The Common Cold

The common cold is easily the most popular and widespread of all diseases, but despite it’s ability to seemingly reach people from all countries and all walks of life, I think you’d be hard pressed (ouchie) to find someone who is really much of a fan of the common cold. The phlegm, fatigue and headaches that go along with it are often listed as its least appealing attributes, and for the most part, I agree. However, for me, it is the effects that the common cold has on sleeping that are worst of all. Inability to get to the right temperature, as soon as you start getting hot, you get too hot, and when you start getting cold, you get real cold, never able to get to that complete sense of sleep, weird prophetic visions ensue, leaving you confused, hopeless and thirsty and then you go get some water and then you gotta go pee. Most people will tell you that getting sleep is the best way to get rid of a cold, but when you have a cold, sleep isn’t easy to get, sleep has a cruel sense of irony.

Despite its many weaknesses, there is still something to be said for the common cold. Mainly, it makes you really appreciate being healthy. Our body is like a super complex machine (except, not really a machine) so it’s a wonder it manages to do what it does as well as it can. The ability to breathe freely and feel strong is a profound feeling of joy after being “under the weather” for a day or two. So basically, I don’t mind getting sick every once in a while (twice a year maybe). It gives me a feeling of accomplishment just for making it through the day. The common cold certainly does not come highly recommended, but, at least in terms of disease, you could certainly do worse. 4/10

NARC

Released:1988
Platform: Arcade (available on Midway Arcade Treasures 2 for Xbox, PS2 and GC)
Genre: Anti-Drug Shoot em up
Winners don't use drugs

You are the NARC. The task has fallen upon you to help clean up the drug infested streets of your fair city and end the reign of the K.R.A.K Corporation… I wonder what they could possibly manufacture at the K.R.A.K Company. Anyway, as the NARC, you can get up close to and bust the countless offenders, sending them off to rehabilitation and helping them get their lives back on track and become contributing members of society. Or you can blow them into tiny bits with your rocket launcher. Whichever tactic you choose, you can take solace in the fact that you are making your city a safer place for all the children who simply want to take a walk down the street. So long as they avoid the flaming limbs falling from the sky.

Even though it’s not particularly good, NARC is worth checking out once just to see some of the old school zaniness. About the time I was blasting missiles at a fat man in a wheel chair I couldn’t help but feel thankful to be playing a game with a positive message behind it.