Money Earner

September 29, 2008

METAG GEAR ON GAME VIDEO CLIPS [METAL GEAR 1,2,3,4]

If your a Metal Gear fan, then you cant wait to download this links. This is a compilation of Metal Gear in game videos they released this to celebrate the 20th year of Metal Gear Solid, starting from the metal gear 1(Playstation 1) to metal gear 4 which is now available on Playstation 3. If you cant afford to buy a PS3 then downloading the saga is worth your time, it may take long but its worth it. So feel free to download the links @ rapidshare.com.

CHEERS MGS fans!!

Metal Gear saga vol 1
http://rapidshare.com/files/125236491/Metal.Gear.Saga.Vol1.DVDrip.XviD.part1.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/125236493/Metal.Gear.Saga.Vol1.DVDrip.XviD.part2.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/125236490/Metal.Gear.Saga.Vol1.DVDrip.XviD.part3.rar
Metal Gear saga vol 2.
http://rapidshare.com/files/125239393/Metal.Gear.Saga.Vol2.DVDrip.XviD.part1.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/125237075/Metal.Gear.Saga.Vol2.DVDrip.XviD.part2.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/125237076/Metal.Gear.Saga.Vol2.DVDrip.XviD.part3.rar

MGS 1
Code:
CD 1 = Size 651 MB
http://rapidshare.com/files/125034013/MGS_Twin_Snakes_CD1.part1.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/125034076/MGS_Twin_Snakes_CD1.part2.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/125034077/MGS_Twin_Snakes_CD1.part3.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/125034082/MGS_Twin_Snakes_CD1.part4.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/125034081/MGS_Twin_Snakes_CD1.part5.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/125042086/MGS_Twin_Snakes_CD1.part6.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/125042172/MGS_Twin_Snakes_CD1.part7.rar
password gsmvid
CD 2 = Size 513 MB
http://rapidshare.com/files/125042173/MGS_Twin_Snakes_CD2.part1.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/125042211/MGS_Twin_Snakes_CD2.part2.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/125042275/MGS_Twin_Snakes_CD2.part3.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/125047478/MGS_Twin_Snakes_CD2.part4.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/125048187/MGS_Twin_Snakes_CD2.part5.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/125048189/MGS_Twin_Snakes_CD2.part6.rar
CD 3 Size = Size 285 MB
http://rapidshare.com/files/125048241/MGS_Twin_Snakes_CD3.part1.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/125048386/MGS_Twin_Snakes_CD3.part2.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/125050514/MGS_Twin_Snakes_CD3.part3.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/125053375/MGS_Twin_Snakes_CD3.part4.rar
Password for cd 2 + 3 gmsvid

MGS 2
Code:
—————————————————————————————–
CD 0 = Size 548 MB
http://rapidshare.com/files/125058343/MGS_Sons_Of_Liberty_CD0.part1.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/125058344/MGS_Sons_Of_Liberty_CD0.part2.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/125058342/MGS_Sons_Of_Liberty_CD0.part3.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/125062549/MGS_Sons_Of_Liberty_CD0.part4.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/125058341/MGS_Sons_Of_Liberty_CD0.part5.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/125058338/MGS_Sons_Of_Liberty_CD0.part6.rar
CD 1 = Size 695 MB
http://rapidshare.com/files/125066529/MGS_Sons_Of_Liberty_CD1.part1.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/125067966/MGS_Sons_Of_Liberty_CD1.part2.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/125069494/MGS_Sons_Of_Liberty_CD1.part3.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/125069505/MGS_Sons_Of_Liberty_CD1.part4.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/125064966/MGS_Sons_Of_Liberty_CD1.part5.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/125064964/MGS_Sons_Of_Liberty_CD1.part6.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/125064970/MGS_Sons_Of_Liberty_CD1.part7.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/125064967/MGS_Sons_Of_Liberty_CD1.part8.rar
CD 2 = Size 750 MB
http://rapidshare.com/files/125075402/MGS_Sons_Of_Liberty_CD2.part01.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/125076356/MGS_Sons_Of_Liberty_CD2.part02.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/125077414/MGS_Sons_Of_Liberty_CD2.part03.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/125079403/MGS_Sons_Of_Liberty_CD2.part04.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/125081334/MGS_Sons_Of_Liberty_CD2.part05.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/125081331/MGS_Sons_Of_Liberty_CD2.part06.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/125082306/MGS_Sons_Of_Liberty_CD2.part07.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/125083281/MGS_Sons_Of_Liberty_CD2.part08.rar
CD 3 = Size 681 MB
http://rapidshare.com/files/125085340/MGS_Sons_Of_Liberty_CD3.part1.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/125087085/MGS_Sons_Of_Liberty_CD3.part2.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/125087310/MGS_Sons_Of_Liberty_CD3.part3.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/125069567/MGS_Sons_Of_Liberty_CD3.part4.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/125071258/MGS_Sons_Of_Liberty_CD3.part5.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/125073061/MGS_Sons_Of_Liberty_CD3.part6.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/125075253/MGS_Sons_Of_Liberty_CD3.part7.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/125075300/MGS_Sons_Of_Liberty_CD3.part8.rar
password gmsvid

CD 0 = Size 450 MB
http://rapidshare.com/files/125096502/MGS_Snake_Eater_CD0.part1.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/125096504/MGS_Snake_Eater_CD0.part2.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/125096507/MGS_Snake_Eater_CD0.part3.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/125096505/MGS_Snake_Eater_CD0.part4.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/125096506/MGS_Snake_Eater_CD0.part5.rar
CD 1 = Size 680 MB
http://rapidshare.com/files/125100725/MGS_Snake_Eater_CD1.part1.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/125102138/MGS_Snake_Eater_CD1.part2.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/125102151/MGS_Snake_Eater_CD1.part3.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/125102213/MGS_Snake_Eater_CD1.part4.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/125102174/MGS_Snake_Eater_CD1.part5.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/125106494/MGS_Snake_Eater_CD1.part6.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/125310224/MGS_Snake_Eater_CD1.part7.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/125310222/MGS_Snake_Eater_CD1.part8.rar
CD 2 = Size 670 MB
http://rapidshare.com/files/125108146/MGS_Snake_Eater_CD2.part1.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/125108154/MGS_Snake_Eater_CD2.part2.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/125108190/MGS_Snake_Eater_CD2.part3.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/125108249/MGS_Snake_Eater_CD2.part4.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/125112808/MGS_Snake_Eater_CD2.part5.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/125114385/MGS_Snake_Eater_CD2.part6.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/125114398/MGS_Snake_Eater_CD2.part7.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/125114453/MGS_Snake_Eater_CD2.part8.rar
CD 3 = Size 691 MB
http://rapidshare.com/files/125114497/MGS_Snake_Eater_CD3.part1.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/125114761/MGS_Snake_Eater_CD3.part2.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/125118785/MGS_Snake_Eater_CD3.part3.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/125120468/MGS_Snake_Eater_CD3.part4.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/125120478/MGS_Snake_Eater_CD3.part5.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/125120677/MGS_Snake_Eater_CD3.part6.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/125120930/MGS_Snake_Eater_CD3.part7.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/125125576/MGS_Snake_Eater_CD3.part8.rar
password gmsvid

MGS 4
Image
Act 1: Run time 1:24:27
Size = 636 MB
Code:

http://rapidshare.com/files/124327602/01._Metal_Gear_Solid_4_-_Guns_of_the_Patriots__Act_1_.part1.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/124332895/01._Metal_Gear_Solid_4_-_Guns_of_the_Patriots__Act_1_.part2.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/124358811/01._Metal_Gear_Solid_4_-_Guns_of_the_Patriots__Act_1_.part3.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/124361659/01._Metal_Gear_Solid_4_-_Guns_of_the_Patriots__Act_1_.part4.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/124364143/01._Metal_Gear_Solid_4_-_Guns_of_the_Patriots__Act_1_.part5.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/124366434/01._Metal_Gear_Solid_4_-_Guns_of_the_Patriots__Act_1_.part6.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/124355744/01._Metal_Gear_Solid_4_-_Guns_of_the_Patriots__Act_1_.part7.rar
for conformation does anyone have a problem with this file?

Act 2: Run time 1:53:31
Size = 836 MB
Code:
http://rapidshare.com/files/124372387/02._Metal_Gear_Solid_4_-_Guns_of_the_Patriots__Act_2_.part01.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/124374915/02._Metal_Gear_Solid_4_-_Guns_of_the_Patriots__Act_2_.part02.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/124377710/02._Metal_Gear_Solid_4_-_Guns_of_the_Patriots__Act_2_.part03.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/124380071/02._Metal_Gear_Solid_4_-_Guns_of_the_Patriots__Act_2_.part04.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/124382329/02._Metal_Gear_Solid_4_-_Guns_of_the_Patriots__Act_2_.part05.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/124384622/02._Metal_Gear_Solid_4_-_Guns_of_the_Patriots__Act_2_.part06.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/124386895/02._Metal_Gear_Solid_4_-_Guns_of_the_Patriots__Act_2_.part07.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/124389442/02._Metal_Gear_Solid_4_-_Guns_of_the_Patriots__Act_2_.part08.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/124391713/02._Metal_Gear_Solid_4_-_Guns_of_the_Patriots__Act_2_.part09.rar

http://rapidshare.com/files/124404414/03._Metal_Gear_Solid_4_-_Guns_of_the_Patriots__Act_3_.part01.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/124407942/03._Metal_Gear_Solid_4_-_Guns_of_the_Patriots__Act_3_.part02.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/124411821/03._Metal_Gear_Solid_4_-_Guns_of_the_Patriots__Act_3_.part03.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/124415199/03._Metal_Gear_Solid_4_-_Guns_of_the_Patriots__Act_3_.part04.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/124419904/03._Metal_Gear_Solid_4_-_Guns_of_the_Patriots__Act_3_.part05.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/124423017/03._Metal_Gear_Solid_4_-_Guns_of_the_Patriots__Act_3_.part06.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/124395048/03._Metal_Gear_Solid_4_-_Guns_of_the_Patriots__Act_3_.part07.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/124397710/03._Metal_Gear_Solid_4_-_Guns_of_the_Patriots__Act_3_.part08.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/124400609/03._Metal_Gear_Solid_4_-_Guns_of_the_Patriots__Act_3_.part09.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/124401610/03._Metal_Gear_Solid_4_-_Guns_of_the_Patriots__Act_3_.part10.rar

Act 4: Run time 1:34:38
Size = 703 MB
Code:

http://rapidshare.com/files/124433708/04._Metal_Gear_Solid_4_-_Guns_of_the_Patriots__Act_4_.part1.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/124437147/04._Metal_Gear_Solid_4_-_Guns_of_the_Patriots__Act_4_.part2.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/124441176/04._Metal_Gear_Solid_4_-_Guns_of_the_Patriots__Act_4_.part3.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/124444918/04._Metal_Gear_Solid_4_-_Guns_of_the_Patriots__Act_4_.part4.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/124448850/04._Metal_Gear_Solid_4_-_Guns_of_the_Patriots__Act_4_.part5.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/124452633/04._Metal_Gear_Solid_4_-_Guns_of_the_Patriots__Act_4_.part6.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/124428263/04._Metal_Gear_Solid_4_-_Guns_of_the_Patriots__Act_4_.part7.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/124430483/04._Metal_Gear_Solid_4_-_Guns_of_the_Patriots__Act_4_.part8.rar

Act 5: Run time 2:48:33
Size = 1.21 GB
Code:

http://rapidshare.com/files/124465153/05._Metal_Gear_Solid_4_-_Guns_of_the_Patriots__Act_5_.part01.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/124468811/05._Metal_Gear_Solid_4_-_Guns_of_the_Patriots__Act_5_.part02.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/124472759/05._Metal_Gear_Solid_4_-_Guns_of_the_Patriots__Act_5_.part03.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/124476289/05._Metal_Gear_Solid_4_-_Guns_of_the_Patriots__Act_5_.part04.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/124480952/05._Metal_Gear_Solid_4_-_Guns_of_the_Patriots__Act_5_.part05.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/124486259/05._Metal_Gear_Solid_4_-_Guns_of_the_Patriots__Act_5_.part06.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/124491193/05._Metal_Gear_Solid_4_-_Guns_of_the_Patriots__Act_5_.part07.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/124538789/05._Metal_Gear_Solid_4_-_Guns_of_the_Patriots__Act_5_.part08.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/124526878/05._Metal_Gear_Solid_4_-_Guns_of_the_Patriots__Act_5_.part09.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/124532363/05._Metal_Gear_Solid_4_-_Guns_of_the_Patriots__Act_5_.part10.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/124517919/05._Metal_Gear_Solid_4_-_Guns_of_the_Patriots__Act_5_.part11.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/124507636/05._Metal_Gear_Solid_4_-_Guns_of_the_Patriots__Act_5_.part12.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/124512842/05._Metal_Gear_Solid_4_-_Guns_of_the_Patriots__Act_5_.part13.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/124513598/05._Metal_Gear_Solid_4_-_Guns_of_the_Patriots__Act_5_.part14.rar

Password if needed
Code:
gmsvid

September 4, 2008

iPhone

All in 1 Gadget.

Introducing iPhone 3G. With fast 3G wireless technology, GPS mapping, support for enterprise features like Microsoft Exchange, and the new App Store, iPhone 3G puts even more features at your fingertips. And like the original iPhone, it combines three products in one — a revolutionary phone, a widescreen iPod, and a breakthrough Internet device with rich HTML email and a desktop-class web browser. iPhone 3G. It redefines what a mobile phone can do — again.

Phone

Make a call by tapping a name or send a text with the intelligent keyboard.

iPod

Enjoy music and video on a widescreen display and shop for music with a tap.

Internet

Browse the web, get HTML email, and find yourself with GPS maps

3G Speed

Surf the web and download email over fast 3G cellular networks.

Maps with GPS

Find your location, get directions, and track progress along your route.

App Store

Browse games and applications, then download and install them directly onto your iPhone. 

iPhone in Enterprise

Get push email, calendar, and contacts with Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync.
 
Grab one now!

August 26, 2008

Animate you Face

Hi everyone!

Just visited a website, actually my friends told me to visit this site. So, this website allows you to create you own avatar that would allow you to make a replica of yourself or just make an animated face. Its really fun, I advise everyone to checkout the site and make your own avatar. ENJOY!

http://www.faceyourmanga.com

By the way, this is what I’ve created and I also place a picture of mine. So, what do you think? Do they have some resemblance? The animated face has this stiff lips and at my picture I smiled, I think this part of my face didn’t match.

 

April 10, 2008

Zombie Computers

Filed under: Business, Technology

SAN FRANCISCO — Gangs of thousands of zombie home computers grinding out spam, committing fraud and overpowering websites are the most vexing net threat today, according to law enforcement and security professionals.

Today’s botnet herders have hundreds of thousands of computers at their command and use technically sophisticated ways to hide their headquarters, making it easy for them to make millions from spam and credit card theft. They can also be used to direct floods of fake traffic at a targeted website in order to bring down a rival, extract protection money or less frequently, used to make a political point in the case of attacks on Estonia and the Church of Scientology.

Security pros and government officials are now describing the latter attacks, known as Distributed Denial of Service attacks, as serious threats to national security — turning  packet floods against public websites into the latest face of "cyberwar" hysteria.

Hence, the appearance Tuesday of a panel discussion at the RSA 2008 security conference entitled "Protecting the Homeland: Winning the Botnet Battle," which was marked by a mix of resignation, indignation and post-9/11 rhetoric.

Ronald Teixeira, the executive director of the non-profit National Cyber Security Alliance and the panel’s moderator, began the discussion by describing botnets as "one of the largest threats we face on the internet today, and they can be used to attack critical infrastructure."

The Department of Homeland Security’s representative Jordana Siegel, who works on public awareness at the National Cyber Security Division, echoed the line that botnets were a imminent threat to the nation’s security.

Citing the attacks on Estonia last year by Russian nationalist hackers, Siegel said botnets can "disrupt an internet-reliant society," saying that the temporary takedown of Estonian newspaper and government websites "nearly crippled the country’s cyber infrastructure." Earlier in the day, Homeland Security chief Michael Chertoff leaned on Estonia as evidence of the need for a federal government "Manhattan Project" for computer security.

Siegel said the DHS is working at fighting the problem, citing the annual October National Cyber Security Awareness month, which she said helped Americans learn that "all users need to practice safe online behavior."

McAfee’s Joe Telafici, a vice president in their security lab, lamented the ease with which botnet herders can abuse domain registration services and the low cost of e-mail, which make the economics of online crime very attractive.

"We are seeing a model that is so economically viable that trying to tell the kids it is a bad thing to do is bound to fail," Telafici said, suggesting that botnet herders outnumber the 15,000 or so attendees at RSA. "Even if you don’t have a computer, you are paying money to someone for the cost of dealing with the security ramifications."

FBI agent Matthew Fine cited two recent takedowns of U.S.-based botnets, operations dubbed Bot Roast, as an example of how the FBI is dealing with botnets. Fine declined to speculate, however, on whether the arrests actually put a dent in overall online criminality.

"I get paid to put bad guys in jail," the flat-topped Fine said, but he noted that as soon as one botnet herder was prosecuted another takes his place. 

"It is a boulder coming down the hill and I am trying to keep it from getting to the bottom," Fine said.

Fine hopes Congress will step in with tougher criminal penalties for botnet runners, but noted that judges were now handing out substantial sentences of four to five years in cases brought to them by the feds.

Ira Winkler, a security consultant known for his outspoken ways, countered that this was all just caterwauling and that if the country thought that botnets were a real problem, ISPs and individual users would be held responsible for zombie machines.

"The problem is no one is doing anything," Winkler said, proposing that users be fined or blocked if their computer is infected.

"Guess what? If your system has a bot on it, you don’t get on the internet," Winkler said, summarizing his proposal.

"We need to hold people responsible when they present an imminent threat to other people," Winkler said to wide applause from the audience. He contrasted the lack of computer regulation to laws preventing unsafe cars from taking the road.

Sparing no target, Winkler went on to ridicule DHS’s awareness efforts as useless, and argued that the highest levels of government don’t care about computer crime, citing the ability of a Russian cyber-criminal group known as the Russian Business Network to remain free.

"When they start putting the RBN in jail, then I will be impressed," Winkler said, noting that would require the feds to put pressure on the Russian government to stop protecting the gang — not an easy task.

Still, Winkler argues, that’s doable with political will.

"When the U.S. government wants to get things done, they know how to put people in jail."

So what really is the threat to the so-called Homeland from zombie computer armies?

When asked by Threat Level, the panel came to a split decision.

"Terrorism with botnets is overrated," McAfee’s Telafici said. "But if you are looking at the economic burden of botnets, we could probably do without it."

Winkler suggests that botnets could be used in tactical small attacks, including, perhaps, inflicting minor power outages.

DHS’s Siegel defended the use of overheated rhetoric, saying that temporarily unavailable government or financial websites would erode public confidence.

Missing from the panel discussion was any in depth talk about real solutions.

For instance, ISPs can easily learn or be told which of their customers has an infected computer, but due to the customer support costs of cutting off a zombified user — angry phone calls, confusion — they tend to do little.

Also not talked about are changes in internet governance that punish known domain sellers and ISPs that favored by online criminals for their lax policies.

March 30, 2008

Bag that won’t Forget

Filed under: Technology

Forgetting essential items at home, like your wallet or cell phone, may soon be a thing of the past, thanks to six women attending the School of Interactive Arts and Technology at Simon Fraser University in Canada. These students have developed a purse called the LadyBag that keeps track of its contents using RFID sensors.

The RFID sensors are small enough affix to anything you don’t want to leave behind, which the ladies assume would include your wallet, keys, and cell phone. If one of the tagged items is missing from the bag, a small icon that represents the missing object lights up on the outside of the purse to alert you before you walk out the door.

Another function of the LadyBag is its ability to display its owner’s emotional state, based on physical interaction with the bag. The bag has sensors throughout, so if its carrier wants to show the world she’s happy, she can hug the sides of the bag to produce a smiling emoticon. Fiddling with the zipper produces a nervous emoticon.

The LadyBag’s fun, young women creators created it with fun, young women in mind. So it’s perfect for those who wish to express themselves or just need a little help keeping track of their gear. I doubt it will be in stores anytime soon, since this bag is still in prototype form. But the ladies are working on making it available to all someday.

March 20, 2008

Be on the game

Have you Image your self being on a Swat team, Anti-Terrorism unit? Well, wait no more!

In the new rainbow Six Vegas 2 game, you can actually put your face on your character, its like being on the real action and whats cool is that you can actually pimp your self, like putting a hat on, adding a charcoal or something on your face. Isn’t it cool?! Im looking forward on the next games who’ll be also doing this kind of stuff. So gamers, better update your selves!

Here’s a screenshot

rainbow six

And here are 5 reasons why you should bought this game

1. Face the Action

Rainbow Six: Vegas 2 ditches the previous game’s lead in favor of a new star: you. No matter what platform you’re playing on, you can snap pictures of your face and import them into the game, which will generate a 3D model of your noggin and drop you straight into the action. If you harbor secret fantasies of joining an elite counter-terrorism unit — and let’s face it, who doesn’t — it’s the perfect way to explore them without all that tedious training.

2. Co-op Flies the Coop

Were you frustrated when Rainbow Six: Vegas’s co-operative multiplayer mode left you without cut-scenes, mission briefings and other important plot content? Yeah, us too. Luckily, Vegas 2’s co-op campaign is just as good as it is on your own, complete with all the meat. If you’re the type to jump straight into a co-op campaign and skip the single-player altogether, it’ll be right up your alley.

3. Viva Las Vegas!

We know it, you know it, and obviously the Rainbow Six team knows it, too: Vegas is the perfect setting for a first-person shooter, and doubly so when it’s one as realistic as the Tom Clancy series. Vegas 2 promises to take its players further into the seedy side of the city, and if you’ve ever watched CSI, The Godfather, or just about any other Vegas movie ever, you’ll know there’s plenty of trouble to get into just off the Strip.

4. What Happens in Vegas, Stays in Vegas

Vegas 2 is best described as "part sequel, part prequel." It takes place before, during and after the events depicted in the first Vegas game, so you’ll get extra insight into the game’s tale of Mexican shenanagins, double-crossing teammates, and strippers. Except the strippers - we made those up. You’ll have to play the game yourself to find out how it all turns out, but one nugget of information is already unclassified: this is the team’s final Vegas jaunt, so don’t expect any cliffhanger endings.

5. Aces! A New Character Upgrade System!

Although you still gain experience points and rank up in the classic fashion, Vegas 2 introduces a new way to develop your character. Wax a tango with a carefully-applied shotgun blast to the face from two feet away and you’ll receive Close-Quarters Battle points to spend on new up-close-and-personal kit. Drop one from range with a sniper rifle, and you’ll earn Marksmanship rewards. Finally - and this is our personal favorite - take out multiple bad guys at once and you’ll gain new Assault toys.

March 10, 2008

Essential Settings for Camera

Filed under: Technology

OK, the story I’m going to link to actually starts with the experts and eventually works its way down to the beginners, so if you’re new to digicam tweaks and advanced settings, try reading from the bottom up.

The most instantly useful tips are probably the three for beginners:

  • Adjust white balance manually to account for lighting conditions (especially fluorescents)
  • Use a higher ISO rating to account for lower light conditions
  • Use Aperture and Shutter Priority modes to keep backgrounds in focus (aperture mode) or freeze fast-moving action shots (shutter priority)

Among the more useful tips from the two advanced sections:

  • Use Full Manual Mode to set both aperture and shutter modes together (though this can get complicated)
  • Try burst mode to capture a bunch of shots, rapid-fire (this is so easy it shouldn’t be in the advanced tips, I think)
  • Use histogram displays to quickly check if you’ve overexposed a shot
  • Use exposure bracketing to try the same shot at different exposure levels to find the one that ultimately looks best. 

I know these tweaks take time and patience to master, but next time you’re shooting pics, try giving just one of them a whirl. You might be surprised what a difference they make to your snaps!

March 9, 2008

Hole in the Universe

Filed under: Technology

In August 2007, scientists from the University of Minnesota published an astonishing finding in the Astrophysical Journal. The universe, they declared, had a hole in it — a hole far bigger than anything scientists have ever seen or expected. This "hole" spans almost one billion light years and is six to 10 billion light years from Earth, in the Eridanus constellation [source: Daily Tech]. (For reference, one light year measures about six trillion miles.)

 

the spread of cosmic microwave background radiation

What makes this vast area of the universe a hole? The area shows almost no signs of cosmic matter, meaning no stars, planets, solar systems or clouds of cosmic dust. Researchers couldn’t even find dark matter, which is invisible but measurable by its gravitational pull. There were also no signs of black holes that might have gobbled up the matter once present in the region.

The hole was initially detected by a NASA program studying the spread of radiation emitted from the Big Bang, which scientists believe spawned our universe. It was then further examined using information gleaned from the Very Large Array (VLA) telescope, used in the NRAO VLA Sky Survey Project to study large sections of the visible sky.

One researcher described the find as "not normal," going against computer simulations and past studies [source: Yahoo News]. Other such holes, also known as voids, have been found before, but this find is by far the largest. Other voids amount to around 1/1000th the size of this one, while scientists once observed a void as close as two million light years away — practically down the street in cosmic terms [source: CNN.com].

Astronomer Brent Tully told the Associated Press that galactic voids in all likelihood develop because regions of space with high mass pull matter from less massive areas [source: CNN.com]. Over billions of years, a region can lose most of its mass to a massive neighbor. In the case of this giant void, further studies may reveal some matter in the region, but it would still be far less than what is found in "normal" parts of space.

Earlier we said that the void was first discovered through a NASA program examining radiation stemming from the Big Bang. On the next page, we’ll take a closer look at that program and how scientists can look far back into the universe’s history — almost to its beginnings — in order to make discoveries like this one.

March 4, 2008

Kobe Bryant

This year, the man has been fantastic, running one of the NBA’s most devastating offenses while regaining the defensive edge that he appeared to have lost last season. He put on a brilliant performance on national TV yesterday, registering 52 points (30 in the fourth quarter and overtime alone) and 11 rebounds while carrying the Lakers offensively in a win over Dallas.  

When Bryant went to the free throw line, the Staples Center crowd chanted, "M-V-P! M-V-P!"

And they should stop it.  

Actually, they can chant whatever they want. Chant it for Sasha Vujacic, see if he has a Slovenian sense of humor. My issue is in the incessant (in El Lay and on the national airwaves) proclamations of Kobe Bryant as the NBA’s best player.  

He isn’t. Sorry, but he isn’t. He’s awesome, but he’s not the game’s best player. He has the best chance of any NBA talent at dropping 75 points on your ass, and that’s impressive, but Allen Iverson, Carmelo Anthony and Wade (when he’s healthy) aren’t far behind. And "best scorer" doesn’t always mean "best player."  

And, while we’re at it, Kobe’s not even the best scorer any more. James is.

And, in this case, "best scorer" means "best player."

And, to anyone who takes the game seriously, "best player" should mean "M-V-P!"

It’s not a huge edge, but it’s decisive enough: James has Bryant licked in scoring per game (30.3 to 28.2), assists (7.5 to 5.4), rebounds (8.1 to 6.0) and shooting percentage (48.6 to 46.6). Bryant shoots better from long range (35 percent to 30), and has James’ number from the line, but so does Kyle Kolver. Otherwise, they’re even on steals and turnovers, and James blocks nearly twice as many shots.

James may play two more minutes per game, but he still owns a decisive edge in the per-minute numbers, and has to do his damage on a slow-down team (20th in the NBA in possessions). Kobe has a chance to pad his stats (not that he is, kindly read that carefully) with about five more possessions per game on the Lakers. That’s significant.  






















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