Yooooo I just got back from a Bucks game. Giannis dropped about 40 points and they still lost…. good thing I’m from Minnesota! GOO WOLLVESS GO WOLVES AWOOOOOOO !!!!!!

Anyways happy Monkey Monday, it’s been a very very busy and stressful week, but here we are on Sunday night, throwing this together, for I must not let down all the loyal fans! Got a movie review for y’all, some board game recs, anddd maybe an interview, we will see if I end up having time to conduct one. HERE WE GOOOOO!!!!

Monkey Monday 2# 9, dunking in…

Board Games!

If I have free time (which isn’t often during the school year), I like to dabble in board games! I have a couple neat board games with me at school, so I’ll do a little showcase for y’all, and maybe one of these’ll strike your fancy, and you can give it a try! (preferably with me please)

Corvids

First on the chopping block we got CORVIDS, a game that my mom found somewhere, and instantly thought of me, as Corvids are my favorite family of birds. So of course she bought it for me (love you mom).

The point of this game is to take turns using your beak (tweezers) to peck (grab) these little scattered cards, collecting trash for your nest! Depending on what type of bird you are, you will have certain secret objectives to help you win. You can steal, use abilities, etc. etc., but ultimately it comes down to flipping the most cards over on your turn and collecting the most junk. I’ve only played it once, and I enjoyed it! It’s simple, but can get pretty chaotic and competitive. Not the craziest game I have ever played, but it’s good for a fun night with family or friends!

Ripeness: 5/10

Spots

SPOTS! I love this game. The goal of this game is to acquire and score 6 dog cards. You do this by rolling dice, and getting the correct number of dots to match an open space on one of your dog cards.

At the start of your turn, you choose one of the 6 trick cards, and do whatever action it tells you to do. This may include rolling dice, grabbing treats (which are used to re-roll dice), or some other strange thing. If you roll a dice and can’t place it anywhere, it gets dug in the doghouse! Dig over 7 spots, and you bust! Losing all your progress.

This game is sick. It’s such a fun combination of strategy, luck, and managing your economy. AND you can choose which 6 trick cards will be in play every game, so you can essentially create new combinations and have a unique game every time you play!

Ripeness: 9/10

We’re Not Really Strangers

We’re Not Really Strangers is one of the most unique games I have ever played. The objective isn’t to win, or lose, but to get to know the person you’re playing with.

You and a partner sit down, and take turns drawing cards and asking each other the question on it. You start with Level 1 cards, which are surface level questions, like “If I were an ice cream flavor, what do you think I would be?” and at your own pace, move up to level 2, which are more thought-provoking questions (see the image above). Eventually, you will move on to level 3, which are quite vulnerable and honest questions that will really dig into who the other person it.

This game is really special. I’m not really a fan of friendships that revolve around having fun, like going shopping or watching a movie. I’d rather build a real relationship with the person, and this game lends itself towards that so well.

Whether it’s someone new in your life that you mutually want to get to know each other better, or someone you’re already close with, this game is really sweet and can’t recommend it enough.

Ripeness: 10/10

Couples

Couples is the same exact game, except designed for romantic relationships. This game (obviously) is a lot less flexible than the original, as you (hopefully) can only play it with one other person. But it’s just as genuine, and can evoke some really honest, sweet conversations between partners. The Level 1 cards in this game are kind of pointless, as you’ll probably know most of the answers already, but the level 2 cards can ignite some really thoughtful discussion. The level 3 cards are generally pretty crazy, like “plan a surprise for your partner this month, and follow through with it”.

So yeah, basically the same game, although I would say a tiny bit less effective then the predecessor, as I think these games work super well as an icebreaker with people you don’t already have a deep relationship with.

Ripeness: 8.5/10

Boop

We’re finally here. We’ve made it. I can finally talk about boop.

boop is the definition of a modern classic. A game that seems like it’s been around forever, like Tic-Tac-Toe and Checkers, when in fact it’s not even 5 years old.

The premise of boop is simple. Line up 3 kittens on the board to create 3 cats in your inventory, and line up 3 cats to win. The catch, is the boop mechanic. Every time you place a piece, all the pieces 1 space away get booped a space. This game requires strategy, tenacity, grit, toughness, intellect, and everything in between.

There’s so much to do with such few rules: boop the kittens with the big cats, boop your cats to line up your other cats, boop your opponents kittens off the edge!

Anyways, this game is epic. Play it.

I have a 10-3 win/loss record with Lucia. Get booped.

Ripeness: boop/10

-Nate

Pick of the Week

This weekend, my good pal JJWT and I played some Nintendo. He asked if he could put on some music, I started a Spotify jam, and he put this stuff on.

FLYING BEAGLE is a super epic Japanese jazz album. This album will make you feel like a zany dog racing through Coconut Mall in Mario Kart. I don’t really have much to say here. It’s pretty sick. Go listen. Make that beagle happy.

-Nate

Is It Ripe? MOVIE EDITION

It’s Bulkin time.

Recently, my friend Jonah and I sat down to watch a movie, and I got to pick: The Amazing Bulk. While I’ve never seen the movie, I was a little familiar with Bulk, and knew what I was getting myself into. Jonah? He had no idea.

The Amazing Bulk is an innovative, masterful work of cinema, created in poverty with a budget of $14,000. This Action/Thriller/Crime/Drama follows our main man Hank, as he works hard in his science lab, trying to perfect a serum that will help humanity! Sadly, he isn’t having much success, and after over a hundred failed experiments, he is starting to get frustrated (I wonder why).

Then the military threatens to shut him down unless he shows results! Frustrated, and scared, Hank does a “You want results, I’ll show you results!” and injects himself with his serum. (What folly!)

What follows is a hallowing tale that portrays the greed of man, the insatiable, unsatisfying thirst for power, as our hero Hank must hunt down the evil Dr. Werner von Kantlove, who has been firing missiles at the Taj Mahal, the White House, New York, the Sydney Opera House, and many, many other places.

I don’t wish to spoil this absolute classic for anyone who hasn’t seen it, but there are epic twists and turns that this movie takes you on. The movie climaxes at the great chase scene, which I can’t spoil, but man it is amazing. Go watch it, it’s free on Tubi.

-Nate

Ripeness: 0.3/10

Interview Time!

BOOM!!! No Time to interview anyone! Sorry guys that’s two weeks in a row. Interview next week (I hope 🙏)

Here’s an awesome meme instead:

-Nate

Ashley’s Animals

Parin’s Proverb

Quan Quotes

Verse Of The Week