Check Out This YouTube Channel!

So a few days ago I was searching up "Electric Avenue", by Eddie Grant, and I get this:

As you can see, the first 2 videos are the videos most people listen to when searching up Electric Avenue (it's a funky song, written back in 1979 I think). But the third one got my eye. I check it out, and the 8-bit music sounded great. So I researched the channel, and it has 500k subscribers and started around 3 years ago. I checked out more of their music they "8-bited", and they have a variety of songs:

(PS- none of them are my favourite, but 2 of them are in the top 5)

As you can see, they have a wide variety of songs, including theme songs (Ghostbusters, Pokemon) and some Christmas songs (Jingle Bells, Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer). There may be some songs in 8-bit that you like more than the original composition. So click here to check out their channel and have fun listening to their 8-bit music! And on the right (bottom of viewed on a phone) is my favourite one so far. 

The Simpsons Season 7 Episode 17: Homer the Smithers

After a night out to the Springfield drag races, when a drunk Lenny harasses Mr. Burns, Smithers couldn't protect him in time. The next day, he tries to apologize to him, but Burns suggests he take a vacation. Looking for a replacement who won't be better than him, Smithers chooses Homer for the job. Burns soon proves to be demanding for someone who has not devoted his life to him like Smithers. Homer couldn't take Burns tasks, and he punches Burns. Fearing he has killed the him old man, he hides at home.

Homer tries to apologize, but every time he tries to, Burns fears him. Burns learns to do things himself and becomes self-sustained. After thanking Homer for making him learn that he can fend for himself, Burns fires Smithers when he came back from his vacation. Homer and Smithers fight within Burns' office which ends when Burns accidentally falls out the window. Burns gets injured and becomes reliant on Smithers once again. Feeling appreciated, Smithers sends Homer a fruit basket.




(PS- I couldn't find many photos for this episode)

My thoughts:

How many times have I watched it: Twice, one was last night.

Couch Gag: Same as S7 E4. All episodes from here to the the final episode, so I won't add this until Season 21.

My thoughts: This was a well-written and plotted episode, and one of my favorite "Homer Gets a Job" plots. I normally hate if they restrict the characters in an episode, but this one is an exception. Homer, Mr. Burns, and Smithers had great character development. It was interesting how much more at ease Burns seem with himself. The fight between Homer and Smithers was entertaining. However, he ending is very predictable though, (again), but Smithers couldn't really be fired for long, and Burns couldn't remain independent (lol), so back to normal is probably the best solution.

The laughs were high. From Lenny's face on Burns window to Homer talking as Burns' mother, there were lots of gags in this one. Brilliant scene where Homer relays Burns’ messages (“You have 30 minutes to move your car”, “You have 10 minutes”, “Your car has been impounded”, “Your car has been crushed into a cube”, “You have 30 minutes to move your cube”) and how Burns’ expression gets more annoyed after each message. And how when Homer answers the phone, Burns asks, “Is it about my cube?”

Overall, a great episode, I should re-watch it more.

My grade: A/A-

What Will Be Going on in September

As about one month passes by ever since I've came back, here's what I'll be posting in September. I'll try to continue posting around 3-5 times a week, but it may vary. Anyways, here they are:

• I'll finsh up Season 7 of the Simpsons, then do Season 21. I know that season well and it's an HD season, so it's a good change.
• Anything I see on Youtube or online that YOU should see, too. Trending!
• Life tips will slow down though. Once a week is good enough.

That's all, and continue supporting my blog!

PS- Random picture was from S15 E16 The Wandering Juvie. Bart goes to jail with adolescents and suddenly escapes with a girl. But it wasn't his plan to escape!

PPS- Want to be funky in September? Hit the play button below!

The Simpsons Season 7 Episode 16: Lisa the Iconoclast

When Lisa's class at school are assigned essays Lisa goes to the museum to research Jebediah Springfield, the founder of Springfield. She makes the shocking discovery that the town's founder was actually a pirate and an enemy of George Washington. He wrote a confession on the back side of a portrait of Washington hid it in a tube. Meanwhile, Homer is elected the town crier after Ned Flanders was annoying Mayor Quimby when he was the town crier.



Lisa continues to research on Jebediah, and discovers that he had a silver tongue. While the town does not agree with Lisa's research, Homer does. When Lisa attempts to show Hollis Hurlbut, the director of the museum the confession, he sees it as an obvious forgery. However, she convinces the municipal government to go to the cemetery search for evidence of the silver tongue. When they open the coffin, however, there is no silver tongue, and Quimby strips Homer of his job as town crier.

But Lisa, after seeing an incomplete portrait of George Washington in her classroom, she discovers that the confession is written is the bottom half of the portrait. She confronts Hurlbut, and tells her that he stole the tongue when the dust cleared seconds after the coffin was opened and hid it in the museum. Hurlbut did it because he needed to protect his career and the myth of Jebediah.

The two decide to go public with their discovery because they would be celebrating a horrible pirate. When Lisa is about to share her discoveries with the public, she realizes that Jebediah Springfield's good image a lot to the town, and decides to keep it a secret, and she says that he was great. Homer also gets his town crier job back.

My thoughts:

How many times have I watched it: 2 times.

Couch Gag: Same as S7 E3

Storyline: It's not the best Lisa episode, but I will say I was more interested in the mini side-plot with Homer as town crier. He was a natural at this role and does better than Flanders. Back to the main plot, though. It is interesting, and I love the 2 conflicts Lisa had to go through: The town, and her giving up. This was a good Homer-Lisa plot, as Homer supports Lisa throughout her search for the truth. I liked Homer lifting Lisa up on his back at the end. 


There were not many jokes and gags (besides Homer's sideplot), but in a mystery episode doesn't need much. One funny moment was when Hurlbut banned Lisa from the museum. "You're banned from this historical society! You and your children... and your children's children... for 3 months." Clancy Wiggum being a ventriloquist was hilarious. The big question in this episode is the ending. Some people liked it, some didn't. Should Lisa have told that Jebediah is a pirate, the people of Springfield would feel really bad about themselves living there, so I thought it was a good ending.


At the end though, This was a heart-warming story. The ending is controversial, but it's a solid episode.

My grade: B+/B

The Simpsons Season 7 Episode 15: Bart the Fink

After staying in a haunted house for a night, each member of the Simpsons receives $100 to do with as they like. Marge has Bart and Lisa open bank accounts at the Bank of Springfield. Bart is excited with his new checking account, and begins writing checks to his friends. Bart wants to obtain Krusty the Clown's autograph, though. To get his autograph, Bart slips a check into Krusty's pocket, hoping that when he gets his bank statement, he will get his autograph. 

However, when Bart receives the check, he gets a stamp instead of a signature. Upset, Bart takes the check back to the bank so that they can force Krusty to sign it. A bank teller questions why Krusty gave a stamp instead of a signature. The teller investigates, and within minutes Krusty is exposed as one of the biggest tax cheats in American history.

The IRS take control of Krusty's personal belongings and his show, and Krusty is shocked of what happens. One evening, a depressed Krusty pilots his airplane into a mountainside, and is later pronounced dead. Bart believes otherwise when he begins to see a Krusty look-alike around town. With Lisa's help, he soon discovers that Krusty has gone into disguise of Rory Bellows, a old docker worker. 

Bart and Lisa try to convince him to return to his TV life, and Krusty finally accepts when they tell him that he is more respected than the scientists and teachers. Krusty gives up his new life, and assures the two that with the life insurance from his identity of Rory Bellows, he should be able to pay off the government.

My thoughts:

How many time have I watched it: Thrice.

Couch Gag: Same as S7 E2

My thoughts: I enjoyed this episode. When Milhouse exposes his autographed stomach to some grossed-out girls; I laughed. The 100 tacos gag was funny, The IRS Burger gag had 10 jokes in 20 seconds, with the franchise name clever enough. At the crash site, Wiggum says this: “Folks, show’s over, nothing to see here, oh my God, a horrible plane crash! Hey everybody, get a load of this flaming wreckage! Come on, crowd around, don’t be shy, crowd around!” Very good with the jokes in this episode.

The story itself is a bit weak, as Krusty's fake death was predictable. The bank scene was fine, but it was too long. At the end, the solution to have Krusty return to the showbiz was rushed. But Bart and Lisa working together to get him back was pleasant to see, they did some good detective work, and it's great to see teamwork, unlike these new episodes. 

Overall, while the plot was only above average, the laughs were great, and it's a solid episode.

My grade: B+

The Simpsons Season 7 Episode 14: Scenes from the Class Struggle in Springfield

The Simpsons go to the Ogdenville outlet mall to buy a new television. When Marge and Lisa wander off to a discount store, Marge finds a fancy Chanel suit. As she buys the suit, she encounters an old classmate, Evelyn, who likes Marge's fashion and invites her to the Springfield Country Club.

While Marge tries to fit in with her group, the rest of the family is uncomfortable at the country club. When she wears her same suit again, her group tell her that it is "old news," and suggests her to wear a new suit. Marge tries to alter her suit for the club membership ceremony, but accidentally destroys it. Feeling desperate, Marge purchases a new expensive dress. When the Simpsons arrive at the club, Marge criticizes the behavior of everyone in her family. But when Homer tells his children that they should thank their mother for pointing out how bad they really are, Marge realizes that she has changed for the worse. They decided to go to Krusty Burger for dinner.

Meanwhile, Homer begins playing golf. Mr. Burns, having seen Homer's skill in the bathroom at work, challenges him to a match. However, once they begin playing, Homer, who is in disbelief at one of Mr. Burns' shots, runs over to the green and finds Mr. Smithers replacing the ball Mr. Burns hit with a new one that is close to the hole. Burns is shocked that Smithers was cheating in the golf gameby helping him. Homer wants to reveal the cheating to the entire club, but Burns threatens to block Homer's membership if he tells. Homer reluctantly agrees.

My thoughts:

How many times have I watched it: Thrice.

Couch Gag: The living room is bathed in black light, with the Simpsons in fluorescent colors while a hard rock guitar riff plays. Homer turns the light on and it returns back to normal.

My thoughts: This was a semi-pointless episode, although the ending was not too bad. The first act was pointless, revolving around a TV and a Chanel suit. The subplot, where Homer and Burns try to blackmail each other, was great at times. Most of the Simpsons characters were out of character. Marge, for example, goes against her values so willingly. Lisa is annoying (Really? Who would ask so many questions about a suit, while the person can mess up his/her knitting?) and Bart barely appears.

That leaves Homer as the best of the Simpsons characters. Along with Mr. Burns, he prevents the episode from becoming a complete dud. The first time I saw this, I knew that Burns was cheating, but I didn't expect Smithers was going to be a part of it! And golf was a good game to test who was better at the sport.

Overall, this was a mediocre episode. The subplot saved this one.

My grade; C+/B-

Slavery Powerpoint

What is slavery? How did affect history? When did slavery start? This PowerPoint that I made along with 2 friends will answer these questions.

Click Here!

The Simpsons Season 7 Episode 13: Two Bad Neighbors

In a street-wide rummage sale along Evergreen Terrence, as Homer dances on tables selling items. Suddenly there is a diversion: the empty house across the street is being moved into. It is occupied by President George H. W. Bush and his wife Barbara. Bart decides to visit, and while Barbara like him, George doesn't. Eventually, after he accidentally shreds George's memoirs, the George spanks Bart. Homer didn't like it, and the two go to war.

First, Homer sends bottle rockets at George's window, and George puts up a bad banner. Homer then glues a rainbow-colored wig on his opponent's head just before he is about to give an important speech to a local club. George destroys their Simpsons; lawn with a car. car. Homer and Bart are making their way through the sewers to release locusts in George's house when George spots them and climbs down. Homer and George begin fighting, and Bart releases the locusts to attack George. But former Soviet premier Mikhail Gorbachev arrives at the mansion to bring a house warming present for the Bush family. 

Finally, after pressure from his wife, George apologizes to Homer in front of Gorbachev. The Bushes eventually move out and sell the house to Gerald Ford, another president. Ford invites Homer to watch a football game with him and enjoy some beer and nachos at his house.

My thoughts:

How many times have I seen it: Once.

Couch Gag: Marge, Bart, Lisa, and Maggie are moose heads on the wall and Homer is a bearskin rug on the floor. A hunter sits on the couch, and smokes a pipe. You don't see that everyday. (B)

My thoughts: The episode was alright. There were some amusing scenes at the sale at the beginning. The Disco Stu joke was good and led to the creation of him. The rest of the episode was pretty much decent/OK in terms of humour. Grandpa mentioning about how he got spanked by presidents as a kid was funny. I questioned why Barbra liked Bart, but I enjoyed their relationship anyway. One extra thing I liked was Homer and Gerald Ford having similar interests. 

The plot was awful, though. It felt a bit over the top, and out of place. Homer was kind of a jerk in the episode. Every parent feels bad if someone else punishes their child, but Homer went a bit too far. I didn't mind Bart's characterization, though. Although Bush obviously found him a nuisance, some of the things he said to Bush were pretty funny. The big fight was a bit dull, it could have been better.

Overall, this episode is not great. This episode is a forgetful one.

My grade: C

Krav Maga: An Easy Self Defence Technique

Imagine you are walking home from a park in the night. You turn a back alley, but suddenly, a man starts following you very closely. You turn around to see who it was, and see him holding a heavy bat. You immediately attack him in the groin, neck, and eyes. Then you try to get his bat. You both start wrestling for the bat, then you realize he wants to fight with you. Good thing you know your techniques. You try to choke his neck with arm bars and trap his leg with leg locks. You succeed and knock him out, and soon, your ruckus had the police come and arrest him. You could have been hurt, but thanks to Krav Maga, you escaped with just bruises.


What is Krav Maga:

• Krav Maga is the official hand-to-hand combat system of the Israeli Defense Forces. 
• Developed in the 1950s, it combines the most effective techniques from various martial arts.
• It is used in dangerous and unexpected situations. Its quick counter-attacks and brutal offensive techniques make it a great fighting style.
• It’s also the preferred system for U.S. military and law enforcement personnel. Krav Maga is not a traditional martial art, but a revolutionary self-defense program. 
• There are no uniforms, no traditions, no choreographies. 
• Quote from founder Imi Litchenfeld: We use and train Krav Maga "so that one may walk in peace."

Tips on using Krav Maga:

• The most important technique: KICK THE GROIN. Kick your leg as high as possible, following through the movement for maximum impact. 
  
  
• When being attacked, always stay in motion. Krav Maga is the idea of retzev, Hebrew for “continuous motion.”
• In a combat situation, you should always be moving either toward or away from your opponent, but the goal is always to ensure your opponent is no longer a threat at the end. This could mean disarming, getting him/her unconscious, or possibly even killing your opponent.
• Areas like the shins, eyes and throat are all vulnerable areas with a lot of soft tissue and nerve endings.
• If you strike these places, as quickly and as hard as you can, you will generally take your opponent from feisty to face-down in a hurry.
• When punching, make the perfect fist. Start by bending the middle set of knuckles in. Then bend the second set of knuckles (the base of your fingers). Place your thumb over the pointer and middle finger. Keep your wrists completely straight.

• Your pen, keys, belt, etc., are all potential weapons. Most people rarely consider how they might be employed as a weapon if necessary. Pens and keys can quickly become stabbing implements, while a belt can be a good "zone" weapon. (This is still Krav Maga)

Finally, here's a video of a real-life Krav Maga attack.

In an elevator

The Simpsons Season 7 Episode 12: Team Homer

Homer and Moe, Apu, and Otto want to form a bowling team to win a trophy, but they need $500 for the entry fee. Asking Mr. Burns to sponsor them, Homer goes to Burns' office, where he finds an "drunk" Burns. He takes this opportunity to get Burns to sign the check. Back at the bowling alley, Homer and his friends enter the bowling league competition, calling themselves the Pin Pals. They are good as they beat teams and move up into second place in their league.


However, Burns discovers the check he wrote to Homer. He wants to join the team,(replacing Otto) but Burns is a horrible bowler (he's old). Apu and Moe want Burns off the team, but before the championship game begins, Burns gives the team new shirts as a sign of friendship. In the game, on the last frame, two pins away from victory, Burns takes his turn, and during his roll, the ball hits bobbles two pins. With the game on the line, Otto tips over a vending machine and the vibration help the Pin Pals win the trophy.


As the team celebrates their win, Burns takes the trophy and keeps it for himself. That night, Homer breaks into the mansion, finds and recovers the trophy. However, this ends disastrously when the hounds are released and catch Homer a few feet from the gate, and they beat him up.

Elsewhere, at school, Bart's "Down with homework" T-shirt starts a student riot, and Principal Skinner has all students to wear uniforms for good behavior. Skinner's dress code works, until a rainstorm soaks through the uniforms, causing the grey color to be washed out, revealing tie-dyecolors that make the playful spirit of the children return. 

My thoughts:

How many times have I watched it: 5 times. This was one of the first episodes I watched back when Global showed episodes on Sunday afternoons (around 2013?).

Chalkboard Gag: I am not certified to remove Asbestos. I had to search up what Asbestos is (it's a mineral), and I don't get the joke. (C)

Couch Gag: The Simpsons sit on the couch as normal. In the mousehole, the mice are also running to their couch. Mice in The Simpsons have made scenes from time to time, and I enjoy it. (A-)

My thoughts: There were lots stuff to point out in this episode. The early Burns stuff, with his hallucinations of Homer as the Pillsbury Dough Boy was funny, and later when he expresses shock over his bowling payment, then finds it was for his boweling (what is boweling? It's a made-up word made by Burns). Then he expresses shock over the bowling payment.






In the other story, the Skinner/Chalmers stuff is so rich. Chalmers is slowly about to give the school a perfect 10 (“I’ll just write the zero first, now, a vertical line to indicate the one…”) Then of course he’s trampled by the out-of-control kids. Then when the rain comes falling down, joke of the story of Skinner realizing his mother’s dress will react similarly, running off, with Chalmers following, interestingly commenting, “Now this I gotta see, was brilliant.


The plotting of the bowling story is solid, as the team had obstacles to get through. Then of course there had to be a twist (Burns steals the trophy). The uniform plot was great, I liked the small fashion show with the uniforms at school. Overall, an excellent episode.

My grade: A

The Simpsons S7 E10 and E11

These next 2 episodes will be summarized at a quicker pace, because as much as these episodes are good, I not a fan of these type of episodes. The grading will be a bit different, too.

S7 E10 Marge Be Not Proud

Synopsis: Bart is caught attempting to shoplift a video game. He tries to keep his failed "four-finger discount" trip a secret from Homer and Marge, and initially succeeds. But unfortunately, Marge finds out when the family returns to the same store to have the family Christmas photo taken and punishes Bart by leaving him out of family activities. Bart makes it up to her with a Christmas photo, and they reconcile.

Grades:

Plot: Pretty solid, main story starts early. (A-)
Laughs/Gags: It was strong. The part where Bart delays time was fun to watch. (A)
Me personally liking it: Bart messes up then has to make it up is a boring episode for me to watch. (D+)


S7 E11 The Simpsons 138th Episode Spectacular

Synopsis: Troy McClure hosts this behind the scenes style show. He shows some classic Tracey Ullman clips and then Troy goes on to answer viewers' questions about Smithers' sexuality and Homer's stupidity. We then see deleted scenes from various episodes up to this point and an alternate ending to 'Who Shot Mr. Burns?' where Smithers is the culprit. 

Grades:

Plot: There isn't one, it's a clip show. (N/A)
Laughs/Gags: Some of the clips were funny, and Troy McClure was a great host. (B+)
Me personally liking it: Again, it's a useless episode, but it's OK. (C)

The Simpsons Season 7 Episode 9: Sideshow Bob's Last Gleaming

At the Springfield Minimum Security Prison (Lol), Sideshow Bob is disturbed when he hears his inmates laughing at the Krusty the Clown's TV show. Believing that television mindless and wanting to rid the world of it, Bob escapes while on work duty at the Springfield Air Force Base. He gets inside restricted area of the hangar, where he finds a 10-megaton nuclear weapon.

Meanwhile, The Simpsons attend an air show held at the base and see different planes, including the Wright Brother's plane. But when they watch the plane show, the TV nearby shows up Sideshow Bob, who threatens to detonate the nuclear bomb unless Springfield gets rid of all television broadcasts. After the announcement, the panicked crowd flee the airfield, except for Bart and Lisa. Unable to locate Bob, Mayor Quimby decides to give in to Bob's ultimatum.

Krusty, refusing to agree to Bob's demands, drives to a civil defense shack in the desert, which he uses to transmit a heavily improvised show, but struggles finding jokes and gags. Bart and Lisa figure out where Bob is, and they go to the Duff Blimp, where Bob, having lost his patience thanks to Krusty, tries to detonate the bomb, but turns out to be a dud. Lisa alerts the police to Bob's location, but Bob deflates the blimp and kidnaps Bart, before escaping on Wright Brothers plane.

Bart is scared that Bob might kill him, but that wasn't his motive. He want to kill Krusty. They arrive at Krusty's shack, and Bob attempts to carry out a attack, but the slow-moving plane ends up bouncing harmlessly off the shack. The police quickly arrive and arrest Bob, while Bart is reunited with his family.

My thoughts:

How many times have I watched it: Twice.

Chalkboard Gag: Wedgies are unhealthy for children and other living things. What? (C-)

Couch Gag: The Simpsons are a family of sea monkeys and swim to a couch made of clam shells, looking at an open treasure chest. Not a fan of the water, but the Simpsons look cool as sea monkeys. (B-)

Storyline: This was a decent episode, but I'm not quite a fan of it. The episode is below par for a Sideshow Bob episode and for a Simpsons episode for this season. The plot is pretty good and it is funny in parts, I liked Lisa leaving a message for the authorities in the Duff blimp, and she being smart of where Bob was hiding. Helium! However, the ending is pretty flat, with Bob making an unfunny speech. The whole premise of Bob deciding to blow up Springfield gets a little silly. 

The episode kind of started off slowly, then looked as if it was going to take off after Bob threatens the town with nukes, but somehow, it didn't do that. It just meandered a bit until Bart and Lisa suddenly locate Bob. No build-up of suspense. All up, a promising episode which fails to develop. Also, Krusty was a bitch this episode, too. He used Mel as a mop in his show and his was more concerned about adult magazines than an important town meeting.

Overall, this was a middle of the line episode, and a below average episode in the 1990s era.

My Grade: C+/C