The Dolf Zone

Say hello to my little friend!

2011-11-11T14:55:00.001-05:00

"Max Pacino"

Max as Al Pacino as Tony Montana in Scarface...

Looks like we've found Max's 2012's Halloween costume. This is my gangsta-riffic, pimpalicious First Communion attire from 1976. My mom has (for some reason) kept and preserved it in near-perfect condition.

The toy gun in the photo is also circa 1976.

The Simpsons

2011-10-07T13:46:00.000-04:00

Max is not happy about "The Simpsons" possibly ending its run this year... As much as I love the show, I think it might be the right time to wrap things up. I watched "The Simpsons" religiously for the first ten years or so but then starting catching fewer and fewer episodes as the show entered its second decade. There are only so many tales to tell...

"Family Guy" is quickly approaching this territory. It will be interesting to see how long that show will go on. Obviously millions of dollars are on (or off) the table. It's tough to walk away from that kind of money. Right Seth??

Now that I look back, I think Seinfeld had it right. Go out on top! Or more precisely, take a dip and end it!

The 2011 Dolf Zone Excellence in Television Awards

2011-09-23T18:23:00.000-04:00

The 2011 Dolf Zone Excellence in Television Awards (2010/11 Season) go to the following programs:

Game of Thrones (HBO)
Boardwalk Empire (HBO)
Louie (FX)
Spartacus: Gods of the Arena (Starz)
Tosh.O
Dexter
Justified (FX)
Community (NBC)
Red Eye with Greg Gutfeld (Fox News)
Real Time with Bill Maher (HBO)
Family Guy (Fox)
South Park (Comedy Central)
Curiosity (Discovery)

If you haven't had a chance to watch any of these shows do yourself a favor and track them down on DVD, NetFlix, Hulu, Quickster, Kwickster, Qwikster, or any other means at your disposal.

In the next few days, I will announce the coveted "Best Show of the Year" award. Stay tuned!

"Circa 1973"

2011-09-08T22:50:00.001-04:00

That's me screaming at a family dinner many years ago...

I'm posting this with the Blogger app for iOS. Pretty slick.

Add caption

Let the Games Begin!

2011-07-09T16:30:00.000-04:00

As much as I love Twitter, I need to start blogging again! Although I am a firm believer in "brevity is the soul of wit" there are topics that require more than the 140 characters that Twitter allows.

I need to rev up my brain again and long form writing is the key.

Hmmm... What to write about? Usually I write best from a place of anger and rage. If there was just something or someone that I was mad at right now...

Reviews, ranting, and raving

2010-09-28T12:31:00.004-04:00

Since I do the vast majority of my reviews, ranting, and raving on Twitter lately, it makes sense to just embed my Twitter feed into the Dolf Zone.

The 2010 Dolf Zone Excellence in Television Awards

2010-07-20T09:37:00.002-04:00

The 2010 Dolf Zone Excellence in Television Awards go to the following programs:

Louie (FX)
Spartacus: Blood and Sand (Starz)
The Pacific (HBO)
Modern Family (ABC)
Justified (FX)
Community (NBC)
Red Eye with Greg Gutfeld (Fox News)
Real Time with Bill Maher (HBO)
Family Guy (Fox)

If you haven't had a chance to watch any of these shows do yourself a favor and track them down online, via Hulu, DVD, or any other means at your disposal. The 2009/10 season was one of the best seasons in recent memory. Several great new shows made their debuts this year. Let's hope the 2010/11 season is just as good.

Louis CK's "Louie" is a Comedy Masterpiece

2010-07-01T13:17:00.002-04:00

With its two episode premiere on FX this week, Louie has established itself as the best comedy on TV. In fact, Louie is without a doubt the funniest show since Arrested Development went off the air in 2006. Beyond that, you would have to go all the way back to Seinfeld to find anything that can touch it.

Speaking of Seinfeld, Louis CK (who is also a stand-up comedian) has deconstructed the Seinfeld formula and has put it back together as a dark, miserable, yet hilarious world. With his stable of comedian friends (Jim Norton, Nick Di Paolo, etc.), and his unique ability to turn misery into comedy, CK has created a framework for a comedy classic.

You can catch the first two episodes online at FX (http://www.fxnetworks.com/shows/originals/louie). Episode 1 airs again on Sunday at 11:30pm and Tuesday at 11:30pm.

New episodes of Louie air on Tuesdays at 11:00pm on FX. A repeat episode airs immediately afterward at 11:30pm.

The Junkification of Everything...

2010-06-29T13:54:00.010-04:00

One of my favorite quotes from Fight Club seems to be even more relevant in today's climate of badly designed products sold by corporations that value profit over quality at every turn.

You take the population of vehicles in the field (A) and multiply it by the probable rate of failure (B), then multiply the result by the average cost of an out-of-court settlement (C).

A times B times C equals X. This is what it will cost if we don't initiate a recall.

If X is greater than the cost of a recall, we recall the cars and no one gets hurt.

If X is less than the cost of a recall, then we don't recall.

Toyota and Dell used to represent the pinnacle of quality and reliability for me. They were great brands. Respected brands. Brands that you would tell your friends, family, and co-workers to buy. And you would proudly stake your reputation on that recommendation. Too bad those days are gone. Long gone...

Do a Google News search and you will find case after case of companies like Toyota, Dell, and BP demonstrating a complete disregard for their customers.

The recent revelation about Dell (http://nyti.ms/bXKh9r) made me sick. However, I really wasn't that surprised. The once battleship-solid Dell PC's that I remembered from the 90's had transformed into poorly made, defect-ridden, battery-exploding junk heaps! In fact, I have a Dell laptop on my desk right now. I would love to write about all the things that have gone wrong with it, but my fingers would probably cramp up and I would be unable to continue this brilliant prose.

It seems you can't go a single day without hearing more troubling news about Toyota. From multiple recalls (http://usat.me/?98047), to irresponsible delays (http://usat.me/?38862988), to a precipitous drop in the latest J.D. Power survey (http://nyti.ms/ToyotaTumble), Toyota continues to disappoint and falter.

As for BP, I don't think there's anything I can say to adequately describe their miserable conduct... A quote from a BP executive regarding the woefully insufficient safety measures taken by BP to safeguard the Deepwater Horizon pretty much sums it up, "Who cares, it's done, end of story, will probably be fine." I will be very surprised if BP is still in business by this time next year. If by any miracle it is, I bet you it will have a new name!

Will people continue to tolerate this flood of disposable, inferior, and in many cases unsafe products? A trend that I refer to as "The Junkification of Everything". Or will there be a major consumer revolt?

If you are dissatisfied with something, let the manufacturer know about it. Same thing goes if you are pleased with a product. Don't be afraid to tell people within your social and professional circles about your experiences with products and services - both good and bad. Word of mouth is a very powerful tool and today "word of mouth" can be devastatingly effective with social networking tools like Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter at our disposal.

[Update] A few hours after writing this post, the following story broke, "Toyota accused of withholding info in acceleration probe." Unbelievable... http://usat.me?39076966 [/Update]

Toyota Officially Removed from The Dolf Zone's Prestigious Best Brands List!

2010-06-08T10:48:00.004-04:00

If you are interested in why Toyota, a once great brand, has been removed from the Dolf Zone's "Best Brands" list then please watch "Total Recall: The Toyota Story" on Wed, July 7th at 12am & 8pm EST on CNBC. It's quite sad. Toyota's insatiable quest to be the biggest car maker on the planet cost it the crown of being one of the best... http://bit.ly/toyotaTR

Unfortunately, I can personally attest to Toyota's break down in quality and reliability. I have had three separate power door lock failures on a four year old car - a 2006 Camry XLE. Ironically, the very reason I bought a Toyota was to avoid these annoying types of breakdowns! I think that defective power door locks are a safety hazard that should be subject to a recall. If you have experienced malfunctioning power locks on your Toyota please let me know.

Maybe some day Apple will make automobiles... Steve Jobs would have never let this happen!

The Beginning of the Toyota Nightmare...

What Went Wrong...

Toyota's Reputation: Built on Toughness

April & May's Insights & Ramblings...

2010-05-16T16:43:00.000-04:00

My ramblings and insights from Twitter...

R.I.P. Steve Bolte... You were one of the most memorable, quirky and creative of the St X class of '86. A true character...

Do you use Twitter? Follow @CardinalNow and @dolfer to keep up to date on all the latest Cardinal Solutions news.

Russell Crowe & Ridley Scott back together again! "Robin Hood" looks awesome.

Vote to give this idea 25K: Prevent homeless kittens in Cincinnati through Project Kitty Litter #pepsirefresh http://pep.si/cyNbEh

NPR: With Shift To Web, Microsoft's Future Turns 'Cloudy'-More at http://n.pr/126388337

Congrats to the GCITA 4.5/5.0 World Champions! http://tweetphoto.com/21587753

Drill baby! Drill?

GOAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

B&N's Nook e-reader has to have one of the most *deceptive* logos ever! They really must want you to believe it's full color. It's not...

@teenagesleuth Congrats on 150! B&S was a great episode. One of my favorites of the series.

@teenagesleuth P.S. I predict Emmy!

Why has Hollywood not made a *big* MLK movie? For God's sake, Seabiscuit got a movie! It's been over 40 years since his death. Get moving!

Only five episodes left of Lost! Will Sawyer get in one more SOB??? http://bit.ly/lostSOB

Only in America! At your friendly neighborhood Kroger, "Purchase five Healthy Choice Entrees and get a 48 oz Kroger Deluxe Ice Cream free."

"The Life & Times of Tim" on HBO is the funniest show no one *ever* talks about! Watch it!

New iPhone? Gizmodo says yes. The dude who lost it is at the bottom of the sea by now. http://bit.ly/dlfelK

Cardinal Solutions has been an Adobe Partner since 2004 & winner of 2 Adobe MAX Awards. We need LiveCycle & Flex stars to help us win more!

Today is my birthday! Give me stuff!

New Google Docs vs Office 2010! Who will win??? http://news.yahoo.com/s/nf/20100413/tc_nf/72738

Cardinal Solutions just won the Adobe Solution Showcase in Washington, DC! Congratulations to everyone who made it happen!

Loving the Drive-By Truckers... It's cool seeing a good band with an R.E.M./alt-country vibe making it big.

Dear CBS: Why can't we just join "60 Minutes" already in progress? Week after week you wreak havoc on my DVR & my Sunday recordings!

Gratitude to Spartacus! The best show on TV. Not since season 1 of The Sopranos have I been so entertained. Can't wait for the finale!

NYTimes: A Change at Apple Causes Trouble for Adobe http://s.nyt.com/u/yal

@biz Why doesn't Twitter have a *detailed user profile* like FB? One that would make it easy to find/follow co-workers? Classmates? Etc?

My new Canon SX210 & my iPad are both performing well! Delivered our recruiting presentation on the iPad for the 1st time today. Awesome!

The Harpers Point Kroger is one *hell* of a Kroger! It's huge!! But no wireless Internet? C'mon!

Cardinal Solutions has been an Adobe Partner since 2004. Winner of 2 Adobe MAX Awards. We need LiveCycle & Flex stars to help us win more!

Cardinal Solutions is one of very few Microsoft Managed Partners in the US! We are always interested in great SharePoint & .NET people.

According to UPS, my iPad is making its way from SHENZHEN, China... I will post my initial (and continued) impressions of it on Saturday.

Steve Jobs answered my email regarding Apple vs Google in the education market... Within one minute of asking!

Only Five Episodes Left of Lost! SOB!

2010-04-29T09:43:00.001-04:00

There are only five episodes left of one of the best shows on TV. Lost wraps things up on May 23rd. There are many burning questions that will hopefully be answered on that night.

My question? Will Sawyer get in one more "Son of a bitch!" before the series ends?

February & March's Insights & Ramblings...

2010-03-23T13:28:00.004-04:00

Question for all the attractive girls out there... Have you ever tried to get backstage at a circus? Just curious...

The plot of the clown routine is always far too convoluted. Just pound someone on the head with a mallet & shoot seltzer in their face!

Yes... I am at the circus...

2010 Syrian Shrine Circus... http://twitpic.com/1a24mk

Why doesn't Twitter have a detailed user profile like FB? One that would make it easy to find co-workers? Classmates? Etc?

This young girl seems truly affected by the lack of new maps in Modern Warfare 2. She is so SICK of playing Karachi! http://mapathy.com/

I love Tivo but they blew it with the Premiere. Major lack of compelling new features. http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-10466113-1.html

Awesome app idea. Silent Bodyguard! Especially useful if you plan to be on "24"... But seriously, it's a great idea... http://shar.es/mWxUZ

Looks like Microsoft is following the Apple playbook for Win 7 Phone! From limited multitasking & tight control of apps to no copy/paste!

Hollywood Video is closing its Milford store. Blockbuster next? Man! That Internet is one disruptive technology.What will it take down next?

Sweet sweet Windows music... http://www.wimp.com/windowsmusic/

Growing tired of Firefox point "updates" that render all of my favorite add-ons useless.

Finally! New MW2 maps! March 30th! http://www.modernwarfare2.com/news.php?id=6

Enemies of the Internet! Saudi Arabia, Burma, China, North Korea, Cuba, Egypt, Iran, Uzbekistan, Syria, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, and Vietnam

By popular demand... And in honor of Johnny Cash's Birthday... One of my "Sissyfication of America" posts. http://bit.ly/DZsissy

Great Adobe Flex / iPad demo of Wired. http://www.wired.com/epicenter/2010/02/the-wired-ipad-app-a-video-demonstration/

Motherboard & heat sink replaced on my Dell XPS M1530. If your model is on the list do the same before it's too late! http://bit.ly/dellGPU

Finally got around to seeing "Watchmen" and I loved it... An A-... Great movie. Loved Dr. Manhattan, Comedian, and Rorschach!

I have seen the future of rock and roll (and TV) and its name is School Gyrls.

Great season for new TV! Modern Family, Spartacus, Community, Cleveland & Jersey Shore. Can't wait for "Louis" coming in April on FX.

Installing the *minimum* set of drivers on an HP printer. 350MB and nine minutes to complete... Ridiculous!

Another Dolf Zone award winning service... Ninite is a massive time saver for those installing free apps. http://www.ninite.com/

Windows Phone 7 Series? Really? Microsoft continues to come up with the *best* names in the business! ;) How about Windows 7 Mobile? Nah...

I tuned in to see the Olympics Opening Ceremony but for some reason they were airing "Koko, Mishu, and Lebee" from 1986 era SNL instead...

50 Most Usable RIAs // http://www.insideria.com/2009/09/50-most-usable-rias.html

Best Practices in RIA Screen Design // 15 Layouts // http://uxmag.com/design/rich-internet-application-screen-design

The Sissyfication of America Part III / Best of DZ

2010-03-10T12:15:00.001-05:00

In honor of Johnny Cash's birthday last week, I thought I would repost one of my "Sissyfication of America" articles. Have fun...

Many of you wondered why I posted several country music videos from YouTube in late February with no explanation. Some of you thought I was being lazy. Some of you probably thought that I actually enjoy tripe like Lonestar and Rascal Flatts.

The point of the videos was to show how the current state of country music reflects the ongoing "Sissyfication of America". Unfortunately the new country music is just one of many examples...

Country music used to be rough and ugly! Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Hank Williams Jr. and Willie Nelson are some good examples. Johnny Cash penned at least two songs about shooting his beloved! That's tough! And offensive... And that's good... Politically incorrect to the highest degree.

The old guard of country music sang about whiskey, cocaine, gun battles, and bar fights. They helped create America's tough guy image around the world.

Today, country music has been (mostly) overtaken by a bunch of Pepsi-drinking, Nascar-sponsored, pretty boy pansies who sing sissified, feeling-filled love songs. It's completely nauseating.

Compare Johnny Cash's brilliant "Delia's Gone" and "Cocaine Blues" to the garbage-fest that is "Bless the Broken Road". It's no wonder that the United States isn't as feared as it once was... We are quickly becoming an "Everyone gets a trophy, No score keeping, Let's sanitize everything to it's blandest possible form so no one gets offended, Too scared to say Merry Christmas" bunch of wusses!

2010 Musings & Ramblings...

2010-02-12T11:20:00.003-05:00

One of my favorite clips of Max. He's almost 2. Getting mad at me because I can't find the right Tenacious D episode! http://bit.ly/Dmax #fb

Spartacus: Blood and Sand gets the Dolf Zone seal of approval. Ultra violent and a little bit sleazy. What else do you need? A solid B+/A-.

Message to Nintendo regarding Wii & DS... JUST START THE GAME!!! I'm sick of Press A. Press B. Press A&B together. Press "Start". Press A...

Finally got around to seeing/hearing Ke$ha (on Jimmy Fallon). Music Industry RIP...

Thanks to NBC's goofy "Sing Off" I now love a cappella! The Tufts Beezlebubs rule. It's musical Prozac. Listen & you can't be depressed.

One thousand downloads of "Share Your Needle"! Hmmm, 1000 X free = $0.00... Perhaps I'll make it up on volume.http://bit.ly/shareNeedle

I can't stop watching "Jersey Shore" on MTV! Is it anti-Italian? Nah! Fuggettabattit! You get at least one fist fight per week! Awesome...

The reason I don't buy or rent as many movies is that I have a Tivo filled with shows. Is there research on "The Tivo Effect" killing DVDs?

50 Most Usable RIAs // http://www.insideria.com/2009/09/50-most-usable-rias.html

Best Practices in RIA Screen Design // 15 Layouts // http://uxmag.com/design/rich-internet-application-screen-design

A Cincinnati / Milford Snow Hero? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FdYWysgnx0M #fb

Live in beautiful Milford? Could you visit http://www.speedtest.net and let me know your ISP and how fast your connection is? #fb

St X Class of 1986 Group on Facebook... http://www.facebook.com/reqs.php#!/group.php?gid=90904451579 P.S. That's the Saint Xavier in Cincy!

God's filthiest trick... The "Friday Evening (Why Couldn't This be During the Work Week?) Blizzard"...

It should be my decision whether or not I want to run Flash on my device, not Steve Jobs'...

The iPad is both a relatively unexciting new computing device and an amazing state-of-the-art e-book platform.

Everything is my business... And my business is everything. --Dolf

You haven't done anything wrong... But you haven't done anything right either. -- Dolf

Why is Best Buy so bad at inventory control? They NEVER have the things I want... LG BD390 Nope... Turtle Beach X41 Nope... C'mon!

iPad... How very disappointing... No web cam? No Flash? What were they thinking? Not impressed...

Cardinal Solutions is coming to Raleigh, NC in 2010! Looking for senior Java, .NET, SharePoint, and Flex. http://bit.ly/csgjobs

If the Underwear Bomber didn't look like a Gap model would he have gotten the Newsweek cover? As well as all of those sympathetic stories?

God bless China! Staunch defenders of copyright holders everywhere. Just ask Hollywood & Silicon Valley... http://s.nyt.com/u/rfG

And when cadmium is barred they'll use Plutonium! http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100111/ap_on_he_me/us_cadmium_jewelry

If Android isn't a success Google might have some problems... I almost never use Google on Safari. I have apps for 99% of the things I do...

Finally watched Modern Family last night. After three episodes, I am very impressed. Extremely funny. Reminds me of Arrested Development...

I'll say it again! The Kodak Gallery redesign is the Burj Dubai of User Interface / Usability disasters. Well, except maybe for Monster.com.

For fans of WOXY / 97X... This app broadcasts live web stream & archives. The Future of Rock & Roll! http://www.woxy.com/help/iphone.php

Saw a ton of movies the past 2 weeks, but no A's! Avatar, Public Enemy, The Hangover, SSSDS, and Adventureland all fell into "B" territory.

Child Prodigies / Haruka Kageyama

2010-01-19T16:43:00.004-05:00

I loves me some child prodigies and this is a great one! A ten year old girl named Haruka Kageyama covers Steve Vai's "For the Love of God". She does a phenomenal job on the fast stuff but also on the slooooow and emotional bends and vibrato moves as well. I wonder if any of the big record labels have tried to sign her? Or lock her in to a development deal of some sort? I'll research it and get back to you. In the meantime, please check her out!

Twitter v. Blogger?

2010-01-06T16:33:00.006-05:00

I just realized that it has been a loooong time since I have posted anything to the Dolf Zone! Have I died? No... Am I lazy??? Kind of... It seems that I have been using Twitter as my main publishing outlet lately. It's fast and to the point. And although Blogger is certainly convenient, it can't beat Twitter when it comes to raw speed. If I have a particularly insightful thought, a review, or an idea, I can Tweet it within seconds. Blogger seems clunky in comparison.

To my millions of fans out there, I promise to post more content to the Dolf Zone in 2010. However, be sure to follow me on Twitter so you don't miss a thing. My Twitter page is at http://twitter.com/dolfer

Here are some of my tweets over the past couple months on Dolf Zone related topics.

The reason I don't buy or rent as many movies is that I have a Tivo filled with shows. Is there research on "The Tivo Effect" killing DVDs?

I'll say it again! The Kodak Gallery redesign is the Burj Dubai of User Interface / Usability disasters. Well, except maybe for Monster.com.

Finally watched Modern Family last night. After three episodes, I am very impressed. Extremely funny. Reminds me of Arrested Development...

For fans of WOXY / 97X... This app broadcasts live web stream & archives. The Future of Rock & Roll! http://www.woxy.com/help/iphone.php

Saw a ton of movies the past 2 weeks, but no A's! Avatar, Public Enemy, The Hangover, SSSDS, and Adventureland all fell into "B" territory.

So basically the Christmas Day terror attempt has proven that our airport security has more holes than Swiss cheese in a shotgun factory...

http://twitpic.com/vrz9a - Monday, the Museum Center!

http://twitpic.com/vrydh - Sunday, Newport Aquarium!

"Something, Something, Something, Dark Side" was just aight for me... A little lazy. "Road to the Multiverse" is the best FG of the year.

Catching up on some movies... "The Hangover" was ok but definitely not as funny as the hype machine leads you to believe. I give it a B-.

Although he's setting himself up for jokes like "I Can Tranform Ya (Into a Bloody Pulp)", Chris Brown's new single is undeniably catchy...

Getting Max started with Nintendo DS... Why do some games require 50 button presses to get started? JUST GO! Should have bought him a Touch.

http://twitpic.com/uzuad - Merry Christmas from the Muccillo's. Peace.

Is Barnes and Noble the only major retailer that doesn't match the prices on its *own* web site??? Just curious... And mad! ;)

BREAKING NEWS! There is currently no breaking news...

Bing for iPhone is very slick. So far, voice recognition works better than Google. http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/bing/id345323231?mt=8

I just nominated MailChimp for the Best Internet Application Crunchie! Nominate here: http://is.gd/5ajec #crunchies

Toyota Motors and Kings Toyota are back in my good graces and more importantly back on the Best of Dolf Zone list... ;)

Services that I love and highly recommend include MailChimp, YouSendIt, bit.ly, and Google Analytics. All are free...

Dolf Zone Recommendation. ShopSavvy for iPhone (and Android) is a sweet shopping/barcode scanning app. And it's free...

I have been massively disappointed with Amazon.com's selection and prices over the Black Friday / Cyber Monday sales period. What up?

twitter & facebook are pretty cool on a 60" screen via Xbox 360!

Kodak Gallery joins Monster.com as another BAD website redesign. Album Names are severely truncated or in some cases not even used!

Important enough to post again! A Halloween warning for those who let their pets go outside. Keep your pets inside! http://bit.ly/3wTL9G

A simple registry fix for the annoying PDF Preview glitch in Windows 7 64-bit w/ Outlook 2007. http://bit.ly/adobeFix

Irony of all ironies... The only negative during my Win7 transition comes from Apple! iTunes migrations suck! Lost all of my app data!

So far I am loving Windows 7 64-bit! The migration from Vista was thankfully uneventful and surprisingly fast for a clean install.

"Where the Wild Things Are" was very good... I did have to get over the shock of one of the "wild things" being voiced by Tony Soprano! ;)

Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit is now installed... Let the wild rumpus start...

iPhone Radio App on the way! http://bit.ly/92Fw5

Just got my free copy of Windows 7 Ultimate Signature Edition signed by the one and only Steve Ballmer courtesy of the House Party promo.

Best.Flash_Application.Ever! I can't believe it's legal! ;) This scam would probably work at some businesses... http://www.expenseasteak.com

I guess my idea of Apple taking over the failed Kenwood Towne Place project isn't going to happen any time soon! http://shar.es/1GOT7

Kudos to #Toyota, #AT&T, #Tivo, and #Google for using Twitter as a *proactive* Customer Service tool. Reps from those companies called me!

Monster and Dice redesigned their Employer sites and both are truly awful! Worst.UI's.Ever. It hurts my head to use them. LinkedIn gets it!

Microsoft's Free AntiVirus Out Today... http://bit.ly/29xTj

Why isn't #AmazingRace in HD yet? #FamilyGuy has made billions but is still in SD... All primetime TV should be in HD by now! C'mon!

Seth MacFarlane now has 90 minutes of network, prime time programming...

Wondering if "Family Guy" will win for best comedy at tonight's Emmy Awards?

Best Buy just ripped off my "Better than life" catchphrase to describe a TV! http://bit.ly/tAOBE

The death of summer brings forth life in the form of new TV. When one door closes, another opens.

A little tech-themed story that represents what is WRONG with EVERYTHING! http://bit.ly/zGU3J

To say that I hate the new Monster.com UI redesign with all of my heart and soul is a massive understatement...

The new Google Toolbar update has turned Firefox 3.5 into a slow, crashy mess! Too bad... I loved the new "New Tab" functionality. #Google

Massively fast Internet & TV coming to Cincinnati! Cincinnati Bell FiOptics Fiber Optic Network. http://www.cincinnatibell.com/fioptics/

I have installed some OS's faster than today's iTunes 9 upgrade! Jeez!

Follow Cardinal SolutionsGroup @CardinalNow

My new favorite site... The People of Wal-Mart... http://peopleofwalmart.com/

I *hate* it when people don't use the subject line in their emails. I also hate when people don't include the original message in replies.

Sunlight Pool / Coney Island could really benefit from using Twitter to blast out special deals when attendance is low on a particular day.

@SethMacFarlane You are a billionaire... So why isn't Family Guy in HD like The Simpsons?

HBO has done it again! They figured out how to get me to watch the Cincinnati Bengals. Just put them in a reality show! Hard Knocks rocks!

Million dollar idea for Apple and Amazon's downloads... The entire first episode of each and every season of a TV series should be free.

Another South Park Classic / Whale Whores

2009-10-29T09:09:00.003-04:00

I laughed so hard I nearly cried... Amazingly, after 13 seasons, Trey and Matt can still bring the funny. Last night's episode "Whale Whores" is another instant classic. This time South Park takes on an entire country! "Well Stan... the Japanese just don't really like Dolphins very much. Certainly not as much as us normal people do."

Here are two great clips... The uninitiated might think that South Park is promoting violence against animals but that's not the case. Trey Parker and Matt Stone have proven themselves to be very astute social, political, and religious commentators. After all, they have won both a Peabody and more importantly a Dolf Zone Excellence in Television award. You can watch the entire episode online at or catch it on Comedy Central this week. South Park airs on Wednesdays at 10:00pm.

Simon Reloaded

2009-10-15T13:23:00.003-04:00

One word for all y'all... Thirteen! Beat it... No cheating. No writing down! All from memory. Many of you participated last time, but I have since learned that not all scores were legitimately earned. Post your best score.

HD PLEASE!

2009-09-28T13:39:00.004-04:00

Actually this could be another segment of Grinding my Gears!

Once again a new Fall season of TV wonderment begins... And once again a slew of high profile shows remain in low tech, standard definition (SD)... Blech!

Two of my favorite shows (The Amazing Race and Family Guy) both began new seasons last night and both returned in miserable, bars-on-the-side, non-HD. I can't think of a show that would look better in HD than Amazing Race with all of its gorgeous globe-spanning locations. And what show has made more money in the last decade than Family Guy? You would think that Fox and MacFarlane would finally splurge for the HD treatment.

It's almost impossible to walk into Wal-Mart or Best Buy and buy a non-HD TV. So it's time for the networks to step up and start giving us our money's worth.

Grinding my Gears...

2009-09-16T12:57:00.002-04:00

A nice little technology-themed story that is represents what is WRONG with EVERYTHING - government, insurance, health care, business, intelligence, common sense... everything!

Read, go forth, and be angry...

Kara Lynn has amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or A.L.S., which has attacked the muscles around her mouth and throat, removing her ability to speak. A couple of years ago, she spent more than $8,000 to buy a computer, approved by Medicare, that turns typed words into speech that her family, friends and doctors can hear...

Medicare and private health insurers decline to cover cheap devices like iPhones and netbook PCs that can help the speech-impaired, despite their usefulness and lower cost...

Instead, public and private insurers insist that, if Ms. Lynn and others like her want insurance to pay, they must spend 10 to 20 times as much for dedicated, proprietary devices that can do far less... Read Full Article at New York Times

FiOptics Baby!

2009-09-16T10:21:00.007-04:00

What do we want? A real competitor to Time Warner Cable! When do we want it? Now!

If Cincinnati Bell can roll it its new FiOptics service to most of Greater Cincinnati, Time Warner Cable is in trouble... Besides offering far greater download speeds of up to 30 MBPS, FiOptics also means legitimate non-satellite-based TV competition for Time Warner.

The party (and the monopoly) for Time Warner Cable will soon be over. They will actually have to compete for our business. I can't wait... Competition (not greed) is good.

If FiOptics is smart enough not to adopt Time Warner's moronic practice of unnecessarily copy protecting channels (CCI Byte) when the respective network does not require it, FiOptics will immediately get a swarm of Tivo users who want the full functionality of their boxes back.

It's Sand...

2009-09-15T14:26:00.005-04:00

This is very cool... I haven't seen anything quite like it. If Microsoft is smart they will lock her down as the official Microsoft Surface spokesperson. I can already envision the commercials...

Kseniya Simonova is a Ukrainian artist who just won the "Ukraine's Got Talent" competition. She uses a giant light box, dramatic music, imagination and "sand painting" skills to interpret the invasion and occupation of her country from 1941-1945.

Thanks to LLG for the link...

Dolf Zone Micro Burst / Get the iTunes/iPhone Updates!

2009-09-14T14:22:00.002-04:00

Although iTunes 9 takes FOREVER to install go ahead and get it along with the iPhone / iPod Touch 3.1 firmware update.

There are several enhancements but my favorite is the new drag-and-drop Application screen manager. This is far better than trying to arrange your apps directly via your iPhone. Check out this screen shot.

Dolf Zone Pick / Louis C.K.

2009-09-08T12:20:00.002-04:00

Louis C.K. is one of my favorite comedians. If you ever get a chance to see him in person or watch one of his specials on HBO or Comedy Central do yourself a favor and go for it!

Check out C.K.'s famous bit on technology from his appearance on Conan. As a tech enthusiast, I found it particularly funny. It's going to space!

Dolf Zone Micro Burst / The People of Wal-Mart

2009-09-03T14:40:00.003-04:00

My new favorite web site! It's getting slammed at the moment so you might want to check it out later in the day.

I guarantee at least one good laugh! Check it out at : www.peopleofwalmart.com

Thanks to cub reporter David L for the link...

More iPhone Goodness

2009-08-28T08:50:00.004-04:00

I have been evangelizing the iPhone ever since I got my first one (a 32BG 3GS) back in July. It's simply an amazing piece of technology.

Besides the core functionality, one of the best things about the iPhone is the seemingly unlimited number of applications that extend the phone's capabilities. What they say in the commercials is true, if you can dream it, "There's an app for that."

Apple is starting a new campaign for the 2009 Fall TV season to highlight some new amazing applications. Several of these are simply unbelievable. I can't wait to get my hands on them! Check it out, check it outers!

Dolf Zone Pick / The No-Junk Business iPhone Apps Finder

2009-08-25T11:06:00.002-04:00

A useful page from InfoWorld for keeping track of useful business-related iPhone apps. Check it out at http://www.infoworld.com/iphone-apps

There are thousands of apps for the iPhone and iPod Touch -- but finding the ones you want is very difficult within Apple's iTunes Store, especially for business users, since all business apps are lumped together into one massive category. To help people find business-oriented iPhone apps more easily, InfoWorld has categorized them and put them into the sortable table.

The Dolf Zone's Quick Tech Picks

2009-08-13T15:37:00.006-04:00

A new feature on The Dolf Zone... Quick Picks! Right now I am loving the following products and services:

Xobni / If you live in Outlook then you will love this search and analytics tool. The email address "auto suggest" feature is light years ahead of Outlook's and is worth the download alone!

Shutterfly's Custom Websites are awesome. A great way to share photos and videos. Most photo sites charge a premium for this. Not Shutterfly.

Xmarks is invaluable if you use multiple computers and want to keep your bookmarks and passwords in sync!

YouSendIt allows you to send out all of those gigantic PowerPoint presentations that are too big to email. The free version of this service allows you to send files up to 100MB.

More tech picks next week!

Auto-Tune The News...

2009-08-13T10:08:00.003-04:00

If you love to hate Auto-Tune and enjoy some good political humor then this is for you... Several good laughs here. Personally, I might have made it a little bit shorter but all in all it's funny stuff!

Stupid Video Friday

2009-07-31T09:47:00.004-04:00

This is what Stupid Video Friday is all about! Boo!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks to DZ junior correspondent Master T for the link...

Another Two Bite The Dust...

2009-07-23T13:42:00.005-04:00

[10/01/2009] Update - My faith in #Toyota has been restored! Back in my good graces and back on the Dolf Zone's recommended list. Thanks to @Toyota and Leona! The power of good customer service and standing behind your product can never be underestimated! [/ 10/01/2009]

Breaking News...

Effective immediately both ~~Toyota~~ (Automobiles) and HP (Printers) are removed from the highly respected "Dolf's Top Brands" list.

They join Dell Computer as once proud brands that used to be synonymous with quality, reliability and good customer service. Unfortunately today, that couldn't be further from the truth.

HP printers used to last for years! Today you are lucky if they last 12 months.

After 3 years the power locks in my supposedly ultra-reliable Camry XLE go bad??? The primary reason that I bought a Toyota was to *avoid* these nagging failures. I have owned THREE Toyota's in a row. I have evangelized Toyota. No more... I will do everything I can to deter people from buying the brand. I will be the ultimate anti-Toyota-evangelist.

I plan on detailing both issues in great detail here on the Dolf Zone, on Twitter, and via YouTube.

Cincinnati Apple Store on a Thursday Morning

2009-07-17T10:28:00.008-04:00

Last Thursday (July 9th) I ventured over to Kenwood Towne Centre to return an item to Foot Locker. As I made my way through the nearly empty mall I thought I would stop by the Apple Store to see if I could find a cool new accessory for my new iPhone 3GS.

When I walked into the store this is what I saw... Unbelievable! I would bet my life that there were more people in the Apple Store than in the entire rest of the mall.

The lesson? Build great stuff and they will come! If you combine innovation with reliability, you can't go wrong. More companies should pay heed to this simple lesson.

On a related note, maybe Apple should consider taking over the infamously troubled Kenwood Towne Place project and turning it into the world's largest Apple Store? I am getting really tired at looking at this unfinished monstrosity and the giant crane that hasn't moved an inch for about a year now! C'mon!

This is the view from my office. Actually, the crane and I have become good friends.

Dolf Zone Pick / GOOG-411

2009-07-09T13:08:00.005-04:00

I am surprised by how many people don't know about this... GOOG-411 is another fine (and free) product from Google. Basically it is a completely free "411" information service for your mobile phone. Just dial 1-800-GOOG-411 (1-800-466-4411) and go!

Now you can find businesses for free from any phone – no internet access required, and with no 411 charges. Just call GOOG-411 and say where you are and what you're looking for.

Features

Call your favorite local business. Dial 1-800-GOOG-411 (1-800-466-4411), then name the business you’re looking for and where it’s located. GOOG-411 will find it and connect you to it for free.

Local business information through SMS. Say “text message” after you hear the exact location of the business you’re looking for, and GOOG-411 will send you a text message with the business’s address and phone number.

No more 411 charges. GOOG-411 is a free service – even the call connecting you to the business you're looking for is free. (Carrier charges for the use of your mobile device may apply.)

And while you are at it, check out www.igoogle.com with your mobile browser and get an optimized version of iGoogle for your phone.

Max's Dive

2009-07-07T10:13:00.002-04:00

Max asked to dive off the diving board for the very first time during the 4th of July Party. I thought he would do a meek little hand-over-head tumble but instead he did a perfect racing dive. I couldn't believe it. I grabbed my iPhone and had him do it again. So this is actually his second dive ever from a diving board.

Fifteen Majors in Three and a Half Minutes

2009-07-06T14:48:00.003-04:00

Mmmm... New iPhone

2009-06-10T15:26:00.012-04:00

The latest iPhone looks good enough to eat. There are so many cool new features it seems destined to completely conquer the home and enterprise markets in another year or two. This is not too hard to imagine when you consider the terrible phones competitors like Verizon are putting up against it. My current Verizon-provided Samsung i760 has already been replaced once for failing to sync. And now the replacement model's "End Call" button doesn't work. Nice... On the other hand, iPhones are now being used by the United States military because of its superior features and reliability.

As for the Windows Mobile 6.1 platform... It looks and feels like it is 10 years behind the iPhone OS. The mobile version of Internet Explorer is almost useless. I am getting by with the Opera 9.5 Beta which provides a good (not great) mobile browsing experience.

Hopefully the latest versions of the iPhone and the 3.0 update will light a fire under the rest of the industry to come up with better software and hardware.

Possible Tennis History To Be Made Today!

2009-06-07T09:15:00.003-04:00

As I type this post, Roger Federer is attempting to make tennis history by finally winning the French Open. With perpetual roadblock Rafael Nadal knocked out early (coincedentally by Federer's opponent today, Robin Soderling) this is Federer's best (and possibly last) chance to take the French Open.

With a victory today Federer would tie Pete Sampras's record of 14 majors. However, none of Sampras's majors include the elusive French Open. So with one fell swoop of his racket, Federer can tie Sampras and lay claim to the coveted "Greatest of all Time" designation.

The match is going on right now on NBC! Check it out!

Super Mario Bros for Wii at E3

2009-06-05T15:13:00.004-04:00

If you are old like me... You probably have fond memories of the SNES version of Super Mario Bros. The new Wii version looks great while still retaining the look and feel of the original classic. Check it out.

Video Games | New Super Mario Bros. Wii | E3 09: Debut Trailer

XBox 360 | Playstation 3 | Nintendo Wii

Run, Don't Walk To Vista & Office SP2!

2009-06-05T15:01:00.004-04:00

If you are a fan of the Dolf Zone (and why wouldn't you be?) you know I have been complaining about Vista and Office 2007 for months!

One of my main agitations is the interminable wait for Outlook 2007 to launch, connect to my Exchange server, and load my messages. Sometimes it took 7 or 8 minutes! This kind of dreadul performance was completely unacceptable to me. I actually stopped turning off my computer at night because I didn't want to sit through this agonizing process every day...

However it finally appears as though this nagging problem has been resolved! I downloaded SP2 for both Vista and Office 2007 and now I can launch Outlook, connect to Exchange, and access my email in under one minute! Thank you Jesus! I am just praying SP2 doesn't break anything. So far, so good...

SP2 for Office automatically showed up in my automatic updates. However, I had to manually download SP2 for Vista. Below are direct links for both...

Download SP2 for Office 2007 | Download SP2 for Vista

Natal at E3

2009-06-02T19:46:00.003-04:00

Man... One day, two posts about Microsoft... And both are POSITIVE!

Check out the Natal demo for XBox 360 shown at this week's big E3 conference. This looks like some amazing stuff. Microsoft appears to be throwing everything but the kitchen sink into the 360. Videoconferencing, 1080p HD downloads, and a whole lot more. Very cool indeed...

Badda Bing!

2009-06-02T10:46:00.004-04:00

Microsoft is ready to take on Google once again with a new and improved search engine called Bing. I checked it out and it looks pretty cool. Sleek UI and some high tech niceties (check out the video and image search in particular).

But all of the gloss in the world won't help if the results aren't good. My initial test queries seemed to deliver very good results. I'll post more on this later as I put Bing through some real world use.

I think there is a real chance for Microsoft (or someone else) to take some market share away from Google. I have been getting increasingly agitated by Google's rotten results of late. It seems the spammers are outwitting the algorithm more often that not.

Test Bing out and let me know what you think...

Modern Warfare 2 Trailer

2009-06-01T15:03:00.007-04:00

Two of my favorite games of all time are "Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare" and "Call of Duty 5: World At War". On November 10th, 2009 "Call of Duty 6: Modern Warfare 2" will be released and it promises to be one of the best shooters ever. Check out the new trailer! Modern Warfare 2 Worldwide Reveal Trailer (Official HD) /

Official uncut and extended Modern Warfare 2 Worldwide Reveal Trailer. Acclaimed developer Infinity Ward brings you Modern Warfare 2, the sequel to the best-selling shooter of all-time, Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare. Watch in HD!

If you are obsessed with the latest COD 6 developments, check out cod6.org

The Complete Dolf Album Consolidated

2009-05-24T19:25:00.008-04:00

Here are all twenty three tracks from the Dolf Album in one convenient location. The links go directly to the MP3 files. I will put out an ISO or a ZIP file of the collection sometime in the future.

1. Share Your Needle
2. Like A Mother
3. The Last Time I Go To Sleep
4. Always Nothing
5. When I Think About You
6. I've Got A Problem
7. Everyone & Everything
8. High School Girl
9. Happy Day
10. I Don't Love You
11. Loving Abuser
12. Moving Backwards
13. World Still Spins
14. Passed Out Again
15. Never See You Again
16. Ring
17. You Say You Love Me
18. I Don't Care
19. That's Life
20. Like A Memory
21. Twisted
22. Queen Sized Beauty
23. I Wonder Why

The Dolf Album / Track 23 / I Wonder Why

2009-05-20T10:16:00.004-04:00

"I Wonder Why" is the FINAL track from The Dolf Album. Several people have told me that this is their favorite song of mine. It's certainly one of my more ambitious, complicated pieces when compared to my usual short & catchy tunes. This was written circa 1995 after seeing some great local bands in Utah. They were doing more complicated and intricate things than I was used to seeing and it inspired me to do the same.

Some trivia on this one...

* Clocking in at 4:26, this is my longest song.
* One of the songs in which I use a capo.
* I submitted "I Wonder Why" to the American Idol songwriting contest last year. In my own completely unbiased opinion it is better than any "Winner's Single" on any season of the show. Not that that is saying much... ;)

Download "I Wonder Why" (Mp3 format with embedded album art and lyrics)

“I Wonder Why”
Words and Music by Dolf Muccillo
Copyright 2009

You weren’t the first
You weren’t the last
You’re just the one
I can’t get past
I wonder why

Why you are so different
And why I can’t forget
Why no one seems to measure up
To this angel that god sent
I wonder why

*And I wonder where you are
And I wonder where you’ve been
And I wonder if I’ll ever see you again

And I wonder who you’re with
And I wonder who you’ve done
And I wonder why you are the only one
I wonder why

It’s been so long, since I’ve last seen you
I’ve pissed away a year
Since we’ve been through
I wonder why

Why we had to end it
I’m not able to transcend it
If I had blood left I’d send it
Ah will we ever mend it?
I wonder why

*And I wonder where you are
And I wonder where you’ve been
And I wonder if I’ll ever see you again

And I wonder who you’re with
And I wonder who you’ve done
And I wonder why you are the only one
I wonder why

…it’s been so long

The Biggest Loser / Final Figures

2009-05-13T15:56:00.003-04:00

For all of you Biggest Loser fans out there... Here are all of the final weight loss percentages. I'll have to admit that I was not expecting Helen to win.

1. Helen: 257-117=140 (54.47%)

2. Mike: 388-181=207 (53.35%)

3. Tara: 294-139=155 (52.72%)

4. Jerry: 369-192=177 (47.97%)

5. Kristin: 360-193=167 (46.39%)

6. Nicole: 269-146=123 (45.72%)

7. Ron: 430-238=192 (44.65%)

8. Sione: 372-226=146 (39.25%)

9. Dane: 412-258=154 (37.38%)

10. Filipe: 364-229=135 (37.09%)

11. Damien: 381-245=136 (35.70%)

12. Daniel: 454-293=161 (35.46%)

13. Mandi: 263-171=92 (34.98%)

14. Estella: 242-159=83 (34.30%)

15. Carla: 379-251=128 (33.77%)

16. Shanon: 283-191=92 (32.51%)

17. Cathy: 293-198=95 (32.42%)

18. Blaine: 365-249=116 (31.78%)

19. Laura: 285-199=86 (30.18%)

20. Joelle: 309-229=80 (25.89%)

21. Aubrey: 249-194=55 (22.09%)

22. David: 393-350=43 (10.94%)

The Dolf Album / Track 20 / Like A Memory

2009-05-06T10:55:00.002-04:00

A nice little gloom and doom number... No doubt inspired by listening to thousands of hours of The Smiths, The Cure, and other mope rock favorites! "Like a Memory" is track 20 off of The Dolf Album. Favorite line: "Will she shed a tear when that line goes so straight? / Or is there no one there except those in white getting paid to wait..."

Download "Like a Memory" (Mp3 format with embedded album art and lyrics)

"Like a Memory"
Words and Music by Dolf Muccillo
Copyright 2009

When the clock reaches my final hour
Will I be happy, sad, content, bitter or sour?
Will I look with joy at all the things I’ve done?
Or will I lay my head in my hands and let the time run

*It already seems like a memory
It already seems just like a memory
I’m so out of tune can’t make a harmony
It already seems like a memory

And when the clock reaches my final minute
Will there be someone in my life or no one in it?
Will she shed a tear when that line goes so straight?
Or is there no one there except those in white,
Getting paid to wait?

* chorus

Just watching time drift by
Just watching time drip by
Just watching time slip by
Just watching you go by

The Dolf Album / Track 19 / That's Life

2009-05-06T10:41:00.002-04:00

This little song fragment was written in 1995... OJ was in the news constantly... For some reason there were a million stories that month about Crack addiction... And I had made a trip to the DMV and saw an interesting (and very miserable) dude waiting in line... Add it all up and you get "That's Life", track 19 from The Dolf Album. A trademark Dolf dark humor song... Definitely needs to be re-recorded and polished up a bit... But I've always liked this one. Favorite line: "Three rotten kids and one's suckin' on the pipe / That's Life / This is your life"

Download "That's Life" (Mp3 format with embedded album art and lyrics)

“That’s Life”
Words and Music by Dolf Muccillo
Copyright 2009

There’s dirt on your clothes, big fat wife
Three rotten kids, one’s suckin’ on the pipe

*That’s life, this is your life
You could solve all your problems now
If you only had a butcher knife

She spends all your money, you can’t afford a car
If you hadn’t met her you could have gone so far

*chorus

The things you could have been,
The things you could have done
All the dreams you had and now they’re gone

*chorus

Unemployed, Dead, or Both!

2009-04-28T10:52:00.006-04:00

2009... The year that we all might end up unemployed, dead, or if we are lucky, both!

As you contemplate your remaining time on this planet, please enjoy one of my favorite comedy bits of all time - "The Audition" from the brilliant Mr. Show with Bob & David. I have seen this routine probably 100 times and it kills me every time! [You might recognize David Cross from his Tobias Funke character (the Blue Man, The Analrapist) on Arrested Development.]

You can get the entire series on DVD. I highly recommend it! Buy Mr. Show: The Complete Collection at Amazon.

P.S. Rated R for language!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Dolf Album / Track 18 / I Don't Care

2009-04-24T11:45:00.003-04:00

In honor of Earth Day... My homage to apathy... "I Don't Care" is track 18 from The Dolf Album. This song has a few lines that I think are pretty good. My favorite being "People are dying every day / When I change the channel, they go away" Is the song about a drunk living in a trailer, pounding beers and watching TV? Or is it about you and me!?!?! No one will ever know! ;)

Download "I Don't Care" (Mp3 format with embedded album art and lyrics)

"I Don’t Care"
Words and Music by Dolf Muccillo
Copyright 2009

Sittin’ here wasted, and I don’t care
I've got my TV, and I got my chair
People are dying every day
When I change the channel, they go away

*I don’t care, I just don’t care

There’s filth in the river, but I don’t care
I’ve got my Bud Light, eight more to spare
Holes in the sky bigger everyday
When I change the channel, it’s ok

*chorus

Ain’t got a woman, but I don’t care
I’ve got 96 channels, all day I stare
Don’t need an angel from heaven above
When I find the right channel,
I’ll get some love (you know what I mean)

*chorus

Feel free, feel free, feel free to hate me

…cause I don’t care

Ubuntu Curious?

2009-04-22T13:12:00.005-04:00

If you have toyed with the idea of installing Ubuntu (or one of its variants) there is now an unbelievably easy way to do so.

Just download and install Wubi and in a matter of a few minutes and a couple of clicks, you will have an Ubuntu/Windows dual-boot system. 100% free! You will be amazed at everything that is included: an office suite, an email client, FireFox, disc burning, games, an image editor, and much more.

Besides costing absolutely nothing, Ubuntu (and variants like Xubuntu) are very fast and will run exceptionally well on older and underpowered computers.

Check it out! Download the Wubi installer today!

Transformers 2 Trailer

2009-04-20T16:01:00.006-04:00

One of the unexpected treats of fatherhood is being introduced to all of the media creations that I would have otherwise ignored. In my case they are SpongeBob and the Transformers. I now have a far above average understanding of both worlds. In fact, when I ran across the trailer for the upcoming Transformers movie, I found myself scrambling to find the release date. This is one of the best sci-fi trailers I have seen in a long time. The special effects look amazing. This movie must have cost a fortune and I can't wait to see it!

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen is set for June 24th. I have a feeling that Max and I will be there on opening weekend.

Watch the trailer now!

The Dolf Album / Track 17 / You Say You Love Me

2009-04-15T16:07:00.003-04:00

"You Say You Love Me" is track 17 from The Dolf Album. A very catchy melody and only slightly offensive lyrics.

Download "You Say You Love Me" (Mp3 format with embedded album art and lyrics)

"You Say You Love Me"
Words and Music by Dolf Muccillo
Copyright 2009

*You say you love me and I believe you.
You say forever and I believe it’s true.

Until some tattooed, long haired motorcycle riding asshole rides you away.

* chorus

Until some guy with boats and planes and cocaine highs buys your love away.

* chorus

Until some brain-dead, muscle-bound, big-d#cked clown pumps your love away.

* chorus

Dolf Zone Pick / Close_Range

2009-04-09T09:10:00.003-04:00

As many of you know my birthday is coming up on April 15th... Coincidentally, the recently released video game "Close_Range" is at the top of my "wish list". You do the math...

The Dolf Album / Track 16 / Ring

2009-04-05T08:54:00.002-04:00

"Ring" is track 16 from The Dolf Album. "Ring" is probably the most blatantly "pop" song on the Dolf Album. Definitely not bubblegum pop... but "pop" for me.

Download "Ring" (Mp3 format with embedded album art and lyrics)

"Ring"
Words and Music by Dolf Muccillo
Copyright 2009

*Ring, ring, ring
Someone give me anything
Ring, ring, ring
I’m so alone

I’m looking for an answer
But I can’t answer if you won’t call
Ring, ring, ring
Ring it off the wall

I thought you were so different
And didn’t play those games
But I’m sitting alone on Friday night
I guess you’re all the same

I’m looking for an answer
But I can’t answer if you don’t call
Ring, ring, ring
Ring it off the wall

*chorus

I feel like such a loser
To think that you’d want me
I guess the signals were crossed
And the meaning was lost
I’m gettin good at getting nothing

I still don’t have an answer
And I guess I’ll never get your call
But I’ll pray to god each and every night
That it’ll ring off the wall

*chorus

The zero on the machine
Is looking like me
The message is clear
Cause you’re not here
What’s wrong with me?

*chorus

The Dolf Album / Track 15 / Never See You Again

2009-03-26T12:16:00.005-04:00

"Never See You Again" is track 15 from The Dolf Album. It's one of the first songs that I wrote. Very simple... I love the main guitar riff. It sounds like two or three guitars playing simultaneously but it's just me. I would love to hear Michael Stipe sing this! Michael?

Download "Never See You Again" (Mp3 format with embedded album art and lyrics) For those that suck at the Internet, right click the link and chose "Save Link As..." or "Save Target As..." depending upon which browser you use.

"Never See You Again"
Words and Music by Dolf Muccillo
Copyright 2009

I’m sitting waiting, waiting for your call
Picture of you burns into the wall

*And I know ill never see you again
And I know I’ll never see you again

I wish I’d never seen your face
Cause you’re the one that cant be replaced

*And I know ill never see you again
And I know I’ll never see you again

You’re all I want, you’re all I can see
Do you ever think about me?

*And I know ill never see you again
And I know I’ll never see you again

The Dolf Album / Track 14 / Passed Out Again

2009-03-20T11:00:00.003-04:00

"Passed Out Again" is track 14 from The Dolf Album. Just droppin' a little existential knowledge on all y'all... I like this particular tune quite a bit. I have always been found of the line, "Did God put me here just to watch these reruns." There is also an uptempo, dance/metal, NIN-like version of this song that I recorded with "Master T" as part of the band Hack. I will release that version in a few weeks.

Download "Passed Out Again" (Mp3 format with embedded album art and lyrics) For those that suck at the Internet, right click the link and chose "Save Link As..." or "Save Target As..." depending upon which browser you use.

“Passed Out Again”
Words and Music by Dolf Muccillo
Copyright 2009

I contemplate just why I’m here
I watch the clock and I drink more beer
No answers yet but I’m feeling fine
Passed out again at a quarter till nine

*Passed out again at a quarter till nine
Don’t knock on my door don’t call me
I’m feeling fine.

Mostly pain with a little bit of fun.
Did god put me here just to watch these reruns?
Or to lay on the couch and sleep all day
Or to lie to you so I can get laid.

*chorus

It can’t be love cause it don’t exist
It can’t be truth cause it’s just a myth
It can’t be faith cause I don’t believe
It can’t be you cause you always leave

*chorus

#16 Topeka State Topples Top Ranked Utah Tech

2009-03-19T10:21:00.000-04:00

In one of the greatest upsets in NCAA Men's Basketball history, lowly Topeka State took down top seeded Utah Tech 90-89 on Darius Dunn's three-pointer at the buzzer! March Madness is just getting started people! More on this amazing game as details emerge...

Latest Console Numbers

2009-03-18T10:08:00.002-04:00

Here are the latest console numbers. The PS3 continues to get spanked. A price cut is supposedly coming as publishers are increasingly moving away from the PS3 to fund projects for the Wii.

The Dolf Album / Track 13 / World Still Spins

2009-03-17T17:40:00.002-04:00

"World Still Spins" is track 13 from The Dolf Album. "Spins" is probably the oddest sounding of all my songs. It sounds the least like the others. Lyrically the song is a "What if?" take of real world events. Kind of a tribute to something (or someone) that never happened.

Download "World Still Spins" (Mp3 format with embedded album art and lyrics) For those that suck at the Internet, right click the link and chose "Save Link As..." or "Save Target As..." depending upon which browser you use.

"World Still Spins"
Words and Music by Dolf Muccillo
Copyright 2009

She was a perfect little girl
But she f#cked up one night
And there’s a baby in the world

*But the world still spins

He wasn’t exactly a bundle of joy
You’ve taken away my youth
My precious baby boy

*repeat

He always felt half, alone
When he could he left his home

*repeat

Doesn’t go back much, two cards a year
Signed I love you very much
My sweet mother dear

*repeat

Years keep passing, piling one on one
She stared straight into nothing
Good night I’m sorry son

*repeat 2x

The Dolf Allbum / Part I / Tracks 1-12 Consolidated

2009-03-13T11:22:00.004-04:00

Due to multiple requests, here are the first twelve songs off of the Dolf Album all in one place. All links go directly to the mp3 files. Have fun...

1. Share Your Needle
2. Like A Mother
3. The Last Time I Go To Sleep
4. Always Nothing
5. When I Think About You
6. I've Got A Problem
7. Everyone & Everything
8. High School Girl
9. Happy Day
10. I Don't Love You
11. Loving Abuser
12. Moving Backwards

Right click the link and chose "Save Link As..." or "Save Target As..." depending upon which browser you use. Save the mp3 file into your main music directory and then double click on it to open it in iTunes. Lyrics and album art should show up.

The Dolf Album / Track 12 / Moving Backwards

2009-03-13T11:01:00.003-04:00

"Moving Backwards" is track 12 from The Dolf Album. Backwards is one of my earlier songs. The Dolf "high voice" is in full effect on this one... Trivia: The chord progression moves backwards as I sing the chorus.

Download "Moving Backwards" (Mp3 format with embedded album art and lyrics) For those that suck at the Internet, right click the link and chose "Save Link As..." or "Save Target As..." depending upon which browser you use.

"Moving Backwards"
Words and Music by Dolf Muccillo
Copyright 2009

When I met you girl
I thought you’re the one I was looking for
Thought I’d never have to search
For perfect ones anymore
16 months and 18 days and I guess I’ve seen the light
Another bad decision, another time that I’m not right

*And I guess I’m moving backwards
Moving backwards once again
When you’re moving backwards
Moving forwards seems in vain
da da da da da da da da

I thought you were my missing piece
I thought the puzzle’s done
But things have changed, they always do
And I know you’re not the one
The wasted time is not what hurts
I guess we had some fun
It’s just lost hope, you’re my lost dream
A new search has begun

*chorus

Oh, perfect one
Oh, my perfect one
Oh, perfect one
Oh, there is no perfect one

*chorus

The Dolf Album / Track 11 / Loving Abuser

2009-03-13T10:53:00.004-04:00

"Loving Abuser" is track 11 from The Dolf Album. Catchy but a bit on the dark side. Written about someone I met in Utah back in 1995... Definitely not inspired by current events... I couldn't even name a song by either of those two!

Download "Loving Abuser" (Mp3 format with embedded album art and lyrics) For those that suck at the Internet, right click the link and chose "Save Link As..." or "Save Target As..." depending upon which browser you use.

"Loving Abuser"
Words and Music by Dolf Muccillo
Copyright 2009

He’ll hit you hard
And then there’s tears in his eyes
He’ll call you a whore
Then say “I’ll love you till the day I die”

*How can you love your loving abuser?
How can you be so dumb, my little lovely loser
How can you love your loving abuser?

I know you’d never want a guy like me
Cause nice guys finish lonely
And I guess that is me

*chorus

You try to leave him
But you always go back
Addicted to being degraded
By his precious attacks

*chorus

Love won’t hurt
Love won’t quit
Love won’t hit you before a kiss

Love won’t scream
Love won’t scar
Love don’t leave you at the bar

How can you love… your loving abuser?

New South Park Tonight! Season 13 Premiere

2009-03-11T09:53:00.006-04:00

Comedy Central's signature series South Park (A Dolf Zone Excellence in Television Award winner for Best Comedy) begins its 13th season tonight at 10:00pm.

"The Ring"

Thinking it's his way into her heart and other body parts, Kenny takes his new girlfriend to a Jonas Brothers concert. His dream of taking their relationship to the next level is crushed when the Jonas Brothers give them purity rings.

In addition to the Dolf Zone Excellence in Television Award, I believe South Park may have also won an Emmy and a Peabody as well...

South Park airs on Wednesdays at 10:00pm on Comedy Central with several repeats throughout the week. You can also watch it online for free at http://www.southparkstudios.com/episodes/

The Dolf Album / Track 10 / I Don't Love You

2009-03-06T09:36:00.004-05:00

"I Don't Love You" is track 10 from The Dolf Album. Another perfect weekend song!

My favorite line from this song... "I’ll be your knight for just one night / I’ll be the man bustin’ through the clouds /My back to the light"

Download "I Don't Love You" (Mp3 format with embedded album art and lyrics) For those that suck at the Internet, right click the link and chose "Save Link As..." or "Save Target As..." depending upon which browser you use.

"I Don’t Love You"
Words and Music by Dolf Muccillo
Copyright 2009

I’ll tell you anything you want to hear
Anything drive it through your ear
Oh anything

I’ll be your knight for just one night
I’ll be the man bustin’ through the clouds
My back to the light
Yeah anyone, I’ll be anyone

*You know I really love you
And you know that I really care
But when tomorrow comes, I won’t be here

A Mercedes Benz and lots of friends
I’ll throw a party for you girl
That’ll never end
I’ll do anything

Producers and directors, picture takers
I know the son of god
Yeah everyone, I know everyone

*chorus

Oh we can be in love
Oh so great to be in love
Even if it’s just for one night
Even if it’s for one night
Even if it’s just for one night ah-----

*chorus

Dolf Zone Tech Tip for Vista / Right Click Image Resizer

2009-03-05T15:18:00.005-05:00

For whatever reason, Vista does not have a PowerToy available (like XP) that allows you to resize images from within Windows Explorer. ;(

For anyone who frequently works and plays with images this capability is a huge time saver. It's a pain to have to load an image editor like Photoshop just to resize an image.

Luckily I stumbled across a free program called VSO Image Resizer. So far it has worked well. When you are in Explorer simply right click on any image file (or multiple files) and select "VSO Image Resizer", input the new size (and any other parameters), and in a matter of seconds you'll have a newly resized copy of your original image.

This is particularly useful for emailing photos and for downsizing graphics for use on the web.

Dolf Zone Tech Tip for Firefox

2009-03-02T13:43:00.004-05:00

If you use Firefox and frequently work with secure sites or applications (those with https), this tip will make your life much better.

Go to about:config and change browser.cache.disk_cache_ssl from "false" to "true".

This little change will make things much faster especially if you use your browser's back button frequently.

If you are working with sensitive data, you should manually flush out your temporary files when your session is over. Or you can configure the "Always clear my private data when I close Firefox" setting in Tools > Options > Privacy.

The Dolf Album / Track 9 / Happy Day

2009-02-25T09:45:00.003-05:00

"Happy Day" is track 9 from The Dolf Album. A little dark humor, some social commentary, a bit of existential musing, a whole lot of God, and a delicious hamburger... "Happy Day" was inspired by the spate of deadly shootings that occurred at McDonald's restaurants in the 90's. Can you imagine dying at a McDonald's???

This song contains one of my favorite lines from The Dolf Album, "My body goes limp and my tray falls down / My burger and my blood are all over the ground. Hey. Hey. "

Download "Happy Day" (Mp3 format with embedded album art and lyrics) For those that suck at the Internet, right click the link and chose "Save Link As..." or "Save Target As..." depending upon which browser you use.

"Happy Day"
Words and Music by Dolf Muccillo
Copyright 2009

I deserve a break
So I think I’m going out for lunch today

Hey, hey, what a happy day…

A burger and fries and a hot apple pie
Cashier smiles at me there’s a gleam in her eye

Hey. Hey, what a happy day…

I turn around and to my dismay
Machine gun bullets all over the place

Hey, hey, what a happy day…

My body goes limp and my tray falls down
My burger and my blood are all over the ground

Hey, hey, what a happy day…

Oh you pulled a good one, are you laughing at me?
While you plan more jokes on humanity

Hey, hey, what a happy day…

Oh I feel forsaken for the way I was taken
But I guess you always knew, knew I was fakin’

Hey, hey, what a happy day…

The Dolf Report

2009-02-24T23:10:00.006-05:00

As always I am ahead of my time, gallantly leading us all into the future. Follow me into the light... the light of high definition glory. The glowing images shall keep us warm and safe.

TV viewing at 'all-time high,' Nielsen says

(CNN) -- Americans are watching more video online, on their cell phones and on television, according to the Nielsen Company's latest "three screen" report.
The report, issued Monday and covering the last three months of 2008, shows that the average American television viewer is watching more than 151 hours of television per month -- an "all-time" high -- up from more than 145 hours during the same period the previous year, Nielsen said.
The increase in television watching is part of a long-term trend, said Nielsen spokesman Gary Holmes.
He attributed the rise to a greater availability of televisions -- the average household has more televisions than people, he said -- and to niche programming. There are "many, many more cable channels than before," he said. Read the full report (PDF)
Also contributing to the increase are digital recorders, DVR and TiVo devices, which allow viewers to watch programs at their leisure rather than during the show's slated time slots. Nielsen has dubbed such viewing "timeshifted TV."
"DVR has helped keep television alive and well," said Robert Thompson, the founding director of the Bleier Center for Television and Popular Culture at Syracuse University.
"That's made a lot of people watch more television than they used to," he said.
The use of recorders has risen by about 20,000 people from the fourth quarter in 2007. In the fourth quarter of 2008, about 73.9 million people used them, Nielsen said.
Viewership of videos on the Internet and on mobile phones also increased from the summer months, Nielsen said, although the rise was more modest. People who watch video on the Internet spend about three hours doing so per month, and those who watch video on mobile devices spend nearly four hours per month that way.
The presidential election likely helped augment viewership, Thompson said. The "new series of this year was 'The Barack Obama Show,' " he quipped.
The tanking economy may also have played a role in the uptick in television watching, as Americans looked for low-cost ways to entertain themselves, some analysts said.
Americans are staying at home instead of going out, and they're also taking fewer vacations, said David Schick, an analyst with Stifel Nicolaus, an investment banking firm.
And while Thompson and James Webster, a communication professor at Northwestern University, say the state of the economy certainly isn't going to hurt television viewership, both experts emphasized that the increased viewership trend is several years old.
They also cautioned against reading too much into the Nielsen statistics.
Though Nielsen reports Americans are watching five hours of television a day, Webster noted that Nielsen has no means of determining if they are paying close attention to the programs or if they just have them on in the background.
People may have the television on while they are doing other things, Thompson added.

The Dolf Album / Track 8 / High School Girl

2009-02-20T09:44:00.004-05:00

"High School Girl" is track 8 from The Dolf Album. This is definitely a category 2 song with a smidgen of category 1... This song is probably my most catchy. I love the melody. I think it sounds like a 50's/early 60's song. I can picture Buddy Holly or Frankie Valley singing this 50 years ago. Although they most likely would have been arrested... This is the one that people say gets stuck in their heads most often.

Download "High School Girl" (Mp3 format with embedded album art and lyrics) For those that suck at the Internet, right click the link and chose "Save Link As..." or "Save Target As..." depending upon which browser you use.

"High School Girl"
Words and Music by Dolf Muccillo
Copyright 2009

Well I met her in a shopping mall
Long blond hair, she was kind of tall
And I thought she must’ve been 19
I never knew she’d be my high school dream.

*No one can take you away
I really don’t care what the law might say
You’re the best thing in this f#cking rotten world
Forever I will love you high school girl.

Well she’s just old enough to drive
But she keeps me alive
It doesn’t matter that I’m 25
I’m gonna love her till the day I die

*No one can take you away
I really don’t care what the law might say
You’re the best thing in my rotten little world
Forever I will love you high school girl.

Well her daddy doesn’t know about me
And I know that he couldn’t see
That what we do is out of love
And I’ll never ever get enough of his little girl

*No one can take you away
I really don’t care what the law might say
You’re the best thing in this f#cking rotten world
Forever I will love you high school girl.

High high high school girl
High high my high school girl

The Dolf Album / Track 7 / Everyone & Everything

2009-02-18T15:18:00.004-05:00

"Everyone & Everything" is track 7 from The Dolf Album. Although the lyrics are on the dark side, people seem to like it quite a bit.

My songs tend to fall into five categories:

1. Filthy
2. Funny
3. Sappy (yet Psycho) Love Songs
4. Social Commentary
5. Existentialism 101

"Everyone & Everything" definitely falls into category 3.

Download "Everyone & Everything" (Mp3 format with embedded album art and lyrics) For those that suck at the Internet, right click the link and chose "Save Link As..." or "Save Target As..." depending upon which browser you use.

"Everyone and Everything"
Words and Music by Dolf Muccillo
Copyright 2009
dmuccillo@gmail.com
http://dolfzone.blogspot.com/

I don’t think I’m waking up today
Cause I know I’ll die when you say those words you’ll say
Thoughts of you rewind and play and play
I don’t think I’m waking up today

*The clock is eating hours up
I lay around and I dream too much
Cause you’re everyone and everything to me

I don’t think I’m going out again
Cause it makes me sick to see you with him
A loss of something that can’t be replaced
I don’t think I’m going out today

*I never wanted anything this much
If I can’t have you I’ll return to dust
Cause you’re everyone and everything to me

If I can’t have you no one will
I’m sittin’ swallowing all these bitter pills
If I can’t have you before too long
It just might all be over before this song that’s not too long…

You're everyone and everything to me

Simpsons HD

2009-02-15T19:46:00.004-05:00

Finally... Hopefully the rest of the SD stalwarts will soon follow! Everything needs to be in HD...

I am actually quite surprised that The Simpsons beat Family Guy to the HD punch since FG is the newer and hipper of the two. I can't believe that Seth MacFarlane will let Family Guy and American Dad languish in SD much longer. Especially considering the rivalry (friendly?) between the respective show's creators. While we are on the topic, how about South Park? C'mon Parker and Stone! I am tired of seeing vertical black bars!

Stupid Video Friday / 2009

2009-02-13T15:07:00.002-05:00

It's been awhile since I have done Stupid Video Friday so here it goes! I thought this was going to be another "look at my cute kid" video but this little girl is quite crazy... and thus, funny... I laughed at least 3 or 4 times.

Thanks to junior correspondent Jmu for the link!

The Dolf Album / Track 6 / I've Got A Problem

2009-02-13T13:40:00.004-05:00

"I've Got A Problem" is track 6 from The Dolf Album. In contrast to track 5 ("When I Think About You"), this song is probably my most complex. It's pretty difficult to play and sing and the same time. Especially for me!

Download "I've Got A Problem". (Mp3 format with embedded album art and lyrics) For those that suck at the Internet, right click the link and chose "Save Link As..." or "Save Target As..." depending upon which browser you use.

"I’ve Got a Problem"
Words and Music by Dolf Muccillo
Copyright 2009

*I’ve got a problem it’s getting bigger
I’ve got a problem with you
I’ve got a problem it’s getting bigger
I’ve got a problem with you.

And it’s getting worse just every day
And it’s getting worse in every way
I’ve got a problem it’s getting bigger
I’ve got a problem with you

*chorus

And I need it more just everyday
And I need you more in every way

*chorus

And it kills me more just everyday
And you kill me more in every way

When will I find myself again, when will I be myself again, when will I find myself again, when will I be myself again.

The Dolf Album / Track 5 / When I Think About You

2009-02-11T10:59:00.004-05:00

"When I Think About You" is track 5 from The Dolf Album. Very short, very simple, but one of my favorites. This was one of the first songs I wrote along with "Share Your Needle" and "Never See You Again."

Download "When I Think About You" (Mp3 format with embedded album art and lyrics) For those that suck at the Internet, right click the link and chose "Save Link As..." or "Save Target As..." depending upon which browser you use.

"When I Think About You"
Words and Music by Dolf Muccillo
Copyright 2009

When I think about you I think of pain
When I think about you I think of pain
All the pain you give
The pain you make me live
When I think about you I think of pain

*But now your time has come
And you will have to pay
Now your time has come
This may be your last day

When I think about you I think of lies
When I think about you I think of lies
All the ones you said
The ones that you spoon-fed
When I think about you I think of lies

* Chorus

When I think about you I feel the tears
When I think about you I feel the tears
Of all the wasted years
And all them shot-gunned beers
When I think about you I feel the tears

*Chorus

The Dolf Album / Track 4 / Always Nothing

2009-02-10T17:37:00.003-05:00

"Always Nothing" is track 4 from The Dolf Album. A nice little crazy psycho love song... A little "screamy" but I still think it's good. If I ever recorded it in the studio I would temper it slightly.

Download "Always Nothing" (Mp3 format with embedded album art and lyrics) For those that suck at the Internet, right click the link and chose "Save Link As..." or "Save Target As..." depending upon which browser you use.

"Always Nothing"
Words and Music by Dolf Muccillo
Copyright 2009

How come I’m always nothing?
How come I’m always nothing?

I want to be your something
Somehow I’m always nothing
I want to be your… everything

How come he’s always something?
How come I’m always nothing?
How come I’m always nothing to you?

*musical chorus/no words

How come I’m always nothing?
How come I’m always nothing?
How come I’m always nothing baby, baby?

How come I’m always nothing?
How come I’m always nothing?
How come I’m always nothing baby?

How come he’s always in your eyes?
How come he’s always in your eyes?

*musical chorus

Nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing

How come I’m always nothing? How come he’s always something. How come I’m always nothing baby (2x)

How come I’m always nothing? How come he’s always something. How come I’m always nothing…to you.

Dolf Zone's The Hardest I Have Ever Laughed / Part I

2009-02-10T11:08:00.001-05:00

Those who know me well know that it takes something special to make me laugh. I can watch most sitcoms today and not laugh a single time. I can sit through typical Hollywood "comedies" and barely break a smile.

What makes me laugh? Usually something very weird. It also helps if there's some violence tossed in for good measure.

Thanks to the magic of YouTube, I will try to put up some my favorite funny moments from TV and movie history.

My first submission is from MTV's The Tom Green Show. The set up: A crowd at a comedy club are excited that a slightly famous comedian (Tom Green) is making a surprise appearance…

The Dolf Album / Track 3 / The Last Time I Go To Sleep

2009-02-09T09:07:00.003-05:00

"The Last Time I Go To Sleep" is track 3 from The Dolf Album. In my opinion, this might be the best song of the bunch although upon hearing my music it seems everyone has a different favorite.

Download "The Last Time I Go To Sleep"! (Mp3 format with embedded album art and lyrics) For those that suck at the Internet, right click the link and chose "Save Link As..." or "Save Target As..." depending upon which browser you use.

"The Last Time I Go To Sleep"
Words and Music by Dolf Muccillo
Copyright 2009

I know that this life won’t last forever
And I know it’s a 60... 70 year endeavor
But I think about wasting time

*The last time I go to sleep
The alarm won’t ever go off
The last time I go to sleep
That alarm won’t ever go off

Should I go crazy?
Or should I be a bible freak
The last time I go to sleep
All I’ll have are my dreams
That might not be so bad

I don’t know if there’s anywhere after this world
I can’t cry if there’s nowhere to go when I die
But I think about a wasted life

*chorus

That may not be so bad, may not be, may not be so bad
But I think about the day I die

*chorus

The Dolf Album / Track 2 / Like A Mother

2009-02-06T14:26:00.005-05:00

"Like A Mother" is track 2 from The Dolf Album. I know it sounds lewd and lascivious but it's actually a love song...

Download "Like A Mother" (Mp3 format with embedded album art and lyrics) For those that suck at the Internet, right click the link and chose "Save Link As..." or "Save Target As..." depending upon which browser you use.

"Like A Mother"
Words and Music by Dolf Muccillo
Copyright 2009

I met you girl when the lights went out
Lights came on lights went back out
I knew you’d tear my life apart
And I knew it was over from the start

*I love it when you funk me baby
And I love it when you sunk me baby
But I love you like my mother when we're through

Love just how you use me
And I love it when you lose me
But I love you like my mother when we're through

I met you girl in a Memphis town
Memphis girls don't mess around
I knew you’d tear my heart apart
And I knew it was over from the start

*repeat

*repeat 1st verse

*repeat

*outro- I love you like my mother when we're…(3x)

The Dolf Album / Debut Single / Share Your Needle

2009-02-04T13:26:00.012-05:00

Here it is... The first single from "theDOLFalbum" aka "Unplugged in Cincinnati" aka "Dolf Unplugged".

I will release the rest of my recordings (25 in all) over the coming days, weeks, and months ahead. If you like it, that's great! If you don't, remember how much you paid... For what it's worth, sources close to the Dolf Zone reveal that "Share Your Needle" is Brody Jenner's favorite song of 2009!

Download "Share Your Needle" (Mp3 format with embedded album art and lyrics) For those that suck at the Internet, right click the link and chose "Save Link As..." or "Save Target As..." depending upon which browser you use.

"Share Your Needle"
Words and Music by Dolf Muccillo
Copyright 2009

We don’t need to use a rubber today
Cause all of my friends say you’re ok
I’ve only been with the high-class
Roll over girl gonna fill your glass

*I’m so high that I think I’m dancing on mars
I’m so drunk I feel just like a human Weeble
Brother can you share your needle
Share your needle

I think I’ll have better luck if I like boys and girls
I’ll hang out in a bathroom waiting for you to make my world
Oh, you have more fun when your gate door swings both ways
I’ll do Jenny tomorrow and Tommy on Saturday

*Chorus

Gimme those keys I’ve only had six or seven
And I’ll take you on a road trip straight to heaven
Oh, I missed a lot of school so I can’t read those signs
I may be dumb but God I had me a good time

*Chorus

And the Winner for Best Picture is? Who Cares! Part 2

2009-01-29T18:21:00.010-05:00

Back in 2006 I submitted the following landmark post,

"And the Winner for Best Picture is? Who Cares!"

The best film nominees were just released. And as I predicted, it is a rather motley, yawn-inducing lineup...

* Brokeback Mountain
* Capote
* Crash
* Good Night, Good Luck
* Munich

How Cinderella Man and Walk the Line did not make the cut confounds me! This stupidity continues to show how out of touch Hollywood is with its customers...

Check back soon for more complaints on this topic!

I can pretty much post the exact same thing for this year... So here it goes...

The best film nominees were just released. And as I predicted, it is a rather motley, yawn-inducing lineup...

* The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
* Frost/Nixon
* Milk
* The Reader
* Slumdog Millionaire

How The Dark Knight and WALL-E did not make the cut confounds me! This stupidity continues to show how out of touch Hollywood is with its customers...

On a serious note, the Oscars had a great chance to connect with viewers this year in the Best Picture category. WALL-E was the *best* reviewed film of the year and a box office smash. The Dark Knight was the top grossing film of the year and received overwhelmingly positive reviews.

Both of these films deserved nominations. And both of these films will still be relevant many years from now. I am positive no one is going to remember most of this year's best picture contenders ten years from now. Actually, one year from now is probably a better estimate...

Dolf Zone 2008 Stats

2009-01-29T10:35:00.004-05:00

Interesting 2008 stats from Google Analytics for all of you Dolf Zone fan boys out there... Google Analytics is one of the best tools for analyzing your site and it's completely free.

Unique Visitors: 10,190

Countries: 88

Cities: 2073

Top Browsers:
Firefox 50.57%
Internet Explorer: 43.57%

Top Visiting Corporations:
Fidelity
Adobe
Kroger
P&G
Johnson & Johnson
Apple

Top Countries:
United States
Denmark
UK
Canada
Australia
Germany
Poland
France
Netherlands
India

Top Cities:
Cincinnati
Miamiville
West Chester
Olney
Covington
Chicago
New York
Homosassa
Plano
Erlanger

Sorry, Dolf Zone Fans!

2009-01-28T12:19:00.007-05:00

It looks like my ISP, Fuse/Zoomtown, has been erroneously blocking all of the comment notifications sent from Blogger via email... Thus, I didn't know when comments were being posted and couldn't let them through. I promise I wasn't ignoring you. ;)

There appears to be no way for someone using Fuse/Zoomtown to monitor filtered email. In other words, the user can't see which email messages have been incorrectly identified as SPAM. This is unacceptable in my book. I can't believe Road Runner hasn't latched on to this little tidbit of information and launched another negative ad blitz!

With the exception of one consistently unfunny and anonymous moron, all of your posts should be up over the next couple days.

Thanks to Rafael Basler and GW for letting me know.

Best Buy's "Buy" of the Week

2009-01-23T10:13:00.009-05:00

I stopped by Best Buy yesterday to pick up some door prizes for a work event. Shockingly they didn't have a single iPod Touch in *any* of the Cincinnati area stores. But Best Buy's consistent inability to keep items in stock is a another story for another day...

While I was there, I thought I would pick up some Ethernet cables. I was shocked (and disgusted) to see that the cheapest 7 foot Ethernet cable in the store was a $20.99 Dynex! This is a microcosm of what's wrong in the world today. If businesses don't stop ripping people off, there is going to be nothing left standing but Wal-Mart! Where, by the way, I found a perfectly good Belkin cable that was twice as long for HALF the price.

I have written about how Best Buy and other consumer electronic chains rip people off on audio/ visual cables but it looks like the rip off has extended to just about all accessories. Go to Wal-Mart or better yet go to Monoprice.com for your cables and accessories and don't get scammed!

I'm afraid if Best Buy (and others) don't start offering their customers better value, they will soon go the way of the dinosaurs... and Circuit City.

Dolf Zone Pick / We're All Gonna Die

2009-01-22T10:27:00.005-05:00

Deeeeeeeeeeeep...

Check out "We're All Gonna Die" by Simon Hogsberg.

Hogsberg has several other cool projects available at www.simonhoegsberg.com. I also like "Faces of New York" and "The Thought Project".

Five Year Anniversary...

2009-01-12T13:37:00.007-05:00

On January 5th I celebrated a monumental anniversary. No not a wedding anniversary... It's something even tougher than that. I have officially gone five years without smoking a cigarette. It's been one of the toughest things I have ever done. Even after five years I still have cravings. [I smoked for 15 years and dipped for 2. At the time I quit I was smoking more than 2 packs a day.]

Non-smokers have no idea how tough it is to be hooked. I explain it to them as such: If I am hungry and it is 1am and its pouring down rain and miserable outside, I will say to myself, "Just wait until tomorrow you fat bastard!" But if I run out of cigarettes and it is 1am and its pouring down rain and miserable outside, I will walk out the door without hesitation and get cigarettes no matter how far I have to drive. Thus, the urge to smoke is as powerful (even more powerful) than one's own natural instincts. It is like having a completely new instinct to deal with! Not fun...

Please feel free to contact me at any time if you wish to send me gifts, gift cards, and/or money to celebrate this joyous occasion.

Dolf Zone's Best of 2008

2009-01-09T11:34:00.009-05:00

Here are my picks for the best of 2008.

Best TV Show:

* Red Eye w/ Greg Gutfeld - Who knew running gags about enslaving foreign teens in your basement and same-sex, rest stop bathroom trysts could be so funny? One of the most offensive shows on TV. I hope it stays on forever!

Best Movie (Tie):

* The Dark Knight - The perfect mix of incredible performances, special effects, and social commentary. It's rare for a "big" movie to have all of those elements align so well...

* WALL-E - This movie is now my favorite Pixar film! Besides some very clever (and biting) social and economic commentary, the technology behind the film demonstrates that *anything* is now possible... Any crazy, psychotic, and far out images that one can dream up can now be realistically recreated on the screen. Unbelievable visuals... I really want a sequel to this.

Best Product (Tie):

* XBox Live "New Xbox Experience" (NXE) - I have seen the future of entertainment and it's here... Games, TV Shows, Movies, Social Networking... It's all here in an incredible user interface.

* Logitech Freepulse Wireless Headphones - I HATE wires! Especially when I am trying to work out. These headphones are a godsend. I dream of a day without wires...

Best Video Game:

* Call of Duty: World at War

Best Song (Three way tie):

* "Viva La Vida" by Coldplay

* "Pork and Beans" by Weezer

* "Supernatural Superserious" by R.E.M.

Worst Product (Tie):

* Microsoft Vista - Was there any doubt I would pick Vista in this category???

* The Scientific Atlanta SA8300HD DVR used by Time Warner Cable - Horrible! Unresponsive. It feels like the remote control's signal first travels to Mars and then back down to the box. If I had to use this at home I would kill myself. Thank God I have a Tivo HD.

Biggest Disappointment:

* Dell Computer - It was a sad day when I removed Dell from my "Dolf's Top Brands" category.

Best Software (All free!):

* Skype - Videoconferencing that works!

* Malwarebytes - If you have a spyware-infested machine this WILL fix it.

* Opera Mobile - If you have a Windows Mobile Phone you must ditch the awful mobile version of Internet Explorer and use this!

* Slide Rocket - Google needs to buy this company and make its excellent presentation software completely free. This is what PowerPoint should be...

Worst Software (Tie):

* Microsoft Vista - A two time winner!

* Outlook 2007 - Want to bring any modern supercomputer to its knees? Launch FireFox and Excel while Outlook 2007 is booting up, sit back, and enjoy the show...

Big TV Return Dates

2009-01-06T11:41:00.003-05:00

Here are the return dates and times for some Dolf Zone favorites. Lost, 24, Nip/Tuck, Scrubs, and Flight of the Conchords finally return after long breaks. Hopefully they'll all be worth the wait!

Show	Date
Nip/Tuck (FX)	1/6/09 (Tu.) 10:00:00 PM
Scrubs (ABC)	1/6/09 (Tu.) at 9:00 PM
Biggest Loser couples (NBC)	1/6/09 (Tu.) at 8:00 PM
30 Rock (NBC)	1/8/09 (Th.) at 9:30 PM
24 (FOX)	1/11/09 (Su.) at 8:00 PM
American Idol (FOX)	1/13/09 (Tu.) at 8:00 PM
Office (NBC)	1/15/09 (Th.) at 9:00 PM
Kitchen Nightmares (FOX)	1/15/09 (Th.) at 9:00 PM
Flight of the Conchords	1/18/09 (Su.) at 10:00 PM
House (FOX)	1/19/09 (Mo.) at 8:00 PM
Lost (ABC)	1/21/09 (We.) at 9:00 PM
Family Guy (FOX)	1/25/09 (Su.) at 9:00 PM
American Dad (FOX)	1/25/09 (Su.) at 9:30 PM
Hell's Kitchen (FOX)	1/29/09 (Th.) at 9:00 PM
Survivor (CBS)	2/12/09 (Th.) at 8:00 PM
Amazing Race (CBS)	2/15/09 (Su.) at 8:00 PM
Celebrity Apprentice (NBC)	3/1/09 (Su.) at 9:00 PM

Merry Christmas!

2008-12-25T19:23:00.002-05:00

Video Games & Catalogs

2008-12-23T10:01:00.003-05:00

Back in my pre-Internet youth... Nothing was more important than the giant catalogs that came from Sears, Service Merchandise and others. Remember any of these systems from the early 80's? Own one? If you did, then you are old...

1983 was the year of the video game crash and that year’s Sears Wishbook was chock full of the detritus of a bloated dying industry. You got the handhelds, Vectrex, Gemini, Colecovision, Intellivision, Odyssey 2, Atari 2600 and Atari 5200 in this issue. Along with some great games and accessories. My favorite is the Handsome Hassock storage system on Page 9. I would love one of those now. [Read More! Click on thumbnail to see full page scans.]

theDOLFalbum

2008-12-13T23:25:00.002-05:00

Greatest Character in the History of TV?

2008-12-07T22:17:00.004-05:00

Twenty years ago it would have been ridiculous to suggest that an animated character could be considered one of TV's greatest. But after The Simpsons started the animation boom it's not so silly to suggest. In fact, I would toss South Park's Eric Cartman into contention for the title as well. Click on the image below for some of Homer's best lines. In fact, many of the quotes on the Dolf Zone's Quote Machine are straight from the doughnut-stained mouth of Homer Simpson.

The Power of the Dolf Zone / Windows Market Share Dives Below 90% for First Time

2008-12-03T14:08:00.003-05:00

No doubt in response to The Dolf Zone's scathing reviews of Vista, Microsoft has seen its market share dip below 90% for the first time. It's only a matter of time before Vista sinks the entire ship...

On a related note, Vista is the leading contender for The Dolf Zone's Worst Consumer Product of All Time Award to be given at the end of the year.

December 1, 2008 (Computerworld) Microsoft Corp.'s Windows OS last month took its biggest market share dive in the past two years, erasing gains made in two of the past three months and sending the operating system's share under 90% for the first time, an Internet measurement company reported today. More...

Top Ten Worst Games for Kids!

2008-11-25T10:00:00.004-05:00

Just in time for Black Friday and the holiday shopping season! The top ten worst games for kids as compiled by the National Institute on Media and the Family. All of these great games and many more are available at Amazon.com.

Blitz The League II is not your friendly football video game. Players can target which part of their opponent they wish to demolish. Steroid and drug use is encouraged, and wins are celebrated with hookers in a hotel room. The game is rated M for blood and gore, strong language, suggestive themes, use of drugs and violence. Available on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.

Dead Space is one of the latest titles in the survival horror genre of video games. The setting is hundreds of years in the future after mankind has used all of earth’s natural resources. During the mission players, stranded on a crippled vessel, must destroy nightmarish creatures while trying to rescue any survivors and escape the ship. If caught the creatures will not just kill you, but dismantle your limbs and decapitate you. Dead Space is rated M for blood and gore, intense violence and strong language. Available on PC, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.

Fallout 3 is set in a post-nuclear world. The survivors must navigate their way through a world with giant insects, raiders, slavers and super mutants. Player’s kill whatever is in their path with guns and explosives. This game is rated M for blood and gore, intense violence, sexual themes, strong language and drug use. Available on PC, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.

Far Cry 2 is set in an unnamed African country being torn apart by two warring groups. The gamer’s mission is to kill The Jackal, an arms dealer who is supplying to both sides of the conflict. Blowing peoples heads off is a regular occurrence in this game. The game is rated M for blood, drug references, intense violence, sexual themes and strong language. Available on PC, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.

Gears of War 2 finds Marcus Fenix and the Delta Squad battling the Locust Horde for the survival of humanity. The game’s main weapon is the Lancer Assault Rifle, which combines a rifle with a chain saw. The game is rated M for blood and gore, intense violence and strong language. Available on Xbox 360.

Left 4 Dead finds the player in a city where a new and highly powerful rabies virus is quickly spreading. Victims become grotesquely disfigured and launch vicious attacks on the uninfected. In this co-operative multiplayer action game the gamers fight for survival. The game is rated M for blood and gore, intense violence, and language. Available on PC and Xbox 360.

Legendary is the story of Charles Deckard, a thief who breaks into a New York museum and opens what turns out to be Pandora’s Box, unleashing all of the world’s evil and destroying all humans in its path. Deckard must defeat the newly unleashed beasts and reseal Pandora’s Box to make society safe once again. Legendary is rated M for blood and gore, and intense violence. Available on PC, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.

Resistance 2 finds Nathan Hale fighting the same Chimera alien race he did in the original Resistance game. This version is set in the United States instead of Europe. The Chimera obliterates cities and kills civilians by the thousands. The game is rated M for blood and gore, intense violence and strong language. Available on PlayStation 3.

Saints Row 2 is the second edition to the open-world, gang-affiliated, shoot ‘em up game series. This game has expanded with new locations to explore and new vehicles to steal including motorcycles, boats, helicopters and planes. In the game, the player can choose to beat up strippers, slit rival game members throats, shoot cops and more. Saints Row 2 is rated M for blood and gore, intense violence, sexual content, strong language and use of drugs. Available on PC, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.

Silent Hill: Homecoming is a “first-person shooter” game. The gamer plays Alex Shepherd, a recently discharged soldier who returns home to Shepherd’s Glen. He finds that people are disappearing, the streets are shattered and strange creatures are roaming the town. Near the end the player is faced with a choice to shoot his mother in the head or let the rack rip her in half. The game is rated M for blood and gore, intense violence, language and sexual themes. Available on PC, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.

Live Like A Suicide

2008-11-22T10:32:00.002-05:00

This was bound to happen... Expect to hear about it for the next month or two. Most likely with a tie-in about how the death is somehow the fault of the Internet. We might even get a Lifetime movie out of this.

MIAMI — The message OMG popped up next to the live webcam broadcast of Abraham Biggs lying motionless on his bed, followed by LOL and "hahahah."

But Biggs, 19, wasn't joking.

The Broward College student took a lethal mixture of three drugs Wednesday and then blogged about it while a webcam broadcast his actions, including his death, as some computer users egged him on and others tried to talk him out of it. More...

Black Friday Approaches

2008-11-22T10:26:00.003-05:00

If you want to know about all of the Black Friday deals ahead of time, visit BlackFday.com. Kinda sounds like a porn site, doesn't it? Black Friday ads have been procured (illegally?) for most of the big names in retail. Check it out.

Thank God It's Not Larosa's!

2008-11-17T15:52:00.006-05:00

My successful healthy lifestyle changes will be in serious jeopardy if Tivo ever decides to partner with Larosa's! Thankfully, for the time being, on-demand pizza is only available through Domino's... And no! This is not one of my fake news bits... It's sadly true. "Couch Commerce" is here!

From Yahoo Tech:

ALVISO, Calif. - Digital video recording company TiVo Inc. said Monday it is teaming up with Domino's Pizza Inc. to allow subscribers to order pizza for delivery or pick-up from their TV sets.

"This is the first time in history that the 'on-demand' generation will be able to fully experience couch commerce by ordering pizza directly through their television set," said Rob Weisberg, vice president of precision and print marketing at Domino's.

Weisberg said TV watchers will see an ad for Domino's and will be able to click "I want it" from their TV remote. In about 30 minutes, the pizza will be at the door, he said.

TiVo subscribers will be able to enter their delivery address and select crust type and sauces through the TV, TiVo said.

The company said subscribers can also set up a user-name and pasword on Dominos.com to log in with an account number each time an order is placed. Viewers then pay in cash when the pizza is delivered.

The service begins this week. It is free to all TiVo subscribers, the company said.

Dolf Zone Pick / Ustream.tv

2008-11-15T09:40:00.006-05:00

Ustream.tv just might be the next YouTube... Instead of uploading clips you actually broadcast live. Ustream is getting tons of publicity from the Shiba Inu Puppy Cam - the latest Internet time-killing sensation.

LIVE, INTERACTIVE BROADCASTING

Experience live video. In just minutes, you can broadcast and chat online with a global audience. Completely free, all it takes is a camera and Internet connection. Try it now!

I promise to let the Dolf Zone faithful know when I broadcast so everyone can enjoy the magic live! I haven't done a deep dive into the site yet but I am curious to see what kind of interesting uses people have come up with! ;)

Recession?

2008-11-14T23:01:00.000-05:00

U.S. Hardware Sales for October 2008:

Nintendo Wii – 803,000
Nintendo DS - 491,000
Xbox 360 – 371,000
PS3 – 190,000
PlayStation Portable - 193,000
PlayStation 2 - 136,000

Top Ten Video Games for October 2008 (ranked by total U.S. units sold)

1. Fable II - Xbox 360 – Microsoft – 790,000
2. Wii Fit - Wii - Nintendo of America - 487,000
3. Fallout 3 - Xbox 360 - Bethesda - 375,000
4. Mario Kart w/Wheel - Wii - Nintendo of America - 290,000
5. Play w/ Wii Remote - Wii - Nintendo of America – 282,000
6. Saints Row 2 - Xbox 360 – THQ – 270,000
7. SOCOM: U.s. Navy Seals Confrontation - PS3 - Sony - 231,000
8. Little Big Planet - PS3 – Sony – 215,000
9. NBA 2K9 - Xbox 360 – Take-Two – 202,000
10. Dead Space - Xbox 360 – EA – 193,000