Josh and Ally with the CT101

Hey guys! Really exciting news...we've been interviewed! Check out our interview with Alex Jefferson (aka Creative Thinker 101) at Just Another AIO Blog by clicking here!

Happy Veteran's Day to you all. Remember and thank those who have fought to protect our country. There are many episodes of Odyssey that focus on the realities of war, from Operation: Dig-out to The War Hero. Take a moment and listen to one of those episodes and draw parallels. While the idea of war is a very controversial and debated issue, one thing that remains clear is how God can use even the harshest images to reflect Him. As soldiers fight (and sometimes fall) to protect the country they love from harm, it brings to mind a parallel. Jesus died for us to protect every single one of us from sin, no matter where we have come from or what we have done. He is the Greatest Veteran, and he has triumphed over death! That's a victory everyone can get excited about. 

-Josh

P.S. If you haven't already, please check out our new "Repack Recoveries" page and help us add to the page by emailing jandakocompany@yahoo.com!

AIOOOOOh, Thank You!

Wow. Thanks to your help and your votes, we were awarded the awards for Best Blog and Best New Site/Blog/Podcast at the 1st AIO Websters! What are the Websters? If you've ever heard of the Webbys (the Internet version of the Emmys, Grammys, Oscars, Tonys), this is the Odyssey fan version of the Webbys. It was put on by CreativeThinker101 at Just Another AIO Blog (click on the link to see the rest of the award ceremony) and he did a great job. Thanks for all your support, and thanks for CreativeThinker101 for putting the whole thing together! Here's our acceptance speech...we hope you enjoy! Look, I even wore a suit. 

Lyrics to "Odyssey Connection", to the tune of "Rainbow Connection," inspired by an article by Alex Jefferson on Just Another AIO Blog entitled "The Lovers, The Dreamers, and Me"

So thanks for voting on...Just Another AIO Blog!
Thanks for voting our names.
The sweet sounds that brighten up the Odyssey community, (Communicate!)
These voices are one and the same.
We've heard you too many times to ignore it,
it's something that we're supposed to be...
Someday we'll find it, the Odyssey connection,
The lovers, the dreamers in Odyssey!
La la la la la la la, la la la la la la...dah dah dee dee dah dah dah.

One final shoutout to the Old Judge. In his latest post, he seemed a little disappointed on not getting a Webster. I just wanted to say that if I could, I would give you a Special Achievement AIO Webster for both making the Odyssey community a bright, thriving place and creating a site that gives the lowdown on every Odyssey fan site. Your encouragement to all Odyssey blogs/sites/podcasts and compilation of all Odyssey news from all sites is unparalleled, and you are an integral, as well as unique, part of the Odyssey community. You are truly, as CT101, would say, one of the "involved" as well as being a terrific encourager, friend, and Odyssey nerd (AWWWW YEAHH). 

That's all for today, folks. Thanks for reading, and have a beautiful day.

NOTE: What's coming up? A campaign, a music video, a secret project, Odyssey reviews, SMSS, and much, much more. They're coming!

SIDENOTE IF YOU'VE WATCHED THE REST OF THE AWARDS CEREMONY: Garrett, you forgot to mention to thank yourself for "cooling" the Ceiling Fan. That is all. 

Introducing The Odyssey Phone Book

Well, today at Out of Control in Odyssey, we are proud to present...the Odyssey Phone Book!

This new feature on our blog, available by clicking on that tab at the top of the page (See that connection of words that reads, "Odyssey Phone Book?" Good job. Now click on it.) The Odyssey Phone Book was created as part of our ongoing mission to bring the town of Odyssey to life and become a part of Odyssey and apply it to our lives!

What is the Odyssey Phone Book? It's a tool to expanse the great picture you have of Odyssey in your mind; a connection to the people and places that live there. We have the Yellow Pages of Odyssey! As we go episode by episode, we'll be constantly revising and updating this page, and you're welcome to contribute by emailing us at jandakocompany@yahoo.com! 

But wait, there's more. No, that's not all. Besides all the reviews and SMSSs and Odyssey in the Real World posts, we got a big project coming up! It's super exciting, and we hope you guys will really like it! All I can say for now is that it's another way of immersing you into the Odyssey experience. Get excited!

Luckily, since the week's almost over (tons and tons of homework), I'll be able to do some posting this weekend! We'll have another review and SMSS up soon. Also, be sure to check out Just Another AIO Blog this weekend for the AIO Websters ceremony...it's supposed to be really cool! 

Finally, if you've been liking what you see, I wanted to recommend a similar blog in terms of writing style. Victoria Donahue started an AIO blog back in March (before us!) and everyone just found out about it and it's awesome. She's another teenager giving thoughts and reviews about Odyssey...and it's a little scary how much we've been thinking alike as I read through her posts. Anyways, check it out at http://aiothoughts.blogspot.com/ , but be very careful to avoid the Album 56 reviews if you don't want to be spoiled. Use the blog archive. 

Oh my, The Grand Design is just around the corner! We'll be reviewing new episodes in Album 56 as they come up besides our normal starting from the beginning reviews. Alright, you guys have been updated. I'm busy working on our Get in the Show church video and secret video...another surprise! Man oh man, I'm turning into a little Mr. Whittaker in terms of keeping secrets. Don't worry; he always reveals them in the end. 


Last thing: we've been added to Twists and Turns's Cast and Crew: Take 2 page! Check it out if you want to see...how we look like and if you want to see my not really smile while squinting from the bright sun since I conveniently forgot my sunglasses. It also gives some nice info about us, and while you're there, check out The Old Judge's amazing site, which covers all of the Odyssey fan sites and has some neat features. It's all at Twists and Turns!

Have a wonderful Labor Day weekend, unless if course, you somehow don't have one, in which case I wish you a very happy Monday working. Please comment, and adios for now! 

 Oh, super cool. It's our two month anniversary and we have a big number in pageviews! It's been a joy watching this blog grow and have everyone be talking about Odyssey, the best radio show on the planet. Hopefully we'll be able to keep it up. So long for now! Actually.

FP#8: The Letter

Quick announcement before getting to today's review. Alex Jefferson is hosting the first AIO Webster Awards for achievements in Odyssey fan sites! If you've been liking what you see, we'd really appreciate it if you voted us for Best Blog and Best New Site/Blog/Podcast by emailing CreativeThinker101@gmail.com. Voting runs until Friday, August 24, so vote soon! Visit his blog at justanotheraioblog.blogspot.com to view all the nominees! And now, on to the review!

Just kidding! Quick update first. We started school today (Ally's first day of high school) and it looks like it'll be a busy year. Hopefully we'll be able to keep this blog up! I'm taking Radio Broadcasting this year, so I'm looking forward to DJing and talking! Maybe I'll ask if we could do a radio drama...and now, seriously, here's the review.

 THE ODYSSEY TIMES (Facts, notes, and quotes about Odyssey from this ep):
-I really really want to learn how to play this Family Portrait theme on the piano.
-Dr. Dobson mentions that this drama is aimed at the teenager...now all we need is an audio drama series (cough cough spinoff of Odyssey cough) for teens in today's day and age!
-So teenagers were allowed to drive other teenagers within a few weeks of getting their license? Ah, the 80s.
-A teenager being embarrassed by their parents driving them to their places. Very relatable to most teens, although at my school, parents are still a normal chauffeur and it's not embarrassing or anything. What's your school like?
-Yay! Katie Leigh and Alan Bergman, the future Connie and Bill Kendall! And this father character named Stan is very similar to Bill.
-I like this mother's voice - I wonder who the actress is?
-"Every time you make a new discovery or make a new skill, my pride dims when I realize that you need me a little bit less. Will I be outgrown someday like pajamas with footies and squeaky teddy bears? ...I pray that as that time draws near, our relationship gains depth, not distance. That when you're grownup enough to stand apart from me, you'll choose - even so - to keep your heart close by. Your daddy's love is as strong and real today as when you first saw the light of day...whatever struggles we face, whatever thoughtless or hurtful deeds we as fallible humans may do to one another, that love will grow with you for as long as I live." -Stan to his daughter Stacey
-Pretty sure the music from today's episode will be recycled into later Odyssey episodes.
-This is the shortest Family Portraits, clocking in at only fifteen minutes.

REVIEW:

While we've skipped five Family Portraits, I can tell you that this is the first one without Whit. It's also the first one aimed at teens. It's also the first one with the fabulous Katie Leigh and Alan Bergman, future Connie and Bill Kendall.

This portrait of a daughter embarrassed by her father and her mother trying to show her how much her father loves her is very touching. The mother gives the best performance as she tries to navigate both sides of the argument. 

Once again, this episode uses the Kishōtenketsu structure. Similarly to the last portrait we heard, the introduction and development are interesting, but the twist slows the momentum down as the same plot device is used. 

I thought it was fascinating when Dr. Dobson mentioned that the father was wrong. Parents are not perfect. They are vulnerable, they have feelings, needs, hurts, and problems they don't tell you about. They are people too, and that's something difficult for a lot of teens (including me occasionally) to understand. I could relate to both Stacey (the teenager) and Stan (the father) not being as open because of rejection and insecurity; it's a very real issue today as competition intensifies. There were a lot of great take-aways from this episode, including a verse from Ephesians 4:26; something about not letting the sun go down on your anger. Oftentimes, anger is stagnant, and it shouldn't be that way; if it's righteous anger, we should do something about it, and if it's not righteous, we should ask God to help us stop and find His love and peace and grace.

Overall, this episode was better than the last one; the reconciliation (last part) was great as well. We'll see if in future episodes with this format, the team can work on making that twist interesting! I give this episode a 88/100, or a 

B+

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Listen to The Letter by purchasing Album 14: Meanwhile, In Another Part of Town on CBD

NOTE: Today I can officially announce that a new site feature and two new videos will be coming your way later this month! However, this is only one of the two new features we plan to bring you by the end of the year. As Sarah from the Unofficial AIO Podcast would say, "Yayyyy!"

The Adventures in Odyssey Websters, presented by Just Another AIO Blog

Hello everyone! New post coming later this week on my reactions to the winners of The Deep End Avery Awards! Today, we're sharing the nominees for a new triannual awards ceremony called the Websters, created by Just Another AIO Blog to recognize achievements in the Odyssey online fan base. We are nominated for two Websters, and we're very thankful and grateful for the acknowledgement! Send in your votes by the end of August to Alex Jefferson by pming him on the Soda Shop Message Boards or emailing him at CreativeThinker101@gmail.com.


Best Website Nominees: This category includes the best active AIO websites. No blogs.

The Odyssey Scoop

Twists and Turns

The AIO Update

The Changing Times


Best Blog Nominees: This category is similar to the best website category, except it deals only with blogs.

The Unofficial AIO Blog

Just Another AIO Blog

The Voice of Odyssey

Out of Control In Odyssey

Down Odyssey Lane

The AIO Fan’s Life

The Adventures in Odyssey Blog


Best Feature Nominees: This category includes all pages and extra features on websites/blogs.

Adventures in Connellsville (Just Another AIO Blog)

The Imagination Station (TNT and UAIOB)

The U.S.S. Response (Just Another AIO Blog and UAIOB)

The Courtroom (TNT)

Odyssey Addict (The Odyssey Scoop)

The AIO Search Engine (The AIO Blog)

Editorials (The AIO Update)


Best Post Nominees: This category narrows down the best posts of many AIO websites/blogs. 

One Month Anniversary!… And I’m Celebrating with Orbs (TNT)

Nothing New, Nothing Old (The Voice of Odyssey)

Weekly Feature 7/1/12 (Interview with Wooton Basset and The Old Judge) (Just Another AIO Blog)

The Top 5 All-Time Best AIO Blogs and Websites (The Unofficial AIO Blog)

Celebrating Ten Year Since Novacom (The Changing Times)


Best Podcast Nominees: This category picks the best podcast from quite a wide selection.

The Boredom Buster Podcast

The Whit’s End Podcast

The Ceiling Fan Podcast

Abby and Mandie’s AIO Podcast

The AIO Blogcast

The Odyssey ScoopCast


Best Podcast Episode Nominees: The Podcast Episode category will choose the best episode out of all the notable recent ones.

BBP Interview with David Griffin Pt. 1 - 4

AIO Blogcast Sibling Spies Audio Drama

The Ceiling Fan Podcast To Survive and Protect

The Odyssey ScoopCast Interview with Kimmy Robertson Pt. 1 - 3


Best Message Board Nominees: This category will pick the best of the best when it comes to AIO forums.

The Town of Odyssey

Campbell County

The Soda Shop Message Boards

Exclusive AIO Forum


Best New Site/Blog/Podcast Nominees: This category acknowledges new websites that aren't incredibly popular but still just as good.

Just Another AIO Blog

Twists and Turns

The Unofficial AIO Blog

The Boredom Buster Podcast

Down Odyssey Lane

Out of Control in Odyssey

Abby and Mandie’s AIO Podcast