Friends and the YouTube Community

An acquaintance of mine said in a video that she thinks, from her perspective at least, that YouTube is one of the closest online communities there is. I'm sorry, but that is something with which I am going to have to disagree.

On YouTube, for me at least, I felt like I've felt most of my life - like a round peg in a square hole. ... Like a wind-up toy trying to be accepted in a world of digital devices.

It almost seems "exclusive" from where I stand. That is to say, that each group is so closely knit within itself, that as soon as an outsider comes along and tries be a part of that group, that they then have to prove themselves worthy of being in that group.

High School, anyone? o.O?

And then there's the group of people who don't fit in any other group except the group of people who don't fit in ... and I don't even feel like I fit in there, either. :-\

Only two things exist in this world; You, and your perception of how things are.

Disney's Tangled. Movie review.

A surprisingly typical Disney fair - and I mean that in a nice way -, with even songs, however, shorter than your average, being present.

It has all the magic, fantasy, romance, playfulness and whimsical wonder of any Disney Classic you care to mention, with Rapunzel no doubt soon to find her place among the "Disney Princesses"

The story is well told, and flows nicely from beginning to end, with all of the highs and lows expected from any fantasy film ... in a way it kind of reminded me of Shrek ...

The songs were nice, although a little too "pop" for my liking, and each one a tad too short, except for "I Have a Dream" which was a full-blown musical number, and actually, in a small way at least, key to a later part of the plot.

My personal favourite character, Maximus, the horse.

Please enjoy the film with your family and friends, as there's something in it for people of all ages, young and old.

Donkey Kong Country Returns (Wii) Review

As good as this game is, and I assure you it is a good game, and a very good one at that, I must say that it's stupidly difficult.

I mean, seriously, this game's levels have not only half way points, but most levels actually have two, third of the way points, with the occasional level here and there having quarter of the way points.

Not only that, but when you visit Cranky Kong's house, you can buy up to another 7 lives at a relatively inexpensive price, allowing you to get tens of lives easily.

You'd think the above would suggest to the game makers that the game is hard enough as it is, and they should perhaps go back and re-balance the difficulty of some levels, requiring the accuracy of any given player to less like that of a ninja, and more like that of an ordinary human being.

But no ...

Instead, they've made it so that if you die enough time's during a level, the little pink pig from the half/third/quarter way points will wave a white flag at you, and ask you to hit the + button, which will initiate a super guide, allowing a silver Super Kong to complete the level for you.

All of these issues aside, Donkey Kong Country Returns is a fun, and exciting romp through a new, yet somehow familiar world.

And while I'm going to suggest that this game is a "Must buy", at the same time, I'm going to say that it's also neither for the impatient or easily frustrated ... but if you were either of those, you wouldn't be gamer now, would you? ;-)