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Friday, March 06, 2015

The Amazing Things That My Body CAN'T Do

You know, I was recently doing a little bit of rummaging through my closet the other day, and I happened to come across this book.



It's the first volume of the famous "Charlie Brown 'Cyclopedia" - the 1990 edition.  And this was a book series that I loved and that I have talked about in this blog before.  It was a unique series of books that talked about a variety of subjects, but explained them in a way that kids could understand.  And each of the fifteen volumes of the book talked about a cornucopia of topics dealing with animals, outer space, transportation, holidays, clothing, and aviation.

So, why did I post a picture of the first book?  Simple.  The first book was all about the human body and all of the amazing things that it is capable of doing.

And trust me, the human body is a wonderful thing.  Sure, under X-rays, they look like simple skeletons, but on top of that skeleton is a lot of tissue, muscle, and yes, even a little bit of cellulite in some cases.  And each individual human body is capable of doing a lot.

But one thing that I have noticed is that not every body is exactly the same.  There are some things that some people can do that other people cannot. 

And that's what this topic is all about.  While I admit that this piece is going to be mostly from personal experience about things that I admit that I can't do, maybe some of you reading this will be inspired to say "I can't do this either!".

Or at the very least, you can poke fun at me.  Believe me, I've been insulted worse.

So, yes.  While the human body is a wonderful thing capable of doing a lot...these four things are things that were never "programmed" into me at birth.

Yeah, that sounded kind of weird to me too, but I couldn't think of a better way to say it.



1.  I can't snap my fingers.

Chances are that your very first musical instrument were your fingers.  Almost every kid I know could master the art of finger snapping.  And really, it is a great talent to have.  Snapping your fingers can get someone's attention in a pinch.  They help you keep in time with the rhythm when you're trying to sing a song, or keep up with the complicated dance moves in any "Just Dance" game.

But you know what?  In my nearly thirty-four years on this planet, I have never seemed to be able to snap my fingers.  Ever.

I don't know whether it's the way that my skin is, or whether I'm positioning my fingers in the wrong way, but I cannot snap my fingers.

This proved to be not important though, as I have no desire to pursue a career in music (well, unless someone wants to hire me as a lyricist).  But sometimes when I was in school and we played games in music class where we'd have to snap our fingers, and let's just say...I stuck out like a sore thumb.  A sore thumb that could never be snapped.

I'm over it.  Really, I am.



2.  I can't whistle

You know, maybe there's a link to being tone deaf with not being able to whistle, but I never could grasp the concept of whistling.  I know the steps behind whistling.  I know it involves licking your lips, forming your lips together as if you're about to plant a kiss on someone and blowing air through your lips.  If successful, you get a nice soothing sound coming out.  If not, you have me doing my best puffer fish impersonation.  Take it from me.  Not a pretty sight.

3.  I can't roll my "R"'s.

Those of you in Canada probably know what I'm talking about.  For the rest of you, watch this commercial.



Yes, every time that Tim Horton's rolls out their "Roll Up The Rim To Win" promotion, you hear the distinctive RRRRR sound quite often.  And while you're rolling up the rim in hopes of winning a new car but having to settle for a donut instead, you're probably doing that RRRRR sound as you roll it up.

Well, I can't make that RRRRR sound.  There was an episode of "Full House" that aired all the way back in the late 1980s where D.J. nearly fails Spanish, she sends Danny out to get her an "A", and Danny ends up falling in love with D.J.'s Spanish teacher.  The one thing I remember about that episode is Danny attempting to do that RRRRR sound as a way of...well, I don't know if that was his attempt to flirt with the Spanish teacher or what, but I will say this.  Bob Saget's RRRRR is a heck of a lot better than Matthew Turcotte's RRRRR! 

Maybe I'm just tongue tied and don't know it.



4.  I can't skip rope.

I think that "Jump Rope for Heart" is an excellent charity event.  I really do.  I mean, skipping rope the whole day to raise money for heart and stroke awareness is a noble cause.  Unfortunately, every single time I tried to jump rope, I would either get tangled up in the rope, or I would end up falling on the floor.  And while I realize that the "Jump Rope for Heart" event didn't measure athletic ability, I always declined to sign up for it.  It made me sound like a fraud collecting money for the cause only to remember "I can't skip rope!".

Then again, I've never felt as though I had integrity issues.

But you know what?  While our bodies are amazing things, not all of us are built the same way.  It's like a car.  Some cars are capable of doing different things from other cars, but the important thing is that they get us where we want to go.

Human beings are the same way.  Our bodies may all be different, but we wouldn't be who we are without them.

Thursday, March 05, 2015

Take Back Your, Take Back Your, Take Back Your Empty-V

March 5, 2015



When did so called "music television" begin to suck?

You know what I mean. MTV plays too much TV and not enough M. MuchMoremusic (or M3 as it likes to be called now) shows much more of everything except music. And, don't even get me started on VH-1...

You know, growing up in Canada, one of my favourite television stations to watch on cable was MuchMusic (think Canada's version of MTV). Back in the 1990's, it was the greatest. They played music videos practically 24/7, and had special themed weekends. You know...80's weekends...#1 hit weekends...Brit-Pop weekends. It was great. Especially on Saturday nights in my boring old town when I didn't have plans...I just soaked in the music video goodness.

Because really...in a small town, what else is there to do on a weekend?



I think it was when Pop-Up-Video began to air that MuchMusic began to start its descent into the dark abyss of redundancy. I mean, don't get me wrong. Pop-Up-Video was an awesome, AWESOME show that I loved watching. But, it was also a VH-1 creation. And, little did I realize that VH-1 would be the two letters and one number of doom, punctuated by the hyphen nail in the television coffin.

Soon after, I went away to school, and stopped subscribing to cable for a few years. From 2001 to 2006, I was without my MuchMusic. Oh, I survived, but needless to say, when I finally was on my feet enough to reinstall cable in 2006, I was excited to see my music videos.

But, when I switched back to Muchmusic after a 5-year-hiatus...something was different.

I couldn't quite put my finger on it, but something was missing.

Where was the music videos? Where was my special themed weekends? Where did the VJ's go?

It was as if the MuchMusic I knew and loved was gone forever...replaced by a pod version...a cheap carbon copy of the station I spent many moons watching.

It was as if it had turned into MTV.  The lame version that showed reality television garbage, not the cool version with Martha Quinn and J.J. Jackson.

Somewhere along the way, my all music television had turned into an all reality television...and take it from me, I was not impressed.

I mean, don't get me wrong. I like reality tv as much as the average Survivor addict...but only if it's tastefully done, and only if you can take something from the show. The Amazing Race for instance teaches you all about geography and history. The Biggest Loser teaches you how to get to a healthy weight and live an active lifestyle. Heck, even the Apprentice can teach you some business tips...well, when you're not distracted by the beauty of Ivanka Trump and the ugliness of that furball Donald Trump calls hair.




Instead, what we have learned from the tripe Muchmusic expects us to swallow whole is that women suddenly find 50-year-old "has-been" rappers the hottest thing since sliced bread, Janice Dickinson and Omarosa hate each other, and celebrities who do drugs are destined to be on the D-list for all eternity.

Not exactly lessons for a well-balanced life.

Let me get one thing clear, MuchMusic. I DON'T love New York, I DON'T want to be Paris Hilton's BFF, and I really couldn't care less when the Jersey Shore "celebs" do their gym, tanning, or laundry. (Frankly, I would be the first to celebrate never having to see those twits on my television screen again)

And, what is up with MuchMusic's Movie of the Week that has NOTHING TO DO WITH MUSIC. I mean, sure, you can say that Josie and the Pussycats is a musical movie. But, the FIFTH ELEMENT? I mean, yeah, Bruce Willis did a great job in that movie, but the only music credit he has was some one-hit-wonder he had back in 1987 while riding the Moonlighting train to stardom! That would be like MuchMoreMusic airing Party of Five because Jennifer Love Hewitt is to Japanese pop as Madonna is to American music.




Oh, my bad. They ALREADY did air Party of Five.  Truth is, if I didn't know any better, I would have guessed that MuchMusic was bought out by Linda Schuyler and renamed "The Degrassi Channel - All Drama, All The Time!"

The point is...I don't even like watching MuchMusic anymore, and I haven't for quite some time. 

I don't know whether it's me getting older and not understanding current teeny-bopper trends, or whether some exec decided to feature the stupidest, most untalented clods in an attempt to make our already crumbling ideals and morals even more corrupt and pointless. Whatever the case, MuchMusic should be ashamed. No wonder Rick Campanelli flead to host Entertainment Tonight Canada!

MuchMusic...you may have brought videos to trial every week for years...but as a station failing to entertain people anymore...GUILTY, GUILTY, GUILTY!

Hell, I'd even watch a rerun of "Test Pattern" than suffer through another episode of "Geordie Shore".

Wednesday, March 04, 2015

It's A Beautiful Life

I figure that it's time for another edition of a classic piece that I wrote in the past, as my work schedule combined with a couple of other projects on the go has eaten up a lot of time lately.  Not making any excuses...it's just the way that things have gone.

This is a piece that I wrote back in the summer of 2010, and it was sort of inspired by a particular reality star trying to achieve perfection, and how it kind of made me see a little bit of red.

The piece is called "It's A Beautiful Life".  Yes, like the 1995 song by Ace of Base.



Anyway, the piece still holds true, even though Heidi Montag is sort of irrelevant as of 2015.

Is it just me, or are people just getting more and more obsessed with how they physically look as opposed to the impact they make on people just by being themselves? 

Granted, in recent months, I've taken a great interest in changing my physical appearance and improving my own personal style, but I'm not completely obsessed with it. I know that while I look and feel the best I've felt in my years on this Earth, I'm not absolutely perfect. Nowhere near it. But, at the very least, I can embrace the fact that I'm a little bit flabby in the gut, have a little less hair up on the scalp, and a little more hair everywhere else on my body. I'm serious about it too. 

But, enough about me. 

The unfortunate truth is that there are a lot of us guys and gals out there that strive for perfection. Perfect hair, perfect smile, perfect body, perfect tan, perfect everything. 

And, what's even more unfortunate? Perfection is impossible to achieve. 






Of course, you try telling people that. Especially in Hollywood, a place that celebrates public bronzing and squeezing into a size 0 dress. A place where if you know the right plastic surgeon, you too can achieve your dream of being a living Barbie doll driving around in your pink plastic convertible to your Malibu beach house where your equally plastic Ken is waiting for you with plastic underpants and a painted-on smile. 

Have I painted this picture with enough sickly shades of pink and blue yet? 

The fact of the matter is that I don't understand why people feel the need to spend thousands of dollars on plastic surgery when there's absolutely nothing wrong with them. Sure, it's worked for celebrities such as Dolly Parton and Cher, and at the very least they can have a laugh about it, and are at peace with it. I even think that some actress on a daytime drama had a facelift done on air, which took a lot of guts on her part. I don't think that I have as much of an issue with that, because it seemed like they had a great attitude about it. I also don't think they did it to impress anybody else...they did it for themselves. I have to respect that and give props to them for it. 

At the same time, I wish people felt the same attitude about aging gracefully. I personally think that aging is a beautiful thing. The wrinkles and the age spots...all those lines tell a story about a life well-lived, and they should be celebrated as exactly that. But, again, that's my opinion. 

I'm not entirely against plastic surgery though, and I can see reasons behind why some people may choose to get it (removing scars or burns, getting a tattoo removed, etc). 

What I DO take issue with are young girls who already look beautiful feeling that their natural beauty isn't enough for them and they want to go under the knife to look like a plastic, empty version of their former selves. 





I mean, look at Heidi Montag. I'm not going to lie and say that I actually liked or respected Heidi Montag...I honestly don't understand why she's so famous. But, seeing pictures of her a couple of years ago, she was quite photogenic. So, why did she decide to have almost a dozen surgical procedures done AT THE SAME TIME? Oh, yeah...Heidi Montag...she's 23! I don't know about any of you, but most 23 year olds I have known don't resort to surgery to make themselves look better. They may diet, exercise, buy a new shirt, try some other colour of lip gloss, but go under the knife?!? 

And, I'm sorry to say this about her, but as far as I'm concerned, the multiple surgeries that Heidi Montag went through were for naught. Sure, aesthetically, she looks good...but in a manufactured way. It's like the natural beauty she had was removed, and it's a real shame. 

On a related note, what the heck is everyone's obsession over stars with cellulite? With the way entertainment news stories treat cellulite like it's a form of leprosy, it almost makes it seem like a crime for a star to have it! Well, here's news for you. EVERYONE HAS IT! I'll bet you that supermodels have it. I bet Mary Hart has it. Hell, I bet I HAVE IT! 

Same deal for guys like me. If we don't have 6-pack abs, and look good in a Speedo, then we'd best kill ourselves. For one, I might not be able to grate cheese on my chest, but what normal man would want to? And, for another...Speedos should be banned in North America forever! 

I think that society in general puts too much pressure focusing on outer beauty that some people have completely forgotten how to get in touch with their inner beauty. And, that's the real shame. 

I do not fit the role of being a tall, rugged, masculine looking, manly man. Well, okay, I AM tall, but that hardly consitutes being a perfect specimen. The difference is that I've accepted my imperfections as something that makes me unique. I have a snaggletooth and an overbite. I wear glasses. I have a bit of a soft gut. These are things that make me who I am. I suppose I could get veneers, laser eye surgery, and do about eighty thousand crunches to make my abs as hard as a rock...but I don't feel the need to do that. As long as my insides work perfectly fine and I'm in good health, then that's all that matters. Besides, at the very least, I use Old Spice products, so I can be the man your man can smell like. I guess in a way, I really respect people who can look at themselves and tell themselves that they are great people both inside and out...people who are proud of their wrinkles and imperfections. People who don't give a damn what other people say except for those who truly matter to them. 

And, really, that's what I find beautiful. People who can look at themselves in the mirror and like what they see no matter what size or shape they are. True beauty comes from within. I'm hoping that in this world there are more people who can see that anybody at any size or any age can have a truly beautiful life if they look within themselves. 

Wouldn't that be beautiful? 

Tuesday, March 03, 2015

March 3, 1923

I hope that you're ready for the first installment of the Tuesday Timeline for March 2015!  And on the third day of the third month, I have another entry filled with facts, trivia, and secrets about a particular subject in pop culture past.

Of course, you all know the drill.  Before we can get to the main feature presentation, we have to talk about what else happened on March third.

So, what did happen on March 3 throughout history?  Lots of things!

1776 - The Battle of Nassau begins during the American Revolution

1820 - U.S. Congress passes The Missouri Compromise

1845 - Florida becomes the twenty-seventh state to join the United States of America

1873 - The Comstock Law is enacted by the United States Congress, making it illegal to send books that have obscene or lewd content through the mail

1875 - The opera "Carmen" debuts in Paris, France on the same day that the very first indoor hockey game is played in Montreal, Quebec, Canada

1885 - AT&T is incorporated in New York City

1911 - Actress Jean Harlow (d. 1937) is born in Kansas City, Missouri

1913 - In Washington, D.C., thousands of women march in a suffrage parade

1920 - Actor James Doohan (d. 2005) is born in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

1931 - The United States officially adopts "The Star-Spangled Banner" as its national anthem

1940 - Fashion designer Perry Ellis (d. 1986) is born in Portsmouth, Virginia

1942 - Ten Japanese warplanes raid the community of Broome, Western Australia, leaving 100 dead

1959 - Comedian Lou Costello dies at the age of 52

1966 - Actor William Frawley dies at the age of 79

1969 - NASA launches Apollo 9 to test the lunar module

1985 - Almost one million people are left homeless after a devastating 8.3 earthquake occurs in Chile

1991 - Rodney King is beaten up by Los Angeles police officers which is the event that would lead up to the Los Angeles Riots of 1992

2005 - Steve Fossett becomes the first person in the world to fly a plane non-stop around the world solo without having to refuel

2009 - The Historical Archive of the City of Cologne, Germany collapses

And here is a list of all of the famous people who are celebrating a birthday today; Lee Radziwell, George Miller, Hattie Winston, Jennifer Warnes, Snowy White, Gloria Hendry, Tim Kazurinsky, John Lilley, Darnell Williams, Miranda Richardson, Ira Glass, Mary Page Keller, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Herschel Walker, Laura Harring, Tone Loc, Heidi Swedberg, Julie Bowen, Tyler Florence, Alison King, Matthew Marsden, David Faustino, Ronan Keating, Barret Swatek, Buddy Valastro, Jessica Biel, Stacie Orrico, Hayley Marie Norman, and Jordy Lucas.

So, what date are we going back in TIME this week?  After all, this is the Tuesday TIMEline.



Yes...the TIME is...March 3, 1923.  And, I think it's TIME that I come clean about this entry before I run out of TIME.

You see...this entry is all about TIME.

Well...TIME Magazine, that is.

It seems hard to believe, but the very first issue of TIME magazine was released on March 3, 1923.  And here was the very first issue.



I know, I know.  The cover of the first TIME wasn't flashy or eye-catching.  But that was the beauty of TIME magazine.  It didn't need to be.

Created by Briton Hadden and Henry Luce, TIME was the very first weekly news magazine ever published in the United States.  And over the course of the last 92 years, TIME has grown to have a readership of over 25,000,000, making it the most successful news magazine in the world.

And while TIME Magazine prided itself on providing news coverage by the people for the people, it was also subject to some controversy as well.

And, while I could go on and write about what TIME Magazine is all about...well, maybe it would be better to just tell the story of TIME magazine through the thousands of covers that have been printed throughout...well, TIME.



Charles Lindbergh became the very first person to be named TIME's "Man of the Year".  The annual feature began in 1927 when TIME editors sat down to go over who were the biggest news makers of the whole year.  Initially, the TIME editorial staff planned to make Lindbergh the cover story after failing to include him on the cover when he performed his historic trans-Atlantic flight.  The feature took off, and every year since 1927, TIME has chosen a man, woman, or object to feature as its "Man of the Year".  The honour was later changed to "Person of the Year" in 1999 to accommodate both sexes, although prior to the change, four women had been bestowed the honour - Wallis Simpson, Soong May-ling, Queen Elizabeth II, and Corazon Aquino.

Of course, part of the criteria for choosing the "Person of the Year" was that they had to be a significant news maker for the year.  This meant that while mostly heroes and inspirational people were chosen for the honour, not all the selections were positive role models.



See Adolf Hitler in 1938 or Ayatollah Khomeini in 1979 for examples of this.



And, again...not always were the selections "human" in nature.  The personal computer was chosen for the honour in 1982!

Basically, TIME Magazine was a celebration of all news stories, good or bad.  To conclude this Tuesday TIMEline, a selection of covers from news events that shaped our world forever.



Happy birthday, TIME.

Monday, March 02, 2015

The Music of Spyro the Dragon

You know, I've played a lot of video games in my lifetime.  I can't help it.  I happen to find video games fun and enjoyable to play.  And, well...truth be told, I probably had a lot of late night "I have to get this homework done or else I'll fail" moments in school because I had a marathon gaming session of "Donkey Kong Country" or "Super Mario Brothers" calling.

NOTE:  Even though I just basically admitted to shirking off all responsibilities in my teenage life to play video games, this is not an invitation for all of you to do the same.  Stay in school, kids.  And do that algebra!

Anyway, since I brought up the fact that I am a video game addict, I suppose that you're probably expecting a blog about video games.  And you would be right.

Now I would say that for most of my video game playing life, I've been loyal to one company.  And it's true that Nintendo will always hold a part of my heart forever.  My life has been made forever better because Mario, Yoshi, Mega Man, and Link were a part of it.

But when I was older, I started to also develop a love of Sony video games, and owned a PlayStation 2 for a good many years before it finally quit working a couple of years ago.  I initially moved towards Sony for my love of "Final Fantasy" games, but there were other titles that kept me glued to the screen.  I remember getting pleasantly frustrated at the difficulty level of "Crash Bandicoot".  I remember trying to avoid getting shot in the video game "Medal of Honor".  I drove through the streets of huge cities in "Driver".  And, I even fought alongside Donald Duck and Goofy in the crazy mixed-up worlds of "Kingdom Hearts".

However, I would say that my all-time favourite games for the Sony PlayStation was the original Spyro the Dragon series.

And, when I say "original" Spyro the Dragon series, I mean the ones that were released for the original PlayStation - not the horrible PlayStation 2 games that began with the almost unplayable "Enter The Dragonfly".



Yes, "Spyro the Dragon", "Spyro 2: Ripto's Rage", and "Spyro 3:  Year of the Dragon" were always being played at my place, and I didn't quit until I found every last gem, killed every last gnorc, and rescued every last dragon, orb, or egg in the games.  And certainly gameplay was a huge part of the near-perfect Spyro formula.

However, this piece is not about the gameplay of Spyro.  Instead, we'll be talking about something that many people tend to overlook in video games, but without it would make the game seem bland.

I'm talking about the background music.

This may just be my own personal opinion here...but I think that the original Spyro trilogy had some of the best music ever recorded for a video game.  And that is largely in part to the composer who created all of the tracks in the game, Stewart Copeland.

And for those of you who may not know who he is or question his musical ability, here's a fun fact for you.  This is the same Stewart Copeland who co-founded the British based rock band "The Police" with Sting.  I'd say Copeland has more than enough clout.

So, I decided to give props to Copeland by doing a feature on the music of Spyro.  I chose ten tracks that I think are absolute standouts, and best showcase the brilliance that is Copeland's work.  And let me tell you, this was a really difficult challenge.  Every single track could be considered awesome, and I wish I could do a top 100 list instead.  But I only have room for ten.  To hear these pieces, just click on the titles of each piece.  That will take you to the link to the song.

(These selections only come from the first three Spyro games.  If you have any other musical pieces from the other games that you want to add, feel free.)




Now, in some countries, Spyro 2 is known as "Gateway to Glimmer".  Not sure why that is, but it makes sense, given that Glimmer is the first level in the game.  And I have this song as my #10 pick because I can't think of a better song to have as a first level song.  It immediately makes you jump right into action and sets the tone for the rest of the game.  The level itself is a nice introductory level, where you have to collect quite a few coloured gems while helping the Gemcutters solve problems along the way.




This song was so nice, they used it twice!  The first time is in the tropical themed "Idol Springs" level, and the second is in the Scottish paradise and much more challenging level "Fracture Hills".  Seriously, "Fracture Hills" was so difficult, the music - which sounds like it could be used on the television show "Survivor" - was the only thing that kept me calm.  It's also an appropriate song to hear during the bonus game where you feed fish to the giant idol.  Say, that could be a future immunity challenge idea!




This level is in one word...awesome!  Dangerous, but awesome.  You have to really watch the lights carefully because if they go out, cute puppy dogs and tiny tin soldiers turn into evil beasts and giant tanks!  But who cares about that when you have such awesome music as this track!  It's a track that doesn't appear until the fifth world of the game, but one that is definitely worth the wait.





This is not the only track that I will choose from the first world of the third game, but I have to admit, there's something quite mellow about this track.  Whenever I hear this track, I think about Spyro and his skateboard pulling off such tricks as the "Gnasty Gnorc" and "Orange Crush".  Come on, who didn't love skating in that Roman themed bonus round?  This was the perfect skateboarding jam, you know?




Normally, underwater levels have me screaming in pain, but there was something about Aquaria Towers that I absolutely loved.  Maybe it was the manta ray bonus game?  Maybe it was blowing up shark robots with fireballs?  Or maybe it was this suitable underwater themed music?  Actually, it could have been a combo of all three.  Again, Stewart Copeland is a genius when it comes to creating mood music.  Doesn't this track just make you feel as though you're in a giant aquarium?




This is a level that pays homage to another video game heroine, Lara Croft - only to avoid getting sued, they call her Tara instead.  And what do you have to do in this level to help Tara out?  Well, jump over pools of deadly toxic slime, dive deep into the water in an underwater mission, and avoid getting burned by flaming ladders.  Really, when you consider that this level seems more like an action film, you really have to have an action packed soundtrack.  Anything less would be unacceptable.




This is the penultimate level before you go after the big boss that is known as Gnasty Gnorc, and it takes place at a harbour at sunset.  Beautiful graphics and vivid colours only add to the joy you feel when playing this level.  You know the adventure is almost over, and the music is a bold statement that supports that.  Hold on a little longer, Spyro.  Victory will soon be yours!




I probably shouldn't be playing this track, as this is the track that accompanies the true ending of Spyro 3.  But you know what?  It also happens to be one of the better tracks of the whole game.  The music seems to be one of those pieces that can't make up its mind as to whether it wants to be a slow piece or a piece that makes you want to get up and dance.  Sort of like the level layout itself, which combines all of the skills you learned throughout the game and amps them up to the point where succeeding is hard.

(Of course, in the snowboarding section, there is a way you can...cheat...but I can't say much more than that.)




What saddens me most about this song is that it wasn't included in all versions of the game.  If you happen to live in Europe and have the PAL version of the game, this track does not appear.  Instead, another track is substituted in its place.  It's a shame, because this track alone is my favourite of the third game and second favourite overall.  Really, the whole area known as Crystal Islands is beautiful, and it deserves a piece that will make it shine even brighter.  This score is near perfection in my eyes.




And finally we come to my most favourite Stewart Copeland does Spyro composition ever.  The soundtrack to the robot inhabited, futuristic Metropolis level.  Really, this song is not only my favourite song, but I think that Metropolis could be my all-time favourite Spyro level ever.  I always get such a rush when I play this level!  Maybe it has to do with the conclusion of the level where you spend most of the time flying high in the sky to shoot down UFO's.  And I suppose the double power-up cinched it for me as well.  But seriously, this level's soundtrack is AMAZING!  It totally fits!

Sunday, March 01, 2015

Living Long and Prospering



Some sad news to report as we enter the month of March.  Those of you who were huge fans of "Star Trek" are probably mourning the loss of Leonard Nimoy, who passed away on February 27, 2015, at the age of 83.  And even if you were not a fan of "Star Trek", I imagine that many people all over the world are still saddened by his passing.  For many people, Leonard Nimoy was the epitome of class, and his intelligence and outlook on life seemed to shine brightly, even if he did feel a little bit typecast from the many years that he played the iconic role of Spock.

There's really not much more that I can really say about Leonard Nimoy that hasn't already been said by millions of fans all over the world, so I will just say that while I will miss him, he will somehow always be a part of the world long after his passing.  I think that there are very few people who make an indelible mark on the planet, and somehow, I believe Leonard Nimoy has done exactly that.

So, I thought that I would take this opportunity to dedicate today's blog entry to Leonard Nimoy's memory.  A man who lived long and prospered every step of the way.



And as a special presentation of this blog, I thought that I would see if I could find out some interesting facts about Leonard Nimoy.  Facts that really had nothing to do with his iconic role of "Star Trek".  Yes, his portrayal of Spock was his most famous part.  But he did so much more than that over his lifetime, and I think that should also be talked about as well.

So, here are some fun filled (non-Star Trek) facts about the late Leonard Nimoy.

1 - His birthdate was March 26, 1931.

2 - His birthplace was Boston, Massachusetts.

3 - His middle name was Simon.

4 - He stood at just over six feet tall.

5 - He was married twice.

6 - At some point during the 1960s, he owned a pet store in the community of Canoga Park, California.

7 - He directed this music video...



8 - His father owned a barber shop.

9 - In addition to acting, he also dabbled in photography, hosting several exhibitions of his work.

10 - He had two children, a son and a daughter.

11 - He served in the armed forces for nearly two years, receiving an honourable discharge in 1955 with the rank of Staff Sergeant.

12 - Hit #121 on the Billboard Charts in 1967 with this single...



13 - He was only four days younger than William Shatner.

14 - He suffered from permanent "ringing of the ears" since getting too close to a special effects explosion while filming in 1967.

15 - Spoke fluent Hebrew and Yiddish.

16 - Appeared in two different episodes of "The Simpsons" - "Marge vs. The Monorail" and "The Springfield Files".

17 - He was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in January 1985.

18 - Although he didn't appear in the episode on camera, Nimoy did make a certain "Big Bang Theory" character do something completely unexpected...



19 - Was a vegetarian.

20 - He officially retired from acting in 2010, but briefly made a comeback to support the latest "Star Trek" reboot in 2013.

21 - In one of his first roles - 1952's "Zombies of the Stratosphere", he was paid $500.

22 - He once ran an online store with his granddaughter - shopllap.com

23 - Was one of five actors to appear in both the 1963 and the 1995 versions of "The Outer Limits"



24 - Wrote an autobiography entitled "I Am Not Spock".



25 - He hosted a television show on Nickelodeon entitled "Standby: Lights, Camera, Action" for five years.



26 - His voice appeared in part in the 1988 Information Society single "What's On Your Mind (Pure Energy)".

27 - He was a licensed private pilot and owned an airplane.

28 - The date of November 14, 2009 was officially declared "Leonard Nimoy Day" by Boston Mayor Thomas Menino.

29 - In addition to his acting credits, he also directed quite a few films including "Three Men and a Baby", "Funny About Love", and "Holy Matrimony"

And, sadly, but fittingly...

30 - Leonard Nimoy's final Tweet - published days before he died.