Welcome to the Beyond

If you guys haven't guessed from the title, I just saw Star Trek Beyond. It's a fun movie (and a little bitter sweet since the deaths of Leonard Nimoy and Anton Yelchin) and I enjoyed it. Star Trek, both the original and The Next Generation, were a big part of my childhood, much like Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, Sailor Moon, Pokemon, and of course Star Wars.

It's possible that all of the Fantasy and Science Fiction stories helped shape my crazy imagination. Like many kids, I wanted to be one of the "good guys" who fought the "bad guys". I wanted to do amazing deeds that required a lot of courage and prove how awesome I was (think kid logic, which includes slaying dragons and being able to build a super computer). I wanted to explore the unknown from the far reaches of space to the depths of the deepest ocean.

I will defeat the dragon!

The adventures my fictional heroes went on we're awesome and I wanted to be a similar hero (well at least a good mix of the diplomatic Captain Picard, the kicka$$ nature of Captain Kirk, the kindness of Harry Potter, and the loyalty of Luke Skywalker) who went on similar adventures.

All of these great adventures have conflict. Star Wars was probably my introduction into the "good versus evil" narrative. Luke and his friends were the good guys fighting the evil empire. Similarly Sailor Moon was also a classic fight between the good sailor scouts and the evil forces of the negaverse (Luna has the best pronunciation of this). Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings are also good examples of the good versus evil narrative (Harry versus Lord Voldemort and the Fellowship/free people of Middle Earth versus Sauron), but there was also something a little more complicated about them.

Lord of the Rings taught me about the importance of friendship (Legolas and Gimli) and that the hero sometimes comes back with scars that will never fully heal (Frodo). Sure the good and evil ideas are a little too separated with the stereotyping of the different races (see World of Warcraft if you want a good representation of orcs by the way). However, Lord of the Rings made it very clear that not all heroes leave their adventures unscathed.

Harry Potter taught me a lot about the grey areas of "good" and "evil". The story taught me that just
because someone might have been a Death Eater didn't mean that they continued to be after they learned a hard truth (looking at Snape and Regulus Black). It taught me that heroes and mentors are important, but even they have flaws (Sirius Black and Remus Lupin). The books also taught me that you can't necessarily trust those in authoritative positions (Umbridge) or that people you think are very wise can make very bad mistakes (Dumbledore).

Pokemon was one of those rare gems that defined a generation. It emphasized team work and friendship. Sure there were "bad guys" (yeah Team Rocket was pretty bad for stealing rare Pokemon), but Jesse, James, and Meowth all had a great backstory that told the viewers why they were doing what they were doing. Yes, they were in the wrong most most of the time, but you couldn't help sympathizing with them once you learned more about them. However the overall theme of Pokemon was one of exploration and friendship.

Star Trek, though, is a whole other can of worms. If Star Trek taught me anything, it was to continue to explore and never outgrow a sense of wonder and curiosity. Well, those are the biggest things I took away from it as a child.

The other major thing that Star Trek taught me (rather than all of the other previously mentioned franchises) was to not fear the unknown. Think about it, the purpose of Star Trek was the explore the unknown. They had no idea if the next day would be their last, not because someone was actively trying to kill them, but because of an unknown entity accidentally killing them or a delicate diplomatic situation. Captain Kirk and Picard always seemed to get out of the toughest situations. They had a great crew and a ton of pseudo-science techno babble to back them up. Heck, Captain Kirk didn't even believe in the "no win situation", while Captain Picard went up against the Borg, an enemy that could adapt to any situation.

As a child the "good versus evil narrative" of Star Wars and Sailor Moon was easy to understand and recreate. As an adult, the unknown of Star Trek and grey areas of Harry Potter are what resonates the most with me. Yes, the new Star Trek movies have their "bad guys", but what made the show great doesn't necessarily make a great movie. The TV shows, though, had a lot more to them. While the Harry Potter universe keeps expanding and the "happily ever after" I long for seems more and more out of reach.

As much as I'd like to say that there is a "bad guy" or "bad situation" in my life that I need to defeat, there aren't. My main source of conflict is the "unknown" (which I believe I've written about before), myself (I am my biggest critic after all), and the grey areas that don't seem to have a solution. Which makes Star Trek, the show, a lot more relatable than many of my other childhood fantasies. They solved their problems through creativity, diplomacy, and a little bit of intense action.

There are many days where I ask myself "what the hell I think I'm doing." I wonder why I'm not the explorer or hero I always dreamed I would be. Then I remember that I have bills to pay and plants to water. As much as I'd love an unexpected adventure (like Mr. Bilbo running off with the dwarfs of Middle Earth), I know that I have responsibilities that need to be taken care of. I might not be as free spirited as I want to be, but at least my imagination fills in the gaps.

Though I still don't know what my future holds (although there is that trip to Iceland coming up), I don't think I'm unprepared for it. I may love my routines and stability, but what would life be like without the unknown showing up to spice things up? The stories I grew up with helped to shape who I am as an adult. Hopefully I make good decisions.

After all, I still have a lot of living to do. I can only do my very best, continue to learn, and admit when I've made a mistake. Maybe I will leave a legacy behind, maybe I'll be forgotten with time. The Universe will just have to wait an see. In the words of Buzz Lightyear of Star Command: "To infinity and beyond."

Until next week.

If you enjoyed this post (or it really pissed you off), please like, share, and/or leave a commend. I love hearing from my readers and I hop you guys love hearing from me. Now, go revisit your childhood, before reality sets in.

Welcome To Staying Cool

This weekend, some friends of mine came up to visit. I was very happy to see them. Unfortunately was one of the hottest weekends of the entire summer. Fortunately, we had tickets to see The Book of Mormon. So even though we were going into New York City in nearly 100 degree heat, we would be inside for most the time.

I can honestly say that The Book of Mormon is one of the funniest plays I have ever seen. I recommend it if you have a twisted sort of sense of humor (think South Park twisted since it is made by the creators of South Park). I don't know if it would make a good movie or not (but then again what do I know of the adaptation process).

Before the play started, my friends and I were able to walk around for a little bit. There was a street festival going on, which was a lot of fun to see. There were a lot of small shops and plenty of food options. However the heat did start to become a problem, even when we ducked into the M&M Store to cool off.

Even before my friends arrived, I received a few emails from the library I used to go to in Maryland, that Cooling Centers would be available throughout the weekend at all of the county libraries.These are places people can stay to remain cool if they do not have access to air conditioning for any reason. And in this heat, these places can help to save lives.

If you know someone who currently doesn't have air conditioning (or a cool place stay), see if you can invite them over. If you can't invite them over, find out where your local Cooling Center (if you have one) is and get the word out.

With the release of Pokemon Go, there have been a lot more people outside as well. If you really want to go Pokemon hunting, bring plenty of water if you plan on going hunting for Pokemon. My friends and I went through six bottles of water in very little time. Finding a place to hunt for the cute little creatures inside might be a better idea between 10am and 3pm (I've heard rumors about IKEA having a lot of Pokemon hanging around).

And don't forget about your pets! I've seen a lot of reminders going around to not leave pets inside a hot car. I've also seen recommendations to not bring pets to my local farmer's market because the pavement heats up so much that it has the potential to cause dogs to overheat.

 I hope everyone is able to find a way to stay cool and hydrated in this heat. I'm going to keep my fingers crossed that cooler weather will arrive soon. Please stay safe everyone!

If you enjoyed this post (or it really pissed you off), please like, share, and/or leave a comment. I love hearing from my readers and I hope you guys like hearing from me. Until next week!

Welcome to Real Life & Go

Last week, I wrote about how awesome Pokemon Go is. And you know what? I still think this game is pretty awesome. I think Nintendo did something brilliant. People are outside (even in the 90 degree heat we have going on where I am), people are socializing, and people are happy.

Well, not everyone is happy, but you can't make everyone happy.

I think Nintendo was also smart to release the game while millions of American school children were out for summer vacation. This way we're not getting dozens of angry reports about the game disrupting learning time along with the safe driving PSAs and other media hysterics surrounding this game.

Yes, there are problems with Pokemon Go (like not currently being able to trade with other trainers, get that patch up Nintendo). Nothing is prefect. If anything, this game has managed to show some of humanities annoying bad habits (like not taking responsibility for poor decision making skills).

Real life is full of distractions. Pokemon Go is probably one of the better ones (at least it requires people to get exercise). It's important to balance them out with other obligations like work and school. There are many days when I wish my life could be one big fun destruction. I wouldn't have to worry about any responsibilities. I could greet the day and do anything I wanted to (even just stay in bed all day).

But life doesn't work that way.

I've always heard that there are only two guarantees a in life: death and taxes. I'd like to add one more (or make an addendum to the taxes bit). Responsibilities are also a guarantee in life. Yeah, I'm sure a lot of people will argue with me on it. Many people love to point out how irresponsible one generation is or how kids these days don't have the same responsibilities their parents did. But I'd argue back that paying taxes (even the sales kind) is a responsibility.

As much as I'd love to go look for a legendary Pokemon, I still have to pay my bills. Not to mention, make sure that I have plenty of food, a clean house, and go to work. Distractions are great for stress relief, making me happy when I'm upset, and encourage trying new things. They aren't so great when I forget about my responsibilities or cause a serious health concern or injury.

Pokemon Go isn't the first game to cause a media frenzy like this (I seem to recall a lot of attention surrounding World of War Craft many many years ago) and it probably won't be the last (still waiting for a real live Duel Disk to play Duel Monsters with).

Just keep in mind a few things when playing Pokemon Go:

1) Stay in well lit, public areas - I don't care if that Pikachu is down a dark ally with tons of obstacles, don't go for it.

2) Stay off private property - the parody videos are funny, but seriously going to prison because of Pokemon Go doesn't.

3) Pay attention to your surroundings - the game even tells you to do this.

4) The game can't make you do anything - if it looks like the game is leading you into a dangerous situation, don't continue.

5) It's okay to take a break - especially if you don't have an unlimited data plan.

And of course have fun.

I am amazed by the reaction to this game (though maybe I shouldn't be surprised anymore). There's been a lot of good things to come from this game and I hope it continues. After all Pokemon has been around for over 20 years and will likely be around for many more.

If you enjoyed this post (or it really pissed you off) please like, share, and/or leave a comment. I love hearing from my readers and I hope you guys like hearing from me. Until next week.

Welcome to Nostalgia & Go

On my way home from watching the Euro Cup finals (by the way congratulations Portugal, it was a good game), I noticed a lot more kids running around than usual. They would often stop right in the middle of the sidewalk and start messing around on their phones. No they weren't texting. They also weren't taking selfies. They were catching Pokemon.

In the past 48 hours, my Facebook news feed has blown up with reports of something I never thought would happen (if only because Nintendo doesn't like to share). Pokemon have entered the world of mobile gaming. With them come pictures of crazy places Pokemon have been caught, memes about how Nintendo has managed to get people to go outside and exercise when others couldn't, and reports about a certain "gang" snatching Pokemon right from under other trainer's noses.

Seriously Team Rocket, you guys aren't cool. I hope Pikachu blasts you into the atmosphere.

Personally I think this is brilliant. Not only has the Simpsons managed to make another accurate prediction, but its continued the great tradition that is Pokemon for a new generation (though personally, I like the original 151 Pokemon line up). There's also reports of another benefit to this latest app craze, it's helping people with anxiety and depression.

Seriously, the app hasn't been out a week and already people have been reporting that it has helped them with their mental health. This is fantastic! It's a wonderful side effect that the app designers probably didn't see coming (or maybe they did...no I will not give into Creepy-pastas for this just yet).

I've seen tweets and articles about how Pokemon Go has helped people get up and be excited to catch cute little creatures in the virtual world. It's encouraging people to walk around and get back in touch with nature which are linked to helping combat depression and anxiety.

I think Nintendo did a good thing. They played the nostalgia card, which got everyone who know what a Pokemon is excited (so anyone between he ages of 5 and 30, plus the people who had to sit with them to watch it in the 90s). They've managed to get everyone outside to enjoy summer. They have the potential to help people suffering from depression and anxiety.

I hope Pokemon Go continues to grow and doesn't fade after such a strong start.

Just try to stay safe. Don't try to catch that Pidgey while driving on the highway. No matter how tempting that Oddish might be, it's not worth loosing your job over. And keep an eye out for a red haired woman, a guy with blue hair, a talking Meowth, and anyone with a giant letter R on their shirt. Cosplayers have been known to take their chosen roles very seriously.

Hey look! Team Rocket's blasting off again!

If you enjoyed this post (or it really pissed you off), please like, share and/or leave a comment. I love hearing from my readers and I hope you guys like hearing from me. Until next week!

Side note guys: as a disclaimer, I am not an expert in mental health. The items I am writing about are exciting reports that are being posted on social media. I cannot say for certain that Pokemon Go will in fact help with depression or anxiety, but if it does help you or someone you care very much about that is fantastic. Please continue to spread the word.

Welcome to Independence

Tomorrow is America's birthday! Or at least our founding fathers signed a document declaring us independent from our parent country England on the 4th of July. Still it's time to celebrate our independence.

I will likely spend the day watching the movies 1776 and Independence Day (the one from the 90s with Will Smith). I might catch the fireworks show, but it really depends on if I want to walk over to the park or not.

Having independence is a great thing. I love being independent from my parents. I make my own rules and don't have to answer to anyone except myself. Though paying my own bills and being the only person responsible for the chores isn't fun.

At first independence from my parents was a lot of fun. Of course my first real taste of independence was in college. I still had the responsibilities of a student, but my parents were still supporting me in more ways than one. I am extremely grateful for that and recognize that for others it sometimes isn't possible.

After I graduated, my whole world seemed to change. My responsibilies increased exponentially, but I had even more freedom than before. Balancing the two is hard work and a little scary at times.

At least now I know what to do when my toilet starts shooting water onto the ceiling in the middle of the night.

I'm still growing as a person (much like the United States is growing as a nation). I know there will be more good and bad times. Hopefully I'll know what to do when crazy things happen.

Now I'm going to celebrate being independent.

Until next week.

If you enjoyed this post (or it really pissed you off), please like, share and/or leave a comment. I love hearing from my readers and I hope you guys like hearing from me. Happy American Independence Day everyone!