I’m the kind of person that always sees something and thinks, “Well I can make that” – and skips on the purchase thinking I’m going to make. Unfortunately, I rarely get around to actually making whatever it is I saw. But when it came to Guitar Hero skins for the guitar controller, I knew it was something I could actually do and get done.

The skins are basically stickers you put on your guitar to change the look of the guitar. They are not stickers in the sense of little stickers. these are typically full-body stickers or at least pick guard stickers, the latter of which I was interested in.

I found them in the stores for $15.00 and with a limited selection. I saw a Van Halen skin, a Zakk Wylde skin, and even a Cofederate Flag skin, none of which tickled my fancy. Then I realized it was just a big ol sticker – I can make that!

I’ve made my own stickers before. Back when CAVEradio was alive and well I made promo stickers as freebies. All it takes is contact paper. And in the case of this guitar sticker, I wanted to have my own design on the sticker. I wanted paisleys.

Don’t ask me why I wanted paisleys. I watched part of a Led Zepplin DVD not too long ago and seeing Jimmy Page play made me think of a paisley guitar…I don’t know why.

Anyway…my first thought was to paint my guitar. Take it apart and spray paint it, then use model paint to put the design on. But that was too much trouble. Plus, what happens when I don’t like the look anymore? I would have to repaint it. A sticker saves me the trouble, and using contact paper saves me money, uses my creativity, and lends itself to endless possibilities.

After a few trial and error tests, I got my guitar sticker just right (enough) and it doesn’t look too bad. Sure, it’s not a store-quality type thing, but (much like my old car), it has character that can’t be beat – plus I know it is a design that no one else has.

And because the activity was so successful and easy, I decided to share it with the world…so please stop by the Guitar Hero page here at The Toast. Click below or use the promo ad to the right.

Rock on!

Make your own Guitar Hero skin

Although we shouldn’t have to, file size is something we all have to deal with on a regular basis – when using the computer that is. Especially now that rich media is so accessible – videos, audio, and pictures – all of which can quickly clog your inbox if you’re not careful.

So I thought today, why not have icons that show how big your file is by the size of the icon itself? So if you have a big file – like a movie – the icon would be really big. If the file was small, like a Word document, the icon would be smaller.

Average users have no concept of file size. They don’t need to and nothing helps them learn. What is 2,000Kb? Is that big? Is that small? Who knows…well, the nerds know, but most people don’t know, don’t care, and won’t learn even when you tell them. So make it easier for people.

Then within applications, such as e-mail clients, the attachment feature could provide you with limits using a visual clue. Say there is a box that is a certain size and that’s where you drag your attachment file – but the icon must fit inside the box. If your icon is too big for the box, then the file is too big to attach…or something like that – you get the idea.

With all the new “user friendly” things computers are trying these days, this seems like a simple idea that would be very effective.

This is just more proof that to be a great artist you have to have a finely honed ability to B.S. Granted the idea of a Christmas card featuring Mr. T would appeal to some. Sadly they are all sold out.

However, this has to be some of the weirdest “art” I have seen. I’m not sure though that many artists would take a commission to paint Rod Stewart as a clone trooper. So perhaps he has found a niche people will pay for. So head on over to his site. My favorite has to be “No One Wants to Play Sega with Harrison Ford”.
Paintings By Brandon Bird

-Lorkin-

Somehow this picture landed in my inbox. Everyone knows I am a big Star Wars fan, and with the recent entry of Guitar Hero into the world, this picture is as appropriate as ever.

The only question is, who sings lead in this band? Even King Tom asked that questions when he saw it. So it is obviously on the minds of every fan out there. So let’s discuss.
We have Han Solo on the Flying V, Luke on rhythm, Vader on bass, Chewie on the skins, and the droids filling in with the keys.

The logical choice for pipes might be Princess Leia…but ya know, I’m not sure if that would be the my first choice. Actually, I’m not sure I would have the band set as the picture would suggest.

I might suggest Han play and sing, but then I was wondering about Lando. But maybe a smooth voice isn’t what the band would want. Leia could play tambourine. I thought it might make sense for a droid to play drums since R2 has more than 2 appendages (in certain instances) and that could prove useful…but then what does Chewie do?

I bet Lobot could sing. He looks like a wailer.

But, no matter who sings or plays, it is truly awesome.

As I had predicted and imagined, Guitar Hero 2, does, in fact, rock. However, video game rocking is not as easy as it might sound…despite how stupid it may look.

We jumped the gun and made our Christmas video game purchase with Guitar Hero 2. As hyped, the controller is an actual guitar – well, not a real guitar, but a small plastic copy of a Gibson with fret buttons and a strum button – including whammy bar.

After rocking out most of the day, it was made evident very quickly that I am too out of shape to rock. Playing the guitar controller takes a lot more effort than you might think. You press fret buttons with your left hand and strum with your right. And much like a real guitar, you press your fret and strum when needed (or not needed).

Maybe I just played too long, but my left hand was aching badly after a few hours. My wrist was killing me from the “odd” position with which you have to hold the guitar. The songs in the game are pretty good – from Cheap Trick to Guns N Roses to some metal gods like Anthrax.

Frankly, the heavy metal songs are not my favorite. I really enjoy the classic rock songs that I am familiar with and lend themselves to some serious rocking out.

So, since I don’t have my Wii yet, and probably won’t for a while, rocking out with this “alternative” control game will just have to do. And now I have to go backwards and find Guitar Hero 1 and then I’ll have plenty of songs to last until I get my Wii.