2012 In Video Gaming: 10 Games to Wait For

Year 2011 has been very good for a gamer, possibly the best in a long time. We had Littlebigplanet 2, Killzone 3, Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, Uncharted 3 and the list goes on. The year 2012 will see many original video games, as well as the release of numerous sequels to already successful franchises. Here are ten titles to wait for in 2012.

1. Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning

This upcoming single-player RPG developed by 38 studios has all the potential to be a success. The game universe is created by fantasy author R.A. Salvatore and responsible for the artwork has been no other than Todd McFarlane (Creator of Spawn). Taking God of War and marrying it with Oblivion is a BIG promise (one made by Curt Schilling), but we will see does the game live up with the hype. Oh and btw Claudia Black (you know.. Morrigan) is doing some voice acting.

2. Torchlight II

Supposedly being bigger and better than the original game, Torchlight II features overland areas with multiple hub towns, and a longer campaign. New features are heard to be included as well such as time of day cycles, weather and renewed user interface. Players can now also customize their appearance with choice of gender, face, and hair style. We are eager ready for this new hack-and-slash rpg. PC, MAC

3. Final Fantasy XIII-2

Claiming to fix the problem fans hated in Final Fantasy XIII, read: linearity, the game continues five years after the events of FFXIII. The game claims to add freedom, new towns, and improvements to the (already excellent) battle-system. Glorious world design, excellent combat and strong storytelling: These are the things look for in Final Fantasy XIII-2. PS3, XBOX360

4. Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch

We love eye candy and interesting stories. A game which combines both, is surely welcomed. If you already haven't heard: Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch is a game developed by LEVEL-5 with Animation by Studio Ghibli. The title surely has the potential to be a keeper. PS3, 3DS

5. The Last Guardian

What can Team Ico can offer us this time? If you loved Ico or the Shadow of Colossus there is no need for explanation because it is something good. Unfortunately, The Last Guardian has been a title people have just been waiting... and waiting.. and waiting with most recent news being Yoshifusa Hayama, The Last Guardian's executive producer, leaving the studio to develop some Facebook games!!! The Last Guardian is a third-person perspective game that combines action-adventure and puzzle elements. PS3

6. Uncharted: Golden Abyss

Uncharted: Golden Abyss is the first Uncharted prequel and first Uncharted title on handheld devices, meaning Sony's upcoming PlayStation Vita. We will see how the Uncovering of the dark secret behind the 400-year-old massacre of a Spanish expedition goes on PS Vitas OLED screen. PlayStation Vita.

7. The Last of Us

We don't know much about this title yet, since it was just recently released. Resembling I am Legend, the game has astonishing graphics and developer team which no doubt can deliver a real adventure. If Uncharted meets Enslaved in this game, consider me sold. Even with so little detail, this game might already be the most hyped PS3 game for the following year. PS3

8. GTA V

GTA V, the latest installment in the Grand Theft Auto series and another GTA that is set in Los Santos, San Andreas! The game looks awesome so far and will most likely deliver what is to be expected.

9. Borderlands 2

Gearbox's shoot and loot game looks better than ever. The first Borderlands was purely an awesome game. Building upon the gameplay elements of its predecessor, Borderlands 2 features all-new characters, skills, environments, enemies, weapons and equipment, which come together in a crafted story. PC, PS3, XBOX360

10. Mass Effect 3

Earth has been taken, the galaxy is on the verge of total annihilation, and you are the only one who can stop them. This probably is the game everybody is waiting for. Mass Effect 2 was the best sci-fi RPG I've ever played. So get ready to follow YOUR story of Commander Shepard in Mass Effect 3, if you have the save-game files for Mass Effect and Mass Effect 2. If you don't.. I suggest you leave home now and don't come back without those earlier Mass Effects.

Flying With The Butterflies: How To Overcoming Your Public-Speaking Nerves

It may have taken you days or weeks to prepare for your presentation, and it all could be ruined in an instant because of your nerves. Learn the following 7 simple techniques, and you'll defeat your public-speaking nerves for good and become the most confident person in the room.

1. Face Down Your Fears. If you feel your knees turning to jelly out of fear, remind yourself that fear stands for False Evidence Appearing Real. Almost certainly, whatever it is that you're frightened of won't happen. If there is a real worry, for example you've forgotten an important prop, do something about it and then stop worrying. Remember, you can always rationalise yourself out of fear.

2. Breathe Deeply. Practising a breathing exercise before you go on will relax your body and mind. Here's one that you can do anywhere, even in the wings. Stand still and feel the ground beneath your feet. Close your eyes and imagine yourself suspended from the ceiling by a thin thread. Just listen to your breathing and tell yourself there is no rush. Slow your breathing until you can count to 6 seconds of in-breath and 6 seconds of out-breath. You'll now go on in a totally relaxed and confident mood.

3. Relax. Relaxing is the art of letting go. There are many ways to let go. You can imagine you're made of rubber and go wibbly-wobbly. Or you can sit in front of a mirror and make a horse's laugh with your lips. Why not lie on the ground and pretend you're floating? Or, just collapse on the ground like a limp doll. Letting go un-tenses the body and makes you more at ease and relaxed.

4. Chant a Mantra. A mantra is a mystical Hindu chant. The more you repeat it, aloud or quietly to yourself, the more focused your thinking becomes. Here's a mantra that will put you into the right frame of mind to face any audience:
"I'm pleased to be here
I'm pleased you're here
I care about you
I know that I know."

5. The Wall Push. The wall push was a technique used by Yul Brynner, star of the musical "The King and I". This is what you do. Stand about 18" away from a wall and place your palms flat on it. Push against the wall. As you push, your abdominal muscles will contract. As you breath out, hiss and contract the muscles below your rib cage as if you were rowing a boat against the current. Do this a few times, and you'll banish all feelings of stage-fright.

6. Will It To Happen. A quick and easy technique to deal with any phobia like fear of speaking is to will the phobia to happen. Strange as it may sound, this really works. That's because you no longer give any credence to the fear part of what you fear and so the fear goes away. So, if you fear losing your place, tell yourself that you will, that everyone will find it hugely amusing and so will you. Almost certainly, your brain will now stop this from happening. Incidentally, the same idea is used for curing insomnia not be trying to sleep but by trying to keep awake.

7. Get Close To Your Audience. One of the most effective techniques for dispelling your presentation nerves is to take a bit of time to get to know your audience before your talk. Mixing with them has the effect of discovering that they are just like you and not hostile at all. You may even discover that some people are more nervous for you than you are!

Practise any of these 7 techniques and I guarantee a lifetime of nerve-free public speaking!

The Natural Life of Teams

One-off teams are those that are formed in response to special needs, such as a project, a training course or a review. They are characterised by having finite life spans, clear objectives and sometimes terms of reference. Their aim is usually to produce a result, often in strict cost and time constraints. In short, they come together to perform.

According to research by Bruce Tuckman, amongst others, one-off teams grow through five stages of development.

1. Forming. The forming stage is the process of appointing people to the team and bringing them together. The atmosphere is often wintry, cold and formal. Suspicion, distrust, caution and fear may exist. The main direction of interaction is between individuals and the team leader. Although the forming stage is often a short stage in team development, teams can get stuck if trust is low and there is no impetus for development.

2. Storming. The storming stage is the second stage of team development when the group realises the need to move out of the stagnant stage of forming. Now people start to sort out the issues in the group including how things are to be done, what roles people are to perform, who is going to work with who, and so on. Instinctive reactions arise based on individual fears. There are differences about exactly how to proceed and whose ideas will dominate. Although this can be a dangerous time, with the group fighting over the way forward, it is also a positive time since there is more interaction between team members, both in building alliances and in conflict with others.

3. Norming. The team can either stick in the storming stage, possibly indefinitely until the team implodes, or until they realise that progress is unlikely to happen unless they sort things out. This means establishing roles and rules that everyone can sign up to. This often depends on the team thrashing out what their purpose is and agreeing a system for working together. People start to see what they can personally gain from belonging to the team. There are the beginnings of putting others' needs ahead of one's own within the framework of mutual gain. The glimmers of team spirit start to emerge.

4. Performing. If the norming stage of team development succeeds, the group starts to function as a team: individuals working to a common purpose and a common set of procedures. The result of this is that the group perform better than any individual on their own. The group creates a synergy and becomes a team. 
This realisation is often the defining moment in the life of a team and it creates its own motivation. Members now see the advantages in putting the team ahead of themselves. They are willing to sacrifice personal needs in the service of the team. In return, the team allows them to go on an exciting adventure that promises rich rewards in terms of doing things that they could never have done on their own. The team is ready to face risks and challenges in the confidence that, together, they can succeed. They know that this means working together at an enhanced level of mutual acceptance and support. The team can now perform to the limits of what is possible.

5. Disbandment. It is tempting to keep a well-performing team going once it has reached a high level of performance. After all, this is what it was formed for. However, while some teams manage to prolong their success for some time, it is in the nature of organisational life for complacency and self-satisfaction to creep in once a team reaches a winning level. Then it becomes important to look to the future by disbanding and starting the growth cycle once more.

So, what is the role of the team leader in guiding teams through these stages? Well, if you are a team leader the first thing you need to do is have a clear understanding of this process of evolution. Then you need to know how to nudge the team forward through each of the five stages without forcing and without rushing. For example...

� at the forming stage, focus on the team's identity. Accept the team as a unit that can look after itself with your support. Build their confidence. Intervene only if the mix of individuals is not right.
� at the storming stage, encourage openness. Promote a safe climate. Allow healthy conflict. Avoid rescuing the team.
� at the norming stage, remind the team what they have in common. Link ideas. Connect people. Seek interaction between the team members.
� at the performing stage, give people the confidence to believe in themselves. If need be, give them the skills they need. Provide positive feedback. Celebrate success. 
� at the disbanding stage, manage change by looking ahead and moving on.

If you manage and lead this 5-stage process of team life, you will have created something unique that the people involved are likely to remember all their life.

How to Create a Butterfly Garden

People who love to garden also tend to enjoy watching butterflies flitting about. After all, butterflies are just as pretty to look at as the flowers that they visit. Gardeners can entice even more butterflies to visit their gardens by creating gardens specifically for butterflies.

It’s quite easy to create a butterfly garden. You may even find that you already grow some flowers that attract butterflies. With just a little effort you can create a beautiful haven for these lovely winged creatures, and the butterflies will appreciate your efforts.

If you’re starting from scratch and will be creating a new planting bed for your butterfly garden, you’ll first want to learn how to properly create a planting bed for your plants. You can find information on preparing raised planting beds at http://www.freeplants.com

When deciding where to locate your butterfly garden, choose a spot that is not isolated from other plants. Butterflies will be more likely to find your garden if there are other flowers nearby to lead them to your butterfly garden. But if your butterfly garden is the only patch of flowers in a vast sea of grass, butterflies won’t have much reason to be in the area. If you have a border of flowering shrubs and other butterfly-enticing plants are scattered around your yard, the butterflies are much more likely to spend time in your garden.

The butterfly garden should include a variety of plants that attract butterflies, and those plants should be in a variety of colors and heights. Consider planting azaleas, rhododendrons and lilacs for height. Fragrant ‘James McFarland’ lilacs seem to be especially attractive to butterflies. Weigela, with its flowers like dainty trumpets, is another good shrub for attracting butterflies.

No butterfly garden should be without Butterfly Milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa). Not only will the bright orange blossoms attract many butterflies, but the plant will also provide food for caterpillars. Without the caterpillars there would be no butterflies. Dill and parsley also provide food for butterfly caterpillars. If you’re lucky, you may even have Monarch butterflies laying their eggs on the milkweed and you can watch the entire life cycle, from caterpillar to chrysalis to butterfly.

Many other commonly grown flowers will attract butterflies, including hollyhocks, purple coneflowers (Echinacea), Black-eyed Susans (rudbeckia), cosmos, huechera, zinnias, beebalm and cleome. Buddleia, also known as butterfly bush, is a must in any butterfly garden. If you have room for this large plant, Mexican sunflower (tithonia) will attract many butterflies and hummingbirds with its sunny orange blooms.

Plan your butterfly garden so there are blooms all season long. The rhododendrons, azaleas and lilacs will provide a spring snack for butterflies, followed by summer-blooming plants such as the buddleia and asclepias. In the fall, butterflies will sip nectar from asters and ‘Autumn Joy” sedum.

In addition to providing food for butterflies, your butterfly garden should also provide a resting place along with shelter from the wind and cold. Include flat rocks in your garden where the butterflies can sun themselves. It’s even better if the rocks have shallow depressions where water will puddle and provide a place for butterflies to gather for a drink.

A small log pile will provide shelter from the weather for butterflies. You can also purchase butterfly shelters that look rather like tall, narrow birdhouses with several slots for entrances. These may attract butterflies, but in my experience wasps tend to move in, discouraging any butterflies from entering.

One final thing that every butterfly garden should include is a comfortable bench placed where you can sit and admire the beautiful butterflies. After all, you’ve created this garden not only for the butterflies but also for your own enjoyment.

How you can make your own Your Kids Toys Risk-free

The complete scenario behind the invention of toys due to shall be enjoyed, but portion of that enjoyment includes making sure the toys are safe for your personal children. You will find 10 simple steps that you may take to confirm that your kid enjoys his/her toys when taking the right actions you need to take sure they are safe.

Follow the age tips about the package.
This article is typically written in smaller print and also nestled in lower corner, or back, of your box.

In case the toy contains small parts, consider your child's behavior before purchasing.
Even when he/she posesses the age groups recommended because of the manufacturer, parents must consider about whether or not their child behaves old enough to address the doll and it's parts.

Never leave a child unattended when playing with a toy that features small parts.
Whether or not step away for only a minute, that is likely to be everything necessary for them to decide that will put the toy in his/her mouth. It can be very dangerous, so always provide just as much supervision as possible even though child is fidgeting with his/her toys and even more therefore if they provide any small parts. While doing so, never allow children to run with a toys that have sharp or protruding points.

Never will let the child to set toys in his/her mouth.
In case the child was to swallow any kind of the toy, or accessories, te answer could be tragic. If you notice the child putting his/her toys in their mouth, remove them immediately while saying "no" within a firm voice. It's not needed to use the toys leaving your child, however they really should be closely supervised.

Listen careful to consumer safety department notices and product recalls.
This article is crucial because it provides updated information at the safety of certain products, alongside any which could be recently found to possess defects. Within the latter case, a product recall could be issued in order to prevent injuries. Never give you a child to work with toys that might be recalled or are not deemed safe.

Ensure that any drawing markers, paint or crayons you purchase are non-toxic.
On all product that is tested which is proven to be non-toxic, the brand will indicate any findings. Look closely on the back of the packaging seeking this seal before purchasing most of these art accessories.

Should a toy is painted, be sure that the paint will not be coming off.
This could be dangerous if the child was to enter the toys in his/her mouth and it was to fall into their eyes, so become tuned in to chipping or peeling paint.

Ensure that toys and dolls are flame retardant.
This can be necessary for the obvious reasons and to protect the security within your child.

Make sure that the toys are a traditional product and not an affordable imitation, which may indicate cheaper manufacturing.
When buying toys, big event you get what you may pay money for.

Monitor the answer or rating which a toy or video game is promoting.
Today, numerous toys are promoting unhealthy messages or ideals. It is important to monitor the toys that your chosen child enjoys in order to make sure the influences these are getting are your favorite because of their age.