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Following one man's task of building a virtual world from the comfort of his pajamas. Discusses Procedural Terrain, Vegetation and Architecture generation. Also OpenCL, Voxels and Computer Graphics in general.
Tuesday, January 21, 2014
Stop Kickstarter Scams
This campaign called "Praetoria" just came to our attention. The following screenshot is taken from their campaign page:
Without our permission it uses screenshots from Voxel Farm videos to get people to open their wallets. That is not cool. They have not licensed from us, they are not showing any original work. To me that amounts to lying. If you lie to get money, it amounts to stealing.
We have no choice but to point a finger and ask everyone and their friends NOT to contribute to this campaign.
As a rule, we do not allow anyone to raise funds using Voxel Farm. This is to protect funders and the ideal of crowdsourcing in general.
Every week or so we get a request that goes like this: "Dear Voxel Farm: We at Fourcats (or FlyngOx, or whatever) love your Engine. Please let us use your name and artwork to raise funds, then we will be able to afford the license and all will be good." The answer in every case is no. I hope you can see why.
89 comments:
At the bottom of their kickstarter page you can report it and mark it as:ReplyDelete
"Intellectual property violation"
- AnonymousJanuary 21, 2014 at 4:43 PM
The Praetoria developer also maintains a YouTube channel and a Facebook page on which he promotes the Kickstarter scam. Very low, and very strange.ReplyDelete
The page is already changed... SO either you are wrong or they are VERY fastReplyDeleteReplies
We try to clear up any infingement as soon as we can, we were not aware this would cause such an uproar amongst a company we have been talking with for some time and on several occasions mentioned we will be starting a kickstarter campaign, we despise any scams and to be placed in the same category as this is damaging and offensive to us, the project is a genuine project we are trying to raise capital for and we are sorry for any offense caused to the developers of the Voxel farm engine. So we removed these images as soon as Aleric could but whet we mention in the video maybe a little more difficult but we are not scamming anyone and we are genuinely trying to build this game with the intention of purchasing the relevant licensesDelete
Surely you could've thought better than to use screenshots of an engine you do not own in order to gain followers... Also come on... $1 million? You can't even reach $20k XDDelete
- AnonymousJanuary 21, 2014 at 5:08 PM
Pictures are gone from the page but still present in their video at the 11:56 mark. Hit them again.ReplyDelete
- AnonymousJanuary 21, 2014 at 7:46 PM
This is not a scam. Invisionary has been in direct talks with Miguel about the use of VoxelFarm as the voxel delivery system for the game. It does not claim anything more than needing to raise money to purchase this engine. You all are fucking nuts.ReplyDelete
As already said, they're still using your imagery and your product's name in the video, so use Kickstarter's Report function.ReplyDelete
Just to clear up any confusion on the topic. We at Invisionary have been in direct conversation with Miguel about acquiring a license for VoxelFarm for use in our games. We did not at any point in the conversation name our project. We still have VoxelFarm listed in our stretch goal campaign as part of the purpose for raising the money so we can afford to purchase the license. We were merely showcasing why it was important for our product to our potential backers to explain what technology we planned to go with.ReplyDelete
At no point in the conversation did Miguel ever state that he was against crowd-funding and that showcasing his product would result in such a ridiculous and hostile response.
The hostile nature of this blog and the posters here is causing me to reconsider spending the $100,000 required for the license and instead going with a competitor. I would find this to be an unfortunate turn of events as I do have a great deal of respect for Miguel and VoxelFarm.Replies
- DarianaJanuary 21, 2014 at 8:08 PM
Maybe you should brush up on copyright and trademark laws and regulations if you're actually trying to defend using screenshots/artwork/etc. that belong to someone else on your page, without actually asking for the consent of said owner. I'm sure you wouldn't want people to pirate your game. Owners of all intellectual property are to be respected -- it doesn't matter WHY you used the screenshots. It only matters that you did without permission.
You are taking this completely out of context and twisting it into something it is not. At no point do we claim to have produced VoxelFarm. VoxelFarm is directly credited for the engine and listed as a stretch goal for the project. If you are trying to raise money for something you have to explain what it is and why. Most people do NOT know what a voxel is. Have no clue what it looks like. We were showing them in some very simple photos I might add what it is and why it's important. VoxelFarm was credited for all voxel content!Delete
- DarianaJanuary 21, 2014 at 8:17 PM
What? When did I say that you were claiming to produce or make VoxelFarm? That is not at all the purpose of my statement. Stop being obtuse. It's the matter that you used someone else's screenshots/artwork without their permission. Also, "was credited for all voxel content!" does not fly. Do you think I can simply use the photographs of someone else on my blog or on my book covers and all I had to do was credit them for being the photographer? You are sadly mistaken about copyright if you think that's all that is necessary.Delete
- AnonymousJanuary 21, 2014 at 8:17 PM
Seriously, I'm starting to think the makers of voxelFarm are complete and total assholes. What gives them the right to say who can and cannot raise money to buy something? If they had claimed to make VoxelFarm I could understand someone being upset. They are asking backers to help them to be capable of affording to BUY it. WTF is wrong with people?Delete
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- DarianaJanuary 21, 2014 at 8:39 PM
Actually, Alaric, the answer is NO. And it makes me laugh when people start throwing around "Fair use" to defend themselves when they break copyright. You're like the Youtubers who put entire episodes of series online and state that it's "Fair use." Tell that to the bloggers that used and "credited" people for photographs they took from Google on their site, and had those photographers suing them for damages.Delete
"Crediting someone" does not give you the right to use anyone else's intellectual assets (and by this I mean pictures, artwork, writing, program, whatever else) without their permission.
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NOTE: I am under no circumstance, mindlessly defending VoxelFarm, nor am I saying their response is correct!Delete
The problem is, that generally speaking, it is generally illegal to feature other people's work (Including screenshots, as they can be perceived as photos of the program) for commercial purposes. Your Kickstarter campaign is meant to earn money, therefore it is a commercial venture. Placing pictures of an engine in there without the owner's permission, is the usage for commercial purposes of copyrighted material without the owners permission. If I am correct, then fair use policies only apply for educational and personal use, not for commercial use.
Now, I am by no means a lawyer or person who fully knows the law, however I do advice you an your company, to read up on copyright laws and perhaps consult a lawyer familiar with international laws. Because making and advertising games might seem like a great thing, but it is a often a legal minefield and can be very dangerous to trot through without knowledge of how things work.
I hope this helps.
Also Miguel and VoxelFarm, perhaps it's better next time to first send the people who use your copyrighted material an e-mail before you post something like this on your blog.
For both of you: making rash actions is never a good idea.
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Good luck getting those $100k to buy from a competitor... It is kind of ironic that Miguel kind of screwed himself over since they were actually planning to buy it.Delete
- DarianaJanuary 21, 2014 at 8:04 PM
Dear Anonymous#2,ReplyDelete
Funny how your comment here is almost exactly the same as the KS project owner's comment in the comments section when this page was brought to his attention.
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I do not condone VoxelFarm's behaviour here, however do take into account, that VoxelFarm started by one man doing a hobby, and only recently became a proper company, they'll have some teething pains.Delete
As I said in another comment however, you are both being rather unprofessional, rather than bashing eachother and eachother's products, start e-mailing eachother. It's better to fix a problem than to highlight it.
- DarianaJanuary 21, 2014 at 8:13 PM
Again, go brush up on copyright laws and regulations. Just because you are "in talks" with someone to license their program or whatever doesn't give you the right to use their screenshots for your own benefit. If you are in talks with a graphic artist for them to work on your game, do you think that gives you the right to then put up pictures of their artwork on your Kickstarter? Of course not. It's the same here.ReplyDelete
It doesn't matter that you were in talks, or you were going to come to an agreement, or whatever you're trying to use to defend yourself. The fact of the matter is that you jumped the gun, you used someone else's intellectual property without proper permission/authorization, you put those assets up to show other people in order to benefit your company/Kickstarter.
And now you're crying about how "hostile" people are to you because of this? Give me a break. I'm damnably sure you wouldn't be fine with some other company using your concept art on their website to promote a game they're creating when they're only in talks to partner with you.Replies
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- DarianaJanuary 21, 2014 at 8:45 PM
You keep skirting the real issue here, which is that you used images without permission. You keep trying to defend that.Delete
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Pretty unprofessional posting private email conversations including tech specs (which afaik aren't publicly available).ReplyDelete
In addition, not sure why you're trying to justify actions which Miguel pretty clearly stated that he does not approve of. Sorry you think it's okay, but it's his work and he doesn't. Apologize, remove the images, and move on!Replies
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- DarianaJanuary 21, 2014 at 8:43 PM
That's like saying, "This artist we are thinking of working with should be thanking us for promoting his pictures and grateful we intend to cough up the cash to buy his stuff because we posted his artwork on our website."Delete
Or: "This musician should be grateful to us for promoting and even wanting to work with him and pay him when we put his mp3s on our website."
Both without permission.
I'm sure the artist and the musician wouldn't be as grateful as you think Miguel should be.
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Guys this is embarassing. This conversation belongs in private, get that email correspondance going. 100k $ is not something you spend on a whim. You fucking calculate that decision, according to the needs of your project and the capabilities of the product.ReplyDelete
- AnonymousJanuary 21, 2014 at 8:54 PM
I think this kind attitude truly is the darker side of the internet. Anyway voxel farm is Miguel's baby and is right to defend it. A link to this blog and a wish to license it would have sufficed.ReplyDeleteReplies
This is my final post on this blog. Hopefully, Miguel will have the foresight to remove it at the first opportunity he has. Each of the images were linked to his website directly: http://voxelfarm.com/Delete
We literally did exactly this. We listed our interest in licensing it, showed an image of it which linked to his website and credited him for creating an amazing product. We are extremely sorry that any of this has transpired as we felt we were doing not only the right thing, but the very best way we could.
Alaric LaBrie
Alaric, my opinion of you, and your project, just rose dramatically. Good luck on the project... the world needs more games!Delete
I don't know who put up this BS, but those assets are listed as BELONGING to Voxelfarm, they do not take credit for it, voxel farm is a product they intend on purchasing for use in their game, if anything it's a promotion FOR voxelfarm. This insinuation that they are stealing assets is purely slanderous and it's people like this that deserve to be discredited. For attacking legitimate and innovative developers!ReplyDeleteReplies
I did a quick google search or the images currently on their kickstarter (using google images where you can drag an image in) Didn't find anything, then by looking at the signatures in some of the concept art, they're all by the same person. I believe this is probably a genuine product, but that there have just been some major mis-communications going on here, and that people have acted too hastily.Delete
Exactly the case. Originally Praetoria had posted a bit about voxel farm as a product they planned on acquiring for use in their game included images and a video from their site. The whole time giving credit to Voxelfarm. I was under no illusions as a backer that this was a creation of the Praetoria's developers, but of Voxelfarm whom they had given credit to. So whoever wrote this did at too hastily seeing the images and not reading the context is the only thing I can imagine. Since then Praetoria removed the content from their site. Because of voxelfarm's capabilities, as showcased by praetoria, I was actually interested in purchasing their engine. Unless this is resolved and a public apology is announced to Praetoria then I can't even consider that.Delete
Oops, didn't want that message to respond to your message Wayne, sorry =P. I will respond to your message in this post though:Delete
It's true that it might be promotional for VoxelFarm, but if people just go about and take screenshots etc. from other projects, even if they plan on using it, it can be harmful to the owners of the screenshots.
Here's a hypothetical situation. Imagine the pictures were used in a kickstarter, VoxelFarm doesn't object or doesn't find it. People will start to link those images to the kickstarter project, the project gets a decent amount of money, say 50 000 dollars. Then no game comes out of it, no news from the project, turns out the project leader ran off with the money and never had any intention of making the game to begin with. Now people will link that project with a Scam, and since images of VoxelFarm were linked to the project, in turn, VoxelFarm will be linked with the Scam, making people have an inherently bad view of VoxelFarm.
The Legal landscape is a hostile and vulgar place, where one has to dance around with immense grace. Unfortunately it isn't completely logical, but that's just how it is.
Human psychology is also a tricky thing, things (like images) are not always perceived as you think they are. People, especially on the internet, have the tendency to be emotionally extreme, one minute loving something, the next damning it to something worse than hell. Getting people to have the right emotional state about your product is tricky, and parts of your project being outside of your power (like being used by someone else without your permission) can be devastating.
- AnonymousJanuary 21, 2014 at 10:17 PM
I have to agree here. I've been going over all of their media and it looks like they have a pretty innovative idea. The project looks legit to me. I kind of feel sorry for them. It would seem that someone at VoxelFarm made a huge mistake in how they handled this. My opinion of VoxelFarm's developers has been greatly diminished as a result of this blog posting.Delete
It looks as if not only have they made themselves look bad as a company but also possibly lost a serious customer who, from what I see in the emails posted, obviously had already begun the negotiations with them about getting VoxelFarm.
Kamica, I do understand where you're coming from, however kickstarter campaigns can't simply run off with your money. They are legally obligated to deliver on their promised product. So any project which doesn't deliver must return the donations given or face criminal prosecution for fraud. Some project which have succeed, but afterwards found out they were unable to deliver have returned their funds, this is typical in those rare instances. So while I can understand the worry about scams this is certainly not a scam. Even if it were it would not hurt voxel farm people would have heard about them (if they read) and would appreciate their product. I can't think of anyone who would think less about them because a scam put up a picture showing how great they are, didn't follow through with their promise and are now put behind bars in a prison somewhere.Delete
If Praetoria did anything wrong it would have been not to ask voxel farm first. I don't know if they did or did not. The proper and honorable response before slandering someone first would be to speak to them and ask them to remove those pictures. Especially since this project has only been open for a few days now. The knee jerk reaction is in my opinion simply immature.
Good to know, but yea, that was just an example, I'm not saying Praetoria is a scam (I personally doubt it is) but I was just explaining why it's important to be careful when using other people's stuff, and why people and companies can become aggressive when you use stuff without asking =P.Delete
I still believe the biggest problem here, is that a simple misunderstanding from both sides, has been blown up to massive crap-throw contests...
- AnonymousJanuary 22, 2014 at 5:16 AM
Well, yes, backers automatically get their money back from KickStarter if the campaign doesn't succeed but if it does end successfully, the makers get the money and can do whatever they want to do with it. you no longer have any means to know if they're using your money for their project. That's why we heard so much stories of scammers that simply disappear with the money, some even try to make you believe with false documents that they gave up and sent the money to charity.Delete
Anyway, it does seem to be a miss-understanding but the KS project shouldn't have used pictures from Voxel Farm anyway should it be for educational purpose. You don't talk about voxels and show a landscape as an illustration, it doesn't help in any way.
Again, they seem to be young and uninformed giving the structure and content of the overall KS project but still, give them a chance to prove that they can do this.
@wayne, that is not how kickstarter works. If they reach their funding goal, they are free to spend it however they like. It is buyer beware, generally investment in projects is done where you feel safe feeling that the person has enough invested in the project that they won't simply give up and disappear. Posting other peoples work is an easy way to show invested time in a project and is wrong, and is why it has made the projecf creators look like scammers.Delete
- AnonymousJanuary 22, 2014 at 11:33 PM
I find it amusing that we're even discussing Kickstarter shovelware as if it's already an established game by an actual developer. A "serious customer"? They would probably need to hire someone who knows how to implement the voxel farm tech, or what a game engine is, before they can license it.Delete
Alaric, (also Wayne, and a number of Anonymous [read as Praetoria people])ReplyDelete
First, a quick note on my background on this subject, since I'll be commenting on it below:
For the last 15 years I have built a vertical market software package, and have been licensing this software to over 30+ major Broadcast and Cable Television networks both in the US and abroad. I work with copyright law, negotiate, write, and modify software-licensing agreements with these corporation's legal teams on a weekly basis.
I can tell you, and everyone else on this blog, that your understanding of Copyright (and the "right to copy" that its name implies), as well as the other proprietary rights of a work's creator (as in the rights of a proprietor to control the goods they produce) is completely wrong. Common, but wrong.
You do not have ANY right, 'fair use' or otherwise, to post screenshots without the explicit permission from their copyright holder (and if your intent was to do "business", as you claim, you should have obtained that permission in writing, prior to posting his works on your Kickstarter). Further, your usage was patently not 'fair use', since you were engaged in solicitation of business while using representations of another's work (whether attributed or not, whether explained or not). Period.
What you did is against the law in both Canada and the US, as they have pretty good reciprocity regarding copyright statutes. I suggest you read up on these things, or better yet, retain a lawyer and ask for legal advise prior to these kinds of business moves, as you open yourself up to personal liability: http://www.copyright.gov/title17/92chap1.html#107
EVERY point you, and a number of others have tried to parrot, have belabored above doesn't have any bearing on the issue. If anything, continued discussion only makes you look like some of the many scammers that do exist. If you do truly have a unique and genuine vision for a game that you want to produce, I implore you to quietly go back to your project, before digging an even deeper hole.
I applaud your removal of the offending content; as you apparently responded quickly, but the continued responses here are downright juvenile (especially your reprehensible act of posting a private business e-mail conversation)... all of this only diminishes yourself, not Voxel Farm, as was your clear intent. The intent to damage another person, directly or indirectly, falls into a whole different area of law.
The Internet is a more permanent medium than you seem to realize, and if you are serious about the business of creating software, I suggest you pull yourself together before you solidify such a distasteful image of yourself, and your project, that no one will associate with it.Replies
Well Jonathan; I applaud your efforts of trying to sound like a grand authority and do thank you for add a link to the copyright law and fair use section. While thoroughly confusing and difficult to navigate you can still see that Invisionary is not in violation of the fair use. Also since Invisionary chose to disclose its personal e-mail, as any free citizen is allowed to do, there is no wrong doing their either.Delete
Alaric apologized for the issue and has done the right thing IMO, so I think that matter is resolved... However, promoting incorrect interpretations of Fair Use does everyone a disservice.Delete
Wayne, I think you mistook my intentions. I didn't "try to come off as a grand authority", I merely provided my background knowledge regarding this subject matter, which many fail to do when they assert claims like "you can still see it is not in violation of the fair use".
Many people spout off all sorts of opinions as fact, without any sort of practical knowledge of the subject, or sources to back it up. It's understandable that you would find copyright law "confusing and difficult to navigate", as it is truly a complicated subject. Thank you for clarifying your knowledge on the matter.
If anyone else is interested, a simple read through of the Fair Use articles I linked to, is pretty definitive on the matter. The Fair Use clauses specifically outline the exceptions to rest of the body of copyright restrictions; (I.e., if the use case you are defending is listed in this section, the it "may" be fair use. Those use cases are are:
- "criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching (including multiple copies for classroom use), scholarship, or research."
Now, I see franklin norris from that Kickstarter has chimed in claiming "The use of the voxelfarm images and videos was for the educational purpose of potential backers nothing more." Ah, the good old You Tube talisman against copyright lawsuits. Well, now that you have decided upon the use you want to defend, you must continue to read the statute, because a statement matching one of the fair use exceptions does not grant "fair use" on it's own. You must also take into account the rest of the articles which continue as follows:
"- In determining whether the use made of a work in any particular case is a fair use the factors to be considered shall include—
(1) the purpose and character of the use, including whether such use is of a commercial nature or is for nonprofit educational purposes;"
"(4) the effect of the use upon the potential market for or value of the copyrighted work."
Using screenshots of another person's game engine to try and get the public (i.e. backers's) to give you money for your unpublished game is going to fail a Fair Use test for both point 1 and 4 above -- especially when the fair use is promoting another game, and not only a game, but a "voxel based game" that could be in direct competition with any game Miguel makes with his engine (though if the engine was licensed there would be explicit provisions allowing for that competition) -- rather than the use being on a blog about "Amazing Cliff Pictures", to which a Fair Use claim regarding the cliff screenshot might have a chance.
A good rule of thumb with copyright is: When in doubt, don't! Ask the owner first, and if they say no, ask a lawyer second, if you really feel it's fair use... don't leave yourself open to a copyright infringement lawsuit.
The approach Alaric and the team took in removing the screens was appropriate, and I say "good on them" for doing the right thing!
To your final point, Wayne, I agree with you that they have the freedom to re-post their e-mails, since they were not accompanied by a confidentiality notice. But it is definitely not "good business", and frankly was a real turn off to their project. The retractions help tremendously to fix that, but the ongoing assertions don't help much, as it just keeps the issue alive.
Ultimately, Miguel will probably append the blog and/or chime in about how he feels regarding these steps to fix the issue, I've seen him be fair in similar situations... Personally, I think it has been resolved now that the cantankerous posts have been removed, and the screens de-linked.
Hopefully both teams can get back to creating great games now!
- AnonymousJanuary 21, 2014 at 10:51 PM
I think voxel farm just shot themselves in the foot.ReplyDelete
- AnonymousJanuary 21, 2014 at 11:08 PM
Thanks for letting me know about this game. Hell I had no idea it even existed. Looks pretty cool.ReplyDeleteReplies
Thanks we have put alot of work and planning into the game and are very appreciative of your comment.Delete
- AnonymousJanuary 21, 2014 at 11:43 PM
Pretty cool? It looks AMAZING. It also comes off like a complete pipe dream. There's no way they can possibly deliver everything they're promising, and certainly not a beta by June.Delete
Just because you can imagine something doesn't mean it's feasible to create it.
There are several games in plan to be made leading up to the MMO. The beta you're referring to is likely the mobile game. The MMO is planned to be released in 5 years. While yes it sounds like a pipe dream, but mostly it's a game that defies traditional genre stereotypes. It's not impossible with "modern" technology, which is why they're not worrying about making it backward compatible with older technology. It all comes down to coding. Also the unigene engine proves that following that large amount of data can be done. So when it comes down to it, it is a challenge, but is no longer a pipe dream. Also to put a fine point to it they already have the majority of coding down and mainly need to work on assets at this point.Delete
Oh yes we have spent some time at length discussing the way we are going to approach the development of this game and everything is feasable and i have alot of the systems already in development, the BETA by june however, this not so much... on kickstarter we have an estimated delivery time this is only for rewards - by all means you could get your BETA Key by June but as is spoken about in the videos it will take time to develop the game to a beta stage, also the length of time is very reliant on what staff we get on board throughout the dev cycle, we currently have an expanding team currently at about 8 developers including me but we still want to recruit several more to work on this.Delete
I doubt the original blogger here wants to read this but if you have any other questions or concerns you could post them on our Kickstarter page
- AnonymousJanuary 22, 2014 at 12:38 AM
It's beyond doubt that using the images without permission was negligent from a moral point of view and illegal from a legal point of view. The cited object was put into a context without the assurance of the proprietary that he was fine with said context.ReplyDelete
But it's a rather minor offence. It's very plausible that the offenders were just sloppy and assumed that the proprietary would not mind.
Without any doubt though this misdoing doesn't make the whole project a scam! I would say that publicly denouncing somebody as a scam is a delict, too, and a far more serious one. The reader of this blog entry is led to the conclusion that the kickstarter project was totally illegitimate. Such a behaviour is not mere simple expression of opinion, but an injurious malpractice doing more harm than using artwork without the expressed permission of the copyright holder.
I think the blog owner should apologize and put his slanderous assertion right.
Hmmm... As a regular reader of this blog this is what I see...ReplyDelete
I see Miguel protecting his intellectual property. I see someone looking to essentially steal money from investors by using images without consent. This was further proven by the rapid removal of the content when an issue was raised (or else their project would have been pulled from kickstarter). Further, I see a few different accounts that have never posted here defaming miguels work and supporting this kick starter... It is easy to see what is happening. Its a scam, with the scammer setting up multiple accounts to give themselves the look of being supported/legitimate. For shame.Replies
- AnonymousJanuary 22, 2014 at 12:54 AM
How do you get out of bed in the morning with such a low capacity for thinking?Delete
- AnonymousJanuary 22, 2014 at 1:09 AM
@Robin Last time I checked scammers don't usually broadcast their identity to the world. I bet you believe aliens abducted Elvis too?Delete
While I will agree that Miguel was doing what he felt was right by, challenging the copyright infringement though kickstarter (as a backer we all received a email stating that the campaign was halted til said issue was resolved. (26min later the issue was resolved and the kickstarter campaign restarted))Delete
By calling the project as a whole a scam the poster of this blog is trying to defame the creators of the kickstarter campaign. I myself am one of those people... I will tell you now the project is not a scam. The use of the voxelfarm images and videos was for the educational purpose of potential backers nothing more. We were not selling them voxelfarm, rather something we intended on creating using voxelfarm as one of many tools.
This will be my one and only post here so take it for what it is worth to you. Hopefully this will all be resolved by both parties without any legal action. Only time will tell.
Thank you anonymous scammer for proving my point.Delete
- AnonymousJanuary 22, 2014 at 6:27 PM
Your definition of "prove" is wrong in any conceivable way.Delete
You had not point to begin with.
Even your gratitude is fake.
I feel kind of sad for anybody who invests money in this scam. Especially any of the people who purchase the more expensive packages. What are they going to do if the kickstarter reaches its goal, but not any of its stretch goals? A cell phone game for $500+ lol. The low entry price to get the money plus investment points that can only be redeemed if the thing makes it to thr upper stretch goals is super sketchy.Delete
What a rollercoaster of a ride! Scandal in the game development world! Posting anonymously, well, that's always a sign of mature and level-headed discussion.ReplyDelete
There are other issues with the kickstarter campaign, even without the misused screenshots, that lead me to think that it will not achieve its goal...definitely aten't getting my money.
The Praetoria guys should consult with a lawyer about copyright law. Unless mutually agreed otherwise, they have no right whatsoever to use any images or other material that is not their own. Since they tread copyright law so lightly (and don't understand it, as inferred from comments made by Alaric LaBrie), I wonder what other copyrighted material is used in all the game's assets and code.ReplyDelete
I wouldn't invest in Praetoria, in the least because of the risk of the game ending up in a copyright lawsuit.
If anything, this entire debacle should be a warning to any person who would be considering investing in Praetoria, since the actions of Invisionary LLC, its representatives, or the owner has displayed itself as irresponsible, slanderous against Voxelfarm, and immature. (See their Kickstarter comments.)Replies
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I'm sorry you think so little of us - we at invisionary take copyright very seriously and this oversite regarding voxelfarm was based on an assumption the prompt removal was not a sign of guilt but more of respect for the voxelfarm as an admittance of a mistake on our part.Delete
I am not Alaric I'm the programmer of this game and can assure anyone that this issue regarding voxelfarm is the only one of its kind as all the rest of the projects assets are developed in House including any code with the exception of sgt which is one of the officially licenced pieces of technology by us at invisionary - I have coded everything else seen in the project and Alaric developed all of the assets including ships, characters, factory components etc.
We are appalled at the assumption that there are other copyright infringements in this project, we have worked extremely hard to get what you see on our kickstarter video and it is quite offensive to us to simply assume we take copyright lightly
I assume you understand how kickstarter works correct? You are asking people to support you project, and that is risky. Even if you make you funding goals, who is to say you still won't run out pf cash before it is finished? That is why when people look at your project they try to see how much time/money has already been invested. That way they know that you can be relied on. When you post someone elses work (especially without consent), that raises way too many red flags as to the legitimacy of your project. The assualt of random annonymous replies on this site, the replies by your official team that have been pulled, and the constant ignorance of common copyright laws by your dev team are all further indications that a) this project is a scam, or b) this project is legitimate, but being run by someone who will eventually fail due to public relations and/or laesuits.Delete
Maclean: Did you know Kickstarter prohibits photorealistic renderings? The reason is that people might mistake it for a finished product when in fact it isn't. When you're running a campaign, any and all materials and images must belong to you and describe the product as it is in the current state. I.e., even if you used public domain images, you'd still be breaking Kickstarter's policy by representing something that your product is not.Delete
Apart from that: sure, I could make the same mistake on Kickstarter and use images that were not my own and that do not represent my product. Even if I'd removed them almost immediately, then I could still very well imagine that other people think my campaign is a scam. After all, I tried to raise money for my project using other people's intellectual property.
And you should gracefully accept that you made a mistake, that you corrected it and that you've upset people. Miguel's response is very understandable. There are often scammers on Kickstarter. On first sight, why would he think your project is any different when you're using his material? You should accept that.
What I find especially appalling is the fact that you (or Invisionary) state that Voxelfarm is irresponsible, slanderous and immature, and that you would be very weary of ever doing business with VoxelFarm and heed a warning to any person who would be considering using VoxelFarm in the future. If that's not slander, then it's very, very close to it. You made the mistake, and you represent yourselves as if you've been bullied by Voxelfarm. That's really low and immature.
that comment was not by meDelete
I do not feel bullied and for the most part understand the reaction, but the broadcasting of this issue calling us a scam is what cranked my gears.
If they had used the medium provided inside of kickstarter and professionally dealt with us the company as a whole we would have happily removed those images without further complaint, we are trying to make a game here and it appears we made a mistake that could have been resolved peacefully without blatently telling the world that we are a scam, i would understand this if they e-mailed messaged etc and got no response but is it really professional to write a blog post accusing us of being something we are not,
I quote something in the post that really raised my eybrow
"they are not showing any original work. To me that amounts to lying. " other than those 2 screenshots everything that we show on our page is legitimate and developed by us there is no fake or pre-rendered pictures on there with the exception of Alaric's mini pets which are a rendering and is stated explicitly on there.
We do appologise for the use of the voxelfarm images in the first place and removed them on seeing this post - we made a mistake i just wish people would let it lie as it is resolved.
A pity that it came to this point :/ But nice that you come here and tell whats up!!Delete
On the one hand I can totally understand Miguel is sick of people trying to profit from his stuff. On the other he could have mailed you first, get in touch and find out If you are scammers or not.
In the end that would have been much more interesting! I'd also like to know! As I've seen these poser babes on the facebook page I immediately turned away. That was really too much. I hope Miguel has a deeper insight now and updates his post!
Hmmm ... I haven't posted any images / content from Miguels creations but now i'm wondering if I should email him and ask if its ok to link to his blog from my blog? I ask for no money on my blog and use it purely to track my own exploits in to game development but if this is the likely reaction I think I might have to send an email :(ReplyDelete
I'm not going to comment on this argument ... that's asking for trouble.Replies
Paul, that is silly.Delete
Linking to his blog, or even his company's web pages is never a problem. Art, screens and stuff like that might warrant a formal request, yet links never are, and for the use you describe even direct linking to his art wouldn't be a problem, everyone wants plublicity...
What he doesn't want, and rightly so, is someone using screenshots of his work, and caption claims reinforcing them, used in a way to pass them off as being from "your" game and "your" technology from your game, especially on a Kickstarter (which by their very inclusion implies that this WAS the technology of the game.)
As any content creator, it is nice to have other's respect your work enough to ask to use it.
Yet, in the case you outlined, "commentary" is one of the fair uses, and even use-ing screenshots to comment on "his" work, or as a commentary about what you are trying to accomplish yourself is probably fine, because you are not intending to pass his work off as your own... are you? ;)
- AnonymousJanuary 22, 2014 at 11:25 AM
Learn to watermark all images, add watermark to all videos.Delete
At the very least it lets others know something fishy is going on.
- M. JanusFebruary 27, 2014 at 6:41 PM
Except Jonathan you are dead wrong on what happened and what the result was. Paul is right to be concerned about what happens if Miguel gets word of him using images from voxelfarm because this entire blog post proves just how terrible the VoxelFarm company is. Either the management is terrible or they have a loose cannon who does not use their brain before their pen.Delete
- AnonymousJanuary 22, 2014 at 11:25 PM
I wouldn't judge Voxelfarm by its PR. The whole focus of this blog used to be the technology aspect of Voxelfarm, which is quite remarkable and developed mostly by one man.ReplyDelete
On the other hand, another of the thousands of you-can-do-anything MMORPG kickstarter projects showing nothing but concept art using another person's work as a placeholder for original content doesn't warrant a whole lot of respect.
- AnonymousJanuary 23, 2014 at 4:28 PM
Everyone just say they're sorry and move on.ReplyDelete
Life's too short.
Also, I want more awesome voxel-based games.
- AnonymousJanuary 25, 2014 at 11:42 PM
This is a scam. Their $100 reward is an exact copy of the Vulture in the BattleTech IP which is exclusively license to PGI by FASA.ReplyDelete
- AnonymousJanuary 28, 2014 at 6:16 AM
Voxel Farm has suddenly became very VERY ugly. This horribly inflamed blog post does the author and the Kickstarter campaign both a great disservice.ReplyDelete
If it had been handled out of the public forum, I am sure it could have been settled amicably.
Hopefully Miguel and the Praetoria team have both learned something here - albeit the hard way.
- AnonymousFebruary 6, 2014 at 4:32 AM
.. i think people dont remember that if something is not yours you cant use it or have it... whatever the case is..ReplyDelete
saying thats its for " showing the potential " its stupid..
This is outrageous I've been following this blog for years and am outraged that someone would try to steal your hard work and profit from it. I realize this happens but you do some amazing things and deserve respect and admiration for being such an inspiration!ReplyDeleteReplies
- M. JanusFebruary 26, 2014 at 4:02 AM
No one tried to steal anything from what I could tell. A small developer tried raising money to buy Voxelfarm and made the grave mistake of using a image from voxelfarm on their kickstarter project. Despite the image being linked directly to the voxelfarm website the author of this blog and the software lost his head acted like a idiot and posted this "illegal" blog. Libel is a serious form of Defamation that is a criminal offense making the author of this blog culpable for damages and possibly landing them-self in jail if they were to be sued and lose.Delete
The kickstarter page said they have been in contact with the the developer of voxel farm, and obviously they have not of we would not be reading about this here. You M Janus are a troll, or an idiot.Delete
- M. JanusFebruary 27, 2014 at 6:07 PM
Actually no. If you were reading this blog then you'd of known that Invisionary even so much as posted a part of their email discussion. They were in talks with them. That makes you an uninformed troll or an idiot. Probably both. Oh and Miguel is a fucking retard.Delete
- Laurena ValeFebruary 22, 2014 at 2:57 AM
As an Indy dev myself. I am shocked. How unprofessional. While they might have been in the wrong. They didn't exactly do anything shady like pretend they created voxelfarm. It looked as if they were singing high praises to the author. To have this happen in result. Shame on voxelfarm. It's quite obvious you hate indy developers cause they can't afford your over priced engine.ReplyDeleteReplies
I disagree, kickstarter makes it very clear that you shouldn't post anything to your project that would make it look like you have made more progress then yiu actually have. By posting images of voxel farm, they violated these terms and agreements. The project had an ultra low entry goal, and this should raise plenty of red flags for any backer. At $100,000 they simply could not live up to any of their lofty promises, this is what makes it vaporware. What is worse, is that any/all negative publicity from vaporware projects will invariably tarnish Miguels reputation. He is not a massive engine developer with a plethora of success stories of companies using his engine. Each and every project using his engine has tremendous impact on his future sales. Hence, he is justified in calling out projects that can tarnish his name. Regardless of whether their true agendas was to milk kick starter backers or of more noble intentions.Delete


text:
Last Year's Tax Rate May Not Survive in 2013, but Your Cable Service Probably Will
In spite of a soft economy, with about 14.5 million unemployed Americans and 8.2 million under-employed, people are still holding onto paid television, and actually consuming more video than ever before. Netflix has crossed over 30 million subscribers in the U.S., Hulu is approaching three million, but only 2.65 million people in the country "cut the cord" from traditional paid TV service. In fact, Americans are still spending about 33 hours a week watching traditional TV (that's 4.5 hours a day!), compared to 27 minutes a week of streaming video. So where is this TV revolution the pundits have been blogging about??
Maybe we need to stop thinking of cable TV the way we think of phone service. It's easy for technologists to predict that streaming video will do to cable companies what Skype did to the telcos, but I propose a new lens to filter TV technologies: an App that replaces broadcast television is like saying Yelp should replace Taco Bell.
My contention is that a "TV revolution," as some are calling it, is not in the cards. Instead, I see a "transformation" of TV taking place, and while transformations are far less sexy to blog about than revolutions, I think this one could be pretty fun and pretty lucrative for tech companies that get it right. First, let's clarify "transformation" versus "revolution," in the context of Web services and Internet Apps:
- Revolutionary apps fundamentally overthrow an analog provider with a digital alternative. Examples: Skype is a substitute for your landline. iTunes is a substitute for Virgin Megastore. LinkedIn is a substitute for schmoozing. Match.com is a substitute for my pushy (but well-intentioned) auntie in India.
- Transformative Apps make analog providers a more pleasing or user-friendly experience. Examples: Fandango makes going to movies easy and predictable. Foodspotting makes finding the perfect entree a delightful experience. Mint makes banking more manageable and transparent. Driving from San Francisco to a cabin in Tahoe is a breeze thanks to Google Maps. None of these technologies replace the desired outcome, but they greatly enhance the experience to achieve it.
All evidence and viewership data suggests that YouTube, Hulu or Netflix isn't a substitute for the experience of gathering around a big-screen to watch the Super Bowl or the latest episode of American Idol. Apps that make the offline experience of watching traditional television better, more fun and more social will be far more successful than those that try to overthrow TV. The Twitter app on my phone, for example, is the perfect TV companion and primary beneficiary of this phenomenon.
There is no question that on-demand, instant access to great shows on the iPad or laptop is one of the coolest things ever, but this is proving to be additive and incremental to traditional TV viewership at the moment. Most consumers still love the experience of watching TV on the TV.
In 2012, the Olympics provided the perfect case study for the transformation that's taking place. Between the live streams on NBC.com, real-time access to event scoring and the medal count, we have never had this much access to the Olympics in history. Nearly every major event was available online, and usage was tremendous. But what pundits failed to point out this past summer is that we did not give up big screen, traditional television. NBC's primetime broadcast, which was all taped coverage, averaged 31.1 million viewers per night, which was up 12 percent from the Beijing Olympics in 2008! According to NBC, many people who watched events, streaming live to a Web browser, also watched them again on television.
We have 70 years of consumer behavior patterns established and burned into the American psyche. And on top of that, television is big business. It exists on $65 billion of advertising spending and $60 billion of subscription revenue, and that's 125 billion reasons why the industry will resist this revolution. In stark contrast to my friends in Silicon Valley who have said that they want to "destroy television," I strongly believe that television should be transformed. And those of us inspired by the opportunity to innovate in the TV industry should be thinking about the opportunity in a transformational way if we hope to succeed.
Ashwin Navin is the CEO and co-founder of Flingo, the largest publisher of Smart TV software including apps from FOX, A+E Networks, Showtime, the WB, Transworld and TMZ.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
At long last, scientists have finally caught a glimpse of one of this planet's most elusive species, the spade-toothed beaked whale (Mesoplodon traversii). In 2010, a mother and calf washed up on shore in New Zealand, but biologists had initially assumed it was the more commonly known Gray's beaked whale. But subsequent DNA analysis showed it was in fact the previously unseen species.
Prior to this discovery, the spade-toothed beaked whale was only known from two skull fragments and a mandible. The species was first documented in 1872 when bone fragments were found on a remote Pacific island. Apart from that, the only other traces were partial skulls found in New Zealand in the 1950s and Chile in 1986.
It's not often that an animal of this size can go unseen for so long. Marine Biologist Rochelle Constantine of the University of Auckland speculates that they are exceptionally deep divers who forage for squid and small fish and spend very little time at the surface. Constantine also suspects that their deep ocean habitation results in few specimens washing up on shore.
The whales, the largest of which measured 5.3 meters long (about 17 feet), featured a prominent melon (an organ behind the forehead that may allow for echolocation), a dark gray rostrum, a dark eye patch, a while belly, and dark flippers.
Interestingly, the DNA analysis that was done was simply routine. The scientists were taken aback to discover that the mother and calf were not Gray's beaked whales, but in fact the previously unseen species.
The entire study can be found at Current Biology.
Images: New Zealand Government/Current Biology.


text:
I�m pretty much immune from letting little things get under my skin. For one thing there�s not much room under it since my body uses up about all space available.
I�m pretty much immune from letting little things get under my skin. For one thing there�s not much room under it since my body uses up about all space available.
I had another wet newspaper in my box this morning. It happens way too frequently.
But my gripe has less to do with a newspaper and more to do with the newspaper business overall. Newspapers are imbedded in my cultural DNA.
I can�t exactly figure out why I need to mix a paper with my Cheerios every morning. It can�t be the national news articles, I already know what�s going on because of 24/7 cable.
I suspect my appreciation of the industry stems from what newspapers did for us American youth back in the �day.� This country owes a huge debt of gratitude for the spectacular benefits newspapers bestowed on kids before society got so haywire.
Running paper routes were standard rites of passage when I was growing up. None of us thought about feelings of self-satisfaction we got from earning our own money but it certainly produced a special tingle.
Oh my, what delivering, collecting, dealing with customers, paying for �product� and fixing complaints taught us? I learned about margins and profits and losses. I learned about accounts receivable and inevitable �bad debts.� I learned about hard work.
But I suppose first and foremost, I learned the practical meaning of responsibility. I learned that my obligations to my customers and to my publisher weren�t trumped or negated by bad weather or a runny nose.
I learned marketing, expanding my route by giving good service to �clients� and signing up the neighbors. I believe I learned more useful and practical hands-on lessons about business by delivering papers than comes out of colleges.
�Experience is the best teacher� is more than hollow homily. I and my fellow paperboys grew into responsible and productive �businessmen� before we could even spell it.
I ran routes in Californiaat El Toroand North Carolinawhen Dad transferred to Cherry Point. I recall how black my hands would get from printer�s ink after folding my route�s bundle.
I can still fold and tuck with some speed although my throw has suffered. I used to hit the porch, today I�d probably miss the whole yard and wreck my bike.
I�ll always be grateful for the opportunities newspapers gave me that have translated so well over the decades. It�s sad that young folks today have been denied those same opportunities. It�s our loss.
I don�t blame anybody in particular for the death of paperboys. It�s just one of many sad sacrifices we�ve made upon the altar of �progress.�
As to my wet paper this morning, this paperboy would�ve put it in plastic because I knew rain was coming. Thanks Skip.
Otis Gardner�s column appears here weekly. He can be reached at email@example.com.


text:
You wouldn't think an online game that has players painstakingly adjusting bezier handles to reshape letters from various fonts would be remotely interesting. But even if you're not a font designer or graphically inclined, I guarantee your years of sub-consciously staring at well crafted magazines, newspapers and ads will help you play, and even enjoy, Shape Type.
Created by Mark MacKay, the game presents you with a single mis-shaped character, encouraging you to adjust multiple bezier handles until you've smoothed out its curves and corners. When you're satisfied that you've reached perfection, you can submit your corrections which will be compared to the original character and scored with a percentage based on their similarities. For those who don't mind cheating in order to achieve a perfect score, the name of the font is also provided on every turn, with links to where it can be downloaded if you want to visually compare the original to your corrections. The name of the font's designer is also provided, adding an edutainment element to the game. And because it's made with HTML 5 instead of Flash, you can even play it on your iPhone or iPad. [Shape Type via BoingBoing via Waxy]


text:
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text:
UMass Lowell downs UMaine in Hockey East Quaterfinals
Black Bears lose 4-2
The UMaine Black Bears face a must win tomorrow to continue on in the Hockey East tournament.
The eighth seeded UMaine team fell to top seed UMass Lowell in Massachusetts Thursday night four to two.
Maine jumped out to an early lead on the power play off a Jake Rutt goal. Rutt's fourth of the year was assisted by Joey Diamond.
But Maine would fall behind in the second period when the UMass Lowell River Hawks scored on the power play. The tying goal was netted by Scott Wilson, his thirteenth of the season.
Wilson got his fourteenth of the year and second of the night fewer than two minutes into the third period.
Just twenty-five second later, UMass Lowell's Joseph Pedenza scored to increase the lead.
Devin Shore scored the final Black Bear goal in the third period.
The two teams play again Friday night.


text:
Each editable page on Wikia has an associated page history, which consists of the old versions of the page text, as well as a record of the date and time of every edit, the username or IP address of the user who wrote it, and their edit summary.
You can access a page's history via the 'Edit' button's dropdown menu. It can also be viewed via a link in toolbar when visiting a page.
Quick overview:
- The newest changes are shown at the top
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Step by stepEdit
Below is an example of a page history:
Edits are shown from newest to oldest. Each edit starts on a new line and shows the time and date, contributor's name or IP, edit summary, and other related information for the edit.
Let's look at some of the features of this page:
- The page name and namespace.
- (cur) takes you to a 'diff' page - any page showing the wikitext difference between that edit and another version of the page history. In this case the diff page is comparing the selected version and the current version. The current revision appears below the changes, so you can see how the page is now rendered.
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text:
An easy recipe for a buttery Brussels sprouts casserole.
Easy Recipe
BUTTERY ONION CRUMB BRUSSELS SPROUTS CASSEROLE1/2 cup Country Crock Spread, divided 2 cups chopped onions 3/4 cup panko bread crumbs 8 cups cooked Brussels sprouts (or thawed frozen), halved 1 cup fat-free half and half
Preheat oven to 375 F. Melt 4 tablespoons Country Crock Spread over medium-high heat in large nonstick skillet and cook onion, stirring occasionally, until golden brown, about 8 minutes. Add crumbs; cook, stirring until lightly toasted, about 2 minutes; remove to bowl.
Melt remaining spread in same skillet. Add Brussels sprouts; toss. Stir in half and half and 1/2 the crumb mixture. Pour into shallow 2-quart baking dish. Sprinkle with remaining crumb mixture.
Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until bubbly around edges.
Serves 12.
— Brandpoint


text:
Wonderful experience at this medical office. Attentive, detail oriented staff and doctors. Would highly recommend.
I love my Thermage eyes. It made such a difference by lifting my lids a lot. Dr. M. Buckley was great!
BOTOXI have been receiving Botox injections for severe frown & brow lines for approximately 5 years with another dermatologist. My results were the best in my first visit to Dr. Buckley for Botox injections. I no longer have that "angry" look. …
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* DISCLAIMER: Individual results vary. Patient testimonials, images or videos do not constitute a promise or representation of any particular outcome or experience. Each patient's experience, recovery and results will be unique depending on their skin, age, health and other individual factors. Best results may be promoted with a proper diet and regular exercise. Users should review the "terms of use" before using the Web site. This web site is for information only. Do not use the information herein to diagnose or treat your cosmetic surgery or medical problems. You should contact your physician with all medical questions and concerns before using this website. Proudly serving the tri-state area for over 30 years, including New York cities such as Warwick & Middletown, New Jersey cities such as Sparta & Lake Hopatcong, and Pennsylvania cities such as Scranton & Wilkes-Barre © by Pocono Medical Care, Inc. and Richard E. Buckley, MD. All rights reserved.
Click here for information about Internal Medicine.


text:
Cognizant(CTS) hiring B.Tech/B.Sc for Project Associate Role
About the Company :
Cognizant is a U.S. based global IT services and business process outsourcing solutions provider headquartered in Teaneck, N.J. Cognizant was founded in 1994 as an IT development and maintenance services arm of The Dun & Bradstreet Corporation. The company was spun-off as an independent organization two years later. Since 1996, Cognizant has worked closely with large organizations to help them build stronger, more efficient, and more agile businesses. By emphasizing its strengths in close customer relationships, highly flexible operations, seamless global delivery culture, and deep knowledge of companies and markets, Cognizant helps its customers achieve better bottom-line results and delivers a better return on outsourcing.
Qualification Criteria:-
Experience : 0-4 Years
Salary : Not specified
Job Location : Across India
Qualification : BE/B.Tech, B.Sc
Job Description / Desired Candidate Profile
Candidate Profile:-
- The candidate should have completed Bachelor's degree in Engineering or Science graduates from any reputed institution with 0-4 years of experience.
- Should have excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- Should have the working knowledge of the technical platforms of the project.
- Should have the ability of applying design specifications techniques under supervision of the module leader / Project Lead.
- As a Project Associate, the candidate should involved in coding, testing, debugging.
- Should be responsible for delivery of assigned work, under a module lead or team lead supervision.
- Needs to understand technology and quality processes within Cognizant.


text: We bigger than the Jews.. bigger than the Irish.. you can run the whole fuckin country! YOU could be the next John D. Rockerfeller "Nobody noticed us, nobody gave a shit.. but the bigger we get, the more we're TAKING from other people.." [Nas] Yo, in a mahogany, black scenery that was lightning and rain drops I'm tied up in the basement cocaine spot like Bangkok I'm blindfold, Vietnam type mind control this torture His accent sounds like the rarest culture Askin me, my atrophy stabbin me gradually Says his attribute, was satanic, masonic, ironic I felt reminded of my fast life ventures and winters, blinded til the flashlight enters [AZ] Yo Dunm, before the sun set Call connect get all the tech's I'm vexed, this nigga stall for sex Lost respect, let's off his neck My calibre, got me thinkin on a higher algebra See me I'm just as foul as ya but you ain't got no style in ya I'm into bigger cheddar, G's and better, Armarett-ah's Armani sweaters, plus these crabs could never dead us [Chorus: AZ x2] Mo money, mo murder, mo homicide You catch that body nigga, better have that alibi You never know it might just be yo' time you take yo' ride to them pearly white gates, (now) watch that suicide [AZ] Now government official Got you sippin Cristal in crystal You fish you foul so you fell and took your fam witchu I'm out to get you, guaranteed every shell'll hit you Plus I'm on some shit too Layin down whose-ever witchu Mafioso, the New York City 90's era Sosa AZ, you know my culture Now my wolves is out to ghost ya [Nas] Scent of a rose on the graveyard for real now The stakes is up a half a mil now I tried to grab him with his shield down Four walked in, they're crazy paid up Sharp but straight up Gators from Barbados, never seen nobody play those Lay-Low's what they called him, his head baldin Sippin cappucino, spilled on his silk suits, was scaldin Laugh was vulgar, canvas paintings of the Isatollah And on his arm he wore a priceless vulture Tobacco pipe smoker, Escobar your life is over Justify the righteous nova Bullets flew out his right shoulder Corpse leavin a foul odor, The Firm Volume 1 adjourned Bring it to a closure [Chorus] [Nas] So now you're rollin wit us, like co-defendents, no phony business So know the difference - from supreme solo it's the styles ancient as Moses scriptures It's Latin Kings, Black Kufis, and White Jesters amongst us Crime invades the minds of youngsters Where it's pitch black they can't see you Godfather 3, fallin for dead, in a cathedral [AZ] Now you're forced to listen I got the mind of a grad from Princeton Play your position, or soon you'll be lost and missin It's far from fiction My presence is like that of a christian With ammunition puttin states under submission Street addiction, got me tied in thorough with buroughs Still in the ghetto, but in the cut where it's mellow Incognito, on the lee-low, like Carlito Cause we know, niggaz don't really want us to see doe You never know it might just be yo' time you take yo' ride to them pearly white gates, watch that suicide [Chorus x2] [Nas] Homicide, mo homicide Mo suicide, mo homicide.. [music fades] [untitled 1:18 length song starts] Born alone, die alone.. [x4] [AZ] All alone in this wilderness Who can figure life as ill as this? My vision's blurred from guerilla's mist Gun sprays, trey's left a portion of my crew in graves Niggaz that would screw in ways unknown to these dudes today Intelligence, kept us all away from state evidence cause it's evident, this world is controlled on dead presidents Never hesitant, I'm soulless, filled with coldness Born to uphold this til I'm left dead from oldness Born alone, die alone.. [x6 to fade]


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Tragic attack in Boston
Country can't allow bombings to change American way of life
The terror attack in Boston on Monday struck at the heart of an America still struggling to recover from the horror of the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown on Dec. 14.
This country -- and the world -- stopped in shock and anguish at the mid-afternoon reports that two bombs had been detonated near the finish line of the fabled Boston Marathon, causing dozens of casualties.
Law enforcement agencies are now sharply focused on tracking down and bringing to justice anyone responsible for the deaths of at least three people and injuries -- many of them serious -- to about 150 others.
As the country moves forward from that tragic day, it will be incumbent on our leaders -- federal, state and local -- to find ways to reduce the chances of another such devastating incident without infringing on the privacy rights of citizens.
It will also be important for the American people to respond to this tragedy -- as they have with Oklahoma City, Columbine, 9/11, Virginia Tech, Aurora, Sandy Hook and too many other unspeakable assaults -- with resilience, courage and national pride.
It would be easy for governmental and law enforcement officials to overreact and trample on the rights and liberties of citizens in the name of security. They must avoid that temptation.
It would be easy for the American people to cower and hide, to avoid cities and major events, and to allow their rights and liberties to be diminished. But they need to rise above that tempting path.
The attack in Boston was an attack on the United States and its way of life, and it is critical that this country bounce back stronger and more united than ever in continued pursuit of the American way.
Just as the perpetrators of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City and the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., zeroed in on symbols of the nation's business and governmental centers, those responsible for Monday's tragedy selected an iconic piece of the American culture.
It was Patriots Day in Massachusetts, which is annually a day of joy and celebration featuring the marathon, a Red Sox game at historic Fenway Park and the turnout of hundreds of thousands of people from all across the country.
A reported 27,000 runners participated in the Boston Marathon, including more than 400 from Connecticut, about 150 of them from this part of the state. The Greater New Milford area has long been well-represented in the marathon, with most runners competing simply for the challenge and others -- including New Milford's Gerry Vanasse, who finished second in 1984 -- seeking strong finishes.
This year's marathon had another Connecticut connection, as tribute was paid at the race to the 26 victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre, and a contingent of Newtown runners and families took part in the day's events.
Our hearts go out to the families of those who perished in the Boston bombings and to those who were seriously injured.
Our hearts go out, too, to the Newtown residents who were there. They have already suffered enough.
It is our fervent hope that America can find a way to reduce the chances of future acts of mass violence.
It is our hope that Americans will respond to the events in Boston on Monday -- as they always have in times of crisis -- with a sense of unity and resolve.
It is our hope that citizens all across the country will have the courage to live their lives freely and without fear and that they will not allow the Boston bombings to change their way of life.


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What Hawai'i Chefs Eat When They Go Out to Local Restaurants
Everyone envisions chefs laboring away at the hot stove, so much so that we sometimes forget they do venture out of their kitchens, eat at other restaurants, try new dishes and relax with friends around a table.
(page 4 of 7)
Robin Lee
Executive Chef at Nobu Waikiki
At his restaurant: Kurobota pork belly, ($20 for small, $40 for large).
"You can't go wrong with the Nobu classics—yellowtail sashimi with jalapeño, black cod miso," Lee says. "But a special that we do here, that you can't get at any of the other Nobus, is our pork belly." For this off-the-menu dish, Kurobota pork belly is cooked slowly in duck fat, then pan-seared "so it's crispy on the outside, meltingly tender on the inside," he says. The pork is swiped with spicy miso and paired with sautéed brussels sprouts. Waikiki Parc, 2233 Helumoa Road, (808) 237-6999, noburestaurants.com/Waikiki.
He also recommends: Quattro formaggio at J.J. Dolan's ($17).
"My latest thing is pizza," Lee says. He admits he may be starting a pizza war between the J.J. Dolan and V Lounge camps, and, while he turns to both pizzerias to satisfy his cravings, at the moment, the four-cheese pizza at J.J.'s tops his list. It's not hard to see why: This decadent pie is laden with havarti, brie, Gouda and fontina cheeses. 1147 Bethel St., (808) 537-4992, jjdolans.com.
Joshua Ketner
Chef at Hilo Bay Café
At his restaurant: The fish special (price varies).
"I always recommend the fish special on my menu," Ketner says. "It changes every day. We get whatever fresh fish in the morning that's at the market, and we develop the dish to the fish. Each fish is different, so you have to treat it differently." Recent specials included a pan-roasted bigeye ahi with sautéed spinach and potatoes in a Dungeness-crab curry cream sauce; blackened ono with smoked bacon and sweet-corn polenta, asparagus tips, a green chile sauce and snow-crab guacamole. 315 E. Makaala St., Hilo, (808) 935-4939, hilobaycafe.com.
He also recommends: Prime rib at Kaleo's Bar and Grill ($25).
Admittedly, it was difficult to get Ketner to name a place—he eats most meals outside of the restaurant at home with his family—but, in the end, he settled on Kaleo's prime rib. There are few plates as classic as a prime rib with mashed potatoes; it's apropos that Ketner, who has his own meat and potatoes dish on his menu, orders this on his nights off. "It's seasoned well and properly cooked, with an au jus that isn't watered down," he says. 15-2969 Pahoa Village Road, Pahoa, (808) 965-5600, kaleoshawaii.com.
Alan Hess
Chef de Cuisine at Merriman's Waimea
At his restaurant: Loco moco ($12.95).
It's not a really good loco moco— it's bacon and eggs for dinner. "You don't see eggs at dinner anymore, it's kind of an old-school way of eating, and in a lot of Asian cultures," Hess says. For his interpretation of a loco moco, house-cured, thick-cut bacon is complemented with a poached egg and a coffee barbecue sauce. A soft-poached egg, when broken, becomes the gravy for this not-your-usual loco moco. Macadamia-nut rice sops up any errant yolk. 65-1227 Opelo Road, Waimea, (808) 885-6822, merrimanshawaii.com.
He also recommends: Hawaiian-Style Misoyaki Butterfish at Roy's (appetizer $19, entrée $39.50).
"All in all, it's a real tasty dish," Hess says of the misoyaki butterfish at Roy's. "It has a spicy, lomi-tomato relish, and the fish seared a la plancha gives a caramelized flavor to the misoyaki." It's served with rice, which soaks up the richness of the fish and sauce. 250 Waikoloa Beach Drive, (808) 886-4321, roysrestaurant.com.
Morgan Bunnell
Chef at Blue Dragon
At his restaurant: Grilled shrimp and scallops with mango habañero coulis ($28).
Bunnell marinates shrimp and scallops in tequila and lime zest before grilling, and then fi nishes the seafood with a mango habañero coulis that's "very fresh and tropical," he says. "The sauce is my favorite part about it. It's kind of spicy and a little bit sweet from the mango." He serves it with sautéed vegetables—zucchini, summer squash, chard, collard greens, kale, green and yellow beans—"whatever our farm has available that week." A wedge of grilled avocado provides a perfect, creamy accompaniment. 61-3616 Kawaihae Road, Kawaihae, (808) 882-7771, bluedragonhawaii.com.
He also recommends: Meatball calzone at Café Il Mondo ($10.75).
A café of the world hides in Honokaa. Bunnell's recommendation comes easy—he's just returned from lunch at Café Il Mondo, where a variety of calzones draw his appetite. In particular, there's the meatball calzone—meatballs with marinara sauce, basil pesto, mushrooms and mozzarella cheese, baked into a homemade dough. 45-3626 Mamane St., Honokaa, (808) 775-7711, cafeilmondo.com.


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Latest News
New Products for Summer 2000 (2000-06-10)The summer has been slower than we expected in terms of product releases and while the likes of WA announced the release of their 0.40 Shorty in June, we have just only welcomed its arrival this past week! Another ghost is the Tokyo Marui Glock 26 which will hopefully hit our store within the next several weeks. The good news is that quite a few long awaited products did make it to our shelves in the last two months including the Marui RC tank, the Prokiller 2000 and the Tokyo Marui M9 Tactical Master. We've added these products to our catalog so feel free to browse for updates. Please bear with us and we catch up on some lost time and start to get back into the swing of things with some upcoming reviews that you'll be sure to appreciate!
Of special note, the WA CQB and TAC have been temporarily discontinued as WA focuses on its INFINITY SV lineup. WA has just announced that it will be releasing a 3.9" version of the SV, which essentially clocks in at a smaller size than the COMPACT CARRY. These "super-compacts" are initially coming in all black, and in a black-frame/silver slide combination. Look for these beauties in our gas blowback section!
The Glock 26 is rumored to be on its way and we hope to see its shadow by end of October. On the disappointing side, the FN P90 will be pushed back to being released in Spring of 2001. Surprise surprise. The Tokyo Marui M203, based on the SPAS12 and Benelii M3 spring design, will be arriving in the next two months as well. It will be applicable to the M16 A1,A2, VN, M4A1, but not for the XM177. Other new products include the metal SD silencer which is a direct replacement of your stock SD silencer. Also the Knights Armament Special Forces M4A1 Metal Body with special insignia is here! For you Glock 18C lovers, the metal slide and barrel have come out to make this a truly spectacular weapon. Look for our review on this great pistol shortly!
Marui will be releasing their second electric blowback pistol in the form of a Silver Colt MK-IV Sportster (left). Designed with a fixed compensator, the MK-IV looks quite hefty, though it only weighs 334g with a total length of 242mm. Magazine capacity is 15 rounds using the same stick style magazine. Bomar sights. Power comes from 4 AA batteries held in the butt of the gun. All Colt markings are evident on the gun. Fixed hop-up is present and accuracy is approximately +/- 1.5 inches from 6 meters. No word whether the kick or power is improved over the first generation M9 EBB though we aren't holding our breath!
WA will be releasing their Smith&Wesson Sporty 0.40. WA has just licensed the use of the Smith&Wesson name and therefore Is able to engrave original trademarks onto the gun! The Sporty is 180mm long and weighs 780g with a 20 round R-type valve equipped magazine. Designed with ambidextrous safety and semi-ergonomic grip, the Sporty should be quite comfortable to shoot. Barrel and slide guide rod are silver, with the latter being metal. Metal parts include rear sight, trigger, slide catch, safety, magazine release button, magazine. No word yet on power. A very compact weapon indeed! Scheduled for release in Japan on June 15 and look for RedWolf to carry it soon after!
M1A1 Front Pistol Grip and Drum Magazine And for you Chicago gangster fans, check out the soon to be released M1A1 front grip and 1000 round drum magazine. Though the slinky barrel design of the Tommy gun isn't yet available, these two add-ons will give you quite a convincing look! Tanaka will also be releasing a Colt Python (4" and 6" series) based on their new design for revolvers. Then new design (same as the Colt SAA that's already been released) holds 14 rounds and allows the revolvers to punch out enough power to rival that of semi-auto gas blowbacks.