Upcoming events in December and for 2008 - 11.30.2007.2

From Michael Vass,



As we enter the month of December I just want to take a moment to share some of the things that are going on with M V Consulting, Inc. and all of its sites. As you may notice there has been a lot of activity in recent weeks. And I’m not planning on slowing down anytime soon.

Currently there is the $1000 Holiday Give Away Contest, which will end on December 15th. I invite everyone to review the rules at the above link or the press release at PRWeb (http://www.prweb.com/releases/2007/11/prweb569295.htm ). I’m looking forward to giving away the money and I hope a truly needy family or individual wins. Remember that the entry is free, and no purchase is required.

There is also the TV One webcast of the Heartland Presidential Forum on December 1st @ 2:30pm. As one of the bloggers selected to cover this webcast I look forward to sharing my thoughts on all the candidates comments. This is an important webcast as regular people will be providing questions for the candidates, live not YouTube. This is also critical as voting in primaries will start early January.

There is little more important than selecting who will run for President of the United States, and there has not been a more critical election, in my opinion, since the 70’s when I was a child. Every vote counts, as recent elections have proven, and never are they as important as the 2008 election.

You can see my political commentary from 2007 and in the future at Vass or at Presidential Race Blog where I also write.

But in more immediate terms there is the holiday season. Some may have taken a look in the past at my online store and I want to let everyone know that there are many types of t-shirts, mugs, mousepads, posters, jewelry boxes, Teddy bears, sweatshirts, and more available. There are over 10 different clothing lines featured at the store including Anti-MoveOn.org, Sexy Woman, You’ll Do (as seen above, a favorite among many women it seems), Cowboy Ride, and I am the Myth.

Oh, there is also a deal for purchases over $75. And as I mentioned in my press release, I will be donating all profits from the sales at the online store to $1000 Holiday Give Away Contest. While purchase is not required to enter or win, if you do see something you feel would be a great gift for someone or yourself (there are over 200 items available) it will go to help others.

In addition, for those with businesses or who just want to be charitable, all donations made to the $1000 Holiday Give Away Contest will be given out to the winner(s). Every dollar counts and adds to what will be given away.



In the near term I will be doing my annual lists, summing up some thoughts of 2007. In addition I will be reporting the growth of M V Consulting, Inc. and all its sites. It has been a tremendous year.

Looking to 2008, expect to see another $1000 Give Away Contest or several of them. I will continue to follow the Presidential race, right up to the election night. I will get some free time and will be doing a few photo shoots for the various clothing lines. [Anyone interested in being a model for the photo shoot can send a headshot and contact information to info@vassconsult.com] Additional clothing lines will be released throughout the year as well.

I will also be seeking one or 2 corporate sponsors for the various sites. It is my hope that by gaining dedicated sponsors I will be able to decrease the advertising found on each site (though I have tried to do my best to keep it minimal. But it costs money to keep things going. You can donate to help by going to the PayPal donation button at the top left of the sidebar).

There also will be some changes in the look of the blog sites. You are welcome to provide me any suggestions on changes you would like to see. I value the opinions of all my readers and those that leave comments, so tell me your thoughts.

You can look forward to better (I hope, I do make them myself) video ads, an improved resources pages, reworked gift store pages, and new video clips of posts (possibly in a news commentator style). These are ambitious (and costly) changes, so give me time but I’m working on it.

Again I thank you all for your readership and commitment to my blogs and sites. Remember to enter the $1000 Holiday Give Away Contest (it’s free and who couldn’t use the money?), and check out the TV One webcast of the Heartland Presidential Forum, and my commentary tomorrow.

Sincerely

Michael Vass
President – M V Consulting
info@vassconsult.com

What analysts are buying for Christmas

Mortgages are in trouble, and the financial sector is reeling because of it. Enormous discounts, online sales, massive toy recalls and a recent correction place serious questions on the outcome of the 4th quarter. The chance of a Democratic Presidential candidate winning the 2008 election stands high. And whispers of a potential for a recession loom in the background.

Investors are searching left and right for a place to move their money, and there are few comfortable places to go. But there are a few choices out there. In particular is the Energy sector. A quick glance at a chart of the S&P 1500, with 10 analyst recommendations or more, shows a surprising trend. Energy is considered a buy, with 54% of these stocks holding buy recommendations.

In fact the only stock to have every analyst covering it recommend it as a buying opportunity is an energy stock. That’s a huge indication of confidence out there, as opposed to the financial sector. Financials currently have only 36% of buy ratings and lead the S&P 1500 sectors with 9% recommending sells.

Now add to this the facts that Chinese stocks have entered a bear market, Oil prices has jumped to all time highs, and the credit markets are tightening, analysts see the future as lit by the sector with the power.

As we are in the beginning of winter, and demand for heating oil, electricity for Christmas trees, and natural gas to bake and cook meals for the holidays are all current expectations for the near-term seem quite logical. It seems unlikely that usage is going to drop suddenly, thus profits running into the 1st quarter of 2008 sound reasonable.

The recent pipeline explosion at the Enbridge Inc. facility in the Midwest also seems to be a factor to help stimulate the sector over all.

So what is the perfect stock gift for investors? I have no idea, but it seems that analysts are stuffing their stockings with the Energy sector. Whether that will get them a lump of coal or a sack of cash, I doubt if even Santa knows.

**This can also be seen at Energy Stocks Blog, where I am a contributing author.**

Previews of 2008 films - 11.30.2007.1

Recently I was in the movies watching the Hitman movie and of course before the film there were several trailers. One of the trailers was for the new Will Smith film I Am Legend. I think that will be a good remake, this is the 4th reiteration of the film. I’ve spoken about this film before.

But there were 2 other trailers that also caught my attention. Both have A-list stars in them, and in each one of those stars is also African American. Both are Sci-fi films, and as longtime readers know I love comic books, video games and scifi. (Yes I’m a bit of a geek) But the big differences in the 2 films are the date they will be coming out and the quality of the films. One will bomb almost assuredly, the other should do well as long as it’s not up against Iron Man.

I’ll start with the worst and go to the best.

Jumper is trash. Not only did I get that impression from the trailer, but it is confirmed when the trailer states the movie will be out in mid-February. The worst of films almost always start off the year and appear between the middle of January thru February. It’s a dead time, with only a slight break for romance movies targeting the Valentine’s Day holiday. But romance movies don’t bring in the money.

This film has several fatal flaws. They are so big even Mr. Samuel Jackson can’t save the film with his presence. The big problem? They went for CGI heavy effects and forgot about the plot, and you can’t blame this on the writers strike. As you can see in the clip, the main character is a X-men-esque type with the power to jump from anyplace in the world to any other. Ok. Anything he holds onto goes with him. OK. So when he jumps to some other place in the world how can a rope catch him half a world away and pull him back? The rope was after the fact, and once it went through shouldn’t Mr. Jackson be pulled to the kid? Sci-fi films that rip off good ideas for quick bucks on a gimmick tend to fail. So will this I bet. See for yourself.



On the other end of the spectrum we have a more action based film with sci fi elements. WANTED looks to do quite well. It has Mr. Morgan Freeman (as a headmaster assassin – a bit different if he really is a bad guy), and the lovely Mrs. Angelina Jolie. It a movie about top assassins, so good that the laws of physics fail. [Yes a Matrix rip off, but it looks like they paid for a plot too] Our everyday guy, turned super killer looks plain vanilla enough. The chance for massive gunfights with really hi-tech guns seems excellent. And Mrs. Jolie looks great in those outfits.



Neither film will win an Oscar, granted. But my money says that WANTED is a winner, and Jumper will only look like a strong film when compared to Redacted or Lions for Lambs (the theme of both I hate, and happy to see them burning up in red tape).

Well you know what I think, what do you think of them. Which does better? And I still say Iron Man is the early leader for best blockbuster, and overall best film, of the year 2008.

Pros and Cons of the leading Democratic Presidential Candidates - 11.29.2007.1

**Repost from my Vass site.**

I want to remind everyone that on Saturday @ 2:30, TV One will have a live webcast of the Heartland Presidential Forum, featuring several leading Democratic Presidential candidates, and Republican candidates as well. This forum will feature candidates answering questions from the audience (and I don’t expect that any candidate will be planting questions for this).

I will be covering this Forum on Saturday, and you can expect a few posts from me, for TV One and everyone.

Considering the nature of the forum, and the fact that most Americans have not been following the candidates over the past year as much pundits and political bloggers, I thought that a short Pros and Cons of the leading Democratic candidates would be helpful. I intend to have a similar list for Republicans shortly.

I am only focusing on the leading candidates because of the short time until the primaries. I want to note one candidate that will be at the forum that I will not be doing a Pros and Cons for. Dennis Kucinich was the only candidate of either party to-date that answered any questions on Reparations for African Americans. His answer was for reparations. Every other candidate has refused to even speak on the subject.

With that noteworthy positions stated here is my list of Pros and Cons. I hope it helps those at the forum that get to ask questions, and everyone that will be voting. Please let me know your thoughts as well. [I am trying to be neutral, but of course that is not always possible in all issues. You may disagree with some of the items I list under either category. Let me know your reasons why you disagree, or agree, in the comments.]

Senator Hillary Clinton:

Pros


• Wife of President Bill Clinton
  
• Long-time Healthcare advocate
  
• Determined
  
• A lawyer
  
• A current 2nd term Senator
  
• Well known internationally
  
• First female Presidential candidate with a chance
  
• Forgave the infidelity of President Clinton
  
• Various polls state ~1/2 country favors her
  
• Very liberal in most all policies
  
• Pro Abortion


Cons


• Pro-abortion
  
• Has never directly run or owned any business
  
• Entered elected office after career of President Clinton
  
• Initial attempt to pass Healthcare reforms failed horribly
  
• Consistently appears to hold no actual position on most policies
  
• Speaks like a lawyer
  
• A female candidate
  
• Various polls state roughly ½ the nation strongly dislikes her
  
• Staff has at least 2x planted questions in her public appearances
  
• Had committee member attack Republican candidates by surprise at CNN/YouTube debate
  
• Very liberal (supported MoveOn.org in Gen. Patreaus ad)
  
• Has received the most money from lobbyists and institutions of any candidate of any party
  
• Took $1 million from wanted fugitive
  
• Involved in multiple scandals
  
• Pro-Illegal Immigration
  
• Anti-death penalty
  
• Anti-school vouchers
  

Continued in Pros and Cons of the leading Democratic Presidential Candidates Part 2...

When the MMO joy ends

For all the fans of MMO’s (Massively Multiplayer Online) out there, some potentially bad news. The same can be said to fans of all things Star Trek. Of course this means that I can only be speaking about Star Trek Online.

It’s been reported that there are going to be massive changes to the up-coming MMO, and the end to the equally in development Gods & Heroes: Rome Rising. The creators of Star Trek Online, Perpetual has been sold to new owners and they want a new focus on the game. Those changes include a move to become a more casual gamer friendly format. I would call that a horrible move.

In addition there is the rumor that the subscription based fees will be removed. Now most games that do this tend to instead offer perks to the game that can only be gained by purchasing those perks in real cash. While that has been a huge hit in some games (like Second Life as I recall) it’s not something I like. Then again most Americans I would say are against that format. But in Korea this is a very popular idea.

In my opinion, the game is dead. Any potential that might have been there has been hit by a full force phaser blast. So it’s warp speed onto another MMO. That means Conan. So far expectations are that we can see the game out in 2008.

As for Tabula Raza, which you may recall I reviewed recently, the joy has subsided a bit. My review covered the first 5 levels to the game. The initial feeling of constant action and improvement has lasted beyond level 5. But it seems to be waning fast.

Now at level 15, I have to honestly say that this is not a long term MMO. At least not for me. While I still maintain it’s a nice change from WoW (World of Warcraft) it is not a keeper. The higher level stats and abilities are only slightly different than early levels. Weapon strengths do improve, but not quite as quickly as most opponents. The scenery of post-early stage lands are still well detailed and inviting, but somewhat still the same.

I’m playing the game as a solo character, no guild or groups. That makes most of the instances very difficult. Sadly that’s where the best gear is of course. Still several can be beaten by one character (at substantially higher levels and better gear). But the meat and potatoes of the game still leave me less than enthused.

Bugs are still present, and the latest patch was a while ago (pre-Thanksgiving).

And the difference in ability between my newbie and my level 15 ranger is sparse. The different abilities just don’t seem too relevant. And the logos still make little sense.

Probably the main thing keeping me going is the desire to reach Sniper at level 30.

So if you have a month or 2 to kill, or want to blow off some steam from work, Tabula Raza is ok. Otherwise, look for Conan in March 08.

**this can also be found at Video Gaming Blog where I am a contributing author.**

Review of the Hitman movie - 11.28.2007.1

So I went and saw the Hitman movie recently. I have to say it was worth the money and time. For fans of the video game, it does pay attention to the game. For those that never played it you won’t be lost, nor enjoy the movie less.

I am a fan of the Hitman video games, so I went to this movie with a bit of trepidation. Far too often videogames turned into movies are a let down. Either they ignore the source, or they fail to expand on it. In increasingly rare numbers we see glimmers of all the right things, and this movie gives us just that.

Prior to seeing the movie I questioned whether Mr. Timothy Olyphant could pull off the role. While his work in Live Free or Die Hard was quite good (I own the DVD – the uncut version is barely different than the official theatrical version) it was not outstanding. Any of his other work was not really memorable so I wasn’t sure what to expect. Happily he hits the mark in the movie, being stolid and rigid as the nature of his character demands him to be.

In fact the 3 most funny and memorable no-action events in the movie works because of his detachment to everything but his work. But there are a couple of glimmers of humor and bewilderment in his eyes in those scenes as well, giving us a clue that more is going on inside #47 and that he is in fact human. And every geek in the world will understand the awkwardness that #47 feels in certain situations (actually I’m sure every guy can relate to it at some point in their lives).

The action of the film is well paced. There are plenty of scenes where the number of bullets flying could equal any Rambo film, well maybe not a full film but you get the point. The best thing about the action is that like the video game, and unlike most films of this nature, it’s well rooted in reality. A shot from a handgun doesn’t send a bad guy flying 15 feet, explosions affect everything in the area of the blast, and the main character knows he’s not bulletproof no matter how good he is.

And it’s not just a shoot’em up film. There is a reason for every shot, and where it lands. Nothing #47 does is without reason. He is as sharp in his planning as the creases in his clothing. And he knows how to get physical when bullets just won’t do.

The female lead, Ms. Olga Kurylenko, is fun and slutty as the character demands. I think she pulls off perhaps the best line of the movie (I will tell you it happens in the car with #47). While she doesn’t have a lot to do, beyond be a temptress and drive me nuts about the implication of her tattoo, she does hold up her part of her scenes.

For those that are considering letting younger kids see the film, beware even though there is no sex scenes. In fact there is no sex in the film, which is a nice break from the usual trend in this genre. Actually you may find yourself watching and hoping it doesn’t happen. Though that could be me, because I think Ms. Kurylenko seriously needs to “eat a couple of Big Macs” as a good friend likes to say. You really notice it in a couple of scenes where there is frontal nudity.

Overall the film is an example of precision in action. It’s logical, purposeful, and filled with action. There isn’t a lot of dialogue, and the action is big. Will it win an Oscar? NO. Will it be noted as a great film? No. But will you enjoy getting caught up in the film and following #47, absolutely. Perhaps the main complaint I have is that the Ave Maria (sung wonderfully by Christina England Hale) we hear in the trailers is not in the film beyond the opening scenes. I love that song and its tempo is perfect for the film, but at least it’s in there.

M V Consulting Inc joins with TV One on the Heartland Presidential Forum - 11.27.2007.1

In a little less than 6 weeks America will decide which candidates will be running for the Presidency of the United States. This next election will be perhaps the most critical for America in decades. Definitely for those Americans that have grown up with the internet, cell phones, and cable television this is the most definitive moment in American government they have ever witnessed.

Because of that TV One will be presenting a live webcast of the Heartland Presidential Forum from Iowa. This debate will likely be the last held prior to the primary voting that will follow shortly in January 2008. The debate will be taking place on December 1st 2007 at 2:30pm. Expectations are that 5000 citizens will be at the forum, and some will be able to directly ask the candidates questions about their plans and goals for America.

Also in conjunction with this Forum and webcast, TV One has gathered several bloggers that will discuss the various aspects of the political landscape leading up to the debate, and who will blog during the live debate as well. This will be a chance for you to be directly aware of what the candidates have to say about the issues you care about; and to be able to hear the thoughts of other average Americans about the answers given.

I am proud to say that I have been selected as one of the bloggers to be involved with TV One and the Heartland Presidential Forum webcast.

To that end I want to take a moment and review a bit about the many issues I have been blogging about since the beginning of the year in regard to the 2008 election. Long time readers to my site will be familiar with much of this, while newer visitors may find information that they may have missed.

I started the year by sending out letters to several of the Presidential candidates. Those candidates were in both the Democratic and Republican parties. In those letters I asked each candidate several questions that were prevalent in the minds of many people, and continue to be today.

Examples of some of the questions are

“Lastly, what is your position on the various laws and actions that are in place or proposed to impede illegal aliens from entering this nation from our southern border only? Do you agree or disagree with the thought that more should be done to protect our largely unwatched northern borders, especially since there has been evidence of how dangerous this lack of attention has been. – To Senator Hillary Clinton, Dec. 16, 2006”

“In recent weeks a great deal has been made of Representative Ellison’s informal swearing in using the Quran. As an individual of the Mormon faith, if you were to be elected President, would you use The Book Of Mormon to be sworn in on? (Please excuse my ignorance about your faith but I believe that is your religious text) Do you feel that your religious background would have any affect on your performance if elected President? Would it have any affect in dealing with dignitaries and governments that hold a different religion, and if so what? What place do you feel religion has for any elected official, if any? – To Mitt Romney, Jan. 10, 2007”

“As a fellow African American I'm sure you are aware that there are several issues that are of great impact to the Black community. One of the most important may be the issue of education. What have you done to improve the number of African Americans that finish high school and/or seek higher education? If you were to be elected President, what plan would you follow that will improve the education system in America? – To Senator Barack Obama, Jan. 22, 2007”

“Another matter that was received in a mixed manner was your choice of police commissioner and the law enforcement policies during your term of office. During your time as Mayor, Mr. Amidou Diallo and Mr. Patrick Dorismond were murdered by police officers in a disturbing manner and Mr. Abner Louima was tortured by police officers which was then attempted to be covered up. These policies and your defense of the police department created a significant atmosphere of anger and cries of racism among the African American, Hispanic/Latino and other minority groups in the city; that was not covered significantly across the nation. For those African American and minority voters in the nation, what are your views on law enforcement? Where do you stand on Affirmative Action and other reforms that address racial inequality? – To Rudy Giuliani, April 5, 2007”

Other questions and letters can be found at my corporate website in the Presidential candidates section, or via search at any of my blogs.

I have also been running a poll tracking the opinion of average Americans on who should be the next President of America. [The exact question is - If the election was held today who would you vote for? – The list of candidates does not include Fred Thompson who entered the race far later than any other candidate.] As of this post Senator Barack Obama leads with 52% of respondents. Senator Hillary Clinton trails behind in second with 22%, followed by Senator John McCain in a distant 3rd (9%). These can be found on the poll on the sidebar of all my sites. Feel free to place your vote as well, I will update this the day of the TV One Heartland Presidential Forum webcast and the following Monday.

So to sum up the introduction, I try to be neutral in my questions and views of the Presidential race at this time. While we as a nation are trying to decide which candidates of either party are the best choices for the nation to choose between, I feel it’s most important for me to raise questions about what we need to know from any candidate. This next election is far too important. And I’m glad to say that TV One agrees.

Expect more everyday, and if I can several times a day, until the debate. And check back during or after the debate. Hopefully together we will be able to find the best choices for America, because anything less diminishes us all.

3 parts of real success - 11.26.2007.1

Talent - a person who possesses unusual innate ability in some field or activity.

Work ethic - is a set of values based on the moral virtues of hard work and diligence. It is also a belief in moral benefit of work and its ability to enhance character.

Intelligence - the ability to comprehend; to understand and profit from experience.

Which of those 3 terms is the most important? Does it matter what they are being applied to that makes the difference?

Why might I ask that? Because as I finally took some time to rest over the holiday, I watched a bit of television and spoke to people around the country. I heard several people complain about their work/pay. I heard several tell me how they intend to be stars. I noticed how much attention is focused on individuals in the media. And I realized that almost everyone had no idea about the above 3 items.

Of the 3, I have noticed that most people work on talent. Especially African Americans and minorities. It’s the E-ticket that gets you on all the rides. It’s the get-out-of-the-ghetto card. It’s the single most important factor ever. And it’s a lie.

Talent is like hope in Pandora’s Box. Perhaps the worst thing to afflict people en masse. It’s a tool that far too many without it use to become rich.

When I mention talent, most think of Michael Jordan or Snoop Dogg. They imagine Beyonce or 50 cent. But you don’t hear people say that Oprah Winfrey has talent (not speaking about her acting, but her ability as CEO of Harpo) or John Thompson, Myrtle Potter, Stanley O'Neal, Kenneth Chenault. Why not?

What about intelligence? You never hear that mentioned. You never hear anyone ask Ja Rule, Dr. Dre, Kobe Bryant, or Tiger Woods if/where they went to college. Because they have talent right?

And work ethics are likely the least discussed item of all. It’s like a plague when it is mentioned.

But when you consider the real successes, the people that really are meaningful and at the top of their game you find, more often than not, that they got their with this combination:

• 1. Work ethic
  
• 2. Intelligence
  
• 3. Talent (if any)
  

Best in the NBA? Michael Jordan. Practiced constantly, played with a 103 fever, and gave 110% every game. Mr. Jordan is a college graduate, and a better businessman than sports entertainer. While he may have made roughly 15 million dollars a year as an athlete, Mr. Jordan makes roughly 2x that a year now, with a net worth well in excess of $200 million, without ever touching a basketball.

Much the same can be said of Spike Lee, Tiger Woods, Oprah Winfrey and most every CEO that the average public couldn’t name if you paid them $50 a name. Each of them worked hard, every day with a plan in their heads. Each of them had an advanced education. Allowing them to understand business, contracts, money management and more.

If you want to know the difference between real success and a fad, look at the work ethic and education. 50 cent will be lucky to be around in 5 years, odds are. Tiger, Oprah, Michael Jordan, Stanley O'Neal, Kenneth Chenault, and others will be making money years after they are dead by contrast. And more of it.

So if you want to know how to become successful, there you are. Make a plan, work at it every day and get an education. If you have a talent you will just help boost your odds. But if you think that you bounce a ball, hum a tune, or sashay better than anyone and that’s all you need, be prepared to be let down.

Only 1 in 10,000 make it to professional level sports, even worse odds to make it in music or acting (how many people get rejected in the first 3 qualifiers of American Idol every year?). A professional entertainer has a career of maybe 7 years, regardless of the realm. Why limit your chances? Why give someone else the upper hand?

A Thanksgiving Day message from Michael Vass - 11.22.2007.1

I want to wish everyone a happy and joyous Thanksgiving Day. I hope all my readers are having a day close to their loved ones, with enough food for all, and relaxation from the busy schedule of work.


For everyone who is planning their shopping schedule for Christmas, and trying to decide where they want to brave the crowds tomorrow, I offer you a different option. I would suggest you that a look at my online store (found at http://www.cafepress.com/nova68). There are t-shirts, mousepads, coffee mugs, Teddy bears, sweatshirts, hoodies, stamps, jewlrey boxes, posters and more that can match most everyone you know. Take a look at the over 200 items found at my store and you might find a great gift that will cut down on all the traveling and crowds you will have to deal with tomorrow.

And for anyone who has said, “I wish I had a bit more money to pay for all bills and gifts from the holiday season” I remind you that the $1,000 give-away contest is still on-going. It’s a free contest, no purchase is required. And it can’t be any more simple to enter. Just send an email stating my age in the body or headline of the message, to Contest@vassconsult.com. That’s it and you will be entered to win at least $1,000 guaranteed. (Hint, you can figure out my age in the About me section on any of my blogs or corporate website. Can it be any easier?)

[For the rules of the contest please look at my press release found at M V Consulting, Inc. Giving Away $1,000 in Holiday Contest - 11.15.2007.1 or PRWeb Press Release]

And for those companies, businesses and individuals that want to help people out there, you can donate to the holiday cash give away as well. Simply use the Chip-In Donation Widget to give whatever you want. The total will show all donations made. 100% of all donations will be given to contest winner(s).

Again I hope that everyone has had a wonderful day and that the Holiday season brings good cheer and joy to all.

Sesame Street, the real danger to our children. Are you serious? Part 3

Concluded from Sesame Street, the real danger to our children. Are you serious? Part 2...



Hmmm… Learning the alphabet, with humor. Expressing love and presenting diversity and tolerance. Compassion. Patience. Are all these qualities we want our kids to avoid today?

Yes life is jaded today. Today we teach kids to fear strangers, family members and television shows. There aren’t just monsters under the bed; they are everywhere the child goes. Kids don’t go outside and play, burning off the cookie or 3 they just had as a snack, anymore. They sit and play video games, surf the net, and listen to iPods while eating a box of whatever Sugar Bomb Pops is handy, washing it down with a liter of some name brand soda.

Kids get to watch cartoons 24/7 now. There is no mere 3 hours of animated shows after school ends and just 5 hours on Saturday morning. No kids today don’t have to wait. They have it all the time on demand. Screw patience and learning time management skills, they have 500 channels of HDTV, Tivo, DVD’s, and YouTube. Why bother going outside and interacting with others building social networks and skills. They can text message or IM people they know and don’t know.

Diversity? If you mean being able to get in touch with masses of unseen, unknown people separated merely by screen names, in a cold and emotionless medium that conveys little to no context, then I suppose they get more now.

Seriously, the issue is not that Sesame Street is fictional or filled with “limited possibilities and fixed identities”. The issue is that some are so obsessed with seeking out flaws, resolving issues with drugs (like Prozac), and avoiding the fact that kids are not miniature adults that they miss the point. Life between 2-5 should be simple and filled with love and care. It isn’t always, but do we really need to force that reality on minds that are still trying to learn the alphabet and 2+2=4?

Sesame Street, the real danger to our children. Are you serious? Part 2

Continued from Sesame Street, the real danger to our children. Are you serious? Part 1...

I have to pause to give an example of the ‘junkie’ Cookie Monster in action. I use this video clip specifically because when I spoke with a friend of mine about this article, the song C is for Cookie was mentioned. Without pause or thought, I rattled of the main chorus of the song perfectly.



Now I wonder, how terrible is Cookie Monster? In using a snack that all young children are familiar with, presented by an obviously non-human fuzzy creature more reminiscent of a Teddy bear than a monster, he helps kids learn letters in the alphabet, introduces the concept of planets and astronomy (i.e. the moon), provide the thought of equality and diversity (the monsters in the chorus in the background), spatial geometry (the similar shapes), and the benefit of having an imagination. And he then eats a cookie. Then again he is a cookie monster. The horror. You just can’t let kids see that.

But that is not the only problem with Sesame Street according to this article.

“People on “Sesame Street” had limited possibilities and fixed identities, and (the best part) you weren’t expected to change much. The harshness of existence was a given, and no one was proposing that numbers and letters would lead you “out” of your inner city to Elysian suburbs. Instead, “Sesame Street” suggested that learning might merely make our days more bearable, more interesting, funnier. It encouraged us, above all, to be nice to our neighbors and to cultivate the safer pleasures that take the edge off — taking baths, eating cookies, reading. Don’t tell the kids.”

Let me show you a common example of the “harshness of existence” exemplified on this television program that I recall from my early years.

Concluded in part 3...

Sesame Street, the real danger to our children. Are you serious?

America we are in trouble. I mean serious and deep trouble. It’s not because of an eventual attack from fanatical extremists, or the potential of duplicitous individuals being elected to political office. It has nothing to do with the definite problems to the economy that are fueled by growing costs for oil and the expanding number of homes being foreclosed. No, this insidious virus comes from a small place in America, called Sesame Street. At least that’s what some would like you to believe.

This is incredulous. The degree of idiocy that causes some to propose that the early programs of Sesame Street are ‘inappropriate’ for children and that it should be ‘adults-only’ staggers my mind. In my opinion, anyone that could hold such a view first has never seen the show as a child and second has serious issues.

Of the programs on television in my lifetime, if not before it as well, I think only the Electric Company and the animated Charlie Brown and Dr. Seuss specials match the quality and sincerity found at Sesame Street. No violence, no bad language, real people (mostly but quite a few monsters that are as scary as Teddy bears), adults that are involved and not stupid, a diversity of cultures races and ethnicities that is unmatched anywhere in the real world. A dedication to provide kids with an interest in education, and helping them with the building blocks. And above all an understanding that children are not dumb or mindless and treats them with respect.

But for all that, and the millions that watched Sesame Street we now have what I would call ‘idiots with titles’ trying to keep the show from our children.

Virginia Heffernan wrote a piece on the Sesame Street DVD that is now available. Initially I thought this was a satirical commentary. I hope that I have misread her context. But you can decide for your self.

“What they did to us was hard-core. Man, was that scene rough. The masonry on the dingy brownstone at 123 Sesame Street, where the closeted Ernie and Bert shared a dismal basement apartment, was deteriorating. Cookie Monster was on a fast track to diabetes. Oscar’s depression was untreated. Prozacky Elmo didn’t exist.”

Sounds sarcastic right? But she goes on to say

“Originally designed by Jim Henson for use in commercials for General Foods International and Frito-Lay, Cookie Monster was never a righteous figure. His controversial conversion to a more diverse diet wouldn’t come until 2005, and in the early seasons he comes across a Child’s First Addict.”

Now if I read that second quote correctly Cookie Monster was just called a junkie. Hell, how did everyone from 45 to 22 not become a crack addict? Well maybe not everyone since according to the 1979 New York Times the program was targeted to, shudder at the thought, “4-year-old inner-city black youngster[s]”.

Continued in Part 2...

Chuck Norris approves

I have mentioned several videos about various Presidential candidates over the past few months and weeks. I've presented humorous videos, and serious commentary. And I hope you have enjoyed them all.

But I have focused primarily on the leading Presidential candidates. So in the interest of nuetrality and fair coverage I want to look at the second tier. This is a bit more comical than most, tougne-in-cheeck to say the least. But it is an official video and the candidate is serious.

So here you are, Mike Huckabee

The things you can get paid for

In the land of weird and dumb news I have found something that really blew past the mainstream. How odd is this? Well let’s just say that the secret to Warren Buffett’s may not be just his business ethic. It’s his name. The same reasoning may be why Britney Spears is the apparent mess that she is. Their names. Or more specifically their initials.

Oh yes. Someone convinced someone else to pay them to study the names and grades of 15,000 students over 15 years, and 93 years of professional baseball players. What they were looking for is what affect a person’s initials have on their grades and life choices. Seriously, someone did this. Just check the link if you don’t believe me.

I truly have picked the wrong career. Imagine that people get paid to figure out things like that. It’s insane. Can you imagine the amount of money they made off this study? As if anyone ever wondered this was important.

But what they found is that if your name starts with say a C or D you will be more likely to have lower grades than average, or someone with initials that have an A or B. If you are in baseball your chances of hitting that classic 9th inning winning homerun drop severely if you have a K initial. Basically it’s all because the initials represent good or bad things.

Now how this applies to real people is anyone’s guess. As I mentioned at the start there is the example of Mr. Warren Buffett. There is no question of his success. He is simply the best investor in the history of the stock market.

Other examples of success might be Bill Gates, Humphrey Bogart, Bill Blase, Brad Pitt, Bill Cosby, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Bob Hope, Aristotle, Albert Einstein, and Archibald Anderson. Even the rise to success of Britney Spears could be claimed by this study.

Now on the converse side there are those who have done badly with bad initials. First on the list is Britney Spears. (The S could stand for stupid, sloppy, sluggish, slovenly, or slow) Then there is former President Gerald Ford (it’s debatable on how successful he his). Also Julius Caesar, John F Kennedy, the Confederacy, Diogenes of Sinope, OJ Simpson and Caracalla.

Seems like their findings make sense, until you just casually consider President Franklin D. Roosevelt (with 2 bad initials), Donnie Osmond, Napoleon Bonaparte, Adolph Hitler, Denzel Washington, Walt Disney, President William Clinton, Curtis Jackson (depending on your point of view), and George Clooney.

Like most loopy ideas this one has holes all over the place. Again I have to wonder, how much did they get paid to do this and who funded it? I just hope it’s not a federal grant. Can you imagine your tax dollars going to fund this “research”?

**This can also be found at All American Blog, where I am A contributing author.**

Does Lewis Hamilton deserve the championship?

**This can also be seen at Auto Racing Blog, where i am a contributing author.**

Lewis Hamilton did not win the Formula One championship. Or will he? The final race in Brazil ended with Hamilton in 7th place, much to the dismay of many fans. But as in most auto races there was a controversy.

In this case it seems that the 4th, 5th, and 6th place cars all had issues related to their fuel temperature violating the rules. Initially there was no penalty given to these cars (representing Nico Rosberg, Robert Kubica and Nick Heidfeld). Now there is a FIA hearing to determine if they should be pulled and Hamilton moved up and awarded 4th. If that were to happen he would then get the championship.

My big question is should he get the championship, and would he want to get it like this? There is no doubt that winning would be a feather in the cap. But I can’t imagine that this is the way any driver would like to get a win. It just seems empty to me.

Obviously the rules need to be followed, and penalties need to be enforced. But when a driver fails to perform well in a race, I don’t think they should be retroactively rewarded because of those penalties being enforced. Penalties and their eventual reactions should be resolved during the race they occur in. In cases where they are determined afterwards, those penalties should apply forward to those drivers next race, or against the team that they drove for.

To give Hamilton the win makes it a hollow victory. It takes away the better performance of the cars that took the checkered flag well ahead of him.

I’m not the only one to hold this view. Michael Schumacher stated,

“But I think there's plenty of options after this year - if you start to change again the classification, I think it would be bad for formula one because it had been finished fair and square on the track and there's no need to carry on looking at it."

Even Martin Whitmarsh, the McLaren chief executive, said

“Victory for us would be a clarification of the rationale behind the FIA stewards' decision at the 2007 Brazilian Grand Prix - a clarification, indeed, that we regard as essential not only for us but for all our competitors, to enable all teams to race in compliance with the regulation regarding fuel temperatures throughout the 2008 formula one season."

So this is what the drivers and teams thing. What FIA thinks is as yet unknown. But what to you fans think? Would a retroactive win be good for Formula One? Would you feel as elated for Lewis Hamilton if he wins on a technicality, rather than taking the flag on the track?

I for one have to say no, and I think FIA will agree.

A meal away from the holiday rush

**This can be also be found at Food & Wine Blog, where I am a contributing author.**

As the holidays approach there are many ways that people seek out to celebrate. There is nothing like trying something different or new among friends and in the spirit of holiday good will. If you enjoy fine dining, excellent wines, and have the time I may have found something that is of interest.

I tend to enjoy having sumptuous meals. I enjoy having the chance to taste various wines from here in the U.S. and abroad. And I truly enjoy the aura that spending time with good people provides. Often with the bustle of work, the need to meet deadlines, family issues and the pace of the world being able to sit back and just enjoy a meal is lost. To rejoice in friends and good company and a good wine is more akin to some old movies than modern life. But that does not have to be the case this December.

In a well decorated Victorian style mansion, on December 8th, you can have a traditional 19th century meal, replete with wines to satisfy any palette. Located in the Albany area, the 3 ½ star Saratoga Rose Inn & Restaurant will be providing a 4 course meal that would be the envy of most any you may have.

Rather than tell you all of the meal I feel that just tantalizing you a bit with the main course and some of the wines is sufficient. Sometimes a bit of the unknown adds to the spice of what you do know and expect.

The main course is Roast Goose with Sage & Apple Stuffing & Port Wine Sauce served with Rice Croquettes & Peas. This will be accompanied with a M. Chapoutier, Crozes Hermitage "Les Meysonniers" France - Northern Rhone wine. I’m sure this has the interest of many. The entire meal will feature several wines including 3 wines from here in the United States. Two are from Washington State and one from Oregon.

I’m sure you are interested in knowing what else might be had. For 3 hours a meal of this nature seems the perfect escape from the holiday gift buying season, or year end corporate reports. It’s the start of a weekend get-away that most of us can say we want to have. But don’t let me put ideas in your head.

All aspects of the meal are included in the limited seating for a cost of $75 per person. I for one find this to be a small price for a delectable meal. To find out details and to set reservations you can call 518-696-2861.

Corporate donations for the Holiday Give Away Contest

For those that are wondering where they can donate to the $1000 Holiday Contest seen on this site, Vass, the M V Consulting, Inc. corporate site, other blogs, and the press release I have provided this item that should make it easier.

I will note each and every corporation that donates any funds, the amount donated, and the date when any corporation notifies me of a donation. 100% of all funds raised will be given to the winner(s) of the contest as stated in the rules of the contest.

I invite any corporation to join in and donate to the contest. If there are any questions I can be reached at Info@vassconsult.com

M V Consulting, Inc. Giving Away $1,000 in Holiday Contest - 11.15.2007.1

New York, NY (PRWEB) November 15, 2007 -- With the holiday 2007 season fast approaching, families across the nation are spending huge sums to travel, feed, house, and productive gifts for loved ones across the nation. Recognizing this expense and in the spirit of the holidays M V Consulting, Inc. (http://www.vassconsult.com) is happy to announce a give-away contest for $1,000.

M V Consulting, Inc. President Michael Vass has announced that this contest, open to all U.S. citizens over 18, is meant to help ease the financial burden families are experiencing at this time. President Vass stated,

"Every family, large or small, knows the stress that can come from shopping and cooking for the holidays. Given that fact it is my hope to reduce some of that stress and financial burden with this gift of $1,000. I hope that the winner and their family enjoy receiving this as much as I enjoy giving it."

In addition to the $1,000 prize, M V Consulting will include the following:

• 1. All profit from all sales of any item found at the company's online store (http://www.cafepress.com/nova68).
  
• 2. 100% of any corporate donations.
  

In reference to the corporate donations

M V Consulting asks that any corporate entity that wishes to contribute to the give-away contest contacts us. All funds received by M V Consulting will be stated on the sites of the company, as will the total of all such funds received. 100% of all funds raised will be distributed to the winner(s) as per the rules.

The Rules:

• 1. $1000 is the guaranteed minimum prize, with at least 1 winner. Entry in the contest is free, with 1 entry per family and valid email address required.
  
• 2. No employee of family member of M V Consulting, Inc is eligible.
  
• 3. For every $1000 increment reached from either profit of sales at the company's online store and /or corporate donations 1 additional winner will be selected.
  
• 4. For any amount raised during the contest period, where the total is less than a $1000 increment, the winner(s) will receive an equal portion of the proceeds. (i.e. if the total is $2350 then there would be 2 winners receiving $1175 each)
  
• 5. The contest will run from November 15th to December 15th @11:59pm, and is open to all U.S. citizens 18 years of age or older. No purchase is required to enter.
  
• 6. To enter the contest a valid email should be sent to Contest@vassconsult.com. The email should contain the answer to this question - How Old is M V Consulting, Inc. President Michael Vass?
  
• 7. The answer to this question can be found on the company's websites and blogs.
  
• 8. Winners agree to allow M V Consulting, Inc. to use their first name last initial and state for purposes of future promotion and advertising of its websites.
  

About M V Consulting, Inc. and Michael Vass:

Mr. Michael Vass is a former securities industry account executive of good standing, and currently works in the field of investor relations. He has served in the US Marine Corps Reserves, as well as worked and studied in such diverse fields as entertainment, communications, philosophy and chemistry. He has lived abroad, in Moscow and Tbilisi, as well as in various cities throughout the United States.

Mr. Vass is President of M V Consulting, Inc. a diversified private company that maintains divisions in search engine optimization, an online store, political and entertainment celebrity blogs. It is the combinations of these unique experiences that have led Mr. Vass to the creation of M V Consulting, Inc. The Company owns Black Entertainment USA (http://www.blackentertainmentblog.com), VASS (http://www.mvass.com), a corporate website (vassconsult.com), and an online store (cafepress.com/nova68).

What is the best city and for what?

**This can also be found at Food & Wine Blog, where I am a contributing author.**

Here is a question that has various answers depending on your goals. When you travel do you prefer relaxation and quiet or nightlife and excitement? It’s a tough question, and I’m sure it has many aspects. If you are a single man, like me, you may well prefer traveling to where there is nightlife and very good restaurants. If you are a married individual, escaping the kids for a weekend, you may just want a very quiet and tame experience soaking in the Jacuzzi listening to Vivaldi.

Both are very good things, if that’s what you want. But how can you tell? Nothing is worse, whether on a business trip or personal time, than going to a place and finding out it’s the opposite of what you had hoped for. I’ve found it completely annoying, I’m sure you may agree. Well, in an effort to alleviate those occasions where possible Travelandleisure.com and CNN did a comparison of 25 cities across America.

The list rates the cities on various aspects including nightclubs, happy hour, singles, affordability, peace and quiet, cleanliness, safety, and of course dining among a huge list of other items. The lists were comprised by 60,000 votes (more votes than most Presidential polls quantify) and include the thoughts of locals as well as visitors to each city.

So what is the result? If you want a fun business trip you need to head out to Chicago (personally all business trips I have had there have been abysmal), New Orleans, San Francisco and New York in that order.

For a family trip look for Orlando, Washington D.C., and San Diego. Romance more the idea? Then head out to Honolulu, Charleston, or San Francisco.

But here are a few points I found of interest. Best Pizza was listed as Chicago as #1. I just can’t see that but as I’ve noted I am biased and from the Bronx. The friendliest city would be Charleston (I knew that wouldn’t be NYC). And the top 5 best place for those of us that are single are: Austin, Las Vegas, New Orleans, Miami and New York. Who would have guessed Austin was the place to be.

I’m sure there are many other surprises and items of interest for every type of traveler out there. Take a look and see what works best for you. Let me know if they missed anything on the list and what city you think has the best of it.

The NASCAR race you didn't see on ESPN

**This can be seen on Auto Racing Blog where I am a contributing author.**

I really can’t take credit for what you are about to see. Funnyanimalvideos.com was the site where I got this video from and I must say it is quite funny. A friend of mine saw this video with me, and as a major fan of NASCAR was just rolling with laughter.

Beware the speedy Jeff Gordon!

Venus Williams joins the Starbury trend - 11.14.2007.1

I love it when I can revisit a post I made in the past to update the news and events, especially when the news is positive. I don’t get to do this as often as I would like, but today I can. What is the good news? Well it involves Mr. Stephon Marbury, Ms. Venus Williams and Mr. Ben Wallace.

For those that have not seen the original post in May of this year [Starbury sneakers from Stephon Marbury - 5.1.2007.1] I discussed the benefit of the Starbury sneaker line, sold by Steve & Barry exclusively. For $15 dollars a celebrity entertainer endorsed sneaker can be bought, and according to comments by B-Esq (from the original post)

“The new Starbury line of sneakers are much better and more comfortable than my nikes, reeboks, filas and sauconys.”

While there was some news on this story, major media didn’t focus on the positive news, or the other positive actions by Mr. Marbury. Even now there is more attention to is sex life and initial comments about Michael Vick. But that takes away for the real story I think deserves attention.

There is the massive, NBA leading donations to Hurricane Katrina relief, the gift of sneakers to New York City high school varsity basketball players, and free haircuts to youth at Coney Island. Yes, negative news grabs headlines, but only when that is the focus of the news. The positives may be less sensational, but have far deeper impact.

And that impact in terms of the Starbury sneakers has grown. As I mentioned in the beginning, Mr. Marbury is now being joined by Ms. Williams and Mr. Wallace. Both of these star athletes are coming out with their own $15 endorsed sneakers. In fact Ms. Venus Williams will also be coming out with an entire line of clothing, each piece of which is priced at or below $20. And I think it’s about time.

I said before,

“I don’t fault anyone for making or endorsing a product and getting paid for it. Even better if they actually support and/or believe in the product. But ripping-off kids is wrong no matter what the reason. And it’s insulting when a multi-millionaire exploits fans, especially those in the least economically capable communities, to make another buck. Even the worst stockbrokers I worked with or knew of in the market would NEVER take money from kids and orphans. To make it blunt, profits in excess of 200% for a piece of sporting equipment that can’t survive the wear and tear of daily use beyond 6 months or so, and targeted to children and young adults, is exploitive.”

At $140 the new LeBron James’ Nike sneaker is exploitative, to me. It’s not worth the price. It’s taking advantage or the status and celebrity youth see in Mr. James. I again say I don’t fault him for getting paid, I just think he and others can do it more affordably for the very targeted African American community consumer.

I support the efforts of Steve & Barry, Ms. Williams, Mr. Wallace, and Mr. Marbury. I hope that their efforts make an impact with other companies, and gain massive popularity among African American kids. I suggest that on Nov. 15, everyone goes out and checks out the EleVen debut, which is the clothing line from tennis star and celebrity Venus Williams.

There are things in life that we want that cost a lot of money, like an education. A basic and essential item, clothing and footwear, should not be one of them. And I’m happy to say that a trend appears to be growing that agrees with this thought.

Contest winner talks about Instinct - 11.13.2007.1

The following is an email I received from one of the winners of the Dinner at the Instinct Restaurant contest. I have not altered this email in any manner, and present it to you verbatim.

I am happy to hear from my contest winners and glad to know when they enjoy the prizes I have provided.

Keep an eye out for my next contest which will award a prize before the end of the holiday season.

Michael Vass – President of M V Consulting, Inc.


I won a certificate to have dinner for two at Instincts in Endicott. I must say this the dinner was superb. We had an appetizer of Fried Calamari to start off with.....Then ordered our dinners I had Crusted Baked Salmon with snow peas and oven potatoes......my fiancé had Jamaican Pork Chops with snow peas and oven potatoes............they were both superb dishes. We had tried each others the Jamaican Pork Chops had a raspberry sauce and it was like when you took a bite it had all the favors come together but not over power each other.........very well blending together. For dessert we ordered Banana Fosters now that was a exploding treat. When you bite into a Banana Fosters it explodes in your mouth its warm, the flavors of inside blend so well with the whipped cream, and chocolate and other sauce believe its caramel that is drizzled on the edges of your plate that you rub your Banana Foster into before you bite into it if you wish..........the whole meal was beyond my expectations. The meal was like a meal from a five star restaurant. I would recommend if you want a superb meal go to Instincts..........We will be going again and soon. We drove a little over two hours away to go I am so glad we went..........Thanks very much Sophia

Review of first 5 levels of Tabula Rasa

There are many Massively Multiplayer Online (MMO) games out there these days. There is the now classic Everquest, the hugely popular World of Warcraft (WoW), the movie and book inspired Lord of the Rings Online (LotRO), and several others as well. In the near future this genre, once thought a fad, expects to add 3 more major titles and one has just opened for the holiday season. I will discuss the MMO that just went live – Tabula Rasa.

Tabula Rasa is a new idea in the MMO genre. This computer game is similar to standard MMO’s in that it has thousands of players from around the world on at any time. Player can customize avatars, receive fetch missions, and kill lots of computer controlled baddies. But there is a major twist in the now common theme in this game. Unlike the majority of MMO’s in this one you are in the not-to-far future.

The game takes place after an alien race called the Bane has attacked the Earth. Relatively small portions of the planet’s population are able to escape, with the aid of an ancient benevolent race of aliens, and we are fighting to regain our home planet. That’s the simplified back-story.

There is a huge amount of shooting in this game. In many ways it is a FPS (first person shooter), but it never feels to individualized. While soloing is possible there are times when a team makes life easier, but I’ll get to that.

In terms of installation, expect to spend about 2 ½ hour to get everything and to be up to date. The software downloads relatively quickly; you only need 1 CD, but the updates after that will take quite a while. You can spend part of that time creating an account so you can play the game (which is not mentioned where to go for the account or that registration is separate of the installation process). You can also get a chance to read the relatively average sized rules guide. I would have preferred a larger book, with bigger fonts, but it’s not terrible. The booklet is also not that informative, but with MMO’s they never really are.

Once you’ve set up the game and gotten an account you can jump right in. There are only 4 serves so far, and all the US servers (3 of them) are moderately full. You may need to try more than once to get a connection. It took me 2 tries and about 3 minutes to get in, which is not terrible (I have a cable connection). From there you create your first character.

Character creation is simple and easy. Note that the last name you use will apply to all other characters you create on that server. There is a decent about of diversity in skin tones, facial looks, and size of your character. I am upset that there was only 1 option for hair for African Americans, braids (at least for a male character). I doubt every Black guy in the future will have braided hair; some of us will also not be bald. Another option in there would have been nice. That aside the system was fairly decent.

And then you are in the game. The tutorial is decent, and you figure out the basic shoot and duck basic that is essential for the game. In very little time you will be in the middle of a firefight (with support thankfully) and that will answer more questions than most anything else. Experience is easy to get overall, with little questions about kills. Helping others is fine, and indeed often welcomed. Before you know it you will be out of the training area and in the game world proper in no time at all.

One thing that you should keep in mind, always look for some form of cover if possible. Cover reduces damage you take and is critical when you have multiple enemies (which are normally the case). While initial enemies are dumb enough to stand in the open, further up the line they are getting various types of cover and attacking in groups large enough to kill you if you just stand in the middle of a clearing.

There is a lot of tactical thought to this game that you do not always find in a FPS. Cover, flanking, weapon types, inherent weaknesses, and back-up are all critical in this game. There are several types of weapons in the game from the start. There are EMP weapons for mechanical targets, fire, cold, bullets, electricity and more. Thankfully you have an easily identifiable and selectable weapon array. You can switch on the fly between 5 weapons of your choice. I advise picking up an EMP, and at least 2 pistols. I prefer the rifle, with longer range, but the shotgun gets a lot of use too.

You will need to pay attention to range, as it affects damage (as does moving and shooting or crouching). Targeting is simple and range is included in the target information. The HUD interface is pretty simple, though not quite intuitive. You won’t be lost on what ability or weapon you are using, though you may wind up switching weapons by accident. Also be aware of overheating your weapon and reloading. Once you forget you will know it and probably not encounter the problem again, with proper attention.

The crafting system takes work, seeking the proper ingredients for an item. I have yet to get everything I need to make anything yet. But that is more random luck than anything else it seems. The abilities are useful but not a major item for me so far.

Gaining the first 5 levels of the game should be pretty easy, taking around 3 hours of play. Leveling the character is pretty straight forward and decisions on what class you ultimately will take on does not occur until level 5. Thus you have time to figure out what you like and prefer without locking in at the start. As you progress you ultimately start to lock into certain types of class but you have several options along the way.

Money is based on kills, and looting. There is no huge shortage on that end. And you should easily have enough money after a mission or 2 to afford all the ammo you will need (buy several thousand at a time, it gets used up fast) and still have plenty left over.

Missions are the basics you would expect, and most are of average difficulty. Occasionally you will have a mission or 2 where you need to make moral choices, but at least the early effects of these choices are not significant. EXP rewards for the completion of missions is good as well. Death has not been a major issue, but these are low levels.

The biggest problems with the MMO at this time are the lack of servers and glitches. The game is buggy. My system has 250Mb or disk space and 2 Mb Ram and I am still glitchy, running about 95% of CPU. There are geometric pixel flashes, and problems viewing water. This is at normal settings. Lag is occasionally bad, but not deadly depending on what you are fighting and where. Some of the missions are bugged as well.

All of the technical issues are known and being worked on. It’s nowhere near the initial issues WoW or other games had when they first went live. Considering all that is happening on the screen at one time, it’s no surprise at the difficulties. A lot more his happening at any given time than most raids on other systems. Expect that there will be down time as well because there are matches being made on an almost daily basis right now. Most are short and take about 20 minutes to 1 hour.

Overall this is an enjoyable MMO, with several differences that make the game look interesting. It’s playable and definitely different each time you play, even in the same area. The early levels are straight forward and fun. There is a lot of strategy for those who want it, and enough explosions and shooting for those who don’t. The community is intelligent and mature.

As long as you have patience, and willing to ride out the initial starting problems (that happen in every MMO for the first month or 2) you should have a nice time, and enjoy a very different change of pace.

I would not recommend the game for young players (under 15). Everyone else can have a great time.

All are equal under the law. Really?

**This can also be seen at All American Blog, where I am a contributing author.**

I just have to wonder. The legal system in America is skewed. If you are rich, you are set. You can get away with almost any crime. From Ted Kennedy to Robert Blake, it’s happened time after time. But that is not the only problem.

If you happen to not be a White American you can expect even more problems. As I noted in a recent post

“But young White males are dangerous. High school shootings? White males. Most petty crimes, the same. Nooses hung from trees and various other places? White males. ‘Redneck row’ and other whites’ only places enforced by White males. Bensonhurst, and so on and so on.”

But that danger is only a start. Because if you are non-White and on trial for a crime, the chances are you will be convicted (most assuredly if the victim was White) and the penalty will be more severe than a White person under the same circumstances.

Take Mr. Genarlow Wilson, a teen that had sex with another, though younger, teen on a consensual basis. In fact the female was the aggressor. Yet due to her age Mr. Wilson was convicted of rape, and sentenced to 10 years in prison. After 2 years, the courts finally overturned the sentence as extreme cruelty versus the crime, and the underlying law has been changed.

In the Jena 6 case, the boys involved were charged with attempted murder. The White male involved had previously provoked the altercation in a fight the day prior (allegedly hitting one of the Black males with a bottle), was knocked unconscious in the case in question, and went to a dance the day of the incident. That does not sound like attempted murder. That’s a lopsided fight and the White teen lost. Bails in this case were set so high as to guarantee the incarcerations of the Black teens. There are more issues with the case but I think the point is made.

And of course there is the case of Ms. Megan Williams. She is the woman from West Virginia that was raped, tortured, stabbed, hair pulled out, boiling water poured on, choked with a noose and more by 6 Whites (3 men, 3 women of various ages). That entire story, and the subsequent arrest, the denial of Hate crime status, and a recent march to draw attention to the injustice have received 2 minutes of attention and have been buried by the major media.

My point is that there is a fascination, and a need for the legal system to prove, that non-Whites are dangerous. It’s a troubling fact that most of the roughly 200 million White Americans never have to question as it never applies to them. But the media feeds this fear daily.

The Jena case was ignored for months. The Wilson case was unheard of by major media for years. But the OJ Simpson case has never stopped being discussed since the trial started. For 2 days now, the leading story (at least at Fox News) virtually every hour has been some aspect of the OJ Simpson case. Virtually every reporter I’ve heard has referred to the prior trial and has tactfully alleged (though not crossing the legal line of making a direct statement) that OJ was guilty of the original murder trial. They forget to state that he was found innocent, and thus IS innocent. Under the same nature of coverage, Senator Ted Kennedy should be referred to as the ‘the alleged murderer Senator Kennedy.’ That of course does not happen. Every time there is a murder of a married woman, references to Robert Blake are not drawn.

Right now OJ is in pre-trial. There is no question he will go to trial. There is a small chance he will win the trial. Small because though he has a very high priced defense (which is uncommon for an African American to start with) which should allow him to win under the skewed nature of the legal system, the media has been trying him for over a decade.

If this were a White man, and he was arguably set up by a less than credible Black male (who illegally taped entrapping conversations prior to the event) in an event organized by the Black male – most would say he would walk. If every other person involved was given immunity from prosecution or deals on their crimes, most would say this was prosecutorial bias, and an attempt to railroad the White male. If it were stated that the intended crime was told to the FBI with plenty of time before hand, and they did nothing, many would demand the White male be released from this set-up.

But OJ is Black, and he got his lucky win against the legal system already.

I want criminals prosecuted for their crimes, regardless of skin color or income level. I want justice for victims without thought of race or where they live. But more than that, I want a legal system that is balanced. If that means that the rich have an advantage, then all rich people have that advantage without race being a factor. I’m no idealist. If the system is flawed, as all systems are, I at least want it flawed equally. If violent crimes get overly-harsh penalties all convicted should get that.

But we cannot trumpet how wonderful our system is, and I do think it is the greatest in the world, when we enact inequality on a daily basis. We are the greatest, but we can be greater. Don’t you think so?

We have different laws down here

**This post and others can be found at All American Blog, where I am a contributing author.**

As I post various thoughts over the last several years I’ve come to a couple of understandings. One of the most prominent is the fact that there is a huge disparity between what African Americans and Whites think of the legal system. While both respect the police, there is also an obvious distrust of them among Blacks. And few Whites truly understand the reason why, in my experience.

Don’t get me wrong. I think the police are in general good people, doing a difficult job, with the best intentions. But as the quote goes

The path to hell is pave with good intentions.

I say that because I’ve lived through too many situations were officers have approached me, with little or no cause, with guns drawn. I have watched as officers have allowed crack houses to exist without interruption. I have seen the use of violence in response to legitimate questions of what officers are doing. And I am not nearly alone in this.

But perhaps the difference in how officers react when they are not dealing with a White person is the experience that Mr. Solomon Moore recently had. His article was reported in the New York Times on Sep 30, 2007. The experience came to him in a small town Salisbury, N.C.

Mr. Moore is a reporter for the NY Times, 37, drives a Volvo station wagon, and has 2 children in soccer leagues. Perhaps the one element that makes Mr. Moore appear like a gang member is the fact that he is Black. That is, looking like a gang member to police officers. The actual gang members thought he was a cop.

What happened is directly connected to the fact that a gang member might wear a T-shirt and jeans, but it is just as likely a Black guy in a shirt that is blue, is not because he’s a member of the Crips, but because he’s a Dodgers fan.

Mr. Moore was investigating anti-gang measures being taken in the nation. As a reporter he went to speak with actual gang members in North Carolina since it had instituted strong anti-gang laws. He met the gang members at night, when they are out in the open, and where they were actively selling drugs. He observed the drug sales prior to speaking with them. It was that obvious.

The next thing that happens is not what you might expect. The police arrived as this reporter was trying to convince the youths he was not a cop. In his own words

“Without so much as a question, the officer shoved my face down on the sheet metal and cuffed me so tightly that my fingertips tingled.

“They’re on too tight!” I protested.

“They’re not meant for comfort,” he replied.“

This minor experience is nothing new. I’ve had similar experiences as have my brother, friends, and often most African Americans I’ve spoken to since I was a teenager. But when I speak to my White friends, regardless of age, they stand amazed. Even worse are the one or 2 times that I was treated in a similar manner in front of my White friends, because I was deemed a threat to them by police officers of their own volition. They were stupefied to imagine that people can be treated in such a manner. And I honestly was annoyed at their naïveté.

Of course cases like Rodney King, or Amidou Diallo, or Sean Bell garner some news. But many feel those are extreme situations. Unique things that sometimes happen in big cities. Mr. Moore, who was released without an apology or explanation, was in a town of 30,000. No one was arrested. The police just went away. And the gang members stated

“Man, you know what would have happened to one of us if we talked to them that way?” said one disbelieving man as he walked away from me and my blank notebook. “We’d be in jail right now.”

We need to realize that this is not unique. It happens often, daily. It happens in big communities and small ones. It happens near your front door as much as it happens in Los Angeles and Chicago. And it adds to the problem, not resolves it.

As long as the following kind of conversation can occur there will be inequality in America.

“This is America,” I said angrily, in that moment supremely unconcerned about whether this was standard police procedure or a useful law enforcement tool or whatever anybody else wanted to call it. “I have a right to talk to anyone I like, wherever I like.”

The female officer trumped my naïve soliloquy, though: “Sir, this is the South. We have different laws down here.”

That benefits no one. But now that you know, what will you do?

Thoughts on Pirates of the Caribbean Online

**This can also be seen at Video Gaming Blog, where I am a contributing author**

Just in time for the holiday buying season, a slew of MMO’s (Massively Multiplayer Online games) have come out. From fighting demons, to undead pirates and sci-fi action several choices are now available in the genre that has quickly become a staple of computer gaming. One of the more anticipated games has been Pirates of the Caribbean Online.

PotC is not the average MMO. Unlike many games in the genre it is family-oriented. That designation normally indicates a sub-standard and unamusing game, in my experience. Another warning sign is the fact that this video game is based on a movie, which virtually guarantees failure. But there have been exceptions to both of these rules.

PotC does not appear to break the rules, which is sad considering the enormous returns the 3 films generated. Still there is only so much that can be expected from Disney, and considering play (with limitations) can be free you get what you pay for. And you get a lot for the all the limitations in the game, even if you do pay ($10/month).

Disney has failed to follow the standard of most MMO’s these days. Poor execution of forming crews and friend management are only part of the problems. Being very kid friendly, battles are limited. Pirates can only fight each other in PvP areas, as cursed pirates only, ship battles can only occur against NPC ships.

Experience management is horrible, with groups not benefiting from kills, and the ease of being dropped from a battle and place in jail being high. NPC enemies can often be multiple levels higher than the player, regardless of the area encountered.

The game has issues. Does it look good? Yes. Is it family-friendly? Definitely. Is it cheap and highly affordable for subscriptions? Check there. But as I said before you are getting what you pay for.

In my mind, would I play this? If I was paid. Very young gamers may well enjoy this, and it can be cute for a distraction for a day. But if you enjoy LotRO (Lord of the Rings Online), WoW (World of Warcraft), or several other MMO’s you may want to wait for Conan or Tabula Rasa.

Dog Chapman apologies on Hannity and Colmes Part 3 - 11.7.2007.2

Concluded from Dog Chapman apologies on Hannity and Colmes Part 2...

And lastly the interview ends with his written public apology, and his claim he would rather die than inflict pain on the Black community. Some how I doubt that. Had that been true he would not use, nor allow use around him, of the n-word. He would not have spit out the bile and malicious wording that is now the testament of his thoughts. Again I say his apology sounds hollow and as false as a poorly tuned piano.

But that is not the end of his annoying attempt to get back his lucrative television show and audience. The last thing he mentions is his efforts to get in touch with God and to go to a gravesite of African Slaves and to place a gravestone for each of them buried there.

I’m sorry but my anger cannot be bought so cheaply. My anger that has grown immensely as I hear him continue to speak. Now he thinks that telling me he is going to get in touch with God, and that this should excuses his intent and actions? That his taking the out that all entertainers and celebrities are using now, treatment for deplorable actions, is going to gain sympathy? Not with me.

And to even mention the graves of those Africans that were taken from their homes to become less than furniture enrages me. How dare him. Placing grave markers will not buy my anger off. Providing due respect for the lives of human beings is something everyone should do. America didn’t for over a century, and the paltry hollow actions of one White man who has compounded that insensitivity will not make up for it.

I mentioned that I expected Dog to seek some kind of ‘aid’ for his words. He has done so. I expected that he would apologize in public. And now he has. I did not expect him to lose his cable television show for the private phone call, but having heard his apology I am glad at A&E’s decision.

As I said to a friend about this whole incident,

“He may not be a racist, but he does a damn good job of acting like one.”

Dog Chapman apologies on Hannity and Colmes Part 2 - 11.7.2007.1

Continued from Dog Chapman apologies on Hannity and Colmes Part 1...

Has this guy grown up in America?! Has he not lived enough years to recall the 70’s and know of the 60’s? Has he been in a coma? Of course he knew it caused pain. I have no doubt that while he was in prison on his murder conviction he heard someone use the word, and knew it was used to create pain. I’m sure he was aware enough of the vile nature of the n-word that he never used it in front of his Black reverend, Rev. Storey. Had he a real separate meaning, or thought it had no effect I’m sure he would have had no problem using it in front of the reverend. But he hid that aspect of himself, meaning he knew.

The interview then jumps away from his words, and his hollow apology (I felt), to discuss his son’s birth. What the Hell did that have to do with anything? It was an attempt to gain sympathy. It was an attempt to show his humanity. Nice try, to bad that humanity seems reserved to people of his own color.

But that was not enough for Dog Chapman. He goes on to blame the Enquirer for offering money for recordings or video of his actions. It was their fault for enticing his son to get this recording. And it was the fault of the girlfriend for being around his son and possibly being a bad influence on him. That is he thought she was encouraging his son to behave badly, according to rumors he heard of his son acting badly. Notice that the rumors did not say she did that, but he assumed it. Again this is distraction and an attempt to gain sympathy.

Something that is important to note. If Duane ‘Dog’ Chapman was so sorry, why did he wait to apologize? The conversation was from March of this year. I realize this was a private conversation, so I can understand the lack of public apology. But why not apologize to Rev. Storey? Why not seek atonement for God, or within his religion? Because if he had, Rev. Storey would never have had to say “I’ve never heard him use that word.”

Perhaps the most insulting part of the interview is when Duane ‘Dog’ Chapman announces that he ‘now knows that he is not Black.’ That he had thought he was Black, and accepted by African Americans as one of our own. That bull is the worst attempt at sympathy I have heard in maybe decades. “Now I know I’m not Black”, like looking in a mirror for his entire life never gave him a clue. Like being Black is something you can purchase in the store and wear like a pair of jeans. Like the daily strife, injustice and inequality I and others have lived is a commodity that he can pick up and gain sympathy for when he acts badly.

‘Hey I’m sorry for shooting that guy, but I had my ‘African American’ jeans on. My Bad.’

Concluded in part 3...

Dog Chapman apologies on Hannity and Colmes - 11.6.2007.2

So I was watching Hannity & Colmes tonight and listened as Duane ‘Dog' Chapman tried to apologize and explain his phone conversation with his son. I can sum up my thoughts of his interview in a few words. Dodging blame, lame, and insufficient.

To start with, Dog starts the conversation with the comments that he was sorry for using the N-word and that he knew it was wrong. But nearly in the same breath he admits that he uses the word. This at least is consistent with his phone comment. But he tries to excuse this use of the n-word by stating 5 times in the first segment that he has a different definition of the word than the general public.

Now take that in for a moment. He tries to lessen what he said by using an excuse that the n-word has a separate meaning than the one that is acknowledged as the potentially most insulting word in the English language. He emphasizes this 5 times in 10 minutes. But not once does he offer what his meaning might be. Not once does he attempt to explain that he has ever used the word in any way other than to degrade, belittle and insult African Americans.

Towards the end of the show he does mention that he has used it as a form of common greeting. Yet that does not mean, nor does it seem to be implied, that this is how he uses the term all the time. It does not seem to be the way that he feared being taped using the word. That does not seem to imply the way that the others working with him use the word. And it still does not give the type of definition he wants to claim his use of this word conveys.

Plus there is the admission that when he did use the word as a greeting, or at other time, he would not say it out loud. He would not do this because

“I’d get beat up for it.”

Again he confirms that his meaning is the meaning we think it to be. That he knew exactly how his words would be understood and that he wanted that.

To the detriment of Sean Hannity’s interview, he was never asked to explain that meaning he supposedly had. In fact it was accepted that he could have a meaning separate of the historical, or the one used by youth today. But I interject that his use of the term in that phone conversation held a single meaning, and it was the historical and only meaning that the n-word has. And it was that meaning that he admittedly knew he was using both in the phone conversation and with his colleagues, in my opinion.

But the next thing Dog Chapman says in the interview really ticked me off. He says that he thought he could use the n-word. That he could say it as some African Americans do. That he had no idea that using the word, as he did in the phone call, could inflict pain to Blacks.

Continued in part 2...

Will the writers strike hurt X-files and Star Trek Films - 11.6.2007.1

Let’s touch on a few lighter moments in the news of late. With the strike of the Writer’s Guild the question of what will be happening in television shows and movies comes up. While there is no easy answer to what may be the outcome in the short term, we can see some possibilities in the further future.

One of the future movies that has been discussed is a favorite of millions from television. The X-files was a huge hit and the movie did quite well. That was directly because of the connection between the stars Mulder (David Duchovny) and Scully (Gillian Anderson). Add to the sexual tension the constant search for truth behind aliens and government conspiracies and you had a winning combination.

Now in a time where conspiracies run rampant, with no justification and massive emotional imperative, there is news that Mulder and Scully will be returning. Hopefully agents Dagget and the other woman will be nowhere to be found. But the need for a search for the truth may just be the thing the nation needs.

There has been no word of a script, and considering the strike it may be some time before there is any. But I would imagine that there would have to be some connection to fanatical Muslims and the Middle East. Where aliens come into this I have no idea, but as a staple of the X-files investigations I imagine they are there somewhere. Perhaps Osama Bin Laden is a shape-changing alien? It’s possible.

However that works out, it should be a welcome treat. I expect to hear more about the up-coming film in 2008 with a release in 2009. Keep an eye out.

In further news on the adventures of the Enterprise and her famous Star Fleet crew I found a few notes about who else may be in the film. Besides the inclusion of Simon Pegg (the only person I have heard of or seen work from in the new cast) there is news that Leonard Nimoy will also be in the film. So far he is the only member of the original Star Trek cast that will be in the latest film.

The big surprise is that William Shatner (the stylish and memorable James Tiberius Kirk) will not be in the film. It seems that while he and Spock were initially expected to be in the film (DeForest Kelly died and thus cannot be) there was a breakdown in the talks and Shatner is out. Considering this is a story of how all the crew came together, and that they will have one of the crucial leading trio in the film, not including Kirk seems dumb.

There would be no Star Trek series, multiple iterations, and countless fans worldwide were it not for the unique style of Shatner’s Kirk and the complimenting work by Nimoy’s Spock. Plus the continued success of William Shatner after Star Trek in several television shows (up to the current Boston Legal), books, and the most unique singing career [you have to hear him sing Rocketman] seems to beg the question why he is not in the film.

It’s just one more question on how this film will work out. The unknown Chris Pine [at least to me] and cast may work out fine. But with so many actors of limited fame, or credibility, a strike by writers, and only one member of the original cast there may be serious questions on how viable this film may be. One thing may be reliable though. Given the strike the Christmas 2008 release date probably will be pushed back until some time in 2009. I’m sure more will be known by then.