Talking About the New School

Well, after many requests there has been interest in a topic of discussion amongst the various video game platforms since NES. So the table is open for discussion on any or all types of gaming at this point.

Let me start with Super NES. Not a bad little system if I do say so myself. I still play it to this day. The whole Mario Bros. Series really made a home with Super Mario World and it's sequels. Plus we were introduced to the wonderful Yoshi. Speaking of Yoshi remember the first SuperMario Kart? That game is the bomb.

The Megaman series continued onto SNES as well starting with Megaman X. I love this game but as of yet I haven't beaten it. It's just one of those games, like Zelda2 The Adventures of Link (NES) that I cannot beat. I keep trying though.

As for sports games Andrew and I used to wax it out tough on Madden College football. I Don't think I ever beat him, that stupid ass bastard. He was always Provo or College Station, and no matter what he would run circles around me . I suck. I should just end it.

I won't ever forget the moment the first time I saw the Play Station. This thing was leaps and bounds beyond anything I had ever seen. For me the first game to hit me was Resident Evil (another one I can't beat), and let me tell that game is pretty damn serious and scary. Running around that mansion and fighting off the rabid dogs or that huge spider down in basement. Oh man that was classic. Worst acting in a video game ever. Barry was such a deuche.

But the ultimate gaming experience for me as a collective venture would have to have been Twisted Metal 2. I was lucky to have 2 separate groups of friends with whom I could rip it up. The first was in college. The core being: Junkin, Terry, Clitter and Pistol Pete. Junkin was always Mr. Grimm or Spectre. Terry was Warthog or Axle. Clitter was Warthog, and Pistol Pete was whoever, probably Outlaw. I chose and still choose Shadow though I have a love affair for Thumper because it's pretty cool to burn people. I sucked, I never won.

The second group were a very experienced bunch of gamers that included: Andrew, Dave, Jeff, Jimmy D, and Matty T. They had their own thing going on way before I came on the scene. Apparently there was this mystical place called The Box where tires were shredded and Eiffel Towers were blown up. I never won with these guys either, I sucked. Noticing a trend in my video gaming history?

Twisted Metal was very communal. That's a good thing, but some games are very much about yourself. Case in point. Metal Gear Solid VR missions. I can play this game for months, and never beat it. But It's all about me, that controller, and Solid Snake. It's stupid too, there is no sense of accomplisment and yet when I start playing it I cannot let it go. Good times indeed.

Listen, these conversations can go on and on. People will want to talk about Xbox or Donkey Kong Country or Time for Teletubbies and whatnot, and why shouldn't they? It's all good fun. I'm not a junkie; as you can see I always lose, but I stil play as do you.

Anybody rememebr President Elect on Apple2e? Okay that was a stretch.

Now it is time for others to join in the discussion and state your gaming experiences. New School, Old School, High School, whatever.

Friday Joys to all.

Later,
Dee

Keeping the Legacy of Don's Wings Alive

There used to be a Golden Age of cuisine at the Dobson household. Oh yes there was a time when Big Don would put on the Cowboy hat, strap on the apron and cook up his prized Buffalo wings. He usually needed an excuse. A graduation party here, a birthday party there, a superbowl party over yonder. And we loved it. And everybody who ate one of his wings loved it. From Chris Mach to Rob Adams people would flock around the bowl and chomp away. We'd all line up begging for more and preying that they would not run out. I still believe to this day that his recipe is the best, despite the fact that he has toned down the intensity lately. No other wing holds water to a Don Wing.

And then, one day the wing making dropped off a bit. The family grew older. We split up. Graduation parties became far and few between as we had all moved closer to adulthood. And of course the biggest cog in the machine was Mom's ultimatum that Dad could not fry the wings in the house anymore because the oil soot was ruining the kitchen (Sorry Mom, but that sucks). He began to make the wings by donning the grill technique. This usually meant that we could only grace the pleasure of his tasty treats during the summer time. Now, don't get me wrong any Don Wing is a good wing, but a grilled wing doesn't hold water to a fried wing. I'm sorry Mom, that is truth speaking. And I do believe that a legacy has been lost. I don't know If I or Pat, or perhaps even Shan can take the reigns and begin frying again under Dad's tutelage.

As this summer approaches I am looking forward to BBQ's, Macaroni Salad, and grilled goodies. Hell, Dad just started making his kick ass homeade ice cream again after a healthy hiatus. The man knows his cuisine when he works his magic.

When I think about Don's Wings, I am duly happy and sad.

Happy that there were so many great memories and stories. People from Schenectady, Marlboro, and Selinsgrove always ask if my Dad is still making his wings. When he came to my Fraternity back in the college days for Parent's day he cooked up a batch and my friends just kept coming up to me saying, "Yo dude, your dad's wings kick ass." Go find Chris Manucci and bring up the name Don Dobson, you know what he is going to say, "Man those wings were wicked awesome, Dobbie!"

I am sad because they aren't fried anymore. I was hoping perhaps he could find a new venue to cook them. But it hasn't happened yet. For the past 5 years all wings that I've eaten have been grilled or baked. That's okay, but it is not great.

In a few weeks the Dobsons are going Buffalo to attend a wedding. As many people know Buffalo is where the Buffalo wing was invented. Perhaps, oh yes perhaps, the Chicken Wing Gods of Buffalo will spark the fire for a new generation of Don's Wings. They cannot disappear. It is our duty as Dobsons to keep the legacy of Don's Wings alive.

Love ya Dad,
Latro folks,
Dee