Jump to content
Have You Played Atari Today?
2600|5200|7800|Lynx|Jaguar|Forums|Store

simbalion

Members
 View Profile  See their activity

  • Posts

    1,078

  • Joined

  • Last visited

 Content Type 

Blog Entries posted by simbalion

  1. simbalion
    At least this is the thought that went through my mind this evening and after mention of the remake on the 'What Movies Have You Watched Recently?' thread. I must admit, I had actually looked forward to the 25th anniversary of The Lion King last year. There was hope of a chance to perhaps see the original film in the theaters again and a little bit of hope that some nice merchandise would appear to mark the occasion. (Had really hoped for a BIG Simba plush! Heehee!) Sadly, we didn't get any of that. What we got was a hollow, soulless cash grab remake that preyed on people's nostalgia. Yes it was a technical achievement and people will argue it was good, but it lacks the character, fun, and nuance of the original from what I have seen and heard. Of course, it made over 1.5 billion in the theaters when all was said and done, the only real thing that matters in the Iger era of Disney. Never mind that it got toppled by Hobbes & Shaw on it's third week! (Actually, I wonder if the remake would have done as well had there been any other solid family movies out over the summer?)
    Merchandise-wise, pathetic basically describes the toys I saw. What little came out for the original movie last summer was mostly revamped Lion Guard items that were of poor quality and seemed to be only out to promote the remake coming out. Even the merchandise for the remake was fairly thin and by the holidays it was already forgotten as the new Frozen movie and TROS was rolled out. I can recall the original Lion King having solid merchandise and sales for almost a year and you could get some nice swag at the Disney store for a while after that! Definitely recall shelves stuffed with toys through the 1994 holiday season. I actually remember having a shelf of plush Lion King toys let go and collapse on me at our local KB toys that summer! No harm done and it's funny to think of now as that moment got my interest started in The Lion King.
    I guess I got kinda spoiled with the Star Trek and Star Wars 25th (and even 20th!) anniversaries as they felt like actual events. I would have thought the original Lion King would have gotten a little bit more than it did being that it was the highest grossing and often held as the best traditional animated film of all time.  Disney, I give you a zero out of five stars for the handling of the 25th anniversary of one of your greatest animated films ever.
    Well, this is the end of my musing for today. Thanks for reading!
  2. simbalion
    Yeah, I'm a bit late with this, but I felt it only right to mention the end of this series. I can remember when this series premiered, but at the time I was rather resistant to the idea of ever watching it. Eventually, around the 3rd season, curiosity got the best of me and I decided to see what this whole show was about, even though I had to sort of make myself watch it at first because of my own preconceptions. Luckily, I finally learned to like and even love MLP FiM with the help of Pinkie Pie, who became my favorite and I quickly bought the DVDs of the first two seasons to catch up on this colorful ride of a cartoon. The 4th through 6th seasons became the high mark period for me, even leading to me buying some merchandise at Toys R Us during those years and even right before they closed their doors for good. Admittedly, I started to lose track during the 7th season and perhaps have seen two episodes of season 8 with none of the 9th and final season. This was in part due to work schedule, my own fickleness, and the fact they have become really slow at releasing the DVDs of each season.
    I admit, I got hit with a bit of sadness at the ending of MLP FiM and if there is a good thing about this series ending, it reminded me how much I really do still like it. (Of course going through my annual autumn depression doesn't help!) I finally got a copy of season 7 on DVD and even finally bought the 'My Little Pony Baking Book' this evening that I meant to buy in April. (Oh, I showed that to my mom and I almost didn't get the book back! Some yummy looking recipes in there!)  Nine seasons is a good run and in a way makes it even harder to say goodbye. I have a feeling it will be a while before I can finally watch the 26th and final episode of season nine, but I will get there eventually.
    Anyways, enough late night rambling here. Goodbye and thank you for the fun and memories, My Little Pony Friendship is Magic!
     
  4. simbalion

    Goodbye Toys R Us

    By simbalion,

    Well, here we go again. Another US retailer biting the dust. I have to admit, my reactions to the news these past couple of days has ranged from gloominess to anger towards the idiots who have let this happen to what is the last dedicated toy store chain. While increased competition has hurt Toys R Us, it seems the end began in 2005 when they were taken over by a leveraged buy out by three companies that borrowed over 5 billion and then dumped that massive debt into Toys R Us itself. So, after a little research, I've found Toys R Us is the victim of the same crap that brought us the crash of 2008. The first years of the 21st Century up until 2008 were called the era of the mega buy out. Basically, companies were being bought out left and right by venture capitalists who would rack up mass amounts of debt to do so. Sort of like the morons who were buying new houses every five years and piling up debt on debt on debt. So, in a nutshell, Toys R Us is the fallout from 2008 still happening. Yes, online competition like Amazon has hurt them, but they would have been in far better standing if they hadn't been forced to swallow the debt these investors shoved down their throat in 2005. Of course, these investors won't ever have to account for their failure

    I admit, I don't have the childhood memories of Toys R Us a lot of people do. I only got to see Toys R Us and Children's Palace once as a kid. My dad was the main driver in the household and did not like traveling on the interstate or to Canton, Ohio where these stores were at. Still, I can still remember the wonder from that one visit and really feel bad for the kids of today and the future. Even now, I am still a kid at heart at times and recently Toys R Us has been a go to for items I have been looking for. Just this past year they were the only place for me to find the Tiny Arcades and they JUST brought out the My Arcade line. Yes, they aren't quite the Toys R Us of the glory years, but I think we will be a bit poorer without them. The only hope now is that a 'grassroots' movement might happen with smaller, private toys stores taking up some of the slack. There is some of that happening in my area already. If not full year-round shops, perhaps we might be able to see the big, seasonal wonders that used to be a staple of department stores reappear. I don't care how big Amazon gets, there is still a need for that wonder of walking into a shop filled with toys.
  6. simbalion
    This is one of a few flea market finds I got yesterday, a 1924 Radiola Superheterodyne complete with tubes. According to the seller, he found this buried in the upper loft of an old barn locally. This is a piece of radio history as it is one of the first sets to use the superheterodyne circuit and is basically the first portable superheterodyne radio. Yes, it originally had a handle and was considered semi-portable! Of course, you had to remove the batteries and the horn or else get a hernia!




  8. simbalion
    It's been getting interesting here of late in my area of Ohio with the Rover Pipeline being built. The company building it, Energy Transfer Associates or something like that, has really been racking up the problems. This is the same company that flattened a historic farm property in Carrol county last year without any sort of permission or warning to the town and county of their intentions and that got them fined 2.3 million in mitigation damages. Well, since entering my country and Stark county, they have racked up something like 13 EPA violations, including drowning a protected wetland under 2 million gallons of drilling mud and cuttings. This has now gotten them another fine of $430,000 along with an addition fine of 1.5 million for more damage to other historic sites in the area. Oh, they also came close to burning someone's house down with illegal burning of brush too close to the home. Of course, they are now refusing to pay the fines, claiming that Ohio has no jurisdiction over them because it is a federal project, but at the rate they are bumbling, I am afraid we are going to have a massive bomb on our hands when that pipeline gets put into service! If any of you out there have this pipeline going in near you, keep an eye on these idiots! There is too much of a mess developing around this project.
  9. simbalion
    Figured I'd blog this. This is a little vintage gaming/computer wish list off the top of my head this evening of some stuff I'd still like to find.
    First off, a IBM 5150 or 5160 computer. The 5160 or XT version is probably the best and there have to be some left out there! Also programs for said computer (hopefully ones that work with my Tandy 1000SX as well).
    Apple II programs, parts, and an actual Apple II and a IIc plus.
    A Coleco Gemini. I have a couple controllers for one of these and almost had one in 2010. Sadly, it ended up in the burnt rubble of the old Garver Flea market after the idiot arsonist torched it! The dealer was supposed to be in that upcoming Sunday.
    A TRS 80 model II and software for it.
    Edit: A Tandy Color Computer 3 and of course the disk drive and software for it. (Actually, I think I have some software stored away for one..)
    Finally, a good place to sell off some of my antique console radios so I can make space to enjoy things again! Note: I want to find good homes for those if possible.
    And I think that is it. Oddly, I'm not really looking for much anymore, but my area of Ohio is becoming such a wasteland for this stuff anymore that the hunt has gone from fun to frustrating. It's all Nintendo, Nintendo, Nintendo anymore. Or PS3's.
  10. simbalion
    I think I just figured out why I am so much on edge lately. Too much freakin' Mt. Dew. I just realized I am drinking the stuff like an addict and I have a feeling that is part of the reason why I am so much on edge lately. I'm basically to the point I am hardly drinking anything else during the work day and that's not good... Not to say there aren't things getting on my nerves lately, but cutting back on the sugar and caffeine will help me get over that stuff a lot easier. I went down this route before in 2005. The end result? Well, I had a nervous collapse and basically alienated myself on forums and such. Once I cut down on the pop, I started doing a lot better. I'm posting this here so I can be reminded to CUT BACK ON THE FARKING POP! Stuff is like liquid crack...
  11. simbalion

    Emotional Issues

    By simbalion,

    Well, it seems I am having some emotional issues right now. I just realized I was misreading posts on a topic I started and was getting into a odd, sarcastic mood. Part of my issue is that my sleep is messed up again and I am not getting the rest I need before work each day. You can also say I am frustrated and tired of the town I live in. I love old buildings and such, but Dover, Ohio is a bad place to live if you like older structures. Our mayor got re-elected for a record 7th term and he is a typical boomer with his mentality set back in the 50's and 60's. That means he is trying to sweep away everything and recreate the town in his own image. Most of the oldest, canal part of town was destroyed in the late 60's and this guy has been systematically erasing the rest of it since he started into office in 1991. He demolished the 1850's brewery that the fire department wanted to restore and now almost all the little canal houses are gone so he can build his ego park down by the river. I have to drive that route every day to work and it sickens me anymore, adding to my building frustration. Yes, I now hate my home town.
    But, some of my emotional issues do stem from my panic/anxiety disorder and that has been bugging me too. Sometimes I think I need to move myself and my family out of this area and find a fresh start somewhere else where there is better opportunity, but the money isn't there to do so. Even if I was to sell off everything I owned, I still wouldn't have the money for us to move.
    So, sorry for my odd turns here of late. Hopefully I can get myself back on the right track here soon. Better sleep at night will go a long way towards helping that, but since I work in retail, I keep odd hours.
  12. simbalion
    I've been tinkering around for the first time on eBay for years, mostly to get a handle on what stuff is going for nowdays and am surprised at some of the price spikes certain items are seeing. Of course, I am always wondering if shill bidding might be involved and how much of this stuff is going overseas to foriegn bidders with deep pockets. As such, I always take values on eBay with a grain of salt as the old saying goes. Really, I quit eBay years back when they went paypal only.
    When it comes to eBay and auctions in general, I guess you could say I don't like them. I'd rather buy an item straight out rather than have to deal with ePay erm, eBay in any way. Yes, it can give you some idea on the value of a piece, but remember, IT IS AN AUCTION! There are always those nuts out there that go overboard on bidding and of course the whole bidding war thing. I am ok with someone basing some price ideas on eBay as long as they are willing to work with me and be fair about things.
    I suppose my opinions come somewhat out of being stung over the years. It seems if I want an item, the prices go sky-high, but if I try to sell an item, I basically get raped. That is a good description of the 6 antique radios I auctioned off at a local auction house a while back. First batch of stuff I took up made nearly $200.. cool. I took even nicer radios up last time and made... $40! $200 invested in that stuff over time, got $40 back out of it. So, that ended me with auctions again. I expected to take some loss on the radios, but not that bad!
    All I am saying is: We all need to take prices on eBay with a grain of salt, whether we are buying or selling items. I've seen both the good side and the dark side of eBay and how it can come back to really bite you in the arse!
  13. simbalion
    I just hit another road block with trying to sell some of my antique radios. I finally got ahold of Estes Radio Auctions today and once again, was told no console radios, especially the ones on legs. I guess what is happening is they are getting swamped with bidders only willing to pay five to ten dollars for a radio, no matter how nice it is, and then these buyers strip out the guts and leave the cabinets for Estes to dispose of. I guess is causing them to lose money, so no big consoles or big radio groups at all anymore. One question I have is: is there that much of a demand for parts from these radios that these bidders are willing to destory whole collections of radios for pennies on the dollar? One bit of good news is I have found an auction house that I might be able to sell my big postwar consoles and TVs through. If all people are going to do is butcher these radios, I don't think I am going to sell any of my prewar sets.
  14. simbalion

    Why I Miss the 80's

    By simbalion,

    I have seen these little lists before, so thought I would give one a try,
    Now, before I begin, I would like to note that there are several things I do like about today and would not trade
    for anything. Also, I will be noting what I knew in my own local area during that time. Even with the bad things
    that were going on, the 80's could be fun, so here we go.
    First off, I was a kid in the 80's! Yay!
    Things seemed more colorful then, from the clothes to even the stores.
    The only major worry I had was school.
    Computers were computers (though had some cool games.), game systems were game systems, phones were phones, TVs were
    TVs, etc.
    The future seemed bright and exciting, the present could be fun, and things from the past were still seen as useful.
    Computers and technology were just powerful enough to make life interesting, not run our lives.
    Also, there was quite a selection of about everything, computers included!
    Walmart? What the heck was Walmart?
    We actually had six department stores nearby and each one offered different things.
    The toys were fun, the TV shows were great, and so was the music!
    My town had more old buildings left and less vacant lots.
    If you wanted to play the best games, you had to get off your butt and go to the arcade!
    There were also arcade games in about every store and place your could think of!
    There was always someplace to go and you didn't have to travel over an hour to find someplace to go.
    Last but not least, the Saturday morning cartoons!
    I think that is about it for now.
  16. simbalion
    I'm not sure now old it was, but another old structure on Front Street in my town is gone. All to further an old man's ego trip of a city park. An observation deck is to be built there so you can get a really good look at a constantly filthy stretch of river and the smoke coming off the power plant. I'm not kidding, that's what you see from that spot. The city has secured $1.2 million in grants for that project and I am wondering if anything of the oldest area of town alongside the Ohio and Erie canal route will be left when the dust clears. Makes me sick...
  17. simbalion

    A Spooky Sight.

    By simbalion,

    I saw an spooky sight today in one of the local papers and looked it up after getting home from work tonight. This was a much talked about mall in its day, now it is just an abandoned shell:
    http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2015/02/10/snow-fills-abandoned-rolling-acres-mall/23163025/
     
    I never got to go there, but I find myself feeling a mixed sense of irony and sadness looking at these pictures. The irony comes from the fact that it was these type of places that killed off the old downtowns and now most of them are fading away. The sadness comes from knowing that these places were a lot of fun for my generation. This was where you went for just about everything. Our mall down here was small, but I have several great memories from it and even the larger mall that replaced it in 1989. Pictures like these really remind you just how temporary our modern world is. The old department stores of days past in the downtowns often stood and functioned for decades until the malls really hit in the 50's and 60's. I've read articles and have heard that the average life-span of a shopping center today is around 15 years, that's it! Even the great town killer, Wal-Mart seems to be starting to falter as it becomes a victim of its own practices and sites like Amazon (yes I use it too!) will only me more demises in the future.
    Even though I am into historic buildings, I still see this as a major waste. How much land was bulldozed to build this place? How many resources were used to build it and its expansions through the years? Now it is nothing but a rotting hulk on the west side of Akron, OH.
AtariAge
Forums
Store
General
Follow AtariAge

Copyright ©1998-2023 AtariAge

×
×
  • Create New...