The Mario Kart series is a magical franchise. In the decades since its inception, it has strengthened as many friendships as it has shattered. Despite being a development studio whose audience is primarily children, Nintendo sure has a knack for making the most frustratingly competitive games. Heck, the only games that top Mario Kart in terms of injecting tension into friendships are Super Smash Brothers and Mario Party. Although new entries Mario Kart franchise continue to release, we all have…

The day I found out that Michael Crichton's “ Jurassic Park ” was an optional reading for a project in my honors biology class was one of the only times the public school science curriculum sent me over the moon. It was later that day that I learned the hard lesson of just how different movie adaptations can be to their source material. I grew up like a lot of children; enamored with the concept of dinosaurs. In the same way that monster trucks appeal to children, the awe-inspiring massiveness…

You know what they say about insane parents , can't live with them, can't live without them despite your best effort to rid them from your life. There's no perfect parent-and-child relationship. Even the best families still have hiccups now and then. There are a lot of lucky people out there with some of the best, most sane parents imaginable. And that's incredible! But we're not here to talk about you guys, sorry. Some of us have been cursed with the most deranged parents imaginable. I can per…

If you keep making that face, it'll get stuck that way

Fearing the dentist is a strange, but reasonable fear. Most people don't fear a check-up from a general care practitioner , so why is the dental check-up so fearsome? It really comes down to the fact that if you've let your teeth go, there's a pretty good chance that the dentist will want to put a drill inside your mouth. Obviously, they want to help you, but the idea of the equipment literally digging into your exposed bone gets a little scary. I find it best to just take good care of your tee…

Memes for dads, papa's, zaddy's, and daddy-o's everywhere

There are few things unanimously loved by audiences across the board as the Shrek film franchise. The first movie came out some 20 years ago, but it's aged with perfection. The jokes hold up, the characters are as charming as ever, and it's as fun as it was when I first saw it as a child. If I had to put on a movie to entertain a group comprised of a full range of generations, you know I'm choosing “Shrek 2." It's just impossible to hate the ogre and his crew. While the movies are still widely…

I wasn't born yesterday, nor was I born in a period before the internet. I was born at just the right time when memes were readily available by the time I was functionally able to use the internet. I've lived and breathed memes ever since I learned to use a keyboard. Sure, my brain developed around the usage of the internet for entertainment, but I wouldn't have it any other way. I love memes and they've been there for me longer than anything else. Surely, you feel the same way. You've decided…

Who amongst us has never played with Legos before? It's a universal experience. Legos are the absolute king of children's toys. In fact, they're probably the dominant franchise for recent age groups. Various well-crafted Lego video games, a slew of movies, the toys themselves, and even television shows! Lego saw the potential for its brand and hit it out of the park. That's not to say that Legos don't appeal to every age group , it's just that they're a well-run company for this current generat…

For certain generations, Minecraft is a foundational part of childhood. Akin to learning to ride a bike or losing your first tooth, everyone remembers the first time they encountered a creeper. It's a bit hard to describe to older and younger audiences the initial phenomenon that was Minecraft . Think of it as you would Pokemon, Fortnite, or Roblox. Things that have dominated the lives and cultures of young people. Personally, Minecraft was the de facto franchise for my generation. I spent my m…

There's nothing sweeter than a gracious grandma. They're there to talk to you, comfort you, cook for you, and love you. While they weren't always the most exciting trips, visiting grandma as a kid was always a treat. While your parents are responsible for raising you , grandmas are responsible for treating you. Great gifts, copious amounts of food , coddling you, and, if you're lucky, a little bit of money slipped into your hand as you leave her house. Now, my grandma was nothing like this and…

It doesn't take a dad to tell a good dad joke. Sure, any given father has a base selection of pun-laden dad jokes to employ as needed, but cheesy wordplay is for everyone! Even if it's groanworthy, who doesn't like a dad joke ? My father was chock full of weirdly complex dad jokes. Sure, I understood them as I grew up and gained a better understanding of language, but my six-year-old self had trouble comprehending a lot of the puns . At the time, it just seemed like my dad would just say outlan…

Growing up, pizza was one of the best things in the world. It was more than just delicious, the presence of pizza often signaled a good time. Cheap, but tasty Little Caesar's at sleepovers, pizza day in the school cafeteria, eating a big pie with your soccer team after a win. Pizza is nostalgic, it's a core part of so many people's childhood. That's not to say pizza has no place as an adult. Ordering a pizza for delivery is a convenient and tasty experience . It's good in a pinch or when you do…

Relatable dad memes for father figures who really nailed this whole parenting thing.

SpongeBob SquarePants has run for over 20 years. You'd have to live under a rock to not understand the cultural gravitas of this iconic marine life series. That was a pun that referred to Patrick's living situation, but who in this world isn't hip to SpongeBob ? The show spans generations. People who grew up watching it could very well be raising children that are currently watching it. It's a phenomenon for a very good reason. While it's easy to disagree on the quality of later releases, the i…

I know without a hint of doubt that I never want to be a parent. I just don’t have it in me. I’m terrible with children. They annoy me, they’re sometimes gross, and they make huge messes. I don’t know how you’re supposed to talk to kids without patronizing them. The overall arrangement wouldn’t be good for me or the child. But that doesn’t mean other people shouldn’t become parents. There are so many responsible, incredible individuals out there who would make perfect parents. There are also th…