It's a difference you can tell from the moment you sit down-this is not tractor as usual. With the John Deere 3000 Twenty Series, you can see that the attention to detail is something special. Start with AutoHST™. This auto-like transmission option for the 3520 and 3720 makes operating these tractors as easy as driving to the grocery store. All you have to do is press a single foot pedal to go forward and shift to reverse using a hand lever. And, with the eHydro™ transmission, performance is never an issue with the Performance Tracking System. It accurately monitors the tractor's functions and systems, giving you instant feedback for quick diagnosis. Throw in additional features like the LoadMatch™ electronic power management system, the Quik-Park™ loaders, and standard 4WD and you have three tractors that are without peers.


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Are Hackintosh Users More Passionate About the Mac Than Apple?
We have strong opinions about our corporate giants, what they should (or shouldn't) do, or how they should (or shouldn't) act.
We want them to listen to us, and understand our needs as users and consumers. But too often, they get too big and they have to balance out your interests with their own—as well as everyone else's.
This, sometimes, creates situations in which some of a company's biggest fans feel compelled to take its ideas in a different direction. It's with this in mind that I'd like to discuss why the Hackintosh, a machine (usually with an Intel CPU) that runs MacOS on hardware Apple does not make, is an interesting cultural trend, rather than just a way to cut Apple out of a share of its profits.
The roots of the fateful decision that gave us the Hackintosh date to 2001, when an Apple employee, working remote, spent his time building a version of Mac OS X, the then-new operating system Apple adapted from NeXTStep, that was compatible with Intel's x86 platform.
This proved a key move, creating a backup plan in case PowerPC got long in the tooth (as it eventually did), and when Apple leadership found out about this remote employee's solo endeavor, the company immediately did something unexpected: It tried to convince another company to make Mac clones.
At a Hawaii golf course, Steve Jobs met with Sony executives to show them what could technically be called the first "Hackintosh," a Sony VAIO laptop that was running OS X on an Intel processor.
Jobs, a fan of Sony's, had famously been opposed to Macintosh clones, shutting down a clone program that had harmed Apple's bottom line, but was apparently willing to make an exception for Sony, whose VAIO line was well-regarded at the time. But bad timing on Sony's part killed the deal. The problem? The VAIO line was already successful with Windows, so it didn't need OS X.
The result was that the world didn't get an Intel Mac until 2006. But despite Apple's best early efforts, there was only so much it could do to prevent other PCs from being able to run its iconic operating system.
This would later prove important for some of the operating system's biggest fans.
"Your karma check for today: There once was a user that whined his existing OS was so blind, he'd do better to pirate an OS that ran great but found his hardware declined. Please don't steal Mac OS! Really, that's way uncool. (C) Apple Computer Inc."
— A passage from a kernel extension, dating to 2006, called "Don't Steal Mac OS X.kext". This file, a protected binary that Apple designed, essentially, to serve as a confirmation that the machine was running real hardware, has proven to be fairly weak protection over time, with system hackers getting past its restriction long ago. (You should not remove it from your machine, by the way, even if you're running a real Mac. It's the perfect way to stop your Mac from working in one fell swoop.) Despite this, Apple has made little effort to fortify the weak security in the decade-plus since then, with some speculating that it's partly due to the fact that these users are very often Apple customers who are deeply embedded in the ecosystem—i.e. the very people a company like Apple wouldn't want to piss off.
Comedian and entrepreneur Paul Chato, who has been using Macs for a long time. Image: YouTube
Among Hackintosh's more high-profile users: A comedian with a long history in tech
The Hackintosh community is, admittedly, relatively small—in no small part because of the technical learning curve that often comes with the practice. It's effectively a subculture borne from the combination of two other subcultures: Apple superfans and hobbyists who build their own computers.
But it does draw in some highly passionate users, many of whom are experts at creative pursuits, in part because of the user base Apple's machines long fostered. Case in point: Paul Chato.
These days, Chato is an entrepreneur who runs a web design firm, but back in the late '70s and '80s, he was best known as a primary member of a popular Canadian comedy troupe named The Frantics, which had a weekly series on CBC Radio that introduced sketches like the legendary "Last Will (Boot to the Head)."
At its peak, the troupe even had its own television show, Four on the Floor, which notably introduced a truly Canadian superhero, Mr. Canoehead.
Though his early success was in sketch comedy, Chato's career has largely been in technology, including, at one point, as the producer of a popular Myst-style adventure game. More recently, though, Chato has found a degree of success as a YouTuber, operating a vlog that offers up his irreverent take on the mostly tech-related things he's passionate about.
In an email interview, Chato explained that the mixture of tech and humor came naturally, appearing in Frantics sketches such as "I Sell Computers."
"The Frantics were probably the first to deal with humour in comic books and nerd life long before The Big Bang Theory popularized it," Chato said. "So, it's part of my continuum."
The Hackintosh-driven coverage, on the other hand, was something of a happy accident, a byproduct of his tech-related pet peeves, many of which are related to the fact that Apple doesn't make a computer for him.
Two years ago, in one of his earliest clips on the channel, Chato drew attention to the fact that he has used Apple products for more than 30 years—from the original all-in-one to a variety of modern-day MacBook Pros—but moved to producing Hackintosh machines instead. "I feel absolutely abandoned by Apple in terms of meeting my needs," he stated in the video.
Since then, he's recorded lots of Hackintosh-related content (along with theories as to what the long-promised Mac Pro reboot should look like), with one particular highlight coming a few months ago, when Chato used his soapbox to discuss the way that Hackintosh brings him joy—in part because of all the problem-solving and tweaking involved.
He noted the process of building a Hackintosh helped get him closer to his son. "Apple kind of ignores the bonding aspects of building a DIY Mac," he told me.
DIY and Apple don't particularly go hand-in-hand, but on the other hand, didn't the company just tell us to "share your gifts"?
Some people who share their gifts can't do it particularly well with Apple's current lineup.
Five different ways that people can run MacOS without owning a Mac
Patching the operating system. In the early days of Hackintoshing, it was common for people in the community to use a literal "hacked" version of Mac OS X that they downloaded from a website, but in recent years, it's become more common to modify the bootloader (also known as the EFI partition) to make it compatible with MacOS. The most popular tool, Clover, has removed much of the guesswork around installation—though definitely not all of it. But even if you get it to boot, the job often isn't done, as machines have to essentially be modified to install kernel extensions that effectively serve as drivers or patches to support different pieces of hardware, such as video, sound, or even USB-C ports. By modifying the innards of the system code, Hackintosh users can smooth out the details and make a machine support most of the creature comforts of a Mac. That said, not everything can be easily fixed—a working SD card slot in a laptop is rare, for example, and a microphone might not work through your headphone jack. Probably the most difficult thing for many PC users is the Wi-Fi, as Apple tends to use chips from Broadcom in its machines, rather than Intel, as most PC manufacturers do. This often requires a hardware swap or the use of a third party device, especially on laptops.
The "Vanilla" method. This type of Hackintosh flips the model of the heavy kernel tweaking of the more traditional Hackintosh approach, leaving the operating system itself alone while putting the necessary modifications into the boot process. The benefit of this strategy is that it essentially allows the operating system to work in its purest form without adding a lot of extra kernel extensions, or kext files, within the operating system itself.
Renting someone else's, virtually. For years, the cloud firm MacStadium has found itself in the unusual situation of building an infrastructure-as-a-service offering around devices that don't really fit into the server room aesthetic. Compared to a Linux machine from DigitalOcean, it's not cheap—at $150 a month for an i3 Mac Mini, you're not acquiring this service by accident. But the company nonetheless has an important niche, underlined by the fact that it has patented its own server infrastructure specifically designed to hold Mac Minis and Mac Pros, and even has taken steps to support the iMac Pro, which has the added complication of including a screen that will be completely useless in the server room.
Leaning soft into virtualization. For those who have a need to use a Mac every once in a while but don't want to give up their more traditional world of Windows or Linux, it's possible to use virtualization tools, such as VirtualBox, to run a full Mac install on their machine, much as it's become popular to run Parallels to bring Windows to the Mac. This approach is technically not allowed by the End User License Agreement unless you're actually running it on a Mac, but then again, most of this other stuff breaks the EULA, too.
Leaning hard into virtualization. More recently, there has been an increased interest in using low-level hardware virtualization to effectively replace the process of Hackintoshing straight into a bootloader—something that goes beyond a simple test and more into full system replacement. This approach is somewhat easier to set up than the more common Hackintosh route (though still very technical), and also creates less potential risk of blowing up the whole machine. Often, this takes the form of the Linux-based KVM (kernel-based virtual machine), with a hardware virtualization emulator like QEMU managing the system image. There are technical benefits here: While you don't get the full speed of the underlying machine, you get nearly all of it. Additionally, with the right amount of tweaking, it's possible to use peripherals that aren't always fully compatible with modern Macs, such as Nvidia graphics cards. There was one user, an employee of MacStadium, who successfully put together a working installation of MacOS on KVM that could be accessed via a cloud-based AMD EPYC system.
Why the Hackintosh community may not seem like the most welcoming place
If you've ever asked a tech support question on the internet, you probably are aware that support forums are often overloaded, full of people who ask obvious questions about their devices and software.
Now imagine trying to offer tech support to people who are willingly messing with bootloaders and trying to edit obscure system files to make their machine do something it technically isn't designed to do.
This has led to more aggressive moderation policies on some of the most popular forums in Hackintosh-land. Tonymacx86, for example, is an incredibly useful website for Hackintosh builds, but it's worth noting that the forum can feel a bit standoffish if you're new to it, if only because their platform has to deal with a lot of repeated questions. A lot.
A lot of the time, a Tonymacx86 thread takes a certain shape:
A user has fairly technical problem that a layperson could never make heads or tails of but an expert might be able to spot right away.
A moderator tells the user they need to share their reporting files to highlight in detail what the machine is going through. Also, they need to read the FAQ, which is highly detailed, and that they should use the search tool, which goes back many years.
The user responds, either successfully following the rules or begging for mercy. In the latter case, they do not get said mercy generally and are told to go read the FAQ again.
This goes on and on sometimes for days, and reflects both a high level of patience among moderators (seriously, kudos), and a strange power dynamic unlike any I've seen on the internet: In a way, the approach almost discourages the community from getting too big.
I asked Chato for his insights on this, and his suggestion, basically, is to RTFM.
"I think the frustration of the 'experts' comes from the fact that many questions come from people who have not done any research at all or half-read an install," he explained. "So, my first bit of advice is to research the crap out of what you need to know, read it all, and then ask your question."
His second piece of advice deals with motivation: Often, he notes, these sites have a contingent of people trying to simply pirate software who aren't doing their research, "and they ask stupid questions about [motherboards] and CPUs that are so far off the Hackintosh mark that it's just plain insulting."
There's a chasm of sorts in the Apple community, not unlike the one that existed when jailbreaking was a more popular practice among iPhone owners: Some just wanted to use the tools to improve their experience, because Apple wasn't giving them something they wanted; others wanted an easy way to get something for free.
"You can tell a real enthusiast because it's obvious they still own a Mac," Chato argued. "They aren't asking for a pirated distro of the MacOS."
Hackintoshing is an interesting process because, in cases like Chato's and (admittedly) my own, it highlights a dichotomy between the company and its supporters: It's a user base, one technical enough to jump through numerous hoops, that loves a company's product so much that they're willing to subvert it to get that product in its unvarnished form, because the company's growth has left them behind.
In 2006, it might have been the case that people Hackintoshing were trying to experiment or get a deal. These days, I think there are a lot more people in this community who simply want Apple to give them what they want so they can do their jobs, and then to get out of the way. These people still want iPhones and iPads, will still buy Apple accessories, and gladly want to be part of the company's ecosystem. But if they can't get in the front door, feeling burned by thin keyboards and slow updates, they'll go in through the back, even if there's more broken glass on that side of the building.
Think of it like computing's version of the "Rural Purge"—that infamous situation where the TV networks decided to reboot their programming to meet the needs of advertisers, who wanted young, urban viewers. Even if the networks had moved on to Mary Tyler Moore, People still wanted to watch Lawrence Welk and Hee Haw, so the show's creators found alternate paths to the airwaves, as well as new ways to make a buck. Callous corporate decision-making can't kill the interest that easily.
Perhaps like those old Buck Owens and Roy Clark performances, this Hackintosh stuff doesn't appeal to everyone, but it carries a niche that cares enough about this platform to ignore the proper path and deal with all the minefields that come with it.
In that light, the sometimes brusque nature of the Hackintosh community is understandable, beyond people being sick of newbies. They have an investment to protect.
There's this phenomenon that has defined the way that the tech community has reacted to things, called the "Hug of Death," also known as the Slashdot Effect.
Essentially, the idea is this: If you run a site that gets picked up on a popular aggregator, so many people are likely to go visit that it disables your site entirely. In a way, it's an inversion of the Streisand Effect, in that its growing popularity actually chokes its success by overexposing it.
In a way, Hackintosh survives because it's not too overexposed. It occasionally shows up on popular tech YouTube channels like Snazzy Labs and Linus Tech Tips and frequently gets highlighted in mainstream technology publications, but it's something that is too hard for a regular Mac user to do and has the unintentional side effect of teaching Apple about technical issues that it is looking to avoid in later iterations of its hardware. Not enough people are hugging it to kill it just yet.
Sure, there are worries that Apple will use its T2 security chip, which it has added to its recent devices, to shut out Hackintosh users someday, or that the company's embrace of a custom ARM chipset will eventually render the Hackintosh obsolete. That said it should be noted that some hardware virtualization techniques for the ARM-based iOS already exist, with one being offered by a startup named Corellium. (Corellium's use case, targeted at mobile developers and security researchers, was acquired by the boutique hacking shop Azimuth Security last year.)
As tools like KVM can replicate chipsets like ARM on x86 platforms, it's not out of the realm of possibility that options will still exist if Apple does change things up in a few years, even if it changes what exactly a Hackintosh is.
Apple can learn technical things from the things Hackintosh breaks internally, whether by highlighting flaws inside the kernel or by introducing hardware that may eventually show up in a future Apple system, but the existence of this gray-area market in the first place highlights the disparities between Apple's marketing—thin and light machines, whether on a desk or in a bag—and what its most engaged power users actually want.
"In the end, I don't think Apple trusts the OS," Chato argues. "That's what really bothers me. I don't think they realize that if they put MacOS in a nice, plain box that doesn't thermal throttle it will sell really well. It's the OS, stupid."
For a company known for its dramatic risks, perhaps the riskiest move it could make is listening to this fan base that clearly isn't served by its current offerings.
It's no butterfly keyboard mechanism, but it could be a game changer.
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Brothers of Dakar 2014
Emotions run high as these brothers see each other in pain early on in Dakar Rally, but they encourage each other and keep going towards the finish line.
Sunday @ 12:00 AM UTC
Dakar Rally History
A win for the Marreau brothers in 1982
Take a look back to 1982. In an incredibly close finish France's Marreau brothers won the Paris Dakar Rally at Mopti-Gao, Mali.
Schlesser vs Masuoka in 2001
See the moment when Japanese Mitsubishi rider Hiroshi Masuoka overtook Jean-Louis Schlesser and damaged his car. Schlesser was later fined for unsportsmanlike behaviour for trying to run Masuoka's co-driver over.
Buenos Aires welcomes the Dakar 2009
A huge crowd shows up in Buenos Aires, Argentina to welcome the Dakar Rally entourage. Drivers are greeted with cheers and the cars can hardly make it through the mass of people.
Jan Mitsuhashi goes head over heels in 2015
Experience is one of the most precious assets on the Dakar, but it doesn't offer protection from all risks. Watch as Jun Mitsuhashi's car rolls in his 14th time racing Dakar Rally.
Auriol vs Neveu in 1987
See the heartbreaking scene moments after Hubert Auriol broke both ankles on the second-to-last day of the 1987 edition of Dakar Rally, while he was in the lead. In his pain, he magnanimously thanked Cyril Neveu for a great competition.
Sandstorm in Ténéré in 1986
When the extreme winds blow on the desert of Ténéré during Dakar Rally racers do their best not to let the sand beat them.
Gentlemen, start your engines 2010
Take a look back to 2010 and the rally stage between Copiapo and La Serena, Chile. Watch as motorbikes kick up the sand on the desert flatlands.
Rest day in Bobo: the other Dakar 2004
At the cultural capital of Burkina-Faso, Bobo-Dioulasso, a traditional moped race – the Ramo – featuring the most reckless riders of the country, changed dates in 2004 so it could be held during the Dakar rest day.
When Cyril Despres got trapped in mud
Watch as Cyril Despres lost his lead within minutes of the start of stage 8 in 2012, between Iquique to Antofagasta in Chile, when he got bogged down in deep mud.
Blocked 1992
The race comes to a standstill as drivers and riders are trapped by a raging river that crosses their path.
Trapped in mud in Tunisia in 2003
When a vehicle breaks down on route in Dakar, teams are on their own to do what they can to find a solution and get back on track. It can mean the end of the road for some of them.
Carlos Sainz down and out in 2009
Carlos Sainz, who had already won nine stages in two rallies in Africa, wanted an overall victory on the world's most difficult race, but his misreading of the road book, three days from the arrival, sent him into a ravine.
Air Dakar: come fly with me 2000
When entering Niger in 2000, Hubert Auriol was alerted by French authorities that the rally was being threatened by terrorists. The organiser decided to arrange a gigantic airlift between Niamey and Sabah in Libya.
A hellish day in Tichit in 2005
When the weather turned, the Sahara showed to be particularly inhospitable as the vehicles attempted to march forward on stage 7 through a blinding sand storm. Dakar legend Stéphane Peterhansel was one of the few to get through relatively unscathed.
Sébastien Loeb learns about the Dakar in 2016
At his first Dakar time in 2016, Sébastien Loeb dominated the rally in the opening week. But sometimes the rally-raid learning process can be cruel. Sébastien lost control 20km from the finish line, ending his hopes for victory.
The white paradise of Uyuni 2015
Uyuni. Bolivia has the world's largest salt flat and is situated along the Dakar route. The salt flat creates an almost snow-like vista on the ground and presents unique driving challenges.
Dakar in mourning in 1986
Thierry Sabine, the man who imagined the Dakar, who created it and fed it… was gone, killed in a plane crash. Without its guide, the Dakar was shaken, but didn't waver. Thierry's father, Gilbert Sabine, took over and got the show back on the road.
Chagin vs de Rooy in 2004
In 2004, the Kamaz trucks had found the winning formula. But Dakar truckers are not the sort to give up without a fight, especially Gerard de Rooy who intended to give Vladimir Chagin all he could handle – de Rooy's perseverance eventually paid off.
More Rally Raid Action
7 ways the Dakar wants to break you
From extreme climates and harsh terrain to crashing and getting injured, the Dakar Rally isn't very friendly to its entrants. Find out why Dakar is the world's roughest and toughest off-road event.
Dakar on the Dakar
Ever wondered how the footage from the Dakar goes from the lens of a camera in the desert to your smart phone? Check out this insider scoop on TV production at the Dakar.
Hot off a great stage 7 where he finished fourth in the car category Poland's Dakar hero, Jakub Przygonski catches up with Alexandra Legouix.
Support trucks
Without the support trucks the Dakar would grind to a halt. Mike Chen gives us the lowdown on KTM's mobile workshop. Get an in-depth look at the mobile repair and support bike trucks.
A Look at Kamaz
The fan favourites of Dakar are the trucks. Mike Chen gets up close and personal with the beasts of Dakar, the Kamaz trucks. Take a look at just how powerful these enormous trucks are to be able to make it through the stages of Dakar.
Kamaz POV
See what it's like in the driver's seat of Team Kamaz. From riding along the waves of the desert sand dunes to speeding down a muddy road, get the feel of being along for the ride.
Bryce Menzies: Interview
Hear from Bryce Menzies after a brutal crash came out of nowhere and took him out of the competition on the second day.
Luc Alphand Interview
Former Dakar champion Luc Alphand discusses the first stages of the Dakar and the big-name victims that the deserts of Peru has claimed. Luc gives perspective on what it takes to make it all the way to the finish line.
Motorhome visit
Get an exclusive look into the camps of Dakar with Mike Chen as he tours the KTM bivouac setup and gets more than he bargained for when he went snooping around Toby Price's motorhome.
Between Stages
Once a stage is reached, the work isn't over. The nights are spent fine-tuning and tweaking the motors, doing everything possible to stay ahead of the competition.
Funny Frenchmen
The master and apprentice and best of friends, Stéphane Peterhansel and Cyril Despres, take time out from their hectic race to speak and joke with Mike Chen.
Mike Chen catches up with Dakar legend Carlos Sainz.
Peugeot Tech Team
Watch a tour of the Peugeot 3008DKRMAXI by Bruno Famin, Director of Peugeot sport.
André Villas-Boas Interview
Hear from André Villas-Boas shares what racing Dakar means to him. He shares the family connection he has to the race and the charities he's supporting by competing.
Laia Sanz profile
Meet Red Bull KTM's leading biker Laia Sanz, one of the most versatile and accomplished competitors at the Dakar. No stranger to how brutal Dakar can be, Laia returns in 2018 determined to once again be victorious.
Nasser Al-Attiyah GoPro
Experience the raw power of Nasser Al-Attiyah's Toyota as he launches it off the start line in San Juan de Marcona, Peru, for stage 4 of Dakar Rally.
Bryce Menzies' Crash
See the footage that captured Bryce Menzies' terrifying crash where he and his co-driver flipped and rolled. Ending Bryce's 2018 Dakar campaign.
Get pumped for what's to come in Dakar Rally 2018. Take a look at what competitors will be facing in the days ahead. Are they up for the challenge?
Photographing Dakar
Often facing the same challenges as the competitors, Marcelo Maragni's task is to get right into the stages and as close to the action as possible to get the perfect shots of the Dakar Rally.
Rest Day – But Not for Kamaz
Drivers have a day to rest as they prepare for a marathon stage ahead of them, while the mechanics are taking advantage of the time to do some major work on the motors. There's no rest for Team Kamaz, though – the drivers are also the mechanics.
If You Like Dakar...
Surviving the Dakar
This year's rookies received some valuable advice for surviving this gruelling rally from seasoned pros.
Welcomed by pyramids in 2000
Our unprecedented Dakar Rally coverage continues with a look-back to the action of 18 years ago. The pyramids in Cairo were the finish line of the 2000 event and the competitors couldn't have been happier to be greeted by the incredible landmarks.
Nasser Al-Attiyah's Dakar team
Destination: Peru S1E2
It's vital to have a solid team surrounding you, which is exactly what Nasser Al-Attiyah has.
Nasser Al-Attiyah's career
Get the driving career breakdown of two-time Dakar winner, Nasser Al-Attiyah.
Nasser Al-Attiyah's Dakar car
Check out the details of Nasser Al-Attiyah's new car for the 2019 edition of the Dakar Rally.
Peugeot 3008DKR Reveal
Building on a Legacy of Dakar Wins
Fresh off their victory at the Dakar Rally, Peugeot Sport goes on the attack with the reveal of the new wide-bodied 3008DKR Maxi. Get the first look at the off-road beast in the exclusive reveal before its debut at the Silk Way Rally 2017.
Before the Dakar kicks off
On the road with Rally Raid S1E1
Meet the drivers and get an inside look at the pre-race scrutineering of the Dakar Rally.
Preparing for Dakar 2019
Nasser Al-Attiyah is looking forward to the 2019 edition of the Dakar Rally and his car gets a test drive.
Sébastien Loeb is back
Sébastien Loeb has confirmed he'll be driving as a privateer in the 2019 Dakar Rally.
Nasser Al-Attiyah: Road to Dakar S1E2
The Qatari rally driver and his rivals do a test run for the Dakar by all competing in Rallye du Maroc.
Countdown to Dakar
Up Front S1E1
Hear from the KTM team as they look ahead to Dakar 2019 and discuss the preparations they've made.
Nasser Al-Attiyah is working hard to find the right strategy with his new car for Rallye du Maroc 2018.
Team Peugeot Total Gears Up
FIA World Rally Championship 2018
After three wins in Dakar Rally, Team Peugeot Total is ready to continue their winning streak with a full factory entry in the 2018 FIA World Rally Championship.
Team Profile: Menzies
Driving Dirty: BTS
One of the top off-road teams in the world, Menzies Motorsports is a dedicated, well-oiled operation.
Rallye du Maroc 2017
Catch the action as sand flies with drivers racing their way across the Sahara Desert in Morocco.
Sébastien Loeb: Off Roads
The WRC's best take on the Dakar
Sébastien Loeb and co-driver Daniel Elena made WRC history. In 2016 they took on a new challenge: Dakar.
Introducing X-raid's MINI JCW Buggy
Carlos Sainz, Stéphane Peterhansel and Cyril Despres enjoy their first drive in the X-raid MINI JCW Buggy.
Team Profile: Chinolas
Meet the Chinolas racing team, a group of Ensenada locals with a rich family history tied to Baja 1000.


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Tag: Bendis
Comic Reviews, Comics, Reviews
Ultimate Comics Spider Man Volume 5 Review
November 15, 2015 dreager1
Miles is a character who I've given a lot of grief in the comics. Mainly because he comes across as a little overconfident, but not in a fun Kirito kind of way. It's hard to differentiate, but there are many characters who act overconfident, but simply can't pull it off as well as others. Maybe it's because Miles also tries to act inexperienced and gets upset constantly at the drop of a hat. He's too all over the place. That's not the case here…but is that a good thing or have we traded personalities for another negative one? All that and more in the review!
It's been a year since Miles gave up the Spider Man mantle. His mother was destroyed by a stray bullet and his dad was injured so Miles just figured that it wasn't worth it to being a hero. A lot of other characters have gone through this decision in the past and it's always wince worthy, but it's worth pointing out that it's not a Miles specific issue. That being said, the issue is presented in different ways based on who the character is and the situation. Here, everyone is telling Miles to get back on the horse. Whether they do it through blackmail (practically) or peer pressure, they eventually force him to get the costume back on.
Two new vigilantes have appeared by the names of Cloak and Dagger. They are hunting a meta human who has explosive abilities. SHIELD isn't looking into the matter since this relates to an evil partner of theirs, Roxxon. This is why Jessica Drew needs Spider Man back in action to help her take this group of scientists down. The scientists aren't purely academic geniuses, but they can also fight when necessary. The final pair or issues is where the bulk of the action is in this volume and the fights are pretty good.
I enjoy the art for this series for the most part. I feel like the humans can look a little odd at times. It's like they're always pouting. That all goes away once the action scenes start though. The art really looks vibrant during the meta battles like when Cloak and Dagger first appear. The final group fight against the scientists was also well done and Taskmaster's bout was a nice hand to hand fight. It's why I'm always open for a good comic book fight after a long period of dialogue. Dialogue is good as well of course and the first half is still solid, but I was certainly pleased with the ending.
I was actually worried a little that the heroes would lost to the scientists, which would kick off the next arc, but luckily that didn't happen. The villains were decently tough with one of them even looking like the ultimate Sinister, but Spiderman's group has this. I don't care for Cloak, but his powers do make him decently OP. (Overpowered) Spiderman's venom shock still proves to come in handy in just about every fight and it's a power that would really aid the original as well. It's a great ability for escaping from a tough situation or for launching a quick attack.
This is Cloak and Dagger's debut so it was interesting to see them. They both seemed like decently likable character before the switch. After that…I can't say that they looked too good. Cloak went from being a respectable fellow who seemed like a very nice guy to someone who didn't really care if he destroyed someone. He casually puts people into his cloak even though he knows that they could blow up or be seriously injured. Dagger seems more grounded in that respect as she wants vengeance, but not for it to be fatal, even if she hasn't really thought about how to accomplish this. Cloak is certainly stronger since his all consuming cloak can really cause a lot of damage, but Dagger's no lightweight either. The way that they quickly assumed that a metahuman was working with the villains was very iffy though. They seriously didn't have much of an excuse to go after the bomb user.
Bombshell was easily a more likable character than Cloak and Dagger. She didn't ask for these strange powers, but took them really well. She wasn't panicking or on a quest for vengeance. Bombshell just kept on living her life like usual until she was attacked out of the blue. She doesn't really have anywhere to go, but it seems like SHIELD's got their eyes on her. Bombshell could certainly be a valuable asset to the team and was one of the heavy hitters here. Spider Woman's role is mostly that of a mentor to Miles here. She finally lets him know that she was a clone of Peter Parker this whole time. Jessica Drew can certainly still fight and she does well against Taskmaster, but without Spiderman's venom sting, she seems to be at a bit of a disadvantage in these fights. She needs some kind of extra edge, but her hand to hand experience will suffice against most opponents.
As for Miles, he's still not the greatest of main characters for me. He's not as bad as he was in other comics, but deciding to stop being a hero for a whole year is a little iffy. Particularly when he decides not to step in when Bombshell was getting double teamed by two new figures. It's one thing to not actively suit up, but another to just watch as a fellow super human is being attacked. It feels like he is always wondering about whether he should tell his girlfriend that he is Spiderman or not. I reviewed the first graphic novel of the sequel series to this one so I can safely say that he does make a choice soon. His friend isn't much help though and that guy's pretty annoying. It doesn't help that the comic decides to randomly have two characters tell Miles that his friend was actually never his friend and one thought that they were actually together. Why do we need to keep on adding politics to our comics? Miles denies this which is good, but I wouldn't put it past the comics to try and make this happen. Let's hope not. I don't think Miles needs to be in a relationship with the girl either though. Comics don't need romance, I just want to see some action. Now that Miles is finally back in costume, that should happen soon.
It's always something to think about just how different this Ultimate Universe is. There's no Peter Parker, but he's actually known as a hero here. He managed to really help a lot of people in his final acts and even Jameson accepted him. There aren't Avengers around typically and the X-Men are hard to find as well. The flip side is that super villains aren't a regular occurrence like in 616 and the world isn't ending every other week. It's definitely a more grounded universe and it's a fun alternate universe that has been developed. It's just a shame that most of the titles typically aren't that good.
I do hope that Miles tells his Dad about his secret identity soon though. The guy seems pretty reasonable and I'm pretty sure that he would take it well. Even if he doesn't, Miles has SHIELD to fall back on, but at this point, he should probably consider that it's a necessary step or he may end up having some regrets soon. With the drama mostly tucked away, I'm ready for some more action packed volumes coming up although this was the last one for this series so back to the sequel or to the older titles.
Overall, This was a solid Ultimate collection. A little light on action, but the final 2 issues had enough action to cover the volume. The first half's drama wasn't that bad either. It can be a little annoying to see Miles give up on the costume for a whole year though since that's no small stretch of time. I like his Dad, but the other supporting characters aren't so good. I can't say that Gwen's great here either, but Aunt May's decent. It would be hard for her to be an unlikable character I suppose. Miles seems to be less overconfident now so in costume he's good now. He just needs to work on the alter ego now. Writing out his friend from the series would be a great start. I'd recommend checking this volume out and it's a good jumping on point if you've never read Ultimate before.
Tagged Bendis, Comic Review, Comics, Marvel, Marvel comics, Marvel Review, Miles Morales, Review, Spider Man, Ultimate, Ultimate Comics2 Comments
Spider Men Review
July 2, 2015 dreager1
Yes, technically you would usually use a hyphen here, but I actually prefer not to use hyphens. It's a bit of a personal preference. I saw this comic at the library a long time ago, but I didn't have time to flip through it. I finally read it now and Spider Men is a fun crossover. There may not be a lot of action, but it's always fun to see the 616 universe meet up with the Ultimate one. It's safe to say that 616 proves its superiority in this volume.
Spiderman was beating up on Mysterio like usual when he got sucked into a portal which took him to the Ultimate universe. He was quickly subdued by that version of Spiderman and reluctantly decides to work with the Ultimates to get back to his universe. Is there a way back or is he stuck in this universe for the rest of eternity? It's hard to say, but at least Spiderman can meet some of his old friends who are still alive in this universe.
As I already mentioned, there isn't a lot of action here. It's actually surprising that this was a whole 5 issues as it felt more like 2-3 by the end. It's a fun way for Peter Parker to have a final meet up with Gwen and to also talk with Aunt May a little. It reminds you that the Ultimate universe definitely switched things up a lot when you consider Spiderman's history. Gwen isn't coming back in 616…ever, but we do have the Spider-Gwen series so she'll still be around. That will also be a fun meet up…as long as Slott isn't writing the comic.
I was a little disappointed with the fact that Miles defeated Spiderman. I mean..are you kidding me? I have nothing against Miles….well, I don't really care for the guy all that much. His personality irks me a little, but beyond that, I don't see how he could take down Spiderman. Miles has his own spider sense and venom blasts going, but Spiderman is physically stronger, I'd say that he's faster, and it goes without saying that he has more experience. In the fight between the two Spidermen, they made Peter Parker look like a rookie. He got careless and it cost him big time when it came down to the fisticuffs. Even without prep time, I'm confident that the original Spiderman would win this round.
The art looks fairly good. Peter Parker looks a little off model, but the artist was likely just trying to point out just how much older Peter is when compared to the ultimate version of himself. It certainly is a contrast to see Peter next to the other characters. The art's not great, but it's fairly good. The action scenes are just a little stilted and everyone looks stiff. Marvel can learn a thing or two from looking at DC's more streamlined art. Now, that's how you suck the readers into the fight scenes!
Spiderman is still a likable lead even if he's portrayed as being inexperienced and a little weak. He heads over to Aunt May's house and then panics a lot as everyone beats him up. He keeps telling himself that he shouldn't have come…but he is already there. It was a little late for the second guessing and Spiderman definitely overdid it. Still, as Spiderman, Peter Parker was a good character. He has the quips ready and he certainly did his best to make Mysterio look bad.
Miles is still a little annoying for me. Maybe it's because he's so young, but he constantly acts like he's a big shot while pretending to be modest. Kind of hard to wrap you head around that right? It's hard to explain, but that's just the way it goes. Give him a few years of experience under his belt and I'm sure that Miles will grow up to be a likable character. He'll certainly be better than good ole Mysterio.
Mysterio looked pretty weak and helpless, which is what I would expect from the guy. He's not quite in the same league as the average Spiderman villain. I did like the twist that there never was an Ultimate Mysterio and the real one just used a robot to troll the characters in the other universe. Now, that's the kind of plot twist that I like to see although I need to check out his older appearances to see if this twist really lines up or if it was just made up for the lolz.
I do think that there were some missed opportunities here though. Think about it, there's so much potential about having the original Spiderman in the ultimate universe. Extending this arc to around 20 issues would have been great. Spiderman could have fought some of the villains and interacted with the supporting cast members a little more. We could have really seen the contrast between this world and 616. The fact that everyone considers Peter to be a hero in Ultimate is a plot line that could easily hold 5-6 issues by itself. It's awesome to see since Peter will never have such a rep in 616.
There was one moment where I felt like there was a lot of plot hax. Mysterio was in a room with the Ultimates and the two Spidermen. The heroes just watch as he gets up and whacks Spiderman over the head. Talk about slow reaction times right? Luckily, Miles was ready to challenge Mysterio and take him down for the count. Also, the comic tries really hard to show us that the Tony Stark in this universe is not even close to as smart as the main one. He can barely even comprehend the universe travelling tech and we know how much the heroes like to universe hop in 616. He also seems a little more sinister, which would fit when you consider how Ultimate Reed Richards acts. The Ultimates definitely aren't earning their keep so maybe they should have tried harder to recruit Spiderman into the fold. Also, does this mean that the Mysterio will never appear again? That would be awesome, but it probably doesn't matter all that much with the big Secret Wars arc that's currently happening in the comics.
Overall, Spider Men was a fun little crossover. The hype was deserved since this was really the first time that the two universes had a proper meeting. From here on out, the meetings would certainly get larger in scope. The comic could have used a better villain as Mysterio is super overused, but I was pleased with the fact that the heroes could effortlessly beat him. If they needed to actually try to beat someone like this, they would have been better off giving up right away! If you're a big Spiderman fan, then you should check this comic out. If you don't care about Spiderman, then that'll certainly hurt your chances of really enjoying the collection and then you should just take a pass on it. Either way, it's an enjoyable/quick experience and you won't be losing much time if you decide to give it a whirl. With this, you will be ready for the Secret Wars and the battle between Ultimate and 616 that nearly happened, but mostly finished off screen. It was still a moment of incredible hype and you'll need to track down the Free Comic Book Day issue to find it.
Tagged Bendis, Comic Review, Marvel, Marvel comics, Miles Morales, Peter Parker, Review, Spider Man, Spider-Men, Spiderman, Spidermen2 Comments
Miles Morales: Ultimate Spider Man Volume 1: Revival Review
May 15, 2015 dreager1
I haven't read a lot of Ultimate comics compared to their 616 counterparts, but I could clearly see why it was known as a missed opportunity. The concept behind the Ultimate Universe was great. The characters would undergo a reboot and we could take a step away from the complex threats of multiversal scale for a little while. After all, how can Scorpion be a threat when Spider Man consistently fights foes like Thanos and the Phoenix? Unfortunately, the universe couldn't live up to the hype. The Fantastic Four comics weren't bad and the Spider Man ones were a bright spot amidst all of this. Here, we get to meet the new Spider Man!
The graphic novel brings the final Ultimate Spiderman issue before we launch into the first 5 issues of Miles' new series. (I believe that this is already his second one) Miles is still learning to cope with his identity as a super hero as it is a tough job. He decides to tell his friend so there are no secrets between them, but she doesn't take it too well. Things go from bad to worse for him as Peter Parker (Is it really him!) comes back from the grave and wants to be Spiderman again. Not to mention that the original Green Goblin is also back and he wants to destroy both of them.
You can see why things are a little tough on Miles right now. It's certainly a lot to take in. Miles has a lot of fans, but I have to say that I'm really not one of them. His personality is just unappealing to me. For starters, I feel like he is constantly in shock and quickly starts swearing at every opportunity. This is a Bendis comic so it happens constantly by many different characters. All of the words are censored of course, but it's still rather unnecessary and just shows us that Miles has a potty mouth. It makes it hard to identify with him as a character and likewise, it can be hard to root for him.
Handing out his secret identity so casually just doesn't seem like a good move. He's new to the superhero gig so some mistakes are to be expected, but he also tries to sound tough and/or confident, which is a mix that really doesn't work. His Venom's sting is certainly a good ability to have though and he's a decent fighter. I'm sure that he could take on a lot of the opponents that the real Spiderman has faced throughout the years. He is not as strong as Spiderman physically, but his other abilities help to even the playing field.
He has two friends, who serve as supporting characters throughout this ordeal. One of them freaks out when she learns about Miles being Spiderman and it is certainly a cringe worthy scene. I don't think people would react like that in real life and especially not in a world where superheroes are at every corner. I just don't see it, maybe if Miles had said that he was the Kingpin or something, but certainly not for being Spiderman. As for the other friend, he is really just a generic friend. There's really nothing to say about him and I don't care for the character.
The Ultimate Universe may have a lot of heroes like the 616 one, but not nearly as many. As such, the civilians seem to have responded to them much differently. People actually don't seem to fear Spiderman and they looked to him as a hero at one point. The cops are still trying to capture them and do their jobs of course, but it is an improvement. The universe is also a lot more down to Earth so you could almost call Spiderman a heavy hitter here. Gwen Stacy is still alive, which is a major change and just about everyone was friends with Spiderman. I definitely wouldn't trade this universe for 616, but it does remind you of how the universe once held so much potential.
When Spiderman died, I'm sure that Ultimate fans were fairly disappointed. The final issue of the run is included in this collection as everyone attends the funeral and thinks about what could have been. I already read that one during Free Comic Book Day a while back, but it was still interesting to check out once again. With the "Revival" happening in this collection, that was surely going to be a big chance to the Marvel universe. Could it possibly be the real Spiderman or is it all a trick? I have a feeling that this is a fake, but at least he seems to be cool so far.
Peter is fairly unreasonable when he first appears though. He just barges into the house and tells Miles that the real Spiderman is back. This sounds nothing like the Peter Parker that we have known for so many years, which is sketchy. At least he does come back to help out against the Green Goblin and he looks tough enough to be the real deal. He handles the threat well and doesn't fight against the cops. If the true Spiderman is back, then it's a bright day for the ultimate universe.
The second half of the comic really stepped it up as the action scenes were a lot of fun. We also got to see the Green Goblin again and he proved why he is one of Spiderman's greatest villains. Even 2 on 1, he was putting up a great fight and he hadn't been prepared. For round 2, things could get hairy for the heroes, unless Jameson's plan ended up succeeding. It was a fairly shocking ending and it's hard to see how Osborn would be able to react in time, but that could be a reaction time feat. Miles is also about to get some "answers" from Peter, which should be interesting.
There's a lot of ways that the comic can go with this so it will be interesting to see what happens. Right now, the series is mainly lacking in the characters department. Adding in someone likable and experienced like Spiderman could really help to shake things up. That being said, Spiderman has to actually be likable so we'll see if that ends up being the case here. If not, then it certainly defeats the purpose. I have a feeling that we haven't seen the last of Green Goblin and the Ultimates should have something to say about Spiderman being back unless they're currently gone. I think it was mentioned that Captain America may have vanished or something like that. I know that the Galactus event already happened, but I know almost nothing about it beyond the fact that Shadowcat had a big fight with him.
There's even a reference to the Secret Wars event as the cops think that someone is crazy when she starts to babble about it. It's a neat bit of foreshadowing as this comic came out quite a while ago I believe. If the Ultimate Universe had acted on this knowledge they could have thrown the 616 guys for a loop. I suppose that the cops just didn't realize how important those vague references were at the time.
While the writing may not be up to snuff, the art is decently good. Only decently though as it really varies and some pages do end up looking pretty bad. The artist has trouble with the faces at times so the battle scenes are what stands out. The big fight with Goblin was a lot of fun to look at. Hopefully, the art will improve in the next one, but it's still clear enough that you can easily tell what is going on and follow along with the action. The faces may just make you smirk at times.
Overall, Revival is a solid Spider Man story. Seeing the original Spiderman meet up with the new one was something that we had been waiting for. We got to go one better in Spider Men and in the Ultimate Spiderman TV show, but this got to be a pure Ultimate meet up. I don't know if I'll be checking out another Ultimate comic for quite a while, but at least I got to add another one to my reading history. As far as alternate universes go, Ultimate was definitely fleshed out more than most. It simply didn't work and a reboot of it will probably be necessary. At the end, a new FF series for Ultimate was being teased so maybe that will end up being good. It's hard to hold out too much hope for it, but you never know right? I recommend this comic if you want a quick action story and don't really need much of a deep plot behind it. Then, you're all set for some fiery action! (No guest stars showing up when the heroes are fighting Goblin in front of such a large crowd in a public neighborhood is a little sad, but most of the heroes may be busy at the moment since the Ultimate Universe is always in the middle of a fight somewhere)
Tagged Bendis, Comic, Comic Review, Marvel, Marvel comics, Miles Morales, Review, Revival, Spider Man, Spiderman, Ultimate Spider-Man16 Comments
Guardians of The Galaxy/All New X Men The Trial of Jean Grey Review
April 8, 2015 dreager1
It's time to look at the recent crossover between these two series. It has always been a smart decision to have two series collaborate on their own mini arc. Marvel and DC have been doing this for decades at this point and the formula continues to work. You also don't have to wait quite as long to finish an event since it is essentially getting double speed until it finishes. I recently finished a volume in the All New X Men series so it'll be interesting to see how they handle this galactic mission!
The title is actually pretty self explanatory to the plot though. The Shiar has found out about the original X Men arriving on the present. Gladiator realizes that this is his chance to make his people look good so he decides to attack Earth and kidnap Jean Grey. Realizing that a frontal assault against the strongest planet in the multiverse would be a bad idea, he attacks during the night and kidnaps her. The X Men are dazed and confused, but luckily the Guardians of The Galaxy show up. The X Men decide to hitch a ride with them and head off to stop Gladiator before they can execute the telepath. Will they make it in time!
The X Men felt out of their depth in their own series and that is also the case here. Gone are the days where the X Men were a force to be reckoned with. Skism and AVX really changed things for them. If Wolverine and Storm were around that would help, but Shadowcat is really the only adult member at the moment. This means that the classic members have to do a lot of the heavy lifting as well and they simply aren't cut out for this. It's safe to say that they would have been doomed if the Guardians hadn't shown up and I don't even think that the Guardians are that tough. They are certainly not as imposing as they think they are.
Cyclops tries to act as the commanding leader for the team, but only once in a while. He does make threats to the villains on how he will destroy them, but considering his current level of power…I don't really see him going very far. Still, he is still a good ally to have and he sticks by his friends. Jean Grey certainly hasn't made it easy for him. That being said, Cyclop's final decision isn't the best one, how can he protect his team if he's on another planet? At least he won't have to worry about the Avengers messing with him anymore.
The Beast, Angel, and Iceman are really just around for levity. They certainly don't do well during the fights and they don't have much of a role in this arc. Angel already got his development though so we're just waiting on the other two. Jean Grey naturally gets a large focus here and I'm glad that she made the right call in not surrendering. Just saying that she was guilty and waiting to be executed would have been a pretty lousy decision. Instead, she harnessed her powers and managed to take on Gladiator. Her new abilities will certainly come in handy for the upcoming battles and maybe she'll get even stronger. She really needs to put a handle on her telepathy though. Constantly reading everyone's minds is a sure way to destroy the trust between teammates.
X 23 is a part of the X Men roster this time, but her role is very small. The characters even joke about it as one of them forgot that she was on the journey. I consider her to be one of the stronger members of this X Men roster so hopefully she will get more action next time. From the Guardians Roster, Angela, Gamora, and Drax would be considered as the heavy hitters. The thing is..they simply aren't very strong.
For Drax, he has been unimpressive ever since his latest retcon/design. Gone are the days where he could go toe to toe against powerhouses like the Hulk and Thor. I really miss those days as I also preferred his design back then. He's all talk in the current comics. It's hard to gauge Angela and Gamora's strength as they mostly just fight minions. I'm inclined to say that they could probably take out most of the current X Men members,m but they're still not ready to go up against Gladiator. Still, they're good characters. As per usual, I'm not a fan of Groot. His gimmick gets old very quickly and he is rarely helpful in a fight. Rocket's always cool though as he constantly insults allies and enemies alike.
As for Jean Grey's execution, it may be obvious by now, but I would naturally say that she is innocent.
You certainly can't be found guilty of something that your future self did. Especially considering that you now know about it and can likely avoid it happening. (Moot point here thanks to the time travel element of course) It's always an interesting debate of whether you should arrest or destroy someone if you know that they will eventually commit a large crime. I'm not entirely opposed to the idea of an arrest, but that's a deeper talk than this review requires. Needless to say, the Shiar would essentially be murdering an innocent person in their mistaken quest for justice and that's why they have never been considered as heroes.
There are certainly a lot of sub plots here that hint at things to come. Thanos is missing so naturally his next plan will be coming soon. Star Lord's dad seems to want to stir up as much trouble as possible and the Badoon are also getting ready. Meanwhile, I wonder how the Supreme Intelligence will handle the situation. He was against the trial as he seems to be the most intelligent member of the group. Since the Shiar broke the truce not to go to Earth, I expect him to hopefully retaliate in some way. The Kree don't simply back away when there is a fight!
The art is good for the comic. It's at about the same level as the other All New X Men graphic novel. This means that the art typically looks good and it's certainly very clear, but there will be moments when the characters just look off model. It's not too distracting, but it still keeps me from calling the art very good. The important thing is that it will keep you engaged in the comic though.
As this is Bendis, the writing isn't exactly spectacular. That being said, we're certainly not at Dan Slott level and the comic maintains a fun atmosphere throughout. The slang and comic relief can get to be a bit much at times, but we do have to accept the fact that Bendis is working with two teams who are comprised of comedy characters. Iceman, Angel, Beast, Star Lord, Rocket, etc. Put them all in the same room and things are bound to get dicey!
The collection is slightly longer than the average one, but still makes for a short and sweet read. If I had to name a negative, it would be that the All New X Men are too easily impressed. I already went into it in my earlier All New X Men review, but they seem a little too naive, young, and easily impressed. They are still X Men so I expect them to cope with these kinds of situations a little easier. Is it really strange to see a talking tree and raccoon? I don't think that they should really be shocked about this. When the Shiar attacked with their foot soldiers, I also think that the X Men should have won. How can you lose to foot soldiers?
Also, is it just me or did the comic have a lot of fun bashing Earth? Apparently, we have geniuses like Bruce Banner, The Wizard, Tony Stark, Reed Richards, and Peter Parker, but we can't make spaceships that can move nearly as fast as just about any other race. If not for the Guardians arriving, we apparently don't have the tech necessary to reach their solar system in time. I find that a little hard to buy as our tech should certainly be able to stand up to theirs. Considering how many alien ships we've claimed after failed inventions, we could have reverse engineered all of the necessary parts to make an even better ship. Hopefully we're just holding back!
Overall, This was a fun team up between the two teams. The heroes are lucky that Jean Grey is a powerhouse now because they definitely are lacking in strength. Ordinarily, I'd assume that Gladiator could essentially take on both teams by himself. We'll see how long the cosmic interlopers can keep their hands off of Earth. Hopefully the Guardians can protect it, but I really don't see how. They have sensors that warn them whenever someone attacks Earth, but it's not like they can just outrace every space vehicle. They need better defenses or this is going to happen again. I recommend checking out this collection as it is a fun action story. There are quite a few references to Jean Grey's original days as the Phoenix for old fans and you will get to decide if you think Jean Grey is innocent or guilty. Hint, she is innocent!
Tagged All New X Men, Bendis, Comic, Comic Review, Cyclops, Drax, Guardians of the Galaxy, Jean Grey, Marvel, Marvel comics, Marvel Review, Review, Star Lord, Thanos3 Comments


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Innate Inflammation and Stroke
Edited by Edited by Gregory J. del Zoppo (University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington), Philip B. Gorelick (University of Illinois College of Medicine at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois), and Wolfgang Eisert (University of Hannover, Hannover, Germany)
This Annals issue brings together scientists and clinicians with research experience who have studied innate inflammation in the central nervous system and relationships to cerebrovascular risk.
This Annals issue brings together scientists and clinicians with research experience who have studied innate inflammation in the central nervous system. The focus will be on molecular and cellular mechanisms that are altered by innate inflammation and the translation to cerebrovascular risk. Additional focus will be on evaluation of animal studies reflecting the pathophysiological consequences following acute or chronic ischemia—-with the reference to time course and level of innate inflammation—-and formation of reactive oxygen species.
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The TV series "MacGyver" filmed scenes at a house on Sandy Springs' Heards Ferry Road on Oct. 12. Neighbor Wil Johnson said the crew offered him $1,000 to park a generator in his yard, and he snapped some photos of the production.
Now in its third season, "MacGyver" is a reboot of the 1980s action series about a secret agent skilled at improvising devices that help him defeat his foes. The series has primarily filmed in metro Atlanta since its debut.


DatingAdvice Forum | Please tell me how to interpret this girls actions?
Please tell me how to interpret this girls actions?
I end up working with her Friday, she approaches me and says that she is not feeling good and we can hang out another time. At this point I gave up so I am just say okay and to hit me up whenever. She keeps smiling at me and flirting with me physically which I don't understand. At the end of the shift she comes up to me and says she'll contact me to hang out. What's my move? Just ignore her?


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text:
Greater Manchester Police
Park police ready for Games rush
GREATER Manchester Police have pledged to deliver a safe, secure and enjoyable Commonwealth Games.
CHIEF Inspector Cath McKay, responsible for policing at Heaton Park
The force, ready to police the 2002 Games are confident that they can exceed all expectations in relation to the policing of the sporting spectacle. An exhaustive planning process that began in 1996 has now been completed.
In one of the largest projects that Greater Manchester Police will have ever undertaken, every member of the force will involved, regardless of which division they serve in. All areas of the police, including those not directly involved in the Games, have adopted a 'Going the Extra Mile' attitude.
A dedicated planning team was established in January last year. Their job was to identify, record and monitor each task that was required in the preparation for the Games. This included working with other GMP divisions and branches, and also outside organisations. To date, the planning team have recorded and completed more than 10,000 tasks, which means that all risks have been evaluated and all possible policing plans have been established.
Chief Inspector Catherine McKay said: "Heaton Park is one of the largest municipally owned parks in Europe. A small area has been set aside for the Lawn Bowls. The 'Papal Field' as it is known, will be the base for the Park and Ride scheme for the North Manchester area. We envisage a small police presence within the park itself and plan to deploy most of our officers outside to help keep routes clear and minimise street parking problems."
The force is also working alongside other organisations, such as M2002, GMPTE and the Greater Manchester Fire and Ambulance services to ensure that the 2002 Games are a success.
North Manchester General HospitalPolice issue urgent appeal for missing woman last seen at North Manchester General HospitalDeborah Lock could be staying in Harpurhey
Beswick'YOUR BECOMING SERIOUS ENEMY TO ME NOW'... court told man killed 'best friend' after they fell out over a cannabis farm'I have come to hand myself in. I stabbed someone last night'


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LeBron James Set To Produce 'Friday The 13th' Reboot
The movie is still in early development, and no writers or a director has been attached to the project yet.
Bernard Beanz Smalls
Source: Steve Dykes / Getty
It might be a horror show going on in the Staples Center right because the LeBron led Lakers are off to a horrible start. But Hollywood Bron is still working and looking to help resurrect the iconic horror film franchise Friday The 13th.
The hockey mask wearing homicidal maniac Jason hasn't been able to deliver vicious fades since the underrated 2009 Friday The 13th reboot. There have been talks of various sequels and reboots, but all have been hampered thanks to delays, creative conflicts and a lawsuit from the franchise's creator Victor Miller. But thanks to the success of the Jamie Lee Curtis led Halloween revival and Michael Myers slashing his way to $77.8 million domestic opening new life has been given to Jason Voorhees.
According to Page Six, insiders hint that LeBron James' SpringHill Entertainment alongside Roy Lee's Vertigo Entertainment is currently in talks to acquire the rights to make a new movie happen and all signs are pointing to it coming to fruition. Miller has since won back the rights to the franchise, and with the two production companies and their first look deals with Warner Bros., they are expected to land the movie.
The movie is still in early development, and no writers or a director has been attached to the project yet. One thing is for sure Jason will be taking out camp counselors at Camp Crystal Lake just like old times. LABron's move to the west coast was supposedly for basketball reasons, but its quite clear LBJ has been bitten by the Hollywood bug. If and when it's confirmed Friday The 13th will join the growing list of big and small screen projects Bron is attached to which also includes Space Jam 2.
Photo: Steve Dykes / Getty
LeBron James Set To Produce 'Friday The 13th' Reboot was originally published on hiphopwired.com


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Errol Spence Defeats Shawn Porter By Split Decision
By Mark Elezaj
Los Angeles – In what could possibly be considered the fight of the year, Errol Spence Jr and Shawn Porter left it all in the ring, silenced any doubters and left the fans in awe. But it the end, it was Spence that got the split decision victory in what was an action-packed world title fight Saturday night at the Staples Center.
The fight delivered everything a fight fan could ask for. You had two of the top fighters in one of boxing's deepest and best division face off. You had two warriors give it their all and in the end, you had Spence add the WBC welterweight title to his collection.
Porter came out after a slow start in the first round, and applied constant pressure on Spence, making Spence work hard in the pocket, while trying to fight him off. Porter also troubled Spence with his jab, inside angles, lateral movements and quick footwork.
Porter was the aggressor for the majority of the fight, and Spence needed to figure out a way to stop him.
Porter also stood there and took Spence's best punches, while countering and coming back with his own shots to the head and body.
The fight turned into a slugfest in the third round. Both fighters stood toe to toe, exchanging punches in bunches. From that point on, it was just a rough and tough fight with neither man backing down.
In the forth, Porter caught Spence with a left hook that snuck around his guard, followed by another huge left hook that landed during their exchange.
Porter caught Spence with a straight right early in the fifth. While trying to push the action, Spence was able to land a straight left late in the fifth round. Now sensing that he had Porter on the defensive side, he began to come forward.
Another close round, more great action.
In the sixth, Spence would be the aggressor, pushing Porter up against the ropes while landing huge body shots. But Porter was able to spin away from the onslaught, countering Spence while pushing him into the ropes.
The fight maintained a constant back and forth from both fighters with neither man backing down.
But it was Spence who landed a huge left hook that knocked Porter down in the 11th round. Porter, who beat the count, got up and screamed "Lets Go" went after Spence.
In the final round, both men were going for the knockout. Both fighters traded shots until the final bell sounded.
Spence won the fight via split decision 116-111 on two of the judges scorecards, while one judge had it 115-112 for Porter.
The Fighting Voice had it 114-112 for Spence.
"It feels good to win. This is a lifetime dream. It shows hard work pays off," Spence said of unifying belts. "Thanks, Shawn Porter, my whole team and all my Texas people for coming out. Shawn Porter is a rough and awkward fighter. I didn't get off what I wanted to. He's a true champion. He made it tough."
"All my punches have bad intentions. Boxing Mikey Garcia, I wanted to show people I could do it with that style," Spence said. "Porter was throwing a lot. I wanted to show I was the bigger and stronger welterweight."
According to CompuBox statistics, Spence landed 221 of 745 punches, and Porter landed 172 of 744, the most landed on Spence in his career.
Porter was ok with the final decision and proud of his effort. After the fight, he spoke highly about Spence.
"He's a strong kid. We both came in to do the job," Porter said. "I think I had a little more than what he expected, but he handled it. Congratulations to him and his team. We're proud of what we did.
"I've said this before: I've had a lot of experience in the boxing ring," Porter said. "Did you enjoy that fight?"
After the fight, Danny Garcia, a former welterweight and junior welterweight champion, was in the ring, challenging Spence to a title fight next.
When asked if he accepted the challenge from Garcia, he replied, "I've told my team, you line them up, I'll knock them down."
~ The Fighting Voice ~
The Fighting Voice
BOXING aficionado!! I fell in love with the sport from the first jab! I'm very passionate about boxing and I'm interested in what your thoughts are? Let's talk about it!
View all posts by The Fighting Voice
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Just as in other parts of the world (see here and here) South America's glaciers are retreating. And, as in Asia, the retreat poses a threat to fresh-water supplies that humans depend on.
Chile's glaciers are on the retreat, a sign of global warming but also a threat to fresh water reserves at the southern end of South America, a report has found.
The scientists who carried out the study had no doubt that global warming was a principal cause.
The Chilean glaciers, located mostly in the remote flatlands of Patagonia, have receded by about 67 meters per year between 1986 and 2001 and by about 45 meters between 2001 and 2007, according to DGA.
The Jorge Montt receded the most of all glaciers studied, by 11 kilometers (6.8 miles) in 21 years, a loss of 40 square kilometers (25 square miles). The San Rafael glacier in southern Chile lost 12 kilometers (7.45 miles) over 136 years.
"The fact that the glaciers are receding is one of the most dramatic consequences of global warming, because that's where climate change is most obvious," glaciologist Andres Rivera of the Valdivia scientific studies institute (CECS) told AFP.
One interesting aspect of the study was the comparison the scientists made between glaciers on more active and less active volcanoes. One of the volcanoes studied, Volcán Villarrica, is much more active than another, Volcán Mocho. To the researcher's surprise the area change rate was faster on the less active volcano than on the more active one.
The volumetric changes experienced in recent decades by the studied glaciers yielded similar values on both volcanoes, which is unexpected considering the much more active condition of Volcán Villarrica. Glaciers on active volcanoes are therefore shrinking mainly in response to climatic driving factors [emphasis–JR].
« Remarkable Change in Arctic Atmospheric Circulation: Have We Passed a Tipping Point?
Thanks for the important article, any info on what % of the glaciers have melted, i.e. how long until the water supply is disrupted ?
In Peru, temperature increases have led to a 22% reduction in the total area of its glaciers in the last 35 years.


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Q: Spark DataFrame: Add a new columns according to other columns I want to add a new column new_col, if the value of column a is in yes_list, then the value is 1 in new_col else 0
from pyspark import SparkContext
sc = SparkContext.getOrCreate()
rdd = sc.parallelize([{"a":'y'}, {"a":'y', "b":2}, {"a":'n', "c":3}])
rdd_df = sqlContext.read.json(rdd)

yes_list = ['y']

Something like this:
rdd_df.withColumn("new_col", [1 if val in yes_list else 0 for val in rdd_df["a"]])

But the above is not correct, and raise errors.
TypeError: Column is not iterable

How to achieve it?

A: You can use the when and isin functions for the sparkSQL API. It would go as follows:
from pyspark.sql import functions
rdd_df.withColumn("new_col", functions.when(rdd_df['a'].isin(yes_list), 1).otherwise(0)).show()

+---+----+----+-------+
|  a|   b|   c|new_col|
+---+----+----+-------+
|  y|null|null|      1|
|  y|   2|null|      1|
|  n|null|   3|      0|
+---+----+----+-------+

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


We have to accept the fact that there will always be opposition to the preaching of the Gospel and persecution for those who try to witness with their lives. We have to make up our minds to be determined to be bold and not afraid. When the trials and persecutions come, we take them with a cheerful heart and ensure that our witnessing continues.
God did not spare his only Son but gave him to the world so that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life. If nothing can separate God's love for us and if He did not spare sacrificing His Son, then nothing what so ever should deter us from following Jesus and witnessing. Be assured of His faithfulness both in this life and the world to come.
Let Us Pray: Lord Jesus thank you for the gift of the Holy Spirit which gives me boldness to be a witness of the Resurrection. Be always glorified in the sufferings and persecution that come my way. Help me to remain faithful always. Amen.


The early Earth was bombarded by comets, but geological processes (erosion, lava flows, etc.) have hidden almost all of the scars. The moon was bombarded just as heavily as the Earth, however, and if you look at it through binoculars you can easily see many of the larger craters. It is believed that the biggest thing ever to hit the Earth was actually a planet as big as Mars (which is half the size of the Earth), and that the impact melted the Earth's crust completely. The impact threw out a lot of material which gradually came together to form the moon (which is a quarter the size of the Earth). We are extremely lucky to have a big moon like this, because it helps to keep the Earth stable in the way it spins: other planets such as Mars occasionally tip over so much that their poles can point straight at the sun, and if the Earth was able to behave that way it would probably have been impossible for advanced life to evolve here because of the extreme changes in climate that would have resulted.
indentThe bombardment of the Earth by comets ended long ago, but there are still some comets left which might yet hit us. The most recent one to hit us appears to have broken up into several chunks before slamming into the Earth: this happened well over two hundred million years ago, and it's not clear whether that had any effect on the mass extinction of the world's species of that time: they were already being wiped out by extreme climate change caused by volcanic activity. The dinasaurs were wiped out in the same manner just sixty five million years ago: volcanic activity was again the main factor, though an asteroid impact may have finished the job. Comets are made primarily of water, whereas most of the asteroids are lumps of rock which failed to join up to make a planet, and these normally hang out in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. The volcanic activity which ended the dinasaur age involved enormous amounts of liquid rock flowing onto the Earth's surface in the region of India, and there is a temple cut into that rock where you can go to look at some of the layers of this solidified lava. There is a weak, very narrow, dusty layer in the middle caused by the asteroid impact, and we can tell this because it contains high levels of iridium, a material common in asteroids but very rare on the Earth. A row of elephant heads are carved into the rock, and the weak layer caused by the asteroid impact happens to run right through them: rather sadly, all the trunks have broken off along this line as a result.


Shipping a car can be an expensive endeavor and it may not always be clear on the customer side how the cost breaks down. In this article, we'll take a look at some of the contributing factors to the cost shipping a vehicle, as well as some strategies you can use to minimize costs.
Most people have an understanding of some of the basic fees that contribute to the cost of shipping a car. This includes costs that cover things like fuel, equipment, and of course, driver pay. The cost of gas can be an important factor since it fluctuates quite a bit: when gas prices go up, so too does the cost of transporting a vehicle.
Equipment costs and repairs also eat up a sizable chunk of what you'll pay to have a car shipped. Multi-car transport carriers are expensive, both in terms of the initial purchase and the necessary repairs that come with logging so many miles.
For more information about the details of transport costs, as reported by experts within the industry, this PDF report has more in-depth information.
Car Shipping Costs | Type Of Service & Other Factors.
The type of service you request can also have an impact on the cost of shipping an automobile. For example, if you want a vehicle delivered to your house (or a specific address), that can be accommodated, but it does come with an additional charge. This goes for other types of services that are considered "premium" or above and beyond the standard level of service.
Most vehicles are transported aboard an open-air multi-car carrier. They can haul several vehicles at once, thus reducing the overall cost of delivering a load and reducing the cost for the customers. Alternately, a vehicle can be transported inside of an enclosed carrier, which typically handles only one or two cars at a time. An enclosed carrier also completely encases the vehicle for the duration of the shipment, reducing the likelihood of damage from weather, dirt, and debris. As you might expect, shipping a car in an enclosed carrier will generally cost more.
Another example of a service that will run you a few extra dollars is expedited transport. Time is a definite ally of an auto shipper since it's not easy coordinating pickup and delivery of so many vehicles while meeting all the scheduling needs. Rush jobs and last minute car transport are an option through many companies, but you'll pay more for the service than you would with more lead time.
Part of what you pay to ship a car includes the insurance provided by the carrier. By law, any person or entity that transports vehicles must have a minimum amount of insurance that covers potential damage. The amount of insurance that must be carried depends on the type of operating authority is granted, and what type of cargo is being transported. For more information, you can visit the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's insurance information page.
The insurance limits required by the FMCSA are plenty for most vehicles, though some customers with high-end, luxury, or exotic cars may consider purchasing an supplemental policy. This additional policy can be done either through the carrier directly or in some cases, through your existing auto insurance carrier.
Have questions about the cost of transporting a vehicle? Call us today at the number at the top of the page and we'll give you a FREE estimate for your car shipping needs! We can also be reached through our online contact form and we're happy to answer any questions you may have!
$100 fee for shipping your car?


Jessica and I get asked quite frequently on this blog if we know a Bora Bora wedding photographer that we could recommend. While we haven't worked with any photographers directly, I did seek out and find a local photographer that has been in the business for many years. Edouard Ott is a professional photographer for the international press who has worked on locations around the world, although he is lucky enough to call Bora Bora is home. If you are looking for a photographer to cover your wedding event in Bora Bora then Edouard Ott might be your guy. We asked Edouard a couple of questions about him and his services. Our email exchange is below.
How did you end up in Bora Bora? Do you live there all-year round?
I was photographer for a celebrity magazine for 15 years and in 2005 I was in Los Angeles when my agency sent me to Bora Bora for an interview with Sharon Stone. I was amazed by the beauty of the island and asked my agency to stay here. That was impossible at that time as not enough celebs were visiting the island to keep me busy. So I was sent to Maui Hawaii for 4 years and I would come for 3 months every year. I finally fell in love with my Vahine and married her. Now I live on the island all year around and just have to go back to Maui during the rainy season. I am still working for Corbis, a Bill Gates owned photo agency and I am the photographer for the US Bachelor reality show winner every year.
My wedding photo style is evaluative and adaptive, I have a full range of styles that I adapt to my customers. Every wedding is unique and every couple has their own vision of pictures. From Japanese honeymooners to a 30 years of marriage vow renewal, my style has to adapt to their expectations. Most of the people have a precise idea of style they want as you can browse the internet to see a bunch of photos, and coming from around the world these couples bring me a different vision of style that fits their culture.
Do you shoot film, digital or both? Any video?
I am shoot in digital but I can have a videographer on demand if the client requests it.
What do you enjoy about living and working in Bora Bora?
What I most enjoy about living in Bora Bora is of course the beauty of this island but I really take pleasure in seeing the emotions that follow my day of work. I always like seeing the smiles from the dancers and musicians during a wedding, and the tears of joy when a couple exchanges their vows. This Island has never the same face, the light is changing all the time and I still get surprised by the nature exposed at his best.
You seem to capture some of the most amazing personal moments. Can you share your process with us?
It all starts when I meet the people. I have shot photos of celebrities from Brad Pitt to the Dalai Lama and a good joke makes people smile and feel confident. It's hard to pose if it isn't your day job and a lot of people hate getting their photos taken. I just make them laugh a lot.
Your work is unique in many ways. Could you talk a bit about why you think that is.
My style comes from my experience around the world with all those celebrity photos. If I want a cover photo for a magazine that millions of people will see the expectation is very high, I have to capture an emotion that people haven't seen in movie and my photos have to be unique and reflecting the personality of this person. Thru my lens I can express who you are.
What do you feel is the most challenging thing about photographing weddings?
The biggest challenge about wedding photography is that it's one take, it is a very unique moment full of emotions. Those lifetime memories are going to be shared with all the loved ones and even their grand children will get to see them.
How do you choose which images you ultimately provide to your clients?
Choosing the pictures is hard as I look for perfection, but I always give more photos than I am supposed too as I think that they will love all the nice pictures of them. I end up by just trashing the outtakes.
How quickly do your clients get to see their photos?
My clients usually get their pictures the next day.
Do you bring assistants or second shooters with you?
I work most of the time alone but I have an assistant for shades and for challenging situations.
For those that would like to consider working with you, what's the best way to start?


text:
416-536-3357info@oakwoodwesleyan.org
The World Of Cults
GTA Outreach
The Wesleyan movement centers around the scriptural truth concerning the doctrine and experience of holiness, which declares that the atonement in Christ provides not only for the regeneration of sinners but for the entire sanctification of believers. A revival of these scriptural truths concerning Christian perfection and scriptural holiness took place under the leadership of John Wesley in the eighteenth century, and continues in various ways until the present. Please read below about our dedicated staff:
Rev. Sule Prince – Senior Pastor
Rev. Sule Prince earned his Bachelors of Religious Education (BRE) at Heritage College & Seminary and his Masters of Theological Studies (MTS) at Toronto Baptist Seminary.
Rev. Sule Prince is a man with a great passion for the word of God and a genuine love for people. He answered the Divine call to preaching at the age of sixteen and has been ministering the gospel since. He is currently the Senior Pastor of Oakwood Wesleyan Church and resides in Toronto with his wife and children.
Rev. Dr. Tony Costa | Teaching Pastor
Tony Costa has earned a B.A. and an M.A. in the study of religion, biblical studies, and philosophy from the University of Toronto. Tony received his Ph.D. in the area of theology and New Testament studies from Radboud University in the Netherlands. His area of expertise is biblical and systematic theology, cults, the New Age Movement, and comparative world religions with a specialization in Islam. Tony is also an ordained minister of the Gospel and serves as the Teaching Pastor at Oakwood Wesleyan Church in Toronto.
As a Christian apologist Dr. Costa gives reasons for the valid belief in Christianity and also advocates the unique claims of Jesus Christ. Tony is a professor of apologetics with the Toronto Baptist Seminary. He also teaches as an Instructor with the School of Continuing Studies at the University of Toronto in the area of New Testament studies. He serves as an adjunct professor with Heritage College and Seminary in Cambridge, Ontario and the Providence Theological Institute in Franklin, Tennessee. Tony is happily married to a wonderful wife, has 3 children, and a grandson, and resides in Toronto, Canada.
Lisle Morris – Office Assistant
Lisle has attended Oakwood since the early 70s and was on the Local Board of Administration for over 15 years. He has worked with the youth and helped with Sunday school and has a passion that all people, especially the youth, will become christians. He also loves doing bible studies.
What We Teach & Practice
The Bible: The Bible is the highest source of written authority for God's plan for His people; it reveals how to live out that plan, individually and corporately. Beliefs, practices, priorities are to be anchored in clear biblical teachings.
Christlikeness: Jesus Christ is the defining feature of God's will for all humanty. He gives the highest and most practical example for holy living or godliness. Christ also strengthens us to pursue integrity, excellence, faith, hope, and love.
Disciple-Making: Making disciples is a clear mandate from Christ. This requires a strong focus on evangelism and training in spiritual growth and holy living. Done effectively, this will produce and promote growth and health in and among the churches.
Local Church Centered: Our denomination exists to serve local congregations. It strives to serve and strengthen congregations as the most strategic points for evangelism and discipleship.
Servant Leadership: We respect the leadership placed over us. The authority and effectiveness of spiritual leadership is not primarily bestowed, but earned as leaders with loving and willing hearts serve God and mankind gladly! We desire to be leaders by serving.
Unity In Diversity: There is intrinsic value in every person. Unity becomes all the more important and beautiful in the light of the wide ranges of difference in personality, culture, race, talents, and perspectives. Loving each other eliminates devaluation and deprivation of life to one another.
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You will be working cross-functionally to understand key business communication and advertising issues and ensuring a cohesive and integrated communications research plan, including both pre-testing and in-market performance. You'll also be synthesizing information from various sources into meaningful insights and presenting actionable recommendations to leaders.
You will work closely with various parts of the CMI team including the brand and NPS tracking team, the value proposition team, and the UX research team.
Experience in primary quantitative research (questionnaire development, navigating survey programming logic, reading and developing cross-tabulations, etc.) and experience designing research projects, both qualitative and quantitative, to address business needs.
Experience managing research agencies and work-flow to ensure quality and accuracy, cost efficiency, and timely completion of projects.
A degree in marketing or market research related degree.
A mix of research vendor/agency and client side experience.
Superior project management skills - capability to prioritize among multiple parts of the business and projects.
Capability to articulate rationale and tie to creative briefs.
Capability to synthesize data from multiple sources and translating findings into actionable consumer insights and recommendations.
Experience operating in a dynamic, rapidly evolving tech environment.


Up the street from Corner Pub, Broadway Brewhouse and Lime, a new shop just opened up that to bring Nashville a new way to celebrate life's little occasions. Gigi's Cupcakes is not only a surprising addition to the West End strip, but its also attracting a steady stream of Nashvillians, eager to see what's cooking.
These cupcakes are so artificial, you can almost taste the chemicals, and the colors are way too much. Not only that, the filling in them, it's like some kinda of jelliten mix that is gooey and not appetizing, kinda like a nasty jelly filled donut, but cupcake… not what I like at all.
Check out Cuppycakes Bakery instead. At http://www.cuppycakesbakery.com they are delicious, all natural and no artificial coloring or flavoring. They are the best in Nashville, and I've had them all! Seriously, if you don't believe me, or have only had Gigi's try Cuppycakes to compare and you'll be amazed!
Well, I'm not sure Mary305's got their number, but as of now, I'm not a Gigi's fan.
It wasn't horrific or anything, but in categories of cake flavor and icing flavor, a grocery store bakery can keep up pretty well. Admittedly, Gigi's has more flavors and flash, and it was a little fun to stop at a "cup cake shop." Unfortunately, novelty will only get you so far.
STEP UP Gigi's! At $33 dollars per dozen, your cupcakes aren't going to compete with $15 from the grocery store!
You've got a cute look and a potentially great niche in Music city, if you can just start offering us something we can't find down the street for less.


For Rakhi painting is a medium of expression of emotions that remain untold. It is a way of living life in harmony with one's own-self.
KRISHNA, is the symbol of love, and love means giving. Radha and Meera, both had an undying love for Krishna, but for both of them love means to let go. Similarly, in today's day and age, we barely get time to express our love and pain to our beloved. But, through her paintings she wishes to capture every feeling the human mind goes through.


Snowpocalypse is serious business in Seattle and all of Puget Sound today! Here are a list of shows and their trailers to binge watch if you're stuck indoors today!
THE GOOD PLACE (NETFLIX): This has been one of my favorite shows the last few weeks. Okay, so maybe I binge watched 2 seasons in one weekend. It's that good!
THE TED BUNDY TAPES (NETFLIX): If you're into being frightened out of your mind, catch up on these tapes on Netflix! Only 4 episodes but will make you realize how crazy the 70s were in Puget Sound!
YOU (NETFLIX): this show reminds me a lot of the show Dexter but with younger and better looking people that looked like they all shop at urban outfitters.
INSTANT HOTEL (NETFLIX): This show had me sucked in immediately. It's like Air BNB meets House Hunters. Very addicting and will have you thinking warm thoughts on a snowy day because it's set in Australia!
DUMPLIN' (NETFLIX): This movie is perfect to throw on for yourself or kids that are getting a little restless. It's all about overcoming stereotypes and shining! Every once awhile you need a little sunshine on a snowy day!


Over 10 years I have worked at this particular company and today I went home early for the last time. It is a pity there is bitterness on both sides as the "professional relationship" broke down. I know no-one likes their job, but I honestly used to and unfortunately didn't anymore.
The plan is to reboot, clear my mind of all the garbage it has put up with recently and then decide what I want out life.
All I can say to those still left in purgatory is I wish you the best and hopefully some get what they deserve. Thanks for the bottle of whiskey and the card.