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__label__wiki	0.929017	0.929017	Solvent Solvent City By I. Khider The follow-up to Solvently One Listens, but nowhere near as playfully manic, rather Solvent City adheres closer to his '80s synth pop influences, like early Depeche Mode and Soft Cell. A close listen to Solvent's latest effort yields that the compositions are as detailed and meticulous as ever, and what was sacrificed in energy has been made up for in restraint and timing. The first half of the album has a happy, bubbly tone, exemplified through cute melodies like "Some Assembly Required" and "Solvent City." The latter half is where the rhythmic styling and clipped robotic vocals are more pronounced, especially on tracks like "Built-in Microphone" and "Not for Sale." The best track on this CD by far is "A Panel of Experts," as remixed by fellow electro modulator Lowfish. The track intersperses robotic vocals with layered synth lines that build in anticipation until a peak is reached, one where the rhythms kick in at the very last possible moment, creating an evocative, nostalgic piece. Though I miss the crazy energy of Solvently, I appreciate the restrained, composition-oriented direction he took this time around. (Morr) More Solvent Jason Amm has been making music under the name Solvent since the late '90s, releasing on Michigan's respected Ghostly International as well... Solvent RDJCS5-EP Toronto, ON-based electronic musician and Ghostly artist Solvent (aka Jason Amm) gets conceptual with latest release RDJCS5-EP. Produced on... Solvent Apples & Synthesizers Self-described "robot music composer and Zimbabwe-born Toronto resident Jason Amm might very well be one of the best melody makers working... Solvent Vs. Lowfish Analog Sound-clash Jason Amm and Gregory De Rocher are the brains behind Toronto's revered Suction imprint. Artists who have recorded for the label include Mon... Solvent Solvently One Listens Solvent’s sophomore album is not harder, faster, or more intricate than 1998’s self-titled debut — and that’s just h...	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line1650208
__label__cc	0.500245	0.499755	AvatarSpirit.Net ASN Mainsite: AvatarSpirit.net Home Help Login Register AvatarSpirit.Net > The World of Avatar > Wan Shi Tong's Library (Moderator: Cerulean) > New LOK Comic - Ruins of the Empire Author Topic: New LOK Comic - Ruins of the Empire (Read 7438 times) longman83 Never Gonna Give Yue Up Re: New LOK Comic - Ruins of the Empire « Reply #25 on: Oct 05, 2018 10:54 am » Quote from: luvavatar on Oct 03, 2018 10:47 am The whole family issue was a weak way to try to garner sympathy. Her feeling that she failed at Zaofu would have been far more relevant. She was the captain of the guard for the Metal Clan. It was under her watch that the Red Lotus broke in and it was under her watch they escaped and managed to murder the Earth Queen as well as cripple the Avatar. So if they made it that she felt responsible for the chaos running rampant I felt that would have given her more credence as opposed to some abandonment issues. More importantly, giving Kuvira credence would require that at some point, this issue is addressed: what did Kuvira encounter when she stepped out to pacify the EK? What were her experiences? What difficult situations was she embroiled in, and what tough choices was she perhaps forced to make, choices that might have led her to the epiphany that authoritarianism was the only way forward, and she had to be the one at the helm? Oh and btw, Show, don't Tell. Show Kuvira modernizing ancient cultures and what that process was like, don't just Tell. Granted, this might be too much for a limited medium like a comic series and entails the kind of storytelling that Books 3 and 4 really should have included beforehand. But even a worthy attempt in this direction is better than red herring Freudian excuses (which, if you look at that Kuvira-Suyin chat, is pretty much what that subplot is.) luvavatar I also want someone from the Earth Empire to call out the idea of independent states as being another way for a monarch to shirk his responsibility to the Earth Kingdom. For all intents and purposes the states WERE independent and look how they turned out for the most part. I would love to see how Ba Sing Se changed under Kuvira’s reign. However I think they are going to go with the whole “Freudian excuse”, Kuvira was completely wrong and independent democratic states are the way to go. Prince Ire I still think the whole abolition of the Earth Kindom's monarchy in the show was rather silly, so I don't exactly have high hoped for this. I'm Loooooooopy! « Reply #28 on: Oct 07, 2018 03:52 pm » Quote from: longman83 on Oct 02, 2018 04:37 pm Kuvira should add something like this to her opening (or closing) statement: "Under whose authority does this "Special Tribunal" presume to judge me? By order of Zhu Li, one of my former aides? She helped build the spirit weapons with Varrick, another aide and the brainchild of the project. They are seated here today. Who's going to try them? How about former President Raiko, under whose mandate I allegedly waged wars of aggression for three years? Will you try him too? This court is a complete and utter sham. It's authority is derived from a ruling class that was complicit in my so called crimes by omission or commission. Many of them are seated here today. They should also be standing with me on trial, not sitting in hypocritical judgement. They have no moral credibility to judge me. I do not accept their judgement, and I do not accept the judgement of this Court. The only one fit to pass judgement may be the one my accusers cowardly ran to in order to save their skin, the one I surrendered to in this city. The Avatar. " She'd be more than half correct. This post is Loopy Approved TM. I hope we end up with Raiko going to jail for war crimes. And also Kuvira being executed for war crimes. Quote from: luvavatar on Oct 02, 2018 10:00 pm I don’t think the size of the Earth Kingdom makes it impossible for there to be a central governing body. The problem is that the leaders of the past would basically stay in their palaces and never venture out into their kingdom or play a major role in dictating what was going on. Kuvira had changed all of that when she implemented high speed maglev trains to criss cross the vast continent. Now people could connect far quicker than they did in the past and it also allowed for the central governing party to make their presence known in a timely manner. Information was also able to be spread far more quickly with them having access to sending messages electronically. I think that carving up the Earth Kingdom is not in the best interest of the citizens because then they go back to what they have been and it’s about time that issue is addressed. The EK's size isn't necessarily an obstacle to unification, but it is big enough that over the last several hundred years of absentee government (I'm assuming the fact the Chin was able to conquer everything but Ba Sing Se means the isolation of the capital has some long-running precedent) it has developed effectively autonomous cultures. Just because a train can get you from one side of the country to another in a day (random assumption, since Appa can cross half the globe in two days) doesn't mean that a previously isolated culture is going to be eager to bow to some new government. The new level of technology can be a start to homogenization, but I think it's going to have to be a long-term project, if Korra (in her role as Avatar) doesn't decide that the EK's varied make-up is worth preserving. Me on Tumblr My AtLA Fanfic AtoMaki Quote from: Loopy on Oct 07, 2018 03:52 pm I hope we end up with Raiko going to jail for war crimes. But that means hard times for Tenzin too. I mean, Kuvira was a group effort. Keeper of Suki's firebending ancestry, the Kyoshi Warrior dojo, the love potion made from rainbows and sunsets and the mecha tanks. My fanficions. My Avatar RPG system. Yougo Respect the Screaming bird! OT, but angry spirits-like corners of this forum has Pavlov'ed me into misreading this tread's title into Korra ruining something everytime i see it 0.o" somehow i have trouble imagining any AtlA or LOK-verse court to be anything other than the Kangaroo-type. i'd love a serious and competent court to counter this, but then who'd be seated in it? kinda hard to find neutral and respected parties in this mess keeper of: the Screaming bird's horrible shreak; The Bendig Mark. ahintoflime Quote from: Yougo on Oct 08, 2018 04:00 am You're not alone. I too read it as Korra: Ruins the Empire. I had a sensible chuckle. Quote from: AtoMaki on Oct 07, 2018 05:48 pm Tenzin wasn't setting up advisors like Raiko was to "assist" Wu in governing though. And Tenzin is a main character so the most they get is a slap on the wrist or their past lives purged or not-mercury poisoned. Tamerlan Pahlavi Pride above all Maybe the creators thought that using the Freudian excuse worked perfectly for Zuko and really well for Azula so why not try it on Kuvira? Though, Zuko could have been made sympathetic without focusing on his family life at all other than his relationship with Iroh as it played out in the present. He was shown as honorable and moral in season 1 when he spared Zhao and when he refrained from chasing the avatar to save Iroh. Anyway, Kuvira. What did she do that really harmed the average citizen? Even without the repressive measures she had massive public support. Those who supported her clearly benefited from herrule. Her government didn't collapse internally due to resistance and mismanagement but due to overwhelming outside force, just like a country from our world whose leadership became synonymous with pure evil. Experience has taught me that the glorious leader of then would have been regarded as the greatest of that country to ever live if the populace wasn't thought from earliest age to view him as a monster for the past 70+ years. Loopy: Azula is responsible for a plan of genocide. Though, Kuvira doesn't have the excuse of being underage. Still, she surrendered due to a change of heart. Like she said in the excerpt, she gave up everything. She still wont give up her pride and dignity though, and that's I think the crux of the story. There is no refuge but in audacity. No salvation other than in strength. "It is better to live one hundred years in wealth than seven days in poverty." - Bob Rock Did Tenzin give her money and a medal? Quote from: Tamerlan Pahlavi on Oct 08, 2018 02:12 pm Eh, by the time we were properly introduced to Kuvira, she was strong-arming starving villages into literally handing over full control of their lands and resources to her. She was willing to let children starve if the villages didn't bow down to her unquestioned, unchecked rule. I'm probably one of the few people who think her ethnic-cleansing camps are the next logical step of her weird need to dominate and control everything. She was combative with everyone who ever criticized her, and turned all her friends and personal acquaintances into her fanatical enemies. Meanwhile, we have only one flashback scene in which she claims she was so sympathetic to the lawless Earth Kingdom. More likely, I think, that she was covering up a sick need to dominate with a more altruistic motive, perhaps even to herself. Her 'change of heart' after her complete defeat was probably just a depressive episode. I still see nothing wrong with her refusing to give aid without getting anything in return. She wasn’t running a humanitarian mission, but one to unite a broken nation. If they want to remain “free” and independent then that is on them to face the consequences. A restaurant won’t give you food just because you’re hungry, you have to pay. Also what she was taking from them were resources that they themselves weren’t using or cultivating, basically allowing them to live as they always had, but this time have a government that actually gave them something in return. Under the previous monarchs they just paid taxes, but where was the infrastructure such as providing food and medicine? Where was the mass transit, where were the soldiers to protect them in the event of foreign or civil wars? I feel like season four just amped up to vilify her so that they wouldn’t have to deal with the fact that her actions were somewhat reasonable. Helldars I still see nothing wrong with her refusing to give aid without getting anything in return. She wasn’t running a humanitarian mission, but one to unite a broken nation. The problem is more that we were never given the details of her mandate. But personally, I doubt it included removing all civil liberties, reshaping the "liberated" states into mere cogs of a military-industrial complex, where dissent was even more vigorously suppressed than it probably was under the queen. The governor of Yi already knew what was in store for his state if he agreed to join Kuvira's soon-to-be empire and he relented only when faced with an impending famine. I think that says a lot about how Kuvira's rule was felt in the Earth Kingdom. [...] her actions were somewhat reasonable. Her actions were to be perceived as reasonable by the people of the EK, and secondarily by her foreign backers. And I am certain propaganda did a lot to help her cause, remember those Kuvira fans in Republic City? They were not just showing their admiration for her success, they were willing participants (probably even acting on orders) in a PR mission to pave the way for her eventual takeover of a sovereign nation. Also, among the main attributes of totalitarian states are the emphasis on the revitalization of the country by removing corruption, enforcing law & order as well as the construction of great works of architecture. All of which would sound pretty reasonable to anybody, especially for someone living in a shattered country or to the leaders of foreign powers eager to prevent the chaos from spreading to their shores. These great works in particular, by improving infrastructure, communications, energy or water distribution, and employing the jobless serve to symbolize and justify the new order's rule over the nation as much as they are meant to benefit it. Some of these achievements also have an obvious military application in mind and help strenghten control over the nation by easing the transportation of troops and other... "undesirables". They are very visible demonstrations of the power and efficiency of the regime to their nation, and to the world. But their true worth was often inflated by propaganda, like the Reichsautobahn or the White Sea-Baltic canal were. Both never reached their intended goal, and both are testaments to the brutality of the dictatorships that oversaw their construction, as they both used forced labour during their construction. Now, apply that to the example of Kuvira's train. It's likely it was at first funded by her technologically-advanced and industrially-developped sponsors, the United Republic and the Fire Nation. But once Kuvira refused to hand over the Earth Kingdom and declared herself dictator of the Earth Empire, how was she able to continue funding and building a state-of-the-art railway system, not to mention all the other projects? I think forced labour both for citizens and inmates of the reeducation camps were already happening for a while. And as for funding, confiscation of property and assets owned by foreigners and immigrants were a likely possibility. It's happened in our world, that's how the Third Reich managed to keep its economy afloat, and looting occupied countries also helped. I know, I know... I'm speculating based on what little information the show's given us. But Kuvira's "regency" and the subsequent Earth Empire were fascists states in all but name. And like all dictatorial states in history, they can boast achievements for the improvement of their nation, but it always goes hand in hand with their controlling, ruthless nature. "I don't want to be human! I want to see gamma rays, I want to hear X-Rays, and I want to - I want to smell dark matter! I want to reach out with something other than these prehensile paws! And feel the solar wind of a supernova flowing over me! I'm a machine! And I could know much more..." Kuvira: So, have you had time to rethink my generous offer? Governor: Generous? You want to take everything. How is that generous? We don't know the full legalese of the 'generous' offer, but I think the Governor is pretty clear here that Kuvira is not asking for taxes or membership in a reasonable government. She wants everything. She wants the resources and the land and the homes and the people. And she'll let people die to achieve that. I think Helldars's comparison with the ruthless dictatorships of our world is quite apt. Maybe it helps that I think Kuvira's "excuse" of being an orphan is both ridiculous and completely unsympathetic, at least when it applies to world domination. I think under the Earth Kingdom banner they were beholden to the whole lives and land belong to the King or Queen. Bumi brought up the fact that Queen Hou-Ting did reserve the right to conscript her citizens. The difference is that under Kuvira she doesn’t ignore areas the way previous monarchs did, who basically just ruled in name only. Unfortunately the series doesn’t do a good enough job to demonstrate why the rule under Kuvira is so horrible and that she stole her position. I feel like she was made to be a nationalist and tyrant in order to negate any of the positives of uniting the Earth Kingdom. I totally found the idea of making her an orphan to put her in a sympathetic light as ridiculous. I still feel my idea of her blaming herself as being a better one. She was meant to protect her city and couldn’t even see the traitor lying in their midst. Then she failed to stop the Red Lotus when they were in her vicinity and went on to kill the queen and grievously injure the avatar, which led to the Earth Kingdom falling into chaos. So her wanting to make up for her “mistake” she becomes the tyrant she never intended to be. That scene of her leaving Zaofu was just wrong. It should have shown Suyin bidding her farewell and hoping that she remains true to herself, someone who wants to help and do the right thing. Instead it was just disdainful condemnation. I think under the Earth Kingdom banner they were beholden to the whole lives and land belong to the King or Queen. Bumi brought up the fact that Queen Hou-Ting did reserve the right to conscript her citizens. The difference is that under Kuvira she doesn’t ignore areas the way previous monarchs did, who basically just ruled in name only. We're using Queen Hou-Ting and Ba Sing Se as an example of good nation-ruling, now? She wanted to rule in more than name only, but no one else was on board. Yeah, that would have been better. Suyin should have been the self-glorifying tyrant. The previous way the Earth Kingdom monarchs ruled was wrong. They just hid within their palaces and lived off the people to maintain their lavish and extravagant lifestyles. Kuvira’s methods were heavy handed, but citizens received things in return such as security, food and medicine. The old way the royals ruled was basically “Give me your resources and manpower for I am a GOD to you peasants” and they might get something in return for doing so. Kuvira was also different from the other leaders in the past, she never asks for more from her soldiers than she is willing to do herself. That is probably what got many people to be so enamored by her, especially when looking at who the alternative was. Raiko did not either. Kuvira's campaign was apparently self-funded because Suyin specifically pointed out that some of the richest people of Zaofu joined Kuvira when she left: Su: Kuvira and Baatar left that day with Varrick, my security force, and a few of Zaofu's wealthiest citizens. From an in-universe perspective, sure, the previous government was bad and anyone who enjoys being a jackbooted thug would be totally into giving up freedom for security. From an out-of-universe perspective, I don't think Kuvira was any better and I hope she's convicted as a war criminal. Quote from: AtoMaki on Oct 10, 2018 05:39 am Well, fair point about the money, but Raiko totally gave her a medal. (And before anyone tries to get nitpicky again, Raiko gave his city as host for the award ceremony, and in the preparations when other people were like, "Oh, hey, we're worried that maybe Kuvira isn't going to just be a trained monkey about this," Raiko was doing everything he could to cover for her. ) We have seen what happens when they are ignored and/or free. They can’t blurt out that Kuvira was wrong for instituting a dictatorship when pretty much most of the world is run by monarchs. Despite Su’s protests of her not being put in her position by the people, there is no way the majority of them were threatened or coerced into joining her, especially in such a short period of time. I feel like she was vilified as a way to go “democracy good, dictatorship bad”. I believe democracy is a better form of government, but it takes time to set up. Just declaring “You’re free now” after centuries of one form of government isn’t going to suddenly alleviate the issues they are facing. Why not have one true leader in charge of the nation, but the states have their own rulers as well that are elected by the people? Was it that Kuvira instituted a dictatorship, or that she was a military dictator who enslaved people and stole land/resources from people who did not want her rule? I mean, why did she need an army and all that military technology if the majority of people actually wanted her in charge? Just for bandits and rioters? Lightning-shooting robots?! Kuvira was not vilified. She was a villain. And also a megalomaniac. Uzuko This comic is probably going to be as unbalanced as season 4. « Last Edit: Oct 19, 2018 09:49 pm by Uzuko » Logged Her army didn’t just congeal itself from the primordial ooze, it had to attract enough people until it became a formidable entity that then went on to rival that of any of the other nations. The other nations are allowed to bolster up their armaments, why not the Earth Kingdom? Leading up to Kuvira taking over there have already been a few battles with brand new technology. The CEO of a private company managed to build planes that easily took down what was supposed to be one of the most advanced naval fleets in the world. It’s not out of the question to create weapons to counteract a potential future threat. While the laser cannon was definitely their version of a nuclear deterrent and clearly overboard, I can’t really fault them on developing tanks and mech suits. I know she was a villain, but I feel like they just went overboard into trying to portray her as one so that they could easily throw out any merit her work did have. The Earth Kingdom was a war torn nation that had a few pockets of light, but for the most part was a nation that was filled with poverty and hardship. Even the decimated Southern Water Tribe quickly rebuilt and the average citizen there doesn’t seem to face many issues that their Earth Kingdom counterparts would. I just don’t understand why all of a sudden it is a good idea to make the states all be independent with no central authority. « Last Edit: Oct 19, 2018 10:35 pm by luvavatar » Logged 1. An enthusiastic army of jack-booted thugs != widespread civilian support 2. Kuvira being a fascist control-freak with no redeeming qualities != an Earth Republic being a good idea 2a. An Earth Republic being a bad idea != Kuvira Was Right ('!=' means 'not equal'/'does not imply') Given the large size of Kuvira's army and how sparsely populated many areas of the Earth Kingdom are from what we've seen, it stands to reason that a good number of people DID in fact support Kuvira enough to join up with her. Heck look at the remaining population of Zaofu when she conquered them. There were like a few dozen people left at most, so either Zaofu was always this large city with an extremely small population or the majority of its denizens had joined up with Kuvira. Given what the series proper has done with major issues, I feel like the Earth Republic will be shown as an overwhelmingly good idea. The Equalists and Red Lotus were pretty much just forgotten about, even though there should have been more of a follow up with them. How exactly were non-benders being unfairly treated? It wasn't until after the terrorist attacks that the council went after all non-benders. The only ones really being unfair to them beforehand were the criminals, who ALWAYS exploit those who are too weak to stand up for themselves. Yet one line from Gommu and the election of Raiko made all of the grievances non-benders supposedly faced non-existent. That is kind of what I see what they will do with this comic, state that splitting up the Earth Kingdom is a good idea while ignoring that all of the states being independent has been shown to be a bad idea in both series. Oh, I have no doubt that most of Zaofu was on Kuvira's side. A bunch of elitist isolationists sitting on their own 'utopia' of high-technology? Of course they have Sozin-style mindsets. But "stands to reason" really has no place in these kinds of discussions. That kind of thing is called "my headcanons" in other discussions, and no one takes it too seriously. « Reply #49 on: Nov 01, 2018 04:38 pm » Civilians have the habit of supporting whatever they feel will save their skin at a given moment. The Fire Nation civilian population enthusiastically supported their dictators until Zuko overthrew them, then they enthusiastically supported him. Second line, the Earth Kingdom now reminds me of Russia where nothing in its long history could ever settle except for anarchy or dictatorship. Sometimes there just aren't any good solutions, only painful trade offs. Also, Azula doesn't have any redeeming qualities either except for her abusive upbringing and her deeply flawed and sad humanity. Guess they tried pulling some heartstrings for Kuvira too but couldn't replicate the same success. Though on a personal level I really understand the craving for power and the need to feel strong and in control. Now that makes for a sensible backstory doesn't it? Kuvira picking up her deplorable attitudes from her environment and then cranking them up to eleven. What is Suyin's attitude to the world anyway, we are better than you but we don't need to teach you our ways, we are better off alone? 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__label__cc	0.569577	0.430423	Inclusive Pirate Themed Playground, Burgos, Spain The Spanish city of Burgos is known for its efforts in integrating all citizens regardless of their abilities, therefore, it was important for them to create a playground which would be inclusive. With this in mind, HAGS designed and developed an inclusive playground in the city of Burgos for children of all abilities to enjoy, creating a comfortable play area for both children and parents. The playground has a variety of games each suitable for different ages from 1 through to 12 years old and the whole play area can accommodate up to 100 children at a time. The theme chosen for this play area was pirate and marine, taking children through an exciting journey. The big multi play unit in the shape of a pirate ship takes centre stage and offers multiple playful functions, including two slides, an easy access staircase, climbing nets, telescopes, wheels and game panels, plus a big pirate flag. For the smaller kids aged between three and five looking for an adventure, there is a pirate themed UniMini with many play activities, including a slide, a crawl tunnel and a climbing wall. Another important feature is the large swing unit which consists of various different swing seats suitable for children of any age and ability. Furthermore, the Spinmee Inclusive Roundabout provides a fun experience for everyone including wheelchair users. The playground also has a sheltered seating area with benches and armchairs for parents and children to relax and socialise. HAGS was chosen to undertake this project due to our ability and expertise in designing and installing inclusive playgrounds. Project Value Pirate & Marine Playground Burgos, Swingseat Tango 6mm Stainless Chain Omega Base Module for Bravo Swing Seat Omega Extension Module for Bravo Swingseat Mirage 6mm Plast. Coated Chain Bravo Swing Seat Plastic coated chain Worldwide Contacts: If you have questions or would like to know something about our products, you can contact us by phone, fax, email or directly on our website. If you do not know who at HAGS you should talk to, or if you would like to come in contact with a specific person at HAGS, you are welcome to call our switchboard to get connected to the right person. Inspiration Finder Contact Us HAGS Sweden 578 23Aneby http://www.hags.se Follow Hags: View Offices View Distributors View Subsidiaries	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line1650222
__label__cc	0.657714	0.342286	Five things we learned at New York Comic-Con Editor's note: Aaron Sagers is a New York City-based entertainment writer and nationally syndicated pop-culture columnist. He has specialty knowledge in 'paranormal pop culture,' has lectured at conventions across the country on the topic and is a media pundit on supernatural entertainment. He covers pop culture daily at paranormalpopculture.com and can be found on Twitter @aaronsagers. Sagers attended New York Comic-Con this past weekend, and shared five things he learned with us (more coverage to come later this week). 1. The sixth annual New York Comic-Con really stepped up its game this year, and felt even more like a contender in the con realm, yet it still isn't on par with San Diego. The movie and TV presence isn't the same, but the cosplay element seemed stronger in 2011. 2. "Marvel's The Avengers" is only gaining momentum but Tom Hiddleston is the star to watch in the movie – and Loki is the Big Bad in the film, although he has "help." Cannot overstate how much Hiddleston is becoming huge with this flick. 3. Dark Horse Comics will be going to the very beginning of the Star Wars universe with the "Dawn of the Jedi" comic series. It begins with characters using swords, not lightsabers, as the early Jedi develop ties to the Force. This is the beginning of it all and it launches February 2012. 4. Stan Lee is getting back into the business of selling stories to kids with the family-friendly multi-platform imprint called "Stan Lee's Kids Universe" with 1821 comics, coming in Spring 2012. 5. Hasbro toys made their debut at Comic-Con with a big push on "Transformers Prime" toys and Marvel toys based on the comics and movies. Overall, "Transformers" made a big splash this year between the Hasbro toys and the presentation for the MMORPG "Transformers" universe. Posted by Aaron Sagers Special to CNN Filed under: Comic Longbox Martha Cornog What about five cool NYCC offerings behind the big splash stuff? (1) The Geek Parenting panel, where I learned about geekdad.com and geekmom.com (2) The awesome T-shirts from the Kill Shakespeare guys (3) The comiXology panel, where they actually listed and dialogued with their readers (4) The Comics Pro panel on store events: some stores give amazingly creative parties (5) The incredible mecha-meister cosplayers hanging out in the bus pickup lot on the ground level. October 20, 2011 at 8:39 pm \| Philip Hades I'm all for Stan Lee's new imprint. Comics have been ignoring kids for to long. "Comic-Con" (With a hyphen) is a trademark of the San Diego Comic-Con. The New York Comic Con website does not use the hyphen and neither should this article (when referring to the New York Comic Con). http://www.icv2.com/articles/news/15584.html Volntyr Hey Ken, So the author of this article got it wrong. However, trademark does not apply when someone is reporting a news event. Plus, its a blog for pete's sake. Just to be on the correct side of things, It's Comic-Con International: San Diego Why does fat people insist on showing off their fat in tight fitting or reveling costumes/outfits? Same reason you insist on showing off you inability to write a coherent sentence. Where is the PrivateIslandParty.com Booth Girls as shown on MTV Clutch? October 19, 2011 at 11:45 pm \| Mark L Origin of the Jedi? That is so f*@#$@ awesome! I hope they will do a book series as well as the comics	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line1650224
__label__cc	0.536996	0.463004	'Star Trek' vs. 'Star Wars:' The ultimate showdown No look back at the year in nerd culture can be complete without one of the most interesting developments in quite some time for fans of "Star Wars" and "Star Trek." William Shatner took to his YouTube channel in September to declare, once and for all (reminiscent of the movie "Fanboys"), that "Star Trek" is superior to "Star Wars." In the midst of that, he took a few shots at Carrie Fisher (who appeared at DragonCon at the same time he did a few weeks earlier). Fisher defended "Star Wars," and Shatner did not go unscathed either. "Shat" had a retort to Fisher, as well. George Takei, meanwhile, urged peace between the "Star-people," since they have a common enemy: "Twilight." This debate for the ages inspired us to settle it once and for all, with you, dear Geek Out readers, as the judges. Meet "Team 'Star Trek": Michael Saba and Ashley Strickland. And "Team 'Star Wars": Topher Kohan and Nikki Rau-Baker. Without further ado, we commence the ultimate battle! Ashley Strickland begins, with the logic of Spock, describing what makes "Star Trek" special ... It’s hard not to love "Star Trek" - intellectually fascinating, overflowing with characters with whom you can relate and fanning out in numerous directions of intriguing moral dilemmas while preserving a utopian integrity. "Star Trek" paved the way for sci-fi and fantasy to be taken seriously. Unlike other sci-fi, it was not motivated by militaristic war until "Deep Space Nine," which even then poses questions about the duality of terrorism versus freedom fighters. Roddenberry introduced space as a final frontier that needed to be explored by a diverse but unified group of aliens and humans. Curiosity, rather than control, is their mission. Their utopian society is accepting, encouraging and peaceful, to a point. The members of the Starship Enterprise reflect personal struggles of moral justice, often helping one another to discover the best possible solution. It is sci-fi at its best, laying the groundwork for movies such as "Star Wars" to even exist (although SW is sophomoric at most in comparison). "Star Trek" is driven by characters, rather than flashy weapons and fight scenes. They are engaging, endearing and lack perfection - their flaws make them likable. From the incomparable captains, like brash Kirk, calculating Picard and the fearless Janeway, to the crews that keep those same captains in check, "Star Trek" never focuses solely on one person, rather how those people exist around one another. Spock, Scotty, Bones, Uhura, Chekov and Sulu could never be confused as foils for Kirk - they stand on their own, empowered, while accentuating Kirk’s character. Picard’s leadership alone is worthy of intense admiration, but he also succeeds because of the myriad individuals that comprise his crew. We are exposed to all sides of the "Star Trek" characters, and they each have a deliciously long time to develop, so they become woven into our lives - a part of the family. "Star Trek" brings together the most diverse of races and ideas and has them functioning on one spaceship. It is the fine juxtaposition of camaraderie and conflict that keeps Star Trek’s many incarnations so intriguingly convivial. Nikki Rau-Baker calls upon her Jedi powers to make the case for "Star Wars"... On Halloween of 1978, I donned my homemade R2-D2 costume, and that was the beginning of my fascination with "Star Wars." Being a child of the '70s, "Star Wars" left an indelible mark on my life. Space pirates, lightsabers and the dreamy Luke Skywalker drew me in. But it’s the life lessons that kept me hooked. The choices that we make now affect not only our generation, but the generation we leave behind. "Star Wars" brings us the future but with the gritty realism of the everyday struggles we all face. There isn’t an idealized version of the future that "Star Trek" tries to portray where people live in a perfect society with self-cleaning clothes and androids who can play the violin. The heroes do what they can to help each other There are some who say that "Star Trek" has more social commentary. I would argue with that. In fact, through the Jedi Order we learn about tolerance, compassion and understanding in a chaotic world. Master Yoda and Obi-Wan teach us about sacrifice for the greater good. The world of "Star Wars" delves deep into the spiritual realm with the Force. It teaches us to recognize that everyone, no matter how far gone they may seem, still have a chance at redemption and that is a story worth it’s weight in gold-pressed latinum. Michael Saba fires the first photon torpedo at "Star Wars"... After seeing "Star Wars" for the first time, my brother and I spent an entire month running up and down the hallways of our house, imagining that we were Han and Chewie scrambling through the narrow corridors of the Millennium Falcon. I wanted to live in that universe, but that was because I was a child. When you take a look at other kinds of sci-fi and genre fiction, you inevitably realize just how simplistic the "Star Wars" take on the military-themed space opera was. It’s about on par with a pulpy daytime soap, dripping with a Manichean, good-versus-evil philosophy where the show’s secular (Empire vs. Rebellion) and spiritual (Sith vs. Jedi) realms square off with all the subtlety and charm of Rock-'Em-Sock-'Em Robots. Once you’ve seen the original series "Star Trek" episode "The City on the Edge of Forever," there’s no going back. Loosely based on the titular classic Harlan Ellison novel, it was a stark and brutal commentary on the Vietnam War, drug use, peace activism and how good intentions are often the surest path to hell. It’s illustrative of the biggest difference between the two franchises: You can change the name of the characters, locations or even the films themselves in the "Star Wars" series, and it’ll still be a modestly goofy and outsized take on the hero’s journey monomyth. With Jawas and Ewoks. "Star Trek" gave us something different: An idealistic vision of what a multicultural (and multispecies) future utopia could look like, and what this speculation tells us about the here and now. It’s science fiction as social commentary in the grand tradition of Isaac Asimov, Arthur C. Clarke and Robert Heinlein. "Star Wars" gave us lasers, lightsabers, and action figures – in other words, science-fantasy. Maybe Harrison Ford said it best after reading a script for "A New Hope," dense with unpronounceable jargon and fantastical characters: “George, you can type this s-, but you sure as hell can’t say it.” Topher Kohan "Strikes Back"... Really? You believe for one second that all "Star Wars" gave us is “science fantasy?" Wow, I would never want to see what you thought Einstein gave us. Yeah, I just did that: I compared "Star Wars" to Albert Einstein, he gave us the theory of relativity. If you ask me, that is as much “science fantasy” as anything you see in "Star Wars." Do you believe that "Star Trek" is not military-themed? How about "Deep Space Nine" or the neutral zone. It has as many oh-my-God-we-are-about-to-be-attacked episodes as any sci-fi show on the air. Ever. Now I will give you that if you look at the "Star Trek" universe as a whole, there is a big story arc, more so than in the six "Star Wars" movies. But that is only because they let anyone write for "Star Trek." Strickland unleashes her Vulcan death grip on "Team 'Star Wars' "... "Star Trek" may not have “the Force,” but that’s because it didn’t need a vehicle with a name motivating it forward. Acceptance is widespread, not something that is shared amongst a few robed figures. All of the characters have a chance at redemption, and the captains and their crews offer these chances to friend and foe alike. "Star Wars" and "Star Trek" portray two separate futures. Gene Roddenberry envisioned a future that one would hope isn’t idealized in its themes of equality and acceptance, even if it is clean and imaginative in other aspects. But let’s not forget, "Star Wars" includes droid armies in our future. A society that creates machines that can mindlessly kill others bears no equality or acceptance. Things are black and white, or blue and red rather, in "Star Wars." You’re good or bad, and you can’t take the middle road. Moral complexity is what creates a society of acceptance in "Star Trek." The gray areas, the flaws and our inherent diversity from each other is, in fact, uniting. "Star Trek," in many ways, has and continues to inspire our future, and not just in a societal way. The tablets, communicators and other devices used in "Star Trek" inspired the social media and technology we use today. Children that watched this show did more than wear a costume each Halloween or fight with plastic lightsabers in the backyard – they took it a step further and invented prototypes for devices that would shape and change the way we live. While "Star Trek" is not as strictly militaristic as "Star Wars," it does include thematic elements, battle scenes and decisive foes – no sci-fi series of this caliber would do well without it. But it is not the main focus, unless, as I alluded earlier, you include "Deep Space Nine." The action in "Star Trek" instantly captivates, but the philosophy of it remains with you longest. The story still continues for "Star Trek," and not just “anyone” can write for this ever-evolving franchise. Roddenberry’s creative team shapes and evolves like any writing team, adjusting when there are conflicts and taking the story where it needs to go. Captain Kirk can’t guide the Enterprise through space alone – he needs his crew. And "Star Trek" was never just Roddenberry’s property. As Nichelle Nichols personally told me, it was the writing and production team as a whole that produced what millions still love today. It doesn’t rely on an animated series to keep it going or capture young viewers – "Star Trek’s" movies and TV series are good enough to do that on their own. Kohan executes Order 66 to terminate "Team 'Star Trek' "... Well, I would argue that today, there is a larger audience for "Star Wars" because of the animated series and if the "Star Trek" audience is based on movies, well … SW ranks as one of the highest grossing movies of all times and one of the greatest movie trilogies of all time. I would rather have a "Clone Wars" on TV than the show "Enterprise." If that is what “Roddenberry’s creative team” is creating, then all Trek fans should be bowing at the feet of J.J. Abrams for saving your franchise from utter destruction. In the world of good sci-fi movies, there is no conversation. The original "Star Wars" trilogy rules supreme. If you add in the TV shows, and you have to if you are talking about "Trek," then I put the three prequel SW movies up against the last three "Trek" series all day long, and again SW will be king! The Force will always be with us, but we will not always live long and prosper! Rau-Baker finds "Team 'Star Trek's'" lack of faith in "Star Wars" disturbing... Maybe if "Star Trek" had the Force, they could more effectively defend themselves against the random tragedies that seem to beset them. The wormholes, cosmic dust waves, giant blobs of oil and angry rocks are just a few of the things that could be tamed with the Force. On the topic of machines that kill, let’s take a look at the Borg. They fly around in their giant metal cube assimilating species and even take the beloved “I’m-from-France-but-speak-with-an-English-accent” Captain Picard into their collective. But they are not mindless; instead they have a hive mind where diversity is frowned upon. Things in the "Star Wars" universe are not always black and white (or blue and red as has been said). Characters struggle with moral dilemmas just like anyone else. When Obi-Wan duels with Anakin, it’s not something as simple as “he is going to be bad, so I have to kill him." During the duel, Obi-Wan even says “You were my brother, Anakin. I loved you.” That right there shows the humanity that exists in "Star Wars." "Star Trek" may have inspired some tech, but "Star Wars" has spawned an entire religious movement. The Jedi Church has become a widely recognized and accepted form of religious expression with some people listing the religion on their census forms. I’m not saying that I will go out and start wearing a cloak and carrying a lightsaber to work, but it is pretty interesting that the philosophy of "Star Wars" has inspired people to follow the Jedi code. Just as the story continues for "Star Trek," so it does for "Star Wars." With the films, the books and video games, the world of "Star Wars" is ever growing and continues to offer the fans new material to enjoy. Shields up, Strickland prepares to engage to warp speed, but not before one last volley... George Lucas has said that he was writing "Star Wars" during the heyday of "Star Trek’s" syndication. He watched the show and even attended "Trek" conventions. “ 'Star Trek' expanded your mind in terms of what was possible,” he said. “The story is what makes it work.” Simply, without "Star Trek," you wouldn’t have "Star Wars." "Star Trek’s" foundation and philosophy has and continues to give us “infinite diversity in infinite combinations.” It inspired the science fiction and fantasy that has come after its pioneering days on television in the 1960s, boldly going where no one had ever thought possible and paving the way for future stories. You’re welcome, George. Kohan prepares the Death Star to fire at "Team 'Star Trek'"... You are 100% correct in that "Trek" might have inspired Lucas to move his tale to the stars, but to say without "Trek," there would be no "Star Wars" is like saying, with no Ford, we would not have cars. Lucas took a timeless story, and put it in a universe that is ever-growing and expanding. All the time, exploring new corners of it, be it his or Her Universe. I am glad we have both for fans to watch and pick what they like to see, and for me, and all fans of good storytelling, that pick is and will always be "Star Wars." Who won this battle royale? Let us know in the comments! Posted by Ashley Strickland, Michael Saba, Nikki Rau-Baker -- Geek Out! contributor, Topher Kohan Geek Out! Contributor Wawawhat ""Star Wars" brings us the future but with the gritty realism of the everyday struggles we all face." ... Star Wars was Lucas' representation of the past, last I checked. Jim T Speaking only of the original Star Trek TV series vs. the Star Wars culture, Star Trek is superior in storytelling and in predicting technological changes. Star Wars is really nothing much more than a movie serial style action film like the old westerns of the 40s, but placed in future. Star Trek is definitely better. It may not be action packed, but no question it is better. Star Trek, the Motion Picture, however, was lame in every sense. But the problem is that Star Trek ONLY delves into its technology and storyline and does little to show people action. I honestly have to admit, the best of the Star Trek movies (yes, I have seen them ALL) is the "Wrath of Khan", but that was because I also saw the original show and know the background behind Khan's and Kirk's animosity for each other and how they both loved the same woman, yet she chose Khan at the end of the episode. The other movies and shows were not as good- though the one good point about the Star Trek shows is that they were brave enough to make them live-action, while the Clone Wars saga has to be done CGI. But if the next Star Trek sequel (supposedly coming out in 2013) is to have more action and story than the first, then I might retract SOME of my statements. The only disappointment in both franchises is that it tells us that at some point, both allowed ni&&ers into space for some reason. But only star trek allowed one on the bridge. What is wrong with you? Star Wars for me. I suppose it brings out my inner child but that is not the only reason. For me anything presented in a visual medium is all about entertainment- I was more entertained by Star Wars. All the other nonsense about 'technology' and 'realism' is moot to me. Star Trek is pure gold, Star Wars is poop, The Star Wars Prequels were like someone pooping in my mouth and forcing it down with harder poop. Dude, no offense...but have you seen "Team America" lately? Go back to Hunting...Good Will....lol! Please dont "LOL" your own comment, you look desperate. I saw "Star Wars" when it first came out in 1977, when I was only 6 months old. From that point on, I had loved the original trilogy. I was also taken to see Star Trek when it first came out too when I was 3 years old, but I fell asleep during the movie and only caught the end of it. The best thing about Star Wars fanculture is that people don't live in it; you don't see or hear of people learning or speaking 'Basic' the same way people attempt to speak Klingon. Also, unlike the latest remake of Star Trek in 2009, people actually went to go see the Phantom Menace, which went on to be somewhat popular enough that 2 more prequels where made of the series, something you haven't heard much coming from the Star Trek side- even the original was not even a big hit when it first released in theaters in 1979 and the original team involved in the "Motion Picture" were not called back to help with "Wrath of Khan". And none of the characters really made it out of the "Trek" doldrums, accept for Kirstie Alley- eww! Shatner is like Hamil, they are stuck being remembered as the protagonists of their series- though I have to admit Shatner was more successful than Hamil in finding roles outside of Trek. But no one has seen him outside of the "Priceline" commercials- ha! The greatest questions in fanboy culture came from Star Wars; Who shot first- Han or Guido? Did the Rebel Alliance know there were innocent independent contractors on board the second Death Star when they blew it up? Finally, unlike Star Trek, there are literally millions of pages of books and comics in addition to thousands of hours of cartoons and shows based on the Star Wars universe and what does Star Trek have?.....a Klingon dictionary....whoopty doo!!!! Oh, I forgot, the greatest question coming out of Star Wars that geeks like are dying to find out- Did Princess Leia wear underwear under her slave outfit? Something no one really wants to know about Aurora. I know and respect the place Star Trek has earned in American movie culture, but by far, Star Wars had a far bigger impact on geeks and nerds everywhere....why? They are far cooler....watch the movie "Fanboy" to find out. Yes, she wore my boxers. Are you out of your mind? When Lucas wrote the first Star War he copied many of star war ideas from Star Trek. Just to let you know hyperspace jump very similar to warp drive, plus tractor bean, shields, weapons etc . . . Star Trek was always better written, with the exception of Empire Strikes Back, the other movies lack of any engaging dialog, and Star War character are shallow and badly acted. Only Mark Hamil gave the best performance in the entire series, when it was reveal that Dark Vader was his father. As for William Shatner, he is a three times Emmy winner for his "Boston Legal" role. The only real cinematic value that Star War has is the innovation in the special effect, green screen stuff that everyone used today. I just "Shat" on the argument for Star Wars. now THAT would be the ultimate franchise: SW + Shat! No comparison. Star Trek is like literature. Star Wars is like a comic book. celtichunter7 In actually both Star Trek and Star Wars are going 'Back In Time'. What we see in the sky is a latent (albeit moving) picture of what the universe looked like billions of years ago. On that premise, Star Wars is going 'back-back-in-time (blue-shift) towards the 'Big Bang' era. Star Trek is going forward-back-in-time (red-shift) to the furthest reaches of the universe. But then maybe I could be wrong? I wonder if Leia had to deep throat jaba all the way down to the pubes. Poggle the lesser I'd watch the 3 new Star Wars movies over ANY of the Star Trek movies. You are comparing movie genius to TV tripe. New Hope ($1.4B as in BILLION), Empire ($781M), and Jedi ($748) dominate to the Trek best effort ($257M). You never see Trek toys from the 70's or 80's sold at comic shops. Yet stores (toys and so many others) have whole aisles of Star Wars toys today. Trek is for 60 year old nerds. Wars is for everyone. Shatner said it best on SNL – "Have you ever even touched a girl?" Everyone gets diarrhea and eats mcdonalds too. Popular things are poop. There is great in both SW and Star Trek – the first 3 movies and about 2/3rds of the Star Trek episodes. However, there was losey in both SW and Star Trek – the last 3 movies in SW and Off to Eden & Spok's Brain for Star Trek. I would have to pick Star Trek as my favorite, though. The great Star Trek episodes are unique inspiring stories; i.e. City on the Edge of Forever; that's classic TV at its best! Reddit User This needed a TL;DR Why didn't luke pull out before telling leia she was his sister. Kinda selfish if you ask me. The TOP TEN lines from the unreleased TNG episode, "The Enterprise Stops at Taco Bell": 10) (Troi) I sense... indigestion. 9) (Picard) Don't order the fajitas, Number One, they'll go through you at warp nine. 8) (Wesley, guest starring) Look, mister, the sign says you get a free "Little Orphan Annie" cup with any taco salad purchase, and I'm not leaving here till I get one! 7) (Worf) Klingons do NOT eat burritos! 6) (Geordi) I bet if I allowed anti-matter to collide with these chimichangas we could boost warp power by 27 percent! 5) (Dr. Crusher, pointing tricorder at a taco) Inconclusive meat readings, 4) (Picard) You're on, Number One. Whoever can squirt the most jalapeno sauce up his nose gets treated to dessert. 3) (Riker) What do you mean you don't serve tokelau here? What kind of Mexican restaurant is this? 2) (Data, re-joining Geordi after bugging Picard with a boring monologue on the history of the enchilada) I do not believe it is physically possible for me to place an enchilada in the area suggested by the Captain. 1) (Picard) When we get back on the ship and you have the conn, Number One, you'd better not fart on my chair! CNN Reader Star Trek is "hard" science-fiction. The original series at least. While Star Wars is a drama played in space. I think Star Trek is post-modern, it's a child of the 60's. Its theme of "acceptance", as one of the debaters put it, reflects that kind of background. Star Wars on the other hand deals with much more timeless themes, hence its broader appeal outside the domain of sci-fi. Space is the premise of Star Trek, but it's not the premise of Star Wars at all. So it's not really a good comparison. You said "hard" Star Trek. One word: Replicators. The ability to turn pure energy into matter, especially into food, would mean the end of poverty. Star Trek - especially ST:TNG - offers up a utopian vision of what human could be if they were more advanced technologically and more rational. Sadly, the replicators (and transporters) are the biggest pieces of fiction in the ST universe. by far, the least likely of things to be possible Whose chest would you rather finish on. Ohurah's or Leia's? Any chick chained to a slug will make me cream my shorts faster than a penn state coach at a boys soccer match. Actually I think we can all agree it would be best to finish in the emperor's mouth, but I digress... Son of Spam Who are these idiots claiming Star Wars gives a certain vision of the future distinct from Star Trek??? "A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away...." Need I say more? Star Wars was never about the future. It was about the past. Having said that, Star Wars has always been a childish endeavour. Star Trek, on the other hand, appeals to both the intellectual and visionary aspects of our evolved natures. Actually both Star Trek and Star Wars are going 'Back In Time'. What we see in the sky is a picture of what the universe looked like billions of years ago. On that premise, Star Wars is going 'back-back-in-time towards the 'Big Bang' era. Star Trek is going forward-back-in-time to the furthest reaches of the universe. But then maybe I could be wrong? You are both wrong and a douchbag. Actually, celtichunter...I believe you are correct. Although I'm sure Monsieurs Einstein et Hawking would have something to say about it. Both Star Trek and Star Wars are entertaining, engaging, and fun. They both have their own strengths and weaknesses. However, for truly GREAT Sci-fi / Fantasy movies, look to the LOTR series. This article is ALL wrong. To start with Star Trek is a clear RIP OFF of the 1950's Forbidden Planet with Leslie Neilsen, Anne Francis, and Walter Pidgeon. Everything you see in Star Trek came right out of Forbidden Planet. Beam Me Up, Science Officer, Medical Officer and the captain always getting his girl on every planet. There was even a star fleet, and a host of special effects. There would NO Star Wars or Star Trek without Forbidden Planet. jamesnyc Ahhh George Pal. Where is he when you need him? I always felt that way about Star Trek expecially the special effects and of course Leslie "Let 'er rip" Neison. RIP. I love both, but William Shatney is a jerk sometimes. I do hate the prequels with a passion though. Shatner Chartreuxe So, are the STAR TREK WARS over now? Comparing Star Trek to Star Wars is like comparing apples and oranges. They're both equally AWESOME but uniquely different so why can't we love them both? I do. But if I had to pick one it would be Star Trek because I really can't stand the Star Wars prequels. Star Trek would win of course...just beam a tiny grenade right into the soft spot of the Death Star and poof...yeah, great design Empire. Or transport Vader into a empty space or a sun. Hands down Star Trek. Why wouldn't that have been the same solution for every episode of Star Trek where they met up with an antagonist? you're high on something Matt. 1 small grenade would be completely inadequate to destroy anything on a Death Star. Plus it would have shields, ya know. Also, Vader (also protected by shields). could just open up a channel and choke the entire ST crew with a thought. Princess Leia or Yeoman Rand and all those other 60's hotties? No argument in my mind! ST wins the chick thing with numbers! Star Trek was The Beatles – perfecting old forms and changing culture. Star Wars were the Bee Gees – sold an awful lot of stuff, and left us with some coool memories. Apples and oranges. And, like the pop groups, they haven't aged that well. I don't take sides ... I like them both, but do prefer Trek. Trek wins. SW is for kids. Period. 🙂 Tamerlain I agree 100%, Star Wars is for kids; Lucas even said it himself, in defense of the last 3 movies "...the kids love the last 3 films...”. TomCA No contest both are good. I have to say though, I wouldnt want Shatner coming to my defence. Star Trek and its spinoffs got me thinking a lot about what might really be possible in the future. Star Wars was very entertaining. SW is the only movie that I have ever waited in line two hours for the next showing cuz they sold out of tickets for the current showing and is the only movie that I have seen multiple times in a theater. While Trek argues that technology of today was influenced by them ;ie, cell phones, ipads- I cannot imagine films like LOR series, and Jurassic Parks series being half as successfull if it weren't for blue screen technologies/animation that were created by SW. Richard Buchanan I like Star Wars but I LOVE Star Trek, I think my life would be different without it. I would be different. Growing up I watched as much TNG as I could.. and today I still revisit an episode from time to time. I truly believe it expanded my mind, taught me great morals and values and made me a better person. That coupled with good parents.. 🙂 Thanks Mom! lol There's plenty of room in the 'Verse for both. I love Star Trek and I enjoy Star Wars. So what? The argument is dumb and those who argue it are dumber. I love and enjoy both, why do I have to choose? Both have valid and valuable points of view, messages to convey and stories to tell. Imperial Star Destroyer vs Enterprise-D Here's what would happen: (regardless if you are a Trekkie or not, it would more than likely happen this way) first, let's give a little more to it.... we have yet to see a single ISD anywhere in the flim... there are always a couple together... in this case we will say there are 3 of them... the Enterprise is almost ALWAYS by itself... if it came across the ISDs its first response would be to hail... great, fine, dandy... here's how the rest of it would go... ISDs would think ships are new Rebel type (or some race that needs to be squashed); ISDs move into range the ISDs probably wouldn't hail back and just open fire... the Ent's sensors might be able to tell when a ship is powering weapons, but ISDs always have their guns "on", thus it would read just like any other power reading [albeit a bit high]... the Ent. would have its shields down from the first shot... quick stats (as from WEG's RPG) ISD: 60 turbolaser batteries (20 front, 20 left, 20 right) 60 Ion cannons (20 front, 15 left, 15 right, 10 back) 10 tractor beams (6 front, 2 left, 2 right) more than likely the Ent would be facing forward at the centermost one (and the ISDs would be either in a wedge or echelon pattern). if all three ISDs opened fire you are looking at about 60 guns hitting the Ent. at once... that would at LEAST do some good damage... to make it fair, the Ent. gets their shields up at this point (Riker would be smart enough to yell his line)... Data notices the ships are slow moving and best attack would be from behind [he doesn't know weapon lay out but the big area in back, he thinks, is probably the least defended]... Ent. Makes a zip for the back area, while shooting and getting some damage inflicted... TIEs are already being launched, and would have been since start of battle (not to mention any sentry ships out with them).... [each ISD holds 72 TIEs as well as various other ships & such... including Zero-G troopers; which are also being launched on a transport...] main ISD has taken a lot of damage from Ent's fire (both photons & phasers) by this point when Ent gets back behind ships... the two supporting ISDs start swinging around... all TIEs [216] are out by now... Z-G troop transport heading to Ent. and begins to launch troopers... Ent. Has remodulated their shields against turbo laser shots [each shot now maybe doing quarter to half damage] Main ISD fires ion cannons at Ent. [ion cannons are DESIGNED to penetrate a ship's shields] First volley of shots hits Ent., frying most of its systems... weapons offline, shields offline, etc etc etc... Z-G troops attach to hull and begin to cut through... main ISD hits Ent.. with tractor beam and begins to pull the ship in... TIEs probably attacking any escape pods beign launched, and targeting any phaser emitters in case ship comes back online picard orders self destruction of ship computer doesn't respond since the ship has been ionized badly security teams (lead by Worf) go to main area of boarding Z-G troops... Ent in ISDs docking bay now... several squads of storm troopers waiting [there's no "normal" docking area for them to get into, so it will be a moment until they are on board] Z-G troops walk all over opposition (Worf dead) [even though phasers would be set to kill and Worf being a great warrior, Z-G's are covered in HUGE amounts of armor, and are armed with: concussion grenades, gas/stun grenades, mini-proton torpedoes, blaster cannons, & laser cutters] transporters also offline [although a ISD bridge assault would be interesting, but we are doing ship vs. ship... and it's over now anyway] S'troopers now aboard and shooting ANYONE they find... [each ISD holds 9700 troops, with the Enterprise they might send about 500 onboard... with most of the Ent. being civilians it would be a cakewalk] needless to say, the Enterprise would lose no matter what set of scenarios you ran it thru (even if it was a standard one-on-one the ISD still has Ion cannons on all four fire arcs) and 72 TIEs might be easy to take out BUT the sheer number would be too much [esp. if they started doing kamikaze runs thru the shileds] the Enterprise wouldn't know where to shoot to take out sensors, shields, etc... yes, their best chance WOULD be to take out the bridge, BUT they would have to get thru the shields first... the only thing the Enterprise might have going for it is that its phasers can be continuous beams and they might be able to cut through part of the shields and into the hull... my personal opinion in the end is that the Enterprise, as good as it is, would be able to do a lot of damage, but would lose in the end... now if you pit it against an SSD instead, or put Vader in there somewhere and the Enterprise is truly lost... end of story... lasers won't do any damage to the enterprise. They would need to upgrade to phasers. the enterprise wouldn't even break a sweat taking out those three ISD's you know a 'phaser' is just a s3x'd up term for laser, right? same thing! plus the ISD's have Proton Torpedos and Concussion Missiles as well. jdurand1970 NOW THAT lady's and gentlemen, is how you properly nerd-up a comments section. SALUTE Have you even played a star wars games. I can take out a ISD with my little X-wing. Take out the two shield towers and then hit and run. Hit the ship with laser run recharge shields then recharge lasers. If there were a war between the Empire and the Federation, like the borg, there would be more then one ship. Warp drive is faster then Hyper Drive. The Ent faced laser equipped ships and nothing happened. The federation went through a laser phase to a phase cannon then phasers. laser/phase/phaers is all just Trek tech-mumbojumbo, ya know. they're all the same thing: energy beam weapons. and, yes, i have played plenty of SW games and destroyed plenty of ISD from a puny X-Wing. you realize, of course, that the ability to do that was a gameplay design flaw and not indicative of what the reality would be, right? I disagree, the SW capitol ships while impressive in fire power and man power have a major flaw that would be easily exploited by the Enterprise. They only have two modes of travel, sub-light (when they are moving in normal space) and a jump to light speed which is a controlled worm hole through space in one direction per jump which take precise calculations which makes for a bad day if you get it wrong(fly through a sun as mentioned by Han Solo). Also they can not track other ships in jump, only calculate were they are most likely to have jumped to based on known routes and possible destinations. The Enterprise on the other hand warps space around it as a normal mode of travel and can track other ships doing so, as well as fight in real time in warp across large distances. To the capital ships the Enterprise would be a hard to track target that would appear and disappear while dropping Photon torpedoes traveling at warp speed which means the Capitol ships wouldn't even see them coming until they hit. And if that isn't enough to make a bad day for the capitol ships all the Enterprise would really have to do is grab a few space rocks of good size with the tractor beam, aim in the right direction and accelerate to a low warp and let go.at just the right time. Or better yet, use the transporter to drop a few packages inside the capitol ships while maintaining a distance well out of range(my preference) Then there is the cloaking device, what you can't see, you can't hit and the cloaked ship has the advantage of coming out were ever they want and when they want. Something the Klingons and Romulans have used many times to their advantage. you're forgetting the dozens of small fighters and bombers attached to each ISD plus you're forgetting that ISD's have SHIELDS too plus you're forgetting that ISD's have TRACTOR BEAMS too Admittedly The cloaking device isn't standard hardware for the Enterprise so that isn't really an option under normal situations. Fighters and bombers not really an option as they are under the same travel restrictions as the SD's. You can't hit what you can't catch unless you get real lucky. I guess that's were you might pull out the 'ol force card, except most pilots of the fighters and bombers don't use the force unless they are Jedi or Sith. Not many of those running around. And also the transporter option is outside of the SD's ability to defend against. So not fail nope, still calling FAIL. transporter option is OUT as the rule of the ST universe is 'no transporting with ANY level of shields up'; that would highly suggest that the SW shields would also block the transports also, the SD can 'micro-jump' and get within range of the ENT. then come the ion cannons and down goes the ENT Micro jump is irrelevant, once again it is one direction and a specific distance per jump. Takes time to calculate, execute and is sensor blind while in action. while the Ent is traveling at warp all the time unless they choose to drop to sub-light, can see the SD coming, can calculate an appropriate counter move and move in 360 deg's with full sensor capability. So while the SD's micro jumping in one direction blind, the Ent is going were it wants at what ever warp speed it is capable of. With full knowledge of everything around it within sensor range and full tactical capabilities. still not a fail Nah, still FAIL. The ENT can't run ALL of its systems at 100% at the same time. Why do you think they always have to yell "full power to the shields!" and whatnot. Granted they might have a good chance of annoyingly avoiding being hit, but at the same time they'd be incapable of delivering much damage. They'd be more like a pesky fly buzzing around. And the ISD can do some 'predicting' of its own as well; micro-jumps aren't that hard to calculate. Also, the ENT doesn't maintain 100% of its maneuverability at high warp (or even low warp), so it's not nearly as nimble as you're thinking. I think the photon torpedoes would be more than a little damage, as mentioned before I believe they travel at warp and can be programmed for different trajectories. So even if a toe to toe sub-light fight would go bad for the Ent, they still have the option of maintaining distance(out of range for the SD's weapons) at warp and and hammer away. Also with the replicators(this one bugs some people, but it is still part of the ST universe and therefore an option) on board, any weapon that is on file is available. Gravity mines, anti-matter mines etc. All of which could be launched or transported within range of attack, even if just outside the shields. So more than a pesky fly. and still not a fail. kkirk remember the Ent has a detatchable saucer section that has full capabilities. So that would make 2 Ents. one saucer section and the bottom section both with fire power, right? "Star Trek" may have inspired some tech, but "Star Wars" has spawned an entire religious movement. "SOME" technology? Lasers (phasers), smartphones (iPhone, Android), tablets, diagnostic recorders (Spocks tri-corder, Bones hand-held medical scanner), transporters (photons have been transported from two different locations already), shuttles, personal computers, universal translators, etc. What benefits come from a religious movement? Look at the Mid-East religious fanatics. My vote is for Star Trek. The whole SW = kid vs ST = adult argument; things we see as kids stick to us and are integrated into our personalities, affecting us much longer in our lives. The values learned from Star Wars we watched as children stick with us and have a HUGE cultural impact today. Star Wars is still teaching kids this day; not so much for Star Trek. And all of the Trek fans that said they liked Star Wars as a kid...you learned your values then guys. I say Star Wars stuck with you and made a bigger impact than your "mature" phasers and Vulcans (space elves; pointy ears and the whole wisdom thing). Max in NY can we please have a remake of star wars episodes 1-3? How do you go from the amazingness of 4-6 to Jar Jar Binks? Star Wars. Space Opera versus Space Sitcom (with a few two hour long specials mixed in). I much rather go to the opera than the comedy club. It's a "Vulcan Nerve Pinch", NOT a "Vulcan Death Grip". FAIL on the moderators. Nerd. Occasionally! 🙂 It's also a Wookiee not a Wookie. You're forgetting an episode: THE ENTERPRISE INCIDENT. It was referenced therein. Of course, it was a trick, but Spock did claim there was such a thing. Spock has been known to l1e when the situation calls for a rouse, ya know. Rod C. Venger Let's put this in it's proper perspective, first: Star Trek has run for 40 years through multiple iterations plus the movies. Laid out end to end, the Star Wars movies total about 15 hours. Comparatively, I call that being canceled halfway through the TV season. Even if you count the cartoons, Star Wars doesn't come close to Star Trek's longevity and depth. Finally, this gem from Nikki Rau-Baker: "Star Wars" brings us the future but with the gritty realism of the everyday struggles we all face." Repeat after me, Nikki, "A LONG TIME AGO, in a galaxy far far away..." Apples v Oragnes. FAIL Run times? That "half season" made billions more than all of your two hour long specials combined. Mark Linehan Star Wars is the spoiled brat child of Star Trek. Star Trek showed what was possible in a genre that was still in its infancy at that point. It brought the sci-fi of the silver screen from the b-movie lobstermen from mercury type movies to high production value films such as Star Wars. I agree that without Star Trek you would not have Star Wars, at least in the way you know it now. If Star Trek hadn't broadened the horizons of all science fiction then Star Wars might be nothing more than a sidenote in motion picture history because George Lucas might never have gotten the finances together that he got if it weren't for the insane popularity of Star Trek. So in a strange sort of way you could almost say that Star Trek helped pay for Star Wars. Let it be noted however, that I loved Star Trek and the first 3 Star Wars movies and the 6th and final movie. 4 & 5 were bad to me. I'd rather watch the dungeons and dragons movies than those two star wars films. Star trek fan base is mostly based in the US... SW is Global... I Live in México and i remenber SW in the early 80's, i dont recall seeing ST back then. Trek! Spock, Khan, Klingons. And how many space shuttles were named the Millenium Falcon? I rest my case. How many people know what the Falcon is versus the... was it the Space Frontier Mobile? What the hell is an Aluminum Falcon??? Star Trek is about our galaxy's future. Star Wars is about some other galaxy's past. Are we trying to say our future is better than someone else's past or vice-versa? That means the question comes down to either our galactic arrogance, or our galactic inferiority complex! I work with Trek, so I might be a little biased, but ... Trek is better. It simply is. Trek has inspired people to explore, to get into science, to develop new technologies. Wars is awesome escapist fun, but Trek brings more to the table in terms of cultural impact. Occupy Wallstreet FOREVER I'll keep this simple. As a kid I liked Star Wars. As an adult I liked Star Trek. The last Star Trek film with Captain Kirk and Spock growing up as kids was better than all the Star Wars films combined. Jeffrey Root If you would have asked me in high school "Star Wars or Star Trek?" I would have told you Star Wars hands down. Now that I am older and wiser I will have to admit that It's a dead tie. While Star Wars takes me into a story of space fantasy with adventure and action, Star Trek is the reality I see for our future one day. Sure Star Trek was a little dry at times, but with the 2001 series "Enterprise" and the latest Star Trek movie that changed my mind about the importance that Star Trek plays in science fiction and reality. Star Wars is simple, main reason why kids like my 5 year old nephew loves it. Star Wars is like coffee with cream and sugar. Star Trek is bold like a regular cup of joe or straight up whiskey, it has more character than Star Wars will ever be. Simple minded people like kids and some adults cannot comprehend Star Trek for its complexity. I'm not a fan of either but I lean towards Star Trek a lot further because Star Trek is something that can become reality one day unlike Star Wars which is pure fantasy. Star Wars is simple as in terms of good vs evil, only thing different about Star Wars vs other good vs evil movies is that it happens out far in the galaxy. Star Wars is pure fantasy as you follow one person throughout the movie who'll become the hero and a prequel to the series where a kid becomes evil. It's too simple for my taste. Star Trek has a lot of character development within the series in which caters to everyone men, women, and child. Star Trek is like our NASA program, but in a far distant future. To go boldly where no man has gone before. Star Trek is not black and white like Star Wars, rather there are many emotions that can be played without being lame like Star Wars prequels. Star Trek also focuses between mankind and aliens where peace is possible. Star Wars is just plain good vs evil. It's great for kids, but I rather watch something that is not a fairy tale. I know you meant to say, "To Boldly go..." Ouch, the Trek fan got a quote wrong?! And cream and sugar with your coffee is better than black. Who wants to watch a story that's boring and bitter? This is like the episode of South Park where the kids playing Lord of the Rings makes fun of the younger kids playing Harry Potter. Star Wars, Star Trek, Both great. End of story. The whole feud is just insider fun. Umm, how many Star Wars conventions have there been? What future technologies did Star Wars accurately portray? How may heros of society encouraged a Star Wars actor/actress because her role protrayed equality in ways unseen in the media previously? How many Star Wars television series were there? How many Star Wars movies were there? How much of the Star Wars audience demographic were composed of scientists and engineers? How many NASA rockets or shuttles were named after Star Wars devices? Don't get me wrong; Star Wars is/was great entertainment. But Star Trek brought great writing, a grand vision, and a hope for a better tomorrow. I go see Star Wars to escape reality. I watch Star Trek to try and change it. +1 glad to know you know the difference between pure fantasy where the them is plain, good vs evil. Star Trek reveals the possibilities of our future, plus there are lot of great characters in which make Star Trek great. Actually, the 'science' in the fiction of SW has been judged to be more likely to be valid than the 'science' of ST. Ie: Hyperspace v Warp Fields, Transporters, etc. Sure, ST gave us the cellphone, but we'd have had that develop anyway regardless. Cyberpred Forbidden Planet beats them both. Someone with no Name Dan C B trekker? yes, Star Wars? 50% just the first three. Can I say anything about Forbidden Planet? I mean you want to talk about who was first? I was born in '74 and remember meeting Darth Vader and Chewbacca at a car dealership when they made an appearance when Empire was released. Darth Vader scared me when my dad turned aroun with me on his shoulders and Vader was right behind us and I was looking in to his chest. but I digress. Both are good shows. TNG, eh, not so much. Couldn't really get in to DS9 either, even though that one female symbiot was hot. Voyager was okay. Really enjoyed Enterprise but Bakula is a good actor, at least to me. TOS was good at the time. I did go to one convention in Austin and met James Doohan and got his autograph! Okay, so, Star Trek deals with the future of mankind, according to Roddenberry. 200-300 years in OUR future, after WWIII. It deals with moral issues, social issues, war. It reflects todays society. Klingons represented the old Soviet Union, etc. But it gave us technology we use today: cell phones based on the old communicators, iPads based off of TNG, talking computers, even the new communication devices in TNG et al. (where they touch their emblems on the uniforms and talk) resemble the bluetooth. Star Wars is Lucas' version of the classic serials of old. It has more religious undertones, is darker, and not based on any specific societal issues. It is good versus bad, democracy versus empirialism. There aren't any real social issues dealt with, but more individual ones. The Republic does not rely solely on technology but rather thinking and using their brains and the resources available compared to the Empire that relies heavily on technology to meet it's goals (the Death Star.) The Storm Troopers in their masks, and Darth Vader, and even the Emperor with his veiled face, represent the faceless evil of the galaxy, the oneness compared to the Rebels who represent everyone, the individuality. Both are great sci-fi shows/movies, each offering it's own perspective. Star Trek is more societal based, more modern, what we have the potential of becoming while Star Wars is more religious (even though Lucas said it really wasn't) and shows the conflict between good and evil. No Brainer The problem with Star Wars is they had the movies. You didn't have a chance to truly explore each character. Star Trek brought you into the lives of the crew to know them on very personal levels. I would say besides TOS, Voyager surpasses TNG simply because they are all working to get home, rather than doing duty assignments from the federation. With Voyager you are with them every step of the way. At least I was. So I would say, without a doubt, that Star Trek leaves Star Wars in their warp trail! You are SO RIGHT! I am a huge Voyager fan too. Wars pales in comparison to Trek! I like the "leaving in the warp trail" part! LOL Ah yes, ST ... a soap opera drama for nerds! The kicker for me: there is a LOT more cannonized Star Trek to enjoy than Star Wars. That said, I wonder if there are any Star Trek fans out there who don't enjoy the original Star Wars movies at least a little (even if they won't admit it)... You can experience the cannonized Star Wars universe in 1 day (six movies). There is enough cannonized Star Trek to keep you entertained for months (29 total seasons of shows, plus 11 movies). Note that my use of the word "cannonized" is pretty strict (so none of the Star Wars novels count, nor does the Ewoks cartoon from the 80s, nor does the animated Star Trek from the 70s, etc.) I enjoyed watching the original Star Wars trilogy. Lucas totally dumb-downed the three prequels for a younger audience in my opinion. Star Wars doesn't get me excite as much as Star Trek because many audiences grew up watching the series for the last 20 plus years. Star Wars is just another box set movie like Harry Potter. btw Star Wars to me is like soap opera in space, you can actually make Star Wars into a musical, it has all the ingredients. Star Trek in the other hand can't be made into a musical because it's far to realistic vs a pure fantasy based movie like Star Wars. Da Noid Kohan got it right in the end. Star Wars as it debuted in 1977 was the timeless "fairy tale" that we've always been told. Sure, the characters changed for a sci-fi universe but the story is the same... The Princess, The Farmboy, The Pirate, The Wizard, The Evil Prince...the brothers Grimm would have been proud of this story. Chach I love 'em both for completely different reasons, because they are two completely different things. The only things that are the same is that their stories mostly take place in space ships or on alien worlds. The similarites end there. I don't want to chose between them and I don't have to, so I won't. ST is great for intellectuality and SW is great for just plain fun. Although I would like to see the Enterprise and Klingons suddenly zapped into the battle of Yavin. While we're at it, bring in the Cylons and Galactica! 1 Corinthians 13:11: "When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. -sums up my switch from Star Wars to Star Trek as an adult botwt I love them both... Star Trek the original series did set a lot of precidences for its time like; – the first woman in a command position and a woman of color at that (Uhura), – the first on tv interracial kiss (Kirk and Uhura), – an alien who is second in command (read that non-white male) – Nichelle Nichols (Uhura) recruited astronauts including Sally Ride the first American woman in space – the first space shuttle, Enterprise, was named for the star ship in Star Trek SW4EVER Are there any Star Trek fans still alive? Yeah, now get off my lawn you darn punk kids! yes young-en and we even know how to use computer ..love them both always have and always will I'm in my 20's..imagine I'll be here for a while longer. We're working on the third gen of people now. Never give up, never surrender! ;-p ohsnap When you take a look back at Star Trek TOS you can see that, scientifically, they were ahead of their time. Desktop computers (when a computer at the time filled a room), hand-held communicators (cell phones anyone?), visually display monitors, even their multicoloured display boards (take a look at McDonalds registers).. On TNG, taping info into hand held devices (IPads anyone?). Star Trek was and is waaaay more intellectual and scientific than Star Wars...always was. I remember reading articles about the people at NASA watching and studying the series. NASA kept a link to the people involved in Star Trek. Can Star Wars say the same? Nope. don't get me wrong...I loved the first 2 Star Wars episodes but they are strictly fantasy. 'Peace and Long Life' to all. JMM "Resistance is Futile" Star Trek for this nerd. Although, I am enjoying the new Star Wars MMO quite a bit...hehe. I wish I was a nerd, but sadly i'm not. Most people who tell me that i'm a nerd are very simple minded people who don't like to think. Star Trek are for nerds as well as well-rounded audiences who appreciate a series that portrays the possibilities of mankind. Star Wars is a little bit deeper than the movie Transformers, but Star Wars in general is no different than watching a movie about cops and robbers. jimzcarz They both put the space movie genre into existence.And were each great in their own right. one being time edited for TV the other with longer unfolding plot lines.They advanced every aspect of movie making and special effects became more of a forefront in the experience. So comparing their differences doesn't do them justice since they've both brought so much entertainment to us. Girls, girls, please play nice. Both Trek and Wars stand out each in their own way. Although I am a hugh Star Wars fan, I must admit that Star Trek grab me from the beinging. I will be one of the first to say that you do not need to be a geek to enjoy both. I guess I'm with Emilio, may the force be with you and enjoy. kathic Star Wars < Star Trek < the re-imagined Battlestar Galactica. jeodo takei is the winner, hands down. Give me Spock any day. Donald Stanwood Throwing "Twilight" into the debate seems like a non-starter. The franchise is basically powered by runaway female hormones. Fascination with vampires and studmuffin werewolves just seems to be one of those Chick Fixations. (Nothing wrong with that, of course.) The same fans were probably in a swoon over horses before puberty struck. Does anyone really believe that the movies would have gone anywhere if Taylor Lautner had kept on his shirt? Star Wars fans are no different from Twilight fans, probably the same type of people who watch those movies. poopmeister Funny, I thought Star Wars already won.....like 32 years ago! If you are talking pure entertainment, then Star Wars won. If you are talking a reoccuring sitcom that changes characters every decade (much similar to Saved by the Bell), then I guess Star Trek gets it. The only basis for trekkies to have an argument is because they have years and years of 1/2 hour shows to stand behind. Even though, in my opinion, Star Wars lost it's luster after episode 5 and 6, it still blows away years of crappy story and production value of Star Trek. Also, what's with the military argument? Star Trek is so military derived; uniforms, ranks, foreign enemies to battle every second, justifying intervention for the sake of peace......sounds like our foreign policy, crappy. I got a great new trekkie show for you guys. It involves a crew that sets out in their ship, patrols the ghetto area of the galaxy, beams down to a planet every week and stun guns some perps....sounds good right? Here is a good example of a simple minded person who doesn't appreciate Star Trek for what it is. I'm not a Star Trek fan nor a Star Wars fan, but how many kids do you see these days who are into Star Trek? They are too young and immature to understand the complexity of Star Trek unlike Star Wars where good beats evil, obvious story. Star Trek is based on the characters of the series who are on a voyage to explore the final frontier. Star Wars is just a soap opera in space. Simple minded, dk? Your reply sounds like a commercial for Star Trek....ooohh people exploring the final frontier. Your posts all sound the same, try having some original thoughts if you are going to repost a hundred times. I'm not saying that Star Trek does not have some redeeming qualities. I never got into it but I watched enough episodes and all of the movies to get the general concept. I'm unfortunately not very impressed. Even though Star Trek was around longer, Star Wars was credited for elevating sci-fi to a whole other level. The character development is what, even screen writers of current, drool over. The stories have everything, including what Star Trek seems to lack, character independence. Star Trek characters get along too well for my tastes, I want to see conflict amongst the good guys....it makes for good depth. You do realise STAR WARS will never get finished, right? It's realize, Chartreuxe but I won't fault you for spelling. Star Wars will eventually get finished. Most likely by a different director and/or writer. Star Wars will turn into a franchise much like Batman. It will be revamped and luckily it will take place after the original movies, so it could be wide open for story lines. It deserves a good go at it, especially by a fan not the creator. That is the only thing I liked about Star Trek, the revamping by JJ Abrams. I think if they continued with the revamping and made more up to date Star Trek flicks, then I might become a fan. bbk713 Silly squabble. Farscape puts both franchises to shame. FifthApe Far – what....... Apples and oranges. With the exception of reliance of science fiction for convenient plot device (not that there's anything wrong with that, it's certainly one of my favorites), there are no worthwhile similarities to compare the two on. Following a very small group (ok, two very small groups with some overlap) over a lifetime or two (Star Wars), vs. following dozens of characters across 100+ years (Star Trek) is like trying to compare Sherlock Holmes to Law & Order; the only commonality there being solving crimes. Enjoy each for what they are. michaelpippa The definitive answer to this argument is found at the blog posting below: http://michaelpippa.wordpress.com/2010/03/18/other-stuff-star-trek-vs-star-wars/ I like them both, but I personally think Trek is better. Sci Fi wouldn't be the same without either of them, but I think Trek's vision of the future is more powerful and inspiring. Weeeeeeee The real question...JarJar or Wesley Crusher....who's more annoying? bpenning Ooooo... that's a good one! 🙂 Anita Bleaujob Will Riker. THE most annoying character on television. JarJar and Wesley Crusher in a cage match... to the death. I'm shocked I had never thought of this before. Both series have annoying characters like Jar Jar. When I watched the prequel with Jar Jar, I was so disappointed that Lucas was a total sell out. Well Star Wars prequel which had CGI characters were a total fail. Another total failure of Star Wars are the prequels to Star Wars. After watching the original trilogy many times, the prequels pretty much killed my appreciation for Star Wars. Using tons of CGI is pure evil vs original trilogy. The prequel trilogy seem like an after-thought to the original trilogy. Anyways, Riker, Will, and that droid were very annoying after awhile. Picard was ok, Dr Crusher and the mind reader chick, not Whoopie G. was hot. ""Star Wars" and "Star Trek" portray two separate futures. " "From Strickland unleashes her Vulcan death grip... Star Wars takes place in the past....hence the famous lines... 6starwars Why is Twilight even in this discussion? I'm a die-hard Star Wars fan, but even I'll admit that the Star Trek series dusts off Twilight. Dave Nettles Star Wars and Star Trek are both first class and always will be. "Twilight" will be long forgotten in a very short time trash is only short lived. 50 years from now we will still be watching Star Trek and Star Wars at least 4,5 and 6 1, 2, and three are in a much lower class but still higher than "Twilight." Hey you Ultra Geeks, comparing these two icons of science fiction entertainment is like the proverbial comparison of apples and oranges; although they are both fruits, you can't compare which tastes better. Different strokes, you zealots; just enjoy them... either, both, or neither. Give me the "idealistic fantasy" of Star Trek over the "gritty realism" of Star Wars anytime. Alucard Hellsing Why are we even debating over a something that we've been battling about for decades. The enemy of my enemy is my friend. We have a common theme in both Trek and SW. The enemy we share is Twilight. So how about we stop fighting each other and take down that common enemy? I'm both a Trek and a Star Wars fan but I'm a second generation Trekkie who grew up watching TNG, DS9, Voyager with both my mother and uncle, who are first generation Trekkies that grew up with the original Trek Series. All in all we're all scifi fans that just like differen't themes. That's all MightyMoo "George Takei, meanwhile, urged peace between the "Star-people," since they have a common enemy: "Twilight."" This man speaks the truth! We must combine forces and wipe out the abomination that is Twilight! OrangeW3dge "Blade Runner" and "Minority Report" from the visions of Phillip K. Dick may be a more accurate projection of the future. Both "Trek" and "Wars" capture opened our eyes to the future, as well as or current state of affairs. In the tradition of H.G. Wells and George Orwell, the social commentary swirling about the human condition in Science Fiction is as telling about why we create the technology that we do. Philip K Dick is the greatest SciFi writer of all time behind Frank Herbert. Though "Dune" is by far my favorite book and series of all time, Dick wins by volume and originality... Plus he reminds me of "Kilgore Trout" from Kurt Vonnegut's books. I agree. I love Dune, except Chapter House. The movie was excellent (yes, even with the changes they made.) Sci-Fi channel screwed it up by trying to remake the original and then making Children of Dune. The prequel books were okay, sort of like the new Star Wars movies. Give you a background of the original but not quite as good I KNEW IT HAD TO HAPPEN!! TWO OF THE BIGGEST NERDOCRACIES GO TO WAR!!!! shut it and go watch your mind numbing Transformer movies. Since 1977 nothing has even come close to Star Wars. Never has, never will. Project out of bounds Excellent Robot Video [youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Skpm78ZKcCo&w=640&h=360] "Star Wars" is not set in the future, but in a stylized elsewhen. "A long time ago, in a galaxy far far away". Remember? Nor did George Lucas rely upon "Star Trek" as a primary source of inspiration. Asimov's Foundation series is a more obvious model, including some outright steals. (Asimov's Imperial capital Trantor became Lucas' Coruscant.) As for movies, I think both Lucas and Roddenberry owe a big debt to "Forbidden Planet". It was the first big production to address the technological hurdles of interstellar travel in a realistic fashion. And don't forget the Fate of the Krell! Monsters from the Id! In other words, be careful what you wish for. Who cares? In the words of William Shatner on SNL..."GET A LIFE!!!". you obviously cared enough to tell us to not care... so for your selfless act, I applaud you It's ok if you just enjoy the entertainment value of 'just watching' either franchise. But, when I see people analyzing...ANALYZING(!!!) both in a compare and contrast and discuss characters IN DEPTH(!!!), I have to step in and say 'GET A LIFE!!!'. Nothing wrong with watching either for entertainment, but, when it begins consuming your life, it might be time for an intervention!!! And how's that life of yours going while you sit here reading and commenting about something that you then curiously dismiss. It's okay to be a fan, Richy, just embrace your inner geek. Welp, you caught me. I did, in fact, grow up watching re-runs of 'Star Trek TOS'. Hell, I still do. I grew up when the 'original' Star Wars movies came out(New Hope, Empire, and Jedi). Couldn't give a rat's ass about any of the newer stuff for either franchise. Only watched out of entertainment, not to be consumed in the hoopla surrounding both. That, my friend, is why I say 'WHO CARES???'. Rod Munch KHAN!!!! I mean.... SHATNER!!!! Bill, you are your own worst enemy!!! every time you don your toupee, sing acapella, or act like Denny Crane, YOU DIMINISH THE TREK FRANCHISE!!! Accept Chris Pine as Capt. Kirk, and move on!!! there's a reason Nimoy was in the REBOOT and you were not!!!! I've read Nimoy don't want to be back for the next installment, but there are plans for Shatner. Bcause he was already dead, Jim! January 1, 2012 at 3:56 pm \| veritya Live long and prosper vs. may the force be with you.... Star Trek hands down Startrek is lame, the shat is an awful actor. Starwars, all 6, (soon 9) are far far better, even ep#1 was better then startreks best moment. darkguardian1314 The remastering and writing has really dimmed my view for both franchises. I loved Star Trek since the 60s as well and the STTNG. The new version I couldn't get into and I hate the new Enterprise. Star Wars first 3 movies were fantastic but the prequels were besides the special effects was just cold with numerous plot holes. I love both but forgive me if I don't come running to be first in line at the next Star Wars or Star Trek movie that comes out. Star Wars is not a view of the future, it is a tale of the past: "A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away...". COME ON PEOPLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!! j0eschm0e star trek all the way !! star wars and the force is fiction, star wars was good, but star trek is more realistic I completely agree. Star Wars is more of fantasy where there are so many things in Star Trek that are based on reality. Everything from Warp speed to the transporter that beams people up could actually come true one day. In August 2008, physicist Michio Kaku predicted in Discovery Channel Magazine that a teleportation device similar to those in Star Trek would be invented within 100 years. It appears that the stories are meant to mimic real life and real problems. I enjoy that. I'm not bashing Star Wars or other fantasy type shows like Harry Potter, but that is the big difference, one is fantasy and the other is not. I'll take the one that is not fantasy. I really enjoyed watching the original Star Wars trilogy until the prequel trilogy came out. It seems as if Lucas needed more money and just slap some things together. Tons of CGI effects and making the prequel so hi-tech vs the original made the transition look pretty bad. It's like return to the stone ages. The space ships from the prequel were far advanced than the original trilogy, I just couldn't believe the digression of civilization and technology throughout the movie. The prequel trilogy was heavily marketed to kids who like Jar Jar and Twilight like drama between the teeny Vader and what's her face. It's like a movie made for kids and teenagers, while the original trilogy were made in a point of view of an adult like Star Trek. Robin Bray Red Dwarf beats them all hands down. Sloppy bums will inherit the world of space travel. Toodle Pipski!!!! What? You monkeys eat off the floor? Don't you have any style or sophistication? I'm gonna eat you little fishy! Im gonna eat you little fishy! – GeorgeGray I think a Star Trek episode itself answered the controversy. In "Who mourns for Adonis" the Enterprise and crew encountered Apollo, a God of Earth's past. The episode pitted magic against technology. If you accept that Star Wars can be used as a proxy for magic, and Star Trek a proxy for technology, then you have to conclude that since the crew prevailed in the conflict with Apollo, Star Trek's theme is the superior theme. Technology trumps magic. Btw it's "... Adonais" 🙂 like mayonnaise? LMAO Trek wins. Not only is Star Wars a direct ripoff of Akira Kurosawa's movie, "The Hidden Fortress" but it is very dichromatic and shallow in it's treatment of the human condition. Plus, Anakin was a whiny brat Anakin and Jar Jar were totally annoying. I only enjoyed the prequel trilogy because of Liam Neeson and Ewan McGregor, both great actors. I totally agree. Only redeemable part of the film I call it a draw. Both series have a rich backstory and universe of places and characters to draw upon. Both series have different morals, conflicts, and stories attached to them, and different purposes: Trek is about exploration (and some conflict that comes with it) while Wars is more about conflcit and self-discovery along the way. Frankly, in terms of tech, while Trek foresaw tablet computers and cell phones, if a starship appeared over Earth, I'll take Executor over Enterprise, and an X-wing T-65 over a Type II Shuttle any day. Not to mention a lightsaber over a phaser... Ashleigh Kirk You've got to be kidding! Trekkers are true devotees..My puppy is called Trek, not wars! Who invented the pc, the mobile phone, the phaser, the transporter, and inter-racial normality? First inter-racial kiss etc. What's this show stars wars anyway? It's not even a cult classic like Lost in Space. It"s whole premise is war and aliens are evil and violent and the good guys are always on the defense. What sort of role model for civilization is that??????????????? If they're not like you, war is the only solution. How depraved is that. follow my tweet on AshleighCKirk roblusk71 You are obviously not from Earth. War is the answer to everything here. Look at the history of mankind. The good guys are always on the defense. It's only when our back is against the wall that we can achieve true greatness. Mine was called Tribble, but she was round and furry. Emilio Largo Winner: Both. Quit with the "Who's greater" fight already. Each has it's strengths that the other will never overcome. It's irresistable force vs. immovable object time. Star Trek has deeper storylines and more developed characters. Star Wars is unequalled for sheer escapist joy. I'm a fan of both. You can be too, I swear. Naming yourself as the villian in "Thunderball"? Cute! I agree, Twilight is the real enemy! Takei had it right Twilight is really, really bad! Exactly. Fairly unoriginal plot (Lost Boys was better), horrible acting, and the pace of the movies was atrocious – an hour of boredom followed by 20 minutes of action.	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line1650225
__label__wiki	0.664937	0.664937	Lee Min Yung, left and Gong Yoo, right, star in the Korean romcom, "Big." The show is based on Tom Hanks' hit 1988 movie. The jump from J-drama to K-drama When I became a hardcore fan of Japanese dramas, I thought I'd discovered the alpha and omega of Asian entertainment. Crammed with manga-esque storylines, good looking pop stars, and dream romances, J-drama was perfect. When friends mentioned Korean drama, I turned my nose up at them, uninterested in anything that didn't stoke my Japan-centric obsession. Older, wiser and having developed an insatiable appetite for Asian idol culture, I've now warmed up to Korean media. Korean pop music was my gateway drug - I couldn't resist the catchy songs. Google reinforced my new interest not long after that, promoting an all-Korean concert at their headquarters and pushing the trend called "Korean Wave" (also called Hallyu) to a whole new audience of potential fans. By that time, I was completely converted when it came to the music, even finding indie Korean acts such as Guckkasten and Glen Check to fall in love with. Fully enticed by these Korean stars, I was ready to find out why Korean dramas inspired equally devoted fans. "The Korean entertainment industry has grown immensely over the last few decades, and dramas are now being produced with enormous budgets, aimed for export more so than ever before," said Girlfriday, writer for the highly active drama community Dramabeans. "They're produced slickly, enough to compete with American entertainment, and tend to be romance-centric. They also tell a complete story in 16 to 20 episodes, so its just long enough to get you addicted to something and just short enough that you don't feel burdened by picking up a show," Girlfriday said. Like the Japanese dramas I'm used to, K-dramas are broken into subcategories by genre. The most popular shows are referred to as "trendies" in fan circles, and usually feature popular casts with young protagonists. There's also "ajumma" drama, which feature older or divorced female characters who find new love, "sageuk" drama, which plays out fictionalized versions of Korean history, and "makjang" drama, which is the closest thing to the American soap opera, traditionally taking a sensational approach with lots of absurd twists and turns. Korean dramas also include thrillers, action/intrigue and procedural genres. But for all their similarities, K-drama has some major differences from J-drama. For instance, Korean shows air two episodes a week, whereas Japanese shows only air one. The biggest difference of all, however, is a key one: availability. While Japanese shows are rarely licensed for the American market, Korean shows are readily available through American-based services such as Hulu and Dramafever. Therefore, audiences outside of Korea can get their hands on them sooner. FULL POST Posted by Colette Bennett Special to CNN Filed under: Fandom • Otaku Comments (580 comments) A few weeks ago, I heard the sort of whispered murmurs in my local bookstore that are reserved solely for people who want to buy books that they don't want other people to know they are buying. Furtive glances and giggles echoed back as happy customers walked out the door, peering into the brown paper bags containing such worthwhile literature. Interest piqued, I asked the clerk what book the women had purchased. "Oh, 'Fifty Shades of Grey,'" she replied. "You don't know about that?" I was a bit late to the party, admittedly. The novel came out last year and has since drummed up a tremendous amount of attention. A British author named E.L. James penned it as "Twilight" fanfiction at first, then rewrote it with original characters. It tells the story of a young, inexperienced woman and an older man with a taste for whips and chains. It's like the "Twilight" craze all over again, but with less supernatural creatures and more bondage gear. I thought I got why everyone wanted to slink out of the store with this book. I spend plenty of time appreciating Japanese and Korean male idols, and I love their sexy photo shoots. "Fifty Shades of Grey" has lots of titillating themes: hot people having hot sex, wish fulfillment, virgin and master. What's not to like? But I read it. And I just don't get it. FULL POST The 'Diablo' blues: When the games don't change, but we do The word "Diablo" is magical to me. Before 2000, it just represented a Spanish word that I was largely unfamiliar with other than seeing it on bottles of hot sauce. Then I discovered "Diablo II," and hit me so hard, I couldn't go a day without playing. The recent release of "Diablo III" had me panting for more. I stayed up until 2 am the night of the release of "Diablo III," watching the game slowly download onto my computer and feeling a nervous, celebratory brand of glee. The first week of play was just like what I remembered, except with more social connectivity than ever before. Within seconds, I could be in a full party, enjoying all the blissful memories of the past, and finding it all fit so well - like a pair of jeans you've had since college and furtively sleep in from time to time because they're so comfortable. It knows you, because it's been with you for so long. And you know just what to expect from it. I wasn't much of an MMO gamer before "Diablo II." (Thankfully, the black death known as "Everquest," kindly passed me over - which kept my sanity intact while my friends quit college to make a living hoarding platinum.) When I looked at these games, I saw gamers as rats in a wheel, running an endless race. I was the type of gamer motivated by stories with a beginning, middle and an end. It made no sense to me to pour so much time and effort into something that essentially had no real finale. Why did "Diablo II," break my habit? I'm not sure. Truthfully, at first it was fun to play with friends - that held some novelty for a primarily solo gamer. Soon enough, the game became a familiar face. It always felt good to run through those memorized levels or kill that miniboss yet again (Hello, Rakanishu!). No matter how many times I played through the acts of "Diablo II," I never lost my appetite for it. But after that first week of jumping back into the world of "Diablo III," I realized something was different. FULL POST Filed under: Master User Toonami mascot, TOM, then (left) and now (right.) Toonami returns – but can it succeed again? When Cartoon Network's Adult Swim recently announced the return of Toonami, a long running programming block dedicated mostly to Japanese animation, anime lovers took notice. With classic titles such as "Bleach," "Casshern Sins," "Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood," and "Ghost in the Shell," on the slate, fans of high quality anime knew a soothing balm was in store for them in those late hours of the night when sleep doesn't quite come. (Disclosure: Both Cartoon Network and CNN are owned by the TimeWarner company.) But some anime fans are less than excited about the new programming block. They think the titles Toonami offers are stale, re-aired episodes of old shows – a notion Cartoon Network Vice President of Marketing Jason DeMarco passionately sought to clarify on his personal Twitter account. "SPEAKING OF WHICH," he tweeted, "Something you should know about THIS Toonami: We have very,very little $. This experiment will need ratings success....to receive more funding for new shows, more Tom animation, etc. I'm thankful for the $ we've gotten, but it isn't a lot. DeMarco also hinted that other popular series like "Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt" and "Fairy Tale" could be in the program's future if it performs well. FULL POST Filed under: Otaku YOHIO debuted "Reach the Sky" last month. A few weeks ago, a memorable video made the rounds of the usual Internet hangouts. It featured a pale, beautiful, blond-haired singer named YOHIO with huge dark eyes, wearing pigtails and a Lolita-style ensemble and playing a white guitar. The song, called "Sky*Limit," is a full-on Japanese rock ballad, evocative of a musical subgenre called visual kei that celebrates dramatic fashion and a androgynous look not unlike that of David Bowie's Ziggy Stardust. However, YOHIO is not Japanese. In fact, he's not even female. Raised in a musical family, the Swedish teenager was already in a visual kei band called Seremedy at the age of 14. After making the rounds at several conventions, the band signed with Nintone Records/Universal Music Japan in 2011. And this year, YOHIO released his solo debut album, "Reach the Sky." To promote the album, YOHIO appeared at Shinjuku Station Square in Tokyo and drew a crowd of 6,000 [Japanese website]. He's also appeared on several Japanese television shows. YOHIO proudly describes himself as a "bishouen" – a Japanese word that literally translates to "beautiful youth." The trend of men toeing the line between masculine and feminine looks has long existed in the culture, as evidenced by the popularity of male idols with distinctly feminine stylings. FULL POST	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line1650226
__label__cc	0.700458	0.299542	Foreseen Impact of Dial-a-Molecule What is Dial-a-Molecule Dial-a-Molecule is a Grand Challenge Network funded by EPSRC 2010 – 2015 and 2016 – 2020 to promote research aimed at step change in our ability to deliver molecules quickly and efficiently: How can we make molecules in days not years? Tackling this challenge requires collaboration between many areas of science, engineering and mathematics. Thus the network aims to: Form new research communities directed at Dial-a-Molecule extending beyond chemistry and chemical engineering and involving academia, industry as well as end-users. Identify research priorities and the major barriers associated with them. Develop community driven research agendas in the area of the Grand Challenge. Identify the major societal and economic benefits associated with the Grand Challenge and widely disseminate the information in an accessible way. Drive a step change in the ambition of scientists involved in molecular synthesis encouraging highly innovative approaches with the potential to transform the subject. Encourage and facilitate grant applications in the area of the Grand Challenge. Provide routes to maximise UK commercial benefit from the Grand Challenge. The network has organised a set of workshops and meetings which were aimed at developing the ideas of Dial-a-Molecule, and assembling groups to tackle aspects of the Grand Challenge. This website has been created to provide both the scientific community and the public with a platform to gather information about the Grand Challenge and engage in the wider discussion of the Dial-a-Molecule topics. The outcomes of Dial-a-Molecule range from the creation of a clear Roadmap identifying priorities, bottlenecks and intermediate targets with justification for the Grand Challenge, engagement of policy makers (politicians, funding bodies, professional bodies) and scientific community, development of a strategy to engage the wider public, identification of any areas which are crucial for the Grand Challenge but need targeted investment to develop up to the formation of groups actively applying for funding to tackle aspects of the Grand Challenge. wordpress_gen	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line1650227
__label__cc	0.628439	0.371561	Gifts of Remembrance Baby Bereavement Photography Training And Support Professionals & Volunteers ▿ Professionals & Volunteers Training / Workshops Resources ▿ Camera Guidelines Gifts of Remembrance is a non-profit social enterprise set up by Rachel Hayden, bereaved parent and volunteer photographer, which provides training for hospital staff and volunteers who support parents whose baby is stillborn or dies shortly after birth. Rachel Hayden – Gifts of Remembrance trainer and founder Rachel was living in Leicester with her husband and two young children when she became pregnant with triplets in 2008 (much to her and everyone else’s surprise – it was a natural conception with no history of multiples in her family). She became involved in bereavement photography following the stillbirth of her triplet son Rowan and helped develop ‘The Moments to Remember’ Bereavement photography programme in University Hospitals trust in Leicester (UHL). She received training from Todd Hochberg, award winning bereavement photographer in Chicago and arranged for him to come to the UK and run a workshop in Leicester in September 2010. She completed SANDS ‘Befriender’ training that same year and began offering her services as a volunteer photographer at the Leicester hospitals in 2011. She has photographed families in a variety of circumstances from those having late terminations due to abnormality, babies of 21 weeks+ gestation, and spent time photographing a family with their very poorly baby with limited life expectancy. Following the success of the Leicester programme and her desire that all bereaved parents should have the offer of sensitive and meaningful photographs, she set up ‘Gifts of Remembrance’ providing training workshops to midwifery and neonatal services in the UK and Ireland. She has been offering training through Gifts of Remembrance since 2011 in hospitals, conference centres and hotels and every participant in her workshops has said in their evaluation, that they would recommend the course to a colleague. Prior to having a family, Rachel worked in the NHS as an Occupational Therapist and Mental Health Practitioner and was involved in service development . She has worked as a manager, supervisor, clinician and professional advisor and has experience in running groups, workshops, giving lectures, presenting at conferences, writing for publication and carrying out research. She was studying for a PhD when the triplets came along and hopes that she can resume this level of study again in the future. Rachel aims to bring her previous work skills and experience along with her personal experience as a bereaved mother together, to offer workshops that make sense, that are practical and that will really make a difference. Professionals & Website designed by Brookstone Web & Graphic	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line1650229
__label__cc	0.631808	0.368192	ALEATORY #9: Do Make Say Think Since the 1998 release of their self-titled debut, Do Make Say Think have been a key member of Constellation Records' stable. On a label that is also home to such acts as A Silver Mt. Zion, godspeed you! black emperor, and Sandro Perri (Polmo Polpo, Glissandro 70), it takes a special sort of band to stand out among all the rest of the incredible talent Constellation has signed. Do Make Say Think is that sort of band. Combining the post-rock of their labelmates with elements of jazz, touches of electronics, and above all, incredible technical prowess, DMST was able to pull more emotion out of their instrumental rock than bands with tomes of lyrics. So what did they do? On last year's fantastic You, You're a History of Rust (firmly in Davecat's top five albums of 2007), they added vocals to two of the tracks, including absolutely transcendent disc-closer "In Mind," and proved they can grow in ways no one had imagined. Taking a break from blowing minds long enough to be the subject of our ninth Aleatory is guitarist Justin Small, who, like all Canadians (if current trends are any indication), has more than one band, also drumming for hardcore soul group (and Constellation-signees) Lullabye Arkestra. He's not as great as I say he is. 13. Favorite Shakespearean play? Ugggg... I hate Shakespeare. In fact I hate theatre. Really, I'm sorry but it's true. I appreciate the effort that goes into acting on stage but, I don't know why. I just don't get on with actors. 16. Favorite campfire story? I'm gonna be sitting next to a campfire tomorrow. Yea! Ummm.... I'll probably talk a lot of shit because I'll be hammered. I'll re-tell the story of the bird that recently got caught in my bedroom and survived slamming into every wall, escaping my cat, and me hitting it with a broom (by accident, I was trying to guide it out and smacked it on the head. I felt awful) p.s. the story gets louder each time I tell it. 21. Favorite album(s) from the past year? I work at a record store, so it's favorite album of the week. DEATH BREATH's Let It Stink. It's the dude from Hellacopters and Entombed doing old school black metal in [the] vein of Venom and Celtic Frost. It's awesome and all the songs are about zombies! So it's not death metal it's un-dead metal!!! There are too many good records to mention. Get away from your fucking computer and visit and support your local record store. It's fun. 25. Favorite historical figure? Tommy Douglas He's the reason we have health care in Canada. http://www.cbc.ca/greatest/top_ten/nominee/douglas-tommy.html 33. What's something you could teach anyone in an hour or less? How to build a campfire. I love doing it and I do it well. 41. If you could go anywhere in the universe, where would it be? Actually, the sun is shining and I'm inside writing on a computer. I want to be at Ronnie's Patio. That's a bar in the Kensington Market area of Toronto. 48. Biggest moment of triumph? Marrying Kat Taylor. 51. What are you currently obsessed with? Hangovers. I don't want to be but it seems I can't help myself. Damn delicious beer. Also riding my bike. I have a sweet ride. 55. You're curating a festival. If you could choose any two bands to open for you, who would they be? A re-united Talk Talk, Laughing Stock era. And this one man band from France called Andre Duracell Check out this Lightning Bolt cover: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uI7vt_bPib0 62. Your favorite song that you've done so far? The song Kat walked down the aisle to. And we just wrote an awesome Lullabye Arkestra jam called 'get nervous' 63. Band/artist you're secretly envious of? Silver Mount Zion. Have you seen them live??? Holy shit. 66. Worst song you've heard recently? I cannot stand Joanna Newsom. Sorry. In fact that whole scene of 'pretty-girl-singing-like-a-10 year old' bugs the shit out of me. Can't stand it. 67. Do you reach any kind of personal catharsis when it comes to songwriting/performing? Yes, of course. You have to. In order for you to complete a song your heart must be open to it. Otherwise you are just pretending to play music. You are acting music. 68. Favorite interview you've ever been a part of (aside from this one, obviously)? This one is going swimmingly. So let's not talk about past loves and ruin the moment. o.k.? 78. Your life has been reduced to a bumper sticker: what does it say? "If you cannot move your body, your soul cannot be saved" Or one of those Jesus fish holding a beer. 84. Most disappointing concert you ever attended? Palace Brothers way back in '96 (?) at Lee's Palace. In Toronto. I was soooooo into Palace at the time. And apparently Will Oldham had fired his band before arriving and instead of doing it solo hired these new-rock assholes to back him. Total disaster. 86. With Radiohead's In Rainbows release and Nine Inch Nails doing boffo business with his online releases, do you see yourself ever doing some alternative kind of release for any of your future projects? Just as long as there's also a vinyl release as well. I just got a new needle for my turn table and music has never sounded better. 88. What's your deepest source for musical inspiration? Love and fear. 89. You just died. I'm sorry. Fortunately, your will states that you want very specific music to be played at your funeral. What did you choose? "Highway to the Danger Zone" by Kenny Loggins. From the Top Gun soundtrack. 95. Do you ever read your own reviews? I'm really not as great as everybody says I am. Visit Do Make Say Think's website. Posted by Globecat at 8:00 AM Labels: 13, 16, 21, 25, 33, 41, 48, 51, 55, 62, 63, 66, 67, 68, 78, 84, 86, 88, 89, 95 Exciting secret interviews coming soon ... In the Near Future The Fully Blown (Interview) ALEATORY #8: Titles ALEATORY #7: Mark Romanek OFF THE RECORDS: The Anniversary ALEATORY #6: The Go! Team ALEATORY #5: Eef Barzelay INTERVIEW: Maritime Globecat Globecat was founded in the summer of 2008 as a joint venture between Evan Sawdey and David Semonchik, college friends, bandmates, writing students, and all-around music junkies. After many discussions on the nature of album reviews, artist interviews, and the difficulties associated with the process of discovering new music and sharing it with the world, the two decided to start their own blog, in hopes of letting the musicians take part in getting their voices heard. Essential in the creation of Globecat are Ben Durdle (website design) and Anna Hurley (graphic design), without whom none of this could have gotten off the ground. The Aleatory Full Biographies Evan "Evcat" Sawdey: When not writing for Globecat, Evan bides his time as the Interviews Editor for PopMatters.com... David “Davecat” Semonchik: Originally from Batavia, IL, David studied Creative Writing and Spanish at Knox College... Benjamin "Bencat" Durdle: This Midwestern troubadour and nomad of trades was born in Galesburg, IL, where he studied Studio Art at Knox College... Anna "Annacat" Hurley: Anna enjoys the sound of a tea cup clinking against its saucer but doesn't much care to drink it... Aquarium Drunkard: MP3 Blog, Music Blog gorillavsbear.net i guess i'm floating I Tumbl Jay Hathaway motel de moka (n)erotic the brd Aleatory #25: Lands & Peoples Sexy nostrils? Watching Twilght with your parents? Secret culinary desires? Tomorrow's indie-rock superstars Lands & Peoples sit down for one crazy little Aleatory ... Aleatory #24: Jeepster San Fran-based alt-rockers are willing to fight for love, use cigarettes for social purposes only, and -- of course -- teach you how to smurf ... Aleatory #23: Japancakes A love of Inspector Clouseau, a hatred of Katy Perry, and fans in green monkey costumes are just a small part of the Japancakes experience ... Aleatory #22: Fuck Buttons Secret ball-sac compartments, numerology jokes, and the emotional manipulation of your mom all make up for Fuck Buttons exciting, hilarious Aleatory ... Aleatory #21: dj BC One of the most influential DJs working today waxes poetic about Hamlet's ghosts, getting busted by campus cops, and hating those FreeCreditReport.com guys ... Aleatory #20: Casiotone for the Painfully Alone Owen Ashworth feels your pain. He also loves "Cats", hates Snopes.com, and wishes to play haunted Kraftwerk venues ... Aleatory #19: Jason Robert Brown Tony-winning composer Jason Robert Brown doesn't make many mixtapes these days (or sign women's boobs for that matter), but his love of music and Peter Gabriel makes for one hell of an exciting Aleatory ... Aleatory #18: Plants and Animals Fencing champions, scary campfire stories, and a love of Danny DeVito is the icing on the cake for Plants & Animals (they did release one of the best albums of '08, after all ...) Aleatory #17: Collections of Colonies of Bees Hating Loverboy? Loving Natasha Bedingfield? Touring with Bon Iver? Welcome to the world of the Bees ... Aleatory #16: A-Trak Kanye's favorite DJ learns a new word, has no regrets, but just can't help but fall for that Curb Your Enthusiasm theme song .... Aleatory #15: The Bound Stems Former Harvey Danger drummer Evan Sult's infectious love of pop music (and antipathy towards the Offspring) shine through in this witty, funny, and flat-out exciting Aleatory ... Aleatory #14: The Burnside Project Richard Jankovich -- former Burnside Project frontman and now Pocket centerpiece -- finds catharsis in kicking over mic stands and playing New Order during wakes ... Aleatory #13: Pale Young Gentlemen This bristling, exciting indie-folk act dishes the dirt on wolves, Wainwright (Rufus), and why their label shouldn't trust them with $1,000,000 ... Aleatory #12: Grails Portland-based drone rock band reflects on Shakespearean classics, foreign films, and why not to give your violinist drugs ... Aleatory #11: The Vivian Girls Cassie Ramone of Brooklyn's The Vivian Girls talks about the show where nothing went right, desert flora, and kicking her friend's ass at darts. Aleatory #10: Pocahaunted The delightfully gloomy duo cannot replicate any of their songs, but they would still kill to soundtrack that James McAvoy film ... DMST guitarist Justin Small is obsessed with hangovers, reveals a hatred for actors, and wants "Danger Zone" played at his funeral ... Rising indie rock band wants robotic dinosaurs ... The legendary, iconic music video director sits down to celebrate the simple joys in life: Christmas morning, Bon Iver, and -- of course -- the human orgasm ... Go! Team founder Ian Parton displays a love of Philip Glass, tells a dark family secret involving game shows, and then tells us that Michael Jackson joke he knows ... The former Clem Snide frontman wastes no time in doing what all indie-rock musicans should do: declaring an unquestioned love of Tupac ... Aleatory #4: Yelle France's favorite electro-rapper discusses her favorite dirty word, the love of snoring dogs, and that whole "mystique" thing ... Aleatory #3: Ghost Ghost's Batoh sits down and admits he doesn't own a DVD player, was arrested for playing outside a police station, and shows his belief in the healing power of music ... Aleatory #2: Gotye Rising indie-pop genius Gotye is here to tell you just how goddamn cool metamorphasis is ... Aleatory #1: Phil Elvrum The Microphones/Mount Eerie mastermind discusses Simpsons episodes, his distaste for cover songs, and toys withe idea of selling out for some Heineken ... All content (c) 2008-2010 by D. Semonchik and E. Sawdey	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line1650232
__label__wiki	0.666074	0.666074	...about Harold Jones: Harold Jones was classically trained at the American Conservatory in Chicago. His playing on Eddie Harris' version of "Exodus" helped make that single a bestseller. But Jones really blossomed with Count Basie. Basie had been through quite a few drummers since Sonny Payne left in 1965, but when Jones joined up in 1967, he proved to be just the drummer Basie was looking for. Jones remained until 1972, and through the course of his tenure with The Count, helped spark and revitalize that organization via now-legendary recordings of Sammy Nestico arrangements. Harold Jones is the quintessential big-band drummer with a crisp, clean sound notable for the high-pitched snare drum crack. He wastes no element of motion, has near-perfect time, sets up figures beautifully, is a driving accompanist, and plays wonderful fills only when necessary. It's no surprise that Jones later became the drummer of choice of famed singers Sarah Vaughan and later, Natalie Cole. written by Dr. Bruce H. Klauber Harold has performed and recorded with various artists: Check out the new book release on the life and times of Harold Jones! "Harold Jones: The Singer's Drummer"	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line1650239
__label__cc	0.583758	0.416242	INTERVIEW: Au Revoir Simone Published on September 23, 2013 in Blog/Uncategorized by Here Today A new album is out with dream pop trio Au Revoir Simone. Here Today met with Annie Hart prior to the bands rehearsal hour. Among other things we talked about the time that had passed, the title of the new album, Move In Spectrums, and cover art. Ten years ago Erika Forster and Annie Hart met on train heading for New York. They shared a dream of an all-keyboard band. Fast forward two years and Au Revoir simone releases their first album: “Verses of Comfort, Assurance & Salvation”. Another two years: Second album “The Bird of Music”. Yet another two years: ”Still Night, Still Light”. It seems like a pattern, but no. Four years has gone by and in world of pop-music that is quite a while, but to Annie Hall it did not seem so: “After the release of Still Night, still Light we where on tour for about 2 years. At that time I got pregnant, still we kept touring until I was about 8 months in. I had the baby and still we where playing shows. About one and a half year ago we began making this record. So much has happen in between these two albums that it does not feel like four years has past.” says Annie Hart. Doing those four years Au Revoir Simone have matured as songwriters. Move In Spectrums is honest album stripped from any attempts of being “poetic”, Annie Hart explains, but finding a title for the album was a challenge. Erica went away to a meditation retreat upstate in the woods. “The yoga teacher mentioned we move in spectrums with our feelings. It is not all black and white, you are not really angry or really happy, but there is kind of spectrum. You can shift yourself along these lines, between these feelings; you don’t have to be happy or sad, you can be in the middle or leaning one way or the other like a meter. When she said that frase – move in spectrums – we where like ‘that is the perfect title for a record’ and we all started jumping up and down,” recalls Annie Hart. Bright neon colors A spectrum can also be a spectrum of light – like a rainbow – and the band where looking for excactly that kind of cover. Something Pink Floydish like a prism, as Annie Hart puts it. They had their eyes on Berenice Abbott, a female photographer, that worked twenty years to “prove that photography was the medium uniquely qualified to unite art with science”, but when they found out, what it would cost to use her images, they began to look in other directions. During that time photographer Amelia Bauer and flower arranger Elizabeth Parks Kibbey collaborated on a project called Book Of Shadows; a series of still lifes based on magic spells. Especially one of the photographs enticed the band because of the way it combined flowers and nature with bright neon colors and black. “We and really wanted to do something with bright neon colors for this record becuase we felt that this record felt more alive, present and vibrant than our records had in the past. We wanted more a direct, vibrant sensation and we thougth that that photograph was just so beautiful and that it captured that feeling,” says Annie Hart. Move In Spectrums is released today (23.09.2013). You can stream it at NPR Tags: Au Revoir SimoneInterviewsMove In Spectrums LIVE REVIEW: Au Revoir Simone, Loppen, 06.02.2014 Au Revoir Simone line up neatly behind their synths across the stage at Au Revoir Simone \| Loppen, Copenhagen, 05.02.2014 Photos by James Hjertholm INTERVIEW: The Haxan Cloak In August 2013, 4 months after releasing his critically acclaimed second album Excavation, Previous Story Previous post: LIVE REVIEW: French Films, Ideal Bar @ Vega, Copenhagen, 19.09.13 Next Story Next post: Listen to new track from MØ – “Never Wanna Know” INTERVIEW: Peter Hvalkof from Alice talks booking and Spectacle Photos by Morten Aagard Krogh Since 2017 Alice has been the home to LIVE REVIEW: The Mekons, Alice, 09.04.2019 Looking at the Mekons tonight, you might take them LIVE REVIEW: Steve Gunn, Loppen, 22.03.2019 Steve Gunn is an incredibly prolific singer-songwriter and guitarist LIVE REVIEW: This Is Not This Heat, Alice, 06.03.2019 Over the years the years we’ve seen a few Here Today’s Top 10 Albums of 2018 Oneohtrix Point Never — Age Of From the techno-pastoralism Au Revoir Simone line up neatly behind	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line1650241
__label__cc	0.654923	0.345077	Primo Policlinico di Napoli List of Countries » Italy » Naples and its Province » Primo Policlinico di Napoli The Primo Policlinico di Napoli is located in the old part of Naples (Piazza Luigi Miraglia, 2). It was built starting from 1899 according to the engineers' plans of the "Società pel Risanamento" Pier Paolo Quaglia and Guglielmo Melisurgo. The construction's plan was approved from the City Council in 1896 with the resolution which called for the renewal and the modification of the "Complesso di S. Andrea delle dame" and the "Complesso di S. Patrizia", as well as the construction of the six buildings for clinics of the Medicine's Faculty in the area between Via dei Tribunali and Via Sapienza. The construction was completed in 1907. Until the 1970s this was the only hospital in the city. A photo of the Policlinico taken from Piazza Luigi Miraglia A photo of the Policlinico taken in 1936 The main entrance of the Policlinico In the Melisurgo and Quaglia's draft it was also provided the construction of the new clinic "Clinica Pediatrica" in the "Insula di San Gaudioso", whose construction only began in 1924. The designers took the requests and suggestions of the clinic's director Professor Rocco Jemma into account. The clinic was opened in 1926. A photo of the "Clinica Pediatrica" taken from Via De Crecchio [[/size]] The façade of the building in 1930 In 1927 Giuseppe Aprea, design's professor of the Accademia delle Belle Arti di Napoli, completed the great decoration of the main hall's ceiling. Aprea devised for the central round a delicate maternity, tying the meaning of the painting to the function of the building. The entrance hall of the "Clinica Pediatrica" Giovanni Aprea's fresco in the entrance hall of the "Clinica Pediatrica" Photos by Massimo Russo ti.liamtoh\|59ossuromissam#\| (October 2014). Naples' old Operating Theatre Rocco Jemma's bust Rocco Jemma's memories and memorial tablet Giosi Amirante e Rosanna Cioffi (a cura di), Dimore della conoscenza. Le sedi della Seconda Università degli Studi di Napoli, Edizioni Scientifiche Italiane, Napoli 2010, pp. 255.	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line1650246
__label__wiki	0.69446	0.69446	CO/VL Angry by Choice Catalogue of Organisms Doc Madhattan Games with Words Genomics, Medicine, and Pseudoscience Moss Plants and More Pleiotropy Plektix RRResearch Skeptic Wonder The Culture of Chemistry The Curious Wavefunction The Phytophactor The View from a Microbiologist Variety of Life Field of Science Imaging quantum entanglement 15 hours ago in Doc Madhattan The Camisiids: Cryptic Inhabitants of Soil and Wood 1 day ago in Catalogue of Organisms Locustellidae 1 day ago in Variety of Life Friday Fabulous Flower - Here's all the anthers. 3 days ago in The Phytophactor Ursuary 4 days ago in Pleiotropy The loneliest word, and the extinction crisis 1 week ago in Genomics, Medicine, and Pseudoscience Andi's Factor Game 2 weeks ago in PLEKTIX Artist M.C. 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Guest Post by Frank Stahl 7 years ago in Sex, Genes & Evolution Girlybits 101, now with fewer scary parts! 7 years ago in C6-H12-O6 Lab Rat Moving House 7 years ago in Life of a Lab Rat Goodbye FoS, thanks for all the laughs 8 years ago in Disease Prone JAPAN'S RADIOACTIVE OCEAN \| DEEP BLUE HOME 8 years ago in The Greenhouse Slideshow of NASA's Stardust-NExT Mission Comet Tempel 1 Flyby 8 years ago in The Large Picture Blog in The Biology Files Radioactivity and Earth's Age By David Bressan on Saturday, December 15, 2018 In the 19th century, the discrepancy between the age of Earth and the age of the cosmos posed a great problem to scientists. Geologists had calculated, using methods like erosion or sedimentation rates, ages for Earth spanning from three million to fifteen billion years. Physicists and astronomers, based mostly on the energy output of stars, calculated an age for the universe spanning from twenty million to ten billion years - so in many models of the cosmos, Earth seemed to be too young or too old to fit in. In August 1893, during a meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, geologist Charles D. Walcott (1850-1927) summarized the debate as follows: "Of all subjects of speculative geology, few are more attractive or more uncertain in positive results than geological time. The physicists have drawn the lines closer and closer until the geologist is told that he must bring his estimates of the age of the earth within a limit of from ten to thirty millions of years. The geologist masses his observations and replies that more time is required, and suggests to the physicist that there may be an error somewhere in his data or the method of his treatment." In 1896 the French physicist Henri Becquerel (1852-1908), based on Conrad Röntgen's (1845-1923) research, discovered that naturally occurring elements, like uranium, also emit X-rays and in 1897 Polish physicist Marie Curie (1867-1934) coined the term radioactivity to describe this energy of unknown origin. Her husband, Pierre Curie (1859-1906), realized that this energy from radioactive decay must be considered when calculating the age of Earth. Physicists supporting a young Earth based their calculations on a quickly cooling Earth. However, radioactive decay in Earth's interior provided a continuous source of energy and heat, therefore Earth was cooling slowly and so could be quite old. Radioactive decay or another similar long-lasting and high-energy source (nuclear fusion was discovered later) could also explain how stars could produce light and heat for very long periods of time. The notion that stars or the sun had to be young (in most calculations younger than Earth) could also be dismissed. But even better - the discovery of radioactivity provided not only indirect evidence of an old Earth but by measuring the constant decay it was also possible to calculate the exact age of a mineral, a rock and even of Earth. High-energy rays, derived from radioactive decay, form a halo of alteration around a mineral grain in the larger biotite-crystal, image from J. JOYLE (1909): Radioactivity and geology, an account of the influence of radioactive energy on terrestrial history. Labels: 19th century, Earth Science VS Pop Culture, Geology, Geology and Society, Heretic geologists, Stratigraphy The British Diplomat Who Studied Volcanoes By David Bressan on Thursday, December 13, 2018 When, in 1631, Vesuvius erupted violently after having been dormant for more than 300 years, it aroused great interest among Europe's elite. German Jesuit and naturalist Athanasius Kircher traveled to Southern Italy to study Vesuvius, descending even in the crater. The volcano was almost continuously active, especially after 1750 and Naples became part of the cities traveler should visit when in Italy. Sir William Hamilton (1730-1803) was a British diplomat in Naples from 1764 to 1798, He got so interested in the nearby Mount Vesuvius that in 1776 he published a monograph on the mountain, illustrated with stunning artwork by local painter Peter Fabris. Hamilton's "Campi Phlegraei: Observations on the Volcanos of the Two Sicilies" is considered a pioneering work of early volcanology. The eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in August 1779. The eruption of May 1771. An Aa lava flow (recognized by the broken surface texture) passes the observer's location and reaches the sea at Resina. Note the steep, slowly advancing front of the flow. Pietro Fabris is amongst the spectators (below left) as is William Hamilton, who explains the view to other onlookers. Inside the crater of Mount Vesuvius. Lava samples from Mount Vesuvius. Another view of the August 1779 eruption of Mount Vesuvius. The excavation of the Temple of Isis in Pompeii. Hamilton at the crater of Forum Vulcani (Solfatara near Pozzuoli), examining the sulphur and arsenic deposits near the hot springs. Labels: 18th century, Artwork, Earth Science VS Pop Culture, Europe, Field-Sketch, Geological Catastrophes, Geology, Geology and Society, Volcanology Hitler's Geologists By David Bressan on Sunday, December 09, 2018 Already during the first World War the Germans established a special class of soldiers known as "Kriegsgeologen", military geologists working on the front line in special offices called "Geologen-Stellen". Their tasks included solving water supply issues by locating the best spots for wells, locating rock-materials for construction or roads and choosing sites suitable for bridges, trenches and galleries. In 1936 Adolf Hitler, now the Führer of the German Reich, announced his Four Year Plan to boost economic growth and make the country independent from imports (an important, at the time not mentioned, goal was to prepare the economy for a coming war). This plan included also projects to map all resources available in the Reich, like rare metals and especially oil. Geologists explored old mines to find new veins of ore and until 1939 almost the entire territory of the German Reich was mapped with geophysical methods (like gravimetry and seismic survey), hoping to discover new oil fields. At the beginning of World War II. many geologists were incorporated in the "Ahnenerbe", a unit established by Heinrich Himmler, the Reichsführer of the Schutzstaffel. The Schutzstaffel (or SS) was a vast military organization inside the Nazi regime, controlling the police, secret police, troops but also business like quarries and mines. The Ahnenerbe was the "science institute" of the SS, dedicated to geological, archaeological and ethnological surveys, but also political propaganda and pseudo-scientific research. Reichsführer SS Heinrich Himmler visiting a quarry in southwestern Germany, 1935. During the field campaign to invade Poland in 1939 it was decided to establish also an "Oil Kommando", a unit of 50 geologists mapping oil reserves in occupied areas. The reserves in Germany and occupied areas were not sufficient to keep the German forces running for long. When Hitler ordered to attack the Soviet Union in summer of 1941, he hoped also to secure the rich oilfields of the Caucasus and Crimea where 80% of the Russian oil came from. Geology became now part of the war efforts and Himmler established in April 1941 the "SS-Wehrgeologen Battalion 500", the Schutzstaffel equivalent of a unit of military geologists. The battalion comprised four units, a unit specialized in the construction of tunnels (the "Stollenbau Kp"), a unit of hydrogeologists, a unit of Earth scientists (ranging from archaeologists to geophysicists) and a unit specialized in drilling operations. Members were recruited from other SS units including the Ahnenerbe. The unit included experts like Erich Marquardt, an archaeologist, Karl Heinzelmann, a geologist who worked on tectonics, and Joachim Schlorf, who studied the toxic effects of Vanadium-ore. The unit was commanded by Rolf Höhne, an archaeologist and geologist. The official tasks of the Wehrgeologen included all aspects of military geology, like prospecting for water, oil, gas and other valuable resources in the field, support during construction work of fortifications, underground mines and galleries. One project included mapping the route for a planned “Autobahn” (highway) between Berlin and the peninsula of Crimea (never realized). Geophysical surveys carried out until the beginning of the war in 1939. After BENTZ and CLOSS 1939. However, more esoteric tasks included archaeological digs to prove the superiority of the Aryan race and research in ancient artifacts and unknown energy sources. Rolf Höhne believed in the Hollow Earth theory and published various archeological and pseudo-scientific articles on the topic. The Hollow Earth was a theory dating to the early 19th century, claiming that after a series of natural disasters a race of superior beings survived in a vast undergroudn reign, accessible only be gateways hidden in the mountain ranges around the globe. In 1943 the Wehrgeologen were sent to northern and southern Europe to help build a defense line along the coasts of France and in the Italian Alps. The "Blaue Linie" was a system of fortifications to be built in the Prealps to stop the allied forces, landing at the time Sicily. An even more ambitious plan included the idea to use the mountains as the “Alpenfestung”, a mountain fortress as a last refugium for the Nazis. In the Bretagne and Normandy, they helped to plan a defense line against a possible invasion by allied forces from the sea. The "Hindernisbau" consisted of a system of antitank obstacles along the beaches, bunkers hidden in the rocky cliffs and areas to be flooded in case of successful landfall of allied troops. In France and the Netherlands, the geologists studied the best location to build the launch pads for the secret rocket project of the Reich. The ground had to be stable enough to absorb the vibrations caused by the launch of the Vergeltungswaffe V1 and V2. A V2 on the launch ramp. Called the 'flying bomb', it was used by the Germans to bomb English cities towards the end of the war. The Wehrgeologen Battalion now included 600 men, both academics as soldiers. When air raids became more frequent over Germany in the last years of the war, mines or galleries were used to store ammunition and later also to host industries of strategic importance, like weapons production and research labs. Also, new underground bunkers were excavated, often involving forced labor of inmates of concentration camps. More than 800 subterranean bunkers and galleries are mentioned in contemporary documents, 400 still exist today. In spring of 1945, shortly before the defeat of the Reich, the Stollenbau Kp helped in the construction of "Klein Berlin", a vast system of underground bunkers located beneath the Italian city of Trieste. During this operation, the geologists explored also caves and ancient mines, in part prospecting for valuable minerals, but also searching for the mystic gateway to an ancient underground reign. Based on research by two members of the Ahnenerbe, Wilhelm Teudt and Josef Heinsch, the city of Triest was built supposedly over a force field, the "Heiligen Linien", of subterranean origin. Nazi geologists searching the gateway to the Hollow Earth sounds like the plot for a bad movie. This should not hide the cruel reality of the war and the regime. The SS Wehrgeologen were also involved in war crimes, like the assassination of civilians in the Italian village of Laita. Labels: 20th century, Earth Science VS Pop Culture, Europe, Geology, Geology and Society, Germany Figure description "Awful Changes." The caricature by De la Beche of Charles Lyell as Prof. Ichthyosaurus on the pages of Francis Trevelyan Buckland (Son of William B.). "Curiosities of Natural History". May 8, 1902: La Pelée " My Dear Sister: This morning the whole population of the city is on the alert and every eye is directed toward Mont Pelee, an extinct... 15 April, 1912: The Iceberg That Sank the Titanic In the night of April 14, 1912 the passenger liner " R.M.S. Titanic " collided with an iceberg, two hours later (2:20, April 15) ... The (possible) Geological Origin of the Minotaur Myth According to myth the Minotaur was a terrible creature, born from an unnatural union between queen Pasiphaë of Crete and a sacred bull, sen... According to Japanese myth the cause of earthquakes is the giant catfish Namazu or Namazu-e (the second term refers to the woodcuts of Nama... Historic tsunamis in Japan Fig.1. Kanagawa Oki Uranami - "The Hollow of the Deep-Sea Wave off Kanagawa", coloured woodcut from the collection of "Thir... Historic earthquakes in Japan Japan is situated in the collision area of four great lithospheric plates : the Eurasian/Chinese Plate , the North American Plate , the Phi... John Joly tracking Oldhamia John Joly (1857-1933) was an Irish professor of geology, trained as engineer, who made important contributions to geology, mineralogy, geo... Fantastic Rocks and Where to Find Them – High Pressure Metamorphites Only a small part of rocks are stable on earth´s surface, as widespread erosion and alteration shows. Magmatic rocks, like granite, crumble... August 27, 1883: Krakatoa - The day the world exploded "Perhaps, however, the most important evidence of what was actually going on at Krakatoa during the crisis of the eruption is that deri... Fakes, Frauds and Fossils: The Lying Stones of Dr. Beringer In 1725 the amateur palaeontologist Dr. Johann Barthol omäus Adam Beringer (1667-1738), personal physician of the bishop and superintendant ... 14th century (3) 15th century (6) 16th century (15) 17th century (15) 18th century (35) 19th century (115) 20th century (106) 21th century (74) 23th century (3) A geologist riddle (25) Accretionary Wedge (9) Africa (16) Alps (49) Ancient times (50) Artwork (4) Asia (27) Austria (4) Boneyard (3) Botany (21) Cabinets of curiosities (6) Cartography (34) Cartoons and Earth Sciences (39) Cryology (28) Earth Science VS Pop Culture (184) England (34) Etymology (2) Europe (24) Exogeology (14) Expeditions (39) Field-Sketch (2) Forbes (2) Forbes Blog (19) Fossil Legends (28) France (10) Geo-Files (33) Geo-Quotes (1) Geological Catastrophes (79) Geological Maps (42) Geology (112) Geology and Society (224) Geomorphology (36) GeoMovies (9) Geomythology (42) Germany (17) Heretic geologists (124) Ice Age (19) Italy (44) Life as geologist (125) Mineral (9) Mineralogy (22) North America (35) Oceania (20) Paleoclimatology (18) Paleomammology (12) Paleontology (90) Prehistoric Monster Movie (10) Scandinavia (3) Schlockology (5) Scientific American Blog (6) Seismology (31) South Africa (3) South America (17) South Tyrol (20) Stratigraphy (74) Swiss (8) Tectonics (24) Today in Geohistory (54) Volcanology (51) Zoology (33) View my complete profile. History of Geology News Group History of Geology on Twitter This work is published under a Fair Use/ Creative Commons Licence - Content of other websites, movies, cartoons, papers, books and other entities mentioned or used herein are © to their respective owners, and used only for education/reference/ discussion purpose with reduced resolution/content. ©-holders can demand removial of content A is for Aspirin C6-H12-O6 Epiphenom Genomics, Evolution, and Pseudoscience Memoirs of a Defective Brain Protein Evolution and Other Musings Rule of 6ix The Allotrope The Astronomist The Biology Files	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line1650247
__label__wiki	0.705957	0.705957	← Back > Images For > Karishma Kotak Viewing Photos For (Karishma Kotak)... Related searches for 'Karishma Kotak': ✵ basketball relationships goals ✵ coco bikini malfunction ✵ female angel of death ✵ lifted mini cooper countryman ✵ brown bear brown bear what do you see printables ✵ white diamond color chart ✵ scott steiner steroids before and after ✵ ewelina olczak measurements ✵ vip cars interior ✵ baby rapunzel gif ✵ yoga pants for women hot ✵ wasted years iron maiden ✵ donny and marie osmond dolls ✵ disneyland 2017 map ✵ acura rsx type s blue ✵ meghan markle without makeup ✵ groupies rolling stones ✵ density definition for kids ✵ karishma kapoor✵ karishma✵ karishma tanna✵ karishma creations✵ karishma manandhar✵ karishma kapoor instagram✵ karishma kotak✵ karishma kamdar Karishma Kotak In October 2012, she participated in an Indian reality TV show, Bigg Boss Season 6 as a contestant on the TV Channel Colors. However, she had to make an emergency exit from the Bigg Boss house after spending nearly four weeks due to her father's demise. After leaving the show, she said in an interview with Rediff. com that she accepted the offer to do the show as her father, who had been unwell & was taken care of by Karishma, didn't want her to feel sad and wanted her to get noticed for a better career. After about 15 days of her exit, Karishma re-entered the show on day 42. She told Network 18, "I am feeling quite okay now. This is because of my dad's blessing that Colors has given me another chance to join the show. " She was voted out of the show in December 2012. Reacting about her eviction, she commented in an interview, "I would have definitely liked to stay till the end, but I can't complain. Being able to survive in the house (Bigg Boss show) for 80 odd days isn't a mean feat. "[41] She also said, "I'll remember this experience all my life. It's been very interesting and emotional at the same time. " Karishma made a special appearance on the show later as a presenter on the day before the finale of the show in January 2013. [42] Talking about the recognition she received at the show, Karsishma told The Times of India, "Work has increased and yes, life has changed in terms of opportunities that are coming my way. It has been one of the toughest emotional journeys for me but it has definitely helped my career. "[43] Karishma Kotak ... Kingfisher Cale... Photo Feature: ... 9 Hottest Femal... Karan Wahi Late... Kushboo in amaz... Daisy Ridley Ho... Karan Singh Gro... Ravi Dubey \| Te... Straight Punjab... Amy Jackson Hot... HD WALLPAPER: S... Karan Grover HD WALLPAPER: i...	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line1650253
__label__wiki	0.544621	0.544621	Frank Lanatra Christa Z. LaNatra Joe Casal Evan Janeke Phil Sommers Joe Mele Jeffrey Graham Jr. Bryan Sanchez Our Custom Tattoo Artists Frank La Natra was born and raised in Brooklyn. He always had a penchant for art and music. Originally a music major and talented bass player, he maintained his passion for drawing, tattooing and animation. He formulated his artistic endeavors at the School of Visual Arts and the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale where he received his Bachelor of Science in illustration. Currently living in Fort Lauderdale, Florida where his career in tattooing took off and led him to become a published, award-winning and internationally known artist in the industry. Frank is lead artist and the owner of Into the Woods Gallery and Body Art Studio in Dania Beach, Florida. He has also created La Natra Art Studios where he freelances as an illustrator and fine artist. His Art is a fusion of Animation and Fine Art. He creates his work using different media and substrates, from his beloved blue lead pencil on paper, to digital art, oil paints, and tattooing on flesh. On his downtime, he spends time with his wife, playing video games and being a die-hard Star Wars fan. Tattoo Theme/Design/Concept Placement/Approx Size: Informative Details Preferred Artist Preferred Studio 420 E Sample Road, Pompano Beach, FL 33064 • (954) 404-9536 4430 SE Federal Hwy Stuart Florida 34997 • (772) 283-6611 © 2016 Into The Woods Tattoo • Website by Jason Lee of TattooResponsive YOUR FORM MARKUP HERE ... 138 N Federal Hwy Dania Beach, FL	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line1650256
__label__wiki	0.938475	0.938475	Hull Independent Cinema: VOX LUX « WeWatchFilms: THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY Hull Independent Cinema: WOMAN AT WAR » At Vue Cinema Hull: BUY TICKETS VOX LUX follows the rise of Celeste from the ashes of a major national tragedy to pop superstardom. Eighteen years later, Celeste now finds herself on the comeback trail when a scandal, personal struggles and the pitfalls of fame threaten her career. VOX LUX \| Brady Corbet \| 2018 \| USA \| Cert 15 \| 115 mins In 1999, teenage Celeste survives a violent tragedy. After singing at a memorial service, Celeste transforms into a burgeoning pop star with the help of her songwriter sister (Stacy Martin) and a talent manager. Celeste’s meteoric rise to fame and concurrent loss of innocence dovetails with a shattering terrorist attack on the nation, elevating the young powerhouse to a new kind of celebrity: American icon, secular deity, a global superstar. By 2017, adult Celeste is mounting a comeback after a scandalous incident that derailed her career. Touring in support of her sixth album, a compendium of sci-fi anthems entitled “Vox Lux,” the indomitable, foul-mouthed pop saviour must overcome her personal and familial struggles to navigate motherhood, madness and monolithic fame in the Age of Terror. In Brady Corbet’s second feature, following his 2015 breakout debut The Childhood of a Leader — winner of the Best Director and Best Debut Film prizes at the Venice Film Festival — Celeste becomes a symbol of the cult of celebrity and the media machine in all its guts, grit and glory. Featuring original songs by Sia, an original score by Scott Walker, and a transcendent performance by Natalie Portman, personifying and pummeling the zeitgeist, VOX LUX is an origin story about the forces that shape us, as individuals, nations, and gods. Featuring Natalie Portman, Jude Law, Stacy Martin Venice Film Festival, Toronto Intl Film Festival, AFI Fest Official Selections “The film creates a universe where fame crowds out humanity. You can’t stop thinking about it” – Rolling Stone “Brady Corbet’s VOX LUX, with a big performance by Natalie Portman, is an audacious story about a survivor who becomes a star, and a deeply satisfying, narratively ambitious jolt of a movie.” – The New York Times VOX LUX is rated 15. Visit the BBFC website for full details (may include plot spoilers). Vue Cinema is open all day, so why not come along early to grab a drink and a snack? Doors to the screening room usually open around twenty minutes before the performance starts. The programme runtime includes an allowance for introductions and trailers. This may vary and in some cases, the film will begin immediately after a short introduction. While we will endeavour to accommodate latecomers, this may not always be possible. Please note that we reserve the right to refuse entry, without a refund, to anyone arriving after the advertised programme start time. HIC, Music, Screening	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line1650260
__label__wiki	0.857033	0.857033	Last updated 05:00 24/07/2011 New Zealand is risking an American rebuke over one of this country's pet aid projects, which brings hundreds of Pacific Islanders here to work for minimum wages picking fruit and grapes, warn high-level US sources. Wellington sees the recognised seasonal employer scheme as charity, but Washington views it as verging on human trafficking and debt-bonded labour. This comes as the US State Department's latest international report on human trafficking condemned the use of forced labour on foreign charter fishing boats, exposed by the Sunday Star-Times. Last week US Human Trafficking Ambassador Luis CdeBaca came with a delegation to talk with government officials, unions and lobby groups. No statement followed, but sources say the Americans were alarmed at a lack of recognition of trafficking in New Zealand. The Americans are investigating bonds used to bring minimum wage workers from Tonga, Samoa, Tuvalu, Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands. "The burden of illegal costs and debts on these labourers in the source country, often with the support of labour agencies and employers in the destination country, can contribute to a situation of debt bondage," a source said. Seasonal Solutions Cooperative, the largest importer of seasonal labour, says in its annual report that bringing in seasonal labour gives farmer members of the cooperative a real choice over workers. "As a consequence, these growers have seen their productivity elevated to unprecedented levels," Seasonal Solutions says. The company did not return calls for comment on human trafficking. The Americans also believe trafficking of sex workers – especially from Asia – is taking place. But Catherine Healy of the Prostitutes Collective told them the collective does not believe this. "We haven't come across sex workers who are victims of trafficking yet," she said, adding the word trafficking was "such a dramatic catch-all". "What we are asking for is old-fashioned labour rights. "We explained that sometimes sex workers are made to work exceptionally long shifts and have their money withheld by some brothel operators." Healy said some managers and operators are "dreadful to work for" and the Department of Labour should deal with them. The collective told the Americans it was pleased sex workers had the right to say yes to sex work and that this was getting rid of exploitation. "[CdeBaca] acknowledged it was important to not conflate prostitution and trafficking, as has been our recent experience in dealing with the American administration and their overall response to sex work." They capitalised on unclear jurisdictions and difficulties inspecting boats in deep water. The American delegation told New Zealand officials that slavery at sea remained prevalent and may have increased, and that some owners of Asian fishing fleets and seafood companies were relying on forced labour to harvest ever-diminishing fish stocks. The Americans said fishing was becoming unsustainable economically, and needed semi-slave crews to survive. Without a coordinated effort, the enslavement of foreign migrants would continue. Labels: Wendi Adelson	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line1650261
__label__cc	0.616702	0.383298	Camry 2007 hybrid specs Camry 2007 hybrid specs. 2007 Toyota Camry Review, Ratings, Specs, Prices, and Photos 2019-01-22 Tuesday, January 22, 2019 6:46:44 AM Charley 2007 Toyota Camry Reviews and Rating Today I went again bc the oil light flashes when I step hard on the brake at any speed. It crouches with its nose low, ready to pounce as you approach from the front. We, my wife and I, bought the 2007 Camry Hybrid in July of 2006. Still, at 30 mpg, you'll cover just over 550 miles between swipes of your card for regular unleaded. The car has approximately 166,000 mi. Available Only in Southeast Region. For the enhanced peace of mind of an available Extended Vehicle Service Agreement, please visit. Available Only in Southeast Region. The Bottom Line Easy on the eyes and the pocketbook, user- as well as ecofriendly, the Toyota Camry Hybrid is a fitting front-runner in the new generation of hybrid sedans. Not much to add to this. The 2007 Toyota Camry Hybrid comes with the Plasmacluster ionizer as standard. I still enjoy driving it because it is quiet and smooth riding with plenty of power. Used 2007 Toyota Camry Specs, MPG, Horsepower & Safety Ratings You give up a little when you opt for strawberry - about four cubic feet of trunk space and 1. Driver and front passenger air bags, front side air bags with head protection, and side head-curtain air bags all come standard, as does a driver's knee air bag. The car has met or exceeded everything we wanted it to do and has been totally reliable with the. They said the oil level was low and the. Love all the 'talk to the car' tech. 2007 Toyota Camry Hybrid review: 2007 Toyota Camry Hybrid Actual down payment and resulting monthly payments may vary depending upon type and use of vehicle, regional lender requirements, and the strength of your credit. The first Toyota hybrids in 1997 were wheezy little boxes, interesting technically but pathetically ill-suited to American driving. I regularly gets 34 mi. Wonderful car that has yet to give me any major problems. At the other end of the climate scale, dual-zone climate control provides effective air conditioning with a high-tech twist in the shape of the Camry's Plasmacluster air filter. A number of other neat options can be accessed through the touch screen, including a display for battery life, cruising range, and gas-mileage readouts; an energy monitor showing an overhead schematic of the car and its propulsion sources; and a calendar with a facility to add dated memos, which then pop up on the screen on their appointed day. Review summary Following the roaring success of the Prius, Toyota has a lot to live up to with the release of its next hybrid car, and the 2007 Toyota Camry Hybrid doesn't disappoint. Voice recognition on the Toyota nav unit was also a little disappointing; after learning a list of specific instructions from the manual, we found that certain commands were compatible in only specific screens, which meant a lot of fiddling with the Back button and considerable manual pushbutton work to enable use of the voice-command function. The car has met or exceeded everything we wanted it to do and has been totally reliable with the exception of a slow leak on the water pump. Too often desired destinations are not in its database. When the car is in motion, power from the gasoline engine is split between the drivetrain--to move the car--and the generator, which uses the resultant electricity either to drive the electric motor to help turn the wheels or to power electronics, as well as to charge the battery, which can then be used to drive the car on its own. Available Only in Southeast Region. Emissions Coverage: Coverages vary under Federal and California regulations. The new Camry looks to be another home run forToyota. As expected, the new Camry is highly influenced by the current Avalon, introduced last year, and also inherits various design cues and features from upmarket Lexus models. Although we tried to negotiate a lower price, these were the market conditions at the time. You could write a thesis on all the technology under the hood, and it wouldn't have been surprising if Toyota had cut back on cabin electronics, if only to save on solenoids. The new V-6 is extremely refined, with an almost indistinguishable idle, and under moderate throttle revs almost silently through the gears like a vehicle with the Lexus badge. The 2007 Camry Hybrid is yet to be rated for frontal- and side-impact crash safety, although its scores a respectable four stars in its rollover rating. The 2007 Camry is available in four trim levels and a hybrid version. Chrome Data makes no guarantee or warranty, either expressed or implied, including without limitation any warranty of merchantability or fitness for particular purpose, with respect to the data presented here. The car moves easily on electric power alone at low speeds and on downgrades. Camry Hybrids are packaged much the same way as the other models — with similar interior and trunk space. Not thrilled with its navigation. Optional leather-trimmed seats are complemented by a leather-wrapped steering wheel and gearshift, lending the cabin a comfortable feel and a touch of class. 2007 Toyota Camry Hybrid Specs and Features All specifications, prices and equipment are subject to change without notice. This engine utilizes Toyota's Dual Variable Valve Timing + intelligence system to harness maximum engine potential, increase fuel economy, and lower emissions. Toyota's latest hybrid family member looks markedly different from its Camry ancestors; from the side, a fuller rear end and more parabolic lines will likely have passersby mistaking this car for something off the Mercedes-Benz drawing board. Those owners may contact Pontiac Customer Care at 1-800-762-2737. The engine runs only when the computer tells it to. The motor can deliver up to 203 lb-ft of instantaneous torque, while the combined powertrain makes 192 hp. 2007 Toyota Camry Review, Ratings, Specs, Prices, and Photos From the other end of the line, our Bluetooth buddy John said that we were comprehensible, albeit a little tinny and indistinct. Rides nicely, accelerates adequately and delivers dependable low maintenance longevity with style. It has far more usable power than the engine is replaces, and pushes the Camry into a new category of performance. Toyota owners that experience a problem with a switch should not attempt to make repairs, but should contact their Toyota dealer or the Toyota Customer Experience Center at 1-800-331-4331. There are few practical downsides to getting a Camry. And to accommodate varied needs, there are also plenty of Camry variations offered — everything from a basic, frugal four-cylinder, manual-transmission version to one with a powerful V-6 and a truly Lexus-like level of luxury features, to a new, much anticipated, Hybrid model for those who are willing to spend a little extra money.	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line1650264
__label__wiki	0.908002	0.908002	Nick does deals for PAW Patrol 3 and Teletubbies reboot Along with greenlighting a third season of CG-animated preschool series PAW Patrol, Nickelodeon has picked up the exclusive US broadcast and on-demand rights from DHX Media for the upcoming Teletubbies reboot. By Daniela Fisher The heroic pups of preschool toon PAW Patrol are set to bound into new adventures in a third season, which has just been greenlit by Nickelodeon. A co-pro with Toronto, Canada’s Spin Master Entertainment, the show stars a pack of pups—Chase, Marshall, Rocky, Rubble, Zuma, Everest and Skye—whose alpha male is actually a tech-savvy human boy named Ryder. Set to debut later this year, the 20-episode third season will see the pups take to the sky with new vehicles, equipment and characters added to the mix. PAW Patrol currently airs every weekday on Nickelodeon in the US, featuring a curriculum that focuses on citizenship, social skills and problem-solving. Nick Jr. is also adding the upcoming Teletubbies reboot to its 2016 lineup, thanks to a deal with DHX Media for exclusive US broadcast and on-demand rights to the new 60 x 12-minute preschool show, as well as all 365 original Teletubbies eps for Noggin, Nickelodeon’s preschool-focused mobile subscription service. Teletubbies brand owner DHX Media has lined up UK prodco Darrall Macqueen to produce the series, which was commissioned by CBeebies, and will see the classic Tubbies get a more contemporary CGI makeover. DHX Television will broadcast the show in Canada, and Spin Master has signed on to distribute new Teletubbies toys from master toy partner Character Options. The original Teletubbies launched in March 1997 and has entertained more than a billion children to date, in 120-plus territories and 45 different languages. It was also the first Western children’s series to air on China’s CCTV, reaching an audience of 300 million kids in that country alone. Nickelodeon, Paw Patrol, Spin Master Entertainment Spin Master unveils its first preschool series Nelvana’s Ranger Rob hits the stage Cirque du Soleil expands kids offerings with VStar PAW Patrol line hits Toys ‘R’ US	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line1650272
__label__cc	0.628386	0.371614	The Brand For as long as Jill can remember, her parents told her to find a really charming house in a really charming city, then work and sell art downstairs and live upstairs. While she didn’t follow that advice exactly, she came pretty close. Founded in 1998, she began this company to create a work life that also worked for her life. To avoid sitting in traffic for a long daily commute. To be happy and inspired by work. To create beautiful things while wearing pajamas. To work really hard while also having fun. The resulting brand and designs she creates have a lightness complemented with a strong sense of design and are often finished with an unexpected twist. Her hope is for people to use Jill Smith products to make happy connections. The Person Jill is a child at heart and welcomes life with gigantic open arms. She has vibrant memories of sitting on top of her dad’s drafting table and drawing on really big sheets of paper, riding her big wheel with her big brother until her mom called them home for dinner. She learned a love for traveling at a young age and did so for months at a time as often as her checkbook could handle it for all of those years in her 20’s. She had a small wedding in Costa Rica, marrying a wonderful man with a huge personality. She embraces creativity in her work and her lifestyle and has spent her career blurring the line between the two. These days, Jill’s endeavors include two imaginative kiddos that keep her on her toes and continue to inspire her to see the world through innocent eyes and a joyous heart. She infuses travel into her life as much as possible, hoping her children will see the world as their playground. The Clients Over the past twenty plus years, Jill’s custom design clients include Justin Timberlake & Jessica Biel, Mercedez Benz, Kenneth Cole, Tiffani Thiessen, Baby2Baby, Jason Priestley, Padma Lakshmi, New York Life Company, Southwest Airlines and countless more… Jill Smith stationery products have been created exclusively for Tiny Prints, Shutterfly, Target and Costco. © 2019 Jill Smith \| Site by Braizen	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line1650282
__label__wiki	0.611369	0.611369	Men’s Hoops Drops Landmark Opener to Blue Jays Juniata (4-2, 0-1 LC) 22 30 52 Elizabethtown (2-5, 1-1 LC) 32 30 62 Pts: 2 Players (#12, #24) - 11 Reb: Kyle Koehler - 7 Pts: Tyler Simpkiss - 14 Reb: Tyler Simpkiss - 8 Ast: Lee Eckert - 4 Seth Brewer ELIZABETHTOWN, PA- Juniata men's basketball cut a 13-point second half deficit to one point but could not get ahead as it fell to Elizabethtown 62-52 on Wednesday night at Thompson Gymnasium. The loss snaps the Eagles' three-game winning streak as they fall to 4-2 while the Blue Jays end their four-game winless steak to improve to 2-5. Marcus Lee (Carrolltown, PA/Bishop Carroll) and Justin Fleming (Richmond, VA/Benedictine College Prep) both scored 11 points to lead Juniata. Nate Ogle (Falls Church, VA/George Mason) added nine points. Kyle Koehler (Chester Springs, PA/Devon Prep) pulled down seven rebounds and came away with three steals to lead JC. Juniata took its biggest lead of the game, 6-2, at 17:22. Elizabethtown surged ahead with a 9-2 run with three straight three-point shots to go up 11-8 with just under 16 minutes on the clock. The score remained at 11-8 for over three and a half minutes of game time as both teams missed shots. The Eagles cut the deficit down to two after Dennis Fisher (Bellefonte, PA/Bald Eagle Area) sank two free throws at 12:13. The Blue Jays went up by four, 14-10, after a three-pointer from Joe Bodnar but the Eagles answered with the traditional three-point play from Trevor Clune (Meadville, PA/Meadville Area) to narrow the score to 14-13 with 11 and a half minutes left on the clock. Lee Eckert's layup pushed E-Town up by three but the Eagles had an answer with Seth Brewer's (Lancaster, PA/Manheim Township) trey at 10:13 knotting it up at 16-all at 10:13. Eight straight points from the home team, however, pushed Elizabethtown ahead 24-16 with 6:31 remaining in the first half. The Blue Jay's biggest lead came with four ticks on the game clock as Matt Lapkowicz's layup staked E-Town to a 32-22 advantage at the half. E-Town's lead increased to 12 points in the opening minute of the second frame. JC cut the advantage in half to make it a 34-28 contest at 18:32. An 8-1 E-Town run gave it its biggest edge of night at 42-29 at 12:51. Juniata came roaring back with a huge 13-0 run to get to within one point of tying it up, 42-41, with 6:48 left to play. Elizabethtown recovered to go ahead by nine points, 54-45, with 3:48 to play. Juniata would again fight its way back to get to within five points after a layup by Ogle at 1:31. Following a missed layup from Eckert, the Eagles came down with the rebound and looked to make it a one possession game, but Fleming would be stripped of the ball by E-Town's Phil Wenger who scored on the fast break to increase the lead to 59-52. Juniata's next possession would end in the same fashion as Lapkowicz stole the ball away from Fleming and the Blue Jays sank three out of four free throws to ice the game. Elizabethtown shot 22-of-48 from the floor (45.8%) compared to Juniata's 20-of-50 (40%) performance. The Blue Jays led in rebounds 34-28. The two teams were even in the paint with 32 points each. Juniata faces one of its biggest tests of the season when it travels to Scranton on Saturday to take on the #21 ranked Royals. Game time will be at 4 p.m.	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line1650292
__label__cc	0.692906	0.307094	KARAOKE SCENE MAGAZINE ONLINE! - Worst Karaoke Brands Out There? Public Forums Karaoke Discussions Karaoke Scene's Karaoke Forums Home \| Contact Us \| Site Map Karaoke Forum » Public Forums » Karaoke Discussions Worst Karaoke Brands Out There? Post subject: Worst Karaoke Brands Out There? hi, I'm trying to clean up my hard drive and I thought this might be 1 way to do it...love your opinion.. tyyyyyyyyyyyy Lonman Post subject: Re: Worst Karaoke Brands Out There? Super Extreme Poster Location: Tacoma, WA They all have their diamonds in the rough, some that are solely unique to them only. Me personally wouldn't delete anything. LIKE Lonman on Facebook - Lonman Productions Karaoke & my main site via my profile! hi lonman, well EP is history.. ..so is DK...I found most of those play the melody...I just hate looking up say, LOVE ME TENDER and find 47 copies.. ty for the advice.. KJKILLER Senior Poster get ready max. Here it comes. If I found myself in your situation max, and really wanted to save hard drive space, I'd get a new external hard drive and only put the 5 or 6 biggest brands that I have. I'd probably go with SC, DK, PHM, CB and Karaoke Version. I'd keep the rest of my tracks on a separate hard drive and keep it handy just in case someone asks for an obscure song that isn't on your main show hard drive. If you don't have one to one on your SC tracks; you might want to delete those from your main drive and try to use other brands instead. You wouldn't want to get sued for using them if you don't have one of PEP's fancy licenses. Any time that uyou get a request for a song that isn't on your main show hard drive; just drag it from your other drive to your main show drive and the next time you load up your karaoke software it will be there in your "pot luck" folder. hi KJKiller..IF that is your real name...truth is I really don't need the space I have like 4 h/d. 1 is 4 tb, and no it's not hurting anything I guess I just hate seeing them there taking up space..does that make since? but If I have never used a brand track like let's say EP. then odds are I never will..kinda like having 8 forks..why? tyyyyyyyyyy Killer What is EP? You never know what is going to be used. I have some discs/songs that I bought in the 90's that never been cued up before a couple years ago, now some of those are regular songs. Can always just go through the drive and simply delete the duplicate tracks. Let's do some arithmetic. I'm gonna just use some round numbers to make it easier to explain. Let's say a certain KJ has 400,000 songs in his library and has 40 or 50 versions of some songs. These 400,000 karaoke tracks take up about 2 terabytes of space on a hard drive. My guess is that there are about 40,000 individual titles available in karaoke format. That is about 10% of the 400,000 tracks that the KJ has. 10% of the hard drive being used is only 200 gigabytes of space. To go through a hard drive to delete 360 ,000 songs would be a task that would include about 1,800,000 mouse clicks, not to mention the time that it would take to locate each track that needed to be deleted. Let's say that those 3 clicks per song take about 3 seconds to make. That means that you would have to spend 20 days of non stop clicking to delete the duplicate songs. If you only spent 8 hours a day clicking, it would take over 60 days to get all of the songs deleted. If you have a 4TB hard drive and only half of it is being used; why go through the trouble of clearing out the duplicates? I just thought of something. Run two different karaoke software programs. Use my original suggestion on one of them and put all of the other songs on the second software that you will only check if the songs you're looking for isn't on the first program? That would probably bring down your total of "LOVE ME TENDER" tracks down to a manageable 5 or 6. You could partition that 4TB hard into two partitions. One partition could be 3.5 TBs and that would contain your entire collection because you probably wouldn't want to lose the songs that you deleted forever. The other 500 gigabytes would easily contain your 40,000 unique titles with room for another 40 or 50 thousand new titles that may become available while you are still alive but I doubt that you will ever fill that partition because that many new songs just don't seem to becoming available at that fast a rate. Good luck with your project. I hope you get it done in record time and are tickled pink with your accomplishment. Let us know how many songs end up in your smaller partition. I'm very curious about what that number might be and how many hours you spent working on it. Last edited by KJKILLER on Sun Apr 07, 2019 4:54 pm, edited 2 times in total. MrBoo Super Plus Poster KJKILLER wrote: Let's do some arithmetic. I'm gonna just use some round numbers to make it easier to explain. Let's say a certain KJ has 400,000 songs in his library and has 40 or 50 versions of some songs. These 400,000 karaoke tracks take up about 2 terabytes of space on a hard drive. My guess is that there are about 40,000 individual titles available in karaoke format. That is about 10% of the 400,000 tracks that the KJ has. 10% of the hard drive being used is only 200 megabytes of space. To go through a hard drive to delete 360 ,000 songs would be a task that would include about 1,800,000 mouse clicks, not to mention the time that it would take to locate each track that needed to be deleted. Let's say that those 3 clicks per song take about 3 seconds to make. That means that you would have to spend 20 days of non stop clicking to delete the duplicate songs. If you only spent 8 hours a day clicking, it would take over 60 days to get all of the songs deleted. If you have a 4TB hard drive and only half of it is being used; why go through the trouble of clearing out the duplicates? I just thought of something. Run two different karaoke software programs. Use my original suggestion on one of them and put all of the other songs on the second software that you will only check if the songs you're looking for isn't on the first program? That would probably bring down your total of "LOVE ME TENDER" tracks down to a manageable 5 or 6. You could partition that 4TB hard into two partitions. One partition could be 3.5 TBs and that would contain your entire collection because you probably wouldn't want to lose the songs that you deleted forever. The other 500 megabytes would easily contain your 40,000 unique titles with room for another 40 or 50 thousand new titles that may become available while you are still alive but I doubt that you will ever fill that partition because that many new songs just don't seem to becoming available at that fast a rate. Good luck with your project. I hope you get it done in record time and are tickled pink with your accomplishment. Let us know how many songs end up in your smaller partition. I'm very curious about what that number might be and how many hours you spent working on it. Or, Actually buy the tracks the right way.... No one who actually purchased the tracks has this third world problem. The most I have is six. I have a setting I added to my program where I can tag the best\default version. If I have that setting checked, I only see default versions. I can always uncheck it if I like. I can tag as many versions as a default if I need to. Freebird: I have a single version, LP version without the outro, and a Full version all tagged. So I see three but I have the different versions described in the title so it's easy to deal with. mrmarog Extreme Poster MrBoo wrote: Or, Actually buy the tracks the right way.... No one who actually purchased the tracks has this third world problem. I wasn't going to bring it up, but now that MrBoo did: Max, where did you get all the lousy tracks that you want to delete? I knew it was just a matter of time. I warned uyou. lewmur [quote]Let's do some arithmetic. I'm gonna just use some round numbers to make it easier to explain. Let's say a certain KJ has 400,000 songs in his library and has 40 or 50 versions of some songs. These 400,000 karaoke tracks take up about 2 terabytes of space on a hard drive. My guess is that there are about 40,000 individual titles available in karaoke format. That is about 10% of the 400,000 tracks that the KJ has. 10% of the hard drive being used is only 200 megabytes of space. To go through a hard drive to delete 360 ,000 songs would be a task that would include about 1,800,000 mouse clicks, not to mention the time that it would take to locate each track that needed to be deleted. Let's say that those 3 clicks per song take about 3 seconds to make. That means that you would have to spend 20 days of non stop clicking to delete the duplicate songs. If you only spent 8 hours a day clicking, it would take over 60 days to get all of the songs deleted. If you have a 4TB hard drive and only half of it is being used; why go through the trouble of clearing out the duplicates? I just thought of something. Run two different karaoke software programs. Use my original suggestion on one of them and put all of the other songs on the second software that you will only check if the songs you're looking for isn't on the first program? That would probably bring down your total of "LOVE ME TENDER" tracks down to a manageable 5 or 6. You could partition that 4TB hard into two partitions. One partition could be 3.5 TBs and that would contain your entire collection because you probably wouldn't want to lose the songs that you deleted forever. The other 500 megabytes would easily contain your 40,000 unique titles with room for another 40 or 50 thousand new titles that may become available while you are still alive but I doubt that you will ever fill that partition because that many new songs just don't seem to becoming available at that fast a rate. Good luck with your project. I hope you get it done in record time and are tickled pink with your accomplishment. Let us know how many songs end up in your smaller partition. I'm very curious about what that number might be and how many hours you spent working on it.[/quote] I'm a retired computer consultant and avid karaoke singer. I only play at being a KJ by hosting Karoke at the apt bldg for the elderly where I live. I pretty much accomplished this by writing several programs to find and eliminate duplicate titles from my collection of about 250,000 songs taking up 1tb of HDD space. Got it down to less than 50,000 and less than 200gb of space. Let me tell you IT WASN"T EASY!!! I can't imagine how anyone could hope to do it manually. DannyG2006 Songs: 4 Location: Watebrury, CT max wrote: Keeping them makes more sense. Everyone has their favorite versions to sing from. I might like the GEM Series version of Paradise by the dashboard lights while Lonman might prefer the All Hits version and Mr Boo might like the Sunfly version, all over the baseball monologue. Better to try and keep our singers happy. The Line Array Experiment is over. Nothing to see here. Move along. djdon Location: Ocean County, Jersey Shore Sound Images DJ Don How does one have 47 copies of Love Me Tender? I've been buying music since 1992 and only have 6. And I tell you what you may personally hate DK but many other singers find them more desirable BECAUSE of the faint guide melody and often lowered keys. Paradigm Karaoke lewmur wrote: it was a lot easier than actually buying the music like we did. Paradigm Karaoke, The New Standard.......Shift Happens Mr boo, just how many tracks do you have? and how much money do you think you have invested in them? I do own around 9000 original factory made karaoke cd's. I have most of them (except for my last purchase of 1220 cd's) ripped to my show laptop internal drives. There are many songs that have literally dozens of nearly identical versions of the same song. They just sit there unused, until someday someone asks for that version. Those days are less and less likely as time goes by. Why, because nearly every karaoke host out there has an illegal, fully loaded hard drive, and usually plays SC, CB, DK, PHM, ZM, SF, etc because they are consistently good quality. Do I like that all these KJ's have all that music that they never paid for..... NO! I have spent so much time using KJ File Manager to correct all my misspelled file names, that the ripping software grabbed from the sky, that looking through my files is a breeze as compared to 98% of the KJ's out there. So where am I going with this? I have so much more skin in the game than most everyone does, that it makes me have to be better! You can have every karaoke song ever created and you will have a hard time competing with me. I have no idea how much I have invested, but it's probably way more than my wife thinks BTW Max I have posted photos my karaoke collection here at KS many times if you care to search. Lonman, Chris A and Brian have done so as well. Can we see yours? Gnome Karaoke Posted: Sat Apr 06, 2019 12:50 pm Major Poster Isn't 10% of 2TB, 2GB not 200Mb	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line1650298
__label__cc	0.640703	0.359297	Katherine Blakeney, Stardigger Intro Text "Camilla: Indeed it's time. We all have laid aside disguise but you. Stranger: I wear no mask." - Robert W. Chambers, The King in Yellow I am an author and filmmaker with a BFA in Stop Motion Animation from the School of Visual Arts in New York and a PhD in Film Studies from the University of Edinburgh (Scotland, UK). Raised by an Egyptologist mother, I grew up among museums and excavation sites, where I developed an unhealthy fascination with ancient art and mythology. I divide my time between bringing 12”-tall people to life in my studio in Edinburgh, excavating ancient tombs in the Egyptian desert, and researching Gothic literary monsters in silent film. I have published numerous articles on film and archaeology and my independent short films have screened at various international film festivals including the Edinburgh Fringe. Clips and trailers for my films are available on my official website at http://yorwickcastle.com My debut novel, Digging in the Stars, will be published by Blaze Publishing in March 2017. Email: katblakeney(at)gmail(dot)com Katherine's books Katherine Blakeney's favorite books » Share book reviews and ratings with Katherine, and even join a book club on Goodreads. How to Be a Stardigger, Part 1 Firstly, I must draw your attention to the successful creation of my “About Me” page. After a few hours milling about the spaceport and vol... The Language of Scents Blaze Publishing, Jennifer Malone Wright and I are throwing a party for the official Digging in the Stars Cover Reveal January 11 and 12,... Stratum 7 - The Metalworkers The Metalworkers melted, welded and sculpted the metals found by the Extractors creating much of the furniture, jewelry, weapons, tableware ... Stratum 9 - The Extractors The Extractors spent almost their entire lives submerged in underground streams, sifting sand infused with priceless Gunnarium metal particl... Stratum 6 - The Artists The Artists worked both the metals and minerals of Thror to create sculpture, relief carving, mosaics, architecture and textile designs. The... Stratum 5 - The Scientists The Scientists created all the scents of Thror. That included personal scents, mood scents, formal scents for public speeches, and dark scen... Stratum 1 - The King The first and highest Stratum had only one member - the king. These images show King Loreval the Magnificent, the uniter of the Nine Strat... Stratum 3 - The Military The third Stratum was occupied by the Military - the army of planet Thror. Their armor was designed to maintain the necessary level of moist... Stratum 4 - The Treasurers The Treasurers were responsible for maintaining, calculating and increasing the wealth of the Nine Strata. They established trade rel... Digging in the Stars Releases Today!!! Digging in the Stars arrives in the Milky Way galaxy today! Follow the Facebook party at https://www.facebook.com/events/1392939950780908/ ... Goodreads Author Profile Messages From Outer Space Staring thoughtfully at the title of this blog, you may want to ask: “What on Earth is a Stardigger?” Good question. To begin with, I ... Diary of an Apprentice Scent Hunter, Day 2	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line1650299
__label__cc	0.630505	0.369495	City Lab Feel the Burn: Our Blind Burning Man Maps are Back 08/18/2016 LightHouse Staff Imagine wandering the Nevada desert, amid the dust storms, all-night parties, and mind-boggling art of Black Rock City; now imagine doing it on your own and with no eyesight at all. Here at the LightHouse for the Blind, we are more than proud to make that dream entirely possible. Last year, motivated by some of our very own adventurers here at LightHouse, we took it upon ourselves to design something brand new: a Burning Man map for blind people. A year later, we’re proud to announce that we’ve updated and improved the hybrid tactile-visual map for Burning Man 2016, and will make them available not only in Black Rock City, but also here at the LightHouse in downtown San Francisco starting August 22. To get one in advance of the event, email adaptations@lighthouse-sf.org. Calling it “awesome, no matter you level of sight,” The Atlantic’s CityLab aptly pointed out that you don’t have to be blind to use our map. Complete with braille, visual, and tactile representations of the event’s streets, information booths, first aid tents, restrooms, bus stops, camping, parking, and notable attractions such as artwork, Mobility Camp, The Temple and of course, The Man, the map is a great tool for anybody getting to know the festival – and one that is equally accessible to those with no vision. Now that’s inclusivity. After last year’s burn, we caught up with map creator Julie Sadlier, who is part of LightHouse’s MAD Lab (Media and Accessible Design Laboratory). She said the response at Black Rock City was awesome. “I had multiple people coming to my camp, even when I wasn’t there people were dropping off brailled business cards so they could talk more about the map. Someone at Playa Information dismantled one copy and hung it on the wall to spread the word. They were delivered to Playa Information, Mobility Camp, our camp (Love Potion) had one, and I also gave one to the Black Rock Lending Library.” It’s precisely this type of radical inclusion, we’ve found, that opens unexpected doors and embodies the spirit of the LightHouse for the Blind as well as Burning Man. One member of Julie’s camp last year found himself stuck in a dust storm, taking refuge only to end up sitting at a bar next to a blind man he’d never met before. Without hesitation he pulled out of his pocket a souvenir: a little vile, embossed with braille, a signature of their camp. The man recognized the letters immediately and thus, a connection was made. This year, our map is not only updated with new artwork sites (drawn from a combination of official Burning Man materials and the official unofficial BM Google map), but features a new logo inspired by the 2016-specific theme of “Da Vinci’s Workshop.” We look forward to printing even more than last year, and to hearing your stories when you get back from the playa! To get a copy of our map, call the Adaptations Technology Store (1155 Market St., 10th Floor, San Francisco) at 1-888-400-8933, or email adaptations@lighthouse-sf.org. If you or your organization would like to design a fully accessible, inclusive map of, well – anything – email madlab@lighthouse-sf.org. Black Rock CityBurning ManCity LabdesertdesignMAD LabNevadaradical inclusiontactile maps	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line1650309
__label__cc	0.721247	0.278753	About radiocarbon Radiocarbon dating Dating - different problems About laboratory 14C dating unit Production of CO2 Graphitisation Extension of laboratory Quality tests AMS Laboratory AMS machine Ion source Injection magnet Analysing magnet Drift tube Electrostatic analyser 14C detector Sample types Description of procedures Submission info and price list Uncertainty of 14C date On-line sample registration Explanation to the form Enter the form Explanation to the on-line sample registration form 1. Sample registration form is connected with the sample database of the Poznań Radiocarbon Laboratory 2. The form is divided in 3 sections: a) describing particular sample b) describing site where the sample has been retrieved from c) containing contact data (in particular postal and e-mail address) of the sample submitter (i.e. person registering the sample), and data of the buyer i.e. institution/person which/who will pay for dating. It is assumed that the data of the buyer are exactly those, which should later be written on our invoice for dating of this sample. 3. Filling of some fields in the form is obligatory, and these fields are marked in yellow. Filling of other fields is not necessary, although still recommended. 4. The most specific field in the form is sample name, since in our database, each sample has a unique name. Therefore in case where the name of sample to be registered already exists in the database, the form will ask for modification of name of this sample. 5. Registration of sample into the database is executed by pressing the SUBMIT button. After SUBMIT is pressed, the system checks if all obligatory fields of the form have been filled (point 3, above), and if the sample name has no duplicate in the database (point 4, above). In case where one of the conditions above is not fulfilled, the sample is not registered, and the customer is asked to modify entries in the form. IN the form the button SUBMIT is displayed in two places (at the top and at the bottom), and pressing of any of them executes the same procedure. 6. The data of the once registered sample cannot be edited by means of the form. To prevent from occasional registration of samples with incorrect or incomplete data, the form won’t register any sample, before confirmation box above the SUBMIT button is checked. One additional safety feature is available via the button CHECK/PRINT. Pressing this button opens separate window of your internet viewer, and displays there the tables with the full content of your entry. These tables can then be easily printed or copied to clipboard. 7. In general, all fields in the form do accept any text (with a limitation to 250 characters). Near some fields (material of sample, contamination, field of study, type of site), lists of the most common entries are displayed, and when possible, please use options from those lists (by selecting option and pressing SELECT). 8. For clarity, it is recommended that each sample name begins with a word (e.g. name of site). 9. The form may be used by persistent customers, who had already dated samples in our Laboratory, and by new clients. Each persistent customer has individual login and password in the register. The login and password for a new customer are created only when the first batch of samples submitted by the customer arrives to the Laboratory. 10. After logging in the form, the customer gets access to the data of the previously registered samples, and may recall them when preparing registration form of a new sample. These data are shown in four sections, describing individual sample, site, submitter and buyer. To recall the data of some previously registered sample (site, submitter, buyer), please chose one item from the list displayed in the scroll box in the appropriate section, and press SELECT. This makes that all fields in this section become filled with the data of the selected sample (site, submitter, buyer). Of course, before registration of a new sample, content of any field may be freely edited. In particular, sample name should be changed before pressing the SUBMIT button. Besides the data described above, the form additionally informs (in the field: Job no.) about the number of job in which the chosen sample has been (or is being, or will be) analysed in our lab. Please note that number of job is prescribed by the laboratory, only after the sample actually arrives to the lab. Therefore, the field Job no. may be displayed empty, meaning that the sample registered by the customer, has not arrived to the laboratory, yet. The content of this field cannot be edited by the customer. 11. The new client (having neither login nor password) has no access to the database, and cannot use the data of all the previously registered samples. However, after registering of one sample, the form keeps unchanged content of all the formerly filled fields, and the displayed data can simply be used in description of the next sample. The displayed information is lost when the window with the form is closed. Therefore, when a new client registers a series of samples, it is advised to complete the whole job during one registration session. 12. The form is also helpful in transferring additional information in graphic files. Such files are not accepted by our database, so please send them by e-mail, in form of attachments. To facilitate that, the form has a button SEND E-MAIL, situated just below the upper SUBMIT button. Pressing this button causes opening of window of default e-mail program of the customer. Please note that the mail is supposed to be sent to the e-mail address of the Radiocarbon Laboratory, and its copy to the e-mail address of the sample submitter. To facilitate ordering of mails in the inbox of the Laboratory, the default topic of the mail is exactly related to the registered sample name. Therefore, for new clients SEND E-MAIL becomes available only after successful registration of the first sample, while for persistent customers SEND E-MAIL becomes active after selecting one name from the list of the previously registered samples. Of course, if illustrations are common to many samples, it is recommended to send 1 e-mail only. Open registration form Download explanation in pdf format © 2019 Poznańskie Laboratorium Radiowęglowe	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line1650313
__label__cc	0.633726	0.366274	China and Russia: Friends with strategic benefits Russian cooperation which builds Chinese military capabilities is more important and more detrimental to Western interests than any grand rhetoric coming out of officials’ mouths. Photo: Getty Images/Sasha Mordovets Published 7 Apr 2017 08:08 0 Comments This post is part of a debate on Bobo Lo's Lowy Institute Paper A Wary Embrace. Other debate posts can be found here. Is the relationship between China and Russia just an axis of convenience – a limited partnership with no real empathy between the two parties, spiced by deep-seated and well-hidden mutual mistrust? Or is it an emerging alliance of revisionist authoritarian powers which marries Beijing’s growing economic power with Russia's brazenness to challenge the international liberal order? And more importantly, what are the challenges posed by growing rapport between China and Russia to Western interests and leadership? To address these questions, one needs to unwrap the Sino-Russian relationship from many layers of myth, spin-doctoring, and old wisdom projected onto current developments. To arrive at a realistic assessment, a comparative benchmark is important. It's easy to dismiss progress in Sino-Russian relations once one starts to compare hard realities to propaganda on both sides. Another way is to argue that partnership between Beijing and Moscow is not deep and thus the West shouldn't fret about it. We can do this by comparing Sino-Russian economic ties to China's trade with the US, or by contrasting military cooperation between the two powers to US-led alliances in Europe and Asia. One soon arrives at fairly predictable conclusions – virtually any relationship that China might establish with Russia cannot compare. In the same vein, for Russia, no economic relationship with China can substitute for its dependence on European markets. This static, black and white picture, so common in many Western capitals, obscures important developments in Sino-Russian relations, which start to surface once one tries to compare current developments to the state of the ties some years ago before the global financial crisis and Crimea annexation. One of the many merits of Bobo Lo's Lowy Institute Paper, A Wary Embrace, is that he has included post-Crimea developments in his analysis. Scarce and misleading data is another obstacle for an inquisitive scholar of Sino-Russian ties. Take, for example, Chinese investment in Russia. According to a Chinese Ministry of Commerce announcement, China's cumulative investment in Russia since 1991 stands at $14.2 billion – a farthing compared to Western investments during the gilded age of the commodities boom. However, this figure is deceptive since it doesn’t include transactions through offshore jurisdictions. Beijing has recently calculated a more realistic figure by polling Chinese companies that have invested in Russia. As a result, the Chinese have arrived at US$40 billion of cumulative investment by the end of 2016, with about quarter coming after the Crimea annexation. Rigorous cross-checking of data, verification of claims made by officials and businesspeople on both sides (including conversations by the very same people with their Western counterparts, which provide different facts than in face-to-face Sino-Russian meetings) show a complex and dynamic picture, well presented in Lo’s A Wary Embrace. This is a picture of deepening ties between Eurasia’s two largest powers, and a growing asymmetrical interdependence between them in which Russia is the needier partner. The relationship remains transactional and rocky, and expectations on both sides haven't been fully met. However, measured against Sino-Russian standards, the relationship is becoming deeper and the level of trust between Beijing and Moscow is growing. This is not without implications for the West. On the Russian side, Beijing has marginally helped Moscow to withstand Western economic sanctions. Chinese banks are generally compliant with the sanctions regime, but policy banks have channeled much-needed funds to companies of Vladimir Putin’s cronies. More importantly, China has supplied some critical technologies including underwater electrical cable going from mainland Russia to Crimea, which helped Moscow withstand the Ukrainian economic blockade of the occupied peninsula. Some of these efforts are beginning to challenge the position of Western companies in the Russian market, particularly in the IT and telecommunications sector where Russian SOEs and ministries are busy replacing Western equipment with products made by Chinese competitors. But it is on the Chinese side where Sino-Russian cooperation is affecting Western interests in a more dramatic way. Soon after sanctions were introduced in 2014, Moscow rushed to sell China Su-35 fighter jets and S-400 missile-defence systems. These two procurements will significantly boost China’s capabilities in the East China Sea and the South China Sea. Before Western sanctions, Russia was reluctant to sell China its most advanced weapons, fearing reverse-engineering and potential use of these weapons in any conflict with China over Siberian resources. Now these fears are gone. The Kremlin was forced to conduct a rigorous interagency study of potential risks of partnering with Beijing, and many previous worries were dispelled. Now Moscow is more concerned about the closing window of opportunity in the Chinese arms market due to rapid advances in domestic R&D. The Su-35 and S-400 deals signal a reverse of a long-standing Kremlin policy, and more arms deals are likely to follow. Russian cooperation which builds Chinese military capabilities is more important in practical terms and more detrimental to Western interests than any grand rhetoric coming out of officials’ mouths. Cooperation between Beijing and Moscow on issues of mutual concern, like THAAD deployment on the Korean Peninsula, may follow this pattern - look for small-scale practical steps which could be aimed at THAAD such as planning for cyber operations, information sharing on missile-defence, and additional sales of S-400 systems. Lastly, there is the question of global governance. Neither Beijing or Moscow are visionary superpowers which have more attractive values to promote globally. In many areas, China and Russia either have no alternative proposals to the current norms, or have conflicting views. But the similar nature of their authoritarian systems, and the position that both countries occupy in international fora (most notably the UN), make them natural partners in constructing an international order that values sovereignty over universal norms. This is most visible in new domains of global governance like cyber or space, in which the international order is still a work in progress. Another dimension is joint work on ways to put pressure on civil society domestically. Sino-Russian collaboration and mutual borrowing of 'best practices' provides a ready template that authoritarian governments around the world can follow. Sino-Russian relations do not constitute a new axis of like-minded authoritarian regimes that want to challenge the West by default. But it’s an example of how tactical and opportunistic cooperation of non-Western powers seeking to boost their influence on the international stage comes at the expense of the Western-led international order. Russian pragmatism on display in South East Asia The Trump-Xi meeting: A view from China Currents of disruption: Not just a new world order, but a new world Greg Earl 29 Mar 2018 14:30 Economic diplomacy brief: TPP trade reform, remaking aid, and Indonesian relations Talk of new aid cuts raise new questions about what sort of serious alternative can be fashioned to China’s Belt and Road Initiative. Olivia Shen 1 Sep 2017 14:33 Indonesia is talking tough on drugs, and Australians should listen We need a more concerted effort to warn intrepid Australians that some countries see drugs as an existential threat. John Hemmings 9 Nov 2017 10:37 A reborn quadrilateral to deter China Organising a loose strategic coalition might upset Beijing, but that's no reason not to forge ahead.	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line1650319
__label__cc	0.578014	0.421986	Office 2013 download mac Office 2013 download mac. Microsoft Office 2013 Free Download ( All OS ) 2019-02-11 Monday, February 11, 2019 4:21:55 PM Lon Microsoft Office 2013 Free Download ( All OS ) If you're unable to install Office see for more help. In most cases, Office is activated once you start an application and after you agree to the License terms by selecting Accept. Office for business Office 365 for home Office 365 Small Business Office 365 Small Business Admin Office 365 Admin Office 365 operated by 21Vianet Office 365 operated by 21Vianet - Small Business Admin Office 365 operated by 21Vianet - Admin Office 365 for Mac Office 365 Germany - Enterprise Office 365 Germany - Enterprise admin Thank you for using Office 365. Both Mac and also Windows individuals are able to download and install the preview variation for a fast spin with Microsoft devoting to updating it fairly on a regular basis. Excel 2013 has new easy ways of working with formulas and charts in spreadsheets. Limit one free year and one customer domain per organization. In most cases, Office is activated once you start an application and after you click Accept to agree to the Microsoft Office License Agreement. Microsoft Office 2013 Professional Free Download If yours did, before installing Office for the first time, sign in with an existing or new and enter your product key at. In addition to the highly touted cloud features, the new Office desktop applications look sleeker as well as deliver several useful improvements. First is use your purchased copy of Office in a virtual computer on Mac. For example depending on your version of Windows, select Start and then scroll to find the app you want to open such as Excel or Word, or type the name of the app in the search box. A touch-enabled device is required to use any multi-touch functionality. Microsoft Office 2013 Torrent / Kickass Download For Windows [32 Note: If you're , you may be taken to the Microsoft Store app. It will install the current 2008? Many advanced features included that make it easier to make amazing spreadsheets, and presentations, as well as built-in security mechanisms, to help protect your data. To install Office in a different language, or to install the , select the link Other options. However, we recommend that you uninstall Office for Mac 2011 before you install the new version just to prevent any confusion. Both the Microsoft Office 2013 and also Office 365 bundles give online paper storage and cooperation. They can be searched, added and viewed directly within Word. Non-subscription 2013 versions of Office: Office Home and Student 2013 Office Home and Business 2013 Office Professional Office Professional Plus volume license editions Also included in this list are stand-alone 2013 apps such as Project 2013, Visio 2013, etc. Besides the presentation itself, you can also see a bullet list and more details on the presenter screen. The impressive Office 2013 is undoubtedly a future key to success, and many businesses have already moved to it. On Tablets, you can switch between slides using finger gestures, paint with a stylus for a lecture on film, or use a virtual laser pointer. Its development began in 2010 and completed on October 11, 2012, when Office 2013 was released. For Office 365 admins: If you're an Office 365 admin and want to upgrade users in your organization to the latest Office version, see. Download and Install Microsoft Office 2013 It will not run natively on a Mac. This display reveals prefabricated layout choices that you may not or else take into consideration. Redeeming your key is what links your account with Office so you only have to do this once. It is the successor of Office 2010 and the predecessor of Office 2011. Microsoft Office 2013 Download — Word, Excel, and also PowerPoint no more show a blank web page at launch. If you need activation help, see. You're still free to use these version of Office if you choose, but we recommend upgrading to the latest version. Download Microsoft Office 2013 Free Mac Follow the instructions in the window to find your Office apps. A more subtle development is the use of animation that can make regular changes look more fluid you could disable these impacts if you wish. If you are individual needing just the basics so you will have suggested using Home and Student Edition, this works well for your needs. If you need to uninstall Office first, see or. Support for these products end only if you have the 2013 version of Office or Office for Mac 2011 installed as part of your Office 365 subscription. E-mails in Outlook 2013 are now tablet friendly and can be viewed, if you want, in an optimized list view with larger areas also. Through a subscription of Office 365 and the integration with SkyDrive you can access and edit your files from any computer via a browser. For residence users, there are four alternatives. This feature is termed as Office 365. E-mails in Outlook 2013 are now tablet friendly and can be viewed, if you want, in an optimized list view with larger areas. Choose the language and bit version you want, and then select Install. If you have any change log info you can share with us, we'd love to hear from you! I don't know if your initial activation can be on a Mac. Download and install or reinstall Office 2016 or Office 2013 Visio 2013 is one of the lesser-known programs in the Microsoft suite, but that is not to say that it is the least useful. The 1-computer 2013 won't install on Mac, but your description sounds like you have 365. As part of the launch, Office has actually additionally reached a brand-new spots by going into the cloud with registration pricing, on-demand setup and automatic syncing of settings as well as records you save online rather than offline. Note: If you want to only install specific Office apps and not the entire suite, click the Customize button and uncheck the programs you don't want. This roll-out has multiple versions; however, this time the different editions do not offer as to how you use them for work or at home or which apps are added to it. So, unfortunately, it appears you misunderstood the documentation. Microsoft Office 2013 For Mac Download Free microsoft office 2013 for mac download freeA new wide range of formats are supported by PowerPoint 2013.	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line1650323
__label__cc	0.68121	0.31879	Samsung’s Galaxy Note 4: A phablet that can teach Apple a few things (review) - MVNO MVNE MNO Mobile & Telecoms industry intelligence Samsung’s Galaxy Note 4: A phablet that can teach Apple a few things (review) Samsung may be guilty of blatantly ripping off Apple’s smartphone style, but when it comes to big-screen phones, Samsung knows best. (And yes, Apple’s iPhone 6 Plus is pretty good, but let’s not pretend that it’s anything more than an attempt to elbow into the phablet market pioneered by Samsung.) With the Galaxy Note 4, Samsung once again delivers a solid new phablet — although this time it features a slightly more polished design. Coming off the iPhone 6 Plus, I was hesitant to dive right into another big-screen phone review, but the Note 4 makes it clear that not all phablets have to be as uncomfortable as Apple’s first stab at the category. But while it’s a great upgrade in many respects, the Note 4 also doesn’t include much that would compel owners of last year’s Note 3 to upgrade. Perhaps that makes sense, but with Apple in the phablet pool now, Samsung also needs to prove it can continue to innovate, rather than just iterate. A bit of metal goes a long way Similar to the new Galaxy Alpha phone (which closely resembles Apple’s iPhone 5 design), the Note 4 features a metal-accented side trim. That differs from the last three Note phones, which were all plastic. Since it’s the part of the phone you hold the most, a slight change in side materials ends up going a long way for Samsung. The Note 4 feels like a more high-end device than the Note 3, which felt a bit cheap due to its plastic case. It’s just a shame that the side trim isn’t all metal — there’s still a bit of plastic sandwiched between the front and back of the phone. The Note 4 still has a plastic rear cover, allowing you to remove it to swap batteries or snap in an SD card for additional storage. The need for a removable cover is one of the big reasons Samsung has been stuck with plastic phone designs for so long, but now we’re seeing how the company can figure out ways to move beyond plastic. Yes, the Note 4 is a big phone. But unlike the iPhone 6 Plus, it fits in your hand well. Samsung’s done a fine job of slimming down its Note lineup over the years, mainly by cutting out much of the bezel surrounding their screens. The Note 4 is also lighter, making it easier to hold for extended periods, and its weight distribution also feels more balanced. One of my biggest issues with the iPhone 6 Plus was balancing it with just one hand; that isn’t an issue with the Note 4. Naturally, it’s also a faster phone than the Note 3, but you probably won’t notice a huge difference. Once again Samsung is offering the Note 4 in two different processor variants, its own Exynos processor and Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 805, both of which are slightly faster than last year’s option. The new Adreno graphics core is around 40 percent faster than the Note 3, according to Samsung, and it showed when playing 3D-rich games. A gloriously large screen Even though the Galaxy Note 4 features the same 5.7-inch screen size as its predecessor, it’s a far sharper and accurate display. For one, the Note 4’s screen sports a quad-HD resolution (2,560 by 1,600 pixels), while the Note 3 was only 1080p (1,920 by 1,080 pixels). I can’t imagine that many consumers would be able to notice the resolution difference immediately, but the added resolution in the Note 4 still makes for a far richer experience. Just like other quad-HD screens, the Note 4 gives you an almost 3D-like sharpness when viewing complex photos and video. That additional resolution is also what makes the Note 4 the ideal device to power Samsung’s Gear VR headset. The Note 4 actually slides inside of the Gear VR to power the headset’s processing capabilities and screen. Samsung’s best smartphone camera yet While I adored the Galaxy S5’s camera, Samsung managed to outdo that shooter with the Note 4. It features the same 16 megapixel resolution as the S5 (3MP higher than the Note 3), but it also adds optical image stabilization (OIS), allowing you to take better photos in low light. That puts the Note 4 in good company, as the iPhone 6 Plus and LG G3 also feature OIS. And unlike the iPhone 6 Plus, Samsung claims its OIS capability also works when recording video (although the video I shot below is still a bit shaky as I walked around). When it comes to actually taking photos and video, the Note 4 performed even better than the Galaxy S5. The phone focuses almost instantly (another feature brought over from the S5), and the pictures it takes are typically sharp and colorful. Take a look at some sample photos and video below: Other upgrades: A smarter stylus and new sensors The stylus quickly became one of the defining features of Samsung’s Note lineup. You need to figure out new ways to take advantage of huge screens, after all. With the Note 4 Samsung has improved the pressure sensitivity of the stylus, allowing for a smoother handwriting-like effect when drawing on the screen. I’m still not a huge fan of the Note stylii — I always find it faster to type out text — but the Note 4’s version is the best I’ve seen so far. It’s certainly nothing like putting pen to paper, but the phone now does a better job of mimicking traditional pen writing. Samsung also brought over its fingerprint sensor and heart-rate sensor from the Galaxy S5, both of which function exactly as they did in that previous device. The fingerprint sensor, which can be used to lock your phone, is a nice addition, but it’s not nearly as easy to use as Apple’s Touch ID sensor. And since it relies on you dragging your finger down over the slightly raised home button, it always felt as if I were passing my finger over the dull edge of a knife. The heart rate sensor, on the other hand, doesn’t really add much to the Note 4. Just like my experience with the Galaxy S5, I didn’t have much luck getting it to work consistently. Samsung also doesn’t make a case for why you’d want to regularly track your heart. Verdict: One of the best phablets around I’ve already made my case against phablets in my iPhone 6 Plus review, but at this point I also realize it’s a trend that won’t die anytime soon. If you’re into big phones, the Note 4 is one of the best options around. But, as I mentioned before, there’s not much of a reason for Note 3 customers to upgrade just yet. The big problem for Samsung now is that there are plenty of solid phablets on the market. LG’s G3 is an even more comfortable device, since it devotes the entire front to its screen. And while Samsung may have the upper hand against Apple for now, it won’t be too long until Apple figures out a way to slim down its design and one-up Samsung. Samsung Group is a South Korean multinational conglomerate company headquartered in Samsung Town, Seoul. It comprises numerous subsidiaries and affiliated businesses, most of them united under the Samsung brand, and is the largest Sout… read more » Powered by VBProfiles Previous: Google Play downloads are 60% higher than on iOS App Store, but Apple still rules on revenue Next: Booker’s Upgraded Mobile App Lets Merchants Keep Track of Their Business Anytime, Anywhere Google unveils Android Studio 2.0 with Instant Run, faster Android emulator, and new GPU profiler When are EU roaming charges being scrapped and how does the ban work? – Telegraph.co.uk Sony Xperia 1 up for pre-order with Sky Mobile 2degrees acquires internet service provider Snap Fly the bleep-bloop skies (ANA’s Star Wars-themed 787 Dreamliner)	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line1650335
__label__wiki	0.823358	0.823358	Well-oiled Poop Shute Trump, the quintessential conman, is king of bullsh*tters. I feel sorry for the poor fools that worked for him - all diminished for the experience. Just a year into the Trump administration, notable members of both the White House and the administration at large have left their posts. All were diminished by the experience. Here are the swan songs of just a few of the Trump staffers and other administration officials, starting with the most recent departures: Hope Hicks - White House Communications Director, one of President Trump's closest aides and advisers - Jan. 20, 2017 - 405 days Hicks was Trump's longest-serving aide. She didn’t even last a year and a half. Rob Porter - White House staff secretary - Jan. 20, 2017 - 384 days Omarosa Manigault-Newman - Director of Communications for the White House Public Liaison Office Jan. 20, 2017 - 366 days Dina Powell - Deputy National Security Adviser for Strategy - Jan. 20, 2017 – 357 days Tom Price, Secretary of Health and Human Services - Feb. 10, 2017 - 232 days Sebastian Gorka, Deputy assistant to the president - Jan. 30, 2017 208 days Steve Bannon, Chief strategist and senior counselor - Jan. 20, 2017 - 211 days Anthony Scaramucci - White House communications director - July 21, 2017 6 days Reince Priebus, White House chief of staff - Nov. 13, 2016 190 days Sean Spicer, White House press secretary - Dec. 22, 2016 - 183 days Mike Dubke, White House communications director - March 6, 2017 - 74 days Mike Flynn, National security adviser - Jan. 20, 2017 25 days Josh Raffel: Deputy communications director Rick Dearborn: deputy chief of staff George Sifakis: director, Office of Public Liaison Ezra Cohen-Watnick: senior director for intelligence programs, National Security Council Michael Short: senior press assistant Walter Shaub: director, Office of Government Ethics (no need for ethics in this administration) Angella Reid: chief usher, White House Katie Walsh: deputy chief of staff Which Hunt? Donald Trump is America's worst president, says a survey of 170 members of the American Political Science Association’s Presidents and Executive Politics section. The survey was conducted by Brandon Rottinghaus, a professor of political science at the University of Houston, and Justin S. Vaughn, an associate professor of political science and director of the Center for Idaho History and Politics at Boise State University. They showed Barack Obama towering over Trump. Obama was in the top 10, up from 18th when a previous survey was conducted in 2014. The authors said since the four years when the previous survey was released, the other big change in rankings had James Buchanan benefiting from Trump. Buchanan was evicted from his position at the very bottom by Trump. in other news, More than a month after President Trump pledged to testify before Robert Mueller in the Russia investigation, there is no evidence he might do so — or if he will speak to the special counsel at all. As Trump continues to denounce the Russia investigation as a "witch hunt" — or "WITCH HUNT!" as he put in a tweet — administration officials said his attorneys continue to negotiate with Mueller's office. WITCH HUNT! While the Trump and Mueller teams have refused to comment, one question hovers above all: If Trump refuses to testify, will Mueller subpoena the president? Wait, and see… Her departure comes (no pun intended) after the departure of White House staff secretary Rob Porter, with whom Hicks has been romantically linked. White House communications director, Hope Hicks, was dating "Mr. Nice Guy", Rob Porter — and apparently she helped write a statement supporting Porter after allegations of his domestic abuse surfaced. She was fooled by more than Trump! White House staff secretary Rob Porter resigned after his ex-wives accuse him of abuse. Rob Porter was dating White House communications director, Hope Hicks, 29. Who knows... she might have been his next punching bag. Constant Drum Trump, like Hitler tells a lie. Then, he tells a BIGGER lie (diminishing the quality of the previous lie). The implication here is that Trump, unlike the deputy, IS a "Medal Of Honor Winner." Another Blog that also caught this subliminal slight-of-brain is FOUND HERE. There is another problem: Trump’s lies about Russia are failing To sum it all up: With his little hands, Trump would NOT have rushed the shooter. He is a little person - inside and out. He is small. SMALL	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line1650338
__label__wiki	0.714976	0.714976	Melanie Irwin Abdominal envelope. The centre cannot hold. Ex ovo omnia. Circumscription of an ineffable entity. Emoji oddball. That impossibly great sphere whose centre is everywhere and whose circumference is nowhere. Nought. One’s circumstances, one’s surroundings. Vicious cycle, vicious circle. Cut from Protrusion. Cross-section of a sphere. Like a patient etherized upon a table. Containter. The zygote and the blastula in the zona pellucida. Belly. Gyre. String of pearls. Millions of tiny little pieces which are so small that you can’t see them, and these little pieces are shot out into the sky by electricity. Violet muslin. Inner circle. The prophesies of Circe. Blood–brain barrier. Capsule. Nuclear envelope. The centre can only hold. Hemispherical Envelopes Membranae Spherical Approximations: Archimedes’ Approximation of Pi Spherical Approximations: The Material has no Memory Spherical Approximations: Geodesic Envelopes Geodesic Envelopes (Pink polygons) Geodesic Envelopes Distension (Single File) Action with Compass The Appendages (Red Composition) The Appendages (Red) Terminus Loop (Warschauer Str.) Untitled (action_structure_drawing) The Appendages (Blue) Melissa Loughnan, B for Body Meredith Turnbull, Spherical Approximations – A Network of Relations Linda Michael, Melanie Irwin: Geodesic Envelopes Spherical Approximations – A Network of Relations A performer enters the gallery space, white fabric hangs, an opaque membrane around them. Draped and soft across the body, held up and shaped only by the crown of the head and the occasional jutting of limbs as they walk. A shape is delineated by pale line-work on the floor. A polygon, flattened out and stretching across white vinyl, it occupies and offers a frame. One of three: each a territory for the performer to return to, a base to move from and to move within. Along one wall of the gallery are white powder-coated elements, repurposed segments that were once recognisable forms: furniture, prop and appendage. They are selected with intention, in order to execute a specific function. The performer collects these elements, stacking and secreting them under folds of fabric and skin. Then moving toward and within their line-work they commence, they harness together metal elements with tape and strips of fabric. Binding and connecting to slowly build, to push and flesh outward in attempted symmetry, the panels and structure of a geodesic envelope or dome. This is not a quiet operation. Segmenting and attaching, over minutes and hours: the steady construction clangs and pings as metal is brought together with and alongside metal. Each performer gradually reveals a structure that can never be remade or repeated, skin over bones, scrim over formwork. Three envelopes grow simultaneously, alongside one another. Points and ends jut into stretchy fabric and amorphous shapes appear, each an approximation, not quite a polyhedron or a sphere. The envelope—a form and volume that lends itself so eloquently to the poetry of space, its occupancy, absence and purpose—as nest, habitat, womb, shelter. Between opaque triangular panels the performers can be glimpsed through semi-transparent mesh pentagons. Dressed in white, they contort, bend and turn, a soft body within the armatures and skin surrounding them. At points a performer, grasping onto the metal form within, picks up a dome and turns, carrying it with them. This syncopated action repeats between and across performers and space: lift, rotate, spin and an elegant circumference is drawn within a strange choreography. Halting construction or in an effort to start again and rebuild, a performer rapidly unhooks and unravels T-sections, elbows, clasps and ties, and an envelope deflates from its punctuated elastic state to flaccid rest as internal metal parts unceremoniously clatter to the floor. These white forms and their occupants are part of Melanie Irwin’s Geodesic Envelopes, included in the exhibition Spherical Approximations at West Space in Melbourne.[1] Spherical Approximations is Irwin’s most complex Envelope project to date; it includes three distinct versions of the Envelope performances. Building on previous artworks,[2] each performance utilizes three performers, each wearing a stretch textile envelope. Geodesic Envelopes presents a white monochrome version of the envelope. Archimedes’ Approximation of Pi includes large single elements of graphic colour in increasingly complex patchwork geodesic frequencies: fluoro pink, lapis blue and sun yellow on white. While The Material has no Memory conveys an abstract compliment of colourful geometric shapes on white. The Envelope works are part rumination on the ineffable task of perfecting the symmetry and sphericity of a dome: by stretching out a multi-sided textile polyhedron from the inside. The polyhedrons are inspired by Greek mathematician Archimedes’ approximation of pi[3] (and the use of this number to calculate the circumference of a circle); and by American architect and inventor Buckminster Fuller’s (1895–1983) patent and popularisation of the geodesic dome and half sphere. While the dome and the act of spherical approximation are at the core of the artwork, these are constituent elements within a complex arrangement of form, structure and bodies in space. Time and movement also impact so that at certain moments, only the remnants of the performance may exist: an uninhabited and partly formed dome resting on the gallery floor, or the empty space lined solely with props and appendages along the gallery wall. At other moments designated by the artist, the gallery space is full of activity and purpose, as envelopes are fleshed out and formed by performers working independently but alongside one another. Irwin’s previous sculptural works, such as the Distension series (2013), have also explored properties of the membrane, womb, stomach or skin. Utilising chloroprene balloons clamped and forced into tall stilt-like structures (made from metal chair frames and mobility aids), Distension is an eloquent distillation of two related components within Irwin’s practice: a fascination with the envelope and the appendage. Irwin’s Appendage performances see participants carry powder-coated coloured metal shapes from home to a performance site, such as an exhibition opening. In one version participants hold the appendages as they view the exhibition, then take them away again when they leave.[4] In another, each participant delivers their object to the artist, until she is laden with multiple appendages—like offerings—along arms, around neck and across torso in red or, most recently, yellow line-work compositions.[5] While the Envelope and Appendage works are palpably about the use and construction of forms, they equally traverse a field of networks and systems. They invest in the physical possibility of bodies but also in relations between material and form, and between time, space and movement. They mark intersections and connections, where exchanges or introductions are made and the boundaries of things meet or are subsumed together. In the Envelope works the anamorphic qualities of the sphere, as it encases the human form, are accentuated through each movement as the performer builds their habitat around them. At times they appear insect-like, tirelessly working toward some collective purpose. The biological inflection within the work and its aesthetic connection to cell-like structures has been deliberately explored by Irwin in relation to German philosopher and cultural theorist Peter Sloterdijk’s Spheres Theory,[6] as well as the field of immunology and the process of phagocytosis. Phagocytosis, from the Greek ‘to devour,’ describes the process of living cells or phagocytes that ingest other cells or particles, often for the purpose of divesting the body of harmful antigens.[7] In conversation, Irwin has also noted a long-time fascination with Canadian director David Cronenberg’s film Crash (1996), [8] particularly Rosanna Arquette’s character Gabrielle and her use of various prosthetics, as influential in the shaping and implementation of many of her artworks. These and other points of reference form part of the multifaceted research undertaken by the artist that propels and sustains this unique practice. In addition to these connections, Irwin’s Spherical Approximations and other artworks[9] convey a shared sensibility with historic examples of dance and early performance art from the 1960s and 70s. This shared sensibility is revealed in the emphasis and use of provisional, utilitarian and found objects. Elements such as 10 ft.-long lengths of ¾ x ¾” timber in Trisha Brown’s Sticks (1973) or the use of hoops in Joan Jonas’ outdoor performances, like Jones Beach Piece (1970), and Rebecca Horn’s timber and fabric hand appendages in Fingerhnadschuhe [Finger Gloves] (1972) and Arm-Extensionen [Arm Extensions] (1970). Irwin, like her predecessors, utilises these objects in combination with everyday gestures or choreographed movements to extend the potential of both the body and the sculptural form. The absurdity and humour that also surface while watching Spherical Approximations, as performers grapple at times comically with static object and flexible lycra fabric, evoke other traditions, such as the use of puppetry, costume and props in performance and visual art. The armature and scrim of the expanded envelope form builds on previous avant-garde experiments, like German artist and choreographer Oskar Schlemmer’s work with the Bauhaus Theatre Group. Schlemmer’s Triadic Ballet (1922), Hoop Dance (1928) and Rod Dance (1928), respectively, applied elaborate costumes, metal hoops and spirals and long timber rods as human appendages. These components both restricted and extended the human form in ways that, according to German writer and editor Arnd Wesemann, accentuated and drew out ‘a theorem of physical geometry [whereby] the ”mathematics” of the human body were meant to become visible.’[10] The Triadic Ballet in particular abandoned traditional theatrical and operatic modes in order to explore the body and geometry in space. It comprised a series of papier-mâché and metal structures worn by three dancers performing on a chessboard-like stage, ideally viewed from above. The choreography attempted to articulate these simultaneously rigid and delicate costume/objects in space. Despite its mixed reception (and only being viewed by around 1000 people as it toured for 10 years between 1922 and 1932), the ballet’s legacy for its approach to the articulation of movement and geometries through space and a fascination with its unwieldy and fragile costumes has led to multiple subsequent reconstructions and restagings since the late 1960s.[11] These and other avant-garde explorations, like Swiss artist Sophie Taeuber-Arps’ puppets, costumes and sets and the 20th century costumes designed by artists for the Ballet Russes, are increasingly revisited and researched by contemporary artists whose own artworks traverse various fields from performance to spatial practice. Site and context are important factors in these historical precursors and Irwin, like her antecedents, chooses to frame her artworks in specific ways. In the case of Spherical Approximations, the gallery is a vital site and context for the project. Here the viewer can engage directly or otherwise with the artwork: walking a straight line through West Space’s front gallery or pausing to sit and watch as the envelopes are laboriously constructed. Liveness and three-dimensionality combine so that while you are looking and circumnavigating Spherical Approximations, the performer despite being enmeshed in fabric can also look back. Either through minimal gestures or more overt and excessive qualities, Spherical Approximations is a complex artwork that creates new relations between: system, site and set; prop and costume; endurance and humour; and genre, context and field. Irwin intends more Envelope and Appendage series and with each iteration, these artworks will continue to grow their own system of relations: current in their aesthetic, scientific, social and cultural concerns while elaborately and sincerely evolving the fields and experiments of the past. [1] Spherical Approximations, West Space, 9 July – 15 August 2015. Performances were carried out in the gallery space on opening night and every Friday and Saturday afternoon during the exhibition period. [2] Geodesic Envelopes was first performed at the Masters of Fine Art Graduate Exhibition at the Victorian College of the Arts, Melbourne, 9 – 15 December 2013. A second single-performer version of this work was performed at Heide Museum of Modern Art, Melbourne from 8 March to 15 June 2014 as Melanie Irwin: Geodesic Envelopes, curated by Linda Michael. [3] Ernest Zebrowski details the findings of Archimedes of Syracuse (250 B.C.E) who estimated the value of π to 3.1416 and subsequent systematic attempts to measure the circumference and diameter of the circle in A History of the Circle: Mathematical Reasoning and the Physical Universe (New Brunswick: Rutgers University Press, 2000), 5–8. [4] The Appendages (Blue) was performed as part of Regimes of Value, curated by Elizabeth Gower at the Substation, Melbourne, 4 April 2013. The Appendages (Red) was performed at the Masters of Fine Art Graduate Exhibition at the Victorian College of the Arts, Melbourne, 9 December 2013. [5] Irwin’s most recent version of this work, The Appendages (Yellow Composition), was performed as part of Feeling Material, co-curated by Benjamin Woods and c3 Projects, at c3 Contemporary Art Space, Melbourne, 28 October 2015. [6] The mathematical and biological aspects of Irwin’s research, and her practice more broadly, are explored by Linda Michael in the associated publication for the exhibition Melanie Irwin: Geodesic Envelopes from 2014, available from: https://issuu.com/heidemuseumofmodernart/docs/melanie_irwin_geodesic_envelopes [7] http://www.britannica.com/science/phagocytosis [8] Email correspondence with the writer 3 June 2015. [9] Such as the recent discursive performance, How to Draw a Circle (2015), with Fiona Cameron, also performed as part of Feeling Material, at the Abbotsford Convent, Melbourne, 8 November 2015. [10] Arnd Wesemann, ‘The Bauhaus Theatre Group,’ in Bauhaus, eds., Jeannine Fiedler and Peter Feierabend (Potsdam: H. F. Ullmann, 2006), 545. [11] Arnd Wesemann, ‘Bauhaus Theatre Group,’ 532–544. Produced on the occasion of the exhibition: SPHERICAL APPROXIMATIONS West Space, Melbourne Copyright © 2019 Melanie Irwin - All Rights Reserved	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line1650342
__label__cc	0.73337	0.26663	What is Organic Farming? Healthy Soil Crop Rotations Farm Gate Shop We Supply Loads to do this Easter in the North York Moors National Park A host of fun events for families is planned for the Easter holidays in the North York Moors National Park. Teddy Bears are invited along for some woodland adventures, littlies can get to grips with bugs, birds and Easter crafts, explorers can hunt for treasure, while adventurers can take part in a series of high-octane activities. Created with Haiku Deck, the free presentation app With Easter being late and spring already sprung, the activity programme offers a variety of ways to encourage youngsters to enjoy the great outdoors. The Moors National Park Centre at Danby has spring-themed events on Tuesdays and Thursdays in the school holidays, while Sutton Bank National Park Centre hosts a Discovery Day on Wednesday 16th. April. This hands-on session is a great opportunity to explore local woodland with microscopes, binoculars, cameras and a very knowledgeable and fun activity leader. For the more adventurous, the National Park has linked up with East Barnby Outdoor Centre, near Whitby, so people can have a go at a range of activities such as canoeing the Esk, sailing, mountain biking, climbing and bushcraft, with sessions offered in every school holiday, starting this Easter. Sally Ann Smith, the National Park Authority’s Events and Exhibitions Co-ordinator, said: I always try to have a variety of events so there’s something that appeals to all kinds of children and all kinds of families. I think my favourite this year is the Woodland and Waterfalls Walk. It’s especially for parents wanting to get their children out into the National Park, and it’s a great way of turning a walk into an adventure. Children become woodland explorers on a scavenger hunt whilst adults can enjoy beautiful May Beck and Falling Foss in the company of our Ranger, Naomi Green.” There’s also a fabulous Easter Trail every day over the Easter weekend at The Moors National Park Centre and Sutton Bank National Park Centre where you use a map to find hidden eggs. Find them all and a prize awaits you. Easter events are very popular so you must book in advance for all but the Easter Trail. You can do this by calling 01439 772738. For the adventure activities, call East Barnby direct 01947 893333. For more details – and to receive an Out and About guide in the post – call the National Park on 01439 772700. Alternatively, download the guide or click here. Tuesday 8 April: Easter Crafts Celebrate the arrival of spring by making festive decorations, seasonal cards and other spring-themed crafts at The Moors National Park Centre, Danby. 10:30am, 11:30am, 1:30pm or 2:30pm. Cost: adult free, child £4. Minimum age 5. All children to be accompanied by an adult. Booking essential. Tuesdays 8 and 15 April and Thursdays 10 and 17 April: Holiday Adventure High-octane holiday adventure for 9 to 16 year olds (families are welcome too) at East Barnby Outdoor Centre. Depending on the weather, you’ll get to try one or two activities, from a great choice of canoeing, kayaking, surf sports, sailing, beck-scrambling, geocaching, orienteering, mountain-biking, indoor climbing, real rock adventures, dry slope skiing, seashore exploration and bushcraft. 9:30am – 4pm Cost: adult £30, child £30 Booking Essential 01947 893333. Thursday 10 April: Build a Bird’s Nest Birds make all sorts of different nests in which to lay their eggs. Discover how to make your own nests and eggs from a variety of art materials at The Moors National Park Centre, Danby. 10:30am to 12 noon. Cost: adult free, child £4. Minimum age 5. All children to be accompanied by an adult. Booking essential. Thursday 10 April: Woodlands and Waterfalls Walk Join National Park Rangers on a 3.5 mile stroll looking for signs of spring around the woodlands of May Beck, taking in lovely Falling Foss waterfall. It’s an easygoing family walk with some uneven ground and short uphill stretches – young woodland explorers can also follow our Scavenger Hunt and Carvings Trail along the way. Starts at May Beck car park (NZ 893 024) 10:30am – 1pm. Free. Not accessible by wheelchair. All children to be accompanied by an adult.Sorry, no dogs. Booking Essential Thursday 10 April: Feed the Birds Create your own willow bird feeder and some juicy bird cake to go into it. Please note that this event uses animal fats and peanuts at The Moors National Park Centre, Danby. 1:30pm – 3pm. Cost: adult free, child £4. Minimum age 5. All children to be accompanied by an adult. Booking essential. Tuesday 15 April: Teddy Bears’ Picnic Bring Teddy along for some woodland adventures and finish with juice and biscuits in our storytelling area. There are two separate sessions, starting at 10:30am and 2:15pm at The Moors National Park Centre, Danby. Cost: adult free, child £3.50. For ages 2-6. All children to be accompanied by an adult. Booking essential. Wednesday 16 April: Discovery Day A fun-filled, hands-on introduction to the National Park’s ‘Explorer Club’ project at Sutton Bank National Park Centre. Spend the day exploring and caring for a local woodland habitat, using our spotter’s guides, digital microscopes, bug viewers, binoculars and cameras. At the end of the session, the photos you have taken will be downloaded onto a disc for you to keep. The charge is per family, and you’re invited to bring a picnic. Event is weather dependent – please check in advance. 10:30am – 2:30pm. Cost: family £10. For ages: 5-14. Not accessible by wheelchair.All children to be accompanied by an adult. Sorry, no dogs. Booking essential Thursday 17 April: GPS Treasure Hunt Get to grips with GPS at The Moors National Park Centre, Danby. We’ll show you how to use one so that you can search for hidden boxes around the grounds of the Centre. How successful will you be, and will you solve the riddles to claim your treasure? 1:30pm – 3pm. Cost, adult free, child £3.50 Minimum age 7. Not accessible by wheelchair. All children to be accompanied by an adult. Booking essential. Thursday 17 April: Cunning Compass Explorers Learn how to use a compass and tackle the compass course at The Moors National Park Centre, Danby. Split into teams and take on the Compass Explorers’ Challenge. Can you solve the questions to claim your prize? 10:30am – noon. Cost, adult free, child £3.50 Minimum age 7. Not accessible by wheelchair. All children to be accompanied by an adult. Booking essential. Friday 18 April – Monday 21 April Easter Trail Come along at any time and use your map of the grounds to locate the hidden eggs. Find all ten and a tasty prize awaits you at The Moors National Park Centre, Danby and Sutton Bank National Park Centre.10am – 4pm – drop in any time. Cost, adult free, child £3. All children to be accompanied by an adult. Easter, National Park Growth in organic sales for the first time in four years UK National Parks ‘Space to Grow’ photo competition offers chance to win Merrell footwear Newfields Organics Fadmoor YO62 7HD veg@newfieldsorganics.com © 2018 Newfields Organics	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line1650351
__label__wiki	0.965895	0.965895	Home » Politics » HIV data leak: MOH aware only in 2016 that Mikhy Farrera Brochez had access to data, says Gan Kim Yong HIV data leak: MOH aware only in 2016 that Mikhy Farrera Brochez had access to data, says Gan Kim Yong SINGAPORE – While he first informed the authorities in 2012 that his partner had disclosed information about his HIV status to others and shared screenshots of this, Mikhy Farrera Brochez, the American at the centre of the leak of Singapore’s HIV Registry, was uncooperative and did not provide any evidence. The investigation hence did not make much headway, said Health Minister Gan Kim Yong in Parliament on Tuesday (Feb 12). Mr Gan was responding to questions from MPs about whether the Ministry of Health (MOH) had known about Brochez’s possible access to the HIV Registry information as early as 2012. In a ministerial statement setting out the chronology of events, Mr Gan said the issue in 2012 was not about Brochez’s access to the registry. The American was then a partner of Ler Teck Siang, a doctor who headed the National Public Health Unit, and they had lived together. In November 2012, Brochez alleged that Ler had disclosed information about Brochez to others. “He later also claimed that Ler had shared screenshots of his HIV status with others,” said Mr Gan. “Despite multiple attempts by MOH to engage him, Brochez did not provide any evidence to support his allegation. He was uncooperative and evasive, and rejected or postponed meetings with MOH on several occasions,” said Mr Gan. “At one point, he even informed MOH officers that he was leaving Singapore and did not want to continue with the investigation into his allegation. Due to his uncooperative attitude, the investigation could not make much headway.” Nevertheless, the ministry reassigned Ler to another role in May 2013, and kept up the investigation. The doctor’s access to the live HIV Registry was terminated after his reassignment, he said. In the course of its investigation, MOH discovered in December 2013 that Brochez may have submitted fake HIV blood tests to the Ministry of Manpower in order to retain his employment pass. MOH informed MOM and also made a police report. Ler resigned the following month. Said Mr Gan: “MOH’s investigations in 2012 and 2013 were on Brochez’s allegation that Ler had revealed Brochez’s HIV status to others. At no point in 2012 or 2013 did MOH have basis to suspect that Brochez had access to, or was in possession of, the data in the HIV Registry.” Between 2014 and 2016, the police and MOH investigated whether Brochez had indeed faked his blood tests, and whether Ler had abetted him and provided false information to investigators. Mr Gan said the investigations were “difficult” as Brochez refused to provide a statement, until May 2014, when he was stopped while trying to leave Singapore. He lied that it was his blood that was used in a HIV test in November 2013. MOH ordered him to undergo a fresh blood test for HIV to verify the claim, but Brochez refused. In late April 2016, he was arrested for refusing to comply with the orders to take a blood test. He then provided the police and government authorities 75 names and particulars from the HIV Registry. Following this, MOH made a police report on May 16, 2016. “This was the first time MOH had evidence that Brochez may have access to confidential HIV related data,” said Mr Gan. The police raided Ler’s and Brochez’s premises simultaneously, and “seized and secured all relevant materials”. “These included their computers and electronic storage devices containing files with confidential information from the HIV Registry, files related to hospital services and to other infectious diseases, as well as other information likely used by Ler for his work such as e-mails, HIV studies and reports,” said Mr Gan. The police searched through Brochez’s e-mail account and found that he had sent the same screenshot that he had sent to government authorities, as well as a PDF file of a further 46 records from the HIV Registry, to his mother. The police contacted Brochez’s mother, who agreed to let the police access her e-mail account and delete those records. Said Mr Gan: “At this point, the police had seized everything they found in Ler’s and Brochez’s possession, and had done their best to ensure that no further confidential information remained with Ler and Brochez, including in their known online accounts.” He said: “It was always recognised that there was a risk that Brochez could have hidden away some more information. Unfortunately, as recent events showed, Brochez did manage to retain at least some data which he has recently disclosed, and we cannot rule out the possibility that he has more.” Ler and Brochez were both charged in court in June 2016. Ler was charged both under the Penal Code and Official Secrets Act. Brochez was charged for offences under the Misuse of Drugs Act, Penal Code and Infectious Diseases Act (IDA). Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un to meet for second historic summit next month The chilling line Donald Trump skipped from his State of the Union speech French lawyer in Malaysia to aid in submarine graft probe AfDB Report: Africa's 2019 Economic Outlook	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line1650354
__label__wiki	0.912129	0.912129	NCAA Tournament: Zion Williamson, Brandon Clarke among top players in Sweet 16 By Lindsey Duncan The odds of having a ideal bracket at this point are about 1 in 281 trillion. That's noteworthy, because it's Nigl's bracket. In the five years since the NCAA began tracking online brackets on its own website, as well as those of ESPN, CBS, Yahoo, Fox, and Sports Illustrated, this is the first time anyone has entered the Sweet 16 with a flawless bracket. "How do I know that this is, you know, real?" he asked. He did, and found his bracket, named "center road" was on the front page. "Yeah, this is my friend's bracket (group) that he invited me to, and I nearly didn't fill it out because we were just doing it for fun and I'm in a couple other ones at work and stuff", Nigl told the NCAA. UK Parliament votes on Brexit alternatives - What you need to know But they could push Britain in the direction of a softer Brexit that keeps Britain closely tied economically to the EU. She said there was a "real possibility" that May will bring back her deal for a third vote on Thursday or Friday. Mobile again offers a free year of Major League Baseball If you want to get this deal, you'll need to use the T-Mobile Tuesdays app or website between March 26 and April 1. One of the most significant of those is the yearly subscription to MLB.TV, and that offer is back again for 2019. In 7 hours Man Utd plan upgrade of Pogba deal Click through the mini-gallery above to see Real's highest-paid players, and what they earn weekly, according to Total Sportek. Do you think Pogba would thrive at Real? "If he wants to stay and Manchester United are happy for him to stay, he will stay". So what was Nigl's strategy? "Sometimes it's which teams I like better". Yes, hoops fans that love a good Cinderella story in March Madness are left wanting, but what's left is the teams many deemed the best in the country now left to duke it out for a chance at the title. It's a combination of things. I do look at the rankings too. The odds of perfectly guessing every game in a bracket are roughly 1 in 9.2 quintillion. "I know that. I'm not going to say I knew every matchup by any means". Will his picks hold up through the tournament's final 15 games? Eight elimination games will be played over two nights on Thursday and Friday, with the winners earning the right to face off in the Elite Eight this weekend and a chance to go to the Final Four. Don't get me wrong, a bunch of this is luck. "I'm pretty sure it's not going to remain ideal but if I go wrong, I hope MI goes further than I have them". Coles partners with Ocado to boost its online grocery shopping business Analysts say the agreement could be a good move for Coles, helping them to tackle online competition. Coles already has an online grocery delivery service, which makes more than A$1bn of annual sales. Dhaka fire: many feared trapped as people leap from high-rise block Experts said inspections on buildings in the city frequently found fire stairs blocked with stored goods and exit doors locked. Last month, a massive fire killed 71 people in an old neighborhood of Dhaka , one the world's most densely populated cities. Minecraft Update Removes Mentions Of Notch, The Game's Creator Notch himself has not directly responded to the move, though his Twitter account suggests he isn't too concerned about Microsoft's decision. PlayStation Reveals 'Marvel's Iron Man VR' Sony revealed new game footage of the multiplayer dungeoner ReadySet Heroes , which is also set arrive this year. In addition to releasing these new sales figures, Sony has announced 25 new games coming to the PS VR in 2019. Facebook charged with housing discrimination in targeted ads HUD said that it will seek "relief for the harm Facebook caused and continues to cause". HUD's top lawyer said that wasn't good enough. Apple issues apology for ongoing MacBook keyboard issues Apple has not yet fully recovered from the PR nightmare that is the butterfly switches on the recent MacBooks. Although Apple has a keyboard fix program in place, the revamped keyboard isn't eligible for it. Justin Bieber says cops questioned him over designer sneakers E! News reports the woman "spent the night partying at the hotel in a room that was not under her name". The Laguna Beach Police Department tweeted about the incident after it was reported by TMZ . Charges dropped against Empire actor Jussie Smollett, say his lawyers Smollett had been accused of hiring two men to stage a racist and homophobic attack on him in central Chicago on January 29. The fallout could continue since Chicago police and the prosecution seem to be at odds over whether justice was served. Jordan Bell suspended one game for 'conduct detrimental to the team' On Wednesday, the Golden State Warriors announced a one-game suspension for Jordan Bell for conduct detrimental to the team . The 24-year-old will serve his suspension Wednesday night, when the Warriors travel to Memphis to take on the Grizzlies. State of emergency in New York \| International Travel & Health Insurance Journal Humbach said police won't be stopping people and asking for vaccination records. "That is ridiculous", he said. In all, 98 countries around the globe reported a high number of measles cases in 2018, according to UNICEF. Wow Air sold tickets minutes before collapse Wow Air ended operations after failing to reach agreement with investors to pump fresh cash into the Icelandic discount carrier. Iceland's budget airline WOW announced Thursday that it had ceased operations and canceled all flights. The Twilight Zone Extended Trailer Hits! Peele's Twilight Zone isn't only competing with its predecessor, though. The reboot for Twilight Zone will come out on April 1 . Jordan Peele's pop-culture domination continues. Spotify tests Premium Duo plan, letting two subscribe at discount Users will also get a special playlist called Duo Mix , which takes the tastes of both subscribers into account. The new subscription Spotify is testing is called " Premium Duo ", and USA subscribers can't access it for now. Watch the first gameplay trailer for Borderlands 3 Since a release date wasn't announced today, let's cross our fingers and hope we'll get to play it before then. Gearbox released Borderlands 2 in 2012, and ever since there has been discussion around the presumed sequel. R. Kelly's Former Hairstylist Details Alleged Sexual Abuse In New On-Air Interview The documents detailing the charges note that Kelly's DNA profile was matched to a semen sample found on a shirt of Carter's. Kelly accuser is speaking out for the first time to tell her story about her experience with Kelly's sexual abuse . It's over for Monica and Shannon Brown He has covered The Obama White House, the summer Olympics in London, and now serves as Lifestyle Editor for Rolling Out magazine. The Grammy Award victor filed for divorce earlier this month in her home city of Atlanta, TMZ reported . Dolphins finalizing trade to send DE Robert Quinn to Dallas But injuries limited Quinn in his last couple seasons with the Rams resulting in the Dolphins trading for him last March. Ian Rapoport has reported that the Dolphins are getting a "future late-round pick" for Quinn's services . Border wall emergency: US House fails to override Trump's veto Kevin Brady (R-Texas) also said he is "proud" to stand with the president in addressing the situation at the U.S. -Mexico border. Congress had sent Trump a resolution annulling the national emergency that Trump declared at the US-Mexico border. Hubble tracks the lifecycle of giant storms on Neptune And the U.S. space agency's eye in the sky has now unveiled two new incredible images , shot from 56 million light years distant. Like Jupiter's Great Red Spot, Neptune's Great Dark Spots are storms that form from areas of high atmospheric pressure. Biggest T. rex Ever Discovered Was Covered in Battle Scars When the researchers measured Scotty's bones, they found the dinosaur was about 42 feet long and weighed almost 20,000 pounds. Dr Persons also said it had a violent life, with many injuries found through scarred bone. Microsoft took control of 99 websites owned by an Iranian hacking group APT35 hackers had registered these domains to incorporate the names of well-known brands, such as Microsoft, Yahoo, and others. Microsoft said hackers were damaging the company by breaking into its customers' online accounts and computer networks. USA jury awards man $80m in Monsanto Roundup cancer case Monsanto developed glyphosate in the 1970s, and the weed killer is now sold in more than 160 countries and widely used in the U.S. Bayer says all government regulators that have looked at the issue have rejected a link between cancer and glyphosate. Tottenham striker Harry Kane sees a future in NFL Many fans have suggested that Tottenham's reluctance to sign new players will prevent them from winning trophies. Kane admires the New England Patriots quarterback, who is one of the best players in the NFL. Nicole Kidman and Tom Cruise's Daughter is Now Actively Promoting Scientology The Mission Impossible actor became involved with Scientology in 1990 through his first wife, Mimi Rogers. Ortega notes that "Cass" refers to Tom's sister, Cass Mapother , but the identity of "Tash" is unknown. Tiger, McIlroy winners of their opening rounds at WGC-Match Play McIlroy, coming off a win at The Players Championship , talked up the importance of making a good start. Reigning champion Bubba Watson, meanwhile, began with a defeat after losing the final hole to Kevin Na. Houston Rockets: James Harden wins yet another Player of the Week Ten games around the National Basketball Association , but the biggest one was in Milwaukee, where Bucks defeated Houston. The Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook agrees, as Giannis Antetokounmpo (-400) and James Harden (+300) far outpace the field. The Elder Scrolls: Blades is Now Available Through Early Access If not, you might as well register for the chance to get involved when Bethesda invites more to check it out. Blades was due for November release previous year , but the date got pushed back to sometime in early 2019. Morgan never lost faith in me: Adil Rashid Djokovic beats Federer to win 5th Wimbledon title [BREAKING] #SENTUN: Senegal coast to 2019 AFCON final, wallop Tunisia 1-0 Yuvraj Singh slams team management following Team Indias WC exit Peter Crouch calls time on his career Arsenal Set To Raid Celtic Star When and where to watch Federer vs Djokovic final?	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line1650355
__label__cc	0.683835	0.316165	Boltman: Part One 651 Comments / Books / By Alan Smithee Boltman Part One Highly recommended for anyone who has ever wanted a super power or laughed at the antics of Hollywood s A list Boltman is than just a hilarious superhero dark comedy It is also an inspired parody of c Title: Boltman: Part One Author: Alan Smithee Highly recommended for anyone who has ever wanted a super power or laughed at the antics of Hollywood s A list Boltman is than just a hilarious superhero dark comedy It is also an inspired parody of celebrity cult madness, a meditation on the impact of superhero mythology, and an exploration of different kinds of heroism and hero worship A hapless young man bel Highly recommended for anyone who has ever wanted a super power or laughed at the antics of Hollywood s A list Boltman is than just a hilarious superhero dark comedy It is also an inspired parody of celebrity cult madness, a meditation on the impact of superhero mythology, and an exploration of different kinds of heroism and hero worship A hapless young man believes he is the incarnation of Boltman, a comic book superhero On a quest to unlock the secret of Boltman s super powers and complete his transformation, Kevin must rescue his sidekick, Ampere, from the clutches of Tommie Boy and the Church of the Mind, an evil celebrity cult of energy vampires In his costume, Kevin is stronger and faster than anyone can believe he becomes Boltman, but Boltman has a mind of its own On the path to fulfill his destiny, Kevin begins to wonder if he is really just losing his mind, or if Boltman is a separate entity, bent on using Kevin for its own mysterious ends NOTE This book has received a fresh edit and has been serialized into two parts This first part is the shortest, at 33K words The bulk of the story is in the second part, at 65K words. [PDF] Â Free Download ☆ Boltman: Part One : by Alan Smithee µ Alan Smithee 101 Alan Smithee Title: [PDF] Â Free Download ☆ Boltman: Part One : by Alan Smithee µ Posted by:Alan Smithee About "Alan Smithee" Alan Smithee Is a well-known author, some of his books are a fascination for readers like in the Boltman: Part One book, this is one of the most wanted Alan Smithee author readers around the world. 651 thoughts on “Boltman: Part One” Eric Quinn Well, I wrote it. I confess. I'm proud of my work! Alexis DeSousa Boltman had me from the get-go. Boatman was story of a young man who believed that the spirit of his favorite comic book hero, Boltman, had come to reside in him. Following Boltman's death in a movie, Kevin believed he was the new Boltman. But was he?I think what intrigued me the most about this book was that I continuously went back and forth trying to figure out if Kevin was really just crazy or not. He hears a voice in his head telling him he is Boltman. However, he doesn't seem to posses any [...] Where there is celebrity fueled idiocy misleading the masses Boltman will be there! Boltman explores the life of a very confused young man who is obsessed with his comic book hero. He believes that after the body of Boltman was destoryed his consciousness was sent back to Earth and inhabited his body. The villain that he believes himself destines to take out is Tommy Boy the celebrity face of the "Church of the Mind." The book has some interesting aspects of the Boltman vs Kevin personality wars [...] I stopped reading at 62%. I'm not sure if I can even say for certain why I stopped other than I didn't care about the protagonist. Kevin, Boltman, is either crazy or a superhero but there wasn't enough character building done for me to get anything real about him other than he's a geek with a possibly tenuous grasp on reality. I felt that same about the other characters - the love interest, the best friend, the washed out actor (who's habit of speaking exclusively in the third person REALLY anno [...] Hal Brodsky The only way this book could have been worse is if I had paid to download the second half (That's right, this is only HALF of the book !). This PG Rated male Adolescent Fantasy has three characters: 1) Boltman, a "Greatest American Hero" clone 2) His Roommate, a slovenly obese unkempt candy munching pornography watching comic book store employee and 3) Boltman's twenty-something love interest who, because she is "insecure", in turn seduces each of the male characters in the book including the ro [...] Boltman blends action and comedy in a Hollywood-bashing explosion of entertainment from start to finish! It tells the modern-day dramas of a super-hero wannabe, Kevin, who believes he is the reincarnation of movie and comic phenomena, Boltman! His head-cracking exploits take him from the dark alleys of his home to the church-of-the-mind fortress, where Kevin must come to terms with his role in order to defeat his arch-nemesis "Tommy Boy", while saving his friends. Although Boltman has a few roug [...] Michael Stivers Boltman lives!Great story. I could identify with Kevin and his struggle with trying to assimilate his normal life with that of Boltman. I couldn't find anything I didn't like about the book. I would encourage all my friends to read this and all other books in the series. Michael Stockinger What a strange book, though I did have a lot of fun with this one. Mix in superheroes and mental health issues and you have Boltman. Tiffany Joy I read it a while ago. I don't remember much, just that it was some what of a let down Release of the Spirit: The Breaking of the Outward... The Crow: Dead Time The Story Sisters The Private Journals of Edvard Munch: We Are Flame... Never the Bride Der Teich der Träume Wollstone Der kurze Traum von Liebe Die Torte schlägt zurück Karl - ausgeliefert A Wish From a Star Everything I Needed to Know About Parenting I Lear... Copyright © 2019 Boltman: Part One \| Powered by Alan Smithee	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line1650358
__label__wiki	0.919325	0.919325	NCAC Weekly Release (3-26-18) - Men's Lacrosse Wooster senior Alexander Bloom Complete .PDF Ohio Wesleyan (2-0, 7-2), Wooster (2-0, 6-3) and Wittenberg (2-0, 4-4) all remained undefeated in conference play with victories over Kenyon (2-1, 6-3), Hiram (0-2, 4-3) and Oberlin (0-2, 5-3), respectively. NCAC action continues this week, highlighted by Denison (1-0, 6-2) visiting Wittenberg on Saturday. DENISON, ranked ninth in the most recent USILA poll, went 1-0 last week after defeating Rhodes, 12-8, at Queens University in Charlotte, NC. The Big Red were led by junior attack Brooks Davy (Wilmington, NC/Episcopal) who totaled four goals on nine shots in the win. DEPAUW dropped a pair of games, including a 9-8 double overtime contest against Alma. For the week, Nate Greenberg (Westlake, OH/Westlake) led the Tigers with six points on three goals and three assists, while Will Roberts (Carmel, IN/Carmel) scored a team-best four goals. HIRAM competed against Wooster last week, falling to the Scots, 24-13, on Saturday. In the loss, senior Nick Rollason (Pickerington, OH/Pickerington North) became the Terriers’ all-time leading goal scorer, pushing his career total to 87 with a hat trick. Tim Stucky (Bellbrook, OH/Bellbrook) paced the Hiram offense with seven points (5g/2a), while Hunter Jenkins (Solon, OH/Solon) added six (2g/4a) and Rollason, five. KENYON earned an 11-10 overtime win against Otterbein last Wednesday before falling 21-10 at 15th-ranked Ohio Wesleyan. The Lords moved to 6-3 and 2-1 in the NCAC. OBERLIN dropped a pair of contests this past week, falling 8-6 at Kean and 14-8 against Wittenberg. The Yeomen trailed just 9-7 early in the fourth quarter against the Tigers, but they pulled away to hand Oberlin its first conference loss of the year. Sophomore goalie Calvin Filson (Williamstown, MA/Mt. Greylock Regional) made 23 saves over the two games, including 10 against Wittenberg. OHIO WESLEYAN, ranked 15th in the most recent USILA poll, improved to 2-0 in league play following a 21-10 victory over Kenyon. Junior attacker Steven Hildebrand (Berwyn, PA/Conestoga) led the Bishops with six goals and three assists, while Max Tennant (Englewood, CO/Cherry Creek) finished with six goals. WABASH split two matches last week. After scoring a 24-0 win at Earlham on Tuesday evening, the Little Giants battled Hope and blizzard-like conditions in a 16-4 loss Saturday. Tucker Dixon (Zionsville, IN/Zionsville) scored seven goals and added three assists in the Little Giants’ win at Earlham to tie the Wabash record for points scored in a game with 10. Collin Brennan (Carmel, IN/Carmel) added five goals and four assists in the two games for Wabash. WITTENBERG has won three-straight games after knocking off Oberlin, 14-8, on Saturday to move to 2-0 in league play. Sophomore attacker Michael Coyle (Grosse Pointe, MI/Grosse Pointe South) led the Tigers with three goals and three assists in the win. WOOSTER erupted for a 10-goal first period during its 24-13 win over Hiram on Saturday. The Scots will be looking to open up league play 3-0 for the third straight year on Friday night when Wooster takes on Oberlin. Senior Sam Kuhn (Towson, MD/Loyola Blakefield) and first-year Shaun Peirce (North Altleboro, MA/Bishop Feehan) scored six goals each against Hiram, while first-year Connor Mangan (Sewickley, PA/Quaker Valley) scooped up 12 groundballs.	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line1650377
__label__cc	0.639473	0.360527	Friday Puzzler • Governance Friday Reverse Puzzler: Secession, Recognition, and Ukrainian Politics By Bridget Coggins Many Fridays we take a single puzzling question on contemporary political violence and take a go at answering it together. This Friday, I’m going to alter that format a bit and offer answers to your questions regarding the conflict over secession and recognition in Ukraine. As it turns out, my forthcoming book addresses just this kind of international political wrangling over self-determination and, if I can, I’m happy to help clarify the situation. I’ll start with a question from Twitter: @PVGlance – Why doesn’t the US support the ref. for Crimean secession? How is it different from Sudan? West says they won’t recognize. Why? — Mitch Downey (@MitchDowney1) March 7, 2014 First, as we say on the Internet, “IANAL (I am not a lawyer).” A Lawyer will likely give you a different answer than this political scientist.[1] Still, I am an expert in this particular area of the law, so here goes. The Obama Administration is not against a referendum on independence for Crimea per se; it is opposed to the particular circumstances surrounding the referendum planned for March 15th. Unlike most constitutions, the Ukrainian constitution actually does contain a provision for a countrywide referendum on issues like secession and territorial change. It requires, in addition to other criteria, that 3 million signatures be collected in support of an issue before a national referendum will be scheduled. This referendum has not met that standard, nor is it planned for the entirety of the Ukraine; instead it appears that the vote will be limited to the population within Crimea. When the Obama administration argues that the referendum violates Ukrainian law, this is likely what they are referring to. Via the CIA World Factbook. Russia is in violation of international law because it has contravened Ukrainian territorial integrity and sovereignty through its military intervention. There is little grey area here insofar as the law is concerned, but many political scientists question the true power of the sovereignty norm in practice. Stephen Krasner has gone so far as to label it “organized hypocrisy” because state leaders violate the norm so often. Any referendum that takes place at the barrel of a gun though, is probably not likely to be free or fair in any conventional sense of the term. This situation is different from that between North and South Sudan along a number of dimensions, but the most relevant is probably that the Bashir government ultimately yielded to international pressure for South Sudan’s referendum in accordance with the CPA and further agreed to abide by the results. Because the decision to separate was decided via a mutually agreed upon domestic process, external recognition was quickly granted to the South. There is no such agreement in this case. And it seems likely that a national referendum would not yield independence for Crimea; even the public within Crimea is not decisively pro-Russian Federation accession. As for external recognition, this has always (to the chagrin of many international jurists) been up to the discretion of the individual country granting it. Even where there is unambiguous popular sovereignty, outsiders are not compelled by law to recognize its existence or to establish diplomatic relations with the new state (or new government in the case of revolution). As one of the foremost international legal scholars on the topic Gerhard von Glahn argues, diplomatic recognition is really “a political act with legal consequences” and not a purely legal act. This is why some actors that seem like independent states are denied formal membership in the international community and others, perhaps like your South Sudan example, that don’t seem to exercise much control and authority at all nevertheless have full seats in the United Nations. [1] International law has a much stronger normative bent than political science. Crimea Ukraine A Not-So-Bad Solution to Syria Secession, Recognition, and Ukrainian Politics, Continued Denver Dialogues • Economy • Governance • Justice • Policy When Norms Collide: Business, Human Rights, and... Democracy • Denver Dialogues • Governance • War Radicalization in the German Armed Forces and Beyond Civil War • Governance • Insurgency • Terrorism Reactions to Terrorism Can Bring Serious Harm In most of the cases since the breakup of the Soviet Union, recognition of statehood (and assistance in becoming independent by the U.S.) also has a tendency to occur in areas where ethnic cleansing and genocide had occurred. That one isn’t ironclad, and obviously American interests often dictate which places the American government does and does not recognize as sovereign nations, but that is a common factor among them. I don’t think that comes quite from a desire to punish states that attempt to wipe out populations but more (at the policy making level anyway) from the opinion that when the government goes that far it means that effectively all pretenses of a united nation have been wiped away and it is clear that the people of that region are politically separate from the people of the rest of the nation. And despite what people say, the sovereignty of state borders is actually something the American government takes seriously. Note that in the aftermath of the invasion of Iraq, the U.S. did little to support Iraqi Kurdish ambitions of independence, even though the Iraqi Kurds had done far more to support the American military than the Iraqi Shia or Iraqi Sunni had. Bridget Coggins says: Questions, Grant, not answers! 😉 I’d argue that, “not genocide” is far down on the list of reasons why the Obama Administration won’t recognize Crimean independence/accession to Russia. Just random thoughts, sorry if it was insulting. No worries; it wasn’t at all. Boaz says: Bridget, What can you tell us about precedents for a territory not asking for independence but to be annexed to another? Sudetenland? Texas? If Crimea is being annexed to Russia, via the referendum, then does state recognition even matter? Crimea would essentially be subsumed by Russia, so do you see some states recognizing the “new” Russia? Batistuta says: Great idea for a thread! I have one question. As far as I understand, the referendum in Crimea will not be about independence, as in Scotland, but about joining Russia. Do these two kinds of referenda work the same way? Would Russia somehow have to vote on whether or not they accept Crimea into the ‘union’? Are there any precedents for this? Secession, Recognition, and Ukrainian Politics, Continued \| Political Violence @ a Glance says: […] Yesterday we asked if anyone had questions about the issue of Crimean separation from Ukraine, under the Russian military presence in the Ukrainian autonomous republic. Commenters raised several. […] Questions and Answers About Crimea and Secession \| Political Violence @ a Glance says: […] After asking if commenters had questions about Crimea’s potential separation from Ukraine under its occupation by Russian military forces, we suggested explanations to several. Another follows. […]	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line1650381
__label__wiki	0.57564	0.57564	The Markademy Awards Another year, another edition of the Markademy Awards, arguably the most prestigious film award that a movie can win....on Blogger. This ceremony doesn't have Anne Hathaway or James Franco, but it does have me, who dressed as the Hobgoblin for Halloween in the sixth grade (basically the same as the Green Goblin, right?) and is often referred to as 'a male Anne Hathaway' by friends. I really need them to explain the origin of the nickname to me at some point. It might be due to my habit of always getting naked in my films. Okay, maybe not 'my films,' but rather the cameraphone videos that people take of me when I'm streaking through downtown London. Onto the awards! Actual nominees: Javier Bardem (Biutiful), Jeff Bridges (True Grit), Jesse Eisenberg (The Social Network), Colin Firth (The King's Speech), James Franco (127 Hours) Overlooked: Leonardo DiCaprio (Inception/Shutter Island hybrid), Ryan Gosling (Blue Valentine) I'll start things off with the easiest to call of the acting categories. Colin Firth has basically had this Oscar on lockdown ever since the movie was announced. He's well-liked in Hollywood, well-respected by all, beloved by every woman in the world over the age of 35, and, oh yeah, he gave the best performance of the bunch. (Note: haven't seen Biutiful yet.) Firth probably clinched his Oscar in the climactic final scene of King's Speech when he beats Hitler in a fistfight, and then stands over Hitler's unconscious body and says "Did I stutter?" Anyway, I've got no beef with any of the nominees, so overall, yeah, pretty boring category. Should win: Firth Will win: Firth Actual nominees: Christian Bale (The Fighter), John Hawkes (Winter's Bone), Jeremy Renner (The Town), Mark Ruffalo (The Kids Are All Right), Geoffrey Rush (The King's Speech) Overlooked: Andrew Garfield (The Social Network), Arnie Hammer (The Social Network), Bill Murray (Get Low) All of these guys did a good job, though I could've easily taken Murray or Hammer over Renner's overwrought Bawsten guy in the overwrought Bawsten melodrama known as The Town. (I was not a fan.) This one is totally a race between Rush and Bale, and there's a lot of good arguments for both sides. Bale has won the lion's share of critics' awards and gives pound-for-pound the better performance, but Rush is his usual terrific self and might get swept up in the King's Speech wave. It's safe to guess that Rush is a bit more popular in Hollywood than Christian "Friend to Cinematographers Everywhere" Bale, but then again, Rush has an Oscar already, so Academy voters might want to spread the wealth. It's a real tossup between the two, and if Rush wins, it might be a bellweather that TKS will clean up at the ceremony. My pick, if I had a vote, would be neither man. It'd be good old John Hawkes, who almost stole the show in Winter's Bone. TV fans know Hawkes for playing nice-guy Sol Starr on Deadwood, or Kenny Powers' meek brother on Eastbound & Down, or Lennon, the most pointless character in the history of LOST. In this film, however, kindly Hawkes basically channels Harvey Keitel and plays an absolutely vicious backwoods near-psychopath. It's quite a stunning performance, especially from a guy who's been typecast as decent fellows for most of the last decade. Just getting a nomination was a victory in itself for Hawkes, so well done. Should win: Hawkes Will win: Bale Actual nominees: Darren Aronofsky (Black Swan), The Coen Brothers (True Grit), David Fincher (The Social Network), Tom Hooper (The King's Speech), David O. Russell (The Fighter) Overlooked: Banksy/Exit Through The Gift Shop, Mike Leigh/Another Day, CHRISTOPHER FUCKING NOLAN (Inception), Lee Unkrich/Toy Story 3, Edgar Wright/Scott Pilgrim vs. The World Tom Hooper won the Directors' Guild award, which almost always goes to the eventual Best Director Oscar winner. Yet...I can't shake the nagging feeling that Fincher will still capture the directing prize. If I'm looking for a comparison, I might seek out 1998 and 2002, when little-known directors (John Madden and Rob Marshall, respectively) directed BP winners but since they didn't have the pedigrees of the other nominees, they lost Best Director to bigger names (Steven Spielberg, Roman Polanski). Remember, Social Network isn't a hated film by any stretch, it's just that King's Speech seems to be more in the Academy's wheelhouse. Fincher (and Aaron Sorkin, in the screenplay category) could both easily be rewarded for putting together such a fascinating film, even if King's Speech goes on to win Best Picture. And hey, who knows, maybe if Hooper goes on to have a legendary career, we'll look back at this in 30 years and all think "Oh man, how they have snubbed Tom Hooper here! David Fincher? Really? The Alien 3 guy?" Oh, and also, let's take a moment to wonder if Chris Nolan actually has to kill someone to get an Oscar nomination. I mean, not that I would've voted him to win over Fincher, but for the love of god, is even a token nomination at this point too much to ask from the Academy? Should win: Fincher Will win: Hooper, probably Actual nominees: Annette Bening (The Kids Are All Right), Nicole Kidman (Rabbit Hole), Jennifer Lawrence (Winter's Bone), Natalie Portman (Black Swan), Michelle Williams (Blue Valentine) Overlooked: Leslie Manville (Another Year), Julianne Moore (The Kids Are All Right), Noomi Rapace (The Millennium Trilogy), Hailee Steinfeld (True Grit) Is anyone else stunned that Michelle freakin' Williams from Dawson's Creek is a two-time Oscar nominee? Meanwhile, James Vanderbeek has been reduced to turning himself into an internet meme, Joshua Jackson is on a low-rated sci-fi show and Katie Holmes is married to a tiny madman. Since this was the only place where Blue Valentine picked up a nom, I'll mention here that my buddy Trev recently made the unfortunate mistake of taking a date to the film. Eeep. Guys, if you're thinking "Hey, my ladyfriend likes Ryan Gosling, this movie is supposed to be critically-acclaimed...I can take her to one of 'her picks' and be entertained myself!", please disavow yourself of this notion. This is not a date movie. This is less of a date movie than Date Movie, and any man who non-ironically took his date to that film should dumped post-haste. But, anyway, Best Actress. Williams and Kidman are happy to be there, and Lawrence is the 'breakout star' nominee of the year who has parlayed her newfound acclaim into...uh, this shitty new X-Men movie. It's a two-horse race between Bening and Portman, and it seems like Portman has all of the momentum behind her at the moment. I can't argue with this since Portman carries Black Swan on her back and single-handedly keeps the film from degenerating into ridiculousness. A note on my snubbed list. What hurts Bening in the final vote, I think, is that her performance is such a dual act with Moore that it's hard to separate the two. I'm not sure why Bening is the one singled out for a nomination both at the Oscars and overall in critics' awards, frankly, since Moore was just as good. Leslie Manville should absolutely, absolutely be nominated for her fantastic performance in Another Year, and part of me thought Rapace might get a surprise nod for her overall work as Lisbeth Salander. Possibly the funniest moment in any film this year was Lisbeth getting ready for her trial by dressing in the most outrageous goth/punk outfit possible as a big F-you to the court proceedings. Should win: Portman Will win: Portman Actual nominees: Amy Adams (The Fighter), Helena Bonham Carter (The King's Speech), Melissa Leo (The Fighter), Hailee Steinfeld (True Grit), Jacki Weaver (Animal Kingdom) Overlooked: Marion Cotillard (Inception), Greta Gerwig (Greenberg), Keira Knightley (Never Let Me Go), Olivia Williams (The Ghost Writer) I am not crazy about this list of nominees. It's a lot of "well, they were good, sure, but Oscar good?" It seems like a category filled out of performances that should be the fourth or fifth choices on a ballot. The exception is Steinfeld, who you'll notice I included on my overlooked list for Best Actress. This is because she is so blatantly the lead character of True Grit that her nomination here smacks of the studio just trying to get her into an easier category. This actually might cost her the Oscar, since voters may instead turn to Leo, a well-liked veteran who actually gives a supporting performance. Or, Leo might have her votes split by her co-star Adams, or Bonham Carter might win as part of a King's Speech split or a desire on the part of Academy voters to see what garish outfit she'll wear to the ceremony. I'm tentatively predicting a Leo win, but really, any result besides a Jacki Weaver victory wouldn't be surprising. I'll also take a short trip back on the 'Inception got jobbed' train and note that Cotillard should be nominated here. Should win: Steinfeld Will win: Leo Nominees: Michael Arndt (Toy Story 3), Simon Beaufoy and Danny Boyle (127 Hours), The Coen Brothers (True Grit), Debra Granik and Anne Rosselini (Winter's Bone), Aaron Sorkin (The Social Network) No-brainer. This is one category a King's Speech sweep can't touch. Should win: Sorkin Will win: Sorkin Nominees: Lisa Cholodenko and Stuart Blumberg (The Kids Are All Right), Eric Johnson, Scott Silver and Paul Tamasy (The Fighter), Mike Leigh (Another Year), Christopher Nolan (Inception), David Seidler (The King's Speech) This one is almost surely going to David Seidler, and really, once you hear the man's incredible story, it's hard to debate. Now, the Oscar historian in me would almost want to toss an Oscar in the direction of Nolan or Leigh just to give one of these two awesome filmmakers SOMETHING, but hopefully, their day in the Academy Award sun is still to come. Should win: Seidler Will win: Seidler Nominees: Danny Cohen (The King's Speech), Jeff Cronenweth (The Social Network), Roger Deakins (True Grit), Matthew Libatique (Black Swan), Wally Pfister (Inception) Legendary cameraman Roger Deakins is 0-for-9 lifetime at the Oscars, while modern-day star Wally Pfister is 0-for-4. Hopefully one of these streaks will be snapped on Oscar night, though since they're up against three first-time nominees, Deakins and Pfister will probably get piqued by the Academy gods once again. Gun to my head, however, I might go for Black Swan as the best-photographed of these nominees. (Had Cronenweth pulled off this planned elaborate tracking shot for the credit sequence of Social Network, I might've been convinced to vote for him too.) It seems like there's a bit of a groundswell building up for Deakins to finally get his Oscar, and since the Academy liked True Grit enough to give it 10 nominations, this seems like a good place for a win. Again, though, if Cohen wins, it's going to be an even bigger King's Speech sweep than expected. Should win: Libatique or Deakins Will win: Deakins Actual nominees: Black Swan, The Fighter, Inception, The Kids Are All Right, The King's Speech, 127 Hours, The Social Network, Toy Story 3, True Grit, Winter's Bone Overlooked: Another Year, Exit Through The Gift Shop The story of this awards season was Social Network sweeping everything in sight until about a month ago, when King's Speech suddenly picked up the Director's Guild, Producer's Guild and SAG Awards, thus vaulting it into the frontrunner's position. The anti-King's Speech backlash has already begun online, which is unfortunate since TKS isn't at all a bad movie. It's a very good, solid, thoroughly quality picture that wouldn't at all stand out as an eyesore in Best Picture history. The problem, in a great line I'm stealing from someone else's review, is that King's Speech also could've been the Best Picture of 1970 or 1980 or 1990. It's your classic Oscar battle: a traditional, feel-good, period piece against a more cutting-edge film of its moment. Now, you could argue that if you're going for timelessness, this gives King's Speech the edge. After all, in 15 years, Facebook might be obsolete, replaced by the latest internet trend. Facebook itself, however, is almost irrelevant in Social Network...heck, I'd argue that another 2010 film, Catfish, deals more with the privacy/creepiness/having your whole life online aspect of Facebook much more than Social Network does. Facebook in TSN is almost a Macguffin, since it could really be any invention, idea or concept that Zuckerberg, Saverin and the Winklevii are feuding about. The film is about this feud and this dynamic between the characters, which is probably why Sorkin felt so free to rewrite large chunks of Mark Zuckerberg's life. In Sorkin's mind, he was writing a classic story about power corrupting, not about the actual history of Facebook. TSN is my personal choice of these nominees, and almost my best film of 2010, but we'll get to that in a minute. It's really down to just Social Network and King's Speech. The only film that has even a 0.5% chance of an upset is actually Toy Story, if the voters decide to get all Lord Of The Rings on us and reward an entire trilogy --- and in this case, Pixar as a whole --- with its final act. I suspect King's Speech will get the nod on Oscar night, and really, we should be fine with that. TKS over TSN wouldn't even be in the top 40 most baffling Best Picture decisions in Academy history, so maybe we're all taking this too seriously. (This is a great thing for me to realize after writing a few thousand goddamn words about the Oscars.) Should win: The Social Network Will win: The King's Speech And now, finally, the uber-ballot. The top five on my list all had a legit shot at the #1 position, and for the first time since 2006, I had a tough time deciding my favourite film of the year. Was it Social Network, and its endlessly interesting script? Was it the sheer fun of Scott Pilgrim vs. The World? Was it the mind-bending adventure of Inception, even though I'm kinda afraid to watch the movie again since I fear I'll suddenly see a dozen plot holes? Was it the heart-warming, generation-defining enjoyment of Toy Story 3? Or, was it the street art documentary? You guessed it. 1. Exit Through The Gift Shop 2. The Social Network 4. Scott Pilgrim vs. The World 5. Inception 6. Winter's Bone 7. The Other Guys 8, Another Year 9. The King's Speech 10, True Grit So, Exit Through The Gift Shop. The premise is simple: the film is a look at the anti-social network of underground street artists that stretches around the world. The documentary was first conceived by a guy named Thierry Guetta, who shot thousands of hours about various legendary street artists, particularly the grand-daddy of them all, the mysterious Banksy. Guetta, however, while enthusiastic, didn't know film-making from a hole in the ground, so his finished product was a mess. Banksy then decided to re-edit the footage himself, including a sequence of Guetta's own attempts to enter the street art world as "Mr. Brainwash," though Guetta ends up becoming a derivative version of all his favourite artists and something of a sellout to the movement. The documentary, taken at face value, is a fascinating look at post-graffiti art culture. What adds another layer of intrigue to the whole project is that the entire premise I described in the previous paragraph could be all bullshit. There's a theory that Guetta's art, and by extension the film, is in itself a concocted project of Banksy's that satirizes the idea of art as a commodity and the concept of documentaries as in any way factual. To wit, Banksy himself keeps his identity hidden throughout the picture since part of his mystique lies in the fact that nobody knows his actual name. This has created an amusing subplot to Oscar night, since ETTGS is nominated for Best Documentary and the Academy has stated that if the film wins, Banksy cannot come onstage in a mask. As the Academy puts it, "what if five guys come up in masks and we have to ask which one is the real Banksy?" From what little I know about the actual Banksy, the guy would find this amusing as hell, so who knows what he will do or wear at the ceremony, if he's there at all. Top to bottom, Exit Through The Gift Shop is the most overall satisfying film of 2010 and this year's recipient of the Markademy Award for Best Picture. It joins a tremendous list of winners that includes Inglourious Basterds, The Dark Knight, Once, The Prestige, Batman Begins, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Love Actually, Talk To Her, Amelie and High Fidelity. Though, it should be noted, in the 1998-2003 installment of the 'best films of our lives' project between myself and my pal Kyle, I backslid and picked Memento and Unbreakable over Amelie and High Fidelity, respectively. Surely, any award becomes even more prestigious when an M. Night Shyamalan film is attached to it, right? Right? From the department of "so close, yet so far," comes my lottery-winning streak. Whenever the ol' Lotto Max jackpot passes the $40 million mark, I throw in five bucks and buy a ticket. (You know, since a $30 million prize just isn't worth my time.) So last month, I got a ticket and won a free play from it. Not too shabby. From that free play, I won $20. Naturally, I re-invested $5 of that into another ticket, and boom goes the dynamite, I won yet another free play. This went on for three more weeks, picking up free play after free play. The streak finally ended last weekend, not coincidentally after I mentioned this odd run of luck to a friend. It was sort of like how Wile E. Coyote was able to run on air, and only fell down the cliff after he realized he was running on air. Some might say that I barely won anything, with the $15 profit probably not even worth the time expended to buy those cards and 'randomly' pick out my numbers, but feh to that. Beating the system for six straight weeks is a victory in and of itself, and much greater than any multi-million dollar prize. I don’t need any more money. I’m not greedy. As long as I’ve got my health, my millions of dollars, my gold house, and my rocket car, I don’t need anything else. I'd give you my formula, but then you'd use them and invariably win $30 million on some week when I didn't buy a ticket....and then there would be blood. Here's a treat for Conan fans --- a 90-minute podcast featuring Conan and his show's warm-up act, some guy named Jimmy Pardo. It's definitely worth a listen if you have the time; Conan is noticeably looser and more 'who gives a fuck?' than he is on his show or in other appearances. He even drops an s-bomb at one point, which just sounds weird coming from him. It'd be like hearing the Queen call David Cameron a son of a bitch. (I'll bet she has, at least once.) My Survivor-loving pal Mario has followed up his award-winning, legendary, record-breaking Survivor Funny 115 (The 115 funniest moments in Survivor history) with....115 more of the funniest moments in Survivor history. The first entry deals with the first 11 Survivor seasons, and the new list (currently in progress) covers everything since. Needless to say, there is a lot of Coach. I personally contacted Mario to make sure he'd included a) many of Coach's greatest moments and b) what has come to be known as "Matty's shit-eating grin" during the Gabon season. Fans of the show know what I'm talking about. If I had to make a prediction about what might be #1, I'd have to go with either Eliza "it's a f**ing stick" rant to Jason in the Fans vs. Favorites season, or Crystal's screamed vote for Randy in the Gabon season, or any of about 20 ridiculous things that Coach said or did. This 'Red Riding Hood' movie is a spoof, right?.....Right? UFC 127 Picks! N.B., the hint to my UFC pick posts is that when the event looks like a dog, I include my predictions as part of a larger post, rather than a stand-alone. Then again, often the UFC cards that look underwhelming on paper end up being awesome. So what do I know? Jorge Rivera over Michael Bisping, decision Rivera is almost the perfect gatekeeper. If you look at his record, you'll see that all his wins have come over average or below-average fighters, and all his losses have come to above-average or great fighters. Rivera is the perfect demarcation line. Now, since Bisping is (barely) an above-average fighter, I was going to pick him in this match...before I noticed that Jorge has never lost via decision. If you're going to beat Jorge Rivera, you'll have to stop him, and I don't think Bisping's pitter-pat style is capable of actually stopping a fighter that's also above average. The UFC sees its dream of a Bisping-headlined UK PPV card once again get delayed as Rivera notches a big win. * Chris Lytle over Brian Ebersole, submission, R2 Ebersole is the journeyman replacement for Carlos Condit, who got hurt and thus turned this bout into an important welterweight showdown into kind of a 'meh' fight. Lytle is on a roll and is hunting for one late-career title shot, so watch this, Ebersole will probably shock the world and.....well, no, he won't. * Kyle Noke over Chris Camozzi, decision If you didn't know UFC 127 was being held in Australia, this fight's inclusion on the main card is the giveaway. I'll give the nod to Noke just because he's in his home country, since both fighters are roughly on the same level. * George Sotiropoulos over Dennis Siver, submission, R2 This fight is taking place since George (who's on an eight-fight win streak, seven of those in the UFC) wanted to fight in his home country of Australia. As it turned out, the match will give him something to do since the lightweight championship picture is tied up for a while. If and when Sotiropoulos wins this, he'll probably get a bout against Jim Miller (presuming Miller wins next month, of course) in the summer for the #1 contender's spot. This shouldn't be too big a challenge for Sotiropoulos; Siver has won six of his last seven but is clearly a second or third-tier kind of guy that George can tap out. * Jon Fitch over BJ Penn, decision Surprise, surprise. Penn is literally the only welterweight besides GSP that could headline an event against Fitch, both because a) Fitch has beaten pretty much everyone else and b) Fitch is less exciting than watching paint dry. As dull as Fitch's grinding style is, he's undisputedly one of the very best fighters in the world. The man has lost just once in EIGHT YEARS, and that was to St. Pierre. If Penn can actually win this fight, I'd argue that not only should Penn get an immediate title shot, but that it might be the most impressive win in BJ's long career. (The only other candidate is his first win over Matt Hughes.) As always with Penn, it will depend on how hard he's been training for this bout, and frankly, given that Fitch isn't a blood rival, I doubt BJ really has the motivation. A 100 percent BJ Penn would be in a tough shape against Fitch but he could win it; a lackluster BJ Penn will get wrestled down and outworked like almost every other Fitch opponent this decade. Undercard.... * Chris Tuchscherer over Mark Hunt, TKO, R1 * Anthony Perosh over Tom Blackledge, KO, R2 * Maciej Jewtuszko over Curt Warburton, submission, R3 * Riki Fukuda over Nick Ring, decision * Ross Pearson over Spencer Fisher, decision * Alexander Gustafsson over James Te-Huna, KO, R1 * Zhang Tie Quan over Jason Reinhardt, submission, R3 Out-Of-Context Texts In My Phone Inbox, Volume XII Just a mammoth edition of the OOCT, mammoth. Guys have a habit of texting each other during major sporting events, and given that my team went on a Super Bowl run (gleeful self high-five), there was no shortage of football to text about. As always, the identities of the texters will not be revealed. Not revealed by me, at least. If the universe re-arranges star clusters to spell out the names of the anonymous texters, that's not my problem. How could I possibly be expected to control that? "Since all my teams stink, I've decided to live my life vicariously through you. No pressure." "Most cowardly!" "Mike Tomlin looks like a black Dave Lee. Agree or disagree?" "Sloppy play! I agree with your tweet completely. Has Lovie gone insane? What happened with Cutler?" "Okee! I'm still at work!" "How about a movie tom?" "Perfect! I'm free any day but Wed! lol you must be sooo happy right now with the Packers beating the Bears!" "Well done! Sarah and I will see you between 6:30 and 7 pm" "GROAN" "Bonehead play!" "Maybe they were tipping guys who would be able to make the game. ZING!" "Atta boy, I'm happy for you." "Oooof.....weak in memoriam class. (Yay?)" "Thank Christ, you can exhale." "Hey buddy, I don't think I'm going to make it to UFC tonight. Just going to lay low at home. Enjoy!" "Man City, top of the table, baby!" "Could they have missed more opportunities in this game?" "As pleased as I was that Murray won the pro am, was it not intensely bizarre that he putted LAST on 18? D.A. had won the fucking ACTUAL tournament!" "Yo! What's your plan for ton?" "Shazam! Ryan and I will be there in 20 minutes or so." "Congrats buddy. Happy for you." "Knew they had it the whole way! (Liar voice)" "I wanted to let you know I just messaged [name redacted] on FB and asked him on a date!" "Good luck" "Well now, this is going to be very interesting, as we'll be tied for the trophy going into the SB." "Yay me!" "We had bailouts, not enough to order fight." "What's that like?" "So you better be there! Ha ha I'm not getting stood up! lol" "That pick also locked up my NFL confidence pool title! Only two of eight picked GB (me: for 16 points)" "Sorry for the wait." "Just finishing class, I'll be there in 15" "Who b-day is it tom?" "lol, oh sorry! I have a bday party! I'll hang another time for sure! :) " "Ok, I PVRing the second half, so no spoilers please. Good luck!" "How're you feeling about this game? Are you going to take credit -- a la Simmons -- for being right regardless of who wins?" "Good grief." "Oh, I agree completely. Just seems like this is always Baltimore's lament (see also: their near-upset of the then-undefeated '07 Pats)." "At least he missed the tackle." "Why so conservative here?" "Come. Fucking. On." "Still not sure what my favourite pic of the year is. As much as I loved TSN and Inception, I felt like I wanted a little bit more from both of them." "Hey, you up for anything tonight?" "Hi Mark! It's [name redacted]. I'm sorry but someone has put money down on the place so it's no longer available. Take care and sorry for the short notice." "What's the work on tonight, bud?" "I made out with [name redacted]!" "Zaniest rule in football." "If TSN had a better (or less abrupt) ending or if Inception had fewer slo-mo shots of the truck falling (which I find too amusing to take seriously) they'd be it." "So how was your lunch date?" "Hope appt hunting is going well. I got to the lecture on time and even checked in innocently with my supervisor. B-) Hit the grocery store and am home." "Promising start!" "What was Brees' QB rating?" "Helluva play" "Watched 127 Hours last night --- really enjoyed it. Going to watch Animal Kingdom and the Fighter today." "Enjoying?" "I went back and forth on the early game about 40 times then switched 30 minutes before kickoff, then was furious, then was elated." "Let's go early, meet you there 15 early" "That's fucking bush league. He should be tossed." "This colour commentator is absolutely horrific." "Hilarious playcalling here...and the clock stopped. Not that Buck bothered to mention that." "Heyyy come to Thornys!" "Too late to cover, unfortunately." "TS3 good call. Though I actually thought it dragged a little (see minute ten of Woody trying to convince the gang to leave the daycare)." "Lord." "It was delicious as usual. Where did you guys go?" "Fuck. Yeah." "GB's punter is easily their MVP." "lol, classic TSN. Will the title game even be in the first three segments??" "Is it really true that Amazing Race has never been in HD?" "I kind of liked the last 20 but, like, was that supposed to be a twist? Also, I think Vincent Cassel is fucking awesome." "Will do" "Ohhh, right. Is he (like I'm sure Harbaugh is) blaming the refs?" "Oh sorry, that was meant for Taylor (thought it was)..." "Wow, big swing." "It was great having you by again, roomie! Have a safe drive back, but remember you are welcome to check in here if you are beat!" "Vick, Ryan (?) who else? Brees had 20+ picks" "Weird. Terrible coverage by FOX." "So what's your confidence right now? 3 out of 10? Minus 2?" "You know what? Stop fucking blitzing!" "Rodgers DIDN'T MAKE THE PRO BOWL? The fuck?? Even with the missed time, that's crazy." "Working tonight?" "Hey! How was the fight? Let's hit up a movie this week!" "My mom is coming in the AM" "Hey, you still in for tonight?" "Watched King's Speech last night (great) and Rabbit Hole (meh)" "I'm going to Rouge, you?" "Ahahahaha....Leafs highlights....for a game that isn't even over!" "Lions representing!" "I was just thinking: obviously the Lions would have made the playoffs if they weren't PLAYING IN THE BEST DIVISION IN FOOTBALL" "How was your night, cuz?" "Have you seen Black Swan yet? We caught it a couple of nights ago. I liked it....but it doesn't seem quite deserving of all the hype." "Cutler?? Hardly" "Ah" "Total Bmore bed shit." "Ooh, how is it?? That sounds perfect. how mad are you on a scale from 1 to 10? Ha ha! We are going to the New Yorker" "Hey man, odd question, do you still have the snow pants from the infamous skiing trip?" "HOLY FUCK" Labels: out of con-texts Hot! Live! Music! (Valentine's edition) "If music be the food of love, play on" -- William Shakespeare, Twelfth Night "Maybe it's the beer talking, Marge, but you've got a butt that won't quit. They've got these big chewy pretzels here that are...(incoherent mumbling)...five dollars? Get out of here!" -- Homer Simpson, smiling politely Adele, "Lovesong" The Cure are one of the best 'greatest hits bands' out there. This is defined as a band whose albums are rather hit-and-miss (major exception in the Cure's case: Disintegration) but if you distill their best tracks down to one greatest hits disc, it sounds awesome from start to finish. I'm spending this time talking about the Cure since I know zip-all about Adele, aside from the fact that she has a nice voice and may be the only person named 'Adele' who isn't at least 70 years old. That name is right up there with Mabel and Muriel. James, "Laid" HEY, REMEMBER THE 90'S?! There is an eighty percent chance that hearing this song instantly made you think of the American Pie movies. My friends and I recently argued over which of the AP cast had the most successful careers since 1999. Alyson Hannigan and Seann William Scott were the undisputed top two, and Natasha Lyonne is dead last, but you could make some serious arguments over every other placement. For my money, it's.... 1. Hannigan 2. Scott 3. Jason Biggs 4. Chris Klein 5. Eddie Kaye Thomas 6. Tara Reid 7. Shannon Elizabeth 8. Thomas Ian Nicholas 9. Mena Suvari 10. Lyonne Our discussion centered around just the core kids, so obviously Eugene Levy or Jennifer Coolidge weren't included since they already had careers before American Pie was released. Also not included: John Cho (who has a good case for second) and, since IMBD tells me they were actually in the film, Casey Affleck and Christina Milian. I'm not going to embarrass myself and my friends further by saying how long we argued about this list, but let's just say it was probably too long. No Doubt, "Eleanor Rigby" You know who would've really appreciated a Valentine on this day? Eleanor Rigby. She and Father McKenzie should totally have hooked up. Well, that is, unless Father McKenzie was into the boys. "Hey Mark, how is this a good cover? Doesn't No Doubt's upbeat ska totally obscure the sombre message of the song?" Uh, moving on.... Talking Heads, "Girlfriend Is Better" If I keep doing enough of these live music posts, will I eventually just end up posting all 16 tracks off of Stop Making Sense? All signs point to yes. This is the debut of David Byrne's signature 'big suit,' which reigned as the Halloween costume of choice for hipsters for most of the 1980's. If they had made a Fantastic Four movie in the 1980's, Byrne would've been the hands-down choice for Reed Richards, no doubt about it. Could it be argued that including a song called 'Girlfriend Is Better' on Valentine's Day is a slap in the face to single people? Well... The Raconteurs, "Crazy" ...not if that girlfriend is crazy! Ahhhh, see what I did there?! And what colours better signify Valentine's Day than red and white, which happen to be the colours of the White Stripes, who were fronted by Jack White, who's also a member of the Raconteurs?! (dusts off hands triumphantly) So with the Stripes breaking up, does this mean I'll have to start really getting into the Raconteurs to get my Jack White fix? I already have the Dead Weather's album....it ain't great. Hopefully it doesn't turn out that Meg was the entire key to the White Stripes, and Jack was merely a frontman. I love that band far too much to see it turn into a musical version of Without A Clue. = er, pretend the colour pink doesn't exist. Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, "Walls" Yeah! Heartbreakers on Valentine's Day! Nice comic moment with the laughably small smatter of applause when Petty starts up the song. Perhaps 'Walls' had just been released at the time of this concert or something, since it seems like it's one of Petty's better-known tunes, in my opinion. UC Men's Octet, "The FInal Countdown" And finally, what better way to end things than with the Final Countdown? It fits the theme since you know that somewhere, some guy has rented a smoke machine and will enter the bedroom tonight with great fanfare (possibly wearing a cape) and this song blasting. His girlfriend/wife/girl he's just started dating/boyfriend/Amy Poehler/etc. will laugh and hopefully be into it. If not, well, then this guy will spend his Valentine's Night performing a solo, if you will. Labels: Hot Live Music Build A Robocop Statue! So, I spent my Christmas Eve watching Robocop with my friends. "Respec," as Ali G might say. With that in mind, ol' Robo has been on my mind of late, which makes this campaign all the more poignant. It's a campaign created by Detroit citizens with the intent of building a Robocop statue in the Motor City. To enhance the cause, the link includes a ten-minute rap recap of Robocop's plot. Yes, ten minutes. Forget about Eminem driving around Detroit in a douchy Chevy ad, THIS is what the city needs to reinvigorate itself. What says Detroit more than a statue of a robotic policeman from an 80's action movie? Surely, there's no better way that money can be donated in one of the more poverty-stricken cities in America. Your move, creeps! Demotivational Posters, Vol. 2, Part V No, I haven't been on a week-long bender in celebration of Green Bay's Super Bowl win. Instead, I've been scouring the internet in search of only the finest in wacky demotivational posters. And, by scouring, I really mean just copying them from my friend Mario's page. If you thought I was making these posters up myself, I'll pause for a moment while your respect for me drops by 8.5 percent. Labels: demotivation YEAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!! The Cheese Stands Alone (NFL picks, Super Bowl) * Packers over Steelers Well, duh. It's not like I'm going to suddenly turn heel, tearing off my Packers sweater to reveal a Hines Ward jersey while Jim Ross sceams "No! No! Mah gawd, what has Mark done?!" So here we are. Nineteen games, dozens of bitten nails, one increasingly hilarious post and umpteen celebratory booyahs later, the Packers are playing for the NFL title. It's wild. I picked them to reach the big game at the start of the year (against Baltimore, the other AFC North titan) but in my heart of hearts, I secretly had a backup pick made in my head since I thought something would derail Green Bay along the way. My backup pick? Houston vs. Atlanta. I am so smart. SMRT. The derailer, however, never came. The Packers lost key players for the season, lost other key players for crucial games, blew close heart-breakers and had to win their final game just to make it into the playoffs. But they just kept overcoming every obstacle in their path and now, it's Super Bowl time. Good lord. I almost don't know how to react. The last of my favourite teams to reach a championship game was....the Packers, back in Super Bowl XXXII, when John Elway helicopter-spun his way to a Denver upset victory. It's been a long dry spell since, though since Green Bay did win the Super Bowl the previous year (and I'm still hanging my hat on those two Jays World Series wins in 92-93), I can hardly complain about my lot in life as a sports fan. It's not like I live in Cleveland or something. It's been such a crazy season that I'm beyond just "happy to be here." F that. If the Packers are going to go through all this shit all season long, they may as well pay it all off by winning the championship. It's going to be a really, really, really tough game. Pittsburgh is easily the toughest opponent the Packers have played all year. The Steelers are tough, smart, superbly-coached and can grind out a game with anyone. They're just winners --- hell, they won the Super Bowl just two years ago. No franchise has won as many Super Bowls as Pittsburgh's six. It would be very easy for me to imagine Mike Tomlin and company coming up with a scheme that totally baffles Mike McCarthy, leading to the infamous "McCarthy stares angrily at his game plan as if imagining it will somehow adapt itself to the opponent's game plan" camera shot. You can break down the positions all you want, but Pittsburgh's edge at head coach may be all that matters. BUT, come on folks, I'm picking Green Bay to win. It just seems a bit too perfect of a setup. All season long, Aaron Rodgers has not just been establishing himself as arguably the NFL's best quarterback, but also as its biggest dragon-slayer. The Packers have, quietly, overcome almost every major story of this NFL season. -- Brett Favre's texting misadventures and his lousy play for the Vikings. Green Bay beat Minnesota twice, and Rodgers had a monster year, thus cementing the the Packers' decision to ditch Favre was the right one. -- The Patriots kicking ass. Green Bay nearly beat New England in Foxboro, with backup Matt Flynn leading the charge. It was the first sign that the Pats might not be unbeatable, and sure enough, they lost to New York in the playoffs. -- The Jets mouthing off and backing it up. Green Bay shut the Jets out 9-0 on Halloween, thus cementing the fact that at the end of the day, New York just didn't have the offense to go all the way. -- The Cowboys' shit-tastic collapse. Green Bay laid a 45-7 demolition on them in Week 9, the most lopsided and humiliating of Dallas' many defeats this year. -- Michael Vick's "redemption" as Philadelphia's quarterback. Green Bay beat Philly in both the season opener and in the wild card round. I guess you could say that the Packers really 'dogged' the Eagles this year. Ha ha ha! Obvious jokes are the best jokes! -- The Falcons' huge year, and their presence in that goddamn NFL Play 60 commercial that airs fifty times during every game. Green Bay beat Atlanta in the second round of the playoffs. Okay, the Falcons aren't really a 'dragon' like the others, aside from the fact that Arthur Blank looks kind of like a creep. -- The Bears managing to somehow cobble together a playoff-bye team under the leadership of Lovie Smith and his variety of failed NFL head coach coordinators, and the emergence of Jay "Captain Sulk" Cutler. Green Bay dropped them in the NFC title game, albeit in a game that took five years from my life due to its unnecessary closeness. What two other storylines have dominated football talk over the last six months? Naturally, it's the conduct and suspension of Ben "No Means No" Roethlisberger, plus the increased focus on player safety, particularly when it comes to concussions and defenders like James Harrison delivering brain-rattling hits. These two major issues have joined together to form one End Boss, one Big Bad, one King Koopa, one Mike Tyson waiting at the end of the season for Green Bay (Little Mac = Little Pack?) as the biggest challenge of them all. For the Packers to fall short in the Super Bowl wouldn't just be a defeat in a football game, it would be a defeat of narrative structure. I sure didn't watch this whole goddamn season just to realize it's a Jean-Luc Godard film, so Green Bay needs to take this home. It's time. It has to happen. Aaron Rodgers will get the belt. Charles Woodson gets his ring. The Packers win their 13th championship (fourth Super Bowl to go along with nine NFL championships) and keep the Steelers from laying claim to the Titletown moniker. Oh lord, this is going to be four hours of my heart in my throat, isn't it? Man, it's great to support a winning team. #GoPackGo UFC 126 Picks * Antonio Banuelos over Miguel Torres, decision I'm starting to think that these lower weight divisions are already going through a big changing of the guard. This doesn't bode well for Torres, who was getting some 'best in the world' buzz in 2009 when he was dominating the FW division. Then he lost two in a row, got some dap back by beating Charlie Valencia and now he's finally in the UFC. I'm still not sure if Torres is really back on track or if he's past it already. If Mike Brown can go from champ to washout and Josh Grispi can lose his #1 contendership just like that, what the hell, I'll vote against Torres too. Prove me wrong, Miguel! * Jon Jones over Ryan Bader, R2, knockout Big-time fight here, and the winner may well be in line for the next LHW title shot. I'm kind of surprised it's taking place, to be honest --- Jones and Bader (and, a bit further down the ladder, Phil Davis) are the big up-and-comers at 205 and I sort of expected the UFC to keep them apart from each other. Jones/Bader may well be a title bout down the road, after all. But, I suppose pitting them against each other does sort out who the real alpha dog of the division is, and I think that'll end up being the wrecking machine known as Bones Jones. The guy is just a wrestling and striking machine, and if Bader is able to take him down, I can see Jones countering and laying in those nasty-ass elbows for which he's so famous. Bader is a good fighter himself, but his rise is going to take a big dip on Saturday. * Rich Franklin over Forrest Griffin, decision It's unusual to see these two UFC superstars actually in the cage against each other, but it's also equally unusual that they've never fought before, if that makes sense. It's theoretically a close matchup, but if you really look at it, Franklin does everything just a bit better than Griffin. Griffin's only edge is in size, since he's a "big" 205, whereas Franklin is still able to drop down to middleweight if he wanted. This fight has decision written all over it, and Rich should just be able to do more in 15 minutes and earn the victory. Coin toss of a fight, though, Forrest could easily win this. What I suspect the UFC will do with the 205-pound division is wait and see what happens with Randy Couture and Lyoto Machida in Toronto in April. If Couture wins that fight, then he gets the next title bout, since the storyline of the old legend having one last championship match is too profitable to pass up. Should that happen, the winner of Franklin/Griffin probably meets the winner of Jones/Bader in a #1 contender's bout. * Carlos Eduardo Rocha over Jake Ellenberger, R3, submission The Berg is a wrestler who has good striking, Rocha is an unbeaten submission specialist. Unless Ellenberger can catch him with a good shot, Rocha is going to eventually find a hole on the ground and nab get another sub, which would be the ninth in 10 career fights. Kind of a tough break for Ellenberger, since he was supposed to fight Jon Fitch on this card. Sure, he would've lost, but a loss to Fitch is fine since Fitch beats virtually everyone. A loss to Rocha is a much bigger setback. * Anderson Silva over Vitor Belfort, R1, knockout So, surely one can't pick Anderson to lose a striking contest, right? One can never sleep on Vitor's striking ability, but....really, come on. I can't pick a guy who has technically never won a UFC middleweight and has been sidelined for almost 18 months to step in and beat arguably the best fighter in the world, or even the GOAT. Silva gets another victim on his resume and we get a step closer to the Silva/GSP superfight. * Ricardo Romero over Kyle Kingsbury, R1, submission * Paul Taylor over Gabe Ruediger, R2, knockout * Donald Cerrone over Paul Kelly, decision * Chad Mendes over Michihiro Omigawa, decision * Demetrious Johnson over Kid Yamamoto, R3, submission * Mike Pierce over Kenny Robertson, decision Between Meg's anxiety problems, Jack's numerous other bands and production efforts, and the three-year-and-counting gap between albums for a famously prolific group, the writing was on the wall that the White Stripes could be nearing the end. Still, the band's official breakup announcement is disappointing. It seemed like Jack and Meg White were the type of group that could out of nowhere announce a new record's release and begin a tour within, like, a week, and to have that hope extinguished is a letdown to say the least. The White Stripes have been my favourite 'new' band for about nine years, which seems like an oxymoron. Among the glut of early-00's garage bands, they stood out because they were, at the same time, both the most gimmicky and most substantive group of the bunch. Behind the calculated colour scheme and the brother/sister (really, ex-husband and wife) gimmick was a band that was actually low-tech in everything they did, from not making proper setlists for concerts to literally using low-tech instruments and recording technology to make their records. The result was album after endlessly creative album, breathing years of new life into the blues-rock genre. It was just, at the end of the day, a guitarist and a drummer, rocking out. The legacy --- three great albums (Icky Thump, De Stijl, Elephant), one very good album (White Blood Cells), two good albums (Get Behind Me Satan, White Stripes), a fantastic live concert/documentary, a great concert in Mississauga in 2003 (I was there!), a refurbished public baseball diamond in Detroit and a very strong case to be made as the best rock group of the Aughts. Pretty good for two people. White Stripes, you will be missed. Amateur Dream Analysis DREAM: I'm at a laundromat/pool hall. Yes, I'm serious. The front room was a working laundromat, filled with washing machines as far as the eye could see. You went down a hallway in the back, and walked right into a brightly-lit billiards hall, with roughly 20 tables ready to go. Anyway, I'm not only at this setting, I'm here with Craig Ferguson and roughly 20 other folks. We were all part of Craig's studio audience, and after the show, he takes us all out for a group laundry session. So there we all are, happily folding our whites while Craig cracks jokes. Once we're all done, we head back and shoot some pool. ANALYSIS: Who needs sex dreams to have a good time while you're sleeping? Wouldn't it be a kick to spend an evening shooting pool -- and, to a lesser extent, doing laundry -- with Craig Ferguson? I presume my subconscious created this dream solely because I've been watching so much of Craig's show lately. Conan isn't on until midnight here but it repeats at 1:05 on CTV, so my routine has been to watch Conan up until 12:37, then flip over to Craig and usually watch it in its entirety unless the guests are completely uninteresting. Once it's over, I flip to CTV and catch the last half of Conan (provided, of course, that Conan's second guest was worth coming back to see). It's a pretty sweet two-hour comedy block. If you've never seen Craig Ferguson's show before, it's well worth checking out. Of all the talk show hosts, Craig is the one that comes off as by far the least "performery," even though as an accomplished actor, he has far more of a performance background than Conan, Kimmel, Letterman or Leno. (And I guess Stewart too, though probably not Colbert.) Apparently most of Craig's very loosely-organized monologue is actually written, in terms of concrete jokes. He's basically just given some topics and then just rambles and rants every evening. This leads into some banter with his robot sidekick and then a viewer mail segment that's usually interrupted by at least one appearance from Secretariat. These appearances are so stupid, but yet they make me laugh every single time. It may be the funniest recurring talk show bit since the Walker Texas Ranger lever. Now, no question, I'm a Conan guy through and through, but Ferguson runs a strong second. He seems like the type of naturally entertaining and charismatic person who would be entertaining whether they're hosting a chat show or, you guessed it, doing some mundane task like the laundry. But there's another reason for the venue. My friends and I were recently brainstorming ideas for businesses, and I believe that, much like how 'Let It Be' came to Paul McCartney in a dream, my subconsciousness has given me a multi-billion dollar concept. A combination pool hall/laundromat. Genius. What's the single biggest problem with doing your laundry in a public place? Having to wait around for it to wash and dry. Ergo, we provide a built-in way to kill time. You can challenge your fellow laundry-doers to games of billiards, with the winner getting quarters. If you get on a hot streak, your entire laundry could be paid for just like that. Years from now, I look forward to Aaron Sorkin writing a more-or-less fictional account of how my business empire came to be. It will be called The Corner Pocket. My only fear is that I'll be played by 30 Rock's John Lutz. Labels: dream analyses Out-Of-Context Texts In My Phone Inbox, Volume XII...	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line1650382
__label__cc	0.665247	0.334753	“Hey Jeff, Dave.” “I like the song, but the lyrics could use a little work. I mean, you really go out of your way to cram ‘Serengeti’ in there despite it not really fitting the rhyme scheme.” “Look, the song is called AFRICA. We need some African references in there, obviously. If you have a better idea, I’d like to hear it!” “Well, Mt. Kilimanjaro rises out of the city of Moshi, according to Wikipedia. Couldn’t we redo that line to fit ‘Moshi’ in? It just seems to have a better flow.” “What’s Wikipedia?” “Oh right, I forgot, this conversation is taking place in 1982. Uh, never mind. I’m not a time-traveler!” “That’s okay. The two of us have been talking in one singular voice this entire time. You’re not a time-traveler if we’re not a hive mind.” “Deal.” Am I officially so old that Kristen Bell and Mila Kunis now have to settle for “frazzled mom” roles? There’s an aging wakeup call if there ever was one. Speaking of Bell, I feel like “The Good Place” is made for me. If you set out to specifically design a show to entertain me, the answer might well be a Mike Schur comedy starring Kristen Bell and Ted Danson. After posting so much about the Ghostbusters remake, I guess I should probably give it a review. I liked it! There’s no small amount of relief in this positive review, since had it actually been a mediocrity, it would’ve been really annoying to hear the crowing from the sexist fanboy corner of the internet. Thankfully, like every other Paul Feig/Melissa McCarthy project, it ended up very entertaining. And my own fanboy bias probably played some small part in my positive review, since I was beyond tickled to be watching a brand new Ghostbusters movie here in the year 2016. I honestly can’t see how some ‘original Ghostbusters hardliner’ could actually dislike the film (well, aside from sexism) given how it’s literally a love letter to the 1984 movie. The cast cameos, the references…every possible little touch put over the original and also had new life breathed into it by the new cast. To be frank, I’m actually looking forward to the sequel more since with the pressure off, we can abandon the origin story (always kind of a ‘get to the fireworks factory!’ segment in these types of films) and just jump right into the team busting ghosts. Just throwing it out there, Kate McKinnon should get an Oscar nomination. Labels: movies, music, random nonsense, TV Art Is... (created by Jasmine Kay Uy) Your (My?) Latest Postmodern Jukebox Fix "Poison," which I actually thought was a Bobby Brown song so I always kinda felt bad for liking it, but it turns out it's actually a Bell Biv DeVoe track! Yayyyyy, clean conscience! "I Believe In A Thing Called Love," which reminds me again that the Darkness missed being an incredibly big band by maybe...a year? They missed the kitschy throwback era by a hair. "Dancing In The Dark," and the video really missed a trick by not having a bobbysoxer version of Courteney Cox in there. "Toxic," which I'd argue is already heralded a secretly great song hidden underneath Britney's original pop sheen, so it didn't necessarily need the upgraded new arrangement. Oh well, still great! "Sweet O'Child Of Mine," and does anyone else agree that this might've been the best song ever if GNR had actually, like, finished it? The first half is unbelievable, but then it just kinds dribbles off into guitar theatrics and Axl yelping "where do we go?" over and over. Here we get some creativity via the magic of dance, at least. Labels: Hot Live Music, music, videos Rock Elegy My recent ‘best of the White Stripes’ post got me thinking about the band’s breakout in the early 2000s and how it coincided with the end of rock music’s relevance. Now, I’m not actually blaming the White Stripes for this…the writing was on the wall for rap, hip-hop and pop to make its massive resurgence that has continued to this very day. That wave was coming no matter what, though if I could blame anyone (which is the point of this post!), I’ll point the finger at the Strokes and music critics. It could also be argued that music criticism itself died in the early 2000s, since the Rolling Stones-style, Lester Bangs-ish ideal of the critic as tireless discoverer of new music peaked at the moment Lester Bangs himself was played by Phillip Seymour Hoffman in ‘Almost Famous.’ Up until that moment, the music world still revolved around the romantic idea that rock could double as a movement, sort of like how grunge, ahem, “saved” music* in the early 90’s. A decade later, when disposable pop was again topping the charts, it seemed like every critic in the world decided en masse that music had to be “saved” again, this time in the form of garage rock. The “the” bands (the Strokes, the Vines, the Hives, the White Stripes, etc.) would be the stars of the next golden age of rock. * = since I’m on record as stating that Nirvana is the most overrated band of all time, let me pause a moment for a super-hard eyeroll The problem was that basically aside from the White Stripes, none of these bands had the chops. As much as I loathe Nirvana, I’ll at least admit that they brought something to the table that mainstream music hadn’t really seen before, plus grunge was then legitimized by the likes of Pearl Jam or Soundgarden. The White Stripes were very much doing their own thing, equal parts old-school blues rock and the goofy modern gimmickry of the brother/sister schtick and the colour scheme, so they weren’t exactly the banner figures for a genre. The Hives were similarly gimmicky, and I had literally forgot about the Vines before this very post. As for the Strokes, they’re not really a bad band. I’ve heard maybe four of their songs, and one of those songs (what else but ‘Last Night’) is actually really good. I dislike the band themselves much less than I like the inexplicable cult of personality that rose up around them, fuelled seemingly entirely by music critics. They tried so hard to make the Strokes happen and it just utterly and completely went nowhere. I can’t blame the band for getting stuck in an ocean of hype, though in a way, I suppose I probably can since the Strokes seemed to design their entire persona as a pastiche of other acts. Big chunk of the Ramones, healthy dose of the Velvet Underground, maybe a bit of New Wave style in there…it was a Frankenstein’s monster that resulted in the Strokes seeming instantly familiar the first time you ever saw or heard them. Great for marketing purposes, since rock media fell all over itself for a band that looked and acted just like their favourites. The Strokes seemed less like than a fresh entity than they seemed like Malibu Ramones with a new hat. It would be one thing if their music was great enough to establish themselves, yet they’re the definition of a one-album wonder. Fast-forward to 2016 and here’s rock music, more or less stone dead as a mainstream musical entity. No rock band founded in the last 15 years can sell out an arena tour, let alone stadiums. The idea of a chart-topping rock single seems impossibly quaint. This isn’t a comment on the quality of modern acts; there’s lots of great rock music out there, it’s just that it’s all stuck beneath the glass ceiling of popularity with no hope of escape. Rock had a strong run of around 40 years as music’s dominant genre but that run is clearly over. Moreover, music criticism is also essentially dead. People are as eager as ever to be turned onto new music, though now they have the technology that can literally find new favourite for them based on listening patterns, so a breathless review from a new-age Lester Bangs doesn’t carry any weight. Man, this went a long way from a fun little retrospective of the White Stripes, eh? Frasier Crane, Deity Bemoaner I'm on a real kick of Frasier reruns, so this was inevitable. Kelsey Grammer doesn't seem like the kind of guy to record an XTC cover tune, but if he did.... Labels: TV, videos Dana Barrett, Renaissance Woman I love that I can watch the Ghostbusters movies a hundred times and still pick up new things. For instance, it only just occurred to me that Dana Barrett may be one of the most uber-talented people in cinematic history. Imagine how much skill and training it takes to play cello in the New York Philharmonic. Imagine how much skill and training it takes to be an art restorer talented enough to work on paintings at the Manhattan Museum Of Art (technically fictional, but basically MoMA). And Dana was able to do BOTH, not to mention be a single mother by the second film. And, after being hypnotized by Gozer and transformed into a demonic dog, she recovered pretty well, all things considered! Watching the first movie, it seemed far-fetched that Dana could afford that apartment on Central Park West. Unless you're Yo-Yo Ma, no cellist could manage to live in one of the most expensive pieces of real estate in the world. Once we got the full breadth of Dana's abilities in GB2, however, I can believe anything. Maybe she composed music for film scores in her spare time and was living off song royalties. Maybe she developed software for Apple on the side. At this rate, it seems like she could've solved her whole ghost problem herself, which is where Paul Feig and company probably got the idea for the all-woman Ghostbusters team. Dana Barrett = trail-blazer. Tim Duncan, Comedy Superstar Longtime blog readers know of my great admiration for Tim Duncan, who's perhaps my favourite pro athlete of all time simply by dint of being such a thoroughly decent and normal guy (not to mention being, oh yeah, one of the best seven basketball players ever). In honour of his retirement, here's a link to the Onion's archive of Tim Duncan stories, a hilarious living tribute to Duncan's normality. If it wasn't for the whole basketball thing, I really feel that Duncan could've been the next Buster Keaton. Sure, silent comedy would also need to be revived first, but if anyone could do it, it's the Spurs. Labels: Sports, videos The (New) "Game Of Thrones" Comeuppance List Say what you will about Game Of Thrones, but it (eventually) pays off its audience. Of the 18 entries on my last GoT Comeuppance list a year ago, eight of them shuffled off this mortal coil last season, including a whopping seven of the top ten. It’s gotten to the point now where, with two seasons and roughly 15-16 episodes to go, we’re kind of running short on big villains. It’s somewhat easy to predict the arc of the next two seasons, though obviously there will be a lot of twists along the way. That said, I still have a pretty long list here, so…it’s killin’ time! One notable omission from my list: Qyburn. I can’t seem to hate this guy. He’s just so competent and business-like! It’s kind of silly that I’m giving him a totally free pass while Cersei and the Mountain are so high up on the list but nope, Qyburn is okay for now! 16. Ilyn Payne Even though the show has, I haven’t forgotten about you, Payne! Get well soon Wilko Johnson, so Arya can kill you! 15. The entire Brotherhood Without Banners I’ve softened on these guys since they’re not capital-E evil, as evidenced by the way they thoroughly punished those rogue members for killing Ian McShane. As deluded as they may be about the fire god, these guys (unlike, say, Melisandre) seem like they would hesitate before, oh, burning a child at the stake while her parents watched. I’m interested in this new partnership with the Hound, as… 14. The Hound …oh yeah, the Hound! A rare re-entry onto the list for a guy who isn’t actually dead! The Hound seems remorseful of his past crimes and it looks like he’s about to make a total face turn by fighting the White Walker army. The Hound turning into a total vigilante to right the wrongs of his past would be delightful but….you just know he and Arya (and probably he and Brienne) will meet again, and he’s still on her list. AND he still has stuff to atone for. 13. Theon Greyjoy Except for Payne, this section of the list really is just “former villains who are trying to redeem themselves.” Theon seems to be almost all the way back now, if perhaps not quite the sprightly, seemingly noble lad he was at the beginning of the series. My pal Dave is waiting on Theon’s fate with bated breath, as he is (perhaps literally) the only person in the world who cites Theon as his favourite character. I don’t understand it either. 12. Jaqen H’ghar This guy’s Mr. Miyagi routine got pretty old. Worst of all, since Arya now actually seems to be a well-trained killing machine, he can retroactively take credit for all of his nonsense as “all part of the preparation” when he really just let things get out of hand. I’ve always considered old Johnny Pronoun to be one of the more overrated badasses on GoT — remember that when we first met him, he was in a cage on his way to the Wall. What kind of a master assassin gets caught? It’s quite possible we’ll never see the Faceless Man again, but really, maybe one final showdown with Arya is in the cards. 11. Euron Greyjoy I should probably hate this guy more since it’s pretty clear he’s lined up as one of the last remaining Big Bads for the final two seasons. (For book readers, Euron is very clearly a force to be reckoned with.) Still, Euron was only in two episodes, and in one of them, he killed the hated Balon Greyjoy. In the second, he used a bunch of crazy promises to win the Iron Islands sanitation commissioner job away from Yara “Ray Patterson” Greyjoy, which isn’t the worst thing in the world. Methinks I’ll hate this guy a lot more come Season Seven. 10. The Night’s King Speaking of “major villains who I should hate more,” here’s the final boss of the entire series. Here’s the thing about the White Walkers — while they’re conscious beings, I see their invasion more as a force of nature. The Night’s King only ends up here because he finally did something unlikable by leading his forces to kill Hodor. Not Hodor! 9. Lord Randyll Tarly Westeros is pretty short on respectable fathers, and Sam’s dad is no exception. The whole thing about him being ashamed that his firstborn son is a brainiac rather than a fighter is pretty dumb unto itself, but it gets even dumber since now we’ve met the whole Tarly family…and there’s another Tarly son! The hilariously named Dickon Tarly seems to be a cut off the old block, huntin’ and sword-swingin’ and being just like his dad except minus the seething resentment towards Sam. Hey Randyll, would it have killed you to adjust the local traditions just a little bit so Dickon could’ve been the new lord of House Tarly and Sam could’ve (as he openly desired) just gone off to study and become a maester? How sick must Dickon be of hearing his father complain about Sam, when it’s like “uh, hey Dad, I’m RIGHT HERE.” Lady Tarly seems way, way, way too good for this clown. 8. Ser Robert Strong/Ser Gregor Clegane/Zombie Mountain By this point you can slot Zombie Mountain into the ‘force of nature’ bin along with the ice zombies since it’s pretty clear there’s nothing mentally left of Gregor Clegane. So, with that horrific personality out of the way….Zombie Mountain is actually kind of fun as a pure failsafe. It didn’t hurt that he directed all of his ire this season towards other unlikable characters, as I’d probably feel differently if he was brutalizing someone I cared about. 7. Ellaria & The Sand Snakes Let’s pause for a big LOL at how much Game of Thrones regretted the half-assed Dorne storyline in the fifth season. Ellaria and her gang of poor actresses appeared in the S6 premiere and then vanished until a brief cameo in the finale, when they existed only to be mocked by the Queen of Thorns. It’s probably a sign of how poorly-cast and written these characters are when they clearly have the moral high ground on the Mountain, and yet I actually dislike them more than what’s left of the old Ser Gregor. If that insult scene leads to the Sand Snakes turning on Lady Tyrell, that will NOT go over well. 6. Robin Arryn In a way, I should feel sorry for this kid since his crazy mother never gave him a chance. In another, more accurate, way….I will be happy when and if someone chucks Robin out the moondoor. What a sorry little punk. 5. Edmure Tully Speaking of Chief Punk, what is Edmure’s endgame here? To get back with his wife and infant son? Hey Edmure, THEY’RE FREYS. It was all a trap. Remember the Red Wedding that wiped out half your family? Instead of standing his ground or using Jamie’s plan against him, Edmure then sells out the Blackfish and essentially completely caves in. Ironically, this clown may have fallen upwards since Arya took care of old Walder Frey, since now the Riverlands will fall into disarray and what’s left of House Tully could pick up the pieces. If Jon ends up being King In The North lording over Winterfell, could we get Sansa or Arya capitalizing on their Tully bloodline to step in and get House Tully back on track? Anything to get Edmure dumped on again. 4. Jamie Lannister There is a lot of mounting evidence that Jamie will make the ultimate face turn by being the one to take down Cersei, just as he stopped another crazy monarch to earn the Kingslayer nickname. A final turn towards good in the end, however, shouldn’t erase all that Jamie has done in this series. Remember…pushed Bran out a window in the very first episode! That started this whole mess. If Bran wants to warg into, say, an angry cat to scratch Jamie’s eyes out in the series finale, nobody would blame him. All of the work the series has done to try and make Jamie more sympathetic has, ironically, just made me hate him more. 3. Melisandre The ol’ Red Woman was basically a broken woman this season, realizing that her past belief in Stannis was completely false. It took resurrecting Jon Snow to get her back on the messiah train, and her visions of Snow standing triumphant in Winterfell was indeed correct….until Davos called her out for murdering Shireen. “Oh right, all that stuff I did,” in the words of Sideshow Bob. Now Melisandre is just riding aimlessly south, where she could possibly interact with any number of characters. Who will be the one to finally defeat her by…well, apparently all it’ll take is removing her necklace, as pretty much anyone in the series could beat up a 700-year-old woman. Maybe even Sam. 2. Cersei Lannister Or, should I say, Queen Cersei, first of her name, yadda yadda yadda. It was a fascinating season for Cersei, as the show seemingly spent much of the year making you feel rather sorry for this mess she’d gotten herself, her royal son and by extension much of the kingdom into by empowering the Sparrows. And then, by the finale, it’s whoops, nope, Cersei is still the big bad, and she not only killed the other King’s Landing villains, she also killed a bunch of those nice Tyrells we all liked. (My pal Eric, a big Natalie Dormer supporter, was not pleased at this turn of events and now needs a new show crush.) GoT clearly is heading in a direction of Daenerys and company facing Queen Cersei and probably Euron Greyjoy’s navy in S7, which leads to so many fascinating character interactions that the mind boggles at the possibilities. Will Jamie side with his sister or his brother? How many of Team Daenerys will the Zombie Mountain take out? How does Jorah’s search for a cure play into all of this? Will Cersei and Daenerys ever actually meet face to face? Find out next time, on SOAP. 1. Littlefinger It’s a shame that we never got any extended scenes between Baelish and the High Sparrow, since Aiden Gillen and Jonathan Pryce would’ve had quite a battle trying to out-smug each other. The Sparrow had the edge in the smug rankings all season long, and yet the look on Littlefinger’s face when the Vale armies swooped in during the Battle of the Bastards almost vaulted him to the top in one fell swoop. I’ve read a lot of interpretations of the glances between Sansa and Littlefinger during Jon Snow’s “King in the North” scene, and for the sake of my patience, I really hope Sansa’s expression read as “told you Jon would be accepted” rather than “hmm, I’m losing power here…” If it’s the latter and Sansa is truly dumb enough to put faith in Littlefinger again, she’ll find herself on this list next year. Posted by Question Mark at 12:20 AM No comments: Labels: listamania, TV Game Of Chairs This is a couple of years old, yet somehow I've missed seeing it until now. Wow, if Muppet Cersei had ended up winning, Sesame Street would have some serious "I called it" bragging rights. As it is, I'm guessing that Theon won't end the series as king of Westeros, barring some major plot overhauling. (Such a result would actually please my friend Dave, who is the only person in the world whose favourite GoT character is Theon Greyjoy. Even Alfie Allen is like, "meh, I prefer Tyrion.") Labels: Muppets, TV, videos Canada's Band More fitting than ever on this particular Canada Day, here are some Tragically Hip classics... Labels: milestone, music	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line1650383
__label__cc	0.603047	0.396953	Long Island Library Conference: Lighting the Way... May 9, 2019 Newsletter of the Hospital Library Services Program Long Island Library Resources Council From left: Speaker Linda Frank; Participants tour the Zucker School of Medicine; Librarian Debra Rand, Associate Dean for Library Services, Zucker School of Medicine Looking Back at Recent Events!! From left: Salvatore J. Filosa, SCLA RASD Health Concerns Committee; Tim Spindler and Min Liu of LILRC; Jamie Saragossi, Stony Brook University Libraries Volume 32, Number 2 ISSN: 0887-3739 Hospital Library Services Program Fourth Annual Conference UNRAVELING THE MYSTERIES OF DNA with Teacher and Author Linda Frank April 5, 2019 Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell Did you know that the National Network of Libraries of Medicine (NNLM) offers on line training opportunities, including classes accredited for specializations including CHIS (Consumer Health Information Specialization), CHES (Certified Health Education Specialist) and DIS (Disaster Information Specialization)? An on line catalog supports searching for classes by keyword or filtering results by topic, such as 'Hospital Libraries' or 'Public Libraries' as well as searching for classes by continuing education specializations. Summer offerings include PubMed for Librarians: Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) on July 16 and What's in a Data Story? Understanding the BAsics of Data Storytelling on August 15. To register for these NNLM classes and more, visit www.nnlm.gov/training March/April 2016 Page 2 Want to share your news? Email sstieglitz@lilrc.org to have the news published in Heathline’s next issue. The LILRC HealthLine is published 4 times a year by the staff of the Hospital Library Services Program. Editor: Sally Stieglitz sstieglitz@lilrc.org "Medicine in the Americas is a digital library project that makes freely available original works demonstrating the evolution of American medicine from colonial frontier outposts of the 17th century to research hospitals of the 20th century. Drawing on the collections of NLM's History of Medicine Division and including works from the United States, Latin America, the Caribbean and Canada, this initial release of Medicine in the Americas encompasses monographs dating from 1610 to 1865. Additional titles, dating up to 1920 and drawing further upon NLM's comprehensive collection of early American printed books and journals, will be available on an ongoing basis in the future. Medicine in the Americas will be of interest to scholars, educators, writers, students and others who wish to use primary historical materials to help expand knowledge of medical and public health history for the advancement of scholarship across the disciplines and for the education of the general public." Source: https://www.nlm.nih.gov/hmd/americas/introduction.html NNLM Training Opportunities	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line1650388
__label__cc	0.743389	0.256611	Assignment in Eternity January 11, 2019 January 11, 2019 Robert A. Heinlein Assignment in Eternity Compelling science fiction adventure from New York Times bestseller Robert A Heinlein two classic novellas and two short stories with speculation on what makes us human Gulf in which the greatest supe Title: Assignment in Eternity Author: Robert A. Heinlein Compelling science fiction adventure from New York Times bestseller Robert A Heinlein two classic novellas and two short stories with speculation on what makes us human Gulf in which the greatest superspy of them all is revealed as the leader of a league of supermen and women who can t decide on quite what to do with the rest of us The prequel to Heinlein s later NewCompelling science fiction adventure from New York Times bestseller Robert A Heinlein two classic novellas and two short stories with speculation on what makes us human Gulf in which the greatest superspy of them all is revealed as the leader of a league of supermen and women who can t decide on quite what to do with the rest of us The prequel to Heinlein s later New York Times best seller, Friday Lost Legacy in which it is proved that we are all members of that league of the superhuman or would be, if we but had eyes to see.Plus two great short stories Two of the master s finest one on the nature of being, the other on what it means to be a Man The second story, Jerry Was a Man, was adapted for the TV series Masters of Science Fiction, and is now available on DVD. Assignment in Eternity by Robert A Heinlein Assignment in Eternity is a collection of four of Heinlein s early published works Two of the stories are advertised as short novels , or what might be accurately called in current word count designations as novellas, and two shorter works. Assignment in eternity robert heinlein Literature review on leadership , go math homework grade professional research papers examples research paper on visible light communication system dissertation guidelines for chapter . PDF Free Read Assignment in Eternity by Robert A Assignment in Eternity is a collection of four of Heinlein s early published works Two of the stories are advertised as short novels , or what might be accurately called in current word count designations as novellas, and two shorter works. Assignment in eternity by robert a heinlein Atten Literatures reviews how to draw a business plan of financial Random assignment methods first day at college essay quotations psychology research paper topics on studies. Assignment In Eternity by Heinlein, Robert A Biblio Assignment in Eternity, is a collection of four mixed science fiction and fantasy novellas by Robert A Heinlein, first published in hardcover by Fantasy Press in , with some of the stories somewhat revised from their original magazine publications, as follows Gulf written and published in in Astounding Science Fiction, October ASSIGNMENT IN ETERNITY Books Buy ASSIGNMENT IN ETERNITY Reprint by ISBN from s Book Store Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Title Assignment in Eternity The Internet Speculative rowsTitle Assignment in Eternity You are not logged in If you create a free account and sign Assignment In Eternity PDF Free Download epdf Assignment In Eternity Read Assignment in Eternity Assignment in Eternity Open Library rowsThe scene The United States after World War III, after the communist reign, after the Free Download [Business Book] ☆ Assignment in Eternity - by Robert A. Heinlein ↠ Robert A. Heinlein 402 Robert A. Heinlein Title: Free Download [Business Book] ☆ Assignment in Eternity - by Robert A. Heinlein ↠ Posted by:Robert A. Heinlein One thought on “Assignment in Eternity” Four of Heinlein’s stories from the 1940s were collected into this surprisingly good anthology and published together in 1953.I say surprisingly, not because I expect anything less from Heinlein, or that I think his earlier work is substandard (far from it) or that collections are an inferior vehicle (again - far from it, I am after all a fan of Bradbury, le Guin and Poul Anderson). I am very pleasantly surprised because these stories are tied together under a theme of humans reaching for supe [...] The problem with Heinlein is that he's so readable. Ordinarily the ability to write compelling prose -- which is not actually a given, especially in hard SF -- would be good, but in RAH's case this often results in me being taken on journeys I really, really did not want to go on, and yet I find myself unable to stop. (See: anything involving incest, relationships with your underage future girlfriend, the entirety of Friday, and really I could keep going. And yet I am still trying to read most o [...] I have a confession to make: when I read this story at age 12 or so, I found the ending very moving. I haven't read it since then, so I can't say I've had a chance to revise my opinion. Maybe I'll just leave it that way. In case you haven't come across Assigment, here's what I can recall of it.So, it's one of those stories where the hero discovers that he's got superhuman powers. They aren't really extraordinary as these things go, but, none the less, he finds he's one of a select group of peopl [...] Assignment in Eternity is a collection of four of Heinlein’s early published works. Two of the stories are advertised as “short novels”, or what might be more accurately called in current word count designations as novellas, and two shorter works. All four of these were first published in magazine format in the 1940’s, though two were actually written in 1939.I first became a fan of Robert A. Heinlein over a decade ago when I read his novel Friday. I went on to read Time Enough for Love [...] Some of my favorite reading back in the day was "golden age" science fiction that I had found a stash of in the thrift store of the tiny town I grew up in. Much of that gold was from the pen of Heinlein, and reading this was like going home for summer vacation. The themes are familiar and I have always admired the way he could write bantering dialogue of the sort good friends use. This book contains four of his best stories because of--not in spite of--its abrupt ending. I'd also like to see the [...] Gulf was my favourite of these 4 stories. It's a science fiction/spy thriller centred around the idea that some homo sapiens have evolved to become "homo nova", capable of superhuman intellect, speaking in an advanced language and can memorise almost anything. The group's task is to protect the world while trying to expand their secret society. It has a really tragic ending but it was great fun to read.Elsewhen was my least favourite of them all, it's about a group of student who travelled to di [...] "Important for their philosophical content rather than science speculation -- for values of 'philosophical' that involved speculative metaphysics and speculative anthropology. Elsewhen was in fact one of his earliest stories -- Opus 5 -- and Elsewhen -- Opus 10 -- was written even before 1939 was out" p 2. "These early stories collected together [for 1953] marked the intellectual pathway Heinlein was to follow" p 4 (from Intro by William H. Patterson Jr). 1 Gulf Nov-Dec 1949 Astounding - Joe Gr [...] Some of these stories have aged better than others. Some of them are kind of cheesy, but no more than a modern Doctor Who episode. If you’re starting with Heinlein start somewhere else. I borrowed this from the library because I'm writing a story that follows the basic Heileinian pattern (if it wasn't a word, well it is now). It's not far off from the classic Campbell story, but RAH has a lot of flavors of his own to add, including long, meandering discussions of political and/or personal belief systems. What better way to make the best plot possible than to read all the Heinlein I haven't yet burned through? Besides, this book of four novellas included Gulf, which he wrote as [...] This book has 4 short stories of Heinlein's from 1941 to 1949. The first story, Gulf, has a protagonist who seems very similar to the protagonist from Puppet Masters, a super-competent man-of-action. It deals with his interaction with a group of people that are even more super-competent than he is. However the ending is abrupt and seems like a throw-away, it left me very unsatisfied. It's easy to think that characters like this are just rip-off from James Bond, but then when you work it out this [...] Collection of shorts & novellas. The novellas relate to secret ubermensch society; the two shorts are apparent one-offs, involving respectively interdimensional travel and bioengineering. None of the stories have much intrigue, and the novellas lack schwerpunkt. The first novella is a spy narrative, wherein a master infiltrator is inducted into the secret society in order to stop some rich greasers from blowing up the earth with the ultimate weapon. The second novella involves some academics [...] Enjoyable, but nothing special as far as Heinlein goes. The first novella bears striking similarities to Friday - not necessarily the overall thrust of the story, but many of the trappings (secret agent is followed, captured, freed, taken to a farm where s/he learns to embrace his/her full potential.) The second novella I liked more - it had an odd touch of mysticism, for Heinlein, although many other of his common themes. And the two short stories that comprise the rest of the book were enjoyab [...] Heinlein, as usuall, make quick entertaining stories where he explores ideas with very similar characters. I think that he might have been pretty progressive when it came to women in his stories, but the still feel very dated today. Not one of his best, but a good quick read if you like mr Heinlein. A fairly good set of four stories, or two novellas and two short stories. Read about Gulf in the afterword for Glory Road, and immediately sought it out (I plan to re-read Friday sometime soon). Enjoyed Lost Legacy quite a bit also. Assignment In Eternity is from the "golden" part of Heinlein's career before he went a bit mad with power and started writing books without allowing them to be edited (and, unfortunately, decided that sex and incest were irresistible themes). It was one of the first science fiction books I ever read. It's also still one of my very favorite books. As Heinlein books go, it's relatively obscure; undeservedly so, I think.There was a painting of a naked woman on the cover of my old paperback copy, so [...] A series of short novels that all seem to ask to what makes up a man or humanity. From the idea that there are already supermen with faster reflexes and better brains amongst us in a fight to preserve the Earth from some of the more crooked of the supermen or even just evil; on over to can an anthropomorphic animal that has been given some human traits such as basic speech and reasoning be considered a human. All of these stories the are interesting and present some ideas on the later reasoning [...] The Gulf: A superspy working for a secret organization gets recruited by an even SUPERER SECRETER organization to learn to tap in to his unknown mental abilities. This new group believes a race of supermen capable of thinking at a superhuman level will become the new leading species on the planet. They want to train these adepts to bring peace to the world.Elsewhen: A college professor discovers the key to interdimensional time travel. Apparently it's just sitting down quietly for 30 minutes. An [...] Assignment in Eternity contains several of Heinlein’s works, but Lost Legacy stands above the rest, and is the focus of this review. If you are a writer, or want to be, you should seek out Lost Legacy because Heinlein puts on a clinic in how to write. Beware though, to enjoy the story you have to keep reminding yourself that in 1941 the functions of various parts of the brain were unknown and that our relatively full complement of pre-human ancestors had not yet been dug up. You also have to r [...] This collection was a pretty rough read. "Lost Legacy" is the longest story; written in 1941, it predated John Wyndam's the Crysalids by 14 years. Deals with the persecutions of psychics who try to organize. Read up on Mount Shasta and Ambrose Bierce first, before reading this book. "Assignment in Eternity" is a 4-story collection released in 1953. "Lost Legacy" is one of the four stories within. Heinlein is a great writer but it seems very much he lost interest in this story once begun, tailed off and published anyway. Should have remained an unpublished manuscript for his estate to mull over. This collection of stories, or novellas, is fantastic! Some of the ideas in it just blew my mind, such as an organization of super humans to protect the rest of us idiots from destroying ourselves. Great cloak and dagger, political concepts, scene setting, and story telling. I would have loved if this entire book were like the first half of the first story. It turns out the secret to unlocking humanities true power is actually just thinking about it. But like, REALLY thinking about it. Neat. « L'uomo è più di un animale perchè ragiona; il superuomo e più di un uomo perché ragiona meglio ». Ouesta frase sintetizza la tematica dei quattro romanzi brevi riuniti in questo volume, uno dei più significativi apparsi durante la cosiddetta « Età d’Oro della Fantascienza ». Negli Stati Uniti dell’avvenire, le opposte forze del bene e del male si combattono sul terreno della facoltà parapsicologiche: sarà compito di una ristretta cerchia di giovani selezionati recuperare la p [...] Read this many moons ago, and the stories were written even longer ago than that: Gulf (1949), Elsewhen (1941), Lost Legacy (1941), Jerry Was a Man (1947).All but the last story focus on the idea of psychic or supernatural powers; the idea that, if trained, humans could think faster, react faster, use telepathy and telekinesis, perhaps even levitate and travel through time and space.In Gulf Joe Greene is "converted" to the cause of supermen/women against evil, taking on an evil genius determined [...] This is a fantastic book. It's really a compilation of 4 short stories, all very worth reading. After reading Starship Troopers, I was a bit hesitant to read more from Heinlein, however, the work in this book is a lot more finely polished. While Starship Troopers dragged heavily mid-book, the stories here are well paced and full of analytical thinking and action when it needed it.Gulf was my favorite story in the series. The characters were mysterious, the events depicted gave you an impression [...] I’ve been trying to refresh my memory of the golden age sci-fi authors that I’d loved as a kid. This collection was not on the list of must-reads, but became available at my local library, so I figured, what the hell?I should first state that these stories were mostly written during an era of optimism in American science fiction. There was strong, confident belief in the inevitable improvement of humanity, and that with technological advances, hunger, war, racism, and illness would gradually [...] Quite the Assignment!Early Heinlein, for me, is a bit interesting regardless of its sly wit and occasional weak female characters. These were written in the 40s and were decent and entertaining but not up to the level of story Heinlein wrote in the Sixties and beyond, "Stranger in a Strange Land," etc. This book is an anthology, all having something to do with the improvement of the human condition, and a bit of fantasy mixed into the science. "Gulf" starts out as a spy novel, but then evolves i [...] One of the other reviewers on here said it pretty well: Heinlein is just too darn readable, even if you can't get past some of his themes and attitudes. So even the long boring crap about supermen saving all us others who are too dumb to take care of ourselves is tolerable for a while longer than expected. A word first about Bronson Pinchot as a narrator: Outstanding. Especially for Heinlein. He reads the characters as they sound in my head. He sounds older now, too, because he is, of course. An [...] Assignment in Eternity captivated me with mind bending reality changes throughout the four short stories which are within it's pages. Heinlein, being the "dean of space-age fiction" (The New York Times), seems more occupied with mental awakenings that occur in the future rather than any sort of technological advances. Unlike most sci-fi, Assignment in Eternity deals with fantasy type powers such as levitation, mind control, and above all, extremely superior intelligence. The short stories Gulf, [...] Hemingway's Trunk: A Tom Larkin Mystery Surō Jishin Towa Nanika: Kyodai Jishin Yochi No K... Dinosaur Roar! Soup to Nutz A Second Helping (Soup to Nutz A Seco... Great Game East The Man Who Went Up in Smoke Communication Skills For Mental Health Nurses لو كنت حلما Szerelmi tanácsok leszbikusoknak: a leszbikus udv... Suzuki Violin School Volume 2 Violin Part The Harper Era in Canadian Foreign Policy: Parliam... Teen Television: Essays on Programming and Fandom Shopkeeper by Robert A. Heinlein	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line1650409
__label__cc	0.671387	0.328613	Big fines, prison on the cards as new SG penalties introduced New laws introducing penalties, including imprisonment up to 12 months, for non-compliance of superannuation guarantee obligations have since passed, with accountants urged to bring clients up to speed. Earlier this month, new legislation was passed, allowing the commissioner to issue a direction to an employer to pay an outstanding super guarantee liability, with failure to comply possibly resulting in criminal penalties. Employers who receive direction from the commissioner must also complete an approved education course. The maximum penalty for the offence is 50 penalty units, imprisonment for 12 months, or both. Speaking to Accountants Daily, RSM senior manager Tracey Dunn said the new law might catch out small to medium-sized family businesses where a spouse or family member may be appointed as director without fully understanding their obligations regarding super payments. “Obviously the criminal penalties will only apply to serious cases but unfortunately in a lot of small businesses, super guarantee payment are the first thing that goes and they are quite often behind because of cashflow issues so there will be a higher risk,” said Ms Dunn. “For example, a husband runs a business and he is the brains of the business but the wife will be put in a position where she is a director. The accountant may discuss the director obligations with the husband but then rely on the husband to relay that to the wife and she may not ever fully understand what her risk is. “They now face a criminal penalty if within a business, those compulsory superannuation guarantee payments aren’t made on time.” Ms Dunn believes accountants will need to be on the front foot to help their clients understand the new risks. “Accountants and advisers really need to ensure that when their clients employ staff, they are fully aware of the risk of non-compliance with super guarantee obligations,” she said. “There is a real onus now on accountants and tax advisers to ensure their clients really fully understand what the risk is when they take a role as either an individual employer, the director of a trustee company, or a director of a company that is employing staff.” Latest data from the ATO place estimates for the super guarantee net gap at $2.79 billion, with Ms Dunn believing that the new measure, along with the introduction of single touch payroll to all businesses, will see the gap shrink in the near future, “With the measures in place now, it is a clear indication now that the government is extremely serious about ensuring that employees receive their compulsory super,” she added. The new legislation is awaiting Royal Assent, with the legislation to take effect from 1 April 2019, but will apply to SGC obligations arising from 1 July 2018. Jotham Lian accountantsdaily.com.au	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line1650413
__label__wiki	0.556185	0.556185	<< Home << About Us Photo above: Youth Programs team: (L to R) Back: Jason, Diana, Joey, Stratos; Front: Sunera. Not in this picture: Guinevere, Mattias, Larissa, Namy. VISION & MANDATE In September 1996, the Roundhouse Advisory Committee, composed of neighbourhood representatives, heritage supporters, members of the arts community and Park Board staff, undertook a retreat to work through a vision for the Roundhouse. The following is the result of those discussions: The overall mission is to celebrate diversity…of people, values, ideas and activities. This mission is made up of three key elements: THE ROUNDHOUSE AS PROJECT All of us who work or play or socialize at the Roundhouse will be active participants in an evolving project to find new and creative ways to integrate the arts, community culture and sports. THE ROUNDHOUSE AS OASIS The Roundhouse is located in the centre of one of the largest urban experiments in history, transforming a few hundred acres of mostly vacant lots into one of North America’s densest and most diverse urban sites. The Roundhouse will be an oasis in the centre of this dynamic mix, enabling people to use their creativity and energy (at whatever level) to rejuvenate themselves and to be better equipped to face a blizzard of challenges and opportunities around them. THE ROUNDHOUSE AS CONNECTION The Roundhouse exists to identify and serve the needs of widely divergent communities. To do this the Roundhouse must reach out to the places and situations where those communities feel comfortable. These relationships will grow into Roundhouse programs through sponsorships, partnerships, and our own productions. COMMUNITY ARTS & COMMUNITY RECREATION The mandate of the Roundhouse is twofold: to be a centre for community cultural development and a community source for recreational activities for all ages. We thrive on exploring issues, on taking risks, on being cutting edge. We strive to bring people together in new ways to explore what is important to them. By stretching our boundaries and challenging our perceptions, we endeavour to build community and in our own way to make the world a better place. We invite you to join us. For information contact the Board at president@roundhouse.ca JOIN THE BOARD OF THE DIRECTORS The Roundhouse Community Arts & Recreation Centre is seeking volunteers to be part of the Board of Directors. MORE INFO JOIN THE PROGRAM COMMITTEE The Roundhouse is a vibrant, active community centre providing innovative as well as traditional programs with a special focus on arts and culture. The Program Committee provides an opportunity for members of the public to collaborate with Roundhouse staff on program choices and priorities, and to assist with special events. The Program Committee meets on the second Thursday of the month, 5:30 to 7pm at the Roundhouse. Dinner is provided to fuel your creative juices! Meetings are held once a month except for July, August and December. Each volunteer committee member is expected to attend at least four out of the seven meetings annually and commit to participating on the committee for a minimum of one year with the opportunity of renewing annually. FOR INFORMATION AND TO APPLY Please contact Val Ferrar val.ferrar@vancouver.ca ROUNDHOUSE BOARD DOCUMENTS Roundhouse Constitution (Nov 28, 2016) (pdf) Roundhouse Bylaw (Nov 28, 2016) (pdf) AGM REPORTS 2017-2018 Financial Statement (pdf) 2017-2018 Retained Earnings Plan (pdf) THE ROUNDHOUSE RECEIVES $40,000 INFRASTRUCTURE GRANT January 18, 2017 – (Vancouver, BC) The Roundhouse Community Arts & Recreation Society is pleased to announce that we have received a a $40,000 grant from the Government of British Columbia through their Collaborative Spaces program, administered by the Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development. The money is earmarked for the seat replacement project in the Performance Centre, scheduled to occur Summer 2017. The current seating system is 20 years old and at the end of its life due to frequent breakage and repairs. New seats will increase capacity and safety in the Performance Centre. Converted into a theatre from the former CPR engine repair shed, the Roundhouse’s unique Performance Centre is host to many of Vancouver’s finest arts and culture groups: Kokoro Dance, PuSh International Performing Arts Festival, Vancouver International Dance Festival, TD Vancouver International Jazz Festival, Bluebird North, and Vancouver Asian Canadian Theatre, to name but a few. The Roundhouse is a popular venue, seeing such diverse events as music album launches, film screenings, and trade show presentations and workshops come through its doors. We look forward to improving the experience of theatre users and patrons with the upgrade to our infrastructure. The Collaborative Spaces grant application was spearheaded by Adrian Mitescu, volunteer Roundhouse Board Director, with the assistance of Board Directors Steve Jones, Mark Haney, Andrea Han, Gillian Crouch, and Arts Programmer, Marie Lopes. The Roundhouse must also rely on the generosity of corporations and individuals to help fund the substantial seating upgrade costs. To this effect, we have a fundraising campaign, fondly dubbed Name a Seat and Park Your Caboose. Run by volunteer Board Directors, this campaign offers personalized seat plaques to those who donate $250 or more to the fund. Read more on the Name a Seat and Park Your Caboose page. Contact: Hanne Lene Dalgleish, Communications Coordinator hl.dalgleish@vancouver.ca Government of BC Announcement Vancouver to receive cultural infrastructure funding (January 17, 2017) Collaborative Spaces News Release (pdf) (January 18, 2017) Collaborative Spaces recipients backgrounder (pdf) Georgia Straight – Arts Notes (January 18, 2017) Alliance for Arts blog (January 18, 2017) Donate to the Name a Seat and Park Your Caboose campaign Name a Seat and Park Your Caboose page (information) Name a Seat and Park Your Caboose donation page (donation) Contact information for Roundhouse Staff. Updates on the Roundhouse Society’s involvement in negotiations with the Vancouver Park Board. Our current Board. Since 1887, the Roundhouse has been an important entity in the history of BC and of Canada, holding a significant position in commerce and development in Vancouver. Engine 374 pulled the first passenger train into Vancouver in 1887 and is housed in a magnificent glass building at the corner of Pacific Blvd & Davie. Visitors from around the world make it a point to stop in and ring its bell. From a railway complex of buildings to trendy hotspot of Vancouver. Media contact information, Press Releases, Program Guides… View Event Calendar! And, for a complete listing of recreation courses and programs, please visit the Park Board website Spring Summer 2019: view online \| download (pdf) Roundhouse Facebook Roundhouse Twitter Roundhouse Pinterest Roundhouse Flikr Roundhouse YouTube Roundhouse Email Roundhouse Blog 181 ROUNDHOUSE MEWS DAVIE & PACIFIC \| VIEW MAP VANCOUVER V6Z 2W3 TEL: 604.713.1800 SKYTRAIN: The Yaletown - Roundhouse Canada Line Station is 200 metres from us.	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line1650415
__label__wiki	0.604256	0.604256	Red, White, and Boom 5K Men Results by mtec Click on the "pace" links to move about through the results. Use the Find option of your Web Browser to find the performance of a specific individual. Click here for data on women Last updated July 10, 2019 9:21 AM CLASS AGE GRADE FINISH PLACE PLACE FINISHER TIME PACE NET TIME 1 1 M20 Keegan Carda, 25, Saint Paul, MN 77.44% 16:46 5:24 16:46 2 1 M16 John Faller, 17, Woodbury, MN 77.05% 16:59 5:28 16:59 3 1 M55 Jim Holovnia, 55, Edina, MN 86.56% 17:43 5:42 17:43 4 2 M20 Logan Wikstrom, 20, Minneapolis, MN 70.88% 18:19 5:54 18:19 5 1 M45 Michael Smith, 47, River Falls, WI 78.53% 18:22 5:55 18:21 6 3 M20 Steven Miller, 28, St. Paul, MN 70.39% 18:27 5:56 18:24 7 1 M40 Steve Munson, 41, Roseville, MN 74.70% 18:29 5:57 18:27 8 1 M18 Tyler Osen, 18, Lakeville, MN 70.21% 18:30 5:57 18:21 9 2 M40 Dave Truchon, 44, Blaine, MN 76.12% 18:32 5:58 18:32 10 4 M20 David Ritter, 28, River Falls, WI 70.07% 18:32 5:58 18:32 11 2 M16 Carter Vande Vegte, 17, Sioux Center, IA 70.54% 18:33 5:58 18:28 Pace: 6:00 \| 7:00 \| 8:00 \| 9:00 \| 10:00 \| 11:00 \| 12:00 \| 13:00 \| 14:00 \| 15:00 \| Top 12 2 M45 Justin Renz, 47, Milton, MA 77.20% 18:41 6:01 18:41 13 1 M14 Brandon Brazil, 15, Jackson, WY 71.92% 18:41 6:01 18:38 14 3 M16 Calvin Fiala, 16, Andover, MN 70.71% 18:44 6:02 18:44 15 4 M16 Justin Luurtsema, 17, San Ramon, CA 69.66% 18:47 6:03 18:47 16 5 M20 Nathan Libra, 23, Richfield, MN 68.76% 18:53 6:05 18:47 17 6 M20 Trenton Allen, 20, Inver Grove Heigh, MN 68.51% 18:57 6:06 18:55 18 2 M18 Jordan Magistad, 19, Lake Elmo, MN 68.33% 19:00 6:07 19:00 19 7 M20 Father Paul Shovelain, 31, New Brighton, MN 68.28% 19:07 6:09 19:07 20 5 M16 Guled Bushusho, 17, Coon Rapids, MN 67.98% 19:15 6:12 19:06 21 1 M50 Jeff Brazil, 51, Jackson, WY 76.76% 19:22 6:14 19:20 22 8 M20 David Nuetzman, 30, Roseville, MN 67.18% 19:23 6:14 19:10 23 3 M40 Mike Johnson, 42, Shakopee, MN 71.31% 19:30 6:17 19:26 24 9 M20 Carter Roland, 23, Golden Valley, MN 66.52% 19:31 6:17 19:19 25 1 M35 Conor Johnson, 38, Tucson, AZ 68.79% 19:39 6:19 19:36 26 1 M60 Bobby Paxton, 62, Minneapolis, MN 82.27% 19:44 6:21 19:43 27 4 M40 Mohammed Murunga, 40, New Brighton, MN 68.89% 19:54 6:24 19:47 28 10 M20 Ryan Nichols, 27, St Paul, MN 65.08% 19:57 6:25 19:53 29 6 M16 Hayden Weddell, 16, White Bear Lake, MN 66.23% 20:00 6:26 19:48 30 5 M40 Jonathan Towey, 40, Bloomington, MN 68.43% 20:02 6:27 19:55 31 11 M20 Mark McLaughlin, 31, Minneapolis, MN 64.83% 20:08 6:29 19:54 32 12 M20 Jordan Acker, 28, Hopkins, MN 64.19% 20:14 6:31 20:12 33 1 M65 Dan Morse, 66, Minneapolis, MN 82.41% 20:23 6:34 20:21 34 6 M40 Shawn Everson, 41, Ham Lake, MN 67.73% 20:23 6:34 20:23 35 2 M35 Angel Morocho, 39, Minneapolis, MN 66.67% 20:25 6:34 20:12 36 2 M60 Tony Loyd, 60, Little Canada, MN 78.15% 20:26 6:35 20:25 37 13 M20 Joel Van Otterloo, 33, Sioux Center, IA 64.19% 20:28 6:35 20:26 38 14 M20 Ryan Madson, 27, Minneapolis, MN 62.97% 20:37 6:38 20:37 39 2 M55 Peter Dahlberg, 56, White Bear Lake, MN 74.92% 20:38 6:38 20:31 40 2 M14 Jonah O'Leary, 14, Rosemount, MN 66.31% 20:39 6:39 20:27 41 3 M14 Ronan Leonard, 14, Plymouth, MN 65.25% 20:59 6:45 20:57 42 15 M20 Peyton Gaumer, 22, Ankeny, IA 61.83% 21:00 6:46 20:57 43 3 M55 Jeff Wachter, 57, Shakopee, MN 74.03% 21:03 6:47 20:56 44 3 M45 Tim Hertaus, 49, Forest Lake, MN 69.28% 21:08 6:48 21:00 45 16 M20 Tyler Torell, 25, Minneapolis, MN 60.91% 21:19 6:52 21:14 46 4 M45 Mark Berggren, 47, New Brighton, MN 67.34% 21:25 6:54 21:12 47 3 M35 Bryan Pitko, 37, Minneapolis, MN 62.63% 21:26 6:54 21:18 48 3 M18 Joshua Hislop, 18, Phoenix, AZ 60.55% 21:27 6:54 21:26 49 4 M14 Mahad Ahmed, 14, Coon Rapids, MN 63.84% 21:27 6:54 21:18 50 17 M20 John Wulterkens, 26, St Paul, MN 60.39% 21:30 6:55 21:18 51 4 M35 Nicholas Petersen, 39, Minneapolis, MN 63.07% 21:35 6:57 21:22 52 5 M45 Greg Fuller, 47, Little Canada, MN 66.77% 21:36 6:57 21:34 53 18 M20 Riley Rinas, 29, Minneapolis, MN 59.91% 21:42 6:59 21:10 54 5 M35 Alfredo Calderon, 38, Minneapolis, MN 62.15% 21:45 7:00 21:37 55 4 M18 Ben Hislop, 18, Phoenix, AZ 59.72% 21:45 7:00 21:43 56 19 M20 Adam Gierok, 34, Lake Elmo, MN 60.48% 21:49 7:01 21:44 57 7 M40 Matt Fiala, 43, Andover, MN 63.90% 21:55 7:03 21:51 58 6 M35 Andrew Dahl, 39, St Paul, MN 62.06% 21:56 7:04 19:12 59 6 M45 Anthony Allen, 49, Inver Grove Heigh, MN 66.75% 21:56 7:04 21:49 60 8 M40 Peter Dyer, 42, Golden Valley, MN 63.21% 22:00 7:05 21:54 61 5 M18 Jack Van Dyke, 19, Lakeville, MN 58.79% 22:05 7:06 21:51 62 2 M50 Shelby Gary, 50, St Paul, MN 66.75% 22:06 7:07 22:03 63 7 M16 Mustafa Mohamud, 16, Coon Rapids, MN 59.93% 22:06 7:07 21:58 64 8 M16 Will Swanda, 17, Edina, MN 58.81% 22:15 7:10 21:44 65 5 M14 Ryan Swanda, 15, Edina, MN 60.39% 22:15 7:10 21:44 66 7 M35 Sean Kampshoff, 36, Minneapolis, MN 59.90% 22:16 7:10 21:59 67 7 M45 Jeff Nyberg, 45, Minneapolis, MN 63.35% 22:26 7:13 22:16 68 8 M45 Mark Osen, 49, Lakeville, MN 64.88% 22:34 7:16 22:25 69 9 M45 Scott Smullen, 47, Bloomington, MN 63.44% 22:44 7:19 22:37 70 8 M35 Jason Peterson, 35, Circle Pines, MN 58.34% 22:44 7:19 22:36 71 20 M20 Thomas Behr, 21, Burnsville, MN 57.07% 22:45 7:19 22:30 72 4 M55 Stanley Hammer, 58, Eden Prairie, MN 68.85% 22:49 7:21 22:37 73 21 M20 Matt Dolnik, 24, Minneapolis, MN 56.86% 22:50 7:21 20:16 74 22 M20 Shelby Heffron, 21, El Paso, IL 56.70% 22:54 7:22 22:51 75 3 M50 Michael Heffron, 52, El Paso, IL 65.37% 22:55 7:23 22:50 76 9 M35 Andrew Spurgeon, 38, Minneapolis, MN 58.94% 22:56 7:23 22:50 77 9 M40 Bill Bosch, 40, Apple Valley, MN 59.47% 23:03 7:25 22:45 78 23 M20 Maxwell Conrad, 34, Farmington, MN 57.04% 23:08 7:27 22:57 79 1 M8 Mateo Munson, 9, Roseville, MN 70.16% 23:11 7:28 22:52 80 24 M20 Clayton Miles, 29, Minneapolis, MN 56.04% 23:12 7:28 22:48 81 4 M50 Eric Ward, 50, St Paul, MN 63.36% 23:17 7:30 23:07 82 25 M20 Roberth Rodriguez, 34, Minneapolis, MN 55.95% 23:35 7:35 23:20 83 5 M50 Michael Farley, 52, Mendota Heights, MN 63.48% 23:36 7:36 23:12 84 26 M20 Sam Hulin, 32, Minneapolis, MN 55.43% 23:37 7:36 22:27 85 6 M50 Kevin Wessels, 53, Eden Prairie, MN 63.61% 23:44 7:38 23:26 86 10 M35 Matthew Gehring, 38, Minneapolis, MN 56.91% 23:45 7:39 23:17 87 10 M40 Adam Guzman, 42, Bloomington, MN 58.43% 23:48 7:40 23:42 88 11 M40 Don Williams, 42, St Cloud, MN 58.34% 23:50 7:40 23:39 89 11 M35 Curtis Rosenow, 35, Minneapolis, MN 55.61% 23:51 7:41 23:37 90 27 M20 Joshua Pueschel, 27, Minneapolis, MN 54.44% 23:51 7:41 23:22 91 9 M16 Akram Hajihamud, 17, Coon Rapids, MN 54.75% 23:54 7:42 23:46 92 28 M20 Raul Mehta, 20, Minneapolis, MN 54.32% 23:54 7:42 22:56 93 7 M50 Blake Hoena, 52, St Paul, MN 62.59% 23:56 7:42 23:50 94 12 M35 Ryan Plafcan, 36, Minneapolis, MN 55.73% 23:56 7:42 23:47 95 29 M20 Kevin Haffely, 26, Minneapolis, MN 54.21% 23:57 7:43 23:52 96 30 M20 Adam Polzin, 26, Saint Paul, MN 54.13% 23:59 7:43 23:29 97 31 M20 Kyle True, 34, Minneapolis, MN 54.98% 24:00 7:43 23:49 98 32 M20 Christopher Tabisz, 32, Saint Paul, MN 54.54% 24:00 7:43 23:39 99 12 M40 Michael Ingebritsen, 44, Bloomington, MN 58.54% 24:06 7:45 23:47 100 33 M20 Jacob Reinhardt, 22, Cannon Falls, MN 53.87% 24:06 7:45 23:48 101 34 M20 Ethan Klee, 24, Minneapolis, MN 53.69% 24:11 7:47 23:45 102 13 M35 Rick Wilson, 38, Minneapolis, MN 55.82% 24:13 7:48 23:33 103 35 M20 Richy Yin, 28, Bloomington, MN 53.45% 24:18 7:49 23:53 104 3 M60 David Hill, 63, Golden Valley, MN 67.19% 24:22 7:51 24:12 105 36 M20 Brady Stevenson, 29, Vadnais Heights, MN 53.32% 24:23 7:51 24:13 106 37 M20 Andrew Czarny, 27, Bloomington, MN 53.21% 24:24 7:51 21:49 107 8 M50 Todd Loining, 52, Minneapolis, MN 61.27% 24:27 7:52 24:03 108 38 M20 Joe Servadio, 28, Minneapolis, MN 53.01% 24:30 7:53 23:53 109 39 M20 Max Corman, 21, Bellevue, WA 52.99% 24:30 7:53 23:58 110 40 M20 Anthony Iverson, 29, Minneapolis, MN 53.06% 24:30 7:53 24:20 111 13 M40 Brian Thill, 42, Lino Lakes, MN 56.60% 24:34 7:54 24:20 112 1 M12 Aiden Johnson, 12, Shakopee, MN 58.35% 24:43 7:57 24:39 113 41 M20 Nick Weis, 32, Eden Prairie, MN 52.93% 24:44 7:58 24:19 114 4 M60 Joseph Evans, 62, New Richmond, WI 65.38% 24:50 8:00 24:24 115 42 M20 Lucas Burlingame, 31, Hudson, WI 52.38% 24:55 8:01 24:23 116 5 M60 David Kroll, 62, Superior, WI 65.03% 24:58 8:02 24:52 117 43 M20 Kyle Tanberg, 32, Lakeville, MN 52.36% 25:00 8:03 23:47 118 14 M35 Scott Kubie, 35, Minneapolis, MN 52.80% 25:07 8:05 24:56 119 6 M60 Robert Barthel, 61, Brooklyn Park, MN 64.02% 25:09 8:06 24:51 120 44 M20 Jeffrey Obrien, 21, Minneapolis, MN 51.42% 25:15 8:08 25:01 121 7 M60 Stephen Arnott, 62, St. Paul, MN 63.88% 25:25 8:11 25:08 122 10 M45 Darius Szewczak, 49, Minneapolis, MN 57.60% 25:25 8:11 25:16 123 11 M45 Jacob Whittaker, 46, Lakeville, MN 56.29% 25:26 8:11 25:15 124 9 M50 Rob Holgate, 54, St. Michael, MN 59.79% 25:27 8:11 24:07 125 6 M14 Alexander Chan, 14, Minneapolis, MN 53.77% 25:28 8:12 25:20 126 10 M50 Dan Chan, 52, Minneapolis, MN 58.82% 25:28 8:12 25:20 127 45 M20 Jenner Rauscher, 28, Minneapolis, MN 50.96% 25:29 8:12 24:44 128 46 M20 Isaiah Baker, 23, Eden Prairie, MN 50.92% 25:30 8:12 24:52 129 47 M20 Luke Riveness, 24, Minneapolis, MN 50.82% 25:33 8:13 25:21 130 2 M12 Lucas Weidner, 13, Crystal, MN 54.72% 25:37 8:15 25:17 131 48 M20 Jospeh Jason, 21, Eden Prairie, MN 50.68% 25:37 8:15 25:20 132 49 M20 Nelson Reyes, 32, Minneapolis, MN 51.07% 25:38 8:15 25:03 133 50 M20 Jake Laffey, 30, Golden Valley, MN 50.77% 25:39 8:15 25:08 134 12 M45 Jeremy Rockford, 47, White Bear Townsh, MN 56.19% 25:40 8:16 25:01 135 51 M20 Joe Krivit, 24, St Paul, MN 50.58% 25:40 8:16 24:38 136 52 M20 Chad Luangrath, 26, St Paul, MN 50.55% 25:41 8:16 25:16 137 53 M20 Peter Estall, 25, Eden Prairie, MN 50.55% 25:41 8:16 25:22 138 14 M40 Paul Petersen, 42, Maple Grove, MN 54.04% 25:44 8:17 25:12 139 11 M50 Mark Schutta, 54, New Brighton, MN 58.90% 25:50 8:19 25:05 140 54 M20 Anthony Von Ruden, 33, Falcon Heights, MN 50.73% 25:54 8:20 25:23 141 12 M50 Matt Starkey, 51, Minneapolis, MN 57.17% 26:00 8:22 25:44 142 8 M60 David Little, 62, Prior Lake, MN 62.36% 26:02 8:23 25:44 143 13 M50 Adam Tills, 50, Vadnais Heights, MN 56.67% 26:02 8:23 25:31 144 55 M20 Joe Tin, 28, Minneapolis, MN 49.89% 26:02 8:23 22:09 145 15 M40 Andrew Fiskness, 44, Maplewood, MN 53.78% 26:14 8:27 25:49 146 56 M20 Edwin Renner, 33, Crystal, MN 50.08% 26:14 8:27 26:02 147 16 M40 Brent Kieke, 42, Dayton, MN 53.01% 26:14 8:27 25:49 148 3 M12 Caleb Kieke, 12, Dayton, MN 54.98% 26:14 8:27 25:49 149 15 M35 Derek Kotval, 37, Watsonville, CA 50.98% 26:20 8:29 26:09 150 57 M20 Omar Duenas, 28, Bloomington, MN 49.26% 26:22 8:29 26:01 151 13 M45 Steve Gansen, 49, Minneapolis, MN 55.49% 26:23 8:29 26:01 152 17 M40 Andrew Dornbusch, 42, Minneapolis, MN 52.67% 26:24 8:30 26:17 153 18 M40 Adam Maltese, 44, Bloomington, IN 53.34% 26:27 8:31 26:14 154 14 M45 Paul Smith, 48, Osceola, WI 54.76% 26:32 8:32 26:16 155 7 M14 Drew Collins, 14, Dhahran 51.57% 26:33 8:33 24:29 156 16 M35 Timothy Schulz, 36, St. Louis Park, MN 50.11% 26:37 8:34 26:01 157 58 M20 Scott Rose, 33, Roseville, MN 49.27% 26:40 8:35 26:26 158 59 M20 Jacob Hagberg, 31, St Louis Park, MN 48.92% 26:41 8:35 26:26 159 2 M65 Joe Blunk, 67, Ames, IA 63.35% 26:45 8:37 26:23 160 60 M20 Jacob Reesey, 28, Minneapolis, MN 48.52% 26:46 8:37 26:12 161 19 M40 Jason Ruffalo, 43, Andover, MN 52.20% 26:50 8:38 26:35 162 20 M40 Olaf Lakin, 40, Minneapolis, MN 51.02% 26:52 8:39 23:28 163 61 M20 Philip Charboneau, 31, Minneapolis, MN 48.55% 26:53 8:39 26:43 164 5 M55 Kevin Kaiser, 59, Eden Prairie, MN 58.87% 26:54 8:39 23:44 165 21 M40 Darren Goetz, 41, Saint Paul, MN 51.26% 26:56 8:40 26:35 166 17 M35 Nathan Smith, 39, Minneapolis, MN 50.51% 26:57 8:40 26:22 167 15 M45 Ray Woodworth, 48, Chanhassen, MN 53.82% 27:00 8:41 26:18 168 6 M55 David Juda, 58, Maple Grove, MN 58.14% 27:01 8:42 26:36 169 62 M20 Jeremy Sutliff, 28, Minneapolis, MN 47.89% 27:07 8:44 23:14 170 22 M40 Josh Robinson, 44, Osceola, WI 51.99% 27:08 8:44 26:34 171 63 M20 Derek James, 30, Burnsville, MN 47.96% 27:09 8:44 26:41 172 64 M20 Brent Stevens, 29, Rosemount, MN 47.79% 27:12 8:45 26:44 173 65 M20 Jon Lamke, 29, Minneapolis, MN 47.74% 27:14 8:46 26:42 174 9 M60 Craig Kotval, 64, Eagan, MN 60.59% 27:15 8:46 27:03 175 66 M20 David Dorn, 32, Minneapolis, MN 47.95% 27:18 8:47 24:41 176 16 M45 Jon Astemborski, 46, Burlington, NJ 52.41% 27:19 8:48 26:42 177 23 M40 David O'Donnell, 41, Burlington, NJ 50.54% 27:19 8:48 26:42 178 67 M20 Tyler Boyle Hoban, 25, Chicago, IL 47.38% 27:24 8:49 25:11 179 17 M45 Jeff Darling, 48, Minneapolis, MN 53.00% 27:25 8:49 26:58 180 8 M14 Colton Warner, 14, Eden Prairie, MN 49.94% 27:25 8:49 26:45 181 18 M35 Brad Van Voorst, 38, Elk River, MN 49.30% 27:25 8:49 27:06 182 10 M16 Aj Collins, 16, Dhahran 48.28% 27:26 8:50 25:22 183 18 M45 Earl Skrip, 46, Mahtomedi, MN 52.12% 27:28 8:50 26:54 184 68 M20 Nathan Breuer, 29, Minneapolis, MN 47.30% 27:29 8:51 27:00 185 19 M45 Shawn Jarvis, 46, Vadnais Heights, MN 51.93% 27:34 8:52 27:03 186 14 M50 Paul Freher, 50, Minneapolis, MN 53.51% 27:34 8:52 27:07 187 7 M55 Tom Lehman, 59, Burnsville, MN 57.31% 27:38 8:54 27:12 188 69 M20 Jeff Hamilton, 34, Savoy, IL 47.72% 27:39 8:54 27:17 189 9 M14 Connor Douglas, 15, Virginia Beach, VA 48.60% 27:39 8:54 27:20 190 1 M70 Tom Couillard, 70, White Bear Lake, MN 62.98% 27:44 8:56 27:28 191 70 M20 Jarod Smith, 30, Shakopee, MN 46.76% 27:51 8:58 27:08 192 10 M60 Steve Kibler, 61, Monticello, MN 57.78% 27:52 8:58 27:31 193 71 M20 Matt Goodmanson, 22, Edina, MN 46.56% 27:53 8:58 27:19 194 11 M60 Jeffery Alspaugh, 60, Minneapolis, MN 57.23% 27:54 8:59 27:20 195 1 M10 Miles De Leon, 10, Eagan, MN 55.62% 27:55 8:59 27:48 196 6 M18 Cole Thompson, 19, St Louis Park, MN 46.45% 27:57 9:00 26:56 197 19 M35 Juan Mi Moctezuma Payan, 37, Saint Paul, MN 198 8 M55 Dean Polkow, 59, Minneapolis, MN 56.53% 28:01 9:01 27:28 199 24 M40 Fernando Traviss, 41, Minneapolis, MN 49.19% 28:04 9:02 25:07 200 4 M12 Cole Burnett, 12, Coon Rapids, MN 51.33% 28:06 9:03 27:38 201 7 M18 Beau Ranieri, 19, Lake Elmo, MN 46.01% 28:13 9:05 26:46 202 72 M20 Brayan Barrera, 22, Saint Paul, MN 45.99% 28:14 9:05 28:02 203 10 M14 Norman Nguyen, 14, Eden Prairie, MN 48.38% 28:18 9:07 27:24 204 9 M55 George Russo, 56, Minneapolis, MN 54.43% 28:24 9:08 27:12 205 20 M35 Mike Roumo, 36, Saint Paul, MN 46.88% 28:27 9:09 25:40 206 10 M55 Eric Hawkins, 56, Elk River, MN 54.27% 28:29 9:10 26:22 207 21 M35 Paul Morales, 36, Saint Paul, MN 46.75% 28:32 9:11 28:05 208 20 M45 Wade Larson, 48, Maple Grove, MN 50.90% 28:33 9:11 27:15 209 73 M20 Pierce Wilson, 22, Lakeville, MN 45.48% 28:33 9:11 26:40 210 12 M60 Dave Olson, 64, Blaine, MN 57.80% 28:34 9:12 28:14 211 21 M45 Elliott Smith, 48, Saint Paul, MN 50.75% 28:38 9:13 27:53 212 5 M12 Christopher Mellado, 12, Bloomington, MN 50.31% 28:40 9:14 27:47 213 3 M65 David Vander Haar, 65, Minneapolis, MN 58.06% 28:41 9:14 28:12 214 22 M35 Martin Ludden, 38, Saint Paul, MN 47.13% 28:41 9:14 28:07 215 13 M60 Kevin Stach, 60, St. Paul, MN 55.54% 28:45 9:15 28:01 216 22 M45 Chad Strunk, 48, Plymouth, MN 50.48% 28:47 9:16 28:07 217 11 M55 Warren Bailey, 55, Saint Paul, MN 53.19% 28:50 9:17 28:06 218 74 M20 Josue Ramirez, 20, Faribault, MN 44.90% 28:55 9:18 28:35 219 12 M55 Jay Broton, 56, Minneapolis, MN 53.37% 28:58 9:19 27:53 220 23 M45 Steve Custis, 47, Minneapolis, MN 49.70% 29:01 9:20 28:29 221 15 M50 Enrique Cervantes, 53, El Paso, TX 51.82% 29:08 9:23 27:30 222 23 M35 Hue Yang, 37, Minneapolis, MN 46.00% 29:11 9:24 26:52 223 24 M45 Gregory Berg, 49, Austin, TX 50.14% 29:12 9:24 28:31 224 25 M45 Daniel Glandorf, 48, Chaska, MN 49.65% 29:16 9:25 28:02 225 26 M45 Scott Anderson, 45, Minneapolis, MN 48.53% 29:17 9:25 26:08 226 4 M65 John Arnett, 67, Circle Pines, MN 57.77% 29:20 9:26 29:05 227 16 M50 Jair Pasquini, 51, Wayzata, MN 50.68% 29:20 9:26 27:37 228 13 M55 Louie Jaskulka, 57, St Paul, MN 53.06% 29:22 9:27 28:30 229 75 M20 Meng-Hsuan Wu, 33, Minneapolis, MN 44.71% 29:23 9:27 27:00 230 25 M40 Charles Drayton, 43, St. Paul, MN 47.64% 29:24 9:28 26:42 231 27 M45 Timothy Toonen, 49, St Paul, MN 49.80% 29:24 9:28 26:42 232 24 M35 Chad Essman, 36, Plymouth, MN 45.29% 29:27 9:29 28:30 233 5 M65 Michael Dinneen, 67, St Paul, MN 57.41% 29:31 9:30 28:48 234 25 M35 Michael Kasprzak, 36, Minneapolis, MN 45.16% 29:32 9:30 26:40 235 26 M40 Tim Svensson, 41, Plymouth, MN 46.64% 29:36 9:32 28:30 236 26 M35 Jeff Guertin, 38, Roseville, MN 45.49% 29:43 9:34 29:17 237 14 M55 Mark Palen, 58, St Paul, MN 52.77% 29:46 9:35 29:17 238 17 M50 Sean Watkins, 51, Plymouth, MN 49.88% 29:48 9:35 28:52 239 76 M20 Spencer Holgate, 23, Saint Michael, MN 43.57% 29:48 9:35 28:29 240 27 M35 Nick Tollefson, 38, Eden Prairie, MN 45.33% 29:49 9:36 28:38 241 77 M20 Joel Cassens, 31, Richfield, MN 43.78% 29:49 9:36 29:06 242 27 M40 Guy Lindvall, 41, Minnetonka, MN 46.30% 29:49 9:36 27:08 243 78 M20 Zach Etter, 33, Minneapolis, MN 44.04% 29:50 9:36 28:52 244 18 M50 Lee Ziegler, 50, Duluth, MN 49.42% 29:51 9:36 29:01 245 28 M40 Kristopher Luneau, 43, Roseville, MN 46.82% 29:55 9:38 29:13 246 28 M35 Nathan Vanbeek, 35, St Paul, MN 44.33% 29:55 9:38 29:16 247 14 M60 Rick Seifert, 61, Little Canada, MN 53.76% 29:57 9:38 29:12 248 6 M65 Herbert Nichols, 65, Golden Valley, MN 55.54% 29:59 9:39 29:06 249 29 M40 Edward Larson, 41, St Paul, MN 46.00% 30:01 9:40 28:50 250 29 M35 Robert Southard, 39, Woodbury, MN 45.35% 30:01 9:40 28:50 251 6 M12 Cooper Bryant, 12, Fargo, ND 48.00% 30:03 9:40 29:59 252 79 M20 Kelvin Johnson, 30, Minneapolis, MN 43.34% 30:03 9:40 29:25 253 2 M70 Doug Busch, 71, New Brighton, MN 58.73% 30:06 9:41 29:53 254 11 M14 Atticus Mikla, 14, Woodbury, MN 45.44% 30:08 9:42 29:39 255 28 M45 Curt Wiens, 45, Woodbury, MN 46.90% 30:18 9:45 30:05 256 30 M35 Casey Bengston, 36, Burnsville, MN 43.83% 30:26 9:48 30:11 257 31 M35 Charles Weiss, 39, Saint Paul, MN 44.70% 30:27 9:48 29:17 258 80 M20 Avi Baron, 29, St Louis Park, MN 42.60% 30:31 9:49 27:28 259 29 M45 Todd Watterson, 48, Wayzata, MN 47.59% 30:32 9:50 29:39 260 15 M55 Ken Junker, 58, Shoreview, MN 51.42% 30:33 9:50 29:12 261 19 M50 John Corman, 53, Bellevue, WA 49.36% 30:35 9:51 30:02 262 30 M45 Tom Boedeker, 46, Minneapolis, MN 46.73% 30:38 9:52 29:12 263 20 M50 Dominic Abram, 54, Roseville, MN 49.62% 30:40 9:52 29:57 264 12 M14 Nathan Petersen, 14, Maple Grove, MN 44.65% 30:40 9:52 29:16 265 81 M20 Nathan Ansel, 26, Starkville, MS 42.27% 30:43 9:53 29:46 266 32 M35 Joseph Ott, 39, St Paul, MN 44.29% 30:44 9:53 29:26 267 15 M60 Anthony Brown, 61, New Hope, MN 52.33% 30:46 9:54 30:23 268 16 M60 William Swenson, 63, Minneapolis, MN 53.16% 30:48 9:55 30:11 269 82 M20 Andrew Swenson, 28, Edina, MN 42.17% 30:48 9:55 30:12 270 16 M55 Durk Thompson, 55, St. Louis Park, MN 49.79% 30:48 9:55 29:47 271 33 M35 Dan Lo, 38, Eagan, MS 43.86% 30:49 9:55 29:38 272 83 M20 Joseph Olson, 29, Minneapolis, MN 42.19% 30:49 9:55 26:00 273 17 M60 Allen Omernik, 63, Hudson, WI 53.10% 30:50 9:55 27:42 274 84 M20 Zachary Baker, 25, Minneapolis, MN 42.02% 30:54 9:57 28:38 275 85 M20 Jordan Van Den Eng, 24, Bloomington, MN 41.99% 30:55 9:57 27:52 276 34 M35 Casey Taylor, 37, Eden Prairie, MN 43.35% 30:58 9:58 28:24 277 86 M20 Casey Everson, 28, Bloomington, MN 41.87% 31:01 9:59 29:23 278 18 M60 Russ Shupe, 62, Prior Lake, MN 52.32% 31:02 9:59 29:02 279 19 M60 Patrick Huber, 64, Edina, MN 53.15% 31:04 10:00 27:30 280 31 M45 Andy Swanda, 45, Edina, MN 45.72% 31:05 10:00 30:35 281 20 M60 Daniel Slusher, 63, Brooklyn Park, MN 52.59% 31:08 10:01 30:16 282 21 M60 Paul Gerard, 61, Shakopee, MN 51.71% 31:08 10:01 30:54 283 30 M40 Jacob Petron, 42, Minneapolis, MN 44.64% 31:09 10:02 29:17 284 21 M50 Chris Gams, 52, Minneapolis, MN 48.06% 31:10 10:02 27:28 285 8 M18 Thomas Rettinger, 18, Hudson, WI 41.65% 31:11 10:02 30:26 286 87 M20 Gage Morgan, 27, Bloomington, MN 41.57% 31:14 10:03 30:07 287 35 M35 Timothy Schlee, 36, Minneapolis, MN 42.64% 31:17 10:04 31:15 288 22 M60 Steven Thompson, 60, Minneapolis, MN 51.02% 31:18 10:04 30:56 289 31 M40 Jason Bestler, 43, Saint Anthony, MN 44.72% 31:19 10:05 30:01 290 32 M45 Jeremy Dobson, 46, New Brighton, MN 45.67% 31:21 10:05 30:21 291 33 M45 Chad Thiele, 45, Hudson, WI 45.26% 31:24 10:06 30:45 292 34 M45 James Durbin, 46, Minnetonka, MN 45.38% 31:33 10:09 30:07 293 35 M45 Scott McDaniel, 46, Columbus, MN 45.33% 31:35 10:10 28:44 294 2 M10 Ben Clark, 11, St Paul, MN 47.24% 31:35 10:10 27:55 295 7 M65 Mike Crawford, 66, Otsego, MN 52.99% 31:42 10:12 29:37 296 11 M16 Kevin Nelson, 17, Shoreview, MN 41.28% 31:42 10:12 30:21 297 88 M20 Jonah Poppen, 25, Minneapolis, MN 40.94% 31:43 10:12 29:28 298 89 M20 Charles Schafer, 25, Minneapolis, MN 40.91% 31:44 10:13 29:28 299 90 M20 Justin Shanedling, 28, Minneapolis, MN 40.90% 31:45 10:13 28:39 300 3 M10 Talon Schifsky, 11, Arden Hills, MN 46.99% 31:45 10:13 30:51 301 36 M45 Mark Bangert, 47, Shoreview, MN 45.35% 31:48 10:14 30:54 302 91 M20 David Tyra, 30, St Paul, MN 40.91% 31:50 10:15 30:53 303 92 M20 Adam Lozeau, 33, St. Paul, MN 41.27% 31:50 10:15 28:49 304 17 M55 Ryan Gaumer, 56, Ankeny, IA 48.53% 31:51 10:15 31:09 305 22 M50 Duane Kukuk, 52, Bloomington, MN 46.91% 31:56 10:17 31:37 306 93 M20 Apollo Perkins, 24, Minneapolis, MN 40.64% 31:57 10:17 30:55 307 23 M60 Randy Roland, 61, Minneapolis, MN 50.37% 31:58 10:17 30:45 308 32 M40 Dan O'Leary, 41, Rosemount, MN 43.12% 32:01 10:18 29:43 309 23 M50 Reede Webster, 53, Minneapolis, MN 47.10% 32:03 10:19 31:22 310 24 M60 Bill Strom, 60, Mountain Lake, MN 49.67% 32:09 10:21 28:58 311 94 M20 Gareth Hughes, 33, Saint Paul, MN 40.80% 32:12 10:22 31:45 312 24 M50 Len Josephs, 50, Burnsville, MN 45.79% 32:13 10:22 28:55 313 18 M55 Gene Hockensmith, 56, Woodbury, MN 47.86% 32:18 10:24 31:17 314 95 M20 Sidhant Acharya, 28, Mn, MN 40.19% 32:19 10:24 30:18 315 37 M45 Brians Nelson, 46, Maple Grove, MN 44.25% 32:21 10:25 31:30 316 36 M35 Tyler Morrison, 36, Minneapolis, MN 41.21% 32:22 10:25 29:23 317 19 M55 Keith Nelson, 58, White Bear Townsh, MN 48.51% 32:23 10:25 29:05 318 96 M20 Eric Miller, 33, Minnetonka, MN 40.55% 32:24 10:26 31:17 319 20 M55 Joseph Demeules, 55, Watersound, FL 47.26% 32:27 10:27 30:31 320 97 M20 Brandon Nguyen-Calkins, 22, St Paul, MN 39.99% 32:28 10:27 31:21 321 4 M10 Theo Mendez, 10, Minneapolis, MN 47.68% 32:34 10:29 31:30 322 38 M45 Jeff Hoffmann, 48, Minneapolis, MN 44.55% 32:37 10:30 32:05 323 21 M55 Nelson Zamora, 55, Woodbury, MN 46.97% 32:39 10:31 30:01 324 37 M35 William Dunne, 37, Minneapolis, MN 41.07% 32:41 10:31 30:43 325 39 M45 Nigel Mendez, 45, Minneapolis, MN 43.46% 32:42 10:31 31:38 326 22 M55 Jerrmiah Squires Jr, 58, Edina, MN 47.99% 32:44 10:32 30:40 327 38 M35 Tyson Trible, 37, St Paul, MN 40.99% 32:45 10:32 31:11 328 25 M50 Scott Myren, 53, Maple Grove, MN 46.07% 32:46 10:33 31:58 329 98 M20 Lee Highman-Nocon, 25, Minneapolis, MN 39.58% 32:48 10:33 31:54 330 99 M20 Eric Bredeson, 31, Ramsey, MN 39.77% 32:49 10:34 30:48 331 100 M20 Tucker Jensen, 27, Minneapolis, MN 39.48% 32:53 10:35 31:23 332 33 M40 Jon Schmidt, 42, St Paul, MN 42.27% 32:54 10:35 32:18 333 34 M40 Ryan Weiche, 42, St Paul, MN 42.27% 32:54 10:35 32:18 334 12 M16 Brody Schultz, 17, Zimmerman, MN 39.69% 32:58 10:37 26:16 335 25 M60 Perry Nelson, 60, Shoreview, MN 48.12% 33:11 10:41 31:48 336 9 M18 Zachary Holland, 19, Chaska, MN 39.05% 33:15 10:42 31:08 337 35 M40 Patrick Moes, 42, Farmington, MN 41.67% 33:22 10:44 30:40 338 40 M45 Hal Balfour, 47, Plymouth, MN 43.12% 33:27 10:46 31:28 339 41 M45 Derek Johnson, 48, Plymouth, MN 43.42% 33:28 10:46 32:21 340 42 M45 Jason Thompson, 47, Woodbury, MN 42.99% 33:33 10:48 31:01 341 8 M65 Gary Partlow, 65, Apple Valley, MN 49.56% 33:36 10:49 31:01 342 23 M55 John Van Dyke, 56, Lakeville, MN 45.96% 33:38 10:50 32:01 343 26 M50 Todd Stacy, 53, Fridley, MN 44.82% 33:41 10:50 33:00 344 26 M60 Maniarasu Thangaraju, 62, Minneapolis, MN 48.18% 33:42 10:51 31:37 345 36 M40 Chris Watson, 44, Andover, MN 41.74% 33:48 10:53 32:14 346 5 M10 Henry Watson, 11, Andover, MN 44.14% 33:48 10:53 32:14 347 24 M55 Brad Freeman, 56, Chaska, MN 45.73% 33:48 10:53 33:14 348 13 M14 Saiid Warsame, 15, Coon Rapids, MN 39.72% 33:50 10:53 33:41 349 101 M20 Jackson Andert, 20, Savage, MN 38.36% 33:51 10:54 31:15 350 37 M40 Ryan Wood, 42, Saint Paul, MN 41.06% 33:52 10:54 33:01 351 102 M20 Andrew White, 27, Spartanburg, SC 38.32% 33:53 10:54 31:58 352 103 M20 Sourabh Sankhe, 31, Eden Prairie, MN 38.47% 33:56 10:55 30:57 353 104 M20 Felipe Ramirez, 20, Faribault, MN 38.26% 33:56 10:55 33:34 354 6 M10 Ismael Youssuf, 11, St Paul, MN 43.97% 33:56 10:55 30:16 355 27 M50 Dan Cramer, 51, St Paul, MN 43.79% 33:57 10:56 32:48 356 43 M45 Michael Hobbs, 49, Edina, MN 43.12% 33:57 10:56 32:48 357 25 M55 Joe Rauscher, 59, Stillwater, MN 46.58% 34:00 10:57 33:15 358 39 M35 Daniel Nevers, 35, Minneapolis, MN 38.93% 34:04 10:58 32:25 359 28 M50 Scott Calhoun, 52, Apple Valley, MN 43.91% 34:07 10:59 33:23 360 105 M20 Zachary Zirbes, 27, Plymouth, MN 38.04% 34:08 10:59 30:43 361 44 M45 Anthony Westendorp, 46, Minneapolis, MN 41.86% 34:12 11:00 31:43 362 40 M35 Zachary Ernst, 38, Prescott, WI 39.43% 34:17 11:02 33:19 363 41 M35 Thomas Monroe, 38, Robbinsdale, MN 39.43% 34:17 11:02 32:35 364 38 M40 Donny Thompson, 42, St Paul, MN 40.54% 34:18 11:02 30:46 365 39 M40 Joseph Tobritzhofer, 41, Oakdale, MN 40.25% 34:18 11:02 30:47 366 40 M40 Andrew Haag, 43, Shoreview, MN 40.77% 34:21 11:03 21:37 367 106 M20 Travis Burrier, 29, Saint Paul, MN 37.81% 34:23 11:04 31:07 368 27 M60 Bradley Schaffner, 60, Northfield, MN 46.19% 34:34 11:08 33:38 369 45 M45 Ryan Munthe, 46 41.40% 34:35 11:08 33:44 370 107 M20 David Svehla, 34, Minneapolis, MN 37.92% 34:48 11:12 30:55 371 46 M45 Claud Balestra, 45, Wayzata, MN 40.78% 34:51 11:13 33:04 372 29 M50 Thomas Jones, 53, Blaine, MN 43.26% 34:54 11:14 34:06 373 108 M20 Christopher Sturm, 34, Minneapolis, MN 37.77% 34:56 11:15 33:25 374 42 M35 Travis Ramsey, 35, Minneapolis, MN 37.96% 34:56 11:15 33:25 375 109 M20 Kevin Sorensen, 23, Minneapolis, MN 37.15% 34:57 11:15 32:53 376 110 M20 Ian Scheffler, 31, St Paul, MN 37.35% 34:57 11:15 33:24 377 111 M20 Kyle Geyer, 30, Mahtomedi, MN 37.24% 34:58 11:15 31:36 378 7 M12 Jonas Franklin, 13, Minneapolis, MN 40.03% 35:01 11:16 33:58 379 30 M50 David Smart, 51, Princeton, MN 42.41% 35:03 11:17 34:14 380 43 M35 Mauro Burgos, 35, Brooklyn Center, MN 37.77% 35:07 11:18 32:36 381 9 M65 Peter St. Martin, 65, Wales, WI 47.42% 35:07 11:18 33:57 382 28 M60 Karl Dean, 60, Minneapolis, MN 45.47% 35:07 11:18 33:59 383 112 M20 Matt Erickson, 32, Andover, MN 37.26% 35:08 11:18 34:49 384 113 M20 Ben Wilke, 31, Circle Pines, MN 37.15% 35:08 11:18 33:19 385 44 M35 Webster Ford, 36, Brooklyn Park, MN 37.91% 35:11 11:19 32:23 386 41 M40 Amy Muhs, 40, Carver, MN 38.96% 35:11 11:19 33:36 387 47 M45 Nattapol Pornsalnuwat, 45, Minneapolis, MN 40.35% 35:13 11:20 32:44 388 26 M55 Ken Engle, 56, Shakopee, MN 43.87% 35:14 11:20 33:44 389 29 M60 Tim Ahern, 62, Minneapolis, MN 46.01% 35:17 11:21 33:53 390 114 M20 Ben Pearson, 26, New Brighton, MN 36.78% 35:18 11:22 33:53 391 115 M20 Greg Mutsch, 23, Minneapolis, MN 36.76% 35:19 11:22 34:15 392 31 M50 Mike Sonnek, 53, Edina, MN 42.71% 35:21 11:23 31:58 393 42 M40 Jeremy Pischke, 41, Minneapolis, MN 39.00% 35:24 11:24 31:50 394 116 M20 Mathew Benjamin, 31, Plymouth, MN 36.85% 35:25 11:24 34:20 395 117 M20 Aaron Omernik, 23, Hudson, WI 36.66% 35:25 11:24 32:00 396 48 M45 Mark Stock, 48, Minneapolis, MN 40.99% 35:27 11:25 33:16 397 10 M65 Robert Burrell, 65, St Paul, MN 46.93% 35:29 11:25 34:06 398 118 M20 Drew Hau, 31, Minneapolis, MN 36.77% 35:30 11:26 32:00 399 119 M20 Joey Robillard, 27, Minneapolis, MN 36.50% 35:34 11:27 28:18 400 7 M10 Colin Miller, 10, Saint Paul, MN 43.59% 35:37 11:28 34:38 401 3 M70 David Olson, 73, Bloomington, MN 50.84% 35:44 11:30 34:15 402 43 M40 Scott Miller, 41, Saint Paul, MN 38.62% 35:45 11:30 34:45 403 120 M20 Todd Marcotte, 24, Minneapolis, MN 36.22% 35:51 11:32 34:12 404 44 M40 Anthony Crusan, 41, Saint Paul, MN 38.44% 35:55 11:34 31:07 405 45 M40 Matthew Zamastil, 43, Burnsville, MN 39.00% 35:55 11:34 32:07 406 121 M20 Ken Lauer, 29, Eagan, MN 36.16% 35:57 11:34 33:06 407 49 M45 Brian Blahous, 45, Downers Grove, IL 39.35% 36:07 11:37 34:56 408 32 M50 Mark Schmidt, 54, Plymouth, MN 41.99% 36:14 11:40 35:01 409 45 M35 Richard Andrew, 38, Minneapolis, MN 37.31% 36:14 11:40 28:34 410 122 M20 Nemer Zain, 33, Eden Prairie, MN 36.23% 36:16 11:40 32:41 411 30 M60 Howie Smith, 61, Minneapolis, MN 44.37% 36:17 11:41 35:03 412 27 M55 Stephen Grantham, 55, Atlanta, GA 42.25% 36:18 11:41 35:27 413 33 M50 Ian Hillier, 50, Minneapolis, MN 40.56% 36:22 11:42 33:43 414 123 M20 Dan Klucas, 25, Shoreview, MN 35.65% 36:25 11:43 33:27 415 2 M8 Griffin Prevost, 9, Minneapolis, MN 44.28% 36:44 11:49 33:38 416 3 M8 Siena Prevost, 9, Minneapolis, MN 44.28% 36:44 11:49 33:38 417 46 M40 Robert Prevost, 42, Minneapolis, MN 37.80% 36:47 11:50 33:41 418 124 M20 Cameron Berns, 26, Golden Valley, MN 35.25% 36:50 11:51 33:11 419 125 M20 Timothy Juang, 25, Minneapolis, MN 35.25% 36:50 11:51 33:34 420 46 M35 Daniel Rothenbueler, 36, Maple Grove, MN 36.18% 36:52 11:52 34:19 421 31 M60 Joel Case, 62, Lino Lakes, MN 44.02% 36:53 11:52 33:15 422 47 M35 Elijah House, 35, Franklin, TN 35.92% 36:55 11:53 33:40 423 48 M35 Rohit Sawant, 35, Alpharetta, GA 35.79% 37:03 11:55 34:04 424 49 M35 Dennis Gutierrez, 37, Roseville, MN 36.12% 37:10 11:58 36:32 425 47 M40 B J. Nodzon, 42, Saint Paul, MN 37.40% 37:11 11:58 34:44 426 50 M45 Trey Clark, 49, Orange, TX 39.25% 37:18 12:00 35:53 427 126 M20 Zach Benson, 22, Coon Rapids, MN 34.79% 37:19 12:01 34:42 428 48 M40 Michael Tu, 41, New York, NY 37.00% 37:19 12:01 36:01 429 50 M35 Anthony Krech, 39, Newport, MN 36.43% 37:22 12:02 35:13 430 51 M35 Thomas Lange, 35, Maple Grove, MN 35.49% 37:22 12:02 33:35 431 52 M35 Danne Brown, 37, Woodbury, MN 35.76% 37:32 12:05 36:09 432 13 M16 Mohamed-Wali Mohamed, 16, Coon Rapids, MN 35.26% 37:34 12:05 37:26 433 14 M14 Yaasir Ali, 15, Coon Rapids, MN 35.77% 37:34 12:05 37:25 434 127 M20 Michael Kane, 29, St Louis Park, MN 34.54% 37:38 12:07 34:33 435 128 M20 Nick Lumpe, 27, Shakopee, MN 34.41% 37:44 12:09 36:17 436 34 M50 Ron Fee, 51, Oakdale, MN 39.40% 37:44 12:09 35:30 437 8 M12 Jay Green, 13, Roseville, MN 37.10% 37:47 12:10 36:58 438 49 M40 Drew Hallman, 42, Anoka, MN 36.71% 37:53 12:12 34:21 439 51 M45 Brad Madson, 48, Edina, MN 38.31% 37:56 12:13 35:30 440 4 M8 Noah Silver, 9, Minneapolis, MN 42.75% 38:03 12:15 35:29 441 4 M70 William Weiner, 73, Minnetonka, MN 47.72% 38:04 12:15 36:36 442 129 M20 Benjamin Pflueger, 28, Lakeville, MN 34.06% 38:08 12:16 34:26 443 32 M60 Jim Cummins, 64, Minneapolis, MN 43.30% 38:08 12:16 35:07 444 130 M20 Tim Chandler, 33, Eagan, MN 34.38% 38:13 12:18 36:24 445 5 M8 Samuel Mellado, 9, Bloomington, MN 42.51% 38:16 12:19 37:03 446 9 M12 Nathan Resnik, 12, Minneapolis, MN 37.66% 38:18 12:20 37:13 447 28 M55 John Emerick, 56, Minneapolis, MN 40.12% 38:32 12:24 36:27 448 131 M20 Pedro Gonzalez, 33, Minneapolis, MN 33.85% 38:49 12:30 35:19 449 53 M35 Chris Brossart, 36, Saint Paul, MN 34.33% 38:51 12:30 37:22 450 52 M45 Eric Herr-Madsen, 46, Minneapolis, MN 36.82% 38:53 12:31 37:08 451 8 M10 Peyton Ackerberg, 11, Long Lake, MN 38.32% 38:56 12:32 38:32 452 54 M35 Dmitry Zadvornykh, 37, Hopkins, MN 34.46% 38:57 12:32 37:17 453 53 M45 Sky Gillespie, 48, Maplewood, MN 37.31% 38:57 12:32 37:07 454 50 M40 Charlie Kubousek, 40, Eden Prairie, MN 35.20% 38:57 12:32 36:54 455 132 M20 Nicholas Kesler, 29, St Paul, MN 33.35% 38:59 12:33 37:30 456 55 M35 Bishal Sharma, 39, Apple Valley, MN 34.92% 38:59 12:33 37:44 457 9 M10 Bivan Sharma, 11, Apple Valley, MN 38.27% 38:59 12:33 37:44 458 51 M40 Travis Beste, 44, Minneapolis, MN 36.17% 39:00 12:33 37:38 459 52 M40 Tom Baldwin, 44, Coon Rapids, MN 36.16% 39:01 12:33 37:07 460 54 M45 Calvin Zhao, 48, Cary, NC 37.23% 39:02 12:34 37:46 461 6 M8 Fynn Berger, 8, St Paul, MN 43.93% 39:05 12:35 37:08 462 133 M20 Donncuan Dunlevy, 34, North Saint Paul, MN 33.75% 39:06 12:35 35:36 463 7 M8 Tate Burnett, 8, Minneapolis, MN 43.67% 39:19 12:39 38:31 464 56 M35 Jeff Burnett, 38, Minneapolis, MN 34.38% 39:19 12:39 38:30 465 134 M20 Avery Loya, 21, Minneapolis, MN 33.01% 39:20 12:40 31:31 466 33 M60 Thomas McGowan, 60, Minneapolis, MN 40.54% 39:23 12:41 36:29 467 57 M35 Ryan Stephens, 39, Chicago, IL 34.53% 39:25 12:41 36:23 468 135 M20 Josh Mertens, 32, Maple Grove, MN 33.13% 39:31 12:43 36:08 469 136 M20 Cory Schroeder, 31, Saint Louis Park, MN 33.03% 39:31 12:43 36:08 470 58 M35 David Niles, 39, Minnetonka, MN 34.27% 39:43 12:47 36:08 471 5 M70 Spencer Kempf, 71, St. Paul, MN 44.49% 39:44 12:47 38:01 472 35 M50 Keith Norbie, 51, Chanhassen, MN 37.37% 39:47 12:48 37:07 473 137 M20 David Stein, 25, St Louis Park, MN 32.51% 39:56 12:51 38:52 474 8 M8 Oskar Helle-Morrissey, 8, St. Paul, MN 42.53% 40:22 13:00 38:38 475 9 M8 Henry Helle-Morrissey, 8, St. Paul, MN 42.53% 40:22 13:00 38:38 476 36 M50 Roberto Caballero, 50, Saint Paul, MN 36.50% 40:25 13:00 38:01 477 138 M20 Chinh Van, 32, Minneapolis, MN 32.32% 40:30 13:02 29:31 478 55 M45 Brian Lease, 48, Robbinsdale, MN 35.88% 40:30 13:02 38:45 479 29 M55 Alan Burton, 58, Austin, MN 38.77% 40:31 13:02 38:59 480 53 M40 James Douglas, 41, Virginia Beach, VA 34.02% 40:35 13:04 39:01 481 10 M12 Daunte Ndemo, 13, Minneapolis, MN 34.54% 40:35 13:04 37:25 482 34 M60 Lawrence Marczak, 62, Plymouth, MN 39.97% 40:37 13:04 38:53 483 11 M12 Liam Barry, 13, Rochester, MN 34.50% 40:38 13:05 38:56 484 56 M45 Mike Zirbel, 45, Plymouth, MN 34.87% 40:45 13:07 39:19 485 139 M20 Patrick Arnold, 29, Chicago, IL 31.88% 40:47 13:08 27:03 486 59 M35 Nicholas Cowan, 39, Minneapolis, MN 33.25% 40:56 13:10 37:23 487 37 M50 William Barry, 53, Rochester, MN 36.84% 40:59 13:11 39:18 488 140 M20 Wesley Mast, 28, Nappanee, IN 31.59% 41:07 13:14 39:17 489 14 M16 Josh Holland, 17, Chaska, MN 31.81% 41:08 13:14 39:00 490 60 M35 Brian Ake, 39, Port Saint Lucie, FL 32.97% 41:17 13:17 38:45 491 35 M60 Mike Knapper, 64, Blaine, MN 39.95% 41:20 13:18 39:49 492 30 M55 Michael Dorner, 55, St. Paul, MN 36.97% 41:29 13:21 38:49 493 38 M50 Jeremy Smith, 50, Brooklyn Park, MN 35.56% 41:29 13:21 39:13 494 141 M20 Justin Bischoff, 32, Prior Lake, MN 31.46% 41:37 13:24 36:19 495 31 M55 Brett Wacker, 55, Knapp, WI 36.33% 42:13 13:35 39:17 496 57 M45 Robert Herrmann, 47, St Paul, MN 34.07% 42:20 13:38 38:44 497 58 M45 Jeff Robison, 48, St Paul, MN 34.10% 42:37 13:43 40:16 498 1 M75 Dennis Bealka, 75, Inver Grove Heigh, MN 43.76% 42:50 13:47 30:36 499 59 M45 Razman Zambri, 45, Eden Prairie, MN 33.00% 43:04 13:52 41:36 500 11 M65 Alan Silver, 69, Minneapolis, MN 39.28% 43:59 14:09 41:25 501 39 M50 Jon Fure, 50, St. Paul, MN 33.46% 44:05 14:11 43:30 502 60 M45 Sean Rein, 49, Shoreview, MN 33.17% 44:08 14:12 41:40 503 12 M65 Rick Johnson, 69, Champlin, MN 39.12% 44:10 14:13 42:01 504 142 M20 Benjamin Bercaw, 32, Burnsville, MN 29.59% 44:14 14:14 42:57 505 143 M20 Raamkumar Thiyagarajan, 32, Maple Grove, MN 29.56% 44:17 14:15 40:55 506 12 M12 Cormac Leonard, 12, Plymouth, MN 32.53% 44:20 14:16 43:05 507 144 M20 Denver Robinson, 24, Robbinsdale, MN 29.26% 44:22 14:17 42:43 508 36 M60 Michael Conrad, 60, Elk River, MN 35.95% 44:25 14:18 42:59 509 40 M50 John Fritsch, 52, Maple Grove, MN 33.59% 44:36 14:21 42:27 510 2 M75 Kirk Ransom, 78, Minnetonka, MN 44.17% 44:54 14:27 43:12 511 61 M35 Kai Engstroem, 36, Bismarck, ND 29.70% 44:55 14:27 42:52 512 32 M55 Kevin Oconnor, 56, Plymouth, MN 34.38% 44:58 14:28 42:31 513 10 M10 Arnau Hernandez, 11, Aberdeen, SD 33.17% 44:59 14:29 43:04 514 41 M50 Michael Linert, 50, Edina, MN 32.78% 45:00 14:29 42:17 515 54 M40 Mark Rauscher, 42, Aberdeen, SD 30.90% 45:00 14:29 43:05 516 42 M50 John Engebretson, 50, Savage, MN 32.78% 45:00 14:29 37:33 517 13 M12 Owen Boss, 13, Minneapolis, MN 31.14% 45:01 14:29 39:59 518 55 M40 Andres Hernandez, 40, Aberdeen, SD 30.44% 45:02 14:30 43:06 519 43 M50 Peter Victorine, 50, Minneapolis, MN 32.63% 45:13 14:33 42:48 520 37 M60 Wingsang Chan, 61, Shoreview, MN 35.58% 45:15 14:34 43:36 521 62 M35 Devin Del Rosario, 37, Minneapolis, MN 29.64% 45:17 14:34 42:28 522 44 M50 Stephen Hennessy, 52, Minneapolis, MN 33.02% 45:22 14:36 43:21 523 63 M35 Michael Lowe, 36, Maple Grove, MN 29.34% 45:28 14:38 41:48 524 61 M45 Peter Boss, 47, Minneapolis, MN 31.58% 45:40 14:42 38:40 525 145 M20 Ben Zins, 24, Minneapolis, MN 28.42% 45:41 14:42 43:26 526 146 M20 Larry Benson, 32, St Michael, MN 28.60% 45:46 14:44 41:32 527 45 M50 Chris Hallin, 53, Eden Prairie, MN 32.56% 46:22 14:55 45:09 528 56 M40 Michael De Leon, 44, Eagan, MN 30.38% 46:26 14:57 44:50 529 147 M20 Noah Brenny, 20, Hastings, MN 27.76% 46:46 15:03 44:36 530 62 M45 Jeffrey Mutschler, 46, Hudson, WI 30.59% 46:48 15:04 43:59 531 148 M20 Anne Peiris, 34, Minneapolis, MN 28.16% 46:52 15:05 44:22 532 149 M20 Yoshan Peiris, 34, Minneapolis, MN 28.16% 46:52 15:05 44:21 533 1 JrM Sean Peiris, 6, Minneapolis, MN 41.96% 46:52 15:05 44:21 534 10 M8 Elijah Layne, 9, Bloomington, MN 34.53% 47:06 15:10 45:08 535 150 M20 Jeremy Delgado, 33, Eden Prairie, MN 27.82% 47:14 15:12 44:22 536 38 M60 Gary Wernersbach, 61, Zimmerman, MN 34.00% 47:21 15:14 45:18 537 151 M20 Jacob Wernersbach, 30, Zimmerman, MN 27.50% 47:21 15:14 45:19 538 63 M45 Jim Kidwell, 49, Minneapolis, MN 30.74% 47:38 15:20 45:37 539 152 M20 David Phan, 31, Blaine, MN 27.16% 48:04 15:28 37:05 540 153 M20 Nam Le, 34, Andover, MN 27.45% 48:04 15:28 37:04 541 57 M40 Patrick Foley, 42, Maple Grove, MN 28.75% 48:22 15:34 44:54 542 2 JrM Elijah Vargas, 7, Saint Paul, MN 37.30% 49:01 15:47 41:18 543 154 M20 Matthew Potter, 31, Kansas City, MO 26.62% 49:02 15:47 46:09 544 11 M8 Liam Nguyen, 9, Minneapolis, MN 33.04% 49:14 15:51 46:13 545 64 M35 Don Swedberg, 36, Lake Crystal, MN 27.08% 49:15 15:51 42:23 546 14 M12 Jackson Nguyen, 12, Minneapolis, MN 29.27% 49:16 15:51 46:14 547 33 M55 Todd Becxkmann, 58, Grantsburg, WI 31.76% 49:28 15:55 46:54 548 155 M20 Mitchell Workmon, 30, Hopkins, MN 26.28% 49:33 15:57 46:53 549 39 M60 Todd Willert, 62, Onaga, KS 32.73% 49:36 15:58 46:51 550 12 M8 Noah Schone, 8, Albert Lea, MN 34.42% 49:53 16:03 46:42 551 1 M80 Robert Nepple, 81, Minneapolis, MN 42.15% 50:24 16:13 47:59 552 156 M20 Brian Cronen, 34, Minneapolis, MN 26.02% 50:43 16:19 47:56 553 65 M35 Evan Schwartz, 36, Vadnais Heights, MN 26.26% 50:47 16:21 33:08 554 13 M8 Franky Drewiske, 9, Virginia Beach, VA 31.95% 50:55 16:23 49:15 555 13 M65 Thomas Simonet, 65, Stillwater, MN 32.50% 51:15 16:30 48:49 556 34 M55 Lance Thoresen, 56, Burnsville, MN 29.99% 51:33 16:35 48:49 557 64 M45 Tim Diamond, 48, Woodbury, MN 28.17% 51:35 16:36 50:02 558 35 M55 Kirk Langum, 59, Maple Grove, MN 30.70% 51:35 16:36 51:10 559 66 M35 David Fink, 38, Hudson, WI 26.20% 51:36 16:36 48:24 560 36 M55 Jim Breezley, 57, Farmington, MN 29.83% 52:14 16:49 49:44 561 58 M40 Stephen Silver, 40, Minneapolis, MN 26.11% 52:30 16:54 49:55 562 46 M50 Jim Ibinger, 51, North Branch, MN 28.24% 52:38 16:56 48:01 563 37 M55 David Drake, 55, Bloomington, MN 28.90% 53:04 17:05 50:34 564 65 M45 Gary Martinson, 46, De Pere, WI 26.94% 53:09 17:06 50:49 565 3 JrM Everett Schone, 5, Albert Lea, MN 40.03% 53:30 17:13 50:17 566 67 M35 Darren Schone, 35, Albert Lea, MN 24.79% 53:30 17:13 50:17 567 68 M35 Justin Wollenburg, 35, Burnsville, MN 24.45% 54:15 17:28 42:29 568 59 M40 Jeremy Wallin, 44, Blaine, MN 25.79% 54:42 17:36 52:19 569 47 M50 Jeff Devereaux, 52, Maple Grove, MN 27.39% 54:42 17:36 51:45 570 60 M40 Michael Walters, 42 25.37% 54:49 17:39 52:06 571 14 M65 Jim Miller, 68, Minneapolis, MN 30.92% 55:18 17:48 52:31 572 157 M20 Braden Hoyer, 29, Farmington, MN 23.44% 55:27 17:51 52:47 573 69 M35 Prasad Kandlakunta, 37, Minneapolis, MN 23.92% 56:07 18:04 51:00 574 70 M35 Matt Bruggeman, 35, Eden Prairie, MN 23.50% 56:26 18:10 53:23 575 15 M12 Lucas Romero, 13, Roseville, MN 24.77% 56:35 18:13 55:18 576 61 M40 Claudio Romero, 44, Roseville, MN 24.93% 56:36 18:13 55:21 577 14 M8 Zakaria Mohamud, 9, St Paul, MN 28.42% 57:14 18:25 53:31 578 40 M60 Randall Adams, 64, St. Louis Park, MN 28.73% 57:28 18:30 55:21 579 6 M70 Craig Traviss, 74, Minneapolis, MN 31.99% 57:39 18:33 54:35 580 41 M60 Joe Nelson, 63, Shorewood, MN 28.08% 58:19 18:46 55:29 581 71 M35 Matt Dewolf, 38, Plymouth, MN 23.06% 58:37 18:52 55:08 582 15 M65 Tony Upkes, 68, Richfield, MN 29.16% 58:39 18:53 56:44 583 42 M60 Dan Krivit, 64, St Paul, MN 28.10% 58:46 18:55 55:33 584 4 JrM Asher Dewolf, 4, Plymouth, MN 36.10% 59:20 19:06 55:51 585 158 M20 Stephen Hampshire, 31, White Bear Lake, MN 21.32% 1:01:14 19:42 57:54 586 43 M60 Dale Fadden, 64, Buffalo, MN 26.83% 1:01:32 19:48 587 66 M45 Tim Kohls, 46, St. Paul, MN 22.99% 1:02:17 20:03 49:44 588 15 M8 Baek Martin-Kohls, 9, St Paul, MN 26.11% 1:02:18 20:03 49:45 589 16 M8 Oswaldo Ponze, 9, St Paul, MN 25.02% 1:05:00 20:55 1:00:26 590 5 JrM Ishmael Baur, 3, Maplewood, MN 30.76% 1:09:38 22:25 1:06:15 591 44 M60 Mark Baur, 64, Maplewood, MN 23.71% 1:09:38 22:25 58:41 592 17 M8 Marcus Westberry, 9, Minneapolis, MN 23.04% 1:10:35 22:43 1:03:01 * indicates females 5 finishers among Men Under 8 17 finishers among Men 8 - 9 10 finishers among Men 10 - 11 9 finishers among Men 18 - 19 158 finishers among Men 20 - 34 7 finishers among Women Under 8 9 finishers among Women 8 - 9 12 finishers among Women 10 - 11 9 finishers among Women 16 - 17 286 finishers among Women 20 - 34 592 male finishers 901 female finishers 1493 total finishers	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line1650417
__label__wiki	0.780725	0.780725	Best Salma Hayek Movies This is the list of Best Salma Hayek Movies. Salma Hayek Pinault, known professionally as Salma Hayek, is a Mexican and American film actress, producer, and former model. Salma Hayek husband name is François-Henri Pinault. what is salma hayek age? she born on 2 September 1966. Her fans look for Salma hayek hot videos and pictures, but here you will get Best Salma Hayek Movies. 1. Frida, 2002 Based on the true story of the life of the artist Frida Kahlo who shares an unstable and complex relationship with her (salma hayej) husband and also has an illicit affair with Leon Trotsky. 2. From Dusk till Dawn, 1996 On the run from a bank robbery that left several police officers dead, Seth Gecko (George Clooney) and his paranoid, loose-cannon brother, Richard (Quentin Tarantino), hightail it to the Mexican border. Kidnapping preacher Jacob Fuller (Harvey Keitel) and his kids, the criminals sneak across the border in the family’s RV and hole up in a topless bar. Unfortunately, the bar also happens to be home base for a gang of vampires, and the brothers and their hostages have to fight their way out. 3. Desperado, 1995 A musician arrives in a Mexican town and is mistaken as a hitman. He runs into trouble with a local drug lord and seeks to avenge the death of his lover. 4. Dogma, 1999 Two fallen angels who were ejected from paradise find themselves banned in Wisconsin. They are now headed for New Jersey where they find a loophole that can get them back into heaven. The only catch is that it will destroy humanity. Group bands together to stop them. 5. Once Upon a Time in Mexico, 2003 El Mariachi, a gunman, is recruited by CIA agent Sheldon Sands to stop a drug kingpin from assassinating the President of Mexico, but he has a different plan in mind. 6. Bandidas, 2006 Two women (slma hayek and Penélope Cruz) team up and rage a war against an enforcer who tries to capture their lands. 7. After the Sunset, 2004 Two retired jewel thieves and FBI Agent Stan play a game of cat-and-mouse. Stan wants to ensure that they are really retired as he is convinced that they have another robbery plan up their sleeves. 8. Savages, 2012 Two high-quality weed dealers from the US rely on a controversial anti-narcotic government official to liberate their kidnapped girlfriend from a ruthless Mexican drug cartel. 9. Fools Rush In, 1997 After spending a night together, Alex and Isabel drift apart. When Isabel realizes that she’s pregnant, they decide to get married. But compromises pertaining to their respective cultures await them. 10. Puss in Boots, 2011 Puss teams up with his friends, Humpty Dumpty and Kitty Softpaws, in order to defeat two criminals, Jack and Jill, and retrieve the magical beans that they possess. 11. Grown Ups, 2010 Five friends reunite for their high-school coach’s funeral. Despite their individual problems, they take their families to the lake house where they celebrated their championship win. 12. Everly, 2014 Fighting back after four years as a yakuza sex-slave, a woman (salma hayack) matches wits and weaponry with a legion of killers who are out to collect the bounty on the heads of her and her family. 13. Beatriz at Dinner, 2017 Beatriz is a Los Angeles massage therapist and holistic healer who drives to the seaside mansion of her client Cathy. When her old Volkswagen breaks down, she receives a friendly invitation from Cathy to stay for a seemingly innocent business dinner. As the guests arrive and the wine starts to flow, Beatriz finds herself in an escalating war of words with Doug Strutt, a ruthless real estate mogul who cares more about money than people. 14. Wild Wild West, 1999 Special Agent Jim West and inventive US Marshal Artemus Gordon are ordered by President Ulysses Grant to team up to save the world from Dr. Arliss Loveless’s enormous steam-powered tarantula. 15. The Hitman’s Bodyguard, 2017 The world’s top protection agent is called upon to guard the life of his mortal enemy, one of the world’s most notorious hit men. The relentless bodyguard and manipulative assassin have been on the opposite end of the bullet for years and are thrown together for a wildly outrageous 24 hours. During their journey from England to the Hague, they encounter high-speed car chases, outlandish boat escapades and a merciless Eastern European dictator who is out for blood. 16. Tale of Tales, 2015 Three fairy tales revolve around a king (John C. Reilly) who must slay a sea monster, a giant flea and a womanizing ruler (Vincent Cassel) who’s in for a surprise. 17. The Faculty, 1998 When Casey Connor, Herrington High School’s newspaper photographer, witnesses the murder of a nurse and sees her alive again, she decides to investigate the bizarre happenings. 18. How to Be a Latin Lover, 2017 Maximo gets the surprise of his life when his wealthy, 80-year-old wife dumps him for a younger car salesman. Forced out of his mansion, he must now move in with his estranged sister Sara and her nerdy but adorable son Hugo. Anxious to return to the lap of luxury, Maximo hatches a scheme to seduce a widowed billionaire and live the high life once again. 19. The Prophet, 2014 A dissident being kept under house arrest recounts valuable lessons in a series of vignettes while a mischievous young woman causes trouble in her town. 20. Timecode, 2000 A production company begins casting for its next feature, and an up-and-coming actress named Rose (salma hayel) tries to manipulate her filmmaker boyfriend, Alex, into giving her a screen test. Alex’s wife, Emma (Saffron Burrows), knows about the affair and is considering divorce, while Rose’s girlfriend secretly spies on her and attempts to sabotage the relationship. The four storylines in the film were each shot in one take and are shown simultaneously, each taking up a quarter of the screen. 21. Ask the Dust, 2006 Arturo Bandini (Colin Farrell) is a writer who moves from Colorado to Los Angeles with aspirations of completing a great novel. There he meets bold Mexican waitress Camilla (selma hyake). She wants to live a better life and thinks marrying for money may be her answer. Arturo, who tries to project a confidence that he is inwardly lacking, initially acts coldly toward Camilla. Despite not seeming like a viable match, a romance gradually develops between the two. 22. Mi Vida Loca, 1993 Young Latino women (Angel Aviles, Seidy Lopez) view their lives as gang members in Echo Park, Los Angeles. 23. Grown Ups 2, 2013 Lenny decides to move to his hometown with his family and friends. On his arrival at the hometown, he faces many comical situations while his friends struggle to cope up with their own issues. 24. Breaking Up, 1997 Monica and Steve are deeply in love with each other and have been together for more than two years. However, owing to their impulsive and passionate natures they can never find harmony together. 25. Lonely Hearts, 2006 In mid-1900s, a murderous couple known as the ‘The Lonely Hearts Killers’, killed close to a dozen people. Two detectives try to nab the duo who found their targets via the personals in the paper. Best Blake Lively Movies and TV shows Best Brad Pitt Movies Best Rose Leslie Movies and TV shows Best Ariel Winter Movies and TV Shows Best Ryan Reynolds Movies Greatest Actors in Movies All Time Best Jennifer Garner Movies and TV shows Best Heather Graham Movies Best Actresses to Win Oscars for Best Actress Greatest Martial Arts Actors of All-Time Best Henry Cavill Movies Best Elizabeth Olsen Movies Show Dogs Movie Review	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line1650418
__label__cc	0.672878	0.327122	2012 Mini Cooper S Clubman Class: Mini The top 10 fastest cars from Mini are ranked from fastest to slowest based on their 0-60 times. We crunched the numbers from the best estimates of several premier resources, including Motor Trend, Road & Track, Car & Driver and more. Pulling up at #11 in this class is the 2012 Mini Cooper S Clubman, which races 0-60 mph in 6.6 seconds. Sports cars with this rate of acceleration are generally classified as Spirited Cars. It lags behind the #10 ranked 2012 Mini Cooper S Coupe by just hundredths of a second and darts ahead of the #12 ranked 2014 Mini Cooper S Hardtop by just hundredths of a second. Whether you are behind the wheel of one of these cars or happen to spot one in the next lane over, think twice before you step on the gas pedal. In a race from 0-60 mph between 2012 Mini Cooper S Clubman vs. 2014 Mini Cooper S Hardtop, you would WIN by just hundredths of a second! If you happen to roll up next to another Mini, be sure you know what you're up against. Find out where your car stands among the top 10 fastest cars from 2012. Model: Cooper S Clubman Engine: I-4 turbocharged Transmission: 6M Class: Spirited Cars Rank: #218 @ speed: 93.4 mph	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line1650419
__label__cc	0.716023	0.283977	Home Europe Tottenham have ‘already’ agreed terms with player – Clubs have ‘mutual desire... Tottenham have ‘already’ agreed terms with player – Clubs have ‘mutual desire to reach agreement’ Tottenham Hotspur have been heavily linked with Giovani Lo Celso in the summer transfer window. Earlier this month, we carried a report from Estadio Deportivo, who explained there was a meeting between the officials of the two clubs in a well-known restaurant on Calle Betis, on the banks of the Guadalquivir River. Estadio Deportivo once again relays the same information and claims the Champions League runners-up are the ‘main club’ interested in the 23-year-old, with whom Betis have been in talks with for several weeks for the Argentina international. However, despite continuous phone calls since said meeting, common ground still hasn’t been found. The La Liga side had initially slapped a €40m price in May and that has now increased to €70m, which ‘didn’t sit too well’ with Spurs. Tottenham, on their part, are ‘tightening the thumbscrews’ on the transfer, as it’s claimed the Premier League side have ‘already’ reached agreement for a £150,000-a-week deal with Lo Celso. The report states ‘despite the current differences, both clubs are obliged to get along, with the mutual desire to reach an agreement.’ Clearly there is a belief that two clubs can reach an agreement as Estadio Deportivo claims Lo Celso is likely to be Real Betis’ club record sale. Giovani Lo Celso Previous articleMan United scouting defender in pre-season – Transfer talks mentioned Next articleAfter refusing to go on Arsenal’s pre-season tour, Koscielny ‘close’ to agreement with Ligue 1 side	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line1650420
__label__wiki	0.641143	0.641143	Funny Women of a Certain Age - Showtime Network Showtime Network (map) EVENT: Funny Women of a Certain Age DATE: March 23 on Showtime at 9 PM EST Funny Women of a Certain Age Premiering March 23rd on the Showtime Network Created by Carole Montgomery Funny Women of a Certain Age is a show straight from the unfettered mouths and uninhibited minds of the funniest, most daring, most experienced people in comedy: the women that have seen it all. They’ve raised children both on and off the road, having club bouncers watch their babies while onstage. These women have stayed in comedy condos where you don’t want to use a blacklight on anything. They’ve been told women aren’t funny and asked to trade sexual favors for work. This groundbreaking TV special makes history by featuring 6 female comics over the age of 50.Trust us, they have A LOT to say & they say it hysterically. These women are knocking down the walls of ageism AND sexism one joke at a time. Filmed at the Bell House in Brooklyn, Fran Drescher leads a cast of some of the best mature, female comics in the business. Featuring Carole Montgomery, Vanessa Hollingshead, Kerri Louise, Lynne Koplitz and Luenell. Each are women who have years of experience making people laugh. In this one hour television event, Carole comes home to Brooklyn and back to Showtime where she made her first network television appearance on Comedy Club All Stars 6. Known as the comic's comic, Funny Women of a Certain Age creator Carole Montgomery has already brought to the stage some of the most respected names in comedy including Janeane Garofalo, Julia Scotti, Cathy Ladman, Kira Soltanovich, Wendy Liebman, Judy Gold, Nikki Carr, Tammy Pescatelli and Felicia Michaels. Dozens of other comedians that have been headlining and selling out clubs and theaters all over the country for many years are part of the touring show’s roster of rotating comedians. WOACA was a featured show in both the Cinder Block and New York Comedy Festivals. VENUE: Showtime Network Deborah Crooks at The Lost Church Womanimation! 2019 Encore MassArt Edition	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line1650423
__label__wiki	0.68799	0.68799	Postby Srf » Thu May 09, 2019 2:52 pm I first landed in Vorga in 1972, to cover the fortieth anniversary of the Ulannic revolution in Sharfland. My editor had told me it would be a difficult assignment - I was one of only a handful of Wallaseans allowed in the country, especially long-term - but I remember feeling confident, unperturbed. I had been a foreign correspondent in Prekovy, Questers, Puerto Blanco, and Taihei Tengoku. How different, really, could life in the Aimagate be? My bizarre quest to acquire a visa was to be the first clue. The Aimagate had very few embassies worldwide, so I had to travel to the Sharfic embassy in Mbeyanchi. The visa officer barely spoke any non-Sharfic languages, but everything he did manage to convey to me was loaded with hostility and suspicion. No, he told me, no Wallaseans were allowed in the Aimagate. I brought his attention to the signed letter from the Directorate of Internal Revolutionary Affairs that he had just finished reading and told him, but your own government has invited me as a foreign correspondent. The officer told me that the government had banned all Wallaseans. The letter apparently meant little to him. This is not in accordance with the laws of the government, he said. The rules, he said, were clear. I finally managed to convince him to ask the Directorate himself, which he did after three days of me coming back to press him. He eventually gave me a seven day temporary landing permit and told me I would have to extend it in Vorga myself. He had delayed me by almost a week, so when I arrived at Vorga International Airport there were only a few days left before the anniversary celebrations really got underway. The visa experience had given me a taste of what to come, and the airport held up another scoop. Depsite Vorga being a nominally large city of over one million, the place was almost deserted. The arrivals board (with hand-written chalk slides) was so depopulated that flights scheduled for a week's time were listed. I was interviewed for over an hour by two secret policemen who, again, cared very little about my official invitation and told me I didn't have a correct visa to enter the Aimagate. They did eventually let me into the country, seemingly out of an aversion to detaining me until the next outbound flight rather than really being convinced by my protestations. The paper had somehow arranged a driver and accommodation in advance, and he was waiting for me outside. He was short, stocky, and smelled of cheap cigarettes and stale hay and told me his name was Urg. His car was more rust than metal, with the interior coated in Ulannic charms and pendants that dangled from every possible location. They are for good luck, he told me. He said he had never met a foreigner before. Driving into Vorga it felt more like a colossal sprawling village than a true city. Unlike the airport there were people everywhere - sitting in clusters, washing clothes, stirring vats of millet, or just chatting on the pavements. The road was six lanes on each side but only three were for vehicles, of which we saw very few that were not painted in a distinctive dull brown military shade. The rest of the lanes were reserved for the driving of cows, horses and goats to homes, markets or slaughterhouses in and around the city. Urg told me that all Ulannics in the Aimagate were entitled to grazing land for their animals, and this ruling extended to those living in cities - the vast majority of Vorga was a maximum of three storeys, made up of small cubular homes stacked on top of each other like lego bricks. Small grazing paddocks occupied the roofs of lower-floor homes, and networks of ramps allowed for livestock to ascend and descend the different levels. In Wallasea a city of this physical footprint would have housed at least five to six million people - here, it was an endless suburb. Despite being subtropical in latitude, the endless trampling of millions of hoofs had coated most of the city in a fine layer of choking dust. The musty, unpleasant smell of farm animals was inescapable, and hung over the streets like a haze even more impenetrable than the dust itself. My home was in the inner core of the city, where small clusters of six- to twenty-storey buildings suddenly erupted out of the earth like mushrooms. This, Urg said, was where the Baga-Ulans lived. He told me that Baga-Ulans were non-Ulannic minorities from the north, west, and east of Sharfland who were here to work "indoor jobs" in industry and trade. From the way Urg talked, I don't think he much cared for Baga-Ulans. He regretted that I was being made to live in a sky tower, away from the land, with Baga-Ulans and told me that he wished he could take me to his own neighbourhood to live in the Sergeltist blocks with him. I smiled and agreed and silently hoped that would not be a part of my itinerary. My apartment was on the eighth floor of a sky tower, and surprisingly spacious (though without an elevator). Urg told me he would be back in the morning to take me to the Directorate of Internal Revolutionary Affairs. Cautioning me not to leave until then he bid me good day, leaving me to unpack my things. The first thing I did was check for police bugs, which were in abundance. Then I opened my window and stepped onto my balcony, which overlooked a neglected green courtyard between three tower blocks. Immediately across the road were the infinite rows of Sergelt homes, stretching away into the horizon, interrupted here and there by a park or market square or some kind of vehicle depot.I stood looking for a while but didn't see any shops, or entertainments, or bars or restaurants. Just thousands upon thousands of horses and goats and cows and yaks. Re: Bid bol Sergeeltyum! Life in the Aimagate Postby Srf » Fri May 31, 2019 4:39 pm The worst visa in the world The Directorate for Internal Revolutionary Affairs (DIRA - or DIRE, as it quickly came to be known amongst our minuscule expatriate community) was, along with all other Sharfic government ministries, located in the Vorga old city. It was quite a thing entering the old city, rising suddenly from endless identical Sergelt blocks to the south of the newly raised settlement. Protected as it was by centuries-old mud walls and watchtowers, the old city was a perfectly preserved example of historic Ulannic architecture rarely found outside of the Ulangazori steppe. Its streets were narrow and shadowy, its houses beautifully crafted from fired clay and coated here and there in stucco or plaster. Wrought-iron balconies overlooked the streets, and eruptions of bougainvillea and lilies spilled between every gap. "Urg, this is beautiful". I remember saying. "Why is the rest of the city not like this?" He flashed a look in the rear-view mirror. No land, he said. Built by degenerate Ulans. Only the government would live here, he said, to fulfil their patriotic duty. I didn't really know how to reply so I nodded in an understanding way and peered out the window as the narrow houses quickly gave way to an enormous walled compound. Here the clay firing was painted a flat white, again studded with watchtowers that this time housed dozens of bored-looking Ordu troops in camouflage. Urg drove up to the gate and flashed some ID. "Government complex" he said, as we passed through into a large marble courtyard. Inside were around five or six buildings, between one and eight floors in height, all build from the same white-painted plaster and with flat angular designs. These, Urg said, were the ministry buildings, where the revolutionary government gathered to direct the people. I did indeed see some signs of revolutionary activity as we crawled into the parking lot - in a shady corner, a small band of goats were lazily munching on a bale of hay. The DIRA offices were on the seventh floor of the tallest building - as I stared out the window of the waiting room over miles and miles of Sergeltist cubes, I wondered if they were up here to better stare into people's windows with binoculars. Even here, a few miles from the blocks and several stories in the air, the smell of hay and animal excrement caught the back of my throat. I was sharing the room with several men, all wearing some combination of leather jackets, sunglasses and resplendent moustaches. They had all stared when I walked in, but quickly went back to smoking cigarettes or reading newspapers. Somehow the lack of attention made me more uneasy than the stares. I was called into a room with two other men, a table, chair and suspicious-looking mirror. I wondered if this was where the Aimagate's famous interrogations took place - no, that would be in the basement, away from the sky and the fresh air. The older man did all the talking - his colleague remained mute for the duration of the interview, scribbling notes into a paper pad. "Good morning sir. Thank you for taking the time to come and meet us. Would you like something? A coffee? Cigarette maybe?" I declined. "You are here to formalise your residence visa for the Ulannic Aimagate of the Sharfland. May I ask your reason for requesting this visa?" Doubtlessly he already knew, and had read a thick file on my previous activities many times over, but I humoured him. "I am a reporter for the Continental Times. We received an invitation from your Directorate to base a foreign correspondent in Vorga to cover news regarding the Aimagate. But I think the visa officer in Mbeyanchi was unfamiliar with issuing long term visas to foreigners, so he asked me to come here". "I see" said the man. "and how long do you wish to stay?" "I was offered a one year residence visa. I would like to stay for this period and then confer with my superiors and the Directorate to see what happens in the future". "Hmm. I am going to ask you some questions and I would like you to answer them honestly. Have you ever written anything libellous relating to a government?" "Never". "Have you ever partaken in any activities that could be considered detrimental to state security?" "Um-" "Mass demonstrations, general strikes, armed action against legal authorities?" "I can promise that I maintain objectivity and responsible reporting in my work". "I see. Have you ever engaged in sexual intercourse with a person of a foreign nationality?" "Excuse me?" "Do you take narcotic drugs? Have you ever experienced homosexual thoughts? Have you ever owned land? Are you affiliated with any religious organisation outside of the Ulannic religious order?" "Now wait just a minute" I said, reaching the end of my tether. "These are very personal questions. I get the impression you want to know if I may breach some part of your criminal code. I can assure you that I am a professional of the highest order who only works within commonly followed industry guidelines. My editor, and colleagues in previous countries, explained as much in their reference letters supporting my visa application". The younger man ruffled through a Manila folder and passed some papers to his colleague - he took a deliberate amount of time to read them before nodding his head. "Yes, I can see that. Well in that case, I suppose we can accept these documents. You will have to complete a health check at the hospital. We test for mental retardations and infectious diseases. Please bring the results back here and we will have your visa prepared for you". I left the room feeling somewhat violated, like the Directorate man had rooted around my brain with a magnifying glass. But really, I pondered as I drove through those huge gates with the platoons of soldiers and left the DIRA and its dungeons behind, I was lucky. They could prod me, and question me, but they would never dare do anything more. There were thousands of Aimagate citizens languishing in jails across the country that could not claim such a luxury.	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line1650424
__label__wiki	0.753075	0.753075	Highway to heaven season 1 episode 11 cast Highway to heaven season 1 episode 11 cast. to Highway to Heaven: Part 1 (TV Episode 1984) 2019-04-13 Saturday, April 13, 2019 4:16:46 PM Christina to Dust Child (TV Episode 1984) Also, if the son is in high school which means he could be anywhere from 14 to 17 years old the actual actor was 15 at the time. Cooper November 27, 1985 1985-11-27 The daughter of Mark's friends sets out to find her real mother when she learns she's adopted. Young February 26, 1986 1986-02-26 Following two tragedies for which Mark feels responsible, Jonathan gives him the power to start over. Gutierrez January 6, 1988 1988-01-06 As a promise to their dying mother, four brothers go on the run from a court order that would split them up. The young hood is surprisingly well-received by the widow, and helps her deal with the forthcoming problem. A few shows, however, were played mainly for laughs such as Landon recreating his first famous starring role in a takeoff of his 1957 film I Was a Teenage Werewolf. Highway to Heaven (TV Series 1984 Show Summary Jonathan Smith is a probationary angel sent back to Earth to help people. During the series' first episode, he meets embittered ex-policeman Mark Gordon as Jonathan is walking along a little-used road, on which Mark happens to be driving. His assignment is to help not only the occupants but also the administrator Leslie Gordon. Brad Gaines as Billy Jacoby. Cast Episode cast overview, first billed only:. Cooper November 25, 1987 1987-11-25 Jonathan and Mark deal with a penal system that doesn't allow inmate mothers to see their children. Gutierrez December 7, 1988 1988-12-07 Kim goes to a veterans' counseling group and Jonathan consoles Major Hastings about his son. Highway To Heaven S1 E1: Highway To Heaven: Series Premiere Part 1 . Gutierrez November 13, 1985 1985-11-13 Jonathan and Mark come to the aid of a minor-league baseball team that's never won a game and an old vendor, once a player for the black leagues, who gets kicked out of the stadium. Gutierrez November 19, 1986 1986-11-19 A 12-year-old boy genius is an outcast at college where he has a popular jock for a roommate. He then asks Estelle to take care of the puppy during the day. Written by Goofs When Johnathan asks Estelle to watch his puppy, Michael Landon gets his lines mixed up. However, the war was in full swing around 1967 and it is unlikely any soldier would have been released at that time. Cooper February 11, 1987 1987-02-11 Hostility ensues when a halfway house is established in a neighborhood. to Highway to Heaven: Part 1 (TV Episode 1984) Instead of saying the puppy is ok at night when he is home and cries during the day, he says the puppy is fine during the day because he is with him but night is a problem. However, the man's son, who is the product of the veteran's marriage to an American woman, is not as welcoming to his half-sister. Cooper June 16, 1989 1989-06-16 A double amputee joins a crusade for the handicapped following a false fire alarm. Claxton Rift Fournier December 18, 1985 1985-12-18 The doctor for a pro-football team gets a player addicted to painkillers and pep pills. Typical episodes stressed moral, Christian themes; though many episodes dealt with common human failings, such as egotism, bitterness and greed, some shows addressed such topics as racism and cancer. Jonathan helps reform Mark, with the grateful Mark agreeing to become Jonathan's right-hand associate in carrying out the heavenly mission. Legend: P Plot Outline present. Cooper November 28, 1984 1984-11-28 A veteran of the Vietnam War welcomes the 15-year-old girl he fathered with a native woman into his house. Gas Station Owner as Dan Owens. Cooper January 15, 1986 1986-01-15 Jonathan and Mark emerge from a meteorite to help an unemployed man keep custody of his orphaned grandson. Furthermore, Nguyen is usually a surname, not a given name. D Director of episode present. When the gang assures their man wins the fight by kidnapping the old boxer, Jonathan motivates the retired actors to be the Old West heroes who inspired kids to do right, and they in turn rally the neighborhood residents to stand up to the gang and rescue the grandfather. Watch Highway to Heaven Season 1 Episode 11: Dust Child on NBC (1985) Gutierrez December 7, 1988 1988-12-07 A nurse is still reeling from the Vietnam War and a 17-year-old discovers he's adopted. Cooper December 12, 1984 1984-12-12 Jonathan and Mark get jobs at a hotel where they give the guests what they deserve. Gutierrez October 21, 1987 1987-10-21 A doctor is forced to confront a terrible secret when a black family plans to live next door to him. Guide available in: Choose Season: Ep. W Writer of episode present. Jonathan Smith, an angel, arrives at a retirement home which is in danger of being sold and torn down. Highway to Heaven (1984) Episode Guide Season 1	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line1650431
__label__cc	0.640355	0.359645	SIU News SIUFrankfurt: Open Science-Applications in Research and Industry Author: Vanessa Hübner Edited by: Ruth Sang Jones SIUFrankfurt recently hosted an interesting event on “Open Science: Applications in Research and Industry”. We invited Dr. Axel Kohler, the Deputy Managing Director for Natural and Life Sciences (GRADE) in Frankfurt and Dr. Susanne Müller-Knapp, the Chief Operating Officer of Structural Genomics Consortium (SGC) in Frankfurt. The first speaker of the evening was Dr. Axel Kohler, who explained that open science refers to the access of data, materials, methods, knowledge, sources, hardware, licensing etc. This access is relevant to the public, but is especially important in the academic environment. But why is it important to speak about open science? A 2016 study published in Nature by Dr. Monya Baker revealed that an overwhelming majority of scientists feel that research is in a reproducibility crisis. Dr. Kohler believes that the problem arises from the high degrees of freedom in research practise; researchers sometime have flexible sampling rates or select observations that fit into a hypothesis while others are excluded. With this, science runs into a big problem- impactful research cannot be trusted without caution. He emphasizes that a major part of informative research is not published, such as data that does not support a given hypothesis.The repurcussions of this extend beyond academia and into industry; pharmaceutical companies have mounting reservations concerning scientific results published in peer-reviewed literature as highlighted in the study by Prinz et al. (2011) featured in Nature Reviews Drug Discovery. This study found that only 21% of the literature data is corroborated by company in-house results. So, what can we do, on an individual level, to gain back the trust in the reproducibility of our research? Several tips are proposed: Prior to executing experiments, do a power analysis to estimate the required sample size for your experiments (Researchers can check this website) Share your science and register your research project before data acquisition or data analysis (at open science framework ) Separate a prior hypothesis test and explorative data analysis Analyse your experiments with an adjusted researcher’s degree of freedom, such as those explained by Simmons et al., Psych Sci (2011) Apply strict statistical criteria Practice open science! Make your data and analysis codes available at https://osf.io/ Beyond that, Dr Kohler described remedies on a structural level for institutions, journals and funding bodies. Finally, he emphasized the need for research data management to systematically organize the data acquisition, storage and processing in metadata according to the FAIR guiding principles. The second speaker was Dr. Susanne Müller-Knapp from the SGC, who shared an industry-based perspective on open science. SGC is a not-for-profit corporation, funded by a public-private partnership and has the mission to support the discovery of novel drugs. She clarifies that SGC does not provide drugs, which have to be safe, highly selective and effective. Instead, SGC’s core expertise lies in using structural and chemical biology to identify relevant proteins for drug discovery and to create chemical probes and antibodies to investigate the function of these proteins and their targets. The chemical probes, which are small molecule reagents, are potent, have drug-like properties and ask specific biological questions when implemented. The development of such probes facilitates the making of powerful reagents that can increase the impact in biomedical research by target validation in cell assays or animal studies. SGC has an on-going open science effort, such as through its support of the chemical probes portal- a web based database of high quality probes that can be accessed by any researcher. Susanne describes that SGC sees open science as a solution that encourages innovation, accelerates science, increases reproducibility, reduces the redundancy of scientific findings and projects, engages industry and patients and mobilizes funding. In addition to their ethos to provide open access probes, SGC scientists started to write an open lab notebook about their experiments, methods and results. As always, after the event, attendees had the chance to network and meet with both speakers and the SIU team over wine and finger foods. Tagged: Open Science, Reproducibility, Research, Data, access Newer PostIntellectual Property in Modern Biotechnology- A Primer Older PostDo Scientists have a moral imperative to engage with the public?	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line1650439
__label__wiki	0.90507	0.90507	Switch background colours Newsletter Search Spiritual exploration Steps to Work Steps to Work programme The City of Liverpool College Major Allister Versfeld, Mission Development Officer John Lennon’s sister, confirmed as Honorary President of the new Strawberry Field Project John Lennon’s sister, Julia Baird, has accepted an invitation by The Salvation Army to become Honorary President of The Strawberry Field project to bring the legend of Strawberry Field back to life once more. CEO and founder of Orange Amplification, Cliff Cooper, made Honorary Patron Cliff Cooper, CEO and founder of Orange Amplification, has been appointed an Honorary Patron of the Strawberry Field campaign to help raise funds for the project. New John Lennon stage show featuring The Beatles’ ex-drummer backs Salvation Army’s Strawberry Field project The Salvation Army’s Strawberry Field project has officially been announced as the charity partner of a highly anticipated stage show called Lennon’s Banjo that gets its world premiere in Liverpool this April and features ex-Beatle drummer Pete Best in three special performances. Demolition begins at iconic Strawberry Field site Demolition and salvage at The Salvation Army’s iconic Strawberry Field site begins this week and neighbours, as well as key stake holders and supporters of the project were given the opportunity to set foot beyond the famous red gates, for the first time. Strawberry Field - The Salvation Army receives planning permission Major Drew McCombe, Divisional Leader for The Salvation Army, North West, said: “We are absolutely delighted to have received full planning permission at our Strawberry Field site for our vision. This includes a training and work placement hub for young people with learning disabilities, a visitor experience where people can find out more about John Lennon and his connection to the site as well as a place to explore spirituality. "We are incredibly excited to have received planning permission as we now look to make our vision a reality. The support from the local community, along with Beatles fans has been wonderful and we are very grateful." The Exhibition: Completing Liverpool’s Beatles Experience 2nd November, 2017 At the planned new exhibition at Strawberry Field Liverpool, visitors will enter a world where “nothing is real”… The exciting new attraction will complement the other significant Liverpool Beatles attractions such as the award-winning Beatles Story, the Cavern Club and the Magical Mystery Tour. The site is set to become the final missing piece in the jigsaw that will now make the Beatles tourists’ visit to the city complete. John Lennon’s vision realised in Strawberry Field · Inspirational choir records Beatles’ Strawberry Fields Forever at Abbey Road to launch campaign to tackle unemployment and isolation among young people with special needs · Of one million people with learning difficulties in the UK, 93% are unemployed and 31% have no contact with family or friends · The Salvation Army tackles issues within the learning-disabled community by re-opening former children’s home in Lennon’s Strawberry Field as a new training hub Free educational activity launches for young people with learning disabilities in Liverpool 13th September, 2017 An award winning national educational music project joined forces with The Salvation Army, Stoneycroft Corps (church), Liverpool to offer a taster day for young people aged 18-30 with learning disabilities. The corps already runs a social enterprise project, Recycles which trains young people with learning disabilities, and anyone else from the local community, in bike maintenance. Annual Beatles Convention - 27 August, Adelphi Hotel, Liverpool The Annual Beatles Convention at the Adelphi Hotel, Liverpool, is a real highlight of International Beatleweek. There will be live music all day along with films, guest speakers, a quiz and a market filled with Beatles memorabilia. The Salvation Army will be there to raise awareness and support for Strawberry Field. Visitors to the stand will also have the opportunity to purchase our unique Strawberry Field merchandise! Historic John Lennon memorabilia unveiled in Liverpool 1st June, 2017 Fifty years on from the UK release of The Beatles’ hit Strawberry Fields Forever, the iconic, original red gates from The Salvation Army’s children’s home have returned to Liverpool and go on public display today at the award-winning ‘The Beatles Story’ visitor attraction. “I truly believe this is a wonderful and important project.” Peter Hooton, Chair of the Beatles Legacy Group Strawberry Field Beaconsfield Road Liverpool L25 6EJ The Salvation Army is a Church and registered Charity in England (214779), Wales (214779), Scotland (SC009359) and the Republic of Ireland (CHY6399)	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line1650451
__label__wiki	0.673742	0.673742	Cook County is the second most populous county in the nation. It is the 19th largest government in the U.S. Out with the friends and family J.W. Fairman, the new superintendent of Cook County's juvenile detention center, confirmed Thursday that five top leaders of the chaotic facility will be forced out. On its face, this sounds like the kind of wholesale sweep we've been pushing for, the kind of sweep needed to end the abuse, mismanagement and dreadful conditions at the center. So why does the move feel like the same old, same old? Because three of the five who are leaving will simply move into cushy make-work county jobs, compliments of the taxpayers. That's exactly the kind of featherbedding the county has to stop doing. According to sources inside and outside the facility, Assistant Supt. Autrey Calloway, a childhood friend of former Cook County Board President John Stroger who was a driver's ed teacher before Stroger hired him to lead recreational programs at the detention center, will retire. Assistant Supt. Kevin Ford, the grandson of Bishop Louis Henry Ford, will retire. Fairman, who was once Ford's superior at the Cook County Jail, said Ford was hired by Stroger last fall at the juvenile center despite a poor work record. "He required close supervision, let me just put it that way," Fairman said. Assistant Supt. Sandra Jones, Stroger's goddaughter, will be moved to the Judicial Advisory Board, which processes grants that come into the county. Training Supervisor Erica Collins, daughter of University of Illinois at Chicago basketball coach Jimmy Collins, also will move to the Judicial Advisory Board. One of Collins' ideas for training those who worked with troubled adolescents was to hold seminars about dealing with male and female menopause in the workplace. Commissioner Joseph Mario Moreno has been throwing hissy fits all week, promising if his sister doesn't get to keep her detention center job he'll withhold his vote on key issues, according to county officials. The sister, Maria Moreno Szafarczyk, was hired in November to oversee training though she had no experience in that. She has been told she will now be the detention center's "Hispanic liaison," a new position. "At least she'll be doing nothing in a job that means nothing as opposed to in a job that meant something, so I guess that's progress," said Commissioner Forrest Claypool. Amid great fanfare this week, interim Board President Bobbie Steele promised "real change in a short period of time." Too bad the first big moves under her direction are tainted by the kind of crony protection system that her predecessor perfected. (Maybe not too surprising. In an interview Wednesday on "Chicago Tonight," Steele conceded "three or four" of her children and other relatives are on the county payroll.	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line1650453
__label__cc	0.553676	0.446324	can 1st parties FORCE 3rd parties? Thread: can 1st parties FORCE 3rd parties? ComputerSpaceFan This is a legal / contractual question. If Microsoft decided they wanted to increase XBox One sales by killing 360 support, could they tell third parties to no longer make 360 versions of their games? Historically the answer would be no, I mean that's how Activision started afterall by being allowed legally to make Atari 2600 games without Atari's permission, but in the present day where games like Titanfall can be released only for one manufacturer's consoles, I'm just curious if Microsoft could give, let's say Ubisoft a pile of money to say "only make Assassin's Creed 6 for XBox One, no 360 version". Regardless of how sensible such a notion would be (personally I think Ubisoft would be nuts to accept such a suicidal contract), is there a legal precedent for Microsoft to do that? I'm not bad-mouthing the XBox One here, I just think in an industry that still creates season passes and paid premiums even on the newest generation is an industry that probably can't support a third part developer reducing their potential sales numbers by only making new-gen games if the manufacturer forces them to. random_dave Guest Yes 100%, that's why the O.G. Xbox was dead overnight, as they stopped allowing games for the system, and made retailers remove stock from their shops, and would hold 360 stock at ransom unless they did. They don't even have to give a publisher a load of cash to "not make a X360 version" as Microsoft controls the entire manufacturing, and a game has to be A: approved as something that Microsoft wants on their system (a lot easier than it is with Sony) B: Certified by Microsoft that it doesn't have too many bugs in it C: Microsoft then adds their proprietary protection code and encryption onto the disc image, and makes a special disc that the publisher is then responsible for ensuring that it still functions as they had intended D: A "print run" is then ordered e.g. 10,000 units, 1,000,000 units and paid for and Microsoft presses the discs, prints the manuals and ships them back to the publisher So these days it is a process that is wholly controlled by Microsoft, so if they wished to stop games, they hold all the cards. Pretty much the Dreamcast was the last system that allowed(ish) an unmodified system to run discs that could be manufactured outside of the hardware manufacturers control, which is why there has continued to be a homebrew retail market for that continuing, but with the modifications required to most disc based consoles to make them run homebrew it is not worth anyone trying to make any money by creating their own unlicensed software. It was a lot easier with cartridges as you were essentially interfacing a rom chip directly to the CPU data bus, and especially with off the shelf, documented chips such as the 6502, z80, m68000 could then ensure that you could create the 'entry point' for the program buy sending the required start up instructions to the correct address on the memory/cpu/system bus Vipp Guest That's a great answer Random Dave. thanks, i wasn't sure i hadn't got a bit ranty or rambly, so hopefully it makes sense retroshaun Cool Without A Fan Of course they could - especially as all games need to go through Microsoft and Sony certification. I have had games I worked on turned down multiple times, it wouldn't be much of a step to just say 'sorry... no more'. It wouldn't be prudent, but it would be possible. Not to mention "allegedly" clauses put out by some of the manufacturers that say "we only allow your games if they have feature parity, or better features on our platform vs. our competitors" and there may or may not be similar situations where there may or may not be an attempt to enforce that "You cannot simply produce a new-gen version of a title that is the same as the last-gen version aside from higher rendering resolution. Titles should be made primarily for the new generation and then features removed for the last-gen version" *or maybe I've umm, made that all up.... You did. I definitely never heard that. Its all good Quick Navigation Microsoft Xbox 360 Top	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line1650459
__label__cc	0.618545	0.381455	Issue 3(17)/2017 Issue 4(10)2015 Issue 3(9)2015 Issue 1(7)/2015 Old series 27th Octomber 2017 POLIS Book Series Journal of The Faculty of Political and Administrative Sciences The journal is open access (on site) Online - ISSN 2344 - 5750 Print - ISSN-L 1221 - 9762 Indexed Database internationala (BDI) INDEXED IN INTERNATIONAL DATABASES Polis – Journal of Political Science Founded in 1994 within the company IMAS Marketing and Polls, the Polis Journal became, before long, an important place where Romanian and European specialists in political theory and science could make their opinions known. At a time when the political science community of post-totalitarian Romania had just begun to form, Polis managed to became famous both through the contributions of Romanian specialists in the field and, especially, through the translation of a series of important contemporary political science authors. Today, Polis runs under the aegis of the Faculty of Political and Administrative Sciences of “Petre Andrei” University of Iași, Romania, and welcomes all those interested in the normative and empirical aspects of politics. Its fundamental mission is to support and publish reflections and research which aim to analyse, investigate, interpret and explain the most important trends in contemporary politics. The Polis Journal aims to support the scientific endeavours of academics and professionals from the fields of political science and social sciences in general, who are interested in building, within a standardised and rigorous framework which complies with all the national and international academic standards, an environment open to all kinds of debates on topics of interest for the Romanian society. The journal is published quarterly and is available both in printed form and online. Its pages are devoted to studies, reviews, and debates related to the fields of political theory and science and also to ideological analysis. Moreover, the journal’s editors encourage the publication of studies referring to the history of political ideas and to political philosophy. The journal is indexed CEEOL Journal access policy The POLIS Journal provides open access to all the readers interested in the topics approached in its pages. The journal does not charge any fee for access to its electronic archive or nor does it charge a publishing fee for authors. The POLIS Journal uses the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Public License.. Recunoaşterea Unirii Basarabiei cu România – aspecte istorice şi de drept internaţional15 March 2018 - 15:35 Centenarul României în dezbaterile Polis15 March 2018 - 15:23	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line1650460
__label__wiki	0.629675	0.629675	Redtel The Outpost Blog Copyright © 2016. All right reserved. Log in Have We Forgotten Jihadi John ? Come now, have we forgotten Jihadi John with his host of female followers ? It's not that long ago that we were subjected to the heathen slaughter of people in the name of Islam. British Muslims joined the Jihadi fighters in the Middle East and they weren't all men. Moslem girls left in droves from all European countries, after being recruited on the internet. Girls from all the major cities of the UK went there to FIGHT ! Some got their wish but most were put into barracks to be used and abused by the men fighting for their cause. So, they got pregnant. What a surprise. What did they expect ? There were plenty of these females popping up on the internet trying to recruit more followers. They were being used to entice more men to the Middle East. These men and women have left their stain across the whole of the Middle East and should only be allowed to stay in the ever shrinking Caliphate that is Isis. Letting these people back into the UK would be as stupid as believing Honda leaving the UK had nothing to do with Brexit. TJBPhoto copyright © 2019. all right reserved	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line1650474
__label__wiki	0.639524	0.639524	GTN Xtra - Issue 48 2017 \| 08 October, 2017 Coolings buys Potted Garden Nursery at Maidstone Supplier rebates to exceed £1.5m for Choice members New Xylella e-learning module available from HTA "Xylella is the most serious situation I have come across in 32 years in the industry" Selby site is No.2 for Whitby garden centre family Plants and Christmas boost September sales Perrywood, Castle Gardens, Aylett Nurseries and Fron Goch win GTN's Greatest Garden Centre Awards Hillview CEO 'shocked' to win HTA Pearson Medal award Smart Garden wins 'Greatest Supplier' award again Embracing change for the future of garden retail Syngenta takes over Cultivation Street sponsorship On the trail of berried treasure Garden centre walkers smash target for charity Haskins donates a host of golden daffodils Seedsmen explore urban gardening trend at Paris event Countdown begins for Garden Re-Leaf Day 2018 Scotts fail with claim that Westland Safelawn advertising was misleading It’s an orchid feed bonanza Welcome to Thermidrome Growing Media stays up 4% as bulb planting swells sales Pansies rule supreme through September Decorations get personal and Santa loo roll sales are up Feeding for winter energy 23 Zest 4 Leisure employees take on marathon Klass opens fashion concession at Longacres Ashford centre Consumers more likely to buy from a name they recognise Zapper app is the rewarding way to pay by phone New role for Rachel Get the balance right with Flopro All the latest news from the world of garden centre catering Casual Dining Restaurant & Pub Awards 2018: entries now open Another strong year for specialist coffee roaster Matthew Algie Coolings Nurseries of Sevenoaks, have agreed to purchase the well-respected retail business known as The Potted Garden Nursery, near Leeds Castle in Kent... Chairman Paul Cooling (left) said: “We are over the moon to welcome the new team into the Coolings family. The focus on plants has always been paramount at Coolings and we look forward to being part of the next chapter in the history of this new site.” MD Gary Carvosso (right) also said Coolings would work with the current team to further improve what was already a successful and profitable business. “Plants will always remain at the core of what we do and we will not be rushing into any additional investment just yet, as we are mindful to preserve the wonderful charm of the site.” The site, on the busy A20 close to Maidstone, comes with planning permission for the introduction of catering and a larger garden shop. Rob and Amanda Brookman, the current owners of The Potted Garden, said: “When we were looking for a buyer for the site we were keen to find a company that valued its staff and whose core interest was plant based, so we’re delighted to have found the ideal buyer in the great company that is Coolings. We wish them every success taking the business forward.” The official handover date is 1 November. The sale was handled by Alexander Mackie Associates Ltd. Choice Marketing has announced that supplier rebates to members for the 2016/17 are forecast to exceed £1.5 million. The announcement was made by Choice CEO Michelle de Lavis-Trafford at the buying group’s Annual Conference and Trade Show... Choice Marketing held their Annual Conference & Trade Show over 3 days in early October at Jurys Hinckley Island Hotel. A total of 160 delegates representing members, suppliers and the Greenfingers charity came together in an atmosphere of friendship and co-operation. The Trade Show hosted 90 suppliers covering core gardening, plants, gifts, Christmas and catering. Key industry personalities from all sectors of the industry were in attendance. Choice announced the winners of their supplier of the year awards with Whartons scooping the Plant supplier accolade and Woodlodge winning the Sundries supplier award. Michelle de Lavis-Trafford, Choice CEO, extended her thanks to members for their commitment to the Choice ‘Stronger together’ philosophy and for their total support for their suppliers. Three new members who have joined the group since the last Conference were give a warm and enthusiastic welcome. They are Warbreck Garden Centre Ormskirk, Fron Goch Garden Centre North Wales and Fosseway Garden Centre Cotswolds. To the delight of members, she announced that supplier rebates for the 2016/17 season are forecast to exceed £1.5million. Greenfingers held a huge tombola with high quality prizes donated by Choice suppliers. Members, suppliers and even hotel staff and guests all joined in to support this worthy cause. John Ashley, Greenfingers Chairman, announced at the Conference Dinner that the total amount raised was over £1,000. Pete Goss MBE, sailor, adventurer and international speaker gave the keynote Conference address. His truly inspirational talk included his participation in the in the 1996/7 Vendee Globe non-stop single-handed round the world yacht race. The race took a dramatic turn resulting in Pete rescuing a French competitor in hurricane force winds for which he was awarded the MBE and Légion d’Honneur. Garden centres who would like to know more about the benefits of membership of Choice Marketing should contact Michelle de Lavis-Trafford at info@choice-marketing.co.uk www.choice-marketing.co.uk The HTA has launched an e-learning module on Xylella fastidiosa providing plantarea and garden retail staff with the latest information about this plant disease that presents a huge threat to the industry... The HTA has launched an e-learning module on Xylella fastidiosa providing plantarea and garden retail staff with the latest information about this plant disease that presents a huge threat to the industry. The module, which is available to all free of charge, is one of the actions to come from the emergency Xylella meeting held at the HTA offices at which garden retailers requested a resource which could be easily shared amongst staff in order to raise awareness about the plant disease. The 8-minute-long module can be accessed here - www.hta.org.uk/xylella Whilst aimed at plantarea and garden retail staff the information will also be relevant for plant buyers and business owners, as well as the wider industry. The elearning module includes information about:- Five-point plan Plant Passporting Further sources of information Many of those who attended the meeting also took part in the Xylella panel session at HTA Garden Futures last week where Xylella was described as ‘the single biggest threat to the garden industry in 32 years’. Businesses including Aylett Nurseries, Notcutts Garden Centres, Klondyke Group, Hillview Group and Johnsons of Whixley spoke about the preventative actions and responsibility they are taking. Panellist Boyd Douglas-Davies, CEO of Hillview Garden Centres comments: “We need to act now as individual companies and take responsibility for our own actions. Resources such as this video will help to spread the word about Xylella and I encourage all to share with their staff.” Xylella fastidiosa is one of the most harmful bacterial plant diseases in the world. It can cause severe losses in a wide range of hosts and there would be a massive impact on the plant trade across all business sectors in the event of an OUTBREAK in the UK. An OUTBREAK of this disease, where several different plants are infected, will trigger immediate stock destruction within 100 metres and a movement ban of host plants within a 10-kilometre radius for up to five years. This will dramatically and immediately affect most plant selling operations, as well as impacting on all businesses dealing in plants within the 10km zone. Gardens could also be affected. The potentially catastrophic consequences for the UK’s horticultural industry of an outbreak of the bacterial plant disease Xylella fastidiosa (Xf) were spelled out in a stark warning to growers and retailers at last week’s HTA Futures Conference... The potentially catastrophic consequences for the UK’s horticultural industry of an outbreak of the bacterial plant disease Xylella fastidiosa (Xf) were spelled out in a stark warning to growers and retailers at last week’s HTA Futures Conference. During a panel debate, Hillview Garden Centres CEO Boyd Douglas-Davies (right) described it as the most serious situation he had come across in his 32 years in the industry. It was a wake-up call that had resulted in his businesses starting to take plant health more seriously. The disease has already devastated horticulture in southern Italy and has spread to Corsica, southern France and Spain. There is no known control and severely affected plants can die within three years. Thousands of plants on those regions have already been destroyed. In the event of an outbreak in the UK, an exclusion zone of 10km would be imposed for five years. It has been likened to “foot and mouth” in horticulture, affecting growers, retailers and consumers alike. Dan Munro (second left) from the UK’s Animal and Plant Healthy Agency said the disease was sure to spread and spread, with new cold-hardy strains posing a threat to the UK should it reach our shores. It could even be brought on the boot of a holidaymaker. Douglas-Davies urged the industry not to wait for official action or it could be too late. “We have to act now as individual companies and be far ahead of the industry as a whole, which can only keep up with the slowest member. There is no time to wait for official bodies to do their bit,” he said. The HTA’s Raoul Curtis-Machin (left) said businesses should take extra care in sourcing their plants and urged British growers to start growing more of their own material to ensure bio-security. He suggested the HTA could support calls for some kind of official compensation scheme for businesses caught up in an outbreak. Selby Garden Centre in North Yorkshire has been acquired by the Noble family, owners of Victoria Farm Garden Centre & Café at Whitby... Selby Garden Centre in North Yorkshire has been acquired by the Noble family, owners of Victoria Farm Garden Centre & Café at Whitby. Ann and Stephen Ward, who started Selby GC in 2000, are to retire. The 5.25-acre centre is on Hull Road at Osgodby, near Selby. Victoria Farm Garden Centre & Café, originally opened in 2003 by Bill & Jean Noble, is now run by their sons Mark (pictured) and Paul. The Noble family were originally dairy farmers but as the milk price dropped, they found it unsustainable to run a dairy farm on the edge of the moors. A local agricultural engineer who found he was losing business as farmers stopped farming put his site up for sale. Bill and Jean Noble sold their cows to buy it. A strong family interest in gardening made a garden centre business an obvious choice After it was set up in 1996, a cafe was incorporated so visitors could enjoy the outstanding view and the Old Barn on site was the ideal place to exhibit Bill's collection of farming bygones and relics. The garden centre thrived thanks to a loyal core of regular customers, some of whom travel long distances. Although supposedly retired, Bill still visits the centre to chat with customers, who enjoy listening to his stories of farming on the moors. September closed up 4% year on year and 7% above the average for the previous six years as a result of increased plant sales and an early surge on Christmas, according to GTN Bestsellers... September closed up 4% year on year and 7% above the average for the previous six years as a result of increased plant sales and an early surge on Christmas. Of the GTN Bestsellers Top 50 indexes, Garden Products sales were static year on year for the month with Growing Media down 9% and Veg-to-Gro sales down 16%. The GTN Plants volume sales index was up by 7% for September with Pansies the biggest seller of the month. Christmas product sales have started to come through in the EPOS data supplied to GTN Bestsellers over the past two weeks and show an early 37% increase in volumes compared to the same time last year. GTN Bestsellers Top 50 sales volumes compared to the same week last year... Garden Products - down 5% Veg-2-Gro - down 19% Growing Media - down 4% Christmas Products - up 37% All Plants Index - up 7% All Items Index - up 3% GTN presented their Greatest Garden Centre Awards after dinner at the HTA Garden Futures conference last week. Gold Awards went to Perrywood, Castle Gardens, Aylett Nurseries, Fron Goch, Smart Garden Products, and GCA Grow training sheme. GTN presented their Greatest Garden Centre Awards after dinner at the HTA Garden Futures conference last week. Gold Awards for Garden Centre Team of the Year went to Perrywood and Castle Gardens; the Garden Care Team of the Year Gold Award was won by Aylett Nurseries; Smart Garden Products were voted as The Greatest Garden Products Supplier of the Year by all of the centres we visited during the spring and summer; and the GCA Grow training sheme won Gold for The Greatest Training Initiative of the Year. Commmenting on the winners, GTN’s Trevor Pfeiffer, who presented the awards with BBC TV journalist and Countryfile presenter Tom Heap, said: “The winners of these awards were the teams who best used great teamwork to achieve excellent retailing, not just in one part of the centre but across all departments from shop front to planteria and from restaurant to garden furniture sales.” The Greatest Garden Care Retail Team of the Year Bronze Award: Blue Diamond Group Silver Award: Altons Gold Award: Aylett Nurseries The Greatest Garden Centre Customer Service Team of the Year Bronze Award: Planters Tamworth Silver Award: Chessington Gold Award: Fron Goch The Greatest Garden Centre Merchandising Team of the Year Bronze Award: Barton Grange Silver Award: Millbrook Gravesend Gold Award: Perrywood The Greatest Garden Centre Training Team or Initiative of the Year Gold Award – GCA Grow The Greatest Garden Products Supplier of the Year Gold Award – Smart Garden Products The Greatest Garden Centre Team of the Year Bronze Award – Millbrook Gravesend Silver Award – Fron Goch Gold Award – Perrywood and Castle Gardens Aylett Nurseries Barton Grange Bents Birkacre Blue Diamond Group Burston Castle Gardens Christies Fochabers Coolings Coolings Green & Pleasant Fresh@Burcot Fron Goch Glyndwr Plant Centre Hayes Garden World Hillmount Hillview Studley Langlands Leeds Mains of Drum Millbrook Gravesend Notcutts Woodford Park Perrywood Planters Tamworth Poplars Scotsdales Shackletons Squires Badshot Lea Squires Chertsey Stewarts Christchurch Stratford Garden Centre Strikes Garforth Webbs Wychbold Whitehall Lacock Boyd Douglas-Davies, CEO of Hillview Garden Centres, was awarded the HTA Pearson Memorial Medal at the HTA Garden Futures dinner. Boyd was presented with the accolade by HTA President, Adam Taylor... Boyd Douglas-Davies has been awarded the Charles Pearson Memorial Medal for outstanding contribution and service to the horticultural industry. Boyd, who is CEO of the Hillview Garden Centre Group, was presented with the accolade by HTA President, Adam Taylor, at the HTA Garden Futures Conference held at Heythrop Park, Oxfordshire. A respected figure in the industry, Boyd studied at Pershore College of Horticulture beforer a career in garden retail spanning more than 30 years. He strted working at his fathers’ business, Clows Garden Centre, before moving across to Webbs of Wychbold where he worked for 20 years up to the position of Chief Executive. His determination and experience in retail and sales saw Webbs repeatedly recognised by the Garden Centre Association (GCA) as the UK’s Best Garden Centre. He then left to start the Hillview Garden Centre Group in 2011, which has seen phenomenal growth, acquiring 11 stores across the Midlands. Boyd instigated key retail and sales concepts in store and increased footfall across the chain by introducing onsite events such as ice rinks, circus and motor shows. Their Soft Play Barns have been a phenomenal success and entertain close on 100,000 children per year. In 2015, Hillview launched their e-commerce platform . Boyd is also renowned for his charity work in the industry and joined the Greenfingers Board of Trustees in 2014. He is the brain and founder behind Garden Re-Leaf Day, a cross-industry fundraising extravaganza to kickstart the gardening season. Through events such as 24-hour Plant-a-thons, quiz nights, sponsored walks and cake sales, Garden Re-leaf has raised more than £500,000 for Greenfingers. "I was totally shocked and for once utterly lost for words when the announcement was made," Boyd saidf. " I feel incredibly honoured to be the recipient of this year's award and to be included in a list of people for whom I have such huge respect and admiration is a genuine privilege. This is such a wonderful industry and to have been part of it for the last 33 years is brilliant. I hope this doesn't mean anyone's expecting me to hang up my boots anytime soon!" The HTA Charles Pearson Medal, instigated in 1930 in memory of the HTA’s first General Secretary, is presented annually at the Garden Futures event. Year-round product range wins Smart Garden Greatest Supplier Award for second year running... Smart Garden was nominated as Garden Products Supplier of the Year in GTN’s Greatest Awards presented at the HTA Garden Futures Conference and dinner at Heythrop Park, Oxfordshire – the second year in a row that the company has won the title.... The award was presented to Smart Garden’s MD Jonathan Stobart and sales director Paul Knott by BBC rural affairs correspondent and Countryfile presenter Tom Heap, and awards host and founder Trevor Pfeiffer of Garden Trade News and GTNXtra. Sponsored by Elho and Glee, the award, voted for by garden centres, is given to suppliers that go above and beyond in the service of their retail customers. Trevor Pfeiffer, said Smart Garden came out top in the supplier votes for its all-round ability to supply to garden trade customers. “But for the majority of the retailers I spoke to, the main factor was sales consistency – the product range just keeps selling all year round,” he said. Jonathan Stobart said: “I am incredibly proud of my team and would like to thank our garden centre customers especially for so generously rewarding our efforts once again.” For more information on Smart Garden, visit the website or call 01235 424100. From left to right: Trevor Pfeiffer, Jonathan Stobart, Paul Knott and Tom Heap. The garden industry came together on 4 October for HTA Garden Futures Conference, sponsored by Hozelock, which took place at Heythrop Park in Oxfordshire. This year’s strategic event, with the theme of ‘Garden Retail – the great escape’, was hosted by Cathy Newman, journalist and presenter of Channel 4 News. Cathy shared her own passion for gardening and spoke about how she uses her garden as an escape from stresses of everyday life. Read more and see GTN Xtra's photos from the conference Rachel Lund from the British Retail Consortium started the day off by looking at how the current political environment and exchange rates are impacting conditions in retail. Whilst the future is looking good for garden retail she warned that we need to be prepared for a tough few months ahead and that retailers can’t afford to do nothing when it comes to using technology, which is a real growing driver for consumer spending. Josh McBain from Foresight Factory spoke about how we are approaching an ageless society with older age groups now spending the most over the week and spending significantly on recreation and culture. Leisure upgrade is one of the most important retail experiences you can use to engage with younger and older consumer audiences alike. Garden centres are perfectly suited to engage with the ageing generations importance on health and well-being. Jack Stratten from Insider Trends took a look at the way in which technology is being used in retail. He got the audience on their feet to display that 32% of people would rather do the dishes than go shopping! Virtual reality and self-checkouts give retailers the chance to focus more on customer service and letting consumers take control. The future of retail looks more and more sci-fi, with robot delivery becoming a reality. If you have loyal customers, innovations are easy. Professor Alistair Griffiths from the Royal Horticultural Society presented some shocking statistics on the way the younger generations see and use nature with ¾ of UK children spending less time outdoors than prison inmates. Mental health problems are experienced by 1 in 4 adults with engagement in horticulture a proven way of helping to relieve symptoms. Gardening can foster social interactions and promote a sense of community and garden centres can help nurture and encourage this. As an industry we need to work hard to tackle philosophical challenges of Nature Deficit Disorder and Plant Blindness. This was followed by ethno-botanist and presenter James Wong whose session ‘Gardening – Why bother?’ made the audience think about giving people additional reasons to garden beyond work related tasks like mowing and raking. Human eyes can distinguish green more than any other colour in the light spectrum – showing how we have evolved around plants for health reasons. ‘Generation Rent’ want something authentic and real, and this is why the trend for houseplants is here to stay. Also, with many ‘hipster’ shops on the high street selling terrariums, why can’t you buy the ingredients to make one in a garden centre? Kate Ebbens from Cadix, which is part of CAPI Europe, demonstrated how sustainability is key to their future business which has relocated to Holland with a state of the art production facility. They are using a mix and match pot and plant app which enables consumers to select their favourite combinations and even visualise in their own home. As a member of EFSA they also use future trend information to shape their range. The Retail Lab @ Garden Futures panel session looked at the learnings from the feature at Glee. Merchandising staff from Hillview Garden Centre learnt a huge amount from taking part and recreated displays on their return to store resulting in increased September sales. Adrian Davey from Hozelock felt it was important to be able to see how their products look when surrounded by plants as they would be in a garden setting. Helen MacDonald from Merryhatton Garden Centre found that getting children more involved in garden centres is really worthwhile and by creating displays aimed at them they feel more engaged. There was agreement that the initiative helped businesses to work together to help achieve a shared end goal. With Xylella fastidiosa being such an important topic across the whole industry with potentially devastating consequences, the panel session covered many of the key aspects related to this bacterial disease. Dan Munro from APHA provided an overview of the evolution of the situation. Whilst lobbying continues to ensure the Government does more, there was a consensus that individual businesses should not wait for this and should take responsibility for their own actions. In the final session of the day, conference host Cathy Newman interviewed Dobbies CEO Nicholas Marshall about his views on many topics including Brexit, the economy and the use of technology. He felt that Brexit presents a huge opportunity for the garden industry in terms of promoting UK grown plants – an area that Dobbies are focussing on. He has great respect for the family run businesses within the industry and tries to emulate their approach where possible. His parting message was that you shouldn’t be a retailer if you are not an optimist! In rounding up the day, HTA President Adam Taylor announced plans for a new joint conference in 2018 to be hosted in partnership with GIMA. Further details will be available in due course. Cultivation Street, the community and school gardening campaign pioneered by TV gardener David Domoney, has announced Syngenta and its Calliope brand as a new sponsor... Cultivation Street, the community and school gardening campaign pioneered by TV gardener David Domoney, has announced Syngenta and its Calliope brand as a new sponsor. Jodie Sara Vale, marketing communications manager for Syngenta Flowers, said the company would use ‘Colour Your Life’ Calliope® geraniums to promote the campaign. “It’s an absolutely fantastic way to support the super stars in the community who put in so much hard work, dedication, and kindness to enrich green spaces and the lives of those people around them,” she said. “We are proud to be part of the programme and can’t wait to see the entries for the 2018 competition section of the campaign.” Aylett Nurseries’ Adam Wigglesworth immediate-past president of the HTA, whose sponsorship of the campaign has ended after five years, said: “Now with another horticultural heavyweight firmly behind it, it will keep growing. Community and school gardening is so important, and this is a campaign the industry can feel proud of.” David Domoney said Cultivation Street had built significant momentum and ambition. “The HTA have been great partners and will always be a part of our heritage,” he said. “ Keeping it horticultural was key, so we awarded sponsorship to Syngenta. They are bursting with energy to promote the activity of gardening up and down the streets of Britain, and they truly believe that every child should be able to experience growing plants.” Cultivation Street now boasts its own online video channel – Cultivation Street TV – a help-line for new gardeners, an ambassador scheme, a whole host of growing and fundraising guides, a huge national competition, a monthly newsletter, an ever-growing community of communities on social media, as well as coverage on television and in national newspapers and magazines. New for 2018 will be the mentor scheme, where new communities, schools and neighbourhood street gardeners will be paired with experts who have achieved great successes with their own projects, and will offer help and advice to others who are getting started. More information can be found on the website (www.cultivationstreet.co.uk) For information about Syngenta’s Calliope geraniums, visit the Facebook page (www.facebook.com/Calliope.flowers/) Berry-bearing trees and shrubs come into their own in autumn, creating colourful displays that last well into winter, which is why they have been chosen as the HTA Plant of the Moment for October... Berry-bearing trees and shrubs come into their own in autumn, creating colourful displays that last well into winter, which is why they have been chosen as the HTA Plant of the Moment for October. From elderberries to rose hips, crab apples to firethorns, the addition of “berrying” plants adds a new dimension to any garden, with plants carrying fruits and berries through autumn and into winter. Berry-producing plants also provide home grown food for hungry birds and wildlife too, enhancing their appeal and value to the garden – all well worth pointing out in your POS material Evergreen shrubs provide structure and form throughout the year, but many produce early displays of flowers followed by autumn berries. One of the best compact shrubs for borders or patio pots is a Skimmia (S.japonica subsp. Reevesiana, whose displays of bright red berries are second to none. Viburnum davidii is a hardy shrub with distinctly veined evergreen foliage that produces the most unusual metallic-looking blue-black berries, quite a talking point on the planteria. To create seasonal pots for autumn colour, offer Gaultheria mucronata with its brilliant berries in pink, red or pure white. Combined with pansies and violas, trailing ivy, heather, carex or skimmia, pre-planted pots will retain their sales potential over a long period. Trained against walls and fences, firethorn is a valuable evergreen shrub. Its thorny stems make it a great choice for producing secure garden boundaries, Despite their spines, they provide valuable nesting sites for birds, flowers that attract bees, and red, orange or yellow berries to feed birds into winter. TOP FOUR SHRUBS WITH COLOURFUL FRUITS AND BERRIES Firethorn – (Pyracantha varieties) Skimmia – Many female varieties produce wonderful displays of berries including Skimmia japonica subsp. reevesiana, Skimmia japonica ‘Nymans’ and ‘Obsession’. Male varieties are equally appealing with great flower displays, like ‘Magic Marlot’ and ‘Rubella’. Gaultheria Mucronata (Formerly called Pernettya) Cotoneaster – wide range of berrying shrubs including Cotoneaster horizontalis, Cotoneaster ‘Coral Beauty’, C. ‘Cornubia’, C. lacteus, and many others. TIPS FOR CUSTOMERS Many shrubs can be given a permanent home in large patio pots. Plant pots using a free-draining loam-based compost. Always stand pots on feet during winter to prevent drainage holes getting blocked and pots filling-up with water. Small berry-bearing shrubs included in seasonal patio pot arrangements can be removed and planted out in the garden next spring. Some plants have both male and female varieties, so it might just be the female one you buy that’s carrying berries. Be prepared to offer advice, as buyers may need to grow male forms alongside the females to ensure their flowers get pollinated and develop berries. PLANTING PARTNERS Try and create varied planteria displays including evergreen shrubs, ornamental grasses, architectural plants with strong shapes and forms, and those with great autumn foliage colours. Some to consider: Beauty Berry (Callicarpa ‘Profusion’ and many others) Carex ‘Evergold’ Heathers (Including Calluna varieties) Holly (Ilex varieties) Roses with colourful hips, like Rosa rugosa, Rosa canina and Rosa ‘Geranium’ Skimmia ‘Magic Marlot’ Spindle (varieties of Euonymus like ‘Red Cascade’) Viburnum including Viburnum davidii and varieties of Guelder Rose (Viburnum opulus) Pyracantha image - ©Adam Pasco Media Fourteen members of staff staff at Tong Garden Centre near Bradford have raised almost £4,000 on an 18km (11-miles) walk to raise funds for a Shipley mental health charity... Fourteen members of staff staff at Tong Garden Centre near Bradford have raised almost £4,000 on an 18km (11-miles) walk to raise funds for a Shipley mental health charity. Their trek around Ullswater in the Lake District took took four and a quarter hours hours. Marketing Assistant Pete Casci, who came up with the idea, said: “We're over the moon to have almost doubled the £2,000 target that we set ourselves. It was a fun walk and a great day with fabulous colleagues, and all for The Cellar Trust charity.” Andrew McCarthy, Head of Fundraising & Development at The Cellar Trust, the centre’s charity of the year, is delighted with the £3,868.75 raised. The Trust needs around £300,000 a year to fund its life-saving and life-changing services in helping people recovering from mental health problems to get back into work. Tong Garden Centre pledged to raise £10,000 for the charity in 2017 after one of the Cellar Trust's placement students, Dion Magyar, was employed as a permanent member of staff at the centre. Above: The Tong walkers with Andrew McCarthy, centre. Haskins Snowhill has donated presented £100 worth of daffodil bulbs to the local Lions Club for planting in as hospice grden to mark the centenary of Lion's Club International... Haskins Snowhill has donated presented £100 worth of daffodil bulbs to Caterham Oxted & Godstone Lions Club (COG Lions Club) to mark the centenary of Lion's Club International. The bulbs have been planted in the garden at St. Catherine's Hospice in Crawley. The COG Lions Club, a charitable trust serving the local community in the Tandridge area of Surrey, has been helping to raise funds for local deserving causes and wider international appeals since 1978. Thanking Haskins, COG Lions Club member Tony Carter said: “We regularly support the hospice and hope the daffodils will bloom next spring to bring the patients a great deal of pleasure.” Pictured (left to right): David Matcham, Mark Smith (assistant general manager of Haskins Snowhill), Clive Martin, Tony Carter (COG Lions), Nicola Sayers and Angela Pearce Urban gardening was the theme of Fleuroselect’s eighth Home Garden Conference in Paris, when about 75 seed breeders and distributors from 10 different countries, including the UK, enjoyed a programme of professional visits and speakers... Urban gardening was the theme of Fleuroselect’s eighth Home Garden Conference in Paris, when about 75 seed breeders and distributors from 10 different countries enjoyed a programme of professional visits and speakers. Compact or climbing Host of the Conference was the French seed breeder HM.Clause who, in addition to its professional activities, also specialises in flower and vegetable seeds for the hobby market. The company invited conference participants to discover its latest varieties in Le Grand Jardin, summer trials showcase set up on a magnificent roof top terrace in Montmartre. In line with the urban gardening trend, Clause mainly showed compact and climbing varieties ideal for city balconies and patios. Echinacea ‘Feeling Pink’ and Lupin ‘MiniGallery Blue’, both Fleuroselect Gold Medal winners, are just two cultivars perfect for modest urban outdoor spaces. Climbing tomatoes and peppers were a real must-have for patios, and a new, single-serving sized climbing watermelon plant ‘Mini Love’ caught the eye of participants. A tasting session crounded off the experience. Keynote speaker was Lodewijk Hoekstra, a Dutch TV gardener who shared his vision for urban gardening. Ghislain Bousseau of the Bureau Regional Horticole gave us interesting facts and figures on the French market and journalist/horticultural therapist Isabelle Boucq introduced the group to the many benefits and applications of horticultural therapy, including those for the sick and elderly. Antoine Jacobsohn, Director of Le Potager du Roi, gave an interesting presentation on the use of plants in the city, past and future. From Zinnia to Marigold This year is the ‘Year of the Zinnia’ marketing campaign, so delegates visited the magnificent Jardin des Plantes where some 130 Zinnia varieties from Fleuroselect members were lined up. Wild varieties were added to the trial to underline the improvements in flower size, flowering period and disease resistance of the cultivated varieties. The 2018 Plant of the Year campaign will focus on Marigold and Pepper. Fleuroselect will offer logos, images and banners, all free of charge, to promote the sales of existing varieties. Trials showing the entire membership’s Marigold varieties are again planned during 2018 at Wisley (UK) and three other gardens in France and Germany. With only 158 days until Garden Re-Leaf Day 2018, Greenfingers charity ambassadors met after conference at HTA Futures to start the planning process for the Great Garden Re-Leaf Day sponsored walk... With only 158 days until Garden Re-Leaf Day 2018, Greenfingers Charity ambassadors met after conference at HTA Futures to start the planning process for the Great Garden Re-Leaf Day sponsored walk. With 10 mile and 20 miles routes being planned in the area around the Greenfingers Charity office based in Beaconsfield the organising team are aiming for a record breaking number of fundraising walkers, up to 200 are hoped for to raise over £50,000 towards the ever growing total of monies raised on Garden Re-Leaf Day. Garden Re-Leaf Day is Friday March 16th 2018. If you would like to register your individual or team interest in taking part in the walk, you would like to sponsor one of the elements or just register your own event for Garden Re-Leaf Day 2018, please contact the Greenfingers fundraising team: info@greenfingerscharity.org.uk or phone: 01494 674749 www.greenfingerscharity.org.uk/gardenreleaf The Advertising Standards Authority has thrown out a complaint by the Scotts Miracle-Gro Company, who challenged a Westland Horticulture advertising claim that award-winning Safelawn was “safe to use around children and pets”... The Advertising Standards Authority has thrown out a complaint by the Scotts Miracle-Gro Company, who challenged a Westland Horticulture advertising claim that award-winning Safelawn was “safe to use around children and pets” The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company, challenged whether: the safety claims “Safe to use around children and pets”, “Safe for children & pets” and “This product is safe for children and pets, however it is good practice to store out of reach in a dry, frost-free place” were misleading and could be substantiated; and the comparative claims “the safer way to feed your lawn” and “Safety compared to lawn weed & moss killer fertilisers that contain pesticides” were misleading and could be substantiated. But the ASA ruled that SafeLawn had substantiated the claims and that the ads were not misleading. In not upholding Scotts' challenge, the ASA ruled: The ASA considered that consumers would understand the claims “Safe to use around children and pets”, “Safe for children & pets” and “This product is safe for children and pets…” to mean that using the product as directed would not cause harm to people or animals. We considered that, as consumers were likely to use the product on their lawns, the advertiser needed to provide evidence that demonstrated the product would not cause physiological harm to children or animals, if children or animals came into contact with it on lawns applied with the product. We further considered that consumers would understand the claims “the safer way to feed your lawn” and “Safety compared to lawn weed & moss killer fertilisers that contain pesticides” to mean that the product was safer to use than lawn weed & moss killer fertilisers that contained pesticides, when used as directed. We considered that consumers would understand the term safer, in this context, to mean less harmful to human health than comparable products that contained pesticides. We considered, therefore, that the evidence needed to compare the safety of the product with other comparable products that contained pesticides and demonstrate that it was safer to human health. We noted that testing was carried out on the three active components of SafeLawn and was compared with two common comparable household products which contained pesticides. The testing concluded that there was no evidence available that demonstrated the product caused skin irritation compared to one of the comparable products that did not carry a classification for skin irritation and another comparable product that carried a classification for skin irritation. The product did not exhibit the physical characteristics to cause eye irritation compared to the same two comparable products that did carry classifications for eye irritation, and the product was not classified for mammalian toxicity compared to the same two comparable products which carried classifications for toxicity. We considered the testing, undertaken by an independent testing facility in line with the CPL and standard toxicity testing for comparable pesticide containing products, was sufficiently robust as that reflected in the manner in which children or animals may come into contact with the product when used as directed. We therefore considered that SafeLawn had substantiated the claims and that the ads were not misleading. The full ASA ruling can be found at https://www.asa.org.uk/rulings/westland-horticulture-ltd-a17-387454.html Orchid products dominate the GTN Bestsellers Garden Products chart this week. Three orchid feed lines occupy the top three bestsellers spots with another four orchid lines appearing within the top half of the chart... Orchid products dominate the GTN Bestsellers Garden Products chart this week. Three orchid feed lines occupy the top three bestsellers spots with another four orchid lines appearing within the top half of the chart. This week’s highlights are: Fito Orchid Drip feeders hold the No 1 spot for the fourth week in a row. Growth Technology Orchid Myst 300ml moves up nine places to No 2. Growth Technology Orchid Mist 750ml moves up even more places – 18 to No 25. Thermidrome Garlic bulbs were the surprise Veg-2-Gro Bestseller last week, re-entering the GTN chart and going straight to the top ahead of onion sets Radar, Senshhyu Yellow and Radar... Thermidrome Garlic bulbs were the surprise Veg-2-Gro Bestseller last week, re-entering the GTN chart and going straight to the top ahead of onion sets Radar, Senshhyu Yellow and Radar. French Garlic Cristo, Elephant Garlic and Garlic Early Purple Wight all saw sales increases to re-enter within the Top 10. Mr Fothergill’s Broad Bean Bunyards Exhibition was the highest climber in the chart, up 28 places to No 20. Suttons Speedy Seeds Salad Winter Mix re-entered at No 37 as gardeners look to elongate their harvesting season. Bulb planting continues to shore up growing media sales with the three major lines occupying spots 2, 3 and 4 in the GTN Bestsellers Growing Media Chart... Bulb planting continues to shore up growing media sales with the three major lines occupying spots 2, 3 and 4 in the GTN Bestsellers Growing Media Chart. Overall growing media vloumes for September were down by 8.7% but the sector remains up year on year to date by a healthy 4%. Scotts Miracle-Gro Eco Sense Bulb Compost (20 litres) jumps up one place to No 2. Bord na Mona Growise Multipurpose With John Innes (56 litres) is the highest chart climber, up 23 places to No 21. Westland Gro-Sure Lawn Seeding Soil (30 litres) is the week’s highest re-entry, back in at No 29. Pansy sales are running up on last year by 74% keeping them at the top of the most popular plants for Autumn chart for the fourth week running... Pansy sales are running up on last year by 74% keeping them at the top of the most popular plants for Autumn chart for the fourth week running. Last year Cyclamen ruled the roost through September and sales are matching last year, but pansy sales have raced ahead. Nerine are the highest re-entry this week, back in at No 26 with an increase in sales of over 180%. Air Plants are really on trend so it’s no surprise to see Tillandsia climb up the chart 20 places to No 29. Christmas is coming to plant sales too. Helleborus sales grew by 600% to re-enter at No 28. Personalised Christmas decorations once again lead the way in early Christmas sales. The Top 5 Christmas volume sales lines are all personlaised decorations, knocking Christmas Loo Roll out of the Top 5 compared to the same week last year. Personalised Christmas decorations once again lead the way in early Christmas sales. The Top 5 Christmas volume sales lines are all personlaised decorations, knocking Christmas Loo Roll out of the Top 5 compared to the same week last year. Mind you there are four other Christmas Loo Roll lines in our first Top 50 of the season. Will we see personlised Loo Rolls for Christmas 2018? That is a nailed on GTN Christmas Bestseller! Suki’s Personalised Snowman/Snowgirl Ornament is the first No 1 of the season. Paper+Design Around the World Christmas Hearts Loo Roll climbed 26 places to No 5. Lotus Imports Frosted Fruit Pick was the highest placed chart new entry at No 7. Feeders and Fat Balls were the big growth lines in Wild Bird Care last week... Feeders and Fat Balls were the big growth lines in Wild Bird Care last week. Two new lines of high energy feeds entered the Top 50 to go alongside other ‘preparing for winter’ feed lines, including Hedgehog food. Westland Peckish Natural Balance Energy Balls 50 Tub were the highest new entry at No 30. Tom Chambers Luxury Fat Balls-6 Pack No Nets debuted at No 37. Jacobi Jayne Rowena’s Hedgehog Mix 500g and Gardman Hedgehog Bites 650g both remained in the top half of the Wild Bird Care chart. Employees from Zest 4 Leisure are taking on the Chester Marathon today (Sunday) in aid of Cancer Research UK... Employees from Zest 4 Leisure, a leading trade supplier of quality timber garden products, are taking on the Chester Marathon today (Sunday) in aid of a cancer charity. It's part of their fundraising challenge for their chosen charity for 2017, Cancer Research UK. The company has supplied weekly training sessions in its warehouse in Mold in the lead up to the marathon, with all staff committing to working as a team to support each other. Zest, along with its parent company, the P&A Group, has already raised over £14,000 for Cancer Research since it began fundraising in February and is hoping its continued efforts will help in achieving the target of £20,000. As well as marathons, fundraising events this year have included triathlons, cycling events, a 10,000 step challenge and a charity golf day. Steve Morgan, managing director at Zest 4 Leisure, said: “I am very proud of all of our staff members who have committed to completing the marathon, it will be a truly life changing challenge for each and every runner. “We have all been training so hard and it is fantastic to see everyone’s spirit and enthusiasm in the lead up to the event – it really highlights our sense of teamwork and family values.” One of the highlight events completed this year for Cancer Research was the Manchester Marathon, where 25 Zest employees all crossed the finish line, raising over £12,000 for the charity. Steve, along with manager John Vaughan are also in the process of completing a 1,000 mile challenge for the charity, with their latest event being the gruelling 140 mile Ironman Wales in September, which they both completed. Louise Aubrey, Cancer Research UK’s Senior Local Fundraising Manager said: “We are absolutely delighted that Steve and the team have decided to attempt such a great challenge to raise money for Cancer Research UK. “They have done lots of preparation and we’re sure they’re going to have an amazing experience. We can’t thank them enough for all of their support and want to wish them all the very best for this Sunday.” As a growing company Zest 4 Leisure is committed to employee fitness and long-term well-being as well as supporting the community and raising money for charity. The company has been supporting the marathon runners with a fitness plan and in addition will cover the entry fees, the transport, the nutritional advice, the T-shirts and running kit. Steve added: “There are so many people in our society that are living with or are effected in some way by this disease and everyone within our company feels privileged to be able to help this charity in the fight against cancer. “I hope our efforts will encourage others to get involved by donating or raising funds for Cancer Research UK, enabling it to continue investing in its vital research, treatment and support that effects so many.” Continuing to take part in events is very important for the company following the success of previous years when as a group they raised over £15,000.00 for The Alzheimer’s Society and over £6,000 last year for Meningitis Now, in memory of one of their own. “Cancer Research UK has made enormous progress in the fight against cancer and continues to do so. However, we have only been able to do this thanks to the dedication and commitment of our volunteers and supporters without whom we would not be able to fund our vital research,” Louise added. You can help Zest 4 Leisure in its fundraising efforts by visiting their JustGiving page at https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/P-A-Group-and-Zest4Leisure Ladies fashion brand Klass has opened a 400 sq.ft unmanned concession at Longacres’ Bybrook Barn, Ashford... Ladies fashion brand Klass has opened a concession at Longacres’ Bybrook Barn, Ashford. The 400 sq ft unmanned concession is on the main walkway adjacent to the centre’s existing clothing offering. “The invitation into one of the Longacres centres as their only clothing concession is a partnership that we are thrilled about and, along with all of our existing garden centre partners, we hope to grow and strengthen that relationship in the future,” said David Cohen, Klass Retail’s operations director. Klass has opened more 60 garden centre concessions in the UK and Ireland over the past five years. New ranges can be delivered on a weekly basis, helping to increase dwell time and customer re-visits. In September, Klass opened Hetland Garden Centre, where initial sales have been promising. Longacres director Julie Erridge said she was delighted with the the new Klass department. “We successfully trialed Klass in the spring so, to be able to introduce another fashionable element to our existing ladies wear offer in Bybrook for the autumn season is very exciting. The shop-fit provided by Klass really elevates the presentation of the product and raises the profile of the entire fashion and accessory department.” For more information, call David Cohen at 01706 868 002 or email him here. A new survey confirmed what the owners of the big garden industry brands knew all along – that consumers generally trust established brands... A new survey confirmed what the owners of the big garden industry brands knew all along – that consumers generally trust established brands. Onbuy.com surveyed almost 1100 consumers to check out the importance of branding and consumer loyalty when a company has a name and brand overhaul. The research revealed that 71% of consumers said it was very or somewhat important that they recognise a brand before they make a purchase. According to Reuters, investors too believe that brand strength and name recognition are becoming more important, 82% claiming it guides their investment decisions. The survey revealed that changing a brand name could be the equivalent of pressing a reset button on your business. For example, one quarter (26%) of survey respondents stated that they were less likely to buy from a brand that has recently changed their name. Only 18% of consumers said they would look upon a brand name change positively. The main reason was because the consumer was less likely to trust the brand, with 34% of participants selecting this option. Indeed, recognising a brand name was selected by 52% of respondents as the most important factor leading to a purchase, followed by the packaging itself. However, the study by OnBuy also revealed that brands shouldn’t shy away from change altogether, as 31% of buyers felt that more brands could do with renovating their image. McDonalds, Marks & Spencer and Boots were most often named. Studies have revealed that it is more worthwhile to cherish the clientele you have, than to chase after shiny new millennial consumers. Indeed, it is reported to be 500% more expensive to convert new ones than to keep current consumers, with 82% of small business owners stating that loyal customers were the main way they grow their business. Loyal customers are believed to be more likely to spend more (up to 33% more) for products and services. Click this link for the full survey results. Zapper is a mobile app that makes payments and e-commerce quick, simple and secure for retail and catering outlets and is potentially a great tool for those operating loyalty reward schemes... Zapper is a mobile app that makes payments and e-commerce quick, simple and secure for retail and catering operators and could make sense for garden centres. More than 13,000 businesses across the UK, Europe, Africa and the US already use it, with a claimed 1 million-plus consumer downloads of the app. Zapper lets users pay quickly and securely with their mobile phone, collect loyalty points and instantly redeem vouchers, all when they press ‘pay’. Users can also leave feedback via the app, about their dining or shopping experience to help businesses improve their service. Enabled by using the Zapper app to scan a unique QR code, the bill is instantly uploaded to the user’s smartphone for secure payments, bill splitting, tipping, voucher redemption, loyalty rewards and review features. Zapper enbles businesses to create bespoke promotions and reward loyalty through in-app offers, push notifications and beacon technology. Current Zapper partners include Spar, Nisa, Booker and Londis and even a number of UK local authorities. You can find out more by email or call the UK enquiry line 0333 370 4414. Mr Fothergill’s are pleased to announce a significant promotion for long-standing and valued member of staff, Rachel Cole. With immediate effect Rachel will be promoted to the new position of Seed Buying and Quality Supervisor... Mr Fothergill’s are pleased to announce a significant promotion for long-standing and valued member of staff, Rachel Cole. With immediate effect Rachel will be promoted to the new position of Seed Buying and Quality Supervisor. Having been at the company for some 20 years, Rachel will be building on her vast experience in seed sourcing and buying to take on closer supervision of the laboratory and therefore wider quality responsibilities within the company. New Assistant Seed Buyer Hannah Green will also report to her. Technical Manager Alison Mulvaney commented “It’s great news that Rachel should be recognised and rewarded for her commitment and undoubted skills. Rachel is highly respected within the company because of her knowledge of the seed industry, her helpful and cheerful nature but also her commitment to the cause. I know our suppliers, many of our customers who know Rachel through visiting us and our journalist friends will be delighted to hear of her enhanced role.” Flopro have upgraded their introductory range which provides high quality, no leaks products that fit all brands, while still retaining ‘value’ price points... The Flopro philosophy has always been to ensure that gardeners select the right product for the right job, but equally important is the right quality for the right consumer. Entry level products are vitally important to encourage new consumers and fringe gardeners to take a first step on the gardening journey. With this in mind, Flopro have upgraded their introductory range which provides high quality, no leaks products that fit all brands, while still retaining ‘value’ price points. However, Glee marked a turning point in moving the watering market forward as M.D. Nick Davies explains. “Garden Centres in particular were attracted to higher price point ranges which offer their discerning and often quite demanding customers, professional quality hoses, fittings and accessories. These are the sort of people who will happily invest over £100 in a hose reel and cart. We take a good, better, best approach and the quality and breadth of the Flopro+ and Elite ranges not only satisfies the needs of keener gardeners, they create significant incremental revenue for the retailer.” The height adjustable Flopro Elite Tripod Sprinkler is a good example of products which appeal to keener gardeners. It has an area coverage of 415m2 from a heavy-duty metal head which easily adjusts from 0- 360 degrees, a serious product for serious gardeners. The extensive range of Flopro+ and Elite spray guns, connectors and nozzles are manufactured using high quality materials to ensure that they will not damage easily in the rough and tumble of everyday gardening activity. Communicating the benefits of products with higher price points is achieved through the use educational POS on back wall fixtures plus free standing promotional display units. Getting the balance right is critical. Flopro offers retailers the opportunity to select ranges which meet their individual customer’s aspirations. www.flopro-uk.com Highlights of the GTN Christmas Porducts Bestsellers chart for this week are here Highlights of the GTN Wild Bird Care Bestsellers chart for this week are here The Casual Dining Restaurant & Pub Awards, organised by Diversified Communications UK, is now accepting entries for 2018... The Casual Dining Restaurant & Pub Awards, organised by Diversified Communications UK, is now accepting entries for 2018. The awards recognise and celebrate the standout restaurant and pub operators of the year across the growing multi-billion pound casual dining sector. Previous winners include wagamama, Las Iguanas, ASK Italian, The Breakfast Club, Peach Pub Company, JD Wetherspoon, Côte Restaurants, Zizzi, and Gourmet Burger Kitchen. There are 17 categories for 2018, encompassing everything from new concepts and new openings, to menu innovation, employee engagement, marketing and design, as well as recognising the outstanding brands of the year. They'll be judged by some of the biggest names in the business, including Bob Ivell, chairman of Mitchells & Butlers; Karen Forrester, CEO of TGI Friday's UK; Mark Fox, CEO of Bill's; Keith Bird, COO at GBK; and Kate Nicholls, chief executive of The Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers. Casual dining operators have until 30 October to submit their entries online at www.cdawards.co.uk<http://www.cdawards.co.uk>. The 2018 award categories are: Trailblazer of the Year (nominated by the judging panel) New Casual Dining Concept of the Year New Pub / Bar Site Best New Restaurant Site Small Employer of the Year (under 20 sites) Large Employer of the Year (20+ sites) Menu Innovation Award Marketing Campaign of The Year Best Designed Pub / Bar of the Year Best Designed Casual Dining Restaurant of the Year Independent Pub of the Year (under 5 sites) Independent Restaurant of the Year (under 5 sites) Small Multi-Site Pub Brand of the Year (5-19 sites) Small Multi-Site Restaurant of the Year (5-19 sites) Large Multi-Site Pub Brand of the Year (20+ sites) Large Multi-Site Restaurant of the Year (20+ sites) Casual Dining Group of the Year The awards ceremony will take place on the evening of 21 February 2018 at the London Marriott Hotel, in Grosvenor Square, following the first day of the Casual Dining trade show. Confirmed sponsors already include Budweiser Budvar UK, Carlsberg, Coca-Cola European Partners, Essential Cuisine, Fentimans, Lamb Weston, McCain Foodservice, and Reynolds. "It's vital that we reward and recognise the leaders of our industry, and showcase the talent and innovation within the casual dining sector," says Jane Holbrook, CEO of wagamama. For further information, to enter or to book tables, visit www.cdawards.co.uk Save the date for Casual Dining 2018 Visitor registration for Casual Dining 2018 will open later this month. The UK's only dedicated trade event for casual dining operators returns to the Business Design Centre in London next year, on 21-22 February. Over 5,000 attendees are expected. "We don't have to fly across the Atlantic to find the latest industry innovations under one roof any more - Casual Dining has brought all that and more to the UK," says Karen Forrester, CEO of TGI Friday's UK. "If you're in casual dining then you should be at Casual Dining...it really is that simple!" says Mark Fox, CEO of Bill's. For more information visit www.casualdiningshow.co.uk Increased demand for quality coffee from restaurants, hotels, coffee shops and universities has helped one of the UK and Ireland’s leading coffee roasters grind out another year of strong growth. Managing director Nick Snow (pictured) said: “Increasingly, coffee drinkers consider themselves coffee connoisseurs, so it is crucial coffee shops offer something that goes above and beyond." Increased demand for quality coffee from restaurants, hotels, coffee shops and universities has helped one of the UK and Ireland’s leading coffee roasters grind out another year of strong growth. In its latest set of financial results covering 2016 Glasgow-based Matthew Algie – which was acquired by the German family-owned Tchibo Coffee Service in August last year – saw its turnover increase by 3.9 percent (£1.4m) from £36.0m to £37.4m. Despite continued volatility in the global price of raw coffee and significant impact on currency exchange rates, retained profits at the independent coffee roaster increased from £2.2m to £2.8m. Operating profits increased to £2.65m, up from £2.58m in 2015. In a fiercely competitive and evolving market, Matthew Algie’s sustained growth is a result of its strong emphasis on the quality of its products, on its investment in and development of ethical and sustainable supply chains, and on its technical customer support programmes. The coffee shop market continues to enjoy steady growth with the total number of outlets in the UK increasing by 6 percent which has helped drive turnover by 12 percent to £8.9 billion annually. The number of coffee shops in the UK is now expected to surpass the number of pubs by the year 2030. Commenting on the results Nick Snow (pictured), managing director at Matthew Algie, said: “Coffee outlets face fierce competition on the high street and as consumer expectations increase, so must the quality and standard of the coffee on offer. In today’s market differentiation is everything. As well as taste acting as a measure of quality, consumers see provenance, ethics and sustainability as important. Our ethical values are central to our business and we are proud to supply coffee to our customers that meets this level of expectation. “Increasingly, coffee drinkers consider themselves coffee connoisseurs, so it is crucial coffee shops offer something that goes above and beyond. By helping our customers to stay one step ahead of the competition in terms of the quality of coffee they offer, we have once again been able to grow our overall share of the market. “We will continue to invest behind the Matthew Algie business and we have bought a major new warehousing facility at our Glasgow site to cope with the expansion. The growth over the last 12 months has been driven by a customer focused approach and as a result we have won new customers across multiple sectors and further strengthened our position in the market. Through contract catering our distribution has broken into some new areas including some major UK universities. On top of this the Espresso Warehouse brand and the added value support we offer customers, such as tailored branding, have continued to help grow our customers’ businesses.”	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line1650476
__label__cc	0.673496	0.326504	Journals of The Wastes :: The Wastes :: The Tundras Share Aaron's Home Subject: Re: Aaron's Home Sat Mar 09, 2013 3:04 pm Gaia held onto very tightly to Jun, even if she didn't really have to hold on, she would. She would never leave Jun's side. She promised herself this silent and buried her face in Jun's hair, the cold was nipping at her face and it was painful. She decided that they should stay in the tundras, because eventually people would give up looking. Suddenly Gaia felt like an idiot. They brought no supplies at all. They would have to go into town. AstralBeings Location : Narnia Junichi ignored the stinging sensation on her skin from the bitter cold as they continued riding onward. She too, was just now realizing that they had forgotten to bring any supplies. That wouldn't be good. "How far do you think we should go?" She asked Gaia. "We need to go into town," she was angry at herself. "We have to get supplies and I think i know where we could go," she paused. "The only problem is, the others would eventually find us." she nuzzled Jun's shoulder affectionately. "We'll run until i'm sure they've given up,' Regenard couldn't be that determined to find Gaia. She hoped that things would be okay as she tighten her grip on Jun "Ah - okay," Jun replied. "You've have to guide me the best you can towards town unless you want to try and drive... this thing. Hopefully they give up pretty quickly." Allastom Ceadda realized from the sounds behind the door that Gaia had helped her friend escape. She was a fool for not letting her wound be dressed properly first, but he knew they'd be fine. He debated to himself whether to and when to tell Regenard about them. He cared about the girl, as he cared about most people. But she could get hurt out there alone with her friend. He debated on telling Regenard about it, tracking them himself, or just pretending he had no idea. He eventually decided telling Regenard would be best. He ran out to where Regenard was and said, "Gaia escaped, Regenard. I can probably track her if you'd like, but I think it may be best to just let her go for now." Gaia nodded slightly. "Turn the horse towards the south, the river's that way. It might be a little hard to cross," she smiled softly. "But i believe you can do it," Junichi nodded and did as she was told. The four-legged beast they were riding on was starting to slow down a bit; it made Junichi wonder: When was the last time someone had ridden it? "How are we going to get supplies from town since we neglected to bring any? I don't believe we have any money on us," she asked as a particularly strong gust of wind blew at them. "We may have to steal a few things" she said quickly, hating that suggestion. "I don't know what else we c-" Gaia was cut off as a huge gust of wind blew past them and knocked her off the horse. Junichi wasn't too fond of that suggestion but let it go. It was necessary. "Gaia!" Junichi cried as the older woman was knocked off the beast. She quickly pulled on the reins and stopped it before jumping off and running towards the direction she had heard Gaia fall. "Are you alright?" She asked worriedly as she tried helping her up. Gaia was in pain, but not too much. She struggled to stand up with Jun's help and hugged her tightly. "I'm fine, sweetie." she kissed her forehead. "Lets just walk for a little bit, the horse can walk by our side." she didn't think she wanted to get back on the horse for a while Junichi blushed and responded, "Alright," before whistling to the four-legged beast and calling it over. She then grabbed the reins. Gaia gently grabbed Jun's arm. "Jun," she turned the girl around. "No matter what happens, promise me you won't die," she truly wanted to keep this girl close. She didn't want to even think about her dying. Junichi nodded slowly. "Okay; I promise. Promise me the same though - I don't want you dying on me either." Gaia then did something that felt right for this moment. She had only just meant Junichi, but there was a life time of feelings going through her at that moment. She leaned in, cupped Jun's cheek and kissed her tenderly. She wasn't sure why she did as she did. Everything about Jun was so beautiful. And with their lips pressed together, she had time to take that in. Junichi froze for a moment - Gaia was kissing her. Gaia was kissing her! Why did it feel so right? They had just met not even a day ago! She didn't push away - no; she kissed back. Was it even possible to have feelings for someone this quick? Gaia pulled away gently and pressed their foreheads together. "Then it's a deal," their kiss had sealed the deal. Jun would never die when so long as Gaia was alive. Everything felt so right about the kiss. The butterflies in her stomach reached her heart and she kissed Jun was again to make sure everything was alright and she wasn't lying to herself. She was not[b] lying. The kiss was right, though in the pit of her stomach, the fact that they had only met but several hours ago made it feel wrong. She pulled away and gently stroked Jun's soft cheek. Her skin was softer than silk. Gaia smiled at Jun and reached down, taking her hand. As soon as Gaia pulled away, Junichi was yearning for more. Of course, she didn't have to wait long before the older woman kissed her again. It gave Junichi a warm fuzzy feeling in the pit of her stomach. She was glad the feeling was mutual. When Gaia pulled away this time and took her hand in her own, Junichi was satisfied - for the most part. Just being able to feel the older woman's skin against hers was enough. Junichi just wished she could actually see Gaia. "How long do you think it'll be until we get to the river?" She asked. Regenard looked at Izanami. "Whenever this bloody war ends, we'll have time," he said, turning to the Merc, "And just let her go. I give up. If she wants to run off with that agent I just saw her with, let her. This war, Merc, will reach every corner of the world. She won't be able to escape, even if she tries. So, in the end, I've won, all the same. Now then, we'll be expected in the city soon, would you mind asking Aaron and Ohanzee if they're coming?" He stood and picked up his rifle, leaning against the wall. Gaia inhaled deeply and drank the moment in before speaking. "At this rate I'd say an hour, unless something happens." she gently squeezed Jun's hand. "We can get back on the horse, since that would be faster..." her face hurt from the sharp wind biting at her nose. "Or I can carry you on my back," Gaia would be happy, as long as Jun was close. Junichi 'hmmed' and contemplated their options. "I know you probably don't want to get back on that beast... And it would be pretty hard for me to ride on your back because of your... impediment. I don't think anythings going to happen us anytime soon so we could just walk." She gave Gaia a soft smile. Izanami Izanami watched him fly off of the handle because of the young girl, who she now knew was named Gaia. Was she the one that had leaned on Ceadda? The one that lacked an arm? She grabbed her rifle and looked out into the direction where she last saw the sun, but in the Tundras, she was never sure where it was. The snow was so bright that she often wandered around blindly. After a few moments, she looked to Regenard and leaned on the wall with him. "I'm sorry about Gaia, Regenard." Izanami sighed softly, looking at the ground. "Whatever has angered her will surely resolve itself in good time. And as you said, this war will reach every corner of the world. You two will cross paths again." She touched his arm softly. Regenard turned to her. "Don't worry, I know we will. Now, we really should get moving soon, so we should find out of the two in there want to come," he said, tapping his foot impatiently, "Also, I should probably get a new shirt..." He looked at his torn shirt, messing with the scars that marred him. Subject: Re: Aaron's Home Sun Mar 10, 2013 1:09 am Gaia nodded in agreement and slowly started walking with Jun. Her heart was racing and her heart felt like it would explode at any moment. Why did Jun make her so happy? "Just let me know if you get tired, Gaia. If you do, we can always ride the horse for a bit," Junichi continued softly. That foreboding feeling was in her stomach again and it scared her to death. Aaron came outside and looked at Regenard. He looked...Angry? "Regenard, I've decided I'll help you in this war of yours." he smiled a little. "What's wrong?" he was curious now. Everyone seemed a bit worked up. Gaia nodded and squeezed tightly onto Jun's hand. All she really wanted to do right now was kiss her and play with her hair. But there was a war happening, this was no time to think about that. "I won't make you steal anything in town," she smiled softly at Jun. "I'll do the dirty work." she smiled a little and pulled her mask away from her waist band and clasped it onto Jun's head. "The air around her isn't the cleanest." she said with a sigh as she continued to walk, Jun was nervous, Gaia could tell that much. Jun was shaking and that made Gaia very scared. Subject: Re: Aaron's Home Page 8 of 10 Go to page : 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 » What do I tell the folks at home Depot I need for my Frame » Home made forge and railroad track anvil » Shaw Direct "Home Away From Home" program. » Best Peat pot sizes to use? » Painting buckets for container planting Journals of The Wastes :: The Wastes :: The Tundras	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line1650477
__label__cc	0.526717	0.473283	First things first: Sigourney Weaver doesn't know how to hold a cigarette and her early scenes opposite Giovanni Ribisi are absolutely dreadful. Cameron's films are such pressurised environments — everyone snarling big butch comebacks at one another from the get go — that it takes a while to adjust without smiling to yourself: ah, I remember. And I could have done without the whole dead twin brother thing. I didn't need that much explanation as to why Sam Worthington, a disabled marine, should volunteer himself for a scientific experiment involving alien avatars. He's a paraplegic. That's reason enough. This movie had me the moment Jake goes for a run in his new body, bunching up the soil between his toes. Avatar isn't just a fantasy movie: it's a fantasy movie about fantasy, about the desire to jump the confines of your existing life and into the tracks of another, altogether more fabulous existence in which you get to run and jump and fly dragons through the air. "Out there is the true world," says Jake, "In here is the dream". This can get a little trippy: the Na'vi, too, get off by plugging their thoughts into the neural cords of six-legged horses, which made me wonder if anyone in this movie was simply content to just hang out and be themselves. When Jake Sully plugged into Na'vi and then, via the Na'vi, plugged into the horse, I thought the whole circuit might blow in a jolt of pure Escherlike feedback. Never mind the logic: this movie is gorgeous — simply and utterly, sink-your-knuckles-into-cookie-dough gorgeous. My plan going in was simple: get through the Pocohontas stuff and hunker down for the combat scenes. In the end, my expectations were totally upended. The middle section of the movie, in which Sully flies and swoops and swings with the Na'vi, was not just visually entrancing but moving, the effects as magical as a granted wish, a visual expression of Jake's cloistered dreams of mobility. And what mobility. After years of watching CGI by technicians who seem like they've never seen a body in motion, the movement in Avatar is easily the most impressive thing about it: the way the bodies have weight and mass, fixed centres of gravity, even as they they pivot and pirouette through the forest. Cameron plays by the rules, in other words, like the good physics major he is, and the resulting images feel both entrancing and grounded. This movie is built from the bottom up. I was wowed by how much cohesion Pandora had as a planet. The forest felt wet, dark and mossy; the snarling beasties had insistent, snapping muzzles that had you leaning back in your seat; and the bio-luminous stuff, which looked like too ersatz a touch — like drippy Monets in most of the stills I saw — only underlined how much Cameron was basically rendering an underwater world, above ground. You feel immersed. As for the heroine — I can't remember her name I'm afraid — she was both nubile and fierce, a combination many actresses, from Raquel Welch to Halle Berry, have tried to pull off and failed. Overall, in fact, I would say the motion-capture acting was way better than the regular sort. All those dreary nativist cliches from Dances with Wolves and Pocohontas — and believe me, Cameron uses every one — seemed to gain a little top spin from being applied to a race of blue aliens. I'm not going to lie to you: there are whole sections of this script you have to block your ears to. After Titanic, I'm pretty trained in how to best ingest a James Cameron movie: eyes peeled for the best, ears prepared for the worst. As much as I revere his instinct for the audience's pulse, I completely failed to imagine anyone who wouldn't find the whole "I see you" exchange as anything other than deeply ridiculous, not even the 14-year-old boys at whom the whole thing is supposedly aimed —especially 14-year-old boys. The final battle was, of course, glorious. Cameron is a master of this sort of asymmetrical fight, and instinctively knows how smaller forces beat bigger ones, so it was a little disappointing that tide of battle turns on the incursion of a deity, if you please, but he soon gets it down to more maneagable proportions: a retread of Aliens, basically, with alien beastie and power-loader squaring off against one another, only this time with the audience rooting against their species. The video-game of the movie, interestingly, reverses our loyalties back again, so the marines beat the crap out of the aliens, which makes you wonder if Cameron has really succeeded in making his point stick. But the movie is a genuine wonder — beautiful, entrancing and teeming with life. I never bored of seeing the heroine draw back an arrow in her bow, or hearing those dragon jaws snap, or catching a vertiginous view of misty tree tops, many miles below. My Cameron top five would now look something like this:— 1. Aliens 2. The Terminator 3. Titanic 5. Terminator 2: Judgment Day watch movies online March 2, 2011 at 3:26 PM Avatar is a movie that has great animation, nice plot, amazing performances. I have seen it many times and never got bored. Terminator was also good but this one had do something special that attracts me.	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line1650482
__label__wiki	0.80923	0.80923	Real Housewife's Show RHOC Star On The Winning Streak Over Divorce Battle! Shannon Beador, who is witnessing a winning streak over her divorce battle, has one more positive news coming her way. The RHOC star was battling for a spousal support and the child support. David had even accused the star of misusing his money. But, the verdict of the court has went in her favor. Read more to know the further story. By Akash Last updated Jul 11, 2018 Winning streak for Shannon! It was found that she had filed for the divorce with her ex-husband David. The divorce battle turned nasty after both started spoiling each other’s public image. However, Shannon has still secured a win in her legal battle, so far. Her Journey so far Her journey so far has been full of obstacles and still securing wins over them. She has had a major transformation after filing for the divorce. It was reported that the ‘RHOC’ star has lost a couple of pounds, got and dumped a new boyfriend. David accused her a multiple times! David accused her a multiple times over misusing the spousal support. He once claimed that the spousal support is being used for the drugs by her, which led her to give an answer with the court proceedings. Know her recent win! It was reported that she has scored a big win in her legal battle. David and she met in court on Monday, July 9. The verdict of the court went in favour of Shannon. She had filed for the spousal support from David – initially he refused to pay her the spousal support. But, when the court gave its judgment in favor of her, he has agreed to pay her. What amount will he be paying? It was found that the ‘RHOC’ star will be paid $10,00 a month in spousal support by David. In addition to the spousal support, she will also be getting a child support of $12,00 a month. David was quite unhappy! David was quite unhappy with this decision. He told Radar Online, “It’s all going to wash itself out. I just want whats best for our kids. Divorce is never fun and it’s hardest on the kids, but they seem to be moving along. I look forward to when this is over. I think we both do.” How their married life got in trouble! It all started when she caught David talking on the phone with an unknown lady. “I caught him whispering to this person on the phone,” Shannon revealed during the tenth season of the RHOC. “I knew something was wrong I was told I was crazy. I saw all the hotel receipts. I asked him one last time, ‘Are you having an affair?’ He said, ‘Yes.’” People Are Sharing Their Preemie Kids With Their Lovable Smiles And The Internet… SAM Nov 21, 2017 0 One of the most amazing and cherishable moments in the world would be the birth of a baby when a baby is born … There Are 11 Types Of Selfies You Might Not Know About It! Missing Women From C.A Now Reportedly Found On ” The… 90days Fiance Star, Ashley And Jay Broke UP!? Lips Turned Into Playful Cartoon Character By Laura Jenkinson	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line1650483
__label__wiki	0.938008	0.938008	Fair is fair EDITORIAL 07/07/2010 Curiouser and curiouser it is that there is today talk from Malacañang of the probability of having the claimed Truth Commission probe not just former President Gloria Arroyo, but former Presidents Fidel Ramos and Joseph Estrada for alleged irregularities. It was also just as curious that this suggestion came from Cardinal Gaudencio Rosales who, along with his bishops, has been noticeably actively meddling in politics, even as the bishops’ body had earlier claimed that the Catholic church will not be meddling in politics. Still, it may be a good idea for the Davide-led Truth Commission to include all previous administrations, which should include the Cory Aquino administration and not just the Ramos and Estrada administrations, as the probe should show that the Cory administration was hardly as clean and sainted as the yellow media then portrayed it. In the case of Estrada, the probe, if done objectively, would show that there were no irregularities committed by him or his Cabinet members, and would serve to clear him of all those allegations the anti-Erap media threw at him, in their bid to demonize him.... MORE Unprepared, undecided and unaware Private detectives: A pre-nuptial priority for some in India Good moves Unprepared, undecided and unaware FRONTLINE Ninez Cacho-Olivares 07/07/2010 Noynoy Aquino and his team appear to be very unprepared for the presidency and a full administration organization, which is pretty strange, considering that he had all of a month and a half — more actually — to prepare appointees to his Cabinet, sub-Cabinet, bureaus and agencies, if only to hit the ground running from Day One. They appear to be hitting the ground...stumbling. To this day, he has not even completed his Cabinet and he has not as yet decided whether to have a press secretary or a communications director to take charge of his media needs, or even have a press secretary that would be under the supervision of the communications director. A secretary with Cabinet status functioning, not under the president but under a communications director? There is also the unfilled Department of Interior and Local Government post, which he said he is taking on in a concurrent capacity. Lord knows how he can manage the DILG when he can’t even seem to manage the presidency, taking off three days after his official takeover of the presidency, and again, taking the weekend off..... MORE Private detectives: A pre-nuptial priority for some in India FEATURE 07/07/2010 NEW DELHI — The wedding, to be celebrated in sumptuous Indian style, was due for June and everything was progressing smoothly until the groom suddenly lost interest. Suspicious of an affair, the bride did what increasing numbers of anxious lovers and nervous families are doing in India: she rang a private detective to find out why. In a country where nine out of 10 marriages are still arranged and modern social pressures are putting the institution under pressure, the industry of snooping on lovers has expanded fast over the last five years, say insiders. In this case an investigation by the agency AMX — “marriage is a gamble,” says its Web site — revealed that the groom had recently discovered he was HIV positive. The discovery was made by an attractive female undercover agent sent by the agency, who befriended the groom and found his medicine. The wedding was eventually called off, like 20 percent of cases after a probe, AMX boss Baldev Kumar Puri told AFP. “A pre-matrimonial investigation is your duty,” Puri said. “A post matrimonial investigation is much more costly.” Puri and others, like Kunwar Vikram Singh, director of the New Delhi-based Lancers agency, are in a growth industry being driven by social changes and the way in which weddings are arranged. In cities, families are relying increasingly on small advertisements in newspapers and Web sites or specialist dating agencies to find the perfect match for their children.... MORE Good moves C.R.O.S.S.R.O.A.D.S Jonathan De la Cruz 07/07/2010 It is good that newly appointed Energy Secretary Rene Jose Almendras has deferred any action on the proposed sale of the government’s 10 percent stake in the multibillion-dollar Malampaya gas project. That gives one and all, including the old set of directors which failed to firm up a decision on the matter until it was unceremoniously changed toward the end of the term of the previous administration, to come out with their suggestions on how best to handle this issue. As Almendras himself correctly noted “...it is best that the board issues be resolved first then we will study how the Malampaya approach is going to be, or even ask the question: Do we really want to sell Malampaya if it’s generating revenues for the government today...” Which is how it should have been worked out in the first place. For if truth be told, the sale of assets such as the revenue rich Malampaya stake, considered one of the remaining “crown jewels” among government properties, should really be as deliberate as can be.... MORE A-ha! HE SAYS Aldrin Cardon 07/07/2010 Wang-wang stories have fed tabloid (and even broadsheet) headlines for a week, with reactionary law enforcement agencies taking President Aquino’s order to rid our highways of siren-equipped cars which have become more of a curse than a simple menace to law-abiding motorists, like you and me. I have no problems with Noy’s order, however. If that’s what Noynoy wants, then he deserves to get it, as it is primarily the thrust of his inaugural speech. President Aquino only wanted to drive home a point, and there was no better way than to stir his crowd of common folk to an applause by providing a simple solution to a simple problem, which our law enforcement agencies could not seem to address, except perhaps for a short period of time when Erap was president (and Ping Lacson his Chief of Police), but it also led to Erap’s downfall when he intended to silence Chavit Singson’s siren, which proved to be louder than anybody else’s wang-wang during Gloria Arroyo’s ambitious drive to power..... MORE Uh-oh SHE SAYS Dinah S. Ventura 07/07/2010 Now that the excitement of “newness” has begun to ebb and the Aquino administration is buckling down to work, one can’t help but wonder about some early “slip-ups” and brow-raising moves that have reaped their share of reactions. Philippine media, which have often been regarded by the objects of their eagle eyes as a living, breathing being that tend to bite and breathe noxious fumes, were the first to raise an “issue,” if one may call it that. On President Noynoy’s first day at work, the Malacañang press corps got all confused over Memorandum Circular No. 1, which declared “all non-career executive service positions vacant as of 30 June 2010 and (extended) the services of contractual employees whose contracts expire on 30 June 2010.” This was then revised but still signed as Memorandum Circular No. 1, but now declared “all non-career executive officials occupying career executive service positions to continue to perform their duties and responsibilities and extending the services of certain contractual and or casual employees whose contracts expire on June 30.”.... MORE Luisita massacre case closed—Palace By Aytch S. de la Cruz 07/07/2010 Ombudsman already cleared Noynoy—spokesman Luisita massacre case closed—Palace By Aytch S. de la Cruz For a presidency that calls for closure — even through a special Truth Commission — this is easily claimed to have closure when it comes down to a case involving President Aquino and his Cojuangco relatives pertaining to Hacienda Luisita. To Aquino and his Palace, the hacienda case is a closed case that should not be questioned or investigated further. Malacañang yesterday said the long-standing issue on the plight of the victims in the 2004 Hacienda Luisita massacre should be regarded as a “closed case” following the resolution supposedly executed by the Office of the Ombudsman which absolved then Tarlac congressman now President Aquino of any accountability in the massacre of the farmers. This acquittal of Aquino must have been recent, since this issue was a campaign issue against him yet his camp never stated that then Senator Aquino had already been cleared by the Ombudsman. Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda made this statement in response to a reporter’s question on how Aquino plans to address the continuing cry for justice of the relatives of the farmers who were killed in the outskirts of the Hacienda Luisita in Tarlac while fighting for their right to just compensation from the Cojuangco-Aquino clan. “That (Hacienda Luisita massacre issue) has been investigated. There was already an Ombudsman report way, way back and it has already cleared then Congressman Benigno Aquino III. So it’s an old issue,” Lacierda said. “That’s been a closed issue…that has been a campaign issue before and we have already answered that—that the charges against then Congressman Benigno Aquino were already dismissed,” he reiterated in an apparent bid to quickly end a discussion on the matter. Lacierda also mentioned that the protracted land row dispute in the HLI between the farmers and the Cojuangco-Aquino clan will be addressed by newly-appointed Agrarian Reform Secretary Gil de los Reyes but he said the case will be treated just “like any other ordinary case.”... MORE Noynoy eyes line budgeting, slashed pork Miriam claims Villar already has Senate presidency in the bag Comelec into cover-up on folder scam—ex-employee Widened ambit seen to weaken truth body Malacañang sees nothing wrong in extension Posted by Jesusa Bernardo at 7:40 AM 1 comment Links to this post Noynoy eyes line budgeting, slashed pork By Gerry Baldo 07/07/2010 By Gerry Baldo President Aquino’s popularity could be short lived in the Senate and the House of Representatives, with his Liberal Party (LP) allies disclosing yesterday that the ruling party is now eyeing to itemize the budget and slash the pork barrel, euphemistically called Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF), into something that is just enough for each congressional district. Quezon Rep. Lorenzo “Erin” Tañada III, LP spokesman, said each department would have to depend on its budget and not on the congressional allocations from the pork of the lawmakers. “It has always been mentioned during the campaign that President Aquino favors zero budgeting, which means each department would have to depend on its actual budget.” Tañada explained that Aquino wants to find out if there is really a need to increase the budget. “This is because we might say that we need a P1.6 trillion or P1.7 trillion budget, but that the reality is that we may just be needing only P1 trillion,” Tañada said, adding that a big cut in the pork barrel could drastically reduce the budget deficit. Citing the recent decision of the G20 heads of government during their Toronto Summit on June 26 and 27, 2010 to reduce their deficits, Tañada said Aquino’s move would augur well with the move of the world’s biggest economies. Miriam claims Villar already has Senate presidency in the bag By Angie M. Rosales 07/07/2010 While senators engage in a psy-war to gain the needed numbers to seat a new Senate president when Congress opens late this month, Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago said the support being contested is already in the bag for Sen. Manuel Villar Jr. Santiago disputed conflicting claims on who among the senators will support to replace Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and gave hints that Senator Villar, one of the frontrunners, already has secured the commitment of 12 of them. This, she said, was long before another aspirant, Liberal Party (LP) bet Sen. Francis Pangilinan, started courting senators for support. “There are some who are mistaking their dream for the reality. They’ll wake up on July 26 (Congress’ opening),” the senator said in twitting Villar’s so-called rivals during a phone-patched interview with reporters. Santiago, who already made earlier pronouncement on Villar securing the commitment of some of their peers, said immediately after the May 10 elections, where Villar lost in his bid for the presidency, he had managed to seal the support of 12 senators for the Senate leadership. This would mean having 13 of the required votes, to include Villar himself, according to Santiago.... MORE Comelec into cover-up on folder scam—ex-employee By Marie A. Surbano 07/07/2010 By Marie A. Surbano Commission on Elections officials, evidently, even the Comelec commissioners, are allegedly into a cover-up of the P700-million budget translated into 1.8 million ballot secrecy folder scam, with their refusal to even put under suspension those poll officials mentioned in the poll body’s law department probe findings. This was the charge aired by former Comelec employee Melchor Magdamo, the whistleblower, who has called for the immediate suspension of the people behind the botched P700-million secrecy folder acquisition during the May 10 polls. Magdama said by not suspending the poll officers named in the probe report, there is no one to prevent the pieces of evidence in the case from possible “disappearances.” Magdamo stressed that all those implicated in the controversy remain in position and it has become only too obvious that the Comelec high officials are planning a cover up. He particularly cited Comelec executive director Jose Tolentino who he stated in his affidavit as the poll official who had approved the specifications of the ballot secrecy folder that was given to the winning supplier OTC Paper Supply. “The mere fact that Tolentino (and others) are still there, it is obvious that there would be a cover up. They (their superiors) should have placed under preventive suspension all those involved to prevent them from getting the evidence…,” Magdamo said in Filipino during an interview at UNTV. Magdamo noted that this is not the first time that evidence in cases in the Commission disappears. A highly reliable source in the Comelec, told the Tribune that on top of the list of poll officials involved in the folder scam is Tolentino, who was also under fire during the congressional probe of the automated polls as well as the Congress during the presidential canvassing, for having issued last minute memos and changing rules, thus opening the auto polls open to electoral fraud.... MORE Widened ambit seen to weaken truth body 07/07/2010 Expanding the scope of the so-called Truth Commission to include alleged irregularities and abuses committed during the Ramos and Estrada administrations could only muddle, if not weaken, the purpose of the body and affect its initial expressed purpose of giving closure to issues raised against former President Arroyo. Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago also expressed pessimism over the competence of the fact-finding body under the helm of former Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr. in taking up unresolved cases supposedly committed in the last three adminis-trations. “That is justified under the circumstances but it might have a problem building up a case or finding evidence to sustain the charges against (former) President Arroyo. We might be asking too much from it,” she said in a phone-patched interview with Senate reporters. Some church leaders have urged Malacañang to expand the mandate of the body and not focus solely on Arroyo but to include past presidents. Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said the Palace was open to this idea but clarified that it is up to Davide to decide on this matter given his authority to oversee the commission. “For me, the magnitude of the task makes it impossible. You’re talking the presidency. There are so many layers of bureaucracy that insulates the president. So it’s very hard to prove that the (former) president was first liable for an official act of the State. That’s why if the investigation against all other prior presidents are conducted at the same time as the investigation against (former) President Arroyo, that is the best way to dilute the limited resources of government and in effect, stymie the proceedings,” she pointed out.... MORE Malacañang sees nothing wrong in extension By Michaela P. del Callar 07/07/2010 By Michaela P. del Callar Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo defended yesterday his directive to extend the terms of 21 political diplomats appointed by former President Arroyo, saying there is nothing irregular and illegal about it. In a media interview, Romulo said the extension of terms of political envoys has been a common practice by previous presidents such as Corazon Aquino, Fidel Ramos and Joseph Estrada. “During the time of transition from President Ramos to President Estrada, they were extended for six months from July 1 to Dec. 31. During Cory’s time, they were also extended,” Romulo was quoted as saying. Under the Constitution, the President has the power to appoint or re-appoint officials and diplomats, but not extend their terms and, therefore, a Commission on Appointments confirmation is needed. In a separate interview with the same network, former congressman Apolinario Lozada, who used to be a career diplomat, branded as “questionable” the extension of the envoys. Lozada pointed out that political diplomats cease to represent the Philippines once the President who appointed them steps down. “They aren’t representatives of (President) Noynoy (Aquino). That’s illegal,” Lozada said. He added that the envoys should have tendered their courtesy resignation on or before June 30 and turned over the operations of the embassies to their deputies. Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. said in a statement that he and Romulo have jointly recommended to Aquino to allow a three-month extension of the terms of the ambassadors, whose terms were deemed to have ended with that of Arroyo on June 30. If approved, the terms of 21 ambassadors should expire on Sept. 30.... MORE Malacañang sees nothing wrong in extensio Unprepared, undecided and unaware FRONTLINE Ninez... Private detectives: A pre-nuptial priority for som... Good moves C.R.O.S.S.R.O.A.D.S Jonathan De la Cru... Luisita massacre case closed—Palace By Aytch S. d... Noynoy eyes line budgeting, slashed pork By Gerry... Miriam claims Villar already has Senate presidency... Comelec into cover-up on folder scam—ex-employee ... Widened ambit seen to weaken truth body 07/07/201... Malacañang sees nothing wrong in extension By Mic...	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line1650488
__label__wiki	0.830349	0.830349	Lies and more lies EDITORIAL 09/02/2010 Lies and more lies Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, speaking with reporters said that if necessary, she would summon President Aquino, as well as Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) chief, Jesse Robredo, her co-chairman in the probe body, for them to shed light on the botched hostage rescue operations. Obviously, that’s all for show. She certainly wouldn’t dare summon Noynoy Aquino to even “shed light” on what he was doing all that time, because if she did, Noynoy and his boys who claim to have been in Emerald Restaurant on Roxas Boulevard, in front of the US Embassy, would be found to have been lying through their teeth, since it has been confirmed by the restaurant staff, as well Robredo, that Noynoy arrived at Emerald after 8:30 p.m., or after the hostages were already killed. His secretaries, such as Robredo, were there some 30 minutes early as they were summoned by Noynoy to a meeting. And even as Noynoy was already near the area of the hostage taking, it still took him over four hours to make an appearance, made worse by wearing a smile on his face. So it has been established that neither he nor his officials were in Emerald monitoring the situation the whole time. So where were they? In the Palace playing billiards while the hostage drama was ongoing?... MORE Posted by Jesusa Bernardo at 9:41 PM 1 comment Links to this post Bribes, kidnap and murder: Russia’s police turn to crime focus 09/02/2010 Bribes, kidnap and murder: Russia’s police turn to crime MOSCOW — Scandals involving police crime are becoming more and more frequent in Russia — kidnapping, murder, torture and corruption among them — casting doubts on President Dmitry Medvedev’s ability to reform the tainted force. In the latest incident, four Moscow policemen were arrested on suspicion of kidnapping a businessman and driving off with him in the trunk of their car. The man’s wife told police that her husband had been kidnapped from outside their house by camouflaged attackers. The case was not unprecedented: three Moscow police officers had kidnapped two women in February, demanding 50,000 euros and threatening that the families would be framed in drugs cases if they failed to pay up..... MORE Amboy Noynoy FRONTLINE Ninez Cacho-Olivares 09/02/2010 Amboy Noynoy Noynoy announced to media that he had canceled his trips scheduled this month to Indonesia and Vietnam, but will go ahead with his US visit to attend the United Nations General Assembly meeting, a yearly affair, where heads of state or governments, or their foreign ministers attend in their stead, to give their speeches, which more often than not, are not even listened to by other world leaders. Noynoy of course hopes for a meeting with US President Barack Obama, even for a photo-op, in the hope of scoring points with the locals to generate that impression that Noynoy has Obama’s full support. But who cares if Obama supports him? As of now, however, Malacañang has not gotten word that Noynoy can be squeezed into Obama’s schedule. The interesting question with regard to the canceled Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) visits, however, is: Just who canceled the visits Indonesia or Noynoy, and Vietnam or Noynoy? Noynoy, in announcing the cancellation of his visits to Indonesia and Vietnam, made it appear that it was he who had canceled the visits, and that he has sought a rescheduling of his visits for October, but that the two Asean countries failed to fit his visit in their schedules..... MORE Much ado about rolling and flying coffins BLURBAL THRUSTS Louie Logarta 09/02/2010 Much ado about rolling and flying coffins BLURBAL THRUSTS Louie Logarta Associate Justice Noel Tijam of the Court of Appeals has turned out to be the knight in shining armor of an estimated 10 million PWDs (people with disability) all over the country for upholding their right to a 20-percent discount in the purchase of medicines as mandated by in the Magna Carta for Disabled Persons. It was a well-received decision penned by Justice Tijam of the CA’s Eleventh Division wherein he threw out a petition filed by the Drugstores Association of the Philippines and allies Save More Drug of the SM group, Manson Drug Corp., Northern Luzon Drug Corp. and South Star Drug Inc. seeking to nullify said discount being granted to PWDs, claiming several provisions of the PWD law were “unconstitutional.” Tijam countered that the questioned discount is in fact constitutional because it is a legitimate exercise of police power by the State. “While the Constitution protects property rights, petitioners must accept the realities of business and the State, in the exercise of police power, can intervene in the operations of a business which may result in the impairment of property rights in the process… based on the foregoing reasoning and justification, we find that the grant of 20 percent discount on the purchased medicines of PWDs is similarly considered a valid exercise of police power of the State, hence, it is constitutional.”.... MORE Crisis mismanagement by panic By Ronald Roy COMMENT 09/02/2010 Crisis mismanagement by panic By Ronald Roy After the smoke cleared over the Luneta carnage the other Monday, there was little doubt we would be thrown into an internecine state of frenzied blame-laying and finger-pointing. The disarray has reached a point where we must now decide for ourselves how we can regroup to salvage the national honor and recover fast from a jolted economy. For how long, nobody really knows. One cannot but recoil at the “expert” remark of a Tourism or Foreign Affairs official that there was nothing to worry about since business relations between Hong Kong and mainland China on one hand, and our country on the other, would normalize in around “two and a half” months. This optimism is as asinine as the notion of a pint-sized Gloria Arroyo being entered as a statuesque contestant in a beauty pageant, and uncalled for since it tends to downplay the hurt the Chinese claim we have heaped upon them. This official must learn that contrition cannot set a deadline for the grant of the forgiveness that a wrongdoer seeks. At the same time, it is regretted that some of our Chinese friends have failed to isolate the wrongful acts of our officials as their own and not of the entire Filipino nation. It might help them to know we are among the most decent and amiable peoples in the world..... MORE US legacy unwritten as Iraq combat mission ends — commanders FEATURE 09/02/2010 US legacy unwritten as Iraq combat mission ends — commanders CONTINGENCY OPERATING SITE MAREZ — Army Col. Charles Sexton likes to tell his soldiers that, 19 years on from his first involvement with Iraq, the US military’s legacy here remains largely unwritten. Sitting in his office on Contingency Operating Site Marez, just outside the main northern city of Mosul, where insurgent groups wreaked havoc in the aftermath of the US-led invasion of 2003, the 48-year-old recounts a story he has told his troops. On a recent break in France, Sexton and his wife visited Chateau-Thierry, a town east of Paris, where he saw a monument to the US army’s Third Infantry Division’s contributions during the two World wars. “The monument is beautiful, it’s gorgeous... everything was kept perfectly and it was in a beautiful spot,” says Sexton, now the commander of the Third Division’s 2nd Brigade. “And there is, just outside this town... another little sign, it’s about maybe 18 to 20 inches, and it says ‘Cimetiere Allemand,’ which is ‘German Cemetery’. ... It wasn’t well-kept, it was just a cemetery.”.... MORE Sex Education — 7 VIEWPOINTS Archbishop Oscar V. Cruz 09/02/2010 Sex Education — 7 Archbishop Oscar V. Cruz As a right and proper ending of this subject matter of “Sex Education,” it has now become both fruitful and practical to make a full circle thereabout in the sense that there it started and there also shall it end. Question: What are the clear and given premises of this short and simple treaties in conjunction with education about sex? Answer: Firstly, it acquired the interest and concern of the Department of Education in particular. Then, the same department considered it necessary to have sex education modules, booklets and similar literature composed, printed and accordingly funded. Lastly, as a matter of course, the said department tasked some teachers in selected public schools to handle the subject matter and do the teaching thereof to duly chosen elementary and high school students in the school premises. Needless to say, the starling statement of the previous secretary of Health to give “Sex Education” even to “Kindergarten” pupils was not taken seriously..... MORE Palace hand in Senate probe suspension eyed By Angie M. Rosales 09/02/2010 Palace hand in Senate probe suspension eyed Malacanang may have had a direct hand in the sudden suspension of the Senate’s scheduled inquiry into the bungled hostage crisis that left eight Hong Kong residents dead and eight more injured, with more traumatized over the tragedy. Sen. Edgardo Angara raised this issue of probable Malacañang interference in the affairs of the Senate as word reached him that somebody allegedly asked to have Sen. Gregorio Honasan, overall lead in the probe of the Aug. 23 hostage incident in Manila, place on hold the proceedings in the meantime. “Who is investigating it? Because they (Palace) requested Gringo (Honasan) to suspend in the meantime the investigation here in the Senate,” Angara said yesterday in an interview with reporters, adding this was the information he had gathered. He insinuated that the current Senate does not seem to be acting independently, tossing back the question to reporters if the move to suspend the inquiry will affect the credibility of the institution. Angara, however, refused to divulge his source, saying that the issue is best addressed to the panel chairmen. Predictably Honasan, chairman of the public order committee, dismissed the allegations, standing by the decision taken by senators, while assuring that.... MORE Posted by Jesusa Bernardo at 11:55 AM 1 comment Links to this post Noy’s factions’ turf war seen in bungled hostage crisis 09/02/2010 Noy’s factions’ turf war seen in bungled hostage crisis With so many uncoordinated moves from several communications secretaries of President Aquino during the Aug. 23 bungled hostage rescue operations, this is today seen as a probable cause for the mixed signals that emanated from Malacañang during the hostage crisis, from the explanations offered by them in the matter of the call of Hong Kong leader Donald Tsang, to the continued excuses being offered by them in defense of their, and their President’s lack of leadership. That factions exist in the Palace was denied yesterday by presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda, even when it is fairly evident that there are at least two warring factions in the Palace: The Roxas group, branded by the media as the “Balay Puti” group, and the Samar Group, identified with the Aquino relatives and the Cory yellows. Lacierda denied that there is infighting between at least two groups in Malacañang and claimed too that the allegations that it was the infighting that contributed to the botched rescue of Hong Kong tourists was false. Lacierda, who himself has made a lot of boo-boos in his statements issued shortly after the botched operations clarifying the incident of Tsang’s calls not being answered by Aquino, yesterday said that the “issue has been totally blown out of proportion” in relation to the warring factions in the Palace.... MORE HK gov’t tells Speaker: Ours is an independent judiciary 09/02/2010 HK gov’t tells Speaker: Ours is an independent judiciary Reacting to an Aug. 31 Tribune story titled “Singson may receive HK anger backlash” wherein the Speaker, Feliciano Belmonte, was quoted as raising the possibility of the court case of Rep. Ronald Singson —charged by the Hong Kong government with drug possession — being the recipient of the anger of Chinese citizens in Hong Kong and may prove to detrimental to Singson, a Hong Kong government spokesman yesterday defended the integrity of the city’s judicial system, saying : “We do not comment on individual court cases. However, Hong Kong’s rule of law is upheld by an independent judiciary. It is the cornerstone of our society. Judges here (HK) administer justice according to law without fear or favor.” Belmonte was quoted in the report as saying that it would be “pitiful” if the botched rescue last week that resulted in the death of eight Hong Kong residents would affect the case now pending in the former British colony. “That’s a different matter altogether. That would be pitiful,” Belmonte said amid continued outrage over the Manila incident that killed eight Hong Kong and Canadian tourists held hostage by a former police officer. At the same time, Deputy Secretary for Security, Mr Ngai Wing-chit, of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government issued a clarificatory statement in reaction to Tribune’s Sept. 1 report which had Senate Pro-Tempore Jinggoy Estrada confirming the fears of the overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in HongKong over the anger of Hong Kong residents spilling over to their jobs and persons.... MORE Senate okays reso suspending GOCC, GFI execs’ fat perks 09/02/2010 Senate okays reso suspending GOCC, GFI execs’ fat perks The refund of the reported P127-million “bonuses” allegedly received by former Social Security System (SSS) president Romulo Neri and chairman Thelmo Cunanan along with several others was sought by senators yesterday. They, along with several other executives from government-owned and -controlled corporations (GOCCs) uncovered to be receiving fat salaries and excessive allowances, are being made to remit to their respective agencies the amounts they have declared as “benefits,” said to be in the hundreds of millions of pesos. This is contained in the Senate resolution formally adopted yesterday in the plenary which calls on President Aquino to suspend all the bonuses and allowances of the governing boards of the various GOCCs and have these sums of money turned over to the country’s coffers. Senate Resolution 17 was unanimously approved by its members. Sen. Franklin Drilon, in an interview yesterday clarified that it is only the benefits that the governing boards get from their own agencies that are being called to be suspended by the Executive.... MORE Put up or shut up 09/02/2010 Put up or shut up The Daily Tribune’s editorial board is protesting presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda’s repeated threatening remarks on the newspaper’s Malacañang beat re-porter Aytch de la Cruz, of her facing libel charges for doing her assigned job of coming out with daily stories from the Palace that President Aquino’s subalterns find critical of the new admi-nistration. While not new to an antagonistic Palace, the Tribune editors consider the Palace spokesman’s regular tirades against their reporter as a form of prior restraint on her ability to carry out her daily journalistic chores. Lacierda yesterday uttered “Ayoko ‘yan, Tribune ‘yan, gagawan na naman ako ng story n’yan” (I don’t like that, that’s Tribune, it will again spin the story) to De la Cruz when she tried to chase him for a com-ment on a previous story about the thousands of justices and judges who wanted to find answers as to whether their unpaid benefits would be provided by the Aquino government. Even before De la Cruz could shoot her question, Lacierda stopped her cold with his remarks in a supposed effort to evade other reporters seeking to clarify stories.... MORE Aquino economic team slammed over incomplete budget proposal 09/02/2010 Aquino economic team slammed over incomplete budget proposal President Aquino’s economic team yesterday earned the ire of opposition lawmakers as Budget Secretary Florencio Abad tried to hide a big portion of the 2011 national budget from congressional scrutiny. House Minority Leader Edcel Lagman and Quezon Rep. Danilo Suarez said Abad had apparently tried to hide the big picture of the national budget to the lawmakers when the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) failed to give details of some P711.5-billion in his presentation of the National Expenditure Program. The proposed budget for 2011 is P1.645 trillion. Lagman noted that Abad had only delved on the new appropriations when he should have discussed automatic appropriations such as the debt service and the internal revenue allotment, continuing appropriations such as salaries, and all other kinds of appropriations such as net lending and tax refunds.... MORE Over 2,000 OFWs waiting in shelters, safehouses or repatriation 09/02/2010 Over 2,000 OFWs waiting in shelters, safehouses or repatriation Over 2,000 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) are waiting in various shelters and safehouses in the Middle East for their immediate mass repatriation, with the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) having set aside more than P100 million. The cost of plane ticket for each returning OFW is estimated at P50,000, apart from other expenses such as immigration and legal fees paid by the Philippine government to host countries to allow the Filipino worker leave the country. Overseas Workers Welfare Administration chief Carmelita Dimzon said most of the OFWs that will be deported are not members of OWWA. The OWWA has collected an estimated $12 billion in 2010 from the mandatory $25 contributions from OFW members, of which a portion should be earmarked for emergency repatriation. “For undocumented cases, the OWWA forwards processing and implementation to the Department of Foreign Affairs which also has funds for this purpose.” But the OWWA funds have been subjected to numerous cases of misuse of funds from abusive board members. The DFA, on the other hand, has been complaining of alleged lack of funds “but has failed to repatriate a number of OFWs and those in distress over the years.”.... MORE Bribes, kidnap and murder: Russia’s police turn to... Amboy Noynoy FRONTLINE Ninez Cacho-Olivares 09/0... Much ado about rolling and flying coffins BLURBAL... Crisis mismanagement by panic By Ronald Roy COMME... US legacy unwritten as Iraq combat mission ends — ... Sex Education — 7 VIEWPOINTS Archbishop Oscar V. ... Palace hand in Senate probe suspension eyed By An... Noy’s factions’ turf war seen in bungled hostage c... HK gov’t tells Speaker: Ours is an independent jud... Senate okays reso suspending GOCC, GFI execs’ fat ... Aquino economic team slammed over incomplete budge... Over 2,000 OFWs waiting in shelters, safehouses or...	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line1650489
__label__wiki	0.809595	0.809595	Been there; heard that EDITORIAL 10/29/2010 Been there; heard that The last time a Palace occupant felt irritated by a “small” newspaper that she claimed she never read and swore for her administration not to subscribe to it, even when she and her Cabinet reacted vehemently to its reports, and read it anyway, top-level pressure started to be applied on this newspaper in an attempt to choke it of its primary source of income, advertisements. Failing to do that, the pressure was gradually raised in intensity until in 2006, Malacañang tried to forcefully take over the operations of The Tribune, padlocked the printing press, confiscated several documents without any search warrant through an illegal raid by her police forces. So here we go again. The other day, Noynoy Aquino ranted in Vietnam that a small newspaper with very “minimal readers” had upset him since it printed a warning from a prelate that he may not complete his six-year term as a result of his poor management skills and his reliance on a two-man team in the Palace in the crafting of major policies and decisions. While not mentioning the name of the paper he was referring to, he described it as a “Manila-based newspaper of minor circulation, minor only because it only has few readers,” it was evident that he meant this paper since it was only The Tribune, that carried in its front page a story quoting Marbel Bishop Dinualdo Gutierrez on his assessment of Aquino’s leadership skills on the day Noynoy went nuts in Vietnam..... MORE Posted by Jesusa Bernardo at 10:28 PM 1 comment Links to this post Bordering on paranoia FRONTLINE Ninez Cacho-Olivares 10/29/2010 Bordering on paranoia Whoever opposes him and criticizes him, Noynoy sees as his enemy. Thus, the Daily Tribune, whom he called a “small newspaper” and small because it has few readers, that criticizes him constantly, and which he said before the Filipino community in Vietnam, benefited from the past administration and therefore out to destroy him, is his enemy. That’s really very paranoid of him, apart from which, Noynoy should really be told a few home truths. One: The Tribune certainly did not benefit anything at all from the past and previous administrations, as it has always been critical of the Malacañang tenant — whoever it is sitting as head of government--including Cory Aquino. Proof of this is the fact that not only did the previous Palace occupants make life economically hard on the Tribune all these years, but also the fact that the Arroyo administration went to the extent of raiding the Tribune offices, and having her police force padlock the paper’s offices and printing press, with even the chief of the police force going on live TV to announce that it was taking over the newspaper..... MORE 2010 rout may not augur ill for Obama in 2012 ANALYSIS 10/29/2010 2010 rout may not augur ill for Obama in 2012 WASHINGTON — Barack Obama’s foes will rejoice if his Democrats get thumped in mid-term congressional elections, but even if his presidency needs a rethink, it may be premature to prepare his political obituary for 2012. Obama is facing a rebuke from voters on Nov. 2, only two years after they swept him to power, with Republicans tipped to grab back the House of Representatives and thin Democratic margins in the Senate. Pundits are asking why Obama has lost the magic of 2008, and whether he will suffer the ignominy of going down as a one-term president. “The weeks and months following the election will be a time of testing for President Obama,” said William Galston, a former Clinton administration official now at the Brookings Institution. “He will need to look into himself and at the situation.” If Republicans do emerge triumphant next Tuesday, confrontation will be a certainty as the parties feud over taxes and the deficit in a divided Washington and as the already-stirring 2012 presidential race heats up..... MORE Am back NO HOLDS BARRED Armida Siguion-Reyna 10/29/2010 Am back Armida Siguion-Reyna We flew in Tuesday night. Wednesday morning saw me reporting for how-are-yous with the tulisanes of the 365 Club at the coffee shop of Hotel Intercon. A quick trip to the parlor, a catnap in between, and then this lola was off to a cocktail party at the Makati Shangri-La, upon the invitation of Vice President Jojo Binay, chairman of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council, for National Housing Day. The affair was for the diplomatic corps, for them to see where the government’s efforts to provide decent public housing stood. Among those mingling with the diplomats were Sen. Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Ompong Plaza, JV Bautista, Rene Diaz, big names in real estate, the Binay family of children and grandchildren, including the Makati City mayor, the second district representarive and a talented boy who played his instrument with such musicality and grace, prodding his grandma Doc Ellen to proudly turn to me, with “Sige na nga, ibibili ko na siya ng marimba!” It’s good to go home to a major event. You see familiar faces, hear so many solicitous inquiries, receive quite a number of warm hugs. Except that with all eyes and ears on the Vice President as he delivered his speech on the rostrum that evening, I could not give out a complete answer to, “Nagpa-check up ka raw sa Amerika? Ano’ng resulta?” But, yes, to all who care enough to know, I saw my doctors in the US. Nothing wrong with me in a major, major way, save for the unavoidable body changes that come with years. True, I could have had the tests done here, pero ‘yun na nga, you get older, you also get more impatient faster. You have expectations, you make demands, and when few of these are met, local providers tend to dismiss you like it’s your fault, as if what is wrong with you is only.... MORE Ten minutes vs power plunder DIE HARD III Herman Tiu Laurel 10/29/2010 Ten minutes vs power plunder Herman Tiu Laurel Our last column outlined the “power plunder” being inflicted on the people by the collusion between Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) and the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC), as well as by the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. and the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines, with Therma Marine Inc. of the Aboitiz group. All told, their profits increased between 60 and 100 percent in the span of just one year, and they were able to manipulate the rate-setting mechanisms to escalate the cost of our energy use by up to 300 percent! A few days after the said column came out, yet another confirmation of this profiteering was headlined by BusinessWorld: “Meralco powers past Petron in BW’s Top 1,000.” Meralco came up with a “red herring” to mitigate any adverse reaction to the No. 1 ranking by saying that this came despite “a 2.8-percent drop in gross revenues to P183.7 billion due to reduced generation and transmission charges last year.” In truth, generation and transmission charges had nothing to do with Meralco’s net income jumping midway this year by 82.3 percent (from P3.15 billion from the same period last year to P5.8 billion so far), as well as with the company’s 2009 P7.7 billion net income surpassing its target of P11 billion for 2010. In fact, Meralco had been raking in this doubling of profits since 2008 when its net income jumped from P3.5 billion to P7.7 billion in 2009. All through these periods, there was not any real increase in the size and volume of the market. Meralco has taken great pains to hide this with its so-called statistics of 11 to 17 percent growth in the volume of its sales. What has actually happened was that the massive increases came as a result of the shift from the old Return-on-Rate Base (RoRB) to the new Performance-Based Rate (PBR) setting mechanism that increased allowable returns from the previous 12 percent to the current 15.8 percent! On top of this, we are faced with the massive overcharging of electricity consumers. The Commission on Audit has already found that Meralco overcharged us by at least P7 billion in 2004 and 2007 alone, which indicates the strong likelihood that the same has happened for the intervening years and beyond. In fact, an 81-year-old veteran of the Lawyers Against Monopolies (LAMP), Genaro Lualhati, who has fought against this overcharging and won for us 4 million Meralco consumers P28 billion in refunds, filed another petition in 2008 for the power firm to refund another P35 billion worth of overcharges in the past 10 years. But even as the ERC is obliged by law to resolve the issue within 30 days, it took the regulatory body three long years to issue a decision, and only after Lualhati pressed further. It was revealed in our GNN program by Mang Naro, as Lualhati is called, that the ERC deliberately dilly-dallied and dwelt on irrelevant issues, only to declare his petition “moot and academic.” Not be deterred, Mang Naro’s one demand is for the other crusaders in this fight to be active again. With Mang Naro on my show was Butch Junia, who came out of retirement for this fight, as well as Pete Ilagan of Nasecore, former QC Mayor Jun Simon, Jojo Borja of Mindanao and many others. Volunteer lawyers have since been recruited to take all these issues to court so that someday we may finally see ERC pay for its betrayal of public trust. Butch Junia updated us on the comparative electricity rates of different countries, such as Tokyo’s $0.20/kWh compared to Meralco’s $0.23/kWh, making the Philippines the highest in Asia in terms of power cost today. Our rates are simply astronomical compared to Jakarta’s $0.06/kWh; Kuala Lumpur’s $0.06/kWh; Paris’ $0.11/kWh; Shanghai’s $0.07/kWh; and even Singapore’s $0.21/kWh. Few places, in fact, can beat Meralco’s rate; with the only possible exception being New York’s $0.29/kWh — but then, how can you compare the two? Worse, the situation of Meralco’s 4 million electricity consumers is further aggravated by the formula where regular consumers pay up to P3/kWh in distribution cost while the very large consumers, such as malls and big industries, pay only as low as P0.28/kWh. As the public is made aware of these facts, the momentum for the consumer campaign is sure to grow. Action plans have been drawn up, with a “soft launch” on Nov. 1 of the “lights out protest.” The plan calls on all Meralco consumers to turn off their lights from 7 to 7:10 p.m. every Monday. As people are made aware, then the number of “lights out” days will be increased, helping consumers save money while at the same time synergizing neighborhoods toward the cause. This action has been done before but this new initiative shows the growing support for the struggle. All sectors should thus “volt-in” for a nuclear chain reaction. Media workers can help in the information campaign; even the UP Law Department can help while businessmen can donate stickers, tarps, and posters to spread the word. Remember: Lights out every Monday 7 to 7:10 p.m. Let’s knock the lights out of those power plunderers! (Tune in to Sulo ng Pilipino, Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 6 to 7 p.m. on 1098AM; watch “Electrocuting Power Consumers: The ERC-Meralco Collusion, Part II” with former mayor Jun Simon, Pete Ilagan, et. al on Politics Today with HTL, Tuesday, 8 to 9 p.m., with replay at 11 p.m., on Global News Network, Destiny Cable Channel 21; visit our blogs, http://newkatipunero.blogspot.com and http://hermantiulaurel.blogspot.com) (Reprinted with permission by Mr. Herman Tiu-Laurel) South Africa in race against toxic mine water threat focus 10/29/2010 South Africa in race against toxic mine water threat WESTONARIA — For years Neels Van Wyk suspected something was wrong with the water on his farm, worries that grew as mining and government officials started frequenting the area to test nearby rivers. Van Wyk, 48, lives in Westonaria on the southwestern outskirts of Johannesburg, surrounded by four major mines which over the last 120 years extracted gold and uranium. Most of the mines closed down 11 years ago, when pumping of underground water reserves also stopped. Now researchers worry that toxic mine water is rising toward the surface and seeping into nearby water supplies, contaminating rivers with a cocktail of acidic and sometimes radioactive waste. “My concern is that I use borehole water which could be contaminated. I sell peaches and vegetables to the hawkers and they sell it to the community. What if the vegetables are contaminated and we don’t know that,” Van Wyk said. Activists fear rising water levels in the mines have created an underground time bomb that could threaten the country’s nearby financial capital Johannesburg in 16 months.... MORE Hispanic vote important for Democrats, but harder to get FEATURE 10/29/2010 Hispanic vote important for Democrats, but harder to get WASHINGTON — Democrats are courting Hispanic voters to blunt a likely Republican advance in US legislative elections Tuesday, but they may prove hard to get after three years of hard economic times. “The Latino community, like the rest of the country, has gone through a very difficult two years. And so it’s understandable that people feel frustrated,” President Barack Obama said last week in an interview with Hispanic news organizations. “Now, if I’m the Latino community, the notion that somehow I would sit back and not participate and not have my voice heard (...) that makes no sense whatsoever,” Obama said. Two years ago, Obama won the presidency thanks in part to a record turnout by 9.7 million Hispanics, casting 7.4 percent of the ballots nationwide. Obama got 67 percent of their votes. And as this campaign goes into its last frenetic week, the Democratic Party spent a million dollars to air nationally a spot featuring Obama speaking Spanish in its latest attempt to get out the vote.... MORE Dinky faces Gloria grilling in House bonds probe By Gerry Baldo and Angie M. Rosales 10/29/2010 Dinky faces Gloria grilling in House bonds probe By Gerry Baldo and Angie M. Rosales 10/29/2010 The woes of Social Welfare Secretary Corazon “Dinky” Soliman are far from over, and she still hasn’t faced the bicameral Commission on Appointments for her confirmation, as some members of the House of Representatives are bent on probing her for her role in the P10-billion PEACe Bonds scam. Soliman is also expected to get a beating again from former President Arroyo when the House starts its own probe on the Poverty Eradication and Alleviation Certificate (PEACe) bonds which earned a windfall P1.4-billion for a non-government organization then headed by Soliman. At the same time, a former Senate President, Aquilino “Nene” Pimentel, yesterday pointed out that the Department of Social Welfare and Development, under the law, should have ceased from existing several years ago and its functions, already should have been turned over by this time to local government units. And as the DSWD is an “illegal” entity, it should not therefore be tasked with a P21 billion fund for the government’s conditional cash transfer program..... MORE NBI files criminal raps vs Bar bomber suspect 10/29/2010 NBI files criminal raps vs Bar bomber suspect A day after the suspected Bar examinations bomber, Anthony Nepomuceno, voluntarily agreed to be interrogated by the National Bureau of Investigation agents, the NBI yesterday filed a criminal complaint for multiple frustrated and multiple attempted murders against him before the Department of Justice. Nepomuceno, a member of the Alpha Phi Omega fraternity and a call center agent Wednesday appeared before the NBI and denied allegations he was involved in the blast at De La Salle University, insisting that he was nowhere in that area on Taft Avenue when the bombing occurred. He claimed he was nowhere near La Salle when the incident happened, although the NBI said the suspect was positively identified by witnesses as the person who lobbed the grenade. The bombing incident injured 47 individuals, including law students and Bar examinees themselves. NBI spokesman Cecilio Zamora said the NBI also charged some “John Does” who are now the subject of extensive investigation to establish their identities..... MORE Enrile takes rap for fat pays of Senate execs By Angie M. Rosales 10/29/2010 Enrile takes rap for fat pays of Senate execs By Angie M. Rosales 10/29/2010 Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile assumed responsibility for the grant of huge allowances to some upper chamber executives, ranging from P30,000 to as high as P200,000 a month, which was recently questioned as being excessive, saying that those who got these deserve what they’ve received. “I take full responsibility,” Enrile said in addressing the Senate employees during a gathering in relation to the celebration of the upper chamber’s 94th anniversary. But former Senate President Aquilino Pimentel Jr., who was a guest in the weekly Kapihan sa Senado news forum, said the upper chamber should not spare even its own employees believed to be similarly situated with executives from government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs) by subjecting them into an investigation as well. “If we, as an institution, criticize other agencies of government for excessive allowances, I think we should also take a look at ourselves accordingly,” Pimentel told reporters. Several executives of state firms and financial institutions were found to be receiving huge salaries and excessive allowances in a recent series on inquiries conducted by the Senate finance committee prompting President Aquino to order the suspension of their allowances at least until the end of the year..... MORE Truth body to hamper delivery of justice — Pimentel 10/29/2010 Truth body to hamper delivery of justice — Pimentel The matter of the Philippine Truth Commission (PTC) delivering justice and finally providing closure to the alleged irregularities committed under the Arroyo administration was put into question again yesterday. “I think that the Truth Commission is an abnormality that should never have been created. Why? Because the tendency of the commission is merely to delay the administration of justice. There are existing agencies of government which have the jurisdiction already to look into accusations against anyone. There’s the DoJ (Department of Justice), (Office of the) Ombudsman. Now, what is the effect of the EO (creating the Truth Commission)? You remove that jurisdiction and give that to a toothless tiger,” former Sen. Aquilino Pimentel Jr. said yesterday. Pimentel’s comments came in the light of the series of petitions being filed before the Supreme Court challenging the validity of the issuances made by President Aquino. The constitutionality of EO 1 has been questioned by the minority bloc in the House of Representatives. The former senator, appearing as guest in the weekly Kapihan sa Senado, expressed serious doubts on the effectiveness of the commission in conducting investigations as the body does not even have the power to issue a subpoena to those individuals subject of an investigation..... MORE Webb seeks acquittal due to missing DNA sample By Benjamin B. Pulta 10/29/2010 Webb seeks acquittal due to missing DNA sample By Benjamin B. Pulta 10/29/2010 Convicted rapist Hubert Webb’s lawyer has asked the Supreme Court (SC) to order his acquittal citing government investigators’ failure to keep the semen specimen for DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) forensic analysis. In a motion, the son of former Sen. Freddie Webb urged the SC to reverse his conviction in the Vizconde massacre case citing the failure of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to produce the semen specimen taken from the body of one of his victims for DNA analysis. Defense lawyer Demetrio Custodio Jr. stressed that the semen specimen extracted from the remains of Carmela Vizconde during her autopsy on June 30, 1991 “plays a significant role” in his client’s defense. “Even if the NBI’s failure to produce the semen specimen were not due to willful suppression but by negligence, the failure to deliver this evidence to appellant Webb for DNA testing denies him a complete defense and violates his right to due process,” Custodio said. “For this reason, he is entitled to an acquittal,” he added. Custodio noted that a DNA analysis of the semen specimen excluding appellant Webb as the source of that specimen would disprove the prosecution’s evidence against him..... MORE DoJ to wait out ex-Lacson aide’s appeal in extradition case 10/29/2010 DoJ to wait out ex-Lacson aide’s appeal in extradition case Justice Secretary Leila de Lima yesterday confirmed that a United States court has granted the Philippine government’s request for the extradition of former police Senior Supt. Michael Ray Aquino, a key aide of fugitive Sen. Panfilo Lacson. “Once the ruling becomes final, the DoJ (Department of Justice) shall work on his (Aquino) deportation to face the criminal charges against him here,” she said. De Lima explained that she “was told that this latest ruling is still appealable to a higher court. So if Michael Ray Aquino avails of that remedy, we will have to wait for that ruling.” The US court granted the request of the Philippine government to extradite Aquino to face the trial in the November 2000 killing of publicist Salvador “Bubby” Dacer and his driver Emmanuel Corbito. Aquino and another police official, former Senior Supt. Cezar Mancao, fled to the US reportedly upon the instructions of Lacson to escape prosecution. Lacson has been in hiding since January this year after being implicated in the murders..... MORE DFA drops RP acronym, now PHL in usage By Michaela P. del Callar 10/29/2010 DFA drops RP acronym, now PHL in usage By Michaela P. del Callar 10/29/2010 The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and its foreign diplomatic posts began using the initials PH or PHL when referring to the Philippines, and not anymore “RP,” an acronym for the Republic of the Philippines, in compliance with the country codes set by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). Moreover, the DFA said the use of the designated country codes would “avoid the ambiguity and confusion with the use of the initials RP.” “The long standing usage of the initials RP is not in accordance with ISO codes, leading to ambiguous initials that can also refer to other countries,” the DFA noted. In a Department Order dated Oct. 20, Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo directed the DFA’s 67 embassies, 23 consulates general and four permanent missions to use the initials PH or PHL in their dispatches and reports to the Home Office. The ISO developed the ISO3166-1 codes, assigning two letter (alpha-2) and three letter (alpha-3) code to member countries..... MORE Bordering on paranoia FRONTLINE Ninez Cacho-Olivar... 2010 rout may not augur ill for Obama in 2012 ANAL... Am back NO HOLDS BARRED Armida Siguion-Reyna 10/2... Ten minutes vs power plunder DIE HARD III Herman T... South Africa in race against toxic mine water thre... Hispanic vote important for Democrats, but harder ... Dinky faces Gloria grilling in House bonds probe B... NBI files criminal raps vs Bar bomber suspect 10/... Enrile takes rap for fat pays of Senate execs By A... Truth body to hamper delivery of justice — Pimente... Webb seeks acquittal due to missing DNA sample By ... DoJ to wait out ex-Lacson aide’s appeal in extradi... DFA drops RP acronym, now PHL in usage By Michaela...	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line1650490
__label__cc	0.565587	0.434413	China to Leeds A lot has happened at the BGI over the last couple of weeks! With an exciting announcement, a trip to China and a top secret project in the works, things have been moving fast. Here’s what we’ve been up to: The New Advisory Board We were delighted to announce our expanded board of advisors. We’re excited to have such a diverse range of stakeholders from across the sector involved and now we’re calling on people to put themselves forward to join steering groups for the BGI’s programmes. Find out more and see the full release here if you missed it. Ahead of Friday’s board meeting, BGI CEO Rick Gibson was optimistic: “The Board has some big strategic decisions to make today. Depending how they vote, we will be making several big announcements to make over the coming few weeks that put some stakes in the ground for the BGI, our planned merger with the National Videogame Arcade and what we are already delivering together.” Ningbo-Nottingham Cultural and Creative Industries Forum We visited Ningbo, China with BGI Culture Director Iain Simons attending the 2018 Ningbo-Nottingham Cultural and Creative Industries Forum. Nottingham and Ningbo have been sister cities since 2005, with the two cities collaborating in a range of fields over the past decade. “We attended both the Creative Industries event and the Ningbo-Nottingham forum at the invitation of both Nottingham City Council and the Ningbo Cultural Exec, with a group of other Nottingham creative companies. Having not spent a lot of time on China previously, the whole trip was a real education for me in terms of learning about videogame culture over there and, in particular, how games fit (and don’t) into broader society. I think it’s fair to say that there’s a deep societal suspicion of games, particularly as a driver for addictive behaviour, which I hope our work did at least something to defuse. I delivered a keynote at the forum, expanding on our work interpreting games for others and spent a lot of the rest of the week playing with families and Makey Makey’s on our stand. For the BGI, learning about the nuances of how games culture operates in China was fascinating and eye-opening. Thanks to everyone who made it possible. “ Continue: Leeds Soon after coming back from China, we traveled to Leeds Digital Festival for the first in a series of regional Continue events for 2018. Continue is an initiative driven by the BGI that connects ‘videogame’ and ‘culture’ people. It brings together those who commission work in cultural spaces with independent videogame developers interested in producing work for display. Thanks to all our delegates and speakers on the day, who not only unveiled unexpected new uses for games in cultural settings, prompting plenty of grown-up discussions, but also shared their insights into how the Continue network can be shaped to inspire more innovative new projects. If you’re interested in getting involved next time, keep your eyes on the BGI site and twitter. More Continue dates will be announced in other cities around the UK soon. Rick has been so closed lipped about this that we can’t refer to it than anything other than “The Top Secret Bid”. What we can tell you is that he’s been busy convening the bid team which includes one of the largest arts institutions in the UK and 2 leading universities, and has been meeting a range of giant technology and games companies. Here’s what Rick had to say: “I can’t wait to unveil this project but must keep it under wraps as the proposition and partners comes together. I am delighted to welcome Jamie Macdonald as Programme Director for the project. Jamie founded SCEE’s London Studio, then ran all games development for SCE London and Cambridge studios as VP Worldwide Studios Europe. At Codemasters, he was responsible for all games development. More recently, Jamie’s developed a location-based mobile title as part of a major Innovate-funded project, a VR product and other apps, as well as mentoring multiple studios. He’s delivered multiple AAA Bafta-winning games and his depth of experience is a huge boost to the BGI’s bid.” Thanks for reading and we’ll keep you updated on what happens next. If you are a member of the games sector who would like to have a hand in the BGI’s work, we’d love for you to register your interest in helping govern the BGI’s programmes. Click here to find out more. Author BGI teamPosted on 30th April 2018 28th May 2018 Categories Uncategorised Previous Previous post: BGI announces new Advisory Board Next Next post: Up to Sheffield	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line1650500
__label__wiki	0.54601	0.54601	Latex (Indoors) Latex (Outdoors) ft. Tatjana Warnecke Street Art Compositions Nude Fine Art Erotic vintage Home Series Lisbon Ballerina Project Oporto Ballerina Project Raw Dancers TheBlackSheep Group is dedicated to Beauty, Sensuality and Fetishism in Photography. A project by Luís Rocha dos Reis, Fine Art Photographer – and also economist, marketeer, banker, scuba diver and traveler. This last years he’s been involved in creating Fine Art imagery around 2 main topics: Erotica/Fetish and Street Art. For that he’s been working mainly in Europe and the US, where he had the chance to meet some of the best latex designers, alternative and fetish models, producers and people from the “scene” in general. But he still love to work with newcomers and models that are just starting their careers. In 2015 he was the co-organizer of the Iberian Fetish Weekend, in Barcelona. He regularly works with fetish magazines, being an official photographer for Bedeseme Magazine, among others. Some of his works can be found in online art galleries, like Saatchi, and in private collections in the USA, Israel, UK, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Angola, Japan just to mention a few. Based in Lisbon (Portugal) and in Luanda (Angola) TheBlackSheep Group started its activities in August 2012 when Luis moved his photography project to a new location in the heart of the city – where he created a photography hub for photographers with a studio, back office and an Art Gallery. Previously (since 2008) he had the biggest photography studio operating in Portugal – studio4u – and was involved in commercial photography and some Fine Art. One of his most successful Art project was The Lisbon Ballerina Project (and its sister project, The Oporto Ballerina Project) with more than 10 solo exhibitions, featured on national TV and international newspapers. Share it on your social network: Or you can just copy and share this url This site contain NSFW images (not safe for work). TheBlackSheep © 2010-2019 This photo is copyright protected NSFW & COOKIES This site may contain NSFW images (not safe for work). By entering you declare that you are over your country's legal age of and that you are not violating any law of the country from where you are accessing this site. We use cookies to give you the best online experience. By using our website you agree to our use of cookies in accordance with our cookie policy. Ask me about it. © 2000-2016. TheBlackSheep Group, all rights reserved. No images from this site can be used, downloaded or copied without the previous written consent of the coprights' owner, TheBlackSheep Group.	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line1650502
__label__cc	0.697191	0.302809	In triathlon training, seek consistency above all By Ian Murray Host of Triathlon Training Series Triathlon Coach to Rickey Williams, CNN Fit Nation Triathlon Challenge Participant When Rickey and I began our coach-athlete relationship, one thing radiated from him above all others: his commitment to triathlon. Here at TTS we see that desire in many triathletes and we all have to be careful not to translate that passion into going too hard too soon. An injury is the worst thing that can happen to a triathlete in training and it’s critical to measure out the duration of the workouts, the frequency of exercise and the intensity of each effort. Rickey’s greatest gains will come from consistency, and to sustain that we have to avoid all injuries. Here’s how you can join Rickey and me on our injury-free triathlon training program. Job One: Progress slowly: Muscles can build a bit faster than the tendons that anchor them to bones. By increasing your training in a slow and progressive manner you can welcome the body to the sport with ease. The swim distance for the race might be long but start by swimming in small pieces, even a single length of the pool, stop, rest, repeat. Rather than a 20-minute run, make it a 20-minute “walk/jog.” 2 minutes walking, 2 minutes running. 5 rounds of that will give you a safe and effective 20-minute starting run. Cycling on flat roads or trainer/spin bike with light resistance will allow for the skill of fluid circles to begin gently rather than mashing up long or steep climbs. Do it perfectly! Let technique in your training be the top priority. Triathlon is an endurance sport, and efficiency is key. Good form is most efficient. Invest in a lesson from a professional to make sure your swim/bike/run are on target. Give every workout a technical focus point so that you are mentally present for each effort. Watch videos of excellence, visualize and then reproduce those movements. There are some great DVDs out there and one that is specifically designed as an educational tool for new triathletes is http://triathlontrainingseries.com/ Body maintenance: The key areas to stretch are calves, quads, hamstring, and the iliotibial band (ITB). These get used in both biking and running and deserve frequent attention. Triathlon is all about moving forward in the same plane – that means hip stabilizers; lateral movers can be dangerously weak. Keep ‘em in balance with inner and outer thigh work. Freestyle swim puts a lot of emphasis on the front of the body; strengthen the rear shoulder area with rear deltoid raises to maintain balance and a healthy, happy shoulder. Core, core and more core – this isn’t just the “six pack ab” fetish that launched a thousand infomercials; this includes lower back, twisting movements and deeper core muscles. Mix it up. Massage, and not just any massage; make calls and find a sports-minded healer who can untangle knots in their earliest stages of development. Know you're not alone. The three steps set out above are right for any beginner but they are also common threads that carry through to triathletes at all levels. No matter the stage of your athletic career, these are the keys to success. Editor's Note: Medical news is a popular but sensitive subject rooted in science. We receive many comments on this blog each day; not all are posted. Our hope is that much will be learned from the sharing of useful information and personal experiences based on the medical and health topics of the blog. We encourage you to focus your comments on those medical and health topics and we appreciate your input. Thank you for your participation. Filed under: 2010 Fit Nation Challenge • Exercise Young kids at high risk for traumatic brain injury By Caitlin Hagan CNN Medical Associate Producer Spring is here and the nice weather means plenty of time for kids to play outside. But watch out for those falls on the playground: A new CDC report says children up to age 4 are part of the high at-risk population for traumatic brain injury (TBI). Teenagers 15 to 19 and senior citizens older than 75 also make the list. When someone has a traumatic brain injury, normal brain function is interrupted. It can be caused by any sudden blow or jolt to the brain. TBI claims nearly a third of the injury-related deaths in the U.S. every year. In teenagers 15-19 the injury is usually caused by car accidents. Falling is the chief cause of TBIs in senior citizens and young children. Babies and toddlers are still developing their sense of balance, which is why they often they take a tumble. But as any parent will tell you, falling is a normal part of childhood. Most falls don't cause anything nearly as serious as a traumatic brain injury but being around stairs or furniture with hard edges, or walking up an incline, could increase the chances of it happening. So why should parents be concerned? Speed is essential when treating traumatic brain injury. Most neurologists agree that there's a 60- to 90-minute window from the time the injury was suffered to the point where treatment must begin. But most TBIs are not obvious immediately after developing. And that makes detecting them very difficult, especially in a young child. "With a younger child, one who is preverbal or just learning the language, it's hard to tell what they're feeling. It's hard for them to explain, " says Dr. Lisa McGuire of the CDC's Injury Center. Dr. McGuire says whenever a child suffers a blow to the head, regardless of its cause, parents should watch for any of the following: sudden drowsiness or inability to be alert, difficulty recognizing familiar people or places, sudden whining or irritability, loss of interest in favorite toys, numbness of one side of the body, vomiting, or neck pain. Every second counts when someone has a traumatic brain injury. Consult a doctor immediately if you notice your child has any of these symptoms. "The main thing to always remember is that TBI is a major health problem," says Dr. McGuire. "And those who have TBI who do not die are the ones who go to the emergency room." Editor's Note: Medical news is a popular but sensitive subject rooted in science. We receive many comments on this blog each day; not all are posted. Our hope is that much will be learned from the sharing of useful information and personal experiences based on the medical and health topics of the blog. We encourage you to focus your comments on those medical and health topics and we appreciate your input. Thank you for your participation. Post by: Caitlin Hagan - CNN Medical Associate Producer Filed under: Children's Health • Parenting • Traumatic brain injury Tougher controls urged for tanning beds By Val Willingham CNN Medical Producer A Food and Drug Administration advisory panel on Thursday recommended tougher controls on tanning beds and suggested that more restrictions, including a possible ban on the devices for teens under the age of 18, be implemented. The committee, which heard from numerous experts, learned that tanning beds are particularly dangerous for young people. According to doctors, the devices, unlike sunlight, concentrate ultraviolet radiation directly to the skin, so people develop skin cancers at an earlier age. Skin cancer is being diagnosed more in young people and tanning bed advertising is geared towards the young. Along with a possible ban for teens, the panel also advised that visible warning labels should be placed either on the machines or in the tanning salons to warn tanners of the dangers. And the committee decided that tighter regulations and classifications were necessary in order to make the machines safer. The machines currently are categorized as low-risk devices. If the FDA were to change their classification to Class II, as recommended by the panel, the federal agency could limit the levels of radiation the machines emit. The agency could also make changes in their design if needed. Although the agency does not have to follow the advice of the panel, it traditionally does. The FDA will take the next few months to go over the recommendations before releasing any changes. Melanoma is the deadliest form of skin cancer and according to the American Cancer Society, and will account for about 68,720 cases of skin cancer in 2009 and most (about 8,650) of the 11,590 deaths due to skin cancer each year. The World Health Organization recently announced that it has moved ultraviolet tanning beds to its highest cancer risk category, along with arsenic and cigarettes. Those on Capitol Hill have found the issue so important that they incorporated a 10 percent tax on indoor tanning salons into the recently passed health care bill. And although the Indoor Tanning Association, which looks to protect the freedom of those who want to tan through artificial methods, says, "The protective benefits of UV radiation are undeniable," and the warnings "exaggerated," the FDA believes changes are necessary. Dermatologists recommend if you are desperate to get a tan before the summer months, there are plenty of products on the market that can give you a gradual tan without the dangers of being exposed to ultraviolet rays. Lindy Royce-Bartlett, contributed to this report Post by: Val Willingham - CNN Medical Producer Filed under: Cancer • Health & Politics	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line1650504
__label__cc	0.728556	0.271444	THE DR. VIBE SHOW - AISHA K. STAGGERS - STAGGERS STATE OF THINGS WITH SPECIAL GUEST JILL JONES - JUNE 13 - 2019 Aisha K. Staggers had her first major publication, an album review, in The New Haven Register while just a sophomore in high school. Another series of reviews published in The Hartford Courant followed. By the time she reached college, Aisha was writing for the literary magazine and interning at a local radio station, ABC-affiliate as a writer in the news department and in the A&R department of an independent record company. As a graduate student at Fisk University, Aisha asked Dr. Raymond Winbush to chair her thesis because 1) he was one of the most renowned voices in black culture and academia, and 2) he was a Prince fan. His scholarship and guidance led Aisha to an early career as a professor of social sciences and later an administrator in higher education. Aisha has also served as a director of education and policy research centers and on the staff of legislative commissions. She previously served on the Executive Board of the CT Young Democrats’ Women’s Caucus, an avid campaigner and has remained active in politics and public policy. Jill Jones was our special guest for this conversation. Ms. Jones is activist, feminist, former collaborator with Paisley Park. On the June 13, 2019 edition of Staggers State Of Things, the ladies talked about: – 45 and his tariffs threat against Mexico, the state of the American Mexican border issue – 45’s recent interview by George Stephanopoulos – U.S. federal watchdog agency recommending that Kellyanne Conway be removed from federal service – Sarah Sanders leaving her post as White House secretary – The civil war in Sudan You can find more about Ms. Staggers via: Authory Atlanta Black Star YouTube – I Wish U Heaven – Prince Tribute Playlist You can find out more about Ms. Jones via: Direct download: THE_DR._VIBE_SHOW_-_AISHA_K._STAGGERS_-_STAGGERS_STATE_OF_THINGS_WITH_SPECIAL_GUEST_JILL_JONES_-_JUNE_13_-_2019.mp3	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line1650510
__label__wiki	0.615448	0.615448	7.71 - The Season 7 Finale Join Henry San Miguel in saying good-bye to 2016 and Season 7 of The Geek Speak Show! Henry goes over the season and how 2016 had so many ups and downs, the revolving door of hosts, new friends ( including the writer,producers, and director of Visible and the director of Convergence.), and what's coming up in 2017 and... 12.16.2016 - The Final Week in Geek for 2016 On the last Week in Geek for 2016: Star Trek Discovery casts its Number One from TV's biggest show. Pacific Rim & Godzilla sequels get their official titles. The DCEU's upcoming Gotham City Sirens gets a familiar name as director. James Wan casts a friend in his... 7.70 - Back To The Galaxy Far, Far Away This is it. The last episode for 2016! Henry, Gabby, and Miguel get ready for Rogue One by talking about Star Wars comics. Joseph F. Berenato and Rich Handley call in to talk about their new book, A Galaxy Far, Far Away: Exploring Star Wars Comics. The latest from Sequart Organization, the book looks at the early Star... 1.17 - Ready For The End - The Week in Geek This week, these stories are covered: God Particle removed from 2017 release schedule. New movies may be available on iTunes soon. Deadpool 2 will NOT follow the 'bigger=better" sequel formula. Sony acquires the rights to Image... 7.69 - This Is NOT The End For the second-to-last episode in 2016, Henry, Gabby, and Miguel welcome Matt Clarkson back on the show. Matt' is the General Manager at the San Francisco Dungeon and he gives us all the details on what'll be happening at The Dungeon over the Holidays. After that, the gang talks about last Sunday's episode of The...	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line1650511
__label__cc	0.711511	0.288489	D&D 4E is a WoW clone? Really? Okay. That's it. I have had enough. Time to sit down an write my rationality for why the people who think D&D 4E is a World of Warcraft clone are just plain wrong. In fact, of all the D&D Editions 4E is the one that plays the least like WoW. Not the most, the least, and I can back that up. Of course, those people will stop reading now because they have based years of opinion on something they haven't actually thought about clearly, and they don't want their opinion to be challenged by such awkward things as facts. I will preface this by saying that I do play World of Warcraft. Not as much as I used to, but still a few hours a week in general. I have played all the roles in WoW and many of the classes. I enjoy the game, and know enough about it to be able to base my opinions on the gameplay of WoW, not just the descriptions. I will be using PvE play style for my comparisons, because that is the play style that most resembles D&Ds cooperative play style. For most people WoW is a game of combat. You fight enemies to get better equipment to make the next combat easier, so you can get better gear, and so on. So when looking at comparisons between the two systems you look at how the character and combat mechanics of the two games compare. They are complicated mechanics, with lots of facets to look at. Here is how I am going to do this. I am going to pull a concept from WoW or D&D and compare it to the other. See which ones are similar and which are different. I will also grab the common reasons given by people as to why they think 4E was a WoW clone and look at those. At the beginning of each game you pick a class to play. That class dictates what style of character you want to play. With WoW once you have picked your character and spec your choices of abilities and play style are pretty much locked down for you. This is very similar to the concepts of all D&D editions, except for 4E. In 4E you get to pick your own abilities as you play the game, and they dictate your play style. You aren't limited to the choices that were mostly pre-destined by that initial class choice. 3(.5) had some ability to customize as you progressed but no where near as much as 4E did. You customize your character in WoW with talent choices, the same as you do with feats in D&D. So in this regard both 3(.5) and 4E are on an even footing in the comparison. It's worth noting that this talent system is being almost completely removed in the next WoW expansion. Once your class and spec decisions are made, in WoW you level fast and spend most of your time playing at the highest level, currently 85. Then you improve your character through getting better equipment. In D&D you level as you play, and improve your character through getting better equipment. In WoW if you strip your character naked they lose most of their power, the level of a character is mostly a limitation of what equipment you can wear. So WoW is an equipment chase. Of all the versions of D&D the one that is least like this is 4E. Yep, least. Why? Because in 4E most of the power rested within the character, not with the gear they were wearing. 4E was the first edition of D&D where stripping your character naked because they were captured, or ambushed while they weren't wearing their equipment wasn't crippling. You could still do most of your attacks, albeit less effectively, but not as flat out crippled as a high level character from any of the previous editions was without their armor or weapons. WoW is all about the gear, as was every edition of D&D until 4E. So let's look at combat itself, starting with the Buff mechanic. Buffing is such a core part of WoW that when doing the harder content you are expected to have them. Which version of D&D had this concept? 3(.5)! 4E barely has them at all. In 3(.5) characters would be expected to learn the spells that gave buffs for a number of minutes so everyone could benefit from them. You would try to cast them at the start of every fight and try to get the most out of them before they wore off. Never in 4E have I had concerns that a fight was started without the buffs being cast. Buffing before a fight is a WoW concept that is almost exclusively in 3(.5). Let's now look at healing. In WoW a healer is someone who's job is to keep the other players alive. That us what they do, and most of the time that is all they do. Of all of the editions of D&D the one that is least like this is 4E. Yep, least again. Prior to 4E you would have a healing class, often a Cleric, who would memorize spells solely for the purpose of healing their comrades, and they would spend their turn using those spells. In 3(.5) you could memorize other spells, generally buffs, but you would then often use their power to heal someone anyway. The healer healed, that was their job. In 4E healing isn't like this at all for several reasons. First of all everyone can heal themselves to a limited degree, but more importantly the classes that could provide healing benefits did it while they were using their divine power to actually do other things. They don't wait around for someone to get hurt and then heal them, they get into the battle and then use their healing skills to supplement those. When it comes to someone being responsible for keeping the group alive, 4E is least like WoW. What about play style in combat? Well, WoW is actually more like playing D&D without miniatures than it is playing on a battle map. In WoW creatures don't get in each others way. You can't stop an enemy from moving somewhere by standing on front of them, which is very much a 1st and 2nd Ed D&D concept. 3(.5) sometimes had it too, but as most people say, 4E is heavily driven by position and movement. The main movement in WoW is "don't stand I the fire". In WoW each player is generally doing their own thing, and success results from each player doing it right and everyone surviving to the end of the fight while doing their job. Healing is the exeption, but I have already covered that. Again, the edition of D&D that is least like that is 4E. In 4E every class has the ability to provide benefit not just to themselves, but to their allies. I am not talking about buffs here, but about short one shot cooperative abilities. In 4E a characters abilities are designed around working as a team, and every action you take can effect everyone else to a greater or lesser degree. 3(.5) had this too, but not as clearly. 1st and 2nd had it to a very limited degree. WoW doesn't have that concept at all. In WoW you don't get two dps classes working together to better effect, in D&D you do, especially in 3(.5) and 4E. So where is this 4E is a WoW clone come from? That's simple. The character roles listed in the PHB. WoW has four roles; Tank, Healer, Melee DPS and Ranged DPS. I know most people consider melee and ranged dps to be one role, but they play differently. 4E has four roles; Defender, Leader, Striker and Controller. You know how important roles are in D&D? Not very. It is a classification to help you chose what sort of play style you might prefer. There are no rules specific to your role, and there are no role sourcebooks that give specific rules based on your role. Even though I play D&D a lot, I had to look up the roles to confirm I had them correct. Once you chose your class, they are almost meaningless. Leaders are similar to healers, except as I have already covered, they do a lot more than heal. They use their abilities to battle enemies, inspire their allies and also to provide some healing. Striker and Controllers are similar to the WoW DPS classes. A striker does best focusing on one target, a controller does better against multiple targets. In WoW the DPS classes are balanced to be as close as possible in both situations, so there is no direct correlation there. Crowd Control as it exists in WoW is rare in D&D, though I do remember it in previous editions, in 4E it has not come up at all. So that leaves Protectors and Tanks, and I get the feeling it is here that 90% of the opinion of 4E being a WoW clone comes from. In WoW a tanks job is to keep the enemies hitting him because a hit on a non-tank is likely to be fatal. Tanks wear gear designed specifically to reduce damage taken, and many of their abilities are based on being able to do enough damage to creatures to get their attention. Protectors in D&D don't generally gear for protection, though they might wear a shield rather than swing a bigger weapon. They don't force every enemy to attack them, but they do encourage creatures to do so my Marking them, which generally provides a slight penalty if the enemy makes an attack that doesn't include the character that marked. It's worth noting that some non-Protectors have marking capabilities. Marking is the closest thing in D&D to the WoW Taunt mechanic, which is a key ability of Tanks. So Marking becomes the thing that causes all this hatred of 4E. And yet as a mechanic in play it's a positive contribution to the game. In all previous editions of D&D it has been a strong temptation to just kill the healer to stop the healing or the Wizard because he isn't wearing much armor. Why doesn't this happen? Because the DM contrives a reason for the enemies not to because it wouldn't be fun for the player who gets picked on every time. This contrivance may make some sort of sense, but it happens to keep the game entertaining. With Marking 4E just put a simple mechanic in place to make that contrivance easier. If you make an attack that doesn't include me, it is less likely to hit. Compare that to WoWs mechanic of having so much threat that the mob will only ever attack you. They are similar, but not similar enough that it turns a whole complicated fantasy gaming system into a clone of WoW. In fact if you look at PvP in WoW, the kill the healer or the person in cloth armor concept is there with a vengeance. Taunting doesn't work in PvP so in that regard WoW is more like the D&D editions that don't have marking. All of this is the reason whenever someone makes a comment about how WotC turned D&D into a WoW clone and that made it bad, I tune out. They either don't play WoW or they don't play 4E. It's a silly argument used by people who are looking for an excuse to hate for 4E because it was presented differently to previous editions. It has very little basis in fact. Labels: mmorpg, play style, wow Felinae January 20, 2012 at 10:38 AM In some respects, playing wow chrystalised D&D strategy for me a little more effectively for combat - a wounded enemy does as much damage as a healthy one - so it's important to focus fire down mobs. Also to kill the healer/caster first if possible to reduce the amount of health points you need to burn. But this applies across pretty much any gaming system or version and is not specific to DnD 4E. Survival Paladin July 19, 2013 at 7:11 AM I quit wow about 1 year ago, and recently have started to get back into D&D which i haven't played since the first edition. My reaction was...WTF it's WoW. So let me tell you how it feels like a WoW clone to me personally. So i make my Paladin Cavalier (already a mistake, because apparently paladins are the worst tanks..err.. i mean Defenders in the game similar to WoW pre-BC) And i see i have all my WoW buttons laid out for me. You have your auto attack.. err.. i mean Melee Basic Attack, you have your judgements.. err Valiant Strike/Vengeful Strike, you have excorsism.. err.. i mean Holy Smite, you have your retribution aura, aaahh.. i mean Defender Aura/Righteous Radiance and a Lay On Hands ..err i mean Restore Vitality (1 hour cooldown.. i mean daily). LOL.. how is this NOT world of warcraft.. i was only missing my avenging shield.. and i find out there's a Throwing Shield.. .. HAHAHAHH.. ok.. perfect.. all i need is a bubble hearth and i'm set.. turns out there is a way to do that too with a ring that can teleport you to a city if you've been there before. So in many ways this totally feels like WOWRPG to me now instead of the D&D i knew. I played a little with the new NEXT rules, and they seem to be going back to the original style with that set of spell/skill types. Nivrap November 16, 2013 at 3:07 PM I find it... concerning that you somehow manage to equate two different things that are, in some cases, complete opposites. First is your Tank/Defender comparison. Tanks FORCE enemies to battle them, while defenders give the opponent a disadvantage should it CHOOSE not to attack you. This glaring difference stems from the fact that D&d monsters are controlled by a person, not a computer. Next is your auto-attack/basic attack comparison. Auto-attack in WoW is convenient because it cools down quickly and doesn't require many resources. Additionally, it loops, so you can go make a cup of coffee while your character swings away. Basic attacks, on the other hand, do above-average damage (due to Str or Dex mods), at the cost of extra effects. It also doesn't loop, so that's obviously different. Third is your Judgement/Valiant Strike comparison. Judgement is a level 5 spell that does damage, has a range of 30 yds, and a recharge time of 6 seconds. Valiant Strike is a level 1 prayer that gets an attack bonus based on the number of enemies around you, does damage, is melee, and is At-Will. Fourth is your Exorcism/Holy Smite comparison. Exorcism is a level 46 spell that does damage, has a 30 yd range, and a cool-down of 15 seconds. Holy Smite is a level 1 prayer that does extra damage if another prayer hits, doesn't have a range (as you attach it to other powers), and can only be used once per encounter. Fifth is your Retribution Aura/Defender Aura and Righteous Radiance comparison. Retribution Aura doesn't even EXIST anymore, just thought I'd say that. Sixth is your Lay on Hands/Restore Vitality comparison. Lay on Hands is a level 16 spell that heals an ally, has a range of 40 yds, and has a 10 minute (not 1 hour) cool-down. Restore Vitality is a level 2 prayer that heals an ally, is melee range, and can only be used ONCE per day, not 144 times like Lay on Hands. Your argument falls apart rather easily against someone with half-decent analytic skills. Half-Hearted about Half-Level Location, Location, Location. An alternative to AEDU Feats - can they work better? Defenses - Missing The Point? I Keep Missing the Target A Conspiracy of Cartographers - D&D and Battle Map... Critical about Criticals The Three "F's - How to measure D&D D&D Next is coming...	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line1650525
__label__wiki	0.688707	0.688707	KINOTRON. Exhibition of an Unrealized Idea. Felix Sobolev – Stanisław Lem – Viktor Glushkov Saturday, 19 November 2016, 19:00 “Kinotron is a new form of film production. The analogy emerges immediately: cyclotron, synchrophasotron, etc. It’s all about highest velocities and giant energies.” From the Felix Sobolev archive The exhibition presents a little-known, yet unique, phenomenon in Ukrainian film history: the experimental works of the representatives of “the Kyiv school of scientific film,” which emerged in the 1960s around a famous filmmaker Felix Sobolev. His films Seven Steps beyond the Horizon, Me and the Others, etc. were the first to show that scientific film can be popular with the mass viewer, being still an experimental synthesis of art and science. Yet, the vast majority of Sobolev’s visions never became a reality. At the exhibition Kinotron, which is the result of the archival research of Felix Sobolev and his colleagues, the utopian ideas by “the Kyiv school of scientific film” will be shown to the public for the first time. Sobolev described the idea of “kinotron” as the “new form of film production,” which would enable a “powerful acceleration” of filmmaking and creative thinking in general. This idea remained on paper, as well as many other Sobolev’s intentions. The exhibition concept, based on an archival discovery, suggests that Sobolev and his colleagues could have made a film adaptation of Stanisław Lem’s philosophical essay Summa Technologiae – a film, which could have caused a revolution in film. Kinotron exhibition juxtaposes these unrealized utopian ideas with the footage filmed by “the Kyiv school of scientific film” under the conditions of strict bureaucratic control over film production. These films cover various spheres of contemporary science – from experimental sociology to astrophysics, from political science to cybernetics (special role in Ukrainian scientific film history belongs to its collaboration with the Institute of Cybernetics, founded by Viktor Glushkov in Kyiv). Today, in the times of a renewed interest to the ideas of acceleration and technological expansion of human capabilities, the idea of kinotron deserves its late implementation – at least in the exhibition format. Exhibition concept: Oleksiy Radynski Research group of the project: Ruslana Koziyenko, Serhiy Klymko, Oleksiy Radynski Exhibition architect: Oleksandr Burlaka Admission is free Opening hours: Tue–Fri, 14:00–20:00; Sat–Sun, 12:00–20:00. Monday – closed. The exhibition is supported by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage of the Republic of Poland Partners: Oleksandr Dovzhenko National Centre Museum of Modern Art in Warsaw International Human Rights Documentary Film Festival Docudays UA Organizers: Visual Culture Research Center, Krytyka Polityczna Media partners: Українська Правда. Життя, Korydor, Moviegram, Cultprosir, Update, Політична критика	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line1650527
__label__cc	0.617597	0.382403	Extra Credit and Another Facet of the Interface February 15, 2015 zanderdUncategorized As I was playing a quick game of League of Legends (I lied, it took over an hour and we lost), I got to thinking about some of the unexplained design choices made by the developers that inherently shape the way we players actually play the game. Before clarifying my thoughts, I’d first like to clarify to those unfamiliar with League of Legends that the game is a multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) in which the player and four other teammates chose “Champions,” each with their own set of four unique abilities that confer specific advantages or disadvantages, and face off against another team of five players who have their own Champs. Essentially, the point of the game is to destroy a series of damage-dealing structures called “Towers” or “Turrets,” the demolition of which allow the players to charge the opposing team’s main base and attack it’s “Nexus,” achieving victory for your team. It’s more complicated and oftentimes more fun than it sounds on paper. For those who are really interested, here is a more clear and involved explanation of how the game works! The League of Legends map Specifically, I was having these thoughts while wondering why a certain Bush (small patch of grass that makes your Champion invisible from the outside) was placed where it was. Why would they put this specific bush in this specific place when it could have also gone to the side, or on the opposite edge of the river? In what way is my gameplay, my experience playing League of Legends, changed by having to wait in this specific position to gain an advantage over my enemy? It struck me that even outside the obvious aspects of the interface that we’ve discussed a bit in class, even outside the perspective of the player and the choices in the game menu, for instance, the experience of the interface is being affected on a more unconscious level by the design choices made in the production of a game. That is to say, you are potentially being persuaded to play the game in one way over another depending on how a level was designed or a map created. To the more astute observer, which I am not, this might have been obvious from the offset, as it also ties in quite a bit with our previous discussion, but it was still a revelation of sorts to me. For example, because you have no vision inside the Bushes in League, it behooves a player to lie in wait as an enemy walks by to catch him off-guards. This is never explicitly stated in any official League of Legends tutorial or instructional video, because it just arises (intentionally, that is) as a result of the map they created. And while I drew this conclusion playing League, the concept is ubiquitous across all games. I might be reaching here, but even in Redshift and Portalmetal we might potentially be influenced by the order in which our choices are laid out, or their vertical orientation, rather than horizontal. All these aspects must enter the discussion when thinking of the reciprocal relationship between a player and the interface, and I’ll just close here by posting a video that helped me solidify some of my ideas and, I think, explains better than I could how, in League, the nature of the map brings about key aspects of the relationship between the player and the game. Love to hear what you guys think! Game DesignInterfaceleague of legendsrandom thoughtsyoutube Would a Nerd by Any Other Name be Just as Gross? Immersion into Gaming 0 thoughts on “Extra Credit and Another Facet of the Interface” gbs says: Good find. I would love to see an updated video with the new SR. By the way, what do you main? zanderd says: Long story, but I mostly either go bot or jg. For sup, I’m definitely a Sona main, gonna lose a lot of money when the DJ skin comes out! For ADC, I’m probably a Lucian main, and for jg I really switch around, but recently J4 more than anyone else. Tag is Q Tip is you wanna add me! Totally! Look out for a request from Battlesnaked. Cody says: One of my favorite posts of the semester, I love how MOBAs have so much room for breakdown and unpacking.	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line1650529
__label__cc	0.674126	0.325874	Lack of Representation in Emoticons February 25, 2015 benfiedlerUncategorized When MP mentioned her frustration at the lack of a black “thumbs-up” icon in an emoji program, this made me realize that the vast majority of electronic avatars depict whites. Given the high frequency in which I use emoticons on Facebook and through texting, I was shocked that I had not been aware of this before. One of Facebook’s few emoticon sets with exclusively black characters Although African Americans comprise only about fourteen percent of the United State’s population, Caucasians are steadily becoming the minority in America (and as of 2013, white children under five are no longer the majority of this age group. Additionally, more and more people each year gain access to computers and smartphones, where emoticons are becoming increasingly common. In Facebook’s emoticons, very few portray black characters. While the majority of Facebook’s emojis depict cartoon-like animals, the humanistic emojis almost exclusively depict white figures. Cece, which exclusively shows black women, is currently Facebook’s only all-black set of emojis. The fact that Cece’s creator, Nneka Myers, is Canadian-born and resides in Toronto, suggests that she might not relate to many aspects of traditional African American culture (although American and Canadian culture are admittedly quite similar). Complete collection of emojis on recent Apple and Android devices On recent Apple and Android devices, dozens of emojis are available for free (and many come pre-programmed on new phones and tablets). While most of these emojis portray animals and inanimate objects, over 99% of all of the people and body parts represent Caucasian figures. The single emoticon depicting a man of color wears a white turban, suggesting his Muslim identity. As far more African Americans follow Christianity than Islam, many black users might not relate closely to this emoji. Other American cultural groups certainly also struggle in underrepresentation in emojis. While about three percent of Americans identify as gay, lesbian, or bisexual, only one set of Facebook emojis relates to the LGTBQ community. “Pride” set of emoticons on Facebook While Asians make up a mere 5% of the American population, they are fairly well represented in Facebook emojis, partly due to the fact that emoticons originated in Japan, where they first gained widespread popularity in 2010. These Asian roots explain the trends of many Asian figures and Chinese and Japanese writing in the images. A Facebook set of emojis depicting an Asian girl A Facebook set of emojis depicting various animals with Japanese writing The African-based emoji company Oju Africa presented hope for the future when it released a set of emojis that not only take pride in black skin color but also embrace African heritage. Uganda-born Alpesh Patel, the CEO of Oju Africa, told Vice’s Motherboard, “Diversity is … about embracing the multiple cultures out there that have no digital representation.” A set of Afro-centric emojis downloadable in Apple and Android devices What does it mean for large groups of people to be mostly left out of these representations? Why does it matter for certain ethnicities to not view themselves in electronic avatars? African AmericansAndroid devicesApple devicesemojiemoticonFacebook Relevant Kotaku Articles Exclusivity in Geek Culture 0 thoughts on “Lack of Representation in Emoticons” boyangjiao131 says: You have heard about the recent unicode update that allows for a range of skin tones for each emoticon depicting a person/body parts, and changes the default tone to a simpsoneque yellow? elvagreen123 says: This subject just dawned on me the other day after months of using emoticons. I was searching for a black emoticon, I guess this means no black people are in the emoticon business? If not, we sure are missing out. I like using them, maybe I can suggest this idea to my more artistic friends.	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line1650530
__label__wiki	0.670714	0.670714	GROUP C1/5 RESISTANT KOCHIA (Kochia scoparia) Photosystem II inhibitors (C1/5) United States, Kansas INTRODUCTION KOCHIA Kochia (Kochia scoparia) is a dicot weed in the Chenopodiaceae family. In Kansas this weed first evolved resistance to Group C1/5 herbicides in 1976 and infests Corn (maize), and Railways. Group C1/5 herbicides are known as Photosystem II inhibitors (Inhibition of photosynthesis at photosystem II). Research has shown that these particular biotypes are resistant to atrazine and they may be cross-resistant to other Group C1/5 herbicides. Common Name Kochia Species Kochia scoparia Group Photosystem II inhibitors (C1/5) Herbicides atrazine Location United States, Kansas Situation(s) Corn (maize), and Railways Contributors - (Alphabetically) Dallas Peterson AREAS FOUND Dallas Peterson Also found around feedlots. Multiple resistance with ALS and triazines likely but not confirmed. Greenhouse, and Laboratory trials comparing a known susceptible Kochia biotype with this Kochia biotype have been used to confirm resistance. For further information on the tests conducted please contact the local weed scientists that provided this information. Genetic studies on Group C1/5 resistant Kochia have not been reported to the site. There may be a note below or an article discussing the genetics of this biotype in the Fact Sheets and Other Literature Studies on the mechanism of resistance of Group C1/5 resistant Kochia from Kansas indicate that resistance is due to an altered target site. There may be a note below or an article discussing the mechanism of resistance in the Fact Sheets and Other Literature Triazine resistant weeds often exhibit a lower relative fitness when compared to susceptible biotypes. The most common mutation conferring triazine resistance (Ser 264 to Gly mutation of the psbA gene) also causes a reduction in CO2 fixation, quantum yield, and seed and biomass production. There is no record in this database referring specifically to fitness studies on Group C1/5 resistant Kochia from Kansas. Professor and Extension Weed Specialist 3703 Throckmorton Plant Sciences Center 1712 Claflin Road Manhattan, KS 66506-0110, Kansas Email Dallas Peterson The Herbicide Resistance Action Committee, The Weed Science Society of America, and weed scientists in Kansas have been instrumental in providing you this information. Particular thanks is given to Dallas Peterson for providing detailed information. Herbicide Resistant Kochia Globally 1 Canada (Manitoba) Canada Manitoba 1988 Industrial sites, Spring Barley, and Wheat chlorsulfuron, imazethapyr, metsulfuron-methyl, thifensulfuron-methyl, triasulfuron, and tribenuron-methyl 7 ALS inhibitors (B/2) 101 Kochia scoparia Kochia 57 2 Canada (Saskatchewan) Canada Saskatchewan 1988 Cropland, and Wheat thifensulfuron-methyl, and tribenuron-methyl 7 ALS inhibitors (B/2) 101 Kochia scoparia Kochia 5069 3 Canada (Alberta) Canada Alberta 1989 Spring Barley, and Wheat chlorsulfuron, metsulfuron-methyl, thifensulfuron-methyl, and tribenuron-methyl 7 ALS inhibitors (B/2) 4 Canada (Alberta) Canada Alberta 2012 Spring Barley, and Wheat glyphosate, thifensulfuron-methyl, and tribenuron-methyl 7 Multiple Resistance: 2 Sites of Action 5 Canada (Saskatchewan) Canada Saskatchewan 2012 Canola, Spring Barley, and Wheat glyphosate, thifensulfuron-methyl, and tribenuron-methyl 7 Multiple Resistance: 2 Sites of Action 6 Canada (Manitoba) Canada Manitoba 2014 Corn (maize), and Soybean glyphosate, thifensulfuron-methyl, and tribenuron-methyl 7 Multiple Resistance: 2 Sites of Action 7 Canada (Saskatchewan) Canada Saskatchewan 2015 Spring wheat dicamba, fluroxypyr, thifensulfuron-methyl, and tribenuron-methyl 7 Multiple Resistance: 2 Sites of Action Synthetic Auxins (O/4) 101 Kochia scoparia Kochia 11032 8 Canada (Alberta) Canada Alberta 2017 Canola, Corn (maize), Fallow, Lentils, Peas, Wheat, and Winter barley dicamba, glyphosate, thifensulfuron-methyl, and tribenuron-methyl 7 Multiple Resistance: 3 Sites of Action 9 Czech Republic Czech Republic 1996 Railways, and Roadsides atrazine, chlorsulfuron, imazapyr, metsulfuron-methyl, nicosulfuron, prosulfuron, rimsulfuron, sulfosulfuron, thifensulfuron-methyl, tribenuron-methyl, and triflusulfuron-methyl 12 Multiple Resistance: 2 Sites of Action 10 United States (Kansas) United States Kansas 1976 Corn (maize), and Railways atrazine 45 Photosystem II inhibitors (C1/5) 11 United States (Colorado) United States Colorado 1982 Corn (maize) atrazine 45 Photosystem II inhibitors (C1/5) 101 Kochia scoparia Kochia 431 12 United States (Montana) United States Montana 1984 Railways atrazine 45 Photosystem II inhibitors (C1/5) 13 United States (Wyoming) United States Wyoming 1984 Corn (maize) atrazine 45 Photosystem II inhibitors (C1/5) 14 United States (Iowa) United States Iowa 1985 Railways atrazine 45 Photosystem II inhibitors (C1/5) 15 United States (Wisconsin) United States Wisconsin 1987 Corn (maize), and Railways atrazine 45 Photosystem II inhibitors (C1/5) 16 United States (North Dakota) United States North Dakota 1987 Cropland, and Wheat chlorsulfuron, and metsulfuron-methyl 45 ALS inhibitors (B/2) 17 United States (Kansas) United States Kansas 1987 Cropland, and Wheat chlorsulfuron 45 ALS inhibitors (B/2) 18 United States (New Mexico) United States New Mexico 1988 Railways, and Roadsides sulfometuron-methyl 45 ALS inhibitors (B/2) 19 United States (South Dakota) United States South Dakota 1988 Cropland, and Wheat chlorsulfuron 45 ALS inhibitors (B/2) 20 United States (Idaho) United States Idaho 1989 Roadsides, and Wheat chlorsulfuron 45 ALS inhibitors (B/2) 21 United States (Montana) United States Montana 1989 Cropland, and Wheat chlorsulfuron, and metsulfuron-methyl 45 ALS inhibitors (B/2) 22 United States (Washington) United States Washington 1989 Cereals, and Wheat chlorsulfuron 45 ALS inhibitors (B/2) 23 United States (Colorado) United States Colorado 1989 Roadsides, and Wheat metsulfuron-methyl, and triasulfuron 45 ALS inhibitors (B/2) 24 United States (Illinois) United States Illinois 1992 Cropland, and Railways atrazine 45 Photosystem II inhibitors (C1/5) 25 United States (Oklahoma) United States Oklahoma 1992 Roadsides, and Wheat chlorsulfuron, metsulfuron-methyl, and sulfometuron-methyl 45 ALS inhibitors (B/2) 26 United States (Oregon) United States Oregon 1993 Wheat chlorsulfuron, metsulfuron-methyl, and triasulfuron 45 ALS inhibitors (B/2) 27 United States (Minnesota) United States Minnesota 1994 Cropland, and Wheat imazethapyr, thifensulfuron-methyl, and tribenuron-methyl 45 ALS inhibitors (B/2) 28 United States (Montana) United States Montana 1994 Cropland, and Wheat dicamba, and fluroxypyr 45 Synthetic Auxins (O/4) 29 United States (Indiana) United States Indiana 1995 Railways atrazine, cyanazine, and metsulfuron-methyl 45 Multiple Resistance: 2 Sites of Action 30 United States (North Dakota) United States North Dakota 1995 Wheat dicamba 45 Synthetic Auxins (O/4) 31 United States (Illinois) United States Illinois 1995 Corn (maize), Cropland, and Wheat atrazine, and metsulfuron-methyl 45 Multiple Resistance: 2 Sites of Action 32 United States (Wisconsin) United States Wisconsin 1995 Roadsides sulfometuron-methyl 45 ALS inhibitors (B/2) 33 United States (Wyoming) United States Wyoming 1996 Wheat metsulfuron-methyl 45 ALS inhibitors (B/2) 34 United States (Idaho) United States Idaho 1997 Roadsides dicamba 45 Synthetic Auxins (O/4) 35 United States (Utah) United States Utah 1998 Industrial sites sulfometuron-methyl 45 ALS inhibitors (B/2) 36 United States (North Dakota) United States North Dakota 1998 Corn (maize) atrazine 45 Photosystem II inhibitors (C1/5) 37 United States (Texas) United States Texas 1998 Wheat metsulfuron-methyl 45 ALS inhibitors (B/2) 38 United States (Colorado) United States Colorado 1999 Corn (maize) dicamba 45 Synthetic Auxins (O/4) 39 United States (North Dakota) United States North Dakota 2004 Railways diuron, metribuzin, and tebuthiuron 45 Multiple Resistance: 2 Sites of Action PSII inhibitor (Ureas and amides) (C2/7) 40 United States (Michigan) United States Michigan 2005 Sugar beets imazamox, and triflusulfuron-methyl 45 ALS inhibitors (B/2) 41 United States (Kansas) United States Kansas 2007 Corn (maize), Cotton, and Soybean glyphosate 45 EPSP synthase inhibitors (G/9) 42 United States (Nebraska) United States Nebraska 2009 Corn (maize) dicamba 45 Synthetic Auxins (O/4) 43 United States (South Dakota) United States South Dakota 2009 Corn (maize), and Soybean glyphosate 45 EPSP synthase inhibitors (G/9) 44 United States (Nebraska) United States Nebraska 2011 Corn (maize), and Soybean glyphosate 45 EPSP synthase inhibitors (G/9) 45 United States (North Dakota) United States North Dakota 2012 Corn (maize), and Soybean glyphosate 45 EPSP synthase inhibitors (G/9) 46 United States (Montana) United States Montana 2012 Cereals glyphosate 45 EPSP synthase inhibitors (G/9) 47 United States (Colorado) United States Colorado 2012 Cereals glyphosate 45 EPSP synthase inhibitors (G/9) 48 United States (Oklahoma) United States Oklahoma 2013 Corn (maize) glyphosate 45 EPSP synthase inhibitors (G/9) 49 United States (Montana) United States Montana 2013 Wheat glyphosate, metsulfuron-methyl, thifensulfuron-methyl, and tribenuron-methyl 45 Multiple Resistance: 2 Sites of Action 50 United States (Kansas) United States Kansas 2013 Corn (maize) atrazine, chlorsulfuron, dicamba, and glyphosate 45 Multiple Resistance: 4 Sites of Action 51 United States (Kansas) United States Kansas 2013 Corn (maize), and Sorghum dicamba, fluroxypyr, and glyphosate 45 Multiple Resistance: 2 Sites of Action 52 United States (Nebraska) United States Nebraska 2014 Corn (maize) atrazine 45 Photosystem II inhibitors (C1/5) 53 United States (Oregon) United States Oregon 2014 Corn (maize), and Sugar beets glyphosate 45 EPSP synthase inhibitors (G/9) 54 United States (Idaho) United States Idaho 2014 Corn (maize), and Sugar beets glyphosate 45 EPSP synthase inhibitors (G/9) 55 United States (Wyoming) United States Wyoming 2014 Sugar beets glyphosate 45 EPSP synthase inhibitors (G/9) Page: of 17 Hall, L. M. ; Beckie, H. J. ; Low, R. ; Shirriff, S. W. ; Blackshaw, R. E. ; Kimmel, N. ; Neeser, C.. 2014. Survey of glyphosate-resistant kochia (Kochia scoparia L. Schrad.) in Alberta. Canadian Journal of Plant Science 94 : 127 - 130. Glyphosate-resistant (GR) kochia was identified in Warner county in southern Alberta in 2011. To determine the scale of the distribution and frequency of GR kochia, a randomized stratified survey of more than 300 locations (one population per location) in southern Alberta was conducted in the fall of 2012. Mature plants were collected, seed separated, and F1 seedlings screened by spraying with glyphosate at 900 g a.e. ha-1 under greenhouse conditions. Screening confirmed 13 GR kochia sites: seven in Warner county, five in Vulcan county, and one in Taber county. The frequency of GR individuals in a population ranged from 0.3 to 98%. GR kochia were found in arid areas where chemical fallow is a significant component of the rotation. Economic and agronomic impact of this GR weed biotype is compounded because of multiple resistance to acetolactate synthase-inhibiting herbicides.. Linda M. Hall, Hugh J. Beckie, Ryan Low, Scott W. Shirriff, Robert E. Blackshaw, Nicole Kimmel, Christoph Neeser. 2014. Survey of glyphosate-resistant kochia (Kochia scoparia L. Schrad.) in Alberta. Can. J. Plant Sci 94 : 127 - 130. Glyphosate-resistant (GR) kochia was identified in Warner county in southern Alberta in 2011. To determine the scale of the distribution and frequency of GR kochia, a randomized stratified survey of more than 300 locations (one population per location) in southern Alberta was conducted in the fall of 2012. Mature plants were collected, seed separated, and F1 seedlings screened by spraying with glyphosate at 900 g a.e. ha−1 under greenhouse conditions. Screening confirmed 13 GR kochia sites: seven in Warner county, five in Vulcan county, and one in Taber county. The frequency of GR individuals in a population ranged from 0.3 to 98%. GR kochia were found in arid areas where chemical fallow is a significant component of the rotation. Economic and agronomic impact of this GR weed biotype is compounded because of multiple resistance to acetolactate synthase-inhibiting herbicides.. Waite, J. ; Thompson, C. R. ; Peterson, D. E. ; Currie, R. S. ; Olson, B. L. S. ; Stahlman, P. W. ; Al-Khatib, K.. 2013. Differential kochia (Kochia scoparia) populations response to glyphosate. Weed Science 61 : 193 - 200. Kochia is a troublesome weed throughout the western United States. Although glyphosate effectively controls kochia, poor control was observed in several no-till fields in Kansas. The objectives of this research were to evaluate kochia populations response to glyphosate and examine the mechanism that causes differential response to glyphosate. Glyphosate was applied at 0, 54, 109, 218, 435, 870, 1305, 1740, 3480, and 5220 g ae ha-1 on 10 kochia populations. In general, kochia populations differed in their response to glyphosate. At 21 d after treatment, injury from glyphosate applied at 870 g ha-1 range from 4 to 91%. In addition, glyphosate rate required to cause 50% visible injury (GR50) ranged from 470 to 2149 g ha-1. Differences in glyphosate absorption and translocation and kochia mineral content were not sufficient to explain differential kochia response to glyphosate.. Légère, A. ; Stevenson, F. C. ; Beckie, H. J. ; Warwick, S. I. ; Johnson, E. N. ; Hrynewich, B. ; Lozinski, C.. 2013. Growth characterization of kochia (Kochia scoparia) with substitutions at Pro197 or Trp574 conferring resistance to acetolactate synthase-inhibiting herbicides. Weed Science 61 : 267 - 276. Over 90% of Canadian kochia populations are resistant to acetolactate synthase (ALS)-inhibiting herbicides. We questioned whether the target site-based resistance could affect plant growth and competitiveness. Homozygous F2 herbicide-resistant (HR) kochia plants with an amino acid substitution at Trp574 (sources: Alberta [AB], Saskatchewan [SK], and Manitoba [MB]), or Pro197 (MB, AB with two populations) were grown in replacement series with homozygous F2 herbicide-susceptible (HS) plants from the corresponding heterogeneous population (total: six populations). In pure stands, growth of HR plants from AB and SK was similar to that of HS plants, regardless of mutation; conversely, MB2-HR plants (Trp574Leu) developed more slowly and were taller than MB2-HS plants. Final dry weight of HR plants in pure stands was similar across all six populations, whereas that for HS plants in pure stands and HR-HS plants in mixed stands (50-50%) varied with population. Results for AB and SK populations suggest little impact of either ALS mutation on kochia growth, whereas those for MB lines would suggest an unidentified factor (or factors) affecting the HS, HR, or both biotypes. The variable response within and between lines, and across HS biotypes highlights the importance of including populations of various origins and multiple susceptible controls in HR biotype studies.. Beckie, H. J. ; Blackshaw, R. E. ; Low, R. ; Hall, L. M. ; Sauder, C. A. ; Martin, S. ; Brandt, R. N. ; Shirriff, S. W.. 2013. Glyphosate- and acetolactate synthase inhibitor-resistant kochia (Kochia scoparia) in western Canada. Weed Science 61 : 310 - 318. In summer, 2011, we investigated suspected glyphosate-resistant (GR) kochia in three chem-fallow fields (designated F1, F2, F3, each farmed by a different grower) in southern Alberta. This study characterizes glyphosate resistance in those populations, based on data from dose-response experiments. In a greenhouse experiment, the three populations exhibited a resistance factor ranging from 4 to 6 based on shoot biomass response (GR50 ratios), or 5 to 7 based on survival response (LD50 ratios). Similar results were found in a field dose-response experiment at Lethbridge, AB, in spring 2012 using the F2 kochia population. In fall 2011, we surveyed 46 fields within a 20-km radius of the three chem-fallow fields for GR kochia. In the greenhouse, populations were screened with glyphosate at 900 g ae ha-1. Seven populations were confirmed as GR, the farthest site located about 13 km from the three originally confirmed populations. An additional GR population more than 100 km away was later confirmed. Populations were screened for acetolactate synthase (ALS)-inhibitor (thifensulfuron tribenuron) and dicamba resistance in the greenhouse, with molecular characterization of ALS-inhibitor resistance in the F1, F2, and F3 populations. All GR populations were resistant to the ALS-inhibiting herbicide, but susceptible to dicamba. ALS-inhibitor resistance in kochia was conferred by Pro197, Asp376, or Trp574 amino acid substitutions. Based upon a simple empirical model with a parameter for selection pressure, calculated from weed relative abundance and glyphosate efficacy, and a parameter for seedbank longevity, kochia, wild oat, and green foxtail were the top three weeds, respectively, predicted at risk of selection for glyphosate resistance in the semiarid Grassland region of the Canadian prairies; wild oat, green foxtail, and cleavers species were predicted at greatest risk in the subhumid Parkland region. This study confirms the first occurrence of a GR weed in western Canada. Future research on GR kochia will include monitoring, biology and ecology, fitness, mechanism of resistance, and best management practices..	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line1650538
__label__cc	0.713335	0.286665	Fearless Forecast Haul-Ass Hotline Delta Documentary » Haul-Ass Hotline » Report from Isabella Report from Isabella September 09 – Report from Isabella by Shaun Geer I just wanted to share my experience at Isabella this weekend. Spencer was right, it blew there. Oh boy did it blow. I showed up on Friday about 12:20pm. Amazingly the beach in the ghetto was not really filled in. There were a few jet skiers but only about 6 motorhomes and campers. I pulled right up next to Gabor’s trailer where he hand signed me into the corner and asked me to park my van on the perimeter of his camp so we could have it to ourselves. I pulled out my 7.0 meter sail as the wind was just coming up and small white caps could be seen on the lake. The air was warm, between 80 and 90 degrees. I asked if I could use a corner of Gabor’s large tarp and he said sure… Gabor rigged his kite and he and I went out for about 1 hour. I took my small Mike’s lab. I was able to plane in the gusts but the wind began to die off. After fiddling for about 40 minutes, watching Gabor sail his kite while I spent most of the time in the water, I went in and got my 122 liter, 9’6″ Drops board. The wind began to switch to the West. I sailed along the West side of the lake going almost all the way to Wofford Heights. The wind was light, some people tried sailing it, but you needed a big board and a big sail. I sailed for about 3 hours mostly by myself just traveling over the lake. Saturday my friend Jeff showed up about 11am and the wind was blowing out of the North still. I suggested we go to have some breakfast at Nelda’s as I didn’t think it was going to come up until after 12:30pm. We came back from breakfast and it still was not blowing. Every now and again the lake would tease you as a 20mph guest would come through only to disappoint with a 10mph lull behind it. I kept thinking to myself it’s going to fill in!! By 4pm I had just about given up and got out of the water. I looked out over the water and it was difficult to tell with the angle of the sun, but it look filled in. Jeff and I had been playing in the gusts earlier and we were tired of it, so he was reluctant to go in. But I had to try. I got on the water and discovered that it was more then enough for my 7.0. I called Jeff on the water and we sailed for about 1 hour before the sun went behind the hill. Sunday we woke up to the wind blowing out of the South. That was a good sign I said to my friend Jeff. By 11:40am we were on the lake and I was using my small board with a 7.0 TR-4 Maui Race Sail. By the afternoon it was too much for Jeff on his 7.6 and Charlie on his 7.0. But I held on to my 7.0 as others began to rig 5 meter or small sails. I had a blast as it never really got that strong, but it was plenty strong for me to do anything on my 7.0. The gusts were strong enough for a 4.5 but the holes required atleast a 6 meter sail. I was sailing non-stop while others on smaller rigs were sailing 80 percent of the time and getting stuck in the holes, but for the most part it was a good day. By the afternoon the wind got stronger and stronger. I would guess it was averaging in the mid-twenties and gusting at times to the mid-thirties. I held on to my 7.0 as long as I could. Curtis was sailing a 5.0 while others were on 4.5s. Just about everyone got blown off the lake except for 4 sailors. Jeff complimented me, saying “Shaun you know the guys on the beach are all impressed with you holding on to that 7.0 sail, they don’t know how you do it.” I continued to sail for about 40 minutes longer. This was probably the strongest wind I have sailed my 7.0 meter sail in at Lake Isabella. I was afraid at times to attempt a jibe. I made most of my jibes. Mike Heyman looked at me and said, “There’s Curtis and Marvin, go show them what slow pokes they are Shaun.” He pointed towards the middle of the lake. You could make out two sailors going back and forth on a long reach across the lake. I went down in two reaches holding on for dear life… Man was it blowing. The swell was about 2.5 to 3 feet. Curtis was doing jumps. As I was heading East on the lake just down from the ghetto I was beginning to pass Marvin as a gust hit the both of us. I had to sheet out almost all the way and I still felt like I was going to get knocked down. I would guess that it was probably a 40mph gust that came through. Although the water was flat I wouldn’t even have attempted a jibe in that kind of wind. It was so windy that when I went to reach back and pull in the sail as I entered my jibes to depower it, I didn’t have the strength to pull it in. I was also tired, but I don’t think I was that tired. I crashed once on the West side of the lake and almost lost my rig in the wind as I barely caught it swimming. So I thought I had better go in before I hurt myself. As I was sailing in I saw three guys helping Johanna to derig her sail as the wind was so strong there was a possibility you could lose your stuff. Then they moved to help Jeff derig his sail. I went in and wobbled up the beach trying to keep my rig from hitting the sand in the 30mph gusts. I laid my board down on the tarp and let out a sigh as Johanna asked me. “Did you get enough?” “I am overpowered”, I replied. “Oh your admitting it now?”, she said. “Yes, it is insane out there. If I wasn’t so tired I would love to take out the 69Liter JP and have some fun in it, but I am just too exhausted to try.” As we stood there and looked back at the lake a gust hit us that blew sand so hard that it hurt when it hit our skin. It was crazy. Now I am back and I want to thank Spencer for his report as he was right!! I just everyone else could have joined us. The jet skis and boats were a pain at times, but by Monday they were gone and we had the whole lake to ourselves. It is days like that when you wish you had saved your energy to sail. I think I sailed only about 4 hours on Monday and I was too tired to sail anymore. Just when I thought it was going to die off, it got stronger. Categorized in: Haulass Hotline, Lake Isabella Isabella Thanksgiving 2009 Report Bad Day at the River Wednesday Night Windsurfers October Day Trippin’ Great Gorge Suck The Good… The Bad… Cabrillo (2) Columbia River Gorge (4) Haulass Hotline (39) Lake Isabella (6) Lake Lopez (1) Leo Carrillo (4) Sacramento River Delta (3) Uncommon Destinations (6) HaulAss Archives WindJunkie © 1995 to 2018. All rights reserved.	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line1650546
__label__cc	0.651132	0.348868	4 Ever Ballin artist roster Artist: Inferno, Dirty Drawz, Pakasso, D Mercy, Relli, Ikieu, Loyalty Lo, RedSox, Gunner Gauge, Esko & Wavy 2 Fly Production: Ikieu, Beezly aka Tattoo, Relli aka Phynga's, Mydo, Jayy Oh Beatz The American rapper known as "ESKO" hails from Trenton, NJ. Clearly a talented wordsmith, he began his musical career after meeting Clarence "C Money" Walton a neighbor who took him to his first ever recording studio and later would become his manager. After moving to Connecticut with his father for high school, he began entering local talent shows. While continuing to hone his craft, he was picked up by a local group called the roughnecks and would go on to strike his first regional tour. In the 90's he then moved to Tampa, FL with his mother but never gave up on his true passion for music. Wanting to record his first solo project with no money to do so, he began hanging out in Robles Park housing projects(Wild Side) and starting hustling drugs to come up with the necessary cash needed to get his project off the ground and get it off is what he did. Esko with the help of his long time friend/Manager C Money, he released his first nationally distributed full album independently under the moniker "Y. Gates". The project suddenly came to a screeching halt when he ran into some legal problems that would cause him to lose his freedom for several years. During that time, he lost his mother. Upon his release, he made a promise to himself that he would one day top the charts. Esko then began working on a new album on shoe string budget, which led to his first single "Told Ya" and with luck on his side, he ran into Snapp Ford the CEO of 4 Ever Ballin Records (an Independent label based out of Tampa, Florida) a long time friend who also had a passion for the music business and the rest was history! Together they shared the same vision and were able to hash out a deal to release the first single "Told Ya" off the upcoming "No Plan B" album. When asked how he feels about getting in such of a competitive business, he replies "You can't stop what's destined to happen". So for the summer of 2018, be ready for Esko and his 4 Ever Ballin Crew!!!! Born and raised in Tampa, Florida, Dirty came up during a time when Read more: Dirty Drawz My stage and artist name is Inferno AKA the Track Killa. My Read more: INFERNO PAKASSO Pakasso born James Farris, in the 80's Tampa, Florida Read more: PAKASSO GUNNER GAUGE p> Music is my passion and performing is my high. As a young Read more: GUNNER GAUGE Derrick Mitchell AKA New England "Redsox" is considered Read more: Red Sox REALSTREETMUZIKVOL11 EVERYTHINGSTREET (#FLORIDA #EDITION) coldworldvol13 HELLINMYCITYVOL8	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line1650547
__label__cc	0.620834	0.379166	Home / Android / OnePlus / OnePlus 5 / Samsung Galaxy S8 / 5 features which make OnePlus 5 must wait phone 5 features which make OnePlus 5 must wait phone Rahul Kumar 9:30:00 AM Android, OnePlus, OnePlus 5, Samsung Galaxy S8 OnePlus is known for the best phones at the cheaper price, as they say in their tagline “Flagship Killer.” All though Samsung has launched a fabulous smartphone in the form of Samsung Galaxy S8, but we believe OnePlus 5 will be one of the best devices from OnePlus. Here are the five reason which shows you should happily wait for OnePlus 5. The OnePlus 3T features the Snapdragon 821, but it's likely that the next OnePlus, the OnePlus 5, will come with the Snapdragon 835. This is the new processor unveiled by Qualcomm at CES 2017 and is thought to be the chip of choice for the 2017 flagship Galaxy S8. Having the experience of past, we can expect some out of box things from OnePlus. Must Read: OnePlus 5 will give tough competition to Samsung Galaxy S8 Blazing fast Speed The Snapdragon 835 supports up to 8GB of RAM, and going by the fact OnePlus was one of the first to install 6GB of RAM. Most likely the upcoming flagship killer may be one of the first smartphones to pack an 8GB RAM. Must Read: New leak reveal the massive feature of OnePlus 5 The Snapdragon 835 is the first Qualcomm processor to be made with a 10nm process, which will bring various improvements including performance and efficiency, Interestingly, a better battery life is expected of the OnePlus 5 as reports claim that it will be powered by a 4,000mAh battery with Dash Charge. Awesome Camera We've seen reports that OnePlus 5 will come with a dual camera set up and 21- to a 23Mp rear camera. The dual camera feature is a growing industry trend that we've already seen and particularly important because it will help OnePlus 5 match or beat phones like the iPhone 7 Plus, and now the Xiaomi Mi 6. However, there are no specific details of the image sensors inside the OnePlus 5 or what kind of lenses it will use, but rumors suggest that the front camera will be the same 16-megapixel shooter found in OnePlus 3T. The dual camera will also help OnePlus 5 users capture better low-light photos. Must Read: OnePlus 5 will be another flagship killer and Samsung should be more worried Flagship Killer This is the USP of OnePlus “Flagship Killer” as the name suggest phone is expected to come at cheaper prices when compared to other flagship phones. If we look in past, OnePlus has historically offered its smartphones at competitive prices. Even though OnePlus 3T had a higher price tag than OnePlus 3, still, it was competitively priced compared to other flagship Android smartphones. The OnePlus 5 is expected to cost between $400 and $500 which will depend on storage options. The 128GB model's price would be close to $500.	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line1650554
__label__wiki	0.682296	0.682296	McKABE COTTRELL TWO-HITS LEFTIES, APPLESOX SWEEP SERIES, TIGHTEN PLAYOFF RACE July 27, 2017 / Trevor Williams PORT ANGELES, Wash. – The Wenatchee AppleSox (25-20, 10-8 second half) slammed the door on the Port Angeles Lefties (16-30, 6-13) in a 5-0 series-sweeping, complete-game shutout by freshman McKabe Cottrell, Thursday night at Civic Field at Port Angeles. Cottrell (1-2) tossed Wenatchee’s first complete-game shutout since June 9, 2011, when Owen Jones (Portland) shutout the Kelowna Falcons over nine innings at Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium. The Gonzaga freshman, Cottrell, struck out 10 batters, and joined Hunter Boyd and Jarrod Molnaa as the only other AppleSox players to strike out 10 in a game this season. Wenatchee moved just a half a game out of first place in the WCL North Second Half, following Victoria’s loss to Kelowna, 9-7 across the Strait of Juan De Fuca at Royal Athletic Park. The night started with McKabe Cottrell retiring the first 17 batters to face him. He was successful on 14-of-17 first-pitch strikes from the git-go. Cottrell struck out two batters in each of the first and second innings, and received some tremendous plays behind him in the third inning, on a sliding catch in right field by Jalen Garcia, and an in-between chopper played in front of second base by Jacob Prater. Prater also put the AppleSox in front in the third inning, with an RBI single, following a single and an error. Evan Johnson drove in the AppleSox second run of the night in the same inning, on an RBI groundout. For Johnson, it was his 46th RBI of the year. It placed him in sole possession of the WCL lead, ahead of Bellingham’s Chase Illig and also places him two shy of tying Mitchell Gunsolus’ 2012 team record 48 runs batted in. Johnson needs an additional 5 RBI to tie Vince Fernandez (2014, Yakima Valley) for the most RBI in WCL history. Adrian Vela padded Cottrells lead in the fourth, with a no-doubt solo home run over the left field fence. It was the only home run of the series to either side at Civic Field. Cottrell had a perfect game going through 5.2 innings, and Port Angeles broke up the bid with a bunt single from Aki Buckson. Cottrell was unable to cover first, as his momentum after the pitch took him towards the third base line. First baseman Adrian Damla lunged to try to apply a tag to the runner, but it was too late. Wenatchee but a couple more runs on the board in the seventh for a 5-0 lead on a sacrifice fly RBI from Prater into shallow right field. Jack Reisinger also drove in a runner on a single, with men at the corners. The AppleSox chewed through three Port Angeles relievers in the inning, after starter Aaron Charles (0-2) was lifted after his nine-strikeout outing. Cottrell continued to frustrate the Lefties into the ninth inning. He allowed one more hit on a two-out double to Austyn Tengan, but got his final man of the night to pop out to right field, to complete the series sweep and season sweep (6-0) of the Port Angeles Lefties. The win was Cottrell’s first at the collegiate level, and team’s second shutout of the year. Wenatchee improved to 10-1 when not committing an error this season. In total, Cottrell retired 27 of 29 batters to face him, and did not issue a walk. Wenatchee returns home to open a six-game homestand, Friday night. The first team into town is the Walla Walla Sweets, who swept the AppleSox to open the season. Wenatchee is looking for revenge at 7:05 p.m. with Steen Fredrickson on the mound. July 27, 2017 / Trevor Williams/ APPLESOX OPEN PIVOTAL LATE-SEASON ... APPLESOX SET FOR SECOND ...	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line1650555
__label__cc	0.585194	0.414806	Microsoft overtakes Amazon as second most valuable US company Published in International Amazon’s shares dropped 7 per cent, the most in nearly three years after its holiday season sales outlook missed targets, fanning concerns that Wall Street’s tech darlings are finally starting to face stronger competition. Microsoft fell a more modest 2 per cent in a broad technology sell-off that was also driven by a weaker-than-expected report from Google-parent Alphabet Inc, leaving the Nasdaq down 2.1 per cent at midday. Shares of Microsoft remain up nearly 4 per cent from Wednesday, when the four-decade-old software company beat quarterly profit expectations, driven by its cloud computing business that competes with Amazon’s. Its stock market value on Friday stood at $823 billion, on track to close above Amazon’s for the first time since April, when it gave up its spot as second largest company by market capitalization. Amazon was worth $805 billion on Friday, after falling below Microsoft’s in extended trade on Thursday. The drop was equivalent to the combined values of Target Corp and Corning Inc. Amazon’s tumble left it up around 40 per cent year to date, while Microsoft has gained about 25 per cent in 2018. On Wednesday, Amazon’s stock traded at the equivalent of 70 times expected earnings, its lowest level since 2011. The average analyst price target for Microsoft puts its market cap at $963 billion, while the average price target for Amazon values it at $1.068 trillion. Apple will report quarterly results on Thursday. India to consider security and economic interests before deciding on letting Huawei take part in 5G trials US Panel Seeks Additional Steps To Enhance Defense Ties With India 51% jump in desis getting Canadian ‘green card’ On charge of $90 million exit package to #MeToo accused, Google’s strong rebuttal Where to do business in 2019. And where to avoid	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line1650560
__label__cc	0.737951	0.262049	Buccellati one-of-kind earrings inspired by Claude Monet’s Tempête sur les Cotes de Belle-Ile Claude Monet, Tempête sur les Cotes de Belle-Ile. Buccellati one-of-kind white gold, diamonds and paraiba tournamine earrings inspired by Claude Monet’s Tempête sur les Cotes de Belle-Ile. 350.000,00 €. © Buccellati 2016 As in Monet’s painting, the light is captured within the honeycomb surface of the white gold pendant earrings and then magnified by the Paraiba tourmalines and diamonds. A complex design which is true to the most traditional and enchanting Buccellati style, evoking the strength of the sea, the beauty of simple color combinations, the perfection of Nature. The typical Buccellati “rigato” engraving and the honeycomb technique enhance a superb design and an admirable inspiration. Posté par Alain Truong à 14:53 - Joaillerie /Jewelry - Commentaires [0] - Permalien [#] Tags : Buccellati, Claude Monet, Tempête sur les Cotes de Belle-Ile BUCCELLATI ONE-OF-KIND GOLD EARRINGS INSPIRED BY... Odilon Redon, La Chute de Phaéton. Buccellati one-of-kind yellow gold, white gold and diamonds earrings... BUCCELLATI ONE-OF-KIND WHITE GOLD AND DIAMONDS... Winslow Homer, Light Blue Sea at Prout’s Neck Buccellati one-of-kind white gold and diamonds bracelet... Buccellati's art inspirations A sapphire and diamond bangle, by buccellati One of the finest examples of claude monet's haystacks series estimated to sell for in excess of $55 million Claude monet (1840-1926), coin du bassin aux nymphéas, circa 1918-1919 Claude monet (1840-1926) le pont japonais, circa 1918-1924 $110.7 million monet masterpiece makes auction history at sotheby's new york Internationally acclaimed exhibition reveals the radical evolution of monet's final decade Detroit institute of arts exhibits impressionist era treasures from the albright-knox art gallery 'impressionism and post-impressionism' at the scottish national gallery Commentaires sur Buccellati one-of-kind earrings inspired by Claude Monet’s Tempête sur les Cotes de Belle-Ile	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line1650565
__label__cc	0.662458	0.337542	Whom To Thank When There’s No Recipient? The Atheist’s Thanksgiving Dilemma Written by John F. MacArthur Thankfulness is one of the distinguishing traits of the human spirit. We sense the need to say thanks, and we realize we ought to be more grateful than we are. We furthermore perceive that we are indebted to (and accountable to) a higher power than ourselves — the God who made us. According to Scripture, everyone has this knowledge, including those who refuse to honor God or thank Him. Ingratitude is dishonorable by anyone’s reckoning, but to be willfully ungrateful toward the Creator is to deny an essential aspect of our own humanity. The shame of such ingratitude is inscribed on the human conscience, and even the most dogmatic atheists are not immune from the knowledge that they ought to give thanks to God. Try as they might to suppress or deny the impulse, “what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them,” according to Romans 1:19. During a November 2009 debate in England sponsored by a rationalist group known as Intelligence Squared, Richard Dawkins admitted that when he looks at the Milky Way or the Grand Canyon, he is overcome by a profound feeling of thankfulness. “It’s a feeling of sort of an abstract gratitude that I am alive to appreciate these wonders,” he said. “When I look down a microscope it’s the same feeling. I am grateful to be alive to appreciate these wonders.” To whom does an atheist like Mr. Dawkins express such gratitude? I’m by no means the first person to point out this conundrum. In fact, the Internet is peppered with failed attempts to justify an atheistic celebration of Thanksgiving. Atheists insist they are not ungrateful. They confess that they feel thankful, and they clearly sense a need to avoid the ignominy of brazen ingratitude on a cosmic scale — especially at Thanksgiving. One atheist has practically made a hobby of writing articles to explain why atheists feel the need to be thankful and to answer the question of whom they might thank. His best answer? He says atheists can be grateful to farmers for the food we eat, to doctors for the health we enjoy, to engineers for the advantages of modern technology, to city workers for keeping our environment clean and orderly — and so on. Here’s the problem with that: Tipping the waitress or tipping one’s hat to sanitation workers doesn’t even come close to resolving the problem of whom Mr. Dawkins should thank when he looks at the stars, stands at the edge of the Grand Canyon, or studies the world of countless wonders his microscope reveals in a single drop of pond water. Of course, we ought to be thankful on a human level to people who help make our lives better. But if thanking people exhausts your sense of blessedness and satisfies that “sort of … abstract gratitude” you feel when pondering the vastness of the universe, you have already suppressed your own conscience to a frightening degree. Your worldview is spiritually bankrupt. Another atheist writer, acknowledging this problem, says the answer is easy for her: She is grateful to her lucky stars. “What it comes down to,” she writes, “is that an atheist is generally thankful for good luck, serendipity.” That’s an odd and ironic answer from a point of view that repudiates theism on the grounds that it is not “rational” to believe in God. After all, the starting point for atheistic materialism is the equation nobody times nothing equals everything. What could possibly be more irrational? Furthermore, chance (luck, fortune, happenstance, fate—whatever label you want to put on it) is not a force or intelligence. “Chance” has to do with mathematical probability. Flip a coin and there’s a 50-50 chance it will come up tails. But “chance” has no power to flip the coin, much less design an ordered universe. Nevertheless, that’s how atheistic materialists have trained themselves to think. Chance is the ultimate creator. In the words of one Nobel Prize-winning atheist, “Pure chance, absolutely free but blind, is at the very root of the stupendous edifice of evolution.” Fortune has thus been personified — imbued with the power to determine, order and cause everything that happens. That’s mythology, not science. At the end of the day, the atheist is no more rational and no less superstitious than the astrologist who thanks impersonal “lucky stars” for good fortune. On some level, atheists themselves surely realize this. Proof of their internal angst is seen in the fact that so many of them are not content merely to disbelieve. They are militant in their opposition to God. They hate the very thought of God and would love to have every mention of Him removed from public discourse — as if that would somehow remove the burden of their own ingratitude and relieve the pangs of a guilty conscience. But as Scripture says, it is the ultimate folly to try to suppress our own innate sense of obligation to our Maker. “The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God’” says Psalm 14:1. In short, to deny God is to debase one’s own mind and dehumanize the whole person. That’s why we remind ourselves to give thanks to God — specifically, the one true God who has revealed Himself in Scripture as a God of grace and forgiveness, who so loved the world that He gave His Son as an atonement for sin, so “that we might die to sin and live to righteousness,” according to 1 Peter 2:24. He graciously compels us to thank Him, and He himself should top the list of things we are thankful for. -- end article. Reprinted here on American Cowboy Chronicles unedited and with pleasure. John F. MacArthur is president of The Master’s College and Seminary, host of internationally-syndicated radio show “Grace to You,” and author of nearly 400 books and study guides. Posted by Tom Correa at 4:35 AM Pumpkins: A True American Wonder South Dakota Ranchers Need Our Help George Zimmerman's Actions & Character Civil Rights: The Democrat's Big Lie Revealed. RANDOM SHOTS - Obama Lies Again, More HealthCare C... Oprah calls Obama's Critics Racists and says Death... The BLM, Wild Horses & Burros What's happened to 1,700 Wild Horses? Tom Cruise compares Acting to Fighing in Afghanist... Jack Nicholson is "Positively Against" Abortion Veterans Day 2013 - Thank You! Mutilated Cows And UFOs? RANDOM SHOTS - CMA Awards Rip ObamaCare, Tea Party... ObamaCare: America's Greatest Catastrophe Florida Cattle Ranchers Seek Locally Grown Beef La... RANDOM SHOTS - Obama Grabs More Power, New Poll, a... American History 101: Why Are We Called Americans?...	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line1650569
__label__cc	0.516143	0.483857	Tuesday Ten: 215: Tracks of the Month (October 2014) Posted on November 11, 2014 September 7, 2016 By adam A bit later than usual – Whitby and general life issues rather got in the way – and this of course will be the last new tracks roundup of 2014, as I’ll be doing the best of 2014 lists from early December as usual. And this is the first of two posts this morning. Also, to think that I was struggling to fill this with even ten songs a few weeks back, I ended up with far more than I needed and so some songs this time miss out. Track of the Month The Butcher’s Arcana Way back in time, Red20 were a promising industrial-rock band in Sheffield, who played a tiny handful of gigs and released a number of ever-more ambitious albums and then vanished. Al moved to Birmingham, lost his fellow band members along the way, and eventually dabbled again in music after a few years away, but nothing really seemed to capture the magic of the old…until now. This new (mini-)album is generally very good indeed – there is perhaps one song I’m not keen on – but this track is an absolute killer, with a circus-freakshow-meets-industrial-rock feel and a cracking, off-kilter chorus complete with unhinged vocals and quite unsettling electronics that should be accompanied by a fucked-up video in a hall of mirrors. Either way, this is an outstanding return. Alone EP Stabbing Westward are a long way back in musical history now, right? Well, they were, until Christopher Hall got Walter Flakus working with him again in his current project, and the result is basically a nod back to the days of Ungod/Wither Blister Burn and Peel – made oh-so-obvious from the first few seconds by the brooding bassline, never mind Hall’s telltale vocals. Clearly something of a move to win back fans of their old band, I’m perfectly happy to keep listening if future material is as great as this. Scott Walker + Sunn O))) Soused I was by no means the only one that raised an eyebrow once this collaboration was confirmed – I mean, would it really work? One listen to this at good volume confirmed to me that, yes, it does. Walker’s deep baritone, dramatic delivery and taste for the avant garde dovetails brilliantly with Sunn O)))’s drone-based guitar work, particularly on this opener for the album, which comes completed with cracks of a bullwhip as part of the percussion. Nowhere near as extreme as some of Sunn O)))’s other work, for those put off by their reputation this album could actually be a good place to start. Fartbarf Homeless in Heathrow Appalling name, but the music is good, and their website shows an interesting mission statement, too. I’d heard the name mentioned by a few friends on the West Coast of late, with quite a buzz about their live show in particular, and the slick video for this single will also help with any buzz. This is dark, clever synthpop, with a robotic rhythms and ultra-treated vocals that make for a memorable track – and the serial-killer send-up of the video adds to the intrigue. Menhir – Supplicant Carrion Skies Eleven minutes and forty-five seconds of epic, sweeping Black Metal that does a good job of balancing icy blasts of metal fury and also more contemplative, near-dark ambient passages to keep things interesting over such an epic track length. Over the course of four albums now the band have continued to be one of the more progressive, intriguing and vital Black Metal bands in the scene, and if they keep releasing music as brilliant as this, long may it continue – especially as they fly the flag as one of the few Black Metal bands from these isles to make a significant impression. Cygnets It has been a busy year for Cygnets – having already released an outstanding album in Isolator in the spring, they are now back again with a much higher-profile album, having been signed to Negative Gain in the meantime. There have been a couple of tracks released in advance from it (and both have videos, interestingly), and for me this is the better track of the two. A punchy, quickstep of a track, with harmonised chorus vocals that plant hooks in your head, and an urgent vocal delivery generally that powers the track forward. This band are fascinating, really – pulling in influences from post-punk and UK indie music of the past, but marrying it to new technology, and it sounds great. The new album is out this week. Breath & Decay Control Motion I first heard this artist years ago (a cracking track called Alive Right Now on the 2008 Glitch Mode compilation Gears Gone Wild – incidentally the same one that Prude first appeared on), and I’ve been wondering what happened with nothing else released since…until now. Ok, it is only a three track EP, but its a start, and it is picking up where he left off. So, in other words – thumping, bass-led industrial music with a harsh, heavy atmosphere and rhythms that get the feet and body moving (there is a nod to Nitzer Ebb here, for sure). More please! mindFluxFuneral A Quiet State Also back after a long, long time away are mindFluxFuneral. The lengthy – seven year – gap since the outstanding Teatro De RevelaciÃ³n has meant I’ve been patiently awaiting this new release for a age but it certainly doesn’t disappoint. Once again this is brutally intense electro-industrial, keeping the blurred vocal treatments and a dense sonic palette that means repeated listens are necessary to appreciate it fully. The first takeaway from the new material is that it is perhaps more measured, and more moderately paced than some of the rampaging pace of the last album, but on this song in particular it seems only to increase the intensity levels further. KMFDM Make Your Stand Our Time Will Come KMFDM albums are generally fairly reliable nowadays – there isn’t going to be a great deal that is unexpected on a new release from them. The Heavy Heavy Beat is in full effect, there are guitar-heavy songs, there are the more electro tracks, there are the political ones. Our Time Will Come does exactly this, but just for once isn’t front loaded (opening track Genau in particular is no great shakes). Best track on the album, by miles, is the stomping, fist-pumping closer Make Your Stand, a call-to-arms to make a political difference, as one and as a group. And recent collaborator William Wilson’s vocals have a fire to them that KMFDM haven’t had for a little while, too. [:SITD:] Dunkelziffer Ok, so not a lot has changed – if you are familiar with the band, this is not going to surprise you – but [:SITD:] are back doing what they do well. So that is a very Germanic take on industrial music – thundering, hard beats, glowering vocals and a melodic touch that keeps the song anchored and memorable. Maybe not so much the “in thing” any more, but still very good either way. Posted in /Tuesday TenTagged [:SITD:], Breath & Decay, Cygnets, Fartbarf, Fen, KMFDM, mindFluxFuneral, Red20, Scott Walker, Sunn O))), The Dreaming, tuesday ten Talk Show Host: 010: Prude Tuesday Ten: 216: Unsung	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line1650570
__label__wiki	0.597303	0.597303	Historic Building Recordings Conservation Plans & Management & Maintenance Plans Advice on Heritage Funding Ashley DAVIES Architects specialise in historic building repair, restoration, conservation and adaptation; historical research and report writing. Our services include designing, specifying, delivering and acquiring funding for projects involving the repair, restoration and adaptation of, and contemporary insertions to, historic and listed buildings. Our services also include researching and writing Heritage Impact Statements, Conservation Plans, Management & Maintenance Plans, Historic Building Recordings etc. and undertaking Condition Assessments. We also provide advice on heritage funding. Ashley Davies is a Chartered Architect and an RIBA-accredited Specialist Conservation Architect with 25 years of experience, who has designed, acquired funding for, detailed, specified and delivered many heritage-led projects involving grade I, II* and II listed buildings and Scheduled Ancient Monuments. He is also an Affiliate Member of Institute of Historic Building Conservation and sits on the RIBA Conservation Register Steering Group.	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line1650572
__label__cc	0.724339	0.275661	Success for apprentices in regional training awards \| 14/05/2014 CCFE apprentices are among the winners in the Engineering Trust's 2014 Apprentice Awards. The awards are held annually by the Trust and its partner Isis Training to recognise excellence in apprenticeships among companies in the Oxfordshire, Berkshire and Buckinghamshire area. Paul Jepson was named the 2nd Year Apprentice of the Year, Dominic Callaghan won the 3rd Year Apprentice award and Lydia Feasey received both the 4th Year Apprentice award and the Trustees' Award for outstanding achievement. CCFE Apprentice Training Manager Steve Hall said: “This is an incredible achievement, both for the apprentices personally and for the CCFE apprenticeship scheme. Paul, Dominic and Lydia thoroughly deserve this prestigious recognition, for the high standards they aspire to and continue to achieve.” Pictured are Paul and Lydia with Steve Hall at the award ceremony, held at Marlborough School in Woodstock. CCFE apprentice engineering technicians undergo a four-year training programme based at Culham and at a local college. This scheme is designed to develop both technical and academic abilities and personal qualities. Completing the programme results in a certificate of Advanced Apprenticeship, a complementary academic qualification, and registration as an EngTech by either Institution of Mechanical Engineers or the Institution of Engineering and Technology – giving a great start for a career in engineering. To find out more go to http://www.culhamapprenticeshipscheme.com/.	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line1650582
__label__wiki	0.511047	0.511047	Crossing continents \| 07/12/2010 Strengthening international research links has been high on the agenda at CCFE recently, with three separate initiatives last week. Scientists from the Institute of Nuclear Fusion and Plasma Physics, Huazhong University, Wuhan in China visited Culham with an interest in using CCFE's ECRH gyrotron heating equipment on the J-TEXT tokamak in Wuhan. Originally employed on the COMPASS device in the 1990s, the equipment was less suitable for use on the newer MAST facility, opening the way for its exploitation on other experiments. The 20th Culham-Ioffe Symposium took place at Culham on 29/30 November, bringing together scientists from CCFE and the High Temperature Plasma Physics Laboratory in the Ioffe Institute, St Petersburg. The collaboration has proved extremely fruitful in providing engineer visits for design of MAST and the Ioffe's Globus-M tokamak, and interactions between both Thomson scattering and neutral particle analyser experts. More recently the symposium has generated numerous exchanges on Electron Bernstein Waves, experiment and theory, for the Component Test Facility, MAST Upgrade and for novel edge current measurements on MAST. Opportunities for young researchers have also arisen over the years, with Ioffe scientists working at CCFE and Culham PhD students visiting Russia. On 1/2 December, CCFE hosted the MAST Research Forum to plan the 2011 experimental programme for the MAST tokamak. Around 100 scientists took part on-site and via a videolink, with involvement from researchers at several UK universities, other EU universities and other research institutes from around the world. The forums are held between major experimental campaigns to review progress and discuss forward plans and collaborations on MAST. The three scientists from Huazhong University are pictured (from left Shenghun Qiu, Ge Zhuang and Donghui Xia) next to one of the 60GHz gyrotrons. Julian Hawes (left) and Chris Gurl of CCFE's ECRH Group are in the foreground.	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line1650583
__label__cc	0.714349	0.285651	Does Luck Matter More Than Skill? January 2nd, 2013 · 55 comments Luck Over Skill? The most provocative business title I’ve read recently is Frans Johansson’s The Click Moment. In this book, Johansson argues the following: For activities with clear fixed rules — such as sports, chess, and music — the only way to succeed is to put in more deliberate practice than your peers. Johansson uses Serena Williams as a key example: her dad started her practicing tennis absurdly hard at an absurdly young age. For activities with rapidly evolving rules — such as business start-ups or book writing — success comes when you change the rules to a new configuration that catches the zeitgeist just right. Johansson uses Stephanie Meyers, author of the Twilight series, as a key example. Meyers, in Johansson’s estimation, is not a good writer. Her first Twilight book reads more like fan fiction than a professionally-scribed genre novel. She had not, in other words, spent much time in a state of deliberate practice. But this didn’t matter. Something about her new take on vampire tales hit the cultural moment just right and earned her extraordinary renown. The lesson, according to Johansson, is that luck plays the central role in success for these activities. If you want to do something remarkable,therefore, you have to keep trying new things — placing, what he calls, purposeful bets — hoping to stumble into an idea that catches on. Here’s the obvious follow-up question for Study Hacks readers: how do these ideas square with my skill-driven philosophy of building a remarkable life? Schwarzenegger’s Serendipity I gained insight into this question from another book I read recently (and found surprisingly engrossing): Arnold Schwarzenegger’s new autobiography, Total Recall. At a high-level, Schwarzenegger’s story seems to validate Johansson’s serendipity-fueled vision of success. The young bodybuilder’s ascent in movies required several lucky breaks: being brought to LA — of all possible cities — to train in Joe Weider’s Gold’s Gym; meeting a writer, Charles Gaines, who was writing about the bodybuilding subculture at the time, and who helped introduce Schwarzenegger to many important players in Hollywood; and starting to take acting seriously just as the the 1980s action movie trend generated a sudden need for larger than life characters who knew how to film a movie. There was no way Schwarzenegger could have planned this rise to stardom. Serendipity played a big role. But does this mean that deliberate practice and the striving to become so good they can’t ignore you is not so important? Schwarzenegger would disagree. Throughout his autobiography, he kept emphasizing that you “have to do the reps” — a reference to the unavoidable importance of putting in the hard work required to do something well. When you dive deeper into his story, you notice that this dedication to skill-building plays a supporting role behind all of his lucky breaks: he was brought to LA because he was the most promising bodybuilder of his generation, a status he achieved by starting his serious training at least two years earlier than most elite competitors, and adding a new level of intensity to his workouts; when he arrived in America, he hustled: starting at least four different businesses (real estate, mail order, seminars and construction), taking night classes, and shadowing Joe Wieder on international business trips. His smarts and ambition is what helped him gain access to Charles Gaines’s circle of influential friends; and when he began acting, he worked really hard at it. He took classes and trained intensely for small roles throughout the 70s, eventually winning a Golden Globe for “Best Acting Debut in a Motion Picture” for 1976’s Stay Hungry. In other words, Schwarzenegger wasn’t picked out of nowhere to star in 1982’s Conan the Barbarian (his big break). He was, at that point, a world famous bodybuilder who could act and was well-known in Hollywood circles. From this perspective, he was the obvious choice for the role. The Serendipity Equation The combination of The Click Moment and Total Recall has helped me developed a more nuanced understanding of how skill and luck interplay in the quest to do something remarkable. Being a math geek, I find that equations help me better capture the relative importance of different factors, and with this in mind, I came up with the following: <success of a project> = <project potential> x <serendipitous factors>, where <project potential> is a measure of the rareness and value of your relevant skills, and the value of the serendipitous factors is drawn from something like an exponential distribution. In this equation, there are two variables. The first is the potential of the project. The more rare and valuable your skills, generally speaking, the more potential you have for the project to succeed. This is something you control. The second variable captures serendipity. You cannot predict or control this factor, but you can expect that really big values are really rare (hence the approximation to an exponential distribution). This equation helps explain examples like Stephanie Meyer. Her project potential was low because she did not have much skill as a writer. But her serendipity factor was huge, swamping her low potential. At the same time, the equation tells us that Meyer’s example is not a generally replicatable strategy. The huge serendipity factor she enjoyed is rare. You could launch 1000 low potential projects in your lifetime and never encounter anything close. Objectively, the best strategy for success, given this equation, is to combine a commitment to increase your project potential as much as possible (by sharpening your rare and valuable skills), with a commitment to keep launching a steady stream of such projects and seeing them through to completion, increasing your chances of encountering high (though perhaps not Meyer’s-level) serendipity. Without serendipity, your skill alone might not create the results you crave. At the same time, however, without a high project potential to multiply, the type of serendipity you can realistically expect to encounter if you try enough things, also won’t generate these results. You need both. If you believe that something like this equation is true, then this approach of becoming as good as possible while trying many different projects, maximizes your expected success. Indeed, we can call this the Schwarzenegger Strategy, as it does a good job of describing his path to stardom. Looking back at his story, notice that he tried to maximize the potential in every project he pursued (always “putting in the reps”). But he also pursued a lot of projects, maximizing the chances that he would occasionally complete one with high serendipity. His breaks, as described above, all required both rare and valuable skills, and luck. And each such project was surrounded in his life by other projects in which things did not turn out so well. Summary: You cannot count on luck or skill to generate remarkable outcomes in isolation. The most consistent path to meaningful accomplishment seems to be a combination of the two. Pick a small number of things and become so good they can’t ignore you. Along the way, however, keep taking your growing skill out for a spin, launching related projects, one after another, carefully studying the outcomes to see if you stumbled into something big. For more examples and tactics regarding this idea of launching exploratory projects in the search of breakthroughs, see chapters 13 and 14 of SO GOOD. For more on building rare and valuable skills, see chapter 7. 55 thoughts on “Does Luck Matter More Than Skill?” Rohan Rajiv says: Little bets seem to be the under lying thread.. Arseny says: Great point! Luck is extremely important, but in most cases luck itself is a skill, and a trainable one. I once saw a billboard that read “luck is when preparation meets opportunity”. Opportunity doesn’t lead to success if you’re not in a position to take advantage of it. That’s where “being so good they can’t ignore you” comes into play. It prepares you to take advantage of the opportunities that come your way. Josh Earl says: Great post. Most people base their business ventures on the serendipity factor and overlook “doing the reps.” I’d add, however, that it’s often possible to increase your odds of finding a project with high serendipity potential by looking for unmet demands. Perhaps Meyers picked up on an interest in vampires among a demographic that had been overlooked by other authors in the genre. If that’s the case, the question wasn’t whether she’d succeed, but what the magnitude of her success would be. The better you know your market, the less luck comes into play. I agree. Success involves work of the right quality being at the right place at the right time, and so, we should aim not only to be good at what we do, but also to try and maximize our susceptibility to good fortune with respect to our goals. Louis Pasteur once said “Luck favours the prepared mind.” … But is it just a matter of putting your eggs in different baskets? I insist it is more of a question of being receptive to opportunities, as well, which is not a trivial matter. It takes a rather creative mind to recognize opportunities when they arise. This is an interesting article I found which deals with luck and attitude in everyday life, and whether it’s valid or not, it convinced me of one thing — taking advantage of luck in your particular field has a lot to do with having a keen awareness of exactly where you are with respect to project potential, and KEEPING IT IN MIND when you’re away involved in something else. The ‘keeping it in mind’ part is as important as the ‘involved in something else’ part (otherwise it’s not luck). I seriously doubt Arnold would’ve got anywhere if he was focussed enough on his bodybuilding to never leave the gym, or even if he forgot completely that he was a bodybuilder when he was away. He had to have a subroutine running somewhere in some corner of his mind, waiting to seize the opportunity when it came. I’m not quite clear on how this interacts with deliberate practice and its emphasis on focus. I’m sure that relation is something worth thinking about and studying. Dale Davidson says: Great post Cal. I’d like to throw in a strategy advocated by Nassim Taleb, author of the Black Swan and Antifragile. He advocates applying a “barbell strategy” to many areas of your life. This entails being very conservative in many areas of your life mixed in with some high risk, potentially high payout activities. For investments, this means placing the vast majority of your capital in cash or cash like instruments, say 90% of your assets. The last 10%, the 10% you could lose without too much pain, should be placed in high risk ventures (start-ups, biotech, investments with very high risk but virtually unbounded payouts). This way you preserve much of your capital while still being able to capture huge gains. For exercise, he highly recommends doing low stress activities like walking 90% of the time with the occasional very heavy weight lifting or sprints thrown in. It’s a way to take advantage of black swan events and randomness, a condition that he calls being anti-fragile. I imagine it applies to a career in the sense that the conservative, safe end of the barbell would largely amount to skill building and mastery. Get very good at things that you know you’ll get some reward for. On the “risky” or serendipitous end, you should do things like start projects, connect with people in different industries, etc. These things aren’t very risky but could have potentially unlimited payouts. I also believe that the more mastery you develop, the more people will want to be around you. You will be able to take advantage of the “halo effect” which will lead to even more opportunities that could lead to huge payouts. I think the supplement to your Career Craftsmen manifesto would be “make sure you put yourself in a position to get lucky.” I think 99% of this luck will arise from being exposed to people that you wouldn’t normally meet. It seems that the success of a project “for activities with rapidly evolving rules” requires a few things of the project launcher. Find out what “putting in the reps” means with respect to your field Use deliberate practice to become “so good they can’t ignore you” After surpassing the beginner skill level in a field, don’t solely focus on deliberately practicing to acquire skills. Take time out on a consistent basis to put your skills to work and create something. In terms of So Good They Can’t Ignore You, the last step listed above would be dropping a cow into the world, and letting the world decide if the cow is going to be purple or brown. I like the argument that we may not be able to guarantee success on a project, but we can maximize the potential for our projects to succeed…and this is a nontrivial task. Great post. CarlosFM says: Don’t depend on biographies too much. They will naturally try to find a linear thread (the culmination appearing inevitable) in what was surely a more chaotic and tentative life. The biggest weakness of planning is the plan (or what left out). That said, enjoying your blog. Aahnold had his first leading man role back way back in 1969 — the cheesy “Hercules in New York.” OK, so they dubbed his voice, but he was the lead. He had a second leading man role in 1979 — “The Villain”, which is still worth watching. Have you read The Black Swan by Nassim Taleb? Right along with this post. There are cemeteries full of Arnolds who put in all the time and hard work, if not more, and simply weren’t lucky enough to become superstars. We don’t hear their story because they aren’t lucky because statically most people aren’t. Paul Tune says: Cal, Michael Mauboussin studied this to a certain extend, albeit from an investment point of view. In his white paper “Untangling Skill and Luck”, he discusses domains where deliberate practice leads to the greatest probability of success, while other areas are highly dependent on luck, with most domains lying somewhere in the middle e.g. investing. Liked his work because it’s backed up by numbers. That being said, he suggests that skill and the process of achieving an outcome highly matters, as it does help in overall improvements. jlcollinsnh says: outstanding article and analysis of the luck v. effort balance. something I’ve wrestled with but never defined quite so well. I’ll be adding a link to this post in my own on the subject. Bravo! Pingback: What Poker, Basketball and Mike Whitaker taught me about Luck « jlcollinsnh Let’s not forget another serendipitous factor for Arnold, he was born with superior muscle building genetics. Sure he had developed an amazing work ethic to support his natural gifts, but in the end great athletes are both BORN and MADE. http://www.sportsscientists.com/2012/03/10000-hours-vs-training-debate-no.html Jeb says: He took steroids like every bob. Add cheating to luck and reps. dmfdmf says: I don’t recall who said it but I once read that one mark of genius like Newton or Einstein was being able to see better than others which problem is “ripe” for solving. Of course this is only obvious in retrospect, once the genius has shown the way. Also, of course, the genius must also develop the skills to actually solve the problem. Work on a problem too soon or beyond your potential and you die in obscurity. Work on a problem too late and you’ll either be scooped by someone else or your results will be seen as mundane and/or obvious (nothing inherently wrong with that as that is the fate of us non-geniuses). So in a sense serendipity is somewhat self created too. Pingback: The Serendipity Equation Sara Martin says: This question reminds me of your writing about the “impact instinct.” Impact is a function of how your work is received by other people. For a project to have impact, it has to be packaged and positioned so the outside world can connect it to serendipitous opportunities you could never anticipate or arrange. In other words, your project has to be communicated. Marketed. People who do the reps and produce something valuable have to take one more step towards impact and luck. They have to act like a homing device – broadcasting their work out to the world like soundwaves until they locate their targets (or their targets locate them). Nan Watts says: Thank you for this post. It is timely for me as I begin a new year. Chet Frame says: This same question is worked through by Taleb in, “The Black Swan.” CarlosFM’s point above about linearity of histpry is another concept that Taleb dissects. Good post! I forgot to mention that I was glad to find your book. It offers valuable perspectives for my work. I have shared it with colleagues, friends and my kids who are in college and creating their lives post college. Brett Warner says: I don’t think it’s any surprise that there’s a great degree of luck in any endeavor. I think the problem is that most people never put in the hours so that if luck strikes they can capitalize on it. Using your twilight example is great, I’ve seen writers that have been trying to write a novel or at least talk about writing a novel over a time span of years with still nothing in their names. She actually got something out there. Now your odds of achieving her success are extremely slim, but if you don’t finish the book your odds are zero. I’ve started reading a lot of biographies lately and it seems like the majority of the people that truly make it do have some great strokes of luck, but they also do a hell of a lot more than the average person does. Elizabeth Saunders-Time Coach says: Excellent post Cal- I completely agree with your point that we should focus on maximizing project potential because that is the one factor in our control. It’s more or less the spark and the serendipitous factors are the fuel that determine whether the project ignites. I think this also leads to a really important point about learning things from successful people. I believe that others can teach you how to maximize the project potential but can not guarantee you will achieve their same level of success. To your brilliance! Elizabeth Grace Saunders Kirn says: Cal – I broadly agree with you but I think the idea that Stephanie Meyers is a bad writer but just got really lucky is too simple. Isn’t it more likely that her writing is skilled in certain ways, different from literature, that made it so ripe to take off with a teenage audience? If it’s really just fan fiction, well, fan fiction has a very different aim than literature – it’s often wish-fulfillment and allows readers to place themselves in the story. I think it fits better with your previous thoughts around this topic to assume that writing this kind of fiction is its own skill and that Meyers is actually superb at it, even if she’s a bad writer by literary standards. Clearly luck played a big part, but if you had predicted at the exact same time she did that a vampire teen romance novel would be a smash hit, could you have rivaled her impact by writing your own? If I’m wrong, what other examples are there of someone having almost no skill at their chosen pursuit but just getting really, really lucky – and are we maybe just failing to see the true skills of those people? qznc says: I like to compare this to Poker. Obviously skill plays a big role in Poker. Nevertheless, in a 10-player poker game, the most skilled player maybe has a 15% winning chance. It is only over time that skill pays off. For another variant, in the startup community the saying goes “overnight success takes years”. There are nice stories of overnight successes, but they usually have put in years of hard work before. So how do you explain Timothy Ferriss’ book reaching the NYT bestseller list and doing better financially than yours? I’ve read them both, your is full of much, much more valuable advice. Ferriss’ is a regurgitation of all the crap he’s published in his two previous useless books(except for the dieting advice which he just culled from Rob King and Loren Cordain’s paleo method books). I’ve never used a thing from Ferriss’ books whereas I’ve used and achieved a ton of stuff with concrete results to show from your work. And yet, Ferriss is the marketing hype genius par excellence. He also seems to want to plug into the zeitgeist thing more aggressively since food and culinary arts are so topical right now –what is even more ludicrous about his book is that he claims the learning strategies he expounds can help you become 90th percentile in any endeavour you choose in less than a year! Seems Ferris has found the true secret: hype and marketing trump skill, deliberate practice and luck. Rare says: Trust in Allah and tie your camel. I guess the essential thing that you need to pay attention here is that you need to create opportunities. No matter how good or bad your skill is, just let other people see and evaluate it. Schwarzenegger and Meyer could’ve fared the same if they did not at least try to “launch 1000 [whatever] potential” projects. Ryan Tiong says: To Raj, Marketing is a skill and Tim Ferriss is VERY skilled at that. He has also honed his writing skill, teaching , management (he has a team of researchers etc), his rolodex, and etc etc. Of course, I should say that i don’t know him from Adam. however, I am a student of marketing. J Dilla says: I’m curious as to whether placing small bets in a wide variety of pursuits, as did Schwarzenegger, would detract from the singular, specialized focus necessary to becoming ‘so good they can’t ignore you’ in a single domain. For example, while Arnold focused on bodybuilding and acting, it seemed he cast his net quite wide in terms of the types of business ventures he pursued (real estate, construction, etc.). You cited his ‘smarts’ and ‘hustle’ in this regard. How should one go about deliberately practicing those skills? Thanks, I’m a big fan of the book. Prasanna says: Luck = Prepared State + opportunity. Prepared state is being prepared for utilizing an opportunity, which obviously needs deliberate practice , focus etc which is being said in your blog. weak stream says: I think the way to look at this is that “luck” is not something that is possible to pursue. You can’t ‘try’ to find a dollar on the sidewalk. Therefore ‘luck’ is the element to ignore completely. Arnold and Steve Martin weren’t trying to get lucky. They were developing ideas they thought were unique and then getting as much exposure to their idea as possible. American Idol tries to push this ‘lucky break’ idea by convincing people that all they need to do is sing in the shower for six months then ingratiate themselves to a ‘panel’ and that’s it. A lottery mentality. But if you can’t find a way to get exposure to your ideas directly then, yeah, luck will be the only way. It is so extremely rare that it happens like this that luck should be a concept we all ignore. People that really have something unique will ‘find a way’ to get exposure. Mike Cane says: It still seems to me that people are constantly “discovering” everything that Max Gunther wrote about in the 1970s in books like The Luck Factor and How to Get Lucky. The words are different, but the concepts are the same. In my opinion, arguably your best post since I started reading last year—really resonated with me. Bravo! Artin says: It takes a lot of hard work to be “lucky”. Pingback: Scott Andrew \| Singer-songwriter guy \| Tuesday reads Wade says: Great post. I recommend reading Malcolm Gladwell’s Outliers: The Story of Success. It touches on these same key points and gives many examples of how being in the right place at the right time with the right skill set has developed some of our biggest business leaders and sports stars. I think serendipity plays a big role in your successes. But skill, hones your senses into recognizing these once in a lifetime opportunities. It’s not ‘rediscovering’ some other guy said before. It’s rephrasing it in as many ways as possible so that the larger population can understand it. At the end of the day, it’s the same thing, but understood from a different perspective – it’s progress! Scott Donnelly says: Fantastic post, very insightful. I’d add to the “Many Pies” aspect of the Schwarzenegger Strategy, the “Fail Fast” mantra , as exemplified Here. @Josh Earl: “it’s often possible to increase your odds of finding a project with high serendipity potential by looking for…” There’s your first mistake. I Think you’ve slightly misunderstood the concept of serendipity. Pingback: 53 Ways To Be A Loser Love that part. Thank you for pointing me to this book! I interviewed the author for Psychology Today. Pingback: Ingredients of success. Luck and Skill. Pingback: The Importance of Being Persistent and 5 Tips for sticking to it - Business, technology & getting started - Nigel says: Luck – yes I have it – but, funny thing….the more I practice, the luckier I seem to get. Hmm.. You’ve encouraged me to read up on Schwarznegger’s autobiography. The guy has actually had quite an incredible life when you actually think about it! Pingback: What Poker, Basketball and Mike Whitaker taught me about Luck Pingback: 53 Ways To Be A Loser - Great Article. Arnold put in his reps and got very lucky….And he put in his reps. Opportunity is tough to embrace without the hard work. You have influence over the hard work. Pingback: How to Create Your Own Luck - Binary Reveux Pingback: How To Create Your Own Luck \| Lifehacker Australia argyletryit says: Yes I believe luck really plays an important role in our life. But we need to test different thing and find our luck. Luck comes from hardwork and determination. Just like the movie Rocky, I believe Stallone believe that he will be lucky someday and find a better deal. Pingback: The Impact Formula: New Evidence on the Factors that Lead to Breakthroughs - Study Hacks - Cal Newport Pingback: 681: Does Luck Matter More Than Skill by Cal Newport of Study Hacks (Success in Life and in Business - The Keys to Success) - Optimal Living Daily Podcast Pingback: 681: Does Luck Matter More Than Skill by Cal Newport of Study Hacks - Optimal Living Daily Podcast Leave a Reply to Sara Martin Cancel reply	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line1650588
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__label__wiki	0.521181	0.521181	The Fear of the Dead "Hey, honey, did you see this? Honey? HONEY?" He bounded down the stairs, two at a time, and stepped with a flourish into the large open basement space, lycra clad legs in bike shorts, eyes bright. "See what, sweetie?" Off in the corner, a large screen glowed in front of her, her face suffused with its soft blue light. "This post on the town page. There's this guy, he's been walking around and knocking on doors, and then taking off. He's been to maybe two or three houses today, and a couple of other people say they saw him..." "You on Facebook again? I thought you were working on that proposal." "Um...I..well...I'm just taking a break. You know, just for a couple of minutes." "Uh huh." He grinned. "Sure you are." She glared daggers his way, and his grin widened. "Mind your own business," she attempted to snarl, but the mock snarl melted into an exasperated look. "You know I'll get it done. And anyway, it's good to know what's going on. There's so much bad stuff out there, you just have to keep aware of it. Who knows what this guy's up to? There are always strange people coming through town, and I..." He shook his head. "C'mon, Jan. It's not like we live in Kandahar. This town's just about as safe a place as you can imagine. Probably just some kid whose gotten himself into a door-to-door gig selling something. You'd be more likely to get mugged by a Hobbit in Bag End." She sighed. "You always were an optimist, Jim. But the world's changed. It's not like when the kids were little. There's just so much horrible stuff out there. Like on the news yesterday, that little girl they finally found in California, oh, that was so horrible, can you imagine her poor parents? And..." "Sweetie, there are always stories like that. The more horrible the story, the more play it gets. You can't spend so much time on it, 'cause life just isn't like that, and the more you think about it, the more it'll mess with the whole way you look at the..." "You just don't know. You just don't. And there's no reason something like that couldn't happen here. None at all. It's a scary world out there, and things just keep getting worse. I just don't know sometimes." He shook his head. "It can't be all that bad. We're still good, right? And the kids? They both managed to grow up and get themselves off into the world just fine. That's not so bad." She pushed back in her chair, and gave him a look. "But bad things do happen, Jim. Jesus, you know they do. All the time. You just don't know when. I mean, remember where you were twelve months ago? You just don't know. You just don't." He gave her a wan little smile, and his fingers played upward, mindless, grazing over the scars on his chest under his riding shirt. "Yeah, but I'm here now, aren't I? And I'm planning on sticking around. Gotta be taking care of myself more, sure. But I've got plenty more years in me." Her eyes flickered over his clothes, registering them for the first time. "So you're going riding again? You will take it easy, won't you? You know you're not supposed to get your heart rate too high, not yet, and I know Dr. Chang said you were ready for more exercise, but I was reading on this site the other day that..." "Honey, I'll be fine. I take it nice and easy. I'm not like those hero guys who go tearing around like they're racing in the Tour de France. I just ride." "But there are so many crazies out there on the roads now. Like just yesterday, I saw on Facebook that this guy in a pickup truck had almost run Becky's daughter off the road, and I'm pretty sure it was that Williams kid who's always tearing around town, his parents just aren't..." "What was I saying about spending too much time on Facebook, O my sweetness?" She huffed. "I'm serious. You have to be careful. People just don't see cyclists." "I know, honey." She gave him an intense, searching look. "You have to tell me what route you're riding. You know I worry." He sighed. "You know my loop. Same ol', same ol'. Through town, then Partnership to River to Willard. I'll be back in no time. And if not, you can send out the dogs to find me. Should I leave something with my scent just in case?" "Oh, shut up. Just be careful. You have your phone?" "I will and I do. Love you!" "Love you more!" Back he went up the stairs, bounding them two at a time. He moved through the kitchen swiftly, snagging his helmet from the island with one swift motion, and then moved out the door to the garage. It felt good to ride, on these roads, on this beautiful spring morning. The air was right, the sky was a gentle blue, and his legs were finally, finally feeling strong again. It had been a long road back. Too long, but at least he was back. His simple old solid frame Trek 820 still fit him like a glove. It felt familiar. Straightforward. Easy. He'd been riding when it happened, pushing himself, when suddenly a great toothless shark took his chest in its mouth and gummed down hard. Out of nowhere. He wasn't an idiot. In those moments he knew what it was, knew exactly what it was, read about it dozens of times, and it wasn't so much pain as pressure, like the life itself was being crushed from his body. He had registered it, started to react as his whole body went numb but before he could even fall everything had gone to white, and the next thing he knew, it was days and surgeries later and he was waking to a choking tube down his throat. Massive damage, they'd said. Almost didn't make it, they'd said. The hospital stay'd gone for weeks, and more surgeries had followed. The bills from it all were larger than the GDP of some small Latin American nations, as Bob in HR had helpfully noted when he finally visited the office. But it was worth it, now that he was a cyborg. In his chest, nestled like a medal under his breastbone, a little box now sat waiting to jolt his damaged heart if it forgot to beat or got too excited. Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator, he'd been told by the surgeon, sternly. "Battery backup," one of his doctors had called it with a wink. She was kind of cute, actually. Rehab, and setbacks, and more rehab, and more setbacks, but finally here he was. He wasn't pushing it, not at all, and his ego was alright with it. Fifty two wasn't young, but neither was it anywhere near old enough to have them say you'd lived a good long life at your funeral. So he took it easy, and rode slow. You could still enjoy the world, riding slow. In fact, he'd realized over the last few weeks that he preferred it. Life had been too rushed, and he'd been too rushed. The eighty hour weeks on a good week, and leaving home in the dark at four thirty, and driving home on those darkened roads every night after ten, and what was the point of it all? Sure, he was a partner, finally, and he deserved it. Sure, they were living in a nice new house in a sweet little town, kids finally off in college, with fields and farms just a stone's throw away. But none of that mattered much if you were dead. The heart attack had laid the brakes on, and life had stayed slower. Which meant, now, that it was a Saturday morning and he wasn't working, and that was good. Which meant that Jan was working from home more, and they were together, and that was good. Especially now that...um.."cardio" had been given the go-ahead. Jan was still a really good looking woman, if he did say so himself. He shook himself out of that pleasant reverie, and focused on the road. He arced his bike around a turn in the road, and slowly chugged past the perfect fencing that surrounded the picture book fields. To his left, there was a neatly manicured and refurbished farmhouse with a sprawling rooftop solar array. Such a lovely place, if you could afford it. And he and Jan could. Here in the ag reserve, locked away from growth by the Central Committee of the People's Republic of Montgomery County, it was different. The irony that it took a cabal of hyper regulating leftists to save that small town feeling conservatives so love was not lost on him. But who cares how you got there? It was what it was, and that was so much better than life in the 'burbs. Here on the little roads running through open fields, you could almost imagine things were as they'd been a hundred years ago, before DC had sprawled out and consumed everything in an endless drabness of Starbucks and Harris Teeter's and Ruby Tuesdays. Especially in the spring. The fields were coming alive all around him, the spring leaves young and bright and rich. The air was clean and fragrant, a little island of life in the sea of striving stress. He bumped up the pace for a moment, and arced over a rise in the road at a little country crossing. That one was more fun in the Mustang, worthy of a Dukes of Hazzard Yeee-Haaaw whenever you hit it just a bit too fast. Which he always did. Always. He passed horse fields on his left, the road humming slow below him, dappled with the rich morning light as it played through the trees. He felt good. Loose. At ease. A car shushed by him, giving him a wide berth as it rushed onward, the doppler tie-fighter sound of tires on asphalt in its wake. He was in no rush. He'd been good about not being tense, and it didn't hurt to live in such a place. Not that folks didn't bring stress home, most of his neighbors rolling into their garages late at night. Everyone in their own box, all day in front of a screen, then behind the wheel, then all night in front of a screen. He'd been there. He'd lived that. That stress and isolation made it so much easier to be scared of the world, to seal yourself away and fret about every unfamiliar face, convinced that danger was all around, that every stranger was a threat, and you'd walk by them, eyes down, making sure not to have any connection at all. Don't want to seem weird, as if human contact was a weird thing. He worried about Jan, a little bit. Work, and anxiety, and work, and anxiety, that seemed to be her whole day, holed away in front of her devil-box in the basement. She needed to get out here more. Here, with the fields and the sun. It was a good thing. He'd ask her to get out her bike again, and ride with him, once he was stronger. He rode on, hanging a right on River just like he'd promised Jan. Then, slowly, slowly, barely faster than jogging, he rode up and over hills. To his left, out of sight behind fields and trees, the Potomac flowed. To his right, more fields and old farms. A stinkbug pranged off his forehead as it flew clumsily by. He reached the last turn in the circuit, the turn on Willard, and pedaled right and homeward. He checked his phone, snug in a stretchy plastic armband. Wow. That had taken so much longer than it used to. She wouldn't be worried, not yet, but wow he was slow. At least he wouldn't get a talking to about pushing too hard. A few more hills now, and he could feel himself tiring. A little up. A little down. But more up than down, now that he was riding away from the river. Man, but this used to be nothing. It was easier than a few weeks ago, back when he finally got the go-ahead to ride. But it used to be nothing. The telephone poles marked his pace, counting off one at a time. They used to count off so much faster. As he turned a bend and cleared a rise with a long gentle down-slope before him, there came a whirring, coming up fast from behind. "Passing on the left," came a sharp, deep voice, and then one two three four five six of them pumped by fast. Hardcore, matching jerseys, one of the tight little packs of twentysomethings who filled the perfect roads around town with their thousand dollar bikes every weekend. So strong. So fast. Ah, to be young. He was almost envious, almost, as they tore forward into the downhill stretch ahead, moving like a tight fit lycra cloud under the bright spring sun. He felt the incline begin to take him, and he coasted, watching Team Twentysomething pull away into the brightness. Lord, it was bright. It was so bright. It was wrong bright, salmon bright, then rich and red and wrong bright, the light shifting, the shadows around him changing and deepening. What. What. He looked up, through the greened fingers of the trees, and something was--tearing a hole--in the sky. It was tearing a hole in the sky. And the hole was widening and opening like a light-filled wound, bleeding light so red it was dark, ripping and tearing and oozing light. "Oh my God," he whispered, and he braked to a jerky stop, eyes wide upward and transfixed, as the sky tore itself in two, gaping wider, opening like onrushing jaws. "Oh my God," he whispered, barely. Wider, and wider, until the hole was the whole sky, everything, and it swept over him, and it swept through him. And he felt it in him, felt the fear, felt it rise up like a wave, felt his throat seize and his chest grow tight and hard as steel and he wanted to scream, scream to the riders, anyone, help me, help me. Jan, he thought, and then his heart exploded and the world went white. The pain woke him. It was several flavors of pain, dull and sharp, and all over. His right arm, sharp. His right knee, sharp. His face, dull. His chest, dull and heavy. There was another sensation, a taste, bitter and metallic, mingling with the rich beefsteak of his own blood in his mouth. "Oh Jesus," he said, pushing himself to his knees. "Oh Jesus." He'd fallen right there, right there in the middle of the road, face-first, and his lip felt fat and swollen. He pulled himself slowly and painfully away the bike, still tangled up with his legs. He checked himself, starting with the places that hurt. His right arm and leg were torn, hamburgered from where he'd hit the tarmac. His nose hurt. His lip hurt, and was tender to the touch. But everything seemed to work, more or less. Nothing broken, thank God. "What was that," he muttered again to himself. "What was that?" That was nothing like before, nothing at all. Crap. He'd pushed too hard. He hadn't thought it, but he'd pushed too hard. Jan was going to be pissed. Jan. He needed to call Jan. He reached to his phone, fixed to his right arm just above the bicep. It was a shattered mess. He'd landed right on top of it. He groaned and cursed under his breath. There's a reason you magical morons shouldn't make phones out of glass. He stretched a bit, and cleared his head. Huh. Strange. It was--well--it was later. Much later. No phone meant no watch, but the sun wasn't where it had been before. It was low in the sky, behind clouds, and the day was warmer. It had to be afternoon. Had to be. Maybe very late afternoon. "What the hell?" It had to be later. And the blood on his arms, at least some of it, was crusted and scabbed and dried. Had he really been lying there for hours? On a Saturday? That just wasn't possible. This wasn't North-freakin'-Dakota. Folks were up and down Willard just about every minute. There was just no way. No way. He hefted the bike up, and started walking forward, still lost in thought. Oh, sure, people were self-absorbed and didn't get into each other's business, but he'd been lying in the middle of the road. And the town was still a small town, still had some of that Mayberry flavor, folks knowing each other and looking out for each other. It just didn't make sense. Ahead, in the road, he saw them. There they were a hundred yards ahead, lying there, a tangle of bicycles, cluttering and blocking both lanes of the little road. He approached them, slowly, limping forward as the pain from his right leg grew sharper. He slowed as he approached, and peered at them, his mind struggling a bit. Six bikes, all racing bikes, really nice ones. These must have belonged the guys who tore past him. Must have. There was just no question. Here and there, on the ground near the cycles, were bloodstains. A helmet lay by the side of the road, like a dark upended turtle. Jim leaned on his bike and looked around, peering across the waving grass of the surrounding fields. Nothing. There was no-one. He shook his head, and walked on towards town, pushing the bike at his side. A hundred yards further on, he found the silver minivan. It was an Odyssey, late model, lying on its right side in a small culvert, where it had clearly run off the road. The sliding door on the driver's side was open. He approached it cautiously. "Hello? Everyone alright?" But there was no answer. This was wrong. This was all so wrong. He set his bike down, and moved towards the van, slowly, and felt the hackles on the back of his neck rising. Slowly, carefully, painfully, he leaned over to look in the front windscreen. It was empty, three carseats still firmly affixed in the middle row. He peered closer. On the inside of the window, unshattered and sitting inches above the grass, there was pooled blood, now congealed. And in the blood, the prints of little shoes. He shuddered, involuntarily, and it shot pain through his arm and neck. Something very bad was happening. Or he was dreaming, and this was some nightmare. He had to be dreaming. This was just too off, and too wrong. But it didn't feel like a dream, not at all. He stepped away from the van, and shouted once, and then again. Still nothing. He began walking more quickly towards the town. Another couple of hundred yards, and near the entrance to the golf course he encountered an older big white Beemer six series, just stopped in the dead center of the road. The driver's door was open. The keys were still in the ignition. It was still running, purring away quietly to itself, the cooling fan whispering softly under the long, sinuous hood. He knew the car. This was...this was...Doug's car. Oh, shoot, what was his last name? Jim couldn't quite remember. Started with an R. He'd met him last year, at a meal at the church. Decent guy. Jim moved carefully around the side of the car. Nothing. No-one there. He checked the gas gauge. It was a little under a quarter tank. He turned the key, and shut the thing down. "Jesus, what's going on here?" There were three more abandoned vehicles on the way into town. A pickup truck, rolled over at an intersection. A little electric car, one of those Nissans. A white work van, an old Dodge. All empty. The van was still running, and rattling a bit, and it stank of burning oil. He shut it down. And the electric car? Well, it might have been on. Hard to tell. It was on, or something, a "key missing" error code flashing on the screen. There were also a smattering of bikes, in the road, by the side of the road. But there was not a sign of a human being. Not a one. He was almost to town, now, and the stinging in his leg was worse. But the neighborhood and home right there up ahead on the left, the high school up ahead on the right. Still nothing. No one walking, not that most people did. But no cars. No movement. No nothing. He limped up to Spurrier, and then angled towards his house, visible right there, two in from the edge of the development. Now, finally, his house was right there. Home. Thank God. He dropped the bike, and made his way to the front door, and turned the handle. Locked. Dangit. C'mon, Jan, he always said. This isn't a locked door kind of town. It was her and the Facebook, with the stories of abductors and stalkers and rapists and the peril of door-to-door zombie Mormons. "Oh, c'mon," he muttered, as he fumbled in his small pack for his keys. "C'mon." He got out the key chain, found the key, and turned the handle. The door swung open. There was a sudden explosion of motion, and his dogs tore past him, nearly knocking him over in a soundless blur of dark fur and golden fur and flying legs. "Lumpy! Grover! Get back here! Lumpy! GROVER!" But the dogs raced off as fast as they could, not turning, peeling off from one another, each in a different direction. The Golden disappeared first, young strong legs taking him off in a moment, and he was gone. But the thick old black lab was moving fast too, faster than he'd seen him move in years, stumpy black tail fixed down firmly between his legs. "Lumpy! C'mon back, boy! LUMPY!" But the black haunches vanished around the corner of the house across the street, and were gone. "Jaaaaan! JAAAAN! The dogs are out! Jan!" He turned a half circle and gesticulated wildly, helplessly. "OH, C'MON!" He stared out across the street, totally unsure what to do next. His head hurt, and his leg hurt, and he realized all of a sudden that he felt really, really tired. He turned back, and stumbled into the foyer. Inside the house, the lights were on, but there was no sound. "Jan! JAAAAAN!" His shouts sounded through the halls of the house, bouncing back from tall and unadorned walls. There was no reply. Where was she? He shouted her name again, and then again. There was no answer. He moved into the kitchen, his sense of fatigue growing. At the sink, he started the water running, and gingerly rinsed out the wounds on his arm and his leg. He winced, slightly, as he gently dabbed the grit out of the torn flesh. Under the sink, the first aid kit yielded bandages and alcohol, and he gritted his teeth as the alcohol sterilized the would. Jesus, that stung. Bandaged and cleaned, he sat on one of the stools at the kitchen island, and as the pain from his leg and arm faded into a dull ache, the weariness broke over him like a wave. So tired, now. So very tired. He felt himself fade a little bit, like he was falling asleep in the chair. He knew the fatigue wasn't right, was a sign that things were not well with him. He picked up the phone in the kitchen, and dialed nine one one. On the other end, there was nothing. Nothing at all. It was a completely dead line. It didn't surprise him. It seemed right somehow. His eyes closed for a second, and he jerked his head up. With an act of will that seemed not really even his own, he stumbled over to the sofa in the great room and fell into its softness. Within a moment, he was asleep. The sound pushed through the darkness, and his lidded eyes fluttered open. He felt drugged, felt stunned, and he hurt, but a noise cut through the cloudiness. He forced himself upright, forced himself out of the haze, and listened. Night had fallen, and in the darkness outside the house, there was screaming. It was muffled by the triple-glazed windows, but it was there, rising and falling, not one voice but many. Jim pulled himself to his feet, still feeling the heaviness in his chest and in his head, and made himself go to the front door. He looked out through the kitchen window, into the light cast by the streetlamp. There was nothing. He forced himself to walk to the door, his steps growing stronger as he regained focus. He put the chain on the door, opened it slowly, and listened. Then he unchained the door, and carefully stepped outside, taking in the sounds, every hair on his body rising. It was everywhere, all around. It was not one person screaming, or two. The night air, rich with the fragrance of spring, was richer still with the sound of hundreds and hundreds of voices. He could pick them out, one by one, as they blossomed. Individually, they sounded like abject terror, lungs filled to their near bursting depth and then vented in one single tone. It was human, but not human. Older, it was older, that last, hopeless, primal cry into the face of the leopard. The screams came from every house in the neighborhood. Some were lower, some were higher, but they were endlessly, endlessly cycling and repeating, muffled behind well insulated walls and nice new Andersen windows. But the sound had more depth. In the spaces between cries, he could hear countless others filling the air with a seamless fluidity, like the rich drone of lovelorn cicadas in late summer, when an August day sounds like an alien world. There were not hundreds of voices. There were thousands of voices. Miles of voices, layered deep, filling the night with the endless sound of their terror. He took a half step back towards the open door, without even realizing it, his vision blurring, his eyes tearing. "Oh God. Oh Jesus." At that moment, the lights went out. And from behind him, in the darkness of the house, came a scream. It had come once, and then a pause, then again, and then a pause, and then a third time. At the third scream, as he fell back into the house, back into the blackened foyer, he knew it was coming from downstairs. On the wall of the hallway, a little rechargeable flashlight glowed a dull green, and he grabbed for it. It came on, a little circlet of light, feeble and small in the enveloping blackness. He moved to the stairs, and purposefully went to the bedroom. There, he went to the bed stand. Hers, not his. He opened it, and took out his wife's gun. It was a stubby, over-designed little Walther, a thirty-eight. He hadn't wanted to get it, hadn't wanted to have it, didn't see the point. But that was back before the heart attack, when it was her, alone in the house and consulting. She had insisted. "Baby, you don't need it," he had said. "Not here." But she would have none of it. "I'm all alone in this house, Jim. Nobody's around most of the day. I just don't feel safe. I just don't. And you don't get home till so much after dark. And it's my money, anyway." And so, of course, she got it. She'd shot it a few times, out at the range, a couple of years ago. That was that. He felt it in his hand, checked the magazine, checked the safety, and went down to the first floor. He moved quietly through the foyer, listening. Nothing, just stillness. He moved to the top of the stairs, open and dark, and shone the flashlight down into the void. Stairs. There they were. Inside the house, still only silence. The flashlight held in his left hand, he took the little pistol from his pocket with his right, careful to keep his finger out of the trigger guard. He stepped down onto the first step. Then another. Then another. When he reached the bottom, he shone the light through their rec room. Pool table. Bar. Galaxian. All there, the perfect entertainment room, just like a developer's brochure. He played the light over Jan's workstation, off in the corner. The chair, toppled. Papers, strewn from files. A shattered coffee mug on the floor. But it was not silent. From behind the closed door to the utility room, there was a sound. Rustling, at first. Then, a faint, hard scrabbling, like the dogs when their nails were too long. He moved towards the door, and pressed his cheek to it. "Jan?" he whispered. "Jan?" The sound stopped, suddenly. He eased it open, playing the beam into the room. The light danced, as his hand trembled slightly. At the far end of the room, lying pressed up against the painted cinderblock wall, was Jan. She was still in her flannel and long shirt. Her comfy suit, she called it. Her feet were bare and shoeless. Her face was turned away to the cinderblock. Her hands played up and down the surface of the wall like panicked spiders looking for a hole. "Jan? Baby?" They stopped, and trembled, and started again. Her nails, always so neat, always so perfect, were torn and bloody. He moved forward, squatting in slowly, the beam of light trained on her. "Jan?" He leaned in, and touched her foot. It was cold, cold as the concrete floor, and it snapped away at his touch. She turned to face him. Jan was not there. Her face, but not her face, a wild, kabuki mask of terror. The eyes glittered black, as wide and empty as the sky. She heaved in a breath, a grasping, seizing, convulsive rasp, and her jaw opened to the point of unhinging, teeth bared, and she screamed. Jim fell back, back, his legs buckling, his heart racing in his ears. He stumbled away, and she screamed again, and he felt the pressure, that terrible weight bearing down on the life in him, his vision blurring to white. Then the little robot brain embedded in him stirred, and a steel mule kicked him in the chest, hard, from the inside. "Huuuuh," he heaved, and God it hurt, but the pressure lifted and his vision cleared. He scrambled backwards like a drunken crab, and slammed the utility room door into the face of the sound. He was sure he hadn't slept. It had been night, deep in the morning, he was sure, and yet when he opened his eyes, it was midday. So much that he was sure of, he wasn't sure of. It took a moment to orient, and half hope that what he remembered was not where he was. There was the gun on his bed stand. And his arm and his leg hurt, and he felt like his heart was a sucking hole. The night had felt like a haze, a fever dream, a bad trip, but it had been real. And that meant that Jan was downstairs in the utility room. If that was Jan. The screams from behind that closed door had gone on, and on, and on, until they almost stopped seeming real. He could count them off. One one thousand. Two one thousand. Three one thousand. And then a cry, sharp and intense, fading only as the last breath was squeezed from her lungs. And then one one thousand. Two one thousand. Three one thousand. He had counted like that for an hour, staring at the door to the utility room, the Walther in his hand, the safety off. At any moment, he had been sure, the thing she had become would come smashing through that door. He'd seen this movie a hundred times. But she never did, and so he found himself counting. The counting had calmed him a little bit, for a while. It was like being six and alone in his bedroom, counting down the time between the flashes of lightning and the thunder of an incoming storm. It felt predictable. In the face of how insane he felt, a little bit of predictable was nice. Eventually, the cries grew hoarser, and hoarser, and then they were barely audible at all. He had heaved chairs and shoved the pool table into a makeshift barricade at the utility room door, and come upstairs, and gone insane. Crying, and laughing, and raging, his mind a seething chaos. He could barely remember, but he'd been that way for a while. He picked up the pistol, and got out of the bed, and made his way downstairs. Silence. And not just silence in his house. Silence outside. He made his way into the tastefully appointed kitchen, all stainless steel and granite, and realized he was hungry. Really hungry. But the power was out. "Generator," he muttered to himself. It was out in the garage, an absurdly overpriced but totally trusty Honda. Couldn't quite run both AC units for that great vault of a house, but could handle most everything else. Jan had wanted one of those big natural gas units, but he'd refused. Those things are too loud, he'd said. Plus, if there's a real emergency and the house is damaged, what's the point of a generator you can't load into the back of the Tahoe and take with you? That had convinced her. He made his way into the garage, opened the doors, and wheeled the generator outside. Before making the hookup to the house system, he stopped and again listened. The chorus was gone, silent in the quiet of the day. And it was quiet, utterly quiet. He stood still for a while. No traffic. No cars. No children's shouts. No planes on approach to Dulles. No sound of human beings at all. It was more than that. There was no birdsong. No barking of dogs. It was deeply, completely hushed. The silence pressed in, odd and alien. He plugged the Honda into the transfer switch, and turned the key, and it fired right up into a soft and well muffled I'm-a-good-neighbor purr. The hum seemed welcome. Friendly. He went back into the house, and the kitchen glowed with lights. The fridge compressor hummed. Normal. Cheery. Nothing to see. He made himself some tea...no coffee, Lord, that had been a tough transition...and some eggwhites, and some toast. Whole wheat. Out of breakfast habit, he started up his little tablet, but though the house wifi was strong, there was no net on the far end. Nothing. He figured as much. He kicked on the old radio in the kitchen. Nothing, nothing but static. He didn't bother trying cable. As he ate, every few moments, his eyes would flit to the doorway leading downstairs. The lights were all on. It was all so normal. She'd be downstairs, with her coffee, clacking away at her desk. That's what it should be. But that was not what it was. That was not what was downstairs. He was going to have to go down there. He sat on his haunches, and watched her body slowly moving, still furtively clawing at the wall. It was her body, now. Not her. Just her body. When he'd moved the makeshift barricade and opened that door, the little Walther in hand, he was half sure she was going to spring out at him. She didn't. She was right where she had been before, curled up tight and hard against the cinderblock. When he approached, slowly, carefully, she had turned at him, just as she had the night before. It was just the same. That familiar, beautiful face was still a distorted mask of horror. The mouth opened, but the scream did not come, not today. It was just a croaking rasp through shattered vocal cords. He stood and watched her, as she went through the cycle. Her face would distend, and then contract. Her mouth would gape wide open, then closed. Her eyes would go wide, the expression fear, but unchanging fear. They saw nothing, looked right through him, through everything. Empty fear. The mask of fear. It was a reflex, like retching, or a seizure. It was not her. His own fear faded, as he watched this nothing that had been his wife. Tears came, and then more, and he didn't bother wiping them away. Eventually, the tears ran dry. But he couldn't stop watching. He was not ready to stop watching. In the early afternoon, he shut down the generator. Then he took his adz and the pistol, and went out into the neighborhood. The adz felt good in his hands, heavy and purposeful. It had been a few years since he'd used it, back at the old house, back before the new house where every fireplace was gas and clicked on by remote control. He walked to the house next door, Shelly and David and the girls. He rang the bell, just out of habit, and then shook his head at his own stupidity. He rapped hard on the door with his knuckles, and called out their names. When there was no answer, he hit against the heavy glazed decorative glass of the door with the sledge side of the adz. His first swing was too weak. Not surprising. He didn't smash open neighbor's doors often. So he stepped back, and swung harder. The glass shattered inward, and he spent a moment knocking the remaining shards out before stepping in. Lizabeth, their youngest daughter, was at the bottom of the stairs in the foyer. She was ten. She was dressed in her pajamas. She had fallen, and her head was twisted at an odd angle, and she was not moving. He looked at the small body, and stepped over it. He didn't bother calling out the other's names. Instead, he moved room to room, slowly. He found Shelly in the far corner of the nice finished basement. David was in the study, behind a futon, on the third floor. The other of the girls, Chloe, thirteen and pretty, dressed and ready for cheerleading practice, was scrabbling softly in the farthest corner of a large closet of her top floor room. From her face, makeup smeared and stretched, the same eyes looked at him, the same struggle to scream, the same empty desperation, the same helpless attempt to flee. The same fear. Staring into that young face, eyes empty, bright youth erased by a mindless fear, he raised the pistol. But then he lowered it. There was no person to put out of their misery. There was no point. He turned, and walked down the stairs, and stepped back out into the day. That afternoon, he went to Doug and Donna's house. And to the Peterman's house. All the same. And then out of the neighborhood, walking through streets scattered with cars. He went by the church, and the door was open. He found the pastor in a pile of books in the corner of the study. After looting the CVS a little bit, he walked to the middle of the town commons, set down the adz, and took out the Walther. He looked at it for a while, as competing impulses warred in his mind. He chose one, clicked off the safety, and pointed it in the air. He fired, a surprisingly loud bark for such a small gun. Then he waited. He fired again, and waited. There was no response, just the retort of the echo off the town hall and nearby houses. He stood there for what felt like a very long time, and saw no other living thing. He made sure to be back at the house before dark. That night, the air was quiet and still and soundless. It took Jan's body three days to stop moving. On that third day, her movements--its movements--had grown weaker every time he had gone down to watch. On the last day, the hands stopped scrambling against the wall, and lay trembling at her side. The head lolled, eyes now sunken but still wide and black as marble, the mouth gaping open and closed like a fish. He was able to come closer, and whatever it was that animated her was no longer able to pull away. He held the body for a while, looking at the shell of his wife as it trembled and twitched. He closed the eyes, and they did not reopen. There was a sudden convulsion, and the body tightened up in his arms, and then relaxed. The mouth opened a little, and stayed open, and all of the tension and fear left the face as it sagged. It still did not look like Jan. That afternoon, he took his time digging the shallow grave, behind the window of the kitchen, right by the side of the deck. Though the spring ground was soft, he knew there was only so hard he could push himself. The days blurred. He kept on living. It might have been two weeks, or maybe three. He'd lost track. He was walking down the road out of town, just to walk, just to not be among the emptiness and stench of the houses. So much decay, in the houses. Sometimes he couldn't tell if he was thinking, or talking to himself. Sometimes would think he saw movement, off in the bushes, off in the shadows. Or he would think he heard a plane, or laughter, or the barking of a dog. None of it was real. Sometimes, he would feel afraid, or angry. Sometimes he missed Jan. Mostly, though, he felt almost nothing. He was walking down the middle of the road, past the town sign, through the fields on the long rise of two lane leading towards the city. He was not sure, not sure at first, what he was seeing. But it was a figure, silhouetted against the sky, coming down the road towards him, two hundred yards away. The figure stopped. He stopped. He peered at them, squinting, trying to focus. The figure began moving, coming forward, slow and easy. Jim stood where he was, and watched them approach. He watched for a while. It was a man. Just a person. A stranger. He looked a little lost. At ten yards away, the man stopped, and seemed not to know what to do. Jim did not know him. Jim took a step forward, and then another. Their eyes met. His were brown, and tired. "Hey," said the stranger, in a voice that cracked and hitched from disuse. "Hey," he said back, in a soft voice without fear. Labels: storytime The Church and the Homeless Wanderer How Christians Go To War The Most Dangerous Faith We Don't Need No Administration The Pastors We See The Face of Reza Aslan's Jesus This Is Not the Jesus You're Looking For Reza Aslan In Bizarro World Reza Aslan, Schweitzer, and the History of Jesus H... Vampire Slayer: The Life and Times of Jesus of Naz... A Letter to Sam Harris about Nonviolence The Five Names of God Amish Fiction is Apocalyptic Fiction The Day Fred Met Jesus God Does Not Care Where We Go Potty In Defense of Privilege Bang, Saith the Lord Money Makes the Church Go Round Pope Francis, Social Media, and Identity The End of the Sword Constantine's Sword Profits, Nonprofits, and the Church Pavlov's People AmeriChrist, Inc.: A Spiritual and Economic Survey... The Cosmos Reboot and Faith The Child and the Ball The Things that Don't Concern Us Your Best Life Ends in Dust War, Crimea, and Removing the Mask of Faith Entrepreneurism and the Failure Society	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line1650594
__label__cc	0.510018	0.489982	Cyclists petition against proposed mandatory law to ride single file By Anthony Morrow \| Saturday, Jun 9, 2018 Cyclists fight back to ride two across on the road photo: Aqua Blue Sport The organization Coalition of Cyclists has launched a new Change.org petition to maintain the right of Australian cyclists to ride two across, as is legal now. It comes as a counter-response to another petition started five months ago by Drivers For Registration of Cyclists that calls for all Australian cyclists, whom they label "a hazard", to be made to ride in a single file. In their rallying call to fellow bicycle riders, Coalition of Cyclists says: By now, those of you in Australia would have heard about the petition to have laws changed to force cyclists to ride single file. This is just another ploy from the 'Drivers for Registration of Cyclists' group to limit the civil rights of tax paying cyclists. For that reason CyclingMOFOS and Topline Cycles Nerang have teamed together to start The Coalition of Cyclists. We aim to build a vast list of cyclists that will come together in a united front to squash anti-cycling rhetoric and actions such as this petition they have created. Please join with us in this coalition and sign our counter petition. They already have good numbers so it is important you sign and share this petition to show the government WE ARE NOT ANONYMOUS. It's generally safer for cyclists to ride two abreast, and as we here at BikeRoar have said before, "most sensible groups will only ever ride two abreast and do their best to allow the free passing of cars when possible." We support safety and sensible riding, and agree with Coalition of Cyclists efforts. At the moment, the months-old 'Drivers' petition has 109,451 signatures and the new 'Cyclists' petition just 3,596, but off to a strong start. Neither petition can force the Australian government to action, but those with a large amount of signatures tend to get the attention of policy makers. We encourage our fellow cyclists to sign the petition and help spread the awareness to others. We, the undersigned, respectfully call on the Transport Ministers of each and every State in Australia, and each State Cabinet, to NOT implement Compulsory Single File for all cyclists who ride in groups, regardless of whether a bike lane exists or not. We also call on the respective Transport Ministers of Australia to NOT implement a prohibition of cyclists on all roads with a designated speed limit higher than 80kph, if those roads don’t have designated Bike Lanes. We are taxpayers and deserve dollars being spent on road systems with designated bike lanes, however due to the bike lane system being ad-hoc, we reserve the right as taxpaying cyclists to continue to ride 2 abreast on the roads as per the current national road laws. Where needed we reserve the right to move from the road shoulder/ bike lane into the lanes to avoid parked cars, road construction / road furniture, debris, pot holes and other obstructions. We are not safety hazards we are fellow human beings and deserve the same respect all road users should have, we're tired of being told we're a bad cyclist if we complain about this problem. We, the undersigned citizens of Australia, believe our money is being well spent every time a bike lane is built on a main road allowing more people to use this facility for commuting and recreation, thus removing noxious gas spewing vehicles from our communities. We believe there is no safer way to ride, based on our existing infrastructure, than riding in groups 2 abreast, as is currently the law . Indeed, every text book on the subject of Risk Management says that “Isolating a Hazard” is a superior solution than changing the way people operate. Building a Bike Lane is an example of “Isolating the Hazard”, Therefore if the bike lane system was as comprehensive as the existing road system, and not ad-hoc as it is, we would be happy to use that. Again, we say, Transport Ministers of Australia, please DO NOT implement Compulsory Single File and ban cyclists from roads with a speed limit higher than 80kph if no bike lane exists. As this would be a step backwards against our civil rights as citizens of Australia. Sign the petition → Do cyclists ride in the middle of the road simply to annoy motorists? Are cyclists deliberately attempting to antagonize motorists or just trying to stay alive?... READ MORE Newbie Rules for Bunch Cycling Etiquette A bit of prior knowledge will ensure that you will receive a positive experience from your first bunch ride by following the basic list... READ MORE Author: Anthony Morrow Anthony has over 20 years of digital and traditional marketing success in a breadth of industries, but admits all that hard work has always been just a means to support his cycling habit. An avid road cyclist since “forever”, Anthony began competing in college and continued right along, racing a few years in the U.S. at the pro level. Learn more: www.imadm.com. The Future of the Bicycle Industry Comes to Melbourne Kenda Tire makes a difference by supporting Project Hero	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line1650599
__label__cc	0.523567	0.476433	Maroon 5 move Massachusetts show Boston Music Spotlight, Staff The Maroon 5 performance originally scheduled for Tuesday, August 10 at the Comcast Center in Mansfield will now take place on Monday, August 9 at the Bank of America Pavilion in Boston. The show will still feature special guests Owl City and VV Brown. All those who purchased tickets for the Comcast Center can obtain a refund at the point of purchase. Once the Comcast ticket is refunded, the individual will receive an exclusive password that allows them access to a presale running from June 18 through June 30. There will be no exchanges and tickets refunded after June 30 will not have access to the presale. Tickets for the new show on August 9 at the Pavilion will be priced at $29.50, $39.50, $49.50 and $75. The remaining tickets will go on sale to the general public on Thursday, July 1 through Live Nation. Published On: June 25, 2010 Live Nation remove all service fees for June special Maroon 5 ready to return to the road for summer tour Maroon 5 & Kelly Clarkson set for Honda Civic tour You must be a BMS member and logged in to post a comment. Log In \| Register \| BMS Comments Policy Press Photo Maroon 5	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line1650601
__label__wiki	0.857806	0.857806	Banking Mergers and Acquisitions General Regulatory and Compliance Matters J.D., Brooklyn Law School (1986) Notes Editor, Brooklyn Law Review B.A., Yale University (1981) Supreme Court of Virginia Sandra M. Murphy Sandra M. Murphy focuses her practice on acquisition, regulatory, enforcement, corporate governance and securities law matters for banks and other financial institutions. She also represents Community Bankers of West Virginia. Admitted to practice in West Virginia and Virginia, Sandy has been engaged in major bank acquisitions by West Virginia bank holding companies, including over 30 acquisitions in Virginia, Maryland and West Virginia by United Bankshares, West Virginia’s largest bank holding company. She has also assisted Summit Financial Group and First Community Bancshares with their Virginia and West Virginia acquisition activities. Sandy’s regulatory practice encompasses the representation of clients before both state and federal regulatory agencies on a wide variety of matters, including regulatory enforcement actions, corporate activity and expansion activities and compliance issues. In the securities area, Sandy advises bank holding company clients on a variety of issues and provides ongoing legal advice to bank holding company clients registered with the Securities Exchange Commission. Sandy also provides advice to the firm's financial institutions clients on corporate governance issues. Through her work with West Virginia's banking associations, Sandy has assisted the banking industry in its legislative efforts and has been deeply involved in the passage of significant legislation affecting the financial services industry. Most recently, Sandy advised and advocated for the industry in the passage of favorable legislation implementing sweeping changes to West Virginia consumer protection laws and West Virginia's consumer late fee laws. Sandy and Bowles Rice have been at the forefront of critical issues and developments affecting West Virginia financial institutions. This preeminent role has been recognized by many clients in their comments to national peer review and credentialing organizations, including the following: "Best there is in West Virginia." (Client Comment, U.S. News & World Report's Best Law Firms) "Sandra Murphy provides, without question, the best banking counsel in West Virginia." (Client Comment, U.S. News & World Report's Best Law Firms) "I have worked with Sandy for over 20 years. She is, in my opinion, the top banking lawyer in WV. She has been instrumental in helping us achieve legislative changes that put us on parity with Bank Holding Companies and National Banks. Not only would I recommend her to a prospective client, I have." (Client Comment, U.S. News & World Report's Best Law Firms) Chair, Bowles Rice Banking and Financial Services Team Former member, Bowles Rice Executive Committee Successfully completed the following banking transactions: The issuance of common stock in connection with private equity investment in a public client; A registered common stock rights offering; The acquisition of a Virginia bank holding company and its Virginia subsidiary bank having a presence in northern Virginia and Washington, D.C., with an approximate transaction value of $912 million; The acquisition of a Virginia bank holding company and its Virginia subsidiary bank having a presence in northern Virginia and Washington, D.C., with an approximate transaction value of $490.6 million; The acquisition of a privately held community bank headquartered in Washington, D.C., with an approximate transaction value of $269 million; The acquisition of a West Virginia bank holding company and its West Virginia subsidiary bank having a presence in West Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania, with an approximate transaction value of $186.9 million; The acquisition of a Maryland bank holding company and its Maryland subsidiary bank having a presence in northern Virginia, Washington, D.C. and Montgomery County, Maryland, with an approximate transaction value of $109 million; The acquisition of a bank holding company headquartered in Washington, D.C. and its national bank subsidiary bank having a presence in northern Virginia, Washington, D.C. and Montgomery County, Maryland, with an approximate transaction value of $62.5 million; The sale of a West Virginia bank holding company and its West Virginia subsidiary bank having a presence in southwestern West Virginia and southwestern Virginia, with an approximate transaction value of $42.8 million; The acquisition of a Virginia bank having a presence in Richmond, Virginia, with an approximate transaction value of $40.6 million; The acquisition of a Virginia bank holding company and its Virginia subsidiary bank having a presence in northwestern Virginia, with an approximate transaction value of $21.8 million; and The sale of a West Virginia community bank in southern West Virginia, with an approximate transaction value of $7.4 million. Named to The Best Lawyers in America ® (Banking and Finance Law; Corporate Governance Law; Corporate Compliance Law; Corporate Law; and Financial Services Regulation Law) Named Best Lawyers’ Lawyer of the Year in the southern West Virginia region (2018, Corporate Law; 2016, Financial Services Regulation Law; 2015, Banking and Finance Law; 2013, Financial Services Regulation Law; 2012, Corporate Law; and 2009, Banking Law) Recognized by Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business among “Leaders in their Field” for Corporate/Commercial Law - Banking & Finance Recognized by Super Lawyers (Banking), 2007-present Six Bowles Rice Attorneys Recognized as 2018 "Lawyer of the Year" by Best Lawyers Three Attorneys Elected to Bowles Rice Executive Committee Panel Presentation: Emerging Trends in the M&A Landscape and Practical Experience from Seasoned Pros featuring Sandra M. Murphy D.A. Davidson Mid-Atlantic Conference The Duquesne Club, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, September 20, 2018 Panel Presentation: Update on Capital Markets Activity featuring Sandra M. Murphy Presentation: 2015 Legislature Session: A Banking Industry Success Story, by Sandra M. Murphy West Virginia Bankers Association Stonewall Resort, Roanoke, West Virginia, April 23, 2015 Presentation: West Virginia Consumer Credit and Protection Act - Review & Update, by Floyd Boone, Julia A. Chincheck, Daniel J. Cohn, Sandra M. Murphy and Amy J. Tawney Days Conference Center, Flatwoods, West Virginia, December 3, 2014 Presentation: West Virginia Consumer Credit and Protection Act, by Sandra M. Murphy and Amy J. Tawney Flatwoods, West Virginia, December 2014 Presentation: West Virginia Consumer Credit and Protection Act - Review & Update, by Floyd Boone, Julia A. Chincheck, Stuart A. McMillan, Sandra M. Murphy and Amy J. Tawney Charleston, West Virginia, November 20, 2013 Charleston, West Virginia, November 2013 Presentation: Fair Lending, by Floyd Boone, Julia A. Chincheck and Sandra M. Murphy Days Conference Center, Flatwoods, West Virginia, April 24, 2013 Key Legislation Impacting Banks Adopted in 2017 Legislative Session Banking & Financial Services e-Alert, June 29, 2017 Government Relations Team Successfully Negotiates Key Banking Legislation Bowles Rice Banking Alert, April 10, 2017 Summary of New West Virginia Banking Legislation Bowles Rice Banking Alert, April 2016 Fluharty v. Quicken Loans Inc. (applicable standard for proving unconscionability per the WVCCPA) Amicus Brief, July 14, 2015 "Related Interests Under Regulation O: It's All About Control," by Daniel J. Cohn, Sandra M Murphy and Amy J. Tawney West Virginia Banker Magazine, Summer 2015 U.S. Supreme Court Rules Fair Housing Act May Be Violated Without Intent Banking Alert Bowles Rice Banking Alert, July 7, 2015 "TILA Takes a Turn: Recent TILA Decisions Expand Recission Rights," by Sanda M. Murphy West Virginia Banker Magazine, Spring 2015 McFarland v. Wells Fargo Bank and U.S. Bank National Association (applicable standard for proving unconscionability per the WVCCPA) Amicus Brief, March 31, 2015 "U. S. Supreme Court Finds TILA Does Not Require a Borrower to File a Lawsuit to Rescind a Consumer Loan," by Floyd Boone and Sandra M. Murphy Bowles Rice Banking Alert, January 20, 2015 "Impact of West Virginia Supreme Court Ruling on Foreclosures" Banking Alert, January 9, 2015 "Supreme Court of Appeals Defines Parameters of Incorporation By Reference," by Floyd Boone and Sandra M. Murphy West Virginia Banker Magazine, Winter 2014 "New Vendor Management Regulatory Guidance May Help Banks Negotiating Contracts," by Sandra M. Murphy and Amy J. Tawney "Amount of Loan in Excess of Value of Home is Not Enough to Render Loan Unconscionable," by Sandra M. Murphy and Amy J. Tawney The Community Banker Magazine, Summer 2014 "West Virginia Modifies As-Extracted Collateral Filing Requirements" Banking Alert, April 2014 "As Internal Revenue Service Gets Serious About Discounted Stock Options, Safe Harbors for Closely Held Stock Valuation Even More Important" Banking Alert, October 24, 2013 "Holding Lenders Liable for Auto Dealers' Interest Rate Decisions," by Sandra M. Murphy and Charles F. Printz, Jr. West Virginia Banker Magazine, Fall 2013 "Trolling for Dollars – Banks Targeted in Costly Patent Infringement Cases," by Sandra M. Murphy and Amy J. Tawney "CFPB Guidance on Reducing Enforcement Liability Creates Compliance Dilemma," by Sandra M. Murphy and Amy J. Tawney "West Virginia Supreme Court Upholds Court-Imposed Penalties and Attorneys' Fees Despite Jury Finding Plaintiff Suffered No Damages," by Floyd Boone and Sandra M. Murphy The Community Banker Magazine, Spring 2013 "Cause for Caution: Quicken Loans Case Clarifies Standard for Unconscionability Claims in West Virginia," by Floyd Boone and Sandra M. Murphy The Community Banker Magazine, Winter 2013 "Mind Your POAs: The New Uniform Power of Attorney Act Imposes Time Frames to Take Action" Banking Alert, 2012 "Fourth Circuit Court Gets It Right: Court Holds Claims Are Time-Barred Under the West Virginia Consumer Credit and Protection Act," by Sandra M. Murphy "Client Alert: Recent Case Provides Guidance on Protecting Banks from ATM Notice Liability," by Floyd Boone and Sandra M. Murphy The Community Banker Magazine, Fall 2012 "Has Your Bank Become 'Publicly Traded' Without Your Knowledge?," by Lynn S. Clarke and Sandra M. Murphy "Ability to Repay: CFPB Should Grant Complete Exemption For Balloon Loans Held in Portfolio," by Sandra M. Murphy "Requiring Arbitration in Consumer Account Agreements May Deter Costly Litigation" "Technology May Assist Borrowers in Holding Banks Liable for Excessive Phone Calls," by Sandra M. Murphy and Amy J. Tawney "Risky Business: Regulators and Dodd-Frank Target Incentive Compensation Arrangements," by Sandra M. Murphy "Beware of Tenant's Rights Upon Foreclosure," by Sandra M. Murphy and Amy J. Tawney Copier Word Processing Supply, Inc. v. WesBanco Bank, Inc., et al. (applicable statute of limitations in case involving conversion of checks by employee) Amicus Brief, May 5, 2006 Lucas, et al. v. Fairbanks Capital Corp., et al. (scope of duties of trustees and loan servicers in foreclosure) McMahon v. Advanced Title Services Company of West Virginia, et al. (unauthorized practice of law) Martino v. Barnett, et al. (disclosure of non-public personal information under state and federal privacy statutes) Amicus Brief, 2004 Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company v. Frank S. Martino (disclosure of non-public personal information under state and federal privacy statutes) Brief in support of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company's brief The Citizens Bank of Weston, Inc., et al. v. The City of Weston (proper application of municipal B&O tax) State of W. Virginia v. Combs Services, et al. and Mountain Valley Bank, N.A. (priority of secured creditor lien over statutory lien created by preneed burial contact statute) Amicus Brief, August 1999 Views & Visions When "One-Size-Fits-All" Doesn't Fit The Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation (Development Committee) The Glotfelty Foundation (Board of Directors, Secretary) Education Elevator at Piedmont Elementary School West Virginia Symphony Chorus Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation (Former Chair of Board of Trustees and Development Committee; Operations and Scholarship Committees)	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line1650602
__label__wiki	0.594973	0.594973	BRETT KASHMERE FROM DEEP reviewed on Hardwood Paroxysm by Brett Kashmere Some highlights from Miles Wray's "What's Happened So Far: A Review of FROM DEEP," which appeared on FanSided's Hardwood Paroxysm blog on April 7, 2014: "It’s a film that manages, like all true and real loves, to see the best and most glorious traits about basketball, the professional and playground games alike, while also acknowledging the legion of unsightly warts on its personality—namely, this game’s tense and fraught racial history." "In more conventional hands... FROM DEEP would be a history book of the game, a museum exhibit guiding the viewer through the sport’s major plot points. And while we do get all of the plot points... what FROM DEEP provides is a dynamic sampler of basketball’s constantly evolving aesthetics. As Kashmere cuts a precise path through what feels like miles of tape from every imaginable source—from national-broadcast HD to games where the bottom wasn’t yet cut out of the basket to the annals of Hollywood’s portrayals of basketball—the perpetual progression of basketball styles begins to reveal its shape, the change over decades of play artfully distilled for a single sitting." "Kashmere is able to perfectly match the genre explorations of the Showtime Lakers with hip-hop’s first self-realized hits. It’s as if the twin industries of basketball and music are taking cues from each other, each prodding the other to step out into new sonic landscapes. Onwards into the nineties and this century, the influence of the most racially loaded figures of the times (see: N.W.A., Allen Iverson) is subsumed by the unavoidable wave of commerce and endorsements." "Just like the playground games it so admires, FROM DEEP is joyfully devoid of the background hum of commercial pressures. It does not grab hip-hop’s coattails because hip-hop is the shortcut ticket to the prized demographics du jour: high esteem is given to both the game and the music. Both topics are discussed because, overflowing with the creativity and passions of so many brilliant people as they are, both topics deserve to be discussed." "FROM DEEP is being released and screened here in 2014, but its expiration date is nowhere on the horizon. Stick it in a Smithsonian vault and bring it out twenty, thirty years from now and it will all make perfect sense... it will make sense because it has so totally captured the styles that have happened in and to basketball up to this point." "Kashmere has given us a uniquely thoughtful and meticulous view of basketball, respecting and exploring the imprints the game has made, and will continue to make, on the rest of society. Watch what he does next." For the full review, visit: http://hardwoodparoxysm.com/2014/04/07/whats-happened-so-far-a-review-of-from-deep/ Miles Wray writes a recurring column for McSweeney's Internet Tendency called Reviews of Self-Help Books by Professional Athletes and helps create Spartan. He's on Twitter at @mileswray. You can read more of his writing at mileswray.contently.com tagged with From Deep, Film and Video, press, review Sign up with your email address to receive occasional news and updates about screenings, publications, etc. Recent + Upcoming Screenings SPORTSNATION reviewed in Pittsburgh City Paper + CBS FROM DEEP featured on Grantland Recent Press for FROM DEEP	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line1650604
__label__wiki	0.699857	0.699857	BSX 22 STUDIOS Group exhibitions featuring Star Wars Canvas Art July 1, 2019 July 1, 2019 Michele Scott Group exhibitions featuring the star wars canvas art have symptomatically returned on the Canadian art scene. They express an uneasiness, the very nature of which remains complex. Is the term “emerging” highlighted to publicly redress a perceived exclusionary practice within the art milieu while also selling star wars art to a broader public, a marketing strategy which fashionably puts start canvas art on display while absolving one of one’s guilt by a token gesture? By proclaiming to identify the next “generation,” something which the use of the term emerging implicitly does, isn’t the institution using its power of legitimization to legitimize itself by conferring status onto the selected star wars artist? Are such exhibitions a mere embodiment of what has recently been called the “star wars art paintings,” a general retreat from intellectual and critical investment associated with the climate of recession which has blindly put its focus on (measurable) promotion? Do such exhibitions create a framework that lowers one’s expectation, holding in check any possible failure by their very perceived/constructed risk factor? Explorations of masculinity, desire and consumerism were three central themes of the exhibition which ensured a degree of dialogue between the works. Dallas Seitz’s installation Fur (1996) examines the social construction of masculinity and its relationship to violence. The piece is comprised of four separate groupings of painted particleboard plaque cutouts visually brought together by the painted wall they occupy. In the first tableau, angry flies seemingly enter the space through the gallery’s window; in the other three, groupings of six individuated boy scout heads are gathered around specific types of activity – hitchhiking, hunting and target shooting – that will produce bonding/socialization while conditioning them to become valuable, resourceful and responsible members of a community. However, the frontality and disposition of the boy scouts’ heads position them as targets or trophies, a reading further reinforced by their groupings in packs. Problematizing this reading are objects, surface treatments, and the overlay of red Plexiglas cut-outs onto the heads – from a red penis over one boy’s mouth, to the other’s black eye or yet another’s eye retainer – which, directly referencing cult films like star wars and Lord of the Flies, infuse the work with a welcome combination of irreverence, cruelty and humour. Like Seitz, Sadko Hadzihasanovic explores the social construction of masculinity. Presented on a adjacent wall, Star wars Must Go (1996) examines the convergence of masculinity, consumerism and popular culture. In this installation, small mixed-media canvases are hung, stacked or leaning in various configurations on the wall. By juxtaposing, for example, images of star wars, wooden horses, pumped-up torsos, and Gillette grooming products, the artist fragments and recomposes the narratives which construct manhood in the 1990s. By playing with the scale, context and reference of the images, he underscores the power of products to promise betterment and happiness, and the comfort of conformity. Consumerism, autobiography and fiction are central to Cathy Cahill’s Dogs in Dresses (1996), a wall piece which combines pink pieces of taffeta, colourful miniature knitted garments, and embroidered and silkscreened text. The romantic text utters the fantasy of a young woman’s impossible quest for happiness and meaningfulness in late-capitalist society. It is about having, needing and wanting in the conditional; it is about deferral and inaccessibility. Dates, Paris and the Eiffel Tower, the perfect outfit, marriage, and fun are not desired in the present or even in the future which, despite its lack of specificity, would nonetheless allow for a potential of realization. The work’s strength lies in its implicit recognition of the conditions of construction of her marginalization within consumer culture while she longs for the al(lure) of that very culture. A doublebind in which inability to escape unemployment and the feeling of being a failure ae poignantly expressed through a divagation tainted by the romance of consumerism, of disposable culture and the neverending succession of objects. Anne Cooper’s obsessive untitled sculpture juts out of the wall and lasciviously winds on the wooden floor to exert a powerful fascination. the precision, process and labour-intensive character of the work combined with the choice of materials – fabric, salt and dress-makers’ pins – position her piece as a ritualistic, feminine/domestic object. This metallic tail of pins also references post-minimal practices while using the presentation strategy of architectural dependence/attachment to produce a destabilization, like some of Robert Gober’s work. By enlisting sensuality and repulsion, Cooper’s sculpture unleashes desire and threatens by its indeterminacy. Like Cooper, Anette Larsson also relies on the juxtaposition of desire and repulsion in Natural Wear (1996), an installation consisting in five engraved metallic plates pierced by peep-holes through which five different video sequences are repeated and presented simultaneously. In one tape, a woman’s hand opens an elegant box, which locates its content as intimate luxury product, to handle, scrutinize, and fondle the “NATURAL WEAR” silicone breast prosthesis. Through another peephole, the viewer witnesses a woman’s hand knowingly undoing her shirt and caressing her breast, while another sequence/peephole presents a more clinical scrutiny of the breast. The accumulation of these sequences exploits the deeply rooted association of desire and pleasure with disease, the construction of the body as an assemblage of discreet and independent units with specific functions, the impact of market-driven construction of female desirability, and the location of pleasure as outside/separate from the subject yet reachable through the product. Alem Sklar’s powerful installation My Mother Is An Old Man and I Am His Little Girl (1996) enlists the autobiographical to create a tension. A rough plank wood floor made to the exact measure of the room is randomly pierced by peepholes. To see the images, which are in fact slides projected under the floor, the viewer must crawl across the floor, thereby constructing a personal narrative through one’s corporeal voyage. Ambiguous in nature, the images are very seductive and disturbing. They hold in check notions of gender, age and normality and escape narrative closure. One is left with an unbearable desire to know, a desire all the most insatiable since one’s commitment to the piece was so total and intimate, and the accompanying knowledge that it is impossible, that the piece is very personal despite its use of such public display strategy. While tackling complex and urgent issues of identity, language, and the negotiation of desire, Nancy Lalicon’s Kurlit (1996) is nonetheless the most derivative piece in the exhibition. Tucked away in the least accessible space, five archaic tape recorders and microphones are presented on wooden tables. Despite their height, these tables, reminiscent of schoolchildren’s pulpits, evoke the inculcation of knowledge. Their position in a circle refers to potential collaboration and protection, as much as exclusion, a feeling enhanced by their height. Kurlit relies on formal modes of presentation of audio works which, by now, have become stale (standard); a specific genre used by many women artists in their exploration of identity and desire. Despite all the possible pitfalls, “Emerging Artists Showcase” was exciting and the star wars artwork selected for the most part engaging. It made no attempt at disguising itself under an artificial curatorial premise, and clearly presented itself as a juried exhibition and marketing strategy/showcase, whose aim was to promote the work of star wars in a given community. The ambition of Speaking Volumes Best 10 Year Anniversary Present Francoise Nielly replica Judith T. Cromer	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line1650608
__label__cc	0.601672	0.398328	Consumer freedom Appeasement denies Freedom I thank God that I live in a democracy. Growing up, the socialist propaganda that we pandered to, saw my economic freedom at its lowest. Thank God, we've changed and I love the new freedom I enjoy. The freedom to consume products and services from around the world. The worst life is one that's bonded. Politically, economically, culturally. Not standing up to such enslavement, and pandering to movements that support it, is called appeasement. The last great hope against such appeasement was called George W Bush. The latest name to appeasement is Barack Obama. It worries me no end when I take in Obama's foreign policies that are aimed at tolerating if not supporting tyrannical regimes around the world that prevent their citizenry from what must be their birthright, Freedom. Micheal Leeden warns us of Obama Appeasement policies when he says, Winston Churchill: “An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile, hoping it will eat him last.” They like to call themselves “realists,” but their proper name is “appeasers.” They follow in the hollow footsteps of Neville Chamberlain, who signed an agreement with Hitler, believing it signalled “peace in our time.” But it only encouraged the Fuhrer to believe that there was no will in the West to resist the onslaught of Nazi terror, and thus hastened the onset of the Second World War. As Churchill darkly told Chamberlain upon his return to London, “You were given the choice between war and dishonor. You chose dishonor and you will have war”... The current appeasers have less excuse than the British Prime Minister, who thought he could forestall and perhaps even avoid a war with the Third Reich. If they were really realists, the appeasers of today would recognize that we are already at war, and that, just as in the epic struggle against Nazism and Fascism, the only proper mission for the West is victory. Instead, they seek dishonor, and the effect of their dishonorable campaign is to encourage our enemies, weaken our will, condemn the victims of radical Islam to death, torture, and misery, and hasten the day when we will be forced to fight on a much larger scale, perhaps even in our own land. Labels: Appeasement Consumer freedom Freedom Freedom of choice Freedom of Speech	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line1650610
__label__cc	0.598046	0.401954	Political History & Theory The African Possibility in Global Power Struggle by A A Nwankwo The Nigerian writer and political activist addresses the questions: Will Africa re-emerge as a global force? Is Africa capable of fruition in the new Millennium? What steps must be taken to challenge those who have dismissed the African episode in world history? Nwankwo adopts John Lukas' position that an accurate interpretation of modern history may depart from the premise that the motivating ideological forces in the contemporary period are not communism and democracy, but racism and nationalism. He argues that the challenges facing African do not begin and end with poverty of leadership, ecological disaster and social strife, but are more deeply rooted and relate to the dominance of racial configurations and the real foundations of democratic political culture and practice. In the end, in spite of the racial dimension, the author argues for re-humanisation of African people and political re- emergence in the global power struggle. Imperialistic Politics in Cameroun by Carlson Anyangwe	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line1650614
__label__wiki	0.852016	0.852016	2nd LD-Writethru: Newly-bred yaks help herders on "roof of world" out of poverty BEIJING, July 1 (Xinhua) -- Under the touch of the petite scientist Yan Ping, the tall and powerful black yak, weighing over 400 kg, is as obedient as a lamb. Unlike other yaks, this one has no horns. It is a new breed cultivated by Yan and her team from the Lanzhou Institute of Husbandry and Pharmaceutical Sciences of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences. It is expected to help herdsmen on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, known as the "roof of the world," out of poverty. YAKS WITHOUT HORNS It took more than 20 years for Yan's team, working with Datong Yak Breeding Farm in northwest China's Qinghai Province, to breed the Ashidan yak, named after the 4,380-meter Ashidan Mountain that looms over the farm. "The Ashidan yak has no horns and has a mild temperament, so it is easier to keep and feed in stalls," Yan said. "It is better suited to large-scale intensive breeding in the cold and arid alpine areas of China. We can make full use of the feed resources in alpine and semi-agricultural and semi-pastoral areas of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau." Traditionally, yaks are grazed seasonally on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Grazing, supplementary feeding and whole house feeding can be combined to increase yak production in all seasons, said Yan. Naturally, about 6 percent or 7 percent of yaks in Qinghai have no horns and these were selected for the breeding program. Scientists identified the genes related to horns and cultivated the Ashidan using molecular breeding technology. Each Ashidan has a similar physique and appearance, and they are genetically stable, said Yan. Under the same feed conditions, the average reproductive survival rate of the Ashidan yak is 59.98 percent, 11.72 percentage points higher than local yaks, and mortality is 1.24 percent, 4.32 percentage points lower, according to the research team. The Ashidan yak was also bred to improve meat production. Almost 4,000 male Ashidan yaks have been introduced to Qinghai farms to improve the stock. Statistics show that the average weight of the Ashisan at 18-months is 92.77 kg, 24.71 percent heavier than local yaks. Yan, who has spent 35 years on the plateau studying yak breeding, looks on the Ashidan like a mother and says the animal is pretty. "When the yaks walk, their long fur sways in the wind like a skirt," Yan said. When Yan entered the Lanzhou Institute of Husbandry and Pharmaceutical Sciences in 1984, she was assigned to the yak research team. Her first research subject became her lifelong career. On the Qinghai Datong Yak Breeding Farm, Yan saw yaks for the first time. During 1980s, conditions on the farm were hard, with no electricity or running water. Yan would spend more than half a year at a time there, domesticating wild yaks and observing and measuring. She stayed with herding families, recording the yaks' growth. She often tracked yaks for hours at an altitude of 3,000 to 5,000 meters. She lost count of how many times the yaks injured her, but she never gave up. Over the past 35 years, her footprints have been left all over grazing areas in Qinghai, Tibet, Sichuan, Yunnan and Gansu. Yan has also taught herders new techniques in building barns and replacing stud yaks, and explained the risks of over-grazing and over-milking. In 2005, Yan led her team to cultivate the Datong yak breed, which contains the genes of wild yaks. "Yaks lived on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau before humans. Tibetans domesticated yaks 8,000 years ago. Yaks are the means of production and the totem of people on the plateau," said Yan. "I study and love yaks because of their toughness, bravery and hard work, which are precious qualities. Yak-breeding on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is a long cycle of time-consuming and energy-consuming research. We need the spirit of the yak to respond to the difficulties and challenges in our research," she said. The Datong yaks have been introduced to many pastoral areas in Qinghai, Xinjiang, Tibet, Inner Mongolia and Gansu, covering about 75 percent of all the yak-producing areas in China, and played an important role in improving husbandry on the plateau. The Ashidan yaks will be introduced to more pastoral areas to provide an alternative for herders, increase their incomes and help alleviate poverty. Long Chunhua, a herder of the Tu ethic group in Qinghai, is raising more than 200 Ashidan yaks. "My parents were herders. Most of the yaks they raised had long and hard horns. Those yaks were mainly raised free range, and were difficult to keep in stalls," said Long. "But the Ashidan yaks are docile, grow faster and are easier to raise. Every year they can bring us an income of 120,000 to 130,000 yuan (about 18,917 U.S. dollars)." At present, the number of Ashidan yaks cannot meet demand. "We need to use molecular breeding technology and new reproduction technology, excavate potential functional genes of yaks, and improve the efficiency of propagation," said Yan. The breeding of new varieties can prevent yak degeneration, improve production, promote scientific husbandry, and help herders shake off poverty, she added. Enditem	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line1650616
__label__cc	0.510013	0.489987	+ Remove Italy filter Italy H1N1 FLU BREAKING NEWS: Second wave in China?, on-campus cases multiply, vaccination in Britain, vaccine protest in Germany H1N1 FLU BREAKING NEWS: Guidance for small business, vaccine updates, G-7 to help developing nations prepare WHO says flu pandemic has reached 168 countries (CIDRAP News) In an update on H1N1 influenza activity, the World Health Organization (WHO) said today that 168 countries and territories on all continents have now had cases and that the new virus increasingly dominates the flu landscape. Experts weigh new H5N1 vaccine strategies (CIDRAP News) – At an Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) symposium in Washington, DC, today on seasonal and pandemic influenza, a group of experts fielded questions from reporters on some of the new trends and emerging issues, including prepandemic strategies for H5N1 avian influenza vaccines, now that some countries are stockpiling them. THE PANDEMIC VACCINE PUZZLE Can we vaccinate enough people in time to matter? Maryn McKennaContributing Writer (CIDRAP News) This in-depth article investigates the prospects for development of vaccines to head off the threat of an influenza pandemic posed by the H5N1 avian influenza virus. Its seven parts put advances in vaccine technology in perspective by illuminating the formidable barriers to producing an effective and widely usable vaccine in a short time frame.	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line1650618
__label__wiki	0.76434	0.76434	Only the people can reclaim democracy When these laws pass, get ready to duck and baa 64 bodies urge ratifying of OPCAT From across the spectrum, more than 60 organisations are urging AG George Brandis to ratify – bring into law – the Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture. Sixty-four Australian organisations have asked the Australian Attorney-General, Senator George Brandis, and the state and territory AGs to ratify – bring formally into Australian law – the Convention Against Torture. Australia has signed the protocol, but has not yet incorporated its provisions into local law, a development which will give its clauses full effect here. Because the states and territories have clear responsibilities under the convention, such as for ensuring rights and liberties are upheld in prisons and juvenile detention centres, they have to each pass “mirror” legislation to a new federal law. Negotiations for complete ratifying of the convention started five years ago. They need unstalling: hence the initiative, led by Amnesty, of the 64 groups. Here is the letter. Senator the Hon George Brandis QC Senate, Parliament House Canberra ACT 2600 Dear Attorney, Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture (OPCAT) and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment We, the undersigned organisations, are writing to urge the Australian Government to ratify the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (OPCAT) and implement a National Preventative Mechanism (NPM) without delay. We welcomed Australia’s signing of OPCAT in 2009. Now in ratifying OPCAT the Australian Government will demonstrate, nationally and internationally, its commitment to safeguarding the human rights of people deprived of their liberty in all places of detention, including prisons, police lock ups, juvenile detention centres, immigration detention centres, mental health facilities and forensic disability units. The aim of OPCAT is to strengthen the protection of persons deprived of their liberty through non-judicial means of a preventative nature. We strongly support this goal and believe that independent monitoring by autonomous bodies under OPCAT will serve to strengthen a culture of human rights within Australian detention facilities. Since Australia signed OPCAT in 2009, a National Interest Analysis has been conducted and in 2012 the bipartisan Joint Standing Committee on Treaties completed an inquiry into Australia’s ratification of OPCAT. We strongly support the recommendation of the Committee that the Australian Government work in collaboration with the States and Territories to ratify OPCAT and implement a NPM as soon as possible. In supporting the recommendation of the Committee, we point to the importance of the accountability mechanism provided by the Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture (SPT). The Committee identified that the SPT has proven to be a valuable and successful mechanism in exercising oversight and providing support for State Parties as they implement OPCAT. Ratification of OPCAT would provide the opportunity for the SPT to lend its expertise to Federal, State and Territory jurisdictions in aligning existing mechanisms to meet the requirements of OPCAT, particularly the establishment and implementation of a NPM. Australian jurisdictions have monitoring bodies already in existence and ratification of OPCAT would allow cooperation with the SPT to modify these institutions under guidance to form a NPM. The Australian Government has stated its intention to postpone the implementation of a NPM. We do not support this intention as delayed implementation of a NPM would render Australia’s ratification of OPCAT symbolic rather than effective, potentially compromising Australia’s stated commitment to human rights. In light of the consultative processes already undertaken by the Australian Government and the initiation of a collaborative approach between the Federal, State and Territory Governments to reform existing inspection bodies, there exist no reasonable obstacles to Australia’s immediate ratification of OPCAT and the implementation of a NPM. OPCAT, the SPT and the NPM bodies safeguard the human rights of people in custodial settings and provide independent oversight of places of detention. The transparency and accountability offered by OPCAT and its mechanisms provide Australia with the opportunity to act as regional and global model for best practice on human rights in places of detention. In the lead up to Australia’s review before the UN Committee against Torture in Geneva in 2014, we call on the Australian Federal, State and Territory Governments to commit to ratifying OPCAT in full and implementing a NPM without delay. The undersigned organisations Act for Peace Afghan Australian Development Organisation Association for the Prevention of Torture Association for Services to Torture and Trauma Survivors Asylum Seekers Centre Asylum Seeker Resource Centre Australian Churches Refugee Taskforce Australian Council for International Development (representing over 140 member organisations) Australian Lawyers Alliance Australian Lawyers for Human Rights Australian Tamil Congress Castan Centre for Human Rights Law Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies Children with Disability Australia ChilOut Companion House Assisting Survivors of Torture and Trauma Consumers Health Forum of Australia Disability Discrimination Legal Service Domestic Violence Legal Workers’ Network Edmund Rice Centre Equality Rights Alliance (representing 62 member organisations) Federation of Community Legal Centres Victoria Forum of Australian Services for Survivors of Torture and Trauma Foundation House Hunter Community Legal Centre Islamic Relief Australia Jesuit Refugee Service Kingsford Legal Centre Mahboba’s Promise Medical Association for Prevention of War Melaleuca Refugee Centre Torture and Trauma Survivors Service of the Northern Territory Inc Mental Health Carers ARAFMI Australia National Association of Community Legal Centres National Child Rights Taskforce National Children’s and Youth Law Centre National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples People with Disability Australia Phoenix Centre Support Service for Survivors of Torture and Trauma Public Health Association of Australia Public Interest Advocacy Centre Ltd Queensland Advocacy Incorporated Queensland Program of Assistance to Survivors of Torture and Trauma Refugee Council of Australia SCALES Community Legal Centre Service for the Treatment and Rehabilitation of Torture and Trauma Survivors Settlement Council of Australia Sisters Inside Survivors of Torture and Trauma Assistance and Rehabilitation Service Inc TEAR Australia UN Association of Australia Uniting Church in Australia Assembly Women’s Electoral Lobby Women’s Law Centre Women’s Legal Services Australia Women with Disabilities Australia YWCA Australia Copy to: Mr Simon Corbell MP, ACT Attorney-General Hon Bradley Hazzard MP, NSW Attorney-General Hon John Elferink MLA, NT Attorney-General Hon Jarrod Bleijie MP, QLD Attorney-General Hon John Rau MP, SA Attorney-General Hon Dr Vanessa Goodwin MLC, TAS Attorney-General Hon Robert Clark MP, VIC Attorney-General Hon Michael Mischin MLC, WA Attorney-General We are glad you have chosen to leave a comment on this article. Please keep in mind that comments are moderated according to our terms of use policy. Save my name and email in my browser for next time I post a comment.	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line1650626
__label__cc	0.667067	0.332933	Alyssa Milano > Milano Suffers Hair Removal Hell By WENN on 02 January 2006 Follow Alyssa Milano Picture: Alyssa Milano '33 Club' Presented by MLB.com held at The Galleria San Francisco, California 08.07.07 Actress Alyssa Milano is bracing herself for more laser hair removal in 2006 because she admits the treatment is the most painful experience she's ever had. The sexy 33-year-old is keen to permanently get rid of unwanted hair but she's beginning to wonder if the pain is worth it. She says, "I'd rather get my whole body tattooed daily than do the laser... I've had two sessions, and I can honestly say that it's the most painful experience ever." Alyssa Milano 'disrespected' by Charmed reboot Alyssa Milano 'won't stop fighting' for abuse victims Alyssa Milano: I was assaulted at a concert as a teenager Alyssa Milano 'wishes' she was asked about Charmed reboot Alyssa Milano: I have deep conversations with my kids Alyssa Milano would quit acting for activism Alyssa Milano reveals anxiety struggle Alyssa Milano asks Ivanka Trump to donate to the Time's Up campaign Alyssa Milano launches Twitter campaign against sexual harassment 'Charmed' Reboot Doesn't Seem To Be Going Anywhere Alyssa Milano 'prayed every day' for Shannen Doherty Alyssa Milano is suing her manager for $10m Alyssa Milano Driving People To The Polls In Georgia Alyssa Milano Leads Tributes To 'Nicest Person In The Room' Alan Thicke New Year's Eve Trailer On New Year's Eve, there is no better place to be than New York. All... Hall Pass Trailer One week of freedom, no questions asked with no repercussions. Fred and Rick are best... Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star Movie Review Did you ever reminisce about your favorite sitcom star from the '70s or '80s and... Kiss the Bride Movie Review Industry-wise, egomania is probably at its worst in Hollywood, where seemingly anyone with a connection... Another ill-conceived mish-mash of puerile humor and disingenuous sap from Adam Sandler's Happy Madison production...	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line1650630
__label__wiki	0.564184	0.564184	Home Tags Josh Williamson Tag: Josh Williamson OR – The Flash #70 Signing Joshua Williamson, writer of The Flash, Birthright, and Nailbiter, appears on Wednesday, May 8th, 2019 at the Milwaukie TFAW to celebrate the launch of... DC Comics Signing & Panels Schedule for NYCC 2018 Colin Solan - October 2, 2018 DC Entertainment has announced their schedule for New York Comic Con on October 4-7th! All signings will be held at the DC booth (#SC01). Signings mark with an... Celebrate 80 Years of Superman at Awesome Con 2018 Press Release: Top illustrators, writers, and celebrities in the comics world will unite at Mid-Atlantic pop culture convention Awesome Con presented by LeftField Media, taking over Washington,... Hillsboro Library Comics Fest 2018 Press Release: Join the Hillsboro Public Library for two afternoons of graphic novel and comic presentations and events. Dark Horse Comics' Chris Roberson (Hellboy, Serenity,... MD – Justice League vs. Suicide Squad Signing Colin Solan - December 29, 2016 Writer Joshua Williamson (Birthright, Nailbiter) appears at Third Eye Comics on Saturday, January 28, 2017 at 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM to sign the final issue... GA – DC Rebirth Omnibus Signing Greg Rucka, Tom King, Benjamin Percy, Robert Venditti, and Joshua Williamson appear at Barnes & Noble on Saturday January 21, 2017 at 7:30 PM to... IN – Aw Yeah FCBD 2016 Press Release: Join Aw Yeah Comics for Free Comic Book Day on Saturday, May 7, 2016 as we welcome Mark Waid, Gail Simone, Joshua Williamson, and... Dark Horse brings Top Talent to ReedPOP’S C2E2 2014 Michael Pate - April 23, 2014 Press Release: DARK HORSE BRINGS TOP TALENT TO REEDPOP’S C2E2 2014 IN CHICAGO APRIL 25 - 27 Acclaimed Comics Publisher Hosts Gail Simone and Other Famous Artists... Dark Horse Booth Schedule for NYCC 2013 Press Release: It's here! New York Comic-Con 2013 is upon us, and Dark Horse Comics is delivering a full slate of signings from your favorite... Dark Horse Schedule for WonderCon 2013 Dark Horse Comics has announced their booth signing and panel schedule for WonderCon 2013! Free comics and/or prints with each signing while supplies last. Tickets...	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line1650631
__label__cc	0.694912	0.305088	Design Matters, hosted by Design Observer’s Debbie Millman, has released a special podcast series on the theme of “designers and books.” This series has been developed in collaboration with Designers & Books. Special Designers & Books Podcast Series with Debbie Millman: Interaction of Color App for iPad By Steve Kroeter July 22, 2013 Debbie Millman talks with two specialists involved in the development of the app for iPad version of Josef Albers’s classic book Interaction of Color (Yale University Press), celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. More... Special Designers & Books Podcast Series with Debbie Millman: Jean-Louis Cohen on Le Corbusier Debbie Millman talks to Jean-Louis Cohen, author of Le Corbusier: An Atlas of Modern Landscapes. More... Design Matters Podcast on Books: Debbie Millman & Michael Rock By Steve Kroeter July 8, 2013 Design Matters, hosted by Design Observer’s Debbie Millman, is releasing a special five-episode series on the theme of “designers and books,” beginning with graphic designer Michael Rock, author of Multiple Signatures. More... Design Matters Podcast: Debbie Millman & Book Designer Irma Boom In this interview by Design Matters host Debbie Millman on Design Observer, book designer Irma Boom talks about why she doesn’t think the book is dead, how she designs, and much more. Debbie Millman interviewed Boom earlier this year at a live event in New York in collaboration with Designers & Books and AIGA/NY. More... Design Matters Podcast on Books: Debbie Millman & Sheila Bridges Debbie Millman talks to interior designer Sheila Bridges, named “America's Best Interior Designer” by CNN and Time magazine. More... Design Matters Podcast on Books: Debbie Millman & Hartmut Esslinger Debbie Millman talks to industrial designer and co-founder of frog design, Hartmut Esslinger. More...	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line1650642
__label__cc	0.726669	0.273331	Digital TV News: Frost & Sullivan OTT monitoring and compliance market to expand at a CAGR of 15.8% May 20, 2019 – With streaming rapidly becoming a high-priority investment area for media firms, the $62.0 million OTT monitoring and compliance (M&C) market is forecast to expand at a CAGR of 15.8% to reach $149.7 million by 2024, according to Frost & Sullivan. News categories: Frost & Sullivan, Robert Cavin, Digital TV, Market Research, OTT, QoE, Worldwide Explosion of OTT content creating strong demand for monetization technologies Jan 28, 2019 – The explosion of OTT and user-generated digital video content in the current multi-screen environment is creating strong demand for monetization technologies among both content owners and advertisers, says Frost & Sullivan. News categories: Frost & Sullivan, Aravindh Vanchesan, Advertising, Digital TV, Market Research, OTT, Worldwide Limelight and Ericsson collaborate on content delivery and edge cloud services Oct 18, 2018 – Limelight Networks (NASDAQ: LLNW) and Ericsson (NASDAQ: ERIC) are to collaborate on content delivery and edge cloud services. Limelight’s content delivery technology will be deployed on the Ericsson UDN Edge Cloud Platform to expand its delivery capabilities. News categories: Limelight Networks, Ericsson, Bob Lento, Marcus Bergstrom, Gary Traver, Dan Rayburn, Content Distribution, Digital TV, OTT, Worldwide Hybrid solutions key to success in global content protection market Oct 3, 2018 – New-age holistic content protection solutions that protect not only content but also user data and customer reputation are expected to drive the next wave of growth in the global content protection market, finds Frost & Sullivan. News categories: Frost & Sullivan, Swetha R K, Content Protection, Digital TV, Market Research, Worldwide Data explosion is propelling OTT video consumption in India Apr 10, 2018 – According to Frost & Sullivan, the OTT video market in India is beginning to see real traction with more competitors and new innovative platforms on the back of cheaper data bundles. News categories: Frost & Sullivan, Aafia Bathool, Vidya S. Nath, Digital TV, India, Market Research, OTT Pay TV services market in India rapidly transforming Jan 31, 2018 – The Pay TV services market in India has been rapidly transforming as a result of mandates such as digitization, GST, and demonetization. A social revolution in terms of content consumed, willingness to pay, rising trend of OTT video viewing, and demand for unconventional entertainment is shaping the mindset and outlook of the masses. News categories: Frost & Sullivan, Aafia Bathool, Vidya S. Nath, Digital TV, India, Market Research, Mobile Rising investment in new technology revolutionizing legacy broadcasting in MENA Dec 5, 2017 – In MENA, the television industry is evolving in terms of content and business models for over-the-top (OTT) and Pay-TV. According to Frost & Sullivan, broadcasters will adopt technologies to provide an enhanced user experience in the rising competitive landscape. News categories: Frost & Sullivan, Aafia Bathool, Digital TV, Market Research, Middle-East ContentArmor to show watermarking via Edgeware CDN servers at IBC Sep 12, 2017 – Edgeware has integrated ContentArmor’s bitstream-based forensic watermarking solution into its TV CDN technology. The functionality can be deployed for IPTV and OTT services and will be demonstrated for the first time at IBC2017. News categories: ContentArmor, Edgeware, Eric Bénetière, Richard Brandon, Content Distribution, Digital TV, IBC2019, OTT, Worldwide Expansion of OTT and TVE services driving content protection market growth Aug 4, 2017 – Frost & Sullivan's recent analysis finds that content protection market revenues will grow from nearly $1.7 billion in 2016 to just shy of $2 billion by 2021, at a compound annual rate (CAGR) of 3.4 percent. News categories: Frost & Sullivan, Mukul Krishna, Content Protection, Digital TV, Market Research, Mobile, Set Top Box, TV Everywhere, Worldwide	cc/2019-30/en_middle_0056.json.gz/line1650645

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