Music Suggestions

Must I explain? Here is the lineup!

1. "Halfway Gone" - Lifehouse
2. "You and Me" - Lifehouse
3. "Alive Again" - Matt Maher
4. "The Words I Would Say" - Sidewalk Prophets
5. "All of Creation" - MercyMe
6. "Hold Us Together" - Matt Maher
7. "Healing Begins" - Tenth Avenue North
8. "Give Me Your Eyes" - Brandon Heath
9. "That's What Faith Can Do" - Kutless
10. "Yellow" - Coldplay
11. "The Scientist" - Coldplay
12. "By Your Side" - Tenth Avenue North
13. "On and On" - Chasen
14. "Hold My Heart" - Tenth Avenue North
15. "S.O.S." - Jonas Brothers

Don't hate me for liking the Jo Bros, okay?

The few cons of "SMG2"

Yes, "SMG2" stands for my favorite game ever, "Super Mario Galaxy 2". There are a couple flaws that the game has, but just a few.

• I have a problem with Yoshi's new voice. It's way, way, WAY to high-pitched for my liking.
• What's up with the stupid Cosmic Clones? Very annoying, especially on a certain hidden star level that requires you to have Cloud power.
• There are too many levels where you have to collect silver stars. They're hard to find on water levels.
• I have a HUGE problem with the mini-boss Sorbetti on the Frosty Flake Galaxy. He's so hard to defeat.
• Lastly, BLASTED BEE MARIO RETURNS! I never liked that power-up...

Those are the few flaws of "SMG2".

When in doubt, you can either...

1. Push random buttons

OR

2. GO ROMA!

I chose the second option. I'm leaving for Europe on Monday to enjoy Italy, Greece, and Turkey on a ten-day cruise. I will return on the 17th of June to the States and tell you about my adventure. I will hopefully be able to blog in Rome, Athens, Sicily, and Ephesus. I will tell you all about it!

Why you should get Super Mario Galaxy 2

GALAXY TWOOOOO! It is my favorite Mario game ever and here are reasons that you should get it:

• It has the same simple, easy-to-use controls as Super Mario Galaxy
• Yoshi makes his debut in Mario's space games
• The second player's Luma actually appears! You can grab, stop, and defeat enemies with it
• LUIGI TIME! You can play as Luigi on certain stages
• Store Lumas now sell chance dice. Roll the dice to win an item
• More power-ups! Mario power-ups include Cloud Mario, Rock Mario, and Spring Mario. Yoshi power-ups include Blimp Yoshi, Bulb Yoshi, and Dash Yoshi.
• All new soundtrack featuring your favorite classic Mario songs and new and definitely cool background music
• New Cosmic Spirit guides finish the level for you. But use wisely! You'll get a Bronze Star if you use the guide.
• New Comet Medals allow Prankster Comets to enter a galaxy. Complete these levels for even more Power Stars
• Mario has his own spaceship! Travel the universe in the "Starship Mario"

Find Super Mario Galaxy 2 at your local Target. That's were I got mine!

Wild Short Story Appears!

Pardon my Pokemon-esque title, but I can't resist making fun of it. Here's the short story: "Infiltrators".

"I stood facing the entire Ikarian army. The army, clothed in crimson, was like a scarlet wave that would crush all in its path. I sure hoped it would. We were about to face enemies in our own country. The organization PyRe had requested help from the Ferran Federacy, asking if thy would lend them 15,000 men. Obviously, the Ferrans would have thought this outrageous, but since PyRe's ultimate goal was to destroy Vaska, me, and all of my troops, they agreed to the terms. "Men," I started, "you will all meet a dangerous enemy today. An enemy chock full of your most hated rivals: the Ferrans. These scum have tried to murder our people and assassinate our leaders for centuries. It is time for us to return the favor. Today, you meet hostiles on the field of battle. Today, you give the enemy a beating that they'll never forget!" The army cheered as I turned and moved my platform forward. I saw another massive army, only clothed in burgundy and yellow. "Ready the laser batteries," I told the brigadier general. The enemy raised their weapons: guns, electricity bows, and beam swords. I pointed my arm upwards, then let it drop. The batteries unleashed their payload, cutting down the first few ranks. When the laser cannons had to recharge, my riflemen took the lead. They took aim and fired, taking out some of the swordsmen. The opponents shot their first volley of electric arrows, hitting some of my riflemen. They kept on firing despite loses. I knew my troops were more disciplined and civil than the Ferran mercenaries and the criminal fighters. They wouldn't break rank easily. Just then, a crime lord jumped onto my hovering platform. He sneered as he flicked an plasma whip dangerously close to my face. I grabbed a beam sword and engaged in hand-to-hand combat with the villain. His whip crackled as I struck it with my sword. However, the arrogant gang leader had no idea that Ailen was concealed nearby. He jumped at the PyRe boss with lighting speed and, in a flash, the enemy was slumped on the platform. "Nice work," I told Ailen. Ailen nodded and jumped into the fray below. I lowered the hover platform and grabbed a fallen soldier's rifle. I hit three enemy archers within seconds. Beam swordsmen were alerted by the others and charged me. "Don't you have manners?" I taunted as I pulled out an plasma whip, made by Ailen. It was bright yellow and flashed as I cut down my foes. The laser batteries had recharged, and the criminals were breaking rank already. The lasers tore through the mercenary lines, but the Ferrans, more obedient than the PyRe scum, stood firm. I continued to hack at the remaining soldiers, but suddenly, the whip was knocked out of my hand. I turned to see Duke Vaska with a gun to my temple. The conflict froze. All eyes were on me and the duke. "Traitor," I yelled. "You're right, Walliker." Vaska let the words drip of his mouth like honey. "I work for the Ferrans. I mislead you and they won't kill me in battle. So far, you keep wining. I need you to lose, and what better way to do that than give you direct orders. You're in an urban area, surrounded by innocent civilians. The more deaths, the more I am rewarded. So why not kill you?" Ailen once again came to the rescue. He picked up a beam sword and hit Vaska with the hilt. The traitor was confused, so I took this moment to steal his gun. "If you kill me," Vaska whispered, "then my army will unleash!" I picked up a radio transmitter. "Make the drop," I said almost inaudibly. Right then, a squad of Palore bombers dropped their entire cargo. This virtually annihilated the enemy. "What army?" I asked. Vaska moaned. I readied the gun, and fired. I hit Vaska's lung with my shot. "Victory is ours," I shouted to my army as we returned to the capitol. Vaska's last words will forever ring in my mind: "Gahn will return!"

Kind of violent, huh? I know, but it makes a great movie!

Math: Love it or hate it, but no time to debate it!

... Instead, we shall discuss my favorite number: 123!

123 x 1: Please, please, please tell me you're kidding.
123 x 2: 246
123 x 3: 369
123 x 4: 492
123 x 5: 615
123 x 6: 738
123 x 7: 861
123 x 8: 984
123 x 9: 1107
123 x 10: 1230
123 x 11: 1353
123 x 12: 1476

That's all the math for today!

Short Stories Return!

Here's the third short story at the request of this shady BK fellow. It's titled "Wildfire".

"I was in a deep sleep. Dreams filled my head. These were dreams of the day that Vaska passed the reins over to me. Suddenly, my quarter's alarms were blaring. I opened my eyes somewhat slowly for an emergency. But this pace quickened once I saw my desk on fire. A figure in a pure white cloak jumped towards me in the darkness. "Don't struggle, just come with me!" I had no time to reply, because just then he grabbed my collar and jumped out the window. "FOOL!" I was not in the mood for falling in anything but my previous sweet dreams. "You're going to kill us!" The hooded figure just jumped onto another building's roof and ignored me. "We are safe here, master," said the man. "Master? What the..." The person took off his hood and I stared at my secretary, Ailen. I about fainted right on the spot, but he just gripped my hand tighter. "What surprises you, master? I was a security agent for Mr. Caelsus before I became a quaint secretary for you." I almost fainted AGAIN. Mr. Caelsus was the most well-protected Ikarian tycoon, fabled for his elite crew of bodyguards. "Ailen, I informally promote you to my chief of staff," I said joyfully. "I owe you." Just then, an electric arrow whizzed past my face. Ailen took out a Magnuma pistol (a sleek, black handgun with 30 bullets) and ran at the would-be assassin in red. He twirled the pistol around his finger wild-west style and shot the enemy. He fell to his knees, muttering, "You will answer to the boss!" He fell sideways and lifeless. Ailen turned to me. "This murderer, he wears a red cape with the letters "P" and "R" emblazoned in yellow. He's a hitman for a criminal syndicate." I recalled something from my studies at the Ikarian Academy. "The organization is called 'PyRe', correct?" I questioned. "You are right, master. Nothing will stop them until they are satisfied. They want you dead." "Who's dying? I've got Ailen Seekret by my side!" Ailen smiled. "No certain Henry Mason Walliker is dying on my watch..."

Quote o' the Day

Here's another quote:

"Be careful when reading health books. You might die of misprint."

Guess who? Mark Twain. The Great Comedian himself.