Full House

Growing up, my life revolved around so many TV shows that impacted my life.  There were the fun shows like Pokémon and Digimon, and educational ones on PBS like Arthur and Bill Nye the Science Guy.  But when it came to sitcoms, there were few.  Not counting animates series like the Simpsons, the only sitcoms that I watched were TGIF shows, such as Boy Meets World.  Everyone loves that show, as do I, but its run wasn't perfect (don't get me started on seasons 6-7).  There was a show before that that influenced me even more on that same network, though, which was Full House; that lovable show with Danny, Uncle Jesse, Joey, and his daughters, D.J, Stephanie, and Michelle.

Full House is something that I've revisited recently because my sister bought the complete series a few months ago.  I had wanted to buy and watch it for so long, but I put it off because other things got in the way.  Now that I have the time, though, I'm been rolling through the episodes, already on season 4 in a little over a week.  Re-watching the episodes, it's great to see the lessons/morals in every episode, and the togetherness of family.  Yes, it's cheesy and lame at some parts, but that's the appeal of it.  And honestly, I miss family sitcoms like Full House now because they can't be made now with the way society is.  Not to mention, the role social media plays has killed it altogether.  They can try on ABC Family with their shows, but the feel and writing isn't the same.  I might be being cynical on that subject, but that's how I feel.

So with that in mind, let's celebrate a loved, but underrated show in terms of how often it gets talked about.  Full House isn't the greatest show ever (who can determine that?), but it brought plenty of laughs and tears.  And on weekdays, thanks to syndication, it became a daily part of my life.  Now, thanks to my sister having the seasons, it's like I'm growing up all over again, and it's great.  Here's to the memories past and present!

My First WWE Live Event

I feel like when it comes to things I can talk about forever, the list goes on and on.  Writing, Sports, Love, it doesn't matter.  The only thing that matters is that it has to be something I'm passionate about.  Which is why it might come as a surprise to people that wrestling is one of the few things I can talk about forever.  It's not something I can say I love and can watch any time now, but back in the day, my middle school friends and I talked about it like a religion.  And it was at that time, I watched and followed it to the point I thought it was real (which I thought for awhile until I came to my senses).  Then came a span after when I stopped watching, which could be attributed to various things.  The wrestlers in WWE got worst, the story lines stunk, and I didn't have cable, so I was missing out anyways by only being able to watch Smackdown.  Then like many things in life, I had a rebirth of interest, so the past year or, I've been following WWE again, which culminated at my first live show on Sunday, which was the Money in the Bank PPV.

It was a surprise getting tickets in the first place because I didn't buy them.  My friends bought them for me as a birthday gift, so I was already floored by the gesture.  There are other things I feel like I would have wanted, but any time someone takes the time and effort to get you something, you should appreciate it.  I'm so used to giving that I never get anything, so this was a surprise I accepted with welcome arms.

It didn't hit me that we were actually going to the event until the day of, when I hung out with my friends and physically saw the tickets.  Then once we got to the venue where the Money in the Bank was going on, it was electric.  There were fans everywhere, signs, and chants that set the mood.  And the production value was amazing, with the sets, pyrotechnics, and matches themselves.  Some of the results weren't the way I expected or wanted, but it was still a great show, that made me want to go again in the future if possible, and revived my interest in wrestling for now and the foreseeable future.

Anime Length

I'm no expert on anime, but in a way, I suppose we all were at point in our lives, because as kids, we watched cartoons that were really anime.  We just didn't know at the time that they were dubbed (unless of course you were really smart).  I remember as a child thinking the U.S. was the best because they created all the shows I watched; then I realized that Japan created them.  I wasn't disappointed, just surprised that one place could create so many shows I loved like Pokémon, Digimon, Yu-Gi-Oh, etc.  My love of those shows still carries over to now, but now that I'm older, I don't watch as much anime anymore.  Now, I just watch cartoons or regular sitcoms.

That got me to a conversation I had with one of my friend's recently.  He's big into anime, but doesn't watch any series that are very long, which makes sense in theory, but if that was the case, he would miss out on classic shows like Dragonball Z, Gundam Wing, Naruto, Pokémon, etc.  I understand the rationale behind it, since people rarely have time to do things, but what do you think about that?  Do you think animes are too long, and if you had had a choice, would you have wanted a show from our childhood to be shorter?

TV Shows I Wish Were On DVD

Recently, I found out that Bill Nye the Science Guy is coming to my graduation as one of the commencement speakers.  I wasn't planning on going since technically, I'm just walking, not graduating, and I start summer classes the next day, but it's pretty cool that someone I idolized and watched is coming to my school.  With that news, I've been checking out clips of his show, and other shows from my childhood on Youtube.  And I came away with the realization that a lot of the shows I like, besides being mostly cartoons, aren't out on DVD.  I understand why that is with copyright issues, and fear of low sales, but I still wish it was out, just so I could own it.  I know with Netflix and downloading, no one wants to buy stuff anymore, but as I always say, if you love something, you're willing to use money on it, and I love films and TV shows.  So without further ado, here's an alphabetical list of shows I love that aren't out on DVD, that I wish were.

(P.S, some are out, but the collection stinks, so I'm not counting them).  Here's the short list so far...

• Arthur
• Bill Nye the Science Guy
• City Guys
• Jackie Chan Adventures
• Monster Rancher 
• Mucha Lucha
• The New Adventures of Winnie The Pooh
• Recess   
• Static Shock
• Xiaolin Showdown

My Favorite Generation I Pokémon

Recently, I've been getting back into Pokémon in more ways than I ever imagined.  I always played the games, but with no 3DS, I had to find some other alternative, which is why I've been getting into the trading card game. As a child, it seemed complicated with all of its coin flips and damage counters, but now, I know it's a pretty simple game to play.  Yesterday, I bought some cards online (showing my addiction to the game), but like all card games, it gets expensive because I always want to buy collectable/older cards.  Sure, I could buy newer cards (and I have), but I grew up with the first two generations of Pokémon the most, so I want those cards in my deck.  Plus, I just like/know most of the Pokémon in general.  That got me thinking though, when it came to the first generation, what were my favorite Pokémon?  I looked back on my main party from those games, but those weren't accurate, since they just represented Pokémon that were there for convenience.  Let's be honest, we all had a Pidgeot, but it was never one of our favorites; it was there just because we didn't want a Fearow or legendary.  So with this question on my mind, I thought long and hard about which Generation I Pokémon were my favorites.  It took awhile, but after thinking about it, I think I have my answer.

Criteria for my favorite Generation I Pokémon is judged by a mix of variables.  I chose some of them based on my use of them in the video games, card game, and my sentimental memory of them.  It's safe to say if I could ever have a main party with these 6, I would.  Without further ado, my favorite Generation I Pokémon are...

Honorable Mention

• Scyther: My friend Phu is going to kill me for this because he loves Scyther to death, but here me out.  I love Scyther now as a Pokémon, sometimes even more than Scizor, but back as a child, I couldn't stand Scyther.  It was a bug Pokémon, which I don't even really like, since like Misty, I just hate bugs.  And back then, it was so hard to get because you could only get it in the Safari Zone or the game corner, which took forever.  Sure, it might have been worth it, but back in Generation I, it didn't have a great move set, and its only real use was to cut trees, which is why it's an honorable mention.

6. Porygon: You'd think Porygon would be in the same boat as Scyther since it could only be gotten at the game corner, and it cost even more coins, but unlike Scyther, I was never afraid of Porygon.  Yes, it had the unfortunate seizure incident in Japan, but that wasn't its fault; that was because of high flashing animation.  Porygon might be weak, but I always thought it was cool that it was made out of cybernetics/technology, and I loved its annoying move set with the Conversion moves and Tri-Attack!

5. Snorlax: Snorlax is here because it's fat, eats, and sleeps a lot just like I used to.  And while I'm not that way anymore, I still remember those days.  They weren't always good times, but they were simpler because I wasn't always worrying about my health the way I do now.  In the old games, Snorlax was the sleeping Pokémon that you had to wake up using a PokéFlute, which I always thought was awesome.  It might not be the best at any specific stats, but I think it has an equal balance of everything.  Not to mention, it's versatile enough to learn HMs like Surf, and it's hard to knock out with its high HP and Rest move.  Considering I didn't like many water Pokémon besides Blastoise, Snorlax was a lifesaver.  

4. Marowak:  There's not much I can really say about Marowak.  In the original Generation, its main preference was that you had to kill it in the Lavender Ghost tower, so you could get by.  It was creepy, but an interesting plot to say the least.  Besides that, I love Marowak because it's different.  It has a skull on its head, always making me wonder how it looks underneath, and it throws a bone, which I always thought was cool since I liked boomerangs.  Its card in the trading card game leaves something to be desired, but there is one version I like that I want, so it still has a special place for me.

3. Pikachu: Being the mascot of the entire Pokémon franchise, Pikachu seems like an obvious choice here.  It has a lot of supporters, but it has a lot of detractors as well.  And I can understand why.  It's not strong, is the main Pokémon of Ash (who sucks as a trainer), and it always loses to other Pokémon in the series, but I like it because it's cute, and a Pokémon my dad and I really connected with.  Not to mention, once it has the light ball and Volt tackle, it's pretty awesome!

2. Dragonite: Dragonite reminds me of the cryptozoology I follow, which has to do with mythical creatures, folklore, etc.  There's stories about it, but you never really see it, unless you capture one.  That's never more relevant then in the anime series when Ash and the gang see the giant one, but in the game, you can't capture one unless you raise a Dratini all the way up to level 55.  I admit, that is tedious, especially since you don't get it until later in the game, which by that point, you probably already have your main party.  But if you're like me and love dragons, you have to love Dragonite; its look, moves, and strength, what's not to like?  Plus, you can fish for it or get it at the game corner, which is always helpful.

1. Charizard: Do I even need to explain this one?  Charizard is the best!  I know a lot of people who hate it because of its popularity, and stat and card game wise, it isn't the best, but I don't care.  I was always fascinated with it as a child because I always thought it was a dragon.  And even though I learned later on it was a lizard, it doesn't change the fact there's so much to love about it.  It's strong, it's orange (which used to be my favorite color), and it breathes fire.  You can't get much better than that, and I really want its EX card, so if anyone wants to give me a near mint one, let me know.

PS4 And XBox 1

In all my years of being a fan of video games, I can't recall as much buzz about gaming systems I know as little about as the PS4 and XBox 1.  I know they're the next generation video game systems of the top 2 gaming brands out there (sorry Nintendo), but that's it.  Other than that, everything I know is from commercials, parodies of it (like on South Park), and all the news stories I hear about what people will and have done for them.  It's crazy to think gaming systems cost over $600-700 and controllers over $50 now, when back in the day Sega and Nintendo 64 merchandise costing between $100-200 was too much.  I guess it shows how far technology has advanced in 20 years, or how obsessively crazy everyone has become.

I have yet to physically see or try either system, but they both look nice, while the graphics are ridiculously realistic.  In the past, I think I preferred the Xbox more than Playstation because my friends and I played games together more on that, and to me, it seemed a lot cheaper.  But now, I think I've shifted toward being a fan of Playstation since there's no question I play games on it more, there's less bugs, etc.  Of course, I'm no expert on gaming, but these are just my two cents on the two new gaming systems.  I only know one friend who has a PS4, and he says it is awesome, but there's no one else besides him.  Everyone may prefer new technology, but like a lot of things in life, I like the classic/vintage stuff.  Luckily, my Gameboy Color and Sega Dreamcast still work, so while everyone is playing their new stuff, I'll be stuck in the old.

If only my batteries and memory card still worked...

The Lion King

The Lion King (G)

Grade: A-

• Directed by: Roger Allers and Rob Minkoff
• Produced by: Don Hahn
• Screenplay by: Irene Mecchi, Johnathan Roberts, and Linda Woolverton.  Based on "Hamlet" by William Shakespeare
• Starring: Matthew Broderick (Adult Simba), James Earl Jones (Mufasa), Jeremy Irons (Scar), Johnathan Taylor Thomas (Young Simba), Moira Kelly (Nala), Nathan Lane (Timon), Ernie Sabella (Pumba), Robert Guillaume (Rafiki), Rowan Atkinson (Zazu), Madge Sinclair (Sarabi), Whoopi Goldberg (Sehnzi), Cheech Marin (Banzai), Jim Cummings (Ed)
• Music by: Hans Zimmer
• Studio: Walt Disney Pictures, Walt Disney Feature Animation
• Distributed by: Buena Vista Pictures
• Released: June 15, 1994
• Running Time: 88 minutes/1 hour and 28 minutes
• Language: English

"You must take your place in the circle of life."

-Mufasa

Father's give advice to their children all the time, but when Mufasa speaks, that's when you stop and listen because he isn't just some regular lion; he's the king of the jungle, brother of Scar, and father of Simba in "The Lion King".  "The Lion King" is arguably one of the most acclaimed and well-known Disney films of all-time, up there with Snow White, Dumbo, Beauty and the Beast, etc.  But for the Disney Renaissance era, there's no doubt it's the top film on most people's list.  I used to feel the same way about it as a child, watching it endlessly and crying and laughing at the same parts, but as I got older, my taste shifted.  And while I appreciated "The Lion King", I wanted to make my own decisions on what I liked.  Not just like it because the majority did, which they did when it came to "The Lion King".  Because of that, I hadn't watched it in years and watched other Disney films in the meantime, but recently, after at least 6 years, I've watched it again and enjoyed it so much, it's like nothing ever changed.

Because "The Lion King" is based off of William Shakespeare's "Hamlet", the plot should be very well known.  Hell, even if you've never read the play, I've never met one person on Earth who has never seen the film.  But I'll still sum it up.  The film starts off with a majestic shot of Pride Rock where Mufasa and his wife Sarabi have given birth to their first son Simba.  As he grows into his youth, he is adventurous and energetic.  Typical for anyone his age, but his uncle Scar on the other hand is miserable.  His life is boring and he despises Mufasa, dreaming of taking his throne for himself.  These are all impractical thoughts by Scar, until one day he plots the ultimate plan with the hyenas, staging a wildebeest stampede to try and kill Mufasa and Simba at once.  He is only half successful though, and Simba runs away to a new life, eventually meeting some new friends along the way.  He's happy where he is, but realizes he must go back and take his place in the circle of life as king like Mufasa said.

"The Lion King" has many highlights as a film overall.  The animation is the first thing I notice because of the drawing of the animals and the environment (which I think is always difficult to achieve).  Plus, researching a little about the film, the animators animated the characters to match their voice actors, which I thought was pretty cool as well.  Credit has to go to the voice cast though.  Animated films always want to get a good cast for publicity, but this film cast roles that fit their character perfectly.  James Earl Jones had the commanding, magnificent, thunderous voice as Mufasa, Matthew Broderick had the innocence he had in "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" as Adult Simba, and Johnathan Taylor Thomas had the same youth he had from TV as Young Simba.  Everything worked as a whole.  While, I love James Earl Jones though, I loved Jeremy Irons voice as Scar.  His accent was so diabolical which made his character so cunning, memorable, and twisted.

This film's popularity makes it seem as though it has no flaw's, but it does.  The songs everyone loves such as "Hakuna Matata", "Circle of Life" and others are very entertaining, but they don't touch me the way some other Disney songs do such as "Part of Your World".  No fault of it's own, but that's just my personal taste.  I like funny and whimsical songs, but the memorable, touching songs are ones I enjoy, which I don't think this film has much of.  Also, the characters change, but their action's don't seem too believable because of the pace of the film.  It's too fast, which I expect from a Disney film, but I wish it was longer (like I wish most Disney films were), so we could see more depth to the characters and plot, such as what really happened to Simba when he was with Timon and Pumba.  And lastly, I know the film shouldn't be taken seriously too seriously at times because it's Disney, but I have a hard time believing that all the animals live in harmony when they all eat each other.

But while that may seem unrealistic, one thing that's real is the emotion Simba feels.  He feels sadness when tragedy strikes with his father, anger towards Scar, and friendship with Timon and Pumba who teach him a life with no worries is a wonderful thing.  To me, he might not change that much in the film, and pales in comparison to his dad as a king, but he's so relating as a character, which makes us understand what he's feeling.  Depending on taste, "The Lion King" may or may not be your favorite Disney film, but there's no doubt it changed Disney forever critically and financially the way "Beauty and the Beast" and "The Little Mermaid" did before it.  And as time has gone on, it has become a timed classic, quoted and beloved by all.  Even though it isn't my favorite film, there's no doubt it's the king of the Disney Renaissance era.  Long Live the King!   

Halloween

Forgive my bluntness, but Halloween sucks!...

I bet some of you are probably wondering why I think this since Halloween is a holiday of dressing up, candy, and fun overall, but to me, it is anything but that.  Halloween does evoke some of those things, but it's a drag because of my past experiences with it, and the fact I don't think of it as a real holiday.  To explain the latter, any holiday that you have to go to school for isn't a real holiday in my book (the child in me talking).  Also, it's lost meaning because children don't trick or treat as much for safety issues, which I understand, and the fact the media has changed Halloween's image.  It used to be about scariness, but now it has shifted to sexiness and parties.  Maybe it's college influencing some of my way of thinking, but if you look at ads, you'll see what I mean.

As for my own experiences, besides going trick-or-treating once with my friends and at the mall, which was alright, I didn't have many Halloween experiences growing up (sad I know).  Maybe it's an Asian thing, but at my house, normally we closed all the shades, and then turned off the lights to give off the impression we weren't home for the night.  It's not like we didn't want to give out candy, but we just didn't feel like it.  Other times, my parents would take my siblings and I out to eat and then we would just get a huge individual bag of candy from CVS.  I don't know what candy I would choose now, but back then, Starburst Hard Candy was my sweet of choice.  A shame they don't make it anymore.  It doesn't sound fun since you're with your parents, but those experiences were memorable.  And looking back, it was better eating real food than candy all night.

With that in mind, let me tell you what you should all do for Halloween.  You should do what I'm going to do and just watch all the Halloween specials of my favorite TV shows from The Simpsons Treehouse of Horror episodes, The Weekenders, Arthur, Recess, all the way to classic things such as "It's The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown".  If you aren't a fan of watching TV, then you may find this boring, but these things never change, which you can't say about Halloween.  Regardless of what you do, whether you go trick-or-treating, party, or stay in, be safe, and don't forget to set your clocks this weekend.  I'm trying to remember to.

Happy Halloween!

 

One of my favorite Halloween traditions.  Who can forget Charlie Brown getting nothing but rocks?

City Guys

People can classify themselves as rural or city people depending on where they live, but how many people can call themselves City Guys?  Literally, many people can, but in the TV sense, only the people from the TNBC sitcom City Guys can do that.  The show, which was about 6 high school friends (Jamal, Chris, Cassidy, Dawn, Al, and L-Train) and their principal (Ms. Noble) dealing with everyday teen issues, may not have been as popular as Saved By The Bell was, or had the theme song California Dreams had, but I think that's what made it stand on its own.  It wasn't as campy or preppy as Saved By The Bell, and even though the theme song wasn't as good as California Dreams, I still like it because of how catchy it is, and the fact it depicts Jamal and Chris having fun living in New York, which every person wants to do.

Out of all the shows on TNBC, each has their own special place in my heart.  Saved By The Bell will always be there because that was the show my siblings and I grew up on, and deep down, every guy probably wishes they could be like Zack Morris (although his grades were terrible).  California Dreams wasn't as deep too me, and is the one I remember the least, but the theme song, and the fact that it was about friends playing in a band together seems so deep.  City Guys though, is by far my favorite because of how realistic it is to my life.  The cast was diverse like my high school was, the jokes were hilarious, and it depicts friends in school, dealing with real life issues, as well as recalling the good times, which my friends and I do all the time.  I wish TNBC or shows like this still existed because of the humor, and what their influence on kids, but I suppose it isn't possible now with the way TV is.  It's sad, but we'll always have the memories, and the catchy theme song: "C-I-T-Y, you can see why, these guys, the neat guys, are smart and streetwide"...

Pokémon Then And Now

Like many children growing up in the 90s, I grew up during the Pokémon craze/era.  When it first appeared on TV, I didn't understand it or think of it differently then any other show on at the time, but after a few episodes, I was hooked.  I probably should of tried watching Dragonball Z, Gundam Wing, or stuck to Monster Rancher, but I didn't have cable, and new episodes of cartoons were only on Saturdays, so I was stuck following Pokémon to death.  I collected cards and bought the toys, but nothing brought me more joy than the video games when they first got released on Gameboy  in 1998.  I still remember my sister getting the first red Gameboy Pocket and Red Version, which was a little over $100 (which would be a bargain now).  Back then, she never let me play it, but I still remember sneaking around and playing it when she was asleep.  Those were the days, and that was the time when most of my friends played Pokémon.

Of course, things change.  After not being able to play a game of my own, I got Silver version when it first it came out and treasured it, playing it endlessly and trying to become the best.  I don't know if I ever succeeded in it, but I think I held my own.  As I got older though, I started playing it less and less, and focusing on things that would become the focus of my life (family, friends, school).  Despite my distance, every now and then, I would find time to try and play the newest versions of Pokémon.  Pokémon Ruby/Sapphire/Emerald were fun since I thought the play on elements was nice, as well as things such as diving.  FireRed/LeafGreen version were improvements from the originals, but that's all I thought they were.  As for Diamond/Pearl/Emerald version, they were okay, but nothing special.  Then Pokémon HeartGold/Soulsilver got released, which remade my favorite generation of Pokémon and did it so well, with its graphics, and incorporating the old and the new.  Obviously, it could never wow me the way Silver version did the first time because that was the first time you could call people on the phone, and deal with times of day, but it was great to revisit that again.  And lastly, there's Black/White version, which I barely played any of because I hated the Pokémon and the confusing storyline.  So as you can see, even though I am mostly detached from Pokémon, it's still a part of me.

That brings me to the new games coming out this week: Pokémon X/Y.  I don't know much about them besides from the videos I've seen and stuff I've researched, but it looks great.  The graphics on the 3DS look amazing, the new walking and battling should be fascinating, and some of the new Pokémon such as the mega-evolutions and tyrannosaurus Pokémon look absolutely bad-ass.  I always think of Pokémon as a game franchise that can never top itself, and for the most part I don't think they do (besides on rare occasions), but this game looks great, and could bring major interest from old and new fans if it hasn't already.  Pokémon may have come out over 15 years ago, but it's just as strong now to me with its new additions and technological improvements.  Although, America and the media aren't as into it as they used to be, I don't mind because it lets us true fans focus on the game we grew up with and love.

Now I wish I owned a Nintendo 3DS, but I don't, so I can just dream about the Pikachu one I want, and think about what it will be like when the game is finally released.  I usually don't get excited for games, but I can't wait for this one, something I haven't said since Generation 2.    

I'm Livin' For The Weekend: My Top 20 Weekenders Episodes

After many months waiting, I have finally finished the list that everyone has been waiting for: My Top 20 Weekenders Episode.  This seems like an odd list that would be what everyone has been waiting for, since you think they'd want something film or sports related, but I've looked at my statistics, and they show that people like my TV show posts and The Weekenders.  Mix them both together and you got my list.

For those of you who don't know what The Weekenders was/is, it was a TV show that aired on ABC in 1999, during the One Saturday Morning block.  The plot of the show revolved around 4 kids, Tino, Lor, Carver, and Tish as they got through their everyday lives with real word issues.  But the show had a few trademarks that made it distinct, such as only having things happen during the weekend, and having everyone wear different clothes.  Along with that, they also had numerous running gags, such as the local pizza joint changing every episode, Tino's mom's cooking, and everyone misunderstanding Tish's mother.  It was a great show, and while it was on, it was one of my favorites.  That's why when I finally got the DVDs, I was so excited to re-watch it and experience the memories.  It took a long time to do it, but now that I've had the free time to watch every episode and compile it, here's my finalized list.

20. Throwing Carver: Tish takes an art class at the museum, and makes her first masterpiece, a statue of Carver.  The only problem is that it's hideous, and the guys (especially Carver) don't know how to tell her.  This episode was great because it tackled the real life issue of how to tell someone something hurtful.  Although, I wish real life was as funny as this episode.  

19. Shoes Of Destiny:  Carver gets new shoes and is accepted by "The Cool Kids".  Now that he's cool though, he can't hang with his old friends anymore and has a tough decision to make.  This episode is here because I can relate to it in so many ways with my struggle to get cool shoes growing up.  I never really did to be honest, but luckily, people in college don't care.

18. Super Kids: After a seminar by a snotty, successful kid named Trip Nickerson, the gang decides they aren't doing anything with their lives and decide to try different things.  I remember this episode solely for how annoying Trip was yelling all the time, but I felt for him too since he was lonely.  The guys way of taking him out in the end was a sweet moment in this episode.

17. To Each His Own: Everyone in the group wants to go to different events that cater to their social interests, but no one is interested in what the other wants to do.  This episode screams real life since I think people are always put in situations where they do things they don't want to do.  I don't remember much humor in this episode, but I thought it was cool we got to see every person's individual interest.

16. Dead Ringer: Everyone has to sign up for a sport, but Tino's usual choice, chess, isn't there anymore, leaving him helpless until he discovers horseshoes.  Too bad it embarrasses him though.  This is another episode I could relate to because I stunk at sports back then, and I still do now.  I don't even think I'd be good at horseshoes, but I'd love to try.

15. Home@Work: Lor fails another exam, and has to pass her next one or else her dad is sending her off to military school.  Can the guys help?  I think this episode is hilarious because of how everyone tries to help Lor.  And who can forget Tish's annoying scream, along with the fact that video games save the day yet again.

14. Pudding Ball: The guys compete in the annual Pudding Ball competition, except it's Tino and Tish vs.Carver and Lor.  Personally, the plot of this episode is one of the simplest in the series, but I just love the whole competition aspect of it, and the fact that it reminded me of laser tag as a child. 

13. Murph: After one kid doesn't like Tino, he fears other kids don't like him, but it's only this one kid Murph, which Tino can't understand.  Because of this, he tries to do anything to gain his approval, which leads to hilarious and truthful results.  This episode speaks to the real life truth that no matter what you do, even if you're not bad, someone will dislike you.  Although, painting their house would be a good way to start changing that.

12. Best: Tino doesn't win a "Best" superlative in the yearbook, including "Best Tino", so he and the guys try to find something he's the best at.  I think this episode speaks to something everyone has wanted since childhood, just to be good at something.  And when you look at it that way, this episode is sweet.  Also, how could Tino not win "Best Tino"?  He's the best!

11. The Awful Weekend: We start off with the guys messy, injured, tired, etc, yet they can't stop laughing.  Why is that the case?  And how did they get to where they are?  This episode is fantastic to me because it shows how even when life sucks, as long as you have laughter or your friends, you can get through anything. 

10. Taking Sides: Carver costs Tino and him the pool championship by showboating, leading to a fight between them, and a rift between Lor and Tish as they must decide who was right.  I think the life lesson here is obvious, DON'T SHOWBOAT!  But it's hilarious to see Tino and Carver fight, along with Lor and Tish.

9. Tickets: Tino wins tickets to Chumbucket after being the 1,000,001 customer to order from the snack shack, but he can only take one friend, leading to hilarious competition between everyone, agonizing decision making for Tino, and one of my favorite endings of the whole series.  Everything is better when you spend it with friends.  And always read the fine print!  After playing so much Yu-Gi-Oh, I think truer words were never spoken.

8. Lone Wolves Club: Tino is invited to the exclusive and highly desired Lone Wolves Club, but the only way he can be a member is to do embarrassing things and leave his friends.  He's okay with doing one of the options, but obviously not the other, leading both parties to question what's right.  This episode is really funny because of all the nonsense Tino does, but I think it's high on my list because of the deepness of it.  Tino has to decide if he should ditch his friends, and when they find out, they have to realize if it's the best thing for him to leave. 

7. Vengeance: Carver is humiliated by this girl named Christy, so for the whole episode he tries to get revenge on her, which he eventually does, but he's too nice a guy to really do anything mean.  I loved the ending of this episode since it showed how much of a better person Carver and real people can be when they walk away from a situation.  Plus, after seeing him yell "CURSE YOU", that's what I do all the time now.

6. Secret Admirer: Someone has the hots for Carver, and it's driving him crazy trying to figure out who it is, but after he realizes who it is, he's not so happy anymore.  This is a sweet episode in the series because it's about love, which I always like.  While, it of course has humor because it's an animated TV series, it's serious in handling issues such as being shallow.  I do love how in this episode though, we find out Carver's head is pineapple shaped while Tino's is pumpkin shaped.

5. Nevermore: Halloween is here, which Tino is excited for, but the rest of the guys feel too grown up for it.  Will Tino spend his holiday alone, or does he have a plan up his sleeve to show his friends the true meaning of Halloween?  Out of all the episodes of The Weekenders, this one may be the most memorable because of the setting, which was a spooky living room, and all the lines and jokes in this episode, such as "Creepington, and "I'm Living' For The Weekend".  Who could also forget Tino's threats to his friends or his passionate speech?  Watching this episode, I was reminded of my own Halloween experiences, which were disasters. This also spoke to me of "It's A Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown", which is the highest compliment I can give anything.

4. Tino's Dad: The final episode of the series, and it's a memorable one to say the least.  Tino see's his dad for the first time since the divorce, which he's worried about, but it all turns out fine.  After the initial dust has cleared though, he realizes he has no time to spend with him.  Usually last episodes are the first on my rankings, but not this time.  I enjoy the episode since it truly shows the power of a father-son relationship, as well as friendship, but there were just a few episodes I enjoyed more.

3. Real Fake: The guys are videotaped by a student who tells them to be themselves.  By real, the guys think they have to be the people from their favorite TV show Teen Canyon, leading to hilarious and questionable behavior from our protagonists.  With the whole reality world craze we're in presently in, I thought this episode was perfect with the acting from all the characters and humor.  I just wish real reality shows had heart like this episode did.

2. Makeover: After Lor receives interest from Thompson, she catches the eye of two conceited girls who want to change her to look like a supermodel and get Thompson for good.  Luckily, in the end, Lor gets Thompson's attention, and does it by being her beautiful self.  I believe this episode is ranked number 2 for me because a guy or girl can relate to it.  We all have self esteem issues, but if you're a good person, then your beauty will show.  It also shows that you should never change who you are for someone else.

1. Worst Holiday Ever: The gang spends their December holiday together with Lor's granny, only to get stuck in the RV during a snowstorm.  It ruins their weekend plans, but they keep each other company by telling their worst holiday experiences, which were all diverse and different.  This is my number 1 episode because I love the plot of the episode, the overexaggerated humor, the ending, and being stuck talking with my friends over the holidays is something I always wish could happen.

All I can say after this is "Later Days"!  I hope you all enjoyed the post.

Trading Cards: A Gold Mine

One of the rarest trading cards of all time, and the first of my generation

Trading cards are a funny thing to me.  Back when I was a child, I played with them like anyone else, but I had no idea when I got older that some of them would become gold mines.  They're pieces of plastic for goodness sake, but trading cards are much more than that or the picture on them.  They represent a part of youth that gets lost as you get older, and also represent competitive collecting or playing depending on your forte.  As I look back on trading cards now that I'm playing Yu-Gi-Oh and Pokemon, I'm amazed at the sheer power these cards command.  Not just in their strength, but as I said, value.  It led me to find this list online, which I found interesting, which are the Top 10 priciest cards in all trading cards.   You may still think trading cards are worth nothing, but this list, and people's wallets, say otherwise. 

http://games.yahoo.com/blogs/unplugged/10-priciest-collectible-cards-232119394.html  

Jackie Chan Adventures: My Top 12 Talismans

Recently, I've been getting back into the show Jackie Chan Adventures, the cartoon about a fictional Jackie Chan, who is an archaeologist that saves the world from evil villains.  Looking back, the show was pretty ridiculous with what it had Jackie do, like fight with fish, or on pyramids, but the show's concept was cool.  And all the stunts they had Jackie do were borrowed from his film career, which is something I didn't figure out till recently.  I'm only on season 2 of series, which is with the demon portals, but I did watch all of season 1, with the talismans, which are stone objects that have powers based on each Chinese Zodiac animal. They're all pretty powerful, but here's my top 12...

12. Tiger (Power Of Balance): As cool as it would be having two of myself, I'd hate my good and evil half being split up since that would weaken me, so that's a no.

11. Pig (Laser/Heat Beam-Eye Blasts): I like firepower as much as the next person, but if I want that, I can just use the Dragon Talisman.  Plus, having this talisman would mess up my glasses.

10. Sheep (Astral Projection): One of the most useless talismans in the series that it was sparingly used.  The only reason it's not last is because I'm a sheep myself, and astral projection isn't that bad.  I could float through the astral plain, and visit my friend's in their dreams.

9. Monkey (Animal Shape-shifting): I like this power, but it seems utterly useless besides for humor and enjoyment. 

8. Dragon (Power Of Combustion/Pyrokinesis): Shooting fire from my hands isn't anything special, but it's better than the Pig Talisman, and more convenient.

7. Snake (Invisibility): Being invisible would be cool, and I could get away with a lot, but eventually, I'd just want to be seen.
 
6. Rabbit (Super Speed): Speed is a bit overrated, but I still like this talisman, and the thought of being faster than anybody in the world.  Looks like instead of Superman vs. The Flash, it should be me instead.
 
5. Horse (Healing): I love the concept of the horse being the healing talisman (despite not fully understanding why it does that).  The only problem, like some talismans, is that it's only necessary in certain situations.  It is cool thinking of never being hurt though.  Wish I had that when I lost my fingertip.

4. Ox (Super Strength/Durability):  Need I say more?  Super strength would be great, and it would help me out at the gym, no problem.

3. Rat (Power Of Animation): The Rat talisman is so high because it would fulfill every childhood kid's dream of playing with their toys, and help me whenever I feel lonely.

2. Dog (Immortality): Living forever and being young at the same time definitely has it's perks (Look at Vegeta from Dragon Ball Z), but it would suck to live so long and see those I love pass before my eyes, so that's the negative of this talisman.

1. Rooster (Levitation/Telekinesis): This takes the top spot because I've always wanted to fly more than anything in the world.  Not just for the exhilarating feeling I would have, but because of how convenient it would be too.  I'd never have to do anything for myself; I could just use my mind.

Anime Dubbing

Out of all of my friends, I'm probably the only one that doesn't read manga or watch much anime.  Although, in terms of anime, I've watched my fair share from Full Metal Alchemist to Inuyasha.  Then there are the shows from my childhood, like Pokemon, Digimon, and Dragon Ball Z.  I realize now they are anime, but as a child, I thought they were cartoons made in America because I thought all cartoons were American.  Boy was I wrong.  One thing I always hear people complain about, when it comes to anime, is when they're dubbed since usually the dub is terrible, and not authentic because of editing.  And while that may be true for the most part, I'll always believe that anime dubbing isn't nearly as bad as everyone makes it out to be.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying anime dubs are better than originals because almost 100% of the time they're not.  I'm just saying, they aren't that bad.  A good recent example for me is with Dragon Ball Z.  I bought the first two seasons of it on DVD and have been watching them non-stop in English.  I know some of you are rolling your eyes at me because the dub messes up the voices, but watching anime in English is how I and so many other children growing up watched them.  Maybe it isn't authentic, but it's comfortable to me, and reminds me of my childhood, so I wish people would stop bashing it.  Yes, most anime dubs are bad, but there are good ones like Cowboy Bebop, so please just stop generalizing. 

Dragon Ball Z

I just bought the first two seasons of Dragon Ball Z yesterday off Amazon because recently, I have been getting into the show.  Most people I know watched the show as kids, but that wasn't the case for me because my family, of course, didn't have cable.  Because that was the case, I was never able to watch Dragon Ball Z, but despite that, I knew who Goku, Gohan, Piccolo, etc were.  I always felt so out of group circle's not being able to talk about Dragon Ball Z like my friends, but that will never be the case anymore because now that I've made the purchases, I'm finally part of the group.  Yes, I'm far behind, but I can't wait to catch up!

One Saturday Morning

As a child, Saturday was always the best day of the week for one reason, and one reason only: cartoons and TV shows.  Despite everyone having that unity of thought though, everyone had different preferences of what they watched.  If you had cable with Cartoon Network and Nickelodeon, you were basically set, but I didn't have cable back then, so I was stuck with normal channels, which wasn't a bad thing.  WB had Pokemon and Yu-Gi-Oh, Fox had Digimon, etc.  But one of the most underrated networks with cartoons and shows for me was ABC's One Saturday Morning.

Now, I'm not sure how many people know about One Saturday Morning, because like I said, everyone had their own preference, but One Saturday Morning was great!  They had real people hosting the slot time, but then basically aired cartoons and shows like Recess, The Weekenders, Buzz Lightyear of Star Command, Pepper Ann, Fillmore, etc.  They were aimed to be educational, always saying "Illuminated Television", but their shows had plot, and dealt with real life issues children went through, which looking back on, was wonderful, especially considering how Saturday morning cartoons are now, and what Disney has unfortunately become (Disney Channel).

Because of everything I just said, today is a throwback to the old days.  I won't post up episodes of all the cartoons and shows since that would take forever, and you can find most of them on Youtube (like I have).  One thing I will do though, is post the intro to One Saturday Morning, which was catchy, and a reminder of better Saturdays.

Bullying

Being older, it seems that one thing that has died down is bullying, but in hindsight, that really isn't the case.  All I have to do is turn on the TV, or read the newspaper, and there's a story about a child being bullied.  I suppose it wouldn't be that bad if the situation got resolved, but there's an old saying said about the media: "They only report what's negative", which is why you sparingly hear about happy things that happen in the media; they usually only talk about negative news, which is why whenever I hear about bullying, I know it's unfortunately tragic.

When it comes to bullying, it's a touchy subject for me because I was bullied a lot as a child from elementary to middle school.  I wasn't sure why, but I think it had to do with how I looked, my weight issues, or the far fetched idea that somebody liked me (I know, ridiculous).  I won't get into the details of it, but the bullying was so bad at one point that I had to get transferred from the class I was in just to get through school.  That worked for awhile, but in middle school, the same thing happened.  Even when I tried nice, or did what they wanted, nothing changed, and it scared me.  Worst of all, all of my bullies were girls believe it or not, so whenever I complained, sometimes teachers believed me, and other times they didn't. 

Now, I'm not hear to blame the school, or even the people who bullied me since that was a long time ago, but bullying is still something prevalent now.  You may not think it is because you aren't exposed to it, but it's happening at school's, and even online (which I think is worst).  Children are being picked on for no reason, and it unfortunately ends in suicide most of the time.  Suicide is a terrible thing, but it can be avoided if the person being bullied has someone to talk to, a parent, sibling, anybody.  I wish as a child, I spoke up more, but I didn't and still deal with the effects.  That doesn't have to happen now.  You can be there for someone in their time of need.  All you have to do is be there, or seek professional help when necessary.  It doesn't matter if you're the person being bullied, or the person helping.  You still matter, and you have a voice to make a difference.

In light of this subject, I found an episode of Arthur online that deals with this subject.  It's from season 16, so the animation is different, among other flaws, but I think this episode shows a good example of how bullying can affect a child's mind, while at the same showing how it can be fixed by talking about it, or taking responsibility.  Yes, I know Arthur is a children's show, but as they've shown with the cancer episode and fire one, they aren't afraid of tackling adult subjects.  And while bullying usually happens to kids, it's something that shouldn't be ignored.

(Couldn't get the video posted since the episode is so new, but here's the link.  Sorry you may have to paste it.  I'm still getting used to this blog)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ou0t-3hk5eM

Yu-Gi-Oh

I've been on break from blogging the past few days because of school and other engagements, but now cause it's Saturday, I'm back, and ready to talk about what I love talking about most on this day, cartoons.

The cartoon on my mind today is Yu-Gi-Oh, which I think needs no introduction to viewers of the show and to duelists.  It's on my mind today because lately, I've been getting back into the card game and re-watching the show.  It doesn't have have the same grip on me it did when I was a child, obviously, but looking back, it was great!  The bad-ass cards, the over-seriousness, the long duels, what wasn't to love?  Back then, I'd watch and record Yu-Gi-Oh on Saturdays, then go to school and talk about it with my friends.  If I was really lucky, I'd even have money from allowance or something, and buy booster packs from the local store.  Such a long time ago, but simpler times.

I'm not saying Yu-Gi-Oh was the greatest show on Saturdays, because I don't think it was (especially with others shows I love like Digimon, Recess, Weekenders), but but it was a show that had everything I was looking for at the time, which is something that isn't possible with new cartoons anymore.  Old Saturdays are gone, but we'll always have the memories and cards in this case.

April 9th

Today is April 9th, so in honor of it being April 9th, I thought it would be fitting to show everyone the Arthur episode "April 9th".  I know you're probably wondering why I'm doing this, but I assure you, watch the episode and you'll see what I mean.  This has to be one of the most serious episodes of Arthur ever, up there with when Mrs. McGrady gets cancer.  It touches on so many themes that I think are important in the world like friendship, family, etc.  I'd say more, but I don't want to give too much away, so watch the episode and enjoy.

Zoom

As a child, one of the shows I used to watch frequently was Zoom.  I'm not sure why that was since there were other shows on at the time, but I think I was drawn into all the experiments the kids did on that show, and the fact I could relate to them being a child myself.  When I was in elementary school, I had a chance to be on Zoom since they were holding auditions to find the next group of kids, but like an idiot, I didn't try out.  Looking back, I should of though because who knows what would have happened?  Plus, it would have been cool to be on TV.

So why am I posting about Zoom?  Because I was looking up stuff on Youtube and Wikipedia one day and was brought back to memories of my youth.  Zoom may not have been the greatest or best show at the time, but like TV back in the day, it was better than the stuff on now.