Category: Hobby
Command and Conquer Red Alert 2: Yuri’s Revenge
Red Alert 2 was a nice surprise.
Between the release of Tiberian Sun and Emperor: Battle for Dune, Westwood, quite out of the blue, announced the sequel to one of the most critically acclaimed RTS games.
It turned out to be spectacular, and fans were not long after treated to news from Westwood that an expansion would be coming out, and would contain an entirely new side to boot!
Eagerly awaited, it finally arrived on shelves, and now that I have had the chance to play through it I can safely say that it is one solid expansion.
The title under scrutiny, Yuri’s Revenge, continues the story of alternate history begun in Red Alert 1, in which Einstein went back in time to kill Hitler and forever alter the balance of world power.
Red Alert 2 took the more serious tone of the first game and threw it out the window, instead of creating a corny but loveable game world that depicted every Cold War stereotype to the umpteenth degree.
Einstein was no longer an earnest, brilliant man, but rather an absolute loon.
Tanya was as voluptuous as ever, and the harebrained Alex Romanov had replaced the vicious Stalin as leader of the Soviet Union.
It seems appropriate then that Yuri’s Revenge focuses on the deranged psychic Yuri-arguably the coolest character in the series.
Yuri is back and his plans for world domination have been unveiled.
As the Allied Forces struggled against the expansionist Soviet Union, Yuri had been secretly constructing Psychic Dominators (big mind control devices) in key locations around the globe.
In the new allied campaign, one of them pops up out of the ground on Alcatraz Island.
The President declares war on Yuri’s forces and launches an assault on the Dominator.
The United States is thus spared, but the rest of the world comes under the mind control of Yuri.
Einstein just happened to have recently designed a time machine, however, and sends Agent Tanya back to prevent Yuri’s victory.
The Soviet campaign has the Reds going back in time to both stops Yuri and alter the course of the war against the Allies depicted in Red Alert 2.
Both of the new campaigns are satisfying if a little short.
Veteran players will have no difficulty completing them, but they are arguably more satisfying than the original campaigns.
For one, they take place in a variety of new locales, each one extremely detailed.
The map of Hollywood is brimming with personality, and even lets you take control of a few movie stars (shooting communist troops with Clint Eastwood is oh-so-satisfying).
Fighting takes place on the moon, complete with gravitational effects, and the Soviets even travel back to prehistoric times–forced to fend off stampeding dinosaurs.
The mission structure itself is a bit more elaborate in Yuri’s Revenge as well, requiring players to be more careful in their approach.
For instance, one mission in Sydney, Australia requires players to take over buildings to advance on Yuri’s position.
To accomplish this, I sent out fighter planes to level enemy-occupied structures, then had troops mop up the enemy.
Afterward, an engineer repaired the building and it was occupied by my troops.
This little game of cat-and-mouse was wholly satisfying and could have been approached in a variety of ways depending on the player’s style.
You may be asking yourself, “What?
Only two campaigns?
I thought there was a new side?”
My answer would be “Chill!”
The armies of Yuri, the third side introduced into the series, is playable in skirmish and multiplayer (insert groans here https://warpath.guide/).
I have to agree with the designers’ decision on this matter.
As they explained on the Westwood website, they wanted Yuri to be a seemingly unstoppable villain.
Granted, leading a villain to world domination is always fun, but towards the end of the game, I absolutely hated Yuri and could not wait to crush him once and for all.
I gather this is the emotion the designers want to evince in players.
After about a dozen threats and scalding remarks from Yuri, you’ll feel like dipping your arms into the monitor and wringing his neck.
His mind slave my foot!
Luckily, Yuri’s army is nicely balanced with the two existing sides and is an absolute pleasure to play.
Being a master of mind control, Yuri depends on psychic units to form the backbone of his assaults.
To that end, Yuri can create clones of himself to control enemy units and can even construct a gigantic brain on wheels, called the Master Mind, that assimilates all units in its path (when you see one of these approaching, run).
Even his method of collecting resources shows off his love of enslaving people.
Large transports drop off helpless drones to dig up the gold.
Destroying one of this transports-free of its mind slaves, of course–breaks the psychic grip.
You’ll watch in glee as they yell, “I’m free!” and start attacking with their shovels-consequently getting wasted rather quickly.
To deal with the mechanized might of the Allies and Soviets, Yuri can construct Lasher Tanks, the equivalent of the Soviet Rhino, as well as Gattling Tanks, which can fire .50-caliber rounds at ground and air targets.
In terms of air and sea power, Floating Discs (think UFOs) can hover above power plants or defensive structures and basically switch them off.
The Boomer Submarine is capable of attacking both sea and ground targets, making it a formidable weapon.
A very cool Yuri structure is the Grinder, which can actually dispose of unwanted infantry, turning them into raw materials to fund your war effort.
Fortunately, fans of the Allies and Soviets have not been forgotten.
Each side has 5 new additions to be exact, and each one does a good job of addressing the respective side’s weaknesses.
I’ll let you play the game to discover them all, but two of the best additions are the Allied Robot Control Center–which allows you to build Robot Tanks impervious to Yuri’s mind control schemes–and Boris, a Soviet hero that can snipe enemy units in addition to laser designating buildings for attack by MiG fighters.
Being a hero of the Soviet Union has its perks.
Yuri’s Revenge also sports a host of gameplay tweaks that are spelled out in the manual, as well as a new multiplayer mode, Team Alliance, which puts allies very close together on specially made maps.
But the most significant improvement is in the game’s skirmish mode.
The AI is much stronger, and playing hard this time around will put players’ skills to the test, as the AI will build a strong defense and continually assault your base.
Medium difficulty is still a little easy if you play the AI one on one.
But pit two or more AI teams against you and it will take some effort to win.
Being that Yuri is only playable in multiplayer or skirmish mode, this improvement is extremely important.
Look, if you liked Red Alert 2, you don’t want to be without Yuri’s Revenge.
The new campaigns are fun and creative, the skirmish mode is much more enjoyable, and the new units and structures are all rock solid.
In my estimation, if you are going to be a gaming slave, you might as well serve Yuri-it’s a blast!…
Why Knitting is a Good Hobby
Everyone has an opinion on why their favorite hobby is the best. But for those who are looking for a new pastime, knitting may be just the ticket. There are some great reasons to give knitting a try.
Knitting is Easy to Learn
Anyone from young children to the elderly can learn to knit. You can have a knitting friend or family member teach you, get a book out of the library, or watch learn to knit tutorials online. Whatever learning style works best for you, there is a way to learn knitting.
Knitting only requires two basic stitches, knit and purl. Once you have mastered those, you can make anything you want. Cables, lace and color patterns are all variations on the simple knit and purl stitches.
Knitting can be Inexpensive
If you have extra spending money and a taste for fine materials like cashmere, you can spend a good deal on yarn, but even those with limited funds can afford to knit.
Yarn stores, craft stores and many department stores sell yarn. Often, huge balls of inexpensive acrylic yarn can be had for only a few dollars. If you like fine yarns but are on a tight budget, yarn stores often have discount bins where you can find unpopular colors or discontinued yarns for a cheap price.
Other than yarn, you don't need many supplies to get started knitting. A pair or two of inexpensive needles and you are ready to knit!
Knitting is a Portable Hobby
In addition to being able to find knitting supplies in many places, knitting can also go many places. My knitting has accompanied me in countless waiting rooms, meetings and even to the hospital when I had my children. Small knitting projects, like hats, scarfs and mittens are easy to tuck into a purse or backpack and take along wherever you go.
I generally take easy projects that don't require any counting or concentration when I'm knitting in public or while watching television, and save complicated cables for when my children are sleeping and I can give my knitting all of my focus.
Make Things for Yourself and Others
Nothing shows love in quite the same way as a handmade gift. People generally love knowing that a garment or accessory was made just for them. You can also make items exactly to your own specifications, which is one of my favorite things about knitting. For example, I love fingerless gloves. However, I'm fussy about just how I like them. I like neutral colors, washable yarn, and for gloves to be long in the arm and short on the hand. It's very difficult to find these type of gloves in stores, but I can easily make my own in a night or two.
Knitting allows you to customize items in exactly the way you want, which can be a big plus, especially if you are a hard to fit size or have particular standards in mind for clothes or accessories.
There are many benefits to choosing knitting as a hobby. If you're looking for a versatile hobby that is portable, inexpensive and easy to learn, give knitting a try.…
Tips for Organizing Hobby Supplies
No matter how different they are, most hobbies have one thing in common – they require a ton of supplies or gear. Whether you are a photographer or a quilter, you need to figure out a great way to organize your hobby supplies. Organized hobbyists protect their investment by keeping gear and other stuff from being ruined and save money because they don’t have to go buy a duplicate of a misplaced item. They also get more enjoyment from their hobbies when they don’t have to root around in a jumbled mess for the things they need to use.
Set Up a Hobby Supply Area
Depending on your hobby, your supply area can be as small as one plastic storage bin or as large as a garage. The important thing is having an area where you can put all of your hobby equipment. I have what was a pantry before the kitchen was moved to the other side of the house back in the 1950’s as a mixed media studio supply closet. All of my supplies fit into that space or into the studio area set up directly outside the closet. I also have a one car garage sized space for my photography equipment and studio. My quilting and needlework stuff fits into half of a small chest of drawers. The important thing about all of these spaces is that all of my equipment, supplies and even my instructional books and DVDs for each of these pursuits are stowed together. I don’t need to spend half a day hunting through every room in the house if I need a filter for my camera lens or a large embroidery needle so I can embellish a tea towel.
Make a Decision About an Organizational System and Stick to It
An organizational system with pieces that belong together looks neat and streamlined. Twenty pieces from twenty different organizational systems look like a yard sale gone horribly wrong. Choosing one system and sticking to it will help you keep things looking nice. Of course, if you can’t afford to buy ten wheeled carts, fifteen baskets and five sets of drawers all at the same time, it can be a lot harder to do so.
If you buy storage as it goes on clearance or as you come across something inexpensive, but functional, you can still get a cohesive look for your storage. Stow rolling carts under a table or counter and hang a curtain in front of them or stick hodge podge containers into a closet or cupboard. Since the odd items are out of sight, everything will look as though it goes together at first glance.
Label Everything to Keep Hobby Supplies Organized
Label makers are a great tool for hobbyists. Putting labels on every container that list the contents means that a search for items doesn’t need to involve opening every single container in the storage area. Make sure labels stay up to date so the system doesn’t lose its effectiveness.
While it can be tough to keep supplies for some hobbies organized, there are a vast number of hobby storage options available that try to help hobbyists keep them as neat and tidy as possible. Look around and experiment with different systems and soon your hobby area will be as organized as a library book shelf.…
RECENT UPDATE
5 Ways to Make Money On Instagram
There are several ways to make money on Instagram, but it’s important that you only use methods that don’t violate the terms of service agreement of the site.
This includes anything that asks you to buy, sell, or try to alter the way that the site works in any way.
While a lot of people have made some quick and easy money through ads on the right side of the page, there are limits to what can be done, so you should only dabble.
The best strategy is still to build your followers and turn them into buyers by promoting the products that they want or love.
You can get a better feel for how to do this by reading the rest of this article.
Sponsored posts:
Some companies will pay you to promote their product on your page.
You don’t have to do all of the work, but some companies will throw in an extra post for free if you do.
For example, if you like pizza, they might send you a sponsored post on a monthly or quarterly basis.
You can also make money through sponsored stories, which allows you to write about someone who uses their product and give an honest review.
Photos and videos:
This is the bread and butter of Instagram marketing, you can read more at SMM World.
People enjoy visual content, especially on a site like Facebook where there is so much content already there for you to look at.
Take a lot of pictures from different places and post them to your account.
If you are into videos, make sure to post some to your page as well.
People love watching videos, so you’ll definitely have people following your updates if you can provide them with something interesting to watch.
The trick is to provide content that people will want to see on a regular basis, so keep your page updated all the time.
Business feeds:
You can set up a business feed that shows customers the latest products and deals that you’ve found on the web.
Most of the time, these feeds are updated manually by Instagram staff, but you can help them do this by adding links to your products on your page.
Business feeds can turn into huge profits for you, especially during the holiday season.
With so many people shopping on Black Friday and Christmas, make sure that you are one of the first people to show up with deals on these holidays.
Private messages:
You can make money through private messages on Instagram.
You can send other Instagram users messages that will only be seen by them.
You can sell anything that you want on your page, and you can even put coupon codes so that people can save money when they buy products off of your shelf.
Make sure that you read the guidelines carefully before you start sending messages so that you don’t get in trouble.
Engagement levels:
When you follow people on Instagram, you’ll increase your chances of them following you back as well.
The best way to attract followers is to make sure that your page is fun and engaging.
People love interacting on social media, so if you want to make money, make sure that you keep your page updated at all times.
If you constantly stay away from updates, then you’ll only have a handful of followers.
Tips:
There are also many tips that you can find on the internet to help you make money.
One of the most popular ones is using coupon codes.
Coupons are great because they can save you some money on whatever you’re purchasing.
Make sure that you research each code thoroughly before you try it out on your page.
Instagram may seem like a gimmick at first, but you can make real money on it.
There are many different ways that you can go about making it work for you, though it helps to have a clear plan in mind before you get started.
Follow the above-mentioned tips and you should be able to make a lot of money off of your page in no time at all.
It’s a great way to share your pictures and let everyone know what you’re up to.…
Is test and tag a profitable business?
We’ve all seen the commercials and ads for test and tag businesses.
In this blog post, we’ll explore whether or not these companies are a viable option for business owners.
First, let’s look at what these types of companies do: they’re in charge of testing homes’ plumbing systems to ensure that there is no leakage from pipes or fixtures.
Next, we’ll examine the pros and cons of starting a test and tag company so you can determine if it would be a good fit for your own personal goals.
Finally, we will discuss how much money you could expect to make with this type of company once it has been up-and-running for five years based on different factors such as location, number of employees, etc.
In Australia, when we talk about the testing and tagging industry, we could be talking about a $100 million business or one that earns around $5 million to $10 million – depending on who you ask.
It’s difficult to define exactly how much revenue is brought in by companies involved with this sector because there could be many not-for-profit organizations running testing and tagging programs for schools, sporting clubs, and other groups barely turning over any profit.
However, there are certainly plenty of commercial operators making a tidy sum from their businesses.
For example, Brisbane-based company Toxguard runs tagging programs for thousands of children each week and has various outlets spread throughout the country.
This type of business is also supported by businesses such as Service First, which supplies equipment to firms in this sector, including cash registers and point of sale systems.
Mark Hewitt is one individual who has worked hard to carve out his own business in test and tag.
His company’s official name is National Electrical Safety (NES) Services, but he recognizes that these sorts of companies need an edge over their competition to ensure they can survive.
Mark tells us more about how he set up the business below:
“When I first started my electrical tester training course I had no idea there were so many opportunities out there for people with the right skills.
I had always worked in construction so I never really considered being a tester or testing company as an option, but now I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
“I was able to use my electrical skills along with my qualifications to get my business off the ground.
Once you know what the industry is about and how it works, then opportunities will start to become apparent through your own research into the specific test and tag companies.
Being a sole trader didn’t seem appealing at first because of the lack of security.
But when you find something you love doing it’s all worthwhile.”
“My advice to anyone thinking about setting up a test and tag business would be not to rush into things too quickly, if you decide to start a test and tag business in Australia, call your service something like “Testing and Tagging Melbourne“.
No matter what your market segment maybe, the whole idea of electrical safety compliance is pretty simple: make sure equipment used by others has been safely tested and indicate that it meets Australian Standards.
In manufacturing, there are two types of testing, Factory Mutual (FM) and Heavy Industries Science And Technology Association (HISTA).
With FM you are required to test or check that all installations comply with Australian Standards at least once every six months.
Has varied depending on the type of equipment being used in your business – whether it’s power tools, forklifts, or other plant equipment.
The main advantage of hiring an electrical tester is that you don’t have to buy your own test and tag equipment.
However, if you do decide to set up your own business as a testing company then there are various forms of equipment needed such as lockout gear, plug testers, and earth fault loop impedance testers.
You can get all the necessary equipment from Service First Electrical.
Mark Hewitt says it’s important to stay close with customers so they know exactly where their maintenance funds are being spent.
This also provides the opportunity for businesses to create good relationships with clients so they can be given higher priority in any emergency situation.
“It’s really important to keep your finger on the pulse when it comes to industry trends because this way you will always be the first to hear about market opportunities.
For example, if you’re in the area of power tools then it would be wise to know what other types of equipment companies are using.”
“All information is good info when it comes to this business, so I’m always on the lookout for new opportunities.
If there’s one thing that I’ve learned it’s you shouldn’t try and tackle all your problems by yourself.
Sooner or later these things will come back and bite you if not resolved properly.”
“You’ve got to stay ahead of the game even though the basic idea might seem simple enough.”…
What Car Should I Buy: A Beginner Guide!
What car should I buy for a beginner?
There are several cars you can start with, starting with an economical small car towing a light trailer behind a truck.
It is best to find at least two cars that are affordable and will get you on the road.
Once you know how safe a car is to drive, you can work your way up to a more powerful sports car.
The type of car you should buy depends on your style of driving, safety concerns, your wallet, and your needs as a driver.
When you consider what cars to buy for a beginner, the first thing you need to consider is the safety rating of the vehicle.
Is it worth buying or should you stay away?
How safe is it?
This question is most important when it comes to four-door sedans.
If the car has a low rating, it may not be worth buying, especially if the car will be used for transporting children.
A safe driver can get good grades in school, but that doesn’t mean you can take your car out on the highway without knowing how to drive it.
In fact, some people who are involved in an accident don’t even know how to fix their cars.
That is why it is so important to purchase a safe car.
There are so many different makes and models available on the market today that finding one that has been well maintained can help you avoid any costly repairs in the future.
Before you even begin thinking about what car to buy for a beginner, you want to think about what level of driving you plan to do.
Are you just learning to drive for pleasure or do you have a goal of becoming a safe, dependable driver?
Even if you want to become a safe driver, you can start by selecting a safe car from the beginning.
This is a great way to begin learning how to drive because you won’t have to worry about losing money if you get into an accident or have an accident that costs you lots of money.
The first and best thing you need to do is find out how safe the car you want to purchase is before you even begin looking.
You should first try to find out how much damage each vehicle has been through.
In most cases, vehicles that are sold for cheap are known to be unsafe because they have been abused.
Ask friends or family members if they can recommend any reliable dealers who sell cars for cheap.
If you don’t have anyone who can give you advice [click here] you can always check online to see what other people have said about various dealers.
Another way to find out about the safety of a particular car is to ask around your community.
People living around you will be able to tell you if a car is safe to drive or not.
Of course, you have to take their word for it, but it’s a good idea to ask around.
What car should I buy for a beginner to help them become a safe driver?
It would also be a great idea to find out from your local police force if they know of any reliable dealers in your area.
Ask them for advice.
What car should I buy for a beginner to help them become a safe driver?
If you are new to driving, you should get a vehicle that has a high safety ranking.
High-ranking cars are known to have a reduced chance of having accidents, which means that they are less likely to cost you a lot of money in repairs.
Now that you have found out what car should I buy for a beginner, you should make sure that you are ready to go out and drive it.
You never know when you might have an accident, and it would be horrible if you had an accident while on your first trip with your new car.
You never know when something may happen that could have unforeseen consequences.
That is why it is important to make sure that you are insured because if you get into an accident without insurance, you could owe a lot of money and be unable to get any money to fix the car.…
Zipper Fashion Rosettes
Supplies:
Metal zipper
Fabric scrap
Scissors
Hot glue
White glue
You might have been saving zippers to sew into other garments, if those zippers go bad, but sewing zippers into clothing isn’t the only way to reuse them. Cut zippers up and use them in an unusual way to make embellishments for fashions and home decorating projects, rosettes for crafting, and other fanciful items. If you already have zippers, you won’t pay a penny for the rosettes, which can be used in many different ways.
Unzip a zipper and cut it, straight across, to remove the zipper pull, and to separate the two sides of the zipper. Since each piece has fabric stitched to it, it’s necessary to remove the cloth. Cut the stitches to remove the biggest part of it; use a lighter to burn off the rest. Remember to hold the zipper with a potholder because the zipper will get hot as you burn the fabric off.
When all of the cloth is off of the zipper it’s the easiest thing to turn it into a rosette. Simply lay it flat on a table and begin winding it around itself. Hold one end down, and wrap the other end around and around the stationary end. You’ll make a flat circle of zipper teeth, which is metallic and lovely. If you want the rosette to be larger than it is when you finish wrapping, use a dot of hot glue to hold the end in place, and start wrapping another zipper-half around it.
The rosette you make is a flat one but you can give it dimension by making another one on top of it. The top rosette should be a bit smaller than the bottom one. Add another rosette, and another, to create the depth that you want; make each rosette smaller than the previous one.
The zipper rosette will be easiest to attach if you glue a piece of cloth or felt to the bottom of it. Glue the finished flower to a purse, a garment, a lampshade, a mirror or picture frame corner, or even a hat. Attach it to a piece of fabric to make a curtain tie-back, or make a large zipper rosette, and turn it into a coaster.
Don’t like the metallic color of the rosette? Paint it! You can easily spray paint the zipper before you start, or paint the rosette when you’re finished. That gives you many options for coordinating colors on your fashions, or for your home decorating.
…
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