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You’ve known it was coming, but tonight is finally the night in which you can kick back, relax and enjoy hours upon hours of your favorite extreme winter sports in glorious high-definition. In a move made far too late (but we’re thankful nonetheless), ESPN has finally decided to cover this year’s events from Aspen, Colorado in HD, marking the first time in Winter X history in which the entire four-day event will be broadcast in 720p across the ESPN family of networks. Ready to cancel a few plans and check out Sal Masekela (among other things) in HD? Hit the read link for the full schedule — the first snowflake flies tonight at 9:00PM EST on ESPN HD.

Starting today, Jan. 24, the X Games 12 take over Aspen. Through Jan. 27, be prepared to watch some serious shredding on the slopes. Not only do boarders trick out on the half pipe, but men and women attack the half pipe on skis, too. There will be big air, 1080s in the men’s half pipe (that’s three turns in one jump), and slopestyle on skis (crazy tricks on skis on a good old-fashioned ski slope).

Keep an eye out for Gretchen Bleiler. She is a 26-year-old boarder who took the silver in the ‘06 Olympics and has a couple of gold medals from previous X Games too. Not only was she the first woman to land the move known as The Crippler, but she also designs her own line of outerwear, which will be available in the Fall of 2008.

Here’s the broadcast schedule for ESPN so you can program your DVR as to not miss a marvel.

ASPEN, Colo. Jan. 24, 2008 - As temperatures drop, the excitement heats up in Aspen, which is hosting the Winter X Games for the seventh consecutive year. Most of the action will take place over the next four days - and the invited rider list reads like a who’s who of winter sports. This year’s Games should prove to be a showcase for the progress female action sports athletes have made in the genre.

Highlights of WX12 will include snowboarder Torah Bright and freeskier Sarah Burke who are both returning to Aspen  in a bid to reclaim gold. You’ll also see a lot of halfpipe queen Gretchen Bleiler, Winter X gold medal winner in 2003 and 2005 and a silver medalist on the 2006 Olympic pipe.

In boardercross, 22-year-old Lindsey Jacobellis is considered royalty with three Winter X boardercross gold medals, two World Championship titles and an Olympic silver medal in her trophy case.

Last year, Jamie Anderson became the youngest X Game gold winner when she won the women’s snowboard slopestyle, while older sister Joanie took first place in snocross so keep an eye on the Anderson girls once again.

Also not to be overlooked is Kelly Clark, 24, who is competing in her eighth Winter X Games. She’s earned four medals - two gold, two silver - all in the superpipe. Her last gold finish was in 2006.

As one of the most x-treme winter sports events in the world, Winter X attracts an international array of gravity-defying athletes. Money (record purses this year), medals and worldwide fame are all up for grabs as athletes compete in skiing, snowboard and snocross so catch all the action today through Sunday.

A web-based game which pits the major presidential candidates against one another in cartoon combat has raised concerns.

The Smoking Gun reports on Presidential Paintball:

For the aspiring young assassin, a popular online games site offers kids the opportunity to assume the identity of a leading presidential contender and then shoot their political opponents in a series of armed confrontations in the White House.

While the ammo is paintball, the game on the highly trafficked miniclip.com site allows kids to train a rifle scope on six presidential aspirants and squeeze off a hail of shots…

Of course, the imagery of Obama and Clinton, both of whom have been the target of threats and receive Secret Service protection, being targeted in such a manner–by children, no less–might be seen as troubling in some quarters…

Florida’s ABC-7 has a video report, including reaction from a psychologist:

With the violent games, their concern needs to be if their children demonstrates more anger and aggressive behavior. As with all violent video games what happens is, it tends to desensitize people from real life violence.

Play this game Now:

Director: Frank Sebastiano
Staring: Artie Lange, Raph Macchio, Anthony DeSando, Cara Bunon

An out of work lazy drunk has only one thing going for him, his pathetic softball team. Due to the fights that Artie’s team gets in with his rival Mangenelli’s team they are put on the spot where if Artie’s team can not beat Mangenelli’s team in the championship game then they have to leave the league. If they can somehow manage to beat Mangenelli’s team then his team has to leave the league.

The problem is Artie is a lazy slacker and his team can’t even pull of a double play. If they want to stay in the league they will have to somehow manage to whip themselves into shape. They finally decide to put forth a little effort and do the dreaded team practice. Will it be enough to win the trophy?