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Movie Review: Console Wars (2020)

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Synopsis: In the early 1990s, Nintendo controlled 95 percent of the home videogame market in the United States until an aggressive marketing campaign from Sega successfully challenged that dominance. However, Sega soon learned getting to the top was easier than staying at the top. This documentary tells the story through first-hand accounts from executives of both companies. Review: My wife and youngest daughter are at a middle school production of The Spongebob Musical . Since I had the TV to myself for a bit, I decided to watch a documentary and settled on Console Wars , which has been in my library for a few weeks. It turned out to be an interesting watch. I was a teenager when Sega Genesis came out and even owned one at some point (after it ended up on a clearance rack). I did not realize, however, just how much that game system and the feud it triggered with the then-monopolistic Nintendo, changed the entire video game industry. The marketing campaign that went into Sega's l...
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Five Changes I Would Make to Project Runway

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Project Runway is more my wife's thing than mine. However, I've been watching it with her (or at least been in the same room) for quite a few years and consider myself invested in the reality TV series. So, I feel qualified to say the show isn't anywhere near as good as it was when it first aired 22 years ago. Here are five changes I would make to try to restore it to part of its former glory: First, bring back Tim Gunn. It's not that I don't like Christian Siriano. I just think Gunn was a considerably better mentor. His critiques and suggestions just seemed more sincere, and the show hasn't been the same since he left. Siriano can still remain as a judge or co-mentor. More sewing, less drama. Look, I get it, it's reality TV and contestant drama is part of the deal, which is also probably the only reason for team challenges. However, there are times when it feels as though the contestants are cast more for that than actual skill and that hurts the show'...
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Impromptu Beach Photoshoot Photos

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The smoke coming into Wisconsin from Canada has been bad, but I promised my daughter I'd take her to the beach as part of her birthday, so I drove the family to North Beach in Port Washington during a short window when the air was reasonably breathable. While there, my wife and I ended up having an impromptu photoshoot while the birthday girl played in Lake Michigan and her sister sat on a blanket drawing in her sketchbook. This proved to be a challenge because there was enough of a haze to make the lighting unpredictable and a bit like shooting photos through the glass of a window (and my editing skills are far from expert level). However, I still managed to get a few that even she liked. Model: Cynthia Helmer ________________________________________________________________________ Here are some photos from other photoshoots: Backyard Photoshoot Another Behind the Scenes at a Photoshoot Wisconsin River Photoshoot Some Re-edited Photoshoot Pics
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The Ghost in the Invisible Bikini (1966)

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Synopsis: After amassing a fortune in the carnival business via less-than-honest means, Hiram Stokeley has died and learns he has just 24 hours to commit a good deed if he wants to regain his youth, get into Heaven and spend eternity with his long-dead girlfriend, Cecily. With Cecily's help, he tries to fulfill that requirement by preventing his attorney, Reginald Ripper, from stealing his heirs' inheritance. Who's in it? The movie stars Susan Hart, Boris Karloff , Basil Rathbone , Tommy Kirk, Nancy Sinatra and Quinn O'Hara. Review: I came across The Ghost in the Invisible Bikini about a month or so ago and added it to my library because it sounded somewhat interesting and because there were a lot of recognizable names I wouldn't normally expect to see in a musical comedy. I finally got around to watching it this morning and, my opinion of it was mixed. The film has an interesting premise, and I especially liked how there was a slight mystery surrounding why Sto...
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Mr. Popularity (A Poem)

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 I'm trying to read an Agatha Christie mystery When my phone rings. It's pre-recorded message from a candidate Telling me what a vote for them will bring. It's only a matter of time before my mailbox Is filled with enough flyers to kill a forest full of trees. I guess it's getting to be that time again, The time when I become Mr. Popularity. I'm not the kind of guy who keeps his mouth shut. If I see something I don't like, I am quick to be argumentative. To date, I've written plenty but never received a reply. I guess I'm just not important enough to hear back from my representative. Things have changed though. I now hear from them with regularity. They care about me, at least for now, because they need my vote. Making me Mr. Popularity. _________________________________________________________________ Here are some of my other poems: The Night the Wisconsin Badger Tapped Out (A Poem) A Cat Dad (A Poem) Where the F*ck is My Phone? (A Poem) In the Way (A ...
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Movie Review: Bride of Frankenstein (1935)

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Synopsis: Even though everyone believes Dr. Henry Frankenstein's creature is dead; it survived the windmill fire and is being hunted by villagers. The disgraced Dr. Pretorius sees an opportunity to build on his own attempts to create life and forces Henry to help him create a mate for the monster by kidnapping Henry's wife, Elizabeth. Who's in it? The movie stars Colin Clive , Boris Karloff , Ernest Thesiger , Valerie Hobson , Dwight Frye and Elsa Lanchester . Review: Our Wisconsin summer of extreme weather resulted in yet another day of it being too hot and humid to take a walk at lunch so, once again, I filled the time by watching a movie. I noticed there is a remake of Bride of Frankenstein on one of my movie channels and, since I am still undecided about watching that, decided to go with the original. I've seen this film probably about a dozen times now and there are things about it that I'm not a huge fan of. However, as far as classic horror goes, it is a ...
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Movie Review: His Girl Friday (1940)

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Synopsis: After a successful career in journalism, Hildy Johnson walks into her newsroom with her new fiancé, Bruce, and tells her editor/ex-husband, Walter Burns, she is quitting the business for good. Walter, however, doesn't want to see her leave and, after convincing her to write one last editorial about soon-to-be executed convicted killer Earl Williams, does his best to sabotage her engagement. Things take an unexpected twist when Williams escapes and Hildy, believing he is mentally ill and shouldn't be executed, hides him in the press room at the courthouse. Who's in it? The movie stars Rosalind Russell, Cary Grant, Ralph Bellamy , Gene Lockhart and Porter Hall. Review: I added His Girl Friday to my movie library nearly a year ago but, other than the first couple minutes before getting interrupted, had not taken the time to watch it. I decided to finally correct that this morning and am a bit disappointed I waited so long. I think the thing that really impressed...
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