TANcast

Just a quick update for the TANcasties and TANnasties.

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As you guys may or may not know, the PlayStation Network has been down for a week thanks to some asshat hackers. The outage itself is annoying, but that’s not the real news: the hackers got users’ personal data. There is some more coverage here and here if you’re curious, but I’m here to talk about me. Of course.

First, a quick aside to set the stage: I love my PS3. The build quality, the noise (or lack thereof), the graphics power, the Blu-Ray player; it kicks my Xbox 360’s ass in every way but the online experience (PSN is no match for Xbox Live, but it’s free) and maybe the controllers (mostly a wash). I default to the PS3 version of multi-console releases unless reviews say the PS3 version sucks or I want to play with my brother (who only has a 360).

Back to the hack. Because I follow gaming press, I’ve known since Monday that my bank card data (and address, and full name, and…) could be in the wrong hands. I’ve already contacted my banks and am in the process of setting up fraud alerts with credit reporting agencies. This is a big fat pain in my ass that I don’t need right now, but shit happens.

I was just a bit angry and disappointed at the beginning of the week. Now my blood is boiling.

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Tim sits this week out and Andy and Noah are on their own. Noah goes golfing, they discuss the relentless march of father time and the future of home entertainment, and Andy shows his usual love for Jesus Freaks (Happy Easter, kids)!

[CONTENT WARNING] TANcast features mature language and immature hosts but is NOT a representation of the stand up act of Tim Babb. Listener discretion is advised.

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I can’t recall how long ago it was but I think I said I might do a blog post about what apps I love on my iPhone for Jess. So here it is, better late than never right?

Google Mobile:
I have started using the Google Mobile app a lot more these days. It used to have no background support, so if you went to some other app or your home screen and went back, it would reset back to the search field, instead of keeping the website you clicked on up.They have since fixed that and I think it is a pretty useful app. Free App.
iTunes Link

Evernote:
For those who don’t know, Evernote allows you to capture information and store it in the cloud. You can do audio, picture and text notes and it has a browser plugin that will allow you clip websites. I use it to capture all sorts of info like recipes, product information and I even uploaded pictures for my home owner’s insurance. I rarely ever make notes via the iPhone app but I do look up stuff quite regularly. Another similar service is called Springpad, it can do things like look up move times and product info for things that you clip or enter. It seems very cool but since I already have so much data in Evernote, that I have trouble switching. Free app but you can pay to get more storage for your notes.
iTunes Link

1Password:
This is a paid app for your computer but I use it all the time. It basically is a password manager but it makes it easier to use more secure passwords, instead of passwords I can recall. Since all you really need to remember is your master password. Another feature I love is that you can store your password database within Dropbox. So if I make a change on my iPhone or on my home computer, it will synch to both. iPhone App is paid and the computer software costs as well.
iTunes Link
Website

Runkeeper:
Those who have friended me on Facebook and haven’t blocked my Runkeeper updates, know how much I use this app. At this point I would work out either way but I am nerdy and I like seeing the data and my improvements over time. For those that don’t know this app can track your exercise via GPS and give you stats and you can manually enter work outs as well, such as a stationary bike or treadmill. They also have a website interface. Free App.
iTunes Link

Loseit:
This app tracks your calories/nutrition and can tell you how many calories you can have if you want to lose weight. I don’t use this app as much anymore but I feel it really helped me lose a lot of my weight. Before I had no idea how many calories I was eating every day, so it was a bit of an eye opener. That being said it can get tedious tracking all your calories but I would say use it for a few months, to at least have a better idea of how many calories are in the foods you eat. Has a website interface. Free App.
iTunes Link

Appshopper:
This is an iPhone app tracking app. It can tell you which apps have changed price, gone free, have an update. I mostly use it to notify me of price drops on apps I want but don’t want to pay the original price for. Free App.
iTunes Link

Yelp:
I love this app, I know it can track all sorts of businesses but I mostly use it to find new food places to try. I like using it when trying to find a new place to try nearby. Free App.
iTunes Link

That is just a small sampling of the apps I used. I have quite a few game apps loaded but they are mostly the game apps you have heard about like Words with Friends, Bejeweled 2, Death Rally, World of Goo and Angry Birds.

I have a lot of other apps I find useful for me but sure they are for everyone such as Week Calendar, Delivery Status, Flixster and TV Forecast.

Feel free to email me if you want to know about any of the other apps I use.
Noah

Another Photoshop contest at cracked.com, another chance for Tim to whine about his entries that weren’t chosen. This time the theme was classic movies made into video games. I actually had 2 entries make the list but I had so many more that didn’t. Did they deserve to? Well that’s difficult question to answer…unless you’re me, and then the answer is yes.

Treasure of the Sierra Madre

C’mon…Oregon Trail reference? WINNING!
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This week, Andy gets old, Tim prepares for baby, and it’s a Willis on Willis Monday Night TANfight where John McClane (Die Hard) takes on Frank Moses (Red).

[CONTENT WARNING] TANcast features mature language and immature hosts but is NOT a representation of the stand up act of Tim Babb. Listener discretion is advised.

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This week Tim discovers the positive contributions of Rebecca Black, Noah discovers a new bacon treat at Denny’s, Andy discovers the Drinking Buddies Podcast, a drunk fan “discovers” Tim, and you will discover Noah’s review of Source Code and Tim whining about his “Karma” on Cracked.com. Plus it’s a ultra-featherweight Monday Night TANfight where Christian Bale’s character from the Machinist must battle it out with Adrien Brody’s character from The Pianist.

[CONTENT WARNING] TANcast features mature language and immature hosts but is NOT a representation of the stand up act of Tim Babb. Listener discretion is advised.

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This week, it’s a whole episode of Monday Night TANfights with fight submitted by our listeners. Some of the fights include: Scrooge McDuck vs Darkwing Duck, Noah vs Andy, Trinity vs Hit Girl, James Bond vs Jason Bourne, Spider-Man vs Batman, Hayley vs Andy Jr., John McClane vs Bryan Mills, Optimus Prime vs Hulk, & Conan vs Worf. Plus many more!

[CONTENT WARNING] TANcast features mature language and immature hosts but is NOT a representation of the stand up act of Tim Babb. Listener discretion is advised.

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For almost a year we’ve had the same intro to the show…well we’re switching it up a bit. As you may have heard in our latest episode, we want to hear YOU do it! That’s right, read the script below and send it to us in an mp3 or wav file at tim(at)TANcast.com and you could be hearing your voice read the opening of the next episode of TANcast.

All you have to do is read. You don’t need to add any fancy music or anything like that. Just read it, send it, and then sit back and wait to tell you’re friends that you are on a podcast heard by DOZENS of people! Can’t wait to hear you!

Here’s the script:

Hi this is [your name/nickname/superhero identity] from [city and/or country…or business you’d like to plug] and you’re listening to the TANcast Podcast!

In 2001, 3 friends moved into a house together.

Because their names were Tim, Andy, and Noah; they called the place “the TANhouse.”

By 2007, these friends had gone their separate ways, Andy to Atlanta, Noah to San Francisco and Tim to Los Angeles.

Now they get together on the internet every week and discuss movies, tv, tech, politics, food, Disney, comics, Star Trek, Apple, or sometimes just stories of the good ol’ days.

These conversations are raw, explicit and contain adult themes and content.

This podcast is not recommended for younger listeners.

When you hear this sound, [pause] that means there’s a link to what the boys are talking about in the show notes.

If none of this scared you off, then you are prepared to listen to the TANcast.

It’s one of the hottest nerd debates since “how many ways is Star Trek better than Doctor Who (A million or a billion)?” and we answered it on Monday Night TANfights in TANcast 143. Now it’s your turn, do you agree with the judges or did they make the wrong call? (Poll closes for voting on March 27, 2011 at 10:00am Disneyland Time)