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World Discussion - Syntax
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I shall be back (6 months min)
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I shall be back (6 months min)
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Avalod
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0
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07/24/2008 17:50
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yeah its true. I am here in Kentucky at this Job Corps center. LB, Person, DJ, every other WB member knows why i am here. Been hell a bit. But cant leave till 6 months or at least have my HSD and Computer Tech job train. What bites the most is most the crap on this school PC is blocked out and can only access the net this way. No wireless either =/ so my laptop wont do anything now except oh say play a DvD or mp3. Also have not much access. But eh im sure LaCroix, Roukan, Zudrag, and a few others prolly wanted me gone anywhom.. If lucky ill be jacked back in by 6 months the least. So till then leave some PvP for me (actually keep the fun in MxO going seeing I will be going straight to this when i get back home). For when I get back. Going to miss everyone bashing on me with how i type or post. Welwith nothing else to say Otaku Out XD =P.
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Community
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General Discussion
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Town Crier Second Ed? The heck
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Town Crier Second Ed? The heck
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Avalod
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0
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06/27/2008 20:30
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Yeah well I was just curious enough to open this message on my mail account. And to my surprise it looked a bit like the sentinel. Except via email.
Encoded messages and all as well.
Two things got my lol of approval tho. The "TBNT" and "Colonel Sanders and the Missing Ingredient".
Overall its okay but my one grip is.. Freewebs... The Hell? At least get rid of the constant pop ups and or adds on the pages. Does not look very "newspaper" like.
Well has anyone else got this or am I speaking nonsense?
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The Lounge
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Off-Topic Discussion
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Ex-Lucas Arts Employee Spills some beans
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Ex-Lucas Arts Employee Spills some beans
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Avalod
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0
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06/06/2008 18:42
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About KotOR 3 and more An ex-employee of LucasArts has leaked details regarding a number of titles in development, including a BioWare-developed Knights of the Old Republic MMO. The source has told Kotaku that he is one of 75-100 employees laid off in a massive shake-up yesterday, including the producer of the Lego Star Wars and Indy titles. As well as KotOR 3, the ex-staffer spilled the beans on production going ahead with Battlefront 3 (which we exclusively revealed is being developed by Free Radical), a new (non-Lego) Indy game (although we knew about that) and a Wii lightsaber game.
Well now then. I know its not confirmed. But since its from an employee. Then perhaps there is something going on.
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The Lounge
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Off-Topic Discussion
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Wesley Snipes Gets 3 Years
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Wesley Snipes Gets 3 Years
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Avalod
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0
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04/24/2008 18:10
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For willful failure to file a tax return
This is seriously going to look bad on the guys record now. Being I was into the Blade Trilogy and Kept on hearing talk about a Mini TV Series of the sort. From time to time. This is taking the cake in terms of "The Law Does Not Play".. >_< . Going to be one long hard 3 years of time if the appeal which is talked at the end does not go well.
Anyone else seen anything more on about this?
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The Lounge
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Off-Topic Discussion
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Whats in your oven? (early easter dinner shares)
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Whats in your oven? (early easter dinner shares)
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Avalod
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0
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03/22/2008 06:40
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Yeah I know. Its a day early. But I am itching to know. What does everyone else here cook for the dinner of the easter? Seeing I am cooking this time around and lets just say. The only decent thing I can cook would be Mac and Cheese from a box =/
And this easter dinner its a Ham, A few side dishes, and rolls. Now seeing I wont be doing the ham. I will be going. The side dishes. And am curious as to what others use as side dishes and if there willing to share those works of art with there recipes.
Every year here its usually. A type of stuffing, and a vegetable and thats it. This time seeing I vouched to do the sides. I shot myself in the foot knowing I can only make mac and cheese from a box. >_<
So anyone want to share there sides? Will trade ya a mac and cheese dish if ya do =P
And yes if people want they can post what they have planned as i may be curious and willing to try to cook / eat such a dish. As long as nothing along the lines of "highly concentrated toxins" are in the mix . Ill try it.
Help a gamer in need with bad cooking skills. you will be glad you did
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The Lounge
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Off-Topic Discussion
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We leave her alone. And she strikes back. New Target. Anime Veiwers
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We leave her alone. And she strikes back. New Target. Anime Veiwers
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Avalod
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0
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03/15/2008 12:23
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/rant on
Leave Her Alone And This is What Anime Fans Get.
If there is one thing I don't like. Its this. Now she will start giving a bad name to Anime product buyers. Watch. She ruined teen girls making them be a role model of the wrong sort. Now she is going to blab crap that she hears but probably has no actual liking to it.
Ruin life just like you did to yourself why don't ya.
/rant off
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The Lounge
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Off-Topic Discussion
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MySpace = Serious Business = Fathers Death
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MySpace = Serious Business = Fathers Death
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Avalod
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0
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03/11/2008 15:42
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Police: Teen Killed Dad for Banning MySpace March 6th, 2008 @ 10:04am by KPHO.com; Photo courtesy KPHO.com
A teenager who confessed to killing his father last month told police he hated his dad for taking away his Internet access, according to a police report released Wednesday.
Hughstan Schlicker, 15, called 911 on Feb. 6 and told the dispatcher he hated his father and had just shot him in the head with a 12-gauge shotgun, according to the report.
"I hate my dad, couldn't take it anymore," he said, according to the report.
Schlicker told police his father had taken away his Internet access after seeing suicide threats the teen had posted on social networking Web site MySpace.com.
Schlicker had posted the threats in January; friends in Florida had seen the postings, talked him out of killing himself and called police. Police said they told Schlicker's mother about the threats and that she said she wasn't worried and would lock up any guns in the house. Schlicker said he often spent entire days on MySpace and couldn't cope when his father cut off his access to the site.
"It felt like I was stabbed with a knife and it went straight through and … no matter how hard I pulled, I couldn't pull out the knife," Schlicker said, according to an interview transcript in the police report.
Schlicker said that on the day of the shooting, he called in sick from school by faking his father's voice.
At one point during the day, Schlicker said, he went to the garage to get a drink and found his father's shotgun and ammunition lying on the counter.
Schlicker said he took the gun to his room, intending to kill himself in front of his father when his father arrived home. He later changed his mind and decided to kill his father first, then kill himself, according to the police report.
Schlicker told police he had decided that if his father came home after 4 p.m., he wouldn't carry out his plan; when his father came home early, at 2 p.m., Schlicker was waiting on the stairs with the shotgun, according to the report.
Schlicker said he waited till his father was in the kitchen, then walked up behind him and shot him in the back of the head.
After the shooting, Schlicker said, he called a female friend and told her he had killed his father and was about to kill himself. Schlicker said she talked him out of it and convinced him to call police instead, according to the report.
Schlicker expressed remorse during a police interview, telling detectives "I wish I didn't do this," and "I miss Dad."
During the interview, Schlicker portrayed his father as a loving man who only wanted the best for him and who used to take him on hunting trips.
"Me and my dad would go squirrel hunting," Schlicker said, according to the interview transcript. "Apparently he trusts me with a rifle."
Schlicker was charged with first-degree murder in his father's death. He will be trailed as an adult.
Source
Myspace just gets worse and worse everyday
I think Myspace should just be removed because;
1. of this story and many others like it dealing with how kids/teens take obsession to a new level. And how it just shows crap day in and out (teen beatings on video then hosted there anyone?)
2. http://youtube.com/watch?v=g7wWC0tfJZY
3. its the home for emo kids.
it's also sad that the kid says he hates his dad so much JUST because he takes his internet privileges away (which i think was right since this dumbsmuck writes his suicide tendencies on it) then he later on claims he misses his dad after he killed him.
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The Lounge
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Off-Topic Discussion
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Parts Of "60 Minutes" Broadcast Blocked In Alabama..., Don Siegelman story censored?
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Parts Of "60 Minutes" Broadcast Blocked In Alabama..., Don Siegelman story censored?
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Avalod
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0
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02/25/2008 13:55
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Big Brother. DID IT AGAIN
To sum it up: a Democrat was framed and arrested, the whistle blower was almost killed, and now the story was censored(?).
Back info on Don Siegelman included in the article.
And yeah. I'm with one of the commentors saying. To not vote for anyone this time. Period But ya know whats worse.. I saw it and im only one state to the right here in Fort Benning. And it was shown.. In full picture with not much of any Black Out.
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Syntax
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Marketplace - Syntax
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WTB: RSI Male Hair Color Pill #25
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WTB: RSI Male Hair Color Pill #25
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Avalod
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0
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02/09/2008 21:18
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Yeah ran throguh the stupid idiotic Talbot Building Hideout killing everything in each room about 3 times(runs).. Not sure how much someone will sell it for but name your price and ill get back to you on it. Will give also all three Euphoria Caps for it to if it can help. 2 Male 1 Female all three 0 oo
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The Lounge
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Off-Topic Discussion
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Mom, can I go out to play Allah Akbar with Rashid
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Mom, can I go out to play Allah Akbar with Rashid
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Avalod
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0
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02/07/2008 19:37
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Yeah I know. Stole the title from Monkly Business but anywhom
The U.S. Department of Defense has released an alleged al Qaeda video that purportedly shows children training.
My question from back then... CAN WE FRIGGIN LOB BOMBS AT THEM NOW?
Honestly. If almost all children there are doing this cause they are brain washed or said its good pay... Nuff said.. Flip that switch and end it.. This is the most disturbing and vile thing ive seen in this whole ordeal with this War.. Sure some from beheading's and all aired. But they were not children doing those beheading's now were there?
Just. Flip the frigging switch.. Theres nothing there for the United States anymore. If the Troops are going to be shot by kids... Cause they are trained to show restraint for such.. Then haul em back.. Blow the hell out of that place... and move on... Oil can be found else were also.. or if people would.. Learn to use nuclear type efficiency.
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The Lounge
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Off-Topic Discussion
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The Weed Machine.. -_- .. Or Drug Machine
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The Weed Machine.. -_- .. Or Drug Machine
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Avalod
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0
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02/01/2008 17:13
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Source
Authorized medical marijuana users in Los Angeles no longer have to worry about running out of their medicine in the middle of the night. Two licensed marijuana dispensaries in the west coast city this week unveiled 24-hour medical marijuana vending machines. The machines are filled with small sachets filled with glistening buds of different sizes and strains. Though they might seem like a stoner's hallucination, access to the machines is strictly controlled by round the clock security guards. Users must register with the dispensaries and have their fingerprints checked before every use of the machine. The guards also verify that users have a medical marijuana prescription, are on the dispensary list and have the special pre-loaded debit card needed to operate the machines. Purchasers will be limited to some 28 grams of marijuana a month, dispensed in packets of 7 or 3.5 grams. Inventor and owner Vincent Mehdizadeh says future plans include machine-vended pharmaceuticals like Vicodin and Viagra that offer the same benefits of "convenient access, lower prices, safety and anonymity." Mehdizadeh said he spent seven months developing and patenting the black, armored box, which he calls the "PVM," or prescription vending machine. Medical marijuana is legal under state law in California but is still considered illegal under federal law. Source Two People can buy many things in vending machines, from candy and chips to sandwiches, aspirin and now medicinal marijuana. Yep. Marijuana dispensing vending machines now exist. In California Anytime-Vending-Machines in secure rooms dispense marijuana to anyone with a doctor's prescription for the weed that is legal in that state for anyone with a medical need to take it. The machines are housed in standalone rooms next to two dispensaries, protected by security guards. They will be operational on Monday and operators plan to dispense other drugs from the machines in the near future, including Viagra, Vicadin and Propecia. >_<
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The Lounge
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Off-Topic Discussion
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Get Ready To "HIT THE DECK!"
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Get Ready To "HIT THE DECK!"
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Avalod
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0
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01/30/2008 06:30
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Spy Satellite Set to Hit Earth Soon
Spy satellite's fall from orbit will be second largest uncontrolled crash in history Government officials on Saturday issued warnings that a spy satellite lost power and is descending towards the Earth's atmosphere. It will begin its final plunge towards an Earth in February or March. The officials warned that the debris from the crash may pose a safety hazard.
Gordon Johndroe, a spokesman for the National Security Council, says all options are on the table for dealing with the threat. He said the event is really not that unusual and that, "Numerous satellites over the years have come out of orbit and fallen harmlessly." He added, "Appropriate government agencies are monitoring the situation."
John Pike, a defense and intelligence expert with Globalsecurity.org, says that the special thing about this satellite is its above average size. The satellite is estimated to weigh 20,000 lbs and is the size of a small bus. Still, it pales in size comparison to the 78-ton Skylab, which set the record as the largest manmade object to uncontrollably crash to Earth. Skylab could have caused serious damage, but when it fell to Earth in 1979, most pieces fell into the Indian Ocean and on a remote part of Western Australia.
Pike stated that the crash of the spy satellite is most dangerous for possibly exposing U.S. secrets if it falls into the wrong hands. Usually, satellites are controlled to descend into the ocean, both for safety reasons and more importantly to bury these secrets in the watery depths.
How the satellite lost power and what exactly its function are remains classified and not accessible to the press or public.
Jeffrey Richelson, a senior fellow with the National Security Archive, speculated that the satellite is likely a photo reconnaissance satellite. Such a satellite is an eye in the sky capable of tracking anything from terrorists to devastating hurricanes. Further insider information pegs the satellite as being built by Lockheed Martin and launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California in December 2006 aboard a Delta II rocket.
Apparently, communication with the satellite was lost soon after launch. Jonathan McDowell, an astronomer at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics and an analyst of various government space programs, states, "It’s not necessarily dead, but deaf."
The satellite uses Hydrazine for fuel, a toxic colorless liquid chemical, with an ammonia-like odor. The chemical is very dangerous to the human body. Exactly how much of the fuel will survive the atmospheric reentry and the subsequent impact remains to be seen, but this is among the main reasons why government officials are breaking silence to warn of this danger.
The best case scenario would be for the tank to rupture and burn, leaving fiery trail like a meteor.
The satellite is currently in a decaying orbit approximately 275 km above the Earth's surface. It has dropped 15 to 20 km in the last month, which indicates it’s approaching atmospheric reentry.
Get the popcorn ready and excavation tools ladies and gents... ^_^ If it hits not the ocean as planned watch a hunt for fragments go all out
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The Lounge
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Off-Topic Discussion
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L: Change The World? 0.o
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L: Change The World? 0.o
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Avalod
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0
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01/20/2008 04:54
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Yeah umm
Death Note Live Action Spin Off
Now where is that song "Whats up, People" seems like those lyrics would do good by now with the "HEY HEY! Human Sucker.. Ah Human Human <eff word here>!!
>_< Also.. Misa's Hair Is black? not Yellow/blond like portrayed >_<. But meh she did different hair styles and all in the anime it seems
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The Lounge
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Off-Topic Discussion
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Virtual Training Saves Lives
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Virtual Training Saves Lives
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Avalod
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0
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01/18/2008 21:53
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Second Case for Lives Saved From Americas Army's Live Train Experience Virtually
Think playing video games is little more than a great way to waste time? Then you haven't met Paxton Galvanek. Last November, the twenty-eight year-old helped rescue two victims from an overturned SUV on the shoulder of a North Carolina interstate. As the first one on the scene, Galvanek safely removed both individuals from the smoking vehicle and properly assessed and treated their wounds, which included bruises, scrapes, head trauma and the loss of two fingers. His medical background? None - other than what he's learned playing as a medic in the computer game America's Army. The first-person shooter is developed and distributed by the U.S. Army. Though part of its mission is to promote its military namesake, America's Army is a fully-featured game that takes players through a virtual representation of real-life soldiering, from basic training to the field of battle. To play as a medic class, players must sit through extensive medical training tutorials based on real-life classes. Lucky for the two survivors that Paxton Galvanek didn't zone out during the training, as the gamer credits this experience with teaching him how to handle himself in an emergency situation. "In the case of this accident, I evaluated the situation and placed priority on the driver of the car who had missing fingers," he said. "I then recalled that in section two of the medic training, I learned about controlled bleeding. I noticed that the wounded man had severe bleeding that he could not control. I used a towel as a dressing and asked the man to hold the towel on his wound and to raise his hand above his head to lessen the blood flow which allowed me to evaluate his other injuries which included a cut on his head." By the time help arrived in the form of -- ironically enough -- an Army soldier, the individuals were in stable condition and awaiting the paramedics. Galvanek's decisions were lauded by game project director Colonel Casey Wardynski. "Because of the training he received in America's Army's virtual classroom, Mr. Galvanek had mastered the basics of first aid and had the confidence to take appropriate action when others might do nothing. He took the initiative to assess the situation, prioritize actions and apply the correct procedures... Paxton is a true hero." According to the developers of America's Army, this is the second time one of their users has reportedly applied techniques learned in the game to real-life emergency situations. You can find more information about the game at www.americasarmy.com.
And ya dont see Halo or Counter Strike do this because? Ya learn nothing but shoot and run in those =P
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Desert of the Real
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SOE Discussion
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I Like The Future of Station Access Idea ^_^
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I Like The Future of Station Access Idea ^_^
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Avalod
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0
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01/17/2008 09:22
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=P
Smedley Interview Part 1 Smedley Interview Part 2
And for those lazy to not click the link...
A CES interview with SOE CEO John Smedley (pt. 1)
by Michael Zenke Jan 14th 2008 @ 9:00AM
Filed under: Business models, Culture, Economy, Interviews, MMO industry, New titles, Free-to-play, Legal, Casual At CES last week we had a chance to check out several of the newest titles in the works or on offer from Sony Online Entertainment. The Agency, FreeRealms, and Legends of Norrath are three substantial departures from the company's big-budget fantasy past. Last week we brought you links to the company's full video presentation on The Agency. Today Dan O'Halloran has firsthand impressions of what the free-to-play kids title FreeRealms will offer.
While we were in Las Vegas we had a chance to sit down with SOE's Chief Executive Officer, John Smedley, about these departures. Our chat focused on the economic changes the company is making in response to the shifting face of MMO gaming. He had some fascinating things to say on the subject of microtransactions and RMT, and unveiled a new community outreach program that will tie in to FreeRealms called "Share the Wealth".
Let's say you have your own website. You come to our site, fill out a form pretty much the same as the one for our Station Exchange service with a Social Security number, and give us your PayPal account information. You cut and paste some JavaScript to your site, and now you have a banner ad for FreeRealms on your site. We are tracking every customer you give us, and once a month we'll give you somewhere between 5-10% of all the revenue from every customer you send us. That's as long as they are playing the game.
Check out the full discussion on that subject below, and come back later today for the rest of the interview. Mr. Smedley offers us a sneak peek at big plans for subscriber's to SOE's Station Access pass.
Massively: In the past year, Sony Online Entertainment has made some interesting announcements regarding plans for their upcoming titles. What made you change your mind, and focused you and SOE down the path of mictrotransactions as opposed to subscriptions?
John Smedley: So, it's very simple. It's the belief that these games are more accessible to people if the barrier to entry isn't a credit card. I believe fundamentally, long term, that the subscription model won't be the primary one in the industry forever. It will always be there, but many more people will have access to these games through other methods, a much younger audience. The average age of our consumer right now is 31 years old. Our players are 85% male. If we are going to grow as a company we need to change that, we need to aim younger. We're doing that through a combination of different games, which is the biggest way we're changing things.
We're also looking at new business models, and that's a close second. In order for people to see the games, they have to be able to play them; we're opening them up to that possibility by letting them play for free. You're going to see that first with FreeRealms, and I'm not going to commit to it yet but we're leaning towards going that direction with the Agency as well. It's the same with console games, subscriptions are new things for console gamers.
Massively: You've previous discussed buying non-essential items through FreeRealms, and we talked earlier about Legends of Norrath – do you think that those kinds of microtransaction charges are going to be one of the primary sources of revenue for the company?
John Smedley: I do. Our position on the selling of items, and I realize this is a controversial position, is always to focus on non-game-altering items. I think we've done a fantastic job with making sure the items you can get in Legends of Norrath, the loot drops, are not game-impacting. That's essential. However, some people care if their character's shirt is black and they can get a one-of-a-kind item. I think World of Warcraft did a really good job with that in their card game. The turtle mount doesn't give you any extra speed, but it looks cool, and people like that. We want to go the direction where one player doesn't have an advantage over another, but perhaps one player's style choices are more deliberate.
I also think one of the smarter things we did in Legends of Norrath was to make it so that people can get cards via drops in the games. Eventually I want to find a way where people can get everything they need completely by buying it, or just by playing the game.
Massively: So you're talking about a situation where you might be playing and you could find a time card as a drop?
John Smedley: It's interesting that you mention that, because we have been debating in LoN about having 30-day timecards as some of the loot cards. I think that would be a cool way to go. We've proven to ourselves with this game that you can introduce things like this to customers in a way that doesn't *CENSORED* them off. I think the reason people are okay with it in LoN is that even though it is inarguably the selling of items, you can also get the packs just by playing the game. In my perfect scenario, every item you can get by buying you could also find through straight gameplay without spending a dime. Literally without spending a dime; we can monetize those customers by using in-game ads ... by the way, when I say in-game ads that probably means watching a 30-second video when you log in. I think at the end of the day if you're playing completely for free that's a pretty good trade-off.
Massively: Talking about Legends of Norrath, how do you feel like the game has done in these couple of months since the game came out?
John Smedley: Really well! I can give you some numbers: our average customer spends $133 dollars. We have been able to successfully convert 40% of our customers into Legends of Norrath players. 25% of our customers are paying players. We're extremely pleased and pretty shocked at the level of money people are willing to spend in these things. The reason that's important to customers is that, long-term, we can use that same model to make it so that the people that want to pay can help pay for the people that don't. I think it's an ideal business model for this industry.
Massively: When we spoke last year at SOE Gamer's Day, you were fairly firm about not bringing payment schemes like this to the more traditional hard-core games, like EverQuest 2. With Vanguard you folks have sort of an interesting opportunity, is there any thought to making that game a free-to-play title?
John Smedley: We haven't talked about it with Vanguard, but we have discussed it with the other games. We just feel like it would be too big of a change ... but we do have something that I can talk about publicly. This would be the first time I've ever mentioned it.
With FreeRealms, we're going with a very different distribution system. It's called "Share the Wealth". Let's say you have your own website. You come to our site, fill out a form pretty much the same as the one for our Station Exchange service with a Social Security number, and give us your PayPal account information. You cut and paste some JavaScript to your site, and now you have a banner ad for FreeRealms on your site. We are tracking every customer you give us, and once a month we'll give you somewhere between 5-10% of all the revenue from every customer you send us. That's as long as they are playing the game. I just announced this to our company in December, so this is a very new thing.
Massively: That's very interesting; what made you folks decide to go in that direction?
John Smedley: I believe very firmly that MMO games and online gaming is an ecosystem. A great example of this is World of Warcraft. I think we did a good job with this in EverQuest 1, not so much with 2. Thottbot is a direct example of someone who wrote a great tool and became a part of the game as a result. It's an ecosystem, and so an outside company has been able to make money off of WoW customers via advertising. I believe that one of the best things we can do is to ... first and foremost we have to make a great game. A close second is to give people the ability to build a community around the game, for there to be a community that can feed itself. I think the blogs surrounding these games are a great example; all part of the ecosystem. People want information, and that's healthy for the games and for the bloggers. I want us to push forward in the direction of people evangelizing our games. I think it's a big thing.
Massively: To make sure I understand this, you want to sort of reverse the relationship between Thott and Warcraft? You're giving people the tools to have a 'buy-in' into your game.
John Smedley: Exactly. You get a piece of the game. And it's not a one-time piece, it's an ongoing piece.
Massively: So that's the entire time that the referred players are with the game?
John Smedley: Yep. We're still working out all the details, but that's exactly what we're going to do. We're going to come up with some sort of ramping rate over time ... I'm talking about the number of customers you bring us, you'll reach some sort of threshold ... we're working out the details. That's what we want to go for though, it's about sharing the wealth. I want our customers to be our evangelists, and I want our evangelists to be gaining some kind of reward for that.
Part 2
Earlier today we unveiled the first part of our CES interview with SOE's Chief Executive Officer, John Smedley. He announced to us an unprecidented buy-in program for their upcoming free-to-play kids fantasy game FreeRealms. This afternoon we have the rest of the interview to share with you, with big news for players who use the company's Station Access pass. While a lot of commentators have been frustrated by price increases, SOE is working behind the scenes to make those increases worth your while.
We are having ongoing discussions inside the company about making station access an all-inclusive pass. Everything that we have, you get as a customer. Station Access subscribers would get every expansion pack for every game, as well as future expansions for every game as well. For the same price now, without raising the price.
Read on for our discussion on why these changes have taken so long to implement, and a few words about the company's rededication to fighting gold farmers.
Massively: To kind of flip back to the other end of the spectrum – Station Access. We'd talked about some plans for that at last year's SOE Gamers day that still seem to be in the works. Is there any chance we could talk about that today?
John Smedley: Sure. I don't mind this being public. We are having ongoing discussions inside the company about making station access an all-inclusive pass. Everything that we have, you get as a customer. Station Access subscribers would get every expansion pack for every game, as well as future expansions for every game as well. For the same price now, without raising the price. We have two problems, though. One: we have third parties involved in this. LucasArts, for example, will have to buy off on this, as would others. Second is the less obvious one: Promising future stuff is the meat of the problem. We haven't found the right way to word things yet. To be honest other priorities have gotten in the way. That's what we want to offer people.
It's really a question of logistics. For example, if a customer buys an expansion pack now, they physically own it. What happens if a customer with Station Access decides they primarily play EverQuest 2 and decide to convert from Station Access to just EQ2. What happens to the expansions they got access to as a part of Station Access? This is somewhat similar to the questions services like Napster has had to deal with. In their model while you're a member of the service you have access to everything, but once you stop it's another story. But for us: what happens to items collected from expansions? It's a difficult question, and we've put a lot of thought into it. We have to make sure that people can't game the system, because you know farmers could have a field day with this.
Massively: I wanted to ask, because while it makes sense that these are tough issues to deal with it's been some time since the rate was raised. I think players have been a bit concerned.
John Smedley: Well, the reason the rate went up has more to do with the number of games on the service. The cost of these games is getting up there. The economics of running MMOs is interesting. We've been running EverQuest for almost nine years now, and people think that some costs like customer service don't go up. Sure they do! We have a lot of long-time employees who need raises over time and the cost of living goes up ... The Station Access thing is something I want to see happen, though. I want to incentivize more people to go into that.
Massively: While we're talking about EverQuest ... I think some players are at the point where they don't understand why you're still running the game? SOE has this reputation for keeping games like Vanguard and Matrix Online going, and we were just talking about the economics. What is it about these games that make them worthwhile to keep them going?
John Smedley: Great subscriber bases for EverQuest and EverQuest 2 and Galaxies, pretty much. I will tell you, I'm as surprised as anyone that the longevity of EverQuest. Our first spreadsheet had this thing running for about two years, and even that we thought was a little optimistic. Nine years later you go, "wow". There's still a large community there. As long as people pay us money and we love what we do, we'll keep running it. The challenge is that, with EverQuest and EverQuest 2 on the shelves together ... why would people want to play a nine-year old game? Honestly the acquisition in EverQuest has slowed down a lot, and it's hard. We've refocused on one expansion a year with these games now, I think we let quality slip too much when we were doing two, and I'm happy with where we are on that. We have a great player base and we're making some money so there's no point in not continuing.
Massively: From what I've seen with Galaxies, where you have a really dedicated team working on it, it seems like you're even gaining a little ground back there.
John Smedley: Galaxies, I have to say, we screwed up with the NGE, but we're very much focused on making the game better and better. I was pleasantly surprised to see Tabula Rasa used a very similar combat system to what you see in Galaxies. If I were to do it again, I never would have done that switchover, but I think the effort we have put in has started to show. It's taken longer than it should have, but the quality level has just skyrocketed. We did this recent house pack-up, and that drove so many people to resubscribe, I was truly surprised by that.
Massively: Earlier you mentioned the problem of farmers with regards to Station Access. I know that's something the company feels very strongly about?
John Smedley: I think the issue of farming is higher on the radar now than it ever has been. The behinds the scenes things are really frustration. A lot of these farmers are essentially stealing from us. What they do is they charge us back all the time. They use a credit card –sometimes stolen, sometimes not – to buy an account key. They use the account for a month, and then they call the credit card company and charge it back. We have suffered nearly a million dollars just in fines over the past six months; it's getting extremely expensive for us. What's happening is that when they do this all the time, the credit card companies come back to us and say "You have a higher than normal chargeback rate, therefore we'll charge you fines on top of that." We're really trying to get on top of that. We're taking our current efforts up about five notches to Defcon 1 on this issue. They bug us even more than they bug our customers, and we're definitely taking steps to implement rigorous anti-farming efforts.
It's actually really amazing to sit and watch these people work. I've personally sat with them as they're tracking a farmer, and you'll see a mob spawn – this guy's got a bot that within half a second has them moving towards the creature even if it's halfway across the zone. It's a serious problem.
Massively: And you can't fight the chargebacks with the credit card companies?
John Smedley: No, and the reason for that is very simple. Visa and MasterCard have these rules about chargebacks, and I personally think they're antiqued. Digital delivery isn't covered by their rules very well. So if you order something from Amazon and pay thirty bucks for a book, if it doesn't show up at your house you can fight it because you can say "I never received that thing." They do not cover that with digital delivery. In my opinion the world has changed a lot and I think that needs to be addressed.
Massively: Is there any sort of collaboration on that subject with other MMO developers?
John Smedley: I have to say "We are in close contact with our friends in the industry."
Massively: Of course. Many thanks, as always, for your time sir.
I like smed's Idea... Free expansions please!! =P
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The Lounge
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Off-Topic Discussion
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Making Benderbrau beer. (with robot)
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Making Benderbrau beer. (with robot)
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Avalod
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0
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01/07/2008 23:09
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Bender Bot Beer brewed by ones very own bender (in real life)
Cant believe this guy actually went and did this.. Props to em
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The Lounge
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Off-Topic Discussion
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For Sale: West's deadly nuclear secrets
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For Sale: West's deadly nuclear secrets
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Avalod
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0
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01/07/2008 00:03
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No lie on this one bit.. Im very intrigued this woman went against a gag order and said she would in some ways.
The Times and Sunday Times report on corruption at the highest level of the U.S. government in the selling of nuclear secrets.
Brad Blog, as well as others, have done extensive coverage in the past. While they welcome the attention of mainstream media, albeit foreign, they still feel that the Times had an obligation to release the names of the accused government officials.
Only the UK ladies and gents could ya find this. Only in the UK..
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The Lounge
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Off-Topic Discussion
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Stick a fork in her.. Shes over done..
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Stick a fork in her.. Shes over done..
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Avalod
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0
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01/04/2008 18:25
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"Sigh. Another Friday, another Spears meltdown story all over the tube and the tabs. So duty calls: blog we must.
You get the feeling that even the more celebrity-obsessed of readers and the media who pander to them are beginning to grow tired of Ms. Spears and her concatenation of relatives, “friends,” enablers and tormentors. After all, how many times can this train wreck wreck?
To recap, Ms. Spears apparently spent several hours last night refusing to hand over her two children, of whom she does not have custody, to her ex-husband, Kevin Federline, who does, or to the police who were called to the scene. She was then carried out of her home on a gurney and put in an ambulance, all in easy viewfinder range of paparazzi, to be taken to a hospital, where nothing was said of her condition, though a police officer who was at the house said she was observed to be under the influence of … well, something or other. Tests for illicit drug use are said by one gossip magazine to have come back negative today.
Moreover, Mr. Federline’s lawyers requested an emergency custody hearing, and persuaded the court to suspend her visitation rights in an order handed down this afternoon. Ms. Spears’s lawyers, meanwhile, no longer want to represent her, after she blew off one scheduled deposition and showed up more than an hour late for another, only to skip out again after 15 minutes. She has also ditched court dates, defied court orders, and gotten herself in one vehicular-related legal scrape after another over the past year.
The latest antics are quite a kickoff to the new year for the Spears family, which wound up the old one in signature style with Ms. Spears’s 16-year-old sister Jamie Lynn announcing she was pregnant by selling the story to a gossip magazine, evidently before she had told her big sister. The fallout from that little bit of business continued today with reports that Nickelodeon may give in to the storm of demands from parents that it cancel Jamie Lynn’s kidvid TV series, “Zoey 101,” even though the third-season finale has yet to air and the whole fourth season is already completed and ready.
That’s a notable data point: Not only have many average folks had it up to here with the Spearses, their media-conglomerate patrons may be running out of patience, too.
You can detect the glee draining out of the saturation coverage, even if the cameras have yet to turn their gaze away. A Seattle Post-Intelligencer blog post asks whether Ms. Spears is insane. People magazine rounds up experts to tut-tut about the hole she has dug herself and the possibility that she will lose access to her toddler sons for good. Clarence Page built his column on Wednesday on the fish-in-a-barrel angle: the Spearses, he wrote, make it altogether too easy to condemn them.
Taking note of court papers saying Ms. Spears burns through every penny of her $737,000 monthly income, a U.S. News & World Report blog post today even advises her to manage her money better. The tips proffered in the blog are for the most part ridiculously generic (Save more! Shop less!), but this passage drew a smile and a nod:
Think about retirement. No, it’s not too early — Britney will probably want to retire one day, perhaps even earlier than the rest of us. (Those dance moves won’t be so easy in a couple of decades.) According to the Government Accountability Office, 12 percent of women over age 65 are living in poverty. For divorced women like Britney, the rate is even higher, at 21 percent.
The Lede can hear a weary world calling out as one: No, Britney, it is definitely not too early to retire."
Anyone else care to agree.. She needs off the grill.. she been cooking for to long now.. XD
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The Lounge
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Off-Topic Discussion
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Jack-Thompson Aims at Department of Defense. Army Games.. WHAT!!
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Jack-Thompson Aims at Department of Defense. Army Games.. WHAT!!
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Avalod
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0
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12/30/2007 23:45
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Jack Thompson Speaking Gibberish again this time on Games like counter strike and Americas army with Department of Defense Approval to have games like these made..
Jack thinks he can take on the US Defense Department? This’ll be good
It will be like lining up Napoleonic soldiers against an Abrahms Tank… won’t be pretty. I wonder sometimes what goes on in JT’s brain. I mean is it like Caboose from Red Vs Blue, or like the Milkman Conspiracy from Psyconauts? Perhaps JT should say that there is a conspiracy between the Illuminati and the gaming industry next, or perhaps the Templars and Hershey’s chocolate, or any number of wild *CENSORED*, base-less claims.
>_< Can we rid the world of this man.. please it will do us all a good cause
EDIT: XD found this over at a message board for Atari's DBZ:BT3 with a topic about this (hence where i got thr article in the first place)

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The Lounge
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Off-Topic Discussion
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Guitar Hero 3 Feminist 0.o wha the.. Rockband soon to
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Guitar Hero 3 Feminist 0.o wha the.. Rockband soon to
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Avalod
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0
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12/28/2007 08:50
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Stupid Article for Stupid Women who hate Games
Honestly this is utter crap. I mean. Get with the times these women must. Stop thinking music was a hippy age ordeal. Each character brings a different genre relation... Its really ticking me off that people like these women actually think its illegal for entertainment to have such a thing in a video game..
*CENSORED* how i wish i can give the facts of life to these women and clearly shut them up but be it there own *CENSORED* pride trying to prove wrong on stupid reasons that make more than just women look bad... This beats the "Global Warming is Sexist" article by a thousand fold.. if not more.. And to think RockBand may also be a next target. -_- Someone shoot these women dead.. Stupidity is not needed for this world. specially those who feel a source of entertainment is a feminist thing.
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The Lounge
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Off-Topic Discussion
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2008 Anime Movies -_-
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2008 Anime Movies -_-
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Avalod
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0
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12/25/2007 04:58
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(( got this form my Atlanime digest seeing as i work somewhat with em ))
Plans are underway for several anime-inspired movies. to be released in 2008.
Variety Magazine reports that Crystal Sky Pictures has hired Dwight Little to helm an American feature film adaptation of Namco's popular Tekken fighting game franchise. Crystal Sky Pictures produced the Nicholas Cage Ghost Rider picture. Little's previous martial arts films are Brandon Lee's Rapid Fire, and Steven Seagal's Marked For Death. Reportedly the upcoming American Tekken film will be a sci-fi martial arts picture. The movie is scheduled to begin filming in Shreveport, Louisiana on February 4th.
Justin Marks has written the screenplay for a Voltron movie to be produced by Mark Gordon from Grey's Anatomy. Plans are to be released through New Regency.
Justin Marks is also working on a new Street Fighter motion picture to be centered around Chun-Li.
The 2nd live-action Transformers movie is underway. The next movie is said to include Soundwave, Devastator, Arcee, Grimlock, Blitzwing, and possibly...Unicron.
The new Batman: Gotham Nights animated movie is being produced under Bruce Timm from the 90s Batman cartoon. This new movie will be similar to Animatrix featuring six segments each done by different anime creators featuring the Batman Begins/The Dark Knight movies.
Genndy Tartakovsky of Samurai Jack and Clone Wars fame is spearheading an anime-influences animated feature of Power Of The Dark Crystal based on the 1980s Jim Henson movie.
An all-CGI movie of Gatchaman is being produced by Imagi Entertainment who did the recent TMNT movie. Imagi is also doing a computer animated Astro Boy cartoon for 2009.
A live-action movie of Blood: The Last Vampire is underway in Asia starring Korean actress Jun Ji-Hyun as Saya.
A Castlevania flick us being directed by Sylvan White from Stomp The Yard. Paul Anderson from Resident Evil is writting the script.
The Dragonball movie is already gaining speed with a possible summer 2008 release. Chow Yun Fat is to play Master Roshi, Justin Chatwin is Goku, James Marsters as Piccolo, Jamie Chung as Chi Chi, Emmy Rossum as Bulma, and Joon Park as Yamcha. It's being directed by Stephen Chow of Shaolin Soccer fame.
Ones in bold im looking forward to but the ones in underlined im skeptical about. Hell the DB or DBZ title has yet to be said if it is DB or DBZ so meh why im speculating it
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The Lounge
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Off-Topic Discussion
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MiniMe.. AAAIIIEEEEEEEEE....
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MiniMe.. AAAIIIEEEEEEEEE....
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Avalod
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0
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12/19/2007 09:05
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Friggin WoW Gets a MiniMe.. AIIIIEEEEEEE
-_- anyone even wonder if these so said famous stars actually play and if they do ask others. "your not a friend of mines only cause im famous are you?"
EDIT: Tazer from the MBusiness boards puts it in better words
I also wonder if these people really do play WoW. I'd think it would be refreshing to get to socialize with people in a normal way without any of the "do they like me cause I'm famous?" **bullcrud**.
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The Lounge
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Off-Topic Discussion
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Nooo.. Not the mudkips.. Anything but a CRain Mudkip x2
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Nooo.. Not the mudkips.. Anything but a CRain Mudkip x2
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Avalod
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0
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12/17/2007 02:50
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Mudkip CRain Parodie
Dont get the nerve of some people. I mean yeah mudkips are okay and all but to ruin there "so-called" awesomeness with this... =S
Think i need to go back to a broken console and read again chocolate cheery kiss desert -_- My eyes and ears are bleeding now having seen a pokemon variation of this ordeal.. GAH.. Spare my humanity please..
(( on an IC Note....... Kill the guy with a huge pube for his freaking "Mr. Big" voice.... lol ))
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Community
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General Discussion
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Gun sounds and Warped effects.. oh my
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Gun sounds and Warped effects.. oh my
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Avalod
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0
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12/16/2007 16:11
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Well dont now how to put it. Since this Christmas update (well more like two updates ago) it seems a bunch of sound effects got warped or not working properly.
For instance. low level guns.. well hell all gun's for that matter. Sound very VERY warped as if trying to be realistic but is over done and are also very what appears out of sync.
The second is some of the sound effects to some of the regular hacker type animations and even evade combat shield itself. Seems if done right during a jump with doing the evade combat itil interrupt and turn into a two bit sound ordeal. Even alot of the Hacker nukes and AoEs sound that way to.
It has become very un-bearable and cant take the thoguht of hearing those 2d-bit type sounds..
Has anyone else came across and noticed this as well or is it just my own PC and may need to do a tech support ticket? Just asking before I do make a ticket on this is all
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The Lounge
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Off-Topic Discussion
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XD... Schools!!! Out!! for... Karaoke?
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XD... Schools!!! Out!! for... Karaoke?
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Avalod
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0
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12/16/2007 07:25
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Im sorry this is just to funny Connecticut Teacher Threatened By "Appetite for Destruction" Lyrics
I only got one thing to say.. People take crap to literal now and days.. Same thing like the Death Note Book. well.... sorta .. XD
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The Lounge
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Off-Topic Discussion
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What one does for power... XD China ate its blackend heart out..
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What one does for power... XD China ate its blackend heart out..
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Avalod
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0
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12/08/2007 00:38
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Chinese Suspected of U.S Military Lab Cyberattack.
Oi can one say its now just a game for power and nothing else.. Seriously nations all round need to stop trying to pry into the lives of others to better there own selfish needs...
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The Lounge
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Off-Topic Discussion
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$hat a Mr. T..... (( WoW comercials going ..... 0.0 ))
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$hat a Mr. T..... (( WoW comercials going ..... 0.0 ))
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Avalod
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0
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12/05/2007 16:08
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Okay a few days ago a found this over at the monkly-business message boards
Mr. T WoW Commercial
And JUST LAST NIGHT.. Theres another one but with......
WILLIAM SHATNER!! LIKE WHAT THE HELL..
SoE needs to think about stealing some people before Blizzard gets better bang for there buck with stars or icons like those two before WoW infests the land again.. =/
Im looking for the Shatner One but have yet to find it. =S
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The Lounge
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Off-Topic Discussion
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Death Note = Student Suspension.. *CENSORED* 0.o
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Death Note = Student Suspension.. *CENSORED* 0.o
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Avalod
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0
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11/30/2007 16:15
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Virginian Student Suspended and Investigation to Death Note Book
honestly even the people seeing the site in the vid.. Know its not the real one..... =P wel those commenting that is..And jeeze just another surefire way to make blame that Animes "biggest Threat" is the fans.. Jeeze shoot me for in regards of bringing that up on Biggest Threat. Ill get a article to that soon enough... was about how fan maded sub's are killing the industry's.. which i dont see plausible.
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Community
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General Discussion
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Lock.. The Wireframe Man... Possibility?
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Lock.. The Wireframe Man... Possibility?
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Avalod
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0
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11/27/2007 23:30
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Okay this seriously has hit me several times and with the past few missions of Zion Criticals it has me thinking more
First off Lock being MIA or KIA during the sentenle attacks ending in old zions demolishion. Now we know as of now the proggy's are backing off a slight bit or have known. So why wouldnt now be the perfect time for Lock to try and make contact if in that rubble somewhere
Second the RSI Configuration kill spree mission zion orderd to find the guys and gals and get them jacked out for reconfiging. Now given since old zion was attacked and such said RSI's Configs were either taken into custody or even distorted thus getting the mission for having people jack out and get fixed. Would it not be meanigful to say locks RSI Config could be considered still amoung the rubble but more likely is badly damaged and with the system itself nw anew in ways and Zion using new configed methods for secruity. Could that not mean something along the lines Lock using his baddly modded RSI to amke contact in that rubble. also give fact the rubble itself could be giving image distortion to the RSI Jack itself. meaning why its wireframed in the first place
But just trying to raise a bit of a talk to see if anyone else thinks on this view point and think it could be porbable given the crits had and whatnot
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The Lounge
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Off-Topic Discussion
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Its the WORSE TIME OF THE YEAR.. To get sick -_-
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Its the WORSE TIME OF THE YEAR.. To get sick -_-
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Avalod
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0
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11/27/2007 03:35
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Yeah well what can i say but this being a health rant..
Honestly Been spewing nothing but dry coughs and some moisted every now an then for the past 2 weeks now. Try to get a appointment.. And to my ears I have to wait TILL DECEMBER 1st for one.. Note this was when i called with a week and a half ago. Now I try calling up now and im told booked until after christmas... =S
Seriously this is utter BS how health doctors do things.. I mean yeah given there wanting to spend time with family but also familys wont be happen if theres a dead guy or gal in a family dead cause of non-booked appointments to fill holidays for work. Till past the christmas holidays now -_-
And cant afford to just waltz to the ER and wait countless hours upon half to a whole day just to be seen and said im fine and such and walk off... complete BS again.. when waiting in a VERY Draft waiting room also..
*sigh* Honestly anyone here know any self diagnosis evaluating tips on how to find out what this very bad *CENSORED* coughing is leading up to. or is? Been just constantly fighting it to not cough cause it screws my chest up more. as in i coughed about a good amount this pst two weeks my chest areas and ribs feel like collapsing any moment. Sleep you say? been doing that non stop with plenty of fluid and yet still has not a shred effect. Except when i wake up from such said sleep. Im coughing way more god awful and for a good while till it tends to back off..
I know some people dont like reading rants but feh... im ranting for the sake of a players health.... mine in particular and not being able to do a damned thing to help get better except stay in doors with a warm climate. kinda hard with my lil sister the ice queen wanting the AC at below 65 Degrees 24/7..
Can one say death is knocking on my door or should i go ahead and say. Screw it go to the ER get more worse and likely get the diagnosis with any advice for treatment if any is given at all?
Ahhh It may be to people the most wonderful time of the year in some aspects. BUT NOT FOR HEALTH =S.... I do wish to say its some sort of bronchitis but hell if i know... -_- any ideas for self diagnosing
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Development Discussion
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Development Roundtable
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The deal with the FM-1500 sounds?
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The deal with the FM-1500 sounds?
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Avalod
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0
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11/24/2007 06:29
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Okay I know im not the only one whom noticed this but for if anyone heard an FM-1500 in game shot off. It doesn't sounds as crisp and sound like before. I mean. I know they wish to make it more unique to those whom obtained then. but come on now the sound on em is hideous now. May sounds like a real gun but muffled at that.. What happend to the old sound that it emits... This is just worse.. =S
It sounds like a muzzled shotgun in all honesty
EDIT: *to make this a dev discussion*: would it be possible to bring the old sounds back? maybe dumb the loudness down but keep its crispness in tact
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The Lounge
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Off-Topic Discussion
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Tom Clancy.. Makes god cry
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Tom Clancy.. Makes god cry
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Avalod
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0
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11/22/2007 18:57
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/begin joy rant Seriously... Just finished up the latest "Splinter Cell" book "Fallout" and might I add it goes into small very good bits and hints for the release of "Fugative"
Im so now highly anticipating when it comes out for the PS3 (yet im waiting for the non back compatible version to be released. Already have a ps2 and dont mind swapping back and forth..)
But anyone who reads at least a spec of tom clancey novels .. GET FALLOUT.. you wont regret it.... /end joy rant
And yes Clancy Makes god Cry with Fallout and its pre release link to Fugitive... God wont deny ya i bet that he sheds tears reading Clancy's work.... =P
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The Lounge
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Off-Topic Discussion
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Oi younger siblings.... Dot ya just hate em -_-
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Oi younger siblings.... Dot ya just hate em -_-
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Avalod
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0
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11/16/2007 12:51
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Okay Im working on the job from home and doing class work for my Degree for a game and simulation program bachelors degree. My little sister comes home from high school. Pretty much pisses a fit over a few things which I had not even touched or worked on which were not mines to be doing in the first place.
The Dishes for example. Being the eldest i asked her a few things which led to what setting did she put the un scrubbed pots and pans to.. She said normal wash.. arrogant as i was i said it should of been on pots and pans heavy wash to begin with and there not spotless cause of such.
Well after bickering and such she lands a shove on me and runs off to her room. I say she will get whats coming to her. She comes back starts trying to beat the *poop* out of me. Now her highschool *CENSORED* girlfriend (yes my sister is lesbian and god forbid i have to deal with it and what she tried to do to my father) notices me dodging every thing throwing from her. And needless my pants fall right off as i fall and lose balance... Catch the pants quick enough but yeah its clear enough decent exposure was made -_-.. Now my question is of concern.
I month back before my father went to redeploy she did the whole how mentally scared she was to a psychociatrist on see my dad in HIS ROOM (not hers) Bathroom for the record. getting out of the shower.. She tells the psychochrist she was scarred from what she saw. and this idiot for a therapist calls social services making my father look like a bad person.. Now regardless nothing was ever done about th issue and yet ive been thrown into this area more than likely now. Not only to my sister but also her lesbian lover... I mean.. If i get a few MP's comming down here saying i was exposing myself.. Ill flat out grab my Bokken and beat the leving *poop* out of my sister then and there for doing such a thing.
I had it with her way of rebellion on life, how she depicts me as a fat *CENSORED* *CENSORED* having no life. and sitting at a desk all day in my room doing nothing that she can understand.. *sigh* Im seriously all for admitting myself to some help facility cause... she is beyond control and im gonig to get the blame specially on the exposure portion and how the MP's are likely gonig to go well you exposed nothing more to say.
I seriously am concernd on the fact of what she will motivaly do.. Called my mother and she is busy as is cause of the turkey fryer sales which is there heaviest time of the year for sales and Christmas as well. *sigh* Is it wrong to have to live with this daily... trying to get on with life and start my goals and dreams. and have them washed down ashore by an rebellious little sister.. -_-
Guess its time like this wishful thinking are needed.. -_-
But hell for the sake of conversation ill add
Has anyone in there own lifetime had to deal with being the eldest of the siblings and had to deal with alot of *poop* the younger siblings put up and do. I mean my younger sister can pretty much have a biography written on her for her acts and such. But has it ever in ones lifetime got tot he point in one would say as the eldest of siblings. "Enough.. is enough" and knew what to do when putting the foot down..
sorry for this rant if it seems to some. just.. needed to vent somewhere. and no where else felt safer than here.. better safe then sorry one would say -_-
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The Lounge
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Off-Topic Discussion
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Dragonball Live Action Movie has a "Green Light" RUN!!!
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Dragonball Live Action Movie has a "Green Light" RUN!!!
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Avalod
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0
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11/15/2007 22:53
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just ran through my email and found this early sent around 4:50ish AM on Thursday and I quote from the lovable Hanyou himself on what im bout to post.
"*CENSORED* <you,him, it, whomever one wants to say> to hell"
'Dragonball' Movie Greenlit Production Starts This Year
November 14, 2007 Twentieth Century Fox is moving ahead with the production of a live action Dragonball movie. Justin Chatwin (who played Tom Cruise's disaffected teenage son in War of the Worlds) is already in training with the stunt performance company 87Eleven (The Matrix, 300, The Bourne Supremacy) for the role of Goku, while James Marsters (Spike on Buffy the Vampire Slayer) will portray the villainous Piccolo. James Wong (a writer/exec on the X-Files) is directing with Stephen Chow (Kung Fu Hustle, Shaolin Soccer) producing. Production is slated to begin later this year with the goal of an August 15th, 2008 release.
Akira Toriyama's Dragonball is Japan's most successful cultural export of all time -- it has generated more than $4 billion in merchandising sales. More than a decade after DBZ's first home video release in the U.S., FUNimation's Dragonball Z Season Sets are still among the top 5 anime releases of the year.
www.thedragonshorde.com
Stone Mountain's Premier Comicbook, Gaming & Anime Store
Can we all now see the end of a good Anime (except GT which was god be damned butchered to bits for Censorship issues.. for the United States -_-) I sure can see it. This movie is going to give the nail in the coffin and make alot of people not pick up an DvD or VHS copy of the anime itself any longer.. -_-
*CENSORED* THEM TO HELL I SAY >_>
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Syntax
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World Discussion - Syntax
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Tis been fun
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Tis been fun
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Avalod
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11/07/2007 18:09
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Well what can I say. Its been a fun journey down the rabbit hole. Sadly I am going to be gone for whom knows how long. My Flight scheduled for Saturday night is still on schedule but before I say the farewells I guess its only fair for my reason.
My Uncle. Owner of his own electronic and lighting/sound equipment "Theatrix" is pretty much having a few heavy medical conditions. One of the conditions which could turn to a life risk if not given proper care and procedure for. Well since his condition seems to be stable but is not able to work as usual. He has given me an offer to join him and his family and give me the chance to live with them for a while and get myself together from a few issues with im still trying to figure out with my fiance whom I still hope is after the end of all this fiasco with her father giving the no communication or be arrested for harassment.. But I may not see her again doesn't mean she still wont have a place in my heart.. I know possibly why on a situation last night where I met her and pretty much was told to leave and not come on the campus premises again even though I was to attend the campus. Which the administrators said for me to not come back.... -_- I have my reasons to think she is concerned as much as i am for her as she is for me.
But thats a different story which will be a long hard fought battle to lose or win. But right now I'm just posting here to give my pre farewells to all on the Syntax community server and boards and wish to thank no one in particular however. Everyone Ive met seen and communicated with or even engaged into combat gave me a good time of laughs and funs. But all good things do come to an end at one point but the memories of those times can always be cherished and looked back upon to give a warm feeling.
Regardless my Flight is to be in at Atlanta International this Saturday night. It seems to still be on schedule just odd things weather wise are going on down here in the south. Pretty much all of where I live.. Has had a freeze warning and still one in effect tonight as well. Was about mid low 30's last night and is said to get colder =S. But I somewhat am hoping for a delay so I can at least catch my brother to come home from Fort Ruckerd VA. for thanksgiving week/end
But none the less Im giving this lil heads up in advanced. With the fact on I may not be able to jack in again for a really long time. If I do it will be through to DN1, Faction Boards, and any other communication means to talk with others without being in the matrix itself.
But thanks to all on the Syntax Community Boards/Server none the less. Everyone made my time in the Matrix a pleasant one.
I will have my subscriptions still going.. Cant get my veteran rewards on other SoE Titles with it deactivated.. but heck i hope to be able to bring the Matrix Installation CD's with me if it can pass bagging clearance =S... But who knows. have to have a stable computer to jack in again. which the relatives only have one for family purpose and a few for business purpose .. =S
(hmmmm wonder if i bring my Electric Gibson if they can let me bring along the rest of my guitar set. amp... pfft plenty im sure are there of various sizes ^_^ )
But tis been fun. and sorry for this long post =/
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Support Forums
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General Technical Help and Questions
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HUGE ISSUE Regarding in-game mail/deleting character
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HUGE ISSUE Regarding in-game mail/deleting character
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Avalod
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10/14/2007 03:41
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Well don't really know what else to say but how i haven't been able to jack in since about 3 or so AM Eastern Standard time this morning. Seems that if you mail an attachment from one character of yours to another on the same account/server and then delete the character which sent those attachments before going to the other character to receive those attachments. Seems to lock the patcher up when you select to delete thus said mail sender character and then gives an account in use repeatedly every time you log into th game on any of the characters you have at the launchpad...
Anyone have any idea if what i did may have put itself in a loop hole of some sort?
EDIT: Steps to do to reproduce this effect WARNING: Be ready with those last four credit card digits of the card using to pay your subscription(s) having a hard time as is getting someone to reply on my in-game support ticket on this since about 45 to an hour 25 min ago..
STEP 1: Log into thus said mail sender sending attachments for transfer between your own characters on the same server. In this case Syntax for me.
Step 2: Email the attachments and then exit out of the game
Step 3: Log back in but at the character launch select. Highlight and try to delete the character whom sent those attached emails to whomever else on your launch server character list. BEFORE TRYING TO LOG INTO THE EMAIL RECEIVER OBTAINING THE ATTACHMENTS ON THE MAIL
If done right itil pause for a good bit freeze up and then say account is in use when trying to delete your caracter and then timeout itself and close the application.
Now Open the application back up and the character you wanted to delete is still there. so try adn og into the person whom was going to receive those emails..
If loged in and at the load screen soon enough you'll get the "Account is in use" Error
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Community
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Residual Self-Image
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FEIGN DEATH FTMFW (( look to see what i mean ))
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FEIGN DEATH FTMFW (( look to see what i mean ))
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Avalod
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10/13/2007 08:51
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And I never knew it could happen. These Exiles must have an SoE Industry in the Matrix... XD. How else would Dog Pounds learn to Feign Death from me at low health but from SoE's EverQuest itself.
NOTE: THIS IS NOT PHOTO-SHOPPED IN ANY SORT OF WAY. WHAT YOU SEE IS A DOG POUND EXILE ACTUALLY PERFORMING FEIGN DEATH FLAWLESSLY...

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Syntax
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Marketplace - Syntax
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WTB: The Following Clothes
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WTB: The Following Clothes
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Avalod
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0
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10/08/2007 04:20
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Want to or am looking to buy the following in there "crafting code charge" format (( as in after crafting the item the item has charges to produce # of the item ))
Please post in a reply here with reference name of the item and price your wishing to sell the item you have in possession at.
IGN = Senliten
Enhanced Forest Green Long Sleeve T-shirt
Ballistic Damage Resistance (30pts) Thrown Resistance Bonus (2%) Melee Resistance Bonus (2%) Viral Resistance (30pts) Thrown Resistance (30pts)
Min Character Level at 45
Enhanced Greener G-Met Long Sleeve T-shirt
Ballistic Damage Resistance (30pts) Melee Resistance Bonus (3%) Viral Resistance (30pts) Thrown Resistance (30pts)
Min Character Level at 45
Enhanced Orchid Machello Dragon Shirt
Ballistic Damage Resistance (30pts) Melee Damage Resistance (30pts) Viral Resistance Bonus (2%) Blind Duration Bonus (2%) Thrown Resistance (30pts)
Min Character Level at 45
Enhanced Olive/Tan Machello Jacket and Tie
Ballistic Damage Resistance (30pts) Melee Damage Resistance (30pts) Ballistic Accuracy Bonus (2%) Melee Resistance Bonus (2%) Thrown Resistance (30pts)
Min Character Level at 45
Enhanced Eggplant Yoshi Streetshirt
Ballistic Damage Resistance (30pts) Melee Resistance Bonus (2%) Health Regen Bonus (1%) Viral Resistance (30pts) Thrown Resistance (30pts) Weapon Crafting (2pts)
Min Character Level at 45
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Desert of the Real
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Guides and FAQ's
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Teamwork Guide for The Commando Items in Update 55
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Teamwork Guide for The Commando Items in Update 55
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Avalod
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10/04/2007 11:32
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Okay after thinking on this idea. and how just about almost every group in with different people seems to get wiped (all dead) or near to it. I decided to make a small little teamwork guide for the Commando White Hallways Update from the Update 55 on Thursday October 04, 2007
Male / Female Item Shots w/ buffs given
MALES GEAR - FEMALES GEAR
Shirt/Jacket

Gloves

Pants

Goggles

Helmet

Boots

BUFFS ALL ADDED TOGETHER
Thrown Resistance - 180 Points Ballistic Damage Bonus - 10% Ballistic Accuracy Bonus - 8% Thrown Damage Bonus - 10% Thrown Accuracy Bonus - 8% Movement Speed Bonus - 12% Sneak Movement Speed Bonus - 12% Invis Movement Speed Bonus - 12% Stealth - 40 Points Movement Speed - 20% Ballistic Damage Resistance - 180 Points Sneak Movement - 10% Invisibility Movement - 10% Inner Strength Regen Rate - 12%
FULL SUIT PHOTOS/SCREEN SHOTS
Male Full Suit Shots
* Credit goes to "Jadlnlere" of "Balance" (Left) & "Wehirio" of "IP Conflict" (right) for this image on the following topic HERE with reply and image in unedited form posted by "Mathias" *

Female Full Suit Shots
* Credit goes to Rebekastrife and sending me this image of the Full Female Version *

Locations of Drops
Now these are the locations of the items which I have found or been given by very kind people to lend out the info
Shirt/Jacket Hallway Square Room - Left, Left, Right, Right, Right, Right, Right, Left *found after thinking a bit on the Gloves Hallway Combo and a sixth Right leading back out of the hallways. To try Left and found Room*
Gloves Hallway Square Room - Right, Right, Left, Left, Left, Left, Left, Left *Ty Havocide for being first to lend this info to me from PM*
Pants Hallway Square Room - Left, Left, Left, Right, Right, Left
Goggles Hallway Square Room - Right, Left, Left, Right, Left, Left
Helmet (retro spaceballs helmet) Hallway Square Room - Left, Right, Left, Right, Left, Right, Left, Right - *same pattern until reaching the helmet*
Boots Hallway Square Room - Right, Right, Left, Right, Left, Right, Left, Right
*will update the hallway paths to each other one if im handed the info and will give credit to whom hands the info also*
Now so far i am hearing that people just need to load up Viral AoE's and a MA with one healer and go at it. Yeah go at it and end up dead in my opinion.
Sqaud Leader Wave has the following
Elite Commando Squad Leader - Level 60 - Tripple Chevron *crown* Elite Commando - Level 55 - Double Chevron *crown* - x2 / 3 Elite Commando - Level 55 - Single Chevron *crown* - x1 / 2
Each Commando can do Throwing and Rifle type attacks / techniques. With some EC's even the ECSL itself doing Toma Nage *akido style* ability in Interlock. So those saying soloing can be done.. It cant
Now the Teamwork aspect and how it can easily be done and quick.
Have the following of FOUR PEOPLE MINIMAL to stand a chance
Interlock Tank - *Duelist Tree (HIGHLY RECOMENDED)* w/ Taunt Operative Ability Tank Assist - *SMG Specialist* w/ F.A.R Ability and Rifleman or Gunslinger Passive Buffs/Abilities NPC Puller/Kiter - *Any Abiltiy Tree* w/ some minimal to mid grade damage abilities Healer - *Doctor Ability Tree* w/ any possible Buffs, Rez, Heals to make the fight go quicker
There are two to three waves after the first wave second will have the Squad Leader
or A second wave same as first wave then a third wave with the Squad Leader
Almost Approx spawn time of wave spawn with all dead commandos previous wave looted and not on ground rotting is 7 - 10 Minutes Real Life Time ALMOST APPROX
Now how to effectively pull and kill these bastage's TEAMWORK IS A MUST - ANY FALSE OR RUSHED MOVE BY ANYONE BUT THE KITER = DEAD GROUP LIKELY Setup: Have all of your group at one designated area of the hall *mainly opposite end of the exit out of the hallways* Have your NPC Puller/Kiter down at a center end of a hall leading into the Intersection to the center. when puller sees the wave in center of hall where the commandos spawn.
Have Puller Target one NPC commando and All others in group have THE INTERLOCK TANK TARGETED ON TARGET SCREEN but the INTERLOCK TARGET HAS THE NPC THE PULLER HAS TARGETED. TARGETED. *do so by targeting Puller first then type /assist to assist on the target which the puller has on target screen.*
THE PULL: Have you Puller Run down that intersection hall and Run the other half end of the square hallway on the outside square area not on the groups side down and around the square leading back to the party to have the commandos bunched up.
*AS IN GROUP IS IN NW CORNER OF OUTER HALL. AND EXIT IS AT SW END. PULLER RUNS FROM NORTH HALL INTERSECTION PULLS THE COMMANDOS TO THE SOUTH INTERSECTION TO THE SW CORNER THEN UP TO THE NW CORNER AND RUNS THE OUTSIDE BOX OF THE HALLWAY CORNER TO CORNER TO CORNER REPEATEDLY*
With the IL Duelist having the commando of kill targeted and the runner has ran past your group. IL the targeted commando and Then after the other commandos are out of Taunt Ability Distance. USE TAUNT TO GAIN COMPLETE AGRO OF THAT COMMANDO.
Rest of group with IL TANK TARGETED TYPE /Assist to target the current IL'd COMMANDO and either FREE FIRE OR HEAL IL TANK .. Till commado is dead.
When Runner comes back with rest TANK Targets *or /assist<pulling characters name>* another and IL's, Taunts when rest of wave is out of taunt distance and rinse repete the kill process till wave is gone.
IF THE ECSL WAVE IS UP HAVE PULLER TARGET THAT FIRST TO KILL OFF FIRST SINCE IT IS A LEVEL 60 TRIPLE CHEVRON AND CAN DO HIGH DMG.
Okay i know this is a sloppy tech. But lets alter it with macros shall we?
IL TANK's Macro(s) */macro command in how it should be entered*
/macro Assist /Target <Pullers Character Name *SPELLED AS IS WHEN TARGETED*>; /pause 2; /Assist
Two alternate versions if above does not work
/macro Assist /Target <Pullers Character Name *SPELLED AS IS WHEN TARGETED*>; /pause 2; /Assist <Pullers Character Name *SPELLED AS IS WHEN TARGETED*>
/Macro Assist /Assist <Pullers Character Name *SPELLED AS IS WHEN TARGETED*>
TANK ASSIST
/Macro Assist /Target <Tank Character Name *SPELLED AS IS WHEN TARGETED*>; /pause 2; /Assist
Two alternate versions if above does not work /macro Assist /Target <Tank Character Name *SPELLED AS IS WHEN TARGETED*>; /pause 2; /Assist <Tank Character Name *SPELLED AS IS WHEN TARGETED*> /Macro Assist /Assist <Tank Character Name *SPELLED AS IS WHEN TARGETED*>
HEALER
(do what healers do best target and heal whomever is in need of one)
PULLER/KITER/RUNNER
(just have nearby hostile hotkey on keyboard in reach of your movment keys and the others can go from there)
The Loot Methods your group can sort out. BUT MAKE SURE ITS SORTED OUT BEFORE HAND WHEN PULLING
If anyone finds another team/group combination AND HAS HAD THAT TEAM WORKED TOGETHER AND DO A FEW WAVES SUCCESSFULLY ON THE ECSL NPC. let me know what ability trees and whom did what so i can put into here and give credit to whomever found those other group pairings
ALSO KEY RULE. GOOD TEAMWORK SHOULD ALWAYS HAVE GOOD COMMUNICATION SKILLS AS WELL TO THE TEAM.... (( IMO THAT IS ))
*I know its a bit sloppy still but its a layout of sort to give people a basic idea of how teamworking and not viral AoEing the stuff to death works out in the end as a safer and somewhat if not faster method*
CREDITS AND THANKS GOIN TO Havocide - Boot, Helmet, Goggle, and Glove hallway door path combinations MxO Dev Team - For an awsome update 55 which lead to this guide All departments of SoE - For there other MMO's I play which are very awsomesauce as well Yasamuu1 - For the Pant hallway door path combinations Nicksie - Boot hallway door path *corrected from havocides* Jadlnlere, Wehirio, & Mathias - For the image and posting image on Data Node One Forums General Discussion topic with an image of Male Full Version Suit Worn HERE Rebekastrife - For the Full Suit Image Female Version
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Syntax
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Next Renaissance - Syntax
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The One She Loves...
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The One She Loves...
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Avalod
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0
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09/08/2007 01:11
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Senliten: “Come on, it has to be somewhere amongst this file cabinet” Senliten finally finds a document in which pertained to what he was searching for. Senliten: “Yes!! Found it.”
Operator: “You know if anyone finds out what the hell your doing. You may more than likely...” The operator was then interrupted by Senliten Senliten: I don’t care what the hell will happen to me… It’s more the other way around. It’s what I care will happen to…. Her… Senliten then places the document into his Yoza-Maki Panel Trench and steadily walks out of the government building downtown. After reaching a few blocks down the street from the government building he sits down near a newspaper stand bench and brings out the document to read. Senliten slowly read the document in which reads. To: Kim Porter From: Downtown Police Department of Criminal Investigation. Dear Mrs. Porter,
We are sad to hear of your future husband’s loss to that brutal yet very vicious attack by a gang of street mongrels. Our sincere condolences and many wishes on moving forward in life. It must be hard knowing someone you love is suddenly taken away in the blink of an eye. But you have nothing to be concerned about. Rest assured we will have surveillance in and around your living quarters and we will find who has taken your husband’s to be life. Enclosed is of course are some of the belongings which were received and verified to be Mr. Porters. Please do what you think is best with them. Enclosed will be the following A Wallet A House Key A Charm Locket And a current Photo ID
Senliten turns the document pages to find a more recent letter, which reads out. To: Kim Tsuhana From: Jessie Cinder
Hey; Kim. Just writing you this congratulation letter for your recent marriage to that stud. Mike Tsuhana of our Law Firm here Downtown. It will be a pleasure to work with you and show you the ropes of to learning Criminal Justice.
Senliten finishes reading the documents and then thinks on the name whom Kim had married. Senliten: “Hmmmm Mike Tsuhana…. The name rings a bell…” “Hey operator you there?.. Haven’t fell asleep yet have you?” The operator replies back
Operator: “No I’m still here in one piece. Let alone you on the other hand may be in pieces.. If your *CENSORED* doesn’t get back to the ship.” Senliten: “Saddly that’s a suggestion I have to refuse to do. There is one last stop I need to go to. And do me a favor while im headed there will you.?”
The operator confused at what odd request Senliten is going to ask for. Since he never was the one to ask for help. The operator oddly enough gives a grin and replies. Operator: “What is it you wish for help on?” Senliten: “Heh you know what I need. Im sure you read what I read from my retina outputs didn’t you?” “If so then get to it. And I hate being like this but I’m going to say. That’s an order.. Operator” Operator: “Already working on getting background information down to even this Mike Tsuhana’s blue pill co…….
The operator shocked at what he just finished seeing and noticing Mike Tsuhana is no Blue Pill. Operator: “Senliten.. You may not like the sound of this but… Mike Tsuhana.. Is a Operative. Who seems to be working close directly with the Machines.”
Senliten. Shocked at what he just heard from the operator. Begins a quick, but steady sprint to his destination. Ignoring what his operator is telling him and asking him what is up and what he is planning before reaching his destination. He knew this would not turn out the way he wished it to be. (( This is my first shot at a somewhat story related to me and my fiance in real life but adjusted to have a matrix story feel. please note that everything in this story is not anything that happend with me and my fiance. But more like its the motivational drive to thinking this story out. Ill be back to start on chap. 2 called "Making Sense" in a little bit. Right now i am going to at least get some sleep. I have a license renewal and then need to go look at a decent ring to be my fiances real engagment ring. =/ I know doing the ol use a cruddy ring and get a better soon after gimick. But hey.. things dont always come cheep =/ ))
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