Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Double Damage is a great game that deals with these famous, well known cartoon and movie characters! Each of the stages are a challenge in which you will have to clear your way through all the clans you’ll face. In order to play this game, the controls to move left and right are located on the left and right arrow keys. To jump, press up. You can also be creative and try something new to achieve combos. To gain health, pizza will do the thing! By pressing key A, you will attack and if you press A while you are in the air, you’ll perform an air kick. Super game for everyone of you!

Cartoon Heroes: And here we introduce you a jigsaw game that will make you plunge into a pleasant mood, especially after a day full of duties. Rest your mind and feel fine through this puzzle game that offers 3 different cartoon hero puzzles on the main menu!

So, here is my list:

#10 – Sweet Caroline – Neil Diamond

Come on, you know you did the “Bum, Bum, Buuuum” after that.

This song is a classic, and everyone in the world knows what follows the words “Sweet Caroline!”. This is one of my cruising down the highway loving life songs.

#9 – Bust It! Young MC

Classic 1989, Young MC made this single and it has had a long lasting effect. The lyrics are actually funny if you listen to them – unless you’re like me and too busy dancing at a red light.

#8 – Under The Sea – Ignatio Crustaceo Sebastian

I don’t care what any body says, this crab is the bomb diggity. Try and tell me you don’t sing along, even in your head, when this song comes on, and I won’t believe you. Yes, I am 25, but I will groove and belt along with this song no matter what I am doing or who I am with.

#7 – Big Girl – Mika

Arrrrgh, one of my anthems!!! I feel sorry for the poor sucker beside me if this song is on. It generally goes “OMFGILOVETHISSONGTURNITUP!” and I’m positively useless for the next four minutes.

#6 – The Gambler – Kenny Rogers

It’s The Gambler. ‘Nuff said.

#5 – Fast Car – Tracy Chapman

Who doesn’t love this song? About a young girl bettering her life (or trying to, anyway) this is a gorgeous song about self sufficience and doing what you have to do to survive. I can thank my mum for getting me into this one.

#4 – Cherry Pie – Warrant

OMG – This song takes me back to my first ever solo drive on my P’s. I had this Pumping in my tiny little Hyndai but I was rocking it like I was back in 1990! This is one of those songs that you can’t help but know the chorus… even if it’s from it being so repetetive.

#3 – Total Eclipse Of The Heart – Bonnie Tyler

Another song that every sucker knows, this is the ultimate in road tripping with your best mate and singing along. It doesn’t matter what you do or who you are with, this song will make you turn up the volume and cease all conversation for the duration.

#2 – Count On Me – Bruno Mars

I just love the simplicity of this song – all about friendship and nothing else. Aside from Mr Mars’ delectable voice, this ballad is perfect to send to your mates who are having a bad day… although I don’t advice sending the lyrics while you’re driving. Police don’t like that!

#1 – Cartoon Heroes – Aqua

As if those of you who know me didn’t know this would be in here.
Tragic? Maybe. My favorite song? Definitley!!! And when it’s live it’s even better. I tend to stop paying attention to my surroundings and I have been known to have to set a speedo-alert when this comes on.

What are your car songs? I want to hear them!!!

“The debonair?”

When I say “attracted” I mean I believe I was actually sexually attracted to that cartoon tuna. I think I also imagined his taste, and a sense of sexy “slipperiness” that I have learned is certainly true of tuna sushi. Some of my friends, men and women, say that they masturbated from a very young age. This was not true for me, but I did feel discernibly “erotic” feelings for animated characters, for a few foods, and for certain smells.

At around five, I had been even more attracted to Tony the Tiger, the champion of Frosted Flakes. In fact I can’t stop thinking of Karen now when I see Tony’s sexy leap across the cereal bowl in the commercials of today. Tony leapt, then and now, with paws that looked like arms ready to embrace a person. He stirred me in a way I couldn’t explain.

Sometimes at 47, I will smell a particular “crazy, sweet smell” that made my nostrils flare when I was 3 and a half feet tall. It still stirs me, hard, so that I come to attention like an Army private. The scent was on my bamboo bathroom towel today, but what is it, smells like the woods in June, like an animal, like an armpit? It pushed my brain’s pleasure centers in a way that made me want to take it to my nose and smell it again and again and again, like (later) some girls’ panties. Did I encounter it en route to a family picnic, through the car window? Was it a forest animal’s pheromones?

[To be continued...]

(c) Donna Minkowitz 2012

The  generation Y audience had clearly come to fulfil many a childhood fantasy in seeing the groundbreaking euro-pop magic of Aqua, who conquered the late nineties with their multi platinum debut album Aquarium, sending nearly every parent nuts with the constant rotation of its 6 singles all throughout 1997 and beyond.

After many a DJ warming the stage and pumping up the crowd with what sounded like a best of Euro trash compilation, the lights dimmed as a deafening roar sent my heart racing.

All four original members took to the stage along with an extra guitarist, bass player and drummer.  Aqua looked no older to me than they were a decade earlier, one would assume the Danish age well due to their lack of sun. The band held a more refined and matured image yet still honed the fun, colourful charisma of their heyday.

Kicking off with a song from their most recent 2011 release, Megalomaniac that most people didn’t know gave everyone a chance to calm down and believe they were actually there, seeing Aqua live. They then broke into the epic anthem ‘Cartoon Heroes’ from their sophomore success, Aquarius- Driving an already hyped crowd into a screaming frenzy.

‘Dr Jones’ soon followed and the audience spat back every lyric with extreme enthusiasm. Lead singer and total babe Lene Nydstrom worked the stage in fishnets and mini-shorts atop a sexy faux-hawk.  Both Lene  and partner in crime Rene Dif (yes, Ken) were note-perfect – he contrasting his deep, raspy voice with her sweet, high-pitched soaring vocals. Aqua as a whole were an unexpectedly electrifying live act, with the added depth of their additional band members.

Aqua’s touring guitarist looked a tad out of place, head banging erratically across the stage wearing a cut off Slayer t-shirt and a ZZ-Top style beard encrusted in silver glitter. His comical existence stole the show as he lapped up the attention, a definite highlight by far.

Contemporary dance remixes of ‘Happy Boys and Girls’ and ‘My Oh My’ impressed and ballads ‘Turn Back Time’, ‘Aquarius’ and ‘We Belong To The Sea’ sent the lighters waving as we all got comfortable mid set.

It seemed a little premature when a medley of ‘Barbie Girl’ and ‘Lollipop’ (Candyman) began, and I must say I was a little disappointed with the remixes  as both songs lost their nostalgic familiarity as they were bogged down with dub step inspired delays and tempo drops, leaving some catchy hooks out of the mix.

Buckets of glitter were strewn over the first few rows and indicated the near end of the show. Aqua left the stage to the thunderous foot-stomps and desperate screams of a crowd who were not ready to end the dream just yet.

Gracing the stage several minutes after, Aqua happily played three more songs and lapped up endless praise, passing their hands through the crowd and conversing with their adoring fans. Rene then appeared on the second level of the theatre as the band broke into ‘Back to the Eighties’ and shared an intimate moment with the nosebleed section.

Just when I thought they couldn’t possibly have any more material to get through, Aqua whipped out some forgotten gems – ‘Roses are Red’ from Aquarium and the very last ‘ Around the World’ which was a perfect end to the night, as I spotted a few tears in some eyes around the dance floor.

Aqua delivered much more to their show than I could have imagined. Their theatrics were just as electric as in their videos; the band killed it on the live front and proved superior in the category of their late-nineties pop star peers.  It is my opinion that Aqua don’t deserve the label of one-album-wonders after hearing a steady set of memorable hits. Australian audiences had the chance to fall in love with Aqua’s European charm all over again, and in my mind have re-claimed their status as the world’s finest in bubblegum pop.

No. Me neither. But I’m becoming oh so resilient. These are my 10 steps to motivation.

1. On gracefully receiving rejection, spend ten minutes doing something proactive, so it seems you’re ok.
2. Give in to crying. If possible, call Marmy.
3. Give in to eating just about everything in your cupboard. Nutella works well.
4. Get a grip. Do this by thinking of the Queen. Or the film of the Queen. Get that British Stiff Upper Lip going. Repeat ‘Dignity’ to yourself whilst picturing either Helen Mirren or the Queen, whichever you find more inspiring.
5. Smile in that ‘I’m putting on a brave face’ kinda way. Even better if no one is around to see you personifying a cliché. Do it in front of a mirror with soaring music in the background and you get extra points.
6. Have a shower. Sing in that shower even if the neighbours complain. ‘Defying Gravity’ is a good choice but I prefer Mulan’s ‘I’ll Make A Man Out of You’.
7. Sort life out; tidy room, eat (proper) food, do filing, clean.
8. Get a whiteboard out and write A New Regime (not in a dictator/third reich way, mind). To Do Lists, Goals and Checklists.
9. Dance like a crazy person around room/house to ‘Cartoon Heroes’ by Aqua.
10. Apply for next rejection dream job. Yeh.

Dudley Do-Right vs Snidely Whiplash

Casper the Friendly Ghost vs The Ghostly Trio

Mighty Mouse vs Oil Can Harry

They didn’t have  girl superheros when I was of cartoon age. I wanted to grow up and save the day like Mighty Mouse, but in Casper style. I wanted to save the day, sweetly. Maybe that’s why I was drawn to counseling. I’ve worked in Corrections and at Crisis and Counseling Centers. I particularly loved the 20 years I spent on the road as a trainer and public speaker. Through all of that though, it became techno-color clear that saving the day is beyond my non-super human powers.

My focus now is on saving the moment.

In Oregon, I was a manager at a beautiful resort on the southern coast. My job was to keep people happy. Staff or guests, it was a mix of problem-solving, counseling and placating.

After work, Henry and I often headed the 120 yards to the beach.

With no leash law, Henry was in heaven, chasing gulls and playing tags with the surf. It was during a beautiful evening of romp and stomp that I saw the lovely couple from Australia I’d met earlier at the resort.

The husband called out me: Hurry! You have to save him!

My heart started racing. It’s called the Wild Oregon Coast for a reason! The waves are mighty and the water’s always cold. No one could last long, tumbling in that tide.

I can swim well enough to save myself in a swimming pool. I float really well so I could survive a long time in a lake. But my glorified dog-paddle isn’t well suited to the high seas.

Run, You have to save him!

I rushed to the spot where his wife was staring at the surf. Suddenly he was there, thrashing at my feet and then pulled back out on the next wave.

Please save him!

I knew it was too late, but that was a truth they weren’t ready to hear. I rolled up my jeans and waded out into the surf. I picked up the young, dying tiger shark by his tail and flung him as far as I could. Nearly 3 feet long and heavy, I only managed to clear the next wave.

Henry, the elderly couple and I watched as he washed ashore, 5 waves later. I looked at their faces and said, I just didn’t get him out far enough. They were having such a good vacation. I wanted to save the moment.

This time I carried him out until the waves were breaking about mid-belly. I adjusted my grip as he struggled to get free, staying clear of his teeth as I gave him a mighty hurl. The tide was going out so I figured this would buy about 5 minutes.

The couple held hands as they watched and waited. I knew it was only a matter of waves before he returned. Just as I was preparing to share the facts of life with them, they smiled and hugged me as if I were their real life hero.

Thanking me for saving their vacation, they walked back up the path to the resort. I rolled down my sea soaked jeans and watched the sun begin its slide when a familiar voice called out Hey Debbie! I want you to meet my grandson!

The grandson streaked past me crying: Grandpa, hurry, you gotta save this shark! Clayton has lived in Oregon a long time. He knew. But his grandson was visiting from Nebraska. They’d just stopped for a quick peek at the ocean before dinner. I looked at Clayton’s expensive loafers and the classy-casual clothes.

I looked at my already soggy, sandy self and said: Maybe I can help him clear the breakers. Clayton smiled. His grandson smiled. I didn’t bother to roll up my jeans.

I picked up my shark and once again rode the waves out and set him free. By the time I got back on the beach, the guys were beaming and heading for the restaurant.

As the sun finally dropped into the ocean, I was reminded that I may have to get my more than my feet wet to save the moment. And to be honest, there are times when I don’t want to make the effort.

Gate guarding in southern Texas, my feet, along with everything else, stay dry. Here, I have to be willing to swallow a little grit. It’s so much simpler than saving sharks. You’d think it would always come naturally but it doesn’t. I know I’m losing perspective when people become an interruption. All it takes at the gate is a smile, a few kind words and an occasional brownie. I’ll never save the day, but once in a while, I get the chance to save the moment. When I take it, it’s always worth it.

Click on image to enlarg.

While on this subject, I found a song on Youtube that really brought back memories of… something. Perhaps it was the delirium brought on by the excruciating pain of having a kidney stone followed by… say, a shot of morphine; or maybe it was one of those dreams that happens before dawn and then the light comes in and wakes you up and you forget it; it could even have been caused by over-watching Disney Channel until one of their commercials gets stuck in your head. Ah, yes… that was it.

Hence, Cartoon Heroes by Aqua. Probably one of the most infuriating and wonderful songs I’ve had the pleasure of ripping my ears off after listening to. Does that make sense? No? The grammar is bad? Oh well. I just listened to Cartoon Heroes. Try it.

Then I go look up Aqua on Wikipedia, wondering, as some might, where the heck have these people gone… In fact, they broke up after their second album was released (the one with Cartoon Heroes on it). Aww…

Another fact about Aqua, after the release of ‘Barbie Girl’,  (which was their first single and shot them (as in, out of a giant cannon) into international fame and/or revulsion for such a shameless, innuendo laden piece of bubblegum dance music) Mattel, who produce Barbies, as well as Hot Wheels cars (YES YOU BOYS! BARBIES DRIVE HOT WHEELS!) and other die cast model type things, sued them. This was, of course, because the group had used the Barbie name without asking (Bad Aqua, bad!) and not, of course, because little girls everywhere had suddenly got the idea of putting Barbie and Ken in a wholesome family relationship and ‘having kids’ or pulling off Barbie’s arms.

The little girls had been doing that anyway.

In 2002, the case was thrown out of court. Yay for Aqua! The judge ruled: ‘The parties are advised… to chill.’ [My triple dot and italics.]

I like this man.

To wind up:

Aqua does Pirates of the Carribean before Pirates of the Carribean, while exposing the joys of sado-masochism and also showing us that piracy (in general) is good: