A Feulner and His Money
I have no idea whether Bruce Bartlett was speaking of The Heritage Foundation's Edwin Feulner when he blasted "so-called think tanks [that] have also abused their tax-exempt status to pursue political agendas and personal profits for their executives."
More importantly, I have no idea whether Clownhall.com, a Heritage spin-off, thought Bartlett was thinking of Feulner when it failed to publish Bartlett's column containing that blast. Still, Clownhall does look a little defensive by declining to publish that particular column.
I do recall this article in the Washington Post about Feulner:
For years, the Heritage Foundation sharply criticized the autocratic rule of former Malaysian prime minister Mahathir Mohamad, denouncing his anti-Semitism, his jailing of political opponents and his "anti-free market currency controls."
Then, late in the summer of 2001, the conservative nonprofit Washington think tank began to change its assessment: Heritage financed an Aug. 30-Sept. 4, 2001, trip to Malaysia for three House members and their spouses. Heritage put on briefings for the congressional delegation titled "Malaysia: Standing Up for Democracy" and "U.S. and Malaysia: Ways to Cooperate in Order to Influence Peace and Stability in Southeast Asia."
Heritage's new, pro-Malaysian outlook emerged at the same time a Hong Kong consulting firm co-founded by Edwin J. Feulner, Heritage's president, began representing Malaysian business interests. The for-profit firm, called Belle Haven Consultants, retains Feulner's wife, Linda Feulner, as a "senior adviser." And Belle Haven's chief operating officer, Ken Sheffer, is the former head of Heritage's Asia office and is still on Heritage's payroll as a $75,000-a-year consultant.
Hmm... Sound familiar?
Playing video games can be a very fun activity and it is an activity that people from all around the world enjoy. The information in this article will help you navigate the world of video games without buying a poor game, or one that isn't age-appropriate.
ReplyDeleteTry downloading a game demo prior to purchasing the actual game so that you can determine if you're going to enjoy it. Previewing a game can help you see whether you wish to buy the full version or not. Be careful, though, where you download the game from. Only download from a well-known site to avoid problems with your computer.
When possible, download and try demos of games to determine if you actually like it. You can find out if you will even like the game play. Although, it is good to exercise caution when downloading demos. Be sure you only download from well-known websites to avoid computer issues.
You may want to make an area in the basement or set aside a room for your kids to play their online games. Video Games can be extremely loud, and you probably want some peace from time to time. A game room can have a lot of benefits for your family.
Be careful when it comes to playing online games. You will sometimes have to pay monthly fees in order to gain access. If you have a child who wants to join an online-gaming site, then you should check it out first. Find out if there are any fees, and if so, whether the game is worth it.
Parents must always verify the ratings on games. A lot of games look like they are okay for kids, but they are not. It's important to not only check the rating, but also the actual objectionable material (e.g. language, suggestive themes) that caused it to get that rating.
Decide how old younger members of your household should be before being allowed to play games that are rated M for mature. A lot of different computer games systems can be set so kids cannot play games meant for adults. Keep an eye on what you're kid is doing.
Use the highest grade video connection available. Most gaming systems come with a few different cables to maximize connectivity to many displays. What cables are you to use for the best gaming experience? If you can, use DVI or HDMI in order to obtain the best possible signal and picture. The second highest quality cable is S-Video. Coaxial connections, which are low quality, are the most commonly found connector. If coaxial is the only available choice, then use it as your last resort.
There are some educational computer games. These games are a safe bet for young children. Titles aimed at older children or adults often contain violence or other content unsuitable for children. Check out online reviews from other parents so you can discover appropriate games for your child. Purchase only these games.
It can be tempting to go all out buying expansion packs, add-ons and upgrades for your new game. This can get very pricey! Instead, be disciplined with your spending. Check out what you've got in the game you bought and only add on what you can afford.
Figure out how to operate the safety and parental controls of any gaming system that comes into your home. You can likely make adjustments that keep kids from viewing mature content. Some allow each gaming profile to be customized separately, allowing adults to enjoy games not meant for younger audiences.
Online Games are definitely here to stay. It's a great hobby and can keep your family and you entertained. If gaming sounds like something fun and interesting to you, then heed the advice you learned here, and use it whenever you take up this hobby.