Here is where I'll make "Top 10" lists on topics that come to mind or topics that have been brought up to me. Anyone is free to suggest a category for me to write up. It does not matter what that certain category is. It just has to be something that can have multiple genres/answers to it.
This list is in no particular order and was NOT stolen from another individual. Copyright Infringement will not be tolerated and all property goes to Steven Chung....AH SCREW IT! I don't care...do what you want. :)
- Blog #10: A suggestion from a friend led me to creating this list. This is one of those lists where you can't really explain why you like these certain things. The proof is in the pudding. Yes. Honest-to-goodness pudding. Here's a simple list of my top 10 favorite saxophonists ever, along with a link to one of their greatest songs ever played. So, could I call this blog my "10th Anniversary Special Edition" blog? I could, but...it really does sound quite stupid, doesn't it? Is this going to get all positive reviews? Probably not, since every musician has a different taste in music. For those out there who enjoy any kind of saxophone music, enjoy the saxophone therapy!
This list is in no particular order and was NOT stolen from another individual. Copyright Infringement will not be tolerated and all property goes to Steven Chung....AH SCREW IT! I don't care...do what you want. :)
- Blog #9: It's been a tough going for me to spare time for my blog site, seeing how we're nearing the Thanksgiving holiday and other festivities. So, I won't be going as in depth as I did in past blogs. Today's topic? I'll be briefly talking about websites that I find myself going back to. There are millions of websites out there. So, of course, I will not have the same set list as you (although, I don't know many people who make a list, regarding this topic). These sites can be resourceful or addicting. It's time to start typing away!
1. Facebook - Basically, everyone has an account now. It's social-networking to a new extreme. I have one and I'll admit that I'm on it practically everyday. I don't really know what's so special about this website...actually, I can think of a few things. Facebook is there to annoy people, attract people, help people or find some reason to bring others to this internet fad. Although, the best reason to explain why people come to this site is to creep on other users. It's a fact. I've said it in my first ever blog on the topics of discussion. The excitement one gets when they see a red thing on the corner of the screen is unquenchable. Someone wrote on your wall, someone tagged a photo of you, someone liked your status, someone wrote on your status, multiple people wished you a happy birthday...for the love of all that's holy! How can one social site attract so many people? How did Mark Zuckerberg pull something like this off?
2. YouTube - This and Facebook are probably my top sites that I've visited. Having some relation with Facebook, YouTube has some of the same qualities that Facebook and other social networking sites have. However, while you can write on people's stuff and keep the ability to stalk random internet people, this website mainly focuses on the ideas of uploading videos. I must admit that I am impressed with how people are able to find videos, shows or movies played from years ago and upload them, without the consent of those who produced them. Anything that's anything is posted here, even when it's considered controversial. What isn't controversial, these days? You can find almost any sort of footage if you just type it in the "Search" box. I fully appreciate the free access to some music track videos that I can't either afford or find anywhere else.
3. Myspace - There's a few reasons why I come back to this site now and then. I actually had a Myspace (now called My "[_____]") account before I owned a Facebook account. Was I ever glad I switched? Indeed. Myspace was confusing, as all hell, and the design of it is flimsy compared to its more powerful rival. The only reasons I come back is to see who I know is left on there, see some friend's profile and mock how people never seem to go on the site anymore. Ever since Facebook was made, Myspace has really been put down in the gutter. I think the best way to describe the relationship between these sites were from the words of a Facebook "Like Group": "Tom must be pissed"
4. Nintendo.com- Alright. The reason I like this site should be self-explanatory. Right when you enter, you see the latest updates on the newest games out there for whatever Nintendo system you own. Plus, you can look up every single game ever made for that certain system (from Nintendo, that is). You can see previews of future games and even read/hear interviews from the developers. I'm a geek-a-zoid. That's why (Nintendo) wins this spot.
5. eBay - It's simple to purchase something off this website. Sure, there have been some problems with other people, but I have never had a single issue. Video-games, books, movies, people's houses, CD's, household necessities, appliances. You can find and purchase just about anything, if you're willing to pay the price. In my experience, the shipping process has been very prompt and I've received what I purchased, right on time or even earlier. If anything, there may be just a one or two day delay, but that's all. Just be sure to read the description of the item you want, before you buy it.
6. Wikipedia - Whoever made the remark that Wikipedia is iffy on the details is highly judgemental. Really. I can easily say, with my peace of mind, that I've never found a false detail on anything I've looked up. There might be some punctuation mistakes, but a good percentage of us go on this site just to find out what something means or is, correct? I don't consider looking up information on a resource site to be cheating, despite what some educators believe. If anything, this site contains some missing details, not false ones.
7. Picnik - I mostly use this site when I go onto Facebook, but I really enjoy the editing features used here. It's not truly professional or anything like that, although one can only judge on what he or she likes. This is mainly a photo editing site and a very appreciated one at that. Any photo you upload can be edited at a cost of waiting for the loading screen, which says things like: Loading....laying a blanket....fluffing pillows....trimming the tree....carving jack-o'-lantern....fun. For the most part, I have been satisfied with every photo I have masterfully created. Thank you Picnik.
8. Google - The most well-known, search-engine based website is Google. Type anything in the "Search" box. You are guaranteed to find something (maybe, just MAYBE, excluding made up words). True, you may not find exactly what you're looking for. However, you may discover something better. You have to appreciate looking at all the new designs that Google makes on special occasions. Even better. You have to appreciate the creativity of the artwork that people use to make a Google logo. This just may be the best search engine ever. Yahoo just doesn't compare, in my view. Plus, you can't say, "I'm gonna Yahoo it." It just doesn't fit.
9. Gmail - And since we're on the topic of Google, I may as well mention that I am a proud owner of a Gmail account. It gains me access to Facebook, this blog site, and other address-required sites. Powered by Google, Gmail has been a prominent success and it's been very helpful in sending and receiving emails. Just like Google, you can change the backdrop of your account homepage. There are some really cool, default designs on there. I think Gmail will continue to be of usefulness to me.
10.Blogger - Do I really need to explain why? No. Of course I don't. I guess this one's on the list because I wanted to make this moment a special appreciation moment for a friend who introduced this site to me. So, thank you Asha Waterhouse for showing me Blogger! Without Blogger, I'd be stuck reading books for the rest of my life (ha-ha-ha-ha-ha).
This list is in no particular order and was NOT stolen from another individual. Copyright Infringement will not be tolerated and all property goes to Steven Chung....AH SCREW IT! I don't care...do what you want. :)
- Blog #8: When I said that Disney had a lot of good movies out there, I wasn't kidding. There are a TON. Contrary to popular belief, I happen to think that some Disney movies get more credit than they deserve. I'm not going to go into too much detail about each of these movies. This is because...well...they're overrated for a reason, right? Note that these movies are not necessarily bad movies. They are just too highly praised. Now, here's Part 2 of my first "Opposites Attract" list of underrated and overrated Disney movies.
Overrated Disney Movies
1. Aladdin- It should be obvious to everyone reading this note that I really don't care if you hate me for having a certain movie on this list. It's my list! Not yours! Sure, this movie is good. The music soundtrack is quite catchy and the artwork displays the talent of old-school Disney movie-making. So, what's the problem? The story is the problem. It's cliché, it's boring, and there's not much depth to it. This is unlike the movies I had in Part 1 of this list. The movie is based off a real Arabian Nights story. Aladdin is a young man who meets this girl (Jasmine), in the Agrabah marketplace. He ends up getting "captured" by the Grand Vizier, named Jafar, and he is taken to The Cave of Wonders. There, he finds a magic lamp and he is granted 3 wishes from a genie. Joy! So, he wishes to becomes a prince to impress Jasmine (stupid...stupid...stupid). After back-and-forth discussions, Aladdin convinces Jasmine to take a ride on a magic carpet with him. Jasmine sees that Aladdin was not a prince, but only the boy she had met in the marketplace. Aladdin continues to fib and tells Jasmine that he sometimes dresses as a foreign traveler to escape palace life. After Aladdin says goodbye to Jasmine, Jafar appears to attack Aladdin, again, and throws him in the ocean. Aladdin is forced to use his second wish, to be saved. Returning to the palace, Jafar is with the Sultan and he reveals his plot to marry Jasmine and take over Agrabah. A fight broke out and Jafar is able to steal the magic lamp, The genie is then given a new master. Jafar uses two wishes to become the Sultan and the most powerful sorcerer in the world. Aladdin returns to the palace and Jafar uses his final wish to become an all-powerful genie (really stupid...stupid...stupid). Jafar is sent to his own magic lamp and is imprisoned. Jasmine then saw Aladdin to be brave. It didn't matter to her anymore that Aladdin had lied and became a prince. Aladdin uses his final wish to set his genie friend free and Aladdin gets to be with Jasmine...(sighs). It's just...boring! Plus, the movie was too comedic and cheesy. Not much of a life lesson was demonstrated in this feature film, except maybe that you shouldn't lie for your own benefit. Not the best storyline, at all.
2. The Incredibles - This one is a shorty. Blah story-lines? How about a short description of the story-line? I think that the only reason this movie was so hyped was because it was made by Pixar. It was that and it was also a superhero movie. Nothing more, nothing less. How basic can I get with this? It's a movie about a superhero family who are hiding their powers from the public. This game of hide-of-seek started, mainly, because of a legal lawsuit that sued all superheroes for using their powers. The father (Mr. Incredible) is experiencing problems when he is met with an "old fan" (Buddy/Syndrome) who has gone bad. Mr. Incredible is sent on a mission to stop Syndrome from killing any more superheroes. There's trouble and the rest of the family finds out about this secret mission. Summarizing this to the best of my ability, the family defeats Syndrome and the new villain shows up to leaves the movie with a cliff-hanger. Wow. There hasn't even been a sequel, yet. I know I'm missing a lot of details, like robot-attacks and secret meetings with superhero officials. Really, though...who cares? This movie had comedy and it definitely had some action-packed fun in it. These factors alone just don't make up for the lack of a touching storyline. The story was just not there. The events in the movie just happened. There's not much emotional reasoning for a lot of it.
3. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs - Again, let me reiterate that most movies that I'm mentioning here aren't necessarily bad. Believe me. I say that there were many more underrated Disney movies than there were overrated Disney movies. This is one of those movies where I think it's a great classic, but certainly not the best Disney film storyline that there is. Not being sexist in any shape or form, but "Disney Princess" films USUALLY don't have much depth into them. Snow White is a young princess who works as a slave-girl for her wicked stepmother. The stepmother's magic mirror tells her that Snow White is "the fairest in the land." Angered by this very thought, the stepmother hires a huntsman to kill Snow White and bring back her heart. The huntsman had a conscious mind that told him that she should not die. He lets her live. The huntsman returns to the stepmother with a pig's heart, instead. Snow White flees for the forest and finds a small cottage with seven chairs, and such. Snow White figured that the place was for orphaned children. Little did she know that seven dwarfs lived there. So, Snow White spent the rest of her time caring for the seven dwarfs. The stepmother discovers Snow White's whereabouts and uses her magic to turn herself into a witch. The "witch" visits the cottage and convinces Snow White to eat a poisoned apple. The dwarfs saw what happened and they attack the evil stepmother. Cornered on a cliff, the stepmother tried to push a boulder onto the dwarfs. However, with one lightning bolt, the boulder backfired and she fell off the cliff. One fell swoop from a thunderbolt. Snow White was seemingly dead. The dwarfs hold a funeral for her. Suddenly, the prince that Snow White had previously met had come and he was overcome by Snow White's beauty. He kissed her and Snow White was freed from the spell and they all lived happily ever after. It was a touching scene, really. I just felt like I wasn't really attentive for the whole movie. I was very attentive in something like The Hunchback of Notre Dame. I think this movie is mostly popular for its music and its vibrant colors. That's just it.
4. The Lion King - I know I'm going to get people mad at me for this one. Is it really "The Circle of Life" that makes this movie so popular? Really? I think that this is a beautifully made movie and this is surely a Hall of Fame induction member. I'm not even going to go into the whole story because...literally...every Disney fan should know this one! There's nothing wrong with the storyline, there's nothing wrong with the voice actors or anything like that, there's nothing wrong with the artwork, and there's nothing wrong with the music. So, why do I think this movie is overrated? It's always talked about for the wrong reasons. Whenever I hear people talk about The Lion King, it's either about the music or how they "LOVEEEEE ITTTTTTT!" There's hardly much mention for the deeper meaning of how Simba's father died or how Scar betrayed his own family for his own goals. I feel like I'm picking on this movie. It's just that, whenever people talk about "Disney", you hear this movie or other ones that have been looked upon too highly. I guess I just don't understand why this movie is so great, when I compare it to others. Maybe it's the use of African culture that very few people bring up into discussion. Maybe it's the first ever movie that truly succeeded in making a film with talking animals. I really don't know...I just think this movie is rated too high. That's all.
5. High School Musical - Oh...my...god...WHAT WAS DISNEY THINKING? I refuse to go into the storyline of this movie because...how should I put it? Oh, I know...IT STINKS! When people think Disney, you should be thinking about "Dreams coming true" or magic making! I'm not just talking about the first movie. I'm talking about ALL of them. I'm surprised Disney pooped out 3 of these poor excuses of "magic." Truthfully, I think these movies were made just for the money. I don't care that the movie gives out a boost of self-confidence or "SPIRIT!!" to kids and teens. It shouldn't be displayed in this manner. This movie seems to give the idea to kids that it's okay to act like a stuck-up prep or a jock that cares about nothing more than to get with the girl or some sports team. There's nothing wrong with sports or dating, but I just think that this movie is bad for Disney. Even the music in this movie is cheesy and awful. The worst part about the music is that I can't get the stupid songs out of my head. I don't want them in my head, but they freaking stay there! It's a new generation and people want to keep up with the times. I'm sure if this movie was released, sometime in the 1980's, it would be a hit (maybe even more so). 3 movies...in less than a year's time! Ridiculous...just ridiculous. Doesn't anyone else notice how less and less popular HSM became, just after the sequel and the trilogy? It's because people are realizing how much bull this movie exposes. The actors are too controversial, the plot is some weak-ass teenage soap opera, and the music...oh god the music. This movie defines the term, "overrated." Open up a dictionary and "BOOM!" Zac Efron's profile is right there.
This list is in no particular order and was NOT stolen from another individual. Copyright Infringement will not be tolerated and all property goes to Steven Chung....AH SCREW IT! I don't care...do what you want. :)
- Blog #7: It's now November, and I'm ready to write some new lists. Lately I've been watching some old Disney movies on YouTube, and a thought soon came to me. There were a lot of really good Disney movies that were made way back in the day. It's too bad that a lot of modern-day Disney movies have such awful graphics that don't feel right. You have those "3D" and computer designs that just don't feel as real as the actual flip-drawings on canvas. So, for the first time in my series of blogs, I'm making an "Opposites Attract" list that has 5 picks for one side of the story and 5 picks for the other. I'm probably going to be doing more of these in the future for video games or other genres, but for now I'm sticking to making one for Disney movies. Which Disney movies will be on here? Let's find out...
Underrated Disney Movies
1. Alice In Wonderland - No, not the new one that just came out. the animated one.This is one of those movies that doesn't fall into the categories of "Popular Disney Classics", mainly because the main character of this movie goes off in her own direction. Alice starts off the movie being bored of her sister trying to teach her about English history. At that moment, Alice must have been (or was on the verge of) falling asleep. She dreams of "A World Of Nonsense", in which there are no laws of logic or explanation. The story basically goes on to see that Alice finds a white rabbit, falls into a rabbit hole (no logic there, being that Alice was probably trice the size of the hole and was somehow able to go through), becomes large and small to get into a locked door, enters a mysterious world, finds the white rabbit and many other weirdos along the way, reaches a forest where the Cheshire Cat opens a way to the Queen of Heart's maze, gets put on trial for playing a prank on the Queen, the whole dream just goes into mayhem, and Alice wakes up to find out she was DREAMING! (phew) SO, the main reason that this movie is not highly looked upon is because Alice just doesn't seem to have the heart (and mind) that other Disney characters do. It just didn't grab attention to the viewers. It's too bad too, because I honestly thought this movie was like The Yellow Submarine...tripped up, but cool.
2. The Great Mouse Detective - Another great Disney animation film that was not as widely appreciated during its release was this adventure-filled classic. A story that takes place in London, The Great Mouse Detective starts off with a young mouse named Olivia Flaversham. She's celebrating her birthday with her toymaker father. Out of nowhere, a crippled bat breaks into their home and kidnaps Olivia's father. The bat takes the toymaker to his master, Professor Ratigan. Ratigan wants the toymaker to create a robot replica of the Queen of the Mice, all this so that Ratigan can "Rule England!" Naturally, the toymaker refuses. Olivia searches out "Basil of Baker Street", who is a detective that resembles the character of Sherlock Holmes. Basil was very hesitant to help. After he learned the identity of Olivia's kidnapper, Basil sees his chance to stop Ratigan once-and-for-all. Together, along with Basil's "sidekick" Dr. Dawson, the group seeks to save the real Queen from being fed to Ratigan's pet cat and save "Mousedom" (yeah...). The final confrontation is a bell-tower fight, where Ratigan goes insane from being called a "Rat" and ends up falling to his death, with Basil falling as well. However, an invention from earlier in the movie saves Basil's life. Olivia and her father are reunited and England's mouse world is saved from disaster. This movie is great and it surprisingly resembles the adventures of the real Sherlock Holmes. Again, the problem with this movie was that it was released at a time where there were so many other Disney movies that overpowered it.
3. The Fox and the Hound - It seems to be an automatic reception that all Disney movies have to end with a happy ending. I disagree. They can also end with something that can be passed on as a life lesson. The Fox and the Hound is an example of that kind of movie. Disney wasn't always about cute animals, adventures beyond belief, or 100% happy endings. It's rare, nowadays, that Disney films have any sort of useful lessons embedded in their storyline. This movie gave a moment of reflection. It gave people thoughts about how our society acts around us, as well as what the deeper meaning is behind it all. It's really a complex, emotional moral inside a seemingly simple plot. A kind widow, named Tweed, adopts a young fox who was named Tod. Next door, a man named Amos Slade gets a hound dog puppy, named Copper. Copper meets Tod, on account that Tod has a strong odor at the time. Thus, both become playmate friends. However, Slade sees both animals disturbing his other hunting dog (Chief) and he begins to shoot at Tod. He threatens to kill him, if he ever set foot on his property again. Further struggles between Chief, Tod, and Slade leads Copper to believe that Tod was the cause of all the troubles. As a result, Copper and Tod become enemies. Tod was sent away to a forest where hunting was forbidden and a storyline with a female fox (Vixey) begins. Slade and Copper, still hell-bent on catching (in Slade's case...killing) Tod, set up a trap and accidentally provoke a bear-attack. Copper fights the bear, but to no avail. Tod steps in to save his "friend" and both Tod and the bear fall down a waterfall. The bear does not live, but Tod somehow survives. Slade sees the opportunity to kill Tod, but Copper blocks Tod from gun-point. Slade lowers his gun and takes Copper away, only to have Copper smile at Tod, one more time. Just...a beautiful movie. You don't have a soul if you didn't feel heartbroken that Tod and Copper couldn't really be friends.
4. The Hunchback of Notre Dame - Talk about dark movies. This masterpiece defines the term "Underrated Disney Movie" with its brilliance. Think about it. There were so many references to Hell, Heaven, religion, life, and death. This is as realistic as Disney can get on reality (excluding, of course, non-animated Disney movies). There are even some sexual tensions between certain characters. The story revolves around a gypsy girl, three men who love her, a bell-tower in Paris, and a life of tyranny. Years ago, a group of gypsies fled from the law, while Frollo (Minister of Justice) was on their tail. In pursuit to capture an "unlawful" gypsy woman, Frollo kills her (debatable on whether it was intentional or not) and grabs what the woman was carrying. It was a baby (Quasimodo) or, as Frollo put it, "a monster." Frollo tries to kill the deformed baby, but he is held down by guilt after the Arch Decon arrives. 20 years later, Frollo cares for Quasimodo, who is now the Notre Dame bell-ringer. Quasi dreams of leaving the bell-tower and exploring what's out there in the world. So, he sneaks out to see the "Festival of Fools", where Frollo was forced to attend. Both were unexpectedly greeted by a gypsy dancer named Esmeralda. Quasi gets caught up in the festivities and ends up winning the "King of Fools" contest, while Frollo witnessed everything in deep discontent. Esmeralda tries to save Quasi from torture, but Frollo forbids it. Esmeralda escapes as a fugitive. Frollo's new lackey, Captain Phoebus, searches for the gypsy girl and ends up falling in love with Esmeralda. Phoebus claims sanctuary for Esmeralda, only to have Frollo trap Esmeralda inside the cathedral. Quasi meets Esmeralda, again, and helps her escape. Quasi falls in love, but fears that Esmeralda cares negatively towards his appearance. Frollo's love for Esmeralda is one of sin. It is summed up as, "Be mine...or she will be burn!" Frollo goes to burn down most of Paris in order to find Esmeralda. To be honest...this movie is just something that you have to see to believe. It's just too powerful. I feel like I'm running out of space explaining the story. Doesn't this seem like something that should be looked more highly upon? From DISNEY!?
5. Song of the South - Here's a Disney movie that is both non-animated and animated, but underrated for the most ridiculous reason that I can even imagine. Sure, some say it's legitimate. I find the matter to be absolute tomfoolery. If you've never heard of this movie, or you don't know what I'm talking about, then I've proved my point on how badly this film was publicized. The main reason that this film is (was) bad-mouthed was because of the issue of race. Yup...racial discrimination. This movie doesn't have much back-plot, as it is mostly a movie of make-believe stories. The idea that Disney would even consider this time-period as an idea for a film is mind-boggling. It's absolutely admirable. This movie was not about the ideas of race, but the ideas of how people can find happiness in the most darkest of hours. The American Civil War had just ended. A young boy, named Johnny, believed that he was on vacation visiting his grandmother's plantation. Johnny soon realized that his parents were hiding a secret. They were splitting up for a time and Johnny was greatly saddened by this. Johnny soon runs off into the plantation and befriends an old man (Uncle Rebus). Uncle Rebus appears from time to time, in order to cheer up Johnny and some other children. He tells make-believe stories of "Br'er Rabbit" and his misadventures. Suddenly, we go from real-life to a cartoon world and then back to reality again. These stories were meant to teach simple life-lessons towards young adolescents. Of course, much controversy occurred, due to misunderstandings. However, an accident regarding a bull nearly kills Johnny. The family returns to see Johnny on the verge of life or death. Johnny wants to hear one more story from Uncle Rebus and, miraculously, Johnny survives. It's a very thrilling, but very satisfying movie that leaves you with the thought that the world is not such a bad place. It is a shame that this movie doesn't get the attention it deserves.
- So, you've read my rant on what I thought were the most underrated Disney movies ever, but what Disney movies that were on my mind when it came down to the matter of ratings being a little too...high? Stay tuned for Part 2, when I discuss what Disney movies are overrated to the public.
This list is in no particular order and was NOT stolen from another individual. Copyright Infringement will not be tolerated and all property goes to Steven Chung....AH SCREW IT! I don't care...do what you want. :)
- Blog #6: It's nearing the end of October and I'm ready to write a new "Top 10" list. On Hallow's Eve, little kids and teenagers dress up for trick-or-treating, carve Jack-O'-Lanterns, or become involved with many other Halloween shenanigans. While wearing a costume or going to a costume party can be fun, and people like to go along with their regular traditions on Halloween, a big part of the holiday is often disregarded from all the excitement over the legacy that Halloween leaves behind. It's about the candy! Kids love it, teens love it, I love it, and you know that (deep down) you do too! So, finishing off this month of blogs, I'm going to show which candies I found to be the most popular and the ones that often get finished off in an instant. Are your favorites on the list? If not, all I can say is....Boo....
1. Nerds - No, I'm not talking about the stereotype. I'm talking about everyone's favorite sugar-coated sugar treats from Willy Wonka. Most people on Halloween give out those small boxes of Nerds, as their treat for their trick. While the rattling of these boxes can be obnoxious, some can consider the rattling to be quite appealing. You never really notice how quickly one can down these boxes, because...they taste fantastic. They're pretty small and you wouldn't really have to worry too much about your teeth...but brush anyway!
2. Reese's (Peanut Butter Cups) - If nothing else, I would gladly trade a good portion of my Halloween candy for these. Reese's Peanut Butter Cups have been around since the 1920's. Over 80 years of peanut butter-chocolate happiness can really take it's nostalgic turn in one's mind. There's so much freaking peanut butter that you could make a snack or meal out of these. Sure, you have "Reese's Pieces" and miniature cups, but the standard sized cups are the ones that will always taste....yeah I'll say it...ORGASMIC!
3. M&M's - No, not the rapper. The candy! While I have no particular reference as to which flavor I enjoy the most, there's nothing that M&M's can't cheer up on a bad day. Introduced later than Reese's, M&M's were released in the U.S. during the 1940's and are now popular throughout the known world (I believe over 100 countries...but that's actually just a guess). Let's face it...Halloween would not be the same without these. It's not just the taste of them that gets a kid excited, but the scents of the candy through the candy bag. M&M's are just very well known and taste very good! Want proof? Just try some!
4. Candy Corn - These are Halloween classics and a traditional treat, at best. These are even sometimes considered as a Halloween mascot, being that you see the candy corn designs on anything related to the Halloween holiday. Candy corn mainly takes the spot though, just because they've been around the longest and are still going strong today. Try about...130 years! People still love candy corn. Who could blame them, after tasting the sugar and corn syrup goodness? It's not just Halloween that these candies are presented. There are even some cases where the colors change from yellow, orange, and white to other colors for each different holiday. Young or old, people still love Candy corn....I wish I had some right now.
5. Skittles - The fruit-tasting equivalent to M&M's, Skittles let you "Feel the Rainbow, Taste the Rainbow" and that saying could not be any more accurate. However, unlike M&M's, Skittles candies have many colors, with EACH ONE having a different flavor. Plus, they're labeled with an "S" instead of an "m" mark. The best part is that it doesn't matter which ones you put in your mouth, or how you mix them. Any combination of Skittles taste fantastic. Arguably, Skittles are also known for having some of the best commercials.
6. Tootsie Roll (Pops) - Not much to say about these, except that Tootsie Pops are chocolate perfection. The most well-known case of losing a tooth. Tootsie Rolls are just as tasty as taffy. Giving out the smaller rolls make the treat bowl last longer, but giving out Tootsie Pops will make kids smile from cheek to cheek. I remember getting a Tootsie Pop, unwrapping it, and then looking around the wrapper for that Indian with the arrow shooting a star (and to this day, I still don't know what the point of doing that was...). Both types of Tootsie Rolls can be long-lasting and memorable.
7. Milky Ways - Seriously, what candy in the world is good for dental hygiene? This is one of those candies where you know your mouth is going to be a mess, but you'll eat it anyway because it tastes so good. Chocolate outside, caramel inside. Almost every single house on my street will have some form of Milky Way given out, even if it's vanilla flavored instead. Indubitably, one of the most underrated candies ever. Could it be possible that this candy gets low ratings because it really wasn't named after Earth's galaxies? Hmm...
8. Kit-Kats - A candy that is one of the most common things on the Halloween giveaway list. Kit-Kats will go out...fast! Makers of Kit-Kat produced many different kinds of Kit Kat candies, but none reached out further than the classic 2 to 4-pieced one. I must have a thing for chocolate because almost every candy on here has some form of it. These candies can come in multiple pieces of chocolate-covered, 3 pieced wafers and are fun to eat because you get that awesome "Crunch" sound. How else could people have made this?
9.Nestlé: CRUNCH- Speaking of crunching, CRUNCH is probably my favorite candy on this list. I would die to get some of it during the Halloween season (even though I don't Trick-or-Treat anymore...thank goodness for leftovers). Vaguely similar to Kit-Kats, CRUNCH is a chocolate covered, crispy rice treat that could make even someone like me happy! It's hard to describe, other than the fact that it tastes great. Plus, these guys stand out of the candy bowl, mainly because of the bright blue wrapping that covers them. Kids would immediately dive-bomb for it!
10. Snickers - For reasons unknown, I have never had a Snicker in my life. However, it's a candy that I see EVERY Halloween! I even see billboards will Snicker logos that say something witty, involving peanut butter or chocolate (Peanut-Metropolis...or something like that). Apparently being a candy bar with substance, Snickers can fill a person up in a flash, but who can really guess something like that on Halloween?
This list is in no particular order and was NOT stolen from another individual. Copyright Infringement will not be tolerated and all property goes to Steven Chung....AH SCREW IT! I don't care...do what you want. :)
- Blog #5: Here's a plain and simple list of habits that are annoying and have been becoming a continuous trend for people like me and other individuals. No descriptions for this one....just a list.
This list is in no particular order and was NOT stolen from another individual. Copyright Infringement will not be tolerated and all property goes to Steven Chung....AH SCREW IT! I don't care...do what you want. :)
- Blog #4: Many of my blogs will consist of music-related topics, especially when it breaks down to the passion of video-game music. Whether it's a mix of favorites or a collection of masterpieces...music is just amazing, isn't it? This time, the "Top 10" list will be showing off some of the most beautiful pieces of music, brought on by an EPIC boss battle. There is an erratic amount of sheer epic proportions, when defining what makes a boss battle theme an epic one. Just like the last blog, I'm only allowing one song per video-game franchise. So, here we go.
1. Super Mario 64/DS: Final Bowser Battle - What better way to start off a collage of boss battle themes than with a boss that so many video-game fans will recognize? Bowser is up to no good, once again, and has stolen Princess Peach out of the Mushroom Kingdom's hands. "Here we go!" Mario sets off to save the day, the kingdom, and the princess! Throughout Super Mario 64, Mario will be traveling from world to worlds, all while inside a castle and jumping into paintings. Once you receive enough Star Power, you will have a chance to fight Bowser. Mario will have to fight Bowser three times, before you can win the game. The first two times, you get a rockin' theme that displays Bowser's rampage towards Mario and his heroic antics. Once you've reached the end, and you fight "Bowser in the Sky", you get this. Unexpected, but very appreciated...ORGAN MUSIC!
2. Final Fantasy/Kingdom Hearts II: Sephiroth Battle ("One Winged Angel") - How often does anyone hear opera-like music and video-game boss battle music clash? Well, it happens more often than one may think, but I never anticipated games like these having such a quality. Appearing to be a song taken from "The Messiah", "One Winged Angel" belongs to the ever-daunting character of Sephiroth. This individual was born from an experiment and was developed into a divine figure. With his long-sword and his single wing, Sephiroth becomes spiteful toward the human race and wishes to control the planet. Sephiroth also made a special appearance in Kingdom Hearts II, as an obstacle in Sora's path at Hollow Bastion castle. This theme is catchy, cool and gives opera music a good rep.
3. Sonic & Knuckles: Doomsday Fight - Now, I know I titled this blog as "Beautifully Composed...", but there is a reason why I wanted this one on the list. I wanted to be fair to the readers and not have every single song be something organ-like or classical (not that I don't think it's appropriate). Some people may see other kinds of music as "beautiful" and something like techno rock could fit into that category. There was even a rock remix made for the YouTube series, called "Super Mario Bros. Z!" So, Sonic is basically saving his home from the works of Dr. Robotnik/Eggman (again). This time, the final battle battle involves Sonic going "Super Saiyan" and the battle must be waged against a massive robot holding the stolen Master Emerald. The Master Emerald is the source of survival for the planet of Mobius. I included links to both the original song and to the rock remix, just because both themes are so awesome.
4. The Legend of Zelda-Twilight Princess: Final Ganondorf Battle - Here comes a rant...people who have played Twilight Princess and have reached the final battle must have had the same feeling I had. Why was the final battle so disappointingly easy? Most Legend of Zelda bosses have noticeable weak-points, but Ganondorf did not. So, why is this a bad thing? Well, if you know what to do or have played the game long enough to figure it out, this battle was just a 2-3 minute sword-fight. I, honestly, had a harder time beating the final boss of Sonic & Knuckles than I did this game. Anyway, once you've realized that Ganondorf was the one who again shrouded Hyrule in darkness, you must fight him 3 times (somewhat like Bowser's situation, except in a row). First, you battle Ganon in his beast form. It's the one that's dearly noted upon, by classic Zelda games. Once you win, you then fight Ganondorf on horseback, with Princess Zelda alongside shooting Light Arrows at Ganondorf. Then, you knock Ganondorf off the horse and are forced to fight him, one-on-one, in a sword-fight to the finish. This battle was pretty easy, but the conditions of the fight (the thundering fields of Hyrule and the sword-fighting) somewhat made up for the quick victory. However, what REALLY caught my attention...was the battle music in the background. It just fit so perfectly for this epic (but easy) battle.
5. Pikmin: Emperor Bulblax - Yes, indeed. Pikmin is on this list. For such a seemingly innocent game, in which Olimar is saving the Pikmin race and finding parts to fix his spaceship, the final battle just threw this gigantic final boss at you. Although not so tough in his returning performance in Pikmin 2, Emperor Bulblax was a beast here. The Bulblax community has taken over the Pikmin ecosystems and eat every last living thing in sight, almost leading the Pikmin to the brink of extinction. Fortunately, large bomb plants were growing around this battlefield. This battle was very hard and it actually took me a few days to beat. The music gave this glutenous-feeling of doom and gave the impression that you would be fighting something huge. It did not disappoint.
6. Pokémon FireRed/LeafGreen: Champion Gary Oak Battle - Who needs an epic battle against a champ, when you can have an epic battle with the greatest rival ever? Debuting in the first ever Pokémon games, Gary Oak becomes the first known rival to the hero (an annoying one, at that). What's so great about this rival? He becomes Pokémon Champion of Kanto...before YOU! After humiliating insults from this loud-mouth Gary, it's time to face him and shut him up once and for all. Having, basically, the same 6 Pokémon in the classic series, you receive an essence of nostalgia like never before. The only reason the remix theme topped the original was because it combined the ideals of #2 and #3 on my list.
7. Star Fox Assault: Aparoid Queen Battle 1+2: As stated in the previous blog, this game has an amazing orchestrated soundtrack, produced by the New Japan Philharmonic Orchestra. The storyline behind this game is that the Cornerian army is ending battles with an old foe's remaining forces. After appearing to have a complete victory on the team's belt, a new enemy force emerges. A parasitic group of cyber-bugs called "Aparoids" invade and destroy much of what is the Lylat System (Star Fox's version of our Solar System). The Star Fox team learns of the cause of the infestation. The insects are produced by their leader/breeder, the Aparoid Queen. She controls every single mind slaved to the Aparoids and is able to access memories, abilities, and even machinery with utmost ease. Star Fox's Slippy Toad invents a self-destruct program, which would be launched inside the Queen's hive. It's up to Fox McCloud to defeat the queen and activate the program. I included both themes, seeing how both refer to the same boss and both have the same amount of awesomeness, without too much continuity.
8. Ninja Gaiden-Dragon Sword: Nicchae Battle - Another great game for the Nintendo DS, Ninja Gaiden-Dragon Sword holds true to the powers of a ninja. Ryu Hayabusa, the hero, rebuilds a village after an incident that happened 6 months ago. His apprentice, Momiji, is kidnapped by the Black Spider Clan and Ryu sets off to rescue her. Ryu is forced to travel to different dimensions, in order to find Momiji. After collecting the powers of gems called "Dark Dragonstones", Ryu is sent to the gates of Hell. Two evil spirits of ancient fiends appear to face Ryu. Ryu easily defeats the first one (Ishtaros). Then, when Ryu thinks he has won, Ishtaro's sister summons herself to fight. Nicchae brings a new meaning toward evil, as she planned to "create a new world"...destroying it was the real intention. Unlike Star Fox: Assault, this game's soundtrack was not recorded by an actual orchestra, but it's very convincing.
9. Megaman Network Transmission: Life Virus R Final Battle - The Megaman Battle Network series didn't hit it off with many Megaman fans. They felt that the game-play didn't feel as classic as the original ideas of "Classic Megaman" or "Megaman X", but it still was a hit to other Megaman fans (like myself). While being a game with stereotypical Japanese styled pop/techno music, the music was very appropriate for the actual plot of the game. You really felt as though you were exploring the internet or a digital world. Megaman had just defeated the WWW's Life Virus R, after it threatened to destroy the networks. However, the threat returned and the Life Virus R was being re-build by the powers of the protege of Dr.Wily. Megaman must now stop the attacks of rampaging NetNavis, whom were infected with the Life Virus poison. Then, you reach the Undernet (the supposed Internet's Hell) and are forced to fight every boss you've fought. Then, you fight the Life Virus R, for the final time.
10. Kingdom Hearts-Chain of Memories: Marluxia Battle - Ok....I'm only partially breaking my rules for this one. Technically, #2's music resided over the Final Fantasy series and only appeared once in the Kingdom Hearts series. Also, this is from KH1 and not KH2. So, this counts as being a pick in my book. I won't go into detail with the storyline of the game, but just imagine fighting someone with a scythe and hearing this in the background. Hearing it, you'll feel the same sense of judgment and battle mixed into one. Isn't that how a boss music should be?
