Wednesday, November 30, 2016

Game Review: Race to the Treasure!

(Source)
Created by: Peaceable Kingdom
Players: 2-4
Ages: 4+
Additional: No Reading Required
Facebook | Peaceable Kingdom | Buy From Official Store

Race to Treasure is made by a company called Peaceable Kingdom. They are focused on creating co-operative games that are Eco-friendly. Their games are 100% green. Seriously check out their site for all their information.

Play with heart & soul!

We create games & gifts that inspire cooperation and cultivate kindness.
What we believe | Cooperative Play | Green Commitment

This game is easy. Play time isn't log, setup is quick, learning how to play is simple. No reading required!

Very kid friendly. I highly recommend it for children 8 and under. It was bought with the idea a 5 year old would be able to play it without any issues. After doing a trial run, it meets those expectation.
(Source)

Setup:
4 keys and 1 Goblin snack need to be placed on the board.
Roll dice until you've placed all keys and goblin snack on board.
Shuffle tiles and form draw pile.

(Source)
Basic Rules:
Draw tile cards to build a road to keys, based on group decisions.
After collecting 3 keys build road to treasure chest.
If goblin card is drawn, goblin moves closer to treasure.
If you need to, build road towards goblin snack (if goblin is getting to close or might beat you). Once acquired can be used at any time during game, to knock goblin back one space.
Beat Goblin to treasure chest to win.

All in all it's not a bad game. Not sure how many times I can stress that this is the kid friendly co-op game that forces on "strategy, math grid concepts, shared decision making, cooperation" according to their website.

Anyone in their preteens is probably going to find this too easy but in our household it was bought to include a little one that most of our games go over her head. She's doomed where she only gets to roll dice, pass out cards, hold cards, or move pieces were we ask her to. No longer! With that in mind, this is perfect.

Working on bringing more gamers into the board game/tabletop world.

 
 
BoardGameGeek | Wiki

Tuesday, November 29, 2016

Top Ten Tuesday: Holiday Gift Guide

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme feature created by The Broke and the Bookish. Where we take part in sharing our top ten of the featured prompt that week. For the list of past topics and future schedule, click here.
 
Holiday Gift Guide (IE: Ten books for your dad, Ten books for your sister, etc.)
I'm going to twist this post a big and talk about great finds I made this Christmas season. AKA How to afford Christmas for three kids. Ages, 15, 12, and 5.

First things first, I'm basically a "demon organizer" or so my friends have call me. It's agree, I'm slightly OCD (about specific things!) and a bit of a control freak when it comes to planning things out. Like Christmas. Because it takes a decent amount of thought, effort, and general planning!
But.. this one in particular, this is the second Christmas with my partner, the first one we'd only been taking a couple of months and didn't make a big deal of it, but this time around it's different. Along with that, children are involved. We have visitation on Christmas this year, FIRST TIME EVER. BIG DEAL ALERT!

Each child has 2-3 major themes/fandom of gifts. With that in mind we made idea lists then searched around for related items of fandoms we picked. We shopped around, both physically and online.
Hit lots of different stores around mid October to mid November. Hit Big Lots, Target, Walmart, Book stores, nerd stores. If we saw something we liked, added it to our "idea list" and then compared prices.
As of about two - three weeks ago we finished with Christmas shopping.
Here's a brief breakdown of the best/biggest presents for everyone!

Please be warned, long winded post.

Sunday, November 27, 2016

FTW: Finds This Week

This is my own version of a "Books/movies/things I've recently acquired" meme. It's not expected to be a regularly scheduled blog entry, only when it's relevant. Please enjoy my play on FTW, "For the win!"

Inspired by related weekly memes that revolve around sharing in your excitement of your newest titles!
Such as; Stacking The Shelves hosted by Tynga's Reviews and Mailbox Monday.

"Deals FTW!"

Before I divulge into my personal tangents, I recently hopped back on the Free Kindle wagon again. Ugh. I get so backed up on my 'to read' list this way! But don't forget to constantly check out Kindle's Top 100 lists, especially their paid and free list for every genre.

Here's a few that I grabbed.
A Hidden Fire (Elemental Mysteries #1) by Elizabeth Hunte
Discern (Katon University #1) by Andrea Pearson
Fracture (The Machinists #1) by Craig Andrews
Wild-born (PSIONIC Pentalogy #1) by Adrian Howell



Just a little over a month late to talk about, but my birthday is in late October. Like a dope I've only bought a few things here and there for myself, but with that said, some of them are finally in.

That said, I finally bought myself a copy of Mujhse Fraaandship Karoge (Which was featured back in my Bollywood post in 2013, here).

As well as purchasing a Blu ray streaming player.
With the Black Friday sales (online) I scored this normally $120 player for just $31 and some change. Listed for $49.99 (at BestBuy, Wal-mart, and Target) I used a $20 Target gift card I'd received as a gift, as well as my RED card for that extra 5% (which basically covered most of the tax), and free shipping!

I also splurged and bought myself a HotS heroes pack.
Since I already owned some of the heroes, this pack normally costs $4.99, not a huge difference, but it's something. With that purchase I got a Billie mount!

There's also a special "play with friends" event going on, you get rewards in both HotS and Overwatch!
You just have to play 15 games to unlock some rewards and then build up to 30 to unlock much more. (details)
It's going all the way until Jan 4th. Easily said, I've almost got both of them unlocked.
Already got the 15 game reward this week! SEE!


(Source)
The last of the holiday presents ARE IN.
Package finally arrived for a DVD purchase of Howl's Moving Castle for an anime lover who knows nothing about Studio Ghibli and that's unacceptable!

She refereed to them as "Ha, Disney is trying to make anime!" *resists unleashing serious knowledge*







What are you, find anything this week? Any good deals worth sharing?!

Friday, November 25, 2016

Follow Friday: Thankful


Follow Friday is hosted by Parajunkee of Parajunkee’s View and Alison of Alison Can Read, to help gain new followers and make new friends!
Please see here for rules and more details if you're interesting in joining in!

What are you most thankful for (in the blogging world)? via Parajunkee


How friendly and welcoming the community is. If I've learned anything about the blogging world it's this.. you communicate. Be nice and others will be nice in return.
Everyone is really just interesting in see what others are sharing and what they think.

We deal in a world were we depends on views, sharing, it's all networking.

You have to be genuine. Besides, why wouldn't you be huh? 

I'm also really proud of my friends that have actually made it AS a book blogger. Along with those that have self published and those that have had their books translated and published in other countries.
It makes me beyond proud.


I also wanted to add a section about what I'm thankful for.
Mushy personal thankful message below.

Thursday, November 24, 2016

Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving. Happy Indigenous Peoples.

My blog is a not a soapbox I expect to stand on and bring life views into discussion. It's just not the place, it not appropriate.
I never plan to bring religion, politics, or other heavily controversial issues to head here.

That said, not everyone celebrates today the same.

My hope is that everyone far and wide is able to put time aside for their family and friends, those they have in their lives and to take whatever time they can to enjoy it together. To be able to reflect and be thankful for what they have, what they value in life, and what they hope their future holds.

May you be able to have such a day. May you all have food in your bellies, shelter over your heads, clothes on your backs, and those you love with you. Not only today, but without your life.

My parents are over a thousand miles away, as well as my brother is about 500 miles, but my home is still open to those I have here. My partner, their relatives, and friends. Lured in by the promise of food and board games.

I hope everyone has a wonderful day, may you all find a way to be thankful and pass it on to others.

Tuesday, November 22, 2016

Top Ten Tuesday: Thankful

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme feature created by The Broke and the Bookish. Where we take part in sharing our top ten of the featured prompt that week. For the list of past topics and future schedule, click here.
 
Thanksgiving; Share what you are thankful for!
There are many things I am thankful this year. From my parents, always being there and trying their best to support me. Even if they don't agree with me, they try to trust me to do what I think is best. Who want nothing more than their daughter to succeed in life and be happy.

To my partner, for always standing beside me. Thought all the good and the bullsh*t, still being there trying our hardest to wade through what life throws at us and usually come out stronger on the other end. Also for letting me not only into their life, but sharing it with me. It's a big change for me, feeling included and appreciated.

To all the friends that have been there for me, even if I don't always let them in, understand that I am trying my best and if times are rough, I am there.

Even down to my cats, for always clearly showing so much love and appreciation in their little lives. If you ever doubt a cat loving you, you're doing something wrong. My furballs adore me and there's no doubt in anyone's mind that they do.

I'm thankful for having a roof over my head, as much as I want to move, as much as I'm currently struggling to stay afloat. I have a fridge with food, a bed to crawl into at night, cats who can't wait for me to get up, and a sun to greet me the next morning. A car that runs, a heater that works, clothes to wear, a table to gather around, and appreciation to know what all that really means to me.

To everyone far and near, I hope you know someone out there cares about you and loves you. Even if you don't see it or don't expect it, you are cared for. Please don't forget that.

I hope everyone has a great holiday, that's basis may not be the best, but modern days now promote something different. Gathering of friends, family, and food to share in good and bad times.

And I hope no one is involved in anything too crazy on Black Friday. It's just stuff!

Sunday, November 20, 2016

FTW: Finds This Week

This is my own version of a "Books/movies/things I've recently acquired" meme. It's not expected to be a regularly scheduled blog entry, only when it's relevant. Please enjoy my play on FTW, "For the win!"

Inspired by related weekly memes that revolve around sharing in your excitement of your newest titles!
Such as; Stacking The Shelves hosted by Tynga's Reviews and Mailbox Monday.

"Deals FTW!"

This week more Christmas present finds with savings.



I got lucky and found a strictly DVD version (DVD only, no Bluray, no digital copy) of The Force Awakens on sale for $10. This is going in a very special little boys stocking. He asks to watch it every time he's over since we own a copy.

I'm also super excited I finally got my friend's daughter a copy of Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell. For her birthday she got Fangirl, also, by Rainbow Rowell.
With the idea I'd slowly build her to some more adult issues in her teen years. (She currently writes fanfic.) Things like realizing you have more power and say in your life than you think, that love isn't always so controlling and restricting. It might hurt, but your life has to go on.
Basic ideals I'd like to help build and influence. (Putting aside the overly period romance novels that are too idealist and unrealistic for teenage girls.)

*clear throat* Sorry I adore Eleanor & Park. If you haven't read it, you need to.

As well as my future mother-in-law is getting both The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel and The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. I ended up getting new copies off Amazon for about $6 each.

Whoops!
Haha sorry I've wrapped them already! Yes it's only the 3rd week of November but I'm basically finished Christmas shopping at this point.


I'm really excited because she hasn't seen either of them and I know she really wants to. Plus, I can vouch for the fact they're good movies! Very well written.

If you haven't seen them I recommend them and for once can honestly say I like the sequel more.


I'm still actively looking for small gifts, mostly stocking stuffers. So while I was browsing through Walmart's toy and misc clearance section section, I found Heroes of the Storm Starter Pack.

Official Blizzard Info About Pack | Warcraft and Three Epic Digital Loot Drops
It unlocks 5 heroes, Zagara, Sonya, Li Li, Jaina, Zeratul. I actually don't own any of those, which is the main reason this was purchased.
This bundle is usually about $20, it has been out for awhile but through most retailers it's still that price, as the base game is free I scored it for $10. Well actually my partner bought it for me when I pointed it out. So really I got it for free. *blush*

While semi unrelated to the reviews I right, I'm a big fan of MOBAs. Gamer wise I'm a very consistent player, not super great, not super bad; I'm okay. MOBAs are the only games I've ever journeyed into "good".
I played LoL since release up until about a year or so okay. I've also tried DOTA, HoN, almost every MOBA that came out. Considering HotS is F2P (Free to Play) there's two ways to get more characters to play or skins (make them look different). You either play games and earn in game credit or spend real money.

TL;DR I got characters I'd have to build credit or spend money for in a game for half price.

While we're still on the Blizzard fangirl topic, which I am only slightly, my partner recently purchased a copy of Warcraft (2016). There's a special copy going around that's got the base copy of World of Warcraft in it. We snagged it for about $18.

This means we got a movie and the game (which includes all expansions expect the newest, Legion) for $18. A copy of WoW is about $20.
You can look at it like this, paid for movie got a free game or paid for game and got a free movie. Either way, it was a great deal.
(Sorry I can't find a listing online, it's a special release that might not be offered anymore!)


Have any good finds this week? Don't forget to comment and share!
Hope you all find some great deals out there!

Friday, November 18, 2016

Follow Friday: Scary Stories


Follow Friday is hosted by Parajunkee of Parajunkee’s View and Alison of Alison Can Read, to help gain new followers and make new friends!
Please see here for rules and more details if you're interesting in joining in!

What is your favourite scary story? via Brooke

This question is a little open ended.. ghost story, legend, urban myth, book, movie?
Maybe not my favourite but a few that have stuck with me.

(Source)
Dark Water (2002) the original Japanese movie.
The main reason this one sticks with me is because of the ending. Although the mother loves her daughter she realizes she won't be safe, they will forever be haunted and possibly endangering their lives, or more importantly her daughter, if she tries to run. Spoilers!
Instead she willingly give herself to the ghost to now be her mother. She knows she has the ability to do something to keep her daughter, the only thing she cares about safe, so she does it.


Next one is an unsolved case of the disappearance of Elisa Lam, which only happened almost 3 years ago!
Basically she's Canadian student visiting a hotel in LA who disappeared for 15 days before they found her body.
Where things get creepy? The last images of her were on video of her appearing to run into an elevator and hide, where she is then seen to appear speak to someone in-front of her, possibly arguing. Why is that creepy? Video footage shows her completely alone.
She was found in the water tower on the roof, after no search dogs even found a trace of her, video footage, or any physical evidence would lead to her being there or being able to get up there.
Simply because she would not have been able to have any access without forced entry, which there wasn't, or the strength alone to open the tank or close it.
That said, the case was ruled as a suicide.

(Source)

Have you ever heard of H. H. Holmes? How about his murder house? (Please be advised this is gruesome.) He claims to have taken up to 200 lives..
That stuff is too heavy and dark for me to even comment on. Click on the link if you're interested, you've been warned, but I don't feel it deserve a spot there.


There's also the main villain through out a good portion of Medium (TV Show), Dr. Charles Walker. (Sorry I couldn't dig up any reference links or information as to who the actual character is based on.)
He gives me the hibbie jibbies!
(Source)
It's the story of a man to grow to torture young women after his wife dies in childbirth. He resents that they saved the child's life over hers.
He is pure evil, to the point he's essentially escaped death by finding people that are weak to the calling of voices and easily influenced, slowly taking control or having them do his bidding. Typically goes after doctors who have access to the tools and skills to... well do horrible thing.
So evil to the point he occasionally manipulates Allison's visions/dreams to throw her off his trail. AKA stopping him from taking his next victim.



Those are a few that come to mind.
What scary stories, legends, what have you, come to mind?

Thursday, November 17, 2016

Movie Review: Brooklyn

(Source)
Brooklyn (2015)

Directer: John Crowley
Producer: Amanda Posey, Finola Dwyer
Based on: Brooklyn by Colm Tóibín
Distributor: Fox Searchlight Pictures (United States), 20th Century Fox (International), Lionsgate (United Kingdom)
Release dates: 26 January 2015 (Sundance), 6 November 2015
Running time: 112 minutes
Country: Canada, Ireland, United Kingdom
Language: English
Rating: PG-13


An Irish immigrant lands in 1950s Brooklyn, where she quickly falls into a romance with a local. When her past catches up with her, however, she must choose between two countries and the lives that exist within. (Source)
This is a story about a woman in a different time and traveling between two different worlds. Trying to not only find her way but decide who she is and who she wants to be, which are two very different things.

Eilis leaves Ireland looking towards America and New York City as not only an escape her for small little life, but as a new hope of everything she might dream or of accomplish.
Everything is in place for her, a home, a job, a new life to build, a new world to explore.

She leaves behind an older sister and her mother, her sister now expected to care for her mother as she ages. Something that does bring tension to their relationship but is never really forced on Eilis, in the sense that's it's expected of her instead.

Homesickness plagues Eilis for months on end as she experiences her first winter in America, which is most colder and more extreme than she's used to. Making the world seem much less welcoming.

The only comfort she has are the girls in her boarding house, who are only occasionally friendly. However, she must still form a relationship with them. She has to live with them and they have been there longer and know more. They aren't always nasty or rude, just usually.
They do provide insight to subjects she's has no knowledge of. Such as eating spaghetti (which you see in the trailer).

Tragedy strikes back home in Ireland. Eilis must go away to be there.
Once there, she struggles with the reality that she left behind not being what she might have imagined for herself. Things begin to fall in place and she's left to decided which life is for her. As well as what she values more, the person she is or who she wanted to be.

The pace of this movie is fairly slow, however being in the time frame of almost 65 years ago, there's a bit of build up to explaining and showing insight into the lives of women during that time. What is expected of them, what sort of behaviour and manners they are held to, because it's all very different.
There's a large struggle of being independent. Not only as a women during those times, but simply as someone trying to make a new life for themselves, somewhere where the culture is different. You have to rely on those around you to show you the way. To teach you how life is different.

That said, I became upset and resentful of the main character at times. She comes off as quiet and timid, while she is such a clever intelligent women. I think part of branching out on her own, made her more comfortable. Not only with who she is, but openly expressing it.
Something she struggles to do when she has to return to Ireland. She sort of reverts backwards, sidetracking herself as she deliberates decisions for her future.

I quiet liked the movie, not for reasons of enjoyment. But as food for thought. It's a story that makes you think about yourself. Establishing that you have more power than you think.
Embrace yourself.

Recommend: Strong independent female role,  History, Romance, Personal development



Tuesday, November 15, 2016

Book Review: Watersong by Amanda Hocking

(Source)

Author: Amanda Hocking
Published on: January 1st 2012
by: St. Martin's Press
Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy, Paranormal, Romance

Gorgeous. Fearless. Dangerous. They're the kind of girls you envy; the kind of girls you want to hate. Strangers in town for the summer, Penn, Lexi and Thea have caught everyone's attention—but it’s Gemma who’s attracted theirs. She’s the one they’ve chosen to be part of their group.

Gemma seems to have it all—she’s carefree, pretty, and falling in love with Alex, the boy next door. He’s always been just a friend, but this summer they’ve taken their relationship to the next level, and now there’s no going back. Then one night, Gemma’s ordinary life changes forever. She’s taking a late night swim under the stars when she finds Penn, Lexi and Thea partying on the cove. They invite her to join them, and the next morning she wakes up on the beach feeling groggy and sick, knowing something is different.

Suddenly Gemma is stronger, faster, and more beautiful than ever. But her new powers come with a terrifying price. And as she uncovers the truth, she’s is forced to choose between staying with those she loves—or entering a new world brimming with dark hungers and unimaginable secrets. (Source)

I apologize for the huge list of topics I want to hit for this review. They're not all negative, but they all effect my feelings and rating of this book. Let's dive in.

There's the length and split up of the book, while barely breaking 300 page long, yet there's a new chapter every 10 pages. At first I found it annoying, then I realized it's how the author choose to have the story move from scene to scene, from character to character. Without realizing it for about half the book, I was hearing two sides of this story.
While Gemma is the main character, most of the spotlight on her, as the story grows her sister Harper begins to have her own place of importance as well as development. (I felt silly that I can't really noticed the shift sooner.)

However, I feel that these characters are very sallow and immature. This is the story of 16 year old Gemma and 18 year old Harper. Their view points and arguments don't have much of a foundation.
Harper has that role of "I'm your stand-in parent", who is of course more control then her actual parent. Being hugely responsible for my own well being since I was a teenager, I really couldn't relate to Harper. She has a true complex about control, with a small town mind frame. Stating she wants to escape, going off to college, but I look at her going "Do you really? Because it doesn't seem like it." She completely content staying in a home and town where she knows everything and has total control over her life. (Or so she thinks)
While Gemma is struggling for/with her independence.. when it's all she's ever had? Her father doesn't cage her, quite frankly he lets her do more than Harper would approve it.

Personally I didn't feel much heart into who they were or why.

One of the biggest annoyances is the way they refer to, the Quartet, as "those girls".
"those girls" "those girls", "oddly pretty girls", "pretty girls"
We get it, they're weird. They give you this odd feel, they have this unsettling aura about them.
Please, find another way to refer to them. "Penn and her gang", "Penn and her followers", "Penn's girls" YOU KNOW THEIR NAMES. Use them please.
I understand, they are part of the story that has to be introduced. They have to be creepy, alluring, mysterious and yet always around especially when weird shanantics are about to go down.
(Personally if they bothered me so much I would have given their group a nickname. It's something me and my friends would do.)

A large plus is the short mythology lesson and most of the information being pretty accurate, given lots of versions of mythology in general.. But I won't say too much on that.
It's a large sort of spiderweb of possibilities to come in the series, that I'm unsure of. There's no point to start trying to figure out where it may go or what parts of old stories and mythology apply to these girls.

The largest negative factor... Is about how the image of the Quartet changes the more we get to know about them. After awhile they're seen as these vicious monsters. Giving no care to who they hurt or the damage they do. It makes little sense of them to sudden change that, in only one scene other than to have the story left open. Yes I am talking about a cliffhanger ending.
It does leave the story open on the ability of continuing the story from Harper's view-point, but speaking plot and character traits wise... it doesn't add up.

With all said and done, I also feel it should be taken into account that this book is part of a series. Given this, standing alone, didn't cover much of a time frame, I think it books may need to be looked at as a whole. The possibility they flow as a collection is there.
Which also plays into my rating. It's not a writing or story style I recommend, if you can't keep readers hooked for one book, you can't expected them to read the next one.

That is probably the heaviest weighing factor of my review.

It's a horrible blow to make, but I felt this story was juvenile. In the characters, their development, the story, and it's telling. It's kind of disappointing for me to admit.

Recommend: Light reading, light mythology, paranormal


Sunday, November 13, 2016

FTW: Finds This Week

"Deals FTW!"


This week wasn't so much about finding deals, other than it was about borrowing and/or being lent books.

My partner and I have recently both found our Kindles (someone misplaced theirs, not me! ) created the 'household' option on Amazon. (Primary to be added on to take advantage of Amazon Prime! Woo hoo! )

With that, I've been recommend some books. Some I've already borrow, some I have access to download myself.

(Source)
Here's the list of interesting finds so far...

The Lies of Locke Lamora (Gentleman Bastard #1) by Scott Lynch
Ready Player One by Ernest Cline
(Source)
The Martian by Andy Weir
The Frey Saga by Melissa Wright
Red Rising (Red Rising #1) by Pierce Brown
American Gods by Neil Gaiman
Along with a friend lent me The Time Traveler's Wife, after hearing I haven't read it.  It's her favourite book. After I finish my current book (and depending on if I like it enough to read the next in the series or not), this book is definitely next on my list.


You guys find anything good this week? Any friends recommend or led you something to read?

Friday, November 11, 2016

Follow Friday: Fall Coloured Books


Follow Friday is hosted by Parajunkee of Parajunkee’s View and Alison of Alison Can Read, to help gain new followers and make new friends!
Please see here for rules and more details if you're interesting in joining in!

Bookstagram Challenge: Fall Color Books Photo via Parajunkee

I'm going to assume that means covers consisting of red, orange, and gold.


Fall is by far my favourite season of the year. It's cool, not cold. Plus, I have a scarf and boot problem!

How do you feel about fall. Are there book that make you think of fall?

Tuesday, November 8, 2016

Game Review: Joking Hazard

Being I have always stated this as a review blog to better my writing, I once again feel the liberty to branch out. I have done movie reviews,TV reviews, and would now like to add to the occasionally [tabletop] gaming review genre.
Tabletop games are a love of mine, mostly board games and card games. Not so much miniatures or even RP games.
Gaming is something I enjoy, not as regularly as I'd like, but when I get the chance I jump at it.
(Source)


Created by: Cyanide And Happiness
Players: 3 or More
Ages: 18+ Adult Content

Facebook | Kickstarter | Cyanide And Happiness
Buy From Official Store

This was a wonderful gift from my loving boyfriend. Who backed it through Kickstarter and received a Red Box version (see edited picture below). Which also includes two additional card packs, Blast from the Past and Kickstarter Thank You Pack.
It was funded back in on February 2016, he was hoping it would be a birthday present. (Which is actually arrived around early October, earlier than their Nov '16 estimated date, even after some delays.)

If you're easily offended and/or can't handle a few swear words or two, please turn back. Do not pass go, do not collect some humour along the way.

Joking Hazard's plays style and concept are fairly easy. The idea, you are making a comic strip. The catch is, it's in parts.
Each round there are players and a judge. The judge decides who wins that round, by choosing their favourite punchline, based on whatever the heck they decided. (Funniest, crudest, best reference.)

Basic Rules
Gather 3 or more human being and have everyone draw 7 cards. Place the rst in a draw pile, face down. Pick the first judge through nonviolent means.

The deck plays first, by flipping the top card off the draw pile. This is the starter panel.

The judge plays second, by placing a card from their hand on either side of the starter panel, creating a two panel setup.

Everyone else plays third. Each player plays a card, face down, at the end of the setup to create the punchline. The judge shuffles the punchlines and puts them face up one at a time, and then picks their favourite. the winning player then takes their card back for score keeping.

Everyone draws another card, you should always have 7.
Judge changes and so on. The first player to whatever score you want to play wins.

Example:
(Source)

It's a very open ended game where you're encouraged to adjust the rules to your liking and even suggest other ways to play the game.
There are also Red Panel cards, with suggested play of becoming a bonus round!
Some other suggested play examples include, Jerk mode, Marathon, Neverending Story.
Along with a list of "Suggested Drinking Rules" with, Drinking Wagering, Ultimate Sacrifice, Bottoms Up, Learn 2 Read, Decked Over, No One Cares.

The first time we played we already established some 'house rules'.
First, not one single draw pile. We make multiple piles all over the table and you can pick any number of cards from any of them. There's just too many to try and create one pile.

Second, there are red bordered cards that normally launch you into a different play style, we ignored that and played two cards instead. Allowing for split play.
Meaning, of the two cards played if the judge only liked one from each player, each player gets 1 point instead of 2 points.

While this is a fun games, it feels rather limited after a few plays. Which is why it fell on only a 3 star rating. Even after about the 20 rounds we played, it was a pretty simply standard kind of game.

The cards themselves are hilarious, the typical Cyanide And Happiness we know and love. I've no doubt seen all of them and hope to see more hilarious inappropriateness from this game.

Despite the rating, I will be playing it again. Hoping to try some of the other modes or even create my own! Mwahah!


"Joking Hazard was made possible by the 63,758 people who backed us on Kickstarter. If you're one of them, thank you so much. You brought this game to life!"

 
 
BoardGameGeek | Wiki


This is what my box looks likes. It's originally NSFW (Not Safe For Work) but I edited it so that it's cleaned up... It's still pretty obvious what it says.  

Sunday, November 6, 2016

Movie Review: I Love You, Man

(Source)
I Love You, Man (2009)

Director: John Hamburg
Producer: Donald De Line, John Hamburg
Distributor: DreamWorks Pictures
Release Date: March 20, 2009
Running Time: 105 minutes
Country: United States
Language: English
Rating: R

Trailer

Peter Klaven (Paul Rudd), a real estate agent, proposes to his girlfriend Zooey Rice (Rashida Jones); both happily become engaged. The conflict is that Peter seem to not have any close friends to share the good news with: only family and superficial (mainly female) acquaintances. After overhearing Zooey's female friends voicing their concerns over his lack of close male friends, Peter realizes his abnormality and decides that he needs to find male friends in order to have a best man for the upcoming wedding. (Source) Which leads him on a series of man-dates and to meeting Sydney Fife (Jason Segel).

Movie Tags: Comedy, Goofy, "Guy" humour

Note: Please note R rating.

First as foremost, the language of this film.

Now that that's out of the way, this film was hilarious. Not in a series of fart jokes/potty humour sort of way. Not a let's talk like men in locker rooms about women sort of way. But a genuine high quality entertainment of trying to understand how men having friendships, works.
What things are open for discussion, what conversational topics needs to be prompted or have the right situation to be acceptable.

Along with that concept, the different levels of seriousness in friendship. Just because you talk to someone everyday, do a regular activity together, doesn't mean you know them as well as you think. Doesn't even mean they're your 'friend' just because you cross paths a lot, it involves taking that extra step to actually get to know someone.

Rudd's character, Peter, is timid in every sense of the word. Along with awkward. This many defines it.
He so unsure of how to be himself in social situations, especially those that are among other males. Constantly being a 'try hard' and fumbling to be one of the 'cool guys'. Is cringe-worthy to sit through.
Enter Sydney, Segel's character. Who see Peter as a nice guy, sure he's socially awkward, fairly square and rigid, but he's honest. Which say something about a person.

The combination of the actors and two characters they created together is heart warming, cue fart joke. Just kidding!

Being someone that in their adult life struggles to have friends I consider to be in my inner circle, this film hit a little close to home. It's not always easy to make friends, have relationships outside of work, or even be able to have the same friendship you once had with someone from high school.

The only negative point I feel the need to bring attention to, what I thought, is the very obvious signs pointing to this being "written by a man". There just off about the female roles at times. There are certain disagreements and topics I felt were almost robot like in how they reacted or behaved in those situations. However on the other hand the argument could be, the story wasn't really about them.


I adore Paul Rudd and am fairly fond of Jason Segel. While I've swooned over Paul Rudd in almost every roles he's done since Clueless, I'm always a little wary about Jason Segel's humour and performances. Having experienced some of his hit-and-miss roles throughout his career.
This one is particular shows his more charming side while not ignoring the fact his character is also crude, blunt, and only occasionally vulgar.


Recommend: Adult humour, awkward situational humour, quirkiness, and comedy, guy humour.