It’s summer.  In Chico, that means we get drunk, go down to the olde’ swimmin hole and then get engulfed in the current mess of smoke caused by the 4 billion fires in Northern California.  At the Synthesis, it means that we have too much cool shit laying around, so we’re giving stuff away.

Our Warped Tour/ Guitar Hero contest has been birthed (it’s a girl!) and now you need to adopt that shit.  We’ve got sick band’s signatures all over this thing, and if we were smart we would throw this on Ebay and spend the money on hookers and beer… but we’re not.  How do you with this fine piece of gaming history?  We’ll I would start by watching the video below, then subscribing to our YouTube channel and leaving us a message telling us how you want it more the Cournty Love was her soul back (who names a baby girl Francis Bean, anyways?!).   Here’s Alex from Cobra Starship reppin it.

Check out Synthesis Sweepstakes and enter the SPRFKR contest! You’ll get fitted in some artsy tee’s or win posters, buttons or stickers! The artwork is AMAZING and he is a Synthesis favorite:

More at his MySpace. SUPER + FUCKER = badass work. Love it!

“Are you kidding? Fencing, fighting, torture, revenge, giants, monsters, chases, escapes, true love, miracles…”
“Doesn’t sound too bad. I’ll try to stay awake.”

Admittedly, I too am a bit skeptical of the upcoming Princess Bride Game, which will launch as a downloadable animated game this summer. The following trailer isn’t necessarily assuaging my distrust. There are a million and one ways to fuck up a legacy, and until I see otherwise, looks like Worldwide Biggies is tampering with greatness. But please, judge for yourself.

The Princess Bride Downloadable Game Trailer from PrincessBrideGame on Vimeo.

Right now, AcidPlanet.com is hosting a contest where fans have the opportunity to remix the title track of the Princess Bride Game. Woopie.

From the Press Release:

NEW YORK, NY — April 16, 2008 — ACIDplanet.com one of the Internet’s premier sites for user-generated music, video content, computer-based recording and remixing tools, today launched a contest to develop a new version of the film’s title theme song timed with a new downloadable video game based on the classic 1987 film, The Princess Bride. Contestants can download the components from the Sony Creative Software ACIDplanet.com website and remix their own title track from The Princess Bride Game (available at www.princessbridegame.com) created by Worldwide Biggies and debuting in June 2008.

Contestants may download the components to The Princess Bride Game theme song starting today and must submit their remix entry by midnight May 22, 2008. ACIDplanet remix contestants may use Sony Creative Software ACID XPress loop-based music production software that users can download for free or they may also use their software of choice.

The winning entry will be selected by the producers of the game and will be featured on http://www.PrincessBrideGame.com as an exclusive world premiere this summer. Other prizes for The Princess Bride Game ACIDplanet.com remix contest include a Debutante Butterfly guitar from Daisy Rock, Sony Creative Software Vegas Pro 8, ACID Pro 6, Cinescore Theme Packs, Sony Creative Software Loop Libraries and a Sony Portable DVD player.

For more information and complete contest rules, please visit:
http://www.acidplanet.com

I’ll be happy to change my tune once I see the actual game, but right now all I’m thinking is Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace. Don’t mess with greatness. Don’t gild the lily.

“Fezzik, are there rocks ahead?”

“If there are, we all be dead.”

DEATH FIRST!

Luanda, Angola — The 27-year-long Angola civil war has been over for six years but the number of civilian victims continues to rise. Tens of thousands have been injured or maimed by landmine explosions, leaving the population shattered and ravaged by a war whose fallout has yet to meet its half-life.

In an effort to restore dignity and confidence to its civilian population, the de-mining commission of Angola is hosting a Miss Landmine Survivor Pageant, with eight women, one from each province, each maimed by a landmine, competing and simultaneously becoming the public faces for their own cause. Its intent is to boost the self-esteem of landmine survivors, and to show the beauty in strength and determination, and truly, the “beauty in all people.” The pageant will be held on April 2nd in Luanda, Angola.

Following the pageant, the First International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action will be held on April 4th. For further information on the International Campaign to Ban Landmines, please right-click here.

Millions of un-detonated mines litter the southwestern African nation. While it costs roughly $5 to manufacture a landmine, it takes nearly $1,000 to safely dismantle one.

Voting for the Miss Landmine Survivor Pageant is to be held online. You can VOTE for who you would like to see win. Me, I’m voting for Miss Cubango. Right now she’s in 2nd place. Check out her stats:

Miss Cuando Cubango
Generosa Cassinda

Age: 30
City: Menongue
Mine accident: 1989
Kids: 2 (10,8)
Occupation: Street vendor
Dream job: Economist
Favourite color: White

Clothes: American Apparel, € 36
Jewellery: Myffdesign, € 15
Location: Fortaleza São Miguel, Luanda

Mine: NO-4 anti-personnel
Release: pressure
Explosive: 188 g TNT
Produced by: Israel

Daaaamn….

This blog is nice and heartfelt. Here’s where I fuck things up.

I’m sorry, I know that it’s wrong to reference things like amputee porn in a blog about such a moving, good-hearted and humanitarian event like the Miss Landmine Survivor Pageant. But really, there are few rewarding job opportunities for people missing their limbs, and life is tough as it is. I’m pretty sure that in America, you can’t even get a meatpacking job if you’ve lost your hand (unless you lost your hand at a prior meatpacking job, then I think they’ll “hook you up.” Ouch.). And let’s face it, these women are gorgeous and legless, and I am pretty sure there’s a market for that. Actually, I’ve seen the aisle at the ‘specialty video store,” I’m sure there’s a market for it. Oh please one-leggy lady, won’t you ampu-tease me.

Yes, I know you think I’m going to hell.

Here’s an Amy Winehouse contest!! (No, you don’t win drugs, sorry).

Synthesis teamed up with Shaolin Temple of BooM, who teamed up with photographer Josh Separdazeh and Amp’d Apparel to give back to their loyal fans (srsly, I’ve never seen anything like this fanbase, they’re total zombies for SToB). Check in with synthesis.net, we’re launching a huge massive fatty badass contest on MONDAY, people.

I heard the lead singer David Alvarez is even giving away his perfectly sculpted lips for a day… Sign me up.

Just teasing, David