Luke Judge

Phil Sands, Foreign Correspondent

• Last Updated: August 18. 2010 12:15AM UAE / August 17. 2010 8:15PM GMT

Modernisation has forever changed Raqqa city, once the heartland of Syrias Bedouin culture. Phil Sands / The National

RAQQA, SYRIA // Walking through the dusty main souk in Raqqa city, searching for signs of its past, Mahmoud Nejris looked at the crudely functional concrete buildings lining the streets, and he cursed.

Cement changed everything, he said. It killed traditional construction and damaged the face of the community. Of course Im against it. Our identity was enshrined in those old buildings and today we are losing that identity.

A dentist with a small clinic in Raqqa, Mr Nejris is more renowned as a local historian, an avid hoarder of artefacts and information.

The walls of his clinics waiting room are covered with ceramic pots, tools, old weapons and copies of documents written during Arab rebellions against the Ottoman Empire, the British and the French.

In one of the souks side streets, not far from his clinic, the dentist-historian found what he was looking for – a mud brick wall with three wooden doors set into it.

Adnan al Sokghnee, the provincial governor, said he was ‘positive’ about the future but under no illusions about the daunting scale of the task ahead. Emma LeBlanc for The National

This is whats left, he said sadly. Not so long ago it was a place for local handicrafts, carpets, tools and things for the house. Now nothing is really made here.

Even the few collectables sold in the market are a testament to modernisation. The hand-stitched rugs tacked together from old clothes, woven-wheat bags and fire-scarred cooking pots are traded in by rural families who are slowly replacing them with factory made equivalents, usually imported from Turkey and China.

Some people think that everything old is useless, Mr Nejris said.

They are affected by a sort of western mindset. Then there are those at the opposite extreme. They want everything to be old. Im not saying we should be stuck in the past, but we need the right mix that respects traditions and doesnt prevent modernisation.

It is a common dilemma, but in Raqqa memories of the old ways of life remain fresh. Modernising trends arrived suddenly and comparatively late. Electricity came to the city only in 1976 and the rush to develop meant that cement buildings replaced the mud variety with such speed that, for todays tourists, authorities have built a concrete replica because the original structures are gone.

Some 80 km outside of Raqqa city lives Abdul Aziz Gaishesw, a Bedouin sheikh from the Enizar tribe. Like many of his peers, he holds Saudi citizenship despite being born in what is now Syria, and freely divides his time between the two countries, viewing them both as home.

It is a reminder that, in the recent past, the borders of the Middle Easts modern nation states did not exist and the Bedouin tribes roamed throughout the Arabian peninsula and Levant.

When I was very young, we still lived in a tent but my father was the first to build a stone house here, with a wooden roof, back in 1935, he said, sitting in the tribal reception room he keeps open 24 hours a day. He wants it available to any passing visitors who need somewhere to stay – a custom he insists must not be allowed to wither.

Sheikh Gaishesw had an unsentimental view of modern history, saying he experienced enough of the past to know its flaws first hand.

There used to be one doctor in the area, now there are hundreds. In the old days the Bedouin were not educated, they couldnt read, there were no schools. Now our children can hope to grow up to be lawyers, judges, engineers, he said. Today, people lead better lives, easier lives. Before, it was just struggle. We settled the land, it was modern cultivation methods that changed everything.

The tribes themselves, while still a key element of society, are less important than they once were. Tribal leaders remain highly respected and are the first arbitrator in disputes between families or over land. Yet, where once the sheikhs word was final, now, if either party is not happy with his decision, they can take the matter to court.

Change, while rapid, has been far from universal. It has also been largely unplanned and, aside from the physical appearance of crude cement block buildings, it has not always been successful.

Syrias agriculture boom in the 1980s – Raqqa governate is part of the nations breadbasket – has been unsustainable, leading to abuse of scarce water resources that may have crippling long-term effects.

Rural poverty remains rife, exacerbated by a recent three-year drought, and many children are at best partially educated.

Unemployment is high, investment in industry low, and some traditions, such as so-called honour killings against women deemed to have sullied the family name, still take place.

But Raqqa also has something of a reputation for producing artists, poets and writers. One of them, Fawzia al Maari, said that culturally there had been advances, particularly in terms of womens rights. However, significant problems remained.

Compared to when I was a girl, there have been improvements, no doubt about it, she said. Girls can have aspirations that were once impossible. But opportunities are very limited and a lot of women here are stuck in unhappy lives, as the property of men.

It is the pressing need to lift peoples economic standing that concerns Adnan al Sokghnee most. The provincial governor, appointed directly by President Bashar al Assad, said he was positive about the future but under no illusions about the daunting scale of the task ahead.

We need modern irrigation systems for agriculture. We need to focus on sustainable energy. We need to speed up reform of the economy and there needs to be administrative reforms, he said. And we need a new mentality.

We are still at the beginning of this project. We are working on it. But we will succeed, Im sure of that.

swan Collectables ceramic pots, ottoman empire, rebellions

Sorry, the page you’ve requested could not be found.

We’ve recently redesigned our sites, so it’s possible that the page you’re looking for has moved. We recommend the following troubleshooting tips:

• If you’re looking for a specific article: Go to the front page and use the search form (top right) to search for it by keyword.
• To find a section of the site: Use the main navigation (above) to visit the relevant top-level section of the site, or go to the front page then click ‘site map’ at the top for an overview of the entire site.
• If you still can’t find what you’re looking for: Contact for assistance, and let us know which site and story you are having issue with.

flamingo Collectables front page, site map, troubleshooting tips

Marc Gunther is a writer, speaker and consultant, who focuses on business and the environment as well as the author of “Faith and Fortune”.
Read more »

Christine Hertzog is a consultant, author, and a professional explainer focused on Smart Grid.
Read more »

Jesse Jenkins is the director of energy and climate policy at the Breakthrough Institute.
Read more »

Geoffrey Styles is Managing Director of GSW Strategy Group, LLC and an award-winning blogger.
Read more »

Dan Yurman is a nuclear energy blogger and writes regularly for Fuel Cycle Week.
Read more »

tropical Birds Collectables blogger, climate policy, group llc, hertzog, marc gunther, strategy group

By admin ?mugrat.net/tropical-rainforests-photos/

tropical Birds Collectables photos

From the Reds (I’ve heard tickets sales have been less than great for the Philly series. Among the promotions listed below is one in which you can two tickets for donating a non-perishable food item):

Friday, June 25, 2010 – Cincinnati Reds vs. Cleveland Indians, 7:10 pm

eagle Collectables cincinnati reds, cleveland indians, non perishable food, promotions

Wizard of OZ collectibles are now out online.  There are Dr. Seuss items like baby Seuss and baby shower supplies. It is our way of giving tribute to Dr. Seuss through featuring his classic into writing and classical illustrations into baby things.  There are even top brand collectible items to choose from like Beatles, Betty Boop, Blue Sky Clayworks, Call of the wolf,  Candy Pillows,  Cherished Teddies, Coots and Biddys, Costumes, Department 56, Disney Merchandise, Dr. Seuss, Peanuts and Snoopy, precious Moments, Looney Tunes etc.   Place your order now and it will be delivered fast to you.  There are great deals and big discounts.  A whimsical place is what we want to decorate with all our kiddy items and exciting decors.  Come and see our products now.  There is a lot to see and to choose from.  Collect the entire newest item from Dr. Seuss.  We made it special for you.

penguin Collectables baby things, blue sky, dr seuss

This robust paperback of Eisenberg’s intelligent and crisp stories will keep you going for days, weeks — all summer. Eisenberg’s stories — stories of heartbreak, romance and complicated relationships — are quick-paced and studded with dialogue so true it sparkles. She catches both moments and entire lives; her language is conversational but her words are deliberately chosen. (“He rested his hand on my arm, high up, where a slave bracelet goes.”)

“Nose Down, Eyes Up,” by Merrill Markoe (Villard, 305 pages, $15)

It should be hard to recommend a book about a talking dog, but this book is so hilarious and poignant that I have no choice. Gil is living a lonely loser bachelor life when, one day, he hears voices coming from the garage and finds his dog, Jimmy, instructing the neighborhood dogs in how to get along with (and get stuff from) their humans. (“Memorize this phrase: ‘Drop nose, raise eyes,’” Jimmy tells the gang. “It’s the cornerstone of my teachings.”) There’s plot in here, too — Jimmy wants to be reunited with his birth mother, who happens to belong to Gil’s ex-wife, and Gil is trying to figure out how to grow up. It’s a quick summery read, and you may well alarm the other folks at the beach with your loud laughter.

“Tinkers,” by Paul Harding (Bellevue Literary Press, 19 pages, $14.95)

As George Washington Crosby goes about the business of dying in a hospital bed in his living room, he remembers his childhood, his present, his past, his father, and the stories that made up their lives. This small, quiet book, so beautifully written, weaves memory and impression in poetic passages interspersed with sharp, lovely scenes about fathers and sons. Winner of a Pulitzer Prize.

“The Turtle Catcher,” by Nicole Helget (Mariner, 288 pages, $13.95)

Set in southwestern Minnesota during the first World War, Helget’s debut novel explores the world of German-American immigrants, their divided loyalties, the hatred they endured, the sacrifices they made. The story focuses on the Richter family — sensitive, bookish Herman, who returns from war a changed man, and his lonely sister, Liesel, who flirts with a slow-witted neighboring farmer to disastrous end.

“Thief,” by Maureen Gibbon (Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 182 pages, $14)

owl Collectables bachelor life, southwestern minnesota

With the Election Approaching, Girlawhirl.com Gives Readers a Different Way to Look at the Candidates

Today’s girlawhirl.com feature article isn’t about the presidential candidates’ intentions for dealing with the economy, foreign relations, healthcare or taxes. Instead, astrologer Stacey Wolf analyzes their personality traits. Using the candidates’ birth dates, birth places and (when available) time of birth, Wolf created charts for Barack Obama, John McCain, Joe Biden and Sarah Palin. The girlawhirl.com article featuring Wolf’s findings discusses each of their astrological strengths and weaknesses, and paints a picture of how the White House and Washington D.C. might feel under each proposed administration.

Worldwide Marketplace for Classic Cars

What is TopOldtimers.com? TopOldtimers.com is a new online marketplace for classics and vintage cars and car parts. TopOldtimers.com focuses on the entire world. It is the most complete advert site concentrated on classic cars and car parts.

In addition to that, it is an online network of passionate classic car enthusiasts and professionals. On there, you can find an online magazine, news, museums, events, a dealer-guide, lifestyle information, clubs, of course a forum, and lots more.

So the site is a reflection of a real-life marketplace, which often also has a spot where people meet and sit and talk, or build relationships.

Furthermore, its strength is in comparing information from various continents. TopOldtimers.com chose to divide the world into 4 interesting regions: Europe, America, Asia, and the Rest of the World (or: More Countries). This division makes it easy to get a clear view of the adverts per country. TopOldtimers.com anticipates on the curiosity of the visitors from the various continents. What could be more fun than to view the American approach from Europe, or the other way around?

Infobright Delivers a New Approach to Data Warehousing

Miriam G. Tuerk, President & CEO of Infobright, recently participated in an exclusive interview with Mary Jo Nott and the Business Intelligence Network (BeyeNETWORK.com). In this interview, Tuerk explains how Infobright’s Brighthouse analytic data warehouse software is designed to answer complex, detailed questions involving massive amounts of information, quickly and cost-effectively.

“Businesses are operating at the speed of light,” began Miriam Tuerk in an interview with BeyeNetwork. “Organizations need to be able to react quickly to changing business conditions and want to be able to access information with the ease and speed of a Google query. Infobright has developed an easy, fast data warehouse that eliminates the manual workload and speeds fulfillment of business requirements.”

CVtrumpet Offers Recruiters Free CV’s

CVtrumpet.co.uk, the UK’s No.1 CV sending service, is still offering executive recruiters and recruiters free CV’s from targeted candidates.

Recruiters can choose candidates from more than 80 industries, more than 100 job functions, six salary levels (£15k to £300k), employment type, job level and location. This benefits recruiters by saving them both time and money.

To receive free CV’s all recruiters have to do is to fill in a simple and quick form, which states very specifically what type of candidates they would like to receive.

Cross-Boundary Data Sharing, Citizen-Centric Compliance, and Tactics for Addressing Other Key Challenges Serve as Themes of 2007 Metatopia Conference

Major transformations are under way in both government and private sector organizations with regard to the managing and sharing of information. With new mandates requiring federal agencies to change from being program-centric to citizen-centric; other regulations forcing agencies to increase consumers’ accessibility to previously locked information; and governing and implementing data-sharing across functional, agency, enterprise, federal, state, and local boundaries remaining of critical concern for both national security and commercial interests, a new crop of challenges (as well as opportunities) is emerging for data management professionals.

The UK Gift Company Celebrates 150 Years by Launching Corporate Service with Dalvey Gentlemen’s Gifts

The UK Gift Company is the online presence for Church’s China, the UK’s Premier store for 5b4 Gifts and Collectables. 2008 sees the 150th anniversary of the founding of Church’s, who are celebrating by launching their online Corporate Gift Service. Dalvey Gifts for Gentlemen is the cornerstone collection of The UK Gift Company’s corporate offering.

The UK Gift Company today launches its Corporate Gift Collection, majoring on Dalvey Gifts for Men. June 2008 marks the 150th anniversary of the company. Stephen Church, Managing Director and fifth generation member of the family announced today the instigation of the company’s Corporate Gift Offering, Stephen says, “2008 is a tremendously exciting year for us. 150 years of continuous trading as one company is no mean feat. Our sector of china, crystal and jewellery has undergone so many changes over the years. The challenges faced both, between the war years and in more recent times, have been overcome we’re now experiencing a period of unprecedented growth.”

New Version 5.0 of Rapid Responder Crisis Management System Creates Quicker and Easier Access to Critical Emergency Information For First Responders

Prepared Response, Inc., the industry leader in the development of crisis management planning and response systems, has released a major upgrade of the Rapid Responder® Crisis Management System to help first responders save lives and protect property. The recent shootings across the country show the need for solutions that provide police, fire and other first responders with instant access to critical building and emergency response information. Some of the highlights of the new release include:

RSS (Really Simple Syndication) feeds

Enhanced GIS Integration and Functionality

Expanded Campus Emergency Preparedness Features

Common Alerting Protocol for warnings associated with natural disasters and weather conditions

Extended documentation for staff management and training documentation

Event and incident tracking module

Improved IP Video and Enhanced Imagery Features

Rapid Responder provides first responders with instant access to critical facility information to help save lives and protect property. The system has been deployed to more than 10,000 buildings across the country and has been used during a campus shooting, bomb threats, lock downs and other emergency situations. The system is used to “digitally catalogue and inventory” critical infrastructure, including public and private buildings, transportation systems, hospitals, utilities, schools, bridges and other structures. Using Rapid Responder, police, fire, and other first responders can instantly access more than 300 data points, including tactical response plans, evacuation routes, exterior and interior photos, floor plans, utility shut-off locations, and hazardous chemical inventories for virtually any facility.

PopChar Win 2.2 Now Includes Advanced Integration For QuarkXPress and QuarkCopyDesk

Ergonis Software has released PopChar Win version 2.2 for Windows 95/8, ME, NT 3.x/4.x, 2000 and XP; an instantly accessible solution for handling special characters, accents, fonts and foreign letters directly into any type of document.

The latest version of PopChar Win improves automatic font detection and makes it available within QuarkXPress and QuarkCopyDesk.

With global communication at an ever-increasing high, the world has become a far smaller place. Sending printed correspondence, emails, data, files and documents across the world has become the norm.

Online Training Leader lynda.com Announces Release of Access 2007 Essential Training

lynda.com, the leader in self-paced digital media and design training, today introduced Access 2007 Essential Training.

From using predefined Access 2007 database applications to building them from scratch, Access 2007 Essential Training covers each step of understanding, creating, and modifying databases for custom business purposes. Instructor David Rivers shows even the most database-challenged how to utilize this powerful software for creating reports and charts, as well as for business record keeping and analysis. Exercise files accompany the tutorials.

87 Interactive Ranked Top 10 Organic SEO Company by topseos.com

87 Interactive, a premier Philadelphia SEO company announced its placement in the 2007 list of Top 10 SEO firms for the 6th consecutive month, as reported by TopSEOs.com, a trusted and well-respected resource for evaluating internet marketing vendors.

“87 Interactive has demonstrated that it is a leader in its field, showing superior service levels and performance for their clients,” commented Bill Peden, of topseos.com. “87 Interactive clearly stands out among other Organic SEO vendors in the $5 billion plus search marketing industry,” added Peden.

Best of the Web Discount Promo Code “CLICKZ15″ will Get a 15% Discount on All Orders from Best of the Web

Olympic Internet and the Get Clickz blog announce a new permanent discount promo code on paid directory listings at Best of the Web (BOTW.org).

While other directories have fallen out of favor with the search engines, Best of the Web has not. Its unwavering commitment that the listings only contain sites that have unique content, easy navigation, and contain no broken links make it a cut above the other directories whose sole purpose for existence is profit.

Many surfers go to Best of the Web first to find what they are looking for, but it’s the search engine optimization (SEO) benefits of Best of the Web that makes it special. This is a directory site that most top SEO consultants will purchase first when optimizing client sites.

GirlFridayInk.com Recognizes National Domestic Violence Awareness Month With Free Rsum-Writing Services to Domestic Violence Survivors

In recognition of National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, October, GirlFridayInk.com, will provide Professional Power Rsum-Writing Services free of charge to domestic violence survivors from October 20-31, 2004.

Each year, an estimated 1.5 million women and 834,000 men are physically abused by their current or former intimate partner or spouse, according to the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control at the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in Atlanta, Georgia (cdc.gov/ncipc/dvp/dvam.htm). Additionally, one in four American women state that they are or have been physically abused by an intimate partner. Domestic violence destroys people, families and communities everyday. Domestic violence, on any level, is intolerable. GirlFridayInk.com is committed to improving the quality of life for survivors of domestic violence by offering free Power Rsum-Writing Services in observance of National Domestic Violence Awareness Month,” states Professional Power Resume Writer and owner of GirlFridayInk.com, K. G. Weathers.

Healthy Living Skills: The Hidden Route to Optimal Health

Simple healthy living skills – like balancing work and home commitments, finding time to prepare healthy meals, keeping up personal relationships, or following expert advice – may be the most important thing standing between millions of people worldwide and their optimal health. The good news is those skills are easily learned.

“People want to make healthier choices,” explains Elizabeth Eckert, who answers healthy living questions at her Word Cures website, “But let’s face it – our lifestyles are more and more chaotic. Stressed-out people simply aren’t able to choose health as they’d like to.”

CCH CompleteTax Survey: Young Taxpayers in the Dark on Tax-related Benefits

Young taxpayers are significantly less likely to take advantage of tax-related benefits, are most likely not to know whether they are eligible to participate, and nearly one in five rate their employers as terrible in providing information about tax-advantaged planning, according to findings from a nationwide CCH CompleteTax survey. CompleteTax (CompleteTax.com) is an online tax preparation and e-filing service for individual taxpayers developed by CCH, a Wolters Kluwer business and a leading provider of tax and accounting law information, software and services.

“You generally can’t avoid taxes, but there are some ways you can reduce them without a lot of pain. Unfortunately, taxpayers are still not as informed as they should be or participating as much as they could be to realize these tax savings,” said David Bergstein, CPA, a tax analyst for CCH CompleteTax.

Steamboat’s Annual Bud Light Cowboy Downhill Returns

Don’t miss the annual Steamboat Springs Bud Light Cowboy Downhill, returning to the resort Jan. 16, 2007. This Steamboat tradition began more than 30 years ago when Billy Kidd, Steamboat’s Director of Skiing, and Larry Mahan, six-time All-Around World Champion cowboy, invited several ProRodeo stars to Steamboat for a day of skiing. The Downhill has become the most popular event of the season with over 100 of the best professional rodeo cowboys competing in the most unique ski rodeo in the country. Sponsored by Bud Light, the Cowboy Downhill is always scheduled to coincide with the National Western Stock Show in Denver. For more information call (970) 879-6111.

Measuring Customer Satisfaction Depends on Asking the Right Questions

Measuring customer behaviors -– going beyond typical customer satisfaction surveys -– is critical for companies to have an accurate view into customer loyalty. And companies that measure only buying behaviors are missing critical information that ultimately can affect their bottom line, according to Impact Achievement Group.

Spending behavior, while very important, can be less reliable than many companies may think to assess future business, advises Rick Tate, senior managing partner of Impact Achievement Group. Buying may be related to many things besides pure satisfaction or loyalty. Customers may buy because of convenience or price, or may be locked in to purchasing because they’re not aware of other suppliers.

Hypertherm Updates Phoenix Software to Support HyPerformance HPR400XD

Hypertherm, the world leader in plasma arc metal cutting technology, today announced an update to its popular Phoenix software.

The updated versions, Phoenix 6 and 8.5, include the same capabilities as the original version, but add features to support Hypertherm’s new HyPerformance HPR400XD–the industry’s first 400 amp HyPerformance system. These features include improved marking cut charts, piercing parameters, and auto-gas support. Additionally, the Phoenix 8.5 release adds updated cut charts for Hypertherm’s Powermax45.

Growth Hormone Controversy Heats Up After New York Times Article

Health journalist Fintan Dunne, Editor of MyLongLife.com, has entered the latest controversy over human growth hormone, with hard-hitting revelations about the health politics behind the issue.

The adult use of human growth hormone(HGH) was at the center of a recent New York Times article about two anti-aging preventative medicine doctors, and founders of the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine (worldhealth.net/), Dr. Ronald Klatz M.D. and Dr. Robert Goldman M.D..

00004000 The NYT’s, Duff Wilson reported the two physicians to be promoting the controversial hormone as an aid to extending human life span, despite claimed serious side-effects. Now Dunne has responded with an in-depth examination of the HGH saga and the role of established medical and pharmaceutical interests in the issue.

The two physicians have been outraged over a slew of recent negative media coverage on the topic.

“Beneath the surface of this story there are hundreds of billions of dollars at stake, along with the future of medicine itself,” says Dunne. “There is a hidden battle going on for your right to a long, vital and healthy life.”

Dunne reports that the nascent promise of the anti-aging movement, spearheaded by the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine, is to greatly enhance our health as we age. But he says that is also the worst nightmare of a pharmaceutical industry bent on easing us into premature death with a plethora of profitably-expensive medications. Viewed by entrenched medical interests, the burgeoning development of anti-aging medicine is a potent threat, says Dunne.

Errold Moody Challenges CFP Board to Do the Right Thing

A January 12, 2001 letter from the CFP Board to a CFP charged with a grievance, read as follows: An Inquiry Panel of the Board of Professional Review of the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. (CFP Board”) recently considered the grievance filed against you by ___. After careful consideration of the matter, it was determined that there was no misconduct (sic) this case and, therefore, it has been dismissed as being without merit. Accordingly, the CFP Board considers this matter closed.”

FastFigures™ Mobile for iPhone™ and iPod® Touch Delivers Fast, Accurate Calculations from the Field

Infinity Softworks, Inc., leading provider of calculation software for smartphones, has announced that FastFigures™ Mobile for iPhone™ and iPod® Touch is now available in the Apple® AppStore.

FastFigures, available as a web-based application at fastfigures.com or as a version that runs without an Internet connection on iPhone™ and iPod® Touch, helps professionals and students perform rapid what-if calculations from the office, in the classroom, and in the field.

Make Complex Calculations Quickly, Accurately Without an Internet Connection

flamingo Collectables america asia, american approach, joe biden, stacey wolf

If you’ve watched any online streaming video coverage of E3’s press conferences this year, chances are you’ve seen people jumping and/or flailing their arms in front of a television. At Microsoft’s press conference on Monday, they showcased their Kinect motion-sensing device, previously called Project Natal.

Onstage at LA’s Wiltern Theatre, a handful of Microsoft staffers navigated a virtual white-water raft down a virtual river. They leaned to steer. They jumped to launch the raft into the air to reach in-game collectibles. They squealed with delight, presumably when the scrolling text on the teleprompter read “[SQUEEEAAAL!!]” The rafting mini-game actually looked super fun. It was hard to watch without feeling the urge to push one of the players aside and take your turn. (Not bad at all, Microsoft. I give you full permission to rent out an aircraft carrier and hoist a giant banner proclaiming, ‘motion accomplished.’)

The motion-control revolution Nintendo heralded with the release of its Wii game console set a new accessibility benchmark. Wii bowling leagues sprang up in convalescent homes. People who never considered themselves gamers couldn’t wait to get their hands on the cutting-edge Wiimote and virtual-fish, virtual-golf, etc. Nintendo’s target market expanded from people who play videogames to people who have arms and legs. That’s a lot of potential customers. It’s no wonder Sony and Microsoft have been playing frantic catch-up ever since.

I can appreciate the accessibility/commercial rationale for motion control. Looking at my Xbox 360 controller with its numerous triggers and analog sticks and variously colored buttons, it’s easy to empathize with non-gamers who find that hunk of plastic as welcoming and intuitive as a Boeing 747 cockpit. What I don’t understand, however, is this specious notion that somehow mimicking real-life gestures in front of a television heightens one’s sense of immersion.

At Nintendo’s press conference, Shigeru Miyamoto personally demoed the latest installment in the Zelda franchise, Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword. As the crowd’s whoops and hollers faded to a reverent hush, Miyamoto showed how to defend with your shield (punch the left hand forward like you’re thrusting out a shield). He showed how to shoot the bow and arrow (hold your left hand in front of you and pull your right hand back as if shooting a bow and arrow). He showed how to swing your sword (swing the Wiimote in your dominant hand like an imaginary sword).

With each new gesture Miyamoto demonstrated, the game seemed less about Zelda, and more about a solitary, thematic twist on charades. Skyward Sword doesn’t appear especially concerned with jump-right-in accessibility—players will have plenty of buttons and gestures to commit to memory. Rather, its mission seems to be centered on encouraging Zelda fans to play-act the part of the series’ beloved protagonist Link. I found the spectacle of the Skyward Sword demo depressingly misguided in its conception of player immersion.

The wonderful thing about videogames is how effectively they simulate a fictional reality. Players are invited to inhabit an avatar onscreen, making choices and affecting the virtual world that character inhabits. The level of immersion hinges on how vividly a game studio’s art department realizes that fictional world, how believably written its dialogue and voice-acting is, how meaningful the player’s actions feel. Audience immersion in videogames doesn’t depend on gestures and play-acting any more than it does in the case of a gripping novel.

Can you imagine someone trying to make a case that books offer a less immersive fantasy because the reader participates while in a mostly stationary position, holding a bound set of pages in her lap? That you’d experience a heightened sense of immersion if you got off the couch and paced around your apartment every time the book’s protagonist happened to be walking somewhere? We snort at such hypothetical absurdity, and yet in 2010 game developers still believe that swishing our right arm through the air will make the fantasy of swordplay more viscerally satisfying.

I find it telling that USA Today journalist Brett Molina spends the majority of his blog entry about his hands-on time playing Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword comparing the game to Wii Sports: “After slashing mushrooms, rolling bombs at foes and shooting down fruit with a bow and arrow, the [Wii Sports] gameplay comparisons are hard to escape.” I’d push further and contend that any game relying on motion-control gestures will inevitably begin to feel like a loosely related batch of mini-games. Link slashing a man-eating plant according to the angle its mouth opens, that’s a decent mini-game right there. But as a single component of a larger game experience, it’s just a tedious gesticulative hoop to jump through.

I don’t want to sound too sour. Motion-control devices such as Nintendo’s Wiimote, Sony’s Move wand and Microsoft’s controller-free Kinect are delightful complements to party games involving multiple players. In such a context, gesture-based gaming creates a wonderful sort of impromptu living-room performance art. However, in the case of narrative-driven, single-player experiences that typically involve longer stretches of play, I consider motion control a plague, a novelty sideshow, a self-congratulatory tech demo, a tyrannical and tiresome distraction. After your first 10 hours miming dutifully along with Link in Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword, you’ll be thinking about immersion all right—a therapeutic, muscle-relaxing Jacuzzi dip.

Jason Killingsworth is Paste’s games editor. He is based in Dublin, Ireland, and writes about music, film, tech and games for a handful of outlets. You can follow him on Twitter @jasonkill or drop him a line at jason [at] pastemagazine.com.

pheasant Collectables analog sticks, mini game, target market, video coverage, wiltern theatre

owl Collectables owl toys, plush owl toys, tawny owl toys

We need to take a deep dive together on the Senate strategy, and on the real details of the bill that make it important for the things you and I care about. So, I hope I bring something new to that discussion that we can use as a jumping-off point.

First, the Senate dynamic — the politics of this place. I want to be candid about this, and I do so with a record on this issue that I think earned me the spurs to say this. We’ve been at this a long time. Al Gore and I held the Senate’s first climate-change hearings in the Commerce Committee way back in 1988. Since then, precious little progress has been made and ground has been lost internationally, all while the science has grown more compelling.

I can barely even count any more the number of international summits I’ve attended, or press conferences we’ve held after losing climate-change votes in the Senate where our message was, “Next year, we can get this done — don’t give up on the United States or the Senate.” Two Congresses ago, we had 38 votes for a bill. Last Congress, we had 54 votes for cloture out of 60 needed — and we said then — me, Joe, Barbara Boxer [D-Calif.] — that this Congress we could get to 60 and pass a bill.

So what have we done? A lot of meeting and listening — between me, Joe Lieberman, and Lindsey Graham [R-S.C.], hundreds of meetings one-on-one with our colleagues to find out what they needed to support a bill. And I absolutely believe we’re closer than ever to getting across the finish line — but make no mistake, it remains difficult, even with President Obama in the White House, and even with the House of Representatives having passed their bill by the slimmest of margins last summer. But we’re going full-steam ahead because, in my judgment, this may be the last and certainly the best chance for the Senate to act, especially with the fact that I think the next Senate — given a 2012 presidential campaign added to the dynamic and a lot of new senators — is going to be less likely than this one to find a path to the 60 votes needed for passage. So we’ve got to get it done this year.

Hear me out on this one — you know where I’ve been and continue to be on all the major environmental fights since even before I became a senator. As a lieutenant governor, I focused on acid rain and we laid the groundwork for the successful fight on the Clean Air Act in 1990, with the support of the first President Bush and bipartisan support from Congress. In stark contrast to that effort to find a bipartisan way forward, I led the successful filibuster — against the urging of many in our Democratic caucus — to defeat the second President Bush’s plan to drill in and destroy the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. I point to these twin examples because I think they’re evidence that I know when to dig in and fight, and I also know when and how to find the path to getting something done across the aisle.

And here’s what I can tell you: A comprehensive climate bill written purely for you and me — true believers — can’t pass the Senate no matter how hard or passionately I fight on it. No, it’s got to be an effort that makes my colleagues — and that has to include Republicans so we can get to 60 — comfortable about the jobs we’re going to create and the protection for consumers and the national security benefits — and it has to address those pieces on their terms. The good news: I think we got that balance right.

owl Collectables climate change, cloture, joe barbara, jumping off point, press conferences, senators