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Final Fantasy VIII is painfully stupid

Когда я начал свои летсплеи с комментариями для бложика летом 2012-го, у меня к ним был совсем другой подход: я исходил из того, что все читающие, как и я, знают эти игры наизусть, и старался больше шутить о происходящем. За смехуёчками как-то затёрлось то, насколько невыносимо ТУПАЯ вся фф8.

Сегодня фф8 исполняется 21 год. В Америке она смогла бы купить себе алкоголь - может, после трех-четырех стаканов виски её прохождение не казалось бы настолько мучительным.

Одна из ключевых проблем сценария фф8 - повсеместное отсутствие логики в происходящем. У хорошего сценариста каждое событие имеет предпосылки и последствия, причинно-следственная связь не рушится, а персонажи делают те или иные вещи в соответствии со своими чертами характера и условиями, в которые они поставлены.

фф8 рушится к хуям уже НА ПЕРВОЙ РЕПЛИКЕ. Я убеждён, что это рекорд. Самая первая фраза, произнесённая в игре, уже полностью бессмысленна. Проблема только в том, что понять это можно, лишь пройдя игру как минимум наполовину.

Давайте я объясню.
-Эллон должна находиться под защитой белых сидов на тайном корабле. Она почему-то появляется в Гардене, и этому нет никакого объяснения. Белых сидов рядом с ней нет.
-Эллон видит своего братика Скволла впервые за долгие годы. Вместо того, чтобы его, например, обнять и расспросить о жизни, она через стекло кудахчет "ебать мы увиделись" и УХОДИТ.
-Эллон буквально на следующий же день начнёт ебать Скволлу мозг воспоминаниями из жизни Лагуны. Она могла бы сейчас хотя бы предупредить его об этом, объяснить свой план. Ей ничего не мешало поговорить с центральным персонажем её же кейкаку, но нет.

Это первый пример из очень многих.

Ифрит словно из другой игры вообще. Такая пещера с таким боссом была бы уместна в условной фф5. Там герои шароёбятся по всему миру, находят данж, влезают, видят огненного духа, призывают против него Шиву, он такой - "Ух ты бля, у вас Шива есть, неплохо, смертные!"

Но в фф8 Шиву герой высасывает из своей парты. А пещера - это пришкольный участок, куда детишки бегают регулярно на треньку. Ифрит там что, респаунится? И каждый раз удивляется силе людей?

Ифрит ведь - не просто монстр какой. Это NPC с репликами. И это вступает в прямое противоречие с обстоятельствами, которые к нему подводят.

Просто очень хороший скриншот файнал фентези восемь.

Дальше »




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EP 166 - Warframe Updates, Destiny is Dying

Pradius talks new Warframe updates and content for PC, Xbox One and PS4. As well as talks about the steep decline in Destinys player base.

Episode 166 - YouTube | Frag Tag Radio

Questions or comments? Contact us!
Message us mail@fragtagradio.com. Text or voicemail (1-304-TALK-FTR).




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Resident Evil 3 @ Target for $35 in-store pickup

As the title states, game is currently $49.99 and finally available for ordering. Add it to your cart plus 2 other $49.99 games, make sure the other 2 are shipped. Either keep them all for around $35 each, or cancel the other 2 games and end up with RE3 on day 1 for $35.

https://www.target.com/p/resident-evil-3-xbox-one/-/A-79468974

https://www.target.com/p/resident-evil-3-playstation-4/-/A-79468973




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Console Games, Merch Sale with Free Shipping and 50% Off 1 Month Uplay+ at Ubi Store

Uplay+ service, with access to + 100 games is is 50% off for the 1st month!  Members can get unlimited access to + 100 games for $6.99
https://store.ubi.com/us/uplayplus/
 
Free shipping and +50% off on all physical games until April 19th. There's merch on sale as well.
https://store.ubi.com/us/free-shipping-sale/




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Gamestop 20%/30%/40%/50% Off, One Day Flash Sale - Update Extended through 5/9




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Mike's Blog Round Up

It's Saturday, and I'm still shocked that our Attorney General Bill Barr was an accomplice in undermining justice in America. Our only way out of this mess is to vote in overwhelming, historical, legendary, epic numbers; we can't go on living like this.

Sky Dancing presents... Banana Republicans!

Greg Fallis says that the Rule of Law is most sincerely dead.

Boomer Dem-Nation didn't sign-up for this!

Bonus Track: Juanita Jean and God don't split hairs. But Ted Cruz does!

Round-up by Tengrain who blogs at Mock, Paper, Scissors. You can follow Tengrain on the Twitters, too. Send tips, requests, and suggestions to mbru@crooksandliars.com (with For MBRU in the subject line).



  • mikes blog round up

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Of Course It's The Pandemic, Stupid!

In 1992, Bill Clinton’s campaign manager James Carville came up with one of the most famous campaign slogans in history when he pinned a note to the bulletin board of the campaign headquarters that said “It’s the economy, stupid.” There was a lot of stuff going on at the time, the tail end of the first Gulf War, the Rodney King Riots, Ross Perot’s quixotic campaign among other things. But we were in a recession that wasn’t particularly deep but it seemed to be hitting certain people very hard. Carville understood that everything flowed from being able to address that problem.

It seems that the Trump administration thinks that slogan applies to their circumstance. And it is true that the record high unemployment claims and the small business crisis is as acute as anything we’ve ever seen. They believe they can just “open the country” and everything will fall into place as people just go back to normal, maybe with a few adjustments and people over 60 staying inside their houses for the foreseeable future.

But, as always, they are missing the point. This piece in The Atlantic explains why:

read more




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New Banksy Art Depicts Nurse As Superhero

It's true what they say. Not all heroes wear capes. They wear gloves, masks, and gowns. That's especially true these days.

Source: Reuters

LONDON (Reuters) - A young boy chooses a nurse as the superhero he wants to play with over Batman and Spiderman in a new artwork by Banksy that encapsulates the gratitude Britons have felt toward the country’s National Health Service during the coronavirus crisis.

The painting by the secretive street artist was unveiled at University Hospital Southampton, in south England, on Wednesday.

An image of the work was also posted on Banksy’s Instagram page with the caption “Game Changer”.

Hospital chief executive Paula Head said: “So proud to reveal this amazing piece of art ‘Painting for Saints’, created by #Banksy as a thank you to all those who work with and for the NHS and our hospital.”

“An inspirational backdrop to pause and reflect in these unprecedented times,” she added on Twitter.




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Maryland and Washington, DC: Latest updates on coronavirus

Here is the COVID-19 situation in Maryland and Washington, DC.




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Montana: Latest updates on coronavirus

To date, 311 people have been tested statewide.




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Delaware: Latest updates on Coronavirus

Delaware has eight cases of COVID-19, most of them connected to the University of Delaware.




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Nevada: Latest updates on coronavirus

The first COVID-19 death in Nevada was a man in his 60s with an underlying health condition.




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Nebraska: Latest updates on coronavirus

Here's a look at the number of coronavirus cases in Nebraska, and the latest news on the COVID-19 outbreak.




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Kentucky: Latest updates on Coronavirus

Here are the latest updates on coronavirus in Kentucky.




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Minnesota: Latest updates on coronavirus

Here is the COVID-19 situation in Minnesota.




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South Dakota: Latest updates on coronavirus

Here's an update on the coronavirus case counts in South Dakota and the latest news on the COVID-19 outbreak.




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Oregon: Latest updates on coronavirus

Here's a look at the number of coronavirus cases in Oregon and the latest news about the COVID-19 outbreak.




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Rhode Island: Latest updates on Coronavirus

Here's a look at the number of coronavirus cases in Rhode Island and the latest news about the COVID-19 outbreak.




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Idaho: Latest updates on Coronavirus

Here's a look at the number of coronavirus cases in Idaho and the latest news about the COVID-19 outbreak.




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Michigan: Latest updates on Coronavirus

Here's a look at the latest on the coronavirus in Michigan.




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California: Latest updates on coronavirus

California has reported 472 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 11 deaths as of Monday evening (March 16).




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Louisiana: Latest updates on Coronavirus

Here's a look at the number of coronavirus cases in Louisiana and the latest news about the COVID-19 outbreak.




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Alabama: Latest updates on coronavirus

The case count in Alabama jumped to 36 on Tuesday (March 17).




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Alaska: Latest updates on coronavirus

Alaska has three confirmed cases of COVID-19 as of Monday (March 16).




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Massachusetts: Latest updates on coronavirus

Here is the COVID-19 situation in Massachusetts.




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Georgia: Latest updates on Coronavirus

Georgia has 146 confirmed cases of COVID-19




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Colorado: Latest updates on coronavirus

More than 130 people in the state have been diagnosed with COVID-19, and one has died.




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Utah: Latest updates on coronavirus

Here's a look at the number of coronavirus cases in Utah and the latest news about the COVID-19 outbreak.




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Indiana: Latest updates on Coronavirus

Here's a look at the number of coronavirus cases in Indiana and the latest news about the COVID-19 outbreak.




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Arkansas: Latest updates on coronavirus

Arkansas has reported 22 confirmed cases of COVID-19 as of Tuesday (March 17).




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Mississippi: Latest updates on Coronavirus

Here is the COVID-19 situation in Mississippi.




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Ohio: Latest updates on coronavirus

Here's a look at the number of coronavirus cases in Ohio and the latest news about the COVID-19 outbreak.




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Coronavirus outbreak: Live updates

Live Science will keep you up to date on all coronavirus news, including how far it has spread, city and local closings and the science behind the virus and the disease it causes, COVID-19.




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Tennessee: Latest updates on coronavirus

Here's a look at the number of coronavirus cases in Tennessee and the latest news on the COVID-19 outbreak.




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Arizona: Latest updates on coronavirus

Arizona has reported 20 positive cases of COVID-19 as of Tuesday (March 17).




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New York: Latest updates on Coronavirus

Here's a look at the number of coronavirus cases in New York and the latest news about the COVID-19 outbreak.




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West Virginia: Latest updates on Coronavirus

West Virginia has its first confirmed case of coronavirus.




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JetGlider Couple





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SuperMash Is Now Available For Xbox One

Product Info: Developer: Digital Continue Publisher: Digital Continue‬ Website: SuperMash Twitter: @digitalcontinue




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HyperX Teams up with Ducky and Launches HyperX x Ducky One 2 Mini Mechanical Gaming Keyboard

The HyperX x Ducky One 2 Mini mechanical gaming keyboard features HyperX red linear mechanical switches built for performance, longevity and an 80 million lifetime click rating per switch.

The post HyperX Teams up with Ducky and Launches HyperX x Ducky One 2 Mini Mechanical Gaming Keyboard appeared first on ThinkComputers.org.





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Chaos reigns in detailed new views of Jupiter's icy moon Europa

Scientists have gotten their best look to date at three chaotic patches on the icy surface of Jupiter's moon Europa thanks to decade-old images from a long-defunct spacecraft.




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Please Support Civil Liberties and Public Policy During the Covid-19 Crisis: An Appeal from Judy Norsigian

These challenging times require fierce, broad, and intersectional activism – which is just what Civil Liberties and Public Policy (CLPP) has been doing for the past four decades. This now-independent nonprofit, which used to be affiliated with Hampshire College, continues its unique movement-building work preparing younger activists to work on the front lines of today’s struggle for reproductive justice. Please consider supporting CLPP today with a generous donation. 

As we know, the Covid-19 pandemic is disproportionately harming those in our communities who were already facing ... More

The post Please Support Civil Liberties and Public Policy During the Covid-19 Crisis: An Appeal from Judy Norsigian appeared first on Our Bodies Ourselves.



  • Abortion & Reproductive Rights
  • Activism & Resources

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on the up and up

Thomas West recently asked:

I hadn't really noticed this before, but it looks like it's probably a case of an American phrase coming
to Britain and being re-interpreted (which happens now and again—I talk about a few other cases in The Prodigal Tongue and elsewhere on this blog).

The expression originated in AmE in or before the 1860s. It is often hyphenated: on the up-and-up. The OED entry for it starts:
a. Honest(ly), straightforward(ly), ‘on the level’. Originally and chiefly U.S.

1863   Humboldt Reg. (Unionville, Nevada) 4 July 2/1
   Now that would be business, on the dead up-and-up.
But then it continues with a second definition that it does not mark as U.S.:
 b. Steadily rising, improving, or increasing; prospering, successful.
1930   Sun (Baltimore) 18 Aug. 6/1   From now on, we are led to believe, law and order will be on the up and up, as the current phrase is.
1937   G. Heyer They found him Dead xiii. 265   He certainly wasn't on the up-and-up when I knew him. He was picking up a living doing odd jobs for any firm that would use him.
1959   Encounter Oct. 25/2   Private travel is on the up and up.
Just the first example in sense b is from an American source—but I really can't tell why they think that either of the first two examples has sense b and not sense a. I would have thought that the first one is saying that the police are going to be less corrupt or disorgani{s/z}ed, and, in the second, I would think that they were saying that he was taking money under the table. But you can see how the two senses can overlap and therefore sense a could morph into sense b, which it definitely has done by the 1959 example.

Sense b comes 50 or 60 years after the first sense, during a time when the UK is getting a lot more exposure to AmE, so it does seem reasonable to think that the phrase came from the US and changed in the UK. The data from Google Books also seem to support this hypothesis:


The b sense is definitely the primary sense in BrE. The (UK-based) Collins COBUILD Idiom Dictionary marks sense a as American but not sense b, and the BBC World Service's Learning English pages give only the 'successful' meaning in their list of up idioms:
To be on the up and up: to be getting increasingly successful.
Example:
His life has been on the up and up since he published his first book. Now, he's making a film in Hollywood.

One of the sources on freedictionary.com explicitly marks the b sense as British:

But all that said, a few commenters on Thomas's original post seem to be Americans saying that they use the 'successful' sense. (I suspect they are younger Americans.) As we've seen above, it's not always clear which one people mean. Looking at a sample in the Corpus of Contemporary American English, though, the sense a meaning predominates:

Click picture to enlarge

Some of the BrE speakers responding to Thomas said that they assumed that on the up and up is an extension of a phrase on the up, meaning 'rising, being successful'. The OED doesn't record that, but there are plenty of examples in the Corpus of Global Web-Based English. (I searched for them followed by a (BrE) full stop/(AmE) period, so that I could be sure there wasn't another and up after the first up.)


The examples in this data are often along the lines of "the numbers of X are on the up", so they are clearly about rising numbers and (by extension, often) success.

Now, there is no expression on the down to mean 'decreasing' and the OED hadn't yet noticed the on the up expression, so I have to wonder whether the phrase on the up and up came from the US, got reinterpred in BrE, and then got shortened to on the up (rather than the latter being expanded from the former).  It's harder to get information for on the up in a place like Google Books, because one can't do the punctuation trick and rule out all the examples like on the up grade or on the up line. I had a quick look at the Hansard corpus, the record of UK Parliamentary speech, as that gives a more reasonable amount of data to comb through. None of the examples of on the up before the first appearance of on the up and up (1946) are on the up to mean 'improving'—they are all on the up [noun], using up as a modifier for the noun. The 1946 Hansard example of up and up is used to mean 'growing, successful' (the b sense), as are the subsequent examples (33 of them). The first example of on the up in that meaning is in 1978. So, that is making it look like the phrase was cut rather than expanded in BrE.

Thanks to Thomas for pointing this one out!

And thanks to Jan Freeman and Ben Yagoda for noticing it earlier. I'd forgotten about Ben's post here.





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AUBE '20/SUPDET® 2020 call for papers issued

A call for papers has been issued for AUBE ‘20/SUPDET 2020, a joint conference of the 17th International Conference on Automatic Fire Detection (AUBE ’20) and the Suppression, Detection and Signaling Research and Applications Symposium




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International Firefighters’ Day: Recognizing and Supporting Firefighters in Their All-Hazards Role

Today, May 4th, is International Firefighters’ Day. Each year on this day, firefighters are celebrated – and rightly so.   Most people have an image of firefighters clad in heavy coats, over-sized boots and sturdy helmets, rushing into




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Natural materials make up this energy-saving Jakarta home

Architecture firm Atelier Riri has reaped the energy-saving benefits of Indonesia’s tropical climate in their design of the House at Serpong, a climate-responsive suburban house in Jakarta. After conducting solar studies and site analyses, the architects crafted the four-story home with strategically placed voids, windows, elevated gardens and solar shading devices to reduce unwanted solar gain and take advantage of natural cooling. The home was built primarily of natural materials that give the building a warm and tactile feel.[...]




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Hitch is a reusable water bottle and coffee cup in one

Coffee is a popular start to the day for millions of people. There’s nothing quite like the scent of coffee wafting through the air and that first sip to get you started on the right foot. But an estimated 3 billion paper cups end up in the landfills each year — cups that mostly can’t be recycled due to the mixed materials, including plastic. The solution, of course, is reusable coffee cups; however, many people have struggled to incorporate that addition into the host of other items that travel with them daily. So Remaker Labs, a Santa Barbara-based company, has[...]