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Happy Tuesday everyone, and without getting too much into unpleasant election talk, hopefully today is the last day of the Evil Bush Reign Of Terror.

I’m not going to go too much into politics, although I’m saying that before I’m starting so that could turn out to be false.

It’s amazing to watch the Karl Rove machine spin into action, spewing soundbite after soundbite, brainwashing America with the same few points each week. There is much to be learned in how the Bush camp runs its campaigns, and much like the Neutral Zone Trap in hockey, the opposition seems unable to stop it.

There is almost nothing anyone on this or any other website is going to write at this point that is likely to change anyone’s mind. I just find it incredible that the Bush platform is built upon “trusting” the president, and then he goes out of his way to lie constantly.

Bah it’s making me depressed just thinking about it, so I’ll move on to the always fun and exciting ZONES OF INSIDE PULSE.

Wrestling



Raw last night was watchable, but hardly a notable show. It was one of those meandering in-between PPV weeks where nothing huge happened, and some big matches were set up for following weeks.

I have to question right off the bat why they would rush into a Chris Benoit/Edge singles match right away next week. If no singles matches are kept as special, especially ones they have been building up for a while, what hope is there? I appreciate them keeping wrestlers apart for a while, like HHH/Orton, but the fact that they would have had a match already will lessen the impact of their probably WM21 match. The same is true of Benoit and Edge. While they might have had a singles match in the past, it hasn’t been in a while and it hasn’t been since Edge is getting such a main event push.

I saw a flashy commercial for TNA Victory Road Sunday night on TV, although now that I’m trying, I can’t remember during which show. It was probably the Food Network. The quality was good, but it didn’t really show much specific. I know I saw Jarrett, Raven, Hardy and some X Division flipping. I think the idea was to show copious amounts of the six-sided ring and hope that people catch on that it is a new exciting product.

Music



I had a chance to listen to the new Donnas CD, as well as the new Simple Plan, both produced by Butch Walker, but I haven’t really developed much of an opinion on them just yet. I am currently mostly listening to Bowling For Soup – A Hangover You Don’t Deserve as well as Riddlin Kids – Stop The World. Be sure to check in with the Music Forums to talk about these CDs as well as the upcoming new Collective Soul CD – Youth.

So much for my in depth music commentary this week! I did put together a mix tonight as I did this column. I figured I needed some new songs in place for the election and its aftermath, as I still dread the worst. Here is a rundown of the new mix:

Election Day Mix 2004

november 2nd, 2004
1. The Music – Breakin
2. Simple Plan – Me Against The World
3. American Hi Fi – We Can’t Be Friends
4. Riddlin’ Kids – Ship Jumper
5. Sum 41 – No Reason
6. Love 45 – Way Down
7. Collective Soul – There’s A Way
8. Chevelle – The Clincher
9. The Explosion – I Know
10. Buckcherry – For The Movies
11. Kenny Wayne Sheppard – Believe
12. Autopilot Off – Clockwork
13. Sister Hazel – Just What I Needed
14. Burden Brothers – You’re So God Damn Beautiful
15. Live – We Deal in Dreams
16. Hoobastank – Never Saw It Coming
17. The Bravery – Honest Mistake
18. The Donnas – Fall Behind Me
19. Breaking Benjamin – Sooner or Later
20. Recover – Light Up The Night

No surprises really. I put together a tentative 2 disc mix last weekend, but very few of the songs ended up sticking. So I took about a dozen of then 40 from last weekend and put them together with some new songs this week and voila, new mix!

The Hoobastank song is from a Target Exclusive EP from right after their self titled debut album. I went with new songs from a lot of my favorite CDs of 2004, including American Hi Fi, Sum 41, Breaking Benjamin and Collective Soul. Plus I finished up the first half of the mix with classic Buckcherry ballad. It’s not a classic? What do you mean?

Movies



The Inside Pulse movies zone has launched!

I gotta say, I’m blown away by the collection of writers we have put together thusfar. Movies is the only zone that we had to staff entirely from scratch, and we got a huge reaction from the Inside Pulse faithful. Coogan and I went through every

Right from Day 1, the crew in movies has provided a wide variety of columns and reviews. The news will be updated with interesting stories throughout the week as well.

Check out these great articles on movies this week:

Columns

TV



Later tonight, if you are in need of a break from the election coverage, I recommend checking out Kevin Hill on UPN. Taye Diggs stars as a lawyer playboy who’s cousin dies and leaves him a baby girl to care for. Of course hilarity ensues each week as Kevin’s charming of the ladies in his past helps him bumble through his dual life as an attourney and clumsy dad. I guess it doesn’t sound that great from my description, but Diggs is just a charisma machine and carries the show himself.

Last week they had a bizarre case where a girl was using a psychic to get stock tips from her dead father, so her mother wanted to deem her insane. Seems like a pretty cut and dry case, but Kevin Hill learned a valuable lesson about his own daughter earlier in the episode, and recited an impassioned closing argument to sway the case to his favor. Bravo Kevin Hill, you charming lady killer.

Anyway it usually airs on Wednesday night, but UPN is putting on an all new episode tonight to counter the all election coverage of most of the networks. Perhaps they can attract some new viewers to the show.

This Thursday is the season premiere of the O.C., and I have been watching the first season on DVD. First of all, as my brother points out, the joy of watching TV shows on DVD never ceases to amaze me. There are not only no commercials, but the commercial breaks are just like any other scene break and before you know it, you’re done with an entire episode.

Anyway, I’m really still impressed with the writing on the OC, and outside of all the hype and hot chicks, it is the quality of the writing that makes the show shine. They planted the seeds for many of the later happenings with some nicely done foreshadowing, and they also weave together double and triple storylines all the time. It will be interesting to see if they can keep up the high level of writing for season 2.

Games



I picked up a couple of awesome new games last week, and I’m very impressed with them in the limited playtime I’ve had thusfar. I don’t think I’ll get to even a Tribunal level of expertise with either one of these in the next few weeks, but they were a nice diversion during the week.

The first is, of course, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. The graphics still look pretty bad, but they always have in this series. The look and feel is definitely California, and the colors that the sky and the sun provide really make the environments look cool. The controls seem about the same, although they have added a considerable RPG quality to the game that make it almost daunting at first. Although the super hot Asian girl YOshie in my office complained that the game had “too many meters” for her, which I’m sure is negative, but she plays games so whatever. I’m sure she doesn’t hold a CANDLE to the Estrogen Brigade over in Pulse Games Previews though (I’m a shameless suckup folks)

I might be in the minority, but I miss the non-licensed music on the radio stations of Grand Theft Auto 3. There was something about the fake songs and radio stations that seemed more creative and immersive than random collections of hits from various years the game supposedly takes place.

The other game I picked up was Sega’s Outrun 2, and it’s really a fun arcade racer. I’m a huge fan of Sega racing titles, and would rather have seen Daytona 2 come to a home console, but Outrun 2 will more than suffice. In addition, I picked up a new steering wheel controller and was having a blast driving along and crashing. I haven’t really mastered drifting yet which probably explains why even when I choose the easy paths I’m running out of time. Oh well.


The Hot Seat moves into November with its first guest from IP Sports. And where else would we start than the very top of the Sports food chain, the head of sports, the slayer himself, David Goldberg!

1. We always start with geometry – what is the orthocenter of a triangle?

NYslayer: it’s the single point where the three altitudes intersect… BOOOOOOOOOOYAAAAAAAAAAA

Judges: That is correct. Good job on the google 1 for 1

2. Much like wrestling’s Bill Goldberg, you had gone on an unbelievable streak of success at 411 before coming to Inside Pul… well… I guess you haven’t had a streak or anything. But Andy Petitte DID have an interesting streak coming into this year that was broken due to his signing with the Houston Astros. How many consecutive years did Petitte pitch Game 2 of the ALDS for the Yankees in the playoffs before 2004?

NYslayer: eaaaaaaassssssssyyyyyyyyyyy SIX!!!!!!!! and we went 4-2

Judges: That is wrong. The correct answer is 9, and Petitte went 4-2. Some sport editor. Typo? The judges ain’t buying it. 1 for 2

3. Even though Halloween is a few days past, it is never out of season to ask a candy question here on the hot seat. Put these (relatively) new candy bars in order of deliciousness, from most delicious to least delicious: a) S’mores bar b) White Chocolate Kit Kat c) Butterfinger Crisp d) Snickers w/Almond e) Dark Chocolate Kit Kat

NYslayer: I’ve never eaten any of these candies. I don’t have a sweet tooth. You made all these candies up! But here goes… Butterfinger crisp because everybody LOVES Butterfinger, snickers w/almonds second. S’mores bar third which is probably really disgusting anyway. Dark chocolate Kit Kat is a heresy of nature so I’ll say fourth, and white chocolate sucks.

Judges: To say we’re disappointed you haven’t tried any of these new candies is an understatement. However, your blind love of the new Butterfinger actually does qualify for a correct answer 2 for 3

4. In your opinion, which former Sportscenter anchor made a more credible transition to the non-sports anchor world – Keith Olberman or Craig Kilborn?

NYslayer: Craig Kilborn! Daily Show, that late late night thing, and a cameo in Old School

Judges: That is correct! That should have been a gimme considering what feature you’re participating in right here. 3 for 4

5. Finally, in the spirit of the Inside Pulse Movies launch, a dividing question which defines the very nature of your being. Which Bill & Ted movie do you prefer – Excellent Adventure or Bogus Journey. Whichever you choose, please provide three key reasons why you chose the Bill & Ted chapter you did, and give one reason for fans of the other movie not to hate you for your choice.

NYslayer: Excellent Adventure (but by a nose, not by far)

Reasons:
1) The Mall scene with the head moshing keyboard solo which is funny as hell
2) 69 Dude!!!!!!!!!!!
3) It has the greatest single philosphy in Life. Be Excellent To Each Other

And to console fans of Bogus Journey?
People who like Bogus Journey shouldn’t hate me because i like that movie too and let’s face it…they need all the friends they can get

Judges: The judges don’t mind that you chose the opposite of our consensus favorite, but the unnecessary bashing was out of line and inappropriate. Station? You know it 3 for 5

And there you have it! An above average performance in the Sizzling Throne for NYSlayer aka David Goldberg. Go check out Pulse Sports for our weekly lineup of columns plus SPORTS SPYDER.

Road To Wrestlemania 21 Countdown


Things continue to point in the direction of the two top matches we have talked about over the last few weeks. I haven’t seen or heard anything to lead me to believe they are changing those directions at all. With Cena being out longer than I originally thought, I think we might be able to pencil in a match between him and Carlito, but I’m not going to add that to the card just yet.

Another wildcard is Kane, who is reportedly out until January to shoot his movie as well. That would be a good timetable for him to come back for revenge against Gene Snitsky, which could actually end up being a mania match as well. Yikes.

With Edge and Chris Benoit beginning their feud proper last night on Raw, that is likely to occupy both of them through the new year, and then allow Edge to break off for a feud with HBK once Michaels returns from injury. That should lead nicely into the Edge/Michaels singles match at ‘mania, perhaps a ladder match.

Tentative Wrestlemania 21 card:

Raw World Title
Triple H (c) vs. Randy Orton

Shawn Michaels vs. Edge

The Undertaker vs. Kurt Angle

Possible:
WWE US Title
Carlito Carribean Cool (c) vs. John Cena

Kane vs. Gene Snitsky

No new matches added this week, but some interesting build to the current matches and another couple possibilities.

Plugs



It continues to amaze me the quality of stuff the site is putting out on a weekly basis. It’s hard just to pick a couple links from each zone.

I gotta start with Games this week because the ESRB feature by Bryan Berg is among the finest pieces of video game journalism I’ve ever read. I cant think of a current magazine that would be high brow enough to publish something of this level. Maybe Next Gen when it first came out. Anyway, Berg goes into full detail of the history of the ESRB and its modern challenges, notable online gaming and the “ratings creep”. It is a mature, educated look at a ratings system that is mostly panned for being ‘censorship’.

The Nexus is the only IP zone to get their own fancy domain name, but that’s because they are special. In Looking To The Stars, Matt Morrison discusses MORE theories on the Identity Crisis killer. Plus, Manolis has another installment of Leave Your Spandex At The Door. with cool pictures from a comics event in London.

class=figures>PK talks about Jakks (but for how much longer) new WWE lines, with pics of the awesome new tag team classic sets of the Rockers, Hart Foundation and LOD. He also has a dirturbing stripping of an action figure. If that doesn’t get you to click, I don’t know what would.

In case you don’t believe the hype, check out the Celebs Index over on the TV zone, with new columns from Survivor Helen, Survivor Sandra and Survivor Jake Plus be sure to check out the column from Road Rules Katie who is commenting on the show she is currently taping!

Over in Music, Tuesdays = Gloomchen

Tom Toner has a dummies guide to Golf, while Patrick Nguyen has posted the seventh part of IP Sports’ NBA Prview. Maybe one of you guys can help me with my fantasy team because as defending MLB and NHL Yahoo fantasy champion, I’m putting my rep on the line for this NBA league, especially since I barely follow basketball.

Finally in the wrestling zone, Scott posted the Raw Rant alongside PK’s Raw Report

Inside Pulse Concert Series: #2!


Our first Inside Pulse concert series event was a big success, and we’re coming right back at you with another event in a few weeks!

Tuesday, November 9th in the The Continental in New York City, InsidePulse once again teams up with Alecon to bring a full night of rock! This time we will have some giveaways!

The bands scheduled to appear:
Voo Doo Blue 7.30
Fascination Autumn 8.15
Lonehawk 9
Rathbone 9.45
The Union Dead 10.30
Almost Violet 11.15

We should have profiles with info and MP3s of many or all of these bands in the coming weeks.

Closing Time



Hopefully by this time next week we’ll have a decision in Election 2004. The worst thing for this country would be to have another disputed election, although it had little effect in slowing down Bush’s policy making, so maybe it wouldn’t be as bad as the pundits are saying. And remember that no matter who is the president, we’ll be here at Inside Pulse to talk about everything that you REALLY care about, like video games and pro wrestling.

Jonathan Widro is the owner and founder of Inside Pulse. Over a decade ago he burst onto the scene with a pro-WCW reporting style that earned him the nickname WCWidro. Check him out on Twitter for mostly inane non sequiturs