Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools Of Destruction Review

Ratchet And Clank Future: Tools Of Destruction

Des Manttari
Editor-In-Chief
Phoenix Genesis

June 2, 2009

“Ratchet and Clank Future: Tools Of Destruction” is the first installment of the stellar franchise into the Sony PlayStation 3 entertainment system. Once again, Insomniac Games has proven their expertise in providing a truly spectacular gaming experience. Even without the 720p high definition audio and visual experience that this game offers, gamers with outdated TVs will be pleased for the sheer game mechanics, level design, storyline, and length of the game. However, the high definition experience truly lives up to the New York Times claims of a “Pixar movie experience.” Insomniac inserts a bit of tongue-and-cheek humor when one of the characters exclaims that he almost didn’t recognize our heroes in high definition.

For those new to the Ratchet and Clank franchise, “Tools of Destruction” follows the familiar intergalactic exploits of our favorite wrench-wielding Lombax Ratchet and his robotic sidekick Clank. Once again, Captain Quark and a few other characters make their appearance as well. Packed with action and humor, our heroes race through the galaxy to battle their way to victory against the evil despot Emperor Tachyon. This time though, Insomniac gave fans a surprise with a cliffhanger ending that is ripe for their upcoming sequel slated for November 2009.

Not only are the character designs first rates, but so is the voice acting. David Bergeaud returns with the perfect music score to supplement the pleasing gameplay sounds and voice acting. The cutscenes are seamlessly placed so as not to disrupt the gameplay experience, but to enhance them. Not only is the length of the game more than satisfying, but if one patiently sits through the credits, one is given the treat of saving the game and replaying in Challenge Mode. The second go-around sports a higher difficulty level as well as new armor and Omega versions of retained weapons. Also, the gold bolts found in the previous game are carried over.

Bonus goodies abound, including the options to play as a number of different characters including one of Insomniacs former game developers, a mustached version of Ratchet, various enemies, or even a snowman. Keep collecting those gold bolts to unlock these characters! Cinematic cutscenes are open as well as artwork. Addtionally, skill points achieved during the game are tallied up.

Gameplay mechanics offer the usual platformer experience of previous Ratchet and Clank installments including the necessity of playing as both Ratchet and Clank. There are bolts to collect, hidden bonus gold bolts, shooting through intergalactic mazes, a Geo-Cycle to ride, and a grind rail to navigate. Additionally, there are enemies to defeat, crates to smash, breakable objects, and huge boss battles. But fans of the series will not be disappointed as Insomniac makes full use of the PlayStation 3 wireless motion sensor controller. The usual puzzles to unlock become even more difficult when one has to navigate an onscreen metal ball by tilting the controller. The motion controller also includes flying challenges (thanks to the Robo-Wings) and a Geo-Laser that must be tilted to cut through rock to move through levels. In my opinion, this gave the already high definition experience of this game a more real hands-on feel.
The gameplay mechanics and flawless controls shine. It is almost a seamless experience with rotating around the playable character’s environment, accessing the equipped weapons, switching to Ratchet’s wrench, or locking on to enemies. Ratchet has the ability to quickly leap backwards and sideways, jump up, or hover away from enemies. Also, Insomniac makes incredible use of the three-dimensional space of the game, rotating the environments upside down or sideways.

The levels themselves are interesting and diversified. There are space stations, pirate hideouts (complete with a “Pirates of the Caribbean” type score), the familiar Metropolis, asteroid fields, lava areas, a prison complex, and a dinosaur planet. Maps ensure that players always know not only where they are, but where they need to be. Insomniac makes full use of landmarks to further aid in navigating these huge and colorful levels. A battle arena allows the player to hone his fighting skills while acquiring prize money in the form of bolts.

But the meat of any Ratchet and Clank game is the arsenal of interesting and powerful weapons at one’s disposal. Once a new weapon becomes available, it can be upgraded not only through use, but by spending Raritanium crystals to enhance features such as more power, range, and ammunition capabilities. In the challenge mode, omega versions can be purchased which continue to upgrade with use. In addition to the staple OmniWrench 3000, Ratchet can purchase such novelties as devices to turn his enemies into cute and cuddly penguins, a disco ball appropriately named the Groovitron to make his enemies stop fighting and groove to the beat, a Tornado Launcher with which to command the forces of nature, and the Nano-Swarmer that infests his enemies with swarms of killer bees.

If one desires sheer firepower, there are the Buzz Blades, Shard Reaper, Pyro Blaster, Alpha Distrupter, and Negotiator to name a few of my favorites. If the player wishes to take out his enemies Indiana Jones style, there is the Shock Ravager electrified whip. Stand back by tossing a few Fusion Grenades or get close and personal with the Razor Claws. Choices abound for combat, but I found that each serves its purpose in various scenarios.

This is a game that can be played at one’s leisure, but given its appeal on many levels, it is hard not to play until one’s eyes drop from exhaustion and one’s fingers tingle from holding the controller for hours on end. Add to this the eye candy of 720p resolution and the high replay value, and it is hard not to give this game a perfect 10. For those who have yet to play the game, I highly recommend picking it up before the sequel debuts this November.

Animal Crossing: Wild World Review

Animal Crossing: Wild World Review

Des Manttari
Editor-In-Chief,
Phoenix Genesis

June 2, 2009

“Animal Crossing: Wild World” is perhaps not only the highest selling game for the Nintendo DS handheld system, but it has a huge fan base. Several extensive websites can be found online where fans of the game can provide clothing pattern ideas, custom town musical themes, and strategy and information for the game. In fact, the game feels more like a living breathing world experience than a simple game.

Wild World is more of an open-ended sim than a traditional game. Even when the game is allegedly completed by paying off one’s mansion, one can keep visiting the colorful animal inhabitants and interacting with them in various ways. The world lives in real time, changing from Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall. There is even snow on the ground in Winter. Even if one were to rush through the basic mansion building aspect of the game, he or she would still want to visit the world to experience the changing seasons and the surprises that accompany each cycle of nature.

The game starts by naming one’s world and choosing one’s sex and basic disposition and name. A taxi ride takes the player to the new town. Given the answers the player provides to the cab driver, the sex and look and feel of the character and determined. A total of four characters can live in one’s new home as roommates, although only one character can be played at any time. When I named my town “Nintendo,” the cabbie responded that I had a sense of humor.

Once dropped off in town, the character is urged to meet the Mayor and to find his or her home on the town map. Tom Nook, a friendly raccoon, not only owns the general store, but he conveniently owns your home, which is nothing more than a simple shack with no furnishings but a cardboard box and a candle. Tom offers to help you pay off your mortgage by working for him, to learn the ropes, including deliveries to various animal inhabitants. Although numerous animals move in and out of town, only about eight residents reside in the town at one time. Depending how you treat them and the amount of time you interact with them, they could stay in your town for months or get sick and tired of your town and you and move out fairly quickly.

Animals will invite you to their birthday parties, urge you to write to them, and even send them gifts. Of course all this effort is not forgotten, and even rewarded with photos of them for you to place in your home or gifts for you to keep or sell. Animals will even hint at gifts or furniture or clothing they would like to have. Each animal character has a different personality, from grumpy, to friendly, to jock, to bizarre, and it is your job to win them all over as best you can. Animals even offer you challenges as to who can catch certain fish or butterflies first. You can even eavesdrop on various animals conversations. If you offend any animal, it will walk away mad, but answer the right questions and your animal will walk away singing or even give you a little gift or some much needed pocket change.

Eventually, Tom sets you out on your own to earn your living. In addition to receiving gifts from other animals, you can do deliveries for them, catch fish, spiders, insects, and butterflies to sell, sell off their gifts, dig up fossils, or grow your own orchards and sell off the fruit of your labors literally and figuratively. You can even plant flowers to sell and cross-pollinate. Seashells will also float onto your shores to collect and sell. Each town starts out with a random native fruit. From there, you will receive imported fruit or even find coconuts will wash onto your shores to plant. Fruit includes peaches, pears, cherries, and oranges. Some trees can be shook to disclose money or valuable items for your home. Trees can be chopped down and planted as desired.

Fossils dug up can not only be sold for huge profit, but they can be donated to the local museum towards its dinosaur exhibit. In addition, the museum gladly accepts insects and butterflies and fish to supplement its collection. There is even an art gallery. There is also a planetarium where you can create your own constellation. In addition to building your museum and beautifying your surroundings with trees and flowers, you can create your own town tune and custom flag.

In addition to these yearly events, there are specific seasonal events. One day in winter, you will be surprised by snow on the ground and the ability to make talking snowmen who will quickly rate your snow-building skills. In August, every Saturday the Mayor will give you fireworks to set off and you are treated to a fireworks display at night. There are also periodic “bugoffs” in which you collect bugs and compete for a trophy for the biggest one. There are also fishing tournaments that also offer trophies you can display in your home.

Wild World also offers specific events during certain times of the week. One day a week, specified by the player, a fox will put up a tent and offer questionably acquired items for sale. He will sniff around for the police while requiring you to provide a password for admittance. But beware, some of his paintings are forgeries. On Sunday mornings, the radish vendor will make her appearance to offer both red and white radishes. Head her warnings to religiously water your radishes.

Saturday nights are my favorite time to play the game as a dog named KK Slider will grace his presence at the local coffee shop where you can request a song or let him pick one for you at his discretion. Of course he will reward you with a CD of your song so that you can kick back at your pad at home and listen to it with your favorite mode of music device including a jutebox, boom box, stereo system, etc. His music collection is both extensive and eclectic, so there is something to please everyone.

There is a clothing store where you can not only buy clothes and accessories such as hats and glasses, but you can submit your own custom clothing designs for display and sale. It is fun to see an animal resident appear wearing one of your designs! If you befriend the two porcupine sisters who run the shop, they will provide you with personal information about their lives.

But the heart of the game is to turn your one room shanty into a mansion that will be the envy of all the animals in your town. They will periodically comment on your home and even drop in for a visit to critique your choice of furnishings. On certain times, you can even sell off some of your possessions or drop into their homes to do a little bargain shopping. What is one person’s trash is another one’s treasure.

However, be forewarned that if you do not play the game for any length of time, weeds will grow in your town which must be plucked and cockroaches will infest your home that must be exterminated. Also, you animal residents will become irritated at your lengthy absence and comment accordingly. They even know precisely how long you have avoided them!

In order to make your dream home a reality, you must work hard in both paying off your ever-increasing mortgages with Tom Nook as well as buying items with which to furnish your home. There are themes you can create to give your home a certain feel or you can completely create your own look and feel. Not only will your neighbors let you know what they think, but the Happy Room Academy will send you letters rating your home.

As you continue to grease Tom Nook’s pockets, he will invest in larger and larger stores to accommodate your lavish lifestyle. During Christmas, he will offer holiday candles and even Christmas Trees. You can buy some interesting items to supplement your usual furniture such as a dog house, surfboard, snowboard, boxing arena, fireplace, jack-in-the box, Lunar Lander, etc. Various televisions purchased will play TV shows for you to watch if you tire of listening to your music. Of course no house is complete without wallpaper and carpeting. You can even keep your prized fish or tarantula you caught and display it in a glass enclosure. The sky is literally the limit.

To add to all this single player bliss, you can interact with your real life friends as well. So long as they have created a Wild World town on their own Nintendo DS, they can come visit your town and vice versa. If they buy something from Tom Nook, his greed will kick in and he’ll give you an impressive Macy’s type store expansion complete with a hair salon where you can pick a variety of hairdos to wear to match your clothing and accessories. And you will want to change your outfits periodically as the local residents will comment about how long you’ve worn the same old thing. To keep your extensive wardrobe, a closet can be purchased from Tom Nook. You can even store extra furniture and other items that you are not currently using.

If you are a real packrat, then you can even stash your junk in your storage space at the town Post Office. The Post Office also serves as your stop to make donations to a good cause, change your town tune, learn your town rating, mail your letters, pay your mortgage, or save for a rainy day in your bank account. Depending on what time of day you pop in, you will be greeted by the cheerful clerk or her belligerent sister.

If all this isn’t enough for you to enjoy, special characters will make their appearance offering select items and other entertainment. A slingshot can even be purchased to shoot prizes down from the sky. Don’t forget to look up at the ever-changing sky as you may be surprised to find a rainbow, a glorious sunset, or even rain or mist or snow. You can purchase designer umbrellas for those rainy days or sport a tan during the summer.

This game is simply amazing. Parents who enjoy an educational and non-violent gaming experience for their child while keeping him or her occupied for a year (without them whining that they need a new game) should leap at the opportunity to purchase this game. Given the portability of the Nintendo DS system, the player will never miss out on those special events when on the go. You can take your living, breathing world with you wherever you are and there is something new every day as Tom Nook rotates his inventory and you never know what you will find.

However, the only downside is that the game gets a little tedious and repetitious after awhile. It took me about a year before I found myself not visiting ever single day. Due to this, I give the game a 9 out of 10.

Secrets Of The PS3

Secrets of the PlayStation 3

Des Manttari
Editor-In-Chief
Phoenix Genesis

May 21, 2009


When Sony first introduced the PlayStation game console to the world, there was a great deal of excitement. Games such as Final Fantasy VII raised the bar with its expansive world, well-crafted gameplay, and compelling characters and storyline. Not only could the player pop in a CD of a game, but one could play music CDs as well. Having a controller that vibrated was a real treat. The only thing I could envision for the future was to have my gameplay graphics one day match the quality of my cinematic cutscenes.

I was first in line to purchase my PlayStation 2. With better graphics, backwards compatibility for my PSOne games, and the ability to play DVD movies, I was more than satisfied. With the introduction of online gaming, one’s gaming world was expanded considerably. The only improvements I looked forward to with the PlayStation 3 would be enhanced graphics.

When I finally broke down and picked up my PlayStation 3 about three weeks ago, I was shocked to see all the new improvements that Sony had so thoughtfully integrated to make my console a true multi-media entertainment system. Given the fact that GameStop offered an instant $100 off with a trade-in of my old PS2 and a few old game titles, I could not think of a reason to hold off any longer. If my third generation system were backwards compatible with my old PS2 games, I would be in complete bliss. However, discovering that my system was backwards compatible with my favorite PSOne games and that I didn’t need to worry about a memory card given the built-in hard drive, I was thrilled. Now I could play both PS3 and PSOne games for the price of one system. Waiting three years to buy my PS3 gave me the added bonus of picking up some great titles and bargain basement prices.

And there are some fantastic games out there. Having just finished playing through Ratchet and Clank Future: Tools Of Destruction, I have delved into both of Insomniac’s Resistance games, Grand Theft Auto IV, Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns Of The Patriots, Fallout 3, and Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune. Next year will even give owners of the PS3 more to be excited about with the introduction of God of War 3 and Final Fantasy XIII. Even this year there is the highly anticipated Batman game, Sucker Punch’s Infamous, and the Ratchet and Clank Future sequel. With Internet connectivity, there are even a handful of downloadable games that look appealing. And many games offer online multiplayer capabilities and interaction with one’s PSP handheld gaming device.

The wireless motion sensor controller that still offers that great vibration feature takes the system to a whole new level of gaming experience. Add to that the fact that the High Definition gameplay experience of 720p and even 1080p full HD with its accompanying eye candy visuals and aural heaven, I have never been more excited about playing games. However, now I am saving my pennies to buy a high definition television to compliment my system. But even on my old rabbit ears TV set, the games look stunning and are fun to play.

But the PS3 does more than play games. Much more. Not only does the Blu-Ray drive play high definition Blu-Ray movies, but one can still watch good old DVD movies and play music CDs. See that USB port at the front of the console? It will become your new best friend if you have a Fat 32 formatted external hard drive. Western Digital now offers a whopping 500 GB external hard drive the size of my iPod classic for only $119. With that kind of size, I can have an entire DVD library (remember those digital copies they offer with most DVDs these days?) at my disposal.

To play your digital movies, simply plug in your external hard drive to your PC computer and make sure they are in MPEG-4, avi, or DIVX format. Unfortunately, QuickTime and MKV files are still not compatible. Even raw avi files shot from one’s digital camera will play on the PS3. When you are done transferring your movies from your computer to your external hard drive, plug the drive into the USB port of your PS3. On your TV screen, choose the Video menu. Your hard drive will pop up. Make sure to hit the triangle button and select the Display All feature. If you have organized your movies into folders, you can go into those folders and you will see the title of your movie. Not only can you quickly rifle through your movies, but the load times are amazingly fast. Of course you can pause and fast forward through your movies as well.

Do you own an iPod? If so, then you will probably have a good selection of mp3s to choose from. If not, download the free iTunes program from Apple’s site and start ripping your CDs to mp3s. I suggest ripping them at 320K to get the highest quality sound with your high definition sound system. Now you can throw out your CD player and listen to tunes on your PS3 while you clean the house.

But there is still more. Load on all of your jpg image files and you can quickly view family photos and photos of your latest trip on the big screen to show to family and friends. Are you into the digital comics scene? If so, you can read your digital comics on your TV as well. Most digital comics are in a format known as CBR or CBZ. With a PC, the comics are read with a variety of software known as comic book readers. By downloading an open source free program known as 7-Zip, you can extract these compressed files to jpg images. Keep each comic in its own folder, preferably named the title of your comic and the issue number, and you can now read them on your TV thanks to the PS3. As with the PS3 controller functionality, it is easy to zoom in and out to get an overall view of your comic page or to zoom in to read text.

With all these enhancements to the PS3 from the PS2 console, I cannot even envision what Sony has in store for us in the future with the PlayStation 4. Whatever it is, I am confident that I will not only be pleased, but awed. If the technological trends follow their logical course, I can guess that we will see price drops, slimmer consoles, more hard drive capacity (most likely in solid state form), and even the ability to have full Internet access. Given that Blu-Ray movies are starting to offer free digital copies with the discs, I can see Sony making compatible hard drives that play files larger than 4GB. Currently, the NTFS format is not compatible. So what are you waiting for? Go out and buy your PlayStation 3 today. You will not regret it! Without PS2 backwards compatibility, I give the system a 9 out of 10.

Sopranos Christopher Moltisanti & UC Berkeley Secret Deal?

Here's a letter that floated into my inbox recently, allegedly from The Soprano's very own Christopher Moltisanti. I repost it here in its entirety (see link below excerpt screenshot).


CLICK HERE TO READ THE ENTIRE LETTER!!!

-- Des Manttari,
Editor-in-Chief,
Phoenix Genesis

(c) 2007: Phoenix Genesis/MBS LP

Feel free to link or print this; just include the SAVE SMC URL: http://savesmc.blogspot.com/

Technorati Tags: UC Berkeley, Christopher Moltisanti, public schools, The Sopranos, secret letters, financial deals, corporate greed, parody, Haliburton, British Petroleum, News and politics, Robert Birgeneau, William Drummond

One Day Blog Silence in Honor of Virginia Tech Victims

Official SAVE SMC MySpace Page Has Launched!

The long awaited Official SAVE SMC MySpace Profile has launched! We are serious online student journalists dedicated to in-depth coverage of Santa Monica Community College District and its vocational satellite campus, the Academy of Entertainment and Technology. We have been actively fighting for the rights of the SMC Community since 2005 and have over 2000 pages of information available online.


Snapshot of Official SAVE SMC MySpace Page (March 18, 2007)

Now, you can easily search the SAVE SMC Website and Blog in addition to watching all our YouTube videos. Find vital Santa Monica College public records or download state and federal court filings. Check out Jeff Higley's related SMC videos or blog, The Siege Online. Our quick summary of problems that plague our beloved school and its vocational campus, the Academy of Entertainment and Technology (AET), are all here in one easy-to-read page.

We've added new information on the lawsuit filed by the Santa Monica College Student association that includes highlights from the SMC List of Administrative Misconduct written by former SMC student Ryan Flegal to Dr. Robert Agrella of the California State Accreditation Team. Links to our blog articles database and fingertip topics are all here. Or simply kick back and view our Santa Monica College Highlights slideshow while listening to our current music selection. Join one of our MySpace SMC clubs or read our blog entries for updates on our ongoing pilgrimage to SAVE SMC.

Make your voice heard by posting a comment or take a simple moment to add yourself to our friends list. Please make sure to bookmark this page and pass it on to other Santa Monica College students, faculty, staff, and friends. Here's the link:

Our SAVE SMC MySpace URL: http://www.myspace.com/savesmc.

We thank all of you for your unending and unconditional support!!!

-- Des Manttari,
Editor-in-Chief,
Phoenix Genesis

(c) 2007: Phoenix Genesis/MBS LP

Feel free to link or print this; just include the SAVE SMC URL: http://savesmc.blogspot.com/

Technorati Tags: Santa Monica College, Academy of Entertainment and Technology, public schools, vocational schools, MySpace, lawsuit, Ryan Flegal, administrative misconduct, Jeff Higley, YouTube videos, News and politics, Save SMC, public records

Katharine Muller Begs for Money for AET

On the Santa Monica College Academy of Entertainment and Technology website, Dean of External Programs Katharine Muller begs for money and donations. "We are always looking for donations of equipment and software. An individual or company can also support us with a financial contribution." But this isn't the first time Katharine Muller has thrown up the online plea. As far back as April 1, 2003, Muller provided a sample cover letter addressed to the "Dear friends of the Academy of Entertainment & Technology." In that letter, she wrote in relevant part the following:

"The college received an ominous warning in the past week that a vital funding source for our programs, the Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Technical Education Act (VTEA) funding, may be eliminated from the 2004 Federal Budget. I am asking for your support in the form of letters sent on your letterhead to the mailing list, also attached in electronic form. There are two attachments, one with a draft of the letter and another with the mailing labels. You may forward to other interested parties if you wish."

The referenced mailing labels listed forty congressmen and senators, including Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer. In the sample cover letter, Dean Muller states that "this is a threat to all interested in the future of California entertainment and technology businesses and students, present and future." She additionally requested "any brainstorms on ways we could improve."


Dean Katharine Muller Will Work for Food for Uncle Sam
(Note: Parody Photo, Not to Be Taken Seriously.)

Other supporting documents include a draft advocacy letter, dated November 25, 2002, which Muller urges interested parties to edit and personalize. A yellow highlighted paragraph, intended to be edited, states the following:

"I personally am an active participant of the Entertainment Technology advisory board at Santa Monica College, one of the country’s premier community colleges, and can attest to the commitment of the college to meeting industry needs, the involvement of industry in supporting the programs, and the effectiveness of such programs in producing well trained employees. However, college commitment and industry support alone cannot support all vital vocational and technical training programs. Other funds such as annual VTEA allocations are critical to maintaining a level of training necessary to meet industry needs and keeping our economy strong."

A quick glance at AET's pathetic enrollment figures, financial problems, declining industry support, lack of internship and job placements, and questionable status of its vocational certificates paints a rather bleak picture contrary to this highlighted paragraph. As far back as January 31, 2001, the Los Angeles Times ran a short article, quoting a graduate of SMC's AET vocational program, stating that this hot trend of new media was already over. I quote the article as follows:

California community colleges report a significant increase in the number of courses dealing with “new media,” namely courses in Web site design and Web animation. Educators say the courses are essential to matching the needs of the new economy, and participating students agree that the courses are a key step toward finding jobs, often quite lucrative ones. However, some educators question this emphasis on new media, especially considering the current shakeout occurring in the dotcom sector. In fact, some graduates of the courses contend that the new curriculum is already out-of-date. “To be quite honest, it's about over, as far as a hot trend goes,” says Michael Eggert, who graduated from Santa Monica College's Academy of Entertainment Technology and became director of Web production for Wirebreak Entertainment.

Officials at the colleges offering the courses acknowledge that few students actually complete the entire curriculum. Many are only filling out their tech education with desired skills, and others turn in-school internships into full-time jobs.

Three years after AET opened its doors in 1998, it was already in sharp decline. Another three years later and Dean Muller is begging for much needed funding. Another three years later, in 2007, AET has lost most of its industry support, faculty, students, courses, vocational certificates, and funding. According to that November 2002 draft letter:

I have been informed that the Administration is considering eliminating funding that helps community colleges fulfill their mission to provide occupational programs by not reauthorizing funding under the Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Technical Education Act (VTEA) in the 2004 budget. The recent failed vote (49-50; Clinton amendment) in the U.S. Senate to restore Perkins funding to the 2004 budget shows how critical your vote is on this issue and that its fate requires bi-partisan support.

Was this an April Fools joke on the part of Dean Katharine Muller or a harsh pill that too few were willing to swallow? The official Whitehouse website confirms that the Federal Perkins Loans were "ineffective" and "not performing." The analysis of the Perkins Loans states:

The Perkins Loan program is redundant and duplicative, given the broad availability of need-based, subsidized, relatively low-interest loans through the two larger student loan programs (Federal Family Education Loans and Ford Direct Student Loans). These other programs provide nearly $80 billion in new annual loan volume, while Perkins Loans provide only $1 billion.

The statutory program funding allocation formula does not accurately reflect changes in the population of needy students. The current formula allocates aid largely on the basis of past institutional award levels, benefiting the schools that have participated in the program the longest.

The Whitehouse's action plan to improve the program was to simply eliminate it and redirect the funding to the Pell Grant student aid program, which apparently was a better way to spend tax dollars. What does this "ineffective rating" truly mean? According to the Whitehouse, it is the worst possible rating one can receive.

Programs receiving this rating are not using your tax dollars effectively. Ineffective programs have been unable to achieve results due to a lack of clarity regarding the program’s purpose or goals, poor management, or some other significant weakness. A rating of Results Not Demonstrated (RND) indicates that a program has not been able to develop acceptable performance goals or collect data to determine whether it is performing.

Santa Monica College has done everything in its power for the last two years to stonewall production of vital public records under the California Public Records Act. One can now understand why, given the fact that even the Whitehouse cannot receive answers to its questions about why our tax dollars are being wasted. The noble new media wave has washed out. Rather than figure out a way to keep the AET program not only afloat, but to effectively serve its student body, Dean Muller simply wants the recruit people to urge our politicians to thrown more money her way.

The Tech-Prep Education State Grants, according to the Whitehouse website, are also "not performing", with "results not demonstrated." Here's the analysis:

Evaluations show the program does not provide any advantage in terms of program outcomes for students: high school completion, postsecondary enrollment, and academic achievement. For example, the 2004 National Assessment of Vocational Education reported that Tech-Prep and non Tech-Prep students pursue college at comparable rates.

Program activities are redundant with allowable activities under the existing Vocational Education State Grant program. The law allows Vocational Education grantees to establish programs that supports two years of secondary education transitioning into two years of postsecondary education.

The validity and reliability of national level program performance data are limited. The program statute gives States the flexibility to define performance measures resulting in States using varying performance measures that do not share a common standard for validity and reliability and cannot be aggregated.

Again, the Whitehouse's solution is to work with Congress to terminate this program. The Vocational Education State Grants are also "ineffective" and "not performing." According to the Whitehouse's webpage:

Evaluations show the program does not provide advantages in terms of academic achievement. The National Assessment of Vocational Education reported that students in vocational education programs did not perform better in reading, math, and science achievement between grades 8-12 than students who were in the general education programs.

Annual performance data show that many States are not making adequate progress in achieving positive student outcomes. 15 States did not meet their performance targets for academic achievement at the secondary level; 17 States did not meet their targets for high school completion for school year 2003-04.

The validity and reliability of national-level program performance data are limited. The program statute gives States the flexibility to define performance measures, so States use varying performance measures that do not share a common standard for validity and reliability and do not allow for aggregation.

Again, Congress is urged to eliminate this program. Missing for all of Muller's suggested letters to these various senators and congressmen is hard facts, data, and statistics proving that the AET program works and that our tax dollars are being used wisely. Absent this, any letter alleging this funding serves a purpose is nothing more than hot air. SMC's refusal to disclose public records confirms that AET has something to hide. Why has Santa Monica College so adamantly defied the statutory law and ignored our requests for production under the CPRA?

As AET students, do we not have the right to see the enrollment figures, the current job placement and internship records, and the reason all those vocational certificates never were approved by the California Community College Chancellors Office? Or, alternatively, are we all simply to go along on blind faith, trusting people like Katharine Muller to make it all work flawlessly for us? Personally, I chose fiscal accountability over blind faith. Apparently, given the mass exodus of faculty, students, industry partners, and funding, I am not the only one to feel this way. Perhaps it is time for Dean Katharine Muller to step down from her ivory tower of power and let someone who is perhaps more qualified have a shot at saving this failing program.

-- Des Manttari,
Editor-in-Chief,
Phoenix Genesis

(c) 2007: Phoenix Genesis/MBS LP

Feel free to link or print this; just include the SAVE SMC URL: http://savesmc.blogspot.com/

Technorati Tags: Santa Monica College, Academy of Entertainment and Technology, public schools, vocational schools, federal funding, state funding, Katharine Muller, Federal Perkins Loans, Tech-Prep Education State Grants, Vocational Education State Grants, News and politics, VTEA funding, California Public Records Act

The Apple Doesn't Fall Far From The Tree

In our blog article entitled "SMC Re-arranges Deck Chairs on the Titanic," we discussed the very secretive departure of Robert Sammis from Santa Monica College last November. Sammis had held several positions at SMC, ranging from in-house legal counsel to vice-president of human resources and vice-president of planning and development. Sammis has held a license to practice law in the state of California since December 4, 1990. Prior to coming to SMC, Sammis worked for the law firm of Atkinson, Andelson, Loya, Ruud & Romo. As VP of Human Resources, Sammis ensured that Atkinson would become an outside legal firm for the college.

According to the State Bar of California website, Sammis has now resurfaced in his legal capacity as a labor and employment attorney for the Law Office of Karen T. Meyers in Irvine, California. Prior to founding her law firm, Ms. Meyers served as the Associate Counsel to the Chancellor at the University of California, Irvine (UCI). Here's a screenshot from the State Bar website confirming Sammis' employment:


From left to right: Robert Sammis Cooking, Calbar info. for Attorney Robert Sammis.

Well, it appears that the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. A quick online search shows that the Law Office of Karen T. Meyers is no stranger to Sammis' former employer, Santa Monica Community College District. In fact, SMC has employed Ms. Meyers' law firm on at least two documented occasions to act as outside legal counsel on behalf of the college in various undisclosed employee complaints. According to the SMC Board of Trustees agenda for March 14, 2005, the District paid $175 an hour, not to exceed $15,000 for a single investigation of an employee complaint. Interestingly, although the alleged legal services began on or about February 16, 2005, the board did not authorize the payment until almost a month later. So, my burning question is precisely who retained this law firm to act on the college's behalf prior to board approval? Here's the screenshot below of the contract for legal services.



Fast-forward to a year later and Ms. Meyers' firm is back on the SMC payroll, this time reeling in $195 an hour, not to exceed $35,000 plus expenses. Suddenly, Ms. Meyers has warranted a $20,000 increase in addition to expenses. How much did these legal expenses cost SMC? Instead of the four months of investigation for one complaint, without missing a beat, the Law Firm of Karen T. Meyers now has secured an entire year of employment to investigate not one, but several employee complaints. According to the SMC Board of Trustees agenda for March 13, 2006, all this cash was paid out via the District Budget and Human Resources. Here's another screenshot of the financial transaction showing the amended contract for legal services.



As acting in-house legal counsel for SMC, it would appear that Sammis would have worked alongside Ms. Meyers. Well, one good turn deserves another. Now that Sammis has been allegedly ousted from SMC, Ms. Meyers has scooped him up to work at her law firm. It will be interesting to see if Ms. Meyers will continue to reap the benefits of SMC's public funds for future legal work. If so, attorney Robert Sammis will apparently retain his close legal ties with Santa Monica College.

-- Des Manttari,
Editor-in-Chief,
Phoenix Genesis

(c) 2007: Phoenix Genesis/MBS LP

Feel free to link or print this; just include the SAVE SMC URL: http://savesmc.blogspot.com/

Technorati Tags: Santa Monica College, Robert Sammis, public schools, legal services, Karen T. Meyers, employee complaints, employment law, labor law, legal services, State Bar of California, News and politics, Board of Trustees, human resources

Piedad Robertson Resurfaces at Riverside Community College

According to the Riverside Community College District website, former SMC President Piedad Robertson has suddenly resurfaced in a race to nab the prestigious title of Chancellor. The Riverside Community College District Board of Trustees has allegedly conducted a nationwide search for a new chancellor and has now narrowed down their decision to three finalists. The finalists include Stan Arterberry (chancellor of West Valley-Mission Community College District), Noelia Vela (president of Cerritos College), and Piedad Robertson.


From left to right: Stan Arterberry, Noelia Vela, Piedad Robertson, Winniphred Stone

Both Arterberry and Vela seem to be admirable candidates based on their extensive experience. However, I question how Riverside CCD could even consider Robertson for this new position given her previous less than stellar credentials and the fact that the District had an entire nation of candidates to choose from. Robertson received votes of no confidence from both her former positions as Secretary of Education in Massachusetts and as president of Santa Monica Community College District. While in Massachusetts, Robertson's charter schools were met with lawsuits, investigations, and failed results. After she left her position, it was dissolved.

While at Santa Monica College, Robertson was the subject of a federal lawsuit involving alleged extortion, racketeering, bribery, conversion of student funds, and undue influence. Robertson also met massive criticism from both the SMC faculty association and the classified staff, which led to more litigation involving unfair labor practices. Thanks to Robertson's mismanagement of the college, it now faces serious enrollment and fiscal recovery problems. The Malibu Times has run an online article (May 10, 2006) in which they have uncovered an email sent to all SMC employees from current SMC President Chui L. Tsang, which states in part the following:

"What I have found is that SMC has been plagued with budget instability for the past several years ... What this means is that the college has been spending about $6 million more than it takes in ... If we continue down this road, we face serious financial consequences-even bankruptcy."

After Robertson was ousted from Santa Monica College, she went on to take control as president of the Education Commission of the States in Denver, Colorado. Although it took Robertson approximately a decade to run SMC into the ground, she accomplished this feat with the ECS in about nineteen months. Robertson resigned from the ECS around September 16, 2006. It appears that Robertson's lackey, Winniphred Stone, who has been her right hand throughout her career in Massachusetts, California, and Colorado, has now also left her position as Vice-President of Planning and Development at the ECS. Stone is no longer listed as an employee on the ECS website. Will Stone find herself once again as Robertson's underling if Robertson is selected as Chancellor of Riverside Community College?

Perhaps Riverside Community College is having second thoughts about Robertson. I have noticed that someone from the school's website has been spending a great deal of time over the last week thoroughly reading the SAVE SMC blog and website. Do those in power at Riverside wish to run this college into financial ruin or are there perhaps several corrupt administrators who wish to personally benefit from Robertson's financial wheeling and dealing with taxpayer dollars? As a candidate for chancellor, Robertson is currently visiting the Riverside campus to participate in public forums and to be interviewed by the Board. The Board is using these public forums to aid in their final determination, slated for later this month. Now is the time, regardless of whether you are a student at Riverside, a California taxpayer, or a concerned member of the public, to make your voice heard. Let's work together to keep Piedad Robertson out of California before it is too late.

-- Des Manttari,
Editor-in-Chief,
Phoenix Genesis

(c) 2007: Phoenix Genesis/MBS LP

Feel free to link or print this; just include the SAVE SMC URL: http://savesmc.blogspot.com/

Technorati Tags: Santa Monica College, Riverside Community College, public schools, Piedad Robertson, elections, chancellor, Stan Arterberry, Noelia Vela, public forums, Education Commission of the States, News and politics, Winniphred Stone, Chui L. Tsang

Who Really Drew Jim Keeshen's "Day of the Dead"?

It is said that history repeats itself. It seems to be the case even in the history of animation. Patrick Sullivan (1887-1933) was the owner of the Sullivan Studio. Sullivan had a reputation as a chronic alcoholic, convicted rapist, con-man, and credit thief. He was even alleged to have murdered his wife. One of Sullivan's scams was to hire talented artists and animators such as Otto Messmer and to take credit for their work as if it was his own. Although it was later proved that Messmer was the true creator of the legendary Felix the Cat, Sullivan went so far as to put out press releases and to create photo ops falsely presenting himself as the creator of Felix. Until his dying day, he adamantly took credit for work that was not his own. Below is a photo of Sullivan sitting at Messmer's drawing board. He faces the camera as he holds a pen in hand, pretending to draw Felix.


Patrick Sullivan at Felix's Drawing Board

Now, we fast forward many decades later, and Jim Keeshen is also seen below posing at the drawing board for his animated film "The Day of the Dead" (aka, "El Dia De Los Muertos") Notice how Keeshen has the same look as Sullivan, facing the camera, as his pencil rests on an image of Max, the main human character of his animated film.


Jim Keeshen at Day of the Dead Drawing Board

Like Sullivan, Keeshen did not draw the character of Max or any of the characters in his film. He took the credit while conversely employing many talented artists, such as Cecilia Aranovich and Jonathan Caustrita. In fact, Caustrita's storyboard artwork and character designs show the creation of Pancho, the iguana, who journeys from Mexico to East Los Angeles. Pancho was originally named Izzy. To view the Day of the Dead webpage with various versions of the film, click HERE. In fact, you can see for yourself that Keeshen can barely draw at all based on his crude black-and-white sketches.

As we've previously written on this blog, this is not the first time Keeshen has either taken credit for work that was not his or infringed on other's copyrights. Unfortunately, Santa Monica College continues to employ Keeshen as a professor of animation, whereby he has an unlimited pool of talented students to use in his artistic deception and commercial projects at SMC's Academy of Entertainment & Technology (AET). To me, the greatest joy of art is in its creation, not the awards or financial profit one receives. Can there really be such joy if one takes credit for the work one was incapable of doing? Not only does this deceive the public, but it also deceives the students who entrusted themselves in professor Keeshen's care. Ultimately, it also deceives Jim Keeshen himself, as by taking advantage of talented students, he stunts his own efforts at creativity.

-- Des Manttari,
Editor-in-Chief,
Phoenix Genesis

(c) 2007: Phoenix Genesis/MBS LP

Feel free to link or print this; just include the SAVE SMC URL: http://savesmc.blogspot.com/

Technorati Tags: Santa Monica College, Academy of Entertainment and Technology, Felix the Cat, Patrick Sullivan, Jim Keeshen, James Keeshen, animation, Day of the Dead, El Dia De Los Muertos, Cecilia Aranovich, News and politics, Jonathan Caustrita, Otto Messmer