text:
Six Female Characters that Do It Right
Cover Story: In a world dominated by male lead characters, these six females stand out.
n the male-dominated world of video game protagonist, it can be difficult to remember the members of the opposite sex that stand out. Granted, this could simply be a matter of sheer volume, since male characters tend to headline far more games than women do. Yet, in other cases, it also boils down to women being placed in weaker roles than the men in their world. The following six female characters from the past decade exist to remind us of the potential for an equal opportunity future in video games, one where male and female characters both share the stage as capable equals.
Beyond Good and Evil | 2003
Jade is introduced as a caregiver to orphaned children before she's whisked away to help uncover a larger government conspiracy. But there's more to this photographer/caretaker than evidenced at first, and her down to earth demeanor, athleticism, and adventurous spirit make Jade a capable character suited to any task in Beyond Good & Evil's dark political story.
Alyx Vance
Half-Life 2 | 2004
Alyx, the daughter of Dr. Eli Vance, can take care of herself in a conflict and her cheerful disposition provides much-needed levity after experiencing some of the darker corners of Half-Life's hostile world. Even their inevitable first meeting Alyx makes a strong impression, as she swoops in to rescue protagonist Gordon Freeman from a grizzly fate at the hands of Civil Protection. Alyx's endearing personality, skillful hacking ability, and combat proficiency become valuable assets for Gordon, as they fight to free themselves from the Combine.
The Boss
Metal Gear Solid 3 | 2004
In the Metal Gear Solid series, the Boss is one of the strongest characters in the entire fiction. She stands as a matriarch for America's army during World War II, a decorated war-hero, and a mentor responsible for Snake's early training. But the Boss pays a heavy price as a legendary hero and sacrifices a loved one in order to protect her newborn son from an elite secret society known as the Patriots.
Female Shepard
Mass Effect 3 | 2007
Everything John Shepard could do, Jane could do better. Well, assuming you left the default names of each gender alone at the beginning of Mass Effect that is. Regardless your Shepard' name or sex, the results were the same: In the whirlwind tour of saving the galaxy from the return of the Geth and, later, the Reapers, developer BioWare wisely chose to empower both genders with the same abilities and choices. This decision gave players the utility to craft a Female Shepard that stood on equal ground as her male counterpart -- eventually, due to fan outcry, Female Shepard would even grace the cover of Mass Effect 3 -- creating an equal opportunity future for ship captains of all genders.
Portal 2 | 2007
While its true that the unassuming silent protagonist of the Portal series has a mysterious past, Chell's strength and courage in the face of a dominating A.I. gone rogue stands as one of the most celebrated video games of the past decade. It's difficult to really guess much about her personality though. If you went by GLaDOS's description of Chell, you'd label her a horrible, bitter, unlikeable loner that was also adopted. But we all know there's more to Chell than that, even if her creators at Valve haven't told us specifics. In many ways, Chell is the gender equivalent of Gordon Freeman -- an avatar that grants players a glimpse into harrowing world filled with challenges. While her inexplicable silence has been mistaken for brain damage, lets go with Valve writer Eric Wolpaw's explanation for her silence: one where she just refuses to give the know-it-all A.I. spheres of Aperture Science the satisfaction of hearing her say anything.
Bayonetta | 2010
Platinum Games created an unforgettable lead character when Bayonetta released in early 2010. With a tall, svelte build and rose-colored firearms gripped firmly in both hands and on the back of her spiked heels, Bayonetta brought a dominating personality brimming with self-confidence and attitude to the world of action game heroines. But behind the no-nonsense attitude of gunplay, magic, and combos sat a greater truth: A female angel hunting witch could be just as empowered as any male counterpart.
Comments (113)
Differences should be celebrated, not ignored...Posted: Sep 11, 2012 12:00AM PST by Jayfeather980
It is too easy in my opinion to say equality = sameness. If your given the option to play as either male or female, why not have some NCPs who are chauvinist when dealing with the female player, or some who show favoritism to her because of her sex appeal? Use the unfair reality of the situation to diversify the game play, and thus give the player more reason to play the game as both genders.
Quit alreadyPosted: Jul 08, 2012 12:00AM PST by Darkstrider311
Samus got mentioned on 7 articles for this feature story, give it a rest already dammit.
They're all butt-faced bowser'sPosted: Jul 01, 2012 12:00AM PST by IWillViolateYourPrecious
except bayonetta, but she's european and that knocks her down 2 pegs.
Samus??Posted: Jun 26, 2012 12:00AM PST by BlueMeanie
You can't make a Female character list without naming Samus!!! She is a Kick Ass...no nonsense woman that could take on ANY male and come out winning!! I think that was a HUGE mistake and SAD overall on your part!!
Wow. Just wow.Posted: Jun 26, 2012 12:00AM PST by Man_In_Black_77
I know plenty of other people have already commented on it but seriously, Bayonetta? Did you just put her in there as a test to see if we were paying attention? You would be extremely hard pressed to find a WORSE example of games portraying women respectively. Her game was a lot of fun and entertaining but the powered up combo attacks worked by stripping her naked and in the cutscenes she was constantly suggestively eating lolipops. "Magic stripper" would be a more accurate description than witch. The rest of the choices were quite good but that last one makes you look like a complete moron. It would be like making a list of great humanitarians and saying Ghandi, Mother Teresa, and HITLER. Go rewatch some Sesame Street "one of these things is not like the other."
Despite what some have said femshep belongs because the character is very strong. You do NOT get to "create your own character" with her. You can pick what her face looks like and pick a first name but whther you go paragon or renegade is irrelevant the developers made her a strong badass either way.
I Enjoyed Reading this ArticlePosted: Jun 25, 2012 12:00AM PST by Chuck_the_Plant
Nuff said.
FemShep and interchangeability..Posted: Jun 25, 2012 12:00AM PST by bzzzzt
Claiming that FemShep is just a gender-swap with BoyShep actually highlights the reason she's on the list. When a woman is portrayed as equal with a male counterpart in every respect and without her gender being an issue, then that is the definition of gender-equality. If that were the expected norm, then we wouldn't even need to address this.
As an example, hauling Alenko/Ashley's ass out of Virmire was an epic moment in FemShep's legacy. Hauling a wounded squadmate out of a firefight would be expected of any male soldier, and FemShep demonstrated that it should be expected from women, too.
The Big BayoPosted: Jun 24, 2012 12:00AM PST by king_mob
I love 'Bayonetta' but my friends and I have this running joke about how she's actually transgendered and has a huge... well, you know. Luka's gonna have some trouble walking straight when he finally gets busy with B. I hear she likes to be on top. Wink.
Bayonetta belongs on this list!!Posted: Jun 24, 2012 12:00AM PST by RitsukoReturns
Very Good ListPosted: Jun 24, 2012 12:00AM PST by EthanStrong
I think a case could be made for Samus and Madison Paige too.
Really?Posted: Jun 24, 2012 12:00AM PST by gravess
Really no,Samus?
did you playPosted: Jun 24, 2012 12:00AM PST by RitsukoReturns
her last game?!!
I think this list should be more fleshed out.Posted: Jun 24, 2012 12:00AM PST by CatCouch
Samus is fine but she is also a pretty standard character without a lot of personality and Chell already has that covered. This list needs more characters like: Chie of Persona 4 fame, Mitsuru Persona 3, Faith from Mirrors Edge, Elena from Unchated, Maybe even Hana from Fear Effect.
There are a decent amout of interesting female characters out there (Valkyrie Profile) that could use some light in an article like this.
It really is too bad ...Posted: Jun 24, 2012 12:00AM PST by NeoSimkin
that you can almost count them on just one hand.
YepPosted: Jun 25, 2012 12:00AM PST by moodsformoderns
Plus it's always the same list, give or take a few, which says something about the dire state of the characters who didn't make the cut.
Games Should Be Games.Posted: Jun 24, 2012 12:00AM PST by gamernerdtg2
I don't think that games should heavily invest in these issues because gameplay will inevitably suffer. I also think that separating one issue - in this case gender - and isolating it in this way is not as engaging as it could be. Gender doesn't exist outside of culture, politics, etc. These are issues that are best brought up through movies or some other medium. Interactive stories are great, but gameplay is being foreced aside so that people can push their individual veiwpoints through the gaming experience.
your right...Posted: Jun 24, 2012 12:00AM PST by EvilHayabusa666
games should be games, but people feel like they are not being well represented either, for lack of a better word...belittled even. That is what started this whole longwinded debate. Women feel like they are not being represented well in video games, same with people who have different sexual orientation or lifestyle choices. However here is the problem I have, this issue goes beyone video games...and into other mediums like you said. It really makes no sense when 1up editiors try to blame a Japanese su-culture as the problem(read the hyperdimension post), but turns a blind eye to western games that do the exact same thing. I want equality when discussing the topic, not blind ignorance.
with that said, I agree with you. I want games to be games, most are fiction, like novels and movies...enjoy them for that they are...
How does good writing hurt gameplay?Posted: Jun 25, 2012 12:00AM PST by bzzzzt
There's no reason that an empowered female character would impact gameplay any differently than a male protagonist would, and if so then there are larger issues with overall design.
Finally, gender-equality in art isn't an individual viewpoint. Depending on the studies that you read, more women are playing online games than men. If that's the case, then it's the MAJORITY viewpoint, and it's time that studios start reevaluating their marketing demographics accordingly.
ButPosted: Jun 25, 2012 12:00AM PST by moodsformoderns
Games are already investing in gender when they choose male protagonists. Men are also a gender, just like "white people" are also a racial category...by choosing to make your protagonist a white male, whether you like it or not, you're already making a political decision.
@ bzzzzt "How Does Good Writing Hurt Gameplay?"Posted: Jun 25, 2012 12:00AM PST by gamernerdtg2
Gender should have absolutely no bearing on whether the game is good or not. Story should be window dressing in my view. Yes, things are different now, but if we keep moving in the current direction, skill based games are going to be antiquated in the name of storytelling. I'm saying that we can deal with all of these sensitive issues more effectively by focusing more on gameplay which is the reason why i playgames in the first place.
@ moodsformodernsPosted: Jun 25, 2012 12:00AM PST by gamernerdtg2
You can take your same argument and say that I am making a decision to be violent, or support violence, or that I AM violent because I play an M rated game with intense gore. Whether I like it or not? I think that is a bit extreme.
Really?Posted: Jun 24, 2012 12:00AM PST by EvilHayabusa666
No Lightning?(FFXIII), or many other good JRPG lead female characters? Milla Maxwell(TalesOfXilla) comes to mind....whatever though...1up.com is filling it's self up with this same tired debate now. Please just turn it into a thread and go from there...
Don't forget!Posted: Jun 24, 2012 12:00AM PST by RitsukoReturns
Seth & Ming ( Lost Odyssey ) and Rita ( Tales of Vesperia )
Two issues with many comments:Posted: Jun 24, 2012 12:00AM PST by Antknee
I've noted two major issues brought up by readers of this list; on I agree with, the other not so much.
1-Bayonetta does not belong on this list. Being sexy is not empowering. The game exploited crotch shot after crotch shot of her. It weilded her sex like a carrot to pull off a long combo or power. I played through the game. I enjoyed the game for what it was, but I was under no illusion that her nudity was empowering to women. Just like stippers: they're not empowered by taunting men with their bodies, they're exploited by it. It offends me less when you just own it. Lara Croft has been treated better with her sexuality than Bayonetta.
2- Female Shepard's lack of game differences with Male Shepard and Chell's lack of personality are indeed empowering to women. They prove no difference in results regardless of their sex. While the games do not discuss their gender, their physiology makes no diffference in results in the game. Actions speak louder than words. Results matter. Being able to play the role of a woman where at no time the sex of the character determines the outcome of the game is equality.
AntKneePosted: Jun 24, 2012 12:00AM PST by BrokenH
That's the problem though. Sometimes women face different challenges and different kinds of discrmination than men do. Thus "gender swapping" within a story tailored solely for a male protagonist is a bit of a cop-out. I'm not saying that alone makes a game terrible but it could be done better.
Bayonetta and ChellPosted: Jun 24, 2012 12:00AM PST by sewageking
Neither Bayonetta nor Chell belong on this list. Bayonetta is in absolutely no way empowered if she's shaped like a sex toy and fights by taking her clothes off. And how exactly does Chell "do it right?" Is it because she literally has no lines throughout the whole game? Whatever personality you say she has is based on inferences that are not backed up by any evidence.
sewagekingPosted: Jun 24, 2012 12:00AM PST by BrokenH
I agree with Chell. You could substitute her with a robot or a man and it wouldn't change Portal 2's overall story. "Silent protagonists" are a blank slate regardless the gender. So, are certain gamers saying mute women make great heroines? Er, kinda scary.....(Not to say handicapped people cannot be great protagonists. I'm more talking about the "be seen not heard" kind of misogyny.) Does every female main character "lose cred" once she expresses a personality and actually speaks up?
sewageking and BrokenHPosted: Aug 16, 2012 12:00AM PST by oniplingz
I think Chell is a great character, silent as she is. Her silence pass 2 impressions to me: One is that she just want to know "What the hell is happening?" without freaking out or crying in despair, and the other is that she just want to get the hell outta there. Not giving a crap about one psychothic robot wanting to make her feel miserable. If she was a man, a robot, then the man or the robot would pass me the same impression. But she's a woman. And she wants what she wants.
Now I'm imaginning what would happen if a douchebag tried to flirt with her while she was still in the lab. Scary.
Bayonetta...Posted: Jun 24, 2012 12:00AM PST by Shi_Wei_Li
may not belong on this list, but man that is a freakin' good game.
kudos for the Boss
Think harder.Posted: Jun 24, 2012 12:00AM PST by linebreaker
Bayonetta? "Empowered?" So empowered you started off by talking about her "svelte build," right?
She's not even a character. She's a sex toy. "Unforgettable" doesn't mean empowered if she's unforgettable because every single combo involves an unnecessary crotch shot.
This was a good idea for a post, but blown apart by Bayonetta, lowering the standard for "empowered" to "female avatars male players will tolerate, possibly due to ass-cam." (Also, if your lede includes the phrase "the opposite sex," it excludes female readers entirely. And a conversation about strong female characters that only includes men isn't exactly a good start, innit?)
Now here comes all the "let me enjoy my privileged place in society without ever having to think about it"/"Games are sexist toward men too because they give us too many guns and muscles" whining. Hey fellas, society is still all about you 95% of the time. The fact that encountering or even considering the other 5% is such cause for alarm and argument with you is actually the problem. Chill.
Thanks for bringing the issue up.Posted: Jun 24, 2012 12:00AM PST by GamerLioness
You bring up an excellent point about the phrase "the opposite sex" being non-inclusive language. We see this sort of language in many places, from religious texts to Internet articles. I hate being "the other."
The interesting thing is that I'm a woman, and I initially didn't give much thought to the term "the opposite sex" being used! I think it's because I'm so used to being seen as a minority (and "non-default") that I sometimes don't realize when that sort of language is being used. That pretty much proves that the people who have been complaining about the recent gender issues articles shouldn't be whining; they clearly have no idea what it's like to be "the other."
Linebreaker and LIONESS games are SEXIST towards men to A HEAVIER EXTENTPosted: Jun 24, 2012 12:00AM PST by baphernaor
No, because violence against men is considered ACCEPTABLE. ESPECIALLY IF COMMITED BY FEMALES
Don't bring this "how males portray females BS." It has always been universally accepted when FEMALES commit violence acts, against men. Even mutilation
On female shows, what do you have when news of "a guy's penis chopped off?" ENTIRE FEMALE AUDIENCES BURSTING OUT IN LAUGHTER. Guys getting injured by females (even in real-life) is just a freaking joke. WHO LAUGHS when this happens to females
How often is it a freaking JOKE when females are shot? RARE. It's COMMONLY parodied with males being shot, or battered as comedy
Don't tell me "I HAVE NO IDEA" WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE THE OTHER bullcrap. Females may only be "sexy." Guys on the other hand? Shot, killed, MUTILATED... and if it is FEMALE harming the male, it is a freaking JOKE. Now COMPARE your so-called MISOGYNY BS to the actual MISANDRY in our media
@baphernaorPosted: Jun 24, 2012 12:00AM PST by GamerLioness
I was just saying that the male viewpoint is considered the "default," hence the language that gets used in writing and speech. This is not a discussion about violence.
Additionally, while I understand your frustration with violence committed against males, that's no reason to deny misogyny or derail conversations about issues that girls and women face. Violence in general is considered "funny." It isn't a male-only issue, though I will admit that they face unique challenges.
Why is it that we can't discuss these issues without people like you derailing the conversation to complain about male issues? I wouldn't go into a conversation about men's issues and rant about women's issues, because I'm not an asshole. Go away, and stop spamming this comments section with YouTube videos.
"female avatars male players will tolerate, possibly due to ass-cam."Posted: Jun 24, 2012 12:00AM PST by CatCouch
Are you saying that men won't play as a female character without "incentive"? I have to disagree with you there. I also don't take you serious since you can't post your opinion without pre-emotively insulting anyone who does not share your views.
@GamerLioness: I agree that baphernaor is just trying to derail the discussion and adds nothing. While it's hard to argue that the male view is considered the "default" I think that stating men can't talk about these issues because they're not women is absurd. It should be an open discussion where gender shouldn't exclude/include since that would defeat the point. Don't use your gender as a "checkmate, I win" arguing point. No discussion can take place if you cut men out with the "you can't understand" statement.
@CatCouchPosted: Jun 24, 2012 12:00AM PST by GamerLioness
...Um, what? I think you're seriously misunderstanding the issue. My problem with Baphernaor isn't the fact that he's male; it's the fact that he's derailing the discussion. I have no problem with men discussing an issue; I have a problem with men changing the topic entirely. He didn't agree or disagree with what I said. He didn't even say anything about my comment on the "male default;" he just started talking about violence against men when the original topic had nothing to do with violence. I wouldn't start talking about the sexualization of women if the original topic were about male character tropes.
I never used my gender as a "checkmate," and I honestly have no idea how you interpreted it as that. There are men that agree that the "male default" is common in the media. It would be fine if Baphernaor disagreed, but he didn't. He changed the topic and spammed the section with three YouTube videos.
GamerLionessPosted: Jun 24, 2012 12:00AM PST by CatCouch
I should of been clearer. I didn't mean to connect what I said with Baph. He clearly changed the subject. That's why I said it added nothing, sorry if I didn't separate my thoughts. My bad. I was referring to what you said in your post before he posted.
You said: "That pretty much proves that the people who have been complaining about the recent gender issues articles shouldn't be whining; they clearly have no idea what it's like to be "the other."
My issue came from what you said. You sound like you're writing off the author of the article and those who commented because of their gender and how you interpreted the language used.
@GamerLionessPosted: Jun 26, 2012 12:00AM PST by GamerLioness
You sound like you're writing off the author of the article and those who commented because of their gender and how you interpreted the language used.
I certainly wasn't referring to the author. "They" referred to "the people who have been complaining about the recent gender issues articles." There have been a lot of people complaining about bringing up women's issues and even denying that they're important to discuss. It's those people I have an issue with.
Cate Archer, Anyone?Posted: Jun 23, 2012 12:00AM PST by LiderCharro2000
Going back to the original thread, that lady from No one Lives Forever 2, she is pretty awesome, i wonder if ther will be any other NOLF game in the future.
Not a bad list.Posted: Jun 23, 2012 12:00AM PST by Ceva13
I agree with this list with the exception of Fem Shep. If we include her, then we have to include any game that allows you to make your own character. There are also a lot of other cool female characters that didn't make your list. Lightning and Fang from Final Fantasy XIII get my vote. They were really cool.
Umm Yeah-NOPosted: Jun 23, 2012 12:00AM PST by silentkillerinc
Um yeah- NO for the bayonetta chick.
Female Sheppard dosent count in my view cuz shes just a character made on the fly (just as male sheppard). Just doesnt seem the same.
Jade is great, but the Boss - NOW thats the way badass female gamers should be.
Notable mentions, just cuz shes one of the hottest VG chicks Ive ever seen is Nariko from Heavenly Sword(Reboot that ISH please)
Jade and Alyx VancePosted: Jun 23, 2012 12:00AM PST by MARl0
I didn't realize how much Jade and Alyx Vance look alike. They almost like the exact same character, only one is done in a more cartoon art style.
Also, where is Samus? She's like the ultimate in female characters that do it right.
Nice choicesPosted: Jun 23, 2012 12:00AM PST by ekolis
Nice choices, though is it just me or do Jade and Alyx look a lot alike? :)
Would have been neat to see Shanoa from Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia, though... and I'm kind of surprised you left out Samus, though maybe she was just too obvious a choice?
I agree.Posted: Jun 23, 2012 12:00AM PST by MrsBlunder
They definitely do look alike.
mass effectPosted: Jun 23, 2012 12:00AM PST by AJAPAM_34
does that really count? Shephard can be male or female. Either way you get the same character, so any gender stereotypes would've just been weird.
Also, Chell is basically a non-existant character. This reeks of trying too hard. So do a lot of the other recent "women in games" articles on this site
Lady HawkePosted: Jun 23, 2012 12:00AM PST by Fritzvalt
Why does FemShep get so much praise and attention and not LadyHawke? I understand that DA2 pissed some folk off, but anything said about the female Shepard can also be said about the lady Hawke.
Good CallPosted: Jun 24, 2012 12:00AM PST by USM-Valor
If Femshep is special so too is Lady Hawke. IMO it is the best way to go in video games. Bioware didn't adance any gender equality agendas in either game. They simply allowed you to play with the main character of your choice, male or female.
Shep's gender has no bearing on plot or gameplayPosted: Jun 23, 2012 12:00AM PST by rdm24
Not sure if Female Sheppard belongs on this list. Commander Sheppard is essentially genderless.
That's kind of the point.Posted: Jun 24, 2012 12:00AM PST by linebreaker
It's a character whose personal attributes aren't hard-wired to its gender. That's why the choice is so lauded. Most male characters' gender has "no bearing on plot or gameplay." Why is that only remarkable in the case of a woman? Why should it be at all?
Title of CommentPosted: Jun 23, 2012 12:00AM PST by roto13
Nice to include Bayonetta. There's definitely a difference between a character who is sexual for males and a character who is sexual for herself. Bayonetta's basically a drag queen, and I love it.
The freaks come outPosted: Jun 23, 2012 12:00AM PST by SaviorMachine
I really appreciate these articles--you got guts, 1Up, because you knew the discussions would alienate that proportion of your readership who are either knuckle-dragging proto-men or blithely ignorant pups who are so accustomed to their privileges that they don't even understand that the world is different for people who don't have those privileges. 1Up, you're flawed, but good. Readers, a lot of you need to go soak your head (I mean you should drown yourself).
BTW 'grisly,' not "grizzly."
@sangrealPosted: Jun 23, 2012 12:00AM PST by MrsBlunder
I'm assuming she's opposed to playing games with a male role? As a gamer, I've come to accept it. By sticking to games with female leads only, you kinda cut yourself out of the bigger picture.
Chell's storyPosted: Jun 23, 2012 12:00AM PST by JohnnyH87
Don't know if this has been brought up yet, I just skimmed trough the other comments, but you actually do get to know a bit about Chell's backstory in Portal 2. You have to look for it, so it's easy to miss.
Apparently, she was visiting Apature Sciense with her dad, who worked there, for a take your daughter to work day. They had kind of like a potato themed sciense fair, and you can see Chells entry in the game.
This was apparently the same day that GlaDOS took over the facility. Chell was placed in a stasis chamber, until GlaDOS ran out of other test subjects, and decided to start using Chell.
And now you know the rest of the story.
What about Faith Connors!?Posted: Jun 23, 2012 12:00AM PST by razama
Come on Otero, what made you skip over Mirrors Edge's lead character. She was amazing in every way.
I was going to cry the same thing....Posted: Jun 23, 2012 12:00AM PST by xHinata85x
Faith from Mirror's Edge was a strong female lead who could runs circles around these girls. Just because she didn't wield a gun (but used CQC) and could only take 2-3 shots before going down made her more realistic than some others. The whole story and how it evolved around her was great, and it really built up Faith to be a compelling character.
Shame she was missed, amongst others as well.
(I'll put this in before someone calls me on it, she COULD weild the weapon of a fallen bad guy, but only a couple shots were produced and it was a trophy/achievement if you did not shoot-to-kill anyone).
The Usual SuspectsPosted: Jun 23, 2012 12:00AM PST by DudeL
These are the usual characters that pop up on a list of good female characters, but for good reason because they are strong well-defined women.
I would like make a personal nomination that not many would make: Aveline from Dragon Age II. On the surface Aveline is great because she's a physically imposing woman who's not outright ugly but doesn't have girlish looks. As a character Aveline suffers tragedy in the beginning when her husband dies but rather than let it make her weak she becomes stronger from it by gaining stronger convictions, becoming a loyal friend, and eventually finding love again.
Anti MalePosted: Jun 23, 2012 12:00AM PST by baphernaor
Why not encourage females to produce their own games, how they see fit, instead of putting 100% of the blame on males?
No, instead of "encouraging" females, acknowledge the fact that they SHOULD have the ability to do the same, if they wanted.
I don't particularly care how females would or wouldn't portray males. It's either I like it, or I don't. But apparently, it's a GUY's responsibility to portray females in a certain manner. The entire blame is.... the male gender.
If males did not have interest in games, and females did, females would identical(see the network, lifetime) portray males the way they personally see fit. The "all males are evil" crap is only pointed out by some MRAs. But the only "blame" of sexism is when it is directed at females.
...Posted: Jun 23, 2012 12:00AM PST by MarigoldFleur
But females do have an interest in games, that's the whole trick of it. Many females do, in fact! But saying "oh, girls can just make their own games" ignores a lot of things like the harsh reality of gender roles that persist in modern society. There's an entire library you could write on learned gender roles and how they affect people from a very young age. A good example is how videogames, which are presenting themselves as "mostly for boys" provides a less than welcoming environment for women.
And just saying "well they can produce their own games" does a disservice as well because it's akin to trying to empty the ocean with a spoon. Women do make games, lots of them do! However, they get very little exposure because there are very few women in the upper levels of the games industry and the games industry is very slow to adapt to new audiences.
AgreedPosted: Jun 23, 2012 12:00AM PST by armanmatevos
Agree with you 100%.
That the ticket right there...Posted: Jun 23, 2012 12:00AM PST by GenesisDoes
Money. It doesn't have as much to do with gender as it does to do with mass market appeal. It's not as if it's impossible for a female centered IP to take off. Just look at that My Little Pony franchise. Who in there right mind would ever concieve it possible for large groups of grown men to come together to celebrate a cartoon about cute little girl ponies?
Anti-malePosted: Jun 22, 2012 12:00AM PST by Capn_Seamonkey
All these articles (not so much this one) are trying a little too hard. Many of them are seeming to be anti-male instead of pro-woman. If 1up doesn't feature a "Six Male Characters That Do it Right" list then they're not being equal to each gender. I say it's more sexist to put these kinds of lists on the site.
Instead of blanketing games in general as being sexist, just point out the times when certain games do it and bring attention to them.
...Posted: Jun 23, 2012 12:00AM PST by MarigoldFleur
I half agree. 1up's coverage on this has largely been hyperreactionary finger-pointing. However, saying "oh, they don't give males enough coverage" is almost on par with saying "why isn't there a white history month?" The problem lies in the fact that male characters are typically written for a male audience from a male perspective. There are less problems from the male end because male representation in video games suffers from stereotypes, but these are stereotypes that a male audience buys into because they're crafted in such a way that it glorifies the player.
Actually, that's a great ideaPosted: Jun 23, 2012 12:00AM PST by rdm24
How about an article about 6 male characters that get it "right"?
Of course, you'd have to define what you mean by "right"!
It might be easier to go with "non-stereotypical, realistic male characters". And frankly, not many come to mind.
It's "anti-male" to simply talk about women?Posted: Jun 24, 2012 12:00AM PST by linebreaker
Yes, the moments where it's not all about you are terrifying, aren't they?
"If 1up doesn't feature a "Six Male Characters That Do it Right" list then they're not being equal to each gender. I say it's more sexist to put these kinds of lists on the site."
Fantastic idea. Men don't get seen or heard nearly enough in video game culture. It's unthinkable that anything which has nothing to do with us wouldn't still have us shoe-horned in somehow anyway. Women need to know their place. It would be sexist if they didn't.
Pretty tired of these articlesPosted: Jun 22, 2012 12:00AM PST by MikkiSaturn
Not just on this site but across the entire gaming landscape - ever since E3 it's been one ongoing discussion about this issue. And, truthfully, I'm tired of this disscussion in the larger culture as well. I've tried to contribute the most thoughtful comments I can, on various sites/forums, but It's useless because nobody is discussing what I consider to be the main problem - that this entire male vs. female dichotomy is a fiction!
Come on people! There are no meaningful cognitive differences between men and women. There is no such thing as the "male" gaze - just the gaze of assholes and non-assholes. There is no reason to see peach using a rolling pin in Mario RPG as sexist - I would use a rolling pin as a weapon if it was convenient! If Peach only used "masculine" weapons, that would be criticized as sexist too - and the criticism would be ever bit as legitimate. I mean, come on! A rolling pin is an inanimate object, it is neither masculine nor feminine. The same applies to all other inanimate objects.
Are many female characters poorly written? Of course - because writing in games is terrible! I mean across the board, game writing is awful! Can anyone seriously think that these writers are sexist, misogynist jerks with no sensitivity to this issue? I highly doubt it; they're just incompetent in general. Clearly many people on the internet and off the internet say hateful things to/about women - but I dare say these are the same people who say hateful things about homosexuals, or any other person they can identify. They say these things because they're hatful people and to suggest that their comments imply a sweeping attitude about "women" on the part "men" is both preposterous and insulting. I mean, when I was a kid I was verbally harrassed daily in the most vicious way. Every one of these people were other boys. Nobody blamed "male" attitudes or anything because such an idea would have been assinine. It's just that some people are cruel, there's nothing more to it. All these discussions disturb me, because it's clear how many people actually think that there's a specific way that female characters in particular have to be depicted - or else the game is misogynist. No NO NO!
Listen, becuase this is true: We are all just human beings. Nothing more. Gender, Race, Sexual Orientation - all superficial distinctions that are given way too much importance. The entire notion of identity politics is ridiculous when carefully examined. Discrimination is terrible and should be combatted wherever it is discovered - not because it is unfair to some specific group but because it is a violation of human dignity in general. It seems that not enough people see that these days - they actually believe in the myth of identity politics. It goes far beyond video games - just the other day I read an article about a feminist who was criticizing other feminists for defending stay at home moms - stay at home moms are traitors to the cause, apparently, and can't possibly be feminists. How insulting! Feminism should be about gaining freedom for people, so that they can make their own choices without artificial social obstacles. If it is just replacing one set of behavioral rules with another equally restrictive one then it is useless! It is no better than the man (I forget who precisely) who suggested Barak Obama wasn't "black enough" - or the many critics of Clarence Thomas who say that he is not a "real" black man, becuase of his opinions. As if all black people in America must possess the same opinions!? This is ridiculous (I'm even tempted to say dangerous) thinking.
There is no such thing as "real" women, or "real" African Americans (or any other ethnic group), or what have, there are only human beings with their multiplicity of views. A woman who stays at home, a woman who loves to cook, a woman who hates cooking and starts a business, a woman who joins the marines, a woman who plays profesisonal sports, a woman who hates sports but loves Jane Austen, a woman who hates Jane Austen but loves James Bond, whatever you can think of - all equally legitimate, and deserving of exactly the same respect.
Anyway, I bet people won't read this because it's too long and too off topic, but it needed to be said.
THANK YOUPosted: Jun 22, 2012 12:00AM PST by armanmatevos
I feel exactly the same way. Enough is enough. Games are for story telling, enjoyment, and artistic expression, NOT addressing social issues.
You nailed itPosted: Jun 22, 2012 12:00AM PST by evildog13
I have had the same notion for a while. It struck me one day when I was looking for christmas presents for my friends kids, and it occured to me how children are taught by toys what is acceptable and expected of their gender. And what they are taught are gross and out dated stereotypes. On the extreme ends boys are steered toward being soldiers while girls are steered toward being baby makers. But even if you find a middle that put boys interests as adventureres and girls as nurturers, how come a boy can't learn to nurture and a girl can't learn to seek adventure. I beleive it has much less to do with the actual natural differences in the genders and more to do with the artificail ones created and maintained by society.
THANK YOUPosted: Jun 23, 2012 12:00AM PST by kingsharkboi
This is kinda the reason i've been avoiding writing debate comments on these articles recently. I'm in a university with art/film/lit/etc. majors all invested in liberal arts. What I've taken from all this shenanigans throughout these years, writing countless essays and sitting through hundreds of lectures....is that these topics and such all confine themselves to the same ballpark. Its like watching a football trying to be yanked in the other direction before all hell breaks loose at the goal area. Any way you put it it's still a game, and filled with fighters that aren't going to stop anytime soon because they just love to play.
I was in a television theory class reading up on the history of blacks within TV. How all the old portrayals of blacks birthed stereotypes and "coons" and silly, inhuman, "Un-representative" African Americans relegated to comedy usually. Then I saw an author criticizing the more modern Bill Cosby show, for being "not black enough" and acting "too much like a white American family". Then I said WTF!? So the Cosby show has a family that needs to get more in touch with their innner blackness instead of a feigning as white characters? What constitutes that? They live in America, they're gonna act like Americans!
On the other hand I was in a gender studies class that actually turned out to be neutral and enlightening. The overall themes involved sex = physical/biological man or woman....gender = whatever the hell you want to be, or identify yourself as. And that encompasses more than just effeminate or manly, but all tropes of human behavior, from ditzy to the strong/silent type to horny to athletic to commanding. One feminism article written by a woman, critiqued much of feminism for being too hyperreactionary and quick to blame all things that "don't go their way". She said that as long as these feminists constantly demand that certain women aren't good actual representations of women (especially if there's nothing demeaning at all), then women are constantly going to be thought of as under men. I took this as an important lesson, and felt that much of feminism and race theory has to do with too much self-identification BS which in turn implies a little bit of selfishness when they don't look at the bigger picture.
Remember when Morgan Freeman said he didn't want a black history month? it's because the man is above that shit (insert Freeman is God joke). Black history month is American history. The name categorizes Blacks, current and past (and future) together into a unifying history that frankly only has to do with one era, the past. He was asked how then do we stop racism, and Freeman retorted "stop talking about it!" Freeman was never a slave, he just happens to have the same skin color as slaves from 2 centuries ago. Wooooo...
MikkiSaturn nailed it right on the head. We should not ever expect women or any person of any genetic race to be of a certain personality. Peach is a rich and royal princess, Samus is a bounty hunter, The Boss is a WWII vet, Eva is like a Bond girl temptress spy, Chun Li is a kung fu interpol agent, Ibuki is a high school ninja. The list goes on. There is no right or wrong way to look at these characters just because they have a vagina. One look at all the women (and men) you know in your life will show how much diversity humanity can achieve in terms of personality. If anything, there are stronger, more combat-capable women in video games than film, television, or possibly literature...possibly as a result of the action-heavy genres gaming features prominently.
Instead of picking and choosing the best archetypes that won't apparently lead to accusation of discrimination (partly because nobody fucking agrees), why don't we just attack the attackers? Discrimination is indeed a mark of an asshole. They are probably assholes in general, with a selfishness that discriminates against other respectable categories as well. When a kid is bullying your friend at elementary school for physical/arbitrary reasons, you don't stand there and tell the bully a laundry list of why your friend is actually a strong, healthy, perfectly-fit-for-society student. You send the discriminating bastard to the office for detention and reasoning.
Heh.Posted: Jun 23, 2012 12:00AM PST by DackDavros
"Anyway,I bet people won't read this because it's too long and too off topic"
Yep. You were right.
Everything I Wanted to SayPosted: Jun 23, 2012 12:00AM PST by AquinasD
I can't think of anything substantial to add. There's nothing wrong with a girl who likes to cook, a girl who's a princess, a girl who's an interstellar bounty hunter, or a girl who uncovers extraterrestrial conspiracies. It seems that, based on the 6 characters who happen to be chosen, a female character is only "done right" provided she's made into your stereotypical male video game character.
YOUR WRONG MIKKISATURN...Posted: Jun 23, 2012 12:00AM PST by GenesisDoes
Because I did read it, and I agree with you 100%. My sister does too.
@MikkiSaturnPosted: Jun 24, 2012 12:00AM PST by GamerLioness
"It goes far beyond video games - just the other day I read an article about a feminist who was criticizing other feminists for defending stay at home moms - stay at home moms are traitors to the cause, apparently, and can't possibly be feminists. How insulting! Feminism should be about gaining freedom for people, so that they can make their own choices without artificial social obstacles."
Feminism is about choice (it is to me, at least). It's true that some people think being a stay-at-home mom is like being a "traitor," but not many feminists believe that (according to the feminist forums I frequent, anyway). I have no problem with women who choose that path. I just want them to have all the choices (and the same goes for men who want to be stay-at-home dads!).
Thanks for the positive responsesPosted: Jun 25, 2012 12:00AM PST by MikkiSaturn
I almost didn't post this because I thought I would just get flamed. I'm glad others agreed with what I said. @GamerLioness, you are absolutely right. I didn't mean to imply that all feminists were opposed to stay-at-home moms. I know several stay-at-home moms who I would absolutely consider feminists.
I'm going to point outPosted: Jun 26, 2012 12:00AM PST by Omega_Rage
Gender can't be superficial. It's important. If you have all of one gender, then humans as a species will die out.
But women would die out a lot faster than men because they're all catty and can't work well together (insert troll grin).
Just kidding, ladies. Please don't annihilate me. I rely on my wife more than my own lungs most days.
Actually...Posted: Jun 26, 2012 12:00AM PST by MikkiSaturn
I believe I read a story a while ago about an experiment in which genetic code from one woman's egg was used to fertalize another, so in theory an all female version of humanity would be quite sustainable.
Believing doesn't = truthPosted: Jun 26, 2012 12:00AM PST by Omega_Rage
You can believe you read it, but you might not. I believed in Santa Claus for most of my childhood, but it doesn't mean that an overweight, poorly-dressed stranger broke into my home once a year just to eat sweet treats and leave me presents. Also, if it could be done, was the fertalized egg able to be carried to full term? Were there birth defects if so? Not to mention that even if it was true, could it be done fast enough and in enough quantities to make up for the sudden drop-off in natural conception/births?
Speaking on the here and now, men & women need eachother, and they need eachother to be men AND women.
Although, if you find the article and have a link, I'd love to read it! :)
You are admirably rational, and you make excellent points, but...Posted: Jun 27, 2012 12:00AM PST by amano_hyo
The entire men vs. women dichotomy is not a fiction. You seem to be making the argument that we live in a post-sexist world (you also suggest that we may also be in a post-racist world, but that's a horse of a different feather) - that there are no longer any significant differences between the way men and women are valued by society and culture. I agree that we should live in such a world, but a cursory glance at the stories we choose to tell and the people and positions we choose to glorify clearly shows that male-centered stories still dominate.
When women do make an appearance in games, movies, or other popular media, their participation almost always revolves around the interaction they have with the men in their lives, and not the hopes, dreams, goals, and desires that have nothing to do with men (thus, the tongue-in-cheek Bechdel test). This bias is natural of course, as men continue to disproportionately hold positions of power and influence in society, but it doesn't make it just or right.
Progress has been made and is being made because people are willing to talk about gender issues. One day, Jupiter willing, the majority of people will be as rational and egalitarian as you, and we will truly live in a world where "identity politics" are no longer necessary. That day is sadly still far in the future. Culture does not exist in a historical vacuum, for thousands of years we have lived in a patriarchal society. It would be wonderful if all of those years of (mostly white) men shaping society in their favor could be erased in a few decades by snapping our fingers and saying, "guess what, it doesn't make any difference what gender or race you are anymore!," but change doesn't work that way. Feminists aren't a homogenous group, and like any person we certainly aren't perfect, but our general idea, that women deserve to have the same social, political, and economic opportunities that men often take for granted is a sound one and we aren't there yet.
It's tempting to think that by discussing race or gender, we are merely perpetuating the differences we mean to eliminate, but this is simply not the case. Injustice is rectified by bringing it to light. If you lived in a relationship where you were giving just as much as your partner, but receiving far less love and appreciation, the solution would not be to stay silent on the matter. The solution is also not to state, "we should be equals," and then never speak of it again. As I'm sure you know, serious relationship talks can be hard conversations to have - it takes time and requires a lot of repetition and clarification, but if you and your partner have a history of interacting with each other in an imbalanced way that is ingrained, it can only be improved bit by bit. Gender relations are analogous, except women typically don't have the option of leaving this society for another one (despite the helpful "why don't you move to Saudi Arabia" quips that inevitably pop up). These are tough discussions for gamers, especially male ones, but for those of us who believe strongly in the positive power of this medium, those of us who love gaming: the joy it brings and the connections it forges, these are the discussions that we must have.
wait one moment!Posted: Jun 22, 2012 12:00AM PST by naroyto
i would replace female shepard with any other female due to the tecnecality of his/her gender being a choice. that being said there are others that deserve to be on the list that are playable characters unlike the boss but, i have nothing against the boss i just feel that they should at least be playable.
lara croft, aya brea, samus aran, rubi malone, faith connors, and others the community may think of.
don't bite my head off because of the shepard thing but if the character has optional genders then it shouldnt count. it might as well be an alien with no gender
No because...Posted: Jun 23, 2012 12:00AM PST by razama
Female shepard was different enough from male shepard that they do not feel like the same people. This is mostly due to the amazing job of Jennifer Hale. There were some slight differences in their stories, but mainly they just came across as different people due to their voices - they had different inflections in their voices and their romance possiblities revealed some different aspects of their personalities.
yawnPosted: Jun 22, 2012 12:00AM PST by NinSage
Are people still talking about this?
How many decades have we been working on gender roles in television? film? Song lyrics? Guess what, it's the same for video games!
Also, male roles are just as bad. But no one is programmed to look for it or care about it. All men are agressive, violent, and well-built? AOK!!
TERRA?Posted: Jun 22, 2012 12:00AM PST by amri.rizqi
how bout Terra? most powerful female protagonist in FF canon?
TerraPosted: Jun 22, 2012 12:00AM PST by EndlessWinter
Despite Terra's awesome power as a half-esper, she still plays a 'damsel in distress'-like roll for a good deal of the game. Terra may have been more powerful, but what she lacks is a strong will and a determination like the characters above. However, FF6's secondary leading lady, Celes, I would argue could be placed on the same pedestal as the above women, given her exploits in the world of ruin.
CelesPosted: Jun 23, 2012 12:00AM PST by kingsharkboi
is one of my favorite characters in the FF series. She added so much depth to an already deep cast. Amazing character
Framing the debatePosted: Jun 22, 2012 12:00AM PST by Thatguyattheparty
This debate seems to be undermined by the entire idea that men can say what a powerful femla figure looks like. All of these characters are pulled from an ideal of female empowerment that men feel women want to see in games. They hold on to the conventions of female sexuality that men seem to want while playing to what men feel that women would say are emobdiments of strong female protagonists. The ideas of strength should be so universal that gender becomes almost a secondary factor. Female shepard is strong in so much as she enacts a role that was clearly designed for a male protagonist (as it was built on an idealized female framework). What are the ideals that make these characters particuarly female or, looking at a more universal ideology, should this even be the debate? Why are these strong female protagonists? What does it actually mean to be a strong female protagonist? What is it that differentiaties that from a male? Are certain acts of heorism, or what it means to be a hero, gender based?
BayonettaPosted: Jun 22, 2012 12:00AM PST by cosmic_cat57
Not sure I understand why she's on this list. I mean, Jade and Alyx are two of the least sexualized female characters in the industry; Bayonetta, on the other hand pretty much exists to be ogled.
Should their be one ideal vision or many ideal visions?Posted: Jun 22, 2012 12:00AM PST by BrokenH
I can't really disagree with most of these choices! However, Cassandra Khaw's article about Robert Yang raised an interesting conundrum. Aka, many effeminate gays (who are real people too) get ragged on for being a negative gay steroetype. Due to this I wonder if we do the same thing with females. Aka we've created an ideal mold for the perfect game heroine which excludes just as many females as it includes. It seems like the "sexy girly girl" is in the same cross hairs as the effeminate gay man. Aka, if a female shows skin, is overly attractive, happens to be busty, and is open minded about her sexuality (or is somehow submissive and emotionally vulnerable in one instance) we're going to metaphorically burn her at the stake for it.
You can argue Bayonetta is a "sexy girly girl" who does it right but do we say that only because she's a proficient killer with witty one-liners? Shouldn't there be other ways to empower women too?
Personally I still think there's a place for female Protagonists such as BloodRayne, Ayane, Juliet Starling, and the rest of the unsung heroines who didn't make this list. Just because we don't approve of someone it doesn't mean they're trashy. Sometimes we're all just bias assholes!
For the record, I enjoyed reading this Jose. I'm just throwing in hypotheticals and variables to keep people discussing and to keep them thinking!
That's a good pointPosted: Jun 22, 2012 12:00AM PST by Mireille
I don't think there's no place for feminine or girly or sexy heroines in gaming. Hell, I didn't make my Shepard ugly! It would be ideal if games reflected the entire spectrum of women (and men) that exist in the world and in our imaginations. The problem is until very recently, the feminine, objectified, sexy girly-girl has been the predominant female character. If we could get a wider range of characters, and away from female characters defined by their ability to be objectified, which is starting to happen, I think there will be less issue taken with the sexy heroine in general.
Progression is good but not at the cost of diversityPosted: Jun 22, 2012 12:00AM PST by BrokenH
There are definitely better ways to portray the "sexy girly girl" than has been done in the past. Then again there should be a place for sexy satire and camp too. Games don't always need to be taken seriously.
I was told once that if I looked hard enough for negativity I would find it in everything even if it wasn't really there. This is why I don't always approach gaming as a conspiracy theorist or as an activist. If I did I would be miserable and chuck everything into the trash!
Gaming needs to progress into a more positive less bias medium. But I don't think that we need to do so by limiting variety. Additionally trying to hammer these points home like a self righteous judgemental zeolot will push away the masses more than it will convince them. This has to be done gradually without the whiff of pretentiousness.
Good post by the way Mireille! Thanks for the shout out!
This is exactly what I thought when these articles started awhile ago.Posted: Jun 23, 2012 12:00AM PST by CatCouch
The general consensus, whether intentional or not, seems to be about taking away designs "women" may find offensive thus keeping them from enjoying games in the way a male can. It's argued that all characters are male fantasies, but to women it's objectification and sexist.
I believe I said it before in other articles; we need to focus on expanding. More variety, more diversity. If we want games to be taken as seriously as other entertainment forms we need games that cater to all audiences. We need those games that have social commentary, games that deal with modern issues, fantasy escapism, ultra violence, the stupid "shut off brain" games etc.
I hear a lot of "games shouldn't have social commentary, their games. Their meant to be fun". Why? Why can't they be everything that movies and books are and more. It's amazing how much potential there is that's being untapped. There's a reason Roger Ebert believes games are not art. He may be hard to take seriously but has a point that games are not exploring past the "sport" part. He believes games are akin to sport. I agree multiplayer matches that description. Only a handful of games have a worthwhile narrative in comparison to gameplay.
People need to stop making excuses for games. We also need to stop with articles that only force someone's moral opinion down your throat. 1up needs to do more polls and have more articles/discussions about what ideas and designs games should do more of. Some of these articles are actually going that way so I hope to see more of this and less of the "This month in Misogyny" crap that exists only to get website hits.
CatcouchPosted: Jun 23, 2012 12:00AM PST by BrokenH
Exactly. I agree with 1up's intentions. These issues ARE important. Anyone who tries brushing them aside completely is misguided. However, up until recently 1up has come off as a hellfire & brimstone preacher. Aka if you like such & such game you're a pervert, pedophile, and a misogynist! Sadly people focus on that negativity of being judged and retort angrily as opposed to recognizing the more positive aspects of the discussion.
Sorry, but when someone acting immature & sexist is accusing me of being immature & sexist I cannot take them seriously.
Luckily 1up "is" accepting constructive criticism and the articles seem to be getting better and better. I have to give them props for that!
Yep!Posted: Jun 22, 2012 12:00AM PST by Mr.LametoWatch
Though personally, I think Lara Croft, Samus Aran, Nina Williams, Julia Chang, that chick from GOW3, and the sniper from MGS do it pretty darn good.
ENOUGHPosted: Jun 22, 2012 12:00AM PST by armanmatevos
This obsessive focus on women in gaming is starting to get old. I, for one, want to enjoy games w/o turning it into a battleground for discussing gender roles.
well we can't talk about male stereotypes or positive representationsPosted: Jun 22, 2012 12:00AM PST by V4Viewtiful
It isn't a problem with men as it is for woman
Not sure what you meanPosted: Jun 22, 2012 12:00AM PST by armanmatevos
Not sure what you mean.
WelpPosted: Jun 22, 2012 12:00AM PST by MagsEffect
I'm sorry that you find the very discussion "old" and that you were forced to read this. Of course, sexism gets old, too, and has been for some time, but it hasn't gone away and won't if people keep trying to pretend like their little corner (one that, like it or not, is known to be a boy's club and a bastion for casual misogyny, even if you, personally, are not one of them) exists in a vacuum, and that no media or entertainment has aaaaaany effect on the culture or the understanding of gender and roles by those exposed to it.
You know, aside from telling a certain half of humanity that, hey, this just isn't FOR you, why not leave it to the people it belongs to, you don't get to play... I mean, you can, but don't you dare complain, because your feelings, thoughts and considerations are unimportant and silly. Oh, you're upset about that? Why do you have to be so irrational and boring and keep going oooooon about it?
Calm downPosted: Jun 23, 2012 12:00AM PST by armanmatevos
@MagsEffect Sorry precious i didn't mean to strike a nerve there. #1 Nobody said I was forced to read this thread. I just couldn't help but notice that many articles on this website are covering this issue. #2 I didn't say sexism doesn't exist. It does exist and it has negative consequences for society. All I'm saying is that games are not the medium for addressing these issues IMO #3 I didn't say games had no impact on the culture and understanding of gender roles. #4 If people want to make games that portray a particular viewpoint, then they should go ahead and make them. But, I don't think developers should feel pressured to include certain ideals of female perspectives to satisfy a very vocal minority.


text:
Justin Bartha says 'National Treasure 3' is still a possibility
Over the weekend, I drove to Las Vegas so I could sit down with the cast and crew of "The Hangover Part III" and talk to them about the film.
At this point, the actors seem relaxed because they've finished. Whatever happens with this last film, their work is done now. Whatever people end up thinking about the new film, they've taken their shot and wrapped up one of the unlikeliest franchises in modern memory.
I spoke to director Todd Phillips, lunatic co-star Ken Jeong, the members of the Wolfpack, and, in the final room, Justin Bartha and Heather Graham. My first observation is that Graham is a vampire. It's the only explanation for how she looks exactly the same now as she did 20 years ago. It's spooky.
I had to laugh the night before the interviews. At one point, I ordered dinner to my room, and when the waiter showed up, he asked if I was there with the Warner Bros. event. He then went into a long monologue about how he'd worked at Caesars when the first "Hangover" was shooting in Vegas and he had to serve Justin Bartha dinner every night. This guy may well have been the single biggest Justin Bartha fan I've ever met. He kept talking about what a great guy Bartha is and how well he tips and how much he hopes Bartha's career goes well. Honestly, I don't even think Bartha is as invested in the eventual fortunes of Justin Bartha as this guy was.
The last thing he asked me was if I'd heard anything about a "National Treasure 3." He told me that he feels like that's where Bartha really shines, and he was desperate to see more of that character. As a result, I felt obligated to ask Bartha about the possibility during our conversation.
So, Vegas Waiter Dude with the big Bartha Obsession, this one's for you.
"The Hangover Part III" opens May 24.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Concerned for all our members in the path of the tornado outbreaks. Please check in as soon as it's safe and let us know you are well! Prayers going out to everyone in harms way.
Concerned for all our members in the path of the tornado outbreaks. Please check in as soon as it's safe and let us know you are well! Prayers going out to everyone in harms way.
Ditto from me!
Apparently a few of the south central states are in special danger. Stay safe, everyone.
I lived for 40 years back there. Saw a few tornados....I had a house in the country for 10 years that was on a slight rise of land in Central Illinois and the civil defense folk would come out during tornado watches to watch the vast expanses of bare land to the west. Seems like every place has its hazzards. For us in rural Spokane, its wildfire..I have pics of my wife watching the fire go by our land and firebombers over our house....some folks have earth quakes, some Hurricanes or tsunamis. But as much as I feel for those folk back there in tornado alley,(especially for the little girl that lost her family) I try and put things into perspective....hospital errors kill 200 Jumbo jet crashes worth of people every year...four crashes a week....in 18 month in Michigan, ICUs using a checklist for handling catheters saved 1,500 lives... (AARP Bulletin, March 2012) You are safer in a tornado than you are in a hospital....
Chris who had a NOAA weather alert reciever and a tornado shelter.
It's a warm winter in the Gulf of Mexico, and sad to say, I'm afraid it will be a nasty hurricane year down there this summer.
But the only tornado I was ever in was in Vermont, of all places.
We have occasional ones in WA state but they are very rare. Now wildfires, earthquakes, volcanic explosions and tsunamis....that is another thing.
Chris who used to maintain the NOAA weather radio warning system for seven counties in Eastern WA


text:
One of the most commonly referenced internet scams is the Nigerian 419 Scam, which gets its name from the Nigerian Criminal Code dealing with fraud. The Nigerian 419 Scam preys on people who are too greedy to read the warning signs around them. These scams are a close parallel to the fraud that has been occurring for the last few years in the US, and are coming to a head in the Financial Crisis of 2008.
A New Kind of Fraud – The American 419 Scam
Our country is in the middle of an economic crisis and it is the result of a massive series of confidence jobs that have taken place over the last few years. Systematic bending and breaking of financial regulations and best practices has brought our economy to its knees. Why? Greed and a lack of ethics on the part of lenders, brokers, consumers, bankers, and more. Yes, there are millions of innocent people. But the actions of a few bad apples are threatening to ruin the bushel – and we, the tax paying American public, are left footing the bill.
So what is the American 419 Scam? Borrow, borrow, borrow. Then claim the economy will fail because you can't pay back your loans. If you're lucky, the US Government will come along and bail you out.
The financial crisis of 2008
Greed and fraud have affected nearly every aspect of the American financial industry:
Banks and financial institutions. In recent months, several US banks crashed, including IndyMac and Washington Mutual – the largest bank failure in US history. Several other US banks or major players in the US financial industry have announced massive losses or were assumed by other banks – Bank Of America To Buy Merrill Lynch For $50 Billion.
Real estate. The real estate market has been hit particularly hard. Since 2006, 286 major mortgage lending institutions have either shut down completely, or temporarily closed their doors to new mortgage loans. Most recently Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae were assumed by the US government.
Insurance companies. The federal government made an $85 Billion bail out of AIG, one of the largest insurance companies in the US. The government bail out gave the government an ownership stake in the company.
Stock markets. The stock markets have been a roller coaster this week, and I imagine it will continue in the near future. In an effort to shore up stock prices, the SEC placed a temporary ban on short selling stocks. The majority of my investments are in retirement accounts, and I don't trade individual stocks. But this affects thousands of people who trade for a living, and probably ended up hurting hundreds, if not thousands, of individual and professional traders.
FBI Investigations. The problem has escalated to the point of an FBI investigation of 26 companies and their leadership, including mortgage companies Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, insurer American International Group Inc, and Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc.
The government's answer? Throw more money at the problem.
A proposed $700 Billion government bail out – that could rise to over $1.8 TRILLION. The government is discussing a $700 Billion bail out to help stabilize our fragile economy. The $700B is earmarked for buying bad mortgages and other assets from struggling institutions. The government has several other proposals on the books and the final tally could run as high as $1.8 trillion.
Here is the Fact Sheet for the proposed bail out, as published by the Department of the Treasury: FACT SHEET: Proposed Treasury Authority to Purchase Troubled Assets. The fact sheet is light on details, but I'm sure they will get hammered out before anything is approved.
The American public was systematically scammed
…and now we, the American taxpayers, have to pay the price. I don't like the idea of a $700 Billion bail out, and I especially don't like the idea of a $1.8 Trillion bail out. It doesn't seem right for our government to make good on the systematic fraud committed by thousands of individuals and companies.
But I don't have the answers to the problems that face our economy and I don't know what the long term ramifications will be both here and abroad. How long will it take our country's economy to recover if we proceed with the $700B bail out? How long will it take if we don't? What happens to the world economy? I don't have the answers, but I know this: The American people will survive, and so will our economy.
The American economy will survive
Though it may not seem that way at the moment, America is still the proverbial land of opportunity. If one looks at our history, one will see that we have weathered major periods of financial difficulty before, particularly The Great Depression and the period of stagflation in the late 70's/early 80's. Though the Great Depression and the period of Stagflation were difficult for our country, the periods following the Great Depression and stagflation were generally considered prosperous. The stock markets have had their ups and downs, and major companies have folded and others have grown to take their place. Through it all, America has always prevailed.
The American economy is in a difficult place right now, but there are things everyone can do do improve his or her situation.
Do your part. The best thing that you and I can do is pay attention to what is going on and prepare for anything. If you do not agree with the bailout, you can contact your senator and voice your opinion. Are you worried about banks failing? Learn what happens if your bank fails. Pay your bills on time, look for more ways to earn money, invest wisely, etc.
Vote. The General Elections will happen in less than 2 months. I imagine the current state of the economy will be one of the most heavily debated topics preceding the election, though both parties are wisely playing "wait and see" right now. The results of this year's election will go a long way toward shaping the American economy for years to come.
Here are some contemporary views on the financial crisis of 2008.
- Thoughts on the Financial Crisis from an Actual Economist.
- What Caused The Financial Crisis Of 2008?.
- Should We Let The Greedy Bastards Fail?.
- Me too, Secretary Paulson!.
- Your Urgent Help Needed.
- Just Received A Nigerian Scam Email From Treasury Minister Henry Paulson.


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RETURN TO PLAY Post-Surgery GOALS
These exercises will guide you from 3 months until 8 months post surgery. It is vital to faithfully adhere to the following program to avoid re-injury to the ACL reconstruction. Having a physical therapist or certified athletic trainer to help guide you through this program is often helpful.
Months 6-7: Return to Practice Phase
Throughout months 6-7 you can start practicing your sport with your team. You can get physical in practice but only progress to play when you are fully confident. You will need both the physical strength and mental confidence before you start to compete and play.
Single-Leg Hop - Hop (Hold)
Stand on surgical leg, starting in an athletic position (butt back, knee bent, chest forward). Perform a quarter squat into a forward jump, landing on starting/surgical leg. Land softly with knee bent and in line with foot. Immediately quarter squat into a second and then third jump. Upon landing the third jump, hold the landing for 2 seconds, keeping the knee bent and in line with foot. This is considered one repetition. Perform 2 sets of 3 repetitions.


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Cheers (Aug. 23 - 29 Edition)
Compiled by Titus Falodun Staff Writer | 8/23/2013, 6 a.m.
Air Force Airman 1st Class Brittany L. Bryant graduated from basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, San Antonio, Texas. Bryant is a 2007 graduate of Redan High School in Stone Mountain, Ga. She earned a bachelor's degree from Georgia State University.
Rony Delgarde was awarded a Champion For Good trophy by Allstate Insurance Company as part of its Give It Up For Good campaign. Delgarde is best known for founding Global Paint for Charity, a non-profit organization that collects leftover paint free of charge.
Atlanta native Yosan Negga is one of ten Visine Students With Vision Program winners. Currently, Negga is studying genetics at the University of Georgia. The current Grady Hospital volunteer plans to attend medical school upon graduation. She plans to become an oncologist.
Four Atlanta-area students were awarded in total.


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Mr. and Mrs. Beach
Jan and Norman Beach of Amarillo celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary at a reception with family and friends at the home of the couple's daughter and son-in-law, Wendy and Mike Kite of Amarillo.
Mr. and Mrs. Benson
Mary Lou and George Benson of Amarillo celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary at a reception at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Hosts for the event were Kim Benson, Kim Leggett and Kim Benson.
Chamber music to echo through Botanical Gardens
The Amarillo Botanical Gardens will resound with the music of strings and piano this week.
Square House Museum to exhibit works by Dalhart artist Firestone
The Carson County Square House Museum in Panhandle will exhibit artwork by Dalhart artist Charles Firestone through February.
Castro assassination attempt subject of thriller
Fidel Castro must die. So says a shadowy but powerful group called the Orchid, which has put a plan in motion to finally do what Castro's enemies have failed to do for almost 60 years.
'La Rondine' opera to be broadcast at Hollywood 16
The Metropolitan Opera performs Giacomo Puccini's "La Rondine" this week as the third of eight performances in its 2008-09 "Live in HD" season.
A tale about obsession
A Saturday garage sale - a ritual that occurs weekly in towns all over America - dismantles a couple's life and forces them to re-evaluate their relationship in Hallie Ephron's invigorating "Never Tell a Lie."
Holocaust 'memoir' pulled by its publisher
NEW YORK - The fallout continues from Herman Rosenblat's discredited Holocaust story.
Children's choir brings message of hope, joy
From the dirt streets of Africa to stages worldwide, children in the African Children's Choir have brought a message of hope through song to international audiences.
Dr. Ormson
Dr. Kerry Ormson, audiologist says many people are aware that their hearing has deteriorated but are reluctant to seek help.
Programs push for prairie chickens
ST. LOUIS - Farmland owners in some counties can give prairie chickens a boost while earning income in an unsettling economy.
Unemployment alarms foreign workers in US
SANTA ANA, Calif. - For foreign professionals, the rising unemployment rate is especially daunting.
Credit freeze chills deals
With the virtual collapse of credit markets and the drying up of money from private equity firms, 2008 turned out to be a slow year for mergers and acquisitions.
No business safe in '08 as the vaunted vanished
NEW YORK - Shoppers won't be picking up ornate lamps from the Bombay Co. in the coming year. Or investing with Lehman Brothers and Bear Stearns. No flying to Hawaii on Aloha Airlines or buying ultra-cheap tickets on Skybus, either.
Report: Slow job growth likely ahead
More than 1 million jobs have been lost in 2008, and the new year isn't expected to be any better.
Payday loans become 'debt traps' for many
CLEVELAND, Tenn. - With its quaint downtown and tree-lined streets, this little city in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains seems an unlikely epicenter for a $50 billion-a-year financial industry.
DOE offers $25B to firms
NEW YORK - The Department of Energy has received the first applications for $25 billion in low-interest federal loans intended to spur development of fuel-efficient vehicles and components.
Note: All petitions have been verified to be voluntary.
Hospital's digital digs
The magnet in the new MRI machine at Northwest Texas Healthcare System is so strong it can hold a 500-pound patient gurney three feet off the ground.
Oil and Gas Report
New Location, Completion and Plugging Report
Auto industry girds for sales report
NEW YORK - The good news for the auto industry in December came when General Motors and Chrysler got their federal bailout. The bad news is coming Monday, when automakers are expected to report another month of staggering sales declines.
Winter farm markets boom
MONTPELIER, Vt. - The snow might be piling up in Vermont, but farmers are still selling their produce. This winter, they have more venues.
Commerce's Jordan scores 53 in loss
ABILENE - Britney Jordan scored 53 points, but it wasn't enough for Texas A&M-Commerce, which lost, 104-95, to Abilene Christian in Lone Star Conference crossover women's basketball Saturday.
Murphree, Lady Raiders down Arkansas, 75-60
Jordan Murphree scored 22 points and grabbed four rebounds, helping Texas Tech to a 75-60 women's basketball victory against Arkansas on Saturday at Lubbock.
Loss leaves plenty to motivate Tech
DALLAS - When Texas Tech swept like a West Texas tornado through its first 10 football opponents and rose in the rankings to No.2, the Red Raiders sure didn't conceive of a season ending this way.
Not a consolation game
GLENDALE, Ariz. - Texas football coach Mack Brown has a theory about bowl games.
Cheap fills (for your tummy)
Minimizing cha-ching is the new motto for 2009, but a working man or woman still has to eat. On days when you don't want to or can't bring your lunch, Amarillo offers a variety of restaurants - too many to name - where you can fill up for $7 or less.
Dear Abby: Parents object to being shut out by daughter
Dear Abby: My daughter, "Giselle," is scheduled to have serious surgery soon, and she has forbidden us to come to the hospital. She wants only her husband to be there.
Heloise: Puzzles keep brain healthy
Dear Heloise: The reader who saves word games and puzzles to solve during idle moments is absolutely correct.
Dear Abby: Son's rudeness might be health issues
Dear Abby: My son says I scold him so often it has given him a complex. He constantly loses things - coats, lunch boxes, expensive toys, games - and damages property such as computers, my furniture, etc. He doesn't do it on purpose. It "just happens" (I think) because he is clumsy and heavy-handed, sort of a bull in a china shop.
Dr. Gott: Rare form of dermatitis leaves man seeking answers
Dear Dr. Gott: I am an 86-year-old male, and, approximately two years ago, I was diagnosed with nummular dermatitis. This disease causes spots of rashes that appear on all parts of my body after the areas get very itchy. I trust my diagnosis because my dermatologist is a professor of dermatology at the Yale University School of Medicine. He said there is no cure and very little research because very few people have this disease. I am currently taking triamcinolone acetonide, which I have to apply to all affected spots twice a day.
Felton's versatility invaluable to Raiders
When senior Casey Felton lined up at defensive end for the Randall Raiders this season, opposing coaches had to take a second look.
Area coaches lead teams to three state titles
Stratford, Canadian and Muleshoe made a lot of Panhandle-area football history this season.
Boys Ranch earns program's first playoff berth
It's always nice to be part of making history. Just ask Boys Ranch football coach Mike Lozano.
High School Basketball Linescores
Panthers' treys sink Sandies
With just more than a minute to play and his team ahead by four points, Odessa Permian coach Danny Wright told his players the visiting team wouldn't be getting a call and they would have to earn their victory.
Volleyball stars to play in Golden Spread event
Local senior volleyball players will have one last chance to show off their skills at 1 p.m. Saturday in the fourth annual Texas Golden Spread High School All-Star Game at the First United Bank Center.
Ex-Tascosa cagers encouraged to attend game
All former Tascosa High girls and boys basketball players are encouraged to attend the Tascosa-Amarillo High basketball doubleheader beginning at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the Tascosa Activity Center.
Rebels need two OTs to beat Central
Tascosa used clutch free-throw shooting from Oliver London to remain in the District 2-5A boys basketball playoff race with 63-57 double-overtime victory against San Angelo Central on Saturday before 120 fans in the Tascosa Activity Center.
Wood was a touchdown-throwing machine
Wes Wood spent much of the season chasing history.
Rodeo: Rookie bull riders work way into spotlight
As the Professional Bull Riders Association kicked off its 16th season last weekend in Baltimore, the big question was: Who will take charge?
Memphis mauls Mavs
MEMPHIS, Tenn. - The Grizzlies came out determined to finally beat the Mavericks, and O.J. Mayo made sure they finished off the win.
Center suffers growing pains
Randall County commissioners already have approved an ambitious jail expansion, and now they want to add more space to the facility that houses the Panhandle's youngest offenders.
Profiles of Success: College education helps open doors
"My degree in construction science allowed me the opportunities to intern and work for other construction firms before coming back to work in the family business."
Number of homicides fell
Amarillo played the backdrop for fewer homicides in 2008 than the year before, crime statistics for the city show.
Window on the Past: Lightning illuminates city
Amarillo Globe-News photographer Robert Mulherin captured lightning at its fiercest.
Cams lead to fewer wrecks in city
A study of red-light cameras installed in Houston showed traffic accidents doubled at those intersections in the first year after they were put in, but a similar program in Amarillo shows its cameras are having the opposite effect.
Toot'n Totum clerk injured in robbery
A Toot'n Totum clerk was injured Saturday in an attempted robbery, Amarillo police said.
Dear Mr. President
Students we want to know: What advice would you offer President-Elect Barack Obama or what would you ask him if you could meet him?
Food Establishment Inspection Report
The Food Establishment Inspection Report is a weekly report that appears on Mondays.
Teen raises cash, house
Businesses across Amarillo have chipped in thousands of dollars in donations, grants, and services to help a 13-year-old complete a project that will benefit single parents in need for years to come.
It's All Trew: Pair made a fortune, thanks to steel
During the 1860s iron makers in England developed the Bessemer converter, which cut the cost of steel manufacturing drastically.
What you're saying
On Friday, we reported Baptist St. Anthony's Health System has adopted a no-hire policy for smokers.
Craddick to drop speaker bid
AUSTIN - House Speaker Tom Craddick, the first Republican speaker in the Texas Legislature in modern times, is dropping his bid for a fourth term, four GOP House members said Sunday.
Workers out in the cold
Park your toes next to a chilled piece of steel to get a feel for just one of the discomforts of outdoor work this time of year.
Straus may have nod over Smithee for speaker's seat
AUSTIN - House Speaker Tom Craddick, the first Republican speaker in the Texas Legislature in modern times, is dropping his bid for a fourth term, four GOP House members said Sunday.
Smithee ponders speaker strategy
AUSTIN - If state Rep. John Smithee of Amarillo decides to enter the Texas House speaker's race, then he will have two formidable opponents, both fellow Republicans. One is incumbent Tom Craddick of Midland, and the other is Rep. Joe Straus of San Antonio.
Man arrested after crashing car into house
Amarillo police arrested a man Saturday afternoon after he crashed a red Monte Carlo into a house in the 1600 block of North Marrs Street.
City to seek recycling advice
Amarillo leaders have postponed a meeting to discuss the costs of boosting recycling programs to get information on how the troubled economy is affecting other cities' operations.
Dallas' Garrett sets interview with Broncos
The search for Mike Shanahan's successor took the Denver Broncos brass to the East Coast for weekend interviews with two of the league's hottest coaching candidates.
Amarillo Chamber to launch health insurance program for businesses
Two men in critical condition after SUV collides with train
Billy Youngblood
Billy Youngblood, 59, of Amarillo died Saturday, Jan. 3, 2009.
Haydon Zula Marie Gilreath
STINNETT - Haydon Zula Marie Gilreath, 2-month-old daughter of James and Stephanie Gilreath, died Thursday, Jan. 1, 2009.
James Alvin Roberts
DULUTH, Minn. - James Alvin Roberts, 58, died Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2008.
Lena Hope Weldon
BOISE CITY, Okla. - Lena Hope Weldon, 80, formerly of Boise City, died Jan. 3, 2009, in Amarillo, Texas.
Vilois Kilcrease Harmon
PAMPA - Vilois Kilcrease Harmon, 82, died Friday, Jan. 2, 2009.
Ethel Louise Jenkins
CLAYTON, N.M. - Ethel Louise Jenkins, 83, formerly of Clayton, died Friday, Jan. 2, 2009, in Alamogordo.
Ruth Elsie Taggart Dowd
Ruth Elsie Taggart Dowd, 96, of Amarillo died Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2008.
Johnny Maxey Duke
Johnny Maxey Duke, 72, of Amarillo died Thursday, Jan. 1, 2009.
Maxine "Mama Max" Cline
GRUVER - Maxine "Mama Max" Cline, 77, died Sunday, Jan. 4, 2009.
Lynn Edward Blewett
Lynn Edward Blewett, 76, of Canyon died Thursday, Jan. 1, 2009, in Amarillo.
Kathy Lee Hunt
Kathy Lee Hunt, 64, of Amarillo died Friday, Jan. 2, 2009.
Frankie Cooley Bransford
PAMPA - Frankie Cooley Bransford, 84, died Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2008, in Amarillo.
Jean Bucy
Jean Bucy, 79, of Bushland, formerly of Borger, died Friday, Jan. 2, 2009.
Benjamin Burkett Jr.
MIDLAND - Benjamin Burkett Jr., 72, died Saturday, Jan. 3, 2009.
Clyde Vernon Moore
HOWARDWICK - Clyde Vernon Moore, 91, formerly of Amarillo, died Saturday, Jan. 3, 2009.
Corda Mae McClendon Woodard
PERRYTON - Corda Mae McClendon Woodard, 87, formerly of Perryton, died Friday, Jan. 2, 2009, in Lubbock.
Opal Mildred Altman
Opal Mildred Altman, 78, of Amarillo died Friday, Jan. 2, 2009.
Joyce Carter
Joyce Carter, 79, of Amarillo died Friday, Jan. 2, 2009.
Dorothy Norene Brown
PAMPA - Dorothy Norene Brown, 90, died Sunday, Jan. 4, 2009, in McLean.
Evelyn Marie McGavock
LUBBOCK - Evelyn Marie McGavock, 85, formerly of Amarillo, died Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2008.
Sally "Paco" North Goff
PLAINVIEW - Sally "Paco" North Goff, 72, died Thursday, Jan. 1, 2009, in Lubbock.
Lillie Pearl Blackwell
Lillie Pearl Blackwell, 68, of Amarillo died Friday, Jan. 2, 2009.
Glo Belcher
Glo Belcher, 77, of Amarillo died Friday, Jan. 2, 2009.
Loraine Wallace
Loraine Wallace, 89, of Amarillo died Sunday, Jan. 4, 2009.
Letter: Let's give thanks Bush has kept us safe from attack
During the holidays, I fell behind on my newspaper reading. I just recently came across the Dec. 9, column by Jim Perkins, "Let's give thanks, no more Bush."
Letter: Local 'mob' mounts misguided protest
Recently, a local mob known as Repent Amarillo gathered to protest outside of a club which allegedly hosts swinger's parties.
Letter: Gilmore is a great choice for Woman of the Year
(Re: The selection of Diann Gilmore as the 2008 Globe-News Woman of the Year.)
Editorial: Name change may bring calm
What's in a name? Plenty, or so those involved with women's health issues in the Texas Panhandle hope.
Letter: Cartoon lampoons Bush unfairly; he deserves praise
That silly cartoon you published on Sunday, Dec. 28, was every bit as funny as a hospital fire.
Column - John Kanelis: Texas Dems see signs of new mojo
It seems like yesterday when the Republicans were in control of everything in Texas.
Editorial: Foolishness is boundless
U.S. senatorial foolishness has taken on more of a bipartisan flavor of late.
Column - Gina Dillon Podolsky: Recycling can become way of life in Amarillo
I recently moved to Amarillo from the Seattle area, where recycling is a way of life.
Column - Asher Yarden: Israel fights for its survival; Hamas is fighting to promote terrorism
HOUSTON - "The media reporting of Israel's actions in Gaza, after not reporting the Gazan bombing of Sderot, is like trying to explain America's entry into World War Two without mentioning the bombing of Pearl Harbor!"
Editorial: Monday Briefing
The good...the bad...and the ugly
Via Ferrata takes hold
Crouching on a narrow ledge 120 feet above the ground, I turn my back to the long drop and halfheartedly extend a boot over the edge of the sandstone cliff.
Lady Buffs step up intensity on defense
Defensive intensity has been the focus for West Texas A&M since losing to nationally ranked Fort Lewis one week ago.
WT slams SWOSU
West Texas A&M's Lady Buffs scored the first 11 points and never trailed in hammering Southwestern Oklahoma State University, 74-45, Saturday night in front of 925 fans at the First United Bank Center.
Buffs given little time to savor winning ways
West Texas A&M men's basketball coach Rick Cooper was speaking to the media Saturday night shortly after the Buffs' 79-68 victory against Southwestern Oklahoma State.
Buffs break out in second half
Southwestern Oklahoma State wasn't hot Saturday night. It was White hot.
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1. Creative financing: At first glance, this seems mind-boggling -- Oklahoma City made a move that will pay backup forward/center Nick Collison $13.3 million this season. That's more than Steve Nash, Chauncey Billups and Manu Ginobili are being paid, and it makes Collison the highest-paid player on the Thunder.
How and why? ESPN.com's Marc Stein reports that the move is a piece of salary cap creativity by GM Sam Presti, who signed Collison to a four-year extension worth $11 million, but paid $6.5 million as a signing bonus, which counts against the Thunder's cap for this season. OKC was $6.5 million under the cap this season, and space would have shrunk in future seasons, when Kevin Durant's max extension kicks in.
Meanwhile, the rest of Collision's extension will be paid in decreasing yearly increments, going down to $2.2 million in the deal's final season, 2014-15. That gives Presti the flexibility to grant an extension to Russell Westbrook and consider re-signing Jeff Green when he becomes a restricted free agent next summer.
Meanwhile, Collison -- a well-liked role player who has been with the franchise through four seasons in Seattle and three more in Oklahoma City -- gets a chance to finish his career with the only NBA franchise he's ever played for.
Collison also is the lone player who has been Durant's teammate during Durant's entire NBA career, and the Thunder's star forward gave a big thumbs up to the deal via Twitter, writing: "Congrats to my brother Nick Collison for signing his extension!!! He really deserves it..best teammate any player can ask for."
2. Speaking of clever: Kobe Bryant might have brushed off the Lakers' Christmas day matchup against the Heat as just another game, but apparently Nike thinks it's special.
Our local shoe giant has come up with a special pair of Bryant's signature shoes, the Nike Zoom Kobe VI. Trey Kerby of thebasketballjones.com reports that Bryant will wear a pair of green Grinch-colored shoes -- that's right, colored to match the legendary character from "How the Grinch Stole Christmas."
Ah, if this just happened a decade ago, we could've been saying how Bryant could pass to Tyronn Lue Who.
Center Yao Ming and point guard Aaron Brooks are out for another week or two with ankle injuries.
That's forced coach Rick Adelman to accelerate the learning curve for his young bench players. The Houston Chronicle's Jonathan Feigen reports that Adelman called Courtney Lee, Chase Budinger and Jordan Hill into his office Sunday for individual meetings at which he told them they needed to take better advantage of their increased playing time.
"It meant a lot," Lee tells Feigen. "He's holding us accountable. Us three guys, we've been waiting for an opportunity to get out there and try to impact the game and help the starters out. It was a good feeling. By the time Jordan came out, it was like, 'Hmm, he just talked to us three. We have to turn it up.' "
Hill, the No. 8 pick in the 2009 by the Knicks, had 14 points and 10 rebounds in a loss to Phoenix on Monday. He had been languishing on the Knicks bench before he went to Houston in the three-team February trade that sent Tracy McGrady's expiring contract to New York (not to mention Sergio Rodriguez from the Kings).
Hill is an athletic 6-10 forward/center who started in basketball late but seemingly has a lot of upside, so it will be interesting to see if Adelman can get more from him than Mike D'Antoni did in New York.
4. Speaking of the Knicks: Just a week ago, the Knicks were in a bad place, with Amare Stoudemire muttering about the team's lack of urgency as it was mired in a losing streak that would reach six games. Here was a team that some thought had a shot at the playoffs being booed by its own fans.
And now? The Knicks have won four games in a row, capped by last night's 110-107 home victory over Charlotte improved them to 7-8, which would be good enough to make the playoffs if they started today.
The catalyst has been point guard Raymond Felton, who some saw as a stopgap between the present and the Knicks making a run at the Hornets' Chris Paul, which looks less less realistic by the day. In the four wins, Felton averaged 21.7 points and 7.5 assists.
Felton helped the Bobcats make the playoffs for the first time last season, but Charlotte opted to let the Knicks have him for $7.5 million per season. He made two free throws with 2.1 seconds left to sew up the win.
Felton and his former backup, D.J. Augustin, get to battle again tonight, this time in Charlotte. "That's my little young fella, it was difficult, but once you're out there it's game time, and I have to fight for my team and he has to win for his," Felton said.
5. Helping out: The Blazers took Tuesday off, but only from practice. Members of the team and franchise took part in their annual Harvest Dinner at Rose Garden, serving 5,300 holiday meals and offering such free services as haircuts, flu shots, family photography, pet care and more.
The event was held for the 15th consecutive year, and as colleague Jason Quick wrote in 2007, is one of the great things the franchise does for the community.
Also on the Blazers: Joel Przybilla tells Quick his is 90 percent sure he will play Friday, and ex-Blazer Ime Udoka has signed with the Spurs.
-- Mike Tokito
Follow him on Twitter


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On Feb 17, 9:46 am, "Bear Bottoms" <bearbotto...@gmai.com> wrote:[color=blue][color=green]
> > It is the expectation of many people in forums and the usenet that if
> > they have a question which could be easily answered by looking up in
> > the manual, google, wikipedia or similar they expect all people in the
> > group to look it up and at least a few of them present the answer.
> > Some even complain if you write them "see page 10 of the manual".[/color]
> While that is a good point...it is not just about the person who asked.
> Once the question is asked, a lot of people want to know...and if someone
> does what (I'll grant you that) the op should have provided, IMO...is a
> good thing. To just bitch at the op who should have provided it, still
> leaves a gap and accomplishes very little beyond a bitch.[/color]
Where exactly is the bitching if you tell someone that he can find the
information easily with google or wikipedia? I agree with bitching if
it was not easy to find with google. But if you find several extensive
explanations of something using the verbatim topic in question
("shatter attack") within the first 10 hits of google and if the first
hit is an extensive wikipedia article on the topic I don't see the
bitching. You just enter the "shatter attack" and it is right there.
You can even press the "I feel lucky" button of google and it takes
you directly there.
So I agree with you it would be some bitching if it would take
multiple attempts to find the best search words and then some
extensive reading because some of the hits are misleading. But in this
case like in many similar cases I don't see the bitching if the
information really pops up just by entering what you are looking for.
Enter it in google and you'll find it immediately. Enter it in
wikipedia and you'll find it immediately. That is too easy and I don't
see the problem pointing someone into the same direction.