The Independent Kixmiller Pigeon MrkII

While NFS Hot Pursuit 2 doesn't receive  as much nostalgic  praise from devoted fans as High Stakes, it's still a very good and worthwhile game. Hot Pursuit 2 is regarded as the last of the "classic" lineup as it's the last NFS game that still conformed to the classic format since the franchises' inception: racing exotic cars in exotic locations. Time to burn rubber on the Greek countryside in my Mustang! Despite it being the last of the classic games, HP2 was the first in the series that started to use licensed  music, a feature that would become standard in later titles. The game featured music from prominent artist of that time. As such, HP2 highlighted the two main popular  music trends from the early 2000's: neu-metal and gangsta rap. I admit that neither genres are my personal favorite, but that's just preference . Also, one can turn the music off, which in retrospect, is a Godsend for YouTubers recording gameplay footage. The last thing this Yo...

The Macintosh experienced phenomenal growth immediately upon release. The future looked very bright and promising for a brand-new platform. However, their was a sales slump in the Summer of 1984 though. This was expected though as computer sales usually hit their low point during the Summer months. Apple were looking at the Holidays, as this would be the time that sales would skyrocket. However, fortunes didn't change through and the Macintosh saw further decreases in sales through Fall and Winter. The revenue generated from the Apple II and its peripherals still accounted for around 80% of company sales by the end of the year.  What happened? On one hand, their was eager anticipation from those who were willing to purchase the computer, regardless of its price. However, once those with serious dough received there Macintosh, it was hard to convince the general public to spend such a massive amount of money for the new computer. Cost At introduction, the Macintosh carried a $2,500 ...

The conflict between Russia and Ukraine is one that goes back a couple hundred years. For centuries on-end, the Czars of Russia saw Ukraine simply as a piece of Russia itself, personal property to play around with,  and nothing more. Ukraine had no unique national identity as far as they were concerned. Ukraine was devastated in the Russian Civil War in the late 1910's/early 1920's. Millions more died under Stalin's farming policies that resulted in a mass famine in the early 1930's. Ukraine was further devastated in World War II. The general economic incompetence of the Brezhnev period certainly didn't do wonders for them either. Then came Chernobyl. Ukraine has been thru Hell and back multiple times thanks to Russia. Not surprisingly, the Ukrainians were counting the seconds to strike out on their own (could you blame them). Yet, Putin still sees Ukraine as Russia's personal property. For many Russians, Ukraine's independence was only reluctantly tolerated...