If you like find the hidden object puzzles, keep reading. This mostly one-player puzzle/mystery game for the Wii is based on a series of mysteries. Your goal is to help a female detective (Cate West) find the clues by finding 1,000 clues in 57 backgrounds.
There are five investigation types, and different crime scenes. For example, you might use a magnifying glass — or a flashlight — for a better view of the screen differences between two similar scenes, recreate crime scenes, and use what you’ve learned to identify the criminal. A nicely designed hint system provides help just when you need it.
You can work with a friend in Story Mode, or compete to see who is the best detective in Competitive Mode. At some points, you shake the Wii Remote to clear away dust and cobwebs to reveal evidence, and use the magnifying glass to better view your surroundings.
For this type of game, graphics really count, partly because your success requires long periods where you study the screen. Even with a good quality LCD screen, some of the images seem fuzzy (don’t attempt this game on a regular TV). The bottom line? If you like these kinds of games, you’ll like Cate West. Otherwise either pass or borrow the game for a weekend. Progress can be saved.
Details: Ages: 10-up. Platform: Wii, Nintendo DS. Entry date: 4/2/2009.
In these days of plentiful new [and expensive] publications on the violin, second editions are likely to elicit as many groans as they do cheers. Anything which makes the reader once again dig deep into his or her wallet must offer enough that is significantly new. Accordingly, my first reaction on hearing of a new edition of David Rattray’s 1991 publication on classic Italian violins from the collection of London’s Royal Academy of Music was ‘do I need this?’, but having read the book, it was quite apparent that the answer is ‘well, yes’.
Although the volumes have, at first glance, only subtle differences, a thorough reading reveals significant changes. These are clearly set forth in the foreword. Whereas the first volume contains photos of 26 instruments, the second provides views of 41, this time all in colour, and including enlarged views of the tops and backs. Most importantly, the well-written text is fuller, with a more detailed discussion of each instrument, those characteristics of workmanship that mark its maker and which make the particular instrument significant alongside a far more detailed set of measurements, taken with Vernier calipers rather than across the arch. Dendrochronological studies of most of them are undertaken by John Topham, who should beware lest popular demand compels him to set down his violin making tools in favour of his scientific instruments for good. Where offered, the historical accounts of the makers are, with a few exceptions, very good at placing the individual makers within the appropriate perspective for their times. Lastly, there is an expanded list of performers who have used and recorded with these instruments, presenting thus an informative guide to pairing their visual beauty with their compelling tonal qualities.
Volumes illustrating classic Cremonese instruments are not thin on the ground, so it is not easy to justify the appearance of yet another. In answer to this dilemma, it is worth considering that the ideal education in classic Italian violins is to see and handle every last one as frequently as possible and that, barring that possibility, good photos are a fair substitute. This book gives the reader unlimited access to a limited set of observations, but this is always better than having to go without.
A man goes to the doctor’s, feeling a little ill. The doctor checks him over and says, ‘Sorry, I have some bad news. You have Yellow 24, a really nasty virus. It’s called Yellow 24 because it turns your blood yellow and you usually only have 24 hours to live. There’s no known cure, so just go home and enjoy your final precious moments on earth.’ So he trudges home to his wife and breaks the news. Distraught, she asks him to go to the bingo with her that evening as he’s never been there with her before
They arrive at the bingo and, with his first card, he gets four corners and wins ?35. Then, with the same card, he gets a line and wins ?320. Then he gets the full house and wins ?1000. Then the National Grid comes up and he wins that too, getting ?380,000
The bingo caller gets him up on stage and says, ‘Son, I’ve been here 20 years and I’ve never seen anyone win four corners, a line, the full house and the national grid on the same card. You must be the luckiest man on Earth!
‘Lucky?’ he screamed. ‘Lucky? I’ll have you know I’ve got Yellow 24.
‘F*** me,’ says the bingo caller. ‘You’ve only just won the bloody raffle as well !!’
Which one of you monkey slappin”, knuckle bustin’ reviewers did the review for Half-Life 2: Episode Two? Implying that the Antlion level was the only “Alamo” (aka “defend the flag”) - what a load! Episode Two is just a compilation of “defend the flag” with a really beautiful wrapping. First you go to the mines to defend against an unreasonable onslaught of Antlions. Then it’s defend the flag against troops and “mini-me” walkers at the farmhouse. And let”s not forget the defend the flag - oops, sorry, base - against the endless horde of walkers with their minime escorts that seemed to go on forever. When did Half-Life become defend the fort?
In December issue, the review of Clive Barker’s Jericho starts with a “spoiler alert” Huh? I had wanted to play the game, but the review just ruined the ending. Thats like the people behind you at the movie saying, “Oh, I saw this movie; he doesn’t know he’s dead,” Then Shawn Elliott writes what looks like a great set of articles (Beyond the Box) which I can’t read either because it’s prefaced with “WARNING: SPOILERS.” I haven’t played The Orange Box yet, and I suspect that not everyone in the gamingsphere has either. So thanks, Shawn, for all the time and effort you put into this article, which you’vejust told me not to read.
I’m sick of game magazines and podcasts justifying spoilers just because they preface it with some warning. We need to promote the experience, not ruin the surprises and endings.
Really shocking things that I’ve heard and I’m totally distraught by them. All this time I never knew all these things and no one said anything to me. I’m sure they have been talking about it with each other but never with me. Why couldn’t they have let me know instead of leaving it like this and then now decide that they can’t take it anymore and turn their backs? In the first place all those things should have been brought up and misunderstandings would have been cleared. I truely think it is all misunderstandings from all the things that I’ve heard tho its not all of it cos I’m sure there is more. And in some ways its the problem of communication. Sometimes things can’t really be put into words that’s why I strongly feel that talking things out thru the net is the worst place and lotsa misinterpretations of words would occur in which it has happened. From what I’ve heard they would rather have the whole group together to talk it out but I feel that the problem lies with the individual and should be solved personally. I know that I should not put too much hope on this cos the mind is strongwilled and is dificult to change in thinking tho it is all misunderstanding. Whatever happens… so be it. From this I learn that it doesn’t pay to be straight forward for the person’s own good.
After all the wanting and longing to see him, I finally do and now I wish that I didn’t. I know it sounds weird of me to say that but its cos after seeing him…. I CANT STOP THINKING ABOUT HIM! And its absolutely driving me nutty! Can’t believe I’m even loosing sleep over this guy. Its like I can’t sleep cos my mind is flooded with his face and thoughts of him. What am I ever gonna do? Maybe its really the typical libra trait huh… Can’t make a decision. So confused now… have to make that decision soon before I go bonkers. Argh!It’s so damn frustrating!!!! What is it that I really want??!!!…. I want him?Hahaha!*winks winks*… LoL
Here is a delightful package for admirers of the great violinists of the 1950s captured on a regular arts television programme of the time. Heifetz, Milstein and Kogan may be missing but there is still much to enjoy, starting with a splendid rendition of Saint-Saens’s Introduction and Rondo capriccioso by Isaac Stern (1959).
Zino Francescatti looks and sounds as dapper as ever in Debussy’s La Fille aux cheveux de lin and Sarasate’s Zigeunerweisen (1959); and Mischa Elman is a little out of tune but still beguiling in Wieniawski and Kreisler. Erica Morini brings a breath of old Vienna to the finale of Bruch’s G minor Concerto (1963) and the Oistrakhs are as inseparable as usual in the last two movements of the Bach ‘Double’ (1963).
I could have done without two versions of the finale to Tchaikovsky’s Concerto, especially as Ruggiero Ricci (1964) is far more characterful, though rougher, than Michael Rabin (1960). The latter also sports a most unflattering hairpiece which he has jettisoned by 1962, when he is more convincing in two Kreisler trifles.
Yehudi Menuhin is musical but miscast in the last two movements of the Paganini D major Concerto (1963)–and he makes a hash of the harmonics. As a bonus we have Gregor Piatigorsky playing well within himself in Faure and Saint-Saens (1960).
Students can see some terrific bow arms in action and all the pieces or movements are as complete as they would be in concert. The performances are revealing: Stern manages the odd smile; Rabin looks careworn. Sound quality is good for the time and the accompaniments by Donald Voorhees (once with piano, the rest with the Bell Telephone Hour Orchestra) are square but prompt.
I don’t know if I was veiwing the world with a weird perspective or something must have been really wrong yesterday. Went out early in the morning to collect a cheque. On the way there I smsed my sister saying that I’ll be going over to her place. After collecting the cheque I headed down to Simei to have the cheque banked in. When I got out of the train station there was like so many American tourists! Wow! It was like being in Orchard only thing it was not Orchard. haha! Anywayz I just made my to the bank while in the queue there was this lady in front of me. omg. her BO woo~ i couldn’t breathe was really in need of fresh air so to avoid the stench I moved a step back but that turn out to be a bad idea too cos the lady behind me had this tendency to touch my butt. argh in my heart I was like “Hey lady you’re a woman too touch your own butt. not mine!” So I was stuck between those two ladies for like half and hour just to have that cheque of mine to be banked in after that was done I decided to hang around in case my sis sms me to say that she is free then I can just walk over to her place but after waiting so long i decided to head home half way on bus almost reaching home she replied me argh just when I was reaching home so anyway when I reached home my mom said that we would be going to my sister’s place hmmm at that moment. I didn’t know if I should faint or scream. Okay so I had to ake another trip out. When we were at the bus stop the most funniest thing happened. This taxi driver stopped and said that he would drive us to either Pasir ris or Tampines MRT station for just $2!
Whoa. I was thinking what was this uncle trying to do?Is he for real?. Surprsingly he was dead serious about it but my mom told him we were heading to Simei MRT and he said ok it’s on he’s way cos he was heading to Jurong. hmmm. what is the world coming to? Full of mad people? hehe. Then it really got even weirder cos in my whole life never had my sister ever hugged me but she did when I reached her place she opened the door and the next thing i knew I was in her arms shocked the hell out of me. hehe! So we spent the rest of the day there and then it was home again end of my whacko day lol come to think of it it wasn’t so bad at all.
'We ought to speak the truth we feel
With careful thought for those who hear;
For the truth and love must try to sense
What others feel, what others fear.' - D.De Haan
