regan's blog

ITV have been busy throwing paint all over the place and tonight they showed off their new look news show.  Not to be out done, BBC have also been sprucing up their news room and also launched that this evening.  Take a look and tell us what you think and which one you prefer.

When it comes to card games, 500 is what I usually play.  I have a number of friends who love playing poker but I’ve never really managed to wrap my head around which groupings of cards beat others.  I’ve seen a few poker competitions on TV in the later hours of the night but I’ve never really sat down to watch a competition properly.

I’ve always known poker was a high risk game with loads of bluffing and being able to read your opponent.  It kind of reminds me of Chess, except for the chips and transfer of cash around a table until one person walks away with it all.  I’m sure it might be fun with a few friends, cigars and pennies but the stakes that drive the professionals are the zeroes that roll off the end of the initial number.

This is certainly the case for the players at Party Poker TV. Rather than staying up late to watch a poker competition on television, they have episodes on demand of their Premier League which is fascinating watching.  Rather than standing around a table at a casino and being unable to see what cards each player holds, there are cameras under the glass table so viewers can see exactly what cards each player has as well as the odds of winning as the cards are placed on the felt.

Watching these guys gamble is definitely entertaining but personally I’d be a little terrified of parting with my hard earned cash. For anyone wanting to dabble in a little online poker though, you can pick up a bonus code to get your chip balance looking a little healthier before you take to the table.

Who knows, perhaps one day you might be starring in an online TV series as you make your way to the top of the rankings and walk away with a title and a bunch of chips to cash in.

I’ve recently returned home from the US where a friend of mine who has been using his TV for DVD and BlueRay playback mainly decided that it was time to get cable. His initial plan was to set up an antenna to receive the DVB broadcast of the local channels but it turned out that it was going to be a bit more expensive than he’d anticipated. With the Olympics just around the corner he was eager to get set up sooner rather than later.

When the installer arrived and got everything set up, my friend was happy to find that he had ESPN, albeit that the channel was grainy. The place we were staying had a similar problem. While most channels were pretty clear, there were many that didn’t look HD when they should have been and a lot that were grainy. My understanding of digital is that there is either signal or there isn’t. It’s either going to be clear or not. I’ve only ever seen this at places where they’ve used cable.

What I really need to do next time I’m in the US, and certainly ask my friend to consider, is using a Satellite TV service like http://www.satellitesolutions.com/dishnetwork/.

We have satellite at home and the only issues we tend to have is when there’s a ferocious storm going on outside and we get a little rain fade but I’ve never seen a grainy channel.  If you’re considering getting a TV package, check out their special deals.

The Geordies are let loose on Mexico for one mortal holiday. Catch all the outrageous antics exclusively on MTV from June 26th, 10pm

Here is the promo for #SavageParty week, with Maverick Sabre.

The promo features the song Shut Eye from Stealing Sheep:

Sponsored post

Last year they launched Charlene Soraia.  This year, Twinings are introducing us to Lissie as part of their newest TV ad campaign.

I think it’s great that Twinings have continued to work with upcoming artists, introducing them to the world and providing a platform via the use of their music in Twinings Gets You Back To You campaign.

Go Your Own Way is available via iTunes and is part of Lissie’s Covered Up With Flowers EP

Having a child is an incredible experience but there are moments when getting them to sleep can be a real challenge.  How many parents find themselves up late at night with a wide-awake baby and the TV on while they wait for them to finally close their eyes and nod off again?

Here are some alternatives thanks to Avent

First there were the paper dolls and now there is a rap about Downton Abbey.

“If you’re from where I’m from then you call it Downton
In the house like Lord Grantham
That’s the damn anthem
Live the high life in the abbey we run
And we sip Earl Grey when the day is done.”

Written and produced by Adam WarRock

Here’s the official video that the copyright owners won’t be taking offline of Admiral Aladeen spilling Kim Jong Il’s ashes over Ryan Seacrest at the 84th Academy Awards.