College Football Returns...

Time to play some football!

This past Thursday officially launched the 2014 college football season. This season there will be a playoff of the top four teams. It will no longer just be decided by polls and computers. Instead, it will be decided on the field. The four top teams, as selected by a selection committee, will compete in two semifinal games and then the winners of those games go on to compete in the championship game.

How much better this system will work is still up for the future to decide. I am sure there will be some bumps along the way. The one thing I know for sure is that I am glad to see that at least there will be four teams that have a chance to prove they are the best in college football. It is about time that these debates were settled on the field.

The Simpsons Marathon on FXX

FXX has been taking advantage of one of the strongest and most popular shows on television by showing every Simpsons episode...ever. With the Simpsons marathon nearing an end, I thought I would just write a few things that I enjoyed watching and reminiscing.

Why I enjoyed The Simpsons Marathon:

1. The humor - It has been so much fun to re-watch a cartoon with such clever humor and well-timed gags.
2. The family - The way the Simpsons interact is great. Yes, they have struggles, but they seem to still care about one another. You can really see these strong relationships when watching them back to back.
3. The original openings - I know that some people are really obsessed with the openings, but I had forgotten most of them. When you watch them consecutively, you are able to compare them and can truly see the cleverness.
4. Homer Simpson - Yes, he is an idiot sometimes, but he does adore his family.

Well, if you missed the marathon, don't worry! It looks like FXX will continue to be the Simpson-powered channel. For now, on Mondays and Fridays, the channel will air a Simpsons block from 6 pm - midnight. Every Tuesday and Thursday will have an 8 pm - midnight block. Sundays will have the longest block with a 7-hour slot running from 4 pm - midnight. They are also planning holiday-themed marathons all throughout the year.

Lego Games: Fun for parent and child

A blast with little plastic bricks....

As a dad, both my daughter and I love to play video games. One of the series of games we have found that we can both enjoy is the Lego games. We started playing with the original Star Wars Lego games and we moved on to so many more. The games are getting better with time and even a little more complicated.  The games are usually pretty easy to learn but harder to master.

If you love the theme, legos, or just fun video games then you might find these games to be a good fit for you and your family.

The ups and the downs -

The upside to Lego games:

• Great themes and recognizable characters
• Easy to learn but harder to complete (100%)
• Cooperative play - You get a chance to help or be helped by your child.
• There is a high level of replay value.

The Downside to Lego games:

• They are glitch prone
• The split-screen feature can get annoying 

As a dad and a gamer, I suggest you check out the Lego themed video games. They are fun games that do not take themselves to seriously and are good FAMILY fun.

Rhett and Link

Rhett and Link on YouTube

My family was playing around on YouTube on our PS3 and we discovered a great comedy duo. This team is comprised of Rhett James McLaughlin and Charles Lincoln "Link" Neal III. They have been friends since they were kids in North Carolina. They met in 1st grade and have been friends ever since.

This comedy duo has real chemistry and they truly seem to have a great time doing what they are doing. Besides three channels on YouTube (Rhett and Link, Good Mythical Morning, and Good Mythical More), this duo also has a website and podcast. You can also find them on all social media outlets.

If you haven't found this team, you will not be disappointed if you take a look at their channel.

How we started:

1. We discovered Rhett and Link and the comedy songs on their main channel.
2. We clicked on over to GMM and watched several old episodes of their daily talk show.
3. After we got hooked, we choose to get a little more craziness and check out the show after the show with Good Mythical More. 

Head on over and check them out and you might just find out that your are a "Mythical Beast" as well.

If you have seen them, feel free to leave a comment about the show and if you love it.

Just For a Laugh

This little joke has been around for long time now but the first time I saw this I loved it and laughed so hard.

I promise you that you will never look at a hand dryer the same again. How better everything would be with a magic BACON dispenser. 

Disney's Frozen Summer

Frozen has taken over Disney's Hollywood Studios.

There is only about a month left. If anyone in your family loved Disney's Frozen and you live close enough to get there in time you should take them to Frozen Summer Fun.

Disney's Hollywood Studios®

Walt Disney World® Resort

July 05 - September 28, 2014

This is one of the special theme events that Disney does so VERY well. Disney usually goes out all out and makes whatever they are celebrating come alive.

My family really enjoyed all of the special Frozen themed events. I am going to give you just a few of the daily events.

1. The Wandering Oaken Trading Post - A great store with all the Frozen themed merchandise you could possibly want.
2. Oaken's Frozen Funland - Inside this funland you find a ice skating show with highlights from the Frozen soundtrack.
3. A Frozen Sing-along Celebration - The show is wonderful with great music from the movie. The best part of the experience for me was the little kids around me singing at the top of their lungs all the lyrics to every song. As a musician and dad, I really loved seeing kids love to sing and make music.

That is just three of the many Frozen themed events. You can check out all the excitement by going to the Disney website. This event is well thought out and one of the best I have attended at Disney World. If you can make plans and get there before it is gone you really should attend Disney Hollywood Studio's Frozen Summer Celebration.

Who is Coming (Update)

Wow...

I just finished watching the new Doctor and my head is swimming. I loved the last few regenerations and I am convinced I will love this one as well. Peter Capaldi did an excellent job of making him the Doctor we know and love but yet making him different than both Tennant and Smith. I almost feel like he is more in line with Christopher Eccleston.

The writers seem to take the Doctor in a little different direction and that is exciting. Now that he has a purpose to his travels he seems to be a little more intense and focused. It will be exciting to see how this plays out!

WHO is Coming!

 Tonight starts the brand new season of Dr. Who on BBC and BBC America. The show has just celebrated 50 years and has really gained speed and popularity in the last few years. The show has always been popular in Great Britain and a solid following in America. The show is also gaining a stronger presence in the rest of the world.

The show is fun with a different adventure each week. The Doctor has at his disposal all of time and space as destinations. The writers have a lot of freedom since they can draw from everywhere and anywhere for story ideas.

The Doctor has just gone through a regeneration, which is the shows way of working in another leading actor and allow the story to stay the same. The companion will stay the same, but the Doctor will change. Matt Smith has stepped down and Peter Capaldi will be picking up the mantle. So, this is a good time to try Dr. Who if you have not been watching.

If you have never watch an episode, what do you need to know?

1. The "Doctor" is an alien and a traveler through time and space. He is a Time Lord and one of the last of his kind. He is very old and has all those years of experience to draw from in every adventure.
2. He travels with others (mainly earthlings) that are called his companions. He has a strong fondness for these companions and has to save them often. 
3. He travels in a ship that is called the T.A.R.D.I.S. (Time And Relative Dimensions In Space) The Tardis does not always go where they are planning, but it always takes them where they are needed.
4. Every regeneration of the Doctor brings a new interpretation of the character. So, with his arrival, everyone is getting to know this new Doctor.

How to start as a newbie:

1. Use the rule of three. Try out at least the first three episodes and see what you think.
2. Don't feel like you have to catch up on all the information of the Whoverse. They do a great job of revealing what you need to know when you need to know it.
3. If you still like the show, go back and start watching the reboot which began in 2005 with Christopher Eccleston.

"Weird Al" is the King of Parodies

I was very excited to see that Weird Al had returned with a new album. I have been a fan since the early 1980's when my friend introduced me to this amazing artist. The first song I remember is "Eat It".

Alfred Matthew Yankovic has been making people laugh since 1976. He has sold over 12 million albums.

In a world of YouTube and Facebook, Weird Al still stands out! He is not just a person making a funny song. He is a comedic genius making a parody. His songs show both class and thought. Many people who make parodies today just look for something that they can exploit and get a few laughs. Weird Al creates songs that make you think and enjoy yourself. He not only parodies the music and lyrics but he also parodies the sound and style of the words. 

"Weird Al" please keep doing what you are doing. I will never forget having to pull over to the side of the road and compose myself before I could continue driving the first time I heard "A Complicated Song". 

In my opinion you are the king at what you do... and what you do is entertain!

Weird Al's Tacky a Parody of Happy

Gravity Falls

 "ZHOFRPH WR JUDYLWB IDOOV."

A newer cartoon on Disney XD is a fun show of mystery and adventure. I started watching this show with my daughter and was surprised how much I enjoyed this cartoon. The show just launched its second season. It moved from Disney Channel to Disney XD.

The show is set in the fictional town of Gravity Falls. A pair of twins, Dipper and Mabel spend their summer with their Grunkle (Great Uncle) Stan. Stan owns and operates the Mystery Shack. Dipper found a mysterious journal and now he is determined to get to the bottom of the strange happenings in this little Oregon town.

Why you might like to watch?

1. Creative writing and fun story lines.
2. Good characters and continued development of these characters.
3. The added content such as the cryptograms and other hidden images.

If you enjoy cartoons and don't mind thinking a little while watching, you might enjoy Gravity Falls. I do suggest that you catch up from the beginning, but it is worth a binge watch.

To Blog or Not to Blog

I have been thinking about this for some time now. There are so many blogs out there and so many people who fill up the internet with so much stuff.

Do I really have anything to say?

Yes - I have things about which I am passionate and enjoy writing about them.

Now I have to decide a few things.
1. How often will I post?
2. What will I focus on as I fine tune my blog?
3. What will be the length of my posts?

Well, I have a journey ahead of me but it does sound fun.