Archive for May, 2011
Bloons Tower Defense 3 Game Review – A Game by
Bloons Tower Defense 3 Game Review – A Game by Ninjakiwi
At last Ninjakiwi produces a tower defense game worth its classification…Bloons Tower Defense 3 is what the first and second in the series should have been like!Having been disappointed with the first game and impartial towards the second, the third deserves much credit for coming out of the blocks with improved graphics, a great weapon variety and a solid choice of levels. Greater effort has also been put into level detail and design.There are 8 levels to choose from, 4 of which are exclusive to Ninjakiwi. They are:oA grass and sand track,oA chocolaty brown trackoA plumbing and cog trackoA bright snowy trackoA party track shaped like the bloons monkey (This point down – Exclusive to Ninjakiwi)oA volcanic lava trackoA circuit bored track oFinally a track that I couldn’t quite decipher what it was meant to be.The same difficulty options are kept, with hard difficulty involving balloons that move in two directions.The defense tower range not only sees some great new additions to the ranks but also a second upgrade level. The new towers are:Spike-o-pult – A large catapult that tosses spiked boulders across the screen bursting multiple balloons.Monkey Beacon – A tower that increases the attack speed and range of any monkey towers in it’s proximity and also offers even greater power on its second level upgrades.Pineapple – An explosive pineapple bomb that blows up shortly after placement, a neat addition to the tracks spikes and monkey glue.Top Secret Weapon – I won’t spoil this one.As you can see, Ninjakiwi has given the fans what they originally expected in the second tower defense game.As previously mentioned each tower now has 2 upgrade options, so for example the boomerang monkey can now be upgraded into a ninja star throwing monkey that pops even more bloons and can even take out the annoying lead ones. This is just one example of the cool 2nd level upgrades that await your command.As for balloon variety, well this time around Ninjakiwi has put more effort into providing challenging bosses and powerful balloons. In later levels be prepared to pop balloons 10 times over to break them down into their original form (red balloons). This can lead to the screen being overloaded with over 100 balloons at a time, you best have an up to date pc or be prepared for a screen freeze!Also be prepared to pack the screen with as many powerful towers as possible in order to survive the later level influxes. You will find somewhere in Bloons Tower Defense 3 that you have to go many levels without additional tower deployments to make the large leap in cash needed to afford a super monkey or 2. This was the same as in the first and second game but this time round it’s actually worth the wait…Not only do you get the super monkey, but he can also be upgraded two levels giving him huge powers including which see him shooting plasma from his eyes with an attack radius that spans almost the entire screen. This gives the gamer greater satisfaction when enduring many levels under equipped.Bloons TD3 instills the sense of urgency needed in a tower defense game, this time around you will feel the pressure of defending a track bursting at it seems. In the first and second game popping the balloons was just plain boring and left you deflated, but the third will make you work for your success and actually enjoy it.Game VerdictBloons Tower Defense 3 is the ultimate free flash tower defense game and completely outshines the first and second. If you haven’t got much time to waste then skip the first 2 sorry excuses and move straight onto the 3rd.Playability: 10/10
Graphics: 8/10
Originality: 9/10
Game Detail: 9/10
Addictiveness: 8/10
Final Score: 88%
Best Handgun for Home Defense
One of my favorite quotes from one of the all time greatest movies Spider-man goes something like this – ‘With great power comes great responsibility’. I guess, when you have some special skills and abilities (nothing supernatural there!) or are in a position of power or you possess something gives you power, you automatically bear the onus of using it for right things. I think this also applies to those who own weapons, like guns or rifles for self defense. Therefore, the text which you are going to read next will deal with best handgun for home defense.
Considerations for Selecting the Best Handgun
An individual cannot just go to a firearms dealer and tell him that he or she wants a hand gun. There are several things to be thought of before a person’s makes his final choice. To start off, what are the legalities, like Federal firearms license related to the firearms ownership, which is the most important thing. How experienced are you in using firearms and the gun you are thinking off in particular. The presence of children in your residence and the social environment – urban, rural or suburban are other important factors. Last factor is whether someone else in the house will perhaps need to use it. A person’s overall lifestyle and temperament, firearms related laws and and the person’s experience in using firearms are vital aspects when it comes to picking firearms for self defense.
Best Handguns for Self Defense
When it comes to hand guns for self defense there are several options you can select from. Although there are some classics which the regular firearms experts and users swear by. Also check out best rifle for the money.
Revolvers
Typically revolvers have 6 cartridges, though some of them can even have more. These are ambidextrous and the experts say that even if they are not operated for a long time, they can be used at a moment’s notice for self defense. There are single action and double action revolvers in this category. While the single action revolvers have to be manually cocked before the trigger will fire the weapon, the double action revolvers may be thumb cocked, akin to single action revolvers. These are fired by applying light pressure on the trigger. The double action revolvers are safe, easily operated and can be shot relatively accurately. Moreover, they are extremely difficult to jam. Colt Single Action Army and Ruger Blackhawk and Vaquero models are single action revolvers and on the other hand, double action revolvers are typical police style guns – Colt Python, Ruger GP100, or the Smith and Wesson Model 10 Military and Police. These had to be mentioned in the discussion about the best hand gun for home defense. You can also go through best assault rifle.
Semi Automatic Pistols
Talk about best handgun for home defense and firearms experts say that autoloaders or semi automatic pistols have been used for many years by military personnel and most police forces. Maximum of these are safe action or double action pistols and can be stored safely. These can be chamber loaded with the safety off. As compared to revolvers, these hold more cartridges. These normally have 10 rounds of bullets. In case a pre loaded magazine is handy, these can be reloaded fast. These can deliver rapid fire, but an individual has to aim properly. Some examples of these are Beretta M92 series, Ruger P series, SIG P229 and P239, and the Full-Size and Compact Glock pistols. Then you can also check out best rifles for home defense.
Apart from the names mentioned, .44 Mag revolver, Mossberg 500 and the Remington 870 amongst shotguns can be considered. Actually going to the firearms dealer or a regular user will give you a better idea of which is the best handgun for home defense 2010. Eventually, be it a Beretta or a Colt, how you use even the best handgun for home defense matters. Mind you it will definitely need practice! I will call the shots here as far as this article is concerned! Take care!
Batons for Self Defense
Contemplating a method of protection is a very serious undertaking. If you are considering such a purchase you need to evaluate your options very carefully. When selecting a tool for self defense the first thing is to consider your own level of strength. For example, a tool that requires minimal strength such as a stun gun would be ideal for a small woman, whereas someone confident in their strength may be more drawn to items such as batons.
A baton is a very simple and effective tool. In the most generic form it is a blunt stick that is used for close contact defense. There are a wide variety of batons on the market that vary in length and offer different features. For example, an asp baton is a lightweight and conspicuous tool that can be comfortably carried. This added consideration for comfort allows citizens to carry an effective self defense tool without drawing attention to themselves.
The baton you choose should have an easy to grip, no slip handle so that it can be wielded effectively with agility. It is also important that the baton have a low profile appearance so it does not announce itself to the attacker. Finally, the baton should not have any sharp edges that could cut you, the assailant, or an innocent bystander. Your goal is to defend yourself long enough to get away to safety and a blunt baton will achieve this effectively without resorting to permanent damage.
One of the most important effects of any self defense tool is the deterrence effect. It has been said over and over again that criminals are cowards and they look for easy victims. A person who carries a self defense weapon walks with confidence because they know they are safe. In addition, the very site of a tool such as a baton will make the assailant think twice. Why would they attack you and risk injury to themselves when there are hundreds of unarmed victims? Arming yourself sends the message to assailants everywhere that you are not a victim.
When searching for a merchant that carries batons it is important that you seek one who is reputable and abides by national laws. A great place to look is at www.bljsselfdefense.com This company offers a wide variety of items, including batons, and provides consumers with education on self defense. In addition to the online resources, BLJ’s Enterprises supplies its customers with personal attention to help ensure that they receive the self defense tool that is right for them.
BLJ’s Enterprises is a top provider of self defense tools, including batons, in the United States. At their website, www.bljsselfdefense.com, you will find quality products as well as free in-depth information regarding personal protection. Because BLJ’s Enterprises is dedicated to matching everyone with the right self defense method, customer comments and questions can be directed to the owner, Barry Jenkins himself, at barry@bljsselfdefense.com
Basketball Defense – Three Tips For Beginners
It should be obvious how important defense in basketball is. Like offense, it is one word associated with the game that is a topic all its own. It is so crucial that fans scream it all the time when their team doesn’t have ball possession. Despite the enduring presence of this word, not all novice players and coaches focus on it.One possible reason why the concept is being downplayed is the overwhelming obsession over scoring more points. Fame and maybe fortune await the player who can shoot the most. Shallow play analysis further stress who has made the most points. This is when people forget that in most cases, guarding the team with the ball is just as important.It is through defensive basketball strategies that a team gets to limit the points of an opposing team. This means, a team doesn’t need to score more than a hundred points to win, they just need to make sure the other team doesn’t score at all. Here are three tips that can help put teams on top of the game.#1- Stance and balance are everything.You need to adopt the right form and position to prevent an opponent from scoring and to maintain balance. Moreover, the right stance also puts you in the best position to steal the ball when you can. The basic stance in proper basketball defense is to bend the knees in such a way as to put the player’s head level to the offensive player’s chest. Feet should be planted shoulder’s width apart. By choosing this position, a player is least likely to lose balance even when pushed. Feet and hand facing the dominant hand of the other player should be placed a little forward to prepare for action when there is an opportunity to steal.#2- Guard the ones without the ball.When nearly everyone’s eyes are on the ball handler, it’s easy to forget all other players on the court. This can be one of the worst mistakes any team can make. Defensive basketball goes beyond focusing on the person who has it. The responsibility stretches over every other player. Once the ball gets passed around, less guarded teammates can take a good shot.#3- Put pressure on the opponent.As a game stretches, it gets tempting to grow lax. This may reflect on player facial expression and loosened stance. A defending team shouldn’t make the mistake of appearing tired of lazy in front of an offensive team. From start to finish, the focus should be on putting pressure on the opponents. Pressure can be exhibited in a variety of ways ranging from adopting intimidating facial expressions to adopting a strong forward hand and foot position to limit an opponent’s ability to move, pass the ball or shoot.These are only some of the basic tips for great defense in basketball. These however should be more than enough to stress the importance of this one element. Just as beginners need to hone their shooting skills, they should also be pushed to defend better.
Awareness Color Codes – An Essential Self-Defense System
Awareness, according to experts, makes up 90% of self-defense, the remaining 10% being physical techniques. With awareness, you can identify and avoid potentially dangerous situations. Without it, you become an easy target for a criminal.
Colonel Jeff Cooper, a combat pistol instructor, developed the Color Code system, used by most military and police organizations, to differentiate different levels of awareness.
These color codes help recognize, evaluate, and avoid potential threats. They are used to measure rising threat and make most situations avoidable. The following are the colors in ascending order of awareness of danger: white, yellow, orange, and red.
Code White
You are secure.
Awareness is switched off.
You are unaware of your environment, its inhabitants, and their rituals of attack.
All attackers look for victims in this state.
Code Yellow
You are cautious.
Awareness is switched on.
State of threat awareness and relaxed alertness.
You have a 360-degree peripheral awareness of such environmental danger spots as secluded doorways, entries, and alleys, as well as such psychological triggers as adrenal dump and attacker ruses. Be aware of people, vehicles, behind large objects, dark areas, etc.
Code Orange
You are in danger.
State of threat evaluation.
Specific alert. A possible target has been identified. A particular situation that has drawn your attention and could present a major problem. Someone may be giving oral indicators such as direct threats or using suspicious language. Focus on the potential attacker.
Check to see if there is an avenue of escape, potential weapons available, and if others around you are friend or foe.
Decision is made to take action.
Code Red
You are in conflict.
State of threat avoidance.
Fight or flight. Flee, defend, or attack. You have evaluated the situation, and if there is a threat, you prepare to fight or run.
Never stand or fight if there is a possibility of fleeing.
Carry out decision to act made in Code Orange.
If use of physical self-defense techniques is necessary, use the level of force appropriate to the threat. E.g., don’t treat someone who pushes you because he is rude like someone who is trying to stab you with a knife.
How to Use the Color Codes of Awareness
The color codes of awareness are a continuum of your awareness and readiness to defend. The objective is to constantly flow from one color to the next above or below, depending on the situation.
Never be in white. Spend most your time in yellow, even in places where you feel safe, such as at home.
Constantly be aware and alert, and shift from yellow and orange often as you notice potential threats and dangers. When in orange, notice what you can do to flee, defend, or attack if it become necessary, and make the decision to take a specific action if the situation escalates to red.
When in orange, notice what you can do to flee, defend, or attack if it becomes necessary, and make the decision to take a specific action if the situation escalates to red.
The Color Codes in Practice
Here’s an example of how the Color Codes of awareness could be used. A 100-pound woman is walking to her car, carrying grocery bags. Being aware and alert in Code Yellow, she sees two suspicious men near her car.
She switches from Yellow to Orange. She decides on her self-defense options. They walk toward her and reach for her. She switches to Red, and executes her decisions: she throws the bags at them and runs back into the store.
Conclusion
Starting right now, be in Code Yellow. Throughout your day, identify potential areas of danger and switch to Code Orange as necessary. Switch back to Code Yellow if no threat exists. Do this exercise again tomorrow. And the next day. And so on. Eventually, awareness becomes a habit. Make the most important self-defense skill, awareness, a habit.
About the Author:
Lyman Yip’s website SelfDefenseResource.com provides self-defense articles and a directory of resources. To learn more and claim the FREE REPORT “10 Secrets to Effective Self-Defense,” visit our self-defense website.
A Kansas City Criminal Defense Attorney is Your Best Ally
A Kansas City Criminal Defense Attorney is Your Best Ally in Cases of White Collar Crimes
White collar crimes include money laundering, bank fraud, computer crimes, embezzlement, internet fraud and a host of other crimes that can affect your entire future. You may be facing stiff penalties as well as prison time, so act quickly to protect your future and that of your family.
White water crimes typically occur in a business setting or your workplace, and because theft or forgery may be easy to accomplish in the setting, hence the name. Besides prison time and stiff fines, you may be facing home detention or supervised release. The crime you have committed will have a negative impact on your ability to get employment in the future, and will likely place a stigma around you for the foreseeable future. These types of crimes are serious, and affect your entire family. You need the abilities of a seasoned Kansas City criminal defense attorney to minimize damage and help get you the most positive outcome.
One thing you should never do when faced with charges of white collar crimes is give information to police or other law enforcement. While they may make you believe that you must give information, you are not required to. In fact, anything you do tell them will likely be used against you, and may make matters worse. This is another reason you need an aggressive Kansas City criminal defense attorney on your side; he will do the communicating, and knows the law in-depth. A good lawyer with experience in this area will protect your rights and freedom with every ounce of strength and compassion he has.
You may be guilty, you may not be. Why would a Kansas City criminal defense attorney be willing to handle cases of those who are guilty of white collar crimes? Because everyone is human, and all people make mistakes at one time or another. Besides, your family’s future hangs in the balance as well, and you deserve another chance. Don’t ruin your life by talking to anyone if you have been accused of any type of white collar crime. Before you speak another word, contact a knowledgeable Kansas City criminal defense attorney who is cutting edge, and will get you the best possible results.
3 Steps to Choosing the Best Self Defense Video
With so many options available, it can be tough to try and sort every self defense video and choose the best one. Fortunately, this doesn’t have to be as overwhelming as it seems. You can choose the best self defense videos in 3 simple steps. By following these steps, you will be able to eliminate hundreds of options that do not fit your needs, while still making sure that you choose an option that is effective. These steps include: deciding what to learn, doing some research, and creating a short list.
There are a lot of different types of self defense videos on the market. The reason for this simple. There are a lot of different ways that you can defend yourself. Because of this, you need to decide what you want to learn from your self defense video. Do you want to learn how to use a weapon like pepper spray? Do you want to learn how to strike and evade. Are you interested in precision strikes and pressure points? The options seem endless. The best thing to do is to evaluate you physical abilities and try to choose a self defense video that plays to your strengths.
The next step is researching. Now that you have a good idea about what you want to learn, it is time to start creating a list of potential candidates. While most people make a list of what options fit their needs, you should also make a list of options that don’t fit your needs. That way, after a few days of research, you wont’ run into a self defense video that don’t think you have seen before, even though you have already ruled it out. This will ensure that you don’t waste time looking into the same product multiple times. It may not seem like a problem that you will face, but after researching a range of products, your odds of doing repeat research dramatically increases. Along with researching the content of the video, you should also do a little research on who is teaching it. This will give you a good idea of their teaching style and will also allow you to find reviews from other people who likely have the same basic goals that you have.
The final step is to evaluate your short list. Now that you have a short list of videos that could potentially fit your needs, it is time to create a list of 2 or 3 top candidates. This is when you should start weighing product reviews even more heavily. Because every option on your list is a good one, you can start being very selective about what you want from a self defense video. At this point, you can just keep adding “wants” to your list until you are down to a single option.
By following this strategy, you can almost guarantee that you will choose a self defense video that will meet all of your needs. As an added bonus, if you find that it doesn’t suit your needs, you still have a short list of other potential candidates to choose from. With these 3 easy steps, you can turn choosing self defense videos from a daunting task into a simple process.
For more tips and information about self defense training please visit: self defense tactics.
21 Resources for Women’s Self-Defense and Victim Assistance
Summary: 21 resources for women’s self-defense training, victim assistance, stalking, domestic violence, and advocacy to reduce violence against women.
18.9% of women age 12 and over were a victim of violence in 2004, according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics. The actual number is likely higher, as the number is based on reported crimes. A lot of crime goes unreported.
Let’s cut that rate! Whether you are a woman or want to help your loved ones, take action by learning about women’s self-defense.
Below are 21 resources for women’s self-defense. They include women’s self-defense training, victim assistance, stalking, domestic violence, and advocacy to reduce violence against women.
Self-Defense Training
Be prepared when you encounter an attacker. These resources provide women’s self-defense and personal protection training programs.
The best training involves scenarios that are close to reality. This includes a awareness strategies, oral de-escalation skills, oral threat from an attacker, and padded assailants to allow you to train full force. Being able to perform under adrenal stress is important, as in a real situation, and adrenaline dump into your system could cause you to freeze.
AWSDA – The American Women’s Self Defense Association
http://www.awsda.org/
AWARE – Arming Women Against Rape and Endangerment
http://www.aware.org/
IMPACT is a “model mugging” type training that uses a padded attacker. Several of these women’s self-defense programs are available throughout the United States; only a few are listed below. Visit one of these websites or my website for affiliates near you or referrals to other similar women’s self-defense programs.
California – Los Angeles
http://www.impactpersonalsafety.com/
California – San Francisco/Bay Area
http://www.impactbayarea.org/
New York – New York
http://www.prepareinc.com/
Texas – The Woodlands
http://www.pdtgroup.net/
Victim Assistance
These resources assist victims of violence and crime through hotlines, referrals, criminal and civil justice processes, victim’s rights, and support groups. Begin the healing process by calling a hotline and/or talking with someone who is professionally trained to assist you.
The National Domestic Violence Hotline
http://www.ndvh.org/
800-799-7233
The National Center for Victims of Crime
http://www.ncvc.org/ncvc/Main.aspx
National Organization for Victim Assistance
http://www.trynova.org/
Victim Assistance Online
http://www.vaonline.org/
Witness Justice
http://www.witnessjustice.org/index.cfm
Information and Advocacy
Informational resources aiding those who want to remove themselves from abusive situations, including advocacy groups, are below.
RAINN – Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network
http://www.rainn.org/
AARDVARC – An Abuse, Rape, and Domestic Violence Aid and Resource Center
http://www.aardvarc.org/
American Bar Association – Commission on Domestic Violence
http://www.abanet.org/domviol/home.html
Communities Against Violence Network
http://www.cavnet2.org/
National Coalition Against Domestic Violence
http://www.ncadv.org/
National Criminal Justice Reference Service
http://www.ncjrs.gov/
U.S. Department of Justice – Office on Violence Against Women
http://www.usdoj.gov/ovw/
Violence Against Women Online Resources
http://www.vaw.umn.edu/
Stalking
8% of women and 2% of men will be stalked in their lifetimes.
The Antistalking Web Site
http://www.antistalking.com/
Stalking Victims Sanctuary
http://www.stalkingvictims.com/home.htm
Conclusion
If you are a victim of violence, get help immediately! Call a victim assistance hotline or visit the above websites. Start the healing process now.
Keep yourself and your female loved ones safe. Empower yourself, wife, mother, sister, niece, friend, and co-worker. Enroll in a women’s self-defense training program so that you and they can defend against an attacker if the situation ever arises.
Read more women’s self defense articles.
About the Author:
Secrets of self-defense revealed by SelfDefenseResource.com! Claim the FREE REPORT “10 Secrets to Effective Self-Defense.” Visit our self-defense website now.