Nintendo - Drugs for Kids...
I'm not quite sure if something has been in the air lately or what but I've had a resurgence of nostalgia for the old video games that I grew up with.
It all started a couple weeks ago when I found a web site that has emulated over 250 classic Nintendo games that you can play right in your browser. Nearly all of my favorites are there - Rad Racer, Ninja Gaiden, RC Pro Am, and of course the king of all NES games (Nintendo Entertainment System) Super Mario Bros. 3. Mickie then got me a throwback Atari system for my birthday which has 15 or so classic Atari games in one console. That really took me back because the Atari was the first game system I ever owned.
I mentioned in a previous post that my family was slow to get on the technology bandwagon and video games were no exception. I think we got the Atari system after the Super NES had come out. But I wasn't complaining it was a blast!
Mickie has an old NES at her parents house and I'm trying to lobby to get it up here. Like I need more distractions...
Today I found a list that some people had compiled of the top 100 games for the NES. If you are a Nintendo fan the descriptions on the list will bring back some great memories, frustrations, triumphs, and excitement.
Of course the number one game on the list was Super Mario Brothers 3 - quite possibly the best video game of all time. One of my friends and I would always try and rent it when I came over. (I'm not sure why he never bought it - probably would have saved his mom a lot of money...) We had to walk about 3 miles to grocery store (is dedication or insanity?) where it was available to rent. I can't begin to explain the excitement when we would see the yellow box on the shelf or the disappointment when it wasn't but it was a truly 'religious' experience.
Here is a list of my favorite games for the NES, what are yours?
- Rad Racer
- Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2 - The Arcade Game
- Ninja Gaiden (I II and III)
- Mike Tyson's Punch Out
- Super Mario Bros. (1 ,2 and 3)
Future Blackmail in the Making
Since shifting my business model to be more focused on my name rather than that of my company I google my name every so often to see where I am in the rankings. It's also a good excuse to do a vanity search...
For the past couple of years the top entries on almost every search engine were related to a soldier by the same name who had died in Iraq. This was quite eerie when it first happened because the soldier also happens to be from Colorado. Since I switched to Wordpress I have noticed my ranking climb higher and higher and now I am the number one ranking on Google, Yahoo, and others.
While doing this I thought I would see where Mia and Mickie ranked. They were number one as well which wasn't a huge surprise because those names are less common than Josh. What was surprising was the text that went along with Mia's entry.
So when she's 15 and being belligerent I can pull out this picture and let her know that at one point the biggest search engine in the world had a conversation about her underwear as it's number one ranking...
In case you didn't read it, google is referencing a post I made a bit ago about how on a trip Mickie and Mia switched suitcases and ended up with each others clothes. You can read about it here.
Fortunately these things are volatile and should change soon.
Mega-What and Pixel-Who?
In the last few years we have seen the digital camera movement rise to unprecedented heights. I'm talking about my parents adopting a technology that isn't at least twenty years old. To be fair, they did get an HDTV before me...though that's not the point.
With everyone buying digital cameras and getting all hyped up about being able to print their own pictures there are quite a few misconceptions and a lot of questions that the basic consumer needs answered.
I used to teach computer classes at CompUSA and every so often I would instruct some first time digital camera owners on how to use their fancy new gadgets. The question that came up the most often was "what is a megapixel and why do I care?" That question is still a valid one today and I just came across a great article and diagram that I will share with you now.
Simply put, the number of mega pixels your camera determines the quality of the photos it is capable of. Notice I said "capable." Just because you have the worlds greatest camera doesn't make you the worlds best photographer... So how many megapixels do I need? The chart below illustrates the size of photo you can print with a minimum number of megapixels. For example: if your camera has 6 megapixels you can print a 6'x10' photograph that looks film quality. Anything over 6'x10' and you will start to notice loss in quality.
For most people the magic number is 8'x10' since most consumer printers will not print anything larger than a standard piece of paper. To print out a film quality 8x10 you need somewhere between a 6 and 8 megapixel camera.
(inches are on the sides and the megapixels are the big numbers in the colored boxes.)
Here is the link to the original article.
The All Consuming Consultant
The folks over at Simply Youth Ministry put on a great podcast every week or so. Their tag line is "just enough youth ministry so you don't feel guilty for listening." The podcast is very informative and is a lot of fun as well.
One of the running bits is about Matt McGill (one of the one-air personalities) and his current job search. Two of the talents he has procured are that of consultant, and as we found out last week, he could be an "all consuming fire" to those kids who would disrespect their youth leaders.
Based on this I whipped up a business card for him to hand out to prospective employers.
Idiots in America
One of the jobs that has to take the most abuse is the profession of video store clerk. I'll admit that there are idiots in just about every position that deserve their fair share of grief but other than a cop who in the workforce hears more whiny excuses?
I was in Hollywood Video the other day waiting in line on my lunch break behind some guy who had racked up 11 dollars in fines for late videos. His first excuse was that it wasn't his account (it was). The second excuse was that he didn't rent the videos (it doesn't matter, if they're checked out to your account you're responsible). Next he demanded to see in writing where it said he was liable to pay for late fees. Are you kidding me? What planet did this guy come from???
The line at this point was growing since there was only one clerk and she was fairly preoccupied at the moment. Through the whole debacle the clerk remained composed and calm which I was very impressed with. She ended up pulling out a contract that the customer had signed and showed him where it said that they would charge late fees for returning movies late. Imagine that - being responsible for your own mistake? Say it ain't so! Not in America!
At this point soundly defeated he decides to shift his attack to another avenue - the size of the type... All of us have been standing hear observing this for nearly 5 minutes biting our tongues and calming our own anger when he turns to the line in an effort to get some support - because its all us customers against the evil video store clerk - and warns us to watch out for this *nonsense* (like to keep the website family friendly...).
I couldn't take it anymore. I kept my mouth shut because it wasn't my business but as soon as he turned and addressed us I felt that it was now my business.
I calmly rolled my eyes and said "dude, just pay your fine and let us get on with life." To say he was surprised would be an understatement. He apparently felt that making all of wait for his ridiculous antics would somehow endear himself to us...
He then mumbled something about me taking her (the video clerk) side.
To which I responded: "She doesn't make the rules - return your movies on time and it wouldn't be a problem."
He then pulled a hypothetical on me and said: "But what if there is an emergency?"
I didn't justify the comment with a response but shook my head, rolled my eyes and placed my movies on the counter. He looked through the line for some support and when he found none he pulled out his wallet paid the fine and left.
I guess I was lucky he wasn't a psycho and I probably shouldn't have said anything - but this just reflects a growing attitude in America. Where did we get the idea that we are entitled to everything? What has happened to personal responsibility? Next time you screw up -admit it. Don't try and weasel your way out of it. Nobody wins.
Okay-rant over.
Elmo and the Missing Suitcase
Everyone is back home and all that is right and good has been restored. The balance in the force is back...
The girls' trip went well except for one small tiny detail: When Mickie dropped off Mia at her parents she left her suitcase and took Mia's to Indiana. Whoops. Mickie ended up borrowing some clothes from some friends and shopping for some new ones. I guess she didn't want to try on Mia's Elmo undies.
Speaking of Elmo, the new Tickle-Me-Elmo is on sale at a retailer near you. Here is a sample video and there are plenty more to be found on YouTube.
Mia doesn't have the tickle version but she does have the tinkle version. She has an Elmo that when you put a bottle in its mouth has to go potty 20 seconds later. Apparently like little kids and women on trips, Elmo has a very small bladder... By the way, who has the job of making the Elmo potty sound effects? What a conversation piece that would be at a party.
What I really want to know is when are we going to see a combination of both? How great would it be to tickle Elmo and then have him have to go potty? You can't tell me that wouldn't be awesome. I even have a name: Tickle Me till I Pee Elmo or TP Elmo for short. Somebody has got to get on this.
What to do and the September Shuffle
Mickie and Mia will be gone next week. Mickie is going on a girl trip to Indiana to visit friends and Mia is going to Grandma and Grandpas in Burlington. So that leaves me all by myself. The question is what should I do with all of this free time? The early votes are golfing, mowing the lawn, and snipe hunting. I need some good ideas - leave them in the comments section.
Here is September's Shuffle on my iPod. Remember the rules:
- Shuffle Your Songs
- Report the first 5 five - no cheating
- Ending Credits from the Napoleon Dynamite Soudtrack - Sweet!
- A Quiet Interlude by the David Crowder Band on the album A Collision
- Valentine by Jim Brickman on the album Picture This
- Trudog-the Return by TobyMac on the Welcome to Diverse City album
- We Will See Him as He Is - 1998 FBBC Summer Ministry Teams - the one I wasn't on...
True Patriots
This post is few days late as I intended to post it on 9/11 but better late than never. Like most people I was profoundly impacted by the events of that day. Growing up I and most of my friends could never really identify with what Tom Brokaw called “The Greatest Generation.” The World War II Generation was one of the most patriotic and heroic generations in American history. I have never really known what it means to love my countryand to sacrifice for my country. In fact patriotism was more like a subject in school than a deep emotion.
Even now most of us know little about true sacrifice. We are lucky to have not had to fight the majority of this war on terror on our soil. Unfortunately with the forgetful mindset of most American people I am afraid that day will eventually come. Until September 11th I never knew how it felt to have a deep emotional connection with my country. It was definitely something I took for granted. But everything changed that day. Through all of the horror that was September 11th I believe a new generation has learned in a small way what it is to be a patriot. I felt a common bond with my fellow countrymen that had never been there before.
And In the days that followed I can remember getting choked up at just the site of our flag. With that I wanted to share one of my favorite renditions of the Star Spangled Banner. It includes a dramatic reading of the story of the anthem and will give you chills.
I Think I'm Getting Old
Friday night Mickie and I went on a date. We haven't been on too many since Mia was born and we really need to go on more, but that's not the point. We were walking around the mall going into the stores that we like, Gap, Baby Gap (where Mickie found a pair of pants for Mia for .47 - yes that decimal is not misplaced they were actually forty-seven cents...) the Apple Store, Pottery Barn and some others. I happened to be looking for some pants to wear to work - something very casual khakis or cargo pants. I normally buy most of those kind of things at the Gap but they had diddly so Mickie asked if I wanted to go into American Eagle.
Now, I'm not sure if there was a polar shift or other weirdness going on but we both kind of stopped and then had a conversation about whether or not we are still allowed to go into those kind of stores. When are you no longer supposed to go to American Eagle, Abercrombie, Hollister, The Buckle etc...? At what point do you look like a desperate loser trying to fit in with a generation younger than you? We must have passed this point because neither of us felt comfortable going in any of those places. Is it a certain age? Is it when you have kids? Is it a certain weight? Or are we just off our rocker? Maybe its when you start using phrases like "off your rocker."
Anyway help us out and let us know if we are still cool enough to shop where the cool kids shop.
My New Name
The following is a conversation with Mia:
Mickie: How old are you?
Mia: I two.
Mickie: What's your name?
Mia: My name is Mia.
Mickie: Where's mommy?
Mia: Points to mommy.
Mickie: Where's daddy?
Mia: Points to me.
Mickie: What's mommy's name?
Mia: Mommy.
Mickie: What's daddy's name?
Mia: Snappy.
(Snappy is the name of a turtle we saw at a garage sale...6 weeks ago.)
And now presenting the winner of the Scripps Spelling Bee sometime in the future...