english blog

Card Hunter  is a freemium browser based game for Windows, Mac OS and Linux (if you can get the appropriate version of flash running). You get three heroes, a warrior, mage and paladin, for the single player campaign and off you go to war. Or at least a DnD style RPG bash with cards. The core mechanic is, the gear you have equipped provides the cards you will be playing with. You get to play one card then your opponent goes, a round is ended when both players decide to pass. It seemed really cool to me at first but as moving is tied to your race/items the game becomes little more than clever manoeuvring. Manoeuvring is alright but really you just want to pull off a cool move and watch your enemy explode, not chase them around the board. Card Hunter has a single player campaign, competitive multiplayer and they are planning a co-op mode to be released in the near future. The single player campaign follows a cheesy story of you playing the Card Hunter game with your friend. However t...

We get it. You love music. From propelling unknown artists to the top of the charts , to cheering on established artists as they reinvent the music video , to remixing and reimagining your own, music fans have turned YouTube into the world’s go-to music destination. Now, to celebrate music fans and the music you love, we’re announcing a new kind of awards show--one powered by you. On Sunday, November 3, YouTube will host the first-ever YouTube Music Awards, a live-streamed event honoring the artists and songs that you have turned into hits over the past year. Lady Gaga, Eminem, and Arcade Fire will join other top artists and some of YouTube’s biggest stars including Lindsey Stirling and CDZA in performances and musical collaborations from Seoul, Moscow, London and Rio, culminating in a live event in New York City. Music-video visionary Spike Jonze will be the creative director and acclaimed actor Jason Schwartzman will host with VICE and Sunset Lane Entertainment acting as executi...

This was today's comic, thought it might be of interest: (via Penny Arcade ) Thoughts? I know Sanderson is a polarizing figure with some people loving his work and others thinking he's a hack, but how accurate do you think this comic is? Now, I've never read one of his books - I have a used copy of Mistborn that's sitting in my reading queue, but I haven't gotten to it yet - so I can't voice an opinion. I do think his magic systems are interesting, though, so that's something. Edit: On the other hand, someone on their forums pointed out that this might be more of a criticism of Sanderson's more rabid, die hard fans than Sanderson himself. Then again, Tycho is pretty explicit about not liking Sanderson in the first panel, so who knows.

Congratulations to the entire team at  Stan Winston School , our featured “ On The Rise ” partner for the month. Their videos are in the spotlight on the On The Rise homepage and the YouTube Spotlight channel today. Founded more than four years ago, the Stan Winston School of Character Arts in many ways carries on Stan’s own legacy as a contributor to some iconic films including "Jurassic Park," "Iron Man" and "Avatar." The school’s various courses, webinars and workshops are led by some of Hollywood’s best artists and technicians. Whether you’re interested in seeing behind-the-scenes effects from "Terminator 2"  or you’ve always wondered about the evolution of "Jurassic Park"’s raptor suits , this channel has content that’s bound to entertain and educate. And Halloween is just around the corner--if you need costume ideas, you might want to check out this Iron Man suit built by a 16-year-old !   Here are a few words from Matt and Er...

Local gaming conventions are fun gatherings of gamers for the purpose of getting together and playing games, often those that aren't being played elsewhere, but also the hot game of the moment. Conventions owners run a company, just like a game store, and they have their own objectives. Game store owners are often invited to conventions to sell their wares in a  dealer's room, where the convention owners will rent you tables, usually for a couple hundred dollars each. This is the intersection of game store owner and convention owner, and many game store owners wonder if it's worth it.  First, lets look at the needs of the convention owner. Understanding the convention owner is important. Most are not aware, nor do they care about the meticulous calculations you may have performed to determine how to make a profit at their convention. In fact, with multiple game stores in attendance, they might even prefer to give your space to someone else, like someone who makes funny hats...

plants vs zombies 2 Plants vs Zombies 2 It has been over a month for the reason that game Plants vs Zombies 2 launched for iOS users , however there was no announcement of this game will probably be current in Android . But the shiny spot of the presence of the game plants vs Zombies 2 has been obtained . Based on sources close to PopCap Games - the creator of the game - Plants vs Zombies 2 will be available in October to come. However unfortunately there isn't any further data regarding the release date for the game of battle between the zombies and vegetation . Previously , Plants vs Zombies 2 is released for the iOS on August 14 . However thus far , the sequel to this sport getting rave critiques , which has been downloaded over 25 million instances by customers of iOS . Identical to in the first recreation , this game tells the story invites users to maintain the home from the zombie invasion . Well , on this story there are some plants coin , weapons plants and new ...

Found these on Tumblr. I did some googling and found that these are from The Hollow Crown , four-part TV adaptions of Shakespeare's  Richard II , Henry IV Parts 1 & 2, and Henry V . Tom Hiddleston played Henry V. I really dig the armor and cloak in those pictures. In a fantasy or gaming world, I could see him being a noble. Maybe not a king or prince (well, not one high on the succession list), but definitely a noble - maybe a baron or earl. I could also see him being the leader of a band of mercenaries or a rebel army. Pictures via paraph , h/t briecheek .

The AS English Language course involves a pretty steep learning curve for many students coming from GCSE, what with its terminology, its theories, its terminology and its... err...terminology. But, there is a light at the end of the tunnel, and no, it's not Noam Chomsky dancing with a glo-stick; we'll soon be looking at technology and communication and the ways in which technology offers us scope to communicate in new ways (its affordances ) against the limitations that can sometimes be caused by the devices we use and the kittens - sorry, keyboards - we type on (i.e. the constraints of technology). So, just for a taster of what can happen when technology constrains us more than usual, have a look at this link showing what can happen when autocorrect attacks .

When it comes down to it, there aren't a ton of things that can go wrong with a speedlight. And if your flash appears to be in working order (i.e., charges, zooms, etc.) but won't fire, it is probably a bad or broken tube. While you are probably looking at a three-digit repair bill from your OEM manufacturer, you can also DIY the repair for next to nothing. Read more »

ITV's Tonight programme last night (available on ITV player ) featured some good coverage of attitudes to different accents, including a survey by ComRes into how people rate certain regional varieties. The overall findings suggest that many people still feel that their accent pigeonholes them socially and that prejudice is often rife among some employers towards people with certain accents. As the programme blurb states: ...even in modern Britain, where equality is the new God, prejudice about accents is alive and well. And we often found it thriving most - along the north-south, “us and them” fault-lines of old. Our research not only shows that more than a quarter of Britons (28%) feel they have been discriminated against because of their regional accent but also, according to another batch of research by the law firm Peninsular, that 80% of employers admit to making discriminating decisions based on regional accents. As part of ENGA3 we've been looking at language vari...

I hate the term Obamacare, since reference to Obama is mostly used by the right as a panic word. People have asked how I feel about The Affordable Care Act   as a small business owner, so I thought I would give my thoughts. Really they ask me about Obamacare, which is kind of a tell, like asking, "How do you feel about that Exclusivegate?" when referring to Alliance exclusives. Lets ignore the fact that it was a Republican plan co-opted by Democrats and protested like it's the end of the world by Republicans. It's no public option for sure, despite moans about socialism. It was crafted with a nod of approval by the insurance companies. I think it's stupid, but from a more left perspective. But it's what we can get in this country. But how does it effect me? With less than 25 employees, it has little effect. There are no forms, fees or penalties. I'm not required to do anything. The government is not up in my bidness. There is also zero incentive for me to...

Glen Allen Walken (@GlenAllenWalken) September 24, 2013 The British will fight tooth and nail to keep Jane Austen's ring , but giving the [Parthenon] Marbles back?  Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo.

Quick taste test. Let’s say you’re watching a video from Justin Timberlake. What type of video comment would be awesome to see: one from JT himself, one from people you care about who love the video...or one from just the last random person to stop by? When it comes to the conversations happening on YouTube, recent does not necessarily mean relevant. So, comments will soon become conversations that matter to you. In the coming months, comments from people you care about will rise up where you can see them, while new tools will help video creators moderate conversations for welcome and unwelcome voices. Starting this week, you’ll see the new YouTube comments powered by Google+ on your channel discussion tab. This update will come to comments on all videos later this year, as we bring you more ways to connect with familiar faces on YouTube. Here’s what comments will look like later this year in a sample video from SoulPancake : Here’s more detail: Comments you care about move to the top...

Editor's Note: Contributor Sara Lando continues her three-part series chronicling her 10-day stint as an assistant/mole with Gregory Heisler in Dubai. This is part two. Part one is here . By Sara Lando -- "Lighting is a lot like cooking. You have a gazillion different instruments and what you use will depend on what you want to eat. Also, you don't learn how to cook by eating at restaurants. You have to cook." When Heisler was talking about this during his lecture, I thought it was cool and made sense. But it was probably only when we stepped into Cavalli Club that I got to realize how much "having to cook" was going to be put into test. He was entering the club for the first time himself: for a series of reasons, we weren't able to scout the location beforehand and he only got a glimpse of the place from some cellphone footage. When we stepped into the club, the first word that came through my mind isn't one I'd feel comfortable reporting. The ...

Tonight at midnight is the pre-release for Theros, the new Magic set. For our store, this is welcome relief. Why? Magic has grown from this top game that accounted for 10% of our sales a few years ago to a juggernaut. It now accounts for about 35% of our sales, which we like to call in these parts, pure profit. The last set, which framed the entire Summer sales, was M14. It was a dud Not kind of a dud, but by all definitions, a thing that did not go off as expected. It's alright, it's a core set, but compared to M13? Truly underwhelming.* So what happens when a product that  distorts your business to the point that it's over a third of your business activity has a stumble? Just wow is what happens. My navel gazing and Chicken Little antics have been internal for the last few months, contemplating the Magic bubble bursting, among other things. In past years, I might have been a little panicky, but honestly, after nearly nine years in the game trade, "the sky is falling...

If you like swearing - and frankly, who doesn't like to have a little swear when George Osborne appears on TV, a puppy does a poo on your favourite shoes, or a cold caller asks you about your pension plans while you're listening to Leeds United concede a 96th minute goal against an inferior team - then have a listen to Stephen Fry's Radio 4 show, Fry's English Delight . This week he's been exploring the history of the multi-faceted F-word. It's not just a rude word; it's a flexible friend, functioning as a verb, a noun, an adverb and probably every other word class too, in some way or another. But you'll have to get an F-ing move on, because it's only on i-Player for a few more days.

Saw both of them on GeekTyrant today. I like this one in particular. Sif's armor is decently realistic. Sure, her arms and legs are unarmored, but keep in mind that Sif is an Asgardian, so she's far more durable than the average human and heals faster too. Also? Jaime Alexander is on my list of actresses who should play Wonder Woman. I dig this one too because it has a fantasy feel to it. Love the shoulder armor (spauldrons? Pauldrons?) and vambraces.

  Jason gets a Saturday every 3 weeks of some extra special time with the kids while I recover and prepare for the weekend night shift working.  I'm envious of the fun they get to have, but am so thankful for this time they get to nurture their relationship without my opinions and commentary.  Last Saturday he took the kids to the Olathe Executive Airport to watch the plans take off and eat lunch. An added bonus for my non-planning (he calls it spontaneous) husband is that they were having an airshow.  And yes, Gavin climbs on everything, always Jason's grandfather loves to fly, Jason's dad loved to fly and used to take Jason to this same airport as a kid many Saturday mornings.  Jason loves planes and flying and has looked forward to the day when history could repeat itself and he could bring his kids to this very place. The kids loved it.  Jason loved it.  I loved it, because the house was quiet for a couple hours and I got to sleep! Win, win, win. I e...

Postapocalyptic chic . (via Fanpop ) So I'm watching reruns of Revolution on Syfy and I'm reminded of one of the problems I had with the show. You might remember that I posted about Revolution back when it premiered last year, but for those who don't, Revolution is a post-apocalyptic series by Eric Kripke (creator of Supernatural) and produced by J. J. Abrams. The premise is that some sort of event causes electricity to stop working. Now, it's an interesting show for sure, but the things that sort of turned me off are the characters' clothes and hair. The former look like they came straight off the rack at a department store and the latter is so blatantly the work of stylists, it actually takes you out of the show's world. Maybe the show is sponsored by L'Oreal . (via Revolution Wiki ) Now, I can see people looting retail stores and hoarding clothing and footwear, because the machinery used to mass produce that stuff no longer works, but I just find it hard...

When I told our son what I have packed into the two suitcases for the houseboat-trip, he sent me this (from Lewis Carrol: The Hunting of the Snark).

My last update on my Pathfinder sandbox game was a year ago.  We're still playing, with the characters having hit 10th level recently. I'm running a lightly Celtic themed campaign, so we allow reincarnation but no resurrection, so we have a menagerie of races: Catfolk, Vanara, Verrick, and a few others who have come and gone. With so much information on their region prepared, I've got a custom reincarnation table drawn from the various races living locally. Occasionally a resurrected comrade will provide a clue that an undiscovered race may be close by. The Heroes of Tara, as they're known, take many forms. They are always nearby, you just don't know what they'll look like. You can read some of my campaign blog entries here . Prep time. Running an on-the-fly sandbox campaign was fairly easy for low level characters, but higher level play has taken more planning. Random encounters can take half an evening of play, so I've become more deliberate in my plannin...

Following last year's heated debate about the use of the terms "yids" and "yid army" to describe Tottenham Hotspur's fans, the flames have been fanned further by interventions from both sides. As The Guardian reports , both the Football Association and David Cameron have waded in, threatening to fine and ban fans on one hand, or to forgive them on the other. David Baddiel (who is Jewish) has also joined in with a provocative and interesting article in The Guardian and a radio discussion with David Aaronovitch (also Jewish) about whether "yid" is a race-hate term or a proud badge of solidarity among Jewish Tottenham fans and their fellow supporters (on this link from about 33 minutes in). One of Baddiel's key points is that if you're Jewish and have suffered the abuse directed at Jews by some of the minority of racist scumbags from Chelsea, Arsenal and West Ham, you're unlikely to view "yid" as a friendly term, however it ap...

Growth as a photographer is, for me, long periods of muddy struggle punctuated by moments of clarity. Sometimes the moments break new ground. But other times the moments solidify things you already knew —but didn't know know. Photographer Kai-Huei Yau's shot of a high school football lineman is a great example of the latter. Read more »

What a name, what an odd game. It's a freemium quiz RPG and it's actually pretty fun. You need to successfully answer trivia style questions in order to do combat damage to the enemy monsters with your spirits. Spirits are collected in card form and can be enhanced or evolved into more powerful spirits. It's an odd mix but it definitely makes it unique... also my code is  7UAGWDVD, add me! The game gives you your standard story driven quest mode and an online battle mode where you still battle the A.I. but compete to see who can beat them in the shortest number of turns. The questing features an odd but reasonably interesting story which includes your standard rise to greatness. The name of the game takes its title from your master Wiz, like a lot of Japanese games on phones and tablets poor translation is a feature here. The questions vary widely in difficulty from extremely easy to ridiculously hard. They do offer an interesting mix of questions with some of them even bei...

First video is of Gavin showing us what he knows how to do.  He is very independent and if he's not interested in showing you he doesn't, no persuasion.  Here is a video of Reegan at about the same age doing the same sort of thing Reegan is amazing us everyday, her memory is very impressive.  Honestly, I really don't like this book, It is just another reminder to me that time is fleeting,.

Like I mentioned in my post about Imager , one of the really interesting aspects of the book was the imaging ability of the titular imagers. As I explained, imaging is the ability to create or even move objects from one place to another (I suppose teleporting would be the right word) by imagining it with their minds. An early example of the latter is shown in an scene where Rhenn, the main character, moves a raisin from his bowl to his spoon, which allows him to finally come up with a solution to a problem that his teacher had him working on for several days. An example of the former is when he images a comb as a personal test to see whether or not he had any significant imager power. There is a counter-balance to imaging, much like magic in other books. Imaging can be taxing, depending on the object being imaged. Simple objects are inconsequential, but the bigger, more complex an object is, the more exhausting it can be and it can also lead to headaches. The composition of an object ...

I don't have a solid ratio, but it feels like I read maybe two fantasy books for every one scifi book. The former might be a bit higher, though. On one hand, I'm happy because fantasy fiction is awesome as shit. On the other hand, however, it kind of sucks because I love science fiction just as much as fantasy. Of course, my love of scifi might be more grounded in TV, movies, and video games. It's funny because like I've mentioned before, I was not a fantasy reader until two years ago when I finally read a Discworld novel that I had owned for years. After that, a flood gate was opened and I read as much as my brain box could take. Still can't read The Hobbit or LOTR, though.

Not much to say that I haven't already said , so I'll just jump to the rating: 8.9/10.

One of the books my dearest English friend, Stephen Russell, The Barefoot Doctor , has written is called: ' Manifesto. How to get what you want without trying. '  Had I but thought about it a bit longer!  But no - carelessly I told Husband that I would appreciate to live on a houseboat. Very much. (I had seen some nice exemplars like that above on the Spree ).  " You? ", asked Husband. " On a boat? Living on a damp, narrow, moving boat? "  I felt piqued. Said: " Pshaw - I have many undiscovered facets you don't know!"    The Tao listened. And laughed.  And so a few days ago I got a surprising offer.  A friend - and friends of him - will make a trip on a narrowboat from Bradford-on-Avon to Bath , direction Bristol, and back again.  From the "( 2 x) Three Men in a Boat " two had resigned - so Husband and I were asked. He, deep in writing an essay on "Luxury", has no time - but I..?  For a second I hesitated. Then, without b...

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via L. E. Modesitt, Jr. Wiki . I've been reading this for the past two weeks and really enjoying it. The premise is that a young journeyman artist named Rhennythyl discovers that he's a imager and goes to Imageisle to learn how to control and use his new found powers. An imager is sort of like a magic user, I suppose. It's actually kind of hard to categorize imagers. Their powers allow them to create or teleport objects with their brain boxes, though the object they're trying to "image" taxes them, depending on what it is. A small, simple thing is a non-issue, but the larger, more complex a thing is, will leave this exhausted to varying degrees and/or with a headache, especially if the object is made out of certain materials. Not all imagers are powerful. Some are only able to due minor "imaging", while others are much more powerful. An interesting aspect of the story is that imagers all live separate from society at what are called Collegiums. This ...

I've got a friend whose investing in another game store and we've been brainstorming. It's interesting to get a different perspective on the same type of business. Here's how I would do it, based on my own experience. This is very idiosyncratic and I would love to hear other store owners chime in. If I were to start a game store now (and we consider a second store all the time), I would put an extraordinary amount of time into picking the exact right location. It's going to be my life for years, even if it fails. It takes time to fail if you're doing it right. Many people put their store by their homes, because that's where they live, but that's not always the best location. Location is key. If you don't live in an area that will support a store, move, or don't open a store. The "right" location is about population density, assisted by things like universities and military bases, prime buyers of gaming materials. It's also about the...