Will Bryce Harper Grow Up?

It's interesting to see people my age enter many things. This includes Bryce Harper and his baseball career. He was the first overall pick in the 2010 draft by the Washington Nationals. He makes the big leagues in April 2012 and has continued to play heading into this year. His numbers are respectable, though he could be a little better. The stat line for career numbers is over 700 hits, over 130 home runs, over 130 doubles, four All-Star appearances, Rookie of the Year, and the 2015 NL MVP. Yet, he still finds himself getting suspended.

Eventually, this is going to be tiring. Against the San Francisco Giants on Memorial Day, Harper gets hit by reliever Hunter Strickland. Harper throws his helmet, starts throwing punches and instigates a brawl. Now, there is some bad blood supposedly as Strickland gave up a home run to him back in 2014 when the Nats and Giants met in the playoffs. Harper hit some home runs off of him and just looking at the videos, I didn't notice anything that would be a reason to hit him three years later. Reading SB Nation's article, they didn't face each other last year, or in 2015.

I find that a little strange, but not strange in how Harper reacted. He is still known for a short fuse and people in the Nationals organization have to realize he needs to grow up. Both him and Strickland have been suspended for their actions. Looking at the video of it, it looked intentional. I don't think Strickland lost control. However, it doesn't make any sense. San Francisco won a World Series in 2014, their third in five years. They got the last laugh. You would think it would just be it. This makes Jose Bautista and the Texas Rangers look like freakin saints compared to this.

That being said, Harper needs to control his emotions. Although I don't get Nationals games on TV unless they are on ESPN or Fox, he is still a big deal with sports news outlets. That's to expect for the first overall pick. He and others have led to the Nationals back to relevancy. For 2012, they were in the playoffs for the first time since 1981 when they were the Montreal Expos. They weren't putrid in the from that time until 1994, but the strike hurt them really badly.  Back to Harper, he isn't 20 anymore. Fans are going to expect more out of him and hope that he can calm down. That's what I look at with guys like him and NFL player Odell Beckham. Manager Dusty Baker has seen his share of players and bad outbursts, but I'm not sure if he'll have a lot more patience with him.

Harper could be one of the all time greats if he continues to play like he is right now. He is having a phenomenal 2017, something that is a bit surprising. If he can curb his behavior and calm himself, he could be a name you think of down the road as one of the greatest to have played the game. If he can't keep his emotions in check, the question of when and if he matures will be in the minds of many fans and critics.

The Simpsons Shorts: House of Cards, Bart and Dad Eat Dinner Reviews

Short #12: House of Cards

Like some of the other shorts, Matt Groening went with something mundane. To be honest, there's not enough comedy out of this one where Bart builds a house of cards. Not much else can be said. I like seeing failure and getting some laughs out of it, but it wasn't funny. Even Lisa's dialogue didn't come off as something to get a chuckle of. A pretty forgettable short.

Score: 5 out of 10

Short #13: Bart and Dad Eat Dinner

Homer's not always the best choice to cook food. Check out the show's Season 7's Homer the Smithers where he makes Mr. Burns breakfast and burns everything. For this short, he's tasked of making food for himself and Bart. It's one of those that starts off pretty slow and gets better. This takes off when Bart is forced to eat the mix of fish nuggets and pork a roni. All I'll say for the ending is that it's a very sweet one with you getting a laugh. Not it's strongest short, but one of the better ones.

Score: 6.5 out of 10

More kid goodness next week. The kids play Space Patrol in one short, and Bart gets a haircut in the other one.

Reviewing: Quantity, Quality, or Both?

There will be no blog tomorrow. I will be back with some reviews of more shorts of The Simpsons on Tuesday. Now let's get to today's blog.

On a game website, a user was looking into doing reviews of various games and wanted people to look at them and give him feedback. Some have given him some stuff that could be improved and work better on it. A few others, on the other hand, have been vocal and think it's not worth doing. I've taken a look myself and it looks like quantity for now. As the title suggests, is it quantity, quality, or both that helps with reviews?

I really think you can do both. However, the effort has to be put into doing the reviews. That's the biggest issue. Looking at the guy's reviews, they look to be done with even below the minimal effort. This is the kind of stuff that might make a game magazine if it isn't one of the big games on the corner of a page. Now, minimal reviews aren't always a bad thing. The issue is how much depth do you go into a minimal one. I personally think you have to put a little depth into a game to explain a few basic things about it.

With games, it's a matter of the system, game library, and relevance to its time period. You can't just review a game from 1982 and compare it to a modern game today. You have to look at it from the time period it was in and games that were there with it in a previous generation. Movies is a tough one. Taste is subjective unless you're working for the New York Post. It's hard for some who may not like a few genres. Same thing with television. Negativity sells, but not everybody wants to see bad reviews of anything, especially TV and film. That's why some will have a choice or no choice to review the films or shows they want to see.

I think you do have to be careful, though.You're putting yourself in the lion's den when you talk something that is the opposite of its reception. Take the game Shaq Fu. It wasn't panned when it released in 1994, but time has not been kind and is labeled today one of the worst games ever. I think it's a bandwagon thing to say and I really believe people who say these games are the worst, I doubt they played most of them. It's not a bad game per se, but not something I would put on the top of 16-bit game releases.

It's possible to do both. You have to be committed to delivering on that. Otherwise, it may overwhelm you.

Overused Campaign: Progressive

Not too long ago, I made a blog about car insurance commercials and their amount of time on the air with their campaigns. I'm going specifically on companies. I will go after Geico, but for today, it's Progressive. I've said before that they get their point across, but they only have one type of ad. Always, it has to do with bringing in their spokeswoman, Flo, played by actress Stephanie Courtney.

Courtney has been with Progressive ads since the mid 2000s. The early commercials, they got the point despite her over excited personality. For what they did, and they still do, they show rates compared to other insurance companies. I don't know what is in her contract, but I'm assuming they have to have either Flo in every ad or have stuff that makes you think of her when they don't have her on it.

Geico tried to expand their Cavemen commercials by giving them a TV show that ultimately blew up in their faces. I get this feeling Progressive is trying to do that, but with their commercials. They've brought in a sidekick for Flo that learns stuff from her. They have her with her own dimwitted family or living like a normal person. I think this is overkill, but the TMZ parodies, I don't know. For as much as I hate those paparazzi morons, as I said, I have this feeling that they want to imitate Geico. That being said, they are being smarter with this... for now.

I'm not saying Progressive has to learn a thing or two from other insurance companies, but they have to use do more than just Flo commercials. I know it's a money maker for them, but Courtney could one day die unexpectedly. This is what I would do. I would start thinking up a new campaign that still gets the point across, but doesn't need to be a big production like Geico commercials. They should get a fresh face that is new to wanting to do commercials, and start thinking of ways of doing them without them screaming rehash.

So basically, I think it's time for Progressive to retire Flo. They need to. It's become so overused the last five or six years, there comes a point when enough is enough.

YouTube Videos: May 19th-25th

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is the newest thing, accompanying the latest NASCAR 98 videos.

Delaying Always Sunny in Philadelphia

If you haven't been in the loop the last few weeks regarding It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, here's a move that really isn't surprising. Season thirteen of probably the most underappreciated comedy has been delayed to 2019. For some, it will be a total shocker. Others, however, will understand this. This is coming at a time when most of the cast is looking beyond the show's future and doing other shows and films.

This came as NBC green lit a new high school show, AP Bio, not too long ago. It is going to star Glenn Howerton as a teacher who acts a bit like Dennis on Always Sunny,  but not that extreme given it's not a cable television show. That being said, this is where people have had their concerns as it was announced just as the season finale of Always Sunny was around the corner. Spoilers for this, but anyone that watched the episode, Dennis decides he is leaving Philadelphia for good and deciding to go to I think North Dakota with a woman he impregnated and the child they had. Other than the end bit where the Gang destroys his Jeep, it's almost a somber ending but in the style that Sunny is always known for. There's a reason why critics have called it Seinfeld on crack.

Howerton isn't the only one that is doing stuff beyond the show. Although he had done some small stuff like Reno 911!, Charlie Day has put up a career as Sunny has been on the air. Films like Horrible Bosses and Pacific Rim, he is probably the only one of the main cast that has made a name for himself in Hollywood, yet gets big laughs as Charlie. Even his wife, Mary Elizabeth Ellis, who plays The Waitress in guest starring spots, has tried television with The Grinder last year before it got canned last May.

I'm sure whatever Rob McElhenney does, he will do fine. His wife, Kaitlin Olson, who plays Sweet Dee, has her own show, The Mick. It has been on the air since the start of this year and Fox is going to give it a second season, so her and Howerton will have their hands full of doing shows that don't film in a month's span. You can't blame these guys for wanting to build careers. I view it as what ifs for the actors. I'm sure they love doing the show, but they want to expand. Last thing anyone wants to have is regrets in not doing certain things. Look at the actress who is the title character in Grey's Anatomy. Being dedicated to a show is great, but you're missing out on doing movies and other stuff.

Does it mean Dennis is gone for good? I don't know. It'll be a matter of seeing what happens. There is time to create possibly a season where he may or may not be in Philadelphia again. The biggest concern they should have is the health of Danny DeVito. He is in his 70s and its only a matter of time before it's too much for him. Last year's season finale saw him almost die from being in the water for so long to get some shots as if The Gang was in a sinking ship. Nevertheless, everybody is just looking to make names for themselves. Even with all the other projects they will do, there will always be It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. People should really appreciate the show before it disappears off the cable world for good.

When to Go to Yard Sales

Contemplating when to go to yard sales is not an easy choice. Some have their luck in the early morning when not much is going on. Others may have a lot of success in the afternoon. Here is my very quick thoughts on this. I have been doing local yard sales the last seven, eight years. I have found some great video games, films, tv shows.

If you want to do some good damage, try to get to places in the morning. Not too early where's there only a few houses selling things, but not to the point where it is already crowded. Go from one side of town to the other. Maybe go through a few streets as you go down the main road. When you get to the end, start attacking the streets. You might still be able to get some stuff if you check yard sales, even in the afternoon. You never know what you are going to find. It might be for a good price, especially if you get NES games for very cheap.

If people get to stuff before you do, you might get frustrated. Don't act rude in public. It's not a big deal unless it's for something that you can't find anywhere else if it's that important to you. Don't get overboard with buying everything. Budget yourself how much you want to spend and if you reach a limit, consider it a day.

Those are just some of my approaches to yard sales. I don't know if it will work for others, but you can have some good fun finding some good stuff, eating maybe some chicken or burgers, too. Just stay calm and you can have a good experience at yard sales.

The Simpsons Shorts: Maggie's Brain, Football Reviews

Short #10: Maggie's Brain

It's kind of a forgettable short, but you'll get a couple laughs out of it. Some of the potential feels wasted in the first half when Bart plays This Little Piggy with Maggie's toes. The last half gets the idea of what Maggie is thinking somewhat. In the end, this is a hit or miss short where your mileage may vary.

Score: 6.5 out of 10

Short #11: Football

The concept seems very simple, but it plays out like a cartoon. That's not a bad thing, though. Homer throws a football and wants Bart to catch it. It is the first we hear the phrase, frosty chocolate milkshakes. Amazing how Bart takes a good amount of abuse as well in the shorts. Just to catch a ball and it is the type of short that starts off slow and gets better.

Klasky-Csupo did a great job with the animation as the backgrounds outside and inside are a big improvement. Homer is a step up closer to what to what he looks like on the actual show and the cartoon approach is not over the top. A pretty good short that you can get some chuckles out of.

Score: 7 out of 10

Next week, it's some Bart led shorts with House of Cards and Bart and Dad Eat Dinner.

Unwatchable Playoffs

When the NCAA Women's Basketball Championship aired this year, it got a big jolt in ratings. The reason for the increase may not be a huge surprise. It's because UConn was not in it. A team that had blown out teams for who knows how long eliminated in the Final Four gave viewers a chance to watch something exciting. While no doubt the NBA will see a Part III to the Finals between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors, you have to wonder when enough is enough of these teams.

With the way the playoffs have been this year, many will wonder if the sport is not exciting in terms of non-Finals games. Certainly, the Warriors game against the Spurs in the first game of the West Conference Finals, had all sorts of drama. Then the next game was a blowout and as of now, Golden State is one game away from going back to the Finals. Cleveland annihilated the Boston Celtics in game 2, winning by 44 points. Both teams have big superstars who have huge presences on TV, social media, etc. It's not just the Warriors and Cavs. There has to be at least one superstar on a team, even if said team is bad.

For ESPN and ABC, they have benefited a whole lot since the 2008 Finals between the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics. I think it helps that the Finals haven't been sweeps and that a number of them have gone six to seven games. The amount of drama and storylines to these teams and players really gives them that ratings increase. Their biggest prior to last year was Game 7 of the 2010 Finals between the Lakers and Celtics with 28 million watching the Lakers get their championship. They might as well enjoy this because eventually, some of these players are going to be on other teams, retire or do something else.

That being said, people do get tired of seeing the same teams in the playoffs every year. I don't think that's a problem with the Warriors yet, but it could be soon. Regardless of your team, people will get tired of San Antonio, Houston, Boston. The list goes on. People were probably tired of the Lakers before they got bad the last three to four years. For the NFL, people are probably tired of Green Bay and New England constantly being the playoffs. I don't think MLB has the problem as much today, but with Atlanta, the New York Yankees, Boston, and St. Louis back then, it's not a pretty sight.

Some viewers might watch the Finals if they have ignored the playoffs. It's a matter of games being close, and so far, it hasn't been that way. This stuff becomes predictable and it leads to viewership not being strong before the championship series. No doubt, this years Finals will be huge. It's going to get the NBA a lot of money and ratings. How far this will go, I give it at least six games. As I just said, the league should enjoy this for now. I don't think we will ever see this again for a long time. Last thing anyone wants to see is something like the 60s Celtics teams.

Call of Duty: WW2 Switch Speculation

When Call of Duty debuted in 2003, it was an alternative to the Medal of Honor games. Both were set in World War II and featured different approaches the series started. Of course, it has changed routes over the years beginning with Modern Warfare in 2007 and the series is going back to where it started for them. For WW2, it's a change that might be refreshing to some. As far as releases go, it's obvious it will make it to the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and computers. However, rumors are coming of another version.

How true this could be, I don't know. Supposedly, there is a Nintendo Switch version being developed by Beenox Games. They have made a number of games for Activision, which includes some Call of Duty games. If the rumors are true, it will be a nice addition for the Switch library, especially to have a third party game. The series has been on other Nintendo systems going back to the GameCube era with Finest Hour. The Wii got five games in the series, and the DS handheld got four. No game made it to the 3DS and the Wii U only got two games, with Ghosts being the last one overall for any Nintendo system.

While I wouldn't expect it to be a seller like the other systems and computers, it could definitely do well on the Switch if it is developed. It's been a long time since we've seen a World War II game come out of a big name company or franchise. Medal of Honor's last WWII games were in 2007. Call of Duty's was World at War in 2008. I think going back to its roots somewhat will get people back on board with the series. It's not a huge guarantee on the Switch, but it might be that way for the other systems.

I would hope it's true, because the Switch still needs to show it can be more than a first party/Mario box after this Christmas season in six, seven months. Nintendo has some heavy hitters beginning in July. They need to keep the momentum going to get third party companies on board and have them stay with them. A Call of Duty game could be a big help.

Alien Covenant: A Potential Return?

It's numbers were decent for Thursday showings, but Alien: Covenant is another attempt to have the franchise back on the path of success. Ignoring the last fifteen years of films that involve an Alien, but there hasn't been a solo film in the series since Alien Resurrection back in November 1997. With Ridley Scott at the helm for directing it, it could determine if people are still interested or if Fox should just stop. Here's my very quick thoughts on how the film could perform.

Sure, it may not have the strongest box office numbers, but people definitely want a film in the franchise that could be as good as the original Alien and/or Aliens. It's hard to top those two in terms of either wanting action or horror. I think just having Scott, who directed the original back in 1979, could convince people that it could equally good. How that fares is a different story. Considering how Prometheus did with Scott directing it, it could be something like Planet of the Apes where moviegoers are hungry for more and could potentially make more movies of Alien.

This could be the film that is number one this weekend over Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 2. It's going to have steep competition for the next few weeks. Baywatch and the fifth Pirates film from Disney come out this upcoming week. Captain Underpants and Wonder Woman headline the start of June. It could be a top 3 film, performing possibly behind Pirates depending on how well that film does.

Horror has changed a lot since the 70s. The biggest question is whether Alien can deliver. We can only find out after this weekend.

YouTube Videos: May 12th-18th

Bat Flip Anger... Again.

You want to make a case for Jose Bautista being the hated figure in Major League Baseball, here you go. Two years ago, he did a bat flip after hitting a game winning and clinching home run in the playoffs for the Toronto Blue Jays against the Texas Rangers. Last year, bad blood amounted to him getting punched by Rangers player Rougned Odor in a full scale brawl in Texas. A few nights ago, it was him being a complete moron with no reason to flip his bat.

The Blue Jays faced the Atlanta Braves at the new stadium for the Braves. Toronto was down by five runs heading into the eighth inning. Reliever Eric O'Flaherty threw a pitch and it was hit for a home run. Bautista flipped his bat, went around the bases and jawed at catcher Kurt Suzuki. It led to both benches clearing, and that was it. No punches, not tackling, nothing. When talked after the game, Bautista said about showing emotion. O'Flaherty said about last year's incident between Toronto and Texas in a laughing manner.

I don't agree with either bat flip, but the one in the playoffs made a little sense even if I disagree with it. Bautista gave the Blue Jays the ultimate game clincher to send them into the Championship Series against the Kansas City Royals. It was the team's first playoff series since the 1993 World Series, and to be able to give fans a huge win will stand in Toronto baseball history. Doing it in May where you're down a bit is just plain stupid. It's not something to even be proud of. He should know that and should be ashamed.

This isn't a guy that has been in the league for a few years. Bautista has been in baseball since 2004, and almost a decade with the Blue Jays since late in the 2008 season. When it comes to players, one would hope that they become a respectable player and that they continue to show they are a good act to the sport. Whatever Bautista did before that playoff bat flip doesn't mean much. While the hatred isn't as bad as Alex Rodriguez and Barry Bonds, (though different reasons) it doesn't help late in the guy's career. His stat line this year is pretty bad. He's just above .200 for an average with six home runs and 19 runs batted in. He has struck out 49 times so far.

Toronto is going to have to make big choices before the trade deadline. I could honestly see Bautista going somewhere, as will a few other players. This was a team that had high expectations and is in last place in the AL East. With how strong the Orioles and Yankees have been to begin 2017, it might not mean much for this year, but maybe the next few years. They could rebuild. Whoever gets Bautista will have to deal with how he acts. For how long who knows. His career is just about over.

Psych is Back: TV Movie for USA

Once a cable show is finished, odds are it's never going to get repeats unless you are obsessed with airing it like Chappelle's Show, which Comedy Central can't get over the cancellation in 2005 with 30 episodes. I feel the USA Network doesn't care about their original shows and acquired shows that aren't Law and Order and NCIS. That being said, they are going back to really the show that gave them more shows. Come December, there's going to be a new thing for Psych.

A summer show in July 2006, Psych followed the adventures and shenanigans of Shawn Spencer, played by James Roday. Shawn is a slacker who has a photographic memory thanks to police officer dad, Henry, who trained him to know every little detail in hopes of him being a cop. When he reports a crime and is believed to be the second criminal, he makes the fib that he is a psychic. With his buddy, Burton "Gus" Guster, the two work together, willingly or unwillingly, to help the Santa Barbara Police Department and outsmart bumbling lead detective Carlton Lassiter.

What makes Psych such a liked show is that it does the opposite. It's not your typical crime show where its ultra serious and there's no personality to anybody. For the show, it's filled with a lot of humor, wisecracks, and lots of 80s references. (though not as abusive about it like Family Guy) The characters all fit together in that sense of setting aside their differences and finding that criminal of the week while Shawn and Gus blunder their way through certain things. TVline put up a report last week that USA has given the green light for a television movie that will be set around the holidays.

The Christmas episodes were definitely some of the show's highlights. I'm expecting nothing less than a typical episode. The description that is mentioned is basically someone personal is being targeted. TVline reported that it is being written by Roday and the show's creator, Steve Franks. Roday will also reprise Shawn, as will Dule Hill as Gus. All six main cast members are slated for this project in the article. Timothy Omundson  and Corbin Bernsen are expected to be back as Lassiter and Henry. As will Maggie Lawson and Kirsten Nelson as Juliet O'Hara and Chief Karen Vick. Whether there's going to be some other big guest stars from the past returning is a matter of who was written into the script. Psych managed to get some big names to appear. That really came into full force when they got stars like Tim Curry and John Amos for their second season

The writers weren't afraid of pulling punches. All the main characters have had brushes with death almost. It's still a crime show, but ones that came very close were in the middle of the shows run. Case in point, watch the season finales from season three through six. That being said, it's nice USA hasn't completely forgotten about one of their shows. Especially at a time when their biggest shows prior to July 2006 were Monk and whatever WWE wrestling programs they had.

Even though the show has been off the air for over three years, it felt like Psych ended with an open ending that could lead to bringing it back for specials. In an era where everything is ultra serious with dull uninspired characters, it will feel like a breath of fresh air in December like it was when it debuted over a decade ago. Bring on the pineapples.

The End? Windows XP

Recently, there has been a huge ransomware attack on the Internet and someone was able to stop it. Microsoft has issued patches for Windows XP and Server 2003 for people that may still be affected by it. The question I have to ask is this and I'm sure others have, too. Why are people still using XP? It's simple. People are still comfortable with this operating system.

Windows XP released in late 2001 and had support up until mid 2014. Even though Windows 95 was a game changer for computers, XP is one that still resonates will millions of people throughout the world. I worked at a kids baseball park last summer, and one of the computers they had to sign in for a shift was running XP. I've read stories about ATM's and businesses still running it. I don't know how true this is, but I've also heard about the Pentagon still using Windows 95. We are still comfortable with using an operating system that for the time felt very modern and still felt like the last few operating systems.

That being said, however, end of support means no more patches, no more fixes, nothing. I understand that people may not want to upgrade, but you're running a huge risk. You go on the Internet with XP, you're taking a huge chance on getting viruses and malware. That stuff can hurt you financially and maybe more if they get access to your passwords. Hackers know this. They know it's still a widely used operating system and it's going to be that way for a long time.

As much as I hate to say this considering I did love Windows XP from 2004 up until 2011, it's time to upgrade to a 10 computer or maybe 8.1. Microsoft is offering updates to prevent this stuff from happening on everything after XP, so I would take a look and see if there were updates put on your computer. If you're that set on using XP still, do not have it hooked up to Wi-Fi, Internet, whatever. I would treat it like Windows 95 and 98 and not have any Internet stuff connected.

I've been using computers since 1995 at the age of three, and have used them for important stuff since 2002. This is my quick ending message. Stay safe. It's dangerous to venture onto the Internet with computers that have no more support.

The Simpsons Shorts: Making Faces, The Funeral Reviews

I apologize for no blogs this weekend and yesterday. It was a hectic weekend working and not being done until midnight two of those nights. Let's jump into Season 2 of shorts that The Simpsons had. Spoilers for these shorts as usual.

Short #8: Making Faces

The approach for this is similar to Burping Contest. All three kids make faces and Marge gets pissed that they are doing it. Really, the best laughs are in the second half of it when Marge puts on a scary face and tells them about their faces freezing already. A pretty good way to start the second season of shorts. Not much improvement in the animation, but the character modeling is an improvement in all the characters, though we don't see Homer until the next short.  The end short was used in an intro of one Futurama episode. I forget which one since that show is butchered as hell on Comedy Central.

Score: 7 out of 10

Short #9: The Funeral

Whenever there is something very serious in a comedy, writers do have to tackle how much humor there can be in an episode. Even though this is a minute long short, Matt Groening certainly got the idea down on what can be funny, and he delivered. The Simpsons go to a family funeral, and Bart causes a little mischief before and during it, getting all three kids in trouble. It feels pretty tame, but it gets the laughs.

This was a pretty good short. The animation looked better and the characters are more refined. It would still take time for them to get into their final phase that would be on the actual show. Some good laughs in this one.

Score: 7 out of 10

Next week, we'll look at the next two shorts, Maggie's Brain, and Football.

YouTube Videos: May 5th-11th

The same two games. Sonic the Hedgehog 2 on Genesis and NASCAR 98 on Saturn.

Another Year, Another Capital Disappointment

When a team does well almost every year, that team's fanbase expects a championship almost all the time. For Washington D.C., they haven't seen anything major since the Redskins 1991 football team win a Super Bowl. Since that time, the Redskins have been putrid for a very long time. The Nationals in baseball have started to pick up as a serious team. However, we are looking at the Capitals, the hockey team that can't get past the hump.

Since 1982, the Capitals have been one of the more stronger teams in the NHL. Starting from 82 until 96, they would make the playoffs every year, often losing in the semi-finals or conference finals. After an off year, the 1997-98 team would make its only Stanley Cup appearance, where they lost to the Detroit Red Wings. For the next six years, they would make the postseason three more times before the 2004-05 lockout. Since 2007, they have been one of the more dominant teams, but have squandered big series against teams like the Pittsburgh Penguins, New York Rangers, and Boston Bruins.

In all honesty, this should be a team that could get past the hump and show a bit of energy. They fought back a three to one Penguins lead in the series to tie it up, and then lose once again in a game 7. Alex Ovechkin is one of the biggest names right now in not just the NHL, but hockey in general. Washington had one of the best defenses and set of goalies this year. The main scoring groups are young and can stay together for a long time. How much more disappointment can there be for them?

Time will only tell if they can beat a Pittsburgh or a New York team. This is one of their biggest obstacles. Can they get past a lot of these mental mistakes? Can they get past all the stuff that they hear from the fans, the press, etc.? Blocking it out could work. You would think so. Ultimately, the Capitals have to focus on hockey come September/October. Frustration is going to mount and either they get that championship or they start losing key players to trades, retirements, and or injuries.

Right now, Ovechkin has at the very least five to eight more years left barring any injuries. Washington has a very tough division which include the Rangers and Penguins. Their conference also has the Bruins, Montreal Canadiens, and whatever surprise team gets in at times. The time to get serious on being contenders is now. If they don't, time will tell when they have another good era that can get them a Stanley Cup.

Legacies: Derek Jeter

On Sunday night, the New York Yankees will retire the last single digit number in their uniform numbers. Even though this coincides with Mother's Day this year, it will also bring another thing. That is a new monument for its Monument Park in center field beyond the bleachers. This honor belongs to probably the best modern Yankee, Derek Jeter.

Jeter was a sixth overall pick in the 1992 Major League Baseball Draft out of high school in Kalamazoo, Michigan. At first, he struggled, but improved throughout the four years of working in the Yankees farm system. Though he would make his debut in the spring of 1995, he was only there for a couple handfuls of games. With an injury to Tony Fernandez before the 1996 season began, there wasn't much of a choice but for the first rounder to be the opening day starter. The worry was gone when Jeter hit a home run against the Cleveland Indians. Final numbers that year included a .314 average with 10 home runs and 78 runs batted in en route to a World Series championship.

Jeter's career is one of the great ones in a very controversial era. Although he and Yankee owner George Steinbrenner made fun of it years later in a Visa commercial, the biggest trouble he ever had was being one that wanted to enjoy the New York nightlife. With that anger from the owner himself, the focus on baseball was bigger and he built that on a number of all star appearances, 200 hit seasons, and making some of the biggest plays in baseball history. He followed the game the right way when others were using steroids, especially as his career took off when the 1998 home run race was becoming a heated one. A lot of people might forget the Yankees were one of the most dominant teams that year and got another World Series win.

There shouldn't be any doubt that Jeter will be in the Hall of Fame. The crowds will be very huge in Cooperstown come 2019 if he doesn't get snubbed. It will probably be big next year if his teammate, Mariano Rivera, gets in. These two, along with others like Andy Pettite, Jorge Posada, Bernie Williams, and a few others helped define a big era of baseball in the Bronx. Although Williams was the only one in the names mentioned that played when the Yankees got back to having winning seasons in 1993, they were part of the influx of young players and mixed with veterans like Wade Boggs, Jimmy Key, and Paul O'Neill, That's what started the late 90s dynasty, one that won't ever be replicated. Hell, I'm not sure if you can repeat now these days in baseball.

Years from now, a lot of people will be proud to see Jeter as the great model player who others should inspire to be today. A great baseball mind, he will stick to the sport he grew up playing in for over 30 years, especially as he looks to potentially own the Miami Marlins. A shining star that will still be bright, even after when he is gone from the world.

Snatched: Box Office Hit or Failure

With yet another glorified Marvel popcorn flick being number one, two new movies this weekend will try to be number as they release just in time for Mother's Day. One of those is the fantasy film, King Arthur. The other, which is the focus for this blog is Snatched. It's a comedy about a mother and daughter who go get kidnapped in South America and try to find a way back to good people. Both films should pull some decent numbers.

I have no intention of seeing Snatched, but I am interested in how it performs in theaters. I see it doing decently, but I can also see it failing. This is Amy Schumer's first film since Trainwreck, which had success in the summer of 2015. Also, when was the last time anyone saw actress Goldie Hawn in a big film? With two different kinds of audiences for the actresses, the demographics could be mixed on certain age and gender.

Playing the other side, I could also see this failing. If it does, my question is who does Schumer blame? A few months ago, Netflix put up a special of hers doing stand up. Suffice to say, it was panned compared to her stuff on Comedy Central. She would go on some rant that it was right wing people that were panning it. My thought is that people don't like her not because of politics, though she has become a fat nut job since the Louisiana shooting that happened with people watching Trainwreck. If it was any other movie, she wouldn't care about the victims. Anyway, people don't find her funny. Stories are told she steals jokes and doesn't put effort into doing jokes. Those are reasons, not because of politics. Schumer has no one to blame but herself for choosing a movie that could fail.

That's all it comes down to. Pick the right movies and you can dominate the industry for a good seven to twelve years. Choose the failures and you will not last five years and find yourself doing minor roles or saving yourself with television shows. I don't think Snatched will fail, but it could. I had the same, though different feeling with A Million Ways to Die in the West. I thought that film would do pretty well with Seth MacFarlane coming off of Ted, which did very well. Instead, it was a dud. If Schumer blames right wings again, she deserves all the hate she gets like she did two months ago.

Netflix rating change because of Schumer
http://sullivanentertainment.blogspot.com/2017/03/netflix-review-changes-big-deal.html

The Simpsons Shorts: Burping Contest, Eating Dinner Reviews

All of Season 1 shorts:

http://sullivanentertainment.blogspot.com/2017/04/the-simpsons-shorts-review-good-night.html

http://sullivanentertainment.blogspot.com/2017/04/the-simpsons-shorts-watching-tv-jumping.html

http://sullivanentertainment.blogspot.com/2017/05/the-simpsons-shorts-babysitting-maggie.html

Short #6: Burping Contest

This short seems pretty tame compared to today's stuff. It's a basic concept. The kids have a burp contest against Marge's wishes, and it's pretty funny. Animation wise, its getting better and the modeling on Bart and Marge is an improvement. Some of the cartoon like approach is done well, and we get to see Homer, even if he appears for only 10 to 15 seconds, as the oaf people love. A solid short that will have you laughing through almost all of the short.

Score: 7 out of 10

Short #7: Eating Dinner

I think this short is more of a concept that would used better when The Simpsons became an actual show. That's not to say this short is bad by any means. I feel it's more like Marge trying to make the family act courteous when they eat dinner during the week. I know these are very short reviews, but you'll get a few chuckles out of the short. The animation is still a little crude, but it looks amazing compared to where it started with Good Night.

Score: 6 out of 10

Next week, we begin the second season of shorts, beginning with Making Faces and The Funeral.

Talladega Spring 2017 Big One

I don't mind seeing a wreck every once in a while as long as the drivers in NASCAR are okay. However, there are points where it's a surprise despite the big damage to the cars, the drivers are okay with maybe some minor scruffs. Sunday's race at Talladega was an indicator that even with driver's being okay after the Big One, it's still something that is scary.

Late in the race, Chase Elliott and AJ Allmendinger are almost bumper to bumper. That's Talladega racing. Everybody late in a run is bunched up together, jockeying for position to get to the top five or ten. Elliott gets loose and Allmendinger taps the back of his car just a tiny bit. When you're going 190 miles an hour, it's mayhem. The result was an 18 car pile up. Eliott's car almost flipped and almost went off the track. Allmendinger's flipped a few times and stopped upside down. Safety crew members would flip it back gently. It was a red flag for a while as the track was cleaned up before the race finished with Ricky Stenhouse Jr. getting his first win in the Monster Energy Cup Series.

Just the way that Big One unfolded, it looked really bad. Elliott took some big licks from Joey Logano, Trevor Bayne, and a few other drivers when his car was facing the wall. I'm amazed he didn't wind up a major injury. The same can be said for Allmendinger. Looking at the video, Logano's car put him on its side, which is one of the reasons the car went upside down and stayed that way. Head on, some of these cars took a heavy dose of damage. That's the great thing about what NASCAR has been for the last 15 years since Dale Earnhardt's death in 2001. Protection is a key, and we have been able to see this where drivers are protected everywhere in their body.

A big one at Talladega is always expected, but not like this. Aggression is not always a bad thing, but caution has to be advised when 20 cars or more are altogether with half a second to second differential. This race was a reminder that although there were no major injuries, things can change in a flash on and off the track.

Why I'm Not Into Star Wars

This blog will probably piss off geeks if they see this. I'm a bit of a geek, but I'm not that geeky into certain stuff. Star Trek doesn't really interest me other than maybe The Next Generation, particularly Captain Picard. Mystery Science Theater looks very stupid and lazy that anyone could do this kind of show. And Star Wars, to me, looks very shallow and boring.

I know it enough through references in mostly comedies. Stuff like Tommy Boy and Toy Story 2 with "I am your father." jokes. Other stuff parodied like in That 70's Show and Tiny Toon Adventures. Props also to Back to the Future for both a Star Wars and Star Trek reference, as well as Spaceballs being a hilarious full blown parody. I'm not really into watching two and a half hour films that is mostly dialogue based with a few twists and few action scenes to break up the monotony. I'm not saying every scene has to have an action scene every five to ten minutes, but it wouldn't have hurt to trim a little bit.

I'm not really into George Lucas stuff, and I'm someone who honestly prefers the Indiana Jones films. That stuff interests me a lot more because of the kind of treasure hunting and stories that lead the characters to dangerous places. The filmmakers want you to believe in the idea that something like the Ark of the Covenant and the Holy Grail are treasures that exist somewhere in this world. Star Wars has the characters you want to see developed really well and the case of good guys vs the bad guys. Just the content looks dragged out and seems too long to get the point across.

I get this isn't what people want to look, but the series doesn't really make me want to watch them compared to Indy. I'm sorry. I'll take treasure hunting over destroying a Death Star.

Fair or Unfair: Kevin Gausman's Ejection

Before we get into this blog, I am announcing that I will go to one blog a day. I am working a job now, but I will try to promote that day's blog as much as I can. I will still promote previous blogs a day after and top blogs for the week. With that mind, let's get into what happened Wednesday night.

After another incident the night before. Kevin Gausman of the Baltimore Orioles looked ready to battle the Boston Red Sox. The first inning went fine, and then the next inning, he hits Xander Bogaerts with a 76 mile an hour pitch. Home plate umpire Sam Holbrook immediately threw out Gausman, who couldn't believe what happened. If it were a 90 mile an hour fastball, maybe I could understand, but there was no malicious intent. At the same time, you can't blame Holbrook for reacting that bad. Obviously, he didn't want to see the teams get into a melee or full scale riot where someone winds up going to the hospital.

This is not the first time, nor will it be the last, we something like this happening anywhere in the league. One that comes to my mind is the New York Yankees. Getting plunked six times in three games is pretty bad. The next two games also had batsmen hit, with the last one leading to an ejection. In June of 2011, Mitch Talbot of the Cleveland Indians hits the Yankees' Alex Rodriguez. Umpire Dan Iassogna threw Talbot out, who complained about the mound being wet (It did rain that afternoon), but Iassogna didn't care. The night before after a big home run, the Indians' Fausto Carmona (now under the name Roberto Hernandez) hit Mark Texiera, and the frustration blew up for the Bombers. Even with that, you can't really complain about the umpires doing their jobs. At some point, enough is enough, even if you're not the main reason for it happening. There's certain things in sports where the second person always finds themselves in trouble.

It will be until the start of June that the Red Sox and Orioles begin another series against each other. Maybe things will be calm. Let's hope that. Then again, grudges can last a long time, even if it's late in the year. May there be a chance for both to settle down and get back to trying to win a division.

YouTube Videos: April 28th-May 4th

Some good old Sonic the Hedgehog 2 and NASCAR 98 Saturn version.

Last week's videos: http://sullivanentertainment.blogspot.com/2017/04/youtube-videos-april-21-27-2017.html

Wolfenstein 3D (DOS) Review

Quick warning before reading this for anyone in Germany. The blog may have sensitive material that may not be readable in that country. I apologize if you can't read this in that country. Sorry for the inconvenience.

Impressions go a very long way. With their big publisher in Apogee for support in distribution, Id Software unleashed Wolfenstein 3D to the masses on May 5, 1992. While not the first first person game, it is the first person shooter to get people interested in a genre that would grow to mass popularity within two years. Does the game hold up after 25 years, though? I say it does, but it definitely has some rough edges.

Wolfenstein was actually a series made in the early 80s by Muse Software. The two titles that preceded 3D were a lot different in that you had to sneak your way past guards through disguises and passes, kind of like some levels of Medal of Honor. Muse would shut down in 1987 and Id was able to get the copyright for Wolfenstein.

You are B.J. Blazkowicz, He is one of the allies top spies in World War II. Some of his adventures include stopping chemical war to escaping a castle to figure out what Hitler's planning with whatever crazy schemes he was cooking up. One thing I'll say with Id is that they are not the best when it comes to making stories. That being said, it was decent enough back in 92.

With the engine John Carmack had, Wolfenstein 3D shows the amount of progress made going back to Hovertank. More detail was put into the enemy sprites, though they are 2D. The bosses are pretty big. The walls have decent detail and color while plastered with Nazi swastikas and Hitler pictures. Like the other 3D efforts, there isn't any walls or ceilings, but that's a given. It overall looks fantastic.

While not the first time they did a soundtrack, Robert Prince's music for Wolfenstein 3D is excellent. There is that sense of action with certain themes and others with that dreary and suspenseful sense. It really fits with some of the levels. Sound effects are minimal but acceptable. It's mostly doors opening, enemies shouting German phrases and guns firing. This game doesn't use audio like successors such as Doom and Quake, which I'll explain in a little bit. Nevertheless, it's amazing what Id could do with DOS hardware.

Id followed a formula that stood out in the 90s and what others tried to make better or worse. For Wolfenstein 3D, the formula is basic enough. As Blazkowicz, you are looking for keys to get access to locked doors. That's where exits are in most of the game. Alone, there hundreds upon hundreds of Nazis awaiting to put you in the afterlife. From Guards to dogs, they will damage you pretty bad up close to where gunshots can net almost all your health.

The game is pretty similar to platformers like Sonic the Hedgehog and even Id's Commander Keen. Unlike succeeding first person shooters, you kill enemies, you earn points. Scattered throughout levels are treasure which grants you even more points. Getting 40 thousand nets you an extra life, which will seem very strange if you play this for the first time in today's age. Lose all your lives or finish an episode, you can potentially put your name on the high score list.

There are 60 levels with six episodes. For each one, there are nine regular levels and a secret one. They start off small, but as you gradually get through the levels and game, they get bigger and bigger with quite a bit of complexity. Secrets are a plenty in Wolfenstein. Getting all kills, secrets and treasure get you bonus points, as well as beating the par time if you are quick enough in some levels. Each episode ends with a boss, which provide you quite a bit of ammo and health.

Only four weapons are in the game, with a knife and pistol as your only firepower. You can upgrade to a machine gun and chaingun with ammo up to 99 rounds. My only complaint is losing a life resulting in only having a pistol and eight rounds. Health pickups are common. From dog food to medkits, you can healed pretty well. Extra lives are useful, and double as treasure.

As far as options go, there isn't too much. You can load and save games anytime. Due to this being on Windows 3.1 at the time, screen size can be changed due to operating systems not always being the strongest. Sound effects can be changed from digital to PC Speaker ones or off. There is a read this section that explains the game a little bit like the manual, but also how to order the game in certain countries, what Id is, and quotes from some of the people making the game at the time. Quitting to the DOS line will result in messages trying to persuade players to get back to playing it.

Wolfenstein 3D is a great game, but there are only a few things I would complain about. Without a map, some levels are next to impossible due to either complexity or reusing the same walls and textures. It's easy to get lost sometimes The getting killed part as mentioned earlier is frustrating sometimes. Audio is more of a very minor nitpick in that you won't know where certain enemies are and it will scare you hear a gunshot from someone behind you and you lose a good chunk of your health. Other than that, it's a very solid game.

The difficulty is good to a little hard. You're going to get 8 to 12 hours of play or more. Value is there in replaying certain levels and trying to get a better score. Check out Wolfenstein 3D. Unless you get it for Steam, it isn't too common or cheap. Let's celebrate 25 years of one of the great titles to kick off a genre that would get better as the decade went on.

Final Score: 8 out of 10

Political Comedy Is Unfunny Today

I can't stand Jon Stewart type comedians. Half the time, I can't tell if they really trying to be funny or if they are serious in what they say. I know it's so easy to mock President Donald Trump, and who wouldn't? George Bush could easily be made fun of. Bill Clinton was mocked a lot, especially when his scandal of Monica Lewinsky went public. But that was a different time where sketch comedy and other programs were able to be smart with their parodies.

Although not a political satire show, The Late Show is basically Stephen Colbert's way of trying to implement what he did on Comedy Central, but with Late Show's own stuff. Of course, he'll do whatever he does to mock politicians.  A few nights ago, he made a homophobic joke about Trump and it led to Twitter uttering the hashtag, #FireColbert for the past day. I really think these Stewart type comedians don't know limitations and when they are crossing the line.

Really, I don't think Trevor Noah is that bad, but I think it's hard to figure what is serious and what should be a joke. On the other hand, dummy Samantha Bee is a god awful comedian. She isn't clever. She is very crude, and not in the good sense. Scripted comedy actresses are better than this bitch. Unfortunately, people will eat up this slop.

I really can't say much on Seth Meyers. Although he fits as a late night show host, his focus on politics is really lame. It's a shame Jimmy Fallon is following this approach since The Tonight Show was more focused on entertainment than all these wannabe Stewarts. And I can't stand Jon Stewart in anything except the movie Big Daddy.

Eventually, all this obsession with Trump and other stuff will get stale and people will tire of the same thing. There's only so much you can do until enough is enough. I don't think, as I said, they know their limitations and never will.

Orioles-Red Sox: Grudges 2017

It's not hard to see why people can't stand Boston sports teams and their bandwagon fans. This latest incident between the Baltimore Orioles and Boston Red Sox is getting very ridiculous. Someone is seriously going to get hurt and sent to the hospital or killed if things don't calm down and a suspension or fine has to be pretty severe.

It all has to do still with Manny Machado and last week's incident which led to almost getting hit in the head. (http://sullivanentertainment.blogspot.com/2017/04/head-hunting-when-will-it-stop.html) Tuesday's game is an indicator that this grudge hasn't been let go. A great pitcher to begin 2017, Chris Sale has been phenomenal and their main star to lead the Sox. However, that is all for naught when to begin the game, he threw at Machado. Warnings were issued and Machado did not mince words when saying he lost respect for the organization. The game before, Red Sock Mookie Betts was hit by Oriole pitcher Dylan Bundy. Whether this was a reason to hit the guy is very stupid.

Someone in the higher ups of Major League Baseball has to really put the hammer down the next time another incident like this happens. If the next game by the time this blog is uploaded has another incident, someone is going to be in very big trouble. An umpire is going to eject someone if this escalates even further.

At this point, you can't blame Machado for his rant. The frustration definitely mounts once it happens a second or third time depending on one's patience. This will be the big story of the year if this continues on. Such a shame this grudge is still going on because of an unintentional injury that was accidental and not malicious.

Five Guys Burgers and Fries Review

Where I live, we have gotten a Five Guys Burgers and Fries and I have finally gotten to try out their burger. This is going to be a very short blog, but I was very impressed. The beef felt very fresh from being on the grill. Cheese was very good. You get a choice of any toppings for free. You were getting a decent sized burger. Heading into the fries, they are given to you hot and fresh, so I'd give it a minute or two before attacking it immediately. There is a choice between getting soda/water and milkshakes. The milkshakes are satisfying with a couple handful of flavors. From standard vanilla to Oreo pieces, the quality is phenomenal.

My only complaint is the price. Compared to even Wendy's, it's expensive than that if you want a burger, fries, and milkshake. That is just a heads up in case anyone sees how much milkshakes cost along with the burger. I wouldn't be disappointed, though. You are getting quality. Five Guys is a place you may want to treat yourself once a month or couple months. Definitely check the place out if you have one in your state.

Final Score: 9 out of 10

Online Petitions: Care or Don't Care

Whether this is true or not, I'm not sure on it. A friend on Facebook signed an online petition to keep NASA and the NOAA from being cut. Those are the space program and weather program respectively. I didn't click on the petition, but it gave me the question and a new blog in mind. In an era where everybody can create a petition for pretty much anything online, why do they usually not work?

Quite frankly, online petitions don't work because most people don't care. For some, they may want to express their concerns and want something protected or removed. To hundreds of millions, however, they don't really see the effort just for a measly thing that isn't worth any attention. You're looking at a very extreme minority of people who sign petitions. That's what it boils down to. Not to mention it could be anyone throughout the world, not just one part of the world.

There's stuff like protesting outside and saying stuff on television. That can get a lot more attention than the Internet. Everything is divided a lot more on the Internet to smaller numbers. So many subsets are seen in every imaginable thing, you don't know if people do truly care or if they see a petition and just skip it to go to somewhere else.

Honestly, I could care less as many hundreds of millions do. If I want to express a concern, I'm not going to waste my time and effort to get a thousand signatures for something meaningless in the end. You make a better impact outside of the Internet forums.

Insensitive Fans

I wrote a blog back in March (http://sullivanentertainment.blogspot.com/2017/03/kentucky-wildcats-2017s-worst-fanbase.html) about the Kentucky Wildcats having the worst fan base. An incident last night almost puts Boston fans in that category, but no threats of violence or killings doesn't make it number one worst for this year.

Whether this has to do with the last series could be a factor. Long story short, Baltimore Orioles Manny Machado injures Red Sock Dustin Pedroia by accident. A few days later, Matt Barnes throws at Machado's head and all sorts of bad blood was seen that weekend. With the latest series in Boston, Adam Jones had to deal with the obnoxious Red Sox fans. Last night, a fan threw a bag of peanuts and was thrown out of the game. It's almost like that episode of Seinfeld where Newman talked about pouring a beer on Roger McDowell, minus the spitting. (magic loogie) Jones also had to contend with racial slurs pointed at him.

The city of Boston is a nice place, but damn are the Red Sox and mostly the Patriots fanbases awful. It's a bunch of bandwagoners who probably don't know about some of the players before the 2000s. Guys like Carlton Fisk, Mo Vaughn, Maurice Hurst, and Irving Fryar. I know there are a lot of other good to great players, but you get the point. The Red Sox have it much easier due to having some of the greatest players to hit or throw a baseball and not being painfully mediocre for a long time. That being said, some don't know a number of these players unless it's their poster of Tom Brady. They probably listen to the CSNNE reporter Tom E. Curran, who doesn't act like a professional journalist in defending his Boston teams. At the very least, they are not like Philadelphia, who have cheered for career ending injuries, throwing snowballs at Santa Claus, and pelting draft picks they used to have with batteries.

If this had to do with the last series, then that is very sore of Red Sox fans. Jones didn't even do anything. He is just committed to playing baseball, and he has put up a good career with the Baltimore Orioles. For this to happen is going to escalate whenever the next series goes back to Baltimore. Fans will fight back against their opponents's fans. Not physically, but verbally, insensitive or not. The Orioles are a good team that can't get past the Divisional Series. They are going to be water cooler conversations in offices a lot more if this rivalry grows due to some of the veterans and young players.

I got a feeling it's not over yet, and the punishments will be more severe. Not steroid or substance punishment, but it will be pretty bad.

The Simpsons Shorts: Babysitting Maggie, The Pacifier Reviews

The last few reviews of The Simpsons: Potential spoilers. Read at your own risk.

http://sullivanentertainment.blogspot.com/2017/04/the-simpsons-shorts-review-good-night.html
http://sullivanentertainment.blogspot.com/2017/04/the-simpsons-shorts-watching-tv-jumping.html

Short #4: Babysitting Maggie

When Tiny Toon Adventures' second season was announced on DVD about four, five years ago, they omitted one episode, Elephant Issues, because of a segment called One Beer. Fan backlash led to the episode being put on DVD. If Babysitting Maggie were to be put on DVD of all The Simpsons shorts if it actually was made, it would be a tough battle to include it in its entirety.

Most people upload to YouTube the Comedy Central syndication of The Tracey Ullman Show so unless someone has an airing from when Fox aired it new, that's the only version you will find. A part that's cut is Maggie sticking a fork into an electrical socket. I don't blame it being cut for syndication. It's kind of reckless and despite being different than the actual show, it doesn't feel funny. In fact, the whole short is like a cartoon with Maggie getting hurt. It's not like Jumping Bart where you can get humor out of both Bart's injuries and Homer's forgetful mind.

It's a shame, because Klasky-Csupo's first efforts of having outdoor scenes was nice. The living room inside was an improvement over Watching TV. Plus, you see the distinctive traits of Bart and Lisa's ways of concern over their sister. The only laughs you might get is Bart saying stuff to Lisa and that's it. Kind of a forgettable short despite better animation.

Final Score: 5 out of 10

Short #5: The Pacifier

This is a solid short and like Jumping Bart, funny from beginning to end. The approach is a little cartoon like in certain parts, but it works pretty well. You gotta admire Matt Groening for making Maggie feel fearless and committed to just being a baby. Bart and Lisa's efforts are thwarted by their sister being committed to sucking on a pacifier. You don't mess with babies. I would say the ending is surprising, but funny.

Another short, another outside effort from Klasky-Csupo. The outdoor scene shows how well they can draw up a backyard. And the kitchen inside is not bad for a first effort. I would say it's their best effort out of the first season of shorts. There's nothing distinctive of Bart and Lisa's personalities, but as I said, it's funny. Probably the best short of the the first season of shorts. Kudos to anyone that can find the Life in Hell reference.

Final Score: 8 out of 10

Next week, we'll finish up Season 1 with Burping Contest and Dinnertime. After that is Season 2 shorts, and boy, am I excited.

New 2DS XL: Nintendo's Continuing Effort

Whatever Nintendo has up their sleeves, a new 3DS iteration will possibly the last thing you will see unless they surprise others with something else later on. Coming out in July is a New 2DS XL. Looking at the design, it looks really good and the price isn't half bad at 150 dollars. It does seem a little overpriced, especially when some stores still have 3DS' at 200 dollars still. That being said, it could be a last hurrah before Nintendo pulls the plug on this handheld.

Nintendo has come a long way from its fumbling with its handheld when it launched in March of 2011. People liked it, but the price hurt it and there wasn't many games that made it want you to go out and get a 3DS immediately. With a price cut and some killer apps, it hasn't looked back one bit and has pulled off good sales. However, it's final numbers whenever it finishes will possibly not reach even what the PSP did from 2004 to 2012. In a time where phones dominate over traditional gaming handhelds, brand recognition certainly helps.

I watched a video a few days ago about this system and the person saying that people are saying doom and gloom about the Switch and how this will hurt it. I would actually agree with this YouTuber, who said it wouldn't harm sales. I think it's different audiences, and really with being out for six years, Nintendo is going to try and get anybody that is new to handhelds to invest into a 2DS XL and keep support going for at least another year. They know who to target and who will it.

Nintendo has put a strong effort into actually trying to promote their systems and games this year. This is what they need to do instead of lollygagging like they did with the Wii U. If these first few months are any indication, they are back in the game big time. But only they, especially in Japan, can either put up another successful run or fuck it up like they have had since 1996. The ball is in their court. Can they give customers a year to remember?

Slow Weeks at Movie Theaters

The numbers will probably be close by the time this blog is created, so don't be surprised by an update. With not much going on with the new movies hitting theaters just before the latest Marvel film, Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 2, The Fate of the Furious will possibly stay number one for a third straight week. What is it with movies that aren't based on comic books that don't pick up strong numbers?

Quality is always the key to many moviegoers, and looking at the new set of films for this weekend, some of the numbers can be surprising. One of these is How to Be a Latin Lover, which is in just about 1,100 theaters. That's low, but at the same time pretty strong considering some of the stars it was able to have. Some might ignore what critics say and still enjoy a movie that has a mixed reception. Just a little bigger was an Indian film, Baahubali 2. It has a strong reception and despite being in less than 500 theaters, it is something people want to see that isn't a comic book film. I would think they would expand just a little bit to put it in other cities and towns and see how it performs. This could really be something that keeps moviegoers coming to view different kinds of films.

Despite some decent promotion and a budget of 18 million dollars, The Circle performed worse than Latin Lover and Baahubali. Maybe it's the material. My impression of it looking at the commercials is that it looks very weird and possibly confusing. Whatever the reason regarding the panning, this will be a big flop and it might make its budget back or just fail to. At least it was cheap considering how big some of their stars. If this truly was Bill Paxton's last film, not a good way to showcase the late actor's talents unless his role was well received.

There will be times when a week will feel like no one is going anywhere. You see numbers for a weekend like this and wonder how the next weekend will be. May is going to be an intriguing month. Some original films are going to be in theaters everywhere. Sequels to some of the biggest movies are slated for that as well. How will people react, though, to stuff like Baywatch or Snatched? Could King Arthur have some strong legs in the wake of yet another Marvel film the week before? Does Pirates of the Caribbean put Johnny Depp back on top following a disastrous 2016 privately and publicly? That's up to moviegoers to decide. They are the ones who dictate what gets made in the future and if a risk is put on other original films and sequels they did not expect.