tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-80275757900481151442024-02-06T20:40:01.566-06:00Random Thoughts of a Middle-Aged GamerI'm a middle-aged man with kids and a regular 9-5 job who has a lot on my mind. My blog isn't meant to change the world, but to write out my random thoughts on my family, hobbies, and passions in life (religion, scouting, video games, wrestling, B-movies).Jodyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13338437834441661858noreply@blogger.comBlogger25125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8027575790048115144.post-39460070355159288502013-09-02T09:37:00.000-05:002013-09-02T09:37:40.709-05:00Minecraft and getting old
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’ve been obsessed with many video games in my life (Space
Invaders, Shining Force, and Super Mario 64 to name a few), and my life seemed
to center around them, if for a short period of time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The games, however, made sense to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were fun and logical.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Enter Minecraft.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My
sons and all of their friends love Minecraft.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They play it constantly and discuss epic tales of digging, battling
creepers, making crafting tables, and more digging...lots and lots of digging.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They watch youtube videos for hints and
suggestions on….you guessed it….Minecraft.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>One of my sons is now making a “Hunger Games” map so that he and his
friends can “fight for survival.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’ve tried to get into Minecraft a few times.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t understand it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It seems boring and slow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will admit that there is a unique
creativity to the game, and I guess that causes people like my kids to be
hooked on the virtual crack known as Minecraft.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Personally, I would rather just have a large pile of Legos if I am going
to build something.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I must be getting old.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Way too many folks play Minecraft on PC and XBOX 360.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m just not one of them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Minecraft ignorance is bliss, and I am the
most blissful person in my household.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Jodyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13338437834441661858noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8027575790048115144.post-74988381431512846732013-05-23T22:38:00.002-05:002013-05-23T23:46:14.493-05:00Random Thoughts on the 2014 Boy Scout Resolution on Membership Standards<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Today, BSA announced that their resolution for a change in
membership standards passed with 61% approval of the 1,400 voting members. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Officially, BSA “<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">approved
a resolution to remove the restriction denying membership to youth on the basis
of sexual orientation alone. The resolution also reinforces that Scouting is a
youth program, and any sexual conduct, whether heterosexual or homosexual, by
youth of Scouting age is contrary to the virtues of Scouting.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In short, no
child will be denied membership or participation in Scouting based on their
admitted sexual preference.</span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Since this was
announced, I have had at least 10 people ask me what I thought about this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think I surprised them with my answer.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Great.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nothing really changes for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have never once asked a child his sexual
orientation nor will I ever.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sexuality
has no place in Scouting.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">By the same
token, I do not ask families about their marital status, their religious
preference, whether they smoke, drink, or even if they are gay/lesbian.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Frankly it is irrelevant to me. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Nothing changes
for me. <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I have children in our Scouting program that come from all
kinds of backgrounds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have Scout
parents that are single, divorced, living out of wedlock, etc. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I have friends, coworkers, and family members that are
openly gay and lesbian.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Amazingly, I am able to work with people that may be
different from me, teach Scouts that come from different family backgrounds
than mine, and love my family members and friends that are gay/lesbian.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I don’t agree with each and every one of these individuals,
their beliefs, and their lifestyles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>However, that doesn’t mean I am going to treat them any different than
someone who shares my exact belief system and lifestyle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Will the new BSA ruling change anything I do as Scout
leader?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nothing changes for me.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">There is nothing in the Scouting curriculum regarding
sexuality or sexual preference, and this will never be an issue in my group.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It wasn’t an issue before.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It isn’t now.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Will I try to be a strong Christian role model to all of my Scouts
and their families?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Will I hate or despise anyone who is different from me based
on their faith, race, or sexuality?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>No.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I never have, and I never
will.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When Scouts and their families
work with me and see me, they know the type of man I am.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They also know that as a Christian, I love
others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t have time or room for
hate. I will continue to teach and model God's love.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Again, nothing changes for me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I am glad that a decision on this resolution is over.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s time to move forward. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">There were a few sentences in today’s official BSA statement
that I feel truly represent my feelings about this issue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">"While
people have different opinions about this policy, we can all agree that kids
are better off when they are in Scouting. Going forward, our Scouting family
will continue to focus on reaching and serving youth in order to help them grow
into good, strong citizens. America's youth need Scouting, and by focusing on
the goals that unite us, we can continue to accomplish incredible things for
young people and the communities we serve."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I am and will
continue to be a Christian role model and Scout leader for the young men in our
Scouting program.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A Scout is trustworthy,
loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave,
clean, and reverent.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This is what I
teach. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is what I will model for each of our Scouts.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Nothing changes
for me.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
Jodyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13338437834441661858noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8027575790048115144.post-68509281914955045822013-04-24T19:42:00.001-05:002013-04-25T07:59:49.061-05:00All Good Things....<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Change is one of the hardest things to accept.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">As I am going into my 40’s, I have finally had to accept a
few things in life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">My hair is no longer brown but filled with streaks of gray.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">My weight…ummm…is more than it used to be.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">My athletic conditioning…ummm….is less than it used to be.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I could go on and on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I can deal with these changes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">However, I am still struggling with one thing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">My blog is entitled <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Random
Thoughts of a Middle-Aged Gamer.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well,
when you look at my posts, not that many are about games.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I am getting to the point that I have to accept that I am no
longer a “gamer.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I spent more than 35
years playing almost every game and system under the sun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve cycled through pong, the Magnavox Odyssey,
Atari 2600, ColecoVision, NES, Sega Genesis, Super Nintendo, Playstation, Nintendo 64,
Playstation 2, Nintendo Gamecube, 900 different versions of the Gameboy, Xbox
360, Wii, etc. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">As work and family responsibilities have grown over the last
several years, I’ve seen myself change from a hardcore gamer to a casual
gamer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I long for the days when I could
drop 80 hours into an RPG, but those days are gone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am lucky to get a small amount of time on
an iPhone game or on my DS.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My last
console game played was….gasp….Nintendo Land on the WiiU.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not real hardcore, although I do play a good
game of Mario chase.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">With the newer generation of consoles arriving, I have had
to deal with my mid-life crisis.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am
not a hardcore gamer anymore.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will buy
the consoles for my kids and try to play when I can, but the man who played
Shining Force for three straight days is gone. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He has been slowly replaced by a father who
spends time with his kids, coaches youth sports, and runs a scout program.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I spend more time trying to teach kids
wilderness survival and how to cook over a tin can than I do saving the world in
the latest video game.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Long story short, all good things must come to an end. I originally started this blog because I thought it would reignite a fire in me to become a hardcore gamer again. It didn't. It just helped me to realize that I am not that person anymore.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">This will be the official final blog post for “Random
Thoughts of a Middle-Aged Gamer.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The blog won’t end though.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It needs to change as I have
changed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Starting today, it will have a new title.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Random Thoughts of a Middle-Aged Scout
Leader.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">You can find it here if interested: <a href="http://middleagedscoutleader.blogspot.com/">http://middleagedscoutleader.blogspot.com/</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
</div>
Jodyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13338437834441661858noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8027575790048115144.post-50754317361717019772013-04-15T20:43:00.001-05:002013-04-15T20:55:22.953-05:00Is Scouting Still Relevant?It's been awhile since I posted an entry. I hope more will be on the way soon.<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Recently, I had an experience at work where someone found
out for the first time that I was involved as an adult leader in our local Cub
Scout program.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The person was shocked and said, “Is scouting even relevant?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All I hear on the news is that scouting
discriminates.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">For my answer, I could have quoted national scouting enrollment
numbers, the amount of community service done by scouts across the country,
discussed political and religious opinions, etc., but I really didn’t think
that answered the question.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sadly, the number of scouts has decreased over time, even
though there are still millions of scouts in this country. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In my opinion, it has nothing to do with the
issues being discussed nationally about allowing gays and lesbians to
participate in scouting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those are
issues for the political groups within and outside of the Boy Scouts of America
(BSA) national office to debate and argue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Scouting is not done by bureaucrats.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I have yet to see one on any campout or scouting activity for my group.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Scouting is done by parents at the local
level.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If BSA changed its stance tonight
on having openly gay/lesbian leaders or gay young men as scouts, do I think it
will spur a massive movement of scouting enrollment?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Some will openly proclaim they are gay scouts or leaders, maybe a few new
members will join, some will even leave, but you will not see a massive change in the total number of
scouts in this country.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t believe
these items answer the question of “relevancy” for scouting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are political topics that tend to
dominate the news rather than stressing all of the wonderful things that scouts
everywhere are doing as part of their scouting programs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In reality, there are too many distractions and other
activities that pull away a young man’s time and interest away from scouting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are year round sports programs/sports camps,
video games, and as a society, we are much “busier” than ever before.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Despite all of these things, I think the
biggest issue is that there are too many children who do not have active
parents in their lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve seen more
young men leave scouting because they didn’t have a parent who would bring them
to meetings, take them camping, or support them in completing activities for their
rank advancement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Scouting is a family
activity, and its success completely depends on active parents who are willing
to spend time with their child and place them in programs that help them
develop into good young men.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Scouting
instills character development, citizenship training, personal fitness and more,
but it all starts with parental involvement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Well back to the original question, and my answer.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“Is scouting even relevant? ”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A scout is
trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful,
thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These
are timeless values that will never lose their relevance. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These were the values that were taught to me
as a young man and the values I live by as an adult.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The bureaucrats and politicians in BSA will argue
and make changes to scouting policies over time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whatever they do or don’t do will never
change those timeless values that form the backbone of Boy Scouts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These things need to be stressed and taught
to young men everywhere.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Too many non-scouting programs and activities focus on
competition rather than character development and citizenship.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The biggest issue isn’t the relevance of
scouting, it’s the priority of scouting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We need more parents to be involved with their children and help
put programs like this as a higher priority in their child’s life. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I understand that not every person is going to agree with my
thoughts on this issue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The good news is
that we live in a free nation where we can respectfully have differences in
opinion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some out there feel that scouting is no longer
relevant , and that BSA is an organization that is stuck in a time that has
passed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m one that recognizes that
there are national issues and local issues with scouting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This occurs with virtually every national organization
or business chain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We shouldn’t confuse
the two.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Scouting is driven at the local
level.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is the parents and volunteers
of these programs that are making a difference in helping young men develop into
good citizens.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Each week, I get to see how scouting impacts
our community locally.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have raised
thousands of pounds of food for the homeless, picked up trash in the parks and
highways, visited nursing homes, and sorted clothes at the local care center. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I simply can’t believe that raising young men
to be this type of citizen is a bad thing or something that is no longer
relevant to society. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The world needs
more scouts in their communities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
world needs more young men who are trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly,
courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Lord Robert Baden-Powell, the father of scouting, was quoted
as saying, “When a boy finds someone who takes an interest in him, he responds
and follows.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Parents need to take that
interest, and when they do, we see the question of relevance go away as
scouting again becomes a priority in a boy’s life.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
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Jodyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13338437834441661858noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8027575790048115144.post-60934817087251506272012-04-14T15:28:00.000-05:002012-04-14T15:33:10.842-05:00A Gentleman Always Carries a Handkerchief<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Life has conspired against me to take a month off of the
blog.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For those few faithful readers
that have contacted me, I will try to get back to regular posting again.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">That being said….<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Recently, I was asked, “What is the most important thing
that a man should always carry with him?” <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I started to think of an answer and decided to stop thinking
and simply look in my pockets.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Out came
several items.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">1.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Wallet<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">2.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Pocket Knife<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">3.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Handkerchief<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">4.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Car keys<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">That
prompted several others to do the same thing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Everyone had a wallet and car keys.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Two of the five had a pocket knife, and only one (me) had a
handkerchief.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">At
that point, I was informed that only “old men” carry around a handkerchief.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For whatever reason, my friends never really
saw fit to carry one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One even referred
to it as a “relic of days gone by.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Then
I was asked, “Why do you even carry around a handkerchief?”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">My
response was simple.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s part of the
code.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The man code.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A gentleman never leaves home without his
handkerchief.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">That
of course generated a few jokes at my expense, but I was serious.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The handkerchief can always be used by the owner,
but the best reason to carry one is to be able to give to someone else when
needed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s a small gesture of chivalry
to give your handkerchief to another. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
can’t tell you how many times I have given my handkerchief to someone who
needed to cry, someone who needed to blow a nose, someone who needed to wipe
their brow, someone with a cut or mess that needed cleaned up, etc., and in
each of those situations, there wasn’t a box of Kleenex or roll of Bounty paper
towels available.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The handkerchief was
invaluable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Something that small and
insignificant by itself became the most valuable item in my pocket.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Having
a handkerchief should be an essential item in every man’s pocket.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you don’t own one, go out and buy about 10
of them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are dirt cheap and won’t
set you back more than a few cups of coffee.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Launder them and take a clean one with you every day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You will be surprised how often they will
come in handy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I
never remember a time that my dad didn’t have a handkerchief or a pocketknife
with him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s probably why I have
always carried both items with me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
day he died, I remember removing both items out of his pockets.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m sure the day I die, someone is going to
be doing the same with me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Until then,
if you need to cry, have a runny nose, or need to clean up a mess, I’m your
man. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll be glad to give you my
handkerchief.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">As
for the pocketknife, carrying one of those is in the man code too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll touch on that subject later.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>Jodyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13338437834441661858noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8027575790048115144.post-33106778678978698852012-03-13T21:55:00.001-05:002012-04-13T22:57:48.685-05:00Kayfabe and the desire to believe<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Kayfabe…the reality of professional wrestling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s wrestlers staying in character to put on a show.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s the reality of their gimmicks, their feuds, etc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s their portrayal that everything they do in the ring is real.</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">To truly enjoy professional wrestling, you need to suspend your disbelief in what you are seeing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You need to believe that one man wants to fight another for a specific reason, and this reason can only be settled in the ring.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You need to believe that these men are pushing themselves to their human limits for a real purpose, not to put on a fake, choreographed fight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s the story of the match that sucks you in and makes you suspend that disbelief.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s the performance that keeps you at the edge of your seat, waiting to see what will happen next.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It’s not often fans get taken to that place anymore.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a kid, I wanted to believe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Each and every match was real.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As an adult, it’s rare when I watch wrestling with the same feelings I had as a child.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With the internet, news feeds, twitter, etc., it’s hard to suspend your disbelief and “enjoy” wrestling when kayfabe is broken over and over again. With Wrestlemania coming around the corner, I have been watching more wrestling with the hope that I will once again be able to believe (even for a moment) that what I am seeing is for real.</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In the world of Kayfabe, the Undertaker is 19-0 in matches at Wrestlemania.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This incredible record is affectionately called “the streak.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For the last two decades, this man has been unbeatable on the greatest stage of the wrestling world, Wrestlemania.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Three years ago, Shawn Michaels, largely considered to be the greatest modern day in-ring performer, challenged the Undertaker at Wrestlemania but came up short.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The next year, he demanded a rematch and put his career on the line versus the streak.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Again, he fought valiantly but lost and retired from professional wrestling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Last year, Shawn’s best friend, multiple time world champion HHH challenged the Undertaker at Wrestlemania.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>HHH used chairs and sledgehammers to destroy the Undertaker in a brutal match, but like his friend, came up short and lost.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>HHH walked out of the ring the loser, but the Undertaker was unable to walk at all after the match.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">As we build towards Wrestlemania, it has come time for the Undertaker to defend his streak once again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He wants to prove to himself that he is the better man and can beat HHH. HHH wants one more chance to be the man who ends the streak.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Shawn Michaels has been made the special referee for the match.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even though he is known as “Mr. Wrestlemania,” Shawn wasn’t able to end the streak.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In his quest to beat the Undertaker, he had his greatest failure and lost his career.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is he jealous that his best friend may accomplish the one thing he couldn’t do in his career?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Does he want to be the one to help end the streak by any means necessary?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or, will Shawn call it down the line?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Will the Undertaker keep the streak alive? Will HHH finally put an end to the Undertaker's reign over Wrestlemania?</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Is all of this real?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No, of course not, but these men are doing what they do best.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They have made me want to believe, if only for a short while, that this match means everything to all three of them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are fighting over something beyond a championship.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are fighting over their legacy as professional wrestlers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Only a few more weeks, then I’ll know if the streak ends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then I can come back to reality…</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>Jodyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13338437834441661858noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8027575790048115144.post-65777369782143943022012-03-05T20:21:00.002-06:002012-03-05T23:44:18.456-06:00Thoughts on the movie Courageous<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Normally I watch movies for escapism, not realism.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, on occasion, I do stray away from your run of the mill zombie apocalypse or alien invasion for more wholesome, family cinema.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">A few days ago my wife and I watched the Christian drama “Courageous.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like other movies from Sherwood Pictures, the majority of the cast are not professional actors but members of Sherwood Baptist Church in Albany, Georgia.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t let that deter you from watching this or any of their other movies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You watch their movies for the message, not because you are looking for a cinematic masterpiece.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">***Relatively Spoiler Free***</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The story centers around four sheriff’s deputies who begin a journey in examining fatherhood and the need for the father to be the spiritual head of the home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have the father of two kids who is too busy for his oldest son, the father who feels the need to protect his family, the father who doesn’t have custody of his son, and a young man who seems to be distant when discussing issues of family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Each has their own story and viewpoint on the meaning of fatherhood.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Eventually we meet another character named Javier who joins our deputies in their spiritual journey.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Javier is a good man, who is down on his luck, but has faith that the Lord will provide for him and his family.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">An unfortunate tragedy bring these five men closer to one another and to God, and they all eventually take on a resolution to be the father that God wants them to be. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">There are plenty of subplots in the movie with drugs, gangs, stolen evidence, etc. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They all really serve as backdrop for the movie to get its points across (and they will; you will get constantly reminded if somehow you missed the message).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God wants you be an involved father and to honor Him in everything you do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Your children need that positive influence in their life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not having that positive, spiritual influence potentially sets them up to fail in life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">At times, the film suffers from plot holes and a lack of coherent plot structure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is a whole lot that one can criticize about this movie, but if you are doing that, then you are missing the point.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I think every father can somehow relate to at least one of the main characters in the movie.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s what makes the movie work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You want to see these men stand up for God and succeed as fathers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You are rooting for them to set the bar high and achieve it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hopefully, you will want that for yourself as well.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">For me, I don’t want to be a “good enough father” as the movie mentions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I am dead and gone, I want my children to have nothing but positive memories of me. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I want them to remember a father who protected them, loved them, and demonstrated for them how to honor their heavenly Father in all that they do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Courageous reminds me why it is so important to achieve this kind of parental legacy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Courageous fills a need that can’t be found in so many modern movies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you are in need of a positive, uplifting spiritual movie, check this one out. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You won’t be disappointed. </span></div>
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<br /></div>Jodyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13338437834441661858noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8027575790048115144.post-72642012092748375262012-02-25T09:13:00.002-06:002012-02-25T09:13:59.440-06:00Adventures on Netflix--Shaolin Soccer<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://www.best-kungfu.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/Shaolin-Soccer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" lda="true" src="http://www.best-kungfu.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/Shaolin-Soccer.jpg" width="223" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’m always checking Netflix for a new family night movie.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My kids already know that I am going to try to find something off the beaten path (“culture” as we say), and last night I stumbled across a film from 2001 made by one of my favorite actors from Hong Kong, Stephen Chow.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The film….Shaolin Soccer.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">A lot of folks will dismiss the movie simply because of its title, but if you take a few moments to research the movie (Metacritic, Rotten tomatoes, Wikipedia), you will learn that this is a hidden gem in the sea of Netflix mediocrity. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">(Relatively spoiler free movie discussion)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Stephen Chow plays Sing, a Kung Fu master down on his luck who is trying to figure out how to honor his deceased master and spread Kung Fu to the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As you can guess, he is very unsuccessful until he meets an old man named Golden Leg.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Golden Leg was a former soccer star now with a bum leg whose life was ruined when he threw a championship soccer game as a younger man.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of his teammates named Hung was the true mastermind behind this and had Golden Leg’s leg broken so that he could never play soccer again. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hung became the best soccer player in Hong Kong and is now an evil business man and owner of Team Evil, the best soccer team in the country.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Golden Leg convinces Sing to apply his Kung Fu skills to the game of soccer, but Sing needs a team.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He seeks out his brothers from the Shaolin temple to join him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Each of them have forsaken their Kung Fu training and are living a miserable existence in society, never fulfilling their potential.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All of them have lost their confidence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While trying to reunite his brothers, Sing meets Mui, a shy, awkward young woman with severe acne, who makes delicious mantou by using T’ai Chi to prepare the dough.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like Sing’s brothers, Mui has never reached her full potential and truly embraced Kung Fu as the center of her life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Without spoiling the plot too much, Sing and his brothers (Iron Head, Hooking Leg, Iron Shirt, Empty Hand, Mighty Steel Leg, and Light Weight) eventually form Team Shaolin and enter the Golden Cup Tournament.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Their skills and honor will be put to the test as they progress through the tournament and face Team Evil.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redemption will be found, sacrifices will be made, and true love will be realized.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">To summarize:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Action...check.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Romance...check.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Special effects...check.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Humor...check.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Occasional bad English translation...check.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Awesome Kung Fu...check.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Fun for the whole family...check.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">This movie starts a little slow as the characters are introduced but is well worth the wait as you progress to the soccer scenes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wish all sports movies could be as exciting and fun as this one.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">My kids laughed and cheered throughout the movie.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There’s good reason for this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The movie is great.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For many years it was the highest grossing movie in Hong Kong, until it was surpassed by another Stephen Chow movie.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">If you haven’t ever seen a Stephen Chow movie, then I am sorry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You are missing out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Watch Shaolin Soccer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then go track down Kung Fu Hustle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You won’t be disappointed.</span></div>Jodyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13338437834441661858noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8027575790048115144.post-39635104622085440292012-02-20T19:42:00.000-06:002012-02-20T19:42:07.628-06:00Retro Gaming with the Family--Atari 2600<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">There’s no hiding the fact that my favorite console of all time is the Atari 2600 (my first real console as a kid).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had so many fond memories of playing my Atari that I have tried on many occasions, unsuccessfully I might add, to share my love of this great console with my family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No matter how hard I tried, something on the XBOX, Wii, or DS seemed to hold my kids’ attention better than the classic gameplay of the Atari 2600.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">This last weekend, the weather was abysmal, so I decided to try one last time to get the family interested in the old wood-grain box in my closet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I set up a retro gaming weekend for the family and decided to hide the controllers to any modern system in the house.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Despite some initial grumbling about no Mario, XBOX, etc., I ended up with several volunteers willing to play “Dad’s old piece of junk.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">This time, however, I stacked the deck.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I pulled out the best of the best of my collection (sorry Human Cannonball; I loved playing you as a kid, but you didn’t make the cut).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Space Invaders, Pitfall, River Raid, Berzerk, Asteroids, Yars Revenge, The Empire Strikes Back, Kaboom, Atlantis, Frogger, Night Driver, Centipede, Defender, Vanguard and many, many more were served up to a family trapped in the house by Mother Nature.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The kids were captivated with the gameplay, and the choice of games.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Two games, however, were played more than all the rest and became the favorites of the group—Warlords and Combat. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Single player games, and high scores are one thing, but destroying your friend or family member and earning temporary bragging rights of dominance is another.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s why multiplayer games were invented, and why Warlords and Combat excel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I thoroughly enjoyed watching my family fire up Combat and try virtually every variation of the game.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We fought tank battles, invisible tank battles, three on one dogfight, invisible dogfight, one on one jets with and without clouds, etc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The short time limit per game allowed multiple turns and set a frenetic pace to rack up the kills on your opponent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although my sons put up quite a fight, experience with the joystick helped one middle-aged gamer keep up a pretty good win streak.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When you are old, you will take any bit of help and competitive advantage you can get.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">As for Warlords, that will be for a different blog coming soon. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">This weekend was definitely a success.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My sons have asked me to hook up my Atari (no longer called “Dad’s old piece of junk") in their room.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They can’t wait until we play it again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Over the span of a few hours, my family helped me relive a little bit of my childhood, and my kids gained a better understanding of the history of video games.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have to say it was a weekend well spent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thanks Atari.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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</div>Jodyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13338437834441661858noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8027575790048115144.post-17901054854036464432012-02-15T21:32:00.002-06:002012-02-15T21:48:07.334-06:00Farewell King Size Snickers Bar<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 7.5pt;">
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Today, Mars Inc., the fine folks who make such great products like Snickers and Twix bars, announced that they are going to stop selling their products with more than 250 calories in them by the year 2014. <br />
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This great idea is “part of an ongoing effort to improve the nutritional value of its products and to sell them in a responsible way.”<br />
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Really….<br />
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Has anyone ever seriously thought that a chocolate candy bar was a responsible or nutritional snack? <br />
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A Snickers bar is meant for enjoyment not health (seems like I said basically the same thing in my Pepsi blog). A Snickers bar contains no nutritional benefits. If you want something healthy, then Jamie Lee Curtis recommends Activia rather than a Snickers bar. You do have a choice. <br />
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I have mixed feelings about this announcement. I should be happy that companies are trying to fight the obesity epidemic, but I don’t think removing the king size chocolate bars will make much of a difference. Last time I checked I could buy two regular sized bars if a king size isn’t available. <br />
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Farewell King Size Snickers bar. You will be missed…. and eventually replaced with two regular sized bars full of political correctness. Yum!!!!!<br />
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For the full story, click here:<br />
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<a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/02/16/mars-chocolate-idUSL2E8DG06320120216">http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/02/16/mars-chocolate-idUSL2E8DG06320120216</a>Jodyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13338437834441661858noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8027575790048115144.post-1392904903777002982012-02-13T22:29:00.000-06:002012-02-14T20:28:59.113-06:00Lessons learned--Skyrim<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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For the first time in many months, the stars aligned, and I was given a few hours to attack the pile of shame. There were many games to pick from, but there was one at the top of the pile staring at me, daring me to play.<br />
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Skyrim<br />
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It’s going to take me about 50 years to finish this game, so don’t expect a review any time soon. There are tons of reviews out there if you need to check one out. For me, I am going to chronicle a few things about my time in Skyrim. I am saving the kingdom, albeit slowly, but learning a lot along the way. <br />
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Lessons learned (5 hours in):<br />
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1. Save often.<br />
2. If your character is at level 3, don’t try to kill a giant. Really, don’t. Just wait awhile. If you try, you will be impressed with your ability to fly.<br />
3. If your character is at level 3, don’t try to kill a giant’s mammoths. Seriously, don’t. Maybe you will have better luck killing a chicken in the village. <br />
4. Leave the chickens alone. Killing one will get you in a lot of trouble. Who am I kidding? Avoid mammoths and chickens. Do some leveling up first.<br />
5. Whenever the prompt comes up to steal something, don’t do it in front of someone, even if you are carrying a large axe. It never ends well. <br />
6. Don’t step on ornate floor tiles in caves. Look but don't touch.<br />
7. When stealth is required, give squatting a try. Squatting down seems to make you invisible to the world. <br />
8. If your character is at level 4, oh never mind. See lesson 2. <br />
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If these lessons don’t make a lot of sense, pick up the game. You’ll see I am right, and no matter what happens, avoid killing chickens. You’ll thank me for that advice.<br />
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Minor Spoiler--youtube video of someone fighting giants<br />
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<br />Jodyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13338437834441661858noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8027575790048115144.post-20328522706098852742012-02-10T23:03:00.001-06:002012-02-10T23:19:44.315-06:00Parenting 101--Where did we go wrong?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“By the Power of Greyskull…..I have the POWER.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It was early Saturday morning 1 week ago, and I was sure that I was dreaming or having some sleep deprived flashback to my childhood.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Then I realized I wasn’t dreaming or imagining things. I clearly heard a very familiar sound…the roar of the mighty Battle Cat, He-Man’s faithful companion. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">After getting out of bed, I instinctively went to my sons’ room to watch He-Man, only to find them on the floor playing marbles. Their TV was off.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I heard it again, the sound of He-Man battling the cackling, evil Skeletor. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Now completely awake, I followed the sound to find something totally unexpected…my 5 year-old daughter in pink cupcake pajamas watching He-Man put the boots to a group of Skeletor’s henchman (Beast-Man, Mer-Man, and Trapjaw). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">She was cheering He-Man and punching along with our hero.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">My daughter then admitted that she turned on the TV and the Roku box to get to Netflix (this should have gotten her in trouble but on this day I just couldn't bring myself to get on to her). She found He-Man on there and started watching it. Now she’s hooked. In an explosion of excitement she said, “Dad, he punches the bad guys….a lot. It’s awesome. I want fabulous secret powers. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I love Cringer.” </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Please keep in mind that my daughter isn’t much of a tomboy. Everything in her room is pink. She is all girl, all the time. Almost all of her activities involve Barbie, My Little Pony, Disney Princesses, Hello Kitty, Strawberry Shortcake, etc. He-Man doesn’t quite fit the pattern of her existence.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Yet, there she was watching one my favorite childhood shows. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">When I told my wife, she laughed and said, “Where did we go wrong?” </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Instead a grin came across my face as I replied,”No…..where did we go right?”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Daddy-daughter TV time is about to get a lot more exciting… </span></div>
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Pinterest…..<br />
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My wife starting doing this “thing” for the last several weeks, and it has grown into an obsession. Pretty soon I was able to see how the obsession spreads like gremlins with water on them (or a zombie outbreak if you prefer). Our email box is bursting at the seam with non-stop Pinterest excitement. Susie is following you on Pinterest. Mary just repinned your pin. It goes on and on.<br />
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Finally, last week, I broke down and had a serious discussion with my wife.<br />
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<em>Me: What is a "Pinterest?"<br /><br />Her: It’s a place where people virtually pin pictures of stuff they like.<br /><br />Me: Ok...</em><br />
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The emails of all the Pinterest excitement continued to pour in, which lead to serious discussion number 2.<br />
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<em>Me: What is Pinterest again, and why do they keep sending so many emails?<br /><br />Her: It’s a social network. People make boards which have pictures and links pinned on them. Other people view the boards. It’s great. Let me show you.<br /><br />Me: Ok…why are there so many pictures of babies and food?<br /><br />Her: That’s what a lot of people like to see.<br /><br />Me: Ok….</em><br />
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Last Thursday, I finally got the itch to experience firsthand what Pinterest is all about. So I added the app to my iPhone and went to create an account.<br />
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Instead of the immediate gratification I was expecting, I was thanked on email for joining a waitlist and given a promise that I would get an official invitiation to join the site later. What? Is Pinterest the country club of social networks where I have to wait to get in? Well, like most folks wanting social acceptance, I put my name on the list and waited with baited breath for my invite. <br />
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Today is the day, and I am proud to say that I’ve been accepted into the club. <br />
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I have no idea what I am going to do there. I’m not one of the cool kids, so I hope I can fit in. <br />
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I’ve got a feeling I’m about to have another serious discussion with my wife about Pinterest. This time instead of "What is Pinterest" it will be "Can you show me how to do this thing? Please."<br />
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For me, Pinterest is like stepping on the moon. Ok, maybe it’s not that dramatic but it’s a big step for me.<br />
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Pinterest, here I come!!! Unfortunately I don't have any pictures of babies or food.<br />
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If anyone has any tips how to make Pinterest exciting for a middle-aged gamer, please type in the comments.Jodyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13338437834441661858noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8027575790048115144.post-21034103283581360082012-02-04T01:05:00.000-06:002012-02-09T23:08:34.186-06:00Thoughts on the death of my father<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">When I decided to start a blog, I didn’t plan to write anything serious.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I figured I would write about the video games I played, the movies I watched, etc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I never planned to write out my innermost emotions and feelings. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think I am going to take a quick detour from my original blogging plan for this one entry.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Lately, with my birthday approaching, I’ve noticed that I feel a bit empty. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I am not going through a mid-life crisis, and I haven’t traded away the family car for a Corvette.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have pretty much anything one could ever want (an amazing family, a rewarding job, and a great church).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">However, this will be my first birthday without my father, who passed away in December.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It seems odd to “celebrate” without someone who was there your entire life.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I know I am not the first to ever have to go through this nor will I be the last.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We all only have a small amount of time on this Earth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Knowing this still doesn’t get rid of the empty feeling.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">After my father passed away, I was looking through some of his writings and notes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A couple of years ago, my father began to help teach a Sunday school class.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When he prepared his lesson, he would brainstorm all of his thoughts on paper.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One thing he wrote really stood out to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“You may be only one person in the world, but you may also be the world to one person.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">My father and I didn’t have a perfect relationship, but I did love him, and my world just isn’t quite right without him.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I know in time I’ll adjust, and the empty feeling will go away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It just won’t be today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Dad, I love you and miss you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My birthday won’t be the same without you. </span></div>Jodyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13338437834441661858noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8027575790048115144.post-16969449201537658682012-02-02T20:48:00.001-06:002012-02-02T20:57:15.842-06:00Atari 2600 Catalogs<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.atariage.com/catalogs/headers/Atari_CO16725-RevC_header.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" sda="true" src="http://www.atariage.com/catalogs/headers/Atari_CO16725-RevC_header.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Today there is seemingly an infinite number of ways to promote video games (downloadable demos, websites, blogs, commercials, podcasts, youtube, twitter, facebook, etc).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Need a screenshot, video, or review?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No problem, they are out there on the web, en masse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It wasn’t so easy back in the days of the Atari 2600 though.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Back then you had……..(drum roll)……..a catalog.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Atari was well known for printing some amazing catalogs to promote their game library.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These catalogs would have exciting, detailed art work to advertise the company’s latest and greatest games.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Catalogs were packed in with games when you bought them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These catalogs weren’t small either.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Often times, they would advertise up to 50 titles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">For me, these catalogs gave the opportunity to see what exciting adventure was out there, waiting for me to find and play.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It also served as a nice presentation piece to assist with formal begging.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is no telling how many times I gave copies of the catalogs to my parents with all the games “I needed” circled with a red pen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In going through some things today, I found a couple of Atari catalogs from 1981 and 1982.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A lot of games were still circled in red ink.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe my Mom will get me one for my birthday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It still doesn’t hurt to ask…..</span></div>
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To see many of the classic video game catalogs, check out the following website: <a href="http://www.atariage.com/system_catalogs.html">http://www.atariage.com/system_catalogs.html</a><br />
<br />Jodyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13338437834441661858noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8027575790048115144.post-11975821736308699832012-01-31T21:47:00.000-06:002012-01-31T22:02:46.800-06:00Judge Dredd vs Zombies for the iPhone<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“I am the law.”<br /><br />I haven’t heard the name Judge Dredd in many years. I’m not a huge fan of the comic book series and still cringe when I think of the 1995 movie version of Judge Dredd starring Sylvester Stallone. <br /><br />I know a little about the Judge though. In the future, Earth is a big wasteland. Humanity lives in mega-cities and “judges” walk the streets dispensing justice by serving as judge, jury, and sometimes executioner. In Mega-City One, Judge Dredd is our main man delivering justice to all the criminals of the city.<br /><br />How do you try to re-introduce Judge Dredd to modern day video gamers? Add zombies of course. That seems to be the norm with any franchise now.<br /><br />So, we have a new “freemium” game from Fuse and Rebellion, and it has zombies.<br /><br />Judge Dredd vs Zombies is a top down action shooter consisting of 30 levels of zombie blasting fun. There’s no real story here, no cut scenes, just action. You are Judge Dredd, and the only way to complete the level is to kill every zombie that moves.<br /><br />You get to use one of four upgradeable weapons (MKII Lawgiver, Spitgun, Scattergun, or Hi-Ex Launcher) to destroy the zombie hordes. Each has its own pros/cons, and you will have to figure out which weapon works best for you if you want to complete the game (more on this later).<br /><br />The good:</span><br />
<br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Controls are excellent. You move with a virtual d-pad on the left side of the screen and firing/reloading buttons on the right side. The game auto-locks on the nearest target (which really helps when the screen is packed full of zombies) but will also allow you to manually target if needed.<br /><br />The levels are repetitive but fun (walk into an area, kill zombies, walk into another area, kill zombies, rinse and repeat). The action can be intense when you are locked in a room with the zombie horde and trying to fight to stay alive. It will take skill and patience to make it through all of the levels.<br /><br />The levels are relatively short, which makes it great for quick pick up and play sessions.<br /><br />The indifferent:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The game is challenging when you decide to leave it as a free game. As you progress through levels, you earn in game currency, which can help you upgrade your weapons (a must if you expect to finish the game).<br /><br />The bad (and the real bad):</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />The amount of currency you earn in the game is very low. You are going to need currency and weapon upgrades to progress through levels in the game. Unless you buy credits, you are barely going to earn enough money to upgrade only one weapon to the point that you can beat the game. If you try to balance your upgrades with earned currency, you will end up with four minimally upgraded weapons that simply won’t give you enough firepower to beat the later levels of the game. I would have loved to play the game with all of the weapons but couldn’t unless I spent real money to upgrade them. <br /><br />That gets us to the really bad: the microtransaction system for the game. It is very clear that the publishers of the game want you to buy additional credits to upgrade your weapons. Buying the credits will run you from $2 to $30 depending on how much you want. If you don’t spend the money, then it is going to be a long grind to finish the game. You will be replaying levels over and over to earn enough credits to make your weapon useful in the later levels. It can be done though. You will just have to demonstrate some patience…a lot of patience. For me personally, I would rather pay for the game and play it completely or allow the player to purchase optional upgrades. I didn’t like feeling that the game was tryng to make me buy credits just to get through a “free” game. <br /><br />Final Thoughts:<br /><br />Pick up this game and give it a try. The controls and action are excellent. If you don’t want to grind through the game or spend any money, play and enjoy the levels until you get stuck, then delete the game. If you love it, grind through it, or buy some credits. Either way, have fun being Judge Dredd, even if for a few minutes. Go protect Mega-City One. The citizens there need you. You are the law.<br />
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</span><a href="http://www.pocketgamer.co.uk/artwork/na-jiq/Judge-Dredd-vs-Zombies-ios-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" sda="true" src="http://www.pocketgamer.co.uk/artwork/na-jiq/Judge-Dredd-vs-Zombies-ios-1.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="http://www.pocketgamer.co.uk/artwork/na-dcjjr/judge-dredd-zombies-ios-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" sda="true" src="http://www.pocketgamer.co.uk/artwork/na-dcjjr/judge-dredd-zombies-ios-2.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>Jodyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13338437834441661858noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8027575790048115144.post-39808858880024444352012-01-28T21:38:00.000-06:002012-01-28T21:39:08.269-06:00Second Place is Pretty Darn Good<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Second place is being the first loser. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard that. Even Vince Lombardi is noted for saying, “There is no room for second place. There is only one place in my game and that is first place.”</div>
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This weekend my sons and I came in second place in a Boy Scout fishing tournament, only missing out of first by 3 ounces. According to Vince Lombardi and many others, I should be very unhappy about coming in second place because I am “the first loser.”<br />
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There were over 45 parent/Scout teams at the tournament, and only two teams received an award (1st and 2nd place). Strangely enough, I didn’t see a single person get upset about not winning. I didn’t feel like the first loser, and I don’t think that the other 43 teams felt like losers either. <br />
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I had nothing but great joy spending a day with my family, getting an opportunity to fish, and watching my sons’ faces light up as they reeled in one rainbow trout after another. Whether we won or not, I felt like a winner just for being there.<br />
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I’ll take being the first loser on this one. Coming in second place wasn’t bad at all. In fact, it was pretty darn good.<br />
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<br />Jodyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13338437834441661858noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8027575790048115144.post-158546793159429872012-01-27T09:06:00.001-06:002012-01-27T09:11:59.228-06:00RIP Robert Heyges AKA Juan Epstein<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I just read that Robert Heyges passed away on Thursday January 26th at the age of 60 from a heart attack.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many won’t recognize the name at first but most will know who he is when you see a picture of J<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">uan Luis Pedro Felipo de Huevos Epstein or more simply Epstein</span> from Welcome Back Kotter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Heyges did many other things as an actor (such as portraying undercover detective Manny Esposito on Cagney & Lacey and teaching acting courses at Rowan University) but will forever be remembered for his role as Juan Epstein.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I still laugh when I think of him saying, “Hey Mr. Kotter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I got a note.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The note would always be signed by “Epstein’s mother” or “Epstein’s doctor” to try to get him out of a taking a test or doing some other type of schoolwork.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was one the best running jokes on the show. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Mr. Heyges, thanks for the memories.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>RIP.</span></div>
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<br /></div>Jodyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13338437834441661858noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8027575790048115144.post-78534857856417394262012-01-26T19:49:00.000-06:002012-01-26T20:07:52.066-06:00Thoughts on the Fanfic Video "Grayson"<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">At one point or another, most kids have dreamed up the perfect story with their favorite superheroes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I remember as a 7 year old writing a story in which a new Green Lantern (who happened to be a whole lot like me) destroyed an evil dictator named Kal-El (i.e. Superman).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I called it Emerald Dawn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was my masterpiece (at least in my 7 year old mind).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many years later DC comics had its own “Emerald Dawn” storyline in their Green Lantern comic book series.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fortunately for them, it was nothing like my story. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My story, which in retrospect wasn’t very good, was what folks today call “fan fiction” (i.e. stories written by fans about their favorite movie, TV, video game, comic book characters, etc.) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">There are lots of sites that publish fan fiction, and I’m always impressed when I read a piece that seems to be on par with actual comic book/movie canon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m even more impressed when someone attempts to put a piece of fanfic to video.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Other than youtube, these usually never get published due to trademark issues, but they can still be fun to watch.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">This leads me to “Grayson.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">A couple of times per year, I find myself going back to watch “Grayson,” a five minute fanfic movie trailer about Dick Grayson (Robin) putting back on the suit to solve the murder of Batman.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> With so many DC Comics references, pictures, and characters involved in the story, i</span>t’s obvious that star/director John Fiorella has a true love and reverence for the source material. It's this reverence that really draws you into his superhero tale. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Throw out some comic book logic (i.e. why doesn’t Dick Grayson just wear his Nightwing outfit) and have fun watching Mr. Fiorella’s trailer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s a heck of a 5 minute ride and one of the best fanfic videos out there.</span></div>
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<br /></div>Jodyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13338437834441661858noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8027575790048115144.post-62252836099817360972012-01-25T22:49:00.001-06:002012-01-25T22:58:01.628-06:00Pepsi Throwback<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/3/32/Pepsi_Throwback_2010.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gda="true" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/3/32/Pepsi_Throwback_2010.png" /></a></div>
Coke or Pepsi? Coke<br />
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Coke or Pepsi Throwback? Much more difficult of a choice, but I am starting to lean towards Pepsi Throwback.<br />
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Pepsi Throwback is soda as it should be made. High fructose corn syrup....gone. Pepsi Throwback has replaced this with cane/beet sugar as it was many decades ago.<br />
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Nothing makes a soda taste better than real sugar. Nothing.<br />
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The flavor of Pepsi Throwback is sweet and goes down smooth. Gone is the acidic, chemical taste found in regular Pepsi. Once you drink a Throwback, you won’t want a regular Pepsi ever again. <br />
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Thanks Pepsi. The Throwback takes me back to my childhood when drinking a soda was a real treat. As long as you keep them on the market, I will buy them. <br />
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As for the health nuts out there, sodas are meant for enjoyment, not health. They contain no nutritional benefits. Let me repeat, <strong><em>they contain no nutritional benefits</em></strong>. If you want something healthy, go make a protein shake or have some Activia or something. Me, I’ll take the Pepsi Throwback.....at least until Coke follows suit with some real sugar.Jodyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13338437834441661858noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8027575790048115144.post-37761323369772764662012-01-24T21:02:00.000-06:002012-01-25T18:05:29.884-06:00The Pile of Shame<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">When I was younger, devoting hours and hours to playing video games was easy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A 100 hour RPG.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No problem, just give me a week to complete it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Video games were not just a hobby, but a passion, a way of life. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I have become a “responsible adult” I tend to find less time to game as so much of my life is spent between my family and job.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I do get the chance, it’s usually playing games with the kids or finding a spare moment to try out something on my iphone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Regardless, the itch to still be a hardcore gamer never goes away, even if you know you don’t have the time to do so.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Enter the pile of shame.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">What is the pile of shame (AKA the stack of shame)?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s the pile of games that people like me buy with good intentions to resume their hardcore gaming ways.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I’ll carve out some time and then I will play it.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have probably said this 1000 times.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have been able to do it a few times.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe it’s a visit to Mom’s house, going to one of the kids’ events, or just mowing the yard. The time to sink into a long game just no longer exists.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a result, the pile just grows and grows.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In looking at my current pile, I found L.A. Noire, which I received last year for Father’s Day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The game is still sealed and seems to be slowly inching its way up the pile.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I really wanted to play the game when I received it, but life conspired to take that time away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Christmas saw the addition of Batman: Arkham City and The Elder Scrolls V:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Skyrim.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve been saying almost daily that I was going to fire up Skyrim, only to have life remind me that I am no longer a hardcore gamer but a father and husband first, gamer second.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Skyrim, however, is patiently waiting for me at the top of the pile.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I still long to be that gamer of old and sink my teeth into a 100+ hour game.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Will I ever get to?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course, I’ve bought the game, and it’s in the pile.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll just carve out some time and play it……</span></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/w1AenlOEXao?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>Jodyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13338437834441661858noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8027575790048115144.post-68204357920482854542012-01-23T20:42:00.000-06:002012-01-24T22:21:17.225-06:00Random Thoughts on the Movie Phase 7<br />
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<a href="http://ossuary.best-horror-movies.com/m/photos/get_image/original/dcda437e0c9fcd165ca0a0ad8a866d56.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gda="true" height="320" src="http://ossuary.best-horror-movies.com/m/photos/get_image/original/dcda437e0c9fcd165ca0a0ad8a866d56.jpg" width="223" /></a></div>
Normally I watch a movie when I don’t feel like reading, but sometimes I’ll combine the two and look for a foreign horror or sci-fi movie and bear through the English subtitles. If the movie is good, then I don’t mind. Last night was devoted to watching the low budget Argentinian sci-fi movie “Phase 7” from the Netflix instant queue. <br />
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Here’s the basic premise with no major spoilers.<br />
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The story is set in Argentina and initially focuses on a twenty something slacker named Coco and his 7 month pregnant wife Pipi. As the story develops we find out that a deadly virus has hit several countries, killing lots and lots of people (they don’t exactly say how many so I will quantify it as “lots and lots”). The Health Ministry begins increasing the threat level in the country, and eventually the building that Coco and Pipi live in is placed into quarantine. As time passes, we get introduced to the unusual group of neighbors in the building and the social dynamic between these people. Although a pacificst, Coco eventually aligns himself with his gun-toting survivalist neighbor Horacio as tensions and paranoia increase from living weeks in quarantine without contact to the outside world.<br />
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There is mention a few times about some type of New World Order and the conspiracy that the virus is a way to decrease the population, but this really wasn’t developed much other than to further along some conversations between Coco and Horacio and explain Horacio's survivalist actions. I was expecting monsters or zombies to attack those in the building, but that never happened. The most dangerous predator in this movie was man and his inevitable inhumanity towards others. <br />
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Pros<br />
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· Decent story with decent acting for a low budget movie, funny at times<br />
· Suspenseful environment<br />
· Musical score is reminiscent of something out of a late 70's/early 80's John Carpenter movie<br />
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Cons<br />
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· Character development<br />
· Pacing<br />
· The virus isn’t all that frightening in the way it kills (other than it kills you I guess). However, it’s probably much more realistic than getting a bite/scratch and then bouncing up from the ground as an out of control zombie or monster.<br />
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Overall I was satisfied with the movie. Perhaps it’s because I didn’t have any preconceived expectations. If I had wanted to watch Hitchcock, then I would have watched Hitchcock. I just wanted a little escapism and basic entertainment, not a cinematic masterpiece. This movie gave that to me. It also got me thinking about what I would do in similar circumstances. So for that, I’ll recommend the movie. Most movies these days won’t keep you thinking after the credits roll. <br />
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If you can handle the subtitles, I would also recommend Troll Hunter (Norway) and Rammbock (Germany), which can also be found on the Netflix instant queue. Maybe I’ll discuss these later, but I have to finish my thoughts on Space Invaders first….Jodyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13338437834441661858noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8027575790048115144.post-23946624712272397242012-01-21T18:55:00.000-06:002012-01-21T18:55:31.170-06:00The best gift "ever"My random thoughts wandered away from Space Invaders and towards the idea of the best gift "ever" (material gift that is; a much greater gift can be found at John 3:16).<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">This year my kids told me they had the greatest Christmas “ever.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My sons decided that their BB guns were the best gifts “ever.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My daughter thought that her Build-a Bear wardrobe was the best gift “ever.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I remember telling my parents that my Atari 2600 and later my Nintendo Entertainment System were the best gifts “ever.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My wife said her Kindle Fire was the best gift “ever.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ok, maybe she didn’t say that, but she did like it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This got me to thinking about what really makes something the best gift ever.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">A few years ago, my friend Jim gave what I think was one of the best gifts “ever” to his granddaughter Lily.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He wrote a story for her, and his wife Karan drew the pictures for the story, “Princess Lily and the Great Cookie Mystery.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The story was simply a tale written from a grandfather to his granddaughter out of love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Buying something for someone is really easy, even when there is a lot of thought to the present, but creating something for another person is truly special.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This story was a gift from the heart and not the wallet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I think about the best gifts “ever,” I have to think that Jim’s gift to Lily is right up there as one of the best.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since then he’s worked to put it e-book form. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">If you are interested go check it out at: </span><a href="http://www.crimsonpearlbooks.com/"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">http://www.crimsonpearlbooks.com/</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Jim, great job being a loving grandfather.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You’ve given Lily something she will never forget and will always hold dear to her heart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You gave her your story.</span></div>
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<a href="https://caps-public.s3.amazonaws.com/content/3577369/THUMBNAIL_IMAGE" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" nfa="true" src="https://caps-public.s3.amazonaws.com/content/3577369/THUMBNAIL_IMAGE" /></a></div>Jodyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13338437834441661858noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8027575790048115144.post-85741786155980453402012-01-21T01:44:00.001-06:002012-01-21T01:44:37.358-06:00Coming Soon: Memories and Recollections of Space Invaders for the Atari 2600 AKA the best $25 I ever spentHopefully I'll have my first blog finished this weekend.<br />
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Memories and Recollections of Space Invaders for the Atari 2600 AKA the best $25 I ever spentJodyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13338437834441661858noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8027575790048115144.post-69484515884085893992012-01-21T00:16:00.000-06:002012-01-21T00:18:42.812-06:00Intro to the BlogI know nothing about blogging, programming, etc., so bear with me as I learn how to write a blog and make the site a little nicer. I'm simply a middle-aged gamer with kids and a regular 9-5 job who has a lot on my mind. My blog isn't meant to change the world, but simply to write out my random thoughts on my hobbies and passions in life. Hopefully, others out there will share some of these same things, and we can discuss them together.Jodyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13338437834441661858noreply@blogger.com0