text:
Rules and Amateur Status Home
Read the Rules and Decisions
Notices and Announcements
Amateur Status
Rules of Golf Workshops
Rules Education Resources
Rules for Golfers with Disabilities
Our Experts Explain
Publications & Products
Reglas de Golf en Espanol
Contact Rules and Amateur Status
Golf Etiquette 101
Handicap Manual
Getting a Handicap Index
Course Handicap Calculator
National Course and Slope Ratings
USGA Handicap Seminars
Licensed Golf Club Listing
Club Licensing Program
Authorized Golf Association Log-ins
Contact Us
Equipment Standards Overview
Guide to the Rules on Clubs and Balls
Conforming Club & Ball Lists
Research Studies
Getting Equipment Tested
Test Protocols for Equipment
Equipment Permitted for Medical Reasons
Equipment FAQ
Tickets, Hospitality and Volunteers
Apply To Play
Additional Entry Requirements
Entrant Lookup
Championship FAQ
World Amateur Golf Ranking
Media Guide
Championship Archives
Club Membership History
Club Membership Overview
Renew Your Club's USGA Membership
Golf Courses Outside the U.S.
Course Care & Environment
Course Consulting Service
Golf and the Environment
Golf And The Economy
Turfgrass and Environmental Research
Manage Your Course
Course Official FAQ
Regional Updates
Green Section Record
About the Green Section
Join the USGA
Renew Your USGA Membership
Give a Membership Gift
Expert training helps you make the most of your education. Numerous conferences and events will be held throughout the Southeast region this fall and winter for those wanting to further enhance their skills. Most of these conferences provide one to three days of meetings with numerous activities, from seminars on specific topics to extensive regional updates on current trends. Besides high quality education, networking opportunities are a big plus for all attendees. See the list below for educational opportunities in your area and mark your calendar.
October 3-4
Experience Green
Sea Pines Resort, Hilton Head Island, S.C.
Visit www.experiencegreen.org
October 29-31
Alabama Turfgrass Conference & Tradeshow
Auburn University Hotel & Conference Center, Auburn, Ala.
Visit www.alaturfgrass.org
November 4-5
Georgia GCSA Annual Meeting & Golf Championship
Atlanta Athletic Club, Johns Creek, Ga.
Visit www.ggcsa.com
November 11-13
Mississippi Turf & Landscape Conference and Tradeshow
Bost Conference Center @ Mississippi State University, Starkville, Miss.
Visit www.pss.msstate.edu/workshops/turf/
November 18-20
Carolinas GCSA Annual Trade Show
Myrtle Beach Convention Center, Myrtle Beach, S.C.
January 7-8
Tennessee Turfgrass Association Conference & Tradeshow
Franklin Marriott Cool Springs, Franklin, Tenn.
Visit www.ttaonline.org
Source: Patrick O'Brien (email@example.com) and Chris Hartwiger (firstname.lastname@example.com)
Information on the USGA's Turf Advisory Service
Contact the Green Section Staff
The USGA and Chevron have committed to using the game of golf to encourage students in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) disciplines. This commitment has led to the creation of extensive golf-focused STEM teaching tools, and has resulted in charitable contributions to support golf-related programs through Eagles for Education
At U.S. Open Championships the Chevron STEM ZONE™ is an interactive experience highlighting the science and math behind the game of golf through a variety of hands-on exhibits and experiments.
The partnership has also produced educational materials such as the Science of Golf video series and a nationally-distributed newspaper insert which are provided to teachers as tools to enhance existing curriculum in schools. These lessons teach the science behind the USGA's equipment testing, handicapping, and agronomy efforts.
For more interactive experiences featuring golf-focused STEM lessons, visit the partnership homepage.
Rolex has been a longtime supporter of the USGA and salutes the sportsmanship and great traditions unique to the game. This support includes the Rules of Golf where Rolex has partnered with the USGA to ensure golfers understand and appreciate the game.
As the official timekeeper of the USGA and its championships, they also provide clocks throughout host sites for spectator convenience.
For more information on Rolex and their celebration of the game, visit the Rolex and Golf homepage.
IBM has partnered with the USGA to bring the same technology, expertise, and innovation it provides to businesses all over the world to the USGA and golf's national championship.
IBM provides the information technology to develop and host the U.S. Open's official website, www.usopen.com, as well as the mobile apps and scoring systems for the three U.S. Open championships. These real-time technology solutions provide an enhanced experience for fans following the championship onsite and online.
For more information on IBM and the technology that powers the U.S. Open and businesses worldwide, visit http://www.usopen.com/IBM
Lexus is committed to partnering with the USGA to deliver a best-in-class experience for the world's best golfers by providing a fleet of courtesy luxury vehicles for all USGA Championships.
At each U.S. Open, Women's Open and Senior Open, Lexus provides spectators with access to unique experiences ranging from the opportunity to have a picture taken with both the U.S. Open and U.S. Women's Open trophies to autograph signings with legendary Lexus Golf Ambassadors in the Lexus Performance Drive Pavilion.
For more information on Lexus, visit http://www.lexus.com/
Together, American Express and the USGA have been providing world-class service to golf fans since 2006. By creating interactive U.S. Open experiences both onsite and online, American Express enhances the USGA's effort to make the game more accessible and enjoyable for fans.
For more information on American Express visit www.americanexpress.com/entertainment


text:
Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://hdl.handle.net/1928/2352
Title: | The NIH Enhanced Public Access Policy at the University of New Mexico: Transforming Data into Action |
Author: | Phillips, Holly E; Aspinall, Erinn E; Kroth, Philip J |
Subject: | NIH Enhanced Public Access Policy University of New Mexico survey recommendations library assistance Health Sciences libraries awareness knowledge compliance NIH investigators |
Abstract: | Purpose: This study aims to 1) determine investigators' awareness of the NIH Policy on Enhancing Public Access to Archived Publications Resulting from NIH-Funded Research, 2) identify potential barriers to participation, and 3) determine the resources and interventions that would support compliance. Subjects: The authors surveyed 128 University of New Mexico (UNM) investigators who received NIH funding in fiscal years 2003, 2004, and 2005. Methodology: NIH-funded investigators were identified using the UNM Contract and Grant Awards publication from fiscal years 2003, 2004, and 2005. An IRB-approved questionnaire was sent to investigators to survey their knowledge, acceptance, and compliance with the Policy. The survey ran for 45 days in June and July 2006. Two reminder messages were sent to investigators during this time. Results: Data will be collected through July and analyzed in August. The response rate as of July 18, 2006 is 40%. Discussion: The NIH Policy signaled a pronounced change in the expectations of NIH-funded investigators and created opportunities for libraries willing to be proactive in supporting the Policy. The Health Sciences Library and Informatics Center (HSLIC) developed the NIH Policy Task Force to make recommendations for supporting NIH-funded investigators' participation in the Policy. The survey results will guide the development of Policy-related marketing and educational campaigns at UNM. |
Date: | 2007-10-23 |
Description: | Poster delivered at the SCC/MLA Annual Meeting in College Station, TX, October 23, 2006. |
URI: | http://hdl.handle.net/1928/2352 |
Files | Size | Format | View |
Phillips_NIHPublicAccess_SCCMLA_20061017.pdf | 132.5Kb |
View/ |

subset: commoncrawl


text:
EPISODE 104 Airdate: January 16, 2003
Overview TV and Web Credits
Nigeria, THE ROAD NORTH What the Miss World riots reveal about a divided country FRONTLINE/World reporter and producer Alexis Bloom and co-producer Cassandra Herrman land in Nigeria just as the Miss World contest gets under way. A riot breaks out, hundreds die and the beauty contestants flee. In the aftermath, what will happen to Amina Lawal, a woman sentenced to be stoned to death for adultery? read more
North Korea, SUSPICIOUS MINDS A reporter's quirky visit to the forbidding "hermit kingdom" FRONTLINE/World visits North Korea, which is among the most closed societies on the globe. Traveling as tourists, BBC reporter Ben Anderson and cinematographer/producer Will Daws peek past the sights planned for them on their guided tour and develop surprising rapport with their ideologically pure official minders. read more
Iceland, THE FUTURE OF SOUND Innovative pop music from the land of ice and fire Music critic Marco Werman flies into Iceland for FRONTLINE/World on a hunt to find some of the most innovative pop music on the planet. Around-the-clock pub crawls follow, naturally. read more
back to top TV AND WEB CREDITS
REPORTER: Ben Anderson; PRODUCER/VIDEOGRAPHER: Will Daws; EDITORS: Ryshard Opyrchal, Michael H. Amundson; a BBC production for FRONTLINE/World
PRODUCED AND REPORTED BY: Alexis Bloom, Cassandra Herrman; VIDEOGRAPHER: Cassandra Herrman; EDITORS: Steve Audette, Amy Young; ADDITIONAL MATERIALS: APTN, BBC; SPECIAL THANKS: UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism
REPORTER: Marco Werman; VIDEOGRAPHER: Peter Pearce; SOUND: Paul Rusnak; EDITORS: David Ritsher, John MacGibbon; ADDITIONAL MATERIALS: Arni Sveinnson, Elektra Entertainment Group, Filmus Productions Iceland; MUSIC: Apparat Organ Quartet, Björk, Sigur Rós, Singapore Sling, Telco Systems, Trabant
For FRONTLINE/World 104
PRODUCTION MANAGER: Rachel Raney; ASSOCIATE PRODUCERS: Sheraz Sadiq, Jessie Deeter; UNIT MANAGER: Suzanne Romaine; WEB PRODUCER: Angela Morgenstern; WEB EDITOR: Doug Foster; SITE DESIGN: Fluent Studios; PROMOTION: Erin Martin Kane, Chris Kelly, Brian Eley; COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: Brent Quan Hall, Ellen Schneider, Active Voice; LEGAL: Eric Brass, David Moyce; SATELLITE PHOTOS: Space Imaging; THEME MUSIC: Supreme Beings of Leisure; SOUND MIX: David Porter; POST PRODUCTION SUPERVISOR: Chris Fournelle; POST PRODUCTION ASSISTANT: Chetin Chabuk; ONLINE EDITOR: Michael H. Amundson; SENIOR VIDEO EDITOR: Steve Audette; SERIES DESIGN: John MacGibbon; FRONTLINE COORDINATING PRODUCER: Robin Parmelee; FRONTLINE PRODUCTION MANAGER: Tim Mangini; FRONTLINE SERIES MANAGER: Jim Bracciale; KQED VP, TV STATION MANAGER: DeAnne Hamilton; EXECUTIVE IN CHARGE FOR KQED: Sue Ellen McCann; EXECUTIVE IN CHARGE FOR WGBH/FRONTLINE: Sharon Tiller; SERIES EDITOR: Stephen Talbot; EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: David Fanning
Web Site (Nigeria, North Korea, Iceland)
PRODUCER: Angela Morgenstern; DESIGN AND PRODUCTION: Susan Harris Fluent Studios; Additional Production: Wendy Goodfriend, Gordon McNee, James Thompson; WRITING AND RESEARCH: Jessie Deeter, Sheraz Sadiq, Aerin Wilson, Kelly Whalen; COPY EDITOR: Joan Saunders; WEB EDITOR: Doug Foster; SERIES EDITOR: Steve Talbot; SPECIAL THANKS: Sam Bailey, Marrie Campbell, Richard Dean, Amanda Hirsch, Sue Ellen McCann, David Moyce, Robin Parmelee, Rachel Raney, Natasha Rodriguez, Suzanne Romaine, Wen Stephenson, Sharon Tiller, Richard Winefield, KQED Interactive, Zaps, Inc.
back to top


text:
Lin's Antiques and Collectibles
á102 Fowler Drive
Beaver Dam, KY 42320
About Us
Sales Policy
FRANKOMA POTTERY û BOOT W/ STAR WALL POCKET (3 1/4")
for item
This is a cute unmarked Frankoma item û a mini boot shaped wall pocket! It measures 3 ╝ö and although itÆs a wall pocket, it is also free standing. It is in good condition with a ¢ö long glaze ship at bottom edge of boot. The chips is on the hanging side (faces the wall) and doesnÆt show at all when hanging. There appears to be a tiny amount of color glaze on the chip so it could have occurred as a flake-off when removed from the mold but IÆm not certain. This is a rather unusual Frankoma item but it is not perfect and is priced accordingly.


text:
Sounds gay to me.
Can someone call for an ebonics translator!
It's no real surprise this useless Piece of Shit is a gay motherfucker, just look at his dumb-ass…. Geez! Fucking LOSER!!!
I think this is irrefutable proof that moonwalking leads to gay butt play.
I hate christ brown he's a punk and is a women abuser and needs to go to mentally rehab or something (Rihanna ) and I luv her u sucklol
Text me and follow on Facebook @dashawn Wiggan please thank u all
Y'all need to leave Chris brown alone doing all that hatin and that's not cool:(
ilove chris he sex with amen so wht have all de fun u want babe


text:
From Kate Gregory's Codeguru column, "Using Visual C++ .NET. Most people will tell you that you can't build a Windows Forms application in Visual C++ .NET. However, that's not strictly true. What you can't do is use the visual designers to drag, drop, and arrange your buttons, labels, and so on if you're working in Visual C++. Old timers like me remember that the name Visual C++ comes from just that capability. But we also remember that there was always another way to make our user interfaces, creating buttons and labels and the like in code, and setting their size and position with lines of code. All the visual designers do is generate that code for you behind the scenes. And at the moment, they only generate C# or VB.NET code. In .NET, the code generated by the designers isn't hidden somewhere, or generated only when you build. It's easily accessible within files you probably have open anyway, and that means it's easy to copy. In this column, I'm going to show you how to build your user interface in C#, then do a little editing to turn it into a 100% C++ application. Along the way you'll get some insight into the differences between C# and C++. It's only fair to mention that MSDN has a sample of a Customization project called the ManagedCWinFormWiz. You copy some folders from the MSDN CD or DVD to specific places on your hard drive, and the next time you choose File, New Project you have an extra choice under C++: Managed C++ Windows Forms Project. Don't get too excited though: there are no steps to this wizard, and it doesn't do very much. It creates a form with a menu and a few controls, so you can see where to hand-add your own code. But you get no help in building your user interface at all. They even forgot to make the simple change that takes away the ugly black command prompt in the background behind your Windows application when it runs. You'll do better with the sample code I provide with this column. Remember also that the reality of .NET cross-language development means that you could just develop your user interface in C# and work with business objects written in C++. Still, I like to know that I can do it all in one project and all in one language if I choose. I don't like thinking of Visual C++ as limited in any way. I'm going to start by building a C# application. If you want to follow along, open Visual Studio and choose File, New Project. Select Visual C# Projects on the left and Windows Application on the right. Name the project cs1 to have all your file names and so on match mine. In the forms designer, just quickly drag on a button and a label next to it. (You might have to choose View, Toolbox to have somewhere to drag them from.) The user interface looks like Figure 1.
I changed the text (caption) of the button to Greet Me and the label to blank, but left their names as generated. For a real application, you would go to town here creating a complex and beautiful user interface. Next, double-click the button to generate an event handler for it. I just added this line of code: If you like, build and run it to assure yourself that it works. Click the button and the label text should change to "Hello!". That's all you need this project for, so exit the app and choose File, Close Solution to close it in Visual Studio. To create an empty C++ application that will grow to display your Windows Forms application, start by choosing File, New Project. Select Visual C++ projects on the left and Managed C++ Application on the right. Call it cpp1 if you want your file and variables names to match mine. Use notepad to open form1.cs from the C# application, and select and copy all the text, then paste it into cpp1.cpp, right before the _tmain() function. Now it's time to set to work changing C# to C++. As you do this, remember the compiler is your friend, and will remind you of any changes you forget to make.The important differences include: With that in mind, here are the steps to follow to edit the large mass of C# code you just pasted into your C++ source file so that it's valid C++: That's it! Try building and running it. If you get compiler errors, it's probably because you missed a . somewhere -- let the messages guide you to the place you need to fix. Here's what my code looks like: What if you want to change your user interface later? Add another button and handler, or move one of the controls you already have? Well, you have two choices. Either you edit the C++ code you already have, or you go back to your starter C# app and edit your interface, then look at the code generated for you and do some careful copying and re-editing in your C++ code. You can see the way that the position, name, and text of each control is set in InitializeComponent(), and you can edit these lines at will to rearrange your user interface, or copy them to add more controls and handlers. Well, that's all for now. I hope this column has shown you that C++ can do more than appears possible at first glance, and demonstrated some syntax differences between C# and C++. In future columns I'll talk more about managed types and value types, and some of the other subtle distinctions there wasn't space to discuss here. Kate Gregory is a founding partner of Gregory Consulting Limited (www.gregcons.com). In January 2002, she was appointed MSDN Regional Director for Toronto, Canada. Her experience with C++ stretches back to before Visual C++ existed. She is a well-known speaker and lecturer at colleges and Microsoft events on subjects such as .NET, Visual Studio, XML, UML, C++, Java, and the Internet. Kate and her colleagues at Gregory Consulting specialize in combining software develoment with Web site development to create active sites. They build quality custom and off-the-shelf software components for Web pages and other applications. Kate is the author of numerous books for Que, including Special Edition Using Visual C++ .NET. # # #
Building a .NET Windows Forms App in Visual C++ .NET
June 28, 2002
Getting Started
Figure 1. Click here for larger image
label1.Text = "Hello!";
Creating the C++ application
Differences between C# and C++
Editing into C++
#using <System.dll>
#using <System.Drawing.dll>
#using <System.Windows.Forms.dll>
#using <System.Data.dll>
void button1_Click(Object* sender, System::EventArgs* e)
Controls.AddRange(new System.Windows.Forms.Control[] { label1, button1});
to the two lines
base.Dispose( disposing );
Form::Dispose( disposing );
this.button1.Click += new System.EventHandler(this.button1_Click);
button1->Click += new System::EventHandler(this, &Form1::button1_Click);
// This is the main project file for VC++ application project
// generated using an Application Wizard.
#include "stdafx.h"
#using <mscorlib.dll>
#include <tchar.h>
#using <System.dll>
#using <System.Drawing.dll>
#using <System.Windows.Forms.dll>
#using <System.Data.dll>
using namespace System;
using namespace System::Drawing;
using namespace System::Collections;
using namespace System::ComponentModel;
using namespace System::Windows::Forms;
using namespace System::Data;
namespace cs1
/// <summary>
/// Summary description for Form1.
/// </summary>
public __gc class Form1 : public System::Windows::Forms::Form
Button* button1;
Label* label1;
/// <summary>
/// Required designer variable.
/// </summary>
System::ComponentModel::Container* components;
// Required for Windows Form Designer support
components = NULL;
// TODO: Add any constructor code after
// InitializeComponent call
/// <summary>
/// Clean up any resources being used.
/// </summary>
void Dispose( bool disposing )
if( disposing )
if (components != NULL)
Form::Dispose( disposing );
/// <summary>
/// Required method for Designer support - do not modify
/// the contents of this method with the code editor.
/// </summary>
void InitializeComponent()
button1 = new Button();
label1 = new Label();
// button1
button1->Location = Point(48, 96);
button1->Name = "button1";
button1->TabIndex = 0;
button1->Text = "Greet Me";
button1->Click += new System::EventHandler(this,
// label1
label1->Location = Point(184, 96);
label1->Name = "label1";
label1->TabIndex = 1;
// Form1
AutoScaleBaseSize = System::Drawing::Size(5, 13);
ClientSize = System::Drawing::Size(292, 273);
Name = "Form1";
Text = "Form1";
void button1_Click(Object* sender, System::EventArgs* e)
label1->Text = "Hello from C++!";
// This is the entry point for this application
int __stdcall WinMain()
Application::Run(new cs1::Form1());
return 0;
About the Author


text:
Cookies are small text files stored on your computer. They allow us to distinguish you from other users when you visit this site and to provide helpful features such as your recent searches. Cookies themselves do not contain any personal information, and Infotel does not use cookies to collect personal information.
Book online or call +44 (0)1775 843417 at standard rates.
Award winning quality 4* guest accommodation. Housed in one of Plymouth`s most elegant Victorian buildings dating back to the early 1830`s you`ll discover 20 bedrooms in a friendly, unpretentious, yet stylish town house hotel - family run and at sensible prices. It stands between the famous Hoe and modern city centre, and is within easy walking distance of the historic Barbican with its Mayflower Steps and picturesque harbour front. Bring your laptop, we`re wired up!
All of our rooms are individually styled each with their own unique charm. Differing shapes, sizes and decor to meet all tastes. Each room has a flat screen television with freeview, selection of reading material, a desk at which to work, WiFi, Fairtrade tea, coffee, hot chocolate, hairdryer and some complimentary toileteries ... and a comfortable bed!
We also offer a self contained apartment that sleep 4. For week stays this is available at £625.00Please note we have no night porter and check in must be made before 10.pm. Thank You
These are general hotel policies for The Imperial, Plymouth. As they may vary per room type; please also check the room description.


text:
Look! A Huge World Map (and Purple Table) in the Dining Room Dining Room Inspiration This schoolhouse-inspired dining room is so fun, with its floor-to-ceiling world map, vintage chairs, and purple (!) dining table. If this inspires you to paint your own dining table (or other piece of furniture) consider this tip from Jenny Brandt, the table's owner...
Wood Top Kitchen Carts: High & Low Best Products for Small Kitchens Kitchen carts have seen us through many less-than-ideal kitchen setups, and saved the day when we needed a little extra counter and storage space. These 10 butcher block carts span sizes, styles, and price points — from IKEA at the low end (a reliable go-to) to gorgeous (and pricey!) carts from leading butcher block manufacturer John Boos.
A Budget Dining Room Table and Its Brilliant Detail: Hot Pink Legs! Dining Room Inspiration For years Steph and Phil had been looking for the perfect dining room table — one that was "stylish, clean lined, family friendly, reasonably priced, big enough to accommodate our friends for dinner and also where our piles of home projects and kids artwork and homework can build up in piles..." as they told Apartment Therapy. Whew! Sounds like a tall order, but they finally hit on it. A solid oak worktop and natural wood desk legs from IKEA, with a special custom touch: fluorescent pink legs!
Short on Space? This Shelf 'Hides' Your Table and Chairs in Plain Sight! If you live in a small home and still love to entertain, you know that hosting dinner parties requires a bit of space planning. Do you borrow a few extra chairs? Haul out a card table from your storage unit? Set up a few cushions on the floor? If you had Orla Reynolds' brilliant shelf, you'd have two tables and four dining chairs conveniently at the ready. Can you spot them?
Neat Idea: Use a Bar Cart To Store Pretty Dishes & Kitchen Odds and Ends Kitchen Inspiration Bar carts made a big comeback in recent years as people took to keeping their liquor out in the open. But if that's not your thing, here's another use for them: a mobile storage place for dishes and kitchen tools!
How Much Walking Space Is Required Around a Kitchen Island? Small Space Solutions I've seen a lot of tiny kitchens sporting equally tiny islands, and if you're set on having an island, it is possible. But how can you tell if an island will work in your kitchen? There's one important dimension you need to know.
Industry West: Colorful (and Totally Affordable!) Metal Dining Chairs and Stools Store Profile When I first discovered Industry West, I couldn't bookmark it fast enough. An affordable (!) source for colorful metal dining chairs and stools seemed too good to be true. But for fans of Tolix chairs and industrial machinist stools who can't swing the hefty price tags of those original and vintage versions, Industry West has you covered.
Remembering the Joy of Cooking: Paper Cutout Oven by Lucy Engelman It's almost Friday, so how about something sweet and fun? This mini paper cutout oven by Lucy Engelman is modeled after the one in her family's kitchen. She keeps it on her studio desk to remind her of all the "happy, delicious moments" she's had with family in the past, and the ones to come when she heads into the kitchen to cook after a day's work.
The Courtesy Table: We'll Eat Together... Or Else! Are you tired of your companion flitting off to various distractions during dinner? Appeal to their considerate side with the Courtesy Table, designed by Dutch designer Marleen Jansen. Can you guess how it works?
Telling Stories, Solving Puzzles: A Table to Gather Around We'd gotten a little casual about where we ate, with most meals at the butcher block island, its wood top sometimes kale or beet stained from dinner prep, and usually still damp from a quick wipe-down. I was craving some formality. Not the kind that dictates which side of the plate the fork goes — I admit I still get turned around on that one — but the kind of formality that comes from giving something its own special place. The way a dancer has the stage, a photograph has a frame, or a tree has its earth. The formality I craved was to give the food bound for our bellies its own place of honor.


text:
When Chuck and Margie Barancik learned about Season of Sharing in early January, they immediately wanted to donate — anonymously.
Then, a friend approached the couple and suggested they could "help accelerate" the fundraising if they'd put their names behind their money.
So, the Baranciks came up with the idea of a capping grant. They publicly pledged $100,000 for the fund that helps needy families in Sarasota, Manatee, Charlotte and DeSoto counties, but they stipulated that other first-time donors add another $62,000 before their check gets deposited.
"It worked," Chuck Barancik told the Longboat Observer. "I've had at least 20 or so emails and phone calls of people offering four- or five-figure amounts for the fund."
"'Wow' — that word summed up my first reaction," said Roxie Jerde, president and CEO of The Community Foundation of Sarasota County. "What they've done, by going public with their extraordinary act of generosity, is really to inspire people to step up. We know they probably would have preferred to give it anonymously, but we're so appreciative that they didn't, because it's really encouraged others to give.
"It shows their deep love and concern for our community."
The Baranciks, philanthropists who divide their time between Longboat Key and Chicago, have donated to several local causes, including Jewish Family and Children's Service of Sarasota-Manatee, All Faiths Food Bank, the YMCA and the arts. Chuck Barancik said Season of Sharing, which pays for daily expenses such as utility bills, child care and transportation, stood out to him because it had no operating expenses.
"How often can you contribute to a cause and know that every dime goes straight to the hands of people who most need it?" he asked. "That's the beauty of this."
Currently 0 Responses
- Mar
19 Business After Hours Networking Event
5:30 pm - 7:30 pm - Mar
24 JFCS Golf Challenge
11:30 am - Mar
30 Run to Remember Sponsor and Team Captain Appreciation Night
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm - Apr
25 Run to Remember
7:15 am
Good pick for Pick
St. Mary, Star of the Sea, Catholic Church Reverend Emeritus Edward Pick was born in 1935 and ordained to the priesthood in 1960. -
Lovebirds: 75 years fly
Charles "Buzz" and Jane Walker celebrated their 75th wedding anniversary on Valentine's Day with 40 family members and friends at Moore's Stonecrab Restaurant. -
Back in the running
We were skeptical last April when former Longboat Key resident John Wallace told us he had reached the finish line of his marathon career.


text:
Tap into Lustre's power and scalability, with simplified installation, configuration, and monitoring from Intel.
CitizenM hotels offer guests an innovative stay with technology from IReckon software solutions, powered by an Intel® Xeon® processor-based server.
Providing fast, massively scalable storage software, Intel® Cloud Edition for Lustre* software delivers huge performance in complex HPC app workloads.
Intel® Solutions for Lustre* software - Where to Buy
Intel® Enterprise Edition for Lustre* software allows enterprise organizations and research clusters to tap into the power and scalability of Lustre.
Brief: Low-profile Intel® Ethernet Converged Network Adapter X520-QDA1 offers flexibility, scalability in virtual and network appliance environments.
See results from a Principled Technologies test which shows Dell PowerEdge* R720 servers upgraded with Intel® Xeon® processors boost performance.
Cordless projection just got easier, thanks to Intel® Pro Wireless Display technology.
Find out more about docking cord-free with Intel® Wireless Docking.
Wireless projection is made easy with Intel® Pro Wireless Display technology.


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Wow, I have a twitter now. Hmmm, would you like to follow me? Here, take this link. If you follow me; I will make all your dreams come true:
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Do you like films? Do you like my writing? If so, then have a look at my movie blog:
I'm a student. I'm currently working on my second degree. My past jobs were working at a gym and Urban Outfitters. I love to play guitar, read, listen to music, and watch films. I'm funny and enjoy the arts. I sometimes can ramble on about literature and films. I'm born and breed in New York. I'm easy going and I love fashion. My favorite system is the DS. I constantly shop at Urban Outfitters and Topshop. I really don't know what else to say. Oh yeah, I'm a cool guy!
I Stand Alone, Magnolia, There Will Be Blood, Fight Club, Antichrist, Enter The Void, Dogtooth
Bob Dylan, The Beatles, Rolling Stones, Lhasa De Sela, MC5, Neil Young, Velvet Underground, Radiohead, Manu Chao, The Smiths, Nine Inch Nails
The Trial, Notes From Underground, Paris Spleen, Crime And Punishment, Junky, Hunger, Nausea, The Stranger
Super Mario Bros., Lost in Shadow, Braid
Favorite Articles I've written:
Demon's Souls: An Allegory for Life
Diary of a Breton: Journey to Solitude
Are You Afraid of the Dark?
Explain Yourself!
Venus, Put on some Fur and let's Talk
Front Page Articles
The Emasculation of a Father
A Small Thank You
I started a blog at this very site to let some of my feelings out. In some way Destructoid was therapy for me. I write about everything from my mother, past relationships, financial situations, friends, hipsters, school, etc. This is done not for sympathy, but as a way to expresses myself. My financial situation is a mess and I have no idea how Im going to make a living, but writing and reading some of the response from great users have bought a wealth of positiveness to my life; It really doesnt have to be anything big, but a simple comment of appreciation is enough to fill my heart with joy. Its strange writing this, but joining this community has been the best thing I've ever done, well, second best thing; getting laid is pretty cool. What Im trying to say here is thank you. Thank you for this awesome community. Thank you for reading. Thank you for commenting. Thank you for being awesome.
A big thanks goes to falsenipple for the header!
Venus In Furs
- Don't know what it is? Well, my freind, click on the link and listen to the song.
The Velvet Underground - Venus In Furs (Original)
DeVotchKa - Venus In Furs (Cover)
Following (20)
Are you afraid of the dark?
on 10.08.2011
Two years ago I decided to read
120 Days of Sodom
by Marquis De Sade. I only made it halfway through the book before I decided not to finish it - the book was simply too disturbing to read. I thought I can handle the dark tale of four French libertines kidnapping a set of underage boys and girls. But to my surprise, I couldn't. You see, I have an ego; an ego of being undisturbed by anything. I would like to think my generation is the reason for this, and not because Im insane. The film adaptation of
120 Days of Sodom
by Italian filmmaker Pier Paolo Pasolini had absolutely no effect on me. This supposedly controversial and disturbing film simply hasnt aged well, not because its bad, but because its shock value has been conquered by other films over the years. For instance,
A Clockwork Orange
was set to shock you, but now, its simply an average film with average violence the violence doesnt have the same effect and in return the film suffers greatly for it.
Video games, like literature, seem to be the only shining hope of true violence and genuine scares, but as the years go by, Im noticing games are following the same path as films - the desensitization of gamers is what I worry about. Its something we should try to keep intact before its ultimately gone.
Dark Souls
theres an elevator that takes you down to an underground cavern (you can reach this area at the start of the game). This cavern is dark and filled with enemies not interested in attacking you. Instead, the enemies are scattered around crying, pacing back and forth, or sitting with their head down. Theres barely any light and the only sound you hear is of heavy breathing. I spent about five minutes there until I decided to leave. This level had an eerie feeling of hopelessness and its the main reason why I love the game. But Im scared that soon enough this will be absent, only replace wholesale by staleness and the absurd religious inhabitants of typical cliches that currently infest films.
I would like to point out three games that rival this typicalness of violence and horror:
Condemned 2
, and
Call of Cthulhu: Dark Corners of the Earth
At the start of
Condemned 2
, the player controls a drunk officer in an alleyway. Hes unarmed and completely confused as to what is happening around him only seeing bizarre images on broken TVs and fighting off black liquid monsters. This level, which is essentially a prologue, is brief, slow; dark to the point you think youre going blind and effective in its violence and scares. Like
Dark Souls
Condemned 2
brings in the violence and scares slowly, it builds it up, sets an atmosphere, and indulge itself in romantics before the main event. Unfortunately, the rest of the game fails to live up to its prologue.
Games, like films, love to show extreme violence. I have no problem with this, but I do have a problem when its desensitizing its audience it kills the immersion and ultimate goal of the game.
Dark Souls
has a way of scaring you not only with its levels, but with its controls. Like
Dark Souls
has limited gameplay options. For me, this adds to the horror. Ive been desensitize to violence and horror, but the possibility of death still gets to me its the reason why I left the underground cavern in the first place. The atmosphere was amazing, but it was the thought of losing all my souls, equipment, experience points, etc that truly ended up disturbing me.
Horror by gameplay is what I preach and its used perfectly in
Dark Souls
, and
Silent Hill: Shattered Memories
. Limiting the gamer is the next best thing in horror: take the gun away and replace it with a flashlight, have your currency be used in the same vain as your experience points, let there be limited check points, have every decision you make be the final one because the game saves itself every five seconds. And also, let the game be hard.
has you starting and ending the game with nothing you have no weapons. When an enemy arrives, your goal is to hide until they have left. This, while boring on paper, is simply a delight to experience. Games have gone so far with its gore that Im no longer scared or shocked by it. I give a bad look to games that apply blood and gore as a way to unsettle you (Im looking at you,
Dead Space 2
). I champion the bizarre, not because its different, but because its effective (well, when it is effective), and so should you.
The first two hours of
Call of Cthulhu: Dark Corners of the Earth
has you going around a town questioning people about a murder. This all builds up to the actual gameplay of the game: Running yes, all you do is run. Let me explain, after the two hours of investigating, you go back to your hotel room only to be awaken by the sound of someone trying to get into you room. Every room is connected by doors and your goal is to escape. Youre chased by two sharply dressed gentlemen; one with an axe, another with shotgun. You run to the door, turn around, lock it, or move a book shelf to cover the door you only have a few seconds to do this or they will break the door down and you will die. This goes on for about 20 minutes until you escape. Like
Dark Souls
many gamers have never gotten past the first 3 hours and some even fail to see the fun in it. But for the few that do see the fun; they get a special sense of fright, scare, and blood pumping action!
This all goes to my point of gameplay replacing visuals in horror. Because gore has been used so many times, developers must find a different way of scaring you. In a way, I thank games like
Dead Space
Gears of War
, not because I enjoyed them, but because they encouraged developers to find a more creative way to scare the shit out of you.
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Criticizing the critics
on 09.15.2011
Reviewing the reviewer and reviewing the score is a rather controversial topic. People seem to never be satisfied with a score a game they admire received; its either too high or too low. The comments posted on any review from any site invariably seem to be infested with an abundance of insults and misunderstandings. Complaints about the words or numbers are commonplace, but are they justified? Do any of the critics criticizing the critics have a point? Do any of these points deserve to be explored?
A popular comment I read posted on reviews is the non-subjective comment. Certain individuals hold the belief that a reviewer should never place his or her opinions on a review. In other words, a review should only be done from a technical stand point: gameplay, music, graphics, etc. Any comparison to any other games is immediately shut down as trying to live up to certain expectations; a game should be reviewed as it stands: a single entity. I completely disagree with this thought process and find it hard to believe that some individuals actually mean it. T.S Elliot wrote: No poet, no artist of any art, has his complete meaning alone. His significance, his appreciation is the appreciation of his relation to the dead poets and artist. You cannot value him alone; you must set him, for contrast and comparison, among the dead. Poetry should never be judge as is. A review should always have comparisons to the dead (past games) of whichever genre it occupies. It is impossible, and wrong, to not compare games to each other. This is how the medium will grow, not by limiting our review process, but by looking at past games (in its genre) for inspiration and improvements.
Another common critique is the number system. A scale from 1-10 is commonly used in many game sites, but is it fair? Does it have any place in a review? The answer is yes and no. Yes, because the number gives the reader a quick and unambiguous answer as to the quality of the game and, no, because a review should stand on its own -- the words in a review should be enough; it doesnt need to hide behind a number. People seem to take the number scale literally. For instance, if a game is scored a 10, then it gives the impression that its perfect, but we all know no game is perfect. The number scale is pretty simple to understand; a 10 doesnt mean a game is perfect, but that the reviewer highly recommends the game. In a perfect world, everyone would look at the number and read the review, but unfortunately we dont live in a perfect world and many people only look to the number. This begs the question: Should the number scale be abolished? Should such a accommodation be done for the handicap? This is something thats been debated for awhile, but it seems that the complaints are from overzealous fans. This brings me to another point I want to make: Genre.
Another typical comment used is the how can you give game X the same score as game Y comment. Genre should always be considered when a reader is reading a review. If game X is a shooter and game Y is an RPG and game X is scored slightly higher than game Y, its not because the game is better, but because its better in its particular genre. Comparing apples and oranges will get you nowhere. This absurd sensitivity has been widespread because of the internet. This quick reaction to games the consumer has yet experience is demented and show nothing but loyalty to the absurd. But it is useful to examine this absurd behavior that always lies in the realm of pretentiousness, which takes me to my next point: Preference.
Reviews always have the opinion of its writer, but what if the reviewer reviews a game in a genre he or she knows nothing about or even hates. Lets take
, for example. Jim Sterling stated many times that the game is not for him and if he was reviewing it, it would have gotten a low score. I tend to agree with comments that say, Why did you review this game if you hate the genre? But theres always a little voice in my head who thinks its positive to have a fresh voice to speak about a game -- A different t perspective might highlight some blemishes a reviewer comfortable in the genre would overlook. This question is more complicated than the others and I have no solid answer, but I do have a suggestion: a mini review. Let me explain, you have the main review and also have a mini (a small paragraph) review of someone not accustom to the genre giving his or her thoughts. Comparisons between two different gamers are always welcome and can help the way we look at games.
Reviews are always criticized for its content and suppose bias, but we must all take a step back, take a deep breath, and think before we judge. There are always some legitimate complaints. Take a look at any controversial review and tell me the comments arent always out of line. Is there a perfect way to review a game? I really dont know, but I think the first step is respecting each other in the comments and being accepted of others opinions, and take what they say seriously. They may have a point.
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I think I may have a problem
on 09.15.2011
Everyone loves a familiar face, no? Someone you can relate and know inside and out. Most people have fear of the new and undiscovered, but always champion familiarity. As a literary major, my classes demand me to read and analyze several books my virgin eyes have not seen.
The Waste Land
are some of the works I have to read this semester. I have read most of the books in my collection more than once. Im sure this is normal -- wanting to experience a great story you just read for a second or third time. Everyone does this, but why am I having difficult time doing this with video games? Not only that, but why dont I have any games to replay?
I have a confession, I bought
Demons Souls
three times. Yes, I bought the game and sold it
different times. I first got the game for $40 used and only made it to the second world. I played the first world for about 4 hours and had the entire level memorized, but the game ended up pissing me off, so I sold it. A month later, I bought the game again to finish what I started. This time I made it to the third world and had a pretty powerful character. The game ended up pissing me off
, so I sold it. For the third and final time, I bought the game and actually beat it. The moment I started the game, this feeling of familiarity came over me. I went into the game knowing what to do and how to do it.
Demons Souls
is one of the very few game Ive spent over 30 hours playing. I never did this with a game before, most of the time if I sell a game; its gone forever. This explains the lack of any game collection -- I simply dont find replaying games I beat enjoyable. Im not a multiplayer type of guy, so thats out of the question. Unlike my favorite books or films, replaying games seem to be a struggle. Its an interesting dilemma. You would think if you can re-read your favorite books to be experienced again or re-watch your favorite films, that video games would natural fit into the mold. But I think I may have found part of the problem: Gamestop.
Growing up I didnt have many games to play. I would replay the same games over and over again; even games I knew were bad were always on constant play on my console. The moment I turn 18 was when I finally had the ability to go into a Gamestop and trade in games. This was also the moment my collection dwindled into nothingness. I must stress that the problem really wasnt with Gamestop, but with me -- I couldnt control myself. I would sell a bunch of games for store credit. I used this store credit for getting new games, but most of the games I had I've never beaten -- they were all incomplete. I would buy a new game, play it for 4 hours, or sometimes only an hour, and sell them back the following week. This resulted in me buying some games multiple times. For instance, I bought
Fallout 3
different times. I enjoyed the games a great deal, but I wanted a new experience so I ended up selling it. A couple of weeks would pass, and I would buy the games again. At times I would struggle to get to where I left off because I didnt have the save file anymore, and replaying it was a chore, even if I didnt touch the game for a couple of weeks or months. I did like these games, but the whole trading games for new ones was too good of a deal to pass up. Games I knew were good, and wanted to finish were never finished because new and interesting games would always come out and I would sell my games to get enough store credit to buy the new games. I would always end up missing the games I sold, hence why I bought them again. This also explains my love for short games. Take
Alan Wake
, for example. It was short, straight to the point, didnt bother with any romantics, and I beat the game in a few short days. I enjoyed every second of
Alan Wake
, but replaying it was something I couldnt do. I wanted to play the game and experience it again, but video games demand so much time and effort that I rather not go through it again, no matter how fun the gameplay is. This is where the problem lies and what Im trying to fix.
For the last 6 months, Ive tried to keep my games and made a promise to myself to beat them.
Dark Souls
, and
are the only games I will buy and play for the time being. I also made a promise to never step inside a Gamestop. I know this sounds pretty silly, but seeing how many hours Ive spent with
Demons Souls
and the satisfaction it bought me, I want to experience these games in full, but to do this I must stop going to Gamestop. I really dont think I can control myself and not sell my games. At the moment I have a PS3 and no games. Yes, no games! Its been like this for the past 2 months. Well, I did get
Little Big Planet 2
and only played it for a day before getting rid of it. I think narrowing down the games I play will help me enjoy them more. I sure as hell dont want to experience
Dark Souls
FOUR different times before I beat it!
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Game + Book = <3
on 09.04.2011
Spoilers for Ico, Shadow of the Colossus, and Castle in the Mist.
Their cries would not reach that ancient castle perched upon the cliff at the end of the world, far to the west where the sun sank after its daily journey. The only thing that could lessen the rage of the master in the castle, that could strave off the castles curse for even a short time, was the chosen Sacrifice.
begins with a boy with horns being carried to a castle and shut forever in concealment. We know nothing as to why this is being done to the boy, but its safe to assume that the isolation the boy is sent to is a direct cause of him being born with horns.
Castle in the Mist
by Miyuki Miyabe tries to answer these questions in her novel. The game, unlike the novel, is more of an experience and less of an actual story. In contrast, Miyabe novelization of
is less of a retold of events in the game, and more of a glorified fan-fiction. In the preface she writes,
If you picked up this book hoping for a walkthrough of the game, look elsewhere. The order of events, solutions to puzzles and even the layout of the castle have changed. While it is certainly not spoiler-free, someone who reads this books and goes on to play the game will find much there that is not here.
I find it interesting comparing the book and game; two total different mediums that assist each other. The developers of the game had no say in the book, but they did give Miyabe permission to write her own version of the story. For me, first playing the game and then following it up with the novel helped bring the world of
, and some cases
Shadow of the Colossus
, more alive. The games were no longer minimalistic and ambiguous with its message and story -- the book bought life to an otherwise lifeless (story wise) game.
Miyabe created a detailed account of Icos horns and the reasons why he is cast forever in isolation in the Castle in the Mist. Ever since the boy was born, Ico knew he would be cast out. The boys soul resides in the castle. In a way, Ico being cast out is good because he can now reclaim it and finally be whole. He was raised as a normal child until the age of thirteen. The elder of the village took Ico to the Forbidden Mountain. He brought Ico there to show him the horrors the Castle in the Mist brings when its angry.
They had ridden on horseback for three days north, going where not even the hunters dared tread. They saw no one on the road, no birds flying overhead, no rabbits in the underbrush, no tracks of foxes in the soft mud left by the rains the day before. Why were the mountains forbidden? Why did no one come this way? Why were there no birds or animals to be seen?
This location reminds me a lot of the isolated world of
Shadow of the Colossus
. In the end of that game, our hero is born again as a child with horns in a world with no life.
The book brings what I like in a story: details. Im all for ambiguity, but it seems that if any criticism is put forth to games like
Ico, Shadow of the Colossus, Limbo, The Path, Journey
, etc then youre considered a philistine because you dont get it or cant use your imagination to fill in the blanks. In my opinion filling in the blanks only works when enough information is given. Think of it as a puzzle piece. You have a puzzle that creates a picture of Mario (you are not aware what the picture is about), but are only given 2 pieces; those 2 pieces are not enough to interpret what the picture is about, you need more, not all, but enough to be open to interpretation. Having only 2 pieces of a puzzle just comes to show you how the creator didnt know what he/she was doing and decided to be ambiguous to hide the fact that he/she was clueless about the story. I find this to be a common thread in most artsy games. The scenery is always beautiful and awe inspiring; sometimes you stop just to absorb the beauty like a good painting; however, unlike a painting, most of the beautiful imagery means nothing (there are some exceptions). It works as a short mini game, but the gamer starts to notice the blemishes and the magic, for me, seems to always disappear. Its the reason why I take so long to finish games. Atmosphere is good and can take a game to new heights,
Demons Souls
is perfect example, but sometimes I want more. Sometimes I want a good story told to me. Many of these artsy games have great ideas (theyre the most original in all of video games), but do nothing with it. Anyway, Im glad
Castle in the Mist
was written because I now see these games in a new light. For me, the games are now more than just pretty colors. Theyre games with characters and events I truly care about.
The book spends a good 60 pages before Ico is sent to the castle; during those 60 pages we are introduced to Icos friend, Toto. Before Ico is taken to the castle he is put into a cave (a sort prison). Toto visits Ico there and tries to convince him to run away with him. Ico refuses and warns Toto to not do anything stupid. The next day Toto runs away from home with a horse. Toto runs to the castle so he can meet up with Ico when he is brought there, but before he can make it there, he must pass through the Forbidden Mountain and there Toto sees the horror the castle brings.
The world around him was petrified and gray. The people in the streets around him had been frozen in time. Some pointed towards the sky, others ran, holding their heads in their hands, while still others held their mouths open in soundless screams. Toto wondered how many years they had stood there like this. When he reached out hesitantly to touch one, it crumbled into dust beneath his fingertips.
The first 60 pages are like a prologue to the game, and I made an effort to not talk about anything more than that in fear of spoiling more than I wanted, but if you have played Ico, I highly encourage you to pick up this book. I promise it will make for a better experience. Your outlook on the game will greatly change.
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I think we're going to be friends
on 08.18.2011
My school isnt bad. Nor is it great. It fits right in the middle of mediocrity. The school isnt a prime example of excellence or a defective environment of undesirables. Its just there. Its not ugly or pretty. Its not clean or dirty. The school simply exists. In many ways the school is exactly like me. You see, I wasnt a bad student, but a boring one. I had a few acquaintances in school. I care about my appearance enough to make an effort to look presentable, but did nothing with it. I go to class, sit in the back and space out. I cut class constantly and arrived late for almost every class I had. I really didnt have any excuse for this. I just walked slow and spend too much time in the bathroom. I got along with most of my teachers. The teachers, like the school, are a mix bag of everything. I had teachers who absolutely love their jobs and others who took the job simply because some of them are a bunch of failed artists hungry for a paycheck.
I sat in class and did nothing. I would stare at the peeling dirty white walls and space out this is my typical routine in most of my classes. I didnt spend much time thinking about my future. I know I should have done my work, go to class early, listen, and participate, but I didnt. I wish I had a better reason, but none exist. This, without question, was my existence; however, this existence all changed my senior year.
I never really met anyone who shared the same interests as me until my last year in high school. Surprisingly it was video game music that brought a couple of gamers together. I had an endless amount of mix CDs of recorded game music. You see, I didnt have any money to buy a soundtrack or import the ones that I wanted, so what I did was record the game music from the television. I made CDs of
Metal Gear Solid 2
Final Fantasy X
, and countless others. Besides Radiohead, video game music was my high school soundtrack.
I met my friend Jonny in history class. He was a short chubby white kid with a heavy Brooklyn accent. My bag was open on top of my desk with two Radiohead albums clearly visible. The iPod recently came out, and I didnt have any money to buy one, so it wasnt uncommon to still carry CDs with you. Jonny whispered asking me what my favorite Radiohead song was. I said it was
The National Anthem
and his eyes grew bright with excitement. Suddenly our teacher told us to shut up and we didnt talk until class was over.
After class, we both walked to the cafeteria talking about Radiohead until he asked if I listen to any video game music. I told him I did and showed him the CD I made of
Metal Gear Solid 2
. I told him I recorded all the songs off my television and he laughed knowing what I did was ridiculous. He said he had the actual soundtrack and his brother knew a way of ripping game music from the disc. He said he would make me a copy and a mix tape of other game music the next day. That afternoon in the cafeteria was the first time I had a deep conversation about video games. The cafeteria was small and dim; it was overcrowded with students, but we somehow found a little spot to talk. We talked about the music, gameplay, and story of all our favorite games until class started. I was stunned and impressed by his knowledge. A challenge I thought, someone who can rival my useless video game trivia. Jonny also introduced me to the world of anime and would later lend me
on DVD.
It was dark and raining that night. I sat on the chair in the middle of my room trying to pop a pimple on my forehead. I lived in a small, damp apartment complex in New York. The walls of my room are dirty white and most of the paint was peeling off. I saw my bag in the corner of the door and remembered Jonny burned me a CD of videogame music. I sat on my bed and played the first track. I recognized the tune from
Final Fantasy X
. I quickly went to the next track and was greeted with a loud bang. I closed my eyes and imagined a hero in some distant land fighting off monsters. Jonny has kindly written down each songs name and from what game theyre from.
Shadow of the Colossus
I read.
The song is titled
Monstrous People
and I fell in love. It was epic. It was amazing. It got my heart pumping. I would turn the volume of my CD player as loud as I can and imagine some great fantasy fight between some unknown soldier and a demonic beast. I reached for the CD case to see if any more music from the game was present. Only 3 of the 17 songs are from
Shadow of the Colossus
. He also included songs from
and other music from games I never heard of. He did include some J-POP which I didnt care for, but I did love the rest.
The next day I greeted him with a big smile and started to talk about all the good music he burned for me. Jonny and I were best friends that year. We spent most days together talking about whatever interested us. Unfortunately I havent seen Jonny since high school, I dont know why. We just drifted apart; its funny how things always end up, but what can you do. I lost all contact with him, but the memories are enough to keep me satisfied. Its important to ones self when you can talk to someone who understands you and share the same interests. You dont feel alone or weird. Being able to express yourself without embarrassment or ridicule is an amazing feeling and one that I cherish with my friends. The internet has made it easier in finding like minded individuals. Most, if not all, my friends dont really share my interest in video game and thats fine. I have my Dtoid friends to talk to about that. Keeping and maintaining a healthy friendship is essential to a happy life and I think Im doing pretty well.
Ive only been an active member for about 5 or 6 months, but its good to be part of a community who understands you. I never knew something like this can actually happen. I used to look down at people, who had internet friends or met people through the internet, but we live in different times now and this is becoming the norm. By reading blogs I get to not only know your likes and dislikes, but know you as a person. Dtoid has allowed me to make more friends than I could have ever imagined. We have fan fiction about our community members, and even music for each one, too! I dont know of any other website that does this, but this is pretty fuckin awesome.
To the many people I PM and Tweet to; you guys are my friends. To anyone who reads and comments on my blogs, thank you! I may have never met you in person, but knowing you from your writing is enough to generate an opinion. I feel like I'm rambling here, so I'll just leave and give a THANK YOU to everyone.
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Gamers are going crazy
on 08.10.2011
You know whats lame? This review is lame. I found the ign review to be much more helpful and most reviews by ign are horrible. All u do is bash about how bad the game is. It clearly didn't suit your tastes for a srpg but that doesn't mean that you should go on just bashing about how bad the game is. Have you even played any srpg games b4 this one? if you have how do they compare to this one? If not then you shouldnt have got the game in the first place.dont put up reviews if u dunno how 2 do one
- Youtube comment on a negative review for
Record of Agarest War
Ive been quiet on this subject for some time, but reading reviews for
Record of Agarest War
, and many other niche games has got me thinking: gamers like to feel different and superior. Now, I dont want to give the impression that all gamers are like this. For instance, I find the Destructoid community pretty open minded about games of various genres and consoles, but reading comments on virtually every gaming site (including Amazon) are really hitting a nerve with me. Now, what the hell am I talking about specifically? Well, my friends, I will present you with an excerpt of a response to a negative review for
Record of Agarest War
on Amazon that inspired this blog post:
Games today are not as experimental and creative as they used to be; now the game market is flooded with those cheap first-person shooter games with the same agonizing Star Wars/Lord of the Rings style soundtrack with the same trumpets, and choir style that has absolutely been overused in many games over, and over again, and back in the 1990's, and it is wonderful to see that this recent game has at least stepped out of today's trend, ridding all of those unnecessary Star Wars/Lord of the Rings style soundtracks This game was made in Japan, NOT the United States with all of those bland, rather unfitting English American voice acting that are supposed to be on games made in the United States such as the Call of Duty, Mass Effect, and Halo game series; so your review is rather plain, bland, and rather pointless.
Im pretty sure weve all read comments like this before. Gamers longing for the good oldays of yore: a time when developers took risks and games were better made Im sorry, but I fail to understand this point of view. What is there to hate about this generation of gaming? We live in an age where a small studio can get their games out to the public through digital distribution. We live in age where creativity is bursting out in an extraordinary rate. We live in an age where developers are taking games as a serious art form. We live an age where gaming in general is getting the respect it deserves. As an Xbox 360 owner I have a wealth of different genres to choose from. Want a fantasy western RPG? We got it! Want a JRPG? We got it! Want a FPS? We got it! Want something strange and different? We got it! The same can also be said about the PS3 and to a certain extent the Wii. I fail to see what is so discomforting about this generation of gaming. Are people complaining just to complain? Or do they truly believe what they're saying. If, so, I pity them.
, this so called niche game, recently came out to critical acclaim and great sales, but the masses still champion this game as something the minority will only like. Now, lets not get out of hand here --
will not see
Call of Duty
like numbers, but its safe to say the game is a financial and critical success. Numbers and reviews aside, gamers are divided about the game. Most people either love it or hate. I personally think the game is good, but nothing special. I express this opinion in a form of a comment on a youtube video and received this PM minutes later:
This game is a masterpiece! Its a work of art! How can you think the puzzles get boring and the story is not good? Ha! Im pretty sure you dont like the story because you dont have personal exprence with the subject in hand, and youre probably too stupid to understand the puzzles. Go play Call of Duty or Halo. You probably wanted porn. Leave the real games to the real gamers. Youre what is wrong with the game industry. We must love and embrace games like this because its different. Too bad most people wont play this game
Besides insulting me; this user assumed the game is some type of underground cult classic -- which its not. I learned on Twitter that my friend from school, a casual female gamer (I use the word gamer loosely) purchased the game a week ago. This casual gamer, who hasnt bought a game in a year, bought this underground niche game as her first title since
Halo 3
. Actually, I learned many of my friends, who are not hardcore gamers, bought the game as well, not because of its suggestive advertisement, but for the premise. This user also assumed I like to play Fist Person Shooters -- Im sorry to break it to him or her, but I dont. Even if I did, is that a problem? Is that suppose to be an insult? I Like a genre you don't, so it's only fitting to insult me? Such a boring and typical response.
Another example of this is the hate comments Jeff Gerstmann received for his 2 star review of
. Users called him an idiot and mainstream lover for not liking the game and calling his review unprofessional because he shouldnt voice his opinion in a review; it's suppose to be "subjective." What I find interesting is that most people were defending a game they havent played yet. You see this constantly with gamers. Lets assume Jim Sterling gives the new Deus Ex game a bad review; most will call for his head, even though they themselves have not yet played the game. This species of gamers are so devoted to a product they know nothing about that they are willing to insult and call for the firing of certain reviewers. I'm sorry, but is this not the talk of crazy people?!
All I read in comments are gamers insulting each other because of what the other enjoys. I read one comment calling the
BioShock: Infinite
demo a "typical" and "uninspired" shooter - how the hell can anyone look at that demo and use the word typical? What is typical is his response to the video. The comments on most of these gaming sites are getting ludicrous and it's the reason why I only read comments on the c-blogs. I dont know if theyre simply doing this to piss people off, but whatever the reason, Im done reading them.
I understand not liking a game, but there is no need in attacking someones opinion or exaggerating certain problems to fit your agenda. You do find these type of comments on film blogs as well, but not in the same level presented on gaming sites.
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Three Arrested in Valdosta Burglary
Updated: 11/14/2014 - Valdosta Police say that they've arrested two adults and a teenager on burglary charges after the three burglars posed with the items they stole in pictures on the internet.
Updated: 11/14/2014 - Valdosta Police say that they've arrested two adults and a teenager on burglary charges after the three burglars posed with the items they stole in pictures on the internet.
Posted: 11/13/2014 - Internship experience is highly beneficial to students, fresh graduates, and anyone looking to enter the work force in today's competitive job market.
Posted: 11/13/2014 - Due to the arrival of cooler temperatures, Lowndes County would like to remind citizens to take precautions necessary to protect themselves and their pets from the elements.
Posted: 11/13/2014 - Hundreds of Special Olympians will come to Valdosta this week to compete in the Fall Special Olympics.
Posted: 11/13/2014 - The SGMC Berrien Campus has completed data collection and posted its implementation plan for its 2014 Community Health Needs Assessment.
Updated: 11/13/2014 - Valdosta Police say that a nursing home resident was murdered in her room on Tuesday.
Posted: 11/13/2014 - The Northwest Florida Water Management District Governing Board today approved nearly $8 million in grant funding to be used for 26 new water supply development projects across Northwest Florida.
Posted: 11/13/2014 - Readers of the influential blog Brian Leiter's Law School Reports have voted the Florida State University College of Law faculty as the nation's 35th best in a 2014 survey on the nation's top law faculties.
Updated: 11/13/2014 - At the regular City Commission meeting on Monday, November 10, 2014, two Douglas Fire Department firefighters were honored.
Posted: 11/13/2014 - Thanksgiving holiday travel is up 7 percent from last year according to TripAdvisor.
Updated: 11/13/2014 - Meth bust in Lakeland, Ga.
Posted: 11/13/2014 - A newly created partnership between the Georgia Department of Corrections and a north Georgia charter school is expected to help some prison inmates earn their high school diplomas.
Posted: 11/12/2014 - VSO Welcomes Pianist Awadagin Pratt to Whitehead Stage Nov. 15.
Updated: 11/11/2014 - American Legion Post 13 hosted it's annual Veteran's Day Ceremony at Lowndes High School.
Posted: 11/11/2014 - A special needs child goes missing, and is later found dead. It's the fear of every parent of a special needs child. And just a few months ago..it because a reality in Live Oak. Now community members are coming together to try and make sure this never happens again.
Posted: 11/11/2014 - There's a very real possibility that the structure of the Internet could change, now that the Federal Communications Commission is tweaking the rules.
Updated: 11/11/2014 - More than 240 seniors were not forgotten during this Veteran's Day holiday thanks to more than 50 members of Blessed Sacrament Roman Catholic Church.
Posted: 11/11/2014 - About 100 soldiers from bases in North Carolina and Georgia are on their way to West Africa to help in the fight against Ebola.
Posted: 11/11/2014 - The Georgia House Republican Caucus has made its leadership selections for the upcoming legislative session.
Posted: 11/27/2014 - A list of free food for Thanksgiving Day.
Posted: 11/10/2014 - The Thomas County School System has announced the schedule of patriotic events honoring veterans for Veterans Day.
Updated: 11/10/2014 - J. Britt Johnson, Special Agent in Charge, FBI Atlanta Field Office, announces the following arrests at Savannah, Georgia resulting from a inter-agency law enforcement operation focusing on child exploitation activities in the area.
Updated: 11/10/2014 - Tickets for Valdosta High School's playoff game against Newton go on sale this week.
Updated: 11/10/2014 - The Rose City Symphonic Band hosted a free concert in Thomasville to honor veterans.
Posted: 11/09/2014 - Navy officials say a record crowd is on hand this weekend at Pensacola Naval Air Station for the Blue Angels' annual homecoming show.


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Flourish 2015 Conference
March 14


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Ever wear ear plugs to deal with the never ending loud noise?
0 I work in ltc . My unit has become a psych unit mostly dementia related. I have 3 residents that yells intermittently ; they feed off each other. One in particular is inconsolable and prn meds .. psych consults..hospital stay..hasn't help at all. She is afraid to be left alone and cries/yells to get anyone's attention. I'm at my wits end and thinking of getting ear plugs !
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2Aug 8, '12 by LJ85Good luck lol, that might be considered to interfere with your ability to respond as a nurse.Orca and Hygiene Queen like this.0Aug 8, '12 by caliotter3I have to use ear plugs in order to have some kind of quiet in my home due to the never ending noise making of my neighbor. The apartment complex managers refuse to make him tone it down. Unfortunately I have found out that the ear plugs fall out during my sleep and don't work anyway. He stomps on my ceiling quite effectively. Also the ear plugs hurt my ears. When I can, I will move. I feel sorry for you. Moving from a job is not very easy.0Aug 8, '12 by Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, RN Senior ModeratorI've learned how to tune it out after a while (having a hyperactive child at home has given me a lot of practice). However, I'm also not on a dementia unit so I can't even imagine how hard that must be.0Aug 9, '12 by ElladoraI thought about this thread last night while I was at work. Had a patient scream/cry for three hours. She had her prns, we tried to talk to her, she called her son - everything was done to calm her down and she just wouldn't settle. She stood at the report room door and screamed at us while we were doing report. Can't wait to review my charting today - I'm SURE I made some mistakes. What I wouldn't have given to be able to completely tune her out for a few!1Aug 9, '12 by 1pinknurseGrowing up with an Italian mother has helped me work in a psych facility....LOL Seriously, it is loud at my psych facility but I am loud too so we go togther nicely most of the time. Sometimes it does get on my nerves but then I remind myself that I work in a psych facility. I don't know a psych facility that isn't loud. The patients are hearing voices, may be seeing things so I have to be empathetic towards them. I wouldn't dare turn down the noise, as I need the noise to tell me what is going on with them. If it's quiet, I am wondering why.Orca likes this.0Aug 9, '12 by Zen123Any success stories with dementia patient who is very anxious with repeatitive verbalizations? Her trigger is she's afraid to be left alone and needs constant 1:1. As soon as you leave that is when her behavior starts, voicing " Help!... I'm afraid!......" " I'm gonna die!." I hear this for 7 out of the 8 hrs I'm at work. I tried ipod with her favorite music..and sorts of distractions. Blech, no luck. On Zyprexa and trazodone. PRN Ativan .5 works only for 2 hrs; the 1 mg made her too drowsy. Haldol did not work. Lexapro did not work.
Help! lol0Aug 10, '12 by 1pinknurseI would talk to the Dr & request a psych eval. Sounds like her meds need to be changed. I don't have much experience with dementia patients. My patients are mostly dual dx & are either schizo or bipolar or depressed. This is either drug induced or organic in nature.