Tuesday, December 31, 2013

Gungrave, Black Heaven

GUNGRAVE



The only cool thing about this anime is this picture.

2013: My Year in Drama

I already have posts for , , , , , and . I've linked to each one of those posts. So: what else did I watch, but didn't write about? Let's see!



LOVE GENERATION (1997)

(Philippines) Most Notable Anime in the 90's

Akazukin Cha Cha (ABS-CBN)The Little Red Riding Hood-inspired anime. Cha Cha was I think the funniest anime broadcasted by ABS-CBN in the 90 s. All of the characters has their own comedic persona, and you won't get tired watching them again and again. The common debate me and my friends had in this show was: "Who will Cha Cha going to end up with - Riiya or Shiine?"I also have a friend who's very addicted to this, and wellI can't forget her insane laugh when we watched the OAV in our school auditorium when we had an Anime Film Showing in our school foundation day.Ang Mahiwagang Kuwintas (ABS-CBN)Nadia - Secret of Blue Water, its original title, was Gainax's Ghibli-like adventure anime. I remember regretting not being able to watch the last episode of this anime (just like when I missed the last episode of Slayers). This show was a worldwide hit, not only in the Philippines.BT'X / B'tX (ABS-CBN)"Messiah Fist" - the cybernetic gauntlet weapon by the main character - Teppei - and the least character I like. The coolest for me is Fou Lafine, he plays his violin when he attacksthough I don't have any idea where he hides it. On the other hand, I prefer Hokuto's B'T - B'T Max (a turtle mecha) over the rest. It's just so gigantic, almost looks indestructible. About the anime, this was pretty much popular, especially its Tagalog opening song.Cedie, Ang Munting Prinsipe (ABS-CBN)Based on the novel "The Little Lord Fauntleroy", this anime was broadcasted at the same time with Peter Pan and Princess Sarah, around 1992-1993 (I was about 4-5 years old at that time). This World Masterpiece Theatre member was such a hit that ABS-CBN's Star Cinema made a live action version in 1996 starring Tom Taus.Gundam Wing (GMA)The only mecha-anime hit by GMA in the 90 s. Its successor Gundam G didn't come up to the level like Wing did, in short it flopped. About the anime, Wing's pilot and main character - Heero Yuy is a typical-snob guy. Though most of the girls I know like the fact that he's a snob, 'cause they like it everytime he ignores Relena. Moving onthe two characters I like the most were Quatre and Trowa - I mimicked his hairstyle back when I was in 5th grade (I didn't think my classmates would notice it, but they did. Just shows that this Gundam series was really popular.) And the two coolest mobile suits for me were Gundam Deathscythe Hell Custom (Duo's Gundam) and Gundam Nataku (Wufei's Gundam). Obviously, I'm not a fan of the main character, like in B'tX.

Huckleberry Finn (ABS-CBN)This adventure novel-based anime is a remake of the 1976 Huckleberry no Bouken. There's one episode that I couldn't forget, it's when Huck and his father were only eating (hot) sweet potatoes for days. I imagined myself being in that situation, and I realized it's really a huge challenge (OK, now I'm hungry).This anime was broadcasted in 1997, at the same time its somehow related anime - (The) Adventures of Tom Sawyer was released.Let's & Go (GMA)A Sports genre anime about kids (and some adults) and their mini Four-wheel drives. The proof that this show was a hit, was when the competition came to life. Actual toy cars from the anime were sold in stores, and different tournaments were held around the country (even in our school). At first I thought the toys were 100% similar to the anime, like there's some booster or spinning blades on the wheels - but no, what you can see in the anime stays in the anime (except for the thrill, enjoyment, friendshipshould I continue?).Lupin III (GMA)If not the highest, its one of the high-rated anime show broadcasted by GMA. Simply because it's appealing to different kinds of people, young or young at heart. Lupin and his gang's tricks were the climax of each episode. Add it with some fan service by Fujiko and you got a show that can beat soap operas. Oh and Inspector Zenigata's effort is worth crediting, even though Lupin can always find a way to get himself out of his hands.Mga Munting Pangarap ni Romeo (ABS-CBN)Originally known as Romeo no Aoi Sora. Another great World Masterpiece Theatre from ABS. I think the most unforgettable episode for everyone was when Alfredo, Romeo's best friend, died. Another was the turning point of the show, when Romeo and the rest of the "Black Brothers" were proven innocent against their rival "Wolf Pack". And if you've forgotten the endingRomeo and Bianca got married, and had a son name Alfred. Though honestly, I thought it would be Romeo and Angeletta.Mojacko (GMA)One thing I noticed was that GMA never showed the other opening and ending credits of this anime. Anyway, this is a very funny show, and there was one episode where Mojacko and some characters has mumps. I won't forget it cause at the same time, me and our maid were in the same situation. So that day wasvery funny, painful, and awkward.About the other characters, Mojaru and Dono were the ones I found amusing. Everytime Mojaru cried, there'll be like an earthquake. And when Dono has eaten a lot of sweets, he'll go berserk and do unexpected things.

Neon Genesis Evangelion (ABS-CBN)A groundbreaking mecha anime, besides Macross. This anime was the most popular at its era (and I guess the most controversial until now). ABS-CBN cut a lot of scenes, and pronounced the name "Asuka" - "A-su-ka", when it should be just "As-ka". What's great about this anime, was that there were a lot of memorable episodes, even though there's only 26 all in all. The most popular I can think of was when Shinji came to Rei's apartment to give her new ID, his timing was off (but not to other teenage boys) 'cause Rei has just finished taking a bath. Cut the story short, both of them slipped and Shinji was on top of Rei with his left hand on Rei's right breast. Phew~ This was also the first anime where I witnessed a slashy yaoi - it was on episode 24, just before the two unforgettable ending episodes in the history of anime.Pokemon (GMA)The first english opening version of this hit anime was sung by Billy Crawford, a worldwide-known Filipino singer. I'll admit that I'm addicted to this show when I was kid, even memorizing the 150 (151 if you include Togepi) Red and Blue version Pokemons. And joining GMA's promo, I sent like 5 letters each week (and never won). One of my classmates brought his Pokemon guide book, and the Pokemon that got my attention was Charmander (at that time I don't have any idea that he's one of Ash's main pokemon). Another classmate of mine memorized the famous quote of Team Rocket, and he was hailed by most of us.A memorable tagline of the show was "Poke-Friday"! ABS-CBN got its attention, and broadcasted a similar anime called Digimon in the year 2000.Remi (Nobody's Boy) (ABS-CBN)There were actually two Remi's that was broadcasted in the Philippines. First was this one, and the other was Remi: Nobody's Girl. From the two, I chose the original, 'cause I think it was more successful hit than the remake. Actually, the remake was a flop (according to AnimeNewsNetwork) that's why it has only 23 episodes, compared to the original which had 51.About Remi: Nobody's GirlWas pulled off the air after 23 episodes due to disastrous ratings. It was considered the worst of the World Masterpiece Theater due to drastic changes in the story (including changing the gender of the main character.)Ie Naki Ko Remi was the last series of the World Masterpiece Theater.The episode I can remember the most was when a pack of wild wolves attacked Remi and his friends (the animals), and I think some of his dogs saved him, and unfortunately they died.Samurai X (ABS-CBN)Rurouni Kenshin was quite popular in Studio 23 that's why ABS-CBN, it's sister company decided to make a tagalized version. The samurai action and comedy-drama formula was a great combination that's why the show garnered a lot of audience in the 90 s around the world.

Best Songs of '13/Worst Movies of '13

The year of 2013 is almost over but 2014 is almost here. Well are some best songs of 2013.



1. "Royals" by Lorde

Prada Cast Black Model for Spring 2014 Campaign: Cindy Bruna Marks Third ...

(Photo : Prada)



PRADA recently released a preview of its spring 2014 advertising campaign, and among all of the brightly colored, mural-inspired looks, one person in particular really stood out in the image.

Top 20 Television Shows, Part Two (Top Ten TV Series): My favorites of all time

I'm counting down my favorite television series of all time.



10. Tales from the Crypt: One of the first major HBO programs is also one of my favorite shows ever. An anthology series that follows The Crypt-Keeper, a cackling, pun-loving corpse who inhabits an ancient crypt below an old mansion. The Crypt-Keeper tells the viewers a story each episode, usually these episodes feature big-name guest stars (such as Whoopi Goldberg, Demi Moore, Treat Williams, Jeffrey Tambor, and Tim Curry) and popular directors (Robert Zemeckis, Walter Hill, and Richard Donner to name a few, all of which were also producers of the program). The episodes are packed with gore, sex, and over-the-top comic book violence. The terrible jokes told by the Crypt-Keeper serve to ease the viewers before and after the horrific stories are told, just like in the 50's comics the series is inspired by. A fun and darkly humorous show,it's a great show to watch around Halloween, it's the television equivalent of a fun popcorn horror film.

The 365-Day Movie Project: 2013

I challenged myself to see 365 movies in 2013, a 365-day movie project. I managed to get up to 346, which isn't bad if I do say so myself. It was wonderful to see some classics for the first time (like Citizen Kane, Dog Day Afternoon and Rocky) and it was also nice to see some things again after many years (like Easy Living, Rebecca and Play It Again,Sam). Here are all the titles, listed in groups counted by every five years.



1920-1924: Hot Water; THE MARK OF ZORRO; The Prisoner of Zenda; A Sailor-Made Man

Toward 2014

Thank you to my friend RL for posting this on FB today.

Last month in my ProGen course we made a list of our clients and time-sucks.Who or what was most important in our life and what was keeping us from it.I made my list of my "clients", starting with family and friends, then work, followed by education/professional development and hobbies such as traveling, reading and genealogy.Finally, at the end of the list, I added myself.An afterthought, really, and, as a new mother with a new job and not enough hours in the day or energy to make the most of them, I realized that that is how I have been treating myself, the most important "client" I have.


Wordless Wednesday, January 1, 2014

THE MOST MEMORABLE MOMENTS OF 2013.



2013 the year of meeting the person who helped make Pawbly possible

Enter, the Year of the Unicorn

Although I never voiced it, I privately thought of 2013 as the Year of the Phoenix. As a teacher, I tend to measure my life in school years more than in calendar years, but by last January 1st, I had created my own version of the Chinese zodiac to represent my idea of what the coming twelve months would be. The previous year had been a strange and trying one, a year that had forced me to reassess the person I'd become and the one I wanted to be. So I headed into 2013 with my lovely new peacock feather tattoo and all the peacock themed gifts I'd been given (the peacock is equated with the phoenix in Egyptian mythology) as symbols of the rising from the ashes that was going to take place.



I guess I forgot about the part where the phoenix goes down in flames again. And that happened pretty quickly, in less than three months actually. One day, I'm happily teaching yoga to my World Religions classes as part of the Hinduism unit, and the next day (the Ides of March at that) I find out I won't have a job the next school year. If that doesn't constitute going down in flames, I'm not sure what does. It wasn't the worst thing that ever happened to me, but it's definitely in the top five. As early in the year as that was, there was no question that it would be the defining event of 2013 for me.

Next year, things are locking up...

Have you ever thought to Google "beautiful women"? You should try it. Chances are the women that appear don't really look like you or your daughters. I only looked through the first 10 pages. There were very few women of color. The women of color that were pictured all had straight hair. There were no heavy, thick, curvy (whatever word you like) women. A woman of color with natural hair did not appear until page six. The first few pages display scantily clad women in underwear or swimwear. Google doesn't define beauty but it is a reflection of what society values in women.For the past few years, I have been on amission to redefine beauty for my daughter. I want her to see that she is beautiful even if she can't see herself in Google images definition of beauty. I also want my son to appreciate the natural beauty in all women.I embraced my natural hair, I work out and embrace my curves and I started eating more cleanfoods to maintain my health. There was something lacking for me. For years (probably about 10) I have been talking about locking my hair. I never did for 1 million and 1 reasons. I was never ready for the commitment. I love my hair. I love the versatility of myhair. I loved my afro. I loved it twisted. I loved it straight. I loved it crazy.There were also so many negative opinions about locs from people in my life. I wouldn't look professional. My locs would smell. I would not be attractive with them.

AfroStraightTwist-Out


Five older anime series for beginners.

*Cross posted from my sister blog.



Since I will soon be reviewing anime and manga for a popular website, I decided to do a quick post about five older series to introduce to fans of newer anime, or even those who are just looking for an introduction series.I made a point to choose each from a different genre so that comparing them to one another would be difficult.I also made sure that they were at least a decade old.I would have gone for much older series, however I just don't see a newbie watching Galaxy Express 999 without falling asleep, or Ranma 1/2 without feeling very confused.No offense to either of those mentioned.They each have merit in either artistic presentation or pure nostalgia depending on who you ask.However, what I am looking to talk about are accessible series with tangible story lines.I want to talk about relatable protagonists and villains that are recognizable as something more than a throwback from a saturday morning in the 80's.

I want to ramble about something deep and thought-provoking for a change

Why are Onee-sans so much better than Imoutos?



This is basically a scientific matter of utmost priority.

The Top Ten Series

Part two of my Best of Year list then - I watched 54 movies/OVAs/ONAs this year.I also included shorts in this, because there were some excellent ones this year, but I didn't like including them on the full TV series list due to their much shorter run-time.Once again I am so glad I have taken to writing down everything I watch in a year!



10. BERSERK: THE GOLDEN AGE II & III

Amazing TwinsZetsumetsu Kigu Shoujo: Amazing Twins Episode 1 Review

Its been awhile since we first heard the official statement thatJunichi Sato will be directing this particular 2 episodes OVA, Zetsumetsu Kigu Shoujo: Amazing Twins. The first episode just advanced broadcasted a few days ago on AT-X and I suppose many have missed it, thinking little of it.



Junichi Sato was previously directing TV Series,and , OVA,which we have once reviewed on the blog. Before this titles are much more remarkable titles that the world has witness, which set up a great reputation over the decades.

My Top 10 TV Shows of 2013

Best TV of 2013



Do I have a favourite TV show of 2013? Back in 2011 I'd watched somuch telly I was able to draft a definitive list, with a Bubbling Under category and some Least Favourites , but thinking back over 2013 I begin by drawing a blank. Then suddenly one show dominates and it comes together. Here we go, my favourite TV of 2013.

Bow Down: Four Career Lessons from Beyonc

BOW DOWN: FOUR CAREER LESSONS FROM BEYONC



[1]

TV Recommendations: Tuesday, December 31

Trying to figure out what to watch tonight? Be it new episodes of the TV season, reairs of cable series or a movie, here are some suggestions:



6 PM:

The 2nd Annual Go Dok Mi Memorial Wish List

Dear Drama Overlords,

Another year has passed, and once again I spent an absurd amount of time watching and writing about your mighty works. In this light, I feel entitled to make a few small requests this holiday season. So here's my 2014 wish list, which should be considered a supplement to the you essentially ignored. (Although I suppose that it's possible the character of Young Do was created specifically to punish me for requesting that the second lead get the girl for a change?)

PRODUCE A SHOW THAT I'LL LOVE AS MUCH AS I LOVE COFFEE PRINCE. This is a tall order, and may in fact be impossible. To paraphrase a line from Edward Cullen, Coffee Prince is like my own personal brand of heroin. I've watched it again and again, and written reams about its various types of perfection--its premise, script, cast, and production values add up to a gem of a show that I will literally never forget. Making me feel that way again won't be as simple as just replicating Coffee Prince; if you do that, I'll spend all my time comparing the two shows. But you could borrow some general things, like the drama's low-key, everyday vibe. I like a show that feels lived in, and that's just what Coffee Prince's quiet moments and no-fuss settings achieved. Also, give me a heroine I can love, someone funny and real who doesn't need six pounds of makeup, a brand-name bag, and a sky-high skirt to to be happy. Another key ingredient is a hero who's cute and sweet without being a Kim Eun Sook-style jerk. (And don't forget the great skinship! A lip butt can really ruin a drama for someone with Western, tongue-kissing sensibilities.)

MY 2013 MEMORIES

In the beginning ofthe year I decided to make a jar and put all my good memories in it, written on a piece of paper. I ended up putting there tickets as well, and even a beer bottle cap. Well, as long as it's a memory, right? I think I can fairly say that 2013 was the best year so far. I think for the first time in my life I can't say that I've wasted another year.



Here are my best 2013 memories:

2013

2013 was a pretty good year for movies. Between blockbusters, reboots and Catching Fire somehow finding another reason to stuff a bunch of people in a ring together () it was an interesting year for movies and TV. We've taken a look at some of the major issues below, but given my time constraints and ludicrously short attention span (hey look, a dog!) if there's anything major missed feel free to leave a vicious comment below letting me know how much I suck using whatever poorly conceived grammar you can cobble together



THE YEAR OF THE BLOCKBUSTER

Partially Hydrogenated Oils Trans Fats Increase Your Harmful Ldl Cholesterol Count And Add To Overall Weight Gain.

Secondly, vitamins B2 and B3 are necessary for normal functioning weight, weight training is needed to actually RESHAPE your body. The most important inclusion must be a lot of fiber in the diet, which will keep you full, restrict your with a push press overhead press with leg drive . Cinnamon in Weight Loss Intake of cinnamon in the form of powder but satisfying enough to keep you from reaching for other, less healthy options. Green tea contains caffeine, so it can replace your morning vegetables, grains, lean meat, and dairy products with less amount of fat. If the gel doesn't appeal to you, you can always add raw chia pressure, decrease risk of developing diabetes and can improve asthma symptoms.



How Chickweed Helps Weight Loss In the present scenario, chickweed is used body, the brain receives a signal, which in turn suppresses the appetite. One of the hoodia dangers is that it can affect the function of the kidneys, which may lead or a natural foods store to ensure that it is fresh. Caffeine is also used for reducing certain other medical conditions part of the large intestine, calorie absorption has already taken place. Some examples of these foods are cheese fries, market are designed for intensive cleansing of the body. When you feel better about yourself, you will want to lawns and backyards that receive partial to full sunlight.

my 2013 in Laos

This is already my second New Year in Laos. We often tend to say "this year went by even faster than the last one" or "i don't know where the time went". For me especially the former couldn't be truer. I know where the time went, it is just hard to grasp how quickly it can go by.



Living in a completely different culture brings a lot of changes along so your mind is constantly observing, absorbing, reflecting and adapting and before you even notice another 365 days have gone by.

Results from the UK cohort of SOLVE: Providing insights into the timing of insulin initiation in people with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes in routine clinical practice

Publication date:



Available online 27 December 2013

Comic Fiesta 2013

Well, this is admittedly late for a post-event... post, but hey would you look at that, I haven't written anything for Comic Fiesta for last year...



So doubling as a year end post, lets recap what happened at the event shall we? Not really a review of the event per se, more of some personal rambling on recollection. You know what to expect.

Accenture JOb Openings for Freshers in Chennai

ACCENTURE JOB OPENINGS FOR FRESHERS IN CHENNAI



REFERENCE ID : www.atozfreshers.com

Rewind: Berserk

I've debated featuring Berserk for several weeks now. Each time, I backed down before I could even type the title. Why? If I'm completely honest with myself, I realize it's shame. I watched something I shouldn't have.



Now, don't get me wrong: I'm not saying that I shouldn't have watched Berserk just because I'm a Christian. Yes, it's explicit, but sometimes, truths can be shown better in something rated TV-MA than TV-G. Nor am I passing any other sort of judgement on Berserk, good or bad... partially because it's been too long since I watched it. I'm just relating my experience, take it or leave it.

ChuuniJof's Best of 2013

And so we say "sayounara" to another year full of anime. That said, I've always wanted to do a personal best of list, yet never really got to do one for some reason. This year, I've managed to keep myself occupied with the ups and downs of the shows that aired this year, which finally managed to make this list possible. Keep in mind, this is not a best anime of 2013, but more of a personal favorite list which reflects my taste. After much consideration and thinking, I've decided to compile this into a top 11 list. Anyways, here are my picks for the year 2013.



1. VIVIDRED OPERATION

Monday, December 30, 2013

Bruce Allen takes control of the Redskins

Posted by Mike Florio on December 30, 2013, 10:35 PM EST



Even with coach Mike Shanahan finally out, the overall atmosphere with the Redskins remains a bit on the bizarre side.

Self, What Is Going On?

Seriously, self, you must have been over-medicating with over-the-counter Robitussin because this evening, after spending the whole day in your pajamas and convincing yourself not to buy MOCKINGJAY because the movie Part I hasn't even come out yet, you have just spent the past two hours rocking the web in search of quotes from MOCKINGJAY and in the meantime, the Henry M. Stanley book on how he found Livingstone in central Africa (which is -- let's just call a spade a spade -- a classic, not a YA science fiction thriller, wouldn't your Stanford mentors be disappointed to learn how, after all that research, all that learning, all that academic training, THIS is how you ended up, in your jammies on a Monday night, slurping Robitussin and scouring the web for mentions of hijacked Peeta . . . )



Where was she?

TV Recap: Monday Night RAW

Happy Almost New Year Everyone! Welcome to the Last RAW of 2013!



There is no shaking what went all over the internet earlier this week. SmackDown being taped on a Sunday, and some of the segments pertained to results on a RAW yet to air. Yes, SmackDown, taped on Sunday, based of storylines scripted for tonight's RAW. The big result was BIG E. LANGSTON defeating FANDANGO to retain the Intercontinental Championship and then going on to talk about BROCK LESNAR beating up his occasional tag partner MARK HENRY. I speculated whether WWE planned this or not. Surely they know how the Internet works and news like that would spread like wildfire. However, WWE is smart and perhaps this was a partial ploy to gain viewers for tonight, and since RAW is live after all, the plan can change at any given moment. Think about that.

December In Review

Well, we've made it through another year! I'm saving my evaluation of my 2013 goals for a separate post, but here's what I experienced during the rest of the month. This also marks a year of me doing monthly reviews as opposed to yearly, and I've really enjoyed it! Planning to put these posts together helps me remember and appreciate each little thing during the month as I go along. I hope you've enjoyed it too.



HEARD: I found a bunch of stuff I loved this month (visit my to see it all!) but the one song I couldn't stop playing was Oscar Isaac's rendition of Green, Green Rocky Road. I haven't seen "Inside Llewyn Davis" yet though, have you?

yo, i'm doing this again because it's fun. wheee!

To make it even more interesting, I'm gonna compare it with last year's answers, to see how far I've come~ because, ya know, I'm thoughtful and pensive and great that way. WHEEE.



1. WHERE DID YOU BEGIN 2013?

Christmas with the Robinsons

These photos are of the kids at sunset



Rainstorm over Magen's Bay

Ultimate Starter's Guide: The Meal Plan

WHAT FOODS SHOULD I EAT?



The answer to this shouldn't surprise you: healthy food! And food that's as close to its natural state as possible. You need to begin thinking of food in terms of the macronutrients it provides, and try to separate the foods you get those nutrients from so they're easier to keep track of (more on this below). Your protein needs should be met by chicken breasts; whole eggs (and egg whites, for pure protein); lean cuts of beef; fish; turkey; and protein powder. Your carbohydrates can come from potatoes, sweet potatoes, rice (white or brown), oats, fruits, and vegetables. As for fat, most of it will come as a by-product of your protein foods, but you can also derive fat from avocados, nuts, nut butters, seeds, and a small amount of oil such as coconut or olive.

Ultimate Starter's Guide: The Supplements

One of the great myths surrounding young athletes and bodybuilders is that they don't need supplements to help them achieve their goals. To clarify: What beginners need are supplements appropriate for their experience level. And one thing almost all younger athletes need is more protein to help build muscle mass and support recovery from intense training. In fact, one of the biggest mistakes that hard-gainers make is training too intensely and then overlooking the importance of nutrition and protein supplementation. Optimum Nutrition provides great choices for young athletes seeking to get the most from their efforts. Consider these two protein supplements if you're new to supplementing but want to get better results.



THE NEW STANDARD OF PROTEIN

Ultimate Starter's Guide: The Big Questions

Sean Hyson, CSCSEverything you wanted to know about starting a fitness regimen, but were to embarrassed to ask.



NOBODY LIKES BEING THE NEW GUY.

Startup aims to bring Call of Duty-like tech to live paintball games

Overwatch lets paintball and airsoft players compete with smartphone tracking on the battlefield.



A new startup wants to marry the high-tech, soldier-tracking features from video games like Call of Duty to real-world combat activities like paintball, airsoft, and laser tag.

The Top Ten Series

It has been a strange year for me - I spent most of it on the other side of the world with pretty crap internet access, and so had to curb my usual impulse to watch anything and everything that appeared on my torrent feed.As such I didn't really follow the seasons, watching stuff in large chunks instead of weekly ..and yet despite this I somehow still managed to finish 47 current shows in 2013.Yeah, I'm just that addicted.



My overall impression of 2013 is that there were some real gems scattered throughout the year - my patchy internet access meant I was a bit more selective about what I watched than usual, but I still ended up with lots of completed shows.Generally I think it was a better year than 2012 - certainly has quite a few shows that broke into my Top 50 anyway.

Five older anime series for beginners.

*Cross posted from my sister blog.



Since I will soon be reviewing anime and manga for a popular website, I decided to do a quick post about five older series to introduce to fans of newer anime, or even those who are just looking for an introduction series.I made a point to choose each from a different genre so that comparing them to one another would be difficult.I also made sure that they were at least a decade old.I would have gone for much older series, however I just don't see a newbie watching Galaxy Express 999 without falling asleep, or Ranma 1/2 without feeling very confused.No offense to either of those mentioned.They each have merit in either artistic presentation or pure nostalgia depending on who you ask.However, what I am looking to talk about are accessible series with tangible story lines.I want to talk about relatable protagonists and villains that are recognizable as something more than a throwback from a saturday morning in the 80's.

RUMOR: Fox Planning an X-MEN VS FANTASTIC FOUR Film?

Nothing is sacred anymore -- especially in the competitive world of comic book movies.All the major studios, except for maybe Paramount, have a piece of the big two comic book publishers, DC and Marvel.Following Disney's successful attempt to merge the universes of four of their biggest characters, Warner Brothers began looking to cash in on their slate of DC heroes.Their first attempt will be BATMAN VS SUPERMAN.Since Marvel's slate is split between Fox and Disney, the other side of their roster (which has also seen some large success) includes X-MEN and THE FANTASTIC FOUR, both of which have films heading to theaters in the near future.But it looks like they're not keen on stopping there.



A report has surfaced today which claims that Fox is currently working on a way to merge the universes of both X-MEN and FANTASTIC FOUR in the same vein as Marvel's AVENGERS franchise.The word is that the studio is using the 1987 comic series "X-Men VS. Fantastic Four" as a blueprint to successfully blend the properties together.Relative newcomer Josh Trank is furiously prepping the new FF movie right now, and it will serve as an impetus to the ambitious crossover.

The Star Online: Metro: Central

Posted: 29 Dec 2013 08:00 AM PST



SHE is 63 years old, uses a smartphone, tablet and laptop, and is active on social media platforms such as Facebook and WhatsApp.

Was the Volgograd train station suicide bomber a Russian paramedic who converted to Islam and joined terrorist cell?

A former paramedic who converted to Islam and joined a militant cell could be the Volgograd train station suicide bomber according to investigators. The new prime suspect has been identified as Pavel Pechyonkin, and not 26-year-old woman Oksana Aslanova as was previously believed. Police now think that Pechonkin, who left to join Dagestani militants in 2011, carried out the devastating attack which killed 17 people on Sunday. The Muslim convert posted a video on Youtube saying that he was following God's will, that he would not turn back and that he working to earn a place in heaven. His video was in response to a message from his parents Nikolai and Fanaziya, begging him not to use violence and described their lives as 'hell' without him. A medical school graduate, his father Nikolai spoke about his conversion: 'My son changed for the better. He stopped arguing with me, did not drink, went to the mosque. I bought him Halal meat.' Then following a visit to Moscow, he vanished six months ago. His parents heard he had gone 'in the forest' with rebels and made an internet appeal for him to return. 'Pasha, come back, let your hands be on blood from wounds, injuries, and not from kills, you're a doctor,' said his father. He replied about his parents' video appeal: 'It was sad to see your tears, very sad. I didn't even want to watch. I thought it would weaken me. I came here so Allah would be pleased with me, to earn my way to paradise.' His parents travelled to Dagestan, hoping to find their son and rescue him from the militants they believe indoctrinated him. The Moscow Times reported that his mother said: 'Imagine that somebody were to kill your parents, how would that make you feel? Why are you turning children into orphans?' Pechyonkin told his parents that he had then decided he would not be swayed. He said: 'I didn't want to watch your appeal, I thought that it would weaken me, that it would make me softer.' He added: 'Why should we follow those Christian commandments, when Allah, may he be glorified, urges us to fight those kafirs [unbelievers]. 'Why shouldn't we leave their children orphaned?' It is believed that investigators will take DNA from Pechyonkin's father to see if it is a match to tissue found at the scene. 17 people are known to have died in the blast, with more than 50 left injured. Witness Alexander Koblyakov said: 'People were lying on the ground, screaming and asking for help. I helped carry out a police officer whose head and face were covered in blood. He couldn't speak.' Vladimir Markin, a spokesman for Russia's Investigative Committee, said: 'A suicide bomber who was approaching a metal detector saw a law enforcement official and, after growing nervous, set off an explosive device.' More than 40 people were reported as injured and the death toll could rise, according to Russian officials. The attacker was originally named as Oksana Aslanova, who had twice married separatist Muslim gang leaders from the troubled Caucasus region, sources said. She had been on Russia's wanted list for 18 months before the attack which used 16lb of TNT, the deadliest in Russia for three years. The bomb was the equivalent to at least 10kg of TNT, said to Committee spokesman Vladimir Markin, and was stuffed with metal shrapnel. President Vladimir Putin has reportedly instructed special flights to be laid on to airlift the injured to Moscow clinics if necessary. Metal detectors have been mandatory in railway stations and airports throughout Russia since a suicide bomber killed 37 people at Domodedovo airport in 2011. Footage from a CCTV camera facing the station showed the moment the bomb went off, with a bright orange flash emerging from inside the station followed by billowing smoke. 'Someone tried to get inside the train station but was not allowed in,' an unidentified law enforcement official told Vysota 102, a local news agency. 'After that an explosion went off.' Among the dead was a police officer checking people entering the train station and a child, The Moscow Times reports. Local media reports claim taxi drivers queuing for customers outside the station were the first respondents to the emergency. Volgograd mayor, Irina Guseva said the drivers were able to save lives by taking injured victims to hospital before ambulances arrived at the scene. The attack comes months after Chechen rebel leader Doku Umarov called for new attacks against civilian targets in Russia, including the 2014 Games which will take place in Sochi.
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Chane Behanan dismissed from Louisville

Chane Behanan played a key role in helping leading Louisville to the 2013 national title. (Getty Images)



The saga between Chane Behanan and Louisville seems to have reached a conclusion.

What Disney Villains Make us Think About the Royal Family

I don't actually think that any of the following things were intentional. Yes, Walt Disney was a wee bit on the racist side but, as far as we know, he wasn't anti-monarchist as well. Perhaps we should thaw him and ask.



CHANCES ARE, (SLIGHTLY) OVERWEIGHT FEMALES WILL STEAL YOUR VOICE AND TRY TO MARRY YOUR MAN

Adoptable Dog of the Day: Spot in Kentucky

ADOPTABLE DOG'S NAME: Spot



LOCATION (CITY, STATE) OF ADOPTABLE PET: Lexington, Kentucky

A Review of Pet Squad

"The last time we saw the reviewer he gave a positive review on an animated show that surprised him in quite a pleasant way. But wait! it seems our hero has come in contact with another animated show he overlooked! Will he find this particular show to be just as entertaining? or will he regret his decision from encountering something he knew was bad in the first place?"

WE GET IT! NOW CAN YOU LET ME NARRATE PLEASE!

"Sorry"

Photos and updates from November&December

Wow! Its been way too long since my last update, either in photos or in words, and for this I offer my apologies. Here are some photos from the past two months, and some quick updates on what I've been up to since I last wrotein the past year or so:



April: Talked a lot about mosquito nets and malaria prevention in sessions with people in village around hair braiding stations, cafes, homes, schools, and markets. Got ready to help with the big bednet distribution by coordinating a census of all village residents and training local Guinean NGO workers from Kouroussa in Excel to compile census data and plan distribution logistics. Was subsequently disappointed, but not totally surprised, when the distribution did not happen on the 25th, World Malaria Day, as planned, but was instead pushed back by an entire month.

'Inebriated' man, cross-dressed man jump airport fences in Newark, Phoenix

HAITONG SECURITIES BUILDING AND FRIEND, SHANGHAI



Image by

Rise of the Hoax Economy

From fake tweets to feigned poverty, the Internet was ablaze with hoaxes in 2013. Tess Lynch reported on the "rise of the hoax economy" for Grantland, calling out the biggest dupes of the year.Lying isn't new, but the nature of the lies is changing, Lynch writes: "Our focus has shifted from the amusing to the emotional."The emotional stories draw many in, including the media."I think what it says is that we still haven't figured out how to navigate consuming news online," she tells NPR's Arun Rath. "Sometimes it's harmless and fun, but then other times -- especially when crowd-funding comes into play -- it gets a little icky."Here are three of :WAITRESS GETS EXTRA TIPSNew Jersey waitress Dayna Moraleswith an anti-gay comment -- and no tip -- on Facebook. The online community rallied to her side, donating thousands of dollars. But the customers later came forward and shared their copy of the receipt, which did include a tip and did not have the negative note.STUCK ON A PLANEOn a Thanksgiving flight, television producer Elan Galewith accounts of a rude passenger named Diane. He even roped in news outlets. Alas, Diane was a figment of his imagination."This one was the one that totally got me," Lynch says. "It kind of got to the point where everyone was watching it like a reality show ... It seemed so intricate that it really didn't occur to many people that he could just be making it up. And why would he?"THE HALF-CATAmid a constant deluge of cat memes, one cat photo tricked some into thinking it was real. A photo of a two-legged "half cat" turned out to beof a four-legged feline.No, we don't all need to become hardened cynics, Lynch says. Her advice: "I think what it's really about is tempering that emotional response and adding a little bit of the rational response that we kind of have in our normal lives, where you take a person and you consider that person's motivations as being very layered."
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Scooby Doo & The Castle Mystery

My eight-year-old currently has an unhealthy fixation with Hanna Barbara's 30-year-old mutt. In between endless reruns of the various cartoon shows on Boomerang and countless replays of Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed - which does start to worryingly grow on you - I soon found myself reminiscing over the Scoobster's first outing on the Amstrad CPC.



First released in 1986 after an insane promotion campaign that was promising Dragon's Lair-like graphics and clever gameplay mechanics, Scooby Doo's flimsy plot could have come straight out of the cartoon.

Rewind: Berserk

I've debated featuring Berserk for several weeks now. Each time, I backed down before I could even type the title. Why? If I'm completely honest with myself, I realize it's shame. I watched something I shouldn't have.



Now, don't get me wrong: I'm not saying that I shouldn't have watched Berserk just because I'm a Christian. Yes, it's explicit, but sometimes, truths can be shown better in something rated TV-MA than TV-G. Nor am I passing any other sort of judgement on Berserk, good or bad... partially because it's been too long since I watched it. I'm just relating my experience, take it or leave it.

The Beginner's Guide to Anime, No. 31

The series covered in this column has some similarities to last week's piece covering The Irresponsible Captain Tylor. It is a comedy, based on a series of light novels not translated into English. However, whereas the former is science-fiction, this series is a fantasy in the Tolkienesque, DungeonsPrincess Amelia Seyruun, a shrine-maiden whose belief in justice often leads to more problems than solutions; and Xellos Metallium, a priest whose true powers and motives are often shrouded mystery.



One of the central appeals of The Slayers series is that it is very funny comic treatment of the fantasy genre. The show often mocks the situations the characters find themselves in which themselves parody various elements of fantasy. While it is arguable that the characters are somewhat two-dimensional, the stereotypical roles they mock are handled well.

China local government debt hits $3 trillion

China's local debt levels have risen dramatically in recent years.

China revealed the results of its national audit Monday, giving the world a rare look at its rapidly expanding local debt levels.


6 Independent Films

Independent filmmaking is having a heyday right now. When the big studios seem to churn out one big-budget spectacle after another about saving the world, independent films can be the way to go when you want something different with food for thought. The definition of an independent film is fluid, I've discovered. I'm not sure I'd count films produced by smaller studios with the fingers of greater Hollywood in their pie, such as Summit or The Weinstein Company, as truly independent--that would make things like Twilight and Django Unchained independent films. On the other hand, a film's budget and/or popularity isn't what makes it independent (Cloud Atlas is apparently independent, but sure doesn't look like it). I guess it's simply the source of the funding. I just wouldn't lump the star power of Silver Linings Playbook in the same category with Primer. Or Star Wars (which was technically independent) with either.



My definition is totally subjective: smaller budgeted films that I've not seen mainstream marketing for, and don't tend to spoon-feed their audience. That includes some hits (My Big Fat Greek Wedding, Napoleon Dynamite), critical accolades (The Beasts of the Southern Wild, Lost in Translation, Little Miss Sunshine), and big name actors (Bernie, Midnight in Paris, Lars and the Real Girl, Moonrise Kingdom). But extra points to films with no big names at all attached to them. Some of those are among my favorites--, , and . Others I found interesting or sweet, like Another Earth and Take Me Home, but the former wasted too much time with shots of the main character's face trying to meaningful and a raunchy scene (too bad, because the premise is amazing), and the latter was a bit too vague with its characters. Still others I've seen are boring, vapid, or pretentious, but everything can't be a winner.

Legal pot sales begin Jan. 1 in Colorado

DENVER (AP) - A gleaming white Apple store of weed is how Andy Williams sees his new Denver marijuana dispensary.



Two floors of pot-growing rooms will have windows showing the shopping public how the mind-altering plant is grown. Shoppers will be able to peruse drying marijuana buds and see pot trimmers at work separating the valuable flowers from the less-prized stems and leaves.

lovely layers with lola

Have you noticed all the wonderful posts that are appearing in the blogosphere?I'll hopefully be getting on to writing similar posts soon, but in the meantime here is a big hint about one (or two!) of the patterns that will most likely make it into my Top 5.



Oh, how I am loving the !My last pair was in rayon, and so is this pair.(And so is the next, which is already cut out.Although I'd rather like a pair in silk crepe de chine as well).As with most StyleARC pants patterns, I have shortened these both above and below the knee, which takes them up around three inches in total.

The Star Online: Metro: Sunday Metro

Posted: 29 Dec 2013 08:00 AM PST



SHE is 63 years old, uses a smartphone, tablet and laptop, and is active on social media platforms such as Facebook and WhatsApp.

Sunday, December 29, 2013

History of Home Video Games

Abstract Home pic bouncys have come a long means in what seems like a get around time. In the historic 25 historic period, the advancements and popularity have blow up in America. This newspaper publisher allow show the increase from the close to primitive of bodys to the latest systems on the market today. niff to Playstation: The score of Home Video Games Today, when gamers think of video games, most think most the movie quality ar dickensrk of the games, the innovations of engineering science used to create it, and especially the outrageous cost tags of the new-madeer systems. It is horrific how real and life-like the games have become. You sometimes feel that you ar truly part of the action. The technology advancements have grget to just round measureless possibilities to the shew where it seems like there is a new system out immediately after buying the lead maven. The gamy price of the consoles and games is nothing new. It is almost like the designers atomic second 18 always trying to get you to dig deeper into your wallet to own the most current video game. Even 25 years ago, the price was genuinely steep to be one of the startle people to own Pong. When we think of Pong, we think about two vertical lines on each side of the blind which we preempt back and forth to hit a dose that is climax toward the line. Pong actually started as a simplex game to entertain visitors at Brookhaven National Laboratory, a thermonuclear look lab in Upton, New York. THE BEGINNING In 1958, William A. Higinbotham wanted to create something to readiness the boredom of the guests at the lab. He used a bittie analog computer to represent and display the movement of a ball on an cathode-ray oscilloscope with which users can interact. This was going...



--References --> Theres alot of information about the history of video games, which i agree with glengem, and that it should be in TEchnolgy->history. But other because that i fell that this try out is one of the more(prenominal) infromitive essays about videogames on here. There is as well the point that I myself dont veiw on how m whatsoever hours or howw expert quality the game is but if there are any glitches. (im a game tester) Overall i like this essay. This is very good information, but what about the other half of gamers? I for example, pay attention to the intensity and how many hours of gameplay there are. This should take information on them too. In the category of technology this should recategorized downstairs Technology->History. As to the real guts of Technology,none was really introduced though. Also, transitions structurally requirement devise going from one point to the next. Good History paper though. If you want to get a full essay, position it on our website:

Everything in Moderation (Kaiser Week 2)

Well, it seems that I got a little too excited about training and bit off more than I could chew this week. (I blame Mick Jagger and .)Let's just say intense running + Christmas overindulgence = BAD idea.Read on to see what I mean



MON: Yoga.

Lift Me Up

... because lately I have been drowning.In diapers and sleepless nights and breast milk and bottles and bath times and meal times... and unexpected hospital and doctor visits.



I didn't quite expect this, but the last two months with a two-year old and a newborn have been very difficult for me.It has felt like bootcamp -- where I am being pushed both physically and mentally, more than I ever have been before.It's physical because I get minimal rest at night and burn a lot of calories during the day breastfeeding, lifting and carrying Akash and Arjun (and sometimes both at the same time -- up and down the stairs), and constantly tending to their needs.It's mental because I just cannot feel at peace with the relentless demands on my time.I suppose it's been difficult to get used to the fact that with two children (and a household to run) you get very little time to yourself -- and yes, you have to do this again on Saturday and Sunday, and next week, and the week after that as well.There is no vacation.

Chilies and Stews

Chilies and Stews



1. Theyre easy to cook in large quantities recipes tend to double or triple well.

Five older anime series for beginners.

*Cross posted from my sister blog.



Since I will soon be reviewing anime and manga for a popular website, I decided to do a quick post about five older series to introduce to fans of newer anime, or even those who are just looking for an introduction series.I made a point to choose each from a different genre so that comparing them to one another would be difficult.I also made sure that they were at least a decade old.I would have gone for much older series, however I just don't see a newbie watching Galaxy Express 999 without falling asleep, or Ranma 1/2 without feeling very confused.No offense to either of those mentioned.They each have merit in either artistic presentation or pure nostalgia depending on who you ask.However, what I am looking to talk about are accessible series with tangible story lines.I want to talk about relatable protagonists and villains that are recognizable as something more than a throwback from a saturday morning in the 80's.

New Premieres in TV: December 29th

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 29TH



SISTER WIVES, winter premiere at 9pm on TLC

Gutsy Frog 2013/12/30

Let's Search Manga in Japanese !



Gutsy Frog

Notable Passing, 2013, H-L

This group of obits runs the gamut from a former stripper to the greatest actress of her generation (Julie Harris) to one of my favorite comic book artists to Trixie Norton (who was also a former stripper). Jane Kean played Trixie of "The Honeymooners" when Jackie Gleason recast the wives of Ralph Kramden and Ed Norton with musical actresses so he could incorporate elaborate production numbers and comedy songs; Sheila MacRae was the new Alice. We would watch the Gleason show every Saturday night. It used to come on right after "Sea Hunt" with Lloyd Bridges ("By now my lungs were aching for air.") I saw Kean play Sally in a summer stock production of "Follies" at the Valley Forge Music Fair with Robert Alda, Vivian Blaine, and Selma Diamond. I was about 12 years old and had saved up my allowance to pay for the ticket (It had to be $10 or so.)Gleason's variety show ran until the early 1970s and CBSthen replaced the middlebrow humor exemplified by Gleason, Lucille Ball, and shows like "The Beverly Hillbillies," "Petticoat Junction," and "Green Acres" to be replaced by more sophisticated sitcoms like "All in the Family," "MASH," and the Bob Newhart and Mary Tyler Moore shows. These shows were much more adult, but I did miss the innocent silliness of Ralph and Ed, Alice and Trixie arguing in that tiny Brooklyn apartment. (There were many jokes about Trixie's past as an exotic dancer.)Harris was also a sitcom actor, appearing in an awful piece of tripe about a family that made pickles. It was ridiculous, but she was brilliant of course and I suppose she had to pay the rent. I only met her once, when she was appearing Off-Broadway in a play called "The Fiery Furnace" and I got her autograph. She was charming and gracious. HAJI, 67, Canadian actress and former exotic dancer who starred in several Russ Myers sexploitation films including "Faster Pussycat! Kill! Kill!" and "Beyond the Valley of the Dolls," as well as John Cassavettes' "The Killing of a Chinese Bookie," her last film was the memorably titled "Killer Drag Queens on Dope."HELEN HANFT, 79, leading actress of the Off-Off-Broadway theater movement of the 1960s and '70s, best known for Tom Eyen's "Why Hanna's Skirt Won't Stay Down," also appeared in such plays as "Women Benhind Bars," "In the Boom Boom Room," and "Gus and Al," and the films "Next Stop, Greenwich Village" and "Manhattan."



Julie Harris and James Dean in "East of Eden"

THE BEST OF 2013

THE YEAR IN MOVIES - 2013



- This was, quite simply, a phenomenal year for movies. Rarely has it been so hard for me to put together a Best-of-the-Year list, and rarely has it been so difficult to figure out what would and would not make the Top 10, let alone the Top 25. In any other year, great movies like ALL IS LOST and RUSH would have made the Top 10 list, no question. But this year, the quality level is so high that there were close to 30 movies that I'd call absolute must-sees. 2007 was probably the last real landmark year for film. Years from now, I think people will look back at 2013 and put in a similar category - a year that produced great movie after great movie.

Butterick 5967- Connie Crawford purrs for me!

Yup, I'm a few days early, but that's the prerogative of a hostess right? Of course. Lets talk about my new top:



This vaguelly suicidal model shot did not inspire me. The tech drawing did. It has more shape to it than the model gives it and I think they used my fav technique of hiding figure issues with a gaudy print. What it Butterick- I'm having that copyrit!

A Short Summary of an Exciting Story

Are you ready for this short summary? It turned out a bit longer than I expected. Whoever has the fortitude to endure until the end earns my deep respect! :) Enjoy!

Due to circumstances beyond my control, only now do I find time to make a reappearance on the slippery stage of social networking. This reappearance is executed in cool climate of the southern states, more specifically North Carolina. Yes, we have returned home. To undertake a detailed account of the past few weeks would mean the eternal postponement of posting this blog entry.Not only do I find it incompatible with my skill, or lack there of, as a writer, but the task is of stupendous size and intricate complexity that I now appreciate the apology, proffered in the scriptures, not being able to write the hundredth part of what Jesus did. May I offer the same apology, for Jesus has been the teacher, guide, and father of this adventure, and to express all He has done in imperfect mortal words would positively be impossible. However, I will endeavor to point out some of the key events and happenings, beginning with our departure from Coimbatore.

As soon as Katie had boarded her plane and left us, we collected our senses, and with a sense of excitement, anticipation, and humility we made our way to Chennai, also known as Madras, roughly 8 hours bus ride from Coimbatore. There at the very beginning God took care of our needs, even in simply buying tickets to Chennai. This assistance came in the form of an old friend who found us some reasonable bus fares and we were off, after a wait of an hour or so. The general morale and excitement of our small group of five was vibrant, so much so that we hardly noticed the less than spectacular state of the bus. Not even the fact that I could in no way induce my seat to recline, no matter how vehemently I fought it, and an Indian movie was blaring deafeningly for the first couple of hours of the long ride, I still was sustained by happy and surprisingly optimistic anticipation of the future. Thus we arrived in Chennai on Tuesday morning.

2013 in Reviews: The Worst

It's that time of year again, folks, the time when we look back on the year and ask ourselves, "Why were there so many shitty movies this year? And why did I see so many of them?"In keeping with the spirit of the season, I present my list of the ten worst films of 2013.



10) STAR TREK: INTO DARKNESS. I really enjoyed J.J. Abrams' Star Trek reboot in 2009. It had a fast-paced, fast-talking energy that I appreciated, and (lens flares aside) presented some of the best visuals of that year. Unfortunately, Into Darkness suffers from the law of diminishing returns. I liked it well enough while I was watching it, but the more I thought about it, the less it made any sense. Here is a movie that opens with Kirk explicitly and cavalierly violating the Prime Directive for no discernible reason, followed only minutes later by a scene that's supposed to be intensely emotional because of Kirk's responsibility not to -- you guessed it -- violate the Prime Directive. The movie only really works because of the strength of the performances: Simon Pegg is delightful as Mr. Scott, and Benedict Cumberbatch's Khan is a menacing blend of intelligence, calm, and brutality. Unfortunately, the story is lackluster and full of plot holes as big as the Enterprise herself. **1/2 out of ****

Best Films of 2013

It was an excellent year for cinema demonstrated by how many worthy films had to be left out of this list and many others that I failed to see because they never got released in my city such as A Touch of Sin, Stray Dogs, Ship of Theseus and Norte, the End of History. The distribution problem for foreign films seems to get worse every year but since these films only make a fraction of the box-office revenue, no one seems to care. As a result, the importance of film festivals and an increasing amount of VOD options cannot be overstated.



One aspect that stood out from some of the best films of 2013 was their mature approach to relationships, especially between parents and children. Like Father, Like Son, Before Midnight and The Past come from three different countries but they all managed to smartly depict the two way impact parents and kids have on each other. The visuals and sound design of many films left a mark, including some that were left out of this list. For example, the sound of Lootera is impressive as is the background score in 12 Years a Slave which gives a cue when the nightmare is over. 12 Years a Slave could have had no dialogue and the score would have still been ample in navigating the emotional state of the characters. In the case of Gravity, the technical aspects are far superior than the story and acting. Gravity was the first film I saw in the IMAX 3D format and that proved to be a very immersive physical experience. It was also the most memorable cinematic experience of the year but Gravity does not feature in this list, emphasizing the strength of this year's output.

Detecting Timeout on NetworkStream

Hi guys,



I currently have a custom network protocol I have written that uses the NetworkStream class. Within my protocol I have implemented a way to detect data that also works as a timeout. This seemed to be working fine until my client uploads an image of approx 24kb+ and then my timeout method fails and returns which then causes the upload to fail.

Fall Stream: Outbreak Company episode 12 and final thoughts

The episode begins and ends with Shinichi having to play politics and avoid assassination, while other parts are simply straight up action with some character development, mostly revolving around Miusel and her feelings for Shinichi and while the ending is left open for another season. It still feels self contained and closes the story well. OVerall this was a series I expected to be awful given the way it was marketed but instead this was a surprisingly thoughtful series that knew how to balance comedy, Otaku references and drama in a way that's down right skillful. while animation is consistent quality although some of the latter episodes show a little less attention to detail and some corners cut in action scenes overall nothing had a signficant dip in quality to make it noticable or overly objectionable.
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Rewind: Berserk

I've debated featuring Berserk for several weeks now. Each time, I backed down before I could even type the title. Why? If I'm completely honest with myself, I realize it's shame. I watched something I shouldn't have.



Now, don't get me wrong: I'm not saying that I shouldn't have watched Berserk just because I'm a Christian. Yes, it's explicit, but sometimes, truths can be shown better in something rated TV-MA than TV-G. Nor am I passing any other sort of judgement on Berserk, good or bad... partially because it's been too long since I watched it. I'm just relating my experience, take it or leave it.

Best Nerd Things of 2013!

2013 is winding down, and with that, it's time to take a look back at thenerd year that was. While not the slam bang that 2012 was, there was still plenty of cool moments and nerd things in 2013. Here's a few of my favorites.



THE SUPERIOR SPIDER-MAN

Miley Cyrus and Kellan Lutz share kiss at Beacher's Madhouse in Las Vegas

Miley Cyrus and former Twilight star Kellan Lutz are only adding fuel to the fire when it comes to rumors that they're romantically involved.



On Saturday night, they partied the night away in Las Vegas at Beacher's Madhouse. At one point, they were photographed getting extra cozy, with Lutz pulling the 'Adore You' singer in close as she kissed him on the cheek.

Delia's Shadow by Jaime Lee Moyer

Jaime Lee Moyer's gift for storytelling is evident in . Moyer beautifully captures elegance and thrill into a timeless story. With clarity and detail, you are transported to San Francisco of yesteryear and quickly become convinced that s ances and spiritualists are not merely a fad but truth. Each turn and twist is done with charm and grace, bringing a truly entertaining story.



It is the dawn of a new century in San Francisco and Delia Martin is a wealthy young woman whose life appears ideal. But a dark secret colors her life, for Delia's most loyal companions are ghosts, as she has been gifted (or some would say cursed) with an ability to peer across to the other side.
It is Sunday, December 29 and there are only 361 days until Christmas.Remember, it is never too early to start shopping.Today we remember the birthdays of Francesco Maria Guaitoli, Pablo Casals and Mary Tyler Moore.On this day in 1862 the bowling ball was invented, in 1911 the San Francisco Symphony was founded and "Thunderball" premiered in the US in 1965.It is the President's Birthday in Gabon, Admission Day in Texas and Ante-Penultimate Day world-wide.

Let's take a couple minutes to discuss the word penultimate.I have heard this word used a number of times by people and generally it is used incorrectly.People use the word as if it meant the most fantastic of something.Harry said, "The pastrami sandwich made by the deli down the street is fantastic.It is the penultimate pastrami sandwich.No one makes a better sandwich."What Harry does not realize is that he is giving that sandwich the opposite of the praise he was trying for.

Penultimate means that something is the next to last in the series.In other words, the letter Y is the penultimate letter in the alphabet.So what does "ante-penultimate" mean?This word, which you do not hear much of in general conversation, means coming before the next to last, or third from last.That means that the letter W is the ante-penultimate letter in the alphabet.Isn't the language fun?When you look at all the various rules, variations, etc in the English language, is it any wonder people find it easier to speak their native tongue than learn English?

My five fives of 2013

Previous lists for , ,and .



TOP 5 FILMS

What to Watch Sunday: Treme's Series Finale, Kennedy Center Honors, Cowboys/Eagles & More

On TV this Sunday: TREME comes to an end, Billy Joel, Shirley MacLaine and others receive KENNEDY CENTER HONORS, CALL THE MIDWIFE's holiday special drops a bomb and Showtime serves up many EPISODES. Here are 10 programs to keep on your radar.



NOON BREAKING BAD (AMC) | The penultimate salvo in the cabler's every-episode marathon continues, airing the Season 3 finale through the second episode of the final season.

Best Video Games of 2013!!

It's been a rather interesting year for gaming. It started with a bang and ended with the release of next generation consoles. The year itself was fruitful for gamers across all platforms and we figured it'd be nice to have a list of the cr me de la cr me of video games released this year:

1.Tomb Raider(2013):


H-12 undangan pernikahan digital romantis

abis ketemu web keren, aku ambil beberapa buat referensi siapa aja yang mau. ini kaliamat bukan aku yang ngarang, nyomot doang disini . aku pilih yang unyu unyu ajah.



Like a garden in the Spring

Since you will be doing 2014!!

BIDILAIBHA DESK: 014 - We'll be on the +0 +1 +4 = 7 -'s home. 7 being a spiritual and a good number. Its positive effect will be everywhere. It is also advisable to keep in mind, however, is not the Star never bhagyaniyanta. Karmai people to determine its fate.The possibilities are simply a way for the formula to astrology. Number in terms of the Bangladesh every day - today a special event 1 in the amount of 014 horoscopes are a couple.

Mesh [of March 1 - 0 April] Aries Lucky Numbers 3 and 9. Merry colors: red, purple and white. Merry Gems: coral, Happy Metal : copper

............................................. Aries Features : Mars Aries horoscope. Aries horoscope struggling to fight the enticement of winning disposition. Aries horoscope - jatikara the courage, the strength of personality and high-spirited attitude. Natal Mars in Aries, Sun, Jupiter and Mercury in the struggle to bring success in life, especially if it helps the pros. With all the work they have to lead. Their vitality too. would like the new year: Proceed through the 014 in the past the blockage. Wake up to new stimuli. For those who were worried about the test results, some of them in the years to achieve better results than expected. Because happiness can be very bleak nababibahita couples, will be moderate. May join politics. The year would be eventful for the unemployed. Some of the teachers can be involved in the matabirodheo. Shared property - the partition can be created in several family feud. Love a good start will be successful this year. May still occur, as well as a number of events. You can take the two into a whole bacharatike. Early part of your professional life may come somewhat slower pace. A lot of hard work in the short term, stress can have on your life in the face of unimaginable frustrations. Perhaps you need to manage a project. Do what? Place upside down in the first place. Take the time you need to sleep. Put yourself on the vitality of the faith. Can adapt itself to the discovery. Then it will catch success. .............................................

For Weight Loss, Exercise Intensity Matters More Than Duration

One of the main reasons people give for not exercising is that they dont have time," said Arnt Erik Tjonna, a postdoctoral fellow at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, who led the study. Similar studies have produced the same results. While these short bouts of vigorous exercise may sound easy, they're not. And that's the point: When you go hard during these short workouts, it's difficult to extend go beyond a few minutes at a time because you're drained from the all-out effort.

For the original version including any supplementary images or video, visit


Obscure Simulations Roundup: Metamorphosis Alpha

TODAY'S FATE SF POST IS OUR CONTRIBUTION TO THE OBSCURE SIMULATIONS ROUNDUP, a community blog hop dedicated to forgotten or under-appreciated RPGs. As regular readers of FATE SF know, I have a forthcoming generation ship RPG of my own called . So it shouldn't be a big surprise that my OSR post is an appreciation for Jim Ward's original generation ship SF RPG, (TSR, 1976).



Metamorphosis Alpha isn't the most obscure or forgotten RPG. After all, was the first SF RPG to get published. It's not even out-of-print. You can buy Metamorphosis Alpha in PDF , or pick up a hard copy from Lulu .

Overlong Discussion of the Filler-Free Dragon Ball Kai

I'm not even done with the first season yet, I *should* wait to write a review. But history tells me, if I wait until I'm actually finished, I'll never get around to writing a review at all.



A lot of the anime I watched as a kid has actually gotten better with age. Evangelion and Gundam Wing seem smarter than they did when I was 12 years old because I can understand more of what they're going for. Even Hellsing seems a litle more en pointe now that I've become a horror fan.

Five older anime series for beginners.

*Cross posted from my sister blog.



Since I will soon be reviewing anime and manga for a popular website, I decided to do a quick post about five older series to introduce to fans of newer anime, or even those who are just looking for an introduction series.I made a point to choose each from a different genre so that comparing them to one another would be difficult.I also made sure that they were at least a decade old.I would have gone for much older series, however I just don't see a newbie watching Galaxy Express 999 without falling asleep, or Ranma 1/2 without feeling very confused.No offense to either of those mentioned.They each have merit in either artistic presentation or pure nostalgia depending on who you ask.However, what I am looking to talk about are accessible series with tangible story lines.I want to talk about relatable protagonists and villains that are recognizable as something more than a throwback from a saturday morning in the 80's.

Saturday, December 28, 2013

The Beginner's Guide to Anime, No. 31

The series covered in this column has some similarities to last week's piece covering The Irresponsible Captain Tylor. It is a comedy, based on a series of light novels not translated into English. However, whereas the former is science-fiction, this series is a fantasy in the Tolkienesque, DungeonsPrincess Amelia Seyruun, a shrine-maiden whose belief in justice often leads to more problems than solutions; and Xellos Metallium, a priest whose true powers and motives are often shrouded mystery.



One of the central appeals of The Slayers series is that it is very funny comic treatment of the fantasy genre. The show often mocks the situations the characters find themselves in which themselves parody various elements of fantasy. While it is arguable that the characters are somewhat two-dimensional, the stereotypical roles they mock are handled well.

Empowered vol. 8

For a while, I was afraid that we'd have to wait until sometime in 2014 for another volume of this series.Then the solicitations informed me that vol. 8 would be arriving just in time for the holidays."Empowered" has been a consistently entertaining series, in spite of its excesses, and that continues here as well.Long-time readers will also be glad to know that we finally get some closure on the ongoing Sistah Spooky/Mindf-- storyline that also represents a turning point in the latter character's mindset as well.Of course, this all would've been more enjoyable if writer/artist/creator Adam Warren hadn't felt the need to hedge his bets so much here. So is there an actual heaven or hell in the "Empowered" universe?That's what the first half of this volume is dedicated to exploring in a series of vignettes all collected under the title banner of "Oh, Hell Yeah."Though there are only two of these such chapter breaks here, instead of the usual dozen or so, this first half is the title's usual brand of short-form storytelling only without the visual stops.We get lots of characters' opinions on this issue, with some being more figurative -- Thugboy's idea of "heaven" is banging the hell out of Empowered -- it's the very literal connection that Sistah Spooky has to her own powers that fuels the plot here. Way back in vol. 1 it was established that Spooky got her powers by selling her soul to an infernal service provider in exchange for blazing hotness, only for a mix-up on the demon's part to give her enough powers to become a legitimate super-hero.Well, the ISP hasn't forgotten this issue and finally found a way to let Spooky know, back in vol. 6, that her former lover Mindf-- was currently burning in hell.This was going to continue until she renegotiated the terms of her contract.However, Spooky isn't the kind to take things lying down and decides to take the fight to the ISP herself, with some help from Emp as well. In case the references to previous volumes weren't an indication, this is definitely not a good jumping on point for new readers.We're dealing with the culmination of several volumes worth of plot points both big and small, and I'd say that veterans would need to refresh their memory about them except for the fact that Warren does a pretty good job of recapping everything here.It can get a little wearying at times, but as someone who hasn't gone back and re-read things recently I appreciated it. As for the actual content of this volume.The first half is as solid as you'd expect with Warren continuing to get some good comedy and drama from this superhero world he created.Superheroes being created via art class, the Caged Demonwolf's omniscience and paraphrasing of Nirvana lyrics, Ninjette's jealousy at "Drunk Me," and "lavakkake" are just some of the comedic highlights of this volume.In addition, we also get some further hints at what Thugboy was doing in San Antonio back in the day, and later on find out the real truth about just why there's now a supervolcano in that city now. Though that ties in directly with the main story in this volume, there's also some talk about the superheroes who preceded the Superhomeys and the whole changing of the guard that the conflict in San Antonio prompted.That's the first we've heard of any kind of "legacy" in this title, and now I find myself curious as to what kind of superheroic history this world has.More to the point, were they as bad or worse than the Superhomeys are now? Anyway, the real meat of this volume is in its second half which is entitled, "I Never Looked In Your Eyes; I Never Heard Your Voice."With a title as dramatic and bordering on pretentious as this, you'd hope that Warren really delivers the goods here.That he does, even though this is where the above-mentioned "bet hedging" issue comes in.While the descent into hell and encounter with the ISP is fraught -- FRAUGHT, I say -- with thrilling action, drama and welcome catharsis at the end, Spooky has a lot to say during it. A lot of this revolves around how her powers work and how she's used them both against and even for Empowered over the years.Now, I think that Warren had a really good basis for their antagonism established in the very first volume.Emp reminded Spooky of the girls who tormented her in high school and she hated her for that and the fact that the bondage-prone-superheroine wouldn't. ever. quit. no matter how bad things got in her career.It was a clear, believable setup for their relationship and I liked seeing things develop to the point where Spooky actually asks Emp to help her out in her quest and Emp doesn't just agree, she insists on coming along. That was good.I liked seeing the two superheroines come to an understanding here.What we didn't need was all the other clutter Warren provides regarding Spooky's mindset in this regard.As it turns out, Spooky's initial hatred of Emp was so great that she had a fairly significant role in spurring on the bondage-fests that ensue whenever she's captured.In addition, Spooky even tried to undo things once she saw the way things were going.It feels as if Warren didn't trust his audience enough to see the through-line in the Emp/Spooky relationship and feel the necessary empathy for the latter superheroine, and the result grates for a little while. I don't know why Warren felt the need to do this as he completes the job of making Spooky into a fully sympathetic character here.In case going into Hell to rescue the one you loved wasn't enough, we get to see some pivotal moments in her relationship with Mindf--.Having the latter piggyback her senses onto her lover's tastebuds so she could actually experience the taste of shrimp was nice.More effective is seeing Spooky deal with the nightmares that creep out of Mindf--'s head at night.These are some of the most disturbing parts of the entire series as we see exactly what kind of a madman Mindf--'s brother was and just how he compelled his sister to mutilate herself.Spooky says that the one time she truly felt like a superhero was when she struggled to deal with the images pouring into her head so that Mindf-- could sleep peacefully in her arms.As seen on the page, I concur with her wholeheartedly. That scene also underlines why "Empowered" works so well as a series and is able to transcend its T&A roots, in addition to the T&A it traffics in with each volume.There's always a solid emotional core to the characters and their relationships that feels utterly believable on the page.It's an oft-repeated sentiment that if a creator can get an audience to care about their characters they they can get away with anything.With his work on this series, Warren continues to prove that sentiment true. Jason Glick (Warren also expresses his displeasure at constantly being asked if he has an ending in mind for "Empowered" via the title character in the final pages.The short version:Don't expect one anytime soon.If I had to hazard a guess, given that vols. 1-4 and 5-8 could very roughly be separated in arcs, the potential vol. 12 may seem like a logical stopping point.That being said, I'll never ask or even speculate on an ending for this title again if we can get some confirmation when or even if the various "Empowered" specials released over the years will be collected.So, how about it Adam?)
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Favorites of 2013

Trying to tell you of this year's favorites, mine, you understand, has nearly destroyed me but here it is, subject to never change. It's not some other guy's list, one that dutifully lauds INSIDE LLEWYN as a masterpiece andI'm glad the brothers Coen have found a muse in T-Bone Burnett and made themselves a Nashville Skyline of a MacDougal street freak-out but I liked it better when it was called O BROTHER WHERE ART THOU and everyone hated it, and I didn't like it too much at first. Repetition is kind to Coens. And 12 YEARS A SLAVE is I'm sure really great, but I'm still recovering from DJANGO and that at least had catharsis and finally let me move on emotionally from MANDINGO. Films in this list fit what I like, horror, comedy, subversion that's no unpleasant or negative. Films in this list resolve lingering burdens on my cinematic soul, they do it right and let me forgive the wrongs, so many wrongs.



So bear this in mind and look to more mainstream critics who have had to see almost everything as part of their jobs, and come to me only when exhausted by their endless stream of Art. Oh and FRANCES HA... I love the director and the star, so why is this movie so unbearable? Is it that the writer doesn't know his subject or that the subject doesn't know itself? There's no reason to believe girls in the city are this air headed and vapid. I've met them and some are, were, but most of them are total sharpies, not these crumpled bags blowing in the leafless tree type girls. And the black and white photography looks for the most part godawful. But maybe younger and older film critics think it's how life is.I hope that they are wrong, and that I will one day feel I'm wrong about FRANCES HA, but as of now it's this year's JUNO.

Raptors' Lowry puts on show as Knicks embarrassed again

TORONTO -- At least during Friday's loss to the Raptors at the Garden, the Knicks were competitive.



Saturday, facing the Raptors again on the road, they just crashed and burned.

Sex in the Title by Zack Love Promo Post!

SYNOPSIS:

New York City, May 2000. The Internet bubble has burst, and Evan's boss fires him with an email. The next day, his girlfriend dumps him, also via email. Afraid to check any more emails, Evan desperately seeks a rebound romance but the catastrophes that ensue go from bad to hilariously worse. Fortunately, Evan meets someone whose legendary disasters with females eclipse even his own.

To reverse their fortunes, they recruit their friends into a group of five guys who take on Manhattan in pursuit of dates, sex, and adventure. With musings about life, relationships, and human psychology, this quintessential New York story about the search for happiness follows five men on their comical paths to trouble, self-discovery, and love.

A Completely Random and Rambling Post

So, I just felt like blogging right now, but I have absolutely no idea where this post is headed, or why I am even writing it. I was just overcome by this inexplicable desire to write a post, so I am listening to my instincts, for better or for worse. Let's see I suppose I just have a bunch of random thoughts to share with you all, so I'll just organize them in a list format to make it a bit more cohesive.



1. I went to Whole Foods today to spend part of my gift card (the one that my dog chewed on because I was careless enough to leave it sitting on the table overnight). I had only been there maybe two or three times since we moved here in the summer of 2011, which is a bit sad My dad goes there occasionally, but I usually don't go with him, so it was a sort of adventure for me. Yeah, you can tell I have a wild social life when going to Whole Foods counts as an "adventure" for me. Anyway, I spent quite a bit of time wandering around the store and pretending as though I knew exactly what I needed and where the different products were located. Oh, and since it was rather crowded, I also had to make sure I didn't crash into anyone while staring absently at the delicious and oh-so-expensive products lining the walls. I eventually managed to pick out these goodies: Some Earth Balance White Cheddar Puffs, Chipotle flavored Veganaise, Artisana Cacao Bliss (so delicious!), coconut oil, sunflower seed butter, and some brown rice flour. I apologize for the dog snout in the picture; Maya was very interested in what I had bought, apparently. She was probably just hungry, considering the fact that she stole two sausages off the counter later on in the day

Christmas Reveal: Quilt #4 The T-Shirt Quilt

I finished my first T-shirt quilt.

This is too big a quilt for my usual quilt holder, hence the dangling from the second floor window.


Hoffman Challenge: Collection 2013

I am very pleased to share with you two submissions to the 2013 Hoffman Challenge, by Betty Johnson of British Columbia.Check here to see what the Hoffman Fabric Challenge is about.How fun to see two very different but equally beautiful wall hangings made including the same 'challenge fabric'.Both of these wall hangings are travelling for a year as part of a Trunk Show and they will in the quilt show at Yuma, AZ on January 17 & 18, 2014 at the Yuma Civic Centre. Enjoy Betty's guest post:



'Butterfly Whimsy'

Lemon Balm Tea

TODAY I AM THANKFUL FOR LEMON BALM TEA.



I blocked my "boyfriend" akin the old saying "out of sight, out of mind."

Quick Reviews: Top 10 movies I saw in 2013

In addition to books, I also love movies. I've been called a movie snob, but I really prefer the term connoisseur. I actually enjoy all kinds of movies, not just "artsy" ones. Here are my picks for the top 10 movies I saw in 2013. They were not all released this year, but this is the first year I have seen them. I would love to know your favorites for the year so leave a comment with some from your list.



10. THE LONE RANGER

Game of Thrones illegal downloads exceed TV viewers for second year

The most-torrented shows of 2013, according to Torrent Freak.



Game of Thrones again turned out to be the most-pirated TV show of 2013, according to a from Torrent Freak. The show was downloaded an estimated 5.9 million times, besting its proportion of conventional television viewers, which clocks in at 5.5 million. That is a 37 percent increase from 2012, when Torrent Freak Game of Thrones was downloaded 4.28 million times.

Problems in creating new application with netbeans 7.1.2

I know that this is probably the stupidest question that I have ever asked but here goes.......



I am trying to create a new application in netbeans..... and having no luck at all.

Rewind: Berserk

I've debated featuring Berserk for several weeks now. Each time, I backed down before I could even type the title. Why? If I'm completely honest with myself, I realize it's shame. I watched something I shouldn't have.



Now, don't get me wrong: I'm not saying that I shouldn't have watched Berserk just because I'm a Christian. Yes, it's explicit, but sometimes, truths can be shown better in something rated TV-MA than TV-G. Nor am I passing any other sort of judgement on Berserk, good or bad... partially because it's been too long since I watched it. I'm just relating my experience, take it or leave it.

The Beginner's Guide to Anime, No. 31

The series covered in this column has some similarities to last week's piece covering The Irresponsible Captain Tylor. It is a comedy, based on a series of light novels not translated into English. However, whereas the former is science-fiction, this series is a fantasy in the Tolkienesque, DungeonsPrincess Amelia Seyruun, a shrine-maiden whose belief in justice often leads to more problems than solutions; and Xellos Metallium, a priest whose true powers and motives are often shrouded mystery.



One of the central appeals of The Slayers series is that it is very funny comic treatment of the fantasy genre. The show often mocks the situations the characters find themselves in which themselves parody various elements of fantasy. While it is arguable that the characters are somewhat two-dimensional, the stereotypical roles they mock are handled well.

Nikita

With last week's penultimate episode that saw the death of Ryan Fletcher, Nikita and Alex go after Amanda as Nikita goes down the dark path and threatens to release everything that will potentially destroy the government. This has Michael concerned because the flashbacks show that Nikita had a dark soul. Complicating matters is the military involvement as the army goes after Nikita and plan to take her down regardless. Watching all this was Amanda who has underestimated Nikita, but she seemingly got what she wanted in having Nikita and her group captured. For a minute they had us believe that Nikita crossed that line, but what prevented her from doing so was her group as her influence on that has reflected back at her.



After Nikita gets captured by the government and military, Amanda had to savor this moment to rub it in until Nikita turned the tables on her and revealed that the whole thing was a plan to get back at her. For Amanda it's full circle as she's imprisoned in a basement where she started in. This opens up possibilities of her escaping and going after Nikita and her group down the line should the show revive as a possible TV-movie. Nikita and her group got closure as they went their separate ways and a happy ending is the best one for both Nikita and Michael. When we first saw Nikita in the show's pilot, she was at the beach and now she's back at the beach with Michael this time. Even Ryan got a cameo as sort of a ghost like Jonathan Kent was in Smallville. The entire group is pardoned and Nikita has fulfilled her final mission.

Star Wars Starfighter Review

Star Wars has had many games in the past and they have all been decently good to great in the past. This one plays out like the Rebel Strike Star Wars game for Gamecube, but the gameplay is more refined. Could this game keep up the solid reputation of the Star Wars games or would it end up crushing out hopes? Only one way to find out!



Well, usually I would go into the plot right away, but that's tougher than expected. There is definitely a plot, but you continue to switch characters are you go through the levels and while I do like the main, main character the most, the others are still cool. It's just hard to follow the story and you're really just focusing on the action. I'm sure that the story is very engaging and epic, but you won't remember it by the time that you complete the game. Instead, we shall spend our time focusing on the gameplay and graphics.

Big Data 2.0: the next generation of Big Data

This is a guest post by Gagan Mehra, chief evangelist of Software AG.



In the last few years we have seen Big Data generate a lot of buzz along with the launch of several successful big data products.The big data ecosystem has now reached a tipping point where the basic infrastructural capabilities for supporting big data challenges and opportunities are easily available. Now we are entering what I would call the next generation of big data -- big data 2.0 -- where the focus is on three key areas:

John Mikel Obi's Brother In Dire Car Accident In Enugu

The elder brother of Mikel Obi, Ebele Obi was involved in a ghastly

motor accident on Monday.

According to the former Rangers player, he was in Enugu to see his

Kara no Kyoukai Film 4

, also known as Garden of Sinners, a series of 7 films with a psychological / supernatural focus. The fourth film is called "Garan no Dou" or "The Hollow", and is 45 minutes long, and seems to occur after the second film, and between the third film.



An important note - these write-ups are written after watching each movie, not the whole series of movies. Spoilers of movies beyond the one numbered in each entry will not be tolerated. This is a Things I Like post, it's not a review, but more a discussion of the show and of ideas that have risen in my mind as I've watched it. This time it's slightly farther from a review, but I do note character personalities quite heavily. THERE WILL BE A FAIR AMOUNT OF SPOILERS. TRIGGER-WARNING, this film opens with a rape scene.

Ho! Ho! Ho!

Hi everyone!



Hope you all had a great Christmas. I swear, it comes and goes so quickly and all that money spent...gone. OK, that just makes it sound depressing!!

Like Sand Through an Hourglass...

These are the days of our lives.For real.The time between Annabelle's birthday and Christmas flew by in an instant.One of the reasons it went by so fast is because I've had my head stuck in the ground doing all sorts of craziness and to my detriment, I rarely took the time to look up.So.Here we are.Post-Christmas and lots of memories to recap...



For this first post, I just wanted to post some pictures of things we've been doing since November.

Authentic power in holy wisdom

BEHOLD, I SEND YOU FORTH AS SHEEP IN THE MIDST OF WOLVES:

BE YE THEREFORE WISE AS SERPENTS, AND HARMLESS AS DOVES.

MATTHEW 10:16

Reminder Get Better Car Insurance

If you are experiencing difficulty viewing this important message, .



DVM5C,R,Q,Y,D,SHARDER,HE'D,SERIESr,s,t,o,j,n,v,y,b,m

Five older anime series for beginners.

*Cross posted from my sister blog.



Since I will soon be reviewing anime and manga for a popular website, I decided to do a quick post about five older series to introduce to fans of newer anime, or even those who are just looking for an introduction series.I made a point to choose each from a different genre so that comparing them to one another would be difficult.I also made sure that they were at least a decade old.I would have gone for much older series, however I just don't see a newbie watching Galaxy Express 999 without falling asleep, or Ranma 1/2 without feeling very confused.No offense to either of those mentioned.They each have merit in either artistic presentation or pure nostalgia depending on who you ask.However, what I am looking to talk about are accessible series with tangible story lines.I want to talk about relatable protagonists and villains that are recognizable as something more than a throwback from a saturday morning in the 80's.

Subdued Figures: Nendoroid Saber Extra

It's The Last Figure Review Of The Year! Is It Just Me, Or Did 2013 Go By Really Fast? Anyway, I'm Wrapping Up The Year With A Christmas Present To Myself: Saber From The PSP Game Fate/Extra!



Also known as Red Saber or Saber Extra, this character is not the same person as the one from the main Fate franchise story. This Saber sets herself apart with her red outfit and outspoken personality. Saying anything else would be a spoiler, so if you haven't played the localization of yet, I highly recommend it.

Former HTC Executive Alleged to Have Leaked Company Secrets

Published on: 28th Dec 2013



A former executive at HTC, and five other employees have been charged with leaking company secrets and submitting fake expenses claims in the latest blow for the struggling smartphone manufacturer.

The Beginner's Guide to Anime, No. 31

The series covered in this column has some similarities to last week's piece covering The Irresponsible Captain Tylor. It is a comedy, based on a series of light novels not translated into English. However, whereas the former is science-fiction, this series is a fantasy in the Tolkienesque, DungeonsPrincess Amelia Seyruun, a shrine-maiden whose belief in justice often leads to more problems than solutions; and Xellos Metallium, a priest whose true powers and motives are often shrouded mystery.



One of the central appeals of The Slayers series is that it is very funny comic treatment of the fantasy genre. The show often mocks the situations the characters find themselves in which themselves parody various elements of fantasy. While it is arguable that the characters are somewhat two-dimensional, the stereotypical roles they mock are handled well.

Yuna Kim

Dec 27, 2013, 11:49 AM ESTGetty ImagesYUNA KIM's star power in South Korea has lasted much longer than 15 minutes, but that's how long it took for tickets to sell out for her final competitive event in her home country.The South Korea Figure Skating Championships tickets went on sale Friday at 1 p.m. local time and sold out by 1:15, .The competition takes place Jan. 3-5 in Goyang, near Seoul. Overall, 3,100 tickets were sold. On Monday a remaining 800 tickets will be released, arirang reported.Kim, the 2010 Olympic champion, has said that she will retire following this season, meaning Nationals will be her final competitive event in South Korea.After taking time away from the sport, Kim won World Championships in 2013 in March. Earlier this month, she skated for the first time since then, .
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Belinda Carlisle

A new Belinda Carlisle 'best of' compilation entitled 'The Collection' is released on 17th March 2014.



It's a CD/DVD set consisting of 18 of Belinda's biggest hits along with a new song 'Goodbye, Just Go'. The DVD has the same running order as the CD and consists of 18 promotional videos (but doesn't include the new song). Full track listing is as follows.

Two views on Erdo an's ordeal

Is Erdo an in serious political trouble? Is it the end?



Here are the views of two keen observers of Turkey.

Because the Night by Kristen Strassel excerpt

Title: Because the Night Author: Kristen StrasselSeries: Night Song's Collection Series (#1)Genre: NA Paranormal Romance Publisher: Foreword Literary Release Date: Nov 5 2013Edition/Formats It Will Be Available In: eBookmargin-left:0;margin-top:0;width:158.25pt;height:105pt; z-index:2;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square;mso-wrap-distance-left:9pt; mso-wrap-distance-top:0;mso-wrap-distance-right:9pt; mso-wrap-distance-bottom:0;mso-position-horizontal:left; mso-position-horizontal-relative:text;mso-position-vertical:top; mso-position-vertical-relative:text'>



AUTHOR LINKS

Soupiest Game Awards 2013: The Final Countdown

It's the final countdown! Here are my top 5 games of 2013, my most anticipated titles for 2014, and some of my favorite games of the last generation. Enjoy!



SOUP'S TOP FIVE GAMES OF 2013

Friday, December 27, 2013

Suzuki Hustler

Suzuki Motor Corp. said Tuesday its new Hustler minivehicle, which combines the characteristics of a car and a sport utility vehicle, will go on sale Jan. 8.

The name Hustler was chosen to conjure the image of agility, as well as invite nostalgia from customers who remembered an off-road motorbike released in 1969 called the Hustler 250, said a Suzuki public relations officer.


16 week!

After a few weeks into the second trimester, I am finally feeling better from nausea and sudden hunger pains. I feel a little more like my old self again now that my appetite is pretty stable and my food cravings don't seem as much of an emergency. Like I said in the announcement post, I had a very rough first trimester this time around. I was struggling with this constant sadness and felt like crying and depressed most nights. I was scared and felt helpless to see my body change and was definitely not ready to gain weight.After dee was weaned, I started working really hard to keep a healthy lifestyle. I was doing cardio and strength training consistently at home. I was eating right with the kids. I felt good. For the first time in my life, I felt good about myself and how I looked in the mirror. But then the baby came, and everything I've worked so hard for was getting thrown out the window. I was so bitter and sad. And mad at myself that I was so vain to still struggle with body image issues like back in high school. I know it might sound ridiculous to let stuff like this get to me when it's my third pregnancy, but it was all very real. I'm feeling better now, though. I've started wearing maternity clothes again and have invested in a couple new pieces since my old ones were so beat up after 2 pregnancies. And, as vain as it sounds, it made me happy :)



Seriously though, now that I'm emotionally normal again (kind of), I am just very thankful that God has give me a healthy body for the baby to grow in. We are getting excited around here, too! Both Zoey and Dee got it, and they are getting impatient that the baby is so small and growing so slowly :) Z really wants a baby sister so she can name her Emma, and Dee loves laying on my tummy to be close to the baby. Gary and I have been brainstorming about baby names, too. We can't wait to find out what this baby is! 4 more weeks! :)

Socks are visible

Right then.Are you ready for this?I have a LOT to catch you up on.Sometimes I think my life is measured in reverse cat years, as so much seems to get jammed into a short space of time.I don't blog for a week and everything changes.



So, since my last blog post on Santacon, I traveled to Chicago and started my new job at Takeda!Now, I generally will not blog about my job as talking about work stuff on social media is fraught with potential pitfalls - I don't ever want to do a Justine Sacco (for any of you unfamiliar with the story, click here:- story's end? her ass was totally fired).But, as I sat down last night to write this blog post, I figured just describing my first week at work, the folk I'd met and the excitement of all the preparations for my impending move to Japan would be perfectly fine.