Media Review: Games

Duck Hunt

Summary

       

       Developed and published by Nintendo, it was first released in Japan on April 21, 1984. It was later released on October 18, 1985 in North America and on August 15, 1987 in Europe. Duck Hunt is a hunting game in which the objective is for the player to successfully shoot a minimum number of targets with a NES Zapper light gun. The player uses it by aiming and firing at the screen, in order to advance to the next round. If not accomplished… game over. The game has three different modes to choose from. In "Game A" and "Game B", the targets are flying ducks in a woodland area, and in "Game C" the targets are clay pigeons that are fired away from the player's perspective into the distance. In "Game A", one duck will appear on the screen at a time while in "Game B" two ducks will appear at a time. "Game A" allows a second player to control the movement of the flying ducks by using a regular NES controller. 

Characters

       Duck hunt includes a nameless, non-playable hunting dog (often referred to by the media as the "Duck Hunt Dog" or the "Laughing Dog"), which retrieves the fallen ducks. It is quite famous for laughing at the player whenever the player fails to shoot any of the ducks on screen. Because of this, many players want to be able to shoot the dog as well. The Laughing Dog is known as "one of the most annoying video game characters ever" by countless gaming critics and journalists. Although the Laughing dog seems to be the main character, we cannot forget the about ducks.

Best parts

       All in all, the game was very good. However the part that truly stands out to me is that the Duck Hunt goes on forever! In most video games now a days, the most common problem is that once you have beaten all of the levels, you have to find a new game to play. However, this retro game can go on and on until you grow tired of it (which in my case is never).

Worst parts

       Although I am extremely fond of this game, I must admit that my least favourite part of the entire game is The Laughing Dog. When you are shooting a duck and accidentally miss, “man’s best friend” comes out and laughs at you! So much for moral support!This gets obviously gets very annoying, especially if you have poor aim.

My opinion

       Duck Hunt is defiantly one of my favourite games. Although the dog really knows how to annoy you, this old fashioned-game is a really fun and cool way to pass time, and play while with friends. I personally enjoy playing this classic game and highly recommend it for people who own an "ancient" Nintendo gaming console! 

Rating

       

       Out of 10, I rate Duck Hunt a 9. If it weren't for The Laughing Dog, the game would be a solid 10! However the hound really does get on every ones nerves with its hysterical laughing!

Media review: Print.

                                       Official Report of Debates (Hansard)
                                        (Thursday December 11th 2014)




Main Idea:

    

     Hansard is the traditional name for the transcripts of Parliamentary Debates in Britain and other Commonwealth countries (including Canada). In Ontario, no official record of the debates was produced before 1944. The debates were recorded in newspapers. The provincial archives clipped and collected these reports in a series of scrapbooks until 1953. The provincial parliament prints the reports as well as posts them on the Parliamentary website, with records since April 21, 1981 to present sittings. Today the Hansard reporter sits at the back of the Chamber. This Particular Hansard was recorded on December 11^th 2014 (my last day as a page as well as the last day that the House sat before the winter break).

Summary:

The day that this debate was recorded (December 11^th 2014), energy policies, government accountability, infrastructure funding, air-rail link, coroner’s inquest, health care, public transit, water quality and Aboriginal programs and services were discussed during question period. This was followed by two votes and then introduction of visitors. During introduction of visitors, MPP’s introduce any guests that have come to watch the debates in the chamber. These guests can be anyone from the public or visiting officials. Often times the parents of pages will come see the action in the chamber. Since I was Page Captain on that particular day, my MPP, Yvan Baker introduced my brother and father that had come visit me in the Chamber. Next, Ministers would make statements on anything they wanted to share with the legislature, for example Ms. Peggy Sattler discussed the Mississauga Transitway, while Mr. Steve Clark discussed Christmas tree lighting. Later, motions on Sexual Violence and Harassment were discussed. Then, Ministers shared notable events and happenings going on in their Ministries. Finally, petitions from MPP’s riding were introduced. On December 11^th 2014, the House adjourned early. As it was the last day of serving for the pages and of course the MPP’s, many warm seasons greetings were exchanged between members and Legislative assistants, like pages.

Characters:

All of the Members of the Provincial Parliament, and Legislative assistance were involved. They all played some sort of a role during the debates in the chamber. For example: Hon. Dave Levac (Speaker), Deborah Deller (Clerk), Hon. Kathleen Wynn, Hon. Liz Sandals (Minister of Education), Andrea Horwath (Leader of the third party), Hon. Bob Chiarelli (Minister of Energy), etc.

Best Parts:

     Although all of the debates going on in the Chamber were extremely interesting (from what I did understand), I believe that the best parts were during Introduction of Guests when my brother and father were introduced, Question Period when all of the Members were quarrelling and finally, Petitions. When a member has a petition, he/she will stand up and a page will go and stand behind them. When the Member has finished reading the petition Legislature, they give it to the page and say “I will give this petition to page _____ to take down to the Clerks”. I really enjoyed reading the part of the Hansard record when Todd Smith said “I agree with this. I’ll send it to the table with page Maja”.

Worst Parts:

     As I really enjoyed reading over the record, I cannot really say that there were terrible parts. However, I could say that I disliked the use of large words used by the MPP’s, as I am a little too young to understand some of them. Other than that there is nothing that I would change (its not like it really can be changed).

Rating:

     Out of 10 I rate this print 10/10. Although some words were a bit more difficult to understand, I can only expand my vocabulary from hearing so many serious, word filled speeches and debates. On the other hand, what I did understand happened to be extremely interesting.

Legislative Page Program

Page Maja

       "ORDER!" 

First, I would like to start by saying that although my most common explanation of the program I was doing was "I deliver water, papers and messages to MPP's" or " I work as a butler at the Parliament”, I have come to the realization that the Legislative Page Program is much more than that! And: no, I did not go to the Parliament in Ottawa.  Along with 22 other grade 8 students I was chosen to serve for four weeks as a Page in our Provincial Parliament, Queen's Park.

The Pages have been an incredibly important part of Ontario's Parliament since the confederation. These early Pages were 10 to 14 years-old boys from poor families who, for salary, carried messages, ran errands, and fetched glasses of water for Members of Provincial Parliament. Since 1952 a teacher was hired to work with the Pages, and in 1971 first girls were appointed to serve. In the same year Speaker Fred Cass moved the Pages to Page Quarters: an office that included a miniature schoolroom, recreational area, lounge, and kitchen. He also established the practice of choosing Pages from across Ontario, and began the tradition of reading the Pages’ names into Hansard (traditional name of the records of the Parliamentary Debates), which created an official record of their service.

Nowadays serving in the Parliament is a privilege.  Each year, approximately 140 grade 7 and 8 students from across Ontario are selected to participate in the Legislative Page Program. When applying, you are required to have a minimum level 4 average, to write a 750 word essay on what you have done to deserve to serve as a Page, and have a recommendation letter from your Principal.

The best Page group ever:
FA14-2 NOV17-DEC11

 Legislative Pages experience the provincial legislature in action, meet key parliamentary and political figures, and learn first-hand about Ontario’s Parliament and legislative process.  My typical day during last month looked like this:

Each day, I would wake up at 5:30am get ready and take the subway down to Queen's Park at around 6:45am with another girl, Page Kelsey from Ottawa. We would get to the Parliament and our quarters through the tunnel between the subway station and the Queens Park around 7:30am. We would get into our uniforms which consisted of a white stiff-collared dress-shirt, a black vest and blazer, black pants, black socks, a black silver buckled belt, black jabots for girls and black ties for boys and finally, black dress shoes. At 8:15, we would have morning briefing. Basically in briefings we would discuss our schedule, check uniforms and ask any questions that we might have. After that we would go up to the Chamber, for our Chamber Duties.  

Page Captains with the
Sergeant-At-Arms and the Mace 

 The Procession on the last day before the House went on break

Most of the times at 9:00am "ORDER!" is called and the Sergeant-At-Arms with the Mace, the Speaker, the Clerks and the Page Captains enter the Chamber. The Speaker then reads a non-denominational prayer. This is followed by Orders Of The Day when laws and other government activities are discussed. At this time, half of the Pages go to Legislative Process class, while the other half stays in the Chamber. When Question Period is called, Members may ask other Members about any recent activity in their ridings and Ministries. Although this all sounds very complicated, once you get a hang of it, it is very entertaining to watch. The thing that worried me the most was how will I remember all the 107 Members, but after only a few days I new them all including the ridings they are representing. I also learned about all the Ministers and the Ministries they are responsible for.

Our classroom in the Page Quarters

Our Rec room

After lunch, we have our Afternoon Briefing, followed again by Chamber Duties. Then, Routine Proceedings - at this time, most drafts of laws are presented. Next, Orders Of The Day is called again. Half of the group goes to math class until 4:30 (first dismissal), while the other half stays in the Chamber until 6:00 (second dismissal). To make things even more exciting, Ms. Tedford, our Page Teacher organized for us to meet with all the party leaders, the Clerks, the Speaker, the Hon. Lieutenant Governor, the Sergeant-At-Arms and even the Premier! Each Page also got the opportunity to have a one-on-one lunch with their MPP.

In the office of the

 Clerk of the Legislative Assembly

 Deborah Deller 

Lieutenant Governor of Ontario 

Elizabeth Dowdeswell

Meeting the leader of NDP
 Andrea Horvath

                                     

With the Speaker Hon. Dave Levac

With our Premier Hon.Kathleen Wynne

Although the whole thing flew by extremely fast, I must admit that the first week was the hardest…When I found out what had happened to my best friend, everything just slowed down for me. She was constantly in my thoughts! I walked to the hospital and visited Olga almost every day. Olga is much, much better now, yet we still NEED to keep thinking of her and visiting her, as she is going through an incredibly difficult time right now!

HAPPY: my first visit after Olga woke up

The past four weeks were the best in my life! I made lifelong friendships and I am sure we are going to remain in contact throughout our lives! All of the MPPs, Clerks, the Speaker, the Sergeant-At-Arms and the constables were just so nice and supportive of us, Pages! And yes, as it is a paid service, I have made $15 a day!! I have decided that there are others that need the money more then I do, so half of what I earned I have donated to S.O.S. Children’s Village, an orphanage in Serbia and the other half I happily gave to Complex Care Clinic of SickKids (As you know I am a singer. Our holiday concert this year is being used as a fundraiser for the Complex Care Clinic at SickKids, and so far I have raised over $1000!)

Ripley's Aquarium: first Friday field trip!!