Here it is, the blog all three of you have been waiting for (I know that only Katie, Chris and mom read this anymore), my top ten books of all time. I've actually had to split this into my top ten books and later on, I'll post my top Inspirational (or Christian-ish) books - be forewarned that Joel Osteen appears at the top of all of my lists now! Anyhoo, enough rambling, let's get this started:10) Orthodoxy by G.K. Chesterton Anyone who says that Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis is the best work of Christian Apologetics has clearly not read Chesterton's Orthodoxy. In my opinion, this book surpasses MC by leaps and bounds, with his uncanny wit, wonderful logic, and some of the best illustrations (you can change the color of the world to your favorite color even if you only paint a single blade of grass at a time, but you can never change it if you keep changing your favorite color - well, he puts it a lot more eloquently, but I think you get the point). Also, Chesterton influenced many authors including being an inspiration for both Lewis and Tolkien (among other on this list later on) and the only reason this book is not higher on this list is beause I put it so high on my other list (as you will see soon enough)... wait, why should I have ot make excuses to you, it's my list! This book is incredible, and is the only non-fiction book in my list, which should be saying a lot. That, added to being the oldest book on my list gives it a solid 10 (which is really saying that I wanted it higher, but needed space for other books).9) Castle Roogna (Xanth series) by Piers Anthony My first real love of fantasy came from this book, and consequently the entire Xanth series. A little background on Xanth - Xanth is a fantasy realm that looks (curiously enough) just like Florida, and can be accessed by many ways from this world, which is referred to as Mundania in Xanth. Within Xanth, every person is born with a magical talent ranging from the boring (making colored spot appear) to the truly terrific (impervious to magic attacks). The hero of this particular novel is Dor, the heir to the throne, due to his useful talent - talking to inanimate objects. In order to prepare him for his role as king, Dor is sent on an adventure in the past, wherein he befriends a spider, learns how his current nanny became a ghost, and the origin of the zombie king, which truly began my love for the whole punny world of Xanth, which would later grow into a love for the satire of Discworld, but we'll talk about that later. Anyway, this book is not only my first Xanth, but also my favorite (followed closely by Night Mare). I should probably explain now that this is my first entry that is a series, but a lot of the books I love are series, so I will only really discuss my favorite of each series, but let it be known that the rank acutally encompasses the entire series. So Xanth, my gateway to fantasy sits here at number 9, and I encourage you to grab a copy of one of the earlier books (they're the best) and enjoy.8) Heir to the Empire trilogy (Star Wars series) by Timothy Zahn What?! You mean the adventures of Luke, Leia, Han, and Chewie didn't end with Return of the Jedi?! Well, yeah they did, at least to the purist, but the Star Wars books have made a huge dent in my wallet, shelf space, and time, and not just because it's Star Wars (although that's a huge contributing factor), no these are good books - yes some are far better than others, but they are written by fans who care about the characters and allow them to grow. I mean, how else would you learn about Han and Leia's wedding, their three kids, or even the death of Chewbacca? Only through these books (which by the way, George Lucas endorses each one before it can be published - or so they say), anyway, this trilogy is heads and shoulders above the rest, introducing the awesome baddie Grand Admiral Thrawn and the Dark Jedi Mara Jade (who later marries Luke), aside from these there is a clone of Luke (cleverly named Luuke), another huge death machine, and great space and lightsaber battles. This trilogy is what really jumpstarted the Star Wars novels and (in my opinion) helped to bring in enough fans for Lucas to make his new trilogy of films, which was made all worth it with the Clone Wars cartoon series and the wonderful Episode 3, and if that isn't reason enough to pick up these books, then you don't need to be reading anyway.7) Mossflower (Redwall series) by Brian Jacques (pronounced Jakes) The second installment of the beloved Redwall series (beloved by me because I've been reading them since I was about 8 years old) is my personal favorite because it gives the story of Martin the warrior and his entrance into Mossflower country, the forging of his legendary blade and the beginnings of Redwall Abbey. For those who don't know about Redwall, it is a series of books centered around the abbey which is inhabited by a number of woodland creatures (moles, mice, squirrels, etc. - a la Watership Down), basically each book is an episode of the life of the abbey and the difficulties it faces over the years. As I mentioned above, this particular novel is my favorite because it gives so much of the backstory for future novels. It also has my favorite villain of the series (you can see a trend between this and the previous entry - villains really make the story) - Tsarmina Greeneyes the wildcat. Add to her Gonff the prince of mousethieves and Dinny, the greatest mole ever makes this the top of my Redwall series... "Salamandastron look out here we come!"6) Watchmen by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons My favorite graphic novel of all time. This is one book that everyone should be required to read at some point in their schooling, if not life. It's a great super hero-ish drama, that turns into a great mystery/parable/pirate substory/all around great tale. Dave Gibbons' art is perfect for the book, and since it is a graphic novel, that counts for quite a lot. Just as in the other entries, the "villain" (if that's what you want to call him) is one of the best of all time, although the name can't be revealed here, let's just say that it makes for a spectacular ending. The protagonist, Rorschach (some would call him hero - but I'll let you decide when you read) is utterly insane, and yet deeply committed to his cause, so much so that he abandons his entire life to the pursuit and capture (and at times, killing) of criminals. There is so much to say about this novel, but not until you've read it, so pick it up and drop me a line when you finish.5) Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman One of the funniest books I've ever read, and definitely the funniest book about the Apocalypse. I mean, what other book has an order of chattering satanic nuns, an angel and demon who are best buddies, an Antichrist who just wants to play with his dog and friends, and four bikers who desperately want to join the Four Horsmen (or Riders) of the Apocalypse on their final ride? These are just a few of the wonderful characters and situations in this book, which is so good that when I first began to read it, I knew that it would become one of my favorites. It also doesn't hurt that it was dedicated to G.K. Chesterton because "he knew what was going on." The two authors are among my favorites of all time, and although Neil Gaiman's Sandman series didn't quite make this list, be assured that you will be seeing Terry Pratchett soon enough. So, for those who love the comedy of Douglas Adams and also love the end-times drama of Left Behind (oh man, I almost wrote that whole sentence with a straight face), this is definitely one for you.NOTE: The next four entries fluctuate places at times, but I think that these are their overall places.4) Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire... no wait, the Half Blood Prince... no the Prisoner of Azkaban... naw, the entire series by J.K. Rowling I have to choose this series because it is what first encouraged me (and millions of others) to begin dabbling in the occult and offering human sacrifices to my lord Satan... oh wait, that's for another post. Really, what makes this series so great is the entire wizarding world. Rowling does such a great job combining the wizarding world, giving it just enough similarities, and yet creating such fantastical differenes that make these such fun reads. I mean, if the number of fans is any indication to how good a book is (I mean look at Your Best Life Now by Joel Osteen... wait, bad example ummmm look at the Left Behin..... nevermind, forget this entire example). Okay, instead of thinking of the number of books sold (which is astounding, mind you) let's just look at the writing - Harry has believably matured from a naive 11 year old boy to a 16 year old cynical, moody, teenager (complete with hormones) and not only that, but Rowling is even willing to kill off beloved characters (including more dying in the upcoming final installment) for the sake of the story (some authors tend to let characters live too long past their purpose and they go on without any sort of growth or meaning to the book), anyway enough has been said about HP by me and thousands of others so if you haven't read them yet, it's your own dang fault.3) The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien (The Hobbit included) More than likely, the only book that would have been published on this list if it wasn't for LOTR is Orthodoxy. Tolkien's masterpiece made sci-fi/fantasy sections in bookstores possible (or at least in the size they are now). As many have noted, and I am one to highly agree, Tolkien is the author of the 20th Century, the amount of information that he came up with to create not just these books, but an entire world full of history, cultures, and even languages. Anyone who has read (or even tried to read - it took me about 5 times to get all the way through) The Silmarillion knows exactly how much Tolkien has put into these books. This is also the only series that I can actually count as one book, because that is indeed how it was meant to be published and read. I'm not going to get into the story because unless you are living in a cave reading this with Wi-Fi (and even then), you should know the story, whether the Peter Jackson version, the Bakshi/Rankin-Bass versions, or the one and only best version, these books. Do yourself a favor and read or re-read 'em, period.2) Night Watch (Discworld series) by Terry Pratchett Two words: Sam Vimes. If that doesn't strike either fear or awe in you, you are missing out on quite possible my favorite fictional character of all time. He is the Commander of the Ankh-Morpork City Watch, and is a copper through and through, he lives to enfoce the law of A-M up to even having to arrest the Patrician (like the President). There is no way I can explain Discworld in the amount of space that you would read (and in face, I'm extremely proud of you for making it this far), so therefore let me just say that the Discworld series is deliciously satirical and leaves you grinning as you turn every page. Night Watch is so spectaculare for three main reasons (aside from being completely focused on Sam Vimes - who truly makes any page he enters): time paradoxes, a huge battle, and one of the most touching endings in the entire series, which nearly had me in tears. I don't know how to put into word how truly great this story and series are, but I can tell you that I'm completely addicted to Pratchett's books (I'm reading Soul Music right now, in fact). So, if you like humor, or fantasy (really, it helps if you like both), Discworld takes the cake.(drumroll)1) The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (a trilogy in five parts) by Douglas Adams Where Pratchett took satire and brought it to fantasy, Douglas Adams took it to science fiction and made it side-splittingly hilarious. Originally, it came out as a BBC radio series in the late '70s (and if you can find them to listen to, I highly encourage that you do), Adams later released the radio show as a book, and then two books, and on until book five (there might have been more had he not passed away). Anyway, each incarnation of the Guide story (radio, books, TV, and movie) has the same characters and beginning storyline, but they each branch out in wacky ways, and my favorite remains the books (with the radio drama in a close second). I'm trying to decide how best to describe the story (which begins with the destruction of Earth), but I realized that only those who truly knew where their towel is, and know what 42 truly means, would understand. The only advice I can really give is the same as all my other entries - READ IT!! If you read thsi book and decide that you don't like it, we can't be friends anymore, that's just the way I roll, sorry. So, read it and enjoy. Well, for those of you who just skipped all the explanations and got here - shame on you, and for those of you who read every word - I love you. Before I go, I must give a shout out to my Honorable Mentions which are: Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton (great movie, incredible book), the Sandman series by Neil Gaiman (wonderful writing, beautiful art), and the Ultimate Spider-Man series by Brian Michael Bendis and Mark Bagley (a great re-envisioning of the Spider-Man story for more modern times). There, I'm done, it's taken me three days to write this whole thing, so I hope you like it. My top Christian books will be up at a later date (although I don't know if it will be a full 10 like this one). Godspeed.
I'm working on my list of top ten books of all time, so I should have it up within a week or two (in order to make katie happy). This past week was nice, I got to go see Talladega Nights with the guys from my bible study (we are now forming an Alumni bible study), anyway, the movie was hilarious. I love Will Ferrell. This upcoming week, I've got my entire family coming on friday/saturday and Dan, G, Laura, and one of Laura's friends are going with me and Katie to Six Flags next sunday (so my next post might be a bit late). As an answer to the other suggestion by Katie, what would I do with 10 million dollars that I had to spend in two years? I'd build a very nice house, complete with a theater and gaming room within and then I'd get a new car (most probably a Jetta), and put some money in the stock market, so that I could retire and not have to work. Of course I would make a contribution to my church and to a charity or two (or three or four). Basically, I can't really imagine what I would do with so much money. What would you do with it? Anyway, sorry this isn't a long post, but I've gotta run for my weekly D&D meeting, perhaps I'll be posting that book post soon. Godspeed.
Yeah, I guess I waited a bit long since checking my blog and I think that last post might have been a bit late, but I enjoyed writing it anyway. This past week has been largely uneventful, Katie and I went out with our friends Andrew and Amber to celebrate all the great things that happened in the past month or so (they got engaged and got great jobs, and Katie is starting up her teaching on Tuesday). It was really fun seeing them, and I was able to pick up some great books from Barnes and Noble in the bargain books for a steal (always check out those tables when you get there, its way worth it). Showbread's album dropped and although I haven't gotten my copy in (even though I preordered it), I have listened to it a bunch of times online already and I must say that it is an amazing album. I haven't thought of any topics to write about, so I need some help. Drop me a line, give me something to write about, it can be something for me to complain about (again) or something for me to rave about, its up to you.Anyhoo, I just completed an entire year working at Bruster's! And that's as good a note as I can end on for now. Godspeed.
Thank you Christopher Meinsler... I am a moron. When I said Jesus taught two centuries ago, I meant two millenia (or twenty centuries if you prefer). Either way, thanks Chris, and everyone else just pretend like you never noticed the mistake.
I don't know how long ago this comment was posted, or by whom, but I really want to respond to it... if it was you, please feel free to email me to continue the discussion (nrbaughman@gmail.com) the comment is in reference to my top 10 albums of last year and here it is in full: First of all, what is a Non-Christian tour? Tons of Christian bands go/have been on tours with non-Christian bands - MxPx, Showbread, Five Iron Frenzy, Mae, Number One Gun... Hell, Underoath even headlined the Vans Warped tour this year! Does that make them any less Christian because they are broadening their fan base and are willing to play shows outside of a church or a youth group's building? I sure hope not. Second, what exactly is a sell-out? Is it because they moved to a larger label that was able to get them better shows in order to accompany their growing popularity, and allow their cds to be sold in more places giving them a much easier accesibility to those who are craving their message.Third, YES, Switchfoot still holds a message. I don't know where you got that they left out "God" or "Jesus" from their songs, but none of the Switchfoot albums (even when they were on a Christian label) explicitly mention God or Jesus. Does that make them less Christian? No, because they are more than willing to put up their faith and all the struggles that accompany it within their lyrics. Just because they don't say the name of God doesn't mean that they aren't talking about God. For instance, one of the songs I mentioned in that old blog, "The Shadow Proves the Sunshine," says within its title and throughout the song that everything we do, whether wrong or right continues to prove that there is a God behind it all, hence the Shadow proves the Sunshine. Also, there are a bunch of praise choruses that say he or you instead of mentioning the name of God specifically, and I hope that those are still Christian songs. Finally, you don't get mad at a Christian home-builder for buying better equipment for building homes, do you? Then why would you be upset because they are buying better instruments in order to improve the quality of their shows?! It makes no sense. Not only that, but Switchfoot has put up a bunch of money starting up their own charity type thing called lowercasepeople, which you can check out on lowercasepeople.com, wherein the entirety of the cause is for social justice, just like some guy was all about two centuries ago... I think his name was... ummmm Jesus?
I need to wrap up because I have company coming, but if anyone thinks my points are wrong or they want to add anything, the comments are now open. So please, if you really think Switchfoot is not Christian, just because they are on a larger label, I'd hate to say it, but I think you are wrong.Godspeed.
This past week has been, on the whole, pretty uneventful. Katie and I went to a wedding shower yesterday, and we did our normal babysitting on wednesday, but aside from that, nothing huge happened. At church today, after listening to Alvin's sermon, I decided that its time for someone to make a movie/book about the David and Bethsheba story from Uriah's point of view, where his wife was taken (pretty much against her will) and then he was murdered just because of David's mistake. For those of you who have no idea what I'm talking about, it is in 2 Samuel chapter 11 in the Bible and it makes for a sad (or as Alvin said "dark") part of David's life in which he seems to have no redeeming qualities. In fact, if you only read this part of David's story, you would find him to be a pretty evil king. Aside from this little idea, the only thing I've been thinking about is that since I've been watching a bunch of Naruto lately (an anime series), I just wish I had more time in the day so that I could catch up on episodes. As the title of this blog suggests, also, this tuesday is the release of the second Showbread album "The Age of Reptiles," and every song I've heard from it has been amazing. I've already preordered my album (autographed) and I can't wait for it to come in. For those of you who need a taste, just pop over to www.purevolume.com/showbread.
I think that's all I've got to say for now. Until next week.
Godspeed
Well, It has been a long while since I've written anything of meaning, and I feel that I owe it to ya'll to come back and get back to this site instead of leaving it by the wayside. Anyhoo, this summer has pretty much blown by. I've been working all the time, we moved into a new apartment (twice, but still on campus). I've seen some great movies - Pirates 2, Clerks 2, Nacho Libre, Superman. I've been listening to some great music - Underoath, Sufjan, Family Force 5, Bedlight for Blueeyes. And, I've even been on vacation to Wisconsin to visit all of Katie's extended family. However, none of these reasons are why I haven't been on to update my blog... let me tell you the one and only reason that I don't update (and rarely even spend time online anymore) - World of Warcraft. I'm gonna sound like a complete nerd, but I'm completely into this MMORPG, it's amazing fun, and I can play with friends in the middle of the night without ever having to leave my computer room. The only downside is that it does eat up time. Since I have to pay for this game every month, I feel that I must play as much as I can to make up for what I spend. Anyway, I'm gonna do my best to at least start updating this thing bi-weekly, and if I don't I'll make up a good excuse why not, but for now this is what you get, and I'm trying not to say too much about the above said music and movies in case I have no idea for a topic on a later post. Until then.Godspeed, Nate
So, I'm probably the last person to know about this, but I needed to get the word out. This tuesday (that is April 18th), my number one album of 2005 will be re-released in a special edition form, with 3 extra songs, plus a DVD filled with behind-the-scenes footage, pics and music videos! I know, I sound like an advertisment, but I am genuinely pumped about this coming out. Also, there are probably a few more things I could say, but I'll wait till I get home, and I promise I will update much longer.Happy Easter
Just so you know, Resident Evil 4 has become a GameCube Greatest Hits title and is only 19.99, and since GameCubes sell used for only 60 bucks, you have no excuse to not have played this game.... I'm serious.
Yeah, I know its late for this post, but I've had to think long and hard about it (plus I had to go see a couple more movies at the end of the year, which threw off my list). Anyhoo, I know that you've been waiting long and hard for this, so I won't keep you waiting anymore. After this post, I'll be back with more regular posts soon. 10) George A. Romero's Land of the Dead. Simply put, a great zombie movie. While it's not as good as Romero's others (Day and Dawn fight it out for my favorite), this movie is both tense and really fun. I just really like how Romero makes his zombie movies - kind of scary, but more focused on the characters and how they learn to deal with the horrible situations that they are thrown in. The only part I had to close my eyes on was seeing a zombie's fingernails scraping and snapping against the Dead Reckoning (the tank-like vehicle). Pretty much, this is a solid popcorn zombie flick, go see it. 9) War of the Worlds. Couch-jumping insanity aside, Tom Cruise is a good actor, and Steven Spielberg always make a great flick, and when they combine... it's a dang good thing. The entire first hour of this movie leaves you gripping your seat and gasping for air. Saying it's intense is a slight understatement. The aliens look great, the whole movie is awesome... until the end. The end is just s bit too family-friendly for me. Aside from that ending, this movie is a definite surround-sound home theater (unless you can find it in a dollar theater) movie! 8) The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. I'll admit, this movie was incredibly faithful to the books, there was no major scenes missing, nor really was the dialogue lacking. It was just for me that I didn't feel much for Aslan, there wasn't enough of a build to his entrance, I just didn't care too much for him, and if I hadn't known the books really well, I wouldn't have cared much about his death. Aside from that, the movie just tried too much to be a new LotR, when it just needed to be its own. Don't get me wrong, I really liked the movie a lot, I just wasn't as fanatical about it as I had hoped to be. Since news has hit that Prince Caspian is already in the works, hopefully we'll see some improvements and they don't screw up my Voyage of the Dawn Treader. 7) Batman Begins. It must have been a good year for such an awesome movie to fall so low on my list. Forget what my brother says, this is the best Batman movie out there, Burton's got nothing on Christopher Nolan, and Keaton can't hold a candle to the millionare playboy that is Christian Bale. The great actors (Neeson's Ra's Al Ghul performance beats out his Aslan, and Cillian Murphy as Scarecrow is brilliant) combined with the tight storyline make this one of the best superhero movies ever (not quite as good as Spider-Man 2, though). 6) The Producers. Absolutely the funniest movie of the year. I even think that it's at least as good as the original (but I can't say it is better because they are different in some ways). Matthew Broderick and Nathan Lane really love these roles and it shows. My only gripe is that Broderick sometimes tries too hard to be like Gene Wilder, and Wilder is impossible to copy, so it comes out like overacting at times. Aside from that, the musical numbers are great, and the characters are hilarious. If you haven't seen the original, go rent it, and then as soon as this hits the shelves, snap it up. I guarantee you'll love it. 5) The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. One of my favorite books of all time hits the big screen, and it doesn's disappoint. I loved every minute of this movie. It's incredibly witty (not quite laugh-out-loud like The Producers) and it resonates so well with the book that I think Doug Adams would be proud of how it turned out. Martin Freeman is perfect as Arthur Dent, I really think he might even be as good as the original radio actor (whose name escapes me at the moment). But the standout of the entire movie is Sam Rockwell as Zaphod, he just completely captures the president of the galaxy! I love this movie! I just wish it had gotten a bit more love from others (I'm talking to you stupid Entertainment Weekly, naming it the worst movie of 05 - dumb fools). 4) King Kong. Too long, you say? Absolutely not. I was entranced for the entire 3+ hours. I loved this movie. I love how it takes an hour to build up to the island, I love how intense the island is, and I love how the movie ends, even if I think that Naomi Watts should have stayed away from the top of the building while Kong is fighting off the planes. This movie is meant to be seen on the big screen and it is worth every penny that it cost to make this movie. Those of you who say that the CG for this was worse than Narnia, all I have to say is Weta did both, and you can tell that their allegiance lies with Jackson and his movies, not some pansy Shrek director. Anyhoo, I'll wrap this movie up with two words: Tyrannosaurus Rex. 3) Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. Where Narnia held really close to the books, HP4 took quite a few liberties, and I must say that it is paying off. These movies get better and better just like the books and I love how the actors are growing with the roles, making the movies flow so much better, knowing that you'll see the same kids the next year as they grow through their years at Hogwarts. Anyhoo, the movie is incredible, I love Voldemort's huge entrance at the end and I really love how they did the tasks (even if it wasn't quite like the book), but most of all, I loved Moody. Moody was perfect, what with his Constant Vigilance, creepy eye, and beloved hip flask, and I'm glad that they did him justice (he's my 2nd favorite DADA teacher behind Lupin). This is definitely one that will be watched over and over when it hits DVD in March. 2) Sin City. Beautifully shot and amazingly well written, Sin City has everything. The action is wonderfully stylized and the way that the stories intertwine is great. My favorite story has to be Clive Owen's, what with Benicio del Toro talking to him post-mortem as they ride in the "hardback with a decent engine). And Elijah wood as the cannabalistic mute?! Great turn from Frodo, I must say. I couldn't mention it in my Batman Begins review (it would have ruined the suspense for you), but I have to say that this is my second favorite comic book movie of all time (behind only Spider-Man 2). If you can stomach a bit of violence and some language, this movie is excellent! AND.... 1) Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith. The saga is complete. The story is known. And the world is a much better place for it. Now we know why Palpatine is such a B.A. and why Vader is both hated and feared by the Jedi (he killed Younglings!). Hands down this is the best of the prequels and my third favorite over all of the Star Wars films. The whole movie is an emotional ride as you follow Anakin's fall from grace literally into the fiery pits of hell. Ian McDiarmid's performance as Palpatine is amazing, the way that he completely manipulates Anakin into his control is a brilliant piece of cinema. I could go on and on about this movie, but suffice to say, it is my number one movie of this past year, and I will stand by it. Well, there you have it, post your thoughts on my comments, and I'll be back soon with more normal updates on my life.... as soon as something happens.
Here I am, back and ready to rock! This list has taken me a while, even though.... well, you'll see. Anyway, without further ado, the Top Ten Games of 2005 (same rules apply as in the other list, it has to be games that came out this year, and I have to own them): 10: Wario Ware: Touched! (Nintendo DS). If you have ever played a Wario Ware game, then you know how incredibly addicting they are. With the some of the most inane and silly micro games you will ever see, this game had me playing for hours just trying to perfect poking the kitty, when it popped up. Not only that, but its great for the perfectionist, because to fully complete the game you have to beat each and every micro game a certain number of times on a certain number of difficulty levels, but for those who have little to no time, just a regular quick game of Wario Ware can take less than 5 minutes. It's a great way to start off this list. 9: X-Men Legends 2: Rise of Apocalypse. The only reason this is so low, is because I haven't played it much, and because I'm waiting for X-Box Live to play it multiplayer with Dan. However, seeing as it controls the same as the original Legends, plus more characters, mutant powers, and customization, this game completely blows the first one out of the water. This one is looking to make my January amazing. 8: Mario Kart DS: Wi-Fi Mario Kart?! The only problem with it, is my inability to find a close hot spot to play, otherwise this is quite possibly the best Mario Kart game yet! Not only does it have 16 new tracks, but features 4 tracks (apiece) from each of the previous incarnations of the game! Basically, if you like Mario Kart, I really suggest that you buy a DS and this game... seriously. 7: Guild Wars: An MMORPG for free?! Yes, and that is the main reason I love this game. That and the fact that it is tons of fun (especially when you have friends to play with). It is great fun getting to make your own guild (complete with cool name and cape), and then going off into the wild to make money and get treasures to make yourself all the better. Plus, since it's technically a neverending game, I can pick it up and put it down whenever I want (well, really its hard to put down, but I can quit whenever I want... I mean it!) 6: Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow: Yes, the DS needed a great 2D side-scroller with tons of extra stuff to keep you coming back for more and more. That and the fact that it has incredible animations, and lots of cool baddies, that I like fighting over and over just to make sure I capture all the souls I can makes it the best DS game of this year, and paired with Mario Kart should have you questioning why in the world you don't already own a Nintendo DS... go get one, now! AND NUMBERS 5-1 ARE ALL: RESIDENT EVIL 4! This is not only the greatest game of this year (I'll explain why I can put it as all 5 top spots in a minute), but this is quite possibly the greatest game ever, certainly the best game for this console cycle, and definitely right up there with Ocarina of Time as the best game for the past decade. Let me break it down into the top 5 games just to make it easier to understand. 5: Assignment Ada: Yeah, its pretty short, but dang is it hard. Plus it gives you a chance to see what was going on with Ada while Leon is running around the island getting Ashley. The main reason this is only number 5 is because of the stupid TMP gun that comes with Ada... I find it a pointless weapon. 4: Mercenaries: Wanna see how many Granados (not zombies, mind you) you can kill in a set amount of time? Here you go! Paired with the fact that you can pick between 4 characters, it makes it all the more fun and challenging, which brings us to... 3: Mercenaries (multiplayer): I can classify this differently because it is what Chris, Chuck, and I did for hours on end last may during finals, and I can say that it definitely ups the ante when you are playing Mercenaries competetively since you have to make sure that you not only stay alive but keep your kill combos up enough to stomp the other two. 2: Normal mode: Words can't describe how incredible this game plays. It feels like you are really in the game, and no other game has made me yell in fear or excitement as much as this. Everyone will remember their first time seeing an el Gigante, and their first time taking out Mr. Chainsaw. This game is so good not only because it is fun the first time through, but it is fun the second, third, fourth, and even fifth time through (and so far its really fun on the sixth time, but I'm not done yet, so I'll tell you more later), due to the awesome unlockable weapons..... mmmmmmm Chicago Typewriter. 1: Professional mode: Where normal mode made you pee your pants, Pro mode makes you poop. Nuff said? Not quite. At least twice as hard as normal mode, Pro mode actually makes you think about ammo and consider twice before you run into a room with shotgun ablazin'. I really wish there was more I could say to convince you to play this game, but I know that my words will fall short until everyone sits down and takes a chance with this piece of gold. And there you have it. You think it's cheap... too bad! It's mine and I like it. Godspeed.
Yes, here it is. The moment you have all been fervently awaiting... when I reveal my picks for the Top Ten albums of this year. (warning: the opinions expressed in this blog, are solely Nate Baughman's and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of either his friends or his family, for that reason, the comments section is open for you to respond and to make your own lists). The second disclaimer is that these are all CDs that I own or have listened to multiple times, and that is why you won't see DMB's new CD or Weezer's, because I've been too lazy to buy them and give them a good listen. Also, one of the Albums was technically released a while ago, but it was rereleased this year with extra songs and stuff, so I think it counts for this year. Anyway, enough hoopla, lets get this started! 10) "The Question" by Emery. Although similar to their first album, this sophomore release by Emery keeps getting better the more I listen to it. Since it is such a recent purchase, I'm suprised that it made my list, but as I thought about it, I realized that I really do enjoy this album. The lyrics are much deeper (so I think) than their first album, and the music displays a greater range with the synth becoming a lot more vocal in certain songs. All in all, its a strong album, not quite spectacular, but definitely a keeper. Stand out Song: "Listening to Freddie Mercury" 9) "Redemption Songs" by Jars of Clay Jars of Clay can do no wrong in my mind. From the opening strings of their first album, they have had me hooked. Now, nearly ten years later, "Redemption Songs" offers Jars' take on old school hymns, and boy is it good. Since their last album, Jars of Clay has taken on a great bluegrass-y feel to their music that really shines on this album. I just love how you can still feel the age of each song, and yet it is like a fine wine being opened and poured into a brand new glass that makes it look newer, but it still keeps its old, rich flavour. Mmmm mmmm, good. Stand out Song: "God Will Lift Up Your Head" 8) "Nothing is Sound" by Switchfoot Go ahead, call Switchfoot sell-outs, I don't care. They still write some dang good music. Although this album doesn't stretch any higher than Switchfoot's previous releases, it is still a strong album with powerful lyrics and head-bopping guitar riffs. The main reason that this album didn't place higher on the countdown was because I have come to expect a lot from this band after the stellar "Learning to Breathe" album, and because they weren't able to rise above this album yet, I have to stick them here at 8. Stand out Song(s): "Shadow Proves the Sunshine" and "Daisy" 7) "Anthems for the Imperfect" by Number One Gun This album gets on my list, not because its incredibly deep or anything, but because its just so dang catchy. Katie and I put it in the CD player on a trip once and listened to it 3 times through before changing discs, its just that good. It's just one of those albums that you listen to and really like, but you can't ever express why you like it so much. Well, at least that's how I feel. Stand out Song: "We Are" 6) "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" Soundtrack The first of two soundtracks to hit my list, the H2G2 soundtrack is filled with little orchestrated pieces that make your toes tap and your mouth turn into a smile. Not to mention the extra songs of "Zaphod Beeblebrox for President" and the lounge version of "So Long and Thanks for all the Fish," all I have to say is that if you loved the books or the movie, this is definitely a must buy album. Stand out Song(s): "So Long and Thanks for all the Fish" and "Journey of the Sorcerer" 5) "Whatever and Ever, Amen" by Ben Folds Five (re-release with 7 extra songs) Not only did buying this album introduce me to one of my new favorite artists of all time, but holy crap is it spectacular! Every song on this album is awesome - the lyrics are insightful and witty, and the music blends so well together that it will knock you off your feet. The only reason I didn't rate this album any higher was because I felt that I had to push it back because I discovered it 8 years too late. Warning: this album does have a few curse words, but I still love this album! Stand out Song(s): (from original album) "One Angry Dwarf and 200 Solemn Faces" and "Steven's Last Night in Town" (from extended album) "Theme from Dr. Pyser" 4) "Songs for Silverman" by Ben Folds Ben's newest album is a return to the piano, drums, and bass set of his old days, and man is this album great. I must say that Ben Folds is probably one of the best songwriters out there today. The piano-driven rock genre is what Ben Folds does best, and this album is really no exception. Many of the reviewers of this album talked about how this is where Ben Folds really grew up and began writing adult songs, and I agree to a point. This album is definitely ages ahead of "Rockin' the Suburbs," but I think that he has always had his life-lessons songs and his comedic songs, and while this album may feature more of the life-lessons, Ben Folds has always been an incredible adult songwriter, and this album proves it to all the naysayers. Stand out Song: (for me) Landed (for Katie) Gracie 3) "Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith" soundtrack Two words: John Williams. I bought this album a couple of weeks before I saw the movie and it did nothing but excite me. The main theme of Star Wars is probably one of the most easily recognizable bits of music ever written, and its all because of Williams. Just by listening to this album, I get all the excitement and the rushes of watching the movie, just by imagining what is going on by the cues in the music. The "Battle of the Heroes" is probably my favorite piece of the entire prequel trilogy music, next to "Duel of the Fates." However, the truly best part of this album is the Finale and End Credits music, which wasn't played in the theaters (to my great disappointment). This song not only brings in the themes for Luke and Leia, but it ends with the Throne Room music from A New Hope, and listening to that whole song really brings tears to my eyes. It's that good. Stand out Song: "A New Hope and End Credits" 2) "La Loop" by Riley Armstrong Riley Armstrong is my favorite Canadian of all time. I love his folksy sound and the way he writes his songs. This album continues his vein of instant classics. All the songs on this album make Katie dance, and any album that can make her dance with every song must be good. For me, the faith questions/commentary that Riley introduces just hit me every time, always able to touch me wherever I am in my faith journey. And that's definitely saying something, considering how much I've been changing faith-wise over the past few years. This is definitely an incredible album that I have completely fallen for! Rock on, Riley! Stand out Song: "Melting" (little p.s., you can listen to the entire album at www.rileyarmstrong.com) 1) "The Everglow" by Mae You knew it would be here. I've been trying to talk up this album ever since its release and the first time I heard it riding back from Newnan with Ryan and its rise to the album of the spring break mission trip. This album is #1 not only because of the outstanding songs, but because it is one of the few albums out there that plays out completely as an album, telling a story (guided along by the pictures in the accompanying CD booklet) and flowing together so well, that it took me a while before I was really able to distinguish where one song ended and another began. All I have to say is that not only is this album the best of 2005, but it is one of my favorite albums of all time! If you like music, you need to listen to this... now! Stand out Song: I really like "Anything" and "The Sun and the Moon," but the whole album is so good, I have to listen to the whole thing. And there you have it. Do you agree? Tell me in the comments. Next week, I think it will be my favorite games of '05, followed by movies, but I haven't really decided yet, Love and Peace!!
Well, Katie and I just got a new computer last Thursday! It is wonderful. Not only can I now work on more than one thing at a time without the computer crapping out on me, it also digitally records tv shows that I can later burn onto DVDs. Also, I can finally play Morrowind on my own computer!!!! Woohoo!! Flag football season is over, and it went pretty well, I had to miss a lot of games due to work, but I was at least able to play about half of the season. Speaking of, work is still going pretty well, although I don't know how much longer I'll be there since I need to figure out what I really want to do with my life. Let see, since the last time I wrote, we went up to NC to visit Dan and G, which was really nice, and then last weekend, we went to Katie's parents for a very relaxing weekend. I dressed up as Leon S. Kennedy for halloween, but only 2 people recognized me... how sad. I have fallen in love with Trigun and Naruto, two anime tv shows, one about cowboys and one about ninjas (two of the greatest things ever). Okay, I'm just grasping at straws now, so I'll come back some other time with more to say. Godspeed.
That's right, BSU flag football has returned. We just had our third game today and our record is 2-1. Not bad at all, but we are getting better and will hopefully come out on top this season. Work is staying pretty much the same, although I'm really glad to have fall break off this weekend, so Katie and I can head up to Dan and G's with my mom and dad. It should be really fun, and I'll hopefully get to play some X-Men Legends II. If anyone out there has netflix, get the British version of The Office. That show is so dang funny! It makes Katie feel awkward because of how the people are so dumb, but dang is it good. For those who care, Smash Bros. has been taken to a new level with our facebook group and our weekly (well, really almost daily lately) meetings. Man, I don't have much to say.... I'll have to update later when I have a few more things.Godspeed.
Yes, it has sucked me in.... and I blame it all on one Ryan "Raunchy" Snider. It is nice to look at the profiles for all those people from high school though. I like that aspect, and I like the fact that we have a Super Smash Bros: Melee group in which we can coordinate our schedules for the best nights of play. Work has been going pretty well, I like serving ice cream and talking to nice people, but I really hate people who act like they know how to do my job better than I do and tell me that I didn't give them enough ice cream or other stupid things. Anyhoo, I got the new Switchfoot cd last week, and I must say that its pretty good. Not the greatest cd of the year (that still goes to The Everglow by Mae), but its still good. The first four songs and the last song are probably the best ones on the album. The computer is finally fixed, so I'm back online ready to play Diablo with Dan and Kent at night. Katie is whining that now that I have the computer back she never gets my attention because of facebook and my websites and such, but I think she's just a silly girl and is sitting right behind me and I give her all of my attention any time she wants it. I read the book "Fast Food Nation" a couple of weeks ago, and while it was really interesting, it really doesn't make you want to ever eat McDonalds again. Now, I'm back to the realms of Fantasy and reading "Eragon" and the sequel "Eldest," both of which are really good reads. However, if you have the chance and can find it anywhere the must-read for everyone is Bone (preferably the one-volume edition if you don't want to buy 13 separate volumes). This graphic novel is some of the best story-telling of all time, detailing the story of the Bone cousins (Fone Bone, Smiley Bone, and Phoney Bone), as they have been run out of their hometown because of Phoney's inappropriate dealings and they find themselves in some mysterious valley, where they wind up getting caught up in a huge adventure to restore the kingdom and destroy the king of Locusts. Anyway, it is awesome, just ask Chuck. I'm out for now, Godspeed.
So, over the past few months, there has been a recurring character in my dreams - a mall. This mall is normally a refuge that I run to after being chased by vampires or zombies or whatever the baddies are in the current dream. However, the mall is always dangerous and always completely dark outside of a few lights within some of the cooler stores. My brother is frequently there with me, as well as Katie and friends from here at school, and we normally go to the large arcade within, but there is always a sense of foreboding as if something is waiting to pop out at us. Last night, I had ducked into the mall after narrowly escaping a group of nasty women vampires on the third floor at the airport. Luckily, Katie, Dan, G, Chris, Chris and I all were on our bikes and made it to the plane, which landed in Brazil right next to... the mall. I just don't understand, maybe it doesn't mean anything, but is just a landmark to allow my dreams to be a continuing story-arc. Which brings me to some questions. Can dreams be a continuing story? Does the subconcious mind keep a sort of bookmark where you last work up? Is there a set storyline that alters slightly through daily encounters? Do the beginnings of dreams start to be realized while we are still awake?! AAAAHHHH! Anyhoo, Bruster's is going well, I enjoy the people I work with, although I wish I had some more time for Nintendo. My computer is completely out of commission and hopefully will be fixed this week, or Katie and I might have to break down and buy a new one. Okay, I guess I don't have anything else to say. Hopefully I'll be back online soon!Godspeed.
So, I see my blog has started up a fight between two readers in the comments arena. I, for one, have always been against the former Chairman and am even the one who reduced his station to that of Janitor within our Monastic Order. I also am a "T-Stick" man through and through, and those (ahem, Chuck) who use the C-Stick have no place near me.For the rest of you, school is starting back up next week, so I've got all my freshmen moved in, and I've been working hard up at Brusters to make some money to live off of for the rest of the year. LOST comes out on DVD next week, so if you missed watching it last year, you can pick up the DVD and catch up before the season premiere on Sept 21 (of which we will be having a party in the Student Center for those of you on campus.Also, we have been witnessing a revival of Super Smash Bros. Melee within Boatwright dorm, and I hope it continues, due to the fact that this game is so good, it can never die. Also, that is where the "T-Stick" and "C-Stick" references come from (C-sticking is basically cheating almost as much as spamming or scraaahing).I haven't updated recently due to the fact that a virus has crippled my computer and I am waiting to get it fixed, or just to break down and buy a new one (which Katie and I will do soon anyway). Well, I gotta get back to my room so that we can watch Constantine.Godspeed.
Yeah, so after a wonderful vacation time in Mobile and North Carolina, Katie and I have returned home to begin getting ready for the school year. I went in to Bruster's today and found out that they still want me, so I begin training next tuesday! Yippee, Income!! On the downside of all this, our computer is really starting to annoy me to no end, and although I'm trying as hard as I can to do such a simple thing as just reformatting the dang thing, it even resists me there. I just want it to last one more year, and then Katie and I can afford to buy a new computer and I can be happy. I've had some great times recently discussing the new Harry Potter book, it provides hours of speculation for even the most casual of HP readers. My mom should have it done within the next week or so, so I hope to hear from her soon, and Chuck is borrowing my copy to get done whilst he is in town. For those of you who doubt and say "Harry Potter is for children" or "Harry Potter is unintelligent, shallow, and boring" or even "Harry Potter is satanic." Pick up the books, I dare you to read them. If you don't like it, fine by me, just give them a try. They just get better as they go on, as the characters grow up, they become deeper and much more three dimensional as you have lived their adolescent lives with them and see how they grow from the challenges that they have faced and the turmoil in their world. As they become adults, you see how their reactions change as the world around them grows darker and they begin to see how it truly affects them. As for the evil of HP, it can no more be construed as evil than Lord of the Rings or the Chronicles of Narnia. Its all fantasy and stories. You draw from each what you are expecting to get from it. If you go into a story thinking it is bad, more than likely, it will end up being a bad story to you. Anyhoo, I have to get to bed, tomorrow's an early mornin..... no wait, I don't have to wake up, mwahahaha. Godspeed.
Yup, nothing has been happening recently. Katie and I are currently in North Carolina visiting Dan and G, after a few days in Mobile. Harry Potter 6 is out and awesome, but I don't want to discuss it here, for those of you who have not read it yet. If you need someone to talk to about it, just drop me a line. I also saw War of the Worlds last week (and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory the week before, but we won't go there). Anyway, WotW was pretty awesome and definitely needs to be seen on the big screen, the only qualm that I have with it is the same as everyone else... the end. Once you see it, you'll know. Hmmmm, what else? Well, really nothing that I can think of. I've been trying to think of things to write about, but I haven't had anything really earth shaking yet. Hopefully I'll get back soon with a better blog for ya'll, but until then, keep cool, cuz its really hot outside. Godspeed.
It's been so long, but that's only because nothing (and I really mean nothing) has been happening until about last week. Last week, I went and saw Land of the Dead with Chris, Dr. Slay, and Dr. Wilson and it was pretty dang good. It was nice to see a good zombie movie with other zombie lovers. Then, this weekend, Katie and I went to Jared's mom's place in Birmingham for the fourth, and it was really fun. Anywho, this week has been pretty relaxing as I wait for Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince to come into my life (less than a week now). I also invested in a Nintendo DS this week, and I love it. For those who don't know, its a handheld gaming system with two-screens, the bottom being a touch screen. Its been really fun to play and makes it so that I can play nintendo while I watch tv at the same time! I also finally beat Resident Evil 4 on professional mode this week, which is quite an accomplishment I must say. Today, Katie, Chris M., and I are going up to Atlanta to see Cake (for free), and next week we get to see Weezer for free too. I'll try to update more frequently next week, but I have to go to Wal-Mart now. Godspeed.
I totally disagree with some of the choices on your list. The main one would have to be Switchfoot. They are such a bunch of sell outs. They say that "we are meant to live for so much more" but on that album they sold out. They went on Non-christian tours, Left the name of "God" and "Jesus" out of many of their songs, and put in you and he, refering to God in the 3rd person. Not only did they play at non-christian concerts, but they used the extra money for what? Better instruments, better effects on music videos and more stuff. That stuff is the same stuff Christ says will rot away. They need to use their money on the eternal, THE CHURCH. Helping their local chuch or giving more to help THE CHURCH would be a better use of their money. I'm not saying I am always following God, but when you are in a Well-Known band for Christ you are put on a ladder where everyone sees you. And by not proclaiming your faith directly you dirty the name of Christ.