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Post by The Herald on Oct 9, 2007 1:55:29 GMT
Pardon the mess and step over some of the rubble. Special thanks to gray929, Pandora, and our lovely eternity for putting such a serious effort into this month's production. You all really stepped up to the plate and I can't even begin to express how much I appreciate that.
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Post by The Herald on Oct 9, 2007 1:55:52 GMT
I'd be easy to say that this month's member of the month is a repeat because we never gave him his due credit before... but this month, Gray929's name popped into my head well before I was told his name never appeared in the info center. He's worked his butt off for the Herald- above and beyond the call of duty. I appreciated his hard work and constant dedication more that I can possibly put into words... a sentiment I know is echoed by Pandora. For this reason- and not simply as repayment for not honoring him properly in September- Gray929 is October's Member of the Month as well. This month I have picked Iluminox by XD. Whilst XD has had a few features already, I just cannot pass up the chance to feature this wonderful looking skin. The colour scheme, whilst simple, is highly effective and allows you to easily read the forum descriptions and names. I like the simplicity of the banner, the reflection on the text is a nice touch and adds a little more interest to that side of the image. I would have personally preferred the info center and login areas to have head/base images too but a simple code could update this. The footer is quite large but reflects the style and size of the banner, so there is a sort of symmetry in the skin. As with last month's feature, this is not a complete skin. The colour scheme could make it difficult to find additions that go with it too. However, this is a very well made skin that would look great on any sort of forum as it is not too heavily tied to any one category. I had to think very hard on this month's Literature of the Month winner, that one piece of prose or poetry that rose above the others in mood and eloquence. It was a toss up between two pieces, but there can indeed be only one. The mood was the gutter. The "F" bomb was eloquently executed once every other sentence. A heart warming Christmas tale for all of those bitter fools who were pissed on by the holidays on an annual basis. I bring you "A Winter's Tale" by Bryanic. I posted just the link to the story instead of the story itself for this reason: If you still believe in Santa Claus, you probably shouldn't read this. Consider yourself warned. This month's featured photo was difficult to choose. Why? Because there is rather little activity in the board. I do hope there will be more activity in the board next month. This month's featured photo goes to... The blur of the hand, to me, really captured the atmosphere of the concert. The expression is brilliant as well. The lighting irks me a little, but I think it wouldn't stand out from the background as much, if it was normal lighting. So there you go, the Photo of the Month. Great job, Tommy. "And plus, there is this really hot Holland girl in my photography class.
Can you say Bom Chicka Wah Wah?"
"Can you say dutch?"Nemesis & The Baron. "Dutch and... Bow Chicka Wow Wow.. Come on people watch RVB and Axe commercials..."Vincent Fury, in response to above. "If it didn't mean relocating to the middle of nowhere, in Wales of all places, then I'd be quite happy to live in one of those."The Baron. "As an administrator and guardian of the poor little 13 year olds on this board... I'm going to have to ask you to please watch your language, Mr. Bryanic.
Or at least find better insults, fucker. <3"urban.cinderella, in response to bryanic. "I'm sorry for completely manipulating this topic, but when i read the title all i could think of was some guy going to the doctor with crabs... wow."combo. "So one mistype of a word causes 5 people to reply correcting me?
Now I will triple dot you..."
"It's called an ellipsis."Nemesis and Whitney. "...Something grew inside your mother. And it was....
YOU!
Happy Birthday, Nathan! My fellow Dethklok fan."
"Who is your daddy and what does he do?"Pandora and Nemesis. Ninety-eight percent of the adults in this country are decent, hard-working, honest Americans. It's the other lousy two percent that get all the publicity. But then - we elected them.Lily TomlinFamiliarity breeds contempt - and children.Mark TwainGolf is a good walk spoiled.Mark TwainI learned about stress management from my kids. Every night after work, I drink some chocolate milk, eat sugary cereal straight from the box, then run around the house in my underwear screaming like a monkey.Randy GlasbergenThere are three ways to get something done: 1.) Do it yourself; 2.) Hire someone to do it for you; 3.) Forbid your kids to do it.UnknownI want to have children and I know my time is running out: I want to have them while my parents are still young enough to take care of them.Rita RudnerWe spend the first twelve months of our children's' lives teaching them to walk and talk and the next twelve years telling them to sit down and shut up.Phyllis DillerWomen speak because they wish to speak, whereas a man speaks only when driven to speech by something outside himself-like, for instance, he can't find any clean socks.Jean KerrMobile phones are the only subject on which men boast about who's got the smallest.Neil KinnockAll men make mistakes, but married men find out about them sooner.Red SkeltonWe are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars.Oscar WildeNever be afraid to try something new. Remember, amateurs built the ark. Professionals built the Titanic.UnknownEveryone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself.TolstoyIt is better to light a candle than to curse the darkness.Eleanor RooseveltStorms make trees take deeper roots.Dolly PartonTwenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did. So throw off the bowlines, Sail away from the safe harbour. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream.Mark TwainI am reserving two tickets for you for my premiere. Come and bring a friend - if you have one.George Bernard Shaw (to Winston Churchill)Impossible to be present for the first performance. Will attend second - if there is one.Winston Churchill, in replyYou will either die on the gallows or of a loathsome disease.John Montague (to John Wilkes)That depends on whether I embrace your principles or your mistress.John Wilkes, in replyKites rise highest against the wind--not with it.Winston ChurchillI'm fed up to the ears with old men dreaming up wars for young men to die in.George McGovernWars have never hurt anybody except the people who die.Salvador Dali “It has been established that persons who have recently died have been returning to life and committing acts of murder. A widespread investigation of funeral homes, morgues, and hospitals has concluded that the unburied dead have been returning to life and seeking human victims. It's hard for us here to be reporting this to you, but it does seem to be a fact.”
News from the front, goddamnit. This is pure fucking straight edge journalism and there is more and more of it as these ‘terror beasts’ continue to rise from the grave. REAL FOOTAGE. Dead loved ones will stab and rape your corpse while your husband wildly masturbates. This is sick shit, man. The film is an award winning, stunning, piece of documentary and it will shock you to the bone. Grisly scenes of torture and murder, mass homicide – carried out by the dead themselves. We see our hero battle off the hordes of shambling corpses with every means at his disposal, every means. In scenes reminiscent from everything from Vietnam to the god damn brain dead fucks who drive everyday through rush hour to scrabble up the corporate ladder to give their children a better chance at scrabbling up the corporate ladder, Night Of The Living Dead provides gut wrenching horror with integrity. So boys, what we have here is a god to honest seminal master piece of snuff journalism. Even the fucking camera man dies – that’s integrity. The zombie menace is on our fucking shores man, in our churchyards, our wood chippers, underneath our fucking skyscrapers – everywhere. This film is for the good of our nation and the good of your health, watch it or be damned. So this month is a blast to the past. Whether you caught it last month or not, we're returning to the old selection process for Avi/Sig of the month - which is a simple browse-and-pick method. This requires you to actually USE your signatures- a revolutionary thought, I know. Avatar of the MonthSo I'm totally partial to this because I've just recently discovered the band... but I really like the simplicity of this avatar. Congrats Josh. Signature of the monthI've noticed this signature quite a bit around the forum... and always had to stop and stare as the scene progresses. Love the simple animation, deific.
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Post by The Herald on Oct 9, 2007 1:56:16 GMT
SSD would like to wish the following members a very happy birthday! - Mukei
4th of October.
- Tao Ren
6th of October.
- Remixed
7th of October.
- Gray
8th of October.
- Kari
16th of October.
- LPF
25th of October.
- Kai
26th of October.
Have a great birthday, birthday boys and girls! For the rest of you whose birthday is in October, but not mentioned here in this entry- I hope you remember to post in our birthday thread next year but Happy Birthday as well!
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Post by The Herald on Oct 9, 2007 2:24:26 GMT
October was the eighth month in the Roman calendar, hence it's name ( octo meant eight in Latin) and it has always had 31 days. Now October is the 10th month in the Gregorian calendar that we use today since the Romans rearranged their calendar to make January the first month, not March. In the northern hemisphere, farmers are finishing their harvest, and whilst colder weather is beginning to set in there are still periods of warm, sunny days. The frosts have by now killed off much of the insect life, and have also driven many birds south for the winter where the weather is much warmer and there are fewer frosts. If you were born in October, your birthstone would be either the opal or the tourmaline. The symbolic flower of this month is the calendula.
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Post by The Herald on Oct 9, 2007 2:24:45 GMT
Two Nuclear power wielding nations end programs. Six countries including the United States have been pressuring North Korea to end its nuclear programs. There have been several talks and meetings to try and end this terror. Finally, after the country started to feel the effects of sanctions imposed on them, they agreed to stop enriching uranium which is the main ingredient in a nuclear bomb. It was pretty much the same deal with Iran, too. At the U.N. general assembly that took place this week in New York, the country's leader Mahmoud Ahmadinejad stated, “the nuclear issue of Iran is now closed.” Article from China Daily Article from The New York TimesTour de France Winner Stripped of Tour TitleAfter many accusations and a lengthy investigation, a panel of judges found Floyd Landis guilty of using performance enhancing drugs to attain his win. As a result, he lost his title, and was banned for 2 years from the Tour. Article from Espn.comHalo 3 Released: Sells 1,000,000+ CopiesOne of the most anticipated games of the year has finally been released. Halo 3 was released a little more than a week ago and has sold a monumental amount of copies. There were over 1,000,000 pre-orders too. The game is expected to earn the game of the year award. It has excellent multilayer options and a kick ass campaign. Article from BBC News.Madeline McCann's parents named suspectsAfter a long investigation into the disappearance of Madeline, and one of the most publicized ones, Portugal police have named the McCanns as suspects. They think that Kate McCann accidentally killed Madeline by seducing her with meds while they went out to eat. She whole heartedly denies that statement, and says she still won't give up in the search for her daughter. Article from Bloomberg.comCorruption in BurmaThe biggest mass protest ever in Burma has turned deadly. It's citizens have been fighting for a democratic government and staged a protest in support of it. The power is currently in the hands of the junta. They have brainwashed young soldiers into killing innocent civilians. Finally, other nations are stepping in as an attempt to bring back peace. This is a story that will have the world on their feet, waiting for change. Article from BBC News
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Post by The Herald on Oct 9, 2007 2:25:12 GMT
Once again, I found myself signing up for the classes that require summer reading. As I sat at my computer, a cold drink in one hand and my list of authors in the other, I scanned down the paper, trying to find a familiar author. Unsuccessful, I set my drink down and began searching. Two hours later, I ended up with author Mark Haddon, writer of the excellent book "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time". After reading the synopsis of the book, I was instantly hooked and made my way to the local Borders to pick it up. Something I forgot to look into before I bought the book was where the author lived. Being from America, I've read much of the stereotypical American literature using words that I knew. After the first couple of pages of Haddon's book, I realized that it wasn't written from the perspective of an American, no, but from the perspective of a 15-year-old autistic boy hailing from England. Once that little bit was aside, I began reading the book for what it really was. Let me tell you, it is one outstanding story. Christopher John Francis Boone knows all the countries in the world and their capital cities. He also knows every prime number up to 7057. Being an autistic boy, those are the things he likes to follow. The book starts off rather simply. Christopher finds his neighbor's dog, Wellington, dead, held to the ground with a pitchfork. From there, he journeys across his city, ending up in London, trying to solve the mystery. The novel is a very simple one. The one thing on Christopher's mind is finding out who killed Wellington. The first half of the novel is his journey to find that one answer. Right before he finds out, another mystery unfolds: is his mother still alive? Ever since Christopher was a boy, his father had told him his mother had died. The first few years of his life Christopher remembered his mother, but then she suddenly disappeared. That's when Christopher finds out the bigger picture: his dad killed Wellington and his mother was still alive. Then everything gets interesting. Christopher's mother fell in love with her neighbor's husband, the family that owned Wellington. The two of them developed a relationship and left to London. Christopher's father was devastated, and his neighbor, the wife of the man who ran off with Christopher's mother, came to his side. They developed a relationship, too, though not as far as Christopher's mother had. This was something Christopher couldn't handle. He grabbed some special items to him and ran away to London in hopes of finding his mother. He eventually does find her and ends up living with her for a short while. In all, it was an excellent read. If you have the opportunity to pick this book up (it's not expensive at all), do so. You won't be disappointed.
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Post by The Herald on Oct 9, 2007 2:25:31 GMT
A prime slice of horror punk from the decade that brought you horror punk. When it comes to Halloween, you can’t beat The Misfits, because they were corpse paint, ghoul make up and songs about fucking zombies well before teary eye'd panda bear emo kids got their skinny fingers round its throat and started throttling the fun out of it. With such class tracks as ‘Astro Zombies’, ‘Devil’s whorehouse’ and ‘I turned into a Martian’, this 1982 release is an absolute fucking necessity for a righteous Halloween. ‘If you can’t afford it, then steal it’ – a long held motto of romantics and drunken three am football hooligans at a red light district – holds blinding fucking true for this. So if you are on the internets or the googles or the blogosphere and you fancy finding a soundtrack to your Halloween then look up these tracks: ‘Astro Zombies’
‘Violent World’
‘Vampira’
Happy Halloween. Get drunk off your bum on a bottle of White Lighting in an abandoned building site with some fireworks for me.
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Post by The Herald on Oct 9, 2007 2:25:56 GMT
An interesting little Halloween and horror themed band, Creature Feature provides a B movie soundtrack style slice of goth-synth-electro-and-everything-else. Not that electro anything is my usual tipple, or goth anything for that matter, but this band comes without the pretention of the other bands that shamble kohl-eyed onto the stage and whine about how they don’t like Mondays, and what they come with is plenty of kitschy freak-themed electro jazz. Now, come on, you silly fucks, listen up and listen closely when I tell you that you absolutely must, must, go to the Myspace at the bottom of the page and listen to A Gorey Demise, before you even think of wandering about to some other page on the blogosphere – probably horse porn, you sick bastard. But yes…where was I? I’ve lost the plot a little. I suppose a cast and plot summary might do the trick. Formed by Curtix Rx and Erik X on Halloween some time ago, the band has done a series of tours across the states and perhaps one day maybe Britain too? - us American’s who got islanded can only hope. They have also been featured on a few movie soundtracks. They describe themselves as ‘a band that becomes everything you believed in as a child, a band that becomes Halloween 365 days a year, a band that forces you to remember why you used to sleep with the lights on...’ Stirring stuff, eh lads? That’ll be it. Have a good Halloween or die trying. www.myspace.com/creaturefeaturemusic
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Post by The Herald on Oct 9, 2007 2:26:12 GMT
Boys Like Girls Boys Like Girls have recently been attaining popularity. Their song “The Great Escape” gained national attention and topped the charts. This band was voted #1 best unsigned band on Pure Volume. Boys Like Girls have a very radio-friendly voice, which is one of the reasons why many of their songs are popular. Plain White TeesThe Plain White Tees are a pop punk band with four albums under their belt. They are currently on a summer/fall tour to increase their popularity. Their song “Hey There Delilah” reached #1 on the billboard Top 100. Their other good song “Hate (I Really Don’t Like You)” exhibits a more full sound, in the sense that it isn’t all acoustic as “Delilah” was. Sister HazelThis band has the most beautiful sound as demonstrated in their #1 hit “All for You”. You have probably heard of that song, but never paid attention to who sang it. I finally looked it up, and found that it was indeed this amazing band. That song has been out for 10 years, and is still very popular. I was lucky enough to see them live, and it was even better. Definitely check out this band and that song. Hinder
One of the best post-grunge sounding bands out there. Their style makes them very unique, thus why they became an instant hit. Their song “Lips of an Angel” reached #1 on charts across the globe. They are signed by a great label and have an excellent future ahead of them. Angels and AirwavesTheir new album comes out November 6, 2007. I am so pumped. Anyways, this was one of the bands that formed when Blink 182 split. They are very original. AVA is a space age/alternative rock band, which is why I, and millions of others, love them. Their #1 song “The Adventure” has one of the best guitar rifts ever. Definitely check them out.
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Post by The Herald on Oct 9, 2007 2:26:40 GMT
I am currently watching this DVD because at last, HAZAH! It's been released in the USA. September 18th, ten months after it's European release. I am watching "Völkerball", and I am a very happy Pandora at this moment in time. Rammstein is known to blow the crowd away with their live shows. I've yet to be so lucky to have seen them live in concert. Brilliantly captured on this DVD is the energy of the audience, the die hard know-every-word-to-every-song types, the head bangers, the girls whose shirts can barely contain their breasts. Fierce German (veritable) demi-gods shoot fire to the heavens, and pretend to boil a man alive during a song about a cannibal who had placed want ads in a German newspaper to lure victims. I am blissfully sickened. Songs were pulled from live shows in France, England, Japan and Russia. An audio disc is also included in the package. I've yet to listen because I'm hooked on the DVD. Track list includes: - Reise, Reise
- Links 2 3 4
- Keine Lust
- Feuer Frei!
- Asche Zu Asche
- Morgenstern
- Mein Teil
- Stein Um Stein
- Los
- Du Riechst So Gut
- Benzin
- Du Hast
- Sehnsucht
- Amerika
- Rammstein
- Sonne
- Ich Will
- Ohne Dich
- Stripped
"Völkerball" is Rammstein in top form. I highly recommend it for you, your brother, your local congressman, your grandmother, whoever. Everyone must own it.
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Post by The Herald on Oct 9, 2007 2:27:10 GMT
Platform: PC Developer: Destination Games Genre: MMORPG Players: Many (online play) Release Date: October 19th 2007
This is going to be something to keep an eye on if you're an MMORPG (Massively Multiplayer Online Role-playing Game) fan. Very much a science fiction/fantasy inspired game, Tabula Rasa is set in the future where Earth is under attack by the Bane. The Bane are the typical alien bad guys who make it their life's goal to take over or destroy every planet they come across. And guess what: You have to fight against them. Emphasis is set on your choices, be they ethical or moral, trivial or important, right from the very beginning. Similar to "Never Winter Nights" your choices affect how NPC's (non-player characters) interact with you. Not a new idea by any stretch of the imagination, but it is nice to see in an MMO. Some missions/quests have no impact at all, but others do, meaning you might have to read the quest logs and responses if you care for the progress your character is going to make. Your character has two "career" choices: soldier or specialist. These then branch off into other areas. If you don't like the outcome of whatever branch you choose, you can reload a "copy" of your character, saving you from having to go through the beginning of the game again. At the moment, there are a total of eight careers, which some would say is limiting, but it is suspected that the developers plan on creating extra levels after release. One of the most interesting features of this game is the LOGOS. This is the magic side of the game. Players pick what types of spell they want to eventually learn at the beginning of the game, these LOGOS can then be discovered later in the game, expanding your list of cast-able spells. The combat system looks to be a lot more interesting than other MMOs, being seemingly more involved, requiring the player to seek cover and dodge items in their surroundings whilst fighting an enemy. I'll leave you with a description of the game from the developer's website. Richard Garriott's Tabula Rasa™ is a massively multiplayer online role-playing game that takes you, the player, into lush forest planets, volcanic moons, and exotic alien civilizations. Face off against powerful xenophobe soldiers, armored mechanoids, and vicious predators! Use a wide range of weapons and unique Logos powers to help the Allied Free Sentients (AFS) in their desperate fight against extinction. Tabula Rasa™ combines a vast, persistent game world and ongoing storyline with fast-paced action, resulting in a striking new approach to the design of multiplayer online games.
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Post by The Herald on Oct 9, 2007 2:27:37 GMT
Consoles: Xbox 360 Price: $59.99/£39.99 (Game Only) $69.99/£46.99 (Limited) $129.99/£85.99 (Legendary) Prices from amazon.comI've never been a fan of the "Halo" games, maybe it's all the hype that precedes them, or the fact that First Person Shooters aren't my style, but I think it's to do with the storyline, or at least the way Bungie, producers of the "Halo" games, decide to tell it. I'll get straight into it, I liked the game. It was enjoyable to play and even more fun to watch, but only if you ignored the fact that you had no clue what was going on. The storyline is delivered to you in dribbles, and you are never offered an explanation for your movements or mission changes. All the way through hints about the main character are thrown at you, but by the end of the game, nothing comes of it. For someone who adores a good in-depth storyline and intense character development, this was a great disappointment. I can understand why Bungie did this, after all, their games are about action and fun, not long cut-scenes with lots of dialogue. In some ways this is quite refreshing, but in others, as mentioned already, simply an annoyance. The ending is...disappointing. As per usual the good guy wins but it is lack lustre with everything being defeated easily. "Halo" has never been a game for big "boss" battles, but for an ending to such a well recognised and loved game series, something more challenging would have been appreciated in my view. On a good note, it offered firm closure on the trilogy. The controls are different from the other "Halo" games, but they are easy to pick up and very intuitive. I never found myself pushing the wrong button in the heat of the moment due to confusion which can occur in other games where one button serves many different functions. The enemies are quite intelligent, especially in legendary mode, and offer a real challenge. They can flank you, dodge grenades and rarely stay put when you're hiding behind some scenery waiting on your shield to recharge. This increases both the frustration of the game and the challenge of it, you feel so much more empowered to carry on when you've just out-thought the AI. Co-op mode is highly enjoyable, whether split screen or via system link to another Xbox 360 console. With up to four players, it can only support two person split screen (which is good, considering the size of my television - split screen four way may have been slightly small). You can either have four consoles linked together, or two consoles using the split screen system. "Halo3" comes in three versions, depending on how much you enjoy the series (or how much money you have) this will affect which of the games you purchase. The more expensive versions are also harder to come by. I'd recommend against the legendary edition. Whilst the "Master Chief" helmet is very desirable, the lack of extra items makes it disappointing. Included is a DVD of extra features and videos (most of which are already on YouTube and similar websites) and a small pamphlet of artwork, no bigger than the instructions manual and very badly assembled. Not worth the £69.99 it was purchased for in my opinion. In summary, I would recommend this game. It is quite enjoyable as a shooter with limited storyline and has around 6 hours of initial game play. There are many more hours of repeated play, be it attempting to discover all of the skulls (which make it more difficult to play the game if the features they unlock are enabled), playing co-op with friends or using the on-line system via "Xbox Live". 4 and a half out of 5 stars
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Post by The Herald on Oct 9, 2007 2:27:58 GMT
Leave Britney Alone -Chris CrockerVideoThis video has been the #1 viewed video on Youtube this month. This video pretty much scares me. Chris obviously is compassionate for Britney, but making the video the way he did didn't really help. He has been mocked in hundreds of videos. I kind of feel bad for him, but that's what happens when you post stuff online. Miss Teen USA South CarolinaVideoOne of the most embarrassing (for her) and most watched videos on Youtube. I got quite a kick out of this one. I didn't know people were this stupid. She is not the "postergirl" for American education. Believe me, the majority of us over here are intelligent. The reason she said many Americans can't locate the U.S. on a map is because they "don't have maps." Here is Jimmy Kimmel's interpretation. All Because of You -Esmee DentersVideoYoutube's #1 subscribed musician released a new song this month by Ne-Yo. It instantly became popular and is the #6 most viewed this month. She has one of the most beautiful voices on the net. Click her profile to listen to some of he other brilliant songs. She really should join a band and start living the good life. She has voluminous potential. The What the Buck ShowVideoHe has become one of Youtube's most recognized comedians. Currently #2 Most Subscribed All Time. The main reason is his weekly gossip show called "What the Buck" Every show he highlights stories that happened in the Entertainment Circuit often including comedy into it. He is also one of Youtube's leading Gay advocates. Definitely watch a few of his shows. You won't get bored.
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Post by The Herald on Oct 9, 2007 2:29:01 GMT
There hasn’t been much action this month in the wacky world of sports. But we do have the MLB playoffs right around the corner. The Yankees have clinched the wildcard. They overcame a 14 game deficit. The Red Sox have been going downhill, despite their clinch. Their closer, Jonathon Papelbon, has blown a few saves, thus hurting his confidence. Manny Ramirez has an injury, so hasn’t been playing in any of the most recent games. Because of this, the Red Sox lose protection for David Ortiz. Now, opposing teams can walk him and not have to fret about the 4th hitter getting a home run or big hit. After many people doubted the Yankees following a terrible first half, they certainly proved to be a deserving team. Other teams clinching in the American League are the Angels of Anaheim and the Cleveland Indians. In other news, Barry Bonds has said the Giants will not sign him after the 2007 season ends. This means he will become a free agent eligible for any team to sign him. I think this is his last season though. He is going to ask for a ridiculous amount of money that no team will accept. The only way I see him staying is if there is a really bad team that needs to put people in the seats. Also, the results of the public vote are here. After 10 million votes, the public decided the ball should be branded with an asterisk representing he cheated, and sent to Cooperstown. The other thing I wanted to talk about is the NFL season. We are only into Week 4 and there have been some exciting games. There are two teams of to a 3-0 start, and two teams of to a sad 0-3 start. I think there will be a good race in the AFC West. There are three good teams, the Broncos, the Chargers, and the Chiefs all with good chances of winning the division. For complete coverage and all scores check out NFL.com. Last, an embarrassing thing happened in the sport of Cycling. Floyd Landis, the winner of the Tour de France, has been stripped of his win by a panel of judges after they investigated doping allegations. You can’t cheat and expect to get away with it.
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Post by The Herald on Oct 9, 2007 2:29:19 GMT
Halloween is not what it use to be. We are losing the core meaning of it; the part that brings families together on this spiritual holiday. The component that cures the sick and brings world peace. The part that when your neighbor opens the door. . . you peg ‘em with a carton of eggs. Ah, yes. The trick part. Below, I have created a guide on some good tricks to try out that night. Warning: Solid Snake Designs is not liable for any damage or jail time attained. 1. The smoke grenadeOverview: If this is performed efficiently, it should allow you to steal the bowl of candy and get a cheap laugh or two. Supplies: The trick: When your unsuspecting victim opens the door, you say “Trick or treat” in a very cute and cunning voice. Make sure you have identified the bowl of candy. As you are saying that, pop the clip off of the smoke grenade and gently roll it in their home. Then, grab the candy and retreat back to your base. 2. TP (Toilet Paper) Overview: The most classic trick ever. It’s not Halloween without a TP. Supplies: - 5 Cases of Toilet Paper
- 4 Friends
The trick: First, send a scouting party out. Locate the houses that have all their lights off, or have no one home. Once you have identified an empty house, send your raiding part onto the property. Make sure each of them is armed with 2 rolls of toilet paper. Your target is the landscaping. TP any bushes or tree’s you see. Be creative! 3. Revenge Overview: One of my favorites and the only one I have actually done. A great way to restore some order. Supplies: - 4 water guns
- 2-4 friends
- A bowl filled with candy
- A piece of paper hanging on the door that says “1 candy per person.”
The trick: Don’t you love arriving at the houses that leave a bowl out filled with candy and say take 1, but you dump the bowl in your bag? I know I do. But, if it’s your house, you probably don’t appreciate it. So, this is how to get back. Leave the note and candy bowl on the front porch. Then, hide on your roof if it is low, or in the bushes nearby. Make sure you maintain eye contact on the trick or treaters. If one of them takes more candy then the designated amount stated, have all your friends pop out of the bushes yelling and squirting them with water. 4. EggnificantOverview: A pretty mean trick, but a great way to get back at someone. Supplies: . . - A Carton of Eggs
- 3-4 Friends
The trick: This is pretty self explanatory. I only recommend doing it if you know the person you are egging. When it is close to midnight, begin moving towards your prey. Take out the eggs and start chucking them at the house. A sling shot would help you reach the high hard to reach locations. Once the house is saturated in yolk, get the hell out. Halloween if my second favorite holiday of the year. It is a night to have fun, but to not get arrested. My final advice: Scout out all the neighborhoods in your area. Find out which ones have older people living there, as they go to bed around 6 P.M. and usually just leave a bowl of candy out. This process may take a few days. All in all, pretend it's like your last Halloween. Enjoy your selves and be safe.
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Post by The Herald on Oct 9, 2007 2:29:55 GMT
As Halloween draws closer, so does Zombie Preparedness Week. Don’t let this year pass you and your family by without having a solid plan for survival. With the apocalypse just around the corner, Zombie attacks could begin sooner than expected. I bring to you an informative guide on safeguarding your home against the flesh eating undead. Day One:Choose an appropriate place to secure as a Zombie Shelter with an oxygen source and emergency escape route
I find that basements make great Zombie Shelters. Some people don’t have basements, but a well-built garage could be just as effective. Those who live in apartment buildings already live in a readymade Zombie Shelter, complete with an escape route through a window or down a fire escape. Make a “to do” list and a shopping listAs you brainstorm about what steps you will need to take to make your chosen room Zombie proof, jot the ideas down onto a “to do” list. That list should look something like this: • Reinforce doors and windows • Stockpile weapons • Acquire plenty of nonperishable food and bottled water • Stock plenty of first aid supplies • Find an alternative means of communication (Ham radio, perhaps?) Think each of the actions through that you’ve put on the list above, and create your shopping list from these ideas in conjunction with a realistic budget. Day Two/Three:Go Shopping!
If you did the work correctly the day before, your shopping list should look something like this: Reinforce doors and windows (Hardware store/lumberyard) • Lumber • Nail gun/Nails* • Sheet Metal • Electric Drill* • Power Saw* • Chainsaws* (one for each member of the household) • Duct Tape *can double as a weapon Stockpile weapons (legal ones…more from the Hardware store!) • Wood Ax • Sledgehammer • Gardening shears (Buy each in a variety of sizes) • Ingredients for a pipe bomb (to be used as a last resort) • Plenty of matches and lighters (Don’t be afraid to look around the store and modify your list to include any other “weapons” you may see at the Hardware store. I don’t suggest using guns, they are too unpredictable. Use weapons that will crush or sever the Zombie’s heads with ease.) Acquire plenty of nonperishable food and bottled water/Stock plenty of first aid supplies (If you have a safe, non electric way of cooking food, shop accordingly, and assume your refrigerator is going to be off limits in case of an attack) • Canned goods (don’t forget a can opener or two!) • Your bottled water of choice, and plenty of it • Rubbing alcohol • Cotton/gauze/bandages • Suturing kit • Pain killers • Sleeping bags (for your comfort) Find an alternative source of communication (Electronic’s store) • Walkie Talkies (for each member of the household) • CB radio/Ham radio Shopping complete! Day Four:Draw a mapDraw a schematic overview of each floor of your house. This will be your escape route map to your Zombie shelter. The map is complete when clear paths for your retreat to your chosen safe room from any attack point in or around your house are drawn. Map legend. Practice!Practice the escape routes. Place weapons along the paths that lead you to the Zombie shelter. Day Five/Six: Secure the Zombie shelterDecide which materials would best block any potential Zombie entry points, probably the sheet metal, with sturdy lumber reinforcements. Make a couple of readymade barricades to be swiftly utilized in the event of an actual attack. Keep the tools and extra barricades handy, just inside the entrance of the shelter. Be sure not to make the place so airtight that oxygen cannot flow freely. If you are feeling creative, set some boobie traps. NEVER set the traps where they will put your family and neighbors in harm’s way.** Make sure to stock the food and water and store your sleeping bags in a dry place inside the shelter. **boobie traps are only for the more experienced Zombie hunters. The average family looking to protect themselves should just stick to the basics. Day Seven:Discuss a code wordThese days, families are often out on their own, each member doing their own thing. Create your own code via text message that alerts the rest of the family that a Zombie has indeed been spotted, and mass attacks are imminent. “Z” should be enough. The simpler the better. Then proceed to your house and your safe shelter. Congratulations! You are ready for a Zombie attack, and maybe just in time. Still, there are a few more things you will need to know. Some are obvious, like once you are bitten, there is no cure. Be honest with those who you are sharing a shelter. They should wait until the very last moment to cut your head off, as a courtesy, to be sure it was a Zombie that bit you. Extend this same courtesy to your shelter mates. This is where the duct tape comes in most handy, to keep the would-be Zombie secured to a chair. Also, Zombies are slow and not particularly intelligent, but don’t let that lull you into a false sense of security. Always be mindful of where the undead are, if and when they surround your house. They hunger for flesh and run on instinct. You have the advantage of speed and intelligence. Use that advantage to its fullest. Have a great Zombie Preparedness Week, folks, and happy decapitating!
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Post by The Herald on Oct 9, 2007 2:30:28 GMT
Not something that is done so much over here in the UK, but competing to have the "scariest lawn on the block" is quite popular in the US from what I've seen. Much more of a child orientated event, many parents get carried away, hoping to impress their child's friends with the variety of items in their garden and perhaps, show off how much they earn Whether you're the type who buys their props, or go for the home made approach, the following may be of use to you. Bought ItemsCoffins - Leave them wondering what you've stashed inside, coffins make a great centre piece. ...more detailsSkeletons - No Halloween is complete without a skeleton hanging from a tree. Check this bony wind chime that'll freak out the neighbours every time the wind blows. ...more detailsGhosts - Something else that can dangle from a branch: a flying, screeching sheet with holes in ...more detailsMake Your Own"Monster Mud" - This guide shows a quick but messy method for making realistic mud. Slap on the petroleum jelly though, you wouldn't want it to stick to your hands! "Realistic" Guts - A rather worrying guide on how to use foam and spray paint to make intestines for those severed bodies you may want on the ground. Eyeballs - A complete walk through on making eye balls from roll-on deodorant. Also includes a print-out for some spooky irises. Other IdeasLighting - Essential for creating that spooky mood. This tutorial shows you how to set up the lighting in your yard to get the spookiest of effects. Music - For getting everyone in the mood. Check out This list of spooky Halloween songs. Pumpkin Carving - Saftey and carving tips for your spooky creation.
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Post by The Herald on Oct 9, 2007 2:30:43 GMT
Animals- Slugs have 4 noses.
- The longest recorded flight of a chicken is 13 seconds.
- Cat urine glows under a black-light.
- A hedgehog's heart beats 300 times a minute on average.
- A cockroach can live several weeks with its head cut off - it dies from starvation.
- Over 10,000 birds a year die from smashing into windows.
- It is a myth that dogs are colour blind. They can actually see in colour, just not as vividly as humans. It is akin to our vision at dusk.
- A pregnant goldfish is called a twit.
The Human Body- Humans blink over 10,000,000 times a year.
- A foetus develops fingerprints at eighteen weeks.
- Your body is creating and killing 15 million red blood cells per second.
- Women blink nearly twice as much as men.
- Our eyes are always the same size from birth,
but our nose and ears never stop growing.
- It is impossible to sneeze with your eyes open.
- If all the blood vessels in your body were laid end to end, they would reach about 60,000 miles.
Old State Laws- In Philadelphia, you can't put pretzels in bags based on an Act of 1760.
- In Utah, birds have the right of way on any public highway.
- In Galveston, Texas, it is illegal to have a camel run loose in the street.
- In California, a law created in 1925 makes it illegal to wiggle while dancing.
- In West Virginia, one can't cook sauerkraut or cabbage due to the odours and the offense is subject to imprisonment.
- The law states that more than 3000 sheep cannot be herded down Hollywood Blvd. at any one time.
- In Memphis, Tennessee, a woman is not to drive a car unless a man warns approaching motorists or pedestrians by walking in front of the car that is being driven.
- It's illegal to drink beer out of a bucket while you're sitting on a curb in St. Louis.
Miscellaneous- The phrase "rule of thumb" is derived from an old English law which stated that you couldn't beat your wife with anything wider than your thumb.
- The San Francisco Cable cars are the only mobile National Monuments.
- Eskimo ice cream is neither icy, or creamy.
- 85,000,000 tons of paper are used each year in the U.S.
- An earthquake on Dec. 16, 1811 caused parts of the Mississippi River to flow backwards.
- In England, in the 1880's, "Pants" was considered a dirty word.
- The Mona Lisa has no eyebrows. It was the fashion in Renaissance Florence to shave them off.
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Post by The Herald on Oct 9, 2007 2:31:09 GMT
From last month...
"Henchman?" Ethan repeated, his eyes narrowing into two slits. "I am no pawn of yours."
"Not directly under me, yes, but you serve the Amaranth, and I, unfortunately, am of higher ranking than you. However, that isn't the point of today's meeting," he added as the Assassin's eyes flared with dangerous rage.
"Spare us the crap, and spit out what you wish to say."
"Silence," came a fifth voice, again from the mists. Another figure stepped out as the Elf, the Assassin and the Mesmer looked surprised.
"You didn't tell us you were coming as well, Jonny."
"Formalities later, please," interrupted Kai. "Now that every one is here, the meeting shall begin."-------------------- The bamboo groves were coated in gold as the virgin rays of the day shone through its misty midst. It was dawn, and the gathering of the five was nearing its end. "And of course, the Lord expects the Blanc members to interfere in his plans. All of you are to locate the Twins in the fastest time possible." "Dead, or alive?" the assassin asked coldly. The Elf chuckled. "Death must love you so much," said Grace, her mouth curling into a grin of mockery. "Silence." Jonny held a long pale finger up as the two immediately kept quiet. "As Kai mentioned, alive." "What does He want with a pair of twins, anyway?" asked Ollie, his patience growing thin; he had better things to do than to find a pair of lowly humans. "What He wants is none of your business, Mesmer. Do what He says, or..." Jonny did not finish his sentence, yet his intentions were crystal-clear. "Fine," he snapped before turning his back on them. "As far as I can see, the meeting is over. Good bye." He closed his eyes as he muttered words of an ancient language. He began to glow as his body started growing smaller, fur rapidly emerging from his formerly-green skin. Soon, his metamorphosis was complete as he climbed the bamboo trees, jumping from one to another with astonishing agility. "And I thought he was supposed to be useful," the Elf said as she looked at the figure leaping through the grove. "A monkey," she said as she rolled her eyes, and her beautiful lips curled into a sneer, her disapproval obvious. ~~~~~~ "Do you think they will be able to find the twins before the Blanc?" Jonny asked, sitting on a throne made completely from ice. "I once doubted their capabilities, but I've since learned not to be surprised by them." "You seem confident," he said as he raised his eyebrows, looking at the man cloaked with his usual purple. "You seem cynical," he said simply before exiting the room, leaving the man alone on his icy throne. ~~~~~~ He closed both his eyes as he opened his mind's eye, opening up a plane of strange whites and distortion. His Eye allowed him to see through the many façades of people, to look into one's soul. He mustered his concentration, as he looked through the contorted limbos, seeking for a certain someone. No, he corrected himself, two someones.As he peered into the minds and hearts of the people in this city, a sudden intruder invaded into the world of white. His presence burned with fiery red, directly contrasting against the white of his surrounding. He knew this intruder was one of "Them". He cautiously directed his mind towards the man, attempting to probe his mind. He stretched his psionic powers around the figure, opting for a stealth approach. He wanted to surround the figure before he acted. Mists of blues and greens surrounded the figure, as the surrounding whites vanished into oblivion like smoke; he was concentrating on his unknown adversary. Then suddenly it exploded with golden flames. The red figure, a moment ago still calmly walking, exploded into a ball of fierce flames, overwhelming him. He quickly retreated, struggling to pull himself from the Ethereal. His adversary had proven himself to be like the oceans- unpredictable and dangerous, and he should retreat immediately. The adversary, however, did not let him go. The red flames rapidly expanded, feeding upon itself, and soon surrounded his consciousness. He struggled to defend against the attacks as he felt a sharp mental probe, not unlike a dagger, attempting to crush his defense. He screamed as the probe started to increase with intensity. The predator had become the prey. Suddenly, as was the appearance of the figure, a second presence, one of green and gold, came into the nothingness and wrapped herself around the man, protecting him against the flames. He felt himself slipping back into the Real as he lost consciousness.
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Post by The Herald on Oct 9, 2007 2:31:36 GMT
Link to parts i, ii, and iii: Click iv. I never forgot the bravery of my parents, though. I remembered clearly our eleventh birthday, my father watering the lawn as if he didn’t have a care in the world. My mother reading a book in plain view! As a gift, they presented us with a husky, a dog two times bigger than the maximum legal weight of a domestic pet. We let underground citizens live in the basement during the early years of the revolution. Some of them judged my parents for allowing their children’s lives to be at such risk, but they never turned down the food, water and shelter. My parents never judged the ones they sheltered, though. Neither did I. My brother did, openly. “Cowards. The ones that run and hide are cowards. They feed off of our hard work, and I can’t stand it, Belle.” My name is Rebelle, Belle for short. My parents weren’t very subtle, were they? “Please, Martin. Try to understand that there are defenders and the defended. Not everyone was raised like us, capable and strong. Some people are very afraid. Some just want to protect their kids so there can be another generation.” Martin’s name was not so obvious. It was a play on the French word for Hammer, ‘Marteau’. Hammers are strong, useful and deadly in the wrong hands. Then one day, when we were thirteen, Martin ran away. I promised not to tell Mom and Dad. He even asked me to come with him, but I refused. In the middle of that sleepless night, I changed my mind. Martin needed someone with him to keep his temper and recklessness in check. I packed a few necessities in a book bag and headed for the door, pausing at my parent’s bedroom to get one last look in case I never made it back. I was only a block away from the house when it exploded. The Government found out we’d been harboring; that was the only explanation for it. DOGS swarmed the neighborhood, but I slipped away unnoticed, hopefully following my brother’s steps. I eventually came forward to the Citizen’s Council so that I would not be declared dead, but I told them Martin was in the house at the time of the explosion. I really don’t know why I lied, but I felt I needed to protect him, and the less people who knew he was alive, the less likely the Government would find him. Little did I know, the Government thought I had died but that my brother had lived. v.
One of the worst days of my life was the day I actually found Martin, finally and at last, the day he became a deputy for the Government. No. No, I can’t think about that. So he’s not dead. He’s dead to me, dead to my heart. Research was the thing. Cold, scientific research would take my mind off the drama of my past. My studies in the Library only raised more questions. I thought if I searched the library top to bottom, I’d find the reason for the dark, sunless skies. Then the Citizens could make some real progress toward quality living again. Did I mention I’m an idealist? But the facts didn’t make sense. It could have been because some books were missing pages due to rot. Some had been rescued from bonfires. Really promising passages sometimes ended abruptly because of torn out pages. It was so frustrating! “Lights out! Hit the bunks, Citizens.” There was nothing left to do but mull over the fragments of data that survived. I tried to sleep on it, but the wheels were turning too fast to let me rest. vi. The weeks flew. We were taught to use every weapon imaginable, participated in grueling endurance training, and we got three hot meals everyday. We had two hours of free time in the evenings, and I never failed to spend each and every one of those one hundred and twenty minutes in the library. I was unexpectedly greeted by a stranger one day. “Well, hello. I’m the new librarian. Just turned in my tag yesterday.” A very tall, very thin, very innocent looking boy reached toward me to shake hands. I stood and took his hand, noticing the callused surface of the palm. Mine wasn’t much different, actually. His smile was shy, but friendly. I returned it, hoping it didn’t look forced. “I’m Rebelle. Belle for short.” “I’m Abraham. Also known as Abra Cadabra, or Tree if you prefer a shorter nickname.” He took a seat and gestured for me to sit again. “Abra Cadabra because I always seem to magically find what I need, when I need it. Tree for two reasons.” There was a pause that was almost comical as I waited for him to explain the two reasons. When he didn’t, I guessed. “Your height?” He nodded yes. “And…because…um…you kind of…well…I don’t know.” He shook his head and smiled again. “The people who raised me found me in a tree when I was just a baby. Remember the old lullaby? It doesn’t quite soothe me like it does other children.” I couldn’t help but giggle. “I’m sorry! I’m not laughing at you, I promise.” “It’s okay. I prefer to laugh than wallow in the past. My parents, the ones who raised me, were kind and loving. True, I often wonder how I ended up in that tree, but mostly I’m just grateful to be alive.” I nodded my agreement with his last statement. “Abra Cadabra,” he said. Seemingly from thin air he produced something beautiful, a No. 2 pencil, unsharpened and the eraser unused. “It’s yours.” “Where did you get that?! I haven’t seen an eraser in years. I had a collection when I was little. We would sketch and draw comic book superheroes and make up stories for our characters.” My eyes threatened to well with tears, but I kept them from forming. “We?” “My twin, Martin. He’s dead. I don’t want to talk about it.” “Ok.” “It doesn’t matter if you beg; I’m just too tired to get into it. I have research to do.” “Ok.” “Alright, alright! Stop brow beating me. He’s not dead. He’s a deputy, ok?! He’s a deputy, and I suspect he’s the one who killed our parents.” “You really needed to say that out loud,” he stated calmly. It was not a question. “Tree, don’t tell a soul. You can never tell anyone. Ever. Do you understand the seriousness of what I just said? I need to face him. I need to face him. Me. Alone. The Citizens can never know.” “I promise, and yes, I understand the seriousness of what you just told me.” I saw no lie in his eyes. Then it hit me. Tree was my first friend since my parents were killed. I’d known him only five minutes, but I felt like I’d known him forever. I hurriedly glanced around the rather small room. “Don’t worry. No one can hear us, Rebelle.” He touched my hand very gently. I didn’t notice the calluses this time. vii.
Over the next few days, I eventually ended up helping Abraham organize the library. We came up with a filing system by alphabet, but placed books according to the material. It took five days, longer than I originally thought considering the limited amount of books, but it was actually a relaxing task after our long, relentless days of training. All the while, we discussed the war, and the sky, and what it all meant. When would the war end? How would it end? When it ended, would we even know? Could anyone be considered a winner? “But if it is smog, wouldn’t global warming be taking affect?” I would argue passionately. “But there’s no precedent here, Belle. It just has a feel of something manmade, concentrated pollution, something very unnatural.” “Tree. Rain water is still drinkable. It would be toxic if that were the case, and the entire human race would be boned! Ok, I agree with the manmade bit, but I don’t think it’s global.” I growled and threw a particularly useless book against the far wall. “What the hell is WRONG with the sky?!!!” “Hey,” he said calmly. “Let’s try something different tomorrow.” I nodded yes. I really wanted to lean on him for comfort, even dive into his arms and bawl like a child, but I hesitated just long enough for the feeling to pass. The next evening, Tree and I took a grounds pass and ventured outside the building during our library time. We were armed and cautious. “It should be twilight time according to this almanac, but I can’t see it. All I see is brown, as if some god digitally made the clouds ‘sepia’, like old-timey photographs,” I said. “Worse, I can’t feel it. Do you remember what twilights felt like?” “They were calming. There is nothing calm about this sky. Look!” He gestured vaguely. “What?” “The clouds to the west are drifting southwest…the clouds to the east,” he turned 180 degrees and pointed, “are drifting northeast. It’s subtle, but I’m sure. We need to find higher ground.” “I…could just stand on your shoulders.” I raised an inquisitive eyebrow. “Funny girl.” He rolled his eyes, but he laughed. “Are you feeling up to an adventure?” “I am. I have an inkling of what you are trying to see.” “Scary thought, isn’t it? Let’s not worry until we know for sure. There’s a hill on the other side of the base I think might serve our purpose. Rebelle, are you with me?” “What if we are right?” “Then we’ll have to find the center, won’t we? We’ll have to find the source.” “Ok, let’s climb to higher ground.” The trudge to the hill was grim. No less daunting was the climb ahead of us. “We’re really exposing ourselves here,” I whispered. “We could easily be seen from above. You know the DOGS control the sky. They control everything.” “Not everything,” he whispered back. “This may be a holocaust we’re living in, but I’ll be damned if they get to control my heart and soul.” “Just watch your back is what I’m trying to say. We could be spotted and killed.” Or taken prisoner, which would be much worse than death, in my opinion, but it wasn’t necessary to point that out. It was the proverbial ‘elephant in the room’, so to speak. “You watch my back, ok? And I’ll watch yours.” “Ok, I trust you.” I meant it. Loose soil and rocks slowed our progress about halfway. We were determined, though. At this rate we would have barely enough time to get back to the base before our pass expired. We barely had time to see what we climbed the hill to see. When we reached the apex, I turned back to see the path we’d just taken. “Oh!” I gasped. The view before me was expansive, and extremely ugly. It was despair captured in a landscape. The view above was no more beautiful than the view across or below. We were right, you know. We had barely gained the height we needed on that hill. It was a lot of risk for a small chance at understanding something important. It paid off, though, because we were right. The clouds weren’t drifting. They were swirling. The saga continues next month...
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