from ZeroHedge: MSNBC has taken its celebrated “Morning Joe” off-air on Monday reportedly on fears that their well-known leftist hosts could say the wrong thing or something deeply insensitive about the Saturday Trump assassination attempt which could leave the network in a bind. The show is missing in action on this crucial day of the Republican National […]

Shoot down alien craft or fire an arm-cannon in this week’s two new titles. Two more new titles come to the Antstream library this week. Defend the Energiser and shoot down alien craft in Desolator (MSX) and find out just what is going on, while firing an arm-cannon, in One (PSOne). Both games will be available this week on Antstream, alongside the latest challenge “Drawing On All Possibilities” in Doodle World (NES). Desolator is an action game initially released in 1986 for the MSX system, developed and published by Gremlin Interactive. Taking inspiration from Defender, this is a horizontally scrolling shooter in which the player controls a small craft. The objectives for each level vary, often revolving around defending an artefact called the Energiser, or surviving certain waves of enemies. Desolator also features a radar display at the top of the screen, giving advance warning of enemies that are off screen, and a smart bomb known as the Desolator. Launched for the Sony PlayStation in 1997, One is a 3D platform shooter. In One, the player takes on the role of John Cain, a man who has no memory, is being chased by the military and police, and just so happens to have had an arm replaced with a gun. Through the six available levels, players will fight their way through police and military forces, tackle tricky bosses at the end of each level, and try to solve the mystery of who Cain actually is. Players will punch, kick and shoot enemies, while filling a rage meter that will give access to more powerful abilities needed to finish each level. Whether shooting aliens, or shooting military agents, there will be a lot of bullets flying this week on Antstream. Perhaps the “Drawing On All Possibilities” challenge in Doodle World will be more sedate? Or maybe not… We’ll see you next week with more great titles to play anytime, anywhere on Antstream The post Desolator & One Arrive On Antstream appeared first on Old School Gamer Magazine.

The crispy edges are everything. READ MORE...

It should come as no surprise that chicken bites make a regular appearance on my dinner table. I’ve made garlic Parm chicken bites, bbq ranch chicken bites, and honey Dijon bites to name a few favorites, but these days my family only has eyes for these French onion dip chicken bites. Even my 5-year-old can’t get enough of this flavorful skillet. READ MORE...

A new season of SEC football kicks off on Aug. 31. Continue reading…

While the majority of visitors to Joshua Tree National Park stick to the pavement, there are several dirt roads that finger into the beautiful desert landscape, perfect for this Joshua Tree National Park motorcycle ride. (Photos by the author and Cheryl Kessel) “It’s the Joshua tree’s struggle that gives it its beauty,” writes Jeannette Walls in her 2005 memoir The Glass Castle. She further contends that such struggle leads to growth and resilience. We motorcyclists know all about struggle, especially in the depths of winter. We struggle to find ways to assuage our overwhelming desire to ride as snow blankets roads and freezing winds cut like knives. For us, the Joshua tree can also represent escape and relief.  My wife and I sat in the morning sun in the courtyard of the beautiful Dive Palm Springs, a downtown boutique hotel in the vibrant California desert city (see sidebar below). As we ate croissants and fresh fruit, we discussed our January therapy session: riding our BMW G 650 XCountry through Joshua Tree National Park. Scan QR code above or click here to view the route on REVER The ride out of Palm Springs was easy. The city has embraced and preserved its mid-century heritage and charm. Buildings, landscaping, and signage harken back to the city’s heyday as a mecca for L.A.’s rich and famous. We rode alongside expansive golf courses and tennis courts. Once out of the city, we continued east on Interstate 10 through the muted hues of the Mojave Desert.  Joshua Tree National Park has three entrances, and our route took us to the southernmost entrance near I-10. There was no wait at this lesser-used access, and our National Parks Annual Pass granted us entry. Our ride north into the park started as a nicely paved roll through the sparse desert landscape on Pinto Basin Road. Mountains rose on the horizon, but no Joshua trees. A full palate of cacti, including chollas and ocotillos, defined our early impressions of the national park. Long sweeping corners and smooth straight stretches marked the climb in elevation. The road became more curvaceous, and the park’s namesake trees started to appear sporadically, foreshadowing what was to come.  The author’s wife, Cheryl, stands in front of the park’s entry signage. See all of Rider‘s West U.S. motorcycle rides here. Pinto Basin Road terminates at Park Boulevard. A right turn would lead us north to Twentynine Palms, the city immortalized in a great Robert Plant song of the same name. Instead, we turned left into the heart of the park and the center of the Joshua tree universe.  The roads through Joshua Tree offer up starkly beautiful visual backdrops. The rock vistas, desert sand, and unique trees combine for a remarkable riding experience. Almost immediately, the stands of Joshua trees became denser, the trees larger. Joshua trees are fantastical, whimsical, and majestic all at once. It is as if each one has a personality of its own. Some are simple and understated, but many are over-the-top in their stylized poses. Arms emanate in every direction and at rakish angles that seem almost comical, like attention-seeking adolescents with limbs akimbo and wild haircuts.  Our first pedestrian foray was at the fantastic erosion-sculpted Skull Rock. My diminutive riding companion could easily fit within one of the cranial cavities in the impressive monolith, one of many sculpture-esque outcroppings of granite in this portion of the park.  Cheryl stands in front of one of the park’s most recognizable features, Skull Rock. The rock morphs in appearance with the changing shadows throughout the day. After a few more miles on our northwestern route through the park, we sampled one of the established dirt roads that wind through Joshua trees. Vehicles must stay on approved roads, and there are several dirt roads that offer off-pavement possibilities for dirt-worthy mounts. Our midsized BMW proved perfect for a little sandy exploration.  See all of Rider‘s California tour stories here. Back on tarmac, we motored past climbers scaling the vertical walls of beautiful rock formations. We also cut through the part of the park that features the most spectacular Joshua trees, which cast long shadows in the late afternoon light, adding an otherworldly quality to the ride.  After leaving the park, we rolled back to Palm Springs on Twentynine Palms Highway (State Route 62). We motored west and then south past Desert Hot Springs and beside a different forest – one of towering wind turbines. Back in Palm Springs, we showered off the day’s ride and headed downtown to enjoy the Palm Springs Village Fest, an event hosted every Thursday that features art, food, music, and lots of smiling attendees.  With our therapy session complete, we felt much better. This ride would be oppressively hot during the summer, but it’s the perfect escape in fall, winter, and spring months.  See all of Rider‘s touring stories here. SIDEBAR: Dive Palm Springs The pool at Dive Palm Springs. Dive Palm Springs is a quaint and beautiful 11-room boutique hotel on the fringe of downtown Palm Springs. The petite, Euro-inspired property is meticulously maintained, with a restored historic pool as its centerpiece. A welcoming glass of rosé greets new guests, and an individually prepared organic breakfast is delivered to your room or beside the pool each morning. This hidden gem is the perfect place to recline in luxury after a long ride. Joshua Tree National Park Motorcycle Ride Resources Joshua Tree National Park Palm Springs Tourism Palm Springs Village Fest With 50 years of motorcycling and 30 years of teaching English under his belt, Tim Kessel has melded those two passions into a gig as a motojournalist. Maybe that’s why there is always a permanent, satisfied smile under his full-face helmet. The post Joshua Tree National Park Motorcycle Ride | Favorite Ride appeared first on Rider Magazine.