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Trips & Activities
Golf. A selection of 12 world class Golf courses to choose from all within 1 hrs drive, including short courses and coaching schools. Fancourts' Montagu and Outeniqua Golf courses plus the Links Golf course, voted no 1 course in S.A. which holds one of Erni Els favourite holes, no 16. Ou Baai Golf Course, attached to the Hyatt Hotel, has another of Erni Els favourite holes which is the 17th Hole. George Golf course, in the top 10 courses of S.A. Kingswood Golf Course, all within 10 minutes drive. Pinnical Point, voted one of the most scenic in the world is a 30 mins drive. Purchase a golfing passport. Play George, Fancourt Monteniqua and Outeniqua, Ou Baai and Kingswood plus other local courses ask for a quote on reduced rates.
Safari Game viewing Experience close encounters with rhinoceros, lions, buffalo, giraffe, rare black impala and many more, in an exhilarating 3 hour guided Safari game drive. Cost R495.00
Horse Riding. For all levels of experience, out rides on the Outeniqua Mountains, lessons from a top South African top three day event rider. Ask us to make your booking.
Outeniqua Transport Museum. A collection of vintage cars, steam trains and railway carriages. followed by
Botanical Gardens. A fine collection of Cape fynbos, Proteas and succulents.
Outeniqua Farm Tours. Visit Redberry Strawberry Farm, pick your own strawberries, then relax at the tea shop with home made Scones, Strawberry Jam and Cream. Their latest addition is a maze and a miniture railway, great fun for all the family. Visit a dairy farm where 900 cows are milked by carousel. www.outeniqua-hop-route.co.za
Outeniqua Hop Route. A tourism route that starts from Herold's Bay working its way over the Outeniqua Mountain, to the village of Herold and the little green gem called Waboomskraal. Both Herald and Waboomskraal are home to hops growing, the necessary ingredient for the brewing of beer. you can spend the day at Herold's Bay lapping up the sun, sea and sand and wine and dine at the local restaurant with its spectacular views. Do some whale and dolphin watching or walk along the beach and nearby fynbos trails.Take time out for a leisurely trip over the old Montagu Pass and enjoy the flora and fauna en route to the little village of Herold. Once there you will find Herold Wine Farm nestled behind the Agfunst Hop farm under Cradock peak. Guided tours of the farm are available to see the grape vines growing on the craggy mountain slopes and then stop to taste their specialty wines. Herold Wines is a boutique wine farm that has received much acclaim and several awards for their superb wines.
Garden Route Gardens, George. George Gardens, private gardens on show once a year and some are open by appointment throughout the year. Also listed is accommodation where gardens are a strong feature. For more info visit the web site www.garderoutegardens.co.za
Visit Ostrich Farms in Oudtshoorn Enjoy a close encounter with Ostriches, stand on an Ostrich Egg, Ride an Ostrich and at the right time of the year you can see the eggs hatching. Learn the history of Ostrich farming and the beautiful feather palaces. Approx 40 mins drive.
Cango Wildlife Park, Oudtshoorn Tucked away in the Little Karoo you will find a place offering sanctuary to a number of endangered species such as cheetah and Bengal tiger. No visit to Oudtshoorn is complete without having visited the Cango Wildlife Ranch, the conservation heart of the Little Karoo.
Cango Caves 29km from Oudtshoorn, at the head of the picturesque Cango Valley, lies the spectacular underground wonder of the Klein Karoo – the Cango Caves. Situated in a limestone ridge parallel to the well known Swartberg Mountains, you will find the finest dripstone caverns, with their vast halls and towering formations. Cango Caves is the only show cave in Africa which offers a choice of Standard (easy) or Adventure Tours. All tours are lead by experienced, knowledgeable and accredited Caves Guides. All tours are offered in English but Afrikaans, German, French and other language guide may be available (please check guide availability when making reservations).
Wilderness Take a leisurely drive from George on the Old Knysna road, which meanders through part of the Forest where you may very well come across a family of Vervet Monkeys, buck or a leopard on the side of the road. The old road takes you over two small rivers. Here you can get out and dip your toes into the brown water, nick named Pepsi water, this is from the roots of the vegetation and fynbos. Carry on to Wilderness Heights and visit The Map Of Africa, a lookout point where you can see the coast stretched out before you, along with the Lakes, mountains and forests. From here you can either go down to walk on the beach, a boardwalk walk alongside the lake, and do some bird spotting, or go into the National Park where you can hire a canoe, fish, or go for a swim in the warm dark water of the river. Forrest and beach Walks can be booked from 1 hour – 5 days. From R300.00
Farmers Family Market on Saturday Visit the Farmers Market on Saturday 8.00 – 2.00 p.m. Here you can sample local food from the many food stalls, buy fresh home made bread, local vegetables, cheese, hand made chocolates, and arts and crafts. 10 mins drive
Knysna For a unique cruise and dining experience – with a modern, hip and trendy twist – The Paddle Cruiser offers both lunch time (12h30 departure) and evening (18h15 departure) cruises. This is the only paddle-driven vessel in South Africa and is a unique dining venue in Knysna. Turn your evening meal into a special occasion – depart at sunset, cruise to the famous Knysna Heads at twilight and return under the stars and twinkling lights of the town. The Paddle Cruiser offers delicious meals, enjoyed at lunch time during a well-deserved midday break or at the end of the day during a magical sunset cruise. It is the ideal opportunity to unwind and enjoy a cocktail, locally brewed beer or a fine wine from an award-winning selection, while savouring fresh Knysna oysters. Lunch time cruises offer a Tapas Mediterranean a la carte selection while a 3-course Mediterranean buffet is available in the evening, with matching 5 star service guaranteed. The Paddle Cruiser has been graded as a 4 star restaurant by the SA Tourism Grading Council – the only floating restaurant in South Africa with this grading! Either after or before your cruise you can drive up to the heads for another magnificent view of the ocean, lagoon and mountains. 1 Hr Drive.
Plettenberg Bay. A day out exploring the town, eat sea food overlooking one of South Africa's most beautiful beaches visit one of the many craft shops along the route. 1hr 20 mins drive.
The Craggs Visit the following: Wild Cat Experience, a guided tour of indigenous wild cats of South Africa, Leopard, Caracal, Serval, African Wild Cats and walk with a Cheetahs. Monkeyland, which has as one of its aims to create awareness about the plight of primates and to show that with a greater understanding of our primate cousins, that we can all live in harmony. Birds of Eden. The unique two hectare dome (the World's largest) spans over a gorge of indigenous forest. The sanctuary has its own mysterious ruin, which incorporates a walk-behind waterfall. Another feature is its amphitheatre, which has the ability to seat over 200 visitors. The sanctuary's dome incorporates the ability to synthesise thunder and create short spells of rain from an irrigation system in the dome structure. Roofed viewpoints within the gorge have been erected for use during these brief rain storms. Elephant Sanctuary. The Elephant Sanctuary provides a safe-haven for our elephants and offers a platform for guest education and interaction. We offer guest and elephant driven programs where the most important part of our operation is happy elephants and satisfied guests. Our programs offer one of a kind elephant interaction and are unique to the Elephant Sanctuary. All our elephants are rescued African elephants and we have gained their trust through our unique reward based training. Elephants are highly intelligent and delightful and you will discover a different character, personality and temperament within each one.
Tsitsikamma Canopy Tour. A unique eco-wilderness adventure that takes place in the magnificent Tsitsikamma indigenous rainforestThe first of its kind in Africa, the canopy tour involves traversing from one platform to another along a steel cable suspended up to 30 meters above the forest floor…Most platforms are located in giant Outeniqua Yellowwood trees. The scenery and bird life is spectacular and professional guides provide interesting facts about the forest ecology during the 2½ to 3 hours.
Whale Watching Welcome to our world, a world dedicated to the observation and conservation of whales and dolphins. As an environmentally conscious eco-marine business, we are rated by Europe magazine, as one of the top 25 worldwide. Ocean Safaris is unique in that we provide support to the Centre for Dolphin Studies via proceeds from our boats trips, ensuring the ongoing research and information sharing from the only accredited research institute of its kind here in South Africa. It's coast to coast whale and dolphin legally licensed close encounters with Ocean Safaris. Come and join us as we Observe & Conserve…
Prins Albert, Via Meiringsport and the Swartberg Pass Visit the charming Karoo Village of Prins Albert with its dessert gardens, local food and Victorian and Cape Dutch cottages. This is a wonderful day out with stunning scenery.
White Shark Diving & Viewing. If you are one of those wanting to come just a little bit closer to experience the White Shark in its natural environment above or under water, This is for you! R1,500.00, including meals, refreshments, equipment and certificate.
Most of the activities can be booked through us.


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May 05, 2009 | ISBN 9781400073597
"In Rose House, Tina Ann Forkner brings us back to the beauty of California wine country and draws us into a story fit for the misty gothic moors. Just as the Rose House itself sits within a mass of beautiful, entwined roses and vines, so is the story nestled in a masterful weaving of secrets, betrayals, hope, and healing."
–Allison Pittman, author of Stealing Home and Saturdays with Stella
"Tina Ann Forkner pens a compelling tale of betrayal and grief, of hope and forgiveness in Rose House. The unique setting and her lyrical descriptions enticed me into the scene, where I was captivated by the appealing characters and the story's underlying mystery. I couldn't put it down."
–Ane Mulligan, Editor and Co–Owner of Novel Journey
"With Rose House, Tina Ann Forkner paints a breathtaking canvas of lush prose brushstrokes. Don't get lulled into a sense of calm; the storyline casts suspenseful shadows on this masterpiece of women's fiction. Delightful!"
–Patti Lacy, author of An Irishwoman's Tale and What the Bayou Saw
"Captivating, mysterious, and romantically enticing, Forkner's Rose House keeps the pages turning."
–Alice J. Wisler, author of Rain Song and How Sweet It Is
More praise for Tina Ann Forkner on Ruby Among Us
"Ruby Among Us is a powerful story that will linger long after reading it. Forkner's writing transported me to California's vineyards and wove a fascinating saga of how secrets and decisions impact the lives of following generations–and how love can redeem."
–Cindy Woodsmall, New York Times best-selling author of When the Morning Comes
"Ms. Forkner has given us a gift that like fine music rises at an ever-spiraling pace. Neither rushed nor delayed, Ruby Among Us offers a satisfying journey I will long remember."
–Jane Kirkpatrick, award-winning author of A Mending at the Edge
"A multi-generational saga of hope, regret, and the grace that brings us home, Ruby Among Us evokes an invitational sense of place, a cache of characters you enjoy knowing, and a story that rips and mends your heart all at once."
–Mary E. DeMuth, author of Watching the Tree Limbs and Wishing on Dandelions
"So engaging from the first sentence. I found myself holding my breath as I read. Tina has painted the pictures so real. I love the honesty and innocence. Mothers and daughters alike will feel very connected with this book."
–Cindy Morgan Brouwer, singer/songwriter
"Don't miss this one! Tina Ann Forkner is a strong new voice in fiction and Ruby Among Us is an amazing story of trials, regrets, and, ultimately, redemption. Lucy and her family history in the historic wine country of Sonoma bring to life the Scriptures about the Vine and His branches."
–Kristin Billerbeck, author of The Trophy Wives Club
"Ruby Among Us is a haunting, beautifully-told novel of past secrets and present pain. Lovely, lovely voice and story. A remarkable debut by Tina Ann Forkner, an author to watch."
–Colleen Coble, author of Anathema
"A subtle, intimate story of grace and redemption that touches the heart!"
–Pamela Nowak, author of the historical romance Chances
"Forkner writes from a place of intimate transparency, allowing the reader to discover priceless treasures found in the pursuit of truth. Ruby's story unfolds in fascinating layers, revealing at its core the universal power of a mother-daughter relationship."
–Bonnie Keen, speaker, vocalist, and author of A Ladder Out of Depression
"Reading is a passion of mine, and when I find myself identifying with the characters, anxious to get to the next page to find answers to my questions, I know I'm into a good book! The daughter-mother-grandmother theme in Ruby Among Us pulled me in. Wonderful story-telling."
–Jordin Sparks, 2007 winner of American Idol
"If you're a fan of fiction that inflames your heart and your spirit, Tina Ann Forkner has a debut novel you should read. Ruby Among Us is filled with powerful emotions of secrets, joy, grief, the freedom that is found in the truth, and, ultimately, in redeeming love."
–Kim Hill, worship leader and recording artist
"What an incredible story. As both mothers and daughters, Ruby Among Us struck a special cord in each of the four of us. Tina writes in a way that makes us feel like we're there; from the first line, we were captivated and drawn into an intricate weaving of the precious and fragile relationships that define us."
–Point of Grace
"A skillfully written, moving tale of women (and their men) who find that love covers a multitude of sins. Tina Ann Forkner weaves this story together with great detail and, like the quilts that are such an integral part of the novel, pieces it together with beautiful results."
–Debbie Smith, songwriter with and wife of Michael W. Smith, and mother of their five children
"From the first page of this emotionally-gripping novel, I was absorbed in Lucy's story. The author weaves a beautiful tapestry of meaning and grace, with an underlying truth: every heart needs a place to call 'home.' Lucy's journey toward her place of belonging is poignantly told."
–Kim Vogel Sawyer, author of Blessings and My Heart Remembers
"Ruby Among Us is an intriguing story of lost love, brokenness, and ultimately, restored relationships. It is one girl's search to unlock the secrets of her family's past that ultimately leads to redemption, hope, and new life. This great read will truly touch your heart!"
–Denise Jackson, best-selling author of It's All About Him

subset: commoncrawl


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Orrin Hatch's win in the Utah Republican primary Tuesday night — a triumph that all but ensures he'll add another term to his 36-year tenure in the Senate — was a tribute to Hatch's textbook strategy for rebuffing an upstart challenge and a testament to the limits of the Tea Party's clout. This is not, for obvious reasons, the way the folks who labored to engineer his ouster are spinning it.
"We would have liked to have seen Senator Hatch replaced. Short of that, we're pretty pleased with what happened in the race. Senator Hatch moved as far to the right as he possibly could to get reelected, and that to us is a victory in itself," says Russ Walker, the national political director of the Tea Party advocacy group FreedomWorks. Dave Weigel buys it. The logic here is simple: If the goal of the Tea Party is to force RINOs to toe the line, well, Hatch did that. The last two years, Hatch amassed a 100% rating from the American Conservative Union. If this was a purity test, he passed.
But if this is what now counts as a win in Tea Party circles, the movement has lowered its aspirations dramatically since its heady giant-slaying days of 2010. FreedomWorks spent about $1 million to oust the dogged septuagenarian. They knocked on 120,000 doors, made over 280,000 phone calls, and put up 10,000 yard signs — all in the four weeks leading up to primary. And yet Hatch won going away.
Walker says the group was at a sizable disadvantage: facing an entrenched incumbent with a sizable war chest in a state where Mitt Romney, a Hatch backer, is political royalty. "You had an alignment of the stars" in Hatch's favor, he said. But Utah, as Bob Bennett's 2010 loss proved, is in many ways a perfect laboratory for the Tea Party experiment — ruby red, with a convention process that gives a small universe of some 3,500 delegates (who tend to be conservative activists) the power to dump a sitting Senator. Without a mighty effort, Hatch was in trouble, and he knew it. He's been furiously fundraising, scrambling to sideline local opponents and crisscrossing his state for three years, an effort that intensified after his fellow senator became the Tea Party's first major scalp in the summer of 2010.
Hatch assiduously courted local opponents, and when it became clear that if he couldn't win some over, he kept calling anyway. "I have never in my life seen anybody work so hard. He deserves to win," says Utah Tea Party founder David Kirkham. As I reported last year, when Hatch showed up at the first meeting of Kirkham's group in the spring of 2009, the Tea Party "basically told him to drop dead," according to Kirkham. And yet Hatch persisted, phoning Kirkham regularly, even after the Provo businessman announced he would not support the Senator. Hatch called three times between the state convention, when he nearly took out challenger Dan Liljenquist, and the primary runoff. After Hatch won, Kirkham sent a congratulatory text message. "He ran a brilliant campaign," Kirkham says. "They started early, worked very hard reaching out to Tea Party groups and constituents across the state…that goes a long way to mitigate angst, which is certainly what Senator Bennett didn't do."
FreedomWorks encouraged its activists to take heart with the success it achieved. "The limited-government movement is largely responsible for the 180-degree change in Senator Hatch's votes and rhetoric over the past two years," it said in a statement. But it's not like Hatch did a total about-face. He's always been a conservative senator, with an 89% lifetime rating from the ACU. In 2010, when every Republican began talking about imminent tyranny like Mel Gibson in "The Patriot," merely conservative didn't cut it. Hatch had on his record black marks like TARP and the Dream Act and votes from liberal judicial nominees, and that was enough to guarantee a challenge from his right.
In March, FreedomWorks' Walker gave an interview to the website Red Alert Politics in which he warned that Hatch would edge back toward the middle if he won. "The problem with politicians is that they swing to the right when it is election time," Walker said then. So why should we give the Tea Party credit for spending a $1 million to force that process, if the smart money is on the pendulum swinging back now that he's won?


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With SALLY BOZZUTO
Want to get a jump-start in photography? This workshop is definitely for you. In five hours we'll help you forge a friendship with your digital camera, exploring its vital features and demystifying the buttons and dials that trip common users up. From controlling exposure to getting a handle on autofocus, we'll unpack these tech-heavy tools in a simple and straightforward manner. Camera Warm-Up! challenges students to learn and test their camera's essential functions by shooting in live situations, working responsively and intuitively. We want you to take control of the camera, and not the other way around!
Who should take this class
This workout is great for aspiring photographers and hobbyists, travelers, designers, stylists, or anyone who wants to learn a lot about photography but doesn't have a ton of free time.
What to bring
- Your camera (DSLR or mirrorless ok!)
- A charged battery or two
- A cleanly-formatted memory card
- Your camera manual
NOTE: Film shooters are totally welcome in this class. However, because of the abbreviated schedule, students wanting to learn on their film cameras will be required to bring or rent a digital SLR or mirrorless camera for teaching purposes during class. We have camera rentals on hand if you need one.
No experience necessary!
$102 /Emerging Members
$84 /Pro Members


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SKU:10542Artist:Compatible Figures:N/ACompatible Software:DAZ Studio 4.12, DAZ StudioInstall Types:
SKU:10542Artist:Compatible Figures:N/ACompatible Software:DAZ Studio 4.12, DAZ StudioInstall Types:
- Daz Connect
- Install Manager
- Manual Install
- Daz Connect
- Install Manager
- Manual Install
This product is in these bundles
Grunge up anything with a single click! Grime-Inizer is the hybrid shader you've been waiting for to meet all your griminess needs. It includes incredibly detailed transparent textures to grunge up any surface without replacing your texture maps. Your textures will still be visible as you stack layers of different kinds of grime on top of it. There are presets for Dirty, Filthy, Grimy, Gritty, Small and Large Mud Splatter, Cracked and Scratchy. Apply them to skin, hair, clothes, props, animals...anything at all.
Grime-Inizer uses special scripting to make shaders behave in ways you never dreamed possible. A set of next-generation Shaders for DAZ Studio 2 and 3, it marries the quality of custom texture maps, the convenience and flexibility of shaders and the texture layering ability of DAZ Studio with the versatility of the Layered Image Editor.
- These hybrid shades have the following properties:
- They can be applied to ANY surface – human skin, clothes, props, hair – like any other shader.
- Existing texture maps will not be replaced. The shaders incorporate transparency so the original texture is still visible beneath them.
- Existing transparency maps will not be replaced, but will be layered over.
- Bump, displacement and specularity is included where appropriate.
- They can be layered over existing shaders and over and among any presets created with the LIE, including any in this set.
- You can select the surface, open it in the LIE and adjust color, transparency, position and any other normal LIE option.
What's Included and FeaturesFeatures
- MAT poses to apply eight grunge and grime presets: (.DS)
- Cracks
- Dirty
- Filthy
- Grimy
- Gritty
- Mud Splatter
- Mud Splatter Fine
- Scratchy
- 23 Hi-res Texture, Mask and Displacement Maps (4000 x 4000)
- These hybrid shades have the following properties:


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* Canadian PM says CNOOC bid raises difficult issues
* Canada NDP says it fears "tidal wave" of foreign bids
* Government deciding whether to approve CNOOC bid for Nexen
* NDP cites lack of transparency in approval process
* Canada PM says U.S. pressure won't influence decision
(Repeats to add UPDATE 5 in headline)
By David Ljunggren and Randall Palmer
OTTAWA, Oct 4 (Reuters) - Canada admitted on Thursday that a Chinese bid for domestic oil company Nexen Inc raises difficult policy questions, but the government gave no sign it would bow to an opposition demand to veto the deal.
Speaking hours after the main opposition party demanded a veto on CNOOC Ltd's $15.1 billion bid, Prime Minister Stephen Harper sa id the government wo uld look at a range of issues as it determines whether the transaction, the largest foreign takeover ever launched by a Chinese firm, is of net benefit to Canada.
The deal has also raised rare public signs of unrest among Conservative legislators, some of whom fret about the idea of a Chinese state-owned enterprise buying Canadian energy assets.
"This particular transaction raises a range of difficult policy questions, difficult and forward-looking issues. Those things will all be taken into account," Harper told reporters in Ottawa, when asked about the bid.
Fund managers and market analysts say they expect Ottawa will ultimately approve the deal, but not before attaching a series of conditions.
These could include seeking guarantees on employment and investment, requiring that CNOOC p romise to follow Canadian laws and practices and demanding that a certain number of Canadians be appointed to the board of directors.
"Our position has been to be generally welcoming of foreign investment, but at the same time as you know we have approved many transactions, we have significantly modified some, and we have blocked some transactions," said Harper.
Canada, a leading energy exporter, has the world's third-largest proven oil reserves, most of them in the western province of Alberta.
The government is trying to balance concerns over the CNOOC bid with the energy patch's huge need for foreign investment. Ottawa says C$630 billion ($643 billion) in investment is needed over the next decade alone and much of it will have to come from outside Canada.
The Conservatives last blocked a deal in November 2010 when they shocked financial markets by preventing BHP Billiton Ltd
from buying fertilizer maker Potash Corp , which is based in the western province of Saskatchewan.
Fund managers and arbitragers say the memory of the Potash deal - which foundered over opposition from the Saskatchewan government and federal Conservative legislators from the province - means there remains an element of doubt over Nexen.
Nexen shareholders have already voted overwhelmingly to accept the bid and the Alberta government is in favor.
Harper says Ottawa will take public opinion into account before making a decision. Polls have shown most Canadians oppose China buying Nexen.
Asked about speculation the United States was putting pressure on Canada to scrap the deal, Harper replied: "The government of Canada will ta ke it s own decision irrespective of what the government of the United States does. We don't obviously follow their judgments in these matters."
CNOOC said on Sept. 5 that it had asked the U.S. government to review its bid for any national security concerns. About 10 percent of Nexen's assets are in the United States.
A handful of U.S. lawmakers have asked Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner to review the deal with one urging Washington to block the deal in order to extract trade and investment concessions from the Chinese government. The U.S. has the power to require Nexen to divest its U.S. holdings, or impose other conditions in the event of a CNOOC acquisition.
Canada's main opposition party, the center-left New Democrats (NDP), demanded Harper block the bid, saying approval of the deal could trigger "a tidal wave" of foreign takeovers.
The NDP has no power to prevent the deal, but the party's comments reflect the political sensitivity of the affair.
NDP natural resources spokesman Peter Julian complained the criteria for determining "net benefit" - a rule that must be met for a foreign takeover to go ahead - was far too vague and excluded questions about jobs, human rights, national security and the environment.
Julian wants the government to hold public hearings on the bid. He cited what he said was the risk of "a number of other takeover deals that are pending. Some people have said it's a tidal wave of takeovers that are coming down the pike."
Industry Minister Christian Paradis, ultimately responsible for deciding whether to approve the CNOOC bid, said the NDP's actions were reckless and irresponsible.
The NDP said it could not support the deal as it was currently structured and demanded Ottawa be much more specific about what it expected from foreign investors.
"It's absolutely absurd that what we have is an industry minister with nebulous criteria, basically drawing up a response on a napkin," Julian charged.
($1=$0.98 Canadian)
(Additional reporting by Louise Egan; Editing by Janet Guttsman, Frank McGurty and editing by Carol Bishopric)
((email@example.com)(+1 613 235 6745)(fax +1 613 235 5890)(Reuters Messaging: firstname.lastname@example.com))
Keywords: CNOOC NEXEN/CANADA OPPOSITION


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Web Content Display Web Content Display
Welcome to the Office of Admissions
The Naval Postgraduate School offers first-class graduate degree programs in a wide variety of disciplines to eligible U.S. military students, international students, Department of Defense (DoD) civilian employees and a limited number of defense contractors.
All applications are processed by the Admissions Office, but the final acceptance decision is determined by the appropriate department faculty. Some departments may have additional application requirements and they are outlined in the Naval Postgraduate School Academic Catalog. Be sure to review eligibility and department application requirements before applying.
Academic Profile Codes (APCs) for all U.S. Navy officers are calculated and reported by the NPS Admissions Office. If you wish to have your score calculated, you must complete an online application and submit official transcripts from all attended schools. Once reported, this score will be found in block 47 of your ODC.
Please peruse our website. If you have any additional questions, the best way to reach us is via email at email@example.com.
For academic record related inquiries, please visit the Registrar website.


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Full dissertation title: Using High-Resolution Measles Vaccination Coverage Data Improves Detection of Spatial Heterogeneity and Measles Risk in the US and Africa
Wilbert van Panhuis - chair
Daniel J. Bain
Christina F. Mair
Evelyn O. Talbott
Investigating Biliary Tract Cancer Etiology
Jill Koshiol, PHD
Earl Stadtman Investigator, National Cancer Institute
Division of Cancer Epidemiology & Genetics, Infections and Immunoepidemiology Branch
The Epidemiological Methods Journal Club meets weekly to discuss papers related to the foundations of the causal inference framework and new epidemiologic methods.
The Epidemiology of Brain Resilience in Aging (e-BRAIN) program and the Claude D. Pepper Center at the University of Pittsburgh sponsor the epiBRAIN Journal club, a multidisciplinary Journal Club to explore the application of neuroimaging methods in the context of aging and population studies...
The Social and Economic Impact of Caring for Children with Diabetes Mellitus
Thomas J. Songer, PhD
Assistant Professor, Dept. of Epidemiology, University of Pittsburgh GSPH
The purpose of the Diabetes Research Journal Club is to discuss current literature in the area of Diabetes, bringing us all up to date with current issues in the field. Each member will be asked to pick a date to briefly (5 minutes) present an article from the journal of their choice, which will be followed by group discussion. However, everyone is invited to brief the group on articles he/she may have found of interest at every meeting.
The CVD Epidemiology journal club is a forum for scientific interaction between CVD Epidemiology training program students, collaborating faculty and other students with interest in CVD Epidemiology.
Analytics Careers in Healthcare: UPMC Community HealthChoices
Mary E. Winger, MPH
Analytics Data Integration Developer, UPMC Health Plan, Community HealthChoices
Chendi Cui, PhD
Analytics Data Integration Developer, UPMC Health Plan, Community HealthChoices
The 24-Hour Activity Cycle and Maternal Health
Marquis Hawkins, PhD
Assistant Professor, Dept. of Epidemiology, University of Pittsburgh GSPH
Panel Discussion: Nutrition Assessment in Epidemiologic Studies
Samaneh Farsijani, PhD, MsC
Postdoctoral Associate, Dept. of Epidemiology, University of Pittsburgh GSPH
Lori Cherok, PhD, RDN, LDN
Assistant Professor and Director, Didactic Program in Dietetics
Interim Director, Nutrition Science Program, Pitt SHRS
Lisa Bodnar, PhD, MPH, RD
Professor and Vice-Chair of Research, Dept. of Epidemiology, University of Pittsburgh GSPH
Pharmacoepidemiology Methods Applied to the Study of the Real-world Use, Safety, and Effectiveness of Oral Anticoagulants
Inma Hernandez, PharmD, PhD
Assistant Professor, Pharmacy and Theraputics; Associate Director, Center for Pharmaceutical Policy and Prescribing, University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy
Contact: Gabriel Conzuelo Rodriguez
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Contact: Jacqueline Rudolph
Email: email@example.com
Meeting schedule: Every Friday starting September 6th from 1:00PM-3:00PM for the fall 2019 semester
Meeting location: Room 5140 Public Health
Last Updated On Thursday, September 05, 2019 by Weller, Alison N
Created On Thursday, September 05, 2019


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Come to the Guggenheim to view a special presentation of "Untitled" (Public Opinion), the 1991 installation by Felix Gonzalez-Torres that was lent from the museum's collection to each of the venues in . . . circle through New York. Gonzalez-Torres intended his participatory installations to react to the sites where they are shown. Thus, as it traveled the circle, "Untitled" (Public Opinion) adopted different shapes and forged new relations with the communities who encountered it. Photographs of each presentation are also on view, alongside comments on the artwork by members of each project venue.
Back to All Events
Earlier Event: August 24A Talking Parrot
Later Event: August 25Exhibition of The Oldest Song in the World


text: SurfacePad for iPhone is a new breed of protection for iPhone. Feather light and credit card thin, SurfacePad for iPhone adheres to, and wraps around, iPhone 5. Rather than protecting your iPhone from falling off the side of a cliff, the luxury leather SurfacePad shields your iPhone from more common hazards, like the keys in your pocket. This minimalistic, Napa leather cover also has a built-in stand for hands-free iPhone use. It's the perfect cover for those who have an iPhone, and are not afraid to show it.


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An ongoing saga about a multitasking Artist/Mom/Art Instructor and some incredibly creative kids. See Paula blog, teach, create, and celebrate, all within the confines of her ramshackle 1920's fixer-upper home.
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The Sukhothai is a sanctuary situated in the buzzing heart of Bangkok, a short stroll to Silom entertainment district and Saladaeng BTS Skytrain. From the moment you walk in, you feel you've entered a timeless place. Frozen in time, yet quietly dynamic. The hotel thrives on contrasts, each element setting off the next. Spectacular modern facilities and famed service, welcoming you to a green sanctuary that would make you forget you're in the centre of one of the world's most dynamic capital cities.
The guest rooms come in nine categories, with a choice of private balconies or sun terraces overlooking the lotus ponds, courtyard garden and pools. Combining the latest business facilities and luxurious comfort, each room is a perfect abode for work and leisure. A range of gourmet dining experiences await all guests at the six restaurants and bars. Enjoy a heavenly spa ritual at Spa Botanica or a refreshing soak at the 25-metre infinity-edge outdoor pool, set within the hotel's lush gardens. The squash court, tennis court and The Health Club offer more rigorous alternatives.


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Myanmar: WHO starts early recovery efforts
9 July 2008
Cyclone Nargis wrought havoc and destruction in southern Myanmar on 2-3 May, leaving more than 130 000 people dead or missing and destroying vital infrastructure.
The cyclone and sea surges damaged or destroyed more than half of health facilities in the Ayeyarwady Delta and Yangon regions, straining health relief services for survivors.
In response, WHO coordinated resources and support from its Country Offices in Myanmar and Thailand, South-East Asian Regional Office in India and its headquarters in Geneva, to provide urgent medical supplies and support to survivors. Efforts to prevent and control communicable diseases were undertaken as a priority; no outbreaks have been reported to date.
WHO has worked with more than 40 UN and nongovernmental agencies and the Ministry of Health in Myanmar to maximize the health relief and support to survivors. Almost US$ 7 million in donations have been pledged so far towards these efforts and a further appeal is planned.
Humanitarian relief efforts are now shifting from the emergency response to early recovery. The emphasis is on restoring health facilities and providing essential services, including measles and polio immunizations, and nutritional campaigns. This photo story describes the activities undertaken by WHO and its partners.
related links
Ebola infographic: What you need to know
Second Global High-Level Conference on Road Safety
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The world health report
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WHO's annual compilation of data from its Member States
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Publication on travel risks, precautions and vaccination requirements
International Health Regulations (IHR)
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text: Glamour Portrait This, is what makes my soul dance. Creating beautiful portraits , glamour style. Share this:TwitterFacebookLike this:Like Loading... Published by Ursula Tocik Photography I specialise in beautiful printed portraits, using natural light. My passion is capturing your journey and creating lifetime treasures and heirlooms to leave behind for generations to love and cherish. View all posts by Ursula Tocik Photography


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So, the wi-fi has been down most of today at my house while we await an upgrade (I'm writing this from the Bird Man coffee shop in town). This meant that I had to read the stack of magazines sitting by my chair. If I hadn't done that, I wonder if I would ever have read Ann Patchett's wonderful Atlantic essay about how she and her business partner defied conventional wisdom and launched an independent bookstore, Parnassus Books, in Nashville. Patchett begins by talking about the feeling in Nashville, where she lives, when two big-box bookstores closed down:
Our city experienced a great collective gnashing of teeth and rending of garments, but to what extent was Nashville to blame? Both of the closed stores had been profitable. Despite the fact that our two bookstores were the size of small department stores and bore enormous rents, they had made their numbers every month. Nashvillians, I'd like the record to show, had been buying books.
The Nashville Public Library organized community forums for concerned citizens to come together and discuss how we might get a bookstore again. Our library, and I will bless it forever, immediately jumped up to fill the void, hosting readings of orphaned authors (myself included) whose tours had already been scheduled with stops in Nashville, and in every way trying to responsibly tackle the problems we faced as a city in need of a bookstore. Someone went so far as to suggest putting a little bookstore in the library, though selling books in the same building where books were free struck me as a bad plan. Surely, I thought,someone would open a bookstore.
My secret was that I did not much miss those mall-size Gargantuas. The store I really missed had been gone much longer. The bookstore of my youth was Mills. My sister and I used to walk there every day after school, stopping first to check out the puppies in the pet shop across the street, then going on to admire the glossy covers of the Kristin Lavransdatter series, which is what girls read after they finished Little House on the Prairie and its sequels back before the Twilight books were written. Mills could not have been more than 700 square feet, and the people who worked there remembered who you were and what you read, even if you were 10. If I wanted to re-create that kind of bookstore, one that valued books and readers above muffins and adorable plastic watering cans, a store that recognized it could not possibly stock every single book that every single person might be looking for, and so stocked the books the staff had read and liked and could recommend—if I wanted to re-create the bookish happiness of my childhood, then maybe I was the person for the job. Or maybe not. I wanted to go into retail about as much as I wanted to go into the Army.
And here is where it gets really interesting. Patchett is an established author with a big following. Plus she knows something about marketing. She tapped into what she discerned was a story the media wanted to tell: independent bookstores are not destined to die! The key here is that she believed that she had the power to make this story come true:
My act was on the road, and with every performance, I tweaked the script, hammering out the details as I proclaimed them to strangers: All things happen in a cycle, I explained—the little bookstore had succeeded and grown into a bigger bookstore. Seeing the potential for profit, the superstore chains rose up and crushed the independents, then Amazon rose up and crushed the superstore chains. Now that we could order any book at any hour without having to leave the screen in front of us, we realized what we had lost: the community center, the human interaction, the recommendation of a smart reader rather than a computer algorithm telling us what other shoppers had purchased. I promised whoever was listening that from those very ashes, the small independent bookstore would rise again.
What about the e-books?, the journalists wanted to know. How can you survive the e-books?
And so I told them—I care that you read, not how you read. Most independent bookstores, and certainly Barnes & Noble, are capable of selling e-books through their Web sites, and those e-books can be downloaded onto any e-reader except Amazon's Kindle, which works only for Amazon purchases. So you can support a bookstore in your community and still read a book on your iPad.
Say it enough times, and it will be true.
Build it, and they will come.
Read the whole thing. It's a reminder that history is not fated.
I'll tell you why this essay meant something to me this morning. Just yesterday I was driving around Baton Rouge with my 13-year-old son Matthew. We crossed College Drive, which made me think about Elliott's, a small independent bookstore that closed ages ago, when the shopping center it was part of got bulldozed to make way for a Wal-mart. Elliott's was the first bookstore I ever saw that wasn't Waldenbooks at the mall. I was a sophomore in high school, and was introduced to Elliott's by my English teacher, who took me and a classmate with her when she went to Baton Rouge one day to do errands. I was amazed that a place so wonderful could exist. It was small and intimate and not so much managed as curated by the people who owned it. I doubt very much at the time that I could have explained why Elliott's was different from Waldenbooks, but boy, it sure was. The store at the mall sold books; Elliott's was a clubhouse for readers.
When I studied at LSU, and stayed on in Baton Rouge for three years after graduation, I loved going to Elliott's to hang out, to hold the books in my hand, to think about what I wanted to buy, and simply to be around other people like me. I bought the first edition of Douglas Coupland's "Generation X" there in 1991, and a few months later, after Doug and I became friends and he came to Baton Rouge with a PBS camera crew to make a Gen X documentary, I took him to Elliott's, where he signed copies of the book that would make him famous and give our generation its name. I used to love to buy a new book at Elliott's and then walk over to nearby Coffee Call, a Baton Rouge coffee shop, and drink steaming cafe au lait and eat beignets and read.
I moved away in 1992, and one day, can't remember when, I came home for the holidays, and Elliott's was gone. I'm pretty sure this was long before Barnes & Noble and Books-a-Million opened stores in town, so you can't blame them for driving Elliott's out of business. Truth to tell, I don't know exactly why Elliott's closed. These days when I'm in Baton Rouge and want to go to a bookstore, I swing by Barnes & Noble or Books-A-Million. I am glad they are there. I don't really care where people buy their books, as long as they buy books, and are reading. Every bookstore is an outpost of civilization, and should be celebrated and supported.
But these places aren't Elliott's, and never could be. I found myself wishing I could take my son, a library volunteer who is as crazy about books as I was at his age, to Elliott's, and show him what a bookstore like Elliott's is like — that is, what it's like to buy your books from a clubhouse for readers, and to have a place like that to call your own, even when you don't have money to buy books, and you just want to be in the presence of books, and in the company of people who love them.
Sounds like Ann Patchett and her team have created something like this in Nashville. The Little Way of Ruthie Leming book tour in April, 2013, ends in Nashville, I think. I have no idea if I'll be appearing officially at Parnassus Books, Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, or just what (I don't arrange these things; my publisher does), but one way or another, I'm going to get over to Parnassus, if only to say, Thank you, ladies, and bless you.
UPDATE: It occurs to me that I read that Ann Patchett essay in a paper version of a magazine. I check in several times daily on The Atlantic's website, but I don't always see things there that are in the magazine. The Patchett essay is available on the site, but I'm not always going to see things like that, given my scanning habits. If you read an actual magazine from cover to cover, you're going to run across things you might not otherwise see. Funny, but going to a bookstore, versus ordering online, is like that too. I'd say many books on my shelf at home are books I didn't set out to buy, but ran across while browsing the stacks at a bookstore, fell in love with, and bought.


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Best Shots Comic Reviews: RETURN OF BRUCE WAYNE, More
Greetings, Rama readers! Your friendly neighborhood David Pepose here! Team Best Shots has been hard at work checking out last week's newest releases, with a ton of reviews for your reading enjoyment. We've got everything from time-traveling Batman to army gorillas to the B.R.P.D. finding Hell on Earth! Want to read more? We got your back — check out the Best Shots Topic Page! And now, let's check out the wise-guys of Gotham Noir in the latest issue of Batman: The Return of Bruce Wayne ...Batman: The Return of Bruce Wayne #5
Written by Grant Morrison
Art by Ryan Sook, Mick Gray, Pere Perez and Jose Villarrubia
Lettering by Jared K. Fletcher and Travis Lanham
Published by DC Comics
Review by David Pepose
Is it too late to call Ryan Sook one of the hidden gems of the DC Universe?
I ask because yes, even with Seven Soldiers, even with Wednesday Comics, even with those Brightest Day covers, it feels like the guy isn't getting enough heat in this biz. Well, here's hoping it changes now, because just looking at his art style in Batman: The Return of Bruce Wayne #5, it's clear that Sook can draw anything, and make it look great.
Of course, Sook isn't alone in this venture — Pere Perez shows that he's more than capable of playing with the big boys, particularly with the last two pages — but even with Grant Morrison's overarching megastory beginning to bear fruit, I think that this issue is successful far more because of its visuals than necessarily the plot.
Allow me to explain. Ultimately, Grant Morrison has managed to put his structural cart before the horse, in the fact that I'm infinitely more interested in how Bruce makes his return — and why is it such a problem — than I necessarily am seeing him work as a P.I., digging into the accusations of satanism and drugs that have recently surfaced about Thomas and Martha Wayne. Thankfully, Morrison starts off with the importance first — within one page, we finally get why Bruce's return is suddenly a bad thing, and yeah, now we're sweating, too. The rest of the story is an interesting case: On the one hand, Morrison's entitled to stretch his (and Batman's) creative muscles, and he deserves credit for tying his story to the seedy allegations of Batman: R.I.P. as well as the time-travel box from Batman #700. On the other hand, however, you could argue that the "gangster" metaphor feels a little forced, that it's a little too much of a detour from the "real" story here.
But — then there's Ryan Sook. Think the dense shadows of Doug Mahnke mixed with a little Adam Hughes clarity and a little bit of the lushness of the Dodsons, and this book has got some genuine star power on its hands. While you might groan a little at Morrison saying "and it always started with a dame," but seeing Bruce sitting in a hospital bed in the dark immediately gets you into the "noir" mood Morrison's trying to set. Sook deserves a lot of credit for his expressiveness to his characters both in shadows and light — seeing Bruce smile is probably the biggest departure this series takes, but Sook gives it a real stylishness that makes you buy into this admittedly awkward status quo. I particularly enjoyed Sook's little explosion of action in this issue, where it's less seeing Bruce fight and more of seeing the aftermath of all his unseen strikes. "I don't much like jokers with guns," Morrison writes. And at that point, you've got me, hook, line and sinker.
And it would be a disservice to not mention Pere Perez, as well. He's not a perfect fit for Sook, but that's not to say that he isn't swinging for the fences with his pages. His character design on Bruce isn't quite as effortless as the previous pages, but he more than makes up for it with the beautiful Marsha, who brings the amnesiac Batman on his latest adventure. But when you see that last page — woo! Suddenly Bruce Wayne's return just got real, and I am fascinated to see what happens next. Ultimately, as a story I wouldn't necessarily call Batman: The Return of Bruce Wayne #5 a home run, but as a visual enterprise, this is absolutely the strongest issue of the run.Amazing Spider-Man #645
Written by Mark Waid
Art by Paul Azaceta, Matt Southworth and Javier Rodriguez
Lettering by Joe Caramagna
Published by Marvel Comics
Review by David Pepose
What's the secret of Peter Parker's success as a character? It's not just resonance — it's also range. You put Peter in any situation, and he'll have a different, yet instantly recognizable emotional response — so seeing the infamous Parker rage explode in Amazing Spider-Man #645 continues to make "Origin of the Species" one of the most refreshing Spidey tales of this year.
A lot of this comes from a simple twist from Mark Waid: With all of Spider-Man's foes gunning for the child of the Green Goblin and Menace, what happens if Spidey rushes them head-on? In so doing, Waid gives our friendly neighborhood webslinger a tinge of horror to him, as there's more imagining of what he does to these hapless crooks than us actually seeing him rage on. That said, when we do see Peter really in action, it's a pretty shocking reminder of the "great power" that is lashing out for this great responsibility.
The artwork in this book also really sets the tone of Spider-Man not just being a jokey swashbuckler, but a downright scary force of retribution, as well. Colorist Javier Rodriguez washes much of the book in dark blues and browns, letting the reader drown in the same disturbing darkness as the villains. I have to say that tag-teaming Paul Azaceta with Stumptown's Matt Southworth is a smart move on the editors' parts — their scratchy, sharp-angled styles are very similar, and with Rodriguez on colors it can get tough to tell the two apart. That said, it's clear that the moodiness and composition of this book hasn't faltered — whether it's seeing Spider-Man burst into Kravinoff Mansion or watching him use a villain's weapon to take out the Sandman, there's some real panache to these images.
That said, this book isn't perfect. While Mark Waid manages to smoothly get into the supporting cast as they try to hide Menace from the mob, the artwork on those pages looks particularly rough around the edges, past the point of moodiness or adding character. For example, after watching Tombstone smash a man's head with a door, the hapless victim's body feels more like a rough sketch than a finished work, and I'd say that the heavy, blocky shadows can get a little too geometric as far as ordinary civilians. And I will say that Mark Waid's ending feels a little out of left field, a tacked-on complication that will add one more issue to a six-issue arc I think could easily have been wrapped up in five.
Still, even with some occasional shakiness in the visuals and a conclusion that doesn't quite hit you where it needs to, getting to see Spider-Man actually be affected by his work emotionally makes this issue a real change of pace from previous Spidey tales. A hero to his core, we've always known that Spider-Man could fight his way out of any situation with enough brains and heart — but with the gloves now off, we see that with great power comes some truly bad-ass ability.Guerillas Vol. 1
Written and drawn by Brahm Revel
Additional design by Keith Wood
Published by Oni Press
Review by George Marston
To be honest, I usually avoid war comics. The real thing makes me uncomfortable enough, and I don't think the glorification of man's inhumanity to his own kind is very entertaining, but something about Guerillas struck me immediately. Maybe it's the honesty with which it approaches its subject matter, firmly establishing that war is, in fact, hell, before confronting the reader with a high concept premise so ripe with symbolism that its silliness almost belies the true message of the story. The layers of subtext, minute metaphors, and outright overtures are aided by creator Brahm Revel's clear, crisp storytelling, authentic dialogue, and simple, expressive linework. In the end, these elements all come together seamlessly to create a first volume collection of what is now to be published as a series of graphic novels that is both entertaining and powerful.
Guerillas tells the story of a young private, on his first patrol in Vietnam. We follow him through the jungles of the war-torn nation, as scenes of his past are interspersed with encounters with the VC, and his fellow soldiers, all of which he meets with meek reluctance, proving that he's not capable of being half the man his war-hero father wants him to be, and his duty requires him to be. Finally, after most of his platoon is killed in an ambush, he is taken in by a group of unlikely allies; a troupe of great apes trained and engineered to fight in the stead of human soldiers. The premise of "monkeys with guns," as expressed by Jackson Publick in the foreword, is definitely an entertaining one, but once the story begins to delve into the history of the ape soldiers, the story once again veers into some deeper issues, and questions of morality that always should accompany armed conflict. Questions of whether a man's judgment is essential on the battlefield, whether it's right to force any sentient being to it's death, and questions of the level of respect and understanding that's possible between humanity and the world it inhabits.
None of that is to say that this book is dour, dry, or even wholly serious. There is inherent comedy in gorillas running around with machine guns, and the tone of the art could not be described as "dark." It is to the benefit of Guerillas that Braham Revel makes all the right decisions, and has the chops to back it up. His dialogue is as expressive and touching as his art, and his strengths as both a writer and artist shine immensely. The plotting of the story never lags, and the pages are never full of words when pictures will suffice. Revel's art is spot on, combining elements of classic cartooning, and cinematic storyboarding that's comparable to cartoonists such as Darwyn Cooke, Jeff Smith, and Guy Davis. The stark black and whites combined with the added layer of half-tone greys underscores the morality at play in the story, and perfectly express the emotions of not just the human characters, but the apes as well.
It's not very often that a book impresses me this much, or that a creator shines this brightly on his first outing, but with Guerillas Braham Revel has created a lasting title that deserves far more attention than it has yet received. Perhaps with the switch from Image Comics to Oni Press, and the change in formats from serialized single issues to a series of graphic novels, Guerillas will reach the mainstream audience. I, at least, will be waiting with much anticipation for the next volume. I can't recommend this book enough.B.P.R.D.: Hell On Earth - New World #3
Written by Mike Mignola and John Arcudi
Art by Guy Davis and Dave Stewart
Lettering by Clem Robins
Published by Dark Horse Comics
Review by Patrick Hume
At its best, Mike Mignola's work is not about intricate plotting or snappy dialogue, but about mood, about tapping into an undercurrent of weird mythology and secret history and bringing it into the light of day. Mignola has made a name for himself by invoking the unheimlich, reminding his readers that there is more to the world than what we can see with our eyes and touch with our hands, and that some of it might be inimical to our way of life. He makes these unsettling narratives palatable by wrapping them in a veneer of pulp adventure, but make no mistake: Mignola's strengths lie in tugging on some very dark threads of the human psyche.
So when I see a book like B.P.R.D.: Hell On Earth - New World, I start to get a little concerned. Over the first two issues, I gave Mignola and his team the benefit of the doubt; after all, he's also known for a deliberate, idiosyncratic sense of pacing. But now that we've passed the halfway point with this particular mini, I feel comfortable voicing my concerns - specifically, that B.P.R.D. is starting to feel more like a generic supernatural-action book than I would like.
Not to say that it's bad! Far from it, of course. The British Columbia mystery continues to unfold as Abe Sapien and the newly returned Ben Daimio bite off a little more than they can chew. Meanwhile, an unprecedented disaster calls Kate Corrigan away from B.P.R.D. headquarters, leaving Johann in charge of the facility - including the inanimate body of Roger the homunculus. Abe and Ben's plot has some satisfyingly creepy moments and plenty of high-octane action, and while I'm still not sure where things are going with Johann, I appreciated the opportunity to take a breather from the explosions and chase scenes.
But there's something missing. There's a... weight, or perhaps a gravitas lacking in this latest tale of the B.P.R.D. that is keeping it from getting the unreserved recommendation that I would give almost any other Mignola book I've encountered. The atmosphere of mounting dread just isn't there. Is it the art? Maybe. Again, Davis and Stewart's work remains completely serviceable. It's got an appealing sketchiness to it that does help reinforce the sense of a world coming apart at the seams, and there's a nice couple of moments at a diner — a quiet one opening the book and a splash when Abe and Ben arrive later on — that stand out. Their straightforward drafting and adherence to realism, however, while well-executed and appropriate to the story as written, certainly don't add much in the way of tonal texture.
Perhaps I should adjust my expectations. After all, Mignola's been working in this universe for almost two decades. Maybe there's only so much existential fear that one can handle before you just want to write an effective horror-action story where things blow up and monsters fight monsters. Nothing wrong with that, and nothing wrong with this book. I just expect a little more when I see that name on a cover, and I'm not getting it.Bruce Wayne - The Road Home: Batgirl #1
Written by Bryan Q. Miller
Art by Pere Perez and Guy Major
Lettering by Dave Sharpe
Published by DC Comics
Review by Amanda McDonald
As the return of Mr. Wayne approaches, DC has a number of one-shot books planned — each featuring a different character of Gotham. The story is not only from that character's point of view, but we also see excerpts from Bruce's own journal of thoughts on that person's characteristics. In this issue, Bruce observes Stephanie Brown as she goes on a fairly typical night prowl for her, complete with assistance from Barbara Gordon's newest protege, Wendy, a.k.a Proxy.
Admittedly, these journal excerpts irk me a tiny bit. Not in their content — the content is actually quite telling, and well executed. My problem focused more on the visual of these entries. Bruce Wayne writes like a girl. I'm talking about spot on perfect penmanship. On college-ruled notebook paper. I guess I see Bruce as more of a stylish Moleskine type user that would write in chicken scratches or in an architect's all caps style. An online acquaintance commented that she expected him to start dotting his 'I's with little bats. (Which, as an aside, is something I wish I had the patience to do.) In totality, this is really a minor gripe. Once I got over the notes not appearing as I expected them to (though understandably, that perfect writing makes for easy reading), I found them to be a real highlight of the book. Steph became Batgirl after Bruce was out of the picture, and I've been wondering how he's been feeling about her performance. There is undeniably a tone of surprise in his voice, but also a tone of pride.
This book doesn't just take a look at Batgirl, but also looks at Stephanie Brown's previous encounters with the cowl, from her time as Spoiler, her time as Robin, up through the current day. This actually would be a great jumping in point for anyone that didn't get on board with Steph as Batgirl just a bit over a year ago. As someone that hasn't been following the entirety of the Return of Bruce Wayne, I'm enjoying these one-shots as a way to ease myself into the storylines.New Avengers #5
Written by Brian Michael Bendis
Art by Stuart Immonen, Wade Von Grawbadger and Laura Martin
Lettering by Chris Eliopoulos
Published by Marvel Comics
Review by David Pepose
There are certain books that you love because of the intricate plotting, the stellar direction, the sheer importance of characterization and what it'll mean down the road for your favorite character. And there are other books that just make you feel the joy of having your favorite characters in the same room, just doing that they do for nothing more than you, the reader, absolutely digging it.
Guess which book New Avengers #5 is. Whether it's a guilty pleasure or just plain fun, this showdown with the Sorcerers Supreme has a real lightness to the storytelling that doesn't feel weak. There are just enough touches of characterization and magical context that this battle without rules suddenly feels like an untapped well of potential for Brian Michael Bendis, Stuart Immonen and the rest of the Marvel Universe.
If you recall books like The Immortal Iron Fist, where Ed Brubaker and Matt Fraction would add in little touches for all of the martial arts moves, then you'll likely get a kick out of Brian Michael Bendis's take on magic — considering he as a writer has such a strength with the dialogue, the "sounds" of the comic, magic seems to be a good fit for him, giving the characters something to do while they're explaining the nature of this extradimensional assault. For new readers, the learning curve might be a wee bit too steep, but considering Marvel's been working hard to reinvigorate the magical corner of their universe, it's nice to see some stakes going along with all the mythology. And that's not to say that he forgets entirely about the Avengers — the last page teeters oh-so-close to the line of the characters becoming action figures rather than fully-fleshed protagonists, but Bendis's dialogue rings so true to Wolverine's character that you end up rolling with it regardless.
That all being said, the real strength of this book is the art team, that makes all this banter look visually interesting. I could watch Stuart Immonen draw characters like Doctor Voodoo or Agamatto all day — he's got such smooth lines, thanks to the work of inker Wade Von Grawbadger, and the sheer glow that colorist Laura Martin gives Immonen's work gives so much energy to the page, with electric blues and violets and greens. But what I think the big success here is that Immonen and company manage to contextualize the randomness of magic in the Marvel Universe: Yeah, one could get really turned off by the fact that every magician has the perfect tool in any situation in Bendis's hands, but seeing the weird insectoid creature come out of Doctor Voodoo's wand or the atomic-looking energy surrounding the Eye of Agamatto, you get drawn in. Magic doesn't have to always have rules in the script, if we can get our heads around them visually, and in that regard the art team makes this book the success that it is.
Of course, there are some flaws to this book — notably, the two pages that it takes for Bendis to let us know that, nah, Hawkeye isn't actually going to be in the book. (Although I'd argue that if the pages are wasted, at least it was only two wasted pages instead of more.) And those who aren't fans of Bendis's dialogue or loose plots will likely still have a conniption, as last month's cliffhanger is pretty much completely invalidated by nothing more than a "I am telling you I have not." I don't really know where this story is headed, and if you need that sort of cast-iron deliberateness, well, you need to be reading S.H.I.E.L.D. or Secret Warriors or anything else Jonathan Hickman is doing. But if you're looking for some fun for fun's sake that doesn't really take itself all that seriously, New Avengers is shaping up as a real treat.Superior #1
Written by Mark Millar
Art by Leinil Yu, Gerry Alanguilan and Dave McCaig
Lettering by Clayton Cowles
Published by Icon
Review by Jeff Marsick
Remember the Just Imagine line of DC comics almost a decade ago, where Stan Lee riffed on characters in the competition's sandbox? It seems Mr. Millar is tacking along the same conceit with this follow-up to Nemesis, his uber-violent and twisted take on Batman. This time out it's a Miller-verse vision of Captain Marvel and Superman.
Simon Pooni's a teen afflicted with multiple sclerosis, a good kid whose body is failing him ("Some say it's like being buried alive in your own skin."), leaving behind memories of a life more active, more 'normal', in its destructive wake. He's a tough one, though, not afraid to stand up for himself and his pal in the face of bullying, even though wheelchair confined. Then one night a monkey comes (yes, a monkey), gussied in a G3 spacesuit and bearing a gift just for Simon. In the blink of an eye Simon is gone, replaced by summer tentpoler and Hollywood box-office titan, Superior. "Go back home and show me what you can do," Simon-now-Superior is told, and thus his adventure begins.
I like Nemesis. I see what Mr. Millar is shooting for and while I can appreciate the effort, I think the book is a little too gonzo for its own good. Superior, however, is much better (and yes, I would go so far as to say it is ... superior). Is this new ground being tread? Not really. Boy dreams of being free of afflictions, of being something bigger and better than the life sentence he's forced to carry out. Boy gets fulfilled, though not exactly as planned. Be careful what you wish for, land mines ahead. It's got some Prime and Supreme with its Superman and Captain Marvel, but Mr. Millar tones the violence down and invests more in the character this time around, which makes it a more enjoyable read. Simon is likeable, the portrayal of his disability devoid of situational slapstick (which is a groan-inducer in another brand new title just recently hitting shelves), and you're rooting for him to overcome. Throw in Leinil Yu's fabulous action scenes that leap off the page and you've got a book you'll want to read a couple times in a sitting.
It's not Shakespeare, but it's a good start to this series. Anything with simian astronauts — TALKING simian astronauts, in fact — is a keeper in my book, but there lurks the possibility that this series could more, so much more, than people expect. Highly recommended.Spacebound #1
Written by Mike Luoma and Matthew Grant
Art by Meisha and Matthew Grant
Published by Earthbound Comics
Review by George Marston
Spacebound is a sci-fi anthology title that draws from some of the previous work of publisher Earthbound Comics growing staple of talented creators. While the two stories present in this book add up to a mixed bag, there's some definite promise in the pages.
The first story, following title character "Alibi Jones" is basically something of a noir-tinged detective procedural in space. Alibi, an interstellar negotiator is hot off a successful negotiation when he's assigned to a diplomatic mission appearing at a governor's party. There, he encounters an old flame and gets drawn into a mystery surrounding a remote and paradisial colony in the far reaches of space. The art on this story, by Meisha, is top notch. Great storytelling, clear panel construction, and expressive inking all serve to elevate what might have been something of a flat and expected story to become the definite forerunner of this anthology. Writer Mike Luoma has a strong grasp of how a story should be told, and conveys his ideas clearly through the dialogue and plotting. If have one complaint, I wish that I had more knowledge of these characters, as very little personality comes through with the characters. While the story is well told, it almost feels like it could be told with any incidental characters. The story was enough to hold me long enough to get to know these characters over the course of future issues though, so it's not a total detriment.
The second half of this two-part anthology, "Mastorism," falls much flatter to me. Apparently continuing, in print, a webcomic that has "hundreds of pages" available on its website, it's almost impossible to pierce what's going on. Lots of words fall down the page attempting to explain the concept of :"Mastorism," and the apparently super-powered "Mastors," but without the hundreds of previous pages that this story calls back to heavily, it's an exercise in futility to follow the story. It almost feels as though every other page of this story was cut; characters appear without introduction, simply arriving on panel to confront threats that garner the same level of recognition. It's clear that the characters in the story know what's going on, but I'll be damned if they felt obliged to tell me. Matthew Grant's art doesn't exactly help, either. While his character design, and his illustration of said characters is quite good, the backgrounds often feel almost incidental, and the art rarely makes it clear what's happening, or where the story is taking place. It seems like a strange decision to launch an apparently ongoing title with a story that already suffers under the weight of rarely expressed continuity, and only those specifically looking for the continued saga of "Mastorism" will be drawn in.
Overall, Spacebound is a valiant effort in sci-fi from a smaller company, and if the right choices are made in future, the series will pick up steam. Unfortunately, the dross is here in equal measure to the worthy bits. I'd consider "Alibi Jones" a success, and "Mastorism" a pronounced failure, but "Alibi Jones" is strong enough to have gained in me a consistent reader.Vision Machine #1
Written by Greg Pak
Art by R.B. Silva, Alexandre Palomaro, DYM, Jonas Trinidade and Java Tartaglia
Lettering by Charles Pritchett
Published by the Ford Foundation and Pak Man Productions
Review by David Pepose
Even though Greg Pak's name is on this book, I wouldn't group Vision Machine as the sort of slam-bam epics that he has on his Marvel books, like with Chaos War or Incredible Hulks. Even though there's a caped crusader in the background on the cover, this book is more of a speculative future, a "What If?" tale about human society, a story about privacy and art told by a professional filmmaker.
With that all aside, of course the main thrust to this book is the headliner himself, Greg Pak. I think he cheats the audience a little bit by playing up the superhero concept known as "The Visionary" — that said, he knows what'll get people reading, and that is typically capes — but he quickly ditches that red herring and gets back to his true passion: filmmaking. Instead of digging into the details and nitty-gritty of how movies get made, Pak instead taps into the creative spirit, the primal urge to make stories and tell them to a wide audience — and then hits it with a strong dose of wish-fulfillment.
It's when Pak introduces his mythical Vision Machine — a set of ultra-intuitive filmmaking glasses called the iEye — that the book becomes a bit more didactic, waxing utopian while foreshadowing some worse things to come. Some of Pak's ideas, like having a donation jar for what is essentially YouTube TV producers, is one that I'm surprised doesn't exist already — other things, like the government ignoring copyright concerns, feel a little more hand-waved. But the thing that I think Vision Machine excels in is that Pak is using his imagination not just to seed out personal arcs, but to really get a sense of what would the world look like if those boundaries between artist and "civilian" were eliminated — and how could it go wrong?
Meanwhile, seeing R.B. Silva on this book sets an interesting visual tone, considering Silva is white-hot from his first chapter on Jimmy Olsen. Seeing the plethora of inkers on Silva's work, the style seems to evoke artists ranging from Barry Kitson to Joe Eisma — sometimes on the same page. That said, the nature of this enterprise — the fact that anyone can create any sort of story, as long as they can imagine it — also gives Silva a lot of room to play with, whether he's drawing dragons or superheroes or idyllic forests filled with happy iEye customers.
Yet this book is missing some ingredients that I think would take it from a learning experience to something a little more intuitive, something that readers would really take to heart more than an intellectual exercise. I'd say the big issue of this book is that there's no one protagonist to really focus on, yet — yes, there's the three young filmmakers who have very different paths, but there isn't a whole lot of personal stakes to these people yet, outside of the faceless "greater society" that the iEye might negatively impact. And I think the lack of personal conflict keeps the book from firing on all cylinders — it's certainly Pak's universe to play with, but outside of "the government could be watching," I'm not getting a sense of tension yet.
Still, a lot of those issues come from the perceived format, rather than the more didactic platform that Greg Pak is attaining here. Books like Vision Machine oftentimes are more concerned about the "what if" rather than the individual players involved — it's a parable about security versus privacy coated with fiction. Now that the first issue set-up is complete, if Pak can keep digging into his characters as well as the consequences to his theoretical device, this story might go from telling you of the pros and cons of the iEye to selling you on it.MAD's Greatest Artists: Sergio Aragones
Art by Sergio Aragones
Published by Running Press
Reviewed by Tim Janson
Cartoonist Sergio Aragones, often referred to as the "World's Fastest Cartoonist" has been a mainstay in MAD Magazine for nearly fifty years. He's contributed to every issue of the magazine since 1963, except one…when his work for an issue was lost by the post office. In those nearly 50 years Aragones has contributed some 15,000 cartoons, many of which are his famous "marginals". These are the little cartoons that appear within the mag's margins.
The best of Sergio's five decades of work is collected in this beautiful, 272 page hardcover book. His wild cartoons, filled with sight gags and never requiring word balloons, is some of the most hilarious work ever seen in MAD or any other magazine for that matter. The book presents his work by decade with many of his greatest strips and yes, dozens of the great marginal cartoons as well.
Sergio's work is timeless even when dealing with topical subjects such as his glorious remembrance of Woodstock. This was a two page spread with Sergio drawing literally hundreds of characters and accompanied by a poem written by Frank Jacobs, a MAD writer who has contributed even longer than Aragones, since 1957!!! You can literally spend hours looking at this meticulously crafted cartoon and you should…Aragones has each character doing something different. Even with his speed I can't imagine how long this piece took to draw. He would do similar two-page spreads through the years like "A Peek behind the Scenes at a Comic Book Convention", a look at a shopping mall at Christmas Time, and Behind the Scenes at a Terrorist Training Camp
Occasionally, even in the early days, Sergio got to work in color as he did with his strip "The Vampire". Here a hungry vamp bites a barefoot hippie wearing a peace sign medallion and gets a hypnotic high from his blood. One of his most clever, reoccurring stripes was "The Shadow Knows". These strips featured characters with shadows that showed what the character was truly thinking or imagining. Such as the fat woman's shadow strangling the shadow of her much skinnier friend while they are dining at a restaurant. Sergio also lampooned what was hot in pop culture through the years such as his look at Star Wars, Disney World, The WWE, Spider-Man, and Harry Potter.
Sergio has remained popular all these years because he is able to take on any modern topic…His strips in recent years have tackled airport security, cell phones, illegal immigration, dieting, video games, and religion. Few topics have managed to elude the biting wit of Sergio Aragones. If you're a MAD magazine fan you have to have this book. If you've never read MAD you need this book even more as you don't know what you've been missing out on all these years.
Pellet reviews!
Tiny Titans/Little Archie and His Pals #1 (Published by DC Comics; Review by Amanda McDonald): I'll bet you didn't know that the Archie gang and the Tiny Titans actually live in the same city. While there is no mention of Riverdale in the DCU, I can't say I mind this revelation one bit! When Robin and Archie's clothes get mixed up at the dry cleaners, confusion ensues as they are mistaken for each other. The highlight of this issue has to be the introduction of Riverdale teacher, Mrs. Grundy. Could it be...? No, that would just be... ridiculous. Did someone say ridiculous? We're talking about a book created by Art Baltazar and Franco. OF COURSE Mrs. Grundy has a very ... special ... significant other. With the consistently adorable art style of Art Baltazar, and the zany ideas of Franco — this book is sure to appeal to your kids that can't get enough of the regular TT series.
Executive Assistant Iris #6 (Published by Aspen Comics; Review by George Marston): It's hard to jump in on any title when you're already six issues in, especially one that doesn't have the recognition of an established character, so it's to Executive Assistant Iris's credit that it's concepts are established organically enough for me to jump in blind and understand what's going on. Unfortunately, the book fails to grip me, or make me want to delve into its first five issues. It's not that the book is poorly written or drawn; on the contrary, the art is far less "cheesecakey" than I expected, and the characters are expressive. If I have any complaint about the writing, it's that the dialogue is a little generic and plodding. No, the real culprit behind my disinterest is that the concept, while interesting when juxtaposed with the "Executive Assistant" title, is hardly groundbreaking or innovative, and moments that feel, even to a novice reader, like they should carry some weight tend to soar by at the mercy of the page count. Overall, while I can't decry this title, I also wouldn't recommend it off hand.What was your favorite comic of the week?


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Is WNBA Taking A Gamble With New York Liberty, Foxwoods Casino Deal?
June 2, 2010: The New York Liberty have become the fourth WNBA team to sign a jersery-front deal, aligning with Foxwoods Resort Casino that will also include marketing and community efforts. Of greater historic importance, the union marks the first time a casino has placed its name on a U.S. pro sports jersey.
Financial terms of the multi-year deal were not disclosed. The Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation owns and operates Foxwoods Resort Casino,
The WNBA already has entered into the once forbidden territory of gambling via its Connecticut Sun, which is owned by Mohegan Sun resort and casino and plays its home games at Mohegan Sun Arena., which also will host the WNBA All-Star Game July 10. In 2007, the NBA played its All-Star Game in Las Vegas.
The other WNBA teams with jersey-front sponsors are the Los Angeles Sparks (Farmers Insurance), Phoenix Mercury (Lifelock) and Seattle Storm (Microsoft's Bing).
The Liberty will debut its new uniforms when the team plays Connecticut on June 4.
The Foxwoods name and logo will appear on the front of the Liberty's home and road jerseys as well as shooting shirts for all games. Brand integration will also include extensive presence at Madison Square Garden during Liberty home games with courtside LED signage, logo presence on-court, a feature on GardenVision, Foxwoods branded on-court contests and signage on The Garden's outdoor marquees. The Liberty and Foxwoods said they also would join together to host a number of community events each season.
"The New York Liberty has a passionate fan base in the world's largest media market, and we are thrilled by the opportunity this partnership presents to promote our brand to WNBA fans, the team's loyal followers and the New York Metropolitan area at large," Robert Victoria, CMO for Mashantucket Pequot Gaming Enterprises, said in a statement. "Foxwoods always strives to align itself with other best-in-class industry leaders, and we're confident we've done just that with this partnership of the Liberty and its home venue, the legendary Madison Square Garden."
According to Scott O'Neil, president, MSG Sports, "This partnership between two premium brands and industry leaders is a perfect match, bringing together one of the world's largest resort casinos and 'The World's Most Famous Arena.' This innovative new partnership provides Foxwoods with a powerful platform that connects an entertainment destination with our incredibly loyal and passionate Liberty fans and New York."
Microsoft Signs WNBA Deal To Put Bing Logo On Seattle Storm Jerseys
Farmers Insurance Signs Jersey-Front Deal With WNBA's Los Angeles Sparks


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Frank Rich speaketh: Is Hillary Clinton the New Old Al Gore?
This pretty much sums up my thinking about Hillary, although of course Frank Rich always says it better than I think it.
This pretty much sums up my thinking about Hillary, although of course Frank Rich always says it better than I think it.
Posted by Charles at Sunday, October 14, 2007 0 critiques Links to this post
Recently I came across a pretty aggravating thread trashing me for my review of Bioshock. It was remarkable both because it was a collection of furious diatribes against me in spite of my generally glowing review and because it was full of nonsense, include a statement that I just took over the column from a guy who has never written it.
It annoyed me enough that I decided to register for the forum so I could reply to that thread, but it seems new members have to be okayed by a moderator who has apparently gone AWOL, since it's been a couple of weeks and I'm still not able to post. So just for the record I'm putting my reply here. I'd been meaning to blog at some point in more detail about the problems with Bioshock's story anyway; it drives me crazy how critics keep acclaiming the game's storytelling, which is really quite weak.
Some fanboy also recently graffitied my wikipedia entry; probably someone mad that I didn't declare Halo 3 the greatest game in the history of the universe.
Here's the reply I was going to post to quartertothree [WARNING: BIOSHOCK SPOILERS BELOW].
Just came across this thread. It's fine that you disagree with me, I disagree with critics all the time. Although I don't usually rant and rave about people who positively review something I like because I disagree with a couple of points. (The last thing I felt like ranting about was the San Francisco movie critic who said "Click!" was almost perfect; that's just insane.) But there are a lot of things said about me in this thread that simply are untrue, so I wanted to respond.
First off, I played BioShock all the way through, down to the very sweet final cut scene where you grow old and all the little girls love you. I saved almost all the little sisters and only killed one just to see what it was like, but restarted from a save point after that so I wouldn't sully my good guy status (I like playing good guys in games, it's just a preference).
I don't know why, since I repeatedly talked about how great the game was, you would assume I hadn't played it. Why would I not play a brilliant game? Is it really impossible to believe someone could play the same game as you and disagree with your take on it?
Second, Seth Schiesel never wrote the game theory column, except for a couple of columns when the Times was auditioning new game columnists. I have been writing the column for years and years. Seth writes articles on gaming but not, for the Times, reviews (with one or two exceptions). But I imagine it's more fun for some of you to read Seth's articles because, since they are reporting rather than reviewing, they don't say anything critical about a game that could upset you.
What I write are reviews, in spite of what one poster said. This poster also mentioned my review of Daikatana, which is odd since I never reviewed Daikatana for the Times, although I did briefly pan it for some long-forgotten publication that I'm sure he never read.
The reason I write about more than one game in a review is because that's what the Times wants from me (it started when they changed the column from weekly to biweekly and decided they didn't want to lessen the number of games reviewed). Rather than trying to find two thematically similar games, I try to find the games I feel most deserve attention and then write a transition between them. People have complained about this before, but I have actually grown to like the approach. Anyway, there are already so many good games I don't have space for that I would hate to leave out any more than I already have to.
Now as for the Art Deco thing, people seem to be making the assumption that I believe all the buildings should have been rebuilt to reflect modern architecture. Yes, that would be a stupid point, but it's certainly not one I was making. Keep in mind that Art Deco doesn't just mean the shell of the buildings. It means all the furnishings, fixtures, posters and ads on the walls. I don't think it's unreasonable to suggest that it's odd that a society would stay that aesthetically static for so long; it would suggest that there is not a single creative person trying out new ideas. But it was a pretty brief comment so I don't know why there's such a focus on it. I love Art Deco, it's my favorite architectural style and I think it's a tragedy that when it went out of fashion many of those buildings were destroyed because people considered them tacky. But I don't think it's wrong to point out that it is highly unusual for a city to be so creatively stagnant.
I did not, as a couple of people pointed out, write the article's headline, and I was surprised that was what the editors focused on, but I am okay with their choice. Since my main concern was telling people what a great game BioShock was, I did not spend much time on the faults with the story, but here's something I wrote to someone who emailed me when the game came out:
Because of a lack of space I didn't get to critique the narrative structure of BioShock as much as I would have liked. I actually find the seemingly universal ecstasy over the story puzzling. The game starts strong, but once it gets started it really just relies on that momentum. Half-Life had an interesting twist (discovering the army was trying to kill you) and the intriguing ongoing mystery of the guy in the suit. Max Payne started off with a cool opener, but it also had cool dream sequences to keep up that sense that this was a game that was really trying. I don't feel BioShock made the same effort to keep the story moving. BioShock has a completely expected twist and a wandering plot; a big chunk of the game is simply killing people for some guy; that's not a story that moves forward, that's a story that wanders off into the alley and does some shit and then wanders back into the main plot.
BioShock is like Myst; the only real story is the back story. I don't say that's terrible, but I really don't think it's an especially brilliant approach either. To me it seems like the praise for the story has more to do with how poorly most action games tell stories than it does with the quality of BioShock's own narrative.
I was also disappointed when someone told me that even if you kill all the Little Sisters, they still save you at that point in the game where you are lead to safety by them. To me, that seems lazy; if I play the game as a bad guy, I expect the story to change as a result. I don't just want a different final cut scene. (If the guy who told me that is wrong, and the little girls don't save you if you kill them all, then I apologize for this criticism.)
Fortunately it's easy to find critics that will give every popular game a rating of 100, so it should be pretty easy to avoid nasty people like me who dare to offer minor criticisms of a game in their rave review of it.
I thank the couple of people who pointed out themselves some of the things I have just pointed out. I salute your thoughtful consideration.
Posted by Charles at Friday, October 12, 2007 1 critiques Links to this post
Labels: entertainment, video games


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Nancy Reagan endorses Romney's bid for president
Los Angeles – Former first lady Nancy Reagan served lemonade and cookies to Mitt Romney and his wife and offered the Republican presidential nominee something extra -- her endorsement.
The widow of President Ronald Reagan says she is firmly behind Romney. And she says that her "Ronnie" would have liked Romney's business background and what she calls his "strong principles."
Romney and his wife, Ann, visited Mrs. Reagan at her Los Angeles home on Thursday. The Republican presidential candidate has been campaigning and raising money on the West Coast this week.
In a statement issued after the Romneys' visit, Mrs. Reagan said she believes that Romney has the experience and leadership skills that, in her words, "our country so desperately needs."


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Mikes's Auto Service | 828-253-5937
Family-owned and operated since 1893...
Mike & Robin Harkleroad, along with their family and friends, have been providing personalized automobile service to Asheville and its surrounding areas for over 25 years. We pride ourselves on continuing the tradition of one-on-one, homegrown interaction that all too often gets lost in today's hustle and bustle.
When Mike was eighteen, taking apart his '67 Chevy in the driveway, he realized that he was hooked. He worked for ten years under master auto technicians, learning the trade on everything from Fords to Fiats. After earning his stripes, he struck out on his own. Since that first tiny shop, we have grown to more than three times our original size, with eight full-sized bays, four full-time technicians, and the best tools and technology. We are a time-tested, trusted part of the Asheville business community.
But what really tells the story are our customers. We thrive because of the life-long, personal relationships we form with the good folks who walk through our doors. Those original friends who stopped by when we first opened came back again and again. Nothing makes us happier than seeing our customer's smiling faces, and knowing that we've served their parents and grandparents before them.
Mike's Auto Service: We're here to get you there!


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About KRYSTYNA :
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About HSIU :
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About TONETTE :
"Hey guys, let me introduce myself real quickright here.
I'm Tracie and I'm 29 years old. Because of my work as a cocktail waitress in a couple of bars roundn here, I don't get to go out as much as I'd like.
And yeah because of this, my sexual life has come to a full stop. And because I don't like to have sex with random strangers, I'm trying this."