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Everyone who knows my wife Wanda and I, knows that she's a pretty incredible homemaker, cook, and baker. She learned most of what she knows from her mom, who in turn, learned from her mom. It's a generational thing.
Amish Country Fall Foliage and Horse and Buggy
A couple of days ago I was traversing the back roads just south of Millersburg, Ohio; on township roads I had never traveled before. I just happened upon this scene in the late afternoon. The golden, sunset created this dazzlingly splendid scene just as a horse and buggy was cresting the hill.
Fall Foliage in Amish Country Voted #3 by National Geographic
It seemed to me that the colors this fall have not been as vibrant in Ohio Amish country. However, this weekend that began to change. More and more trees are turning from green to orange, yellow, and red colors. When the late afternoon sun hits them, the leaves just glow. It's lookin quite lovely. Recently, National Geographic selected the top 10 places in the world to see fall foliage. Holmes County Ohio Amish Country came in at number three. Pretty impressive! I think the peak of the color will be this coming weekend however, things should still be pretty good for another couple of weeks. The weather here has been absolutely gorgeous, not a lot of rain and plenty of sunshine. We're looking forward to enjoying every day for the next couple of weeks before the trees once again shed their leaves. Here's a link to the Nat Geo article: Top Ten Places for Fall Foliage by National Geographic.
Hershberger's Farm and Bakery Fall Family Night
Japanese Film Documentary of Amish Country
Today I happened across a film production company, Duo Creative of San Francisco, shooting footage in Berlin, Ohio. They proceeded over to Kauffman's Country Bakery in Bunker Hill, where I met up with them. I spoke briefly with one of the directors of the project from Duo Creative, Naomichi Hosoya. They've been here since Sept. 28 shooting footage of the area. Their particular interest is to capture footage of the area and the Amish lifestyle. Naomichi stated fifty years or more ago, the Japanese culture and lifestyle was more like what they've seen here in Amish country, but modern life in Japan is much more hectic, especially in the cities. The film will be a Japanese language documentary of life in Amish country and will be broadcast on Japanese national television. Naomichi said this is his, and the crews, first trip to Amish country. They have had a great time here capturing the simple life.
Fall Foliage in Amish Country
Gettin' Ready for the Fall Season in Ohio Amish Country
Today my travels took me north of Mt. Hope, Ohio. The fall season, the busiest time of the year in Amish country, is just beginning. Drivers-by can't help but notice this pumpkin staircase at Homestead Furniture in Mt. Hope, Ohio. Fall is my favorite time of the year. Lookin forward to the beautiful Amish Country fall foliage and all the fall festivals. Good times!
Amish Girls Volleyball at Baltic Homecoming
Several weeks ago Wanda and I headed down to Baltic, Ohio to eat at Miller's Dutch Kitchen. It had been a while since we made the short trip south of Berlin to eat there. On the way there, we saw lots of horse and buggies and Amish young people riding bikes, on their way towards Baltic. Unbeknownst to us, it was the first night of the Baltic, Ohio Homecoming. After a delicious meal at Miller's we headed on over to the park area and spent a bit of time there and had some home-made ice cream. The main event was the Amish girls volleyball tournament. [Read more…]


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Reviews for The Bureau: XCOM Declassified
Underrated Good Game
Azrael360 | Sept. 26, 2014 | See all Azrael360's reviews »This was really a nice surprise. I usually don't like games with tactical options, but this game I really enjoyed. It's a third person shooter closer to Gears Of War mixed with Spec Ops: The Line and Inversion. The actions over your buddies are not hard to learn, and the action is excellent. Also the graphics, sound and control (I use a Xbox 360 controller). The game uses the Unreal Engine and you can notice sometimes, with its commonly texture pops up found in other games, but nothing game breaking. Still, everything is highly detailed, with great effects that will put your video card to the test, because everything looks really good and the action is fast. The game is set in the 50's, and everything looks that way and very well done.
One thing I didn't like was that the game only autosaves, so if you did something and want to save, you can't, except to wait for a autosave to happen. In the base between missions usually happen after getting a new mission or customizing your team.
But even with its small flaws, the game is highly entertaining. If you're interested in the X-Com series (as I was) and want to start from somewhere but also play third person shooters and not only strategy games, this is choronogically the first game in the series and explains the origins, so it's a good start.
Underrated Good Game
Azrael360 | Sept. 24, 2014 | See all Azrael360's reviews »This was really a nice surprise. I usually don't like games with tactical options, but this game I really enjoyed. It's a third person shooter closer to Gears Of War mixed with Spec Ops: The Line and Inversion. The actions over your buddies are not hard to learn, and the action is excellent. Also the graphics, sound and control (I use a Xbox 360 controller). The game uses the Unreal Engine and you can notice sometimes, with its commonly texture pops up found in other games, but nothing game breaking. Still, everything is highly detailed, with great effects that will put your video card to the test, because everything looks really good and the action is fast. The game is set in the 50's, and everything looks that way and very well done.
One thing I didn't like was that the game only autosaves, so if you did something and want to save, you can't, except to wait for a autosave to happen. In the base between missions usually happen after getting a new mission or customizing your team.
But even with its small flaws, the game is highly entertaining. If you're interested in the X-Com series (as I was) and want to start from somewhere but also play third person shooters and not only strategy games, this is chronologically the first game in the series and explains the origins, so it's a good start.
An awesome game
patacon | Sept. 12, 2014 | See all patacon's reviews »This game, just like it says the title of this review, is impressive, from the graphics to the gameplay, the graphics can upload them from very low levels to impressive levels, the gameplay is excellent and offers a highly original way in which we handle one character who gives orders to the others, something that is not in other games, the story is so good that I want to keep playing just to see what happens, no matter if you buy it at discount or at full price, it's worth it, I have many more things to say, if you get the chance, do not hesitate to buy it, my grade is a 10/10
Decent, may drag on at the end
Danielpf1 | Aug. 7, 2014 | See all Danielpf1's reviews »If you have never played a Xcom game, like me, this might be a good game to get you interested in the franchise. To be clear, this game is a third person shooter and not a TBS. However it gives a lot of background to the other XCOM games and shows the first invasion by the outsiders.
The story of this game is interesting enough for the 8-10 hour experience. It has rather good plot twists and interesting enough characters, but it contains some plot holes you might want to look up afterwards. Furthermore, the story is decent, not incredible but its not your standard alien invasion story.
The gameplay is another story as this game is a third person shooter. First of all it does contain a FOV-slider, which is really nice since the base FOV is 75. The combat itself is serviceable but not great, the cover system is a bit clunky and the AI sidekicks tend to get themselves killed in the most hard to reach places if you dont order them into cover. The ability system works fine, much like mass effects system, however a bit slower.
The weapons are good, however the alien weapons are just an upgrade to the human weapons, as soon as you get access to one, you can forget about the human version. The alien weapons are just better, without being worse in some respect.
Joethepr0 | June 14, 2014 | See all Joethepr0's reviews »For the first few hours I really enjoyed the game and I was looking forward to putting the hours in and playing it to completion. If you're not too fussy it's a fun if somewhat clunky and repetitive third person shooter with a notably interesting premise and setting.
Under scrutiny however the game suffers from numerous small bugs, glitches and irregularities in the sound, controls and AI that add up into disappointment for me.
The story in particular seemed like the ending was hastily tacked on in the last minute and lacked any of the exposition that was present in the earlier parts of the game. This drop in storytelling quality was particularly jarring and left me scratching my head at what had just happened to the game I was enjoying.
Something else of note is that the game does an awful job of hiding the fact that you are just running from one arena to the next at which point a wave or three of enemies will predictably spawn on the far side for you to fight. In this way it is boring and predictable despite the cool aesthetic design of the areas and the aliens. They should have tried harder to mix it up.
It feels unpolished and unfinished to me and left me feeling surprisingly bitter towards it. I wanted to like it (waistcoats FTW!) but I just couldn't.
Decent game for those willing to give it a chance
stemot | May 10, 2014 | See all stemot's reviews »Im a big fan of the XCOM universe and I don't understand the hate this game has received from fans of the series, especially when we got the great strategy title before this. The games combat plays a lot like the Mass Effect titles in that you have your squad of 3 operatives, each with their own fantastical abilities given to them through reversed engineered alien tech. You must give them strategic commands in battles to get them to flank enemies to an an advantage, much like in the turn based strategy game but taking place in real time. I found the combat to be challenging and also satisfying. The story is much like a B-movie set in the 50s or 60s with your character being an operative in the American XCOM initiative to stop the aliens from invading the backwater US. Anyone that is willing to have an open mind and willing to give an XCOM game a chance even though it isn't a strategy game in the purest sense will get enjoyment from this and seeing familiar enemies return from a new perspective.
Different take on a X-COM game.
EDGE1812 | May 3, 2014 | See all EDGE1812's reviews »I am a fan of the X-Com franchise, So, I went into this one very skeptical due to its more action oriented design than the traditional titles and the switch from a RTS to a Third Person Shooter. Once I started playing, I was pleasantly surprised.
The plot is very well written and engaging , imo, than the one used for XCOM Enemy Unknown. While there is no strategy element to this, the way you handle your 3 man teams has an excellent amount of tactical play to it and is done nicely. The time dilation used in the game keeps the game going but allows you a certain level of precision for giving orders and using special abilities.
Despite the fact that the overall plot will be stangnant, there are multiple choices within the game that will affect how events play out. This gives the game a surprising amount of replay value.
A decent experience
MarkDeejay | April 16, 2014 | See all MarkDeejay's reviews »A decent squad based third person shooter. Nothing more. The Bureau brings nothing new to the table but is still mostly enjoyable. The 60's style is done very well, even though the sci-fi elements detract from the experience at times making it feel like a 90's or even 00's game. It doesn't mix the settings properly I guess. The graphics are solid, nothing special, but not bad either. They get the job done, like most games. Same goes for the voice acting. The effects on the other hand are done very well. The gameplay itself is hit and miss. There's no research to be done, so if you pick up an alien's weapon you can fire it right away. It's something I missed, especially after playing last year's Xcom. There are mini missions to be completed and agents can be sent on different missions to level up and gather gear. Those missions can not be played so it basically comes down to selecting which agents you want to go. Each agent has abilities that can be unlocked by levelling up. They're all fun to use and there's plenty of variation to mix things up during battle. The battles play out in real time and with the press of a button time can be slowed down to make more tactical choices. Later on you'll have no choice but to use it as more and tougher enemies will be deployed. Without it you'll have a pretty hard time, let me tell you. Also, iIf you're agents are down you'll have a certain amount of time to help them up. If you don't help them in time they'll die and you'll lose them forever. So it's important that you work together and manage them in the best way you can to prevent them from dying. Near the end of the game this becomes much less important because you're other agents will be around level 4 or 5 already. The Bureau is actually pretty lengthy. I finished it in about 14-15 hours on Veteran so I guess it can be completed in roughly 13 hours or so, if you stay alive the entire time. That's actually pretty decent in an age where most action (adventure) games can be completed within 7-8 hours. If I had to rate The Bureau I'd give it a 7/10. It's frustrating at times, but fun enough to play and finish. The only issue here is the price, because even though there's plenty of content the game itself just isn't fun enough to pay full price.
A solid, enjoyable game
bradysam | Jan. 19, 2014 | See all bradysam's reviews »The game initially felt like a weird FPS, Strategy hybrid with play styles that seemed at odds with each other. A couple of missions in however I felt that they started to compliment each other a lot with changing enemy configurations and a wider variety of enemies. You have to keep on surveying the battlefield and changing tactics to respond to the variety of situations that arise whilst playing. The story is very interesting the overall idea is excellent, even though it feels that the execution falls slightly short of what it should have been. The XCOM elements added to it really help to bring the game up, and whilst minimal, the extra missions and helping keep your base in check are nice additions that help flesh out the game. You should go into the game expecting not to be initially won over, but as the systems evolve a few missions in it really starts to show the ideas it has, and by then you'll be hooked and want to see the story through to the end. It's worth picking up, especially on sale!
Why all the hate?
Neonberry | Jan. 9, 2014 | See all Neonberry's reviews »I don't know what the game was originally going to be like but what it ended up to be is a great solid third person shooter. I know, XCOM supposed to be turn based and tactical and so on, but if it would have been a shooter - well, this is exactly how I would imagine it. And how come everyone got outraged about this but not about UFO Enforcer (another game that I enjoyed a lot). Anyway, you are playing as agent Carter and the game is set in the 60s at the birth of the XCOM project. It is pretty much a standard cover based shooter where you are able to order your teammates around, collect alien weapons for personal use and generally shoot stuff up. And you have some gadget that gives you some supernatural powers such as telekinesis. The story seems reasonably even though the main character is somewhat cliche'd (it will come as a surprise to none if i will tell you that he's a lone wolf by nature who often bent the rules in the past to get the job done). I would recommend the game to anyone who can get over the fact that it is XCOM and yet not a turn-based tactical game.
You should play it
acare84 | Dec. 18, 2013 | See all acare84's reviews »I don't get the negative reviews here on this game? I think theres a lot to be said for people who write negative reviews with only 4-6 hours on a game, a lot to be said about that. The game is straight of of the 50's B movie and plays much like Mass Effect just not with as long a story. Its good there some DLC knocking about for it now to give it a bit more life. If you like to the whole B movie theme and are up a interesting story, you'll have fun. Just keep in mind it not that long ..
A really solid game, despite its troubled history
commanderhavoc | Oct. 26, 2013 | See all commanderhavoc's reviews »This game was originally going to be a first person tactical shooter where you would be doing investigations while also fighting the aliens in the 60's, but the outcry from gamers, critics and the XCOM creator himself was so bad that the game went underground and it went through several changes until it became the third person tactical shooter we have now. It is a surpisingly solid game that doesn't hold back on testing you, even on the easiest setting. You must act quickly in the middle of battles by issuing orders to your agents to take cover and perhaps provide cover fire or deploy a turret. There are also several interesting powers that can turn the tide of an otherwise hopeless battle in your favor, like a shockwave that will knock the human-sized enemies off their feet and a telekinesis-style power that lifts smaller enemies up in the air and leaves them even more vulnerable to your attacks. And it is rather interesting to see the origins of the XCOM project unfold before your eyes as you play through the game as well.
Better Than Expected
DrakeHerder | Oct. 13, 2013 | See all DrakeHerder's reviews »I understand that most people would view this game warily as it deviates quite radically from the pre-established formula of XCOM games.
In the end, the XCOM game does it more harm than good.
The setting is solid, the presentation values are good and, all in all, it is a very enjoyable game, even if it does not do anything too different or original to distance itself from other thrid person squad based action games.
As far as gameplay goes, it is very reminiscent of the later Mass Effects in terms of abilities and pacing, though with bigger emphasis given to position.
If it had been a bit bolder in terms of how the player interacts within the base - which also serves as the hub for the game - it would've been an even better game, especially considering the numerous side missions. Some such missions are designated dispatch missions, giving you the ability to pick a squad to go on said mission, like what was present in Assassin's Creed.
All in all, I'd say give the game a shot, especially when it's on sale or at a lower price. You might just be pleasantly surprised.
Awesome Story and Gameplay
spongengebob | Oct. 12, 2013 | See all spongengebob's reviews »I really liked this game the story is really really awesome. The "Command-Mode" where you can give orders to your squad while your in fight is really cool but I hate it when i told an Agent that he should go to that position and he goes to the position and then he tries to kill himself because he rans into aliens. So the AI of the own squad isn't the best but i really liked to play the game.
Enjoyable. What else?
MarcoCav | Oct. 2, 2013 | See all MarcoCav's reviews »XCOM Declassified is a third-person shooter pleasant and able to give a lot of satisfaction to the experienced player, thanks to the mechanics of managing agents which, in terms of gameplay experience, are able to distinguish the game from the compatitors. However there are some flaws: the artificial intelligence of companions sometimes failed, and the graphic is not particularly optimized in spite of the look and feel of the game. The main points in his favor are the setting, the dialogue, the characters and the story goes. In a word, this game is really enjoyable to play.
A solid game
virulent0o | Sept. 30, 2013 | See all virulent0o's reviews »Although The Bureau takes on the XCOM name, it does not play like any of the previous titles. It blends 3rd person cover shooting with squad management. The result feels very much like a more tactical version of Mass Effect.
If micromanagement is not your thing, you might shy away from this title. For those opting to stay, you will find that managing your squad in the heat of the battle is rather enjoyable.
There is a lot of negativity towards this game due to it not following the XCOM ways nor does it excel in being a pure shooter. My advice, don't let the critic's score put you off, The Bureau is a solid game.
enemy unknown i miss you :(
kapamaru91 | Sept. 29, 2013 | See all kapamaru91's reviews »Generally The Bureau: XCOM Declassified although not bad game, just has nothing to do with their ancestors. The battles are quite fun and quite interesting, but it is found in many other releases. The title of 2K has a serious identity crisis, because while he wants to import data from classic strategy games of the past, does not want to complicate more than they should things not to scare the average kazoual player. Therefore, what remains in our hands is a mediocre shooter with unresponsive script and graphics. Definitely not the worst proposal in the market but if you were looking for something fresh and innovative based on the universe of the series X-COM, just forget it and stay very good XCOM: Enemy Unknown.
Excellent Mass Effect like game
zakk77 | Sept. 20, 2013 | See all zakk77's reviews »I don't understand the bad reviews this game has got, it's excellent. There might be few techncial glitches but the story and gameplay is pure solid gold! If you're into games like Mass Effect this one is just for you, It's tactical 3rd person shooter with a lot of story elements. Some people might play it without doing additional investigation quests and without reading notes and audio logs, then I understand why they don't like this. This is for patient players who like to read a good story while playing. Recommended!
A new take on XCOM.
Bobafett2k6 | Sept. 6, 2013 | See all Bobafett2k6's reviews »(review also on my steam profile - Bobafett2k6)
An enjoyable 3rd person take on XCOM in the 1960's. It plays well with a good cover system and 'in battle' squad management system, there are plenty of abilities available as you and your men level up to keep battles interesting for the most part too. Visually it looks good, and there are a nice mix of locations to keep things interesting. Unfortunately the story isn't believable and feels a bit like it's been cobbled together to fit and the technology available right from the start just doesn't make any sense, laser turrets available in the 60's? And that's before you encounter the aliens. You'll find yourself up against sectopods and mutons from early on in the game which unfortunately has the side effect of making it feel a little repetitive later on. The battles do feel a bit staged as there doesn't seem to be any alien resistance between areas of the mission, it's more like moving between battle areas that are nicely set up with lots of cover options.
All in all it's a decent game and I feel that some of the reviews out there are a little unfair as it's not what you would expect from an XCOM game.
Me like!!!
DanielZo0 | Aug. 31, 2013 | See all DanielZo0's reviews »I REAALLYY thought this would just be another shooter but they implemented X-COM's style of strategy so well it actually feels like 3rd person RTS xcom, I dont care about the unsatisfied destructoid review I don't see why in the world he would like how it isnt a shooter or a strategy or an xcom game BECAUSE ITS ALL OF THOSE COMBINED, and that's much more awesome than it sounds
GamePlay: 9/10 Story: 8/10 visuals: 7/10 Replayabilty: 10/10
P.S: anyone going into this expecting a carbon copy of XCOM enemy unknown or UFO defense's gameplay is an idiot
Challenging game of tactics
DanJamesStone12 | Aug. 30, 2013 | See all DanJamesStone12's reviews »I couldn't wait to pick up my copy of The Bureau after playing it's predecessor: XCOM: Enemy Unknown, I absolutely loved both games as they provide several options of how to play the game.
The Bureau combines both FPS and Strategy very successfully into one immersive and awesome gameplay experience that you will not regret.
Tries to stay to stay true to the XCOM brand, stumbles a bit.
Farris | Aug. 30, 2013 | See all Farris's reviews »I played through it all on the "Commander" difficulty and the for first few hours it was quite frustrating and rather hard (in a good way), you actually had to think tactically, flank, use cover on the high ground etc.
The extra nice bit about the highest difficulty is that if your agents get "downed" you can only stabilize them, and they will not get back up on their feet. That essentially means you could be faced with having both of your agents downed, but stabilized, and you were left alone with facing the remaining aliens.
All that coupled with the perma-death of your agents Is really nice, and stays rather true to the XCOM brand.
The story overall was also quite good, and (without spoiling) there were some things in the story that I did not see coming, which was a pleasant surprise, and was dealt with rather nicely.
So what was bad with The Bureau? Well for one, there is no research at all, nothing.
You find an alien weapon that has not exploded (pre-defined placements throughout the campaign missions) and you pick it up, now you have it unlocked, and all agents that can use that weapon class can also equip it.
You don't even have to get back to base before you can start equipping your agents with it, you just need to get to a "resupply point". That was a really bad design choice in my opinion.
The backpacks were also implemented rather oddly, you find backpack schematics littered around on some levels, and others you get from sending out your "reserve" agents on their own missions via the main map from the base. And it's the same deal as with the weapons, you find a schematic, you have instantly unlocked the backpack for use on your agents and yourself.
All in all, it had some strong and good sides, such as the need to use tactics, flanking manoeuvres, combine your own and your agents abilities and not just sit behind one chest-high wall and use blind-fire all the time, like some other 3rd-person shooters.
And the bad and ugly sides were the lack of some of the more complex systems, such as research for new weapons and equipment.
I quite enjoyed the game, and for this price I got it at, it was worth every penny!
A spinoff, not a sequel nor a prequel
zonzon | Aug. 28, 2013 | See all zonzon's reviews »This game has what XCOM lacked, a bigger emphasis on a scenario and exploration. This is a TPS that tried to keep the strategic nature of the originals, but is not really as complete as what XCOM was. Nevertheless, the scenario is quite enjoyable, with a little surprise occuring at the 2/3 of the game. Surprise that was actually quite brilliant, you may see it like Far Cry 3 hidden message, but this one is not outrageously insulting us as a gamer and rather intelligent.
The game is clearly poorly optimized, crank down the reflections on lower end cards. Shadows look great at max setting, but they tend to glitch sometimes, restart the game if it occurs, or lower the shadows setting.
The worst point about this game, is that it doesn't light the events of Enemy Unknown, this is not a flaw in itself, it's just a shame.
A good Mass Effect clones
Cavalieroscuro | Aug. 28, 2013 | See all Cavalieroscuro's reviews »The Bureau: XCOM Declassified is an action game, with several RPG elements on it. If you have played Mass Effect 2, well, is pretty similar to it. Same dialogues reel, same strategic and action options...but the game is good. It's a nice clone, with a good plot, several weapons and upgrade (you can level your main character to 10, all the other NPC to level 5). The graphic is good and the game run smoothly even on not so new PCs. Give it a try.
Agent Carter, report to the Skyranger hangar at once!
Guardian412 | Aug. 27, 2013 | See all Guardian412's reviews »The Bureau: XCOM Declassified is a great game regardless what the mainstream reviewers says. Actually I enjoyed this game much better than most of the recent releases. It has an interesting, twisted and long storyline, a polished gameplay, good missions, great skills, well designed tactical controls and authentic atmosphere. Some says the game could have been better. Yes, just like every game. Some parts of it could be different, such I would enjoy an open world exploration and more side missions. Or more interaction with the base staff. But as I look back, I enjoyed every moment of this game, regardless I wasn't able to discover every house, or couldn't interact with much elements on the levels. It takes about 20 hours to finish the main storyline, so it's also a very long game considering it's a tactical TPS game. The only two real cons are the higher system requirements which is unusual for the Unreal engine and the A.I. could have been better here and there. But if you get used to the tactical control and get the real taste of The Bureau, you'll like it. If you loved XCom: Enemy Unknown and if you'd like to know what leaded to the foundation of XCom organization, or if you want to play in the XCom universe from a different perspective, The Buraeu is a great game to do this. It has an interesting premise, a great atmosphere set in the 1960s Cold War Era, a very long gametime, interesting skills and sometimes very-very hard missions and tough enemies. Even if it's a TPS, you have ti use similar tactics what you used in XCom: Enemy Unknown. The Bureau is a great and challenging game, what I bravely recommend it to those who love longer storylines and challenging battles.
What I expected and more
DomEReapeR | Aug. 27, 2013 | See all DomEReapeR's reviews »I'd been waiting for this game for ages, when it finally came out (3 days later here than in America) I was blown away by all the bad criticism it has recieved.
The game is pretty much what I expected, a third-person Xcom. It took me about 14 hours to finish which is a biiit on the shord side for 45 euros but it was a very enjoyable 14 hours.
The game gives you a main character, and as you rank up, you gain powers based on technology taken from the aliens you've defeated, eventually you're able to throw out your own silacoids and drones as well as mind controlling enemies for a short period of time.
You can bring 2 squadmembers, that can each have one of 4 classes in the game. I personally brought a Recon for specific target high-damage strikes as well as an orbital bombardment, along with an engineer who could throw out mines and turrets.
Along the game you find a lot of new fun weapons, from ballistic to laser, and eventually plasma. All the weapons are satisfying to use, and work perfectly in conjunction with your powers.
There are a lot of enemy types that all look pretty similar but function very differently.
I played on what I think is supposed to be the normal difficulty (I played on squaddie) and the game was a bit on the difficult side, but it was managable.
I'd say there's definietly replayability if you switch out your squadmembers classes and your own abilities and weapons.
All in all, the game did not dissappoint, was very enjoyable, and fans of XCOM are going to absolutely love it.
So familiar and so very different
ivangroznyi1 | Aug. 27, 2013 | See all ivangroznyi1's reviews »You thought it would not happen. I did. And then it happened. The XCOM franchise moved into the cold war period. Now you get your XCOM in a 60s setting, and it's so full of character and so unique that the atmosphere sometimes dominates the game of The Bureau: XCOM Declassified. The game is a great twist on the XCOM universe, as now the game is presented from third person perspective. Yes, it's not another XCOM strategy... But fortunately the person in question is interesting enough to make the game addictive and interesting. And the whole story and setting are so good that even if the gameplay was bad (which it is not), they would justify playing the game just for the sake of them. If you can immerse yourself in the XCOM universe once more, even though the game is not another XCOM strategy, you will surely have a blast!
Great XCOM Game!
Plasros | Aug. 27, 2013 | See all Plasros's reviews »Pretty much everything I wanted from the canceled XCom Alliance game that we never got. Yes, it apes Mass Effect, while offering a deeper tactical system. Voice acting is pretty solid and the overall flavor is very unique.
So far it's the 3rd best X-com game, past the first and the recent tactical remake.
The story was compelling, if a bit rushed in parts, and I wish they had incorporated some more of the research and building aspects of Unknown but in the end I was completely happy with my purchase. The end of the game feels very rushed, and I would have liked a bit more diversity among my squad as I tended to use the same two for every mission.
Definitely worth a buy though, as long as your expectations are right.
A good game, but has potential for improvement.
Shadowwolf414 | Aug. 26, 2013 | See all Shadowwolf414's reviews »A well done, very original combination of the third person shooter and real time strategy genres. It has good visuals, and for the most part the game play is very smooth. Generally, the game is very similar to Mass Effect, in that you are a commander of two squad mates, who you can co-ordinate in the field, as well as the dialogue system, in which you decide how Carter (the protagonist) responds to the situation. However, the main point for improvement I think could be made, is that this game didn't need to be XCOM. It felt like the XCOM theme was holding the game back more than anything, and that the temes of the game had been developed, and then changed to fit as an XCOM game.
Overall however, definitely worth a play for a challenging, quite original experience.
Decent game
laterbase | Aug. 26, 2013 | See all laterbase's reviews »This game got a lot of flak for not staying true to the original IP, but it is a pretty fun tactical shooter with good atmosphere and a fun setting. Give it a try.
Great and underrated game
zakk77 | Aug. 26, 2013 | See all zakk77's reviews »I don't understand all the bad rep this game has got from reviews. Solid tactical FPS shooter with very good plot! This is for someone who want's to think how to win the battles and is ready to read the notes and listen all the audio logs in game. Without it I understand why someone would not like this. If you're friend of Mass Effect series I'm sure you won't be dissapointed! My recommendations.
A different XCOM
zipnox | Aug. 25, 2013 | See all zipnox's reviews »After the recent success of XCOM: Enemy Unknown comes The Bureau: XCOM Declassified. This time however it's not the strategy game you might expect, instead you get to play as an agent tasked with the defense of the world in a third person shooter perspective. The story presented in the game is engaging, accompanied by excellent sound direction and voice acting.
The graphics and overall atmosphere are well done and the game offers lots of tactical thinking in shape of squad management. The biggest issue with the game in my opinion is that it tries to approach several genres at the same time while never reaching its expected potential in either category; this is accompanied by the fact that the game has been developed for optimal play on a console device. I feel that this severely limited the game potential, trying to reach all audiences at the same time is an improbable mission.
Overall, the game is enjoyable as long as you don't expect the same turn based strategy that we're used to get. It's a different game and well worth trying out if you're into third person action games.
Pretty good xcom
Bradaz85 | Aug. 25, 2013 | See all Bradaz85's reviews »This game is a decent enough third-person-shooter, Not the best but still good. For me, it does deserve the Xcom name and it does a good job of telling a story, even if the gameplay feels slightly like a mass effect clone, for me that was a good thing. The game performs well on AMD hardware.
Some issues but enjoyable!
p0tenc | Aug. 25, 2013 | See all p0tenc's reviews »Although not perfect I don't understand why the game is getting bad reviews. A few negatives are that only one key can be bind to each action and some agent abilities can be fiddly moving with the camera. Over all though this game is enjoyable and much better than some reviewers would have you believe.
I especially like the XCOM 60's theme and the GFX is good too. I probably would not pay £30 for it but considering I got it for £20 with all the pre-order bonuses I'm quite happy and will have fun playing it through once. I don't see this game having the replay ability of XCOM Enemy Unknown, but these are 2 fundamentally different games, so would be unfair to compare them. They share the same theme and that's where it ends.
Don't expect Battlefield 3 or Mass Effect 3 and look at this game as something unique.
Grows on you!
moronicron | Aug. 25, 2013 | See all moronicron's reviews »At first I found the game to be very "Meh" but after playing a few missions with my own custom agents everything just get more fun. The game can be challange at times and I would recomend playing on Veteran difficulty. Tactical mode can be somewhat clumsy when it comes to moving markers over gaps in the terrain but with a little fiddeling you will get your mines, grenades, artillery and turrets where you want them. Everything has a sort of Mass Effect vibe with how the gameplay is set up except this feels alittle smoother. Story is kind of okay and thats the most I can say about it. For anyone who wants a TPS with full control over your AI team then this is for you.
The altered remains of the Xcom FPS
09williamsad | Aug. 25, 2013 | See all 09williamsad's reviews »This game started out as an FPS but has been turned into a "Tactical" TPS. The game has tactical elements but that usually comes down to move soldier here and use ability X. Playing the game in a run and gun Rambo style in not easy as your health can be depleted quickly if you are not careful and do not stick to cover. Your AI squad mates usually will go to where you tell them to and stay there but after a while they will follow you or move to another piece of cover which may or may not be in the aliens arc of fire. There is no research and engineering like in the TBS XCOM games. This is a somewhat tactical shooter with the XCOM IP attached.
Zache_ | Aug. 24, 2013 | See all Zache_'s reviews »Loved XCOM: Enemy Unknown and when I first saw the trailer for this game i pre-ordered it at once. The first thing that you notice about this game are the graphics. Great looking scenes and environments, it actually feels like you're in a real secret army base, spaceship or whatever. It also really feels like you're in the 60's, the clothes, haircuts, huge computers, it's all great. Can only imagine what this would be like with the oculus rift.
The gameplay is lovely. I really enjoy the change from 'god-perspective' (as in enemy unknown) to third person where i now can shoot like in an fps-game. The story is great aswell. Can't quite say i have ever been more into a games story as in this game. I really want to listen to everything everyone has to say as it's all interesting, and the letters that people has left all over the abondoned towns.
The thing that makes my rating a 9.5/10 instead of 10 is the combat. As its now real time strategy and you have to shoot for yourself you can no longer craft the perfect strategic plan as in XCOM: EU. But it feels like a completely new sort of game which I would like to see more of. You also get alot of checkpoints after almost every fight, which makes you less careful, which I think is bad as you no longer fear that your agents might get killed, you simply just restart from checkpoint.
TL;DR: If you're looking for the same kind of strategic combat as in Enemy Unknown, do not buy this game, it is very very different. But I love it, great story and great new kind of combat.
Brilliant Old School Tactical Shooter
spycid | Aug. 23, 2013 | See all spycid's reviews »One genre which is missing from the latest games is Tactical Shooters. This game blends the modern Third Person Shooter genre with old school Tactical aspects. Old noire feeling and Cold War setting made the game look beautiful. Not only does it look beautiful, but the storyline is great. It's not a generic run and gun and press a lot of buttons game. I liked it since it's a tactical game where you have to strategize to move ahead. I hope you will like it too.
Not a typical X-Com, but still fun to play
Shav | Aug. 23, 2013 | See all Shav's reviews »This game causes a lot of trouble when it comes to giving it a proper review. After all it is pretty decent shooter with a lot of tactical elements, but...
...but it is a part of an X-Com franchise, of course that everyone wants it to be completely amazing and breath-taking! Is it? Nope, just because there are a lot of minor drawbacks that makes it just an average game.
Lets start with a story - setting the game in 60's was a great idea, but a plot (no spoiles) simply is a bit...weird, and it lacks sense during most of the game. The characters are forgettable, the atmosphere isn't scary at all.
Gameplay is pretty fun, especially at the beggining. Mixing a TPP shooter with tactical elements works great during early stages of the game, but after a while it is a bit boring and repetetive. Also, there are some problems with issuing orders to your squad mates, especially on stairs and hills.
The game would seem better if there was no "XCOM" in the title. It is a solid production, but lacks emotions and innovation to be truely enjoyable not only by casuals, but also hardcore fans of XCOM franchise.
But remember, even that my review may seem pretty negative - IT IS NOT A BAD GAME!
A few issues here and there, but still a solid tactical shooter
ryanclive | Aug. 23, 2013 | See all ryanclive's reviews »The following is an honest-to-goodness review, and my personal take on The Bureau. Take note, this is my first game in the XCOM series.
Prior to finally being able to play this game, I went through several articles that gave this game mediocre ratings and reviews. Instead of feeling regret for pre-purchasing the game, I actually felt more intrigued, as I often experience games and films that I end up liking - only to find out later that they have less than desirable critic ratings.
First things first, let's get the issues out of the way.
Having played all of the Mass Effect games, I quickly noticed that the combat somewhat borrows heavily from the ME series, right down to the Lift ability of Carter. Originality is a rare commodity these days, and frankly, I couldn't think of a better way to improve on the tactical shooter formula. The graphics in the cutscenes are terrible; Initially, I was under the impression that the "style" was intended to fit the noir/vintage look, but I have a strong feeling it really isn't. In the same vein, the graphics can look a bit outdated; Lip sync is off, and the textures could have used better samples.
Now that we have gotten those out of the way, let's get to the good parts.
The Bureau is actually a solid tactical shooter. I have played and absolutely completed all Mass Effect games on Insanity mode, and even here, my squad sometimes gets knocked out even on Rookie. The point being, it's a tactical shooter at heart, and will require serious micro-management on your part - which I find fun and refreshing (of course, you could also argue that it was negligence on my part, LOL).
The perks you gain vary greatly with each squad type, and from commando to engineer, there really is no weak link. All squad types are useful, and will depend greatly on your play style. Flanking and positioning is given a lot more emphasis, and the game punishes rubbish preparation on the part of the player. Weapons do not have mods, sadly, but they all do the job and there are good variants in the game, both Earth and Outsider (alien) types.
The Bureau's story is actually engaging, too, complemented by a period-accurate soundtrack. The dialogues are borderline cheese at times, but unlike the cutscenes I have mentioned, they are at least period-centric, and exudes a genuine B-movie feel. There are no collectibles or audio logs that extend the story, other than a few negligible notes scattered around.
The game does not break any new ground, but it isn't overly terrible either. I'm taking a bit of a guess here, but the complaints probably stem from the high expectations of people, expecting this to be closely related to Enemy Unknown, but Enemy Known and deep strategy and tactics this is not. Having played the likes of Mass Effect and Gears of War (both of which are somewhat close to the gameplay structure), I personally find the Bureau to be competent and fun.
As a closing note, I would recommend getting the pre-purchase version of the game (if there's still time) that comes with the free DLC, Spec Ops game, and XCOM collection; as I can hardly recommend buying the game solely at $50.
not bad but trying to mix games/genres doesnt work 100%
comedychris | Aug. 23, 2013 | See all comedychris's reviews »not bad but trying to mix games/genres doesn't work 100%, ok so the 3rd person action and shooting is fun, the class based combat, and variety of ways to win a lvl instead of simply running and gunning is a fresh take on modern games, that same strategy that wins me over also is a downfall, the detail and complexity is no where near xcom EU and because of that i feel a new game of a franchise should be better not worse.. a good game but if you can, get the previous title... unless you like gun play then this is for you. :D


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A quick search of dog bites on the Internet will yield a query full of incidents where a dog has attacked a person, another dog, and many times a child.
A large percentage of those stories report that the attacks were carried out by a pit bull.
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention reports that 4.5 million people are bitten by dogs each year, and a bite is described as one that breaks the skin.
Of those 4.5 million bites, 885,000 require medical attention.
On Saturday evening a 4-year-old Newhall boy was attacked by a pit bull and suffered severe bites to the rear scalp area of the boy's head.
To read the full story click here.
As you dive into the statistics they repeatedly cast a negative light on the Pit Bull breed, also known as American Pit Bull Terrier.
The dogs are a cross between a Bulldog and an English Terrier. Bulldogs were bred in England in the 1800s for the purpose of baiting bulls, a sport where dogs are trained to fight bulls and bait them or subdue them by latching onto their snouts.
According to the American Kennel Club the Bulldogs of the 1800's resembled the pit bulls of today, describing them as agile, tenacious and courageous.
It is because of these characteristics dog fighters sought and exploited Pit Bulls, which has led to their vicious reputation.
According to dogbites.org in 2009 there were 32 fatal dog attacks in the U.S with 14 of them involving pit bulls.
One of the main components of the fear surrounding pit bulls is their bite.
They are described as having enormous jaw strength, as well as a "hold and shake" bite style.
These dogs may have a reputation for being vicious and in some cases "blood hungry," but many owners report that pit bulls are the most loving and compassionate dogs they have owned.
The majority of dogs that attack people are often neglected, abused, or trained to fight.
"Almost all dogs kept for fighting are kept chained. Isolated and deprived, untrained and driven to frustration, chained dogs can become aggressive and dangerous," according to humanesociety.org.
That organization is striving to change the perception the public has about these dogs and fight against the people who breed and train pit bulls to fight.
Another organization that strives to help change the stigma of these dogs and help those that have been neglected, abused or abandoned is Villalobos Rescue Center in Agua Dulce.
The center currently has more then 150 pit bulls, which they have rescued.
"Pit Bulls were originally bred to be nanny dogs, they took care of the kids," said Tia Torres, Founder of VRC. "These dogs are human friendly but can be animal aggressive."
The VRC has been rescuing pit bulls since 1993, and recently was picked up for a reality TV show on Animal Planet called "Pit Bulls and Parolees."
Torres says before the show the center averaged one adoption a month but now they average between 5-10.
When asked about the views that all pit bulls should be euthanized she said that it's like saying that all Catholic priests are pedophiles.
"It's just ignorance. Do I think everyone should be saved? No. I've euthanized them [pit bulls] for bad temperament," said Torres. "My children and I have never been bitten or attacked, but that doesn't mean it doesn't happen."
The CDC offers these tips for preventing dog bites:
- Consult with a professional (e.g., veterinarian, animal behaviorist, or responsible breeder) to learn what breeds of dogs are the best fit for your household.
- Dogs with histories of aggression are not suitable for households with children.
- Be sensitive to cues that a child is fearful or apprehensive about a dog. If a child seems frightened by dogs, wait before bringing a dog into your household.
- Spend time with a dog before buying or adopting it. Use caution when bringing a dog into a household with an infant or toddler.
If you decide to bring a dog into your home:
- Spay/neuter your dog (this often reduces aggressive tendencies).
- Never leave infants or young children alone with a dog.
- Don't play aggressive games with your dog (e.g., wrestling).
- Properly socialize and train any dog entering your household. Teach the dog submissive behaviors (e.g., rolling over to expose the abdomen and giving up food without growling).
- Immediately seek professional advice (e.g., from veterinarians, animal behaviorists, or responsible breeders) if the dog develops aggressive or undesirable behaviors.
To learn more about the Villalobos Rescue Center and how you can adopt one of these animals click here.
To Learn more about the Humane Society's efforts to protect these animals click here.


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Dix, Ina and Hopf, Henning and Satyanarayana, Thota BN and Ernst, Ludger (2010) Preparation and NMR spectra of four isomeric diformyl2.2]paracyclophanes (cyclophanes 66). In: Beilstein Journal of Organic Chemistry, 6 . pp. 932-937.
NMR.pdf - Published Version Restricted to Registered users only Download (382Kb) | Request a copy |
Official URL: http://www.beilstein-journals.org/bjoc/single/arti...
Four isomeric dialdehydes 4, readily available from cycloaddition of propiolic aldehyde (2) to 1,2,4,5-hexatetraene (1), were separated by chromatography and recrystallization, and were characterized by their spectroscopic data. The individual isomers can now be easily identified from their H-1 NMR spectra even if only one of them is present.
Item Type: | Journal Article |
Additional Information: | Copyright of this article belongs to BioMed Central. |
Keywords: | cyclophanes; diformyl2.2]paracyclophanes; layered compounds; NMR spectroscopy; structure assignment |
Department/Centre: | Division of Chemical Sciences > Organic Chemistry |
Date Deposited: | 19 Nov 2010 11:11 |
Last Modified: | 19 Nov 2010 11:11 |
URI: | http://eprints.iisc.ernet.in/id/eprint/33855 |
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Clicgear Double Canopy 68" Golf Umbrella
Product Information:
Stay dry and protected from the sun. The Clicgear ® Double Canopy Golf Umbrella features a 68-inch double canopy cover with UV coating to get all the elements out of your way. The umbrella stores easily in any golf bag with a slot for your umbrella. You never know when the weather will change and you are stuck out in the middle of the golf course. Don't leave home without it.
- 68-inch double canopy cover
- UV coated umbrella
- Handle design to work in Clicgear ® umbrella holder
- East open and close
- Clicgear ®
Country of Origin: Imported
Web ID: 12986430
Customer Reviews:
Rated 5 out of 5�by 1
Rated 5 out of 5�by chippy clicgear umbrella
We received these just in time. Had a golf outing the day after we got them. Has a nice wide canopy. Didn't use them on the hand cart but came in handy because it rained the whole time we were out there...lol..very satisfied with this purchase.
September 14, 2014
1-1 of 1


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'Papers, Please' for iPad game review
Papers, Please is a multi award-winning indie game on the desktop. The game was lauded for its interesting gameplay premise, involving an immigration office where your job is to go through people's passports and documents to allow or deny them entry into the fictional country of Arstotzka.
The game was initially launched on the desktop but has now been ported over to the iPad with full touch support. Let's take a look at the iPad version. Read more »


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There's been an active discussion on the DeepFUN group about the game of Frisbee Golf. The version I liked the best we eventually wound-up calling "Free-Form Frisbee Golf." You use one disc for a group of players. You start anywhere. One of you suggests a target (a tree, trash can, fire hydrant…). Another suggests par (how many throws it will take). The first player tees off (throws). Someone else from the group picks up the disc and throws from there. Rotating through the group until someone finally hits the target. Then you decide on the next "hole." It's a great walking game through any kind of terrain. A great equalizer. Good, gentle fun.
Free-form Frisbee Golf
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3 Responses to Two for Tuesday
Love it, Karli! I'm glad I'm not the only one who suffers from binge eating. Its so weird and emotional – I suddenly want to stuff down everything!! But its inspiring to hear how you still struggle although less, and it didn't just magically go away. And I love the quote at the end on the picture(: thanks for your inspiration!!!!!!!!!!! <3
That is how I felt last week. Food everywhere-our family enjoying the meal I prepared (with love) and me and my "lean and green". A dessert to those who happily ate their meal. I love food, too. I love trying new recipes and I love to bake. But, I have to find that balance and self control to make it work for this lifestyle. In the end, Karli, I just want to be happy. And I am a work in progress
Oh, what a relief to know I have company in my love of food. Sometimes I feel like I am getting the message that 'once you choose health as your primary goal, then food shouldn't be a struggle, unless you're not really committed to your health.' How refreshing to hear a health coach say that even when you get to your goal weight it is still a daily choice. It is very encouraging.


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Sleeps | 4 |
Bedrooms | 2 |
Bathrooms | 2 |
Property type | house |
Minimum Stay | nights |
Just recently listed on Homeaway.com ... this comfortable waterfront, four season home is situated on a lot offering great water views over the salt water bay called "The Pool" and offering unforgettable sunsets over The Pool. 1 minute walk to ocean and sandy beach.
This late arrival to homeaway.com is to your advantage as the summer weekly selections is very open at this time but the inquiries are coming in already. Secure your favorite week now while the selections are excellent!
This completely furnished 2-bedroom, 2 bath home is ideal for vacationers or for the business traveler who would need a private, two bedroom home rather than one room in a motel or hotel.
To view photo album and further details of this property and other vacation homes copy and paste the following link into your web browser: http://www.cronkiterealty.com/crr/Rentals.html
One minute walk to sandy beach. Once on the beach you will find a majestic, panoramic view of 9 islands (one with a lighthouse), 2 ports and the shoreline of 5 townships. Beautiful sunsets over the water from all rooms.
Launch your kayak or canoe in bay from the backyard of this waterfront home. Kennebunkport (famous to home of former President George Bush) is only 7 miles south (Dock Square is a comfortable 10 minute ride south); Kittery Factory Outlet (rated one of the most highly successful factory outlets in the nation) is in Kittery and is only 30 miles south; Maine Mall (Maine's largest indoor mall) is in South Portland and is only 15 miles north; Portland International Jetport and the Old Port on the waterfront in Portland areonly 15 miles north; and world famous L.L. Bean's Factory Outlet is in Freeport and is only 30 miles north.
For more photos and details please visit: www.cronkiterealty.com
Other Activities: Fishing, Kayaking
Tax Rate | 7.0% |


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Top Definition
i was so fucked up
yo do you remember that party last night?
not really man iwsfu
not really man iwsfu
by Bilbo Fucking Baggins
April 28, 2012
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6.4" high, 9 ounce crystal highball cocktail glass with heavy, hand cast pewter bottom, stamped with the touchmark of the pewter artisans that crafted it. Handmade in Italy. Pair ships free. (
Shorter than a Collins glass, taller than an Old Fashioned tumbler, the highball glass is used to serve mixed drinks and the classic Highball cocktail: drinks that have juice or mixer, and are typically 45-50% alcohol.
In Mexico, the margarita is made with 1 ½ ounces of tequila, ½ ounce of orange-flavored liqueur and a dash of fresh lime juice shaken and poured with ice into a specialized, stemmed margarita glass, or straight up, without ice, in a highball glass, salt on the rim.
To make a highball cocktail:
Fill a glass 2/3 full with ice. Use an ice scoop or your hands, never use the glass. Pour in one jigger of liquor. Note: some bars save money by pouring 1 oz. instead of a whole jigger. Pour mixer to the top. If the mixer is noncarbonated, stir it, or stick a straw in it and let the drinker stir. If it's carbonated, the bubbles do the stirring for it. Garnish, if necessary.
To keep your crystal highball glasses alive and well for generations, be sure and store them where they won't touch other items, and make sure never to place them upside down, as it can put stress on the rim, which is very delicate.
Be careful not to carry more than one glass in the same hand, as a simple clink can sometimes have a heavy impact. If your crystal breaks and you can save it, use a clear-drying epoxy that was made just for glass and glue it back together. Then set in the sun for a bit to help the bonding process.
When cleaning the glass, use only mild detergent and a lint-free cloth for drying. When cleaning the pewter bottom, also use a mild detergent, and be sure and dry thoroughly. If left wet, the drops will leave a mark.
The glasses are not safe for the dishwasher. When washing by hand, use a rubber mat in the sink bottom, just in case your hands are slippery and the glass drops. Use only warm water and rinse with warm water. Quick changes in temperature can cause cracking and clouding. If you let the glasses air dry and then try to dry them you might end up with streaks or smears.
David Reiss is the founder of Match, the manufacturer that has brought this glass, and a number of other Italian crystal and pewter products, to the U.S. He fell in love with the old soul of pewter on a trip to Lombardia, and felt the pewter and crystal products he observed abroad were exceptional in quality and aesthetic, different from what was then available in the United States.
His 17 year old company is the first to bring this very same Italian pewter to the American market. Every one of his products is handmade in Lombardia, FDA approved, food safe and contains no lead.
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12-05-2011 |
CSC Donates to Mountain Outreach |
Williamsburg, Ky.– On Wednesday, November 30, 2011, employees of Computer Sciences Corporation (CSC) in Williamsburg presented a gift of a little more than $5,300 to Marc Hensley, director of Mountain Outreach (MO), a student-led service organization of University of the Cumberlands (UC). The money was used to purchase toys and gifts for the families who were registered for MO's annual Gift Day on Saturday, Dec. 10. CSC employees raised the money for Gift Day through various fund-raisers, including different events like a bake sale, spaghetti dinner, raffles, candy grams, among other things. "We keep doing this year after year to make a difference in children's lives," says Gayle Troxell, CSC Facility Manager. "People at the company are very passionate and want to make a difference." "Gift Day would not be possible without donations like these," Hensley said as he accepted the money from CSC employees, "and we can't thank you enough. This is local people, helping other local people, and it shows they are concerned about the community in which they all live in." Mountain Outreach is a University of the Cumberlands construction ministry, with students and volunteers completing 135 homes and making repairs and renovations to hundreds more in the last 27 years. The organization has sponsored Gift Day for more than a decade, providing Christmas gifts for children of needy families in the area. Inquiries about Gift Day and how individuals, businesses or churches might help in the future can be directed to the Mountain Outreach office at (800) 343-1609, extension 4346, between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. Computer Sciences Corporation is a leading global information technology (IT) services company with numerous locations. Its mission is to provide customers in industry and government with solutions crafted to meet their specific challenges and enable them to profit from the advanced use of technology. Mountain Outreach has been nationally recognized for its work several times: the Action Institute for the Study of Religion and Liberty selected it as one of ten charities to receive the Samaritan Award; USA Today noted the program in its 1996 "Make a Difference Day" competition; and President George H. Bush honored Mountain Outreach as his 220th Daily Point of Light. Located in Williamsburg, KY, University of the Cumberlands is an institution of regional distinction, which currently offers four undergraduate degrees in more than 40 major fields of study; nine pre-professional programs; nine graduate degrees, including two doctorates, a specialist, and six master's degrees; certifications in education; and online programs. |


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Thursday, 23 Feb 2012 07:15 AM
Wednesday's decision by U.S. District Judge Carl Barbier in New Orleans allows the U.S. government to pursue civil penalties at a trial he is scheduled to oversee beginning on Feb. 27.
BP spokesman Daren Beaudo said in a statement the oil company has paid out more than $8 billion in claims, and repeated its commitment to pay "all legitimate claims" and help economic and environmental restoration along the Gulf coast.
Anadarko did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Barbier also said Transocean Ltd may be liable for some cleanup costs, but the owner of the exploded Deepwater Horizon drilling rig called the decision a "vital win" that limited its potential liability.
In his decision, Barbier said BP and Anadarko are liable under the Clean Water Act for oil discharged beneath the water surface because they owned a respective 65 percent and 25 percent of the Macondo well that blew out.
The judge ruled that BP and Anadarko are also liable under the Oil Pollution Act for oil removal costs and damages. He said their liability under both laws is "joint and several," meaning that each could be responsible for the entire amount owed.
"Anadarko and BP were the ones directly engaged in the enterprise which caused the spill," Barbier wrote.
"If Congress envisioned that the owner of the offshore facility would have to respond to an oil spill such as this one, then it is logical that they would also be the party upon whom the civil penalty is imposed," he added.
Barbier also said Transocean may qualify under the Clean Water Act as an "operator" of an offshore facility, but there were "disputed facts" as to whether it did. He also said Transocean may be liable under the Oil Pollution Act for oil removal costs, but not the subsurface discharge of oil.
Transocean spokesman Brian Kennedy in a statement called the decision "a vital win for Transocean and for the long-term viability of the industry's operator-contractor model."
Wyn Hornbuckle, a spokesman for the U.S. Department of Justice, said that agency is reviewing the decision.
Anadarko agreed in October to pay BP $4 billion to settle claims between the companies over the spill.
In exchange, BP agreed to indemnify Anadarko for most spill-related costs, though Anadarko remained liable for its share of fines payable to the government.
The Clean Water Act lets the government seek fines of up to $1,100 per barrel of oil spilled, or $4,300 per barrel if gross negligence or willful misconduct is found.
Assuming 4.1 million barrels were spilled as the government contends, that could result in a penalty of $4.5 billion, and potentially $17.6 billion if there were gross negligence.
Barbier declined to rule that BP and Anadarko could face unlimited liability under the Oil Pollution Act, as the government requested.
The April 20, 2010 rig explosion caused 11 deaths, and led to the largest offshore oil spill in U.S. history.
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Trade Union entry Victorian Operative Bricklayers Society (1969 - 1988)
- From
- 1969
Victoria - To
- 1988
- Functions
- Trade Union (Federal)
- Reference No
The Victorian Operative Bricklayers' Society was established in 1856 and was an early party to eight-hours agreements. The skills and mobility of bricklayers have contributed to the independence of this small union. Indeed, the Victorian Operative Bricklayers' Society remained unregistered until 1969. In 1988 it joined the two Victorian plaster industry unions to form the Victorian State Building Trades Union which reregistered under the same name in 1991.
Related entries
1969 - 1988 Victorian Operative Bricklayers Society
1988 - 1991 Victorian State Building Trades Union (i)
1991 - Victorian State Building Trades Union (ii)
Archival resources
The Noel Butlin Archives Centre, ANU Archives Program
- Victorian Operative Bricklayers Society - Records, 1848 - 1956, T8; The Noel Butlin Archives Centre, ANU Archives Program. Details
The University of Melbourne Archives
Published resources
Online Resources
- 'Chart 7: Trade Unions - Building, Construction, Mining and Timber Industries', in Parties to the Award, 2002, http://www.atua.org.au/ptta/028.html. Details
Digital resources
Bruce A. Smith
Created: 20 April 2001, Last modified: 6 August 2010


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Influence: Science and Practice
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- Publisher: ALLYN & BACON
- Format: Paperback | 272 pages
- Dimensions: 150mm x 229mm x 15mm | 280g
- Publication date: 8 August 2008
- Publication City/Country: Old Tappan
- Edition: 5
- Edition statement: United States ed of 5th revised ed
- Sales rank: 6,395
Product description
Influence: Science and Practiceis an examination of the psychology of compliance (i.e. uncovering which factors cause a person to say "yes" to another's request). Written in a narrative style combined with scholarly research, Cialdini combines evidence from experimental work with the techniques and strategies he gathered while working as a salesperson, fundraiser, advertiser, and in other positions inside organizations that commonly use compliance tactics to get us to say "yes." Widely used in classes, as well as sold to people operating successfully in the business world, the eagerly awaited revision of Influence reminds the reader of the power of persuasion. Cialdini organizes compliance techniques into six categories based on psychological principles that direct human behavior: reciprocation, consistency, social proof, liking, authority, and scarcity.
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Author information
Robert B. Cialdini is Regents' Professor of Psychology and Marketing at Arizona State University, where he has also been named W. P. Carey Distinguished Professor of Marketing. He has taught at Stanford University and Harvard's Kennedy School of Government. He has been elected president of the Society of Personality and Social Psychology. He is the recipient of the Distinguished Scientific Achievement Award of the Society for Consumer Psychology, the Donald T. Campbell Award for Distinguished Contributions to Social Psychology, and the (inaugural) Peitho Award for Distinguished Contributions to the Science of Social Influence. Dr. Cialdini attributes his interest in social influences to the fact that he was raised in an entirely Italian family, in a predominantly Polish neighborhood, in a historically German city (Milwaukee), in an otherwise rural state.
Review quote
Here's what people are saying about the material in INFLUENCE: Science and Practice: "This marvelous book explains in clear, practical language the ways in which we become persuaded. It offers excellent insights for those who sell, but even more importantly for all of us who negotiate and buy." --ROGER FISHER, Director, Harvard Negotiation Project, Co-author of "Getting to Yes." "For marketers, it is among the most important books written in the last 10 years." --JOURNAL OF MARKETING RESEARCH "The best sales tip I ever got was encouragement to read INFLUENCE by Dr. Robert Cialdini. It was so profound and insightful, I read it three times in a row." --GREG RENKER, President, Guthy-Renker "It would be marvelous reading for students taking Social Psychology." --DAVID MYERS, Hope College "The book is tremendously entertaining and very popular with students. It makes excellent reading for a Consumer Behavior or Advertising class." --ALAN J. RESNIK, Portland State University "INFLUENCE should be required reading for all business majors." --JOURNAL OF RETAILING
Back cover copy
Over 1.5 million copies sold! What factors cause someone to say yes? And which techniques most effectively use these factors to bring about such compliance? In his bestselling book, Robert Cialdini, former salesperson, fundraiser, and advertiser, and current professor of social psychology, examines the science and practice of persuasion and compliance. Praised for its enjoyable writing, practical suggestions, and scientifically documented content, prior editions have been widely read by business professionals, fundraisers, and those interested in psychology. The new edition includes: - twice as many first hand accounts of how the book's principles apply to business and personal lives;- updated coverage of popular culture and new technology; and- more on how compliance principles work in many cultures. Here's what people are saying about" INFLUENCE: Science and Practice" "This marvelous book explains in clear, practical language the ways in which we become persuaded. It offers excellent insights for those who sell, but even more importantly for all of us who negotiate and buy." -ROGER FISHER, Director, Harvard Negotiation Project, Co-author, "Getting to Yes" "Bob Cialdini is the most brilliant student of influence and negotiation I've encountered. If everything were on the line in a negotiation, I can't think of anyone I'd rather have advising me."-TOM PETERS, The Tom Peters Group "This book is the de facto standard to learn the psychology of persuasion. If you don't read it, I hope you enjoy pounding your head against the wall and throwing away marketing dollars." -GUY KAWASAKI, CEO, Garage.com "His book should be in every sales and marketing person's briefcase and reread frequently."-R. CRIAG WILSON, Sr. Vice President, Sales Manager, Northern Trust Robert B. Cialdini is a well known and influential speaker who gives frequent speeches on The Power of Ethical Influence to such organizations as IBM, the Mayo Clinic, and NATO. He is currently Regents' Professor of Psychology at Arizona State University, where he has also been named Graduate Distinguished Research Professor. He is past president of the Society of Personality and Social Psychology. He attributes his longstanding interest in the intricacies of social influence to the fact that he was raised in an entirely Italian family, in a predominantly Polish neighborhood, in a historically German city (Milwaukee), in an otherwise rural state.
Table of contents
All chapters conclude with "Summary" and "Study Questions." Preface. Introduction. 1.Weapons of Influence. Click, Whirr. Betting the Shortcut Odd. The Profiteers. Jujitsu. Reader's Report. 2.Reciprocation: The Old Give and Take ! and Take. How the Rule Works. Reciprocal Concessions. Rejection-Then-Retreat. Defense. Reader's Report. 3.Commitment and Consistency: Hobgoblins of the Mind. Whirring Along. Commitment Is the Key. Defense. Reader's Report. 4.Social Proof: Truths Are Us. The Principle of Social Proof. Cause of Death: Uncertain(ty). Monkey Me, Monkey Do. Defense. Reader's Report. 5.Liking: The Friendly Thief. Making Friends to Influence People. Why Do I Like You? Let Me List the Reasons. Conditioning and Association. Defense. Reader's Report. 6.Authority: Directed Deference. The Power of Authority Pressure. The Allures and Dangers of Blind Obedience. Connotation Not Content. Defense. Reader's Report. 7.Scarcity: The Rule of the Few. Less Is Best and Loss Is Worst. Psychological Reactance. Optimal Conditions. Defense. Reader's Report. 8.Instant Influence: Primitive Consent for an Automatic Age. Primitive Automaticity. Modern Automaticity. Shortcuts Shall Be Sacred. References. Credits. Index.


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Big Boy Staging SoCal Comeback
Tuesday November 24, 2009
From Kat Odell of Eater Los Angeles: After a near 20-year absence from most of Southern California, Bob's Big Boy is making a comeback Britney Spears-style. The fast food chain " took root in 1936 as a 10-stool eatery in Glendale...[and] eventually became a fixture in communities across the country during the 1960s and 1970s." However, it was in California that the chain flourished with 150 restaurants, though in the early '90s most of the eateries were converted into Coco's and Carrows restaurants. Now, restaurateur Matt Pike (whose family owns the Beach House Restaurant in Cardiff) has signed a deal with "Big Boy Restaurants International to build 10 San Diego County franchises over the next five years. He already owns three others, including one in Temecula, and is scouting other locations." And, come mid-December, one of the newest outposts will open in El Cajon's Westfield Parkway Plaza in a 4,500 square-foot space. For those wondering about the Listage photo this morning, the Burbank space is one of the oldest surviving Bob's Big Boy restaurants left in SoCal.


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Victor Cooper Honored for Leadership and Service to Children with Special Needs
CHICAGO, IL (April 13, 2007) – Next Tuesday, the Northern Suburban Special Education District (NSSED) Association of Parents and Staff will present the Dave Peterson Possibilities Award to Washburn Middle School teacher Victor Cooper C'89. One of NSSED's 2006-07 Best Practice Awards, this honor recognizes outstanding individuals that promote understanding and inclusion of children with special needs, and applauds those showing leadership and innovation in areas such as advocacy, partnership, and support.
North Park alumnus Victor Cooper was nominated by Diane Siebrasse, mother of Laurel Siebrasse, one of Cooper's former students. Cooper was Laurel's physical education teacher several years ago when the current New Trier High School student was in seventh and eighth grades. Siebrasse credits her daughter's track career, as well as its accompanying self-esteem and sense of accomplishment, to Cooper's influence. "If he hadn't believed in her, she wouldn't be doing all that she is today."
Cooper's involvement with Laurel was influential in his own life, as well. When asked by that year's yearbook committee to name the highlight of his year, Cooper is quoted as saying, "Seeing Laurel Siebrasse cross the finish line in track." When Laurel's mom heard about the Dave Peterson Possibilities Award, she knew "it was Victor in a nutshell. He sees what kids are capable of and believes in them." To support her own belief in Cooper, Siebrasse points to the unanimous vote for his selection as this year's award winner, as well as the fact that he is the first non-special education teacher to be chosen for the honor to date.
Siebrasse had no problem gathering the requisite letters of support for Cooper's nomination. Beloved by so many for his positive, upbeat nature, Cooper's appreciation for "the impact self-esteem has on a child's ability to be physically active, and the use of sports and athletics to achieve positive things" has been lauded by innumerable students (to whom he is know as "Coop" or "Mr. Coop"), parents, co-workers, administrators, and the North Shore community as a whole.
Former chair of the North Park Board of Trustees Rev. Arthur A. R. Nelson A'52 C'54 S'60 knew Cooper throughout his North Park years and even performed his marriage ceremony. Nelson describes Cooper as "a young man with a sometimes difficult childhood, in terms of the neighborhood in which he lived and the opportunities available to him. He came to North Park and, because of his wonderful personality, dedication, and abilities, he blossomed."
Nelson recalls Cooper as a North Park track and field star who was influenced by the late Ted Hedstrand A'39 C'41. He was "much more than a coach" to Cooper, taking him on canoe trips in Minnesota and "nurturing Victor's skills as a runner, but also as a human being."
After graduation from North Park in 1989, Cooper assumed positions in education where he earned the immediate love and respect of his students and their parents. In Nelson's estimation, Cooper "has continued to be an example of the best of what it means to be human and loving, and to care for other people."
The Dave Peterson Possibilities Award will be presented to Victor Cooper on Tuesday at a 9:30 a.m. ceremony at the New Trier Northfield Campus in Building C (7 Happ Road, Northfield), Board Room C234. Space is limited, so please R.S.V.P. to Karen Noonan, NSSED director of programs, at (847) 831-5100, ext. 210.


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May 3, 2015 |
Cuba's New EconomyPosted on Apr 14, 2011
By Reese Erlich (Page 2) Economist Munster says a lot of government workers don't put in a full day's work and wouldn't be missed if laid off. "One-third of the workforce has nothing to do," she tells me. But the process of deciding who stays and who goes will be difficult and could end up taking years. Meanwhile, the government also confronts fears about the elimination of the libreta (ration card). In the early years of the revolution, the government opened up special stores to sell basic food such as rice, cooking oil and milk at very cheap prices. More recently, particularly after the end of subsidies from the Soviet Union in 1990, the libreta provided many fewer items. Yet the food subsidies still cost the government $900 million per year. The government plans to gradually remove items from the libreta, hoping the free market will provide more food at reasonable prices. For those who can't afford free-market prices, the government will hand out cash subsidies. Thus the government hopes to save $600 million per year. Advertisement Square, Site wide "Instead of subsidizing the goods," says Yepe, "we should subsidize the people who are not able to get the goods properly." But these internal changes won't be enough, according to Yepe. Cuba needs more foreign investment. Spain, Norway and China are already developing offshore oil fields. Spain invests heavily in Cuban tourism. But the nearly 50-year-old U.S. embargo against Cuba still hurts. Cuba can't lease oil drilling platforms that have any U.S. parts. Ships that come to Cuba can't dock in the U.S. for the following six months. The embargo, which is not supported by any other country in the world, mainly hurts ordinary Cubans. For example, Marta's mentally ill sister can't get the latest generation of U.S.-manufactured antidepressants. The embargo hasn't strangled the Cuban economy, but it does drive up costs. The domestic reforms are aimed at reducing government costs, while still providing a strong safety net. Yepe notes that the government will continue to control the major industries such as tourism, nickel mining, sugar and petroleum. Education and health care will remain free. "It doesn't mean we're going to copy China or Vietnam," he says. "We're going to continue with our creation of socialism. We have done it in a very creative manner." Cubans are anxiously waiting to see if that creativity actually puts more food on the table. Freelance foreign correspondent Reese Erlich is author of "Dateline Havana: The Real Story of U.S. Policy and the Future of Cuba." His most recent book is "Conversations With Terrorists: Middle East Leaders on Politics, Violence and Empire."
Previous item: Being Kobe Bryant Means Never Having to Say You're Sorry Next item: Lines in the Sand New and Improved CommentsIf you have trouble leaving a comment, review this help page. Still having problems? Let us know. If you find yourself moderated, take a moment to review our comment policy.
By Terrence V Sawyer, April 20, 2011 at 3:26 pm Link to this comment Keep Cuba barefoot and pure. Oh please. Tourism is the lifeblood of the Cuban economy. 4 major flight routes originate in Canada and several others in Europe, taking millions of tourists to Cuba every year, including thousnads of Americans. Cuba has a lot of potential as her people are the healthiest and best educated in the hemisphere. The US embargo has kept that nation "pure" and free of the taint of Capitalism that makes Truthdig possible and provides one or three computers for each of your readers, but it has been hard on the people, as shown by their choices to vote with their feet and innertubes over the years. I hope change comes there peacefully, but I do not idealize the place.
By Shelley, April 19, 2011 at 4:10 am Link to this comment I'm right here with the commenters. This article is a little too breathless about capitalist "development" (read devastation) for my taste. Trade does not bring happiness. Learn the lessons from all the unhappy and angry Americans. Cuba has been incredibly, astoundingly lucky to have escaped the environmental degradation USAns spread around the world. It would be nice if Cuba would follow Ecuador and Bolivia and put Nature at the center of their changes, fully articulating what will be destroyed and damaged as the changes are considered. Your countries were close once and could share a vision of health and wellness for all peoples again. Plan for ameliorating the damage from US-induced climate change and possible oil/dispersant contamination of your ocean from the Gulf. Cuba could be an incredible world leader and with vision and intelligent planning away from a petrol culture. You could be a brilliant gift to the planet. Don't let millions of tourists in! Know your value and charge the heck out of a strictly limited number of tourists who really should pay a fortune to luxuriate on your extraordinary island. There are plenty of folks looking for bliss away from oil and pollution. Market what you have to the world of folks eager to experience such breathtakingly glorious nature. Industry is absolutely not the solution when you have such a rare commodity. Make the tourists sail over and bring solar panels and other goods. Don't allow genetically modified seeds, pesticides and other pollutants. Make the universities who want to do research provide funding and scholarships for the education of the Cuban citizenry. You should skim off the best of the earth as you have the corner on pristine. Good luck. |