Did you ever hear the story of the Old Man in an Arm-chair? It is not very remarkable, but it may be a read for a slow passing afternoon.
He was a very honest old man who now was pensioned off. He was in no great fear of the morrow-people said often as they passed his window, said perhaps too often:
"Look! At the window, there leans the old man again!"
"What is the old man thinking?" says another voice.
"Perhaps," said an answering voice, "His whole life drama is in that gaze".
And perchance it was. And thus, the years roll by, scarcely had the old man moved forward, so it would seem to an onlooker, from that old cushioned and wooden arm-chair: looking out his window at the many children at play, now grown to adulthood, this being his older years life's drama, where the children with their red cheeks are no longer red, nor are they shoeless, but they still pass the old man's window, history renewed, in a different way.
The old man now glances down, if you were nearby him, you could hear his breathing, he is old and tired. All around him is quieter and more quiet... there are old photographs placed on his lap, for he wished it so! He had been sitting in his arm-chair-long this day, telling his mind, his second self, as it is often referred to, some of the stories behind the photographs. He has leaned his head back to sleep awhile.
He has some wrinkles; his hair is a little whiter, thinner, this year than last year. And to be frank, he can tell you some good stories, if indeed you have time to listen. He has books all about him, books older than he. He knows soon he'll just be dust in a grave, he wishes it.
Today he thought about all the brothers in the world, how more often than not, they try to cheat one another-family members waiting for their loved ones to die for want of things that will rot and perish in time, like him, like they. He's thinking of the deceivers the tyrants.
"Everyone thinks they're going to heaven," he chuckles.
And now he's thinking about right and truth. And his thoughts have lifted and brought him to wish it-gazing in that arm-chair a long while, gazing out the window, gazing at his photographs, and he wishes it; the old man has gotten aroused, an arrow struck his heart and it stretched from earth to heaven, to the point they both seemed so very close to him: in other words, perhaps, what is far to man or most men, was close for him.
And his mother knew him, and his grandmother knew him-all heavenly bodies to each other. Then the walls in his home sank and crumbled in front of his eyes, even the arm-chair rotted to dust in front of his eyes, but his kindness in those old eyes never died in those old photographs: not even when they laid him on his back, in that dark cedar coffin-their remembrance lived on, and on and on.
Written 8-12-2012 (Lima, Peru)
Tuesday, 18 September 2012
Monday, 17 September 2012
Measuring Marketing Success: 10 Metrics That Matter
How do you know if your marketing efforts are producing results?
While ROI is important, marketing is a long-term investment. There can be measurable short terms results, such as "We spent $100,000 in online advertising last month, and generated $450,000 in sales.
" Unfortunately, too much focus on immediate returns overlooks the other factors that contribute to the success of that campaign, such as proper branding and positioning of the business to facilitate a positive response to advertising.
Without a long-term commitment to marketing, it's irrational to expect a positive ROI from month to month or quarter to quarter. There will be times when the investment exceeds the immediate return, but over several months and even years, the results will compound like interest in a savings account.
Companies that are fickle marketers will continue to be frustrated by spending only "when we can afford it" and turning off investment in tough times, when it's needed more than ever.
Changing the mindset that marketing is about activity, and that it can be turned on and off like a faucet requires a focus on the real results that marketing delivers.
What are these factors? You can tell marketing is working when you see the following:
Increase in brand preference - customers know your business and chose your company over competitors, asking for you by name.Growing market share - you're winning more and more business within your chosen markets, and are not losing out to competitors as often as in the past.Higher visibility in the industry - more media inquiries come in, industry analysts are following your business, press coverage picks up and speaking opportunities contribute to a higher profile for your business.Greater brand awareness - when asked to list the leading companies in your space, the name of your business pops up more regularly. Employees don't have to explain who they work for, and people recognize the logo on your golf shirt.Shorter sales cycles - Sales reps can get in the door more easily and customers a more aware of your offerings. Questions change from "who are you and what do you do" to "how can we make this work together."Increased lead flow - the volume of qualified leads increases as your reputation builds and your market reach expands.Better quality leads - Less time is wasted on unqualified prospects, because they can see they're not good a fit and exit the pipeline quickly - if they enter it at all.Higher lead conversion - Because leads are more highly qualified (and often self qualified due to brand awareness), you can close a higher percentage of the leads you do receive.Increased corporate valuation - all of the factors above increase the value of your business.Higher share price - for public companies, share price will increase as word spreads of your success and you become a company to watch.
While ROI is important, marketing is a long-term investment. There can be measurable short terms results, such as "We spent $100,000 in online advertising last month, and generated $450,000 in sales.
" Unfortunately, too much focus on immediate returns overlooks the other factors that contribute to the success of that campaign, such as proper branding and positioning of the business to facilitate a positive response to advertising.
Without a long-term commitment to marketing, it's irrational to expect a positive ROI from month to month or quarter to quarter. There will be times when the investment exceeds the immediate return, but over several months and even years, the results will compound like interest in a savings account.
Companies that are fickle marketers will continue to be frustrated by spending only "when we can afford it" and turning off investment in tough times, when it's needed more than ever.
Changing the mindset that marketing is about activity, and that it can be turned on and off like a faucet requires a focus on the real results that marketing delivers.
What are these factors? You can tell marketing is working when you see the following:
Increase in brand preference - customers know your business and chose your company over competitors, asking for you by name.Growing market share - you're winning more and more business within your chosen markets, and are not losing out to competitors as often as in the past.Higher visibility in the industry - more media inquiries come in, industry analysts are following your business, press coverage picks up and speaking opportunities contribute to a higher profile for your business.Greater brand awareness - when asked to list the leading companies in your space, the name of your business pops up more regularly. Employees don't have to explain who they work for, and people recognize the logo on your golf shirt.Shorter sales cycles - Sales reps can get in the door more easily and customers a more aware of your offerings. Questions change from "who are you and what do you do" to "how can we make this work together."Increased lead flow - the volume of qualified leads increases as your reputation builds and your market reach expands.Better quality leads - Less time is wasted on unqualified prospects, because they can see they're not good a fit and exit the pipeline quickly - if they enter it at all.Higher lead conversion - Because leads are more highly qualified (and often self qualified due to brand awareness), you can close a higher percentage of the leads you do receive.Increased corporate valuation - all of the factors above increase the value of your business.Higher share price - for public companies, share price will increase as word spreads of your success and you become a company to watch.
Myths About Reception Halls in Your Area
When selecting reception halls for your special day, corporate event, or wedding, numerous things must be taken into consideration. Often, individuals planning such events will visit a location, tour it, and make an instant decision about whether or not it is the right option for their needs. However, before you step away, be sure to ask questions and get as much information as you can. As you will see, there are various myths people believe when it comes to selecting such a location that could be limiting their ability to choose the most ideal place for their needs. Believing some of the biggest myths could lead to you not getting the most out of your money. Look out for these myths.
You Can't Ask for More
One of the biggest misconceptions is that you simply cannot ask for more from reception halls than what is provided to you. The pamphlet provided may not give you all of the information you need to make a key decision here. In short, you may end up missing key features you need. For example, if you are looking for a location that provides full service but the company does not list they offer bar service, this does not mean it is not available. Ask for it. Even if it is not normally included in the package, they may be willing to offer it to you to get you to agree to the offer.
You Can't Negotiate with Them
You can and you should negotiate with any facility to get the type of experience you want. For example, some charge extra for different colored napkins or linens. They may charge more for one type of glass than another. If these types of details are important to you, ask them to include it free of charge and they may be willing to do just that. You can also negotiate the price. Be frank about your budget and ask them to work out an offer that allows you to book right away.
Menus Are Not Flexible
Most often, caterers present a menu that lists most of their options. However, this does not mean they cannot offer something else. In fact, it may be easier for you to find the types of foods you need by being open and frank about your needs. Ask about key concerns you have, such as options for vegans, vegetarians, and those with allergies. They should make accommodations for you if you really want that specific meal, too. Some will even make specific recipes if you ask.
The bottom line is that if you are looking at reception halls, realize the options provided may be the best option for the company. These are not limitations, though. Most locations will be willing to work with you and work out the details to get you to book your event with them. And as always, it never hurts to ask.
You Can't Ask for More
One of the biggest misconceptions is that you simply cannot ask for more from reception halls than what is provided to you. The pamphlet provided may not give you all of the information you need to make a key decision here. In short, you may end up missing key features you need. For example, if you are looking for a location that provides full service but the company does not list they offer bar service, this does not mean it is not available. Ask for it. Even if it is not normally included in the package, they may be willing to offer it to you to get you to agree to the offer.
You Can't Negotiate with Them
You can and you should negotiate with any facility to get the type of experience you want. For example, some charge extra for different colored napkins or linens. They may charge more for one type of glass than another. If these types of details are important to you, ask them to include it free of charge and they may be willing to do just that. You can also negotiate the price. Be frank about your budget and ask them to work out an offer that allows you to book right away.
Menus Are Not Flexible
Most often, caterers present a menu that lists most of their options. However, this does not mean they cannot offer something else. In fact, it may be easier for you to find the types of foods you need by being open and frank about your needs. Ask about key concerns you have, such as options for vegans, vegetarians, and those with allergies. They should make accommodations for you if you really want that specific meal, too. Some will even make specific recipes if you ask.
The bottom line is that if you are looking at reception halls, realize the options provided may be the best option for the company. These are not limitations, though. Most locations will be willing to work with you and work out the details to get you to book your event with them. And as always, it never hurts to ask.
Wednesday, 12 September 2012
Ryan Gosling the Front-Runner for Christian Grey?
E.L. James may have written Fifty Shades of Grey with Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart in mind as the erotic novel's protagonists Christian Grey and Anastasia Steele, but with all the recent relationship troubles between the Twilight couple, this seems unlikely. Even though Fifty Shades of Grey started out as a piece of Twilight fan fiction, many fans have their own ideas as to who should play the dazzlingly hot and mysteriously kinky billionaire. The movie adaptation of Fifty Shades of Grey is the hottest property in Hollywood right now, and many actors - both big and small names - are tripping over each other to get a part in the movie. While the Twilight couple was initially the favorite to take up the role, after the negative attention they've been receiving since Kristen Stewart's cheating episode, their favor has dropped considerably - and E.L. James no longer wants the pair in the movie adaptation of her books. But never the less there are plenty more actors to choose from for the role of shy, innocent Anastasia Steele and the mysterious, sexy Christian Grey.
The potential candidates for the role of Ana Steele include Mila Kunis, Emma Watson and Scarlett Johansson. Even Angelina Jolie wants a role in the movie! Ryan Gosling from The Notebook is said to be the bookies' favorite for the part of Christian Grey, with Vampire Diaries' Ian Somerhalder not too far behind. The hype surrounding the movie Fifty Shades of Grey is like nothing we've ever seen before, where even the adaptations of the Harry Potter series or even The Lord of the Rings didn't receive the kind of attention that E.L. James's erotic trilogy does. Perhaps it's the adult nature of the books that make them so appealing to the general public - rather than releasing another children's or young adult adaptation as the next big thing. Fifty Shades of Grey is a book that has hit the world by storm, sprinting up to the number one position with increasing sales weeks on end, whipping all other summer reads into submission. Even after weeks at the top, Fifty Shades is not going anywhere. The popularity of the books can only mean that the movie is already a guaranteed success before it's even been cast - meaning any actor or actress in Hollywood wants a part in the action. You don't need to be a psychic to know that the movie is guaranteed to break all the box office records upon its release!
The potential candidates for the role of Ana Steele include Mila Kunis, Emma Watson and Scarlett Johansson. Even Angelina Jolie wants a role in the movie! Ryan Gosling from The Notebook is said to be the bookies' favorite for the part of Christian Grey, with Vampire Diaries' Ian Somerhalder not too far behind. The hype surrounding the movie Fifty Shades of Grey is like nothing we've ever seen before, where even the adaptations of the Harry Potter series or even The Lord of the Rings didn't receive the kind of attention that E.L. James's erotic trilogy does. Perhaps it's the adult nature of the books that make them so appealing to the general public - rather than releasing another children's or young adult adaptation as the next big thing. Fifty Shades of Grey is a book that has hit the world by storm, sprinting up to the number one position with increasing sales weeks on end, whipping all other summer reads into submission. Even after weeks at the top, Fifty Shades is not going anywhere. The popularity of the books can only mean that the movie is already a guaranteed success before it's even been cast - meaning any actor or actress in Hollywood wants a part in the action. You don't need to be a psychic to know that the movie is guaranteed to break all the box office records upon its release!
Tuesday, 11 September 2012
Review: Transformers: Fall of Cybertron
Well we promised a full review of Transformers: Fall of Cybertron, and here it is. We'll be covering, the single player, multiplayer, and Escalation mode. Click through to read everything we can possibly pack into a review without giving away any of the goods on the game!
We've had the opportunity to play Transformers: War for Cybertron on the Xbox 360 and have to say, that this game is great for fans of the franchise and people who've never played a Transformers game before. Just starting up in the game you get immersed into the world of Cybertron and the battle between Autobots and Decepticons. The story engulfs you and the game just sucks you in and before you know it, 4 hours have gone by and you've only cracked the surface of what this game has in store.
Initial impressions:
For starters to get this out-of-the-way, I've played the previous two installments of Transformers developed by High Moon and Activision, and they've progressively gotten better, the third installment takes all of the learning from the first two and pushes it even farther, in just about every department. Transformers: Fall of Cybertron feels like the most polished Transformers game yet and that makes getting immersed in the story and gameplay, that much easier for players.
Game play:
Jumping right in the controls are familiar for anyone who has played a first or third person shooter/action game before. Since you don't have to really worry about figuring out which button shoots and which button jumps you can quickly get started in the game. The game also sneaks in some instructions on critical controls (like transforming) so while you're getting into the action you're also learning how to get better at controlling everything. I personally like this approach instead of the traditional "tutorial" mode that has you run through obstacles or play a "dummy" mission just to teach you how to play. I want to get in the game and fast, so giving me quick pointers on what certain buttons do, or how to interact with elements is a much better way to go about it in my book.
Graphics:
Transformers: Fall of Cybertron is powered by the Unreal3 game engine and the Havok Physics engine. There isn't much more that can be said about the Unreal3 engine other than it powers just about every top-tier title on the market and we all know what it can do. In this case it really makes Cybertron come alive, from the interiors of ships to the moving and "transforming" walls on Cyberton, all the way to the details on the individual Autobots and Decepticons.
The Havok Physics engine adds a lot of great effects with gravity, explosions, falling bodies and moving elements and it's great to see that it has come a long way from games like the Starwars the Force Unleashed. It is great to see destroyed Decepticon parts flying and bouncing around as you plow your way through levels.
The environments themselves are not the typical "lush jungles" or "rubble filled cities", the game is set on the high-tech home world Cybertron. That means everything is metal and it feels like an inside out space ship, as you walk around there are terminals and piping but you look up and can see the vast skyline.
The character modeling is great for the main playable characters, and the more notable bosses. There is a bit of redundancy when it comes to the random no-name Autobots that you meet along the way. The enemy character models are about the same, as you go through the levels you're introduced to specific classes of Decepticons, and you'll see a lot of them. There are differences between the classes, but not the bots within the class, so you'll certainly see hundreds of the same Decepticons, but then again, that is exactly how the Cartoon was so you can't really complain.
Single Player Campaign:
Full disclosure here, I haven't beaten the entire game yet, but every time I power up my console, I play through at least one more chapter of the game because it sucks me in!
The single player campaign is centered around the Autobots attempting to flee from Cybertron and the take over of Megatron and the Decepticons. You are faced with the challenge of protecting the Arc and getting it off planet to save the Autobot race. This is the most pivotal part of the Transformers story line and is what eventually leads the battle to our Earth. The campaign does a great job of making you feel that it is really important and everything you do, every challenge you face is bringing you one step closer to being the hero of the Autobots. Of course, it's not easy, even on Normal you're going to die, a lot, but luckily you can quickly load to your last check point to try and try again, until you figure out how to get passed those darned Decepticons.
The campaign progresses you through different Autobots that you can control. Each Autobot has their own unique characteristics and play style, if you try to run in and destroy everything with Bumble Bee like you do with Optimus Prime, you're going to fail. The campaign also does a great job of introducing new enemy character classes, each with their own methods of acting and fighting. You have to constantly adapt to what the game is throwing at you and one style of play just will not get you through this game.
Multiplayer:
The multiplayer portion of this game is something that I was really looking forward to playing and getting in to. Jumping in to battle as an Autobot or Decepticon is always a great feeling and having to deal with different play styles and techniques offers a challenging twist. As a Transformer you have two modes for your character, full robot or vehicle mode, each offering its own advantages and disadvantages.
You have to stick with your team in this game, more so than in games like Call of Duty, or Battlefield. You have to rely on your team mates to help you destroy the oncoming enemy team. If you're a "Destroyer" and you go up against an "Infiltrator" and a "Scientist" you're going to lose. The "Scientist" will sit back and heal the "Infiltrator" and even if your "Destroyer" has better weapons you're not going to be a match for a constantly healed bot.
The main game modes are the standard Team Death Match, Conquest, Capture the Flag and Headhunter. Each one is played on the vast landscape of Cybertron, with each map having its own unique terrain and challenges. The maps are huge, and you're going to need to use both your robot form and vehicle form to navigate them. The maps do offer a lot of choke points and areas for all out battles, but you could easily get lost on a few of them and never see an enemy.
Escalation Mode:
Simply put this is co-op / Horde mode that's been in previous (and multiple other) games. You pair up with up to three friends (four players total) to face off against waves of oncoming enemies. Similar to the Call of Duty style of Special Ops, you get to purchase upgrades and enhancements between waves based on how much carnage you've handed out. It is a lot of fun and with the different bot choices you make you get different abilities and need to use different play stiles which certainly increases the replayability.
Character Customization:
I've read all about the character customization, and the idea of building my own Autobot / Decepticon with the abilities that I want and the look that I want really appealed to me. At this point, the customization could use some more improvement, even though I'm used to unlocking additional "skins" or enhancements for my character through leveling, I just felt that the number of choices were limited. You can't really combine abilities of specific classes so you're locked in to a set of abilities from the get go. There are a limited number of head/torso/arm/shoulder/leg combinations, that although sizable, doesn't really allow you to create a "truly unique" robot. Yes you can customize the color (Autobot and Decepticon options) and you can apply different decals, but I guess I just wanted more variety. you also don't really customize your vehicle form other than color and weapon, so if you are an Infiltrator in vehicle form you'll see four more like you during any game.
Summary:
All things considered Transformers: Fall of Cybertron is a great way to kick off the video game release cycle for this year (see what we did there?). The game is fun, fluid, action packed and adds some refreshing play to tried and true game modes. The different classes and different play styles of each reminds you of Team Fortress, with game modes taken from Call of Duty and Gears of War, mixed with a dash of Twisted Metal thrown in for good measure.
The single player is challenging, but not demoralizing. The multiplayer is vast and action packed. The Escalation mode enhances a great game mode with classes and vehicles. All in all the game hits all the right buttons all the right ways.
Recommendation:
This game is a definite BUY
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We've had the opportunity to play Transformers: War for Cybertron on the Xbox 360 and have to say, that this game is great for fans of the franchise and people who've never played a Transformers game before. Just starting up in the game you get immersed into the world of Cybertron and the battle between Autobots and Decepticons. The story engulfs you and the game just sucks you in and before you know it, 4 hours have gone by and you've only cracked the surface of what this game has in store.
Initial impressions:
For starters to get this out-of-the-way, I've played the previous two installments of Transformers developed by High Moon and Activision, and they've progressively gotten better, the third installment takes all of the learning from the first two and pushes it even farther, in just about every department. Transformers: Fall of Cybertron feels like the most polished Transformers game yet and that makes getting immersed in the story and gameplay, that much easier for players.
Game play:
Jumping right in the controls are familiar for anyone who has played a first or third person shooter/action game before. Since you don't have to really worry about figuring out which button shoots and which button jumps you can quickly get started in the game. The game also sneaks in some instructions on critical controls (like transforming) so while you're getting into the action you're also learning how to get better at controlling everything. I personally like this approach instead of the traditional "tutorial" mode that has you run through obstacles or play a "dummy" mission just to teach you how to play. I want to get in the game and fast, so giving me quick pointers on what certain buttons do, or how to interact with elements is a much better way to go about it in my book.
Graphics:
Transformers: Fall of Cybertron is powered by the Unreal3 game engine and the Havok Physics engine. There isn't much more that can be said about the Unreal3 engine other than it powers just about every top-tier title on the market and we all know what it can do. In this case it really makes Cybertron come alive, from the interiors of ships to the moving and "transforming" walls on Cyberton, all the way to the details on the individual Autobots and Decepticons.
The Havok Physics engine adds a lot of great effects with gravity, explosions, falling bodies and moving elements and it's great to see that it has come a long way from games like the Starwars the Force Unleashed. It is great to see destroyed Decepticon parts flying and bouncing around as you plow your way through levels.
The environments themselves are not the typical "lush jungles" or "rubble filled cities", the game is set on the high-tech home world Cybertron. That means everything is metal and it feels like an inside out space ship, as you walk around there are terminals and piping but you look up and can see the vast skyline.
The character modeling is great for the main playable characters, and the more notable bosses. There is a bit of redundancy when it comes to the random no-name Autobots that you meet along the way. The enemy character models are about the same, as you go through the levels you're introduced to specific classes of Decepticons, and you'll see a lot of them. There are differences between the classes, but not the bots within the class, so you'll certainly see hundreds of the same Decepticons, but then again, that is exactly how the Cartoon was so you can't really complain.
Single Player Campaign:
Full disclosure here, I haven't beaten the entire game yet, but every time I power up my console, I play through at least one more chapter of the game because it sucks me in!
The single player campaign is centered around the Autobots attempting to flee from Cybertron and the take over of Megatron and the Decepticons. You are faced with the challenge of protecting the Arc and getting it off planet to save the Autobot race. This is the most pivotal part of the Transformers story line and is what eventually leads the battle to our Earth. The campaign does a great job of making you feel that it is really important and everything you do, every challenge you face is bringing you one step closer to being the hero of the Autobots. Of course, it's not easy, even on Normal you're going to die, a lot, but luckily you can quickly load to your last check point to try and try again, until you figure out how to get passed those darned Decepticons.
The campaign progresses you through different Autobots that you can control. Each Autobot has their own unique characteristics and play style, if you try to run in and destroy everything with Bumble Bee like you do with Optimus Prime, you're going to fail. The campaign also does a great job of introducing new enemy character classes, each with their own methods of acting and fighting. You have to constantly adapt to what the game is throwing at you and one style of play just will not get you through this game.
Multiplayer:
The multiplayer portion of this game is something that I was really looking forward to playing and getting in to. Jumping in to battle as an Autobot or Decepticon is always a great feeling and having to deal with different play styles and techniques offers a challenging twist. As a Transformer you have two modes for your character, full robot or vehicle mode, each offering its own advantages and disadvantages.
You have to stick with your team in this game, more so than in games like Call of Duty, or Battlefield. You have to rely on your team mates to help you destroy the oncoming enemy team. If you're a "Destroyer" and you go up against an "Infiltrator" and a "Scientist" you're going to lose. The "Scientist" will sit back and heal the "Infiltrator" and even if your "Destroyer" has better weapons you're not going to be a match for a constantly healed bot.
The main game modes are the standard Team Death Match, Conquest, Capture the Flag and Headhunter. Each one is played on the vast landscape of Cybertron, with each map having its own unique terrain and challenges. The maps are huge, and you're going to need to use both your robot form and vehicle form to navigate them. The maps do offer a lot of choke points and areas for all out battles, but you could easily get lost on a few of them and never see an enemy.
Escalation Mode:
Simply put this is co-op / Horde mode that's been in previous (and multiple other) games. You pair up with up to three friends (four players total) to face off against waves of oncoming enemies. Similar to the Call of Duty style of Special Ops, you get to purchase upgrades and enhancements between waves based on how much carnage you've handed out. It is a lot of fun and with the different bot choices you make you get different abilities and need to use different play stiles which certainly increases the replayability.
Character Customization:
I've read all about the character customization, and the idea of building my own Autobot / Decepticon with the abilities that I want and the look that I want really appealed to me. At this point, the customization could use some more improvement, even though I'm used to unlocking additional "skins" or enhancements for my character through leveling, I just felt that the number of choices were limited. You can't really combine abilities of specific classes so you're locked in to a set of abilities from the get go. There are a limited number of head/torso/arm/shoulder/leg combinations, that although sizable, doesn't really allow you to create a "truly unique" robot. Yes you can customize the color (Autobot and Decepticon options) and you can apply different decals, but I guess I just wanted more variety. you also don't really customize your vehicle form other than color and weapon, so if you are an Infiltrator in vehicle form you'll see four more like you during any game.
Summary:
All things considered Transformers: Fall of Cybertron is a great way to kick off the video game release cycle for this year (see what we did there?). The game is fun, fluid, action packed and adds some refreshing play to tried and true game modes. The different classes and different play styles of each reminds you of Team Fortress, with game modes taken from Call of Duty and Gears of War, mixed with a dash of Twisted Metal thrown in for good measure.
The single player is challenging, but not demoralizing. The multiplayer is vast and action packed. The Escalation mode enhances a great game mode with classes and vehicles. All in all the game hits all the right buttons all the right ways.
Recommendation:
This game is a definite BUY
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Tuesday, 4 September 2012
Strip Clubs: Enjoy Your Experience With These Tips
It amuses people when you mention that there is a certain etiquette to enjoying strip clubs. Etiquette! In a place where the entire point is to sit and ogle women who are taking their clothes off for your enjoyment? Believe it or not, it exists. In fact, it not only exists but it can severely hamper your ability to have a good time if you choose to ignore it. Now, it may not be your fault. You may not have ever heard that there was any such way to behave. Consider this your exposure. Here are some tips that will help you have a better time the next time you hit the joints in your town.
First Tip: Tip
The best tip you can get about having a good time in strip clubs is plainly that: tip. Every night some joker is going to come through the door with just enough to buy a drink and pay the cover charge. He'll watch the dancers until the sun comes up, but he won't part with a single crinkly dollar for the entertainment. Simply put: don't be that guy. Even if the club allows you to be cheap (and many of them will), you're basically no better than the guy who stiffs his waiter or pizza delivery driver. If you do those things as well, consider a major mindset change.
Dress Well
If you were heading to your favorite dance club to potentially hook up, would you wear sweatpants and a stained shirt? Doubtful. Yet many guys think it's okay to walk into strip clubs wearing something that would be more suited to painting the garage. Have some self-respect. No, you're not going to walk out with a dancer's phone number, regardless of how you dress. That doesn't mean you can't make an effort. Some of the higher tier clubs will turn you away at the door for shabby dress.
Keep Your Hands To Yourself
It's a disrespectful way to think about it, but compare strip clubs to zoos if you must. How long do you think you would be allowed to stay at the zoo if you were leaning over the railing, attempting to pet every exotic animal you came across? The same is more or less true for these establishments. You are free to look all you want. Unless you've been given the explicit go-ahead, though, your attempts to touch are going to be met with severe disapproval. In many cases, this means being thrown out. Don't tempt the bouncer to spring into action.
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First Tip: Tip
The best tip you can get about having a good time in strip clubs is plainly that: tip. Every night some joker is going to come through the door with just enough to buy a drink and pay the cover charge. He'll watch the dancers until the sun comes up, but he won't part with a single crinkly dollar for the entertainment. Simply put: don't be that guy. Even if the club allows you to be cheap (and many of them will), you're basically no better than the guy who stiffs his waiter or pizza delivery driver. If you do those things as well, consider a major mindset change.
Dress Well
If you were heading to your favorite dance club to potentially hook up, would you wear sweatpants and a stained shirt? Doubtful. Yet many guys think it's okay to walk into strip clubs wearing something that would be more suited to painting the garage. Have some self-respect. No, you're not going to walk out with a dancer's phone number, regardless of how you dress. That doesn't mean you can't make an effort. Some of the higher tier clubs will turn you away at the door for shabby dress.
Keep Your Hands To Yourself
It's a disrespectful way to think about it, but compare strip clubs to zoos if you must. How long do you think you would be allowed to stay at the zoo if you were leaning over the railing, attempting to pet every exotic animal you came across? The same is more or less true for these establishments. You are free to look all you want. Unless you've been given the explicit go-ahead, though, your attempts to touch are going to be met with severe disapproval. In many cases, this means being thrown out. Don't tempt the bouncer to spring into action.
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ExperTrans voice-overs services
ExperTrans interpreting translation services
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