Game reviews: Fitness Frenzy

In Fitness Frenzy, you play Vicki. She has recently gotten herself into shape and she wants to share the joy of exercising with everyone. So she opens her own gym. You need to help all of your members find a good routine, learn how to use the equipment and cheer them on when they need it. Of course, sometimes the equipment gets sweaty so you'll need to wipe it down occasionally too. I know this sounds like a terrible game but I actually found it to be quite fun. It's a basic time management game so you aren't actually using the exercise equipment, just pointing people in the right direction. You'll find yourself addicted in no time!

Vacation is almost over

I've been on vacation for the past few days. It's been nice spending a couple of days away from the monotony of the every day. Tomorrow we head back to work. Like many people, we've been looking for new jobs. Of course that means going through the employment screening process. While I don't mind the interview, drug screenings and whatnot are annoying. I understand why they exist but that doesn't make it any better!

Game review: Mystery Stories: Island of Hope

Mystery Stories: Island of Hope is a hidden object game based on a Caribbean vacation. Natives claim a missing casket is from a curse while you, Michelle, think otherwise. You set out to prove your claim. For the most part, this is a typical hidden object game. However, there are a few things to change it up. In some levels, only one object will be shown to you. You have 30 seconds to find this object before the list moves onto the next object. I think this is the best way to challenge someone who plays a lot of hidden object games.

Another change is that some levels have audio clues. While I can understand why someone would want to make an audio hidden object game, I prefer to play games without their sounds as I listen to my own songs. So, in order to play these levels, I need to shut off my audio and turn the sounds back on in the game. It's not a ton of work but it would have been nice to have been warned of this beforehand.

As much as the audio level annoyed me, I found the rest of the game to be quite enjoyable. This is a wonderful game for the more experienced hidden object player. Unfortunately, this means that someone who doesn't play these games a lot may find this too difficult. Play at your own risk.

Knee-high boots are cool

I am not a girly girl by any means. Unlike most females, I own a total of three pairs of shoes. One pair of sneakers, one pair of work shoes and one pair of dress shoes. However, I do frequently daydream of buying sexy shoes like knee-high boots or something. But I know I'd never wear them so there's no point in buying them. Maybe one day I'll give in and buy a pair.

Music review: Madonna - Rescue Me

Artist: MadonnaAlbum: The Immaculate Collection Release date: 2/27/91 Video link: Via YouTube

Lyrics: I'm talking, I'm talking I believe in the power of love I'm singing, I'm singing I believe that you can rescue me

With you I'm not a little girl, with you I'm not a man When all the hurt inside of me comes out, you understand You see that I'm ferocious, you see that I am weak You see that I am silly, and pretentious and a freak

But I don't feel too strange for you Don't know exactly what you do I think when love is pure you try To understand the reasons why And I prefer this mystery It cancels out my misery And gives me hope that there could be A person that loves me

Chorus:

Rescue me [rescue me, it's hard to believe] Your love has given me hope Rescue me [rescue me, it's hard to believe] I'm drowning, baby throw out your rope

With you I'm not a fascist, can't play you like a toy And when I need to dominate, you're not my little boy You see that I am hungry for a life of understanding And you forgive my angry little heart when she's demanding You bring me to my knees while I'm scratching out the eyes Of a world I want to conquer, and deliver, and despise And right while I am kneeling there I suddenly begin to care And understand that there could be A person that loves me

(chorus)

Love is understanding It's hard to believe life can be so demanding I'm sending out an S.O.S. Stop me from drowning baby I'll do the rest

Rescue me (echo) Your love has given me hope [your love has given me hope] Rescue me (echo) I'm drowning, baby throw out your rope [baby throw out your rope] (repeat)

Ooh ahh, ooh ahh, love is understanding Ooh ahh, ooh ahh, love is understanding

Love is understanding It's hard to believe life can be so demanding I'm sending out an S.O.S. Rescue me, rescue me

It's not my business to decide How good you are for me How valuable you are And what the world can see Only that you try to understand me And have the courage to love me for me

(Background vocals, continuously for remainder of song:) [I believe in the power, I believe you can rescue me]

I believe [I believe in the power] I believe that you can rescue me (repeat)

I'm singing I believe I believe that you can rescue me I'm singing, I'm singing, I'm singing I believe that you can rescue me

I'm talking, I'm talking I believe in the power of love (repeat)

I'm singing, I'm singing, I believe I believe that you can rescue me

Hey hey, hey hey R.E.S.C.U.E. me Only you can rescue me Hey hey, hey... [I believe you can rescue me] [I believe in the power] [I believe you can rescue me] About the song: I think this is the first song that features Madonna speaking instead of talking or whispering. The music video for it features footage from her Who's That Girl tour, which was about 4 years prior to the release of the album. Originally Madonna didn't want this song released as a single. However, some radio stations played it anyway and it reached the top 5 in airplay. The single wasn't released until the song was already popular.

Despite the spoken verses, the song is still a pretty decent dance song. It brings back memories of the early days of Madonna when she was really popular in dance clubs. Yet it still has the feeling of Vogue, where it's an updated feel of the 80s dance club music.

Passport necessities

I frequently think about getting a passport. Not for actually traveling because I've never traveled outside of the United States. However, some things require two forms of identification and a passport would be a good one. And who knows...maybe I will get the chance for international travel some day. Then it would definitely be useful to already have one.

JDorama review: Zettai Kareshi

Title: Zettai Kareshi Also Known As: Absolute Boyfriend Broadcast date: 4/15/08 - 6/24/08 Genre: Romantic comedy Number of episodes: 11 Cast: Hayami Mokomichi, Mizushima Hiro, Aibu Saki Plot: Riika (Aibu Saki) is terrible at love. One day, she finds herself strapped with a free trial for a new love robot, Night (Hayami Mokomichi). Despite Night's absolute devotion to her, Riika finds herself falling in love with her boss, Soshi (Mizushima Hiro). Which will Riika choose? What is good: Much like Ghost in the Shell, it has a "what does it mean to be human" theme wrapped up in the romance storyline. What is bad: How come Night can't willingly destroy property but he can go around telling everyone he's a robot even though Riika was explicitly told not to tell anyone? Letter rating: A- Overall: As a drama, I found it to be excellent. I was even crying during the final episode. However, that doesn't mean it doesn't have problems. The robotic sound effects that Night makes when he blinks or turns his head get somewhat annoying after awhile. We know that he is a robot. We don't need to be reminded. We do need some continuity though. Why doesn't everyone else hear Night's blinking noise? Also, Riika is told very explicitly that Night is a secret and she is not to tell anyone that he is a robot. So what does Night do? Blab it to everyone. Even if no one believes him, why wouldn't he be programmed to not say he's a robot?

If you look past those few small problems, the show really is good. The actors do an excellent job, especially Hayami Mokomichi. This would be a great show for any romantic comedy fan.

Game review: Laura Jones and the Gates of Good and Evil

I find that I am growing tired of games with extremely long names. Laura Jones and the Gates of Good and Evil is an example of this trend. And I'm sure there will be many more Laura Jones games in the future. Anyway, you play Laura Jones, the daughter of an adventuring duo. You need to track down the six keys in order to open the Portal to the Gates. While it is still a hidden object game, there are some small changes in it. Instead of trying to find a huge list of items, there are levels where you are just tracking down a certain number of paw prints or jewels or something. They've also added a variety of mini-games where you need to do things like catching certain fish for a cat. I don't know if these make the game any more enjoyable. It ended up as an OK game but nothing I'd want to spend a ton of time on.