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Tuesday, March 07, 2017

It Pays To Enrich Your Word Power

This is going to probably make me known as the biggest dweeb in all the world, but one of the things that I used to love to do when I was a little kid was read the dictionary from cover to cover.

To some of you reading this, this might be the most boring activity one can imagine.  To me, it was fun.  I've always loved the English language, and I have always been fascinated by words and their meanings.



I think my very first experience with a dictionary was when I was a kid and I owned the Charlie Brown Dictionary.  It was a book that I loved and read so much that it fell apart and I had to get another one (and that copy was lost in a move and I have wanted another one since).

Anyway, the Charlie Brown Dictionary began my quest to enrich my word power.  When I was a kid, Archie Comics would reprint alphabet gag pages that showed the Archie characters acting out words that began with that particular letter.  It was how I learned the meaning of the word antidisestablismentarianism.

That 28-letter-word means being against those against the establishment.  So, if a group of people were protesting Denny's, and I decided to protest against those people, then I would be partaking in antidisestablishmentarianism.



And, of course, you had Reader's Digest which as far back as I could remember had a section inside of it called "It Pays To Enrich Your Word Power".  I think that was probably my favourite section in that whole periodical (aside from the fascinating Drama In Real Life stories that would appear in each issue).  I remember always trying to guess at each word and its meaning from the four choices that I was given.  When I was a kid, I was lucky to get a score of more than three out of twenty.  As an adult, I tend to now score anywhere between fourteen and eighteen.

Some might consider that to be a great score, and others might not.  But I'm quite fine with it.  I believe that we are never too old or too young to increase our word power.  And let's face it.  English can be one of the most complex languages to learn without the added pressure of spelling them correctly or making the sentences make sense grammatically.

(Though admittedly I have become amused by funny misspellings and atrocious grammar.  Maybe a little bit too amused.)

Of course, these days we now have Google at our disposal to look up any and all words that exist.  But when I was younger, the only way I knew the word "googol" was the number one that was followed by an insane amount of zeroes.  And I learned that by looking it up in the dictionary.

And Square One Television.  But that's a moot point.

So, I thought that I would play a little game with all of you.  I'm going to write my very own version of "It Pays to Enrich Your Word Power" right here in this blog.  I've taken ten different words and phrases, and it's your job to guess what the words mean.  It's definitely a lot harder to write these quizzes out than it is to answer one, believe me.

And NO GOOGLE.  That's cheating. 

Here's your quiz.  Good luck!

1.      LOQUACIOUS

a)   a lounge that has a lot of extra space
b)   a person who is very chatty
c)   a sandwich spread
d)   feeling incredibly tired

2.      HAKUNA MATATA

a)   No worries
b)   A character on the soap opera "The Bold and the Beautiful"
c)   All is not well
d)   An African nation located between Niger and Nigeria

3.      SARSPARILLA

a)   one of the side effects of SARS
b)   a medicine used to treat measles
c)   a Crayola crayon colour
d)   a soft drink

4.      MNEMONIC

a)   a memory trick
b)   a rock band
c)       possessed by the devil
d)   the process of turning a rock into a diamond

5.       STALAGMITE

a)   a mound of rock that is found at the top of a cave
b)   a mound of rock that comes out the bottom of a cave
c)   a mound of rock that comes out of the wall of a cave
d)   a cave

6.       YAHRZEIT

a)   a dice game
b)   a Chinese delicacy
c)   a memorial for the first anniversary of a person's death
d)   a bluish-purple flower grown in Germany

7.       QUETZAL

a)   a gold and green bird
b)   a unit of measurement
c)   a type of British cookie
d)   a Japanese sportscar

8.       QUINCEANERA

a)   a girl's fifteenth birthday celebration
b)   a woman's fiftieth birthday celebration
c)   a fifteenth wedding anniversary
d)   a fiftieth wedding anniversary

9.       MAMMOTHREPT

a)   a prehistoric creature
b)   a spoiled child
c)   a doctor that specializes in breasts
d)   a type of thermometer

10.       XIPHOPAGUS

a)   a tomb found in ancient Egypt
b)   a person who is against organized religion
c)   a set of conjoined twins
d)   an island off the coast of Greece

Friday, March 03, 2017

Jem Reviewed: Episode 50 - Britrock


The only thing I can say about last week's Jem Reviewed was that it was more enjoyable than I thought even though the plot made no sense.

This week's episode is such that it introduces us to a TON of new characters...as well as one old one.  And it is the third episode so far to take place in Jolly Old England!



I suppose that's why this is Episode 50: Britrock.  I know.  I've done fifty of these reviews.  Where has the time gone?

Now, you might think that because the title is superimposed over a Jem poster that we'll be starting with her.  Instead, we're starting with the Misfits, who happen to be using the poster as a dartboard.  And while the Misfits are playing darts, Jetta goes on and on about how she taught the Queen Mum how to play the game, and how she was hanging out with Charles and Diana, and Fergie (the Duchess of York, not the Black Eyed Pea).  It's to set up the fact that once again, Jetta claims to know the royal family.  And Pizzazz and Stormer seem to be hanging onto every word.



But not so much street smart Roxy.  Since the day they met, Roxy has been very suspicious of Jetta's claims that she really is of noble blood, and calls her out at every opportunity.  Jetta insists that she is, and that if they were in England right now, they would be treated like royalty.  This prompts Stormer to comment that her brother, Craig (who we met in Episode 27 along with Jetta) was performing with his new band in London and how she would love to visit with him again.

Pizzazz comes up with the idea to take Jetta up on her offer.  They have no upcoming concerts and plenty of free time, so they agree to spend the weekend in England.  Jetta is at first taken aback, but she goes into another room to place a call into the town of Kingston upon Hull, England.  Interestingly enough, I did some research on this town, and in the time that this episode was filmed, that town was experiencing major decline - particularly in the subjects of education and crime reduction.  I wonder if this will reveal anything about Jetta's background.



Ah, what a surprise.  Jetta's parents, Bertie and Flo are con artists living in a dumpy old flat.  We can see how Jetta turned out the way she did.  I'm actually more amused by the fact that Jetta's mom looks like Hyacinth Bucket from the British sitcom "Keeping Up Appearances".  She even kind of sounds like Mrs. "Bouquet".  Looks as if Jetta has taken after her dear old parents.  She plots a scheme with them to pretend that they are aristocrats to appease the Misfits and make them believe Jetta's tall tales.  She even suggests to her parents that they could use the opportunity to scam Pizzazz out of some cash.  Wow.  Just wow.  Jetta has officially surpassed Pizzazz in being a totally unlikable cow.  Well done, Jetta.  And yes, I say this sarcastically.



But there could still be a chance that Jetta's plans could be thwarted.  At the Rock Hard Cafe (yeah, I see what you did there, Christy Marx), Jem is meeting with a man who calls himself Sir Hugh Ridley (an obvious knockoff of Richard Branson, as far as I'm concerned).  Reporter Cindy Tucker is meeting with them to discuss the fact that Sir Hugh is opening up a new club in London and that he has invited Jem and the Holograms to perform there along with another up and coming band from Britain to take part in a benefit concert.  But Hugh ends the interview before we discover what the benefit is about.



Back in Wissex, England, we see Flo and Bertie enjoying a horse race - where they are happy that their horse has won the race (showering them with pound notes galore). 



The man up above in the skybox is looking less than happy.  We soon find out via a conversation between Jetta's parents and a random guy affiliated with them that the man is Lord Trevor Hawthorne of Wissex, and he is a regular fixture at the race tracks.  Unfortunately, his luck is terrible and he has lost nearly all of the fortune associated with the family estate in Wissex.  Add to the fact that creditors are knocking on his door every minute, and Flo and Bertie's wheels crank in their heads.

They approach Lord Trevor with their plan and how they can scam Pizzazz to pay off his debts, and Trevor is immediately in on the plan.  That seemed...too easy.  But for now, it seems as though Jetta's secret is safe.



The Misfits arrive at the airport, and sure enough there is a Rolls Royce waiting to take them all to the place where they will be staying.  But not all of the Misfits will be going.  Stormer takes off on her own to London because she'd rather spend time with her brother that loves her instead of three women who belittle her at every opportunity.  Sounds reasonable.  Jetta's disappointed (mainly because I get the feeling that Stormer would be the only one to forgive her if her secret got out).



The rest of the Misfits arrive at the estate where Jetta's parents rush out of the manor dressed in their finest clothes and calling her Sheila.  Wow, Sheila Burns.  How...common.  Oh, and Lord Trevor is playing along as the faithful butler of the manor.



But it seems as though Lord Trevor isn't who he claims to be either when he excuses himself to the servant's quarters and meets up with two men named Stoke and Fenton.  Seems as though there's something happening after 8:00pm tomorrow night and whatever this event is, it threatens to expose the real Earl of Wissex.  Stoke and Fenton are called to dispatch the supposed real Earl so that Trevor can keep his title.  Ah, so while Bertie and Flo are conning him, Trevor is conning them right back.  I feel I need a scorecard to keep up.

While all this is going on, Jem and the Holograms arrive in London with Sir Hugh, and Raya comments about how they're finally in England.  I guess she forgot about the fact that they were just there THREE EPISODES AGO!  Oh, well.  They haven't been to London yet.  



They arrive outside of Sir Hugh's club, the Unicorn Club.  No offense, Hugh, but I can think of many better names for a rock club than the Unicorn Club.  But hey, it's not my club.  What do I know?  And since Jon Taffer is unavailable, we can't ask his opinion either.

Inside, we're going to meet the second band that will be performing at the benefit concert, the
Bluebloods!  Interesting name for a band.



The band is made up of four men.  Mason Hawthorne is the soon to be 21-year-old lead singer of the band who seems to be a nice guy who has a mysterious aura to him.  James and Alan are secondary members of the band who seem to only be there as filler characters.  They do seem charming enough.



And the token American of the group?  Welcome back, Craig Phillips!  Aja wastes no time getting reconnected with her long-distance love affair and it's good to see that Craig has found success with a new band after he gallantly walked away from the Battle of the Bands contest to allow Raya to join.



While the Holograms are getting reacquainted with Craig, over at Lord Trevor's place, Jetta's family is still keeping up appearances, so to speak and nobody is any wiser about their scheme.  Jetta's parents waste no time in selling practically everything within the manor to Pizzazz at ten times the price, including stainless steel dinnerware and candelabras.  Of course, to Pizzazz, these trinkets are nothing new, and she proceeds to throw one of the plates through a window.



The behaviour of Pizzazz and Roxy at dinner is too much for Lord Trevor, and he pulls Jetta aside and once again pressures her to make sure that if she sells any more things that she should do it before the clock strikes eight the next evening.  Jetta asks what the big deal is, but Trevor doesn't really reveal much about it.



But we do know that Trevor and his cohorts are up to no good.  In London (inside one of those awesome red phone booths that are simply iconic Britain landmarks), they reveal to Trevor that they have found the location of the real Earl of Wissex, and they plan on taking care of him permanently.  I don't know what that's about, but I've a feeling that whoever the Earl is, he must be with Jem and the Holograms, as they mention that he's out with a group of "American birds".  So, THAT'S where the Bluebloods name came from.  Question is, which one is it?  It'd be hilarious if it turned out to be Craig.



Well, for now, it's time for a good old-fashioned fox hunt with the Misfits.  It's also the first time we hear a song!  Wow, thirteen minutes before a song.  That must be a record.



Fortunately, it's a brand new Misfits song!  Seems like forever since we've heard one, huh?  While the song "I'm Gonna Hunt You Down" is probably not their best song, I admire the fact that the video is visually one of the better ones.  Though, I'm sure that Lord Trevor doesn't take kindly to the fact that they go on their fox hunt INSIDE the manor!

Night passes and a new day falls over London.  The Holograms are waiting to set up their equipment inside the Unicorn Club, and both bands are waiting to get started with the rehearsal. 



Unfortunately, what the Holograms and the Bluebloods don't realize is that Trevor's henchmen have decided to put on an explosive performance of their own.  They rig a bomb to go off in Craig's drum set in five minutes!  And with both bands about to enter the club, this isn't good news for either of them.



Most of the band members head on inside the club, but Craig keeps Aja back because he has a confession to make.  He's really in love with Shana.  No, that's not it.  It's something else.



Of course while Craig is keeping Aja in suspense, the rest of the Holograms are stunned to see Stormer inside.  Oh right, I forgot that they had no idea that Craig and Stormer were brother and sister.  At any rate, Kimber hasn't forgotten her friendship with Stormer, and is actually civil with her.  Jem is wondering if the other Misfits are with her, but Stormer says that it's just her.  I guess when it's just Stormer around, the Holograms can drop their guard.  And, heck, they'd probably do the same for Roxy too.  Not so much the other two though.



Now, Craig is actually intending to tell Aja that Stormer is his sister (which in his mind would be a big deal as the Holograms and Misfits can't stand each other most days).  But the way he introduces Aja to Stormer is so cringe-worthy.  For one, Craig uses Stormer's real name (Mary Phillips).  And since he introduces her to Aja as Mary, it gives anyone the allusion that Craig and Stormer are husband and wife!  But cool as a cucumber Aja would never respond to a rumour like...



...oooh snap!  She did.  I think this might be the first time that a Hologram has ever slapped someone!  Pizzazz and Eric Raymond slapped practically everyone in the first five episodes, but this is definitely a first!



As a broken-hearted Aja runs out of the club bawling, most of the other Holograms follow her outside.  Kimber stays behind to give Craig and Stormer a piece of her mind, but Kimber's forced to swallow humble pie when the Phillips siblings explain their real relationship to each other.  The remainder of the Bluebloods follow Kimber outside to help explain.

Did I mention that the bomb timer is still counting down while all of this is happening



Inside, Craig is furious that Aja would jump to conclusions about him being unfaithful to her, and surprisingly it is Stormer who acts as the voice of reason.  Stormer sees just how much Craig and Aja care for each other and urges Craig to find Aja and make things right.  See, when Stormer is away from the Misfits, she's a delightful woman!  And an intelligent one too.  Meanwhile, Kimber explains to Aja that Craig is NOT dating Stormer as it would be considered incestuous (which is something that can never be portrayed in this cartoon).  Aja realizes that she overreacted (you think) and rushes towards the club to make love...ahem, peace with Craig.



But that pesky bomb that was left behind has other plans, and just as Aja arrives at the front door, the bomb goes off, and apparently the blast is so huge that it sends Aja about a hundred feet into the air!  Miraculously, she survives.

But when Aja comes to and sees the Unicorn Club in complete shambles due to the fire and collapsing structure, she realizes that Craig and Stormer were still inside when the bomb went off!  The rest of the Bluebloods and Aja run inside the burning building to try and save them.



Stormer's more or less all right.  She just has a bum ankle.  But Craig is trapped underneath a fallen ceiling beam, and he can't move.  With help from Aja, James, Alan, and Sir Hugh, the group manages to carry Stormer and Craig out to safety.  But the club is a total loss, and Sir Hugh can only look on in sadness as his beloved Unicorn Club turns into a pile of ashes.



It's at this point that Mason becomes incredibly angry and he makes the stunning admission that the bombing of the Unicorn Club was his fault.  Jem presses Mason for more information and Mason reveals that at eight o'clock tonight, he will officially turn 21, and that he has an uncle who would not be happy to see him reach that milestone - and it's not because his uncle advocates a teetotaler lifestyle either.  Before Jem can ask what is going on, Mason reveals that if they want to find the reason, they need to follow him to Wissex. 

Ladies and gentlemen...I do believe we have our rightful Earl of Wissex.  And Kimber and Raya are accompanying Jem on the trip while Aja and Shana stay behind to look after Stormer and Craig.



Oh, and Craig and Aja get back together.  I guess getting blown up in a club naturally would bring two people closer together.



As Mason, Jem, Kimber, Raya, and Sir Hugh head off to Wissex, Trevor is getting incredibly antsy.  It's just fifteen minutes to eight o'clock, and he has just gotten word that the plan to kill the Earl backfired, so now he's panicking, desperate to come up with a solution.  After all, it's not as if he can sell any more stuff to Pizzazz.



But when he fills Jetta and her parents in on the problem, Jetta comes up with a solution.  Sell Pizzazz the entire estate before the clock strikes eight, and that way, there's nothing that can be done to stop it.  And if Pizzazz questions it, Jetta tells Trevor to make the claim that if she buys the estate, she gets the title of Lady of Wissex to go along with it.  That's...actually not a bad idea, I have to admit.  After all, Pizzazz's ego is the size of Alaska.  But still, Jetta also shows just how little she cares about friendship.  She'd better tread lightly or else she might find herself crawling back to the Tinkerbillies.

Of course, Pizzazz doesn't hesitate to take the deal, and Pizzazz is about to sign the contract that transfers the land ownership to Pizzazz...



...when Mason, Jem, Kimber, and Raya appear at the door - with Mason carrying the same fox that Pizzazz tried to kill during the fox hunt.  Mason proclaims that it is now eight o'clock, he's now twenty-one years old, and he is now the rightful heir to the Hawthorne Estate!  Of course, Lord Trevor protests, but Mason is in no mood to fight.  He orders his fox to snatch the contract away, leaving Jetta's parents to flee and Pizzazz and Roxy ready to turn Jetta into a serving of haggis.

Oh, wait.  Haggis is Scottish, not English.  My bad.



Naturally, Trevor and his henchmen try to get away as well, but Mason and Sir Hugh tackle them after Jem summons a hologram of a pack of angry dogs to scare them. 



Soon after, the police arrive and find Jetta's parents hiding in the stables, and there comes a funny moment in which everyone accuses everyone for the damage done to the estate, with Jetta's own father throwing her under the bus!  I'm sorry, but that moment was funny.

But for poor Mason, it seems as though he's in a lot of trouble now.  He's the rightful heir of Hawthorne Manor, but because of the spending and gambling that Trevor did, there's no money left to pay off the creditors.  The benefit concert that was meant to be held at the Unicorn Club was designed to raise money for that purpose so that when Mason became Earl, he wouldn't have to worry about losing the place.

Jem tells the new Earl to turn that frown upside down because they're still going to have the benefit concert - at the Manor itself.  As for the punishment for three-quarters of the Misfits, she's got something else in mind.



Before we see that punishment, we have one final song, and this one is called "Between Me and You", which I have to admit is not bad at all.  Oh, and Jem is thrilled to learn that the concert has raised enough money to rebuild the Unicorn Club, and to pay off the outstanding bills.



As for Pizzazz, Roxy, and Jetta, the three of them are on dish duty.  And despite the fact that Jetta's lies got them into this mess in the first place, she still brags about her fabulous life, which cause Pizzazz and Roxy to shove a knight mask over her head.  You know, I could grow to like Pizzazz and Roxy.  And just for the fact that Jetta got embarrassed, this is officially a great show!



Next week, a very emotional episode of the series...and one that features Jerrica, not Jem. 

Finally, some
Jem Trivia.  Jem was originally to be called "M", but because the toy company couldn't trademark a letter, they went with Jem.

Thursday, March 02, 2017

March 2, 1933

Greetings, everybody!  And welcome to the first edition of Throwback Thursday!  Don't worry...this feature is going to remain in place for the rest of 2017.  It won't be bouncing around the schedule as it has the past few weeks. 

For today's topic, I've got one that is quite gargantuan.  It's colossal.  And, it's related to another event that is set to happen within the week!  It's very rare that I can tie a past event to a future event, but we're going to go with it!

So, today is Thursday, March 2.  What sorts of events took place on this date in history?  Have a look!

537 - The Siege of Rome begins

1657 - Over 100,000 people are killed in the city of Edo, Japan (now called Tokyo) following the Great Fire of Meireki - a fire lasting three whole days before being put out

1797 - The Bank of England starts issuing one-pound and two-pound banknotes

1867 - The United States Congress passes the first Reconstruction Act

1882 - Roderick McLean tries and fails to assassinate Queen Victoria in Windsor, England

1902 - Baseball player/American spy Moe Berg (d. 1972) is born in New York City

1903 - The Martha Washington Hotel opens its doors in New York City - it becomes the first hotel to cater exclusively to women

1904 - Author Theodor "Dr. Seuss" Geisel (d. 1991) is born in Springfield, Massachusetts

1917 - Actor/singer Desi Arnaz (d. 1986) is born in Santiago de Cuba, Cuba

1942 - Singer Lou Reed (d. 2013) is born in Brooklyn, New York

1950 - Singer Karen Carpenter (d. 1983) is born in New Haven, Connecticut

1956 - Morocco gains independence from France

1961 - In a nationally televised broadcast, John F. Kennedy announces the creation of the Peace Corps

1962 - Wilt Chamberlain sets a record within the NBA - scoring an impressive 100 points during one game!

1969 - The Concorde has its first test flight in Toulouse, France

1972 - The Pioneer 10 space probe is launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida

1983 - Compact disc players and compact discs are sold in stores for the first time in North America

1987 - Actor Randolph Scott passes away at the age of 89

1989 - Twelve nations within the European Community makes a vow to ban all CFC's by the year 2000

1990 - Nelson Mandela is elected deputy President of the African National Congress

1992 - Nine nations that were formed as a result of the dissolution of the Soviet Union join the United Nations

1999 - Singer Dusty Springfield dies of cancer, aged 59

2004 - The Ashoura Massacre takes place in Iraq, killing 170 and wounding 500

2008 - Musician and singer Jeff Healey succumbs to lung cancer at the age of 41

And celebrating a March 2 birthday are the following famous faces; John Cullum, Mikhail Gorbachev, John Cornell, John Irving, Peter Straub, Laraine Newman, Jay Osmond, John Cowsill, Jon Bon Jovi, Alvin Youngblood Hart, Laird Hamilton, Daniel Craig, Method Man, Hayley Lewis, Chris Martin, Rebel Wilson, Bryce Dallas Howard, Ben Roethlisberger, Deuce, and Reggie Bush.

(Is it just me, or are there a lot of John's born on the 2nd of March?)

Okay, so what's the date going to be for our very first Throwback Thursday post?  Let's find out.



Looks like the date is March 2, 1933.  So, if my math is correct, that would be eighty-four years ago today.

But what could an event from 1933 have to do with an event that is taking place in March 2017?



By now, I'm sure you have all seen the movie trailers for the upcoming movie "Kong: Skull Island".  The film is set to be released worldwide on March 10, 2017, and the film stars quite a few big names in the movie industry.  Names such as Tom Hiddleston, Samuel L. Jackson, John Goodman, Brie Larson, and John C. Reilly among others.  It's unclear as to how the movie will do in theatres as it hasn't really made its debut yet.  But what I can tell you is that this film is supposed to be a re-imagining of a classic film.

Or, reboot as the cool kids call it.

Here's the thing though.  We wouldn't be able to have a movie like "Kong: Skull Island" without the original for the movie to draw inspiration from.  And, while this movie has been remade several times (most notably in 1976 and 2005), the original was made eighty-four years ago.



And it was on this date in New York City (a place that is very much linked to the film in question) that the original film had its premiere.  It wouldn't be until April 1933 before the film was released worldwide, but in New York City, the main attraction was the 1933 film "King Kong", which starred Fay Wray, Bruce Cabot, Robert Armstrong, and a gigantic ape who some would call a hero, while others would call a villain.  It's all a matter of perspective.

Now, the reason why the city of New York was chosen to host the premiere was simple.  After all, the final moments of the film (spoiler alert) takes place atop the then brand new Empire State Building - a New York City landmark.  It made perfect sense for the premiere to be hosted there.



And, of course most of us all know the story behind King Kong, so just to briefly go over it with you, a Cliff's Notes version.  Filmmaker recruits actress to go to a mysterious island to film a project.  Actress falls in love with one of the crew members of the boat taking them to the island.  Group arrives in village where actress is made a sacrificial bride of Kong.  Giant ape arrives to kidnap actress and takes her to prehistoric jungle filled with dinosaurs.  Actress is rescued by ship member.  Kong captured and made to become Broadway sideshow.  Kong escapes, kidnaps actress and climbs building.  And so on, and so on.

But you know, when it comes down to the impact that "King Kong" had on the motion picture industry, that impact is still felt all of these years later.  On the film review website, "Rotten Tomatoes", it currently holds the top spot for the greatest horror film of all time.  And in 1991, the film was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry after being deemed "culturally significant" by the Library of Congress.  Not bad, huh?

And since I have a bit of extra space in this blog entry, here are some more pieces of trivia about the original King Kong film!

- The estimated budget for King Kong was just under $700,000.

- Filming began in October 1931 and wrapped up in February 1933.

- The film grossed over $90,000 during its opening weekend - then considered a record!

- Fay Wray was told when she won the part of Ann Darrow that she would be working with the tallest, darkest leading man in all of Hollywood.  Wray mistakenly believed that it would be Cary Grant.  Instead, it ended up being King Kong!

- King Kong's iconic roar was achieved by combining the roar of a lion and the roar of a tiger, and then the two sounds were played back in reverse and on the slowest speed possible.

- The model of King Kong crafted for the movie was only eighteen inches tall, and was made of metal mesh, rubber, foam, and rabbit hair.

- Co-director and co-producer of the film, Merian C. Cooper, came up with the idea for the film after a dream he had where he imagined a giant gorilla wreaking havoc in New York City.

- In a weird twist of irony, when actress Fay Wray passed away in 2004, the television in the emergency room of the hospital she was in was playing the movie "King Kong"!

- King Kong actually doesn't make his first appearance in the movie until 47 minutes into the film.

- Jean Harlow was offered Fay Wray's part, but she turned it down.

- Fay Wray wore a blonde wig for the role.

- The elevated train sequence was inspired by Merian C. Cooper's childhood, in which his family lived near a train track that kept him up at night.

- Stop motion animation was used to animate the dinosaurs in the film.

And that was the big event...and I mean, BIG event of March 2, 1933!

Tuesday, February 28, 2017

Random Thoughts Brought Upon By A Decapitation

Sometimes I like to go back to some old stuff that I wrote years ago, and see how much I've grown since then.  This was a piece I wrote way back in April 2009 - way before I started this blog.  And I have to say that it's bittersweet.  Eight years ago, I had an epiphany about life, and it was linked to the supportive co-workers that I had...but eight years on, most of that support has moved on, and I sort of find myself at a brutal crossroad that I'm unsure of how to overcome.  But looking back at this piece, it's nice to know that there was a time in which I didn't seem so jaded.  Hopefully I can find a way to get back to that again.

For now...enjoy the tale of how a broken garden statue became a philosophical moment.




I am about to confess to a crime. 

I murdered an innocent garden nymph in the middle of our garden centre area at approximately 1:15 in the afternoon of Thursday, April 16, 2009. 

The poor gal did not stand a chance. I merely brushed up against her with my elbow, and just like the popular rhyme involving ripping the tops off of dandelion plants, her head popped right off. 

Now, granted, the fairy was just a statue on the shelf, marked at $9.96, but needless to say, I bumped off an innocent young statue with her entire life ahead of her. She could have gone places. She could've been a part of the most beautiful garden in all of the world, surrounded by tulips, azaleas, and marigolds. Instead, she'll be buried in the depths of the west receiving trash compactor, destined to be forgotten in the abyss of time. 

Now that I have gotten that confession off of my chest, I can continue. 

Of course, why was I in the garden centre in the first place? If I not had been out there, this whole tragedy might never have happened, right? 

I was outside pricing the now deceased fairy statue, and all of her other friends too. For, while all the statues of cute frogs and scary looking garden gnomes were displayed beautifully, they were also deemed too priceless to sell to anybody. 

No, seriously, none of the items had price tags on them at all. 

So, with my trusty pricing label gun (which I almost smashed against the pavement on the ground for it getting jammed twice in the process), I stuck prices on every item made of stone, porcelain, and brick I could get my hands on. 

But, hey, at least I can say that fairy statue was the only casualty of the day. 

Truth be told, I actually liked being outside for the day. With all the plants and flowers in full bloom, and the nice breeze blowing through and the sun beaming down all day long, I was in a Zen-like state. It was peaceful, calm, and enjoyable. Of course, the sunburn I am currently dealing with is kind of sore, but who expects to get sunburned in the middle of April? Especially in Canada, where some people believe we frolic with the Eskimos and polar bears eleven months of the year. 

But, don't get me wrong. I am very content in my normal job of being a dairy stocker. No temptations for junk food, it's always nice and cool there, you never stand around doing nothing because it's always so incredibly fast-paced. It's great. 

And, while it has taken me nearly five years to realize this, I've come to the conclusion that I actually have it pretty good at my current job. 

I mean, sure, it's not the most glamourous or exciting place to work, and, granted, there are a LOT of things that could stand improvement there. But, all in all, I'm making the best of it. 

Times are tough all over, and in this recession (one of the worst that I've lived through thus far), I am lucky to have a job. Especially one with full-time hours. In that aspect, I'd rather work than be unemployed. 

But, also, I've noticed that I have a ton of people who care about me, and want to see me succeed.  

Let's be real. Five years ago, self-confidence was an issue for me in the aspect that I didn't have ANY whatsoever. I even explained and drilled that point at my interview, because I figured that I wouldn't get the job anyway. To my surprise, I did. And, over the years, I grew within the company from shopping cart collector to a man who can somewhat handle the day-to-day aspects of keeping an entire department looking good (although I will NEVER fully understand that Dairyland/Saputo order that is eight and a half pages of hell in itself). 

And, I got there through the support of my friends and co-workers at my workplace. 

That support means so very much to me. 

I know that I've had some good days, and that I've had some days that I would rather forget having. But, regardless of how sad or angry I might have gotten, my co-workers have never once turned their backs on me, and that means a lot. It was also something that was kind of new to me. Having been distrustful of people beforehand due to being bullied and embarrassed by former classmates and people who completely misunderstood me and never bothered to get to know me, it was hard for me to believe people when they said I was doing a good job. I had done such a good job of closing off my heart to people because I was always so afraid of having my trust abused and broken again. 

I'm now at the point where I do feel as though there are some people who I can really confide in, and, while it has taken a long time, I feel that I'm at the point in my life where I can be comfortable in my own skin. There are some days in which I feel like I am still not confident in my own abilities and my own strengths, and there are days in which I retreat into the wall I built up around myself. Fortunately, those days seem to be few and far between, and I do feel like I am getting better at knowing the one person who does count. Myself. 

My job is not perfect by any means. There are some days in which I admit that I'm sorry I came in, as I'm sure most of you reading this note are feeling, or have felt at one time in their lives. But, there are lots of good qualities about it too, and I am sorry that it took me this long to discover them. 

Of course, you must understand that if I ever come across that couple that tore me a new one because I dared put a limit on their cheese blocks that it will be war. I'll just make sure I have a lot of friends around to defend my honour, so to speak. 

And, in a strange and funny way, I never thought that I would be writing about my friends, because for the longest time, I didn't think that I was capable of having any. 

Working in retail though has made me realize that I have more people on my side than I ever did growing up. And, in a way, it makes a guy like me feel loved, and valued. 

Do I see myself staying there forever? Only time will tell. Personally, I would like to move on to bigger and better things at some point in the future. If that happens, it would be fantastic. But, if I end up staying, at least I would have some good, solid people by my side. And, if I have to get my badge bronzed, I no longer see it as a death sentence...well, most days anyway. 

And, to think, all it took was me killing a nymph to open my eyes to what was really important.

I wonder if that makes me happy, or just plain crazy? 

Friday, February 24, 2017

Jem Reviewed: Episode 49 - Journey Through Time


So, last week on Jem Reviewed, I had a difficult time recapping the episode as it was one that I wasn't a fan of.  Basically they go to a fictional place, they play weird music, and they get chased by the abominable snowman.



I have a feeling that this week's offering isn't going to get any better.  The reason?  This is Episode 49: Journey Through Time.  The more I think of it, the more that title sounds like a "Choose Your Own Adventure" novel I read in the fourth grade.  I've got a funny feeling I'm going to hate this episode too.



We begin with an announcement, courtesy of Lindsey Pearce.  Apparently there is a huge event that is going to be taking place called the World History of Music Concert, where bands from all over the world gather to celebrate music.  I suppose it's like the Eurovision Song Contest only with all nations participating. 



Naturally, Jem and the Holograms are taking part in the festivities.  And the Misfits are not.  But fear not.  Eric Raymond is on the case, and he has an idea that will keep Jem and the Holograms away from the stage so that the Misfits can go on.  Given Eric's track record, I'd say the Misfits are already doomed, but let's watch and see what happens.

Jem and the Holograms are in their studio rehearsing a song for their concert...a song that they originally sang back in Episode 21.



This time around, the song "Rock And Roll is Forever" is set to the clip of the girls standing on flags of their country of origin while playing a tune.  Good idea in theory...except that the storyboard artist seemed to forget that Aja is from CHINA, not JAPAN.  And, I'm not sure why Jem gets an American flag and Kimber gets Scotland - unless the Benton family is Scottish-American.  Does this mean that Emmett Benton sounds like Scrooge McDuck?



Jem's not overly pleased with the song that they're playing, and Kimber tries to encourage her by saying that their song sounds great.  Kimber, the song you're playing was written by Bobby Bailey!  Remember him?  The guy whose apartment you saved?  Sheesh, no wonder Bobby hated you throughout much of Episode 21!  Jem's determined to make their performance stand out though, and she takes the rest of the band to Synergy's room so they can ask her for advice.



Unaware of what is happening outside, there's a transport truck parked outside of the front gates of Starlight Mansion.  Inside is Eric, the Misfits, and Techrat, who apparently has built - get this - a time machine.  I'd be more impressed if it looked like a TARDIS or a DeLorean.  This looks like something a high school student in 2007 would build.



But despite the Misfits disbelief, Techrat sets the time traveling device to the year 1781, and as soon as he pushes the button, something happens inside the mansion and Jem and the Holograms fade away along with Synergy!  



To make this already illogical plot even more unbelievable, as soon as the Holograms disappear, a woman who appears to be dressed like Marie Antoinette appears inside Techrat's truck!  Apparently, she's confused and looking for her beloved "Wolfie".  The Misfits wonder what is going on, and Techrat explains that while his time machine works, there is one flaw.  In order to keep the balance in check, the Holograms are traded out for someone else who shares the same body mass.  Um...unless this woman from the past weighs close to 1,200 pounds, I call BS on that theory.



The Holograms arrive safely in Vienna, March 1781.  But they have three problems.  One, Synergy isn't with them.  Two, Jem has reverted back to Jerrica.  And three, they're so not following the hip new trends of the late eighteenth century.  Someone call the fashion police!

Fortunately for them, these problems magically go away in seconds.  Synergy has found herself trapped underneath a sewer system, but the good news is that she has battery back-up power.  How convenient.  With that power, she turns Jerrica back into Jem, and gives all the girls a makeover 1700s style.



Not too shabby, huh?



At this point, a young man with probably the most annoying laugh I have ever heard in my life comes barging in looking for his lady friend, Constanze.  Ah, I'm guessing this must be "Wolfie".

Actually, the group recognize him immediately as Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart!  Wow, they're actually meeting a celebrity that's already dead in the flesh.  This is...kinda weird.  Also weird is today's Jem Trivia.  Apparently, Mozart is voiced by voice actor Cam Clarke, who also is best known for playing Leonardo in "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles".  Wow, so we've had Leonardo and the guy who plays Raphael make cameo appearances.  You think Michelangelo or Donatello will complete the set?  Well, I know for a fact that a third TMNT voice actor is coming up...and he plays a significant role in Season 3.  But that's all I can say.  This episode is after all about the past...not the future.

Anyway, it seems as though Mozart is in a bit of a pickle.  He's determined to play his latest composition, but he worries about being sabotaged by a rival of his - one Antonio Salieri.  The Holograms agree to help him get to the concert without fear of getting ambushed, and it appears as though Aja has developed a crush on him.  Well, at least it's not Kimber or Danse this time.



The plan?  While the real Mozart sneaks off to the concert venue where Salieri is waiting, the Holograms transform Shana into a Mozart hologram to fool the henchmen of Salieri.  Sure enough, the Holograms end up getting kidnapped by Salieri's goons and are taken to another area via horse drawn carriage.  Seems their plan is to make Mozart miss the concert so that Salieri can take over the whole show.



Needless to say, when Mozart arrives on stage a few minutes later, it thwarts Salieri's plans, and the concert goes ahead as planned.  It's also interesting to note that they actually incorporate classical music into the episode - one of the few positives I can note about it.



Jem and the Holograms escape their captors by having Synergy summon a hologram of a band of thieves ready to attack the carriage, causing their kidnappers to flee.  I'm not making this up.  And, Jem and the Holograms arrive at the concert hall in time to catch Mozart in action.  But those storm clouds in the sky don't look too promising.



Remember way back in Episode 12, when the plane the band was on passed through thunderclouds and it reverted Jem back to Jerrica?  Seems like the same thing is about to happen given Synergy's...shocking appearance.

Sure enough, Jem and company revert back to their 1980s counterparts - which doesn't make sense as Jem doesn't change back to Jerrica.  But whatever the case, the audience sees Jem and her friends as witches and they launch a full out assault on them by throwing rocks at them.  



Yep...apparently in the 1700s, stoning people to death was perfectly legal.



Luckily, Techrat manages to do some tweaking and Jem and the Holograms escape their fate.  Little Miss Constanze also gets teleported back.  But a new problem arises when two soldiers make an appearance in Techrat's truck, and they question whether they're still in London.



Wherever they came from, it's under attack as buildings are on fire and war sirens are going off.  What a perfect place for Jem and the Holograms to hide out at.  Much safer than getting pelted with rocks.  Jem and the others wonder where they are.

Shana notices a poster hanging on a wall advertising a special concert event starring the hottest band of 1944.  Apparently the show didn't get clearance rights to use the Glenn Miller Band name, so they've been renamed to the
Ben Tiller Band.  Oh, and Jem and the Holograms are in the middle of London during World War II!  Needless to say, they need to get off the streets before they get blown to bits!



Luckily, Synergy's battery power is still working, so Jem transforms her and the others into 1940s outfits - which immediately draws the attention of two soldiers who happen to be nearby.  They seem taken aback when Jem introduces themselves as a female band, mainly because these sexist blokes don't seem to think that girl bands can exist.



Jem and the Holograms are quite taken aback themselves, as these two guys happen to be members of the Ben Tiller Band.  Ben is also skeptical about the playing power of the Holograms, but Kimber issues them a challenge.  If they give them thirty minutes, they will show them that they know their stuff.  It's a challenge that Ben accepts and before we know it, we have what could be one of the most unusual songs in the Holograms discography.



Thing is, I kind of like "We're Making It Happen".  Sure, the Holograms singing style kind of resembles the Andrews Sisters, but that was the idea back in the 1940s.  And the combination of brass horns and piano certainly makes this single stand out.  It's a rare departure of style for them, but it really works.  Again, credit to Britta Phillips for making this song a brilliant one.  It's very reminiscent of another song that was performed earlier called "Jazz Has".  Simple, but effective.



Unfortunately, the Ben Tiller Band doesn't have time to congratulate them as a bomb detonates outside of the club they're performing at.  Well, that's one way to stop a show.  The Holograms are huddled in a corner as the club collapses all around them, and they think their time is up...and it is.  Well, in London 1944 anyway.  They fade out of the scene just as the ceiling falls down.  That was too close.  But where are the Holograms headed now?



Considering that the soldiers fade away in Techrat's truck and are replaced by a group of 1960s hippies, I'm guessing that the swingin' sixties are the next tour destination through time.  At this point though, the Misfits are getting pissed off with Techrat and they launch a barrage of insults towards him, causing Techrat to send the Misfits back in time as well!  I get the feeling that Techrat enjoyed that a little too much.  But as more hippies fill the truck, Eric is now upset because he has no idea where the Misfits went to.  I've a feeling that the Misfits and Holograms are going to meet up very soon.



The place?  The Woodstock Music Festival of August 1969!  A festival that I would gladly travel through time to experience!  Lucky ducks.



The Holograms arrive in time to accidentally make a man fall onto the ground.  Whoops.  But it's okay...the man just happens to be...wait for it...guitar legend Johnny Beldrix.  I'm guessing Jimi Hendrix had the flu.  Seriously, just take the fine and use their real names.  This ain't the Jem Jam you're at.

Fortunately, the Holograms are dressed crazy enough to blend into the scene - which is a good thing as Synergy is apparently trapped on a truck and is incapacitated at the moment.  But Johnny tells the Holograms that he is not very impressed with his concert promoter as he is making Johnny perform with a group called the Misfits.  It's only at THIS point that the Holograms clue in that the Misfits are responsible.  Because apparently time travel is perfectly normal for them.  As is getting trapped in an erupting volcano.  Or driving a car in the Indy 500.  Or having your very own Broadway musical.

The Holograms promise Johnny that they will find a way to release Johnny from the contract so he can perform by himself.



I should also mention that at this point, the Misfits are EXCITED to be performing at Woodstock.  Never mind the fact that if they perform at the concert, they'll be screwing up history and keeping the tabloids in business by having them speculate on how a band from the 1960s look so young.



And get a look at their promoter, who happens to be named Willy.  My theory is that Willy is a relative of Eric Raymond, as both of them act exactly the same way.  It would be awesome if the show eluded to that possibility, but they don't.  Instead, Willy is talking to an associate of his about some exciting light and sound box that they plan to unveil during Johnny's performance.  Why does that description sound familiar?



Ah, here it is.  The big confrontation between Jem and the Holograms and the Misfits, and of course, the Misfits can't wait to rub it in their faces about how they are going to play one of the biggest concerts in history.  But Jem seems to have an ace up her sleeve.  By now, Synergy's able to respond to Jem's requests and she summons up a hologram of Eric...



...who is dressed up like one of the members of Strawberry Alarm Clock!  Seriously, this is the funniest things I think I've seen on this episode.  And Strawberry Alarm Clock Eric informs the Misfits that they are still under contract to him which means no performing at Woodstock!  And Willy is furious that the Misfits lied to him and he tells them that they are finished...well, at least they are for the next sixteen years, anyway.



Willy convinces Johnny Beldrix to go back on stage, and he launches into a rousing solo performance of the Star-Spangled Banner using his guitar.  It's quite good.  I actually kind of wonder if they re-recorded it with different musicians or if they used Jimi's version...which seems much worse to use his music without permission over his name.  Whatever the case, it's great.



And true to his word, Willy unveils his magic light and sound box on the stage...which happens to be Synergy.  The thing is that Synergy is being lowered on the stage using standard ropes...and it's at that moment that the Misfits get into a shoving match with Willy which causes the ropes to break and Synergy to go plummeting towards the ground.  Uh-oh!  If Synergy hits the ground with that much force, it's bye-bye Jem and the Holograms.  Because we all know that Jerrica would never dye her hair pink and sing the songs herself.



But before the worst happens, everyone vanishes from the scene leaving a bunch of concert spectators to question what sorts of substances they were on to create such illusions.  Everybody returns back to the year 1987 safe and sound, and the Holograms are thrilled to have undergone the fantastic, yet impossible journey they went through.  Though, Aja reminds them not to say anything as they'll get institutionalized.  Ah, Aja...always the voice of reason.



The Misfits also return to the present where they immediately turn on Eric Raymond for destroying their chance to play Woodstock.  For once, Eric is innocent and he tries to defend himself by saying that he was in Techrat's truck the whole time.  But Pizzazz forcibly grabs Techrat's keyboard, eager to teach Eric a lesson.



She types in Eric's name on the computer and he's the one that is transported back in time.  And thanks to the baby dinosaur that makes a sudden appearance, I'm guessing that Pizzazz has sent Eric all the way back in time to the year 65,000,000 B.C.!  I'm amazed Pizzazz actually knows a number that's higher than fifty!



Of course, Eric comes face to face with the baby's mama who is none to pleased to see him.  Eric runs away in terror at the sight even though in all likelihood that dinosaur is not a carnivore.  Still, she could step on him.



Back in the present, it seems as though our baby dinosaur is a bit of a brat, and he instantly turns Techrat's time machine into a pile of metal junk.  But with the time machine inoperable, it does one final trade off, with the dinosaur going back to the prehistoric times...



...and a physically frightened Eric coming back to 1987.  Though in Eric's case, I'm not sure what would be a worse nightmare.  Getting chased by a giant dinosaur or having to face four angry Misfits and a Techrat?  It's too close to call, really.

And while Techrat cries over another lost invention and Eric gets drawn and quartered by Pizzazz, Roxy, Stormer, and Jetta, the Holograms are taking their rightful place as the head entertainers for the World History of Rock Concert.



The song they perform is "Rockin' Down Through Time", and it's easy to see that they used their own time travel experiences to inspire this song.  Though one GLARING inconsistency...they mention the Glenn Miller Band in the song lyrics!  So, it's okay to sing about real musicians, but not okay to depict them in cartoons?  You know, trying to understand broadcast standards and legal terms in the 1980s would be like trying to understand how this episode could be considered realistic, so I'm not even going to try.

Despite the impossibility of the plot, I ended up liking this episode more than I thought I would.  There's some genuinely funny moments in this episode, and I think some of the music was great.  I would have liked to have seen the Misfits perform once though.  They seem to be getting the shaft in the second part of the second season.



Maybe this will be remedied in the FIFTIETH edition of Jem Reviewed.  We go back to England for this one where we learn more about Jetta's family, are reintroduced to an old friend, and are treated to a royal mystery.  Sounds intriguing!