1.21 Gigawatts of Opinion

Inspired by Wil Wheaton's Games of Our Lives over at the AV Club on theonion.com and my earlier Popples post I have decided to do a Toys of Our Lives.

Every Wednesday I will dig up an awesome 80s toy and write about it providing my wonderful readers with photos for reference.

So, what is the very first Toys of Our Lives at 1.21 Gigawatts going to be about?

 

Boglins
Reviewed by Jeremy January

Boglins were one of the hottest toys in my neighborhood in the late 1980s. Boglins are made of a comfortable rubbery sort of material and fit over your hand like a puppet. Inside were simple switches which would shift the eyes cleverly.

Boglins were purchased in boxes that resembled a crate with bent bars as pictured. There were three "races" of Boglins available: Flurp, Dwork, Vlobb. These were of the full sized variety.

Other sizes and sorts of Boglins were also created but they were not the originals.

Kids today might not like them because: Boglin's don't have any computerized talents or much of a tie in with popular japanese animation.

Kids today might like them because: They feel and look like monsters and come in a cool box to store your Inu Yasha trading card game in.

[Boglins on Wikipedia]

Please leave comments and suggestions for 80s toys you think people may have forgotten.

Here is a website with 30+ different charities aiding Hurricane Katrina victims includuding some groups that support pets suffering through this disaster.

[Network for Good]

 

 

As I mentioned in an earlier post I have been very concerned with not only the humans effected by Hurricane Katrina but also the animals which would suffer too.

 

I was glad to see Boing Boing mentioning them in their post and pointing blog readers to the following aid groups dealing with animals effected by the floods.

 

[The Humane Society of the United States] 

[Noah's Wish]

[Boing Boing Article] 

 

Please donate any sort of items that will help these animals in distress. According to the sites money is not the only thing they need.

 

Humane Society Animal Rescue Video 

 

 

 

Pop your soccer ball Popple.

Who's got the ball!?

I've got a Popple! 

 

The Brother's Grimm starring Heath Ledger and Matt Damon is a film you should see with low expectations.

It isn't a bad film, it's enjoyable and the costuming was great. I just expected more.

Both the lead actors left me a bit cold with their characterization of Jacob and Wil. There really was not a lot of interesting things done with the characters but all in all I liked the movie.

There is not enough fairy tale in it for me and the singular plot and weak love interest left something to be desired.

I would catch this film in a matinee or at the cheap theater near you.

You may even just want to wait for it to come out on video.

I give it a C+.

 

I haven't blogged here about the Seattle Poker Open but I wanted to bring it up in case I have any readers here in Seattle.

The SPO is a B&M game at various pubs in the area including Jillians and Floyd's Place.

You get $1000 in free chips and play until the last player. Prizes include $50 buy ins at the Tulalip Casino and an assortment of other prizes. It's free and has a great turnout of about 20-40 players and runs four days a week.

Best I've done is in 10th at Floyd's Place.

The SPO does go in seasons and we are currently in the Fall 05 season.

Check out the SPO Website for locations and times.

Two of my friends who went into the Marines nearly four years ago are both in town. Josh is on vacation and Alex came up due to the death of our friend Seth Edwards.

Sunday was the memorial which I have yet to blog. I think I may just keep it as a private memory. I don't think many of my readers will mind all that much.

But Sunday night the three of us went to an Irish Pub "Murphys" a few blocks from my house and got piss drunk on rum and cream ale of some british draught.

By my 4th glass of beer and a warm up shot of Captain's we were all ready to go.

To start off we did "Power of Love" by Huey Lewis and the News then When I Come Around" by Greenday.

Third was Jump by One Hit Wonders Kriss Kross

Fourth was my solo with "You're Nobody Till Somebody Loves You" which may be Dean Martin

And to top it off we did My Generation by The Who.

Our friend Ben met us there a little later and did a couple of songs with us and it was great fun. We drank to Seth and we wandered the neighborhood.

It was a fitting night to honor our rockstar friend. 

As Hurricane Katrina gets worse and worse I am of course continually becoming more worried about the people and pets there.

My thoughts are with those this diasater may touch and I hope that no pets are left behind.

[Red Cross]

New York is not very sit friendly is it?

And aren't they just BEGGING for homocides by readily offering spiked weapons to anyone with a street squabble?

[New York Anti-Sit Gallery]