Saints Row 4 Review

Big news, Saints Row 4 will be released soon! We've been checking out trailers and finding info on the game. All so that we can give you an idea of what to expect.

Saints Row 4 Trailer

What can you expect from Saints Row 4? The trailer below gives you some idea. Insanity is the short answer however. The Saints Row series is releasing its 4th game this year. Over the series they have set themselves apart from other video games due to the high levels of crazy they inject their games with. The last Saints Row game, Saints Row 3, was pretty nuts... But it looks like number 4 will go even further. I'm talking about aliens. That's right. Aliens!



My thoughts after watching the trailer? Well, I think my brain melted a little bit. It was funny. But also... What did I just watch??

Saints Row 4 Release Date

Late August 2013. Aren't we already in August? How did this one get past me?

Saints Row 4 Gameplay

What can I say about the Saints Row 4 gameplay? Guns, superpowers and so much more! Watch the below video and you will see why I'm so excited about this game!

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http://www.martialartsvideos.com/tonfa-terrifying-weapon/

Joe Malpas

Favourite picture of the day!

George Zimmerman and Trayvon Martin - Opinion

Frankly, I'm shocked. Maybe I'm missing the facts, but as a strong believer that guns are dangerous, it seems to me that this incident could set precedent for others.
What's to stop others from shooting someone's child, frankly 17 is still a child, and claiming that they were attacked or threatened. I've read little to suggest that Trayvon Martin actually attacked or threatened George Zimmerman other than a statement from the shooter himself.
Does this mean that others will use this case to try and get off Scot free on what they may claim was the same situation?
Now I understand that there's an idea of guilty beyond any reasonable doubt. An that people may be hesitant about sending someone to prison without being sure.
Now, say that the incident had happened inside the house, or even at the front door. I could see some threat. But shooting an unarmed kid? 'Black' or not. Regardless of race, it's unacceptable.
Living in the UK, where guns are so heavily restricted that I've never even seen one, it scares me.
For killing a child, for taking any life without serious proof of innocence, I think that he should have been jailed, for manslaughter if not murder.
Tell me what you think? Have I missed some vital information living so far away?

Rome 2 Total War - News

http://www.rocketchainsaw.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/rome-2a.jpg

Rome 2 Total War Release

The latest game in the Total War series, Rome 2 Total War is going to be released this September 2013. The game is already available for pre-order on Steam for £29.99 ($45). Rome 2 is the sequel to Rome Total War, which was the Total War series' first release.

https://soe-assets-live.s3.amazonaws.com/totalwar.com/web_assets/images/themes/rome2/rome-screen-1.jpg

Rome 2 Total War News

The most recent Rome 2 update from the Total War team is the release of an online Rome 2 Total War interactive campaign map. This map gives users to ability to plan their Rome 2 campaign in advance. The Rome 2 Total War map itself is pictured below. Hopefully this will give you an idea of what the game will be like, but we'll include a description underneath.

http://maps.totalwar.com/

Rome 2 Total War Campaign Map

The Rome 2 Total War interactive campaign map is essentially a map of Europe, the Middle East and North Africa. Territories are marked in as they would have appeared during the beginning of Roman expansion. Regions belonging to the main playable factions in Rome 2 are highlighted, as are those of other available factions (playable via updates or expansion packs). By exploring the Rome 2 interactive map you can discover who the factions are, what relations they have with other factions, what their available resources are and which mercenaries they can recruit. You can also plan a campaign by choosing a faction which you would like to play, selecting regions which you envision conquering and anticipating other factions' reactions to your territorial expansion.

You can find the Rome 2 Total War interactive campaign map here.

Our Favourite Total War Game - Napoleon Total War

Our favourite total war game has to be Napoleon Total War, a must-have game for any fans or readers of War and Peace. Conquering Europe to the sound of thunderous fire from cannon batteries or holding the line under the Union Flag as you hold back Napoleon's armies, everything about the game is true to Napoleonic period warfare. It is a game filled with excitement and history that will test any Total War gamer's tactical abilities.

http://store.steampowered.com/app/34030/

Joe Malpas

Other articles you might enjoy: What not to do on the tube, War and Peace book review, Freelance Writing Online, The US gun laws debate, GTA 5, The Great Gatsby, NCIS news and review, Trayvon Martin case, British Summer, George Zimmerman verdict

George Zimmerman found Not Guilty for Trayvon Martin Shooting

http://www.businessinsider.com/george-zimmerman-verdict-2013-7

George Zimmerman verdict

George Zimmerman has been found innocent of all charges relating to the shooting of Trayvon Martin. Trayvon Martin died last year after being shot by Zimmerman, who claimed he was acting in self-defence. Supporters of George Zimmerman are said to be "ecstatic" with the verdict. The entirely female jury deliberated for a total of 15 hours before announcing their decision that Zimmerman had acted in self-defence.

How has the US public reacted to the verdict?

Protest marches took place overnight in several major US cities. These spontaneous protests were carried out because large numbers of people disagree with the acquittal of George Zimmerman. Fears have been expressed during and after the trial that there might be civil unrest if a 'not guilty' verdict was reached. So far there have been no reports of violence or threats in response to the verdict, but it is yet to be seen whether peaceful protests will escalate.

Why is the George Zimmerman case controversial?

George Zimmerman has been accused of racial profiling. The Trayvon Martin case has also brought up the issue of gun control in the US. Issues of race and the use of guns in the US have therefore come into the public consciousness as a result of this case. President Obama has even likened Trayvon Martin to his own son in a statement made last year. The NAACP, an organisation which fights against racial segregation and discrimination, described the shooting of Trayvon Martin  and subsequent events as "civil rights violations". Zimmerman was acquitted because the jury found him to have acted in self-defence.

What are the Stand Your Ground laws?

Stand Your Ground laws allow people in certain states of the US to defend themselves through the use of deadly force. Deadly force may include an action (such as shooting) which endangers or takes a person's life. This deadly force is allowed when the person defending themself fears for their life. Self-defence with a weapon may, therefore, be carried out rather than running away from an attacker. At least 33 US states allow the use of deadly force in self-defence. 

Our opinion on the George Zimmerman verdict? 

The Stand Your Ground laws encourage people to fight rather than run away from attackers. This standpoint is not too hard to understand, but the term 'fears for their life' is problematic. This wording leaves the decision of whether their life is in danger in the hands of the would-be victim. It has been argued that this allows people to shoot first at others who appear to be a threat and ask questions later. In the US, African Americans can be profiled and seen as a threat because some people think that they are more likely to be criminals. Therefore, they might be shot by someone who believes they are acting in self-defence when their was no threat. In such cases, as may have happened in the trial of George Zimmerman, the shooter can be acquitted for killing an innocent person. The Stand Your Ground laws complicate the underlying racial issues in US society.

Other articles you might enjoy: What not to do on the tube, War and Peace book review, Freelance Writing Online, The US gun laws debate, GTA 5, The Great Gatsby, NCIS news and review, Trayvon Martin case, British Summer

Joe Malpas

The Great British Summer

The British Summer continues this weekend, and Negau will be posting blogs from Brighton Beach!

SPF 30 sun screen might be an overreaction to the mild British sun, but looking at the multitude of pallid torsos and sunburnt necks surrounding us we thought it would be best to play it safe. 

Each year, as the sun emerges from behind a screen of clouds floating above Britain, thousands of people pack themselves into trains heading for the nearest stretch of coastline. This mass-exodus, similar in execution to the WWII evacuations, is preceded by a desperate search for beach worthy clothing. Bikinis and swimming trunks are pulled out from the hidden depths of cupboards, sun screen hastily purchased and sunglasses retrieved from the car glove-box after a frantic search. 

A steady stream of people in their thousands then pours into major coastal towns like Brighton, overwhelming ticket offices and filling entire trains. Tickets therefore become obsolete, as new ones cannot be dispensed and ticket inspectors are barely able to force their way through a single carriage of sun seekers. 

The transport staff at the other end have no more luck in controlling the mass migration of Britons. Stepping out of the train station at their coastal paradise of choice, they begin to gradually remove items of clothing before reaching the beach itself. 

The end result of this panicked, traumatic process? I'm experiencing it right now. Thousands of people surround me on a stretch of pebbled beach on the Brighton shore. Backs, legs, arms and any other area deemed to be requiring a tan are all bared before my eyes. Caught between a dazzlingly bright sun and the even brighter orange beach towel on which I sit I have no choice but to let my eyes wander from one person to the next. This is not, however, a sustainable activity and eventually a choice has to be made. The choice is simple but the decision can be influenced by any number of factors... Do I swim?

Do I swim? An exhilarating plunge into the clear blue water, following by relaxing in the soothingly cool sea, it sounds ideal. But I am one of the many Britons who didn't find their swimming trunks this year. I am one of those people who dislike salt water. And I am a person who lets things like this influence my decisions. In hindsight, yes I will most likely wish I had plunged in shorts, shirt and all. But right now I want to be dry, warm and clean, firmly settled on my beach towel with one of those ice, sugar and food colouring filled drinks that I wouldn't touch at any other time of the year.

Good luck with the tans!

Joe Malpas

Other articles you might enjoy: What not to do on the tube, War and Peace book review, Freelance Writing Online, The US gun laws debate, GTA 5, The Great Gatsby, NCIS news and review, Trayvon Martin case

Trayvon Martin and George Zimmerman Trial News

Link, Zimmerman

Trayvon Martin Shooting Trial News

George Zimmerman's defence has begun closing arguments in the trial over the shooting of Trayvon Martin. Claiming that he shot Trayvon in self defence, Zimmerman has denied charges of murder. The trial will see a decision made by a jury of six female jurors as to whether George Zimmerman should be jailed for murder, manslaughter or found not guilty and acquitted. There is a possibility that if Zimmerman is released there will be large-scale protests or civil unrest in Florida. There were peaceful protests across the US last year in response to Trayvon Martin's shooting. The jury will begin deliberating later today, Friday 12th July.

Who is George Zimmerman?

George Zimmerman is a Florida, USA resident and a member of his local neighbourhood watch. He is now on trial in the US in relation to his shooting of an unarmed African American teenager in 2012. This shooting was supposedly motivated by Trayvon Martin's race. George Zimmerman is accused of 'profiling' Trayvon. If Trayvon was profiled then George Zimmerman could be found guilty of murder or manslaughter. Profiling is a term used to describe when one person make assumptions about another based on their appearance or behaviour.

Why is the Trayvon Martin Shooting so Controversial?

The shooting of Trayvon Martin by George Zimmerman is controversial due to the involvement of two divisive issues, race and guns. The US gun laws debate concerns the possession, carrying and use of guns in the US. Issues of race and hate crime have made the Trayvon Martin shooting controversial as it is argued by some that George Zimmerman shot Trayvon because the latter was African American. Race and race-related hate crimes are hot topics of debate in the US partly due to the disparity between the wealth of white Americans and African Americans.

Link, Martin

Other articles you might enjoy: What not to do on the tube, War and Peace book review, Freelance Writing Online, The US gun laws debate, GTA 5, The Great Gatsby, NCIS news and review

Joe Malpas

'NCIS' - News and Review

http://www.tvbanter.net/2013/02/ncis-quiz.html

NCIS News - Cote De Pablo

It has been confirmed that NCIS actress Cote De Pablo (pictured far right) will not be returning to NCIS as a regular for its eleventh season. Cote De Pablo portrays ex-Mossad officer Ziva David, a member of Gibbs' team of naval criminal investigators at NCIS. Confirmation that Cote De Pablo is leaving NCIS came from CBS and the actress herself. However, we are happy to report that Cote De Pablo will be appearing in a number of episodes in order to wrap up Ziva David's storyline. We're hoping that Cote De Pablo's continued appearance on NCIS will allow for a satisfactory conclusion to her character's storyline.

What is NCIS?

NCIS is a long-running crime drama on CBS which follows the lives of a team of criminal investigators. The main characters in NCIS investigate crimes committed by or carried out against members of the US Navy. The team is comprised of four government agents, supported by other members of the NCIS agency.

NCIS Cast list

Character - Portrayed by
Leyroy Jethro Gibbs - Mark Harmon
Anthony Dinozzo - Michael Weatherly
Abby Sciuto - Pauley Perrette
Dr. Donald Mallard - David McCallum
Timothy McGee - Sean Murray
Ziva David - Cote De Pablo
Jimmy Palmer - Brian Dietzen
Leon Vance - Rocky Carroll
Jenny Shephard - Lauren Holly
Caitlin Todd - Sasha Alexander
T. C. Fornell - Joe Spano

NCIS Review

Why is NCIS so good? Perhaps the best quality of the NCIS series is its continuity. Having been an avid viewer since the first series, I can attest that the show has provided a consistent level of quality acting and unique plots. Crime dramas can often run into difficulty as they are forced to repeat crimes or produce similar episodes, thus becoming repetitive and losing the audience's affection. However, NCIS has managed to keep its episodes thoughtful and unique. These plots, well acted make NCIS a great show and it will be a shame to see Cote De Pablo leave the Ziva David character behind.

NCIS official site: http://www.cbs.com/shows/ncis/ and IMDB page: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0364845/

Other articles you might enjoy: What not to do on the tube, War and Peace book review, Freelance Writing Online, The US gun laws debate, GTA 5, The Great Gatsby

Joe Malpas

The US Gun Laws Debate

What is the law on gun control in the US?

This is a simple question, but one which has a complicated answer. The law on gun ownership varies from state to state in the US. Some states allow only the possession of firearms in one's own home. Others allow the possession of firearms and their being carried in public, but their concealment is forbidden. Therefore, in some states carrying a hidden weapon is illegal but owning that weapon is legal. There are also states where carrying concealed weapons is legal. A licence is needed in order to legally possess a gun in any state.

What is the gun control debate about?

This month the US state of Illinois became the last state which permits 'concealed carry' - carrying hidden firearms in public. The US gun laws have become the focus of media attention and political debate due to recent gun massacres in the US. The December massacre at a Connecticut primary school and July cinema shooting during a Batman film release caused a public outcry against US gun laws and global media coverage. The argument for gun rights centres on the Second Amendment to the US Constitution. The Second Amendment is the part of the constitution which gives US citizens the right to own and carry weapons. Many Americans, particularly members of the NRA (National Rifle Association), therefore see the possession and bearing of arms as a constitutional right necessary to their freedom and safety. Gun control advocates counter this position by suggesting that guns make the US a more dangerous place, citing recent massacres involving guns as evidence. Some also argue that the Second Amendment was appropriate to the period when it was written, but is not suitable for the modern world. 

Why was the Second Amendment written?

The Second Amendment was written so that US citizens would have the right to arm themselves. This right was important at the time for many reasons. It was considered essential for the citizen's duty to fight in defence of the state. The right to bear arms also allowed people to defend themselves in the inhospitable environment which was colonial America and the early United States. 

Should the Second Amendment be repealed?

Some gun control advocates and other interested parties argue that the Second Amendment should be repealed or revised. They argue that the modern US citizen does not benefit from the right to bear arms. Defence of the state is now carried out by professional soldiers, armed by the state, unlike colonial America and the early US, when armed militia took part in conflicts. Gun control proponents also suggest that if the US today is as dangerous as it was when the Second Amendment was written, it is due to the legality of guns coupled with problems in society. Therefore, weapons are no longer required for personal protection. 

Recent developments in the gun laws debate...

There have recently been two shocking developments in the US, the release of the 3D printable gun and possible threats made against President Barack Obama. It has been confirmed that a letter sent to President Obama, 'similar' to poisoned letters sent to the New York City Mayor, was intercepted. Poisoned letters to Mayor Bloomberg referred to his support for gun control reforms. It is yet to be seen how these developments will affect the gun control debate, but expect us to continue to post and respond to your comments on the US Gun laws debate.

Other articles you might like: What not to do on the tube, War and Peace book review, Freelance Writing Online

Joe Malpas