Sneakers

At last its here, the original ’stealth em up’. Let me begin by saying I am the first games biggest fan (or one of a million of them anyay). I loved it and still do, everything in it was superb, it had never been seen before and I still play it even today. So when I brought this one home I was almost shaking with anticipation.

But (isn’t there always a ‘but’ when someone builds something up}, to my dismay Metal Gear Solid 4: guns of the Patriots was a major disappointment. Okay the visuals are out of this world but wasn’t that always expected? Still absolutely no complaints on that score, I played it on 50″ HiDef screen and was drowning in the gorgeous looks and thundering sounds.

Still, I don’t buy a game because its pretty and I want to watch. I buy to play and in all honesty by the third act I was bored. Yes you read that correct, I was bored. Numb in fact, partly due to the cut scenes and this is coming from a fan of the first ones cut scenes. I actually loved watching those, and those of the third installment. Sadly these just left me cold. It felt to me like pages and pages of misery come to life. I guess you could expect that being the last one featuring Snake but something about them just made the minutes drag painfully. Very good looking scenes but oh so (sadly) tedious.

Which brings me onto gameplay, the main ingredient obviously. Well the main time it was buisness as usual, sneak around guards in various countries. No fault there, its what we expect and I have always loved the sneaking part as I mentioned. It was the boss battles which finally had me throwing my hands up in despair. To my way of thinking they are simply souped up versions of previous bosses. Perhaps that is what Kojima meant to do, it is one big story afterall but these were unimaginative creatures and totally bland. Which is saying something for beasts named Screaming Mantis and Crying Wolf! (The formers battle not being a battle at all when you suss out how to beat it/her).

It does sadden me to say this but Snakes final bow was more a stagger to the curtain, with the only thing going for it is cinema style, over long and boring cut scenes.

If all the rumours are true about forthcoming titles then I hope the next guy in charge totally re shuffles his ideas.

And all this from a die hard fan who has played all other titles 50 times or more, sad as that may sound.

On a plus side the voice acting was as always brillliant and the extras you get to earn are cool too, its just re playing the game again to make use of these extras made me shrug my shoulders and walk off into the sunset. Much like Snake himself. (Altho not as cool).

It’s getting darker and colder outside

The frogs are chirping and bats are flying

The moon is bright and the stars shine

The kids are praying and closing their eyes

To dream about little boy and girl things

The mommys and daddys sneak off alone

Teenagers sneak out to ride around

Thats what happens at night

Well at least in Madison County

People say that a diamond is a woman’s best friend. However, more women out there go gaga over shoes rather than diamonds. Well, it may be attributed to the fact that not all women can easily buy diamonds. But then again, shopping for shoes is always a wonderful treat and experience for majority of the girls. They simply cannot resist the impulse to buy a new pair anytime they happen to pass by a boutique.

This is because shoes has evolved from being something you wear to protect your feet. Shoes, has in fact, become various other things to women. Shoes have become women’s hobby. There are many Imelda Marcoses out there, collecting as many pretty shoes as their wallets and credit cards allow. Shoes have become a passion, both for those who collect and make them. To create a fabulous shoe without compromising quality and comfort is indeed a science and art perfectly combined. And to buy these kinds of shoes is pure skill, especially if you can buy them at super-steal prices! Wearing shoes has also evolved to be a personal statement, or a way of expressing one’s self. What kind of shoes you wear is a sneak peak on your personality and what you are up to for the day. Wearing cute white sneakers on a Monday spells F-U-N and A-C-T-I-O-N. A great pair of jet-black pumps means confidence for that company presentation with prospective investors. Strappy hot-pink wedge sandals mean a wholesome weekend date with the girls. And a fiery red, four-inch strappy heels on a hot date just plain means sexy.

Aside from the different meanings women associate with shoes, what has also evolved is the design. Shoe designs are endless—platforms, maryjanes, wedges, straps, sneakers, pumps, four-inch heels, stilettos, kitten heels etc. all in every single color and sizes imaginable!

A leading brand in the field of women shoes is New Balance Shoes for Women. They carry different types of shoes for different needs. Their rubber shoes, flats and sandals are trendy, classic, durable and are affordable. Best of all, the New Balance Shoes for Women are specifically designed to provide ultra comfort for the wearer. The materials are not only soft and durable, but provide the necessary support to keep you and your feet happy. The shoes for example have Encap midsole and suede/mesh uppers, foam inserts and other add-ons to ensure super shock absorption, proper cushioning and sole support. And of course, another thing to be extremely happy about is that with the New Balance Shoes for Women, you get all these amazing stuff and not compromise the look. The shoes’ cut and color are very chic, trendy and classic at the same time. You can wear them and still look fabulous! Talk about getting your money’s worth!

In choosing shoes to purchase, there are factors to consider aside from the price tag attached to it and the look. Quality and comfort should never be compromised.

Destructive dog behavior has been experienced by every dog owner whose had their dog from early puppyhood. Puppies, as well as adult dogs love to chew. This is their favorite passtime. They will chew on just about anything. This is a problem that needs to be addressed when your dog is just a pup. It’s perfectly O.K. for dogs to chew but they need guidance as to what is acceptable to chew on and what is unacceptable. With destructive dog behavior, the first thing you need to do is dog-proof your home. If you don’t want it shredded, then keep it out of harms way. Clear out items such as:

Shoes
Sneakers
Sweaters
handbags
schoolbags
socks
pantyhose
children’s toys

You should not use any of these items as an official chew toy because they don’t know the difference between the “official” chew sneaker and off-limits running sneakers. When experiencing destructive dog behavior in your pup, it is initially up to you to guide him to chewing his own toys instead of household items.

During destructive dog behavior, be sure to keep an eye on your pup. They always seem to find the perfect time to sneak off and destroy something. If you have to leave him alone for any reason, confine him to a small space with his chew toys.

Then, you must address the behavior itself. If you catch your dog in the process of shredding your favorite pair of shoes, slam a heavy book on the table and say “Bad Dog” in a firm tone of voice. This will distract him enough for you to remove the shoe from his grasp and replace it with a bone. If he continues to chew on the bone, say “Good Dog” and give him some praise. Repeat this exercise each time the unfortunate circumstance arises that you find him destroying something.

In the instance where you cannot remove certain objects like electrical wires, you can try spraying them with a deterrent like Bitter Apple or Citronella.

If you find your favorite shoes lying in a corner all chewed up, unfortunately it is too late to do anything about it. Just bury the shoes in the backyard with the bones and move on. Do not repremand or punish him after the fact. This will do more harm than good. Although your dog may lead you to believe that he knows he did something wrong because he’s walking hunched over with his tail between his legs, that is not the case. If you walk into a room and find a shredded pair of shoes on the floor, your first reaction is to say “What did you do?” in a firm tone of voice. Your tone alone is intimidating enough to make your dog want to run and hide. Destructive dog behavior can easily be eradicated, but keep in mind that puppies teethe between 3-6 months, which will give them the incessant urge to chew during this time.

And last but not least, provide your dog with plenty of exercise and play time. The more time you spend with him, the less likely he is to be bored and want to engage in destructive dog behavior. Another way to keep him from getting bored is by rotating his toys. Changing his toys every day is likely to keep him stimulated and take his mind off destruction. You may even want to keep him occupied with a chew toy that allows you to stick a treat into it, this way your dog will spend a good part of the day picking at it trying to get it out.

Keep in mind that if you have a new puppy, it may takes months to discipline him because he is teething and wants to chew on everything all the time. Once he stops teething, this will less the destructive dog behavior, in which case he will not have the urgency to chew as much.

Be patient and be caring!

It’s A Celebration Of Soul This Sunday On HDNet With The Exclusive Premiere Of “Stax Records 50th Anniversary Concert” From The Orpheum Theatre In Memphis, TN

WHAT: The venerable Stax Records celebrates its 50th anniversary, and HDNet is there to capture it for this special concert premiere, Sunday February 17th at 8:30 p.m. ET. Hosted by Public Enemy’s Chuck D and Randy Jackson of American Idol, the lineup includes Angie Stone, the Reddings, Booker T. and the MGs, Mavis Staples, Isaac Hayes, and more.

“Stax Records 50th Anniversary Concert” is a virtual music VIP list

including Eddie Floyd singing “I’ve Never Found a Girl” and “Knock on Wood,” Lalah Hathaway with “Try a Little Tenderness,” and Booker T. and the MGs performing the immortal tunes “Green Onions” and “Time is Tight.”

WHEN: Sunday, February 17 at 8:30 p.m. ET.

About HDNet

HDNet ( http://www.hd.net ) provides viewers with the best in original comedy, drama, news, sports and music programming.

HDNet is your exclusive, high definition home for popular, critically acclaimed original programming, including television’s only HD news feature programs “HDNet World Report”, “Dan Rather Reports” featuring legendary journalist Dan Rather and “NASA on HDNet” (presenting live shuttle launches through 2010). HDNet presents championship sports coverage featuring the National Hockey League, Major League Soccer, NASCAR Grand National Division, NASCAR NEXTEL Cup re-broadcasts, boxing and premiere Mixed Martial Arts from “HDNet Fights”; behind-the-scenes sports news with “Inside the NHL” and “Inside MMA;” groundbreaking music programming with the HDNet Concert Series featuring leading artists and bands including U2, Coldplay, Gwen Stefani and more; entertaining and irreverent lifestyle programming including “Deadline!”, “Art Mann Presents”, and “Get Out!” HDNet is also the exclusive high definition home to the critically acclaimed and award winning programs such as the Emmy Award winning “Arrested Development”, “The Black Donnellys”, “Blade: The Series”, “Star Trek: Enterprise”, “Smallville”, “Joan of Arcadia”, “Boomtown” and “Andy Richter Controls the Universe”.

HDNet Movies also features a wide selection of major studio theatrical releases – all uncut, unedited, and appearing in their original aspect ratio so that HDNet Movies viewers get the best possible home theater experience.

Only HDNet Movies exclusive “Sneak Previews” bring feature films to viewers before they premiere in theaters! Some of the HDNet Movies “Sneak Previews” have included the Academy Award nominated “Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room”, Toronto Film Festival nominee “The War Within”, and “Bubble”, the first of six movies by acclaimed director Steven Soderbergh and produced exclusively for HDNet Films “Cashback”, written and produced by Sean Ellis, “Broken English”, from Zoe Cassavetes, starring Gena Rowlands, Parker Posey, Drea de Matteo and Griffin Dunne and, most recently the critically acclaimed “Redacted” directed by Brian De Palma. Upcoming “Sneak Previews” include “Quid Pro Quo”, starring Nick Stahl and Vera Farmiga, “Hunter”, the story of the life and death of infamous gonzo journalist Hunter S. Thompson from director Alex Gibney and producer Graydon Carter, and “Flawless”, starring Michael Caine and Demi Moore.

Launched in 2001 by Mark Cuban and General Manager Philip Garvin, the HDNet networks are available on AT&T, Bright House Networks, Charter Communications, DIRECTV, DISH Network, Insight, Mediacom, Time Warner Cable, Verizon and more than 40 NCTC cable affiliate companies. For more information visit http://www.hd.net

Scared about telling talking to your teen about sex? Scared you won’t know how to say anything about the subject? Scared your child won’t listen?

You are not the only one. Many parents have this problem. They try but it the right words won’t come out. It is better for you to start the conversation other then waiting until it’s too late. Start off by sitting them down and saying that “We need to talk about something very important”. By knowing that you are serious, it will definably get there attention.

Start the conversation off with a sentence like “What all do you know about sex”. Let them tell you what they know so they won’t have to explain everything. If they know nothing then you have to suck it in and tell them everything.

Tell them about HIV, AIDS, and other sexual transmitted diseases. Make sure to tell them that HIV or AIDS can not be transmitted by spit. It can only be caught by having sex unprotected. Some other transmitted diseases are Herpes, Gonorrhea, Chlamydia, and the lists never stops.

After hearing all these they might think you are trying to scare them. That may be what some parents try to do. But if you are not trying to do that then you simply explain your reasons of telling them this. Which is you simply care about the situation.

Tell the child if they still are considering having sex to be safe. Tell them to always use a condom, for there safety. Tell them if the person they desire to have sex with doesn’t have a condom then they should not go though with it. Maybe it was a sign that it wasn’t time to do it just yet. Let them understand they it is there body and they have a long life it live. Let them know that they can wait for this experience. Don’t do it because of peer pressure or because everybody else is doing it. Let them know this is there discussion.

If you are religious and you want to use what the bible says in your discussion. You might want to use that they wait until they get married to have sex, or that it is a sin to have sex with someone you are unmarried to.

If they are still convinced to have sex after all that you should only support them. If you try to stop them or act differently then they will sneak to do whatever. You would rather know where they are then for them to sneak around and do this, and chance for something to go wrong in the process. You never want them to sneak and have sex because they will disregard everything you told them in this conversation. Be concerned but not to the point were you go too far. This is were most parents make the biggest mistakes. You want your child to trust you with everything that they tell you. So don’t over react.

I have given you most tips on what to do in conversations about sex with your teen. Take heed to what has been discussed and hope you do the right thing.

Camping out days in advance. Purchasing spots in line ahead of yours. Pages and pages of magazine speculations and gossip. All over one thing, arguably the most important release of 2006. So, what is this mystery release? Did a new Star Wars movie sneak into theatres while no one was looking?

Well, if that were the case, why are people camped in front of Best Buys, GameStops, Targets, and GameCrazy’s around the nation? Well, they aren’t there for their health. They’re there in the hopes that they will get the opportunity to blow upwards of $800 of their hard earned money, and taking home the sleek, black, Playstation 3, the most powerful gaming console on the planet.

Arguably, of course.

Why the near-Thanksgiving day insanity over a system that may or not be the top-dog in the highly competitive field? Well, for many people standing in line on November 16th, 2006, the prospect of owning a Playstation 3 had little to do with actually playing the thing. Most were there simply for the chance of turning their $700ish investment into a tidy profit, doubling or even quadrupling their investment on eBay. With Playstations pre-selling on eBay for a rough average of $2000, it’s easy to see why the scalpers were out in full force. In fact, try finding a PS3 on eBay for under $900 even now. And the closer we get to Christmas, expect prices to start soaring again.

But what of the system itself? It’s easy to forget about the actual thing in question when so much hype surrounds it. How does the system stack up against it’s closest competetors – the XBox 360 and the Nintendo Wii?

For starters, the Playstation 3 is just as fickle a system as the XBox 360 was when it first launched. Reports of graphics chug, overheating, and long downloads are common. Microsoft has had a year to perfect it’s Microsoft Live online gaming network, and most gamers are quick to praise it’s ease of use, interactivity with games (through unlockable “achievements” put in XB360 titles by developers), and simple enjoyment. Like to chat with friends while you play? Pick up a headset (included with the premium package) and a optional webcam, and you’re all set. Available for the PS3? Not quite yet.

In my opinion, looking at the two systems side by side, there is little actual difference in the graphics. Granted, the PS3 does tend to get a little excessive with the motion and gaussian blurs (if this were a crime, Need for Speed: Carbon would get life in prison), while the XB360 has

One of the most popular line of sneakers within the Nike brand is called the Nike Dunk, these shoes were introduced to the market back in 1985, they were available in many colors and styles as well, they featured a high top or low top and were for the most part intended to be used by college and university basketball players.

As time went by the Nike Dunk went through an evolution stage and became more than a basketball sneaker, he became a subcultural icon which is now used to make a fashion statement. Even though the Nike dunk became more of a cultural and fashion accessory the design of this shoe clearly shows that it was intended to be used during high intensity basketball games, the soul of the shoe is a lot wider and closer to the ground, these modifications decrease the weight of the shoe and effectively improve the performance of basketball players. The paneling structure was also revised in order to be more effective during blocking and pivoting.

The Nike Dunk was basically used to promote and launch Nike’s College colors program in which the company sponsored many average basketball teams and provided them with this new line of shoe which were modified in order to match the colors of the basketball team uniform.

Some of the colleges and universities which participated in this “basketball sneaker revolution” were: the University of Maryland, the University of Nevada, the University of Iowa, St. John’s University, the University of Michigan and many others. The production of the Nike dunk was on hold for several years until 1998 when it was relaunched, the 1998 and 2000 models featured a nylon tongue as well as arch supports which set those versions apart from today’s models.

Unlike the Air Jordan’s, the Dunks have been produced in mass in order to accommodate and adapt to the growing demand, ironically enough special editions of Nike Dunks often fetch very high prices in the online market, if you are an online buyer who visits auction sites you may have noticed the some of shoes in this sneakers line called “What the dunks” may be sold for as much as $1800, which is the highest price recorded in an auction site which relates to a sports shoe, in this case Nike Dunks.

1. When something wild happens to you that you know might be worth blogging about, you get totally psyched and start writing your post in your head until you get near a computer.

2. When nothing exciting happens to you for a long time, you force yourself to freewrite and see what spews out from it (like today).

3. You scratch yourself raw in your bed half the night thinking of a post to write.

4. You check for grammar, spelling errors one hundred and one times before, during and after posting a post. You throw a fit when you’ve missed a period #(@*$#@(!

5. You sign up for Stat Counter just so you can monitor your visitor’s every move – where they come from, how they got here, where they’re going next, how long they stayed, what they clicked on etc. You almost feel like you could join the FBI.

6. You can’t wipe that big Willy Wonka smile off your face every time someone posts a comment on your blog.

7. You jump up and down like you’ve just won a million bucks when comments seem to come on a roll.

8. You get a really stronge urge to hug and kiss anyone who posts a nice compliment on your blog.

9. You want to become friends with every single person who visits and comments on your blog.

10. You call your blog acquaintances friends’ because you have few, if any, real-life friends.

11. You try to post a comment on everyone’s blogs at least once a day.

12. Your bookmarked blogs make up 99.9% of your internet bookmarks.

13. You cancel your Netflix subscription because you don’t have any free time for movies anymore. Besides, blogs seem more interesting than movies.

14. On days when you’re hanging out with your significant other, you sneak out every half hour to check for new comments, even when you know you’re not going to get any.

15. Before you discovered the feed reader (today), you visited everyone’s blogs at least three times a day.

16. You’ve stalked the blogs of the people on your blog friends’ list and have abused the poor F5 button more than you should have.

17. You got frustrated and impatient when your favorite bloggers weren’t posting anything for more than two days. You almost felt compelled to write them a note begging them to write something, anything.

18. You don’t look forward to weekends as much because weekends are downtime for blogging. Everyone seems to have a weekend planned except you.

19. You don’t seem to understand that unlike you, people have a life.

20. You get so caught up with other

We will start with just one example that most really like.

Reebok Classics – CL BB Jam SE
Look good on and off the court in these retro basketball sneakers. Classic lines with full-grain leather uppers. Durable rubber outsole for great traction while breakin’ ankles.

Reebok basketball shoes, which have been developed in conjunction with NBA, are available all over the world. These shoes are specially designed for those players who need a solid and comfortable fit, better traction and firm support for the ankle.

The Reebok basketball footwear is not limited to professional basketball players, but is available for all age groups. Reebok even offers children the option to customize their sneakers by placing the team logos on the sides. Reebok also has Little Kids ATR Flush and Reebok Insane Hoops Basketball Shoe for pre school children. Interestingly, an assorted collection in team colors and logos is available for infants!

Two popular Reebok brands are Rebook NBA Downtime Mid Basketball Men’s Shoe and Reebok NBA Downtime Low Basketball Men’s Shoe. These shoes that carry the NBA logo are made from full-grain leather that offers great comfort. The outsole is made of high-abrasion rubber that is quite durable. It also has the old lacing system for a tighter and adjustable fit.

Another popular shoe is the Reebok NBA Enigma II. This shoe is made with the DMX technology that reduces heel impact and costs $86. It is made of leather and has a mid-cut design for extra stability.

Reebok BB4600 Ultra Hi Leather Basketball Shoes come in 7 to 13 sizes. They are quite comfortable and durable, thanks to the Die-Cut EVA midsole. For those who love to wear black shoes, Reebok ATR Black Reload Basketball Shoe could be the right choice. This made-in-China product features the X-beam technology and PU sockliner. Speed lacing system gives the user total convenience.

Another popular Reebok shoe is the Men’s ATR Too Easy Basketball Shoe. It comes with spandex lining that helps the foot to stay cool. It also has a Polyurethane Cushion Insole that adds to comfort. The Reebok Men’s Answer VII Low is another durable basketball shoe. It has a Duracourt rubber outsole and is available in two colors – white and silver.

Another choice that a basketball payer or fan has is the Men’s ATR Pump Basketball shoe. This shoe comes with an adjustable ankle strap that gives a perfect fit. The pull-up laces are removable.