Articles written by JohnJaySmith - Page 3

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About me - JohnJaySmith

I like writing. I also like forest preserves, peanut butter cups, cute girls, and Optimus Prime.

My first novel, "Psychics and Swords: The Amazing and Totally Plausible Adventures of Steve Walton" is available for purchase on Lulu or on Amazon.com. It's a

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Hobbies & Games > Video Game Reviews Best video games ever: 62 of 114
There have been many spectacular games of many different varieties, so it'd be near impossible to really get a perfect list of top video games of all time. This, however, is my attempt. These are what I consider my top ten all time video games, keeping in mind two things. First, I tried to include only one game for each seri... More..
Hobbies & Games > Video Games (Other) My favorite video games and an explanation of why they are my favorites: 14 of 25
These are what I consider my top ten all time video games, keeping in mind two things. First, I tried to include only one game for each series. I could easily make a top ten list that was half Legend of Zelda games, but what's the point of that? Second, there are popular games and series of games that I've just never gotten ... More..
Entertainment > TV Show Reviews TV show reviews: Venture Bros.: 4 of 7
The Venture Bros. is, for my money, the most hilarious and brilliant cartoon since the seasons 3-6 of the Simpsons. The characters are fantastic, and some how manage to have depth while seeming to be nothing more than one-dimensional parodies and caricatures. The humor ranges from subtle satire to broad in-your-face slapstic... More..
Entertainment > Movie Genres Zombie movies: Which are more effective, fast zombies or slow zombies?: 34 of 58
There's a certain terror about a slow zombie that can never be truly captured by the fast variety. I love zombie movies of both varieties, but there are many monsters out there that are fast. With the slow zombie, you're confronted with an entirely different sort of horror. The slow-zombie movies usually feature groups of we... More..
Entertainment > Movie Genres Have Hollywood horror movies gone too far?: 36 of 58
I'm a huge free-speech advocate, and I'm not in favor of censorship or accusations of "going too far", not in the sense of trying to force others to stay away. Having said that, I do have my own personal feelings on when something is going too far, and I personally feel that some so-called 'horror' films have gone too far fo... More..
Hobbies & Games > Kids Games & Toys Are Bratz dolls appropriate for young girls?: 32 of 44
Ultimately, the decision in regards to toy appropriateness rests on the parents. They know their children best and can make the best decisions about what the child can and can't handle. Having said that, here is my two cents on the Bratz dolls. I never knew much about girl toys, other than what I saw on TV commercials, until... More..
Arts & Humanities > Helium Dos & Don'ts How Helium can improve: A writer's perspective: 16 of 22
Curse you, Helium, for being so wonderful and so problematic! Overall, yes, this is a great, addictive site. But there are some problems that should be fixed. First of all, what's the deal with the ranking process? What is the exact way that it works? How much more weight does an article get from being "far" more useful, as ... More..
Creative Writing > Novel Excerpts Novel excerpts: Dark fantasy: 110 of 149
Chapter 1 They called her Shant, her captors, amusing themselves with the nickname even as they abused her, consumed her life, and assailed her soul. She was always bound, usually gagged. They kept her stashed away in a small, dank, abysmal room, but sometimes they took her away to clean the room. And sometimes they also too... More..
Entertainment > Entertainment (Other) Comparing Netflix and Blockbuster: 13 of 16
First I'd like to say that I use Netflix, and while I've rented at Blockbuster, I've never used their mail-rental service. But judging from the other reviews I've read, the one and only reason anyone seems to favor the Blockbuster service is that they can bring their mail rentals to a store for a trade. But I don't understan... More..
Creative Writing > Novel Excerpts Novel excerpts: Sanity: 19 of 23
(Excerpt from "Psychics and Swords: The Amazing and Totally Plausible Adventures of Steve Walton") I pulled my car into a parking spot and popped the door open. As I unbuckled the seatbelt, I noticed a familiar shape visible in the rearview mirror. I stepped from the car and turned around. "Cram? How did you get here so fast... More..