Spice up your study habits

Parody of the popular Old Spice commercials.

Thursday Traffic | 15 July

It's payday, readers! Traffic hardly matters on a day like today. So, what will I be spending my cash on, you ask? Hey, we are still in a recession, I'm being stingy with my money nowadays. Anyways, during my stint in the traffic, I was thinking about the dentist. My sisters have been recently and tomorrow, I will be sitting in the old dentist's chair. I haven't had a dental appointment in a while, so I'm a bit nervous. However, I wanted to say a few things about the dentist.

First of all, being a dentist is not like being a doctor. You are a dentist. You spend your days fixing people's teeth and gums. Your clients will spit and drool all over you and when you ask them questions, they won't be able to answer without slobbering everywhere. No one will applaud when you say you are a dentist like they do if you say you are a doctor.

Second, dentists are expensive and many procedures are not covered by insurance (if you are lucky enough to have it). Also, it's like reconstructive surgery with dentists. They may decide that you should break your jaw and this and that to account for what they think will happen with your teeth. I've seen some people with some pretty crazy headgear.

Third, all depictions of dentists in cartoons are normally as evil villains. In film, they are unappreciated losers. What about being a dentist is attractive–or sexy? Nothing, but at least you make good money, right?

Lastly, dentists can prevent you from getting other deadly diseases. They can tell a lot about your body from your teeth. Although you don't have to jump on the bandwagon with everything your dentist recommends, they are looking out for your smile and body, so that's a win-win situation to me.

So, if you are a dentist, congratulations, you've taken a job that many people probably would not. If you have some dentist stories, let me know about them in the comments. Well, please keep your fingers crossed for my dentist visit. I'll need that for morale. I'm not a big fan of the dentist. I think my sweet tooth explains that reason.

Image via quick internet search

Cartoon Chatter | Darkwing Duck

Man, Darkwing Duck was a great cartoon. It really reminds me of a "Disney-fied" version of Batman. Basically, you've got an average citizen—Drake Mallard—that fights crime by moonlight as alias Darkwing Duck. He has a somewhat reliable sidekick named Launchpad. Occasionally, his adopted daughter Gosalyn jumps into the fight for justice.

The villains are always unsuccessful in defeating DW, so naturally good wins every time. The stories had morals/lessons in them. But hey, this was the 90s. If a cartoon didn't have morals at this time, it was probably Ren & Stimpy and your parents didn't like you watching it—though you watched it anyway. Darkwing Duck was the cartoon that you enjoyed watching because it had action and lots of little cliffhangers between commercial breaks. Apparently, the comic books are still popular now with new ones being released regularly. You can relive the series by purchasing it on DVD or scouring the internet for episodes.

Image via a quick internet search

Game Review | Trauma Team

I've had some time to consult with my inner surgeon/first response/orthopedic surgeon/endoscopic surgeon/diagnostic consultant/forensic scientist thanks to Atlus' Trauma Team video game. You really get to be "hands-on" with the various fields you can explore. While the dialogue is awful and slow, the actual gameplay is fabulous. You have to stay calm and perform your particular task. This has so many different fields, so it will be a tad bit long. Hit the jump for details.

Image via screenshot of Trauma Team's Official Website

Game Review | Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story

I was on the bus with B. the other day and we decided to swap DS games. It was a welcome relief for me because I haven't really purchased a new one in a little while. I decided to try out Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story. I was slightly curious how gameplay would be. When you are dealing with the Mario franchise, you can expect innovation and finesse.

I fired up the game and a rather long introduction prepared me for a trip into Bowser's body. Controlling Mario and Luigi at the same time takes a bit of skill—especially when you are in Bowser's bodily fluids (yes, I know that sounds disgusting)—but it's not impossible. The fighting sequences follow the Paper Mario style. You have turn-based combat with the opportunity to dodge enemies (and sometimes inflict more damage).

Yet, it is not this that makes the game exciting. It is the control of Bowser. Mario's enemy of old is finally in your hands and boy does he pack a punch. You not only get to explore the world, you also are able to explore Bowser's body. During some situations, Bowser ends up needing the bros. help to gain strength and stamina. So, whether they like it or not, Mario and Luigi are helping Bowser get the bad guys. It's a fun idea and a very fun game. I wouldn't necessarily recommend it for little kids because they won't really feel like reading the dialogue and they could get frustrated with some of the enemies. I say this is good for ages 10+. Also, this means that I think this game is worth the money, even though it's not brand spanking new.

Image via Nintendo

Thursday Traffic | 8 July

The highlight of my morning was checking the forecast and seeing that there is a possibility of rain today. You know, the weather is so interesting. As I was on the bus reading a recent book purchase—Boneshaker—I thought about the strange weather that we have been having this year. That made me think of things to note about the weather:

The weather is one of the most common starting points for a conversation. How many times do you remember a comment about the weather getting you talking—or getting someone else to talk to you.

The weather can affect people's moods greatly. If it is a mild day with the occasional clouds and cool breezes, people are probably more likely to give you a break and be amiable. You might become more productive so you can enjoy the day—or less productive. Too hot and people can become irritable. Too cold and people might become curt with you.

The weather stops for no (wo)man. Nothing you say or do will change the weather. It is entirely out of human control. Even if you have been planning a gorgeous outdoor event for more than two years, the weather can sporadically rain on your parade. Even if you want summer to last forever, it will change to fall and so on and so forth.
The weather can be tough on your hair and skin. Hot, humid weather can ruin your perfect hairdo or cause you to sweat and break out. Cold, bitter weather can dry out your skin and kill your hair. Make certain that you are always dressed appropriately.
The weather can be deadly. Extreme temperatures (both hot and cold) can affect your body. Breathing can become shallow and difficult during times of humidity. Your limbs can rot in freezing temperatures. So even though we have advances for dealing with the weather (like heat and air-conditioning), always be mindful of how you feel.

That was just a quick little note about the weather. Hopefully, you have a favorable breeze and reasonable temperature to allow you to enjoy this weekend to the fullest.

Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images 2002

Taking you away from your work

I love playing random games at times. They can refresh your mind and give you new ideas. I just discovered a game called Coma by Thomas Brush. You get to explore and it is a laid back experience, no rushing or anything. I suggest having it open in the background and playing when you aren't busy. So, are you ready for your Coma? Then play now!

[You must have the Flash player installed to play this game]
via Jay is Games

Cartoon Chatter | The Jetsons

I'm going to be very honest with you, reader. I feel that the cartoon has evolved from the old classics. Cartoons have become punchier and more visually appealing, yes—however, the good old days of cartoons released some of the best ideas that you could imagine. One of these classics was The Jetsons.

First of all, if you have never watched The Jetsons, then my friend, you have never lived. From the catchy theme song to the hilarious idea of what "the future" would bring, The Jetsons served up a great family show with lots of laughs. Like most cartoons from the "good old days," The Jetsons can sometimes take a while to get to the end of a gag. Also, the animation is definitely dated. But you get a better appreciation of animation and the cartoon industry when you watch shows like The Jetsons and their counterpart, The Flintstones. The show even spawned several cartoon movies and a live-action feature-length film.

Have any fond memories of The Jetsons? Let me know what you think about it. If you have never watched the show before, you can purchase or rent the DVDs or watch it on air if you have Boomerang (contact your cable provider for more information).

Film Review | The Last Airbender

So, if you have read my blog for a while, you will already know that I am a fan of Avatar: The Last Airbender (Avatar), a cartoon that recently finished its run on Nickelodeon. You can imagine that I was extremely excited to see the live-action film in theaters this past weekend. However, I hate to say it, but I was quite disappointed by the film. Hit the jump for the full review.

Grade: D+

Image via The Last Airbender's official movie site