text:
6:35 PM ET, March 21, 2012

 Top Items:
Alex Seitz-Wald / ThinkProgress:
Top Romney Adviser Says Romney Can Change His Positions After The Primaries: 'It's Almost Like An Etch A Sketch'  —  Mitt Romney can't be held accountable for his extreme right-wing views, at least according to his campaign's senior adviser, who said the candidate should be given a …
Greg Sargent / Washington Post:
Top Romney adviser: Mitt will erase his conservative positions once he's the nominee  —  Think Progress flags an amazing exchange on CNN, in which Eric Fehrnstrom, a top adviser to Mitt Romney, seems to confirm that the conservative positions Romney has been forced to take during the primary …
Emily Schultheis / Politico:
Etch A Sketches hit the trail  —  Newt Gingrich gleefully seized on Romney adviser Eric Fehrnstrom's “Etch A Sketch” comments from this morning, bringing out an Etch A Sketch as a prop on the campaign trail today.  —  Gingrich, via POLITICO's Ginger Gibson, called Fehrnstrom's comment a sign …
Discussion: The Impolitic and The New Republic
Alfredo Rocha / ABCNEWS:
Jeb Bush Endorses Mitt Romney in GOP Primary  —  Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush endorsed Mitt Romney after Romney's lopsided win in Illinois Tuesday night.  The former Florida Governor - a Republican heavyweight - called on members of the party to coalesce behind Romney.
Alicia M. Cohn / Ballot Box:
Romney adviser says campaign can start fresh for general election, ‘like an Etch A Sketch’  —  Mitt Romney adviser Eric Fehrnstrom on Wednesday dismissed concern that the nastiness of the GOP primary race could negatively affect the fight to replace President Obama.
Erick Erickson / RedState:
The Nominee  —  It is a mathematical improbability that Rick Santorum …
Discussion: National Review, GOP 12 and
Amy Bingham / ABCNEWS:
‘Etch A Sketch’ Latest Gaffe From Romney Campaign
Discussion: The Spectacle Blog and CNN
Byron Tau / Politico:   Obama staffers seize on Etch A Sketch quip
Jeb Bush / CNN:
TRENDING: Jeb Bush endorses Romney, calls on party to unite
Discussion: Washington Post, Wonkette and Daily Kos
‘Etch-A-Sketch’: Romney Aide Suggests Campaign Reset After Primary
Discussion: The Spectacle Blog and Mediaite
Mytheos Holt /
UPDATED (STORY PULLED): U2 SINGER BONO GRILLED ON CAMERA OVER BAND'S MOVE TO AVOID TAXES  —  Editor's note: The original story has been removed and the Jason Mattera videos have now been moved to “private” on YouTube.  There is widespread discussion on Twitter …
Erik Wemple / Washington Post:
Jason Mattera interviews someone — is it Bono?  —  Jason Mattera, editor at large at Human Events, is famous for rough-and-tumble journalism.  Last year he created a sensation when he pulled something of a fast one on Vice President Biden.  He distracted the veep by pretending he wanted to pose for a picture with him.
Ezra Klein:
Wonkbook: Why the Republican budgets make the poor pay  —  I don't think Paul Ryan intended to write a budget that concentrated its cuts on the poorest Americans.  Similarly, I don't think Mitt Romney intended to write a budget that concentrated its cuts on the poorest Americans.
Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life:
More See “Too Much” Religious Talk by Politicians  —  Santorum Voters Disagree  —  A new survey finds signs of public uneasiness with the mixing of religion and politics.  The number of people who say there has been too much religious talk by political leaders stands at an all-time high since …
H. HooVer / Distriction:
Sign of the Times  —  Stephon stood just a few feet away from Barack Obama.  The president, busy shaking hands, looked right at him.  “It was like he was waiting for me to say something,” he said later.  —  So the 26-year-old Prince George's Community College student took his cue and spoke …
NOM Blog:
The National Organization for Marriage Announces International “Dump Starbucks” Protest Campaign  —  Contact: Anath Hartmann or Elizabeth Ray (703-683-5004)  —  “Corporations should not take sides in a culture war that pits a company against the majority of the American people …
Discussion: Towleroad News #gay
Igor Volsky / ThinkProgress:
IRONY ALERT: Anti-Gay Group Complains About Out-Of-Staters ‘Buying’ Marriage Equality In New Hampshire
Chris Johnson / Washington Blade:
EXCLUSIVE: Elizabeth Warren pledges to lead on LGBT rights
Ilya Somin / The Volokh Conspiracy:
Unanimous Supreme Court Rules in Favor of Property Owners in Sackett v. EPA  —  The Supreme Court today issued a unanimous decision in favor of the property owners in the important case of Sackett v. EPA [HT: GMU law student Matthew Roberts].  The opinions in the case (an opinion for the court …
Discussion: Wizbang
Robert Barnes / Washington Post:
Supreme Court allows Idaho couple to challenge EPA on wetlands ruling
Tom Jensen / Public Policy Polling:
Romney holds small lead nationally  —  PPP's newest national poll finds that Mitt Romney leads with 34% to 31% for Rick Santorum, 20% for Newt Gingrich, and 9% for Ron Paul.  But if Gingrich dropped out Santorum would have a small lead with 41% to 40% for Romney and 11% for Paul.
Andrew Restuccia / The Hill:
Sanders bill would force CFTC's hand in effort to lower gas prices  —  A handful of liberal senators unveiled legislation Wednesday that would force federal regulators to curb “excessive” market speculation that they say is responsible for soaring gas prices.
Discussion: ThinkProgress
Rebecca Leber / ThinkProgress:
AP Fact Check: In 36 Years Of Data, Not A Shred Of Evidence That Drilling Reduces Gas Prices
Murray Wardrop / Telegraph:
Toulouse siege: live  —  Live coverage of the siege at the home of the suspected Toulouse serial killer responsible for the murders of four people outside a Jewish school and three paratroopers in south west France.  —  Members of the RAID special police forces unit near the Belle Paule residence …
Raid on Toulouse shooting suspect
Alana / Nielsen Wire:
The Race for Campaign Site Visitors  —  With the 2012 political season in full swing, Americans are flocking to the Internet for news surrounding the presidential candidates.  So which candidate sites are drawing the most visitors?  Nielsen profiled the voter-aged (18+) …
Discussion: Ballot Box and Media Decoder
Jeffrey Goldberg / The Atlantic Online:
Andrew Sullivan Is Frightened by Complexity  —  Somehow, in the midst of grappling with Andrew Sullivan's attack on me (in which he lied about what I have written, what I think, what I believe, and what I've reported, and shows no understanding, by the way, of reporting itself — but, hey, what are friends for?)
Wasserman Schultz's Selective Memory  —  Loading the player ...  Rating  —  Your rating: None Average: 1 (1 vote)  —  MRCTV's Alicia Powe and Katie Yoder confront DNC chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) about her claim that Republicans want to ‘literally drag us all the way back to Jim Crow laws’ by enforcing voter id laws.
Discussion: Michelle Malkin
NBC's Alex Moe /
RNC rule means hurdle for Gingrich convention strategy  —  MONROE, LA - Newt Gingrich faces a significant hurdle in his strategy of winning the GOP presidential nomination at the party's August convention, lengthening the already-long odds of him becoming the Republican nominee.
 Archived Page Info:
This is a snapshot of memeorandum at 6:35 PM ET, March 21, 2012.

View the current page or another snapshot:

 Who's Hiring in Media?
Add your company here
 See Also:
memeorandum: site main
memeorandum River: reverse chronological memeorandum
memeorandum Mobile: for phones
memeorandum Leaderboard: memeorandum's top sources
memeorandum RSS feed
memeorandum on Twitter
 More Items:
Julian Pecquet / The Hill:
Liberal Dems back Obama's no show on health law anniversary
Discussion: Politico
Hillary Reinsberg / BuzzFeed:
Gillibrand: Hillary Clinton Should Run In 2016
Julian Sanchez:
Fearing for Your Life
David Weigel / Slate:
Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum Wield Etch-a-Sketches in Lousiana
Discussion: The Loyal Opposition
Jim Ragsdale / Minneapolis Star Tribune:
House approves placing photo ID on November ballot
Discussion: The Raw Story and ThinkProgress
Jason Leopold /
DHS Turns Over Occupy Wall Street Documents to Truthout
Discussion: Firedoglake and Gothamist
Ron Johnson / Wall Street Journal:
ObamaCare's Costs Are Soaring
 Earlier Items:
Brendan Sasso / The Hill:
Under congressional pressure, Verizon bans third-party charges on landlines
Discussion: Engadget
Mj Lee / Politico:
Peter King warns: Hezbollah agents in U.S.
Discussion: The Right Scoop
Katie Thomas / New York Times:
Generic Drugs Prove Resistant to Damage Suits
Discussion: Law Blog and The BLT
Vince Coglianese / The Daily Caller:
Media Matters wants a fight, but can't take a punch
Discussion: TBogg
Steve Doughty / Daily Mail:
Gay marriage is not a ‘human right’: European ruling torpedoes Coalition stance


Content-Type: application/http; msgtype=response

WARC-Type: response

text:
Welcome to MenuPages - Please Select a city:

Randazzo's Clam Bar

  • $
  • Italian, Seafood
  • 2017 Emmons Ave, Brooklyn 11235 40.583757 -73.948207
  • (Btwn Ocean Ave & E 21st St)
  • click map to interact
  • (718) 615-0010
  • 0

User Ratings (Based on 18 reviews)

avg-come back to15
Food 3_5 Value 3
Service 3_5 Atmosphere 3

Other Restaurant Info

(718) 615-0010
Major Credit Cards
Sun-Thu: 11am-11:30pm Fri-Sat: 11am-12am
Dinner, Lunch
Accepts Credit Cards, Catering, Good for Groups, Kid Friendly, Outdoor Seating, Raw Bar, Special Occasion, Take Out, Waterfront, Wheelchair Accessible

User Reviews

  • Randazzo's Clam Bar

    Posted by rico on 2014-09-22

    going back for seconds!

    top notch! 5 stars across the board! should be 6 stars! not the best environment, but they arent selling you anything but the best food available! all the other negative reviews i just read lead me to believe they are nothing more than local competition.

  • Randazzo's Clam Bar

    Posted by KSRN on 2014-07-16

    Most likely will not return

    Service has plenty of room for improvement. Plastic old pitcher with water and plastic cups. Hmm. Old looking plates. No specials. Waitress yelling across the restaurant while taking our order for someone to get her a new pen as hers stopped working.

  • Randazzo's Clam Bar

    Posted by Nay on 2014-07-03

    Fresh as can be !

    If your looking for quality seafood this is your place this is a staple bk resturant I've been coming here for 15 years ! It's not fancy by all means but food is top notch there sauce is addictive everyone must try at least once !

  • Randazzo's Clam Bar

    Posted by SenseiNYC on 2014-04-16

    Still the same, delicious!

    Growing up in Brooklyn, particlarly the fact that I've been to Randazzo's countless times in my life, but yet I have not been there for about 12 years. Since we were going to go for a special dinner for my Aunt, I at least wanted to review the menu to se

  • Randazzo's Clam Bar

    Posted by StraightFromTheBoot! on 2014-03-13

    After seeing Anthony Bourdain's piece on Brooklyn, I thought I'd give this place a shot, as the portions appeared gluttonously good and my birthday was coming up. About me, I'm spoiled to amazing Italian cuisine because both my parents are from Napoli. I

  • Randazzo's Clam Bar

    Posted by shauna on 2014-01-14

    couldnt have asked for better. not a place like it around. 5 stars across the board!

  • Randazzo's Clam Bar

    Posted by debra on 2013-12-02

    still amazing

    ive been coming here for 20 years and nothing has changed! and thats a good thing! yes prices went up a little bit but what hasnt these days! still amazing but my only complaint is that the service was a little slow but the was expected with the place bei

  • Randazzo's Clam Bar

    Posted by Slick Vic on 2013-05-28

    Great food

    Lobster Randazzo for dinner. A bowl of Lobster bisque soup And Fried Calamari Hot sauce for an appetizer. Do it!

© 2017 Grubhub, Inc. All rights reserved.

warcinfo:
robots: classic
hostname: ip-10-171-10-70.ec2.internal
software: Nutch 1.6 (CC)/CC WarcExport 1.0
isPartOf: CC-MAIN-2017-04
operator: CommonCrawl Admin
description: Wide crawl of the web for January 2017
publisher: CommonCrawl
format: WARC File Format 1.0
conformsTo: http://bibnum.bnf.fr/WARC/WARC_ISO_28500_version1_latestdraft.pdf


WARC-Truncated: length

text:
No worries, it's easy to fix.

If you'd like to run more than five reports a day, subscribe to our free newsletter.

Subscribers to our newsletter can run unlimited reports every day
For only $30 per month, you’ll get full access to over 60 million U.S. buyer search terms! There’s no risk – cancel anytime.

Already a MerchantWords customer? Log in


text:
The Bowery Riots, Linfinity, The Dough Rollers, The Gaming Commission

The Bowery Riots

The Dough Rollers

The Gaming Commission

Mon, July 16, 2012

Doors: 7:30 pm

Mercury Lounge

New York, NY

This event is 21 and over

The Bowery Riots - (Set time: 10:30 PM)
The Bowery Riots
New NYC indie band, The Bowery Riots, are out to cause some distruption on the music scene. Their latest single, “My Time Has Come,” boasts a mean guitar riff and a natural grit that just screams rock and roll.

That would make sense coming from an act that lists “the history of music, fashion, film, and New York City” as their biggest influence. These guys are part Jack White, part Black Keys, and 100% raw, fighting spirit. With a full-length album in the works, we can’t wait to see what’s to come!
Linfinity - (Set time: 9:30 PM)

"Sounding like Eddie Veddar and Tiny Tim Harmonizing in a meat cooler, Dylan Von Wagner's shivering warble grabs you straightaway."
-- Will Hermes, Rolling Stone

New York based LINFINITY have confirmed a fall 2012 release for their sophomore album, Lights in Cairo. Produced by Kevin McMahon (Real Estate, Titus Andronicus) and mixed by Matt Boynton (MGMT, Kurt Vile) Lights in Cairo is the follow up to 2010's Martian's Bloom released on American Myth Recordings.

The five piece band have made their first single "Miles" available for streaming/sharing via SoundCloud

The praise that followed Martian's Bloom came from the likes of Rolling Stone and Pitchfork, the latter boasting "Von Wagner is a commanding presence, expressive and elegantly bombastic" and the Washington Post noting their unique songwriting "...can't be categorized as any one style; it's timeless."

Since the release of their debut album, the band toured the US and played CMJ, their set catching the attention of The Wall Street Journal to write the band's sound is similar to "the offspring of David Byrne and the Band: The New York quintet's songs are compact yet anthematic."

Recorded in upstate New York, Lights in Cairo is Linfinity's strongest and most ambitious work yet. Led by principal songwriter and lead singer Dylan Von Wagner, newcomers Mark Evan Roth (guitar), Justin Repasky (keys) and Joe Zdaa (drums) join veteran bassist Grant Zubrisky.

A release date, final track listing and additional details will be announced shortly.
The Dough Rollers - (Set time: 8:30 PM)
The Dough Rollers
The Dough Rollers started in 2008 when Jack Byrne and Malcolm Ford bonded over a mutual appreciation for blues music.

Initially the band started as a three piece with fiddler and singer Julia featured alongside Byrne and Ford. A self-titled album comprised of mostly traditional American music and a few originals was recorded and released in late 2009.

After some time as a three-piece, the lineup shifted back to just Byrne and Ford, who had been using their time on the road to start developing more of their own material.

After a breakout performance at Austin City Limits and a tour with Bob Dylan and John Mellencamp, an album Someday Baby - made up of the songs that the two had crafted playing countless shows around the country, was released in a limited run.

2011 would also find the Dough Rollers touring North America and Europe with Queens of the Stone Age.

After the release of their sophomore album, the band was joined by Kyle Olson on drums and Josh Barocas on bass, adding an entirely new dimension to the band and pushing them to truly find and develop their own sound to how it sounds today.

Shortly thereafter, the quartet were asked to head down to Nashville and record a single for Jack White's Third Man Records.

The song "Little Lily" was produced by White and released in the summer of 2013 accompanied by the B-side "Sailing Song."

The band then readied for the recording sessions for their first official EP Gone Baby Gone,

Gone Baby Gone features appearances from Queens of the Stone Age's Josh Homme as well as Steve Jordan was released by Third Man Records in correlation with the band's appearance on the Late Show with David Letterman in Spring '14.

Public acclaim for the bands live show has constantly increased especially after Jack White heralded The Dough Rollers in Rolling Stone magazine, saying Jack Byrne ‘ was his favourite new Young Gun Guitarist’

2014 closed most successfully with The Dough Rollers being asked to support the Legendary Billy Idol around the UK & Europe

2015 should have seen them out supporting The Black Keys all over Europe on a massive Arena tour which unfortunately had to be rescheduled to a later date after an injury to a Black Key.

So Not a band who waits and sits around they have already this year crossed the pond again to the UK to play some headline shows and gain some great reviews and gain momentum with radio plays on XFM and classic FM.

They have now finished their new EP which is outrageously good and about to engage on a Tour of the USA for what will be MUST SEE GIGS ! as this is one of the most important bands emerging in Rock worldwide today.

The Gaming Commission - (Set time: 7:30 PM)
The Gaming Commission
Venue Information:
Mercury Lounge
217 E Houston St.
New York, NY, 10002


text:
Talk Normal, Fan-Tan

Sun, September 4, 2011

Doors: 7:30 pm

Mercury Lounge

New York, NY

$10 adv / $12 dos

This event is 21 and over

Weekend - (Set time: 10:00 PM)
Talk Normal - (Set time: 9:00 PM)
Talk Normal
On Talk Normal’s sophomore LP Sunshine, out October 23 via Joyful Noise Recordings, the Brooklyn duo unveil songs that sparkle with melody and dissonance. Jarring rhythms and feedback-drenched guitar tones lace
Sunshine’s nine surprisingly songful tunes – creating a sound informed by their predecessors (Cocteau Twins, Velvet Underground, Laurie Anderson & Creatures), but strikingly new.
After years of friendship, Sarah Register and Andrya Ambro’s Talk Normal first emerged on the NYC music scene in 2007, initially releasing demos, cassettes and their Secret Cog vinyl EP. Following the 2009 release of their debut album Sugarland on Rare Book Room Records (recorded and mixed by Nicolas Vernhes), Talk Normal released a handful of 7″s (including a split 7″ with Thurston Moore on Nathan Howdeshell from The Gossip’s Fast Weapons Records) and shared the stage with the likes of Sonic Youth, Wire, Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Zola Jesus.
In the three years since Sugarland, Talk Normal have refined their noisy vigor into the diverse batch of songs found on Sunshine. Tracks like “Bad Date”, “Cover”, and “Hurricane” carry almost a meditative emotional energy, where others like “Sunshine” and “Shot This Time” err on the side of explosive driving rock. Plus dance-y “XO”, narrative noisers “Lone General” and “Baby, Your Heart’s Too Big”, and standout vocal harmonies on “Hot Water Burns”. Produced by the band, Sunshine was recorded in 2011 by Christina Files at Vacation Island Studios in Brooklyn NY and Echo Canyon West in Hoboken NJ (Files also contributed to production). Allen Farmello mixed at The Snow Farm in Brooklyn NY. Written over the course of years, culminating in frequent jumps from studio to studio, and with the band going on two month-long tours mid-process (!) this album is laced with a sense of urgency and jubilation unique to the path it traveled into reality.
Unlike traditional noisy-rock, Talk Normal’s Sunshine is steeped in melody, albeit unconventional melody. Sweet-sounding female vocals are present throughout, sometimes as sung lyrics and sometimes as instruments themselves. Ambro & Register’s combined voices often volley back and forth, each providing equal contributions to vocals, lyrics, and instrumentation – meticulously orchestrating not only the arrangements, but also the tonality of each collected sound. As Pitchfork describes: “(their) vocals can handle both desperate screech and matter-of-fact detachment somewhere between Karen O and Kim Gordon”. Combined with Register’s flowing, nearly-drony riffs and Ambro’s finely choreographed beats, the end result is a natural sonic cohesion. Maybe not the sunshine you’re used to, but rays within which you’ll want to bask.
Fan-Tan - (Set time: 8:00 PM)
"Brooklyn post-punk trio Fan-tan began in 2007 when Ryan Lee and Sandee K moved from Chapel Hill, NC to Brooklyn, NY. After four years of touring and recording, they met drummer Mike Sherburn while on the road to SXSW in 2011.

Fan-tan’s debut LP, A Strange Game, is slated for release in March of 2013 on Goodnight Records.

The first single, “1989”, was released in summer 2011 and is available for free download at http://fan-tan.bandcamp.com.

In August of 2012 a second single from the LP, "Window", was premiered by The Deli Magazine.

Melding melodic guitar noise with icy rhythmic arrangements haloed by sharp, lilting vocals, their sound recalls a more rigid My Bloody Valentine or a less rigid Gang of Four. A more dramatic Jesus and Mary Chain. A kinder Suicide."
Venue Information:
Mercury Lounge
217 E Houston St.
New York, NY, 10002


text:
Global. Trusted. Hybrid.

Microsoft Azure is a growing collection of integrated cloud services—analytics, computing, database, mobile, networking, storage, and web—for moving faster, achieving more, and saving money.

Microsoft Azure means freedom for businesses. The freedom to access the technology you want, where and when you want it. The freedom to take advantage of the latest technology as a capital expense, or an operational one. The freedom to focus on running your business – not running IT systems.

Microsoft understands that for you to realize the benefits of the cloud, you must be willing to entrust your cloud provider with one of your most valuable assets – your data. If you invest in a cloud service, you must be able to trust that your customer data is safe, that the privacy of your data is protected, and that you retain ownership of and control over your data—that it will only be used in a way that is consistent with your expectations.

Power Your Business Apps

Azure can run all of your business applications while providing global scale, consistency, and seamless integration with third party tools.

Simplify Complex Environments

You don’t need to be an expert on configuring, deploying, and maintaining your business applications — choose from a growing number of pre-packaged templates to get started immediately.

Keep Data Safe

Security and privacy are built right into the Azure platform, controlling user access, encrypting communication, securing networks, and managing threats.

The largest compliance portfolio than any other cloud provider!

Get More Done

Any developer or IT professional can be productive with Azure. The integrated tools, pre-built templates and managed services make it easier to build and manage enterprise, mobile, Web and Internet of Things (IoT) apps faster, using skills you already have and technologies you already know. Microsoft is also the only vendor positioned as a Leader across Gartner’s Magic Quadrants for Cloud Infrastructure as a Service, Application Platform as a Service, and Cloud Storage Services for the second consecutive year.

Use an Open and Flexible Cloud Service Platform

Azure supports the broadest selection of operating systems, programming languages, frameworks, tools, databases and devices. Run Linux containers with Docker integration; build apps with JavaScript, Python, .NET, PHP, Java and Node.js; build back-ends for iOS, Android and Windows devices. Azure cloud service supports the same technologies millions of developers and IT professionals already rely on and trust.

Extend Your Existing IT

Some cloud providers make you choose between your datacenter and the cloud. Not Azure, which easily integrates with your existing IT environment through the largest network of secure private connections, hybrid database and storage solutions, and data residency and encryption features — so your assets stay right where you need them. And with Azure Stack, you can bring the Azure model of application development and deployment to your datacenter. Azure hybrid cloud solutions give you the best of both worlds: more IT options, less complexity and cost. It’s why it’s one of the best cloud computing services available.

Scale as You Need, Pay as You Go

Azure’s pay-as-you-go services can quickly scale up or down to match demand, so you only pay for what you use. Per-minute billing and a commitment to match competitor prices for popular infrastructure services like compute, storage and bandwidth mean you’re always getting unbeatable price for performance.

Protect Your Data

We know some organizations are still wary of the cloud. That’s why Microsoft has made an industry-leading commitment to the protection and privacy of your data. We were the first cloud provider recognized by the European Union’s data protection authorities for our commitment to rigorous EU privacy laws. Microsoft was also the first major cloud provider to adopt the new international cloud privacy standard, ISO 27018. We also launched Azure Government, a stand-alone version of Azure designed to meet the rigorous compliance requirements of U.S. public agencies.

Run Your Apps Anywhere

As the best cloud service from Microsoft, Azure runs on a worldwide network of Microsoft-managed datacenters across 30 regions—more countries and regions than Amazon Web Services and Google Cloud combined. This fast-growing global footprint gives you lots of options for running applications and ensuring great customer performance. Azure is also the first multinational cloud provider in mainland China.

Make Smarter Decisions

Azure’s predictive analytics services, including Machine Learning, Cortana Analytics and Stream Analytics, are redefining business intelligence. Make smarter decisions, improve customer service and uncover new business possibilities from your structured, unstructured and streaming Internet of Things data.

Rely on a Trusted Cloud Service

Unsure how to choose a cloud service provider? From small dev-test projects to global product launches, Azure is engineered to handle any workload. More than 66 percent of Fortune 500 companies rely on Azure, which offers enterprise grade SLAs on services, 24/7 tech support, and round-the-clock service health monitoring. Customers include Skanska, Heineken, 3M, Dyson, Paul Smith, Mazda, GE Healthcare, Trek, McKesson, Milliman, Towers Watson, NBC Sports, TVB, and many, many more.

Azure Managed Services from Merit Solutions

Your enterprise technology systems can have a tremendous impact on your business performance. However, managing these critical and complex systems can be challenging and an impediment to achieving your strategic goals.

Merit Solutions' Managed Services protects your business from many of the challenges related to building and supporting your enterprise systems. Merit Solutions provides documented, organized managed services to clients who need anywhere, anytime access to critical data – but do not want to be responsible for continuously monitoring and optimizing system, infrastructure, or vendor performance.

Merit Solutions' Managed Services offering enables companies to shift focus to growth and profitability strategies by:

  • Freeing up IT resource requirements and allocations – reducing costs.
  • Proactively monitoring systems and vendors – mitigating risk.
  • Rapidly resolving system and performance issues – minimizing downtime.
  • Streamlining business processes and workflows – improving efficency and effectiveness.
  • Providing more intelligent reporting capabilities – improving decision making.
  • Optimizing the entire IT environment – improving performance.

Let Merit Solutions improve the ongoing availability and performance of your systems so your technology investments can help accelerate business success.

Consider Azure Managed Services?


text:
Swinging Richards Atlanta

Discussion in 'Male Strip Clubs' started by EZEtoGRU, Jul 11, 2016.

  1. EZEtoGRU

    EZEtoGRU Count

    After not visiting the city for about 10 years, I found myself in Atlanta over the weekend and decided to visit SR's on Saturday night. WOW!! Why did I stay away for so long???

    I arrived too early (just before 9:00pm). It was very very quiet until about 10:30pm. By 11:30 the club was packed. I spent the first hour in the main stage area and then paid the $10.oo to go into the VIP section. That was a good decision. I quickly ran into three dancers (Travis, Mark, and Andres) I knew from other clubs. They then brought a few more stunning guys over (one from Michigan and one from Cuba plus others). For several hours I was surrounded by 5-6 naked or nearly naked guys. I like very masculine/straight types and found them in abundance at SR's on Saturday. There were also multiple gay dancers as well although I did not spend time with them. Ethnically, there was almost something for everyone there. White and Black American guys, and latinos from South America/Cuba. I did not see any Asian/European guys dancing although they may have been there and I just missed them. Suffice to say that I had a fabulous time and am still wondering why I have not been back there for so long.

    Montreal (and Stock in particular) is my go to place for strippers along with the occasional visit to Miami (Twist). Personally, I am not particularly fond of the Ft. Lauderdale bar scene so I very rarely venture up there. Going forward, I could see myself spending equal amounts of time between Montreal/Atlanta and dropping my Florida visits altogether.

    I cannot recommend Swinging Richards enough. I am surprised we don't see more reports from there on the forum.
  2. n2guysnatl

    n2guysnatl Novice

    Great review. I always have fun at Swinging Dicks and surprised as well that it doesn't get more mention here.
    joselowe likes this.
  3. joselowe

    joselowe Knight

    Which do you prefer Twist or SR?

    Also is there a lapdance area in SR? And if so is there privacy?
  4. JayNY

    JayNY Lord

    I have never been there, but I would love to go at least once someday.
  5. Keith30309

    Keith30309 Count

    I've never been even though it's a hop, skip and jump away from me. I've met a couple of companions who had worked there and from what I understand it's a clean, safe well-run place. I just have this image of screaming, drunk women raising hell... probably unfounded.
  6. Becket

    Becket Lord

    SR is the disneyland of strip clubs, IMHO. Drunk screaming women are not allowed. They are required to stay in the main section and are not allowed in the VIP section where the fun begins. Seriously, the DJ is very clear and repeats often: "This is a gay club." It is nothing like the Magic Mike image. Lots of cool guys with friendly attitudes wandering about. Yes they can get aggressive about offering lap dances, but it beats the hell out of sitting in the corner alone all night. I usually start a tab at the back bar, buy some drinks for the boys who interest me, and chat away the evening with handfuls of hot jock boys. Have even managed a time or two to see a guy privately off site. I absolutely love this place.
  7. EZEtoGRU

    EZEtoGRU Count

    Becket is spot on. Go to the VIP area and hang out there. No women allowed back there. Frankly, one forgets completely that there are women in the front of the club. The dancers know the big spenders tend to hang out in the VIP area so they get back there quite frequently. If you are buying them drinks and tipping them, they will stay back there with you. The lap dance cubicles are very private. No-one can see what goes on except you and the dancer. For me, Swinging Richards is the US version of Stock Bar. I would say they are very similar type clubs. Probably the best two male strip clubs in North America right now....especially if you like more manly muscular guys.

    Someone asked how I would compare Twist with SR's. They are such different clubs. SR's is much bigger when compared to the Twist gogo boy area. Obviously, at SR's they guys get naked and there is a private lap dance area which Twist does not have. So really there is no comparison. Twist was always fun to hang out with the latino dancers and speak Spanish (which I do). If you want "private fun" with a Twist dancer, you have to take it outside of the club. Twist is also a large multipurpose club with 4-5 different environments to suit your needs. The gogo bungalow is just one of the areas, there is also a quiet front bar, a large disco upstairs, and a latin music area. If I am not mistaken, the quiet front bar is open 24/7 or nearly that. Whilst I have not done it, I think one can go there at 8:00am for cocktails.
    masonguy, bigvalboy, Becket and 2 others like this.
  8. Becket

    Becket Lord

    Just as a thought, perhaps one year this group could have a gathering in Atlanta. Central location, easy in and out airport, great hotels and shopping. The field trip to SR would be killer. I'll bet if we gave them enough advance notice they'd be sure to have their best guys on site on the evening of our visit. Or perhaps a group of us would like to set up a trip. I'd be happy to organize. PM me if interested.
    masonguy, DERRIK, Epigonos and 7 others like this.
  9. Truereview

    Truereview Peer

    I can't add anything else to the great comments above except that I wish the Mexican place across the street from SR would be open 24/7. Every time I leave SR, I'm hungry for a taco...
    latbear4blk likes this.
  10. n2guysnatl

    n2guysnatl Novice

    The Mexican restaurant is no longer there. The building is empty.
  11. Truereview

    Truereview Peer

    Lord ...now I will really need to source me a good fat burrito...I've seen some good ones in the VIP area:D
    Kidding aside, thanks for the heads up. I wish there were more restaurants nearby SR - within walking distance. That hill where SRs seems to be all by itself out there. Moreso now without the mex place - not that it was that good, but I did enjoy watching the scene. I like Twist Bc you can grab a bite to eat at some of the nearby diners/ restaurants that stay open late in Miami. Anyway, I'm a big SRs fan and I'd love to see a group night happen - I get to ATL more frequently in the fall.
    Becket likes this.
  12. Becket

    Becket Lord

    The boys at SR are always getting food delivered. Buy your boy a burrito and enjoy it with him in the VIP. You and he can eat it like Lady and the Tramp...
  13. Despardo

    Despardo Viscount

    In Montreal there is a really good 24 hour Lebanese fast food joint just a couple blocks from the strip clubs--Amir's. Great at 3 a.m. if one has worked up an appetite.
    azdr0710 likes this.
  14. latbear4blk

    latbear4blk Count

    Just have diner before going to the club for desert.
  15. brettnyc

    brettnyc Knight

    Nice to hear about SR Atlanta -- better to have rediscovered it late than never. Reading the review made me nostalgic for SR North Miami and Pompano, both of which were superior to Boardwalk in my opinion. I'm still surprised that S. Florida couldn't support a club like SR.
    joselowe likes this.
  16. Stephan

    Stephan Journeyman

    I'm going there in September.
    Riley Wynters likes this.
  17. good@beingbad

    good@beingbad Apprentice

    I would like to clarify something Becket said. Loud drunk straight women ARE allowed in the club, but not in the VIP area. I can usually only last a short time in the front area before the women get on my nerves. When visiting on a recent Friday, I counted over 40 women in the club including two tables that were 5-6 women and one token gay boy at each. Even though the club states "no bridal showers," it was obvious to anyone watching, that is what the one group was.
    I say this, not to discourage you from going, but to let you know that VIP is worth the extra 10 bucks.
    joselowe likes this.
  18. Becket

    Becket Lord

    I agree. Forty women in the club would send me straight out the door. Luckily I personally have never experienced such a situation there.
    joselowe likes this.
  19. pdxleo

    pdxleo Journeyman

    Was almost hilarious at Dick's Cabaret in Phoenix on Saturday night- three different bachelorette parties showed up around 9:30 PM, ended up almost fighting over which group was getting lap dances for the bride to be! Luckily I had "sampled the goods" earlier, so leaving was no great loss, but the three male customers left in the place had some hangdog expressions on their faces!!
  20. hwic04

    hwic04 Journeyman

    I've read previously that almost all of the dancers at SR Atlanta are straight. I would be looking to meet up at my hotel with a dancer who escorts, not a straight guy. Are there any dancers there who escort and are gay who will agree to an escort session? Please PM me if you can provide some names or descriptions. Thanks.


text:
FIREFIGHTERS from Altrincham were called to the report of a fire in a house on Ashley Road, Altrincham, at 2.24pm on December 27.

When they arrived they found a fire which had damaged a sofa in the living room of the detached house, which started when a mobile heater sited close to the sofa was accidentally switched on.

Two people who were inside the house at the time of the fire were alerted to it by a smoke alarm, which allowed them to escape before the fire service arrived.

The firefighters used a hosereel to extinguish the fire and removed the sofa from the property.


text:
Final Fantasy XIII PlayStation 3

Generally favorable reviews - based on 83 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 73 out of 83
  2. Negative: 1 out of 83
Buy On
  1. The streamlined, focused structure eliminates potential tedium without dumbing anything down, and the battle system strikes an elegant balance between strategy and fast-paced action. Stunningly beautiful graphics and a pervasively meticulous level of polish throughout only add to the experience.
  2. Playstation: The Official Magazine (US)
    The graphics only represent the topmost layer of a pervasive meticulousness, and every last detail feels thoroughly polished. [Apr 2010, p.66]
  3. 100
    Everyone who likes Japanese RPG will love Final Fantasy 13.
  4. It probably goes without saying that this is one of the most gorgeous games to grace a video game console. FFXIII's in-game graphics look like other games' cutscenes. Its cutscenes look like other games' full motion video, and its full motion video looks like a Hollywood blockbuster.
  5. 95
    One of the best games that I have played so far this year. The team at Square Enix has really taken a leap in the right direction for the JRPG genre. They have made a gorgeous game that is fun to play, yet at times challenging and rewarding.
  6. No, Final Fantasy XIII isn't perfect. It is, by and large, an absolutely incredible accomplishment in terms of technical wizardry and streamlining of so much of the unneeded fluff found in a lot of JRPGs.
  7. 95
    Despite the omitted tune, Final Fantasy XIII overall is a high quality RPG that is worth every ounce of the hype. It most likely won't change the minds of those who dislike JRPGs, but fans of the genre will love every minute of the 70-100 hours they will invest.
  8. A phenomenal RPG destined to be remembered as a technical milestone for the series. [Issue#203, p.88]
  9. Square-Enix should receive high praise indeed for their continued willingness to take chances with their flagship intellectual property. While many of the JRPG standards are missing, what remains is an incredible game experience.
  10. We can't assure it is a turning point in the series, but it manages to make fights fun and it's no doubt an outstanding game.
  11. Final Fantasy XIII isn't just a game you merely enjoy. You fall in love with it. It's gorgeous worlds have you stopping to admire them in complete awe, while a graceful soundtrack massages your brain (despite the unfortunate replacement of the original Japanese theme with a song from Leona Lewis).
  12. 92
    Final Fantasy XIII is a fantastical foray into a magical imagination. Ably supported by gorgeous visuals, the gameplay ramps up at a rate than can only be described as perfection as you fall in love with the characters in your party and the environment in which they adventure. It's not perfect in every way but the imperfections that are to be found are like dust on a diamond - there, certainly, but utterly irrelevant.
  13. Final Fantasy XIII is an epic game that plays to its strengths by taking risks.
  14. 91
    Like Mass Effect 2, FFXIII seems to be an attempt to answer the question of how to create an RPG for the modern, console-owning masses. Square Enix's solution is certainly different than BioWare's, but it's arguably just as effective in its own way.
  15. Final Fantasy XIII goes back to the J-RPG-roots of the franchise while stripping away that which made its predecessor appealing to fans of western RPG. For Fans of the linear J-RPG genre, FF XIII is a great game; fans of western freedom had better stay away from it.
  16. Playstation Official Magazine UK
    Ten hours in you might have doubts, but stay with it and you'll be smitten right through to the frankly unbelievable end. [Apr 2010, p.104]
  17. If you expected a traditional JRPG, Final Fantasy XIII will be very disappointing for you. But that's not what Square Enix wanted it to be: this thirteenth chapter is a completely new point of view for the saga, which was in terrible need of a new direction. The plot is intense and built on an enjoyable smaller scope, the battle system is deep and satisfying, and technically (albeit a couple of unexpected flaws) the game delivers. So that's it, a NEW Final Fantasy: if that's what you were waiting for, big time.
  18. The story, its great combat system and its sublime production values all work in one direction: submerge the player in the kind of hyperbolic odyssey that only the JRPG genre can offer.
  19. 90
    Thank goodness for the battle system, then, because it saves the game while you're wincing through the saccharine banter and waiting for the training wheels to spin off.
  20. Final Fantasy XIII establishes a new reference and reinvents itself again, offering an experience unlike any that came before.
  21. 90
    Square Enix has brought some RPG elements to the forefront, while putting some away in the back. This might offend some gamers, but with a mix of tactics, a deep battle system and action-filled battles Final Fantasy XIII will entice plenty of players. The interaction between the characters and the gradual revelations within the story are placed within a wonderful audio-visual jacket and manage to grab the gamer without letting them go. The linear aspect shouldn’t bother anyone in this thirteenth step of one of the most popular franchises out there.
  22. Final Fantasy XIII is an amazing game. With an engrossing story and a thrilling new battle system, this is one title you can't afford to miss as an RPG fan. However, though it succeeds on the most important fronts, there are some notable areas where the game could have been better. The linear level design is a fairly large stumbling block, and if you are used to open-world games, it can make the entire experience feel a little claustrophobic.
  23. Whether you enjoy it or not will depend on your expectations. Walk into it with a clear mind and you will get lost in this magical fantasy world.
  24. Final Fantasy XIII isn't your typical Final Fantasy, but what is? Final Fantasy's tradition is its divergence, and when its execution is ever so clearly in line with its vision, there isn't much else quite like it.
  25. Final Fantasy is back, and it's not afraid to take a few risks along the way. Square Enix have taken a giant leap towards genre reform and should be congratulated for it. This is the best JRPG of this console generation by far.
  26. Superb storytelling, a very human cast, and visuals that will change your life, there is nothing to stop anyone from enjoying what this adventure has to offer.
  27. AceGamez
    The linear beginning may disappoint hardcore players but Final Fantasy XIII is a journey from start to finish and it is worth losing a few days or weeks over.
  28. LEVEL (Czech Republic)
    Even the thirteenth installment keeps the series in high standards and comes with an interesting battle system and stunning visuals. Story though is rather straightforward and more technical than stirring. [Issue#190]
  29. 89
    Hardcore Final Fantasy fans might be disappointed by the game's abandonment of franchise traditions like open worlds, town exploration and complex mini-games. The game is still worth buying, but it doesn't quite feel as complete as its well-loved predecessors.
  30. Final Fantasy XIII is very entertaining even if the borders between the different genres aren’t visible anymore. Not just great graphics, the simple controls and the interesting story motivate me every time to play another hour.
  31. 89
    After a long wait, the newest episode in the Final Fantasy saga has finally reached our consoles. Although it will take several hours of gaming before you will see its full potential, it sure is worth the effort. It will give you hours and hours of gameplay, great visuals in the form of graphics and cut-scenes and off course superb audio. We enjoyed the ride. Next stop: FF Versus XIII or FFXIV.
  32. While I did find the linear game style to be slightly annoying, it’s a small flaw in what is otherwise a really enjoyable game to play.
  33. Final Fantasy XIII is a big and impressive adventure that manages to push the genre in the right direction. The characters, battle system and the story are all great. The fact that there are parts in the game that are unnecessary long and boring is to bad, still FFXIII is the one of the best RPG’s of this generation.
  34. A unique, refreshing, and strategic battle system unlike any other; it just takes too long to gain total control.
  35. 87
    Final Fantasy XIII is probably the RPG of the year and therefore a must have for any RPG-lover. The game is very strong, has beautiful graphics and good voice-acting. Unfortunately after completing this adventure we again have to wait a couple of years for a new part.
  36. Final Fantasy XIII may not live up to the hype, but any fan of Japanese-style RPGs will find a lot to like here.
  37. It all just works so, so, so well. If this was my first Final Fantasy or even my first RPG, I’d think it’s one of the best things I’ve ever played. But I really can’t shake the recurring feeling that Square-Enix has taken something away from me. It’s hard to pin it down exactly, but it’s the void I feel when I subtract so many beloved role-playing elements.
  38. Final Fantasy XIII embraces a feeling of immediacy that ultimately serves it well. Yeah, there aren't any towns, at least not in the classic sense. But once you're fully invested in the deep, demanding combat, you probably won't miss them. If you've been waiting years for Final Fantasy XIII, don't let its streamlined approach scare you away.
  39. An unexpected Final Fantasy. The 13th chapter has a great story and some of the most incisive characters of the whole series, and even the battle system works very well, being deep and complex (even if you control only a single character). But on the other side the overwhelming linearity of the plot, the absence of cities to explore, and the small amount of side quest will disappoint fans' expectations.
  40. Play UK
    For our part, despite its flaws, we think it gets the job done. [Issue#190, p.64]
  41. The most beautiful Final Fantasy game yet is an imperfect but still impressive saga that will touch your heart.
  42. A game that impresses easily – merely looking at this game will have eyes popping and jaws dropping. However, get beyond that and there is a very linear game with many prototypical J-RPG elements in place. While there is some latitude for how battles are fought, for the most part, the game holds the player’s hand and escorts them through this fantastical land that is part fantasy and part sci-fi.
  43. Square Enix expands the Final Fantasy series with a title full of new mechanics and important design decisions, all of them oriented to tell to fans a great and exciting story. The progress in the game is extremely linear, the cinematics are numerous, but the battle system is simply awesome and the big tool of the J-RPGs to claim its big values again. Thirteen is a good number for the Final Fantasy series, but we feel that it could been even better.
  44. 85
    A brave step in a new direction for the series. It won’t please everyone, but Final Fantasy XIII succeeds where it counts.
  45. Final Fantasy XIII will probably not go down as one of the high points in the series. However, on its own, FFXIII is still a really good and enjoyable game with a fantastic battle system and gorgeous graphics.
  46. 84
    It’s a massive game with a ridiculous amount of content. That said, bigger isn’t necessarily better. A slightly shorter game with a more unified design might have worked better.
  47. 83
    As a technical feat the game is a triumph, but it seems a slave to its own spectacle, manacling the gameplay to serve its own bombastic vision and ultimately while the excellent combat and stunning visuals are enough to recommend it, they're not enough to earn it a place amongst the series’ top rank.
  48. Final Fantasy XIII is a huge, incredibly well realized game with a brand new and spectacular combat-progression system made even better by top notch visual and sound. Unfortunately these good features have to face some serious flaws like the unnecessary linearity and the too hard difficulty level.
  49. The shock of change is overwhelming at first, but give the game enough time to develop and you'll soon appreciate its intricacies. A few problematic design choices aside, there's a lot of fun to be had in this newest and most Final-est of Fantasies.
  50. There's not much middle ground for Final Fantasy XIII, either you'll appreciate what it's trying to do or you won't.
  51. 81
    As an RPG, it is an excellent experience that provides a beautifully crafted world and engaging battle system. However, as a Final Fantasy game, it falls short of expectations somewhat.
  52. PSM3 Magazine UK
    Linear and needs patience, but tells an epic, emotive story with rare polish. [Apr 2010, p.92]
  53. Less to do and much, much more to see. Final Fantasy XIII preserves the usual depth of its storyline, adding stunning graphics and sound, which make this a game worth playing. Yet, the lack of any typical RPG action and the technical differences of the PS3 against the X360 version left us quite confused, if not upset.
  54. Pelit (Finland)
    This fantasy isn't something that every boy dreams of, but on the other side, the game offers nice story and extremely streamlined mechanics. If you can put aside the annoying characters, the incoherent script and the overall restrictions, the game is reasonably fun to play. [Mar 2010]
  55. Final Fantasy XIII's is a superb system overall, easily making up what depth it has lost in speed, tactical cunning and moment-to-moment engagement. Some have bemoaned the apparent retreat from XII's daring reinvention - I did myself, at first - but in its way XIII is just as big a step for the party RPG, albeit a simpler and perhaps more palatable one.
  56. For fans of traditional RPG games (and especially for fans of the Final Fantasy series) this should be unmissable. However, for those more casual players or newcomers to the genre it may be slightly overwhelming and the repetitive nature and sheer linearity of the early level design might be quite a disappointment for fans hoping for more from this generation’s first Final Fantasy RPG.
  57. It's difficult to get back the magic of the early days, but Square Enix tried its best in order to develop a storyline that's worth living. With an outstanding graphics engine, an impressive story and a quite interesting gameplay style, the only element that Final Fantasy XIII's lacking is a better mechanics and not the just go-on-forward gameplay style that it offers. Still, it's a worth-buying JRPG if you're a fan of the genre. And if you're not, just give it a try.
  58. 80
    Complaining about the lack of a Japanese audio track might seem like nitpicking but it goes back to my main point: XIII ignored me -- me, a dedicated JRPG and Final Fantasy fan -- to try and seduce someone else with user-friendly tutorials and a Leona Lewis theme song.
  59. Despite being extremely linear and not having a lot aside from the main story itself, Final Fantasy XIII impresses on most levels - especially when it comes to the amazing graphics and the well thought-out battle system. While the 50+ hours it takes to complete the game may sound daunting, they really do fly past - something that can't be said about a lot of things these days.
  60. If you don't have time for an incredibly long game, don't buy Final Fantasy XIII.
  61. Stir up a fast-paced, strategic battle system, some awe-inspiring sounds and visuals, and a unique story told through a frustratingly linear adventure, and you get Final Fantasy 13.
  62. Yes this game is very linear and you can wonder why you’ve paid £40 to wander in pretty much a straight line. But don’t forget what you’re playing Final Fantasy for; the story and battles. And Final Fantasy XIII delivers big time.
  63. Final Fantasy XIII does away with a lot of the components that make out the traditional Final Fantasy formula, which at first feels odd, but the overall experience is still very much a Final Fantasy one. The combat system might just be the best the series' has ever offered and the characters are with a few exceptions well fleshed out. It's a shame that it takes almost twenty hours for the game to realize it's true potential since the experience for those who endure the slow introduction is nothing short of amazing.
  64. games(TM)
    A very different Final Fantasy, then, but one that becomes more familiar by the end - and we're certainly not going to bemoan Square Enix for attempting and achieving something beyond the usual expectations attached to the genre. [Apr 2010, p.112]
  65. Once the characters grow up and band together, the plot finds its Focus, and the gameplay takes the training wheels off to let gamers make the most of the stellar combat system, it's an excellent JRPG, just one with severe pacing issues.
  66. Playstation Official Magazine Australia
    But the more changes they make to get in line with a faster-paced style of gameplay, the further away they drift from what made the franchise unique for so many years. The drudgery at the beginning may annoy the casual gamer with an investment of several hours before Paradigm Shift is available and a half-a-dozen more before the first summons. Fans, however, won’t care in the slightest. They’ll be well aware lead time before proceedings really kick off. [Apr 2010 p.64]
  67. A beautiful adventure that you can’t put down for the first thirty hours. The second half isn’t as gripping as the first, though. It’s interesting that the game sways away from the previous games in the series, but not everyone will be pleased with the linear gameplay.
  68. It’s a mixed bag and the game is nowhere near perfect. Stick through the linear and less gripping parts for the first few hours, and you’ll end up with a story and combat engine that’ll hold you hostage until completion.
  69. While it's not quite the final word on JRPGs, Final Fantasy XIII represents the felicitous first steps on the path to a destination well worth reaching.
  70. The story, characters and combat are all some of the best in the series and help invigorate the gameplay which the game depends so much on.
  71. Games Master UK
    Game of the Year? Cutscenes of the Year, more like. A Marmite Final Fantasy experience. [Apr 2010, p.80]
  72. Final Fantasy seems to have fallen in a rut, but if you can put up with the linearity for long enough, there is an interesting story and game at its heart. That said, even hard-core Final Fantasy fans are going to struggle to find an A++ RPG here.
  73. It may feel a bit different from the Final Fantasy you're used to, but Final Fantasy XIII deserves the chance to branch out and develop on its own.
  74. It’s also worth noting that there’s a huge difference in visuals when playing this game on the Xbox 360. The game seems to have been made for Blu-Ray, and it’s only on one disc, making the PS3 version the more appealing one to buy.
  75. You have to hand it to Square Enix for trying to move things forward - better that than yet another rehash of the tried and tested Final Fantasy formula (the less said about Infinite Undiscovery the better). But it does so along a path so narrow and straight that you long for the days of old.
  76. High production values and charming characters make Final Fantasy XIII a good game. But an all too linear structure and a boring story keep it from being brilliant.
  77. Considering the initial expectations, Final Fantasy XIII is definitely a disappointment. Although the adventure looks absolutely stunning (especially on PS3), the gameplay lacks in terms of depth in a way that no one could have expected, and if we add to the equation the extreme linearity of most of the adventure, the whole experience is far from perfect. Anyway, we can't blame Square Enix too much: this is where mass market is leading us.
  78. By eliminating many of the factors that we've come to expect Square-Enix has delivered a Final Fantasy XIII that is different, but also desperately attempts to cling on to some elements of the past purely to maintain conventions. Unfortunately, the biggest criticism is the fact that you're left with a feeling of playing for the sake of it, rather than savoring it.
  79. 60
    The fact that Final Fantasy designers are so willing to experiment is a good thing, because it’ll keep the genre from dying off. But Final Fantasy XIII should be considered a failed experiment.
  80. Baby and bathwater are thrown screaming from the tub as Square Enix strip Final Fantasy down to the marrow.
  81. Final Fantasy XIII just needed to be about half as long as it is, with tighter pacing and a faster ramp up to entertaining combat in its first half. But at least whether it's entertaining or boring you, it's unflinchingly gorgeous from one end to the other.
  82. FFXIII takes brave risks with the series’ foundations, but they ultimately create trembling fractures throughout the entire edifice, that robust battle system unable to support the weight of an entire world. Final Fantasy games are always an investment. This time, the returns are questionable.
  83. It takes more than graphics to make a game, and Final Fantasy XIII offers very little else other than eye candy. Ultimately, this latest addition to the Final Fantasy series is a pompous and masturbatory affair, created seemingly to promote the developer's ego first, and the player's enjoyment second.
User Score

Mixed or average reviews- based on 2507 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Aug 24, 2010
    Before buying FF13 I knew of two crushing facts about it - no overworld map/controllable airship and extremely linear gameplay. One of theBefore buying FF13 I knew of two crushing facts about it - no overworld map/controllable airship and extremely linear gameplay. One of the main reasons I bought a PS3 was for this game, so even after learning of the disappointments I still gave it a try. Now I've been an rpg fan for a long time. Playing through Chrono Trigger, Final Fantasy 6, and Secret of Mana were some of the most memorable expereices I've had. These games have a certain charm, a certain soul, that I believe Square has lost. Indeed, the brilliant minds behind these games are no longer working together (Sakaguchi, Amano, Uematsu, etc.). FF6 I believe was the pinacle, with my enjoyment declining with each subsequent release. There's something quite endearing about the old overhead-view and world maps. You're able to take it all in, your imagination turns, and you feel a real sense of the universe that's being portrayed. But now because of cut-scenes, fixed viewpoints or locations, and flashy graphics we're given a much more controlled and limited environment. With that said, I did enjoy FF7 and I wish they would have stuck with that format at least. I honestly cannot comprehend how they thought taking away a free-roaming world and airship travel would be received well by fans. Actually, I'm sure they realized it wouldn't be, but instead did not care and opted to appeal to a newer generation, thus making more money. Overall, this Final Fantasy is not for me, and I am ok with that. But it is a shame that the days of Final Fantasy as I knew it are gone.

    Ok, as far as FF13 goes... after 15 hours of playing I have completely lost interest. The story is the only reason I played this far, though at this point I feel as though I understand it enough to not continue with it. The major things that prevent me from finishing are the core gameplay (as I mentioned earlier) and the characters. The characters have stupid names. There I said it. Vanille, Snow, Lightning... Anyone of those is fine by itself but all 3 together? They act too childish. And with all their action, vibrancy of colors, their whining and shouting, I am somehow still left with a vapid taste in my mouth; not to mention how annoying some of the voices are. Most everything about this game comes off as way too contrived. Another thing that has not sat well with me since it was introduced are fight scenes, or cut-scenes in general. This is just a way of making the game more presentable and easier to consume by the masses, who by and large appreciate this and find it entertaining. I do not. I am not a huge movie/television fan to begin with so it does not appeal to me in the least. Maybe a few cut-scenes here and there are fine (like with FF7), but when it's done as much as it is in FF13 you feel as though you're playing an interactive movie, and in an essence that is really what it has become. So if you are new to Final Fantasy, I urge to to take a look at the older ones (or older Squaresoft games like Chrono Trigger or Secret of Mana), and try to have some patience and imagination and I am sure you will find a much more rewarding experience.
    Full Review »
  2. Breck
    Mar 9, 2010
    Quite possible the worst final fantasy in the entire series. It shouldn't even be considered a true final fantasy. Nothing about this Quite possible the worst final fantasy in the entire series. It shouldn't even be considered a true final fantasy. Nothing about this game is good, I returned it. Something that took 2 years to make, was delayed for ps3 for another 2 years and downgraded so they could put it onto 360. Pathetic. Besides that, graphics still are bad with ps2 style environments. Annoying characters, and the same damn plot you've heard 100 times. Unless your a 6 year old girl, avoid at all costs. Full Review »
  3. Aug 2, 2011
    While still playing this game, I can assure you that Square-enix took one step in the right direction. In Final Fantasy XIII you will findWhile still playing this game, I can assure you that Square-enix took one step in the right direction. In Final Fantasy XIII you will find everything a game should have: Great story, well-developed and compelling characters, stunning enviroments, one of the best musical scores of the series, entertaining battle system, and DIFFICULTY. Every role is vital, and strategies are key for some battles. For those who like to compare FFXIII to other FFS just remember how great were FFVIII & FFVII, but how easy they were as well. I found that FFXIII is the oppossite of FFXII. Whereas FFXII gave you the freedom you 'need', tons of quests, it offered, IMO, the weakest story and character development of the series. In contrast, FFXIII is brilliantly developed, as characters and story is concerned. Sure, some things can be improved, some towns and quest can be added, but I, for one, cannot complain, as this game exceeded my expectations and I can't wait for its sequel. It's not a 10, as I gave. I would probably rate it as a 9.5, but hey, some put 0s and 1s so I wanted to raise the user score. Full Review »


text:
The Near-Sighted Monkey
August 24, 2011 7:35 AM   Subscribe

Lynda Barry, cartoonist and author of One! Hundred! Demons! has a lovely art tumblr.
posted by The Whelk (44 comments total) 43 users marked this as a favorite

Oh I was so terrified this was an obit post. I adore her!
posted by hermitosis at 7:41 AM on August 24, 2011 [7 favorites]

posted by louche mustachio at 7:41 AM on August 24, 2011

"Dogs". I want that notebook with that story in it - bad.
posted by dutcherino at 7:44 AM on August 24, 2011 [2 favorites]

Thanks for this. Ms Barry was as kind and wonderful as you'd imagine when I brought my daughter to meet her on her last book tour. She was encouraging and kind and made a sweet little drawing/dedication that my girl will treasure for ever.

We will both follow.
posted by readery at 7:51 AM on August 24, 2011

Scritching my dog while reading "Dogs."
posted by moonmilk at 8:00 AM on August 24, 2011

Oh I was so terrified...

Me, too. Actual obituary posts should be black. You add an "obituary" tag and the code takes care of the rest.
posted by pracowity at 8:00 AM on August 24, 2011 [4 favorites]

Oh I was so terrified this was an obit post.

So I'm not the only one that thought this could have been an Obit.
posted by Del Far at 8:13 AM on August 24, 2011 [1 favorite]

I love Lynda Barry. I just read the one about dogs and crying in my cereal bowl already.
posted by Jess the Mess at 8:16 AM on August 24, 2011

Thanks! She's amazing!
posted by safetyfork at 8:17 AM on August 24, 2011

Yes, the dog one was good! Thanks for this.
posted by marxchivist at 8:18 AM on August 24, 2011

Excellent throughout. "Dogs" is a inspiring and heartbreaking, though I admit I was thinking of more cats than dogs while reading it.
posted by aught at 8:18 AM on August 24, 2011

That Dogs one made me tear up something fierce. Need a tissue now.
posted by Splunge at 8:18 AM on August 24, 2011

Awesome! I didn't even know she was doing much on the internet. When I saw her give a talk a year ago (filling me with joy and happiness) she was using an OS 9 clamshell iBook to do the slides. :)
posted by edheil at 8:21 AM on August 24, 2011 [2 favorites]

It's wonderful to see that she is still Funk Queen of the Universe.

Not that I ever doubted.
posted by louche mustachio at 8:27 AM on August 24, 2011 [2 favorites]

From the sidebar:
During Spring Semester of 2012, Lynda Barry will be the University of Wisconsin’s Artist in Residence on the Madison campus. She’ll be teaching a writing and picture-making class called, “What It Is: Manually Shifting the Image” which will meet twice a week.

The class will be open to both graduate and undergraduate students from all academic disciplines. No artistic talent is required to be part of this class, but students should have an interest in memory, images, how the brain works, and what the biological function of the thing we call ‘the arts’ may be.

To find out more visit:
How I wish I lived closer to Madison right now!
posted by jillithd at 8:34 AM on August 24, 2011 [1 favorite]

I love her, and have several pieces of original art by her hanging in my home. I've met her at book signings. But I must admit I find her opposition to wind farms a little perplexing (primarily because of the NIMBY aspects). But I thrilled by this her tumblr.
posted by kimdog at 8:36 AM on August 24, 2011 [1 favorite]

Here's a terrific interview with the AV Club also.
posted by cottoncandybeard at 8:55 AM on August 24, 2011 [1 favorite]

I've sent this to some people, grown man-people and they are crying now.

For the next group, I will append the warning:

"Dogs" will make you cry. That is not speculation, that is a straight-up fact. Don't read it anywhere where you will be embarrassed by crying.

But read it. You have to.
posted by louche mustachio at 9:10 AM on August 24, 2011

Oooh yay! Thanks! Even with the crying.
posted by gingerbeer at 9:13 AM on August 24, 2011

Fantastic. I adore Lynda Barry, I was just re-reading The Fun House last week.
posted by Specklet at 9:20 AM on August 24, 2011 [2 favorites]

Oh man. "What It Is" is good shit. Just absolutely terrifying in the best possible way.

I'd always made the mistake of lumping Lynda Barry in with Sark and like people who collect things with pictures of Tweety Bird. You know: "Childhood is awesome! Children are sweet and kind and joyful! We should all be more like that!" I think I was like twelve when I first saw her stuff, and... I dunno, something about the deliberate scribbliness and the dorky-kids-are-awesome subject matter, and I figured "Oh shit, another dumb starry-eyed grownup who's forgotten how awful childhood actually is. I'm not reading this crap."

And then last year I finally picked up my girlfriend's copy of What It Is and OH SHIT. No, Lynda Barry hasn't forgotten. She absolutely remembers what it's like to be eight years old and worried about something — and she puts it across better than anyone I've read except maybe Shirley Jackson.

That damn cephalopod gave me nightmares.
posted by nebulawindphone at 9:29 AM on August 24, 2011 [1 favorite]

thank you for posting this!!! I'm a big fan.
posted by tuesdayschild at 9:36 AM on August 24, 2011

Oh, there's a fair quantity of dorky-kids-are-awesome as well. Otherwise she'd be intolerably depressing. Marlys is a unique child hero who manages to find or create moments of awesomeness in the midst of poverty and family strife, usually without resorting to escapist fantasy.
posted by KirkJobSluder at 9:48 AM on August 24, 2011 [1 favorite]

Although my favorite Barry is still Poodle with a Mohawk.
posted by KirkJobSluder at 9:52 AM on August 24, 2011 [1 favorite]

Rock ON!

I've printed out the Magnetic Meditating Monkey for the cover of my E&M notebook this semester.

nebulawindphone, I'm so glad you re-discovered Barry. I refer to her consistently as one of the most authentic voices of childhood that I've ever encountered.
posted by BrashTech at 9:53 AM on August 24, 2011

Oh, there's a fair quantity of dorky-kids-are-awesome as well. Otherwise she'd be intolerably depressing. Marlys is a unique child hero who manages to find or create moments of awesomeness in the midst of poverty and family strife, usually without resorting to escapist fantasy.

Yeah, but I'm okay with that.

I think there's a difference between romanticizing that stuff ("...the magical power of your imagination can take you anywhere in the world!...") and just portraying it like it is. Some of my favorite comics of hers, now that I've gone back and started reading them, are the ones where Marlys is accidentally sort of a jerk because she's too caught up in her own game or fantasy or whatever to see how it's affecting other people.

It's like, yeah, creativity is fun, it's how a lot of people cope with their shit, but it's not actually going to sweep you off your feet and solve all your problems. And once I saw that she was being that sort of realist about it, the fun awesome happy comics got more interesting too, because I knew she wasn't working from the assumption that Fun and Happy were guaranteed.
posted by nebulawindphone at 10:04 AM on August 24, 2011 [1 favorite]

Why are we all so worried about Linda Barry? I read 'tumblr' as 'tumor' initially and had a similar panic.
posted by benito.strauss at 10:19 AM on August 24, 2011

Oh, there's a fair quantity of dorky-kids-are-awesome as well. Otherwise she'd be intolerably depressing.

Check out The Freddie Stories. That book is relentless. I take it to be a tale of teenage schizophrenia in a vulnerable kid, but I could be wrong about what "Old Buddy" actually is.

That said, baby-baba-rocka-shaggy-mama-baba-saba-sister-brother-baba-doctor-shaggy-backa-baba-bubba-baby-boo is one of the greatest character names ever.
posted by benzenedream at 10:24 AM on August 24, 2011 [1 favorite]

This may sound silly, but what always struck me is how poor the kids in Barry's comics are. I first discovered her as a poor kid myself. One of my sister's friends had a book of Marlys comics. I'd never seen something before that so perfectly captured the speech and the households--too many cats, incense to cover the cat pee smell, shag carpets littered with pieces of food--that I'd grown up in, and around. They always seemed thrillingly contemporary, too. I always figured that Barry was much younger, until I read 100 demons and realized how much of her work is autobiographical and actually likelier set in the 50s and 60s. I guess the markers of poverty transcend generation. Anyway, glad Barry is telling these stories. They're not often told.
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 10:24 AM on August 24, 2011 [4 favorites]

Re: "Dogs"

It's the "thump thump thump" at the very end that gets me :)
posted by o2b at 10:51 AM on August 24, 2011

man i will tell you, coming across lynda barry when on the cusp of maladjusted adolescence with a screwy family in the middle of nowhere, that shit is godsend. and then again godsend when reading What It Is and Picture This during times of mental restructuring as an adult. she is so fuckin' good.
posted by beefetish at 11:27 AM on August 24, 2011

Why are we all so worried about Linda Barry?

Because after she and Bootsy are gone there will be NO ONE TO ADMINISTER THE FUNK.

This is wonderful, thanks. I revisited the "Lynda Barry Experience" CD just recently.
posted by mintcake! at 12:46 PM on August 24, 2011 [4 favorites]

I don't want to be all spoiling spoilers, so just go read infinitewindow's story to find out who is the famous person you all know who was Lynda Barry's worst boyfriend ever.
posted by msalt at 2:53 PM on August 24, 2011 [2 favorites]

I got into Lynda Barry when I was the actual age of a Lynda Barry character (8 or 9). It was a tremendous help and influence. I'd be sending her hell of fan letters if there were any "ask" boxes on that tumblr.
posted by Countess Elena at 4:14 PM on August 24, 2011 [1 favorite]

I met her briefly in Chicago in I guess around 1991. And although at that point I knew and loved Ernie Pook's Comeek, I had no idea then how much more she was going to do, and how much I was going to love all of it, or how much it would come to mean to me over the years.

I can't go back to that day and tell her, but maybe I should email her now.
posted by tangerine at 4:30 PM on August 24, 2011 [1 favorite]

I LOVE this woman with all my heart. Have been a fan since 1990 or so. Shame on the Austin Chronicle for not running her stuff anymore.
posted by PuppyCat at 6:16 PM on August 24, 2011

I love Lynda Barry a whole bunch. Hers was one of the first comics I got into. It was that weird early high school time before comics were cool again and I wasn't quite sure if they were awesome grown-up works or something for kids that I should be too old for. So I checked them out of the library time and time again, hidden in stacks of "important novels". Specifically I remember Come Over, Come Over, My Perfect Life, and It's So Magic and how much resonance the voices of her characters have. I especially love how much enthusiasm and optimism they maintain in kinda rough settings. Without realizing they have it rough. Or being disingenuously noble. And at 14 I was, as a lot of teenagers are, pretty damn pretentious. But they were just so compelling and easy to relate to that I risked the derision of the librarians (whose approval I desperately wanted) and my peers (who mattered slightly less) just to read those stories over and over. Luckily, I've grown up to have somewhat more confidence. I've also learned that yes, in fact, they were awesome all along I was just too dorky and jittery to get it at the time. Which is probably why 15 years later she's still one of my favorite people in comics. Even though my house might smell like cats, I still like to trip out on the magicness of the universe.
posted by troublewithwolves at 8:35 PM on August 24, 2011 [1 favorite]

She is wonderful. Once, when I was feeling low about 20 years ago, a friend mailed me an Ernie Pook's she had been carrying around in her wallet for a few years, to cheer herself up in down moments. It was the one called Crystal Blue Persuasion about those moments where everything in the universe - the smells, the song on the radio, the colors, your parents, everything - is inexplicably perfect. I carried it around for a few years too until I lost it. Wish I could find it online.

Later I wrote her a fan letter that included this story: My at that time girlfriend's mom chastised my girlfriend and I for exposing her younger step sibling to "Lesbian Comics" like Lynda Barry's. Barry wrote me back a very sweet note with cute drawings of dogs and Marlys.

I couldn't get into Cruddy, although I appreciated the effort. Also liked 100 Demons but when you've been loving someone so long it's hard not to be all, "You people don't even KNOW how awesome she IS" when they all suddenly discover her. I know, stupid. She's great and everyone should discover her and love her. How could that [ex boyfriend's name redacted] have been such a moron!?

Anyway. Thanks for the post.
posted by serazin at 11:05 PM on August 24, 2011 [1 favorite]

Crystal Blue Persuasion - is that the one with the last cell just one big spiral? Because that cell went in my wallet too.
posted by benito.strauss at 7:53 AM on August 25, 2011

Serazin, if you don't mind having it in book form instead, all of her stuff is well-anthologized, and most of the books can be found used. I'm pretty sure I tasted Crystal Blue Persuasion in there when I inhaled her entire oeuvre some years back.

That was a magical moment -- suddenly realizing that ALL the Lynda Barry and ALL the Berke Breathed my childhood heart could have desired could now be found easily, used, online, and I could have it for not even all that much money. Saved my life a few times in grad school. One Hundred Demons is basically therapy.
posted by gusandrews at 9:31 PM on August 25, 2011 [1 favorite]

Good point. I've got a couple of her books - Fun House I think? It'd take some time at the library to figure out which book Crystal Blue Persuasion is in. Or maybe I'll wait for that big anthology of Ernie Pook's that set to come out... eventually. Wouldn't mind forking over 20, 25 bucks toward a new copy of that one.
posted by serazin at 10:06 PM on August 25, 2011

20 bucks?! I read one of the amazing interviews linked above and it's going to be a 10 volume set!! Every Ernie Pook's ever written! Holy cow!
posted by serazin at 1:30 PM on August 26, 2011 [1 favorite]

Matt Greoring of The Simpsons proposed to Lynda Barry but it didn't work out, during the credits of the early Treehouse Of Horror episodes he us listed as Matt Funk Lord Of The USA Greoring, which is a Lynda Barry call out
posted by The Whelk at 10:50 PM on September 1, 2011

« Older "Be Gentle. It's My First Time."   |   I like both kinds of music - fuzztone Country AND... Newer »

This thread has been archived and is closed to new comments


text:
MetaFilter posts tagged with comic and religion Posts tagged with 'comic' and 'religion' at MetaFilter. Wed, 29 Aug 2012 17:49:28 -0800 Wed, 29 Aug 2012 17:49:28 -0800 en-us 60 "Great Shades of Elvis!" - Perry White, Ordained Minister, Church of Elvis The greatest super heroes of various religious faiths! Great databases! Heroes arranged by religion! Holy synergy! Religions arranged by team! ,2012:site.119447 Wed, 29 Aug 2012 17:49:28 -0800 klausman The Cartoon Guide to Life, the Universe, and Everything Larry Gonick is a veteran American cartoonist best known for his delightful comic-book guides to science and history, many of which have previews online. Chief among them is his long-running Cartoon History of the Universe (later The Cartoon History of the Modern World), a sprawling multi-volume opus documenting everything from the Big Bang to the Bush administration. Published over the course of three decades, it takes a truly global view -- its time-traveling Professor thoroughly explores not only familiar topics like Rome and World War II but the oft-neglected stories of Asia and Africa, blending caricature and myth with careful scholarship (cited by fun illustrated bibliographies) and tackling even the most obscure events with intelligence and wit. This savvy satire carried over to Gonick's Zinn-by-way-of-Pogo chronicle The Cartoon History of the United States, along with a bevy of Cartoon Guides to other topics, including Genetics, Computer Science, Chemistry, Physics, Statistics, The Environment, and (yes!) Sex. Gonick has also maintained a few sideprojects, such as a webcomic look at Chinese invention, assorted math comics (previously), the Muse magazine mainstay Kokopelli & Co. (featuring the shenanigans of his "New Muses"), and more. See also these lengthy interview snippets, linked previously. Want more? Amazon links to the complete oeuvre inside! Reading note: All the book titles in the post above link to readable versions on the web. Some of the older Cartoon Guides and the first chunk of the original Cartoon History of the Universe comics (through Volume 9 -- ancient China) are available in full; the rest, including the (two-part) Modern World series and The United States, are available partially through Harper-Collins' free book preview feature, which includes the first dozen or so pages of each book and then jumps ahead randomly from there to the end. So pay attention to the page numbers on those links to avoid getting caught off guard by the (unannounced) page-skips! Amazon links:
Cartoon History: The Cartoon History of the Universe I (Vol. 1-7): From the Big Bang to Alexander the Great (1990) The Cartoon History of the Universe II (Vol. 8-13): From the Springtime of China to the Fall of Rome (1994) The Cartoon History of the Universe III (Vol. 14-19): From the Rise of Arabia to the Renaissance (2002) The Cartoon History of the United States (1991) The Cartoon History of the Modern World Part 1: From Columbus to the U.S. Constitution (2007) The Cartoon History of the Modern World Part 2: From the Bastille to Baghdad (2009) Cartoon Guides: The Cartoon Guide to Genetics (1983) The Cartoon Guide to the Computer (1991) The Cartoon Guide to Physics (1992) The Cartoon Guide to (Non) Communication (1993) The Cartoon Guide to Statistics (1994) The Cartoon Guide to the Environment (1996) The Cartoon Guide to Sex (1999) The Cartoon Guide to Chemistry (2005) Other: Kokopelli & Company in Attack of the Smart Pies (2005)
,2011:site.104269 Mon, 06 Jun 2011 11:20:53 -0800 Rhaomi So, Mithras and Gaia had some children Forming (NSFW - cartoon nudity) is a webcomic by Jesse Moynihan (NSFW) that tells the history of the evolution of man via the machinations of various alien entities whose familiar names (and unfamiliar stories) have been recorded in various religions throughout time. Mithras is a powerful space traveller on a mission from Ahura Mazda to exploit earth's resources by any means necessary (including the genetic manipulation of Earth's native inhabitants). Along the way, plots and counter-plots are hatched by various mythological luminaries such as Cronus, Lucifer, Gaia, Noah, and the Ain Soph ultimately revealing the true history of homo sapien's origin.,2010:site.98603 Thu, 16 Dec 2010 07:49:25 -0800 lyam Blood of the Lamb, motherfucker. Jesus Christ: In the Name of the Gun.,2008:site.75838 Tue, 21 Oct 2008 13:43:38 -0800 Pope Guilty Russell's Teapot Comic Russell's Teapot Comic. (A little background on Bertrand Russell and his teapot.) Described as "a humorous look at the absurdities in Christianity. A precocious young child asks the questions that point out these absurdities... May not be suitable for religious people without humour, or open-minded enough to engage it, or some other children." And Muslims, beware - you're going to have a problem with at least one comic. (Oh, and it looks like it hasn't been updated since November 2007.),2008:site.68609 Tue, 29 Jan 2008 10:19:56 -0800 ObscureReferenceMan Al Hartley The 50-year career of Al Hartley. Part of Stan Lee's early stable of writers at Timely-Atlas, Hartley's perhaps best remembered as the creator of Spire Christian Comics. The series, which included comic book adaptations of popular Christian narratives such as God's Smuggler [pdf], and original stories like The Gospel Blimp [pdf], and Hansi: The Girl Who Loved The Swastika [pdf], also included 19 titles starring Archie [pdf], Jughead and the gang.,2005:site.38489 Sun, 09 Jan 2005 21:13:03 -0800 RockyChrysler Is it just me, or does this stink? Johnny Hart at it again? "B.C." creator Johnny Hart is getting some negative publicity (again) for a comic that some say is anti-Islam. See the comic here. An outspoken Christian, Hart has had brushes with religious controversy in the past. Are people reading too much into this, or does it look like bigotry to you? (via Atrios),2003:site.29738 Fri, 21 Nov 2003 07:44:16 -0800 Gilbert