Showing posts with label STEM. Show all posts
Showing posts with label STEM. Show all posts

Captain Planet: The Complete Franchise... Reviewed!

This product was provided by Warner Bros. my opinions are my own.

Captain Planet: The Complete Franchise - A Nostalgic Journey with a Timeless Message

Time for a blast from the past with Captain Planet. If you aren’t familiar with the franchise, it revolves around the Planeteers, a group of five teenagers from different parts of the earth, handpicked by Gaia, aka Mother Earth, to come to the aid of the world that’s being destroyed by pollution. They aren’t going at it alone, because she equips each of them with different rings that represent elemental powers like earth, wind, water, fire, and heart to combat eco-villains.


The Planeteers and Their Mission

The Planeteers aren’t simply blasting enemies with rings; they face different challenges that requires them to think strategically as individuals and as a team. The rings certainly come into play when needed but they aren't the just blasting their way to solutions. When those challenges become too great, they combine their powers to summon Captain Planet, a hero created by Gaia based on the different elements. He doesn’t simply use all the powers the rings provide; he also has super strength and is basically indestructible like Superman, but his form of kryptonite is a direct attack with pollution. He even needs help from the Planeteers at times when pollution has him down for the count.

Considering the format and having to fit the show within a 30-minute segment, you do see and feel that the pacing of the show is sped up a bit in some areas to make sure that the show’s key points are represented (like the message presented to the audience at the end of each episode), but it doesn’t render the show unwatchable. You will notice a shift as we get deeper into the later seasons as well.


The Eco-Villains

Each episode reveals the dirty deeds of the eco-villains like Hoggish Greedly and the evil they’re dishing out on the planet. They also have to take on Looten Plunder, Verminous Skumm, and others like Dr. Blight, who is actually able to take on Captain Planet (but I'll leave it at that).



Visuals and Art Style

Visually, the show held up well, delivering a late 80s to mid-90s comic book-inspired art style for the animation. When you get into the New Adventures of Captain Planet, you will notice a change in the art style a tad, which is a bit more refined. The characters look similar, but you can tell there are some differences, and the Planeteers are older.



Why Parents Should Pick This Up for Their Family

This show is worth parents picking up for their children for more than a few reasons. It showcases teamwork, perseverance, the ability to do your part to impact the world no matter where you come from, your age, height, the ability to work together with others no matter where they come from, and the importance of doing good for the planet as well as in the world. Sadly, a number of people would hear this and call it fantasy, but the ability to contribute is a very real thing. Here's an example from my own life:

I was one of those kids who felt like what I contributed would make a difference, and it remains in me to this very day. We lived on a certain street in Fort Myers, Florida, at one point in my life that was pretty nice, but people would take trash and throw it on the ground when they passed through (I didn't get it). It was a road that ran between two major highways, and so people would utilize it often. I don’t know what it was, but when people saw trash, they saw justification to throw even more trash there. I didn’t care for it, and I grew up on Captain Planet, the Magic School Bus, and the elementary school that I went to was big on teaching recycling and promoting the preservation of nature because it’s good for the earth as well as humans and animals.

So with the approval of my mom (who didn't liter and was extremely supportive), I took trash bags and literally went up & down the entire street picking up trash until it was all bagged up. What happened after that was little to no trash being thrown on the ground on our street. Maybe they didn’t want to be the cause of the problem again, and our neighbors began taking better care of their yards. Maybe the energy rubbed off on them, and maybe it will inspire you too. By the way, there's an actual Captain Planet Foundation that I had no clue about. They work with kids to young adults up to 23 years of age in different capacities for each group (elementary, middle school, high school and beyond).


One thing I don’t care for is the New Adventures of Captain Planet’s intro theme music. I don’t know who heard that and thought it would really turn someone’s head, but someone lied to them in my opinion because it sounds bad.


Pricewise, you can get Captain Planet: The Complete Franchise for $99.99 SRP, which isn't bad for 15 DVDs packed with 6 seasons that serve up 113 episodes of over 43 hours of wholesome action. At the same time, we have to give you the hook up for $69.96! 


Overall, Captain Planet: The Complete Franchise is a nostalgic journey that still holds valuable lessons for today’s generation. It’s a solid 4 out of 5 stars.


Story 4

Visuals 5

Audio 3

Price 5

4.25 out of 5 Cool Points


 + Sophi 

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2023 Wishmas Guide... for Younglings!

 


It's that special time of year again... you're scratching your head wondering what you can get for your youngling, nieces, nephews, or a kid who simply deserves a nice gift. No need to worry ladies and gentlemen... the 2023 Wishmas Guide is here to erase the guessing games! Grab your cup of hot sip-worthy goodness... and get your click & scroll on!

Nintendo Switch Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Bundle: This Switch bundle includes Mario Kart 8 Deluxe + 3 months of Nintendo Switch Online. This gift will provide kids with an immersive and interactive gaming experience for on-the-go enjoyment and fun on the big screen. Great option for family fun!



Coding kits: As the importance of coding grows, giving kids coding kits will help them develop their problem-solving and logical thinking skills from an early age.



Robotic pets: Robotic pets are becoming more sophisticated and lifelike. They provide companionship and are a great way for kids to learn about responsibility. This particular robot is Eilik.



STEM building kits: Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) building kits enable kids to learn while having fun. These kits encourage creativity, problem-solving, and critical thinking.



Smartwatches for kids: Smartwatches designed specifically for kids with GPS tracking, educational apps, and parental controls are a practical and trendy gift.



Awesome storybooks: Storybooks with great artwork and storylines make reading more engaging, and a nice collection should foster a love for reading.



Art and craft kits: Encouraging creativity and imagination through art and craft kits is a timeless gift idea. These kits provide all the necessary materials for kids to explore and create their own masterpieces. The kit seen here has a convertible easel to draw both flat or at an angle.



Educational subscription boxes: Monthly subscription boxes that deliver educational activities and experiments are a great way to keep kids engaged and learning throughout the year.



Outdoor adventure gear: A gift promoting outdoor exploration, such as camping equipment, bicycles, or scooters, encourages physical activity and helps kids appreciate nature. The Docyke Electric Go Kart Kit is a constructible vehicle that allows your kids and teens to build their vehicle of choice. Great for children interested in mechanics.



Musical instruments: Musical instruments promote a love for music and creativity. Whether it's a guitar, keyboard, or drum set, learning to play an instrument can provide lifelong enjoyment and skills.



Work desks: Desks are a worthwhile consideration this year as parents look for options to promote fun learning and exploring in the world of tech, a desk gives your Youngling the workspace to avoid their experiments from covering the surfaces in the common area. There are great Black Friday deals at the moment.




Sophima | Guest Contributor
                          + BLU 

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2022 Wishmas Guide... for Younglings!

 


Hear ye... hear ye, thank you for checking out this 2022 Wishmas Guide for Younglings. Come right this way. While it won't exactly be a finger directly pointed at all products, the goal is to point you in the right direction regarding a gift that keeps on giving to your Youngling (well beyond the first week)!

There are parents curious about how to make the gifts last for the long haul, but at times... one of the biggest solutions is to back away from the quantity and consider the quality.

How often do you see your child actually using a select gift?

Is it an upgrade to something they didn't ask for?

Did they put the effort into figuring out what they wanted and why it would make a great gift? This is a question to put out there if you just don't know, and it wouldn't hurt to have them either right it out or explain it to you.

If they need assistance in tackling a list, consider this:

What are they into?

Toys



Gaming - Find out what platform do they have or want?

TV/Film

Art


Sports

I can't forget about this badass 2022 Toy of the Year Awards Winner that I wish I had as a youngling.

STEM



Martial Arts - Are they currently in martial arts or would desire to join? As a martial artist, I think this is one of those experiences that would go the distance for a youngling when you consider the discipline alone. Factor in the ability of your youngling to defend themselves, and this is a gift that keeps on giving. 

While there are online courses and videos, I don't know if I'd recommend that. Nothing beats the dojo and the in-person experience, plus classmates become honorary brothers and sisters in some cases.

I only recommend online training and videos if you aren't close enough to a reputable dojo.

Music

Photography/Videography


Education - Is there something you would like to help your Youngling learn via an online course? The various things you see here likely have courses that you can tap into so that your youngling can become even better with their gift. I mention this category because if it's a passion, it could ultimately blossom into a future career.




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AWP Pro Fingerless High Performance Work Gloves... Reviewed!


Many thanks to the AWP team for supplying gloves for this review. My opinions are my own.

I've utilized various types of gloves over the years and the ones that have a fingerless option tend to extend my tolerance regarding wear time. I need grip, durability, and comfort to decrease strain on my hands... at the right price. Do the AWP Pro Fingerless High-Performance Work Gloves measure up?
Let's find out.

Grip: I find myself using my exposed fingers a lot, so I do need full gloves at times, but... these work well for situations where I can go fingerless comfortably. 

When working, your fingers will get messy (duh of the day... they're fingerless) depending on the type of work you do, but if you're moving computers around and you need to replace parts or set up something... you're good to go. 

You don't have to worry about the material being in the way when screwing in something but you don't have to worry about it slipping... and the gloves cover the parts of the fingers where it should. 

The extended fabric below the finger works well... and it's not connected to fabric that runs around to an equal length so the bend is much better.



Durability: In terms of durability, it's safe to say that these gloves won't fall apart. I've even tested the finger holes on these gloves to see if they'd rip if I stretched them a little and... they didn't. I didn't go all in on the stretch, but I added some oomph to the pull. I also tugged on various parts of the glove to see/hear any potential ripping.

I haven't had the chance to do a great deal with these gloves just yet, but my experience with them has been good enough to check off that they're durable.


Comfort: Comfort is okay. I like them in terms of wearing these fingerless gloves for a longer period of time without feeling like my hands are in a compression sweat suit. On the other hand, there isn't padding in the palm area to help decrease strain when working for long stretches of time. The backside of the hand has padding, which is a plus when you need to stand up when getting off the ground using your fist.

To be honest, I've also used these to hit a punching bag as well. They feel nice, and outside of the fingers not being covered, these gloves have other breathable areas.


Price: Pricewise... the AWP Pro Fingerless HP Work Gloves are available for $10.47 for large, and $11.97 for extra large. Not bad at all. I would have some pushback if they were $15 to $16 because there are comparable options out there with increased grip and padding.

Overall, these are some nice gloves that I'd reserve for certain jobs where I need my hands to be more flexible and I need to do more technical things with my hands.



Grip 5

Durability 5

Comfort 4

Price 5


4.75 out of 5 Cool Points





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