http://www.destructoid.com/never-mind-microsoft-actually-wants-to-sell-kinect-data-263119.phtml Basically, the Kinect on the One is now going to spy on you. See what you do, see who's watching the game, see how many people are in the room, see what expressions you have... Basically, MS has just turned into Big Brother. Huh, yet another reason to not buy the Xbox One. Oh yeah, and they're defending this, and that this is the "future". Good luck with that, MS... You probably just lost the future. I actually can't believe they did this after so many people threw a fit.
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.co...rts-of-shots-fired-on-capitol-hill/?hpt=hp_t1 I am guessing this has to do with the shut-down. I don't blame them fully, but I still wouldn't do a shooting. I just got on CNN and found this. This is VERY new news.
http://www.cnn.com/2013/10/02/us/new-york-bikers-attack-video/index.html?hpt=hp_t2 A note and probably a rant: I live in a VERY quiet town with a booming motorcycle bar right outside of town. The motorcyclists drive through town without mufflers which is illegal in my town if not my state. They cut people off and weave in and out of traffic like it's their playground without any regard of people who are driving cars, including cutting them off, passing in the wrong lane, weaving in and out of lanes and not giving any **** about cars, and basically making everyone else's life a living hell on the road. Sometimes even giving the driver's of the car a hard time. They do do good causes, a lot of charity events. But they also cause the most accidents in my area. They expect us to stop for them no matter how dangerous it gets, and due to the laws of my state, the driver of the car is held responsible for any accident or injury. The driver of an SUV, with a two year old in the backseat mind you, had a motorcyclist in a gang which is where most of the reckless driving come from from what I've seen. Cut him off and slam on the brakes within inches of the SUV. The driver had no time to stop and tapped the cyclist. The SUV got off the freeway and they followed him and started to destroy his car and slashed his tires, and he in a panic took off when he was at a stop light, he also hit one of the motorcyclists because of the motorcyclists vicinity being so close, broke one cyclists legs. He didn't get far before they caught up, they then apparently dragged him out of the car at that point and severely beat him. He is right now in a coma at the hospital and paralyzed. Words can't describe how angry I am about this. The fact that people are defending the actions of the biker makes me more angry. He called 911 to let them know about the gang before this incident happened, I don't know what happened with this call, but apparently whatever it was, it wasn't fast enough to stop this tragedy from happening. The fact that they were on the news today giving you instructions on how to handle situations like this which means it happens more often than I wish to think, shakes me to my core. Especially what I mentioned in the first paragraph. My thoughts and prayers go to the SUV' drivers' family.[DOUBLEPOST=1380768612][/DOUBLEPOST]Oh yeah, apparently the group: Hollywood Stuntz, the group who did this has a motto of: "We Run This City." Along with a Youtube channel showing more dangerous stunts they've done. And this is their second assault. Lovely. ><
Alright, I've been in a heated argument with several people about this issue, and I'm curious. Do you think the horse and carriage rides in New York City are abuse or not? It's a very heated debate that's been going on for several years now: One side saying that the horses are treated fantastically and get time off up North during the year and the stable's conditions aren't as bad as people say. To it's completely inhumane and horses should never live in the city, even for a few months in converted apartment buildings going on pavement and/or breathing fumes. A good point for carriage rides is a youtube channel called: StopLiesSeeTruth which is videotaped by a carriage driver who owns three horses. The counterpoint is the Humane Society and most likely other channels easily found on Youtube if anyone wants a reference. I personally have ridden for several years. I don't claim to be an expert on horses, but have worked around them and have also volunteered at even therapeutic stables and watched videos of horse trainers. After seeing both sides, I would have to say those horses, despite being in converted apartments for six weeks each rotation, live a great life. The stalls are made out of wood on the bottom half and iron bars on the top so horses can socialize without fighting. There's mister fans used for the summer and the horses have windows on three sides of the building with plenty of natural light and artificial light. The barns are inspected by the city and state of New York along with the ASPCA. There's tons of hay and straw and the stalls are big enough for the horses to turn around and lay down in. The horses also go to the park where by law there's a trough for them to get water, which they have to do twice per shift. They also have water under the carriage along with grain for food and water source. The horses work at the most about eight hours and they doze at the stables and waiting for customers. It seems like a great business and I hope it continues.
http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/20...0919_1_grand-theft-auto-v-video-game-gamestop I am pretty shocked and angry that this happened. I can't believe someone did this, course, we have the console wars coming up, and I still remember the PS3 where they sold only 3 consoles per store at the release and someone broke their jaw crashing into a solid steel pole in a stampede for a PS3. A good news update: A friend of his gave him his game, then Gamestop gave him a Limited Edition for free and someone else gave him a bus pass. I am happy it did work out, the couple who attacked him were arrested for the assault.
I know I'm going to regret posting this and hope the backlash won't throw me out of the forum, but..... Anyone else disappointed in the "Ad" that Roosterteeth posted tonight instead of an episode of Red vs Blue? Alright, I have to admit... I don't like the PSA ads. It irritates me mostly because I'm already buying stuff from them and am paying for sponsorship with no ads with each video and they're being paid by MS for this now. I do think some of them are hilarious. I think some of them are excellently made. I say this one was a poor excuse for a PSA. It was an Ad, it didn't even try to be anything else. It wasn't funny in my opinion, it didn't show anything that Red vs Blue had. Also, I heard it's already been shown on Youtube and their showcase event: RTX. So, thoughts?
I was in high school when I heard about this book. A teacher was reading it to her class and one of my friends at the time did a report on the book after listening to her reading it. I am a huge history buff so I special ordered it at a bookstore and picked it up. Despite it being graphic, it shows a side of history rarely covered in textbooks. The author: A college professor who spent several years researching the book, went through 13 high school history books and made a book on what actually happened in various parts of history. Covering from Columbus finding America, to the dropping of the atomic bombs and later, it brings out the sides of history that is rarely covered in school. Facts about Lincoln being at least neutral to even pro slavery during the Civil War until later in the war, facts about Helen Keller supporting Communism, facts about Woodrow Wilson being extremely anti-feminist and so much more. I recommend it to anyone who's a history buff. I do warn you: It is a brutal read a few of the times, but it is also fascinating and great for anyone who loves history. Anyone else read it?
My mom went to a garage recently to get her car worked on, I don't give out my e-mail address to anyone because I don't want to get more junk mail. I also never wrote down my real name, which is common, but hard to spell because of the way it's put differently than most. I have gotten two e-mails from the garage with no reason why they have it. I also spoke to my mom and she says she never gave it out nor would ever because she knows how I feel about this. She also is not so good with computers and probably can't give out my address without asking me what it is anyway. Does anyone know how they're getting my e-mail? I am getting irritated by it, especially since this time the service was terrible because their kid took a joyride in our car.
I was surprised this wasn't posted yet... Fifty years and two days ago, millions of people, of many races, many genders, and many backgrounds and cultures. Walked down Washington to protest the way African Americans were being treated. One of the most famous, influential people in my eyes made one of the most famous speeches there right in front of the man who freed all the African Americans, the Lincoln Memorial, about having a dream, a dream where a white and a black would sit at a table together and not worry about nationality. Despite the backlash, despite them facing vicious police dogs, firehoses that were turned on them that ripped bark off the trees they tried to protect themselves behind, despite arrests and beatings, they peacefully went on to the point where they were voted in for the same rights on the Civil Rights Act was passed. I said, five years ago when Obama became president, it was a monumental moment. Not because it was a democrat, not because the republicans lost, it was because it was a moment I believe would go down in history as the proudest moment for the United States so far. It was the first time an African American president, or any president mind you, of a different race other than white, was voted in. We have made long strides since that famous speech, and we still have a long way to go for now: I would like to listen, and remember, no matter what, where we came from, and how far we have to go. To remember this powerful moment.
http://www.cnn.com/2013/08/30/world/europe/syria-civil-war/index.html?hpt=hp_bn3 I was at the supermarket today eating lunch in the cafe they have there when I noticed the news. Apparently there was a second chemical attack (reportedly an hour ago) that happened in Syria. Over 1,400 people are dead from last week, and this week they seemed to have hit a middle school without warning or alarm. This is just such a tragedy, it killed me when I saw this. I can't even put into words how I feel or what else to say. I do know a war seems to not be starting over this from what I've heard. I have mixed feelings about this. I don't want another war, but also, I heard the news talking about the other dictator countries: North Korea, Iran... That are going to be watching this, but without support, I don't see us jumping in is going to do to help our own country. Which is sad in itself. My thoughts and prayers go to the families and their victims.
Alright, peeps... I got in an argument with someone last night about women and stereotypes on gaming. Mostly about Red vs. Blue and how they treat their female cast compared to their male cast and how much I hated the treatment and the chars coming from that. So I got curious: Do you think there's a vast majority of people who put women in stereotypes for playing games/online games? Do you think that there should be this stuff happening in the media and in general especially with males? Personally, I am a female gamer, I have played Halo. I'm not the best player, granted, but I am a good player. I also have played games all my life, from the Sega Master System and Nintendo to today with the 360 and PS3. I definitely think there are some stereotypes for women out there who play a lot of games, hell, look at a lot of the gaming websites and the ratio of men to women who work on them. I don't know the ratio here, sorry peeps. :P The world is changing and I still hate the stereotypes thrown out there.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs...ma-administration-wants-to-revive-part-of-it/ Well, part of it... The part that says all copyright streams are illegal. I have to flat-out say no. Two reasons: One, I watch online streams because I don't have that much money. If I have the money and I like a game, yes, I'll buy it. But for me, it's great to see how a game looks and feels to me before buying one. Two: This will bring back all the other laws they tried to make over time. I am against SOPA, I'm against a huge part of the economy and yes, there is a huge economy behind streaming videos/making reviews/playing games and making shows. There's a ton of money that goes to people online who support their whole lives behind it. Being destroyed because people who sit on their money all day whine about the Internet stealing more money can't stand the fact they can't buy their next jetplane. While some reviewers can't afford their rent or food without their shows. I didn't like SOPA, never supported it, and never will.[DOUBLEPOST=1377223601][/DOUBLEPOST]https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/stop-sopa-2013/LMzMVrQF Petition to stop it.
I was taking a walk on the beach when I found a really obedient German Shepherd wandering a short distance from his owner. The owner was calling him and I heard a loud yelp come from the dog a minute later. I thought the dog was playing too roughly or something and I ignored it. I was coming the other way and spotted the owner, I spent a few moments petting the dog and speaking to him and noticed two collars. I asked him and he said it was a shock collar. He said he rarely used it and just used it a few minutes ago to get his attention and only uses it for that purpose. A few minutes later I walked on, but the question rolled around my head for a bit, so I decided to ask: What is your opinion on e-collars, a device used to give electric shocks to dogs via collars used by owners as a training aid to correct dogs over things over other training methods? Do you think it is the best training out there, better than even the collar on allowing dogs to walk freely, do you think it's abuse, or do you think owners use it to cut corners to not train their dogs properly? I honestly think it's part abuse, part quick fix. People want results now, they don't want to wait weeks, they don't want to wait months. They want a perfect pet as soon as they start out. They also have this belief that it will prevent the dog from choking to death with a collar and stop the cruelty of a gentle lead and/or harness using such a device because a few shocks and the dog will walk next to you nice and obediently. I don't like the e-collar. I have seen dogs perfectly trained where all you need is hand signals and a soft voice and the dog will listen perfectly. Yes, it takes longer time, but if you're going to have a dog, you need that time put in anyway. I have seen dogs on beaches walk right next to their owner without any leash or voice command with no devices and nothing else other than the trust for their owner. My cat comes mostly when called because he knows I'll pet him as a reward and he sometimes gets food. i never used any other training methods and neither did my family on training our pets except voice commands and gestures. We've never had any problem with our animals.
http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105...aves-family-in-errant-car-credits-mario-kart/ I think this is frigging adorable, and I tip my hat to the kid on figuring out what to do and not panicking. It reminds me of a four year old once who called 911 because her mother had a deadly seizure and was so calm, the operator didn't believe it was happening, but sent a dispatch just in case and saved the mom's life. Kid deserves a medal and several gaming systems. Smart thinking, kid.
For this week, we're going to a really interesting game that defines nuclear wasteland: Fallout. So, what do you enjoy? The old games that were more of a point and click, relying more on your stats that leaned way more heavily on a rpg aspect than your skills with aiming, with off the wall humor, and the ability to make the smartest person on the planet or the dumbest depending on how you want to play, with a boss who at the end either was brutally hard or a piece of cake depending on how you used your stats? Or the new ones, where it is a First-Person shooter, less of the off the wall humor, much more expanded storyline, easier shooting stats, but has less of an rpg element, less effect with your stats where you are still the same with most stats, easier final bosses no matter which route, and a less personal stake without hundreds of people depending on you that you know? I actually enjoyed Fallout 3, but there's something about Fallout the original that calls me back constantly. It's one of the most frustrating games I ever played, but the most addicting. I love the challenge and different ways of playing the game even without the stats being different. The decision making is much deeper in my opinion than the other games, and it affects a lot more people. I love Fallout 3, but the original ones win this round.
I'm just curious, what did you peeps do as a kid that wasn't "bad" but an incident that was unforgettable and really annoying at the same time that made your parents flip out/cost them a ton of cash because of stupidity or a dare. One time I went to a trip to a big city three hours away. I messed up the time I was supposed to meet with the group and after a half an hour of waiting, I called my mom collect when my teacher came two minutes after she picked up the phone. My brother also found his way at the top of a mountain while skiing because he took the wrong chair lift. He also called collect to my mom in a blind panic. I think he got down via ski patrol. She still wonders which one out of us was worse when it came to ending up calling collect because of a moment of panic. Oh yeah, my brother also bought two Siberian Husky puppies, at separate times, without asking and/or realizing he didn't have the time for them, and we didn't have the space for them.
Since this is the tenth posting old vs. New, I decided to make it a bit different: This week we're talking about consoles. Not the games you play, but the devices you play them on. They have been around since the 1970's if not earlier, and most likely everyone at least once in their lifetime owned the different brands that still exist today, hell, I still have my Genesis and kept my SNES until a few years ago. So here's the question: What do you prefer? The old versions of consoles with simpler graphics/music/save features/some hardware problems (anyone who has had to blow into a game to get it to work knows what I mean) with a huge variety of games which always seemed to stretch the imagination and bring back a twinge of nostalgia? Or the newer consoles, with the latest cutting edge graphics/music/technology with Internet, communication to people around the world, and gimmicks like motion controls and Kinect? Or do you like both equally? I actually have been thinking hard about this for several weeks, at the end, I decided that despite my love for the games that are now out. Portal, Assassin's Creed (except III), Kingdom Hearts, and tons of other games, there's a twinge of nostalgia that never goes away when you pick up an old controller and turn on that system. There's something unique about remembering Nintendo at it's prime and seeing it duke it out with Sega while making the groundbreakers that will change gaming history. Watching a playthrough of Earthbound, playing Final Fantasy VI and playing Sonic the Hedgehog 3 always makes me go back to when I was a little kid playing games on the SNES. Earthbound was one of the first rpg's outside of Final Fantasy to touch U.S. soil that REALLY opened people's eyes to the possibilities of the genre. A game guide that told you everything you needed to know helped.When it came along along with several others, it solidified the genre which made paths for other games to come along. So despite my love for the new games and that I will hop onto the 360 any day and play Halo, I never forget the roots of gaming and my love as a kid playing the Master System while fighting with my brother on who's turn it was to play. Nostalgia wins this time. NOTE: THIS DOES INCLUDE GAMES!!!!!!!
Soda...... Or....... Pop? Choose wisely. :P
As I mentioned before, I live in a tourist area. My state gets a ton of tourists coming here every day from everywhere in the U.S., most of them are pretty nice and even enjoy sitting and talking to you about local places they should try out, where they live, etc... There have been a few rude people here and there, but this year: I'm getting a slew of bad tourists running through the state. People revving their engines, people getting out and screaming threats to other drivers, a drunk woman wanting to set off her own private fireworks at the 4th. (True story.) A couple ignoring their kid kicking the front of the seat on public transportation even though the person in front of them is getting extremely irritated, a kid getting fly spray put on on public transportation and ignoring the fact that everyone around them is complaining. A good example is today was that there was a wedding going on at the beach. I was on a bus heading home from the beach and living in the area, I knew there was a place where it was a trap. There's a roundabout where once you enter, the only way to exit is to go all the way around. The wedding was happening about three feet away and there was a truck parked at the end of the roundabout to the point where the bus couldn't get through. The driver tried to get their attention for several minutes before leaning on his horn. A few guests came over and started screaming obscenities at the driver and threatening him with violence. They even tried to break through the driver's side door to get to him. They finally moved the car, but there was a lot of families around and a ton of little kids who heard the whole thing, I also reported it to the police along with the driver. So, what do you think, do you think people should make their vacations enjoyable as possible even if it ruins it for everyone else or the people who live locally have to suffer through it?
I witnessed a crime. D: I was on the trolley, and there was a wedding going on next to a place that bottlenecks, meaning there's only one way to get in and out at a roundabout. There was a car parked totally blocking the way for the trolley, they run on a tight schedule and the driver when they ignored him leaned on the horn. Guests came over and started screaming at the driver, swearing and calling him a "******" and banging on the bus and trying to break through the drivers door. He called the cops and so did I reporting what was going on. They finally moved the car, but I was worried about what was going to happen later so I didn't stick around town. I never had that happen during my whole life of growing up in the town. D:
