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In the interest of full disclosure I should admit that I’m not a huge Call of Duty fan. Actually, that’s not entirely accurate; it’s more a case of not having been a COD fan for a while, a good while, in fact. If I’m brutally honest, the last Call Of Duty that I really enjoyed was Modern Warfare in 2007.  I started to lose interest in the series when it decided to push beyond historical and contemporary battlegrounds in favor of futuristic landscapes and environments.  That’s not to say that I have an issue with futuristic FPS (full person shooter) games –  I’ve lost weeks, if not months of my life to Destiny 1 & 2 – but futuristic weapons and exoskeletons aren’t what I wanted from Call Of Duty.

Of course, it’s easy to take what should be the right ingredients and still end up with a complete mess, but thankfully Sledgehammer has whipped up quite the appealing AAA – FPS shooter in the shape of Call Of Duty: WWII.  That doesn’t mean it’s perfect, but it definitely signals a return to form for the franchise.

Campaign:

The visuals are outstanding, not just the photo realistic representations of your squad and the terrain that they live in, but the dynamic effects of rain, mud, rubble, dust, smoke and fog.  Those visuals, joined with earth shattering sound effects – you really want to play this on a surround sound system if you can!

The campaign plots a course through Europe, with the obligatory D-Day landing carnage that throws you into the thick of the fight from the get go. There’s no open world to explore here, it’s an old school ‘on rails’ story, but it’s engaging and leaves you wanting to push on through the next chapter every time you complete a mission. What Sledgehammer has created is the best single player COD experience in years, taking me back to the very early days of the Xbox 360, when COD was the stand out game on the system. It’s honestly worth buying Call Of Duty: WWII for the campaign alone.

Multiplayer:

This review has taken me longer than anticipated to write, because the multiplayer side of the equation was rather unreliable when the game first launched.  In the first few weeks, I found myself unable to connect for hours on end, and then, when I could finally get in, I’d be kicked mid match.  No Beuno!  In response, they have temporarily disabled some social elements to help with server issues.

Thankfully, those problems, for the most part, seem to have been resolved for now, and the result is the best Call Of Duty multiplayer experiences I’ve played in years.  I generally prefer the slower pace of Battlefield or Destiny multiplayer, but the balance of weapons and maps seems to hit a sweet spot.  There’s also a lot of game modes available, with classics like Team Deathmatch and Domination keeping old school veterans like me happy.  But if I want something a bit more demanding, something with a real sense of team achievement, War mode will deliver the challenge.

Zombies:

Ahhh ZOMBIES! This latest zombie installment is definitely tougher than previous versions, and demands more effective teamwork to survive, but jump into the fray with a few friends and the hours will fly by before you notice.

Die-hard Call Of Duty fan?  Then you probably pre-ordered WWII months ago and need no convincing, but if like me, you’ve become a bit jaded towards the franchise then it’s worth giving this latest installment a try.  Server issues, campers, and quick scopers are still a plenty.

Furry Friend Pet Tech

It’s down to the grind, when we’re all caught up in the hustle bustle of the holidays, checking off those gift lists, making sure no one was missed… but what about those furry friends in your life?  Do you include your beloved pet in your Christmas gift giving?  There are actually many tech products out there these days that could improve you and your pets life!  Let’s face it… it’s basically a gift to yourself and who doesn’t enjoy that?

The Furbo Dog Camera is a Webcam and treat tossing device that kills two birds with one stone and gives you a piece of mind when you’re away.  With 1080p HD video and infrared LED night vision, you can not only spy on your pets activity, but capture photo & video footage to share with family and friends.  The 2-way audio option can help prevent separation anxiety so you can talk with them and ease their worries or coax them off the bed if they’re being too lazy.  Other features include treat tossing and a bark alert.

Does your pet suffer from separation anxiety, fear during thunderstorms, excessive barking, or crate training issues?  The Pet Acoustics Bluetooth Speakers Calming Canine mobile Bluetooth speaker is loaded with music by Pet Acoustics that are clinically proven to ease your dogs anxiety.

Have a pet that requires a special diet?  Try the Petkit Fresh Smart Digital White Feeding Pet Bowl!  The digital scale shows you the weight of the food in the bowl so you have better control of their portion sizes.  It’s great for pets who have special diets for health purposes.  The Smart bowl is also Anti-Bacterial for added freshness.

If your pet is fairly reliable in the lawn but you’re worried about them wandering off on a random whim, the Whistle 3 Dog & Cat GPS Tracker & Activity Monitor could work for you.  This app based GPS tracking system sends out a whistle when they wander close to their boundaries.  In addition, it logs their daily activity and lets you know of any drastic changes. The best candidates for this, would be elderly pets so you can have a piece of mind that they are safe and sound. I don’t think I’d recommend this for highly active dogs prone to running off, though.  A full-blown containment system might be a better alternative for those personalities.

Does your cat need some new entertainment?  The PetSafe Cheese Cat Toy  is like Wack-A-Mole for cats!  The mice pop in and out of each side of the Swiss cheese block so your cat can play peek-a-boo all day long.  Endless fun for your little feline!  While you’re away, the cats can play!

Don’t make your small pet miss out on all the fun… take them with you in a Cat and Small Dog Sling!  They’ll feel safe, involved, and you don’t have to worry about their whereabouts.

The fetching pooch will never be bored with an automatic ball thrower!  The All for Paws Interactive Fetch’N Treat Dog Toy will be dog’s best friend, when they get a treat for bringing the ball back.  For active dogs, this is a great source of endless exercise and fun until they tire themselves out!

What cat or dog doesn’t go ballistic over a laser… PetSafe Bolt Cat Toy could be the light of their lives and keep them entertained both with and without you in the house.  Either hold the wand in your hand or set it on a table and let the rolling ball project random light patterns all over the room.

We all have bad habits.  If you’re having problems keeping your fur-friends out of inappropriate places (such as the toilet bowl!) providing them with their own dedicated Refilling Toilet Water Bowl could satisfy their nasty needs.  The refill tank on back provides an added benefit since you won’t have to refill their bowl as often! 

Ok, this one may only be appreciated by the most obsessive cat owners out there, but it’s worth mentioning.  If you have an Echo, you can get an app called Meow Skill that acts as a virtual cat so your kitty can have a back and forth conversation with Alexa… in meow talk.  Yes, the app will meow back to your cat each time it meows.

Happy meowing!

Resolution maker?  Resolution breaker?  At least you tried, right?  Here are some unique ideas to break the mold of the typical goals people set to see if you can stick it out a little longer!

Don’t just pick some willy-nilly goal that you already know you’re not going to uphold just because you Googled the top 10 resolutions of 2018 (in case you’re wondering they’re;  1. Improve your fitness, 2.  Eat better, 3. Quit smoking, 4. Quite drinking, 5. Learn something new, 6. Travel more, 7. Volunteer, 8. Meet someone, 9. Sleep more, and 10. Get out of debt,  according to Finder.com). There, now you don’t have to waste your time on Google!  You’re already getting more efficient for the New Year. Congratulations!

Instead, consider some alternatives here that we have broken down by personal goals, student goals, and business goals to give you some more things to consider in the coming year.

Personal goals

1. Focus on long term goals that will help you all the way into 2019, not just 2018!
2. Yes, plank… it’s good for the core! Look it up here.
3. Enjoy the little things. Take time to stop and look around and enjoy things you don’t typically notice during the rush of your day.
4. Increase your emotional intelligence (EQ). What the heck is EQ?   Click here.
5. Get your documents in order. Take a moment to make sure your vital documents and cards such as birth certificates, marriage licenses, passports, etc are together and safe.  Consider a living will at this time too!  If you need them through the year, you’ll know exactly where they’re at.
6. Start a blog.  Have a passion for cooking?  Creating things?  Traveling?  Start snapping those pictures and create a fun blog that your family and friends can follow!  Blogger.com even has a Blogger app to make it easier to keep up!
7. Take a selfie in a new interesting place each month to encourage more exploration in your life.  You never know what fun, new places you’ll find right around your area!  Google your town and start there.  Start by searching your town on TripAdvisor.com and go from there.
8. Contact people you once knew. Rekindle those friendships that faded away as life got in the way.  Especially if you don’t have time to meet new people… there are plenty you already know!
9. Make a bucket list and start crossing it off.  Start with those “I’ve always wanted to ______” things.  Immediately after you make the list, pick one thing on the list and start making plans to actually do it.  Get in the habit right off the bat!
10. Turn off your phone at meals. Spend more quality time with those you love.  Eating alone?  Take that time to just “be” and ponder.  Your mind deserves a break!

Student goals

1. Don’t put off what you can do today. Procrastination is a dangerous thing.
2. Sleep better. Seriously. Not just because your mom says so. Sleep will improve every aspect of your life!
3. Cut out activities if you’re overwhelmed. This makes more room for #2!
4. Set up a homework routine & keep school material organized to eliminate stress. You might find that you have more time for #2 & 4 when you’re in a routine and organized.  See how this works?!  You’re on your way to a better you already!
5. Pick up an activity if you need more social interaction. Surround yourself with people who inspire you.
6. Doesn’t matter where or what you’re doing, there’s nothing more satisfying than being able to help others. And hey… it’s something to do, right?
7. Explore passions, because this is your time to dig deeper into things that peak your curiosity. Many resources are available to you during this time, so take full advantage!  If you don’t have a hobby then push yourself to find something that interests you and feel free to change it up every month to get a variety in!
8. Stop doubting yourself. If you’ve ever uttered the words, “I’m not good at anything” then make that the last time you ever say that and start realizing everyone seriously is good at something.  It may not be a skill that produces tangible items, but once you find what you’re good at, use it, expand on it, cultivate it.  Never know, you may discover a new direction for your life!
9. Spend more time with family. They’re important influences in your life whether you know it yet or not.
10. Spend less time on devices. (See Personal Goal #10, then revisit #9 above.  This is starting to sound more like homework than a resolution, isn’t it….)

Business goals

1. Learn to manage cash flow more effectively. Even if you think you have a handle on it, you can always find ways to improve or push your expectations for the coming year.  If you don’t already have one, consider an accounting site, such as Wave.com, to keep you organized and on track.
2. Improve your digital presence by making sure your website content is optimized. Take it a step farther and make sure Google My Business and any other profiles that might have picked up your business info is displaying current and complete.
3. Get social!  If you’re not already, then consider taking a jump on SM bandwagon.  Even if you just add one platform (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube) and focus on expanding that content.
4. Focus on backlinks to increase search engine ranking. Are there reputable sites or businesses in your industry or local area that you can connect with?  Working as a team to cross-promote is a great way to help you get noticed by new people.
5. Strive to be a better communicator. Involve others in goal setting & planning.  You’ll not only get new perspectives and ideas, but you’ll create a more cohesive, positive environment.
6. Focus feedback on the future. How can you apply your employee or customer feedback on creating a better business, process, or relationship?
7. Be a role model. Do things in your industry or community that create a respectable image.  People will notice!
8. Focus on follow-up.  Are there things in the books that haven’t been resolved yet?  Set time aside to get back to a clean slate with vendors, customers, or just ideas you have been wanting to explore.
9. Put time for you on the calendar. If you find yourself absorbed and consumed by your business, pull out the calendar and mark some days for YOU. No answering emails, or checking in with co-workers, just you and your personal life to reset your motivation and take a mind break.
10. Give back. Donate, offer a visitation or mentor opportunity for young minds. Set up a giveaway each month as a thank you to customers. Find ways to do things in your industry or community that create a respectable image.  People will notice!

Let’s be real… how about you just skip the resolutions altogether, and add a new tradition by saving yearly Time Capsule sheets!  Keep the collection in a box or jar in the top of the closet and pull it out every year to add a new sheet. (Tip: print 10 sheets now so you don’t have to worry about finding your file again later…)  Here’s an example, but there are plenty more on Pinterest!