text:
Dwyane Wade, Udonis Haslem & Coach Spo won a title on the road... ALREADY, so why would they go back on the road when they're home... ALREADY?
Already Home by Jay-Z, 3rd Verse
Pat Riley's in the Hall already, on the wall already.
Wade's work of art? It's a Warhol already.
On another level, on another plane already.
Shadow GM, ahead of the game already (already).
He got Three Kings already.
Why the fuck can't ya squad get three... already? (already)
Pick ya free agents from the pot already.
Analysts say it's the best trio of all-time... already (already).
LeBron's gone already.
Fuck Cleveland. He's "Already Home" already (already).
Haters can't already see,
He ain't worried bout y'all, it's already Team HEAT?
Yeah...do you already.
Enough with the complainin', boo-hoos already.
...Eat food already.
Ain't nothin' given, cop the LeBron 9s and Fly Wades already.


text:
Upstate News
Doretta Royer 315 464-4833
Revolutionary New Epilepsy Treatment Used at University Hospital
The first new treatment for epilepsy in 100 years is being used by the Departments of Neurology and Neurosurgery at University Hospital of the State University of New York Health Science Center at Syracuse.
The FDA approved treatment, called NeuroCybernetic Prosthesis or NCP System by Cyberonics, includes an implantable device that is equivalent to a pacemaker for the brain.
The treatment offers relief from uncontrolled seizures and a chance for a more normal life for patients with refractory epilepsy (those who are unable to control their disorder using drug therapy or surgery.)
The treatment involves a device, roughly the size of a small picket watch, which is implanted in the patient's chest with small wires leading to the vagus nerve in the neck. The device sends precisely timed and measured electrical pulses to the vagus nerve, which controls activity between the brain and the internal organs. By conditioning the brain to react to the interruptions of normal brain functions caused by epilepsy, the NCP System decreases or abolishes seizures in many patients.
The NCP System received U.S. Food & Drug Administration approval in July of 1997 following more than ten years of research, preclinical and human studies. According to Cyberonics, the NCP System has no acute or chronic, cognitive, behavioral, or emotional side effects. The device is easily implanted and made of biocompatible material. In clinical studies, the NCP System has actually proven increased success in reducing and eliminating seizures over prolonged use.
For more information about the NCP System to treat epilepsy, call University Hospital's Health Connections at 464-8668 or (800) 464-8668.
Search Upstate News
Upstate in the News
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Time Warner Cable News Central NY
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WTVH CBS5 Syracuse
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subset: commoncrawl


text:
Sunday's NHL Playoff highlights
Highlights from Sunday's top NHL Playoff games.
Houstoniens: Truely I want to let y'all k ow a real secret who in this word would eve. If you vote for her what makes you think she was even allow to run for president your vote for her means nothing because the leaders or anyone will have her run this country. She broke security code she hasn't got the idea grasp yet that she has been pulled by a chain and is only here even if you like her or not she misused and lied and cheated our government and court is not needed


text:
Not Quite Finished: Keiji Inafune's Bold New Plan for Japan
We sit down with the legendary producer who explains his post-Capcom plans and why pride is at the root of the Japanese games industry's stagnation.
Continued (page 5 of 5)
1UP: Speaking of your own brand, when you left Capcom a lot of people thought you would start your own company but I don't think anyone expected you would make two companies. How did you come to that decision?
KI: I wanted to actually put a concept into the creation of these companies, if you will. I could have just come out with one company and I could have internally split it up the way I wanted to, which is a think-tank side which is doing the creative work, the ideas, the designs, just the thinking of what sort of ideas we're going to come up with, and then an actual production side that builds these ideas out and if they're going to make games, they're going to build out the games based on these ideas, because I think that's a very clear cut way to separate the two different sides of creating any sort of entertainment product. But unfortunately, if it had only been one company and I just tried to explain that in words, I think it would have been lost on a lot of people.
So by forming two very separate entities as companies and saying OK, the one side that's going to do the creative concepts this is going to be Comcept, and they're going to focus on all the creativity and they're not going to be limited to games, they're going to be able to do comic books or movies or games, of course, but it's all going to be about ideas. And then separate from that, Intercept, they're going to be the game company, they make games, they're going to be the production side, they're doing what we've always done as game creators, they're actually making the product but they're more of a process, they're more building out the games based on the ideas the Comcept side has developed.
1UP: You were very critical of the management at Capcom before you left. Now that you're in charge of two different companies how do you feel your management style is different than what you were up against before? What's changed now?
KI: I would say probably the biggest difference between my management style and the management style at Capcom is, well, speed. Partially, being a smaller company helps in being able to make decisions, but anytime at Capcom you would have to try and convince people of a new concept or a new idea or whatever and it would always take a lot of time, because if people don't understand something, their knee-jerk reaction is "no," to not approve something rather than approve it. And unfortunately, you also had a lot of people in upper management that didn't understand games, so trying to explain to them a game concept, why it's interesting, why it would work, you would automatically get a no anyway. They would only look at numbers.
That was one of the areas that was very frustrating and that we can totally circumvent in this new company because I, the president, ultimately understand games so I can tell right away if it makes sense as a game or not and therefore make an on-the-spot call about whether to go forward or not go forward, and I can make sure we're avoiding any unnecessary meetings that are just meetings for the sake of meetings, not because they actually mean anything Of course, it's a smaller company so that's a much more manageable, easy thing to do. If this company ever gets to the size of Capcom, I'm going to need to make sure that I don't get myself caught in the same mistakes or patterns that I think they've done as a major company, and so that's something I can think about from this point on as the company continues to grow, how to avoid those pitfalls.
1UP: I have to ask, the news that you're going to be part of Hyperdimension Neptunia mk2 (Inafune starts laughing), everyone was surprised when that came out. Just today, there are pictures of you on the Internet with the "Donna-handan-da Beam" (he laughs again). How did this happen? How did you get involved with this strange sequel to an odd game?
KI: One of the things I wanted to do when leaving Capcom and start my own company was do things that I couldn't do when I worked at Capcom. That includes being in a game and firing laser beams out of my mouth. So when this offer came over from Idea Factory I instantly jumped on it because I thought, A, it would be very interesting, it's not something you see every day, it's unique, and B, it allows me to learn more about a genre that I never would have had a chance to work with or work on at Capcom. They're called "Gal Games" and just as I would want to say that Japanese shouldn't be critical of Western games, I should also say that Japanese should not be critical of Japanese-created genres and this is one of those. And so for me, I just wanted to be open-minded and try as many different things out as I could now that I'm president of my own company, and one of these is also to learn about how Gal Games are created.
1UP: Can we expect anything from you or Comcept or Intercept at E3 or Tokyo Game Show? Are you going to either of these shows?
KI: For E3, it's a bit too early. The company was just created a few months ago, so I don't think we're going to have anything to show and I personally won't attend because people are busy at E3, so to actually get the time to sit down and talk and do the business you need to do, a lot of times you can't. Just quick meet-and-greet meetings that don't have a lot of meaning, so I don't intend to go to E3 unless something comes up where I need to. For Tokyo Game Show, yeah, there's something I'd like to be able to show at TGS if we can get it out in time and that's kind of the goal. There's no promises on that, but as far as participating in TGS, of course I will be there.
Special thanks to Ben Judd for interpreting during the interview
See Also
Comments (61)
The real problem herePosted: Jun 06, 2011 12:00AM PST by polarityy
is that nobody really knows what Inafune means when he says Japanese developers need to learn from Western ones. Does he mean in terms of game design? Aesthetics? Genre? Distribution channels? It's really hard to tell because the interviewer hasn't bothered to press him on it.
CRAZY INTERBUTT RAMBLINGZ!!1OMG!1Posted: May 30, 2011 12:00AM PST by HowardJohnson
Ah, Inafune, still a whiney, lying, back stabbing peice of human filth I see.
Nice to see he hasn't changed any, and oh how terribly, even painfully ironic this interview is.
While he does have a point, the same one was made many times over, and not just by Japan's angriest nerd, Itagaki. There have been other stated concerns here and there of this nature, by just about every major japanese publisher. The issue is quite simple, they haven't been acting on what they already know, and even foresaw, as early as the beggining of this console generation.
It really is as simple as OMally put it, they need to stop sulking about the change of pace, suck it up, and adapt, "wacky jappy" and "western taste" isn't an excuse anymore, most people don't pay attention to whatever bizarre trappings there game is set in, as that tends to be the whole point. And why yes, I do assume I represent everyone's personal taste's in video games, but's that's ok, it's the internet, I'm obligated to be delusional.
But what do I know, I'm just an internet, armchair analyst/psychopath!
I reallyPosted: May 28, 2011 12:00AM PST by GomezGomita
really can´t see where´s the BIG innovation in western games.
That's not what he said.Posted: May 29, 2011 12:00AM PST by GenesisDoes
The innovation he talks about is in the DLC, iOS apps, and net play and such. He actually said, that if Japanese companies want to make more money in the west, they should release more games with western tendencies. He's not saying they should ONLY do western games. I like Japanese influenced games too (Not as much now-a-days), but the majority don't selll anywhere near close to the current leaders in sales in the west.
So, make some western fanservice games to make some serious dough, and put some of our own culturaly influeneced games out there at the same time. At least that's what I got from it.
West is the Leader For Ambitious TitlesPosted: May 31, 2011 12:00AM PST by Pacario
Bioshock, Heavy Rain, Little Big Planet, Portal 2, Mass Effect--almost all the big, ambitious, genre pushing games now come from the West. Japan has created little that can be seen as truly groundbreaking or original in recent years.
repliesPosted: Jun 05, 2011 12:00AM PST by GomezGomita
(DLC and all that are just gimmicks, not to mention that jap devs do the very same thing)
The way "I" see it, there was nothing to FIX, I mean, NOW I DO (dead rising 2, bionic commando, b.c. re-armed 2, quantum theory, castlevania l.o.s, silent hill homecoming, s.m, the upcoming R.E, the upcoming DMC, etc) but japanese games, in general, were and are doing great, vanquish, bayonetta, SF4, TVC, MVC3, KOF13, Patapon saga, loco roco saga, no more heroes, resonance of fate, ghost rick, mario galaxy 2, mgs peace walker, demon´s souls, metroid other m, yakuza, death smiles, otomedius, megaman 10, the upcoming shadows of the damned, dark souls, devil´s third, ninja gaiden 3...the only true innovative western title (for me) is Portal and Bioshock, the rest, are just ok, heavy rain is cool but really, i don´t see the big "revolution", I mean, it depends on wich games and genres suits us, and it depends on what jap companies REALLY want...they wanna make mediocre games that sells well (in america) or do you want to make great games that sell well in japan? and fuck western market, of course that most companies want to make a shitload of money, and the western market is the way to go, but what´s the cost?...lose their very essence and identity!?!? It´s like trying to convince/force japanese or asians fimmakers to make films for the western market, "you know, we are more consumers, we can give you more money, but you have to do things the way WE want...I don´t know guys, fuck that, I say.
P.S: I would love to see Inafune with a straight face saying that mk9 is a better game than MVC3, or that god of war 3 is a better game than bayonetta.
Kiss that Western AssPosted: May 27, 2011 12:00AM PST by OMalley
To be frank, Inafune has always been detrimental to his own country's achievements in the videogames industry, as if "oh the west are making billion dollar games, now we're rubbish". He seems to be a major suckup to the west - Activision should just employ him to direct Modern Warfare 4, that'll shut him up.
Just think about what America would do if they were lacking in any industry - they would have leading industry figures go "oh yeah, country X are amazing, we're shit" - no, they would invest money, time and the stuff required to make them the best. Where were "the West" when Japan were top of the videogames industry, in terms of revenue and creativity? We were quietly growing, innovating and experimenting with making the best damn games available. Not sulking.
To a degree...Posted: May 27, 2011 12:00AM PST by Captain_Sandwich
But then you got a glut of "animé-inspired" stinkers, Kya and Malice playing like a Rare 3D platformer. Sudeki for original XBox being an incredibly odd RPG. Bungie's forgotten child Oni for PS2.
The west had its period of identity crises, but when the scores were low, it's almost like they kicked themselves into creative overdrive in the following years. The didn't have to publicly announce that they were sucking it up. They saw shitty or middling scores, then immediately set out trying to fix it.
You have to remember though that the west's developers have come from and are located within the planet's central melting pot of cultures. Japan being such a small country feeds directly into the fact that their development is born and raised completely within a different culture, with little chance to truly experience outside influence by other jokes, ways of though, mannerisms, etcetera.
Capcom's done the best in that they go the extra step beyond working with foreign developers, but making sure each of there games has real foreign input. Look at Seth Killian.
Nice biased opinionPosted: May 27, 2011 12:00AM PST by Chronon
To actually be frank, Inafune is not the only Japanese developer saying these things. Hideo Kojima is singing a similar story. Honestly, I'm inclined to agree with them. With a few exceptions ( Platinum Games, Grasshopper Studios, Kojima Productions, Team Ico, And I'm inclined to say the Persona team from Atlus due to attention Catherine is drawing) no companies from Japan are trying anything new. I think a great example of just how dated Japanese games have become comes from Square Enix. Tetsuya Nomura is a very talented artist and can come up with some pretty good ideas, Nomura is the creative mind behind the Kingdom Hearts series (for those that didn't know) but since then he is just repeating the same formula over and over. I mean he is also the mind behind Final Fantasy Versus XIII...which is looking like Kingdom Hearts with more mature themes. To get to the point, Inafune is saying that Japan needs to experiment more. Not continue to use the same dated ideas that worked in the 80's 90's and eary 2000's
Now lets get to another point here. I'll even quote you on this one.
"Where were "the West" when Japan were top of the videogames industry, in terms of revenue and creativity? We were quietly growing, innovating and experimenting with making the best damn games available. Not sulking."
That must be the single most idiotic thing I've heard all day. Lets think back to when Japan ruled the video game market. The greatest Western games. In the 90's you had Spyro, Tomb Raider, Crash Bandicoot, and Gran Turismo. When these games were first released they were pretty innovative in their own right. Then the sequel machine started turning and we ended up with the same game 2-3 times. I don't think that counts as growing or innovating. That's called money sucking. Which remains a very common theme amongest Western developers today (I'm looking at you Activision, Ubisoft, and EA). Now I will be fair and say that today western developers have far more innovatice ideas than their Japanese counterparts, but proclaiming that western developers make/made the best "damn" games avaliable is rather foolhardy and incredibly biased.
In the middlePosted: May 26, 2011 12:00AM PST by BrokenH
I see "some" of Inafune's points but I'm kind of terrified of being swamped by COD and MW clones coming out of the land of the red sun. I always liked how East & West both had their own diverse "flavors". It's the zen philosophy of playing Dark Siders and Bayonetta whilst appreciating each one for what they are.
I remember when Namco tried to make a Gears Of War clone. Quantum Theory bombed big time.
However, I have hope for Dungeon Siege 3 and Deus Ex. Those collaborations between Japan and us seem almost full proof!
"Taking risks" is something all game developers should do, not just those of Asian origin. I also liked how Inafune brought up "superiority complexes" as a negative obstacle. He may not know it but many American gamers and developers are just as egotistical, elitist, and short sighted as Japanese ones. It's a wide spread disease not restricted to one region I'm afraid.
Keiji InafunePosted: May 26, 2011 12:00AM PST by ForteII
This man is right on so many levels.
Being a descendant of Japanese myself and having lived in Japan, I can tell where Inafune is coming from. Not only does he know humility (to him, it's not about ego or "image") but he also has the guts to speak his mind (which is also uncommon among Japanese) and, on top of all, he believes in giving credit where it's due (namely: creators/directors) while looking at others' efforts with an analytical eye.
As far as I'm concerned, as a gamer and designer I wish Inafune the best of luck.
kazunori yamauchi...Posted: May 26, 2011 12:00AM PST by izzariovonche
...he's talking to you!!!
Japanese game developers are stagnatingPosted: May 26, 2011 12:00AM PST by dunebuggy
...because they're so fiercely imitating stagnant Western game developers.
They were stagnating....Posted: May 28, 2011 12:00AM PST by GenesisDoes
long before western influence.
The road to west leads directly into a ditchPosted: May 26, 2011 12:00AM PST by kamiboy
I'd say Inafune has got things backwards. The whole industry is tumbling forward into a crisis because there is too much catering to western bro gamers going on these days.
Japan did not get to become number one by making game catored to any specific region, they just made good games and back in the day the industry was small enough, and games cost little enough to make that it was enough.
Today with mounting costs comes conservative greenlighting strategies which means everyone is gunning for the same bros who can manage to gobble up 20 million copies of the same games annually. To make matters worse the Japanese market has gone pretty much completely portable while the west is home console centric which is why there is an illusion of decline. The Japanese are still making the best designed games out there, only they are making them on portables because that is more profitable and less risky endeavour. This has left a void on home consoles for former PC developers to jump in and fill with the same games they have been making since the early 90's, which is what sank the PC platform by the way.
By catoring to tired western conventions the Japanese developers will only dig themselves into a deep grave. The only majour crisis in the Japanese industry is the bloated budgets of current gen home console development causing most to not even bother, and those who do bother are put on a suffucating leash of creative temprance due to the need to be conservative when the average production takes 2-3 years and costs tens of millions to develop.
The Japanese cannot cator to the bro gamers, the PC developers have that section down pat, as well as a about a hundred other also-rans. I'd say look to Platinum games for a model of how to go about it. Make creatively unrestrained, uniquely Japanese games and you will find your old audience of core gamers with a refined taste in games. You will not sell tens of millions of copies, sure, but you can easily do 800k-1.5 million if your game is good. See, that is all Japanese games ever needed to be recogized, not being pandering or targeted, no, just being good.
Don't think so ...Posted: May 26, 2011 12:00AM PST by Bast
" The Japanese are still making the best designed games out there"
That's a bold statement. Actually, most of what you say is misinformed. Also you've completely missed the point of what he was saying. He saying that Japanese game devs have not adapted to the new ways of thinking about game development. They're stuck in their old ways. Things change dude ... companies need to evolve to survive. You also have to think "globaly". If you don't think Facebook and Mobile Phones aren't a serious market for game development, it would be highly ignorant.
Lemmings for the hillsPosted: May 26, 2011 12:00AM PST by kamiboy
The Japanese were developing cellphone games for their own domestic hardware from back when all your phone could handle was monochrome snake.
As for social games, the Japanese have had a facebook like social service complete with games running on Japanese cellphones for quite a while, the name escapes me.
The more Inafune vaxed rhapsodic about the western market, because, I mean, look at the revenue potentials, the more he sounds like a suit who only follows the currency signs in his eyes and the less he sounds like a creative person.
Sure iOS and facebook are viable platforms because people are making a shit ton of money there. But if we for a second take the business hats off and look at it from the perspective of a creative person, then no. As a developer my soul would die if I had to work on those platform just because, that is the future bro!
I only want to make games that I as gamer would actually be interested in playing. In that regard working on the new rich venues, or making games aimed at the western bro segment would be no different to me than wasting away in a cubicle programming databases.
AtlusPosted: May 26, 2011 12:00AM PST by djserrin
Seriously Atlus knows how to do it right. Just make good games, not "bro" games. I agree that the biggest problem with Japanese games is that they end up making cheap copies of Western games, rather than coming up with original ideas.
Also, if it's not broke, don't fix it. I'm looking at you FFXI - FFXIV.
I want this to workPosted: May 27, 2011 12:00AM PST by Captain_Sandwich
"I'd say look to Platinum games for a model of how to go about it. Make creatively unrestrained, uniquely Japanese games and you will find your old audience of core gamers with a refined taste in games. You will not sell tens of millions of copies, sure, but you can easily do 800k-1.5 million if your game is good. See, that is all Japanese games ever needed to be recogized, not being pandering or targeted, no, just being good."
It won't, though. As you've said yourself, rising budgets and development times, 800k-1.5 million copies is a questionable prospect. That's if you're lucky enough to get those sales, despite being a great game.
From IGN - "Publisher SEGA revealed during its fiscal third quarter results that its sexy action title Bayonetta has sold 1.1 million units in Europe, Japan, and U.S. territories for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3."
Bayonetta came out in January, having taken roughly nine months to reach the milestone. Ninja Gaiden II only took two to three months to do the same, having been released in June, and breaking 1 million units worldwide in August. Let's try to take into account the price drops that occur during the course of a year when you don't have a gun on the cover.
Over the course of four months (releasing February, and reaching milestone in May) Devil May Cry 4 sold 2 million copies.
Seriously, let the part of you that remembers DMC take a backseat for a second, and honestly tell me Bayonetta wasn't the same game, with infinitely better mechanics. Going back to DMC 4 immediately following Bayonetta, I felt like a Formula 1 racer behind the wheel of a fucking Ford Model-T. Blame for the disparity in critical reception of these two titles can easily be attributed to oversensitivity to the sexual nature of the game, and the heroine being female. Maybe people had grown attatched to Dante, but the truth remains that he seemed pretty two-dimensional until DMC 3, and 4 wasn't really even about him.
Platinum absolutely loves packing their games with cheese and camp, but why didn't Vanquish sell well for its actual gameplay? Why did Okami not do the kind of numbers any Legend of Zelda has?
From Wikipedia - "Okami sold 200,000 copies in North America in 2006, grossing approximately USD$8 million and ranking as the 100th best selling game of the year in the region.[128] By March 2007, the total sales of the PlayStation 2 version were near 270,000.[57] By comparison, Okami sold 66,000 copies in Japan for 2006"
Okami eventually went Greatest Hits by some miracle, and the Wii version did worse with a superior control scheme for the most game's most important mechanic. I believe Okami (Wii) did around 168,000 copies. Compare that to this:"The Legend of Zelda: Twilight PrincessEdit
The Wii version of Twilight Princess sold over one million copies in the Americas, 14,068 during its first two days in Japan,and 240,000 during its first weekend in Europe. During its first week, the game was sold with three of every four Wii purchases and passing one million Wii units sold in North America within three months. In its first month of availability, the GameCube version sold 32,900 units, and briefly outsold the Wii version. After three months of availability, the GameCube version sold over one million units worldwide, and after four months of availability, the GameCube version sold over one million units in North America. The game has sold 4.52 million copies on the Wii as of March 1, 2008, and 1.3 million on the GameCube as of March 31, 2007."
Don't just blame any particular party. It's everyone's fucking fault. Even I couldn't get a lot of my friends to buy Bayonetta, because it had a stupid story, or "just looked dumb" (like they should care with gameplay that smooth). A lot of these were the same people that I did get into Katamari Damacy.
"Bro" is currently the way for this industry's members and patrons to make money, so that's what will succeed until the poles shift once again.
It can work, and hasPosted: May 27, 2011 12:00AM PST by kamiboy
Devil May Cry 4 did so well due to a number of factors, chief among them was it being a sequel. In that regard Bayonetta moving over a million units is quite a fantastic feat. Vanquish would have done better if it had not launched in November and instead launched in a quite month like Bayonetta and the fact that Vanquish despite being a very unique title had the disadvantage of featuring concepts that were too western and thus it was less noticeable and prone to dismissal.
Let us not forget that SEGA is absolutely dreadful at marketting its games, which agains speaks to strength of these titles to manage to move such respectable numbers by ways of word of mouth.
The very fact that that out of the two Bayonetta and Vanquish the title that was the most Japanese in spirit and more contrary to superficial western sentiments was the most successful proves Inafune wrong. In fact even his own last legitimate hit Dead Rising proves him wrong.
What aspect of that game was designed to have western appeal? It took inspiration from the movie Dawn of the dead, but apart from that it was a very Japanese game with design contrary to western conventions.
Everything from the ability to dress in drag, to the unforgiving save system, to the anti consumerist message in the story. This was a uniquely Japanese game if I ever saw one.
But let us not stop there, what about Demon's Souls. This was a game that found international success by word of mouth alone. Its design, once again, goes completely against everything profitable in the west, and yet people discovered over here and it sold respectably.
Look at Demon's Souls as an example to learn from, that game was made on a modest budget because it was never intentioned to see release outside of Japan and was meant to make all of its development investment back with a hundred thousand or so copies sold.
That is impressive I'd say, having played Demon's Souls I see no signs of a budget release here. So good games can be made that turn a profit with modest units sold. Bayonetta did so, Vanquish did so, Demon's Souls did so. Hell even Capcom's Dead Rising did so.
Either Inafune is just plain wrong or he needs to find a better way to express what exactly he means by making games that appeal to the west. Because I could have sworn that for the last 20 years Japan was doing just fine over here without having to do such a thing. In fact all of their troubles began when they started saying to themselves that catering to one sided tastes was necessary for their future.
Mechanic may have little to do with it.Posted: May 27, 2011 12:00AM PST by Captain_Sandwich
L.A. Noire has done fantastice despite people in front of me in the stores not being able to pronounce it, and it being a re-conceptualized adventure game.
Speaking of five years behind...Posted: May 26, 2011 12:00AM PST by semifraki
...some high schooler called, he wants his Abercrombie & Fitch sweatshirt back. HAYOOOO!
But seriously, great article. This is the kind of stuff that keeps me reading. Keep up the great work!
wowPosted: May 26, 2011 12:00AM PST by Megatroid_CLAMP
this is a fantasticly long article. took me forever to read, but still great :D
Kudos...Posted: May 28, 2011 12:00AM PST by Uminobankai
... to your Maetel pic :0)
Confusion....Posted: May 26, 2011 12:00AM PST by GenesisDoes
There still seem to be a bit of confusion from some of you here. Inafune said nothing about changing ALL their games to western styles. What he IS saying, is that Japanese companies should at least try to develop games with western influence FOR western markets where there not making as much income as they could. Obviously, there are already some that are doing this, Capcom, Konami, Tecmo. He has a point, look at Nintendo. Pretty much all of their first party games have very little Japanese cultural influences in them.
Games like Mario, Zelda, Metroid, & Kirby have ALWAYS thrived on the international and Western markets. They've pretty much proven his point. They've been ahead of the game for quite some time. He didn't say there's no place for Japanese influenced games at all. He even said how you shouldn't hate the games your culture creates near the end of the interview. And there is a very large mass of hatred for FPS in the states, despite the fact that they sale so well.
There's still a market for J-Games, but mostly for a hardcore audience. That's not making enough money internationally. Then there's the whole DLC issue, which is very poor in Japan. He's not trying to destroy his own gaming culture. He's trying to get them to evolve with the times. I'm pretty sure a man who's spent twenty plus years in the Japanese gaming industry knows a lot more about the state of his business than just about all of us here.
The LegendsPosted: May 26, 2011 12:00AM PST by Mr.LametoWatch
Miyamoto, Inafune, Kojima, Suzuki, and Yokoi; The Legendary Japanese Game Creators No one can top their work. I give cred to Will Wright and Pajitnov, though.
what about...Posted: May 28, 2011 12:00AM PST by octoberfleshed
David Jaffe? Don't you think he deserves credit?
ermmm...Posted: May 26, 2011 12:00AM PST by Starknight
...this guy needs to humbly bow down to Yu Suzuki.
Yu Susuki is one of the great ones...Posted: May 26, 2011 12:00AM PST by GenesisDoes
But besides Virtual Fighter 4, what has he done in the last 10 years that makes him relevant today? Shenmue pipe dreams don't count.
You're thinking about it wrongPosted: May 26, 2011 12:00AM PST by freemanmium
He's not saying to copy western games. He is saying they need to take chances and come up with new ideas like western games do. In japan, almost every game is a re-re-re-re-re-re-re-re-re-re-re-hash of exactly what came before it. Yes, we have that too in many games, but we also have new games that surprise us on a pretty regular basis.
His points on downloadable games also fit this, they are too prideful to "stoop down" to making those kinds of games, even though you can make great experiences in the format. We have a big list of really cool downloadable games on XBLA and PSN, but how many of those came from Japan?
Inafune is my idol.Posted: May 26, 2011 12:00AM PST by SniperZombie
We should all be as bold and creative in the face of opposition and stagnation.
MMUPosted: May 26, 2011 12:00AM PST by TheShaper
"I was the only one pushing for it"
Yeah... should I work for Capcom, I wouldn't have let it die. Man, I was hyped about it...
I agree with Inafune.Posted: May 26, 2011 12:00AM PST by andyrew
While I like games with Japanese flavor, they have gone into a really bad direction lately. Not all of them. I mean how JRPGs have gone from the awesome stuff of PS1 and PS2 to the turdfest that is drawings talking to each other, followed by an ugly, pointless dungeon crawl. Repeat. At the end of the day, aside from a couple of exceptions, the only good RPGs coming out of Japan are Western-style ones, like Demon's Souls and Nier, or remakes/ports of old ones. I don't know how Japanese developers have painted themselves into such a corner, though. It's like they devolved this generation.
NahPosted: May 26, 2011 12:00AM PST by Pixel_Rampage
andyrew is not wrong...he's 100% right. Japanese developers have really sat it out this generation. They're still making the same games that were good 10 years ago. But the reality is concepts and ideas are always evolving but Japanese developers are to blind to see it.
BTW you know stealth20k is an idiot because he just calls someone out but can't back up his inferior opinion.
Don't even bother responding to stealthPosted: May 26, 2011 12:00AM PST by GunnyMcSword
As for your original post, The only good Jrpgs I've played this generation has been on the PSP/DS being that is where most of the folks that developed all those great PS1 2 rpgs are now. Though I'd add in Resonance of Fate in that list along with Valkyria Chronicles to your console list.
Though I'm still praying and hoping for a Persona 5 around the corner some time.
You are much worse off than I originally thoughtPosted: May 26, 2011 12:00AM PST by GunnyMcSword
Now I just feel sorry for you and your complete lack of competent reasoning.
May the basics of logic find you one day O wayward soul.
Tee-hee!Posted: May 26, 2011 12:00AM PST by jimbypuzzle
I think Gunny was talking about you, Stealth ol' spice.
To be honest, I don't know if the quality of JRPGs have gone down hill, or if I've just grown up. I mean the first JRPG I played properly was FFVII and loved it at the time, but I also got in to Chrono Trigger later, Breath of Fire VI, Suikoden 2, I don't know, all sorts of sweet JRPGs.
But now when I play games like Star Ocean: The Last Hope, Final Fantasy XIII, Eternal Sonata, I feel slightly sick by the same ol' generic crap. Characters are utterly unbelievable (not in a good way), and the storylines are generally pretty cheesy. Melodrama is through the roof and it's just ridiculous. So I figure I've just grown out of them, but Andyrew makes me think otherwise, 'cause Nier was totally bad-ass. As was Demons Souls.
At this rate, Japanese devs won't even come close to competing with BioWare or Bethesda and other Western developers alike. I think Western designers appeal to a broader variety of audiences, whereas the Japanese pretty much only think about satisfying themselves (think of the ridiculous hairstyles in JRPGs and annoying genki girls).
If Japan really wants to step up their game, they need to swallow that pride that Inafune spoke about and just think outside the box.
Keeping in mind that these are just MY thoughts. You don't have to feel this way, because remember, MY thoughts ^_^
Sorry ::word vomit::Posted: May 26, 2011 12:00AM PST by A._Kent
I'm in complete agreement with andyrew and jimbypuzzle. Here's how I see it: Japanese developers have been slow to adjust to new technology, which has hurt their top-tier efforts. Nintendo has made it their strategy to flat-out refuse to acknowledge the current capabilities of hardware. Square has aligned its flagship series, Dragon Quest, with Nintendo's development mentality, while their other flagship series, Final Fantasy, has let the fear of mastering the new technology severely hamper the design of their games, like the lack of towns in FFXIII, or, uh, FFXIV. Nevertheless, the Japanese are virtually the last defenders of many classic genres, such as shoot'em ups and side-scrollers. Street Fighter IV and BlazBlue are both fantastic 2-D Japanese-developed fighting games, which is another genre rooted in their past, and arguably paved the way for a proper Mortal Kombat effort. Ultimately, I do not feel the Japanese need to change their interests; after all, American developers are largely juggling between two gaming conventions: FPS-influenced games and God of War-inspired adventure games. Perhaps in five years, America will stubbornly create well-made FPS games while Europe will have moved the zeitgeist into a lush cinematic territory.
Here's the funny thing about JRPGs: my formative years were in the NES/SNES era, and when we moved into the PSX/Saturn era, I lamented the lack of great RPGs. I loved several games, such as the Suikoden titles, FFT, FFIX, and even Legend of Mana. Ultimately, though, I missed those colorful sprites and direct story and gameplay without an hour of exposition and pretentions at a time (a trend which has never gone away and in fact has spread to virtually every other genre). I'm not sure if this has more to do with loving exactly how games played when we learned to play them (which, after all, is our own personal history of videogames), if things are simply getting worse year after year, or if this amounts to growing pains for the industry as it learns how to take advantage of new technology, something that actually started with the PSX/N64 era.
Honestly, leave the genre conventions where they are; after all, Nier IS a fantastic game, and the entire game is dipping its toes in different genre conventions. If this proves anything, it's that any trail-blazed form of gameplay is a perfectly adequate base for a new game, as long as new content is brought to the table. The JRPG genre is completely inbred at the moment. I'm sure this comment will receive a lot of flack, but I honestly feel it is so devoted to worshipping at the alter of its own past and bowing to fetishes and fears of the otaku masses that it no longer remembers how to craft a compelling story with well-developed characters (Atlus receives a complete pass from these accusations, by the way). And when they actually do create something special, like with Nier, the publisher ends up dismantling the development company due to American critics (like on this site) who completely refuse to play the game as they ridicule it and its fans, or write a review based on catch words like "unpolished" or "clone" while simultaneously praising FFXIII despite acknowledging its several flaws and uninspired plot. In other words, perhaps the first steps to helping Japan is to actually have a hunger about pursuing the nooks and crannies of its output, like film or music critics would, instead of approaching the material with biases based in brand recognition and marketing.
TrollingPosted: May 26, 2011 12:00AM PST by Cococonnection
Unfortunately, every site has it. Stealth is a good example.
GunPosted: May 27, 2011 12:00AM PST by Captain_Sandwich
Take your own advice and ignore him. Maybe he'll go away like a good troll, or maybe not like Herpes. Good news is that he's not attached to your junk.
Anyway, yes, Andy's completely correct. I own primarily RPGs, though I play everything but Racing/Sports. This means I buy a fuckton of JRPGs. I own the ones with interesting little quirks in their battle systems, but mostly their stories are shit, their character designs are shit, their voice acting is shit, or their character interaction is on par with one-dimensional early nineties animé. It's not 1993 anymore, please, grow up, guys.
I'm lookin at you, Tri-Ace.
JAPANESE GAMES NEED TO BE DEVELOPED IN JAPAN..Posted: May 25, 2011 12:00AM PST by FAUNA
Um...Posted: May 26, 2011 12:00AM PST by GenesisDoes
He didn't say that at all. He said Japanese games developed for the western markets should caiter to their tendencies. Did you even read the article?
If game developers were manga creatorsPosted: May 25, 2011 12:00AM PST by carpboy
No one wants to be in Garo, everyone wants to be in Jump. Is there no equivalent Japanese idiom for "big fish in a small pond"?
(Actually I just looked it up on Wikipedia and Garo was bought by a game company. Ha.)
Excellent interviewPosted: May 25, 2011 12:00AM PST by bshirk
It's especially nice to see this from a Bitmobber.
Anyway, I respect Keiji, but I really hope future Japanese games don't imitate American titles. I love certain Western games, but I've long been sick of military-themed first-person shooters, zombies, and apocalyptic worlds. Their are some fresh indie games, but most Western games are also derivative in some way.
Japanese developers are definitely partly to blame for their stagnation, but consumers also play a major role. Japanese consumers for the most part refused to buy the 360 even though it had some great RPGs, and American gamers often neglect innovative Japanese titles. Many of my favorite games from the past decade are Japanese, but American gamers refuse to give most of them a shot if they're not something already famous such as Mario, Zelda, Metal Gear, or Final Fantasy. There were three excellent Tales titles released for the Gamecube, PS2, and Xbox 360, which are equally deserving of success as the FF series, but most gamers ignored them. Same goes with Lost Odyssey, Mario & Luigi, The World Ends With You, Half-Minute Hero, Valkyria Chronicles and Eternal Sonata (as well as many other DS and PSP RPGs). It's also a shame that Okami and Zack & Wiki were ignored. There are many more I could name, but sadly most Western gamers choose to play games featuring 350 pound hunchback space marines.
I agree that there should be more of a focus on downloadable titles, though. Pac-Man CE DX and Mega Man 9 both met with great success, but I'd like to see companies such as Square-Enix start innovating more and creating 10-20 hour XBL and PSN RPGs. The 16 and 32-bit era saw numerous innovative RPGs, and with the increasing cost of developing games, short, downloadable RPGs would be a great way to return to this style of development. Japanese game developers should do everything they can to attract composers and artists who were responsible for titles such as Chrono Trigger, Secret of Mana, Mother, Terranigma, Lufia, and VanillaWare games. Also, PSO2 should be a downloadable title for consoles.
Strangely...Posted: May 26, 2011 12:00AM PST by octoberfleshed
I've got little interest in Japan (anymore) and I own Sin & Punishment (both of them), The World Ends With You, Mario & Luigi, Muramasa, MadWorld and both No More Heroes titles; but I think this is a product of changing tastes, which goes back and forth. Everything goes in cycles, and I think this cycle will move back toward Eastern developers, but who says it has to be Japan? Korea and China are both up and coming (more so China) and both could have great games developed in their respective countries. Maybe I have bias since I'm not Japanese, but I personally don't think it matters where the heck great games come from....
lolPosted: May 25, 2011 12:00AM PST by sepewrath
Inafune is so critical of Japan in general. I'm a big fan of Inafune, some of these things he said I can definitely agree with, others I cant. I don't think Japanese developers should simply try and conform to western development practices. It'll be good for Japanese publishers, their games will sell more, but I'm not super excited for the Japanese Call of Duty. Trying to adopt a more western approach, will just cause endless repetition in design and that's not good for anyone. Not to mention a big part of a games success in the west isn't based on content, its marketing; a game doesn't have to be that great to sell well. Maybe Japanese publishers should look into western marketing practices, instead of trying to figure out how to make military shooters.
I would agree though that the game industry could use more figures, like Miyamoto, Kojima et al who stand out in front of their creations like in other entertainment mediums. However I don't it'll happen, because it would sap publishers and franchises of a lot power. Imagine if Modern Warfare was all tied up in West and Zampella, Activision would be a real jam right now. But they are essentially inconsequentail to the brand name, Modern Warfare 3 will do just fine. No way publishers are going to let that change, so creators will continue to be hidden behind the company name.
Nice to hear from KeijiPosted: May 25, 2011 12:00AM PST by skyknight
Considering that almost nobody has talked the gaming industry in Japan after the great earthquake and tsunami, and I am glad to hear it straight from Keiji Inafune. The recovery progress from the disaster will take time before Japan can fully recover to its past, but then again, the gaming industry wasn't doing that great before the disaster. Japan has to be fully aware that the markets around the world are not the same as theirs, and the I think the great example is the sharp contrast of the popularity of the Sony PSP in Japan vs the world.
Its a hard truth that Japanese had this superior-feeling over other Asians in the past - to be fair, in my trip to Japan, some Japanese did ask me to correct any mistakes in their English and Mandarin Chinese. But I think with South Korea and China emerging and surpassing Japan in the near future, the Japanese will expand their visions and NOT locked themselves in the past.
Excellent Article...Posted: May 25, 2011 12:00AM PST by GenesisDoes
The innate culture of Japan shows just how much of a risk (Not to mention shock) it was for Inafune to speak openly about the state of Japanese development. It also gives a more detailed explanation of what he says Japan need to do to stay relevant in the international market. Not that they need to make ALLL their games appeal to the west, but to carefully work with western developers in order to create games that are "marketable" to the west as well as release Japanese culture influenced games as well.
Their thinking of DLC being an afterthought isn't really surprising if the sales models in Japan are extremely poor. But the whole fact that many companies refuse to market DLC to other international markets, where they are quite profitable, is pretty depresssing.


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Justin Bieber posts bond after DUI arrest in Miami
MIAMI, Fla. – Pop star Justin Bieber was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence and drag racing Thursday morning, Miami Beach police Detective Vivian Hernandez said.
Further details about the arrest weren't immediately available.
Bieber, 19, flew to Miami on Monday.
It is the first time the teen singer has been arrested, although he is under investigation on allegations of egging his California neighbor's home.
Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies used a felony search warrant to raid Bieber's mansion in the felony vandalism investigation on January 9. They seized Bieber's iPhone and the security camera system, which detectives have been examining for clues about who tossed eggs over a fence that splattered onto the house next door causing an estimated $20,000 in damages.
Deputies have also investigated reports by Bieber's neighbors that he raced his expensive sports car down the streets of the exclusive Oaks community of Calabasas, California, but no charges ever resulted.
One neighbor accused Bieber of spitting in his face during a heated confrontation last March. Deputies have responded to complaints about loud parties at Bieber's place.
The Los Angeles County district attorney's office concluded it couldn't prove the spitting or speeding cases in court, so it declined to prosecute.
Prosecutors also rejected a misdemeanor battery complaint from a photographer who accused Bieber of attacking him in the parking lot of a Calabasas shopping center as he was taking photos of Bieber and his then-girlfriend, Selena Gomez, in May 2012.
"We didn't do this search warrant to send a message," Sheriff's Lt. David Thompson said last week. "That's not what we do, but we hope maybe that understanding the gravity of this will change some of the behavior."
™ & © 2014 Cable News Network, Inc., a Time Warner Company. All rights reserved.


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Specifications & Dimensions
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When you are making Levels or Curves adjustment in an image, it's often helpful to see where things are going to clip, meaning where the dark is going to go to absolute black and where the highlight is going to go to absolute white, where they are going to blow out, and you are going to lose detail. So they call that clipping preview. Let's go ahead and choose a Levels adjustment layer here, and that brings up the Levels adjustment in this panel. And you see, I have a black slider, a gray slider, and a white slider. If I move the black slider to where what we call the piles of tiles, where these tones actually begin in earnest here in any significant quantity. You can see the image is getting darker as I move that black slider to the right. But I may want to see where are pixels in the image going to absolute black.
To do that hold, down the Option key or the Alt key on Windows as you drag the slider. Now at first, everything goes completely white. As you drag to the right, you will see where pixels are starting to appear, those are going to black. If you see absolutely black pixels, that means in all three channels in RGB, their tonal value is now 0, 0, 0. If you only see specific colors like the yellow or the red or the cyan or whatever, those colors are only shifting in their particular channel but not all three. Same thing for the highlight preview. If I hold down Option or Alt and grab it, everything turns to black at first. So you can see I don't have a lot of detail in the legs in the red channel.
So if I slide this over to left, you will see in the red, those are going to go to absolute loss of detail there. Only the areas that are actually white against that black background are going to absolute white in all three channels. So if you look at the top of the image near her shorts, I'll let go off the Option key for a second, you can see there is a little highlight there from the sun on the bottom of her shorts. So you can see that's where that's clipping all the way to white. So this is just a way to get clipping preview as you make these adjustments. So you can back off a little bit, so you don't blow out detail where you want to keep it. Same thing for the Curves adjustment. Let's go ahead and delete that Levels adjustment. We'll create a Curves adjustment layer instead.
Again, I have got those same sliders. I guess I don't have that middle slider. I just have the black slider and the white slider as I saw in the Curves adjustment. Again, hold down Option or Alt, and you get the clipped preview as you drag the slider just like you saw in the Levels adjustment as well. So the same behavior. These shortcuts, the Option key or the Alt key, they work in the Levels and Curves dialog versions of these adjustments as well. So it's your choice whatever when you are using, you can get an accurate clipping preview by holding down Option or Alt as you drag those sliders.
Download the keyboard shortcut guide from the Exercise Files tab.
- The "Make Better" key
- Cycling through open documents
- Formatting multiple files with templates and variables
- Dozens of shortcuts for working with type
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- Hidden uses for the Crop tool
- Buried gems in the Layers panel
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Maui hotels were 69 percent full in October, representing a 4 percent increase over the same month last year, according to a new report by Smith Travel Research and Hospitality Advisors.
The boost is attributed mostly to an increase Maui saw that month in visitor arrivals, the report said. Arrivals to Maui in October were up 5.4 percent to 177,174, including a 13 percent spike in arrivals from the U.S. West market, according to the Hawaii Tourism Authority.
Hotel occupancy statewide rose by 3 percent to 74.5 percent in October.
Boosted by average daily rates of $317 in Wailea, Maui rooms brought in a daily average of $217.27 for the month, the highest among the major islands, and up 3.5 percent from $210 in October 2011.
The statewide average daily room rate was $189.73, up 7 percent year over year.
In the revenue-per-available-room category, Maui saw a nearly 8 percent increase to $150.13 in October. Revenue per available room, or RevPAR, is a key metric that represents the average daily rental revenue earned per available room during a given period.
Wailea saw a 14 percent increase in RevPAR to $232.25 for the month, up from $203.74 the year before.
Statewide, RevPAR increased nearly 11 percent for the 32nd consecutive month, Hospitality Advisors reported. Total room revenues for the state hit $249.7 million, an all-time high for the month of October.
"The revenue gains were supported by a 12.7 percent increase in visitor expenditures and a 6.3 percent gain in per person daily spending," the report said. "The rise in spending coincided with the growth in visitor arrivals, primarily from U.S. West (up 9.6 percent) and Japan (up 15.2 percent), as well as high-yield markets including those traveling to get married (up 9.2 percent) and independent travelers (up 12.6 percent)."
For October 2012, the survey included 162 properties representing 48,723 rooms, or 85.5 percent of all lodging properties with 20 rooms or more in the state, including full service, limited service and condominium hotels.


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-This is no doubt a buying opportunity if Insmed gets some good calls from the FDA.
I think the timeline will be longer but below is NOT what you want to do holding a biotech stock
No investor adviser would ever invest as you did kvnmcdd You're not kidding anyone. Now get to work deleting!! Smile
1- You sell the News and take a 25% loss- 3/26 Insmed opens @18.69
kvnmcdd • Mar 26, 2014 "Listened to most of the call...and I pulled the sell trigger and sold ") ($ 15.60)
2-the stock runs up close to $20 and you buy the rally at the top.
kvnmcdd • Apr 4, 2014 10:23 AM I was all back in on Monday.. ($ 19.76)
3- You ignore a strong sell signal - by terry_insm •Apr 2, 2014 10:07 AM
The 19.79 sell signal was valid and the chart TODAY HAS A NEW SIGNAL. Ill send the signal to my secret admirers (chart signal started a downtrend.)
4- The stock tumbles to the $13,6 area for another 30% and you buy a rumor from Piper Jeffery
"I bought more today! ( $14.50 ) add 7% loss
YTD Kevin you have lost 60% of whatever you started with this year if anyone possibly believes you and normally I would have sympathy.instead I just smile..
Don't be a hater..
The timeline as you call it will have a new trial.
yes you might be correct it seems. Unfortunately.
Take note yesterdays relief ralley volume was HALF of the previous days selling volume , dead cat bounce?
I am YTD +65% INSM - yesterdays trade included....I noticed the trade call was missing lol
Good Luck
volume today also weak across the board. lots of shy/fearful folks on sidelines.
You are the wisest and most awesome person you know.
and if my selling price yesterday had not been deleted you would see not only the resistance but the pivot...too bad yup I am INSM - YTD + 65%


text: I for one am glad that private companies with character and principles- like Chick Fill-A and Ben And Jerry's before it sold out, still exist. Nothing is more nauseating and offensive than the bland, offend no interest group or constituency and funnel all political money in equal amounts to the establishment of both main political parties attitude of the modern publicly traded corporation. One of the nice things about going Primal is you get to support a lot more of the smaller, private corporations that still have a soul. I love reading Dr. Bronner's goofy fine print diatribes on his soap bottles and the corny "newsletters" inserted in to every carton of Vital Farms eggs. Variety is the spice of life.


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Like a horse and carriage
Image via Erin hearts Court Say what you like about the Americans – they're relentlessly positive, they don't understand sarcasm (those two points may be related), and they often wear very badly fitting jeans – but when it comes to weddings, …
Image via Erin hearts Court
Say what you like about the Americans – they're relentlessly positive, they don't understand sarcasm (those two points may be related), and they often wear very badly fitting jeans – but when it comes to weddings, they have it down pat. Not for them, reams of bridesmaids decked out in Coast and notes saying "please, no Karen Millen dresses". Instead, anyone who reads the really inspiring and amazing blog, Once Wed - which manages to be inspiring and amazing even for those of us who don't have "get married" at the top of their 2010s wishlist – will know that gli americani have the most kooky, kitsch, deadly-looking vintage-inspired weddings.
Having a unique wedding is something that, I feel, eludes most people. Weddings have become so standardised that we all know the "types" of dresses we'd wear, the "types" of shoes we'd wear and the "types" of photos to expect. And the black tie wedding is my own personal pet peeve (well, along with invitations to weddings in Bali; if I want to go to Bali, I'll take a fortnight off and go sightseeing, thanks), from a fashion point of view. You look back on the photographs and you think, "wow, a wedding". You don't think (as you might when looking at my own parents' wedding slideshow), "wow, a wedding in the 1970s" – thanks, Dad, those bellbottoms made your day. Nor do you think, "ah, the Chanel-inspired drop waist and dark lip – 1950s!". Instead, the black tie wedding belongs in the chasm of time that no one recognises. All guests in identikit formalwear, with nothing to mark out the sartorial goings-on of the time, not so much as a tie pin.
Look at this (also via Erin hearts Court; were I to get married in the US of A, I would fo' sho' be employing her services)! Different colours, different dresses, different women! And it's such a unique photograph, more like a fashion spread than a shot for a wedding book. I think that's the crux of the matter: weddings, and the photographs resulting from them, often look so cookie-cutter that it's barely believable. We spend our lives attempting to be ourselves, to dress like ourselves, to express ourselves through our outer presentation (regardless of whether or not this is a good thing, it is a fact), why is it that when it comes to what most term "the most important day of your life", we're willing to throw all of that individuality away in return for some Vera Wang and a pair of Christian Louboutins?
Via Labor of Love
And another thing! (While I'm on a roll. . .) There's something I've noticed about American style bloggers vs the few Irish ones who have been slowly gaining momentum this past year – the Americans (and this is not a "let's slag the Irish" moment) seem so much more comfortable in front of the camera. I suspect it might be a cultural thing – us Irish are always encouraged to be as modest as possible, and we all look a bit awkward when we're told to laugh in photographs (which, incidentally, is a surefire way of looking like you're having the best time ever) or to look natural. On the other hand, I've never met an American who didn't love the look of a shiny lens.My point being, their wedding photographs then come out looking so natural and like they're having the time of their lives, running through fields and dancing around, instead of standing staidly at a certain angle so that their arms look thin and the photographer misses their double chins. . . but I digress. Back to the photography:
Also via Labor of Love
Another thing you'll notice while trawling through Once Wed (it'll take a while, but it is so brilliant) is that a lot of the weddings featured have really kooky and thrifty features – handmade place settings, handmade decorations, handmade handmade handmade! It's something that I think Irish brides and grooms to be are looking at this year, but across the water they've been blazing a trail for years. Why buy when you can make? What I think is lovely about making decorations is that you can keep a selection of them as mementos (this might be the same reason I'm so anti giving money as a wedding gift; my parents still take out plates and bowls and go "auntie such-and-such gave us that for our wedding", which I just think is so lovely – memories before moolah, is my motto!).
Via Jonas Peterson
Last but not least, the photographs themselves. This one just so happens to be from Brisbane-based photographer Jonas Peterson, and I love how the photographs are like art. They don't look like wedding photographs you'd stick on your dresser; instead, I'd blow this baby up and stick it on a white wall above my rustic fireplace (issues with current lack of abode aside). So gorgeous.(It's kind of a weddingy week, so expect a little bit more of the same – but I'll try to mix it up with some Valentine's Day duds and a look at a few new fashion spreads that you might be missing out on if, unlike me, you don't purchase your weight in glossies every fortnight.)


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Mark MartineauDecember 04,2012
Mark T. Martineau
Mark T. Martineau
LONG BEACH, Calif. Mark Thomas Martineau, 36, died Saturday, Nov. 17, 2012, from injuries suffered in an automobile accident.
He was born June 23, 1976, the son of Antonio Paul Martineau and Kathy Redford.
He was raised in Lakewood, Calif., and attended Lakewood High School.
He joined the U.S. Army and served in the Army Reserve.
He recently returned to school, graduating with a bachelors degree, and was pursuing a masters degree in business administration at the time of his death.
He had moved to Barre, Vt., and worked at Cabot Creamery, then returned to California. Recently he was self-employed in real estate mortgages and sales.
He enjoyed his motorcycle, and every Christmas dressed as Santa, he rode his motorcycle to an orphanage and dropped off presents to the children.
Survivors include his parents; four brothers, Paul, Brian, Keven and Michael Martineau; and his fiancée, Jennifer Wright, all of the Los Angeles area.
Calling hours were held at the Luyben Family Dilday-Mottell Mortuary on Monday, Nov. 26, 2012. Funeral services were held at St. Cyprian Church in Long Beach on Tuesday, Nov. 27.MORE IN ObituariesMONTPELIER Kenneth Michael Hickey, 72, of Granby, Connecticut, beloved husband for 41 years of... Full StoryMONTPELIER Rollande T. Fraser passed away peacefully on Monday, Sept. Full StoryWORCESTER Emily L. Wagner, 87, formerly of Worcester and currently of Montpelier, died Sept. Full Story
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How to Engage in Friendly Debate
Reader Comments (56)
Sub-Mariners would only apply to people in submarines. Anyone in a normal ship or boat is not sub (below) the sea and is therefore just a mariner.
they should change their name to the batmen
So much about Rick is explained by the fact he thinks Iron Man is better than Batman.
sub mariner is better. imperious rex indeed.
Dude? Aquaman? That's, like, argument rule number one. NEVER, under ANY circumstances, mention Aquaman in a debate you wish to win. It's like saying the name of the Scottish Play.
Hell yeah! Love me some iron man, and bat man, the army could be "the justice league"
Sub-mariner was more of a badass
Rick has a point. The sub-mariner is a lot better.
LOL first panel, then LOL again at the fourth panel closure. I love the whole build-up/agreement the two had going in the middle, too. Goodness, I swear I've had conversations like this, though not just related to superheroes.
It would be more appropriate for the Navy to be called Iron Men, considering there's already the expression "wooden ships and iron men."
Very clever comic. I wonder whether your readers will get the reference to batman but here is a link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Batman_%28military%29
Very well thought out arguments.
Sub-Mariner _is_ better. He can fly, and he's super strong. Aqua Man can just summon aquatic fauna.
If the infantry were known as The Wolverines and Armoured Battalions called the Fricking Juggernauts, Military recruitment fairs would be like Comic-Con or a massive Cosplay exhibition!
Rick wins! And there wasn't even cringing involved!
Rick gets the occasinal one ...
fully agree with Rick on this. Iron Man is way better superhero than Batman.
I would suggest that they change their name to Batman. Unfortunately, batman is already a rank. It's any officers servant, more common in England.
I live in a county with 3 Navy bases, and you can never, ever,call a submarine person a "sub-mariner." It's submariner. Oh, they get all fussy when you call them sub-mariners.
It implies that they are lesser beings than regular sailors, whom they refer to as "targets."
"It's like saying the name of the Scottish Play."
You mean Macbeth?
I don't know Aquaman or Sub-mariner, but if someone can summon aquatic fauna - including of course, SHARKTOPUS - then I'm pretty impressed (if he's limited to krill, forget it).
They would have to start putting Cheetos in MREs
MACH-1 thru MACH-5 may be a better match of hero for the air force than Iron Man, since he has wings. The drawback though is that many people may have not heard of him.
No, he isn't the Beetle car in "Transformers". As far as I know.
Richs logic is impossible to argue with. Admit it. But I think Mariner is a cool name, even without the sub - part.
Anyway, the President should be named Captain America. Or Superman. That's a hard one. Particually if you ever get a female president. It could happen! (I say "you" because I'm Great British.)
Personally I think Batmans cooler. Because he's Batman.
Mots people don't like Iron Man.
They like Robert Downey Jr. and think they like Iron Man.
Wanna win the conversation, ask anything about Iron Man before the movies.
I wonder if the fact that I have never had an argument like this is related to the fact that I am missing a Y chromosome?
Iron Man definitely has the better song. Black Sabbath never wrote about Batman as far as I recall.
You should have put this one out on Veteran's Day. As a former Marine I have to ask, who would the Army be?
The Green Lanterns?
Yeah, but then we have to name our explosives things like "Galick Gun" or "Spirit Bomb".
Just for coolness.
Hey, Dave, it's already been proven that Iron Man is a much better superhero than Batman: http://www.cracked.com/blog/6-ways-iron-man-objectively-better-than-batman/
Aqua Man has telepathic powers which is totally awesome!
Tony Stark received martial arts training from Captain America when he was recovering from being a drunk, so he's no slouch. Doesn't really matter though, he's still better than Batman!
Love comic debates. I also love that you two think I'm The Batman (or at least one of the few and prour batmen).
I have a long and varied past reading superhero comic books, and I can safely say I have NEVER read an Aquaman comic that I liked. That said, I think that the Aquaman portrayed in the Batman: Brave and the Bold cartoon is the GREATEST SUPER HERO EVER!
Gotta agree with Rick re Ironman. It's largely aesthetic, though. I just think Ironman looks cooler, has a MUCH hotter assistant, celebrates his awesomeness instead of sulkily hiding it...and also hasn't crafted his superhero persona based on a flying rodent. But then I've always preferred the Marvel Universe over DC...
I've been reading BI for a long time now, but this is the first time I've felt the need to comment on how particularly good this one is. Brilliantly done!
I have to agree with Rick on this one. Iron Man is the better super hero. His inventions are better than ones Batman uses and Iron Man has saved the world more times than Batman has arrested The Joker.
Aquaman is also super-strong. But to be fair his historical side-kicks aqua-lad and aqua-girl are cooler than he is, since they now seem to have the power to control water.
how many wins is that for Rick now? 2 in one comic? He must be really depressed irl. I think it's like 5 to 100,000 now.
Is it wrong that I've been looking forward to reading the comic that included the words "Aquaman"and "friggin" since Missy posted about it on Facebook?
So is Rick for Marvel and Scott for DC?
That's pretty frikkin' sweet! I think the old school comic publishers rivalry should come back.


text: Home > Entertainment > More Bollywood 7 Most Underrated Bollywood Actors By MensXPJune 12, 2013 facebook twitter reddit gplus SKIP AD Image 1 of 8 Related Galleries Next Gallery Starts in 12 Secs X SKIP WAITING AUTOPLAY ON OFF Prev Next Vanity Insanity! Bollywood Actors Snapped While Taking Selfies FIRST LOOK: Rahul Khanna, Monica Dogra In Fireflies 2014 Hero Karizma R vs Bajaj Pulsar 220: Picture Gallery Bhai Everlasting! Salman Flies To Canada To Watch Katrina's Sister's Film Dr Cabbie TV Stars Celebrate Independence Day Twinkle, Twinkle, Still A Star: Actress Stuns In New Photoshoot 92165 Prev Next Bollywood has a pool of supremely talented actors that never really rise from the shadows. Blame it on box-office or the lack of opportunities; these actors are yet to find their place in the industry. We talk about 7 such underrated actors of Bollywood. Arshad Warsi - More than underrated, Arshad is a case of an untapped actor. Let's admit it - the best part about the Munnabhai series is the man himself. Of course, Sanjay Dutt is a brilliant actor, without a speck of doubt; but it's actually Circuit's histrionics that tickled our funny bone and made the film a brand to reckon with. His immense acting talent could also be seen in films like Ishkiya, Hulchul, Golmaal and Jolly LLB. Mostly being featured in multi-starrer films, let's hope that he cuts it to a solo film in the future. Kunal Khemu - He is a dynamite of a talent waiting to explode. He may not have given any soul-touching performance just yet, but there have been enough streaks of brilliance in his films like Superstar, Kalyug, Traffic Signal and 99. He is a natural when it comes to acting and his coming timing is perfect to the T, case in point - his latest Go Goa Gone in which he fit seamlessly into the character of Luv who is unabashedly sleazy and adorable at the same time. With a sizeable opportunity and sensible films to prove his mettle, we think that this guy can go places. Jimmy Shergill - His debut in Maachis was widely appreciated and he has always worked his magic on critics over the years. They praised him not once but several times in films like A Wednesday, Special 26, Saheb, Biwi Aur Gangster and Yahaan. Despite being a superstar in North, he largely remains in the zone of the underrated actors of Bollywood. If there's any acting in actors, then Jimmy, perhaps, is the best at it. However, B-town seems not to care about it! Akshaye Khanna - It pains to see an actor of the highest calibre being relegated to crass films like Mere Baap Pehle Aap, 36 China Town and/or Race - yes, that's Akshaye Khanna for you! He has impressed one and all in films like Dil Chahta Hai, Humraaz, LOC Kargil, Taal and Border, for which he even won the Best Debut Filmfare Award, yet his career couldn't quite take off in Bollywood. Manoj Bajpai - Manoj, by any yardstick of acting, is a great actor. The man is a powerhouse of talent and his recent film Gangs of Wasseypur did put him on an international platform, yet, back home he has been highly stereotyped. Nothing hurts the actor most but the idea of being typecast. After 45 films and 2 National Awards for Satya and Pinjar, he still is playing the roles of daft politicians or easy-to-fool policeman on-screen. R Madhavan - Madhavan is the most versatile Indian actor that you can ever come across, and in spite of being a Southern superstar; he remains grossly underrated in Bollywood. Be it Tanu Weds Manu, which is a sublime romance drama, 13B - a quirky horror flick or Rang De Basanti, a coming-of-age film which portrayed patriotism like never before, Madhavan has been an integral part of all these films and how! Sharman Joshi - Not quite a looker and not quite a superstar, Sharman Joshi is a fine actor. He is arguably one of the best comic actors around - testament to that are films like Golmaal, 3 Idiots, Style and Dhol. Even his last outing on the silver screen, Ferrari Ki Sawari, although tanked at the box office, fetched him rave reviews for his performance. Is it because of his wrong selection of films or because he doesn't fit into the image of a typical 'Bollywood hero', in any case, he remains extremely underrated! Maybe be it's the industry norm or the box office manta, whatever the reasons maybe, these actors do deserve a fair chance! < 1 2 3 4 5 > Follow @indiatimes facebook twitter reddit gplus Comment Here Bollywood has a pool of supremely talented actors that never really rise from the shadows. Blame it on box-office or the lack of opportunities; these actors are yet to find their place in the industry. We talk about 7 such underrated actors of Bollywood. ADVERTISEMENT


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Elizabeth - Poet John Donne said no man is an island. That rests at the heart of the mission of Community Access Unlimited (CAU) – enabling people with disabilities and at-risk youth to live independent yet connected and fulfilling lives within the community.
To fulfill this mission CAU provides its members with life skills training that strengthens their ability to live independently and interact with and contribute to the community. Once annually the agency celebrates those members who have achieved significant progress toward that goal.
CAU members with developmental disabilities first celebrated Performance Recognition Night at the agency's CAU Institute in Elizabeth. Robert Cappello was honored among those within the agency's Supervised Apartment Program, which provides 24-hour support. Cappello was recognized for achievements in self-medicating, responsibility and budgeting, paying his rent and medical bills first before deciding what else to purchase.
"Robert quickly learned needs versus wants," said Melissa McCarthy, a direct support professional (DSP) at CAU, who also noted that Cappello is close to securing employment.
"It felt really good getting the award," Cappello said. "It shows my achievements and what I do."
Corey McClain received an award for recreation. He loves baseball and basketball – he was rooting for the Miami Heat in the NBA finals – and attends as many of CAU's recreational activities as he can, which is important in helping him become more comfortable with community integration, according to Afua Woode, another DSP at the agency.
"My confidence improved this year," he said.
One week later CAU celebrated the accomplishments of its youth members at Youth Achievement Night at the Peterstown Community Center in Elizabeth. Seventeen members received awards ranging from Most Likely to Succeed to advocacy and creativity.
Jonathan Kindle was recognized as being named Valedictorian at Windsor Preparatory School within the Elizabeth school district. He came to CAU 18 months ago after aging out of the Mt. St. Joseph's Children's Center in Totowa and believes his membership has made a big difference in his life.
"They teach me a lot of independence skills, how to be more responsible, stand up for myself and be more involved with the community," he said.
Kindle plans to attend Union County College and work toward an associate's degree in information technology so he can become a help desk technician.
Asia Lee was honored for graduating the New Jersey Youth Corps in Elizabeth, which provides academic general education development (GED) preparation and workplace readiness training, and for passing her GED test. She came to CAU in December after living in foster care.
"I like CAU because it made me find myself and do more with myself, move forward," said Lee, who dropped out of high school. "In order to get a job I needed my GED. I wanted to go back and finish what I started."
CAU provides support programs and services to people with disabilities and youth served under the Department of Children and Families (DCF) to enable them to live independently in the community, in areas including housing, vocational and life-skills training, education, advocacy and recreation.
For more information about CAU and its services, contact us by phone at 908.354.3040, online at www.caunj.org or by mail at 80 West Grand Street, Elizabeth, NJ 07202.
[CAU Youth Achievement 2014]
Jonathan Kindle and Asia Led were award winners at Youth Achievement Night at Community Access Unlimited.


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Mahony defends legacy on church abuse in blog
LOS ANGELES -- The public rebuke of retired Cardinal Roger Mahony for failing to take swift action against abusive priests adds tarnish to a career already overshadowed by the church sex abuse scandal but does little to change his role in the larger church.
Mahony can still act as a priest, keep his rank as cardinal and remain on a critical Vatican panel that elects the next pope.
While Archbishop Jose Gomez's decision to strip Mahony of his administrative and public duties was unprecedented in the American Roman Catholic Church, it was another attempt by the church to accept responsibility for the abuse scandal that has engulfed it.
Victims were quick to point out that Mahony's new, paired-down local standing was in stark contrast to his continued position among the prelates at the Vatican.
The cardinal and Gomez both declined interview requests from the Associated Press.
In a letter to Gomez posted on Mahony's blog Friday, the cardinal said he was ill-equipped to deal with sexually abusive clergy when he took over the archdiocese in 1985 and quickly sought to develop policies and consult with church leaders in other dioceses.
He reminded Gomez that he was well aware when he took over in 2011 of the steps Mahony had taken to safeguard children.
"Not once over these past years did you ever raise any questions about our policies, practices, or procedures in dealing with the problem of clergy sexual misconduct involving minors. I have stated time and time again that I made mistakes, especially in the mid-1980s," he wrote.


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Photos: The Emmy winners and best, worst moments
Photo: Jordan Strauss/JORDAN STRAUSS/INVISION/AP
Jon Stewart, winner Outstanding Varety Series for "The Daily Show With Jon Stewart", poses backstage at the 64th Primetime Emmy Awards at the Nokia Theatre on Sunday, Sept. 23, 2012, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)
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Are you celebrating a special occasion while staying in Perdido Key condo rentals? This vacation destination is the perfect place to toast to a happy event in your life, and fortunately, there are many fantastic restaurants in the Perdido Key area that are fit for the festivities.
If you've rented Perdido Key condos or beach houses to celebrate a special occasion, you've already taken one step in the right direction. Whether you're staying on the "lost island" for a friend's birthday getaway, a romantic anniversary weekend with your sweetheart or to celebrate a new accomplishment, the natural beauty of the place might be enough of a treat.
However, every occasion deserves an extra-special night out. Enjoying a delicious dinner at one of the many Perdido Key restaurants is one of the best ways to toast to health, love, friendship and fortune. Although many beach-side establishments serve up delicious fried seafood and oysters that might have drawn you to this region in the first place, there are also some fantastic restaurants right near Perdido Key rentals that are perfectly suited to a night out. Whether you're staying in in a three-bedroom Perdido Key beach house rental or a smaller condo, there are restaurants to suit your fancy - especially if you're feeling fancy!
Located just over the bridge from Perdido Key on Perdido Key Drive, Fisherman's Corner offers an elegant dining experience. Serving up dishes made with fresh, high-quality ingredients by the best chefs in the area, this restaurant is sure to please those looking for seafood with a bit of a Creole influence. Enjoy entrees like Creole Linguini, made with fresh crab, shrimp and crawfish, served either mild or spicy over linguini, or Crawfish Etouffee.
Although the food here is divine and always made from scratch, the restaurant strives to maintain a casual, funky atmosphere that recalls New Orleans.
Although it's located a bit further up Perdido Key Drive off Sorrento Road in Pensacola, the Perdido Key Golf and Country Club's Legends Bar & Grille serves up elegant specials throughout the week. Try dishes like Coconut Shrimp, featuring fresh seafood from the Gulf dipped in cayenne and Blue Moon beer batter and crusted in coconut, served with creamy ginger lime sauce. Entrees like Blackened Red Snapper and Cajun Bourbon Chicken are also worthy of a celebration.
The elegant backdrop of this Perdido Key hotspot is the very same natural beauty you may have already come to love about the island during your stay. Located right on the water, you can enjoy a colorful sunset as you indulge in dishes like fresh seafood, gumbo, soups and burgers. Although the restaurant maintains a family-friendly vibe and is not overly formal, the stunning natural setting makes it a perfect spot for a romantic dinner out in honor of an anniversary or other special date.
Sometimes, the best option is staying home and cooking up an intimate dinner for you and your loved ones. When you stay in Perdido Key beach house rentals, you can enjoy a full kitchen. You're also right on the beach when you stay here, which means you can still soak up the beauty of your natural surroundings and that refreshing off-shore breeze.
Categories: Perdido Key | Dining & Nightlife
Category: Dining & Nightlife
Shucking 101: Look and eat like a pro
Oysters are synonymous with the Gulf Coast of Alabama, with annual events like the Gulf Coast Oyster Cook-off at The Hangout and year-round dining options for your entire family. Even if you've never shucked your own oyster, you'll be a pro in no time with these handy tips.
Category: Shopping
Take your destination wedding to Gulf Shores, Alabama
You've been waiting for this moment since you were a little girl: your wedding day. What better way to tie the knot than on the beaches of the Gulf Shores, Alabama area, where you can sink your toes into the sugar-white sands and smooch the love of your life under the setting sun?
Category: Sports & Fitness
See the Gulf Coast sky high from a parasail
If you've never been parasailing before, you're in for a unique experience when you book your first mid-air sightseeing tour along Alabama's stunning Gulf Coast. There are many parasailing charters for you to choose from, and the entire family can partake in this adrenaline-pumping adventure.
Category: Beaches
3 ways to take memorable beach photos
Taking pictures on the beach is a favorite activity for many residents and guests. But when the sun is directly overhead, photos are often too bright, beach hats create shadows on the faces, and your kids might be squinting instead of smiling. With these simple tips, you'll have dozens of frameable shots of your vacation along the Gulf Coast of Alabama.
Categories: Perdido Key | History
3 things to do for free near Perdido Key
You don't have to spend a lot of money to have a great time during your vacation to Perdido Key, Florida. The fun you'll have on the beaches is priceless, but you can also visit plenty of historical sites in nearby Pensacola for free.
6 Gulf Coast Restaurants Recognized For Wine Lists
Six Alabama Gulf Coast restaurants earned Award of Excellence recognition from Wine Spectator magazine.
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New Greek Restaurant Opens In Orange Beach
Looking for a restaurant that's a little out of the ordinary next time you're in Orange Beach or Gulf Shores? Try Pappadakis, a new Greek restaurant open in Orange Beach not far from The Wharf.
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Feast On Succulent Gulf Coast Seafood
If you are a seafood lover, be sure to feast on the world's finest shrimp, oysters and more during a beach vacation on the Gulf Coast.
January 15, 2016 - Dining & Nightlife
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