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" Mario Kart is a fast paced, action packed racing game which is especially great to play with friends. Whilst online game modes can be problematic, this is a small price to pay for the hours of fun that can be had. "
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Having a number of years ago loved the original Mario Kart game I have always hoped for a new version that will live up to what I hoped for in a sequel and thankfully I have found one and unbelievably it is on the DS.
Mario Kart is very much a simple premise in that the best loved characters from the Mario world including such greats as Mario, Yoshi, Princess Peach and Wario taking part in races to compete for cups.
What makes Mario Kart different then? Well there are plenty of answers to this but the main thing I love is the system of missiles you have to trip up your opponents and give yourself the best chance of winning. The missiles are picked up as you drive the laps and are random so that you can''t simply pick the very best one and keep on firing it so you need to hope that your opponents don''t get the better of you in the missiles they collect. This for me is a really fun part of the game as it makes it a real racing game but one with a fun twist that is so well executed that it really does just add to the whole experience.
The controls as you would expect of a Mario game are perfect for what the player needs and so it takes no time to get up to speed with how to play the game and so this is something that anyone would be able to play without having too much difficulty (children may take a little more time to get the hang of it but that is normal for most games).
Overall this is a great game that lives up to all those who have played previous Mario Kart games would hope for and pushes the franchise on even further. The simple controls and easy gameplay add to the game rather than detract from it and with the graphics being amongst the best I have seen on the DS it is a great one for all who own a DS to have (or those who know someone with a DS to get so they can sneak a play).
For those that have never played mario kart before, you are seriously missing out! The Mario Kart series appears to be loved by all that play it and the DS version fits into the Mario Kart collection nicely doing a grand job. The basic premise of Mario Kart is that it is a racing game where you are given a generous supply of power-ups that you can use against other racers or to give yourself boosts. These power-ups form a key part of the Mario Kart experience and make for great combative fun.
It plays very similarly to Mario Kart Double Dash on the Gamecube or even Mario Kart Wii (if you use the classic controller). Handling is excellent and there are a vast array of pickups that are the same as mariokart wii. The difficulty balancing seems spot-on in this version, something that could've potentially been a source of great frustration given that single-player is probably the mode that gets played the most on DS.
By far the best feature of this version is the ability to play with other DS users who are nearby using only the 1 cartridge! I would highly recommend trying this out because Mario Kart is at its most fun by far when playing with friends.
== Mario Kart Game for Nintendo DS ==
Mario Kart is possibly one of those timeless games that everyone is familiar with, and continues to enjoy whatever their age. I first played this at a family get-together on the wii and enjoyed it so much I had to buy it on DS, so here is my review:
== Packaging ==
The game card comes in the standard size DS box with the Nintendo DS logo down the left-hand side. The front features Mario and his kart, on a white background with the title of the game on top. In my opinion, the design is quite boring; they could have incorporated one of the colourful backdrops featured in the game. However, I don't think it would stop children locating it on the shop shelf because Mario is such a well-known character.
Inside the box there is an instruction manual clipped into the left, and the game is on the right. The game-card is easy to take in and out because one side is clear of plastic. There is also another slot above the game... but in all honesty, I have no idea what it is for and have never found a use for it! The small box is easy to store away because of its size (roughly 25 x 18 x 2 cm) and it protects the contents from damage. Overall, pretty standard game packaging!
== Game Play ===
On the welcome screen you have the option of Single Player, Multiplayer, Nintendo WFC (wi-fi connections), Records and Options. For the purpose of this review I will be reviewing the Single Player mode, because I am guessing the other options are self-explanatory.
On the next screen, there are the following options:
Grand Prix - featuring 8 different cups of 4 different tracks. Each race gives you a number of points depending on your position in the race and your total at the end of the four races gives you your final position.
Time Trials - this is a single player mode where the goal is to get the best time on each track.
VS - in single player mode you race against the computer and in multiplayer mode you race against your friends
Battle - features Balloon Battle (you have five balloons that you need to inflate then protect, whilst trying to pop your opponents) and Shine Runners (collecting 'shines' from a map by driving into them or stealing them off your opponents).
Missions - featuring six groups of levels where your performance is rated based in terms of stars or letters.
Once you have picked what type of game you wish to play, you select which character you want and the type of kart to race in. Fans of the Mario series will recognise their favourite characters, which is a great advantage! You can unlock more characters and karts the more you play. On the next screen you can choose to race in 50cc (the easiest), 100cc or 150cc (the hardest) karts.
Obviously, the purpose of the game is to win a race, and you can do this by keeping on the track, manoeuvring around your opponents and picking up boxes. The boxes give you a helping hand. You might receive traps that you use to distract your opponents from the race or boosts to make yourself even faster. The game is very easy to play... you generally only need to use the accelerator and direction buttons. I do not tend to use the brake, although there is one if you are used to using one! You also have to press another button to plant traps in the paths of your opponents, but you can generally do this without taking your finger off the accelerator! I think it would be very easy for children and adults alike to pick up.
The graphics are quite simplified but very colourful, which is very appealing. The characters are very clear, even when they are racing past you. Obviously they are not the most amazing graphics in the videogame business, but I do not think they need to be! The music on the option screens can get repetitive and annoying. I much prefer the game play sounds where you can hear the other characters shouting 'yippee' as they go past you, or subtly cursing you if you trip them up! I do tend to play the game without sound, and game play is just as good.
== Price and Availability ==
This game has been out for quite some time now, and newer versions (including one for the 3DS) of the game have since been released. However, this means that you can pick up Mario Kart quite cheaply now. You can get the game in all good game retailers, but I would suggest looking at eBay, Amazon sellers and play.com. You can expect to pay around £15-20 for this game, which is a bargain!
== Overall Opinion ===
I only have three games on my DS... I'm not an avid videogame player as you can tell! However, this remains, by far, my favourite of the bunch. Anyone who remembers and loved playing Crash Team Racing on Playstation 1 will love this game. Or if you are a fan of Mario in general, you will not be disappointed.
You can never 'complete' the game, which means you can constantly go back to it and try to beat your lap records! Needless to say, I will not be getting rid of my copy any time soon. Thoroughly recommended!
Also published on Ciao under the username Strawberry_123
Mario Kart has been a staple in the average gamer's diet for many years, across different consoles or platforms, but perhaps one of the best versions of the game currently available is this: Mario Kart DS, for, you guessed it, the Nintendo DS.
My friends and I bought our Nintendo DS's when we were about 18 years old, and I am now 22, so they have seen a lot of use, and this game was pretty much the whole reason why we invested in the console!
About Mario Kart DS in General
As you probably could have guessed, Mario Kart is a racing game based on various characters from across the Mario franchise, each with their own specific skills, traits and karts.
When you start the game, you are given the choice of playing single player, multiplayer, searching for opponents on Nintendo WFC, accessing your records or changing the options.
I will tell you more about the modes available for both single and multiplayer games, but I think the most important element to tell you about is the items. What gives this racing game the edge is that although you might not be in a good position in the race in the beginning, you can help yourself climb the positions by using items such as turtle shells, star power, bananas and speed boosts. Some items affect the other players and hold them back, whereas others improve your own performance. This makes the game that much more playable because even if you haven't played it before you can be in with a chance of winning!
Single Player Gameplay
As a single player you can take part in a Grand Prix, where you can compete in the Mushroom, Flower, Star, Special, Shell, Banana, Leaf or Lightening Cup, and you race in four races to complete a Grand Prix.
You also have the option of taking part in a time trial, and you can either race yourself from previous attempts, or you can download your friend's "ghosts" or if you get really good you can access the ghosts of the staff who programmed Mario Kart DS.
The third option for single players is VS, which allows you to play each of the races separately without having to go through a whole Grand Prix, which is good for those who might be a little bit short on time but still fancy a go.There is also the option to play in a battle, which can be one of two:
*Balloon Battle - you have to burst opponents' balloons with items, but if all your inflated balloons burst, you lose. To blow them up to stop yourself losing, you can blow into the DS mic.
*Shine Runners - Collect "shines", either from the map or stealing from other opponents. Those with less shines get booted out over time, and the person with the most wins!
Lastly there are missions, where there are six groups of mini levels to attempt, and you are rated on your performance by letters or stars depending on how well you have done.
Multiplayer Gameplay
The first person to go into the multiplayer option has the chance to host the game, so you press create a group and then everyone else can join it. You can choose how the races will pan out, by choosing the speed of the vehicles, whether or not your have computer players and their level of difficulty, and whether it is the first to win a certain number of races, or if you want to earn points for positions.
Unlocking Further Game Options
You have about 12 characters and a selection of karts to choose from when you first start playing Mario Kart DS, but you can also earn yourself more options by completing the previously mentioned Grand Prixs.If you complete all the 50CC Grand Prixs with gold trophies you can unlock Daisy and Bones. If you complete all the 100CC Grand Prixs with gold trophies you can unlock Waluigi and several new karts. If you complete all the 150CC Grand Prixs with gold trophies you can unlock more karts, and if you complete all the mirror 150CC Grand Prixs you unlock all the remaining karts.
The Nintendo DS was never created to be an amazing hand held console for graphics, so these aren't spectacular, but they are ok for the speed of the game and the gameplay. Myself and my friends due to our age sometimes play this as a drinking game, so the graphics matter even less in this situation! But I doubt it would be something that would bother younger children, and older children will know this is much the same in both the Wii version of the game and the new Nintendo 3DS version.
I have to admit I usually keep the sound turned down when I play as it really gets on my nerves! It is ok for a little while, but the music is the same over and over each time you play a course, and when you play it as much as I do that's a lot of times you're going to hear it!
I prefer to either talk to my friends if we are playing together, or put my own music on to listen to, that way it's a bit more varied!
My Opinion
As I stated at the very beginning of my review the main reason I bought a Nintendo DS was for this game, and I haven't been left disappointed! Although I have bought other games and they have since come and gone, I would never ever consider getting rid of my copy of Mario Kart DS because it gets so much use, and I always go back to it.
It is another great game for bringing people together, though in our case there is often a great deal of aggression when the same people are being hit by items when they were doing well, over and over again!I would say that the best part of this game is the multiplayer - yes it is good that you can play it on your own if there is no one else to play with, but it brings people together if you are all in the same room, or you can also play with people via Nintendo WFC. I haven't managed to do this yet as the security settings on our internet are too strict and I can't connect yet due to the firewalls etc. I do think it is a good feature to have, but I can't tell you how reliable the connection can be.
I bought this pretty much when the DS came out, so I probably paid quite a bit, maybe about £25? But I can't remember exactly - sorry! A few searches reveal that currently the prices online are:
*Amazon - £21.97
*Play.com - £23.99
*HMV.com £24.99
*Zavvi - £24.95
Also published on Ciao
My nine year old son has owned a DS console for a few years now, with this Mario Kart game being one that has maintained its status as a firm favourite for around two years now. Despite being released back in 2005, this game has remained a popular classic for the DS and, consequently, has maintained a high selling price.
===Basic Concept===
Mario Kart is a fun racing game for the DS console, featuring the classic Mario character, alongside other favourites including Donkey Kong and Luigi. Players can choose to play as various characters and race against others in a series of different styles of race, circuits and tournaments. Additional characters, courses and content can be unlocked during the course of the game, by winning trophies, offering variety and giving the game greater longevity.
===Play Value===
As a fun character based racing game, this is a fairly engaging and simple game to get to grips with. The racing car is controlled using the console keys with the stylus not needed at all.
There are several different modes available which all offer more variety and complexity to a straightforward racing game. It is fun collecting missiles along the routes and trying to outwit and outmanoeuvre opponents, as well as dodging those banana skins!
My son tends to play on the Grand Prix mode but there are also Time Trials which give the player the opportunity to constantly improve their speed and performance by trying to beat their own previous time. There are also a series of fairly short 'Mission Mode' mini games which help to offer variety and promote the game's longlasting appeal.
===Age Recommendations===
Given the simplicity of controlling the vehicles, this is a game that can readily be enjoyed by even the youngest of players. As a racing game, reading ability isn't an issue here so this is a good choice for non-readers. My four year old son does struggle to master the direction controls with enough co-ordination to come anywhere close to winning a race, but he enjoys the experience of playing nevertheless. Realistically, I would recommend this to children from around five or six upwards, by which age they should be able to control their vehicles well enough not to become too frustrated or bored.
At the upper end of the age limit, this really is a game that has a nostalgic appeal for adults and is also surprisingly addictive. The game does become more challenging as the player works their way through the circuits. There are three different difficulty levels which helps to accommodate younger (or, in my case, less competent) players as well as offering more complexity for seasoned racers.
Mario Kart works very well on a small console with the two screens being utilised very well to give both an overview of the whole track as well as following the progress of your own Kart. The cartoon-like images are bright and fun, making the game appealing to follow. I do find that the split-screen racing can make me feel a little nauseous if I've been playing or watching the game for a while although that's not something that ever seems to affect my son or husband, however long they play.
===Multiplayer Options===
The main attraction to this game and a real bonus compared to the majority of DS games is that Mario Kart can be played by two players simultaneously, using only the one DS cartridge across different consoles. Linking up the DS consoles for this multiplayer option is very straightforward, making it something that my nine year old can do independently within seconds. This makes the game first choice for taking to Grandma's house where my son is able to compete against his cousin, even though his cousin doesn't have a copy of this game. Mario Kart also gets taken to Kids' Club during school holidays, again as it gives the game much more appeal when it can be used interactively with friends. Apparantly, up to eight different consoles can be connected using just the one game, which could lead to all sorts of chaos!
It is also possible to connect via wi-fi to other players elsewhere but my son gets much more pleasure from competing (or working as part of a team) with somebody who is actually playing in the same room as him. This multiplayer element really does make the game excellent value for money, particularly from a parents' perspective as I don't need to purchase another cartridge in order for my boys to compete against each other on their respective consoles. Dad particularly likes this feature too!
===Value for Money===
This game is still widely available but expect to spend around £20-£25 for a new cartridge which is at the expensive end for older DS games. I feel that even at this price the game offers excellent value for money, given the overall play value and ongoing appeal, particularly with its multiplayer functions.
As a parent, I'm happy to recommend this as a game that has the potential to entertain a young child, without frustrating them, but can also grow with the youngster and offer ongoing challenges and longlasting appeal across the generations. This is pricey for a DS game but is a worthy investment and also has the potential to maintain a high resale price as a second hand game.
Super Mario is probably one of the most iconic characters in video game history and Mario Kart is undoubtedly one of the most enduringly classic games. It is an entertaining, and strangely addictive, character-based racing game which is fun for the whole family. I remember playing Mario Kart on the original 'Super Nintendo Entertainment System' in our student house in the mid-90s in gaming sessions which grew increasingly competitive as the beer flowed. I also have fond memories of playing it on the Nintendo 64 against my then boyfriend (now husband) in our first ever home. We have also owned the versions for the Gameboy Advance, the Wii and the Nintendo DS - and it is the current Nintendo DS version that will be the focus of this particular review.
**Basic Gameplay**
The Nintendo DS version of Mario Kart, like all previous versions of the game, features the classic Mario characters. These will be instantly recognisable to fans of the Super Mario franchise and include Mario himself, Luigi, Princess Peach, Yoshi, Bowser, Donkey Kong, Koopa Troopa and Toad. These eight characters appeared in the first version of Mario Kart. All the characters have slightly different attributes and racing styles, but most devotees of the Mario Kart series will already have their own favourites. After a brief flirtation with Yoshi in my younger days, I almost always race as Mario these days. You also get a choice of 2 karts for each character.
After selecting your character, you enter a race against 7 other characters. I mostly play in the Grand Prix mode where you have to compete in a series of four races and hopefully accumulate enough points in those races to finish on top of the podium. During the races, you drive into flashing blocks to collect items to help your quest for victory. These include many of the items from the original games - red shells to fire at the character immediately in front of you, green shells to aim at other players (or bounce around at random hoping to hit somebody) , a star to make you invincible, lightening to shrink everyone else and banana skins to trip up the characters behind you. There are also a few newer items such as the one that turns you into a bomb and flies you round the course... I find that you only get the really good items when you are near the back of the race, if you're right out in front you're lucky if you get anything much better than a banana skin!
Visually, Mario Kart works really well on the split screen Nintendo DS as you get a third-person view of your character and their kart on the top screen, and a map showing the track layout / positions of your opponents on the bottom screen. The graphics are very good, they are simple enough not to detract from the gameplay which I think is especially important for younger players, but incorporate all the features you would want from a game of this type.
One of my favourite elements of the Nintendo DS version of Mario Kart is that it features some of the circuits from previous versions of the game. There are four Grand Prix sets which have all new circuits and then a further four which have 'Retro' circuits. Each of the two sets of Grand Prix circuits increase in difficulty - the first two sets (the 'Mushroom Cup' in the new 'Nitro Grand Prix' series and the 'Shell Cup' in the 'Retro Grand Prix' series) are fairly easy, but by the time you get to the last few races it has often become a real challenge to stay on the track. There are 32 different circuits in all, and you can compete on those circuits at 50cc, 100cc and 150cc levels. The faster you go, the more difficult it is to win.
**Other Modes**
Apart from the Grand Prix mode, the following modes are also available. In '' Vs mode'' , you simply choose one individual track to race against the computer-controlled opponents. ''Time Trial' mode allows you to attempt to set the fastest time for an individual track, which is then saved as 'ghost data' that you can attempt to beat later on by racing against a ghost version of your character. There is also a 'Battle Mode' with two different games - the balloon battle where you have to use items to burst your opponents balloons, and 'Shine Runners' where you have to collect more 'Shines' than anyone else. The final mode is a 'Mission Mode' which uses mini games such as driving through five numbered gates in order to enhance your driving skills - you have to complete each mission to move on to the next. This is a fun mode for younger players as each game doesn't last very long and completing it gives them a sense of achievement.
**Final Thoughts**
Mario Kart DS is a fantastic game which provides hours of entertainment. The challenge of progressing through the Grand Prix mode, unlocking different circuits and then trying to win the cup at all three levels, gives the game enduring playability as it does take a reasonable amount of time to complete it, even if you're a far better player than I am. It is a brilliant game for younger gamers too - my five year old adores it and doesn't even get too frustrated when he doesn't win, as he enjoys playing it so much. The retro element of including tracks from the older versions of Mario Kart will appeal to anyone who has grown up with the game, and it also makes a good conversation point with younger players. Overall, I would definitely recommend Mario Kart DS, both to existing fans of the franchise and to anybody who hasn't yet given it a try.
Mario Kart DS is the latest in the series of racers that have graced Nintendo's consoles over the years. There have been massive advances in computing power during that time, which the games have always taken advantage of; yet the core gameplay - the series' main appeal - has remained relatively unchanged. Mario Kart DS is not about to break this winning formula and turns in a fantastic little racer that should form part of any DS owners collection.
As in previous installations, Mario Kart DS sees you taking part in a number of races against other Nintendo characters, aiming to prove you are the best around a series of increasingly tricky courses. Power-ups can help you win the race, by boosting your performance or sabotaging that of your opponent, whilst there are plenty of new characters and courses to be unlocked as a reward for good racing.
The graphics for Mario Kart DS are generally excellent. Characters are detailed and full of personality and if you know your Nintendo game worlds, you will instantly recognise Mario, Donkey Kong, and many others. Even if you're not terribly familiar with the characters, each has genuinely different characteristics, attitudes and abilities, so you feel you are racing against "real" characters, even when playing in single player mode. For once, your character selection really does make a difference to the way you race; smaller characters like Yoshi are nippier, but more easily barged off the track; larger ones like Donkey Kong are a little sluggish off the mark, but great at cornering
There's also a tremendous amount of variety in the graphics, with each track based around popular Nintendo games which make the most of different locations. Some are new but, recognising the growing retro market, Nintendo have recreated some tracks from earlier Mario racing games. Like so much else in the game, this blend of old and new strengthens the game tremendously, giving it instant appeal to returning gamers whilst producing enough new elements to keep them happy.
Impressive track design has always been a mainstay of the Mario racing series. Tracks are varied, both graphically and in terms of their layout. Some are short and fast, others have more bends and take longer to complete. Yet, this is not meant to be a grand prix simulator, so tracks are not packed with chicanes or other tricky features. Instead, they are generally very wide, giving plenty of opportunities for overtaking, which is what the game is really all about. This adds a tremendous sense of competition and rivalry to the game, putting the concentration on racing, rather than realism.
Presentation throughout is of the highest quality and the bright, colourful graphics make the game instantly appealing. Whilst the graphics are necessarily small, they work very well. Tracks are well laid out and delineated and it's easy to see what's coming up, thanks to a map of the track, so that you can choose the best racing line and avoid hazards ahead of you.
Ironically, for a racing game, there isn't a great illusion of speed. Even when travelling flat out, you never feel like you're hurtling along and there's none of that breathless thrill that you get from most racing games. This is partly down to the technical limitations of the DS, but it's also because speed is not really what Mario Kart DS is about; instead, it's about the fun of racing against other people and using the various power-ups to your advantage.
As ever, the game play is perfectly balanced both in terms of fairness and its learning curve. The opening tracks in the 50cc category will offer most gamers no real problems, but they do give you a chance to get used to the controls and the game mechanics. On later tracks, opponents become more aggressive, bumping and barging you out of the way and obstacles and hazards become trickier and more numerous. Throw in the unpredictable nature of power-ups (which rival racers will also use to nobble your chances of winning) and you have a really fun racing title.
The difficulty level is perfectly pitched between fun and frustrating. The computer controlled racers have a genuinely impressive artificial intelligence, always carefully choosing the optimum moment to hit you with a negative power-up. This can lead to howls of frustration when you are just about to win a race only for one of your opponents play a dirty trick. Even then, that frustration is always tinged with fun; there's never any sense that the game is being unfair, only playing an intelligent game and doing exactly what you would do in their shoes. And, of course, you get a feeling of immense satisfaction when the tables are turned and you scupper their chances with a well-chosen power-up!
Even when you complete all the tracks, there's always the challenge of going back and bettering your time. Alternatively, you can choose some of the other game modes, which are equally good fun. Mission gives you a number of challenges to complete, usually against the clock and whilst these are fairly simplistic and easy to do, they are still quite fun. There's a fiendishly addictive "ghost mode" where you can race against the best times set on each track (either your own, or those of other players) and see if you can beat them.
Best of all, there's an excellent two player mode where you can play either online, or with a friend (who doesn't even need to own the game to join in the fun). There's always far more fun to be had battling against another human player (particularly if they are in the same room) and these modes really get your competitive juices flowing and add to the long-term appeal of the game.
The game's controls have been well thought out and use the DS's D-Pad to great effect so that your fingers naturally fall onto the required keys. The controls are very tight and responsive and you will soon find yourself able to drive your way out of some potentially tricky situations.
Mario Kart DS is an unashamedly fun and old-fashioned title. Its bright, colourful graphics provide instant appeal whilst the surprisingly deep and highly addictive game play will see you spend a worrying amount of time attached to your DS. Throw in a perfectly balanced learning curve and difficulty level, plenty of unlockable features, and more fun than you can shake a stick at, and you have one of the DS's standout titles.
Mario Kart is pretty old now, but is still quite expensive to buy. A new copy will cost somewhere around £20, whilst a second hand one can be found for just over a tenner. Forget the cost, though; this is one game that offers hours of fun for the whole family and so represents great value for money. Buy Mario Kart DS and prepare to kiss your spare time goodbye!
© Copyright SWSt 2010
Playing some games on the Nintendo DS are sadly not that great but others are exceptional and this game is one of those which I find exceptional. Mario has been a fantastic game to play on any of the Nintendo consoles and this is one of those which stand out to me.
You play as a wide range of characters and your aim is to win grandprixs. The task sounds simple and to some it might be but sometimes it can be very difficult. You begin by picking a set speed of a race and when you have you pick a grand prix trophy to aim for.
You aim for the trophy by competing in four grand prixs and they are all different to each other. Your aim is to try your best to win the top prize the gold trophy. When you win the trophies you unlock new grand prix trophies to obtain.
When you win more trophies you unlock new players and speeds to play at. You can pick a range of characters such as Mario, Luigi, Princess and more. When you are playing the grand prix races the selection of your kart is essential but so is the tactics you employ to win the main trophies.
You can pick up question mark boxes which have weapons in to assist you and sometimes they can do the opposite. Your tactics is to use whatever force you can in order to win the top prizes.
If you feel this is a good challenge then you are on to a winner however not all the time does this happen. You might find that when the speed of the races increase the tactics of the other players increases to cause you more mayhem.
You can play with friends should you wish which can be really exciting and fun as well. If you want to practice various circuits you can and overall there are many characters to choose from and over 30 karts to have and pick.
You will encounter roads near grass, bridges, ice and more when taking on the grand prixs and the sounds are essential as they can warn you when an enemy has fired at you or someone else.
You can take part in ghost runs which is where you can test various cars against your best scores to see if the speed and handling is better and that is all in the game.
I have found even when I completed the game I couldn't put the game down but I did in the end and I am glad I have managed to play such a fun game. The graphics are exactly very good and I find them find good when it comes to colours such as the green and reds. The game play at times can pause I feel when too much is taking place on the screen but overall it is a very good game to play.
The Mario Kart series has been something of a phenomenon for the Nintendo following, with the original entry hitting the SNES when I was still at the tender age of five, it's fair to say it passed me by. I had a brief fling with it many years later and found it great fun but for myself and many others, Mario Kart 64 was the game that we fell in love with. I think it's fair to say that Mario Kart DS is not only cut from the same cloth but woven in a similar fashion. As such, fans of the Mario Kart series are really going to love this.
Mario Kart is the series credited with turning Nintendo's main franchise into a series of sporty spin-offs. By agreeing to duke it out on the racetrack, Mario along with his friends and foes have forged quite a little gang. One week they're go-karting, the next they'll be enjoying a tennis tournament. While many of these spin-offs have a lot of appeal, Mario Golf is particularly good fun, Mario Kart has always been the real success story.
At it's core, the Mario Kart series is a flexible, bouncy racing game. It offers familiar characters from the Mario series and a selection of colourful environments to race in. A selection of colourful items can be used as weapons in this wacky races style affair. Firing off shells like torpedos, changing into a giant bullet or sending a spooky ghost to steal things from other players, there's always something new happening. Gameplay is solid and highly addictive with all entries in the series being first rate.
This time around the gang consists of Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach, Toad, Donkey Kong, Bowser and Wario. Each racer is given a different car that is generally styled after them, Yoshi drives around in an egg for example, but you can also choose to use the standard kart. This gives each character a small choice between different strengths and weaknesses on top of their own unique driving styes. It's a varied approach and keeps things interesting. Racing is a strong and positive experience with all characters and you never feel as though you'd picked the dud, all tracks are winnable with any combination of characters or speed class so long as the player is proficient.
Mario Kart is in something of a strange position. It is the fourth game in the series, coming after critically acclaimed first and second titles but a lukewarm reception to Double Dash on the Gamecube. As such, Mario Kart DS seems to be a little more picky about where it draws its inspiration from. It drops the two-man kart feature of Double Dash and returns to a more simplified gameplay. It also takes a lot of cues from Mario Kart 64, with level design evoking the more outlandish feel of those older tracks.
The control system is great here for a lot of reasons. Firstly, Nintendo have taken the very wise decision to leave the stylus out of things. The touchscreen is only used for navigating menus, a real joy as the action in this title really gets too fast to expect touch control to work. Instead they have mapped steering to the D-Pad and other controls to the face and shoulder buttons. It's simple but solid and never disappoints.
Graphically, this game impresses. Mario Kart 64 offered excellent graphics on the Nintendo 64 by creating pre-rendered characters within a 3D environment. It gave the racers a smoother look that was very effective but gave them significantly restricted animations. This allowed the developers to give the race tracks a little more oomph. This time around Nintendo have used the extra power of the DS to create race tracks that are to a slightly higher standard than Mario Kart 64 while providing fully animated, real-time rendered racers. The odd effect is that while the models don't actually look as sophisticated, racing is a much better experience and the tracks and characters fit together more coherently.
There is a wide selection of tracks available in this version with the main tournament consisting of four cups with four tracks each. It also includes the retro tournament, another sixteen tracks taken entirely from earlier Mario Kart games. The new tracks are all excellent designs and totally in keeping with what we've come to expect while the old tracks are absolutely the cream of the crop from the previous three years. My particular favourites are taken from the original SNES release and are lovely to play in 3D.
Mario Kart DS is another must own for DS owners. It offers a huge selection of race tracks as well as wi-fi multiplayer. Repeat playing is encouraged and rewarding and there's always more to do. Offering three different speed classes and many different characters, there's a lot to offer to young and old, experienced and new and Mario fans or newcomers. It's a great game.
I had this game as a bundle when i got my original Nintendo DS. It came in the box and therefore was not to be sold seperately but i don't intend selling it as it is one of the best games on the DS for everyone.
Mario Kart has been on most if not all Nintendo consoles from the Snes days right up until the Wii. It is very popular worldwide and is simply brilliant.
The DS version is great. The grahpics are outstanding and to be fair are probably as good as the Gamecube in my opinion. The top screen is for the actual race/ you racing and the bottom screen is used for the map.
The control's are simple and are east for everyone of all ages.
The game runs the same as all the other Mario Kart games: unlocking cups and speed classes. However this time there is also online mode. This is the first Mario Kart game to go online as the Wii version came out later.
There are 4 DS cups and 4 Classic cups. The classic cups consist of a few courses from previous consoles. You have to unlock the next cup by completing the previous one. Each cups has 4 courses in them and they are all fun and unique.
Another thing is the speed classes. At first you only have 50cc which is quite slow, but once you have completed it you get to unlock 100cc, and then same onto 150cc.
Online mode is the new addition. I think it's great as it means you can't really get bored despite completing the game as when you play online you don't know what's going to happen. There is one major problem however online. It's called 'Snaking'. This is when people playing keep jumping and turbo bossting really quickly from left to right, this may seem fair but in fact it isn't as it means when i see their player on my screen they going ultra-fast and are going like a Snake.
Apart from some 'Snakers', Mario Kart DS is a great online game. It is suitable for all ages, whether your a kid, or even for adults. It uses the full potential of the DS's graphics and is truly great. As i have said in a review before about the Mario Kart Wii version: your console would not be complete without it!
Definately recomend, and you can get it alot cheaper nowadays!
It's very rare that a game is regarded as an essential for a console, but this game is an exception. If you have a Nintendo DS, you need Mario Kart DS.
Mario Kart DS is a simple racing game at heart, but there is so much content and variety that it is only a matter of time before this game becomes an addiction.
On their own, the player can choose to play through a basic grand prix, unlocking new characters and vehicles and gaining trophies and highscores.
Players can also participate in time trials, simple races and challenges such as boss fights from classic mario games.
However, the real meat of this game is in the multiplayer, online and off mulitplayer is easily accessable. Offline, you can link up to up to 3 other friends using only one copy of the game.
Online, is even easier to access; players can compete locally, with friends or worldwide.
Mario Kart DS runs smoothly throughout, and looks brilliant on the DS. The items players can use against each other are perfectly balanced and are gained depending on your current position.
Player can choose from an array of Mario related characters and choose all sorts of vehicles, if that wasn't enough, player can create personal emblems to really leave their mark on the track.
Overall, Mario Kart DS is one of the best portable racers, one of those games that can be played for minutes or hours at a time - the perfect portable game. It is also one of the best ways to experience the DS online capabilities.
The Mario Kart franchise is one that has been around for ages on the Nintendo and seems to be getting improved upon with each new genre of the game. There are no real surprises then, that this game is still retailing around the upper levels of DS games, £25-£30, despite having been round for five years now.
If you've never played the game in one of its many formats, where have you been?!? The game is a karting race between yourself and seven other competitors, who can be controlled by the computer or your friends via the DS wireless link up system. To do this, your friends do not need a copy of the game, just a DS and the game really comes in to its own when you're frantically racing around against a pal!
Along with a choice of different karts and characters (expect the usual friends of other Mario games to pop up) the race is made more competitive by the choice of items that can be collected throughout each race, liberally sprinkled throughout each lap of each course. The items are provided in an unofficial handicap so expect to get the best or most destructive items if you're in last place and you'll soon find yourself finishing on the podium. This can be frustrating if you're an experienced player and you find yourself getting beat by someone playing for the first time, but how else do you think people get addicted to this game?!?
With more play and succesful completion of the 30 odd courses, more characters and karts can be unlocked to improve your gaming options. Fans of earlier incarnations of the game will recognise that some of the courses have been re-created from the N64 version of it.
Whether you want to play this game against friends, or enjoy the highly entertaining solo mission mode, this game has something for everyone. If you've got a DS and you still haven't bought this game, go out and buy it now, you will not be disappointed!
Mario Kart is one of the most recognisable games and most popular games around on any console and is a great franchise. Mario Kart is one of Nintendo's biggest games. This version for me on the Nintendo DS is one of the best to date.
There is of course no real story to Mario Kart and you know what you are going to get with this game if you've played it before on a different console. It's still a race around various tracks and courses against famous Nintendo characters. Mario Kart for the DS relies on using various items to win races. But above all you are still largely reliant on the skill of driving.
The first thing you need to do before starting a race is of course choose your character. You can choose from eight characters. Each of these has their own attributes and strengths and weaknesses. There are also different karts to choose from. You only get the choice of two at the start but as you progress through the game you get to choose more and more and unlock others. To add to the interest and challenge the karts also have their own strengths and weaknesses as is the case with the characters.
There are about 32 different courses to race on and there are some old favourites and new ones too. Some are more challenging and interesting than others in the game but most are pretty fun to race on.
The large selection of the items this time around was one thing that was great about this game. This version features green, red and blue shells you have seen before and also banana peels and mushrooms etc. There is now in addition a bomb and other useful items.
It is not a bit more interesting and exciting in this version to play in single player mode. You can take part in the Mario Kart Grand Prix races and time trials. There is a new mission mode that brings new challenges. You have to perform tasks in an arena format.
This is a great version of the Mario Kart series for the DS and I highly recommend you get this one if you own this console as it's great fun and very entertaining as usual for this game.
Mario Kart DS is a cartoon racing game were you race different characters from the popular mario series of games which include Mario, Luigi, Yoshi, Peach, Toad, Donkey Kong, Wario and Bowser among other unlockable characters. The goal is to beat your opponents to the finishing line by using speed and a variety of items you pick up along the way.
There are a number of different games you can play in this game such as a grand prix where you race in either a 50cc, 100cc or 150cc event and get a choose a number of cups to race in which each incorporate four different tracks. Cups include the Mushroom cup, flower cup, shell cup and banana cup along with four different unlockable cups as you progress through the game.
Other game modes include Time trials were you race against your previous times, your friends times or best times around the world. There is also a versus mode were you can play friends over a wi-fi connection. I find this to be the most enjoyable mode and only one of you's need the game to play it. If you all have the game it does unlock various different tracks and characters though.
The other two game modes are battle and Mission Mode. Battle mode has two parts. Balloon battle and shine runners which involve you using items to pop each others balloons (which act as lives) or collect coins as fast as you can. The various missions in the game incorporate a large range of tasks such as collecting items in a time limit to beating bosses.
Like the majority of the mario series of games this one is fantastic. The controls are very easy to use, you get a chance to use all the original characters from the game and the wi-fi multiplayer is very enjoyable. There are a large number of game modes that will keep you playing for hours. The game is fantastic for the price. Well worth buying.
I think that Mario Kart on the DS is one of the best games on the DS, but it is still way behind the Wii version, but that is mainly because the graphics of the DS are on the whole poor.
You use all the buttons on the DS to control your kart, which makes it a lot harder than simply pressing go and stop.
There are a couple of game modes, the main one being Grand Prix which has three classes of race by engine size. However each engine size just races in all the same tracks, so it is exactly the same in each engine class apart from speed. This mode is just racing against other cars controlled by the computer by you can also enter a vs mode where you can play against your friends if they have a DS and are in the room with you. If they have a DS game card it is better because all courses can be played, however you can play using just one game card, but this limits the amount of gameplay you have. It is good that someone else can play against you if they don't have the game though. You can also play against other friends using wireless internet if you are in your own house and they are in theirs. I found this really fun and I often find myself playing against my mates when I am bored.
You can do other fun things on this game, such as paint your kart and play in battle mode or mission mode. Battle mode has two options, to play in a balloon battle or a shine battle. Balloon battles is where you have to burst your opponents balloons without letting them burst yours. I find this more fun that the racing sometimes! The shine battle is similar but you must collect "shines" which are just like stars, they appear all over the place and then the person with the least keeps getting eliminated until there is only one person left. This game can get quite frustrating for me as people can steal shines off you.
Overall I would describe this game as friendly and fun. You can play it alone or with friends (of course providing they own a DS). It is one of the top selling DS games which has meant its price hasn't dropped as much as some other games but you can get a copy for £12.50 on play.com brand new if you buy from one of the sellers on there. However play.com sell it themselves at £24.99 compared to £22.98 on amazon.
Want to show off your skills? Then get excited as Mario Kart DS features both online and wireless multiplayer modes. By using the Wireless DS Single-Card Download Play feature, up to 8 players can link up with just one game card. Alternatively you can battle it out online with three other players either using your existing Wi-Fi broadband; or using one of the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection Access Points in store or at Nintendo Wi-Fi connection enabled public Wi-Fi hotspots. Never before has it been so easy to pick up a games console and challenge friends from all over the world for free.


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SAINT LEO, Fla. – The Saint Leo women's lacrosse team picked up their third straight victory as they defeated Tiffin University by a score of 9-7 on Monday evening from University Turf Stadium. The win advances the Lions' record to 3-4, while the Dragons drop to 1-2 on their young season.
Stephanie Marran and Christina Minneci each netted three points on the evening, with Marran scoring a hat trick, and Minneci netting two goals and an assist. Alyssca Viscomi scored two goals, with Paige Leggio and Alix Murray contributing one goal each.
The Dragons were led by Emily Roussel, who pulled in a game high four points with three goals and an assist.
Saint Leo saw a big day between the pipes from sophomore goalie Brittany Millsap, who made six saves, including four in the second half as she faced 19 shots and 13 shots on goal. Jessica Bombard for Tiffin made 12 saves as she saw 27 shots, 21 of which were on target from the Lions.
A stalwart Saint Leo defense helped limit Tiffin's attacking opportunities, and held the Dragons to just one goal in the entire second half of action. Marran led the team in ground balls with four and caused two of the Lions six turnovers on the night to keep Tiffin at bay.
The Lions placed the first goal on the scoreboard thanks to an unassisted tally from Leggio with 27:46 on the clock in the first half, but Tiffin answered back with two goals of their own to pull ahead 2-1 at the 24:44 mark. Marran placed a shot in the back of the net a minute later to knot the score at 2-2, but Tiffin pulled out to their second advantage of the game three minutes later with a score of 3-2after a goal from Alexandria Quast.
Minneci and Marran neeted the next two for the Lions, but Tiffin rattled off three straight goals to pull ahead to a 6-4 lead at the half.
The Lions entered into the second half composed, and placed three unanswered goals on the scoreboard to open the second stanza to pull ahead 7-6 with 21:52 to go. Tiffin's Katelyn Hill broke the Saint Leo streak at the 16:22 mark, but the Lions were able to score two more and hold the Dragons off of the scoreboard for the remainder of the game to pick up their third straight win with a score of 9-7.
Saint Leo led the game in shots, 27-19, and ground balls, 18-9. The Lions were successful on 11-of-14 clear attempts, and converted 2-of-4 free-position shots while the Dragons were shut down from the arc as they were 0-for-4 from the hash.
The Saint Leo women's lacrosse team returns to action on Wednesday, March 13, when they take on Limestone College. Game time against the Saints is slated for 11 a.m. at University Turf Field. Fans who cannot make it to the game can catch all of the action live on the Saint Leo Sports Network at saintleolions.com. For the latest news, updates, and information, fans can 'Like' the Lions on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

subset: commoncrawl


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Brown Rice Crispy Bar
READY IN: 24mins
Recipe by Charlotte J
From Good Eats and Alton Brown
Top Review by No Bad Days Chefs
better food and much cheaper then buying snack bars.
Ingredients Nutrition
- 3 ounces puffed brown rice, approximately 6 cups
- 3 tablespoons flax seed oil, plus extra for the pan
- 1 tablespoon orange blossom honey
- 7 ounces mini marshmallows, approximately 4 cups
- 3 ounces toasted slivered almonds, approximately 3/4 cup
- 1 1⁄2 ounces coarsely chopped dried cranberries, approximately 1/3 cup
- 1 1⁄2 ounces coarsely chopped dried cherries, approximately 1/3 cup
- 1 ounce dried blueberries, approximately 1/3 cup
Directions See How It's Made
- Lightly coat the inside of a 13 by 9 by 2-inch metal pan with oil and set aside.
- Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.
- Spread the brown puffed rice evenly on a sheet pan.
- Toast in the oven for 4 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- While the rice is toasting, prepare the marshmallow mixture.
- Place the oil, honey, and marshmallows in a large mixing bowl set over a pot of gently simmering water.
- Stir until the marshmallows are melted, approximately 4 to 5 minutes.
- Once the marshmallows are melted, quickly add the toasted brown rice, almonds, and fruit and stir to combine.
- Coat your hands or a spatula with oil and spread the mixture evenly into the pan.
- Once the mixture has cooled completely, cut into squares and store in an airtight container for 1 to 2 days.


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QSS is built upon a wealth of experience and expertise in quantity surveying, with services that are underpinned by the latest technology and IT systems.
QSS understands the burdens and strain forced upon sub contract quantity surveyors due to the flourishing construction market. It's not always feasible and cost effective to employee a full time so we are here to fill in the gaps as and when it suits you.


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>Gears and Wears>GPS WTH?
Went for a run today and the GPS drew a line shape similar to the route I ran...but it was at least 4 miles south of where I was actually running.
A Saucy Wench
Once with my old GPS it autolapped and started running backwards. No joke. My total mileage went from 2.0 to 1.25. Then I manually lapped it and it started running forward again starting at the 1.25. But if you looked at the individual laps it said 1.0, 1.0, 0.0, 1.0 total mileage 2.25
Unfortunately that predated uploading to here so I dont have a record of it anymore.
I have become Death, the destroyer of electronic gadgets
"When I got too tired to run anymore I just pretended I wasnt tired and kept running anyway" - dd, age 7
Options,Account, Forums
You and Shiva don't count, cause you are such destroyers of electronics.
It's a 5k. It hurt like hell...then I tried to pick it up. The end.
an amazing likeness
Everyone knows your GPS reciever is off by 1.433687 meters/sec/mile/parsec whenever your stride exceed 2.976 meters and your run starts to the northwest and initiates a turn to the east, not exceeding 30 degrees of angular velocity change per sec, within the first 1012 meters from when you pressed start, and the ambient temp is 9F. That's just common knowledge when using firmware ver 2.97 release candidate 4.1 on the production release platform.
I've done my best to live the right way. I get up every morning and go to work each day. (for now)
No Talent Drips
I refuse to dignify this poll with a response, bucko.
Dei Gratia
I was in total agreement until you said the ambient temp needs to be 9F. It was at least 10F on my run today.
I was wondering how long it would take you to show up.
According to Strava I ran a 44 second 400, mostly through a river.
Thats rad
thought i was running on the beach, but I was wrong. I was wrong because I was actually running in the ocean. I need to control myself, I hear that running underwater is bad for your ankles and knees.
You are supposed to run on top of the water, or alternatively, you can part the seas.
You guys crack me up.
You need to look up this traditional saying about horses, gifts, and mouths. Seriously.
Do you have a Venn diagram for that?
I voted yes.


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If your
tension headaches are triggered by
anxiety, you may be treated with an antianxiety
medicine, such as buspirone (BuSpar), to reduce anxiety
and the frequency of tension headaches.
Antianxiety medicines
relieve anxiety and nervousness and have a calming effect. In high doses, they
may cause drowsiness and sleep. Buspirone reduces mild anxiety, irritability,
fatigue, and pain. It is usually taken daily to relieve symptoms and is not
addictive if it is used continuously.
Generally, side effects are
mild and include:
Antianxiety medicines other than buspirone (such as
alprazolam) may be tried, but they can become addictive. Buspirone is not
habit-forming and may be used for longer periods of time.
Next Section:
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Last Revised:
July 7, 2011
Healthwise Staff
Medical Review:
Anne C. Poinier, MD - Internal Medicine & Colin Chalk, MD, CM, FRCPC - Neurology
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To learn more visit Healthwise.org
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You won't be able to dismiss this by usual means (escape or click button), but you can close it programatically based on user choices or actions.
"Great design with a tint of nostalgia. WPD designers are easy to work with - incorporated more wording on the back of the card at my request. Customer service was also top notch. My cards were delayed - WPD happily sent me another batch for next day delivery. Would definitely recommend this design and WPD in general to friends."
"I was so afraid to order my shipment without seeing the exact card proof but I love them! I had ordered the LINEN background because others had recommended it, and instead of the textured I ordered the PEARL WHITE SHIMMER for a more modern look. I couldn't be happier with them. It looks like, from other reviewers, you really have to change the background to linen if you want the shimmer. I hadn't liked the roughness of the original sample. The red is a bit on the pink side but not too much. The designers were able to put the little Ganesh in the top circle for me which I was very impressed with! I definitely recommend!"
"I am so happy with these invitations! They are simple, yet beautiful and classy. I wanted to put all the information (reception and all) on one card, and I needed to make a second set in another language. The designer followed my instructions perfectly and made great suggestions to fit the text on the page. They turned out even better than expected. The paper quality (I used the shimmer paper) was excellent. I would recommend the shimmer paper. I can't say enough about the service as well. The proofs were done so quickly, the people on the phone were amazing and friendly and the package was delivered days ahead of time. The only hiccup I had was that they were unable to tell me what the customs/duties would be so I had to just keep my fingers crossed. In the end, it wasn't so expensive (about $60 for Canada). I would recommend Wedding Paper Divas to any bride-to-be!"
"We are so happy with how our wedding invitations turned out! I can't believe how much we love them. The colors are vibrant and elegant and are perfect for our Dallas rooftop wedding. I give this product 5 stars for sure and nothing less."
"This is a simple elegant card but the bride and groom didn't like the organge color of the coral, so with the designer's help it was changed to a smoke gray - both the invitation as well as response and details card. Feel free to be creative - you can have your own perfect card! Only dissappointment was they don't provide "inside" envelopes - only outside. Too late to add them now. Should be provided at no extra cost."


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POLICE officers' jobs have been saved after a panel agreed to raise council tax by 3.5 per cent.
It means residents in a band D home will have to pay £4.77 a year more for policing.
Residents in Essex pay the least for policing in the country and even with the current rise, the county will still be near the bottom.
Just paying the national average would mean the force could afford an extra 470 officers.
Chief Constable Jim Barker-McCardle said without the rise, agreed by the police and crime panel yesterday following a recommendation by new police commissioner Nick Alston, more officers would have been lost.
He said: "It is important for the people of Essex to understand this means we can keep with the current plan which still means losing 350 officers, 112 PCSOs and 410 police staff.
"If we had not got this, the reductions would have been larger."
Most of the extra cash will go to policing as the force looks to cut more than £42million from its annual budget.
The rest will go towards crime prevention and community schemes.
Just 0.5 per cent of the police budget currently goes towards crime prevention initiatives.
Mr Alston wants that to rise to one per cent.
The extra council tax money will secure current community schemes and pay for a £500,000 crime reduction fund.
Mr Alston said: "This rise is on behalf of the people of Essex and I am really pleased.
"The people of Essex are concerned about crime but I am also aware of the economic situation and this is responsible at about 40p a month.
"I am glad I got the support of the panel."
The police and crime panel is made up of a representative from each of district in Essex and independent members.


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Let's Get Digital
For what can the following sequence be used?
2 adjustable baseball caps
3 dragons exhaling fire
4 horses galloping in
5 lively kangaroos jumping
6 orange nut muffins
7 seas pirate rum quest
8 vegetables united together
9 zebras were x-rayed yesterday
HintIt is related to the alphabet.
The sequence starts with "2" intentionally (i.e. "1" has not been inadvertently omitted).
AnswerIt can be used as a mnemonic device (memory tool) for which of a telephone's number buttons the letters of the alphabet are grouped together on:
(1=No letters, therefore "1" is not in the sequence.)
2 A)djustable B)aseball C)aps
3 D)ragons E)xhaling F)ire
4 H)orses G)alloping I)n
5 L)ively K)angaroos J)umping
6 O)range N)ut M)uffins
7 S)eas P)irate R)um Q)uest
8 V)egetables U)nited T)ogether
9 Z)ebras W)ere X)-rayed Y)esterday
(0=No letters)
Note: What matters is that the initial letters of the words of each phrase comprise the letters that belong together in each group. Therefore, the sequence of the initial letters for each group's phrase doesn't necessarily have to be in alphabetical order.
The title is meant to be a humourous indirect reference to the answer in that both the numbers on the telephone and fingers which are used to press their buttons may be referred to as digits.
What Next?
See another brain teaser just like this one...
Or, just get a random brain teaser
If you become a registered user you can vote on this brain teaser, keep track of
which ones you have seen, and even make your own.
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Let's talk about garlic.
Few foods inspire such a love-hate relationship in the kitchen. If you've spent hours peeling its flaky skin or scrubbing its pungent scent from your fingers, you know the pain I mean. But it's hard to avoid: while garlic belongs to the onion family alongside milder chives, leeks, and shallots, there's no substitute for its strong flavor.
Fortunately, there are a few tricks of the trade to help you cook like a pro – and get the better of this stinky bulb.
Tip 1: How to Peel Garlic in Seconds
This easy step takes the agony out of peeling garlic. Pull a single clove off of the head. With the flat side of a wide kitchen knife, press down on the flat side of the clove. It will crack lightly, and you'll be able to pry the skin off easily.
If you're a kitchen gadget nerd like I am, this garlic peeler also works well.
Tip 2: How to De-Garlic Your Fingers
Don't wash your hands with soap: rub them on stainless steel. As crazy as it sounds, this trick works. Garlic owes its strong odor to sulfur-based compounds. These compounds conveniently bind to metals. Like magic, if you wipe your hands on your kitchen sink or on this bar of stainless steel, the smell is gone immediately. It works for onions, too!
Tip 3: How to Roast Garlic
Raw garlic is pungent, but roasted garlic is nutty and sweet. By roasting it, you can reduce its kick and still capture its distinctive flavor. Ellie Krieger's recipe is foolproof, and the perfect start for making milder garlic dishes like Michael Chiarello's Roasted Garlic Bread.
Eager to show off your new garlic skills? Here's some inspiration: a simpler variation of Giada De Laurentis's White Bean Dip with Pita Chips. It's the perfect dish for easy entertaining, especially as the holidays draw near!
Roasted Garlic White Bean Dip
1 15-oz can of Cannellini beans
1 head of roasted garlic
Juice from 1 lemon
3 Tbsp of extra virgin olive oil
1 Tbsp of salt
Ground pepper
In a food processor or blender, add the beans, roasted garlic cloves, lemon juice, olive oil, and salt. Blend until smooth. Finish with a twist of pepper and serve with pita chips, pita bread or crostini.
Tip: If you don't have a lemon, white wine vinegar works in a pinch! And for a more sophisticated twist, blend in a few springs of rosemary.


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A nice place to stay for snorkelling and diving.We had a sea side villa. We walked from our villa straight into the clear water. There wasn't enough personal. This was really a bad thing.The staff was really trying to make us feel comfortable though. Don't use the full board package because the food is terrible. We had problems paying with creditcards. We had 3 creditcards and none was accepted because of an error ( they said ). They don't accept American Express Cards
We liked the location Toilet refill hose broke and was not fixed during our stay. Their are no trespassing signs posted. Fortunately the other resorts were more friendly because we ate and spent our days at the other resorts. Ours had nothing to offer and was very expensive to eat at
comfort & location a little bit expensive
The most commendable thing about this hotel was that it was situated on some of the clearest and most beautiful waters on the island. Also the bed was extremely comfortable, the bathroom was spacious and we especially liked the wide showerhead. First and foremost, i feel that we were terribly overcharged. for the amount of money we paid, we definitely expected more than what we got. the staff was very incompetent and when we arrived they did not even have knowledge of our booking. They did not show the least concern about how we were to leave the island, and most of their time was spent gossiping by the front desk.
The white sandy beach was the only saving grace for our stay, for which Sari Pacifica can't claim credit The hotel is charging 1000MYR per night for a beach front villa which can only be classified as a slightly upscale hut. The decor throughout the hotel was outdated and tacky. Service was a bare minimal. I tried to contact the hotel about an airport pickup but nobody answered my email or phone calls. There was no turn-down at night and dirty dishes from in-room dining were not picked up for a whole day. The food at the breakfast buffet was unappetizing and there was not even an egg station. Food selections for lunch and dinner are abysmal and quality not good.
Location, staff who were super helpful and friendly. Lots of things to do around the island.. Food definitely needs an upgrade. Very minimalistic and what you expect.at 2 star resorts. For a 5 star at an island, neednt be fancy but at least palatable with decent variety.


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Jewelry and craft wire design has been steadily increasing in popularity. Whether you want to create cute beaded flowers using seed beads and colored wire, or an intricate sterling and gemstone scrollwork piece you are certain to find the craft wire to suit your needs. Don't forget to pick up your books and videos on wire working and beaded flowers. You also may want to pick up a wire wrapping jig that will aid in crafting consistent and smooth wire loops.
JBB International is a major manufacturer of superior Sterling Silver, Brass, Copper and Pewter cast beads, findings and charms. JBB International Findings are well known for their quality, design innovation and consistency. It's easy to satisfy nearly all your jewelry findings needs with JBB whether you're searching for high end Sterling silver items or more affordable plated pewter alternatives!


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ED Magedson – Founder
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T Mobile USAAlbuquerque, New Mexico United States of America
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text:
Okay, The infinite does exist, David.
We are in a perfectly oscillating universe composed of seventeen dimensions which join to from this "Shadow" of an eighteenth we call The Universe.
If there was/is a CreaTOR - we/everything are the leftover junk that can not be infinite/eternal and we are in this universal junkyard, to go round & round
(chase our own tales, it you prefer poetry),
just to be outta the way.
However, since the universe/we are perfectly oscillating when we disassemble (Big Chill or Crunch - it matter not) we simple reform and do IT all again, exactly the same as before.
Is this our first time or our quadrillionth- googolplex time?
Not only is that not known, it can not be know.


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Icy Shooting Seals K-State Loss at OU
Icy Shooting Seals K-State Loss at OU
Feb. 20, 2013
NORMAN, Okla. – For the second straight game, a poor field goal percentage for a half sealed Kansas State's fate, as the Wildcats dropped a 72-57 decision to Oklahoma on Wednesday night at the Lloyd Noble Center. This was K-State's fourth straight road loss.
Kansas State (13-13, 4-10 Big 12) was paced by Brittany Chambers and Bri Craig. Chambers finished with 21 points and nine rebounds. The effort was the 31st career game of 20 or more points for Chambers and her 13th this season.
With a three-point field goal in the first half, Chambers knocked down the 300th of her career and became the 32nd player in NCAA Division I history with 300 career 3-point field goals made. She joins former Wildcat, Laurie Koehn (392 – NCAA record), as the second player in Big 12 history and school history with 300 or more career 3-point field goals made. Kansas State becomes the first school in NCAA Division I history with two players in their history with 300 career 3-point field goals made.
By playing 40 minutes on Wednesday for the 31st time in her career, Chambers claimed the K-State career record for minutes played with 4,306, passing former Wildcat All-American and current assistant coach Shalee Lehning (4,271).
Craig added 12 points and tied her career-high with eight rebounds. The freshman from Lincoln, Neb., has 12 games with double figures this season. She has 13 games with two or more made 3-point field goals
Oklahoma (19-7, 9-5) saw three players in double digits led by Aaryn Ellenberg with 18 points and five assists. Joanna McFarland tallied 15 points and her eighth straight game in double figures on the glass with 10 rebounds.
K-State started off cold from the field, going 1-of-11 including 0-of-6 from beyond the arc, and trailed Oklahoma 13-6 with 11:34 to play. The Wildcats trimmed the Sooners lead to four, 15-11, as Chambers registered the Wildcats' first 3-point field goal of the night and Craig recorded a putback.
With three straight 3-point field goals and a 13-0 run, Oklahoma increased its lead to 17, 28-11, with under five minutes remaining in the first half. A pair of late baskets, including a banked in three-pointer at the halftime buzzer, from Craig brought K-State back to within 11 at the half, 32-21.
The Wildcats shot only .206 from the field (7-of-34) in the opening half, but held a 23-22 edge on the glass including 10 offensive boards in the first stanza.
Oklahoma raced out of the locker room at halftime to secure a 40-24 lead with an 8-2 run in the first two and a half minutes and forcing a K-State timeout. Griffin registered four points during the run to extend the lead.
The Sooners lead would balloon to 25, 55-30, with the aid of a 15-4 run over a six-minute stretch midway through the second half. K-State was able to bring the game back to within 18 with under three minutes to play.
For the game, K-State shot .299 from the field (20-of-67), while the Sooners turned in a .525 field goal percentage (31-of-59). The Wildcats outrebounded the Sooners, 42-40, but Oklahoma tallied a 34-22 edge in points in the paint.
Kansas State will return to Bramlage Coliseum on Saturday, for its second-to-last regular season home game of the 2012-13 season. The Wildcats will host Iowa State at 2 p.m., with the game marking K-State's participation in the "Play 4Kay" national initiative for breast cancer awareness. The first 4,000 fans will receive a free pink K-State t-shirt and survivors of breast cancer survivors will be honored prior to the end of the first half. For ticket information, visit www.kstatesports.com/tickets or call (800) 221-CATS.


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3500 Dx Genetic Analyzer CS2
With breakthrough hardware design, a new approach to consumables, and powerful enabling software, the 3500 Dx Genetic Analyzers CS2 systems help deliver new levels of performance and convenience to the work that you do every day. The 3500 Dx Genetic Analyzers CS2 embody the commitment by Life Technologies to providing laboratories with the most trusted, versatile, and innovative tools for molecular diagnostic testing.
Overview of the 3500 Dx Genetic Analyzer CS2
It's accurate
Based on one of the most widely used, widely trusted sequencing methodologies available—Sanger sequencing—the 3500 Dx Genetic Analyzer CS2 is designed to deliver the accuracy you demand.
It works the way you do
Designed with you in mind, the 3500 Dx Genetic Analyzer CS2 gives you automated operation, easy-to-install consumables, electronic tracking of instrument performance and maintenance tasks, and integrated analysis software—so you can focus on the outcome.
It's flexible
You can run the instrument in either IVD mode (for diagnostic HLA typing by SeCore® HLA typing kits) or RUO mode to develop other applications, including de novo sequencing and resequencing, as well microsatellite analysis, MLPA®, LOH, MLST, and SNP confirmation or screening and fragment analysis.
It's backed by award-winning support
Keeping your lab operational is critical. Our technical and field service support staff respond quickly to your calls, so that you can continue to respond to those who depend on you for results.
Product Information
The 3500 Dx Genetic Analyzers CS2 systems include the in vitro diagnostic (IVD)–labeled instrument, data collection software, and IVD consumables and reagents—the tools you need for high-quality results in your process-controlled environment. The systems have been validated using SeCore® HLA kits and uTYPE® Dx software for powerful, rapid data analysis and high accuracy in HLA typing. In addition to the diagnostic SeCore® HLA assay that you can run in IVD mode, the 3500 Dx Genetic Analyzers CS2 systems allow you to develop new assays in RUO mode. The 3500 Dx Genetic Analyzers CS2 are available in two throughput options—3500 Dx (8-capillary) low throughput and 3500xL Dx (24-capillary) medium throughput.
Confidence in results
- Helps regulated laboratories maintain compliance
- Provides high accuracy—confirmed with external clinical studies at >99% concordance
- Minimizes human error
Simplicity and efficiency
- Helps to streamline laboratory processes
- Delivers results in as fast as 60 min (instrument run-time)
- Reduces instrument hands-on time with simplified installation and removal of consumables and accessories
- Supports research applications and assay development
- Offers development options in RUO mode such as de novo sequencing and resequencing as well as fragment analysis (microsatellite analysis, MLPA®, LOH, MLST, SNP confirmation or screening)
Features & Benefits
Putting you in the driver's seat
3500 Dx Data Collection Software is IVD-labeled and breaks new ground in user-friendly navigation, with an intuitive dashboard design including:
- Easy-to-read graphical displays to monitor the state of consumables
- Handy maintenance scheduling calendar
- New architecture simplifies plate setup, data collection, and analysis workflow
Snap in and run
- Primary consumables are IVD-labeled and contain novel, integrated Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)-tagged labels that enable viewing, tracking, and reporting of critical information
- New preformulated consumable packages make the 3500 Dx the most user-friendly genetic analyzer on the market today
- Automatic tracking minimizes administrative tasks and reduces the chance of error or omission
Capillary array
- IVD-labeled capillary array with built-in frame is easy-to-install
- Internally uncoated capillaries are supplied in assemblies of 8 or 24 capillaries per array
- Integrated RFID label enables viewing, tracking, and reporting of capillary array information
Cathode buffer container
- IVD-labeled, prefilled container with Prefilled container with 1X buffer to support all electrophoresis applications
Container has two separate compartments:
- Left side contains the cathode buffer
- Right side contains polymer waste from the capillary wash between injections
- Integrated RFID label enables viewing, tracking, and reporting of critical information
Anode buffer container
- IVD-labeled, prefilled container with 1X buffer
- Maintains a source of ions and correct pH for electrophoresis
- Integrated RFID label enables viewing, tracking, and reporting of critical information
Performance Optimized Polymer
- IVD-labeled POP-6™ Polymer is designed in ready-to-use, load-and-run pouches
- Integrated RFID label enables viewing, tracking, and reporting of polymer information
Operates on standard power
The 3500 Dx Series is easy to install and operate:
- New solid-state 505 nm excitation laser technology and thermal design reduces instrument footprint
- Plugs directly into standard power
- No need for excess heat-removal ducting
|FDA & Health Canada-cleared instrument
|An instrument that is built according to GMP to help meet your lab's compliance requirements
|Instrument automatically checks for the use of correct product and expiration dates
|IVD reagents/accessories
|Tested and built to operate optimally with the 3500 Dx platform
|Security, audit, and electronic signature capability to help meet compliance to governing regulations
|8-capillary or 4-capillary models
|Select the appropriate instrument to meet your laboratory throughput needs
|Both IVD and RUO modes to allow you to adhere to your lab's development requirements—sequencing or fragment analysis applications
IVD Assays
HLA Typing
The 3500 Dx Genetic Analyzers CS2 (8- and 24-capillary) are FDA and Health Canada-cleared for HLA typing with SeCore® HLA typing kits and uTYPE® Dx HLA Sequence Analysis Software.
SeCore® HLA typing kits provide a complete set of reagents and protocols for high-resolution HLA genotyping on 3500 Dx Genetic Analyzers CS2. uTYPE® Dx HLA Sequence Analysis Software is designed to perform accurate allele identification, including queries to the latest allele library for HLA genotyping.
Frequently Asked Questions
What IVD assays are available?
SeCore® HLA typing kits are validated for use with the 3500 Dx Genetic Analyzers CS2.
What IVD reagents are available for the 3500 Dx instruments?
POP-6™ polymer, BigDye® Terminator v1.1, long-read sequencing standard, anode buffer container, cathode buffer container, and conditioning reagent are all available. The system can also accommodate other reagents in RUO mode.
Can a 3500 RUO instrument be upgraded to a Dx?
No, because of differences in the regulated manufacturing processes for IVD instruments, upgrading from RUO to Dx is not possible. A trade-in program is available and applies to all CE instruments.
What applications does the instrument support?
In IVD mode, the system supports HLA typing using SeCore® kits. The following development options are available in RUO mode: de novo sequencing and resequencing, as well as fragment analysis applications such as microsatellite analysis, MLPA®, LOH, MLST, SNP confirmation or screening.
How large is the instrument?
The instrument's dimensions (W x D x H) are 61 x 61 x 72 cm (24 x 24 x 28 in). It weighs 82 kg (181 lbs). Width with door open is 122 cm (48 in).
How long does it take to run a typical CE assay?
The instrument time for a single run is as fast as 60 min.
Service Plans
Beyond repair to proactive care
The AB® Assurance Plan is our premium repair plan, designed to maximize instrument performance and help ensure availability of critical systems. The AB® Assurance Plan will help keep your laboratory running smoothly with preventive maintenance, proactive instrument monitoring, and—should one of your instruments require repair—fast response. And, for the FDA & Health Canada-cleared instrument 3500 Dx Genetic Analyzers CS2, there is the added benefit of a qualification service or system performance check performed after each repair or planned maintenance event.
Qualification services
In regulated industries, compliance with government and international standards requires documented verification that your systems are installed and functioning according to their manufacturer's intended use. Whether you need Installation Qualification and Operation Qualification (IQ/OQ) or Instrument Performance Qualification (PQ), our qualification services provide audit-quality data to share with your regulated body and verify that your instrument is working according to manufacturer's specifications.
Computer System Validation (CSV)
An instrument qualification service is only the starting point to your validation. Our Compliance Services professionals partner with you and can help you get into production faster, while controlling CSV costs and getting you audit-ready faster.
Service plan options for the 3500 Dx and 3500XL Dx Genetic Analyzers CS2
|AB Assurance with qualification services*
|AB Assurance with system performance check*
|On-site response time for repairs (business days)
|Guaranteed 2 business days
|Guaranteed 2 business days
|Remote instrument monitoring and diagnostics
|Priority phone and email access to instrument support
|Application technical support
|Instrument operating software updates
|Instrument qualification services
|Instrument system performance check
|Planned maintenance
|Parts, labor, and travel
*Terms and conditions apply.
Interested in commercializing your assay?
We can help ›
New Capillary Electrophoresis Instruments Support Center
Find tips, troubleshooting help, and resources for support related to your capillary electrophoresis instruments.
For Research Use Only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures.


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Place the water and shoyu in a saucepan and heat almost to a boil. Reduce the flame to low and simmer 3 to 4 minutes. Turn off the flame and add the wasabi powder. Stir to mix thoroughly and refrigerate to chill.
Cook the soba as package directs, rinse under cold water and drain. Remove the dipping sauce from the refrigerator, mix in the grated daikon and scallions. Place in small individual dipping bowls. Place the noodles in bowls and garnish with nori. Dip the soba into the sauce before eating.
Per serving - 213 calories, 2 gram fat (7% calories from fat), 10 gram protein, 40 gram carbohydrate, 2 gram fiber, 0 milligram cholesterol, 386 milligram sodium


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Treasurer Joe Hockey has rounded on Liberal Premier Colin Barnett in a partyroom stoush on the amount of GST revenue Western Australia receives.
And in a worrying sign for the Treasurer, who has been under pressure for his performance selling the budget, he was interjected upon by Liberal deputy leader Julie Bishop and rebuked by Prime Minister Tony Abbott.
Sources told Fairfax Media the showdown was sparked when former WA state treasurer turned federal MP Christian Porter stood up to argue for a greater GST share for Western Australia. He was delegated to speak for his WA colleagues.
Mr Porter said that WA received an unfair and falling share of the GST and flagged that he would get every WA MP and Senator to author a submission to an upcoming review into the tax system.
Prime Minister Tony Abbott cautioned MPs against that approach and said politicians are decision makers and not stakeholders.
Mr Hockey was said to have taken a dim view of the complaint and chose to attack Mr Barnett instead, declaring that WA was the worst performing government in the Commonwealth when it came privatising infrastructure.
But in an official briefing of events, a government source played down reports Mr Hockey had attacked the WA government and said the joint partyroom meeting had been "calm as a millpond".
Mr Hockey was instead said to have noted WA is moving towards privatisations that the federal government is pleased with.
According to MPs in the meeting that Fairfax Media spoke to, Ms Bishop, the party's most senior WA federal representative, Foreign Minister, repeatedly interjected in an attempt to cool Mr Hockey down and calm the situation.
At that point Mr Abbott praised Premier Barnett and said he led a good government.
One MP in the room told Fairfax Media Mr Hockey's contribution was "extraordinary", another said he was clearly slapped down by Mr Abbott.
A third MP said: "Julie was trying to stop Joe ... from a cabinet minister it was unusual and the PM tried to fix it up."
Sources close to Mr Hockey insisted that he had not been "slapped down" by the Prime Minister.
They stressed that Mr Abbott had been more scathing of the idea of WA MPs putting in a submission to the review.
Towards the end of his contribution Mr Hockey attempted to smooth things over by pointing out that the WA government could access funding from the federal government's asset recycling fund.
Speaking late Tuesday afternoon, Mr Hockey praised the West Australian government for "undertaking a number of reforms" including "selling a number of assets".
"I understand where Western Australia is coming from in relation to the GST, I certainly do and that is something that is going to be very actively considered as part of the federation tax white papers," said Mr Hockey.
But the Treasurer warned the Commonwealth had to govern for all the states and Australians.
"You can understand individual members and senators advocating for their state and that's appropriate...we've got a duty to act on behalf of the whole country," he said in Canberra.
Opposition Leader Bill Shorten capitalised on the leaked comments during question time on Tuesday.
"I do note that the Prime Minister, according to Fairfax, had to slap the Treasurer down over GST anger. Hang in there Christian Porter, you'll get a promotion eventually," he told Parliament.


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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 19/1/2013 (1677 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
Winnipeggers shovelling snow or bracing against wind chills might not realize it, but we could be on the verge of setting a warm-winter temperature record.
The city is less than three weeks away from breaking an 80-year-old temperature record for the number of days in a row where the mercury has not dipped to -30 C or below.
Environment Canada meteorologist Dale Marciski said the city has not seen a temperature of -30 C since Feb. 25, 2011.
Unless the temperatures get extremely low — which they could on Monday and Tuesday where the forecast is for lows of -32 C — we would tie the record of 714 days in a row on Feb. 8 and break it on Feb. 9, Marciski said.
"It will mostly depend on how much cloud we get. We were supposed to be below -30 C on Dec. 24 (2012), but it was cloudy so we reached -29 C," he said.
But Marciski said even if we don't break the record, we'll likely still qualify for a weather silver medal.
"My suspicion is this could be the second-longest stretch," he said.
"Every other year, except 1931 and 2012, had at least one day of -30 C. If you have a -30 C day, you reset the clock for this record."
David Phillips, Environment Canada's senior climatologist, said he loves weather records, but usually they are for particularly horrible weather.
"If you're going to have to endure it, you want it to be something you can brag about to your grandchildren," Phillips said.
"In many ways we think of -20 C as a raw day, because it is about the old zero degree Fahrenheit, but on the Prairies it is -30 C that really counts as a cold day. It's amazing that you went a whole year, 2012, where the temperature didn't get to -30 C."
Arnaldo Carreira, owner of Orlando's Seafood Grill, which recently held its 30th polar bear lunch which raised $4,700 for the Manitoba Theatre for Young People, said he misses -30 C days because the colder it is the better for his charity lunch.
"I don't like it when it's balmy, I like it when it's rough," Carreira said.
"It's always more interesting for everybody when it's cold."
Paul Jordan, chief operating officer for The Forks, said as the mercury drops, so do the numbers of people out on the skating or river trail.
"Last year wasn't even winter as far as I was concerned, but when it gets very cold it stops people from coming out," " Jordan said.
Irina Bissonnette, director of marketing and communications with the Festival du Voyageur, said last year was not only mild, it was a tough to find snow and the white stuff had to be trucked in.
"This year is great and we have been very lucky with the weather. For the first time in two years we have already finished all the snow blocks for the sculptures. We had to truck in snow for our ice sculptures last year," Bissonnette said.
The Festival, scheduled for Feb. 15 to 24, is prepared for cold or mild winters, she added
"It doesn't matter what the temperature is because people embrace their winter here."


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It's tough not to feel pangs of sympathy for Hamed Al-Khabaz, the 20-year-old aspiring computer scientist who was expelled from Dawson College after exposing a security flaw in the school's academic portal. Whether Al-Khabaz deserved his punishment is certainly worth questioning, though it's also worthwhile to ask why the college hadn't bothered to fix a flaw in its public-facing Web server 16 months after it had first been reported.
Based on the various reports and statements about the incident, here's what went down: In September, the student uncovered flaws in the online academic portal, exposing sensitive information -- Social Security numbers, phone numbers, and home addresses -- belonging to more than 250,000 college students. He said he stumbled across the flaw, which he attributed to "sloppy coding," while working on a project for his school's software development club.
Al-Khabaz diligently reported the flaw to the head of the institution's IT department and was praised for his efforts. He said he was told that the school would work with Skytech, the makers of the flawed Omnivox software, and would fix the problem immediately.
The trouble started two days later, when Al-Khabaz ran a vulnerability-scanning program called Acunetix to determine whether the flaw had been fixed. Almost immediately, he received a call from Edouard Taza, president of Skytech. Taza accused him of launching a cyber attack against the portal and gave him the choice between signing a nondisclosure agreement or being reported to the police. Al-Khabaz opted to sign the NDA.
Dawson College wasn't about to let Al-Khabaz off so easily. Though the school has been cagey in providing details, citing Quebec privacy law, it appears Al-Khabaz was issued an advisory that he would face expulsion if he failed to cease and desist in tampering with the portal. Unfortunately, Al-Khabaz appears to have ignored the advisory, even though his intentions may not have been malicious. Hence, the college's academic computing board voted 14-1 to expel him. What that means is, his grades for the semester will all show up as zeroes on his record; plus, he has the black mark of being expelled for unprofessional conduct.
The punishment is certainly a harsh one. But if he was warned of the consequences of his actions and he chose to ignore them, he ultimately has no one but himself to blame. Fortunately, he still has a bright future, as he's reportedly received job offers since the incident gained attention -- including one from Skytech.
One wonders, though, whether Dawson College will mete out similarly harsh justice to whomever neglected to fix a purported flaw in one of its public-facing Web servers, which has reported some 16 months ago, according to technology columnist Jon Blanchard. Per Blanchard:
"[A ]primary Dawson College public domain may remain compromised following a 2011 incursion by an unknown hacker named 'iskorpitx.' That hacker appears to have successfully uploaded a 'Shell' to the domain, leaving a public 'f** file' alerting administrators of the site that a successful incursion had taken place.
As of midnight Monday, the Dawson College server still returned the file using any web browser, despite credible Twitter alerts about the compromise to @mydawsoncollege earlier that evening from multiple sources."
The presence of the f**.file means a hacker successfully a shell to the domain: that is, "a script that provides a CLI to the compromised system with extensive system-level access to all records, data and nodes attached to the system regardless of the level of password protection offered by the website," per Blanchard.
An anonymous Halifax-based security researcher told Blanchard the following:
Nobody here can believe that, on the one hand, the CEGEP has the arrogance to expel this student ... But on the other, not even know about a publicly compromised webserver on its domain ... In my opinion, the existence of an f-file that old and the events leading up to the expulsion of Mr Al-Khabaz represent a pattern of un-ethical and completely inadequate IT security practice at Dawson College.
This story, "School that expelled student hacker may have ignored 16-month-old security flaw," was originally published at InfoWorld.com. Get the first word on what the important tech news really means with the InfoWorld Tech Watch blog. For the latest developments in business technology news, follow InfoWorld.com on Twitter.