There are more nerve

endings

in your

Gut

than there are in your brain.

-Stephen Colbert

Stephen Colbert is a man that I respect, and I feel that he is right. Maybe not technically, but my gut is telling me that he's right, and I'm going to go with it.It is 2008 now, and I am going to start a new series.... "From the Gut!"In this series, which will update regularly - but not on a set day, I will give my honest opinions about everything. Celebrities, videogames, movies, George Bush, Everything.Now it sounds like I will make the first installment right now, but no. I just came back from work and I'm very tired. But when I come back, be prepared.

Just 10 minutes ago, I saw a thread in SW about Jack Thompson threatening to after Bioshock. This enraged me, because I know that thousands of people will believe him, and this will ruin gaming's image.

Now, I know we all hate Jack Thompson, we would love to send him hate mail (or FIST mail), but, unfortunately, that is not the way to go.

Sending Jack Thompson hate mail only fuels his arguments. Swearing at him will cause him to post the letter on a website somewhere and say we learn it from GTA. Threatening him, calling him a retard none of these will work.

What will work, is sending him logical letters, emails and such. Explain why you think he is wrong, better yet, show him PROOF:

http://www.pbs.org/kcts/videogamerevolution/impact/myths.html

http://www.gamerevolution.com/static/index.php?section=feature&sub=violence&page=violence

http://publications.mediapost.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=Articles.showArticle&art_aid=59020

To really stop him, we must educate OTHERS to not listen to him. My mom believes that video games cause violence in kids

"But you can't deny that when you play Call of Honor - or whatever its called- you are more likely to go shoot someone"

she says. She would not let my 11 year old brother play Burnout because she believed it would cause him to drive erratically (when he gets his license.... IN 5 YEARS!).

Now when my mom hears Jack Thompson and his "scientific proof" crap, she believes without actually wanting to look at his evidence.

In that bioshock article, I saw a response to Jack Thompson that I admired. It was logical, it wasn't insulting, and it was humorous. This kind of response would have a way higher chance of convincing someone you are right:

Mr. Thompson,
I am a mature and decidedly intelligent member of the gaming community. I respect your opinion, and frankly, I agree that mature content should not be allowed into the hands of minors. That being said, video games have their place.
Video games have been proven to increase hand-eye coordination and to improve the subject's capacity for fine motor skills. In addition to these benefits, interactive media is a fantastic (and under-utilized) tool for education.
I'm assuming you haven't played BioShock. It is set in an underwater utopia (Rapture) that has been destroyed by the advances of science and the sense of moral ambiguity which led it's citizen to play God and genetically "enhance" themselves.
BioShock is a commentary on the perils of technology divorced from humanity. It is a commentary on religion, science, and ambition that is steeped with literary and historical references. This is hardly a gratuitous game.
If anything, it follows closely in the tradition of dystopian literature from the likes of George Orwell and Any Rand.
You should applaud the developers of this game for giving substance to their craft and admit you have made a mistake. Your statement is arrogant and ill-informed.
If Americans rallied against everything that they found potentially offensive, we would live in a pasteurized culture where news and all media was filtered before it reached us. Adults would have decisions entirely taken out of their hands. Expression would be eliminated.
Come to think of it, that would make a pretty good game.

Urge people at your school, write an essay about it for English cl4ss, start up conversations in gatherings. If you convince someone, they might tell someone else. We probably cannot change Jack Thompson's mind, but if we stop people from listening to him, it'll be okay.

Well, you've been waiting very patiently.... here comes the final part!

2

Darth Vader

- Sebastian Shaw, David Prowse , voiced by James Earl
Jones, Hayden Christensen

Every kid (almost) has bought a Darth Vader costume at least once in their life time. Theres no denying the power the radiates from the awsome mask, and the even awsomer voice. Even if this character wasn't part of an AWSOME story that is Star Wars, it would still begreat! While James Bond ACTS cool, Darth Vader IS cool!

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~**{ 1 }**~

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*drum roll*...

...

...

...

...

...

CAPTAIN Jack Sparrow

- Johnny Depp

Mr.Depp proved to me that he is a truly great actor when he first played this role in the Pirates movie. Before that I always saw him as someone who looks like a druggee, but now, he is a great actor who looks like a druggee.

I also have to give props to the writers of the movies. This character was not transferred from a book, or any other source (except maybe the amusement park ride). He was created -brilliantly- from scratch. He accomplishes amazing feats, while drunk, and makes it seem like an accident (maybe it is an accident ). He is unintentionally funny, and the most entertaining character ever created. He truly deserves this spot as the Best Movie Character of All Time!

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Please remember that all of this is IMO. You may, in your comments, say your top ten, but that will not cause me to change mine. However, I would love to hear your opinions

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Stay Tuned for the next part in the Whenever I Feel Like it series...!

Well, last time you saw from 10-6. Today we have 5-3.

5

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Indiana Jones

-Harrison Ford

I had to choose between Han Solo and Indiana Jones. Sorry Han, but Jones is just SO COOL! Mr.Ford outdid himself in this character. But oneof the reasons whyhe is so famous in this role is that the charactervery easily finds a place in your heart.

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4

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Terminator

- Arnold Shwartz (i dunno how to spell his last name )

You should've seen it coming. How awsome is Arnold as a robot from the future? Awsome enough to make this list! From the line "I'll be back", to his shades, Terminator very much deserves this spot.

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3

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-Pierce Brosnan, Sean Connery

So many actors have tried to recreate this character as masterfully as Ian Fleming, yet only Sean Connery, and to a lesser extent, Pierce Brosnan have succeeded. A master spy who is licenced to kill, Bond just may be one of the most popular movie characters ever.

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Stay Tuned! tomorrow you will see the final two characters in our countdown!

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Well, heres another entry in the Whenever I Feel Like it Series!

A countdown of the best movie characters ever. Today, will be ranks 10-6. tomorrow will be 5-3, and the day after will be ranks 2 and 1.

10

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Rocky Balboa

-Sylvester Stallone

Everybody knows Rocky! Hesthe coolestfighter ever to grace the theatre screen. He quit school after the ninth grade, and after a series of events became the great Rocky Balboa that has appeared in 6 movies and is loved by all movie fans.

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9

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Ace Ventura

-Jim Carrey

A great comedy character, Ace Ventura is a detective who specializes in solving problems involving animals. He is an icon for comedy and a character very beneficial to Jim Carrey himself.

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8

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Edward Scissorhands

- Johnny Depp

A character who evoked many emotions in the viewer, Edward Scissorhands is a great Johnny Depp character (and I can bet you it won't be the last).

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7

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Dory

- Ellen Degeneres

The wonderful blue fish with short-term memory loss that made Finding Nemo the funny movie that it is.

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6

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Harry Potter

- Daniel Radcliffe

I know hes technically a book character, but thats why hes not in the top five. He is one of the most influential characters of all time, so he deserves a spot here.

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Feel free to guess the rest of the list. 5-3 comes tomorrow.

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On a side note, if you are interested in game developing (in any areas, sound, programming, graphics, story), go to this union:

http://www.gamespot.com/pages/unions/home.php?union_id=TGDU

from my trip!

unfortunately I left my camera's USB cable in Iran (I know, stupid), so no pictures yet, but they will come.

I wont be fully active for about another 2 weeks until my exams are done. I will post an exam schedule when I get them myself.