NBA All-Star Break Approaching

Who's ready for NBA All-Star Weekend coming up within a few weeks?  Have you vote for your favorite superstars?  I already cast my vote for shoe-ins like LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony, but I also want to see Stephen Curry and/or David Lee make the team.  The Golden State Warriors are doing far better than anyone has expected and the organization is finally proving that it is a legitimate contender for the NBA Championship.

NBA 2K13 All-Star Weekend Screenshot

Whoever makes the team, the chosen superstars deserve their spot.  With all the rising talent in the league, it's impossible to celebrate every single player.  The All-Star title won't mean much to a team like the Los Angeles Lakers who have Kobe Bryant and Dwight Howard already locked in.  Maybe the Lakers will change their fate after the break when teams begin to ramp up to become a top seed.  All in due time, my friend.  All in due time.

Oracle Corporation Fixing Java Exploit

Within the past 24 hours, Oracle Corporation (ORCL) has announced their acknowledgement to a popular security flaw among computer hackers.  The bug allowed hackers to easily PCs and forcefully install malicious content.  The company is working to address this issue and advises users to disable Java in their browsers for the meantime.

Whether you realize it or not, Java is used in almost all electronic devices.  Starting with smartphones, small gadgets, and especially your computer, Java has been one of the most popular computer languages to date.  Along with its myriad number of users, it's no wonder that the tiniest exploits can be found.  Technology in this day and age is growing rapidly and hackers are getting smarter everyday.  So protect yourself.  Avoid websites that lack a strong reputation.  Try browser add-ons like "McAfee Site Advisor" or if you are using Mozilla Firefox or Google Chrome, try "WOT (Web of Trust)."  These services show ratings next to links to help validate the safety of the link.

Link to original article: http://yhoo.it/ZVgdIv
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Apple iPhone 5 Review (Work in Progress)

The iPhone 5 has been out for almost a four months now and still reigns as one of the premier smartphones on the market.  It's sleek design and faster A6 processer makes it an ideal choice.  The phone is extremely light and proves to be a quality product that is built to satisfy your everday needs.  Although it not be the highest selling phone (competing along with the Samsung Galaxy S3, Nexus 4, etc.), it claims its place at the top of the chain in a long line for iOS devices.

 

Design
The design of the iPhone 5 is simply amazing.  It's sleek and lightweight.  You literally have to hold the device yourself to truly understand how light the phone actually is.  The new 4 inch form factor (upgraded from the 3.5" design used for years) is a welcome addition to the list of features that will be discussed later.  If you are moving up from a previous iOS device like a previous generation iPhone or iPod Touch, there should be no problem adjusting the larger screen.  It was a great choice for Apple although I would have also liked to see the phone get wider.  The new lightning port adapter at the bottom is also a great change although it means that previous 30 pin connectors are now obsolete with the new line of devices being created by Apple.

(Work in Progress)

Fantasy Basketball

Anyone play fantasy basketball?  I believe I have assembled a strong team although it lacks consistent durability.  It seems every week that at least one player is injured which hurts my chances especially in an H2H league (head to head stats).

My current team:

I picked up D. Rose a few days ago and am hoping that his return will payoff.  Waiting a few more weeks for a superstar should definitely be worth it.  My record is 60-39-1.  I've dropped players like Chris Kaman, Brandon Roy, and Ersan Ilyasova early in the league (which I now regret with the Milwaukee Bucks' new coach).  I missed out on pulling Andrei Kirilenko and Grevis Vasquez from the free agency pool.  I took Jose Calderon over Vasquez and when Kyle Lowry is out, he gets to show off his passing ability, but Vasquez is more consistent and is a dependable stat-sheet stuffer.

Jared Dudley has been a viable option (although he lacks consistency), but when he is on a role, his stats surpass his expectations.  With Michael Beasley declining role, hopefully Dudley proves to be worth a roster spot before I hop on the John Henson bandwagon.

*I was supposed to draft Joakim Noah, but while I was checking Ilyasova's stats, I panicked with the clock winding down and forgot to click on Noah again before hitting draft.*

How is your new year going?

Simple.  How has 2013 been treating you?  Have you been following through those "new year resolutions?"

The Holidays

Now that the holidays are officially over, it is time to continue on with 2013.  Classes are beginning soon and those leftovers are finally gone.  It finally feels like this new year will bring change in everyone's life (hopefully for the best). 

The holidays brings families together, but it should not be the only we feel obligated to spend time with them.  How has your vacation been and what are your plans for the new year?

The Violence in Video Games

Ever since video games have been around, there has always been a controversy about the violence found in mature video games.  From titles like Carmageddon to today's popular Call of Duty franchise, parents have been concerned on whether or not these horrifying visuals affect their child's development.

Studies show that video games, specifically violent ones, are not played for its violent content, but rather played for the sense of accomplishment.  When you think about it, playing these games do encourage problem solving and strategy and violence just happens to be at the center of it.

When the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) was established in 1994 in order to categorize the infamous Mortal Kombat series and several more titles, its main focus was to limit the content that children could access.  It works similar to the movie ratings which help parents decide whether a film is appropriate for their child.  But is all of this censorship necessary?  Should these boundaries be decided by companies?  In all fairness, it is true that I would be mentally scarred from watching horror films back when I was four, but would my parents even allow me to experience these measures that companies tried to shield me from?


All I know is that these rating systems are far from being eradicated.  Also, they seem to do more good than harm, although limiting the "freedom of teenager" from refusing him/her from purchasing an "M-Rated" game from the local GameStop.

What do you think?