text:
What are the games you're playing now?
Just finished the last of us for a third time recently and now im going to replay all the uncharted games 1-5. After that replay spiderman and then play wolfenstein 2 for the first time. As you can see I love to replay games I enjoy3
I've played a few, in order they are
Lego Dimensions
- I played the Doctor Who Level Pack, The Lego Batman Movie Story Pack, then I did some things in the Lego Batman and Scooby-Doo Adventure Worlds.
- The game crashed and glitched a few times, one time was when I had to get 30 pairs of glasses for Velma, I got 19... and then the game froze.
- The Phantom Zone is weird.
- I don't like that the starter pack Batman becomes Lego Batman movie Batman (Holy multi-Batman sentence, Batman!) in the Lego Batman Movie World, ditto for Teen Titans Go! Robin, TTG! Cyborg, and the rest of the A-Team not getting their own figures, since it kinda defeats the fun of a crossover if you can't have Batman visit another Batman's home universe, and for the others, it feels odd having them relegated to "extras" since in B.A.'s case you can't have the full A-team unless you had 4 of the same figure.
- I was on my way to Impa when I got sidetracked by trying to activate a tower.
- I rode my horse to either a platform or an enemy base, or both (I think both, but I remember dismounting my horse by a platform, but I had trouble at a base, but I could be misremembering the former) to clear it out.
- In the base was a Silver Bokobolin, they are becoming more common and I don't like it because I died to it, maybe twice, maybe more.
- Then I saw a Silver Bokobolin on horseback, I tried to evade him but he killed my horse, Mystery (I believe I told this story, but if not then my other ideas were Grace, or Debbie... and Debbie was my first choice), so I used stasis+ and sent him into the ocean.
- I was on my way through a bridge when I found another Blue Hinox, and I decided not to take a new picture, and I beat him.
- I went to the Colosseum and defeated the enemies, but my reward was nothing except for their gear.
- When I got sidetracked, I tried the shrine quest where you had to shoot an arrow through two rings.
- I got sidetracked because I was close to the bird Divine Beast.
- I went to a tower in an extremely icy region... needless to say I was desperate to get out of there, and I wanted the costume in the Rito Village.
- Black Lizalfos with a royal weapon are horrible.
- my Shrine Radar was going crazy, but I didn't know where it was, and I wanted to mark the area with the Rito Village on my map so I continued to the tower.
- At an earlier point I met some leviathan experts who wanted a picture of the ancient skulls... and I was near one of them without taking their picture awhile ago (I didn't mind, just making a point of it).
- Back to the present I was on my way to the tower but in the distance I saw a Great Fairy Fountain, so I made my way to it, I got a bit lost and saw a Flying Guardian... needless to say I avoided it since I had no ancient arrows.
- I gave her 1000 rupees... sadly she didn't offer lamp oil, rope, or bombs.
- After going to the tower I made my way to a shrine I saw... it was a Major Test of Strength (well, one of the shrines anyway)... Shout out to Stasis+ for making it an easy fight.
- I went to the village and the painter said that I needed to go to a shrine in the ruins... the one I just mentioned earlier (don't you hate it when that happens).
- One guy wanted me to make an offering to the Great Fairy... which I already did, so I didn't have to and I got 500 rupees out of it (don't you love it when that happens).
- I made it to Rito Village.
- At some earlier point in the icy region I went into a shrine and when I left I wanted to take a picture of an icy fox... but it ran off.
- Back in the now Link remembered this egotistical guy, I forgot his name but he reminds me of Falco.
- I did some target practice.
- I boarded Vah Medoh and actually let the maw spit out it's cursed skulls... then I couldn't find the eye.
- I checked a guide as usual, but tried to defeat it on my own at first.
- I took a picture of Windblight Ganon mid teleport.
- Shout out to Windblight Ganon for being the one that I not only didn't die to, but also didn't take the most damage to (20-30 bomb arrows will take him out in no time, and I missed some shots, also I missed a few shots, you just have to use the turbines if he's to high up)
- I tried to run up to him when he was stunned to finish the job but I wasn't quick enough... so I just shot hm in the face with bomb arrows.
- I got a Great Eagleshot Bow
- I then warped to the ruins to get another memory.
- I warped to Impa thinking that you get a reward for each recovered memory or after beating each Divine Beast, but I guess I was wrong (hopefully, because if not then that means I didn't get an item because my inventory was full, and dropping gear and talking to her again didn't fix anything)
- I tried to get a gold medal in Corneria Score Attack, but that didn't work.
- I believe the next route I did was Corneria, Sector Y, Katina (had to look it up), Sector X, Macbeth, Bolse, and Venom 1.
- In Sector Y you fight Gundam Monkey Robots.
- Katina is like Independence Day, and I was so focused on getting the medal that I didn't save the base... and I didn't get the medal either.
- I got the medal in Sector X.
- I hate Macbeth, the boss is so annoying, and I couldn't activate the gate switches.
- In Venom 1, I had an easier time fighting the Golem
but the fake Andross seemed harder than the last time, I wonder if it might be because I took a harder route
- I tried to get the gold Score Attack medal in Bolse, but the best I could get was two points off... then my 3DS died, but when it came back I got it!
Never forget2
414 posts MemberAny here ever played subnautica? I've heard great things about it and thought about getting it3
The painter is in a stable, not the village, same with the great fairy guy.
Me and two of my cousins played Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Mega Battle, and we died to bull guys at the end of the second phase. Then we tried to defeat to bird monsters in our regular forms, but since we couldn't do an upward kick I thought it was almost impossible (we somehow beat one of them but the other kept blocking)... and then I used rush attacks and that beat him.
After fighting our way through we got to the boss, and it looked like a rematch with the first boss... but then Lord Zedd decided to take matters into his own hands. We died to him a few times, but then we were victorious!... and then he creamed the Rangers and Zordon had to heal them in a cutscene.#JoinTheBuzz
Never forget0
I got some more Power Moons from the Wooded Kingdom in Super Mario Odyssey, and the Koopa Freerunning master cup is bad as usual. It looked like you had to dive jump into Cappy... but when you do he decides to return to you, then someone in a YouTube comment mentioned going past the Goombas and tank, climb the pipe, grab a few flowers, run up the ramp, and drop down when you're near the finish line. Using this method I was able to beat the golden fool right before he crossed the finish line.#JoinTheBuzz
Never forget0
450 posts MemberApex Legends.
Not sure why is so addictive
Can some one explain why Apex Legends is a good game? It gets boring after a few games. They made the characters diverse but they stereotyped every single race."The force is with me and I am one with the force. I fear nothing because everything is as the Force wills it to be." -Chirrut Imwe0
175 posts MemberBorderlands: Handsome Collection
Black Ops 4
Black Ops 3
Dragon's Dogma
NFS: Rivals
Fallout 4: GOTY
Battlefront [email protected]
For Honor
I also keep my PS3 so I can go back and play FO3, FO New Vegas, and Oblivion
"By Azura, by Azura, by Azura! It's the Grand Champion! I can't believe it's you! Standing here! Next to me!"2
131 posts MemberGot Mortal Kombat 11 yesterday, very brutal & lots of fun!2
Dionysos_B wrote: »Got Mortal Kombat 11 yesterday, very brutal & lots of fun!
It's so fun. I've got Scorpion and Noob combos down.2
Apex Legends.
Not sure why is so addictive
Can some one explain why Apex Legends is a good game? It gets boring after a few games. They made the characters diverse but they stereotyped every single race.
I can only play 4-5 games before I lose interest. Then I get it back it back after a few days of not playing. Level 40, main Lifeline with about 7 wins and 2 season 1 wins.1
17723 posts MemberApex Legends.
Not sure why is so addictive
Can some one explain why Apex Legends is a good game? It gets boring after a few games. They made the characters diverse but they stereotyped every single race.
The mechanics are great.
I'm not a fan of BR personally and uninstalled, but if you like that sort of thing....The Knights of Gareth are Eternal
Pirate of the Knights of Gareth1
1039 posts MemberApex Legends.
Not sure why is so addictive
Can some one explain why Apex Legends is a good game? It gets boring after a few games. They made the characters diverse but they stereotyped every single race.
I don't know exactly, it does get somehow repetitive, but is just satisfying getting the kills for some reason
Also, many games when I get killed I always know exactly what I did wrong, and think I can do better next time, and try again.
I'm playing lot less than at the beginning, I have wins (just 1-3) with each character except Caustic, and want to main sniper rifles now.1
I played some more Breath of the Wild over the past few days (shocking, I know)
(Events not in chronological order) I completed "Wife Washed Away" and found the four friends of that guy who, they were held hostage by Blue Bokobolins before that I stood in fire for the Goron brothers, and wasted a six minute fireproof potion when my three minute one would have sufficed. I got two dragon scales, and I decided to slay "The Giant of Railis Pond, but got sidetracked by a shrine, I then made it to a stable, found a new horse, and did that horrible horse race... which you have to beat twice no matter what.
After that, I made it to the tower in the jungle, and tried to swim up a waterfall looking for a shrine.Spoiler alert, it was behind the water falland tried to beat the Korok race to the top... but before that it was raining, I was stuck in the water, and the thunder dragon kept zapping me, thankfully I had Mipha's Grace. I then continued my journey, and found my first star fragment, then I met the horned statue who gladly "demonstrated" his powers, and I did some things in Hateo Village, like dye Link's outfit pink, and started the quest where a girl wants 100 Restless Crickets, but thankfully I only need ten, also a boy wants to see a traveler's sword (guess what I don't have).
Addendum: I also looked back on hero's path after beating Vah Medoh and felt sad and nostalgic. Also, during my last play session I defeated a Stal Hinox, and before that I saved a Gerudo and was rewarded a "blessing" shrine... almost as if the spirit knew the hero would save someone to access it... I wonder if there's an in-game reason for it...#JoinTheBuzz
Never forget0
Mortal Kombat 11 Towers of Time are frustrating and unbelievably unfair. I don't have enough consumables.1
I went back to Breath of the Wild, here's what I remembered.
- I got the Traveler's Sword, and brought it to the boy.
- I tried the deer hunting mini-game, and wasted a bunch of arrows, rupees, and hours on that, and with no success, does anyone know if the great eagle or Lynel bows with bomb arrows will decimate the challenge.
- I cleared the beach of monsters.
- I went into death mountain, on the way I ran into a Igneous Stone Talus, on a small platform... needless to say after he flung me into the water, I decided to get out of dodge. my last heat resistance potion wore off in a shrine near the Goron Village, so I had to run in the scorching heat to save myself (I then bought the full set of heat-proof armor in a shop, and a potion from the boy)
- I made my way to a distant shrine near the sealed vault, after trying and failing to use the rails to come back I decided to climb and returned to the vault, which I opened earlier with a cannon (I couldn't find the last cannon for awhile, but the vent that I opened was the one I used to get to the shrine.)
Never forget0
Coming back to this.... Wwz, and every star wars game on Xbox one x. But not the Lego ones cause I don't know what to do and not Jedi starfighter cause it's not good at all LMAO!1
I just played the first level in Hyrule Warriors, and I missed the giant bosses tutorial, the one that you could never obtain again, but the wiki said that this was patched after update 1.6.1, so I replayed the first mission again and let King Dodongo get to the gate he needed to go to, hoping it would work... guess which tutorial didn't show up. Do I have to beat a new mission, or was the wiki misinformed?
Also I Wizzro put up a good fight, and didn't even stick around after getting knocked down to half health.#JoinTheBuzz
Never forget0
Unwarycoin wrote: »I just played the first level in Hyrule Warriors, and I missed the giant bosses tutorial, the one that you could never obtain again, but the wiki said that this was patched after update 1.6.1, so I replayed the first mission again and let King Dodongo get to the gate he needed to go to, hoping it would work... guess which tutorial didn't show up. Do I have to beat a new mission, or was the wiki misinformed?
Also I Wizzro put up a good fight, and didn't even stick around after getting knocked down to half health.
So I played BOTW and A Link Between Worlds (the latter between the former)
In Breath of the Wild
- I defeated the fourth Divine Beast!
- I defeated the Igneo Talus (thankfully it wasn't the one on the platform, and it was an easy fight)
- I warped to the shrine near Goron Town and Zelda told Link about the Champion's Ballad. (And since this is the second time she called my name twice, I responded with "what, I'm right here. Stop calling my name!)
- I tried to find the Leviathan but instead found a shrine quest where I had to climb a mountain and collect rupees (it wasn't as bad as I though it would be).
- The Goron guarding it hyped it up as some difficult test of strength and skill, but it was just a blessing shrine. (Not complaining mind you, just observing).
- At some point (I think right before my quest for the Talus) I spawned my Amiibo on a slant into a lava lake, and after losing the boxes and treasure chest from a Guardian Amiibo to the lake, I went back to Gerudo Town to spawn the rest.
- Back in the now I went to Robbie's Ancient Tech Lab, and went to my second Labyrinth.
- After beating it I tried to leave but was ambushed my a Guardian Stalker, whom I beaten with Stasis+
- I then warped back and forth from the lab and village to sell stuff and buy ancient equipment.
- Then I warped to Kakariko Village, went to the Great Fairy, and bought some goat butter.
- I then set off towards my next quest, "What's for Dinner?"
- But I forgot to talk to Impa so I went and talked to her, got a stamina vessel, and talked to the Great Fairy again. (This was the next day.)
- Then I set off on my quest for real this time.
- After completing that, I tried to find the golden triangle, but couldn't (also I didn't have a Korok Leaf, and paddles don't help).
- I tried the treasure chest mini-game again and succeed after two consecutive attempts (meaning I broke even).
- I then set out to complete "Rushroom Rush".
- I accidentally went into the Great Plateau when I saw a skull base, which after I cleared was one of the first ones in the game (I remembered getting creamed my first time, but now completed it like it was nothing. Also, in case anyone was wondering if skull chests respawn {I was wondering since I found chests I could have sworn I opened, but wasn't sure if I misremembered} they do not).
- At some earlier point (I think after starting rushroom rush) I went to a Korok pinwheel to the right of the bridge in a Lake Hylia, and wasted most of my arrows, then I went into the water to collect my arrows and the dragon kept zapping me, and at less than one heart I ran out of stamina (Mipha's Grace is invaluable.)
- I decided to go to the Shrine of Resurrection to start a The Champion's Ballad, but struggled a bit to find the entrance. This sidequest is different, so I will put it in spoiler tags.
The mission starts after putting the Sheikah Slate back in the terminal, you are then instructed to pull out a weapon, "the One-Hit Obliterator" if it's active you can kill everything in one hit, and collect its loot, but you die in one hit yourself. You are then instructed to kill every enemy in four locations.
- The first spot I went to was in the icy regions, and I killed most the enemies by hanging back and throwing bombs off the side of a cliff.
- After killing each enemy cluster a shrine appears, the first one was a dark room where you have to maneuver around lasers, spinning spike walls (which can be avoided by hugging the wall) and I saw a Guardian Scout I in silhouette, but died because after killing it I was ambushed by two more, (thankfully the game does save so in the enemy clearing phase, before activating a shrine you can save after killing every enemy), I then made it to the end, went back looking for a chest, and went back.
- The second section I went to had a few enemies on horseback, and I was able to beat them, if any got close I would use Stasis+ and finish them, and again used the strategy of using bombs. This shrine is A Major Test of Strengh+ and after hitting the enemies with Stasis+ and hitting them they were still alive, and I had to do it again (so much for one hit kill). I got by this area (especially the last room) with ancient arrows. This Shrine is effectively a gauntlet.
- The third area was by all the inactive Guardians, the enemies are Lizalfos and one Decayed Guardian, and I kept getting slaughtered and detected (this is where I learned of the earlier mentioned save trick, thanks to an auto-save). The shrine wasn't much better. Stop to Start is a gauntlet of spikes, moving platforms, and bottomless pits. Beating it was actually very satisfying.
- The final section was in the woods and I couldn't find the last enemy, only to discover him up a tree.This shrine requires you to go down an area launching spheres at you, and pick up a big sphere, small sphere, and treasure chest from a weird launching mechanism next to you by scooping them up in a metal bowl before they're launched into the abyss, or you'll have to wait for them to come back. I thought navigating back up with the bowl would be difficult without dying, but it wasn't.
- And with that done I was congratulated, but was told that my journey has just begone, as the all-powerful fork split into for fragments and scattered to the regions of the four Divine Beasts, but that's okay since I don't have to worry about dying, and can complete them at my earliest convenience.
- Addendum: when I went to the area to complete "What's for Dinner?" I got the Dark Link set from the Fang and Bone.
- I ran about Hyrule, trying to get to my last temple. I even went to lost woods, but it wouldn't let me go any further.
- I find the way to a place where I need to return some creatures to their mother, but I couldn't get the first one off the wall, and I tried bombs, arrows, and pulling them off.
- I found another one with a similar problem, but I figured it out. First wallmerge, then get behind them, finally emerge from the wall.
- Coocoo mini-game: still horrible.
- I found a Zora Grunt that couldn't make it to his Domain, he said I needed a special power to get there without swimming (I was told something similar by a fortune teller either before or after), but I couldn't find out what to do.
- At some point I fought my first Shadow Link!
- I finally found out what power I needed... it was wallmerge (sensing a pattern yet? Thankfully it hasn't repeated yet)
- Shady Guy (seriously, that's his name) stole Queen Oren's gem, and without it she'll just keep bloating.
- I got it from a salesman in Kakariko Village (also at some point I brought a bee and Golden Bee to Bee Guy).
- I returned it to Queen Oren and she went back to normal, also I got flippers, so now I can swim and I could go to the temple.
- The boss was annoying, but I beat it without dying.
- I can now buy stuff from Ravio! Also, I now own almost all his items (unfortunately they lose his signature hat once their yours).
Never forget1
It was stop saying, not stop calling.
I played some BOTW and I traveled to Gerudo Valley, but first I passed by the Blue Hinox on the bridge, and after beating him I went to the wall to climb up "the blood moon rises once again" so I decided to fight him again. After I made it to the pillarI had to kill a Molduking, race through rings, and return to the Yiga Clan hideout, to drop an orb into the pit Master Kohga fell into (I jumped in at first, wondering if I had to go there myself... it didn't work) and I had to fight through the last Yiga Clan hideout room again, it seemed like you had to go the long way around to get to the storage room, but I was able to climb my way to my opening. Then I faced the memory of Thunderjerk Ganon, and I died the first time because I kept trying to block him when he electrocuted himselfI also completed the sand seal race. Later, I went to the Dueling Peaks stable, and finally found Misko's secret hideout... which is obvious in hindsight.
Finally in Hyrule Warriors, I started anew and got everything in the first two levels.
Never forget0
1209 posts MemberI just bought Dragons Dogma for Switch and created new character and started playing. Looks like fun game.2
I forgot to mention that apparatus shrines are annoying in handheld mode, and I warped to Kakariko Village.
Yesterday I played Pac-Man Championship Edition 2, and the three "Arcade Game Series" Games that were included, also remember when I said Battlefront 2 was crashing? Well I was wrong, it shut off during this game as well, it was too close to my cable box.
Also, I played BOTW (shocking) and made my way to the pillar near Zora's Domainfirst, I followed the sun to a ring, but at first I didn't know what to do, and I accidentally found a shrine (well I followed the radar, but I misinterpreted what I needed to do,which is why I was in the area in the first place), the kicker... I saw the ring, but I thought nothing of it at first. Then I swam up a waterfall to race through rings, and finally I killed some out of place Guardians, thanks to Robbie's ancient shield, and finally my challenge awaited... a rematch with Waterblight Ganon. This fight gave me more problems than the last, but here's a trick to making the fight easier. First, make sure Urbosa's Fury (+) is fully charged during the second phase, then stand under him and charge it up, finally stab him as he falls from the sky. Mipha's Grace is also instrumental.After that, I went to talk to the King and Sidon (and read Mipha's Diary, as Link tends to do.)#JoinTheBuzz
Never forget0
To celebrate the 35th anniversary of the Transformers franchise, I played Devastation over a few days, I wasn't as in to it as I normally would be, but I played as Grimlock and when he grabs an item he sometimes asks the real important questionsNot "What happened to Nova Prime?", "Will he return?", or "Is Unicron coming to destroy us all!?", no the important question is"Is this food?"
He also tells us that Starscream tastes rusty, which is surely invaluable information to have.
Today I beat the third level in Hyrule Warriors, and it took me three extra attempts to find Sheik's heart container. Also I attacked some Cuccoes.#JoinTheBuzz
Never forget0
1107 posts MemberMay 11, 2019 7:11AM edited May 2019• Far Cry 5
• Spider-Man
• Red Dead Redemption 2
• CoD: Black Ops III Zombies
• Cook, Serve, Delicious 2!!
I still play BF2 though.2
3244 posts MemberRDR2... I'll give it until June update and might reinstall and try BF2 again.1
542 posts Member
I play DC Universe Online, Spider-Man PS4, Just Cause 4, Injustice 2, and Watch Dogs 2.2
All Halo
All Gears
All battlefronts
L4d1+2, vermintide 2, earthfall, WWZ.
That's it right now. Oh a little star trek online(very little).1
I have been playing Sea of Thieves, Injustice 2, Spyro Reignited, and BF2. I am really into I2 right now. I play Spyro to calm down and go brain-dead after work. It is very relaxing.Give me an Old Luke skin, and we will be best friends. He is the only one I plan on buying with real $. :-)
Poe/Hux Concept Ideas: https://battlefront-forums.ea.com/discussion/117608/poe-dameron-armitage-hux-concept-ideas/p1?new=11
Oh yeah, and I'm restarting all the saints row games and agents of mayhem.
So really other than battlefront games it's the "big 3" Halo, Gears, and Saints".3
Honestly I havent been playing too much the last few weeks. I got ON Extraction but there needs to he more maps. I switches over to MK11 and I play Kasual matches.1
I completed the Champion's Ballad quests for Death Mountain in Breath of the Wild.First, I found the lone ring in the lava, and then navigated a path of fire in a shrine, then I had to glide through rings from the top of Death Mountain, unlocking a shrine with moving blocks that you have to hang on to avoid "certain death death death!", and finally I defeated the Stone Talus Titan, which at first did some damage, but after figuring out it's pattern it was easy, the shrine required launching orbs at moving targets, by using a cannon, the second one being controlled by an apparatus.Then I made my way to a stable with "Super Rumor Mill Vol. 1", but first I went to the last tower in the game, and completed the map. When I made my way to the tower, I saw a Fire Wizzrobe, hoping I could claim his wand, I shot him with an ice arrow... but his wand fell in a tar pit.
After beating that, I used a hearty dish and ate a dish that gave me full defense for 30 minutes... Shout-out to the illusionary Fireblight Ganon for being the first boss I take no damage to! Also, you can refight the Blights if you want to, I learned that the hard way by accidentally triggering the cutscene again, thankfully I was able to decline.
When I went to the stable, I entered a shrine, and it required using stasis on an orb and hitting it so it flew into a power switch, the second switch was horrible, because I lost two hammers and my Stonecrusher blades.
After that, I found a weird area by Hyrule Castle with Wizzrobes, none of the ones I encountered had a fire rod though, and another "A Modest Test of Strengh" shrine, after beating that I found a Korok block puzzle, I got confused and wondered why nothing was working, or why the example one was missing a block you couldn't remove... here's a hint, it's because that's the one you had to fill in.
Then, I decided to make my way to Rito Village... where I will challenge the last pillarand defeat who I could only guess is the illusionary Windblight Ganon.#JoinTheBuzz
Never forget2
29 posts MemberI play Overwatch, Battlefront 2, Sea of Thieves, NHL 19, FIFA 19, The Escapists 2, and a bunch of other stuff3
Alright, I once again played BOTW, here's what happened.
First I spawned amiibo on the slanted area near Hyrule Castle... and the chest from the Guardian amiibo went so far away that it despawned... and when I went back from chasing after it the metal boxes despawned as well. I eventually made my way to the shrine that requires a blood moon... guess what broke its pattern of showing up at the start of every section (kinda fortunate, since night fell near Hyrule Castle), I then made my way to a Silver Lynel, and one hit took away all my health (again, Mipha's Grace comes in handy) and I then used a defense buff and beat him. I eventually made my way to a stable (either before or after I found a Rare Stone Talus)... and guess what"The blood moon rises once again," right when I didn't need it (andI almost forgot to mention this)I eventually made my way to the final tower, first I shot at the fire dragon's horn, then I found the obligatory "race through rings" challenge, and found some shrines. The one near the start of the rings was "A Major Test of Strength," but this time there's no pillars "Pillars are a finite resource!" but it's partly flooded, so I could make my own with Cryosis. In order to get through the rings I had to shred some gnar, and you can't turn well... and stal enemies spawn in front of me, thankfully I was successful in spite of this. This shrine was annoying at the end with the spike ball. Finally I shot at targets, and that was annoying, and it wasted a Fairy... the shrine wasn't much better, since I had to get into a gate blocked my a wind switch. Finally I fought the illusionary Windblight Ganon, and he was only slightly more successful than Fireblight Ganon (it's really generous with arrows)... the final challenge now awaits at the Shrine of Resurrection.Then I went to a mother who wanted to find her daughter, and when I did she wanted me to find her four sisters so they could rehearse... after making a salmon dish for one of them with the help of the other three. After united Webby, the three duck brothers, and I guess Lena the five sisters, I had to match their song with a Korok leaf and some rocks that sing in the wind... but only after wasting more arrows "there are a finite number of arrows in your pocket" and revealed a shrine, headed by a monk (question of the day: "What's a monk?", now that I think about it, I'm curious and I'm gonna look it up.) and then there's a ridiculous shrine with wind and lava. Now that that's done, I've set a course for where it all began...
P.S. I have only watched Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 1 & 2, and parts of Avengers, but I did complete the story for all the Marvel Lego games.#JoinTheBuzz
Never forget0
As I made my way back to the Shrine of Resurrection, I was rushing to the area (which I wanted to compare to a hidden Mickey) that contained the "Under A Red Moon" quest, but couldn't beat nightfall. Thankfully, it wasn't a blood moon, and when I made it to the pedestal and slept under a campfire I set up "the blood moon rises once again," which I decided to let spawn before entering the shrine.
I continued my journey, found a fire rod, ran into Kass near one of the DLC shrines (I was trying to find him, thinking it would lead to a quest, but I figured it was just the Champion's Ballad), and finally reentered the Shrine of Resurrection, the final trial awaits...The first step is similar to a Divine Beast, which I completed with two guides, and good old fashioned treasure hunting. After activating the four terminals, I was greeted by Monk Maz Koshi, and he offered one last trial... I had to beat him.I then traveled to Hateno Village, and killed a Silver Mane Lynel in the jungle along the way. It was night when I made it to the village, so to pass the time I played the deer hunting mini-game... and I won! (But only after reloading a few times so I don't have to waste my arrows or my Savage Lynel Bow). I then sat at a campfire till day, and waited for the boy to wake up so I could show him the fire rod, now he wants to see a Moblin Club. I also died my soldier outfit red.
Maz has a variety of abilities, such as duplication, Yiga Clan techniques, Thunderblight dashing, Guardian lasers, and at half health he becomes the size of a Hinox... also he has a lot of health. I did not need Mipha's Grace, but by the end I just kept slashing at his leg with an axe, while tanking all the hits because my best items were broken, and I just wanted to finish.
After defeating him he declared that I was truly worthy, and gave me a new rune, my very own Divine Beast... the Master Cycle Zero
I'm now making my way to the spring of power, and the lost woods, but first I found a Korok flower in a tunnel, but following it was difficult, since I couldn't see where it went.#JoinTheBuzz
Never forget0
1991 posts MemberCurrently playing Football Manager. In my 3rd season as manager of Liverpool, about to win my 2nd Premier League title in a row, going for my 2nd Champions League title in a row. I've won almost everything you can win as manager of Liverpool, except for the Community Shield which is a 2 team competition contested between the previous seasons league winner and FA Cup winner. The only other trophy I've not won is the FA Cup, which I'm going all out for this season!1
May 17, 2019 11:48PM edited May 2019My aunt let me get Twilight Princess HD from Amazon, with the Wolf Link amiibo.
Post edited by IIPrest0nII on#JoinTheBuzz
- I managed to complete the introductory quests in Ordon Village in a few minutes (In the Wii version it took me 1 to 10 hours, and I needed to watch a let's play)
- I named Link, JeffFaFa, and Epona, Lanaryu (I thought that was the name I was going to give my white horse in BOTW, before changing my mind, but I was wrong. I named that horse Lanayru, but was originally gonna name her Hylia).
- I made my way through the forest, and tried to make a jump for about 50 minutes(!), then I checked online and it's because I couldn't yet.
- At some point prior to the next bullet point, I was too slow to beat the goat wrangling mini-game for a heart piece.
- I tried to convince Ilia to give back Lanaryu, since she thought I was irresponsible by having her jump a fence (in my head I was thinking that it was the only way to leave the ranch.)
- Right as she was going to return my horse, we were ambushed! The monsters kidnapped the children.
- Link was turned into a wolf, and was helped by Midna.
- Midna is hilarious.
- We meet strange bird monsters that make funny noises.
- We meet Zelda!
- I grabbed the one of a kind Ordon Shield, and a sword for Midna.
- She doesn't like them, but holds on to them for me.
- I prepare to save the forest from twilight, but die to the first group of Twilight Beasts because Midna wanted me to take care of them by myself.
- After killing the Insects of Darkness, I went to the forest temple.
- During my first visit to the forest I forgot to mention that I tried to eat some Bee Larvae for a bit of health, assuming Link would just drink four... but he guzzles all nine of them.
- In the forest temple I meet a bunch of monkeys and Ooccoo.
- Hint: don't use Ooccoo in the forest temple, but you have to find her.
- I hate the floor tile worms.
- I beat a corrupted baboon for his boomerang.
- After looking around for treasure chests, I get revenge on those worms.
- After freeing all the monkeys I take on the boss.
- It was kind of tricky, but I like the music transition when a boss is stunned.
- I try to run into the postman, looking up how to meet him, but you simply have to progress.
- I did not get Ooccoo's letter, so I left to the forest and came back, thankfully I got the missable letter.
- I free Kakariko Village from twilight... but only after blowing up a building.
- The kids are safe, except Ilia is still missing.
- I couldn't grapple a Goron.
- I'm told that the Mayor of Ordon knows how to beat them.
- I get Lanaryu back!
- I got my second game over trying to beat the [removed] on rhino back on a bridge.
- I return to the village, and I start Link's JeffFaFa's sumo wrestling career.
- I get the iron boots.
- I finally completed the goat wrangling mini-game, and got a piece of heart.
- Malo Mart is now open!
- Completionist catch 22: if you keep the Ordon Shield, you can't get the Wooden Shield, and getting the Wooden Shield requires burning the Ordon Shield, which can't be replaced.
- I struggle to grab a Goron again, but after looking it up and still not getting any useful information I realize you have to hold down the A button, not press it (half way or not).
- I make my way up Death Mountain.
- I wrestle the first elder, and the first time I forgot to equip the iron boots.
- I made my way to the boss, and defeated a Goron Warrior.
- I couldn't find the last chest, but after looking online it's because I have to go back for it.
- I use Ooccoo to leave the dungeon before I fought the warrior, securing the second and last missable letter.
- I defeated the boss, and I took a bit to figure out what to do after shooting him with an arrow.
- I got my second Ooccoo letter after leaving Kakariko Village.
- Addendum: even though Midna can't even exist outside of Link's shadow in the Light World, she can still use her powers to throw a bridge through a portal in the sky.
Never forget0
May 18, 2019 12:01AM edited May 2019Im playing sleeping dogs for ps4 I know it's an old game but never played it before loving the story so far. And having hong kong as an open world map is pretty cool and a nice change from the usual American cities we get in Gta1
May 18, 2019 4:36AM edited May 2019I just got back into Destiny 2 season of the drifter after not playing Destiny since Anthem came out. Destiny has more replay ability in their season pass than BF has1
I got back into BOTW, and I fought two Silver Lynels, went under the Lomei Labyrinth to find the travel medallion, got swarmed by Guardians, found the second Leviathan in Eldin, made my way through the Lost Woods with the help of a guide (following the embers of my torch did nothing), and started The Trial of the Sword.#JoinTheBuzz
Never forget1
2286 posts MemberI've been playing SWBF15's Cargo mode.2
I beat the first level in Unravel, and I took a bit to get a hang on the first level, and I died on the big tree you reach after riding a bike. I was trying to get a secret, which I succeeded in doing.#JoinTheBuzz
Never forget0
I played Hyrule Warriors, and beat the next two levels.
- First I took on the sorceress of the valley mission, and challenged an annoying plant. Then I replayed the level looking for the heart container that I missed, and found a locked gate I couldn't open. I checked a guide and I couldn't find how to open the gate, but with the guide's help I did find the container in a rock I kept overlooking.
- Finally I traveled to Skyloft, and I helped Fi bring soup to a sky creature, fought Giraheim (I think I misspelled that) and Volga.
- Here's a tip for grinding, it seems that new characters level match to your strongest unit, so you could theoretically grind Link to level 255 in the armies of ruin, and never have to level up again (barring Cia, Volga, Zelda, Impa, Wizzro, and Medli).
Never forget0
1662 posts MemberBlack Knight: Sword of Rage Limited Edition pinball machine. Stern made a new black knight pinball that pays homage to the old one made by Williams back in the 80s and it's pretty cool. Only the LE has the upper playfield with a third flipper, it's dark and scary and of course really fun. The large Knight himself in the game sports a steel mace that spins, which is really cool, check it out (tried to find a GIF of it spinning, but nope):The one I played cost $1.00, and when I put in each quarter, the game's voice was yelling at me for, "More Money!!" haha
I got Hyrule Warriors Legends a few days back so I could input the codes for the Wii U version, and it came a few hours ago, So I played the Wii U version.
First I completed "Land of Twilight" and fought both Cia's Army and Midna's Forces. I also met Agatha (sic?) and I was mostly running around until I had to progress. Midna was actually challenging the first go round, and that was without the land being covered in Twilight, also oddly enough if Cia's Forces takes over a base the surrounding area is covered in Twilight... which only makes Midna stronger. I then played the level two more times looking for a heart container, but after checking online it turns out it requires an item you obtain in the next level.
Then, I completed "The Shadow King" as Midna, and it went pretty bad. Agatha died, the dragon was frustrating (apparently, my item was set to arrows instead of the hookshot... even though I used it seconds ago), I almost died, and I couldn't clear out all the bases.also, Cia and Lana are two halves of the same beingReturning to the previous level, I actually didn't deviate from the path the game wanted me to take, following Agatha to one of the Twilight areas, only using hookshot for my heart container, and when Midna went off to the Sorceress's Keep I decided to follow her, wondering what would happen if I beat her before she even confronts Cia, leaving as much of the land covered in Twilight as possible, she actually wasn't too hard to beat, but if you beat her she just warps off to confront Cia anyways. Also, there were two areas that weren't covered in shadow, so maybe that also played a role in why I was actually able to defeat her. After that, I decided to do as I did last time, claim all the bases and confront Midna, but I had to knock her down to half health to cause her to leave my bases alone.
Finally, I defeated "The Shadow King" as Lana, and I did pretty well! I saved Agatha, found a sealed weapon, and cleared out all areas before killing Zant, who was either kind enough to stand outside his castle and wait for me, or was held back by Hylian knights, also I forgot to mention this earlier but if you knock an enemy down against a wall, you can press Y every time they fall to the ground as Midna to effectively stun lock them (but it might not be possible on all enemies) and.the Fairies hook shot A Majora's Moon made of what appear to be larger fairies to knock the dragon to your level, permanently, and the powered up hookshot has a similar ability#JoinTheBuzz
Never forget0
Correction time: it's Agitha, not Agatha.#JoinTheBuzz
Never forget0
Unwarycoin wrote: »Correction time: it's Agitha, not Agatha.
And I used sic wrong, guess I'm O for 2 when it comes to Agitha.#JoinTheBuzz
Never forget0
I just beat the next three levels in Hyrule Warriors.
First, I took on the Gorons in "Land of Myth," and it was the first time I lost (well three times), first I was too focused on the Cuccos as Impa that my base was throttled, by the end of the mission my base was destroyed, and when I respawned from last checkpoint I instantly lost, meaning I had to start over. The rerun was pretty good, and I beat the Goron Chief. Finally, I replayed it as Sheik, and my base was lost to a bombchu, but restarting from last checkpoint didn't end horribly, which is a plus.
Then, I took on "Sealed Ambition" as Fi, and took on Ghirahim (proper spelling this time), The Imprisoned, and some Turncoats (though they don't seem like traitors, but monsters dressed as Hyrulean soldiers), and then played again as Link.
Finally, I played "The Water Temple" as Sheik, where I took on "Zelda," and if Impa rushes in without your help, she's done for. Then I played as the Goron Chief, and couldn't find my heart container, so I played again and wondered if it was on a ledge behind you in your starting base, this one turned out differently, as the game announced that there was a surprise waiting for me outside the temple if "Zelda" is kept waiting. After checking online it turns out my heart container was in a rock in a room I completely overlooked, also the surprise showed up without any fanfare this time, as I was alerted to it when Ruta needed my help to fight it, rather than the "monster has been summoned" notification, where she came back to help fight it.#JoinTheBuzz
Never forget1
496 posts MemberI mainly play bf2015 right now since I find it better than bf2. Also overwatch occasionally1
Sonic Forces is fun.Give me an Old Luke skin, and we will be best friends. He is the only one I plan on buying with real $. :-)
Poe/Hux Concept Ideas: https://battlefront-forums.ea.com/discussion/117608/poe-dameron-armitage-hux-concept-ideas/p1?new=11
May 26, 2019 11:45PM edited May 2019After taking about two months off from Destiny 2 I'm back at it. No idea why it doesn't get more love. With the expansions your never going to run out of stuff to do. Even if some stuff is OP in PvP there's enough PvE or PvEvP to keep people busy1
1067 posts MemberI'm playing my gameboy color.1
Howdy, Stranger!
It looks like you're new here. If you want to get involved, click one of these buttons!
- 50.8K General Discussion
- 5.3K Gameplay Discussion
- 10.7K Feedback & Suggestions
- 662 Community Events and Creations
- 1.7K Star Wars™ Battlefront II Recruitment
- 3.3K Off-topic


text:
UNITED STATES v. DONRUSS CO.(1969)
Tax imposed by 531-537 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 on accumulated earnings of a corporation "formed or availed of for the purpose of avoiding the income tax with respect to its shareholders" held to apply if such tax avoidance was one of the purposes of an unreasonable accumulation of corporate earnings even though it was not the dominant, controlling, or impelling motive for the accumulation. Pp. 300-309.
384 F.2d 292, reversed and remanded.
Assistant Attorney General Rogovin argued the cause for the United States. With him on the brief were Solicitor General Griswold, Harris Weinstein, Richard C. Pugh, and Martin T. Goldblum.
Richard L. Braunstein argued the cause for respondent. With him on the brief was Bernard J. Long.
Richard E. Nolan and John P. Carroll, Jr., filed a brief for the Shaw-Walker Co., as amicus curiae, urging affirmance.
MR. JUSTICE MARSHALL delivered the opinion of the Court.
This case involves the application of 531-537 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, which impose a surtax on corporations "formed or availed of for the purpose of avoiding the income tax with respect to . . . [their] shareholders . . . by permitting earnings and profits to accumulate instead of being divided or distributed."
Respondent is a corporation engaged in the manufacture and sale of bubble gum and candy and in the operation of a farm. Since 1954, all of respondent's outstanding [393 U.S. 297, 298] stock has been owned by Don B. Wiener. In each of the tax years from 1955 to 1961, respondent operated profitably, increasing its undistributed earnings from $1,021,288.58 to $1,679,315.37. The company did not make loans to Wiener or provide him with benefits other than a salary, nor did it make investments unrelated to its business, but no dividends were declared during the entire period.
Wiener gave several reasons for respondent's accumulation policy; among them were capital and inventory requirements, increasing costs, and the risks inherent in the particular business and in the general economy. Wiener also expressed a general desire to expand and a more specific desire to invest in respondent's major distributor, the Tom Huston Peanut Company. There were no definite plans during the tax years in question, but in 1964 respondent purchased 10,000 shares in Tom Huston at a cost of $380,000.
The Commissioner of Internal Revenue assessed accumulated earnings taxes against respondent for the years 1960 and 1961. Respondent paid the tax and brought this refund suit. At the conclusion of the trial, the Government specifically requested that the jury be instructed that:
The Court of Appeals reversed and remanded for a new trial, holding that "the jury might well have been led to believe that tax avoidance must be the sole purpose behind an accumulation in order to impose the accumulated earnings tax." Donruss Co. v. United States, 384 F.2d 292, 298 (C. A. 6th Cir. 1967). The Court of Appeals rejected the Government's proposed instruction and held that the tax applied only if tax avoidance was the "dominant, controlling, or impelling motive" for the accumulation. Ibid. We granted the Government's petition for certiorari to resolve a conflict among the circuits 1 over the degree of "purpose" necessary for the application of the accumulated earnings tax, and because of the importance of that question in the administration of the tax. 390 U.S. 1023 (1968). [393 U.S. 297, 300]
The dispute before us is a narrow one. The Government contends that in order to rebut the presumption contained in 533 (a), the taxpayer must establish by the preponderance of the evidence that tax avoidance with respect to shareholders was not "one of the purposes" for the accumulation of earnings beyond the reasonable needs of the business. Respondent argues that it may rebut that presumption by demonstrating that tax avoidance was not the "dominant, controlling, or impelling" reason for the accumulation. Neither party questions the trial court's instructions on the issue of whether the accumulation was beyond the reasonable needs of the business, and respondent does not challenge the jury's finding that its accumulation was indeed unreasonable. We intimate no opinion about the standards governing reasonableness of corporate accumulations.
We conclude from an examination of the language, the purpose, and the legislative history of the statute that the Government's construction is the correct one. Accordingly, we reverse the judgment of the court below and remand the case for a new trial on the issue of whether avoidance of shareholder tax was one of the purposes of respondent's accumulations.
We find both parties' arguments inconclusive. The phrase "availed of for the purpose" is inherently vague, and there is no indication in the legislative history that Congress intended to attach any particular significance to the use of the article "the." Nor do we find the change in the evidentiary section from "a" to "the" at all helpful. That change came as part of a significant revision in the operation of the section, and there is no indication that it was other than a mere change in [393 U.S. 297, 303] phraseology. 5 Indeed, the Report of the Senate Finance Committee accompanying the bill that was to become the Revenue Act of 1938, insofar as it sheds any light on the question, supports the view of the Government. "The proposal is to strengthen [the evidentiary] section by requiring the taxpayer by a clear preponderance of the evidence to prove the absence of any purpose to avoid surtaxes upon shareholders . . . ." S. Rep. No. 1567, 75th Cong., 3d Sess., 5 (1938) (emphasis added). Since the language of the statute does not provide an answer to the question before us, 6 we have examined in detail the relevant legislative history. That history leads us to conclude that the test proposed by the Government is consistent with the intent of Congress and is necessary to effectuate the purpose of the accumulated earnings tax.
In its first years of operation, difficulties in proving a fraudulent purpose made the tax largely ineffective. To meet this problem, Congress deleted the word "fraudulently." Revenue Act of 1918, 220, 40 Stat. 1072; see S. Rep. No. 617, 65th Cong., 3d Sess., 5 (1918). 7
During the next few years, numerous complaints were made about the ineffectiveness of the accumulated earnings tax. Various attempts were made to strengthen the tax during the 1920's and 1930's, but the statute remained essentially the same until 1934. See Joint Committee on the Economic Report, The Taxation of Corporate Surplus Accumulations, 82d Cong., 2d Sess, 200-205 (Comm. Print 1952). In 1934, Congress dealt with one of the more flagrant examples of that ineffectiveness, the personal holding company. Personal holding companies were exempted from the general accumulated earnings tax and were subjected to a tax on undistributed income, regardless of the purpose of that accumulation. Revenue Act of 1934, 102, 351, 48 Stat. 702, 751. The reason for the change was that, "[b]y making partial distribution of profits and by showing some need for the accumulation of the remaining [393 U.S. 297, 305] profits, the taxpayer makes it difficult to prove a purpose to avoid taxes." H. R. Rep. No. 704, 73d Cong., 2d Sess., 11 (1934).
Again in 1936, Congress attempted to solve the continuing problem of undistributed corporate earnings. "The difficulty of proving such [tax avoidance] purpose . . . has rendered . . . [the accumulated earnings tax] more or less ineffective." H. R. Rep. No. 2475, 74th Cong., 2d Sess., 5 (1936). However, Congress did not change the requirement that "purpose" must be proved. Rather, it attempted the alternative method of imposing an undistributed profits surtax on most corporations. Revenue Act of 1936, 14, 49 Stat. 1655. The tax on personal holding companies and the general accumulated earnings tax were retained. 8
The problem continued to be acute and several proposals were made by and to Congress in 1938. The House Ways and Means Committee proposed a surtax on all closely held operating companies. Only minor changes were proposed by the Committee in the accumulated earnings tax. See H. R. Rep. No. 1860, 75th Cong., 3d Sess. (1938). The House rejected all but the changes in the accumulated earnings tax. The Senate approached the problem of retained corporate earnings in a different way. Labeling the House Committee's recommendation a "drastic" remedy, the Senate Finance Committee recommended "dealing with this problem where it should be dealt with - namely, in section 102, relating to corporations improperly accumulating surplus. The proposal is to strengthen this section by requiring the taxpayer by a [393 U.S. 297, 306] clear preponderance of the evidence to prove the absence of any purpose to avoid surtaxes upon shareholders after it has been determined that the earnings and profits have been unreasonably accumulated." S. Rep. No. 1567, 75th Cong., 3d Sess., 5 (1938). The change was thought to make it clear that the burden of proving intent, rather than the lesser burden of producing evidence on the question, was to be on the taxpayer. Id., at 16. The Senate proposal was enacted. Revenue Act of 1938, 102, 52 Stat. 483. The Committee felt that a "reasonable enforcement of this revised section will reduce tax avoidance . . . ." S. Rep. No. 1567, supra, at 5.
Only insignificant changes were made in the accumulated earnings tax from 1938 to 1954. Discussion of the problem continued, however, and numerous proposals were made to alter the tax. See, e. g., Joint Committee on the Economic Report, The Taxation of Corporate Surplus Accumulations, 82d Cong., 2d Sess. (Comm. Print 1952). Congress took cognizance of these complaints and incorporated many of them in the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, but no change was made in the required degree of tax avoidance purpose. 9 Rather, the changes, which were generally favorable to the taxpayer, 10 demonstrated congressional disaffection with the effect of the tax and its emphasis on intent. Congress' reaction to the complaints was to emphasize the reasonable needs of the business as a proper purpose for corporate accumulations 11 and to make it easier for the [393 U.S. 297, 307] taxpayer to prove those needs. 12 As the House Ways and Means Committee said, "Your committee believes it is necessary to retain the penalty tax on unreasonable accumulations as a safeguard against tax avoidance. However, several amendments have been adopted to minimize the threat to corporations accumulating funds for legitimate business purposes . . . ." H. R. Rep. No. 1337, 83d Cong., 2d Sess., 52 (1954).
As this brief summary indicates, the legislative history of the accumulated earnings tax demonstrates a continuing concern with the use of the corporate form to avoid income tax on a corporation's shareholders. Numerous methods were employed to prevent this practice, all of which proved unsatisfactory in one way or another. Two conclusions can be drawn from Congress' efforts. First, Congress recognized the tremendous difficulty of ascertaining the purpose of corporate accumulations. Second, it saw that accumulation was often necessary for legitimate and reasonable business purposes. It appears clear to us that the congressional response to these facts has been to emphasize unreasonable accumulation as the most significant factor in the incidence of the tax. The reasonableness of an accumulation, while subject to honest difference of opinion, is a much more objective inquiry, and is susceptible of more effective scrutiny, than are the vagaries of corporate motive.
Respondent would have us adopt a test that requires that tax avoidance purpose need be dominant, impelling, or controlling. It seems to us that such a test would exacerbate the problems that Congress was trying to [393 U.S. 297, 308] avoid. Rarely is there one motive, or even one dominant motive, for corporate decisions. Numerous factors contribute to the action ultimately decided upon. Respondent's test would allow taxpayers to escape the tax when it is proved that at least one other motive was equal to tax avoidance. We doubt that such a determination can be made with any accuracy, and it is certainly one which will depend almost exclusively on the interested testimony of corporate management. Respondent's test would thus go a long way toward destroying the presumption that Congress created to meet this very problem. As Judge Learned Hand said of the much weaker presumption contained in the Revenue Act of 1921, 220, 42 Stat. 247, "[a] statute which stands on the footing of the participants' state of mind may need the support of presumption, indeed be practically unenforceable without it . . . ." United Business Corp. v. Commissioner, 62 F.2d 754, 755 (C. A. 2d Cir. 1933). And, "[t]he utility of . . . [that] presumption . . . is well nigh destroyed if . . . [it] is saddled with requirement of proof of `the primary or dominant purpose' of the accumulation." Barrow Mfg. Co. v. Commissioner, 294 F.2d 79, 82 (C. A. 5th Cir. 1961), cert. denied, 369 U.S. 817 (1962).
The cases cited by respondent do not convince us to the contrary. For the most part, they lack detailed analysis of the precise problem. Perhaps the leading case for respondent's position is Young Motor Co. v. Commissioner, 281 F.2d 488 (C. A. 1st Cir. 1960). That case relied in part upon the use of the article "the" instead of "a." We have previously rejected that argument. The case also relied, as did the court below, on certain cases from the gift and estate tax areas. 13 We find those cases inapposite. [393 U.S. 297, 309] They deal with areas of the Code whose language, purpose, and legislative history are entirely different from those of the accumulated earnings tax. See Commissioner v. Duberstein, 363 U.S. 278, 284 (1960).
Finally, we cannot subscribe to respondent's suggestion that our holding would make purpose totally irrelevant. It still serves to isolate those cases in which tax avoidance motives did not contribute to the decision to accumulate. Obviously in such a case imposition of the tax would be futile. In addition, "purpose" means more than mere knowledge, undoubtedly present in nearly every case. It is still open to the taxpayer to show that even though knowledge of the tax consequences was present, that knowledge did not contribute to the decision to accumulate earnings.
[ Footnote 2 ] The rates are 27 1/2% of the accumulated taxable income (defined in 535) not in excess of $100,000, plus 38 1/2% of the accumulated taxable income in excess of $100,000. Internal Revenue Code of 1954, 531.
[ Footnote 3 ] Section 532 (b) exempts personal holding companies, foreign personal holding companies, and certain tax-exempt corporations. Internal Revenue Code of 1954, 532 (b). Both types of holding companies are taxed under other provisions of the Code. See Internal Revenue Code of 1954, 541-547 (personal holding companies); Internal Revenue Code of 1954, 551-558 (foreign personal holding companies).
[ Footnote 4 ] The First Circuit in Young Motor Co. v. Commissioner, 281 F.2d 488 (1960), in part based its conclusion that tax avoidance must be the "primary or dominant purpose" on the use of "the" rather than "a."
[ Footnote 5 ] No change was made in that part of the statute providing that "[t]he fact that any corporation is a mere holding or investment company shall be prima facie evidence of a purpose" to avoid tax. Revenue Act of 1938, 102 (b), 52 Stat. 483 (emphasis added).
[ Footnote 6 ] The Regulations shed no light on the problem. See Treas. Reg. 1.531-1.537, 26 CFR 1.531-1.537.
[ Footnote 7 ] Another major change was made in the Revenue Act of 1921, 42 Stat. 227. Section 220 of that Act shifted the incidence of the accumulated earnings tax from the shareholders to the corporation itself. 42 Stat. 247. The change was prompted by the decision in Eisner v. Macomber, 252 U.S. 189 (1920). See H. R. Rep. No. 350, 67th Cong., 1st Sess., 12-13 (1921).
[ Footnote 8 ] Tax avoidance and evasion were a major subject of congressional concern in 1937. See, e. g., H. R. Rep. No. 1546, 75th Cong., 1st Sess. (1937). Congress addressed itself to another aspect of the problem by establishing a separate method for the taxation of foreign personal holding companies, again without regard to corporate intent. Revenue Act of 1937, 201, 50 Stat. 818.
[ Footnote 9 ] Congress was urged to adopt a test of purpose similar to that proposed by respondent in the present case. See, e. g., Hearings before the House Committee on Ways and Means Pertaining to the General Revision of the Internal Revenue Code, 83d Cong., 1st Sess., pt. 3, p. 2142 (1953).
[ Footnote 10 ] The changes were expected to decrease revenues by $10,000,000 in fiscal year 1955. See S. Rep. No. 1622, 83d Cong., 2d Sess., 72 (1954).
[ Footnote 11 ] Section 535 (c) provided a credit for such accumulations.
[ Footnote 12 ] Section 534 allowed the taxpayer to shift to the Commissioner in certain instances the burden of proving unreasonable accumulation. Section 537 included anticipated needs as reasonable needs of the business. In addition to those changes, 533 (a) omitted the requirement that the taxpayer negate the existence of tax avoidance purpose by a "clear preponderance of the evidence," and substituted a "preponderance" test.
[ Footnote 13 ] Commissioner v. Duberstein, 363 U.S. 278 (1960); Allen v. Trust Co. of Georgia, 326 U.S. 630 (1946); City Bank Farmers Trust Co. v. McGowan, 323 U.S. 594 (1945); United States v. Wells, 283 U.S. 102 (1931).
MR. JUSTICE HARLAN, whom MR. JUSTICE DOUGLAS and MR. JUSTICE STEWART join, concurring in part and dissenting in part.
I agree with the Court that the Court of Appeals erred in framing its remand order in this case. However, I would modify the order in a different way, which I find more in harmony with the statutory scheme than the one the Court has chosen.
Section 532 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 states in relevant part:
I am in accord with much of the Court's opinion. I too find that the successive changes in the wording of the statute, even when read together with the legislative history, do not help in our inquiry. I too find that the legislative history reveals a progressive congressional intention to rely more and more heavily upon a comparatively objective criterion: whether the accumulated earnings were in excess of the corporation's reasonable business needs. Nevertheless, it is apparent from the language of 533 (a), and from the legislative materials, that Congress chose still to give the taxpayer a "last clear chance" to prove that, despite the unreasonableness of the accumulation by business standards, the accumulation was not due to the proscribed purpose. My difficulty with the instruction approved by the Court is that in most instances it will effectively deny to the taxpayer the "last clear chance" which Congress clearly meant to afford and substitute a very fuzzy chance indeed.
I reach this conclusion on what I regard as commonsense grounds. In practice, the accumulated-earnings provisions are applied only to closely held corporations, controlled by relatively few shareholders. 1 As the Court admits, the shareholders almost always will have been advised that accumulation of corporate earnings will [393 U.S. 297, 311] result in individual tax savings. That fact will be before the jury. In accord with the Court's decision, the jury will be instructed that "it is sufficient if [avoidance of shareholders' tax] is one of the purposes of the company's accumulation policy." (Emphasis supplied.)
Under these circumstances, the jury is very likely to believe that it must find the forbidden purpose and impose the tax whenever the Government shows that the taxpayer has accumulated earnings with knowledge of the resultant tax saving, irrespective of any contrary evidence put forward by the taxpayer. The approved instruction simply tells the jury that the taxpayer must have had a "purpose" to avoid individual taxes. In everyday speech, we commonly say that a person has a "purpose" to do something when he acts with knowledge that the thing will inevitably result. Even were the jury legally knowledgeable, it might reach the same conclusion, for, assuming that the word "purpose" as used in 532 is synonymous with "intention," 2 there is ample authority for the proposition that an actor will be deemed to have an "intention" to cause consequences of an act if "the actor . . . believes that the consequences are substantially certain to result from [the act]." 3 To confront the taxpayer with this likelihood that its evidence of another purpose will be entirely disregarded is inconsistent [393 U.S. 297, 312] with the provision of 533 (a) which explicitly affords the taxpayer an opportunity to avoid the tax by showing "by the preponderance of the evidence" that it had a "contrary" purpose.
The Court, while conceding that the shareholders will know of the expected tax saving "in nearly every case," see ante, at 309, reasons that the taxpayer will have its opportunity because "[i]t is still open to the taxpayer to show that even though knowledge of the tax consequences was present, that knowledge did not contribute to the decision to accumulate earnings." Ibid. If, as appears from the Court's opinion, this exegesis is not to be a part of the jury instruction, then the Court is simply engaging in wishful thinking. If by chance the explication is to be included in the instruction, then the jury will be told to impose the tax only if it finds that a desire to avoid tax "contribute[d] to the decision to accumulate earnings." Such an instruction would at least inform the jury that the tax consequence must actually have been in the shareholders' minds when they decided to accumulate. However, once the shareholders are shown to have had knowledge of the tax saving, it still will be extraordinarily difficult for the taxpayer to convince the jury that the knowledge did not play some part, however slight, in the decision. Again, it seems to me that such an instruction would not give proper scope to the congressional intention that the taxpayer have a chance to prove "by the preponderance of the evidence" that it had a "contrary" purpose. I would therefore adopt an instruction less loaded against the taxpayer.
The Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit decided, and respondent argues, that the tax should apply only if the jury finds that tax avoidance was the "dominant, controlling, or impelling motive" for the accumulation. I agree with the Court that such an instruction would [393 U.S. 297, 313] be improper. It apparently would require the Government to show that tax avoidance was stronger than any other motive, and perhaps that it was stronger than all other motives put together. This would largely negate the statutory presumption of improper purpose contained in 533 (a). In my view, it would also result in non-imposition of tax in cases where Congress meant there to be liability, for I think that Congress must at least have intended that the tax should apply whenever the taxpayer would have distributed, instead of accumulating, corporate earnings had there been no possibility of a tax saving.
These considerations suggest what I believe to be the best rule: the jury should be instructed to impose the tax if it finds that the taxpayer would not have accumulated earnings but for its knowledge that a tax saving would result. This "but for cause" test would be consistent with the statutory language. It would allow the Government to succeed if it could show, with the aid of the 533 (a) presumption, that without the spur of tax avoidance the taxpayer would not have accumulated the earnings, thus giving effect to the presumption and fulfilling Congress' desire to penalize those with a "purpose" to avoid the tax. It would permit the taxpayer to escape the tax if it could convince the jury that for other, perhaps irrational, reasons it would have accumulated even had no tax saving been possible, thus affording the opportunity for proof of a "contrary" purpose which Congress intended to provide. In addition, I believe that this instruction would be relatively easy for a jury to understand and apply. For all of these reasons, I consider it preferable to the standard adopted by the Court.
[ Footnote 1 ] See S. Rep. No. 1622, 83d Cong., 2d Sess., 69 (1954); B. Bittker & J. Eustice, Federal Income Taxation of Corporations and Shareholders 213-214 (2d ed. 1966).
[ Footnote 2 ] "Purpose" is listed as a synonym for "intention" in Black's Law Dictionary, at 948 (4th ed. 1968). Many courts have used the two words interchangeably in construing 532 and 533 (a). See, e. g., Henry Van Hummell, Inc. v. Commissioner, 364 F.2d 746 (1966); Youngs Rubber Corp. v. Commissioner, 331 F.2d 12 (1964); Smoot Sand & Gravel Corp. v. Commissioner, 241 F.2d 197 (1957); Harry A. Koch Co. v. Vinal, 228 F. Supp. 782 (1964); Motor Fuel Carriers, Inc. v. United States, 202 F. Supp. 497 (1962), vacated on other grounds, 322 F.2d 576 (1963).
[ Footnote 3 ] Restatement (Second), Torts 8 A (1965). See also id., Comment b; R. Perkins, Criminal Law 657-658 (1957); Cook, Act, Intention, and Motive in the Criminal Law, 26 Yale L. J. 645 (1917). [393 U.S. 297, 314]

subset: commoncrawl


text:
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - After making major concessions on long-held "fiscal cliff" positions, President Barack Obama and House of Representatives Speaker John Boehner will test the reaction Tuesday of their respective parties in the U.S. Congress and continue talks aimed at further narrowing their differences.
The effort is designed to avert the steep tax hikes and across the board spending cuts set to take effect unless a deal is enacted into law before December 31. Enactment would require a buy-in by the full U.S. Senate and House on whatever Obama and Boehner present to them. Neither Obama or Boehner can be certain yet on how much resistance they might meet.
Though much work remains, the progress contrasted dramatically with previous movement so slow that as recently as Sunday, some Washington insiders saw a 50-50 chance of going over the cliff - which the Congressional Budget Office says would bring on a new recession.
In rapid developments Monday, the two sides came significantly closer to bridging gaps on critical issues such as tax hikes for the wealthy and cuts in Social Security cost-of-living benefits. Those issues have the potential to cause problems politically for both leaders, as Republicans and Democrats start to study them.
Obama and Boehner made the most headway on extending the reduced tax rates originally enacted in the administration of President George W. Bush. Both have agreed to keep the low rates for everyone but the wealthy, but they still differ on who qualifies as wealthy for tax purposes.
Obama, whose definition has for months been taxpayers above the $250,000 threshold, traveled to $400,000 in his latest offer. Boehner was at $1 million, but could move down to $500,000.
Obama also offered a "fast track" process for major tax and spending reforms in the year ahead. A Republican aide who asked not to be identified said that "conceptually," there was agreement to make permanent changes in the tax code, with some of those changes taking effect at the start of 2013 and others at the beginning of 2014.
A comprehensive cliff-avoiding agreement would immediately substitute new and more targeted spending cuts for the indiscriminate slashing of defense and non-defense programs known as "sequestration."
Possible plans to produce cuts in spending for Medicare and Medicaid, the government health insurance programs for seniors and low income Americans respectively, remain to be discussed.
Boehner and Obama have made headway on the politically explosive question of the president's ability to avoid constant battles over raising the debt ceiling, which controls the level of borrowing by the government. Boehner is ready to give Obama a year of relative immunity from conservative strife over the debt ceiling, while Obama is pushing for two years.
Boehner is set to meet with Republicans in the House Tuesday morning and then speak to reporters. Also likely Tuesday is a White House briefing which could shed more light on the work ahead.
The reaction Tuesday from their party allies in Congress may help determine how much further each can go to finish off a deal and how much long it would require to do so.
Reporting by Richard Cowan, Mark Felsenthal, David Lawder and Fred Barbash. Editing by Fred Barbash


text:
A royal affair
They reign over secluded islands and preside over exhilarating parties. One well-disguised ruler even has Queen Victoria to prove his lineage
The ruler strides through his kingdom, tanned and clad in a polo shirt and shorts. Antonio the First nods graciously and smiles at his loyal subjects, who sit around tables on his estate, tucking into plates piled high with pasta vongole and grilled gamberetti. He sits down on his low throne, aka a stool. Antonio I is, as he puts it, "the most ordinary king in the world." His gaze falls on a large black and white photo of his ancestors on the wall, and then over to the azure Mediterranean ahead of him – the two constants in his life. After the 83-year-old restaurant owner Antonio Bertoleoni has told the story of why he believes he is the king and rightful ruler of the rocky little island of Tavolara, his eyes drift back to the sea, and he silently admires the view of the coast of Sardinia on the hazy horizon.
Tavolara has an area of six square kilometers and is Bertoleoni's home. It is allegedly the smallest kingdom in the world – a rock rising out of the sea off the northeastern tip of Sardinia, surrounded by a long, crescent-shaped beach. For 22 years, Bertoleoni – whom everyone here calls Tonino – has considered himself the uncontested ruler of this island. Admittedly, there's not much to rule over: twenty inhabitants, just over a hundred goats, a few falcons. No cars, no hotels. And Antonio's castle? It's his restaurant, Da Tonino Re di Tavolara.
Nightlife in Porto Cervo is like a Ferrari. Plenty of power, but you have to know how to ride it
The crystal-clear water attracts tourists who come to swim with dolphins and turtles, or simply relax on the beach. Most will stroll up to the restaurant, hungry for the catch of the day and curious to hear the unusual story of the former fisherman who was born a crown prince. In his version, an ancestor, Giuseppe Bertoleoni, was given exclusive possession of the island by the then rulers, the royal house of Savoyard, in 1836. The kingdom of Tavolara was founded.
Unfortunately and very regrettably the document somehow inexplicably got lost, explains Tonino. Instead, in lieu of a decree, he points to the family portrait, taken by the royal photographer whom Queen Victoria once sent out with the ambitious mission to take pictures of all the royal families and rulers. For Tonino, this is irrefutable proof of his blue-blooded ancestry. Despite the fact that his Italian passport declares him an ordinary citizen, Tonino's story is great for business. Camera teams from across Europe request audiences, guests are eager to shake his hand – where else can you get this close to a monarch?
Of course, Tavolara and Sardinia belong to Italy, and have done so since 1861. But Sardinia, the second-largest island in the Mediterranean, has preserved its majestic allure. Battled over by rulers and admirals on account of its strategic location between Europe and North Africa, the island's Costa Smeralda, Costa Rei and Costa del Sud still attract the aristocracy. The water shimmers emerald green and sapphire blue thanks to white sand and gentle sunlight. Karim Aga Khan IV, the religious leader of the Nizari Ismaili muslims, and one of the wealthiest men in the world, saw the Costa Smeralda and was smitten.
Karim Aga Khan was in his mid-20s when his yacht passed the turquoise bays at the beginning of the 1960s. Cows, goats and sheep grazed on the dunes back then. It was the perfect place, declared his Highness, to invite his friends: models, industrial magnates, aristocrats – all of whom had certain standards, naturally. Soon, the sleepy coastline was transformed into a jet-set playground. Porto Cervo, where mega-yachts jostle for space in the harbor, is the center. Here you can get a cappuccino for nine euros and an apartment for millions.
1 Hotel Capo D'Orso
2 Resort Cala di Falco
3 Ruins Sa Sedda 'e Sos Carros
4 Gorge Gola su Gorroppu
5 Restaurant sa Domu Sarda & Bar Inu
Money is very obviously plentiful here. The town is like an open-air mall with two distinct categories of visitors, and one group marveling at the decadence of the other. The nightlife kings reign lavishly in the exclusive restaurants and clubs. At Phi Beach club in front of Rituals, or the Billionaire Club, the nightclub owned by former Formula One boss, Flavio Briatore, the Bentleys and Lamborghinis drive past thick and fast. The doors open to reveal mainly elderly gents accompanied by ladies of a certain age, whose facial expressions may appear a little rigid, but nature seems to have compensated by giving them unusually full lips …
One of the very first celebrity clubs to open here, 37 years ago, was Sottovento, a stage for the antics of the Prince of Brunei, Roman Abramovich and Ronaldinho. Champagne and vodka costing thousands of euros per bottle are served in private lounges, which divide the VIPs from the Super VIPs in a strict caste system. Although the club's interior shrieks 1980s style, it is packed every evening. Owner Alberto Verona gives anyone who survives the cull at the door the feeling of being a best friend for all eternity, as he hugs, air-kisses and gushes compliments.
The 50-year-old, a native Sardinian, reaches for a vodka-tonic and reminisces about nights gone by with a broad smile, lingering on "drinks and beautiful women." His gaze is softened by nostalgia as he recalls Hollywood stars with flowers in their hair and joints between their lips dancing first on the beach, and then in the club, which used to belong to his father. Back then, Verona firmly believes, Porto Cervo was one gigantic family, more intimate and with fewer rules. Gone are the days when Muammar al-Gaddafi drove past with his convoy, his bodyguards peppering shots into the Sardinian night. Verona was the only person permitted to serve the Libyan dictator. He would carefully draw the curtains of the VIP lounge to hide the revelries of Gaddafi and his pals from view of the ordinary guests. "Nightlife in Porto Cervo is like a Ferrari," says Alberto, "plenty of power, but you need to know how to ride it."
Antonello Salis' red Fiat Panda climbs the hills around Teulada at a leisurely pace. Located roughly 300 kilometers to the south of Porto Cervo, at the other end of the island, this is a completely different world. Salis, 56, describes the party people as "impazziti," deranged. He far prefers his own particular subjects: the island's goats, of which 300 are his. Salis is a third-generation shepherd. In the evening, when the summer heat has lifted slightly from the cedars and pine trees, when the arid, copper-colored soil has cooled down slightly, he guides his herd across the extensive grazing grounds that cover several thousand hectares. He protects them against stray dogs and wild boars, makes sure they don't get caught in fences. Salis roams up the hills and down into the valleys, along meandering paths used by his grandfather. The goats chew grass and nibble on bushes, while the shepherd keeps a watchful eye and deeply inhales the scent of wild thyme and eucalyptus.
Salis proudly sticks to the traditions of his forefathers; he knows all his animals by name, milks by hand, controls the flock with dogs and a crook. Milk, cheese and meat – everything is done by hand. "I don't want to hear those mechanical noises, because otherwise I might as well work in a factory," he explains. "I prefer to listen to the sound of the wind." His family lives off the income of a small hotel and the sale of ricotta, pecorino cheese and goat meat. Salis knows he won't get rich, but he keeps the treasure that is most important to him: his freedom. Of course, he is familiar with the story of Tavolara, like everyone on the island. He smiles as he thinks of Tonino up in the north. Porto Cervo really isn't his world. And this is what makes Sardinia so special: Everyone can find their own small realm here and live like a king – if only for a summer.
Where to go in Sardinia
Ancient temple
Sa Sedda 'e Sos Carros, an old Nuragic settlement, features the ruins of stone and bronze handicraft dating back to 3300 years ago.
Secluded bays
The remote beaches on the Costa Verde offer a relaxing contrast to the party culture on the Costa Smeralda.
Gola su Gorruppu is one of the steepest gorges in Europe, with walls rising 500 meters into the sky. An ideal spot for trekking and climbing.
Flavors of the island
Sa Domu Sarda in Cagliari serves delicious local Sardinian cuisine and the inviting Inu bar has a fine selection of wines from the island.


text:
Established in 1988 as a response to Oakland, California's increasing rates of violence and crime and the corresponding decrease in accessible programs for youth, Destiny Arts Center seeks to "end isolation, prejudice and violence in the lives of young people."
Youths often live with frustration and depression. Destiny Arts Center seeks to provide for them a safe environment designed for creative and positive expression.
Instilling in youths valuable feelings of safe worth and respect for others paves the way for a lifetime of positive participation at school and within the community, and inspires every child to achieve greatness.
Destiny Arts Center is a community organization to model in all cities, large or small.
Violence Prevention & Conflict Resolution
The martial arts and performing arts programs serve as a proven violence prevention strategy for the center's youths aged three years old to 18 by reinforcing positive and nonviolent behavior in the face of negativity.
Destiny Arts Center seeks to establish in youth the alternatives to provoking or reacting to violence. Through the programs staffed with positive and genuine instructors, the kids learn respect for themselves and for others, effective violence prevention strategies, and positive conflict resolution skills.
Effects on the Community
The programs offered through the center run at the most essential times in kids' days: after school, on weekends, and during the summer. This gives the youths an accessible forum to "explore, express and reshape daily challenges through physical, emotional and creative growth."
The instructors and alumni of Destiny Arts Center have witnessed kids become vocal in the community at large about nonviolence. When kids feel safe and have valuable self esteem, their cognitive, emotional, social, and physical growth is dramatic and positive. When kids learn how to engage their authentic selves and connect with peers and culture in a positive manner, the effects last a lifetime.
The following is a transcription of kids and parents talking about the effects Destiny Arts Center has had on their loves.
Destiny Arts Center, Growing Peaceful Warriors
Emerald Mitchell: I come to Destiny because I love being a part of something that is just so profound. How many youth organizations are like us? You know, we dance. Some of us sing. Some of us rap. We act. We perform. But we do it for a reason. We include our own stories in our scripts, in our poems, you know, in our dances.
Any decision that I'm making that is a big decision—that will affect another human being, that will affect an animal, a plant, the environment, you know—we cover that stuff at Destiny. And so I'm doing something powerful, you know, and I'm affecting my community. So that's why I hang out.
Matt Plut: Actually, it's the philosophy of Destiny, really, that kind of sets it apart. Jake got fascinated kind of with the dancing and just the way they were teaching him, so we decided to start Destiny here on Saturdays. We live in San Francisco, so it's a little hard for us to get over on the weekdays. But on weekends we're here, on Saturday, and he does hip hop here and martial arts after hip hop.
Jake Plut: I used to sometimes get angry over stuff that I shouldn't have. But now that I've joined Destiny, they've helped me with my life. I was in a competition. I managed to win two medals. I feel proud and it was a great experience for me.
Giana Cirolia: The five fingers of balance prevention and the seven steps of conflict resolution, they're like the moment you start thinking about it, that's like taking a breath and stepping back and just the idea of having that in the back of your mind gives you the chance to deescalate the situation.
Payomo Family (mother speaking): So, yes. I have four kids here between the ages of four and fifteen. The first few months I was really, really amazed with how it affected them in such a positive way. They were so excited to come. The energy and the self expression that you teach the kids and you allow them to have, it really gives them a lot of confidence and it also makes them want to share that.
What Does Destiny Mean?
Young Man: If I could describe Destiny in word word, I'll say mind changing. Eye-opening.
Older Man: Full of life.
Young Woman: Can I make up my own word?
Matt Plut: For us, community.
Payomo family (young man): My second family.
Young Woman: Fantastically beautiful.
Jake Plutt: Excellent!
Payomo family (mother): Talented.
Payomo family (young girl): Hope. Community. Beauty. Friendship. It's love. Future. Growth. It's amazing!
Man: I feel like it's not about anything but helping children grow to their full potential as human beings. That's what i would say. Rooted in contribution.
Young Girl: Awesome.
Payomo family (young girl): Fun!
The Spirit of Destiny Arts Center
Javier Santos: Unlike other places, the real hard neighborhoods where the people grow up, have it real rough, you know, and most of the time they don't come out to be so positive. All they're surrounded by is violence and hate, and they're not really surrounded by that positivity and that peacefulness that they need to get to know themselves and get to be creative and artistic. And when you come to Destiny, I feel that you get that.
Herman Pecot: The spirit is very ripe here. The spirit of Bushido, the warrior's code, Destiny really cultivates that part of the being. You know, the balance of power and peace and skill and kindness, all that mixed together. So that's what we're seeing.
Arianna Butler: I couldn't imagine me without Destiny. I really couldn't. And even when we have breaks from Destiny, I'm still like, "Dang! I miss dance class! Dang! I miss Sarah! Dang! I miss the company!"
Dalmacio Payomo: I can't even explain how deep the bonds are between everyone in Destiny and the company, in the classes that I teach. The teachers that I work with are just amazing.
Everything You Could Want in a Youth Organization
Giana Cirolia: If I had two words to describe Destiny, I would say presence and energy.
Young woman: Beautiful and empowering.
Javier Santos: Positive. Family orientated. Strong, beautiful, caring. Real . . . hah! Real!
Emerald Mitchell: A short phrase? I'll try to make a short phrase that can describe Destiny . . . "Everything you could possibly want in a youth organization."
Fees and Funding
The Destiny Art Center offers scholarship programs to families who are unable to afford the fees for the various dance or martial arts classes offered. In addition to offering free trial classes, the center also enforces a strict policy that no family will be denied access due to a lack of funds.
Destiny's success and ability to continue offering quality programs and a safe haven for kids is because of the continued support from the community. Be it through monetary donations, the offering of physical space for programs, or the valuable help from volunteers, Destiny Arts Center is thankful for all its support.
Watch The Video!
Programs That Teach Violence Prevention
Growing peaceful warriors does not mean being passive. It's exactly the opposite as kids learn how to channel their energy while moving their skills toward violence prevention through dance and martial arts, games, and role playing exercises.
- Real Talk – Real Moves: violence prevention for teens and young adults.
- The ABCs of Anger: creative conflict resolution.
- Self-Defense for Boys and Girls.
- Moving in the Movement: using dance and theater as tools for social change.
- Dance Basics: hip-hop, modern, African & Latin dance.
- Martial Arts Basics: kung fu, karate & Capoeira.
- Hip-Hop and Beyond: the African roots of hip-hop.
- Theater for the People : theater games and exercises that explore the nature of life.
- Yoga Program
If you want to learn more about Destiny Arts Center or to be inspired to create a similar organization in your community, please visit their website.
Learn more, click > Destiny Arts Center


text:
News, reviews and photographs of Modern Fashion Dolls including Kingdom Doll, Fashion Royalty, Sybarite, Tonner Doll, Gene Marshall, Barbie and my own experiences as a doll collector.
The Day After Pittsburgh and My Workshop Experience
This morning I've been busy doing sales transactions. I think I may have nipped a scam in the bud. There were two confusing transactions from China with multiple addresses and I couldn't figure out who was who. Last night I refunded one of the payments and today I refunded the other. I feel relieved. I'm not going to name names but be careful if the name on the transaction doesn't match the Paypal name and address...especially if they don't tell you up front so you have time to check. That's a big red flag!
Right now I'm uploading two videos I shot during the dance party on Friday night. You will love them!
Quite by accident, one of the videos has the band performing Jump On It which is the same song I shot two years ago and which is up there to see.
I will of course post links when the uploads are complete.
Update on Video upload - it failed. The thing took more than three hours and then failed. UGH. If anyone knows how to upload a 5 minute recording (.mov) please let me know. I know how to use a camera but this file thing has me stumped.
I know you are all waiting for pictures and reviews. I am dying to get to that. What I've decided to do is to post all my pictures from the entire event at one link. Most of my pictures identify the people shown. If you see yourself or someone's picture and there is no identification, email me with the info. Try to identify the picture by number or grab it and send it to me with the info. I'm confused enough for all of us.
Picture link will be up later. Hang in there peeps.
I signed up for 5 workshops: Rob's Poppy head hair styling, the Design-a-Doll workshop, Alain's fireplace workshop, Steven Fraser's art workshop and Vaughn's out of the box workshop.
Rob was supremely well prepared with a print out and finished samples. He demonstrated carefully. Most of us watched as some worked along with him. There were enough supplies to create the hairstyle on the optional Poppy head which was sold for $25. to those signed up. The Poppy body to match was $25. in the store but $30 before class. Huh? There were loads of them in the store right up to the end of the convention. The heads, however, were only one to a customer. I can't believe the prices that the heads are fetching. It's like what happened with the Madra head from the Gene convention.
The Design A Doll room was arranged like a buffet. When you entered you picked up your nude dolls. There were four available: one AA, one cocoa colored, two white. I chose the darker skinned dolls as I thought they were the prettiest.
Then you could choose two wigs for each doll. There was a good selection of wigs.
Arriving at the clothing selection area was a disappointment. There were a bunch of cheap-looking skirts that could be paired with cute blouses. There were two different colors of hoodies but no jeans to go with them. The clothes were very crappy as were the two optional clothing packs. I've seen much better at lower prices in Fashion Fever items. There were optional wig packs which were nice. I was told that other collectors weren't able to get them because they ran out. I bought one extra nude, rooted doll for $25. When I saw a doll that someone had put together earlier in the day, I couldn't believe the clothes she had gotten. I was very disappointed that the choices varied so much. It was definitely a WTF moment. I asked David Buttry about it later on and he explained that they had to hold back items for other collectors. What am I, chicken soup? What about those of us who had that segment of time? I would never sign up again to do this because it's not fair. David also told me that there were some clothes in the store I could buy. Really? The two crappy clothing packs and the cheap stuff is what was there. The good stuff was for other collectors apparently.
Matt Sutton was available to help put wigs on for us. He combed out the two Afro wigs I chose. That was a nice touch.
I'm sure if David Buttry had his way, there would have been enough of the nice stuff for everyone. It's too bad that didn't happen.
Steven Fraser's class was very relaxing and laid back. He talked about how anything could be art. Some of us did little paintings or used colored pencils to draw. We were given a package of die cut paper frames that are often used in scrapbooking.
Alain Tremblay and Jakki Peters held a session in which Alain displayed a stained glass mantel and electrified fire screen that could be ordered for $80 plus shipping. Jakki talked about re-purposing plastic items and remodeling styrofoam for diorama purposes. We were given a set of sturdy templates for building our own mantels from foam board.
The most interesting session was the one with Vaughn. There was an optional doll to purchase which really had nothing at all to do with the session. Vaughn hinted that she was inspired by Lady Gaga. I didn't see it but many did. What do I know?
We got to ask him questions about everything from design to creation to shipping to naming and more.
He is a really a down-to-earth, open man who comes across very honest and sincere.
There's no dog-and-pony show there. He talked about going back and forth to the factory in China to train the workers - over and over again. He talked about how things are interpreted differently and may cause production problems. It was a great session and it made me see certain things in a different light.
Apparently Vaughn was aware of my dislike for unbalanced shoes. They're reading the blog. That's a good thing for the most part, but I do catch hostility. An attitude change from some of the Integrity people was quite obvious to me. Maybe I don't spend enough money buying Integrity products. Hmmmm.
5 comments:
- Anonymous11/1/10, 9:20 PM
Interesting blog. Hopefully Integrity will find a way to balance the items available in the Build a Doll workshop as there were several complaints last year. It is also sad about the chilly response from some of those at Integrity as I feel you have always been fair with your reviews of their products.ReplyDelete
- Anonymous11/1/10, 9:45 PM
Hello Terri!ReplyDelete
Thank you very much for the lively descriptions.
I am quite sad about what you wrote in the end of your article.
Apparently Integrity Toys' representatives take criticism in a very inappropriate manner.
Your blog is my favourite one as you don't keep behind telling what you think is not well done or in a poor quality.
I remember e-mailing to Integrity some time ago because I wanted to know if one of the two German retailers did exist anymore, as her homepage had become strangely empty. The reply I received from Mr. Tremblay was not really polite, and I was even asked to propose a retailer to my liking...
The a. m. retailer actually went broke; the other retail shop here in Germany is owned by a very unfriendly couple, and after having received such an unprofessional reply I decided to stop buying FR dolls.
I could not resist in the end, I have to admit, but I am really fed up now. The prices are far too high, the ingenuity is gone, the ability to
accept criticism seems to have decreased even more, what should I say? It's the first time I am not interested in any doll shown at a FR convention. Agnes I quite liked, but I own the first one, and the only difference here seems to be a beauty mark and the parting of the hair.
As for FRsquared: harsh faces for hard currency.
So they had to amortise the Elise Jolie headmold. By the way, using a Takeo headmold for a European count is quite daring. I really hoped for the Acheron one.
So that's enough for now, I pre-ordered a Momoko doll as some kind of consolation.
Dear Terri, please continue doing this blog your way, there's enough sweet talking already.
Best regards
Petra from Germany
- Catherine11/1/10, 10:00 PM
Thank you Terri for this great post. And I just wanted to say that you will catch nothing but gratitude from me (and I suspect many of your readers). You have saved me literally THOUSANDS of dollars and hours of sadness and frustration with your detailed and honest reviews. And then, on the flip-side, you have enabled me to spend those thousands on dolls and fashions that I truly love - items that don't have bad hair, ill-fitting garments, poorly made shoes, etc etc. Bless You!ReplyDelete
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.ReplyDelete
You were in the best of my classes, I think.ReplyDelete
I tried to mimic the structure of the regular meal setups with a place setting of sorts for each attendee and centerpiece dolls.
It's not really feasible to expect a class full of people who may never style hair to execute a style (and possibly devalue their sample head) in 60 minutes, which was why I went for the approach of doing the demo for everyone. It seemed to work well. If the 3rd class had had more time I would have had film of it. Instead I'll film a different restyle later this weekend.
It may be sent out later by IT, so I've not blasted it everywhere, but here is the pdf for the handout.
(anyone reading the comments and wondering which class, Terri knows me by middle name Rob)
I got to go through the DG Studio first as a teacher on thursday night. I found it hard to assemble a single look in that method, so I just decided to go for grabbing pieces I liked and not trying to assemble a cohesive look.


text: A golf tournament sponsored by the Mayo School PTA will be held at Heritage Country Club, 85 Sampson Road, Charlton, on May 18, with a shotgun start at 11 a.m. Price is $110 and includes 18 holes of golf, cart, use of putting green, steak dinner, raffle prizes and lots of fun. Funds will be used for students. To register or for more information, contact Jane Gallagher at (508) 595-9930.