text:
Browse Games
User Reviews
1993 Reviews
Viewing Reviews 1-10 of 1993 |
Virtua Tennis has been a favorite of multiplayer fans ever since it launched on the Dreamcast more than a decade ago. Since then it has been ported, updated and released on multiple consoles under multiple names. However, despite attempts to freshen things up, this solid iteration of the game ends up being just that: a solid iteration of a game that we have all played before.
As SEGA's first PSVita title, Virtua Tennis 4: World Tour translates to the small screen admirably. While Virtua Tennis's main competitor, Top Spin, has always attempted to make a more realistic Tennis Sim, Virtua Tennis goes for a more arcade-y feel, allowing players to instantly pick up and play. This dynamic is still apparent in Virtua Tennis 4 and the game is better for it. Players are able to concentrate only on getting to the ball on time, hitting it and setting themselves up for the return volley. This is perfect for smaller screens and playing in small bursts, making it ideal for gaming on the go.
As always in the Virtua Tennis series the controls are quick and responsive. You will lose and it will be frustrating at times (as any good tennis game should be) but it will be because of your own failings and not because of any fault of the controls. The graphics are sharp and crisp and the animations look great on the Vita's screen. Additionally, each opponent feels completely unique, requiring different strategies to beat each one.
As has been tradition since Virtua Tennis 2, this game comes with wacky mini games and a career mode. The career mode is a little frustrating, in an attempt to improve the replay value SEGA decided to make the career mode a zany but more importantly random board game. The frustration factors in when a certain tournament or event is missed because you rolled over it. A more streamlined version with more player-choice would have been preferable. The mini-games are as crazy as ever and range from hitting targets, to hitting a soccer ball pass a goalie, to collecting and leading chicks to their hen house without getting hit by a red ball. Additionally some modes have been added exclusively for this Vita version. Players can take a picture of their own face with the PSVita camera and then convert that into their own created character for the World Tour mode. More interestingly two players can play on one screen using the touchscreen, although more of a novelty, it can be used to kill some time and is a nice addition. The real multiplayer is the online or Vita to Vita version and it works fine, although more variety and options for tournaments would have been nice. Players are also given a few new control schemes, the traditional control scheme, a touchscreen version and a hybrid version that utilizes one stick and touchscreen buttons.
A solid version of a solid series, this is probably the definitive version of Tennis available on any mobile platform. However, for veterans of the series the gameplay elements might be getting a tad stale.
The Assassins Creed series has grabbed gamers by the short hairs and refused to let go practically since its inception, and Assassins Creed III Liberation doesn't look like it will be stopping the tradition any time soon. Set in the back alleys and dark byways of late 1700s New Orleans, Assassins Creed III Liberation tells the story of Aveline de Grandpere; a woman whose father is a wealthy white man and whose mother was a freed slave risen to the status of his common law wife. Despite growing up in the lap of luxury for the time period, Aveline's life is thrown into turmoil when her mother vanishes. When she's taken under the wing of Agate, he teaches her everything she needs to know about the ways of the assassin.
The Evolution of the Plot
As far as the Assassins Creed series goes, the storyline has never been shy about crossing national boundaries and time periods. However this game gets further and further away from the historical-esque roots of the game series, while staying true to the themes that the Assassins Creed games have put into practically every game since the first. Betrayal, a burning need for justice and taking someone and turning him (or in this case her) into a force to be reckoned with. The plot of the game, while occasionally focused more on stealth and infiltration, hits all the same high notes as previous games by intermingling story and character training as it ups the challenges.
Gameplay and Mechanics
Assassins Creed III Liberation for the PS Vita has learned from all of the past Assassins Creed games when it comes to practically everything regarding gameplay and mechanics. Whether it's combat style, stealth missions or just getting around New Orleans as quickly and efficiently as possible (always a major factor when it comes to games with the sweeping grandeur of the Assassins Creed series) is relatively simple to master. However, the PS Vita does run into several problems when it's compared to the full sized Playstation controller.
Players will need to get used to the smaller controls that the Vita provides. The system takes some adjustment, but once players have gotten used to the setup it's no more difficult than mastering any other part of a game with as much motion and movement as Assassins Creed III. However, while the setup on the Vita does make it very difficult for more traditional button mashers to do cool things on accident, it is still not impossible to pull off.
All in all fans of Assassins Creed will enjoy Liberation. Those who haven't played any previous Assassins Creed games might find it a better bet to start earlier in the series so they aren't thrown right into the deep end. However, when it comes to the best graphics, fantastic story, good cut scenes and the very latest in gameplay mechanics then Assassins Creed III Liberation is right where players are going to want to be to experience the best Assassins Creed.
The Ninja Gaiden Series has been running for a very, VERY long time. Since 1988, the series has been on arcade machines, Nintendo's NES, S-NES, and the more current portable DS, Sega's Master System and Game Gear, as well as XBOX, PS2 and PS3, and PC's. There had even been an Anime OVA (Original Video Animation) released in Japan in 1991. Originally known as Ninja Ryukenden in Japan, Ninja Gaiden can be placed alongside Mario and Sonic as a game that has stood the test of time.
Originally created by the game company, Tecmo, Ninja Gaiden is a video game the follows the story of Ryu Hayabusa, a cutthroat stealth assassin. What was once a side-scrolling beat-em-up adventure, the series has taken a turn to the three dimensional world of today's action adventure genre of video games. Fast forward to today, the series is now also developed by Team Ninja, under Tecmo, which has created Ninja Gaiden Sigma Plus, one of the latest installments of this video game franchise for the PS Vita. This video game follows the story of the Xbox version of Ninja Gaiden, which is the precedent to all the 3D versions of the game that we see in store shelves today.
The version now still sets the main Player's character as Ryu, however, Ninja Gaiden Sigma Plus has a segment where players play as a demon hunter named Rachel. The premise is simple, follow the story line, beat up all the bad guys, get as many points as possible, and exact revenge for the characters being played.
The game mechanics are a lot more fluid than the Side-scrolling counterparts of yesteryear. The ninjas are able to scale walls, find power ups to upgrade abilities, and have many different weapons from which to choose from and unlock. The controls are fluid and very responsive. Which is great because enemies will stop at nothing to defeat the player, regardless of the difficulty level chosen. And in order to counter the onslaught of enemies (on average, the battles, except for boss fights, are always multiple versus one), it would sometimes be necessary to use Ninpo techniques. These are special techniques that make use of the Vitas touch screen, located in the back of the portable console. Some Ninpo techniques utilize the elements such as water or fire. This gives it a very unique taste, allowing gamers to feel the true strength of a ninja during gameplay.
Ninja Gaiden Sigma Plus is a beautifully made game for the PS Vita, and makes great use of the console's graphics card and system. Although the environment may be considered slightly bland by some of today's standards, the character design and integration within the environment is fairly superb.
While there is quite the learning curve for some people, once mastered, the game will be able to take up hours of a gamer's time, because of the extensive plot and sequence of events. Anyone who picks up the game is sure to experience greatness.
Atlus has once again taken their off beat brand of Japanese role-playing games to new heights. Having taken the mantle of premier JRPG developer from Square-Enix, they have not looked back. Persona 4 Golden only serves to solidify the gulf that stands between Altus and the rest of the Japanese developers. So let us learn more about the twist of fate in the life of an unsuspecting Japanese teenager.
Persona 4 Golden is a revamped and remixed edition of Persona 4. Atlus has done this in the past with remixed versions of Persona 3 Fes for the PlayStation 2 and Persona 3 Portable for Sony's PSP. With more development time, the Atlus team is able to fine tune the gameplay and broaden the scope of the game with additional story lines, personas and items to collect.
For the average Persona fan, the overall feeling of the game is as familiar as a comfy sweater or slippers. This is due to the fact that Altus have positioned the structure of these games in a fantastic manner. Shortly after starting the game, you find yourself once again in the Velvet Room, where Igor serves as the host as he does in other Persona games. It is here in the Velvet Room where you learn about play mechanics and most importantly, the personas. Additionally, the time of midnight again plays a role in a Persona game. In Persona 3, when the clock struck midnight, the dark hour began and you had the ability to fight in a tower of a dungeon called Tartarus. In Persona 4 Golden, you have to be mindful of the Midnight Channel and who appears on the television.
Personas are very integral to this game, hence the name sake. Personas are creatures that are created through fusion. It is through this fusion that more distinctive personas can be created. These personas are used in battle when you fight against various enemies or shadows in the game. Through social links in the game for each type of persona, your personal personas can grow to be even stronger in battle. It is through these Persons that pick up specific traits such as being powerful in the domains of ice, fire, electricity, among others. Enemies have weaknesses that can be exploited and picking the proper Persona does the trick for that job.
The story of Persona 4 Golden is more of a lighthearted affair than Persona 3 as Persona 4 Golden is asking our protagonists to look within themselves to see that there are sides of them that they might not like, however, these unfortunate deficiencies that we have still make us who we are.
In conclusion, something has to be said for the quality of a product when the gaming community knows exactly what we are to expect with the advent of a new Persona game, yet when we get it, it goes down easy like our favorite meal. There was a dearth of system selling titles for the PlayStation Vita when it hit the scene but with the release of Persona 4 Golden, can finally lay claim to have a killer app. Vita means life in Latin, let's hope the star power of this newest edition of the Persona franchise gives some to the Vita.
There is a nostalgic appeal to the Epic Mickey series that cannot be denied. Not nostalgia for the golden age of Disney films but the very genesis of film animation and the construction of the Disney Parks from there inception in 1956 to today. Epic Mickey 2, guided by the expertise of Warren Spector, constructs a world built from pieces of Disney history.
The story of Epic Mickey is pretty barebones. The Mad Doctor, who was supposedly defeated in the first game, returns to wreak more havoc on the Wasteland. Mickey is called to save the day again with his magic paintbrush, and Oswald comes along for the ride this time around. A game like this doesn't call for a complex narrative though. The simplicity is typical of any children's game and effectively opens the door for any range of imaginative level design. The story's cutscenes are also given an excellent shot in the arm with the addition of some excellent voice acting plus full-blown musical numbers to give the game a Disney musical feel.
Where the game falls apart though is in the game play. There is a problem that every 3D platformer encounters and must address at some point in its development, and that is camera controls. Nintendo, in a stroke of genius, solved this problem in the Super Mario Galaxy games by having the majority of the levels take place on spheres, meaning that the camera will never have any walls to navigate or to block the player's view of the character. This elegant solution unfortunately cannot be applied to every 3D platformer and Junction Point's previous Epic Mickey game was marred by poor camera controls. Nothing has changed in that field for Epic Mickey 2. Though playing with two analog sticks is much preferred to the stopping and re-centering the camera that Wii players will endure. The camera tends to want to be too close to the ground and seems to always want to get stuck or bounce off of walls. The effect the camera has on a 3D platformer like Epic Mickey cannot be understated either. Adjusting the camera angle to make the perfect jump is one of gaming's great pleasures, and Epic Mickey 2 leaves the player feeling more frustrated than satisfied.
Epic Mickey 2 offers a cooperative mode that allows you to play the campaign along with another friend. This mode makes it infinitely easier to access the game's more interesting nooks and crannies because the AI driving Oswald always seems to be one or two steps behind what you actually want him to do. Playing through the game alone is an unsatisfactory way to experience this vivid world because the inconsistency of Oswald makes it hard to expect him to do anything beyond what is necessary to move on to the next area in the game.
Warren Spector is known for realizing vivid game worlds and Junction Point delivers his vision adequately. Despite the intricacy of the world however and the beautiful High Definition graphics on the WiiU, this game is plagued with all the classic pitfalls of a 3D platformer, issues which, in this console generation, are hard to forgive.
ZombiU was supposed to be a flagship title for the console, displaying it's graphical abilities and the new features of the gamepad in a manner that would make the console the "in" thing for gamers everywhere.
Instead, what it became was an extremely polarizing game. There are very few people who are of the mindset that this game is "just alright". Most people you run into will find it either a brilliant video game, full of depth and difficulty, or a janky, poorly executed mess.
ZombiU takes place in London in November, 2012. An old legend called the Black Prophecy is coming to pass, with a zombie outbreak. There has been an underground group researching and preparing for this day. As one of the survivors of the apocalypse, you are tasked with working with this underground group to find the cure.
ZombiU doesn't set out to be your typical run-and-gun shoot-'em-up first person shooter. It, instead, wants to be a survival horror game. You can shoot all the zombies you want, great. What's more important is the goal of survival. Survive so that you can get samples. Survive so that you can help find the cure. Survive so that you can just keep living. It takes an angle on the zombie fad that a lot of games just look past.
One of the more polarizing aspects of the game is it's permadeth. In ZombiU, when your character dies, you don't play as that character anymore. Instead, you respawn as another one of the survivors. Your old character, in keeping with the elements of the game, doesn't just disappear- it becomes a zombie. You have to kill your old self to get your items back, which is a surreal experience. You have just spent three hours or so as character A, and now you are character B, and your first mission? Smash in Zombie Character A's brains. The weakness to this system is that there is only one dead copy at a time, so if you die again before you can retrieve your loot, it's all gone.
Another polarizing aspect is the combat. It tries to do so well. You are always armed with a melee weapon, a cricket bat. Along the way, you can pick up other weapons, including, of course, guns. The problem with guns is that they make noise. The noise attracts other zombies to come see what all the fuss is about, which turns your group of three zombies that you got the drop on into five or six guys trying to eat your brains. Add in that kickback causes problems for you (which, if you're thinking about yourself as a survivor in England who might not have the most experience shooting a gun, adds a level to this game that isn't always thought about) and that ammo is very, very scarce, and you have all the elements for a great survival horror game. However, the problem is that the melee with the cricket bat is unrewarding. It can take five or six hits at times to down a zombie. Finding a group of three or four means fifteen to twenty hits, and that's a chore.
The use of the WiiU gamepad is a fun part of this game. When you go to loot things, rather than a menu coming up and the game pausing, you are directed to look at the gamepad's screen. There, you can see what is in the filing cabinet and decide what you want to keep. While that is happening, though, the game isn't paused. Everything is still going on around you. It adds an element of tension to your adventures that is not found in many other games.
This game tries to be one of the best zombie games out there. It tries to take a fresh approach to things. It has all of the right ideas, too. Rather than an amazing story or just being a game about killing a million zombies, it really nails the feeling that you are trying to survive so, so well. Unfortunately, it misses in execution of parts. I really hope we see a sequel to this with more polished combat, or at least another game trying to do the same things here. This game is the epitome of having great ideas, but not quite executing them in the right way. It's an enjoyable and unique experience for sure if you're willing to forgive it of it's faults, but that is a bridge too far for some people.
Lowly Worm
Everyone should know by now that Infinity Wards latest is not to be missed, and it was more than just a video game release. It amassed millions of hours of playtime and had gotten endless amount of press over the past year, making it practically a force of nature unleashed on the Playstation 3, Xbox 360 and PC. Every nuance of the game as been inspected, every detail has been examined, to the point that if they wanted an unspoiled experience when their copy arrived they would need to make an effort to avoid the news about it. The developer has honed its well-worn formula to achievable and logical shine, far from shunning the weight of expectation; rarely in mechanics, it crafts a campaign that surprises with scope.
The series of Modern Warfare 2 is back on the hands of Infinity Ward, the developer that brought us Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, the most significant multiplayer FPS. But between Call of Duty 4 and Modern Warfare 2 was another game that managed to be successful in its own right, which was Call of Duty: World at War, it never had a chance at being another Modern Warfare, though.
I need to get one thing straight – it was obvious that Modern Warfare 2 wasn't going to be able to compete against its original, but that's not to say this sequel has practically no chance of being anything other than a great game. COD4 had featured a strong single player campaign and was nearly perfect as a multiple game, Infinity Ward is simply building off this. Their mission, which turned out to be very successful, was to keep gamers interested and to add to the franchise regardless of how much time they might typically spend on a first-person shooter. Modern Warfare 2 has a top-notch online experience, a great single player campaign, and a new Spec-Ops mode that lets players test their skills in one-off missions and builds off COD4's popular coda.
The single player campaign in MW2 takes everything a step further, but can be found a lot similar to COD4. The story is much harder hitting; they get you ready for a much more in-your-face look at nuclear attack, terrorism, and hand-to-hand combat than the previous game. Despite that MW2 is more of a mature game than the series' previous titles, it also takes the story and goes completely over-the-top with it. It's a military plot combined with different vehicular sequences, and slow-motion action stunts along the lines of the Watchmen movie.
The story isn't entirely clear why certain things take place, following it can be very hard and muddled, and many of the character's relationships with one another remain foggy. While there are some missing links they don't really detract from the story and their almost always clear what your character needs to accomplish, why you're on a specific mission, and the larger strategy that you are operating under. The story doesn't quite hold up for the same period as the original, which is a huge shock since COD4's campaign mode was a quick run through. It's not by much but I would have imagined Infinity Ward trying to make something longer with their sequel to listen to all of the criticism. You may want to not ask too many questions and suspend your disbelief though, especially if you're geo-politically minded. One point that's interesting though is that you never fight in the anonymous, sandy regions found in COD4, instead the game mentions many specific places and countries which you never step foot on. Another thing is how quick the set pieces get put together just apparently after America went to war. It looks like the war has been going on for years!
This is a title that oozes a confidence built on collective experience, from the comforting and safe assault course opener. It's the sort of videogame that doesn't flinch in delivering set-piece after set-piece understanding exactly what its audience wants with barely a pause to load the next scenario. The commitment certainly isn't questionable, but the politics may be.
The developer has – controversially – included an extremely graphic depiction that the player has full control over of a very specific act of terrorism early on in the game. This is something of a talking point, unsurprisingly, and to ignore the issue would be remiss.
I wouldn't say it was deeply disturbing but the level is, without the doubt, an experience that is the most thought-provoking I have yet encountered in any mainstream game. Providing you're immersed in the context and its atmosphere it can also be a pretty sobering experience, but you can easily skip or ignore this level if you don't want to put yourself through a fairly clearly-defined moralistic mill. Despite the abhorrent undertone running beneath, it's powerful in a way that videogames rarely are, and I just can't help but admire it in some twisted way. It shocked me all the way through of playing it.
For those of you in the persuasion of wondering what all the fuss was about, as there will be a significant chunk of the gamers that will end up feeling this way, MW2's action beat and constantly assaults the senses that proves the primary draw.
At times the visual panache and superlative gunplay borders best-in-show which is here Infinity Ward steps above and beyond criticism. Set-piece animation is integrated in an almost seamless fashion within the level design, enemies crumple realistically under fire, and you'll be hard-pushed to spot a single respawning set of foes, which even if early reports of veteran difficulty as a direct consequence are to be believed.
The colour and lighting is noticeably improved in this second iteration, the crisp 60fps console versions are surprisingly well-detailed, and whilst the environment remains resolutely non-interactive, it's a sheer pleasure to keep the eyes locked onto the screen when things are being blown up for you with relative frequency.
New additions to the mission structure will be pleasingly well judged, from climbing mechanics that offer up a healthy dose of tension to vehicle sections that work within the confines of the physics engine – it's all integrated with a strong taint of talent and money behind the scenes, but whilst all this is great fun the majority of the missions will be familiar (clear the house, destroy the AA gun, follow the tank, etc). Even this is still done brilliantly, its Infinity Ward's baby after all, and even though Treyarch may well be an improving off-year custodian, the fingerprints are unmistakable.
There is a new part to the game called The Special Operations (Spec Ops). These are short missions where you have a very clear goal – kill this many rebels, win this race, get to this point, etc. They are basically run through missions on either normal, hard, or veteran modes that are Call of Duty skill challenges in order to win stars. More stars will win you some achievement points and will increase your ever-present completion percentage. The missions include defending a point and stealth escapes, though you also get vehicle missions like a snowmobile race and a helicopter attack, even though their varied they stick to the same operations and settings handled in the game. These Ops can be fun, but not long lasting as there isn't any way-points making the missions very challenging – you have to start over by making one critical mistake, which is not so easy when you have attack dogs and about 40 guys to kill. Anyone who dreams of getting 1000 Xbox achievement points must know that Veteran-level challenges are only for the most skilled gamers and anyone else putting in the time is going to be disappointed. Ops is a great way to improve your game while playing with a friend as it can be done in single player or multiplayer (including local) modes.
It's all about more within MW2's multiplayer. More mayhem, more levels, more weapons, more skills, and so on. COD4's multiplayer has become the baseline against which all online FPS games are measured, and what better way could there be to follow this experience with MW2? With highly customizable skills and weapons and huge skill streak bonuses, Infinity War this time made sure to keep Veteran players interested while allowing new players to get into the game, with solid early level weapons and death streak bonuses. You feel like your achieving something with every session you are playing multiplayer because you are building up towards the next level. So that next holographic sight or launcher could be right around the corner. This means two things – there is a constant sense of achievement whether you were victorious or not and you don't want to put the game down. It might not be a huge step up from COD4 but it's still a great experience with enough changed to keep things interesting.
This may arguably be the best online FPS right now, but not everything is perfect with the multiplayer though. The game is now largely silent as MW2 has basically killed voicechat. This was about the opposite in COD4, this was mainly put down by numerous homophobia, racism and cheating. So instead Infinity Ward decided to curtail the chat, except allowing it in a few games. Most players (at least on the Xbox 360) have unplugged their headsets because the cuts that were made were large enough. Teamwork is what could have taken MW2 multiplayer to the next level, unfortunately it just doesn't look like its going to happen in this generation.
MW2 refines and builds on the most solid of bases and is spectacular, as a whole, in all the right areas. This game has problems just like any other, but despite this it's a game you should play for what it does achieve. The single player subject matter is often hard to follow and mostly over-the-top, but it also has powerful settings and compelling characters with a thought-provoking undertone. It really gets players into the mindset of the game as it's a much more cynical look at the battlefield than previous titles. Spec Ops often requires a second player due to its difficulty, but it's the single biggest addition to the game, and lets players perfect their skills in scenario-based combat which becomes quite rewarding. It's definitely not as brilliant as its original, since it's the same type of exercise but with a few different ideas added in, but MW2 is still a brilliant game in its own merits and stands proudly head up high above most other FPS shooters. This is a game every FPS and war veteran fan should definitely buy.
Dragon Age Origins is brought to you by BioWare, if BioWare brings out an RPG game you can pretty much assume that its going to be brilliant. They created the Star Wars Kinght's of The Old Republic series and the Mass Effect series, which are both unbelievably great RPG's too.
Story -- 9/10
The story is blatantly stolen from Lord of The Rings, weird Orc's looking things that live underground trying to kill everything. Typical its down to you to save the day, however picking it apart aside. The story line is not only very deep but also very clever; many choices effect not only how people treat you, if they know of you, how they think you will act and in some case's if they will even interact with you at all. The character customization is great too, not only can you customize how the look and your voice but you have your own background story which you play though leading up to the main event. Race and gender also give an eerily realistic difference to how you can be treated in certain situations.
Game Play -- 8.5/10
The game play is typical of the fantasy RPG game genre, it offers a simple attack technique in which you character continuously attacks the enemy. However you also have special moves which give you a more fun part to play rather than to sit back and wait until every thing is killed.
Graphics/Sound -- 9.5/10
The visuals, to put it bluntly, are brilliant. The worst I could spot was one conversation where the pixels didn't match up in a small section of the screen. However that was it, the sound is very good! The voice's are almost perfectly synced wand suite the characters, and you may recognize voices which will submerge you even deeper into the story.
The game offers plenty of hidden extras which will amaze you when they become part of your characters own story. The side quest offer much distraction when you want to level up your character, character customisation makes you truly feel as if your character is unique. With the three different race's and three different class's creates a practically different story for each, which gives major re-playability (Is that a word?).
Overall this game starts well with great character customisation and background story's. Which leads into an unbelievable free-roaming world with additional (and optional) followers to aid on your battle. Throughout your choices make subtly effects to your own story line until the end in which some choices become an obvious hindrance or assistance. All of this leads to a great game with many more features that will make re-playing fun over and over again.
Starcraft II Wings of Liberty for the PC has been eagerly anticipated ever since the end of Starcraft: Brood War over a decade ago. Luckily, Blizzard does not disappoint with this new continuation of the Starcraft saga. As the story goes, Arcturus Mengsk has regained support after his disastrous defeat at the hands of Kerrign at the end of Starcraft: Brood War, but his vendetta is aimed primarily at Jim Raynor. Raynor, now an outlaw engaged in guerrilla warfare with Mengsk's empire, is shocked to discover his old friend has been released from prison: the cigar-smoking Tychus Findlay. From here the story twists and turns until coming to a satisfying conclusion, with just enough of a teaser for future expansions that could only be done so expertly by a company such as Blizzard.
The campaign itself is interesting for its since of persistence: upgrades can be purchased aboard the Hyperion that directly affect future missions. This also makes optional mission objectives much more important, as they are what directly fund these technological upgrades. The value of upgrades range in importance: from giving marines permanent increases in health to providing medics with the ability to heal multiple units at once. In addition, "xenos samples" can be gathered from Protoss and Zerg artifacts to research further advantages for Raynor's men.
Owing to how long it's been since the first Starcraft was released, and how much games have evolved since then, this new one offers a branching narrative. Raynor can choose which missions he wants to undertake and which he wants to ignore. Each of the optional missions ultimately culminates in a choice that will dictate not only where Raynor's story goes, but what units will join him in his cause. Without spoiling too much, Blizzard has interwoven decisions into the campaign that will leave many players scratching their heads as to what is the most appropriate decision.
Of course, Starcraft is known for its amazing multiplayer just as much as its known for its interesting campaign. Starcraft II: Wings of Liberty holds its own as a great real time strategy game (RTS). Blizzard has shown commitment to its support of Starcraft II with its endless release of patches to fix any exploitable mechanics in the game until the end result is a perfectly balanced RTS experience. Players can form parties with their friends to participate in matches of up to four on four.
If the normal matchmaking isn't of interest, players can also join their friends for custom games. Made by the players for the players, these custom games can range from simple tower defense games to highly complicated role playing games that save your progress from one custom match to the next. Blizzard takes its custom map-making community very seriously, working around the clock to make sure these Starcraft cartographers get the support they deserve. It is through them that Starcraft II: Wings of Liberty remains such an endlessly replayable game.
Ultimately, Starcraft II: Wings of Liberty PC version is a great choice for anyone interested in experiencing Blizzard's sci-fi masterpiece.
I have never really been a huge fan of racing games. However, Ive always had a soft spot for the Gran Turismo series by Polyphony Digital. I guess thats because Gran Turismo is more of a racing simulator than a racing game. Gran Turismo 5 is the latest entry into the series and although it doesnt live up to the hype, its still a great game.
Gameplay 8/10
As a racing simulator, the way the vehicles handle is one of the more important aspects of gameplay. In that regard, Gran Turismo 5 is a vast improvement over the games in the series before it. The physics system employed here really gives each car a distinct feel. Even a teenager with a learners permit can easily tell a 1969 Mustang from a 2009 Corvette with their eyes closed. Well, if they could still drive with their eyes closed. With that in mind, this is definitely not a pick up and play type game. It will take many hours behind the wheel for a Gran Turismo novice to gain any kind of comfort level. Although, the inclusion of many driving assist options make the transition from arcade racer to simulation racer much easier. There is one thing in particular though that many players, myself included, wanted to see in Gran Turismo 5 that was inexplicably left out. Well, it wasnt really left out as much as it just wasnt fully implemented. Im talking of course about the allowance of all cars to be fully damaged from accidents. Yes, the cars do take damage, but it isnt very realistic. If you hit a concrete wall head on at 200 mph, it would be crushed. Not in Gran Turismo 5. Here it would look more like you ran into a shopping cart at 25 mph. This is one area where the game was over-hyped, as players were just expecting more from the damage system in a game that was in development for 7 years.
Car Selection/Models 8.5/10
There isnt a racing game in the galaxy with the car selection on display in Gran Turismo 5. Theres everything from an old VW van, all the way up to prototypes that only exist in some car designers mind. Theres even a DeLorean as seen in the Back To The Future Movie Franchise. How many racing games can boast that? All these cars look gorgeous on the track too, most of all the Premium models. There are two types of cars in this game, Standard and Premium. The Premium models are flawlessly detailed and feature 100% true-to-life cockpit views. Standard cars, while graphically acceptable for a PS3 game, really suffer from the cockpit view standpoint. Each standard car only has a basic shadowy interior with almost no detail. This is very disappointing since the cockpit view is my favorite view to drive from.
Tracks 6/10
Dont get me wrong, there really is nothing wrong with the tracks in Gran Turismo 5. The low score is based more on lack of variety than anything else. Yes Polyphony Digital added day and night cycles and changing weather, but unfortunately this great feature isnt available on all the tracks. This really makes for a high level of redundancy when you consider the vast amount of cars at your disposal, and such a small variety of tracks to drive them on. There is a Course Maker, but it seems more like a last second tack-on than a full fledged feature.
Sound 9/10
Im not really in love with the soundtrack in this game, but that's easily remedied with the option to play tracks straight from the audio library stored on your PS3 console. Want to drag race while listening to Metallica? Go for it. How about a 100 lap race around Daytona Speedway while blasting Taylor Swift? If youve got the songs on your hard drive the opportunity is yours for the taking. Where the sound really shines though are the cars and their corresponding effects. Each car sounds exactly as it should and is easily identifiable by sound alone. Plus nothing beats the thrill of blowing away that rival car on a straightway while hearing my Camaro roar like the beast that it is.
Final Score 8.5/10
Gran Turismo 5 was over-hyped and it shows with the lack of vehicle damage, poor track selection, and a failure to have all cars rendered as Premium models. Even so, theres no way to deny its an outstanding game because the positives far outweigh the negatives. Gran Turismo 5 is proudly displayed in my gaming collection and is without a doubt my favorite racing game in a long time. Hope to see you in my rear-view mirror very soon. Happy Gaming!
Viewing Reviews 1-10 of 1993 |


text:
American Art The Annunciation Made in Paris, France, Europe1898 Henry Ossawa Tanner, American (active France), 1859 - 1937 Oil on canvas * Gallery 111, American Art, first floor W1899-1-1 Purchased with the W. P. Wilstach Fund, 1899 |
LabelTanner painted The Annunciation soon after returning to Paris from a trip to Egypt and Palestine in 1897. The son of a minister in the African Methodist Episcopal Church, Tanner specialized in religious subjects, and wanted to experience the people, culture, architecture, and light of the Holy Land. Influenced by what he saw, Tanner created an unconventional image of the moment when the angel Gabriel announces to Mary that she will bear the Son of God. Mary is shown as an adolescent dressed in rumpled Middle Eastern peasant clothing, without a halo or other holy attributes. Gabriel appears only as a shaft of light. Tanner entered this painting in the 1898 Paris Salon exhibition, after which it was bought for the Philadelphia Museum of Art in 1899, making it his first work to enter an American museum.Social Tags [?]19th century american artist [x] african american [x] annunciation [x] bedroom [x] black art [x] inspirational [x] light [x] loved it [x] mary [x] religious [x] [Add Your Own Tags]* Works in the collection are moved off view for many different reasons. Although gallery locations on the website are updated regularly, there is no guarantee that this object will be on display on the day of your visit. |

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Suggested Retail Price: $1,389.00
Your Price: $663.00
A bold and classy choice for an engagement ring, if youre looking for something to really wow that special woman in your life, who truly deserves to be wowed. This trellis ring is deeply symbolic, with interwoven prongs holding the gemstones, which symbolize the union of marriage and the magical journey you two will embark on together throughout your lives. The ring features a large and brilliant emerald cut gemstone of your choice, surround by two smaller square cut gemstones. The gemstones are all set into a beautiful setting, on a very sturdy band. This is a solid choice for an engagement ring, and one that will become an instant heirloom in your lives. This ring is also customizable, should you want to choose three different gemstones, perhaps representing the birthstones of you and your loved one, or simply her favorite colors. This trellis ring features a 7X5mm emerald-cut-cut center stone with two 3mm square-cut side stones The total gem weight for the ring is 1.4 carats, set in solid 14k gold. You can DESIGN YOUR OWN unique ring by selecting any combination of gemstones. The ring is also available in 14K YELLOW GOLD, and in all the gemstones displayed below.


text:
European Decorative Arts and Sculpture Burgonet for the Guard of Christian I of Saxony Made in Augsburg, Germany, Europec. 1586-91 Armor made by Anton Peffenhauser, German (active Augsburg), master 1545, 1525 - 1603. Made for the guard of Prince Elector Christian I of Saxony, 1560 - 1591 (ruled 1586 - 1591). Etched and partially blackened and gilded steel; gilded brass; original yellow silk lining; leather (replaced) * Gallery 246, Arms and Armor, second floor (Kretzschmar von Kienbusch Galleries) 1977-167-129 Bequest of Carl Otto Kretzschmar von Kienbusch, 1977 |
LabelThis burgonet was made for the guard of Duke Christian I, prince elector of Saxony (ruled 1586 to 1591).Social Tags [?]1500's [x] armor [x] augsburg [x] blackforestandhanover [x] brass [x] etched [x] european [x] germany [x] helmet [x] steel [x] [Add Your Own Tags]* Works in the collection are moved off view for many different reasons. Although gallery locations on the website are updated regularly, there is no guarantee that this object will be on display on the day of your visit. |


text: iSpit! Lite gamesBookmark the permalink. Release date: May 25th, 2009 Price: Free Version: 1.0 Seller: dimitri geier Buy Now STP SCORE: Not yet reviewed Description Related Games Meltdown Monsters University Hyper Breaker Turbo Gravity Guy 2 Can Knockdown 3 IMPOSSIBLE ROAD Daddy Was A Thief Angry Birds Friends Dots: A Game About Connecting Gun Commando


text:
February 2012 Birth Club
Group Detail
Public Group16,287 members
121,222 posts
1,170,589 comments
Created: 11/01/2010
Report this group
Message from the group owner
Before you get started here are some things to keep in mind:
1) This is an adult board. We swear here, frequently, and some of us use really big words that could make you angry and uncomfortable.
2) No cursing in thread titles- and no bending the rule by subbing symbols for letters.
3) Rudeness is not against BBC Guidelines. Some of the rudest posters here are obviously socially challenged, but that doesn't invalidate their advice. Try hard to listen past the anger!
4) Please remember that while other posters can be very helpful you need to take your medical questions to a dr, your legal questions to a lawyer, and try and ask yourself what Judge Judy would say to you before you post.
5) While we areall guilty of typos, we encourage the use of proper grammar and spelling. If people can't understand your message you will have people correct you and you won't get the response you deserve. We want to help you. So help us,help you! Basic etiquette for social media is roughly the same as basic etiquette for real life: Speak in complete sentences, exercise common sense when talking about racy topics and don't accuse the entire world of being liars, thieves and criminals in profanity-laden shouts
6) Hate speech is absolutely not tolerated. Any post or thread containing hate speech will be reported to BBC staff and deleted.
7) Please don't post with the intention of starting drama. Don't bring drama here from other boards or Facebook. It's against BBC rules and we have enough drama on our own. This includes spin offs on threads that were locked/deleted.
8) If you post it, it's fair game. Be warned, your thread may head in a direction you did not foresee. GOs won't delete a thread because you've embarrassed yourself.
9) Name calling (even as a joke) is a Personal Attack and against BBC rules and any such posts will be deleted.
10) There will be times when the Group Owners will need to discuss violation reports in order to best decide on a course of action. Therefore, it may be necessary for GOs to share notes passed to them. These will only be shared with GOs of this board or with BBC MODs. We take privacy very seriously.
11) We reserve the right to delete any thread or post we deem inappropriate or offensive. We may not be able to PAN each and every poster when a delete has to happen. If you have a question a good way to reach every GO is to report something to us (by clicking send to GOs and not community or both) or to send us a PAN.
12) "Calling troll" is considered a personal attack and is against the BBC guidelines. This includes obviously questioning a poster's identity (i.e. "This person is a troll!") and doing it in more subtle ways (i.e., "This doesn't sound real." "You must live under a bridge." "Anyone else think something's fishy here?" etc.) Like all PAs, posts/comments calling troll will either need to be edited or will be deleted. If you think a poster isn't genuine, the best thing to do would be to report to MODs and GOs and ignore the post.
13) Your group owners are volunteers, there are 4 of us and over 14,000 members of this board. We group owners enforce the BBC rules and guidelines to the best of our abilities. Threads and posts that are in violation will be removed. If you find a board/BBC violation, then please report the post or thread. If you feel that the violation is truly offensive, then click "Both" to send a violation report to BBC community staff as well.
Facebook groups- we ask that you place the info in your signature and not post it. It's easier that way because you wont need to bump it. if you aren't planning on accepting everyone it might be better to PAN users you want to connect with. As always please be very very careful and practice safe interwebbing you never know who is really a 40 year old still living with his parents.
Your GOs are mellaxoxo, melissa1280, NY Kathleenie, and 10mmMomma . Please feel free to click on our profile (left side of the board) and contact us with any questions! Your board's GOs will be sharing relevant notes together please indicate if you do not want a PAN shared.
The featured post (in yellow) will always have important info; keep an eye on that!
Click on help in the upper right hand corner. The guidelines are here. When you signed up to post on BBC, you agreed to follow them. There is also a list of the common abbreviations, which will help the newbies!
Birth Clubs are the point of entry for many of BBC's newest members - if you are one of these posters, welcome, and please explore the many other faces of BBC, I think most people are surprised at the wide variety of boards available!
Because birth clubs are the introduction for many members, there is an expectation that they will remain supportive for all who choose to post. If you can't be supportive to a particular poster, the "ignore" feature is available for your use (although you can't ignore a group owner, we can help you if you're not sure how to use the feature) - but please do not announce you're ignoring a specific poster. If you're unable to just not read or respond to a specific post (I have that same problem) then please make sure your comment stays within the guidelines linked above. Remember that the GO's will delete posts that violate these guidelines, and may close threads as necessary.
Remember this about BabyCenter: every member on BabyCenter has the right to share the story of his or her unique parenting journey. Keep that in mind, share your own story, and I hope you make many new friends here.
Thank you for your participation in our community!
~Lots of green man hugs to our big sisters:*~*JoCaPa*~* (Kim) and bbhayes78 (


text:
You can now filter search results with text. Example: "person: john" will search only person pages for "john".
The mid-season finale is here, Viners! Will Arrow be able to stop Brother Blood?
What would you do if someone sent you a realistic android of the opposite sex?
Nightwing takes on Marionette. Dick Grayson takes on his roommates.
Disney Characters
Use your keyboard!
Log in to comment


text:
Terms of Use: TEFL.net does not endorse any of the ESL jobs or resumes shown on these pages. Teachers and employees are warned to take all usual precautions. Please read our Terms of Use here.
Teflnet ESL Teacher Resumes No Resume! Sorry, but the resume you just tried to read doesn't exist! You may have followed an obsolete hard-coded link, or it may be that you just tried to enter the URL manually, and mis-typed it. If you have any questions, please send a note to email@example.com. Your browser should automatically |


text:
Universal Fit
" CKS line improves the main problem of traditional audio technica products which was bass. CKS50 did not focus on the quantity but the quality of bass, it does not have the quantity for hard rock music but it was tight and powerful enough for pop-rock also it still have the sweet mids like audio technica do which makes my perfect choice for j-pop female vocal." --Kiln
Audio Technica CK100
"I recently bought these as an upgrade to my Head Direct RE0's. The RE0's are outstanding value for money, and there is not many headphones that can beat it ... until I got my hands on the CK100's. The CK100 packaging box is nice - very simple, and does the job more than adequately. What I noticed on it, which I've not seen in many other headphone boxes is that it lists the product code for..." --s0126471
Audio Technica ATH-CKM55 Earbuds - Black
Newly developed 12.5mm drivers ensure high-quality sound . Built-in stabilizer reduces unwanted vibrations and delivers pure tones . Comfortable, ideal-fit earpieces provide noise isolation and prevent sound leakage. Gold-plated mini-plug for exceptional corrosion resistance, superb conductivity and low noise. Frequency response: 5Hz - 24kHz . Includes pouch, interchangeable ear tips (S/M/L),...
Audio Technica ATH-CKM500 BK | Inner Headphones (Japan Import)
" Recommended by Dsnuts, was told that it will be an upgrade from the TT Isarus. Much more refined and beautiful bass! Mid's and High's are complimented with a delicious refined low end. Soundstage is full and wide with great detail and clarity. Very fluid, very listenable and non fatiguing! Comfortable and stays securely in your..." --volly
" ATH-CKW1000ANV Quick Review (Thread here, http://www.head-fi.org/t/656808/ath-ckw1000anv-quick-review ) Thanks to SwimSonny for the loan. Brief: Audio Technica had an Anniversary Price: Circa £456 on ebay before HMRC has a go at them Specification: Driver Diameter 14 mm, Frequency..." --mark2410
AUDIO TECHNICA ath CK90Pro
" Anyone looking for a highly balanced, highly detailed sound look no further. The CK90 pro is a great IEM and is unfortunate it doesn't receive as much recognition as it should. The best part of it's smooth sound, is it's lush mids; on par with great mid names such as Sennheiser and Shure. The bass is good for an armature driver. It has great presence and impact, but it lacks the..." --bisayaboi
Audio Technica ATH-CKS55i BLACK | SOLID BASS Inner Ear Headphones for iPod/iPhone/iPad (Japan Import)
Audio Technica ATH CKS55I Earphones (black). Inner ear headphones with remote and mic, exclusive for iPod, iPhone and iPad. Advanced deep and punchy bass sound. Includes microphone for phone calls and voice memos. 3.5mm gold-plated stereo mini plug (4 pole, L type)
Audio Technica ATH-CKN50
On November 19, Audio-Technica announced the first product in their new PREMIUM COMPACT line, the ATH-CKN50. What's notable about the CKN50 is that it is the first Audio-Technica product to utilize a 5.7mm driver, the smallest the company has ever produced. It also utilizes the a new circular version of the loop support system, dubbed "Next Loop-support Structure" or N.L.S. for...
Audio-Technica ATH-CK9 QuietPoint Passive Noise Reducing Earphones
Audio-Technica?s ATH-CK9 in-ear headphones deliver outstanding isolation from distracting background noise. These in-ear models are equipped with a balanced armature driver for crisply detailed high-fidelity audio. With no active noise-cancelling electronics, they achieve significant attenuation of outside sound.


text: Thursday, February 21, 2:00–3:00 p.m. Loretto Memorial Library Classroom, Upper LevelJoin us for a workshop on RefWorks, an online research management, writing, and collaboration tool designed to help researchers easily gather, manage, store, and share information, as well as generate citations and bibliographies. In this basic session, you will learn how to set up a RefWorks account, import citations into RefWorks, and create a bibliography with in-text citations using Write-N-Cite. No registration is required for Staten Island Library workshops. For information about this and upcoming Staten Island Library workshops, contact Lois Cherepon, Associate Professor, University Libraries, at email@example.com.


text:
Web Search powered by Yahoo! SEARCH
Help us pick the top stories of 2013 >>
Joined: Dec. 12, 2012
Comments posted: 1 (view all)
Contact VFL84 (log-in required)
Feels Like: 25°
Humidity: 85%
Precip: 10%
Feels Like: 41°
Humidity: 36%
Precip: 0%
Feels Like: 23°
Humidity: 75%
NEW OFFER: Get a 7-day FREE trial!
News Sentinel cartoonist Charlie Daniel draws the 2013 season of Tennessee football.
Each week we break down the upcoming game on GVX TV.
There's a free knoxnews iPhone app in the iTunes store.
"Like" GoVolsXtra on Facebook!
Participate in our sports talk radio show!


text: A combination of weight lifting, sprinting, and gymnastics. A high intensity workout that lasts around 10-20 minutes and is designed to increase proficiency in speed, agility, balance, flexibility, and coordination.Earn 2 MVP Points!! Date: Mondays, November 19th, 26th, and December 3rd and 10th, 2012 Time: 2:00 pm - 2:45 pm Location: Carnesecca Arena, Fitness Center Dance Studio, Queens Campus More Information Denise firstname.lastname@example.com (718) 990-7521


text:
The Paducah Sun's Teen of the Week program features a different local student each week selected from nominees submitted by high school guidance counselors throughout western Kentucky and southern Illinois. The Teen of the Year is chosen from the weekly winners.
The Teen of the Week sponsor for the 2012 - 2013 school year is Mid-Continent University. Each Monday, the Sun features a different Mid-Continent University Teen of the Week selected from nominees that high school guidance counselors throughout western Kentucky and southern Illinois submit to the Sun. Mid-Continent University will provide each Teen of the Week with a $2,500 annual scholarship to its university, which is renewable for four years. In the spring, a Teen of the Year will be chosen from the weekly winners and will receive a full four-year scholarship to Mid-Continent University, or a cash award of $2,500 paid through The Paducah Sun if the student selects another college to attend.


text:
Sussex CCC Members can gain free entry and cricket tickets to home LV=County Championship cricket games staged at Essex CCC, Hampshire CCC and Kent CCC in 2013
They can also gain free entry to any of the dates below at the below Sussex sporting venues on the specfic dates. The below all apply to 2013 members only (unless stated). Please remember to present your Sussex CCC Membership Card.
Goodwood Racecourse
Saturday 24th August
Sunday 13th October
Plumpton Racecourse
Monday 18th November
Fontwell Racecourse
Friday 4th October
Tuesday 10th December
Thursday 20th June
Saturday 22th June
Thursday 1st August
Brighton Racecourse
Thursday Eve 25th April – Free meeting
Tuesday 18th June - Evening meeting
Tuesday 2nd July
Thursday 17th October
For more Information on any of our memberships please call our Membership & Tickets Department on 0844 264 0206


text:
Widget and Gadgets Support
Fredericksburg, OH 44627
Welcome to the WeatherBug Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) and product support page for the WeatherBug family of weather widgets and gadgets. If you have a product question or issue that is not addressed here, you may want to visit the WeatherBug Forum to search related topics for posted feedback and discussion threads from users and WeatherBug representatives. Otherwise, please fill out a Support Request Form.
Weather News
Other Top Weather Headlines
Dangerous Winter Storm Strikes West, Central U.S.
There will be no shortage of heavy snow, dangerous travel and bitterly cold temperatures accompanying a major winter storm…More >
Arctic Outbreak Will Bring Wintry Mess to East
A major arctic outbreak will dive south out of Canada later this week, bringing near record cold and icy…More >
Deep Freeze Hits California Tonight, Early Thursday
The coldest air of the season so far is infiltrating far south into California.…More >
Weather Near Fredericksburg, OH
Camera for Akron, OH
Be Prepared, Know Before
Get faster alerts and better forecasts from the exclusive neighborhood-level WeatherBug network.
Learn More


text:
Forgot your username or password? Create account
Curious about what it's like to work in-house at Facebook? Brian Singer, manager, communication design, interviews himself about life at the company.
Section: Inspiration
1 Recommendation
What role does expression play in graphic design? Jessica Walsh shows us the way forward.
2 Recommendations
Can we afford to continue offering design curricula that move from the simple to the complex, when contemporary design problems are all about relationships? Can we afford to continue emphasizing individual achievement for a practice based increasingly on collaboration?
Etsy's creative director discusses how openness, empathy and trust will influence the company's studio culture—and its growing global community—in 2015 and beyond.
Section: Inspiration - Tags: communication design, experience design, in-house design, in-house issues, interview, human resources, studio management
Even though the design industry is rapidly changing, the inherent value of design thinking is not. Designers observe changes in behavior, ritual, culture and technology, gathering insights and converting them into tangible, purposeful experiences. To create the ideal studio of the future, we must apply this rigorous problem-solving methodology to our own design practices.
Section: Inspiration - Tags: design thinking, experience design, ROI, strategy, creativity
On the occasion of Nelson Mandela's 95th birthday, a group of South African designers—now known as the Mandela Poster Project Collective—solicited posters from designers in more than 70 countries. This curated selection of 95 posters honors Mandela's lifelong contribution to humanity.
Section: Inspiration - Tags: posters, culture, international
11 Recommendations
On the occasion of Nelson Mandela's 95th birthday in May 2013, a group of South African designers—now known as the Mandela Poster Project Collective—solicited posters from designers in more than 70 countries. This curated selection of 95 posters honors Mandela's lifelong contribution to humanity.
The founder of Werner Design Werks discusses what it's like to be part of a two-person studio and her creative philosophy toward maintaining a small operation in 2015 and beyond.
Section: Inspiration - Tags: communication design, editorial design, packaging, print design, service design, professional development, interview, eco issues, partnerships, social responsibility, sustainability, technology, business, human resources, collaboration, new business development, studio management
3 Recommendations
What will the studio design for in 2015? The Raleigh–based firm New Kind proposes designing for connectedness, cooperation and communities, among other elements.
Section: Inspiration - Tags: collaboration, studio management
Container Classroom: Studio H
December 11, 2013
A Rather Novel Collection
Calligraffiti: 1984-2013. Beautiful show opening in NYC today
Shared in Inspiration by
Kayd Roy
kingeddy3 (Capt. Edward Amah) RT @Intelinvolved: "#Creativity is thinking up new things. #Innovation is doing new things." - Theodore Levitt. Keep on innovating, friends.
6 minutes ago
Meredith Davis
Senior Web Designer/Art DirectorPublishers Clearing House
Port Washington, New YorkNovember 19 2013
AIGA Annual


text:
Featured Listings
542 Webber Pond Road
Vassalboro, Maine
United States
Firearms instruction including Maine and Utah
Complete Firearm Instruction
240 Meadow Street
Carver, MA
Massachusetts 02330
United States
Alan Klammer is the instructor at Complete Firearm
Jefferson Gun Outlet & Indoor Range
501 David Drive
United States
Jefferson Gun Outlet is a full service retail
Condition Red Firearms Training
Manhattan, KS
United States
My name is Robert Auten and I am a full time
Recent Listings
TRT Solutions LLC
1061 High Street
Mundelein, Illinois 60060
United States
Illinois Concealed Carry Firearms Training. FBI,
12-03-2013 12:58PMFocused Fire Training
Biloxi, Mississippi 39532
United States
NRA, Mississippi, & Louisiana State Certified. We
11-27-2013 11:05AMMB Firearms Safety Training
PO Box 1499
Pleasant Valley, New York 12569
United States
Offering pistol permit courses in the Hudson
11-27-2013 07:57AMDefense Dynamics of Illinois
6008 St. James Dr.
Edwardsville, Illinois 62025
United States
Approved Illinois CCL Instructor
11-26-2013 09:19PMMystungun
15040 E. Scarlet Sky Ln #3
Fountain Hills, Arizona 85268
United States
We are an online store that offers one of the
11-26-2013 03:45PMPopular Listings
Bob's Little Sport Shop
316 North Delsea Drive
Glassboro, NJ
United States
Indoor 25 yd Range Handguns, Shotguns, Archery,
(8322 views since 05-17-2011 08:15AM)Bullet Hole
78 Rutgers Street
Belleville, NJ
United States
Indoor 23 yd range Mon-Fri 10am-8:30pm Sat 9am-5pm
(8203 views since 05-17-2011 08:27AM)Caso's Gun-A-Rama
176 Danforth Avenue
Jersey City, NJ
United States
Rifles, Shotguns, Handguns Mon 10am-6pm Tues-Fri
(6268 views since 05-19-2011 08:12AM)Blue Ridge Arsenal
14725-K Flint Lee Road
Chantilly, Virginia
United States
Hague's Indoor Range
700 Crown Point Road
West Deptford, NJ
United States
25 yd Indoor Range - 14 lanes High Powered Rifles,
(5550 views since 05-17-2011 08:42AM)


text:
PS1 Keep All Small Leather
Leather flap front bag with metal tab closure, front pocket, leather straps, and handles. Logo jacquard interior lining. One interior compartment with leather trimmed inner zip pocket and two leather inner pouch pockets. Metal cuff with logo on front handle. Made in Italy.
Length: 15" Width: 7" Height: 9.5" Front Pocket: 9.25" x 6" Handle Drop: 7"
Our bags are hand crafted using genuine leather. Like all natural materials, leather reacts to the atmosphere. Humidity rain and sunlight can damage leather. Should a slight white coating appear on surface of leather, it can easily be removed using a dry cloth. Should the leather get wet please absorb the water immediately with a dry cloth. Overexposure to sunlight can stain or alter the color of the leather.


text:
use the following search parameters to narrow your results:
e.g. subreddit:aww site:imgur.com dog
subreddit:aww site:imgur.com dog
see the search faq for details.
advanced search: by author, subreddit...
606 users here now
A Helpful Reminder
This subreddit is a thinking ground, above all else we respect everyone's opinions and ALL religious beliefs and creeds. We hope to challenge issues which have captured the public's imagination. From JFK, UFOs, gulf of Tonkin and of course 9/11. This is a forum for free thinking - not hate speech. Respect other views and opinions, keep an open mind.
Our intentions are aimed towards a fairer, more transparent world and a better future for everyone.
/r/Conspiracy IRC Chatroom
Read-only mode powered by /r/NoParticipation
Moderator Transparency
Uncensorship: voluntary (r/conspiracy)
Undelete: Posts removed from the front page
ModerationLog not-so-voluntary
Got any other subreddits you think should be listed here? Send a message to #conspiracy.
Cross posting links to conspiracy posts or comments, in other subs is subject to a ban, depending on context.
Any posts that attack the sub, users or the mods will be removed. Breaking this rule more than once can earn a ban.
No subreddit advertising or promotion via userflair on this sub. Racist and potentially offensive userflair will also be removed.
Rules are explained in depth at FAQ page.
Remember! We are all different and we all have different beliefs, but please be respectful of each other.
Have you been banned? Please click here before abusing the moderators.
The Gentleperson's Guide To Forum Spies
Images of r/conspiracy
The scariest theory(from 4chan) (i.imgur.com)
submitted 9 months ago by gravittoon
view the rest of the comments →
[–]Billistic -1 points0 points1 point 9 months ago
The image that this thread is about is regarding the idea that no one is in control
[–]ForAHamburgerToday 1 point2 points3 points 9 months ago
It's not saying no one controls anything, only that no one controls everything.
all it takes is a username and password
for more information, see our privacy policy.
create account
is it really that easy? only one way to find out...
already have an account and just want to login?
π Rendered by PID 31780 on app-58 at 2013-12-13 21:24:44.410706+00:00 running bd0f08a.


text:
Thursday, December 05, 2013
Latest local news, weather, high school sports in the Rio Grande Valley
Food 4 Thought
Pay It 4Ward
The Nature Report
Money Talks
Action 4 Deals
Affordable Health Care
View Stories by Category
Valley Headlines
Texas Headlines
National/World Headlines
RGV News Videos
RGV Photo Slideshows
Pay It 4Ward
Call 4 Action
Action 4 Investigates
Pet Of the Week
Financial News
Action 4 News Sunrise
Weather Headlines
Consumer News
Tourism News
Strange News
Political News
Military News
Your Health
The Environment
Election News
Education News
The Economy
Crime Report
Business News
Mexico/Border Headlines
Valley Headlines
The latest headlines from the Rio Grande Valley.
Brownsville celebrates Earth Day
Saturday, April 21, 2012
The city of Brownsville is hosting multiple activities over the weekend to celebrate Earth Day.
read story
more stories
Valley Central
Get news and weather notifications on your phone by downloading the iPhone or Android app below
Sign up to get alerts and updates for breaking news, severe weather, and deals:
Special Features
RGV Diabetes Page
News, information and resources about the diabetes epidemic in the Rio Grande Valley.
SPI Web Cams
Watch LIVE weather video cameras from South Padre Island and Port Isabel
Food 4 Thought Page
Keep It Clean! Food 4 Thought airs every Wednesday night at 10 pm!
KGBT on Facebook
Follow Action 4 News on Facebook
Find it, click it, use it... your neighborhood business guide.
Beauty & Wellness
Financial Services
Home & Garden
Recreation & Travel
Senior Living
Around the Web
Hunt is on in Mexico for stolen radioactive load
USA Today
A cargo truck hauling extremely dangerous radioactive material from used medical equipment was stolen from a gas station in central Mexico
Martin Bashir exits MSNBC in wake of Sarah Palin outburst
Los Angeles Times
Metro-North Driver Said to Lose Focus Before Fatal Crash
SF Chronicle
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's 'sacks powerful uncle
The Independent
Video Headlines
Obamacare Sign-Ups Boosted by Healthcare.gov Fix
First Dog bumps toddler at Christmas event
New Report Says NSA Tracks Locations Of Cell Phone Users Around The World
Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lights Up
Stolen Cobalt-60 Found Abandoned in Mexico
More videos
Most Popular
Most Read
Most Commented
Former judge Abel Limas lands in one of "America's Cushiest Prisons"
Broken promise by former district attorney leaves family in the dark
Caught on camera: Burger King busted with shocking kitchen conditions
3-year-old's hair pulled out during beating
District attorney to decide if accused 'wife beater cop' will face charges
Popular on Facebook


text:
Place an Order
24 hours a day / 7 days a week
Customer Service
Monday to Friday
6:00 am to 9:00 pm PST
Technical problems
6:00 am to 6:00 pm PST
Order Status
Returns and Exchanges
2 Item(s)
20 Piece Poly Bins and Rails
Item # 41949
Magnetic Tool Holder
Item # 65489
350 lb. Capacity Large Service Cart with Locking Drawer
Item # 90428
8 Bin Portable Parts Storage Case
Item # 93927
20 Bin Portable Parts Storage Case
Item # 93928
40 Bin Organizer with Full Length Drawer
Item # 94375
Eight Drawer Wood Tool Chest
Item # 94538
Vacuum Storage Bags, Set of Three
Item # 95613
Join Us
Our Blog
Follow Us
View Demos
Share With Us
1.What is the main reason for your visit today?
2. Have you ever been to a Harbor Freight store or harborfreight.com before?
3. Did you find what you were looking for?
5. What could we do to make your online shopping experience better?


text:
Return to Public Comments
Previous Comment Letter
Next Comment Letter
Rural Community Investments - Proposed Rule - Comments received after 8/15/08
Gary K. Van Meter
Deputy Director
Office of Regulatory Policy
Farm Credit Administration
1501 Farm Credit Drive
McLean, VA 22102-5090
RE: Mission-Related and Rural Community Investments
Dear Mr. Van Meter,
U.S. agriculture relies on a vibrant rural economy. In order to thrive, America's rural communities need better and more reliable access to the capital that will support new investments in the community facilities and infrastructure improvements necessary for their success.
Agriculture depends on rural communities to support the related businesses and markets critical to their farming success but also to provide off-farm employment critical for the economic success of many farm families. Unfortunately, rural communities often lag behind metropolitan areas in essential infrastructure, services and facilities, in areas such as transportation, health care, education and others that would drive employment and economic opportunities to rural areas.
The Farm Credit Administration's proposed rule to enable Farm Credit institutions to make mission-related investments in rural communities is a step in the right direction to address this urgent need. This proposal allows those closest to rural areas, the farmer and cooperative owners of Farm Credit institutions, to support their communities by making critically needed investments in the future of those rural communities. I support what this proposed rule is striving to accomplish and urge the Farm
Credit Administration to move it forward in the regulatory development process.
Thank you for your consideration and concern for rural America.
First_Name: Danny
Last_Name: Thomas
Address: 970 Stillwater Trail
City: Dublin
State: Georgia
FCS Institution: AgGeorgia Farm Credit, ACA
CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This e-mail transmission may contain confidential information. This information is solely for the use of the individual(s) or entity to whom or which it was intended. If not an intended recipient, any review, copying, printing, disclosure, distribution or any other use is strictly prohibited. If you have received this email in error, please immediately notify the sender by reply e-mail. Please delete this e-mail from your files if you are not the intended recipient. Thank you.


text:
Revert to Saved Version
Subscribing to a newsletter indicates your consent to our
Terms of Use
and Privacy Policy.
blog comments powered by Disqus
- Visit Connected Traveler for the latest in Tech Travel - Sponsored by Canon
- Discover, compare, shop, the latest Tablets
- Canon P-208 Scan-tini Portable Scanner. Unclutter your life as you go.
- It's uptime all the time with Panasonic Toughbook® services.
- The Next Smartphone in the Acclaimed LG G Series.


text:
Personalise your news, save articles to read later and customise settings
If you have trouble accessing our login form below, you can go to our login page.
The Age
You are here: Home Federal Politics
John Spooner
John Shakespeare
Alan Moir
Ron Tandberg
Cathy Wilcox
Rocco Fazzari
Holden is leaving. It will stop holding Australia in 2017. The news broke just before question time, heralding a super fiery session where one Labor MP after the other was kicked out of the chamber. Just add outrage and stir.
Comments 403


text:
Please enable cookies
In order to take full advantage of the Asset Chemist web site, cookies must be enabled in your browser. No personal information will be stored in the cookie.
Please enable cookies and restart your browser.
Asset Chemist will always respect the privacy of your personal information. For more information see - about cookies


text:
Protecting road, transport and environment services
Tuesday, 15 January 2013
Proposals to meet savings across Economy, Transport and Environment services without impacting on frontline services will be presented to Hampshire County Council's Executive Member for Environment and Transport, Councillor Mel Kendal on 22 January 2013.
The priority within the budget of almost £110 million is to maintain support for those services that aid Hampshire's economy and are important to residents such as road maintenance, transport and waste management and recycling.
Recommendations for reducing the budget by two per cent, to help meet major pressures in some areas, include over £660,000 saved through the department's ongoing programme to improve administrative procedures. Included in this figure are savings to be made in streamlining back office systems across the department's services, as well as the co-location of the Council's and contractor highways staff at depots (thereby reducing spend on overheads and rent costs). Additionally, £300,000 will now be saved on street lighting energy costs through more energy efficient lighting and a recent renegotiation of the energy supply contract for street lighting to secure a better greener energy deal.
The report confirms that support for the Hampshire Concessionary Fares Scheme is to be maintained, but also recognises that the service will come under increasing demand in future years as the number of eligible pass holders rises with an ageing population. There are no planned reductions to the £5.1 million subsidies the County Council pays bus operators to run services that are not commercially viable. Public and community transport services are expected to come under increased pressure due to rising fuel costs and reduced public sector funding, leading to changes in the availability of public transport services.
The County Council is continuing its support and investment in the community and voluntary transport sector. This sector is playing an important part already in meeting gaps in public transport provision, to ensure people can access health, education, employment and training services.
Continued success in securing capital funding for transport and infrastructure from central Government will help the County Council further its investment in planned roads maintenance programmes and transport infrastructure improvement schemes. A £60 million capital investment programme for 2013/4 is proposed, with plans for similar levels of investment over the following two years. This major investment programme is vital to support the economy and encourage business and employment growth in difficult economic times. It will also help the County Council maintain its expertise and delivery capacity which help to secure and deliver future infrastructure investment to support our economy into the future.


text:
Gluten-free vanilla cupcakes. Let's celebrate. |
The world is my oyster. No. Wait. I'm allergic to oysters. At least that is what a blood test declared, four years ago. Puzzling. I never had any symptoms. That I recall. Though who knows. I haven't actually eaten an oyster in (...let me count), maybe 17 years. They were fried oysters. At a jumping local hang-out on the Cape. The Land Ho in Orleans. Famous for grilled burgers, golden dipped fish and chips, fried clams. And yeah. Oysters. And beer. Truth is, I would much prefer a cupcake. No slimy, muscular middle. No fishy liquor. Just tender, soft sweetness in exactly the right portion. Not too big. Not too heavy. Not too much.
Just right.
As you may have guessed, I have issues (who among us doesn't?). Texture is a big honking issue for me. Size is an issue (portions bigger than my head? A serious turn off). And taste, well, that goes without saying (you know how I loathe bean flour). If I was a storybook character I would inhabit The Princess and the Pea.
Except that it would have to be The Gluten-Free Casein-Free Princess and the Pea (which by the way, I may also be allergic to; the pea, that is). While others around me appear to sail without pause through the onslaught of sensory stimuli and proteins that is life in the twenty-first century, I have been blessed (and I use the term ironically) with the uncanny aptitude of hearing, smelling, feeling every little particle and nano nuance packed into our molecular frenzy of unstable equilibrium. I can sleep on a stack of twenty mattresses but if there is a single lonely pea beneath, I am sure to sense it. And it will keep me up all night.
And give me schpilkis.
Which brings me back to cupcakes. For those of us with acute sensory awareness (what some might dub just chill the f**k out disease) a cupcake is a small and lovely gift. When done right, a cupcake is tender and not too chewy, not too crumbly, dense or assertive. It's not too abrasive in its flavor or too dull. It's not too hot or too cold. It's not too skinny-chic or too over-the-top sweet. It doesn't stuff you till you're stupid. And it doesn't demand attention. It's not a diva. It's not competitive. A cupcake is perfectly happy to be what it is even if it won't garner food awards or
Because a well done cupcake is simply perfection.
A tidy little beauty of a bite. Gluten-free. |
Gluten-Free Vanilla Cupcakes Recipe with Mocha Icing
I frosted these little vanilla beauties with mocha flavored icing because I love the combo of coffee and chocolate. But straight up chocolate would also be delicious. As would vanilla.
1 cup sorghum flour or brown rice flour
1 cup tapioca starch
1 cup organic cane sugar
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon xanthan gum
1 cup vanilla soy, rice, coconut, or almond milk
1/4 cup organic free-range eggs, beaten or Ener-G egg replacer
3 tablespoons coconut oil, melted
1 tablespoon bourbon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon lemon juice
Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Line a 12-cupcake tin with paper or parchment liners.
In a mixing bowl, whisk the flour, starch and dry ingredients together. Add in the non-dairy milk, eggs or egg replacer, coconut oil, vanilla and lemon juice. Beat with a mixer until the cake batter is smooth. Do not over-beat.
Using an ice cream scoop, plop the batter into the twelve liners. Smooth out the tops with wet fingers.
Bake in the center of a preheated oven until firm and dome shaped. For me this took about 15-18 minutes at sea level but they may take up to 20 to 22 minutes, depending upon your particular oven and altitude.
Cool the pan on a wire rack briefly, then gently pop out the cupcakes and continue cooling on a rack (this avoids steaming the bottoms).
Make your icing.
Dairy-Free Mocha Icing Recipe
When making frosting, start with a small amount of liquid and add a little bit at a time until you achieve the consistency you want. If the icing gets too runny, add more confectioner's sugar to thicken it. You can also put the icing in the fridge for an hour to help stiffen it.
2 cups confectioner's (powdered) sugar
2 tablespoons cocoa powder
2-3 tablespoons vegan butter
2 ounces cold strong coffee, more as needed (or use vanilla rice milk if you don't like coffee)
1 teaspoon bourbon vanilla
Starting with a small amount of liquid, beat the sugar and cocoa powder to incorporate the shortening, coffee and vanilla. If you need more liquid, add a small amount at a time. Beat for two minutes or so until smooth. If you need to stiffen the frosting, add a little more confectioner's sugar.
Chill the frosting before using it. I chill it, covered, for roughly an hour. Frost the cupcakes. Cover in an air-tight container until serving. best eaten the first day. If making ahead of time, chill frosted cakes briefly in the freezer before wrapping individually and freezing.
Cook time: 1 hour Yield: Serves 12
Recipe Source: glutenfreegoddess.blogspot.com
We enjoy our sugary treats in moderation, don't we? Gluten-Free Goddess advises consuming no more than 2 tablespoons of sugar a day.
GFG Notes:
Gluten-free and vegan batters are often stiffer at first. Then they get sticky and stretch. If the batter climbs the beaters, slow down the speed and slightly lift the beaters to encourage the batter to migrate back down into the bowl. Move your beater around the bowl in figure eights, at a slight angle.
For substitutions, please see my guide to baking with substitutions here.


text:
- Home
- Welding & Fab
- MIG Welders
MIG welders and MIG welding accessories at a great price!
Eastwood offers a full selection of MIG welders, also known as wire feed welders, and MIG welding accessories. Eastwood MIG welders offer industrial welder features, at a DIY welder price. Eastwood MIG welders are true MIG welders, that can also use flux cored wire. Eastwood also offers Lincoln MIG welders. Whether you want to learn how to MIG weld or are a professional welder, you will be impressed by the features of these MIG welders.
30-180-amp Welder runs on 220v; part of the legendary Lincoln® lineage


text:
Martha Speaks - Monkeyshines Martha
Monkeyshines Martha
When Helen is busy with schoolwork, Martha turns to Professor Monkey for a new adventure.
Milo Goes for Gold
Milo never wins anything. Tired of being trophyless and second-bested by his friends, he devises a way to triumph by making up his own games. The only trouble is, his friends are pretty good at those too...
Air date: 12/06/2013
Stanley Saves the Day
Kenan Thompson guest stars as Truman's cousin, Stanley, who's obsession with watching movies tends to get on his cousin's nerves. When the gang spots two crooks at the Wagstaff City Hotel, Stanley's knowledge of heist movies may be the best tool they've got to prevent a robbery.
Air date: 11/15/2013
Martha's Steamed!
When Helen and Martha discover a dog locked in a hot car on a sweltering summer's day, they snap into action.
Air date: 10/11/2013
Martha Plays Favorites
Truman is worried that his mom doesn't think he's special anymore.
Air date: 10/04/2013


text:
Chicago Rhapsody Hotels + Gym + MARRIOTT HOTELS
Know When You're Going?
More Search OptionsHotel Amenities
- Gym
- 4.0 5
- 5 Reviews
0.41 mi/0.67 km from search point (short walk)
"The Chicago Marriott was awesome. My wife and I were here visiting friends over the ... Read more"
"The hotel was very clean, staff courtous and knowledgeable. My room was ready when I... Read more"
"First, they wanted to put us in a double bed room when we requested a King. Had to w... Read more"
Note: The nightly rates shown above do not yet include Tax Recovery Charge & Service Fees or (if applicable) Extra Person Fees, Child Fees, Additional Mandatory Hotel Charges or optional incidentals, such as parking, room service or movies.