Down to the letter

Roeland Otten's ABChairs are really creative and extremely awesome. I am attracted to most of the letters. I think these would look great with some bright, solid colors. What do you think?

Thursday Traffic | 27 May

Today's traffic was worse than ever. Not only the clogged streets, but an equally packed metro. Luckily, even when I'm late to work, I arrive earlier than my company actually opens. On the bright side, it's my Friday. Unlike the rest of the world, I work 4 day weeks. No, I'm not bragging or anything, I am part-time. So, even though traffic sucks, it's "Friday."

Lately, the weather has been unpredictable. It switches from sunny to sweltering to torrential rains at the drop of a hat. That makes it difficult to decide what to carry with you, and what one should wear. I have a few tips that I've picked up over the past couple years. How to be prepared for summer weather:

• Check the weather: Even though the weather is often wrong, it's better than going at this blind. People in the past predicted the weather based upon the wind, sun and dew on the ground. It's good to understand what you are up against.
• It's better to be safe than sorry: I know that it's a hassle, but if there is a percentage of rain, bring a light jacket or a mini umbrella. It's a little something for you to carry, but you don't have to worry about being caught without it—like a driver's license.
• Good hygiene is a must: That summer sun will heat things up and the last thing you want is to be the smelly person. Use soap, wear deodorant, apply a conservative amount of perfume/cologne. Be careful about using sweet smelling products as you will attract insects (especially bees).
  

If you have some additional ideas, please add them in the comments.

Image via Photo Moto Blog

Game Review | Again

So, since I've been stingy with my money in anticipation of Epic Mickey (Wii only; release: Q3 2010) and Sonic 4: Episode 1 (Playstation Network; WiiWare; XBOX Live; iPhone/iPod Touch), games haven't necessarily accounted for much of my spending. However, I wanted to try the DS game Again after watching a video about it. The game seemed like a good diversion for my commute. How I wished I had looked at those videos again and chosen not to purchase this game.

Again, like so many detective style games, has no replay value. For some reason, I assumed that with a name like "again," that might not be the truth. Alas, it is and even if it weren't, I'm certain I'll never play it again. While it starts out fairly well, the game quickly takes a turn for the absolutely annoying. The basic gist is that you are a detective in the FBI and the lone survivor of the "Providence" murders. Nineteen years later, another series of murders occur that are almost identical to the originals. You and your partner reopen the past cases and join forces with the local police department to discover the truth of the recent and past murders. Hit the jump for the full breakdown.

Cartoon Chatter | The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius

I know that the cartoons I showcase skip around in terms of years. Since going back to the 90s last week, I'm ready to jump back into the 2000s with The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius. In terms of cartoons, Jimmy Neutron was a bit of a trendsetter in its usage of computer animation. The attention to detail throughout every episode made the series not only visually interesting, but quite successful. It was very popular and even shared the spotlight with The Fairly Oddparents during the Jimmy/Timmy Power Hours. Hit the jump for my rundown of the show.

Embrace your inner geek

Happy Geek Pride Day! While I don't necessarily classify myself as a geek—I'm more of a nerd—I geek out about enough that I am really feeling Geek Pride Day. Started back in '98, Geek Pride Day is the same day as some other geeky events—the premiere of Star Wars and Towel Day (Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy). So regardless of how or where you celebrate, I hope you enjoy your day and may the force be with you—I just had to add that in there.

Image via yours truly

Picking

When I was in elementary school, there were a few kids in my class that picked their noses and ate their boogers. It was gross to adults, but funny to us as children. It was the same for kids that picked their wedgies. It was something that we found funny as children, but not so funny to adults. So what has happened to the adults all over the world? Instead of stealthily picking a wedgie or getting rid of a booger, people just dig up their noses in public. This is disgusting because a) in the city, your germs spread every time you touch something, and b) you could just as easily take care of this business in a bathroom. In terms of wedgies, that looks so inappropriate when done in public.

Next time you feel you might have a booger, for goodness sake, blow your nose! Also, if your underwear are riding up you-know-where, find a bathroom and fix yourself. No need for you to do this in front of the world.

Image via Straight Digs

Cartoon Chatter | Rocko's Modern Life

Rocko's Modern Life was by far one of my all-time favorite shows when I was younger. Rocko is a wallaby and he made me want to go to Australia about as much as the book Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day. However, the reason that I enjoyed the show so much is because Rocko was just a guy living his life. He had annoying neighbors (the Bigheads), best friends, a job and a dog.

This was during the days of Ren & Stimpy and Rugrats. Cartoons weren't as polished as they are now. They had a sort of rugged look to them. That was true of Rocko's Modern Life. Although the characters were somewhat strange looking, they were true cartoons—heavily stylized and easily recognizable. Of course, the subject matter got a little dicey just as many other cartoons of the 90s. Rocko ending up stuck between a woman's boobs was not something that parents liked. Despite the occasion "adult themes" throughout the show, the storyline often focused on quite mundane ideas—like Rocko's issue with biting his nails.

For a while, Rocko's Modern Life had re-aired on Nickelodeon in the mornings, but it later moved to Nicktoons. I'm not certain if it is still on television, but you can easily dig up episodes on the internet or purchase dvds. Again, this was one great show! Hope you like it as much as I did when I was younger—and still do at 23.

Thursday Traffic | 20 May

A large part of my daily commute is spent chilling out in a seat reading or playing a game. However, the bus does not drive itself. As much as people belittle them, bus drivers and other vehicle operators do a lot of work—work that most people wouldn't want to do.

Sitting down driving people around is not the most exciting of jobs. Also, whenever there is a single problem with the commute, these drivers are blamed. Bad weather? It's their fault. Traffic? Their fault. General unhappiness? Darn, bus driver! Yet these men and women still do their job. They get you to your destination. For that, I always say "thank you," or something along the lines of "have a nice day/evening."

By public transportation being open and easy, fewer people will have to drive. This means that there will be fewer cars on the road. That results in less traffic—and that makes me happy! So, here is a public shout-out to all the people driving me to work amidst Thursday traffic and every other day of the week.

Image via welovedc.com

Film Review | Just Wright

It was definitely a movie watching weekend for me. I wanted to see Just Wright because it seemed like a good romantic comedy. You can only do but so much with romantic comedies, so while the story is similar to others, I was expecting something that would make laugh. While there were some laughs, I have to say that I was disappointed by the film. Hit the jump for the full review.

Grade: D+

Film Review | How to Train Your Dragon

Oh gosh, I love cartoons! I had heard plenty of good things about How to Train Your Dragon, so I decided to see it in 3D before it went out of theaters. Although I was certain that it would be a decent film, it actually exceeded my expectations. Hit the jump for the full review.

Grade: A-

Thursday Traffic | 13 May

Nothing puts a damper on your morning like a grey sky. However, despite the chill and the dreary weather, I was in excellent spirits this morning. I got to work really early and was surprised that not one light was on. It was a very unsettling feeling. Anyway, that's not why you read these posts.

Every so often, as I exit McPherson Square metro station, musicians are playing. Music is not something that requires translation, so it is something that anyone could enjoy. Some performers bring keyboards, guitars or saxophones and others use their vocal talents. A few do it simply for their own enjoyment. Others would like to receive a monetary donation. Either way, there is something nice about music on an otherwise depressingly grey day in the city.

I won't lie to you and make it seem as if I stop and listen to the music. The sounds usually drifts quite far, so I hear it when I walk up the escalator and continue down the street. Ordinarily, I am already listening to some music on my iPod, but I still must applaud these musicians for their hard work and talent. If I weren't on the way to work, I would probably stop and listen to the music.

This style of entertainment is often referred to as busking. It has been used worldwide by people with both good and bad intentions. Some conned the audience or stole their wallets; others simply provided a good show. While what I have seen in DC is nothing like the really crazy ideas people come up with in California, New Orleans or New York, I will always have a soft spot for street performers. Do you have any stories to tell? Sound off in the comments.

Image via Daily Mail

Box life

You've probably come across many images of Danbo. He's a robot that originates from the manga Yotsubato. The slice-of-life graphic novel is filled with the adventures of a girl and her adoptive father. In one chapter, the Danbo robot makes its debut. We are all instructed to think outside of the box and people truly have. These images are much delayed eye candy for you. Hit the jump for my other favorites. For more, visit 2photo.

All images via 2photo

Cartoon Chatter | Avatar: The Last Airbender

I know that this is bit of a time leap from the previous Cartoon Chatter about Fillmore! but I really have to bring up Avatar: The Last Airbender (Avatar). The Nickelodeon show became a quick favorite of mine after the first few episodes. As cartoons evolve and change for each generation, there are always a few that appeal to more than the kid audience—Avatar is one of these. Hit the jump for details.

Film Review | Iron Man 2

The joys of the sequel. Iron Man 2 premiered this past weekend raking in $133.6 million surpassing the debut of the original. For many, it's the excitement of watching one of their favorite characters revisited in live action that drove them to the theater. For others, it was just to see the pretty people—and there were some attractive actors and actresses in this sequel. I don't want to spoil the film for anyone who hasn't seen it, so please hit the jump for the full review.

Grade: B

Image via a quick internet search

Take-Out Fortune II

Another day of Chinese food, another new fortune. This one is a bit interesting and I like the way it sounds:

☺You will soon be crossing the great waters. ☺

Daily Numbers 3 6 8
Lotto Six #s 3 5 11 35 17 46

Distractions, distractions

We all have slow days when we find that we have a bit of time on our hands. Today is that way for me. Behold, a little game in case you get bored. Biomass is kind of like Bejeweled mixed with Collapse and topped off with some oldies music, famous speeches and science. Try it out if you have nothing better to do.

Thursday Traffic | 6 May

You know what I like most about the traffic on Thursdays? Getting out of it. Now that the weather has become nicer, more and more people are using public transportation. This requires buses to make more frequent stops, it crowds vehicles and it leaves you with an interesting dilemma. Should I sit down or stand? One the one hand, you might be more comfortable seated. However, you might also have a hart time getting off or be stuck next to someone that makes you feel uncomfortable.

Hit the jump for my rule of thumb about deciding whether to sit or stand.

Image © 2008 David Pirman

Cartoon Chatter | Fillmore!

After giving it some thought, I have decided to showcase cartoons on NewfoundJoye. This is mainly because I am a huge fan of cartoons and I have watched them for long enough to have a few opinions about them. I should be able to update these weekly, so make sure you check by for more.

This first installment is about Disney's Fillmore! that debuted in 2002 and spanned 26 episodes. Like many other cartoons, it parodies more mature nature, but is meant specifically for kids. Fillmore! is similar to detective dramas like Law & Order. Instead of detectives, you have the safety patrol—headed by Officer Vallejo and run by X Middle School Principal, Dawn S. Folsom—where our main character Cornelius Fillmore and partner Ingrid Third take the stage.

Fillmore is a former delinquent turned good-guy and Third has photographic memory and is extremely smart. Together, they solve crimes that occur in the school like the kidnapping of the school mascot and the strange defacing of the school's bathrooms. The show adds some forensics to the mix through other members of the safety patrol. The episodes are quite amusing but also show how quick-witted Fillmore and Third are. Animation for Fillmore! is very well executed. The show has its own style, but aesthetically, it works very well together. The music is also pretty good and the choice of voices are excellent.

I was really sad when this show ended, but it is definitely a favorite. If you would like to watch episodes for free, I recommend YouTube. I have not been able to find Fillmore! on DVD, but if you know anything about purchasing it, please post it in the comments. Have you ever watched this show before? What are your opinions about it?

Update | Disney's Tangled

I try my best to keep up with the happenings of movies that I want to watch in theaters. I will probably be supportive of Disney by watching Tangled (previously Rapunzel) in theaters this fall. A short teaser was released a few months ago, so I've posted it below for your viewing pleasure.

Film Review | The Losers

This review is slightly overdue. I was very excited to watch this film—in theaters—and it did not disappoint. Usually, I need a jump so I don't give anything away, but there is no need this time. The Losers has action, explosions, gunfights and a little bit of romance, so if this is your kind of film, head over to your local theater and watch it on the big screen. The acting was excellent, the cinematography was on point and the story was really good.

I did not read the comic books, so I am not certain how true the film is to it, but I really enjoyed The Losers regardless. I know this has turned into a recommendation and not a review, but hey!—check out my grade!

Grade: A-
Image via comicbookmovie.com

¡Cinco De Mayo!

I hope that you have fun celebrating Cinco de Mayo! Drink responsibly and dance.

Image via yours truly