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World Gold Council
Turkey's Gold Imports In 2013 May Surpass Record Over 269.5 Metric TonnesSubmitted by GoldCore on 11/05/2013 16:04 -0400
Turkey has been aggressively adding to its gold reserves in recent years and now has the world's 11th-largest gold reserves.
- GoldCore's blog
- 6 comments
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- 2987 reads
Gold Very Strong In November - Returned 4.93% On Average In Last 10 YearsSubmitted by GoldCore on 11/04/2013 04:59 -0400
China bought more than 100 tonnes of gold from Hong Kong for a fifth straight month in September as demand for bullion bars and jewellery stayed strong. Chinese demand appears to have fallen marginally in recent days but remains on track to overtake India as the world's biggest store of wealth gold buyer this year.
- GoldCore's blog
- 6 comments
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- 3820 reads
Eric Sprott's Open Letter To The World Gold CouncilSubmitted by Tyler Durden on 10/22/2013 22:37 -0400
Dear World Gold Council Executives;
As you very well know, the business environment for gold producers has been extremely challenging over the past few years. While demand for physical gold remains extremely strong, prices on the COMEX have fallen precipitously. This contradictory situation is the single most important obstacle to a healthy gold mining industry.
In my opinion, the massive imbalance between supply and demand is not reflected in prices because available statistics are misleading...
- 155 comments
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- 31674 reads
Guest Post: Why We Face RuinSubmitted by Tyler Durden on 10/22/2013 10:26 -0400
Historical data tells us that the unemployment falls when the confidence ratio is high. Now, there are three ways for a government to increase that confidence ratio: 1) increase debt; 2) sell off gold; and/or 3) pray for the price of gold to fall (obviously in a non-manipulative manner that doesn't direct profits to favoured entities). The fall in confidence that we observed in the latter half of the last decade was entirely due to the rising price of gold. Look at what that did to the unemployment rate! Clearly the fault of gold-bugs and conspiracy theorists. The rising price of gold completely overrode the excellent work of the Government in driving up the country's debt.
- 34 comments
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- 14377 reads
Gold Spikes 3% After Debt Ceiling Rises & U.S. DowngradeSubmitted by GoldCore on 10/18/2013 03:42 -0400
The U.S. is engaged in fiscal and monetary policies that are akin to a Banana Republic.
In addition to electronically creating out of nothing $85 billion every month to buy its own debt in the form of bonds, the U.S. is also borrowing more money than it is authorized to borrow, from itself again.
- GoldCore's blog
- 19 comments
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- 7968 reads
Gold Price Premiums Hit Record In India: 8% Above London SpotSubmitted by Tyler Durden on 10/16/2013 17:01 -0400
As we noted two days ago, this story is just further proof of the complete and total mess that has been made of the Indian gold market over of the course of this year due to government intervention. The other part of the problem is that when you are dealing in physical supplies you can't just deliver paper contracts. Somehow we don't think that would cut it for Indians on festival days or their daughters' weddings.
- 50 comments
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- 11861 reads
U.S. Debt Limit To Be Raised For 18th Time In 20 Years - Gold Vulnerable Short Term But Real Record High LikelySubmitted by GoldCore on 10/11/2013 12:05 -0400
The dangerous habit of politicians and governments continually 'kicking the can down the road' cannot go on indefinitely. Eventually, the ramifications of this profligacy will be clear to all.
Yet another increase in the debt ceiling and the increasingly parabolic nature of the rise in U.S. government debt will be very supportive of gold in the medium and long term.
- GoldCore's blog
- 17 comments
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- 7895 reads
U.S. Treasury "Firm Believers In Gold", Will Not Sell Even To Avoid DefaultSubmitted by GoldCore on 10/10/2013 14:13 -0400
U.S Government would rather default than lose their bullion.
- GoldCore's blog
- 63 comments
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- 14732 reads
Futures Storm Higher On Hopes Can Will Shortly Be Kicked Once MoreSubmitted by Tyler Durden on 10/10/2013 07:03 -0400
- Abenomics
- Australia
- Bank of England
- Bond
- Bureau of Labor Statistics
- Census Bureau
- China
- Continuing Claims
- Copper
- Debt Ceiling
- default
- EuroDollar
- Fail
- Gallup
- headlines
- Hong Kong
- India
- Initial Jobless Claims
- Jim Reid
- Monetary Policy
- Obamacare
- RANSquawk
- Testimony
- White House
- World Gold Council
- Yuan
As reported previously, the latest meme surrounding the D.C. impasse is that Obama is suddenly willing to compromise on a short-term, supposedly six-week funding and debt ceiling extension, on the verge of his latest talks with republicans at the White House scheduled for this morning, as previously floated by the GOP. Throw some additional headlines such as "Ryan steps up to shape a deal" (in line with what we predicted yesterday) and "The ice breaks; fiscal talks set", by The Hill, and "GOP quietly backing away from Obamacare" from Politico, and one can see why futures are in breakneck soaring mode this morning, driven as usual by the two main JPY cross (USD and AUD), the first of which is less than 100 pips now away from being Stolpered out. So will a compromise deal finally emerge 7 days ahead of the first X-Date, or will a last minute snag once again derail the (non)-negotiations? We will know quite soon.
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Gold Rush Cometh In Japan - 1 Quadrillion Yen National Debt To BankruptSubmitted by GoldCore on 09/18/2013 10:36 -0400
Compared with Japan, the United States national debt is a mere $17 trillion or so. But if you convert that number into yen, it comes to about 1.6 quadrillion.
We laugh at children when they talk about bazillions and gazillions but a quadrillion is no laughing matter. Measuring any currency in quadrillions brings to mind the many hyperinflations seen in the 20th and 21st centuries. For example, the powerful and very wealthy Germany in the early 1920s and wealthy Zimbabwe, the breadbasket of Africa in 2008.
Japan's soaring national debt is already more than twice the size of its economy.
- GoldCore's blog
- 49 comments
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- 17443 reads
Equity Futures Storm Out Of The Gate, Trade At Session HighsSubmitted by Tyler Durden on 09/02/2013 06:47 -0400
Equity futures stormed out of the gate on initial relief that a Syria attack may be avoided, which sent oil and the PM complex flash crashing lower. However, overnight, sentiment shifted that the Syrian escalation is at best delayed and as a result Brent regained all losses, with the precious metals also largely unchanged from Friday's close. Futures on the other hand, were perfectly happy to rise on the transitory Syrian risk moderation reduction, and then continue rising when Syria returned to the forefront, this time prodded higher by PMI exuberance out of China and Europe. How credible such manufacturing data remains to be seen. A surging USDJPY was also rather helpful, with the pair breaching 99.00 stops to the upside shortly after the European PMI data printed. And with the cash US market closed, and electronic equity trade halted at 10:30 Central, it is unlikely that concerns about all those "other" things that will define September, will seep in and it is likely the HFTs will push equities to session highs before reopening for the Tuesday trading.
- 10 comments
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- 5372 reads
Gold Surges Over 90,000 Rupees Per Ounce As Rupee Falls 27% In Less Than 2 MonthsSubmitted by GoldCore on 08/26/2013 12:07 -0400
"Indians want to maintain a store of value, so they go to gold."
'Gold is the last man standing as rupee fuels inflation' was not published on Bloomberg.com but the story was published on Live Mint.
What is happening in India is a prelude to what will be seen in other economies in the coming years as currencies depreciate.
- GoldCore's blog
- 1 comment
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- 2367 reads
Research: Gold Acts As A Safe Haven Against USD And GBPSubmitted by GoldCore on 08/23/2013 10:28 -0400
- Apple
- Backwardation
- Black Swan
- Borrowing Costs
- British Pound
- China
- David Einhorn
- Eurozone
- Federal Reserve
- Gold Bugs
- India
- Krugman
- Kyle Bass
- Kyle Bass
- Lehman
- Lehman Brothers
- Market Crash
- Middle East
- Nouriel
- Nouriel Roubini
- Paul Krugman
- Smart Money
- Warren Buffett
- World Bank
- World Gold Council
One of the most published academics on gold in the world is Dr Brian Lucey of Trinity College Dublin (TCD) and he and another academic who has frequently covered the gold market, Dr Constantin Gurdgiev have just this week had an excellent research paper on gold published.
They have researched the gold market, along with Dr Cetin Ciner of the University of North Carolina and their paper, 'Hedges and safe havens: An examination of stocks, bonds, gold, oil and exchange rates' finds that gold is a hedge against US dollar and British pound risk due to "its monetary asset role."
- GoldCore's blog
- 17 comments
- Read more
- 7843 reads
U.S. Mint American Eagles Sales Fall In August But Robust For 2013Submitted by GoldCore on 08/22/2013 10:41 -0400
Premiums on the Shanghai Gold Exchange rose from $21 yesterday to $22.40 (0800 GMT) over London spot showing robust physical demand in China. Demand from the over 2 billion people, rich and poor, in China and India alone this year alone is set to be 1,000 metric tonnes which is worth over $87 billion or roughly what the Federal Reserve is printing every single month.
- GoldCore's blog
- 10 comments
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- 3715 reads
Jackson Hole Begins As 10 Year Slouches Toward 3.00%Submitted by Tyler Durden on 08/22/2013 07:07 -0400
Following the market's shocking realization that the taper is coming prompting a kneejerk to the kneejerk reaction after the FOMC minutes, and yet another painful session in Asia, stocks were desperate for some good news from somewhere, which they got thanks to a Goldilocks PMI from China printing by the smallest possible expansionary quantum, or 50.1, and well above expectations, as well as a continuation of better than expected European PMI data with the August composite rising from 50.5 to 51.7 vs. Exp. 50.9, based pm a Services PMI rising into expansion to 51.0 from 49.8, (Exp. 50.2), and Manufacturing at 51.3 vs. Exp. 50.8 up from 50.3, the highest since June 2011. It is perhaps stunning just how conflicting this "improving" data is with private sector industrial and manufacturing company metrics, but with the credit creation situation in Europe (read: all that matters) at record lows, and with banks retrenching and needing to delever by trillions, it is only a matter of time before this latest propaganda wave is exposed for what it is. The net effect of the overnight data is to push the USDJPY to nearly 99.00 which thanks to the ubiquitous correlation algos has dragged US equity futures higher, if only briefly (the 10 Year is at 2.91% - under 10bps from redline territory), while slamming the offsetting EURUSD despite the "better" than expected European data.
- 42 comments
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Slideshow: Making Ramen Pasta With Yuji Ramen
Salmon and cheese mazemen
While most of the omakase menu changes daily, Haraguchi almost always includes one form of mazemen ramen. Here, it's house-cured salmon with a scoop of Camembert/heavy cream "cream cheese," herbs, and a dusting of the super-salty fish scale powder.
Yuji tests the noodles
Haraguchi cooking the ramen for his signature mazemen. Unlike the housemade ramen in his tasting menu, the mazemen noodles are specially manufactured by Sun Noodles in New Jersey.
Kombu ramen prep
Haraguchi and Norvell often experiment with additions to his standard ramen dough. Past inclusions have included squid ink, rye flour, and crab chips, but on the day we visited they were playing with crushed kombu powder, which adds extra umami flavor to the dough.
Kneading time
Norvell kneads the newly alkalized kombu ramen dough with her hand until it comes together in a dense ball, about 10 minutes. The doughs typically rest refrigerated overnight.
Into the fryer
After Norvell rolls out the dough and cuts it into triangles, she deep-fries each piece to a puffy crisp, then sprinkles more kombu powder on top.
Kombu ramen crackers
Up close and personal.
Soba ramen rollout
Yes, you read that right—it's ramen combined with toasted soba (buckwheat) flour, and Norvell rolls it out on an Italian-style pasta maker.
Soba ramen rollout
The dough is a little dry, so Norvell needs to run in through the machine repeatedly to make it hold together.
Soba ramen rollout
She folds it up and runs it through again...
Slice and dice
Norvell cuts the sheets into deliberately imperfect triangles, inspired by Italian maltagliati ("badly cut") pasta.
Grilled conch
The soba ramen will be topped with conch three ways: grilled conch lip, puréed conch liver, and conch meat confit in ramen broth fat. (Did you know conch have livers?)
Building the bowl
Norvell drops dollops of roasted corn puree in to the bottom of the dish...
Finishing touches
Norvell rolls each triangle of (cooked) soba ramen into a cone, and sprinkles some whole corn kernels between the sheets.
Rolling in, close-up
Here's her technique for rolling the ramen—it's all in the thumb!
The finished product
Et viola —the finished dish is as colorful as it is delicious. The grilled conch is mild and smooth, while the confit conch is surprisingly gamey. The fresh corn provides a pop of sweetness against the earthy liver purée, and the ramen cone is precisely calibrated to scoop up every last drop of both sauces.
Mazemen prep station
Mazemen toppings, like bonito, seaweed, and lemon, at the ready. To the right is a little tub of ramen stock fat, which is spooned on (with small spoons!) to some bowls.
Bubbling broth
Yuji's broth is made from a collection of leftover scraps and bones from the butcher counter downstairs. "It's more bones than water," he says with a gin. He simmers the broth at under 200 degrees for 10 hours, ensuring that the water never breaks a simmer to retain the most concentrated flavor. The broth is skimmed heavily, so it's low-fat, though Haraguchi saves the fat for other applications (i.e. conch confit).

subset: commoncrawl


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Complete with a slide, basketball hoop, and birch tree stairwells (okay, the last one is for us).
8 Homemade Weed Killers
This violin-shaped pool (complete with slick multicolored lighting) gets extra points for the "chin rest" hot tub and koi ponds shaped like a bow.
This dedicated guitar collector was just shopping for a hot tub — but, in the end, couldn't resist requesting the swimming hole of his dreams.
10 Weird Uses for Vodka


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on 06.18.2011
What I Want.. A Game Devs Podcast
There are TONS of gaming podcasts out there, and a lot of them are great. Every major and minor gaming outlet has their editors speak about gaming news, reviews, and general industry discussion. This is great, but most of the information is regurgitated. The same shit from the different people. Don't get me wrong, I love hearing new opinions but after a while it basically comes down to the fact that I'm listening to a fan talk about the gaming world.
What I really want in the future is a podcast that features a group of different developers every week coming in, and talking about their games, their favorites games, the industry, and more. I want to hear from the makers themselves on why they are doing what they are doing for a living.
I know many game companies have their own company run podcasts, but that's not what I'm talking about. I'm talking about a podcast run by one host (not a game developer) who invites any group of 3-4 game developers on to a weekly show. Basically, think of E3 podcasts like the Giantbomb Podcast and how they invite multiple game developers onto the show to discuss E3 and to delve into their day to day life as developers.
It can be anyone from any studio. A programmer, a artist, someone in the sound department, etc. from AAA studios to iPhone gaming studios. Sit them down and ask them about what they're doing, what projects in the past were like, what they are excited for, and other random topics. Just get a group of creative minds together and have them share thoughts.
I just think it would be exciting in a perfect world to have something like a podcast that includes: David Jaffe, Todd Howard, Cliffy B, Ken Levine, and Ted Price on a all-star podcast. Obviously, that would be a rockstar lineup, but on a more regular week have a designer from Insomniac, a programmer from Valve, a artist from That Game Company, etc. Not always all-stars.
I just think it would be a cool new twist. I love hearing these minds share their thoughts and not just be bound by pumping their games to the media.
My Two Cents.
on 06.17.2011
5 Favorite Game Studios
Was kicking back tonight with some TED videos playing on my iPad as I type this on my computer, and thought I would make a new post. Was thinking about what to write about, and was hitting blanks so I decided to just share my five favorite developers. These guys are the people I almost always buy games from and enjoy. These may not be the five best or most talented developers, but I think they are all in the Top 15 for sure if we were just going by overall. This is just my opinion and why...
Naughty Dog
Have loved them since I was a kid. Crash Bandicoot blew my mind as a 10 year old. I was used to playing Mario, but when I got washed up on the beach in the first Crash game I was sucked in. I couldn't get enough of the game, and I wasn't even good at it. I wish games nowadays were that fun for me as they were back then.
Then of course there is grown up me and the Uncharted series. Easily, a top 5 franchise for me all-time and if they continue to make a few more it may be my favorite of all-time. Beautiful graphics, interesting stories, engaging characters, and fun gameplay. It's hard to believe they were capable of such a deep and intense game after their previous ventures. They are artists. Their set pieces are phenomenal. I didn't even pay too much attention to Uncharted 3 at E3 because I knew it would be amazing, and I don't need to be convinced.
That Game Company
Shooting, fighting, blowing shit up. These are usual for games nowadays. There is a norm, and after a while I get tired of this as a gamer. TGC refreshes me with all of their games. While they are only two games in with Flow and Flower, both those games were amazing in their simplicity. They hit another nerve, and brought a breath of fresh air to gaming. I'm not following the familiar formula when I play their games. I am playing something unique and engaging.
I cannot wait for Journey and to go on another emotional and new experience all for under $20. The game looks fantastic and I can't say why. Maybe it's the music, the aesthetic, or maybe there is just something so beautiful about something so simple. That's why I love them; beauty in simplicity.
Mass Effect, KOTOR, Dragon Age, Jade Empire, SWTOR, and many more. That's all I need to say. This developer is the king of WRPG's, and hopefully will soon be the king of MMO's as well. There games all have such high quality, and engaging stories. Their characters all have life to them. Many games have characters that seem plastic or fake, but that cannot be said about a BioWare game.
More times then not they try to innovate, and succeed in doing so. True action gameplay in a RPG (Mass Effect) or a fully voiced MMO (SWTOR). Nothing is too big of a risk for them when it comes to making the perfect product. I'm always excited to see what they have in store.
Kojima Productions
Production value. That is what I think of when I think of Kojima. His games are like works of art. Yes, they have great gameplay, but the amount of time that goes into the rest of the work is what really makes it stand out. The music in all the games are very memorable, and I think the level design is some of the best in the business.
Some people call their stories too convoluted and cut scenes too long but personally I think they have always been done right and have always been killer. The MGS series has always lived up to expectations and been fantastic.
Gonna make this quick because I'm getting sleepy, but I think that Mirror's Edge is the biggest sleeper of this gen. Yes, the game wasn't perfect, but it was a great new experience with some great gameplay. I wish they would make a sequel.
The Battlefield series is obviously what they are known for and it's a personal favorite of mine. Battlefield 1943, Battlefield 2, and the Bad Company series are all great games. The amount of focus they put into their engines and destruction are the future of gaming, and honestly Battlefield 3 is my most anticipated game of the Fall. I need a change from shooters.
on 06.15.2011
My Game Idea #1: Angels and Demons
When, I'm bored I try to think of video games that I would actually to see. Usually, I keep these ideas in my head, but now that I'm writing again I'm gonna mark them down when they come to me. Some ideas may be good, some may be bad, but I want to mark them down. These are very rough ideas, but very general.
The first one I want to write about is a open world action adventure game where you fight as a middle man between heaven and hell. The game starts off where you are just an ordinary business man in San Francisco with a wife when a man comes to you one night and tries to kill you. Before that can happen a light shines down and the man is destroyed.
You find out that the Devil wants to take over the Earth, cause the Day of Reckoning, and use the army of the Dead to take over Heaven. You are the key to it all as you are the Devils son, but your mother was also a Angel. You are the key to it all. You are the only one with the power to stop this. When God found out about your birth, he took you and hid you from the Devil and only God's most trusted angels knew of your existence. Unfortunately, one of those Angel's betrayed God and told the Devil of your existence. Thus, the Devil tried to kill you because he knows of your potential.
Throughout the game you meet allies, but your main focus is to gain power and learn new powers. You find out more about mythology, why the Devil turned on God, the original war between the two sides, and you make new relationships the connect you to the character.
Basic gist of the story. The game takes inspiration from movies like 'Constantine' and 'The Devil's Advocate'. The game is open world and throughout you have to make choices on what you want; the end of worlds or to be Earth's saviors. The basic fighting concept would be comparable to inFamous and Mass Effect. You have access to projectile magic, and enchanted weapons (guns/melee) etc. By midway through the game you will be able to run through the city by running on walls (think Prototype), epic battles on the top of skyscrapers, and fights in the sky.
The game will not be based on any specific religions mythology. There will be no mention of previous messiahs. Though it will strongly favor Christian mythology in popular culture. Try to not insult the religious people of the world as much as possible. Make as many religious mentions as was mentioned in the movies above.
I would like to have a comparable score to something like Hans Zimmer with a strong focus on string instruments and heavy bass. Have most of the game set in the night with some in the day. Make the game classy and have most characters were suits. Think along the aesthetic of 'Inception' when it comes to the style of characters.
Have a level up system and chat wheel (think Mass Effect). The choices you make determine what skills you get and what relationships you make. Angels or Demons, angelic light spells or fiery destructive ones.
[b]Some interesting ideas I had along with it are:
-Main character has a girlfriend at the beginning of the game. One of the main evil characters though is a female. At a point in the game; likely the end when you have picked your side (good or evil) will decide which love interest you end up with.
-You fight the devil at the end of the game no matter what. If you pick the good side then you save the world and all is well. If you pick the evil side, then you take the control of the underworld and the game ends with you and your army approaching the gates of heaven.
-At the beginning of the game you are trained by the angel who saved you in the beginning. If you pick the good side then throughout the game you are trained by him throughout the game. If you pick the bad side then midway through the game you fight, and kill him and get trained by a new master in the ways of darkness.
-I also have many ideas for individual scenes. Like jumping through a mirror to see the hidden side of the world. Fighting on the side of a building, defying gravity. Fighting in the sky on clouds as lightning is coming down around you. Tons of rain throughout the game.
My basic thoughts on the game. Let me know what you think, good or bad.
on 06.13.2011
Creativity: Why I Love Gaming
I wasn't a big gamer as a kid. I played SNES and PS1, but I was far from a hardcore gamer. I went by cover art and what people bought me on holidays as what I played as a kid. Fortunately, I was lucky and got good titles like Mario, Zelda, Final Fantasy, Crash Bandicoot, and the portable Pokemon games growing up. All solid gaming experiences, and all helped lay a solid foundation for a future hardcore gamer.
Fourteen years later, and it's 1 A.M. and I'm currently listening to a Giant Bomb podcast, checking out stories on Destructoid, and am writing this with The Tonight Show on in the background. I wonder sometimes, how and why I got to this point in my fascination with gaming? Was it a single game, a console, or did it develop over time? Honestly, when I look at the reasons why I love gaming it comes back to a very simple reason: creativity.
I'm an extremely creative person. I love movies, books, art, music, and of course games. The beautiful thing about gaming is that it combines all my favorite parts of creativity and puts them into one interactive product. I can put myself into the shoes of a warrior, a hero, a solider, a villain, a normal civilian, a god, or even a flower. I can play out a story myself and feel a personal experience with the story and characters.
I'm grateful for the artists at major studios like Naughty Dog, Sony Santa Monica, Epic Games, Rocksteady, Bethesda, id Software, Valve, Bungie, DICE, Infinity Ward, Irrational Studios, That Game Company, etc. who put years into a single product of pure creativity.
Gaming brings out passion in fans not seen in any other industry. Dozens of podcasts, hundreds of fan run websites, thousands of blogs, and millions of users. You can always find an opinion on any topic in gaming.
I'm an information whore. I learn everything I can about gaming. I don't go to one website for my gaming news, I go to 8 on a regular basis. I listen to over a dozen different podcasts, and I follow developers on Twitter. Don't think that gaming is an obsession because it isn't; it's a passion. Yes, the final game product is important, but even more fascinating to me is the entire process. The pre-planning, the art/story development, the engine development, the press and marketing releases, and the final release are all an exciting journey for a gaming fan. The amount of detail and creativity and passion that go into these projects are really fascinating.
Innovators like Ken Levine, Todd Howard, Ted Price, Cliffy B, David Jaffe, and others are just fascinating to listen to. They start with a simple idea and core concept and inspire dozens to hundreds of people to invest their creative soul into a project. God of War started with Jaffe's passion for Greek Mythology and from that we got fascinating characters like Kratos and Zeus, a beautiful soundtrack, great project art, and the top tech in the industry.
Why did I fall in love with gaming? I fell in love with the process. The first game I loved was Final Fantasy VIII. Not a classic like Final Fantasy VII or X to many, but it helped solidify a core fascination in me when it came to gaming. The music, the CGI, the graphics at the time, and the story caught me. I was used to side scrollers, but not worlds with adult stories and themes and grown up art styles.
Another amazing thing about the gaming world is the passion among its fans. Yes, many can be annoying and biased but that can be said about any hobby. The great thing is the passion of people to post on message boards, blogs, twitter, and more. The humility of industry professionals to post direct information to fans, and share their thoughts on the development process. Journalists who are just fans who can also write. The gaming industry is a sharing industry, and a social industry. While many people say that gamers are anti-social, I say it's quite the opposite nowadays. Online forums and multiplayer gaming bring the entire community together.
Why do I love gaming? I love it because it never stops. Creativity is always growing and changing. Information is always being released, and it's not a small community of people but the largest hobby in the world. A hobby that brings technical people, artists, sound designers, and others into one group to bring out one product that can be beautiful so many levels.
Creativity. It changes the world.
on 06.11.2011
Next-Gen: What I Want
The Wii U has been announced. Personally, I wouldn't consider this the next gen in home gaming, but who the hell am I? Personally, I believe that when Sony and/or Microsoft announces their next home console is when we will see gaming technology reach the next level.
Now most people are excited to see better textures, lighting, dust effects, water effects, etc. Now, don't get me wrong all of those thing are important to me, but not as important as they have been in the past. Look at games like Uncharted 3 and Battlefield 3, right now. They look incredible, but what really gets you excited about them? Yes, they are a notch above the other games visually, but the really incredible things about them are the environment effects.
Destructable, interactive, and cinematic environments are the most important things to me in future games on the next consoles of gaming. All games should have engines comparable to Frostbite 2 when it comes to destructibility, especially shooters. Open world games should be fully-interactive. Imagine GTA V, with every building being accessible, being able to buy a home in over hundreds of places in a GTA world, and being able to interact with hundreds of NPCs. Then there are cinematic environments, like the train scene in Uncharted 2. Interactive, cinematic scenes where the level is constantly moving, changing depending on how you play the scene. Train scenes, boat scenes, plane scenes, etc.
While an upgrade in textures and lighting will happen and will be great. Let's remove invicible walls, glitches, non-believeable environments. If I throw a grenade at something on next gen games, no matter what the game is I should notice some wear and tear effects. Instead of playing an Assassin's Creed where I am limited to just a handful of interactions and buildings. Open up the world to be fully explored.
The future of video games are not perfect visuals, but rather believeable worlds. Worlds where I can have a impact on it and the people living in it, and not a predetermined effect but something I do naturally through gameplay.
That's what I want from the next gen of gaming.
on 06.10.2011
Hi Square Enix. Can you get your head out of your ass?
This is going to be a rant. A rant from a former Square Enix superfan. Back in the PS1 and early PS2 era they could do no wrong in my eyes. That all went out the window as soon as they got rid of Sakaguchi, and decided that making direct sequels to Final Fantasys were a good idea. Oh yeah, and that Final Fantasy MMO's should be included in the number series.
So let's go back to the 90's and Squaresoft. Ah those were good times. A new Final Fantasy every two years, awesome graphics, beautiful sound design, and an amazing story. These were all staples. The games were just filled with imagination and took you to worlds you could never imagine anywhere else. The characters were goofy, but that didn't stop you from getting absorbed into the universe. We're the games perfect? No, but they were really good and consistently came out.
Let us fast forward to today. Final Fantasy XIII took 4 years to make, was average, and hey we're getting a sequel! Kingdom Hearts fan? Well, hopefully you weren't looking forward to Kingdom Hearts 3 anytime soon, but hey if you have PSP and DS then you can buy the 32 spinoffs that have been released since Kingdom Hearts 2. Fan of MMO's? Well, then I'm sorry because Final Fantasy XIV just sucked dick.
Then comes the biggest "WTF" game. Final Fantasy Versus XIII. 6+ years in development and two gameplay trailers later and we still have no clue when this game is coming out. Come on Square, it was E3 2011 and the Sony show was lacking. Is the game really that far behind that we couldn't get a brief new gameplay demo or even a stage demo?
Obviously, TGS is probably going to be very important when it comes to information being released on Versus XIII but they can't keep withholding information from the public; especially the Western public. This game should be their most important project at the moment. It is a major console release by their most talented studio group.
The company is losing money, and talent. Back in the 90's, Squaresoft was one of the most talented studios that was at the forefront of video game tech. Now they are just a average of the pact Japanese developer that has lost what originally made them great. They are focusing too much on portable games, Sequels to Final Fantasy games, and for the love of god stop with the MMO's. The worst part are the new franchises they have tried to create recently. They have gone for shooters and hack-n-slash games, but have failed miserably.
They were smart to acquire Eidos and get franchises like Tomb Raider and Hitman, but the problem lies at home. Their Japanese studios have continued to fall back with the times instead of looking at where games are going today. Enough with the Dissidia games and focus on getting Versus XIII, Kingdom Hearts 3, a true sequel in the Chrono series, or even Final Fantasy XV out. Focus on what built up your brand. If you want shooters or action games then let Eidos and the Western developers work on that. If you want core Japanese games for all audiences then focus on what made you great. Great single player RPG games.
Versus XIII should be out by now. It was first shown at E3 2006. To show how long that has been, in 2006 I was a junior in high school. Starting next Fall, I will be a senior in college. If my dumbass can get a college education before this game comes out then something is wrong. 3 Gears of War Games, 5 Call of Dutys, and 4 Assassin Creeds will be released before the release of Versus XIII.
The last great game from Square was Final Fantasy X, and they had to try and ruin that with X-2. Instead of releasing XIII-2, they should release Versus XIII, start work on Kingdom Hearts 3, and get to work on XV. Include towns, a deep storyline, interactive combat, and get used to the times.
on 06.10.2011
6 Must Buys of E3
These are my six must buys of E3. After watching the conference, I can't help but think that all of these games are going to be classics of this generation of consoles. I'm not going to talk about the typical bullet points that PR people say, but what stands out to me.
Uncharted 3
I loved Uncharted 2. I don't like to think I'm a graphic whore, but rather a fan of cinematic experiences. The fact Uncharted 2 ran so smoothly and looked so beautiful sucked me into the universe. I love the charismatic colors, and the use of a full color palette. The combat is fun, the story is interesting, and the puzzles are intriguing but what really makes this a must buy for me are the cinematic set pieces. The level design is fantastic. This game is refined to a tee.
Battlefield 3
Mother of god this game is awesome. Ever since we took out Osama, I've been wanting a realistic war game that made me feel like a badass. Call of Duty just doesn't do this. Battlefield looks like it will. The game is a technical achievement graphically, but Battlefield 3 will also sound amazing. Team centered multiplayer and a single player that is reminiscent of movies like "The Hurt Locker" and "Black Hawk Down". I'm in. This will be my multiplayer game of choice this Fall.
Elder Scrolls: Skyrim
I'm nervous that Bethesda can make this a glitchless game, but if so this game will be EPIC. Bethesda is the king of fantasy RPG's and this game takes everything to a whole new level. Dragons, 300 hours of gameplay, new graphics engine, and a interesting story. This is the type of game everyone needs to play once in a while. A game where you can just get completely absorbed into the universe. It's like a epic book but you are the protagonist. I love games with such rich worlds.
Batman: Arkham City
A superhero game the way it should be done. You can tell that Rocksteady got a big budget increase and more creative freedom with Arkham City. Every major villian from Batman all in one city, and you play as both Batman and Catwoman. I'm not a huge comic book fan, but this game looks too good to ignore. Being able to fly all around the city with such a interesting group of villains to fight against. The game just looks awesome.
Mass Effect 3
Mass Effect 2 was amazing. My 2nd favorite game this generation up to this point behind Metal Gear Solid 4. The game reminds me of the jump from Uncharted 1 to Uncharted 2. The game seems so refined and finely tuned that it will be an absolute joy to play. The biggest thing for me is the continuing saves from the first two games. I can't wait to see where my characters and relationships end up.
Bioshock Infinite
This game is just so creative. It's awesome. We're so used to games in dark cities, alleyways, underground, etc. that it is refreshing to see a game set in the sky. Ken Levine will pull a twist, and the game will be a fine tune piece of art. First person shooting in a unique environment and story. I can't wait to get a solid release date on this game.
Those are my six must buys that I will get Day 1. I do have a couple other games, I'm interested in.
Download Only:
Journey: Unique downloadable title. Looks like a painting. Flower was a work of art.
From Dust: Seems like a unique god-like game. Great art style. Can't wait to build mountains, oceans, and nature.
These are the titles I'm very excited to get in my hands over the next year. Gaming is in good hands.
on 06.09.2011
New Gaming Experiences
A lot of people didn't like the Microsoft conference this year. I wasn't one of those people. People thought there was too much focus on Kinect functionality and not enough on traditional gaming experiences. While I agree that it would be nice to see some new first party content that involves a controller, I was very intrigued by what Microsoft had to show.
Do I own a Kinect? No. Am I going to buy one after this conference? No. I'm a struggling college student with a tight budget and I'd rather focus on spending money on games like Batman, Battlefield 3, Uncharted, etc. That doesn't mean that I can't notice a good thing when I see it.
I couldn't help but imagine how awesome it would have been as a 7-14 year old kid and having these games come out for me, or being a former hardcore gamer who now has a family and sees these games. These games offer experiences that we've never experienced before. Something new, something fun. Is it a deep, engaging experience? No, but that doesn't mean it isn't FUN.
I'm used to sitting on my couch, controller in hand shooting shit up. I'm used to going on a long quest to save the world. Have I ever gotten off my couch and shot spells with my hands, or fought as a gladiator? No and I'm not saying I would prefer to play these games, but I would like them as a change of pace.
Gaming can use diversity, and developers should be allowed to try new things. I'm glad Crytek, Irrational, and others are trying out these motion controls. I feel that the experience alone will offer new ideas and innovation to the industry.
Non-hardcore gaming friends are intrigued by Ryse and the Star Wars games, and two girls I know want to try the Disneyland game. There is a huge market for these games, and while it may not be a epic experience it may still be fun. Was Tetris or Pac-Man a deep experience? No, but it was fun and honestly the gaming industry can always have new fun ideas get thrown out there.
Would I rather see Crytek make this gladiator game with a actual controller? Probably, but as long as every single developer doesn't jump ship at once, I have no problem with developers trying new things.
This year we have Batman, Skyrim, Battlefield, Call of Duty, Uncharted, Assassin's Creed, Deus Ex, Resistance, etc coming out. There are plenty of A+ epic controller titles. Let's embrace these new gaming experiences and support innovation in the industry.
on 06.09.2011
The Amazing Bioshock Infinite
Why is Bioshock Infinite so compelling?
Yes, it is being developed by a top notch study with a proven track record, and yes the original game is a masterpiece.
The truth is you can say that about most games being shown at this E3. Now, I'm not trying to downplay other games because personally, I think this is the best software E3 in about 4-5 years. Never at one E3 have I seen 4-5 games that I thought were legit 95%+ games.
But then there is Bioshock Infinite. This game is amazing. We've seen the trailers, the graphics are great, the story seems interesting, but the thing that makes it stand out is its mature imagination. This game truly is a dream come true, and I don't mean that in the sense that I've been dreaming about a game exactly like this, but rather that a game world like this has only been seen in places like our dreams before.
Timewarps, song birds, a city in the sky during the 1910's, plasmids, skyhooks, etc. all in one game. This isn't a military shooter or a sci-fi epic or a wizards and warriors adventure game. This is unique. This is different. This is refreshing.
When I first saw the CGI trailer that came out last year I was in aw. The scenery, the imagination, the colors made me feel like a kid again.
You know when you pick up this game you will never experience anything like it again. Nothing will come close to this story or world. This is a unique experience that you can only experience through gaming. You will be flying around skyhooks, fighting song birds, and opening time holes while another military shooter just ups the graphics and creates a new story.
Don't get me wrong. I love military shooters, sci-fi epics, and adventure games but it really does push the industry forward when we toss out the norms and do something completely new that has never been seen before.
It's like paintings. Look at Baroque, 16th century art for a couple weeks and only that, and then come look at Post-Impressionism. The colors, the new subject matters, etc will shock your eyes because you have gotten into this mold of what you expect to see.
I expect great things from this game, but I expect great things from many games. The one thing, I toss my hat to though is the fact that they are letting their imaginations run wild. This is something the industry needs to get back to. Look at the 80's and the imagination in games, and now...
Let us be artists, and paint something new. Something that has never been seen.[img]
on 06.09.2011
My Thoughts on The Big 3 Presser
The big press conferences are over, and now it�s time for the gaming industry to report on interviews, hands-on time with games, and private demos but I want to give my impressions up to Tuesday night of E3.
This press conference, honestly, entertained me the most of the Big 3. While their first party non-Kinext content is lacking, I enjoy the pace they move the conference at. The only times during the conference in which I got bored were when the little kids came out and started jumping up and down, and yelling over Kinect games.
I enjoyed the third party demos of Mass Effect 3, Modern Warfare 3, and Tomb Raider. All three were AAA productions and all games look to be must buys. I think the hardcore Kinect games such as Fable, Star Wars, and Ryse all look like fun for gamers who own Kinect. They are unique experiences.
Honestly, Kinect is a fascinating technology, but it isn�t anything that will change the way hardcore gamers will game. It has limitations, and hardcore gamers will prefer their controller for Halo, Mass Effect, and Gears. Kinect offers fun new experiences though, and I think we need to accept that. Kinect is for families and people who want unique experiences. I don�t want to play Uncharted with Kinect or Dance Central with a normal controller. Different experiences for different products, and I think the products they showed off looked shallow but fun.
When it comes to the hardcore, they did ok but nothing mindblowing. The key for Xbox 360 is to create new IP�s. They cannot live off the same IP�s over and over again. Halo, Gears, Forza, and Fable can only take them so far. Buy some quality first party studios.
But� For what they did show, I was content. Halo CE: Anniversary is a great buy for $40, Gears 3 will be a GOTY candidate, Forza 4 had a great trailer with the Kanye West �Power� song featured, and of course the beautiful CG cinematic of Halo 4.
The one thing you gotta love about Microsoft is that they never keep you waiting too long for games (unless you�re Alan Wake). They usually deliver within a year or two of announcing a title (take notes Square Enix).
A lot of people said Sony won E3, but I don�t agree. They had great content shown, but when your two big surprises are Sly 4 and Dust 514 you leave a lot to be desired. A release date for The Last Guardian or Final Fantasy Versus XIII would have sufficed, but instead they played it safe. They were successful in showing good content, but not having a great press conference.
Uncharted on PS3 and Vita looked fantastic. Must buy for owners of both consoles. Focusing on UC3, I must say that this game is a cinematic experience like no other. It really amazes me when you look at a game like Uncharted 3, and imagine where we were 20 years ago. Imagine where we�ll be 20 years from now�
Resistance 3 looks incredible, but I worry that it will not sell too well this Fall. A lot of quality FPS�s are coming out, and I look at Resistance as a niche shooter. The game looks amazing, so I hope it lives up to the hype and gets a lot of marketing support.
Vita did what it was supposed to do, was priced well, and had interesting content. The most interesting thing about Vita is if Sony can steal Wii U�s thunder by having Vita do the game functionality without having to buy a brand new home console.
Overall, Sony did good but I wish Kevin Butler would have appeared along with Last Guardian, FF Versus XIII, and one big surprise (Portal 2 level surprise).
Best Nintendo presser in 5 years. Very good conference all around, but they did have boring moments at points. The beginning was exciting with the orchestra, but after a while it dragged.
But the content they showed was awesome. Skyward Sword looks amazing, and a must buy for Nintendo fans. The 5 core 3DS games (Luigis Mansion 2, Kid Icarus, Mario 3D, Starfox 3D, and Mario Kart 3D) are all fantastic IP�s and are system sellers for the 3DS. If I was a huge portable gamer I would totally buy a 3DS. My problem is that when I�m out I don�t like to game, and the 3D effect gives me headaches, but thats just me.
The Wii U stole the show though. Great idea, concept, and tech. I can only hope though that they made the console slightly future proof. Yes, all third party games will be available now, but for how long? If Microsoft announces a new console next year for 2013, does that mean Nintendo only caught up for 1-2 years with current graphics?
While, I know Nintendo doesn�t care about graphics that doesn�t mean the hardcore gamer doesnt. If they want to bring Xbox 360/PS3 owners to the Wii U they need to show off impressive tech that will be worth a possible $400 entry. I can play Darksiders and Batman already, but will Zelda/Mario in HD glory blow my mind. I can only imagine what is possible with this tech, but is it a Day 1 or a wait and see.
Overall, the 3DS library impressed and so did the potential gameplay mechanics in Wii U. I can�t wait to hear more from Nintendo at TGS.
No one blew me away this E3, but each conference entertained me. I can�t complain about any of the big 3 and am excited to see this content be released. While I do think this E3 is all about the third party developers, I think the 1st party software and hardware developers really showed off some great stuff. I thought Nintendo had the best content, Microsoft presented it the best, and Sony had the best game (UC3).
Great showings and my two cents
PS: EA had the best conference out of anyone
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About MOG728
One of us
since 10:07 AM on 06.08.2011
Hi! I'm Matt and I'm currently a college senior at a major university in the United States. I'm a big fan of the gaming industry, games, and the people in it. In the past, I have written for gaming web sites and have had the pleasure of attending a E3 and the Sony/Microsoft press conferences in 2009.
I left those sites and took a hiatus due to the fact that I didn't approve of the mindset and how they were being run. Basically, they sucked the fun out of gaming for me. Since then I've gone to college, made lots of new friends, and new hobbies but gaming is still up there for me. I've created this blog and another personal one on Tumblr to talk about my interests in gaming and life, and to start writing again.
I will share a quick personal story that relates to Destructoid. In 2009, when I went to E3 the hotel we were staying at also happened to be the one the entire Destructoid crew were staying at. I ventured to the site before but wasn't a regular user. After meeting the likes of Nick Chester, Niero, and others from the staff I started venturing over more and more. Actually went to their pre-E3 party underage and got drunk (sooo smooth move on my part). The staff was truly one of the most genuine group of people and gamers I met at E3. They were also so enthusiastic and upbeat, while others looked at E3 as a chore.
I hope to share some interesting thoughts and I hope my writing isn't rusty (probably is)
PS (Gaming Related Stuff):
First System: SNES
Favorite Game Series Growing Up: Final Fantasys on the PS1 (Fuck you Square Enix)
Favorite Game Series Now: Tie between Uncharted and Mass Effect
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text:
Tobacco War's New Front: Lawyers Fight for Big Fees
Published: June 9, 1998
(Page 2 of 2)
In a typical contingency fee case, it is not unusual for lawyers to receive 33 percent of an award. However, the settlement amounts in the tobacco cases are so large that many legal experts believe that the fees generated by such contracts are excessive.
Nationwide, about 100 law firms were retained, although just a handful of lawyers dominated the cases. For example, the law firm headed by Mr. Scruggs represented Mississippi, the first state to sue, and was later hired by 29 other states. Ness, Motley, Loadholt & Richardson, a law firm in Charleston, S.C., was retained by many of the same states.
But as Congress debates a tobacco bill, lawyers in some states that have already settled their cases are battling each other over fees with the same fervor they once reserved for cigarette makers.
For example, a battle has been under way in Texas for months over the $2.3 billion in fees sought by a group of prominent trial lawyers who negotiated the state's $15.3 billion settlement with the tobacco industry in January. The lawyers say they were promised 15 percent of the Texas award when they agreed in 1996 to represent State Attorney General Dan Morales.
But Gov. George W. Bush of Texas opposes the award, calling it outrageous and unjustified. A legal expert hired by Mr. Bush estimated that the fees sought by the lawyers equal an hourly billing rate of $92,000.
The fight recently took a bizarre turn when Joseph P. Jamail, one of the country's richest trial lawyers, said that Mr. Morales had demanded a $1 million payment from him in a 1996 meeting to discuss the possibility of Mr. Morales hiring Mr. Jamail to head the state's legal team. Mr. Jamail was not hired.
Mr. Morales has denied the claim calling it a sideshow concocted by his political enemies to divert attention from the ''improper conduct'' of state officials like Governor Bush, who are trying to change the settlement terms. He has also asked a Federal judge for millions of dollars in sanctions against Mr. Bush and other state lawmakers.
Some lawyers fear that the Texas spectacle and a similar fight over legal fees in Florida only feed the anti-lawyer sentiment in Congress. ''Some of these tobacco lawyers are becoming the poster children for tort reform,'' said Mr. Scruggs of Pascagoula, Miss. ''The biggest problem is that some of these lawyers don't give a damn about their colleagues. They just want their money.''
Not surprisingly, the fee issue has split lawmakers along partisan lines. Many of the lawyers involved in lawsuits against the tobacco industry are well-known in Washington because of their large contributions to the Democratic Party. Since 1995, lawyers from 13 firms with tobacco cases have made nearly $3 million in political contributions, the vast majority going to Democratic Party committees or candidates, public records show.
Trial lawyers have been battling tort reform legislation championed by business interests and Republicans. They have been among the Democratic Party's most generous contributors over the last decade. The 1997 tobacco pact has deeply divided the Association of Trial Lawyers of America, because it would have curbed the future ability of lawyers to sue the tobacco industry. However, some of the association's most prominent members are the ones who sued the tobacco industry and would gain from national legislation.
And since last June, many of those lawyers have also spent heavily on lobbying on behalf of tobacco legislation. Mr. Scruggs, for example, estimated that his firm paid some $2 million over the past year to three lobbying firms. He said that virtually all of that lobbying has been in support of tobacco legislation, rather than on the issue of fees.
Under most pending Federal tobacco bills, an arbitration panel would be established to weigh lawyers' claims for fees and to award up to $500 million annually. That method is also being backed by tobacco companies and by many trial lawyers like Mr. Scruggs, who under his contracts with Mississippi, Texas and Florida already stands to share in more than $4.5 billion in fees.
Some legal experts say that resolving fee disputes through arbitration may defuse partisan bickering. ''We need to get one step removed from the politics of attorneys' fee awards,'' said Robert L. Rabin, a Stanford University law professor who follows tobacco litigation.
But other experts argue that because Congress is being asked to settle lawsuits, lawmakers should set the fees. And some politicians fear that even arbitration will result in too much money going to lawyers. As a result, some lawmakers contend that fees in tobacco cases should be limited to an hourly rate.
Last month, the Senate narrowly defeated a proposal to cap the hourly rate for plaintiffs' lawyers in tobacco cases at $250 an hour. And there are even more stringent bills to cap fees in the House, with one proposal calling for a $150-an-hour rate.
Photo: Senator John McCain, left, with supporters of his $516 billion tobacco bill: Attorney General Michael A. Moore of Mississippi; W. Steve Bozeman, a lawyer; Richard F. Scruggs, a lawyer, and Steve Mitchell. (Paul Hosefros/The New York Times)(pg. A14) Chart: ''AT A GLANCE: Settling Up'' Texas and Florida, two of the four states that have reached settle-ments with the tobacco industry, are now embroiled in disputes with their lawyers over their legal fees. Texas Amount of settlement with state: $15.3 billion No. of law firms hired by state: 5 Amount of legal fees: $2.3 billion (15 percent of the settlement) Florida Amount of settlement with state: 11.3 billion No. of law firms hired by state: 11 Amount of legal fees: To be determined by arbitration between the lawyers and the tobacco companies. Minnesota Amount of settlement with state: 6.1 billion No. of law firms hired by state: 1 Amount of legal fees: $430 million (7 percent of the settlement) Mississippi Amount of settlement with state: 3.3 billion No. of law firms hired by state: 11 Amount of legal fees: Fees will be determined by a state court. (Source: The offices of the attorneys general of each state)(pg. A14)


text:
Except, like, you CAN beat it
Posted on Oct 25, 2014
Except, like, you CAN beat it
Follow us on stumbleupon to play supermario games : http://www.stumbleupon.com/stumbler/themariobros
i was gonna ask if anyone ever won
awesome game, but the AI is too hard.
This is an example of an unbeatable computer. Did I mention that makes it no fun to play?


text:
Sorry about the title I can't really figure how to put the question into a title, if anybody can put that better please correct it!
So anyway, in my program I have 2 threads, one is the main program and runs the GUI and everything to do with the user, when it is created it creates a thread which only serves to check a website to see if any updates are available to the SQLite database that the program uses, if there is it pulls the information out in a JSON and must then update the database with an insert query (this is obviously done with syncronized methods surrounding the database's parser in order to ensure that the user isn't accessing data while the database is updated). This is all fine.
However when the program is closed and the main class is terminated the updating thread must also stop as soon as possible, however it may need to stop interacting with the database and close it, as well as interrupting itself. I figure that I need to interupt the thread and close the database if it was opened but how do I make it trigger as soon as the main thread dies? it does not use a loop so I can't check to see if thread1 is alive...
heres the important code so far from the updater:
public static class AutomaticUpdater extends Thread
DictionaryGUI pGUI;
DatabaseParser pParser;
public void run()
Updater pUpdater = new Updater (pParser, pGUI, true); //the manual updater is used to process the data
for (String sURL : getURLs()) //getURLS() returns areas in the website that contain relevant data
pUpdater.process(getData(sURL)); //create the INSERT statements and send to database
So how do I ensure to death of the Updater when the main thread dies? does a thread killed by the JVM throw off an exception or make any sort of clean up function call that I can override to kill the updater and close the database?
edit: Ok, I have found a solution but I am still willing to accept better ideas...
this is attached to the JFrame of the GUI:
private class ProgramCleaner implements WindowListener
public void windowClosing(WindowEvent e)
public void windowActivated(WindowEvent e) {}
public void windowClosed(WindowEvent e) {}
public void windowDeactivated(WindowEvent e) {}
public void windowDeiconified(WindowEvent e) {}
public void windowIconified(WindowEvent e) {}
public void windowOpened(WindowEvent e) {}
where kill interrupts the updater and ensures the database is closed :D
Edit 2: It seems that when the GUI is closed the program almost always gives out a InterruptedException after all the cleaning is done, I proved this with some debug statements and also that the debug file I am sending my errors to doesn't pick it up (ie the program is closed completely) and the exception's stack trace never talks about my code or anything for that matter:
Exception while removing reference: java.lang.InterruptedException
at java.lang.Object.wait(Native Method)
at java.lang.ref.ReferenceQueue.remove(Unknown Source)
at java.lang.ref.ReferenceQueue.remove(Unknown Source)
at sun.java2d.Disposer.run(Unknown Source)
at java.lang.Thread.run(Unknown Source)
Does anybody have any idea why this is happening? wait is never actually called inmy code so it has to be something else...


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Life & Style
Taylor Swift Makes Time's 100 Most Influential People Of The YearWho doesn't love Taylor Swift? We take a look at why the 25-year-old is so popular.
Our Favorites From The Lilly Pulitzer Home And Beauty CollectionThe launch of the Lilly Pulitzer Target line is just three days away. Still debating over what to buy? We've got you covered.
Meet Beyonce's's Makeup Artist, Sir JohnSir John has been working with Beyonce for years, and the young makeup artist has just partnered with L'Oreal.
Recipes For National Eggs Benedict DayHere are some delicious ways to celebrate an amazing day for brunch-lovers everywhere.
Lilly Pulitzer Is Coming To TargetThose hoping to buy items in-store should show up to the launch early.
Norovirus Strikes Passengers On Two Cruise ShipsA total of more than 200 people became infected with a leading cause of viral gastroenteritis.
Celebrate 'Game Of Thrones' Season 5 With A Westeros-Themed Party!These fun and easy party ideas can make this season of the HBO fantasy drama more enjoyable.
Hey, Apple Watch User: Don't Be 'That Guy'!With the smartwatch era come new questions about how to behave. Etiquette experts weigh in on what not to do.
Three Hospitalized With Stings After Disturbing Bee HiveThree Florida men were taken to the hospital after attempting to take honey from a bee hive outside of Tampa Bay.
Utah Man Returns Huge Bag Of Money, Earns $5KA big bag of cash fell off the back of a Brink's truck in Utah. The man who found the 75-pound sack was rewarded $5,000 for his honesty by the company.
Easter Sunday Passages About Jesus' Resurrection DayRead Bible passages that tell the story of how believers and non-believers observed death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
How To Make Easter Dinner In 5 Easy StepsAn easy five-step recipe for making the perfect holiday honey-glazed ham.
Dollar Shave Club Launching A Men's Lifestyle MagazineFrom the team that brought you the "Our Blades Are F***ing Great" YouTube video comes more content and tips for men's lifestyle.
Will April Finally Bring Spring Weather?William Shakespeare once said, "April hath put a spirit of youth in everything."
China's Middle Class Goes Big On DesignHigh-end design was not common in China until lately, but societal trends are making it popular with the middle class.
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Photos And Quotes For National Puppy DayGene Hill once said, "Whoever said you can't buy happiness forgot little puppies."
Who Are Europe's Happiest People?Can money buy happiness? An EU report released Friday says no, at least not among people in the bloc's member nations.
Quotes For International Happiness DayEleanor Roosevelt once said, "Happiness is not a goal; it is a byproduct."
Rita's Italian Ice To Give Out Free Frozen Treats On March 20Rita's Italian Ice will celebrate the first day of spring by giving customers free cups of Italian ice.


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Mama's Got SoulRead MoreWhat services does your business offer and what makes your business stand out from the competition? Massages are customized to meet each clients needs. The rooms are warm and created with ultimate relaxation in mind. Kristen uses calm energy in combination with stones, aromatherapy, and either hot oil or lotion to allow for a complete mind, body, and spirit connection. What was the inspiration to start or run this business? I wanted to create a safe space for people to come and heal and relax their entire being. To custom massages using all of the modalities I have learned ( from reiki and hypnotherapy, to lomil lomi massage) in order to allow for the deepest level of healing for all who come into recieve a session. What do you love most about your job? I love being of service to others. I enjoy opening myself up and allowing the client to release, let go, and feel better during and after they have received a massage. I love to see the transformation people have once they start taking charge and taking care of themselves. What is the best reaction you've ever gotten from a customer? "I have never experienced so much love and freedom in my body and my mind from getting a massage. I cannot wait to come back and tell everyone I know about you!"1220 12th Ave. SNampa, ID US
Planet Beach Boise SpaRead MoreA wildly successful alternative to traditional day spas—its more than 300 locations blanket 36 states and half a dozen countries—Planet Beach Contempo Spa is a futuristic relaxation station where state-of-the-art machines administer all the spa and tanning services. These friendly automatons sometimes replace familiar treatments, as in the Luminous facial, a light-based service that delivers blemish-busting results similar to those of a conventional facial. But other equipment maps out new spa territory entirely: the Hydro-Derma Fusion chamber moisturizes the whole body with nutrient-rich steam in order to offset the effects of a dry climate or a rear-end collision with a salt truck. Other machines whiten teeth, spray tan skin, and massage muscles. Planet Beach operates on a gym-style membership system, meaning that members purchase packages or pay flat monthly rates. As members spend more time at the spa, they get to know the helpful assistants who are always on hand to demonstrate how to use the equipment without activating its ability to cry.1471 Caldwell Blvd.Nampa, ID US
Rumours Hair DesignRead MoreNampa's Rumours Hair Design has a full-service salon which means you won't need to go anywhere else. Be styled, groomed, and pampered, all in one place. Treat yourself to something special and head to this salon for a customized facial. This salon is an oasis of serenity and relaxation that offers a wide array of massages. Skin rejuvenation and resurfacing can be achieved by one of Rumours Hair Design's skin care treatments. At Rumours Hair Design in Nampa, guests can enjoy a private and pain-free hair removal service from a professional staff member. Your locks will be shiny, soft and full walking out of the salon. Get ready for that perfect date with Rumours Hair Design's amazing services like eyebrow tinting, eyelash extensions, and make up application. After a day at Rumours Hair Design, you will be completed refreshed. It's like packing an entire vacation into one luxurious day.121 W Georgia AveNampa, ID US
Milan InstituteRead MoreFounded with the goal of outfitting its pupils with the skills necessary to excel in the spa and salon industries, Milan Institute of Cosmetology deploys a rigorous curriculum that emphasizes professionalism and hands-on learning to train fledgling cosmetologists and aestheticians around the country. As the most important aspect of the course of study, student salons and spas serve as a real-world classroom wherein nascent beauticians—under the careful supervision of their instructors—can practice their newly minted skills on humans or sentient mannequins. The beauty apprentices gussy up patrons head to toe via sundry lavish salon and spa services—specific to each location—that may include nail services, haircare, facials therapeutic massages, or nourishing body wraps.1021 W Hemingway BlvdNampa, ID US
Studio 19Read MoreStudio 19 isn't just a mom-and-pop salon. Oh, no, they've got services on services on services. With a full hair and spa salon, you'll finally feel like a brand new you. Clear up your clogged pores and blackheads with a replenishing facial. Transform your look with a refreshing cut by this salon. Treat yourself to a relaxing and nurturing massage and reap the benefits. Avoid painful razor burn and treat yourself to a professional hair removal service, such as waxing, laser hair removal, electrolysis, and epilation. This salon is pleased to accept walk-in customers for all beauty services. Save the cash for another day and pay by major credit card at Studio 19. Studio 19 is here for you when you need a last-minute hair removal service so give the establishment a call today.19 12th Ave SNampa, ID US
The Executive's SpaRead MoreEnd your long work week with a relaxing facial or massage from The Executive's Spa day spa in Nampa. Receive a moisturizing and exfoliating facial from this spa and leave feeling silky smooth. Whether you need a massage for pleasure or stress relief, this spa has you covered. Why don't you start with a manicure and move on from there? This spa has a whole suite of nail services for you. Eyebrow tinting, eyelash extensions, and make up application are just the start at The Executive's Spa with their numerous beautiful services that make you shine. Colored or styled, a new hairstyle from this spa will leave you feeling refreshed. After a day at The Executive's Spa, you will be completed refreshed. It's like packing an entire vacation into one luxurious day.93 N Midland BlvdNampa, ID US


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Dr. Robert F. Ahmed's Ratings
I had a horrible experience with this doctor and would not recommend him. I was so upset after my surgery, I refused to see him post op and saw someone else. Two other doctors apologized on behalf of the medical profession for the way I was treated. Afterwards, I realized it was arrogance. There is nothing worse than being naked and vulnerable on an operating table and having your concerns brushed aside.
Was this rating useful? 0 [[ userState['ratings'][2853233].votes_count ]]
Dr. Ahmed is an angel! God bless him always! Had
my Gallbladder removed and I'm feeling great. His staff is awesome too.
Was this rating useful? 0 [[ userState['ratings'][2485894].votes_count ]]
Was this rating useful? 0 [[ userState['ratings'][2481785].votes_count ]]
he is just great. very easy to talk. confidence and have very good staff
Was this rating useful? 0 [[ userState['ratings'][928718].votes_count ]]
Dr. Ahmed operated on my wife and myself, and we both agree that he is the Doctor you should use. I have family in the medical field in the area and all rate him in high regards. As a matter of fact, I am going to consult him beginning of October. I trust him.
Was this rating useful? 0 [[ userState['ratings'][928717].votes_count ]]
Dr. Ahmed was highly rated. Unfortunately, he screwed up. While he fixed the hernia, I came out of the surgery with a far worse hernia on the other side. As with one of the other commentors, I received an apology from one of his partners "I am sorry, he either missed the other hernia during the operation or he created it." Never an apology from Dr. Ahmed. Not sure why they let him stay in the practice group.
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Dr Ahmed is personable, easy to talk with and an excellent surgeon.
Was this rating useful? 0 [[ userState['ratings'][928716].votes_count ]]
Double ingunial hernia surgery. Doctor Ahmed was great, wonderful bedside manneer, very intuitive, felt totally at ease under his professional approach and knowledge. As much as i and many others dread the prospect of surgery, I have full confidence in this doctor.
Was this rating useful? 0 [[ userState['ratings'][928715].votes_count ]]
Dr Ahmed repaired an inguinal hernia on my left side on 11/23/2010. I had no pain, did not need painkillers and got back to my routine in less than a week. He did an excellent job for me and I highly recommend him to relatives and friends. He is very helpful and does very well what he does. He is an excellent surgeon but he is also a very nice person.
Was this rating useful? 0 [[ userState['ratings'][928714].votes_count ]]
Dr. Ahmed repaired my inquinal hernia Jan. 2010 at Fair Oaks Hospital. It has been 11 months of chronic pain. Dr. Ahmed hasn't been responsive to my questions. I wish I had chosen a different surgeon..
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Paul Patton
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Anyone who finds a photo of their relatives tombstones on a memorial, taken by myself, has my permission to use it. Photo credit would be appreciated! Earlier photo's were downgraded in size to fit this site's requirements and I normally have a higher resolution photo, just ask.
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Jenean Hamilton
George and Amelia Wolfe
Thanks for the correction! Memorials have been updated. Jenean
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Jenean Hamilton
on Oct 05, 2015 8:30 PM
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Burty Hutzel.
Thanks Paul for the info. I have updated the memorial. Jenean
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Jenean Hamilton
on Oct 05, 2015 7:06 AM
Mark Peebles
Ernest John Schlittler
Thanks once again for adding the information.
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Mark Peebles
on Sep 28, 2015 1:14 PM
Thank you Paul for adding the obit I sent. Susie
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on Sep 15, 2015 7:56 PM
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TILLEY Memorials
Thanks for adding the information and links.
Mark Peebles
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Mark Peebles
on Sep 15, 2015 10:01 AM
RE: Stull Tombstone Photo
You are more than welcome to use my photos.
Added by
on Sep 07, 2015 8:11 AM
Brian McKibben
RE: Burd Cemetery
I gave my parents directions to get there, so they went last Sunday and took pictures.
As it turns out, the Burds hook into my family, too. Hulda Burd married Odas Farra...whose great grandmother was my great-great grandmother's mother. (Sort of roundabout, but...there you go!)
Added by
Brian McKibben
on Aug 27, 2015 8:33 PM
Brian McKibben
RE: Burd Cemetery
I don't have photos of the other markers there (I was actually looking for different names and a "Patton" had married a cousin of mine once upon a time, so I took those photos "just in case"...). Since then, I've moved away from Wood County. I plan to go back from time to time. If the requests are still there the next time I go, I'll stop by and look for them.
Added by
Brian McKibben
on Aug 19, 2015 6:48 AM
Brian McKibben
RE: Patton Stones
Yes, you can use them in Ancestry. I already attached them to this couple's records in familysearch (https://familysearch.org/photos/images/18452862?cc=UNKNOWN).
Added by
Brian McKibben
on Aug 19, 2015 5:46 AM
Crawford Lopez
Ann Walker Patton
Dear Paul, I am hoping that you are related to Ann Esther Walker Patton and her husband, Donald. She is Find-a-grave # 62100466. She was my mother's first cousin and I am trying to find living relatives. Thank you, Crawford X Lopez, email@example.com or on ancestry using my wife's acct
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Former Disneyland President plans new competition for Disney's Parks
Matt Ouimet, Former Disneyland President, to run Cedar Fair Parks
IAAPA Attractions Expo hits Orlando
The International Associations of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) swings into Orlando this week for its annual Attractions Expo. Industry leaders, companies and hangers on swarm over the Orange County Convention Center for a week trying out all the new things the industry has to offer. It's also a great…
Amusement Today Golden Tickets Awarded
The 11th annual Amusement Today Golden Ticket Awards, which are very coveted in the amusements and attractions industry, were awarded on Wednesday during a ceremony set at Give Kids The World Village in Kissimmee, FL. Give Kids The World Village is a 70-acre, non-profit resort in Central Florida that creates…
Central Florida Attraction News
What's next for Central Florida? Could Disney dominance be on the way out? Those are the questions addressed by Chad Emerson at BlooLoop.com a blog dedicated to amusement news. Fight between two smaller International Drive area amusement parks draws near to its end. Fun Spot is likely to be declared…
Six Flags Wants Some Disney Magic


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By Dominic Evans and Parisa Hafezi BEIRUT/ANKARA (Reuters) - Islamic State fighters have seized villages close to the city of Aleppo from rival insurgents, a monitoring group said on Friday, despite a Russian air-and-sea campaign that Moscow says has targeted the militant group. The Russian defense ministry said air strikes on rebel positions in northern Syria had killed 300 anti-Assad insurgents in nearly 70 sorties over the last day. The RIA news agency said 200 insurgents were killed in an attack on the Liwa al-Haqq rebel group while 100 were killed in Aleppo.
OSLO, Norway (AP) — The latest developments in the awarding of the 2015 Nobel Peace Prize. All times local.


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(Though Shepherd's career would ultimately recover better than his.) Still, it has charms including Reynolds, who makes musical amateurism seem a wry in-joke.
Always haphazard in picking projects (he reportedly turned down James Bond, Die Hard, Terms of Endearment, and Star Wars), Reynolds gradually eroded his stardom. Despite a prestige boost from Boogie Nights (which he thought dreadful until it started getting raves), he's continued to take work whenever, wherever. He's now 71 years old, a trooper who can't or won't quit, though his odds of ending on a grace note grow remote. He certainly deserves better than Cloud 9, one of eight acting jobs he took last year alone that no one noticed. He has the starring role: coach to an all-stripper volleyball team. Sigh. If he understood that he remains well loved, would he be choosier? Unlikely. The Reynolds archetype is an all-American winner who knowingly pratfalls into loserdom, winking en route. That fallen-jock-angel persona remains sexy. He minted it.
Fri/7 (At Long Last Love, 7:30 p.m.; The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, 9:45 p.m.; Smokey and the Bandit, midnight), $10
Castro Theatre
429 Castro, SF
(415) 621-6120
Also from this author
Thrilling, stylish Highsmith adaptation 'The Two Faces of January'
Mill Valley Film Festival screens vintage and innovative animated features
A family struggles to survive in crime drama 'Metro Manila'


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Best Meatballs in the U.S.
"When the public goes into a frenzy over something like a cupcake or a meatball, it may be annoying to us jaded foodie observers, but at the end of the day, a meatball can be a pretty damn good thing," says chef-author-TV host Anthony Bourdain. Here, F&W names the country's best meatballs.—Alessandra Bulow, Kate Krader
The Meatball Shop; New York City
More ∨
Meatball specialists Daniel Holzman and Michael Chernow now have three locations in Manhattan and Brooklyn for their cozy restaurants, with the slogan "We Make Balls." The meatball options range from classic beef laced with ricotta to spicy pork and vegetable; you can choose from accompanying sauces like classic tomato or Parmesan cream. Holzman and Chernow tend to think broadly: You can have smashed balls, balls on top of your salad and naked balls. Maybe this makes you to think of some good punch lines; if so, there's a place to submit ball jokes on the Meatball Shop's website. themeatballshop.com—KK


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Here's a list of performers at this year's Memphis in May Beale St. Music Festival. *Friday, May 1:* The All-American Rejects Steve Miller Band Ben Harper & Relentless 7 Tommy Castro Katy Perry The Cult G. Love & Special Sauce Jack's Mannequin Rise Against Ronnie Baker Brooks Matt Nathanson Medeski, Martin & Wood Lurrie Bell *Saturday, May 2:* Al Green Korn George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic John Lee Hooker Jr. Shinedown Elvis Costello The Roots Curtis Salgado Saving Abel Los Lobos Michael Burks The Bar-Kays Thriving Ivory Susan Tedeschi Julian Marley Cedric Burnside & Lightnin' Malcolm Chancho En Piedra Muck Sticky Green River Ordinance Hubert Sumlin Shane Dwight Jump Back Jake *Sunday, May 3:* James Taylor 311 Fall Out Boy John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers Hinder Bonnie Raitt Snoop Dogg Guitar Shorty Theory of a Deadman Jerry Lee Lewis Three 6 Mafia Sherman Robertson Chancho En Piedra Amos Lee Prosevere Damon Fowler Dead Confederate Reba Russell Band What do y'all think about this year's line-up?
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Double Coverage: Ole Miss and MSU Sports Talk, Oct. 8
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VIDEO: Double Coverage: Ole Miss and MSU Sports Talk, Oct. 1
- The Memo


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All quotes tagged Standing Up
(20 quotes found)
"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy."
"When you have decided what you believe, what you feel must be done, have the courage to stand alone and be counted."
"You got to be brave and put up a fight, while you are going through the tough times! For your very own life and those you love depend on this. Fight the good fight, for that is the only way to make it through this maze! Only the brave ones will stand at the end!..."
"It's a matter of taking the side of the weak against the strong, something the best people have always done."
"I've often wondered, since I was the moron that Billy Hicks and George Carlin were talking about, why I laughed?"


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