Not so super anymore

What if everyone was fast as a bullet
and super strong?
(source)

 Been thinking a lot about superheroes lately, mostly by chance, partly because my mini zombie likes to refer to herself as "Lego Batman" these days. Anyhoo, I've always found that even when I was younger and much heavier into comic books, I always preferred the tragic do-gooder or the "anti-hero" to your traditional man of might or caped crusader. I guess it felt more real to me. More genuine.

Add to this that I've been thinking about the future. About daydreams. About getting older. And just a little bit about what superpower I'd like to have.

All of this led up to a pretty fantastic conversation with a good friend, and the talk got me to wondering. What happens if you wake up one day and realize you're not so super anymore?

I know this isn't really a new concept. Several stories have been made, particularly dealing with aging or retired heroes (R.E.D. and The Incredibles). But what if your power simply became obsolete?

One day we will all be able to teleport.
I'm sure of it!

Like what my friend and I discussed. What if your power was teleportation? It may not be so impossible to imagine a future where our minis will be "beaming" from place to place just like our Star Trek compatriots. But say this technological advancement is discovered? What happens to teleportation man? He's suddenly out of a job, with a useless skill that no one cares about.

The same can be said for someone who can turn invisible. Possibly one who can bend metal with their mind. All sorts of things. Heck, don't some super heroes exist already who really possessed no powers at all? Remember Bruce Wayne? Just sheer will and loads of money.

So I write this to all of you to politely remind you: If given the chance to choose a super power one day, choose wisely. Go big! You don't want to get the chance of a lifetime only to have science catch up to you five years down the road.

Braaaaiiiiiinnn Food: What super power would you ask for?

Girls should Game!

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/samantha-parent-walravens/women-in-technology-_b_1095251.html?ref=parents

Gaming for Idiots

This was the cover to last year's guide,
which probably has almost the exact same content.

While taking the little zombie to Toys R Us the other day to do some window shopping, I happily noticed a free "Gamers Guide" at the checkout counter, promising to tell me all about the hottest games this season.

What a load of lies.

This "guide" was written for idiot, newbie parents who somehow are able to remain clueless about their children's hobby. Literally, there was a section that defined terms like "boss", "AI" and "downloadable content." I can't imagine what rock there people might be living under that they don't know what a boss fight is. But apparently, there are enough of these people that an entire free guide needed to be published.

Inside parents can also learn about what systems are available (did their children not tell them?) and what ESRB ratings are and how to use them (against) your children. It talks about controllers, and - worst of all - offers no savings or coupons to speak of. Tsk tsk.

As far as the promise of going over the new games, even that wasn't true. It mentioned the new Zelda game, MW3, and the Disney Universe title, but that was it. Not once did I see Skyrim mentioned, and that's pretty big and can even be considered "kid friendly" if it's like Oblivion. (I've played it in front of my wee one.) No RPGs in sight, actually, which I find pretty surprising.

Oh well, so much for getting my hopes up. I remember a time when I was younger when Toys R Us was the place to go to browse games and see what's coming up. I already knew this moment was long past, but the Gamers Guide just showed me beyond a doubt that there's little to hope for going back to the old ways.

Braaaaiiiinnnn Food: What games do you consider to be the hot titles for the holidays?

And it still goes on...on...on

So you may have wondered why I've been so quiet. The reason is, I'm still playing the same darn game! This Oblivion game does not end, and it makes me seriously question my desire to purchase Skyrim next week. Don't get me wrong - Skyrim looks amazing and I'm very psyched to play it. But as it stands, I'm playing Oblivion for about 1-2 hours a night, for about 3-4 nights a week, and I'm still nowhere near the finish line. It's fun, it's engaging... but is it really worth it?

And I'm already reading that Skyrim players should just tell family and friends that they'll be booked for the next month. Great. I'm a slow player, does that mean I'm booked for six months?

While I'm off enjoying Oblivion, all my other lonely games are crying for my attention. Despite my promise to try to finish games now, perhaps I need to take a break from Elder Scrolls and see what Alan Wake and Drake (haha rhyme) have to offer me. Then to take up a few others. Not to mention, new Zelda later in November...

Yes, it's a tough life I lead!

Braaaiiiinnnn food: What do you do when a game just never seems to end?

Minor Confessions

Most of you may have noticed by now that I love scary suspense/survival horror games. The problem with this is that I am too much of a baby to play them by myself. I'm not even really sure what difference it makes to have someone else in the room with me, but it helps. I guess because when I jump (in real life) from being attacked (in a video game) I have people to laugh at me instead of my own head spinning into overdrive terror mode. Regardless of the reason, that's just who and how I am.

So enter into my life: Alan Wake.

First off, if you haven't played this game, you should. Great story, brililant voice acting, and just plain fun. The truth is, I wouldn't even say that the game is scary. But the best word to use when describing Alan Wake is intense.

It's hard to go into detail without spoilers. Let's just say that there's jumpy scenes. There are tons of moments where you're running for your (video game literal) life. You feel pressed for time, always, when so far there seems to be no timed sequences. And it's just plain eerie to boot.

I am going to attempt to play a bit of this game alone, and I know I won't be able to sleep too well. Not even because it is (or is not) scary, but because the game makes my adrenaline rush to the point where it's hard to calm down for nighty night.

However, I love the game and will continue to be stubborn and play through. That's just one of the things I love about games. I don't want to be in danger in real life, but bring it on with my television and a controller.

Braaaaiiiiinnnn Food: Do video games ever have a physical sort of effect on you?

Oh to Be Felicia

From FeliciaDay.com

In honor of the new DLC and online Web show for Dragon Age 2 featuring Felicia Day, I just wanted to take this opportunity to say, "I want to be Felicia!"

Of course I don't know her, but imagine the life she must lead. I mean, the woman has to play video games to keep up her persona. I think she Facebooked the other day that she finally made a level 85 priest, and that was part of her job, in a way. Her job! I'm still level 67 because I can't really afford to play WoW and, quite frankly, who has time for that sinkhole unless you know it will be cool to say you hit 85 to someone. No one cares if I max my character, but if I was Felicia, you'd care. You would care.

On top of all this, she's been in a Web show with my favorite Doogie Howser, Neil Patrick Harris and  with Nathan Fillion. She has a Dragon Age character that looks like her. She goes to cons everywhere and people want to talk to her. Plus, "The Guild."

So let's review. Paid to be cute with video games and comics. An icon for a female gamer. She gets invites to betas and reviews because people want to know what she thinks.

I think there's room for a second iconic girl gamer. Let it be me!!

And all you guys that are hating, just dream that you're Tycho or Gabe. I know I would if I was a dude.

Seriously, watch episode one of Dragon Age: Redemption and get the DLC. It's my favorite game of all time and now with Felicia power, it's gotta be good.

Goomba Roomba

This makes cleaning seem so cool. Wish I'd thought of it first.

http://vimeo.com/29073999

People Scare Me

Or rather, maybe it's me scaring other people. All I know is that there are people in the world - and the worlds of make-believe - who like some seriously messed up things. Take for instance the way you practice "speechcraft" in Oblivion.

The idea is that there are four categories: admire, joke, coerce, and jaunt. You find out for each person which they like best, and which they like least, and talk to them in the correct manner in order to raise how highly they think of you. Easy enough, right?

Well it is, until you get to thinking about it. The truth is, there are a heck of a lot of people in the Cyrodil world who think that coerce is the best thing since sliced bread. I have to say, from this vanilla zombie girl's standpoint, there is something creepy about a conversation that strikes a huge grin when you make them say "I submit, I have no choice."

Creepier still is the fact that I know there are people in the real world who want to be talked to in the same way. And it makes them smile.

Let's just put it plainly. I'm not that girl. A good joke, maybe a gentle admiration, even a good fake story... and of those are going to be preferable in my mind to a threat.

But then again, people never cease to amaze me. And Oblivion was good enough to not leave this wonderful slice of life out of the game. Makes me shudder.

Braaaiiiinnnnnn food: I play RPGs by talking my way out of problems as much as possible. What skills do you focus on?

Gaming for Money

Does she make you think of me?

Well, sort of.

Yesterday I went into the city to complete the first part of my paid Guild Wars study. I didn't sign a nondisclosure agreement or anything, so I'm pretty sure I'm free to talk about what I like. (In fact, I know they are looking for more participants so if you want to make $110 for traveling to Arlington for about a 30 minute session and then playing Guild Wars or Aion for one hour, let me know.) Anyhoo, the study, from what I can make of it seems pretty cool. They want to see if it's possible to discern information about players (gender, age, social status, etc.) based on how we make and use our Avatars.

So the trip into Arlington was the toughest part of the whole ordeal yesterday. Otherwise, I just watched a 10 minute intro video, learned how to install the recording program on my laptop and how to save the file to send results back in, and filled out two paper personality tests (wish I had the results).

I'll be doing my hour-long play session tomorrow night with some old GW friends I'm super psyched to reacquaint with. If you play GW and you want to say hi, look for me.

Anyway, all that yesterday earned me some money. And soon, I'll have $110 plus contribute to science. Woo yeah, life is pretty cool.

Obliviononononon

source

With great anticipation about the Skyrim game coming out on 11-11-11, I decided it was time I actually get around to playing its predecessor, Oblivion. I am addicted to this game, it's true. I find myself always just trying to finish this quest before it's time to go and, inevitably, each time I near what I think is an end, there is another piece of the quest waiting for me.

Regardless, it has come to my attention that any hopes of completing this game before Nov. 11 are futile. Why? Because this game is endless. I have so many hours in already and I think I maybe have done three of the "main plot" quests. And unlike those of so many other RPGs I play, the side quests in this game feel like anything but. They are engaging, they earn me pretty decent rewards, and everything levels me up.

I emphasize the word everything because truly this is the case in Oblivion. If I jump enough, I increase my acrobatics. Just walking around town in a "sneaky" manner increases my stealth skill. And perhaps my favorite of all, getting pummeled to death by a bad guy actually increases my light armor skill. Oh man, I have a fabulous image for a web comic in my head for that one, if only I could draw.

Overall, I am enjoying the heck out of this game. I just worry because when will I play my other games if I can never complete this one? I guess I'll come to that answer later.

In the meantime, I have some more skills to improve.

Braaaaiiiiinnnnn food: What are some of your favorite games to just play and play and play some more?

Testing, Testing...

So today I sent out an email making myself a possible candidate for a study. They want "experienced" Guild Wars and Aion players... finally, all those hours are possibly of some use.

This could be a great way to live life. If only.

The True Homestead for Zombie Believers

So this may be old news to many of you since I see it's dated late April, but this smashing homestead was just brought to my attention today. Ladies and gentlemen, I present you with the zombie-proof house.

(source)

Honestly, this isn't too different from what I envisioned for an apocalypse-style rancher. However, I have to note that while visioning my own reality of the one-day zombie invasion, I never actually considered settling down and waiting it out as much of an option. Realistically, this was probably foolish on my part. But I'm sure that there will be the initial scrambling about, collecting supplies and trying to find loved ones and the like. Then again, if I had this house prepared, maybe I wouldn't have to do any of it.

Maybe they would all just come to me.

If life is, indeed, like the movies though, this also means that every zombie in the world will somehow, miraculously, make its way to my house. I mean, they will have to test its defenses. And they will have to try to starve me out. And through all that stone, they'll just know that there are people inside alive and well, waiting out their imminent starvation.

And I am a girl with a short attention span.

Can I even handle being in a house for that long? I would need some serious game collections. And food. Not just survival food, but a variety of food. And some music would be nice. Also, some things to distract my child so she doesn't drive me insane. Does that zombie house include an underground playroom to keep the children safe from zombies and crazed adults?

I think this house has its flaws, but it's an excellent start and something we might all consider. I wonder about the windows. They are a beautiful touch, no doubt, but a bit impractical.

Final thought: I'm pretty darn sure the architect played Minecraft. A lot of minecraft.

Braaaaaaiiiin Food: Where would you go during the zombie outbreak?

Every Girl's Dream Come True

(source)

My friend Echo shared a pretty awesome wedding photo spread with me the other day, and I thought it was a super clever idea that I had to share with everyone. Whether or not this is a real couple posing for fun after a wedding or some goofballs playing around is irrelevant. I thought this was a really clever idea and done pretty well.

My dear Seestar says that the shoot needed more than one zombie to be realistic. However, seeing that they are in the middle of a field, I'm alright with this. The lack of blood is what upsets me more. Regardless, enjoy this creativity and use this to create your own powerful memories - either real or staged.

Braiiiiinnnn food: What are some other cool wedding themes you've seen?

ADD for Gamers

You may have noticed that I updated my sidebar to reflect each game that I'm playing on a different console. That's because, try as I might, I cannot stay fixed on just one game. I am doing better about staying true to one game per system at a time (in my neverending quest to actually finish games), but I just can't decide what I want to play and when.

Here's the basic outline of how this goes.

The Xbox is in my living room, super comfy to play here and a pretty good size tv, though not HD. (I know, I'm a single mom, give me a break). However, mini-zombie bogarts the Xbox all the time for her Netflix (we don't have cable) so this is often off limits until late at night.

Laptop is where I get cheap cheap games through the awesome and wonderful Steam. However, I am still not a computer gamer. I prefer the console. Having wireless controllers, buttons and not mice, and being able to sprawl out a distance away from my screen. But... cheap! And a few titles are sorta laptop specific (mostly my MMOs) so it's a necessity.

Online games are just that. Rarely are they my favorite, but they are my best way to play with my buds. It's when I'm in a social mood and can't leave the house because Bean is asleep.

PS3 is in my bedroom, on my not-so-big but totally HD tv. I can lounge in bed and play these games, plus there are quite a few PS3-only games so it was a must.

I also have a Wii. I almost never play it. Right now, it's usually used to entertain kids (Mario Party) or to play my favorite Gamecube games.

DS is just that. I don't really like handhelds, but again it's a necessity for certain games and my little Bean loves it. Usually it belongs to her, so I rarely get a chance to play it.

I also own a PSP, but no actual games for it. One day, Birth by Sleep will be mine.

So that's the idea. I'm ADD and have pretty much every modern system. I don't want a DS3D right now, I'm not a fan of 3D, so don't feel like you need to point this out to me. I know.

Braaaaiiiinnnn food: What is your favorite system and why?

Second What??

I attended a webinar about social media outreach at work today and they discussed using Second Life as a vehicle for reaching contributors with "virtual fundraisers." Now I'm sure that like myself, most of you gamers have heard horrible things about what really happens on Second Life. So using it as a legitimate business operation (for a nonprofit no less) seems a bit absurd to consider.

Secondly (haha, that's punny), answer me this: For all of the gamers we know, which of us knows anyone who plays Second Life.

Either they don't, or it's so bad they don't even want to admit it. Regardless, I won't be holding events in that virtual realm anytime soon.

Epic Disappointment

Playing "The Witcher" some more last night and I'm as far as Chapter Two (no quips about my gaming speed!) and I'm in this new area with all new people to talk to. So as befits my usual gaming style, I begin talking to every standby character I come across. The nice thing about this game is that sometimes it rewards you. One random guy said "Oh, I owe you money... here you go." Yay win for wasting time!

However, I move up to the private investigator's house and there is a "priest" standing next to the door. Who looks suspiciously familiar to a somewhat main character I just slayed in the previous chapter. So I think "Whaaaa?" and assume he's a demon. I walk up, ready to fight.

Turns out, he's just a random priest.

I continue investigating the area and see many more "randoms" made up with the exact same skin. Two dudes right next to each other even both say the exact same "random" phrase to me. This is getting annoying.

Suddenly, this game is losing interest. Fast.

I understand that a lot goes into making a game. More than I will ever rightly know. But if you're going to make your randoms look familiar. at least don't take a somewhat major plot character and reuse his skin for randoms further down the line.

Epic fail Witcher. Epic fail.

Guns Hate Me

And I hate guns. It seems that any game that includes some sort of focus on guns, or more specifically the upgrading or customization of guns, I become completely lost and aggravated. It happened with Mass Effect. I really wanted to love this game. Heck, it's the companion (of sorts) to my all-time favorite Dragon Age. And yet the class choices (largely weapon-use based) and the inventory system left me mind-boggled and confused. I think I've said before that I'm terrible at FPS and am not a big fan already. And what do those pretty much always use? Guns. And last night I tried an RPG game I picked up a while back and was super excited about - Resonance of Fate - and I hated it. Game got great reviews, people loved the style. I can't understand the "scratch" versus "direct" damage concept at all and I'm just at a huge loss.

(Also, as an aside, I couldn't get the stupid tri-attack to work no matter what I did. I just didn't understand the tutorial so I couldn't even progress past that "lesson.")

So what does this mean for a connsumate gamer such as myself? Am I relegated to games that are only medieval or fantasy based with swords and magic? I mean, I love love love! Space Channel 5 and she says "shoot, shoot, shoot" all the time. But I will point out, she doesn't actually hold a gun. A lot of times she's just pointing her finger in a sexy little dance move.

I want to play Mass Effect. I really wanted to like Resonance of Fate. I wish I could kick my friends' butts in TF2 and other similar fair. Occasionally, I can snipe. Otherwise... guns hate me.

When comes the day when everyone rushes to be healers? That's what I want.

Don't Mind Me...

So I started playing The Witcher this weekend and I think it's pretty fun. Very in-depth, which I enjoy, and really fighting is minimal and easy. Voice acting leaves quite a bit to be desired, but all in all this game works well for me.

I get to the first real town last night and I'm wandering around and I start off by checking out these abandoned huts. Looting as I go, of course, because what does any good RPGer do otherwise? Anyhoo, so a dead body doesn't need money or bread or potions. Snatch! Mine now!

But then it gets sticky because I come upon an area of inhabited homes. And apparently Geralt has no problem but to walk right in. Now Fable 3 handled this moment in game brilliantly. The residents would get upset, call you a trespasser, and even occasionally call the guard after you. Well, such is not the case in The Witcher.

These people just talk to you and watch as you take all the stuff right out of their cupboards.

Sure, come on in scary stranger, we don't care. We're all poor and downtrodden anyway, just take our last few pears.

The real kicker? There is an old beggar woman in several houses who you can "buy" information off of by gifting her food. She tells you, "I have no idea how we're going to eat" so I give her a bit of cheese so she'll tell me some lore. Then I turn right around and take the few pieces of meat she has hiding in her cupboard.

Next time I think I'll ransack her house while she watches, then give her the same food I just took for information.

Yeah, no glitches here....

Fantasy Trip

So thanks to my friend I have been alerted to this super cool destination restaurant. Not sure I'd go overseas just for this, but if I was in the area I'd certainly check it out.

In the meantime, I'd like to find a Hello Kitty jello mold.

Hello Kitty Restaurant

Victory is Mine!

Just wanted to put it out there that I beat another game, start to finish, all on my own. I'm on a roll! Now to decide what to play next. I might go for Uncharted, or perhaps Mass Effect 2. Or something else. I'll know soon but right now I'm proud of myself.

Fable 3.... done!

The End of an Era

The boy who lived... has come to die.

Spoiler alert: Harry Potter survives!

But for many of us, this weekend marks the end of an era, and I proudly count myself amongst that caste. I worked at Borders when the Harry Potter craze initially hit so many years ago in book form, and I was lucky enough to lead children's reading hour with the book and discussion at the store. So not only did I fall in love with Harry and his friends myself, but I got to watch literal dozens of others become entranced as well.

And now after I think... 10 years or more? We finally get to see the end of it all take place on screen with child actors who have become adults and visions of grandeur that will forever be marked in our minds as the true look and feel of Hogwarts, Diagon Alley, and more.

I was lucky enough to read the books before I saw the movie, but never have I been so enthralled with visions taken from page to screen. Sure, there are discrepancies -- I'm absolutely devastated that the whole "side plot" of Neville being great was somewhat left out in the end -- but the music makes my heart lift every time and I am excited to be a part of the audience for the final moving in its first theatrical run.

For those of you not interested in Harry Potter, this may seem like folly. But for me, I look to this final film with excitement and sadness both. I've waited years to see it, and now there is no more. The Harry Potter tale has come to an end, and all we can do is use our own imaginations to dream how the boy who lived becomes the man who lives on.

My Dying Wish

It doesn't matter if I'm 90 years old and have to spend the remainder of my life savings to do it, if the holodeck ever becomes a reality, I would want to spend a day in one before I die. Some people spend their millions on trips to outer space, some to stay in strange exotic resorts around the world. But why when you could do all of those things and more in just one day with a holodeck? What's more, I would try to program it in such a way to make me feel as though my one day lasted a week, or longer.

I guess, if the holodeck is a possibility, so is the chance that my daydream will become real and try to attack me. I mean, didn't that happen to Jean Luc quite a few times? I guess this means that somewhere, somehow, I must prepare for these possibilities. I will begin studying, and training, to survive my greatest achievements. Haha.

The biggest question is which program I'd want to run. There are so many possibilities, it becomes almost impossible to choose. Part of me would just want to live a day in so many of the books I read. Or become a part in them. I'd be the wizard at Hogwarts, use a knife to slice windows into different worlds, maybe even meet a few Gods at a strange merry go round.

Hey, a girl can dream... can't she? 

Pip pip - She's British!

So it turns out that Hello Kitty is older than I am and was actually born in London. Did you ever imagine that? Also, she has a twin sister named Mimmi that it seems almost nobody knows about, though I'm not sure why. Would seem to me that some twin kitty swag would be all the rage.

Didn't really do that much research because there wasn't really that much to find in the end. She's just a fun icon over there like Mickey Mouse is to us Americans, or any other collectible really. Though there was an open murder case for sometime called the Hello Kitty murder which I believe was in Hong Kong?

God bless Wikipedia and the information it can provide. It makes us weirdos with goofy hobbies seem smarter.

Know Your Iconic History

Hello Kitty Of Course

It was inadvertently brought to my attention today that while I love Hello Kitty and the other Sanrio cutesy critters for their total squee factor, I really know nothing about them or their origins. How did Hello Kitty start? Why is it popular? I know it's a fad everywhere in Japan as well, but is it seen as cutesy there, or does it mean something more?

I realized the time for uneducated fandom has come to an end! I will begin researching this tomorrow, and am going to look into a few other things too and see if I can share some tidbits of information.

In a brief escapade into this quest sometime earlier, I did attempt to watch the cartoon with my Bean. I will say, I was not impressed. Hopefully the information I gather will be much more engaging.

So dear zombie readers, I will be back soon with a brain full of useless knowledge. I know you're at the edge of your seats waiting. Just hold on tight!

Braaaiiiiiiinnnn food: How much time do you spend researching your hobbies?

A little zombie love story

I saw Super 8 over the weekend and it was absolutely fantastic. What a fabulous homage to Spielberg films and to good stories and suspense I remember from my own childhood. I laughed out loud several times and really did feel anxious near the end to find out what was really happening in small-town Ohio.

However, one scene that I need to mention completely stole my heart. Joe is putting zombie makeup on Alice (which looks absolutely fantastic and authentic for the setting of the film) and she asks him how to act. After a brief explanation, she quickly turns to "zombie mode" and then you can see the chemistry between them, even with her dead and lifeless zombie eyes and her head cocked awkwardly to the side. You have to see the scene to believe it, but you feel it. And this little bit o' zombie love just made me melt. Check out the movie -- I'm sure you'll enjoy it too.

Braaaiiiiinnnnn Food: What are some strong moments in your favorite films where you can just feel it?

Not everything zombie is good

While I love a good play on the zombie genre as much as the next cutesy girl, I have to say that it saddens me how much the craze has gotten out of hand. It was bad enough when my beloved Hello Kitty did a horrible, not-even-cute-scary version of an HK Zombie. But as I was in the bookstore the other day I ran across the abomination.

Marvel Zombies

available at Amazon.com

Honestly, does this even make sense? And yes, we are assuming that zombies can, in fact, exist. Haven't you seen the  CDC report that says so? But how can a superhero like Spider Man or the Hulk be zombified?

Spiderman was bitten by a radioactive spider and assumed the powers he has today. If a zombie bit Spiderman, wouldn't it too be infected with "spidey sense" and the ability to shoot webbing from its hands? Would a zombie-infected Hulk be any less able to smash than he already does? Or will he just lose bits and pieces of himself as he crashes into buildings until one day he's degraded down to nothing? And just imagine if Wolverine was infected. His regenerative qualities would be spreading that virus like wildfire. You have to wonder which would run out first? The rapid regeneration of the zombie virus or his body's ability to rebuild its own cells. Or would the zombie virus just revert him to a normal man filled with adamantine... and then what? Does his body explode or something?

This comic, while I admit I just glanced at it, seems like a retarded installment aimed to make money off of a growing culture that some of us actually enjoy. Sadly, I think more and more people are just picking up and buying anything that has the word zombie, regardless of whether the item in question is either intelligent or fun. And there are so many instances of this happening out there, it just disappoints me.

Please people. If you're going to do zombies, do it with some sense. Not just to be cool like the rest of them. 

Braaaaaaiiiiinnnn Food: What do you think is the worst example of "zombieism?"

Stop Doing This to Me

There is so much about the book industry that I don't know, but I wish I knew more. I would jump on the opportunity to become a book editor or someone involved with marketing and reviewing books. What a life! Unfortunately, I think I might be in a geographically poor location for this type of work. But second to doing voiceovers, working with books and publishing may be a dream job for me.

So as many of you may have noticed, I have been tearing through books lately, devouring just about anything I can get my hands on (aside from The Girl with The Dragon Tattoo. This book may hold the record for longest time spent on Chapter One). Well, I have an overwhelming list of what I want to read, and I have been collecting a backlog, which is great.

Except.

Every time I get a book in mind, it seems like a movie is coming out faster than I can read it. And typically, I prefer (as I think most readers do) to read the book first, so I form my own images (Mad Eye Moody as Haymitch anyone?). But when they even go so far as to just cast in advance, it all gets mucked up. And with each movie I see, it seems there are five more previews for books I was about to read that are already coming out on the big screen.

Really. How does Hollywood even find out about these titles so quickly? Are publishing companies just pitching films in advance of books even being printed? Is that how it goes now? Or am I looking in the wrong place to find my future "to reads" and I need to look elsewhere?

If I could ask just one favor, it's for the movie producers of the world to just please take a little bit of time before rushing off to film. Let us readers savor the moment and have our chance to bask in the sun.

Or, maybe, that's the point. Not so many people read anymore and maybe they know it. I shudder at the thought.

Braaaiiiinnnfood: What books do you think I should read? Hopefully ones without movies.

Totally Awesome

So I have mentioned my desire for a Sunshine Zombies logo to a few friends, and Echo decided to take a stab at it for me today. I think he wants me to be clear that this is just something he was playing around with. It just makes me smile. Not quite what I was looking for but hey, it was made for me. And that's awesome. Thanks a ton, Echo. Rawr.

Preparing Our Youth

In honor of Mother's Day, I'll share a quick story about my little girl who, by the way, turns four in two days! Anyhoo, I have a zombie shirt that I wear to bed at night (because honestly, what good zombie lover doesn't?) and she woke me up one Saturday morning. Usual ritual. She climbs into bed and asks to watch a movie in my room, and I sorta doze off while she enjoys the morning with Blues Clues and the like.

At any rate, on this particular morning, she decided to tell me that she liked my shirt. So, of course, I asked her. "Do you know what this is?" Her response wasn't simple. It was full of inflection, and your typical imaginary voice, and she reaches out her arms in a grasping motion and goes "It's a zooommmbbbbiiiiieeee."

This mom is so proud. Not to mention, ask my girl "What does the zombie say" and she goes "ahhhhh..... brainnnnsss...."

Hopefully, with any luck at all, my little bean is prepared for the zombie apocalypse. At any rate, she's probably in better shape than most four-year-olds.

All this reminds me of one of my favorite videos. It's been around for awhile, but you should check it out if you haven't already. These are important matters. In the words of Madeye Moody... "Constant Vigilance!"

So all you parents, please check this out. For the children. Are Video Games Adequately Preparing Our Children for the Post-Apocalyptic Future?

Oh, and Happy Mother's Day.

Please Don't

So as some of you may have noticed from the sidebar, I've been reading The Hunger Games trilogy and I absolutely love it. In my mind, it's a good mix of a 1984 vibe with some of my absolute favorite, His Dark Materials trilogy feel blended in. The characters are strong and well-written, and the story does a great job of keeping me involved and emotionally attached. Suspension of disbelief is strong in these books.

Well as most fans know, they are making a movie of the first Hunger Games book now, and I'm worried. The actors seem somewhat unknown and the story is so visual with vivid settings and great character development, I'm just afraid they are going to rush through it in the film and ruin it. And nothing upsets me more than when filmmakers actually kill interest in a fabulous book series by creating an inferior film franchise.

Of course, knowing me my first and foremost example of this is The Golden Compass movie. Everyone I try to talk to about His Dark Materials trilogy has absolutely zero interest in reading it because of the poor, poor offering for the big screen. Everyone says, "Nah, I saw the movie, not really into it." But ... it's not like that craptastic movie! Those books are amazing and I think everyone reading this blog right now should go read them. You won't be disappointed.

Don't believe me about this? Another example is the absolutely disgusting Eragon movie. What a waste of a great story. Though honestly, those books are so detailed, it may have been a bit impossible to get it right on screen at all. Who knows. I just wish some brilliant director would give both books another theatrical chance. Probably not for awhile though.

And please, please don't ruin The Hunger Games with the movie. The story doesn't deserve this! Just do it right.

Then, please make a decent film version of Neverwhere or American Gods. Then all will be right with the world.

What is it?

What is it about video games that enables us to unplug from the world around us? Some of us do this as a habit to feel normal. I think for me, it's a way to feel better. To forget about the horrible or stressful stuff going on. When I was a big Guild Wars player, I was definitely using it from the wrong reasons. Now, I like to think that these forays into imaginary worlds are safe for me, just a little getaway.

But why does it work? I think it's the control. When I read a book, I escape... but into someone else's world. With these, even if I'm following someone else's story or plot, I get to make the choices, I get to live the adventure. And with games like Dragon Age and Fable, I even get to make decisions that change the final outcome.

Anyway, I've got a few good things going on quite a bit of some super sadness too, and a lot of stress. I just hope I can stay on top of myself and not let these little escapes become too serious. I know it's easy. I just wish I knew why.

Braaaaiiiinnnn Food: What do you use to escape the world?

There Just Isn't Room for You

So for the past few years I have been a notorious online gamer. I have dozens of friends that I met on the Interwebz and I used to just rush right home and burst online, ignoring everything else around me to plug in and get the fix.

Some of you out there know what I'm talking about...

Well, far be it from me to say whether this is a positive or negative change, but of late I have lost interest in these MMO-type past times. I used to be a Guild Wars girl through and through, but I got my uber-rare armor and enough titles for a rainbow phoenix (happily named Fawkes), so there wasn't much there to keep me going. I switched to WoW for the boyfriend, but I was years behind the curve there. While I was plodding along trying to level, all the "cool people" were off raiding all day and all night and I got lonely and frustrated. I even tried arena-type games, like TF2 and, to some extent, Killing Floor, but those got old fast. Especially when you take into account how bad I am at the FPS genre in general. Regen, run in a quick circle, get ganked, *poof*, repeat. Yeah, not my thing. I'm not brutal enough.

Even now I still enjoy a great co-op game. Left 4 Dead remains my favorite go-to "group" game, though it gets a bit repetitive after awhile. And I absolutely adore Resident Evil 5, not only because the RE franchise will always have my heart, but because the way that you teamed up with a friend to play the entire original game (not some stupid co-op quest built separately) was to die for. If they would make more games like that, I would have all of them. In fact, if you know of any more like that, let me know!


All that being said, I find myself turning more and more to my huge list of single player pieces, and console gaming as a whole. I love console gaming. I like laying on my couch and holding my controller, rather than sitting at a desk or table with a mouse, feeling connected to my laptop. Plus, although my new laptop is absoposolutely fantastic, prior PC limitations left me feeling stuck when a 2-minute cut scene would jump and skip and I'd miss half the dialog. Most importantly perhaps, I enjoy that I can play single player games at my own pace. I'm a slower gamer, and with my Bean here running around I often have to get up and stop mid-crisis in game. It happens. I pause. I reload saves before I died while I was across the room. Stuff like that. And honestly, I'm far from the greatest gamer ever. I lack skill, and often relish in talking to every single character in every village or outpost in RPG and adventure type games. And side quests. I'm on them. All of them. And let's not even start on collectible items and achievements.

So you may be wondering, so what's the big deal? Well, remember those friends I mentioned? A lot of them miss me it turns out! Who'd have thunkit? I'm not even a good gamer, so in my mind, what is there to lose? But I get asked all the time to jump in on this, please make time for that, I've even been gifted games I don't have time to play - let alone any actual desire or interest to play - just to try to peak my interest.

Well, I guess my interest isn't there.

Right now, my gaming style is mostly solo. I feel bad, yes, I miss my friends (sometimes), but these are the games I want to play. Dragon Age has my heart, followed by Zelda and Fable and quite a few others. I'm sorry everyone. I do love you. There just isn't room for you right now.

Really, Princess?

So I watched Tangled a few weeks ago with the youngster and this blog post has been in the back of my mind for awhile now. Why is it that every Disney princess must fall for her rescuer, friend, suitor, etc.? Is there no Disney scenario where the guy and girl are just friends? Should Rapunzel really be falling for the first man she ever sees... ever? Or Ariel for the first human? It's honestly a bit creepy.

Like most other young girls, I was always (and still am) the humble believer in true love. Don't get me wrong. But I've had some love that failed and some love that was good while it lasted, and I realize that we are filling our daughters' heads with complete and utter nonsense at this point. Why didn't Mulan (who was one powerful, independent Disney princess for a change) just say, "I think you're a great friend and I'd love to just hang out." I mean really, don't we all just have those guys that fit that role?

Apparently, princesses fall once and never again. Like werewolves from Twilight. They imprint and lose all brain power and, in fact, verge on the edge of creepy. (Don't believe me? Jacob was following around a newborn... um... gross.) I don't want all the love stories to disappear from Disney, or any other children's stories. I just wish that the kids were all made aware that sometimes you can love someone, and really just stay friends.

Braaaaiiiin Food: What lessons did you learn from your favorite childhood movies?

For All You Nonbelievers

I just wanted to take a quick moment to note that I, too, can actually complete a video game. I know, I know, it's rare. Or maybe is that just a sign that the video game industry isn't great enough to hold my attention? Yeah, I wish. Regardless, I am proud to say that I played Resident Evil 5 from beginning to end, with no cheats or anything. So take that all you naysayers! I am a gamer!

I may also take this moment to briefly admit that I am currently in the middle of many different games, and coming off the glory of this victory I vow to actually complete some of them. To give you an idea, here are the games that I am in the middle of:

Dragon Age 2
Fable 3
Mass Effect
Red Dead Redemption
Final Fantasy XIII
Zelda: Twilight Princess
Epic Mickey
Dragon Quest IX
Fallout 3
Bioshock 2
Kingdom Hearts 358/2 (pretty lame actually but I'm a huge KH fan)
Demon Souls (sorta. This game is really hard and I didn't get far)
Darksiders
Resident Evil 4 (I know, I know, how could I finish 5 and not 4?)
Dead Space

And I should note that this doesn't even include the list of games that I own that I haven't even started but need to get cracking on, like Mass Effect 2, Elder Scrolls, Neverwinter Nights 2, and Uncharted.

So yeah, I avow to actually complete games. You watch... I'm gonna do it! And I'm going to start by completing Dragon Age 2 somewhere in the near future. I love that game way too much to not give it the great playing it deserves.

Braaaiiinnn Food: Do you let games just sit around unfinished? If so, what are they?

Where is the Rebellion?

So I was watching Wall-E with the Bean the other day and noticed something that had escaped my not-so-watchful eye during the other dozens of previous viewings of what is, in fact, one of the better animated films for kids out there. As Wall-E was wandering the ravaged and abandoned landscape of Earth collecting trash and our left-behind treasures, I found myself wondering: "Where is the Rebellion?"

Let's face it. I don't care what the right answer is or the best answer. People don't like to leave home. Your whole town can be evacuated for any number of tragic reasons and there are always those strangely stubborn folk who will not leave. They stay through floods, tornadoes, radioactive dangers, the promise of earthquakes, anything you can throw at them. Like the swordsman in The Princess Bride on a drunken bender, they plant themselves firmly and declare, "I will not be moved!"

I understand that Earth was becoming unlivable. It wasn't a pleasant place, covered in garbage and devoid of plantlife. But I'm not sure that it was ever implied that the planet was completely uninhabitable. Ever see the movie Demolition Man? Remember Dennis Leary's band of rebellious pioneers living underground in filth and happily eating rat burgers? I think those people would also exist in Wall-E's world.

Even if the world was completely destroyed, haven't you played the game Fallout? There are always survivors, those who have evolved, or if not physically changed they have found ways to adapt. We even see it in Mad Max and that under-appreciated film (although I admit it's way too long) Waterworld. People find a way because they are stubborn, stubborn beings.

We know there was power left on Earth. The robots charged by the sun and the video projection ads were still playing. We know there were storms that presumably, occasionally, produced water. There were materials for building and inventing in abundance.

Somewhere on that world, there was a rebellion. And I'd love to see how they would have adapted other Wall-E's and Eva's to help them preserve their retro-survivalist way of life.

Braaaiiin food: How would you use a Wall-E robot to survive on a trash-covered Earth?

If only...

Why didn't I come up with this?

Check it out and enjoy! http://www.thinkgeek.com/interests/looflirpa/e88a/

Snarf... the Original Pokemon?

While talking with a very good friend this weekend I got real happy and excited and, as I am known to do, I kinda just smiled and said "snarf snarf." Think of this as one of my happy sounds. Anyhoo, after having done this he looked at me and said, "you know, Snarf was the original Pokemon" and I realized that he may in fact be onto something here.

I mean, let's just look at the basic facts. He uses his name in his speech all the time. He's cute and cuddly (though notably older than your modern-day Pokemon). He is a sidekick of sorts to other companions. And, well, he's just everyone's favorite... isn't he?

And for those of you nonbelievers who say "Well Snarf said more than just his name and Pikachu just chimed Pika Pika all day," I present to you... Meowth.

Tell me it isn't true.

Braaaiin Food: What is your favorite childhood cartoon character?

And I Didn't Even Try

So lately my little girl's favorite movies have been Coraline, Nightmare Before Christmas, The Corpse Bride, and James and the Giant Peach. I want it to be known that I never pushed any of these movies upon her, she just stumbled upon them on her own. And I actually had concerns that Coraline might scare her, but she just watches it with glee. What does this all mean? My little Bean has style. And I didn't even have to try. Not to mention, she seems to have a flair for picking films of a similar genre. Regardless, I'm proud. The perfect mix of the dark and the light has been brought upon this world and thrives. squee.

Food for thought: What are some good movies you would share with an almost-four-year-old?

Yes, I am a Gamer

There has been some good amount of debate between me and my friends about whether or not I am a gamer. The fact is, I love games. I may not study each game I play down to its most microscopic minutia, and no I don't game for 10 hours a day as I am a working single mom and I have other things that, sadly, I must prioritize above gaming. However, I do collect games and I follow several different franchises. I do love to read gaming news and talk about the latest and greatest developments and plot twists. I do play about 2 hours a day, minimum, and more when I can sneak it in. I do love board games, RPGs, and all types of gaming.

But, apparently, I am not a true gamer because I rarely ever complete a game. And futhermore, you better believe I'm not going to play a game twice.

Now there are a rare few that I can claim a victorious defeat over. Dragon Age, Resident Evil, Bioshock, Streets of Rage and Ms. Pac Man. Each of those games tremble at my name, for I have completed them and felt glorious as I had done so. But honestly, I feel little satisfaction upon a game's completion. In fact, I moreoften feel let down. I mean, all that time and effort, the addiction to the story and characters and now it's gone? That's no fun. That's not a reward. Hell, the Bioshock ending wasn't even cool (none of them were, actually, as I went ahead and checked youtube for the alternate endings). I enjoy the games I play immensely. Then I get distracted, start another game, and go right back to the one again. At any given time I am most likely in the midst of no less than 10 games. Sure, there's one I'm playing more regularly (as listed in the Braaainn section of my blog here), but really I'm always halfway through several and bouncing around as the need and the situation arises.

Does this make me less of a gamer? What about the fact that I enjoy watching someone play a great story as much as I take pleasure in playing it myself? Many nights have been spent at my best friend's house, watching her play Bioshock, Resident Evil 4, or Dragon Age on her own. They are single player games, but I still feel like part of the action. The games engage me, and I have a spectacular time. And then we find ourselves at Starbucks on later days, talking about these games. Am I not a gamer if I talk about the games I play all the time?

You may mock me for finding Portal too challenging to complete. Doesn't bother me, I watched someone play it through to the end. You may tease me for failing at pretty much anything first person shooter. But the fact is I adore Zelda, Zombies, Alistair, and Sora - just to name a few - and call me what you will, but I truly believe I'm a gamer at heart.

Food for thought: How do you really feel after you beat a game?

Who'd Have Guessed There'd Be More Numbers?

Went with a good friend to see I Am Number Four last night, and I will start by being honest: I enjoyed it. The main guy was kinda cute, the effects were fun. All in all it was a good, basic, story with excitement and potential. You know, like Twilight. In other words, loved the premise, but I would pretty much punch anyone in the face if they couldn't figure out the ending well in advance.

So this leads me to ponder the question, what is it that draws me to these "teenie" movies about all the supernatural stuff I hate to love? The stories are so darn simple, the endings are so easy to see. There are a few grown-up versions out there of things. Interview with the Vampire, Shaun of the Dead, some amazing stories by Neil Gaiman. In their own rites, these are some killer stories, done well, that weren't aimed at tweens lusting for things that we should not, in all sensibility, lust. However, take a look at the bookstore lately. All the good stuff is sitting in the young adult aisle. The previews are for Little Red Riding Hood (aka Twilight with a wolf and a red cape), Beastly, and other such fare. And yet, I have to say with all honesty, I want to see each of these.

What's the end result? I lose $20 to tickets and snacks and sit there enthralled by a story I have heard or foreseen a hundred times before. Why oh why do we do this? I honestly can't say. I think there's something in we adults that is still affected by teenly lust and adrenaline. But one thing's for sure... it's definitely fun.

And for those of you I need to punch in the face, let's just say I'm sure there will be an I Am Number Five movie somewhere in our future.

Food for thought: What's your real opinion on all of these tween stories?

Return to the Land of the Living

Who knew that I, too, could return to an active and happy life of social normalcy? Or at least what I imagine to be normal. I'm single and actually loving it, I'm working on my budget and know where I stand and where I want to be, I've reacquainted myself with my friends who I horribly - but unintentionally - abandoned over the past year, and I'm happily rediscovering every single thing I loved about life. Books! Video Games! Music! Going Out! And here is where I shall detail all of those wonderful things. I hope you enjoy it because all this stuff is awesome to me.


Food for thought: What would you like to see on this blog?