iflood

iFlood

http://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_technews/20101211/tc_yblog_technews/infinity-blade-for-iphoneipad-looks-incredible-what-there-is-of-it;_ylt=AtOzjmNwOEunB_4e1hB9z94jtBAF;_ylu=X3oDMTRqdTZzaWtlBGFzc2V0A3libG9nX3RlY2huZXdzLzIwMTAxMjExL2luZmluaXR5LWJsYWRlLWZvci1pcGhvbmVpcGFkLWxvb2tzLWluY3JlZGlibGUtd2hhdC10aGVyZS1pcy1vZi1pdARwb3MDMQRzZWMDeW5fYXJ0aWNsZV9zdW1tYXJ5X2xpc3QEc2xrA2luZmluaXR5YmxhZA--


Hack, Slash, Cast, Raise Shield, Stab! If you are on the subway some day and see a fellow rider’s hand spasming out, there is no need to worry; they are most likely playing the newest game to launch on the iPad/iPod touch/iPhone.

The game being played, Infinity Blade, developed by the makers of god of war; this release is said to be a game that actually looks like it was made for consoles like Xbox or ps3, but was instead released on Apple/Android platforms. The game utilizes glowing circles that appear on the screen as the controls of the game. By tapping or swiping these circles you control your characters actions.

Apple over the last decade has been revolutionizing the tech industry. First, they made history in music with the iPod, then they made history again with the touch screen iPod that changed the way people watch videos on the go. The iPhone combined all these together with the iPad which is seeking to change the way we read and game.
Apple, you could say is not unlike the flood parasite found in the Halo game. With each new addition to its tech and media empire, it seeks to assimilate the entire tech that goes along with the device (even if other companies have created it first, i.e. mp3 & tablets). This is not necessarily a bad thing but it would appear that with the release of Infinity Blade on Apple devices, Apple is setting its sights on the gaming world, which would make its tech empire complete.

Though some people may be excited by the prospect of a great game on their iPod or iPad, there are a few reasons why the effort is doomed without further advances in the tech world. The first major problem with gaming on touch screen devices is the lack of buttons/controllers; systems like the Play Station Portable or Game Boy have built in controls that make playing fun and easy. The iPod device however requires the player to use their fingers to control the action with no outside buttons or keypad; this makes games like Infinity Blade or Pocket Legends difficult to play.
If your finger misses the glowing circles by a hair it can mean instant in-game death.
The 2nd and perhaps most important flaw in the Apple/Android device is the battery. Games like Infinity Blade or Pocket Legends run reasonably high graphics and thus drain a lot of battery from your device; this is fine if you are at home or have your device plugged in and charging, but it is very inconvenient if you are playing on an iPhone or iPad and your battery is drained by the middle of the day.

The idea of creating these games as apps and selling them cheap is not a bad one, but it would seem they would benefit more if the devices had greater battery life. And maybe add a plug-in controller to game with greater speed and accuracy. Overall this article is not to discourage the buying of these games or touch devices but to warn the consumer about the down side of it.

Maybe in the future these problems will be corrected, and we can all game on the subway or on the way to work without the fear of death for our battery or the demise of our character due to a miss tapped cycle.

A Most Unsure Path

Hope, change, a new beginning, these are tag lines we’ve been hearing for almost two years now. These are the word waves Barrack Obama used to ride to victory over his rival, John McCain, in the 2008 presidential election. That’s when the problems began. Many promises were made to the people of the United States; reformed healthcare, reformed finances, a quick fix to the economy, bipartisanship, transparency and many other assurances.
The people of the United States are a particular people; they hold their politicians to their words, unlike other countries. Obama portrayed himself as an enormous, almost god-like figure that would save us from calamity; he used images of Greek pillars and personalized symbols with huge crowds of adorning fans to reinforce this image.
To quote Ivan Vanko from Iron Man 2, “If you could make god bleed, people would cease to believe in him,” this is precisely the situation that came up to plaque Obama. The vengeful GOP still reeling from the catastrophic defeat in the election, resolved to rout Obama’s first major bill, healthcare reform. Though the health care bill was passed, it was a crippling victory for Obama. It showed a non-unified Democratic party (many Democrats voted no on the bill); it also illustrated how Obama broke his promises on bipartisanship, and transparency.
Obama continued not to work with the opposing party or show the working of his administration to the public. He also began stripping away power from congress by appointing over 32 “Czars” that presided over everything, from transportation to global warming. These czars take their orders directly from the president, and the public and congress have no say, or influence whatsoever over them. http://www.glennbeck.com/content/articles/article/198/29391/
If history shows anything, it’s that the American people enjoy taking part in their government, and when they are barred from doing so, it’s not pretty (American Revolution anyone?) The angry citizens have found a home in the defeated but still powerful GOP and other third party groups, such as, the Libertarians or in-party groups such as, the Tea Party or Neo-Cons.
With more and more independents and Democrats withdrawing their support of Obama and his personal approval ratings plummeting, the GOP and its leaders have smelled blood. What has facilitated and energized Obama’s opponent’s is the November 2nd elections fast approaching. Conservatives and independents alike feel it is a chance for much needed change, much as Obama’s supporters felt the November 4th 2008 elections, was the time to get rid of Bush.
According to recent polls, the Republicans are posed to take back the House of Representatives and gain seats in the Senate (there is a slight chance of taking back the senate) http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20101024/ts_alt_afp/usvote, this would be disastrous for Obama and his agenda. The Republicans have waited for this moment and will seek revenge for the times Obama steamrolled them in passing his bills.
All in all, it will be a politically, bloody, election, and whether the Republicans win or lose the House or Senate, they can not help but gain seats in both Houses. This insures that Obama’s, very nearly, filibuster-proof majority, is gone forever and Obama will be forced to tread a most uncomfortable and unsure path.

Disneyland Book review

Brennan Cackett
Journalism 215
Blog Project
Disneyland Detective
September 28, 2010


When you walk through the gates of Disneyland have you ever questioned what was behind some of those ideas? Have you ever wondered what ideas inspired the building of these attractions? The book Disneyland Detective by Kendra Trahan is a fascinating and fun read that allows the reader to interact with the magic of Disneyland.
The author covers over twelve chapters which include, some of the myths, facts, lore and people that have come together not only to create Disneyland but the Walt Disney company.
Some of the interesting facts I encountered while reading this book was in the chapter, “Above Main Street”. Have you looked up at the windows on of Main Street that display individuals’ names in an artistic manner? Like me, you might have wondered what these meant and who the people were they represented. In this chapter the author lists in detail each of these individuals and talks about who they are and what they contributed to Disneyland. One such person on a lighted window that you might see on your next trip to Disneyland is, Ellis Disney. This was Walt and Roy Disney’s father. He was born in 1859 and died in 1941; the window with his name is always lit up and never darkened. This is a special tribute to their father.
Another interesting chapter titled, Private Eye Entertainers, is filled with fun facts about the variety of musical entertainment in Disneyland. It talks about the bands, fantasmic, the fireworks and the Disneyland parades. I’m not going to give you anymore spoilers because I don’t want to ruin the delight of this book.
Whether you are a hard core Disney fan or just enjoy hanging out at the parks this book will enhance and make your visits more fun and enjoyable, and just think how you will impress all your friends when you have the answers to some of the great riddles of Disneyland!

Final Blog

Remedy for a Rabbit Tummy Ache!

By, Brennan Cackett (official rabbit owner, 15 and counting!)


Have you ever had a stomach ache and wished you could just snap your fingers to make it disappear? Well, you will be loved forever by the rabbits of the world (famous ones’ included like, Bugs Bunny (“What’s up doc?”), Br’er Rabbit, Peter (he always has one!), The Easter Bunny (too many jelly beans!), The Energizer Bunny (he’s always asking!), The Velveteen Rabbit, The White Rabbit (too much stress!), Roger and Thumper (Disney favs!), The Were-Rabbit (too many vegetables!) and last but not least The Trix Rabbit (he never remembers, “Trix are for kids!”) if you can help them out when they get a tummy ache, which in the rabbit world can be quite frequent. Think about it, they can’t talk or use hand signals to tell you, so how do you know when your cute, little bunny rabbit has a stomach ache? Here’s how in a few easy steps.


Supply List

Cans of pineapple and/or pineapple juice.
Chewable papaya enzyme tablets (Wal-mart or health food store)
Fresh Kale (produce dept of your local grocery store)
Timothy hay (local animal feed barn)

Step 1

Daily observation of your rabbits is a must, as is fresh water. If your rabbit is eager to eat, playful, and observant, these are all healthy, good signs your rabbit is well.

Step 2

In your daily observation if your rabbit is disinterested in food, lethargic, laying out or has a swollen tummy, your bunny probably has a tummy ache.

Step 3
Get to work! Remove any old food that your rabbit has not eaten and exchange it with, chunks of pineapple and a few enzyme tablets. Then replace their water with ½ water and ½ pineapple juice.

Step 4

Keep a watchful eye on them and continue step 3 for a few days. If they are eating the pineapple and/or tablets, this is a good sign.

Step 5
If after a few days your rabbit is hungrily eating the pineapple and enzymes tablets you can begin to introduce kale or timothy hay into his or her diet.

Step 6
Reintroduce rabbit pellets once again when your rabbit resumes moving around and has successfully eaten the pineapple, tablets and hay.

Step 7
At this point your rabbit’s tummy ache is gone. Remove water with pineapple juice and refill with regular water. Feed and groom normally. You’ve just successfully helped your rabbit to feel better by stimulating their digestion system with live enzymes. They will thank you by being healthy, loving pets with a sparkle in their eye. You have a happy, grateful rabbit!


Tips & Warnings

It’s generally best not to handle your rabbit during this time as they might bite due to their discomfort.

Make sure your feeding your rabbit with fresh, healthy pellets from a local, feed store. Sometimes, cheaper versions of the rabbit pellets are produced bigger, causing your rabbit to get a blockage in the intestine.

Be sure and check your rabbit’s cage regularly for any foreign objects. They are resourceful little creatures and can grab items outside their cages that you think they can’t reach. They related to the rodent family, thus they love to chew. Make sure they have something safe and healthy to chew on.

If you want to learn more about the health and well being of your rabbit, general rabbit books are available at your local library or feed stores. Internet sites are helpful but generally it’s a good idea to stick with books as a more reliable source.

If your rabbit refuses to eat the pineapple, tablets, hay, kale and/or water, check his or her tummy to see how swollen it is. If possible, gently press on it to check the rabbit’s discomfort level. If the rabbit is completely lethargic or appears in pain you might have a more serious problem and should immediately check with your local vet or 4-H specialist.

Use common sense, parental supervision is advised if children under age 12 own the rabbit. Enjoy your bunnies, they are wonderful pets!

dream project (tutoring)

Extra Credit Blog: Night & Day



This was a very enjoyable community service for me to do. I tutored two boys from my neighborhood that were as different as night and day. One of the boys is seven and has been having some trouble with reading. I had him read to me from his reading book and I read to him from Beatrix Potter’s classic work, which he thoroughly enjoyed. He
especially enjoyed the story about Hunca Munca and Tom Thumb. This little boy wants to read so much. He has a short attention span so it’s hard for him to sit still. I think it encouraged him having an older peer take an interest in the work he is involved with. I tried to encourage him, with the more he practiced, the better he would become at reading.
The other young man I spent time with is eleven. He is in a totally different bracket.
Learning comes very easy for him, he was reading fluently by four years old. Presently, he is studying Rome and its culture. He wanted to read the paper I just did in my Greece and Rome class and believe it or not, he enjoyed it! I think this boy is going to surpass me in a few years! We went over a book I had about Rome, and I basically tried to hit the high points in Rome’s history and culture. He especially liked the gladiators. It was great conversing with him and answering his questions.
The mom homeschools both children. She really appreciated me taking the time to help her boys and it gave her a much needed break too, she has a very busy three year old running around the house. I think I just might be doing this again!

new yorker

from The New Yorker
http://manwithoutqualities.files.wordpress.com/2007/12/new_yorker_cartoon_1000.jpg



On a crisp day in September (much like today) I was walking down a friendly street in the windy city; not much was on my mind that day and I had not a care in the world. I nodded a greeting to a bearded hobo on the street and continued on my way to no where in particular. I passed by an ally and thought nothing of it till I had taken a few steps further on, perplexed I retreated back a few steps and peered into the ally. Strange, I thought, it was in fact a wonderfully sunny day, yet the ally remained dark in a dreamily sort of way.
Having nothing to do that moment I decided to investigate this strange occurrence. Before I stepped in to the ally I turned just in time to see the bearded hobo break into a lively jig dancing to an unheard ballad, ohhhh kaaaay, I thought and stepped in to the darkness of the corridor.
As I walked through the strange passage I noticed the walls were covered with a sort of paper, stepping over to the wall I held up my cell phone and peered at the wall. As I looked further, I saw the walls were covered floor to bricked ceiling with old comic strips, some dating back to the 1940’s and others from just the day before. Hmm I said, and continued on my way. After I had walked for some time I saw a light in the distance and picked up my pace, within a few seconds I had stepped out into a foggy, gray cityscape.
It was devoid of much color and off in the distance I noticed three human shapes standing by the side of the road. As I walked towards them I thought to myself, what a strange place you have wandered into Brennan; well, I thought back to myself, it’s better than watching old re-runs of Battlestar Galatica!
I approached the three individuals, two men and a woman, they stood stock still and uttered not a word; only stood there holding signs as if protesting or on strike (across the street was a banner that read, (PHILOSOPHERS ON STRIKE). The man who had a baseball hat on carried a sign which read, “Support Epistemologists local 191 of United Federation of Philosophers.” This I found odd since most philosophers are individuals who disagree with so much they can’t join together on anything. The woman’s sign read, “No More Search For Truth Until Our Demands Are Met.” This too was odd since, how can a philosopher force his view of truth on others when the other’s view may in fact be the truth! And last but not least, the bearded man’s sign stated, “We are RIGHT and I can logically prove it.” I thought, well how illogical is that! After some time of staring, I looked down at my watch to check the time, strangely the hands had stopped moving; I quickly realized I needed to be getting back. I walked back to the tunnel and noticed that the gray sky had given way to darkness, it settling over the landscape and was now so dark I could not see the three figures in the distance anymore.
Within a few moments I had made my way back out of the tunnel and had exited just in time to see the heel, kicking finale of the hobo’s dance. Wow, I thought to myself, that trip took less time than I thought! With that thought, I turned and headed up the street looking for the nearest bookstore with a dictionary, what does epistemology mean anyhow?

extra credit blog

“Be still.” What an oxymoron those words present in the culture we live in today. How do you be still, in a state of perpetual motion? Where do you go to be still and once there, how does one accomplish such a feat in a world that never slows down and is constantly humming the beat, “do more, do more?”

God spoke these words to us thousands of years ago because He obviously understood our penchant of busyness. We have provided for ourselves every kind of technology available to keep every part of our body busy, computers for our brains, Ipods for our ears, phones for our mouths and fingers and cars for our feet (so we don’t have to do the walking!) But I think it goes much deeper than what we’re actually doing—I believe it has to do with our “being”, a state of consciousness.

Psalm 46 is a short, 11 verse prose, penned by the psalmist; it’s power-packed with words of comfort and strength. He was obviously composing it during troubled times asserting to the reader, help in time of trouble, No Fear, waters roaring, mountains shaking, heathen raging and kingdoms moving! In the midst of all that, the writer tells us there is a river and the streams of that river make glad the city of God. He reminds us God is in the center of that city and it will not be moved. At the end of the psalm comes the command to, “Be Still” and know who is in control and command of these situations; life’s complexities, of finals and grades at year’s end.

I am reminded that no matter what situation I find myself in, finals, relationship issues, or world crises, that I need to STOP, wherever I am, and “BE STILL.” I need to drink from that river, spoken of in psalm 46; I need to remember that it’s in utilizing that river that I will be glad and will have peace. God’s command to “Be still” brings my soul back into balance, back to where it should be, resting in Him.