Quick Hits: Walmart Has Fake Thin Mints, And Other Randoms

On 04/10/2015 at 12:17 PM by goaztecs

Pixlbit Nation, Happy Friday! This week was a bit slow but it picked up around Wednesday (doesn’t it always?) So how are you good people? Any fun plans for the weekend? I’m probably going to do my usual, but I will also throw in some things like go to the park, take some pictures, and maybe catch up on some video games I haven’t played in a bit. Anyways let’s get started with this week’s Quick Hits so I can go enjoy the outside weather!

Chris Watches…

Opening Day

Baseball is here and its exciting because this year the Padres seem like they are going to make some noise, so watching both the Angels and Padres will be fun. I’m hoping both will get into the playoffs. Here’s to hoping they meet in the World Series.

The Voice

It’s been a while since I watched an episode of The Voice and since Arrow wasn’t on TV on Wednesday night so I watched the elimination round. Just like every season I think Blake and Adam’s teams are the teams to beat.

SHIELD

There’s more clarity in the storyline between Coulson’s SHIELD, and new SHIELD along with Skye hanging out in what I like to call the X-Mansion in Asia. There was some OH SH*T moments especially with Coulson, and the way they are building it up makes you excited for the next episode.

I also read that ABC is in the works for a SHIELD Spinoff. I told my friend that they should tell the new SHIELD perspective. He said they should give Hawkeye a show. I’d like to see Marvel’s version of DC and also use a lot of the Christopher Nolan Batman storylines.

Powers

This show is free to PS4 users (I think its also on PS3, but I’m not sure) where its an adaptation of a comic about a guy who used to have super powers, but lost them, became a cop, and works in a police department who handles people with powers. I’ve caught the first couple of episodes and at first glance, the characters seem very stiff, the filming doesn’t have that same “look” that network stuff has, but the story has a lot of promise. I’m interested to see how this season plays out and I’ll keep watching.

Daredevil

I know this show just started today but I’m excited to start watching it especially for

Yeah I watched way more True Blood then I care to admit because I liked her character’s dynamic with the cop (I have no idea what his name is.) Anyways this show was being hyped for a while and since I finished House of Cards I need something new to watch.

House of Cards

How good was the second part of the 3^rd season? The best thing about this show is I’m always wondering, how in the hell is Frank and Claire going to get out of this situation? Such a good show, and I can’t wait for Season 4. I also want an Underwood 2016 shirt.

Game of Thrones

There have been a bunch of episodes playing on across a couple of the HBO channels because THIS SUNDAY IT IS BACK! I can’t wait to see what is in store for this season. I have an idea because I read up to this point in the books but I want to see which stuff made it into the TV Show.

Furious7

I am a huge fan of the series because it is so over the top and changed from a street racing movie, into a series where the crew takes down drug lords, racing scenes inside of a mountain, on a runway, dragging a safe through the streets of Rio, and crashing a car onto a yacht. The only thing not believable is with all the high tech stuff why are they still using walkie talkies?

Anyways the movie borrowed elements from previous flicks, tons of one-liners, a wrestling move, Ronda Rousey, and over the top excitement. I dug it, but it doesn’t beat my favorite out of the bunch, Fast 5 (safe dragging is still the one to beat) but I liked the direction of the series and I can’t wait to see what they do for Furious8.

Duke vs. Wisconsin

So Duke booted my Aztecs so naturally I had to root for Duke to win it all. I was hoping that the Blue Devils would play Kentucky because that would be an NBA Summer League game, but nope Wisconsin beat them and then all of a sudden all the talking heads were on the Badgers bandwagon.

Yeah I watched the final couple of minutes on my phone to kill battery while watching something else on TV. My favorite part was Wisconsin’s coach bitching about one and done players talking about how he doesn’t use them. Yeah he had no problem beating One and Done University (Kentucky), but blow a lead to a team who has maybe two one and done players and all of a sudden it’s a bad thing. Here’s the thing, your upper classmen and defense should have stopped them, but didn’t. Man up, take the Loss with some class instead of acting like a crybaby.

Chris Roams Around…

The Swapmeet

Last week I went a bit later than normal and still the sun was out so it was odd but I’m getting used to daylight Swapmeet. The one in Hawaii is in the mornings, but usually the ones here are at night because its cooler. There wasn’t much in terms of video games other than the usual suspects, but nothing that grabbed my attention.

The Usual Stores

I don’t know what it is but I seem to like to hit the Hot Wheels section of various stores now. I’m not a collector (I’m trying my best to not be one) but when the Hot Wheels are either one or two aisles away from the Lego sets, or share an aisle it’s a bit tough to not look through them.

Walmart is always good for random finds. While buying Keebler Chocolate Covered Graham Crackers, I saw these cookies

Walmart is now messing with the Girl Scouts.

Walking Around

I’m thinking about checking out other spots to go walking and maybe take some new pictures. Try out new settings, and just get some new subjects. Oh and get some exercise in.

Chris Takes Pictures

So I tried taking night pictures and its hit and miss, more miss than anything else. I need more practice and a taller tripod. I am digging the remote to take pictures but I need to get whole low light settings like slower shutter speeds down and work with my lenses. I probably need some new fancy lenses too. I’ve been looking at maybe picking up a 35mm lens to be the “everyday” lens. For you photography folks if you have any info or tips I’m always down to learn new things.

Anyways for my pictures of the week, I’ve been practicing everyday after breakfast and right before hoping on the computer for project time. I think I’m getting better with playing with settings, but there is still a lot of trial and error. Thank goodness I didn’t start this during the time of film because I would have a thrown away a small fortune in under/over exposed pictures. As for the pictures

I took this around 6pm and I wanted to get the sun coming through the plants and get some of the plants color. I tried doing this the day before but it was dark. I like that this image came out ok.

My next picture I took on Thursday right before lunch using the Toy Effect

I was using all of the different effects just to see how they look, and man the HDR makes everything look like neon. From what I’ve seen it can go from really cool to really bad (the stuff you see on Instagram.) Anyways going back to the Toy Effect I really like how this picture came out.

The next picture I took last night when I got back from my adventures at the grocery store

I just like the colors in this picture. I took it around 7pm because I wanted to try and get more pictures of the sun going down and having the light go through some plants but I missed it. The plants on this path were blooming so why not take advantage of it, and get some practice.

Pickups!

Games

I saw this last night while sitting on the couch and downloaded it

I hope this game connects to the console version like Injustice because everything about it plays like other swipe fighting games made by NetherRealm Studios (Injustice, and WWE Immortals.)

Hot Wheels

While at Walmart on Saturday Night (big mistake) folks were doing their last minute Easter shopping and this is what I find a bit annoying: folks were celebrating a religious holiday yet they were leaving a huge mess everywhere they went. Two women looking through Hot Wheels used their cart to block the aisle. When I moved it so I could go look at the Lego I got a dirty look from one of them. As I was casually watching to see if they were finished, they would take five or six cars off the pegs, pick one, and then leave the other cars on top of the products on the shelf. Who does this? Be considerate of other shoppers and the poor employee who has to clean up after you! If the world just used more common sense, it would be a better place.

Anyways when they left I put back the cars they left off the pegs and looked through them and found some cars. After this I went to the local Target and looked through what they had as well. I came home with these cars

The USMNT car was the only one I found at Target. I ALSO FOUND A HOMER! The card is a bit beat up, but I don’t care because I wanted this car but it seems like everyone was buying them.

I also found the Corvette from Fast5 (hell yeah!) and well the Camaro is just a cool looking car. Again I’m trying not to be a Hot Wheel collector.

Fake Lego

The Fake Lego Lady sold out most of her new Iron Man figures but had some new Batman figures made by a company called Drago

I bought Fake Lego Lady’s last Iron Man that I didn’t have along with four Batman minifigures. The quality of these figures are not up to par with DeCool and Sy. The pegs seem loose and the peg that holds the head doesn’t have the paint that adds resistance to the head being slid off. The printing also isn’t as good as the two companies that were named.

These Batman figures were modeled off of this set

Here is a comparison of the legit Lego figure on the left, and Drago figure on the right. The obvious differences is that the Lego figure has cleaner printing and looks like a more finished product

The Batman Cowl also has some differences with the ear points being not as sharp, and the overall size is a little bit bigger compared to the legit copy. The figures were not missing any limbs and came with a couple of Batarangs along with some little satellite thing. The figures are nice to have because Lego does not make these figures and I could make my own Batman version of Iron Man’s Hall of Armor.

SDSU Stuff

I finally ordered these items because the Bookstore finally stocked Baseball Jerseys

Even thought SDSU wears Nike jerseys, apparently Champion makes the replicas in the bookstore. This is one of the jerseys that the team is wearing and is similar to the one Tony Gwynn wore as a player.

This was also a good time to buy the MWC Champion shirt

Alright Pixlbit I am off to eat breakfast and maybe head on down to the local mall or watching Daredevil. I hope you all have a good weekend, and stay safe.

That’s all for now, more later!

-Chris

Super Step Contributing Writer

04/10/2015 at 12:45 PM

Hahaha I think my parents have that VHS/DVD player from Panasonic, or a similar one. Actually, wait, is that just a VHS player? Forget who their old one was made by. Actually, I think it was a black, rectangular Panasonic VHS. Their TV is a CRT, but at least it looks bigger than the one in that box. Ah, the good ol' days.

I need to watch Powers and Daredevil. I'm less excited about Powers, I just like to take advantage of anything PS+ gives me for "free." I actually didn't like this season of HoC as much as previous ones, but I am curious about that cliffhanger. Granted, I was uploading surveys while watching it, so ..

And I know nothing about what the Wisconsin coach said, but I'll be biased and tell you to lay off.

My friend told me he didn't like Furious 7 because of the lack of character development ... I was like "THAT's what you see those for?!" lol

Your pictuers look cool, I like the colors. Looks like you're shooting most with a shallow depth of field, which I tend to prefer. I dunno why, I just like pictures with only part of the picture in focus for some reason. I could give you some basic camera advice (minus lenses, which I never really messed with beyond the university standard ... I know what a telephoto lens is supposed to do, but that doesn't mean I've used one for example), but I'd have to know what you're trying to do.

For instance, if it gets really dark, you can put your shutter speed really low and widen your aperture as much as possible so the camera has time to take in all the light it can; that's what you have to do for night photography a lot of the time. Can also grab a light source like a laser pointer or a sparkler and wave it in front of the camera to get some cool effects, maybe spell out a name with said off-camera light source at night. Forget what that's called, but I remember it being cool. There's lots of good online resources for DSLR camera settings and you can usually view the metadata of a picture in programs like Photoshop and Lightroom I believe so you know what aperture, shutter speed, etc. you used on a particluar picture and then realize "oh it looks this way cause of this setting."

Well, have a happy weekend and make sure to send me girl scout cookies in the mail like you totally promised you would.

goaztecs

04/16/2015 at 11:19 AM

Yup in that pic there is a stand alone VHS player and a VHS/TV combo. I had a regular VHS player that I would record random TV Shows when I was either out or in school.

I thought this season of HoC started a bit slow but picked up towards the end. Yeah that cliffhanger is going to make next season interesting.

Haha, the Fast and Furious Franchise is a perfect example of sit back, eat some popcorn, and enjoy the non stop action/talk of family/lots of shifting/and wondering why they all still use walkie talkies.

As for photography stuff, I'm just using various settings, tinkering with different combinations and just seeing the results. I'm gonna try and see if I can check out a spot or two with running water (this might be tough now with all the drought talk and "action" everyone is taking) and try to take different photos where the water is blurry but everything else is stationary. I've actually got some decent pictures taken by my phone by making shapes with sparklers. I should try that with my camera since I bought a remote.

So far YouTube has been a good source of info, and I've been adding notes to my notebook with some explainations and little tricks.

I thought the deal was you send me the cookies?

Cary Woodham

04/10/2015 at 07:20 PM

Wal-Mart also sells a version of Girl Scout Tagalongs. Except instead of shortbread and peanut butter covered in chocolate, it's a chocolate cookie and peanut butter covered in chocolate.

04/16/2015 at 11:20 AM

I would so be all over that except that peanut butter would send me to the emergency room. I miss a Snickers bar and a good PB&J sandwich.

SanAndreas

04/10/2015 at 09:03 PM

Keebler sells its own chocolate Thin Mint-like cookies called Grasshoppers. I think Walmart's product is probably meant to be a store-brand product version of those more than anything.

04/16/2015 at 11:21 AM

Yeah most likely, but I wouldn't put it past some of these big box stores from seeing what sells and making their own versions.

BrokenH

04/10/2015 at 09:39 PM

Even I like the Too Fast Too Furius movies.....probably partly becacuse of Vin & also enjoying the Riddick movies too! But you're right,awesome action scenes and I'd dare to say rather decent characters & "situations".

04/16/2015 at 11:22 AM

They are such fun films where each film tries to top the previous one. I read that the next Furious flick will take place in NYC.

KnightDriver

04/11/2015 at 02:59 AM

I'd really like to get a fisheye lens for my DSLR. That's like a super wide angle lens, 18mm or something like that.

04/16/2015 at 11:24 AM

Those are some cool lenses but they are crazy expensive (some more than my camera!) If I get really serious I want one of those tilt lenses.

04/17/2015 at 01:56 AM

Tilt lenses are cool. I worked with a view camera with bellows once. It was neat to be able to control the tilt of the lens.

Nicoleb1989

04/12/2015 at 02:42 AM

The Mortal Kombat app is definitely going to be connected to the game. It's gonna be like Injustice where u can unlock stuff and bring it over to your game. I'm still waiting on the android verison. I have a feeling I'm waiting wither till MKX releases or sometime passed it. Those are some amazing photos, thank you for sharing them <3

04/16/2015 at 11:25 AM

Thanks for liking my pictures!

Yeah when I finally finished installing MKX I got some cool unlockables from the game. I think I need to play more of the console version to get some stuff in the tablet version. There is a whole list of items I think under extras.

Ranger1

04/13/2015 at 09:00 AM

I watched the first episode of Daredevil and I have to say I was underwhelmed. I'll watch a few episodes more and maybe it will grow on me.

I don't shop at Walmart. We have a chain of local department stores here in Maine called Reny's where I can get most of what I need, and for the rest, I go to Target. I try to shop local as much as possible, though. It's a personal choice. However, I will say that I do like the Walmart knock-off Oreos better than the real thing...

Ah, lenses! I want a macro lens and really good telephoto and a panorama and... However, I can't afford them. A good macro costs as much as a month's rent on my cottage.

04/16/2015 at 11:34 AM

I liked the first episode with all the back story but I haven't watched any of the other episodes yet. I need to catch up. Its funny that I'll watch Arrow, SHIELD, and Daredevil, but not Gotham or Flash.

Yeah I'm not a big Walmart fan either but they are home to my phone plan so at least once a month I have to go in there and pick up a refill card (I don't like doing it online, and besides its super cheap for the same service I used to have with Verizon.) I'm Target first. Good for you keeping money in local businesses. That's why I buy from Fake Lego Lady instead of just ordering straight from Amazon.

There are a bunch of cool lenses to buy but they have heavy price tags. I've been eyeing a Macro lens too and if I get serious with photography I want a tilt lens.

PixlBit