Ways And Methods of The Government to Overcome Barriers

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To assess the constraints and challenges that discourage the full development and commercialization of renewable energy technologies in the Philippines, the Department of Energy (DOE) develop a modern and innovative strategies, programs and projects. This programs aims to address the major challenges and barriers that can hinder the development.

The following are the programs that DOE conducted to assess the major constraints:

1.) Enhance public acceptance/ awareness

To develop public awareness regarding the benefits of renewable energy projects, the government conducted different types of seminar and workshop. Example the Sectoral Workshop on New and Renewable Energy Resources held in Subic, Zambales, the workshop aims to provide the basic information of renewable energy to achieve active cooperation and participation of the community.

In decision-making the DOE involve the stakeholders to ensure protection of the rights of the communities which may be affected in the building of projects. By this, project risks will be easier to as certain through consultations and social assessment activities conducted jointly with all affected stakeholder.

2.) Promotion of Renewable Energy

The DOE conducted International and Local promotion of investment opportunities in the Philippine Renewable Energy and Development to increase private sector investments and encourage the entry of modern and innovative technologies.

Geothermal energy exploration and development will be a part of the DOEs aggressive investment promotion campaigns. Promotional campaigns will be conducted to boost private sector investment in renewable energy projects, enhance its acceptability and harmonized the same with environmental and social concerns.

3.) Commercialization of Renewable energy

The DOE envisioned being the central repository for a database of large, small, mini- and micro hydropower projects and prospects. This database shall be made available to interested developers to promote attractive renewable energy projects to private investors.

The basic strategy for small-scale hydropower commercialization is to encourage electro-mechanical manufacturers to set up facilities in the Philippines and reduce a cost of importation of turbine equipment.

To help improve the output and efficiency of the equipment use in the fabrication of turbine, the DOE is pursuing a technical experts dispatch program with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in coordination with the De La Salle University in establishing a micro-hydro testing center. The DOE will likewise continue to seek technical and bilateral cooperation with other countries the latest expertise which is the key to the projects implementation.

4.) Optimal use for Non-power Applications

To ensure that the obstacle regarding on non-power applications is solved, the government at present is proposing some projects on how to apply renewable energy in terms of non-power applications. In the field of geothermal power, the government proposes to develop a multi-crop dryer project in Leyte using geothermal heat. Enhancement of self-reliant multi-crop project in Manito, Albay is also pursued.

In addition, with the cooperation of Department of Tourism and PITAHC (Philippine Institute of Traditional and Alternative Health Care), the government is now promoting hot spring areas for possible spa resort development. The project will revitalize the use of geothermal resources for balneology and therapeutic purposes. Example of which is the hot spring in Camiguin island. Other sited areas for further development with these projects are Mt. Apo in Cotabato, Northern Negros and Tuba in Benguet.

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Top 10 All American Video Games

10. Forza Motorsport 3

Forza Motorsport 3 is a racing video game developed for Xbox 360 by Turn 10 Studios. It was released in October 2009. It is the sequel to Forza Motorsport 2 and the third installment in the Forza Motorsport series. The game includes over 400 customizable cars (and another 5 in the bonus pack) from 50 manufacturers and over 100 race track variations with the ability to race up to 8 cars on track at a time.

Forza Motorsport 3 includes a large variety of Xbox Live content and options available to online gamers. This is based around a completely redesigned "storefront". It allows gamers to create car designs, setup files, logos and sell them via the "storefront" to other gamers. Further flexibility is available, allowing players to select how many of each car design or logo will be available. The storefront feature is not available to Xbox Live Silver members. Xbox Live users are also able to buy and sell cars via the "auction house." Cars are put up for a certain amount of time and for a certain amount of in-game currency. Players can choose to out-bid each other in order to buy a car. -Wikipedia.org

9. NHL 11

NHL 11 will be the 20th ice hockey video game in the NHL series, celebrating the 20th anniversary of the series. It is developed by EA Canada and will be published by EA Sports. The game will be released on September 7, 2010. New expected clubs in the game are AIK Ishockey in Elitserien, which managed to qualify for the 201011 Elitserien season.

This will mean that Rgle BK will be removed from the game, as they failed to qualify for the 201011 Elitserien season. Also included for the first time will be the sixty teams from the Canadian Hockey League (CHL). It is confirmed that CHL teams will also be a part of the Be A Pro and Be A GM modes, rather than simply being playable in "Play Now" games, like some of the European leagues. -Wikipedia.org

8. Halo 3: ODST

Halo 3: ODST (originally Halo 3: Recon) is a first-person shooter video game developed by Bungie and published by Microsoft. It was released on the Xbox 360 video game console worldwide on September 22, 2009, and in Japan, two days after. Players assume the roles of elite human United Nations Space Command soldiers known as "Orbital Drop Shock Troopers" or ODSTs during the events of Halo 2 and Halo 3. There are two modes of play: in the game's campaign mode, players explore the ruined city of New Mombasa to discover what happened to their missing teammates in the midst of an alien invasion.

In the "Firefight" multiplayer option, players battle increasingly difficult waves of enemies to score points and survive as long as possible; the Halo 3 multiplayer experience is contained on a separate disc packaged with ODST. New copies of the game also contain access keys to the Halo: Reach multiplayer beta release, which activated May 3, 2010. Bungie initially conceived ODST as a small side project to produce in the lull between Halo 3's completion and Halo: Reach. Instead of featuring recognizable characters such as armored protagonist Master Chief, the developers focused on the ODSTs.

Story director Joseph Staten penned a detective story utilizing film noir designs, settings, and characters. Composer Martin O'Donnell abandoned his previous Halo themes to create a quieter, jazz-influenced sound. During development, the planned expansion grew in scope to that of a full-sized game. Release marketing for the game included a tie-in comic, live-action trailers, and print and web advertisements. -Wikipedia.org

7. UFC Undisputed 2010

UFC Undisputed 2010 is a mixed martial arts video game featuring Ultimate Fighting Championship properties and fighters developed by Yuke's and published by THQ. It was released on May 25, 2010, for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and for the first time PlayStation Portable. It is the second game to be released under THQ's 2007 agreement with the UFC and it is a sequel to the successful UFC 2009 Undisputed.

A teaser trailer of the game was shown on December 12, 2009 at the 2009 Spike Video Game Awards, where UFC 2009 Undisputed was named the Best Individual Sports Game, showing a first look at The Ultimate Fighter: Heavyweights contestant Kimbo Slice. The full roster was announced April 27 on Gamespot. Between February and March, James McSweeney, Marcus Jones, Brendan Schaub and Roy Nelson were announced as the four bonus fighters as part of the Gamestop/Game pre-order bonus. -Wikipedia.org

6. Rock Band 3

Rock Band 3 is an upcoming music video game, and the third main game in the Rock Band series. As with previous games in the series, Rock Band 3 allows players to simulate the playing of rock music and other genres using special instrument controllers mimicking lead and bass guitar, drums, and vocals. Rock Band 3 expands upon previous games by including three-part vocal harmonies, previously used in The Beatles: Rock Band and Green Day: Rock Band, and support for a keyboard instrument; Harmonix will be providing a MIDI-compatible 25-key unit with the game.

Rock Band 3 will also feature a new "Pro" mode, which are designed as a learning tool to accurately mimic playing of real instruments: guitar and bass players will have to match specific fingering on frets and strings, drummers will have to strike cymbal pads in addition to snare and toms, and keyboardists will use precise fingering across the whole keyboard. MadCatz and Fender will be manufacturing controllers and add-ons to support the Pro mode. -Wikipedia.org

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5. Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots

Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots is a stealth action video game developed by Kojima Productions for the PlayStation 3 console. The game was directed by Hideo Kojima and made its worldwide release on June 12, 2008, ten years after the release of Metal Gear Solid and twenty years after the North American release of Metal Gear. Guns of the Patriots received widespread critical acclaim, garnering perfect reviews and Game of the Year awards from several major gaming publications, including GameSpot, which claimed that the game is "technically flawless". The game has been a financial driving force for Konami, helping the Metal Gear franchise reach 5 million units in the financial year of 2009. -Wikipedia.org

4. Madden NFL 11

Madden NFL 11 is an upcoming American football video game based on the National Football League published by EA Sports and developed by EA Tiburon. It will be the 22nd annual installment in the Madden NFL video game franchise. It is expected to be released on August 10, 2010 in North America, and on August 13 in Europe. It will be released for the PlayStation 3, PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable, Wii, Xbox 360, Nintendo 3DS and iOS platforms. The PS3 and Xbox 360 demos were released on July 27, 2010.

An all-new play-calling system, GameFlow, which attempts to create a more authentic situational game plan for you based on down and situation, which developers claim cuts the game time in half. This also includes headset enabled audio advice on how to execute plays. Other differences from previous games include a new kick meter, new audible system, and new locomotion animation system. Another addition is Online Team Play, which supports 3 vs. 3 cooperative play, with attribute boosts given as an incentive. You can also scout opponents in online head to head games. Lighting improvements, run blocking changes, new QB ratings, and a new "Swagger" rating have also been added.

EA also is headlining improvements to the visual and audio presentation, bringing in Gus Johnson to call play by play replacing Tom Hammond. Cris Collinsworth returns as color commentator. Winning the Super Bowl in the game, leads to your team getting a parade and a trip to Washington D.C. where your team's star player will shake hands with President Barack Obama and present him a team jersey. -Wikipedia.org

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3. Splinter Cell: Conviction

Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Conviction is the fifth installment in the Splinter Cell video game series released in April 2010. The game was developed by Ubisoft Montreal, developers of Splinter Cell, Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory and the sixth generation versions of Splinter Cell: Double Agent. Key members of the Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Vegas team, such as creative director Maxime Bland, also worked on the game. Gameloft released a handheld version of the game for the iPhone OS on May 27, 2010.

Splinter Cell: Conviction introduces a number of new gameplay features to the series, one of which is the "Mark & Execute" feature, which allows the player to mark specific targets, such as enemies or objects, and shoot them when they burst through a door or window. The player can choose to prioritize these targets, so that, for example, he could distract one guard by shooting out a light in his vicinity and then take out another guard. Another new feature is the "Last Known Position", which occurs when the player breaks the line of sight of an alerted guard.

This creates a visual silhouette of where the guard thinks Sam is, allowing the player to strategically flank his enemies. Main target subjects can use the player's abilities against them. The player can be taken hostage by the subject in co-op mode; the hostage's partner can neutralize the subject by shooting them or grabbing them off his teammate. -Wikipedia.org

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2. MLB 2K10

Major League Baseball 2K10 or, in short, MLB 2K10, is a MLB licensed baseball simulation video game published by 2K Sports. MLB 2K10 was available for Microsoft Windows, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable, Wii and Nintendo DS. The game was released on March 2, 2010.

New to the series is the "My Player" feature, a career mode in which the player shepherds a player's career from the minors to the majors. Other features from the previous game have been improved or tweaked, including hitting and pitching. The game also features "MLB Today", an online ticker that tracks real-life Major League Baseball news and scores. With the MLB Today feature you can also play the same game that is being played in the real MLB. For example, if the New York Yankees are playing the Boston Red Sox and C.C. Sabathia is pitching, in the game he will be pitching along with the same lineup that is being used.

GameZone's Michael Lafferty gave the game a 7/10, saying "In the past, the 2K series was hampered by a lot of little things. The developers obviously put a lot of time in improving the overall gameplay and it shows. The new modes are fun but need some attention to iron out bugs, and there are some areas where the errors are just downright contrary to the game of baseball. On the surface, baseball seems a simple game, but to the baseball fan, the layers of complexity are what create that overall feeling that is Major League Baseball." -Wikipedia.org

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1. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 is a first-person shooter video game developed by Infinity Ward and published by Activision for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 video game consoles and the Microsoft Windows operating systems. Officially announced on February 11, 2009, the game was released worldwide on November 10, 2009.

It is the sixth installment of the Call of Duty series and the direct sequel to Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, continuing along the same storyline. It was released in conjunction with two other Call of Duty games: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare: Mobilized for the Nintendo DS, and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare: Reflex, a port of Call of Duty 4 adapted by Treyarch for the Wii console. In addition, a comic book series based on one of the game's characters was also produced, entitled Modern Warfare 2: Ghost.

Modern Warfare 2 has received critical acclaim from professional reviewers, especially for its console versions. Review aggregator Metacritic holds the average review for both the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions of the game at 94%, while the PC version is at 85%. Positive reviews cite a "compelling story mode, a slick package of mini missions and a multiplayer which is pretty much unparalleled in depth." -Wikipedia.org

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Best American Civil War Movies

Gone with the Wind 1954 reissue one sheet poster (Heritage Auction Galleries)

The Civil War remains one of the bloodiest chapters in American history. Also called the War Between the States, the four-year conflict produced 1,030,000 casualties, including the deaths of 620,000 soldiers from both North and South.

Here are seven classic Civil War movies that no serious film buff should ever miss. Listen closely, and one can still hear the call of the bugles and the Blue and the Gray locked in mortal combat

Gone with the Wind (MGM, 1939)

Producer David O. Selznick brought the 1936 Margaret Mitchell novel to the silver screen, paying the Georgia writer $50,000 for the movie rights. Sidney Howard (with uncredited assistance from four others) penned the screenplay, with Victor Fleming directing the action. Clark Gable (Rhett Butler), Vivien Leigh (Scarlett OHara), Thomas Mitchell (Gerald OHara), Evelyn Keyes (Suellen), Barbara ONeil (Ellen), Olivia de Havilland (Melanie Hamilton), Ann Rutherford (Carreen), Hattie McDaniel (Mammy) and Butterfly McQueen (Prissy) head the large cast.

Budgeted at $3.9 million, Gone with the Wind was filmed in California, primarily at Selznick International Studios and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios in Culver City. The first scene to be filmed was the spectacular burning of Atlanta, a $25,000 controlled blaze staged at MGMs backlot that purposely consumed unwanted sets from King Kong (1933) and The Garden of Allah (1936).

Gone with the Wind is a sweeping historical epic set against the background of Scarlett OHaras beloved Tara and the savagery of the Civil War. As God is my witness, Ill never be hungry again! Scarlett thunders in one of many memorable scenes.

Gone with the Wind won nine Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress (Leigh) and Best Supporting Actress (McDaniel). Mr. Selznicks film is a handsome, scrupulous and unstinting version of the 1,037-page novel reported Frank S. Nugent of The New York Times (12/20/39).

Glory (TriStar, 1988)

Kevin Jarre wrote the screenplay and Edward Zwick directed this Civil War drama set in 1863. Matthew Broderick (Col. Robert Gould Shaw), Denzel Washington (Pvt. Trip), Morgan Freeman (Sgt. Major John Rawlins), and Cary Elwes (Maj. Cabot Forbes) head the strong cast.

Made for $18 million, Glory was filmed on location in Massachusetts and Georgia. The climactic 1863 battle at James Island, South, Carolina, was shot on Rose Dhu Island, Georgia.

Glory an inept title, as getting hit with a minie ball provided so little of it follows the campaigns of the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Regiment. Leading the all-black outfit is Colonel Robert Gould Shaw, a young white officer who battles both the enemy and his own superiors. Glory is steeped in the blood and gore that was the American Civil War, complete with ferocious battle scenes that seemingly leap from the pages of history.

Glory won three Oscars: Best Supporting Actor (Washington), Best Cinematography and Best Sound.

Shenandoah (Universal, 1965)

The Civil War rudely intrudes on a neutral Virginia farmer in this popular film scripted by James Lee Barrett and directed with flair by Andrew V. McLaglen. The incomparable James Stewart (Charlie Anderson), Doug McClure (Sam), Glenn Corbett (Jacob), Patrick Wayne (James), Rosemary Forsyth (Jennie), Phillip Alford (Boy) and Katharine Ross (Ann) head the cast.

Shenandoah was filmed in Oregon and California. Much of the shooting took place in the latter at Golden Oak Ranch (Newhall) and Janss Conejo Ranch (Thousand Oaks).

Shenandoah features Stewart at his cantankerous best, a hardy, grizzled Virginia farmer determined to keep his family out of the Civil War. But when his youngest son is mistaken for a Johnny Reb and taken prisoner, Stewart and his clan set out to find the boy. One of the best scenes comes early, with Stewart and his brood fending off a Confederate procurement detail at their Virginny farm.

You cant do that! You cant burn my train! Strother Martin pleads. But Jimmy Stewart has other ideas, torching the Union transport carrying Confederate prisoners, one of whom is his son-in-law Sam.

Shenandoah (1965) movie window card (Heritage Auction Galleries)

Raintree County (MGM, 1957)

Romance and the Civil War come to Raintree County, a movie based on the novel by Ross Lockridge Jr. Millard Kaufman penned the screenplay and Edward Dmytryk directed. Montgomery Clift (John Shawnessy), Elizabeth Taylor (Susanna Drake), Eva Marie Saint (Nell Gaither), Nigel Patrick (Prof. Stiles), Lee Marvin (Flash Perkins), Rod Taylor (Garwood Jones), Agnes Moorehead (Ellen Shawnessy) and Walter Abel (T.D. Shawnessy) head the cast.

Budgeted at $5 million, Raintree County was filmed on location in Mississippi, Kentucky, Indiana and Tennessee. MGMs backlot #3 served as the setting for the town of Freehaven in fictional Raintree County, Indiana.

Indiana schoolteacher John Shawnessy falls for southern belle Susanna Drake. The Civil War comes, with Shawnessy enlisting in the Union Army and searching for his lost love amidst the horror and chaos of the decimated South.

Raintree County complete with antebellum mansions, elegant southern balls, exquisite costumes and some pretty fair battle scenes garnered four Oscar nominations, including one for Johnny Greens magnificent music score.

Friendly Persuasion (Allied Artists, 1956)

Michael Wilson adapted the screenplay from the 1945 novel by Jessamyn West. William Wyler directed, with Gary Cooper (Jess Birdwell), Dorothy McGuire (Eliza Birdwell) and Anthony Perkins (Josh Birdwell) starring.

Made for $3 million, Friendly Persuasion was filmed in California. There was friction on the set between Gary Cooper and Dorothy McGuire husband and wife in the movie with Cooper strongly questioning McGuires abilities as an actress.

Set in southern Indiana, Friendly Persuasion centers on the Birdwell family, who are practicing Quakers. When the rebel Morgans Raiders threaten their homestead, Josh Birdwell decides to abandon pacifism and take up arms, urging his father and neighbors to do the same.

Friendly Persuasion garnered six Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Supporting Actor (Perkins) and Best Song. Regarding the latter, Friendly Persuasion (Thee I Love) written by Dimitri Tiomkin and Paul Francis Webster became a big hit (#5 on the U.S. charts) for Pat Boone.

As they put it in Friendly Persuasion, thee should be pleasured by this film, opined Bosley Crowther of The New York Times (11/2/56).

The Red Badge of Courage (MGM, 1951)

The film adaptation of the classic 1895 Civil War novel The Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane hit movie theaters in 1951. John Huston and Albert Band penned the screenplay with Huston also directing. Audie Murphy, the most decorated American soldier of World War II, stars as Henry Fleming, with Bill Mauldin (Loud Soldier), Douglas Dick (Lieutenant), Royal Dano (Tattered Man) and Andy Devine (Cheery Soldier) also in the cast.

Budgeted at $1.6 million, The Red Badge of Courage was filmed in California, both at MGM and the John Huston Ranch in Tarzana. MGM chief Louis B. Mayer never cared for the production, arguing (correctly as it turned out) that it lacked the necessary romantic angle to score at the box office.

The Red Badge of Courage tells the story of Henry Fleming and his baptism of fire as a Union soldier during the Civil War. Audie Murphy, who had won the Congressional Medal of Honor in Big Two, didnt have to dig very deep to portray the greenhorn infantryman, as his own horrific combat experiences in Europe were never far away.

John Huston artfully projects the characters to capture a seemingly allegorical mood of all wars and the men involved in them. His battle scene staging has punch and action reported Variety.

The Red Badge of Courage (1951) one sheet poster (Heritage Auction Galleries)

Gettysburg (New Line Cinema, 1993)

One of the big, bold new Civil War pictures of the modern era, Gettysburg was scripted by Ronald F. Maxwell from the 1974 Pulitzer Prize-winning novel The Killer Angels by Michael Shaara. Maxwell also directed, with Tom Berenger (Gen. Longstreet), Martin Sheen (Gen. Robert E. Lee), Stephen Lang (Gen. George Pickett), Jeff Daniels (Col. Joshua Chamblerlain) and Richard Jordan (Gen. Lewis Armistead) heading the strong cast.

Gettysburg was made for $25 million, with portions of the movie actually filmed at Gettysburg National Military Park in Pennsylvania. Civil War reenactors were used to create the realistic battle scenes, including the suicidal Picketts Charge into withering Union artillery and rifle fire.

The pivotal Battle of Gettysburg fought from July 1-3, 1863, in Adams County, Pennsylvania is the focus, with Union and Confederate troops going toe to toe at places like Little Round Top, Cemetery Ridge and the Devils Den. The principal commanders involved on both sides are examined, with ferocious battle scenes filling the big screen in a bloody Danse Macabre.

This is a film that Civil War buffs will find indispensable reported Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times (10/8/93).

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The Outlaw Josey Wales (1976) 40x60-inch poster (Heritage Auction Galleries)

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Top 10: Drinking Video Games

10. Street Fighter IVDrinking Game: Focus Attacks, if you successfully do a counter strike your opponent has to drink!

Focus Attacks, known as "Saving Attack" in the Japanese version, is a new system introduced in Street Fighter IV. The focus attack is a move that allows the player to absorb an attack and launch a counter attack, and it is performed by pressing the medium punch and kick buttons simultaneously. There are two phases to the attack. In the first phase, the player will shift into a new stance, at which point he or she is able to absorb a single hit from the opponent. The second phase is the counter attack.

The longer the player holds down the medium punch and kick buttons, the more powerful the attack will be. If the buttons are held for long enough the attack will be unblockable and cause the opponent to crumple slowly to the ground, allowing the player to follow up with a free hit. Attacks that were absorbed during the first phase of a focus attack still cause damage to the player; however, life lost from the opponent's attack will be quickly regenerated afterward.

In addition, during the first phase of the focus attack the player may perform a dash either forward or backward to cancel the focus attack. Finally, at the cost of half the super combo gauge, many special moves can be canceled into a focus attack. By executing a focus attack during the special move, the animation of the move will be cut short and go instantly into the focus attack animation. This allows players with precise timing to cancel special moves into focus attacks, and in turn cancel focus attacks into the forward dash, resulting in new combo possibilities.

If a special move is blocked by the opponent, the new system allows players to cancel the blocked move with a focus attack, and then cancel the focus attack by dashing backward safely away from the opponent.

Ono has stated that this system was incorporated in order to shift the emphasis away from combos and toward a more realistic system he has compared to boxing, in which "the skill is in reading your opponent's move before he or she starts moving ... We haven't forgotten about combos and linked moves, but focus makes it so that you have to read your opponent." The system aims to make ground attacks as viable a way of approaching opponents as jumping was in previous games. The focus system is a core part of Street Fighter IV's gameplay. -Wikipedia.org

9. Madden NFL 09Drinking Game: However many points you get during the game, your opponent has to drink that many when you score them. 6 points! Take 6 sips!

Madden NFL 09 for the Xbox 360 received a 9 out of 10 rating from Xbox Magazine, as well as four out of five stars and Game of the Month from PlayStation: The Official Magazine. The Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions got an 8.8/10 from IGN and the Wii version got an 8.6 out of 10, receiving only 0.2 points less than it's Sony and Microsoft counterparts from IGN.com X-Play gave Madden 09 a 5 out of 5. GameSpot gave Madden NFL 09 an 8 out of 10, for both the PlayStation 3 and the Xbox 360. GameSpot gave the Wii version 7.0/10. Official Nintendo Magazine gave the Wii version 87%. -Wikipedia.org

8. Goldeneye 007Drinking Game: The first person to get the Golden Gun does NOT have to take a shot or chug a beer. Anyone who gets killed by way of the Golden Gun has to take a beer.

It was featured in the video game GoldenEye 007 in a multiplayer scenario, The Man with the Golden Gun. Only one player could have the gun at a time, either acquired by picking it up at the spawn point, but it is the only gun that breaks once either its user dies or when it runs out of ammo. The weapon, which provided one-shot-kills, was also used in the game's Egyptian level (which required completion of all other of the game's levels to be completed on the hardest difficulty to unlock), locked away in a shatter-proof glass box which required completion of a puzzle in order to unlock.

The gun was needed to defeat the level's boss, Baron Samedi, who had so much health he could withstand several of the one-shot-killer bullets and had to be killed three times as well. Because of the popularity of both the game and the weapon itself it would later be featured in other James Bond video games: The World Is Not Enough, Agent Under Fire, Nightfire, Everything or Nothing, GoldenEye: Rogue Agent, Quantum of Solace, and From Russia with Love.

Many of these games also feature golden variations of other weapons (such as the Walther PPK, Walther P99, Desert Eagle, and a rocket launcher). A golden revolver (similar to the original golden gun described in the novel) can be found in Goldeneye 007's spiritual successor Perfect Dark, where it is used by one of the main antagonists Trent Easton and Joanna herself if she manages to disarm him. -Wikipedia.org

7. Burnout: ParadiseDrinking Game: The number of wheels you lose = the number of shots

The "Cagney" update was released on schedule on July 10, 2008 for PlayStation 3 and on August 4, 2008 for the Xbox 360. The update introduces three new Freeburn multiplayer modes: Online Stunt Run, Marked Man and Road Rage. Online Stunt Run involves up to 8 players who simultaneously compete for the highest stunt score within 2 minutes. Road Rage features two teams; one must race to a checkpoint while the others tries to stop them through takedowns. Marked Man is like a game of tag, with one player as the Marked Man who cannot see the other players and has no boost.

In addition there are 70 new online challenges. These new challenges are different from Free Burn challenges, being timed. Timed challenges start once all players gather at a point of interest. The players then must all complete an objective within a certain time, such as jumping a ramp. "Cagney" also brought custom soundtracks and 1080i support to the PlayStation 3 version. -Wikipedia.org

6. LittleBigPlanetDrinking Game: Each sack boy you kill on your friends side means they have to take a drink.

The Play section of LittleBigPlanet consists of a number of levels that have been created by Media Molecule, and are based around different themes that draw inspiration from real-world locations, such as Japanese gardens, dry Mexican deserts, New York City streets and icy Russian stages. By completing the levels available to them (by reaching the scoreboard), the player may then advance the story and play further unlocked levels. The story mode comprises eight themed areas, with each area containing three or four main levels, and some of these levels in turn contain collectable keys to unlock bonus mini-levels.

The main story mode comprises more than 50 pre-built levels in total. To control their Sackboy character, the player moves by using the analogue sticks, jump with varying degrees of height depending on the pressure applied to the action button, and grab onto objects to either move or swing on them. In addition to regular left-and-right movement, and despite the 2D look of the game, levels consist of three levels of depththe foreground, middle and backgroundand may be traversed between either automatically by the game itself, or by the player's command.

The player can opt to emote their Sackboy by applying varying degrees of delight, fear, sadness, and rage, control each arm independently through the analogue sticks, slap other players by jerking the arm movement with the analogue sticks, and use the Sixaxis motion-sensing functionality to animate the character's head and body. The player can access the Popit menu at any time. -Wikipedia.org

5. Mario PartyDrinking Game: Any player that gets a star in the star space gets to pick someone to take a swig!

Every game in the main series has a standard Party Mode in which up to four players play through a board, trying to collect as many stars as possible. In every turn, each player rolls a die and progresses on the board, which usually has branching paths. Coins are primarily earned by performing well in a minigame played at the end of each turn. On most boards, players earn stars by reaching a star space and purchasing a star for a certain amount of coins.

The star space appears randomly on one of several pre-determined locations and moves every time a star is purchased, usually occupying a blue space. Every Mario Party contains at least 50 to almost 110 minigames with a few different types. Four-player games are a free-for-all in which players compete individually. In 2-on-2 and 1-on-3 minigames, players compete as two groups, cooperating to win, even though they are still competing individually in the main game. Some minigames in Mario Party 1 are 4-player co-op, even though it doesn't say it. In most situations, winners earn ten coins each. -Wikipedia.org

4. Boom BloxDrinking Game: In castle destruction in the party mode, who ever has the least amount of gem blocks left at the end has to drink!

In addition to single player, there are also over 100 cooperative and competitive multiplayer levels available in Party mode that can be played by up to four people on one screen, by taking turns, and on a split screen. Cooperative play involves destroying or building structures together with friends and family while competitive play involves playing against others to accumulate the highest scores by destroying blocks with positive point values attached or attacking the opponent's castle to destroy their gem blocks within. -Wikipedia.org

3. Guitar Hero: World TourDrinking Game: Any band member who misses the most notes has to take a drink

Guitar Hero World Tour (initially referred to as Guitar Hero IV or Guitar Hero IV: World Tour) is a music video game developed by Neversoft and published by RedOctane and Activision. It is the fourth main entry in the Guitar Hero series. The game was launched in North America in October 2008 for the PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Wii, and Xbox 360 consoles, and a month later for Europe and Australia.

A version of World Tour for Microsoft Windows and Apple Macintosh was later released. While the game continues to feature the use of a guitar-shaped controller to simulate the playing of rock music, Guitar Hero World Tour is the first game in the Guitar Hero series to feature drum and microphone controllers for percussion and vocal parts, similar in manner to the competing Rock Band series of games. The game allows users to create new songs through the "Music Studio" mode, which can then be uploaded and shared through a service known as "GHTunes". -Wikipedia.org

2. Wii Sports ResortDrinking Game: Losing an event = a drink

Wii Sports Resort is set in a beach resort on an island called Wuhu Island, similar to Wii Fit's running island, where twelve different sports are available to play. Like the original, the sports are each played by holding the Wii Remote (and in some cases, the Nunchuk) in a manner similar to the actual sport being replicated. For example, in Archery, the player holds the Wii Remote vertically to hold the bow, and pulls back the Nunchuk to pull back the bow's string.

The new feature that Wii Sports Resort brings is Wii MotionPlus compatibility, which enables 1:1 control and allows the games to be played with greater accuracy. For example, in Wii Sports Tennis, the player's shots were all determined by which direction the Wii Remote is swung like a racket. Wii Sports Resort offers a new variation, Table Tennis (previously featured in Wii Play), where the player has greater control over adding spin to the ball by twisting the Wii Remote while swinging.

Wii MotionPlus is required for all Wii Remotes being used with Wii Sports Resort. Most sports with up to 3 or 4 players will allow one Wii Remote to be shared among players while taking turns. Canoeing is the one exception where a controller is required for all 4 players. -Wikipedia.org

1. Super Smash Bros. BrawlDrinking Game: Every time a player gets blown off the screen that player has to take a drink!

In addition to the standard multiplayer mode, Brawl features other multiplayer modes and options in Group mode. Special Melee, from the previous game, returns as Special Brawl. In this mode, players are able to battle in matches using special rules for a greater level of customization. Whereas previously standard options such as "Giant Melee" or "Invisible Melee" were limited to one feature per match, players may now select multiple options for a single match.

Another returning game type, Tourney mode (formerly Tournament mode), enables players to create an elimination-based tournament, where up to 32 players can play, with a large number of game-controlled or human-controlled opponents. A "Rotation" feature has been introduced in Brawl, which allows up to sixteen players to compete in sequence by switching out winners or losers after each round. -Wikipedia.org

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Review of the Latest Star Trek Movie

I will start by saying this: If you are a hardcore trekkie, the kind of person who screams abuse when the phasers are the wrong colour, the warp core is three shades of blue too dark, or the sensors pick up something they cant, then dont watch the new star trek movie.

You dont f###ing deserve it.

Its very hard to actually write a well structured review without slipping in spoilers at the very best of times, doubly so with the new star trek movie. In order to ensure the purity of the experience is preserved, Im going to split this review into two sections. Section one will detail the acting, the cinematography and all the other stuff that one talks about when reviewing a film, section two will discuss the plot. Just in case you cant figure it out for yourself, if you dont like spoilers (and believe me, this is not you usual telegraphed star trek movie), then skip section two.

Section 1:

The best way to describe the new star trek movie would probably be Battlestar Galacticad, Although in my opinion done a lot better. Unlike the reimagining of Battlestar Galactica, star trek stays true to its roots (for the most part), in high science fiction. The elements of the heroic charmer, Captain James T Kirk, the calm and collected First Officer, Lieutenant Spock, the ship chasing after the unknown all of these are still there.

What they have done is a process I liked to call Mini coopering, I.E modernising something rather than changing it. There is a hell of a lot of change in this film visually from the previous iterations of star trek, and the styling is somehow slightly darker, while still maintaining the classic clean look that has made star trek stand out against other science fiction films. The bridge of the enterprise is white, spacious and light, and the engineering deck is a mass of pipes, tubes and valves that would not look out of place on the titanic. The antagonists ship too, has a dark, visceral almost primal look about it, both inside and out.

Star Trek is a beautifully written movie, the advantage of starting from scratch is that the writers have been able (and managed) to keep the franchise very accessible to people unfamiliar with star trek. Indeed, one of the people in the group I went to see the film had never got into star trek and knew nothing of the characters beyond their appearance and names. She was able to follow the story easily and empathised a great deal with the characters, especially Spock.

But this is not a movie thats just supposed to get new people into the franchise. Fans of star trek are treated to dozens of references and in jokes that only those with a passion for the franchise will get. The slugs from Star Trek II make a cameo appearance, the red shirt always dies first, the classic catch phrases and references to green alien sex that we all remember and love all make an appearance.

The crew and cast also made a fantastic job in reinventing the characters, while keeping them the same. I can only liken this to when a new character takes up the mantle of James Bond. Its still unmistakably Bond, but with a slightly different twist. Such it is with the crew of the USS enterprise. This is good as the film is very much character driven, and while the plot is very engaging and immersive (if a little contrived at times), it only serves as a backdrop for us to learn more about the characters, and observe how they respond to the changing situation. This sort of thing just wouldnt have been possible in the original series, and is only made possible by the reinvention of the setting in this iteration.

Perhaps the single most important aspect of this film though is the fact that it has utterly destroyed the cannon history of star trek.

Good.

This is why hardcore trekkies are never going to love it. They bitch and whine when a certain gun appears out of place, or a Klingons forehead is just slightly too bumpy. When they see the changes that the writers have made to this Star Trek universe, they will choke on their popcorn. This is all explained as an alternative history using that staple tool of story telling in star trek films- Time travel.

Unlike so many time travel stories that fall into exactly the same predictable routine that leads me to want to hunt down and kill the writers for being lazy bastards, Star Trek manages to pull it off wonderfully. At first I thought that all the changes would be reset via a Deus Ex Machina, a la EVERY OTHER time travel story in the history of creation.

How wrong I was.

The door has now been thrown open for a brand new branch of star trek based in this alternative reality. The writers set up some very interesting concepts that could be explored.

This about wraps it up for section one of this review. Again I say, if you do not want spoilers, then please refrain from reading section 2. In conclusion all I can do is repeat what I said before- If you enjoy star trek, but are not one of the obsessive compulsive trekkies that the media loves to ridicule, star trek will be one of the best things youve seen since the dark knight. If youre looking for a movie to go an watch but have no real interest in star trek, its a very enjoyable way to spend an evening, and will also do a great job of introducing you to the setting. Suffice to say, go and see it now.

Section 2.

Vulcan gets destroyed. By the end of the film, there are only about 10,000 Vulcans left in the galaxy. Kirks farther is killed while his mother is giving birth to kirk in a battle with the Romulans (the main antagonists of the film). For a large portion of the film, Spock is captain of the enterprise. Spock and Uhura are in an involved relationship.

In short, star trek takes a lot of the preconceptions and chucks them out of a third storey window.

Leonard Nemoy plays Spock, Simon Peggs performance as Scotty is brilliant, Sulu screwing up the Enterprises maiden voyage from star dock had me in creases, the space jump (a parachute drop from orbit) was one of the most fantastic pieces of cinematography, sound engineering and acting I had ever seen (and the red shirt cacked it)!

These fantastic little moments just make the film, and had me grinning ear to ear as I watched it.

The basic overarching plot is that in the far distant future, a star goes supernova and threatens to wipe out a lot of inhabited worlds, including Romulus. Spock promises to save Romulus, and speeds off in a ship designed to create a black hole to absorb the supernova. Hes too late and Romulus goes the way of Pompeii, the only survivors being the crew of a nearby mining ship. They chase down spock and in the ensuring battle a black hole is created which sucks them both through time. After killing Kirks farther having arrived in the past, the Romulan crew hang around for a few years and wait for Spocks ship to show up before capturing it, and using the black hole generating red matter to destroy Vulcan before moving on to earth. The enterprise gives chase and stops them, but not before the history if the world is re written.

Theres a basic synopsis of the whole thing for you, but seriously you need to watch it. See section one!

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Kia?s Got Soul And so Will You

Kias Got Soul and so Will You

Kia has come a long way since its debut in the North American market back in the 1980s. This little South Korean company has seen its ups and downs over the past few decades and has come out on top. Now in 2010, Kia has redeveloped, revamped, and climbed its way to the top of the small SUV market. In fact it has already been awarded the best hatchback of 2010, and is a finalist for the World Car of the Year and World Car design of the Year. All of these accolades keeps this vehicle is flying off the dealership lots. The Kia Soul is an urban crossover, part SUV and part hatchback. With that description, you might think it would look like a station wagon. Not so, I saw this vehicle on the road the other day and found myself straining my neck to see what make of vehicle it was. Its look is progressive and streamlined, not at all what you would think when you hear that little word, hatchback.

Kia has marketed the 2010 Soul to target a younger market. They created a funky little SUV/hatchback crossover with plenty of soul hence the appropriate name. Its a four-door hatchback wagon, which has sleek styling and all of the latest gizmos and features the younger crowd has come to expect from a new vehicle. It has a boxy shape similar to the Honda Element, but unlike the Element, the Soul has a geometric look with rounded edges and angled windows. Referred to as an urban passenger vehicle, it sits the driver high like a SUV for city driving appeal, and has plenty of headroom and interior space for long road trips or small cargo moves.

The Kia Soul is a front wheel drive vehicle with a four cylinder engine. The 1.6 liter boasts 122 horsepower and the 2.0 liter offering 142 horsepower. The smaller 1.6 liter comes with a 5 speed manual gearbox, the larger engine available as a four speed automatic. Both engines have lots of kick, no slowing down on steep hills and mountains and no lag time when maneuvering through dense city traffic. Because of this driving ease, the Soul is a fun little zippy SUV crossover which seems to be able to do it all.

The interior is just as funky. It has similar 3-dial instrument clusters to the mini-cooper, which are well lit and looks like a cross between a spaceship and a Formula One racer. For those who are not impressed with that, Kia also has a glow-in the dark upholstery option. There are lots of cool gizmos in the options package, enough to keep its new younger clientele on their toes trying to out-do their neighbors.

With the Kia Soul ringing in all the awards and accolades for 2010, what could the company be working on next? An electric car, yes Kia has jumped on the hybrid bandwagon, and unveiled the Kia Ray a plug-in hybrid at this years Chicago auto show. Still in its conceptual phase the Ray is a four seater compact sedan, based on their successful Forte platform. Designed with lightweight and recycled materials, the Ray boasts hexagonal roof solar cells to power extra lighting and climate controls. Kia refers to this new development as eco-dynamics, a sub-brand for economic fuel use and emissions cutting technology. Yet another grasp at the younger, more accountable and responsible car buyers who want to boast power as well as earth friendliness.

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The Best City Car

While you already have an urban jungle, compress, or sit on the blockade of grid on way home after crossing work, knowing that the city has many vehicles. Not all cars are traced along the road or hit easy compact parking, small roads extended. Require their daily routine of this type of car, ensure that you have a car to drive.

The car has a lot of how stressed or feel behind the wheel. You can use the wrong type of auto city, they could undermine the security and safety of other drivers on the road.

Choose a good drive from the city, you might think that a few things. First and foremost, should consider what even car brands in the streets. Secondly, we must think about how easy it is Park. Finally, consider how you can see from the driver (what the visibility that?) and how easy it is to manage it for you and to operate the machine. I know on the driver's seat?

There are valid issues where you have a general list of cars that you want. Many of you will answer questions by pointing out that some important details on the cars themselves. The governance, for example, as measured by the outer radius of a circle, making the car with the Board is in one direction. This is in General to find the most important number of good buying a car. An automatic test engineer senior at the time of the consumer to interview reports, turning diameter is "a measure of the ability to operate the machinery and how easy it is Park".

The next thing is to think about the impression of a car. Footprint refers to its entire length and width of the vehicle. It is the largest city, the car is especially important because it is generally difficult to maneuver in filled the roads with parked vehicles and trucks, loading and unloading.

Once thought the handling of the car, it must be taken into account, from your point of view of the driver's seat. It is good if you can zip or back and outside, but if you have something to measure distance does not appear, it will be used.

Outward evidence on the road and surrounding cars is very important, but is largely a personal problems. Some prefer to SUVS because the view "on the road and other cars. Another very difficult for the objects contained in this layer, however, and often lack rebellion and obstacles. The height of the driver and the location of the seats are companies, also on a given height, but it is important for the visibility of their choice of car before making a decision to buy.

According to Forbes is the best ten cars in city driving cars:

Honda insight, Honda Civic Hybrid Volvo V50 Audi A3 Saab 9-2 X Mercedes-Benz e-Klasse, Prius Toyota and BMW 3-Series Coup Mini Cooper Scion xB

Top ten worst cars city riding is:

The signing of the town car Hummer H1 Alpha Maybach 62 Lincoln Navigator L Rolls-Royce Phantom HUMMER H2 Chevrolet Suburban Cadillac Escalade national financial management authority Lincoln L Infiniti QX56 Bentley Arnage RL

Of course, you can choose the type of car without reference, but if the city can be a good idea was to invest some or all of these models. Always easier is the driver of the car, the greater the opportunity to go even constantly.

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How to tell if the Person you Love is playing Head Games

Here are some manipulative maneuvers people use that you may come across and not usually notice right away while they are happening:

They patronize you and your accomplishments: when I look over the people in my life, some of them that did the most damage were not even qualified to be critiquing my work or behavior or life, and yet their words weighed a ton when I heard their criticisms and tones. It's that hair on the back of your neck rising when you know this person is not saying these things to help you along, but to further their image.

They are constantly in some kind of made up drama: let's face it these last few years have made everyone aware of some "real" issues in their lives; most manipulative people have paper tiger type dramas that just don't seem quite right in face of a real emergency.

You always feel played after an interaction: even if you can't put your finger on it, there is always that feeling that somehow this person has just gotten away with something and you don't know what it was. It seems so insidious, but yet you don't feel that way with anyone else. Somehow, they can turn everything around to be about them, and you don't even see it happening.

They have to be right: they keep going back to one minuscule same point or an incorrect fact that they think will prove them right. The facts are not always that cut and dried, no matter who has the right of way on a highway between a semi truck and a mini cooper, the semi always wins the battle. It does not matter that you had right of way, you are now dead right.

Availability and schedules: There are certain people who are with you threw thick and thin, good and bad. And then there are the ones who just vanish into thin air when you need them most, or cancel at the last crucial second on something that was very important and hard to change. Everyone always sounds sarcastic when they ask you "where is so and so this time" and again, you make up an excuse.

Of course these behaviors stem from insecurity and when someone is insecure; they have the problem, not you. You can stand by them when they get help, you can help them if they ask you for a bit of assistance in some way, but you can't do the work required of them to become a more balanced person. Some relationships can be saved if there is help received and work done to follow up and some just have to go their separate ways because of too much history.

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Our Kiwi Adventure: Part I

A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.

A journey to the other side of the world begins with a flight to Atlanta.

Greetings from Coromandel

Well, we made it. We arrived in New Zealand last Friday via Atlanta, San Francisco, and Auckland. Unfortunately, the Auckland airport was closed due to fog so we spent our first day in Christchurch. Personally, I found Christchurch rather unimpressive. Perhaps it's because we spent eight hours in the International Transit Lounge trying to stay awake so as not to miss our boarding call. However, we did eventually make it to Auckland where we collected our luggage, picked up our rental car and made way for the hotel. (Maybe it's because I was exhausted but it seemed to me that New Zealand motorists have a penchant for driving on the wrong side of the road.

For those of you who have just heard (or haven't yet heard) about our move to New Zealand, a little background would seem to be in order

In early August, Yassi and I began talking about moving out of Amherst to some place new and different. At first we considered relocating up the road to Northfield. Later, we actually thought about moving to the Lake George area. Eventually, we found our discussions trending toward a more radical move, perhaps to the Southeast or the desert Southwest.

After three days of Googling around the States, we started exploring the notion of going back to school to become internationally certified teachers of English as a Foreign Language. This would allow us to take our training overseas and then teach in one of scores of different countries. We looked seriously at programs in Mexico, Spain, and Greece--and then in New Zealand.

Now, I'm not quite sure just how it happened, but one Saturday morning we woke up and realized we were moving to New Zealand. It was as simple as that.

During the next four weeks there were a zillion things to do. We had decided to sell all our belongings except for a few suitcases worth of clothing. We got visas; put an add in the paper to rent out our house; arranged with our neighbors to manage the property; turned in our cars; gave Kitty to Zack, Charlie, and Jeanie; and spent eighteen hours a day on the internet making contacts in New Zealand.

We set up job interviews; arranged for a house to live in; a car to drive; and studied all things New Zealand. We learned about the Dutch explorer Abel Tasman who is credited with discovering and naming the islands for the Dutch city of Zeeland; and the Western Sea, which he named for himself. We read about the voyages of Captain Cook who perfected his quirky, man-about-the-globe ways, introducing non-indigenous animals to wreak havoc on the ecosystem, brought disease to a native population that had no defense, and played with his guns which he used first to subdue the Maori people, then gave to them as presents so they more efficiently kill one another. (That zany Cookie.)

We also familiarized ourselves with New Zealand Immigration Policy; the job market; the value of their currency; the current political situation; their history and culture; and the state religion . . . Rugby.

Which brings us back to Auckland

While circling the airport, we got into a conversation with a flight steward, who we ploughed for information about the country we were about to call home. He gave us some sage advice which we've since come to regard as gospel. "Just root for the All Blacks," he said with a sly grin before removing the All Blacks pin with the gold Koru leaf from the lapel of his uniform and handing it to me. "These are hard to come by, mate, so take good care," he added, his sly grin turning to a very broad smile. I accepted the pin with gratitude, having no idea what All Blacks might be.

Anyway, having made it to the hotel without a head-on collision with a Mini-Cooper, we settled into our room and turned on the television to get the latest on Hurricane Katrina. Instead, we got wall to wall coverage of the impending match between the Australian National rugby team, the Wallabies, and the New Zealand National team, the All Blacks. (Cool!) Apparently, the following day would see the final match of the Tri-Nations Tournament, and with the South African Springboks having already been eliminated by the ALL Blacks, only the Wallabies stood in the way of Kiwi Glory.

The next day we had a business meeting in the morning which had been prearranged during one of our all-night internet sessions. Proudly did I sit there with my All Blacks pin displayed prominently upon my chest. It proved to be an excellent conversation starter. The meeting went very well, and it looks like both Yassi and I will be doing some contract work for this start-up company called Pocket Media.

The rest of the day went just as well as we toured the city, did some shopping, and got back in time to watch the Tri-Nations Final over dinner. It was a great game (I think). We played extremely well (I guess). The All Blacks defense was incredible (the announcer told us). And when all was said and done, the All Blacks held off the hard charging Wallabies to emerge victorious by the score of 34-24. (I think the numbers refer to goals or something, but I'm not sure.)

It's a curious rivalry that the Aussies have with the Kiwis. The Australians poke constant fun at the New Zealanders, usually making jokes about sheep and Kiwi sexual preference. The Kiwi's have an Aussie put-down which exemplifies their opinion of the Aussies. I read it in an off beat travel book on the flight over:

What's the difference between Australia and Yogurt?

Yogurt has a living Culture.

The following day was the day we'd been looking forward to for weeks. It began with a three-hour drive along the scariest coast road I've ever encountered. Yassi is still waiting for the feeling to return to her fingers having spent the entire three hours bracing herself for our inevitable plummet into the sea. The perilous journey finally ended in the village of Coromandel, the township in which we've decided to settle for the time being. We quickly got our bearings, and met the local real estate agent with whom we've been corresponding for about three weeks. Though we'd already selected a little cottage to rent based on pictures I'd gotten off the net, our agent, Susan, wanted to show us a selection of properties from beachfront houses, to homes on hilltops with the most amazing views of the ocean and mountains. In the end, we settled on Koru Cottage, our original choice. (Yes, it is named for the same Koru leaf that the All Blacks sport on their Jerseys and my pin.)

The cottage is possibly the most charming place I've ever seen. I spotted it several weeks ago while checking out holiday homes (vacation rentals) with no particular purpose in mind. The website I was on showcases upscale properties that rent for hundreds of dollars per night, and I was just there to enjoy the pictures. And then I saw Koru Cottage and I went a little nuts. It's located about seven minutes southwest of Coromandel in an isolated grotto that cannot be seen from the road. (I think the Hobbits used to live in this shire.) It's surrounded by lush hills and mountains covered with assorted sub-tropical native flora and no other homes in view. But the thing that got me was the water feature. At the rear edge of the terraced garden there's a creek with a deep swimming hole the length of an Olympic pool. I absolutely flipped when I saw the pictures so I wrote a letter to the Holiday Homes website asking them to enquire of the owner whether he might consider a long-term rental. It was a stretch, to be sure, but after dozens of e-mails exchanged between me, the agent, the property manager, and the man who owns the property, a deal was struck and here we are.

And so we send greetings to you from Coromandel and Koru Cottage. Our Kiwi adventure is underway, and to all of you we say, Tena Koe.

(I don't know what it means but everyone keeps saying it.)

Cheers,

Alan and Yassi

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20 Random Questions

(This was originally filled out back in September.)

I seen someone do this in a bulliten on their Myspace page, and I thought it was kind of interesting. The questions dont seem to have a theme to them at all, but it lets the reader know the author more. So I copied the questions and filled in my own answers. Hope you enjoy getting to know a bit about me!

1: Have you ever been out of your home country? No, but I dream of traveling the world someday!

2: If you live in or have visited the USA, how many states have you been in? Ive been in 33 so far.

3: Where do you live? Pennsylvania.

4: What is the last song you listened to? I Like It by Enrique Iglesias.

5: Have you ever been inside a cloud? Yes, on top of Mount Washington in New Hampshire.

6: What book are you currently reading or have read recently? Im reading The Lost City of Z by David Grann.

7: What book did you read before that? The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner by Stephenie Meyer.

8: Do you have any plants in your bedroom? Yes, bamboo.

9: Do you have any piercings? My ears.

10: Are you or have you ever been married? No.

11: What perfume or cologne do you have on? Promise Me from Aeropostale.

12: Have you ever saved someones life? I dont think actually saved their life, but Ive helped people out of some pretty bad situations.

13: Do you consider yourself a superstitious person? Sometimes.

14: Do horror movies scare you? Lol, yes Ill admit it.

15: If you own a car, what is it? A silver 2004 Mini Cooper.

16: Do you have any pets? One dog.

17: What color are your eyes? Green.

18: If you had 3 wishes, be honest, what would you wish for? 1: World peace 2: To find my true love ( haha, just like a fairy tale!) 3: To be able to travel the world, making a career out of my photography.

19:Is there agame show or reality show you would like to be on? The Amazing Race!

20:Do you believe in miracles? Yes, I think anything is possible!

Okay, that was my list. Feel free to fill one out yourself and post it on your website. And if you have any other questions for me, dont be afraid to ask!

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Canada's Top Ten Beautiful Supermodels and Fashion Models

The modelling and fashion industry is a multi-million dollar business, which attracts the prettiest of women (as well as men) from all around the world. Many fashion and supermodels have made millions as well as made their mark on the industry. Fashion shows and the models that work the shows bring in the elite crowds and make the designers millions of dollars every year in hopes to be the next top supermodel. This got me thinking the other day on how many of these famous or successful female models came from Canada. Therefore, I gathered only 10 of what I thought to be either the most famous or successful models from Canada and brought them together here. Enjoy!

Linda Evangelista: (Supermodel)

Born May 10, 1965 in St. Catharines, Ontario. Linda always had an interest in becoming a famous model and worked hard to get to where she is today. At the young age of only 13, she had won the 1978 Miss Teen Niagara and was discovered by a scout from Elite Model Management. By age 13, Linda had signed to a Toronto modelling company and at age 16 signed with Elite Modelling in New York. Over the years Linda has been regarded as one of the few true supermodels that changed the face of fashion in the late 1980`s and early 90`s. After all between 1988 to 1996 she can be credited to, starting about 11 different hair styles that where very popular. In addition, Linda was the founder of the supermodel union along with three other supermodels, which brought new standards and rules making better working conditions and pay for the models. In her modelling career to date Linda have been in over 63 various advertisements, been on the cover of 68 magazines and easily been in over 15 fa shion shows through out the years. For all of her accomplishments and the changes she made in the modelling industry, Linda Evangelista will always be in my mind one of Canadas Top Models.

Meghan Collison: (Fashion Model)

Born February 3, 1989 in the city of Edmonton in Alberta, lived a girl named Meghan who had big dreams. She is a newbie to the modelling scene and according to Models.com; they proclaim her one of the Top 10 Newcomers in New York. She was only discovered back around 05/2006 at a local mall model search, but after turning 18 she had decided to move to New York and has done fashion shows and advertisements for prominent fashion designers ever since. She has appeared on the cover of Vogue Italia 2007 twice, Vogue Russia 2008, Fashion Canada 2007 and Neo2 as well as been in seven fashion campaigns. Meghan might be new to the whole modelling scene but never the less she is quickly rising to the top of the model industry, which makes her one of Canadas Top Models.Shalom Harlow: (Supermodel)

Born December 5, 1973 in the city of Oshawa, Ontario. Shalom was an energetic girl with dreams of becoming successful in whatever she chose to do. Although modelling was not her first decision, it was what she ended up falling into. Her whole modelling career started when she was discovered at a Cure concert in Toronto by Anne Sutherland. She has worked for famous modelling agencies like Elite Modelling NY, Riccardo Gay Model Management, Select Model Management, IMG Models NY/Paris/London and Milan. Since starting in the industry, Shalom has had many successes. She has appeared in 14 movies, 3 TV series, about 46 advertisements, been on 39 magazine covers and has done about 16 fashion shows through the years. She also ended up in 1996 taking over being the host of the MTV House of Style from Cindy Crawford. Finally in July 2007, Shalom had earned an estimated $2 million in 12 months and Forbes named her 13th in the list of the Worlds 15 Top Earning Supermodels.Ehrinn Cummi ngs: (International Supermodel)

Born March 14, 1981 in Montreal, Quebec. Ehrinn is another Canadian model newbie to the game. She was discovered back in 1998 at a local coffee shop at the age of 17. Her first real job was an advertisement for shampoo, which eventually launched her and her career into the fashion world industry. After seeing this shampoo advertisement, a New York modelling agent scooped her up quickly. Only a year later Ehrinn went on to work for Gucci in Paris, then a year after that signed with Karin Agency which led to ads in Vogue, Cosmopolitan and Jane. Although her career has been short and is only starting off, Ehrinn has already been in over 11advertisements, on three magazine covers, a few fashion shows and has been on the cover of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue in 2002. So far, she has been very successful in the industry and can only get better with time, but because of her accomplishments in so little time, I think Ehrinn is one of Canadas Top Models.

Estella Warren: (Fashion Model)

Estella was born December 23, 1978 in the city of Peterborough, Ontario. She started out as an excellent synchronized swimmer at the age of only 12 but soon after was discovered by a talent agent during a fashion show at her high school. The talent agent was so impressed with Warren, that she sent a Polaroid picture to her New York agency, which started out her whole modelling career. Warren as been in various magazines and commercials, some were Sports Illustrated, Snoeck 2000, Vogue, Vanity Fair as well as 2 commercials for Chanel #5 perfume and commercials for Samsung. She also has been in many ad campaigns for high-end companies such as De Beers, Victoria Secret, Volvo, Cartier and many others. Warren has worked for Elite Model NY, Fotogen Model Agency, Select Model Management, Yuli Models and Elite Model Milan. Estella still models and even in November 2007 was an entry in Stuff Magazines 2006-2007 pin up calendar girl. Her career although short is extensive with alre ady appearing in over 20 advertisements, over 32 magazine covers and over 20 fashion shows, there is no stopping Estella from being one of the Worlds top models.

Mei-Yin Lloyd: (Model)

Lloyd was born November 6, 1978 in Toronto, Ontario and originally started out in the modelling industry as an agent/booker. She has booked advertising campaigns for Molson Canadian, Levis, Versace and Mini Cooper. Lloyd only started modelling when some of her clients insisted that she model for them, and with that, her modelling career took off. Even though she is still new to the modelling world, Lloyd has already been featured on billboards, print ads and TV commercials across Asia, Europe and the Americans. Many of the TV commercials she featured in where for McDonalds, Alexander Keiths Beer, Wal-Mart and the May Company. Lloyd has also been in many music videos and has worked as a model all over Toronto, New York, Miami and Hong Kong. In my eyes because of her accomplishments in such a short period, she deserves to be known as one of Canadas Top Models.

Tricia Helfer: (Supermodel)

Helfer was born April 11, 1974 in Alberta, Canada. Although she never actually planned to be a model, as fate would have it, she was discovered by modelling scout Kelly Streit while standing in line at a local movie theatre at age 17. Only a year later in 1992, she won Ford Models Supermodel of the World contest and was signed to Elite Model Management. Soon after signing, she appeared in ad campaigns for Ralph Lauren, Chanel and Giorgio Armani and also appeared on the covers of Flare, Amica, Elle, Cosmopolitan, Marie Claire, Vogue and many other magazines. Helfer success is not all due to her modelling career, she has also been a regular on the popular TV series Battle Star Galactica which in 2006 she won the Leo Award for best lead performance by a female in a dramatic series. On top of that, she has also appeared in over 16 movies and other TV series. In 2007, Helfer was ranked #5 on the Maxims Hot 100 Women of the Year list and posed topless for playboy the same year. Through out the years she has worked for a various top modelling companies some of which are Elite Model NY, T Model Management, Mode Models, and is now currently signed to Trump Model Managements. Coco Rocha: (Supermodel)

Rocha was born in Toronto, Ontario on September 10, 1988 but her family moved to Richmond B.C shortly after her birth. Growing up she showed a real talent for Canadian Irish Dancing and pursed it for much of her childhood. Rocha never planned to be a model but at the age of 14 in 2002, she was discovered by a modelling agent when competing in an Irish dancing competition. She has worked for Elite Model NY, Storm Models, SMG-Seattle Model Guild, Marilyn Agency, Why Not Model Agency, Scan Elite, Ave Management, Elite Model LA, FMI Models Shanghi, and Charles Stuart Agency all in the 6 years shes been modelling. In her short career she has already been on the covers of over 15 magazines, been in over 15 advertisements and 8 fashion shows. Coco Rocha is one Canadas fastest rising Supermodels and will always be one of our countries top models.Heather Marks: (Supermodel)

Marks was born in Calgary, Alberta on July 25, 1988. From a young age, it was a dream of hers to become a supermodel and with that; she worked as hard as she could to be noticed. Finally, after years of shows and competitions and only 12 years old, Marks was finally discovered at the Calgary Womans Show and shortly after that, she won the Mode Models Model Search. She is best known in the fashion world for her big eyes and Doll Like features. So far, in her in 8 years of modelling she has worked for Louisa Models, Supreme, Fotogen Model Agency, Why Not Model, Select Model Management, Mode Models Portland/Calgary/Edmonton, Giovanni Model Agency, My Model Management and many others. Marks is another fast rising model thats already been in over 18 advertisements, on 11 magazine covers and been in 13 fashion shows if not more and recently modelled for Miss Sixty fall 2007. There is no question in my mind that Heather Marks is another of Canadas top supermodels.

Jessica Stam: (Supermodel)

Finally, we have Jessica Stam who was born April 23, 1986 in Kincardine, Ontario. Growing up on a farm as a teen, the thought of being a model never actually crossed the mind of Stam but instead she had hopes of becoming a dentist. Well destiny had other plans for her, as she would find out. One day the family was on their way back from a day trip to Canadas Wonderland, when they stopped at a Tim Hortons for a bathroom break. This is where Stam was discovered standing in line by modelling scout Michele Miller of International Model Management in Barrie, Ontario. After that photographer, Steven Meisel used the 16 year old in every one of his ad campaigns of his. Stam then went on to win the Los Angeles Model Look Search in 2002. Through out her 7-year career she has already worked for such agencies as International Model Management, IMG London/Milan/NY/Paris, My Model Management, Giovanni Model Management, Bravo Models, View Management and Why Not Model Agency. Stam has bee n in over 30 advertisements altogether, on 22 magazine covers and in over 15 fashion shows. She has accomplished an astonishing amount in such a short period and this to me makes Jessica Stam another one of Canadas top models.

There are many more Canadian female supermodels that have accomplished the same as these 10 girls if not more but to me these are the 10 supermodels in my mind that are Canadas Top Models.

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Kelley Blue Book Releases List of Top 10 Green Cars For 2010

Kelley Blue Book (KBB) has announced its list and choices for the top 10 green cars for the year of 2010. Despite the Toyota recall, its 50-mpg Toyota Prius tops the list of the top 10 cars. Kelley Blue Book puts Toyota Prius as the best car for its amazing fuel efficiency, solar powered ventilation system, high tech navigation and many other features.

Kelly Blue Book said, "To be considered for the green Top 10, each vehicle was required to offer fuel economy and CO2 emissions superior to the bulk of vehicles in its class and at the same time provide all the safety, creature comforts and driving enjoyment that would make it pleasant to own."

Auto maker, Ford is the only one that has appeared twice in the list, with Fusion Hybrid placed third and Escape Hybrid in the 6th place. GM has its Chevrolet Tahoe placed last, whereas Chrysler's car failed to make any appearance in the top 10 cars list.

Mentioned here is the full list of top 10 green cars in order from most fuel efficient to least fuel efficient.

1. Toyota Prius 50 mpg combined 2. Honda Insight Hybrid 41 mpg combined 3. Ford Fusion Hybrid 39 mpg combined 4. Volkswagen Golf TDI 34 mpg combined 5. MINI Cooper 32 mpg combined 6. Ford Escape Hybrid 32 mpg combined 7. Honda Fit 31 mpg combined 8. BMW 335d 27 mpg combined 9. Toyota Highlander Hybrid 22 mpg combined 10. Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid 22 mpg combined

For more information related to Car Industry News and Automobile Industry.

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Tips for Shopping for a Car Online.

Shopping for a car online can save a lot of miles from being piled up on your friend's and family's cars. Shopping for a car on the Internet can also save your old beater from dying on the side of the highway, on your way to see a car that really wasn't even as good as the beater you are now driving. Using common sense, as in asking the right questions when dealing with a private seller, or just asking for a copy of the CARFAX report from used-car dealers. We all have our dream cars, a 1954 1/2 Corvette Stingray, a 1966 Mustang GT Fastback, or a 2009 Austin Mini Cooper, and finding that dream car can be just a few clicks away.

On the Internet, there are a lot of car dealing, trading and auctioning websites that cater to people who are looking for something that they can get their hands a little dirty on, fixing them up to code. When a car comes without a certified safety certificate, then there is no telling what problems may persist, but one thing to remember is that in many places, the car does not really even need a working engine to pass a safety. Anything that a safety covers is either mechanical or can be run off of the car's battery. Insisting upon a test drive, without prior permission is always a great idea when buying a car that was found online, and not through a reputable source, like Autotrader.com.

The reasoning behind being sneeky and asking for a test drive when you first go and see the car is that people can do quick fixes to make a car seem like it is nearly new. But after 40 or 50 miles, it starts falling apart, or spewing black smoke from the exhaust, and green and red fluids dripping from the engine and transmission areas. When you do take a car for a test drive, give it a real test. Drive the car a bit on the hard side, and see if she backfires when accelerated quickly to 55 mph, or if there is a pull or rattle on the steering wheel. Brake slowly and quickly, and see if there are any noises or jerking of the brake pedal. If any of these signs show up, walk away from the deal.

Finding a car by using the Internet can be very rewarding, as a lot of seniors are now getting hooked up online, to talk to their grandchildren, great grandchildren and their kids and other family and old friends. Finding a barely used 1972 Nova, or even a Cadillac with suicide doors is no longer just the luck of driving by an old farmhouse at the right time. But when you do see a really good deal show up online, it is best to just jump right at it, call the owner and go see if it fits your needs and wants.

Whether using a car selling site, a trading site like "usedCITY.com", where CITY is the name of the city you are looking for a car in, Craigslist, EBay, Kijiji or any of the other popular sites. You can even put the word out on your Facebook and Twitter accounts that you are in the hunt for a specific car, and if anyone sees one in good shape to give you a text or call. No longer is it one person looking in the classified ads and on the side of the roads, but a social network of my two friends, and their two friends, and their two friends, and their two friends, and so on.

When shopping for a car online, it is also best to ask for a CARFAX report, or if one is not made, then have a mechanic of your choice check the car over. Sometimes the lemon law and other laws put in place to help consumers is just a little too little, too late for most of the lower wage earners out there, looking for a cheap car to get to work during the week, and to where they have fun on theweekends.

Drive safe. Drive informed.

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Top 10 Winter Cars

Winter is the season of snow. Falling leaves indicate the arrival of winter. To celebrate the inspiring winter a lovely, winter car is needed. These can also run with decent mileage.

Suzuki SX4 Crossover is a glorious, winter car which decorates the tenth position of winter cars. It comes with three mode all-wheel drive. The taller cabin and lower stance of this winter car is particularly entertaining. This is the most attractive car for commutations.

Mini Cooper shower flowers of astonishment during winter rallies. It comes with front wheel drive. This dark horse is light in weight. All season traction system and dynamic stability system are other features.

Next post, 8th position is for Mercedes Benz E5504matic. The E class Mercedes is truly much spacious and graceful. It is also available with all-wheel drive option. The emblem on this winter horse provides a royal look.

Next concern is for Ford Flex. This comes with all-wheel drives. The hiked up ground clearance and, knobby tires do not allow to shout it as a winter car. This funky wagon will do so when one need some traction on proper roads. This large and neat wagon is an asset for ford.

Subaru WRX decorates the next post. It comes with all-wheel drive. It is not possible to compare WRX with any of the Subie. This dark horse makes the trip unforgettable when it jumps through the frost heaps.

Fifth spot is for Saab Turbo X. All the winter car features are naturally attached since these are Saabs. It is available in all-wheel drives. The pretty and fun are well known from its first drive itself. The limited-run Turbo X has a terrific performance history.

BMW 535Xi Sports Wagon holds the next post. This ultimate, winter driving a vehicle is an incredible asset of BMW. For a rider who needs a winter car to test his enthusiastic ideas, for the whole winter, 535Xi is excellent. Engaging drive, excellent traction and spacious cabin are its features.

Next concern is for Volvo XC70. It is a winter champion which provides stable and confident driving. Subaru Outback holds the next post. It is sometimes forgotten. This is chosen by well experienced riders. The unfavorable, weather driving confidence and larger-ground clearance make the vehicle memorable.

The first among the winter cars is Audi A4 3.2 Quattro. In 2009, Audi got successfully updated to produce a superior product called Audi A4. The steering feels vague on pushing hard into dry roads. It is the super star among winter cars.

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The Top 10 Heist Movies

10. Ronin

Ronin is a 1998 action-thriller film directed by John Frankenheimer and written by J.D. Zeik and David Mamet. It stars Robert De Niro and Jean Reno as two of several former special forces and intelligence agents who team up to steal a mysterious, heavily guarded suitcase while navigating a maze of shifting loyalties and alliances. The film is noted for its sensational car chases. -Wikipedia.org

9. Quick Change

Quick Change is a 1990 comedy film starring Bill Murray, who also co-directed with the film's screenwriter Howard Franklin. Geena Davis, Randy Quaid, and Jason Robards co-star. Other cast members include Tony Shalhoub, Stanley Tucci, Phil Hartman, Victor Argo, Kurtwood Smith, Bob Elliott, and Philip Bosco.

It is based on a book of the same name by Jay Cronley. The film is set in New York City, particularly in Manhattan and Queens, with scenes taking place on the New York City Subway and within John F. Kennedy International Airport. Times Square, the Empire State Building, and the Statue of Liberty are also briefly seen. -Wikipedia.org

8. Panic Room

Panic Room is a 2002 American thriller film directed by David Fincher and written by David Koepp. The film stars Jodie Foster, Forest Whitaker, Dwight Yoakam, Jared Leto, Kristen Stewart, and Patrick Bauchau. The story of it concerns a mother and a daughter hiding in a panic room during an invasion by three armed robbers aimed at millions of dollars stored in the house. -Wikipedia.org

7. The Italian Job

The Italian Job is a 2003 heist film directed by F. Gary Gray. The film stars Mark Wahlberg, Charlize Theron, Edward Norton, Seth Green, Jason Statham, Mos Def, and Donald Sutherland. It is an American remake of the 1969 British film of the same name, and is about a team of thieves who plan to steal gold bullion from a former associate who double crossed them. Despite the shared title, the plot and characters of this film differ from those of its source material; Gray described the film as "an homage to the original."

Most of the film was shot on location in Venice and Los Angeles, where canals and streets, respectively, were temporarily shut down during principal photography. Produced by Paramount Pictures, The Italian Job was theatrically released in the United States on May 30, 2003, and grossed over $176 million worldwide. Critical response was generally positive, with publications highlighting the action sequences. The prominence of the BMW Mini Cooper automobiles in the film has been seen as a contemporary example of product placement. A sequel, The Brazilian Job, has reportedly been in development since 2004, but has yet to be produced as of 2010. -Wikipedia.org

6. The Good, the Bad, the Weird

The Good, the Bad, the Weird is a 2008 South Korean western film by Kim Ji-woon, starring Song Kang-ho, Lee Byung-hun, and Jung Woo-sung. It premiered on May 24, 2008 at the Cannes Film Festival and was inspired by Sergio Leone's The Good, the Bad and the Ugly. The Good, the Bad, the Weird received generally positive reviews, scoring an 83% on Rotten Tomatoes. -Wikipedia.org

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5. Office Space

Office Space is a 1999 American comedy film written and directed by Mike Judge. It satirizes work life in a typical 1990s software company, focusing on a handful of individuals who are fed up with their jobs. The film's sympathetic portrayal of ordinary IT workers garnered it a cult following among those in that profession, but the film also addresses themes familiar to office workers and white collar employees in general.

It was filmed in Las Colinas, Texas and Austin, Texas. Office Space is based on the Milton series of cartoons created by Mike Judge. Office Space was Mike Judge's foray into live action film and his second full length motion picture release (the first being the animated Beavis and Butt-head Do America). The promotional campaign for Office Space often associated it with Beavis and Butt-head, leading audiences to expect the brand of humor of the creator's previous animated efforts rather than the relatively low-key ironic humor of the film. -Wikipedia.org

4. Inside Man

Inside Man is a 2006 crime-drama film directed by Spike Lee. It stars Denzel Washington, Clive Owen, Willem Dafoe and Jodie Foster. The film's screenplay was written by Russell Gewirtz and produced by Brian Grazer. It was released in North America and several European markets on March 23 and 24, 2006. The film was shot on location in New York City and features an expansive and diverse ensemble cast.

In addition to being a cerebral action-oriented thriller, the film handles issues of good and evil in unexpected sources, corruption, prejudice, multiculturalism in United States (and New York City in particular) post-September 11, 2001, and leaves several interpretations of right and wrong open to the audience. The title comes from several meanings of the term "inside man" and therefore is a use of word play. -Wikipedia.org

3. Point Break

Point Break is a 1991 action film directed by Kathryn Bigelow and starring Keanu Reeves, Patrick Swayze, and Gary Busey. The title refers to the surfing term "point break". The film was a box office success upon its release and it has since gathered a cult following. Point Break was released on July 12, 1991 in 1,615 theaters, grossing $8.5 million on its opening weekend. With a budget of $24 million, the film went on to make $43.2 million in North America and $40.3 million internationally for a worldwide total of $83.5 million.

The film received positive to mixed reviews from critics. Roger Ebert gave the film three-and-a-half stars out of four and wrote "Bigelow is an interesting director for this material. She is interested in the ways her characters live dangerously for philosophical reasons. They aren't men of action, but men of thought who choose action as a way of expressing their beliefs." -Wikipedia.org

2. The First Great Train Robbery

The First Great Train Robbery known in the U.S. as The Great Train Robbery is a 1979 film directed by Michael Crichton, who also wrote the screenplay based on his novel The Great Train Robbery. The film starred Sean Connery, Donald Sutherland and Lesley-Anne Down.

The story is loosely based on the Great Gold Robbery of 1855, in which a cracksman called William Pierce (named Edward Pierce in Crichton's book and film) engineered the theft of a train-load of gold being shipped to the British Army during the Crimean War; 12,000 (equal to 809,417 today) in gold coin and ingots from the London to Folkestone passenger train was stolen by Pierce and his accomplices, a clerk in the railway offices called Tester, and a skilled screwsman called Agar.

The robbery was a year in the planning and involved making sets of duplicate keys from wax impressions for the locks on the safes and bribing the train's guard, a man called Burgess. The plot was inspired by Kellow Chesney's 1970 book 'The Victorian Underworld' , which is a comprehensive examination into the more sordid aspects of Victorian society. -Wikipedia.org

1. Heat

Heat is a 1995 American crime film written and directed by Michael Mann. It stars Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, and Val Kilmer. De Niro plays Neil McCauley, a professional thief, while Pacino plays Lt. Vincent Hanna, veteran LAPD homicide detective whose explosive temper and devotion to his job causes him to neglect those closest to him.

The central conflict of the film was based on the experiences of former Chicago police officer Chuck Adamson and his pursuit of a criminal named McCauley in the 1960s, from which the name of De Niro's character was derived. The film is technically a remake of L.A. Takedown, a 1989 made-for-television film which was also written and directed by Mann; Mann had been trying to get Heat made for over a decade, and created L.A Takedown as a simplified version after his efforts were unsuccessful. Heat was a critical and commercial success, grossing over $187 million worldwide. -Wikipedia.org

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