Manticore: Galaxy on Fire, from Deep Silver, had to be on Nintendo Switch. It is a port. It has been a successful franchise on mobile devices, Macintosh, and personal, computers. Nintendo Wii’s few flight games, and the exciting, but disappointing Starfox Zero, on the Nintendo Wii U, make Manticore’s arrival, on this system, a grace. The reality is Nintendo Wii had many titles, but not enough core play titles.
The console’s motion controls, and mass appeal, drove it to success. Nintendo Wii U presents players with core play, motion control, and a variety of game play ideas all in one console. However, it was Nintendo’s least successful system.
Nintendo Switch is simply a home, and portable, console in one machine. This makes it possible to bring back the nostalgic feelings a Star Wars: Rogue Squadron, or Colony Wars once offered players. The Nintendo Switch has no alternative purpose. You play games on the system, in two views, with options for motion controls. Is Manticore: Galaxy on Fire worthy?
A Space Tale
As a pilot, you board the Manticore, a mercenary carrier, and help a professional force discover the origin of a destructive event known as “The Shattering.” You bring “space pirates, deadly, mining companies, and rival mercenaries” to “justice.”
The game boasts eight hours, or more, of story, in English, or Japanese, voice modes. The three-dimensional game offers 60 frames per second over television, portable, and tabletop modes.
This game takes place in 35 different locations, and works with both the Nintendo Joy-Cons, and the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller. The left analog stick controls the direction players move their space ship.
The right stick accelerates, decelerates, and rolls your craft, left, and right, through both space, and enemy attacks in the game. The ZL and ZR buttons allows players to fire their primary and secondary weapons. The R button allows players to cycle through a variety of primary weapons. The minus button, on the controller, opens a galaxy map players can follow.
I Apologize
presented by Nintendo Hall Website
The Nintendo Switch is a place for the expansion of the Nintendo player’s arsenal. It is the new platform. The Switch offers previous game play options for the Nintendo-specific player, or portable game junkie that might not have been available before.
For example, no matter the delay, Dark Souls, from Bandai Namco, will release on a Nintendo console. However, as much I want it, Nintendo Switch cannot simply be a nostalgic plaything. Manticore: Galaxy on Fire is a space shooter. It acts like a mobile game, or a small, computer specific adventure.
Past Space Adventures
It cannot be Colony Wars, Star Wars: Rogue Squadron, or Star Fox. It takes influences from those adventures, but is very much a smaller game piece. It has a cinematic element to the game, but exists in windows that present the game play for a portable audience.
For example, the game has portions where you enter a space quadrant, dramatically. The game, however, displays all communications through voice, and small text windows, and not massive, cinematic presentations, as on other console games.
This is what moves the game forward. Players can explore the space in this game. However, there are limits and boundaries to the space in the game. The game’s controls are fine. Dogfights in this game are enjoyable. The enemies in Manticore: Galaxy on Fire challenges the player. However, there are limits to this adventure.
Conclusion
Manticore: Galaxy on Fire works because you can take it anywhere. It is a wholesome adventure. It just is not the fresh take on the three-dimensional space shooter. This console needs its own Afterburner. It needs a lengthy, Rogue Squadron, in my opinion. The game does not have to be as beefy as Star Wars: Battlefront.
It just needs a fresh take on the genre for a Nintendo Switch. Starfox, on Nintendo Switch, has to fly, with the option of motion control, but must have tight, basic controls, and operate as a fast, beautiful, space shooter, with some online components.
My Expectations
This title reminds me of the expectations of Gear Club: Unlimited, on the Nintendo Switch. The Eden Games and Microids title represents a simulation racing experience on the console. However, it is a redo of previous, mobile, experience.
That is what Nintendo Switch can give you, for now, in abundance. That, in reality, is enough. The above is opinion. Manticore: Galaxy on Fire is solid. Worthy is an idea that differs in each player’s eyes. My hope is more original, Nintendo Switch content graces the console.
However, current available titles scratch a necessary itch. This is something some Nintendo Wii, and Wii U, owners understand. Quality variety is reality. For example, the beat’em-up genre was non-existent on Nintendo’s previous consoles. Streets of Red: Devil’s Dare Deluxe, 9 Monkeys of Shaolin, Double Dragon IV, and other titles give Nintendo’s newest system life. It is a necessary revival that opens the door to a brighter future and Nintendo originals, which are not Nintendo specific content.
Written by Jonathan Lee, April 22, 2018, 8:00 PM. Tweet to: @Writerscube
Created by the Croatian game development team of Pine Studio and published by Headup Games, SEUM: Speedrunners from Hell brings you levels of hectic, puzzle/platforming craziness that only gets harder and harder as you progress through each level of Hell. SEUM: Speedrunners from Hell is quite literally what it sounds like! Imagine the frantic FPS pacing of Quake or Doom, but you have no guns and you’re racing against the clock! (A big thanks to Headup Games for providing me with a review copy!)
But why would you be running like a madman through Hell in the first place? Because you play as Marty, a regular guy who just wanted to enjoy his beer when his fine day gets crashed by demons. Not only that, but after both parties get pretty beaten up, the demons steal Marty’s most prized possession: a load of his rare, limited-edition beer! Not to make a pun, but this is where you go “hell no!”
You’re not going to just let them take your limited edition beer, are you?
What’s In The Game?
It’s not just about running at breakneck speeds. You’ll be dodging fireballs, swinging axes, and of course, loads of pitfalls. With a demon hand grafted to your arm, you’ll also be throwing fireballs, activating switches with them, and at points, you can even change gravity to make yourself float when you grab a certain pick-up.
There’s a surprising amount of depth of design that comes with all the various challenges and tools that you’ll get to use as you speed your way through this game. The ever-increasingly-complex level design was also impressive.
Graphically, the game doesn’t bring anything new to the table, but I’d give it a pass and the graphics aren’t what the game’s about. The story isn’t exactly James Cameron material either, but again, that’s not what defines this game. Pure and simple, this game is about the fun of the challenge! There have been time trial modes in all kinds of games, whether you’re looking at a racing title or even Sonic the Hedgehog on the Sega Megadrive. It’s the thrill of trying to beat your old record, or even better, beat someone else’s high score. And you know what? You can! There’s a high score table for each level with the time records of other players. And it’s all yours to conquer.
Final Thoughts
This game was made with a particular audience in mind with the intent to tickle their nerves of nostalgia and reignite the thrill of beating the top score. Pine Studio did an excellent job of nailing that, and making it hellishly entertaining. As Pine Studio continues to expand their gaming portfolio, I think they have a strength in their ability to stick to the core charm of their games, as shown in SEUM: Speedrunners From Hell. I’m definitely curious to see what Pine Studio creates next as they seem to be expanding from their main body of point-and-click adventure games and puzzle adventures. If you’re looking for something to give you a quick 30-minute competitive fix to knock on the high score board, or you’re just looking for a fun puzzle that’ll also get your heart pounding and your brain working, this is an easy pick!
Last but certainly not least, I’d like to thank the folks at Headup Games for giving me the chance to check out this hellishly wild ride of a game!
So, folks, you ready to run like hell in SEUM: Speedrunners from Hell?
Lauren Luongo – My ideal first date would encompass anything involving food, be it eating in or out. Having time to get to know the person, as well as seeing if we connect, is the most important aspect of the first date. If we don’t connect, there will be no second date.
Mating rituals and dating games have existed as long as men and women.You may say, ‘hate the game, not the player’, but the fact still remains; to even have a chance to score you have to know how to talk to women.Flirting is the coy and playful way that women often send subtle signals that they are interested in a man.By ‘interested’, we mean in romantic sexual way.This means that she doesn’t ‘like you as friend’.
With the advent of dating websites, much of today’s flirting is done online.This has caused many men to atrophy in their skills of recognizing and responding to a woman when she flirts with them.There is nothing wrong with online dating, but eventually you’re going to have to go AFTKB to get laid. If you need to brush up on your skills for online dating, we’ve got you covered. Here are some basics of how to identify, discern and reply to a women when she is flirting with you.
In this article, we’ll look at two primary types of flirting signs, obvious signs and online flirts.If you enjoy this article we might cover stickier subjects like workplace flirting signs.With all of the sexual harassment lawsuits you can open yourself too by flirting in the office you can get in hot water quick. You need to master the basics first, starting with the nuts and bolts.
Obvious Flirting Signs
Let’s lay some groundwork. There are, in fact, dead giveaways that she’s flirting with you. Noticing and responding appropriately to these social signals is your first step to a successful first impression. This list of core flirting signs is actually more comprehensive (longer) than we listed here, but it will give you a good idea what to expect.Pay attention to her body language, and notice if she does any of the following.
She twirls her hair when you come around.
Biting her lower lip for no reason.
‘Asian school girl’, covered mouth giggle.
‘Asian school girl’, covered mouth giggle is a sure sign of flirtatious behavior.
Touches your chest, shoulders, arm… etc.
Sends you silly, suggestive text messages or snaps. [Note: Online flirting is covered below.]
These are five of the most obvious signs she’s flirting with you, but be careful. Note: You must give women the respect they deserve.Most of them are way more savvy when it comes to the dating game.They have to be.The drive to be choosy when selecting a mate gives them a natural advantage in the courtship phase.
Consequently, some women may use these obvious signs to lure you into a trap.Be careful!If you are on a lame business trip in Las Vegas and a gorgeous women comes at you from out of the blue with some or all of these flirts, she might be playing you!She’s using her sex appeal to separate you from your wallet and hard earned cash it contains. Are we saying that you need to be wary of an assertive, sexy woman flirting with you? Hell no!Just follow the sage advice, if it’s too good to be true it probably is.
The importance of eye contact
In American culture, maintaining eye contact is an important flirting sign.The reason for this is simple; the woman is testing your confidence.She’ll engage in eye contact flirting with a man she is interested in for a few reasons.It demonstrates that she is listening to you and interested in what you are telling her.She is also carefully observing your behavior to see if you break contact to stare at your watch or ogle other women in the room.
If you break eye contact with her to check out other babes while she is flirting with you, you’ve failed her test. Don’t break eye contact when she is flirting with you.
Being able to hold a conversation in a funny and interesting way, while keeping eye contact with your date will demonstrate to her that you have confidence.This is one of the most desirable traits of what women want in a man.Basically, she wants to know (let me mansplain this to you), ‘Is this guy a pussy or not?’ If you keeping looking at the floor or off to side while she is talking, it’s only a matter of time before she puts you in the dreaded friendzone.At this point, there is little to nothing you can do to escape from this.It’s best to end the meeting in a friendly way and start overwith someone new.
Building confidence is a complex subject.There are many facets to be considered, such as, gaining wealth, boosting testosterone, your skill level in sexual intercourse, and being a great conversationalist.If you need help becoming a manly man, check out our article, Being Manly: The 10 Manliest Things On Earth. If you haven’t already experienced the response from women when you are confident, you’ll be shocked to notice their reaction.When you get beyond living paycheck to paycheck, or lift some weights, etc… the ability to maintain eye contact with a sexy woman might even surprise you!
Flirting signs online
Let’s face it, the way most people meet singles and hook up is online now. Dating apps and sites can give you more visibility, and allow you to see more prospects. You can check out user’s photos and message them long before you ever meet them in person. Stay true to who you are. If you decide to give digital dating a try, there are some common pitfalls you need to be aware of.
Notoriously, some people are serial online daters, and never have any intention of meeting the other user. They often paint a flawless portrait of themselves online. Airbrushing not only their profile photos, but details about their life. If you fall victim to this practice, you’ll have a lot of explaining to do later on when she realizes that you don’t actually earn a six figure salary or the washboard abs you once rocked have been destroyed by a lot of pizza and beer.
Even more, there are small groups of perverts who try to lure underage children online to meet up and have sex.Read an interview with an online vigilante who tracks and confronts these sickos.Or check out the sting operation that Volusia County Sheriffs Office conducted to get these pedophiles off the streets and behind bars where they belong.Again, going back to the basics, if ‘she’ starts sending you sexy photos right out of the gate, you can expect the her to send you a link to an even shadier sex cam website soon after.Allow me to share a common example of this from my own life.
I had a Skype account to keep in touch with US based friends while working abroad. For some reason, I would get friend requests from unknown women. At first, everything seemed legit. It turns out that they were actually online bots programmed to respond in convincing human fashion. I admit, I fell for it the first few times. Then I got wise. When the bot would send a friend request, I would try to respond with something super random. Then the bot would reply with a comment that totally gave it away. BLOCK!
Don’t be paranoid after reading it.Online dating isn’t going away and if you want to be successful in the cyber dating arena, you need to be able to pick up when a woman is flirting over the web. It doesn’t matter which website you choose, but stick with the more reputable ones.If you are into Asian girls, try Date in Asia.Perhaps, you want to skip dating altogether and prefer a management company to introduce to a potential life partner.Once known as mail order brides, this business practice also has websites dedicated to it.There are literally dating sites that cater to every niche, from Christian dating, law enforcement or even farmers.
Here are some telltale signs she is flirting with you online:
She asks what your plans for the weekend are.
If she mentions she has ‘two tickets’ to any event, she wants you to ask her out.
Uses emoticons to single happy, silly or playful emotions.
Her responses are sent immediately after you send. The conversation flows steadily.
She tells you a funny, embarrassing story about something she did ‘a long time ago’.
If a woman starts to flirt online with you, remember not to rush to the finish line. If you immediately go in with crude sexual humor or start bombarding with your dick pics, you’ve done F’d up. You have to gradually warm her up, and then you might be surprised what kind of nasty talk she is willing to engage in. This is all happening from the safety and security of her own room, so she may indulge in fantasies that would be otherwise repressed if in public. With a little practice, you can easily develop the skills necessary to flirt online.
Conclusion
Either flirting with a girl online or in person, common sense and social awareness will win the day. Recognizing the basics of first impressions and having the ability to hold a conversation will be key. Maintaining eye contact while she is flirting with you is paramount. Again, be skeptical of situations that seem too good to be true, and don’t believe everything you see online.
If you keep these basic guidelines in mind when you think a girl is flirting with you, you’ll be well on your way to positive interaction.
Written by Cleveland Oakes, April 20th, 2018, at 10:23 a.m.: Tweet to @Oakes945
To Quote R. Kelly “These are my Confessions”
We’ve all had our dirty fantasies. But very few of us have ever crossed the line from where fantasy meets reality. Recently we tracked down a former swinger who has agreed to share his experiences in the Lifestyle.
Eyes Wide Shut
Slickster: So there it’s not every day that someone is willing to talk to us about such an intimate topic, so I’d like to thank you for your time.
K.T.: Of course this is something I’ve wanted to talk about for a while. I’ve been floating the idea of publishing a memoir but I’m not certain how interesting I am.
Slickster: (Laughing) Well I’m pretty damn interested, and I’m certain our readers are too, so let’s begin.
K.T.: Sure
Slickster: So how did you get into swinging in the first place? The whole idea of letting my girl sleep with anyone else male or female is just foreign to me.
K.T.: Well, to be honest, it was foreign to me too. But my ex-wife at the time had started dabbling online and found a bunch of alternative lifestyle websites. At first, I thought it was something she wanted to do as a role play. That eventually escalated into her wanting to watch porn during sex. When that wasn’t enough, we did some exhibitionist things on a webcam. But she still wanted more. Eventually one day she came to me and wanted to do a threesome with her younger sister.
Slickster: Stop the fucking presses! Your ex-wanted you to sleep with you and her sister? Holy shit. What happened?
K.T: Sounds like I porno movie come true right? My ex-wife was Latina. So you can only imagine the images of romping around with two beautiful Latina’s and the kin factor of them being sisters.
Slickster: Man I’m dying right here with you just talking about it. So what happened?
K.T. What happened was I chickened out. It was too much. I thought my wife at the time was playing head games on me. That it was some type of sick loyalty test. When I realized it wasn’t I really freaked out, and just said this is a bad idea and I couldn’t go through with it.
Slickster: Damn
K..T.: Yeah that’s one I kick myself about constantly. So never the less my ex was persistent. And eventually, she found a website that hosted swinging parties in Lofts and Penthouses of New York City.
Slickster: A Website? How does that work?
K.T.: Well all of the legit parties only want couples and single ladies. In addition, there is an interview process in which someone asks for your picture and also wants to talk about the lifestyle and respect on the phone. Needless to say, we passed and we got in. I will never forget the first Loft party we went too. It was like nothing I’ve ever experienced before.
Slickster: Was it a full-blown orgy?
K.T. No, there was an orgy room called the party room. But the classy ones have an area where you can just be a voyeur, be an exhibitionist, or if you are bold you can dive into the mass of writhing bodies in the party room. Needless to say, we only watched we didn’t participate that first time.
The End of Innocence
Slickster: So when did you stop being a vanilla?
K.T.: (Laughing) Oh my, I see you know the lingo. Okay for those of your readers that don’t know being vanilla means you haven’t done full swinging yet. There are actually different levels of swinging. Some folk’s only heavy pet. Some people only do threesomes with women. And some folks are just voyeurs. We didn’t fully swing until we went to a house party in Jersey City. My ex found it on a website called swinglifestyle.com. It was like an Ok Cupid for swinging couples. In hindsight, I wish that hadn’t been our first experience.
Slickster: Why?
K.T.: Well the truth of the matter is house and hotel parties are much less curated. While the loft parties in NYC were full of beautiful people. The house party and hotel variety are full of much more mundane folks. So instead of sleeping with supermodels, you would find yourself sleeping with soccer moms.
Slickster: That’s not quite what I envisioned.
K.T.: Yeah the funny thing about swinging is you meet all types of people from all walks of life. There is a great episode of its Always Sunny in Philadelphia where the gang decides to become swingers and their first party has literally the dregs of humanity show up for the event.
Slickster: Has that ever happened to you? Have you been catfished?
K.T.: Not really, the community is very small. And for the most part, everyone is nice. Of course, as in regular dating, you do meet people that you just aren’t attracted too. Or you can meet a couple that is a little overzealous in their pursuit of you. I remember there was this one well to do couple that was really unattractive but nice. They were constantly trying to woo us with expensive dinners and concert tickets. We eventually just ghosted them and they got the hint.
Slickster: Okay so what was it like? Can you describe the experience of sleeping with other people?
K.T.: It’s awkward at first. To hear your wife moaning too the touch of another man or woman. But I would really just concentrate on what I was doing. After a while, with a couple of drinks in my belly, it was second nature. The crazy thing is my ex was extremely jealous of me.
Slickster: Wait a jealous swinger? That makes no sense.
K.T.: Tell me about it. There were a lot of things about that relationship that didn’t make any sense. But I digress, she would often make comments afterward about me enjoying myself too much. She would ruin a lot of potential hook-ups if she thought the other girl was cuter than herself. So that was a real nuisance. In regards the actual act of sex, I’ve had guy girl guy hook-ups, and girl guy girl hook-ups. They’ve been decent, but at times because of all the moving pieces, it can get awkward.
The Rules of Engagement
Slickster: Are you still swinging today?
K. T.: No I’m not. My wife and I broke up because the relationship wasn’t always equitable. The number one rule of swinging is no hook-ups outside of the party if your significant other doesn’t know about it. While that rule applied to me, it did not apply to my ex at all. She was liberally going behind my back and hooking up with people. Unfortunately, even though there are people willing to indulge that behavior.
However, it’s a very small community. So she got a bad rep pretty quickly. Our invites started drying up, and when I found out the truth so did our relationship. I’ve indulged at times as a single man, but it’s much more difficult to be in the lifestyle as a single. In additional swinging is a lot of work. It becomes more than a hobby, it can really consume your life. If any woman I’m with now in a serious relationship ever proposed swinging, I would RUN the other way.
Slickster: That’s unfortunate I guess. Before we wrap up is there any advice to would be swingers out there that you would give?
K.T .: Sure. Be prepared. I’ve seen a lot of men go to swinger parties and dump their whole load early. Or are so stressed out they can’t even get hard. It’s a mental and physical game. This isn’t a porn movie. If you want to please multiple women over the course of the night you have to pace yourself. The number of dudes I’ve seen at parties with their dicks in their hands doing nothing is astounding.
Also be clear that you and your partner are on the same page. A good swinging party is about the sexuality of the woman. Women should be taking the lead and making the initial sexual overtures. Women like to feel safe. If you are in a party overloaded with single men, get the hell out of the room.
I once asked a single girl why she came out to swinging parties. And she answered because she wasn’t interested in a relationship and the crowds were vetted and the venues always had tight security. It was safer than going to a nightclub and unlike a nightclub, you knew that you’re going to get fucked for sure by some hot guy by the end of the night.
While I would never get involved with the lifestyle again. It was a very interesting chapter of my life.
ATTENTION PARENTS: IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY WHAT LITTLE TIMMY PLAYS. I REPEAT, IT IS YOUR FAULT IF YOU LET YOUR 7-YEAR-OLD CHILD PLAY FORTNITE AND HE LEARNS THOSE NASTY LITTLE SWEARS.
The Fortnite Problem
That’s right folks, and it’s not just me saying that, or every other sensible person who’s saying that now either. The government thinks so too! If you have been listening to The Name Doesn’t Matter (Which you totally should) you’d have heard this already. Fortnite by Epic games has come under fire recently. According to parents and child players alike, the game is “Full of paedos.” The battle royal shooter on consoles and PC has taken the world by storm and is exceptionally popular in the 10-17 demographic. However, not all is sunshine and rainbows.
Many young players have reported being propositioned and even offered money for explicit acts. This disgusting problem has many parents demanding the game be shut down… Really? Yes, something needs to be done about this, but come on… Epic Games needs to do something, yes, but Fortnite isn’t the problem. Parents being too damn lazy is the problem. That’s right, you heard me, it’s your fault if your kid winds up weird after playing games. Know why?
Simple, if you were an actual parent who took an interest in your child, you wouldn’t have to worry. You’d actually monitor what they’re playing, explain right and wrong, and make sure they don’t wind up in harm’s way. Sitting your kid in front of a screen and using a Nintendo, iPhone, or television to raise the kid for you is idiotic. If you have a problem with the game, do some damn research. If you hear a rumor about how “this game makes kids violent” find out for yourself.
The Parenting Problem
If you are worried about your kid emulating the stuff they see in the games, talk to them! Make sure they understand that real life isn’t a video game. Have a conversation with them. Because if you just take the game away from them, all they’ll do is resent you for it. And that’s not parenting. That’s just being lazy.
Video games are the new heavy metal. Any time a kid does something, or something happens to a kid it’s the Xbox’s fault. Or it’s the Nintendo’s fault. How about, you take an active interest in your kid’s hobbies? If a coach was being inappropriate with your child would you be more likely to find out? Yes: Because you’ll talk to them if they’re playing sports, or if it’s about school. But the second they fire up Doom or Mortal Kombat? “Oh, it’s not my problem. The T.V. is raising my child. I just helped spawn them.”
If you have a problem with your children playing something violent, it is your job to set limitations. It is not the job of a company whose goal it is to provide content for their customers. Not to bend to the will of a soccer mom whose best friend is a bottle of cheap grocery store wine. You decide what your kids should play or watch is absolutely your right. But you don’t have the right to decide what is right and wrong for everybody else.
Talk to Your Children
Have a talk with your kid. They won’t bite. Before Fortnite it was Minecraft that had to deal with disgusting predators. And before that, it was World of Warcraft. And so on and so forth. It’s not just games either! These sick bastards are always going to go where your kids do. So you need to keep them safe. Make sure they know what to do in a situation like that. You know how you tell kids not to go into the van that promises them a bunch of candy? Same deal. Teach your kids to recognize these issues, and monitor them. Make sure they can take care of themselves. Be ready to answer their questions. And give them actual answers.
Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to dodge this RPG.
Chuck Liddell was once the face of MMA. The Mohawk mixed with an ice cold persona complimented the ruthless streak he displayed in the octagon, it was almost the perfect blend of attributes MMA needed in a fighter at that time to be a breakthrough star.
Liddell racked up finish after finish, transcending MMA to become a part of pop culture. He was the first UFC fighter celebrities turned up to watch live, his run at Light Heavyweight was record-breaking. Here’s a countdown of Liddell’s top ten fights.
10. Chuck Liddell vs Kevin Randleman UFC 31.
Liddell defeated Randleman via KO at 1:18 of round one.
It all started with this knockout of Kevin Randleman. Randleman was the first high profile name on Chuck’s record, unbeknown to viewers at that time this was a sign of things to come. Randleman had only just lost his UFC heavyweight title to Randy Couture, no one could have confidently predicted an early finish like this.
9. Chuck Liddell vs Guy Mezger Pride 14: Clash of the Titans.
Liddell defeated Mezger via KO at 0:21 of round two.
Whilst still under contract with the UFC, Liddell was sent over to Pride as a UFC representative. He was matched up with Guy Mezger who had fought in the UFC previously as well as in Pancrase and of course Pride Fighting Championships. Liddell delivered a highlight reel knockout early in the second round, Liddell’s reputation was now gathering steam.
8. Chuck Liddell vs Renato Sobral UFC 40.
Liddell defeated Sobral via KO at 2:55 of round one.
Sobral had never been knocked out prior to this fight despite having fought Fedor Emelianenko & Dan Henderson. Liddell accomplished what others couldn’t by landing a well-timed head kick that was shown on his UFC promo reels for years to come.
7. Chuck Liddell vs Vitor Belfort UFC 37.5.
Liddell defeated Belfort by Unanimous Decision.
Liddell vs Belfort is one of the few fights on this list that went the full distance. Belfort was a promising young talent with a reputation of his own for knocking men unconscious. Between the two of them, you’d have never thought this one would make it out of round one forget going all three. Liddell showed great poise during this fight displaying his ability to manage a fight & not desperately hunt for a finish.
6. Chuck Liddell vs Alistair Overeem Pride Total Elimination 2003.
Liddell defeated Overeem via KO at 3:09 of round one.
One of Pride’s hot prospects Alistair Overeem fell victim to the Iceman’s patented overhand right, Liddell was fresh off a loss against Randy Couture for the UFC Interim Light Heavyweight championship. Chuck had been permitted by the UFC to participate in Pride’s 2003 Middleweight Grand Prix. Liddell breezed his quarter-final against Overeem before being eliminated in the next round.
5. Chuck Liddell vs Tito Ortiz 1 UFC 47.
Liddell defeated Ortiz via KO at 0:38 of round two.
Following Chuck’s elimination from the Pride Grand Prix, Liddell was immediately placed back into title contention taking on former champion Tito Ortiz. Liddell overwhelmed Ortiz at the beginning of the second round. These pair became bitter rivals over the coming years. The victory set up a path back to Randy Couture who had become UFC Light Heavyweight Champion after defeating Tito Ortiz 6 months earlier.
4. Chuck Liddell vs Randy Couture 2 UFC 52.
Liddell defeated Couture via KO at 2:06 of round one.
The second in a trilogy between Liddell & Couture. UFC’s own reality show The Ultimate Fighter was first introduced prior to this bout. The two fighters coached opposing teams in a Pride style knockout tournament, they would fight at the conclusion of the show. During the contest, Liddell found his money shot in a wild exchange after waiting nearly two years to avenge his previous loss. Liddell’s celebration after the fight was indicative of his desire to even up the score against Randy.
3. Chuck Liddell vs Tito Ortiz 2 UFC 66.
Liddell defeated Ortiz via TKO at 3:59 of round three.
Ortiz maintained that in the first fight he had been poked in the eye by Liddell’s thumb which blurred his vision leaving him unable to defend himself. Ortiz got the chance to prove his point in the rematch, he was able to secure a takedown but the end result was ultimately the same. Ortiz was never short of a word or two, he believed Chuck was a stepping stone on the route to getting his title back. This was the last time Tito ever fought for a UFC title, this was also Chuck’s final title defence.
2. Chuck Liddell vs Randy Couture 3 UFC 57.
Liddell defeated Couture via KO at 1:28 of round two.
Each man had a win apiece, this was the definitive rubber match between two legends of the sport. The first round was competitive without either man really stamping their authority on the contest. Chuck countered Randy in mid-attack not too dissimilar to the previous fight. Liddell put an exclamation mark on the trilogy ending it in style. This fight underlined the fact that Liddell was without question the best fighter at the Light Heavyweight limit.
1. Chuck Liddell vs Wanderlei Silva UFC 79.
Liddell defeated Silva by Unanimous Decision.
Fantasy match-ups don’t always come to fruition, this one was worth the wait. Chuck & Wanderlei are two fighters with huge fanbases, the demand for this fight even though both fighters were coming off back to back losses was still high. Out of the fantasy fights that do make it from wishlists to the octagon, a handful ends up living up to the hype. This was was an instant classic, for two instinctive finishers to hurt each other at different points of the fight and still manage to see it out to the scheduled distance is so rare.
Slickster: What do you love most about island life and island hopping lifestyle?
KVB: Living on an island makes me feel like I’m in an exclusive club where only kindhearted, artistically creative, and adventurously active people hang out. I love how everyone knows everyone, it almost feels like one big, giant family. My absolute favorite thing about island life is being outdoors all the time and almost never having a need to live inside! And on top of that, all the other islands around me have their own unique personalities and vibes, so in 30 minutes, I get to travel to a whole new world! Also, I’m purely in it for the vanity, it just sounds cool to say you live on an island!
Slickster: Is there a correct way to prepare a pineapple?
KVB: That’s a tough one! I mean, If you search the internet, you’ll find plenty of practical ways to cut a pineapple, but that’s just plain boring. You can’t eat the best fruit in the whole wide world without a little creativity! My preferred method is cutting a little face out or even different shapes and patterns, because, why not? Pro tip – pineapples also make great jack-o-lanterns!
Slickster: You have some amazing rock climbing photos on your IG page. Any advice for guys who want to involved with the sport but don’t know where to start?
KVB: Well first of all, thank you, and second, just do it! I get an absolute thrill from scaling the sides of a giant boulder with nothing on either side of me. I honestly wouldn’t even call myself a rock climber, I just love putting myself in precarious positions that give me an insane adrenaline rush! Boulders, ridgelines, cliffs, you name it! I started with hiking, and the more intense the hikes got, the more it required me to climb higher and steeper rock faces. If you want to get started, it all comes down to your resources and your comfort level. That could mean going to a designated rock climbing gym or scaling your first 10 ft boulder out in the wilderness. Whatever sounds best to you! No matter how you start, just don’t come back and blame me if you injure yourself! 🙂
Slickster: Your bikini body is amazing and natural! How do you keep in such good shape?
KVB: Thank you, that’s so sweet! For me, my physical shape is determined by the connection between my body and mind. Everything from the food I put into my body to the thoughts I think all have an impact on the way I look. I do yoga every day when I wake up followed by either a gym session of weights and/or cardio or some kind of outdoor adventure (hiking, slacklining, acroyoga). I would say my diet is probably the most important factor though. I’ve been fully vegan for 2 years, and it’s insane how much easier it is to be at my ideal body weight when I’m not putting junk into my body. I wasn’t even in this good of shape when I was a Personal Trainer and eating what I thought was “clean”! The aesthetics are just a byproduct of the way I feel about and treat myself. The more I do things that truly nourish and benefit me psychically and mentally, the more my body naturally looks and feels the way it’s supposed to.
Slickster: Anything goes! What message do you want to share with the world?
KVB: Anything?! Wow, I could write a whole book on this! Well, let me say this: there is already entirely too much hatred in the world. Political parties, races, religions, genders, sexual orientations, you name it. There is so much effort that goes into keeping certain people at a distance and keeping the down. For some, it might be too hard at this moment for me to ask you to love every single human being in the entire world, so I won’t. What I will ask is that you just love YOURSELF. That’s it. Just love YOU. Before you dismiss me as just another self-help lunatic who just wants the world to live in eternal peace and harmony (which, let’s be honest, I do), think about it this way: are you getting the proper nutrition for your body? Are you getting adequate exercise? Are you sleeping enough? Are you pushing yourself to be the best damn version of you possible? Do you have personal, career, financial, and family goals that you’re working towards and accomplishing every single day? Do you like the way you look and feel? Do you speak kindly to yourself? If you truly and deeply loved yourself, would you not want to create the most amazing, fulfilling, prosperous, happy life you could possibly imagine? If you honestly and fully loved yourself, would you even care about the differences of others? Let’s stop worrying what the rest of the world is doing for just a second and come back to square one. Life is way more fun when you’re focused on your own positives instead of other people’s negatives. You have the unlimited and unrestricted power to change one human in this world, and that human is you. You got this 🙂
2018 NBA Playoffs Probabilities and Series Predictions
I’m giddy like a school kid … it’s finally here. The first round of the 2018 NBA playoffs schedule has been released. It’s like a huge weight has been lifted … all the craziness —especially in the West—with final stretch jockeying to move up in seeding … and oh wow if this hasn’t been an awesomely wild ride!
Before we get into matchups, let’s look at the predictive power rankings probabilities of winning the whole things from Team Rankings:
The Houston Rockets 35.2%
The Toronto Raptors 26.5%
The Golden State Warriors 18.7%
The Philadelphia 76ers 4.8%
The Boston Celtics 4.6%
The San Antonio Spurs 1.6%
The Portland Trail Blazers 1.3%
Everyone Else under 1%
Specific odds for each playoff series have not yet been released but the betting odds have been updated at trusted online shops like Betonline. It is interesting to see the slight disparity between Team Rankings predictive algorithms and the sportsbooks odds.
The Golden state Warriors are actually still the favorites to win the Western Conference at Even Money. The Rockets are just behind at +125 (1.25 to 1), followed by the Thunder at +2000 (20 to 1), the Trail Blazers +2500 (25 to 1) and the Spurs +3300 (33 to 1).
On the Eastern front, the Cavaliers are the favorites at +125 (1.25 to 1). They are followed closely by the Raptors at +150 (1.5 to 1), the 76ers at +600 (6 to 1), then the Celtics at +2000 (20 to 1) and the Heat and Bucks both at +3300 (33 to 1).
I put a lot of weight into Team Rankings algorithms and I agree with them putting the Rockets and Raps at the top, but for the rest, I have to agree with the implied probability shown by the betting odds. There is no way that the Spurs are better than the Thunder let alone the Trail Blazers at this point, but I am a bit torn on the Celtics and 76ers probabilities. Sure the Sixers went on a 10-0 run, but are they really better equipped mentally and physically to go deeper than the Celtics?
Series Matchups
#1 Rockets vs #8 T-Wolves | #1 Raptors vs. #8 Wizards
These two series’ are pretty easy to call. The Rockets and Raptors both just might sweep Minnesota and Washington in four games. The deepest these two series go for both teams is 5 games.
#2 Warriors vs. #7 Spurs | #2 Celtics vs. #7 Bucks
Oh, how the mighty have fallen. The Warriors held on to their #2 spot solely based off of the fact that they won so many games early on. Now, however, they are in trouble. I don’t think the Spurs will beat them without Kawhi Leonard, but they could … GSW is banged up … but the Spurs have fallen off as well. I fully expected the #4 and #5 spots to be filled by the Thunder and Spurs, but San Antonio took a big slide backward.
The Celtics should handle the Bucks, but it won’t be easy. Both teams are 6-4 over their last 10. The Greek Freak can create some matchup issues and take this series further than the Celtics want to go. Ultimately, I think playoff experience will carry Boston through to round two.
#3 Trail Blazers vs. #6 Pelicans | #3 76ers vs. #6 Miami Heat
A week ago, I really expected the Blazers to be facing the Utah Jazz. I actually would have preferred that being a bit a Rip City fan. The Pelicans offer a slightly tougher matchup and have split high-scoring wins this season. But the lack of Cousins and Portlands home-court advantage should see them win the day.
The 76ers are on fire. They have a rhythm set and are playing some of the best ball they have in years. Miami is a couple of points better on the defensive end of the ball, but the differential offensively is just too much. The Heat go cold and fall in Round-1.
#4 Thunder vs. #5 Jazz | #4 Cavaliers vs. #5 Pacers
A few short weeks ago the Utah Jazz were riding the cusp of being on the outside looking in. Since then, they’ve climbed the ranks to get a #5 berth and finished with the same record as the Thunder. The Jazz are in top form, winning 7 of their last 10 and I think they are going to give Westbrook and the boys from OKC some real trouble. It wouldn’t surprise me if the Thunder win the series, but I have a feeling that the Jazz are going to shock the world as underdogs and move further down the playoff path.
Both the Pacers and Cavaliers have had a great final 10 regular season games. But the Pacers lack one thing that the Cavaliers still have … Lebron James. Sure, there has been some moves within the Cavs locker room, but there is still a TON of playoff experience that will be stepping out on the court in Round-1. Do the Cavs have enough to get back to the Finals? I don’t know. But they definitely have enough to make short work of the Pacers.
With Sin City’s premier rock and metal festival right around the corner, band performance times have been announced the second annual Las Rageous, taking place on Friday, April 20 and Saturday, April 21 at the Downtown Las Vegas Events Center. Featuring some of the biggest names in hard rock and metal, Las Rageous will include performances from Five Finger Death Punch, A Perfect Circle, Judas Priest, A Day To Remember, and more.
With only 10,000 tickets available for purchase, Las Rageous has released a limited amount of Single Day General Admission tickets starting at $81.67 (plus fees). Single Day, Weekend, and VIP options are available for purchase at www.LasRageous.com.
Band performance times for Las Rageous are as follows (subject to change):
Friday, April 20
Stage F
10:15 p.m. – A Day To Remember
8:35 p.m. – Underoath
6:55 p.m. – Pop Evil
6:00 p.m. – VYCES
5:10 p.m. – Silence Speaks (KOMP-FM Winner)
Stage U
11:15 p.m. – A Perfect Circle
9:20 p.m. – Clutch
7:40 p.m. – Beartooth
6:25 p.m. – New Years Day
5:35 p.m. – Otherwise
Saturday, April 21
Stage F
10:15 p.m. – Judas Priest
8:35 p.m. – Saxon
6:55 p.m. – Black Star Riders
6:00 p.m. – Joyous Wolf
5:10 p.m. – Bad Wolves
Stage U
11:15 p.m. – Five Finger Death Punch
9:20 p.m. – In This Moment
7:40 p.m. – Hollywood Undead
6:25 p.m. – Adelitas Way
5:35 p.m. – DED
Las Rageous offers the rare opportunity for fans to enjoy a festival experience in an intimate outdoor setting. Located just off Las Vegas Boulevard at Third and Carson Streets, Las Rageous will take over two city blocks in the heart of the historic downtown area.
All ages are welcome and doors open at 4:00 p.m. both days.
For more information on Las Rageous, please visit:
4/17/2018 – Synthwave music goes by many different labels; darksynth, Outrun, and Vaporwave to name a few. As with any genre of music, when the style grows in popularity, unfortunately the product begins to sound the same. Less inspired musicians borrow heavily from each other in a kind of musical incest, creating stagnant pools of musical cess. But there is hope, and many in the synthwave scene continually work to evolve the music.
French composer Remi Buriez, aka M.A.D.E.S., is one such individual. Firmly rooted in the traditional school of acoustic instruments, melody and harmony, he has chosen to explore deeper into the electronic neon sounds of synthwave. The result of his hard work and dedication is debut album on Jet Set Trash records. Busy supporting the album with a new music creepy video for the single Nightkiller, and a live performance tour, Buriez took a moment to chat with Slickster Magazine. FFO of Synthwave.
#synthwave
Slickster: We admit, we’re lazy. Can you tell us what the acronym M.A.D.E.S means? M.A.D.E.S. – Make a different electronic sound.
Slickster: “Motor” is your debut LP on JST Records (Jet Set Trash). How did the album come to fruition and when did you sign the deal with JST? M.A.D.E.S. – I started working on the LP in 2016. I took my time to realize this LP. The process lasted about 1 year and a half and I worked on it when I had time. At the beginning I did not really think about releasing an LP, I just composed the music with my feeling and it was nice like that. After that, I sent the tracks to my label (JST Records) and that’s when they suggested to come up with an LP so we worked together to make this LP happen.
Slickster: Other than programming synths and drum machines, do you play any other instruments? M.A.D.E.S. – Yes, I play both the guitar and piano.
Slickster: You are based out of the scenic Lille, France. It is well known that France has an affinity for the arts, but in one area it stands out. France has always been at the vanguard of electronic music development. Why, in your opinion, do you think this is? M.A.D.E.S. – I do not really know why France is linked so much to Electronic music. It’s true that we have had some great artists like Justice (and the rest of the Ed Banger crew), Daft Punk, Jean Michelle Jarre, Laurent Garnier, Kavinsky, and others come out of France so I think that must be the reason why.
Slickster: Synthwave has taken on a truly international following. Artists across Europe and North America are sharing their ideas and collaborating. Do you have any theories as to why this is happening? M.A.D.E.S. – It’s pretty hard to explain that in my opinion. I think there is some form of nostalgia in this scene. People want to go back to the source of things, at the beginning of the great synths and make something new, something fresh.
Slickster: Snythwave as a genre and its sub genres (Vaporwave, Outrun, Darksynth, etc.) seems to be the perfect fit for movie and video game soundtracks. Have you done any work with projects like this? If no, are there any plans to team up with game developers or film makers on the horizon? M.A.D.E.S. – I love listening to movie soundtracks. It’s a big part of me and a big source of inspiration. I have already done some music in that spirit but it was for my own pleasure… So no projects of this nature at this time but I would definitely love to give it a try!
Slickster: Let’s talk about personal musical development for a moment. Many of our readers are creative and read the interviews with musicians, trying to improve their own musical skills. What advice can you give to the readers of Slickster Magazine who might be interested in getting involved in electronic music? M.A.D.E.S. – Well, in my opinion, music creation requires a lot of “FOOD “. The music and in general your life, environment and experiences are the biggest source of inspiration you can have.
Slickster: In your album description of “Motor” you write, “…prepare for an action packed album full of thrills, suspense, murder and high speed car chases. From palm trees to muscle cars and evil supernatural things, ‘Motor’ has got it all and is coming at you at 66.6 miles per hour.” All of this sounds great and very normative in the genre of Synthwave, but you seem to omit one thing… hot babes. Was this omission internally left out, and why? M.A.D.E.S. – It’s true. We do not have any hot babes in this project at all. To be honest I had never thought of that before! (lol)
Slickster: Do you think more Synthwave music needs to be tailored to a live audience? Do fans at your shows stand on the floor, stoned out of their minds, just absorbing the sounds, or do they get into the music and dance around? M.A.D.E.S. – Synthwave music is an experience, a journey. It’s a new scene and fans react each in their own way depending on their music background I suppose, which is a good thing. I think this style will evolve even more in time. We will have to wait and see… ☺
Slickster: Just curious. At the live shows is the audience mostly young men, or do some women attend the concerts as well? M.A.D.E.S. – In my last show in Paris the audience was very diverse. Men and women, Metalheads and Goths, you name it. But it was a very nice atmosphere overall and that’s what matters most!
Electronic musician, Remi Buriez, rocks a synthwave show in Paris, France.
Slickster: Remi, thanks for taking the time to talk to us about “Motor”. What message do you feel is the MOST important message you can share with the world? M.A.D.E.S. – Love each other and keep rocking (to Synthwave)! \m/
The UFC’s first-ever event was in 1993 but at that time it failed to take off from a commercial standpoint, creating a cult following but nothing more it would take years before the average sports fan would have any idea what exactly MMA was.
Pride FC, a rival MMA organisation was the promotion responsible for exposing MMA to a wider audience. Pride 1 was aired in October 1997 by which time UFC had already put on 16 events without capturing the imagination of the general public.
A majority of Pride’s events took place in Japan which was a better market for expansion due to the long history of martial arts in that region. Pride’s roster had variety, the production was elaborate, & the characters were captivating because they felt genuine.
Many of today’s hall of fame calibre fighters rose to fame through Pride, Fedor Emelianenko, Anderson Silva, Rampage Jackson, Shogun Rua, Dan Henderson, & Wanderlei Silva are a handful among many more.
https://youtu.be/mdvQZyKOaNg
Pride Fighting Rules
There was a different rule set used in pride than the one we are accustomed to seeing implemented today. In Pride FC the major differences were:
Kicks & knees to a downed opponent were allowed.
Spiking an opponent on their head was allowed.
Fights were contested in a ring similar boxing rather than a cage.
The first round was 10 minutes long with a 2 minute rest period followed by two 5 minute rounds which were separated with a 1 minute rest period.
Fights were judged as a whole rather than using a 10 point must system, the criteria heavily favoured damage over control.
The 10-minute opening round combined with the judging criteria eliminated some stalling we’ve seen employed in modern MMA as a means to take advantage of the scoring criteria in relation to control. The damage emphasis rule set encouraged more consistent action which created an entertainment value, something the UFC hadn’t quite mastered just yet. Pride FC brought the drama that was lacking in the technical style fights the UFC were providing.
Narrowing down a list of the best fights is a difficult task due to the sheer number of great fights Pride FC put on, I’ve selected five of my personal favourites from the archives as a small sample.
Best Pride Fighting Fights
5. Pride FC: Shockwave 2004, Fedor Emelianenko vs Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira 3 (Pride Heavyweight Championship).
https://youtu.be/rq3u5zQbBsk
This performance took Fedor’s legend to another level, he captured the Pride Heavyweight title against the odds in their first meeting. Nogueira who was well respected & dangerous especially on the ground was dominated in that contest. The victory was the catalyst for Emelianenko’s illustrious run of victories during his tenure with Pride. Nogueira came better prepared for their final meeting & pushed Fedor all the way till the final bell but could not do enough to beat his rival.
4. Pride FC: Critical Countdown 2005, Mauricio Rua vs Antonio Rogerio Nogueira.
Rogerio Nogueira (Twin of heavyweight Nogueira) had put together a string of notable wins in the run-up to the fight, he gave Shogun a lot of problems but ultimately Shogun managed to weather the storm and earn a decision. Shogun was the prodigy of Pride FC, he was only 23 when this Middleweight Grand Prix Quarter Final took place, it served as a valuable learning experience. Shogun went on to win the 2005 Middleweight Grand Prix two months later.
3. Pride 28: Wanderlei Silva vs Quinton Jackson 2.
https://youtu.be/ia0B8pUSGOY
A rematch of the 2003 Middleweight Grand Prix Final which took place a year earlier, the first fight ended halfway through the opening round with Wanderlei landing brutal knees to finish the fight. These two carried a grudge, easily one of the fiercest rivalries in MMA history with one of the most intense staredown’s ever witnessed.
Wanderlei vs Rampage 2 was far more competitive even though it ended in similar fashion. The knockout finish remains one of the most memorable moments of Pride Fighting Championships.
2. Pride 33: Wanderlei Silva vs Dan Henderson 2 (Pride Middleweight Championship).
https://youtu.be/X77p7MkbCBI
Only two Pride events were ever held outside of Japan, this was one of them. Pride 33 ended up being the last truly great card the organisation put together. It was also the penultimate show of the promotion’s history.
Having previously fought 7 years earlier when they were lesser known, by the time the rematch was contested they had become household names in MMA. Wanderlei Silva was the victor in the first fight but it went the full distance. Henderson ended this one in spectacular fashion.
1. Pride FC: Final Conflict 2005, Fedor Emelianenko vs Mirko Cro Crop (Pride Heavyweight Championship).
Considered by many (including Sports Illustrated) the fight of the decade, Emelianenko vs Cro Cop was a meeting of two gigantic stars. Emelianenko was reigning Pride Heavyweight Champion, undefeated in 10 straight having dominated everyone he’d come up against. Cro Cop was undefeated in 7 himself, racking up highlight reel KO after highlight reel KO. No striker was more threatening on the feet than Cro Cop, this was the fight fans most desired because on paper Cro Cop seemed like an ideal stylistic match-up to cause Fedor problems.
The on-paper assessment was right, Cro Cop broke Fedor’s nose early in the first round peppering the champion with body kicks and straight lefts using his movement to neutralise Fedor’s pressure. Fedor managed to get the fight to the ground taking the steam out of Cro Cop, after that moment Cro Cop’s movement wasn’t the same which Fedor took complete advantage of. Any expectations were exceeded & to this day it would be the fight I consider the pinnacle of Pride Fighting Championships.
The Death of the Pride Fighting Championships
By 2007 the UFC had become a major rival promotion. They had eliminated all the negative aspects of their earlier fights with a now much-improved group of athletes. UFC purchased Pride FC eliminating their only real competition in effect merging the best of Pride’s talent (excluding a few names) with the UFC’s own. That was the end of Pride FC, though the UFC is where the future of MMA looks firmly rooted, the Pride era will always bring feelings of glowing nostalgia.
Guitarist extrodinare, Matt Hodson, recently was the guest shredder on the track Big Child by Red Soda. Do you have a helmet on? You better, because he’s gonna blow your freaking mind. Hodson ignites the synthwave single like a pyromaniac guzzling jet fuel. Stylistically drawing from the best of the 80’s guitar gods, the guitar solo is a gem that takes the track to yet another higher level. We had to know more about this talented and upcoming young guitar slinger, so we called him up at his studio and asked him a few questions.
Slickster: Hey Matt. First off the bat, is there anything you want to say or clarify before we start asking questions?
Matt Hodson: Not much, but thanks for having me, and glad you liked the EP.
Slickster: How did the collaboration with Red Soda come about? Did they approach you or have you been working with other synthwave artists on separate projects?
MH: I metFred (Colombo)while we were both recording for Lance King – a pretty well-known metal singer. After that project wrapped up, we found that we had a lot of common ground musically, and he invited me to guest on one of his songs.
Slickster: As far as the guitar solo itself, you seem to nail a lot of the tropes of the 80’s guitar shredder spot on. Can you give us a run down of the rig you used to record the solo and you get these
genuinely authentic timbres?
MH: Sure, but it’s gonna sound kind of silly… So first of all, the guitar I use for recording leads is a Kramer Baretta, one of the 2000s MusicYo remakes, with a DiMarzio X2N. That’s strike one for the 80s authenticity… I run that guitar into a DI box, then my interface, and monitor it using free ampsims. I offered to put the DI signal through a real amp afterwards, but they told me to just keep the ampsim! So what you’re hearing is a digital plugin going into a cabinet impulse that some guy posted on a forum once. Just like the greats used to do…
Slickster: Who are a few of your favorite guiltar shredders?
MH: Ones that come to mind at the moment are Marcel Coenen from Sun Caged, Michael Romeo (Symphony X), Per Nilsson… Jørn Viggo Lofstad from Pagan’s Mind… Yngwie was an early influence of course. There’s so many shredders now that are roughly as good as each other, it mostly comes down to who can also write.
Slickster: Transcribing music, aka ‘learning music by ear’, is one method to learn music. Many people say this is much more valuable than a formal musician education. This is because it indoctrinates the musician on instrumental micro nuances and musical phrases. Have you been more self-taught or a combination of both? What are your thoughts on transcribing?
MH: They’re both fine really… Personally, I can barely read music. I learn everything by ear. But there’s more to it mentally than just matching tones. The process is something like, identify what key it’s in, what scale degree is the current root note, what chord fits, does it have any extra voices in it besides 1/3/5?… This stuff dictates the rest of the music. Even on a recording where you can’t make out all the notes, you can usually figure out what they have to be, because nothing else fits. It’s like doing detective work. So I’m doing it the “informal” way, but it works because there’s formal theory underneath.
Slickster: Guitar tabs; Self defeating or good tool to learn?
MH: They don’t hurt, I used them early on. Developing a good ear will help more in the long run though, in a lot of ways. Plus tabs tend to be wrong a lot…
Slickster: What advice can you offer to young musicians who want to improve their skills on their instrument?
MH: Don’t ignore theory. The single most important thing I ever learned was the seven modes – major, dorian, phrygian, lydian, mixolydian, minor, locrian, and how they connect on the fretboard. I made a chart when I was a teenager, probably lost now, but everything comes from there. Knowing these relations makes every aspect of music a hundred times easier. When you see someone playing fast all over the fretboard, it’s not because their hands are faster than normal, but because of how well they know these seven shapes subconsciously. That also comes from practice, of course.
Slickster: Moving away from guitar for a moment, do you check out synthwave, vaporwave, Outrun, etc… if so, who are some of the other artists that you like to listen to?
MH: To be honest, I really don’t know anything from this scene! I guess you could say I like some vaguely related stuff like trance and house, but somehow never gave synthwave a shot. Although you know what, if Ninja Sex Party counts, I like them. Hopefully I haven’t insulted everyone.
Slickster: Matt, thanks for talking to Slickster Magazine and best of luck in your career. Anything you’d like to promote, shoutouts, etc?
MH: Thanks, I’d just say keep an eye out for Lance King‘s next solo album, as well as my own band Chaos Frame sometime this year. If you want to.
For all of you movie lovers, this article is for you. You must have watched Eat, Pray, Love, the movie starring Julia Roberts and Javier Bardem. It’s one of their finest films. This movie was based on a true story and inspired by one of the most iconic and bestselling books, the memoir of Elizabeth Gilbert‘s life journey in 2006. The rights to the memoir were purchased by Columbia Pictures and released in theaters on August 13, 2010.
Eat, Pray, Love is a romantic-drama film starring Julia Roberts as Elizabeth Gilbert. She is a modern American woman, who has everything she should’ve wanted: a husband, a country home and a successful career. But instead of feeling happy and fulfilled, she feels consumed by panic and confusion. So she decides to make drastic changes to her lifestyle and spend a year abroad. Gilbert travels across the world in search of pleasure and a sense of balance in her life.
On her long journey she spends four months in Italy, eating and enjoying life. Then she spends three months in India to find her spirituality. Finally, she ends the year in Bali, Indonesia, looking for her “balance” , and this is when she falls in love.
Six years after the film was first screened around the world, I am still an ardent fan of Eat, Pray, Love. Not just because it has sold more than 10 million copies worldwide and become so popular, but it has also inspired hordes of tourists to visit the island of Bali, Indonesia. If you have ever seen the movie, you must be familiar with the sets that are actually located mostly in Bali. And do you know the exact locations where Elizabeth Gilbert’s traveled on her long journey in Bali?
Well, the good news is, I have already compiled the locations for you as alternative places you should visit in Bali, Indonesia. These locations include seeing the lush rice terraces, the opportunity to get up-close and personal with monkeys and visiting the Ketut Liyer house, a place where Elizabeth studied spiritualism in Ubud. I guess you must be excited knowing Eat, Pray, Love was indeed filmed on location in the actual Balinese areas where they happened.
UBUD: UNCHANGED THROUGH THE YEARS
A few years ago, I had gotten the book Eat, Pray, Love. And I’ve been obsessing over the book Eat, Pray, Love. Why? Needless to say, since the book was published in 2006 and filmed in 2010, Eat, Pray, Love put Bali on the map of dream destinations and has welcomed thousands of tourists. The book introduced Bali as the gorgeous island it is, especially in Ubud, which is known as the center of Balinese culture.
Ubud, Bali, is located among rice paddies and steep ravines in the central foothills of the Gianyar regency. For more than a century, it has been the island’s preeminent center for fine arts, dance and music.
Ubud is now a hot spot particularly for literati, glitterati, art collectors and connoisseurs. Tourism on the island developed after the arrival of Walter Spies, an ethnic German born in Russia who taught painting, music and dance.
Ubud is especially famous for its regular nightly traditional dance performances, which are part of the traditional culture and are arranged for tourists on a regular schedule. In this town, you can visit the temples, paddy terraces, and traditional villages that have remained relatively unchanged through the years. As a result, Ubud was voted recently as the most fascinating city of Asia.
The fascinating area of Ubud has a totally different vibe from the other parts of Bali. My suggestion: If you want to stay in a place thriving with culture, you should stay in Ubud. But if you want to be drawn to its idyllic energy, you should stay near the beaches (and there are a lot, I’m telling you).
Without considering the enormous success of Eat, Pray, Love… No wonder Elizabeth Gilbert chose Ubud, Bali, in search of happiness and balance in her life. I found through experience that there’s more to Ubud
than a breathtaking destination. It is also a heart of culture, a shopping paradise, a place of culinary adventures, and a place where you can relax your mind.
Indeed, Ubud, Bali, has an undeniable reputation as a remarkable area. Since Eat, Pray, Love was filmed here, a lot of local travel companies have been promoting Eat, Pray, Love experiences.
So once you’ve relaxed and are ready to experience beautiful Bali, the trip is not complete without visiting some of the wonderful locations in Ubud, Bali, as featured in Eat, Pray, Love.
UBUD MONKEY FOREST
THE WILD AND SACRED TOURIST DESTINATION
Ubud, Bali, is the dream destination of many travelers. Positive reviews of many fellas who have been there are already tempting many people to come. But is Ubud worth so much attention? The answer is yes!
In her memoir, Elizabeth Gilbert writes about how she fell in love with the authenticity of Ubud and the surrounding areas. Upon seeing the natural beauty of the emerald green rice fields, Balinese temples, the art, culture, and the serenity… I understand why she would have chosen Ubud for her last journey in search for something different in her life.
During the many scenes of Julia Roberts riding her bicycle around various points of Bali, there is a scene of her riding through the lower level of the Monkey Forest in Ubud.
Yes… Ubud Monkey Forest is most certainly a must for anyone visiting Bali, and is part of many visitor itineraries, even for those staying elsewhere in Bali. I traveled to many places in Bali and I recommend Ubud Monkey Forest as a tourist attraction to consider when visiting Bali.
Sacred Monkey Forest, which is located at Padangtegal, is spread out over 27 acres. It also features a Holy Spring Bathing Temple and a Cremation Temple. And it is also home to over 600 long-tailed macaques, with their funny, furry faces and large eyes full of curiosity.
The forest is home to many banyan trees, with their long Tarzan-like roots. It is also the site of the Monkey Forest of Padangtegal.
Ubud Monkey Forest is one of the places where monkeys live freely in the wild. Because of that, visitors can even get close enough to touch the monkeys and feed them with bananas that are purchased on-site.
I will share some tips with you. As you’ll see right away when you enter the site, make sure to carefully conceal the banana in a backpack. These monkeys (long-tailed macaques) are not shy about grabbing bananas or anything else they fancy from your grasp, and will even climb you to get a free meal. But don’t you worry, this is all part of the fun.
If you want to feed them, do it only with the food bought from local sellers. These monkeys are especially well-handled by the staff of the Monkey Forest and are fed with sweet potatoes, mini bananas, corn or coconuts.
There were plenty of guards, staff and warning signs to avoid monkey attack – such as “don’t tease the monkeys or have prolonged eye contact” (which the monkeys consider threatening) since the macaques will bite if provoked.
I have visited this place several times and this destination is always crowded. Monthly, more than tens of thousands of visitors visit Monkey Forest. For me, Ubud Monkey Forest was still a nice, atmospheric experience from the real jungle, temples, exotic plants and animals. Visiting the Ubud Monkey Forest leads me to a different world – the world of monkeys.
Interesting Fact
These monkeys gather in families and there are five families on the Monkey Forest in total, according to the official website. The families will attack other families, especially when they enter each other’s territory. So you will definitely see some live monkey fights. These fights are unpredictable and usually happen when monkeys are thirsty. This is because they drink water from a local stream.
What Should the Visitors Be Aware Of?
I suggest that you don’t bring outside food (they smell it even from the bag). I was an eyewitness of an accident as a result of it, where a monkey took a bottle of water from a Japanese girl and ran away to the bushes. The bottled water is relatively a forgivable crime, but what if they took your iPhone? Would you run to get it back from that fluffy monkey?
They are nice to watch as they eat, play, massage each other, or pull other monkeys’ tails to make them fall from trees. But please, leave them alone. If you wish to touch them, pay the staff. They’ll get the monkeys to sit on your head or whatever. During my visit, one of the monkeys came to me and tried to open my bag. Luckily, a staff guy saw that and scared the monkey away.
The Admission Fee
The admission fee to the Monkey Forest costs 40,000 Indonesian Rupiah (IDR), or roughly $4. You can stay there as long as you wish (until they close up). Operating hours start every day at 8:30 a.m. and end at 6 p.m.
I developed an artificial sense of confidence as I slowly got closer and closer to the monkeys to take that perfect shot. This one particular cute little monkey really caught my attention.
From where Ubud Monkey Forest Road starts, rows of shops, boutiques, and outlets line its sides with many guesthouses and hotels, restaurants and small day spas. Only a short distance further down, the forest sanctuary resides under lofty shades of the entrance gate, with a small parking lot just across the road.
Banana, which you can purchase on-site, costs 20,000 IDR (about $1.50.)
Me with Mrs. Monkey. Which one is more gorgeous?
WALK THROUGH THE PEACEFUL TEGALLALANG RICE TERRACES – UBUD
Like so many of Gilbert’s readers, I identified with the frustrations that prompted her to set off around the world in pursuit of pleasure and balance. I also wanted to escape from the routine, to explore and to discover new experiences. The difference? Liz Gilbert had a year to do it, but I had only one day.
For my earlier review of Ubud Monkey Forest, I would like to add further support along with gorgeous scenery as proof that Ubud is a wonderful place to explore. There’s so much to do and to see within its boundaries. It really allows you to get the most out of your holiday time. But once you’ve done that, be sure to thoroughly explore the other areas.
So, after an eventful morning at Ubud’s Monkey Forest, I headed to the Tegallalang Rice Terraces located north of Ubud. These particular rice terraces are the most famous and recognizable of rice fields in Bali. They were featured in the movie Eat, Pray, Love, and ever since then they’ve seen thousands of tourists every year.
Bali Rice Terraces
Bali has many working rice fields we called “sawah”. Most of them are situated in the center of the island, including in Ubud. Even though a lot of the rice fields surrounding Ubud have been converted for other uses, terraced rice paddy fields still remain the most popular feature of Bali’s landscapes. And the most beautiful rice fields that I’ve ever seen were the rice terraces at Tegallalang Ubud Bali.
The ancient rice-growing agricultural society in the Tegallalang village operates with elaborate engineering and shared labor from the entire community. The farmers create their rice fields using water from the mountains with a traditional Balinese cooperative irrigation system. This is known as “subak“.The results are step-like terraces on hillsides and mountain edges, designed with irrigation channels that keep them wet all year round.
Something Definitely Worth Seeing
Even if I’m a self-proclaimed beach person, any form of greenery never fails to calm me. I live in Bali, Indonesia, and I have seen lot of rice terraces before. But visiting the Tegallalang Rice Terrace was non-negotiable for me. It’s almost like an unspoken rule of visiting Ubud Bali. You just can’t afford to skip this scenery – definitely less stressful and whole lot more peaceful than other sceneries.
When I visited, the new rice had just been planted. What surprised me was that the fields were various shades of green and extremely well-maintained. The view was really hard to beat.
Another one of my favorite things about visiting the Tegallalang Rice Terrace was not only the feeling of peaceful calm, but also the opportunity to get great images. No wonder the Tegallalang Rice Terrace has attracted many tourist and photographers over the years.
Best Things to Do
I took some stairs up to get and enjoy the best view. The beautiful panorama of the valley was adorned with rice terraces and coconut trees. I have always found the best times to photograph these magnificent views are either early in the morning or late in the afternoon. Every angle was photo-worthy!
At places, the trails can be narrow, steep and muddy. You have to be more careful with the muddy steps (they’re slicker than they look), so hiking boots or tennis shoes are recommended. I saw people walking around in flip flops, but I wouldn’t have wanted to.
The public facilities in Tegallalang Rice Terrace include a parking area, restaurants, cafes, a souvenir shop and a public toilet. Several cafes and restaurants offer you a seat to relax. So, enjoy the view with a cup of tea or coffee.
There are also huts along the trails where you can buy coconut water. These are great if you’d like to stop and take a break while still enjoying the view.
So, what are you waiting for? For the price of only 10,000 IDR per person for an entrance ticket, you can enjoy the beautiful panorama all while finding relaxation and feeling peaceful.
Huts along the trails where you can buy coconut water.
The terraces were designed — and are still currently maintained — using a traditional Balinese cooperative irrigation system.
Balinese farmers plow and maintain their rice fields.
