Xbox Live Arcade Games Could Potentially be Delisted — Why?
Posted on May 22, 2008, Chris Xbox Live Arcade Games Could Potentially be Delisted — Why?
Okay, we've already received the bad news that there won't be any spring dashboard update this year. To make matters worse, Xbox Live GM Marc Whitten also revealed a new policy to Next-Gen that would allow Xbox Live Arcade games to be delisted from the service if they fail to meet certain criteria.
Whitten confirmed that the XBLA size limit has been increased to 350 MB and that the 1600 Microsoft Points price point has been opened (which we saw this week with the Penny Arcade game's release), but also explained that Xbox Live Arcade games that have an average Metacritic score of 65 and a conversion rate (which indicates users decided to purchase the game) below 6% after six months on the service would be removed.
Next, why is this even necessary? Whitten said, "While the service has had a lot of success and now boasts over 130 titles, we think it is time to continue our focus on quality over quantity." But why do these games even need to be removed from the Xbox Live Marketplace? I can understand their motivation for wanting to focus the spotlight on better selling games, but why can't these games somehow be archived? What happens if I'm the owner of one of these games and I have to delete it for some reason?
"Overall I think you will find this will focus the catalogue more on larger, more immersive games and make it much easier to find the games you are looking for," Whitten explained. But why should some developers and gamers essentially be punished because others might not find a game entertaining or worth purchasing?


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Nicholson, William (1872-1949) Woodcuts
Nicholson, William (1872-1949), 'Rudyard Kipling', Hand-coloured Woodcut, 1899 , Nicholson, William (1872-1949) Woodcuts , 19th Century
Hand-coloured woodcut from the Deluxe edition of Twelve Portraits signed in ink.

 Nicholson began his portrait of Rudyard Kipling (1865-1936) in response to a commission from W.E.Henley, the publisher of The New Review. Henley promoted Kipling's work in his publication and the poet, by now known in three continents, was probably his 'best-known protégé'.

 Kipling had only recently returned to England from Vermont; in order to do the portrait Nicholson and his family moved to Rottingdean in the summer of 1897 to be close to the writer who was staying in the house of his uncle, Burne-Jones. Steen describes how 'in the evenings, Kipling, who had taken a fancy to Mabel (Nicholson's wife), used to come round, sit on a black box in their little, flea-infested lodgings and tell stories'. Furthermore 'he and William took to walking the downs, exercising William's son and Kipling's daughter'. Within a short time a warm friendship formed between author and artist and the two collaborated on An Almanac of Twelve Sports which was published in 1898.

 Kipling's portrait first appeared as a supplement to The New Review in October 1897. It was re-issued in 1899 as no. 10 in the first series of Twelve Portraits.

 Reference: Campbell 67. A.
Nicholson, William (1872-1949), 'Rudyard Kipling', Hand-coloured Woodcut, 1899
Hand-coloured woodcut from the Deluxe edition of Twelve Portraits signed in ink.
Nicholson began his portrait of Rudyard Kipling (1865-1936) in response to a commission from W.E.Henley, the publisher of The New Review. Henley promoted Kipling's work in his publication and the poet, by now known in three continents, was probably his 'best-known protégé'.
Kipling had only recently returned to England from Vermont; in order to do the portrait Nicholson and his family moved to Rottingdean in the summer of 1897 to be close to the writer who was staying in the house of his uncle, Burne-Jones. Steen describes how 'in the evenings, Kipling, who had taken a fancy to Mabel (Nicholson's wife), used to come round, sit on a black box in their little, flea-infested lodgings and tell stories'. Furthermore 'he and William took to walking the downs, exercising William's son and Kipling's daughter'. Within a short time a warm friendship formed between author and artist and the two collaborated on An Almanac of Twelve Sports which was published in 1898.
Kipling's portrait first appeared as a supplement to The New Review in October 1897. It was re-issued in 1899 as no. 10 in the first series of Twelve Portraits.
Reference: Campbell 67. A.
Sickert, Walter Richard (1860-1942)
Nicholson, Ben (1894-1982)
John, Augustus (1878-1961)
Wadsworth, Edward (1889-1949)
Nicholson, William (1872-1949), 'Rudyard Kipling', Hand-coloured Woodcut, 1899 - Nicholson, William (1872-1949) Woodcuts

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Category Archives: 3DS
Phoenix Wright: Dual Destinies Headed For iOS
Looks like Phoenix Wright has taken a case for a different platform. Capcom has just revealed that their latest downloadable 3DS game, Phoenix Wright: Duel Destinies, will be making its way to iOS.
Although an official release date was not specified, the 3DS version is already out in Japan and will release everywhere else on October 24th. The game will be re-rendered in full HD and include the exact content that is present in the 3DS version.
This entry was posted in 3DS, All, Featured, News and tagged Nintendo, Phoenix Wright: Dual Destinies on August 8, 2014 by Mike Guarino.
Majora's Mask Fan Project Is Looking Great
Two Zelda fans, named Paco Martinez and Pablo Belmonte, have been working on an HD version of The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask for the past couple years, and they have just released a new video documenting the progress.
In the video we get to see a slew of character models like Link, the Happy Mask salesmen and several masks, as well as several locations. The footage looks absolutely fantastic, so I highly recommend you check it out below. [youtuber youtube='http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0zhSCoGePvk'%5D
It's worth noting that this game is not meant to be playable, but is instead being used to show Nintendo once it is completed. They are hoping that the footage will convince the company to go ahead and remake their own version of the game.
This entry was posted in 3DS, All, Featured, News, Wii U and tagged Nintendo, The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask on August 4, 2014 by Mike Guarino.
Boss Galaga Looking To Suck Up Super Smash Bros. Characters
Super Smash Bros. director Masahiro Sakurai has teased another interesting bit from the upcoming Super Smash Bros. games, this time electing to show off a cameo character known from the classic arcade shooter Galaga.
The character in question is Boss Galaga, who is infamous for trying to pull the player's ship in with its tractor beam and double its power. Boss Galaga will do the same thing in Super Smash Bros., though this time it will just lift you up off the screen.
Sakurai said the following about Boss Galaga:
"If you get caught in the Boss Galaga item's tractor beam, it will carry you away to the top of the screen. You can shoot it down, but it won't join you in battle for double the firepower."
Super Smash Bros. is set to release for the 3DS on October 3rd and the Wii U by the end of the year.
This entry was posted in 3DS, All, Featured, News, Wii U and tagged Boss Galaga, Galaga, Super Smash Bros. on July 31, 2014 by Mike Guarino.
Bravely Default Has Sold Over 1 Million Copies
Who says old-school RPGs are dead? The 3DS' great Bravely Default has defied the odds and sold over a million copies since it was released at the beginning of this year.
Siliconera reports that 400,000 of those sales were from Japan and the other 600,000 are split between other countries. It's no surprise the game is doing so well, as a solid RPG is hard to come by these days and Bravely Default is an example of a developer doing the genre really well.
There is already a sequel to Bravely Default that is in development, which currently has the title of Bravely Second. The developers have said that the sequel will have a more mature tone compared to the first game, as more dark and intense themes enter into the narrative. The sequel does not have a release date as of yet.
This entry was posted in 3DS, All, News and tagged Bravely Default, Bravely Second on July 28, 2014 by Mike Guarino.
Sonic Boom Games Coming Out This November
Sonic's latest adventure, called Sonic Boom, has finally been given a release date. The 3DS version is called Shattered Crystal and is coming out on November 11th, while the Wii U version is called Rise of Lyric and is coming out on November 18th.
The Sonic Boom games marks a huge departure from the Sonic formula, as neither game is being developed by Sonic Team. Shattered Crystal is being developed by Sanzaru Games, while the Rise of Lyric is being developed by Big Red Button.
It's interesting that these titles will be exclusive to Nintendo platforms, but I'm still really worried about how their overall quality will turn out. The Sonic series has been more misses than hits, and the fact that these games will supposedly line up with a kids TV show doesn't exactly spark confidence.
This entry was posted in 3DS, All, Featured, News, Wii U and tagged Rise of Lyric, Shattered Crystal, Sonic Boom on July 24, 2014 by Mike Guarino.
Transformers: Rise of the Dark Spark (3DS) Review – Transformers Meets Fire Emblem
When I was set to receive a 3DS version of Transformers: Rise of the Dark Spark, I was more or less expecting a dumbed-down version of the same game that would be coming out on consoles. The Rise of the Dark Spark that came out on consoles was an action-adventure video game that featured all the standard tropes of the genre and little else, so it would be safe to assume that something with such little ambition would get similar treatment on the 3DS. The 3DS is notably the weakest console on the market, so often times when a multi-platform title is coming out on 3DS it just gets a thrown-together version of a game that is almost certainly superior on any other console. That's the same case with the 3DS version of Rise of the Dark Spark, right?
Wrong! The 3DS version, unlike the console versions that were developed by Edge of Reality, was developed by WayForward Technologies, who are known for developing many titles based on popular licenses. Where the console version is an action-adventure game, the 3DS version is a strategy RPG with turn-based combat that is very similar to the Fire Emblem series. You move around an overworld map and when you land next to a space that an enemy is on a turn-based battle begins. You have three rounds to do damage to each other and pick from a variety of moves that recharge after each turn, with the more powerful abilities taking longer to charge up.
Unlike the Fire Emblem games, the story contained within Rise of the Dark Spark is bare-bones. There is a powerful artifact called the Dark Spark that is capable of ripping holes in dimensions, giving its wielder unthinkable power. Of course, the Decepticons (the bad guys) are going after the Dark Spark to take over the world and the Autobots (the good guys) are trying to stop them from getting their big ugly robotic mitts on it. The problem with Rise of the Dark Spark being a strategy RPG is that strategy RPGs rely on an intricate and engaging story to keep the lengthy battles and overall game interesting , but all of we have here is a MacGuffin and everyone is racing towards it with no character development or well-written dialogue in sight.
Interestingly, Rise of the Dark Spark switches between the Autobots, Decepticons and mercenaries throughout its 32 missions, giving you different perspectives on the same story. Even though you're controlling different teams they all control exactly the same and your mission objectives are just as similar. You will be asked to do things like defend a certain area for X amount of rounds, eliminate all enemies on the map and take down walls of defense, but it always comes down to just killing everything in your way. Considering these battles can be lengthy you would expect some more variety in the objectives, but unfortunately the game just cycles through these objectives tirelessly.
The types of transformers that you control in battle throughout the course of the game are limited, but they each serve an important purpose. The more powerful "hero" transformers have the highest HP, the strongest move sets and can transform into vehicles to move further than regular transformers. These are your tanks that you send out to the front lines to do the heavy damage and take the heavy damage that will soon be coming your way. Then you have the far weaker hackers and healers who are much better suited to stay in the background and hack objects to attack enemies or heal allies. If you play your cards right, as long as you keep your healers behind your "hero" characters you wont have to worry about losing hardly any units or battles at all.
Transformers: Rise of the Dark Spark is surprisingly far more interesting than the games that showed up on all the other consoles, but at the end of the day it's still a so-so game. As far as strategy RPGs go it's mediocre at best, as the combat scenarios are repetitive and the story and dialogue are an absolute bore. People who enjoy strategy RPGs and have exhausted all other options will surely find some entertainment with Rise of the Dark Spark, but as you spend more and more time with the game it's quickly revealed that there simply isn't enough here to hold your attention for very long.
Objectionable / Respectable
This entry was posted in 3DS, All, Featured, Reviews and tagged 3DS, Transformers: Rise of the Dark Spark on July 20, 2014 by Mike Guarino.
Mario's Alternate Super Smash Bros. Costume Salutes The American Flag
Everyone knows that Super Mario is an Italian plumber made by the Japanese, but we also know that he is most loyal to the country that made him an icon. In the latest Super Smash Bros. games, Mario's alternate costume prominently displays the American flag in all of its glory.
The news was revealed via the official Super Smash Bros. twitter account. It has also been noted that the costume was inspired by the NES Open Tournament Golf costume (which you can view here).
Check out Mario's alternate costume below!
Super Smash Bros. releases for the 3DS on October 3rd and on Wii U at the end of this year.
This entry was posted in 3DS, All, Featured, News, Wii U and tagged 3DS, Nintendo, Super Smash Bros., Wii U on July 10, 2014 by Mike Guarino.
Nintendo Is Quietly Planning Another 3DS Zelda Game
The Legend of Zelda series creator Shigeru Miyamoto has gone on record saying that there are ideas for a new Zelda game on the 3DS at a shareholders meeting last month.
Miyamoto said the following:
"We are gradually changing the structure of The Legend of Zelda series, and we are preparing to newly evolve the series for Wii U. In addition to that, we have ideas for Nintendo 3DS which we have not announced yet, so I hope you will look forward to them."
The last Zelda game to come out on the 3DS was last years acclaimed A Link Between Worlds. Ocarina of Time was also remade for the system and there have been rumors that Majora's Mask may be getting a similar treatment, as well.
This entry was posted in 3DS, All, Featured, Nintendo and tagged 3DS, Nintendo, Shigeru Miyamoto, The Legend of Zelda on July 5, 2014 by Mike Guarino.
New Theatrhythm Final Fantasy: Curtain Call Trailer Previews Early Series Tunes
Square Enix is working on a music game for the 3DS that will utilize music from the Final Fantasy series called Theatrhythm Final Fantasy: Curtain Call, and today they have revealed a trailer that contains music from the first 3 entries in the series.
What sets apart this latest entry in the series is that it will contain music from spin-off titles, such as the phenomenal Final Fantasy Tactics. The game is set to have over 200 tracks and will be open to further tracks via DLC.
Check out the trailer below.
[youtuber youtube='http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PT8O4Ius_sw#t=56′%5D
Theatrhythm Final Fantasy: Curtain Call is scheduled for release on September 16th in the U.S. and September 19th in Europe.
This entry was posted in 3DS, All, Featured, News and tagged 3DS, Square Enix, Theatrhythm Final Fantasy: Curtain Call on July 3, 2014 by Mike Guarino.
Tomodachi Life (3DS) Review – This Is The Craziest Island EVER
What if I told you that Nintendo had created another game that was ridiculously addicting like Animal Crossing, but in completely different ways? When I first popped in Tomodachi Life, at first I was pretty unimpressed with what it had to offer. Instead of having a world that I could create and fully interact with like in Animal Crossing, i'm more or less a God-like spectator who watches over all of the town's citizens. However, what at first seemed boring quickly transformed into a world with a bizarre sense of humor and zany scenarios that I couldn't get enough of.
When Tomodachi Life begins you are asked to create a Mii that is your look-alike. This Mii will be the first resident of the town and thus will begin the life on this little island. What's fantastic about the creator mechanics in this game is that you can pick what your Mii sounds like, which is fantastic considering the game has full voice-support for all dialogue. When I heard my Mii say back to me my name, birthday and favorite color I was beaming. I've always been a fan of Nintendo's simple-yet-expressive Mii's, but actually hearing mine talk was another experience entirely.
It isn't until you start creating other residents of the island when the true fun begins. You have the option to create other Mii's manually or scan them in through QR codes that you can find online. This is what I ultimately ended up doing, as I was able to find QR codes for Batman, Master Chief, Harry Potter and a bunch of other awesome characters. Soon enough, I had an island overflowing with characters that you would never expect to see in the same game and watching them interact and become friends is awesome. In my particular game, Uncle Rico from Napoleon Dynamite and Woody from Toy Story are best friends, which never fails to make me laugh whenever I see them hanging out together.
As life on the island progresses and you add more and more Mii's you will find that new places will appear for your Mii's to hangout in. Places like coffee shops and amusement parks all provide unique ways for the Mii's to interact with one another, potentially providing you with another zany scenario for you to witness. One of my personal favorite places is the Mii News station, where one of the island's Mii's will report the latest major happening on the island, which is always something completely insane. One particular news story talked about how Thor bought a Power Disco Ball, and suddenly he had a string of good luck that he credited entirely to the purchase of said Power Disco Ball. He reported that he found a tooth brush in the street, his laryngitis went away in 5 days and his acne cleared up by 10%. Who thinks of this stuff?
The true depth of Tomodachi Life comes in the form of you interacting and assisting the island's Mii's when they need your help. When you do something good for the Mii, their happiness level will increase and you will get some money. This money is used to purchase all matter of food, clothes, furniture and a bunch of strange items that your Mii's will be begging for. Sometimes a Mii will be hungry and you will have to go and buy their favorite food, and other times they will be bored and ask you to play with them.When playing with a Mii you are usually given one of several very simple mini-games, such as trivia, card games and reflex-based games. While there is really nothing to these games, they are less about providing actual gameplay then they are providing brief bursts of humor. Sometimes you will come across one of your Mii's sleeping with a dream bubble above their head, and you can tap on the bubble to see what it is they are dreaming about. The last time I played Master Chief was having a dream about him and a bunch of the islanders dancing around a dish containing a fried spring roll, and all of them were chanting, "All hail the fried spring roll!" I wanted to laugh so hard, but I feared I might wake the Master Chief from his slumber.
The only true fault of the game is that it's one that really has no purpose or goal. Unlike in Animal Crossing where you are constantly improving your home and paying off your debt, Tomodachi Life's only true purpose is to check in and see what's going on. This will be a bummer for some, as if you're not in tune with the game's style of humor then you will probably get bored with the game rather quickly. However, taken in small to medium bouts of gameplay I found that the game always held my attention and made me laugh more often then not.
Tomodachi Life is yet another kind life simulator game that is able to stand on its own feet thanks to its charming style and bizarre humor. It's a game where you feel like you have little to no control of what is going on, and depending on where you're sitting that could be very good or very bad. In my opinion, though, this game never fails to provide consistent displays of greatly charming and humorous scenarios when ever I pop it in to play. It may not be an Animal Crossing replacement, but it's a game that I can confidently say is its own unique experience that should be checked out by anyone looking for some light-hearted and goofy life-simulation.
This entry was posted in 3DS, All, Featured, Reviews and tagged 3DS, Nintendo, Tomodachi Life on June 30, 2014 by Mike Guarino.
Kirby Triple Deluxe (3DS) Review – Triple The Content, Triple The Fun
The Kirby series is one of Nintendo's most enduring yet often-overlooked franchises that they have going. It all began in 1992 when Masahiro Sakurai (who is more known for creating the Super Smash Bros. series) directed Kirby's Dream Land, which spawned countless critically-acclaimed sequels. This is the first game in the series to pop-up on the 3DS and Kirby's first game since 2011's 1-2 punch of the DS' Kirby Mass Attack and the Wii's Kirby's Return To Dreamland. So, how does it shape up? In a nutshell, it offers just about everything a Kirby or platforming fan could want.
The story starts with a giant beanstalk called the Dreamstalk showing up while Kirby is sleeping and taking both his house and King Dedede's castle into the sky. When Kirby wakes up the next morning he is suddenly in a new land called Floralia, which means that he must fight his way through several worlds that all contain many levels in order to make it to King Dedede's castle and right the wrong's of everything that has transpired.
Kirby Triple Deluxe controls like many of the other 2d Kirby games, as you traverse from left to right as you suck up your enemies and adopt all of their different powers; such as bombs, swords, boomerangs and a hell of a lot more. You'll also be tasked with collecting Sun Stones and Key Chains throughout each level, which help you unlock more levels and drive up the completion rating, respectively. The one major addition to the gameplay is an item that transforms Kirby into Hypernova Kirby, which allows Kirby to suck up humongous monstrosities and lay absolute waste to everything in the level.
Of course, this being a Nintendo 3DS game, the 3D element comes in with full force and actually makes great use of the system's capabilities. Sometimes you will come across instances where you will move form the foreground to the background of the screen, which allows you to discover hidden goodies or keys that must then be brought back to the foreground. These sections truly shine when you come across a giant beam that extends to both the foreground *and* background, allowing you to reign destruction on two different areas at once. Elsewhere the 3D is simply used to make things appear as if they are coming out of the screen; such as enemy attacks, items or text.
The enemies in Triple Deluxe all vary greatly and force you to utilize different strategies to come out in one piece. Some enemies will be extremely fast and require precise timing to take them down, while others will be flinging bombs or shooting arrows at you. How you decide to take down these enemies is entirely up to you, as Kirby has a plethora of different skill sets that he can absorb that give him a huge variety of abilities. The game always gives you many different options in each level, making each new level feel fresh and exciting.
A platformer of this ilk would be nothing without great boss fights, and that is definitely one area where Triple Deluxe knocks it out of the park. Throughout the course of the game you will come across both mini and regular bosses and many of them put up quite a fight. They have large amounts of health which requires you to be patient and time your attacks, otherwise you'll find yourself taking big amounts of damage very quickly. I won't spoil the finale, but the final boss sequence is one of the most intense and rewarding finales that I have played in a long time.
All of this and we haven't even delved into the other modes that this game offers! Outside of the story mode you also have access to the Kirby Fighters and Dedede's Drum Dash modes, and once you complete the game you unlock The Arena and Dedede tour modes. Kirby Fighters is a Super Smash Bros.-esque mode that pits you against a variety of different Kirby's all contained in a handful of Super Smash Bros.-esque stages. This mode is an absolute blast, as all of the chaotic mayhem of the smash series shines through brilliantly as all matter of items, environmental events and more all add up into a consistently exciting experience. The fact that this game packs its own Super Smash Bros. mode is worth the price of admissions, alone. It also has a multiplayer feature, making this a mode with infinite replay value.
Dedede's Drum Dash is a rhythm-based game in which you must jump from drum to drum to the beat of the song. The better you time your beat the higher that Dedede will jump, which allows you to collect more coins and improve your score. You can also clap to the beat of the music to get bonus points, but mastering this while also timing jumps and avoiding obstacles is truly challenging. It's not the most in-depth of modes, but the core mechanics are so addicting that I find myself coming back to it a lot.
The two unlockable modes are more standard affairs that you come across occasionally in other platformers of this type. The Arena is essentially a boss rush mode, pitting you against both mini and regular bosses in a row with a hub world in-between that gives you a breather and limited health regeneration. Dedede tour lets you play through the story mode as none other than King Dedede, who controls a bit differently and has to take down more difficult enemies and bosses. Make it through this mode and you will even face off against a new boss at the end and witness new scenes.
Kirby Triple Deluxe offers so much content that is all insanely fun to playthrough. The main story mode is a solid length that has great level design, enemy variety and challenge that would be more than a solid package all on its own. However, the fact that the game also packs in Kirby Fighters, Dedede's Drum Dash, The Arena and Dedede tour make this a game that is impossible for me to not completely recommend. The Kirby series has always offered consistently high quality games, but Kirby Triple Deluxe mixes that high quality with high quantity to results in yet another must-have game on the 3DS.
Condone
This entry was posted in 3DS, All, Featured, Reviews and tagged 3DS, HAL Laboratory, Kirby: Triple Deluxe, Nintendo, Shinya Kumazaki on May 31, 2014 by Mike Guarino.
Sonic Boom Adding New Character Sticks To The Cast…
Big Red Button Entertainment and Sanzaru Games' Sonic Boom is shaping up to be a pretty big departure from the tried-and-true Sonic universe, at least visually. Now they are showing off a brand new character in the game that goes by the name of Sticks.
Sticks is a jungle badger that has been living alone in the wilderness for a long time, and has a very different personality compared to other members of the cast. Chief Content Officer Hiroyuki Miyazaki says that ""Sticks is a significant addition to the Sonic Boom universe and the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise. She brings a quirky personality and perspective to the team dynamic, and we look forward to sharing this energetic and funny new character with the world."
They released a video showing off Sticks and her voice actor, and you can watch it below. [youtuber youtube='http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EsIvZ0lcYDM'%5D
Sonic Boom is being released exclusively on Nintendo consoles later this year.
My Judgment:
Although it remains to be seen how the quality of the overall game will be, this Sticks character looks like she could be extremely annoying. Her voice is quite irritating, and in a series that has become known for bad-voice acting Sticks could be taking it all to a new low. I guess we'll find out sometime later this year.
This entry was posted in 3DS, All, Featured, News, Wii U and tagged 3DS, Sonic Boom, Sticks, Wii U on May 30, 2014 by Mike Guarino.
Mario Golf: World Tour (3DS) Review – Glad To Be Back On The Green With Mario
When it comes to the sports genre in gaming, I tend to avoid it all together. I've owned many of them in the past, but there's only so much that can be done before the whole genre gets very stale. Sure, you get your prettier graphics and your annual roster update, but if you've played one game in a particular sports genre then you've basically played them all.
There is one exception to that rule, however, and that is the Mario sports series. When I hear that I will be able to do all kinds of crazy stuff in a typical sports genre, that's where I get interested. My first foray into the Mario sports series was with none other than Mario Golf 64. It was a pretty simple game, as you just picked a player and you were off to face other golfing rivals on a variety of different courses, enter a tournament and what not. It was a golf game that was ridiculously fun, and as such kicked off my love for the Mario sports series.
Which brings us to Mario Golf: World Tour. This 3DS game is the first in the Mario Golf series in about 10 years, so I was obviously excited as heck to hear that Mario would be hitting the green again. The major thing that World Tour adds to the series is the online function, which allows you to play with others all around the world in vs matches or tournaments. This gives the game a lot of replay value, as the gameplay is so sound that it's always a blast to face off against others.
Pretty much everything else that is on offer by Mario Golf: World Tour is essentially a new version of what we usually see in the series. Like the portable titles, you are given a hub world that is full of many of the characters from the Mario world all standing around just waiting for you to talk to them so they can tell you relevant or completely irrelevant information. The hub world is a feature that I'm glad to see back, as it adds some meat to the typical sports formula and the Mario world is always full of charm.
At the start of the game it is your mission to begin a practice round so that your handicap can be calculated. Once your skill has been tested you are then eligible to enter the first of the 3 major tournaments that the game has to offer. The first one is pretty straight-forward and contains courses that lack any major wind, obstacles or uneven terrain. It's essential that you master all of the intricacies of the gameplay here, though, because it won't be long before the game throws everything and the kitchen sink at you.
World Tour offers noobs of the series a pretty forgiving swing mechanic that only requires you to press the button once when you're swinging the club. This means that you won't have to worry about missing the marker when the meter comes back and your ball goes flying off target. Though you can use this feature and do relatively well, I find that the traditional style is the most rewarding, as it also allows you to add some spin to the ball and control what it does when it lands on the green.
Outside of the traditional 9 or 18 hole scenarios there are challenges that ask you to collect as many coins as you can, hit the ball through all of the rings in a course or complete each course in just 2 shots. They add a nice amount of variety, but none of them are as fun as the traditional mode. They do allow you to unlock new equipment for your characters, though, so it is important to give them a shot at some point.
Speaking of equipment, World Tour allows you to unlock and purchase new clubs, balls and gear by completing challenges or spending coins at the shops. This equipment will improve various stats like power, control and trajectory, which is definitely important if you want an edge once you hit the online world.
Mario Golf: World Tour doesn't do much to really re-invigorate the franchise and the online function is pretty bare-bones. However, the gameplay continues to be very addicting and rewarding as you improve your game and master the effects of wind, obstacles and angles, making it an extremely satisfying experience. It may be a little light on features, but Mario Golf: World Tour is definitely the place to go if you're looking for a non-traditional golf experience.
This entry was posted in 3DS, All, Featured, Reviews and tagged 3DS, Mario Golf: World Tour, Nintendo on May 23, 2014 by Mike Guarino.
New Video Game Releases (May 19th – 25th, 2014)
Things are picking up this week as we have a major new release in the form of Wolfenstein: The New Order. The game is a reboot by MachineGames of the classic FPS series that is set in an alternate historical reality where Nazis won World War II. Scroll down to see a complete list of what is coming out from May 18th to May 25th, 2014.
Mega Man V (Virtual Console – Game Boy)
Drakengard 3
Mugen Souls Z
R-Type Dimensions (PSN)
Transistor (PSN)
Sparkle 2 (PSN)
Swords & Soldiers HD (eShop)
Squids Odyssey (eShop)
Fit Music for Wii U (eShop)
This entry was posted in 3DS, All, Featured, New Releases, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Vita, Wii U, Xbox 360, Xbox One and tagged 3DS, New Video Game Releases, Playstation 3, PlayStation 4, Vita, Wii U, Xbox 360, Xbox One on May 19, 2014 by Mike Guarino.
Seven New 'Pokémon X & Y' Competitions Coming This Year
There's more Pokémon madness coming for all you Pokémon fans, as the Pokémon Company has revealed that seven more competitions are on the way for Pokémon X & Y. These are in addition to the Pokémon World Championships and the Pokémon International May Challenge.
These online competitions are all essentially battlegrounds for Pokémon trainers to duke it out with one another and improve their skills. Trainers who do well may even get the chance to compete in the World Championships.
Below is the complete schedule for the competitions for Pokémon X & Y:
May 16–18: 2014 International Challenge May. Registration is closed.
June 6–8: Think Fast Competition: Single Battle.
Late June: 2014 International Challenge June.
July: Eevee Friendly Match [Name TBD].
July: All Star Battle [Name TBD].
August: Think Fast Competition: Double Battle.
Autumn: Fairy-type Cup [Name TBD].
Autumn: Halloween Party [Name TBD].
This entry was posted in 3DS, All, Featured, News and tagged 3DS, Nintendo, Pokémon, Pokémon X & Y on May 17, 2014 by Mike Guarino.
It Takes 5 Billion Years To See Every Planet In 'No Man's Sky'
Xbox Doesn't Want Rare Brand To Only Mean 'Kinect Sports'
'Dreamfall Chapters' Coming Exclusively To PlayStation 4
The Campaign For 'The Evil Within' Lasts 15 To 20 Hours
'P.T.' Is Actually A New Silent Hill Game From Hideo Kojima Called 'Silent Hills'


Do you know your EPC ratings? Are all of your properties in energy efficiency band E or above? New regulations* could affect you – act now to protect your rental business.
Landlords could be hit by bills of up to £9,000 under plans to make homes more energy efficient.
Hundreds of thousands of buy-to-let landlords could be hit with thousands of pounds worth of bills under new green targets for their properties.
From April 2018, landlords will be legally required to raise the energy efficiency of rental properties to at least "Band E" levels of energy efficiency.
The reforms mean that more than 450,000 homes which fall into bands F and G, the worst insulated homes, will require significant work.
We have installed replacement boilers, loft insulation and other measures in tenanted properties subsidised by ECO funding, GDHIF vouchers and Green Deal Communities grants as well as fully financed Green Deal plans. We can arrange all the paperwork, financing, quotes and installation.
*The new regulations require landlords to upgrade the energy efficiency of homes currently rated F and G to a minimum of E by 1 April 2018 – or face being unable to let them until they improve the rating. Almost 10% of England and Wales' 4.2m privately rented homes currently fall below the E rating.
The regulations also mean that from 1 April 2016, tenants living in F- and G-rated homes will be able to request improvements such as more insulation. The landlord will then be legally bound to bring the home up to an E-rating.
If a tenant requests a more efficient home and a landlord fails to comply, the landlord could be forced to pay a penalty notice. Landlords will be able to let out F- and G-rated properties beyond 1 April 2018 for the remainder of existing rental contracts, but will not be able to renew a contract or let the property to someone else until it is brought up to an E rating.


text:
Q: why can't I get attribute of '-webkit-mask' by calling jquery .css('-webkit-mask') I wanna get the '-webkit-mask' attribute of the img element below(in chrome):
element.style {
    background: white;
    -webkit-mask: url(Images/menu-icons/fm.png);
    width: 17px;
    height: 19px;
}

I can get the correct values of 'background'/'width'/'height' by calling $(img).css('') except '—webkit-mask', why?
$(_img).css('height')
"19px"
$(_img).css('-webkit-mask')
""

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Brenda Brush September SFAA Meeting and Lecture — Location Update!!
Hello everyone, we've had a slight change to the venue location as we've been upgraded to the Hyatt Place due to a double booking. The new space is actually adjacent to the original, and so it is located at 91 SW 18th Avenue Dania Beach, FL 33004 instead! We look forward to seeing you all soon and we can't wait to see what Brenda has in store for us.
2 Responses to Brenda Brush September SFAA Meeting and Lecture — Location Update!!
I was trying to find an email address to you, but could not find a contact on your website. Hope you will receive my message here. I am wondering if you have links to download from your lectures, and how much are they?
Currently our lectures are in-person only, although we are working on obtaining an audio recording for the upcoming lecture that will be sold through an additional page on this website. Following the lecture we will notify via email when the recording is available! For future reference our email address is SFAA411@gmail.com, and you can find other methods of contact on our "Contact and Social Media" page.


Country superstar Blake Shelton is back with his stunning new duet, "Lonely Tonight," where he collaborates with label-mate Ashley Monroe.
"Lonely Tonight" was co-written by songwriters Brent Anderson and Ryan Hurd, and released as a single on Warner Music Nashville. The song is a track on Shelton's latest studio album, Bringing Back the Sunshine. It is already in the Top 10 on the Billboard Hot Country charts, with the potential to climb higher.
Shelton's baritone vocals are rich and heartfelt. Monroe's gorgeous and angelic harmonies elevate the song to a higher level. Their vocals blend well together and produce a true musical event, that ought to receive some recognition at a future country music awards ceremony.
"I don't wanna be right, I don't wanna be strong, I just wanna hold you 'til the heartbreak's gone," they sing.
Country music fans can check out their new single on iTunes, by clicking here.
Overall, Blake Shelton and Ashley Monroe are an absolute delight on "Lonely Tonight." It deserves the reach the top of the country charts. The duet garners 4.5 out of 5 stars.


text:
Alia Braley
PhD Student, Political Science
Alia Braley is a PhD candidate in the Department of Political Science at UC Berkeley and a Visiting Scholar at the SNF Agora Institute at Johns Hopkins University. Her research focuses on the psychology behind democratic backsliding in the US and beyond as well as strategies of civil resistance in acute political conflict. She was previously the Director of Research at the Albert Einstein Institution, a visiting researcher at the MIT Media Lab Human Dynamics Group, and a consultant at the World Bank Development Data Group. She has also served as a research assistant at the UC Berkeley Violence and Intervention Lab and the United States Institute of Peace Nonviolent Action Program. She holds a Masters in Divinity from Harvard University, where her research focused on religion, politics, and conflict. She presented the findings of her thesis on civil resistance strategies against ISIS at TEDx Salem.
https://polisci.berkeley.edu/people/person/1599826


text:
EvalLaser Evaluator::_laser = EvalLaser();

Evaluator::Evaluator()
{
    _params = EvalParams();
}

Evaluator::Evaluator(const EvalParams& params)
{
    _params = params;
}

int Evaluator::operator()(const Board& board) const
{
    int terminalScore = 0;
    return TerminalScore(board, &terminalScore)
           ? terminalScore
           : MaterialScore(board) + LaserableScore(board);
}

int Evaluator::Distance(int loc1, int loc2) const
{
    int xDiff = std::abs((loc1 - loc2) % BoardWidth);
    int yDiff = std::abs((loc1 - loc2) / BoardWidth);
    return std::max(xDiff, yDiff);
}

bool Evaluator::TerminalScore(const Board& board, int* score) const
{
    bool terminal = board.IsCheckmate() || board.IsDraw();
    if (terminal)
    {
        *score = board.IsDraw()
            ? 0
            : _params.CheckmateVal() * (GetOwner(board.LastCapture()) == Player::Silver ? -1 : 1);
    }

    return terminal;
}

int Evaluator::MaterialScore(const Board& board) const
{
    int eval = 0, pieceVal, pharaohVal, pharaohLoc;
    Piece piece;
    Player player;
    Square sq;
    for (size_t i = 0; i < BoardArea; i++)
    {
        sq = board.Get(i);
        if (sq != OffBoard && sq != Empty)
        {
            player = GetOwner(sq);
            piece = GetPiece(sq);
            pieceVal = _params.PieceVal(piece);
            pharaohLoc = board.PharaohPosition(player);
            pharaohVal = piece == Piece::Scarab ? _params.PiecePharaohVal(Distance(i, pharaohLoc)) : 0;
            eval += (pieceVal + pharaohVal) * (player == Player::Silver ? 1 : -1);
        }
    }

    return eval;
}

int Evaluator::LaserableScore(const Board& board) const
{
    return LaserableScore(Player::Silver, board) - LaserableScore(Player::Red, board);
}

int Evaluator::LaserableScore(Player player, const Board& board) const
{
    int bonus = 0;
    Player other = player == Player::Silver ? Player::Red : Player::Silver;
    int enemyPharaoh = board.PharaohPosition(other);
    auto stepCalc = [&] (int loc)
    {
        bonus += _params.LaserPharaohVal(Distance(enemyPharaoh, loc));
    };

    _laser.SetStepCallback(stepCalc);
    _laser.Fire(player, board);
    return _params.LaserVal() * _laser.PathLength() + bonus;
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
The Barnet Press and the Ham and High, 29 April
Boris insults opponents of Brent Cross Plan
London Mayor Boris Johnson revealed his contempt for local people and organisations opposing the environmentally-damaging Brent Cross Cricklewood Plan, when he spoke at the 'London Planning Awards'...
Local Press (Two from Barnet Times, two from Barnet Press)
Barnet Times reports on kite flying
Also appears on Wembley Matters blog.
Press Round Up on 15 April - Barnet Times (2), Ham and High (2)
'Fly a Kite Against Pollution' says Green Party
Donald Lyven, the Prospective Green Party Parliamentary Candidate for Finchley and Golders Green, has just received Special Permission from the Civil Aviation Authority to fly a Kite to a height of 140 metres (460 feet) on the afternoon of Sunday 18 April.
Donald Lyven said:
This is to give residents of Garden Suburb, Golders Green, Cricklewood, Hendon, West Hendon, Brent and surrounding areas, an idea of how high the Barnet Tory Council-voted-for incinerator chimney will be. Its fumes will predominately drift east due to the UK's prevailing westerly winds, taking the smoke towards some of the richest suburbs in London.
This 'Toxic Tower of Death' is 40 metres higher than the massive chimney at Edmonton Incinerator, next to the A406. It is projected to be belching out cleaner air than it takes in, based on yet to be developed technology! Even if that were true, it will produce thousands of tonnes of toxic ash each year, and will have to import millions of tonnes of rubbish from surrounding communities, using hundreds of lorry journeys from surrounding districts, to make the plant viable
It seems ironic that Barnet Council can - with a show of hands - vote in a hideously dense housing scheme, in an already polluted part of London, with its 140 metre high chimney; yet I've had to provide all sorts of detailed information to the CAA to enable special permission to fly a kite to the same height! Officially, kites can only be legally flown to a height of 60 metres (200 feet) in the UK.
Barnet Green Party will be flying a traditional Cody Box Kite with a 2.5 metre wingspan, because of its stability in the air. The actual location of the launch site on Clitterhouse Playing Fields will be dependent on the wind direction on the day, so as to keep the kite above the Fields at all times, and hopefully an orange wind sock will indicate the wind direction, strength and launch point.
Many other groups against the Brent Cross Cricklewood Development are due to congregate at the Clitterhouse Fields during the ascent, giving out information on the disastrous development. Please come along to learn more about BXC.
If conditions are right, Barnet Green Party urge all residents in surrounding districts to look out for the kite between 1 and 3 pm, and to ask themselves, do they want this proposed chimney looking down on them? You can bet property prices in surrounding areas will plummet long before the first brick is laid for the incinerator plant. Do you want your children to breath in toxins, PCBs, carcinogens and particulates?
Willesden & Brent Times, and the Barnet Press
Ham and High letter, jointly from 'Friends of the Earth' groups
(click above for Camden FoE web site, below for the Ham and High letter)
Great expectations of 'humble residents' groups' - BBC web site
"The 'Residents' Association of Barnet' (RAB) will rally against planning permission granted to the Brent Cross regeneration project..."
(Click on image above)
THE MAYOR MOCKS OBJECTORS, BUT HE IS NOT FUNNY!
Navin Shah, London Assembly Member for Brent and Harrow has given his reaction to Mayor Johnson's speech at the London Planning Awards:
The Mayor's contempt shown at the London Planning Awards evening is offensive to people and objectors, who have raised very serious issues about this mega BXC development. He thinks this is all funny, but Boris's comments have made me very, very 'cross'.
It all just shows how little he cares for community and residents' interests, on a major plan that will have a serious impact on the generations to come. He thinks this is all hilarious and jokes about nodding through the plans against the fiercest opposition, but then he says 'never mind'.
This just proves Boris's thoughts and actions lie firmly with developers, not Londoners' best interests. For this reason I've called for a public enquiry, and the sooner it happens, the better!
Boris Johnson's 'Cavalier disregard for the views of Londoners'
Darren Johnson AM reacted to Boris Johnson's remarks at the 2010 London Planning Awards (see below) with the following comment:
This sound clip reveals that beneath the Mayor's chuckling veneer lurks a cavalier disregard for the views of Londoners. There is a reckless abandonment of any pretence of reaching an informed and balanced view of major development applications, and their environmental impact.
A public inquiry is essential.
Is this the Context in which Brent Cross should be decided? (Discuss)
Biodiversity loss. Land use. Freshwater use. Nitrogen and phosphorus cycles. Stratospheric ozone. Ocean acidification. Climate change. Chemical pollution. Aerosol loading in the atmosphere.
(Click above for video from 'Scientific American')
Johnson voices his contempt for local people opposed to the Brent Cross redevelopment
'Barnet Press' letter
Local Press (Two from Barnet Times, two from Barne...
Press Round Up on 15 April - Barnet Times (2), Ham...
Ham and High letter, jointly from 'Friends of the ...
Great expectations of 'humble residents' groups' -...
Boris Johnson's 'Cavalier disregard for the views ...
Is this the Context in which Brent Cross should be...
Johnson voices his contempt for local people oppos...


text:
Lori Scott
Home / Meet Our Volunteers /
Dec 8,2022 Comments Off on Lori Scott
Lori has been a volunteer at the Activity Center since meeting Jamie at the 2021 Quilt Show.
"I started out working the front desk one day a week, and then started helping with special events," said Lori. "The Rhubarb Festival was my first big event, and I was the volunteer coordinator, which was a real challenge since we had just moved to La Pine and I didn't know anyone. But it was a great chance to meet people in this community!"
Lori and her husband Jerry moved here in April of 2021 from the Rogue Valley.
"We've had friends with property here and we came to visit them during the summers, and my husband said he wanted to retire here. So when it came time to retire, we sold everything, bought a fifth wheel, and then Covid hit. I had wanted to retire to the coast, but we realized we couldn't leave the fifth wheel there permanently because of the harsh weather. So we wound up moving here and are currently waiting on permits to get a house started."
In her "before life", Lori spent 15 years doing child care and then was director of a preschool when her kids were in high school. "I did that for eight years but missed having my business at home, so I opened a daycare in my home and did that until we moved here. It took me four years to retire because my families wanted me to finish taking care of their children," said Lori.
"My husband, Jerry, was a mill-worker with Boise Cascade and retired after working in the mills for 30 plus years."
So what does Lori like best about volunteering?
"The other volunteers! Everybody is so wonderful here… these people are amazing, willing and it's helped me get into this community and get to know people," Lori replied.
Recently Lori took a job cleaning the kitchen and restrooms at the Activity Center a couple days a week .
"I don't like to clean, but those women in the kitchen work so hard and do such a great job, I feel rewarded helping them out," said Lori.
Lori's husband Jerry is always volunteering at the Center as well; he was up on the roof putting on Christmas lights recently!
"Jamie just gives so much to this center and this community, it makes it a pleasure to volunteer there," said Lori. "If anyone out there is interested in joining us, call the Center — it's for everybody, not just seniors! And come for lunch, it's fantastic food!"


text:
ITK president Natan Obed Expresses His Condolences to the Families of Tina Fontaine and Colten Boushie
By Essential Studios™February 23, 2018 No Comments
Home » News » ITK president Natan Obed Expresses His Condolences to the Families of Tina Fontaine and Colten Boushie
Ottawa, Ontario, February 23, 2018 — On behalf of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, president Natan Obed today expresses his condolences to the families of Tina Fontaine and Colten Boushie, and stands in solidarity with all Canadians calling for justice reforms and systemic changes to ensure Indigenous peoples rights are respected in Canada.
"These cases are more than just the latest instances that highlight the need for addressing racism or reforming justice systems. They are also examples of the tragic end results of discrimination towards Indigenous Canadians. We must all work towards a safer and more just Canada free from racism and disrespect against Indigenous peoples."
Towards this end, Inuit welcomed the National Inquiry into Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women and Girls in Rankin Inlet, Nunavut this week, as the Inquiry heard brave testimony from survivors, families, and loved ones. Not only were the stories of the murdered, missing, and survivors of violence shared, but Inuit also talked about how the justice system, the child welfare system, and other government institutions have failed or are failing Inuit women and children. The strength shown by those willing to tell their truth must be met with a forceful and united response to ensure our Inuit, First Nations, and Metis women and girls are free from violence and racism and given every opportunity to succeed and thrive in their homelands and in Canada.
ITK stands with the Assembly of First Nations, the Metis National Council and others in calling for reforms which will ensure justice for Indigenous victims of violence, particularly women and girls and a system centred on dignity, equality and respect for human rights for all.
Natan Obed in CBC News – 20 Family Members and Survivors Expected to Testify at MMIWG in Nunavut.


Bright costumes and colorful beads were everywhere as the Rotary Club of Reno celebrated Fat Tuesday while hosting its largest and brightest fundraising event at the Downtown Reno Ballroom.
Highlights of the evening included wine tasting stations and food samples from local restaurants. We tasted everything from tacos to cajun food, topping the evening off with champagne and some homemade pralines that could have come straight from New Orleans.
The event supports the Reno Rotary Foundation. Ticket sales, and proceeds from the silent auction fund community service projects, scholarships and many other worthwhile causes.
The club donated more than $193,000 last year to local and international programs. Volunteers make it all possible and Rotary gave a shout out to University of Nevada ROTC cadets who greeted people at the door.
So keep this Mardi Gras celebration in mind for next year and let the good times roll!
As I talk to people out in town, many are happy for the snow, but they wish it would snow somewhere else for awhile! We love that the snowpack in the Sierra is 100% and that the ski resorts are seeing plenty of business. But it's also nice to see the grass once in awhile, play with the dog outside (mine's a Border Collie, not a Husky) and put away the snow boots for a week.
All the same, it makes for some beautiful photos. Enjoy the winter. It'll be 90-degrees before we know it.
Volunteers were busy this Saturday bringing the original pews back to the historic Lear Theater building in downtown Reno. They're getting ready to host an all day TEDx conference there on June 6th.
TEDx organizers want to combine history with new possibilities for the well-known venue. The Lear Theater, which was built as a church in 1939, has been closed for the past 12 years while community leaders formulated a plan for its future.
TED talks feature speakers who share ideas and inspire others with topics from science, to business to local issues. TEDx events are independently hosted conferences.
TEDx Reno's Meghan Pescio said the Reno landmark is the perfect place for sharing big ideas. "We want to help the community re-imagine what the Lear Theater would be like if it was a functioning, open theater for local performers and for the community," she said. The Lear has undergone major renovations, paid for by fundraising campaigns. But more repairs are needed. For the event in June, it will serve as a type of 'special events tent' with pillars. "We have to bring in power," said Doug Erwin of EDAWN. "We have to bring in water, we have to bring in air conditioning," he added.
Erwin says the event will cost about $70,000 which will be paid for with a mix of sponsorships, in-kind donations and ticket sales. He believes the Lear can be an integral part of redevelopment in downtown Reno. "TED is all about 'Ideas Worth Sharing' and for TEDx Reno our big idea is to re-launch the Lear Theater in the community," he said. Two years ago Artown agreed to take over the theater and is overseeing plans for future renovations.
Organizers expect to fill all 400 seats for the event, and say that tickets usually sell out in the first 24 hours. For more information go to TEDxReno.com. And prepare to be inspired.
Bailey Johnson was diagnosed with cancer as a baby and has endured 13 years of chemotherapy, radiation, surgeries and a bone marrow transplant. Recently he traveled to Capitol Hill to tell his story to Nevada lawmakers and urge them to help fund research and treatment for children struggling with cancer.
His grandmother Christy Smith and Debbie Strickland, Executive Director of the Northern Nevada Children's Cancer Foundation, accompanied Bailey as he met with Nevada Senator Harry Reid, Congressman Mark Amodei and other lawmakers. Barrik Gold underwrote the trip.
The trio journeyed to Washington D.C. to join other families from around the country for Childhood Cancer Action Day. During the event, families advocate for improved treatments for childhood cancer, more effective therapies and improving access to treatments. Debbie Strickland says the trip is an opportunity for Nevada families to keep our representatives informed on issues surrounding pediatric cancer.
Bailey's grandmother says through all the pain and treatment Bailey has emerged as a bright, caring, happy child who loves ice hockey.
Take out your highlighter and get ready to mark your favorite Artown events in the newly returned "little book" of Artown. The little book fits in your back pocket or purse an lists nearly 500 arts, culture, music and dance events that fill Northern Nevada during the month of July.
Last year Artown published a full-sized book of events, which did the trick, but fans of the arts festival have been clamoring for the return of the pamphlet-sized book that they can carry around and refer to at a moment's notice. Artown listened, and it's back.
You can find a list of locations for the little book at Renoisartown.com. So get ready for 30 days of arts events for kids, grown ups and yes, even teens.
Cow Dog Trials Combine Skill, Intense Concentration.
You don't want to miss this year's Reno Rodeo Cow Dog Competition Thursday at the Reno Livestock Events Center indoor arena. I went last year just to see what it's all about and was mesmerized by the skill and concentration in the arena. And that's just the dogs!
The handler is on horseback and guides the dog with whistles or commands as they work together to send a small bunch of cattle around obstacles and eventually into a big truck.
The dogs are amazing as they surround the cattle, pushing them gently when necessary and rounding up the strays to keep them all headed in the same direction.
More than 50 dogs and their handlers are signed up to compete. You can catch the action on Thursday, June 21 from 8am to about 5pm at the Reno Livestock Events Center.
Rookie School for the Reno Air Races moved into the hangars at Stead Airport this week and race pilots, both brand new and seasoned, stood on the tarmac wit a feeling of hope for the long-time event. Last year the races were abruptly cancelled after a crash, and the future of the event has been in question. With some changes to the course, the Air Races are set to continue. Rookie school brings race pilots in early to let them fly the course and learn the standards and requirements of racing around the pylons.
John Parker, President of American Air Racing, Ltd. is a local businessman who specializes in building and maintaining race aircraft and is based at the Stead Airport. This week he was flying his Thunder Mustang in advance of the races. We wish the best of luck to the men and women pilots, their pit crews, support teams and family and friends as they prepare to fly low, go fast and turn left. And do it all safely.
Western Nevada College Professor Merilee Swirczek accepts the DAR Medal of Honor from the Daughters of the American Revolution for her exhibit "Always Lost - A Meditation on War"
Kudos to Western Nevada College Professor Marilee Swirczek who earned the DAR Medal of Honor for her work on the unique and moving exhibit "Always Lost – A Meditation on War." The exhibit honors soldiers from the Iraq and Afghanistan wars and includes photographs, literary writings and the "Wall of the Dead" which displays photographs of the faces of men and women who have given their lives during the conflicts. The exhibit is a collaboration and comes in part from work done by students in Swirczek's creative writing classes at WNC.
The Daughters of the American Revolution, John C. Fremont Chapter chose Swirczek for the medal, which is given to individuals who demonstrate extraordinary qualities of leadership, trustworthiness, service and patriotism. The exhibit has captured the attention of people across the country. You can see it next at Sierra Nevada College in Incline Village in September. Future plans have it making a trip to Washington, D.C. in the future.
These four baby Robins are ready to find new adventures. The nest sits right on top of our electric meter and has been a popular place for babies since last year. I'm not sure if the same birds come back every year or not. But it's fun to watch the little ones grow up and eventually leave the nest.
The Reno High School Orchestra presented its spring concert with a bit of a twist this year, playing Camille Saint-Saens Carnival of the Animals, with humorous narration written by poet Ogden Nash. The suite of musical movements has been played all over the world, but this may be the first playing of the famous piece by a high school orchestra in Reno.
I was invited to read Nash's narration which was written in 1949 to accompany the music. The Royal March of the Lion includes this passage: "The Lion is the king of beasts and husband of the lioness. Gazelles and things on which he feasts address him as your high-o-ness." The music was performed beautifully by the high school musicians and the audience laughed in all the right places.
A competition of sorts, called "Concerto for Faculty versus Orchestra" had to be re-worked with parents standing in for faculty members (who were watching the Reno High baseball team in an important game.) I was volunteered by the conductor to play the cymbals during the 1812 Overture which is much harder than it looks. I have to hand it to whoever usually plays those heavy discs; they weigh a ton. We had a deal that I'd miss my cue two times when the big moment for cymbals arrives.. and the audience was in stitches, thinking that I had no musical ear whatsoever. I may not be a pro, but it was great fun. It's always good to see the talent and hard work put in by everyone involved in all three orchestras at Reno High. It was also a chance to honor the seniors who are graduating and are headed off on their next adventures.


text:
Christening Robe
ca. 1884 (made)
England (made)
Christening robes tend to survive for sentimental reasons and are still handed down the family. They were usually made of fine white cotton or linen and were often decorated with whitework embroidery. Some, like this one, were overlaid with fine lace.
Ownership & Use
The birth of an infant was a very private event but its christening in church marked its first public appearance and was an occasion to be celebrated. From an early date the church decreed that a child should be baptised in a white garment to signify innocence and purity. By the beginning of the 19th century this was a long, white or cream robe. Often the one dress was used for all the children in the family. This christening robe was made specifically for Lieutenant Colonel H.P.L. Cart de Lafontaine for his christening in 1884. There is, however, evidence that it was reused at a later date.
Design & Designing
The shape of christening robes hardly changed from the beginning of the century to the 1890s. They still resembled fashionable women's dresses of the early 1800s with their low neckline, short sleeves and skirts made of delicate materials. The baby always wore a close-fitting white cap to complement the dress. It might also be carried in a christening cape, mantle or shawl to help keep it warm.
Historical Associations
Royal christenings were very elaborate affairs. The Illustrated London News of 5 December 1874 describes the christening of a grandson of Queen Victoria:
'The infant having been placed in the arms of the Queen and the Archbishop calling upon the sponsors to name the child, the Queen answered "Alfred Alexander William Ernest Albert " and his Grace baptised the child in those names. The infant was attired in a mantle, gown and cap of Honiton lace - being the same dress in which all the Queen's children and those of the Prince and Princess of Wales were christened.'
Children & Childhood
Europeana Fashion Project
Lawn, overlaid and trimmed with lace, hand-sewn
Christening robe of lawn with Honiton lace, England, ca. 1884
Christening robe of white lawn with a wide central panel of Honiton lace mounted on satin.
The satin has been removed from the object (not original).
Gallery Label
British Galleries: A christening was an important public occasion for the family and relatives of a child. This traditional robe is decorated with lace made in Honiton, Devon. Lace of this quality was often worn at royal christenings or by children of wealthy families.(27/03/2003)
Given by Lt. Col. H. P. L. Cart de Lafontaine
Made for the donor for his christening in 1884
Textiles and Fashion Collection
CIRC.278:1 to 3-1958
record created March 27, 2003
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O78038/christening-robe-unknown/


SLT, New York's original Megaformer studio, just staked out its spot in the fitness-packed Flatiron District, a neighborhood that it's now hard to visit without breaking a serious sweat.
"We are so excited to open our Flatiron flagship because it's our biggest studio to date, houses our new corporate office, has street visibility, and we've taken all of our learnings from our other studios and made it our best one yet," says founder (and chief muscle torturer) Amanda Freeman.
SLT opened its first location three years ago, in September 2011, and since then, the brand has quietly built a small Megaformer empire that stretches from Westchester to New Jersey through Manhattan and to Eastern Long Island. The Flatiron opening comes just a month after a new studio debuted on the Upper East Side and brings the brand's total studio count to nine.
In Manhattan, the small spaces have largely been hidden within giant buildings, but SLT Flatiron, on the second floor, has a giant street-facing wall of windows painted with the brand's logo. On the other side of the glass, a front office now serves as SLT HQ.
Inside the workout space, which is white-washed, bright, and airy, there are 11 Megaformers, two bathrooms, and a changing room (but no showers).


I put him atop a box for more cyclopsy impact.
Here is a comic I hope DC will really consider – Batwuss. To be honest, I look forward to seeing Ben Affleck play the role of Batman in the upcoming Superman movie. So this piece is really my impression of the internet's impression of the situation. I think he might actually make a good Batman. He can pull off the body and he's got that massive chin which can only look good in a Batman mask. Interested in seeing how he uses his voice though… husky Boston accent squeals anyone?
A field mouse and the girl Jinjur.
Here are some studies of Skottie Young's character interpretations in the Wonderful Wizard of Oz world. He and writer Eric Shanower are bringing back the classic series by L. Frank Baum with the Marvel touch.
– we're supposed to be gone already, no?


Build your dream home on this great 0.25 acre lot located within walking distance to Lewis Anna Woodbury Elementary school. The adjacent lot, MLS #P4904668 is also 0.25 acres and can be purchased for an additional $11,500.00 for a total of 0.50 acres. Buyer(s) and buyer(s) agent are responsible for obtaining all pertinent information regarding the lot(s) from the City of Fort Meade.


Q: If I have a recipe that was 1 cup and # of servings was 10 and I changed it to 2 cups for serving amount but I kept the # of servings to 10. i go to the nutrient profile of recipe section and when I make a label in the label section I don't see my nutrients scaled appropriately. Can you please explain how to do this correctly in the Nutritionist Pro applications?
A: Basically the software works in this manner. If you have a recipe and your serving amount is a volume measure for ex 1 cup or 2 cups since for every food the cup gram weight is not the same, there is no universal way to convert 1 cup etc. to another amount.
If you are manipulating the 1 cup to 2 cups you must also change the # of servings in the app since theoretically you have less food to serve now since your per portion increased. Once you do that the nutrition will scale correctly. Another alternative is this -- If you want to rely on the software to do this calculation then we recommend you pick a weighted measure like grams or kilograms, or pounds or ounces for your serving size since that has a universal weight for each food meaning 1 ounce of chicken is 28.35 grams and so is 1 ounce of flour. Now if you switch from 1 ounce to 2 ounce the software knows how to convert since the universal formula exists and your # of servings will change automatically and the nutrients will scale as needed.


Volvo is a Swedish multinational manufacturing company headquartered in Gothenburg. Volvo was established in 1915 as a subsidiary of SKF. Officially founded on 14 April 1927. Volvo produces several types of models of cars, which include SUV, station wagon (estates), sedan (saloons), compact executive sedan and coupe cars. Our website BatteryWale.com offer 100% genuine Amaron batteries for Volvo S60 and XC60 cars. Order a battery for your Volvo car through online. We offer free home delivery within 4-24 hours of the order to our customers and also provide free installation service.


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Home Featured News Mya Jordan's double-double lifts Raiders over the Bruins Monday night
Mya Jordan's double-double lifts Raiders over the Bruins Monday night
Mike Staley
The GRCC women's basketball team during their 84-75 win over the Ancilla College Chargers on Saturday, Feb. 23 at the Gerald R. Ford Fieldhouse in Grand Rapids. (Mike Staley/The Collegiate)
The Grand Rapids Community College women's basketball team was in action Monday night and picked up a 73-62 win against the Kellogg Community College Bruins in Battle Creek, Michigan.
The Raiders were coming off a win Saturday afternoon where they scored a season-high 84 points against the Ancilla College Chargers. Monday night, their win put them back over the .500 mark in the Michigan Community College Athletic Association Western Conference.
Raiders' head coach Dave Glazier initially didn't think much of his team's first half performance, but after the game, he reexamined and had a change of heart.
"In hindsight, I think we played better in the first half than I gave them credit for," Glazier said. "But the second half was where we took over the game. Our defensive pressure got us a couple easy looks and helped build a lead. Once again, defensive effort was a major key to our getting the win. We rebounded the ball well and had some great ball movement."
Mya Jordan led the team with a 19-point, 11-rebound double-double. Kendall Griffioen added 12 points and three blocks while Aaliyah Sargent forwarded 13 points. Despite the win, Glazier admitted a number of players had their fair share of shooting woes Monday night, but they stepped up in other ways to help the Raiders get the victory.
"We had a number of kids who maybe didn't have great offensive nights," Glazier said. "But each one of them found a way to help us defensively and by getting the ball to the kids who were scoring."
The Raiders are now 9-8 in the MCCAA Western Conference and 18-10 overall. They'll play their final game of the regular season on Wednesday, Feb. 27 when they host the Kalamazoo Valley Community College Cougars in the Gerald R. Ford Fieldhouse at 5:30 p.m.
Aaliyah Sargent
Ancilla College Charger
Dave Glazier
Gerald R Ford Fieldhouse
Kalamazoo Valley Community College Cougars
Kellogg Community College Bruins
Kendall Griffioen
MCCAA Western Conference
Mya Jordan
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When most people think about a healthy mouth, they tend to only think about the condition of the teeth. While your teeth are a major factor, they are not the only one. The condition of your gums is just as important. Along with playing several important functional roles in your mouth, your gums also play an important part in the quality of your smile. If your gum tissue has receded, the health of your mouth and the appearance of your smile can both be significantly affected. Pacific Oral & Facial Surgery Center can help with a gum graft.
Your gum tissue plays several important roles in your mouth. Healthy tissue sits firmly along the necks of your teeth and provides a protective seal that helps to keep bacteria and other debris away from your tooth roots and your jawbone. The gums help to protect the roots of your teeth from things that can cause sensitivity, including things that are hot, cold, acidic, salty, spicy, and more. They also aid in providing stability for your teeth. In addition to these functional roles, the gums also play a significant role in the quality of your smile. Gum recession can occur for several reasons. A common cause is gum disease. However, it can also be caused by issues such as bruxism, misaligned teeth, and aggressive brushing. When your gums do recede, more surface area of your teeth is exposed, leaving you more vulnerable to cavities. Roots can become exposed, leading to sensitivity. Your teeth can become loose and can begin to shift out of their natural alignment. Your smile also suffers, as your teeth begin to appear long. When your smile is impacted, your confidence may be as well.
A gum graft is a surgical procedure that is designed to restore a healthy gumline, reversing the effects of gum recession. This procedure, done under a local anesthetic, generally involves taking tissue from elsewhere in your mouth and suturing it in place over the recessed areas. As you heal, the tissues grow together and reform the seal around the necks of your teeth. In some cases, we may choose to use regenerative materials. A thorough consultation is performed before surgery to determine the best course of action for your specific needs.
• Connective-tissue grafts. A connective-tissue graft is one that involves taking tissue from the roof of your mouth. The tissue is removed from under a small incision, leaving only a minor wound after surgery is complete. These types of grafts are usually done when your roots need coverage.
• Free gingival grafts. A free gingival graft also uses tissue from the roof of your mouth. However, with this type of graft, the tissue is taken directly from the roof, leaving a larger, more open wound. These types of grafts are usually performed when harder tissue is required.
• Pedicle grafts. A pedicle graft involves the use of surrounding gum tissue. Incisions are made in the gums, and the gum tissue is rearranged to cover the recessed areas of your teeth. The major benefit to this graft is that your blood vessels remain intact, allowing for faster healing.
• The appearance of your smile is restored, giving you back your confidence.
With a gum graft, we can help to restore the health of your mouth as well as the beauty of your smile. Call Pacific Oral & Facial Surgery Center to schedule your consultation today at 925-290-7727.