Sunday, January 31, 2010

Explore your library

I just read David Lee King’s post about Foursquare and Libraries and I’m intrigued. Foursquare is a location based social networking game that encourages you to explore your city by “checking in” when you visit various places. You can see who else has been there, add tips, tags, and to-do lists, and earn points and badges depending on what you do. For example, the first time you use FourSquare you get the Newbie badge. After 10 check-ins you get the Adventurer badge. Visit a place more than anyone else and you become mayor – at least until someone unseats you.

Like many social networking sites, FourSquare had definite potential for libraries. After all, shouldn’t visiting your local library be a key part of exploring your town? Your library can add to-do lists for patrons – like get a library card, check out 5 books, or attend a workshop. You can also add tips like free wi-fi, closes at 6 on Friday, new video game collection, and so on.

Many businesses have already realized the potential for FourSquare by offering rewards to loyal customers. These generally are along the lines of a free drink for the mayor, or free fries to anyone who’s checked-in more than 10 times. What if libraries offered similar rewards? Perhaps a waived fine, free book from the book sale, the ability to check out an extra DVD, or even just recognition on the electronic message board.

[Via http://asleepinthestacks.wordpress.com]

Sexy n Birthday in more than one Way

“ I walked with a sense of unfamiliar pride, uncertian yet strangely well deserved. It felt good to go out, with a newly found rush of confidence. Feeling good, looking good, talking smooth and letting loose my true power from within, after years of depraved sociality, I knew I had finally deserved it.“

Last night WAS a good night.

Yesterday was my friend Charlene’s birthday so I was invited over to her place, along with a bunch of friends to have some fun :)
We sang singstar, drank drinks, talked and jibba jabba.
Later in the evening we went out to Viper to dance and drink some mo, it was very fun, especially because we were so many people there together.

I am trying to learn the 3 different dance styles my friends Fletch, Jimmeh and Joey have invented. The Robo-flow( Fletch), The Looney dance( Jimmeh) and The Date-rape dance ( Joey). Combining those 3 dances and youre a star on the dancefloor… hehe.
Gonna try to show some moves for my next Vlog, just gotta find enough material to use…. EXCITING RIGHT!!??

PICTURES COMING LATER FROM PARTAY ^^
Today I was out shopping with my mother, and I got 2 new awesome T-shirts, one regular v-neck black and a SUPER AWESOME STAR WARS Tshirt!!!!!!1111!!!111



[Via http://greatlittlefortune.wordpress.com]

Saturday, January 30, 2010

announcer-in-chief

President of the United States Barack Obama talks to CBS annoucers Clark Kellogg and Verne Lundquist  during a college basketball game between Georgetown Hoyas  and the Duke Blue Devils on January 30, 2010 at the Verizon Center in Washington DC.

[Via http://chipsticks.wordpress.com]

2D Game Developers Free Mario Vector Remakes

Starting right now, my team of artists and I will be developing sprite sheets of old video game characters. Starting out with a comprehensive Super Mario Bros sprite sheet. You will be able to find the art for preview and download on my Art page. But you will have to wait, because this is supposed to be a few week long project. So if you are interested in using very high detail graphics in your 2d platformer, just subscribe to this blogs RSS feed or even as a member if you like. Then I promise I will personally let you know when you can download these gems. Here is the sprite sheet we are remaking. I hope you like it!

[Via http://kadajett.com]

Mass Effect 2 (2010) Digital Deluxe Edition torrent


Mass Effect 2 (2010) To download this torrent, you need a P2P BitTorrent client like Vuze. Download torrent: Download Mass Effect 2 (2010) Digital Deluxe Edition torrentBookmark Torrent: Mass Effect 2 (2010) Digital Deluxe EditionSend Torrent: Mass Effect 2 (2010) Digital Deluxe Edition Mass Effect 2 (2010) Digital Deluxe Edition torrent Alternative download: This download might also be available on DirectDownload (highspeed access 16 mbit), on Rapidshare Bookmark: // Bookmark and Share Info hash: 0b802c35e1d30cfbfe17239a90976dd36426ab2a Category: Categories > Games torrents > Windows torrents Trackers: 1 View all torrent trackers > Seeds: 17,988 Leechers: 215,990

Health:
Torrent language: Russian Russian Total Size: 12.70 GB Number of files: 2 View torrent files > More torrents: Search for Mass Effect 2 (2010) Digital Deluxe Edition torrentMass Effect 2 (2010) Digital Deluxe Edition torrents Torrent status: Checked Checked by Add Review
Send PM
View Comments
User Torrents

megadethmen

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!AdminTrusted UploaderSuperman

Uploader: ceo54

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!Trusted UploaderET lover

Torrent added: 2010-01-29 15:29:57

Download Mass Effect 2 (2010) Digital Deluxe Edition torrentDownload from UseNeXT

Torrent Description 8b.jpeg Жанр: Action (Shooter) / RPG / 3D / 3rd Person
Год выхода: 2010
Разработчик: BioWare Corporation
Издатель: Electronic Arts
Издатель в России: Electronic Arts
Язык (локализатор): Русский (ЕА – текст), Чешский, Английский, Испанский, Венгерский Ji.jpeg HR.jpeg qN.jpeg Описание:
Спустя два года после того, как командор Шепард отразил вторжение Пожинателей, у человечества появился новый враг, методично истребляющий колонии людей на окраинах исследованного космоса. Чтобы противостоять надвигающейся угрозе, легендарному Спектру придется сотрудничать с могущественной и безжалостной организацией *Цербер*, цель которой – любой ценой спасти человечество от уничтожения.
Для выполнения чрезвычайно ответственной и опасной миссии Шепарду предстоит собрать отряд опытных и сильных бойцов и принять командование самым мощным космическим кораблем в Галактике. Однако многие считают, что даже с такими ресурсами операция обречена на провал. Шепард должен доказать скептикам, что они ошибаются.

Особенности игры:
На карту поставлена судьба человечества
Создайте непобедимую команду, каждый боец которой обладает уникальными способностями.
Игроки, прошедшие первую часть Mass Effect, смогут загрузить сохраненные данные и продолжить историю командора Шепарда.
Приключения тех, кто только знакомится с вселенной Mass Effect, будут не менее увлекательными, – вторая часть игры еще более захватывающая, эффектная и динамичная, чем первая.
Победа любой ценой
Изучите основы тактики, освойте девятнадцать уникальных классов оружия и обрушьте всю мощь и ярость на врагов, используя улучшенную систему боя.
Новая усовершенствованная система управления, рассчитанная на динамичные сражения, позволит полностью контролировать обстановку и добиваться победы в самых сложных условиях.
Объять необъятное
Командуя космическим кораблем *Нормандия*, побывайте в самых отдаленных и опасных уголках Вселенной. Исследуйте таинственные планеты, населенные фантастическими существами.
Знакомьтесь с колоритными персонажами, выполняйте дополнительные задания, чтобы узнать больше о вселенной Mass Effect.

Особенности Digital Deluxe Edition

Terminus Assault Armor
# На 10% увеличивает штурмовую скорость
# Все оружие получает дополнительную запасную обойму
# На 15% увеличивает защиту

M-490 Blackstorm
# Мощное гравитационное оружие

Inferno Armour

# На 10% увеличивает навык общения
# На 10% увеличивает силу повреждений
# На 10% увеличивает штурмовую скорость

Нарезная снайперская винтовка
# Эксклюзивный игровой предмет Mass Effect 2 Digital Deluxe издания.

Броня Коллекционеров
# На 10% увеличивает скорость восстановления
# На 10% увеличивает штурмовую скорость
# На 20% увеличивает здоровье

Штурмовая винтовка Коллекционеров
# Уничтожает щиты противника

А так же!
# Официальный саундтрэк — 2 бонусных трэка в качестве эксклюзива издания.
# Постер известного артиста Craig Mullins.
# Видео файлы с закадровыми сценами и роликами о создании игры.
# Цифровая версия Сборника комиксов Mass Effect Redemption 1.
# Цифровая версия альбома эскизов.
# Уникальная карточка сети Цербер, открывающая доступ к дополнительным материалам.

Системные требования:
Минимальные:
-OS: Windows XP SP3, Windows Vista SP1, Windows 7
-CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo 1.8 ГГц или аналогичный по производительности AMD Athlon
-VIDEO: NVIDIA GeForce 6800 или ATI Radeon X1600
-RAM: 1гб (XP), 2гб (Vista/7)
-HDD: 15 Гб

Рекомендуемые:
-OS: Windows XP SP3, Windows Vista SP1, Windows 7
-CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo 2.6 ГГц или аналогичный по производительности AMD Athlon
-VIDEO: NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GT или ATI Radeon HD 2900
-RAM: 2гб
-HDD: 15 Гб

Версия игры: 1.0.1593.2

Установка:
1. Смонтировать в DT
2. Зайти в папку Game и начать установку
3. Установить
4. Скопировать кряк в папку с игрой
5. Играть

gA6.gif

Download Mass Effect 2 (2010) Digital Deluxe Edition torrentDownload from UseNeXT

[Via http://satyajitsen.wordpress.com]

Thursday, January 28, 2010

Modnation Racers Closed Beta - Impressions

As I write this I’ve just finished a race in my custom made car that contained my custom made driver. It’s unlikely anyone else in the world has either the exact same driver or car. :cool:

This is the big appeal of Modnation Racers for me – the complete customisation of the experience. Whether it’s car, driver or even tracks you are in control.

LittleBigPlanet meets Mario Kart: it’s the laziest and yet most accurate way to describe Modnation Racers.

You will create yourself a driver and car from a blank canvas. It sounds daunting but you could do that in 10 minutes because of the easy to use interface. You probably won’t though because once you start you feel an investment in them and before you know it an hour has passed. :lol:

For the beta you don’t have access to all the items in the ‘creation station’ (the place where the genius happens) but for now you won’t need them. For example, 8 sets of eyes are enough to choose from, let alone the 260 that will be in the main game.

The track editor is superb – effectively letting you drive around an open space creating the track layout behind you. It’s so easy to use when you get used to the menu layout that it’s possible to put together a great track in about 15/20 minutes.

Once you are set up you’ll be able to challenge people to a race if you see them driving round the lobby areas or head into the time trial or main races.

The main races feature weapons, all of which seem to be fairly well balanced, and it really adds a depth to the racing action.

Let’s not beat about the bush – Modnation Racers is the best kart racing game since Mario Kart… having said that there isn’t much of a challenge in that area.

It’ll be interesting to see how the feedback from the beta shapes the final product but for me this is so much fun and so expressive that it will be a definite purchase.

[Via http://greghorrorshow.wordpress.com]

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

All around

Death seems to be all around right now. I went to the rink today to watch a game and found out that one of the men that stands behind me and my friends at the games died in a terrible accident yesterday. He made it out of the accident but died in the hospital shortly after arriving there. Me and my friends were deeply sadden by the news and the victory in the game was, and still is, over shadowed by his death. It was all to clear that someone was missing in the stands when the game started and I felt out of sorts the whole time I was at the rink.

Rest In Peace!

[Via http://jessicamari.wordpress.com]

Joan Jade and the Gates of Xibalba game – Uncover a story!

Joan Jade and the Gates of XibalbaThree things stand between you and your children – a jungle teeming with danger, the ruins of an ancient Mayan tribe and a band of thugs – and you’re not going to let any of them stop you! Take the role of Joan Jade, archeologist of the year and mother extraordinaire, as she searches for hidden objects, solves mind-melting puzzles and beats one ingenious mini-game after another. Along the way, you’ll visit dozens of beautifully crafted locations, uncover a story of nail biting suspense and learn fun facts about one of the most fascinating lost civilizations on Earth.
Leave all your things, start playing! Ingenious puzzles await you, miracles, surprises, lots of colorful locations to search for items and precious trophies. Joanne Jade needs your help!
Joan Jade and the Gates of Xibalba Game Features
• 82 puzzles
• 30 locations
• 240 objects to find
• 19 trophies to collect
• 12 cutscenes

Take the role of archeologist in the hidden object game – Joan Jade and the Gates of Xibalba

Joan Jade and the Gates of Xibalba game screenshots

Joan Jade and the Gates of Xibalba game screenshot

Joan Jade and the Gates of Xibalba game screenshot

[Via http://besthiddenobjectgames.wordpress.com]

Sunday, January 24, 2010

Tales of Symphonia Dawn of the New World Review

The story begins 2 years after the events of Tales of Symphonia with the main character Emil Castagnier and Marta Lualdi. The world of Tethe’alla and Sylvarant that was separated in the previous game has now been combined into one single unified world due to the actions of the Chosen’s group during the World Regeneration. However, even though the worlds are now combined into one there are strange weather occurrences happening all over the world. As if that was not enough, the Tethe’allans are discriminating against the Sylvaranti due to their lack of technological development. This type of action causes a battle to break out between the religious group called the Church of Martel from the Tethe’alla and the Vanguard, also known as the Sylvaranti Liberation Front.
One day a massacre happens in a city called Palmacosta due to the city’s association with the Vanguard. The Church of Martel uses this opportunity to wipe out the city’s population without mercy; this was called the Blood Purge. In the midst of the slaughter, a young girl named Marta runs through the city hoping to escape with a strange jewel. Unfortunately the girl is cornered by the Church but fortunate enough to be saved by a mysterious yellow haired boy. The boy walks away from the girl and the story continues when they are reunited 6 months later.

Tales of Symphonia had a complex story line for the genre at the time but not enough to dazzle any fans of the genre. Regardless of how gamers criticize Symphonia, the story is something that people remember very well as one of their fan favorites. As a result of this, a direct sequel called Dawn of the New World (or Knight of Ratatosk in Japanese) is created to further develop and tell what happened after Lloyd, the main character of the first game, and his friends finished their journey. Although the story doesn’t match up to the magnificence of Symphonia because of the lack of “epicness” and length, Dawn of the New World does a sufficient job enough to please the fans and satiate some of the RPG hungry gamers on the Wii.

The story’s main strength lies in the interaction between Emil and Marta, the two main characters of the game, and their relationship with each other. The conversations that they hold together and the actions that occur because of their bond is something that holds this game together regardless of how bad certain aspects of the game gets. Emil, the male protagonist, is a fascinating character in that he experiences dynamic change throughout the game and is very evident. Marta, the female protagonist, is Emil’s buffer and support and helps to complicate the story and the situation for the better. With all said and done, or with all things watched and heard, the game does a good job with the story on many portions, and even better than a few RPGs, but it has its shortcomings.

The main shortcoming to this game is that confusion will often occur if the player didn’t play the first game. Because this game is a direct sequel to it, players will need to have prior knowledge of the game in order to grasp certain aspects of the story and the drama that occurs later on, although optional. Even though the players can understand what is going on by browsing through online sources to find out what happened, or by listening in on some of the extra conversations offered throughout the game, this isn’t something that can be easily remedied unless you play the first game. However, this doesn’t mean that the story of the game is bad, the story is quite good and stands on its own feet, but this is a game meant to be played by the fans and understood bythe fans also.

The gameplay in DotNW is very solid, in fact there are few minor errors in the main formula at all, but there are technicalities here and there that ultimately bring DotNW to a second-rate RPG. The game is a very typical RPG with the player controlling a main character in an area and then goes into a battle when he runs into a monster in dungeons. The game utilizes typical RPG mechanics but adds in certain things into the mix to create an identity of its own.
One of the main things that the Tales of franchise has been widely known for is its fun and addicting battle system. They have vastly improved the battle engine from the previous Symphonia game but nothing compared to the new engine that Tales of Vesperia runs. The engine that runs DotNW is called Flex-Range Element Enhanced Linear Motion Battle System or FREE-LMBS in short. When a player runs into a monster in a dungeon, a battle will occur where the player is placed in a battle area with 4 characters. The player controls one character and the other three are run by an AI. The battle area is a very large circle with invisible boundaries. When battling with the character that the player controls there are two types of attack buttons which are normal attacks and Artes. Normal attacks are done by clicking the A-button near an enemy and Artes are accessed by the B-button with a direction on the Nunchuck joystick. The battle is very quick and very fast paced.

Along with the regular attack buttons players are granted a few more features that they can use in combat. When fighting an enemy the player fights a single monster on a linear plane, however, by holding the Z-button the player has the ability to Free-run wherever he chooses. The battle is very accessible with this feature and is a necessity. Along with the Free-run ability, Unison Attacks make a return in the game. Although, the depth of this feature has gone down it is still a very helpful feature. When attacking or attacked, a bar below the character’s status bars fills up. After the bar has been filled up a certain amount the player can Unison Attack. The last notable feature about DotNW is that monsters can be used on your side when battling. When Emil defeats a
monster in battle, he may have the option to make a pact with it and make it fight on your side. Although this feature feels a little gimmicky, it is a necessity when players are playing on the harder difficulties. The player has the option to evolve the monsters and teach it a variety of skills. The depth that the game offers in monster customization is very well implemented. Eventually, your monsters might even best the human characters that you might recruit later on in the game. When the player isn’t battling, he will control Emil and navigate him around the various areas that you will explore. These locations can range from a snowy city or a hot desert temple. Players can buy new items and restock on healing items in towns, while they may encounter grunt enemies in
dungeons to proceed through the plot. There isn’t much slowdown in the story at all due to its length and the gameplay flow is very consistent throughout. Each town has its own unique identity and the dungeons have a different puzzle that the player must figure out before proceeding to another area. Although veterans of Symphonia might find the rehash of certain areas tedious, the game stays consistent with many places staying the way it used to be. Unfortunately, the game has now World Map travel. To be more precise, traveling from one area to another no longer requires the player’s exploration of the world and instead uses a single button to go from one place to another. This “point and click” system on the world map cuts down major traveling time in the game but removes the fun and exploration of the world that many RPGs have to offer.

The mechanics that DotNW implements are well done and make the game very enjoyable. The battles are very satisfying and the amounts of sidequests or extras are enough to satisfy a game of this magnitude. The overall gameplay portion isn’t something that many previous games of the genre can beat but can be overlooked when compared to Tales of Vesperia or Final Fantasy.

Though there are many things to be praised about in DotNW’s gameplay mechanics there are minor problems that deter the game’s overall playability. There isn’t anything major that brings the quality of the game down but when the minor mistakes are added up, there seems to be a lack of refinement. The first major thing that can be noticed around 2 hours into the game is frame-rate. The game flows very very nicely through the game but there are portions of the game where the frame rate drops and the movements of characters become jagged.

Another problem with the game is the uncontrollable difficulty. The grunt fights are unbelievably easy for the player to complete the boss fights are considerably different. The first problem that the boss fights have is that the players will most likely die to them once or numerous times before actually beating the boss. This is due to immense amount of damage that the boss inflicts upon you. Not only that, but the recovery time given for you to escape chained attacks will not always be sufficient, causing your death. Skill is something that players will need but also patience, and maybe a couple of your friends to help with the boss fights. To only add the difficulty of the fights are the Mystic Artes. Mystic Artes are the ultimate moves granted to each player character in the game, and majority of the bosses. The move is virtually inescapable and will ultimately cause your
characters to fall to 1 HP. This is nearly unacceptable as the players will be harshly punished for the gap of difficulty between fights and definitely noticeable on the harder difficulty modes.

The last major minor problem that the game has is the length and feel for the game. The battles are smooth and addictive but the game feels very arcade-like at times and therefore diminishing the feeling of a console game. This isn’t a bad thing but if a game feels like this then there is something that gives less value to overall experience of the game. Other than that, the battle portion is very well-implemented and executed. The length is acceptable but is very short for an RPG. The flow of the game, as mentioned, is fairly consistent but at times it feels rushed to the point where the player is bombarded with a series of revelations and plot twists. This isn’t anything major and probably adds to the drama that the game offers but one can’t but feel a little lost and overwhelmed at times.

The graphics of the game isn’t something that will dazzle many players of the genre but is something that can be tolerated. The whole entire game is graphically consistent as the cutscenes and animations are all done seamlessly. There isn’t any change of graphical style other than the anime opening in the beginning of the game. The character models look great, more realistically than Symphonia, and the artistic direction of the game looks better than before also. The only problem that the game has visually is its lack of detail. This graphics engine could probably be used on the Gamecube but somehow Namco-Bandai decided that it was okay to use an “okay”
graphical engine. The graphics aren’t something that players will be puking over, but it’s certainly not the best that it can do on the system. The colors are vibrant but at the same time seem bland. The flashy lights still glow when using certain Artes but other than that, extreme colors are non-existent. Overall, people can’t complain about the direction that the game went graphically but one can always advise Namco-Bandai to use a better engine next time.
The sound in the game is exceptional and has come a long way especially when someone compares it to the original Symphonia.  Music ranges from rehashes of Symphonia to new mixes from DotNW. The music that plays when
you explore a dungeon from the previous Symphonia can definitely be a remix of the original tune or the original tune itself. Regardless of the reusing of the same tune, the quality of the tunes is still great. Music doesn’t play a major emphasis on the players but is still something nice for them to hear time to time.

Character voices are done exceptionally well for this game and stands out as one of the strong points. Unfortunately people will compare the previous voice actors to the current voice actors and how the new actors are not good but when this difference is set aside the voices are good. Emil has two different personalities and both of them are portrayed very well. The other human casts have voices that fit their personality and their emotions are presented effectively. The major difference between this game and the previous game is the voiced skits. Skits are fun side-conversations that can be accessed throughout the game. The characters are very emotional in these conversations and the sounds of their hearts are excellently presented. Nothing bad can be said about the sound quality or the overall sound of the game other than the lack of emphasis
and supreme excellence.

The game is currently priced at $40 out of the $50 dollars for a full-priced Wii game. DotNW is very short in length only lasting about 20-30 hours on your first playthrough if you rush it. However, the game’s playability truly shines when the player plays through it a second time using the GRADE shop. GRADE is something that is earned throughout the game and with it players can use it to buy perks for the next playthrough such as inherit skills, inherits titles, and such. The game is worth playing multiple times and is very amusing for a quick run through such as reading a novel. For not being a full-priced game, DotNW is quite a grab.

Tales of Symphonia: Dawn of the New World is an excellent RPG with its own merits. The game is very amusing to go through and is very funny at times. DotNW offers something that not many RPGs can do right due to its own separate identity that it holds even though it is an RPG. The game’s battle system is very fun and action packed that can easily have a player addicted to it. The story is heartwarming, dramatic, and somewhat suspenseful. The graphics and animations are amazing to look at, especially during cutscene fights. The sound is outstanding due to the great work put by the voice actors. Last but not least, the value that the game has with only $40 is quite a deal. With nearly everything said, Tales of Symphonia does more rights than it does wrongs and the wrongs that it has can be easily overlooked when you enjoy the game. Tales of
Symphonia: Dawn of the New World is an adventure that fans of the series will not forget

Triforce-News Final Score 82.0%

[Via http://triforcenews.wordpress.com]

If I Knew Then...

Today was an incredibly boring day. After getting to sleep in a little late, The Boyfriend realized he still had the keys from work. So he ended up having to take a cab up to the south end. Before leaving he was all like “If they have them, do you want me to pick up a Wii?”. Hells yes I did. Well then they didn’t have them.

The Boyfriend bought the kids a new movie and Super Troopers (which I’ve never had an interest to see, but he insisted that I’d think it was hilarious. I didn’t…), but didn’t come back with any other treats than beef jerky for me. So of course, I had to give him a hard time. I go “You didn’t get me anything?” and he felt all bad and was like “I looked and couldn’t find anything you’d want.” He’s partially right. All the things that I want, that aren’t a Wii or a car, are things that I don’t want enough to get right now.

But of course, I had to be right, and The Boyfriend was all like “I didn’t know what you’d want”, I had to be like “I’ve told you a ton of things that I wanted”, he says “Like what?”, so naturally I started thinking of things. Materials for my home management notebook for one. Though I automatically hated this idea, because it’s just a big fat reminder that I haven’t done anything more with the whole idea.

So I spent the better majority of the morning-afternoon, being bored and thinking about how much I wish I could’ve been playing a Wii. Oh well, beggars can’t be choosers. Patience is a virtue. Blah blah blah…

Kaeidyn, Kenzie and Keirnan went to American’s and English’s tonight with Alfie, and The Boyfriend was sleeping, so Carter and I hung out on the couch for a few hours tonight. He barely slept at all the entire time, and was mostly in a good mood. He was very talkative. And I would talk back, and use my real laugh instead of my fake laugh when he would smile really big.

The Boyfriend woke up around nine, and Carter was awake and talkative, and started experimenting with his laugh. He’s coo, and then he’d get kind of loud. Then he’d hold his breath and let out with this puff of coo. He kept doing it over and over, like he was practicing laughing. It’s amazing how fast he’s growing up.

An acquaintance of mine, a great friend of Alfie’s, came over today. He hadn’t seen Carter since he was born. Right away, he commented on how huge Carter’s gotten. All the other kids took awhile to “grow up”. They were all premature and had no desire to be older than their age.

Kaeidyn, born 4 weeks premature, started rolling over and crawling around 5 months. She started walking at 9 1/2 months. Kenzie, who was technically born full term, 2 weeks before my due date, was about the same as Kaeidyn. He started walking later, closer to a year for him. Keirnan, born 7 weeks premature, started rolling over and crawling around 6 months and walking around 10 or 11 months. Carter is rolling over and crawling at 3 months (started at 2…)! He’s also teething alot sooner than the other three. They all started about the same time they started crawling.

Does anyone else seriously miss their babies being babies? I never experienced this with any of the other kids. But every time I look at Carter, I just keep thinking about my babies when they were babies, or more babies than what they are now.

If I could go back and re-do it all, I would in a heartbeat. I’d love to experience the whole trauma with Kaeidyn’s birth and the months that followed again, except for I’d like to deal with alot of the things that happened during that time differently. I’d kill to have my pre-Kenzie body back and the energy that I felt after having him. I’d go back to when Keirnan was in the hospital, and I’d spend more time with him, nurturing and caring for him.

I wasn’t present for the other kids like I am with Carter. Life was so hectic and crazy during those times. I almost feel bad when I give Carter all this love and attention that he gets, when the other kids didn’t get that when they were that age. With Kaeidyn, I went through a horrible bout of postpartum depression, plus I had had the infected c-section incision that lasted close to the first month she was home. I didn’t hold her as often as I could’ve, I didn’t play with her as much as I should’ve, I didn’t say “I love you” to her every single day. I regret that…

With Kenzie, I was caught up in boys and my version of partying (which trust me, is probably nothing in comparison to most people’s version of partying). He got alot more than Kaeidyn did, as I had spent two very serious weeks in a mental institution at the beginning of the pregnancy, and had much more control over alot of my emotions. Him and I bonded right from the second he was born, though as he got older, we’ve just kind of drifted apart. He’s too into his games right now (seriously thinking about putting a stop to the whole gaming thing for him for awhile), and I’m just not that into games.

Keirnan was in the hospital for the first month of his life, and I was living in a hotel with the two other kids. Mama T worked full-time, Alfie was out of town and I had no one else to rely on to watch the older kids daily so I could go visit Keirnan. I would go up about every three days, sometimes more. In the first week, it wasn’t that bad. I was only allowed to hold him for 15 minutes a day, I was pumping at home and bringing in bottles of breast milk.

When people started visiting him in the hospital, I would always say “He looks like he’s dead”. He’d be laying there, covered in cords, under his cloth sunglasses (he was under lamps because of his jaundice, which he went in and out of having the whole time he was in the hospital), just barely breathing. I’d reach in and touch him through the holes and he never flinched, never moved. Just laid there.

About 3 weeks in, I cried and cried, for the first time. I hate that I didn’t see him more, and that I didn’t cherish that first month more. I hate that I couldn’t hold him more. Now as he gets older, I wish I had more patience. He’s in that stage of learning to talk, yet having no idea how. He squeals and grunts and points. With Kaeidyn, she picked up on the talking really quickly. As long as she was told to slow down, she could get what she wanted across. Kenzie, I hardly remember what it was like when he started talking. It seemed like one day he couldn’t and the next day he could. Keirnan is just not picking it up at all, and he doesn’t slow down. I’m finding that I don’t do so well during this stage.

I’m glad that I have at least another 10+ years to make up for all the mistakes I made with my kids. At least I have  the rest of my life to tell all the kids “I love you” everyday. And thankfully, even with all the mistakes I made, all my kids are healthy, happy and to me, their amazing. And even though I miss when they were babies, I can’t wait to see what their going to be like when they’re older.

Kaeidyn will most likely have a rotten attitude, just like her mother. I have a feeling that I’m going to go through alot of the same things my Mom went through with me with that girl. Kenzie, if he sticks with this gamer thing, will most likely be tied up in his bedroom, playing games and designing graphics. I could totally see him being a whiny emo kid (oh wait, he already is ;) ). With Keirnan, it’s really too soon to tell. He’ll most likely be like Alfie was growing up, except Keirnan will do it better. For every bit of devilish destruction that Alfie participated in, Keirnan will destroy twice as much. Alfie was/is a wannabe ladies man, Keirnan will be a ladies man. I’m hoping one of them will be super musical, maybe it’ll be Carter.

Well I had planned for this to only be a short post, but looks like that plan didn’t turn out as planned ;) More again tomorrow, only a week and a day left before I’ve officially completed NaBloPoMo!! YAY!!

[Via http://rantingsofatorturedmind.wordpress.com]

Saturday, January 23, 2010

Borderlands Review

 

Developer: Gearbox
Publisher: 2K Games
Genre: Role-playing shooter
Released: Fall 2009
Platforms: Xbox 360, Playstation 3, Windows

First off, As someone who has played this game for over 50 hour there are still moments of genuine joy while playing this game. For any veteran of the FPS (First-Person Shooter) the controls are intuitive and easy to pick up. The total first person newbie, might have some difficulty navigating the 3rd person environment at first, but trust me the initial disorientation will be worth the experience you are about to have.

The player is one of the four vault seekers here to kick all the ass on Pandora and claim the mythical vault as your own. Legends abound of the wealth that the vault contains, but the path is littered with pitfalls and perils. The four seekers of the vault are; Lilith, the siren who specializes in her phase walk attack, Roland, the Soldier, whose turret actually makes it feel “like there is a another solider on the field”, Mordeci, the hunter, whose pet Bloodwig tears his foes to shreds, and Brick who loves to use his fists to get the job done. Playing as one these four and the action starts as the player is familiar with the HUD.

This game is fast-paced and action packed FPS RPG (Role Playing Game) with enemies constantly testing your mettle. The player will find it hard to ever have a moment of boredom while playing and then there is the loot! The player is always on the prowl for the next awesome gun or piece of equipment and the player will find it. The player will sometimes find themselves exclaiming in unison with their character when they find their next piece of ‘Phat Loot’. The game even allows the player to play multiple playthroughs with the same character if they didn’t get enough as they gunned their way through the wilds of Pandora the first time. The player even has the option of having up to 3 other people help on their adventure.

The game does have a few glitches. Sometimes you can get stuck and the in-game menu is somewhat clunky especially in split screen. However, you don’t spend much time in menu and a quick reload with get you unstuck anyway. You probably won’t lose anything anyway because the game auto-saves seamlessly and often.

Gearbox has created a strong game with this release with only a few minor glitches. Their implementation of the FPS with just a dash of RPG is a truly addictive combination.

4 out of 5 stars

[Via http://paradoxesandpies.wordpress.com]