“… Julian Assange Interviews President of Ecuador – Rafael Correa…” (video..)

“…In 2010 Correa was taken hostage in an attempted coup d’etat.

After the attempt he launched a controversial counter-offensive Ecuador’s media – which he blames for the coup attempt.

Even at the lowest ebb of his popularity, according to a U.S. Embassy cable from Quito – Rafael Correa held “the… record for popularity among all presidents in Ecuador since 1979.”

Correa is a transformative president for Ecuador.

Since taking office in 2007 he has taken unprecedented moves to revolutionize the small Latin American country.

In 2008, he declared Ecuador’s national debt illegitimate.

His defiant stance eventually led to a favourable renegotiation of Ecuador’s repayment terms…”

(cont..)

go to source/story>>>

 Julian Assange Interviews President of Ecuador, Rafael Correa    : Information Clearing House.

Posted in international politics/culture/ stuff | Leave a comment

“…The 10 Major Corporations that Control Everything You Buy..”

“..It’s no secret that corporate conglomerates basically run consumer goods -

- swallowing up smaller businesses like voracious monsters in order to maximize their bottom lines.

The top ten, which control everything from food to make-up to soap: Kraft, Nestle, P&G, Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, General Foods, Kellogg’s, Mars, UniLever, and Johnson and Johnson.

And their vast reach might feel pretty unfathomable – like some kind of shadow government -

- but for an illustration that shows exactly how far their tentacles reach – via Occupy Together.

It’s pretty astonishing how inevitable it seems that consumers feed into these companies whether they know it or not -

- particularly because the mega-corporations enable lower price points on junk foods and crap with no nutritional value..”

(cont..)

go to source/story>>>

The 10 Major Corporations that Control Everything You Buy | AlterNet.

Posted in health, international politics/culture/ stuff, nz politics/culture/stuff | Leave a comment

“…New Survey: Most Americans Want to Legalize Pot Like Alcohol and Tobacco…”

“… Most voters want marijuana to be legal, according to a new telephone survey of 1,000 Likely Voters.

The survey found that 56% – “a solid majority of voters nationwide” – favor legalizing and regulating marijuana like alcohol and tobacco.

As AlterNet has pointed out, marijuana is much safer than alcohol and cigarrettes -

- but harsh pot laws may encourage some people who would otherwise get stoned to drink instead.

Legalizing and regulating the plant may thus allow some people to make safer decisions – without risking un-necessary legal consequences.

What’s more, according to the survey (conducted by Ramussen Reports), most voters do not think it should be a crime to enjoy marijuana in the privacy of one’s own home.

Only 36% of voters – a much smaller minority –

- reportedly oppose legalizing and regulating marijuana like booze and cigarettes..”

(cont..)

go to source/story>>>

New Survey: Most Americans Want to Legalize Pot Like Alcohol and Tobacco | AlterNet.

Posted in international politics/culture/ stuff, nz politics/culture/stuff | Leave a comment

“…How the US Press Lost its Way…”

“…You can track the arc of modern American journalism from its apex at the Pentagon Papers and Watergate -

- curving downward to Iran-Contra before the nadir of Bush’s war in Iraq…”

go to source/story>>>

How the US Press Lost its Way | | AlterNet.

Posted in international politics/culture/ stuff, nz politics/culture/stuff | Leave a comment

“…The Super “Connected” 1% CEO: The Incredible Tale of Billions of Dollars of Failure…”

“…Citgroup’s outgoing chairman Dick Parsons’ career is the perfect example of how 1 percenters reward utter failure at the expense of the rest of us…”

go to source/story>>>

The Super “Connected” 1% CEO: The Incredible Tale of Billions of Dollars of Failure | Economy | AlterNet.

Posted in international politics/culture/ stuff | Leave a comment

“…Today’s GOP: Worst Political Party Since the Civil War…”

“…The last time things got this bad was about 150 years ago -

- and we needed a Civil War to resolve it…”

(cont..)

go to source/story>>>

Today’s GOP: Worst Political Party Since the Civil War | | AlterNet.

Posted in international politics/culture/ stuff | Leave a comment

“…There Is a Way! – Beyond the Big, Bad Corporation..”

“…New corporate models focus on ownership, governance, sustainability and social benefit…”

go to source/story>>>

There Is a Way! Beyond the Big, Bad Corporation | Economy | AlterNet.

Posted in international politics/culture/ stuff, nz politics/culture/stuff | Leave a comment

“…Life as a hermit: ‘My life is a great adventure’..”

“…For nearly 30 years Jake Willams has lived as a hermit in the Scottish wilderness.

He explains why he could never go back to a ‘normal’ life..”

go to source/story>>>

Life as a hermit: ‘My life is a great adventure’ – Features – Health & Families – The Independent.

Posted in international politics/culture/ stuff | Leave a comment

“..London’s regulators are as scary as a Disney movie with the lights turned on…”

“…Wasn’t financial regulation supposed to have turned over a new leaf?

With phrases like “proactive”, “intrusive” and “harsh” -

- taking over from “light touch” and “risk based”.

That is certainly what the Financial Services Authority would have us believe.

Talking tough has been the name of the game in recent months.

The FSA’s outgoing boss, Hector Sants, even suggested that banks should feel “frightened” of the watchdog.

If events at JP Morgan are anything to go by that fear is about the same as what you might expect to feel from watching a Walt Disney cartoon in the middle of the day with all the lights turned on.

And a teddy bear at the ready.

Like most banks JP Morgan has griped about the FSA’s new regulatory landscape.

But then banks are pre-programmed to complain vociferously about any increase in regulation -

- however small that increase might be.

Turkeys don’t vote for Christmas.

The question that needs to be asked is whether the FSA’s talk resulted in any real action.

The JPMorgan affair doesn’t suggest an answer we should be comfortable with…”

(cont..)

go to source/story>>>

James Moore: London’s regulators are as scary as a Disney movie with the lights turned on – Business Comment – Business – The Independent.

Posted in international politics/culture/ stuff | Leave a comment

“…Islam is not “the enemy” – irrational hatred is…”

“..Recently, Wired magazine in the US reported that a military officer and lecturer in a US prestigious military college taught a class of “commanders, lieutenant colonels, captains and colonels” -

- that a “total war” against Islam “would be necessary to protect America from Islamic terrorists.”

The tutor, a highly-decorated Lieutenant Colonel named Matthew A. Dooley, also appeared to assert that “Islam has already declared war on the West” -

- and that hundreds of millions of Muslims “[b]y their own stated doctrine…are motivated and unified under one ideology and one goal.

They hate everything you stand for – and will never coexist unless you submit.”

In a course text published by Wired, Dooley put forward a “Counter-Jihad” operation model that planned for an assault on the Muslim world unconstrained by “Geneva Convention IV 1949 standards of armed conflict” -

- an operation that would involve taking war “to a civilian population wherever necessary” -

- citing the “historical precedents of Tokyo, Dresden, Hiroshima, Nagasaki”.

In his model Dooley proposes the “starvation of Saudi Arabia” -

- and the bombing of Mecca and Medina -

- the two holiest cities in the Muslim world…”

(cont..)

go to source/story>>>

Islam is not “the enemy” – irrational hatred is | | Independent Editor’s choice Blogs.

Posted in international politics/culture/ stuff, nz politics/culture/stuff | Leave a comment

“…Charitable rape: Peacekeepers’ dirty little secrets…”

“…Last summer I travelled to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to help establish the first free legal advice centre in Kinshasa.

I arrived with grand aspirations and bags of enthusiasm.

But it was short lived.

It was not long before I discovered the vast sexual exploitation of young Congolese women at the hands of peace keeping troops, aid workers, non-governmental organisation employees -

- and others acting on behalf of the international community.

At restaurants, bars and clubs, white men in smart suits dangled dollars as bait before impoverished young girls’ eyes – some as young as 12.

They did so with no shame and arrogant impunity.

Their actions are despicable; they rape the most vulnerable children and adults in the world -

- the very people they are supposed to protect.

It is hard to imagine a more grotesque abuse of authority and flagrant violation of human rights…”

(cont..)

go to source/story>>>

Charitable rape: Peacekeepers’ dirty little secrets | | Independent Editor’s choice Blogs.

Posted in international politics/culture/ stuff | Leave a comment

“…Born poor – stay poor: the scandal of social immobility…”

“…Report reveals shocking gulf in life chances between those from rich backgrounds -

- and the rest..”

go to source/story>>>

Born poor, stay poor: the scandal of social immobility – Home News – UK – The Independent.

Posted in international politics/culture/ stuff, nz politics/culture/stuff | Leave a comment

“…Double trouble at JP Morgan: trader’s losses could exceed $7bn..”

“…The crisis at JP Morgan escalated yesterday as it emerged its trading losses in London could rise to as much as $7bn (£4.5bn) – and the US bank cancelled a share buyback.

Fears were growing that the losses could spiral from an initial $2bn which was declared on 10 May -

- as JP Morgan struggles to unwind the massive bets made by the so-called “London Whale” trader Bruno Iksil…”

go to source/story>>>

Double trouble at JP Morgan: trader’s losses could exceed $7bn – Americas – World – The Independent.

Posted in international politics/culture/ stuff | Leave a comment

“…UK has six months to give prisoners the vote…”

“…Human rights judges today gave David Cameron six months to honour the coalition Government’s pledge to give prisoners the vote…”

go to source/story>>>

Europe: UK has six months to give prisoners the vote – UK Politics – UK – The Independent.

Posted in international politics/culture/ stuff | Leave a comment

“…IMF says Bank of England must stimulate growth…”

“..The International Monetary Fund today called for the Bank of England to stimulate UK growth with further quantitative easing or cutting the 0.5 per cent base interest rate…”

(cont..)

go to source/story>>>

IMF says Bank of England must stimulate growth – Business News – Business – The Independent.

Posted in international politics/culture/ stuff, nz politics/culture/stuff | Leave a comment

“…In Conservative Media – A “Race War” Rages…”

“…If you’ve spent much time consuming conservative media lately – you’ve probably learned about a slow-burning “race war” going on in America today.

Sewing together disparate data points and compelling anecdotes like the attack in Norfolk -

- conservative bloggers and opinion-makers are driving the narrative with increasing frequency…”

go to source/story>>>

In Conservative Media, A “Race War” Rages.

Posted in international politics/culture/ stuff, nz politics/culture/stuff | Leave a comment

“..Ex-MF Global CEO Netted More Than $8 Million Before Firm’s Collapse…”

“…Former MF Global Holdings Ltd chief Jon Corzine received more than $8 million in pay and stock options from the futures brokerage in the year before it went bankrupt…”

go to source/story>>>

Jon Corzine, Ex-MF Global CEO, Netted More Than $8 Million Before Firm’s Collapse.

Posted in international politics/culture/ stuff | Leave a comment

“…The Bain of our Existence…”

“..I love this Bain debate.

It is exactly the kind of debate about the nature of business and job creation we need to be having in this campaign.

The Republicans – along with pro-Wall Street Democrats – are squealing like stuck pigs about the Obama campaign “attacking free enterprise” -

- because they want to change the subject fast.

They are saying to themselves: please, let’s talk about anything else.

Deficits would be their first choice – but anything would be preferable.

Maybe we’ll see them start talking about contraceptives and how people shouldn’t have sex again – just to change the subject.

Because this debate goes straight to the heart of what kind of economy we should be trying to build in this country…”

(cont..)

go to source/story>>>

Mike Lux: The Bain of our Existence.

Posted in international politics/culture/ stuff, nz politics/culture/stuff | Leave a comment

“…Caro Is Right About LBJ: I Know, I Was There..”

“..The popularity of Robert Caro’s magisterial new book on Lyndon Johnson is easy to understand.

Passage to Power evokes a time when the ability of government do good was largely unquestioned -

- and when a gargantuan personality such as LBJ could and did use government to unite the country in the pursuit of sweeping goals and giant tasks.

As someone who knew most of the principals Caro writes about I can attest to his portrait of LBJ – and to the way LBJ was seen by others – including Jack Kennedy.

I was close to Adlai Stevenson who was a rival of both men.

I was chairman of the Federal Communications Commission in the Kennedy Administration.

Simply put the LBJ I knew hungered for power and knew he knew how to use it.

The Kennedy I knew grudgingly but genuinely admired LBJ’s ability.

Had Kennedy not put aside his personal animus the nation might not have had the man best suited to take the reins in the days after the assassination.

As Caro amply demonstrates that man was Johnson -

- at least in the earlier minutes and months of national crisis -

- before he created his own by escalating the Vietnam War.

Caro’s book reminded me of a sad conversation I had with LBJ during the time he was languishing in the vice presidency…”

(cont..)

go to source/story>>>

Newton N. Minow: Caro Is Right About LBJ: I Know, I Was There.

Posted in international politics/culture/ stuff | Leave a comment

“…Self-Diagnosis Book: 11 Nasty Ailments You Might Have…” (photos..)

“…I provide a guide to self-diagnosis that starts at the top of your head and moves all the way down to the bottom of your feet.

Finally, all hypochondriacs, neurotics, germaphobes, worrywarts, and paranoid people can have the ability to diagnose all of their visible life-threatening symptoms -

- (which are probably not all that life-threatening)-

- without the use of an Internet connection!

Gone will be the days of typing symptoms into a search bar and anxiously browsing through your results -

- with each click bringing you closer and closer to certain death.

And the best part is, this information is completely medically accurate – and has been reviewed by an actual doctor and naturopath.

You know those people who are sick of seeing you at their office every day.

So take out your hand sanitizer; -

- make sure your physician, dermatologist, plastic surgeon, allergist, and matchmaker are all on speed dial;

- and find your happy place;-

- because it’s time to take a look at the body parts that we are most attracted to-

-when they look the least attractive…”

(cont..)

go to source/story>>>

Paul Kleinman: Self-Diagnosis Book: 11 Nasty Ailments You Might Have (PHOTOS).

Posted in health | Leave a comment

“…The Sellout of the Ivory Tower – and the Crash of 2008 (Excerpt)..”

“…Many people who saw my documentary film about the 2008 economic crisis, Inside Job, found that the most surprising, and disturbing, portion of the film was its revelation of widespread conflicts of interest in universities, think tanks, and among prominent academic experts on finance, economics, business, and government regulation.

Viewers who watched my interviews with eminent professors were stunned at what came out of their mouths.

Over the last thirty years in parallel with deregulation and the rising power of money in American politics -

- significant portions of American academia have deteriorated into “pay to play” activities.

These days if you see a famous economics professor testify in Congress – appear on television news -

- testify in a legal case or regulatory proceeding -

- give a speech – or write an opinion article in the New York Times (or the Financial Times, the Wall Street Journal, or anywhere else) -

- there is a high probability that he or she is being paid by someone with a big stake in what’s being debated.

Most of the time these professors do not disclose these conflicts of interest -

- and most of the time their universities look the other way…”

(cont..)

go to source/story>>>

Charles Ferguson: The Sellout of the Ivory Tower, and the Crash of 2008 (Excerpt).

Posted in international politics/culture/ stuff, music/ent/lit, nz politics/culture/stuff, reviews | Leave a comment

“…The 11 Most Badass Last Words Ever Uttered..”

“…Some people try to pull off immortality with a lifetime of achievements and noble acts.

But why piss away all that energy on altruism when you can simply spout one badass quote before you take the dirt nap -

- and live on through eternity known as a guy who needed a second casket for his balls?..”

go to source/story>>>

The 11 Most Badass Last Words Ever Uttered.

Posted in humour, international politics/culture/ stuff | Leave a comment

“…Facebook Stock Collapse Contributes To Mistrust Of Wall Street..”

“…Facebook shares are melting down again on Tuesday, and though the rest of the stock market doesn’t seem to care, it should: -

- This episode will likely further cement Main Street’s hatred and distrust of Wall Street.

That’s because the Facebook IPO had examples of pretty much everything that is wrong with the stock market today.

Media and analyst cheerleading? Check.

The destructive influence of high-speed trading? Check.

A system built for insiders to profit while retail investors pick up scraps? Duh.

“This constantly erodes the confidence of the average investor,” said Joseph Saluzzi, co-head of stock trading at Themis Trading.

“It’s why we see money coming out week after week from stock mutual funds.

People are tired – frustrated with it.”..”

go to source/story>>>

Facebook Stock Collapse Contributes To Mistrust Of Wall Street.

Posted in international politics/culture/ stuff | Leave a comment

“…Facebook Share Price Plunges Again: Valuation Doubts Rise As Social Network’s Stock Takes Big Hit…”

“…Facebook’s shares fell again on Tuesday – leaving them down nearly one-third from Friday’s highs -

- as questions mounted over the company’s financial prospects – and its ability to grow fast enough to meet the hype surrounding its stock…”

go to source/story>>>

Facebook Share Price Plunges Again: Valuation Doubts Rise As Social Network’s Stock Takes Big Hit.

Posted in international politics/culture/ stuff, music/ent/lit | Leave a comment

“…Social mobility: the charts that shame Britain..”

“…Can you go from stacking shelves to heading up a major corporation in Britain?

The data suggests it’s unlikely.

See what it says..”

go to source/story>>>

Social mobility: the charts that shame Britain | News | guardian.co.uk.

Posted in international politics/culture/ stuff, nz politics/culture/stuff | Leave a comment

“…Only renewables could be too cheap to meter…”

“…Germany’s long support for wind and solar energy is delivering zero-cost electricity at times.

In contrast, the UK’s new energy policy seeks to underwrite the rising cost of nuclear..”

go to source/story>>>

Only renewables – not nuclear – could be too cheap to meter | Damian Carrington | Environment | guardian.co.uk.

Posted in green things, international politics/culture/ stuff, nz politics/culture/stuff | Leave a comment

“…Which superhero is about to come out as gay?…”

“…A DC Comics insider says an established character will be revealed as gay.

Who could it be?..”

go to source/story>>>

Which superhero is about to come out as gay? | News | guardian.co.uk.

Posted in comics, international politics/culture/ stuff, nz politics/culture/stuff | Leave a comment

“..Strict austerity risks derailing global economic recovery – warns OECD..”

“…Growth warning from Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development comes ahead of European leaders’ crisis talks in Brussels..”

go to source/story>>>

Strict austerity risks derailing global economic recovery, warns OECD | Business | The Guardian.

Posted in international politics/culture/ stuff | Leave a comment

“…IMF backs tax and interest rate cuts to dig UK out of recession…”

“…The chancellor, George Osborne, came under pressure on Tuesday after the International Monetary Fund warned that Britain should prepare a Plan B to prevent the economy from diving further into recession.

In its annual review of the UK’s economic record, the IMF said the Treasury should be ready to make temporary tax cuts to kickstart the economy because the weak recovery may be “more protracted than previously anticipated”.

Christine Lagarde, IMF managing director, said: “Growth is too slow and unemployment, including youth unemployment, is too high.

Policies to bolster demand before low growth becomes entrenched are needed.”..”

(cont..)

go to source/story>>>

IMF backs tax and interest rate cuts to dig UK out of recession | Business | guardian.co.uk.

Posted in international politics/culture/ stuff, nz politics/culture/stuff | Leave a comment

“…Dotcom offers to supply computer passwords…”

“…Megaupload millionaire Kim Dotcom wants his computers back – and is willing to provide his passwords to investigators under special circumstances.

Dotcom was back at the High Court in Auckland today to seek a judicial review of the legality of the search warrants used by police who raided his mansion on behalf of the FBI…”

go to source/story>>>

Dotcom offers to supply computer passwords – Politics – NZ Herald News.

Posted in nz politics/culture/stuff | Leave a comment

“…Spotify NZ launches today…”

“..A legal music streaming site which allows subscribers to access more than 16 million songs is being launched today in New Zealand.

After much hype, the announcement finally came today that music provider Spotify, in partnership with wireless music manufacturer Sonos, will be kicked off locally.

Spotify offers listeners on-demand access to songs, and since its 2008 launch in Sweden, has gained more than 10 million active users and three million paying subscribers.

Seen by many as an alternative to iTunes, Spotify’s arrival in New Zealand begins “a new era” for music, said Sonos New Zealand’s Jason Lake…”

go to source/story>>>

Spotify NZ launches today – Technology – NZ Herald News.

Posted in international politics/culture/ stuff, music/ent/lit, nz politics/culture/stuff | Leave a comment

“…Campaign launched for ‘living wage’…”

“..A campaign has been launched for a “living wage” in New Zealand, inspired by policies in United States cities and London.

The Living Wage Aotearoa NZ campaign is drawing support from unions, churches, Pacific, women’s and community groups.

Organiser Annie Newman of the Service and Food Workers Union said it was inspired by “living wage” policies governing council contracts in more than 140 US cities and in London -

- where the rate of £8.30 ($17.35) an hour is 37 per cent above the £6.08 ($12.71) legal minimum wage…”

go to source/story>>>

Campaign launched for ‘living wage’ – National – NZ Herald News.

Posted in international politics/culture/ stuff, nz politics/culture/stuff | Leave a comment

“…New app identifies faces in photos…”

“..Imagine taking a snapshot of a group of friends and having your smartphone instantly reveal the identity of everyone in the photo.

A new iPhone app called KLiK performs real-time facial recognition to automatically identify and tag friends in photos.

“It’s our most recent evolution of both the platform and the consumer product that we’re offering,” said Gil Hirsch, the CEO of the facial recognition technology platform Face.com, which launched the app…”

go to source/story>>>

New app identifies faces in photos | Stuff.co.nz.

Posted in international politics/culture/ stuff, music/ent/lit, nz politics/culture/stuff | Leave a comment

“…U.S. Experts Trash Popular Prostate Cancer Test…”

“..A U.S. panel of experts has trashed a popular blood test for prostate cancer risk – saying its use is doing more harm than good.

Healthy men have no need to be screened by measuring levels of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in circulation, concludes the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, an independent group that advises the government.

Men can skip the test, according to this panel, because its unreliable: -

- Based on trial data it has prevented few deaths – at best potentially 1 in 1000 men screened.

Yet the task force finds that for every 1000 men screened, the subsequent medical treatment leaves one with a blood clot – two with treatment-related heart attacks -

- and up to 40 with impotence or urinary incontinence.

Overall, the task force didn’t think the benefits from PSA screening made it worth supporting…”

(cont..)

go to source/story>>>

U.S. Experts Trash Popular Prostate Cancer Test | Stuff.co.nz.

Posted in health, international politics/culture/ stuff, nz politics/culture/stuff | Leave a comment

“…Downloading fine: $675,000 for 30 songs…”

“…A former Boston University student who was ordered to pay US$675,000 (NZ$879,703) for illegally downloading and sharing 30 songs on the Internet says he will continue fighting the penalty -

- despite the Supreme Court’s refusal on Monday (local time) to hear his appeal.

Joel Tenenbaum, 28, of Providence, Rhode Island said he’s hoping a federal judge will reduce the amount.

“I can’t believe the system would uphold a six-figure damages amount for downloading 30 songs on a file-sharing system that everybody used,” Tenenbaum said.

“I can’t believe the court would uphold something that ludicrous.”..”

go to source/story>>>

Downloading fine: $675,000 for 30 songs | Stuff.co.nz.

Posted in international politics/culture/ stuff, music/ent/lit | Leave a comment

“…One day out from the Government’s no-frills Budget, many Kiwis aren’t convinced by National’s economic plan…”

“…A survey of more than 2000 Fairfax readers, including from The Dominion Post, shows while 37 per cent of readers think the Government’s past three Budgets were on the right track -

- almost a third disagree – they think the economy’s on the wrong track – while about a third more are unsure.

With the economy still stuttering and registering only 1.1 per cent growth last calendar year Finance Minister Bill English is promising his fourth Budget will continue the “balanced and responsible” policies of the past three years – and a return to surplus over the next three years.

The focus of his first three Budgets was to rein in spending and cut debt.

The election result suggested most voters backed National’s plan for the economy after it was returned to power with 47 per cent support –

- but the survey reveals opinion is strongly divided…”

(cont..)

go to source/story>>>

Support for economic direction wavering | Stuff.co.nz.

Posted in nz politics/culture/stuff | Leave a comment

“…Don’t mention income inequality please – we’re entrepreneurs…”

“…At this point, TED is a massive, money-soaked orgy of self-congratulatory futurism..”

go to source/story>>>

Don’t mention income inequality please, we’re entrepreneurs – Media Criticism – Salon.com.

Posted in international politics/culture/ stuff | Leave a comment

“…Did slaves catch your seafood?…”

“…Thailand – a major source of fish imported to the US -

- depends on forced labor for its product..”

go to source/story>>>

Did slaves catch your seafood? – GlobalPost – Salon.com.

Posted in international politics/culture/ stuff, nz politics/culture/stuff | Leave a comment

“…Will Bilderberg endorse Rubio?…”

“…Secret world-controlling society yet to weigh in on Mitt Romney running mate pick..”

go to source/story>>>

Will Bilderberg endorse Rubio? – 2012 Elections – Salon.com.

Posted in international politics/culture/ stuff | Leave a comment

“…Review: Diablo III Was Worth 12 Years of Hell…”

“…Cross another winner of multiple Vaporware Awards off the list: -

- After many long years Diablo III is finally available.

Blizzard has clearly aimed to capture everything people loved about Diablo III’s 12-year-old predecessor -

- the addictive dungeon-raiding gameplay that made them crave a sequel so badly – and update it for modern times.

This is reflected in the cinematics, soundtrack and game design.

Everything is snappier, more intuitive and all presented in high definition.

Picking up the explosions of loot that enemies drop like grotesque pinatas is much easier on the ol’ clicking finger.

Before you even start to appreciate the smoothness of Diablo III‘s gameplay you’ll be blown away by the sights and sounds.

The cinematic scenes are so gorgeous that I spent more time looking at the pores on the characters’ faces than I did paying attention to what was happening in them.

The soundtrack, for my money, is the best I’ve heard in a videogame in at least five years.

It was composed by seven different musicians: Russel Brower, Derek Duke, Glenn Stafford, Joseph Lawrence, Neal Acree, Laurence Juber and Edo Guidotti.

Other game music composers need to find out what these guys put in their coffee -

- because they’re making everybody else look like hacks…”

(cont..)

go to source/story>>>

Review: Diablo III Was Worth 12 Years of Hell | Game|Life | Wired.com.

Posted in comics, music/ent/lit, reviews | Leave a comment