Remembering the 80s cartoons – Part 3

The success of Robot Chicken tells me one thing; a lot of people miss the 80’s. I proudly admit to spending Saturday mornings and after school weekdays in front of the television. Looking back, it is funny that my mom would say I shouldn’t spend so much time in front of the T.V. It was rarely more than an hour here and there. Compared to today’s child, it was insignificant. What made those cartoons so glorious? Will our children feel the same about the cartoons of today? I don’t think so. Enjoy a trip with me through the ’80s cartoon graveyard.

A list could be made of all the wonderful cartoons that fascinated the 80’s child, but it would take all day. Cartoons of the 80’s offered our first glimpse into real life situations. G.I. Joe offered important safety education through the public service announcements at the end of the shows. “Now I know, and Knowing is half the battle”. Saturday morning cartoons had a sprinkling of One to Grow On PSAs throughout their line up. They were teaching us that bad things could happen and we needed to be prepared. That was a first in the world of children’s television. The world was shifting and cartoons were helping us with these changes.

For the first time women were holding their own in roles held traditionally by men. Scarlett from G.I. Joe rescued Snake Eyes and Duke a time of two. Even Cobra had the wickedly intelligent and highly deadly Baroness. She-Ra was the female counterpart to He-Man. Noble Cheetara fought alongside Lion-O and Panthra against Mumm-Ra. And who could ever forget Jem, who was truly outrageous.

Today there is quite a yin and yang in the world of cartoons. They either seem to educate or eradicate brain cells. I appreciate PBS shows and Dora and Diego are teaching children about caring while helping children learn another language. But sometimes I have to take out the cartoons from my childhood. There is something magical about them because my daughters squeals with glee and jumps into my lap to enjoy them just as much as I do.

I want my daughter to know Bumble Bee and watch the “Autobots roll out.” She is learning about people, or in this case machines, fighting for justice. I want her to know Firestar and Spiderman’s other Amazing Friends. She is learning about how life doesn’t always work out and that you won’t always be the popular kid but life is still good. I want her to feel like the sky is the limit, and that there are bad things that can happen and she needs to be aware. Most of all, I want her to have the fun I had when cartoon characters actually looked like people instead of shapes in a Picasso work. Bless you Optimus Prime and He-man because of you and “By the power of Greyskull, I have the power”.

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«Трансформеры-2» – мир или перемирие?

Режиссер первой части легендарных «Трансформеров» («Transformers») Майкл Бэй (Michael Bay), поделился с журналистами некоторыми сведениями о сценарии второй части (как известно, режиссер задумал снять трилогию о гигантских роботах).

Действия фильма начинаются, когда героиня Меган Фокс (Megan Fox) Микаэла Бейнс приезжает навестить учащегося в престижном колледже Сэма Уитвики, в котором можна узнать все того же Шиа ЛаБэфа (Shia LaBeouf). Уже отснята сцена опоздания Сэма на лекцию астрономии. В роли лектора выступил Рэинн Уилсон (Rainn Wilson).

Но не рассказ режиссера стал сенсацией, а слух о том, что в «Мести павших» («Revenge of the Fallen») добрые Автоботы объединятся со своими злейшими врагами Десептиконами против общего врага. Подтвердит студия или опровергнуть слух – узнаем уже в июне следующего года.

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Short stories: Christmas – Part 1

Mom was a 32 year old very successful business woman having inherited her dead husband’s business two years earlier and transforming it into a world wide business empire. She had the best of everything including a Lear jet at her beck and call which she used like most people use a car. Always on the go, and always in a different part of the world, this was her lifestyle and it made her veins red hot.

She was 7 years old and the apple of her mother’s eye. Nothing was denied her, being the only child of this successful woman.Two large rooms in the mansion were filled with nothing but the latest in toys and games, some not even out on the market yet. She had a live in nanny to care for her and also doubled as a playmate. A cook and maid also shared this mansion with them, and it appeared as if nothing could be more perfect…

This Christmas was going to be the most perfect yet. The mother had arranged for a real live pony to be delivered to the home on Christmas Eve, and it would be tied with the most perfect of bows in the back yard, which incidentally consisted of over 45 acres of the finest pasture and woods combined.

“Mom, please don’t go,” the young child begged her mother.

“Honey, I told you, it’s business,” the mom replied,” Besides, you have all those beatiful toys to play with.”

“But I want to play with you, mom, just you,” the little girl retorted.

“I’ll be back before you know it, and then we’ll play,” promised the mother.

“That’s what you always say,” whined the young girl,” And then as soon as you’re back, you leave again,and you never have time to play with me.”

This was an ongoing battle between the young girl and her mother. None of the toys could fill the emptiness in the young girl’s heart. She would give up all her toys just for a night of her mother’s undivided attention.

“Please, mom,” the young girl begged one last time.

To no avail, the mother went on another jet run to another city in another part of the world and left the little girl to play with her toys under the caring eye of her nanny. This jaunt would take four days, and two days after the mother left, the young girl took ill.

“How bad is it?” asked the mother to the nanny.

“The fever is high, but the doctor said it should abate in the morning,” responded the nanny.

“But she wants you home now, M’am,” the nanny said.

“Well, just tell her I’ll be there in two more days, ” the mother said, and with that hung the phone up.

The next morning the fever grew hotter, and the doctor was called again. This time, the doctor wasted no time and called for an ambulance as the young girl took a turn for the worse. The mother was called and informed of the news, but there was a major snowstorm in the area of where she was and no flights could leave or enter. She begged to talk to her daughter, but her daughter now lie in a coma.

The next morning was Christmas, and the mother was able to fly out and head back home. Arriving at the hospital, she sat by the bedside of her daughter. The sickness had taken its toll and the doctors gave the young girl only a few hours to live. The mother sobbed by her bed and told the little girl that there was a pony waiting for her back home as soon as she got better.

“Mommy,” said the young girl.

“Yes dear,” replied the mother.

“I don’t want a pony, I just want you.”

These were the last words of the little girl who had gotten everything for Christmas but what she needed.

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Christmas Tree Decorating Ideas On A Budget

Some of the most creative and unique christmas tree decorating ideas are actually the ones that are the cheapest. Don’t think for a minute that decorating a tree, whether it be an artificial tree, a wall mounted tree or a real tree has to be boring! The key is to use your imagination to come up with ideas that will reflect your interests and personal style. When it comes to christmas tree decorating ideas, necessity really is the mother of some great inventions!

Here is some inexpensive and creative christmas tree decorating ideas for revelers on a budget.

Christmas Card Images – This is one of the simplest of christmas tree decorating ideas. Cut the images that you like from last year’s Christmas cards and color the back with gold or silver magic marker. Then hang it from the tree with a shiny ribbon. This look is especially nice on a wall mounted christmas tree that is placed next to your main entryway.

Colored Glass or Plastic Balls – Embellishing common colored glass balls with glitter paints or aerosol flocking (fake snow) is one of the most tried and true of christmas decorating ideas. You can also glue on glitter or craft store jewels and attach braids or ribbons on a cheap glass ball and turn it into the dime store equivalent of a Faberge egg. Stickers, sequins and ribbons can also be used to make inexpensive decorations look more unique. A bit of glue and some glitter is also a great way to refresh the look of old or scratched xmas ornaments.

Cookies – Decorating your tree with cookies is as old as the tradition itself. Simply make gingerbread or shortbread cookies and decorate them with icing. Make sure to leave a little hole in the confection so you can hang it from fishline or a ribbon from the tree. Gingerbread men or shortbread snowmen look great, especially on a natural green tree.

Glitter Decorations – Just about any tiny object, sphere or disk can be dipped or painted with glue and then rolled in glitter. This is one way to transform “junk” into xmas decorations that can be hung from the tree. Glitter is very inexpensive and it can be used to transform everything from old antique keys to cereal box prizes to golf balls into xmas décor.

Origami – Origami is the fine art of paper folding. You can find instructions for making everything from snowflakes to storks out of Origami on the Internet. There are many sites that specialize in offering origami christmas tree decorating ideas. One idea is to make larger and smaller versions of the same design to create a balanced and minimalist look.

Party Streamers: simply strewing the ends of its branches with party streamers can create a very fashionable and minimalist looking tree. A strand of Chinese lanterns from the dollar store also very nicely compliments this look. This type of look is also very attractive on an upside down xmas tree or a wall mounted christmas tree as a bit of a breeze makes the tree come alive with movement.

Pipe Cleaners – This is one of those christmas tree decorating ideas that is great to do with the kids! Chenille pipe cleaners have to be one of the most versatile craft items ever invented. Simply twist them into the shape of snowflakes, stars, angels or anything that you can imagine. Best of all pipe cleaner xmas decorations can be wired directly onto the tree. This makes them ideal for trees that can’t, for reasons of safety, have too many dangling decorations such as the wall mounted christmas tree or the upside down christmas tree.

Popcorn Christmas Tree – There is nothing cheaper than popcorn and it is a great source of inspiration when it comes to christmas tree decorating ideas. Any type of christmas tree including the real, artificial or wall mounted christmas tree looks great decorated in garlands of popcorn. Popcorn can also be shaped into balls and hung like gigantic snowballs from the branches of a tree. Don’t forget too that you can easily dye or paint popcorn using food coloring.

Ribbons and Lace – One of the simplest christmas tree decorating ideas is to simply tie bows made out of scraps of ribbon and bits of lace and tie them to the boughs of a tree. This is also the safest way of decorating a tree if you have a wall-mounted or upside-down christmas tree. Decorating a christmas tree in ribbons that are securely tied to a tree is also safest for a toddler.

Snowflakes – This is one of those christmas tree decorating ideas that are great to do with the kids. Remember the folded paper snowflakes you made as a child? You can decorate them with any color of glitter. For the best results hang the smaller paper snowflakes at the top of the tree and the larger ones at the bottom.

Toys – If you are on a budget then you can find lots of christmas decoration ideas in the toy section at your local toy store. As long as it is miniature, it will probably look great on a tree. You can wire heavier items to the branches and hang lightweight items with colorful bows. Trains, little dolls and fish look especially nice on an xmas tree. This idea is also good for a small wall mounted tree in a child’s room.

Wired Translucent Bows – This is one of the more minimalist christmas tree decorating ideas but the effect is absolutely beautiful. Buy wired translucent ribbon on in two colors – silver and gold are hot right now – and simply tie them to your tree. The wire keeps the bows big and stiff so they look really attractive. This look is also perfect for a tree that you don’t want people to bump into such as a wall mounted christmas tree or upside down christmas tree.

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Best of 2008: Invention

2008 has been a year of innovation like no other. We have seen the world’s fastest computer, aptly named Roadrunner, break the petaflop barrier, performing more than a quadrillion calculations per second. A new camera specially developed for the blind projects a raised tactile impression of its images to the user’s forehead. For the first time, a new technology can bend light around three-dimensional objects, leaving behind not even a shadow. Even “personal DNA testing can now easily be obtained on the retail shelves for a single low fee of $399 USD, offering genetic analysis of more than ninety traits and conditions with a simple saliva test.

The Chevrolet Volt has completed preliminary testing. Unlike hybrids, the Volt operates entirely off a battery power for the first 40 miles of driving, only then switching over to its 4-cylinder combustion engine to recharge the battery. Even then, the combustion engine does not directly power the car, since it is not connected to the wheels but to a 53-kilowatt generator. According to Times Magazine, 80% of us drive less than 40 miles at a stretch anyway, so all that time we would be using no gas at all. It will be rechargeable simply by plugging it into a regular household outlet. It is rumoured that a thermovoltaic solar panelled roof, capable of charging the battery simply by leaving the car in the sun, will be offered as an optional feature.

Outside the advertising campaign which began with its official unveiling in September 2008, the Volt will also feature in the 2009 Transformers sequel “Revenge of the Fallen.” The Volt is due to arrive on the retail market by 2010.

In the meantime, a small Canadian automobile company has already quietly released its own electric car to the market. So far, every test driver who has driven it has fallen in love with it. The ZENN car (which stands for Zero Emission No Noise) runs on six 12-volt batteries and a 5.5 horsepower engine. “No noise” is a completely accurate description. It runs in utter silence, allowing you to enjoy the sounds of nature or of your favourite CD without having to overcrank the volume over the sounds of the engine. To recharge your little ZENN, you just plug it into a regular household outlet.

The ZENN technology does not end with the current model. The car’s developer Ian Clifford envisions an entire ZENN line of small and mid-sized cars capable of distances of 400 kilometres after just a five-minute battery charge.

The current model of ZENN car is street-legal in 45 out of 50 states. Its retail price runs between $12,000 and $15,000 USD.

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Rainy day ideas for children

Remember the nursery rhyme, “Rain Rain Go Away, Little Children Want To Play”? Rainy days need not cause headaches for mothers and be boring for children. All it takes is a little planning before the next rainy day comes and you will never again have the problem of bored children looking for something to do

In our home we set aside a special box of toys that only come out on rainy days. That’s the rule and we stick to it. Children tend to get bored with the toys they play with on a daily basis so by sticking to the rainy day toy box rule you will never encounter this problem.

There is no need not go broke trying to fill your rainy day toy box. Remember to keep it simple. Rainy days are great days for arts and crafts projects, painting, science experiments, cooking with mom or even just watching special rainy day videos.

Get yourself a large twenty gallon plastic container with a lid or even two smaller sizes. Just remember that this box will need to be stored away on sunny days so consider your storage needs before purchasing

Start your box off with things from around your house. Save all empty containers from your kitchen. Empty large round oatmeal boxes are always a big hit with children and can be transformed into anything from a rocket ship to a piggy bank. Do the same thing with the finished paper towel rolls and the toilet paper rolls.

Visit your local dollar store and pick up a few dollar toys, crayons, construction paper, scissors, glitter and glue. Don’t forget to pick up the unconventional. In the kitchen isle look for plastic measuring cups so the kids can measure just how much rain really did come down. A cheap unbreakable thermometer and barometer will keep them busy also. How about a ruler and measuring tape or even a compass? Just use your imagination and let the kids come up with the ideas on how to use them.

There are some great craft books at bookstores that you can buy and also keep in your rainy day box. Choose one that has all types of craft projects to try. We have also added to our box , large pasta that can be strung for necklaces and alphabet pasta for writing words and gluing onto construction paper. The same can be done with rice. For added fun we use food coloring to dye the pasta and rice different colors.

A pile of old magazines are great for cutting and gluing collages. Toss in some music tapes or Cd’s and some special books for reading. What goes into your box is limited only by your imagination. Don’t forget to keep adding new things so that each time your kids open their rainy day toy box there is a new adventure waiting for them.

More Rainy Day Toy Box Ideas

beads, tissue paper, pipe cleaners, stickers, puzzles, puzzle books, popsicle sticks, magic markers, colored pencils, yarn, paper coffee filters, deck of cards and paper plates

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Does the media cause crime?

The media does not cause crime. Society – with its fallibility, mutability, inequalities, hypocrisies and prejudices does. The media only makes crime into a bloody spectator sport. It transforms ordinary citizens into the testosterone-charged, bloodthirsty gladiator audiences of ancient Rome, marveling in the brutal slaughter of their fellow men, intrigued by the fantastical methods of their murders, thanking Jupiter that it wasn’t them that were decapitated by a scimitar and fed to the ravenous lions.

In today’s society, the media, through its multitude of sinister but subtle mediums, dramatizes crime and often glorifies the criminal. The media provides detailed descriptions of the crime the location, the nature of the crime, the implements used, the ultimate resolution. This catapults the average, law-abiding citizen into the action. In other words, the nave consumers are hoodwinked into buying the next day’s newspaper, in order to follow this intriguing serialized news story.

All this is harmless enough, so far. People working in mind-numbingly bland office jobs, trapped in a stagnant marriages, tormented by a rowdy brood of offspring, need their entertainment. However, the media’s hyperbolic representations of crimes, in their avaricious pursuit of ratings, somewhat absolves the criminal and somehow makes them heroic. For instance, by propagating the tragic life story of Mr X, who has just shot his three-year-old daughter and then, himself, the media has created a martyr. The same goes for Mrs P, who robbed a bank to sponsor her son’s university education.

The media knows full well that human beings have always had a penchant for the law-breaker, the rebel, the daring individuals who dare to cross the line that they themselves shy from. Why else do women fall for bad boys’ and men femme fatales’? People inevitably fall for the criminal streak.The media exploits this sadistic obsession to the full, by in turn, presenting the sympathetic, pathetic side to the most malicious of psychopaths.

And the consequences of this exploitation? To impressionable minds, the media seems to be going so far as to condone crime, as it glorifies and places audacious criminals on pedestals. To desperate minds, the media represents the most powerful medium that will convey their message to the world. The publicity that the media unfailingly delivers may often be the impetus for horrific crimes such as school shootings they are often cries for help, for attention, or expressions of pure hatred and revenge.

Nevertheless, the media does not directly cause crime, although it is culpable for dramatizing crimes to suit its commercial purposes. In order to discover the true roots of criminality, we must examine the society itself. Would the frustrated Mr X have taken such extreme measures if national legislation had been different, and he was granted co-custody of his daughter, rather than supervised visits once a month? Would Mrs P have resorted to holding the bank at gunpoint if there were improved social support schemes or increased government funding to reduce university fees? For, if there did indeed exist an uncorrupted institutional justice in a society, there would be no need for individuals to impose their own instinctive justice and break the conventional laws.

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Movie reviews: The Transformers (2007) – Part 82

Caution: Some spoilers.

Transformers the movie came to theatres like an event, not just a film. As a fan of the Hasbro toys during my youth, and the cartoon I knew I would go to experience it. I have always thought director Michael Bay was on the cutting edge of action film technology and after Bad Boys 2 thought his work was just plain cool. However Transformers failed to recapture the fun I previously enjoyed with the concept and ruined any fun I may have gotten from visiting the theatre; disappointing.

The movie kicks into gear mixing action with comedy. Shia LaBeouf does a fine job in the lead role, however the jokes start to run thin before the middle of the film. Eventually they went from humorous to just plain corny and the moments were as awkward as seeing a stand up comedian bomb on stage. The jokes and action began to seem diluted down to a kids movie, which the film could very well have been made to cater exclusively to such, however what it does is try to walk a tight rope between adults and children; teetering and falling off. Comedic performance by man and machine just grew annoying.

The action, aside from big computer robots, is standard Bay. Several time as one watches fancy new cars come driving through smoke and racing around to rock music, they surely pause and think: this is a car commercial! Product placement was heavy in this film and quite apparent, with close ups on name brands on computer chips, to cell phone brand names being called out, to a soda machine turning into a Transformer.

Michael Bay has directed some awesome action scenes in the past and with this new film he basically revisited each of them like some sort of film cannibal. The shoot out from Bad Boys 2 where they are in the house of the Jamaican pirates is basically done again only with a robot in a bunker room. When the Transformers fall to Earth he makes sure to make a joke about how it is cooler than Armageddon and near the end when Shia runs into a large building the camera shot looks awful close to one of the destructive ones used in that Bruce Willis film as well. The car chase scenes fell flat when compared to his work in the Bad Boys franchise, The Rock, or even The Island; even with the giant robots who apparently ice skate on pavement. The other similarity to another film that stuck out to me was a battle sequence where the army men are trying to call for help, but the operator on the other end of the phone will not connect the call without a credit

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An introduction to action figure collecting

If you’re going to do this as an investment, don’t. Buy some shares of stock as you’ll get more a of a return over the course of a decade compared to actually getting any yields for action figures. People typically collect things because they find an allure to it. So if you’re thinking about starting an action figure collection, you must really love figurines.

I. Beginning your collection:

First off, collect the figures you actually like. If you like marvel comic book heroes, collect it. If you like stars wars characters, purchase it. If you love ken dolls, buy it. The emphasis is, this is about you and what you like. Purchase a model or two to determine if this really interests you. But be warned Collectibles are hard to quit and can really set you back after a while.

II. Care

If you are intending to purchase this figure and you have a child, expect him to make a mess of it. Keeping the action figure in good condition is of utmost importance for a serious collector. You don’t want your awesome “Transformers” model to get ruined.

As a child it would be near impossible to gain satisfaction of a toy just from holding it in his hands. So expect your action figure to be dragged alongside the dirt and gravel. Expect the figure to go on several bathes with your child. You may even expect the child to blow it up with bottled rockets. These will significantly wear down a model. A solution for this would be to buy two copies of the figures, one for yourself and one for your kid.

III. Hardcore

Ok so now that you know you’re obsessed with figurines judging by the way you’ve bought two figurines. You might as well dive into the limited releases. There are a lot of amazing antique toys out there that sparks a memory of an icon you loved as a child. These could be from shows like the classic “Doctor Who” or the “Million Dollar Man”. Because manufacturers no long produce these items, you’ll have to pay a hefty price, and it’ll be worth it.

IV. Care++

You just blew a couple of hundred dollars on a figure you JUST had to have. Now that your wallet has taken a hit, this figure no longer feels as if it can be toyed with. Therefore it would be better for you to keep the figure in its original case. You’d probably put it in a secure place, maybe even behind a glass window if you’ve spent thousands. It would be dry and only to be enjoyed aesthetically through visual perception. Thats the problem with collecting, the more serious you’ve become, the less you’re inclined to play with them.

IV. New developments

Several new toy lines now produce non-movable action figures. They appear more like small statues aimed just for the pleasing aesthetic of sitting on your table. Examples include the new line of “Lost” models from the hit ABC show. These new models appear to be aimed at the older generation who once collected action figures as a child. Its also important to note that many of them are limited releases and may increase in value more quickly. However its also important to note that the popularity depends on the brand of the model.

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Why some people are afraid of dying, and some arent

“Do you fear death?” – Davy Jones, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest and At World’s End

“To the well organized mind, death is but the next great adventure.” – Professor Albus Dumbledore, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling

“Death is a natural part of life. Rejoice for those around you who transform into the Force. Mourn them do not. Miss them do not. Attachment leads to jealously. The shadow of greed, that is.”- Yoda, Star Wars: Episode III: Revenge of the Sith

“Soon will I rest, yes, forever sleep. Earned it I have. Twilight is upon me, soon night must fall.”- Yoda, Star Wars, Episode VI: Return of the Jedi

These four quotations are some of my favorite death-related quotes. I especially love the first one because Davy Jones asks that, and if they so no, he kills them and if they say yes, they join him on The Flying Dutchman. And those that do not fear death are truly the lucky ones.

Now, the second quotation has been a personal favorite for years because it basically says that if you do not fear death and if you have a well-organized mind about it, it is the next great adventure. It brings me goosebumps everytime I read it.

Now these two Yoda quotes basically explain to me why some people fear death and others don’t. Because we are afraid of the unknown and we are afraid of leaving or losing the ones we love, just like Anakin was in Revenge of the Sith, and his son, Luke was in Empire Strikes Back. And, for some people fear of the unknown is the greatest fear of them all. I mean, fear of what we do not know is perfectly normal, for the most part. We fear what we do not know because we do not understand. We don’t know what dying is like and that scares some people. But for others it does not, and Dumbledore’s quote and the second Yoda quote explains it. Because for those of us who have well-organized minds, to them, death is just another adventure, because there may be an afterlife, and that is adventure.

If we look at the Jedi. Look at some of the Jedi who have died in the six Star Wars films, in particular Yoda, Obi-Wan, and Qui-Gon, and possibly Darth Vader. Look what happens after they die. Darth Vader and Qui-Gon were either afraid of death or had not accepted it, because they did not disappear into nothingness. With the later, since his death was sudden, he had not accepted it yet, and Darth Vader had always feared death, look at how he reacted to those awful dreams of his mother and his wife. Now, Yoda and Obi-Wan, they both had accepted their deaths and were not afraid of dying, so they disappeared into nothingness and became one with the Force.

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