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Category Archives: misc
I am honored to have received another nomination for the Sunshine Blogger Award, this time from Angie of Backlog Crusader. Even if, once again, I have to stress that the term "sunshine" really can't apply to me in any sense other than the sarcastic.
Here are the rules of the game, as usual:
Thank the blogger who nominated you and link back to their blog.
Answer the 11 questions the blogger asked you.
Nominate 11 new blogs to receive the award and write them 11 new questions
List the rules and display the Sunshine Blogger Award logo in your post and/or on your blog.
Also, there's a Final Fantasy VII spoiler in this post. The game is 22 years old and everyone already knows exactly what "spoiler" I'm talking about, but I'll put up the standard disclaimer just in case. There's also an SMT3: Nocturne spoiler. No surprises there.
And here are Angie's questions:
1. If you could have a pet from any game you've played, what would it be?
I have two answers. The first is Skye from Grandia II, the talking falcon who accompanies the world-weary mercenary protagonist Ryudo. But he's not just a talking bird – he's an intelligent talking bird. Skye is basically a human in terms of personality, and he has a comedic dynamic with Ryudo that lightens the mood nicely. He even helps out Ryudo with a move where he picks up an enemy in his talons and drops it at Ryudo, who swings his sword at it like he's hitting a baseball. If I had a pet like that, I'd be unstoppable. Well, Skye isn't exactly a pet but more of an equal companion. Okay, I want to be friends with a talking falcon, how about that?
My second choice would be Eevee. Because it's cute. I know I put up this bitter, depressive persona on this site sometimes, and that's completely genuine (I wish to God it weren't, but what can you do) but I do like cats and fluffy things to some extent. I'm not completely dead inside, or at least not yet.
2. What game unexpectedly surprised you or surpassed your expectations?
Doki Doki Literature Club!! The fact that this very standard-looking visual novel was so hyped up on Youtube and among all kinds of gaming boards made me a little skeptical, and I really didn't like those two exclamation points in the title of the game (edit: there's only one, my brain is scrambled today. Still please don't put punctuation in your game title. More on that subject soon.) But this game really surprised me, both in terms of its quality and the twists that waited in ambush for me. I wrote an in-depth review of the game at the link above, though it does have spoilers past the first couple of paragraphs, so be careful if you want to go into the game raw, which I highly recommend doing.
It's just a nice cute dating sim, I promise.
3. What game would you like to see be made into a film?
The prospect of seeing a game I like made into a film is too scary for me to even consider. I like the Sonic series, after all (well, some of it at least) and look at the abomination Paramount came up with. Apparently the movie's development is being delayed to change Sonic's design, though, so maybe it will end up being more bearable than we think. And even if it ends up almost completely sucking, which seems likely, at least we'll get Jim Carrey hamming it up as Dr. Robotnik. He was the only good thing in that trailer.
If an anime series counts, I guess I'd like to see another adaptation of the Disgaea series. I'm surprised NIS hasn't gone this route. Maybe their games are just too weird and niche to make it work commercially.
4. What was your most meaningful relationship forged through video games?
My experience with video games has been a mostly solitary one. I don't play multiplayer games at all anymore, and I haven't for a long time. I do have a few friends who I met thanks in part to our shared interest in certain kinds of games (i.e. the weeb ones) so I guess those are the relationships I'd have to go with. My gaming certainly hasn't been a factor in my relationships with any of my family. That's an aspect of my life that I never bring up because most of them would look down on it and think of me as immature. No sense in even opening that door.
5. What do you think will be the next fad in video games? (Ex: Battle Royales right now, season passes, zombie games in the past, etc.)
I'm tempted to say that virtual reality is going to be the next fad, but people have been saying that since I was a kid myself back in the 90s and it hasn't happened yet. The technology is getting there, though. Once we get to a point where the tech is good enough and affordable enough to become popular, I can see it becoming the new standard in gaming, at which point it won't really be a fad but rather an established thing.
But I have to admit that I just don't know. I'm not nearly as connected to video game trends as I used to be. These days, I only have time to play what I'm fairly sure I'll like, so I pretty much ignore whatever's hot at the moment. I'd love to see tactical RPGs or visual novels get popular, but since that's not going to happen, there's really no point in hoping for it.
6. Of all the games you have played, what scene was the most memorable?
I have to go ultra-obvious and boring here and say Aeris' death scene in Final Fantasy VII. Probably for the fact that it's so talked about, but also because I was about the right age when I played that game for it to stick in my head. Looking back 22 years later, it's easy to forget how damn impressive FF7 was when it came out, during the dawn of the 3D age of games. Also, I put actual work into leveling up Aeris because I like having a good healer in my party in an RPG, and the game just straight up kills her off. Come on!
Now that the remake is confirmed and has a release date, I guess we'll get to experience that scene again, but somehow I feel it just won't be the same. I guess we'll see when Square-Enix puts out the first episode of the remake next year. It would be more of a twist if they kept her alive this time, wouldn't it?
7. What older or retro game most deserves a remaster or sequel?
I already mentioned Skies of Arcadia in my first Sunshine Blogger post as a game I'd like to see a sequel to, so I should pick something else this time. I'd love to see Shin Megami Tensei I and II get remakes. These games were originally released on the Super Famicom, then upgraded for the Playstation in the mid-90s, but even the PSX remasters retain a lot of the annoyances of the originals that are typical of old JRPGs. Not that I don't like a real challenge – after all, SMT3 is one of my favorite games, and I enjoyed Strange Journey despite the beating it gave me. But SMT1 and SMT2 would both benefit from graphical and quality-of-life upgrades. I've seen a lot of people calling for remakes of Persona 3 and 4, but as much as I loved those games, I don't see the point; they're both still pretty modern games, whereas the first two SMT games most definitely are not.
Or maybe a remake of SMT if… I still love this cover, by the way.
That said, if it's a choice between remakes of the first two SMTs and Shin Megami Tensei V, I'd go for V. Come on, Atlus. Give us something. Anything. I'm happy about Persona 5 Royal coming out next year and all, but please.
8. What game meant the most to you on a personal level and why?
If you've been reading this site for a while, this answer will be no surprise to you given the fact that I never shut up about it (including in the answer to question #7 above.) It's Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne. People say the plot and characterization in Nocturne are thin, and when compared to, say, a Persona game, they're right. But what this game lacks in those areas it makes up for in the strength of its themes. A while back, I wrote a piece about some of the themes of Nocturne, focusing on Isamu's concept of his ideal world in which each person lives in their own separate universe constructed as they see fit. If you don't feel like digging through that essay, the gist of Nocturne is that the old world has ended and a new world is ready to be created. Three remaining humans consisting of two of the human-turned-demon protagonist's schoolmates and the one asshole cult leader who started the whole mess get the chance to shape the new world according to their beliefs and desires, and they have to fight it out inside an inside-out spherical demon-filled Tokyo world for the right to create their ideal world.
This was me throughout high school, minus the hat and the chest-faces.
Isamu's world of isolation seems to be based on solipsism, the idea that you can only be sure of your own existence. The game's thin characterization means that we don't really know why Isamu wants to build this kind of world, but it seems like he holds some bitterness towards society and just wants to be left alone. And holy YHVH can I relate to that. I've gotten better socially since getting out into the professional working world, but purely out of necessity. I can still totally understand Isamu's desire for a world of isolation.
9. Who is your favorite voice actor/actress?
I can't say I have one favorite, but I'm a fan of Mamiko Noto, Rie Tanaka, Eri Kitamura – the list could go on a while, but they're among my favorites. I also like Masane Tsukayama, the guy who apparently plays every gravely-voiced old man in an anime or game, including Washizu in Akagi, Hyodo in Kaiji, Zouken Matou in Fate/Zero and Fate/stay night, and Igor in Persona 5. Here's a sample of Tsukayama's brilliant work as Washizu (sorry that the subs are in French – the gist of the clip is that Washizu wants the protagonist to make a mahjong deal that he thinks will lead to his own victory. Also, spoilers for Akagi.)
As far as English-language VAs go, I don't have any particular preferences. Most of the regulars seem to be highly professional and good at their jobs, though. Much respect to them. I'm sure they don't get paid enough. The gig economy is god damn rough.
10. If your favorite video game protagonist suddenly became a kitchen or cooking utensil, what would they be?
I admit, I would have never thought of this one myself. I think my favorite game protagonist might be Garrett, the main character of the Thief series. Garrett is an anti-hero who usually looks out for himself alone but who always ends up on the right side of the fight when the chips are down. And true to his nature, he returns to the shadows to keep stealing from the rich and giving to himself after the fight is done. Since Garrett is such a stealthy guy, he'd have to be a very sharp knife, something that can be wielded silently and quickly. Wielded against tomatoes, I mean. Then again, Garrett is a pro who doesn't kill people, so maybe he'd be a pestle, since that somewhat resembles the blackjack Garrett uses to knock his enemies out.
11. How many more Final Fantasies do you think will be made before they finally reach the Final, FINAL Fantasy?
Ten thousand years in the future, the ruins of human civilization are crumbling. Nature has reclaimed the land and oceans, erasing the marks of our very existence. Yet somehow, Square-Enix headquarters is still standing, and they've just announced the release date of Final Fantasy MMMCCLXXVIII. That's the true irony: no matter how many Final Fantasies are made, there will never be a Final Fantasy.
Right, so that took a dark turn at the end. Sorry. Now to get to my questions. This time I've geared them more towards game-related subjects.
1. Do you have a favorite game composer? If so, who is it?
2. Same question as above, but for game artists/art directors.
3. Is there a character you've encountered in a game that annoyed you immediately? If so, did that character grow on you over time, or do you still dislike them?
4. If you could own any vehicle from a game, which one would you own, and would it be a practical form of transportation?
5. How do you feel about contributing to crowdfunding campaigns for games and other works?
6. Reversing a question I was asked – what movie would you want to see adapted into game form?
7. Do you buy physical copies of games? How important is it to you that the publisher releases a physical copy of a game, or does it matter at all?
8. If you could have dinner with/hang out with any one main cast of characters from a game, which one would it be?
9. How important are a game's story, characters, and overall message to you when weighed against the quality of its gameplay?
10. If you were exiled to a desert island and could only bring one game console with you, which one would it be? Not counting the PC – you're allowed to have a PC on the desert island. You also have access to power sources. This is a really convenient desert island, isn't it?
11. How much money do you think you'd get for your entire game collection in Gamestop in-store credit? (This one might not be comprehensible to people outside the US. If you're not familiar with Gamestop, look up "gamestop in-store credit" on Google and you'll see why I'm asking this question.)
And here are my nominees this time around. 12 again instead of 11 despite what the rules say. Look, it's my OCD, okay? Just as before, if I haven't included you on this list but you want to answer these questions anyway, please feel free. And if I have included you, but answering these kinds of award challenge things isn't your style or you're having them thrown at you left and right, feel free to ignore it.
NekoJonez's Gaming Blog
Extra Life Reviews
Otaku Alcove
The 3rd Player
Hundstrasse
Tecsielity
Video Games and Things I Write About Them
Kimimi the Game-Eating She-Monster
2019 mid-year review
I'm going to do something I've never done before: post an update reviewing what I've done so far this year regarding the site and what my general plans are for the rest of the year. I know there are bloggers in the community who do this weekly or monthly, and good on them. I don't post nearly as often as they do, so I can only really justify this kind of post about twice a year. I'll also be going all the way back to December, because why not. I think that was when I truly revived the site again, so it makes more sense than an arbitrary Jan. 1 cutoff date.
Since I started posting on a regular basis again, I've written several full game reviews, some of which have been reviews of free games because fuck my current financial situation. But not all of them were free. And a few of the free games are among the best I've played this year, so it's not like that's been a bad thing.
Disgaea 1 Complete – A PS4 remaster of Disgaea: Hour of Darkness, the very first game in the series. A lot of fans were clamoring for this one, partly for the reason that it has the most beloved cast of all the games. There's a reason Laharl, Etna, and Flonne keep popping up in NIS games 15 years after their debut. I liked Disgaea 1 Complete, though it's definitely a better deal for players new to the series than for old veterans, because it really doesn't add much to the original experience. The game is still a classic, though, and it's the definitive version of the first Disgaea, so I do recommend it.
Doki Doki Literature Club!! – This is a popular free-to-play western-developed visual novel – perhaps the only game in the world right now to fit all those descriptors. DDLC fully lived up to the hype in my opinion. I already knew going in that the game wasn't quite the lighthearted dating sim it claimed to be on the tin, but it still managed to surprise me. If you're the type who gets anti-hyped over games that get tons of attention from popular Youtube LPers and Twitch streamers (something I totally understand, by the way) you should do yourself a favor and try to get over that, because DDLC is really worth playing. And it's free. Did I mention it's free? The above-linked review is packed with spoilers, though, so just be warned if you haven't played it yet.
Momodora II – Another free game. Yeah, my bank account was suffering the last few months, so I had to make some cuts to the game budget. Things are better now, thanks in part to all the work I've gotten lately. But if I hadn't gone through a difficult period earlier on, I might not have sought out Momodora II, a free action-platformer by independent developer rdein. Momodora II is not as polished as its successors, but for a free game it's excellent. Another recommendation.
OneShot – Like DDLC, OneShot is an ultracreative indie game that really threw me for a loop with its twists. The obvious comparison to be made here is with Undertale – they're visually similar and share some themes – but OneShot really is its own game, different from any other game I've played before. I've never played a game that made me care about a protagonist as much as OneShot does, and the best part is that the game achieves this without a lot of cheap heart-string-pulling. That's not to say there isn't any sentimentality in OneShot, but that sentimentality is totally earned. I highly recommend the polished and expanded OneShot for sale on Steam, because it's more than worth what you'll pay for it.
Persona 3: Dancing in Moonlight and Persona 5: Dancing in Starlight – These Persona 3 and Persona 5 dancing game spinoffs were disappointments. They were too expensive, they didn't have enough tracks, and both felt like the result of an Atlus board meeting about how best to milk these Persona games while they worked on Persona Q 2 and whatever other Persona spinoff they have in mind next (a cooking game? I'll put my money on that.) Also consider the fact that these two games are essentially the same game with different casts of characters who don't even interact with each other like they do in PQ2, and you'll end up asking yourself why the hell these were each priced as full games. If you're dying for a Persona rhythm game, Persona 4: Dancing All Night is a much better choice.
Even so, I couldn't give P3D and P5D failing grades. They're functional, the music is still good despite some unimpressive remixes clogging up the tracklists, and I can't hate any game that features my battle android waifu dancing to "A Way of Life". Just keep in mind that these are fan-only affairs. If you're not addicted to the Persona series, I can't recommend them at all unless you find them for a real bargain.
Saya no Uta – This isn't exactly a review of Saya no Uta, but rather an analysis of the game as a horror/romance. It's full of spoilers as well. Suffice it to say that Saya is a really good game that you should play unless Lovecraftian body- and mind-horror is a turnoff for you, in which case you should stay as far as possible from it.
Sonic CD – A lot of fans consider Sonic CD a sort of lost classic. It was first released in 1993 on the failed Sega CD, then brought back a decade later on the Gamecube-exclusive Sonic Gems Collection. And now we finally have the definitive version of the game on Steam remastered by the man himself, Christian Whitehead.
I can't call Sonic CD a classic on par with the Genesis games. There are too many problems with the game's level design, and all the bosses are pushovers – Dr. Robotnik was really phoning it in this time. Still, Sonic CD is pretty fun, and I'd say it's well worth buying the Steam version, especially if you're a fan of 2D Sonic.
Yume Nikki – I finally got around to replaying Yume Nikki, a seminal RPG Maker game that's now available free to play on Steam. YN is a cult classic that's influenced a lot of other indie titles and is a must-play for anyone who's into surreal or unconventional games. This one's more of a retrospective than a review, if there's any difference between those at all.
Best of Windows Entertainment Pack (Parts 1, 2, 3) – Around the end of January I got nostalgic for the old days of Windows 95, so I loaded it up on a virtual machine and played every game in the Windows Entertainment Packs on it. That's 29 games in total, each of which got a short one- to two-paragraph review. Some of them are really good games worth checking out, while some of them are… well, not. If you're curious about which of these 90s equivalents of mobile games are worth playing today, check out the above links.
Essays on the Megami Tensei series (#1, #2) – Here's a real surprise coming from me – two pieces I wrote about themes in the Megami Tensei series that I found interesting. I might write more of these kinds of posts in the future about other series. I basically got both of my degrees in bullshitting, so I'm good at this sort of thing.
Games for broke people – I revived this series that I briefly started and then dropped all the way back in 2016. Not sure why I quit writing these, because I like reviewing free games by amateur developers. There are some real gems to be found on sites like itch.io (perhaps on Steam as well, though the well of decent-looking free games that aren't MMOs seems to have dried up there recently.) While there is admittedly a lot of unplayable garbage among these games, there's also some stuff that no professional publisher would ever dare to put out because they're too afraid to take risks.
Music reviews and related posts – I won't go through them one by one, but I've recently written a few reviews of mostly game OSTs along with a few posts about music in general. Music has always been a secondary theme on this site, and I'll keep posting music-related content (especially when I don't have the time to play a new game, like for example when I have to work through the damn weekend.)
Upcoming content (backlog reviews, new reviews, etc.)
My backlog never seems to decrease, especially since I keep buying new games on sale on itch.io and Steam. Here are some games I've got on deck to review once I finish them:
Our World Is Ended. – This is an all-ages (well, sort of, but more on that later) visual novel set in modern-day Tokyo with a science fiction flavor and an eccentric cast. If you're thinking that sounds a lot like Steins;Gate, you're not wrong. I'm only three or four hours in right now, but Our World Is Ended is already pushing all the right buttons. Aside from a less-than-stellar translation job – some lines are awkward, and I've seen at least half a dozen glaring typos so far. Was the publisher really so stingy that they couldn't bring themselves to hire a proofreader? For fuck's sake. The game's also starting to run a couple of jokes into the ground, mostly at Asano's expense.
The game seems to think Asano is unappealing, but it's doing a real bad job convincing me of that so far.
Just one more note about the game before the review proper: I'm playing the PC version on Steam. Physical copies are also available for PS4 and Switch. Normally I'd spring for a physical copy, but I don't have a Switch, and given Sony's current track record when it comes to demanding the removal of certain elements in localization, I didn't want to get the PS4 version lest it came to the States all hacked up. Also, a digital copy of the game is $20 cheaper than the physical package being sold on Amazon and in stores, and I'm still doing my best to economize.
Momodora: Reverie Under the Moonlight – I've had this game in my Steam library forever, so I feel like I really have to take it on now. Momodora II was a lot of fun, so I expect Momodora IV will be even better. It looks a lot more polished, anyway.
Sonic 3 & Knuckles – I bought this old classic during a Sega Steam sale last month, and so far it lives up to the original (except for the hideous "SEGA Mega Drive and Genesis Classics" shell that surrounds it, with the virtual bedroom and Genesis and shelf full of games – I get what they're going for with the nostalgic look, but the actual game is all the nostalgia I need, thanks.)
Senran Kagura Estival Versus – I bought this PS4 game a while back, but somehow I haven't touched it until now. It's a fun beat-em-up that makes for an excellent escape from reality. If I have anything to say about it, I'll write a review at some point.
Rakuen – I bought this RPG Maker game during a Steam sale a few weeks ago. It always gets mentioned in the same breath as Undertale and OneShot, so it must be good. I'll play through it once I feel up for another experience like that, which shouldn't be too long from now.
That's about it for now. I'm not planning to slow down my pace this year, and in addition to the above reviews, I'll keep writing free game and music-related posts. If I'm productive enough, maybe I'll even start writing these update posts on a quarterly basis. Just like the Form 10-Q that corporations have to file with the SEC. In conclusion, be sure to visit the sites in the sidebar as well – they're all excellent bloggers who post way more often than I do.
It's been about eight or nine months, so it's time for another one of these complaint-ridden introspective posts, isn't it? This time, I'm asking myself – and you, if you're a writer as well – the question in the title. Seemingly a simple question, but it's one that all writers have to ask themselves. Why write? What am I really doing here? I don't make any money off of this blog. I don't have any plans to use this site as a springboard to write for outside outlets, either; my day job keeps me busy enough, and the people I know who make their living writing have a rough time of it. No, I'm happy to keep writing a hobby instead of a job, though I'm still not averse to taking a freelance job here and there when I have the time. I'm also happy to stay primarily a W-2 employee, because doing taxes is hell on freelancers in the US.
I've been posting on a regular basis (at least by my standards) since the end of last year, when I ended my months-long on-and-off hiatus. Since picking up the pen again and committing to it, my life's gotten more tolerable, and I think there are two reasons for that. The first that occurred to me was that I just like writing about subjects that interest me, and video/PC games and music have been my favorite forms of entertainment since I was a kid, so it seemed natural to write about them.
The other reason I continue writing here is that it's the best way I've found to cope with my depression. I don't feel like I have any control over my life, and I hate most every aspect of it. I used to drink to try to cope with those feelings – I drank way too much, in fact. Since I thought I didn't care about living, it seemed only natural to drink until I went numb for a while. Sometimes literally numb, but more often figuratively. I probably don't have to mention that since alcohol is a depressant, it can deepen depressive episodes and promote certain thoughts that might crop up during them.
Sure, whatever you say
I've basically quit doing that, and I'm trying to stay on course. It's hard not to fall back into old habits when that high wave of depression hits, and it always does hit without exception. But that's where writing comes in. My writing projects, as piddly as they are, give me at least one goal in life to pursue that I actually care about. And since there's no ultimate goal to writing, no end destination, these projects will hopefully continue until my life ends, whenever that happens. It helps that the subjects I've chosen to write about also provide an escape from the shitness of everyday life.
I hope this post doesn't make it seem like I'm trying to get any sympathy. That's not useful to anyone, and in any case, I've always just tried to be sincere on this blog. Seems pointless not to be, since I can't get away with true sincerity out in the real world. I also know well enough that since I'm not currently starving to death or living under a dictator, I have it better than a whole lot of people. Having that knowledge doesn't help with depression, though, as much as it seems like it should (and don't use this line on someone who's dealing with it as a way to try to give them perspective – it doesn't work.)
For some reason, I always get this way around the holidays. Ramadan starts on Monday, and even though it's not a big deal where I live, it's a big deal in my family. A whole month of fasting and repentance. I know a lot of people think it's just an ancient custom not worth bothering with anymore, but I do think there's value to the fast. Self-denial of that kind puts me in a weird mindset – not weird in a bad way, either; it's the kind of mindset that's best for writing. Thankfully, the fast doesn't include games, so I'll still be playing them this month as well. That and having a feast at the end, because I'll sure as hell feel like it by then.
I'll still have a beer sometimes, I'm not going all cold turkey or anything. Also hope Irina doesn't think I'm trying to bite her style here, putting related anime stills in my post
Well shit, that was another rambling bunch of nonsense. My next post will make more sense and actually be about something. In the meantime, if you feel like it, I'd like to hear about your own motivations. What drives you to write?
Answering and posing 11 questions for the Sunshine Blogger Award
Nobody who knows me in real life, or who even reads this site for more than a few minutes, could possibly use the word "sunshine" to describe me, except sarcastically. Even so, I have to thank Red Metal of Extra Life for nominating me for the Sunshine Blogger Award. As part of this nomination, Red Metal put eleven questions to me and the other nominees, which I've done my best to answer below. If any of my answers seem like cop-outs, rest assured that that is completely intentional.
1) In which cases would you deem the manga superior to the anime on which it's based?
Mahjong Legend Akagi is still near the top of the list of my favorite anime series, but the manga is better if only for the fact that it's continuing to tell the story of Akagi's mahjong deathmatch (a literal deathmatch) with the insane billionaire Washizu, while the anime had to cut the story off partway through… because the damn manga wasn't done yet. More generally, I'd say any work that goes through what TV Tropes calls "adaptation decay" falls in this category. I'm not a big manga reader, though. I can definitely say that anime series based on video games usually are not as good as their source material.
2) Which game do you feel has the best soundtrack?
There are a lot of great game soundtracks out there, so it's hard for me to pin down one that's the best. I'll cheat here and say NieR:Gestalt/Replicant and NieR:Automata together. The two soundtracks do have some thematic links, just like their respective games, so I think it works to lump them together. Everything about these soundtracks is amazing. In different parts they're delicate and emotional, sweeping and operatic, powerful, crushing… well, I can't really do it justice with words, so you should just listen to the music. You can find most or all of their contents on Youtube, though they're both well worth a buy.
As a pair of very close runners-up, I'll put up the Persona and Ar tonelico series.
3) If you could revive a dead video games series, which one would you choose?
No need to even think about this one – Skies of Arcadia. Since there was only one Skies of Arcadia game (I'm not counting the Gamecube remaster) it's not exactly a series, but I'd love to see a sequel, even though the chances of that happening now are lower than the chances of my winning the Powerball.
Well, a man can dream, anyway.
4) What game/film/album/book did you have a particularly difficult time adding to your collection?
I really had to dig around for a physical copy of a single album by Tokyo Active NEETs. They're a doujin music group based in Tokyo (obvious I guess) and their stuff typically has to be imported, if it's even available for sale online.
Same goes for any limited-release physical copy of an album I want. I was very happy to get the CD release of Moe Shop's Moe Moe EP, even though I had to import it from Japan. The damn thing sold out in a few hours. It's probably stupid that I'm into collecting physical copies of albums, games, and books, but there's always the chance that a Carrington Event could happen and melt worldwide electrical grids and damage equipment, and there go your precious mp3 files.
5) Do you prefer to see a film at home or in the theaters?
When my depression is tamped down enough to get me out of the house on a weekend, I've always enjoyed going to the theater. Even if the movie turns out to be lousy, it can still be a good time if I'm with friends, especially if it's a "funny bad" kind of movie. When I'm at home, I prefer to play games.
6) In what cases did you find yourself siding with critics over fans about a work's quality?
This is a hard one. I guess I like some of the 80s pop stuff created by formerly ultra-artsy prog-rock bands like Yes and Genesis that's praised by critics but shunned by a lot of hardcore fans (Yes a lot more, honestly – 90125 is a legit good album.) This answer is one of my cop-outs, though, because I like most of their 70s prog work a lot more than their 80s work, and Genesis was total crap from Invisible Touch until they broke up. Just listen to a Phil Collins solo album and you'll get the idea. (Better still, don't.)
7) In what cases did you find yourself siding with fans over critics about a work's quality?
The Sonic Adventure games. I haven't reviewed either of them here, though I did take a look at a related soundtrack a while back in which I called them a mixed bag. I still feel that way, but on balance I do have a lot of fun playing them, especially Sonic Adventure 2. No, they're not perfect games by any means; yes, they do have absolutely stupid plots that make no sense (especially SA2.) But they don't deserve the evisceration they get from critics today.
More generally, I side with Sonic fans about the series' quality for the first ten years of its run, and I'll fight tooth and nail with critics who claim that Sonic has "never been good." Sure, there have been plenty of mediocre to poor Sonic games, but that's no reason to paint them all with the same brush. The Genesis games are still absolute classics.
8) What is the most difficult game you've completed?
In terms of cheapness factor, probably Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne, though there may be a few old RPGs I played that I'm forgetting about. Nocturne features a lot of old-school difficulty in the sense that it almost never holds your hand or tells you what's coming next. SMT: Strange Journey is even more difficult, despite the fact that it lets you save almost anywhere – but I'm ashamed to say I have not beaten it yet. YHVH damn you, Mem Aleph.
9) Which game series have you been following for the longest amount of time?
The two series I still follow religiously are Megami Tensei (starting with Persona 3 in 2006) and Disgaea (starting with Disgaea: Hour of Darkness all the way back in 2003.) In a broader sense, I've been following the Mario and Sonic series for longer than either of those, but I'm not an ultra-dedicated fan of either, not even of Sonic, despite all the praise I was heaping on the Genesis games up in answer #7. I still follow Megami Tensei for the variety of gameplay and stories the series offers, from the crushing existentialist terror of Strange Journey to the schlocky fanservice of Persona 4: Dancing All Night and the Arena games, and Disgaea for the characters and the insane level of post-game content available in every game in the series.
Etna is one of my favorite characters in any game, period. Not very trustworthy, though.
10) In what ways do you feel video game critics to be ahead of their film-loving counterparts?
If we're talking professional video game critics/journalists, I certainly have my problems with them, but I do think they tend to be more in tune with the tastes of the consumer. A lot of it comes down to the distinction between high and popular art that I consider totally artificial. There's good art and bad art (of course, these definitions are subjective) but how do you draw a clear line between "high" and "low" art? Good art is good art, no matter what other labels you care to hang on it. PC and video games are still a young medium, a medium that's looked down upon by many critics of other media. So I think a lot of video game critics don't make that same high/low distinction with games that critics of film, music, theater, etc. make.
As the medium continues to "mature", though, I think that will change. We've already been seeing this with pieces by game critics calling certain kinds of games "unacceptable" and "immature". If maturity means that PC and video games generally become more mainstream, corporate, and safe, I think I prefer immaturity. But nobody asks me what I prefer when it comes to video games or anything else in the world.
11) How does hype factor into how you ultimately feel about a work?
I'd like to say it doesn't, but that wouldn't be true. When a game turns out to be less than expected in quality, I'm more disappointed according to the level of hype the game was receiving beforehand. Mighty No. 9 is a good example. I did not give a single flying fuck about all the drama surrounding the community manager genderbending the main character in fanart or whatever that controversy was about, but I ended up disliking the game anyway because it wasn't that great in terms of level design and control, and I think the game probably received more hate than it deserved just because expectations were so high at the outset. As I get older, I grow more cynical, though, so I don't buy into hype quite like I used to.
I held up my end of the bargain. Now here are my questions. Almost everything I write about on this site is on games and music, but I tried to keep my questions open to fans of all kinds of media.
1) What's your favorite or most-used medium for entertainment?
2) What character in a work of fiction would you inhabit and why? (Assuming you're experiencing the entire storyline of the game/novel/film/whatever as this character.)
3) What work would you wipe all memories of from your brain if you could so that you could experience it all over again?
4) What's the most annoying trend occurring in your favorite medium today?
5) What's the most promising trend occurring in your favorite medium today?
6) How much or how little romance do you like in your games/films/novels/etc.?
7) If you had to be the ruler of one country in any work of fiction, which one would you pick?
8) Do you think virtual reality will improve anytime in the near future to the extent that it's actually worth using? Or are we already at that point?
9) I've heard people say that the novel is a dying form of art and that changes in attention span length and the constant multitasking our generation is involved in will make them obsolete. If you have an opinion on that matter, do you agree or disagree?
10) Are you optimistic about the future of the human race?
11) Cake or pie? (There's only one right answer.)
And here are the 11 (edit: 12. I can't count.) people/sites I'm tagging. Yeah, for once I'm following the rules of the game. If you've already been tagged, or doing this kind of thing just isn't your style, feel free to ignore my questions. Of course, anyone else is also free to take part if they feel like it.
Retro Freak Reviews
Strange Girl Gaming
Games Revisited
Blimps Go 180
Hi-Fi Adventures
The Bibliophagist
NekoJonez
Wordynerdbird
Shoot the Rookie
An open letter to my friends in the practice of law
Today I'm doing something I'd typically never think of doing: showing some goodwill to my fellow humans.
What a ridiculous thought
Okay, I'm really not that bitter and miserable all the time. But sometimes I am, and it's easy to forget at those times that I rely upon other people, just as the rest of us do. The most excellent Irina from the site I drink and watch anime (who also happened to take one of the best ideas for a site name that I didn't think of myself) reminded me of this when she nominated me for the Blogging Chums Award established by one beams19. The rules follow:
This may seem like a bit of an odd award but I think it's so important to tell the people closest to us how much we care about them, and in a world that is so full of hate and division, it's the little things we do that can help make a big impact – so go tell someone you love them!
This award isn't compulsory by any means but if you decide to take part, it would mean the world to me. I wonder if there will ever be a day when I'm scrolling through WordPress Reader and I see the Blogging Chum Award floating around on other blogs!"
Be sure to use the award image! (note: made by the author of Daring to Impress, which seems to be focused on fashion and such)
List the rules & about paragraph!
Thank whoever nominated you!
Write a letter to someone who means a lot to you to spread some positivity around the Internet – anyone will do!
Nominate 5 more people for the award and go let them know about it in their comments!
That's some challenge. I could certainly thank any one of my fellow writers for their support and for doing what they do, and I do want to give my thanks to them. As the title suggests, though, there's another group of people I want to thank today: my friends at the bar. (The legal bar, not the bar you drink at, though I sometimes go to that kind of bar and meet friends there.) I'm certain none of them will read this post, but if any do out of pure coincidence, it would make me happy, even if I am maintaining my anonymity here.
The practice of law is rough, frustrating, and dirty for many attorneys. Some of us work in family law representing husbands and wives in the process of divorcing, splitting goods and property and the custody of children. Some of us represent clients before administrative agencies with massive backlogs. Some of us prosecute criminal defendants and some of us defend them in a criminal justice system that often seems twisted and backwards and stacked against the poor and working people, despite our stated standard of justice for all. A few of us – fewer than most people realize – work at large firms for corporate clients, making big salaries but billing unbelievable numbers of hours per year, to the point that our free evenings and weekends are reduced or vanish altogether. And 99% of the law is extremely unglamorous, no matter what part of it you practice.
"Counsel, please stop shouting and pointing at everyone."
We all have one thing in common, though: we're all subject to more or less the same rules of ethics, and we all bust our asses to make our clients and bosses happy. And sometimes the effort required to perform the necessary work and maintain our ethical standards causes a lot of stress. There's a reason law is one of the highest-ranked professions in instances of depression, alcohol and drug abuse, and suicide. I've gone through experiences in my brief time as a lawyer that made me seriously question my decision to go to law school and sit for the bar. Our own state bar association is finally acknowledging the problem, but aside from a help line and a referral program to mental health professionals, it doesn't offer much in the way of aid. And to be honest, it can't – this profession is what it is, and there's only so much you can do about the level of stress it causes its practitioners.
That's why I'm writing this post to my friends in the practice of law. I won't lie – this profession does contain assholes, blowhards, and backstabbers. But it also contains a lot of faithful, trustworthy, and classy people. From my experience (and despite popular opinion) the second type of lawyer is more common than the first. The friends I made as a law student and an attorney have given me a great deal of help with their support and advice, perhaps more than they know. To those friends, I can only give my thanks and express my hope that I will always rank among the second type of lawyer and not the first.
As for the nominations – this is where I hit a wall. As I've said before, this blog is a bit of a dead end since I've been out of the networking loop for the last, uh, five and a half years or so. That's something I'm trying to change, but for the time being, I will go ahead and tag The Otaku Judge and also Pete over at MoeGamer – no pressure, of course, and I haven't seen the good Judge around for a while, but hopefully he'll make his return soon.
Plans for the new year
I don't usually make these kinds of posts, but I wanted to wish my readers a happy new year and to put forward a few of my plans and intentions for 2019. Not massively vague resolutions that will be dropped within two weeks, but actual, viable plans.
1) Get through the stack of music I was planning to review. The new year means a return to work, and a return to horrible downtown commutes, and an opportunity to listen to all the new albums I've got (and some old ones I've had lying around unlistened to.)
2) Post on a more regular basis. Not every day or necessarily even every week, but no two-to-three-month hiatuses anymore. I won't pull a Spoony on you (in fact, I couldn't, because Spoony skipped out on patrons who were giving him $5,000 a month to produce content and I don't make a god damn penny off of this site. Which is fine with me – it's not my day job or even my night job. But I won't leave it behind, all the same.)
3) Try to shift from a constantly negative attitude to a cautiously positive one. My disposition was never anywhere close to cheery and it never will be, but I'm tired of feeling miserable all the time. Depression feeds itself, and its appetite grows by what it feeds on. I'm determined to get out of my hole somehow. Maybe a little less drinking is in order.
4) Try to affect some kind of positive change in society this year. That's something we can all do. My tendency is to shut myself off, to reject and deny other people. But that approach clearly hasn't served me at all. It's not like I really want to be that way, but it's hard to avoid sometimes. This goal goes hand in hand with #3.
However, I promise not to compromise on my sincerely held beliefs.
In the meantime, all my best wishes for a good new year. I can only speak for how it is in the United States, but people here seem to be optimistic despite everything that's happened last year – and despite the sorry state of our leadership. The only thing to do is push forward. Let's all do our part, no matter where we are.
Don't drink and go to Amazon
So, some explanation is in order. I was out with a friend drinking on Friday night after a week at the legal grind, and we got a little farther gone than usual. I ended up getting home late and then drinking a lot of seltzer straight out of the bottle as I am wont to do when I'm in that state before passing out for good. The weekend proceeded normally. Monday morning I returned to work, and what should I have found when I returned home but a box from Amazon.
The problem: I wasn't expecting a box from Amazon.
Yes, I ordered and paid for this Aigis (or Aegis, as she's called here) figure in the "Parfom" line I bought through Amazon Prime on my phone that night, a fact that only came to my attention after I checked my order history on Amazon. I dropped $70 on it.
The Latin phrase In vino veritas, or "In wine, truth", is a popular one. I tell outrageous and unbelievable lies about myself when I drink too much, so maybe it doesn't apply to me in a certain sense. In a deeper and more profound sense, however, the saying is definitely true for me. I wanted to buy this figure of my robotic waifu from Persona 3, and I only had the nerve to do so when I was wasted. Because fuck the electric bill.
The back of the box is interesting. Mostly in Japanese, which makes sense – one of the few bits of English printed on it states that this product may only be sold in Japan, which… I don't live in Japan, so I guess they aren't enforcing this rule too closely. Then again, it is in "like new" condition, so it must have been resold. At any rate, Aigis had already made her way to the US when I ordered this, because it shipped over the weekend with Prime. I won't worry about it, though, because according to the box:
Now that's some prime Engrish. Will I receive a happiest moment, however? We'll see. This figure was made by a manufacturer called Phat! in conjunction with Good Smile Company, the latter of which also makes the high-quality Nendoroid line of figures (a.k.a. those far far superior versions of Funko Pops that are also a lot more expensive) so I think I probably will.
Before we take Aigis out of the box, there's one more piece of English text to examine here.
At first, I misread this warning and got sad and slightly ashamed of myself. But then I noticed that there's a period between "toy" and "for". You'll see it if you squint. See, Mom? It's not a toy, and it's not for kids. The box says so. Just… just leave me alone!
After some struggling to get her to attach to the stand, here she is, looking ready for action. This Aigis figure is sort of an intermediate design between the realistically proportioned Figma figures and the super-deformed Nendoroids. Just like a lot of those figures, this one is extremely posable and comes with different faces and various hand attachments. Aigis being a weaponized android, she has both regular hands and gun-finger hands, and also cannon, giant fist and rifle attachments for her right arm that I can't figure out how to get on yet without breaking her arm clean off. Let's try changing out her facial expression, at least.
Is it a terrifying abomination from one of your nightmares? No, it's just Aigis without her face. I wonder if she can canonically take her face off like this. Nice trick to play on the SEES crew, though she might scare the dog.
That's better. Her other expression is a pretty cool-looking pissed off, but I like this one best. Aigis is hanging out on my desk in this form now, keeping watch.
So, I guess the point of this post is to not log onto Amazon when you're drinking. Except I'm not really unhappy with the result of my boozed up Amazon misadventure because I actually really like this figure. I do like Nendoroids a lot – the only two other figures I own are Nendoroids – and this is sort of a larger, differently-apportioned version of that sort of figure. And I couldn't ask for a better gift from my inebriated self than a figure of Aigis, even if that lousy fucker did spend $70 on it that I should probably have spent elsewhere. Like on food. It's a myth that all lawyers are rich. Good God do I wish it were not a myth, but it is.


PARAMURIRI – Pair of Ainu burial ropes for dead man (Dealer: Sezuan antiques & art) – Traditional Ainu burial ropes made of linden bark and 'boro' cotton for tying up the dead man. Each different design. Early Showa period, 20th century.


Talented cook Phoebe Stubbings served up a treat to make it through to the regional final of Springboard's FutureChef competition.
She was one of eight TCA students who battled it out in a bid to impress the judges in the local stage of FutureChef, an industry-backed programme aimed at inspiring young people to cook.
The group had to cook a two-course meal under timed conditions before their dishes were sampled by experienced chef Anthony Ives.
Phoebe, who is in Year 10, was crowned the winner thanks to her tasty and well-presented homemade burger with hand-cooked chips, followed by creamy vanilla cheesecake and raspberry coulis.
She will now compete in one of 12 regional finals in February, with Anthony mentoring her along the way.
Phoebe, who is studying food as one of her GCSEs, said her family's passion for food meant she was interested in cooking from an early age.
She said: "My dad has always experimented with food so that has inspired me. When my mum makes the dinner, I've always helped out with chopping the vegetables and I like putting different things together. I enjoy the freedom of cooking and being able to cook whatever you want and adapting it however you want to.
Well done to all the other students who competed in the local final: Hollie Dixon, Benas Juskevicius, Alfie Plunkett, Mollie Ashman, Dawid Bogdal, Zuzana Zawadzka and Harley Lovegrove.


text:
A Tomb on the Periphery Is Released
This contemporary crime story echoes the likes of Patricia Highsmith or Orhan Pamuk, but Domini's rightful talent, recognized and applauded by Alan Cheuse and Robert Olen Butler, carries through beyond his last novel Earthquake I.D., which Richard Ford called a "wonderful…a rich feast."
A Tomb on the Periphery has received advanced praise:
"Few novels can stand up to the promise of tour de force, but here, John Domini is at the top of his form, writing beautifully, humming along like Fabbrizio on his Suzuki. This is a delightful crime novel, with a setting to die for, and at the same time a moving story that should interest a wide range of readers. A Tomb on the Periphery is a wonderful read."—Jay Parini
"…A simple tale about a stolen necklace turns into an insightful commentary on the collision of cultures in contemporary Italy."—Rita Ciresi
"…John Domini is a master of suspense and of psychological complexity. The result is an edgy, richly peopled and thoroughly absorbing novel."—Margot Livesey
About the author: John Domini has won awards in all genres, publishing fiction in Paris Review, Ploughshares, and anthologies, and non-fiction in GQ, the New York Times, and elsewhere, including Italian journals. The Times has praised his work as "dreamlike… grabs hold of both reader and character," and Alan Cheuse, of NPR\'s All Things Considered, described it as \"witty and biting.\" His novel, Talking Heads: 77, was acclaimed by the Pulitzer winner Robert Olen Butler as \"both cutting-edge innovative and splendidly readable…."
To order a copy at Amazon.com, click here: A Tomb on the Periphery
Available from BookMasters (419.281.1802) and Ingram (800.937.8000).
Gival Press is a member of the Association of American Publishers.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Welcome to my world of micro-baking! I've always had a sweet tooth (better yet, sweet teeth), so making desserts was one of my favorite things to do. The problem is that I never had enough people around to eat them! I grew up in a small family so a three-layer cake lasted forever, and I wouldn't be able to bake again for quite some time until we finished the whole thing. Nowadays, I'm only cooking for my fiancé and me, which means big desserts still don't make sense. But I love to bake! What is a girl to do?!
That's where micro-baking comes in. I've decided to try to cut down recipes so that I am able to bake more often while eating less of each item. Less sweets equals a healthier self, and baking more often equals a happier chef. Not a bad arrangement, right? This way, we can sample different recipes throughout the week and won't feel as guilty for eating dessert frequently (that's my hope, at least). Please take this journey with me and have a good time in the kitchen! After all, food is all about fun: the fun of creating and the fun of eating.
I love your blog idea, please keep going!
I also enjoy baking and almost never do it as well… I never took the effort to remesure the whole thing, it's awsome that you want to share that!


Most of us are going to be faced, at some time during our lives with caring for an aging parent, elderly spouse, domestic partner or close friend. And no matter how prepared we may feel we are, there are many aspects for elder care, although this is one of the areas of the country along that excels as a center for many resources. When a crisis hits a family and home care Wake Forest, NC becomes necessary there are many outlets for everything from home health supplies to counseling.
Whether care giving and elder care Raleigh, NC began as a result of an unforeseen accident or as a gradual progression that may have been identified as the unmistakable warning signs that indicated a need for long term home care the results are the same. In some cases either family or friends may feel like the only option is for their loved one to be placed in a professional care home but there are options. Perhaps your need for Home Care Services, NC is for an elderly spouse who has wandered off and gotten lost several times. Or a long-time friend who has lost a lot of weight and now rarely leaves home, it may be time to discuss home care.


text:
Q: Moving between 4 buttons and have roll overs stay clicked between I have seen a few things close to what I want but am not sure how to implement to what I'm doing.
The below code all works fine but have now been asked to make the hover stay in place when each button is clicked. How would I go about this? Or is it better to start again using buttons and not divs?
Here is a jsfiddle (not sure why all the divs are showing here, live only the first one does which is correct)
Example of button:

https://jsfiddle.net/uqxdum1o/

A: I've modified the markup and JS a bit to get there but I think this code should fulfil the tab requirement and remove some of the inline JS.
Essentially, store the active image src in an attribute for each tab button:

Then use this to set active state in your javascript for each tab button. I've moved your current code for click handling into this each loop too.
$(document).ready(function(){
    var $contents = $('.tab-content');
    $contents.slice(1).hide();
    $('.tab').each(function() {
        $(this).hover(function() {
                setButtonActive($(this));
            }, function() {
            if (!$(this).hasClass('active')) {
                setButtonInactive($(this));
            }
        });
        $(this).click(function() {
            resetAllButtons();
            setButtonActive($(this));
            $(this).addClass('active');

            var $target = $('#' + this.id + 'show').show();
            $contents.not($target).hide();
        })
    });
});

function setButtonActive(button) {
    var img = button.find('img'),
        imgSrc = button.attr('data-image-active');
    img.attr('src', imgSrc);
}
function setButtonInactive(button) {
    var img = button.find('img'),
        imgSrc = button.attr('data-image');
    img.attr('src', imgSrc);
}
function resetAllButtons() {
    $('.tab').removeClass('active').each(function() {
        setButtonInactive($(this));
    });
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
/**
 * author: Daniel Husar
 */

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  $.fn.extend({
    mobileMenu: function (options) {

      var defaults = {
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        preventDefault: true,
        callback: function () {}
      };
      var settings = $.extend(defaults, options);

      var scrollPosition = 0;
      var $document = $('html');
      var $body = $(document.body);
      return this.on('click.menu', function (e) {

        if (settings.preventDefault) {
          e.preventDefault();
        }

        if (scrollPosition) {
          $document.toggleClass(settings.openClass); //hide menu first
          $body.scrollTop(scrollPosition);
          scrollPosition = 0;
        } else {
          var tempPosition = $body.scrollTop();
          $body.scrollTop(scrollPosition);
          scrollPosition = tempPosition;
          $document.toggleClass(settings.openClass); //show menu when all caculations are done
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        if (typeof settings.callback === 'function') {
          settings.callback.call(this, e);
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      });

    }
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}(this, this.document, this.jQuery));

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


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Home / General / In Defense of Reinhardt
In Defense of Reinhardt
A couple people in comments endorsed Jason Mazzone's critique of the Ninth Circuit panel's narrow opinion ruling Prop 8 unconstitutional and asked for my reaction. To paraphrase Byron White, I agree with Mazzone that the best outcome would be for the Supreme Court to declare a nation-wide right to same-sex marriage, but our agreement ends there. In short, I think Mazzone's reading of Reinhardt's opinion is uncharitable and erroneous, and more importantly I think he is far too optimistic about Kennedy's willingness to make bans on same-sex marriage illegal in all 50 states.
civil liberties, constitutional interpretation, constitutional law, gay and lesbian rights
The Problem For Civil Libertarians
Staples CEO: Breastfeeding Ruins the Economy
L2P
I agree. Mazzone is trying really, really hard to find some reason to distinguish Romer from this case, but I'm not seeing it. I hope the 9th Circuit en banc doesn't see it, either.
More importantly, if Kennedy wants to say that same-sex marriage bans are unconstitutional, the 9th Circuit opinion certainly doesn't STOP him from doing that. Kennedy, unlike the 9th Circuit justices, is a Supreme Court justice. He can simply right a one line concurrence and say, "No state can prohibit same-sex couples from being married if they grant that privilege to couples of different sexes." And that's it. He doesn't need to make it look pretty so that law professors can fit it neatly into their theories.
Right. That, to me, is the most puzzling aspect of Mazzone's argument. If Kennedy is as committed to a broad right to same-sex marriage as Mazzone thinks, nothing Reinhardt says can stop him. Kennedy, unlike 9CA, isn't bound by Romer.
Moreover, the argument about judicial decisions being immune to Constitutional intervention is simply wrong… Romer was a 14th amendment case. If people want to overturn the 14th amendment they can…
I think Reinhardt was trying to find a way to make sure that the SCOTUS affirms regardless of whether they decide to scrap Baker v. Nelson.
I think the bigger issue now is whether the 9CA is affirmed on the Romer basis, or whether it is affirmed on a straight-up gay-marriage-for-everyone basis.
I don't see a reversal of any sort as being terribly likely, unless the Scalito-Roberts-Thomas axis can somehow convince Kennedy that Romer was a bad idea.
I think we get a 9-0 opinion, as a standing case. Not sure how many separate concurrences in the judgment: my gut reaction would be to expect one 4-vote concurrence (Ginsburg/Sotomayor/Kagan/Breyer) and one 2-vote concurrence (Scalia/Thomas), with Alito and Roberts keeping their powder dry so they can pull their usual passive-aggressive bullshit in a future same-sex marriage case and Kennedy doing his best to remain enigmatic.
I think Kennedy likes the fact that the Romer-Lawrence-??? line of cases is so amorphous. (Can anyone, in one sentence, tell me the holding in Lawrence? I didn't think so.) It gives him a lot of power as long as this issue remains alive and he remains on the Court (i.e., for the rest of his career), and it will make him look good to future generations without requiring him to actually do very much.
(Can anyone, in one sentence, tell me the holding in Lawrence? I didn't think so.)
Sure, its in the holding
"the Texas (anti-sodomy) statute furthers no legitimate state interest which can justify its intrusion into the personal and private life of the individual"
That's the case in a nutshell. Simple, easy to grasp.
Right: That's about as much of a holding as Lawrence gives us, and it's not much of a holding at all. Nothing in Lawrence suggests that the case is limited to its facts, but there's no clear holding in Lawrence to apply outside of its facts.
Pithlord
As a non-American, I find the doctrine in Lawrence less baffling than some American commenters. Canadian and European courts have a standard of review a bit like "rational basis", but it is possible for the state to fail that standard. American law profs assume that the state can never fail rational-basis review, but no actual court has said as much. So Lawrence is just saying (a) we will use rational-basis review; (b) a law criminalizing sodomy doesn't meet rational basis review.
This would actually be considered banal by even extremely conservative European or Canadian judges.
THat's more like Romer. Lawrence was a right to privacy case; it wasn't decided on equal protection grounds and rational basis wasn't the standard.
Sorry. Confused. never mind.
R Johnston
Mazzone is trying really, really hard to find some reason to distinguish Romer from this case, but I'm not seeing it.
Absolutely agreed. The notion that the Ninth Circuit Court's ruling in this case is anything other than a straightforward application of Romer is bizarre. Trying to distinguish Romer is the kind of asinine hair-splitting that justifiably gives lawyers a bad name.
The job of a judge is to decide the case in front of him. A judge doesn't have the power to decide broad questions of social policy, except to the extent that deciding the case in front of him requires him to do so. This is a crucial limitation on judicial power, one of the things that makes judicial review reconcilable with constitutional democracy.
Holden Pattern
rea, meet Justice Roberts. He is the rock on which your thesis stubs its toe. I refute it thus.
matth
I think a lot of the hostility towards Reinhardt is really criticism of Romer.
Your linked article illustrates the problems with Romer, when you write that "it's not impossible to argue that bans on same-sex marriage fail even a rational basis test [but] it's a stretch." That sentence caught my eye, because Perry purportedly applies rational basis scrutiny. See the end of part (V)(C)(1). If, arguendo, there is some rational basis for excluding gay couples from marriage, why wouldn't that be a rational basis for Proposition 8?
Reinhardt tried to answer this question by focusing on the difference between granting a right and taking a right away. See (V)(E). This part of the opinion struck me as a departure from Romer, which I read as more concerned with animus.
Well, like many people I agree that Kennedy's argument that he was only applying rational basis scrutiny in Romer is problematic, but I don't think calling the median vote of the court who will be reviewing your decision disingenuous is a very good idea. For the reasons stated in the linked article, I think Reinhardt's opinion is a completely straightforward application of Romer.
joe from Lowell
That seems like an implausibly optimistic read on Anthony Kennedy. Yes, he's been good on gay rights issues, but a national gay marriage right would be running way ahead of the pack, in a way that striking down laws from the olden days in Texas was not.
? This is precisely my argument.
"This" = the Mazzone piece you linked to.
Murc
Am I the only one wondering if attempts to work the refs (as t'were) when it comes to the Supremes is something that might backfire?
Tony Kennedy doesn't live in his Fortress of Judgeitude, sleeping the sleep of death until the arcane rituals of certiorari summon him forth to decide a case. He's an actual person who has a brain in his head and can read things. I don't actually know a lot about his personal temperament, only his judicial one, but speaking only for myself, if I were a justice, seeing a lower court judge try to transparently manipulate me into affirming his position would cause me to instantly become LESS likely to do so, not more.
How on earth is it "manipulation" for Reinhardt to provide a straightforward application of existing, controlling precedent, rather than issue the much broader opinion he no doubt would have liked to write in his heart of hearts (but which would entail going far beyond what precedent required to decide this particular case)? Why would Kennedy more likely to reject such an application of a decision he wrote than one that reached far beyond it?
Well, I haven't actually plowed through the Reinhardt myself, but I've seen a metric ton of legal pundits (including, but not limited to, our hosts) make the claim "Reinhardt has very clearly targeted his opinion at Tony Kennedy to make it more likely to be upheld."
Maybe "manipulation" is too strong a word for that, but what would you call it?
Why would Kennedy more likely to reject such an application of a decision he wrote than one that reached far beyond it?
You seem to be assuming that I am making an implied argument that Reinhardt should have issued a broader, more sweeping opinion. I am doing no such thing and indeed did not touch upon the issue in any way.
mpowell
Well, I think it is a kind of manipulation. But having lower courts bend over backwards to reach judgments that will make you happy to agree with them is not the kind of manipulation that pisses most people off.
I doubt it'll make any difference one way or the other. Anthony Kennedy will make up his own damn mind whether Anthony Kennedy's ready to say the 14th Amendment requires same sex marriage. I doubt he will, but if he doesn't, it isn't going to be because of Reinhardt.
As far as personal politics are concerned, there are only a few things I know that might be relevant:
1. On a strictly personal level, Kennedy is totally crazy.
2. Again, on a strictly personal level, Reinhardt is totally crazy, but in a different and much more affable way.
3. Reinhardt is super-best-friends with Alex Kozinski, who is totally crazy in a way that's strikingly similar to the way in which Kennedy is crazy. (Reinhardt and Kozinski aren't political allies at all, but they have an extremely close personal friendship.)
4. Kennedy really likes Kozinski, in part because they're both totally insane in basically the same way.
I have *no idea* how Kennedy and Reinhardt regard each other, but it's possible that Reinhardt is counting on his relationship with Kozinski to do some work here (if only because he thinks knowing Kozinski can help him get inside Kennedy's head a little bit).
It's also possible that everyone involved is so crazy that the personal politics of the situation are just fundamentally unpredictable.
Gosh, thanks L.M. You've restored my faith in the judiciary so much I started drinking about two hours earlier than usual.
This is an emptywheel thing but I'm not against sharing. If you want a searchable version of the Prop 8 decision then you will find it here:
and look for Prop8searchable.pdf
Knock your selves out. Searchable torture docs there as well but those are old news.
That's actually very useful; the pdf format 9CA uses is a gigantic pain in the ass.
close tag fail. Oh, well, it is still usable.
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9 Affordable Batam family beach resorts with family rooms/ interconnecting rooms that can fit up to 4 adults!
Indonesia > Sumatra > 9 Affordable Batam family beach resorts with family rooms/ interconnecting rooms that can fit up to 4 adults!
So you and your kids have been slogging away in school and at work, and it's finally time for that long-awaited family getaway. Well, why take long haul flights when perfect peace and relaxation can be achieved close by? That's right – we're talking about Batam!
Only a 1-hour ferry ride away from Singapore, Batam is the ideal destination for your family to de-stress and have unlimited fun! But of course, when it comes to a beach destination, what could get better than waking up to the perfect ocean view every day?
That's why we've picked out these resorts – all of them come with amazing ocean views, and family/interconnecting rooms that offer maximum comfort for families of all sizes! And here's the bomb: All of them are under SGD $200 a night for 4 adults!!
Who said a fancy family vacay has to be expensive? It's time to make some bookings for your perfect family outing!
P.S. All rooms listed in the article can accommodate up to 4 adults and 2 children (except Nipah Island Resort, which only allows 1 child, age varies).
Return tickets from Rp. 340,000 (approximately SGD 32.50). Duration of ferry ride: 1 hour.
Take a direct ferry via Citra Ferry, Indomas Ferry or Pintas Samudra Ferry from Johor Bahru International Ferry Terminal to Tanjung Pinang Ferry Terminal.
This story would not have been possible without the support of Indonesia Tourism Board. For more information, check out Riau Islands' official website.
Who needs Bali when you can experience the same tropical charm right at Batam? Get ready for an action-packed holiday laden with exotic Balinese charm – right at KTM Resort!
Happiness is simple at the resort's modestly decorated 2-bedroom villas, which give you both privacy and space to bond with your children. Just remember to request for a sea-facing villa, and enjoy waking up to the sight of waves crashing onto the shore every morning!
Don't get too caught up in the view, though, for the resort has tons of fun that you won't want to miss. Take the little ones on thrilling adventures at the watersports area, which offers everything from banana boats and tube rides to wakeboarding. You can also get to know your angry teenager through a friendly paintball match, or a calm fishing and chit chat session by the deck!
In the evening, gather your loved ones in the offshore Karang restaurant for front row seats to the gorgeous sunset. Don't forget to stuff your faces with the restaurant's specialty Thai and Chinese seafood dishes – after all, nothing bonds people more than great food!
This resort isn't for the indecisive – because there are just too many options here! Spend your time with your families by building sandcastles on the private beach, lazing by the outdoor pool, trying thrilling water sports, or… we can't decide which is best.
One thing we can agree on, though, is that kids will definitely love this place. Curious little minds will love exploring the organic farm and pets corner, where they can cuddle with adorable animals and learn how vegetables grow. Not enough? Get a taste of Indonesia at Indonesian Miniature Park, which features exquisite miniatures of Indonesian-style houses, or drain the little daredevils' energy with outdoor adventures on a banana boat or mini motorbike!
But don't worry – Batam View isn't just a paradise for kids. Pamper yourself and your partner with a traditional massage or couple package at the resort's spa centre, 5th Dimension Spa (kids can get massaged too!). After soothing your sore muscles, head for a shopping spree, try out the golf course or simply take a walk around the grounds and enjoy the gorgeous ocean view from the resort!
As the long day comes to an end, head back to your spacious interconnecting rooms to unwind and relax. Nope, watching over kids while enjoying privacy is no longer impossible… and neither is a perfect family holiday!
P.S. If you don't mind splurging a little, opt for the One-Bedroom Villa that comes with ocean views right from the balcony!
Family vacations are meant to be filled with laughter, happiness, and love… but doesn't it get stressful when you're trying to please a whole group of people? Thankfully, Harris Resort in Barelang is here to create a memorable family vacation, where both kids and adults can enjoy their holiday to the fullest.
For one, it's pretty much impossible to be unhappy when you start your day with a view of the vast ocean and the sound of calming waves, so be sure to request for connecting sea view rooms when you're making your booking!
After soothing your eyes first thing in the morning, give your tummies some loving at the dining area, where a scrumptious breakfast meal with Asian and Western selections is ready to please your stomach! Then, head to the private beach for some undisturbed bonding time with the sun, sea, sand – and some watersports, of course!
If you feel like you need a break from screaming children, the resort's Dino Kids Club will keep the little ones busy with tons of exciting entertainment, while Mummy and Daddy relax in the spa and sauna, or sip cocktails by the adult pool.
See? You don't need that much effort to make everyone happy!
Be ready to get spoiled by Swiss-Belhotel, because this really isn't the hotel you've been expecting. It's a hotel, mall and trade centre – all in one!
That doesn't mean that they're going to compromise on any part, though. The rooms are spacious, clean and comfortable, and even come with connecting doors for families! If you request for a sea view room, you'll even be pleasantly surprised by a quaint view of the harbour, dotted with ferries sailing towards the horizon.
Dip into the pool when you want to escape from the heat, or recline on the deck chairs during sunset to enjoy the sight of the sky changing colours. When you get tired of the sloth life, just take a short walk to the linked shopping centre, and voila! You can watch the movies, shop, or sing karaoke… anytime you wish!
P.S. This hotel is located near the harbour, so the sea might not have clean waters. Please do not swim here!
Is your family one of those who love to zip through the savannah and swing on vines together? This hotel doesn't have those – but what it offers is just as great!
Connect with nature right from the comfort of the family suite, which offers an ocean view for you to indulge in. Better yet, the room can accommodate 4 adults and 2 kids under 12, so it's perfect for big families!
When you're ready, embark on your family adventure by crossing the obstacles from the high rope activity – the Spiderweb, line bridge, flying fox and more! Can you pass them all?
You're not a true Eliza Thornberry if you stop there, mind you. Satisfy your inner wild child with a thrilling paintball fight and go-kart race, or set sail in a replica of famed Chinese mariner, Cheng Ho's boat!
We bet you're famished after all the activities! No worries, for Golden Prawn will fill your tummies with the freshest seafood from indoor seafood farming.
And if you're worried that your toddler won't be able to take how wild this holiday is going to be, Pipit Kids Corner will have your little one in completely safe hands, so go ahead and make the Thornberrys proud!
Who doesn't love waking up to a view of the endless blue ocean? Or staying close to your family without getting your privacy compromised? At Nipah Island, your dream vacation can finally be realised!
Located near Batam's longest bridge, Barelang, and surrounded by the vast ocean, the views at this resort couldn't get any better! The "sea"-nery is extra precious during sunset, when the sea reflects the sky as it turns purple and orange. If you forget to request for sea view rooms, it's your loss!
Better yet, the resort's entertainment facilities are just as great as the views that they offer. No need to worry about satisfying both kids and adults, because the resort has got them covered! Grown-ups can challenge themselves with some water sports, or simply relax in the spa centre while the kids are entertained by a babysitter (available upon request).
Having fun separately not your thing? Family bonding is as easy as one two three here – splash it out with your kids in the kid's pool or embark on a cruising sail, where you can hop on the MV Sea View and explore 11 islands in 3 hours! Along the way, you'll be surprised by the panoramic scenery of the serene sea and green islands.
If you're a family of easily bored people and hyperactive kids, this is the paradise for you!
Picture yourself swimming with your kids in a giant, 100-square-metre free-form swimming pool. Then throw roller balls, floating mattresses and water polo into the mix – is this a water wonderland or what? Toddlers even have a baby pool and rain shower pool specially designed for them!
Of course, even Joseph Schooling's going to be bored if he plays in the swimming pool every day, so how about some indoor entertainment like bowling, squash ball or billiards? For kids and parents who love thrilling adventures, the jet ski, flying fox and ATV riding is the perfect fit for your adrenaline fix!
Want to have some alone time with your partner? The resort speaks your language! Take your kids to the Dino Club to make new acquaintances and unleash their imagination.
While the club is keeping them busy, rejuvenate your soul and body with a treatment at the H-Spa – a paradise where you can soothe your muscles while gazing at the breathtaking sea views and stunning sunsets. It's the perfect pick-me-up before you hop back to your next adventure!
'Golden Location' is how we would describe this hotel! Strategically located in the city centre and only a 5 minute walk away from Harbour Front, Mega Mall Batam and numerous food stalls, this hotel is for families who want to experience the city side of Batam, yet still enjoy tranquility and a great view!
Harris Hotel offers interconnecting rooms if you want more privacy, so do request for it! And while you're at it, don't forget to tell the clerk that you'd like a room facing the sea, so you can just look out to say hi to the vast blue ocean… and Singapore!
While the hotel may not provide as many facilities as a resort does, they make up for it with a myriad of creative activities. If your kid has been making PlayDoh cupcakes, it's time to give them an upgrade in the Saturday Junior Chef program – who knows? He/she could be the next Gordon Ramsay!
Of course, the one thing you absolutely must do is take advantage of the hotel's strategic location. Shop to your heart's content at Mega Mall Batam, or explore the vibrant culinary scene in town at the popular Seinam Seafood and Yong Kee Fish soup – both only a 10 minute walk away!
If you're willing to spend a bit more money to ensure you get a perfect family getaway, Nongsa Point Marina & Resort will be a perfect fit for you!
Wake up to the lovely view of the ocean from your balcony; what can be better than a cup of coffee with the ocean breeze before breakfast? In the afternoon, make your kids happy and take them to the pool for some family fun! The little ones will love splashing in the children's pool, and you can head to the jacuzzi for some bubbly time with mocktails and cocktails (for the adults!).
With the endless activities that this resort offers, your vacation will never have a dull moment! Be a Superman on water and take to the skies with a flyboard or parasail. If you like it fast and furious, why not try out jet skiing and kneeboarding?
Watersports not your thing, or have a child who's scared of water? Nongsa isn't afraid, my friend. From rope courses, wall climbing and ATV to telematch games, the resort is more than capable of catering to your lust for adventure… on land!
Feel like there's more? Bingo! Rent a yacht so you can enjoy some quiet family time with your loved ones! Feel free to fish, dive, snorkel, or even go island hopping, all on your own terms – now that's a luxury retreat!
While this establishment may not have an ocean view like the hotels above, Best Western Premier Panbil's offers a quaint lake view for those of you who've had enough of the sea.
The lake view is best viewed from the interconnecting rooms with your family, and that's not the only good thing about these rooms! You won't regret staying here, because the classy and clean hotel hardly disappoints its patrons.
Haven't had enough of awesome views? Take a refreshing swim in the infinity pool with your family during dusk for that magical view. Watch the shimmering sea slowly swallow and extinguish that golden fireball in the orange sky, as it's slowly dyed a midnight black. It'll definitely be a view that you'll never forget!
Although… the food here might be a strong contender for first place in your heart, since culinary is one of the hotel's strongest suits. With 4 different restaurants/lounges, your family will be pampered with the best Asian and Western delicacies and drinks – we'd bring more money if we were you!
P.S. The hotel provides a free scheduled shuttle service to Mega Mall and Nagoya Hill Mall.
You can visit Bintan and Batam anytime as the local weather is generally hot and sunny (always summer!) with a chance of rain throughout the year.
But if you wish to enjoy the tropical sun at its best, March to October would be great as the region enters the dry season. We don't recommend visiting on weekends, or on Singapore's public holidays or school holidays (June and December), as the islands are generally crowded with many Singaporean travellers during those periods.
Have these affordable resorts inspired your next family getaway in Batam? Do comment and tag your best travel partners, we would love to hear from you!


text:
NASA to roll out SLS in mid-March for launch rehearsal
by Jeff Foust — February 25, 2022
NASA now plans to roll out the Space Launch System to its launch pad on the night of March 17 for tests that will include fueling the core stage and going through a practice countdown. Credit: NASA/Frank Michaux
WASHINGTON — NASA expects to roll out the Space Launch System rocket for the first time in mid-March for a dress rehearsal of a launch that could come as soon as May but more likely some time in the summer.
NASA officials said Feb. 24 that workers had completed the last in a series of tests of the rocket in the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) at the Kennedy Space Center and were now closing out work on the vehicle to prepare for rollout to Launch Complex 39B.
That rollout is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. Eastern March 17, Mike Bolger, Exploration Ground Systems program manager, said in a call with reporters. It will take about an hour for the vehicle and its mobile launch tower to move out of the VAB on a giant crawler-transporter vehicle, then 11 hours to the pad.
SLS will spend about a month at the pad undergoing tests, highlighted by a tanking test and practice countdown called a wet dress rehearsal about two weeks after rollout. The core stage will be filled with liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen propellants and then go through a practice countdown that will stop at T-9.34 seconds, just before the core stage's four RS-25 engines would ignite during an actual launch.
"We're going to get very late in the count, purposefully, and demonstrate all the interfaces," said Mike Sarafin, Artemis 1 mission manager.
At the end of the wet dress rehearsal, the vehicle will roll back the VAB for final launch preparations. That includes resolving any issues found during the test as well as charging batteries on the Orion spacecraft and updating flight computer software on SLS. "There's a fair amount of work still to go, but it's all things I think we understand well, and we'll look to turn around pretty quickly," Bolger said.
NASA expects that final work in the VAB to take about a month, although managers admitted some uncertainty in that schedule. "I wouldn't want to say whether 30 days is conservative or not," Bolger said. "I do acknowledge there's a lot of work."
The agency doesn't plan to set a launch date for the Artemis 1 mission until after the wet dress rehearsal. "We recognize that is a period of time that could be very challenging," said Tom Whitmeyer, NASA deputy associate administrator for exploration systems development.
He did confirm, though, that a launch in April is no longer feasible. "We're still evaluating the tail end of the May window," he said, which runs from May 7 to 21. Future launch windows, governed by orbital mechanics and other mission constraints like a splashdown during daylight hours, are June 6 to 16 and June 29 to July 12, with a "cutout" of July 2 to 4 when a launch would not be possible.
He added that he was unaware of any components of the vehicle that come from Russia or Ukraine and whose availability could this be affected by Russia's invasion of Ukraine. "A lot of this is shuttle-heritage hardware," he said, developed decades ago. The only major non-U.S. component is the service module for the Orion spacecraft, provided by the European Space Agency.
Processing of future SLS launches should be faster as they work through first-time issues on this vehicle. "For every first flow of a major NASA mission, we've always recognized that we're going to learn some things and it's going to take longer than the follow-on flows," Bolger said. "We're pretty optimistic that the lessons learned that we're collecting as we go through this are going to enable us to process these faster the second time and then even faster the third and the fourth time."
Civil Artemis 1NASASLS


Minimum total cost for Business ADSL2+ plans over contract term calculated as: (contract term) x $(ADSL2+ monthly access charge) + setup (where applicable) + $10 Equipment Delivery Fee + $ (Mobile monthly charge in first month) + $20 SIM charge + $20 Mobile Prepayment Outside Included Value. Mobile pricing will revert to standard price of $17.99 (Medium Business Mobility) monthly if ADSL2+ is terminated. Early termination fees apply.
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text:
Q: Up to date, JPA compliant GenericDAO Implementation I read this article:
http://www.ibm.com/developerworks/java/library/j-genericdao.html
several times and believe I understand what it is saying.  However, it is 4 years old and I have a JPA compliant Java application to contend with.  In addition, I see that there is a JPATemplate in Spring that has some good functionality, but the Spring documentation says it is already deprecated!
Can anybody point me to a solid, modern, JPA compliant, Spring based, working example of a GenericDAOImpl that proxies an Interface to provide generic finder execution?

A: Nowadays JPA 2 in itself has become a decent implementation of a DAO layer since its responsibility (or contract if you wish) is the same as for the traditional "crafted" DAO, that is an isolation of a business logic from a storage mechanism. An important implication out of this is that you may need an explicit DAO only when working with non-DBMS storages like spreadsheet files, web-services, etc.

A: I've created a generic DAO mixing different approaches that I shared on SO in this question. I use these 2 approaches: DDD: The Generic Repository and JPA implementation patterns: Data Access Objects.
Please feel free to comment/edit if you think it can be improved.


text:
Unified Source-to-Pay Platform
Direct Procurement Software
Bill of Materials Management
Data Analytics & Reporting
Supplier Collaboration Portal
Source-to-Contract
Savings Project Management
Savings Tracking
Guided Buying
Indirect Procurement Software
Digital Procurement Transformation
Spend Management
SMART S2P Technology
User-Centric Design
One Unified Platform
Native to Cloud
Native to Mobile
SMART Practices
SMART Metrics
GEP Selected by Yorkshire Building Society to Provide End-To-End Procurement Services and Technology in Multi-Year Agreement
GEP to provide a full range of source-to-pay services, including source-to-contract services, supplier relationship management and procurement operations
GEP's cloud-native source-to-pay software platform – SMART by GEP – tapped to deliver spend analysis, sourcing, contract management, procure-to-pay and other related functionality
CLARK, NJ – February 11, 2016 – GEP, a leading global provider of procurement services and procurement software to Fortune 500 and Global 2000 enterprises worldwide, announced today that the U.K.-based Yorkshire Building Society (YBS), the second largest building society in the United Kingdom, has selected GEP to provide a full range of procurement solutions, including sourcing and procurement services and procurement software.
Under the terms of an initial three-year agreement, GEP will provide a broad spectrum of source-to-pay services to YBS, including source-to-contract support, supplier relationship management, and procurement operations. At the same time, GEP will also provide YBS its SaaS-based procurement platform – native to cloud, touch and mobile technologies – to help automate, streamline and improve the overall source-to-pay process. YBS will eventually leverage the unified platform's robust spend analysis, sourcing, contract management and procure-to-pay capabilities, among other functionalities.
Founded in 1864 and headquartered in Bradford, West Yorkshire, England, YBS is a mutual society that provides the communities it serves with savings, mortgage, insurance and investment products. With assets of approximately £38.5 billion, YBS provides these services through a network of 230 branches and 96 associated agencies.
"We're delighted and very proud to be working with a community-minded organization that makes such a fundamental and important contribution to the lives of people it serves as members," said Neha Shah, executive vice president and head of business development
at GEP.
ABOUT GEP
GEP is a diverse, creative team of people passionate about procurement. We invest ourselves entirely in our clients' success, creating strong collaborative relationships that deliver extraordinary value year after year. We deliver practical, effective procurement services and procurement technology that enable procurement leaders to maximize their impact on business operations, strategy and financial performance.
Honored as Best Supplier at the EPIC Procurement Excellence Awards, GEP regularly wins accolades as both a provider of a broad range of procurement services and innovative procurement technology. Among its recent distinctions, GEP has been named Leader and Star Performer in Everest Group's PEAK Matrix of Procurement Services Providers, Leader in NelsonHall's NEAT Matrix of Global Procurement BPO Service Providers, Winner in the HfS Blueprint Report on Procurement Outsourcing Providers, Leader in the Kennedy / ALM Vanguard Report on Procurement Consulting, as well as one of Spend Matters 50 Companies to Know and to the Supply & Demand Chain Executive 100.
Clark, NJ-based GEP has 12 offices and operations centers in Europe, Asia and the Americas.
To learn more about our comprehensive range of consulting and outsourcing services, please visit www.gep.com. For more about SMART by GEP, our cloud-native sourcing and procurement software platform, please visit www.smartbygep.com.
Al Girardi
Global VP, Marketing & Analyst Relations
GEP Worldwide
Email: al.girardi [at] gep.com
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