I’m a big fan of Guitar Hero. I first purchased GH3 – Legends of Rock for PS2 for Christmas a few years ago. I immediately told Cyndi, “Go buy another guitar tomorrow, we’re rockin’ out baby!!” While I never played the game to “win” or complete the competition of it all, I played to release my inner rock star. (Side note: The running joke at Cyndi’s school is that in a “previous life” before we met I was a rock star from Europe.) GH3 was only for guitar, so Cyndi and I would jam out with lead guitar and bass to tracks like ‘Barracuda’ and ‘Hit Me with Your Best Shot.’ Friday nights were never the same. Then we purchased GH Aerosmith and got to be Joe Perry in all of his ‘Mama Kin’ glory. Life was good.
A few years later we decided that we wanted a Wii. It became our Christmas present to each other. For my birthday three days later I received GH World Tour. Guitar, DRUMS(!!!) and Microphone opened up a whole new door of inner rock glory. So while I could still play GH on PS2, GHWT was my new drug. I could download songs, create new ones and mix them, and even just jam out to my Mii. My son got into it and was drumming at the wonderful age of 1 and a half.
While I haven’t kept up with purchasing every new version of the game that has come out, GH is getting ready for their next version: Warriors of Rock. Adding new features, new game-play options, the GH franchise is again setting the stage for another great game. September seems far off, but might have to be in my line up of another GH purchase.
“I do it. I do it. I. DO. IT!!!” It is the phrase we have come to know and love in our household recently. Freddie is getting very independent and wants to help or do everything. It is great. Cyndi and I love seeing him try new things and grow. It is awesome to see your child develop and accomplish things, no matter how small or how large. However, this also means we have had to adjust our timelines and schedules to accommodate for potentially 30 minutes of added “I DO IT” time.
Things Freddie is getting into and wanting to do himself include:
zippers
buttons
car seat straps
pushing the grocery cart
swiping groceries over the checkout counter
paying for the groceries with mommy and daddy’s debit card
and much more…
This requires a tremendous amount of patience at times. You want your child to grow and do things on their own. However, when you are trying to get to work or school on time you just want to do it for them. But just when you think you can “help out” you get a “NOOO!! I DO IT!” And then we start over again. So it is a balance between letting him do it himself and “helping” him out. I’m just waiting to see what he wants to try next. Maybe it will be mowing the lawn??
I spent the majority of my pre-college life in scouting. I started when I was in third grade in Cub Scouts, became a Webelo, and then moved on to gain the highest rank of Eagle Scout. I attribute much of who I am to the lessons and life skills I learned while in the Scouts. Yesteray when I read some buzz over the new Video Game belt loop and award that Tiger Cubs, Cub Scouts, and Webelos can earn. My first knee jerk reaction what “What the…really? What level is the Scouts stooping to?” But that was without actually reading the requirements and really without merit. After reading the requirements of the award and remembering the age bracket it started to make sense – this is just scouting adapting to the times.
Tiger Cubs starts when kids are in first grade, and progresses up to Webelos graduating to Boy Scouts when they are in 6th grade (if memory serves correctly). So we are talking about boys from 6 to 12 approximately. When I was growing up we had an Atari 8600 and a Nintendo with the game pad. We had our video game playing time as well as other activities like soccer and baseball my brother and I participated in.
What scouts teach kids at this age isn’t about key survival skills if you are lost in a forest alone off the trail (OK, they do teach you how to use a compass and some other basic stuff). Instead scouting at this age bracket teaches about teamwork, competition, teaching others, building self confidence, exploration of other activities, and the importance of school. When looking at the requirements for the Video Game award, those principles are there. The award isn’t encouraging a kid to sit down after school and play for hours upon hours. Instead it makes you build a schedule that includes your chores, homework, and time to play video games. It has them learning about the rating system and why it is important. If you want to get the pin, which requires extra work, it asks you to compare pricing of a game you want with other stores and understand and explain the store return policy and manufacturer’s warranty. Sure it also says that you should “play” a video game for an hour with a friend or family members but I think we also have to remember that video game systems has in many ways replaced board games. I think it is also key to remember that at this age these aren’t kids playing Grand Theft Auto or Halo (hopefully).
As society and the world evolves, the scouting programs have to as well. Being well rounded today and the skills that fit that definition is not the same as it was 30 years ago or even 10 years ago. So the Boy Scouts of America have adapted with the times while keeping their core values integrated into the new programs and awards.
I’m on the bandwagon. I used to never really watch hockey, but this year I’ve become hooked. Chicago has a great young team in the Blackhawks and it is hard not to get caught up on the excitement. Tonight the Hawks kick off their Stanley Cup run by playing Nashville Predators. Even with all the goalie issues the Hawks had at the end of the regular season, we have a really good shot at winning it all. So let’s go Hawks!!
So I previously wrote about my desire to get a HP Slate. Well that may have been trumped today by the idea of a Google tablet. Of course, I’m also infatuated with the Microsoft Courier as well. But at the end of the day, it will be the device that is the right price for the right reason.
What appeals to me about the Google tablet is that it is running Android. Not that I have anything against Windows 7, but Android was built for this type of stuff. Touch screen, multiple apps, social, the works. If it can perform some basic business functions, live within the clouds, and offer easy access to the Internet (wifi or mobile networks) then it may be the perfect iPad competitor. NYTimes and Wired is reporting that this device is imminent. Eric Schmidt has basically confirmed it. So now it is just a question of when and what are the specs.
As much as the iPad is cool, revolutionary, etc, it certainly has some pain points that I think no matter what, those 300K people who purchased it will experience in some way, shape or form in the next few days/weeks. That’s why I’m waiting for the HP Slate, or an equivalent that has things like USB ports, SD Card slots, a camera…like this one.
As I walked out of work yesterday I noticed a film crew truck outside our building. This isn’t too abnormal as commercials and movies tend to film in my area of the city each year. As always I had the thought of “hmmm, wonder what is starting to film already?”. This morning as I walked up to work a crew was in full force outside my building. Normally when I see trucks outside the actual shoot is a couple blocks away. Today the shooting was taking place AT my building. It appears, according to the security desk, that Fox is filming a pilot episode for a show this fall at Flatwater, a restaurant on the river level of my building. I didn’t see any famous actors when I walked by, but they were not shooting at that time either. It will be interesting to see what might debut this fall with a scene outside my office.
Come on Kentucky!! You are my last hope of even having a winning bracket. While I only filled out a bracket for myself this year, Kentucky is the only team I have that has a shot at winning the big game. Lots of teams have made this year a great year to watch. Upset after upset. No 1 seed falling after another. Not just the typical 12 vs 5 seed upset, but craziness all over the place. The Big10 showed up big time this year after the first two rounds…alas only Michigan State still stands in the Elite Eight.
Of course those who went to college and their alma mater doesn’t make it into the tournament, like mine this year…again…you have to root for someone. For Cyndi and I, that was Northern Iowa. Northern Iowa is part oft he Missouri Valley Conference which is is the conference Bradley is in. While Bradley wasn’t even good enough to make it to the NIT this year, we rooted for our conference brother as they beat Kansas. It brought back memories of when Bradley made it to the dance and then the sweet sixteen, taking down Kansas then too. Unfortunately N. Iowa lost yesterday to Michigan State.
So as the Elite Eight kick off and then going all the way down to the final show next week…I root for Kentucky. Hopefully your bracket is busted too.
I’m a big fan of Guitar Hero. I first purchased GH3 – Legends of Rock for PS2 for Christmas a few years ago. I immediately told Cyndi, “Go buy another guitar tomorrow, we’re rockin’ out baby!!” While I never played the game to “win” or complete the competition of it all, I played to release my inner rock star. (Side note: The running joke at Cyndi’s school is that in a “previous life” before we met I was a rock star from Europe.) GH3 was only for guitar, so Cyndi and I would jam out with lead guitar and bass to tracks like ‘Barracuda’ and ‘Hit Me with Your Best Shot.’ Friday nights were never the same. Then we purchased GH Aerosmith and got to be Joe Perry in all of his ‘Mama Kin’ glory. Life was good.
A few years later we decided that we wanted a Wii. It became our Christmas present to each other. For my birthday three days later I received GH World Tour. Guitar, DRUMS(!!!) and Microphone opened up a whole new door of inner rock glory. So while I could still play GH on PS2, GHWT was my new drug. I could download songs, create new ones and mix them, and even just jam out to my Mii. My son got into it and was drumming at the wonderful age of 1 and a half.
Come on Kentucky!! You are my last hope of even having a winning bracket. While I only filled out a bracket for myself this year, Kentucky is the only team I have that has a shot at winning the big game. Lots of teams have made this year a great year to watch. Upset after upset. No 1 seed falling after another. Not just the typical 12 vs 5 seed upset, but craziness all over the place. The Big10 showed up big time this year after the first two rounds…alas only Michigan State still stands in the Elite Eight. 