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I'm a gamer, anime fan, and writer spearheading "Kiss Me Sweet", a initiative pushing to get Sakura Wars 1-4 brought to North America on the PC via digital distribution.
I also run a blog called Atlanta Fried Critic where I try to be funny and mostly fail, and I published a book about serial killers, forbidden romance, and annoying Game Boy Music called "Twisted Complex: A Love Story."
So yeah. Nice to meet you.
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Why Pokemon Might Not Be For Me Anymore
on 10.21.2013
April 21st, 2007. I go to bed in my clothes and shoes, ready to wake up the next morning. Little thirteen year-old me is giddy with excitement over waiting in front of GameStop the next morning. Why? Because of
, of course. The fourth generation was at hand, and according to reviews, the series was better than ever. So I got a ride to the store from my generous mother, ready to play the hell out of both versions. With my collectible styluses in hand, I sank untold amounts of hours into those games, much like I did with the first and second generations.
A similar thing happened with the fifth generation. This time, though, I only bought one version. After all, I couldn't possibly finish both games, what with high school, and other games, and other commitments. I knew people who had the other version, so I'd just trade with them, right? Fast-forward to college, and the fifth-gen sequels come out. I put a few hours into a version, then never touch it again. Now, with the sixth generation here, I've been enjoying myself, for sure, but I'm coming to realize something now, more than ever.
, at its heart, is a game for children. It is training wheels for broader gaming experiences, and while still very well-made games, they are ultimately not fulfilling enough to sustain my interest. Here are some reasons why.
There's Very Little Actual Challenge
When I was a kid, battling the Elite Four was a terrifying proposition. I scrambled to make sure my party was leveled up enough, but still made sure that I had enough room for my favorites. I wasn't going abandon my starter, or my cool-looking one, or my cute one. Somehow, in the end, I always managed to push my way through with my favorites in tow. That was on top of pushing through challenging trainers, caves infested with wild beasts, and other obstacles. In recent years, however, I've begun to realize something about the game. There is a set formula for blazing through the narrative, and once you learn it, there ends up being very little fun to be had. Make sure you have the right types, stay a level or two above the trainers you encounter, about five to ten levels above most wild Pokemon, and at the same level as the gym leaders. Rinse, repeat, rinse, repeat. Any challenge to be had relies on nothing more than pure chance, like a leader getting consecutive critical hits or something like that. The difficulty is artificial, and the formula is way too simplistic to keep my interest.
The Story Is Rudimentary At Best
Hunting down the legendary Pokemon, bringing down the evil group attempting to control the world, meeting the eclectic characters... these were the staples of my childhood experiences in this franchise. Every entry made me so excited to do all of this, and much, much more. But with each entry's increasing emphasis on plot and characters, I'm starting to see something that should have painfully clear from the very beginning: these stories have never been very good. The characters are pretty one-dimensional at best, the villains are superficial, the legendaries no longer all that special. Basic narrative devices stay unchanged despite the addition of new elements that fans claim to be "darker" and "edgier." Reviews and casual players alike have commented on how the story has been getting better with each entry, but honestly? The narrative is still pretty shallow when held in comparison to other RPGs out there, with characters that are more complex, worlds that are more fun to explore, monsters that are more fun to catch. Sure, it's still addictive, but is it very good? In terms of gameplay and fun, yes. In terms of narrative and intrigue, not particularly.
What's The Point In Catching Them ALL, really?
It's right there on the package. "Catch 'Em All!", the print ecstatically demands. There was a time, yes, where I really cared about doing that. But when I look at a Pokemon that's a split-open garbage bag, an ice cream cone, a panda, a sapling... well, I start questioning just why I'd want to catch them. Sure, there are Pokemon that I like, and love raising and discovering their abilities, but honestly, there are more of them that I think are flatout stupid. It doesn't matter what I personally feel, according to series fans, just catch them and hoard them, give them to other people. But what's the point in using my time that way? I'm sinking several dozens of hours of my life to catch little in-game creatures that, bluntly, I couldn't give two damns about. It's not like I can do anything with these little beasts that I don't care about. Trading is an option, but eventually, I can only trade so much. It gets to a point where I realize that I'm becoming the virtual equivalent of a hoarder. I'm not really into the story, or the world, or the characters, and I don't have any attachment to what I'm collecting, yet I press on. For what? And really, that's the question: what am I getting out of this?
It's Always Been Shin Megami Tensei For Kids
Around the same time I got my hands on the fourth generation of
, a friend at GameStop set aside a rare game for me that he thought I might enjoy. I'd vaguely heard of it, and so I decided to give it a shot. What I found was an intriguing plot, fantastic characters, an imaginative setting, an excellent amount of challenge. Not only that, but it also had a monster collecting element (just like
, right?!) that was deeper, allowed combination, encouraged experimentation, and taught me how to let go of attachment. That game was
Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner: Raidou Kuzunoha vs. The Soulless Army,
and it was my induction to the MegaTen franchise. Later on, I realized that Atlus had created the same thing
popularized, but better and with more complexity. With characters that had real depth, and stories that actually meant something. Furthermore, it was never the same thing regurgitated with each new entry. MegaTen's influence can be seen in
Pokemon X/Y,
even. The increased focus on a cast of young teens, and the friendship that builds between them, reeks of
Persona 4
; the horde battles are ripped wholesale from
Shin Megami Tensei IV. Pokemon
, at its very core, is a series that took something popular among a niche audience and made it easy to consume, easy to market, and easy to capitalize off of. And it worked, because last time I checked, there's no Jack Frost balloon next to Pikachu at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.
, at a very base level, is not a bad franchise. Far from it, actually. With each entry, it manages to implement new features that function flawlessly, and to crank out legions of cute little creatures for people to catch and argue over. However, that's just the thing: in my mind, the series can only be taken at a base level. Because if you compare it to peers in the same genre, it begins to come apart at the seams, much like a Trubbish spilling out into a Garbodor. The story is mindless, the characters are trite, the world fails to give any real sense of exploration. It is to RPGs what
Call of Duty
is to first-person shooters. That's not a bad thing, by far. I still enjoy playing the occasional entry in Activision's flagship franchise, just like I still
a whirl to see what new stuff they've implemented.
But in the end, I will never be able to get real satisfaction from the series. It's passive fun, but it will never grab me like
Shin Megami Tensei IV
, immerse me like
Persona 3
, challenge me like
Soul Hackers
. I'm left feeling like Stevie Nicks in the Fleetwood Mac classic, "Landslide." I climbed a mountain, and turned around; I look around at children getting older, and realize that I'm getting older as well. And with each passing year, the idea of catching them all gets a little less enticing. It tears me up to say this, and honestly, I'm getting choked up as I accept this about myself.
Then again, I guess learning to cry is part of growing up, isn't it?
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(5 photos)
Kiss Me Sweet - The Sakura Wars Localization Project
on 06.13.2012
I have messaged NIS about this, and I need support from the fervent Sakura Wars fanbase here in North America. Together, we can make what others thought was impossible come true via the magic of digital distribution.
This year, XSeed has proven that niche JRPGs can succeed on the PC with their moderately successful releases of two "Ys" games via Steam. While "moderately successful" does not equal "smash hit" in retail sales, there's a crucial factor at play here: digital distribution barely costs anything. With almost nothing to lose, releasing a PC game via Steam and having it be mildly successful is still making a profit. As you may know, there are PC ports for every Sakura Wars game up until "So Long, My Love." What you may not know is that there are preexisting Russian translations from Akella for the first two PC ports. Russian is easier to translate into English than Japanese, so their argument for translation costs would be almost moot. For SW 3&4, the profit they gained from releasing the games via channels such as Steam, GamersGate, and (potentially) GOG would most likely be enough to do a quick translation for those two entries.
NIS spends most of it's time cranking out retail releases of games that barely sell at all, yet they could be sitting on a cheap license for guaranteed PC profit with almost zilch distribution costs. Akella releases English language games regularly via Steam, and thus could work together with NIS for join profits from the original two entries. As for Sega, the original owners of the SW franchise, well, they're no stranger to PC releases. They would gladly take any extra profit they could potentially gain with such minimal risk. With no boxed releases or special editions or extraneous junk, they could pump the games out at a rapid rate and suck in the fans who have been waiting for these releases for such a long time.
I can't do this alone. So, if you want, let's do the following:
1) Contact NIS, Akella, and Sega. Bring up these main points in a courteous fashion.
2) Find sales figures for XSeed's "Ys" series on the PC and wave them in these companies' faces.
3) Spread the word about the SW franchise to friends by showing them "So Long, My Love", as well as the several anime and manga adaptations that are legally available in the US.
The fact that SW didn't sell well on the PS2 and Wii was not the game's fault. No, it was the fault of Sega and NIS for not knowing how to properly market the series. With nothing to risk, not a lot of translating to do in comparison to their other games, and more potential profit than almost anything NIS is putting out these days, there is very little reason for them NOT to pursue this.
Operation Rainfall worked. They pushed for something they believe in. I believe in this series, and I believe that it has an audience in the PC crowd. Whoever's with me, let's push for this legendary franchise to be available in it's entirety for the first time in North America!
Rainfall has stated they would consider doing an interview at 500 Facebook "Likes", so I'm really pushing to get this out there. All of the information you need to be a part of this is in my profile information, so please, if you want to check it out. This is not a nonprofit, or a donation box, or anything like that. Kiss Me Sweet is something I'm doing because I care about this series, and I want to see it brought over here. Spread the word, if you want, and let's show NIS and Sega that people want these games!
view gallery
(3 photos)
Sakura Wars: So Long, My Fear of Commitment
on 06.10.2012
Japanese role-playing games and I have been good friends since I was around twelve years old. A criteria I held as a standard before I picked the GameStop I went to was always based upon how many JRPGs they had in stock during my last visit. Even if they were the most cliche, tired tripe that NIS slapped a translation on, I snagged it up eagerly and began to play it. This obsession stemmed (big surprise, folks) from my fandom and passion for anime and manga. Throughout high school, my interest in this genre of games waxed and waned, but I still kept up a consistent pattern of buying based on that standard. Doing this introduced me to some of my favorite game series, such the
Shin Megami Tensei
franchise. But during my senior year, I discovered something sinister about this practice of snagging any JRPG I could get. Namely, I wasn't finishing any of them.
It's not that I didn't finish my games. In fact, most games that fall into my hands, I finish. Hell, I even finished
, and that game was one of the most brutally difficult ordeals my thumbs have ever endured for an upwards of 20 gameplay hours. But something about all of the JRPGs I purchased kept scaring me off. Whether it was the unfair amount of cheap deaths, the incessant need for level grinding, and the intimidating amount of hours I was required to sink into many of them, I wasn't sure. Trying to stay on track in high school, maintain an active role in my drama ensemble, and managing anywhere between 5-15 long-winded RPGs was simply too much for me to handle. So I quit many of them. Even worse, the ones I didn't quit just sat on my shelf. As an example, I bought
Persona 3 Portable
around the week it launched. Guess what? It's still sitting in my PSP. The PSP whose batteries have been dead for months. I've only logged about 18-20 hours into the damn thing, over the course of nearly
two years
Financially, this is terrible. I'm spending my money (and my mom's money, because I'm a spoiled little heathen) on games that I never finish. P3P was around 40 dollars, and I've haven't come close to making that money back in gameplay hours. In terms of the narrative and level progression, I've barely scratched the surface of the game. Essentially, that was 40 dollars blown on something that, despite having ready access to, I barely use. Any money manager worth his or her salt would most likely lynch me for this egregious practice.
Furthermore, doing this is a giant waste of my time. Thinking more critically of my purchases, I've found that I'll typically sink 7-12 hours into a game before banishing it to my shelf. For most games, 7-12 hours is going to give you a full experience, with a complete narrative, satisfying gameplay progression, and balanced difficulty. That's never the case with JRPGs. With most of them, you've made it about one-third to halfway through the experience with that time. With more extreme cases, such as the
Final Fantasy[/] and [i]Shin Megami Tensei
series, you're lucky if you've made a tenth of the way through. So, by buying all of these games, and not making it through any of them, I've accumulated hundreds of empty gameplay hours. I've started dozens of stories that I'll never finish, and I'll die with those tales left incomplete.
Maybe this says something about me as a person. At the age of 18, I've been in a few relationships. Before you dismiss this as normal for somebody my age, hear me out. These relationships have been incredibly emotional, filled with promises of commitment and marriage. Talks of having kids and getting old together. Guess who started these talks with grandiose ambitions, and guess who brought the relationships to an end when heavy conflict began? If you guessed me, congratulations, you get a cookie. I always have the best of intentions, yet my personal unwillingness to commit and push through misery brings it all crashing down around me, leaving me alone to bring my plague to another poor girl. It's not fair to them, because I was the one who instigated it.
Which is why I'm pleased to say that I've been in a relationship for over two years with one of the sweetest, kindest human beings I've ever known. Over the course of the last month, though, things got a little turbulent. It's not like it hadn't happened before. I was a complete douche and had fallen for two girls during the course of this relationship (never cheated, though, because that's a whole other level of wrong). I was with this amazing girl while my mind was on the others at times, and as much as that hurt me and made me feel conflicted, it wasn't myself I should have been concerned with. It was her. By letting myself get distracted and sidetracked, I hurt her, and abused her trust. That guilt cut me like a knife, digging down and burning like a thousand salted paper cuts.
Poor metaphors aside, this was a serious problem. And this past month of arguing, primarily stemming from my going off to college, brought that to light. I was on the verge of breaking up with this girl when something finally hit me: I wasn't unhappy. There was nothing wrong with our relationship. Sure, she had done some things to piss me off, but so had I. It was no reason to get huffy and storm out of something I'd stuck with for so long, something that given me more good times than I'd ever had with anybody. Furthermore, she had stuck with me more than any sane person would, and given so much. I saw all of her efforts, and she saw mine. What's more, whenever I chose a girl in a game featuring a romantic component, their personality matched hers' closest. I'd never felt so in touch with somebody before, and it took me way longer than it should have to realize that I was with my dream partner. It's kind of like that song by Rupert Holmes, the one about Pina Coladas. Except minus the actual Pina Coladas. Seriously, those things smell nasty.
What does this have to do with my nasty habit of quitting RPGs, though? Honestly, it has everything to do with it. This month, upon realizing that sticking with something instead of bailing on it is infinitely more rewarding, I picked up a game I bought back in December:
Sakura Wars:So Long My Love
for the Wii. I told myself that I would put every other RPG on hold until I beat it. Lo and behold, within less than a week, I'm almost through with the game, with only one more chapter of gameplay left. This experience has been more rewarding than any time I've ever spent with a game of it's type before. Instead of quitting when the dialogue grows tedious, or when a fight keeps kicking my ass, I persevere and push through to the next battle. Doing so has beget bonds with characters I'll never forget, and carried me through some of the most stellar battles I've experienced in a game. All it took was a little effort.
And now, from my girlfriend and this stellar game, I've learned a valuable lesson about both the games I play and myself. Instead of picking a bunch of games that look cool, I'm learning to pick one RPG at a time to work on. Sure, I can play some other shorter games in different genres, but my main commitment will be that one RPG. Kind of like my relationship. I can still chill with friends, and go have fun by myself, but the one constant love and receiver of my romantic/physical/sexual attention will be her. It took two years, a bunch of mistakes, and one giant robot dating sim to teach me something that most people probably already know.
The moral of this story is when something gets tough, and seems tedious at times, stick with it. It may end up being more rewarding than you ever imagined. Now if you'll excuse me, I have a JRPG to finish.
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(4 photos)
Hail to the Feminist: An Alternate Portrait of Duke Nukem
on 11.21.2011
With the release of Duke Nukem Forever earlier this year, many were outraged at the portrayal of women in the game. Critics left and right decried its content as sexist and offensive, even going so far as to imply that Duke himself was a sexist blowhard. While the blowhard part may hold some water, no amount of convincing will sway my opinion that Duke is, in fact, one of the greatest feminist heroes in fiction. This may come as a shocking claim to some, but its really quite an easy one to defend.
My opening argument is the sheer amount of danger Duke puts himself in for the ladies of Earth. Here we have a seemingly superficial douche, who dwells at bars and strip clubs. He cruises around on a loud motorcycle, guzzles booze, and leers at strippers. At face value, he is nothing more than a drunken lecher. But when aliens invade and attempt to enslave only women, Duke undertakes a one-man mission to save them all. It should be pointed out that he has nothing to gain from this. There are still women around, as evidenced by strippers and other NPC women visible in the series games. But he doesnt want the bodies of whoever he can find. He genuinely wants safety for each and every woman, and will stop at nothing to see this goal through.
One would figure that he would get immense military support for these acts of heroism, but they would be mistaken. In many entries, this is something that Duke does entirely of his own volition. No pay, no guarantee of help nothing. That in and of itself is truly admirable.
But that means nothing if Duke himself isnt a genuinely remorseful human being, correct? This is something critics of this years Forever would have you believe. The scene that supposedly is the primary source of this criticism is in the disturbing board The Hive. In this level, we see woman bound to oozing, parasitic walls that sexually violate them, impregnating them against their will. It goes without saying that this is a disturbing situation that is absolutely nothing to be laughed at.
And 3D Realms doesnt make it laughable. Instead, they play up the horror of the scenario by showing Dukes constant disgusted reactions to whats going around him. The game gives you an option to kill women who are bound to the wall, but Duke never cracks wise about this. Instead, he groans with a melancholy tone, Believe me, its for the better. And it is. This game is giving you the option to spare women from being constantly raped for years to come. If theres nothing else to do, and no way to save them, then Duke is taking the truly humanitarian route by choosing to end their suffering.
One particular scene seems to fall under fire a bit in this level, and thats when Duke runs across the Holsom Twins impregnated and bound in place by parasites. The Holsoms are a pair of blond girls whom Duke was fornicating with earlier in the game, and seem to hold his primary interest at the moment. Here, our hero finds them in a significantly less attractive state, as they beg for an answer to whats happening to them. Duke curtly replies, It looks like youre fucked. This happens just moments before their stomachs burst open with baby alien bugs.
Now, some interpret that line as an attempt to squeeze out a laugh, but this writer begs to disagree. Thats because the man uttering it is obviously not the brightest bulb on the Hanukkah tree. He is in poor control of some of his baser instincts, and responds to aggression with intense violence. Expecting him to have a grasp on whats happening to these poor girls is like expecting a dog to fly: its just not going to happen. He responds with his best explanation, which comes out as a half-hearted joke. However, it is apparent that he finds this to be anything but funny. In fact, when the girls die, Duke gets flung into a blind rage, infuriated that anybody would hurt defenseless women in such a way.
This scene is an important point in the game, because until then, it was a walk in the park for the veteran alien slayer. In The Hive, though, hes shown just whats at stake. This is no mere romp to kick hostile ass; its a vendetta to ensure a peaceful life for womankind. He shows care and sympathy for the opposite sex that is rarely displayed by male protagonists in First-Person Shooters, and he must be lauded for that.
Duke Nukem is as far from a sexist as Mother Teresa was from a serial killer. He never implies that women are inferior, and puts his own life before theirs routinely. While he may be as dumb as a post and one aggressive bastard at times, he has a heart of gold underneath it all, and he gives that heart to women at regular intervals. If thats not feminism, then I dont know what is.
NOTE: This essay was also posted on my Tumblr page, so if you run into it there, be assured that it is my own work.
Maturity Doesn't Mean Mature
on 08.04.2011
Last week, Atlus' latest in-house effort
was released to American audiences. Despite some critics being put off by it's somewhat unorthodox gameplay, it received generally positive reviews from most major sources. However, one point of interest of many players was how "mature" the game is. Some labelled it as mature simply because it dealt with sex a good deal, and others because of the fact that the characters aren't all young twits, running around with super powers or high-caliber weapons. But that word, especially in the medium of interactive entertainment, is becoming so loosely defined that we're beginning to really analyze what true maturity in a story is.
Earlier this year, People Can Fly's
was released. Because of the, er,
kind and informed
staff of Fox News hounding the game prior to it's release, many critics began to emphasize on the fact that this was a game only for adults. The protagonist, Grayson Hunt, spews dick jokes and mocks enemies as he dismembers them in increasingly violent fashions. There are a great deal of "your mom" and dick jokes thrown around, and the game rewards you for killing in humorous fashions. One such kill is the "Mercy" kill, in which you blast an enemy in the scrotum, then proceed to blow off his head. Certainly, this is something that Sally the Soccer Mom wouldn't like Little Timmy playing. By no stretch of imagination is this game intended for children.
But is it really what you could call "mature"?
Let's analyze
and the parts of which it's comprised for a moment. At face value, it seems to appeal strictly to the seventeen and up crowd. But honestly, is that really who it's intended for? Many adults will tell you that throwing in a never-ending barrage of dick jokes and intense violence doesn't automatically something appeal to them. Think about the "Average Joe" adults, the type who don a standard suit-and-tie for their 9-to-5 desk job, come home to their middle class home, eat dinner and go to bed. Now, one of these types may tell you that they enjoy more "mature" humor or thrills, in the guise of critically acclaimed movies or television shows. Now, what key word in there is problematic?
That's right: "mature."
A comedy like
30 Rock
will be lauded for it's "mature" sense of humor, which is generally comprised of wry dialogue and snarky bits of intellectual humor, and a drama like
Friday Night Lights
will be celebrated for it's "mature" plot, which is deeply human and reliant on character relationships. However, that same critic may go and call
a "mature" game. This is a complete and utter contradiction to their prior definitions of "maturity", for the game revels in having paper-thin characters, blatantly rude humor, and ludicrous amounts of gore. Even so, that critic will use the word "mature" to describe all three of these works. This may be the most liberal use of a word since stoners picked up "like" and began to insert into every sentence they could think of.
Historically, the word "mature" describes something, or something relating to, reaching it's full mental and/or physical potential. If you wanted to apply that word to
, well, you couldn't. The dialogue is stubbornly stuck in an adolescent state of mind, and the action is somewhat akin to the horrifyingly violent things that a third grader will sketch on the back of his math homework. To call it truly "mature" is not only grotesquely inaccurate, but further proves that the word is becoming bastardized by critics who think that something possessing maturity simply means that it's not technically suitable for children.
Another game associated with the word "mature", though, is the aforementioned
, in which protagonist Vincent Brooks is caught in a downward spiral after cheating on his longtime girlfriend, and must begin to make adult choices and deal with the ramifications of them. These choices are never black and white, and typically tap into a side of the brain which only one who has experienced the suffering and confusion of loss can truly understand. While advertised with blatant sexuality and overtly sexual dialogue, the game is anything but a celebration of perversion, and instead a questioning of what it means to be truly responsible. With multiple outcomes, the game forces players to ask whether it's better to be responsible for yourself or for others, or to cut loose and follow your whims to achieve perpetual happiness and pleasure. While some outcomes could be seen as "negative", the reality is that none of them really are. All of them are positive, really, depending on what type of person you are.
Now, to me, this is true maturity. The questioning of established ideals, characters who are more than meet the eye, and a plot that never panders to our prurient interests unless we make choices that veer it that way. To say this game is "mature" would not be because of it's interest to teenage boys looking for some kicks, but because of it's exploration of ideas that are simply best left suited to adult minds. It's both challenging and entertaining, and definitely something geared to those who are both developed fully in both mental and physical aspects.
Yet in the same breath, a critic will use the word "mature" to describe
. The same, exact word, labeling both a game designed to titillate and shock, and a game designed to make gamers examine themselves and the morals they live their lives by. How is it that, just because something has "inappropriate" content for children, it can be fairly called "mature" by critics? Is this not a gross underestimation of the average adult mind, and an all-around misuse of a term?
The reason I enjoyed
House of the Dead: Overkill
, and
Duke Nukem Forever
is because, to put it bluntly, they were fucking stupid. There was nothing put in the games to elevate or enlighten, nor anything meant to challenge our notions of what the human condition truly is. They were, in fact, a celebration of things that teenage boys the world over hold dear to them: violence, swearing, boobs, more violence, and more swearing. Instead of using these things in an ironic fashion to tell a secretly sophisticated story (a'la
South Park
Team America
), they simply served them on a silver platter, or in this case, crammed them into a game. They were not bad games, by any means. All had clever humor, engaging gameplay and deep replay value. However, were they what a proper "Average Joe" would call mature? I'm going to put my bet on a big, fat "no."
The word "mature" gets thrown around far too loosely. While the ESRB's treatment of the word for it's "M" rating is understandable, critics using it to describe
with content that Sally the Soccer Mom may not want little Timmy playing is not. Writers should look beyond the dick jokes and violence of a game to determine whether it truly
a mature experience, or if it's just pandering to the teenage boy in all of us. To not do so is a disservice to players seeking more from their games, who enjoy games made for adults, not just those containing "adult content."
view gallery
(2 photos)
Newsflash: Duke Nukem 3D Wasn't The Only Duke Game
on 05.31.2011
Duke Nukem Forever has gone gold. Wow, now there's something I never thought I'd say. Let me take that in a moment...
Okay, I'm back, and I've got news for any self-respecting gamer worth their salt. You see, despite what Gearbox and 2K Games would have you believe in the hypefest that's surrounded the inevitably awesome Forever, the first three Duke Nukem games were not the only entries in the series. There were multiple games prior to this game's impending release, and they seem to have been thrown under the bus. This denial of history is particularly sad to me. Why, you ask?
That's because I wasn't introduced to Duke Nukem, one of my favorite franchises, by 3D or the two platformer games. No, my first taste of this crazy world was when I was almost seven years old, through the fantastic PSone games
Time To Kill
Land of the Babes
. It was only later that I went back to play 3D. But by that time, I had already indulged in other entries like
Zero Hour
Manhattan Project
. My positive experiences with all of these games has gotten me to thinking: where do gamers get off forgetting about solid entries in the series?
Now, it could be forgivable for the average Joe or Jane to forget about these games, and it's understandable for 2K Games and 3D Realms to stay quiet about games that they had nothing to do with. My beef is really with game critics, who often times make it sound like the only Duke game that truly matters is 3D. They forget about the hard work and effort put into making those side-entries hold true to the franchise, about the blood sweat and tears developers put into these games. It's painful to see some of my favorite childhood PSone games get kicked to the curb, just because they aren't "part of the timeline". You know, I was honestly unaware of ANY freaking timeline in the Duke Nukem franchise until a few days ago. As far as I was aware, the games were never something that strictly adhered to any serious chronology.
Technically, the last Duke Nukem game (excluding the mobile phone entry) was
Manhattan Project
, an incredibly fun and well-rounded sidescroller for the PC, which has since been ported to Xbox Live arcade. If you're a true Duke fan, you'll go back and play that, along with the PSone and N64 entries. They're all fun in their own right, and will even tide you over until Forever.
Don't believe the hype, and acknowledge the other teams who put forth effort into preserving Duke's legacy.


text:
Parents can pass on more than genetics
Generations columnist Leak McCormick is afraid of snakes. So is her mother. She's hoping to not pass that fear to her own daughter. Read her funny phobia stories in today's Oxford Living. (April 8, 2011, Page 1B)
Organizers hope Passion play becomes community event
The North Oxford Baptist Church will present the Oxford Passion Play at 7 p.m. April 15-17. More than 350 adults and children make up the cast and crew to this large-scale performance. (April 8, 2011, Page 1B)
Gardening made simple
Master Gardener Ayse Altinakar gives us a crash course in gardening for beginners in today's Oxford Living.
Veterans gives reasons why South failed
Historian and columnist Jack Lamar Mayfield continues this week with sharing with us the thoughts of Civil War veteran Thomas P. Buford as to why the South lost the "War between the States." (April 1, 2011, Page 2B)
Making a difference in one child's life
JoAnne Wilkinson reminds us how we can influence someone's life with the little things we do. Read her story of how she helped change the life of a 14-year-old boy. (April 1, 2011, Page 1B)
Exhibit features handmade quilts from local women
On Saturday, Lafayette County resident Janice Carr will get to show off her mother's quilts during a one-day celebration of quilts made by local American-American woman at the University Museum. (April 1, 2011, Page 1B)
Local veteran lists cause of war
Columnist and historian Jack Lamar Mayfield shows us the Civil War through the words of one who was there. (March 25, 2011, Page 2B)
It's that time of the year again
Oxford High School senior Hattie Fisher was raised to believe if you worked hard and got good grades, one could attend the best universities. However, the price tags to nationally acclaimed schools can make that less of a reality for many. Read her thoughts in today's Oxford Living. (March 25, 2011, Page 2B)
Oxford's art community bands together
Oxford's art community came together last weekend for the first Oxford Art Crawl. The free, monthly event allows participants to travel around to several galleries via the Double Decker bus. See today's Oxford Living for the story. (March 25, 2011, Page 1B)
Seasonal reflections
Ryan Miller's recent visit to see his grandparents in California took a new meaning as an adult than when he visted with them as a child. During his visit, he realized that life is a collection of seasons, with each one bringing new challenges, joys, pains, achievements and losses. (March 18, 2011, Page 1B)

subset: commoncrawl


text:
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Luzerne County Council members agreed Tuesday to delay voting on a long-term capital plan until next month so they have more time to hash out options for spending the county's remaining $18 million in past-borrowed funds.
County Manager Robert Lawton gave council a fresh menu of potential capital projects during Tuesday's meeting compiled by new county Operational Services Division Head Tanis Manseau.
Manseau suggested $11 million in repairs and renovations to county property, $4.5 million in bridge repairs and $12.7 million in paving of county roadways.
Council must prioritize because the county is saddled with more than $400 million in outstanding debt and won't be in a position to borrow more for years.
Another $33 million would be needed to complete all infrastructure improvements and recreational enhancements at county-owned Moon Lake Park that were proposed in a master plan of the Plymouth Township complex several years ago, Manseau said.
Several council members appear to be backing away from a proposal to use $2 million of the bond funds to begin improvements at Moon Lake. Councilman Rick Williams, who wants to pursue a potential state takeover of the park instead of dipping into capital funds for park improvements, called for a vote on the $2 million to determine if the idea has majority support, but there were no seconds to the motion.
Council Vice Chairman Edward Brominski, who initially embraced Councilman Stephen A. Urban's idea for the $2 million Moon Lake investment, said he instead wants to pursue a proposal from Summit Business Group that would generate revenue from timbering at the park.
Council members had held off on a presentation from Summit in the past, saying they wanted to publicly seek proposals in case there were others interested in timbering. However, the county received no proposals after twice seeking a forestry expert to assess timbering options and assist with the search for companies.
Councilman Stephen J. Urban, who also had expressed support for the $2 million Moon Lake investment, said Tuesday he believes the county should earmark some of the remaining capital funds to technology improvements that will increase efficiency instead of recreational improvements.
Lawton said he agrees with that philosophy. His initial proposed capital plan includes $600,000 for a project that will eliminate the need to constantly buy new desktop computers by instead centralizing operating and application software on county servers. He also proposed spending about $1 million to convert the county to a voice-over IP system that would allow the county to cancel a patchwork of outside phone service contracts.
Manseau's proposed projects include: $1 million to replace and upgrade boilers in the county's steam plant, $1 million for a records storage facility, $300,000 for courthouse elevator replacement, $50,000 to analyze restoration needed inside the historic courthouse, $45,000 for fencing and a pedestrian safety crossing at the River Street courthouse parking lot, $38,000 to repair and restore the Ellen Webster Palmer statue and $6 million to convert the vacant former county juvenile detention center into a facility to house female inmates.
A Hanover Township resident urged council Tuesday to fund replacement of the Division Street Bridge bordering Hanover Township and Wilkes-Barre, which was recently demolished due to its partial collapse. Manseau did not include that project in his list of bridge replacements but said he will review the citizen's concerns.
Council Chairman Rick Morelli also said he plans to hold a special meeting if necessary to determine whether council is willing to proceed with an inherited proposal to give Hazleton an unused, county-owned former bank building in exchange for the city's forgiveness of a lien on another county property in the city.
City Mayor Joseph Yannuzzi attended Tuesday's meeting urging council to proceed with the swap that had been initiated by prior commissioners. The city owns the properties on one side of the former bank and planned to purchase three properties on the other side to create a community arts center that includes green space, he said. The former bank could house the Hazleton Art League, which is located nearby and needs more room, he said.
However, county Chief Solicitor C. David Pedri has informed council members the prior administration never entered into formal agreements obligating them to proceed with the proposal.
The city lien that would be forgiven totals up to $290,000 but involves funds that must remain in the county community development business loan fund. If the county switches gears and sells the former bank building to someone else instead, the sales proceeds could replenish the capital projects fund.
Prior commissioners used $700,500 in borrowed funds that could have been spent on other capital projects to purchase the bank building for a southern annex that never materialized.
County officials are awaiting an appraisal on the bank building. Yannuzzi said he does not believe the building is worth $290,000.
Williams said he believes the county should publicly seek proposals so all interested parties have an option to purchase it, stressing the county has discretion to reject offers from prospective buyers that don't present viable plans for the property.
Morelli said he's concerned about delays and said an outside buyer could "spoil everything" the city has planned for downtown revitalization.


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Follow Vegas
Vegas Season 1 Episode 10
-Nathan Oster and his brother rob and torture a bookmaker in order to avenge their father's death. When Sheriff Lamb is abducted, they are the first suspects.
-Mia goes to Jack for help with a possible card counter named Hal Wifford. She can't figure out who he is or how he cheats.
-Jack helps figure out his cheating scheme and has him arrested but he makes bail. Jack later realizes that Hal overheard that Ralph was moving money and he's the one who abducted the Sheriff.
-Jack saves his brother before Hal can bury him alive.
-Rizzo steals the bank loan money to finance his shylocks. When Vince warns him to stop, Rizzo intimidates the loan manager instead.
-Rizzo and Savino are abducted by the "board of directors" who threaten to kill them. Savino agrees to sign over the Tumbleweed casino to save them both.
-Rizzo sneers that Savino will have to pay a price for signing away the Tumbleweed and since Vince is a quarter Irish, he will never be a made man in the mob and the Tumbleweed was never his to give away.
-Laura feeds Katherine information that may incriminate Rizzo in Diane's death.
- Show:
- Vegas
- Season:
- Vegas Season 1
- Episode Number:
- 10
Around the Web
Vegas Season 1 Episode 10 Quotes
See he's not going to kill you. Now go on before I shoot you myself.
- Permalink: See he's not going to kill you. Now go on before I shoot you mys...
- Added:
Brought you some coffee. Extra sweet, just like you.
- Permalink: Brought you some coffee. Extra sweet, just like you.
- Added:


text:
ExOfficio Nomad Pant
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Pack 1 pair of ExOfficio Nomad pants and you're ready for worldwide travel adventures. They resist wrinkles, stains and water to keep you looking and feeling good.
- REI refers to the men's version
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ExOfficio Nomad Pant
currently retails for:
$49.95 - $75.00
MSRP: $65.00 (men's)
$49.95 - $75.00
MSRP: $65.00 (men's)


text:
Jun 08, 2003, 07:17 PM | |
I was trying to fly in a small street. I was nervous about the trees on the sides. After the plane was in the air, I realized that I forgot to delete the old picture in the camera. So, I nervously try to put the plane down between the trees. The lady yelling was just enough to distract me. Luckily, it didn't get caught on the tree.
EBird, you have some very unusual flying sites. How did you handle the small landing zone? Pin |
Jun 08, 2003, 07:30 PM | ||
Sometimes I fly in areas where I really don't have a decent place to land, and so I have to catch it. With some practice, it's not hard. Usually, though, if I have at least some sage brush or something similar, I just sort of "plop" it down on that. Just the slightest breeze makes landings almost vertical with the SS. I pull up that the last second and it just plops down. If I'm over asphalt, I can't get away with this, so I just make sure I'm landing into the wind and rollout is pretty short. |
Jun 08, 2003, 07:37 PM | |
SlowStick catch video
Jun 08, 2003, 07:48 PM | |
I still need more practice on spot landing with slowstick. It's hard to control the plane in slow floating speed. The rudder doesn't work very well at slow speed.
This am, it got caught on tree, trying to land it on a small street. Luckily it was low. Those trees have some sort of magnetic attraction to slowstick. Pin |
Jun 08, 2003, 08:04 PM | ||
Also, did you drill a new hole in the rudder control horn closer in? Also make sure you're using the outermost hole on the servo arm. This will greatly increase the rudder travel. The reason I say all this is because I have no trouble at all controlling mine at very slow speeds. Here's a shot of my rudder travel, which is quite adequate. |
Jun 08, 2003, 08:18 PM | |
Here's a shot of the new control horn hole.
I don't think you'd ever get enough rudder throw without this mod. Once you get the rudder throw to about 45°, I don't think you'll need extra rudder surface. I've never added to my rudder, and never needed to, even with all the nutsy places I fly. |
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text:
"Bits and Pieces" at ATHM
Sat, Nov 30, 2013
Times: 11:30am - 3:30pm
Venue: American Textile History Museum
491 Dutton Street, Lowell, MA 01854
0 people saved this
Join us for this unique sale of textile treasures for the craft enthusiast or fiber artist. Assorted textiles and miscellaneous items, including fabric, yarns, felt, ribbons, books, children's looms, and more are available for sale. This is the perfect opportunity to pick up supplies to make your holiday projects!
Take a stroll down the street from City Hall to visit us, or enjoy a ride on the COOL bus during this special day of holiday events in downtown Lowell. Presented in conjunction with "City of Lights Holiday Stroll" events and "Shop Local."
Your Guide to Dine Out Boston in March
With a brutal winter finally beginning to move into our rearview mirror, Boston's spring...
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Krispy Kreme Doughnuts kkd -1.2669683257918551% Krispy Kreme Doughnuts Inc. U.S.: NYSE USD21.82 -0.28 -1.2669683257918551% /Date(1425074832105-0600)/ Volume (Delayed 15m) : 413185 AFTER HOURS USD22.0492 0.2292 1.0504124656278644% Volume (Delayed 15m) : 49134 P/E Ratio 37.62068965517241 Market Cap 1413303281.47247 Dividend Yield N/A Rev. per Employee 111096 More quote details and news »
Same-store sales in the February quarter rose 7.5%, but the doughnut-chain operator's adjusted earnings fell short of Wall Street's estimates.
E*Trade Financial etfc -0.17254601226993865% E*TRADE Financial Corp. U.S.: Nasdaq USD26.035 -0.045 -0.17254601226993865% /Date(1425074400297-0600)/ Volume (Delayed 15m) : 3442300 AFTER HOURS USD26.035 % Volume (Delayed 15m) : 69835 P/E Ratio 24.10648148148148 Market Cap 7545567929.25659 Dividend Yield N/A Rev. per Employee 626824 More quote details and news »
Citadel, the online broker's biggest shareholder, will sell its 9.6% stake after twice helping to save the firm since its initial investment over five years ago.
Comstock Resources crk -0.9523809523809523% Comstock Resources Inc. U.S.: NYSE USD5.2 -0.05 -0.9523809523809523% /Date(1425074667451-0600)/ Volume (Delayed 15m) : 1554856 AFTER HOURS USD5.2051 0.0051 0.09807692307692308% Volume (Delayed 15m) : 50629 P/E Ratio N/A Market Cap 247660385.20298 Dividend Yield 9.615384615384615% Rev. per Employee 4238400 More quote details and news »
In a $768 million deal Rosetta Resources agreed to buy all of the oil and gas producer's West Texas properties. The deal reduces leverage.
Arch Coal aci -2.2388059701492535% Arch Coal Inc. U.S.: NYSE USD1.31 -0.03 -2.2388059701492535% /Date(1425074530361-0600)/ Volume (Delayed 15m) : 3829766 AFTER HOURS USD1.34 0.03 2.2900763358778624% Volume (Delayed 15m) : 71491 P/E Ratio N/A Market Cap 278078930.57209 Dividend Yield 0.7633587786259542% Rev. per Employee 548994 More quote details and news »
A much-watched case between the coal producer and the EPA over the agency's legal right to revoke permits began in a federal appellate court.
Team tisi -1.5889287544848796% Team Inc. U.S.: NYSE USD38.4 -0.62 -1.5889287544848796% /Date(1425074521788-0600)/ Volume (Delayed 15m) : 60031 AFTER HOURS USD38.4051 0.0051 0.01328125% Volume (Delayed 15m) : 8968 P/E Ratio 22.45614035087719 Market Cap 795148859.721376 Dividend Yield N/A Rev. per Employee 186852 More quote details and news »
Citing weaker-than-expected revenue in Canada and Europe, the industrial-services outfit cut its full-year earnings guidance to $1.78 per share from $1.98.
Glu Mobile gluu -2.5193798449612403% Glu Mobile Inc. U.S.: Nasdaq USD5.03 -0.13 -2.5193798449612403% /Date(1425074400046-0600)/ Volume (Delayed 15m) : 2273145 AFTER HOURS USD5.03 % Volume (Delayed 15m) : 27502 P/E Ratio 231.79723502304148 Market Cap 537953479.851512 Dividend Yield N/A Rev. per Employee 409442 More quote details and news »
Beating Zynga and Facebook to the punch, the mobile-games maker launched its first real-money mobile game in the U.K., partnering with a few bookmakers.
OGE Energy oge -0.6721662083715246% OGE Energy Corp. U.S.: NYSE USD32.51 -0.22 -0.6721662083715246% /Date(1425074754462-0600)/ Volume (Delayed 15m) : 1793931 AFTER HOURS USD32.5032 -0.0068 -0.020916641033528145% Volume (Delayed 15m) : 73431 P/E Ratio 16.33668341708543 Market Cap 6485159310.56184 Dividend Yield 3.0759766225776684% Rev. per Employee 750413 More quote details and news »
The pipeline firm and its peer CenterPoint Energy will combine pipeline and related assets to form an MLP with private-equity investor ArcLight Capital.
Great Lakes Dredge & Dock gldd -0.32679738562091504% Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corp. U.S.: Nasdaq USD6.1 -0.02 -0.32679738562091504% /Date(1425074400156-0600)/ Volume (Delayed 15m) : 577688 AFTER HOURS USD6.0949 -0.0051 -0.08360655737704918% Volume (Delayed 15m) : 23135 P/E Ratio N/A Market Cap 366829603.94516 Dividend Yield N/A Rev. per Employee 1769370 More quote details and news »
December-quarter earnings of one cent a share didn't approach estimates of 19 cents for the dredger. Two previous quarters' results were restated.
BB&T bbt -0.9372559229367352% BB&T Corp. U.S.: NYSE USD38.05 -0.36 -0.9372559229367352% /Date(1425074808707-0600)/ Volume (Delayed 15m) : 3239514 AFTER HOURS USD38.05 % Volume (Delayed 15m) : 177163 P/E Ratio 13.68705035971223 Market Cap 27426478466.1857 Dividend Yield 2.5229960578186597% Rev. per Employee 291276 More quote details and news »
The Federal Reserve rejected the bank's capital plan for an undisclosed reason. The setback will delay any plan to return excess capital to investors.
In the midst of a change in business plan, the data-storage maker's loss widened in the December quarter. Its largest shareholders want to switch leadership.
Ulta Salon Cosmetics & Fragrance ulta 0.12091898428053205% Ulta Salon Cosmetics & Fragrance Inc. U.S.: Nasdaq USD140.76 0.17 0.12091898428053205% /Date(1425074400248-0600)/ Volume (Delayed 15m) : 693880 AFTER HOURS USD140.76 % Volume (Delayed 15m) : 26686 P/E Ratio 37.63636363636363 Market Cap 9060157428.40944 Dividend Yield N/A Rev. per Employee 156215 More quote details and news »
Disappointing guidance for the beauty-product retailer's current quarter overshadowed strong sales in new and existing stores during the January quarter.
Brown Shoe bws 0.8742434431741762% Brown Shoe Co. Inc. U.S.: NYSE USD30 0.26 0.8742434431741762% /Date(1425074596698-0600)/ Volume (Delayed 15m) : 339281 AFTER HOURS USD29.9949 -0.0051 -0.017% Volume (Delayed 15m) : 34986 P/E Ratio 18.0418571084917 Market Cap 1312830047.60742 Dividend Yield 0.9333333333333333% Rev. per Employee 228233 More quote details and news »
Fewer charges and more revenue saw the footwear company swing to a surprise profit in the January quarter. But it warned of a "very soft" start to the year.
The charts record the net change in share price, the high, low and closing trades, and share volume for companies with noteworthy stock activity last week. In addition, the graphs depict last week's daily price activity in detail. The dotted line on some graphs denotes the stock's 200-day moving average; lack of a moving average means the shares have traded for less than that time period.
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Lists - Page 8
Top 10 National Anthem Guitar Solos
The 10 Best Movies of 2014 (So Far)
Today's Tough Question: What Angers Drivers Second Most?
Canada's Top 10 Rock Artists
Hottest Rosie Huntington-Whiteley GIFs Ever
Jim Morrison's Arrest History
Jim Morrison's iconic status in the history of rock is hard to dispute. But what goes along with his role as lead singer and primary lyricist for the Doors is his bad boy image – especially when it comes it his run-ins with the law. That's not to say


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Albareda Youth HostelAlbareda, 12, 08004 Barcelona, Sants-Montjuïc, SpanienKort beskrivning: This hostel is located just 5 minutes' walk from Barcelona's port and the famous Ramblas. It offers a 24-hour reception and air-conditioned dormitories with free Wi-Fi and individual lockers.
Albareda Youth Hostel organises sangría nights, pub crawls and group dinners. There is a modern kitchen where you can prepare your own meals, and there is also a common room with a TV, music, games and vending machines.
El Raval district and La Sala Apolo nightclub and concert venue are within 5 minutes' walk of the Albareda. You can walk to Parallel Metro Station in 5 minutes and Plaza Espanya is 2 stops away. The multilingual staff can provide information on Barcelona 24 hours a day. Hotel Facilities:
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We have a Sql Server 2000 database application that needs to update our applications Sql Server 2008 database when certain tables are changed. For this, we use a trigger on the Sql 2000 server that fires a stored procedure on our Sql 2008 server. When trying it from SMSS, I get this message:
The operation could not be performed because the OLE DB provider 'SQLOLEDB' was unable to begin a distributed transaction.
Our application used to use a Sql Server 2005 database, but we upgraded servers this weekend. The linked server objects have the same configuration as on the old server. Here is my DTC configuration. Is there anything else that could go wrong?


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Product Description
Available while supplies last.
No warranty on Tuscan Brass Finish
Function Merchandise Pak Shower Head
- 1310 Resin Handle set or 1311 Brass Handle set
- 1200 Brass sliding rail
- 1150/8 or 1151/8 Brass straight shower with 5 jets with check valve and flow restrictor
- 16295 Double spiral brass flexible hose 59"
- 1295 Brass round wall outlet
Materials: | Brass | |
Shower Head Spray Pattern | Mist, Rain, Massage | |
Shower Head Function | Handheld |
Dimensions & Weights
Height: | 9.59 inches |
Length: | 21.63 inches |
Liters per Minute: | 7.58L |
Gallons per Minute: | 2gal |
Diameter: | 4.09 inches |
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This is the last week to finish your holiday shopping, so we figured we'd sift through the Sunday retail ads to find the best Xbox 360 gaming deals. And, wouldn't you know, those deals are conveniently listed below.
Best Buy is selling World at War and Force Unleashed for $35, giving out a free $50 gift card with Xbox 360 and controller purchase, selling the GHIII bundle for $50, the EndWar headset bundle for $50, and a whole mess of EA Sports games are on sale from $38 on up. Reward Zone members can also score a free $10 gift card with purchase of Midnight Club: LA.
Circuit City is selling EndWar and Web of Shadows for $45 as well as Halo 3 and Madden '09 for $50. At Toys R Us, they're giving away a free 12 month Live subscription with Xbox 360 purchase and selling Golden Axe for $40 which is a part of their Buy 1 Get 1 Half Off sale that also includes Saints Row 2, Smackdown vs. Raw, Web of Shadows, World at War, World Tour, Madagascar 2 and Quantum of Solace. Happy holiday shopping.
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Poland >
Western Poland >
Western Pomerania Province >
Price Range (Based on Average Rates):
Hotel Class:3 star — Vestina 3*
Number of rooms: 193
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#5 Spa Hotel in Miedzyzdroje


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Best ResponseYou've already chosen the best response.0Was there ever a time where we had a space without time or a place where time existed nowhere?
- 2 years ago
Best ResponseYou've already chosen the best response.0But I wanna say one thing more here. space-time is a composite. I don't know if there which could be spaceless or even timeless. So wihtout a time our universe or you can say that space will just a snapshot. I hope you can estimate my statement above.
- 2 years ago
Best ResponseYou've already chosen the best response.0Kindly read this one for your clearification. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/physics/blog/2012/03/are-space-and-time-fundamental/
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text: Sale closed See all from ChapelWood Hunnington Bird Table, Country Cream ChapelWood Hunnington Bird Table, Country Cream ACHICA Loading Reserved. Please try again later. Sold Out In your basket Not only a stunning feature in your garden but a perfect place for your feathered friends to get a treat with this full height deluxe bird table made from FSC pine with a welsh slate two faced roof. Product dimensions: H161 x W67cm Product Code: MTR-CPW0604 Variant Code: : Delivery Returns Help You will be sent an email as soon as your order is placed. For more information please click here. We hope you will be thrilled with your purchases but in the unlikely event that you want to return something, you can find full return instructions on the back of your delivery note or click here. If you need assistance, please contact us here


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Katie Little on Google+.
Two surveys indicate consumers are scaling back or plan to due to the shutdown—a worrying trend for retailers as they head into the holiday season.
As the shutdown remains top of mind for many, the buzz is inspiring Halloween merchandise selection and the hunt for a clever costume.
"Serious offers only, I really need the money," a furloughed government worker writes in a Craigslist post.
Faced with a slow-growing economy, consumers will spend marginally more than last year, according to the National Retail Federation forecast.
After last year's holiday hiring frenzy, retailers are showing more restraint in ramping up their staff for the crucial holiday shopping season.
The average speed at seven drive-thru restaurant chains rose to just more than three minutes, according to a study released Monday.
To fill a plus-size void, Rent the Runway recently debuted its first collection of evening gowns and cocktail dresses for curvier figures.
Amid an inventory backlog, Wal-Mart Stores is cutting US orders, according to a Bloomberg report that the discount giant called "misleading."


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I March to the beat of a different drum. My drum. I don't want to
be changed. I am Who I am. An individual. A realist. A dreamer. A
believer in something that has shown nothing but hard lessons. I'm
talented. Easy going. But tough. I'm cool. I'm no fool. don't push
it. Don't try me. Not too big on second chances. A real no nonsense
kinda gal. I deserve respect, so please don't forget that.
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- Ages 30–42
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My Details
- Last Online
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- Body Type
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- Diet
- Mostly vegetarian
- Smokes
- No
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- Never
- Religion
- Agnosticism, and somewhat serious about it
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- Aquarius, and it matters a lot
- Education
- Graduated from two-year college
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What I'm doing with my life
Don't overthink this one; tell us what you're doing day-to-day.
I'm a customer service manager for a mail order bakery. We ship
cakes all over the world. I love my job and I'm good at what i do.
I'm almost 30 with no children and I live alone. I am also the lead
singer of a local cover band. We do parties, local venues and
clubs. Singing has always been my passion and its something no one
can take away from me. I love doing karaoke, especially if they're
giving away money lol. I am quite busy, so I use online to assist
in finding a mate. I'm shy sometimes but I warm up to people
easily. I'm fun, laid back and honest. I really don't like writing
these things, no one ever reads them anyway!
I'm really good at
Go on, brag a little (or a lot). We won't judge.
Singing, wheel of fortune, solitaire, tetris, making people laugh,
doing nothing sometimes. And apparently pissing guys off lol
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I'm an empty essay… fill me out!
My height. I'm 6ft3 so i stand out in crowds. My smile and my eyes
are what people notice when they view my pictures.
Favorite books, movies, shows, music, and food
Help your potential matches find common interests.
Harry potter series and a host of other books. I have an addiction
to fries and pizza. I'm slowly converting to vegetarianism but have
cut out all red meat. I'm strictly fish and chicken as of right
now. I'll be here all day quoting movies, broadway musicals, and
any other thing that comes to my mind. Movies and tv are guilty
pleasures for me. I love true blood and that's about the only show
I've fallen in love with that hasn't ended or been canceled. I miss
House and own all the seasons on DVD. I don't care for movies with
dancing or racing. Umm, i have been told i have the most random
iPod playlist ever. One minute I'm playing Eminem the next song
could be phantom of the opera. I'm very diverse and i love it!
The six things I could never do without
Think outside the box. Sometimes the little things can say a lot.
My car
Lip gloss
My glasses
My car
Lip gloss
My glasses
I spend a lot of time thinking about
Global warming, lunch, or your next vacation… it's all fair game.
Self improvement
Why people are such horrible spellers
Self love
Focusing on me
Why I'm single
Yoga & mediation
Healthy Living
Working out
Why the lady who lives above me paces and walks so damn hard when I'm trying to go to bed
What my psychic is gonna tell me next about my future
Why people are such horrible spellers
Self love
Focusing on me
Why I'm single
Yoga & mediation
Healthy Living
Working out
Why the lady who lives above me paces and walks so damn hard when I'm trying to go to bed
What my psychic is gonna tell me next about my future
On a typical Friday night I am
Netflix and takeout, or getting your party on — how do you let loose?
Most likely at home relaxing after a long week. I sometimes have
gigs on Friday or Saturday night.
The most private thing I'm willing to admit
I'm an empty essay… fill me out!
Built a wall around my heart. Never let it fall apart. But
sometimes I wish secretly it would fall down while I'm asleep.
You should message me if
Offer a few tips to help matches win you over.
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care who you are or where you're from. As long as you approach me
with respect and without intention, we'll be fine.


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I'm building a new boiler and as such a new dip tube. I have several DT's but the nuts never come off and over a couple years there is a build up of crap at the joint.... I'm willing to try the o-ring solution here... I picked up 5/8 ID high temp o-rings at True Value. They said they were Buna-N for the material, I also picked up an HNBR o-ring but just read HNBR is another name for Buna-N or so I read someplace. My initial tests show it appears to be sealed and sealed well. I have not installed the solution yet. But the finger tightening seems to work great. OK So what size o-rings are being supplied for a compression fitting of say 5/8 (copper dip tube) is 5/8 O.D.?
HNBR and Buna-N are not the same rubber. HNBR is "hydrogenated NBR", NBR is another name for Buna-N. If they are food grade, either will work, HNBR is better at high temp in harsh chemical environments. Brewing is not a harsh chemical environment, at least it shouldn't be. Using an O-ring in the compression fitting will work nicely, the size you want for a 5/8" dip tube is 5/8 ID, and probably 1/16" thick, so 3/4" OD, since it needs to fit into the annular space between the tube and the compression nut.
Got it... I'll hold out for some silicone ring then...just to be sure...
When you ask which oring size is supplied... I don't get it. I don't know of anyone selling compression fittings with orings. It's a homebrewers construct. #112 or 113 will work great on 5/8" OD tubing. You'll want to stack 2 or 3 in there.
Nope nothing supplied other than the brass ferrule. I'll look for the silicon 5/8 ID o-rings.. thanks
FYI: Buna-N is fine to use as long as it's not in a dry heat area. Buna-N is rated for temps above boling and, depending on the brand, will be either ANSI rated for use in potable water systems or full-blown NSF rated. (The difference is simply whether or not the manufacturer coughed up the money for NSF certification... the material is the same in either case.)
I'm not so sure all Buna-N O-rings are potable water or food safe. A heck of a lot of Buna-N is used in automotive fuel and oil handling systems, and I doubt these compounds are food safe. There is no point for the rubber molder to use a food safe formulation for gas line orings or oil seals. There are for sure food grade O-rings available, but I wouldn't count on finding them in the bin at the hardware store. These probably come from a distributor who buys the cheapest ones available, and doesn't specify food grade. That being said, I would not use the hardware store variety for my brewing applications, I'd find food or potable water safe ones, maybe from McMaster Carr, or Grainger. Or go with food grade silicone if I wanted to spend a little more.
Yeah, you're probably right that not all are food safe. If you shop at Lowe's, the o-rings they sell for faucet repairs are from a company called Danco, and I actually called them up and spoke with them to get the info about their particular o-rings to get the details. The Danco ones are a-ok to use.
Yor're absolutely right, faucet repair O-rings are (I hope!) potable water safe, and would be fine for brewing. I wasn't thinking about plumbing stuff, but the anonymous O-rings in the little draws at good hardware stores.
Walker, that's most excellent info.. I'll be headed to Lowes for the faucet O-Rings from Danco..


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this is my friend's 1week old. I was trying to get her skin colour a bit better as you can see in the first one (SOOC) it's quite yellow. I will try to convert it to B&W and see how that looks, but for now how is the edit?
the edit
Last edited by Gehana; 08-06-2009 at 10:28 PM.
Very sweet pic! Before working on her skin tone, I would correct the overall white balance of the picture. Then go in and tweak the skin.
I agree with Steph. Your WB is a bit off SOOC and the edit. Also I see a lot of grain probably due to ISO being at 1600. I would try to get the baby at more light to lower your ISO.
-El mommy to B & A
Just chug-chug-chugging along.
Very sweet pic! I'm also new at this so I'll give it a try ... I think a black and white conversion would be really sweet on this picture and possibly hide some of the noise (which shows up even more when you lightened it). Then maybe add a touch of "chocolate" (like a really low opacity to give it just a hint) for tone. I also think the couch/background is a little distracting, that's the first place *my* eyes went and I think a b&w conversion would also hide that (maybe even do a little bit of a vignette to darken the edges so it draws the eyes to her first??) Like I said.. I'm still learning pp and b&w are my favorite. I'd be happy to play with it and compare notes if you want ... I have taken some at that high iso before and it is HARD to get the color right (at least to me it is!), seems like the more you do to it the worse the noise is - so I tend to lean more towards b&w when I use that high of an iso
i'd love to hear what others say about this - pp'ing high iso's are hard for me.. I know on some of the photog boards a few really like the noisey look since it kind of gives it a texture look and some hate it.. I guess it's another one of those things that differ from person to person, for me, it bothers me in color, but not so much in b&w
I think you're off to a good start w/ your edit, but like pp have said - you really need to address the total wb before jumping to correct the skin tones.
This is a very sweet composition and I'll bet it would make a really nice b&w!
is this wb correction any better even though she seems slightly red to me.
i haven't done anything else except a tighter crop to eliminate the couch in the background...txdoula you are more than welcome to have a play at this image. I'm always interested in what others can do
I like the color much better in your edit.. the crop seems a little tight on the bottom b/c the first thing my eye goes to now is her hand, pull the crop out just a tad below her hand and I think (to me) your eyes will go straight to her face...
I played with the b&w a little bit and this is what I came up with... i'm still new at this so I only did this just to see what *I* might do with it since the high iso's are so hard for me!
the high ISO sure does make her grainy. but newborns tend to be pink, so I think your WB fix is better.
I can't see Tasha's conversion.
i can't see it either. I will work on the cropping issue