local hopeful.
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
DJ & Dance Video: Boots. Cats. Boots. Cats.
Posted by Tristan Schmid on Wed, Jan 25, 2012 at 12:18 PM
Timesuck has shown an affinity for electronic music. And cats. After watching the "Boots and Cats" video, we now have an affinity for cats and electronic music together - along with the surprisingly fitting addition of boots and bees.
Monday, January 23, 2012
Film 'Star Wars' remade with fans' 15-second clips
Posted by Tristan Schmid on Mon, Jan 23, 2012 at 1:45 PM
Last week we posted a video of dogs barking the Star Wars "Imperial March." In new Star Wars saga-related developments, the crowdsourced Star Wars Uncut movie debuted this weekend on YouTube.
The video recreates the entire Star Wars: A New Hope film with 15-second fan clips. As you can imagine, the quality of the clips varies widely, from crude animation to several scenes of multiple people in tiny bathrooms to Chewbacca as a sock puppet.
And though we sometimes are paid to bring you stuff to waste your time on, we weren't paid to sit through the two-hour-plus movie. So leave a comment below to let us know the times of your favorite parts of the flick.
Stream the film below, but hurry: Lucasfilm's probably sending a notice of copyright infringement to the film's creators as this post is being typed.
Sports & Rec Off Base: This week's offbeat sports stories
Posted by Justin Cross on Mon, Jan 23, 2012 at 12:00 PM
NUVO's new series Off Base is Justin Cross's take on some of the more interesting happenings in the sports world.
5. Phony Fausto
Dominican-born baseball players have been known to fabricate their age to make them younger than they are. Cleveland
Indians pitcher Fausto Carmona not only fibbed on his age - he's 31, not 28 - he
also is being accused of using a false identity. Carmona, whose birth name is
Roberto Hernandez Heredia, was arrested
after leaving the U.S. Consulate in the Dominican Republic on
Thursday.
4. Rob, no
Actor Rob Lowe had very big news to share with everyone via Twitter. Future Hall of Fame Quarterback Peyton Manning is retiring. Except, he isn't.
3. Crackin' rackets
Tennis players are full of emotions. John McEnroe, anyone? At the 2012 Australian Open, Cypriot star Marcos Baghdatis continued a smashing tradition.
2. Cougar chaos
1. RIP Joe
I'd be amiss to not mention the passing of former Penn State Head Coach Joe Paterno. Dead at the age of 85, Paterno battled lung cancer and a broken pelvis that kept him hospitalized for much of the past two months. During his 46-year coaching tenure, "Joe Pa" totalled 409 wins, the most in collegiate Division-1 history. He will be missed by many.
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Video: Tour a tiny, tiny house for sale
Posted by Tristan Schmid on Thu, Jan 19, 2012 at 3:45 PM
If you've thought about downsizing your home to save money, reduce your carbon footprint or just live more simply, maybe this home's for you.
Jay Shafer, founder and designer at Tumbleweed Tiny House Company, takes us on a video tour of his 120 square-foot home for sale.
Shafer aims to pare his homes down to bare necessities, like "the world's smallest bathtub/shower/sink," to make them efficient and affordable: good things for families like the one interviewed who recently lost their home and want a smaller home the next time around.
Lest you think you couldn't live in a small space: Shafer lived in a house of less than 100 square feet for 12 years, until he got married, had a baby and upsized to a relatively ginormous 500 square-foot abode.
Check out the "house porn" (Shafer's words, not mine) below:
With the significant issue of homelessness in Indianapolis, I can't help but wonder whether tiny houses like this could be used to provide privacy and shelter for people in need.
Would you consider living in a tiny house?
Video: Dogs bark Star Wars "Imperial March"
Posted by Tristan Schmid on Thu, Jan 19, 2012 at 12:00 PM
Sure, the magic of editing made this Volkswagen Super Bowl teaser commercial possible, but we're willing to suspend disbelief for a minute to pretend that a chorus of dogs singing barking the Star Wars "Imperial March" would be possible in real life.
Do you think Yoda cat will make an appearance on Super Bowl Sunday?
Tracking Great Whites by iPhone
Posted by Justin Cross on Thu, Jan 19, 2012 at 7:00 AM
The Marine Conservation Science Institute has given iPhone users an alternative to Angry Birds. Scientists at the non-profit research center tagged 22 Great White sharks with sensors so anyone with the "Expedition White Shark" app can follow the ferocious fish in real time. Exact locations of the predators will not be disclosed in order to deter shark hunters. The one-of-a-kind app sells for $3.99 at iTunes, and sales from downloads will fund research.
The Institute plans to release iPad and Android versions of the app, so users of more non-shark-cage devices can feel closer to the carnivorous creatures without having to get up close and personal like this:
