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Veronica InfurnaAugust 05,2013Veronica Infurna
LAKE BOMOSEEN Veronica Ronnie Infurna, 58, formerly of Jackson Township, N.J., died Friday, Aug. 2, 2013, at Rutland Regional Medical Center, following a long illness.
She was born Jan. 9, 1955, in Newark, N.J., the daughter of Mary Rose and George Rodgers.
She graduated in 1973 from West Morris Mendham High School in Morris County, N.J., attended Castleton State College for two years, earned a teaching degree in special education, with honors, from the University of Vermont and a masters degree in New Jersey.
Mrs. Infurna was employed as a special educator in New Jersey, retiring from Ocean County schools as a learning consultant and member of the child study team.
She enjoyed teaching all children to read.
Survivors include her husband, Lawrence, and two sons, Daniel and Patrick Infurna, all of Lake Bomoseen; three sisters, Eileen Rodgers of Massachusetts, Mary Camp and Linda Rodgers, both of New Jersey; several nieces and nephews.
She was predeceased by her parents and a brother, George Rodgers.
The private funeral Mass and memorial will be at a later date.
Memorial contributions may be made to Alzheimers Foundation of America, 322 8th Ave., 7th Floor, New York, NY 10001 www.alzfdn.org/donate.
Arrangements are under the direction of the Durfee Funeral Home in Fair Haven.MORE IN Obituaries1003 RH Obits Howe svc notice no photo no flag Full Story1003 RH Obits Martin brief no photo no flag Full Story1003 RH Obits Corey paid no photo no flag Full Story
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Sticking With The Plan
Posted: 12/20/2012 - I'm not changing much of anything in the snowfall forecast. I might have moved the borders just slightly.
Posted: 12/20/2012 - I'm not changing much of anything in the snowfall forecast. I might have moved the borders just slightly.
Posted: 12/19/2012 - A pretty wild system is moving across the country. That system will bring rain and snow to our region
Posted: 12/18/2012 - The end of the week is getting closer and our next shot at some snow will be arriving right on cue with the official beginning of Winter.
Posted: 12/18/2012 - Once again Steve Russo, Director of the East Kentucky Science Center, has shared some great information. If you've never been there... you need to go check out some of their exhibits, laser shows, and the planetarium.
Posted: 12/13/2012 - The 2012 Geminid meteor shower should peak on the nights of December 13/14 and 14/15, but in 2012 the nights leading up to the shower's peak have been fantastic as well.
Updated: 12/12/2012 - I'm not referring to Astronomical Winter... I am talking about a taste of wintry weather.
Updated: 12/12/2012 - While some higher elevation locations near the Virginia border have already witnessed their first snowfall of the 2012-2013 winter season, most east Kentuckians have yet to see a flake.
Posted: 12/11/2012 - Other than the freak October snow... we have been pretty quiet in the wintry weather department.
Posted: 11/27/2012 - Last May, everyone got all excited about the so-called "Supermoon". Technically speaking, it was the largest and brightest full Moon of the year. This was because the Moon reached its closest approach to the Earth, known as Perigee, less than an hour from the official time of full Moon. At that time it was 221,807 miles from the Earth.
Updated: 11/14/2012 - It's time to tackle the entire winter season once again. How much snow will this upcoming season throw our way? How cold will it be this winter? I have my answers to those questions right here!
Posted: 11/05/2012 - Superstorm Sandy brings rain and snow to eastern Kentucky. Now this week I think we have a good chance to see highs in the low 70s.
Posted: 11/05/2012 - The major storm system created as Hurricane Sandy merged with a strengthening upper level disturbance brought wide ranging and severe impacts to the eastern United States between Sunday October 28th and Wednesday October 31st.
Posted: 10/30/2012 - Superstorm Sandy will slowly move away from Kentucky these next couple of days.
Posted: 10/30/2012 - So far the totals have been up and down the ruler.
Posted: 10/29/2012 - Sandy officially made landfall about 5 miles south of Atlantic City. Now we'll see what kind of disruption... if any... the land will bring in the eastern KY impacts.
Posted: 10/29/2012 - I will have a full update tonight. Right now... here's the forecast
Posted: 10/29/2012 - For many in the highest elevations snow has already fallen. These targeted areas will likely see the most accumulation.
Updated: 10/29/2012 - I'll give the runs a couple more goes before I make a change.
Updated: 10/28/2012 - Here's my first call for snowfall
Posted: 10/28/2012 - The monster storm continues working up the east coast of the U.S. and if current trends continue... we'll see a very interesting impact!
Posted: 10/27/2012 - The data is coming together more and more! It's pointing to snow here in eastern KY.
Updated: 10/27/2012 - The next few days will feature an amazing amount of change. It will be like the 70s and 80s were never here.
Posted: 10/26/2012 - No... I am not talking about some corporate merger... though that could make a difference in your portfolio ;) I am talking about a trough getting together with Sandy.
Posted: 10/25/2012 - It's one of the hardest things to avoid in general conversation with people... what's going on with Sandy? I normally get weather questions but rarely do I get tropical questions!
Posted: 10/25/2012 - Change is sometimes a good thing. The change we are about to experience isn't one of those changes that one could fall in love with. Unless you like the cold stuff ;)

subset: commoncrawl


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NOAA warns of third coral bleaching event
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has declared that the third global coral bleaching episode is now underway. The event began in the north Pacific in 2014, is expected to expose 95% of corals in the U.S.A. to bleaching conditions by the ned of 2015, with a similar effect on reefs globally. (Image from [Shutterstock)(http://www.shutterstock.com/pic-208937023/stock-photo-shallow-corals-begin-to-bleach-in-eastern-indonesia-bleaching-is-usually-caused-by-sea-temperature.html?src=Lp66Amrj7pR7pKIIAnQnZg-1-3))
Costa Rica pledges not to protect sharks
ICR News reports that the Costa Rican government has stated in a letter sent to environmental groups that; "it will not propose or support the inclusion of shark species with commercial interest in the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS)".
Borneo from Below: Catsharks
The latest Borneo from Below episode is online. This week Catsharks are featured in "Cute Sharks on the Hook in Borneo" Episode 10.
Adobe provides solutions for issues with Lightroom update
Some users that have updated Lightroom to 2015.2 or 6.2 have been experiencing crashes and hangs with the app. Adobe has issued advice on how to deal with these problems, as well as advised that they will be issuing another update soon to eliminate them.
Video: Wild Oceans Octopus
In Earth Touch's episode of Wild Oceans this week an octopus shows off it's amazing pattern and color changing skills. Image from Shutterstock.
Pakpod launches on Kickstarter
A new adventure tripod called Pakpod has been launched on Kickstarter. It is light and compact and constructed of ABS and stainless steel and features legs that can be set in asymmetrical positions and has stakes that could be pushed into sandy or muddy substrates to anchor it.
Doubilet and Hayes to speak in Maryland
David Doubilet and Jen Hayes will be delivering their "Coral Kingdoms and Empires of Ice" lecture in Bel Air, MD on 29 October. Part of the National Geographic Live tour, the talk is about the corals of Kimbe Bay, Papua New Guinea, the ice-filled waters of Antarctica and Canada's Gulf of St. Lawrence.
The Goliath Diaries by Alan C Egan
Underwater photographer Alan C Egan has volunteered to write a series of posts about diving the goliath grouper aggregation off Boynton Beach, Florida this year. Large numbers of goliath groupers (Epinephelus itajara) gather to form spawning aggregations, with up to 100 individuals at any one site. Given that the fish can reach up to 455kg (800lbs) and over 3m (6 ft 6"), it is an amazing spectacle. He will be updating his reports as he carries out dives, so please keep checking back.
Recent News
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- 500 px unveils new profile, photo, and discover pages (via )
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- Canon updates 1D C firmware to version 1.4 (via )
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- Canon updates 1D X firmware to 2.0.8 (via )


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Three weeks after canceling her European tour after a disastrous Serbian concert where she could barely stand, Amy Winehouse looked coherent as she walked unescorted and on her own power through London on Tuesday.
One day and step at a time.
Amy Winehouse -- Walking Upright Again
7/13/2011 8:30 AM PDT BY Johnny Lopez
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Run the best trail (IMHO) within 100 miles, as the new sun dapples thru the leaves. Out-and-back, total 13+ miles. But each runner runs his/her own pace, and turns at a given time, based on the fastest runners' expected arrival at the Scott's Gap turnaround. That way, we all get back around the same time. And getting DQ'd after is one of the best things about the Siltstone - love that Blizzard! Meet at the JMF Welcome Center.
We just grab a coffee and speak French. Some people have been coming every week for months... it creates a kind of warmth to the group.
— Rafaël, started French Conversation Group
Meetup members, Log in
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2007 Volkswagen Rabbit Repair and Maintenance
A guide to problems, costs, maintenance and repair for your 2007 Volkswagen Rabbit
- Automatic Transmission Fluid Change $138 - 286
- Clutch Replacement $1,386 - 1,890
- Catalytic Converter Replacement $472 - 1,294
- Drive Belt(s) Replacement $60 - 141
- Brake Pad and Rotor Replacement $272 - 529
- Ray & Dana's Inman Auto Care (732) 856-5054 | 3.46mi
- 12 Volt Doctor (718) 412-9553 | 2.98mi
Related Content
2007 Volkswagen Rabbit Problems
Condensation may develop in the heater case which can cause a musty odor from the heating, ventilation and AC (HVAC) system. Our technicians tell us the drain system should be checked for debris. In addition, a cleaner is available for the heater case.
2007 Volkswagen Rabbit Questions
It's a 1.4 velociti. It's leaking on top of the manifold.
no windows no locks or fuel door from left drivers door.
changing air filter
2007 Volkswagen Rabbit Recalls
Volkswagen is recalling certain 2007–2009 Jetta, Jetta Sportwagon, Golf, and Rabbit, as well as 2006–2010 Beetle and Beetle Convertible vehicles equipped with a 2.5L gasoline engine due to a possibly damaged fuel supply line. Under hood fasteners may chafe against the fuel supply line, resulting in a fuel leak. Fuel leakage, in the presence of an ignition source, could result in a fire. Dealers will perform vehicle-appropriate inspections and repairs in order to protect the fuel supply line from chafing damage.
2007 Volkswagen Rabbit Reviews
So far I am extremely satisfied with this car. Great engine, steering, breaks and transmission. The gas mileage is good given the relatively large engine (5 cylinder, 2.5L). It is very quiet on hwy and has a great sound when pushed above 3,000 rpms. Still no technical problems after 30,000 miles. The scheduled service was very cheap (around $150-200 on average) for each service interval and the...


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Supermoon – September 2015
Monterey, CA – August 2015
Last month I took Marco on a special weekend trip to Monterey before school started. We spent the evening walking around Cannery Row, eating ice cream at Ghirardelli Chocolate, and cuddling. The next day we adventured around the Monterey Bay Aquarium, where the jellyfish held our attention for most of the afternoon.
Marco & Stabler & Roux, Napa, CA – August 2015
A morning of my snuggling my babies led to a few dreamy little portraits.
Amanda & Ryan, Napa, CA – July 2015
Vino & Vinyasa, Sequoia Grove, Rutherford, CA – July 10th 2015
I was invited to shoot the 2nd Vino & Vinyasa of the summer by Jennifer of Integrative Healing Napa , this time held at Sequoia Grove in Rutherford. The event was for the benefit of Girls Elevate ! It is so much fun to be a part of these events, which combine three of my favorite things: yoga, photography, and wine!
Gomer family, Napa, CA – July 2015
Insects, Academy of Sciences, San Francisco, CA – July 2015
I took my son to the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco this week, and we had some fun looking at the different insects in the Osher Rainforest. Butterflies landed on our heads and fluttered off to find more interesting foliage.
Paris when it Sizzles, France – June 2015 (part 5)
Vino & Vinyasa, Eleven Eleven Wines, Napa, CA – June 19th 2015
Many thanks to Jennifer Heminger of Integrative Healing Napa for letting me be a part of this wonderful event held at Eleven Eleven Wines, benefiting the Napa's LGBTQ Connection !


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Articles tagged with: 18xx
Headline, Reviews/Tutorials »
18xx set in France and Belgium. Nationalized railways, loans, and low initial capitalization
make it sound a lot like '56, but there are significant differences. For one, the stock market
is less volatile – growth is based upon an earnings requirement. Train efficacy is (at first) based
upon distance rather than cities serviced. There are TWO nationalization options. Electric and
High Speed trains (which don't worry about the distance factor).
(from deep thought)
1826 is a railroad operations and share trading board game in the 18xx series, set in France and Belgium. It was first published …
Featured, Headline, Reviews/Tutorials »
Headline, Reviews/Tutorials »
Featured, Reviews/Tutorials »
This is the Indian sub-continent (British Imperial India) member of the 18xx family of games. It is billed as A game for engineers who've had enough of the financiers! It involves five-foot-six and meter gauges, hills, mountains and the Himalayas, contract bids and government mails. The technical challenges of building a railroad network in difficult country stand on a par with the financial market manipulation which usually dominates the 18xx games.
Featured, Reviews/Tutorials »
Featured, Reviews/Tutorials »
Featured, Reviews/Tutorials »
Featured, Reviews/Tutorials »
2D6 Podcasts, Featured »
The Long View
For this episode of The Long View, I'm joined by Eric Brosius and Joe Huber as we discuss the 18xx family of games. What makes them so compelling? How should you approach these heavy-weight games? Find out all of this and more, in this episode of The Long View.
Thanks, as always, to 2d6.org for hosting and supporting The Long View. Thank you for listening!
In addition, here are two links that are mentioned in the episode for your reference.
Why Groups of New Players Often Struggle With 18XX
1846 — a …


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Jack Out Of The Box
By Josh Rottenberg
Published: September 28, 2003
On the Paramount studio lot, in a trailer near the corner of ''Fifth Avenue'' and ''38th Street'' on an ersatz New York set, Jack Black rubs his red-rimmed eyes with his beefy fists, trying to shake off the Tylenol PM he took last night. A White Stripes song bashes out of speakers wired to his iPod. Arrayed on the table in front of him are a bottle of Gatorade, a paperback copy of the Dalai Lama's ''Path to Tranquility'' and a magazine about trucks. It's 2 in the afternoon, the time that Black is usually just getting out of bed. ''I'm nocturnal by nature, like a vampire,'' he says. ''Two to 6 a.m. -- those are my best hours.'' The actor is here to make a music video for a song from his new movie, ''The School of Rock,'' and he needs to ramp up his energy level considerably for the comedic exertions today's shoot involves: leaping down stairs three at a time with arms flapping, hurling himself ''Dukes of Hazzard''-style over the hood of a car and erupting with all manner of crazed gesticulations and demonic grimaces.
Stacked on the floor of the trailer are 200 posters for ''The School of Rock'' showing Black surrounded by a multiracial group of kids, holding a guitar and striking a lip-snarling pose. A sort of heavy-metal version of ''The Bad News Bears,'' the movie, which is set to open Oct. 3, stars Black as a slovenly would-be rock idol who bluffs his way into a job as a substitute teacher at an elite private school and recruits a class of high-achieving fifth graders to be in his band. He has just autographed each poster neatly with a black marker. ''I don't know who they're for,'' he says, ''but I've been assured every one I sign means 12 people who will see the movie.''
With a special talent for mad, flashing stares, blistering riffs of profanity and scatological schlubbiness, Black has for years been the go-to guy for anyone casting the role of an unhinged co-worker or a bong-toting roommate. Though he can be shy and self-conscious in person, he has a flair for portraying men -- in films like ''High Fidelity,'' ''Jesus' Son'' and ''Saving Silverman'' -- who are swaggering and cocksure, utterly convinced of their own studliness even when dressed in just a pair of sagging briefs. To the rest of the world, these characters may look like losers and meatheads, but Black never mocks their delusions of grandeur, playing them instead with the sincere affection of a man who has himself spent hours playing air guitar in front of the mirror. For this he has become the pre-eminent jester in Hollywood's court, representing the slobs and freaks outside the castle walls.
Some comedic actors are chameleons, readily plugged into a variety of vehicles -- Jim Carrey, for example, or Mike Myers. Black, who is 34, isn't one of them. Like Bill Murray, he can elevate junky material for a scene or two, in a stooping-to-conquer kind of way, but he needs the right context to bring out his best. His last major film, 2001's ''Shallow Hal,'' didn't provide it, and though the Farrelly brothers' romantic comedy, in which he starred with Gwyneth Paltrow, made Black more famous than he had ever been, it didn't make him all that happy. ''I wish it had turned out a little funnier,'' he says. ''A little less sensitive and [expletive] funnier.''
''The School of Rock,'' written by the actor-screenwriter Mike White, who wrote ''Chuck and Buck'' and ''Orange County,'' and directed by Richard Linklater, best known for ''Slacker'' and ''Dazed and Confused,'' is the first project built specifically around Black as a showcase for his particular comic strengths. ''This movie is definitely tailor-made for me,'' he says. ''It's like Mike White is a suit maker, and he measured me out, every inch of me -- my thighs, calves, crotch, breasts, brains -- and just fit me with a skintight suit of rock armor.''
Outside Black's film work, his persona has found its fullest expression in his comedy-rock duo, Tenacious D, which consists of himself and the actor Kyle Gass. Two chunky guys with acoustic guitars playing absurdist arena-rock anthems about slaying hydras and sucking women's toes, Tenacious D first gained wide attention in a short-lived 1999 HBO series about their fictional adventures. Part meta-commentary on rock's corniest clichés, part act of true-believer rock devotion, the band, like Black himself, enjoys a sizable cult audience. Their self-titled debut album hit stores two weeks after Sept. 11, 2001, one of the most inauspicious moments in world history to release a comedy record, but still sold well enough to be certified gold. A two-disc DVD, with concert footage and the HBO episodes, is scheduled to come out Nov. 4.
Black recently finished writing a screenplay with Liam Lynch for a long-planned feature film, ''Tenacious D in 'The Pick of Destiny.''' ''It's going to be the 'Citizen Kane' of rock movies,'' he says, sliding into the voice of the other Jack Black, his indomitably self-confident rock-star alter ego. ''It's scary how good it is, and here's why: What if I die before we shoot this masterpiece? It would be one of the great tragedies in the history of the world. Because it has the potential to not just be the best movie ever but one of the great things ever. Like the pyramids. I just want it to be finished, recognized as genius, put in the cast-iron time capsule along with the 'White Album' and whatever else is in there and sent into space.''


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Sounds like someone yanked a NOT "arc-proof" plug while the unit was charged. An "Old" Speedotron, with melted / fused ... anything. No. I wouldn't use it - not even on a bet!!!
In fact, I'd run like hell is anyone within 5 meters was trying to use it!! There is a LOT of energy stored in those - any - Power Pack.
Someone around there must have a dazed look, and probably, burned fingers.
I love my DynaLites and their arc-proof connectors.


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wellcare health plans inc (WCG:New York)
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Priscilla RugglesNovember 21,2012
Priscilla Ruggles
MONTPELIER Priscilla Patti Ruggles, 73, of Montpelier, surrounded by her family, passed away Nov. 17, 2012, at Berlin Health and Rehabilitation in Berlin. Born April 14, 1939, in St. Johnsbury, she was the daughter of Claire Emily Nichols Carleton and Sherman Richard Devereaux and was adopted by Walter Goss at a young age.
She was married to Roy Parkhurst, who predeceased her, and they had two sons and two daughters.
On June 9, 1996, Patti married the love of her life, Harold E. Ruggles, in Barre and they made their home in Montpelier. Patti loved to square dance, attend Project Independence, spend time with family and friends, and work puzzles.
She is survived by her husband; her daughter Diane Johnston, of Concord, N.H.; her son Walter Parkhurst, of Concord, N.H.; her daughter Vicki Davidson and husband Bill, of Ossipee, N.H.; son Stephen Parkhurst, of Center Conway, N.H.; two brothers-in-law, Don Ruggles and Francis Ruggles, of Montpelier, a sister-in-law, Lucy Frasier, and husband Bob, of Colchester; five grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews. She is predeceased by her mother, father, stepfather, two sisters, Frances and Carolyn, son-in-law Richard Johnston and granddaughter Heidi Johnston.
Graveside services will be held at the North Hyde Park Village Cemetery at 11 a.m. Nov. 24. A gathering of friends and family will be held at the Pioneer Apartments at 2 p.m. Nov. 24.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to either Project Independence, 81 N. Main St., Barre, VT 05641, or to the Activities Department of Berlin Health and Rehabilitation, 98 Hospitality Drive, Barre, VT 05641.
Online condolences may be sent to www.guareandsons.com.MORE IN ObituariesBRATTLEBORO Committal services and burial with full military honors for Michael W. Full StoryWASHINGTON A Mass of Christian burial and celebration of life for Ralph Paul Tenney, 84, was... Full StoryHARDWICK Edna Pearl Lafont, 93, of Hardwick, died Sept. 30, 2015, at the Greensboro Nursing Home. Full Story
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STFU and Just Blog Video Games
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bigboss0110's blog
on 12.23.2012
Rock Band: The game (or rather, experience) that keeps on giving
Back in 2007, I was getting pumped for a new game from Harmonix called
Rock Band
. I had purchased
Guitar Hero
Guitar Hero II
, and heard that Harmonix was going on to make a game that replicated a full band experience, leaving
Guitar Hero
in the hands of Activision and its developers. I was most excited for the drums, because it looked like it simulated the real thing pretty closely, rhythm and kick pedal and all. I felt
Rock Band
was so ambitious and was going to be a great party game to play with my friends. I was so excited for it, that I purchased the whole band box with the game, mic, drums, and guitar for $180, before I even OWNED an XBox 360. My friend could not help me pick it up when I got it at the Gamestop near my school, so I carried it home myself (it took me 30 minutes walking). I had to stare at that box for a while because I was getting a 360 for Christmas, but I had a friend that let me use his just so I could have a taste. I was hooked on
Rock Band
the second I started playing it, though I failed at the drums miserably my first time. I wanted to conquer them as soon as I could, so you can imagine how eager I was to use them in my own home.
Oh man, I went through an unbelievable amount of
Rock Band
drums. The 4 pads represented, from left to right, the snare, left tom, right tom, and floor tom, and the pads represented various cymbals in-game, as well, though Harmonix did not designate the difference until
Rock Band 3
. The pedal attached to the bottom pipes, and had an orange line as an indicator of when to press it. Though playing the drums was a lot of fun and always my primary instrument, there were a lot of issues with Harmonix's hardware; the pads had no rebound, could not register fast hits or rolls, and would eventually stop working altogether the more you used them, the kick pedal could not be pressed fast enough to register quick double kicks or continuous use of the base drum (and it would always slide around and never stay in place), and the guitars broke easily and had sticky buttons. Harmonix offered a warranty and replaced any drum set as long as you sent the broken ones in, and between the
Rock Band
model and the slightly improved
Rock Band 2
model, I went through at least 18 of them, until I got my beloved ION drum set. I tried everything to get my pads to work, too: I wrapped socks around them, opened them up and glued coins into them so they could register hits, etc. I did all this because I loved playing the drums so much, and was getting better every time I played, slowly moving my way up from Easy to Expert.
The greatest strengths of the
Rock Band
platform in my mind was always its party atmosphere, the DLC, and the way you could import songs from older titles in the series into the next one, with all your DLC carrying over. I have over 1,000 songs and a $300 electronic drum set, and I cry a little at night because I know the money I have spent on
Rock Band
could have been used to buy a house at this point. As much fun as it is to play the drums or sing alone,
Rock Band
is always at its funnest as a party game. I've invited friends to play many times over the 5 years the platform has been around, and we always have a good time playing; in fact, I actually felt the first stirrings of love in my heart when I heard my friend sing for the first time (she is now my girlfriend, and she can hit the high notes in "I Believe in a Thing Called Love" like NOBODY'S BUSINESS). Neither me or any of my other friends can really sing, but we still love doing it, because we are having fun. I have so many fond memories of playing with friends; I've collapsed on the floor after drumming "Battery," harmonized the shit out of "Holiday" with 2 other people, gotten a little drunk and called my best friend Steve instead of Dom while singing "The Joker," and had my IONs' entire right side come apart on more than one occasion playing a song, which always led to laughter and screaming.
Rock Band
is the game series I have played the longest, thanks to its weekly DLC, and it is truly amazing to say I have played something for over 5 years. I have gotten used to the drums (cymbals AND pads thanks to
Rock Band 3
), and am itching to buy my own drum set and practice real drums once I have the money to do so. I have bonded with many friends over
Rock Band
and still have parties so I can play with them and have fun. I have gotten all the instruments, even the limited edition PRO guitar, and want to try to learn it when I have the time (though I hear
teaches real guitar better). I always have fun with
Rock Band
and have never grown tired of it, so fuck the haters that say, "People still play Rock Band? DURH-HURH!" (may or may not be an actual comment said by a fuckface). I always felt it was more than a game, that it was an experience, and it is an experience that I continue to enjoy daily.
on 12.15.2012
Reminiscing about golden, Rarer days: An ode to my childhood heroes
I remember a time when I was a young boy, growing up with my SNES, and being truly amazed by the talents of a company I had never heard of before, Rareware. Rare's golden logo was stylish and hypnotizing, and for a while, everything they made seemed to have the Midas touch.
Donkey Kong Country
and all its sequels and
Killer Instinct
were the first games that wowed me from Rare, because I had never before seen such amazing graphics, sound, and music come through my SNES to my television screen. I was hooked and wanted to see what the future held for such a talented company, and they made a fan and true believer out of me. When the Nintendo 64 came around, Rare continued to amaze me.
Conker's Bad Fur Day
, and
Perfect Dark
were some of my absolute favorites (they still are today). Let me tell you about how this once golden company transfixed me, excited me, and left me with so many great recollections, big and small.
This video was my first introduction to
Donkey Kong Country
, and I cannot even begin to tell you how much of my young, childlike mind was blown upon viewing all this in-game footage. It was 1994 and I was almost 10 years old, the Playstation wasn't out yet, the Saturn was JUST coming out, and this wonderful game was coming out for my bestest pal, the SNES, AND IT LOOKED LIKE IT WAS FROM THE FUCKING FUTURE. A 32 meg game? I didn't even know what that meant, but it sounded important and impressive and I wanted to play the shit out of it. The backgrounds were unbelievably stunning, especially when they went from day into night or when it rained in the middle of a level.
Donkey Kong Country
was fucking GORGEOUS, its entire design was revolutionary, and its gameplay was unparallelled. The platforming was so tight, the controls were as smooth as a delicious, impeccable booty, and finding all the secrets and hidden areas spoke to the completionist in my heart. Seeing the 3D models and hearing about how all the technology was on the cartridge, that I didn't need to buy an adapter to play
Donkey Kong Country
; I couldn't believe it. I used to own the VHS tape where the footage up above is from (thanks, Nintendo Power), and I damn near wore it out watching it so many times. It was cool to get to learn tricks before even owning the game, and I was happy to see that so many people involved with
Donkey Kong Country
's creation were young guys not too much older than me; I wanted to grow up to be like them one day. Rare made 2 great sequels to
Donkey Kong Country
on the SNES, with
Donkey Kong Country 2
being my personal favorite (I'll probably go into detail about it soon, because it is SO INCREDIBLE, it deserves its own blog post).
Clearly Rare could make exceptional platformers (and
Killer Instinct
was a fun fighter that made multi-hit combo moves famous), but could they revolutionize again, in a different genre altogether? Yes, they could, and yes, they fucking did. Jesus Christ,
, where do you even start?! I saw this game playing in Electronic Boutiques on the first floor of the Kings Plaza mall, thought it was the coolest shit ever, and it was from my good buddies at Rare; how could it fail? It didn't; in fact,
surpassed every one of my expectations. The missions themselves were a lot of fun, and I freaking LOVED how the game gave the player more objectives to complete the higher the difficulty level.
emphasized stealth on the more difficult settings; James Bond couldn't afford to get shot with so many bullets, so you had to learn to be SNEAKY in order to complete each area. Cheats were awarded to hardened veterans who could complete stages in record time (speedruns DO payoff at times), and you haven't lived unless you have played around with the All Guns cheat and created three-handed James Bond (watch laser + Moonraker laser = PHYSICAL IMPOSSIBILITY). Just PAUSING THE GAME was fun; I'll never get tired of seeing that spy watch (and thinking that James stood frozen in time by accessing the game's inventory and options). The real magic, though, was always the multiplayer. Yes, it's very difficult to go back to it now because of the slowdown, but back in 1997, you can bet your ass my friends and I were in awe. We had 4-player battles to the death with any guns and explosives we wanted (and I was king at exploding remote mines in midair), and it was all on a single screen. My cousin and I invented Russian Bomber Squad with Mishkin and Boris, and we used to run around shooting rockets at my poor younger brother (I hit him with a rocket from across an entire room once; it was my proudest moment). My friends and I would call a friendly meeting at the helipad outside the bunker to discuss non-violent solutions to our problems, and I was always the first one to aim my reticule at someone's face and shoot it. Rare was one of the first; fuck it, THE first company to make a great game out of a movie license, and every single FPS that came after
owes its multiplayer formula to its pioneering ways.
, you wonderful adventure, you. Rare, you never stopped trying to top yourself, and
was one of the best 3D platformers ever created. Sure,
Super Mario 64
came first and set the groundwork for how a 3D adventure game should be, but you took that groundwork and expanded on it; truth be told, today's platformers owe more to Banjo than to Mario. Collecting all the various objects in the game was a great time, and there was always an incentive to do so (how else can you even get to the true final boss and experience the best ending?). Exploring the rich world of
and combing its every nook and cranny for every collectible never got boring or felt too much like a fetch quest (which is sadly what
Donkey Kong 64
felt like). Gruntilda's rhymes were always fresh and I thought she really could have had a career as an MC. Clanker was fucking terrifying when I first saw him because it looked like flesh had been ripped off a damn ROBOT. I remember slamming Boggy in the stomach with Kazooie's powerful beak and being shocked that it didn't get him to throw-up a Jiggy (don't act like you didn't do the exact same thing!). And having one of the final battles be a game show where you had to remember specific things about the various worlds in order to advance was GENIUS. More than anything else,
's greatest strength was its world, because it felt like it always had more secrets to offer and mysteries to solve. Rare managed to beat Nintendo at its own game with its unique platformer.
Rare, you provided some excellent games in your prime, and you were the company I looked up to the most; you guys were my personal heroes. I know times have been tough ever since you found a new home with Microsoft, and you haven't been able to create the same kind of magic you did when you were with Nintendo. I still believe in you, though. Wherever you end up in the future, I know one day you can achieve greatness again. You provided gamers with fantastic games that we will always love; hopefully one day, you can once again shine like the golden treasure I always thought you were.
on 12.09.2012
Going back in time with my teenage turtle friends
"You know, man, whenever you do a review, you are always doing Genesis games! I thought you loved the SNES, and yet you are always going on about ducks and opposums dressed in knight armor. You got some sick fantasies, guy. SICK!" This is the thought that I am sure many of you are thinking whenever you read my blog, and I hear you guys (literally; please stop, because hearing all your thoughts at once is like a vuvuzela blaring endlessly). Listen, I do love the SNES, perhaps even too much. There are too many games that I absolutely adore, and I want to talk about all of them. Then I remembered back to the time of the beat-em-up, and thought about an age-old question: Which is the best one? Games like
Streets of Rage 2
Final Fight
Double Dragon
, and
Scott Pilgrim
are all exceptional sidescrolling beat-em-ups, but there was always one brawler that I felt stood above all the rest. I am of course talking about
Turtles in Time
, featuring your favorite artists-turned-tutles-that Michael Bay is now turning into aliens (he won't stop until all our childhood memories are sullied beyond recognition, my friends).
When you start
Turtles in Time
, the coolest thing you'll notice (if you can be bothered to go into the options) is that you can change the Turtles' look from their 90's cartoon look to their original comic look, complete with pupil-less eyes and original color scheme! Anyway, start playing and you'll hear the awesome cry of "COWABUNGA!" emanating from your television, and then you can pick your turtle (I call dibs on Raph; god help you if you choose Raph before me). You will begin in New York City, because Krang just stole the Statue of Liberty (for reasons never fully explained; maybe he's just lonely?). Players can run by holding the direction they are facing, and shoulder charge (press Y) or do a fancy slide flip thing (press B + Y). Your shoulder attack is vital to becoming an expert fighter and key to your survival: when you charge, you stun the enemy, and can bash them from left to right for a few seconds if you are right next to them and hit Y, clearing out enemies to your sides in one hit. If you stun them and press the direction you are facing AND Y, you will throw them at the screen like that shot up above, which is not nearly as useful as the happy-smashy-smashy attack (but you will need to use it to kill a certain boss who likes to SHRED. HAHA! *Buries head in shame*).
Gamers will get to the Technodrome by level 4, and ask themselves, "THAT'S IT?!" No, that isn't it; did you even read the title? The level itself is quite fun because it has Tokka and Rahzar from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II as bosses (remember Vanilla Ice and the Ninja Rap? I used to have that on CD and dance to it when I was a kid! *Cries bitter tears*). You get to go on a trip through time after the Technodrome, from dinosaurs to pirates to the distant future. By this time, you will notice that you really can't afford to take too much of a beating; a few hits will bring you close to death, and certain attacks like the robot's electric lasso will drain HALF YOUR LIFE. There are 4 solutions to this dilemma: get better, drop the difficulty down to easy, up the lives in the options, or go out into the real world and make a friend, maybe even just for the sole purpose of beating
Turtles in Time
(you hollow, hollow person). Beat-em-ups are always more fun with a friend by your side: they are always watching your back, defeating enemies, and stealing the pizza for health even though you CLEARLY had less life than they did; I swear, nobody has any common sense or courtesy. Everyone will have a blast with the two bonus stages (including one that is all vertical and shows off Mode 7 even more than the flying enemies): you get to collect pizza boxes and kill enemies for points, including the dreaded PIZZA MONSTER (which looks like a Xenomorph made entirely out of cheese; god, that sounds creepily delicious).
If you are hankering for some turtlin' brawlin' with or without a friend, make sure to hunt down the SNES port of
Turtles in Time
. The SNES version has added enemies, levels, and bosses, though they did just up and replace some from the arcade version. I'm sure no one would ever remake the shorter, less impressive arcade version, make it 3D, and replace all the voices with the 2003 cast of the Turtles cartoon(*cough*UBISOFT*cough*). Experience this game: it has wonderful music, sound effects (I love hearing Raph scream "MY TOE!" when he steps on a spiked mine), levels, and even includes a time trial and versus mode for added fun. See if you also think that this is the finest beat-em-up ever made, and always be thankful for the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles; if it wasn't for them, we never would love pizza as much as we do today.
on 12.08.2012
2012: I got a fever for the rhythm and it's heavenly
The hardest part writing about my favorite gaming moment of 2012? Trying to remember what games came out in 2012. I am old and feeble and my memory is hazy, and I can barely remember what happened yesterday, let alone in this past year. The thoughts that ran through my head were borderline senile: "You know what game was fun?
Skyward Sword
! I had some fun moments with Zelda (2011)." "Oh man, good times playing co-op with my brother in
, AND DAMN YOU ALL TO HELL FOR NOT BUYING IT (2007, and yes, I am still crying over it)." I mean, fuck! Did I play anything this year that CAME OUT THIS YEAR? My backlog of games is immense and I'm trying to go through them as I find time, but I suck with dates. *looks up* Wait,
Rhythm Heaven Fever
is amazing, and I'd love to talk about that game. When did it come out? February 2012! HAPPY DAY! Now I can invite all of you to read about how I discovered my inner rhythm with this gem, and how playing it will not help you bust moves on the dance floor in any way, shape, or form.
Ok, first off, look at that box art up at the very top. Whoever designed it was clearly thinking, "You know what will attract a consumer's attention? Every single color known to man regurgitated onto the front cover. How can this not sell like hotcakes when we have two shirtless beings literally shitting rainbows and skyrocketing into space?" I commend you, you nameless, faceless, probably shirtless, crazy genius of a man (or woman). So, what kind of game is
Rhythm Heaven Fever
? It's a rhythm game where you time button presses on your Wiimote to match actions on the screen, but it's like a spastic, deranged squirrel banging into trees with a reckless sense of abandon with the sheer amount of crazy shit you get to do in each unique mini-game. My friend bought this game and brought it over my house and we took turns going through each scenario, hungrily unlocking more and more, always eager to see what was next. By the way, the game is currently in my possession, and my friend will get it back when I either complete the last mini-game or he gives me back my SNES, whichever comes first (both seem highly unlikely).
Yes, this screen was the first mini-game I enjoyed in
Rhythm Heaven Fever
, and coincidentally how my first date went (everyone should try kicking away a basketball that threatens to squish two weasels who are very much in love with someone they like at least once; it is a lovely couple activity). Being one of the earlier mini-games you play, it isn't too difficult; the soccer ball bounces at a regular beat, the basketball has an off-beat to watch out for, and the football tries to fake you out by bouncing back before bouncing forward again. Timing your A button presses will kick the various balls out of the weasels' way AND impress your date at the same time. What I really liked about this level was the art style and how colorful the stage was, the weasels' jump for joy when you successfully kicked a ball away, and how every time you kicked a football, a random football player in the background would jump to catch it; I actually laughed out loud. These little touches showed me a game that was designed with a lot of heart, and I like moments that bring a smile to my face.
Rhythm Heaven Fever
is INDEED fantabulous, it is evil, evil to its very core. Even before you start playing the real meat of the game, you test your button presses to a visual timer, until some colorful fuckfaces BLOCK YOUR VIEW and you are forced to do the timing in your head. They are trying to teach you this early, because your eyes will not help you later on; in fact, they become a burden. Look at the above video and try to imagine my frustration while doing that particular game. I see the demons coming, and all of a sudden a story pops up about a girl losing her pinwheel toy thing, and I scream and get distracted and lose my flow and start fucking up.
Rhythm Heaven Fever
is not nice; it WANTS you to fail. If you are like me and love getting medals or some type of reward for doing good (the game randomly picks certain levels you have completed to give you a shot at a medal, but you can't fuck up and only have three tries), then games like Samurai Slice will end you and force you to crawl into the fetal position. What you have to learn is the rhythm is not about the visual; it is about the sound, the FEEL of the beat. There are a number of mini-games you will play that you will have an easier time with if you close your eyes. It might seem crazy at first, but if you give it time, you will learn to go by audio and pulses. While it was maddening at times, I grew to appreciate this approach to teaching rhythm, because in reality, rhythm is all about feeling the beat (and you can always enjoy the game's visuals while watching someone else play, laughing at their attempts to concentrate on getting another perfect run for a medal, and watching them excuse themselves to go to the bathroom so they can hide their shame).
What I like the most about
Rhythm Heaven Fever
is its lasting appeal and replayability. It's always fun trying to go for every medal in the game, perfecting your rhythm, timing various button presses and holds (and it's always hitting A or A + B or holding A + B; it is never overly complicated and I love its simplicity). I love playing badminton in the sky with a flying cat and dog or flexing for the press as a Mexican wrestler (to this day, I will sometimes randomly look at my friends and shout, "POSE FOR THE FANS!" or "BA BUM BUM BUM!"). I adore the remixes, where you play little snippets of previous mini-games (sometimes to original tunes!); these remixes are the true test of your mastery of the beat, and the final one requires you to use everything you have learned, because it contains pieces of EVERY MINI-GAME. And you can always enjoy trying out the endless games and seeing how far you get, or play the co-op ones with a friend and achieve PERFECT SYNCHRONIZATION (I only wish there were more offered). My favorite gaming moment of 2012 was made up of many small ones, and the variety and pleasure they offered made me more happy than any one, singular, grandiose game ever could.
on 12.02.2012
Try desperately to remember who you are in Flashback: The Quest for Identity
Ahhh, good old
, one of my personal favorites from the 16-bit era. If you are wondering what kind of game
is, it is like
Out of This World
Another World
as it was originally called) except a bajillion times better; or think Total Recall, with a snazzier-dressed protagonist and no three-breasted escorts (actually, I don't think there are any women in this game. What gives,
?). It is a game with a great story: it weaves a tale that consists of a lost identity, finding out who one is, and a conspiracy that must be stopped in order to save the Earth. This is one of those games I tried out on both the Genesis and the SNES, and my advice to anyone searching for it to play on a console is to get the Genesis one. The Genesis music and sound effects may be godawful, but the slowdown is horrendous on the SNES (YEAH, BLAST PROCESSING). You can always hunt it down for the PC, as well, because that version has great audio for the myriad of amazing sounds you are going to hear throughout your journey.
Before the title screen, you are shown running from some people on a spaceship. You escape and crash-land onto a jungle-like planet called Titan. You wake up and start the game, and you can run around and do long jumps and crouch and roll and draw and shoot your pistol (which is the only weapon in the ENTIRE GAME; and considering all the different types of creatures you kill with it, it's quite magical for such a plain gun). You eventually find a cube and find out who you are, where your memories are, and how they were erased; it's all very cool. On Titan, there are these elf-like enemies with big guns and little robots with antennas you have to shoot that explode. One of the funnest things you can do in the first level is throw a rock to distract an enemy, and then shoot him in the back when he goes to investigate (and giggle uncontrollably, but maybe that is just me). Your pistol has unlimited ammo, but your shield can only take four hits before you die. Luckily, you can recharge your shield at generators throughout the game. There are numerous hazards you will come across, too: little beams along the ground that phase you out of existence, pitfalls, bombs, and this cool green toxic machine that disintegrates your body upon contact, complete with an animation of your bones evaporating!
As you progress, you will receive a fantastic force field that will protect you from enemy shots. When you face any enemy with a gun, you can temporarily create a force field that will protect you from their bullets, but you have to time it right, because it only lasts a second. I think it also protects your back if someone is shooting you from behind, as well. The force field is a godsend because your shield can only take so much before you die, and it adds a level of strategy and quick timing to the game. You will eventually take jobs in order to earn cash to compete on a game show, where the prize is free tickets to Earth, which is where the conspiracy begins to unravel. Players can save the game at certain points in a given level, and will re-spawn there in case of death. However, the Genesis and SNES are cartridge-based systems, so there is a password system used in order to go to a level once you turn the game off. Also, if you are playing on the Genesis, one of the jobs requires you to fix a machine that is about to explode, but you have to insert a missing part in an exact spot. It has to be pixel perfect. And you are timed. It will lead to cursing and thrown controllers. FUN.
Those tiny fuckers in the above shot are going to make you wish you were dead, trust me.
gets really hectic when you get to Earth: enemies will be shocking you, shooting you, and poking your butt with prods, all at the same time. You will scream at the television. If you endure, you will eventually go to outer space and fight aliens. The aliens can hit you with orbs of light, shape-shift into a ball and crawl along the ground, and leap and drop from the ceiling. And they take a lot of bullets to kill. I can already taste your tears. You will get a cool teleporter, though; you can throw the receiver anywhere you want that isn't a bottomless pit and transport there instantly. It is a lot of fun, but the difficulty is crazy by the last level, so you will need to bring your A game in order to complete your quest.
is a great game with an interesting and unique story that you will want to unravel until the very end. The jumping and platforming is a lot like
Prince of Persia
, and the gun combat requires quick thinking and planning in order to survive. It starts getting hard by the second level, though, and the difficulty ramps up very quickly, so fair warning. I know the Genesis version contained a Marvel comic that fleshed out some of the story, so E-Bay that shit if you want to learn everything. Also, a sequel was made called
Fade to Black
, but it is outright shitty garbage that you will want to erase from your memory (get it?! Haha, I'll be here all week). Hopefully some fans will read this and want to reminisce with me!
on 12.01.2012
Farewell, Nintendo Power, and thanks for the memories
Oh man, this is so hard. I know you are ending soon, old friend, and I am trying to find the right words to speak. Saying goodbye is never easy. As I reflect back to my childhood, I am remembering all the happy memories you gave to me, all those feelings of excitement, and that sense of wonder I always felt flipping through your pages, always learning something new and interesting. Every month, I was filled with anticipation, waiting for you to hit my front doorstep, and I was always ready to bring you to school, to show off to my friends, with a sense of pride that never dwindled. I was always a Nintendo fan at heart; my NES was the first game system I remember playing and loving, and when the SNES came around, you helped nurtured that love, made it grow. Thank you for that.
This was the first issue of you I received after my grandmother wrote a check out for my subscription, and I remember thinking this was the coolest cover of a book I had ever laid eyes upon. Due to the timing of my subscription, I was mailed issues 55 and 56 concurrently, but as luck would have it, 56 got to me first; its silver hotness the very first issue I owned. I had dabbled with Mega Man when I was a kid, its difficulty always getting the best of me, but it wasn't until I learned about
Mega Man X
that I got hooked on Capcom's Blue Bomber. After reading through your preview, looking at all the screenshots, seeing how fresh and colorful everything looked, I knew I had to own the game. I remember my parents getting me
Mega Man X
one holiday season, and it blew away my expectations, becoming not only one of my favorite SNES games, but one of my favorite games of all time. In subsequent issues, you shared some classified information: armor upgrades, heart and sub tank locations, and the hidden hadoken power-up; which was so hidden and secret, I knew I wouldn't have found it without you. Thanks to you,
Mega Man X
became one of my favorite childhood memories, and it wouldn't have impacted me as much if it hadn't been for that special, shiny issue.
Yes, I remember getting that VHS way back when. One of the coolest things about you was that you always sent your subscribers cool stuff with their subscriptions; be it a video showing upcoming amazing games (I remember the
Donkey Kong Country
one and having my mind blown with its gorgeous graphics and environments) or a free strategy guide (how else was I going to find all the Gold Skulltulas in
Ocarina of Time
?). Regarding
Star Fox 64
, I remember telling my cousin how cutting edge it was to have full voice acting in a game, and his response of the Playstation already being capable of that long before. Nowadays I find the advantages and disadvantages of all the current gen systems, but back then, you kindled a loyalty in me, helped make me a Nintendo fanboy. Thanks to videos like the above, I thought Sega and Sony were the enemy, trying to steal glory and money away from Nintendo. Being a member of your community and learning about everything Nintendo, that really couldn't be helped. Though I became more open-minded when I got older, I enjoyed my time as a fanboy, because you helped me feel special; like I was a part of a special club, filled with like minded individuals. I don't regret it, and to this day, my fondest memories and my favorite games are still Nintendo ones.
Issue 80 was always near and dear to my heart, because it was the first time in my life that I was learning about an upcoming system through you. I already had a NES and a SNES before I started reading you, but hearing about the Ultra 64 stirred feelings in my loins I had never experienced before. 64 bits CLEARLY meant it was better than 16, and the polygons and the newness of 3 dimensions filled me with childlike awe. Everything looked so open-ended, so free, like there was an entire world to explore. I was at my cousin's house when I got the call from home, that there was a surprise waiting for me, way back in September of 1996. When I got home, there it was in a box, the Nintendo 64, and I was filled with all the hype you had given me with your coverage. When I sat down to play
Super Mario 64
, heard Mario's voice, played with his face on the title screen, and started to explore all the vast worlds in the game, I was in heaven. This was the game that wrote the book on 3D platformers; every game that has come since owes their existence and their general guideline to
Super Mario 64
. The only game that matched and arguably exceeded
Super Mario 64
's sense of openness was
Ocarina of Time
. I remember hitting Hyrule Field and just feeling a tremendous sense of exploration. No game in my mind has ever come close to that feeling; that there was a whole world out there to explore, that it breathed and operated much like ours, going from day into night. Nothing can ever touch that first sunset you see out in the field. Old friend, I am in your debt for introducing me to these amazing games that filled me with joy and provided me with such lasting recollections.
Things are so different nowadays. News is very fast and easy to come by thanks to blogs and the internet, which is exciting in its own, unique way. But nothing will ever take away the feelings you gave me; you were my first magazine, my first mail item that I would always eagerly wait for, and my first real sense of being part of a community, a culture. Whether it was news coverage, letters from fans, tips and secrets, contests, or the occasional freebie for being a member, you were always exciting to read. I still have my old issues downstairs in my drawer; a reminder of a time that was very special to me, that I will always cherish. Goodbye, my friend. Trust me, I am going to miss you.
on 09.30.2012
To my best friend: I need my SNES back
I really, really miss my Super Nintendo. It is the greatest system ever invented. I was lucky enough to grow up in a loving home as an only child for ten years, so I had both a Genesis and a SNES, and didn't have to share! BEST OF BOTH WORLDS, HAHAHA (but seriously, I love you, bro)! I remember looking forward to Christmas and figuring out what I wanted for both systems, trying to make it even. As much as I love my Genesis and the many classics that were released for it, I love my SNES more. My SNES library easily trumps my Genesis one, and as time went on, I ended up getting more and more games for my gray box of wonder. I have so many games that I cherish for my Super Nintendo, and many happy memories associated with it.
One of my earliest memories of the SNES is with a little game called
Super Mario World
. I remember seeing a demo of it playing in my local Macy's, and I was in awe of how colorful it was. I didn't get a Genesis until
came out, so my only point of reference was the original NES. There were so many colors on the screen at once, every color of the rainbow and more (we need more rainbow colored games, in my opinion). The world looked huge; so many levels packed into one game, and it looked even bigger than
Super Mario Bros. 3
. It was almost too much for my young, child heart to take. I remember being with my dad, taking the controller from the employee who asked me if I wanted to play, my eyes widening as I rode on a dinosaur, long thought to be extinct. The controller, so comfortable and easy to adapt to; it was like a glover's mitt which feels like a second skin to the catcher (and I had never even played baseball before). After my time with Mario, I asked dad to get me a Super Nintendo for Christmas, and I was so excited when I opened my presents that year to find it among them. Little did I know how many years of happiness that box would bring me; that it still does, all these years later.
Here's a shocker: growing up, I never owned one of the greatest platformers to ever grace the SNES,
Super Metroid
. I used to rent it constantly from the video store around the corner (REMEMBER THOSE) and being mesmerized by it. I think
Super Metroid
was one of the first games, if not THE first game, where I felt truly alone. When you first touch down on Planet Zebes, and begin exploring the desolate planet, everything is truly lifeless. There are no enemies and there is no power or sense of life until you collect the morph ball. Even when enemies start appearing and the planet opens up a bit, it's just you against everyone else; no one is coming to save or even help you.
Super Metroid
fills you with an unbelievable sense of dread which I haven't really felt since. I remember being legitimately scared when the Chozo statue came to life and Crocomire's skeleton burst through those spikes, after just watching his FLESH MELT OFF HIS BODY. I got stuck on the pirate ship as a kid, and only managed to complete the game years later, after buying a copy from Funcoland. Finding all the items and the sense of growing ever powerful with power-ups is extremely rewarding. The entire end sequence is absolute magic and is set up so perfectly, is so full of emotion (without even needing cut-scenes or dialogue), that it must be played to be believed. A tear slid down my face upon
Super Metroid
's completion; one of both happiness and sadness. Everyone deserves to play through it at least once and feel the same emotions I felt.
Again, please don't kill me, but I didn't own
A Link to the Past
until later on in the console's life cycle. Another constant rent,
A Link to the Past
is my favorite Zelda game of all time. I don't think any game before or since can match its sense of adventure; when you first exit Sanctuary and the sun is shining and the rain has stopped, your heart swells with a sense of purpose and meaning. You are the hero of Hyrule, and only you can stop Ganon. I had so much fun zipping along everywhere, finding all the items and heart pieces, exploring all the dungeons, finding every last secret (CHRIS HOULIHAN).
A Link to the Past
Super Metroid
are some of the few games I try to go back to and play again from start to finish every year; they are that fun to play, and I never get tired of them. As a sidenote, was I the only one who always completed the sixth dungeon and had a key left over, forcing me to always return to open it? It was like a side door that didn't have to be opened because the room had multiple entrances. That drove me crazy.
A Link to the Past
is one of the grandest adventures ever to grace a platform, and I remember being shocked at how long it was. I think that is one of the most important things the SNES had over the Genesis: massive adventures that always seemed like the greatest stories ever told. All three games I mentioned had fantastic scores, as well; something the Genesis struggled with because of its audio limitations.
I could regale you readers with countless stories about the SNES. I could tell you how I perfected the charge shot dance jump in
Mega Man X
(hold the controller with your thumb over Y and B and curl your index finger to dash with A). I could reminisce about the time my friend slammed the protective case over the top of
while I was playing in Threed and lost all my saved data (I told him to get out of my house). I could confide to you that yes, I cried when Hamlet the pig sacrificed himself to feed a tribe of hungry villagers in
Illusion of Gaia
; bawled when Kefka poisoned the water supply in
Final Fantasy III (VI)
; and sobbed when Marle embraced Crono after bringing him back from the dead in
Chrono Trigger
. I will go into these games more in depth when I actually get my SNES back. So, my bestest friend, whom I can call at anytime and see on a weekly basis but choose to ask in the most asinine and dramatic way possible, please give me back my Super Nintendo. I miss her so.
on 09.22.2012
Whatever happened to my sense of adventure?
I was playing through
Metroid Fusion
on my 3DS, sans walk-through, and made it to the end and defeated the final boss. I was happy I had vanquished evil, yet I was saddened when I saw I had not achieved 100% item completion. Had I simply not taken enough time to explore? No;
is notorious for being linear and not affording the player much time to explore, especially since you are rushing from one place to the next, having areas close off as soon as you leave them. But then my mind wandered to other games that give you all the time you need to explore, and I am frustrated with them, too. Why? It never used to be like this. Have games changed or have I, so much so that I can never go back to being that young, bright-eyed child who was always so eager to discover every secret and nook and cranny in the adventures in which he loved to take part?
Now let me just say, I love adventure games and platformers. I also have an unhealthy, OCD-like obsession with completing a game fully, leaving no stone unturned. To the uninitiated, those are two deadly combinations. It used to be so fun finding things, though. Before strategy guides and the internet, all we gamers had was ourselves and each other. My cousin taught me where all 96 courses were in
Super Mario World
, and he learned them from his cousin; it was like passing the torch of game knowledge through generations. I couldn't begin to tell you how awe-struck we were seeing the special part of Star Road, with its nauseatingly 90's names for levels. We were so proud sharing information with each other, and we felt such a sense of accomplishment. When we were apart and had our own games to play, we used to get along fine on our own, too! I remember finding all the items in
A Link to the Past
, except for one heart piece which I happened to find the location of through Nintendo Power (and my best friend told me about the super secret Good Bee. I laughed in his face because I really thought he was joking, but then I had to eat about 10 pounds of HUMBLE PIE when he showed me). I got 100% on all the levels in
Super Mario World 2
on my own, and that was necessary because none of my friends owned it or even liked it (BURN THEM!).
Mega Man 7
? Please; I found Auto's discount bolt alone, and found all the items he sold for free using Rush Search in various levels. I don't even know how I figured out that you could defeat the pumpkin boss in Shadow Man's stage 2 different ways! I used to have so much free time. When did everything change?
I guess you could say things started going astray with the advent of strategy guides. I remember getting free game guides every time I renewed my subscription to Nintendo Power. All the
Donkey Kong Country
Mario 64
Ocarina of Time
; all thoroughly and completely beaten thanks to my advanced knowledge of TEH FUTURE. But what happened to my sense of exploration? Was I obsessed with the power of knowing where everything already was, always being able to help a friend find something he couldn't on his own? Was school becoming more difficult and time consuming, and I simply didn't have the man hours anymore? It is such a strange phenomenon, because I remember going through fetch quests like
Donkey Kong 64
WITHOUT help, and being able to find everything. Are some games just more frustrating to spend too much time looking for every little secret? Was I becoming old and bitter and impatient? There was still a sense of adventure there, yet it kept fading and coming back, depending on the game I was playing and when I was playing it (maybe I was just able to be more adventurous during the summer).
Nowadays, things are exceptionally difficult. There is work, personal life, and an ever growing pile of unfinished games that make complete play-throughs somewhat impossible. The internet complicates things tenfold; I'm trying to find everything in
Donkey Kong Country Returns
alone, but when you go through a level 5 times looking for 1 puzzle piece you missed, it is very easy to get frustrated and go find the solution to your problem through your freaking phone. Games like
Duke Nukem
give you a sense of accomplishment through their end level percentage screens, yet it takes so much time finding everything without help. RPGs and grand games like
Skyward Sword
take so long to beat, I can't help but want to complete everything 100% in one go. I am happy to have a save file on
Super Metroid
with 100% item completion and a play-through of under 3 hours, but I managed to do that because of someone's walk-through on GameFAQs; it isn't really mine to own, because I followed someone's instructions meticulously to achieve it.
I don't know if things can ever go back to the way they were, or ever be the same. There is always going to be another game to play, waiting to be explored fully on my desk. Maybe I will never have the time to explore every one fully the way I want to, but I want to try. Even if I can't, I'd like to play every single one to the end, even without finding everything. I'll always have happy memories of exploration and completeness, including my favorite: tag-teaming with my best friend to beat
A Link to the Past
in one go, 100%. We did it a couple of years ago, and it took 6 straight hours, but my save file has a 0 under Link's happy face, indicating we never died or saved. I'll always have that, and nothing will ever take away from that accomplishment.
on 08.15.2012
Pure platforming bliss from a Rocket Knight
Remember back in 2010, when a little game called
Rocket Knight
came out on the XBLA/PSN? Of course you don't, because it only sold 10 copies. I hate you people. In all seriousness, though, the game wasn't very good. But for those of us who grew up in the 16-bit era, we desperately wanted it to be good. Why? Because we were waiting for years for the Rocket Knight named Sparkster to make his triumphant return to gaming. While Sparkster did appear in an alright sequel for the Genesis and a pretty cool spinoff for the SNES, it was his original debut on the Sega Genesis that was his bestest adventure; a Rocket Knight adventure, if you will. Let me take you on a little journey, and show you all how awesome of a platformer this game really is (and yes, I love it so much that I own a copy with the box and instruction booklet. SUCH A NERD!).
First of all, look at that bitchin' box art! Sparkster looks like a bad-ass opossum (I looked that word up), and he's fucking flying with goggles and shit! It makes you just wanna say, "Take me in your strong arms and fly me on an epic adventure, you sexy armadillo!" Clearly, my younger self was sexually confused, as well as lacking in animal terminology. One look at the back, and you can already tell this is gonna be a fun, varied adventure! AND WHAT AN ADVENTURE IT IS! You start off and get an opening cinematic with Sparkster on a rock, facing the sky when a shadowy pig emperor materializes and laughs at you (though since this is the Genesis, the laugh sounds more like a series of confused farts). Then you start playing, and already the kingdom is under attack, with a giant robot spider destroying the castle in the background that you just KNOW is gonna be the first level boss. You attack with your sword, and it shoots these cool circles out to destroy your enemies, who are mostly pig knights, who may or may not be operating heavy machinery. You then realize that there is a gauge you can charge with your attack button, which powers up your rocket pack. Release it when fully charged to get an awesome in-place spin attack, or choose a direction to go flying, sword-first, for a short period of time! My personal fave is sending Sparkster straight up, because the look on his face and the way he flails his arms on the way down is just priceless. Sparkster is also cool and looks at you with a thumbs-up if you leave him idle, unlike Mr. Impatient Fuck Face Sonic. Halfway through the first level, you get to experience a side-scrolling shooter, with Sparkster flying to the right, shooting his energy sword beams. There are a few of these, and they help make
Rocket Knight Adventures
a unique, varied platformer. They remind me of
, and there are some cool little homages to that shoot-em-up (which isn't surprising, since this is a Konami game).
The levels in
Rocket Knight Adventures
are quite varied and challenging. The game is always throwing you something new; one stage you are climbing on vines with your tail, going between the foreground and background on a waterfall; the next, you are jumping between platforms that are hidden behind crystals, and your only sense of direction is provided by your reflection against a rising pool of red water that will kill you instantly when touched. Every level is fresh, too; you go from castles, to caves, to airships, EVEN TO OUTER SPACE. The bosses; dear God, the bosses in this game! Every single one is challenging and unique; from mechanical fish that eat the various platforms you are standing on at a rapid pace, requiring split second timing on your jumps to survive; to weird, gyrating pig robots that shoot giant lasers at you, and your only chance to do damage is when said laser is about to fry your cute little animal face off. The music is incredible, too, as if you had any doubt. It really sucks you into the experience, and you feel like you are a part of a grand adventure. You believe you can save the day, even though the odds are stacked highly against you.
Everyone that loves platformers, do yourself a favor and hunt this game down. It is one of the tightest, funnest adventure games of any generation. The good folks that designed this game later formed Treasure, who made the awesome
Gunstar Heroes
, so you know I ain't just shitting out of my mouth when I say this game is amazing. Make sure to play on any difficulty other than Children; otherwise, you'll miss out on the true ending! I leave you with this: ROCK 'EM, SOCK 'EM ROBOTS!
on 06.16.2012
The magic of local co-operative and competitive gameplay
I was watching my younger brother play
on the 360 before, and I was a bit saddened. He seemed to be having fun, playing with a friend online, doing all sorts of ridiculous gestures while trying to get a pin, yelling in frustration into his headset. As I saw this, I realized that there is a certain magic about co-operative gameplay (competitive gameplay, as well) that is lost over online play. Sure my brother's friend could hear him just fine, but he couldn't see the outrageous, nervous dances he was doing while going for that 3 count. He could not see that moment occur and bask in its glory; smile and laugh at it as it was happening. Thankfully, wrestling games still have local co-op, so we can still share moments like this with our friends while sitting on a couch. This event got me thinking about why I feel that local co-op and competitive gameplay is so superior to their online counterparts.
Marvel vs Capcom 2
first came to the XBLA, I had the pleasure of playing against one of my cousin's friends at a party out in Long Island. We both enjoyed fighting games and taunting each other about who was better than who. We had a couple of matches with me usually the victor. I was racking up a pretty impressive win ratio when we had a match on the pirate ship that I will never forget. It was heated: we were trading air combos, playing good defense and offense, ribbing one another while a whole room watched, and we were neck and neck until the timer ran out. As it declared my rival the victor, barely beating me with more health than my character, he looked me in the eyes and said, "That was the best match I ever played in
Marvel vs Capcom 2
. Thank you." As I shook his hand and congratulated him, I realized I wasn't even mad I lost and ruined my win ratio; I had an epic match with a friend, in front of a supportive crowd. We couldn't get that playing online. The living, breathing environment of a crowd of people, being next to your competitor, seeing each other sweat and calculate each other's moves, the threat of a real, physical fight breaking out based on who was the victor; these are staples of local competitive gaming. We have played
Marvel vs Capcom 3
online, and while we had fun and I can appreciate the benefit of being able to play with a friend who lives far away, nothing can compare to that moment I shared with him, together in a room with real, physical human beings.
Resident Evil 5
may suck major goat balls to play alone with a legally declared retarded AI partner, but it is a lot of fun to play with a friend. My brother and I had so much fun playing through
Resident Evil 5
together, that we almost disowned each other as relatives after it was completed. By the end of the game, we had heard Wesker say "NATURAL SELECTION" at least 40 times, had died so many times at the hands (tentacles) of our enemy, that we had both been driven insane and hated each other for not hanging on cliffs long enough and not punching through boulders fast enough. The real fun, however, came in the Lost in Nightmares DLC. We were both shocked when we lost our weapons and had to use our wits to defeat the giant, scary monster guy (I know he's called the Guardian of Insanity, but for the purposes of this post, he shall henceforth be called HOLY SHIT, cause that's what we said every time we saw him). Defeating the various HOLY SHITs was quite difficult, and we saw the YOU ARE DEAD screen many times. Usually my brother wouldn't run away from the spike traps fast enough when I set a trap and would get flattened together with HOLY SHIT, which would result in a lot of yelling and screaming and punching. "What are you guys doing up there," we heard mom call from the hallway. "Bonding," I replied. Truer words were never spoken; my brother and I got through
Resident Evil 5
and all its DLC together, and our relationship is stronger because of it. It would have been difficult to achieve that level of bonding through online play.
Streets of Rage 2
is widely considered one of the best beat-em-ups of all time, and I had the time of my life playing it with my girlfriend on my Sega Genesis last week. We made it clear that while we were willing to fight through the game together as a team, we were totally trying to get a higher score than each other in each level. Throughout our playthrough together, I heard my beloved call me a "shithead" an abundant amount of times. "Don't you dare go for that treasure," she would tell me as I inched my way towards gold while she dealt with the forces of evil. "Stop stealing all my kills," she would cry as I racked up the points downing another enemy. I'm pretty sure she physically punched me at various points during our adventure. Sadly, she used up all her continues by the next to last level, and my strength wasn't enough to overcome the trials of the final level (literally, since the game still thinks you are in two-player mode and sends 80 enemies per screen after you). But at the end of the day, we had a lot of fun playing in my cramped living room, and I've never loved her more, because I know our relationship can survive a heated playthrough of any game (totes gonna marry her someday secure in this knowledge). If we had played online through XBLA or something, the threat of physical violence would have been lost, and where's the fun in that?
Don't get me wrong, I do like online play. Being able to play with someone, no matter how far the distance, is an amazing technological feat. But I grew up playing
Chip 'N' Dale
with my cousin on the NES, and he would always throw me into enemies. I played
World of Illusion
Gunstar Heroes
with my best friend, and he would always shoot that boss with the dice after he threw the fake, exploding gem at us, even though we both knew he would give us the real one if he would just stop pumping him full of lasers. I've seen the laughter and bliss in my friends' and relatives' faces: that is the magic of local co-op and competitive gameplay. Even as games and consoles get more technologically advanced and online play becomes more of the norm, I am hopeful that there will always be games for us players that grew up sitting together on a dusty, old couch.
on 06.09.2012
Quackshot: a forgotten Genesis gem?
Quick, when someone asks you to name great games for the Sega Genesis, what is the first thing you say?
Sonic 2
Gunstar Heroes
Barbie: Super Model
? Sure, everyone knows THOSE games, but what about
t? "
? What the hell is a
? Is that a hockey game with the Mighty Ducks, but you play as ACTUAL DUCKS?! Remember that animated TV show? They had laser guns," I hear you say in response, your mind wandering to nonsensical things. No, my imaginary internet friend,
is basically Indiana Jones with Donald Duck instead of Harrison Ford. And you can plunge the shit out of people's faces. Hearing this, I know your face has properly been melted, and you are ebaying
and a Genesis this very second. But since I like to talk, let me tell you why
is so great, and why it is up there with
Rocket Knight Adventures
as one of the Megadrive greats.
I replayed
today in order to write about it with a non-hazy memory (it doesn't take much longer than an hour and a half if you know what you are doing). After blowing on the game at least twenty times, it finally booted up, and I pumped up the volume to drown out the terrible hum that comes from my lovely Genesis. After a Raiders of the Lost Ark-type opening cinematic, you press start, and are thrust into the DEEP NARRATIVE; which basically equates to Donald coming across a map to a lost treasure that he wants to give to Daisy so he can get some sweet duck sex. You can fly to different areas of the map; though you can't explore certain places without getting tools from another, so you're gonna have to use the old trial and error approach (or Gamefaqs if you are a dirty cheater). There are many fantabulous places to visit, including: Duckburg, Transylvania, the South Pole, Egypt, and a VIKING SHIP OVERRUN BY THE SPIRITS OF THE UNDEAD. The music is quite good for the crappy sound capable Genesis, and each area has a nice, unique theme. Donald has a gun that shoots plungers, that he upgrades to different colors: you start with the yellow plunger, which sucks donkey balls; the red one sticks to walls that you can bounce off of; and the green one sticks to flying bird penises, so Donald can latch onto them for easy flight (the plunger, not the bird penis). Can't ducks fly?
Anyway, Donald can plunge enemies directly in their smug faces, and if they are wearing a pouch, an item pops out. If it is food, Donald gets health, but if it is a chili pepper, and Donald gets five of them, he LOSES HIS SHIT AND THROWS A TEMPER TANTRUM, KILLING EVERYONE IN HIS PATH. Unfortunately, you can only stun enemies with your plunger, so you have to move past them quickly to avoid damage. You can kill them with your other two weapons: popcorn and bubbles. Yay, game logic. Donald can't jump very well, so you have to work on your timing and get used to how far he can go. The game has some tricky platforming, and some mazes and puzzles that will make you think. It isn't too hard, though you might lose some lives with some of the jumping sections.
The great thing about
is that it is EXACTLY WHAT THE BOX ART SAYS IT IS. It is literally Indiana Jones starring Donald Duck. That was the original title, but lawsuits and licensing forced Sega to change the name to
at the last second (a proper citation is needed here). There are mine carts and pulleys and megaphones that will kill you with sound effects. There is a great sense of adventure, and nods to Indy throughout (especially a part towards the very end that I won't spoil here). It doesn't overstay its welcome and is fun to pick up and play and beat in one sitting. Donald has an annoyed idle animation where he winks at the player while his butt feathers point to the direction he is facing, HOW COOL IS THAT? Honestly, sentient butt feathers are enough for me to recommend this game to everyone. Hunt it down for the Genesis or the Saturn and give it a try! You might love it just as much as I did when I was six, and as much as I love it now at twenty-seven.
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since 1:58 PM on 06.09.2012
My name is Arthur Damian, I am 30 years old, and I've been gaming since the NES era. I like the new school and the old school. Chrono Trigger is the bestest game ever, and Junction is the worstest. I love to write, and am currently working at Lehman College, helping students transfer in their credits from other universities. I also love vidja gamez, and right now I'm playing games on the Sega Genesis, even though I have a huge backlog of games on the Wii and 360 to go through. BLURG. I also work for That VideoGame Blog now as editor-in-chief, writing and editing daily news posts! YAY!
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text:
DENVER — Democratic lawmakers may preach paycheck equality, but it turns out their female staffers are still coming up short compared to their male counterparts.
An analysis conducted by the conservative website Colorado Peak Politics found that Democratic Sen. Mark Udall pays his female staffers on average 84 cents for every dollar earned by his male staffers.
The same analysis found that Republican Reps. Mike Coffman and Cory Gardner pay their female staffers on average more than their male staffers. Mr. Coffman's female staffers earn $1.12 for every dollar earned by male staffers, while Mr. Gardner's female staffers earn $1.04 for every buck earned by their male counterparts.
"Perhaps if Udall and his fellow Democrats focused on treating their own employees equally first, then we wouldn't have to legislate a solution," said the Peak commentary. "It shouldn't be that hard, as two of Colorado's top Republicans show how easy it is to do."
The biggest gap in the Colorado delegation belonged to Democratic Rep. Jared Polis, a multimillionaire, whose female staffers earn just 65 cents for every dollar earned by his male staffers, according to the website.
Udall spokesman Chris Harris told the Denver Post that the senator's male and female staffers working the same job earn the same pay, but that's a distinction often lost in the Democratic battle cry over paycheck fairness.
Mr. Udall is hardly alone among Senate Democrats. A report released Tuesday by the Washington Free Beacon found that female staffers working for Senate Democrats earn on average $0.91 for every buck earned by male staffers.
And even President Obama's White House has come under fire after it was learned female staffers earn on average less than male employees.


text:
How Much Does JJ Abrams Know About Star Trek
View Single Post
May 10 2013, 07:10 AM
Rear Admiral
Re: How Much Does JJ Abrams Know About Star Trek
Maurice wrote:
Screenwriters are the ones who should do that kind of research, where necessary. The director says if he likes the script and shoots it. He's not expected to be an expert in such minutia, especially if it's not germane to the story.
I don't usually disagree with you, but isn't this akin to the bit on NEMESIS where Baird thought Geordi was an alien?
If you as director don't understand even the basics, you might be inclined to accept stuff that is less than credible, to the detriment of the story (I use the Abrams09Thing as a reference, from use of black holes to building starships on the ground because the WRITERS think a ship has to have its warp drive set up WITHIN a gravity well!)
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text:
Thursday, May 14, 2009
© Copyright 2015 Newton Citizen
JESSUP - The Alcovy Tigers are one game away from the Elite Eight.After falling 10-0 to No. 7 Wayne County in Game 1, Alcovy (22-9) avoided elimination with a 7-3 victory in Game 2. The two squads will meet today in the deciding game at 4 p.m. "Like I've said before, any time you get to play in a Game 3, it's great for your team. It means you have a chance to advance," Alcovy coach Casey Bates said. "We're excited right now, but we know we've got a lot of work to do tomorrow." Junior pitcher Beau Thomas kept the Tigers' season alive by pitching a gem in Game 2, limiting the Yellow Jackets (22-8) to just six hits. "Beau Thomas was outstanding for us in the second game," Bates said. "He gave us exactly what we needed on the mound." Unlike the opening game, Alcovy's offense provided Thomas with an early lead thanks to some timely hitting. Junior Travis Jackson smacked a two-out, two-run double in the bottom of the first, giving the Tigers their first lead in the series at 2-0. In the bottom of the second, Ross Roberts added another two-run double, pushing the Tigers out to a 4-0 advantage. "Being able to get the lead early in Game 2 was a big key for us," Bates said. "We hadn't done anything up to that point. They came out and thumped us pretty good in the first game. We had to do something or we were going to be in trouble." Thomas took over from there for the Tigers, tossing the complete game to pick up the victory. Wayne County closed its deficit to 4-2 and 6-3, but each time Alcovy responded with more insurance on the scoreboard. In the opener, Wayne County pitcher Jared Harvey tossed a three-hit shutout. The Tigers threatened in the top of the first when Michael Adventurato led off with a single and Thomas reached on an error. But Harvey worked out of the jam and cruised the rest of the way. Alcovy is making its first appearance in the state baseball playoffs.
More like this story
- Accolades for Alcovy
Tigers' historic season ends with nine named All-Region ( June 4, 2009 )
- Winning ways
Alcovy closer to playoffs with 10-0 win over Stockbridge ( April 11, 2009 )
- Making an entrance
Pollard shuts down Alcovy in first start of the season ( April 9, 2009 )
- Alcovy bested by Wayne County ( May 15, 2009 )
- Alcovy splits with Harlem
Game 3 today to decide who advances ( May 9, 2009 )


text:
Intense police bodycam footage of a suspect drawing down on 2 police officers in Palestine, TX on May 31, 2015. (details here) This is how quick a life threatening altercation can happen (viewer discretion is advised): And the partner's view: I'm impressed how fast the officer drew his sidearm, activated his... Read more
Armed Citizen Shoots Carjacker [VIDEO]
Dustin Ellermann April 6, 2015
Although firearms are legally used for self defense roughly between 2.1 and 2.5 million times a year*, national news coverage of an event is pretty rare. This armed citizen stopped a teen carjacker by shooting him in the shoulder while the car's owner was hanging on the hood for dear... Read more
Good Gal With a Gun Stops Bad Guy With a Gun [video]
Dustin EllermannFish & Game News March 25, 2014
Defense situations like this occur hundreds of times a day but usually go unreported. We actually have a news report of this one! Read more here. Get training, get armed, stay aware, stay safe. Read more


text: Jack WIlkins | IBDB: The official source for Broadway Information IBDB: The official source for Broadway Information Official Broadway League sites: - sites - broadway.org broadwayleague.com broadwayfanclub.com kidsnightonbroadway.com stagespecs.org tonyawards.com Quick Search For: In This Category: All Show People/Org. Theatre Season Jack WIlkins Performer Male Productions ProductionsDate of ProductionsHeaven on Earth[Musical, Comedy, Original] Performer: Jack WIlkins [Dancer]Sep 16, 1948 - Sep 25, 1948 Find out where Jack WIlkins and are credited together © 2001-2015, The Broadway League, All Rights Reserved. (Copyright and Disclaimer)


text:
WHAT SHOULD BE IN A LETTER TO THE JUDGE ON A DEFENDENT? Penny1: Ok, I don't know if you can help but here goes a brain dump.... I need to write a letter to the judge on behalf of my son. He has drug charges and the judge wants to give him 3 years in prison. My question is what should the letter say on the defense of my son? :'(
Sharp: I need more details...state, drug, quantity, priors? Do you have an attorney on this case yet? It may be advisable if this judge seems determined to throw the book at him. However, there may be alternatives including counseling depending on the situation. If you can provide more specifics, maybe I can help, or at least help you find resources. If you'd prefer, you can pm me instead, okay? Deep breath, things will get better! :)
ChrisJane: I went through this with my oldest son. He spent 2 years off and on in juvi.
Pour your heart out mom! Don't be hateful to the legal system, no matter how angry you are at the judge, police, prosecutor's....
Explain any reasons that have lead up to your son's drug problem. Depending on if he is a repeat offender will make a difference. If he has never been in trouble before this he shouldn't get 3 years. If you can show the judge reasons that caused this and that it could be resolved in other ways it will help.
Ask for community service, counseling, agree to rehab. Plead with the judge to give him one more chance.
Not to brag, but my son's parole officer said she had never seen such a well written, emotional letter when I begged to have my son released from juvi. I gave credit to my English Prof! He taught me well!
Just be a loving caring mom in your letter.
hardened_heart1970: hi, the first thing you can do, is call immediately and get him into councliling. theres nothing that looks better, than to voluteerily goto counciling. the judge should look at it and say, atleast he wants to change his path, and help himself..
good luck.......
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