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Happy new year, merry late Christmas, happy really late Thanksgiving, and happy super late Halloween. Yeah, I've been kind of disappearing when it comes to blogging recently, but I just haven't had the time to get on posting when I start having the craving to make comics and I have to get my creativity flowing and it just takes a while. Luckily, I'm back in time for the break of 2014, and let's see what it has to offer.
Let's look at some movies.
- Ride Along – What you'd get if you took Friday, turned it into another cheesy action comedy, and replaced Chris Tucker with Kevin Hart. (1/17/14)
- I, Frankenstein – Rebooting the story of Frankenstein for a new generation, and now we have Harvey Dent as Frankenstein. (1/24/14)
- The Lego Movie – You don't need to check your monitor, this actually exists. And the trailer looks surprisingly epic. And the roster is pretty impressive–if you consider Channing Tatum, Will Ferrell, and Jonah Hill to collectively be "impressive". (2/7/14)
- Muppets Most Wanted – The Muppets go touring in Europe, and the most wanted criminal in the world happens to look just like Kermit. You can connect the dots. (3/21/14)
- Divergent – The movie of the book. It's the future, Chicago is split into five factions, Tris takes a test, she doesn't fit into a faction cuz she's Divergent, she discovers something sinister happening in her utopian society, blah blah blah. It has a budget bigger than that of The Hunger Games, so it better be worth its hype. (3/21/14)
- Noah – Basically, when God was unsatisfied with the world and tried to bring apocalypse to it and Noah built that ark for all that animals: the movie. Just as it was told in the Bible. Oh, and Emma Watson shows up. (3/28/14)
- Rio 2 – Apparently people liked that movie, and it looks like the same movie except it's in the Amazon and we learn that Jewel has a dad and–incoming narrative hook–his habitat is in danger! "Le gasp" indeed. (4/11/14)
- The Amazing Spider Man 2 – Electro and the Rhino. The only new things about this sequel. (5/2/14)
- Legend of Oz: Dorothy's Return – This movie tries to add something new to something that's already perfect. Five new characters (a giant talking marshmallow, a china doll, a "tree-turned tugboat", and an owl), and the biggest threat is that some Jester is going to turn iconic Ozzians (that's what it's called right?) into marionettes. Really? (5/9/14)
- Godzilla – Finally, something that looks good. Godzilla '98 was the Razzie-winning black sheep of the series (the only thing it got right was its visuals, and I think they screwed even that up), but luckily this cream looks big enough and strong enough to cover that nasty zit. Anyway, this movie is Godzilla vs. malevolent creatures "bolstered by humanity's scientific arrogance". Does this mean another Pacific Rim, or is this a metaphor saying that it's Godzilla vs the real monsters–us? (5/16/14, which is two months earlier than Japan. Oh, the irony.)
- Maleficent – A Sleeping Beauty prequel-reboot combo through the eyes of the bad guy. This is new. And what's this, they cast Angelina Jolie as Maleficent? And what's this…they made Sleeping Beauty a teenager? Uh… (5/30/14)
- The Fault In Our Stars – The classic love story between a teen girl with thyroid cancer and an ex-basketball player who lost his right leg to osteosarcoma gets adapted to the big screen. It's a freaking maple tree, it looks so sappy. (6/6/14)
- How To Train Your Dragon 2 – I didn't know you could Neville Longbottom so much in four years. (That's right, it's a verb now describing drastic changes in courage and heroism over time.) Anyway, Hiccup took a few levels in badbutt and new adventures with him and Toothless await. (6/13/14)
- Transformers: Age of Extinction – It's an entirely new arc and it stars an entirely new cast, so can you blame me for throwing it under the bus immediately? If it grosses over a billion, I will lose faith in the sci-fi action genre forever. (6/27/14)
- Dawn of the Planet of the Apes – Caesar and his boys vs. the survivors of the virus. The prize? Supremacy as the dominant species of the world. (7/11/14)
- The Boxtrolls – From the guys who brought you those scary stop-motion movies (Paranorman and Coraline) comes another seemingly-not-scary stop-motion movie where underground trash collectors called Boxtrolls who raised an orphan who now has to save them from an exterminator. What. (9/26/14)
- Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day – I don't even have to explain this. If you said you didn't read that book as a kid, I wouldn't believe you for a second. (10/10/14)
- The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1 – Katniss leads the districts in a rebellion against the Capitol and has to make a lot of crucial decisions as the war of fate escalates quickly with horrific consequences. (11/21/14)
- Home – I can't believe what I'm about to type. They made a movie on The True Meaning of Smekday with Sheldon Cooper, Rihanna, Steve Martin, and they even got J.Lo! No, the real J.Lo! Words cannot express my elation. (11/26/14)
- Exodus – Basically when all the Jews left Egypt and Moses led them: the movie. Just as recalled in the Bible (or The Prince of Egypt). In this case, all the Jews leave Egypt and Christian Bale leads them. Uh… (12/12/14)
- The Hobbit: There and Back Again – Didn't think the end of the Bilbo arc would be so near, would it? (12/17/14)
Most anticipated: Home (Mockingjay P1 was a close second)
Now, some video games.
- Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition – Basically Tomb Raider for next-gen consoles. (1/28/14; PS4, XBO)
- Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Z – 2012's DBZ for Kinect was an embarrassment to the game series, so Namco Bandai wants to try to redeem themselves. If you liked Zenkai Battle Royale, the game mechanics aren't too different. With a redundant name like that, it could very much be digging its own grave. (1/28/14; PS3, X360, Vita)
- Lighting Returns: Final Fantasy XIII – This game picks up where XIII-2 left off and ties up the loose ends of XIII's story, part of the Fabula Nova Crystallis subseries later to feature the mobile Agito as well as FFXV. (2/11/14; PS3, X360)
- Plants vs Zombies: Garden Warfare – This is the strangest art shift I've ever seen in anything. Looks to be an interesting shooter. (2/18/14; XBO, X360)
- Thief – Master thief Garrett popularized the stealth genre just as well as Solid Snake could, and now he's getting a reboot. However, it risks mimicking the already successful Dishonored, so let's hope it has some fresh tricks up their sleeve. (2/25/14; PC, PS3, PS4, X360, XBO)
- South Park: The Stick of Truth – South Park has already made a huge mark on American animated television, helping codify the raunchy, off-color adult humor that we see in most animated sitcoms. Among many people, I first got a taste of the game via Game Informer, and it seems to be the RPG of the year…if it doesn't get delayed again. (3/4/14; PC, PS3, X360)
- Titanfall – Fast-paced action, cloud services, and robots. It's not surprising that the game had a huge splash at E3 and won sixty awards at the show! People are already saying it'll be the next big landmark in the FPS genre, and be the secret weapon for the One. Wait…it's multiplayer-only? Uh… (3/11/14; PC, X360, XBO)
- Dark Souls II – Dark Souls did pretty good a couple years ago, and this sequel appears to be just as hard. The game boasts a juicier graphics engine and better AI, and it might not even have an easy mode. So if you don't like hard games, step away. But if you like challenges, be my guest. (3/11/14; PC, PS3, X360)
- Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes – To hold you off until Phantom Pain, Konami has the first half of the MGSV arc for you. This picks up where Peace Walker left off, chronologically one year later and nine years before Phantom Pain. (3/18/14; PS3, PS4, X360, XBO)
- Infamous: Second Son – The One has Killer Instinct, and the PS4's trying to combat that with the new Infamous, with a new character and new twists on old powers. (3/21/14; PS4)
- Diablo III: Reaper of Souls – Apparently now Diablo's getting into the expansion pack game like Warcraft, and here's the first of what could be a plentiful add-on series. (3/25/14; PC, Mac, PS4)
- Destiny – Bungie's first post-Halo game, and my most anticipated game of the year. (Plus it's on 360, so there's non need to upgrade!) A prosperous period of advancement has screeched to a halt with the Collapse, after which mankind could face extinction. You are one of the survivors, the Guardians of the City, and you must protect the little remains of humanity from demolition. (9/9/14; X360, XBO, PS3, PS4)
- Sunset Overdrive – The game's bouncy visuals and enthralling gameplay put it really high on my most-anticipated list–actually, it's bested only by Destiny. It's like Viewtiful Joe in 3D as a shooter. There's gonna be ziplines and wall-running and even some acrobatics, so I expect some Mirror's Edge thrown in the puree as well. It's also gonna be using Microsoft's cloud services a lot, but I'm not a cloud gamer. Still excited. (sometime; XBO)
- The Sims 4 – The Sims 3 and its umpteen expansion packs was one of the defining parts of my childhood, so I expect The Sims 4 to be way better. The PC sales of the past three games have been staggering, and I expect nothing less than true brilliance, whether it be better graphics or better mechanics. However, you do need an account on Origin (think EA's take on Steam) and Internet access as the game initially installs. Kind of chips at my hopes, but it still looks awesome. (Q3/Q4; PC, Mac)
- Watch Dogs – I've heard about this game for a while, and my thoughts of it have whittled down to "Dishonored with a hacker and none of the cool super powers." There's also some parkour promised to show up, and some cover-based TPS stuff too (Hitman much?). And for a game that has five collector's editions (special, Vigilante, Uplay Exclusive, Limited, and Dedsec), it seems like it'll match the hype pretty well. (Q2; PC, PS3, PS4, WiiU, X360, XBO)
Most anticipated: Destiny (Sunset Overdrive was a close second)
Now, some upcoming books.
- Hollow City by Ransom Riggs – In the sequel to Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, Jacob and his Welsh homies go to London where all those creepy children are at. Miss P's bro Caul is able to steal the kids' "abilities". Cue another fight for survival. (1/14/14; 352 pgs)
- Sorry You're Lost by Matt Blackstone – Denny "Donuts" Murphy has just suffered the passing of his mom, and to cope with that he becomes a class clown. But in Donuts' core is a happy place where his mother still lives and his dad doesn't watch TV all day. Donut and his buddy try to score dates for the year-end dance, a mission in which Donuts learns some important morals that could change him for the better. (1/21/14, 320 pgs)
- Almost Super by Marion Jensen – Each leap year at an exact time, each 12+-year old member of the Baileys gets a superpower. The two newest recipients, Rafter and Benny, get let down with suckish powers. The big bad of the story ends up sparking a war between her family and the Baileys. To be honest, I lost them at "superpower". (1/21/14; 256 pgs)
- Cress by Marissa Meyer – In the third entry of the Lunar Chronicles, Cinder and her band of misfits are still plotting to overthrow Queen Levana. Their best hope is to go to Cress, an OP hacker who ironically is searching for them (eeeeviiillll). Stuff happens. (2/4/14; 560 pgs)
- Timmy Failure: Now Look What You've Done by Stephan Pastis – In the sequel to Mistakes Were Made, there's a school competition to find a globe for a cash prize, but someone's trying to hijack. It's up to Timmy and his polar-bear partner Total and his new eccentric ally Great-Aunt Colander to find an end to the madness. (2/25/14; 288 pgs)
- Game Over, Pete Watson by Joe Schreiber and Andy Rash – A boy finds out his dad is a superspy that is trapped inside a game, so he has to use his gaming skills to enter the game and rescue him. To be honest, I lost them at "superspy". (3/11/14, 224 pgs)
- Sean Rosen Is Not For Sale by Jeff Baron – Y'know Sean, that guy who's trying to pitch a movie idea to Hollywood? Alright, so now not only is he working on his script, but he has school, track, dog-walking, podcasts, and keeping his secret from his parents, all while a private detective has been sent to find out about Sean. To be honest, I lost them at "podcasts". (3/18/14; 384 pgs)
- The Ninja Librarians by Jennifer Swann Downey – It just sounds dumb, doesn't it? Wait until you hear the plot. Alright, so a girl and her bro are chasing her mongoose through a library when they get into the janitor's closet and fall into a secret pathway to the HQ of a society of…y'know. There's a betrayal, she and her pals take the blame, and they need to clear their names. To be honest, I lost them at "mongoose". (4/1/14; 384 pgs)
- Poached by Stuart Gibbs – In the sequel to Belly Up, a horrible prank set up by a school bully leaves a koala missing. Teddy gets thrown under the bus since he's the only one coming and going on camera, and he needs to find the real culprit and fast, because juvie is calling his name. (4/8/14; 336 pgs)
- Renegade by Debra Driza – That android Mila I was talking about meets a boy who joins her to find some guy who knows about her past but people are looking for her. Basically, it's the same book with some boy. (5/13/14; 448 pgs)
- The Blood of Olympus by Rick Riordan – The fifth and final installment of Heroes of Olympus. Many are either fighting their emotions of seeing it go or complaining loudly about how they have to wait a year to see how it all ends.
Mother Earth"Gaea" is still a strong foe and her giants must be stopped before the Feast of Spes where she plans to kill two demigods to receive (title) to awaken. To be honest, I lost them at "Gaea". (10/7/14; 608 pgs)
Most anticipated: I don't even know.
Well, I think I did pretty good to sum up the year! Leave anything you think I missed in the comments. Here's to a great new year that's bound to be full of awesomeness courtesy of Sammwak!
Stay classy,
Video of the Week: "Why I love my Honda VT750" by Nick Bertke aka Pogo, the guy whose mixes I've been uploading and gushing about to a fault. In this video, he drives around on his motorcycle, talks about it, admires the vista, and explains why the original Star Wars trilogy will always be superior to the new trilogy. All while we get to see some beautiful Australian scenery.
The cutest thing I've ever seen.
Gratuity "Tip" Tucci is an eighth grader at Daniel Landry Middle School, assigned with writing an essay with a minimum of five pages about the true meaning of Smekday. If her essay is chosen from thousands of entries, it will be buried in a time capsule to be opened a century into the future. It all began when we found out that there was intelligent life elsewhere in the universe. Life of extraterrestrial proportions. Anarchy spreads like wildfire following the visitors' arrival, discussing plans of renaming Earth to Smekland (to honor Captain Smek) and forcing the entire American population into one state.
If there's someone who has a lot to tell about their experience, it's Tip. First of all, her mother just isn't herself lately. Maybe it has something to do with that strange glowing mole on the back of her neck. Then there's a friendly visitor who becomes Tip's friend, dubbing itself "J.Lo". (I'm dead serious.) But the invasion quickly gives way to a cross-country adventure as J.Lo, Tip, and her cat Pig travel to find Tip's mom at the Happy Mouse Kingdom. Along the way, they make friends including Chief Shouting Bear, Vicki Lightbody, and the Brotherhood Organized against Oppressive Boov (BOOB). The trio is going to need all the gas in their hovercar if they're gonna cook up a plan to save the country, maybe even the world.
I think I came across this when I was looking for a good science-fiction book to feast my eyes on. The premise seemed promising and I quickly found myself wanting to read it. My English teacher had the book in his class library, and I found myself plowing through the book a little bit each day during our equivalent of study hall. I was more than elated finding the book at our school library, and days later I'd read the book cover to cover. All the time, all the hours I spent reading this story was definitely worth it. This is the best science fiction book I've read since Maximum Ride, and I can tell you why.
- An exquisite sense of humor – Smekday has the freshest gags I've heard in a while, and it's a good reality check compared to the book's sci-fi intensity. Rex has a gift for proper comic timing that will leave the reader thoroughly amused.
- It's part-graphic novel – Smekday tells us of the history of the Boov and the Nimrogs (plus other educational nuggets) via comics. It's a nice art shift that goes beyond the pictures and newspaper clippings.
- GIRL POWER! – Tip is a very empowering character that's strong and sassy, and knows when and how to speak her mind. She's like the Spice Girls smashed altogether into a little girl. Boys will hardly feel alienated with the BOOB as well.
- Additional pictures to deepen the experience – Polaroids taken by Tip, newspaper clippings, Tip's drawings, all of these show up in the book and add some sort of depth to the story so you know what's happening.
- A really shocking ending – Trust me, you will not see it coming even if you read all the exposition and context there is to read.
- Vivid writing and dialogue – Through Tip's eyes, it feels like you're actually there. It's always fun to picture what's happening in your mind, from the little things to the more climactic events. Rex has the ability to turn a good laugh into a shocking tragedy with just a few sentences, and this shows as the book nears to its unexpected conclusion.
- Lovable characters – J.Lo has been an adored character by lots of those who read the book. I mean, it's hard not to love an alien who's willing to make a car be able to fly, and then later unknowingly eat a urinal cake. Tip's characterization is more evident since, well, she's the one telling the story.
- A unique structure – The book is split into thirds. Two thirds are written in essay form, and the third is the longest part of the novel as Tip convinces herself to come flat-out and finish what she started. "Odd", I believe, is the wrong adjective to use. Well, when's the last time you read a book like that?
- The community loves it – Many people call Smekday one of their favorite books they've ever read, and they give away five-star scores like candy. And this book deserves it, since…well, I've already gone into detail. Check out snippets of some Goodreads community reviews:
"…loved the cat, loved Gratuity, loved everything about this book." – Kaethe
"…Adam Rex's delicious banquet of pop cultureskewers dipped in saucy social commentary and served alongside a heaping helping of warm, filling comfort food…" – Stephen
"Adam Rex rules." – Ceridwen
"Pretty much my favorite children's book of the past few years…" – Paul
"…one of the funniest, constantly entertaining books I've read in a long time…" – Chris
Not convinced? Tip and J.Lo have a couple reasons of their own.
"BOOB is an…acronym." […] "Brotherhood Organized against Oppressive Boov. It stands for that."
"Shouldn't it be B-O-A-O-B, then?"
"We really wanted it to be BOOB," said Marcos, and at the younger boys giggled again. (126)
"Waitaminute," I said. "BOOB?"
"It's the name of our club," said boy number two.
"Are you guys from Florida or something?"
"No," said Beardo. "Why?"
Both boys shouted over each other.
"It stands for–"
"Shut up!"
"Backyard telescope Ob…Observation of–"
"Of Occupations by Boov!"
"I don't know why I ask," I said, "but shouldn't your acronym be like, BTOOB or something?"
"BOOB sounds better," they said.
Boys. Honestly. (225)
The True Meaning of Smekday is a gem among sci-fi books, with vivid writing and fast-paced action, all boiled down to a dramatic finale. Easily one of the best novels I've ever read. I hope I'll see a story like Smekday in the not-too-distant future, if not a direct sequel. I'll even accept a spiritual successor. But this is not the last I'll see from Adam Rex. It's like an alien-infused Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy for kids. Yeah, it's that good. Not only that, but there's going to be a movie based off of the book. The name? Home (formerly Happy Smekday!). You'd think that maybe it would be called The True Meaning of Smekday, or even Smekday, but they settled with Home. You'll never guess who's playing the two main roles. Rihanna and Sheldon Cooper from The Big Bang Theory. (It took me way too long to realize they're just doing voices.) The movie doesn't arrive until next November.
If you liked The True Meaning of Smekday, check out:
- Cosmic by Frank C. Boyce
- Hereville: How Mirka Got Her Sword by Barry Deutsch
- Aliens on Vacation by Clete B. Smith
- Zita the Spacegirl by Ben Hatke
I hope you had as much fun reading this as I did writing this! Well, you know the algorithm–tune in, well, whenever for more awesomeness courtesy of Sammwak! Be sure to Like this post, and if you're new don't forget to abduct that subscribe button! You can also find Sammwak on Google+ where you can get more news and stuff there!
Stay classy,
This is where I usually put my video of the week, but I know that you probably don't know that I have a YouTube channel. Check out my crap-res gaming videos of me playing games on old Nintendo consoles with the power of emulators. I don't intend for these to catch fire very quickly, but they're just out there. I think I got the mic working on this one. The computer fan's a pain in the behind, and I can't afford to shut it up, so try to bear with it.
Hey guys it's Sam! Remember back in June when I made a post counting down the top ten greatest Nintendo 64 games in my book? Well, consider this to be a sequel. Instead of going forward in time, I've decided to go backward. It's 1991. Pearl Jam and Nirvana are helping fuel the 1990s grunge scene. The World Wide Web and email have just popped up on the tech horizon. Terminator 2 was the film of the year. We said goodbye to rock legend Freddie Mercury. But most notably, the Sega Genesis was two years old. Eyes were glazing as kids watched the console's commercials, boasting "turbo processing" that allowed Sonic-speed gameplay. The NES was a thing of the past–the 16-bit era was the thing of the present.
The Genesis had a two-year head start and was already structuring a fanbase. To combat this, Nintendo created the Super Nintendo Entertainment System and had it out in North America by the end of the summer. Thus started the big battle of the fourth generation of video games. Both offered backward compatibility and had an ample number of accessories. Despite the Genesis' advantage and its lower price, the Super Nintendo outsold it by about 9.10 million units. I'm here to count down the top fifteen best SNES games in my book, and I have proof to back up my decisions thanks to the power of emulators. See if your favorites made the list.
In 2000, EA Sports Big was born to honor the unrealistic genre that is "extreme sports", and to test it out they created the SSX (Snowboard Supercross) series, a saga of critically acclaimed extreme snowboarding games. The series debuted as a PS2 exclusive, but eventually grew to adapt to the original Xbox and the GameCube, among other consoles. SSX Tricky, the second in the series, was one of my all-time favorite PS2 games growing up. I was nothing less than ecstatic in 2010 when I found news about a new SSX in the works. My elation was replaced with horror when I realized that the series was taking an unexpected detour into an abyss shrouded with darkness and ambiguity. However, EA Sports brought the game back on track, and the final result is the new SSX, the most realistic game the series–maybe even the genre–has ever seen.
"Defy reality. Own the planet."
Famous biker Zoe Payne, snowboarding legend Mac Fraser, and surfing icon Tane Mumea (he's new) have co-founded Team SSX. Instead of Snowboard Supercross, the letters stand for Snowboarding, Surfing, and Motocross, birthed by the three best riders snow, sea, and dirt have ever known. They've searched the planet to make a team of the nine best riders on Earth. However, member Griff Simmons (from SSX 3) has ditched the team, and most of the team funds have followed. Turning to their fans for help, Team SSX plans to raise funds with the power of live-streaming by conquering the nine deadliest descents in the world! Unfortunately, Griff plans on defeating the descents first, sparking a race across the globe to see who will "own the planet" first. The game's ravishing visuals make each descent much more lifelike and much more deadly. Here are the nine mountains you plan on defeating:
- Mount Robson, USA – The reason Robson represents America as a deadly descent is its merciless array of trees that have been strewn around the course. Well-timed jumps and maneuvers are key to making it to the bottom with as little damage as possible. Gear will be needed to take on this descent, as it gives you a layer of protection if you run into any trees.
- Fitz Roy, South America – The reason Fitz Roy represents Patagonia as a deadly descent is the enemy that is gravity. It will be impossible to clear a jump without a wingsuit, as it will be needed to give you some air before landing. However, your wingsuit isn't too sturdy, so you have to make a quick landing before lining up your next jump.
- Mount Belukha East, Russia – The reason Belukha represents Siberia as a deadly descent is its endless supply of ice that can get up to six feet thick; it's just as unforgiving as it sounds and looks, but luckily you'll have a pair of ice axes to aid you on your path. You'll also be iceboarding on the side of a cliff, so it's best to stay as near to the mountainside as possible.
- Mount McKinley/Denali, USA – The reason McKinley (known in the game as Denali) also represents America as a deadly descent is its ever-so-exciting avalanche that you have to outrun all the way to the bottom of the course while avoiding crevasses and not sticking too close to the avalanche. Boost is key to outrunning the snowy beast, as it will give you a distance advantage as well as a time advantage.
- Mount Slaughter, Antarctica – According to the game, no snowboarding trip around the world would be complete without a stop at the coldest and most desolate place on Earth. Obviously, your main enemy is the piercing cold in an area where the sunshine is everyone's best bud. Luckily, you will be equipped with a solar panel while also keeping an eye out for any light patches that can regenerate your health, because shade and tunnels are your worst enemy.
- Mount Everest, Himalayas – The tallest mountain on Earth is also one of the most dangerous descents you'll be conquering. As in real life, up in the mountains thin air is a killer, so you'll be provided with an oxygen tank consisting of the freshest gas your mates could find. Even then, you're not very safe, as your oxygen is–wait for it–limited. You'll have to get out there as quick as possible before you run out of oxygen. When you start to see blackness around the corners of your TV, that means you're gonna black out in a couple of seconds–a perfect opportunity to use some of that good O2.
- Mount Blanco, Alps – No, not that small hill in Texas, an actual mountain where your one enemy is rocks. But not in avalanche form–just plain rocks. You can easily jump over the rocks and make small movements to avoid them, but don't overdo it–you might run into the side of the canyon. I recommend you use armor to increase your survival chances, and around here speed literally kills, so I suggest taking it as slow as possible.
- Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania – (Ah, Tanzania. My true non-American home.) "But, Sam! Kilimanjaro's a volcano, not a mountain!" Exactly, my dear reader. You're actually going to be riding inside the volcano, but don't fear eruptions; I just hope you're not afraid of the dark, because that is your main enemy for this descent. Luckily, you'll be provided with a headlamp to provide some light, but don't be planning on tricking a lot–where your head goes, the lamp goes. So if you're in the middle of a gnarly tweak, you might not notice that menacing wall in front of you.
- Mount Aoraki/Mount Cook, New Zealand – You've fought through trees, rocks, and darkness, but that's just the tip of this game's iceberg (sorry). Because this time your enemy is–the notorious whiteout. The granddaddy of all snowstorms and blizzards. You won't be able to see your trembling hand in front of your terrified face without pulse goggles, but all they do is help you see through snow. They won't help you differentiate safe terrain from lethal chasms, so keep an eye out for flares that will help you down the mountain and avoid taking bad jumps. (These flares can also give you some Tricky meter boost. Why they give you some boost, I don't know.)
The game starts by automatically launching you into story mode, as you are unable to go anywhere else. You can either use the button controls or the right-stick controls, and both work quite well. A majority of Tricky's best mechanics return in this game: tweaking your tricks as well as the famous Tricky meter. Land tricks to boost your meter, and if you want to you can deplete it by using it as a speed boost. If you land enough tricks you are temporarily put into Tricky mode. Tricks get Über makeovers, are worth more points, and earn you letters once landed. Once you earn your Y you don't receive infinite boost and the ability to perform as many Über tricks as you want–you get into Super Tricky mode, allowing you to perform even crazier tricks as well as the granddaddy of them all–the signature trick.
Old school gamers can change the controls to "classic" in the game settings, although I have no clue what difference it makes since it's been years since I've played Tricky. When you get far enough in story mode, you can unlock two modes: one of them being Explore, where you can free-ride. While in that mode, you can buy people for 10,000 to 50,000 credits. Credits are the game's currency, earned by competing in events–whether you win or lose, you're still probably gonna walk away with a couple thousand. Speaking of which, you can also get geo-tags via completing select events or by buying them. You can place them in spots while rewinding, and they're worth varying amounts of XP and credits. A player has exactly a day to obtain the geo-tag before its lifespan runs out.
At each descent, you compete in two events as descent training before the real deal: Race It (qualify in the top three to advance) and Trick It (try to earn more points than your opponents). Each mode delivers a new strategy to the tables; in races, you need to find the fastest routes, but you need to locate big air in trick runs. Then there's Survive It, where it all comes down to. Each descent features a number of paths, hidden obstacles, and dangerous chasms, so elite precision is mandatory to getting the best scores on the more challenging descents–or you know, just surviving. But this game is only for people who know what they're doing and what they're up against; the AI is
punishing challenging, and death traps are just waiting for you to run into them.
The one other thing I hate about the game is its lack of traditional simultaneous multiplayer. Yes, SSX is a single-player experience, and that sucks! The closest thing to multiplayer in this game is Global Events, a challenge series open to every player across the globe, or just you and your friends. EA has challenges going nonstop, and you can just come to try and beat a high score or a time. While you're racing, people may just show up alongside you and turn this into a simultaneous event. There are some custom events where you can invite just your friends, which is probably the closest Global Events get to "multiplayer." Besides GE, RiderNet (SSX's AutoLog) keeps track of your progress and informs you on what hijinks your buds are up to.
But what's a sports game without a stellar soundtrack? (I've played FIFA for 4 years; I should know.) SSX's music includes Foster the People, The Naked and Famous, Flux Pavilion, Camo & Krooked, DJ Shadow, and the three bosses of dubstep: Nero, Noisia, and Skrillex. Too bad the only time your characters speak are if they're in the middle of a gnarly trick or bailing.
Once you get far enough in story mode, you can unlock two modes, one of them being Explore. If you press a certain button to select the track you want to ride in Explore, you can go into free-ride mode, where you can simply cruise your way down without a Tricky meter to distract you. But you can still do Über tricks; a blue flash on the screen means you've hit Tricky, and an orange means you've hit Super. In the game, you can earn badges and achievements while 'boarding a track, and you can use RiderNet to check out your goods and remember just how great you are at this game. If you're not doing story mode, checking out Global Events or RiderNet, or exploring, you might be checking out the DLC.
Electronic Arts has announced DLC characters that are already on the market: real-life pro snowboarder Travis Rice, and our old pal Eddie! The bro with the 'fro appears in his own DLC pack, Mt. Eddie, which also brings the exuberant and colorful feels of Tricky to the new SSX. If it didn't feel nostalgic enough, classic skins have been added for characters like Elise and Moby! Could it get any better than that? Oh, but it doesn't stop there: the pack features the return of 7 characters in their original appearances. To be specific, Elise, Eddie, Kaori, Mac, Moby, Psymon, and Zoe. As in Tricky, each 'boarder comes with alternate outfits and their own board. For just $5.99, you can give your SSX experience a nostalgic retro makeover.
For PS3 players, Mount Fuji is automatically installed into the game, allowing you to snow-surf down another mountain. I wouldn't look at it as a descent, though. Luckily, Xbox 360 users won't be left out in the cold (sorry again)–Mt. Fuji comes in the Mt. Fuji & Friends DLC pack, which comes with Eddie and Travis, as well character-specific Ultimate level snowboards that'll make that high score more visible with perks for Eddie, Zoe, Mac, Kaori, and Elise. There's also a bonus Geo-Tag. Xbox.com describes the pack as a "mountain of content", and why not buy it? It's absolutely free!
In the end, SSX is an extraordinary and over-the-top snowboarding game that brings some new and some old to the table, using its gorgeous visuals and challenging gameplay as a great filter.
(Click on the pictures to be transported to their GameStop articles!)
(What do you want to see from me, I'm not a big snowboarding gamer!)
Well, that was quite the doozy! Be sure to tune in next Friday at 1:00 PM ET for more awesomeness courtesy of Sammwak! Oh, and have a rad summer while it lasts!
Stay classy,
Video of the Week: "Honest Commercials" by nigahiga. It's been out for just nine days and it's already passed 1.5 million hits and been featured on the Smosh Pit. Tune in and see what you've been missing.
Hey guys it's Sam, and welcome to another episode of Game Face! Now take Street Fighter IV, MK 2011, MK vs DCU, and all of the DC Universe characters you can think of, and puree it all in the most pretentious blender you can find at your local supermarket. Pour it in the most posh glass you can find in your house and garnish with a curly straw, and you have Injustice Gods Among Us. This fighting game from the makers of the latest Mortal Kombat game pits the heroes and villains of the DC Universe against one another, but it goes far beyond just over-the-top action.
The game's plot is the size of a doorstop, and there's a lot to be understood to fully grasp the meaning of the game. Heck, the entire thing takes place in a parallel universe! It all starts when Joker dastardly and maliciously deceives Superman into believing his wife Lois Lane is a villain named Doomsday, causing him to kill both her and her unborn son who she was apparently preggers with. Not only that, but Kal-El ends up destroying the rest of Metropolis in a single nuclear boom! (Apparently the nuclear bomb was connected with Lois' heartbeat. What.) Overcome with guilt and fueled by rage, Superman does the one thing Batman wouldn't–straight up murder Joker in cold blood!
But the Man of Steel will never forgive himself for what Joker made him do, so he seizes the control of several planets across the globe, establishing a new world order as the High Councilor for the lone goal of world peace. Sounds corny, doesn't it? But if you aren't with Superman, you sure as heck are against him. The heroes of the earth, from Aquaman to Wonder Woman, are faced with a choice between Superman's Regime or Batman's Insurgency. War ends up breaking out between the forces, one that'll threaten the survival of all of mankind.
I'm sorry, I can't type that with a straight face.
I mean, seriously, a bomb linked with a human's heartbeat? Injustice's story really starts to cave in on itself just to find reasons why a pair of heroes should be beating the crap out of each other.
The best way to begin playing the game is to check out its tutorial, which shows you pretty much everything you need to know about the game, from special moves to bounce cancels. Now once you put that to use, you'll see the same fighting style of Mortal Kombat 2011–well, actually, they're the exact same controls. Heck, there are even some moves straight out of X-Ray Mode! However, what makes the game the most unique from MK 2011 is its interactive fighting style; "the world is your weapon," says the back of the game case. And indeed it is; for example, in the Batcave someone can send you hurtling into the Bat Computer, or press a nearby button to blast you with rockets. Or in Atlantis, someone can turn a valve and blast you with an unblockable burst of water. However, many of the game's heavier-built players can destroy these helpful objects almost effortlessly. A stone tablet that Batman can use as a jumping pad, Superman will simply crush. This will definitely be the birth of many Injustice trolls.
Injustice also has "level transitions", which you can perform on characters by doing a select attack near one of a level's ends. Your opponent will be painfully sent to the lower level, and if you choose you can painfully send them back to the upper level. However, while the game's transitions can be over-the-top, the game's laws of physics are very lenient and unrealistic (but still over-the-top). You can take a good long fall through several building floors, get hurtled into space, be inside a crashing helicopter, and more. And you'll surely survive through all of it like it's nothing.
The game is also unique for its Character Powers: whether it's flight, healing, or just a temporary strength boost, these Powers are exclusive to each character. Another new part of the game is the Clashes: it can immediately interrupt a combo, allowing both players to secretly gamble some or all of their super meter (which can be saved up to perform a Super Move). It is only available when its starter has at least half of their meter full, and is only available once. There are also no rounds in Injustice–just two health bars. If one player has both of their bars emptied, the match automatically ends and the other player is declared the winner. The matches are also timed, and I'm not a fan of timed matches. I like Super Street Fighter IV, where you can set match times to infinite.
But hey, at least Injustice gives you a quick reference of your special moves whenever you pause.
Winning matches will increase your XP, and enough XP allows you to level up, unlocking content from music to concept art. And if you aren't fighting, you could take a visit to STAR Labs to do character-specific missions that I have yet to unearth. If that wasn't enough, you could waste a couple of minutes customizing your "hero card" and your "portrait" that comes with your Injustice in-game account. Besides that there are some half-decent mini games: shoot arrows from Green Arrow's POV, use your eye lasers to destroy entire cars as Superman, the list goes on. However, I don't enjoy how Superman is willingly incinerating vehicles with people inside. I mean, whatever happened to defending the world?
Oh, and also, if you consider a spinoff comic series as an extra, I should note the Injustice comic by Tom Taylor and Jheremy Raapack, as well as the Injustice action figure line.
In the end, Injustice Gods Among Us is a shockingly derivative fighting game that doubles as a big love letter to the fan base of the DC Universe, fueled by enjoyable over-the-top action and a thin story that most people will give no heed. (And it should stay that way.)
(Click on the pictures to be transported to their GameStop articles!)
Well, that was fun! Be sure to tune in next Friday for more awesomeness courtesy of Sammwak! Oh, and have a radical summer!
Stay classy,
Video of the Week: "About Pogo (Nick Bertke)" by Fagottron aka Pogo. You've seen some of his amazing videos since they've been past Videos of the Week, but learn the story of Pogo in just 9 minutes!
"I love making music. I think it's the ultimate way to express myself. I can't imagine how else I would connect with myself and the world around me." (Poetry.)
Hey guys it's Sam! Do you have your game faces on? Because today we'll be talking turkey about some of the most promising video games to expect this fall for the 7th-gen consoles (PS3, X360, Wii, 3DS) and the 8th-gen consoles (PS4, Xbox One, Wii U). And I'll have you know now–this season has an ample number of seemingly great games. (To see information about certain games, click "Details" under each picture!)
Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze (11-13; Wii U)
Much like in the original DKC sequel, Dixie Kong will be joining the adventure alongside an unannounced character. You can now swim in the game, but you can also do underwater spin attacks if you encounter any enemies in the seas. Tropical Freeze takes pages from many classic games' books: to regain breath you can collect underwater bubbles à la Sonic, and you can uproot things and throw stunned enemies à la SMB 2. Dave Wise, composer for the original DKC trilogy, will be returning to compose the music. But who knows?–Maybe Nintendo will make a third Returns game and add Kiddy Kong!
Just Dance 2014 (9-8-13; PS3, Wii, Wii U, X360/Q4 '13; PS4, XBOne)
- On-Stage Mode: One player dances in a main routine while two others dance backup routines.
- "Ghost Mode": One player dances against ghost renditions of a friend's prior gameplay.
- Karaoke Mode: Players get points for singing the right notes and actually don't get punished for singing incorrectly. This mode only works on consoles with a mic, so that's basically every console but the Wii.
- Just Dance DJ Mode: Players can switch between songs and "shape the music" via dancing; this mode is Xbox One exclusive.
- Party Master Mode: The Wii U's exclusive take on Just Dance 4's "Puppet Master" mode. Use the GamePad to change the game rules, the current song, and select dance moves for up to four players with Wii Remotes.
- Battle Mode: What does it sound like?
Scribblenauts Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure (9-24-13; 3DS, Wii U, PC)
The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds (11-13; 3DS)
Arrows for shooting enemies and mallets for nailing pegs was showcased in early LBW footage; besides that, the magic meter refills on its own. Yep, no potions needed. Link's bow, hammer, and even bombs rely on the magic meter. At full health, Link's sword shoots projectiles like in LTTP.This is probably the best new feature: Link can actually jump into walls and become a drawing to slither up the wall to reach new areas. However, this feeds off your magic meter, so be conservative. IGN says the game has "everything [they] wanted from a Nintendo 3DS Zelda game" after playing the demo.
Lego Marvel Super Heroes (9-18-13; PC, DS, 3DS, PS3, PS4, Vita, Wii U, X360, XBOne)
Super Mario 3D World (12-13; Wii U)
A maximum of four players may explore the same level at the same time with each character, sharing from a collection of extra lives. Like in New SMB Wii, players can pick up one another to help them across select areas. Alongside the return of the Tanooki Suit and the Fire Flower, a brand new suit will appear–the Cat Suit, allowing its wearer to wall-climb, perform unique attacks, climb to the top of the final flag pole, and run at a faster speed. The GamePad comes into play so its user can rub the touch-screen to reveal blocks or items that have been hidden, as well as to stun enemies to assist players. The Wii U's Off-TV Play is supported by Super Mario 3D World.
Regular Show: Mordecai & Rigby in 8-Bit Land (10-29-13; 3DS)
You can swap between Mordo and Rigs at any time; Mordo can double jump, and Rigby's meager size can fit him through more confined spaces. Also, Mordo can transform into a spaceship (makes more sense in context). Anyway, be sure to check out Mordo and Rigs in 8-Bit Land when it hits stores for the 3DS this October.
Adventure Time: Explore the Dungeon Because I DON'T KNOW! (11-12-13; PS3, X360, Wii U, 3DS)
You can play as Finn, Jake, Marcie, and even Cinnamon Bun. However, news has it you can also play as LSP and Flame Princess. The dungeon has a massive hundred floors to conquer, and you can also play with up to three of your buddies. The game's development by WayForward received a little aid from show creator Pen Ward himself, and it's being published by D3 Publisher–publisher of 10,000 Ben 10 games. Oh, that reminds me–look out for Ben 10 Omniverse coming this November to the PS3, Xbox 360, Wii, DS, 3DS, and Wii U. Also look out for Explore the Dungeon Because I DON'T KNOW!, also coming this November.
- Rayman Legends (9-3-13; PS3, X360, Wii U)
- Total War Rome 2 (9-3-13; PC)
- Grand Theft Auto V (9-17-13; PS3, X360)
- FIFA 14 (9-24-13; PS2, PS3, PS4, PSP, PS Vita, X360, XBOne, PC, iOS, Android)
- Beyond Two Souls (10-8-13; PS3)
- Pokemon X & Y (10-12-13; 3DS)
- Skylanders Swap Force (10-13-13; 3DS, PS3, PS4, Wii U, Wii, X360, XBOne)
- Sonic Lost World (10-22-13; Wii U, 3DS)
- Batman Arkham Origins (10-25-13; PC, PS3, X360, Wii U)
- Batman Arkham Origins Blackgate (10-25-13; PS Vita, 3DS)
- Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker HD (???; Wii U)
- Mario Party 10 (???; 3DS)
- Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games (???; Wii U, 3DS)
- Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain (???; PS3, PS4, X360, XBOne)
- Walking Dead Season 2 (???; ???)
Check in Monday for more awesomeness courtesy of Sammwak!
Stay classy,
Video of the Week: "those turtles" by Notnotsandvichhobo. Have your life changed forever or your money back. (The tune: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=naJfryM0nsY)
Nintendo has revolutionized modern gaming in many ways, and this world would be very different without them. They began in fall 1889, founded by Fusajiro Yamauchi, originally a card company. As time went by, they evolved into a game company that has made a market value of over $85 billion! The American part of the company also owns the Seattle Mariners MLB team (imagine that), but that's not the point. Nintendo has become gradually better with every new console releases, evolving from giant cartridges to comfortably small discs, and their skills in the industry have made them a three-time gaming generation winner by sales standings. One of their unsuccessful years was the fifth generation, which they lost to the PlayStation. However, the Nintendo 64 was still a 3D trailblazer for tons of series, and I'm here to count down the top ten creamiest creams of the crop.
#10. Pokemon Stadium (2000)
When Nintendo started the Pokemon saga with Red and Blue in 1998, they became established as heroes in the industry of RPGs. By the time they released Gold and Silver they also experimented with the Nintendo 64's 3D specialties. The game was intended to be for the Nintendo 64DD, but transferred into cartridge format when the add-on became a commercial letdown. There is no linear plot to the game–you must win Cups and complete the Gym Leader Castle to progress in the game. The game also made good use of the console's Transfer Pak to transfer Pokemon from past titles.
#9. Conker's Bad Fur Day (2001)
Few gamers remember Conker's Pocket Tales, which was a Game Boy Color exclusive that starred a lighthearted red squirrel named Conker that would appeal to young audiences. This family-friendly rodent went through one of gaming history's most shocking transformations into a greedy guzzler. After a night of binge drinking, he is attempting to return home to his girlfriend while avoiding the Panther King, who wants Conker as a replacement for his missing table leg. The game was controversial for its language and inappropriate humor, but eventually gained a cult following despite being a commercial disappointment at the end of the console's life cycle. But never will I forget hearing that giant pile of crap sing opera.
#8. GoldenEye 007 (1997)
GoldenEye is known for probably nothing but being the first Pierce Brosnan Bond movie, maybe being a great financial success, getting nominated for a couple BAFTAs. But it was the game made for it that not only made it ten times more popular, but made the Nintendo 64 a real force to be reckoned with. In the game you played as Bond and tried to stop this bad guy from using a satellite weapon against London to cause a worldwide financial meltdown. But no one really cared about the campaign, did they? All that mattered was the multiplayer. The game allowed one to three of your buddies to play with you in different types of deathmatch games, and I can tell you're already remembering the memories of you mercilessly murdering your friend with the Golden Gun. Let's face it, nothing beat the Golden Gun.
#7. Tony Hawk's Pro Skater (1999)
Tony Hawk is known for many things: he did the first successful 900, he founded the Boom Boom Huck Jam exhibition/tour, he started a foundation to build skate parks in underprivileged areas, but everything really changed when Pro Skater first came out. This showed that Hawk wasn't really playing around, and it's still to this day one of the most influential skateboarding games in existence. You could skate and trick like nobody's business and collect letters to make the word "SKATE" all while in an ambience of punk music. I also loved playing as Kareem Campbell; why, I think it was the hoodie. I was the best at Kareem, and I played no one but Kareem (ok, maybe Reynolds).
#6. Star Fox 64 (1997)
Star Fox began as a Super Nintendo exclusive in 1993, which spawned a sequel (also for the SNES) that could practically taste completion before being left in the dust as Shigeru Miyamoto decided to experiment with the Nintendo 64. The game turned into a 3D rail shooter starring Fox McCloud, leader of the Star Fox team, as he and his crew (Peppy Hare, Falco Lombardi, and Slippy Toad) embark on intergalactic adventures to destroy a disembodied ape head named Andross. The game was famous for popularizing the Rumble Pak, a removable add-on that provided lifelike vibrations to the controller. It also spawned some of gaming history's most classic phrases, such as "Do a barrel roll!" and "Can't let you do that, Star Fox!"
#5. Mario Kart 64 (1997)
Mario and his friends first got into racing with Super Mario Kart, which is credited as a pioneer of the kart racing subgenre and helping Mario branch out its gaming styles to establish it as the most bestselling game franchise in history. When new opportunity formed in the shape of the Nintendo 64, Mario Kart went in full-force. Not only was 3D CG graphics one of the big differences (allowing changes in elevation and such), but its multiplayer allowed up to four racers at a time. There were also four different modes to play in: grand prix (compete against the CPU for different cups), time trial (race a track and try to set a record), versus (race against your friend or friends), and battle (kickin' it old school with balloons). It was the first N64 game I ever played, and it's still among the best I've ever played. Never will I forget traveling down Rainbow Road.
#4. Super Smash Bros. (1999)
Take all of your favorite Nintendo heroes and put them together in a take-no-prisoners crossover beat em' up, and that's basically Super Smash Bros for you. The game starred Mario, Kirby, Fox, Pikachu, Link, and so many more famous characters. Every aspect of the game was a blast: you could slow down the speed of training, play bonus rounds
that were impossible, or you could play a single-player campaign mode to face the Master Glove. You could also play campaign to unlock characters like Luigi and Jigglypuff. I essentially got good at Kirby, but I really started picking up combos for Mario. SSB was also famous for debuting the ever-so-notorious "Falcon Punch", the unbeatable move. It also branched out into a series that included the GameCube's most bestselling game, one of the best Wii games ever, and an upcoming something-something for the Wii U and 3DS.
#3. Super Mario 64 (1996)
Yeah, I really roasted this game, didn't I? You'd expect me to put it at, like, #2. But I guess I didn't enjoy it as much as many critics and gamers did. Anyway, this game alongside LoZ: Ocarina of Time basically paved the way into the 3D generation, and that's one of the reasons why it is critically lauded even to this day. The game's story is simple on the outside, but complex at the core: you play as Mario, and you must recover 120 Power Stars to stop Bowser, free Peach, and get a cake. This game had everything–helpful camera angles, stellar control schemes, and one of our generation's greatest video game soundtracks.
#2. Diddy Kong Racing (1997)
Picture this: it's Christmas 1997. You find a gift under the yule tree that's just for you, and you open it with trembling hands. You let out a squeal when you see what's inside–a brand new copy of Diddy Kong Racing. You are among the hundreds of thousands of people that ordered the game a week or two before Christmas, and you have helped the game to setting a Guinness record for being the fastest-selling game of the time. Now let's talk turkey: the game did have a story, but no one really paid attention to it. All you did was race levels and beat bosses of different "domains" to race Wizpig, the game's final boss. There were also side missions such as racing levels while picking up silver coins, and another mode where you could race tracks backwards. If you weren't up to the challenge, you could play tracks on your own or with up to three buddies. What puts DKR so high up on the list is that its bouncy soundtrack and unique racing environments just form an aura that attracts you to it. At least, that's how I felt when I played it back in the day.
#1. Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (1998)
Guys…guys, I'm sorry. I wasted your time and ended up picking the same game as hundreds of other lists to be at the top spot. But this game just gave me a feeling few games ever give me: the feeling of euphoria. The feeling that makes me say, "This game is unlike the rest, this game is a real gem." At first I was skeptical about the game, seeing all its perfect scores and its Guinness records. But when I visited my friend's house and plugged it in, I was mesmerized by the environment. Opening chests with that grand jingle or smashing pots to collect rupees was just as amazing as people had described it. Of course, the game was accompanied by a revolutionary soundtrack that made everything all the better, and I have to end on this note: Ocarina of Time is, and will be, arguably the single greatest video game of our generation. I know, that sounded really corny.
- Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask (2000)
- Killer Instinct Gold (1996)
- Donkey Kong 64 (1999)
- Banjo Kazooie (1998)
- Perfect Dark (2000)
- Mario Golf (1999)
- Mario Tennis (2000)
- Resident Evil 2 (1999)
- 1080° Snowboarding (1998)
- Mortal Kombat 4 (1998)
Well, that's all for this month folks! Be sure to tune in next Friday for more awesomeness courtesy of Sammwak!
Stay classy,
Channel of the Week: This week's honor goes to videogamedunkey, a one-man gaming channel full of hysterical play-throughs and hilarious reviews. The channel has been up since fall 2010 and has over 470,000 subs and 132.8 million hits! Check out some of his best videos and try not to laugh. (Warning: Some strong language throughout)


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Autumn in London
ISO: 100, Shutter speed: 1/100, Aperture: f/4,
Camera: Canon EOS 20D, Flash: None, Cropping: Square,
Lens: Canon EF 35mm f/1.4L, Focal length: 35mm,
Captured: 29th May 2006, 3:00pm,
Another archive shot. Bit of a 'cheap' one I guess but hey ho.
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In-School Spanish Classes in San Diego
School Principals:
Now there is a way to offer weekly in-school Spanish classes to your San Diego elementary school! Schools can hire Sing 'n Speak Spanish to provide teachers to teach during the school day. Many of our experienced and talented enrichment teachers have hours during the school day when they would love to be teaching. Contact Us if you are interested in adding Spanish classes at your school. These are San Diego schools who currently offer our in-school classes:
• La Jolla Elementary (www.ljes.org)
• McKinley Elementary (www.sandiegounified.org/schools/mckinley)
• Montessori School of San Diego (www.montessori-of-sandiego.com)
• St. Gregory School (www.saintgregorythegreat.org)
• St. James Academy (www.saintjamesacademy.com)
• St. Paul's Lutheran School (www.stpaulspb.com/san-diego-lutheran-school)


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Share Sunday 076 | Moving to Belgium?
June 22, 2014
The last few weeks have been a bit crazy to say the least. You can probably tell from the lack of posts both here and on XOMISSE that it's been a busy few weeks and it hasn't quite stopped yet. I thought for today's Share Sunday I'd do a quick recap of the last few weeks that I've been away as I have loads of news!
With the majority of assignments finished at the end of May, it was time to focus on my thesis and finishing my final year project to then present to my year and a panel of six lecturers. Slightly nerve wracking but by that stage we were just all delighted to be close to the end and close to getting some much needed sleep. The presentation went great and the panel really seemed to like my work. A week later we had the end of year showcase to show off our projects to family, friends, local businesses and those in the digital media industry. The two day show went so well. I'll be writing about the whole experience over on XOMISSE very soon if you'd like to read about it. I had a couple of people really interested in my project who gave me their contact details to discuss future projects and work which was so exciting!! The next few days after the show were spent following up with them, I cannot wait to see what happens!! I got my results the other day and am delighted that the hard work paid off and I now have an honours degree, can't believe it's finally all over. I was so worried about what's next after college but from talking to people at the show and receiving some of the emails I've gotten since then, I know that this is what I'm meant to be doing and it will fall into place as it's supposed to if I continue to work hard.
The other big change was the boyfriend moved to Belgium for work in February. He came home for 2 days for his birthday at the start of June, it was so nice to see him after 8+ weeks. Leaving the airport was so difficult as I thought I'd be going back with him but I still have some things to finish up here. Unfortunately the following day we got the news that his grandad, who has lived with him for most of his life and been a father figure for him and his brother, had suddenly passed away. I wasn't able to get him a flight home until Friday morning and I know those two days in Belgium were probably the longest two days for him. The weekend was a complete blur for everyone. It was such a shock and news we just weren't expecting! His grandad had drove me home from the airport the day before and told me he'd be over to visit us in Belgium in a few weeks. It's so hard to believe that he's no longer with us. I want to say a huge thank you to everyone who wrote to us over the passed few days, it really meant a lot to him.
The boyfriend flew back to Belgium on Monday and I will hopefully be able to head over in the next week or so. I had a list of things I needed to do before I left like finishing my driving lessons and finishing a website for a local school which was handed over to them on Friday. It was so interesting to work on something much different to what I'm used to. I've also been working on a redesign for XOMISSE to make it easier to find tutorials and creating Wordpress + Blogger Templates for the shop which will hopefully be published soon. So now it's time to book my flights, go shopping for bits I need to bring over, start washing clothes, sorting makeup and packing whatever I can. Wish me luck!
Posted In: Life, ShareSunday, Travel


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KOKOMO, Ind. – When an accident eliminated the leaders on the last lap Sunday at Kokomo Speedway, that allowed Shane Cottle to score his second King of Indiana Sprint Series victory in as many races.
"We're planning on trying to get this. That would be something to have a KISS championship, that would be neat," Cottle said.
The victory came after the race leaders had taken the white flag and the caution flag flew, necessitating a one-lap restart. Hustling into turn one in the bottom lane, Bryan Clauson was hit by Daron Clayton, immediately flattening his left rear tire. Clayton spun to a stop in the racing groove and while cars scrambled to miss him, Jon Stanbrough got caught in the tangle and flipped.
"I went in hard," Clayton explained later. "I was happy with second, but I was going to try to make a move for the win. I was going to try to get a little bit on the outside of him going into turn one, cut under him on the backstretch and then just lock it down on the bottom down there and block him. But I had a short between the seat and the steering wheel, I think. I went in there and set the car and the the front end got light and I just ran into the back of him and gave him a flat tire. It ruined both of our nights and that's about how it went down."
Inheriting the lead for a second restart, Cottle held off Jerry Coons Jr., Brady Short, Kevin Thomas Jr. and Scotty Weir.
"We were definitely the third fastest car. They had that little skirmish, Bryan and Clayton, and we just lucked into it," Cottle said.
From the front row, Scotty Weir paced the first nine laps before Clauson caught and passed him. Wheeling his own unsponsored No. 7 Maxim, Clauson built a straightaway advantage while Cottle worked his way to second. But at the mid-race point it became apparent that Clayton had found the sweet spot in the No. 3r Rock Steady Racing Mach-1. In the next several laps he worked past Weir and Cottle and as they began to battle through slower lapped cars, chased Clauson.
But Clauson still had a half-straightaway lead when they took the white flag. C.J. Leary's spin brought out the caution, erasing the advantage and setting the stage for the final lap drama. While both Clauson and Clayton were eliminated, Stanbrough returned to the track after a quick check in the pits.
"I thought I made a good corner," Clauson said afterward. "Obviously not as good as he wanted me to. There's not a whole lot you can do up front. I thought we got a good restart and hit our mark down there on the bottom and obviously got run over. We did our job, we came from sixth and got the lead. If not for that yellow coming to the line we would have won. It's part of the ballgame, sometime you win some you shouldn't and sometime you lose some you should win."
The finish:
Shane Cottle, Jerry Coons Jr., Brady Short, Kevin Thomas Jr., Scotty Weir, Gary Taylor, Robert Ballou, Chad Boespflug, Justin Grant, Kyle Robbins, Josh Spencer, C.J. Leary, Jon Stanbrough, Dave Darland, Chris Gurley, Dalten Gabbard, Jeff Bland Jr., Parker Price-Miller, Bryan Clauson, Daron Clayton.


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text: 'The taxi has been great and considering the age, very reliable. It made it all the way to Naples in Italy where it is now working as a publicity vehicle for a Neapolitan Pizzeria. Find attached some pics of the journey down and a few of the cab driving around the streets of Naples.' – Marco Domenici


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How Social Media and your Website can Work Together
There is now almost no place in web design these days to excuse the omission of social media. Generally social media allows for a better website experience and aids the promotion of brands.
In this piece we will look at how you ensure your website and social media can work in tandem to boost publicity and coverage.
Social Media Buttons
Though, most people add these and nowadays it seems a little bit like their incorporation shouldn't have to be considered, they are still sometimes forgotten about. Social media buttons should be place at the top of the screen so people can click on them without having to go to the trouble of scrolling down the page. Ideally they should scroll with the page and always be in the customer's line of sight.
Be aware of the channels you use the most and don't clog your page up with numerous redundant social media buttons you seldom use.
Why not to link to Social Media
If you don't use certain aspects of social media, but persist on adding the links to your site, you end up causing a negative effect on your online effort.
People who click on your inactive social media channels and see there is little going on will possibly react in a negative manner towards your brand.
The Facebook and The Twitter
Be aware that social media changes fast, very, very fast. Keep abreast of this online in the way you mention it and also in design terms. Do your research beforehand though, there's nothing as crippling as a attempting a social media change with little prior knowledge. You'll spend the first week trying to learn how to work the new widget, or social media plugin and it just won't run smoothly enough to warrant its fast integration to the site!
Look at your Google Analytics and see how people are using, see how many are clicking on and the numbers using your outbound media links. Event Tracking on Google can help you ensure people are clicking on the right links and provide a guide on how to ensure the correctly convert users on your site.
There are also a number of other companies who provide web analysis solutions and allow you to gain a better understanding of how to target and convert people. Companies provide great tools ensuring you get an insight into what's being talked about at the moment, allowing you to capitalise on it via social media.
Make Sharing Worth It
We would advise placing share buttons on product pages, especially if you have an eCommerce site. Share buttons allow a whole array of new opportunities and allow people to recommend goods you have online with others in an easy manner. This should also be taken into account if you produce articles, video, or blogs on site and want them to be shared across the Internet.
We're all used to clicking on web pages and finding heaps of junk with share buttons beside pointless images of and worthless content. Make sure you have something worthwhile to share. Content is important, so make sure it is interesting, useful or engaging. People are busy and don't have the time for the inane, so make sharing worth it for best social media results.
John is a guest blogger from Basekit. When you create a website with Basekit you have the choice of hundreds of website templates and the option of including a blogging platform and social media features with the touch of a button.
Social Media Marketing 2019, PPC on 10+ Platforms.Learn how to market via Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, Google and more advertising platforms! This must-have course has a 4.5 rating out of 4,235 ratings with more than 37,000 students enrolled.
Take a look at the social media marketing course


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Why would you pay for a website? Why not just do it yourself or get a friend to do it?
The most obvious reason would be the return on your investment. Good websites make businesses money, bad websites cost businesses money (in the long run).
Websites often increase lead generation by upwards of 80%! The money that came out of your pocket for the website will be back in your pocket and multiplied in no time.
You're not attempting to do it yourself and you don't know anyone that can do it for you so you go to the cheapest web 'developer' you can find? Wrong again. Here's why you need to be choosing reputable professional companies like Frogspark to create your website:
If you call in a favour from a friend, they will not have the same incentive and motivation as someone who is being paid to do a great job on your website and is genuinely passionate about what your business is trying to achieve from it.
A range of expertise
Do you know the difference between a designer and a developer? Both professionals have completely different skill sets and a team of people demonstrating expertise in different areas will be a lot more effective than one person who dabbles in each of these areas.
In a well developed team like Frogspark, you will also have access to in-house members who specialise in digital marketing and are able to produce great website content, analyse your SEO and advise or manage your social media presence.
Responsive web design
Do you know what devices your customers are using to browse your website? The most important factor to take into account with web design is how responsive your website is to your customers, no matter which device they opt to use.
Our research suggests that websites are actually viewed mainly on mobile (55% of users in fact). The majority of people will use their phone to search for you on Google or they will find your website from social media platforms which are mainly used on mobile devices. So it's good practise to design a website with mobile at the forefront, then working it for tablet and desktop.
Having said that, this percentage of mobile users will differ (sometimes greatly) between websites depending on the industry and nature of the business so it's important to know your audience!
Good, professional website developers know how to make your website responsive to avoid your customers going to competition.
Make the most of your content
Good content is an essential part of creating a great website but any web design professional will tell you that there are design and technical elements to take into account to ensure the content is effective. Having well placed content in a website is crucial to lead generation and grabbing potential clients.
Save your time
Firstly, it will take you months to be able to code an 'OK' website. If you've got that friend of yours to build your website, what happens when you want to start making some more advanced changes and they aren't able to make them? What happens if a new version of a browser is released and part of the website isn't optimised for it?
Websites needs ongoing maintenance. A professional website developer should fully maintain your website so that changes are easy to make and it is always up to date with the latest technologies.
At Frogspark, our websites are all focused on a conversion oriented user experience, are all responsive, built to your individual requirements and fully maintained.
Get a website you love
Hiring quality website developers means that you don't have to settle for what you get. We work with a client throughout the whole process of building their website starting with a thorough consultation where brand and website goals will be discussed.
A good website agency will ask you for feedback at every stage to ensure you are completely happy with the progress your website is making.
If want to know more about making your website more visible in search engines like Google, read our blog on how SEO impacts your business.


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YouTube (4:50) Death of Marine Col Jim Sabow
In early 1991, something happened at the El Toro Marine air base that was so bad, so shameful, that it will not go away. It's the highly controversial death of Marine Colonel James Sabow. A fighter pilot, a hero of the Vietnam War, a man considered by those who knew him, to be 'general material'.
By any logical account based on a large amount of evidence from multiple sources, Colonel James Sabow was murdered because he was going to bring the roof down on a number of senior Marines at El Toro, for their involvement in the continual running of drugs to aid terrorist groups in Nicaragua known as the Contras.


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OFallon Relocation Guide
Welcome to our OFallon Relocation Guide. Find everything from real estate and relocation information, to home loans, career information, schools, insurance, apartments and rentals and...
Read More
OFallon Relocation Guide
O'Fallon, Illinois
O'Fallon is located in Saint Clair County 83 miles (as the crow flies) from Springfield, Illinois. It has a population of 16,073 residents and covers over 15 square kilometers of land.


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Iraq Bombings Kill 30
A series of attacks targeted Iraq's Shiite community Saturday, despite increased security for the four-day religious holiday Eid al-Adha. The country was rocked by a string of bombings and shootings, including an explosion on playground equipment on the outskirts of Baghdad that killed eight, including four children. In the northern part of the country, gunmen broke into two houses, killing a boy and his parents in one home, and a mother and daughter in another.


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Read this tip to make your life smarter, better, faster and wiser. LifeTips is the place to go when you need to know about Crochet in Different Languages and other Crochet topics.
Since crochet is a French term, I thought I would start with the French words for the various crochet stitches:
chain stitch = maille en l'air (ml), chainette
slip stitch = maille coulee (mc), petite maille
single crochet = maille serree (ms)
half double crochet = demi-bride (db)
double crochet = bride (b)
treble crochet = double bride (dble b)
Great help in figuring out the translations for the Mamy bag in Ravelry
You are a star! thank you so much - I have a French crochet pattern that I am trying to read and this really helps! x Response: Much thanks for your kind words, glad to be able to help!
Thank you! It really helped to figure out a French pattern. response: Glad to be able to help!
Thanks so much!! You are awesome :) I'm not confused anymore. Response: great news and thanks for the kind words :-)
Thanks so much. Needed a translation of chart for crochet edging that was done in French.
Fantastic thanks for this, now I can use my Marie Claire patterns.
Thank you so much, huge help!! answer: glad to hear it!
Thank you so much for this info, it really helped me out.
|Guru Spotlight
|Phyllis Serbes


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Hire speakers on the Costa del Sol.
If you are throwing a party or hosting an event on the Costa del Sol, you may need to rent some speakers, be it for music playback, speech, or a musical performance. Costa del Party hire professional active speakers in many sizes and power ratings. Active speakers have built in power amplifiers, so they are easy to set up, they can be supplied with mixing desks and microphones for professional use, or simple connections for music playback from your phone/laptop/ipad etc
Hire professional active speakers and sub-woofers for your event on the Costa del Sol, we rent many professional brands for excellent audio reproduction!
Costa del Party are based close to Marbella, we provide a delivery, set up and collection service for the rental of Speakers to any venue on the Costa del Sol, Malaga province of Spain. If you are planning an event in Marbella you can hire some of our speakers to make the party amazing!
- Active speakers and subwoofers to hire
- 10" inch to 15" speakers in many brands
- Delivery and Set up service Costa del Sol
Contact us to book some speakers for your event.
Dj Gear
Equipment rental for Dj's, Costa del Sol
Dj / Stage Lighting
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Truss, Stage and Dancefloor
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We continue today with Chapter Six, "The Story and the Mission" in John Stackhouses' Making the Best of It. Yesterday we ended with this observation by Stackhouse:
What he has to say in the following paragraphs is so important. It is of particular importance for thinking about economic ethics. I will say more after this lengthy quote.
The amazing paradox of Christian teaching here, however, is that losing one's life is the way to save it (Mt. 16:24-27). Spending one's goods on others is the way to pile up treasures of much greater value that will last forever (Mt. 19:21). Altruism is in one's own interest – including God's own interest. I need to say this carefully, so I will hew closely to the words of Scripture: Jesus suffered and sacrificed himself on the cross "for the joy set before him (Heb. 12:2), not in a zero-sum game in which he simply had to lose so we would gain. Yes, of course that is partly true also: "by his poverty you have become rich" (II Cor. 8:9). But it was a temporary sacrifice, a temporary poverty. It was an expenditure that was truly costly – may I not be misunderstood as denigrating the grace of God in Christ – but it was spent so as to bring joy to God, as well as to bring salvation to us. It is never one or the other.
For that is the nature of love: God's joy is bound up in our well-being. As Irenaeus put it, "the glory of god is a man fully alive!" and the Westminster Shorter Catechism responds, "Man's chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy him forever." Our joy, when we are properly oriented to the world, is bound up in the well-being of everything else. The shepherd exerts himself to find the lost sheep because he cares about the sheep, yes, and his worry about the sheep makes him anxious and sad. So both the sheep and the shepherd return to the fold with joy (Mt. 18:12-14). It is ridiculous to try to pull apart what is, in the nature of the case, a seamless unit: my well-being depends upon the well-being of the beloved. Therefore it is bad ethics to urge people to care for others at their own expense in any ultimate sense. No, the Christian view of love is shalom: when you win, I win and God wins. When God wins, you win and I win. And so on, endlessly around the circle of love.
The Christi gospel, therefore, does not ask the impossible and the irresponsible: "Give up your own self-interest for others." Our self-interest is precisely that to which the gospel properly appeals: Here is how to be saved! Here is how to have life, and have it abundantly! Here is how to prepare for the everlasting joy to come! We are all in this together. Thus we work hard, truly self-sacrificially and event to the death, for everyone's benefit: God's, the world's, and mine. No zero-sum, but abundant life forever and for all. (204-205)
"Self-interest" or "Self-love," in economics, are not a synonyms for selfishness. When I look both ways before crossing the street, or cut sugar out of my diet for health reasons, I am clearly being self-interested, but I am not be selfish. Self-interest is a healthy trait, indeed it is an essential trait for functioning in the world and making appropriate ethical decisions (economic or otherwise.) The human fault is not that we are self-interested, but through sin we routinely fail to correctly perceive what is our self-interest from the vantage point of eternity. To gain the whole world and lose our soul is not in our self-interest. Better to live other-centered lives as we care for ourselves, seeking the shalom of all, and inherit the Kingdom.
One of the single biggest obstacles I have in talking with many sincere Christians about economic issues is self-interest … particularly folks from more pietistic influences. When I highlight passage after passage where Jesus, Paul, or others appeal to self-interest to motivate action, these folks go through mental gymnastics to avoid hearing what is unmistakably there. Since market economics are rooted in the idea of win-win transactions, where parties freely exchange with each for goods they value more than what they give up to get them (based on their perceived self-interest), it is all but impossible for some Christians to give market transactions validity. How could they have validity when they involve self-interest when we are supposed to empty ourselves?
We are fallen human beings and we do not fully perceive what our self-interest is. No market economy will bring perfect shalom. (But, of course, any attempt to regulate and control markets is done by fallen human beings as well.) Far too many Christian thinkers and activists incorrectly assail "self-interest" when wrestling with economic issues. In reality, I think that our powers of perceiving self-interest is what needs to be redeemed by God so the win-win-win shalom Stackhouse writes about can be more fully realized.
The misguided doctrine of "unselfishness" extends to far more than economic matters but it is one place I confront it regularly.
(Related: See my posts Economic Fallacies: "Capitalism Based on Greed" and Self-Interest and Benevolence: Partners, not Antonyms (Part 1).


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During #mtts2014, we were able to speak with Chris Potgieter, MINIUSA Product Manager about questions that were submitted to Motoringfile as well as a few we had. As always, Chris was very forthcoming with details that he knew about and could speak about.
That includes:
- Details on the forthcoming JCW exterior package (and the return of Chili Red)
- Other JCW accessories and even info on the new tuning kit
- A mention of touch-screens in future MINIs? It's in there – not sure what it really means
- Hints at forthcoming CarPlay integration
- Update on new options available for 2015
- Diesel updates
- Timing on the F55 four door in the US
It's worth listening to the entire thing after the break.
Download (MP3)


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The test case document has been updated: RCS file: /w3ccvs/WWW/2001/sw/grddl-wg/td/grddl-tests.html,v ---------------------------- revision 1.27 date: 2007/04/27 15:01:34; author: cogbuji; state: Exp; lines: +210 -232 - changed all test input/output to absolute URIs - updated approval indications - removed tests per WG decision (httpHeaders and primer-hotel-data) - added base-detail ---------------------------- On Wed, 2007-04-25 at 11:51 +0100, Jeremy Carroll wrote: > critical > ======== > > A) > all input and output documents should be specified with absolute URIs. This has been changed in grddl-tests.html. However, in order to support the ability to run tests locally, I've modified aboutTests.xsl to reduce the input/output references for localized tests back to their relative form in the manifest. RCS file: /w3ccvs/WWW/2001/sw/grddl-wg/td/aboutTests.xsl,v ---------------------------- revision 1.17 date: 2007/04/27 14:58:52; author: cogbuji; state: Exp; lines: +13 -7 - strips out leading "http://www.w3.org/2001/sw/grddl-wg/td/" from input/output URIs so it can resolve them against different bases as before ---------------------------- > B) > output documents for #xmlbase[1234] should be modified as previously > indicated > C) > test #primer-hotel-data should be removed. Done.. > D) > test #httpHeaders either > - it should be removed > or > - the text should be something like > [[ > Test the use of http headers to define a transform, > anticipating an RFC HTTP Header Linking, based on the expired > draft-nottingham-http-link-header-00 > ]] This test was removed > > > non-critical > ============ > spelling of ambiguous, through-out. Changed.. > The following need not be network tests > #html-and-transformation-attr This test (as well as all the htmlbase*/xmlbase* tests) depends on server side redirection. For example, the relative input URI for this (approved) test is: html-and-grddl-xform-attr which requires a redirect to html-and-grddl-xform-attr.html. So, to make it a local test it would have required changing the inputs and I didn't feel comfortable doing so with tests that have already been approved. > #xhtmlWithGrddlEnabledProfileAndInBodyTransform > #xhtmlWithGrddlEnabledProfileAndADisabledInBodyTransform These already have 'complete' URLs and the indication that they are networked tests have been removed > #htmlbase1 > #htmlbase2 > #xmlbase1 > #xmlbase2 See above.. > Adding > http://www.w3.org/2001/sw/grddl-wg/td/pendinglist.html#base-detail This has been added and is the only test with outstanding approval. Note: GRDDLpy currently passes this test - I'll be sending an updated earl report soon. -- Chimezie Ogbuji Lead Systems Analyst Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery Cleveland Clinic Foundation 9500 Euclid Avenue/ W26 Cleveland, Ohio 44195 Office: (216)444-8593 firstname.lastname@example.com =================================== Cleveland Clinic is ranked one of the top 3 hospitals in America by U.S.News & World Report. Visit us online at http://www.clevelandclinic.org for a complete listing of our services, staff and locations. Confidentiality Note: This message is intended for use only by the individual or entity to which it is addressed and may contain information that is privileged, confidential, and exempt from disclosure under applicable law. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient or the employee or agent responsible for delivering the message to the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution or copying of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please contact the sender immediately and destroy the material in its entirety, whether electronic or hard copy. Thank you.Received on Friday, 27 April 2007 15:27:00 UTC
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.3.1 : Tuesday, 6 January 2015 20:39:11 UTC


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If you had asked me in the past, "What clothing item will you never wear?" I would probably answer "a camo jacket" instantly. However, when I came across this L.L. Bean Explorer Parka at the local outlet, it caught my eye. I eyed it for a few moments then walked away. I came back a few minutes later, picked it up and checked it out. I walked away. I came back a few minutes later and tried it on. I said to Spencer, "I like it. A lot. I didn't expect to like it. Why do I like it?" while a woman shopping near me chuckled. I keep telling myself it doesn't count as camo-camo because L.L. Bean calls it "briar camo". Meanwhile when I wear it Spencer makes, "where's Amanda?" jokes. Whateva.
And with that, I kick off my list of January favorites.
- L.L. Bean Explorer Parka
- Stance Shangri La socks
- Old Navy Rockstar distressed jeans
- Rifle Paper Co. 2016 Folk wall calendar
From the Influenster list:
- Theo dark chocolate peanut butter cups
- Califia Farms salted caramel cold brew coffee
- Tree Hut Himalayan cherry blossom salt scrub
- Keratin Complex Infusion Replenisher Therapy
- Yogi Sweet Tangerine Positive Energy tea
- Honeywell Mistmate humidifier
- A Practical Wedding Planner
- Cap Barbells
- Tech21 Impact Check cell phone case
- Aroy-D canned jackfruit
- NYX Cosmetics liquid suede cream lipstick
More details and comments can be found on my Influenster list.
- Theo (my dog, not the aforementioned peanut butter cups) pretending to be a snow plow
- introducing Spencer to the emotional roller coaster that is How I Met Your Mother
- pausing the show at just the right moment --->
- spaghetti squash for (almost) every meal
- sleeping in flannel pajamas inside my flannel sheets under my flannel duvet
- shuffling down 2 miles of frozen-over trails in inappropriate footwear (see video below)
- seeing muh man, Bernie
- getting wedding planning done ♥


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The Gratitude Challenge – Change Your Life
"If you want things in your life to change, you're going to have to change things in your life." What is the Gratitude Challenge? The Gratitude Challenge is very simple : Simply give thanks to whatever you are grateful for everyday. You can create a Gratitude Jar or a Gratitude…View Post


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|Information on changes to ecological character
|Information on changes to ecological character
|Legislative instrument title
|Ramsar Convention
|Reporting dates and guidelines
|National reporting coordinators
|National reporting contacts
|Reporting frequency
|Next report due
|As required.
|Date comments
|Information should be provided whenever a site has changed, is changing or is likely to change. Parties should provide this information "without delay". Parties should report any changes in their National Reports.
|Report to
|Ramsar Convention
|Other clients using this reporting
|Reporting guidelines
|Resolution IX.15: The status of sites in the Ramsar List of Wetlands of International Importance
|Extra information
|There is no specific format for information provided between Conferences of the Parties. May be accomplished through National Reports.
|Principle repository
|Data used for
|The Ramsar List of Wetlands of International Importance
|Type of information reported
|Compliance, State of the environment, Text report


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I'm an author of erotic romance and write for adults. Strong sexual content may offend you and if so, my books are not what you're looking for.
My website has several reader participation pages and links for you to find more inforamtion on a variety of things - hop over and check it out. I even have a 'Play Safe' page! Writers, I have an area for you, too, and will be adding more articles and help links there as well.
My blog has info about me, links to my past interviews and other erotic romance authors I do interviews for. I hope you stop by there often to see what we're up to. Reading erotica keeps our mind stimulated for a better experience with our partners!
My books can be found at Amazon, B & N, iBooks, & Smashwords. I hope you enjoy them enough to go back and leave a rating and review for me. I invite you to visit my website, blog, follow me there and on FB, join my blog hop and email me if you'd like to be posted for an interview.
You can read Chapter 1 of each of my books HERE - thank you for clicking over to read!
I'm also on Pinterest!!
I'm working on book two, New Horizons, of Through His Lens series. I've posted it in My Books so you can take a peek at it. I'm aiming for Oct 1 for a release date, but if I finish early, that date will change. Visit my website and subscribe to my newsletter for more info on releases.
Today is RELEASE DAY for Dreams Do Come True, bk 1 in my lesbian romance series, Through His Lens. Now available at Amazon! I'm also giving away a Kindle FIRE at the end of the virtual tour. Comment at each stop to win more prizes!
Join me along the book tour for my new release of Dreams Do Come True, book 1 in my lesbian romance series, Through His Lens. The Kindle FIRE giveaway begins on Jan 19th and the book releases on Jan 23rd! Click 'join' on the party link so I know you'll be stopping by during the tour!
Finally! Book 5 in The Boss's Pet series will be available in late Dec! Under Her Command is nearly done and you can pre-order an e-copy so YOU will have it before it hits the online stores!!
For those who love a bit of soft bondage in the bedroom, read an XXX-excerpt HERE! Then click back to the series to check out the first FOUR books so you can get caught up!
I also have a new western series started, Wild Fillies, and book 1 is on my site for order also...in e-book and PRINT!!
Thank you for reading my news!
Now FREE!! Bk 1 - The Contract of The Boss's Pet series is now FREE at Amazon and will stay that way! It's creeping its way up the charts and is currently #21 in Contemporary Romance. Don't forget to check out all four bks in the series. Help me get to #1 on all the charts at Amazon! Thank you and pls share my NEWS!
Tonya's Website
Tonya's Tales
Night Owl Romance
Barnes & Noble
Author's Den


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Dykes, James G. and Anastakis, Dimitry. 2006. Automotive Business. The Canadian Encyclopedia -business/ (accessed July 19, 2017). Don't recall what my folks had when my mother was pregnant with me, however Dad was a crack mechanic and scorching-rodder so it was the most popular car they might afford. Later came an Olds Rocket 88, and the 'forty Ford pickup with Olds 88 engine, Chevy entrance-finish and Caddy rear-end (may have these reversed), and so forth. No concept where I acquired the British sports activities automotive bug … I'll have to ask Mother about that.
Instagram account Stroker965 turned out had leaked one automotive with additional-cool design that is believed to be the successor to the Camaro's success with previous Transformers films. Again dominated by yellow, this automotive goes viral since 1 September 2016 ago. I might by no means purchase tires from an auto vendor. As I may, and had for years beat their prices for tires. This could work properly if everyone concerned pulls their weight, however if there are a few people who don't do their job and appear to be living off the backs of the others this mannequin can quickly dissolve.
Mild emitting diodes (LEDs) can also count on a revolution as a consequence of nanotechnology. Quantum dots are enjoying a significant position on this space, with their potential for a wider spectrum of light at relatively low value. Quantum dots might help carry down the price of LEDs, and are more likely to drive the LED gentle marketplace for the automotive trade long run.
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For those unaware of Hemm, consider this your much needed introduction in the way of their brand new music video for 'Dearest Friend'
The Melbourne based duo are fairly new on the scene however their emotionally driven electronica is turning a lot of heads.
Their video for 'Dearest Friend' is a great example of the duo's art direction in the way they effortlessly blend rich, vibrant visuals with the audio.
Speaking on the inspiration behind this video, Bobby and Juice of Hemm said: "In our lives we interact with so many people every day. Meetings, classes, workplaces, households, restaurants. Trying to find people to engage in genuine and honest conversation can sometimes seem impossible and a little bit exhausting, especially in these current times. Everyone has those special friends, though, that keep them inspired and motivated. No matter how much time passes, you know you will always feel re-energized and loved up after spending time with them. This is a song for those special people.
For the video, we thought it fit to include some of our dearest friends (Rex, the director/creator/mastermind behind the video also being one of them.) We wanted to create a lush and cosy environment to reflect the warmth and comfort we feel when surrounded by these people. We love them all very much".
The video's director Rex Kane-Hart says "we got everyone in the zone by lighting the fireplace, burning some sweet scented candles and playing some warm fuzzy ambient music. Gravitating everyone to this beautiful rug next to the fire, which ended up as the focal point for the rest of the clip. It was a very safe and intimate space for everyone to connect with each other. It ended up as the most relaxed game of twister, with sweaty me running around pointing a fancy, heavy camera at it".
Watch the music video for 'Dearest Friend' below and be sure to follow Hemm's socials for more in the near future.