Here is an interesting Story about The power of video games, or maybe it is just BS I will give my thoughts after it and would like to hear others thoughts about what happend, if some of them are gamers that would be cool. Got this from USA Today.

By Joe McDonald, The Associated Press
BEIJING - The parents of a 13-year-old Chinese boy who they say jumped to his death from a tall building after playing one of the popular Warcraft online games for 36 hours straight are suing its Chinese distributor, a news report said Friday.
Zhang Xiaoyi died on Dec. 27, 2004, leaving behind a suicide note saying he wanted "to join the heroes of the game he worshipped," the official Xinhua News Agency reported.

It said Zhang's parents, who live in Tianjin, just east of Beijing, are seeking 100,000 yuan ($12,500) from Aomeisoft, the Chinese distributor of Warcraft: Orcs and Humans.

The suit says Aomeisoft failed to include a warning that the game's U.S. maker rates it as suitable only for players above age 13, according to Xinhua.

The Warcraft games are made by Blizzard Entertainment, a unit of Paris-based Vivendi Universal SA. Xinhua said a Tianjin court rejected a claim by the parents against the game maker.

The vice president of Aomeisoft, Bai Jie, told The Associated Press that he saw news reports about the lawsuit but that the company hasn't received any official court notice.

Bai said Zhang's parents were suing the wrong company, because Aomeisoft was set up in August, eight months after his death. Bai said he didn't know which distributor sold the game in 2004.

China has 111 million Internet users, second only to the United States. It is one of the world's biggest markets for online games, with tens of millions of players, many of whom hunker down for hours in front of PCs in public Internet cafes.

But the government has expressed concern about the violence and sexual content of some games. It has imposed curfews and time limits on children in Internet cafes and banned them near schools.

Also Friday, a newspaper said the Beijing city government has launched a review of the Chinese capital's 1,007 licensed Internet cafes to ensure they are complying with rules on admitting minors.

Violators could lose their licenses, the China Daily said.

In 2004, China shut down thousands of Internet cafes nationwide after a series of fatal fires and other accidents.

Xinhua said Zhang played at a "game hall," but didn't say whether that was an Internet cafe, which would have been required to limit his time there to a few hours.

Several cities have clinics to treat what psychiatrists have dubbed "Internet addiction" in users, many of them children and teenagers, who play online games or surf the Web for days at a time.

Specialists at a Beijing hospital examined Zhang's diary, school records and suicide note and concluded that "Zhang had excessively indulged in unhealthy games and contracted serious Internet addiction before his death," Xinhua reported.

His parents' suit also calls on the distributor to put a warning on the game's packaging saying "playing games excessively harms health," the report said.

Bai, the Aomeisoft executive, said the company plans to add "anti-addiction warnings" to future games.

The Warcraft games have 2.5 million players in China, with copies in more than 100,000 Internet cafes, Vivendi Universal chairman Jean-Bernard Levy told reporters in Shanghai in April.

Copyright 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

I admit that I have never played Video games that where made for online gaming, so I don't know from first hand experience if they are really addicting. But I have seen some people really get addicted or at least play Role Playing games for a long time stright and have heard of really long sesions , some times skiping food and bathroom breaks for a day.

I took a computer class at Canisius and the teacher admited that when he was first on the internet it was verry addicting. He admited that he would often lose track of time and hours and hours would pass and he had no clue, so he would have a clock and limit his time. If the net is addicting to some people and so is the game that could be a bad combo. I have seen a documentary show about some gamers and some of them will play for a day stright. I know I have done the same thing as my teacher before. Chat rooms and IM's are great for that.

Just because some one is addicted to a game dosn't mean that they would jump out a window but it could cause it. But the real question is who's fault is it. Did anyone not do something they should have like limit hours of use some how or have a warning. Or did some do something they shouldn't have done like make the game addicting and run tests to make it so people don't want to stop playing.

Being addicted to something is techniquely only labeled addiction by defination when there is a problem. For example if I came home and Smoked weed and turned on comedy cental it wouldn't be an addiction even if I did it every day. It wouldn't be and addiction untill that behavior caused problems. For example If cable goes out I freak out or can't go to work the next day cause I'm to messed up. I think that most things that are addicting arn't to most people. But that there is a small amount of people who will get addicted to them. I also belive that most addicts can't blame the thing they are addicted to. It isn't its fault it is that they have an addictive personality. One proff of this is often addicts switch drugs: they kick Coke or alcohol then pick up smoking.

However there is another factor and that is the character factor. Sometimes being a character can change your out look and you can start to think like the character and belive you are them. I know that sounds crazzy. But I do remember when there where Dungeons and Dragons suicides. Peoples characters would die and they couldn't handle it and they would kill them selves since they where so invovled in the game. There is a term in the wrestling Business for something simalar when a wrestler starts to belive he is the character they play. They play that role on TV then when they are in public they are recongnized and stay in charcter (or they used to atleast) and they sord of become that guy. I also heard an Interview with Bill Goldberg once and he said that Getting into character was easy, he just kinda flipped a switch, but he was so intense from being that other person that it took him a couple to a few hours to wind down and go back to being himself. So maybe the parents of this kid might have a case.

Tonight hOpeFullY wiLL Be BetTer than LaSt Night. If the Sabres can win and sweep the Senators that would be awesome. I just hope the tiredness dosn't creep in like it did last night. I was really into the game it was really exciting shots where going off posts the Sabres got a goal that Emery never really saw It was a great time. Then Blam out of No Whare the tiredness hit and I was out cold. Woke up It is overtime before it statrted BLAM out cold so I wake up this morning and the TV is off, when did I do that, Huh and so I at least found out the sabres won. Tobad I slept to late and was late for work. All moring I couldn't wake up. It was like something sucked all the energy out of me and not in the good type of way either. On another note since I don't really know any of the details; I probololy wont go. on Friday and Saturday Peter Max will be at The Mansion with his Art Work. I guess you can see it and buy it. I like some of the Stuff like the Statue of Liberty in differant colors but other then that I don't know his stuff.

Been a little down today and Yesterday. Not sure why really well maybe not down just not much to say. But the sabres play verry soon so that should be fun. I think this article is interesting and all I can say is man that is way to much walking even for when I did a lot of walking.





'Fat man walking' into own legend

---

Cross-country trek helps 'to get things straight'

By ELIZABETH LESURE
Associated Press
5/10/2006




NEW YORK - Steve Vaught didn't count each mile he walked or weigh himself every day along the way. And as he completed the final leg of his trek across America, he said making it to New York City from California on foot was only part of his story.
"I'm glad that I'm here, but for me it's never been about the destination," Vaught, 40, said Tuesday as he crossed the George Washington Bridge from New Jersey to Manhattan more than a year after he began the trip to lose weight and find happiness. "It's been about the journey."

Last year, Vaught weighed 410 pounds and continued to suffer from the severe depression he had experienced since accidentally killing two elderly pedestrians while driving 15 years ago.

On April 10, 2005, he began the long trek from his home in Oceanside, Calif., to Manhattan. He ended that journey Tuesday, having walked roughly 3,000 miles - and lost about 100 pounds.

Along the way, Vaught slept in tents and motels and went through 15 pairs of shoes, more than 30 pairs of socks and six backpacks. But he didn't travel with a pedometer or measure the food he ate, and he said he aimed to change his behavior - not just his weight.

"This is not about obsessing about numbers, or times, or dates, or miles," he said. "It's just about going on a walk and sort of having time to get things straight."

Vaught chronicled his progress on a Web site, thefatmanwalking.com, which lists the names of dozens of supporters in 26 states. His trip attracted the attention of documentary filmmakers and national television, and he plans to write a book about his experiences.

As Vaught began walking the span from New Jersey to Manhattan on Tuesday evening with a flock of cameras and reporters, a passing bicyclist yelled, "Hey, that's the walking dude! Congratulations! Good job!"

Nicoline Biggio, who went to see him complete his journey, said her husband has been following Vaught's progress but was missing the finale because he was out of town.

"It's great that he's finished his goal," Biggio said. "So few of us actually keep them."

Vaught posed for photographs on the bridge with the New York City skyline in the background and standing in front of the "Welcome to New York, the Empire State" sign.

Once he reached the other side - his destination - he spoke to reporters for a few minutes on the street before being picked up by a black sedan that was to take him to a hotel.

His first plan, he said, was to "put on some new socks."

Well on sunday I took a nice walk down elmwood and bought a bunch of CDs at New World record. Two of them are 30seconds to Mars and the two disc Jackdaw, the 30 seconds to mars is verry good. Inside New World they have a cool guitar that is part of the Guitars for Hope charity public art event. I enjoyed the walk also it was verry nice.

Articles from the Buffalo News on the Bandits for anyone who is interested.

INDOOR LACROSSE
Game day
By TOM BORRELLI
News Sports Reporter
5/7/2006 Bandits fans can catch "Orange Fever" Saturday prior to the final. A pregame party featuring live local music, food and drink specials, hair and face painting, as well as appearances by the Bandettes and Bandits mascot Rax, begins at 3:30 outside HSBC Arena in the Plaza area located near Perry and Illinois streets. All are invited and encouraged to wear orange.
Championship tickets are $37 for 200 club level and 100 preferred, $29 for 100 level II and $27 for 100 level III. They are available on line at tickets.com, at all tickets.com outlets in Tops Markets, and can be charged by phone at (888) 223-6000.

e-mail: tborrelli@buffnews.com




INDOOR LACROSSE
In Bandit Land, are you experienced?


Atmosphere, energy make HSBC Arena a unique venue for fans young and old

By TOM BORRELLI
News Sports Reporter
5/7/2006 It's not only the players and coaches who turn HSBC Arena into Bandit Land.
It's also the energy in the building, the public address announcer, the music, the chants, the dancers and the fans.
Buffalo Bandits director of lacrosse operations Dave Zygaj is hopeful his team can sell the joint out - all 18,690 seats - for the first time in nine years for Saturday's 6 p.m. National Lacrosse League Champion's Cup against the Colorado Mammoth. So far, more than 12,000 tickets have been snapped up.
The most recent standing room only throng occurred when the Bandits last played a home championship game - on April 12, 1997 against the Rochester Knighthawks. After several years of declining attendance, fan support has rebounded nicely. This season's average home crowd of 12,163 was the highest since 1998 and it marked the third straight year attendance has improved.
Zygaj says it's because a Bandits contest is not just a game, it's an experience.
"It provides entertainment for sports fans and non-sports fans," said Zygaj. "It's the whole environment. I love hockey, I grew up playing it, but I've fallen in love with this game too."
So have most of the folks who come through the turnstiles. Since the team sold about 4,700 season tickets this season, nearly two-thirds of every home crowd was a walk-up or single-game sale.


INDOOR LACROSSE
The stands
By TOM BORRELLI
News Sports Reporter
5/7/2006 When things are going well for the Bandits, the place is loud.
"The fans in Buffalo are just so interactive," said NLL commissioner Jim Jennings, who will present the Champion's Cup to Saturday's winner. "That's the difference between Buffalo and most of the rest of the cities in the league. And that's what makes it so enjoyable."
Jennings' home is decorated with bandannas and other Bandits memorabilia, courtesy of son J.T., 11, and daughter Caitlin, 10, after visits to Buffalo.
The fan who wears a giant "Potato Head" is a regular. So is a mysterious patron known only as "The Bandit."
"I've never even seen his face because he wears a big bandanna and sunglasses," said Bandits game production director Marty McCreary. "When we put the camera on him, he goes wild."
An average home game means about 70 bushy orange wigs are sold at the concession stands, a tribute to fan favorite Mark Steenhuis, who has bushy blond hair and wears bright orange lacrosse shoes. A group of fans wears orange togas, others wear cowboy hats.
"The reason Bandit Land is what it is is because the guys establish a tone and the rest of the fans just go with it," McCreary said. "It's kind of hard not to get swept up in it."
Lancaster's Dave Nitchke is a 65-year-old season-ticket holder in Section 103. The test engineer and his wife Judith have been going to Bandits games since the team came to town in 1992.
"The sport is great and it's economical," said Nitchke, who says he's never forgiven the home team for letting Jim Veltman get away to the Toronto Rock after the last championship season of 1996. "You get to see eight home games and it doesn't cost an arm and a leg like the Sabres. I couldn't afford to go to Sabres games. But for $200, the wife and I can get out of the house eight times a year."


INDOOR LACROSSE
The voice and songs
By TOM BORRELLI
News Sports Reporter
5/7/2006 The man who supplies the juice to Bandits fans is public address announcer Chris Swenson.
"There aren't as many restrictions as the NBA and NHL so that allows us to just run with it," said McCreary, referring to the music that blares during play, plus Swenson's ongoing commentary that often deflates the opponent as much as it inflates the crowd.
When Steenhuis scores, Swenson asks the crowd, "Whose house?" They respond, "Steen [it's pronounced Stain] house."
When goalie Steve Dietrich makes a save Swenson inquires, "What's he got?" The crowd bellows, "Nothing!"
John Tavares, the top scorer in NLL history, is serenaded by "Johnny Who?" from Swenson. "Tavares," yells the crowd.
"Chris' lines are being copied all around the league," said McCreary. "And that's the highest form of flattery."
There's also a song for every situation.
"Start Me Up" by the Rolling Stones sometimes ushers in the opening faceoff.
If a game seems headed to overtime, it's time for "You Shook Me All Night Long" by AC/DC.
When Steenhuis scores a goal, you hear "Brick House" by the Commodores.
Cory Bomberry, who possesses one of the hardest shots in the league, is honored with "You Dropped A Bomb On Me," from The Gap Band.
As for Tavares, it's "My Hero" by the Foo Fighters.
"The demographic spans young and old," Zygaj said.

INDOOR LACROSSE
The Bandettes and Brigade
By TOM BORRELLI
News Sports Reporter
5/7/2006 The Bandits practice once a week during the season. That's nothing compared to the Bandettes, who hold three-hour practices twice a week plus an hour-long workout on game days.
"If they miss a practice the week of a game, they get benched," said Erin Jackson, who is co-manager of the Bandettes along with Julie Fanutti. "If they're late to practice on game day, they're benched."
More than 40 women, who must be 18 or older, tried out for a dozen Bandettes spots. Jackson said the tryout talent was so good the roster expanded to 14.
The Bandettes not only perform dance routines during games, they attend team functions and hold autograph sessions on the 100 level before games. They hosted Cheer for a Cure, which included 80 schools' cheerleading squads to benefit juvenile diabetes, and their popularity has led to the establishment of the Junior Bandettes, a 26-member squad made up of 7- to 17-year-olds who get to dance with the Bandettes at halftime and during pregame at one contest each season.
And some people aren't satisfied with just going to the home games.
The 150 or so members of the Bandits Brigade, the team's fan club, travel to Rochester, Toronto and Philadelphia. They even went to Calgary two years ago for the championship game. They've partnered with the Bandits to raise money for the Variety Club and are always looking for new members.

For those of you who had Fun last night With (e:jenks) I'm glad you had a great time. To bad I missed another bar party. I guess I really need to get a cell phone with the web and get a pre paid plan. If I would have had that I could have found out that there was a change in plans. I wound up having A good time at a verry packed Cozumel. I watched the Sabres game there and had some drinks. Oh there where some amazingly stunning women there. Of course being shyish I couldn't come up with anything to say to start a conversation. There was this one tall girl with a Turgeon Jersy on who was nice and she had a friend with her who wasn't half bad either. I did walk around and see if any one I knew was there. Granted I got there a little later then I wanted but oh well. I didn't wind up seeing anyone I knew at all. I found the past place to see the game is inside as opposed to the place with the big screen. Yes the screens are smaller but since they are elevated you can see the entire picture as opposed to looking between heads. I think I need to start taking pictures of chicks at bars and events and posting them hear for everyones pleasure, sounds like a good idea to me, doubt I will do it.

This Morning I was going to go to the bank but figured out my time and wound up going to see Mi:III or mision imposible 3. It was verry good and had lots of action and good twists and turns, I thought it was verry good. There is a chance that I may go and see it again. I just got to the bank before it closed. I wanted to go picture taking today but the sun is strange it is overcast then sunny the next minute I would prefer that it was sunny. I need to look up if any good movies are on tonight. It is weird how I feal like doing something but have no idea what.

First of all Happy Birthday (e:jenks). Hope everyone has a good weekend and 5th of may. If that means going to Cozumel or watching the sabres. Time to go shower change and go to Cozumel to watch the game celebrate and celebrate Alex's 30th birthday.

Update I must remember the camara and take some pics of the peeps if I can find them I heard they have a new building. Hopefully they will come out good and will get posted well time for fun hopefully i'll see some of you there.

Went to John's Italian (however it is spelled) Village on grant with my sis's roomate and some people she knows and had a good time here are a few pictures of the sournings. i'm used to eating by myself but eating as a group is cool and is fun also.







on a side note hopefull I will see some of you peeps out on friday. I have no Idea what (e:Jenks) is doing in terms of time and place. A buddy of mine left his card with his # in my mail box so I had better call him in a few minutes and find out what is going on.

As of the News I have been toying around with the custom themes and mine is kinda funky but I like it I need more purple. I wonder if there is a way to see what others themes look like. Oh in case I don't see ya this weekend Happy Birthday Jenks.

I love this weather we are having. But it creates a great war within ones self. Do I go check my (e:mail) and Post and go to a few websites or do I go find something to do on elmwood like take a walk. Iknow if I go out in that weather then I will fall behind on other stuff I do on line. Right now it looks like there are at least 3 concerts I want to go to. Edge Fest was just announced it is on a Monday June 26 or is that 27 I know it is a monday. They got wise and are going to trash LaSalle Park, Lots of Bands that I don't know but 30 seconds to mars will be there from what I understand. Seether is going to the Erie County fair with Shinedown and another band. Alexisonfire I saw once and they where verry good I belive they play the same night as the bandits in the championship. There are going to be lots of great concerts this spring and summer and I'm sure there will be more annouced. I belive chevelle is opening up for Nickle Back that might be interesting. But often with so much stuff going on diuring the summer you sometimes get conflicts and I'm allready conflicted by the weather. I gotta bail and hope the sabres can win as I tape House (part 1 part 2 is on wendsday). Hope everyone gets to enjoy the weather it sure can change quickly here.