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PlayBets (PLT) ICO – Con Artists ? Read before buying into this ICO !
Victim of an ICO Scam ? You sent them money and now cannot withdraw it ? If you want your money back from the ICO you invested in , contact us at [email protected] , our criminal investigators will contact them and take back your money . We are here to help all ICO victims !
Beware of PlayBets (PLT) , take into consideration that all ICOs are unregulated ,and do not provide protection to investors ,in case of fraud or loss.
TheHackingTeam.com will monitor from now on , 24 hours a day , the financial reputation of PlayBets (PLT) and the people involved in this company, and will notify you about every Complaints, Reviews, Scams, Lawsuits, Frauds reported online.
All the ICOs reviews you found online are positive , because the ICOs pay the reviews sites for publishing excellent information about their ICO , so please wake up and do not buy anything before checking the company !
Gather online helpful information regarding, allegedly unethical financial practices, connected to the PlayBets (PLT) websites and ICO ,make your homework before buying tokens .
It's always a good idea to Invest in something you do understand. Since you already know the basics of the product, you can dive deep and learn about their technology, market viability, supply, demand, roadmap, incentives, etc.
Do you have financial information to share about PlayBets (PLT) ICO ? Please email it to us at [email protected] , we will publish it , in a 100% anonymous way . If you have any serious information about criminal activities connected to PlayBets (PLT) ICO , we will pay you 1 Bitcoin for valuable inside information .
PlayBets (PLT) ICO don't have well-documented proof that their business roadmap is working. Purchasing into one is similar to investing in a startup business with no evidence. It's risky. More times than not when you invest in, you are investing in a research project, not a company. Yes I know, it is a little harsh assessment but an excellent sobering thought to possess.
As you are probably aware, the huge majority of businesses fail within a couple of years of starting.
You have to carefully evaluate if PlayBets (PLT) , has no clear business plans. Because while investors might hope that the PlayBets (PLT) tokens appreciate in value, as those in the bitcoin and Ethereum networks have done, that may not ever happen . The SEC is on the lookout for pump-and-dump schemes , and you can pass them your evaluation report about PlayBets (PLT) ICO .
We will for sure see an ICO perish later on , maybe even PlayBets (PLT) ICO . It is possibly a bit too new at this time. But at least among the recent ICO's if not more, that sounds all amazing and contains millions of dollars in market cap, will fall into nothing. The collapse will not happen overnight; it is going to happen over a year or two even years. We have already seen crypto's do it.
Before buying tokens at PlayBets (PLT) , please check first , our reviews page , you will find always the most updated information about PlayBets (PLT) , including existing lawsuits records , bankruptcy, legal issues , negative articles, negative comments, negative customer complaints, scam reports , fraud alerts ,arrest records ,negative blogs , negative forum posts , negative mentioning ,negative reviews.
ASK YOURSELF NOW : It is easy to liquidate the commodity asset of your PlayBets (PLT) digital currency asset and turn this into other digital currencies or back to cash ?
The policies of the PlayBets (PLT) company meet the standards for advertising practices of financial services and technology, as prescribe by the SEC or ASIC or similar regulatory body ?
Typically this means that claims must be substantiated. HOWEVER – in most cases, the claims of Digital Currency ICOs like PlayBets (PLT) , are more generally OUTLANDISH in nature and feature HYPE MARKETING which promotes only a potential upside that has no correlation with reality.
Wall Street's top regulator has a warning for mom-and-pop investors who are rushing into the booming market for initial coin offerings: the space is probably full of fraud. Take into consideration that 90% of ICOs fail to deliver .
Specifying terms and conditions of the downside is a legal requirement not adhered to by most ICOs , including PlayBets (PLT) ICO . ICOs divert this by saying they are technology advisors. However, unlike IPO rules under SEC, ICOs only need a white paper about a potentiality and a funky website to solicit millions of dollars in digital currency investment.
Please look the PlayBets (PLT) the team up. You do not limit yourself to Facebook and LinkedIn profiles, try to find more social activity from them. Our Financial Investigator , conducted a full background check on every person involved in PlayBets (PLT) ICO . Every piece of negative information will be published online and reported to the relative authorities .
If there is no trace of discussions, participation in any groups or projects — it is a red flag. We invite you to Investigate the core team behind the project. Find out if the team members actually exist , who they really are , what they have done till those days , when they opened their LinkedIn accounts , etc… Do they have a track record or experience that is relevant to the project that is verifiable? In the PlayBets (PLT) ICO case , let us know your answer .
Are you confident that the team has the ability to deliver versus what is promised and are the goals achievable? If The Answer is NO – run away , do not think twice !!
Submit your story about the PlayBets (PLT) ICO , on our web site for free, for millions to see.
We investigated the legal side. Look up at the website domain , the real registration address, their offices location — we even sent an offline mail to the office mentioned . We are preparing a press release about it .
We even googled the cell number and e-mails that are connected to the PlayBets (PLT) ICO team — and found traces of previous activities in the far corners of the web, that told us a lot about the team members .
You can also easily check if they are a real member of the Bitcoin community through a very handy feature on Bitcointalk, the most popular cryptocurrency forum out there where this projects are usually announced.
Speaking about the PlayBets (PLT) ICO theme, or their business concept, do you really think there's a market for that kind of product and even if there is , there are stong rivals in the field already , make no mistakes about it .
Scam can be seen by an over optimistic or too general description and is this what happened with PlayBets (PLT) ICO ?
After SEC & MAS reports, everybody knows one can't just issue 'randomcoins'. So if a token is not supported by anything (i.e bonuses, ecosystem, company share etc), its issuer might be a scam. So how the PlayBets (PLT) ICO tokens are actually backed up ? Good Question indeed ! Check the matter with them , ask hard questions , and if you do not get an answer , post it as a comment at the end of this page.
Launch your ICO in 2 weeks ! Do you want to issue your company's new Digital Coin or Token ?
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Interested in Initial Coin Offering? Contact us today ! You can now raise $ 2,000,000 for your Start Up company, with an Initial Coin Offering ,within less than a week .
Be sure to check the past track record of the team and learn about any of the completed projects that are available to you.
For the more technically inclined, check whether the project's code is open for scrutiny on github.
Is the PlayBets (PLT) ICO project's code appears to be cloned from another token/app ? If this is the case : This means it is likely to be a scam.
Before investing in PlayBets (PLT) ICO : Put questions towards the project team and draw conclusions from the types of responses you receive or discussions you read in these forms.
Are the project developers open to dialogue?
Are they forthcoming or are they evasive?
Are responses specific or do the parties involved speak in generalities?
Do they come off as overly optimistic?
Good question you must ask yourself before buying their PlayBets (PLT) tokens are :
"Could this project be accomplished using a token that is already in existence, such as Ether?
"Is the creation of a new token necessary?"
Is the PlayBets (PLT) project be able to acquire a share of the market space , with their product innovation or services ?
Contact them and ask them to supply a reply , if the company do not reply , or send you a general email , this is a super red flag .
How long has the PlayBets (PLT) project been in development? Again check the matter in a very detailed way .
The main question we ask ourselves : has PlayBets (PLT) project a substantial record of progress over several months ? Please note that if only if recently appeared, this is a sign to be very cautious.
Is the PlayBets (PLT) token supported or projected to be supported on more than one exchange now or in the near future?
How will the tokens be used, by whom and are there any indications of support coming from the market? We do not know !!
What user problems will the PlayBets (PLT) project really solve? Do these problems really exist? Is blockchain able to solve them? Is blockchain really needed at all for solving these issues? Are there similar projects already available and how will this one make a difference in the niche?
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We have a lot of unanswered question regarding the PlayBets (PLT) ICO :
Will there a cap on the maximum amount of coins that will ever be produced, like bitcoin, or will there be a steady increases in the number of tokens issued over time that could effect the value of all tokens in the future?
How will the token be used in the network and is it even necessary?
One of the main issues with startups like PlayBets (PLT) ICO today, is that the proposed ideas look truly revolutionary and great and can quickly attract supporters, but most of them can't be delivered due to technical limitations and other factors. According to recent surveys, 84 out of 100 ICO projects are never delivered, and one of the key reasons is the lack of technology to execute.
Is the PlayBets (PLT) ICO , making too bold claims about their product even though said project offers nothing new or disruptive ?
No serious team will ever make a price prediction about their token or claim it can fix the world.
The PlayBets (PLT) ICO Compromised or missing escrow: Absence of an escrow account is the biggest red flag to look out for. Similarly, if an escrow releases 100% funds to the project team after ICO, it's a bad escrow, and should be considered as a red flag. Fund releasing should happen gradually such as 20% after token distribution, 40% after beta release, and similar milestones.
No technical details in the PlayBets (PLT) ICO whitepaper: If an ICO promises to disrupt an established industry without providing any technical or operational details, it qualifies as a scam. Good whitepapers have charts, calculations, specifications, and even code at times.
Why Does the ICO Scam Work?
People will be people; there is a lot of money to be made on speculation. The lure of making back your money quickly is a great selling strategy. It is a new generation of Ponzi schemes. A simple reason on why ICO like PlayBets (PLT) , is so popular and works is because they are not regulated formally by any financial jurisdiction, and exist in the crypto ecosystem where there are fewer checks and balances.
All forms of investments carry a latent degree of risk – some investments might be riskier than others. When you do invest in a new cryptocurrency like PlayBets (PLT) , you do so with an understanding that you may lose part or all of your money – and that's why seasoned investors conduct due diligence to measure risk in relation to reward before they invest. However, if a cryptocurrency offers you a guaranteed amount/percent ROI on your investment, like the PlayBets (PLT) ICO , it is most likely a scam because it's eliminating the risk factor in investments.
Unrealistic PlayBets (PLT) goals: If an ICO makes bold claims without an economic plan or roadmap to support it, it's best to avoid investing. Further, even if the team has offered a roadmap, you have to do your own research and judge the feasibility of the project.
Is the PlayBets (PLT) ICO whitepaper a real Buzzword salad , and looks to good to be true , but when you actually sit down to digest it, this ICO taste like vague claims and empty promises ? Let us know what you think , and let them know what you feel about their ICO .
You do not only want to see a very thorough whitepaper, but also look for a variety of complementary resources such as SWOT analysis, financial model, wallet design, competitor analysis, institutional studies, and more .
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Before you invest your funds in the PlayBets (PLT) ICO, you need to take a moment of introspection to reexamine why you are investing in the said cryptocurrency. Are you buying into the PlayBets (PLT) ICO because it has strong business fundamentals or because the sales pitch make you feel good? You should also avoid buying into the PlayBets (PLT) ICO because the marketing pitch is always in your face through ads, emails, social media, or an unrelenting friend.
Is there a strong business case for PlayBets (PLT) technology ?
Missing PlayBets (PLT) code repository: This is another sure shot method to spotting an ICO scam. If the company is unwilling to release its code to public repositories such as Github, avoid the ICO altogether.
You can have the wrong impression that Your PlayBets (PLT) investment is extremely liquidatable; and that you can cash out whenever you want, which makes this space quite distinctive and exciting. Please combine this with your typical individual who understands little of investing and only throws money at things. Hype fuels a good deal of gains in crypto's which adds more danger, as any marketing firm can tell you Hype can be bought or created artificially….and you get scammed like a baby !!
When evaluating the PlayBets (PLT) ICO, the good first question to ask is: "Do they need a blockchain or a native token for this project?" The answer is no to both, chances are the ICO project is an example of solutionism — crypto for crypto's sake — or a scam.
Thinking up a product like PlayBets (PLT) , is not the same thing as creating it. Startups like PlayBets (PLT) , very often "burn out" when faced with unforeseen problems. Someone goes bankrupt after launching his startup, while someone else doesn't launch at all.
Please Note : fake ICOs make vague claims. Usually, they will claim that they can get huge gains within short time but cannot back that up with substantial claims, or make weird claims like they will finally end all the global crises in the ICO world of computers and digits. Actually, PlayBets (PLT) ICO , instead of giving details of the project for anyone to assess and scrutinize, they are more fascinated with projections of a better future and better market prices and gains.
The amount of money that a cryptocurrency startup wants to raise in its ICO can also provide valuable insight into its credibility. Cryptocurrency startups usually sell tokens in an ICO in order to raise money to build their product, add new features, or scale their service to control a larger market share. However, scam artists won't mind vanishing into thin air with a few hundred thousand dollars worth of Bitcoin. Hence, you should be extra cautious around companies that want to raise thousands or single digit millions in an ICO like PlayBets (PLT) .
How to Not Fall into the ICO scam?
With investments in ICOs like in PlayBets (PLT) , always remember, you are not investing; you are mostly gambling. Most of these companies will likely fail to deliver on their promises. Maybe they never intended to make a product in the first place.
Any project you invest money in must be real right now, not in the distant future. Is this the case with PlayBets (PLT) ICO ?
The first rule of thumb when it comes to investment in new ICOs is never investing in them unless you have seen a working prototype of their product in action yourself. Ask yourself : is this true for PlayBets (PLT) ICO ?
PlayBets (PLT) people talk how their token supply will decrease (basic cryptocurrency feature present in all coins) and the token price will grow. See how fat that rising bottom line is. This is all they want – an expensive token that will let them dump and exchange it for Bitcoin.
Due diligence is the key when it comes to research in the upcoming PlayBets (PLT) ICO and the products they are offering. You cannot just rely on other people's research, comments, thoughts or analysis. There are always individuals who pass off paid promotion content as their research.
The best thing you can do is to communicate with PlayBets (PLT) corporate executives involved with the ICO. In most cases, they are more than happy to provide valuable information to help you make your decision. Always be aware that the people you talk to at PlayBets (PLT) , may not have the best intentions, so try to avoid sales pitches. Instead, focus on validating the PlayBets (PLT) company's existence and direction.
PlayBets (PLT) ICO will usually have an escrow to hold user's funds during the ICO and after. So keep an eye out for the Escrow participants and the escrow conditions. This may save you some money. Do you think that the PlayBets (PLT) startup is using the top Escrow service . And if it's not, it can be a good indicator about the fact that this ICO being a non-authentic one.
What is an ICO Scam?
ICOs like PlayBets (PLT) , are a cheap way to finance artificial development without any commitments. They are a scam in itself because there is no insurance on the failure to deliver.
Ask them the right questions before investing even one single dollar in the PlayBets (PLT) ICO . You do not get the right answer , let us know .
While there are definitely some companies building innovative things on top of blockchains (and in the crypto space generally), there are many fraudulent groups who are looking for a quick cash grab. The field can be even more confusing to navigate when malicious groups get celebrity endorsements. Surely a trusted face would vet whoever they support?
Realize that even if a blockchain startup passes all of these tests, it doesn't mean for certain that they aren't trying to scam investors out of their money.
One thing that you should not forget to check on is what people are talking about the PlayBets (PLT) ICO which you are interested. If you have any doubt, you can simply put an open ended question on the forum asking people their opinions.
Fake and scam ICOs are interested in making their project statements and paragraphs and websites look and sound great, so there is a lot of buzzwords and absolutely nothing new for the reader and potential investor to learn. It turns out that the combination of attractive words, facts and new information will make a text look and sound great in the full description of the word great.
All the discussions here will be a great indicator about the PlayBets (PLT) ICO being an authentic one.
You can go to Bitcoin Talk or Reddit for such information.
And no matter how alert you remain, there will be a few people in coming times who will con even the smartest of you but as the market matures, the probability of an ICO being a fraudulent one will decrease and ultimately reach a null value.
REMEMBER : If something seems like a scam, it probably is.
Post your Anonymous Complaints & Reviews Today about PlayBets (PLT) ICO .
EMAIL US at [email protected] , about all the inside information you have about the PlayBets (PLT) ICO .
We will make sure that every person ,that will search information on Google, about PlayBets (PLT) ICO , will find , first of all , your review . Our Reviews are top level ranked on Google, Yahoo and Bing , and we constantly show up on every possible search term , related to PlayBets (PLT) ICO .
You can follow discussions about PlayBets (PLT) ICO projects on BitcoinTalk and see if the developers have had past projects as well as other details of their accounts. The forum could also mention scam projects or shady projects you need to shun. You need to go past that by asking and checking if the PlayBets (PLT) developer is running multiple BitcoinTalk accounts to promote his or her stuff or check why that could be so…it happens.
In general, during the development of their fundamental business strategy, PlayBets (PLT) , like the majority of ICO sturtups focus on attracting investments. Originally, they may not even care about the future elaboration or even operational processes of their products. They simply endeavor to encourage crypto-investors to buy their tokens actively within a certain period. Without a doubt, it's the wrong approach. The reason being that all of this is extremely important for the future operations of a sturup as a mature business unit. These things will determine whether the price of a PlayBets (PLT) token issued by the company goes up or down at the crypto-exchanges. Obviously, PlayBets (PLT) ICO supporters are waiting for 10x capital gain, but the majority of us do not care about the deadlines for a project release.
The Hacking Team is a top level crowd sourced review site , the main difference between us and other complaints and reviews sites is that , we monitor the companies issuing ICOs , 24 hours a day , and report every single piece of negative information published about them online .
If you are an investor who is interested in or who gets wooed easily only by attractive words, you might be in the wrong cause so please be sure to go deeper than that. Once you get excited with this PlayBets (PLT) ICO offer, know that the Fear of Missing Out (FOMO) is real and deal with it by taking time to decipher the facts from the company statements.
For anyone willing to invest in an ICO, please check the PlayBets (PLT) ICO project's whitepaper for more technical and real information before moving forward. What you expect from a real ICO is high-level descriptions and specifications, step by step, about how the project will go on and how the technology works. You will get charts, calculations, simulations, formulas and other specifications. Some ICO scams will not reach that level probably because they target unsuspecting investors who either do not have time to read whitepapers or do not know whether one even exists. However, many do.
ICO — the hottest craze in cryptocurrencies — is an 'absolute scam,' Wikipedia Founder Jimmy Wales says .
On this webpage you can post anonymous reviews and complaints about PlayBets (PLT) ICO .
If you have any kind of information about Storiqa (STQ) ICO , that connects them to financial scams , online frauds and investor's complaints , let us know !
There are thousands of ICOs like PlayBets (PLT) , even going on right now , but unfortunately, most of them are scams or fake and out to steal your money. Most of ICO scams target first timers, but even experienced traders and miners fall into the scam trap.
The Wolf of Wall Street Thinks that ICOs Are 'The Biggest Scam Ever'
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Mic Mod Services
LDC Mic Mod Services
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Very sweet mod. It has the airiness you\'d expect from a Neu ..
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New MJE-LR44 Long Ribbon Mic
- "Spark" Mod - (for your mic) Hear it vs a '70's U 87
Mod'd with Full-Sized MJE-K47 Capsule
MJE-K47 modified BLUE Spark with round headbasket
OktavaMod'd "Spark" vs '70's Neumann U 87
Here's some vocal and acoustic guitar tracks from
Max Cohen
. I hear more open and detailed sound with the mod'd Spark vs. the U 87. What do you hear?
Guitarist / Singer Max Cohen
SOUND FILE: Blue Spark, Vox
SOUND FILE: Neumann U 87, Vox
SOUND FILE: Blue Spark, Larrive Acoustic Guitar
SOUND FILE: Neumann U 87, Larrive Acoustic Guitar
This is Michael Joly writing, the founder of OktavaMod. The "Spark" is a high sensitivity (-28 dB re 1v/Pa, 4 to 6 dB more sensitive than typical LDC mics) and low noise (10dBa) bottle microphone. Two fine specs that mean great S/N.
A bottle mic is not just a good-looking design, its also functional. The separate "lollipop" places the capsule away from source-to-mic body reflections and refractions that cause coloration. The "Spark" does an excellent job in this regard - its chrome convex diffuser below the capsule stem helps direct reflected sound away from the capsule - this mean greater freedom from coloration. But...
...the stock "Spark" uses multi-layer, parallel-face grilles that create standing waves within the headbasket. We hear this as coloration. Plus, the stock mid-sized capsule just doesn't have euphonic "size" we look for in a vocal mic.
Large Diaphragm MJE-K47 Capsule left, mid-sized Spark capsule right
Here's how I address these (and other) issues in the "Spark" and bring it into U 87 (or better) realm –
New, full-sized MJE-K47 large diaphragm capsule replaces stock mid-sized capsule for big "Neumann-esque" timbre balance with warm proximity effect and freedom from sibilance, excessive brightness or edginess
Round, single layer headbasket provides more openness, transparency and detail than stock, flat, multi-layer headbasket while eliminating parallel-face coloration
Evidence Audio LYRIC HG solid core wiring for improved harmonic time alignment and more solid bass response
Field-proven, OktavaMod Premium Electronics for smooth detailed sound with great resolution
About the MJE-K47 LDC Capsule -
Each MJE-K47 is individually tested in an anechoic chamber to track an actual K47 within +/- 1.5 dB across the audio spectrum up to 12kHz. But the MJE-K47 offers sparkling "air" out to 16kHz through the use of a specially tuned 3 micron diaphragm.
Actual (not averaged) MJE-K47 Capsule Response
Note Classic K47 response to 10kHz but extended HF out to 16kHz
(180 degree response shown below on-axis response)
Just click "Add to Cart" to purchase the OktavaMod MJE-K47 Modification Suite for your "Spark" mic .
Remember, the price for this boutique transformation of your mic includes the installation of my MJE-K47 capsule and the entire suite of upgrades listed above. You'll get an immediate confirmation email of your order. By the close of the next business day you'll receive a personal email with your scheduled modification and return ship dates.
Questions? Just click "Contact Me" - And remember, your purchase is
. best, Michael
Customers who bought this product also purchased
MK-219 Mod (for your mic) - Hear it vs. U 67
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All trademarks, logos and designs remain the property of their respective owners.
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It's time to say goodbye... to blogspot! But also HELLO to new MARIAJUSTDOIT.COM Check what's goin on there...
Winter it's a fantastic time for nice photo shots. Of course everyone can take a picture but not all of us focus on simple but very important details that can change picture and make it better.
1. Prepare accessories. Scarf, bag, gloves or even red lipstick will add some extra color and some variety.
2.If You try to make a portrait remember to put model between different objects (trees) or close to color detail like gloves and scarf. Do not use zoom. Try to come as close as possible to model. Picture will be sharper and framed.
3.When taking full body picture remember not to cut model's feet. Try to avoid random people in the background.
4. Check whether there is no tree or street light growing from models head.
5.Use sequence mode if you want to take picture of moving objects. Remember to press shutter before the move.
6. Take pictures from different positions. The best is the same model and photographer level.


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What is "Old School" and what is the standard (if any) when using this term in graffiti?
One morning back in April,l I was finishing up the Blade tribute on the side of the MoCA museum in Los Angeles. Martha Cooper came by the wall just around the same time that Blade showed up. She told me how great it was that the museum had someone from the "new school" paint a tribute for someone from the "old school". Something about that comment really caught me off guard. Maybe because I was deliriously tired from painting all night? I saw the label of new school as way of classifying me as a new writer or (not intended by Cooper) a new jack. I told Martha that this was my 20th year painting graffiti and asked how long do I have to write, until I'm no longer considered new? Firemen, teachers or other city employees are eligible for retirement benefits after 20 years of job experience, and I'm sure that those who have worked within their profession for so long would not be considered similar to those with just a few years experience?
(below) Posing with Blade outside of MoCA.
This got me thinking about what constitutes something or someone being considered old school in graffiti? Is it a way of defining a past generation of writers who contrast with writers today? Or broadly, is it a title that is earned after years of growth and involvement within something? As far back as I can remember, the term "old school" has been used to describe veterans or key people who have put in work within the scene.
As an early teen involved with graffiti, I had this naive idea that old school was anyone who started writing before me. Getting involved with graffiti in New York City in 1991, a new fleet of graffiti free trains were in service, crushed highway sound walls were just starting to get buffed, and the streets were running with layers and layers of tags and throw ups. I started as graffiti was evolving into a predominately street level movement. New writers at the time bombed walls with the mentality of hitting shit that "ran". At the time, I thought anyone who was painting during the subway era was old school or from an old way of getting up. It was a practice of the distant past, even if it was only 3-4 years ago.
These days I am not sure what I consider to be old or new (black or white)? Maybe old school is just another way of saying first generation? It seems that graffiti lacks an up to date glossary to describe the many generations of writers who have come post Subway Art, pre and post millenium. It's kind of strange to lump everything after the 70's as one whole group; we're talking about over 30 years compared to 10. It kind of reminds me of the format many oldies radio stations follow. For years CBS fm in New York played oldies aka music from the 50's, 60's and a bit of the early 70's. The same 100 songs over and over again. Some years later they broadened their range and definition of the station, including music extending into the mid 80's. Like this bullshit station, should graffiti's definition of what is old expand over time?
To better answer the question of what constitutes old school, I reached out to a range of writers who started painting anywhere from the early 70's going all the way up to the mid 00's. The responses range, and I feel that the opinions are influenced by their age, city, and years spent painting….
In relation to graffiti, what is "Old School". Is it based on when you wrote or how long you have been active?
BLADE – New York City, Started writing in 1972
According to Portia aka Mrs. Blade: Blade's view on old school may be different than other people's views. He believes old school is for people that started writing in 1970-1972 because there were no masterpieces on trains! Just singe hits, which were called tags in the 80s.
It was called single hits because you only knew how to rack one can & when you saw a 10 car train, you would write your name on it once on each car. Masterpieces did not come about until the middle of 1972.
He started in early 1972.
He did his 1st masterpiece in the summer of 1972.
The best book he ever saw on the market is Graffiti Kings by Jack Stewart. Because all of the interviews were done when we were teenagers right on the spot in New York.
HAZE – New York City, Started writing in 1972
"I think the term "Old School" is relative, depending on where you grew up and what history you rose out of. If you are talking NY and the golden age of the train era, I would say you would probably have to have started writing by 75-76 latest. For the rest of the USA and Europe, it would probably me more like up until 84-85 in the post 'Style Wars' era.
I stared writing in 1972 on the #1 Broadway line in Manhattan."
MARTHA COOPER – New York City, Documenter of graffiti since the late 70's
"For me Old School has always meant anyone who started writing before Subway Art was published in 1984. I used the term New School to mean everything after Subway Art–sort of like B.C./A.D. I realize that's an egocentric definition but I never gave it much thought before now. The term never (for me) meant to imply anything about the quality of the work, just when it was done. I'm happy to revise my definition of the term to whatever the consensus of opinion is.
Urban dictionary favorite definition http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=old%20school: Anything that is from an earlier era and looked upon with high regard or respect. Can be used to refer to music, clothing, language, or anything really.
I agree that the term could use some re-defining so let me know what you decide."
BIO – New York City, Started writing in 1980
"I started in 1980. I've put in my 30 lol!
Old school to me is the 70's and 80's generation but today anything over 15 years old in this game is considered old school at least that is what I think. Had to give that one some thought not even sure I understand it now."
SP.ONE – New York City, Started writing in 1981
"Old school is just one of those terms that is now outdated because graffiti keeps moving on through many generations. Kind of like "keep it real" of course we are gonna keep it real just like we are going to get older.. Old school to me is the original wave of graffiti in NY during the 70s. It's easier to label things old school today because of all the technological advances over the last 10 or so years. Using a rotary phone, having milk delivered to your back door, subway tokens were not that long ago but still feel distinctly old school in todays world. I started in 81 and people tell me I'm old school and I say no because to me 81 was already late in the game. That said 30 years is a good chunk of time and I guess no matter what younger writers are always gonna look at people who started writing before they were born as old school which sounds better than "damn you old"."
RISK – Los Angeles, Started writing in 1982
"I believe Old School is a combination of a few things…
One would be the obvious "how long you've been writing" I've been writing since 1982, therefore in this sense I would be considered Old school…..
Old School could also be the way people approach painting their graffiti. An example of this would be someone who may take traditional steps I.E. sketch his piece prior, sketch his first outline on the wall, fill in, then do final outline last….
along with the for mentioned there are also many old techniques that would be considered an Old School style, I.E. White shines, and highlights placed on the edge of your letter touching the outline, Or maybe even traditional arrows going in all directions etc. This is a can of worms and would vary among different writers of different eras and regions
And lastly I believe there is an Old School mentality, like someone who takes their graffiti very serious even if they are not very active, very likely to punch you in the face if they're stuff is dissed, or someone who doesn't partake in blogging or any of the social networking, Does not advertise that he writes, still paint with racked paint, always trying to get over….Stuff like that….
Or you can leave the last sentence simple like this….
And lastly, I believe there is an Old School mentality, like someone who is very likely to punch you in the face is they are dissed…."
WANE – New York City, Started writing in 1983
"I would consider myself a third generation New york writer. To all those that came after me I would be old school.
Kids were talking about old school when I first started writing which was 1983. Old school to me means Classic, traditional , letter styles, racking your paint and caps. painting subways. Starting a crew and pushing each other to get better."
KET – New York City, Started writing in 1986-7
"For me "Old School" is a term for writers from the 1970s. It is a term for writers that by 1980 had already quit and moved on. Today I still use the term to mean the same thing and the same time period. I am not old school."
REVOK – Los Angeles, Started writing in 1990
"The term "Old-school" refers (in my opinion) to the early developmental generation of any given thing, I dont feel its relative to an individuals personal timeline but the accumulative "thing" as a whole."
ASKEW – Auckland, New Zealand, Started writing in 1993
"I think the term 'Oldschool' operates on two timelines. One is the general history of writing and it's early beginnings in Philly and NYC and the second time line is one relative to where you live and in context to when people pioneered a scene local to you.
In New Zealand there are instances of writing as early as 1980 – Our most notable Old School writers were probably Smooth Crew though, they were featured in Spray Can Art and were leagues ahead of a lot of people outside NYC for their time. In respect to my local timeline, they are the Oldschool. In relation to the greater timeline of writing in general they aren't truly oldschool.
I made my first attempts at writing during my first year of Highschool in 1993. My generation really came to dominate the local scene during the mid 90's onwards and are considered the 3rd major wave of writers in the NZ scene. My peers are undoubtedly the most consistent generation to date, writers from before us had relatively short careers in comparison. Admittedly the scene was very different in those days and the advent of the internet etc has weakened graffiti locally but strengthened it internationally a considerable amount."
TABOO – New York City – Started writing in 1992 – 93
"I started writing in late 92 – 93, being from NYC its easy for me to
say "old school" is graffiti from the days of train writing. The "old
school" is like when you change the secret sauce on a hamburger. Its
still a burger, and the new version isn't necessarily better or worse,
its just different (ie transition from trains to walls). It's based on
the change in the culture, not your number of years in the game."
JURNE – Maine, USA. Started writing in 1999
"Every writer has their own "Old School". Part respect for graffiti from a (subjective) heyday, part nostalgia for past experiences, and part false perception that it was somehow different than than it is today. Quiet insistence that you both are and are not part of that vague yesterday.
For me personally, "Old School" is hours of shoe boxes of dog-earred flicks with the red date in the corner, 99¢ Autumn Gold and Indian Spice, duct taped blackbooks in backpacks, Hostyle Bomb Threat Kings, Eruptoe327 scribes on payphones, seeing the numbers taped, white inlines, discovering Spraycan Art, and paying tribute to the pioneers by knowing the history."
SUEME – Vancouver, Canada. Started writing in 2000
"To me, the term Old School refers to both the early generation of Graffiti writers, and the laws in which they utilized to depict and communicate a style..the timeless practice of these laws become tradition, and an accurate representation of 'Trueness' to the form of graffiti. Looking at it objectively, it would be more based on the culture at whole, then just my perspective. although at the same time I may refer to something I did in 2002 as old school to me, or my generation. I started in 2000."
SCORE – Berlin, Germany, Started writing in 2004
"For me the oldest generation is the Old School. So for Germany, these are the writers who started in the 80's. When they are out of the game, then it's the next generation."
(below) A sample of the "old school" graffiti in Germany that influenced Score. Done some time in the mid to late 80's.
RIME – NYC / LA, Started writing in 1991
As for my own involvement in graffiti, I feel that I am neither old or new school. I started writing before the internet, digital cameras, common cell phone use, and the birth of spray paint made for graffiti. With these couple of differences at the start, I feel that my experiences of writing early on contrasts from the writers who started in the past 10 years.
Just the same, I did not get into graffiti painting on trains. I learned to paint all pieces with bottoms (not designed to sit on a panel). By starting on walls I fell into the habit of choosing paint differently. Instead of using a smooth gloss finish Krylon for outlining, I would learn to stick with Ultra Flat or a heavier grade rougher spraying Rustoleum. Thin and glossy paint worked well on metal but was useless on unprimed cement walls. This effected what my work looked like, and also how many cans it took to paint one piece.. Another difference with post subway writing is that without running trains, the idea of going "All City" required that you, not your work had to do most of the traveling. Getting into graffiti in the 90's was much different than starting out in the 70's, 80's or today.
I'm not saying that any period is better than another. I'm just saying that there are enough differences to update the way we classify periods, artists, or practices. With graffiti continuing along as it has since the release of Subway and Spray Can Art, it's hard to fit everything going on in present day within the handful of definitions recorded in those books. There is a lot of gray area between old and new. It would be nice to eventually see it all sifted through in a more official way.


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A thoroughly enjoyable conversation with my petroleum jelly?
Like many others, I loved how Vaseline took advantage of an opportunity yesterday to put their brand in context to something that is (or was) recently topical. For a full story, here's Anant Rangaswami's well articulated observations in FirstPost. While the print advertisement is a brilliant plug, what happened post that, 'socially', is worth a thought too. I had tweeted… Read more →


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Paolo Bacigalupi's stories echo and build upon the work of writers who came before him, and in some ways they feel like an extension of the better ecological science fiction of the 1970s; the imagined ecocatastrophes of that era lost some of their power through reiteration, and growing interest in genetic engineering and nanotechnology led to many stories of technological triumph over the nonhuman world (and nonhuman worlds). In Bacigalupi's futures, whatever solution technology offers creates its own problems, and technological innovation is often a tool of the rich to shore up their defenses against the huddled masses yearning to breathe.Readers unfamiliar with Paolo's work can find plenty of samples at his website, and the story I singled out for particular praise, "Yellow Card Man", is still, for the moment, available at the Asimov's website. I also interviewed Paolo back in 2004 (for more recent interviews, see the links here).
02 June 2008
Bacigalupi in Quarterly Conversation
The summer issue of The Quarterly Conversation is now online, and in addition to all sorts of interesting things, it includes a lengthy review I wrote of Paolo Bacigalupi's Pump Six. It began as a simple, straightforward review, but 3,000 words later it turned into something a bit more than that...
posted by Matthew Cheney


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Community awareness of the pervasiveness and severity of domestic violence in Kentucky heightened in the late 1970's. The YWCA in Louisville opened Kentucky's first spouse abuse shelter in 1977. By 1980 there were six shelter programs serving battered women and their children in Kentucky.
The Kentucky Domestic Violence Association was founded in 1981 by the staff of the six existing programs as a statewide coalition whose membership was to include all domestic violence programs in Kentucky. It's purpose was to provide mutual support, information, resource sharing and technical assistance; to coordinate services; and to collectively advocate for battered women and their children on statewide issues.
An early goal of the coalition was to work with the Department for Social Services to ensure that domestic violence services were available across the state. Kentucky is divided into fifteen, multi-county Area Development Districts (ADDs). These districts are used for planning and service provision purposes for a variety of programs It made sense to use these ADDs as targeted areas for domestic violence services. In 1985, Kentucky reached the goal of having a domestic violence program in each ADD.
Stable funding for the programs has also been a goal of the coalition. In 1982, KDVA lobbied successfully to increase the marriage license fee and to earmark the new funds for a special "Trust and Agency" account for spouse abuse programs. In addition, the state's executive budget included general fund allocations for domestic violence programs. The combination of these funds has provided a stable base for domestic violence programs in the state.
KDVA and it's members have also advocated for changes in state laws to help victims of domestic violence. The group's efforts have helped pass legislation addressing warrantless arrest, emergency protective orders, and marital rape.
Date and time to be determined. Frankfort, KY
111 Darby Shire Cir
Frankfort, KY 40601
Frankfort, KY 40601
Nonprofit status since: March 1988


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SOURCE: Jotul North America
November 22, 2013 13:20 ET
$14,500 Donated to American Lung Association Through National Woodstove Changeout
$14,500 Donated to American Lung Association Through National Woodstove Changeout
GORHAM, ME--(Marketwired - November 22, 2013) - This summer, Jøtul North America (Jøtul NA) partnered with wood stove dealers in a national woodstove changeout program. Dealers across North America participated to encourage consumers to trade out older wood stoves for newer, cleaner burning models.
1,406 stoves were exchanged during the program, for a reduction in emissions of nearly 44.4 million grams (48.9 tons) per year*, based on an average burning time of 12 hours per day for 100 days per year. Older wood stoves can emit 30 grams of smoke per hour. Newer Jøtul models emit around 3.7 grams per hour. The result of the program is cleaner air and healthier communities throughout the U.S. and Canada.
In an added effort toward cleaner air, Jøtul NA will donate $10 for every stove exchanged through the program to the American Lung Association on behalf of participating dealers. The total amount to be donated is $14,500.
This was the first manufacturer-led national changeout program encouraging wood stove users to replace older models with more environmentally friendly options. Customers were offered a $300 credit toward an EPA-certified Jøtul model when dropping off their old wood stoves. Exchanged stoves were rendered unusable and recycled.
*Calculations were done utilizing generally accepted emissions values for conventional stoves and EPA certification values. While it is well accepted that EPA certified stoves emit significantly less particulate emissions than conventional stoves, there is disagreement as to actually how they perform in the field relative to the lab certified values. Actual real world performance for both types can be affected by fuel quality and operator habits.
About Jøtul North America:
The company was founded in Maine in 1980. The parent company, Jøtul AS, was founded in Norway in 1853; Jøtul stoves have been imported in the U.S. since the early 1970's.
In the mid-1980s Jøtul North America was a pioneer in the gas hearth products market in the U.S. with its freestanding gas room heater. In 1998, Jøtul North America's Maine facility began the final assembly of the product line of gas room heaters distributed by the parent company. In addition Jøtul North America is responsible for the design and manufacturing of multiple gas products and sells over 30,000 wood and gas units annually. During January 2006, an acquisition solidified Jøtul's position as a leading global hearth products player within the stove, insert and fireplace industry. Jøtul's Norwegian parent, Jøtul AS, completed the acquisition of SCAN (Denmark), a leading manufacturer of contemporary stoves, inserts and fireplaces. The current face of Jøtul includes a full spectrum of high-end stoves and fireplaces, from the steadfast, often-mimicked traditional Norwegian cast iron designs to cutting edge contemporary units, all constructed with a keen eye on quality craftsmanship and maximum efficiency through Jøtul's clean burn technology.
Emily BroadbentgBritt email@example.com
Emily BroadbentgBritt email@example.com
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Even hardened gamers can admit to some confusion this holiday season, or maybe just an embarrassment of riches. The latest "Call of Duty" video game racked up a billion dollars in sales in just 16 days last month. That's a day faster than it took "Avatar" to reach the same number at the box office. Other popular shooters like "Battlefield 3" and "Uncharted 3" are on a lot of wish lists, too. And then there's action-adventure games like "Super Mario Land 3D" and "Batman: Arkham City," some classic re-issues, and that's not to mention games for mobile devices.
What video game are you looking to find under your tree this Christmas? 800-989-8255. Email: email@example.com. You can also join the conversation on our website. That's at npr.org. Click on TALK OF THE NATION.
Joining us from our bureau in New York is Jamin Warren, founder of Kill Screen magazine. And nice to have you with us.
JAMIN WARREN: Hello. How are you?
CONAN: I'm good. Thanks. So what's driving the interest in video games this year? That $1 billion in just a little over two weeks for "Call of Duty" can't just be from purchases made by hardcore gamers.
WARREN: Sure. I think you're seeing a wide market penetration of videogame console devices such as the Nintendo Wii, the Xbox 360 and the PlayStation 3. All of them have had relatively robust sales, although the PlayStation 3 has lagged. But what's been significant is, in November, it was one of the strongest months for video game sales since February of 2009, which was considered to be the peak for the traditional console market. There's been a slide, but the last three months have been incredibly robust, in part due to tent-pole titles such as "Call of Duty," but, again, also the number of consoles that are out in the market right now.
CONAN: You mentioned the Nintendo Wii. Isn't that getting a little elderly?
WARREN: It is, actually. That's one of the things that analysts are looking at, is 2011 might be one of the last years for Nintendo Wii in terms of its sales. It's really lagged far behind. And so Nintendo had placed a lot of faith in the Nintendo 3DS, which saw a very high price point, which consumers didn't really like, and it faced a precipitous drop almost immediately. So Nintendo's certainly looking for new options in 2012.
CONAN: Mother of mercy, is this the end of "Zelda"?
WARREN: I don't think it's the end of "Zelda." In fact, there was a new "Zelda" title that was released called "Skyward Sword" for the Wii, which saw popularity amongst gamers. So, you know, one of the things Nintendo always has is key franchises, such as, you know, the "Super Mario Brothers" franchise, which we saw the release of "Mario Kart 7" and the aforementioned "Super Mario Land" for 3DS.
CONAN: And those of us who don't pay strict attention to this industry might think the Wii has a monopoly on that sort of participation part, where you - it sees your emotion and you control characters through your body. Not so. There are other ways to do that.
WARREN: Absolutely. One of the things that's happening in the video game market is you're seeing a rapid expansion in terms of not just the types of titles that are out there, but the types of gamers that are being introduced to titles. Microsoft has something called the Kinect, which is a very amazing little device which picks up all these different articulation joints in the body and doesn't use a controller at all, just uses this sort of "Minority Report"-style swiping in front of the screen.
CONAN: We hope the other aspects of "Minority Report" are not included.
WARREN: Yeah. All those are excluded.
CONAN: So I'm told it's a very, very effective device.
WARREN: It is. It uses speech recognition, and Microsoft is really looking at the Kinect as a way to introduce people who've been turned off by the number of buttons on traditional console controllers. They're seeing it as a gateway device, so to speak, for an audience that may have felt left behind.
CONAN: There is also the relatively newer phenomenon, given the power of smartphones: mobile device games that, well, that seems to have opened a whole new industry.
WARREN: Absolutely. And for those who don't want to brave lines at Best Buy or GameStop, certainly mobile platforms like the iOS devices allow for a different type of gameplay experience. And, in fact, those often offer lower price points. And certainly the types of games that are coming out, because they're so much less expensive to produce and also to get out to the marketplace, you're seeing a lot of experimentation in that field, as well.
CONAN: So do we pay too much attention to those console games?
WARREN: Well, I think it's just a matter of - there are all different types of game players that are out there, not just, you know, 17-year-old teenagers.
WARREN: And so I think, you know, one of the problems is that from a sales perspective, a lot of times sales for things like iOS devices aren't made public, so you don't get the kind of figures that you get to release when "Call of Duty" sells $1 billion, for example. But, yeah, there's certainly lots of types of gamers out there, and it's really exciting to see all different stripes of people getting interested in games again.
CONAN: And we were talking about the Nintendo Wii. In fact, the Nintendo system that sold the most is the venerable DS.
WARREN: Yeah. Absolutely. So, you know, handheld devices work really well at the lower price point, allows for, you know, for people who don't want to make the investment in a HD title. And they're really popular, obviously, amongst kids as well. You know, one of the things I've been excited about were the two titles that we talked about earlier - "Super Mario Land," which was one of my favorites. It's an homage to the classic "Mario" franchise. And another one, "Mario Kart 7," for folks out there who might be familiar with the "Mario Kart" franchise.
Again, these are the types of games that you're going to want to play with other people, share your experiences. They're not terribly difficult to pick up and play. And again, that invites a lot of different types of folks to get involved.
CONAN: We're talking with Jamin Warren of Kill Screen Magazine about the video games and other digital devices that are likely to find their way under more than a few Christmas trees this season. 800-989-8255. Email: email@example.com. We'll start with Christopher and - with us from Chittenango in New York.
CHRISTOPHER: Yes. Hello.
CONAN: Hi. Go ahead, please.
CHRISTOPHER: Hi. Longtime listener, first-time caller. I was really interested to hear this stuff about video games. I'm actually really looking forward to "Batman: Arkham City." I've seen a lot of the gameplay videos, and I'm even seeing some of the demos out there. But I've also actually recently purchased the "Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3," so that - I'm part of that $1 billion there.
WARREN: And Activision thanks you. Both of those titles are excellent. The thing that's been great about the "Batman" franchise is it certainly always - the dream is to be Batman. And, you know, for a fan such as me, this is the first experience you have where you really feel like you are the Dark Knight. You know, with the "Call of Duty" franchise, one of the interesting things to note is that there is a subscription service that Activision has started to offer alongside of the purchase of the game.
It allows for a free version, which allows for stats tracking and social media integration such as Facebook. But you can also pay for $50 a year and have access to downloadable content. At this point we can start to think about the "Call of Duty" franchise more as a platform than just a game. It's something that comes out every single year. And at this point so many different types of people are playing them. You're able to see these types of services layered on top of them to allow for, you know, further fun further down the line.
CHRISTOPHER: It's certainly innovative with them originally just having a platform, like, just a game and then now integrating it to make it a - more of a franchise than just a game.
WARREN: Absolutely. And at this point the games come out like clockwork. They'll be out every single year.
CONAN: In addition to being Batman, I understand you can be Catwoman too.
WARREN: Yes. That was something that we discussed as well. There's an additional Catwoman add-on pack that you can play as Catwoman for additional missions. You know, again, one of the joys about playing video games is that you could take these characters that you might have experienced as a kid or as an adolescent and play them out. You get to be those characters, and that's certainly very exciting.
CONAN: Thanks for the call, Chris.
CHRISTOPHER: Thank you. Have a great day.
CONAN: Catherine in Lansing emails: My daughters want "The Black Eyed Peas Experience" and "Just Dance 3" and something called "Dance Dance Revolution." Most games seem to be targeted at boys. Why is that?
WARREN: Some of it is a function of marketing. There's always been a large segment of women who have played games, but sometimes their voices haven't always been heard. One of the things that's exciting, again, about the - all the different types of devices that are out there is that it's really opened doors for new types of gamers. Another game that I might add to that category is the "Dance Central" franchise, which is actually my favorite of all of those dance games in that you don't need a controller or anything like that.
You stand in front of your Microsoft Kinect for the 360, and it picks up all the different movements for your body. So there always have been women gamers out there. I really think some of the problems have been more on the marketing side and that the perception is that only boys play games, and that's certainly not the case. And in fact, if you look at who plays iOS games, it's much more heavily weighted towards women than some of the other devices that are out there.
CONAN: Let's go to Carly, Carly calling us from Oakland.
CARLY: Hi. I was listening to your show as I was driving up to the local video game place in Oakland. I'm shopping today for my boyfriend and my nephew, and essentially all the games you mentioned are exactly what they want. Are these really good games? Should I be worried of any violence in the "Mario Bros." or anything like that for my nephew?
WARREN: Oh, certainly not in the "Mario" franchise. You know, one of the things is to talk to the employees of the store, and then check the ratings as well. You know, video games have a rating system and can give you a good rundown. Also sort of - you could sort of look and see what the types of games are. So, certainly a game like "Arkham City," for example, you're playing Batman, but the level of violence sort of varies.
Yeah, I mean, I think one of the things that'll be important, certainly for parents, is talking to the employees and saying, oh, these are the type of - this is the level of, let's say, violence or horseplay that might be acceptable for my child to consume. It involves some dialogue.
CARLY: Okay. Thank you so much.
CONAN: Good luck.
CARLY: Thanks.
CONAN: A one-word email from David: "Skyrim."
WARREN: That's really popular in our office. "The Elder Scrolls: Skyrim" series, it's an action role-playing game, kind of set in the fantasy, medieval fantasy universe. And it's one of those titles that when it comes out, there are large swath of productivity that are lost. You know, it's one of these games where you're enveloped in this enormous world. One of the things that people have liked about "Skyrim" is really the attention to details.
The universe that they've - that Bethesda has created is really robust in terms of the graphics and also in terms of the characters. It really feels like it is really a large immersive world. So "Skyrim," perhaps that's the one word that says it's all for fans of that franchise.
CONAN: Another email. This one from Joe in Anne Arbor: "Star Wars: The Old Republic," exclamation, exclamation point. Can't wait. I gather that's not coming out until, what, the 20th?
WARREN: Yeah, right. That's out December 20. Yup. You know, the "Star Wars" - that franchise, again, one of the great things about - one of the problems with "Star Wars" has been is that there haven't been the same type of excitement around those releases as compared to "Batman." And so some fans are saying that they think that "The Old Republic," that might be the title that gets people interested in "Star Wars" as a video game universe all over again.
CONAN: We're talking with Jamin Warren, founder of Kill Screen Magazine, from our bureau in New York. You're listening to TALK OF THE NATION from NPR News. Chris is on the line, calling from Rochester.
CHRIS: Hi, Neal, first-time caller here. Love the show.
CONAN: Thanks.
CHRIS: I'm an avid gamer, 30 years old, have been all my life. And I just wanted to say that my eight-year-old daughter will be receiving "Rayman Origins" this year for Christmas. It's sort of a gift to us both because it's a cooperative platform, it's great for kids, and I think we'll have a lot of fun sitting around the living room playing the game together.
WARREN: That's great that you noted the cooperative aspects of the game. You know, I think that's one of the things that, you know, parents often have trouble with is trying to figure out what types of titles are going to be good for the whole family. And what's great about the "Rayman" franchise is, one, it is the same vein as the "Mario" series. Although people, you know, sadly I don't think - as many people pay attention to that franchise as perhaps they should, but, yeah, that's an excellent, excellent choice. And again, I would pair those with the "Mario" games as well. That's a good pairing.
CONAN: Chris, I'm unfamiliar with "Rayman." What are his attributes?
CHRIS: Oh, it's a classic franchise from developer, I believe, Michel Ancel , if I got that right. And it's kind of just a nonsensical, cartoony, fun and quirky really beautiful game.
CONAN: Well, good luck. And I hope you and your daughter enjoy it.
CHRIS: Thanks very much. I think we will. Take care.
CONAN: Thanks very much. There's one game that's been getting particularly good reviews and that is involving "Uncharted 3," which stars Nathan Drake.
WARREN: Absolutely, so the "Uncharted" franchise has been one of my favorites over the last couple years, in part for anyone who grew up with "Indiana Jones," which is lots and lots of people.
CONAN: Like everybody.
WARREN: That is, it's like everybody. The "Uncharted" franchise you play as Nathan Drake, who is the heir to the explorer, Sir Francis Drake, in search of different treasures from place to place. One of the things that that developer has done so well is really the storytelling in those games are really, really robust. They really create this magical universe.
You know, that's one of the things when you were watching the "Indiana Jones" series, you often felt like, oh, I wish I could be there. I wish I could be that sort of person. And that's really the type of experience that the "Uncharted" franchise has really delivered.
And so, again, in addition to the story, the graphics are incredible. It was one of the marquee titles for the PlayStation 3. And that was the — that was one of the titles was really going to show off what this console could do. But for anyone who likes action-adventure, that's certainly the title. And again, it's one of those games that it's not so profoundly difficult that people can pick up and learn and play along the way.
CONAN: I think it's the third iteration in that particular series. Obviously the "Call of Duty" is, I think, the four billionth. Does it matter if you have skipped the first two versions and you start with number three?
WARREN: No, it doesn't. So for those three games, again, that's something that they've done really brilliantly, as they stand as independent games that are connected with the same characters, but it's not as if you need to go dust off the previous versions of "Uncharted" to play the third one. And frankly, that's something that becomes true of a lot of franchise titles, with a couple exceptions. But for the most part, no matter the number of the series in game, whether it's the third or the fourth game, you don't necessarily need to know what's happened in the previous titles.
Again, that's not true for most games, but you're finding that developers would like to introduce new parties to play these games. So they're not saying, oh, you need to have everything, you need to have everything figured out, have done a ton of research. We just want you be able to pick up and play.
CONAN: Let's go to Andy, Andy with us from Iowa City.
ANDY: Hi. I have a Wii, and I - oh, by the way, great show.
CONAN: Thank you.
ANDY: And I was just wondering if - what the best dance game is for a wife on the Wii console.
WARREN: That's a really good...
ANDY: I'll take my answer off the air.
CONAN: OK. Andy, thanks.
WARREN: So the "Dance Dance Revolution" franchise is really good. That would be one that I will look for. There's some older dance titles, you know, for the Wii that work really well. But, you know, again, I think one of the things that's been great about dancing games is because they're new technologies, it allows for you to kind of recreate some of these dance movements.
CONAN: Here's an email from Angelique(ph): I'm a 35-year-old mother of three who still owns her original NES. I am now loyal to my Xbox 360 and love the "Fable" series and very much look forward to "Fable IV" and the time away from my kids to play it.
WARREN: You know, actually, there was a game that we haven't talked about that I would recommend, is a game called "Bastion." It's one of my favorite titles. It was a smaller title, a downloadable title for the Xbox 360. But the "Fable" franchise was one that was done by kind of a famous game maker named Peter Molyneux. Really, he created this kind of fantasy universe. It's kind of set in days of yore. But this title called "Bastion" is really amazing; it kind of reminds of the old "Zelda" games that you play, this sort of young, faceless man searching for the shards in this universe. One of the most notable things is that the voiceover work in that game is really powerful, really, really evocative. And that's a good in-between title for someone who might like the older-style games, but is looking for something with - looking for something with a new twist. The art style, really incredible. It's the cel-shaded kind of design, very colorful. So I would recommend that title as well, "Bastion."
CONAN: And there are a couple of classic re-issues rebooted for high-definition. But I was interested, there's apparently a CD out of "The Greatest Video Game Music."
WARREN: So there is something called "Video Games Live," which is orchestral arrangements of classic video game tracks.
WARREN: And you - they actually, they perform live. They do a bunch of different dates. It was done by a video game composer named Tommy Tallarico. But, yeah, for fans of video game music, that would be absolutely a place that - that might be a good gift for someone who's a fan of video game music.
CONAN: Jamin Warren, thanks very much for your time today. We hope you get every game you want. I mean, you get them for free under your tree.
WARREN: I buy them for other people.
CONAN: OK. Jamin Warren joined us from bureau in New York. He's the founder of Kill Screen Magazine. Tomorrow, it's TALK OF THE NATION: SCIENCE FRIDAY. Ira Flatow will be here with a look at the hunt for the elusive God particle and what fresh data reveal about the particle's whereabouts. See you again on Monday. Have a good weekend, everybody. It's the TALK OF THE NATION from NPR News. I'm Neal Conan in Washington. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.


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We had to check the date on this one, because five-time Dakar Rally winner Cyril Despres has announced that he will not be on two-wheels for this year's rally raid, and instead will campaign in the car class with Peugeot. The announcement comes as a bit of a shock, after Despres rocked the Dakar Rally world last year, announcing his switch from KTM to Yamaha.
After a difficult race in 2014, where Cyril still managed to finish fourth overall, it seems Despres is content with his five rally wins, though one cannot count the Frenchman out from future motorcycle engagements.
Signing a contract with Peugeot Sport, Despres will be leading the return of the marquee's re-entry into rally racing, after taking a 25-year hiatus from the sport. Despres will be following in the footsteps of another French motorcycle rally raid racer, Stéphane Peterhansel, who like Despres moved from Yamaha Racing's motorcycles into racing cars.


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State Sen. George Maziarz, R-C-Newfane, has announced the recently adopted New York state budget includes a $75 million increase in funding for the Consolidated Local Street and Highway Improvement Program, or CHIPS. This is the first increase in funding since the 2008-09 budget.
CHIPS was established by the legislature in 1981, and provides funding for infrastructure repairs of local highways, roads and bridges. The funds go directly to the county, city, town or village for repairs that they operate. Under the 2013-14 budget, Niagara County will receive $6.4 million, an increase of 21.01 percent from the previous allotment. Likewise, Orleans County will receive $2.5 million, an increase of 23.46 percent; and Monroe County will receive $12.4 million, an increase of 19.64 percent.
"Funding for infrastructure improvements is a critical investment that New York state must make," Maziarz said. "The municipalities, many of which maintain state roads, have seen an increase in both the cost of repairing their roads and bridges, but also in the number of them that need repairs. This important investment not only ensures the safety of the public that travels on them, but creates jobs in the construction and transportation industries and improves economic development."
A further breakdown by County, City, Town and Village is set forth below