Glaze Place

Positive reinforcement works people.

monstermash62 — Wed, 05 May 2010 03:41:30 +0000

Only a few more days until the end of the school year. Then only one more year.

In other news. I feel accomplished today. Two people told me I was a good friend. My boss tells me I’m doing good at work, too. This is what its all about. If you do good, it will all come back around. We all need some positive reinforcement every once in a while.

20 Books in 2010: The Sea of Monsters

monstermash62 — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 03:34:47 +0000

8 of 20

The second Percy Jackson and the Olympians book was really enjoyable. Especially for fans of Odysseus and The Odyssey. Again, I came in expecting this to be the tough “second album”, but it wasn’t. I enjoyed it as much as, probably more than The Lightning Thief.

The Sea of Monsters has an extremely fast and moving pase. I guess to keep those ADHD kids, like Percy, interested. I didn’t mind it. Some of the characters suffered for it, but the plot really benefited from this pacing. Its a really fun book to read, although it is still very predictable.

Oh, and Tyson. He’s just awesome.

Not much to be said except I enjoyed it.

20 Book in 2010: The Lightning Thief

monstermash62 — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 01:04:40 +0000

Percy Jackson and the Olympians, a series of children’s books, has recently come to my attention. The motion picture adaptation of the first book of five, The Lightning Thief, was released in the cinemas a few months back. I didn’t go see. I didn’t want to. I didn’t want to read the book and I didn’t think I would like it. But then it was recommended my a close friend, so I gave it a shot.

It was really quite enjoyable. Its a light, fun, action/comedy book for 12 year olds. Yeah, its very juvenile, but still well written and fun. There were a few times when I felt like I was being talked down to or lead by the hand, but I expected that. I can probably credit this to my knowledge of Greek mythology. I knew who Dionysus, Kronos, Prometheus, Aires, Hades, Poseidon and Zeus were long before touching The Lightning Thief. They are kid’s books. Don’t go looking for anything deep.

Another quibble I had with this book is it’s extreme predictability. It was like I already knew what was going to happen before I even started. I think I will contribute this to its grade 6 demographic. I could say it was due to poor writing, but I’m in a good mood. Heck, it might even be due to my familiarity to the subject. I still really enjoyed it.

So check The Lightning Thief out. Read it to you kids. Have a good time. Its a lot of fun.

(Side Note: I have not seen the movie. From the looks of the pictures and casting, it was drastically changed for the screen. I’ll wait to see it after I finish all the books. And yeah, Percy Borrows a lot from Harry Potter. A LOT.)

Mancala

monstermash62 — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 14:58:23 +0000

Mancala is an ancient board game, like Backgammon. It’s very easy to learn and easy to play. 2 players, 14 holes, numberous amounts of stones.

The objective of the game is to get as many pieces into your big pool at the end of the board before your opponent. For example, if there are four stones in a hole, place on stone in the next four holes and if your last one lands in your pool, you get to go again. If the last stone of your turn lands on an empty spot and there are one or more stones in your opponent’s adjacent hole, you get to put their stones that are in that hole, and your one stone, into your pool. Easy, right?

Things right now.

monstermash62 — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 04:20:46 +0000

I have had absolutely no time to read lately. This is true, I have bitten off way more than I can chew this term. It not just school, though. Stuff happened and I lost control. I keep hearing I should put my trust in this God fellow, but its hard. I can’t help but worry about things.

The new 5 weeks will be slow, but the pay off will be sweet. I really can’t not wait for summer. It sounds like such a juvenile cliche, but its true; I can’t wait. I wish I could catch up on my reading and blogging. I should got to bed. I have to continue my life of confusing, worry, nervous, and work.

Amazon Recomendation: Zelda Cartoon

monstermash62 — Sun, 04 Apr 2010 03:14:40 +0000

The Legend of Zelda cartoon is cheep on Amazon now. And by cheep I mean, $17. I’d pay that. Seriously. It gets lots of flak for being bad. I don’t get it. Come on. “Excuse Me Princess!”

Toy Story and Toy Story 2 Blurays

monstermash62 — Sun, 04 Apr 2010 00:44:59 +0000

These movies mean a lot to me. I grew up with Pixar and their work. I’ve seen most of their films in the cinema. They create such near perfection with all of their films, even the lesser ones wow you (I’m looking at you, Cars.) But Toy Story and Toy Story 2, although rather dated, have to be in the top four of all time best Pixar/Disney films. I recently picked up these two movies on Blu Ray on sale. This is the first time I have owned them since VHS.

I really recommend these two early Pixar movies. They were original, cool, and generation crossing. Fun for the whole family, literally. I’m sad to say I don’t like the way Pixar is heading. Cars 2? Really?

That’s all I really have to say. Pick up these gems.

20 Books in 2010: 7 Practices of Effective Ministry

monstermash62 — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 16:59:17 +0000

6 of 20

Yes, it none fiction, the first of the year for me.

The title pretty much sums it up. Here are 7 practices to make you church better. The book is divided into two parts. Part one is a short story that involves a young preacher of an ineffective church that gets help from an unlikely person, a business man. Part two, which I enjoyed much more, expands on the 7 practices and gives great advice on how to properly put them to work.

While its not exactly the best book ever, it does what its supposed to do. A must read for anyone involved in ministry.

Final Fantasy XIII: 20 Hours In

monstermash62 — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 02:43:34 +0000

So I’ve playing the latest installment of the Final Fantasy series the past week and I wanted to put my impression of it so far out there. Spoiler free, by the way.

If I had to sum this game up in a sentence, it like a book. I’ve heard the complaint that is more like watching a movie with some interactivity thrown in between big scenes. The scope is way to big for it feel like a movie. I honestly think its more like a book. While watching some of the cut scenes, I couldn’t help but think, “If this was a book, I would happily read it.”

That brings me to my second point. The story is extremely well develop. You can tell they put a lot in to picking the perfect story with all the perfect character. The world of Cocoon is wonderfully fleshed out. It feels real, like any science fiction or fantasy story should feel. But be warned, it can be incredibly melodramatic.

The graphics and presentation is well documented. I don’t have to tell you its beautiful. But one thing I noticed; the menus are fantastically formed and organized.

Finally, its linear. Very linear. More linear than any other Final Fantasy game. You know what? I kind of like it that way. The linearity pushes the story nicely. Keeps it flowing. And that’s what its all about, right? The story.

The game play is well developed and dynamic, too. Very rewarding.

And thus I give you…

…the Lightning action figure!

New MacBooks are fun

monstermash62 — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 04:07:34 +0000

I bought a used, black 2007 MacBook yesterday for 800 dollars. And boy, am I glad I did. Here’s the best part. It came with MS Office 08, Adobe Master Collection, Toast 10, Soundtrack, and Final Cut Express! All of this… for $800. So we met the owner at a coffee shop and checked it out. Its in great condition for being 3 years old. And it a Mac, so it’ll last a while. After we got it, we went to Best Buy and I bought a 1 TB External Hard Drive, Toshiba, on sale for $100. So I’m using Time Machine with that. My other Hard Drive is only 340 GB.

So I’m pretty happy right now.