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Title: Just got my grades...
Posted: December 17, 2008 (05:59 PM)
And they're all As! Aren't I awesome? =D
This is actually surprising because I was expecting Bs in Spanish and Anthropology, but... managed to get As in both somehow. I thought they would be A-s at most (which, hilariously, actually do affect GPA in a minor way).
Somehow I pulled a 96% on that anthropology exam even though a lot of the multiple choice was confusing, I only knew half of the ID terms (so had to BS one), and wasn't as prepared for the essay as I wanted to be.
I'm really glad that's over now. Hopefully I won't be so unsure of myself ever again. >_> Though I'll guarantee anyone who knows me will know this probably won't be the case. Haha.
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Title: Ugggh.... Finals
Posted: December 11, 2008 (04:51 PM)
This semester's probably the toughest I've had them... since they're actually in all five of my lasses this time.
Well, the first two (on Monday and Tuesday) were easy... but I just took two more today,within two hours of each other, used above or almost the whole time given (two hours), and were some of the toughest ones yet. These were Theology in the morning, which involved a lot of writing.... and Spanish in the afternoon, which involved a lot of brain cramps. Now I just feel like rolling over and dying. I don't want to do anything except relax, but I can't because I have to study for Saturday's anthropology final, which promises to be the toughest one yet... especially since I haven't absorbed nearly as much material as I would have liked....
At least I think I did well on the ones so far... except the Spanish one that is.... Odd considering I used to be ace in Spanish, but maybe I'm really not anymore. Or at least I don't feel like it.
Title: Black ice is evil...
Posted: December 04, 2008 (09:33 PM)
You can't see it unless you're endowed with eagle-eye vision or something, and if you have bad vision as it there's no chance of that. So on your way to breakfast, you conspicuously fall on that ice, bruising your hip/thigh and pulling the muscle. In the middle of the street, in front of a couple of strangers who were gracious enough to ask how you are, though you stil feel embarrassed.
That you're paranoid about injuring yourself in some severe way - ice is great for making joints like knees bend the wrong way - doesn't help any. Neither does the fact that you're also deathly afraid of getting run over as you endure and pick yourself up from he misfortune, amplified by the ironic fact that even though the street is rarely used, there's almost always a car coming right as you're crossing. So when all is said and done, you're significantly rattled, scared, upset, and slightly angry, emotions that carry with you the entire day.
And as a result, you get super-offended beyond normal reason when your friends kid around about you. And then you wonder why you let such a silly thing as slipping on the ice effectively ruin what could have been an otherwise perfectly fine day.
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Title: Well, I think I'm screwed.
Posted: November 26, 2008 (01:35 PM)
As far as this group project is concerned...
We have to do a project on an immmigrant community in the city... Our group chose Jamaica. Each of the five of us has to go to a specific site that might be important to that culture (i.e. restaraunts, cultural centers, religious centers, media, etc.), and ask people about their experience there and stuff.
Well, I've decided to be the miscellaneous one, as in, going to a place that isn't a requirement. Well, first I chose a professional organization, but their locatioin is too out of the way. I might call them and see if they have a representative closer to here or something, though...
I think the soccer club I tried looking at was turned into a law office or something, because I called them yesterday and the voicemil thing sounded like "lawyers", but it was really hard to tell. I also don't have a location for that place, so I can't check it out physically.
There's apparently a cricket club near here, too... (LOL), but I went there, where the address was, and it turned out to be a house. So... Now I'm stuck. The last thng I can possiby do is look into Reggae, but I tried googling it yesterday and it turned up nothing specific, certainly no organization or anything.
And the best part is it's all due next Friday. And I'm going home in an hour. Yay!
Title: Man, next semester's going to be rough.
Posted: November 20, 2008 (12:48 PM)
Being a sophomore, I couldn't register for all the classes I wanted.... but... I realized that hopefully I'll be able to take them next year, and instead replaced them with back ups or other classes that fill other requirements.
Here's my schedule:
Monday, Wednesday and Friday are easy-ish....
9:20-10:10 Statistics 103
Thankfully, this is the one class that's not a replacement for something else.
10:25-11:15: Philosophy of Science
I'm going to hate this class. I've just been informed that it can't count for both philosophy AND science, which would've been nice because neither of those subjects interest me. I'm making this count for my science, though, since I need two and I already took Psych 101 last semester which counted towards it. I was planning on taking this class sometime in the future, but I have to take it now because the awesome Philosophy classes that fill three requirements have already been taken.
Tuesdays and Thursdays are going to be a bitch, especially Thursdays, though. I'll literally have no free time, at all. Between classes will be for eating and charging my computer.
10:00-11:15 Spanish 104
Oh, yeah. This is another class I'd wanted to take... but i'd've liked it on a MWF, since that's ideally how I like my Spanish classes. Unfortunately, the teacher I want isn't teaching on those days next semester.
1:00-2:15 Introduction to Islam
Yeah... I'm in a Catholic university - I'm required to take to theology classes. Fortunately, they can be on anything. I'm taking one on religions of Japan right now, and I figured I may as well knock the last one out, too. Besides, both crosslist with my international studies major, which is nice. Hopefully the class will be interesting.
Thursday: 4:15-6:45 The History of England to 1485
It's an odyssey! I've only ever taken a 2½ hour-long class like this once before. It was for linguistics and it was challenging. Anyway, this was literally the only British history class left open. Which is fine, I guess, since all the other ones are more modern. And this way I fill my 300 level pre-European history course. Still, I would've preferred a more forgiving time... Eating will be hard since the dining halls close around 7. But I did it last semester, so I'll probably manage.
Granted, last time I did it, the majority of the semester wasn't winter.... but this was literally the last section that was open. ...this is going to be fun.
We better talk about Hadrian's Wall. And Beowulf. Or else.
Fortunately, most of these are classes I'm interested in. Except for the statistics and philosophy, I should have fun. I predict the most difficulty will come from the philosophy and theology classes.
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Title: It snowed....
Posted: November 17, 2008 (06:51 PM)
enough to lightly layer everything.... In November. It was also snowing while partly sunny... I wonder if it's possible to have rainbows during snow. Gotta love Chicago.
In other news, my back just flared up despite the preventative painkillers I took earlier.... It hurts a lot, to say the least.
Title: My list of things to do this weekend
Posted: November 13, 2008 (06:20 PM)
1) Read 150 pages in a novel for my English class by Tuesday
2) Read 30-60 pages for Theology
3) Read the rest of what I have for Anthropology if I don't finish it today
4) Get started on this stupid group project for anthropology
5) Get caught up in history... I still need to read 100 pages there.
6) Write a 2-page reflection paper on the novel for English by Thursday
7) Map the courses I need to take next semester
8) Write a review
9) Get over this damn cold so I can actually do all this work
10) Convince myself that doing all this work on the weekend is worth it in the first place
11) Failing #10, kill myself (not literally, of course)
EDIT: ...and a history practice essay for the fnal by Friday...
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Title: So after nearly a week of waiting...
Posted: November 03, 2008 (03:47 PM)
I finally got my absentee ballot in the mail. My right to complain about the government for the next four years has been secured.
To celebrate, here's a song:
XD Isn't it adorable?
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Title: Man, I'm such a wimp.
Posted: November 02, 2008 (02:02 PM)
I ran this 5km run/walk thing for hunger this morning, and I found out I could barely run it at all. I swear, even though I stretched and everything, I could barely run maybe 300 feet before my legs seized up and my chest started aching. I'm not sure why this happened. I mean, I know I don't have any endurance for running whatsoever, but I've never been that bad before. I guess it could have been a combination of it being early in the morning, me not eating anything beforehand, and me still carrying this annoying dry cough from when I was "sick" a few weeks ago.
Oh, well, I guess. I just ended up trying to power walk most of the way, intermittently trying to jog a bit to stay ahead of some people. I finished in like 48 minutes, which is good for me, I think. I also didn't finish last, which was my entire goal in the first place.
Then I discovered that we only really probably ran about 4.19km, so that's kind of depressing. Not even three miles.
Somehow I managed to fall, too. It was hilarious. There was this part where we had to run through some grass for a short distance, but there was this ridge between the grass and the pavement, and I was like "...I'm going to trip on this, aren't I?" even though I was trying not to. And guess what? I did! I fell slow-mo style and kind of scraped my hands a little, muttered "This is lame" and got back up again. XD
After finishing, I ate breakfast with two of my friends (who also ran it), then crashed for 2 hours. Which is fantastic because I have a paper to write.
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Title: Uh... Is this a problem?
Posted: October 29, 2008 (03:33 PM)
HG attracts some crazy spammers... XD
The thing seems to appear mostly on newer accounts... under the "My Forum Activity" section, which is weird because blog forums aren't even functional anymore. If you click the links, it takes you nowhere - just typical "can't locate page" stuff. (Don't get any ideas about me, people; I only clickedd them to test my theory that they weren't real in the first place).
I've no idea why this is happening in some people's blogs... These same "topics" can be found in spaceworlder's blog, too. I remember him pointing out a similar "ad".
This is all very puzzling, but extremely amusing, too. I have the feeling someone somewhere is laughing their ass off. I just hope it's just an innocent prank/glitch in the system and nothing that could be potentially harmful.
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Title: o.O I had a really strange dream....
Posted: October 22, 2008 (11:54 AM)
About zombies. And it had people I knew in it...
I dreamt I was at home in my room when suddenly a zombie appeared out of nowhere. It kind of reminded me of a mix between those typical RE2 zombies and the more intelligent non-zombies from RE4. I dunno. Anyway, I remember it suddenly attacking me... it's claws or whatever ripped a gash in my forehead, then tore another gash in my lower abdominal area. The injuries, while serious, for some reason didn't affect me terribly at that point, so I remember dashing out of the room in a fit of fright, heading downstairs into the living room where my parents were watching TV. There was a second zombie down here, too... Afraid, I looked at my parents and either one of them or my brother (who may have been in the near-adjacent kitchen) told me to run back upstairs and kill the one in there... and handed me a cleaver.
I did so, afraid that my parents and/or brother would be killed in the process of slaying this second one.
Back in my room, I tried cleaving the zombie's head in two, but I was afraid for some reason... as if this zombie were someone I knew and I didn't have the power to hurt it. (Hell, it might've been EmP... XD) But as it kept attacking me, or trying to, I managed to slice into its skull, but didn't penetrate the brain. I remember still holding back... because even though it was mercilessly trying to kill me, the intense repulsive idea of killing someone kept me from finishing it off. Eventually I gathered the courage to finish it off, this time following the path of the last cut and effectively slicing its brain in half.
This was all very bloody, by the way.
I then ran (well, shuffled, since I was injured... Ironically, the only injuries I had attained were from that first initial assault). Reaching the bottom of the stairs, I found my parents in the living room still watching TV or something. The zombie that was there before was now dead on the floor. But I remember being afraid that my stepdad was a zombie... I don't know why he and he alone... since he (none of them) didn't appear to have any injuries. Either way, I told them that we needed to go to the hospital, because my head and stomach were bleeding and I was afraid that if I didn't get treated soon, I would either die or turn into a zombie. My stepdad then told me that we were going to the hospital and I got in his truck and we drove away.
Then the dream skipped ahead several hours to this 5km run/walk thing I'm going to be run/walking on the 2nd of November. We never did go to the hospital, but my head was no longer bleeding... But there was bone sticking out, anyway, and it throbbed like a mother. I think at this point of the dream, my abdomen was completely forgotten.
The run itself involved a trek around this one path... several laps. The path was rocky and steep and reminded me of something out of RE4. I remember there were two paths we could take... One, the announcer (who I think was Jason), was saying that the most scenic path was to the right, but it was also more dangerous. It was surrounded by forest and the zombies were everywhere in that area. The left path was safer but more redundant. Naturally, I ran the left path. As I ran the second (of three, I think) laps, I passed one of my friends (who's actually going to run it), who was leading (he was on his third), and he told me something I can't remember. I then remember passing my stepdad at some point.. and two zombies came out of the trees to the right. They must have wandered over to us from the right path. I ran past them as they swung at us, but I didn't get injured.
Then the dream skipped again and I remember being on the subway trying to find my way to the hospital. I then heard this voice on the PA or in my head telling me to go to Union Station, which was the opposite way I was going. I think... for some reason, I was going to the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana. I dunno; it doesn't matter. Either way, the train suddenly switched directions and started going in reverse... The person on the PA/in my head (who I think was Felix) was telling me some stuff I can't remember. The whole time on the train I remember feeling kind of sick... with my head throbbing (the bone was still visible...) and wondering all the while whether I would turn into a zombie or see my family again.
At that point I woke up feeling slightly afraid and remember nothing else. Man, this was a bizarre dream.
Title: To Metal Gear Solid (non)fans
Posted: October 17, 2008 (08:33 PM)
This is one of the funniest parodies I've ever seen. A warning, though: it probably won't be as funny if you haven't played through the game in its entirety (or at least half of the first disk). It's also riddled with spoilers.
Metal Gear Awesome Part 1
Metal Gear Awesome Part 2
I'd embed them from youtube, but they're unsynched there, and thus would ruin the humor to some degree. Plus I think only the first part's on youtube.
These are still hilarious, though, and if you haven't seen them, you must watch them. Even if you hate the game.
Now I'll sit back and watch while everyone lets me know how popular this thing is and how what a loser I am for not knowing about it sooner. >_> in my defense, I've known about it for at least half a year but only got to watching it a few days ago. <_<
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Title: The Bruise. (With Pics!)
Posted: October 09, 2008 (10:22 PM)
Well, just one pic.
It's not as bad as I thought it was now. Used to look uglier a few days ago.... and I acquired it like a week ago Tuesday. But man, this is the nastiest bruise I've eever had in my life. =D
And yes, I'm sure any one of you can top this, but to be fair, I almost never injure myself. >_>
Title: Man, check out this sweet bruise I have
Posted: October 08, 2008 (02:58 PM)
...oh, right. I don't have a camera. Guess I'll just describe it, then.
I got it like a week ago, but it's still as prominent as ever. Hell, it probably looks even worse than it did that long ago. It just doesn't hurt as much.
It's all purple and blue and yellow and green and pinkish-red and every other color of the rainbow, sort of! It's also very large. I'm very proud of it.
God I wish I had a camera.
Title: I'm bored.
Posted: September 30, 2008 (01:02 PM)
Amuse me.
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Title: Oh, Fall Break... You will be my salvation!
Posted: September 22, 2008 (12:05 PM)
Things are really, really, really, really, really busy at school right now... I have an English paper due Thursday, a reflection paper (for the same class, even) due next week, a commodity essay due in Anthropology due on the 3rd, and a mountain of reading in between.
On top of that, I have to write a response paper for Anthropology due Friday for this lecture I plan on going to tomorrow... It's technically optional, but writing it on this one counts as two papers. We have to write five total. I already have two, so it'd lighten my load considerably. Also, on the 2nd, I have to go to the Art Museum to look at Japanese artwork/sculptures for my theology class... Then I need to right a response paper to that discussing my reaction and the significance of the art to Japanese religion.. That's due on the 14th...
Thank God for Fall Break. I get two days off in October - the 6th and 7th. Once that its, things should clear up... The only bad thing is I'll have that theology paper due a week later (though I plan on writing that over break anyway), and a midterm in that class about a week later, too. And, of course, the ever-present mountain of reading.
Still, should be better... God I hope it gets better.
Suffice to say, I doubt I'll be turning any reviews out any time soon. So, much as I want to, I doubt I'll be able to make drella's contest. Sorry; I really wanted to, but I really am too busy right now.
Hopefully I'll be more available for the next tourney, whenever that is.
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Title: Ooh... Saddle sore. >_<
Posted: September 20, 2008 (04:25 PM)
Or I will be... tomorrow...
I just went horse-back riding today, and it only cost $2! =D It was only an hour of actual riding, but I've only ever ridden a horse like one other time in my life, and that left me bruised, too.
It was really fun, though. I think I got the smallest horse out of the group, haha, but that's fine because I had difficulty getting on in the first place. >_>
My horse was a stubborn oaf. She didn't listen to me when I told her to trot (which we had to do several times as part of the ride and to catch up on occasion). I think most of that was just me, though. I'm not very strong with animals, and even when I did try to kick her hard, it still wasn't very strong. That's fine, too, though, because trotting was painful.
There were some amazing things that happened there, too. One involved my cell phone going off halfway through. Somehow I found the courage to answer it without fearing I'll fall off (I gots skillz). Then I was greeted with an automatic voice message rambling in Spanish. Like, that was the most random thing ever. How did a Spanish telemarketer get my phone number, anyway?
The horse the guy behind me was riding sort of fell, too, when trying to trot at one point... It was a little scary. He didn't fall off, though.
I almost fell off at one point because we were trotting, and in the effort to make my horse stay trotting (she liked to slow down every fifteen seconds), I had to keep kicking her, and my foot fell out of the stirrup.
My stomach cramped up halfway through, too. Which was interesting. I think I was thirsty. But trying to stretch that out while riding a horse was kind of difficult. It soon passed.
I heard tale of one horse kicking another in the face as the latter tried pulling ahead... Apparently, even though the attacker had stopped and wasn't doing anything, she didn't like being pulled up on. Both horses are fine.
When we got back, I swear I thought I couldn't feel my legs. I had to get help getting off, not just because I couldn't feel them, but also because I was afraid I'd fall... getting off the horse.
Man, I'm such a girl. >_>
It was fun, though... But I know I'm going to regret going out today... I haven't gotten anything done with my paper since I wrote the thesis for it a week ago. I had set today aside for paper writing. Now there's only like 7-9 hours left. >_> Still, I think it was totally worth it. Especially since I'll probably never ride a horse again. Or if I do, it'll be years from now... like it was last time.
Besides, I did get a lot of other work done yesterday; I needed a break. >_>
Now for a nap.
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Title: Good luck?
Posted: September 15, 2008 (06:50 PM)
I think I got the bayleaf in my soup today. I'm not sure because I've never actually seen a bayleaf, but I heard if you get it in your soup, it's good luck. Plus I think it's like the only actual leaf they'd put in your soup.
I also heard one about a year ago, where if the very first thing you say on the first day of the month is "White Rabbit", you'll have good luck that whole month. I've never done it; I always forget.
But really, I guess it's all just superstition anyway, but it's still fun to try these things to see if they'll actually work.
Title: Ugh. I hate my school sometimes....
Posted: September 07, 2008 (08:57 PM)
I swear, they rip you off your goddamn money... but don't even make it worth it.
You have to pay a fucking $1.25 just to wash your bloody laundry, and another $1 just to dry it. But that's not the best part. Oh, no. The best part is knowing damn well that two of the only three washing machines in the basement are broken down and that you'll have to wait hours just to wash your damn clothes.
And get this, too. This residence hall I'm in now costs at least $1000 more than the one I was in last year, there are at least twice as many people here, and there's one less washer/drier to do your bloody laundry in! What the hell?
Put on top of that the shoddy elevator which might break down any minute, the constantly breaking down escalators at the main building where most of the classes are held, and the bullshit amount you have to pay for a meal plan (~$3000 in most cases), for food that isn't even all that great.... Ugh. It's just a mess.
I swear, if I didn't think I were getting a good education, or I didn't have that scholarshihp, or if the people around here in general weren't helpful and nice, I'd leave.
God. They rip us out of 40 grand a year... the least they could is maintain their bloody facilities!
(Edit: Sorry for all the swearing... but God I get angry sometimes....)
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Title: LOL HG troll
Posted: September 02, 2008 (05:12 PM)
Knowing staff is fun. Look what turned up in the review queue this morning...
Someone actually wrote this:
Tagline: great game
review: awsome, very creative.
Now isn't this a fabulous waste of time? Seriouslly, no one should come here and expect that to be accepted. So there can be no other explanation. The review author is a troll.
But hey. Least he didn't write this:
LOL DIS GR8 G4M kthxbai
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Title: Joining the bandwagon: I think I earned it. I guess
Posted: August 30, 2008 (01:02 AM)
I'm not an egotist like some of you around here, but I strangely feel the need to chronicle my achievements thus far.... like everyone else likes to do. I'm really nothing special, and my hits aren't very impressive, but I feel like sharing anyway. Maybe I'm bored. Maybe I want to fill another blog post. Or maybe I just want everyone to know how I feel about the stuff I turn out. Either way you think of it, here it is.
Xena: Warrior Princess (PS) August 23, 2006
Hits: 550
This is the first review I've ever written, and as such, it sucks. Haha. At the prompting of EmP, who coaxed me into writing the thing in the first place, I entered it into the Alphas for that year... where it graced the bottom of the pack just above the no-shows and maybe one or two others. Not my proudest achievement, to say the least, so I'm glad other, far-superior reviews have passed it in the hit counter.
Darkstone (PS) January 04, 2007
Hits: 289
Darkstone is a game that's fun for a while but then gets extremely aggravating. Its promises of level variation prove false a few lands in, and a series of other faults make this game a bit disappointing. The review itself is also disappointing, not surprising since it's my second ever. I think it won me second-to-last in EmP's Challange tourney for that year, a place I would occupy for quite a while. That this placed second in RotW (if what EmP had told me in e-mail was true, which I'm sure it was) astounds me greatly. There must've been a considerable lack of entries for that week or something.
Half-LIfe (PC) November 04, 2007
Hits: 196
I love it when my dates line up like that. Anyway, Half-Life is one of my favorite games ever, or at least FPS's, so I'm glad I was able to review it. I wish EmP would finish it, too. He really needs to just look at a FAQ or something for that Rail level. Honestly, it's not as long as it seems, and afterward, you never have to deal with a boring sequence like that again.
I entered this for the FPS tourney, a contest I honestly hope gets held again because it was cool. The review disappointed me in the standings, but I still like it. Mostly the remarks against it fell in line with "too fanficky", so it really doesn't bother me (anymore). I liked that review when I wrote it, and still do, and I still don't see the big deal with "fanficky-ness" in reviews is, anyway, though I'll admit that perhaps not everything I used in there was necessary. Either way, I'm not going to change it, except maybe to do a little polishing up... Even six-hour meat grinder edit sessions with EmP can't catch everything. And not all the phrasings in there are that great.
And it apparently placed 3rd in RotW for that week, which I'd forgotten about until I'd looked through my archived blog posts again, so it's not all that bad.
Age of Empires II: The Conquerors (PC) December 20, 2007
Hits: 700
OK. Maybe this wasn't the best kind of review to enter into a tourney. Fact of the matter is, I didn't want to review the regular game, because all I ever play anymore is the expansion, since it includes the original campaign material, too, and thus I didn't want to confuse newly added stuff with original inclusions. My second-to-last standings remain the same, as 2007's Alpha judges didn't smile to kindly upon this effort. That's OK, though; I know it's not my best, and I think I learned a lot from that experience.
Like RTS's are hard-ass games to review. Haha. Kidding, of course, but I think it really did help me get a better understanding of what to put into a review like that. Hopefully my next one will be better.
Oh, and I like how the review skyrocketed in hits over the past 6 months or so. Kind of crazy. I guess people really like those games or something.
Heroes of Might and Magic V (PC) December 29, 2007
Hits: 244
For someone who, up until that point, had only written one review every half year, writing two in a week-and-a-half might perplex some people. At least those who haven't read my blog. This was the culmination of a challenge posed by EmP to have 5 reviews to my name by the end of the year. I did it, two days before deadline, because I love pushing deadlines. This was also the first review where I had no outside help, and was entirely self-edited. It's quality I deem poor, but better than some of my earlier stuff. I guess.
Resident Evil 4 (PS2) February 29, 2008
Hits: 197
Sweet, got it on a leap year! Lucky day for me... right? I honestly don't know if there's anything lucky about a leap year, but I sure felt like it when the results for EmP's Challange came in (finally). This review broke my long-standing dismal placing by an outsanding margin, and though I didn't really sound it at the time (me being the humble being I am), I was on Cloud 9 for like a week. While no one was kind enough to term it so, I think this piece was my breakthrough review, despite the vast amount of help I had with it and the fact that some later efforts may undermine this achievement. Whether it is or not, it at least gave me the confidence that maybe I am actually worth something after all here, something I don't always show, but it was enough to keep me sticking around for a while. That it placed third in that week's RotW only helped matters, especially considering that like 30 reviews were subbed that week.
Rainbow Islands (NES) March 25, 2008
Hits: 318
Man, just four more days and I could've had a three-submission 29th-day-of-the-month streak going. That's OK, though; I hate the number 9. Haha.
This game (and subsequently, the review) surprised me. It's quirky and cute at the same time, and so oddly addictive you'll not want to stop playing until your eyes fall out of your sockets. Felix had recommended it for his Brevity Comp, but I can't really remember the story behind this one... I either spent a few hours/days working on the game, or only half an hour, but either way, I remember taking a nap because I was tired, then suddenly struck by a wave of inspiration, I plugged this thing out in half-an-hour. I felt strangely confident in it, an unusual phenomenon in me to be sure. And after a bit of editing, thanks to EmP who can somehow find the tiniest thing wrong with even the smallest scrap of literature given him (=P), I subbed it. I was rewarded with a remarkable fifth placement and my first ever RotW, entirely new territory for me, and I would keep climbing, for a little while at least.
Ai Sensei no Oshiete - Watashi no Hoshi (NES) April 04, 2008
Hits: 130
This was a fifteen-minute throw-together, literally. I only really did this because I felt kind of bad about the conversation that got me this game in the first place. Plus it was quick and easy, and I was bored. The game itself is... pretty much nothing, so there's really nothing to say about it. The review isn't really a review (I mostly just bitch about not being able to understand it), but there's really nothing you can do with a game like this, anyway. More importantly, this launched a campaign between Felix and I in which we subbed reviews for the same game at the same time. He claims my review inspired him, a fact that made me happy, despite knowing that this review isn't... well, a review. Haha. It's probably for this reason that he beat me in this bout of our little contest.
Animorphs (GBC) April 18, 2008
Hits: 403
I wrote this review spur-of-the-moment one Friday evening after being strangely inspired, similarly to my Rainbow Islands one. I had drafted a review for this earlier, over Spring Break a few weeks previously, but that copy kind of (no, really) sucked. Felix had looked it over, and I thank him graciously for it, since I really wasn't sure of that draft in the first place. I considered his advice, which mostly consisted of telling me to vary my style a bit, and I'm glad I did. This version looks nothing like the old one, thanks to him as well as the odd spark (spark? No - lightning bolt!) that started the rewrite in the first place. After completing this draft, he looked it over again. Actually, we worked on it together, since there were some things I really needed help with (like writing that personal example). I'm still debating whether I should put the old one up somewhere just so everyone can see the difference. Trust me, it's huge.
EmP also took it upon himself to further edit it for me, and I didn't even have to ask him that time. I'm grateful for it, though - it only made the thing better. And when it won RotW - the second time in a month - I was extremely happy. And shocked.
Just Breed (NES) April 30, 2008
Hits: 249
Just Breed, quite simply, is amazing. For a NES strat, I didn't quite expect this. The battles are challenging and lengthy - sometimes lasting over an hour, which might not appeal to some people, but to me it does, especially since it requires a vast amount of thinking. I have no idea what orifice EmP pulled this game out of, but it's a keeper. It really is.
I entered this game in OD's All or Nothing comp, despite the strong feeling that this really felt more like a 9 than 10. I'm thinking of downgrading it, but don't know if I should, since it's a tourney entry and all.
As is typical with many of my reviews, I had help from both Boo and EmP on this one. The result was third place in the comp, something that shocked me considerably, since I'd thought EmP's review far superior to my own. But everyone's opinions are different, I guess. It also placed third in RotW, also a bit surprising. It really was a hard game to write about, or at least make sound like a ten - which I don't think I did - and so I really didn't expect much with it.
This game's also the culmination of another challenge, this time posed by Felix, who suggested I have ten reviews to my name by May. I did it, last minute.
Crystalis (NES) May 13, 2008
Hits: 182
Hi, ho summer. Blech. I really didn't want to start the summer with a review like this. I think this is one of my worst efforts since spitting out RE4. I didn't get any feedback on this one, and part of me is glad for that. I really don't think it's that great a review, at all. I had drafted this over Spring Break, but... I just couldn't produce the same kind of effect like I did with Animorphs. That I had little inspiration writing this one didn't help at all, either.
Even so, despite how I feel about the review, teh game itself is actually quite enjoyable, if perhaps your typical action-RPG NES fanfare.
Digimon World (PS) May 16, 2008
Hits: 625
I have no idea where that number came from. I swear to you, only about two-three months ago, this had about 120 hits. It just kind of... flew. Surprised me considerably.
Anyway, I doubt Digimon would appeal to a lot of people... It requires a lot of patience, but figuring out all the different combinations and exploring the fairly sizeable land make it fun. Though it can get tedious after a while.
This is the last of three reviews I had drafted over Spring Break, and this one probably had the worst of those three drafts. I was able to ammend it to satisfactory levels, though I never quite got that inspiration again like I did with Animorphs. After subbing it, Felix was nice enough to give me advice, and told me to add a section about combat. I'm glad I did - I think that section's the reason it placed second in that week's RotW.
Fire 'N Ice (NES) May 19, 2008
Hits: 165
Fire 'N Ice is a neat little puzzle game. It's different than a lot of puzzle games I've played, which makes it fun. Those who like a unique challenge should try it sometime. You might like it.
Nothing really special about the review, except that it's the second in my "duel" with Felix. It was kind of hard to put together, and reading through it again, I've come to the conclusion that it's extremely cheesy - at least the first few paragraphs are. Still, it beat Felix's own review of the same game by a considerable margin (though only like 3 people voted anyway).
Sam & Max Episode 4 - Abe Lincoln Must Die (PC) May 28, 2008
Hits: 123
Back in like November, EmP showed me the link where this game was available for free. I had expressed interest in the games before, I think, and so this gesture was very kind of him. Unfortunately, I hadn't really time to review it, though I think I beat it around December. It wasn't until May, where I had all the free time in the world, that I could actually try reviewing the game again. Of course, I had to beat the game again because I had forgotten much of the satire and other jokes within. Not a problem for me, since playing again I discovered amusing bits I'd missed before.
It was a hard game to write about - probably one of the hardest yet - a fact that may have contributed to me not getting it done sooner. Suffice to say, I completely sympathize with EmP on how tough it is to write these. And I've only written one - he's written 12. As a result, I don't think the review's that great, and I don't think I included any of the humor I had originally intended for it (curse me for not taking notes!), but EmP said it was good, and really, I'd wrote it for him more than anything else, so I'm happy.
I'm also glad I broke his monopoly on it. Seriously - it's gotten out of hand.
People should really play these games. I don't know why they're not more popular than they are. They really should be. They're hilarious, witty, and full of satire and humor that targets everyday life. This one in particular makes fun of American politics. It's great.
Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring (PS2) May 31, 2008
Hits: 253
Like two others before it, this is the culmination of a challenge, a challenge like none I've ever faced before. Felix said "Write five reviews in a month", and so I did... on the last day before the deadline. Again.
I honestly thought this review was decent. Not great, but good enough, I guess. Then again, I was quite ambivalent on it in the first place. Oh, well, with the Bracket thing, I know how to feel about it now. Haha. But since this was one where I really didn't get any help, I really shouldn't be that surprised. Really, all I care about now is that it actually inspired EmP to finish his LotR: Third Age review, which I had been looking forward to since I saw it drafted in his blog before the Extinction. That made me feel considerably better about it, despite the thrashing it took in the tourney thing.
Metal Gear Solid (PS) June 19. 2008
Hits: 158
I like this review, quite a lot. I wasn't sure how well a game that's potentially considered "overcovered" would go over, but this one went well. It placed second in RotW, against some strong competition, and I'm glad for that. I'm also glad Felix helped me with this one, too. He said there were some serious flaws in part of my argument, as well as some phrases that really shouldn't be there. So I fixed them, and he said it's much better for it. I think so, too.
Musashi no Bouken (NES) June 23, 2008
Hits: 90
EmP's pick for his BWHY tourney. I liked this tourney. It was a fun idea, and it's sole purpose to try and get you to play something you otherwise wouldn't play. That couldn't be more true with this game here. I doubt I'd've played it short of a recommendation/suggestion, so I'm glad I got it here. Again, I have to wonder if EmP hides a list of obscure games up his anal cavity or something, because seriously, I have no idea where he found it.
It's a great game. It's similar in design to Dragon Warrior, but actually has some historical relevance and plays on Japanese mythology a lot. It's really neat.
This is a review I felt fairly confident in, especially after reassurances from Felix saying it was pretty much fine without editing, and that all it really needed was minor tweaking. I'd done something different with this review, which I hoped would go over well in the tourney. I think it did - the research bit I'm referring to, anyway - but the rest of it... seemed not to. That's fine, though (now that I'm over it, haha). I still like the review (or at least the intro and second half), so that's all that really matters, I guess. (P.S. I'm still waiting for those critiques. =P)
X-Men: Mutant Academy (GBC) July 12, 2008
Hits: 129
I hate this game. Stupid fighting-action game without much action. Only limited combos, characters and settings. The game tries to stretch its entertainment value with various modes, as all fighting action games do, but this just doesn't work here.
It's a sort of throw-together review... written without much feeling, except maybe frustration. I'm not sure. It honestly didn't feel that great to me, or heartfelt. So I was surprised to see Jason's recommendation for third place in RotW.
The Getaway (PS2) July 14, 2008
Hits: 213
I'd been working on this a while before finally subbing it. Also had help from Felix, who said it needed little in the way of editing except for a few minor tweaks, like my Musashi one. It was also here that, after helping me with at least 7 of my last 15 reviews (rough estimate - I don't feel like counting), that he would stop helping me just to prove his point that I can write just fine without it all the time. This review also broke the long dryspell of failing to win RotW. While many of my reviews placed, none had actually won since Animorphs. It was kind of starting to worry me, that maybe I was losing my stride, and with my performances recently, this sentiment seemed justified. Silly as that sounds.
.hack//G.U. Vol.1 Rebirth (PS2) July 24, 2008
Hits: 90
This is a great game for .hack lovers. Hell, even those unfamiliar with the series can get into this one, though there may be a few first series spoilers. None of the games are really related to the anime(s) in anyway, though they do provide explanation for what happens between them... Either way, everyone should watch .hack//Sign and play these games (all seven of them). Especially EmP. Sign's a great anime, and these are great games.
I like this review... a lot. I felt like I actually put my heart and soul into this one, despite not being really inspired or anything. Frankly, I haven't been "OMG WOW" inspired since Animorphs, but I guess those sorts of events are rare... or something. Either way, I like how this one turned out, though if there were any review I'd wanted feedback on, it was this one. Just to see what everyone else thought. I asked EmP on AIM, since that's the only way to get opinions from him short of tourneys and RotWs it seems, and he liked it. But I still wish I'd had more, I guess. That's alright, though, I guess. At least I actually feel confident in this one for once.
Q*bert (NES) August 01, 2008
Hits: 88
This is yet another throw-together. I'm starting to think that I should do more of these more often, because they seem to be doing me quite well. I never would've expected a puzzle game to win me second in RotW, especially not one as straightforward and difficult to write about as this one.
Worms Armageddon (PC) August 09, 2008
Hits: 82
This is a fun game. It's weird as hell, but fun. Amusing, too.
The review's good, I guess - it placed second in RotW and both EmP and boo liked it - but... this review also marks a period where I really started noticing that I'm feeling like I'm just doing the same thing over and over again. Indeed, this can probably be traced back to MGS, but I only really started noticing here. So that feeling really affects my judgment and confidence in the review. =/
Incredible Crash Test Dummies (NES) August 18, 2008
Hits: 97
Used to love this game when I was little. But it sucks now.
Again with the throw-together. But this one's definitely not that great. Whatever EmP said, I feel like it only got second because only like 4 people subbed that week. It doesn't help that it was written under the crushing weight of "sameness" that I'd been feeling with everything else lately. I've been advised to try something radically different, but I just don't know what to do. This is unfortunate because I have surprises planned for the next week or two (those knowledgeable, no revelations, please), and I feel like I may fail there...
Well, that's it, then. Jesus I don't know how the rest of you put these things together - this took four hours... Maybe next time (if there is one), I'll just go in increments so I can just copy/paste the bulk of my stuff. God.
EDIT: Oh, right. Forgot to add. I'm quite proud of the work I've done this year. I mean, in the past two years before this, I'd only written like 5. To increase that more than threefold is good in my book. Still, I wish I'd gotten a bit more done in the summer than I did. Oh, well, though. It's probably a good thing with the rut I feel in now. I hope I can get more done next year.
[reply][view replies (9)]
Title: I hate escalators....
Posted: August 27, 2008 (11:13 AM)
or at least hte ones in our school. I swear to God, going down them, there's this huge traffic jam that builds up at the bottom, so all the people riding down get stuck.... on a moving platfrm. So when they reach the bottom, they can't move, and they just feel the stairs sliding beneath them.
Guess what? It's a great way to get your foot stuck in it. Or in my case, my shoelace. That was fun. Like, the only way to extract yourself is to yank really hard and hope you don't rip your shoe apart. Or break your foot. fortunately, the only thing that happened was my shoelace got crooked. The tip of it, I mean. Since it's got this plastic coatng to make it easier to lace them through. It's kind of funny now, but seriously, someone could get hurt on those... They really need to manage traffic better or something. Or stop repairing the ones hat break down. Which happens every two weeks.
I think I'm going to take the stairs from now on... Exercise never hurt anyway.
Title: Here's a game I like to play in college...
Posted: August 25, 2008 (07:26 PM)
It's called "Spot the Foreigner" since I find international people interesting. They let you see a glimpse into their own culture, and I find that very valuable. Besides, I find other people and cultures fascinating. Dunno why. Guess I get tired of our culture all the time or something.
Anyway, last year at school, I met maybe three foreigners my whole time there (not counting my professors, of which there were two). 2 Russian women, and an Irishman. I also had a Spanish linguistics profssor and a Polish International Studies one.
This year, however, I've met/seen around three people in one day.
One of my roommates hails from Egypt and she's going back at the end of the semester. She's pretty cool.
There was a Brit sitting at the table next to me at breakfast. I didn't talk to him, but the accent was telling enough, I think.
Then there was this Brazilian at lunch who's at the seminary. He's only been here like a year, but already has a pretty commanding mastery of English. AND he learned Spanish first before English after coming here. It's really neat.
I love college... Now watch me complain about it in the next two weeks after becoming overwhelmed with homework and other things to do and not getting enough sleep. Haha.
EDIT: I've discovered I found a French girl in my anthropology class.
[reply][view replies (4)]
Title: I'm going to tell you all a secret...
Posted: July 26, 2008 (08:59 PM)
To those of you who remember, a while ago, Felix and I held a little event where we each reviewed the same game and requested feedback on whose you thought was "better" or liked more. Sadly, while our first title generated quite a few votes, and got our hopes up, the second round was gravely disappointing. With only three of you voting, we let the topic go after a slightly elongated stint on life support.
I'm going to tell you all the real purpose of that experiment.
It was to gauge a level of interest in a potential event like that. But instead, we'd propose to the whole site that couples (or even maybe more) sub reviews for the same game at the same time. The purpose of this would be to hopefully generate an interest in reviewing unrelated to regular tournaments. It would just be an event - something neat to do, and potentially brag about for doing it. Kind of like EmP's Alpha thing. It'd also hopefully generate quality stuff to the site, and with a more intrigued user base, also generate more activity and creativity.
Sadly, there appeared to be little interest... At all. Now that may have something to do with the way we arranged it or the time it took us to actually get stuff done - I'm not sure - but the point remains that it didn't seem to be there. So, I'm proposing the idea again. Now that you all know what it means, how would you feel about an event like that? There would be no competition per sé. It'd just be a fun little thing to do. We'd make a general topic where any pair of people posted the games they'd be doing. It'd be up to the site as a whole whether they subbed feedback or not, depending on request or just plain courtesy. But no for sure that there would be no real winners or losers.
And to expand the idea, we might even have one individual review one game, then someone review the sequel for it at the same time.
And hey, if you participated in this, it'd generate a lot of cool side-by-side cover art appearances on the front page.
I'll tell you now that Felix and I still intend to finish our little event, but we just won't remake the topic. Unless there's more interest on-site and we can make a general topic for all of you.
So, what do you all think?
[reply][view replies (6)]
Title: So what do you all think...
Posted: June 21, 2008 (02:43 PM)
...about books written based off video games/movies/TV shows and the like? We all know about Mass Effect... but I never realized it was so prominent. Until today.
I just spent like five hours at Barnes & Noble looking around and stuff.. also hoping to get a job there. In the fiction section, I saw books for Warhammer, Warhammer 40,000, Mech Warrior, Warcraft, Star Craft, Shadowrun, Ghost in the Shell, Battle Star Galactica, Star Trek, Stargate Atlantis (and maybe others in that series), Doctor Who, Magic the Gathering (the trading card game), Halo, D&D (actual books, not just the DM's guide stuff), novels for Batman, Spiderman, Iron Man and X-Men (as opposed to comics), Star Wars... which had it's own bookcase..., and of course, Mass Effect. It's ridiculous. I think last time I was there, I saw books for Diablo..
It was just huge. I'm not sure how recent these releases were... like if they were created as a result of the TV show/video game/movie or if they were and te inspiration for electronic media releases. Though most (if not all) of these looked fairly new. Usually it's the other way around. Video gams and the like being made as a result of books.
But hey. If it gets people reading, more power to it, right?
[reply][view replies (10)]


text:
If the new health care reform law was crafted by physicians with an insider's eye toward efficiency, effectiveness, and safety, then Americans would be in a much healthier long-term position. Published December 31 2011
The American Medical Association, and many local AMA-feeder groups, let ideology and economic conflicts of interest govern their decision to support the 'Affordable Care Act'. Published December 22 2011
Health care reform, organized medicine, physician practice management, and patient care ― a real time look at the challenges facing doctors and patients in America today. Published December 18 2011
Doctor Dorin is a Hopkins-trained, board-certified anesthesiologist, practicing in a large group in San Diego. He is a small business owner, a Commander in the US Navy Reserves, and the Founder/President of America's Medical Society, Inc., (AMS) a ...Read More
Find up-to-date information on the D.C. and Baltimore live music scenes and read interviews with artists and reviews of the latest releases and concerts.
Florida singer/songwriter duo's recent performance at DC's 9:30 Club reviewed.
Bluegrass trio, The Devil Makes Three: Updated down-home action at the 9:30 Club.
Juliana Hatfield and Matthew Caws appearance as Minor Alps in DC.
Classic hardcore punks H2O in action in Silver Spring, Maryland.
Find the latest news and happening that effect those in the Washington D.C., Northern Virginia and Maryland Metro region.
All of the world's problems, solved on your back porch
A politically conservative and morally liberal Hebrew alpha male hunts left-wing viper
Television commentary, reviews, news and nonstop DVR catch-up by Lisa King Dolloff and friends.
The world of professional wrestling as seen through the eyes of columnist James Ryan, including previews, recaps, interviews and all of the latest wrestling news.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Ordering for a Team?
Let our Team Division Help!
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provides nice relief when my upper body is sore
This is supposed to be TIGHT! If it's not squeezing your muscles, it's not working... Except at the neck -it shouldn't make your veins pop out in your neck. I like to sleep in this thing after really tough chest days at the gym. It has this great way of "reshaping" your body as you sleep -feeling nice and tight and rested when you wake up...
Get an alert when we add new styles of 2XU! Simply sign up and we'll notify you.
2XU (pronounced "two-times-you") engineers products with the single-minded goal of best equipping the athletes, so that they are better prepared, always race ready and more capable than their competition.
Designed and tested by leading industry experts, 2XU garments employ intelligent design with cutting edge performance fabrics and construction to multiply human performance.
Along with a full Triathlon, Run and Cycle line, 2XU leads the industry in Athletic Performance Compression Garments to help you train smarter, perform stronger and recover faster by providing the following benefits:
2XU Compression & Apparel can be used for all general training & sports, running, triathlon, cycling and snow sports.


text:
TRF Lutheran Health Network Parade
For a DVD copy of the entire parade, you may order through this link CLICK HERE
FloatsSweepstakes- Best Overall: DO IT BEST (Commercial), WINDSONG (Non-Commercial) Mayor's Award- Most Original: FORD METER BOX (Commercial), GOOD SHEPHERD UMC (Non-Commercial) Best Representation of Theme: SHINDIGZ (Commercial), BOY SCOUTS (Non-Commercial) Most Educational/Children's Appeal: SHARON'S VICTORIAN (Commercial), KATE'S KART (Non-Commercial) Specialty Units Sweepstakes- Commercial: STONERS (1st Place), KPC MEDIA (2nd Place), KOMETS (3rd Place) Non-Commercial: CHILDRENS HOPE HOUSE (1st), CHILDREN'S ZOO (2nd), IVY TECH (3rd) Joan Dixon-White Award Most Entertaining: LAZER X (Commercial), SUMMER MUSIC THEATRE (Non-Commercial)
Parade Theme: To be announced …
Each year, more than 50,000 people line the streets of downtown Fort Wayne for the Three Rivers Festival Parade to see the floats, hear the bands and to celebrate the kickoff to Fort Wayne's Biggest Summer Celebration since 1969. Come out and see the many colorful parade floats, balloons, and bands Fort Wayne has to offer. The family friendly environment the Three Rivers Festival brings is perfect for kids, teens, and adults! Sit along the 2 mile stretch of the parade route beginning on Van Buren by St. Joeseph Hospital and ending along Caloun Street. The parade starts at 9:45 a.m.; get there early to secure a great viewing spot to see the floats and the best of the Lutheran Health Network Parade! Trophies awarded in six categories for commercial and non-commercial entrants. There is a two-hour Live Television Broadcast of the Three Rivers Festival Parade.
View the Parade Route Map


text:
S. Dakota Leads U.S. in Conversion to Ethanol Pumps
A $1 million grant program will put South Dakota in a leadership position pack nationwide in the availability of ethanol blender pumps for motorists, Lt. Gov. Dennis Daugaard said today. The grants, which were processed through the state Energy Policy Office in the Governor's Office of Economic Development, will help business owners install blender pumps at fuel stations across the state, he said. "As of Ju ...Read more ›


text:
Yap, Taufiq Yun Hin (2006) Effect of Cr and Co promoters addition on vanadium phosphate catalysts for mild oxidation of n-butane. Journal of Natural Gas Chemistry, 15 (2). pp. 144-148. ISSN 1003-9953
Full text not available from this repository.
Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S1003-9953(06)60021-2
In this study, Cr and Co promoted, as well as unpromoted vanadium phosphate (VPO) catalysts were synthesized by the reaction of V2O5 and o-H3PO4 in organic medium followed by calcination in n-butane/air environment at 673 K. The physico-chemical properties and the catalytic behavior were affected by the addition of Cr and Co dopants. H2-TPR was used to investigate the nature of oxidants in the unpromoted and promoted catalysts. The results showed that both the Cr and Co promoters remarkably lowered the temperature of the reduction peak associated with V5+. The amount of oxygen species originated from the active phase, V4+, removed was significantly increased for Co and Cr-promoted catalysts. Both Cr and Co dopants improve strongly the n-butane conversion without sacrificing the MA selectivity. A good correlation was observed between the amount of oxygen species removed from V4+ phase and the activity for n-butane oxidation to maleic anhydride. This suggested that V4+-O was the center for the activation of n-butane.
|Item Type:
|n-butane oxidation, VPO, promoter, maleic anhydride, TPR
|Faculty or Institute:
|Faculty of Science
|DOI Number:
|ID Code:
|Deposited By:
|Erni Suraya Abdul Aziz
|Deposited On:
|30 Sep 2010 07:38
|Last Modified:
|30 Sep 2010 07:39
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text:
You're Nuts If You See Amazon's P/E as a Buy Signal
I don't share Pendola's opinion that measuring P/E's are now no longer relevant. Sorry, but I heard this all before many times. In the 1980s, it was Japan, and they were going to take over the world. I saw this first hand as I lived in Japan during the height of their bubble.
In the 1990s, it was anything dot com, and I am relatively sure anyone reading this remembers hearing "you can't lose money in housing; they're not making any more land... yada yada yada". Now we have social media's Facebook (FB) and federal debt that is the new bubble.
Cue: "The Song Remains The Same" -- Led Zeppelin
Amazon may continue higher; no one knows, and if they do, they are not telling. Just because a stock may increase in price, doesn't mean the risk is worth the reward. Keep that in mind when considering Amazon.It's OK to shop at Amazon (my family does), but if you want online commerce in your portfolio, look towards Apple (AAPL), Google (GOOG), Yahoo (YHOO) and Ebay (EBAY). These online companies have the same potential as Amazon, without the super-sized price tag. In fact, they all compete effectively with Amazon with lower downside risk and growth potential. At the time of publication the author held no positions in any of the stocks mentioned. Follow @RobertWeinstein This article is commentary by an independent contributor, separate from TheStreet's regular news coverage.
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text:
When I've given talks on the psychology of Batman this year, audience members keep posing two questions about 2012's blockbuster motion picture The Dark Knight Rises: (1) Do I think Bruce Wayne, after spending his life training to fight crime, could really give up being Batman? (2) Does Bane's motivation in the movie match that of the character as depicted in the comic books? My answers: (1) Yes. Batman in the comic books has periodically demonstrated a willingness to ditch the cape and cowl if he can find a better way to keep his mission going as he grows older. (2) No. Bane in the movie is a blend of two comic book characters: Bane (obviously) and the al Ghuls' loyal servant Ubu. Comic book Bane is not loyal. If comic book Bane likes you, he is, in fact, more likely to kill or otherwise remove you from his life so you can't be used against him.
In the book Batman and Psychology: A Dark and Stormy Knight, which came out two months before the motion picture's release, I pulled a quote from the movie's trailers but otherwise stuck to analyzing Bane as depicted in comic books. Whereas the movie version of this villain commits every crime and is ready to die for the sake of a paternal sort of love for (spoiler alert - even though you should have already picked up on the fact that this article is going to spill some plot points) Ra's al Ghul's daughter Talia, comic book Bane is looking out for number one, himself.


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The Alabama Conservation Advisory Board will meet Saturday, February 5, 2011, in the State Capitol Auditorium in Montgomery, Ala. This is the first scheduled meeting of the Advisory Board in 2011. Registration for those wishing to address the board will be from 8 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. The meeting will begin promptly at 9 a.m. Visitors should use the entrance behind the Capitol on North Union Street.
The Conservation Advisory Board assists and advises on matters relating to the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR) including hunting seasons and bag limits. The Board is composed of 10 members appointed by the governor for alternating terms of six years, and three ex-officio members in the persons of the Governor of Alabama, the Commissioner of the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries, and the Director of the Alabama Cooperative Extension System. The ADCNR Commissioner serves as the ex-officio secretary of the Board.
This is the first Conservation Advisory Board Meeting for the new ADCNR Commissioner, N. Gunter Guy Jr., and the new Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries Commissioner, John McMillan.
The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources promotes wise stewardship, management and enjoyment of Alabama's natural resources through five divisions: Marine Police, Marine Resources, State Lands, State Parks, and Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries. To learn more about ADCNR visit www.outdooralabama.com.


text:
Rock Island Field Office
Phone: 309-757-5800
Federal Relay: 800-877-8339
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Conservation Planning Assistance
Conservation Planning biologists work directly with Federal agencies on development projects to ensure that the environment and our natural resources are protected. We help project proponents, planners, and other agencies develop plans that conserve, restore or enhance fish and wildlife while accomplishing the objectives of the proposed development. Our work includes reviewing and providing recommendations on plans and development designs, crafting mitigation plans, providing expertise in wildlife and habitat science, and serving as members on planning teams.
Wind Farm in northern Iowa. Photo by USFWS; Mike Coffey
Biologists and other personnel from several agencies and organizations capture federally listed endangered Indiana bats from Blackball Mine in central Illinois to attached radio transmitters. Receivers in aircraft, vehicles, and by ground crews use the transmitters to track the distribution and movement of the bats. The Indiana bats use the mine site to hibernate over winter and use certain trees during the summer to raise their young. The results of the bat surveys help avoid and minimize effects to bats for Federal construction and energy projects including wind energy.
Click here for a news article on the Blackball Mine bat study
Click here for more information on white-nose syndrome disease in bats
To request help or for more information, please contact:
Jon Duyvejonck
Fish and Wildlife Biologist
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Phone: 309-757-5800 Extension 207
Heidi Woeber
Email: email@example.com
Phone: 309-757-5800 Extension 209
Amber Andress
Fish and Wildlife Biologist
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Phone: 309-757-5800 Extension 222
Joe Slater
Fish and Wildlife Service
Email: email@example.com
Phone: 309-757-5800 Extension 208
Last updated: January 11, 2013


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Founded in 1997, PDF Technologies Inc. is a privately held Software Company that develops and sells custom applications and components for the private and public sectors worldwide. Thousands of users across hundreds of customers worldwide are currently using PDF Technologies solutions. Its flagship component product, PDFTechLib is a full function class library developed with 100% Managed .NET code. You can use the core library to enhance your applications and deliver advanced PDF generation functionality. Build reports, generate response letters, build mail merge applications, fill server side forms and provide clever solutions for complex PDF related development efforts. You may also build impressive online solutions for Internet facing web sites as well as desktop applications under the Windows .NET environment.
What is a software component? Software components or UI controls are pre-built software libraries or code libraries that you can use in your software application to quickly add new functionality. When you use a software component previously written by yourself, you are reusing your own code and saving time, plus you gain the benefits of using a modular approach to your software design or architecture, that will hopefully give you other quality and efficiency benefits.
When you use a software component or UI control pre-written by an expert in that area or field of study, you are not only saving time and effort, you are also adding high quality functionality to your application - fast. Features that were difficult for you to code, as you do not have the pre-requisite skills or knowledge, can now be easily added. With software components you can rapidly add new functions to your app and at the same time hit your project deadlines or gain time to market for a new product! Plus, if you are using a pre-built software component written by an industry expert, you may also gain in quality and performance terms as well.
In this commercial software component gallery you will find over 1,700 components or controls for your next software project that have been written by industry experts who are specialists in their field. So whether you are looking for software ActiveX controls for a mature VB project now under maintenance or for .Net controls, ASP controls or a C# component for a more up to date .NET Framework project or Web site built using ASP then you have come to the best commercial grade software component marketplace in the world.
As well as an ActiveX component product zone and a comprehensive .Net components product listing full of .NET datagrids, .NET chart and other .NET UI control products, you will also find product galleries full of Delphi controls (VCLs). Plus there are VB & VC++ class libraries, DLL object based products and even some Static Link Library products too.
ComponentSource not only has Microsoft components such as: ASP.NET controls; DLL library based products or .NET component UI products, we also have a Flash component gallery with Flash components and Flex components. For example, you will find Flash buttons for your user interface or a Flash chart for your Flash UI and some of the latest products that support Flex 4 and Flash Builder 4 from Adobe. Plus we have Java components and Java libraries available for a variety of visual and non-visual tasks, implemented as JavaBeans, Java Classes, as Enterprise JavaBeans and as Java Class libraries.
So hopefully you will find a commercial grade, quality software component or UI control that will meet your component programming or object design needs. If you don't, why don't you write that software component or library yourself? Then ask us to sell it for you!
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November 03, 2009
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Massoud Ansari was born in Iran but spent his formative years in the UK and the USA,
where he studied art and design. Returning to Iran in 1979, he started a private design
work-shop. He is both an accomplished photographer and fashion designer. The source
of his inspiration and drive comes mainly from day to day living in Iran. Photography is
where he expresses himself emotionally. His most recent solo photographic exhibit was
at the Silk Road Gallery in Tehran.
Shirin Guild combines elements from world clothing traditions – particularly the
menswear from her native Iran – with a modern, reductivist aesthetic.
Extraneous detail and decoration are stripped away in favour of precision
cutting and meticulous attention to every detail. She sources the most unusual
textiles and yarns of the finest quality, as well as commissioning many unique
fabrics. Examples of her work are exhibited on permanent display at the V&A
Museum and the Brighton Museum & Art Gallery and are also part of the
permanent collection of the Fashion Institute of Technology in New
York. The Shirin Guild label was launched in London in 1992.
Maryam Mahdavi has been involved in the world of fashion since 1980. Her designs are
predominantly influenced by the garments worn in Iran during the 19th century. This
influence is of course very stylised, and her colour patterns today no longer bear any
similarity with those of the traditional designs which represent her starting point.
Fragments of old fabrics are used to highlight some of the features of many
Shadi Parand left Iran after high school and completed her higher education in France.
After several years in Paris and New York in the world of fashion and clothing, she
returned to Iran, where she has been active in fashion design for over ten years. A main
source of her design inspirations are traditional Persian art, designs, and techniques, but
she uses those ideas to create something modern. She travels extensively in Iran and
elsewhere, captures the details, and uses them in her designs where least expected. Her
current collection is a mixture of all the ideas and inspirations she has gathered over the
years with an emphasis on the Qajar epoch and ancient Iranian art. She uses Persian colours
in her designs and this can also be seen in the collection. She has transformed all these
influences into something modern and avant-garde.
Laya Torkaman was born in Iran but moved to France at a very young age, where she
now lives. She pursues two careers since the mid 1990s, one in fashion and one in dance.
Many of her fashion designs are influenced by traditional Persian garments. She
frequently mixes modern fabrics with fragments from old Persian outfits. Her dancing is
inspired by the mystical poetry of the classical Persian poets such as Rumi and Hafiz, and
can best be described as a meditating exercise. She has recently performed in France,
Holland, Italy and the UK.
Miller-Khavari was created almost 20 years ago between Nicolas Miller, who had
already a long experience in fashion and staging and Kamran Khavari who brought his
knowledge of systems management, fresh out of university. The chemistry between them
makes the perfect package when it comes to the production of a fashion show. From the
very birth of the project, to the actual show day and the smooth running of everything
backstage as well as on the catwalk. Miller Khavari spend a lot of attention to detail
when it comes to set and lighting design. Their client list include: Paul Smith, Jasper
Conran, Jenny Packham, Rafael Lopez, Tommy Hilfiger, Betsey Johnson, Gianfranco
Ferre, and Trussardi.
© 2004 Iran Heritage Foundation. All rights reserved.
Charity Number 1001785.


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Paul SMith Extreme is a fragrance that defies convention. It's fresh/citrusy on the topnotes but settles into a spicy/cool contradiction of tones that is very intriguing. Without being overpowering at any point. Paul SMith knows what he's doing.
December 01, 2010
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|Site Map
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Juvenile Detention Facility
The Chelan County Juvenile Center operates a 50-bed juvenile detention facility. The building was completed in 1998, and is located at the corner of Washington and Orondo, across the street from the old county courthouse.
Youth housed in the detention facility fall into two categories: pending and court-ordered. Pending youth are those who have been arrested by law enforcement either on a warrant or pursuant to the investigation of a new crime. These youth may be housed in detention while awaiting court hearings or the judge responsible for the case may allow release under a bail requirement and/or conditions of release. Court-ordered youth are those who have been found guilty and have been sentenced to detention by the court for a crime or a probation violation.
Assessments and Services
During a youth's stay in detention, services are available to address medical, emotional, and mental health needs. All youth receive standardized assessments to determine the existence and severity of substance abuse and mental health problems. Classes and groups are provided, as indicated, to address issues such as anger control, drug and alcohol use, and life skills.
Daily Activities
A full-time, in-house school program is operated by the Wenatchee School District. All detention youth are required to attend school Monday through Friday. Privileges are earned through a formal level system that requires youth to earn points for appropriate behavior every day. Chores, meals, and recreation and other structured activities make up the balance of the daily schedule. Whenever youth are confined to cells, staff make rounds to check on their status every 15 minutes.
Visitation/Phone Calls
Visiting Hours are 6:15pm to 8:15pm on Tuesdays, 1:30pm to 4:00pm on Saturday, Sundays and holidays and 9am to 10:45am on holidays.
Contact: Corey Stephens, Detention Manager


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SouthtownStar Athletes on Campus: Grand Valley State's Chris Rudenga honored
By Mike Walsh For Sun-Times Media August 2, 2013 5:04PM
Chris Rudenga, of Grand Valley State, was named to the Capital One Academic All-District Team by the College Sports Information Directors of America. | Supplied photo
Article Extras
Updated: September 5, 2013 6:34AM
Grand Valley State University student-athlete Chris Rudenga wrapped up his collegiate career earning accolades both on the baseball field and in the classroom.
The South Holland native was one of two Lakers named to the Capital One Academic All-District Team by the College Sports Information Directors of America.
Rudenga, a four-year starter for the Lakers, majored in exercise science and graduated with a 3.50 grade-point average.
On the diamond, Rudenga, who prepped at Illiana Christian, was one of five Grand Valley State players named to the All-Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference First Team for the 2013 season.
In helping the Lakers finish 38-19 overall and 22-7 in the GLIAC, Rudenga batted .322 in 57 games with 43 runs and 30 RBI. The senior outfielder added 13 doubles, one home run and eight stolen bases in 10 attempts. Rudenga finished with a .400 slugging percentage and a .372 on-base percentage.
Rudenga also was the GLIAC's Player of the Week on two occasions during the 2013 season, earning the honor for the weeks ending March 19 and April 29.
That's excellent
Six Southland residents were among the 23 Lewis University student-athletes who earned the Great Lakes Valley Conference Council of President's Academic Excellence Award for the 2012-13 school year.
Honorees have to have had exhausted their eligibility in their respective sport in which they competed in and maintained at least a 3.5 cumulative GPA throughout their academic career.
To be eligible for the award, the student-athlete must have competed in the GLVC for a minimum of two years and completed 96 credit hours. A student-athlete can only earn this distinguished honor one time in his or her career.
Honored were men's cross country/track and field athlete Alex Kluchki (Andrew), men's soccer player Robert McGowan (Lincoln-Way East), women's volleyball player Colleen Mitros (Providence), women's golfer Carly Shapiro (Lockport), women's track and field athlete Molly Szilard (Lincoln-Way East) and women's softball player Michelle Vucsko (Marist).
A look at Brooke
Aurora University women's softball player Brooke Spencer (Sandburg) was named to the 2013 CoSIDA-Capital One District VII Academic All-District Team. Spencer majored in Special Education.
The 2013 Capital One Academic All-District Softball Teams, selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America, recognize the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances athletically and in the classroom. To be nominated, a student-athlete must be a starter or important reserve with at least a 3.30 cumulative GPA (on a 4.0 scale) at their institution.
Spencer, of Orland Park, also was named to the 2013 All-Northern Athletics Conference First Team, as well as being one of three Spartans named to the 2013 Louisville Slugger/National Fastpitch Coaches Association Great Lakes All-Region Second Team.
The senior shortstop batted .421 with 32 runs, 41 RBI, 14 doubles, four homers, a .607 slugging percentage and a .465 on-base percentage.
Aurora, which was 39-8 overall, won the 2013 Northern Athletics Conference championship.
Way to go, Joe
Eastern Illinois pitcher Joe Greenfield (Sandburg) was named the Adidas/Ohio Valley Conference Pitcher of the Week for the period ending April 29.
In a 3-1 victory at Belmont, Greenfield posted his third complete game of the season, allowing one run on six hits and striking out seven without allowing a walk. The Orland Park resident did not allow a hit until there were two outs in the sixth inning.
For the season, the junior right-hander was 3-6 with a 3.66 ERA. Greenfield appeared in 18 games for the Panthers (14 starts), pitching four complete games to go along with one shutout and two saves.
In 931/3 innings, Greenfield struck out 63 and walked 31. He was sixth in the OVC in both ERA and innings.


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Adventures of William Tell
Guillaume Tell et le clown, 1898, 1m01s
Star Film Catalogue No. 159
A clown performs a quick tumbling routine before assembling various dummy body parts together in the guise of William Tell. He places a large loaf of bread on its head and goes to pick up his crossbow. The dummy comes to life and throws the bread at him. The clown jumps up and down in a rage and waves his fists. He then removes the dummy's right arm and reattaches it. The dummy swipes him with it, knocking him to the ground. Enraged, the clown removes its head, kicks it and replaces it. The dummy comes back to life, knocks the clown to the floor and whirls his body around before leaving. The clown gets up, picks up his crossbow, and… (print ends here)
The French title, which translates as William Tell and the Clown, offers a rather more accurate impression of the film than the more evocative Adventures of William Tell, since this is essentially a knockabout farce based on jump-cuts and the timely substitution of dummies for real bodies. 'Knockabout' is the operative word here, since this displays a level of onscreen violence not previously seen in a surviving Méliès film, in which the participants are dismembered, beheaded, stomped on and generally tossed around like a limp dishcloth.
The central scenario involves the clown's attempt to pay homage to the legend of William Tell by constructing a dummy resembling the famous archer. The clown places a loaf of bread on the dummy's head (slightly deviating from the legend, in which Tell himself was the archer and his son was the one sporting an apple on his head), but before he can take advantage of this the dummy comes to brief but violent life, courtesy of one of Méliès' usual well-timed jump-cuts. The clown is less than amused by this, and takes his revenge by tearing off the dummy's arm and head in quick succession, before solicitously replacing them.
These sequences mark a bridge between the onstage effects of the famous Théâtre du Grand Guignol, with which Méliès was undoubtedly familiar, and countless later outpourings of comically extreme screen violence as seen in everything from Tex Avery cartoons to the early films of Sam Raimi. Under these circumstances, Tell's revenge, which involves the clown being tossed and trampled (or rather an obvious dummy, substituted again by jump-cuts), seems entirely appropriate.
The film ends abruptly as the clown picks up his crossbow after Tell has departed the scene. It's probably safe to assume that the original film ran a few more seconds, but probably featured nothing more dramatic than the clown exiting after Tell, bent on revenge.
The untinted print on Flicker Alley's DVD is slightly marred by numerous thin vertical scratches, and occasionally deeper tramlines, together with exposure fluctuations and obvious splice marks around the jump cuts, while chemical damage has all but obliterated the final frames even before the print reaches its premature end. Eric Beheim's tinkling, celesta-like electronic accompaniment sounds like a child's music box, conveying an implicit message that we shouldn't be taking the violence too seriously.
- Internet Movie Database entry.
- Jshaide's review (Rotten Tomatoes forum).
- Wikipedia's article on the real William Tell


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Safety Comes From Inside Ourselves
Kidpower Article About September 11, 2011
Written by Irene van der Zande, Kidpower Founder and Executive Director
Print | Permission to Use Requirements | Copyright Policy
Terrorist attacks like the tragic events of September 11th are a shocking reminder that we are vulnerable, that the physical security of ourselves and those we care about is not guaranteed, and that our world can change in an instant.
For many of us, a terrorist attack, like child abuse, feels more personally horrifying than an illness or natural disaster because it is being done deliberately by people who intend to hurt other people who are innocent. We all grieve for those who were harmed–and for the innocent bystanders who might unavoidably be harmed while the guilty parties are searched for and found.
Our challenge in the midst of all this is to keep finding our balance. The truth is that in this uncertain world the truest safety we have is the safety we create within ourselves. Being terrified in the face of terrorism only makes us miserable–and accomplishes the goal of terrorism, which is to create widespread fear and instability.
The truth is that we cannot control everything that happens to us. We have to accept that some things are out of our control so that we can live our lives to the fullest while taking care of the things that are under our control.
Most of us, in the weeks and months after a traumatic event, will have the opportunity for conversations about this tragedy both with children and with adults. We can help create safe emotional spaces for the people around us to find healing, perspective, and paths to meaningful action. The most powerful meaning we can make of any tragedy is to work together to create a better world for everyone.
When a major tragedy takes place, it is very likely that most children will either hear or see something either at school, from television, or by listening to the adults around them. It is important to realize that the wave of reaction in children's lives is likely to get bigger before it gets smaller. While we don't want to create more fear, we do want to address any concerns that children already have in ways that are age appropriate and empowering.
Here Are Some Actions You Can Take for Your Children and Yourselves:
Get Support for Your Feelings, but Do not Process Them with Your Children
It is normal to feel sad, scared, and angry when bad things happen. For their emotional safety, your children need your hope and confidence, not your despair and fear. Be aware that children often overhear adults when they appear not to be listening. Give yourself space to express your feelings with other adults, to nurture yourself and then to move into positive action.
Get Help If You Are Feeling Anxious or Depressed
No matter what is happening in the world, you have the right to live your own life as joyfully and fully as possible. Talk with family or friends. Go to professional counseling if you need to. You do not have to be upset all alone.
Manage a burst of anxiety by doing the same centering exercise we teach in our classes–feel your feet by wiggling your toes, feel your hands by opening them and pressing them against something, loosen your elbows and knees, take a breath and let it out, then another; now, look around and focus on something near you.
In a calm way, give kids space to talk about feelings while focusing on things they CAN do to stay safe.
Tell children the same thing we need to remember ourselves, "This is scary and very sad. But we are okay and we can keep ourselves safe most of the time, if we know how to do a few things and have a safety plan."
Create an Opening to Talk About this Tragedy or Any Other Worry Your Child Might Have
…by asking, "Is there anything that you have been wondering or worrying about that you have not told me?"
Talk to Your Child if You Have not Done so Already
For a younger child, you can explain even big upsetting events in a calm simple way. For example, about September 11th, an adult might have said, "Something sad happened that hurt a lot of people. We are okay, but you might hear about this, and I want you to know what happened. A few people did something very bad—they crashed airplanes into some big buildings and many people died. Now our country and most other countries in the world are making safety plans to help keep this from happening again. Do you have any questions? If you get worried, or start thinking about it a lot, I want you to tell me so we can talk."
Limit Children's Exposure to the Media so They Are not Bombarded with Terrifying Images
Consider limiting your own exposure as well. There is a difference between staying informed and traumatizing ourselves unnecessarily.
Take a Stand Against the Hatred that Gets Born of Fear
Whenever a prejudiced comment is made, you can say something like, "One of the wonderful things about our world is that it's full of people from all different shapes and sizes and beliefs and colors and ideas. A few people doing something bad does not mean that everyone who seems like that person is bad. In fact, most people of any background are good."
Seek whatever form of spiritual guidance works for you.
Focus on what You CAN Do
Both children and adults have the power to make a difference through daily actions. By working together as a community, your actions can create change.
Viktor Frankl was a psychotherapist who was imprisoned in concentration camps in World War II. In that hopeless terrifying setting, he came to the conclusion that, while he could not control most outside events, he could choose how he would respond to those events. He created a form of psychotherapy called Logotherapy, which helps people heal by making meaning of their lives.
Most often, we can take charge of our safety. When things are out of our control, it is important to remember that, like Viktor Frankl, we can still choose to create safety within ourselves.


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main index
"Another great knock-off is DVDs. The ones that are slight variations of slightly animated kids' movies. The kind they put right next to the check-out line, so Grandma might accidentally mistake it for the real thing. And they have titles like, The Secret Princess and Her Oppressive Authority Figure 4, and the always-popular Jungle Animals in Decidedly Non-Jungle Situations."In principle, the Mockbuster is a bit like a movie with an Alternative Pornographic Name, but there's generally no nudity. It's not part of a pair of Battling Films, because it can't even afford the fare to get to the ring where the shows duke it out. A mockbuster is a movie that is suspiciously similar to another more popular, more well-known — and, let's face it, more "real" — movie, to the point of being the copy of an entire film. Why? Trying to Make Money Off a Popular Idea, of course. Because they're generally made by no-name studios to make a quick buck, the biggest difference between mockbusters and the movies they're based on is budget. The mockbuster has serious budget restrictions. Think "three kids with a cellphone" production values. The writing is usually subpar, too—the producers aren't striving for Genuine Artistry; they're trying to rip off a more popular idea in an attempt to con gullible consumers. Of course, depending on what they're copying, and the fact that it's probably not out yet when they start making the mockbuster, the original might not have been such a cinematic masterpiece itself. However, if there's one thing mockbusters can do well, it's Duplicate Titles. Their designs and logos, like the colors of a viceroy butterfly, are designed to resemble the "real" movies they're copying as closely as possible. Remember, Titles Usually Fib. They also pick titles similar to the original, often containing similar words, or made-up words that sound the same. The people mockbusters tend to appeal to seem to fall into four brackets: kids too young to know the difference between the real deal and the fake; people too old to care, who might get the two confused when looking for something for their kids and grandkids; parental Propriety Police who want to get their children The Upstanding Alternative to a mainstream film that is more in line with their values; and Dorks, who aren't fooled at all, but who watch them for their awesome badness. Bad stuff is interesting! As such, they tend to be sold in supermarket magazine racks, pharmacy gift racks, and grab bags in outlet shops. The rare cases of mockbusters that might actually try to do something "artistic" are those adapting Out Of Copyright works, though again, generally only if a more "popular" story adapting the same work came out recently. This phenomenon sometimes applies to live theater as well with regards to public domain works (Pixie Stories, The Theater Spirit) that have had a more popular version created that smaller theater companies could never produce on their own. Alternately, sometimes a degree of artistic merit comes in when the cast/crew Ham Up The Cheesy Movie. Mockbusters tend to be made in countries outside of the US, as if in "response" to a coming American blockbuster. Those might change the plot based unobtanium to something more in touch with their national sensibilities (the Indian Ultraguy mockbuster has him getting his powers from a god, for example) and the genre might skew towards one more popular in that country (the Brazilian series Non-Villains is somewhat like a soap opera). How do all of these copyright friendly guys get away with it? Often times, it's simply a matter of obscurity. Sure, that "Larry Baxter" guy on the back of the cereal box who has to find the "Gilded Stitch" is pretty similar to some book you read, but how much money is there really to be made from suing some company that designs bargain-basement cereal boxes? See also Similar Erotica Names (when this is applied to porn), Crappy Ripoff Items (when this is applied to commercial products), Product Codes Removed, and Same Name, Completely Different Plot Sequels (when old foreign movies have their titles for the re-release changed in order for them to cash-in from current blockbusters). Has nothing to do with the Mythtesters or Phantomgetters. UK Created For Television Film channel Movies 24 ran a Mockbuster season, deliberately confusing the derivatives with the originals and calling out the trope by name. It includes The Terminators, Aliens Versus Hunters, Transmorphers Fall of Man and Snakes on a Train.
— Strong Bad, Homestar Runner, Strong Bad Email #190, "licensed"
Examples (Pot holes lead to pages of the films being copied unless the copy itself has an article):
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Film - Animation
Film - Live Action
Live Action TV
New Media
Tabletop Games
Video Games


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i am 32 flavors and then some
A teenage girl reeking of innocence and naivity walks up and takes down the "FOR SALE" sign placed haphazardly in the window. she shrugs out of her heavy coat and watches it plop onto the sterile floor. She wriggles in her tight black boots uncomfortably and hits a switch. A light comes on overhead.IIIIEEEEEeeeee!!!!!! Oh! Oh, whoa. Sorry about screaming like that. You scared the shit outta me.Well, this place is nice. A few things have got to change around here, but it will definitely be done.Oh, and hello. My name is Alice.
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This weekend marks the 50th anniversary of the frist surgeon general's report warning americans of the dangers of smoking.
Former Surgeon General Dr. Luther Terry said in January 11th, 1964, "The strongest relationship between cigarette smoking was in the field of lung cancer and probably a causal relationship between heart disease and cigarette smoking."
The American Medical Association estimates that since this annoucement, decades of anti-smoking awareness campaigns, and laws have helped about 8 million people extend their lives by an average about 20 years while 17.7 million deaths can be blamed on the habit in that time frame.
Health officials say fifty years ago, about 40% of the adults in America smoked. Now the numbers have dropped by more than half to about 19%.
But experts say, there is more work to be done. CDC director Thomas Frieden says, "It remains the leading preventable cause of death in this country."
And lung cancer isn't the only cancer threat. It can lead to others such as throat, stomach, kidney, bladder and more. And people who smoke are up to four times more likely to suffer a heart attack than nonsmokers.
Health officials say quitting is not out of reach. "Most Americans who have ever smoked have quit and you can quit too," Frieden said.