In this post, we’ll go through what you can do to make the most of gaming and to really enjoy it a lot more. All of the following are going to be essential if you want to make sure that you are really enjoying gaming for what it is, so let’s see what these things are and how you might be able to make use of them yourself.

Pick Your Platform

This is one early decision you can make that will help you to hone in on certain games and then really start to enjoy a wide variety of them. Actually there is no reason that you have to just pick one platform and stick with it. It’s just that most people, at the very least in a financial sense, will benefit from picking one platform and then sticking with that for a while. It is also much less of an issue than it used to be, as a lot of games are now available on more than one platform. However, that is not true for every game, and each platform does have its own unique ones too.

So it’s a good idea to do a little research and see which platform you might want to go for. It might be that you go for a slightly older one first, again for financial reasons, or perhaps you want to buy the latest. Either way, you need to think about which seems suitable for you. You might choose a console like a PlayStation, Xbox or a Nintendo Switch for instance. Each of these will provide you with an easy setup and consistent performance for many years to come, as well as lots of exclusive games for each, so it’s a great option if you want to just sit down and start playing.

Alternatively, you may want to become a PC gamer. This requires a powerful computer for a lot of the high-end AAA games, but there are also lots of games you can play with a less powerful machine. You will however need to make sure that you are getting what you need, in terms of graphics cards and all the peripherals that help to make it a great gaming experience. It’s therefore a bit of an investment upfront, but you’ll find it’s a flexible way to game overall.

These days you can get plenty of good games on mobile, and it’s not quite what it used to be. It’s almost its own reputable platform in itself now, and that is something that you are really going to want to consider if you are just getting into gaming. From simple card games like freecell to some more complex shooters and so on, there are plenty that you can make use of when it comes to a mobile platform, so that’s something to be aware of for sure.

Honestly, if you want to start simple, online bingo is actually pretty great. Way more social than you’d think and won’t break the bank. You don’t need any special equipment—just use whatever device you’re reading this on. We’ve found TheBingoOnline.com helpful for finding trusted UK bingo sites that are beginner-friendly. It’s a nice way to get comfortable with online gaming before investing in proper gear.

Finally, you may want to consider cloud gaming, like Xbox Cloud for instance. Here, you stream games without having to have a fancy setup. You will of course need a reliable internet connection, however. Those are just some platforms to consider, but it’s a good idea to thoroughly check out each before you commit. And of course, you can widen out later on if you prefer too.

Figure Out What You Enjoy

Before long, you will probably start to get a sense of the kinds of games you tend to enjoy, and that is obviously a really important part of all this too. It’s going to mean that you are much more likely to be able to know what to go for and what you are actually less likely to enjoy, and once you start on that path it’s the beginning of really honing in on something that you can make the most of.

Anything you can do to hasten that process of figuring out what you like is really going to help. There are a lot of different genres in gaming, and they are kind of best thought of as moods of gaming. You will soon start to see that certain moods tend to appeal to you more than other ones, which is a process that you are probably going to really love. There are story-driven games like RPGs which you might enjoy if you are generally a lover of movies or books, or you might prefer the simplicity and competitive nature of shooters, especially online shooting games.

Perhaps you are much more likely to enjoy building characters and exploring worlds in open-ended RPGs. Or you could be the kind to just want to while away some time on a more casual or cozy type game, such as The Sims. This is great if you want a chill vibe and low stress, and it’s something that you are really going to want to consider for sure.

Then there are the huge multiplayer games, great for those who want to be really competitive and to really get into the fray with people online. Those are often great fun and quite high-energy, and you’ll want to consider whether that is what you’re looking for or not. In any case, you should consider trying out a few different types and getting a sense for which you might enjoy most. It could be that you end up with a few types that you enjoy, which is great and something that you can really make the most of as well.

Go Slow

While there are a lot of games out there, and you’ll probably never be able to play them all in your lifetime, it’s important that you avoid getting overwhelmed by the choice. It’s best to go slow and to simply pick your way through a few games that you like the look and sound of. It might be that you have received some advice or recommendations on certain games and you want to follow those. This can certainly be a good way to discover some great hidden gems, and it can help you in figuring out more effectively what you want.

There are also a lot of games that are quite beginner-friendly, and you can find lists of those and simply work your way through them. Overall, however, you are going to find that it’s pretty good advice to just go slow and enjoy the process for what it is. If you can do that, you are going to enjoy it all so much more and you will find that it’s much more the fun that it really should be, so this is something that you should definitely think about.

Play For Yourself

It’s generally wise to try and avoid the crowd who think you have to be the best all the time. That’s not how to enjoy gaming. Instead, play for yourself, and compete primarily against yourself, in terms of watching yourself improve. If you can do that, you are going to find that you are much more likely to be able to enjoy gaming for what it is and to really make the most of it. And this is something that is going to be really useful for you to consider if you are trying to make it more a part of your life.

It can also help to remember that games are meant to be flexible experiences, not tests you have to pass. Many titles include built-in accessibility settings or optional assists that make learning more comfortable and less frustrating. Some players also look up external resources and tools, such as securecheats.com, simply to reduce early friction while they find their footing. Used only occasionally and without relying on them long-term, it can help new players stay relaxed, build confidence, and enjoy gaming at their own pace rather than feeling pressured to keep up, especially when it comes to multiplayer games with friends and family members.

You Don’t Have To Go Online

These days, it can often seem as though online play is an inevitable part of gaming. But it’s not. It remains an option that you have and something that you are going to find really fun at times, but it’s not something you have to do, and some people find that they just never want to play online at all. That’s completely fine. In all of this, you should be aiming to game the way you want to game, not simply following along with the crowd. That is a much better approach and will mean you are actually having a lot more fun with it overall too.

Becoming A Gamer

As you can see, there is quite a bit you can think about when it comes to becoming a gamer. But the important thing is just that you are doing it for yourself and enjoying it along the way. That’s what it should all be about, after all, and it’s what you should aim to focus on if you are going through this process right now.

The post Starting To Get Into Gaming appeared first on FactoryTwoFour.

However, with such a massive selection choosing the right mobile game can feel a bit overwhelming. To make the most of the screen time that you have it’s important that you identify those games that truly match your lifestyle, and preferences. Here’s a look at some ways you can select the best mobile games.

Understand Your Gaming Style

The first step in selecting the right mobile game is understanding your gaming style. You need to ask yourself what kind of experiences you enjoy the most. Maybe you prefer games that test your reflexes, like action or racing titles. 

You may also lean towards story driven adventures or relaxing puzzles. There are also competitive online games that have leaderboards and real-time multiplayer action. Others will give you a solo experience. 

You need to know your style so that you can narrow down your choices and prevent a loss of your precious time.

Consider Time Commitment and Accessibility

Another key thing that you need to consider is how much time you want to spend playing. If you’re simply looking to fill short gaps that come up in your day, casual games like match-three puzzles, checkers or blackjack are a great fit for you. 

On the other hand if you’re willing to invest a lot more time you may enjoy strategy games such as RPGs or simulation games. These reward long-term progress. 

You also need to think about accessibility. Some games are going to require that you have constant internet access or large storage space on your device. Others are more lightweight and you can play them offline.

Checking these types of requirements before you download is going to help to ensure that you have a smooth experience

Check Device Compatibility and Performance

Before you download any game it’s essential that you ensure your device is able to handle it. High performance games will demand a lot from your phone’s processor, battery life as well as graphics chip. 

Make sure you look at the app’s requirements and read reviews from users that have similar devices. If you’re using a smartphone that is a bit older or you have limited storage you should focus on mobile games that are known for being very resource efficient. No matter how fun a game is when you have lags and crashes it will quickly ruin your experience

Make the Right Choice

Choosing the right mobile game is all about matching the experience to your personality, device and your daily routine. When you start considering your style of gaming, device performance as well as time constraints you will be able to avoid any frustrations that come your way. You will also find titles that entertain you. 

Take a few minutes to look at reviews and also gameplay previews because this can help you to make a more informed decision.

The post How to Select the Right Mobile Games for You appeared first on FactoryTwoFour.

Alongside the array of car pictures and breaking sports news, X is a platform gamers enjoy. Coupled with opinions around leading titles and some impressive gamer art, there is a wide range of posts around gaming news, the latest releases, and so much more. Formerly known as Twitter, X has always had a large gaming community for this very reason. In 2020 alone, the platform contained over 2 billion gaming-related tweets. 

Now, in 2025, X continues to appeal to gaming audiences worldwide. Whether you’re after some cheap deals on leading titles, you’re keen to follow your favorite streamers, or you need advice on how to play online blackjack or an open-world masterpiece like The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, X has plenty to offer. However, you need to add the proper accounts to your timeline. Here are some informative options to help you get started. 

ProHenis – @ProHenis

An account that is arguably criminally under-followed, ProHenis is a YouTuber who adores gaming. A member of KARNAGE Clan, his commentary and tips around games and gaming news are fascinating. Given his in-depth knowledge of the gaming category of entertainment, ProHenis is an account many gamers rely on. 

Geoff Keighley – @geoffkeighley

As a respected video game journalist for many years now, Geoff Keighley is worth adding to your timeline. Also, by presenting numerous shows and reporting on the biggest and best releases of the year, Keighley will enable you to stay updated with the latest developments in the gaming sphere. You might even recognize him from GameTrailers TV, although his impact has spread far beyond the now-defunct show. 

Larry Hryb – @majornelson

Now a key player at Unity after working for Xbox, Larry Hryb is an account well worth following on X. He shares streaming content of his gaming sessions, he offers tips on how to market independent games to the masses, and his all-round expertise in gaming makes for a fascinating follow. 

Esfand – @EsfandTV

With a comprehensive selection of posts around retro games and some of today’s undisputed favorites, Esfand warrants a follow. His streams are particularly entertaining as they showcase the diverse range of titles this expert gamer tends to dabble in. 

Brenda Romero – @br

The face of Romero Games, Brenda Romero’s journey in the gaming category of entertainment is worth following. She shares content about her latest game designs, any job openings at her company, and plenty of educational posts about the game-making process. Following Brenda Romero is essential for people considering embarking on a career in games development. 

Cheap Ass Gamer – @videogamedeals

Gaming can be expensive. It makes a lot of sense to track down the occasional bargain. That’s where accounts like Cheap Ass Gamer come in handy, with this trusted option sharing plenty of excellent deals around gaming releases and even merchandise. 

Stephen Totilo – @stephentotilo

Stephen Totilo is a reporter who covers video games extensively. He attends some of the biggest games summits worldwide, shares his personal views about specific products, and has evident knowledge of the games industry, which means you’ll learn a great deal in an average week. Overall, Stephen Totilo’s various posts are invaluable.

The post A selection of gaming accounts worth following on X  appeared first on FactoryTwoFour.

It’s worth noting that not every gaming experience necessarily requires a VPN, but many do. For instance, trusted platforms like Steam have strong security measures in place, while sites like McLuck and hit releases like the Fire Stampede slot game are ultra-secure. Not every gaming opportunity offers the same level of security, though. As such, an increasing number of gamers are utilising the services of a VPN. 

What is a VPN? 

A VPN, or a virtual private network, essentially helps gamers protect their online identity and the various activities gamers typically carry out by encrypting any data and hiding their IP address. VPNs are a nightmare for online criminals because of this, with remote servers making their unscrupulous methods almost impossible to conduct. A VPN essentially provides an additional barrier between a gamer and a cybercriminal, with their IP address being fully masked and it making a player seem like they’re gaming in an entirely different location to where they’re actually based. Overall, VPNs do a fantastic job for the gaming community. 

With VPNs now being used by gamers everywhere, given the security benefits they provide, plus a whole host of other features that can make gaming even better, below are some of the best VPNs for gaming in 2025. All of the VPNs featured are reputable and are used by gamers on almost every corner of the globe. 

NordVPN 

One of the biggest names in the VPN game, NordVPN is a trusted virtual private network provider. Not only does it do a fantastic job of hiding your IP address and preventing any attacks in the process, but it also has over 5000 servers that ensure a fast connection, and it allows you to use as much data as you want thanks to the inclusion of no ISP throttling. Also offering good deals to new users, NordVPN is an excellent VPN for gaming. 

Surfshark 

Another big provider in the space, Surfshark is a name many dedicated gamers are familiar with. It also comes with numerous benefits many other VPN services don’t offer. For instance, gamers can have unlimited connections, Surfshark’s fast speeds are some of the best around, and you can set it up on your router so it protects all of your gaming systems at the same time. Overall, when assessing value for money in the VPN arena, Surfshark is hard to beat. 

Private Internet Access 

While many gamers invest in a VPN subscription for their console and PC gaming marathons, mobile gamers also need to use a VPN to keep their important details safe. A popular option among the mobile gaming community is Private Internet Access, also known as PIA. It comes with a slick and easy-to-use mobile app, offers protection when gamers use a public Wi-Fi connection for their gaming sessions, and does a great job of hiding a gamer’s identity online. 

ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN is another popular VPN many diehard gamers use, although it is a tad more expensive than some of the aforementioned options. Still, you certainly get what you pay for. ExpressVPN has servers in 94 countries, IP addresses are refreshed regularly, and it offers arguably the fastest performance of any VPN provider.

The post The best VPN for gaming in 2025 appeared first on FactoryTwoFour.

Portal 2

This iconic game from Valve is a first-person platformer that requires you to solve a range of physics-based mechanics puzzles using a portal gun. It combines storytelling, humor and cutting-edge gameplay to create a game that’s both challenging and thoroughly entertaining. While the first Portal is worth playing two, Portal 2 is definitely the better of the two – expanding upon the concept of the original and making it both more funnier and more difficult. 

The Witness

The Witness is set on a beautiful and mystical island. To unlock the secrets of the island, you must explore it and solve an array of grid-based puzzles. Each puzzle relies on you using knowledge from previous puzzles, and over time you learn more about the island and why you are on it. Some of the puzzles can be tricky, but the game is very rewarding overall. 

Monument Valley

Looking for a puzzle game that helps you relax? Monument Valley is a meditative puzzle game with an mesmerising art style and soothing music. It’s made up of optical illusion puzzles that challenge your perception of space and logic. Although originally a mobile game, it is also available to PC users on Steam. 

Fireboy and Watergirl

Fireboy and Watergirl is a series of co-operative puzzle games. Players must navigate two characters – Fireboy and Watergirl – through a series of temples full of puzzles, obstacles and traps. The game allows two players to play together on one keyboard – each controlling a different character. Together, both players must work together to solve the puzzles.

Wordle

Wordle is an online word puzzle game that took off during lockdown and has continued to remain hugely popular. It requires players to solve a word in six guesses. After each guess, the game tells you whether you have got any of the letters right and whether they are in the right position. Unlike some games that try to keep you hooked for hours, Wordle presents you with only one word to solve per day – you then have to wait until the next day to get a new word. 

Tetris Effect

Arguably the most famous puzzle game of all time is Tetris. Combining captivating music and improved visuals, Tetris Effect enhances this game to make it all the more enjoyable. You can play the game on mobile or on PC.

Baba Is You

This puzzle game takes the idea of ‘rules were made to be broken’ and turns it into a strategy. By changing blocks that represent words, you’re able to manipulate the rules of the game in order to solve each puzzle. It’s a game that forces you to think outside of the box.

The post 7 Exciting Puzzle Games To Play On Your PC appeared first on FactoryTwoFour.

Sneak A Little Help

Before you try this, be sure that your friends have a sense of humor, because no one wants to feel slighted. But if you really just can’t seem to catch a break enlist a little help from a cheating camera for poker games to get a little boost. How does this work? Well, a small wireless camera is placed in a random object that won’t draw suspicion like a lighter, clock, or an ac unit. This is able to read specific barcode-marked cards. Once scanned, that information is transferred to the phone analyzer that will further break down the information, giving you an idea of what is the best or worst hand. How does it tell you this? Through mini earpieces. If you’re up for some sneaky deception, this is a great option.

Use A Webcam

If your poker sessions take place online, you should definitely consider installing a webcam device that the entire group can access and use. Just because you guys may be far apart, doesn’t mean you can’t make the experience as real as possible. Being able to see your friends/competitors in real-time will make the game more lively. Expressions of victory and defeat are sometimes quite spectacular. Those should not be missed. There are many apps that allow you to install such a webcam. Sort through and decide which is best for you to get the show on the road. 

Learn The Game

If you want to be regarded as a serious poker player who knows their stuff, you need to spend some time studying the game. You will become more attune that not every hand needs to be played. You will learn to control your eagerness and make smart plays instead. Don’t go betting willy nilly just because you want to be an active participant in every game. Should you be playing with real money, that lesson will be learned painfully. Ask more experienced friends for help. Do some reading online. Watch some poker tournaments. All of these will allow you to pick up on some tips and tricks to better your game and to make it a more enjoyable experience. 

Yes To Side Bets

For some added intrigue and fun, place little bets with other players. Bet a friend that you will last longer than he will in the game. Take a poll on who other players think will lose the most money. There are a number of silly yet entertaining things to make side bets on. It keeps everyone on their toes and encourages them to play better so as to win even more money.

Poker is a great way to pass the time with friends or online with strangers. Use these tips to give you an extra edge.

The post Like To Play Poker? Make Your Game More Enjoyable With These Tips appeared first on FactoryTwoFour.

Let’s do this shiz in chronological order of the heroes’ appearance, shall we?

Iron Man: Dude has a seriously messed up relationship with his dad. While not a central focus of the first film in his arc, we see this troubled rapport play front and center in Iron Man 2 and especially Civil War. Dude resents his father for pushing him so hard, then brings down The Avengers attempting to revenge his death. Drama bus!

Incredible Hulk: Let’s do as the entire world has already done and just forget this ever happened.

Thor: Daddy kicks Thor off Asgard and strips him of his powers for being a jerk. Reunions and family bonding follow soon after. In the next Thor film Odin refuses to let Thor go to Earth to search for his lady, and Thor disobeys. Thor’s mom ends up getting killed, so now it’s just Thor, Loki, and Daddy left. Then Odin wants to keep Jane handy as bait, and Thor disobeys again and teams up with Loki. Most recently in Ragnarok, we learn

Captain America: No dad issues to speak of. Dude’s a boy scout.

Black Widow: Basically raised in a Soviet murder academy with no parents to speak of. She had this to say in Civil War:

“…I went back to Russia and tried to find my parents. Two little graves linked by a chain fence. I pulled some weeds and left some flowers. We have what we have when we have it.”

Peter Quill: The entire second Guardians of the Galaxy movie is devoted to Peter’s messed up dad. He’s an intergalactic player who impregnated lonely ladies on planet after planet, including Peter’s mother. Then to go above and beyond player status, he gives her brain cancer and kills her for reasons that make sense only to him. Eventually he tries to use Peter as a battery and the Guardians have to kill him.

Gamora: Her dad is Thanos! He adopted her after killing her family, then pitted her into combat with her “sister” for her entire life and trained her to kill in every conceivable way. Her dad then kills half the universe. ‘Nuff said.

Nebula: See above, but add torture, body part replacement, and being made a bargaining chip just to get information out of Gamora.

Ant Man: This one is a little different. Scott is a dad and just wants to do the right thing for his daughter. The crimes he commits – of which there are many – as both a thief and a costume are to provide for her or protect her. Being a dad is his entire motivation as a character.

Spiderman: Here’s an orphan who’s adopted father, Uncle Ben, tells him the words that will haunt him and every movie he is ever in. Then he promptly dies because Spidey made the wrong choice. He “killed” his “father” by being a bad person, and it haunts him every day.

Black Panther: Again, the father pathos is a central theme of an entire movie, this one being the record setting blockbuster bearing his name. Turns out his dad did the really shitty thing in the early 90’s of killing his own brother and abandoning a small boy to the wilds of Oakland. Good call! The whole second act is T’Challa finding out what his father did and rejecting him over it in order to plot a new course for his kingdom.

***

As you can see, I’m not making this up. The Marvel cinematic universe has serious daddy issues. I don’t know what happened to Kevin Feige, but let’s just say I wouldn’t be surprised if he spends his Thanksgivings crying into his turkey just wishing his father would have hugged him more. Somebody go play a game of catch with this guy before the next Avengers movies is all about Thanos killing every father in existence!

The post Marvel Studios Has Major Daddy Issues appeared first on FactoryTwoFour.

Grand Ole Opry

Grand Ole Opry is set to happen in the Grand Ole Opry House just a few days after the fourth of July. This is one of the best live concerts in Nashville that is held weekly. This concert features country music performed by various singers and musicians such as Roy Acuff and Trace Adkins, as well as David “Stringbean” Akeman and Bill Anderson. You can get your tickets through online sources such as CheapoTicketing.com.

Jimmy Buffett

Jimmy Buffet is one of the best American singer-songwriters that often feature an island escape theme in his music. Two of his most popular songs include “Margaritaville” and “Come Monday”. His concert will be held at the Ascend Amphitheater a couple of days after the fourth of July. The ticket prices start at $40 on the general admission lawn.

Craig Morgan

Craig Morgan is a country music artist who is set to grace the Brooklyn Bowl stage in Nashville on the seventh of July. The ticket prices to his event are all general admission only, amounting to $31 each. However, you need to be at least 18 years of age or older to be able to attend this event. The tickets are also subject to restrictions as well as the requirements imposed by the venue to keep everyone safe and secure.

Rhonda Vincent

Rhonda Lea Vincent is an American bluegrass singer-songwriter that is set to grace the stage of the Ryman Auditorium on the eighth of July. Ticket prices at the main floor section are priced at $51 each. When attending the concert, you may be asked to follow certain protocols implemented in the venue such as social distancing or wearing protective gear such as masks.

Lost Dog Street Band

The Lost Dog Street Band is also set to perform in Nashville on the ninth of July. They are set to grace the Marathon Music Works stage with ticket prices beginning at $42 each. The organizers of the show are also reminding the audience once again that the venue may impose certain requirements and restrictions on the people who will see the show to ensure the safety of everyone present.

Soul of Music City Vol. III

In case you love music, and poetry, then you will surely find that the Soul of Music City Vol. III gracing the City Winery stage is amazing. Ticket prices are at $74 each for the general admission levels. In case the event will be held without fans, then you will get a full refund of your ticket payment if the event is canceled.

The concerts listed above are only some of the ones that are set to happen in the coming months. For sure you don’t want to miss out on these events because these are some of the best concerts that you can see for yourself in Nashville. There may be more coming up in the succeeding months that you can also look forward to.

The post Concerts Coming Up In Nashville You Don’t Want To Miss Out On appeared first on FactoryTwoFour.

And it’s a dark, twisted, violent story that is worth staying up late for.

Last year, FX and BBC released Taboo in unison, an 8-episode series created by Steven Knight with Tom Hardy and Chips Hardy. Yes – that Tom Hardy. Not only has he helped create this epic story, but he also stars in it, bringing his incredible dedication to his characters to the small screen. Having watched the season three times so far, I can’t imagine a better actor for the story and brutality that is brought from the very start. While only available for one season so far, it in its self is cohesive without reliance on the second season (ordered, air dates unannounced) for a story to be completed. In all honesty, it is almost as if the producers were not prepared for the success of the show which ultimately leads to Season 1’s success as a binge-worthy show.

Set in 1814, Taboo follows James Keziah Delaney (Tom Hardy), a man who has been to the ends of the earth and comes back irrevocably changed. Long believed dead in the wilds of Africa, he returns home to London to inherit his father’s crumbled shipping empire, attempting a rebuild of his life and the company. But with enemies lurking in every dark corner and a family legacy that tells more of a tale of betrayal than love, James must navigate the world the only way he knows. Filled with conspiracy, murder and, betrayal, a dark family mystery unfolds in a combustible tale of love and treachery.

Season 1 of Taboo is available for streaming on Hulu today: https://www.hulu.com/watch/1170756

The post Taboo Needs to Be Your Next Binge appeared first on FactoryTwoFour.

A Fresh Take

Superhero movies are becoming pretty damn popular. Between the madcap rush of Marvel and DC there are new films in the genre popping out multiple times a year. Many of the flicks are a fun time at the theater; we get to sit back and watch Captain America punch Nazis. Maybe enjoy Wonder Woman, Batman, and the Flash interacting with Aquaman to save the day. Thor: Ragnarok presented a fun sci-fi movie, and Chris Pratt steals the hearts of men and women alike as Starlord in Guardians of the Galaxy.

But even if these movies are a fun couple of hours, aren’t superhero movies getting a little stale? The New Mutants is going in a different direction than we’re used to, and that’s a good thing.

Tell Me More…

The New Mutants is set in the Marvel universe. Believe it or not, the X-Men actually began their career as high school students with extraordinary abilities. As the characters grew in power and maturity, they graduated from high school and became a full-fledged team. That’s when The New Mutants entered; a group of kids to serve as the next class of superpowered youngsters working towards an education. The students would learn how to use their abilities and work as a team.

Seems like it’d be easy to transition to your standard set-em-up-and-knock-em-down movie plot. But this movie goes against the rules and firmly stands its ground as a horror film.

Plot details are sketchy, but the trailer is a revealing glimpse at what the movie’s all about. The protagonists are mutants in a hospital reminiscent of something out of Shutter Island or One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest on a bad acid trip. As they’re struggling to understand why they’re stuck in this dark place, they are discovering there own mutant abilities. One of the characters is something reminiscent of a werewolf, played by Maisie Williams of Game of Thrones fame. Another character opens portals to a demonic limbo, while Charlie Heaton from Stranger Things plays a character who becomes an uncontrollable surge of indestructible force.

The teens witness bizarre things happening in the hospital that could seemingly only be attributed to something paranormal. Scenes in the trailer genuinely made me say, “What the fuck?” Now that’s a good reaction! Director and screenplay writer Josh Boone said he hopes to turn the movie into a trilogy. Each film would be its own standalone story, each a guaranteed horror film. How’s that for a superhero flick?

The New Mutants: In Theaters April 13th

To add another layer of spooky to The New Mutants, the film will open on Friday the 13th in April, 2018. Talk about good timing there.

This is a film to break into if you’re tired of the usual formula for a superhero movie, or if you are new to the genre and want to see a unique introduction. It’s a great way to dive a little deeper into the Marvel universe, and for longtime fans it’s a movie that is an exciting departure back to basics.

The post The New Mutants: A Fresh Superhero Movie? appeared first on FactoryTwoFour.

Support The Local Economy

By going to see local bands, you’re putting money into the local economy and supporting the local music scene. Even if the gig tickets are cheap or even free, you will be supporting the venue by buying drinks while you’re there. Have dinner somewhere first? You’ve supported a local restaurant. By seeing local talent, you’re also helping to keep the music scene in your town lively and thriving. 

See The Next Big Thing

You never know which local bands might make it big. It’s a great feeling to see someone make it big that you’ve been watching from the beginning. Artists like Joey Armstrong spent a lot of time playing in small venues before they began to make waves. As a music lover, it can be satisfying to spot someone you think is going to be a star. 

Save Money

Tickets for famous bands in large venues can be very expensive, but local gigs are much cheaper, and sometimes even free. Free gigs sometimes require you to spend a minimum amount at the bar, but this is still much cheaper than tickets for big gigs. You can save money but still see a lot of live music, without breaking the bank. You also get to feel good knowing that the tickets you do buy are making more of a difference to an up-and-coming musician. 

Get Closer To The Music

Local gigs will be in smaller venues. Whether you watch a band in a bar or a small local venue, you’re going to have a much better view of the band than you would if you were watching a concert in an arena or a stadium. Watching bands from much closer up can be really fun, especially if you know enough about music to appreciate their playing techniques.

If you want to find artists like Mitski, you’ll have a better chance at smaller, local shows where the energy is more intimate and personal. Local gigs also allow you to meet and interact with the artists themselves, something that rarely happens in larger concerts.

Musicians playing smaller gigs are often more accessible too, which can be great if you want to talk to them about their music. After the gig is over, chances are, the band will be drinking at the same bar as you, or will be selling their own merchandise at the merch stand. This is a good opportunity to tell them what you thought, ask them questions, or just have a chat about music. 

Make Music Friends

If you’re seeing local bands, it’s a fair guess that most of the audience is going to be local too. Music fans like to talk to each other, so you can strike up a conversation with other gig-goers and make some like-minded friends in your area. 

If you can make friends at gigs, you can see more gigs together, recommend new music, and share your passion with someone you know has the same interests.

The post Why You Should Support Local Bands appeared first on FactoryTwoFour.

This a movie reduced to a pop-culture footnote. It has become a running joke in movies, television, and music.

That’s a damn shame. The movie is an endearing and personal look at the dejection a perennial loser feels during the glitzed-out holiday. Everybody in his life is so caught up in light display competitions, gift giving, and putting on a pretty show that they forget the humanity inherent in the season.

This is when we cue that famous Christmas tree, a bedraggled and lopsided malformation of pine. Charlie Brown insists that this tree is the perfect one for the holiday play, even though his peers cut him (and his tree-picking skills) down to size in a vicious attack. Cue the heart-warming return of decency to these children and a mild victory for ol’ Charlie Brown.

Spoiler alert ahead for A Charlie Brown Christmas, a movie that’s more than fifty years old.

My favorite part about this movie is what they get wrong. Charlie feels that the shitty looking tree is perfect how it is, and his peers feel that Charlie Brown is a blockhead for thinking like that. When the whole gang rallies together they decorate the tree and, hey, it turns out that the tree can look pretty damn good when they decorate it.

There’s a metaphor there if you missed it. The weak-ass Christmas tree represents Charlie Brown; when Charlie chooses the tree and shows it proudly to the other children, he makes a great argument for why the tree is lovely. His friends disagree until they can dress the tree up and it looks nice. Like a tree that fits their standards.

The truth is that that tree (and Charlie Brown too) are just fine how they are. They might not be beautiful, but they don’t need to be. It’s not about beauty; it’s about about character.

Maybe you’ll join me during my yearly ritual. Cozy up with a bottle of wine and watch A Charlie Brown Christmas. But instead of celebrating that tree getting all glamoured up, let’s toast to those crooked and out-of-place trees that don’t need to be decorated to be beautiful.

The post A Charlie Brown Christmas: A Fine Christmas Tradition appeared first on FactoryTwoFour.

This problem might’ve deterred you from entering this game as well but fret not, the various cheats and hack available for this game can help you gain an upper hand over your opponents. This makes the game way more fun and appealing by providing newbies with a level playing field.

Today we’re going to take a look at the different methods you can use to gain an advantage or two by utilizing some popular cheats. We’ll discuss how every cheat works, as well as whether or not you need that particular cheat to do some successful breaches.

1. Aimbot

An aimbot is a very simple script that helps the player lock onto the target more easily, however, this is a simple definition of this very interesting cheat. Since Rainbow Six Siege is all about close-quarter combat in tight environments, the rapid movement skills and the aiming ability are highly rewarded.

If you don’t have a very steady aim that sticks on the enemy then you might end up dead even before you know it, to counter this you can utilize the aimbot which guarantees high accuracy and thus, more wins.

An aimbot will help you by increasing your accuracy and each of your shots will hit the enemy, the aim will not falter during rapid movements, spotting an enemy in close-quarter combat will be much easier, your bullet spread with automatic weapons is reduced, and you’ll be able to tell the difference between the enemy and your allies much better.

2. ESP (Extra Sensory Perception)

An ESP is a revolutionary cheat as it helps you to be aware of the hostiles from far away before you engage. Rainbow Six Siege places huge importance on the map awareness and being vigilant about your surroundings, the ESP helps with that by allowing you to gauge the positions of various enemies as well as allies in advance, and you can use it to gain an upper hand.

By using ESP you can easily spot your enemies from far away even through the terrain, this highlights them from the surroundings and makes it easier for you to hunt them down. As discussed at Guided Hacking Forum, the ESP cheat is one of the most popular cheats due to its efficiency, and you can easily implement it into your own game which will help you gain an advantage over unsuspecting enemies.

Not only this but you can also locate the hostile explosives, and you’ll also have an idea about the weapons that your enemy is using. All this intel is very useful when you enter combat as you’re prepared to deal with the enemy.

3. Wallhack and Radar Hack

The last major category of cheats is the wallhack and its extended version called Radar Hack. A wallhack helps you to see through the walls and other solid objects so that your enemy doesn’t have a place to hide. While a wallhack shows you the enemy positions to shoot through the walls, a radar hack shows the positions of the enemy through the minimap or radar, whatever you’d like to call it.

With this hack, you’ll always be prepared to face your enemy since you know their position and won’t be caught by surprise. The wallhack will also provide you with a penetration check so that you can check whether or not your bullets will penetrate through the walls.

The penetration will allow you to finish your enemy without even entering the room and this eliminates any potential dangers as you won’t even be visible to the opponent players.

These were some of the most important cheats that you can utilize to gain an upper hand at this amazing game. These cheats are meant so that you can learn to adapt to this highly competitive game in a better manner. The different cheats will not make you start winning games at once, you’ll still need skills and a fair bit of practice to master the utilization of these cheats and soon you’ll be shredding enemies left and right. Don’t rely too much on these cheats as they can hamper your game skills, rather it’s better to just balance out the two aspects and find your own sweet spot to play.

The post How To Give Yourself An Advantage on Rainbow Six Siege With These Helpful Cheats appeared first on FactoryTwoFour.

Well, my friend, the time has come. You are now officially an adult so you can do whatever you want. You’ve got your home theatre and now’s the time to game it up for the ultimate win.

Get the Kids Out of Your Hair

When you have kids, a games room is ideal for getting them out from under your feet and keeping them occupied. Having plenty of board games, a videogames console and bean bags scattered around should be enough for a full weekend of fun with friends. Create a soft and cozy feel with plenty of cushions and rugs and even teens will want to hang out in here.

But this room should also be enjoyed by a family so make sure you spend some good quality time in here together. When you’re setting it up, make the decoration a family activity and have some fun with it. This room can break all the rules so if you want to paint a cool mural on the wall, mix up your colors, grab some brushes and go for it!

Have a Grown Ups House Party

When you were a teenager, a games room was the dream and now as an adult, you can make it even cooler. Find tables for grown-up games like billiards and poker on http://www.11ravens.com and get your friends round for an evening of light-hearted betting.

If you really want to make this an adult space, you could even put a bar in the corner and hide it behind cupboard doors. All you really need are some cool glasses and a few bottles of different spirits and mixers to create an awesome cocktail bar. You can find all sorts of simple recipes to shake up and stir. Add an ice dispensing fridge and you are all set to go.

Relax Away From the Screen

As creatures of the 21st century, we spend a ridiculous amount of time staring at screens. We sit at computers all day at work, stare at our phones when we have a minute or two to kill and come home to slouch in front of the TV. It’s no way to live.

With a whole room dedicated to games, you might still be drawn to video games, but you will find the analog table games so much more inviting. Challenge the kids to a game of billiards, or if it’s just you, take some time to practice a few trick shots to amaze them next time you play. This isn’t just about relaxing your eyes and slowing down, it’s also about feeling a little more connected to the physical world around you and enjoying yourself without relying on a computer to reward you.

As it turns out, a games room is just what you needed…

The post 3 Reasons You Need A Games Room Right Now appeared first on FactoryTwoFour.

That’s right, one of the great painters of the western world didn’t produce a damn thing until he was well into adulthood. He wasn’t a child prodigy and wasn’t born into the life of an artist. This didn’t stop him from pursuing his true passion at a relatively later stage in life. In ten years he created over 900 paintings and more than 1000 drawings before his untimely death.

Let that sink in for a moment.

I’ve always had an appreciation for van Gogh’s work. As good art should, his paintings spoke to me and conjured emotional reactions; hell, I can remember the first time I saw prints of Starry Night Over the Rhone, and I have a framed print of Bedroom in Arles hanging on the wall over my desk. His artwork moved me to learn more about who van Gogh was beyond the canvas.

I read the letters that he wrote to his brother Theo in order to learn more about Vincent. What blows my mind is that this guy revolutionized a bold and uncompromising style but was plagued by  self-doubt. These moments nearly crippled his ability to produce work. In a letter to his brother, Vincent wrote, “It constantly remains a source of disappointment to me that my drawings are not yet what I want them to be.”

Self-doubt is a bitch.

Everybody faces it at one point or another in their day-to-date. Self-doubt is especially insidious when we’re creating something we love. Self-doubt is that terrible voice in the back of your head that whispers, “You’re no good” when you’re learning an instrument, photographing a busy scene, or putting your thoughts to paper.

Even though I love the craft I have often been tempted to give up writing. It’s because of those instances when that irritating voice of self-doubt starts spitting some really nasty thoughts. It drowns out the rest of my thoughts, doesn’t quite shout its way to the top but silences the other voices that have something more positive to say.

I used to think there was a magical secret to curing these doubts and negative self talk, that one day I’d suddenly be good enough that the negative voice would disappear. I’ve since realized that the secret isn’t magical at all, and it’s not much of a secret either; it’s hard work.

Van Gogh knew this too but stated it far more eloquently. In October 1883 Vincent wrote to Theo, “If you hear a voice within you saying, ‘You are not a painter,’ then by all means paint, boy, and that voice will be silenced, but only by working.”

Well, there it is.

The only way to grow beyond self-doubt is to work your ass off and drown those nasty thoughts in a massive outpouring of produced work. Van Gogh worked his ass off and when he doubted his results, he worked harder.

I’m no van Gogh, but I can work like that Dutch madman and pour myself into the work I love to produce. If I succumb to self-doubt I’ll become a host for self-loathing, and that shit ain’t gonna fly.

The post Conquer Self-Doubt With Vincent van Gogh appeared first on FactoryTwoFour.

Maybe it’s all of those things.

Or maybe it’s the chance I have to catch up on some reading. Between the lack of sunlight and the urge to stay bundled up, I finally find the time to catch up on the books I’ve been neglecting, or maybe to re-read a few favorites. It’s great keeping a book on-hand to capitalize on all of the freetime found in our day. It could be riding the train, on our lunch breaks, doctor visits and dentists and mechanics. Winter just seems to add more of those opportunities.

I put together a few of my favorites as book suggestions as a winter reading guide. Trust me, they’re worth your time. And of course, most of these are available digitally. I’m a fan of a real book in my hands, but sometimes it’s easier to read off the screen of your phone, tablet, or other device.

Book Suggestions

Song of Achilles

Fluid prose is found on every single page of this book. Written by Madeline Miller, Song of Achilles is a personal and human approach to the legendary story of Achilles and the Battle of Troy. This is an emotional story filled beginning to end with intense action scenes, periods of reflection, and one of the greatest love stories I’ve ever read. A must-read for fans of classical history, and even God of War devotees. You’ll devour this book in a few short days.

Kings of Colorado

This is one of my favorite books ever (check out the last one on this list for my other favorite), but it’s not a story for everybody. Kings of Colorado is about a young man in the 1960’s who is sent to a work ranch as punishment for stabbing his father. This is a story for the guys who grew up as bad boys, misunderstood and cast away by the world at large. The writing is gripping and powerful; it’s the only book that has ever made me weep manly tears. If there’s one book you read on this list, this is it.

Fried Green Tomatoes

Remember the movie with Kathy Bates? Great flick, one of my favorites when it comes to storytelling and character. Although I’m still reading it, Fried Green Tomatoes is just as engaging as the film. The book is written in a conversational tone with no effort to cut corners. It’s one of those books that grabs your interest with the first few words and refuses to let go until you pull your eyes off of the pages. This book is reminiscent of Flannery O’Connor and other southern writers, so if that’s your jam this is one to pick up.

Star Wars: Darth Bane: Path of Destruction

Well, there’s no way around this one; I am an unashamed and ardent lover of (almost) all-things Star Wars. If you have even an inkling of interest in the Star Wars stories, you’ve got to check out Path of Destruction. It details the rise of Darth Bane, the creator of the Sith Rule of Two. This is no book with cute ewoks and funny droids to lighten the mood. No, it is a dark and serious tale about one man’s utter lack of fucks to give in his rise to power. The story is my favorite Star Wars tale, and best yet it’s the first book in a trilogy all featuring Darth Bane. A must-read for casual and serious fans alike.

IT

Did you guys like the remade movie compared to its 90’s counterpart? If you read the book version of IT then you’d likely agree that each movie got something right and something wrong. This book is my favorite Stephen King tale, but it’s a mountain of pages to read through. The IT book is far more scary than either of the movie versions and offers incomparable insight into the minds of the characters and, perhaps more significantly, into the mind of Pennywise as well. This is not a story for the faint of heart, and there are some highly controversial scenes in this tale. If you’ve got the gut for it, give it a read.

The Fountainhead

When I was younger I believed that the philosophies of Ayn Rand were genius. Now that I’m older I see enough holes in the logic to make swiss cheese jealous, but that doesn’t take anything away from The Fountainhead. This is another monster of a book; it starts off slowly like a train but likewise builds in strength and speed until it reaches a breathtaking finale. Although anybody could find benefit and beauty in this story, it’s a must-read for any creative types. In a few words it’s about an artist telling the world to get bent, he’s doing it his way.

Cannery Row

Oh, man, Steinbeck is the man. Most people read The Grapes of Wrath in high school, or maybe Of Mice and Men. It’s a damn shame that these are the most-featured stories of Steinbeck when there’s a work of true beauty in every word of Cannery Row. The characters in this one sit proudly on the throne of Greatest Fictional Characters of the Last Thousand Years. The reader will laugh and weep and cheer with them on every page. When I have a bad day I open up Cannery Row and catch up with an old friend. It’s a short book, probably readable in a day or three if you’re quick and have a few solid hours to invest.

We can walk into a grocery story line, train station, or waiting room and find every set of eyes glued to a smartphone. We read a lot, nowadays, but maybe we’re spending too much time on the wrong material.

You can download any of these books in a digital format and use that to fill the space on your phone screen. Imagine reading some worthwhile words instead of the latest dumb shit a celebrity spews.

If you’re like me and prefer a real book in hand, you can purchase any of these books new or used through Amazon and any other book retailer.

Open up these pages and give them a shot, I promise you won’t regret it. And at the worst, you can contact me and we’ll debate the quality of a book.

Happy winter reading, folks.

The post Pick Up a Book: Winter Reading Guide appeared first on FactoryTwoFour.

One thing we do know is that Larry David is going to be the same Larry David he was in the previous eight seasons.

“You’re devoid of anything that’s remotely caring or empathetic,” Richard Lewis tells Larry in the season preview video.

Curb debuted 17 years ago. Since that first episode, the show has picked up fans and accolades for its principal actors, Larry David, Cheryl Hines (Cheryl David), Jeff Garlin (Jeff Greene) and Susie Essman (Susie Greene). The show also sent the career of J.B. Smoove (Leon Black) into overdrive. All of the main characters and yes, Smoove, return for the upcoming season. As always there will also be cameos from other stars such as Bryan Cranston, Elizabeth Banks, Jimmy Kimmel and Lauren Graham.

Before the new season begins, take a look at the 10 best episodes from the first eight seasons.

10. “The Car Salesman” Season 2, Episode 1

“Please buy one. Please.”

This is an underrated episode that doesn’t get a lot of attention, but it’s a nearly perfect episode that focuses almost solely on Larry, his confidence and the crushing reality that his self-belief is misguided at best.

Larry and Cheryl are between houses and living in a hotel. Cheryl is frustrated with Larry because he seems happy to just lie in bed with his hand buried in a bag of chips while he watches trashy daytime television. She wants Larry to get back to work. In a stroke of luck, Larry and Jeff run into the owner of a car dealership while they eat lunch.

Larry, confident he can sell anything, assures the man that given the opportunity he can sell cars. The owner of the dealership takes Larry up on his offer, and much to Jeff’s chagrin, the co-creator of Seinfeld becomes a car salesman.

Larry does his best to schmooze the browsers at the Toyota dealership, but unsurprisingly he’s ill-equipped to answer any questions. His confidence slowly crumbles. When Larry does get a customer on the hook, things take a turn for the worse when Richard Lewis shows up in the showroom.

9. “Opening Night” Season 4, Episode 10

“This guy’s a disaster.”

Season 4 is built around the idea that Mel Brooks thinks Larry is perfect for the role of Max Bialystock in the Broadway play, The Producers. The subplot of the season is that Cheryl’s 10th-anniversary gift to Larry is the opportunity to have sex outside the marriage on a one-time basis. The catch is that Larry must redeem that offer before their anniversary date. This hour-long episode wraps the season up very nicely.

With opening night of the play fast approaching as well as the expiration date of Cheryl’s gift, Larry is anxious to cash in his wife’s offer. Larry’s over-anxious attempt to couple with a fellatio teacher that Jeff met in the hotel bar ends with Larry by himself, a sweaty and snotty mess. A second try goes awry thanks to George W. Bush.

We also learn that Brooks had a very particular idea in mind when he cast Larry for the lead role. Larry almost makes Brooks a very happy man, but in the end, Brooks ends up crushed and disappointed.

8. “Shaq” Season 2, Episode 8

“Sad, what are you crazy?”

Larry is not known for being what you would call a lucky man. In fact, he’s often the exact opposite of lucky. So, when he sits courtside at the Laker’s game and accidentally trips Shaq as the big center makes his way onto the court during the season opener, it’s no surprise. It’s also no surprise that Larry quickly becomes the most hated man in Los Angeles after his faux pas runs on the nightly news.

Most people would consider becoming a pariah bad luck, but not Larry. He’s happy with his status. He sees it as freeing, a break, a stroke of good luck. Not long after he delivers a box of Seinfeld videotapes to Shaq in the hospital, the black cloud drifts back over Larry’s head.

7. “The End” Season 5, Episode 10

“This is what you get for doing good deeds.”

Over the course of its eight-season run, Curb Your Enthusiasm has gotten better and better at closing the season on a high note. Season 5 is no exception.

Larry’s quest to find out if he’s adopted comes to an end early in this episode. The discovery changes everything about Larry, and I mean everything.  He even decides he’s going to donate his kidney to his longtime friend Richard Lewis even when Lewis refuses to let Larry borrow his putter, something that would have sent the “old” Larry into a fit.

As with most positive things in Larry’s life, the good feelings come to an abrupt halt right before Larry gets wheeled into the operating room.

The operation leaves Larry on his deathbed, hence the title of this episode. It’s not a shock when Larry flatlines with his friends and family around him. What is a surprise is how and why Larry comes back to life.

6. “Mister Softee” Season 8, Episode 9

“It was a horseshit throw.”

There are a handful of episodes where the writers take an infamous incident from the past and turn it on its head. They do that with Michael Richards in “The Table Read.” In the “Mister Softee” episode they do the same thing with former Red Sox player Bill Buckner, who took the blame for losing the 1986 World Series with a flubbed catch on a ground ball hit by Mookie Wilson of the Mets.

Susie enlists Larry to obtain Wilson’s autograph Jeff’s birthday gift. While getting that autograph, Larry strikes up a conversation with Buckner about how he dealt with the vitriol he received after his error. Buckner’s acting isn’t great, but he plays his role well enough, especially when he flubs a catch when Larry tosses the autographed ball to him, and in the redemption scene later in the episode.

The subplot of this episode is Larry’s memory of losing a game of strip poker in the back of a Mister Softee truck when he was younger, and how whenever he hears the music from a Mister Softee truck he becomes disturbed. The Mister Softee music ties into the Buckner theme as well.

This episode gets bonus points for the over the top performance of Robert Smigel as the captain and sponsor of the softball team.

5. “Porno Gil” Season 1, Episode 3

“I don’t want to do a double goodbye!”

A misdialed call puts Larry in a tight spot. Hoping to call his friend John, Larry instead dials an acquaintance from his golf club named Gil. Even though Larry doesn’t mean to call Gil, he invites Larry and Cheryl to a party. When asked who Gil (Bob Odenkirk) is, Larry tells his wife, “He used to be a porno actor like 15 years ago.”

Meanwhile, Jeff is in the hospital for heart surgery. In the days leading up to the operation, fearing a mishap of the table, he asks Larry to remove his hidden porn collection from his home. The request is essentially the old school version of “clean my browser history.”

Larry defies the house rule at the party, which causes tension Gil’s wife. After Gil tells a story about Tobasco and how it assists porn actors, Cheryl tells Larry it’s time to go. Before they can leave, Larry sends Gil’s wife into a frenzy.

After the awkward good-bye, Larry has to go back for something he forgot. Larry is reluctant to return because he wants to avoid the dreaded “double goodbye.”

4. “The N Word” Season 6, Episode 8

“What did you just fix your mouth to say?”

Larry gets in trouble right away when a hug with Auntie Rae goes past his five-second rule when it comes to physical contact. Larry’s problems don’t end there with Auntie Rae and the Black family.

Larry meets a Dr. In the cafeteria of the hospital where Jeff is going to get an operation for his snoring. During a lunch date with Dr. Flomm, Larry tells her about a conversation he overheard in the bathroom where a man on his cell phone used a racial epithet. Larry utters the slur right when an African-American surgeon passes by their table. The doctor rants at Larry upon hearing that word, never giving Larry a chance to explain why he said it. Without being able to explain why he uttered the slur, Larry’s life gets more complicated with each scene.

3. “Palestinian Chicken” Season 8, Episode 3

“You know what you are? You’re a social assassin.”

Larry and Jeff check out a Palestinian Chicken joint that has the best chicken in town. The problem is, judging by the posters decorating the walls, the owners of the restaurant are not big fans of Jewish folks. Larry is a fan of both the food and a woman who works there. Torn between his Jewish heritage and the sex he’s having with the Palestinian woman, Larry finds it difficult to pick a side, causing a big to-do at the end of the episode.

The subplot of this episode is overshadowed by the political plot, but this is the episode where Larry is recruited to tell his friend’s wife that she needs to stop saying LOL and by Sammy to tell Susie to stop smacking her lips after she takes a drink. This “skill” leads Jeff to label Larry a “social assassin,” something that Larry seems to take as a compliment.

2. Beloved Aunt: Season 1, Episode 8

“This is a typo. That’s aunt, that should be aunt!”

Cheryl’s family is in town for the funeral of her aunt. Things go awry from the first scene when a pair of well-wishers offer their condolences to Larry to which he replies, “Oh, you know what, it was Cheryl’s aunt.” From there he advises the boyfriend of Cheryl’s sister Becky (Kaitlin Olson) on how soon he can break up with her after the funeral.

At the funeral, Larry volunteers to write the obituary with the help of Jeff, who knows someone who can get the obituary in the newspaper. Meanwhile, Larry’s chore of getting a gift for Jeff’s mother turns into a fiasco.

When the obituary runs in the paper, a one letter typo sets off a series of unfortunate events that leaves Larry without a place to sleep for the night.

1. “The Table Read” Season 7, Episode 9

“If only there were a horrible name that I could call you that would make you as angry as I am.”

The seventh season of the show was all about a Seinfeld reunion. Something that Larry agrees to in the hope that he can get Cheryl back by casting her in the role of George’s ex-wife. On this episode, viewers get a behind the scenes look at the making of Seinfeld as the cast perform a table read as well as rehearse for the reunion show. While that part of the show is entertaining for fans of Curb and Seinfeld, the episode still manages to move the season towards its concluding episode.

The highlight of this episode is Leon impersonating a dead Jewish man I the hopes of tricking Michael Richards. When Richards finds out that Leon is a fraud he confronts Leon in full view of the people on the set. The scene, which is set up brilliantly, references Richards’ racist real-life tirade at a comedy club.

The post Curb Your Enthusiasm Returns for Season 9: The 10 Best Episodes So Far appeared first on FactoryTwoFour.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ukv9v7IGZw

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I probably don’t have to tell you this, but sex sells. And I’m honest enough to tell you that’s why I tuned into HBO’s new show, The Deuce, when it debuted last Sunday. Well, that’s one of the reasons, the other big one being that it’s an HBO show, and after The Sopranos and Game of Thrones, hands down two of my favorite TV shows of all time, I’ll always give the premium cable channel the benefit of the doubt.

But let’s face it, I started watching those shows cause of the sex too. I’m pretty sure I’m not the only one that HBO is targeting with their latest series though, because unlike those two skin-filled showed, there’s no pretense about The Deuce being about anything but sex, as you can hear at official synopsis level:

“Created by George Pelecanos and David Simon (The Wire) and starring James Franco and Maggie Gyllenhaal, The Deuce follows the story of the legalization and subsequent rise of the porn industry in New York’s Times Square from the early 1970s through the mid-1980s, exploring the rough-and-tumble world at the pioneering moments of what would become the billion-dollar American sex industry.”

Of course, The Wire is a show that also finds itself on many folks’ Top TV Shows list, although I can’t say I bit after watching the pilot episode. I keep saying I’ll go back and watch them, but then I keep forgetting to do that. Perhaps The Deuce will finally convince me of its must-see-ness. Having seen one episode, I will say it has convinced me to at least watching the current show, although … spoiler alert … we’re far from porn at this point, so if you were expecting to see some well-lit midget threesomes, sorry (although I’m keeping my fingers crossed for later in the eight-episode first season).

But before we get to AVN award winning scenes, like The Wire, we go straight to street level, to 42nd Street between Seventh Avenue and Eighth Avenue in Manhattan, aka The Deuce. And oh what seedy characters we meet. Also like The Wire (and GoT and The Sopranos), the show features an ensemble of characters, all sustained by this shitty stretch of concrete, including Franco, who plays both Vincent and Frankie Martino, twins, one goodish, the other baddish, who are both forced to become mob fronts because of the baddish one’s gambling problems. And guess who wants in on the new porn industry? Here’s betting they take any glamour you might have imagined right out of it. And there’s little glamourous about the supremely ‘70s pimps and sex workers either, although Gyllenhaal’s head-strong hooker is easy to love.

Both Gyllenhaal and Franco are well-supported by a veteran ensemble (including Method Man and Ralph Macchio!). With talent to kindle, the slow burn is likely to last, as the synopsis points out: the show covers a full decade-plus worth of time. From what I’ve seen so far, that’s a very good thing. And since I love having a date with HBO on Sunday nights, and was disappointed when Vinyl, another sex-filled-NYC-in-the-‘70s show, got cancelled, I think I’ll be tuning in again this Sunday. Will you?

The post The Deuce Doubles up on the Burgeoning Porn Biz appeared first on FactoryTwoFour.

Choose a theme

You should start by chatting with your child about what they love and want. Are they into superheroes? Do they love animals? Are they fascinated by cartoon characters? Gathering enough information will help you plan a party they’ll never forget.

If they have chosen an animal theme, cover the house with animal-inspired decorations. Make their birthday different from any other day. Get your child to help you decorate.  It will curb their excitement and keep them occupied pre-party.

You could bake an animal cake or get one made locally by a cake maker; not only will your child be thrilled with a special cake, but you will be supporting a local business.

If your child is interested in history, how about trying a medieval-themed costume party? They and their friends can dress up as medieval characters, such as knights, noblemen and women, royals or peasants, for fun. Decorate the venue like a medieval castle for authenticity. The kids are sure to love it!

Games & entertainment

Get the whole family involved in planning birthday games and activities. If you have the room, you could set up some musical chairs, a bowling alley, or some ball games in the garden. Choose games that you don’t usually play to fuel their excitement and feel special. You could even plan a whole house obstacle course or escape room for the ultimate home adventure.

If space is an issue, you could try investigating children’s entertainers. Many businesses have cleverly adapted to restrictions by moving services to the virtual world, and kid’s entertainers are no exception. If your child loves the wonder of fantasy, why not book an online magic show for an unforgettable experience that will keep your child mesmerized and engaged.

Virtual guests

Kids will most likely miss having their friends on their special day, but why not utilize virtual options and invite them to attend via an online platform. It may not make up for real-life interacting, but with a little thought and planning, you could get children involved in some games and quizzes.

Family members will likely want to see your child, too, so be sure to get them on board and meet virtually. If you have elderly relatives, try to give them a few Zoom lessons before the party so they can navigate the technology effectively.

If you can’t get everyone online on the day, ask family and friends to record messages or draw posters. Kids will enjoy reading them and be happy they are thought about and feel valued despite not seeing people. Better still, arrange a few close friends to drive by in the car and shout out their message; they’ll always remember that birthday party. You could even ask the neighbors!

Fancy dress

What child doesn’t enjoy a bit of dressing up! Be a kid for the day and get everyone involved in wearing silly styles! Kids will love seeing mum and dad running around in their favorite superhero outfits or a cuddly bear serving them their cake. ! Be imaginative and have fun with them.

Facepainting

What’s a kid’s party without painted faces and glitter. There are lots of online retailers that sell face painting kits; invest in one with ideas and instructions and be willing to have your face painted too! Kid’s love making mummy and daddy look daft.

Camping

If you’re all missing the great outdoors and the freedom to explore new places on holiday, you could set up camp in the garden. Pop up the tent, add blankets, pillows, and duvets for warmth. Take a picnic out there. Search for insects! You may even find some nocturnal wildlife if you watch long enough. Use torches and have some yummy food for snacks.

Gifts

Instead of just presenting your child with their birthday gifts, make a game out of it. Hide them throughout your house and garden and write out some clues to find them. You could share the location with their online friends and get them to give your child clues. If you have zoom on your phone, just carry their friends with you.

Music

Kids love to have a little boogie! Choose a playlist of all their favorite songs and blast it out for the party. You could even play some musical statues that their virtual guests can play too. There are lots of virtual prizes, stickers, and points you can arrange before the party to reward child guests on Zoom. Keep it simple you don’t want to be over-occupied with technology during the day.

Lockdown has proved challenging for many, and many of our children have adapted wonderfully. Show you care by throwing an awesome lockdown birthday party they’ll treasure years after the Covid crazy year.

The post How to Plan a Birthday Party for Your Child During Lockdown appeared first on FactoryTwoFour.

What: Perhaps the most lucrative boxing match in history

When: Aug. 26

What Time: The main card begins at 9 p.m. ET.

Where: T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nev. The fight will be broadcast by Showtime PPV. The cost for the SD broadcast is $89.95. HD will set you back $99.95.

If you are planning on heading to Vegas for the event and don’t want to pay full ticket price, the below MGM properties are hosting closed circuit viewing parties for the fight.

Bellagio – Grand Ballroom

MGM Grand – Marquee Ballroom, Tap Sports Bar

Mandalay Bay – Mandalay Bay Theatre, Light Nightclub

The Mirage – Love Theatre, Mirage Grand Ballroom

Monte Carlo – Park Theater, Diablo’s Cantina, Double Barrel

New York-New York – Zumanity Theater, Nine Fine Irishmen

Luxor – Criss Angel Theater

Excalibur – Tournament of Kings Arena

Circus Circus – Garden Grill Ballroom

Big Bets: South Point Casino recently took a bet for $880,000 on Mayweather. With the -550 odds on Mayweather, if the bettor wins, they will turn a profit of $160,000. According to ESPN, three $50,000 bets were placed on McGregor. One of those best was at +475 and two were at +425. If McGregor wins, the bettor will clear $625,000.

Whoa! The money is starting to come in on @FloydMayweather at the @southpointlv. Biggest bet in Vegas yet? @VSiNLive pic.twitter.com/Kw4VGDOQPe

— Mitch Moss (@MitchMossRadio) August 11, 2017

Numbers to beat: If this fight is going to break records it has some lofty numbers to hit. The record for pay-per-view sales was hit by the 2015 Mayweather vs. Pacquiao fight. That fight sold 4.5 million pay-per-views. As for ticket sales, the record, also held by the Mayweather vs. Pacquiao fight, is $72 million.

Tale of the Tape:

Mayweather                      McGregor

McGregor’s path to victory: The thing with McGregor is that everything he will do in the boxing ring will be kind of a surprise since he has never fought in a professional boxing match. That unpredictability won’t be a factor for long. Mayweather has always had the ability to adjust to top boxers in the ring; he won’t struggle to do the same against a neophyte. McGregor doesn’t have great defense, nor does he have fantastic speed. He does have power in his left hand, and frankly, that’s the only way he wins, catching Mayweather with a big left. The problem with that is Mayweather has only been rocked a few times in his career and has only officially been knocked down once. As for McGregor’s gas tank, it’s questionable at best. He tends to throw everything full force, and that saps his cardio early.

Mayweather’s path to victory: Mayweather is the best defensive boxer of his generation, slipping and blocking punches seemingly at will. According to CompuBox his opponents connect on less than 20 percent of their attempted punches, one of the lowest percentages among active boxers. As far as his offense, Mayweather is not a power puncher, but his accuracy and ability to land in the same spot over and over again break fighters down over time. Speaking of time, Mayweather has gone the 12 round distance in each of his last seven fights dating back to May 2012. His cardio is never a question. As for speed, even at the age of 40, Mayweather will have a speed advantage over McGregor.

Prediction: Mayweather by late knockout.

The post What You Need to Know about the Floyd Mayweather vs. Conor McGregor Fight appeared first on FactoryTwoFour.