Marketing Trends

Posted on August 22, 2011 by benjaminfrog

Have you noticed how many commercials start off with, “Do you think something? – Well you’re WRONG!”?

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Deep Question #2

Posted on August 16, 2011 by benjaminfrog

What would happen if a werewolf lived on the moon?

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Blue Shell

Posted on August 14, 2011 by benjaminfrog

If I were a mad scientist, one of my goals in life would be to use all of my bio-engineering know-how to create a real-life Yoshi.

Something roughly the shape of a Velociraptor, that comes in several different colours, has a Chameleon-like tongue, is born with boots and a saddle (or grows a saddle when it matures into an adult), sprouts feathered wings when carrying a blue turtle shell in its mouth, and lays eggs that hatch mushrooms with eyes that can crawl along the floor and cause humans to double in height when consumed.

I think all that is fairly feasible.

I just might have trouble getting it to lay eggs that hatch clouds with faces that rain down coins with faces, but I suppose I can live without that. As long as it can still spit a trio of fireballs with eyes I’ll be happy. 🙂

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Unexpected Favourites

Posted on August 10, 2011 by benjaminfrog

I’d buy music CDs or get CDs from friends and recognize some of the songs listed, but then when I listen to them I’m often surprised by which songs intrigue me the most, and end up being played a dozen times on the first day. I thought I’d do a list of some of the CDs I’ve listened to and some of the unexpected favourite songs that came out of them.

Kutless “Kutless” – Pride Away

Kutless “It Is Well” – I’m Still Yours

(Still gets me choked up sometimes.)

Starfield “The Saving One” – Declaration Of Dependence

(This is the song that in my mind legitimized Starfield as a rock group, instead of just “a nice Christian music group.” I am thoroughly impressed with these guys.)

Evanescence “Fallen” – Tourniquet

(This is now my favourite song of all.)

Linkin Park “Hybrid Theory” – Papercut

(I know the feeling. Perfectionism is a constant battle for me. I find this is one of those songs that I have to listen to in moderation though – too much all the time gets depressing.)

Daughtry “Daughtry” – What I Want

Avril Lavigne “Under My Skin” – Forgotten

(This was a huge surprise to me. I didn’t know she had that much Rock in her. I picked up this CD for the song “Nobody’s Home.” There was a great deal on it in the store and the album was before the “I Don’t Like Your Girlfriend” era. This has become the second-most-played song on my laptop.)

The Who “Then And Now 1964-2004” – Pinball Wizard

(I could not stop playing this.)

Amanda Marshall “Amanda Marshall” – Beautiful Goodbye

(I got this CD for “(Trust Me) This Is Love,” which is a very important song to me, but I’ve ended up listening to this song more often. It’s hauntingly beautiful.)

The Glorious Unseen “Tonight The Stars Speak” – Wrapped Up In You

Hillsong “A Beautiful Exchange” – Forever Reign

Parachute Band “Love Without Measure” – You Remain

Matt Redman “Blessed Be Your Name” – Undignified

(This one really gets me fired up for worship.)

The Smiths “The Wedding Singer (Soundtrack)” – How Soon Is Now?

(I bought my mother this CD for her birthday, along with the DVD. She loves that movie. And I suppose the song we were most excited about getting was “Somebody Kill Me Please” by Adam Sandler. But this song grabbed me and wouldn’t let go. It wasn’t until I could listen carefully to the lyrics that I understood that this song was speaking to my
struggles with A.S.)

Payable On Death “P.O.D. Greatest Hits: The Atlantic Years” – Boom

Journey “The Essential Journey” – Wheel In The Sky

Creedence Clearwater Revival “Chronicle 1” – Commotion

Blue Rodeo “Five Days In July” – Head Over Heels

(The chorus of this song reminds me that I can come to God no matter what state I’m in.)

Need To Breathe “The Heat” – Restless

Need To Breathe “The Outsiders” – Through The Smoke

Johnny Cash “The Legend Of Johnny Cash” – Rusty Cage

(This has become the most-played song on my laptop.)

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Little Big Planet 2 – (week 23)

Posted on July 31, 2011 by benjaminfrog

I’m test running all of my levels in preparation for friends coming over. My eyes are angry with me.

Been adding a few monsters here and there to my Barbarian game. He now fights ghosts and necromancers and cockatrices. Last night I created giant, floating, disembodied brains called “Free Minds.”

And since I’m writing a basilisk into one of my stories I found myself in a basilisk mood and decided to add them as allies in the Barbarian game. They emit beams of invisible holograms out of their faces, with Tags that cause most enemies to die instantly, so it really looks like they’re killing things just by looking at them. Fun.

And one of my friends requested to be able to play as a girl, so now there’s also a female Barbarian with a spunky ponytail. 🙂

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Phrases That Have A Different Meaning If You’re A Cannibal

Posted on July 26, 2011 by benjaminfrog

“You want a knuckle-sandwich?”

“Give me some skin.”

“He’s got his father’s eyes.”

“You’ve got guts. – I like that.”

“What do you like most in a person?”

“You stole my heart.”

“You just need some elbow grease.”

“I’m looking for someone tender.”

“Open mouth, insert foot.”

“This place charges you and arm and a leg!”

“How may I serve you?”

“It’s finger-licking-good.”

“I’m a nail-biter.”

“My ears are burning.”

“This is my ex-wife Pattie.”

And most famously…

“I’m having an old friend for dinner.”

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Night Fall

Posted on July 22, 2011 by benjaminfrog

One day when the sun came up I had a peculiar feeling that’s difficult to describe. Like I felt it wasn’t fair. I had stayed up all night countless times in the past, but there was something about daybreak that hurt me this time. I had tried to figure out what this feeling was.

There’s something about the night that I cling to. It’s a time of freedom, of broadened horizons. Perhaps it goes back to the childhood mentality that staying up late is only for “big people”.

The day is when society operates. It’s specific hours with certain things happening at certain times. The night is when the world and society rests. Nothing has to happen at a specific time. I eat when I’m hungry and I rest when I’m tired. And when I have energy I get up and do something.

But when day broke into my world, on this particular night, it was a reminder that even the night has a time limit. I can’t stay in the night as long as I want. At some point, whether I’m ready or not, I’m always forced back into the day and into society’s schedule of organized hours.

It’s interesting that psychologists note that the thing autistics need and lack most in their lives is organization, and that in my depths I fight so passionately against being organized – being arranged and scheduled – being limited.

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A Matter of Honour

Posted on July 15, 2011 by benjaminfrog

This is another message I sent out to some friends a few years ago. I’ve had a lot of struggles with identity and purpose over the years. This was an important step in the right direction. And the journey continues.

For a long time I have been afraid to make any sort of promise to God. I have a general fear of making promises, even ones I’m pretty sure I can keep, simply because I never know what will happen. Events are always out of my control. And I know what it feels like to be promised something, only to have the person go back on their word.

I have had the same reasoning about my service to God – I will do the best that I can, to the best of my ability, but I won’t make any promises. I won’t swear to always do what I am asked, only what I can do. (As if God would ask me to do more than I am capable of doing).

I have told God that I would follow Him all of my days, but I refused to make my servitude
a promise, in case something ever happened and I inadvertently broke that promise.

I have to ask myself: who’s honour am I really concerned about by not making promises to God? Is it for His honour, or mine?

There is a difference between serving your master as sacraficially as possible to gain
honour through it, and serving your master as sacraficially as possible for the
honour of your master and your master alone, with no regard to your own name.

The ultimate truth is that my name and my identity are not my own. Everything I am is a gift from God, He can take it all away should He choose to. Why do I act as though my reputation is something that I’ve earned? As though my name is my responsibility alone? Has not God provided not only the abilities but the opportunities to gain what reputation I have? Do I not owe Him everything? – Including my name?

Am I really in a place where I position God’s honour as a priority above my own? Am I in a place where I am willing to put my honour on the line for the sake of His? Am I in a place where I would willingly suffer dishonour if it will bring honour to Him?

I fear that if I make a promise to serve Him, and then break it, it will stain my honour. But if I fully surrender all that I am to God, I acknowledge that everything I am, including my name and my honour, belongs to God. I acknowledge also that I am not in control of things – God is. Would He then deliberately put me in a position where I have no choice but to break my promise to serve Him? As long as I fight for control of my life, and my honour, I am only trying to sail against the wind. When I acknowledge that all I am is His, and surrender it all to Him, then it will finally be used for the purposes He ultimately created it for.

My honour is not my own – my honour is in God’s hands, to break or mend as He sees fit.
Surrendered to Him, He will only use it in whatever way will bring Him the most glory and honour. If His honour is my greatest priority, then this is the only route to take.

It is time to stop being proud, to stop saying, “I am not good enough, therefore I promise
nothing.” God has not asked me to be anything more than what I am. So I now give Him all of what I am. What I can be is now in Hands.

Posted in Personal, Spiritual | Tagged | 1 Comment

Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World – (an analysis)

Posted on July 7, 2011 by benjaminfrog

I claim that this movie didn’t impress me as much as people in the gaming community kept telling me it would – and yet I’ve watched it several times now. I guess even though it doesn’t fit my criteria of “pure awesomeness” it is still a very enjoyable movie that speaks
loudly to gaming culture.

It is also a very WEIRD movie that either creates its own genre or fits into a genre I haven’t heard of. And I would like to see other films like this in the future.

Having watched it several times, I think I “get” most of it now, but there are still some questions that nag at me. I’ve decided to make a list of each and present them to you guys and see what you think.

What I Don’t Get

If Wallace keeps stealing Staci’s boyfriends then why is she still friends with him? Is it because she needs his gossip to feed her life-force?

If being Vegan allows Todd to use 100% of his brain and gain psychic powers – how come he’s still an idiot?

At the end of the first fight, why are Scott and Matthew suddenly able to read each other’s minds?

Is Gideon supposed to be a cool villain or a lame villain? He has a douschy personality and that annoying mole/zit/thing, but he also has what looks like a Lightsaber version of
Sephiroth’s sword that he summons by performing Ninja hand-gestures. Then he doesn’t hold his sword right. Those elements don’t go together.

Exactly how many points does Scott need to earn an extra life?

How come the only thing Gideon’s guards know how to do is jump?

When you die, is the number of coins you leave behind determined by your networth?

Do you get coins for losing a limb?

If your arm gets cut off do you have time to reattach it or does it immediately turn into coins?

What I Do Get

Subspace is the name of the world of dreams in Super Mario Bros. 2, so when Ramona says she uses a Subspace tunnel to get around quicker, that’s how Scott is able see her in his dreams. I also think that’s what the white doors are.

TMP means Too Much Punch. …I think.

Liver Disaster is not a real flavour of tea.

Gideon’s logo is a reverse Triforce.

Nega Scott is like Dark Link.

Kim is sarcastic.

Scott meant to say “love.”

Sidenote

The coolest image in this movie is Kim drumming in the snow while death-glaring the evil twins. Kim rocks!

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Little Shop Of Horrors (1987) – (a film review)

Posted on June 30, 2011 by benjaminfrog

Considering the success of The Rocky Horror Picture Show, I’m surprised that this film didn’t have more of a cult following. It has many memorable and outrageous characters.

This was one of the first “grown-up” comedies that I saw, and my very first musical, so it has a special place in my heart, and is still one of my favourite movies in both categories (though I can only think of two other musicals I’ve seen).

The songs are catchy, and a few of them go on unexpected tangents. Subtle jokes I didn’t get as a kid made me laugh out loud when I watched it again as an adult.

There’s a strong message in this movie about self-worth, and the way that people perceive themselves vs. the way others perceive them, and how far people are willing to go to become “somebody.” This movie might also have something to do with my perception of
dentists.

Rick Moranis plays the typical, unassuming nice guy. The kind of role that today would’ve gone to Michael Cera. Ellen Greene plays the love interest, and I’ve never seen a female character with such a high voice. With that voice, the innocent personality and the revealing outfits she’s like a living anime girl. You also get to see Tisha Campbell pre-Martin.

Parents should be cautioned about occasional foul language, and a few occurances of profanity. Sexuality is limited to Audrey’s cleavage, which doesn’t sound like a big deal until you’ve seen it. Also the morality of the characters gets kinda grey when it comes to
murder, or whether or not to let someone die, so if your kids watch it you’ll want to talk to them about that stuff.

The villain’s song at the end is particularly entertaining. It’s the kind of song a street rapper would sing about himself, if the street rapper were a broadway-loving flower from outer space.

I learned through the DVD documentaries that the whole concept began with Roger Corman wanting to prove that it was possible to make an entire film in two days, which became the original black-and-white film of 1960. That film went on to become a broadway musical, which the 1987 film is based on. Talk about humble beginnings. It just proves you never know where your ideas are gonna go.

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