Enjoy the Super Smash Bros Ultimate tournament! Maybe you will make it one day.
Brought to you by the... Baby Fu Clothing Co!
Your Light: A Musical Storybook... reviewed!
Sometimes we venture off the main path into left field, and today is one of those times as I review Jillian Aversa's... Your Light: A Musical Storybook. This one is for the parents (and parents to be).
Your Light: A Musical Storybook, is a pleasant bedtime story with the goal of parents, grandparents, and caretakers... bonding with the children in their lives.
It contains a musical element to enhance the experience... but since "Musical Storybook" isn't part of the title... I didn't realize that. Before getting into the details about the book I jumped in so that I wasn't anticipating anything presented in the package beyond the actual book. I immediately picked up on the lyrics. I was thinking, "It's written as if you can sing it", and... that's because it's a song.
The book showcases a baby bunny being put to bed before traveling off on an adventure in dreamland where it pursues a fallen star. There's a fork in the road where it must decide which way to go in order to continue, but it gains courage from the love and support given by mom and dad.
I won't give away the whole book, but I think its a good reminder to our children that we're there... and its a good reminder to parents of why it's valuable to be there (and speak words of encouragement). It's just nice.
I can picture the illustrations by Marina Lezcano being animated for the purpose of a music video.
The sound of the song is just as pleasant as the book, and could definitely be a nice read + listening experience for you and your little one before hitting the pillow. I've read and listened to it with my daughter for about a week and... she seems to enjoy (especially the bunnies). She will be 2 years old soon, so the added opportunity to be able to bond with her more... made this review special.
I plan to add this book to her nightly routine for the long haul because the message of the song is beautiful and its something awesome for her to experience with both my Wife and I. I probably won't be singing it anytime soon, but... to each their own.
The illustrations are delivered in a soft watercolor from start to finish, and definitely help set the tone for bedtime. I was ready to dive into my bed afterward... and actually did on two occasions this week.
Your Light: A Musical Storybook is available in paperback and ebook via Amazon. One thing I'd love to see is a board book version because once Clementine gets her hands on a book... it's bound to be ripped. I keep the paperback books out of reach now, but she has full access to the board books. So that's something for the Author to consider.
Speaking of the author, if Jillian Aversa's name sounds familiar... that's because she's a busy woman contributing her award-winning vocals to film, video games, etc. She's also a mom, so she wanted to use her talents to create a memorable experience for parents to share with their children.
The paperback version is $9.99 which is about average from my experience, but you also get the song. The eBook version is $3.99... which is sweet, but... I prefer the paperback version because the light could tempt Clemi to remain awake longer than necessary.
Overall, Your Light: A Musical Storybook is a bonding experience worth capitalizing on. At times we get too busy to just sit down and invest in some serious one on one quality time with our children... and it's super crucial that it's done. Many of us can look back on our own childhoods and wish there were more opportunities we could've had with our parents... so why not give that to your kids?
Your Light: A Musical Storybook, is a pleasant bedtime story with the goal of parents, grandparents, and caretakers... bonding with the children in their lives.
It contains a musical element to enhance the experience... but since "Musical Storybook" isn't part of the title... I didn't realize that. Before getting into the details about the book I jumped in so that I wasn't anticipating anything presented in the package beyond the actual book. I immediately picked up on the lyrics. I was thinking, "It's written as if you can sing it", and... that's because it's a song.
The book showcases a baby bunny being put to bed before traveling off on an adventure in dreamland where it pursues a fallen star. There's a fork in the road where it must decide which way to go in order to continue, but it gains courage from the love and support given by mom and dad.
I won't give away the whole book, but I think its a good reminder to our children that we're there... and its a good reminder to parents of why it's valuable to be there (and speak words of encouragement). It's just nice.
I can picture the illustrations by Marina Lezcano being animated for the purpose of a music video.
The sound of the song is just as pleasant as the book, and could definitely be a nice read + listening experience for you and your little one before hitting the pillow. I've read and listened to it with my daughter for about a week and... she seems to enjoy (especially the bunnies). She will be 2 years old soon, so the added opportunity to be able to bond with her more... made this review special.
I plan to add this book to her nightly routine for the long haul because the message of the song is beautiful and its something awesome for her to experience with both my Wife and I. I probably won't be singing it anytime soon, but... to each their own.
The illustrations are delivered in a soft watercolor from start to finish, and definitely help set the tone for bedtime. I was ready to dive into my bed afterward... and actually did on two occasions this week.
Your Light: A Musical Storybook is available in paperback and ebook via Amazon. One thing I'd love to see is a board book version because once Clementine gets her hands on a book... it's bound to be ripped. I keep the paperback books out of reach now, but she has full access to the board books. So that's something for the Author to consider.
Speaking of the author, if Jillian Aversa's name sounds familiar... that's because she's a busy woman contributing her award-winning vocals to film, video games, etc. She's also a mom, so she wanted to use her talents to create a memorable experience for parents to share with their children.
The paperback version is $9.99 which is about average from my experience, but you also get the song. The eBook version is $3.99... which is sweet, but... I prefer the paperback version because the light could tempt Clemi to remain awake longer than necessary.
Overall, Your Light: A Musical Storybook is a bonding experience worth capitalizing on. At times we get too busy to just sit down and invest in some serious one on one quality time with our children... and it's super crucial that it's done. Many of us can look back on our own childhoods and wish there were more opportunities we could've had with our parents... so why not give that to your kids?
Story 5
Illustrations 5
Quality 5
Price 5
5 out of 5 Cool Points
Get the book and download the song at www.YourLightBook.com
Google Stadia: This is how you rock the boat!
If Google doesn't mess this up... and they actually already have the structure in place for Stadia to be used the way they're presenting it (as seen below)... it could be worth the investment. If the price is right!
Google is approaching the mound of what other companies like Onlive have approached, and I don't want to jinx anything... but I think Google has made enough sound decisions in this department to do okay. Gaming is a different beast... but who knows, i'm optimistic.
The Stadia controllers look like they could use some work, but... I think they really have something on their hands that can break ground where others have failed. They already have multiple other products, and to actually use some of those products in combination with their gaming platform... brings gamers closer to something I've mentioned in the past.
You can turn your gaming session into an event without 3rd party software to make it tick. I don't want to jinx anything, but based on what they're presenting... it really does feel like that. YouTube can be tied in, chat, and who knows what else. Onlive didn't have the user base Google has, and they already have multiple mobile gamers downloading and pouring crap tons of hours into titles available on Google Play... so I really think this will work.
Enjoy the keynote and i'll get back to you with more gab in about an hour and 19 minutes.
Their controller connects directly to your wireless, and has other features like capture, but if they're allowing others to be used... some features should work with the tried and true that some of us hold near and dear.
If their controller is awesome, and the platform proves to be something built for the long haul... it could be worth the buy... (say it with me) if the price is right! One of the biggest pluses that Stadia could bring... (in my opinion) is the ability to play with more people. I wrote a "Dear Developer" post about how some games eliminate their own potential player base merely based on specs.
So to have something like Stadia that doesn't require gamers to have hardware to back up that desire to game... the player base should boom (plus they presented it as being open to cross-platform). There are people i'd love to game with more often, but usually don't because they're on alternate systems, or simply don't own one. Everyone I know has a mobile phone and a TV. Give me a sec (geeking).
Internet speed requirements will be the biggest factor next to price... when it comes to Stadia.
I really don't think that games will be a problem... because Google Play has already stood the test of time, unlike Onlive.
They're working on 1st party titles (via STADIA Games & Entertainment), which Valve has gone to sleep on (can't say Google won't do the same with Stadia, but lets see). It looks like Stadia will also have 2nd party titles, and 3rd party should be a major duh considering the user base Google has. There will undoubtedly be a bunch of re-releases.
K.A. threw out the possibility that Google might just be offering a streaming service of games that we already own, versus being competition for the... competition, but I highly doubt it. That would result in them using their resources to help you stream games you bought else where. Good luck on that.
This is how you rock the boat in a good way. Developers and gamers win. One thing that hasn't come up in the chatter is... how is it going to impact the iPhone? Google could rock the iPhone if you can't use Stadia on it, because gamers that really want it on their phones would be put in a position where they have to make a decision... or own two phones.
Options are good... and I hope this is yet another great one that brings more of us together for memorable game play moments. I could end this by saying "Thank you and Good Night!", but I have to bring up a potential downside.
Google allows you to report people on YouTube, and sometimes its a good thing, but sometimes... people get reported for no reason at all and channels get affected. That can wreck a gamer's channel, and potentially their account. Don't know how that will all work out, but i'm sure there will be enough vocal gamers out there to help them work out the kinks.
As seen in the announcement... Stadia takes launch in 2019, which might seem too soon, but they might be launching to get ahead of the competition like, Microsoft. Who knows how it might affect Xbox, but the writing on the wall is showing more and more (to me) as Microsoft turns to PC.
Google doesn't have a vested interest in consoles, so releasing something like Stadia that doesn't require hardware updates on our end... gets a thumbs up if it lasts, and... if the price is right.
THANK YOU, GOOD NIGHT, and... GAME ON!
SEKIRO: SHADOWS DIE TWICE
This is the second coming of... Tenchu. I'm sure of it. - Blu
DESCRIPTION
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Top Audiences Last Week!
Oh snap... oh snap... less than 10 people prevented Russia from taking the US from the top spot. The United States was working that defense like...
Who fought their way onto the list this week?!
United States
Russia
Germany
Ukraine
France
Canada
Romania
United Kingdom
Portugal
Brazil
Australia, China, and Japan came close... game on!
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Puro Sound Lab's SWEET PuroQuiet headphones... Reviewed!
Damn. Wait a minute... these are for kids? Consider me jealous.
So this package arrived at the studio recently... and I think I may have opened it up before the delivery guy got back to his truck. I was super curious about the quality. If two year old's are going to be handling these things... they have to be durable... but... how good do they sound? Let's find out!
My daughter Clemi (aka Clementine) helped me review Puro Sound Lab's PuroQuiet headphones.
These are the very first pair of headphones she's ever put on (ever)... but she's a toddler and... I'm super cautious about that sort of thing because noise-induced hearing loss is a very real thing. Luckily the nifty people at Puro Labs don't want anyone else to suffer those consequences after the unfortunate hearing loss of someone near and dear to them.
So Clemi helped me out with this review and looked super cute in the process. I know the company only allows the volume to go up so high with the limiter, but I had to double check the volume before I placed them on her ears. She had them on, danced a bit, took them off, and... put them back on again in order to listen once more.
Usually, I like to dive in and listen to a variety of audio myself, but... I more so wanted to see what her reaction would be. She was highly amused, and her expressions speak for themselves (as seen in this 3-month old photo of her).
She didn't want to take them off... which confirmed that they were comfy.
So instead of dealing with a potential tantrum... I let her enjoy a show. After the little song towards the end of the show, she took them off and put them around her neck. Dude... I was... super proud.
She didn't have to be instructed to put them around her neck either, so it really tripped me out (I geeked). The ear cups swivel and lay flat with no chin scrubbing at all (it's not that annoying partial swivel). Afterward, she got out of her little chair... handed me the headphones and ran over to her toys. So it was my turn to check them out.
You might be thinking... "How can you fit them on your adult-sized noggin when they're for kids?", and I'm glad you ask. The PuroQuiet headphones are geared to children, but... they're adjustable so that adults can also wear them (senior citizens included).
I think this was a great idea because you can literally share headphones with your children... and if you take care of the PuroQuiet's, they should last. I'll get to the quality in a bit.
So anyway, I adjust the headphones... put them on and they fit without being forced or giving my head an unnecessary bear hug. I turn them back on (with the flip of the switch) and they connect to my phone immediately. Thumbs up.
I forgot what I put on first, I believe it may have been something hip-hop or JPop related. Pretty sure it was Hip-Hop (a track with actual instruments used in the beat) and... it sounded... amazing. Really wasn't expecting that.
No offense to Puro Sound Labs, but I figured it was something for kids to enjoy some audio at a safe volume... and... it wasn't going to be to my standards. My assumption was totally wrong.
I can confidently say that a two-year-old will not appreciate the quality of these headphones as much as I do, but having that quality can help them better learn the words they hear and better recognize sounds. Clemi loves music, so the quality should help her identify instruments that she may see and hear in person.
That said... let's get into the details:
Puro Sound Labs sent over the white & pink headphones (which are technically... magenta), but they also come in black & blue.
The headband and ear cushions are wrapped in leather... which was a very nice touch. Clemi doesn't like taking them off, so the comfort is definitely there or... she would've tossed them on the floor.
The PuroQuiet also has AL6063 aluminum for enhanced durability. They mention this material, but I want to be a little more specific about it so that you get an idea of how durable it truly is. AL6063 aluminum is usually used for things like architectural fabrication, door frames, pipes, and even furniture. So when it comes to these headphones on an active 2-year-old's head... they should be okay (they're light weight too).
You have an active noise cancellation switch (just like the Bluetooth 4.0 switch). These switches are on the back area of each side, which make it very easy for your child to turn on.
Battery life on these headphones is 16 hours with ANC and 22 hours without ANC... which is sweet. They have a 290mAh battery to be more specific.
Your little one can also use these headphones to talk to you, grandparents, etc. The PuroQuiet features two integrated microphones... one for ANC and communication. Battery or not, your children can continue to enjoy these headphones via the 3.5mm audio cable.
For me, I got the best sound for music on the Bluetooth (no ANC), while the ANC made for better calling.
Using the audio cable or the ANC gave a slightly flatter sound.
The same applied to movies and games, the sound was richer with the ANC off and no cable... but the audio port is a plus.
ASMR was so much better with the ANC off. If you're familiar with ASMR, then you know that sound is key... and for me, it was like a boost in white noise when it was switched on.
The sweet wireless audio delivered by the PuroQuiet headphones... is thanks to its 40mm dynamic driver with a Qualcomm CSR 8635 DSP chipset. They also have a 32 ft wireless range... which lets your child run around without your phone or other devices the headphones you may connect.
According to Puro Sound Labs... these headphones contain Studio Grade Audio quality with their patent-pending Puro Balanced Response curve. Genuine studio grade audio, engineered to deliver an amazing listening experience with clear, crisp vocals and full, and dynamic bass all within an 85 dB volume limit.
I listened first, so that my experience wasn't influenced by anything said or read and... so regardless of what they say, I say that the headphones are awesome.
In the Box: Outside of the Puro Sound Labs PuroQuiet headphones and the audio cable, you also get a USB charging cable, the expected user manual, and a nice hardcover travel case.
***Oh... by the way, even if there is an 85 dB volume limiting feature, the suggested use is 8 hours for a day. That's according to the Hearing Health Foundation, so whether you're in the suggested range of 2 to 92... keep that in mind.
One con I could give these headphones... is the lack of a skip/previous button, but i'm trying to think of how that would work with toddlers. Granted, they could flip the Bluetooth switch off if they really wanted to... i'll give them a pass on this one.
Price wise these headphones retail at $149.99, which can be a bit pricey for some parents to get for their child. $99.99 would sweeten the deal a bit more because as parents... we have to keep money aside for clothes, shoes, and other surprises.
$149.99 isn't a stretch though, because... they won't grow out of them... unless they're destined to grow into the second coming of SHAQ.
So in conclusion... these headphones have great sound, they're comfortable as based on how long Clemi wore them, they feel durable, and toddlers can grow into them. I call that a win, and besides the limiter saving their precious little ears... it also spares the headphone speakers from being blown.
Usually, I like to dive in and listen to a variety of audio myself, but... I more so wanted to see what her reaction would be. She was highly amused, and her expressions speak for themselves (as seen in this 3-month old photo of her).She didn't want to take them off... which confirmed that they were comfy.
So instead of dealing with a potential tantrum... I let her enjoy a show. After the little song towards the end of the show, she took them off and put them around her neck. Dude... I was... super proud.
She didn't have to be instructed to put them around her neck either, so it really tripped me out (I geeked). The ear cups swivel and lay flat with no chin scrubbing at all (it's not that annoying partial swivel). Afterward, she got out of her little chair... handed me the headphones and ran over to her toys. So it was my turn to check them out.
You might be thinking... "How can you fit them on your adult-sized noggin when they're for kids?", and I'm glad you ask. The PuroQuiet headphones are geared to children, but... they're adjustable so that adults can also wear them (senior citizens included).
I think this was a great idea because you can literally share headphones with your children... and if you take care of the PuroQuiet's, they should last. I'll get to the quality in a bit.
So anyway, I adjust the headphones... put them on and they fit without being forced or giving my head an unnecessary bear hug. I turn them back on (with the flip of the switch) and they connect to my phone immediately. Thumbs up.
I forgot what I put on first, I believe it may have been something hip-hop or JPop related. Pretty sure it was Hip-Hop (a track with actual instruments used in the beat) and... it sounded... amazing. Really wasn't expecting that.
No offense to Puro Sound Labs, but I figured it was something for kids to enjoy some audio at a safe volume... and... it wasn't going to be to my standards. My assumption was totally wrong.
The first word that came to my mind was... damn.
I can confidently say that a two-year-old will not appreciate the quality of these headphones as much as I do, but having that quality can help them better learn the words they hear and better recognize sounds. Clemi loves music, so the quality should help her identify instruments that she may see and hear in person.That said... let's get into the details:
Puro Sound Labs sent over the white & pink headphones (which are technically... magenta), but they also come in black & blue.
The headband and ear cushions are wrapped in leather... which was a very nice touch. Clemi doesn't like taking them off, so the comfort is definitely there or... she would've tossed them on the floor.
The PuroQuiet also has AL6063 aluminum for enhanced durability. They mention this material, but I want to be a little more specific about it so that you get an idea of how durable it truly is. AL6063 aluminum is usually used for things like architectural fabrication, door frames, pipes, and even furniture. So when it comes to these headphones on an active 2-year-old's head... they should be okay (they're light weight too).
You have an active noise cancellation switch (just like the Bluetooth 4.0 switch). These switches are on the back area of each side, which make it very easy for your child to turn on.Battery life on these headphones is 16 hours with ANC and 22 hours without ANC... which is sweet. They have a 290mAh battery to be more specific.
Your little one can also use these headphones to talk to you, grandparents, etc. The PuroQuiet features two integrated microphones... one for ANC and communication. Battery or not, your children can continue to enjoy these headphones via the 3.5mm audio cable.
For me, I got the best sound for music on the Bluetooth (no ANC), while the ANC made for better calling.
Using the audio cable or the ANC gave a slightly flatter sound.
The same applied to movies and games, the sound was richer with the ANC off and no cable... but the audio port is a plus.
ASMR was so much better with the ANC off. If you're familiar with ASMR, then you know that sound is key... and for me, it was like a boost in white noise when it was switched on.
The sweet wireless audio delivered by the PuroQuiet headphones... is thanks to its 40mm dynamic driver with a Qualcomm CSR 8635 DSP chipset. They also have a 32 ft wireless range... which lets your child run around without your phone or other devices the headphones you may connect.
According to Puro Sound Labs... these headphones contain Studio Grade Audio quality with their patent-pending Puro Balanced Response curve. Genuine studio grade audio, engineered to deliver an amazing listening experience with clear, crisp vocals and full, and dynamic bass all within an 85 dB volume limit.
I listened first, so that my experience wasn't influenced by anything said or read and... so regardless of what they say, I say that the headphones are awesome.
In the Box: Outside of the Puro Sound Labs PuroQuiet headphones and the audio cable, you also get a USB charging cable, the expected user manual, and a nice hardcover travel case.
***Oh... by the way, even if there is an 85 dB volume limiting feature, the suggested use is 8 hours for a day. That's according to the Hearing Health Foundation, so whether you're in the suggested range of 2 to 92... keep that in mind.
One con I could give these headphones... is the lack of a skip/previous button, but i'm trying to think of how that would work with toddlers. Granted, they could flip the Bluetooth switch off if they really wanted to... i'll give them a pass on this one.
Price wise these headphones retail at $149.99, which can be a bit pricey for some parents to get for their child. $99.99 would sweeten the deal a bit more because as parents... we have to keep money aside for clothes, shoes, and other surprises.
$149.99 isn't a stretch though, because... they won't grow out of them... unless they're destined to grow into the second coming of SHAQ.
So in conclusion... these headphones have great sound, they're comfortable as based on how long Clemi wore them, they feel durable, and toddlers can grow into them. I call that a win, and besides the limiter saving their precious little ears... it also spares the headphone speakers from being blown.
Sound 5
Quality 5
Comfort 5
Price 5
5 out of 5 Cool Points
The hook up: Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Wildlands $17.49 ! ! ! !
If you're a fan of Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon games, don't miss out on this sale! Ghost Recon Wildlands for $17.49? Come on son!
Ghost Recon Wildlands drops you smack dab into Bolivia, where your team takes to land, sea, and air in order to defeat the Santa Blanca Cartel. You can play solo or with friends. Get low and keep your head on a swivel because the Year 2 Pass in on sale too and its featuring the one and only, Sam Fisher from the Splinter Cell franchise!
That's how you do DLC right. Give the right type of content that gives the supporters of these games the reason to pick up the game again. I don't want different outfits to play the same freaking missions. I want new adventures. I like this over a year to year sequel.
Brought to you by the... Baby Fu Clothing Co!
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