Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Mesothelioma


So I have been doing a research paper for one of my classes on a types of cancer and came across mesothelioma. This is what I have so far and I know I have got a long way to go before its professional. All the same outside critiques are welcome, and I hope this is informative to you because it was to me.
 Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that targets the cells surrounding the heart, lungs, and abdominal cavity. This is usually caused by the inhalation of asbestos for long periods of time. And since we as a country used asbestos until 1989 as we gradually stopped and banned entirely in Dec 2003. But what is asbestos? It is a set of six silicate minerals desired for the fact that it had good sound absorption, tensile strength; and a resistance to fire, heat, electrical and chemical damage. This stuff was used in almost every way imaginable such as drywall and joint compound, clutch plates, "transite" panels, siding, counter-tops, pipes, dental cast linings, gas mask filters pre 1960s, plaster, brake pads, shoes, roofing tars, felts, siding, shingles, vinyl floor tiles, sheeting, adhesives, mud and texture coats, acoustic ceilings, fireproofing, caulk, gaskets, systems for sealing rotating shafts, stage curtains, fire blankets, interior fire doors, fireproof clothing for firefighters, thermal pipe insulation, filters for removing fine particulates from chemicals, liquids and wine, HVAC flexible duct connectors, and drilling fluid additives. Now of course most of the uses were relatively safe if they were solid pieces in an unbroken state, but once broken or jagged it would release fibers into the air that could be inhaled. And after awhile the body’s cells in the linings would try to digest the fibers although they cannot. This would cause an immune response and cause the cells to divide which would give way to the cancer known as mesothelioma. Diagnosing this cancer is extremely hard because it takes decades to be recognized, and by this time the cancer was in very late stages. Mesothelioma's symptoms include shortness of breath, chest wall pain, and weight loss. A doctor must do a complete physical examination and microscopic examination; thoracoscopy, imaging tests, biopsies, lung function tests, fluid biopsies, computed tomography scans, X-rays, and blood tests, and magnetic resonance imaging scans. With these procedures the type of cancer cells and the extent can be identified. Because of mesothelioma latency from the initial asbestos fiber inhalation treating it is very difficult. Currently mesothelioma is treated by a mix of chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery. And outside of the hospital good diet and exercise is shown to give a better chance of surviving. When it comes to cancers like mesothelioma, early diagnosis is inexorably important. As doctors and scientist continue to increase the life expectancy of patients and one day find a cure.

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

We all fall to the hype once in awhile.

In a wonderful turn of events, I say this in sadness. PlayStaion Magazine made a bit of an exaggeration saying Hideo Kojima would be making Metal Gear Solid 5, let alone it even being made at all. MGS5 was simply a thought of possibility with Kojima being involved as a supervisor. The full quote is thus, “I think we’ll probably have to make it [MGS5] at some point, but what that will be, we have no idea,” he reportedly said. “As far as my involvement in the project is concerned, [it] probably won’t be as much as it was with MGS1--maybe I can do just one stage! For MGS1 I made the maps myself, laid out the enemy routes myself, did everything hands-on--that level I can’t do again.” So no dice on Christmas coming early, but I am content that Hideo would still have some involvement instead of a standalone product like Acid, or God forbid Snakes Revenge, but that may be my personal preference. I do feel sorry for the guy though fans tend to put all expectations on him and forget that there's more than one guy making these games, sadly he can't live forever. And he doesn't even have a rapid aging genetic defect!

Sunday, November 20, 2011

Still breaking the speed of light.

New results at the CERN facility testing on neutrino’s has been confirmed in a second more refined test. One of the initial thoughts of error was a miscalculation because the neutrino bunches were too long. In the new test they used smaller bunches created in at the Cern facility and sent them through 730km (454 miles) of rock to a giant detector at the INFN-Gran Sasso laboratory in Italy. The results were found that the neutrinos arrived 60 billionths of a second faster than light would have.





Of course we are still waiting for a confirmation from separate facilities but this looks promising, or demising depending on what physical interpretation of STR's mathematical core. Has this destroyed science and physics as we know it? Epistemologically yes, ontologically no, if these results after many billions of tests stay true it simply means we are going to the Lorentzian interpretation of STR and leaving the Minkowskian interpretation which is the standard at the moment, like Einstein did to his own interpretation back in 1908. Science always changes and that certainly is a good thing!

Saturday, November 19, 2011

Metal Gear Solid 5

So in an interview with PlayStation Magazine that will be published in November 29's issue, Hideo Kojima the creator of the Metal Gear Solid franchise has confirmed that they are working on a fifth installment. Not just Kojima Productions but himself as well will be involved in the game. Unlike Raiden Rising which is the first game in the series he hasn't touched and is coming out who knows when. I am certainly glad he is still involved with the actual story of Metal Gear as I do not count Raiden Rising yet, I mean slicing watermelons is cool but I want more stealth action espionage with Snake. Of course with Snakes age and all who knows if he will be involved at all but I hope that it will carry on the spirit of its predecessors at the least. With the Metal Gear series being my all time favorite games as well as what got me to take a real serious interest in games as more than just toys, I am excited for whats going to happen next in the future with bipedal nuclear machines.

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Revenge of the Dragons

So an update on Skyrim, its is awesome I'm playing as an Argonian ranger one-shoting everything from a distance in the shadows. Just joined the thieves guild in Riften playing as stealthy as I can. The music really reminds me of Lord of the Rings sometimes, and whenever I'm on a quest I always get sidetracked when I notice a cave or castle I can run through. There is a lot of things to do in this game it is insane seeing all the things you can do. But on the funny but creepy side I've only noticed a couple of glitches like a man carrying wood he just chopped with two pieces magically attached to either side of his legs as he walks; maybe the first orthotics of Skyrim. Another is I saw a man on a horse suddenly rise up and fly lazy circles off towards the horizon, he did this twice and in different directions. I was hoping a dragon would swoop down and fly off with him. Speaking of dragons since the first one I killed every couple of hours the first dragons skeleton literally plops down in front of me out of the sky. I am beginning to think this is a warning from the other dragons by saying "We know.". This game is defiantly going to suck up all of my time for quite a while.

Friday, November 11, 2011

Skrim Epic Rap

I found this on youtube thought it to be pretty awesome. Is it sad that this was the clincher to going and buying the game? I think not, personnel review in the future.

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Review



Alright so I have been playing Uncharted 3 the last two days, could have beat it in one day if I hadn’t slept. I liked the game it ran the same way in plot, treachery, treasure and more treason, in the same vein as the first two games. The animation is amazing the way Drake stumbles or reaches out towards a wall for support is as “solid” pun intended as the first game. The setting and views are varied and wonderful; my favorite was the decrepit mansion in France covered over by a dense forest and destructive time. Watching the wooden beams and walls heat up as the wood begins to glow before bursting into flames was awesome. Though trying to escape not knowing what’s going to shatter from any side was extremely well done to make you forget how linear the game is and begin to think you are lost with no way out. To augment the levels the music stays in line with an adventurous spark keeping you on edge as any good action movie. The weapons were varied and ammunition really depended on what your enemy is trying to kill you with. And the voice actors with their quips and wit kept the slow going as entertaining as the actions scenes in their own sense. The story I feel wasn’t on par with the past two games explanation of just what was going on. It seemed kind of thrown at you without strong storytelling, and I really wish they had expounded on Drake and Sully working together when Drake was a kid and Sully in his prime. But it seemed they threw that in not really for Sully or Drakes sake but for how they got involved with the main villain. Another problem I had was how you controlled Nathan, when you had a climbing or running sequence its perfect, but making quick turns and navigating tight spaces seemed really slow and I was bumping around like a drunk instead of escaping goons in chase sequences. In all honesty I love the second game more with its levels and fun story, the third builds on with different settings and better graphics but the story seemed lacking and that’s what I love games for. I haven't tried the online mode yet but I hear its stronger than the seconds game online. I would recommend this game the same way I recommend the first two games, it’s a short fun summer blockbuster movie like experience in line of Indiana Jones, no aliens so far though thank goodness. I defiantly plan on taking a weekend to play all three in a row to keep the summer action going in November.

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Real Life Super Heroes!

So two weeks ago I watched a HBO documentary on super heroes which I found funny.



I didn't actually believe this was true but apparently so. Since then a news article on Slashdot has persuaded me otherwise. A man who goes by the name Phoenix Jones was arrested for breaking up a fight with pepper spray and in all his awesomeness in a costume armed with pepper spray and even a cattle prod. All of this was on camera as his escapades of protecting the city of Seattle are. Which is pretty smart in defending yourself with proof as well as back up to call the police since he's been beaten, stabbed and shot before! I think people being super heroes standing up for their community against crime is an admirable thing because no one does anything, a.k.a. the bystander effect. So some people are pushed to the extremes of being a good samaritan. And yes that is awesome but also sad that no one stands up for good that one person has to do it and reap all repercussions himself. If the community protected the community we wouldn't need such superheros as all would be one. And yes I know we have the police, but when it comes to a crime happening, the police can only do something after the fact, they can only do something after its been committed, communities can stop it before it starts. Let me know what you think. Excelsior!

Friday, October 7, 2011

Dark Souls...To die will be a great adventure!



So I picked up Dark Souls on launch day and have been playing ever since. Let me just say it is just as hard as the first game, although it has changed up some key elements so its hard in other brutal ways as well. Like all games with the option I am playing as a hunter, although I barely use my bow since arrows cost to much. But the speed of running up on someone and slicing them before they know what hit them is my play style with the option to pull lone enemies with my arrows. I have to say there are a lot more what the game would see as mini bosses and I would see as full on bosses everywhere, as usual dying is a must for this game. Unlike the first game you are in a completely open world to go not where you please but where you can survive. It does cause the game to lag at times but not that much to be a hindrance to me, I like the bonfire idea that resets enemies so its a quick way to grind against your favorite undead. You yourself are in fact undead or a "hollow" and by finding humanity or randomly getting it you can be human again, however once you die you lose it. This is a wonderful problem for me since yesterday I played for about ten hours undead without finding a single humanity, while my brother within a few hours had five, my luck I guess. Although I play a little fast and loose whereas he is more methodical so I guess he is getting rewarded. But all the same the game has a wonderful dark atmosphere with something to murder you at every corner so to actually succeed has real worth and accomplishment to it. I wouldn't really recommend people with no patience to play this unless you are working on gaining some since this is a game to do it. You got to love games as hard as this, that's going to be it today as I am going back to switching between dieing on Dark Souls then the Battlefield 3 beta and back again.

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Dead Seas Scrolls

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So I found out something I think is pretty interesting. With the help of Google the Dead Sea Scrolls have been digitized so you can see them on the internet. They go as far as an interactive scroll that you can zoom in on and read the english translation verse by verse. Accompanied on the site are videos that explain the different scrolls. With the age of the paper its amazing how well preserved it really is. I think its great that they have been able to put this online otherwise you would still have to go to the museum in Israel to get a peak. Anyway here is the link.

http://dss.collections.imj.org.il

Thursday, September 22, 2011

Its not the end, but you can see it from here.

In the wonerful world of politics and science!

Lets see the Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad apparently used his speech time at the UN General Assembly to berate the United States for not bringing in Osama bin Laden to trial, instead of killing him and dumping the body in the ocean. As well as questioning the holocaust and the attacks on 9/11? As a result there was a mass walkout by foreign diplomats from thirty different countries while he was talking. Ahmadinejad continued attacking western nations for intervening in countries to weaken them through their military strength so they could plunder their resources causing them to be more dependent on the west. This was certainly bad timing for the Iranian president since tomorrow will decide whether Palestine will be a full or partial member in the UN. With hundreds of protests against Ahmadinejad at the UN in the streets of New York its no wonder the U.S.A. as well as Israel has stated they will veto the request by Palestine for UN membership. Its ironic that Mahmoud would attack the U.S. for its policies while constant stories come out with the way citizens are treated in his own country.





At Cern the location of the LHC(Large Hadron Collider) something starling has been found possibly a miscalculation but important all the same. They were testing subatomic particles called neutrinos sending them 732km toward Gran Sasso laboratory. And apparently they reached their destination slightly faster than the speed of light, by a few billionths of a second but faster nonetheless. Now this is not a official statement, they are now running extensive test to make sure of no errors in their calculations or experiments that could lead to a misunderstanding. But all the same if this is proven to be true a lot of scientific fact over the past century may be thrown out, if not reworked. But to my understanding the theory of how fast light travels was just that a theory, so breaking the bounds of our understanding doesn't shock me since that's what we have been doing since sience began. But I would ask, think of all the possibilities that can be opened up if this is true. At least the LHC has only possibly destroyed the theoretical world and not the real world like it was thought to do, why tear a black hole in the middle of the planet when you can do this right?

But to reiterate the death star is not complete.

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Its been awhile...

So I have not really posted in almost a week. But I can explain, I've been on a trip with my family to North Carolina. The main reason was there see the Worlds Strongman Competition. Only they changed the date around and I was only able to see one day of the semi-finals with the actual finals going on Wednesday and Thursday. The rest of the trip was museums and beaches and my first time on a sardine packed airplane. All in all I have to say the trip was nice the stormy beaches especially nice the worst part was of course heading back to a dirt hole like Oklahoma. And now I can only get my computer to work by laying the tower sideways,,, I took the thing completely apart and reinserted everything to make sure nothing is loose and still if there is a slight movement it will not turn on. Luckily I keep all my stuff on an external hard-drive so if it never turns on I don't lose anything. Back to the competition the athletes had to pull a 26,500 pound firetruck 25 yards or so on an incline after it had just rained. The only guys able to pull it across the line were two Americans Brian and Josh, and the last with the fastest time from Iceland named Thor. Afterwards the was three rounds of dead-lifts with cars weighing 800 pounds. The first round was seeing how long they could hold it and the other two was how many repetitions in seventy five seconds. I have a lot of footage on it but its packed away and I plan to post it soon. The competition was great but ESPN was there and kept interrupting the flow of things for their interviews, I swear the lady changed her outfit ten times in two hours. Plus they kept asking the audience to cheer so they could have shots to edit. All I have to say is you try cheering on a wet race track cold as all get out, no thanks. Anyway look forward to some amateur shot videos of the world strongest men!

Monday, September 12, 2011

Hail Zeon!

So I don't know if anyone is interested but Sunrise Studios has decided to put the first three Gundam movies with english subtitles up on their YouTube site. Which I think is pretty awesome, although I've always liked the Zeon mobile suits and not the flashy gundams. I've always seen the gundams win by their machines advancements and the Zeon pilots only survived if they actually had skill. Although that never lasted long as the gundam pilots actually gained experience. But there was one battle on the MS 8TH Team near the end that has always been my favorite.
I love the tactics the Gouf Custom uses and even when he loses he actually wins. But back to the main topic the movies bring back a nostalgia and I think putting them up for free is a good way to get new viewers on such old movies and help bring new fans to the series. I'll have the link to the page below, and all i want to ask is whats your favorite mobile suit or gundam, mines the DC-51-Loto.
Anyways here is the link to the Gundam Movies http://www.youtube.com/user/GundamInfo#p/u/15/r9o7hgHLm7c

Thursday, September 8, 2011

Dead Island Dead On

So I've picked up Dead Island for the Playstation 3 and have been playing it since the day it was released. And I have to say its great, it has the feel of every zombie movie I've seen with the scenarios. The combat is great I love running around with brass knuckles duking it out with anything in my path. The driving is also surprising to me in this game, its very fluid and maneuvering around vehicles strewn from about the road is tedious, even more so with zombies at the car door trying to eat you, but the thud made when running over said zombies is very satisfying. I do have some qualms like looking down at my feet and rotating in place makes it look like I'm hovering since there's no animation. And the facial animation for npcs is well... wrinkly, but that may be the middle aged tourists fault for the leather faces. I also noticed that no matter how different the zombie is once you chop their head off they all snap to a basic model of bald mouth open ball even though it had hair like carrot top a second ago. Also the voices are great but I wish they would fit in context with the actual conversation instead of coming off as prescript-ed separate lines like an automated voice on the phone, however it doesn't do this all the time. It seems like I'm making the game sound horrible but I digress its is awesome the visuals are stunning and the beach is simply beautiful. Compared with the claustrophobic city with tight corners, or dark smokey sewers tighter than the city I dread but it changes the way you play drastically as your tactics change to deal with where your zombie is, what type it is, and if its going to charge like a bat out off... well you get the idea. Another great aspect is the weapons selection and modification a bat is great but why not spike it with nails or wrap it up with a cloth and set it on fire. Guns I'm just getting into and I only use those if I'm being shot at myself, bullets are priceless in the zombie apocalypse people! Another good bad thing for me is when loading a new area everything is reverted to a basic look with no definition or textures, but honestly it doesn't detract from the game to me, I get to see what this game would look like if it came out a long time ago and humbles me to the fact that we are so advanced in such little time since video games were first realized. Anyway I'm going back to playing as i left it paused and the music is creeping me out. Oh did I forget the music? It fully translates the feeling of the game from serene piano like the first trailer to something more dangerous and fast paced. I would rather have the piano though it lulls me into a false security but it doesn't make me think somethings going to pull me under like other times. Let me know what you think about the game so far, I know I haven't covered everything!
By the way here's the true dead island experience for anyone who has already played it.

Thursday, September 1, 2011

$150!!!...Worth it?

So I'm not sure if anyone knows the details on this awesome jrpg created by Level 5 who's made such titles as the Professor Layton series for the DS, is working with Studio Ghibli who's every movie is near perfection like NausicaƤ of the Valley of the Wind, Spirited Away, My Neighbor Totoro ect. To make a game called Ni no Kuni: Shiroki Seihai no. With Professor Layton's art style in resemblance as some of Studio Ghibli's works i can see only good things to come. They already released a game in the same universe for the DS last year i don't really know if its made it to the U.S. if at all but i heard that it came with a book! How awesome is that most of the preorder stuff is pretty cheap in my opinion. like in Europe the special ed of Deus Ex: HR came with a Square Enix figure... the U.S. nothing like that. Who knows if the Ps3 game coming out on Nov. 17th in Japan will get anything on that level like is predecessor on the DS. One thing i do know  is that there will be a special ps3 edition console coming out on the release looking very nice in white and gold. But the kicker is that the price will be set at one hundred and fifty dollars! With the average going at sixty this is pricy but is it worth it? I mean Studio Ghibli's track record on style and amazing story i think the game will be forty hours of bliss, since with cinema they've been limited with two hours to emotionally invest you, think of that double decoupled! I think it is but i certainly don't want this price to be the norm unless games try and reach that level of quality, i know im talking in the future but i have hope for the gaming industry still.

Anyways heres the release trailer!

Monday, August 29, 2011

An Augmented Gamer

First post and I want to talk about Deus Ex Human Revolution. I beat it yesterday, only took me two days on the hardest mode. I have to say i loved every minute of it, it felt like a mixture of Mass Effect, Metal Gear Solid 4, The Matrix, and oh ya Deus Ex. Stealth Action Espionage is my favorite genre in games so obviously i played as a stealth and hacking nut. Above all that what interested me the most is the prosthesis's, I myself am going into a degree in Orthotics and Prosthetics. It would be nothing short of amazing to be in a world with that level of technology in my future career, except without all the violence, private military corporations, and terrorists. Although i really cant see much difference in where the world is heading today. A sad thought in and of itself. Anyway I'm leaving a short post since I've only just begun, I plan on talking about video games and the gaming industry since its my main interest. I will end with saying  ARMA 3 will be awesome!