Steamboat Springs has produced more Winter Olympic athletes than any other city in the United States. So the idea of ​​your kid becoming an Olympian is probably a bit more realistic at Steamboat than anywhere else, noted Penny Fletcher.

For Fletcher, it happened twice when his two sons, Bryan and Taylor Fletcher, competed as Nordic combined athletes in multiple Olympics (2014 and 2018 for Bryan and 2010, 2014, 2018 and 2022 for Taylor).

Fletcher – along with Heidi Berend and Nancy Good – are all mothers of Olympians in Nordic combined. And while their journeys all look different, they all started in the same place: on Howelsen Hill.

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“Ben wanted to be on skis when he was 2 years old,” recalls Heidi Berend. “He clung to the house with them. His first word was ‘melmet’ for helmet.

Likewise, Fletcher remembers literally dragging Bryan and Taylor off the hill after Wednesday night’s Hitchens Brothers series of jumps.

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“At age 4, Taylor would follow me around the grocery store in ski jumping position,” Penny Fletcher said.

With sons who lived for skiing and jumping, all mothers remembered jumps from the roof of their house, homemade jumps in the garden and, ultimately, the realization that their child could reach the highest level of sport. and become an Olympian.

It was a journey filled with exhilarating highs and excruciating lows. It was often not the agonizing competition that mothers worried about, but what it would be like for their child to lose, not to qualify, not to make the team, to be outdone by someone. another. In Fletcher’s case, the passing could be done by a brother.

“When you have two sons who participate in the same sport, you always have one who doesn’t do as well as the other on any given day,” she said.

Her happiest days, then, were when she got to watch them in a two-man or four-man team event, competing with each other rather than against.

As the Fletcher brothers grew up at the Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club, then went on to Team USA and eventually to multiple Olympics, the competition was tough.

“As they got older, they were extremely competitive, and as a mother I would freak out because one was always beating the other,” Fletcher said. “I was going home and had these discussions lined up in my head, but they had already forgotten about it. Their competition was on the course and their love as brothers was everywhere else.

Even without family competition, there were still concerns. From the age of 9, Ben Berend set his sights on the Olympics. Intuitively understanding that he had a better chance of qualifying for the Olympics as a Nordic combined athlete, his life revolved around nothing but that.

“Ben was very independent,” his mother said. “I was really worried that he would exhaust himself or that he would regret having done nothing else in life but eat and sleep in a Nordic suit. Every year I checked with him that it was still his passion, always what he wanted to do, and every year he persisted. My biggest worry was that he was not living a normal life and he would regret it; he was so mono-focused.

Eventually, however, the Olympic dreams came true and in 2018 the three mothers found themselves cheering on their sons in Pyeongchang, South Korea. It was an experience they will never forget. To put it simply, said Nancy Good, “we really had a blast.”

Now, four years later, Fletcher will see a son (Taylor) in the 2022 games and Good will be cheering on Jasper. Bryan and Ben have since retired, settled into a new kind of normal life. What remains of almost a lifetime of training and competition for these men now in their 20s and 30s is the resilience, commitment and dedication that made them the great athletes they are. – and the support of their mothers.

“Honestly, when you have a little kid telling you his dream is to go to the Olympics, you can’t close the dream. You support him, all the time asking yourself, ‘Are you prepare to fail?” Berend said. “But it wasn’t my dream, so we just showed up for him.”

It turned out that all those early mornings and cold evenings on Howelsen Hill were worth it and will always be a part of life.

“One time I was driving down 9th Street, and Jasper’s trainer, Todd Wilson, called me and said, ‘Stop! Jasper is about to come out of 90 for the first time’ , Good recalled. “So I stopped on the 9th and watched him jump. I think about it almost every time I drive downtown.

Sophie Dingle is a writer for Steamboat Pilot & Today. It can be reached via the editor.

Hockey player Abby Roque. Snowboarder Nick Baumgartner. Watch for these names in the coming weeks as they are Yoopers who will be competing in the XXIV Olympic Winter Games in Beijing, China.

Roque, 25, is from Sault Ste. Marie and is a forward for the United States women’s hockey team. She talks in her online intro to the 2022 Olympics about playing hockey on her backyard rink. You can watch it at https://teamusa.usahockey.com/2022olympics-abbyroque.

Roque’s father was a coach at Lake Superior State. His mother is from Calumet.

The United States women’s hockey team is looking to repeat their gold medal at the 2018 Olympics, with their main rival being Canada.

Baumgartner, an Iron River native who turned 40 in December, will be competing in his fourth Olympics as a member of the 2022 U.S. Olympic Snowboard Team.

He participated in the 2010, 2014 and 2018 in snowboardcross, with a fourth place finish at the 2018 games in PyeongChang, his best result to date.

You can show your support for Baumgartner by purchasing merchandise from the webpage https://dreambigmi.com/ or from Advanta print in Iron Mountain at https://nickbaumgartner.itemorder.com/

This year, Baumgartner is the oldest snowboarder in Olympic history and the oldest athlete competing for Team USA.

Although 29-year-old Deedra Irwin is from Pulaski, Wis., we also consider her a Yooper, of the transplanted variety. She attended Michigan Tech University from 2011 to 2015. She raced cross country and competed in Nordic skiing as a freshman before focusing on skiing for the rest of her time at Houghton.

On Sunday, Irwin made history as the top finisher in Team USA Olympics history in the 15k biathlon. Not bad for a woman who added the rifle component to her game just four years ago.

We know Upper Peninsula residents who love winter will watch the games. There will be a total of 109 medal events in the following 15 sports: Alpine Skiing, Biathlon, Bobsleigh, Cross Country Skiing, Curling, Figure Skating, Freestyle Skiing, Hockey, Luge, Nordic Combined, Short Track, Skeleton, Ski Jumping , snowboarding and speed skating. There are also seven new events: women’s monobob, men’s and women’s big air (freestyle skiing), mixed team snowboard cross, mixed team jumping, mixed team short track relay and mixed team ski jumping.

That’s a lot of winter sports to follow and we know having a few Yoopers to cheer on makes the Olympics even more exciting.

We wish Roque, Baumgartner and Irwin good luck in Beijing. Go Team USA!

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(MENAFN-Payday Ventures)

With the multiplication of financial crises in the economy, loans gradually became necessary. However, it is easy to remain in debt from previous loans without sufficient income. People who are already in debt and need emergency funds will find it difficult to get a new loan. Most lenders will not grant additional funds due to the borrower’s inability to repay the previous loan. Interestingly, some lenders may still be willing to give loans to people with bad credit ratings, but this would come with a higher interest rate. These lenders are often called bad credit lenders.

What are payday loans for bad credit?

Bad credit payday loans are traditional payday loans from direct lenders, ready to provide loans to people with bad credit. Several online money lending companies offer bad credit payday loans with guaranteed approval. When approving a payday loan, these lenders do not consider the borrower’s credit rating. What is considered is the ability of the borrower to repay the loan. They ensure that the borrower’s income and past bills are thoroughly checked while managing their expenses. Once the right conditions have been met, the loan will be granted.

One of the benefits of taking out payday loans with bad credit from certain lenders is that they could help improve your credit score in the long run. Whenever you repay your loan in a timely manner, these lenders will help you update your credit score with the credit bureau. They can also help you manage your finances properly. This way you will be debt free in no time.

However, not all lenders offering payday loans for bad credit are after the interest of the borrower. Many of them are there for the high interest and fees they charge. Therefore, before taking on bad credit, make sure you do proper research on the lender. If you need bad credit payday loans and want a reliable lender with guaranteed approval, we provide reviews of several Loan Connection services to help you find the right one. best payday loans for bad credit in 2022.

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  Viva Payday Loans
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  Money Lender Squad
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  Credit Clock
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  Very happy loans
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  Heart Paydays

1. Viva Payday Loans – Best Overall Option For Payday Loans With Bad Credit

Viva Payday Loans is a credit broker best known for providing people 24/7 instant cash loans for bad credit. They partner with several direct lenders to provide the best bad credit loans. Borrowers who want bad credit loans with guaranteed approval are instantly connected to many lenders willing to provide loans. As long as borrowers meet the loan criteria, they can get loans ranging from $100 to $5,000.

How Viva Payday Loans Work

To get bad credit loans with Viva Payday Loans, you need to register on their digital platform. Once the registration is complete, it will go through an approval phase with their partners where all the information provided will be verified. If approved, you will be redirected to a lending partner.

The borrower can now select the lender of his choice. Then, the selected lender may request certain information including proof of income, updated bank statement, proof of residency, payslips and other relevant documents. Once these documents have been validated, a loan agreement will be sent by the lender. Finally, the loan will be paid into your bank account if you accept the terms and conditions. The whole process takes a few hours or a few days, depending on how quickly your documents can be verified.

Visit Viva Payday Loans >

2. Money Lender Team

Money Lender Squad is arguably one of the best bad credit loan introductory services available. It is a reputable broker offering fast loan options without guarantors. They offer a wide range of personal loans accessible in 24 hours. Their loans are short-term loans repayable within three to twenty-four months. The interest rate they charge varies between 36% and 400% APR.

How Money Lender Squad Works

The process of applying for bad credit loans on Money Lender Squad is seamless. First, the borrower needs to visit their website to fill out an online form to register for a loan. Then, they will have to provide their contact details and supporting documents. Once all provided information is verified, the borrower is redirected to a lender’s website to complete the loan process.

Money Lender Squad will not perform an in-depth credit check, but its lending partners may check your credit report to assess your credit repayment history. The application process is quite quick and can be completed in minutes. Once the loan is approved, an agreement is sent for signing. After signing the agreement, the funds will be sent directly to the borrower’s account.

3. Credit Clock

Credit Clock is another top company that offers personal loans for people with bad credit. They are among the most reputable loan brokers online, offering various credit facilities to people without a guarantor or with bad credit. Some of the loans they offer include short term loans, payday loans and short term loans. Their users can get loans ranging from $200 to $5,000. Moreover, Credit Clock is famous for the quick and easy loan application process it offers.

How the credit clock works

The bad credit loan application process with Credit Clock is online. It’s quick and takes less than five minutes. So people who want loans for bad credit can start and complete the process from the comfort of their own home. To get a loan with Credit Clock, visit their website and fill out a loan form.

Provide your personal details and valid documents. If the details are correct, the approval will be sent within minutes. The loan funds will be paid directly into your account. You should know that the approval of a loan for bad credit is based on the affordability of the borrower. Also, to qualify for a loan with Credit Clock, you must be 18 years of age or older.

4. Very Happy Loans

Very Merry Loans is a loan broker offering the fastest payouts you will find. They are very reliable and have a good reputation online. Plus, Very Merry Loans offers one of the best loan terms, a borrower can get up to $5,000.

How Very Merry Loans works

Very Merry Loans connects borrowers with various direct lenders offering fast and accessible loans. People who choose to work with Very Merry Loans can obtain loans for bad credit, regardless of their credit rating. Plus, they offer same-day loans that take less than an hour to credit. The application process is simple and only takes a few minutes. Applicants can choose from a range of loan terms that suit them best. They can also extend their repayment tenure to around two years. To qualify for a loan with Very Merry Loans, applicants must be 18 years of age or older, have proof of permanent address, verified source of income of $1,000 or more per month, and valid ID in the USA.

5. Heart Paydays

Heart Paydays is a bad credit lender known for its low interest rates. They offer the lowest rates in the United States for residents and businesses. Their loans are generally short-term loans ranging from three to twenty-four months. Applicants can access loans ranging from $200 to $2,000.

How Heart Paydays Works

Heart Paydays uses a streamlined online application process to make loan applications quick and easy. The entire registration process can be completed in five minutes without stressful paperwork. Once the application is approved, the loan can be disbursed to the borrower’s account within 60 minutes.

Conclusion

Getting loans with a bad credit score can be tricky, as most banks won’t want to offer you one. However, with the various bad credit lenders available online, you can get an urgent short term loan even with a bad credit score. But before applying for a loan for bad credit, make sure that other loan options have been explored. Indeed, loans for bad credit are quite expensive and can put you in a more difficult financial situation, especially if you default.

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Legal disclaimer: MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We assume no responsibility for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licensing, completeness, legality or reliability of any information in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, please contact the provider above.

Frederick Myers Perkins Jr. passed away peacefully on Thursday, January 27, 2022 at his home in Houston. He was 93 years old.

He was born on October 7, 1928 in Tallahassee, Florida, spending his childhood in Jacksonville, Florida. He often spent his summers with his grandparents Thomas Eugene Perkins and Marie Myers Perkins (Papaa and Mamaa) in Perkins Beach, Florida.

It was at a young age that Papaa taught Fred how to fish and hunt small game in coastal Florida, outdoor passions that Fred nurtured throughout his life.

He graduated from Landon High School in Jacksonville in 1946 and was always eager to reconnect with alumni at reunions and other events. Immediately after graduation, at the age of 17, Fred joined the United States Army. He was eventually stationed in Japan during the reconstruction period after the end of World War II.

Like so many of the greatest generation, after his discharge from the military, Fred used the GI Bill of Rights to attend the University of Florida where he earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in chemical engineering with honors. He has also been accepted into three academic honor societies: Sigma Tau, Gamma Epsilon, and Phi Kappa Phi. Additionally, Fred became a member of the Sigma Chi Fraternity.

It was through a blind date arranged by a frat friend that Fred first met Rosemary Ross. Fred and Rosemary were married on December 21, 1950. They remained married until Rosemary passed away in 2016, just weeks after their 65th wedding anniversary. Fred and Rosemary have remained active in University of Florida events over the decades and have always watched their Gators play football.

In 1952 Fred started working for Humble Oil & Refining Company in the research department in Houston. After 10 years working in production research, he took a job as a petroleum economist at Standard Oil of New Jersey’s headquarters in New York.

During this first stint in New York, the family lived in Darien. Within a year, he was transferred to Houston as an area engineer at Humble’s production headquarters.

In 1965 the family moved to New Orleans where Fred became a division tank engineer. After a short stay in New Orleans, in 1966 the family moved to Corpus Christi, where Fred was first appointed assistant division manager and then full division manager in 1968.

In 1970 the family moved to Sydney, Australia where Fred was appointed Deputy Managing Director of Esso Australia Ltd. The family moved back to Houston in 1972 when Fred was appointed general manager of natural gas for Exxon Company, USA.

In 1976, Fred became vice president of production for Exxon. In 1979, he transferred to corporate headquarters in New York and held several positions, including assistant production manager, vice president of gas, and vice president of production.

During this second assignment in New York, the family once again lived in Darien. Fred’s last transfer was back to Houston in 1986 when he became president of Exxon Production Research Company. During his time in research, Fred received three US patents.

Fred and Rosemary loved to travel and have visited dozens of countries in their lives. One of the specific purposes of their travels was genealogical research, which took them to Salt Lake City, various locations on the eastern seaboard of the United States, and even to the United Kingdom.

As a teenager, Rosemary began researching her family’s genealogy, which piqued Fred’s interest in researching her own family roots. After decades of extensive research, Fred and Rosemary have traced parts of their family history back over 400 years. Both also documented their family history in books.

In addition, Fred has written an autobiography which his children will publish soon. If you are looking for the 1,000 page version of this obituary, please speak to one of his children for a copy of Fred’s autobiography.

As overseas travel ended in the 1980s, Fred bought a beach house near his home on Galveston Island. This nearby location allowed for frequent weekend visits to relax, cook, fish, and entertain friends and family.

Another interest shared by Fred and Rosemary was gardening. They were master gardeners and created gardens in many of their homes. Fred’s specialty was tomatoes, which he grew from seedlings.

He was very particular and noted the weight of each tomato he harvested. From fig trees to apple trees, butternut squash to green beans, Fred and Rosemary’s gardens produced delicious fruits and vegetables.

So it was only natural that gourmet cooking would emerge as another favorite pastime. Fred was an avid cook and was known for many culinary delights. He was probably best known for his salsa, jellies and jams, one of which earned him an honorable mention at the Texas State Fair.

Another area of ​​specialty was cakes, pies and desserts. He generously shared his desserts with Buckingham’s senior community, earning him a mention in the Houston Chronicle.

Fred could cook food in many genres including Cajun, Mexican, Italian and BBQ to name a few, always from scratch.

Of course, with all of these edible masterpieces, the obvious next step was hosting dinner parties and celebrations, which must have numbered in the hundreds over the decades. It looked like Fred and Rosemary were always cleaning up or getting ready to throw the next party. They have been honored to be able to host family reunions in Connecticut, Houston and Galveston over the years.

As home maintenance became more of a chore, Fred and Rosemary decided to move to the Buckingham seniors’ community in 2013. Ever the patriots, they chose their second floor, centrally located apartment based on the fact that he had an excellent view of America. Flag.

They remained active in various groups. After Rosemary passed away in 2016, Fred explored many new activities at Buckingham to occupy his time. He took singing lessons and participated in the Buckingham Choir where he was featured in two solo performances.

He also joined an art group that exposed real hidden talent. Despite advanced macular degeneration, with help Fred was able to complete over 50 acrylic paintings consisting primarily of landscapes and seascapes.

After he suffered a stroke in 2017, the family hired babysitters to ensure he could maintain his healthy active lifestyle. His most recent guardians were Yanique, Sabrina, Dionne and Amanda.

The family would like to express their deepest gratitude to these caregivers for watching over Fred around the clock to ensure he was happy and healthy during his final years. The family are especially grateful to their caretaker Amanda for helping Fred with various activities ranging from cooking to socializing at Buckingham until his last day.

Fred and Rosemary were active in many charities and organizations wherever they lived, including the Boy Scouts of America, the Chamber of Commerce, and United Way, to name a few.

Frederick was predeceased by his parents, Frederick Myers Perkins Sr. and Nancy Turner Perkins; and his sister, Marie Perkins Lloyd. He is further predeceased by his wife, Rosemary Ross Perkins.

He is survived by his three children: Lucile Perkins Reed, wife of Tommy Reed of Star, Texas, Nancy Perkins of Austin County, Texas, and Matthew Myers Perkins and his wife Kim Aleah Perkins of The Woodlands. Fred is also survived by five grandchildren: Rosemary Reed Jones, Gene Frederick Reed, Travis Weldon Reed, Caroline Elizabeth Perkins and Jaxson Myers Perkins; five great-grandchildren: Sarah Lucile Jones, Tommy Alan Jones, Gene Frederick Reed, Robert Weldon Reed and Abigail Grace Reed.

Friends are cordially invited to a family visit from 4 to 6 p.m., Friday, February 4, at Geo’s library and grand foyer. H. Lewis & Sons, 1010 Bering Drive, Houston.

A funeral service is to be held at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, February 5, in Geo’s Jasek Chapel. H. Lewis & Sons, where the Reverend Beth Case, Minister of Christian Education and Welfare, Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church, is to officiate.

Later, the family will gather for a private burial at Forest Park Westheimer Cemetery.

— an obituary of Geo. H. Lewis & Sons Funeral Directors, where online condolences can be filed.

Games are meant to be fun, and for most people, starvation, dehydration, and being mauled by bears don’t seem like fun. Survival games should have been a doomed genre, but instead, gamers flocked to them, eager for the challenges on offer.

RELATED: Survival Horror Games With The Shortest (and Longest) Playtime

Maybe it’s about testing yourself, pushing your limits to survive another day, another hour in seemingly impossible circumstances. Perhaps fantasy and survival games have the same appeal, giving players the chance to live and explore in completely alien circumstances. Either way, some survival games have changed the genre as a whole, introducing new elements or perfecting old ones. Here are some of the most influential.

ten Rust

In terms of difficulty, not all survival games are created equal. There are those where survival is a challenge and those where survival is torture. Rust is one of the games that helped popularize hardcore survival. It’s not about whether you’re going to die. It’s a question of when.

Between the elements, hunger, and other players, putting in a few hours or even a few minutes can be a triumph for new players. As a naked person on the beach encountering players fully equipped with AKs, the enormity of the task of survival couldn’t be more evident. Rust is survival in its purest sense: there is no greater purpose.

9 No Man’s Sky

Scale is a critical issue in survival games. Based asks players to survive in the backyard; during this time, No Man’s Sky asks players to survive in the universe. Part of what makes survival games compelling is that they tend to leave players to their own devices, throwing them out into the wild and letting them do whatever they want. No Man’s Sky extends this philosophy to its limit by removing any meaningful boundaries and ask what it means to survive and thrive on the largest scale imaginable.

Despite a difficult launch, No Man’s Sky showed all survival games since the limitless possibilities of the genre, whether there’s a galaxy to explore or a sandbox.

8 The Sims

Critics may object to the definition of The Sims like a game of survival, but those who have juggled the need to eat, sleep, and use the bathroom, while not burning down the house, understand the pressures of this unique series. As in most survival games, sims players must manage their needs to thrive.

RELATED: Survival Horror Games That Deserve A Remake (And Don’t)

survive in The Sims might not be much like the cannibal island survival of The forest, but at a basic level, the tasks involved are the same, but with a social system overlaid on the old game. The Sims is the quintessential example of what day-to-day survival looks like, and it’s been a touchstone for all games where the social side of life is key.

seven resident Evil

The union of survival and horror could hardly be more fitting, so much do elements of each genre heighten the tension of the other. And if any franchise has been the face of survival horror over the years, it’s Resident Evil.

Preserving ammo and healing herbs while the player fights zombies and monstrous mutations has been a must since the beginning, and most games where resource management is the key to survival can point to resident Evil as a source of inspiration. Silent hill, eternal darkness, and other highlights of the genre benefited from the influence of the original Resident Evil, as well as its consequences.

6 dwarf fortress

No, most players have never played Dwarven fortress. Many are unaware of its existence. None of these points prevent the game from being one of the most complete survival games out there. Terraria, Frostpunk, and other survival games in which interactive systems create an ever-changing experience have dwarf fortress to thank.

RELATED: The Best Survival Games That Don’t Feature Zombies

In addition to its astonishing complexity, dwarf fortress also helped set the standard of difficulty. Don’t be fooled by its rudimentary graphics. This saga of dwarves and their halls of stone is one of the most punishing games out there.

5 Fallout 3

Survival games are almost always about more than living another day. Crafting, base building, and exploration are all essential. the Fall franchise has helped pave the way for other survival games since the beginning, but Fallout 3 is the title against which all other open-world survival games are judged.

From the moment a player first steps out of the vault and into the ruins of post-apocalyptic America, one senses both the oppressive danger and the exhilarating possibility of the challenge ahead. Fallout 3 immerses the player better than almost any other game in its genre. That’s how it feels to survive.

4 DayZ

A defining trait of many survival games is the perseverance players must have. The goal is not just to survive one day, but as long as possible, slowly accumulating the skills, resources, and knowledge that will allow the player to triumph in the harshest conditions. DayZ does it flawlessly. Zombies, other players, and the environment want the player dead, and every day is a battle even when no bullet is fired.

RELATED: Best Survival Horror Games of 2020

Persistent survival games like Valheim and Ark: Survival Evolved continue to rely on the formula that DayZ perfected. A can of soup and a well-placed shot can keep the player alive another night, but there’s always another day and a threat to end it all.

3 Minecraft

In games, few titans are bigger than Mojang’s hit Minecraft. More than a decade after its release, the game has reached a level of popularity and cultural saturation that makes its actual achievements in the genre hard to describe.

Surviving in its blocky and randomized environments is always a new experience, and Minecraft makes crafting and base building an engaging endless gameplay loop. Equally important, from Minecraft The simple, cartoonish aesthetic makes the game accessible to kids and adults alike, introducing a slew of new players to the survival genre.

2 The Oregon Trail

Anyone who has ever played The Oregon Trail probably remembers the anxiety of trying to cross a river with a wagon loaded with sugar, bear meat and sick pioneers. It may be an educational game, but The Oregon Trail is as deadly as Dark Souls.

RELATED: The Best PC Horror Games of All Time

Dysentery, cholera, and snakebites are just a few of the threats waiting to kill settlers on their journey west. Given its ubiquity at the time, The Oregon Trail couldn’t help but influence the genre. Set a simple goal and terrorize players as they attempt to accomplish it: this premise defines the survival genre, and this game is more or less where it began.

1 Dungeons & Dragons

Before survival games migrated to the land of ones and zeros, they called the tabletop home. Dungeons & Dragons lives at the origin of fantasy, survival and RPG. A good dungeon master might not actively try to kill players, but they do make sure the world is populated with enough blizzards, cubs, and acid traps that survival is never certain.

J&D has long been the story of heroes fighting against the odds. Players must battle hunger as well as trolls as one traverses the swamps in search of salvation from an inn. In one form or another, the stories and mechanics of most survival games started here.

MORE: Best Survival Horror Heroes In Video Games

Read more

About the Author

meters in paradise

Peat is a very useful and abundant planting and seeding material that is almost universally used in the propagation and growth of modern plants. It is a sustainably harvested natural resource, at least in North America, and the predominant source is Canada, although much of it is harvested in the United States. The popular “Proven Winners” line of garden plants uses potting soil from the Fafard Group, a Canadian company that also has several factories in the United States. Mass production depends on peat for plants that we buy from the blue or orange department store, or our favorite garden center.

Sometimes there is negative press for using any product that contains carbon or could increase pollution in some way. Such stories distort the picture. Because, any alternative also has advantages and disadvantages, and is not as good in most cases for the production of young seedlings of garden plants and flowers that most of us regularly buy in the spring.

Sphagnum moss and other bog plants decompose over time, and the process is slow. To get an overview, 86% of peatlands are pristine and undisturbed. Canadian peat can only be harvested for about 30-45 days due to frozen ground and/or rain. Of the 160 million acres, only about a quarter of one percent of that is actively logged. And of the 9,000 acres completed, more than half have been salvaged to near-original condition. Other countries may have other statistics, but in any case it is a natural and environmentally friendly product used daily in modern horticulture.

What are the uses of peat in the garden? Potting mixes and seed starter pots are a primary use. Bales of shredded peat can be plowed or mixed into garden beds to help aerate compacted or clay soils (or add organic matter to sandy soils). We often use peat to lower the pH, especially useful for growing blueberries, azaleas and many acid-loving shrubs and perennials. Certainly perlite, peanut hulls, rice hulls, coconut hulls, pine fines and a myriad of other things can and are added to planting mixes and growing mixes, but there It is difficult to obtain a reliable medium without using peat.

In summary, peat is the perfect starting ingredient for seeds and a beautiful ingredient in potting and planting mixes and garden or tree planting soils. Most of it is responsibly harvested and areas restored when harvesting or mining ends. It’s acidic, and not all plants like it. But a little lime or wood ash easily corrects this situation if you use a lot of peat in gardening and landscaping. Peat moss balls are the most economical for mixing your own combinations, but a starter or potting mix containing peat is probably more convenient for many to start gardening.

The author is a landscaper. He can be reached at rockcastles.net or (606) 416-3911.

GardenFit Productions

A new PBS series aims to help America’s gardeners ease the physical pains of gardening, and we know more than a few people who could benefit from it.

GardenFit follows expert gardener Madeline Hooper and professional fitness trainer Jeff Hughes as they travel the United States to visit gardens and farms, sharing practical tips to help gardeners get “GardenFit”.

“Taking care of your garden while taking care of your body is our mission,” Hooper says in the show’s intro.

GardenFit Productions

From Connecticut to California, Hooper and Hughes visit more than a dozen home gardens and specialty farms – vegetable gardens, Japanese, English, desert, Native American heritage gardens and more – across America, learning about each unique environment and its knowledgeable owner. Each show begins with a tour of the property, highlighting its gardening styles while discussing ideas, tips and techniques before discussing the guest’s physical aches and pains.

Using his no-nonsense approach to fitness, Hughes analyzes these issues and provides tips and solutions with the goal of getting the “GardenFit” Guest Gardener. Each episode also includes a four-week follow-up visit to show how the training tips worked and celebrate what’s new in the garden.

WATCH: What Farm Moms Don’t Want You To Know

“We don’t teach people how to garden,” says co-host Hooper. “We’re launching a ‘GardenFit’ movement that integrates gardening with fitness techniques to prevent aches and pains.”

The first season features 13 episodes and nationwide premieres starting March 21, 2022 on public television (check local listings).

National Tree Day is celebrated every year on the last Friday in April. However, here in Florida, the state legislature of 1945 designated the third Friday in January as Florida Arbor Day. This year, 2022, Florida Arbor Day is January 21. So go ahead and plant! This is the time of year when the climate is optimal for planting trees.

Arbor Day is a reminder that all plants, trees, shrubs, herbs and even phytoplankton containing chlorophyll in the oceans are essential for life on this planet. It is common knowledge that oxygen, one of the byproducts of photosynthesis, allows us to breathe.

However, just as or more importantly, green chlorophyll is the substance that traps all the energy that arrives on this planet. It is the energy that we all use to live, love and grow. Whether we burn phytochemicals in the form of petroleum products to fuel all kinds of exertion or eat kale to fuel our busy lives, the transfer of energy from light to carbohydrates made by chlorophyll sustains life and enables our existence.

[This is a sponsored article with MDEC.]

I love my cool action video games as much as my blockbuster animated movies.

But because so much of the content I consume comes from outside Malaysia, I once assumed that our country has very little to offer in the digital content space.

Well my guesses were wrong.

We have a lot of success stories in our own backyard – our esports players make a lot of money in international tournaments, we have a great selection of locally made games and award winning Ejen Ali and BoBoiBoy entertainment to get us there. proud.

The Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) is one of the agencies working to encourage local creators.

To inspire more of the same, they hosted the Malaysia Digital Creativity Festival 2021 (MYDCF 21), or more specifically the MYDCF Gamified Expo, which is part of the larger event that includes live performances, esports tournaments. , etc.

Throughout its month-long exhibit in November, our local digital content players shone with awards, a game launch and more. So let’s come back to some highlights.

1.11 students had the chance to create their own games and animations from scratch

Like any industry, the video game and animation space relies on new generations of talent to bring fresh ideas and skills.

This was reflected in the Creativity @ Schools program and competition that ran alongside MYDCF Gamified Expo. It aimed to inspire children and teens to try their hand at animation and game development.

The program received 111 participants made up of primary and secondary students who were guided in the creation of their own animations and games. The winning participants were rewarded for their creativity.

On the esports scene, the Junior Shoutcasting Challenge attracted over 200 participating students. He not only provided workshops and mentoring sessions to help hone their casting skills, but also a competition for them to flaunt their abilities.

Dictionary time: Shoutcasting is a form of commentary for esports matches where casters entertain and educate the audience with engaging captions and insightful analytical views.

NASEF.org / esportslane

None did better than a 17-year-old who had the opportunity to shoutcast at a professional Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) tournament during the festival.

His performance also won him praise from game developers Moonton.

2. Malaysia’s MOBA launched its first major tournament

As a seasoned gamer I may have spent thousands of hours on Multiplayer Battle Arena (MOBA) titles namely MLBB and DOTA 2. Unfortunately, I have never played a game that I created. by Malaysians; however, this idea always seemed pretty neat.

The good thing is that now I can because local animated series Ejen Ali now has their own MOBA. The aptly named Ejen Ali: Agents’ Arena attended MYDCF21 and hosted his first esports tournament, which even had a prize pool of RM 10,000.

The competition had over 100,000 viewers across multiple streaming platforms, which is a good sign that the game is attracting a sizable audience.

3. We have launched our own publishing platform which focuses on locally made games

MYDCF Gamified Expo also hosted the SEA Game Awards that showcase our country’s outstanding game developers and their work.

This year, independent developers SkyFeather Games received the Rising Star Award for their game Exist.EXE, a turn-based role-playing game with a 16-bit aesthetic.

Another Malaysian name, DreamTree Studio, won the award for best storytelling for its narrative game DeLight: The Journey Home.

Meanwhile, MYDCF Gamified Expo also witnessed the smooth launch of the Malaysian Game Store, a publishing platform that specifically distributes locally made video games. It is a product developed in partnership with MDEC for the business opportunities and reach of Malaysian studios.

On the animation side, our country has also attracted the attention of creative talents from all over the world, including the United States, Hong Kong, Hungary and Brazil, through the Kr8tif of Southeast Asia! Price.

Speaking of talent, there was also a career fair during the festival with over 200 opportunities advertised by over 50 companies in the industry.

Well-known companies such as PlayStation Studios, Bandai Namco, Streamline Studio and Codemaster have even held interviews to help our young people understand what a career in the gaming industry looks like.

4. The creators presented their ideas for games and animations to big companies

Ejen Ali relies on his fellow agents to beat the bad guys, and even seasoned players have to rely on their teammates for victory. It is no different when it comes to digital content.

To move Malaysia forward in this area, collaborations between large and small players in the industry are essential.

MDEC’s alliances with international companies such as Playstation Studios, Double Eleven and Lerian Studios, as well as local brands Kaigan Games, Animonsta and Passion Republic are examples.

To encourage further development in this area, MYDCF Gamified Expo organized conferences where Sony, Warner Media, Microsoft, Monsta and Nintendo were present to give talks.

The creators even had the opportunity to pitch their animation or game ideas with companies such as Astro, WarnerMedia, Media Prima and BBC Studios.

5. Hosted one of the largest conferences of its kind in the region with 80,000 viewers

With all these highlights to delight attendees, it’s no wonder the MYDCF Gamified Expo drew 17,967 registered attendees and had 80,000 viewers on the brand’s sole streaming platform.

These are impressive numbers considering that as separate events last year, Kr8tif! And LEVEL UP KL only welcomed 1,300 participants and 50,000 participants respectively.

According to MDEC, this year’s figures make the festival the largest of its kind in Southeast Asia (SEA).

Things are certainly improving for the Malaysian games and entertainment industry.

In addition to this, the report also states that Malaysia has the third largest gaming market in the region in 2020, grossing $ 786 million.

With this in mind, we will want more talent to further strengthen the industry. The career fair we talked about even featured notable companies Electronic Art and Bandai Namco among the hiring attendees.

As a result, Malaysia now has a strong ecosystem for not only individuals but also businesses to thrive in the games and entertainment industry.

• For more information on MYDCF Gamified Expo, click here.
• You can read more posts on MDEC here.

Leave the caribou alone! This is the message of the Government of Quebec in a press release of December 15 warning the population against the harmful effects on health that human activity could have on animals, in particular a population of what is called the mountain caribou, an ecotype of the woodland caribou found in the highlands of the Gaspé.

The Ministère des Forêts, de la Faune et des Parcs (MFFP) says that the Gaspé mountain caribou have been considered endangered in the province since 2009 and represent the “last vestige” of a population that once spread over the eastern Canada and the northeastern United States.

Authorities estimate that only 32 to 36 animals remain in Gaspé.

The MFFP asks Quebeckers to avoid certain parts of the Chic-Chocs wildlife reserve and to consider visiting other parks following recent sightings of caribou.

“The disturbance of caribou in a ravine (winter habitat) can lead to increased energy expenditure, especially in calves, thereby altering their physical condition,” the ministry said in the statement.

“It can even be detrimental to their survival by forcing them to move to areas that are less favorable to them.”

Voluntarily approaching caribou or allowing pets to do so is enough to disturb them, according to the ministry. And there could be consequences for anyone who does.

The MFFP specifies that disturbing caribou or other big game activities in their natural habitat could result in a minimum fine of $ 1,825 and a suspension of your hunting license for two years.

Other populations of woodland caribou persist in Quebec, including the woodland caribou in much of the north and the migratory caribou in the tundra.

The cover image for this article is used for illustration purposes only.