Will Davidson and his Minecraft creation, modeled off the Santa Cruz Mission; Credit: Steve Henn

Minecraft is a deceptively simple video game. You're dropped into a virtual world, and you get to build things. It's like a digital Lego set, but with infinite pieces.

Its simplicity makes it a big hit with kids, like 10-year old Will Davidson. Last year, Will built a Spanish mission for a school report. He modeled his off the Santa Cruz Mission. "I made a chapel over here," Davidson says. "I also have a bell tower."

After he turned in his report, he added a few things. Like skeleton archers. "And zombies ... and exploding things, and spiders, that try to kill you," he said.

Minecraft is popular with kids because they're free to create almost anything, says Ramin Shokrizade, a game designer.

Also, kids aren't manipulated into clicking buttons to buy add-ons within the game. In other games, designers give players a special power for free at first, then take it away and offer it back at a price.

Zynga, the creator of Farmville, calls this fun pain, according to Shokrizade. "That's the idea that, if you make the consumer uncomfortable enough, and then tell them that for money we'll make you less uncomfortable, then [they] will give us money," he says.

Kids, Shokrizade says, are especially susceptible to this — and Minecraft has a loyal following, in part, because it doesn't do it.

Susan Linn, from the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood, agrees. She says a big reason she likes Minecraft is because after you purchase the game upfront, that's it.

"Parents don't have to worry that their kids are going to be targeted for more marketing," Linn says. "How forward-thinking!"

But Linn is worried. Microsoft bought Mojang, the company that created Minecraft, on Monday for $2.5 billion, and she says that any time a large company spends billions to acquire a smaller company, executives are bound start looking for new ways to get even more money out of it.

All eyes are on Hudson Malone, the star of a particularly sultry Freshmen.net presentation; as he strips naked, his exquisitely chiseled body is quickly exposed. In preparation for the show, the thrilling newcomer will shortly be clutching his rock-hard dick. Hudson looks at the camera sensuously as he strokes his cock and then lets out... View Article

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Israeli attacks in Beit Hanoun leave a child as the only survivor of his family, while displaced residents flee the devastated city.

NEVER ALONE LIMITED EDITION PRINT by Scott Kennedy is a(n) Limited Edition. The Edition is Limited to Limited to 2250 pcs

OM’s Graham Sandersfield shares about sports ministry, the global event Run/Ride for the World and why this work is something we can’t do alone.

During his years as a heroin addict, Muhamed wrote a song that is now a celebrated worship song in his local church.

[allAfrica] The 5th HIV Research for Prevention Conference (HIVR4P 2024) held in Lima, Peru, marked a significant milestone in the global fight against HIV, bringing together more than 1,300 scientists, advocates, community representatives, and policymakers. This dynamic gathering provided a platform for experts to share cutting-edge evidence and discuss the latest tools and strategies in HIV prevention science.

Catégorie - HOMMES » Genre - Country

Human beings have their true existence only in communion with God. Our prayer is also a communion - both with God and the whole Church.

Fr. Stephen Freeman describes the "conciliar" nature of God's actions and our response to Him in our lives. God delights in sharing His work with us.

Fr. John speaks on the topic of Sola Scriptura.

Fr. John comments on Ephesians 2 and James 2, and the role of faith and works in the mystery of our salvation.

Fr. John Whiteford preaches on the Sunday of Orthodoxy.

Fr. Seraphim encourages viewers to take time away before resetting their lives.

For a variety of reasons, many of us have to eat alone. Rita presents strategies for eating alone in a healthful and satisfying manner. She also provides strategies for helping those who have to deal with the struggle of eating alone.

What do you do when you are the only one in your home who is fasting? You have become Orthodox and your spouse has not, or you live with people who simply do not fast. What are some strategies for you to keep the fast? Rita offers some suggestions.

Fr. Theodore Paraskevopoulos gives a sermon on Holy Thursday evening after the Service of Twelve Gospels.

Saint Vladimir's Seminary entered into its annual, two-day Lenten Retreat on Clean Monday and Tuesday, March 15 and 16, 2021. Four talks delivered over the two days followed the theme of "Ora et Labora: The Foundations of Spirituality According to the Rule of St Benedict of Nursia." Seminary President Fr Chad Hatfield, in this first reflection, offers thoughts on "Praying Alone."

Saint Vladimir's Seminary entered into its annual, two-day Lenten Retreat on Clean Monday and Tuesday, March 15 and 16, 2021. Four talks delivered over the two days followed the theme of "Ora et Labora: The Foundations of Spirituality According to the Rule of St Benedict of Nursia." Saint Vladimir’s Director of Music Harrison Russin reflects on “Working Alone” in this third of the retreat meditations.

Father Roberto reflects on a moment that he shared with a woman who visits the mission.

In Fr. Apostolos' Cathedral homily, he talks about the challenges we are facing with COVID-19 as a Church and as a nation. Fr. Apostolos likened the shuttering of our various distractions to the "Alone with God" time our youth enjoy in the camping ministry.

Dr. Albert Rossi reminds us that we are not alone in this life.

In this homily from Christmas Day 2007, Fr. Pat reflects upon the Incarnation in terms of Christ the Only Holy One, Christ our Mediator, and Christ our Brother.

Is faith alone enough to save us? Father Barnabas Powell, an Orthodox priest and former Protestant, joins Steve to consider this important question.

There was a thread recently on InfoQ asking whether standalone BPMS is dead.

Springfield, IL — Beginning July 1, hotels and casinos in Illinois will be required to have anti-sexual harassment policies that include, for certain workers, access to a safety button or notification device that alerts security staff.

Berkeley, CA — A recent survey of workers who spend the majority of the day on their feet shows that nearly 2 out of 5 experience recurring pain.

If a lone employee encounters an emergency or is injured on the job, that person may have difficulty finding help.

Miners working alone should always tell a responsible person their location and travel path through a mine, the Mine Safety and Health Administration says.

Monitoring and managing the safe behavior of a workforce can be a difficult task, even in an enclosed environment. Although the term “lone worker” also covers those performing individual jobs on a worksite – such as a job task in an area of the plant that cannot be easily viewed by co-workers, or even a receptionist in a large office building – the needs of remote workers who cannot be supervised through conventional means present perhaps the greatest challenge.

Menlo Park, CA — More than six months into the COVID-19 pandemic, nearly 2 out of 5 employees have grown tired of video calls, results of a recent survey show.

Arlington, VA — Miners working alone should always tell a responsible person their location and travel path through a mine, the Mine Safety and Health Administration says.

International Delight rolled out its latest holiday flavor edition, new Hot Chocolate Marshmallow Creamer, along with returning favorites Frosted Sugar Cookie Creamer, Peppermint Mocha Creamer, Peppermint Mocha Zero Sugar Creamer and Peppermint Mocha Iced Coffee.

Children's Geographies; 08/01/2024
(AN 178911402); ISSN: 14733285
Academic Search Premier

Cancer affects not only the person with the disease but those around them. Being a family member is described as strenuous and, often, associated with stress, anxiety and feelings of loneliness. There is a hei… Read the full article ›

The post Together but still alone – A qualitative study exploring how family members of persons with incurable oesophageal or gastric cancer manage everyday life was curated by information for practice.

Volume 17, Issue 1, April 2024, Page 21-34. Read the full article ›

The post Measurement invariance of the short form CES-D among old adults living alone in China was curated by information for practice.

The magic of Robyn's millennial anthem is its bait and switch: It's a fun, energetic dance song about being lonely and heartbroken. And yet, the minute you hear it, you instantly feel less alone.

A National Research Council committee asked to examine the scientific approaches used and conclusions reached by the Federal Bureau of Investigation during its investigation of the 2001 Bacillus anthracis mailings has determined that it is not possible to reach a definitive conclusion about the origins of the anthrax in letters mailed to New York City and Washington, D.C., based solely on the available scientific evidence.

The unit reportedly allows any existing vertical form fill seal (VFFS) bagger to be converted from traditional pillow-style bags to reclosable zipper bags. 

The document addresses the need for enforceable safety provisions for geothermal district ambient temperature loop systems.

Maloney Plumbing was founded by William “Duke” Maloney and his wife, Mary Maloney, in May 1964 after the couple gave up farming in Idaho to move to Phoenix.

In partnership with 20th Century Studios, International Delight is teaming up with film favorite “Home Alone” to give consumers a nostalgic taste this holiday season.

How To Die Alone introduces viewers to Melissa (Natasha Rothwell), a character rarely seen on television today.

New Stand-Alone Entity Includes Expansion of ISTA Testing Lab Capabilities

McLaren Dubai Sets a New Standard with the Grand Opening of the Largest Standalone Showroom and Service Centre Worldwide

The Appellate Division of New Jersey’s Superior Court affirmed a trial court’s decision granting summary judgment that dismisses an intentional harm case, saying the injured worker failed to clear the high…

In an era where technology is rapidly advancing, it is tempting to view it as a universal remedy for a myriad of challenges. However, while technology has immense potential, it cannot solve problems by itself. The effectiveness of technology as a solution is influenced by...

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