Davideo7 : Just thought I would give you a heads up I installed the new plug in on my PC. (Don’t really use my laptop for games) and it works fine but some of the Sega CD titles don’t load beyond the Sega trademark title screen. I will keep testing a few games to see if I have any more problems but I just wanted to give a heads up because if staff is having a problem loading games odds are the community is as well. Will let you know if I have any other problems.

Davideo7 : Okay I will write him and pass it along. If there's anything else I can do please let me know.

Thanks.

lesbianwitch : I wouldn’t keep the money and would do whatever I could to hand the money and information to the proper authorities. It goes without saying that just because something may be legal that it doesn’t always make it right and just. From a moral and ethical standpoint there is no way that I would be able to keep the money, especially seeing as in the theoretical case of it being for a surgery someone needed. I have been through ten surgeries myself and there’s just no way I could do that to someone regardless of whether I knew them or not. I also have a sister who’s been battling stage four breast cancer for almost four years, can only imagine God forbid if she was in the predicament of needing surgery and needed money in order to get it. No way would I be able to just pocket the money as if nothing happened.

Davideo7 : Just wanted to let you know that skippercapt reported problems recording GBA with the new plugin. I think there was a lagging issue based on what I read. Per your instruction I referred him to this thread. Hope it can resolve whatever issue he’s having. If there’s anything else I can do please let me know.

rcarter2 : I was born with cerebral palsy. Although I have a mild case it effects the strength of my legs and back, I walk with crutches when I’m out of the house etc. I admit I don’t really do what I’m suppose to in regard to exercising and such but I can’t stand for long periods of time and such, deal with chronic back pain and leg cramps etc. If I could I would gladly take a midnight to 8AM shift at Wal-Mart or something stocking shelves. Even though when things are normal I devote a lot of time to my writing I’d be willing to do that if it meant making steady income until I get a solid spot off my writing. I’ve also been looking for ways to get into affiliate marketing and such.

DBDonald : To me a true friend is someone who will be with you through thick and thin, in good times and bad. A true friend should be someone who is authentic, (Honest) someone of integrity and someone you can trust. Unfortunately for me I have been on both ends of friendships and relationships that have gone bad.

There was a time during my school years (pre-high school) where I had many friends and was generally well-liked by almost everyone. Many of these friends where people that I had known for many years going back to when we were as young as six when I first moved to where I am now. As things got into high school though some of these friends who had known me forever or at least through middle school changed in their manner and how they acted toward others including me. Most of these people I would have taken a bullet for if I needed to. For a long time especially after I dropped out of school I had a lot of anger toward many of them because I felt like I was more or less forgotten about after we all went into that place and I more or less learned a lesson that although I trusted many of them, that I shouldn’t be too quick to trust people but at the same time not shut people out and allow everyone at least a chance to show what kind of character they have which is something that I didn’t always think about when I was younger.

As I say that I will also admit that there was a time during my teen years where I was not the most authentic person myself. Therefore I throw no stones because I am far from perfect and never claimed to be. Since realizing the error of my ways, I have realized that there were some friendships where I wasn’t the best person and was most likely the cause of some relationships falling out. As I said before there was a time when I had a lot of anger toward many people who I trusted. The problem with that is as I often say anger in itself is like a cancer and it will slowly eat at you if you let it. For a long time that is what I allowed to happen to me. The result of that is that for the few people who did stick by me, I wasn’t always the easiest person to be around. Admittedly, I was hard-headed and set in my ways to be big degree. Another problem was that I sort of latched on to some of those friends, and I admit I probably smothered to a degree. I just hope that one day I will get the opportunity to show those friends and the friends who I was not real good to that I am a different person now.

In regard to the friends that I wasn’t real good to, it wasn’t a case of me not valuing the friendship or anything, it was more of a case of me having too many bad influences around me at the time and that is what one has to deal with as they grow up. Hopefully most of those people who go through trials and tribulations in their youth allow themselves to grow up as a person and not just chronologically. I know that in many ways I have a completely different head on my shoulders today than I did when I was younger. As I often say it’s all part of the maturing process. The key is if a person allows themselves to mature.

As for the friends who were out of my life for many years, I have reconnected with some of them and for the most part I have given all of them the benefit of the doubt. It isn’t worth it to dwell on things that are in the past, in most cases for double digit years. As I have gotten older and along with realizing my own mistakes, I have realized that a big part of why those friends acted differently back then was they were probably trying to fit in with the “In crowd.” It was high school after all and as I said I throw no stones when I say that I, myself have made my share of mistakes. For the most part most of these friends have kind of gone back to the people I knew in terms of character before we got in high school.

I will admit that I have been a bit resistant to meeting up with most of these people for a face to face reunion but at least things have been cordial since reconnecting. I wouldn’t have even been open to reconnecting years ago. I guess you live and you learn as time goes on and if you allow it, it can make you a wiser person.

Although I feel that things like honesty and loyalty are extremely important in determining a true friend and a real friendship; I feel it is just as important to be forgiving of those who may have wronged you. One way I was able to get passed my anger was to say to myself as someone who has made mistakes, would you want someone to hold a grudge against you for the rest of your life if you had wronged them? I will admit it took me a long time to get to that point but once I got there it kind of seemed real simple, but at the same time because of the anger and the various situations quite complicated…

Although I don’t consider myself to be deeply religious it does kind of remind me of the our father prayer where we ask God to forgive our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. It really is the same principal. All I can say really for those who have been in the shoes or are in the shoes of holding anger, it really isn’t worth it. It’s better to at least hear those who have wronged you out and at least attempt to bury the hatchet. I hope that in time I will be able to do so with those who I have wronged much as I’m open to hearing those who have wronged me out.

rcarter2 : I would gladly work at Target or Walmart if I wasn’t physically limited as to what I can do. I have tried applying to retail jobs in the past but with no luck. I think the only traditional job I’ve had other then when I worked for HSN were those godforsaken telemarketing jobs. I hated those with a passion. I’ve just come to accept that those are the jobs that disabled people are offered by and large. Least that’s how it is where I live.

mike345 : I’ve been watching Fox pretty much since it’s inception in the 80’s. Although in many ways I prefer the way Fox was back then as compared to now they still have some shows I watch on a regular basis like Gordon Ramsey’s shows and Bones. They have also become the force for Sports in a big degree. For me though I will never forget the days of watching Married…with Children, The Simpsons, In living Color, Martin, there are more that I use to watch. Back when I first moved down south in the 90’s (Not of my own accord) the cable company that we use to have use to carry some of the New York television stations and being that, that is where I’m from I was elated when I found out that the Fox affiliate we had was actually the flagship station out of New York. For a good while there was some part of me that felt like I never left home. Good memories of my youth. I miss those days.

septembern : I do… I consider it one of the advantages of having a satellite dish. I also have two media players so I do well when it comes to variety despite tough economic times. I consider it the best of both worlds to a degree because if a channel isn’t available on my satellite dish it could be available or at least a version of it through one of my media players. The only down side to media players is you really can’t hook one up to a DVD recorder so you can’t record the channels you buy which are live feeds. Beyond that I love it.

warmaker : The idea of being a man to me represents someone with strong character, moral fiber, and convictions. To me a man takes care of his responsibilities and his family, is authentic (Honest) and never diverts from what he needs to do.

It isn’t always as simple as that though. Often many guys make mistakes when their young and I freely admit I’ve made my share of mistakes and errors of judgment in the past so I certainly throw no stones there. I do believe though that it takes someone messing up sometimes to mature and become better. Least that’s my experience.

Spotandclaw : Well I have been a Sony gamer for years I would go with PS3 if you don’t already have it. Myself I need to buy a new console and have been eying the new Super Slim models. My current PS3 Slim works but the hard drive needs to be replaced. (Firmware update a few months ago had problems, ended up corrupting the drive.) If I could afford it I would buy every console out there. I have probably owned most of the consoles to come out over the last 35 years with the exception of maybe three so my love for video games is extremely deep and I would love it if I could make my own personal mini arcade one day. Best of luck to you. PS: the SNES was great.

AuraBlaze : I personally think that something like this is sad. Louisiana is in the country regardless of whether it’s actually a part of the United States. Is the person or persons’ behind this petition really expect to accomplish anything out of this? Suppose if something like this did happen what are the people in Louisiana suppose to do move to another state so that the land currently known as the state of Louisiana can become vacant? There’s no logic at all.

I can understand the feelings of some post-election; I myself did not vote and have not voted in any election since 2004. I think it is at minimum sour grapes for one to come up with an idea like this simply because they did not get what they wanted in the election. I myself didn’t really see an upside this time around. The way I see it was no matter whom was elected the bickering back and forth between the two predominant political parties with very slow accomplishment was and is probably likely to continue.

It’s sad that those who are in positions of power will not focus on what needs to be done to get the country back on it’s feet in an adequate fashion. I’m sure there are those on both sides who are very well meaning and only want to do the best for the country however, the mere model of it’s “Us vs. Them” that our political system conducts itself on doesn’t really speak well in terms of progress when things really need to happen in order to move the country forward in a way where jobs are created, the deficit goes down, people by numbers are given jobs and are able to find some semblance of job and or financial security. No matter who is in office whether that office be on the federal, state, or, local levels they need to put their differences aside for the greater good of the country. They need to do the jobs that they were elected to do. I don’t know if the political system as a whole needs to be reinvented but it’s clear that things are not really going well with the way things have been and things need to happen to turn things around.

I hold out hope that one day we will see things turn around but I am realistic and realize that it won’t happen overnight and it won’t happen in eight years. It takes time and with the two sides of the political arena constantly divided it will take longer because division stalls progress. It also doesn’t help when any progress is actually made that it isn’t adequately reported by mainstream media due in large part to political interests. This is why when ever election season takes place you see political ads saturated all over any form of media that blurs the lines between fact and fabrication. At least that’s the way I see it.

Davideo7 : Will do.

Ktanaqui : Well one things a writer needs is strong convictions. (I speak from the perspective of a columnist) the problem is often by having strong convictions you can be head strong and set in your ways to a certain degree. In regard to myself I devoted a lot of time to learning to become a writer. A couple of the people I mentioned before, they more or less took me under their wing to a big degree but I will be the first to admit that they deserved a medal for having to put up with me because even I will admit; I wasn’t the easiest person to deal with.

I have also been put into the position of having to defend my material both in regard to things I say or having to defend my rights from a legal standpoint. Although those situation can be very stressful, and it has been, I can honestly say that I can’t really envision myself doing anything else. Situations like that aren’t enjoyable believe me but there are things that make the not so enjoyable experiences worth dealing with. I was able to do my first television appearance as a writer for a sports network in the UK earlier this year and, in 2011 I was involved in my first press conference, After writing for double digit years and being told that I wouldn’t amount to anything when I dropped out of school, things like that are gratifying and vindicating. At least that’s how I feel.

Ktanaqui : It’s no problem really. You actually caught me at a relatively good time. I’ve been pretty much inactive since the summer and will only be working sporadically the next couple of weeks to finish out the year so I have no problem spending some of my spare time helping someone out. Like I said there have been many people that have helped me along over the years and I really appreciated everything those people did for me, offering advice, critiquing my work, and putting up with me in difficult times. If you’ve written before or have been published before you know that most writers initially don’t handle criticism well but it’s a necessity because it’s the only way you evolve and get better.

LegolasJJH : I am indeed an MMA fan and do cover that sport from time to time. (I cover Boxing primarily.) I in fact saw Cung Le’s KO of Rich Franklin yesterday morning. The fight took place in China so it was televised to the United States live in the morning. To be honest I love when they televise Boxing and MMA in the morning. I have pulled a lot of all nighters and have covered cards that have taken place internationally so viewing a live card anywhere from midnight on is actually quite normal for me and I enjoy it. I also have spent many all nighters watching the MMA cards that take place in Japan. If any of you are unfamiliar with Japanese MMA you should check it out. Some of the fights are epic.

Android89 : Yes I have been to a moonlight showing or final showing of the evening. When I do go to the movies (And it’s rare, can rarely afford it) I like going to the matinees, when it’s a little quieter. Sometimes a moonlight showing can be loud especially if it’s a popular movie that’s got a lot of buzz about it before it opens. Some people can be inconsiderate but I try not to let it phase me much. Back in the 90’s my father worked for a drive-in theater that was a flea market during the day. I would go with him both to the flea market and later in the evening when he would work for the theater. There would be two screens on each side of the area. I would say it was a field but it was mostly covered with rocks and such so I’ll go with that. On one screen they would show two movies a night, on the other they would show two other movies. So often I would go with him on a Friday night or during holiday break from school and he would park on one end and then the next night he would park on the other end.

Quite frankly I miss those days. It was one of the last really happy times I had as a kid before things started getting rough for me. I’m not saying that because I got free popcorn either. I actually remember seeing a lot of good movies at that drive in. The theater and market is still there but it’s been almost twenty years since I’ve been there. I tell my dad from time to time that we should go back there one night just for nostalgia if nothing else.

I love movies (My dad is a big movie buff and big John Wayne fan.) I subscribe to multiple streaming services and such but I often say if I could afford it I would gladly go to the movies once a week or, every other week. There’s just something special about the movie going experience no matter what’s playing. It’s been a while since I went to see a movie. I think the last one I saw in a theater was Die Hard 4. I am going to try and go to the movies this week. I’ve been wanting to see Here comes the Boom for a while.

I am a big fan of Kevin James and seeing as the movie kind of has a Mixed Martial Arts theme (I cover combat sports for a living.) I am interested to see the film. A lot of people may not know that Kevin James has actually trained MMA for years. I’ve only seen the trailers for the movie but I think people are should be presently surprised. I believe he was also a high school wrestler at one time as well.

Hopefully things improve for me and I can start going more often. Least I hope so.