Like millions and millions across the world, I was shocked, saddened and left wondering what to make of the death of Michael Jackson. Nobody denies how talented and genius he was but sadly there’s also no denying how recklessly eccentric his personal life had become. Michael Jackson’s death although premature, almost seems destined.  

Regardless, the global outpouring of grief and the insane amount of public attention paid to his death is not only an acknowledgment of one man’s popularity but of the reach and influence of America’s most successful entertainer. Possibly the most influential and successful entertainer in our great American history. Jackson was an icon and there’s no doubt that had a huge effect on his demise.

American popular culture’s has no end of appeal around the world. Before the likes of Madonna, Britney Spears, N’Sync and others there was Michael Jackson. When your mickname is “The King of Pop” that has to carry an unbearable amount of stress and responsibility the likes of which very few on planet earth can probably ever imagine. The real strength of American popular culture is that it shows entertainment is an end in itself. Jackson’s popularity and his impact on music, dance and fashion, was unparalled. And in the end, it’s what caused his ending.

Rightfully so, Michael Jackson’s fans have done everything to immortalize him since his passing from organizing candlelight vigils around his star on Hollywood Boulevard and mass “moonwalks” in London. It’s unreal to see the amount of media coverage of Jackson’s death. It’s coverage that has basically pushed out every other news story since midday Thursday but it doesn’t matter. But it’s weird how a 50 year old pop singer who was hundreds of millions of dollars in debt and desperately hoping for a comeback, one who hadn’t sold any music in years, and one who was best known for his bizarre life, obsession with cosmetic surgery and allegations of pedophilia against him, has become in death the most beloved media figure since JFK.

With this, the King of Pop will never die.

Tags: American popular culture, cult following, death, icon, Michael Jackson, worldgaming

Love Kobe more than any basketball player around right now. Love LeBron and know he’s destined for great things to come.

HATE the stupid Nike commercials with the puppets of both and that nooying little twit of a kid asking all the questions. However, I’ve got the exclusive first draft script that they were first set to go with but decided against at the last minute. It’s a shame too because this is a commercial worth watching!!

Tags: Kobe, Lebron, Nike commercial, origional version, puppets

One of my WorldGaming blog disciples emailed me this video and entitled it “cool baseball bat trick” so i was interigued. I love baseball, it my favorite sport and I played it my whole life growing up.

Never in a million years could I do something like this. I dig this guy, he’s got crazy skills. I just wonder if he can hit the high inside fast ball?!?!

Tags: amazing, baseball, bat trick, cool, video, worldgaming

Always one for the wierd and different arts, so I love this! It’s some pretty cool chalk animation and I don;t even want to think about how long it must have taken to do all this work.

The song is called “Autum Story” and is from Firekites and their album ‘The Bowery.’ The music video was directed by Yanni Kronenberg and Lucinda Schreiber so be sure to check them out too!

Tags: 'The Bowery, Autum Story, chalk animation, cool art, Firekites, worldgaming

That something was being named the cover boy of the new NBA Live 10.

I think despite laying an egg in the Finals it’s a great choice. Howard is exciting, personable and has led the Magic to an Eastern Conference Championship on the way to the franchise’s second NBA Finals appearance, as well as their first ever NBA Finals victory at a really young age with lots of room to improve going forward.

This is exciting to us at www.worldgaming.com because we will be offering NBA Live 10 on the site when it comes out for people to play in head-to-head games for money and big online tournaments so get ready for it!!!

Tags: cash tournaments, cover boy, Dwight Howard, NBA Live 10, worldgaming

DJ Drama has been big time for a while now as he’s the head of Aphilliates Music Group and official DJ for T.I. and he first came on the map when he dropped the original Gangsta Grillz mixtape showcasing various artists to hype them for their upcoming albums.

He became an even bigger name with the critically acclaimed Dedication series with Lil Wayne and helped build Wayne’s argument that he was the Best Rapper Alive.

The new Gangsta Grillz: The Album Vol. 2 is out and doper than ever so be sure to download it now and help build his legend!!

1. A-Town Ft. T.I., Sean P & Lonnie Mac
2. We Must Be Heard Ft. Ludacris, Willie The Kid & Busta Rhymes
3. Love For Money Ft. Trey Songz, Willie The Kid, Gucci Mane, La The Darkman, Yung Joc, Bun B & Flo Rida
4. I’m Fresh Ft. Mike Jones, Rick Ross & Trick Daddy
5. Day Dreaming Ft. Akon, T.I. & Snoop Dogg
6. Sweat Ft. Ray J., Fabolous & La The Darkman
7. Ridiculous Ft. Gucci Mane, Yo Gotti, Lonnie Mac & OJ Da Juiceman
8. Come Up Boys Ft. La The Darkman & Willie The Kid
9. Yacht Music Ft. Nas, Scarface, Willie The Kid & Marsha Ambrosius
10. Stripper Love Ft. The-Dream, La The Darkman & Too $hort
11. Smoke Ft. Gucci Man, Willie The Kid & Lonnie Mac
12. Pimpin’ Ain’t Easy Ft. La The Darkman, Bun B, Styles P., & Jovan Dais
13. Gotta Get It Ft. B.G., Juvenile & Soulja Slim

Tags: DJ Drama, download, Gangsta Grillz (The Album) Volume 2, Mixtape Monday, worldgaming

So between all the travel we did at E3 and other stuff, I havent gotten a chance to bring you up to date on some of the cool stuff that came out of the event, in particular game play related news. It’s no secret that Fifa is on of EA’s biggest, if not THE biggest game played and people are foaming at the mouth to know what changes and improvements are coming. So at E3 they leaked some news and have since given us more…below is some of the stuff to get your jock in a bunch over!!

360° Dribbling—The first-ever true 360° dribbling system in a football game provides finer dribbling control, enabling players to find spaces between defenders that previously were not possible.

Skilled Dribbling—All-new animation warping technology provides unprecedented control. Skilled players now have the ability to face a defender and use highly-responsive lateral dribbling to skip past him.

Freedom in Physical Play—Wider dribble touches and new collision sharing creates a varied, less predictable, and extended fight for possession between the dribbler and a defender.

Player Urgency—Improved urgency AI logic, with over 50 new movement cycles, delivers more responsive positioning so your players stay focused on the ball and move at a speed appropriate to the action.

Improved Trapping Intelligence —Players now have a better awareness of where the easiest, most natural trapping position is so they can get the ball on the ground and under control easier and earlier.

Advanced Positioning —Defenders multi-task and play the pitch more intelligently by covering dangerous spaces left by out-of-position teammates. In attack, players analyze space more effectively, curve their runs to stay onside, create passing lanes and vary attacking options.

More Accurate Passing —Players better analyze space resulting in pinpoint passes that give their receivers more options and time to outrun defensive pressure.

Authentic Shooting —Refinements to the shooting system and modifications of the ball physics create a wider, more realistic variety of shots that enhance the exhilaration of scoring.

Varied Defending Options —Slide Tackle targeting has been enhanced so skilled players have more reach and avoid tackling through the dribbler. Better effort clearance logic gives defenders more options when attempting to get a foot on the ball before an attacker. Effort, such as sliding to block crosses and overhead kick clearances, give defenders more tools to prevent goal-scoring opportunities.

Refined Goalkeeper Intelligence — numerous improvements mean that goalkeepers now have more urgency and better perception of where to intercept loose balls, resulting in a more responsive and powerful rushing system. New animation warping technology provides game-realistic goalkeeper positioning and momentum, resulting in more varied scoring opportunities.

Manager Mode Authenticity—More than 50 major improvements were designed to create an authentic experience to mimic the real-world game. Match results are based on team and player strengths and weaknesses. Player transfers are determined by multiple decision points, including club finance and prestige, availability of similar players, and competition from AI-controlled clubs. Player development is more realistic with true-to-life growth curves based on factors such as age and environment.

Continuous Gameplay— Maintain the atmosphere, pace, and intensity of a match with quick free kicks and referee carding.

New Practice Arena—Work on individual skills in a fully featured practice mode before stepping on the pitch.

Tags: E3, Fifa 10, gameplay improvements, worldgaming

Any time EA directly posts new video giving us a quick look at upcoming games with new features, I get excited! The vid above is from NHL 10, and it focuses onboard play. The video is pretty cool in that it shows some real gameplay footage between the two teams currently in the Stanley Cup, the Red Wings and Penguins.

While most people are going buts for the new fighting system that’s coming NHL 10, board play is something that the hardcore players on www.worldgaming.com are anticipating much more because it will really effect how you play the game for cash and prizes in head-to-head games and online tournaments for money. This is a big element that NHL has been missing and it should help balance the pace of the games, which tended to be very up-tempo.

Kinda sucks that the video is so short, but it looks smooth nonetheless so enjoy!!

Tags: board play, cash, head-to-head games, NHL 10, online tournaments, prizes, worldgaming, youtube

I’m a Wale supporter and this mixtape is from MLS & Wave Club that is a compilation of Wale tracks. Some have not been on his official mixtapes so if you missed any of them, you should check this out.

You can download it here…enjoy!!!

Tags: best of, download, Mixtape Monday, Wale, While You Were Out, worldgaming

NASA is always doing fascinating stuff, they never fail to amaze me, until now because NASA is looking into the long-term effects of micro-gravity on the human body. In doing so, NASA is looking for a couple of lazy people to lie in bed all day sleeping, watching TV and playing video games for money at www.worldgaming.com.

So I ask, “where can I get an appilcation?” because the job pays about $160 a day. For the non-mathematicians out there that means I could earn an extra $5,000 per month writing this blog and answering CSR inquiries all while lying down and pissing into a bedpan.

Sounds like a dream come, but I might want to reconsider filling out that application because these “pillownauts” experience terrible side effects like sore feet, muscle weakness, headaches, toothaches and runny noses/eyes. Plus, I would think that lying on your back for weeks would drive you to insane…just ask Paris Hilton!!!!!!!!

But know that if you do this it’s all for a good cause because this is what our astronauts will have to deal with if we ever make extended trips to the Moon and dare I say, Mars.

That said…who’s in?

Tags: $160 per day, astronauts, in bed, Mars, moon, NASA, pillownauts, worldgaming