I applaud the American Library Association, American Booksellers Association, and the various other groups that are hosting events like a banned books read out during September 25-October 2 this year. This is important, because some of the books on the so called banned list do not belong on there in my opinion, especially when some of those books were things like Harry Potter, and To Kill A Mockingbird. While I do understand that this is once again parents trying to protect their children from something that isn't age appropriate, the other side of that is these parents are completely over reacting to something rather trivial. The thing is, if your kids don't read it in a book, they'll learn about whatever you find so offensive from something or someone else, be it their friends, a magazine, or even a movie. Children have a wonderful knack for discovering all the things you don't want them to know about. How else did my younger brother Rob learn the f-word? It wasn't from a book. It was from one of our older cousins saying it in front of him (He was a 14 year old boy at the time) and my brother tried out that word as soon as he could because he was 3 and the word sounded just fantastic to him. So of course he tried it out on me, his big sister who was trying to have him get dressed like our grandmother told me I should do so we could do the grocery shopping. Not only was she livid he used the word, she was pretty angry he said it to me and yes, he did get the biggest spanking of his life along with his mouth washed out with soap. The thing is, our cousin said the magic phrase to my brother, "Don't ever say that word, okay?" That is like handing fireworks to a kid. As soon as he said that, Rob couldn't wait to try it! That's the point. The more you ban something and this does include the banned books, it just makes it that much more desired.
It also falls back to free speech. While these parents may mean well, they are once again condemning that by having a banned books list. I mean Harry Potter, a children's book about wizards and magic is a banned book? It's important to encourage our children's imaginations, not stifle and cripple them. To put it bluntly, the world can be a really shitty place and personally as a parent, I want my daughters to enjoy as much of their childhood as possible before they have to grow up and learn that ugly truth. We shouldn't be pushing them towards thinking realistically and getting their head out of the clouds. We should celebrate and enjoy that they have imaginations at all and can still dream, bringing a little sunshine into this often gray world.
We will be celebrating Banned Books Week and I hope others will do the same and enjoy the right to read. For more information on Banned Book Week check out their website: http://www.bannedbooksweek.org/
Monday, September 20, 2010
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Why This Mother Has A Problem With The Parental Blame Game
As a parent, I completely understand how important it is to protect your children and monitor what they watch, read, or play. As a gaming parent, I know how vital it is to be on top of all of that. I say this because I see this disturbing pattern of parents all over the country blaming EVERYTHING else on things like their children's behavior. It's not the child's fault in so many of these situations. Instead, it's video games that are to blame, this or that type of music is at fault, or it's the movie or television show that is the cause.
Let me be as blunt as possible. That is one hundred percent BULLSHIT. Video games, movies, books, and t.v. aren't responsible for what your children play or see. You, the parents are. Yes, children are impressionable which is why it is all the more important for the parents to sit down with them and talk with them. It is the job of the parents to take an active role in their children's lives and know exactly what they are doing. Granted, you can not be everywhere at once, but if you are a proactive parent you do know what your children are up to.
Because there are some parents who can not seem to do this, we have things like the case hitting the Supreme Court in November about the sale of violent video games to minors. The two problems are the wording of the bill which seems to threaten first amendment rights and the fact that video games seem to be the only medium that is being targeted. Trust me, there are plenty of violent books, comics, movies, and television shows, but video games do not seem to get the same protection that they do which seems incredibly biased.
Now, I know this may have stepped on the toes of many parents with this latest blog, and they may disagree with me. That's their right and they have the freedom to disagree. I would not deny them their difference of opinion. However, I'm going to stick to my guns about what I think and I have that right also.
Children are a reflection of their parents, so you need to take that into consideration. Yes, there is a valid point to these laws are meant to protect children, but when you are using those laws to threaten another's first amendment rights, that's a problem.
When my 14 year old daughter was curious about the Twilight books, I did in fact read all of them to see what they were about and to see if there was anything inappropriate in them. I even spoke to her about some of the things that would probably raise questions with her as she read the books. It turns out, she didn't think the books were that great, but she seemed appreciative that I took the time to talk to her about it. The bottom line is parents HAVE to talk to their kids about all of this. It is important and you have to be present as a parent, not shove them in front of a video game or television to get them out of your hair, then wonder later why they do silly things like jump off a roof because they saw it on a t.v. show, then blame the show for your kid getting hurt. NO. Stop doing that. Actions have consequences and we as parents are the ones responsible for teaching our children that, no one else. This is why I have such a huge problem with the parental blame game. Instead of taking responsibility for your children, you point the finger at all the various forms of media rather than point the finger at yourselves. Take the time to sit down with your children and talk to them about the things they see and hear. It doesn't have to be a lecture. Just have a conversation with them, ask them if they have any questions or concerns about what they see, hear, or read. No one else can raise your children for you. The job of a parent is filled with a lot of hard work and responsibilities, but the rewards of having that connection and relationship with your children are worth it. It's time to take back the reins, stop blaming the various artistic mediums, and raise your children parents.
Let me be as blunt as possible. That is one hundred percent BULLSHIT. Video games, movies, books, and t.v. aren't responsible for what your children play or see. You, the parents are. Yes, children are impressionable which is why it is all the more important for the parents to sit down with them and talk with them. It is the job of the parents to take an active role in their children's lives and know exactly what they are doing. Granted, you can not be everywhere at once, but if you are a proactive parent you do know what your children are up to.
Because there are some parents who can not seem to do this, we have things like the case hitting the Supreme Court in November about the sale of violent video games to minors. The two problems are the wording of the bill which seems to threaten first amendment rights and the fact that video games seem to be the only medium that is being targeted. Trust me, there are plenty of violent books, comics, movies, and television shows, but video games do not seem to get the same protection that they do which seems incredibly biased.
Now, I know this may have stepped on the toes of many parents with this latest blog, and they may disagree with me. That's their right and they have the freedom to disagree. I would not deny them their difference of opinion. However, I'm going to stick to my guns about what I think and I have that right also.
Children are a reflection of their parents, so you need to take that into consideration. Yes, there is a valid point to these laws are meant to protect children, but when you are using those laws to threaten another's first amendment rights, that's a problem.
When my 14 year old daughter was curious about the Twilight books, I did in fact read all of them to see what they were about and to see if there was anything inappropriate in them. I even spoke to her about some of the things that would probably raise questions with her as she read the books. It turns out, she didn't think the books were that great, but she seemed appreciative that I took the time to talk to her about it. The bottom line is parents HAVE to talk to their kids about all of this. It is important and you have to be present as a parent, not shove them in front of a video game or television to get them out of your hair, then wonder later why they do silly things like jump off a roof because they saw it on a t.v. show, then blame the show for your kid getting hurt. NO. Stop doing that. Actions have consequences and we as parents are the ones responsible for teaching our children that, no one else. This is why I have such a huge problem with the parental blame game. Instead of taking responsibility for your children, you point the finger at all the various forms of media rather than point the finger at yourselves. Take the time to sit down with your children and talk to them about the things they see and hear. It doesn't have to be a lecture. Just have a conversation with them, ask them if they have any questions or concerns about what they see, hear, or read. No one else can raise your children for you. The job of a parent is filled with a lot of hard work and responsibilities, but the rewards of having that connection and relationship with your children are worth it. It's time to take back the reins, stop blaming the various artistic mediums, and raise your children parents.
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Sci Fi Science Physics Of The Impossible Educational And Awesome
I got hooked on this television show on the Science channel called Sci Fi Science: Physics Of The Impossible. Not only did it have a scientist that I respect and admire, Dr. Michio Kaku, but it also had the excitement of impossible ideas in science fiction being made possible because of theoretical physics and science. With episodes ranging from working light sabers to traveling at warp speed, Dr. Kaku shows us that what may seem far fetched is as close as our thoughts and imaginations.
Each episode is thirty minutes long, but with a clear explanation of the project goal that Dr. Kaku wants to try out. He takes on an interesting scientific journey, sharing with us what he thinks could work and what drawbacks a potential plan could have. You feel as if you are having a conversation with a close friend as he explains what things will work and why. When he comes to his conclusion, there is a moment at the end of each show where he shares his idea with the sci-fi fans. The explanations are concise and beautifully explained with great illustrations to bring the idea to life. Not only does Dr. Kaku think of all the possibilities, he shares them with you and you realize that things like warp travel and traveling to a parallel universe is no longer the stuff of imagination and only in books. It's possible and Dr. Michio Kaku shows us exactly how in a way that is educational and awesome at the same time.
Sci-Fi Science is on its second season this year and it's just as impressive as season one. There are so many great ideas in the science fiction world and Dr. Kaku is exploring all of them and sharing them with the rest of the world. If you haven't checked the show out and you're a science and science fiction fan, I strongly suggest that you do, because you will not only be entertained, you'll learn something pretty cool.
To check out episodes of the show check out their website: http://science.discovery.com/videos/sci-fi-science-videos/ and if you would like to learn more about Dr. Michio Kaku and some of his theories you can check out his website here: http://mkaku.org/
Each episode is thirty minutes long, but with a clear explanation of the project goal that Dr. Kaku wants to try out. He takes on an interesting scientific journey, sharing with us what he thinks could work and what drawbacks a potential plan could have. You feel as if you are having a conversation with a close friend as he explains what things will work and why. When he comes to his conclusion, there is a moment at the end of each show where he shares his idea with the sci-fi fans. The explanations are concise and beautifully explained with great illustrations to bring the idea to life. Not only does Dr. Kaku think of all the possibilities, he shares them with you and you realize that things like warp travel and traveling to a parallel universe is no longer the stuff of imagination and only in books. It's possible and Dr. Michio Kaku shows us exactly how in a way that is educational and awesome at the same time.
Sci-Fi Science is on its second season this year and it's just as impressive as season one. There are so many great ideas in the science fiction world and Dr. Kaku is exploring all of them and sharing them with the rest of the world. If you haven't checked the show out and you're a science and science fiction fan, I strongly suggest that you do, because you will not only be entertained, you'll learn something pretty cool.
To check out episodes of the show check out their website: http://science.discovery.com/videos/sci-fi-science-videos/ and if you would like to learn more about Dr. Michio Kaku and some of his theories you can check out his website here: http://mkaku.org/
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Why You Should Ignore The Story Line In Metroid: Other M
I have heard all the arguments about the new Metroid game including a lot of male gamers stating that the female gamers are too sensitive to the issue. My reply to that is, if you have played any of the other Metroid games you know exactly the kind of bad ass heroine Samus is, so this subservient drone like Samus in Metroid Other M is not only insulting, but ridiculous. The fact that Samus chooses not to use her power boosts because the males have not told her it's okay to do so does not appeal to those of us who love the kick ass heroine ideal of Samus. Instead, we get overly long monologues that make Samus sound like an overly emotional 13 year old girl who loves to write cute little notes for her cat and doodle hearts on her binder. It literally makes you want to punch someone in the throat and just skip every single cut scene with her voice droning on and on, because this Samus screams of insecure immaturity which does not mesh well with previous Metroid games.
I did see and try out the game for myself and came to this conclusion. If you ignore the story line completely in Metroid Other M, the game is not that bad. The graphics have that old school feel, but do not look dated. The game play is pretty well thought out and while you will get stuck on a puzzle here and there, they do leave subtle hints to get you past it. They have stayed true to the atmosphere and spirit of Metroid game play, but brought a refreshing take of the new with it.
Overall, it's a solid game, but not a great one. They could have done more and done better with Samus. A lot of people that I have spoken to about the game, are of the opinion that perhaps they shouldn't have given Samus a voice at all. I'm inclined to agree. So while the story is laughable, if you ignore it completely it makes Metroid Other M actually fun to play in spite of the fact that you don't get to use half the great power boosts until nearly the end of the game. I would suggest you rent it or at least buy it at a discount, because while it's a solid game, it's not worth paying full price for at all.
I did see and try out the game for myself and came to this conclusion. If you ignore the story line completely in Metroid Other M, the game is not that bad. The graphics have that old school feel, but do not look dated. The game play is pretty well thought out and while you will get stuck on a puzzle here and there, they do leave subtle hints to get you past it. They have stayed true to the atmosphere and spirit of Metroid game play, but brought a refreshing take of the new with it.
Overall, it's a solid game, but not a great one. They could have done more and done better with Samus. A lot of people that I have spoken to about the game, are of the opinion that perhaps they shouldn't have given Samus a voice at all. I'm inclined to agree. So while the story is laughable, if you ignore it completely it makes Metroid Other M actually fun to play in spite of the fact that you don't get to use half the great power boosts until nearly the end of the game. I would suggest you rent it or at least buy it at a discount, because while it's a solid game, it's not worth paying full price for at all.
Monday, August 30, 2010
Tales Of Vesperia A Good Time
I finally got done playing Tales Of Vesperia, but I'm not completely done. There's an extra dungeon you can play through at the end of the game if you do a specific side quest during the regular game play through. I've never played a Tales Of game that I didn't like yet and this one was no exception.
I genuinely liked the main character Yuri because he's not a perfect hero. He isn't purely good, but he's not necessarily evil either. It's a matter of he's had to make the hard decisions that others around him are not willing to make, but in the end he's always stayed true to himself and his ideals. I think a lot of the reason why that scenario worked is because of the story line with Yuri's best friend Flynn. Flynn is the other side of the coin, walking a different path, but ultimately the goal to try and make the world a better place is similar.
The idea of blastia technology is interesting and they do explain how it came to be and what it is used for as the game and story progress. It also explains the reasons behind how the empire that controls it came to exist which I thought that the developers did a pretty good job of intertwining with the main story line.
You meet more characters along the way on this adventure and they all have pretty decent back stories. I myself liked Raven's and Judith's in particular. There are of course, the usual skits during game play, but they never get tedious. In fact, some of them are amusing with jokes that are actually funny and add a little more depth to the story and the characters themselves. The anime cut scenes are very well done and great to watch. The musical soundtrack not only is beautiful, but fits well with the various battles and pivotal plot points throughout the story.
There are one or two boss battles that can be a little frustrating because of certain mystic artes attacks, but once you get through them you feel a sense of accomplishment for having won. Of course, if you get too frustrated you do have the option of changing the difficulty level to easy without being penalized for it which is a nice perk. With a myriad of fun extra side quests like getting cafe costumes for all the characters or the cute disguise costumes for the female characters in your party, you get a pleasant break from level grinding and the main story. Overall, the game is a good time and fun to play. Even level grinding in this particular RPG is enjoyable because of a decent battle system, and beautifully designed scenery and enemies. Now, I'm going to get back to playing this extra dungeon I've won. As for all of you, I suggest you pick up Tales Of Vesperia for the Xbox 360 and give it a try. I am sure you will have as much fun as I did playing it.
I genuinely liked the main character Yuri because he's not a perfect hero. He isn't purely good, but he's not necessarily evil either. It's a matter of he's had to make the hard decisions that others around him are not willing to make, but in the end he's always stayed true to himself and his ideals. I think a lot of the reason why that scenario worked is because of the story line with Yuri's best friend Flynn. Flynn is the other side of the coin, walking a different path, but ultimately the goal to try and make the world a better place is similar.
The idea of blastia technology is interesting and they do explain how it came to be and what it is used for as the game and story progress. It also explains the reasons behind how the empire that controls it came to exist which I thought that the developers did a pretty good job of intertwining with the main story line.
You meet more characters along the way on this adventure and they all have pretty decent back stories. I myself liked Raven's and Judith's in particular. There are of course, the usual skits during game play, but they never get tedious. In fact, some of them are amusing with jokes that are actually funny and add a little more depth to the story and the characters themselves. The anime cut scenes are very well done and great to watch. The musical soundtrack not only is beautiful, but fits well with the various battles and pivotal plot points throughout the story.
There are one or two boss battles that can be a little frustrating because of certain mystic artes attacks, but once you get through them you feel a sense of accomplishment for having won. Of course, if you get too frustrated you do have the option of changing the difficulty level to easy without being penalized for it which is a nice perk. With a myriad of fun extra side quests like getting cafe costumes for all the characters or the cute disguise costumes for the female characters in your party, you get a pleasant break from level grinding and the main story. Overall, the game is a good time and fun to play. Even level grinding in this particular RPG is enjoyable because of a decent battle system, and beautifully designed scenery and enemies. Now, I'm going to get back to playing this extra dungeon I've won. As for all of you, I suggest you pick up Tales Of Vesperia for the Xbox 360 and give it a try. I am sure you will have as much fun as I did playing it.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Television That Appeals To My Geek Side And My Freak Side
I love science fiction shows most of all because there is so much imagination in them and the idea of endless possibilities. While science fiction is at the top, I do like a few other shows that are under different genres. What stands out for me is brilliant writing, a great cast, and sometimes costume/set designs. It's nice that Ron is a kindred spirit and likes a lot of the shows and watches them with me. These are just some of the shows I watch and love.
1. Doctor Who- I absolutely love and adore Doctor Who and not just the new one. I am talking about the old school BBC episodes that were shown on late night PBS on Saturday nights. I have fond memories of those episodes because I would watch them with my grandmother. We were and still are huge Tom Baker fans. There was even an episode with him that scared the piss out of me when I was a kid, titled The Talons Of Weng-Chiang. The main thing that frightened me was the ventriloquist doll which was made to look very creepy. At 11 years old I had quite an imagination already so when the doll moved all on its own, I was freaked out. I ended up checking under my bed twice for a murderous assassin doll, sleeping with my bedroom light on, and cuddling with two of my grandparents' cats that night. I'm an adult now and the episode still creeps me out a bit, but I still love it.
The new Doctor Who has pleased me especially with great actors like David Tenant and Catherine Tate as Donna Noble. The writing is excellent and I've enjoyed watching it. Tenant and Tate had such a great rapport together as the Doctor Donna team and I loved watching them together. I was a bit hesitant about Matt Smith taking over as the new Doctor, but he proved that he could do it and was brilliant. There are so many great episodes that it's hard to pick a favorite, so I have two. The End Of Time and Vincent And The Doctor are my favorites hands down.
2. Freaks And Geeks- This show not only had great writing, it had a fantastic cast and rocking music. No matter who you were as an adult, there was at least one or two characters you could relate to on the show, because everyone has been there before. It didn't sugarcoat growing up and showed that everyone has gone through that awkward process of puberty, trying to discover who you are, and trying to make sense out of it all. The show had great humor, but it also had a lot of heart, making you care about the characters and showing that everyone has been in those awkward growing up stages. I thought it stunk that the show got cancelled in the typical move of Hollywood always cancels the great shows and leaves all the crap on the air. I was pleasantly surprised a couple of days ago to a Freaks And Geeks marathon on the Independent Film Channel. Did I watch it? You bet and I loved every minute of it.
3. Dead Like Me- Another great show, that got canned by Hollywood. I loved George Lass aka Toilet Seat Girl and her misadventures as a grim reaper. I also loved Mandy Patinkin as Rube. Yes, the show had a dark humor, but it worked because of fantastic character development and great story telling. Ron loved the show as much as I did and watched the Dead Like Me movie with me. Every once in a while I'll catch an episode on the Sci-fi channel and watch it, and it still feels fresh and new. That's how good the show is.
4. Eureka- I joke often that the Sci-fy channel makes extremely crappy movies, but their t.v. shows are awesome. There is more truth in that than anyone knows. I genuinely enjoy Eureka and this current season is no exception. Not only does the show make you think about the endless possibilities that science and technology can do, but there are characters that stand out who you love, like, dislike, and remember. I am definitely enjoying that they have James Callis on the show and that they've given Jo more of a prominent role. The story telling is interesting and it keeps you engaged so you want to know what happens next.
5. Glee - I ADORE Glee. It's just so much fun to watch and the music that gets picked for the episodes is great, because it's songs that I know and love. The cast was well picked. It's quite clear they enjoy doing the show and they have fun playing those characters. It's smart writing, but it's also heartfelt writing without being overbearing. Everyone has a favorite character or singer on the show. Mine is still Mercedes. I get goosebumps every time I hear her sing because her voice is truly beautiful.
6. Warehouse 13- Another show on Sci-Fi that I love. The concept is intriguing and the stories are fantastic. I'm fascinated by the idea of The Regents watching over the world having agents looking for artifacts that have the potential to be dangerous in the wrong hands be it Harriet Tubman's Thimble or Edgar Allen Poe's pen and journal. The characters are well thought out and they have back stories that give them depth that genuinely makes you care about them. It also pokes fun at some of the characters, giving you a laugh and lightening the mood every once so often which is nice.
7. Mad Men- I love the writing, the characters, the costume and set design, and the music for the show. It's a drama, but it's interesting because there is no black and white when it comes to the characters. It's a blend of gray. No character is supremely good or a villain. It shows that each of them has something good about them, but they are flawed and it shows a side of humanity to them. A friend had suggested that I watched the show thinking I would like it a lot. They were right. I haven't stopped watching an episode since.
8. Burn Notice- Mainly I started watching this show for Bruce Campbell because I love the man. After that, I started watching it because it was fun and didn't take itself too seriously. You didn't really have to think about it too much. It was just simple story telling and you didn't need to have watched a previous season to keep up. There's action, humor, and a bit of pretty good story mixed in making for television that is fun to watch.
9. Buffy The Vampire Slayer- I admit, I turned up my nose at the television show at first. To be fair, I got dragged to see the lame ass movie and I wasn't thrilled about it. I still think to this day the only good thing about that movie was Paul Reubens. To my friends who still like that movie, sorry it's just how I feel about it. My friend Scott was the one who convinced me to give it a try, and I was pleasantly surprised. The t.v. show was much different than the film. It was darker, more philosophical, and the humor was not only dark, but smarter. I found I loved the show because Joss Whedon is such an amazing writer, he brought those stories to life. I watch old episodes on the LOGO channel and I still love it. My favorite episode is still the musical, Once More With Feeling.
10. Firefly- Another Joss Whedon masterpiece. I really liked Mal as the captain of the Firefly space ship. The entire cast was great. I loved Kaylee the female mechanic and enjoyed seeing a girl kick ass at being a gear head and knowing how to fix it and fix it well. Of course the show got cancelled, which I thought was completely wrong. In my humble opinion, it was one of the best science fiction shows to be on television and it royally sucked that Fox screwed it over. There was a ray of hope though, with the Firefly movie which was fantastic. It told a great story, tied everything together, and made many fans like myself very happy.
So there you have it, the top ten shows in my list. There are other television shows I like, but these are the ones that stand the test of time with me. These are the shows where I can watch a re-run and still find it enjoyable because it's a great story or it holds a special significance for me. So while there are television shows I like, these are the ones I love because they are not only fantastic, they are timeless.
1. Doctor Who- I absolutely love and adore Doctor Who and not just the new one. I am talking about the old school BBC episodes that were shown on late night PBS on Saturday nights. I have fond memories of those episodes because I would watch them with my grandmother. We were and still are huge Tom Baker fans. There was even an episode with him that scared the piss out of me when I was a kid, titled The Talons Of Weng-Chiang. The main thing that frightened me was the ventriloquist doll which was made to look very creepy. At 11 years old I had quite an imagination already so when the doll moved all on its own, I was freaked out. I ended up checking under my bed twice for a murderous assassin doll, sleeping with my bedroom light on, and cuddling with two of my grandparents' cats that night. I'm an adult now and the episode still creeps me out a bit, but I still love it.
The new Doctor Who has pleased me especially with great actors like David Tenant and Catherine Tate as Donna Noble. The writing is excellent and I've enjoyed watching it. Tenant and Tate had such a great rapport together as the Doctor Donna team and I loved watching them together. I was a bit hesitant about Matt Smith taking over as the new Doctor, but he proved that he could do it and was brilliant. There are so many great episodes that it's hard to pick a favorite, so I have two. The End Of Time and Vincent And The Doctor are my favorites hands down.
2. Freaks And Geeks- This show not only had great writing, it had a fantastic cast and rocking music. No matter who you were as an adult, there was at least one or two characters you could relate to on the show, because everyone has been there before. It didn't sugarcoat growing up and showed that everyone has gone through that awkward process of puberty, trying to discover who you are, and trying to make sense out of it all. The show had great humor, but it also had a lot of heart, making you care about the characters and showing that everyone has been in those awkward growing up stages. I thought it stunk that the show got cancelled in the typical move of Hollywood always cancels the great shows and leaves all the crap on the air. I was pleasantly surprised a couple of days ago to a Freaks And Geeks marathon on the Independent Film Channel. Did I watch it? You bet and I loved every minute of it.
3. Dead Like Me- Another great show, that got canned by Hollywood. I loved George Lass aka Toilet Seat Girl and her misadventures as a grim reaper. I also loved Mandy Patinkin as Rube. Yes, the show had a dark humor, but it worked because of fantastic character development and great story telling. Ron loved the show as much as I did and watched the Dead Like Me movie with me. Every once in a while I'll catch an episode on the Sci-fi channel and watch it, and it still feels fresh and new. That's how good the show is.
4. Eureka- I joke often that the Sci-fy channel makes extremely crappy movies, but their t.v. shows are awesome. There is more truth in that than anyone knows. I genuinely enjoy Eureka and this current season is no exception. Not only does the show make you think about the endless possibilities that science and technology can do, but there are characters that stand out who you love, like, dislike, and remember. I am definitely enjoying that they have James Callis on the show and that they've given Jo more of a prominent role. The story telling is interesting and it keeps you engaged so you want to know what happens next.
5. Glee - I ADORE Glee. It's just so much fun to watch and the music that gets picked for the episodes is great, because it's songs that I know and love. The cast was well picked. It's quite clear they enjoy doing the show and they have fun playing those characters. It's smart writing, but it's also heartfelt writing without being overbearing. Everyone has a favorite character or singer on the show. Mine is still Mercedes. I get goosebumps every time I hear her sing because her voice is truly beautiful.
6. Warehouse 13- Another show on Sci-Fi that I love. The concept is intriguing and the stories are fantastic. I'm fascinated by the idea of The Regents watching over the world having agents looking for artifacts that have the potential to be dangerous in the wrong hands be it Harriet Tubman's Thimble or Edgar Allen Poe's pen and journal. The characters are well thought out and they have back stories that give them depth that genuinely makes you care about them. It also pokes fun at some of the characters, giving you a laugh and lightening the mood every once so often which is nice.
7. Mad Men- I love the writing, the characters, the costume and set design, and the music for the show. It's a drama, but it's interesting because there is no black and white when it comes to the characters. It's a blend of gray. No character is supremely good or a villain. It shows that each of them has something good about them, but they are flawed and it shows a side of humanity to them. A friend had suggested that I watched the show thinking I would like it a lot. They were right. I haven't stopped watching an episode since.
8. Burn Notice- Mainly I started watching this show for Bruce Campbell because I love the man. After that, I started watching it because it was fun and didn't take itself too seriously. You didn't really have to think about it too much. It was just simple story telling and you didn't need to have watched a previous season to keep up. There's action, humor, and a bit of pretty good story mixed in making for television that is fun to watch.
9. Buffy The Vampire Slayer- I admit, I turned up my nose at the television show at first. To be fair, I got dragged to see the lame ass movie and I wasn't thrilled about it. I still think to this day the only good thing about that movie was Paul Reubens. To my friends who still like that movie, sorry it's just how I feel about it. My friend Scott was the one who convinced me to give it a try, and I was pleasantly surprised. The t.v. show was much different than the film. It was darker, more philosophical, and the humor was not only dark, but smarter. I found I loved the show because Joss Whedon is such an amazing writer, he brought those stories to life. I watch old episodes on the LOGO channel and I still love it. My favorite episode is still the musical, Once More With Feeling.
10. Firefly- Another Joss Whedon masterpiece. I really liked Mal as the captain of the Firefly space ship. The entire cast was great. I loved Kaylee the female mechanic and enjoyed seeing a girl kick ass at being a gear head and knowing how to fix it and fix it well. Of course the show got cancelled, which I thought was completely wrong. In my humble opinion, it was one of the best science fiction shows to be on television and it royally sucked that Fox screwed it over. There was a ray of hope though, with the Firefly movie which was fantastic. It told a great story, tied everything together, and made many fans like myself very happy.
So there you have it, the top ten shows in my list. There are other television shows I like, but these are the ones that stand the test of time with me. These are the shows where I can watch a re-run and still find it enjoyable because it's a great story or it holds a special significance for me. So while there are television shows I like, these are the ones I love because they are not only fantastic, they are timeless.
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
What Was The First Video Game You Ever Played?
My 14 year old daughter Amrita asked me this question today, when she stated that she was playing Dragon Quest 9 and loved it. I told her I liked the game a lot too and I remembered playing Dragon Warrior when I was a kid on the regular nintendo console. She asked me what a regular nintendo was and I felt quite old at that point, but I answered her question. It was Super Mario Bros. and I remember my brother Rob and I played it constantly.
It got me thinking about other video games I had played as a kid. Mario Bros. was fun because my brother and I could play together. Our grandparents got it for us for Christmas and we were so thrilled to finally have one just like all our friends. The music and the bright colors just made for a good time especially when you were a kid. We were given other video games as presents and the ones that stood out the most for me, were Dragon Warrior and Legend Of Zelda. I fell in love with those games. Rob told me when we were adults that he could never get into the RPG games like I did, because he just got so frustrated with the pacing. He is more of a fight and action game person. I however, loved the stories, loved the battles, and loved the music in those games.
Another Christmas Rob and I both got a Nintendo gameboy and a game to go with it. Mine was Final Fantasy Legend II and I played it so much, I would constantly be plugging it in or changing the batteries. Sure, now we have all these wonderful advances, but when I was a kid, that was the thing to have. It was new, wonderful, and exciting.
Then there is the game that makes me smile and has my heart because it got me through a month of chicken pox. That's right, a whole month of chicken pox. When I was 13 and Rob was 8, he got chicken pox. He was fairly resilient for a kid with chicken pox and didn't seem to have it that badly. My grandmother assumed it was alright for me to be around my brother since both my parents had informed her that yes, I had already had chicken pox when I was little. So I helped play nurse to my little brother.
Guess who got chicken pox for the second time in her childhood? The thing about me and illness is that I rarely get sick. When I do become ill, I get it ten times worse than anyone else and you'd think I was dying. This is what happened with the second outbreak of chicken pox. Not only did I get chicken pox, I got super chicken pox. I got something called thrush which is chicken pox in the mouth, on the tongue, and the back of the throat. Trust me, this is not a fun thing to have and it can make eating a hassle. I had to have these tablets that our family doctor prescribed and let them dissolve in my mouth, just so I could eat.
So besides catching up on school homework, resting all the time, and being really upset that I couldn't go to school to see my best friend Miranda, (Who called me every day after school to see how I was doing. There's a reason she's godmother to my daughters) I was also incredibly bored. I couldn't scratch, daytime television sucked, I'd read all my books, and I'd played all my games. Then Rob had borrowed a game from a friend of his at school and said that I could play it while he was at school since I was sick. It was Super Mario Bros 2.
I played it and the game was so much fun with the music and the creative levels, that it was a welcome distraction from me being under quarantine. I even finished the game and played through it a second time because I had enjoyed it so much. It still holds a fond place in my heart because it caused a sick 13 year old girl to forget that she was sick and got her to smile.
Many video games later there are more completed games under my belt and the list of games I love have gotten longer, but I still remember those child hood games and remember them fondly. They were the reason I fell in love with video games after all.
It got me thinking about other video games I had played as a kid. Mario Bros. was fun because my brother and I could play together. Our grandparents got it for us for Christmas and we were so thrilled to finally have one just like all our friends. The music and the bright colors just made for a good time especially when you were a kid. We were given other video games as presents and the ones that stood out the most for me, were Dragon Warrior and Legend Of Zelda. I fell in love with those games. Rob told me when we were adults that he could never get into the RPG games like I did, because he just got so frustrated with the pacing. He is more of a fight and action game person. I however, loved the stories, loved the battles, and loved the music in those games.
Another Christmas Rob and I both got a Nintendo gameboy and a game to go with it. Mine was Final Fantasy Legend II and I played it so much, I would constantly be plugging it in or changing the batteries. Sure, now we have all these wonderful advances, but when I was a kid, that was the thing to have. It was new, wonderful, and exciting.
Then there is the game that makes me smile and has my heart because it got me through a month of chicken pox. That's right, a whole month of chicken pox. When I was 13 and Rob was 8, he got chicken pox. He was fairly resilient for a kid with chicken pox and didn't seem to have it that badly. My grandmother assumed it was alright for me to be around my brother since both my parents had informed her that yes, I had already had chicken pox when I was little. So I helped play nurse to my little brother.
Guess who got chicken pox for the second time in her childhood? The thing about me and illness is that I rarely get sick. When I do become ill, I get it ten times worse than anyone else and you'd think I was dying. This is what happened with the second outbreak of chicken pox. Not only did I get chicken pox, I got super chicken pox. I got something called thrush which is chicken pox in the mouth, on the tongue, and the back of the throat. Trust me, this is not a fun thing to have and it can make eating a hassle. I had to have these tablets that our family doctor prescribed and let them dissolve in my mouth, just so I could eat.
So besides catching up on school homework, resting all the time, and being really upset that I couldn't go to school to see my best friend Miranda, (Who called me every day after school to see how I was doing. There's a reason she's godmother to my daughters) I was also incredibly bored. I couldn't scratch, daytime television sucked, I'd read all my books, and I'd played all my games. Then Rob had borrowed a game from a friend of his at school and said that I could play it while he was at school since I was sick. It was Super Mario Bros 2.
I played it and the game was so much fun with the music and the creative levels, that it was a welcome distraction from me being under quarantine. I even finished the game and played through it a second time because I had enjoyed it so much. It still holds a fond place in my heart because it caused a sick 13 year old girl to forget that she was sick and got her to smile.
Many video games later there are more completed games under my belt and the list of games I love have gotten longer, but I still remember those child hood games and remember them fondly. They were the reason I fell in love with video games after all.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)