LostInSpace

Seeing this game in action proves a point I've been saying for a while now in connection to the Jedi Knight series "Why did they ever choose the Quake III engine for that series (after Dark forces II: Jedi Knight and mysteries of the sith)?". I'm talking about Jedi Outcast and Jedi Academy. IMO the Quake III engine stinks. The Unreal engine was the real way to go with the Jedi Knight series. Hopefully, any future incarnations of the Jedi Knight series they will migrate over to the Unreal engine.

Zdnet: Eclipse lights up Java crowd quote:A little more than a year ago, detractors painted the Eclipse open-source project as nothing more than a ploy by IBM to sell its own software. Today, by most accounts, it's the center of innovation in the Java tools industry.

I agree it is definitely is regional. If you look at the price of houses in Florida for example you can buy a mansion for $250k but here in New York State you'd be lucky if would walk away with a bungalow for that price.

quote:Originally posted by Marvin: quote:Originally posted by Supreme Cmdr: There is a new trailer on www.ugo.com; its hilarious (wait'll u hear the voice overs) Somehow your semi-colon ended up in the URL ... ergo, it didn't work except thru copy-paste from Properties and deleting the punctuation mark. All you had to do was delete the semicolon from the link in the address bar of IE (or whatever you are using) quote:Originally posted by :Supreme Cmdr There is a new trailer on www.ugo.com; its hilarious (wait'll u hear the voice overs) Oh man, I love it. No one does comedy like the brits.

Okay, something is very wrong. Sorry, but can a mod delete that above post it's suppose to go into the political forum. I did try to post it here because I've been having trouble posting this there. It did, however, do the same thing to me in this thread and didn't realize it got posted. Think my computer is on a melt down gotta give it the ol' diagnostics. Again sorry about this. Seems like I'm just having trouble with a large post.

quote:Originally posted by Wolferz: It may not be the resources under the auspices of the US Forest Service that were used, but the monies paid for outside help brought in to battle the blaze that they want the guy to pay for. It's actually quite hypocritical, seeing as how the Forest service, in the recent past, attempted a controlled burn in one park, that got away from them when the wind changed direction. From the report I saw on that one, alot of residents on the edge of the park lost their homes and a number of Smoke Jumpers lost their lives. I don't know of anyone responsible for that mistake being sued for the cost of putting it out. Or even jailed for involuntary manslaughter. I'm sure our tax dollars went a long way toward rebuilding some homes and now you can add in SSA monies being paid to the families of the firefighters that died.Good point, damn I forgot about that myself. Thanks for reminding me. Wasn't that in yellowstone park? hmmm, gotta look that one up. quote:Originally posted by Wolferz: 1: Granted, it was stupid for the man to do what he did. None of us are perfect. If we have no capacity to forgive others for their mistakes, then we can not expect forgiveness from others for ours. 2: After you boil it down to the most common denominator, it doesn't replace the trees and it certainly won't pay the damages. Nor will it prevent some other moreoff from acting irresponsibly. Instead it's just more money poured into a judicial system that is controlled by greedy scheisters, for greedy scheisters.1: Agree and he was lost which leads me to another issue it should be a requirement that all hunters be equiped with a GPS before being issued a hunter's licence and they must show their working GPS device to a ranger station before being allowed in any national park. This will solve alot of getting lost issues. Funny though seems like no one, not even grundig, makes a dynamo hand crank GPS device they've got almost every other devices like flash lights, shortwave radios etc.. but no GPS. 2: Got that right, drop your guard down for one second in this society and next thing you know you are dragged into court for one thing or another.

Can someone delete my post above. I'm going to repost it. I was having trouble here at my end (I think) I wasn't able to edit the post it just sat there I kept trying to submit edit and still just sat. Thanks.

quote:Originally posted by Remo Williams: Yes the employees of the forest service have been paid with our tax dollars and when its wasted on fighting a fire that one irresponsible person set instead of on improvements to our national parks infrastructure, smoother roads, better visitor center, and other facilities that make my visit more enjoyable it pisses me off. This guy paid his taxes to, but that doesn't mean he can go out and set the forest on fire with a stupid act and expect the rest of us to cover the cost for putting it out when our money could have went for other uses that benefit all. So if they want to make and example of what being stupid will cause so be it. If they take half this guys yearly income for the rest of his life at least we get some of our tax money back for other uses by the forest service. Very true indeed.

quote:Originally posted by Remo Williams: I would like to know in detail who's getting the damn money. We all do. quote:Originally posted by Remo Williams: I think that the forest service sued this guy to try to reclaim some of our tax dollars, so us taxes payers didn't have to pay for the cost of this guys stupidity in handling a camp fire. I don't really think that's it either. Do you honestly believe they are going to recoop that money from this guy. Unless this guy wins the mega ball lottery, I don't see much hope there. I think he was just made an example of to show the rest of the public to act responsibly in a wooded area and this too can happen to you if allow something like this to happen. quote:Originally posted by Remo Williams: That way the funds could be used for other project such as the improvement and maintenance of our National parks. ThatÔÇÖs the only rational I can see for suing the hunter. I for one don't want to pay for is ignorance which is what happened when they went out to put out his runaway campfire. When lightening sets off a blaze we all pay the cost when some dumb ass throws his cigarette in to the brush or lights a campfire near dry grass and set our forest on fire let him pay the cost of his ignorance why should we? True but that money (as soback has stated) is already collected in taxes and these public servants are already on the payroll. What exactly is this guy paying for? If it's for replanting trees and such, I say to hell with that and just let nature do what nature does best and that is recover very nicely from incidents like this. These forests have evolved this way.

Maybe this guy was bitten once by his dog and drank heavily the night before this incident and believed too literally the old hangover cure "Take a Hair of the Dog that Bit You"

quote:Originally posted by Soback: For me it's simple. If I catch someone using the jammer. I slam them a couple of times, get thier wallet with their home address and tell them if I run into any problems, I will talk to him later at that address. Then I call the cops (to them he will say nothing about me slaming him), then I have them confiscate the jammer, write up a report, arrest him, and I make sure to follow the whole thing till enforcement and prosecution takes place under existing laws (it's simply illegal, and existing laws provide for a fine and even some jail time). I use my cell phone 95% of the time. I fly airplanes, work in aviation, rarely home. My cell phone is my main voice mail box, my link to all my family, friends, and business. Who are you to interupt that link? Not only are you violating the law, you are disrupting my life, to which I will hold you liable. And you Grafox, you work at the store, you are paid to help customers, if she is too busy talking, you are paid to stand there, and help her in any way possible. She is not asking you to do something out of the ordinary, you are there for customer convinence, for which are you are gettin paid for. Simple as that, that's why it's called CUSTOMER SERVICE. I was waiting for just such an answer for the second half of my argument. What gives you or anyone the right to put my health at risk? Just as smokers are persecuted for health issues, so too should cell phone users. Here is one article for you all (you can find a lot more): Health101.org quote:The metal body of the car reflects the RF waves, bouncing them around the interior and exposing you to more RF energy than if you were outside your car. Think about it, I'm in a metal subway car surrounded by many people using their cell phones. Two right next to me, one on the left and one on the right and maybe a few standing in front of me (if I'm standing some to the back of me also). I'd rather be in a subway car filled with second hand smoke. The same holds true for those you that use their phones in a plane. So, while my butt is dragged into court for infringing on cell phone peoples rights (and whatever bogus laws are on the books to protect the cell phone industry), I'll in turn counter sue and drag them and everyone else I can into court for exposing me to dangerous radiation and my use of a jammer was for self-preservation. [ 02-25-2005, 09:36 PM: Message edited by: LostInSpace ]

Basically, what the government did is sue this guy for what is a natural event anyway. Old forest becomes dry and brittle and burns down and new growth starts. Been going on since the begining. What's the government going to do next time lightning strikes? Sue God or Mother Nature (whatever your persuasion is)? Actually, suing God is a possibility since there are respresentatives here on earth for him.

quote:Originally posted by Matchoo: Just because you haven't overheard or witnessed it doesn't mean it doesn't happen. I've never seen a baby pigeon but I'm pretty sure they exist. Also I've used my cell phone a couple times to phone in automobile accidents that I have witnessed. Having a cell phone available can sometimes mean the difference between life and death. And more than likely that accident occurred because of a cell phone. Someone driving along at full speed arguing on a hand held cell phone not paying attention to the road. Forget the law that requires drivers to use the head sets no one in this city abides by it. quote:Originally posted by Matchoo: So why have a device that will jam the calls that can't be made anyway???????? Do you know what a subway car full of people jamming in 5-15 minutes worth of conversation sounds like? I'd rather attend a session of a Vogon poetry reading. quote:Originally posted by Matchoo: Hypothetical situation: A women is leaving a building alone late at night, and someone starts following her with the intentions of causing her harm. She tries to call 911 but she can't because the person chasing her has one of these devices? I know this may sound a little far-fetched at the moment, but I can see these things being used for far worse purposes than just keeping the guy next to you from talking into his cell-phone the entire ride home. Not too far fetched, I know what you and the rest have been trying to say, I just don't totally agree. Don't you think the bad guys have these already? If you think they don't, I feel sorry for you. What I also can see from this whole thing is another market opportunity for some savy entrepreneur by making jammers that jam the jammers.

Kept quiet until we got home. To some of you, don't hand us that crap about emergency use. I've been around cell phone people since the begining of cell phone usage and I have yet to overhear (or see) one call that was or is an emergency. All the conversations were of the inane type. I feel more like a voyeur than a pedestrian. Besides a hand held jammer (one that would be used for personal piece of mind) would have a very short range when turned on. Actually, I see a comedy situation everyday with cell phone-addicts. I take the subway everyday there's two sections where the train becomes elevated and out of the tunnel. I'm sure you can see where I'm headed with this. As soon as the train goes outside the entire car I'm in is a flurry of activity with people reaching for their cell phones to make their short calls before the train goes back into the tunnel which then is a flurry of activity of putting the phones away. You can't do any calls, emergency or otherwise, on a cell while in the train tunnel. Hence my comment about the BS (or flimsy) argument of emergecy use.

GamSpot: In-game ads coming to Anarchy Online quote:Publisher Funcom, in deal with Massive, will stream advertising into the Anarchy Online game world. Soon, Anarchy Online players will see advertisements on billboards stationed in central regions of the game's futuristic landscape. Online game developer and publisher Funcom, based in Sweden, announced today that it has inked an exclusive deal with New York City-based Massive Inc., one of a small number of companies creating a viable market in in-game advertising. Just a month ago, Massive nabbed $10 million in funding, and stated that it was working with eight game publishers, including Ubisoft, Atari, and Vivendi Universal, on deals like the one announced today with Funcom. In December, Massive forged an alliance with Nielsen Interactive Entertainment to track the effectiveness and reach of its advertising efforts. In a statement. Massive CEO Mitch Davis said, "WeÔÇÖre thrilled to add Funcom's leading titles into our advertising network and broaden our reach with their hundreds of thousands of gamers." As consumers spends less time watching television and more time playing games (as indicated by numerous studies, including one from Nielsen), the game industry is turning its attention to understanding the potential to drive additional revenue from in-game advertising. "As opposed to a medium like TV, you know that the gamers' eyes are always watching the screen while playing games," Funcom CEO Trond Aas said in a statement today. "We are sure advertisers will cherish this revolutionary new opportunity to reach the extremely valuable 18-34 demographic...[and] we know that most gamers want in-game advertisement to heighten the sense of realism." Since its introduction in 2001, Anarchy Online has seen a number of expansions, including The Notum Wars in 2002, Shadowlands in 2003, and Alien Invasion in 2004. It recently extended its free-play offer until 2006. By Beth Winegarner -- GameSpot

Release date 3/15/2005 Gamespot: Check out the 29 new screen shots Official Web page

NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - A major New York real estate developer has dropped plans to include a Wal-Mart in a mall here, a move that would block the first New York City location for the world's largest retailer, according to published reports. quote: Wal-Mart hits Big Apple pothole Opposition prompts developer to drop plans for first NYC store; CEO Scott lashes out at critics. February 24, 2005: 10:16 AM EST NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - A major New York real estate developer has dropped plans to include a Wal-Mart in a mall here, a move that would block the first New York City location for the world's largest retailer, according to published reports. The New York Times reported that Vornado Realty Trust (Research) is dropping plans for the Wal-Mart (Research) in a shopping mall in the city's borough of Queens due to intense opposition from labor unions, neighborhood retailers and city officials concerned about the effect that the store would have on competitors. A spokeswoman for Wal-Mart told the paper the company was still exploring other potential sites in the city. But the move is a blow to Wal-Mart, whose executives have said New York City was an important new market for the Arkansas-based retailer. A Vornado spokeswoman declined to comment, except to tell the Times there was never a formal deal between Vornado and Wal-Mart. The paper reported that Vornado had hoped to win approval for the mall before plans to include a Wal-Mart became publicly known. Wal-Mart stock edged lower Wednesday, while Vornado shares were flat. The apparent setback in New York City came a day after Wal-Mart CEO Lee Scott defended the company against critics who say it doesn't pay workers a fair wage and that its purchases of imports in effect exports jobs to other countries. In a heated speech to California business leaders, Scott said labor unions like the United Food and Commercial Workers and higher-priced retailers were operating out of self-interest, not public interest, when they complained about his company. "There are some who say that Wal-Mart's wages and benefits have some kind of negative impact on wages across the board," he said at a luncheon in Los Angeles, Reuters reported. "We believe that's just wrong -- just dead wrong." And Scott defended buying cheap goods from places like Bangladesh where factory workers earn very little, one of the ways Wal-Mart is able to keep its prices so low. "I've been in the factories in Bangladesh," he said. "It's not the life you want to lead, it's not the life I want to lead. But it's a life that is very much a step up from the life that those people would otherwise lead." Wal-Mart has learned it's first lesson. NYC isn't some hick town they can steamroll over everybody. Sorry, but we don't need your kind of business practices here in NY. quote: "I've been in the factories in Bangladesh," he said (CEO Scott). "It's not the life you want to lead, it's not the life I want to lead. But it's a life that is very much a step up from the life that those people would otherwise lead." I can't believe he even said this.

Excerpt: "We made a big mistake when we didn't vote," said Sheik Hathal Younis Yahiya, 49, a representative from northern Nineveh. "Our votes were very important." quote: Sunnis Seek Place in New Iraqi Government By PATRICK QUINN Associated Press Writer BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) -- U.S. Marines and Iraqi security forces launched an offensive Sunday against insurgents in troubled cities west of Baghdad after two days of carnage that left nearly 100 people dead. Sunni Muslim tribal leaders met to determine their place in a Shiite-dominated Iraqi government. As the Shiite majority prepared to take control of the country's first freely elected government, tribal chiefs representing Sunni Arabs in six provinces issued a list of demands - including participation in the government and drafting a new constitution - after previously refusing to acknowledge the vote's legitimacy. "We made a big mistake when we didn't vote," said Sheik Hathal Younis Yahiya, 49, a representative from northern Nineveh. "Our votes were very important." He said threats from insurgents - not sectarian differences - kept most Sunnis from voting. Sunnis make up 20 percent of Iraq's population of 26 million compared to the Shiite's 60 percent. Gathering in a central Baghdad hotel, about 70 tribal leaders from the provinces of Baghdad, Kirkuk, Salaheddin, Diyala, Anbar and Nineveh, tried to devise a strategy for participation in a future government. There was an air of desperation in some quarters of the smoke-filled conference room. "When we said that we are not going to take part, that didn't mean that we are not going to take part in the political process. We have to take part in the political process and draft the new constitution," said Adnan al-Duleimi, the head of Sunni Endowments in Baghdad. Just west of the capital, U.S. Marines and Iraqi security forces launched a joint operation to crack down on insurgents and terrorists in several troubled cities, the military said. The operation was underway in several Euphrates River cities in Anbar province, including Heet, Baghdad, Hadithah and the provincial capital Ramadi, where authorities imposed a nighttime curfew, the military said. Meanwhile, a powerful Sunni organization believed to have ties with the insurgents sought Sunday to condemn the weekend attacks that left nearly 100 Iraqis dead. "We won't remain silent over those crimes which target the Iraqi people Sunnis or Shiites, Islamic or non-Islamic," Sheik Harith al-Dhari, of the Association Muslim Scholars, told a news conference. Iraqis, he said, should unite "against those who are trying to incite hatred between us." They include Iraq's leading terror mastermind, the Jordanian-born Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. In a letter to Osama bin Laden found on a captured al-Qaida courier last year, al-Zarqawi proposed starting a civil war between Iraq's Sunni and Shiite Muslims. Shiites and their clergy-backed United Iraqi Alliance, which received nearly half the election votes, were to decide in coming days on their choice for prime minister. The two main candidates so far are the former Pentagon favorite Ahmad Chalabi, a secular Shiite, and Ibrahim al-Jaafari, the interim vice president. Chalabi last week claimed in an Associated Press interview that he had enough support among the 140 alliance delegates elected to the National Assembly to beat Jaafari. He repeated the assertion in an appearance Sunday on ABC's "This Week" television show with George Stephanopoulos. "I believe I have a majority of the votes on my side right now," Chalabi said. Shiite politicians have promised not to allow Friday and Saturday's bloodshed escalate into a civil war. A radical Shiite cleric, Muqtada al-Sadr, who led two bloody revolts against U.S. forces, called on Iraqis' to avoid blaming any religious group. --- Associated Press reporters Maggie Michael and Sinan Salaheddin, in Baghdad, contributed to this report.

Gotta love it quote: NY POST By ANGELA MONTEFINISE February 20, 2005 -- Can you hear me now? Unsuspecting cellphone users may find themselves saying that more often now that cellphone jammers ÔÇö illegal gizmos that interfere with signals and cut off reception ÔÇö are selling like hotcakes on the streets of New York. "I bought one online, and I love it," said one jammer owner fed up with the din of dumb conversations and rock-and-roll ringtones. "I use it on the bus all the time. I always zap the idiots who discuss what they want from the Chinese restaurant so that everyone can hear them. Why is that necessary?" He added, "I can't throw the phones out the window, so this is the next best thing." Online jammer seller Victor McCormack said he's made "hundreds of sales" to New Yorkers. "The interest has gone insane in the last few years. I get all sorts of people buying them, from priests to police officers." Jammers come in a variety of shapes and sizes, from portable handhelds that look like cellphones to larger, fixed models as big as suitcases. Their sole goal is to zip inconsiderate lips. The smaller gadgets emit radio frequencies that block signals anywhere from a 50- to 200-foot radius. They range in price from $250 to $2,000. But don't expect to find jammers at the local Radio Shack ÔÇö they're against Federal Communications Commission regulations because they interfere with emergency calls and the public airwaves. They are illegal to buy, sell, use, import or advertise. A violation means an $11,000 fine, but the FCC's Enforcement Bureau has yet to bust one person anywhere in the country. "This is not a crime that they're going after," said Rob Bernstein, deputy editor at New York City-based Sync magazine. He said jammers are here, and their use is multiplying. "Right now, there's a growing curiosity about jammers in the United States and New York," Bernstein said. "There's no better way to shut up a loudmouth on the phone, so people definitely want them and are finding ways to get them." One way is at a spy shop on Third Avenue, which sells medium-sized jammers out of a back room for $1,500. The sales clerk there said he had sold jammers to a 50-year-old man who bought one to use on the Long Island Rail Road, and to restaurateurs. Folks who run auto auctions also buy them to stop people from chit-chatting about prices and rigging their bids, the clerk said. An employee at a West Village spy store said the shop also sells jammers, but only to people from other countries. One local purchaser bought a portable jammer last year, and said he likes using it at Roosevelt Field mall on Long Island. "One time I followed this guy around for 20 minutes," he said. "I kept zapping him and zapping him, until finally he threw the phone on the floor. I couldn't stop laughing. It was so cool." Jammers were first developed to help government security forces avert eavesdropping and thwart phone-triggered bombings. But by the late 1990s they were being sold to the public. There are suspicions that some hotel chains employ jammers to cut down on guests' cellphone use and boost in-room phone charges. With additional reporting by Lindsay Powers and Marianne Garvey Gotta get me one of those!

quote:Originally posted by Jaguar: 1: Did you just age yourself or what? LOL 2: Ronaldus Magnus is one of my personal heros, he was also my commander in Chief. 3: And yes, they were gifts, my family knows me rather well...LOL 4: Now I just have to load all the fricking updates for all the fricking source games on the half Life 2 disc, and figure out why the heck the game is so dark..... 1: Not necessarily, I could have watched it in syndication on TV land or Nik at night. But you are correct I showed my age. The clincher would have been anything from the 60's or the 70's too. This June, I will be 46. Born in '59. Getting closer and closer to the big gig in the sky and can't wait!! Can't complaing though. Got all my hair (not one bold spot thanks to my mother's side of the family) and full color just a few strands here and there of gray. Skin good too. Actually, people think I look in my 30's than 40's (another family trait). My birth sign is Cancer (since some here follow that stuff). Damn, I would be born under a disease wouldn't I. 2: Yup, he was one of the all time best presidents. 3: My family knows better than to get me computer stuff cause I know the stuff better than them. They usually stick to what's safe like cologne or clothes. 4: Ummmm, just turn the brightness up.

quote:Originally posted by Kalshion: I already knew people would misunderstand my first post, that's why I made the above post. But what still make's me mad, is how people make assumptions without asking for my input, no one bothers to ask me to explain my PoV in more details, if they had, they'd have learned by now that I don't blame game's for these killingsMy annoyance was not directed directly at you but all those who hold this particular mindset. Let me give another analogy: Year after year cars kill thousands (long before there were games like GTA) in this country. Year after year people handle their cars recklesly. Symptom: driving under the influence of whatever substance, agressive driving, road rage, crime and cancer from exhaust. Keeping in mind the mindset that dangerous game products should be removed from the market, should not CARS also be given this same treatment? But year after year we keep seeing thousands of adverts and car lots full of nice new (or used) shiny, life taking and very dangerous product.

quote:Originally posted by Jaguar: A Ronald Reagan collectable stamp, Ronald Reagan talking action figure, and a DVD of the life of Ronald Reagan.... Are you sure you are not Alex Keaton from Family Ties? Anyway, nice loot. I am assuming they were mostly gifts.

quote:Originally posted by Grayfox: wow you people are old! im glad im only 30 Yes for now you are but you too shall turn 40 assuming you last that long.

quote:Originally posted by Jaguar: Yeah, I turn 40 today.... I don't see no fricking hill, and I sure as heck am not going down the other side of it.... Happy Birthday and welcome to the 40's club. Don't fool yourself that hill is there. You don't see the hill for what it is yet because you are on top of it. Perspective is everything and to you it's as if you are on a never ending plane. just wait till you travel down that road a little more and boy are you gunna be surprised.

quote:Originally posted by Kalshion: II'M NOT SAYING IT SHOULD BE BLAMED (stop saying I blame game's please) That's not the impression I got from your initial post: quote:Originally posted by Kalshion: and people think that game's don't kill... BS [edit] this is the only game out there that's been causing these problems [edit] Or, more to the point, why this game is still being allowed on the market? [edit] I posted this here cause it's about a game I think Shakespeare was spot on with these words: The fault lies not in our stars, but in ourselves. I'll be damned if I allow anyone to take away my ability to obtain and enjoy these kind of products because of a few bone heads who can't deal with it rationally. I refuse to give up one more damn thing.