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The kindergarten-through-eighth-grade campuses in Weston Ranch will move to a more traditional calendar as voted by the school board back last fall.
A pair of eighth-grade graduation events is planned for 6 p.m. Wednesday, June 24, at Great Valley and George Komure.
The Pomp and Circumstance for Komure will be held inside the multi-purpose room of the school located at 2121 Henry Long Blvd.
The eighth-grade event at Great Valley School is planned for the gym at the main site, 4223 McDougald Ave.
On Thursday, June 25, eighth-grade students at August Knodt School will be recognized at the promotion event that begins at 7 p.m. inside the Weston Ranch High gymnasium.
More information is available at the respective school sites or the district office, (209) 825-3200.


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Why Are Almost Half of Women with Children Leaving Work?
I just found out the other day that one of my dearest friends is expecting her second child. There was a note of fear in her voice when she told me, and when I asked her what that was about, she told me she didn't think she could keep working with a toddler and a newborn.
One of my other friends at work often comes into my classroom and tells me she thinks she could definitely be happy leaving her job and staying home with her year-old son.
Another work friend of mine is expecting twins in October — her third and fourth children — and has decided to take the rest of next school year off to care for her growing family.
I had to pause after hearing all of this and ask myself, is this the Twilight Zone? Don't we live in an era of feminist reforms and famous working moms (Marissa Mayer, anyone?) that have allowed mothers to stay at work without the stigma associated with being a bad mom?
That might be so, but my friends are not alone. The Atlantic reported recently that 43% of women with children leave their jobs. This statistic was featured in Sheryl Sandberg's "Lean In," but was unfortunately not accompanied by any advice or wisdom about how these women could re-enter the workforce when their children were grown up. With almost half of working women leaving the traditional workforce to become stay-at-home or work-at-home moms, and women making up about half of the population, we're talking about a quarter of America's workforce here. Why are they leaving en masse, and how can we get them to re-enter the workforce when they are ready to do so?
The story of the working mom is not a new one. As a teacher, I have the unique opportunity to work with teachers who are moms and to see parents of my students who are working night and day to make ends meet. On both sides of that spectrum, I have seen haggard women walk into my classroom after a long night with a sick child. I've seen the strongest women I know reduced to tears because they just don't have time to breastfeed and work. Our generation has been told that we can do anything and that we can have it all — we can choose whatever career we want and have a family, as well. Of course we can! But maybe we can't do all of that at one time. One of the most powerful things a woman can know about herself is where her limits are, and if she knows that taking time off to raise her children is what she needs to do — not only for her family, but for her own sanity — then we, as a society, should make it possible for her to do that.
The problem is, we don't. Once women leave the workforce, it's difficult to get them back. The bottom line is that companies are not very family-friendly. Of the top 2012 "Working Mother" family-friendly companies, only one offers telecommuting as an option. Hardly any offer flex time, and many of those might require new training for someone who already has a lot of experience in the workforce. Top this off with the fact that we already live in a sexist world where employers hire men strictly because they believe men will not take as much time off and can work longer hours even if they have children at home, and we have a situation in which it is incredibly hard for moms to re-enter the workforce.
Some moms, like Paulette Light, are able to start their own business or find freelance work that allows them to work from home or create their own hours, essentially giving them the best of both worlds. However, this isn't always an option, and certainly won't make ends meet in the first few years if she has become the sole breadwinner in the house.
The bottom line is that our nation needs more comprehensive maternity leaves that would allow women to stay at home during those all-important first years of the baby's life. We also need better flextime options and a workforce that encourages women to take time off to deal with family emergencies rather than punishes them for it. I, myself, don't have children yet, but I hope to in the future. While I doubt that, by then, these policies will be in place, I hope to see some improvement very soon.
Photo Credit: rankun76

subset: commoncrawl


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Brad Laughlin, who watched Johnson's press conference on TV at the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Community Services Center in Hollywood, said he hoped Johnson is more forthcoming in the future about how he contracted the virus.
"Granted, it's his personal position. It's brave of him to do this. It would be even more powerful if he'd come out and say it--whatever it is," Laughlin said. "There's nothing to be ashamed of."
But the reaction at Inglewood High School, not far from where Johnson routinely performed heroics at the Forum, showed that much of the stigma associated with HIV is still prevalent, as is ignorance about how the virus is transmitted.
One student there said he was one of Johnson's biggest fans. Now his feelings have changed. "I would still go up to him and say, 'Good game,' " he said. "But I wouldn't shake his hand."


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Family Law
Ask a Family Law Question, Get an Answer ASAP!
Hypothetically, a 19 year old wants to kill themselves via starvation and they have not yet told their parents. They live with their parents and so it would be inevitable that their parents would recognise the extreme weight loss. The 19 year old tells their parents of what they are planning to do. Are the parents legally obligated to inform the hospital or in any way prevent their child from doing this? Would they be punished if they did not? Would the circumstances change if it became evident to the parents that the 19 year old was on the verge of dying? Furthermore, should the 19 year old end up in hospital, would she be able to refuse food/force feeding? Additional Info: The 19 year old has depression and is on anti-depressants, does this affect the result?
would this make a difference? Hypothetically yes, they've created a living will


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USCCB action alert: lobby Congress on behalf of conscience-protection legislation
May 01, 2013
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops is urging Catholics to contact their representatives in support of the Health Care Conscience Rights Act.
"The Obama Administration's contraceptive/abortifacient/sterilization mandate will begin to be enforced against nonprofit religious schools, charities and health care providers on August 1," according to the USCCB action alert. "In the days to come, Congress must decide whether to address this problem through must-pass legislation before that deadline. Members of the House should be urged to include the Health Care Conscience Rights Act (H.R. 940) in the next bill needed to keep the federal government operating."
The USCCB action alert includes telephone and e-mail contact information, as well as suggested language to use in contacting representatives.
For all current news, visit our News home page.
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Posted by: Gregory108 -
May. 01, 2013 8:39 PM ET USA
The bishops or their predecessors have made their beds with their Democrat friends by selling their souls for that party's social programs, with their "initiatives" that supposedly helped the "poor" and "immigrants" and their "peace initiatives" and opposition to defense spending and the bishops' seamless garments. Now the "woim has toined" and their friends have turned on them. Now the bishops will have to dance with them that brung them. Good luck, folks! Maybe a jail cell will help educate.


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In his last start of July versus the Cleveland Indians, Felix Hernandez added another milestone to his outstanding career by surpassing a record set by Tom Seaver in 1971 – pitching 7 or more innings in 14 consecutive games while allowing 2 or fewer earned runs. Even in defeat, the Mariners' broadcast team and studio analysts were quick to praise the feat and the story spilled over on to ESPN Sportscenter and Baseball Tonight, even among the clamor of the trade deadline.
In the era of the five man rotation, which has its origins in the early 1970's, most notably with the 1972 Los Angeles Dodgers rotation that featured Don Sutton, Claude Osteen, Bill Singer, Al Downing, and Tommy John, the 7 inning mark has slowly replaced the complete game as the measure of pitching endurance, so much so that complete games are often lead stories.
The demarcation between finishing 6 innings and completing 7 has probably been further fueled by the controversy of the "quality start." In 1985, Philadelphia Inquirer writer John Lowe coined the term "quality start" and defined it as an outing where the starting pitcher goes 6 innings and allows fewer than 3 earned runs. Out of this definition grew the idea of "a tough loss" or "a cheap win," depending on the outcome of said "quality start." Critics of the quality start are quick to point out that hypothetically a pitcher could reach these benchmarks every night and finish the season with a 4.50 ERA. Bill James and other sabermetricians have concluded that, while it is theoretically possible to rack up quality starts with an ERA far above league average, it isn't very likely.
In response to the quality start statistic, Nolan Ryan, who threw over 300 innings twice in his career in the early 70's, called for a "high quality start," which is defined as pitching 7 innings and allowing 3 runs or fewer. Other metrics quantify 7 innings pitched and 2 or fewer runs allowed, essentially the measuring stick of the Seaver and Hernandez streaks.
So, it comes as no surprise the previously held Tom Seaver record broken by Felix hinges on going at least seven innings. But, upon closer inspection, the 7 inning floor becomes crystal clear – there was only one game during Seaver's 13 game streak, a bit of an anomaly on August 1, 1971 against the Chicago Cubs, that Seaver pitched as few as 7 innings. In order for record keepers to establish a record streak, 7 innings has to be the bottom limit. Otherwise there is no record.
Seaver's streak began on July 17, 1971, in the Houston Astrodome, following the All-Star break. The 8.1 innings he pitched against the Houston Astros was one of only three games during the streak that he didn't go the distance. He pitched 8 innings against the St. Louis Cardinals in Shea Stadium in New York on July 27, 1971, and also the 7 inning outing against the Cubs.
Every other game in the streak was a complete game, including a 10 inning outing against the San Diego Padres in San Diego on August 11, 1971.
During the streak, Seaver's record was 8-3 with 2 no decisions and he lowered his ERA from 2.32 to 1.76. He struck out 10 or more hitters 6 times, with a high of 14 in the 10 innings against the Padres on August 11th. And, the two earned run threshold was met by his opponent on three occasions.
Felix Hernandez's streak began on May 18th, on the road against the Minnesota Twins. During the King's streak, he has recorded an out in the 9th inning only twice, pitching 8.2 innings against the Los Angeles Angels at Safeco on May 28th and 8.1 innings, also at Safeco, versus the Texas Rangers. He's pitched 8 full innings, including the two outings just mentioned, 7 times during the streak, a remarkable accomplishment by today's standards. The other 7 games, he's completed 7 innings.
Over the course of Hernandez's streak, his record is 7-2 with 5 no decisions. On three occasions, Felix struck out 10 or more hitters, with his high coming in 7 innings against the Tampa Bay Rays on August 8th when he fanned 15. And, that all important two run mark was equaled six times by opponents during Felix's streak.
The eras in which these two streaks were accomplished and still are being accomplished is obviously much different. In 1971, when Seaver ran his streak to 13 games, Fergie Jenkins of the Chicago Cubs led the league in complete games with 30. This year, the leaders in complete games are Dallas Keuchel of the Houston Astros, Henderson Alvarez of the Miami Marlins, and Clayton Kershaw of the Los Angeles Dodgers with 4. In fact, the only pitcher to record double digit complete games since 1999 was James Shields of the Tampa Bay Rays, with 11 in 2011.
But, even given the differences in workloads, and that the run scoring environment of the early 70's, especially in the NL, was a little lower than current levels, but taking into account that the strike out rate for hitters today is far higher, I might still give a slight edge to Seaver's streak.
However, King Felix's streak is still intact – 14 games and counting. Next up is the Atlanta Braves in Safeco.


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MWC 2012: Hands-on with the Huawei Ascend G300, a new affordable Android smartphone
Sure, the Ascend D quad/D quad XL and D1 stole the show yesterday, and we'll probably be talking about these devices for a long time to come. But those aren't the only new smartphones that Huawei brought to Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.
One intriguing device is the Ascend G300, part of the company's new 'Gold' line. Like some of its competitors, Huawei decided to segment its smartphone offerings in a few different lineups. These are the Ascend Y (where Y stands for Young – these presumably will be the cheapest, entry-level handsets), Ascend G (where G stands for Gold, this is one step up from the Y), Ascend P (P is for Platinum, the Ascend P1 and P1s already being launched, the latter as the world's slimmest smartphone), and finally the Ascend D (where D is Diamond – this is supposed to contain the absolute cream of the crop spec-wise, and the D quad and D1 sure fit nicely in that category).
The Ascend G300 then isn't going to win any awards for specs alone, but it manages to pair decent innards with a very nice design and a metal back cover. So this isn't your average cheapo Android – it's got a bit of style in fact.
Yet the price, we've been assured countless times by a Huawei rep, will be something to smile about. No exact details were given, but based on specs alone this shouldn't cost more than €200-250 (unsubsidized) if Huawei wants it to be a success, sales-wise.
While the Ascend D series are the aspirational models, this G300 should help Huawei with sales volumes. It's got a 5 MP camera, a 4-inch 480×800 touchscreen, dual-microphones for better audio quality, DTS sound, as well as the usual connectivity options and a yet-unspecified processor. It unfortunately runs Android 2.3 Gingerbread at the moment (although most budget Androids announced recently do too), but an update to Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich is promised and will hopefully arrive soon.
Which is also when the Ascend G300 should be on the market. We'll let you know when we find out more. In the meantime, here's a short demo video showcasing the Huawei Ascend G300:
And a full photo gallery for your perusal:


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McCann's 'Dumb Ways To Die' scores D&AD all-time record of five Yellow Pencils + one Black Pencil; The Monkeys wins a Yellow Pencil for 'Mixionary' + Revolver wins a Yellow for 'Moreing'; McCann Melbourne crowned Agency of the Year
Other Australian winners include The Monkeys who won a Yellow Pencil for Art Direction for Diageo's 'Mixionary' and Revolver in the Film Advertising Crafts category for Kraft Boost's 'Moreing' campaign.
McCann Melbourne art director Pat Baron (pictured below) was in London tonight to accept all the Pencils. while ECD John Mescall is judging in Cannes. Mescall told CB: "What can I say except a big thank-you to D&AD for such a bloody huge honour. The fact that it's a local campaign for a Melbourne client from a Melbourne agency makes me so proud. I might be sounding a little parochial but I'm so happy to see homegrown work kill it on the world stage. And I can't wait to hear from Pat about the night... I just hope he remembers something of it."
McCann Melbourne also was awarded a Pencil for D&AD Agency of the Year - the first time ever for an Australian agency - contributing to Australia being placed third in the world behind the UK and USA.
(BTW the haul of one Black Pencil and five Yellow Pencils just pips the previous D&AD record holder, another Aussie belter from 2010 called 'Best Job in the World' for Tourism Australia via SapientNitro, Brisbane, which won two Black Pencils and two Yellow Pencils).
In total, 618 awards were given by juries across In-Book, Nominations and Yellow, Black & White Pencils at this year's awards, with work from over 35 countries recognised.
This year, in recognition of the highest calibre of creative work, four Black Pencils were awarded to three British campaigns and one Aussie campaign including 4creative's "Meet the Superhumans" for Channel 4 (TV & Cinema Communications); Heatherwick Studio's "Olympic Cauldron" for the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (Spatial Design/Installations); GOV.UK's website for Her Majesty's Government (Writing for Websites & Digital Design) and McCann Melbourne's "Dumb Ways to Die" for Metro Trains (Integrated & Earned Campaigns).
Incorporated into this year's Awards for the first time, a coveted White Pencil was awarded to Droga5 New York for its "Help! I want to Save a Life" campaign for Help Remedies.
McCann Melbourne's 'Dumb Ways To Die' campaign for Metro Trains received Yellow Pencils across five categories: Art Direction, Earned Media Campaigns, Digital Advertising, TV & Cinema Advertising and Writing for Film Advertising.
The UK's 4creative was another big winner earning four Yellow Pencils for its "Meet the Superhumans" campaign, across Editing for Film Advertising, TV & Cinema Communications, Direction for Film Advertising and Use of Music for Film Advertising categories as well as a Black Pencil.
Other campaigns taking multiple awards were R/GA's "Nike+ FuelBand" (US), taking three Yellow Pencils, whilst Leica Store São Paulo's "Soul" (Brazil) and 20th Century Fox's "Prometheus Viral 'David'" (UK) each won two Yellow Pencils.
Film Advertising Crafts was the category awarded the greatest number of Yellow Pencils, with the jury recognising 12 entrants with Yellow Pencils.
The most awarded categories overall (across In-Book, Nominated & Yellow Pencil work) were:
- The Graphic Design category, taking 100 gongs, including two Yellow Pencils
- TV & Cinema Advertising with 46 pieces of creative work awarded, including three Yellow Pencils
- Digital Advertising with 40 awards, including three Yellow Pencils
Conversely, juries in the Book Design, Magazine & Newspaper Design and Press Advertising categories did not award any pencils this year.
Says Tim Lindsay, CEO of D&AD: "Our fifty-first Awards was another outstanding year for global creativity, with thousands of pieces of work recognised by the juries. So, a big thank you to our almost 200 judges who have once again helped to make this the awards 'for creatives, judged by creatives'.
"The quality of entries this year has been astounding. The craft skills of making great pieces of graphic design, TV & cinema, direct, film and illustration are as strong as ever. However it's also great to see the written word being employed in such a diverse and multifaceted way. It demonstrates a big shift in understanding of what words can bring to design.
"The integrity and transparency of the judging process is legendary and is what sets D&AD apart from our awards so it's just incredible to see the pinnacle of creative excellence coming through and continuing to raise the bar each year."
Entries from around the world were given awards at this year's D&AD. Australia had a particularly strong year, achieving 50 awards overall, including a coveted Black Pencil and seven Yellow Pencils, whilst work from New Zealand scooped 15 awards overall including 2 Yellow Pencils.
The UK led a strong showing, scooping up 202 awards overall, including three Black Pencils and 12 Yellow Pencils. Work from the US also did well, with entries gaining 113 awards in total (of which 13 were Yellow Pencils).
In 2013, European nations performed well, with Sweden and France leading the way in the region with 16 Awards each, of which two were Yellow Pencils. German work picked up 13 awards overall, including two Yellow Pencils.
Meanwhile, work from Asia was also well recognised, with Japan leading the region with 26 awards, including two Yellow Pencils, followed by Singapore, who took 16 awards overall (with one Yellow Pencil). China scooped up 7 awards overall (of which one Yellow Pencil) whilst Thailand gained five In-Books.
Brazil topped the Latin American league table of awards, with 29 pieces of work recognised by the juries, including four Yellow Pencils, a record 37% increase in awards from 2012.
Says Lindsay: "The D&AD Awards have become a truly international awards, with more work entered than ever from around the world.
"This has undoubtedly been a spectacular year for Australian creative work. 57 campaigns were recognised by the juries, with McCann Erickson Melbourne's "Dumb Ways to Die" for Metro Trains sweeping the board across various categories.
"It's also particularly encouraging to see more Asian work coming to the fore. Japan continues to lead the charge but we also saw a doubling in the number of entries from China this year which is testament to the country's thriving creative scene.
"The bar has been set immeasurably high and we hope creative professionals from around the world will rise to the challenge next year to achieve the highest possible accolade in creative excellence; it's going to be very tough to beat."
View the winners by country: D&AD Results by Country.xls
27 Comments
Wow - an all-time world record haul from D&AD! John, Pat and all involved at McCann and Metro Trains - huge congratulations - well deserved and great to see all those yellow and a black dot on the map for Melbourne. Great work.
This must be an all-time world record for D&AD ?? John, Pat and all involved at McCann and Metro Trains - huge congratulations - well deserved and great to see all those yellow and a black dot on the map for Melbourne. Great work.
Well done McCanns. Job Well done!
Well deserved. All time record for yellows. Honda Grrr also won 6. Two blacks and 4 yellows so may just pip it.
best part about this campaign?
it came from dudes on the 'wrong' side of 40.
age is no barrier to creativity...and understanding 'digital'.
Fantastic news. Well done to all involved. You deserve it.
And let's just reflect that there was no tweeting, sharing, uploading, creating, crowd sourcing, experiential, convoluted mechanic. It's a song and a video. A game. The print is "matching luggage". And it's brilliant.
Massive congratulations, guys.
Well done guys, time to cross the channel and do it all over again.
great result, time to cross the channel and do it again
Well done Julian Frost, 'Dumb ways to die' animator. You are a genius. And a great animator.
Carn, Cannes!
My eight year old daughter and her friend were playing it Sunday afternoon on the iPad and loved it. They sung it that many times that it got stuck in my head.
Brilliant result. Surely it's now time to stop entering it into every tin-pot, piss-ant award show around the globe. You've just clocked the D&ADs for heaven's sake. This campaign has nothing more to prove.
Epic idea. Wonderful result.
But did they have "enough commercial experience"? Shit, yeah. Go the over 40s!
I don't get it.
Well done Pat! It's been a few years. Great to see your name in lights.
Epic work Monkeys + MAUD
Nice one guys, great effort!
Think it's 7 pencils in all, 5 Gold, 1 Black and then another pencil was awarded for Most Awarded Agency sort of a Best in Show...
Nice one guys
Who's kids don't know this?
Congratulations to all involved - 'Truth well told' finally has it's day again.
Too funny.
Pat, it's getting boring congratulating you. Well done again mate and for next week as well.


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Raffles On Robson
OPEN HOUSE at 812 Cambie St. this Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th from 2-4
#1206- 2 bed 2 bath 863 sqft- $574,900
At Raffles on Robson good taste is everlasting. Grand open spaces, distictive finishings and inimitable style. Polished granite, Miele and Liebherr in the kitchen. Polished marble, Latorre and aroma in the bath. Raffles is a private collection of designer homes in a boutique style.
Contact Chantal Vignola at 604-417-4457 for more info.
#1206-Brand new building between Yaletown and Robson Street. The quality and finish of this building will win the hearts of even the most detail oriented buyers. Great view of water and city. Top of the line appliances. Granite countertops. Open kitchen plan and a very effecient layout. Start enjoying every day of your life at Raffles. No GST. Seller Motivated. Hurry!!!


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posted by Thom Holwerda on Wed 19th Dec 2007 21:43 UTC, submitted by PlatformAgnostic
"I recently sat down with Technical Fellow and SysInternals founder Mark Russinovich to dig a bit into what's new in the Windows Server 2008 kernel. Of course, we talk about many things including HyperV, application virtualization, kernel architecture (not everybody defines an OS kernel in the same way - tune in to understand why this is the case. Mark has his own definition that may not be the same as yours...)."


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Running Water Draw Arts & Crafts Festival gets under way
Published 3:58 pm, Thursday, October 18, 2012
Shannon McIntire (left) helps her mother Ellen Mathieson arrange a display of handmade soaps Thursday at their Fidelity Scents booth for the 38th annual Running Water Draw Arts & Crafts Festival.
The three-day event inside the Ollie Liner Center runs 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. today and Saturday and noon-5 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $2 for adults and $1 for children. This is the seventh year for Mathieson to be a vendor at the event. Their booth includes quality handcrafted bath and body products for both genders, such as lotions, Arnica rubs and 17 varieties of soaps in addition to several limited editions.


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Housewife Raised By Monkeys, Sold As Prostitute And Now Raising Two Kids
Marina Chapman was abandoned by kidnappers in the remote jungles of Columbia when she was just a child, and was raised from that point on by monkeys. If it sounds like something out of a book, you're right - except it's all true.
Marina Chapman, the housewife raised by monkeys, learned to catch birds and rabbits with her bare hands after the was abandoned in the jungle.
?It's asumed that the kidnap went wrong," Vanessa James, one of Chapman's two daughters, told the Telegraph. "All she can remember is being chloroformed with a hand over her mouth. And all she can recall of her life before that is having a black doll as a toddler."
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She was "rescued" by hunters, but was sold in the sex trade and groomed to become a prostitute. She escaped, and was taken in by a Colombian family to work as a maid. She travelled to England in her mid-twenties where she met her now-husband, John Chapman, whom she married in 1977, settled down with and began raising a family with.
"I got bedtime stories about the jungle, as did my sister. We didn't think it odd - it was just Mum telling her life," James said. "So in a way it was nothing special having a mother like that."
Experts said monkeys have been known to accept humans into their fold, so her story does have credence.
Chapman trained as a cook as she got older, but recently quit to tell her story and highlight human trafficking in South Africa. Her book is already being sold in seven countries, and is expanding to the United Kingdom and America soon. A documentary is also being filmed about her life.
© 2012 iScience Times All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
25 Year Study Reveals Eco-Farming To Be Economically Feasible And Sustainable
How Methane-Producing Microbes Caused The Largest Mass Extinction The World Has Ever Seen
Terrifying Animatronic Robot Dances To 'Blurred Lines,' Causes Nightmares [VIDEO]
Scientists Demonstrate Three-Way Quantum Communication: What's Faster Than The Speed Of Light?
Woolly Mammoth DNA To Be Cloned, Then Joined With Elephant DNA To Create New Creature
Oculus Rift Headset Will Take You On A Trip To Space, All From The Comfort Of Your Couch


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The Gathering
The West Pole
June 2009
Released: 2009, Psychonaut Records
Rating: 4.0/5
Reviewer: Hanntu
I have to admit straightaway that I've never encountered this Dutch band before, but doing some research on the band, one of their former members stands out immediately. Anneke van Giersbergen was a member of The Gathering between 1994 and 2007, and while I know Anneke from her guest work with Ayreon, she was apparently to The Gathering what Tarja was to Nightwish. Similarly, when Anneke left, there was major speculation as to who her replacement would be. The band finally recruited Norwegian warbler Silje Wergeland from Octavia Sperati, a doom/gothic outfit that was neither too inspiring nor very original.
THE WEST POLE, on its own merits, is quite an enjoyable album. Silje has a gentle voice that manages to be sweet without being saccharine. If you imagine a cross between Simone from Epica and Sharon Corr from The Corrs (major Irish/Dutch hotness, giggity giggity goo!), that pretty much sums up Silje's performance on THE WEST POLE. The tendency for many female singers in metal, especially those of the gothic metal persuasion, is to overreach themselves in trying to attain that 'operatic' tag. Silje thankfully doesn't try to do this, staying within herself and the boundaries of the album, and it's a massive relief.
But the hero of THE WEST POLE is the other lady in the band, the very understated Marjolein Kooijman. Her simple yet intensely touching basslines are subtle and fill out the ethereal soundscape that The Gathering conjure up. This is Steve Digiorgio if he were to forget himself one day and play on a pop album, and the dynamics, harmonies and tone that Marjolein achieves is very impressive indeed.
I doubt many fans of extreme metal will pick this up, so stay well away if you like Spawn of Possession more than Sinead O'Connor or Simon and Garfunkel. This could be the soundtrack for one of those escape-from-yourself movies. You know the type, where the troubled heroine is cruising down the open desert road with the night breeze whipping through her hair, high on cocaine and alcohol trying to forget…But in all seriousness, for a relaxing trippy pop record (that isn't stupidly superficial) with gothic and celtic undertones, performed by good musicians, look no further than THE WEST POLE by the Dutch veterans.
Track Listing
1. When Trust Becomes Sound
Silje Wergeland - Vocals
Other reviews
» If Then Else
» Superheat - A Live Album
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» Souvenirs
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(NASDAQ: ELOQ), the marketing system of record for modern marketers,
today announced Eloqua
AdFocus, which for the first time allows marketers to manage
targeted, personalized display ads from the Eloqua (News - Alert) platform. The
addition of Eloqua AdFocus means Eloqua is now the only marketing
automation provider giving marketers the ability to manage owned,
earned, and paid media in a single packaged application. With Eloqua
AdFocus, marketers can create multi-channel campaigns incorporating
email, web, social, and now display advertising in one automated
process. Eloqua AdFocus was revealed during Eloqua
Experience, Eloqua's annual user conference.
According to an October, 2012 Forrester (News - Alert) Research, Inc. report "Best
Practices For Display Marketing" by Joanna O'Connell, "As dollars shift
from search and other channels, display is poised to command 36% of all
interactive spend by 2016." A typical B2B buyer interacts with and is
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"The Albert Hambly Rudd of Guilford County, NC"
"The Albert Hambly Rudd of Guilford County, NC"Updated November 19, 2007
|Jayne Rogers McDonald
76 Hillcrest Drive
Weaverville,N.C. 28787
A-United States
This page includes information gathered from relatives that have done research.It is by no means complete but will be updated as new information is gathered.
My Family History
Family Tree Maker Reports and Trees


text:
Police officers had a narrow escape when bullets struck their patrol vehicle in Derry city on Wednesday morning.
Two shots hit an armoured police landrover in the Bogside area but no one was injured, the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said.
The attack took place at about 1am although the PSNI only confirmed the incident on Wednesday.
The bullets caused damage to a window of the armoured vehicle as it drove down Westland Street in the heart of the republican district.
Suspicion will fall on the new IRA, which has a support base and presence on the west bank of the river Foyle in Derry.
PSNI Supt Garry Eaton, the senior police commander in Derry, said: "It is fortunate that we are not speaking about deaths or injuries. Members of the crew were kept safe by protective equipment on the vehicle. However, if the shots had missed, then anyone walking or standing on the street could have been hit."
He added: "Those who organised and carried out the attack were totally reckless and showed total disregard for the lives of people in that community. Despite this incident; we remain committed to providing the people of Derry with the type of positive and dedicated policing that they ask and expect of us."
Colum Eastwood, SDLP member of the Northern Ireland Aassembly for Foyle, condemned those behind the attack.
"Those who carried out this attack have no regard for their community, or the future we are trying to build. These people need to hear the message loud and clear that their actions are not wanted in our community and can never achieve the aims they say they want to achieve by violent means."


text:
About the Book
With more twists and turns than a palace vault and one unforgettable family of thieves, this second book in Brian Farrey's epic and critically acclaimed Vengekeep Prophecies trilogy will leave you breathless.
Trouble is brewing in the Five Provinces. Mysterious magical artifacts have gone missing from the royal vaults. Master thieves from a secret society known as the Shadowhands are disappearing. And without explanation, the High Laird has begun imprisoning the peaceful Sarosans.
Jaxter Grimjinx suspects all these things are connected, but after the tapestry fiasco that nearly destroyed Vengekeep, he knows better than to get involved. Then he and his parents receive a summons from the Shadowhands—a summons that they would be foolish to ignore—and Jaxter is thrust into the heart of the conspiracy. With the help of a few new friends and an old friend he would rather forget, Jaxter will have to delve deep into some long-buried and dangerous secrets.
A "rich fantasy" (Publishers Weekly, starred review) with a family of thieves that "couldn't be more likable" (Kirkus Reviews), the Vengekeep Prophecies trilogy takes everything you thought you knew about prophecies and spins it into pure magic. Don't miss the thrilling conclusion to the series, The Grimjinx Rebellion.
Educator and Librarian Resources
Critical Praise
"In an excellent, self-contained adventure, 12-year-old Jaxter Grimjinx is anxious to prove himself at the family business: thievery. Farrey's rich fantasy hits the ground running and never lets up." — Publishers Weekly (starred review)
"There couldn't be a more likeable family of thieves. This funny and serious series opener features action, twists and pleasingly original vocabulary, such as the swear 'zoc' (as in 'Zoc that') and the expression 'bangers,' which means, roughly, 'awesome.' Bangers!" — Kirkus Reviews
"Enticing, lively, and wholly engrossing, this book takes us on a journey as twisty and treacherous as an old castle staircase--where danger lurks behind every bend, nothing is ever as it seems, and things can always, always get worse." — Anne Ursu, Award-winning author of Breadcrumbs
"Humorous and inventive. I'm eager to read the second in the trilogy!" — Joseph Delaney, Bestselling author of The Last Apprentice series
Product Details
- Imprint: HarperCollins
- On Sale: 10/22/2013
- Trimsize: 5.5 in (w) x 8.25 in (h) x 1.21 in (d)
- Pages: 384
- List Price: 16.99 USD
- Ages: 8 to 12
- BISAC1: JUVENILE FICTION / Fantasy & Magic
- BISAC2: JUVENILE FICTION / Boys & Men
- BISAC3: JUVENILE FICTION / Action & Adventure / General


text:
"What have the Romans ever done for us?" he asks. "Well, there's the aqueduct," somebody says, thoughtfully. "The sanitation," says another. "Public order," offers a third. Reg reluctantly acknowledges that there may have been a couple of benefits. But then steadily, and with increasing enthusiasm, his men reel off a litany of the good things the Romans have wrought with their occupation of the Holy Land.
By the time they're finished they're not so sure about the whole insurgency idea after all and an exasperated Reg tries to rally them: "All right, but apart from the sanitation, the medicine, education, wine, public order, irrigation, roads, a fresh water system, and public health, what have the Romans ever done for us?"
I can't help but think of that scene as I watch the contortions of the anti-American hordes in Britain, Europe and even in the US itself in response to the remarkable events that are unfolding in the real Middle East today.
Little more than three years after US forces, backed by their faithful British allies, set foot in Afghanistan, the entire historical dynamic of this blighted region has already shifted.
Ignoring, fortunately, the assault from clever world opinion on America's motives, its credibility and its ambitions, the Bush Administration set out not only to eliminate immediate threats but also to remake the Middle East. In the last month, the pace of progress has accelerated, and from Beirut to Kabul.
Confronted with this awkward turn of events, Reg's angry successors are asking their cohorts: "What have the Americans ever done for us?" "Well, they did get rid of the Taleban in Afghanistan. 'Orrible bunch, they were."
"All right, the Taleban, I grant you."
"Then there was Iraq. Knocked off one of the nastiest dictators who ever lived and gave the whole nation a chance to pick its own rulers."
"Yeah, all right. Fair enough. I didn't like Saddam."
"Libya gave up its nuclear weapons."
"And then there's Syria. Thousands of people on the streets of Lebanon. Syrians look like they're pulling out."
"I just heard Egypt's going to hold free presidential elections for the first time. And Saudi Arabia just held elections too."
"The Palestinians and the Israelis are talking again and they say there's a real chance of peace this time."
"All right, all right. But apart from liberating 50 million people in Iraq and Afghanistan, undermining dictatorships throughout the Arab world, spreading freedom and self-determination in the broader Middle East and moving the Palestinians and the Israelis towards a real chance of ending their centuries-long war, what have the Americans ever done for us?"
It's too early, in fairness, to claim complete victory in the American-led struggle to bring peace through democratic transformation of the region. Despite the temptation to crow, we must remember that this is not Berlin 1989. There will surely be challenging times ahead in Iraq, Iran, in the West Bank and elsewhere. The enemies of democratic revolution — all the terrorists and Baathists, the sheikhs, the mullahs and the monarchs — are not going to give up without a fight.
It was always the express goal of the Bush Administration to change the regime in Baghdad, precisely because of the opportunities for democracy it would open up in the rest of the Arab world. George Bush understands the simple but historically demonstrable thesis that freedom is not only the most basic of human rights, but also the best way to ensure that nations do not go to war with each other.
In a speech one month before the start of the Iraq war in 2003, Mr Bush laid out the strategy: "The world has a clear interest in the spread of democratic values, because stable and free nations do not breed the ideologies of murder. They encourage the peaceful pursuit of a better life."
I doubt that anybody, even the most prescient in the Bush Administration or at 10 Downing Street, thought the progress we are now seeing would come as quickly as it has.
But what was clear to the bold foreign policy strategists in Washington was that the status quo that existed before September 11 could no longer be tolerated. Much of the Muslim world represented decay and stagnation, and bred anger and resentment. That was the root cause of the terrorism that had attacked America with increasing ferocity between 1969 and 2001.
America's critics craved stability in the Middle East. Don't rock the boat, they said. But to the US this stability was that of the mass grave; the calm was the eerie quiet that precedes the detonation of the suicide bomb. The boat was holed and listing viciously.
As a foreign policy thinker close to the Administration put it to me, in the weeks before the Iraq war two years ago: "Shake it and see. That's what we are going to do." The US couldn't be certain of the outcome, but it could be sure that whatever happened would be better than the status quo.
And so America, the revolutionary power, plunged in and shook the region to its foundations. And it is already liking what it sees.


text:
Ram Bomjon and Temptation
I have been tracking the story of Ram Bahadur Bomjan (or Ram Bomjon) for a couple of months now. Ram Bomjon is a teenage boy in Nepal who, his supporters claim, has been meditating without eating or moving for about eight months now, sitting under a pipal tree, just as Buddha did.
The comparison to the Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama, has been central to this story, as it has been claimed that Ram Bomjon is the new Buddha. Bomjon's supporters have actually petitioned the government in Nepal to register the organization that surrounds and supports the meditating boy under the name Noma Buddha – new Buddha.
There are important differences, however. Gautama did not receive pilgrims, or have people promoting his meditation. He just sat and meditated, without protection or guidance. Furthermore, Gautama did not sit for eight months. He took under 50 days to reach enlightenment. Gautama's teachings include the idea that ascetic practices that are too extreme lead to failure, and are misguided.
Ram Bomjon's supporters don't seem to see things the same way as Gautama did. They have formed a committee to protect and conceal Ram Bomjon, leading to strong suspicions that the meditating boy is eating and moving about at night. The committee says that Ram Bomjon needs to be guarded from the wild animals that roam the area at night, including tigers. They also say that Bomjon needs to be protected from distractions, such as noise, or being touched. One recent, comprehensive article on the subject quotes a member of Bomjon's inner circle as explaining,
""Miscreants tried to disturb him by creating noise in the area, and pinching him with sticks,†Thing says, "That is why it was necessary to manage the place in an organized way.â€
Such excuses seem credible at first glance. After all, who could meditate while being looked at, talked to, and prodded?
On consideration, I remain skeptical. Who could meditate while being looked at, talked to, and prodded? Well, according the stories, Siddhartha Gautama the Buddha could.
The legends of Gautama's enlightenment say that, while he was meditating, Mara, the magical lord of desire and attachment, came to tempt him. Mara talked to him, to persuade Gautama to return to his wife and child. Mara shouted at Gautama, made distracting presentations of fear and lust in front of him, and even hurled lightning bolts at him. Still, the Buddha did not budge, and remained steadfast to his purpose of gaining enlightenment.
Now, if Siddhartha could withstand temptations of lust, of family loyalty, and of the most intense terror possible, are we really to believe that the New Buddha cannot keep his concentration if viewers are allowed within 15 feet, if people make noises, or poke at him gently with a stick? Of course, an ordinary teenager could not withstand such temptations and distractions, but a Buddha could.
There's something very suspicious about a group of people who claim that they have a new Buddha, but are unwilling to hold their Buddha to the same standards that Buddhism has had for Buddhahood for centuries. If you're going to call Ram Bomjon the Buddha, and say that he hasn't moved or eaten for two-thirds of a year then allow him to be examined by physicians to verify the truth of the matter. If Siddhartha Gautama could withstand lightning bolts hurled at him from the spirit of temptation incarnate, then surely the new Buddha can keep his meditation intact while physicians take a blood sample. Surely, as Buddha did not need to be covered and protected at night, Ram Bomjon does not…
… unless Ram Bomjon is not a new Buddha. Unless Ram Bomjon is a fake.


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Melissa 30: Finale and Epilogue - by Billiejoe (~BBW(Multiple), Stuckage, ~SWG )
~BBW(Multiple), Stuckage, ~SWG -At 250 Pounds with a loving b/f, the nude model comes to a decision
Melissa 30: Finale and Epilogue
by Billiejoe
(Click here for prior installment)
Melissa was relieved to find it raining the very next morning. An excuse to hide inside, she thought. Mel was still in a state of shock at how plumply she had filled out. She had literally doubled in size in one and a half years. Two hundred and fifty pounds! That came out to be 113 kilos. There was no more hiding the fact that she was fat.
More than fat, Melissa was now obese. And after getting stuck inside that water slide the day before, Melissa wondered how and if she could truly accept her weight gain. What made matters worse, she had her first nude modelling class this afternoon. Was she really prepared to pose naked in front of a class of immature students? She knew the money would be worth it.
"I'll be fine...." she sighed, pulling herself out of bed.
This was another task made difficult by her increased poundage. Her tummy curled into its thick fat rolls as she pulled herself upright.
"Ugh, so fat." she moaned, hauling herself to her feet.
Mel had a stretch, pulling her arms over her brunette head, her tummy and bum poking out as she curved her back. She rubbed her blue eyes, she felt quite relaxed, despite recent embarrassment. At least she had slept well, Melissa never usually had such good nights sleep. Her pale skin glowed with a small sunburn, barely noticeable.
Melissa reached her hand up in between her round butt cheeks and yanked her undies out of her ass crack. She then tugged down on her singlet in a useless attempt to cover her widening waist.
"I'm meant to be overweight." she said with little hesitation.
Mel plodded downstairs, her bum cheeks peeking out of the bottom of her tight undies. She had gotten so tubby, simple things like walking were difficult. She waddled her fat form into the kitchen, her mother absently reading the newspaper.
"Morning Melissa." she said.
"Hey." grunted Mel in an overtly tired response.
Melissa slumped down onto a chair, mum had cooked pancakes for breakfast. Wriggling her dainty fingers eagerly, she grabbed several and placed them on her plate. Mel drizzled a considerable amount of syrup onto her pancakes before beginning to stuff her face.
"Mmm....good job mum." she mumbled.
"Says here an overweight woman got trapped inside a water slide at the amusement park yesterday..." said Mel's mum, eyes not leaving the paper.
Melissa froze.
"You hear anything about that? You were there." asked her mum.
Mel got a grip, "Umm, no must have happened after we left." she shook her head.
Her mum seemed to think nothing more of it, much to Mel's relief.
"Must have been a big girl to get stuck there...." was her mother's only other comment.
Mel looked down guiltily at her pancakes, before opting to continue gorging.
"Well honey, I must be off to work." said her mum,
"Good luck at the modelling, don't feel too nervous."
"Oh believe me I already am." uttered Melissa.
"You're doing something I'd never be game to do. Good luck." said her mum, before leaving out the front door.
Melissa waited for her mum to leave the driveway before snatching the newspaper up in her hands. She fumbled through the tabloid pages, trying to find the article her mother had just mentioned.
"Fat girl pays price in tight squeeze."
Sure enough, Melissa's incident had made the papers.
Mel kept reading;
"A young overweight woman was in for the scare of her life yesterday as she became stuck in a child's waterslide. The anonymous fat girl became unstuck when water backed up behind her and popped her through. Very embarrassed, the woman left the park before interviews could be carried out. Experts estimated the girl's weight to be between three and four hundred pounds."
"Ouch! Come on! That's a huge exaggeration!" protested Melissa, "I'm only 250 pounds thank you."
Mel felt her stomach tingle with butterflies. So embarrassing. But there was one positive. An "anonymous" woman. No one would ever know it was her....
"Except all my friends...." sighed Melissa, realising the hiding her friends would deliver upon their next meeting. And Nick. There was no way she would utter a word to her boyfriend. That would be too humiliating.
Mel trudged through the earlier parts of the day, her lazy side coming out in full effect. She tried to resist eating too much, but with it raining outside, there was nothing much else to do. Mel had some sort of food nearby until after lunchtime when she had to start getting ready to leave.
"Oh poo, do I really want to do this?" she stuttered to herself.
She reached for the knob of the front door.
"Eep!" she hesitated.
Mel took a step back.
"Compose yourself, girl." she said firmly, you're not even there yet."
Mel took a deep breath and headed out the door. It was a fairly overcast day, but Mel wasn't fussed. The wind had the definite chill of winter to it, Melissa wrapped a scarf around her neck. She wandered deep in thought all the way to the train station, where she sat and waited with angst. Was this really a good idea? It was a challenge, she knew that much.
"Are you nervous?" asked Alex.
Melissa sat in the staff room with a cup of water. Her eyes trailed off into a daydream.
"Huh?" she replied.
Alex chuckled, "Haha, don't worry Melissa there's no need to be nervous. It takes a lot of courage to do this job."
"Hmm." grunted Melissa, hardly consoled by Alex's encouragement.
Alex glanced at his watch, "It's 2 pm, class is about to begin. Let's go."
Melissa bit her lip, before following his lead into the classroom. Twenty pairs of eyes were staring at her, many of the students were of similar age to Melissa.
"Oh poo, I'm so nervous...." she hissed to herself under her breath.
"Alright class. As I promised, today we will be drawing the human body from life. I know you are all eager, and I also know you are all very MATURE." said Alex, "There will be no mischief in this class from anyone who believes the human body is something to laugh at."
Melissa had her arms folded over her ample tummy, even though it was well covered by her large trench coat.
"This lovely young lady is Melissa." said Alex, gesturing his hands to her, "She is a student here at our university, and has been brave enough to come and pose for us today."
Mel gave the class a small wave, smiling anxiously.
"So now I want everyone to grab a sheet of paper, some pencils and we will begin." Alex turned to the blackboard and began writing some notes; Mel was too nervous to bother reading them.
"Whenever you are ready, Melissa." said Alex quietly to her.
There was a small podium in the middle of the classroom, covered in pillows and blankets. Melissa's legs felt like jelly as she wandered over. Exhaling, she slowly slid off her big coat, standing nude in front of the entire class. For a split second, Melissa felt fatter than she had ever been before, and more exposed than ever. She saw many of the student's eyes glancing her up and down. Whether this was in a critical manner or for the sake of art remained unknown.
"Accept your fatness, Melissa." she said in her head.
Mel lay down on the podium of pillows, laying on her side and supporting her head with her hand. She placed her other hand over her expansive right hip, in a subconscious attempt to cover her love handle, which had rolled up on her side. Her heart was racing as she heard the faint sound of pencil scratching against paper.
Alex began rambling on about techniques for drawing and the human body, Melissa drowning that out with nerves. She was right in the centre of the classroom, surrounded by the students. She was surprised at how professional they were, but she was still shy nonetheless. She wondered what people behind her were thinking about her bum. It would definitely have been the biggest ass most of them had seen. Melissa's thick thighs were pressed tightly together, her tummy bulging out in front of her her. Her gigantic breasts expanded as she took deep breaths to calm herself.
It seemed like it was all over in five minutes when Alex dismissed the class. Melissa stood up, feeling a little shaky, wrapping her coat back around her.
"How was that, then?" asked Alex.
Mel nodded, "Not bad...."
"It is difficult and uncomfortable to sit still for three hours, but you did very well."
Had it really been three hours?
"Oh no problem, I can spend hours laying around doing nothing." giggled Melissa.
"Well here is your money, " said Alex, "Will you be interested in posing again?"
Mel's eyes ballooned at the money she had just accepted.
"Umm, you know what. Sure. I'd love to." she replied with confidence.
Melissa was excited now. She was really going to start earning some real money. With her retail job and the nude modelling, she could finally start buying herself new clothes and stop having to get money off her mum.
When Melissa arrived home, she was beaming to see Nick at the front door. He stood with a bunch of red roses and a box of chocolates.
"Hey honey!" she smiled.
"Oh hey, I was just going to drop these around to you." said Nick.
Mel tilted her head, "Aww, you are so sweet! They're beautiful."
She gave him a hug.
"How was your...um, nude modelling?" asked Nick.
Melissa laughed, "Oh don't worry, Nick. No one was looking at me that way. Here, come in."
The young couple wandered up the stairs into Melissa's bedroom. Mel placed the flowers and chocolate on her desk before wrapping her arms around her boyfriend.
"You're going to make me so fat." giggled Melissa.
"I know you love chocolate, so..."
Mel giggled again.
"But anyway, I need to get changed, it's a bit hot for this trench coat in here, what say?" she patted Nick on the chest.
Nick sat on Mel's bed while the rump-fed lass searched through her drawers for some new clothes.
"Hmm...none of these fit properly anymore." she sighed absently.
Nick watched as Melissa took off her trench coat, now standing in only a white bra and undies. Mel didn't seem too shy, as she continued to rummage through her drawers. Nick felt tingles in his stomach as he watched his girlfriend's butt jiggle ever so slightly. Mel's white undies were wedged in her bum crack, leaving a lot of fleshy cheek exposed.
"Oh my goodness, look!" gasped Melissa, pulling a pair of jeans out of her drawer.
Nick felt confused as Mel held up a pair of tiny hipster jeans. What would Mel need with them?
"These are my old jeans! From before I got fat!" she laughed.
"Are you serious?! That's insane." stuttered Nick, who still wondered at how Mel had gotten fat so rapidly.
Melissa covered her gaping mouth with her hand, "Oh my goodness, I can't believe I used to be able to fit in these!"
She gave Nick a sweet look, "Reckon I can still squeeze my butt into these?"
Nick stumbled for speech, "Umm...well..."
"Oh sweetie, I'm kidding! Of course I can't fit in them!" laughed Mel, "I would like to see how much I've grown though...."
Nick lay back on Melissa's bed as she stood at the end of it. She winked and turned her back to him, Nick stunned at how big her bum was. Melissa shook her hips a little to tease him, her butt fat wobbling at the sudden movement. She elegantly placed her feet into the tiny jeans and began to pull them up.
"Oh my goodness, these are tight." she gasped.
Melissa groaned as she pulled at the jeans. They were way too small for her. The waistband stretched as much as it could, slowly inching up her plump thighs. Nick could only stare in amazement as Mel's thighs bulged over the tight waistband, he wondered how much further Mel could pull them.
"Mmph!" she grunted, jumping on the spot.
Melissa's fat bum cheeks wobbled violently, the jeans reaching the bottom of her ass shelf. Mel's butt stuck out so far from her back, there was no way those pants would fit over their vast dimensions. She twisted her wide hips from side to side, as her undies slipped deeper into her ass crack. Mel stopped, before giving out an almighty pull. Mel's large rump oozed over the waistband, which dug into the mounds of flesh on her lower body. But she could not pull them up. This was how fat her bum had become.
"That's all I can do." she gasped with a smile.
Nick was speechless, he tried to hide his obvious excitement.
"Can you believe how big my bum's gotten?" winked Mel, letting her long brown hair down.
Melissa grabbed the box of chocolates Nick had bought her.
"Oh well, I guess there's nothing I can do to make it smaller." she sighed cheekily.
"Get over here, girl." said Nick eagerly.
Mel kicked off her old jeans, never to be worn again and pounced onto her boyfriend in only her underwear.
"Do you think my bum's gotten too fat?" she asked with a little pout.
"I love every last pound, my little piglet." said Nick.
Melissa giggled before kissing him. Nick rolled her over onto her back, before flipping open the box of chocolates. He poked one in between her plump lips as Melissa began to eat with a smile.
"Mmmm....Oh I love chocolate so much...." she giggled.
Nick smiled back and began to massage Mel's tummy in his hands. Mel shivered with pleasure, her belly rolled softly as if it were cookie dough. Melissa took the chocolate box for herself and kept eating them one by one as Nick continued to run his hands through her flabby parts.
"Oof...Nick I think I'll pop if I eat anymore!" she moaned.
"Nonono!" replied Nick, "I believe in you! Eat more!"
Melissa giggled, this was so much fun, "Ooh, ok. Only because you believe in me. Hey, I didn't get fat by not eating..."
Melissa stuffed three more chocolates into her mouth.
"It's going straight to my bottom!" she warned Nick with a laugh.
"I'm sorry Mel, but your butt just isn't big enough for me yet." said Nick cheekily.
Mel giggled, her body jiggling as she ate the last chocolate. She leaned forward and gave Nick a kiss. Tonight had been a simply fun and romantic night.
The rain had cleared up by the next morning, but it remained windy for a cold day in the sun. Melissa woke up still feeling a little drowsy, Nick had stayed late the night before. Mel had no plans for the day, not until the afternoon.
She planned to hang out with her girlfriends. Her morning remained uneventful, Melissa continued to eat the chocolates Nick had bought her, there was nothing better to do. After a hefty lunch of pasta, Melissa found the energy to wander to the corner shop to buy a box of donuts. She had been craving them all day. Melissa had accepted her weight, and had now decided to eat what she wanted, when she wanted. She blissfully sat on her bed, watching TV and eating donuts.
"Mmm...." she smiled, taking another bite of soft pastry.
Cream oozed out of the donut's centre as Melissa bit down, in a simile of her bulging body oozing out of her tight clothes. Melissa licked chocolate icing off her sticky fingers as her tummy protruded forward over her black bike pants. Her love handles were so wide now, and her sitting position meant her fleshy hips spread out to her sides as well.
"Oof..." she moaned, her tights were feeling even more uncomfortable.
Mel's bum had become so fat that she couldn't close any of her pants now, let alone cover her entire ass. Melissa's butt crack was always showing these days, no pants able to cover her swelling bottom. Bike pants seemed to be the only option, and even they struggled to contain her well-rounded rump.
"Ooh, too plump!" she giggled, lifting her belly with her free hand.
Mel's breaths were slightly laboured, her top constricting her expansive bust. Melissa's breasts heaved, her bosom threatening to pop right out of her bra.
Melissa's gluttonous raid was interrupted by a knock at the door.
"Yeah mum?" she called.
The door opened and Melissa's mum walked in with a large shopping bag.
"Honey, I bought you some things." she said.
Mel leaned forward expectantly, but had some trouble straightening up. Melissa's mother retrieved a pair of jeans from the bag.
"You bought me clothes?" asked Melissa, a little shocked.
"Yes. It's my way of apologising for harassing you about your weight. If you're happy with your size, then please take these new clothes." said her mother.
"Aww thanks mum!" said Mel, standing and giving her a hug, "Ooh, I'll wear them out this afternoon with the girls."
Mel's mum smiled and left the room.
Melissa felt the urge to weight herself. She waddled her tubby form into her ensuite and stepped on the scales.
"Hmm....still 250 pounds." she said to herself.
Mel looked down at her sheer size. Her hips were almost as wide as a doorframe. Melissa glanced at the clock.
"Oh my goodness I have to get ready!" she said.
Melissa took a look at her new clothes. She decided on the new jeans and a pink singlet top. She wandered to her mirror, which she had been afraid of ever since she first noticed the extra pounds on her butt. Today she could look at it with confidence. She was fat, no question, but that wasn't going to get her down.
Melissa twisted her hips so she could look at her behind in the mirror. Her peach-shaped Bottom jiggled happily, her tights stretching so much one could almost see through them to her pale flesh and white undies. Mel jiggled her hips and slowly slid the bike pants off, chucking the clingy item to the floor. Her fat bum wobbled like jelly as she stuck her feet into her new jeans. She hoped they fit a little better than her old jeans she had tried on last night. Melissa breathed a sigh of relief, they fit quite snugly, but she wasn't ballooning out of them. Yet. A slight reprieve for the feminine fatso.
Melissa inhaled deeply and got the button closed with little struggle. She smiled happily at her tummy bulging over the waistband.
"Oh poo....doesn't look like long until these don't fit." she giggled.
She checked out her butt. The new jeans hugged her plump bum cheeks quite nicely, her soft bottom looking undeniably sexy. But of course, her ass crack remained exposed.
"Oh well." she said to herself.
Melissa pulled her pink singlet top over her head, wriggling her meaty arms and pulling it down over her inflated midriff. The large bottom fat roll of her hefty belly could not be covered by the tight singlet, with her juicy love handles bulging out to her sides. Melissa's full breasts and cleavage were generously exposed, and Melissa felt pretty damn attractive. And she was. Melissa looked beautiful.
After deciding to leave her long brown hair out for the night, she heard a car horn in the driveway. Christie's car was here. She quickly grabbed her wallet and headed out the door, beaming confidence.
"Hey guys!" hyped Mel, sitting down in the car.
"Hey Melly." came the response.
Chrissy began to drive down the road before asking a relatively important question.
"So girls....what are we doing?"
Jodie and Vicky looked at each other.
"Dunno....maybe we should have thought about that." said Jodie.
"We could go to the movies." said Vicky, pulling short, black hair into a ponytail.
The response was hardly enthusiastic.
"Anyone hungry?" asked Jodie.
"Yes!" said Melissa impatiently.
"Woah, ok settle down." laughed Chrissy, "Where should we go to eat then Melissa?"
Melissa pursed her lips, "Well, we could go to my work and get chocolate. Then go to the park and eat it."
The other girls nodded.
"Sounds like a plan." said Vicky.
Melissa felt proud walking through the mall in her new clothes. Her clothes weren't uncomfortable at all, something she had not experienced in a while.
The four girls walked into the chocolate shop to a smiling Ron.
"Hello Melissa, are these your friends?" asked Mr. Evans.
"Teehee, yeah. We've come for chocolate." she giggled.
Ron shrugged, "Well you've come to the right place. You know that."
"Hey Mel." said Penny, entering the shop from the back entrance.
"Hey Pen!" replied Melissa, "Can we get these four boxes of chocolate."
Mel plonked them down on the counter, "And what are you guys having?"
Christie, Jodie and Vicky stood stunned.
"I'm kidding, we'll share!" laughed Melissa cheekily.
The girls laughed, even though they knew Mel could easily plough through four chocolate boxes.
"See you guys later." said Mel to Ron and Penny
They waved back.
"You're working next Monday." called Ron.
"Sure thing." replied Mel.
It was going on sunset when the girls made it to the park, the pristine location perfect for the girls to sit down on the lush grass and eat their snack.
"Mmph, yum." said Jodie, pressing chocolate into her mouth, "See Mel, things are pretty sweet for you now."
Mel smiled, swallowing her bite, "I know! Life's turned out pretty good, don't you think?"
"It's been a tumultuous time for us all." said Christie.
"Couldn't have done it without you guys." smiled Mel.
Vicky pushed Mel's arm, "Don't be so lame, Mel!"
"I mean it! You guys are the best." said Melissa.
"So are you Melissa." said Vicky, "I think I speak for everyone when I say you brighten up our lives."
Melissa couldn't stop smiling.
Christie grinned out of the corner of her mouth, "Now you're the one being lame."
"It'll be dark soon. Let's go to mine and watch movies." said Jodie, tossing her red hair over her shoulder.
"Great idea!" said Vicky, "Let's go!"
"Patience, guys." hushed Chrissy.
Vicky poked her tongue at her, before breaking into laughter.
"It's a nice evening, let's stay here a little longer." said Christie.
Jodie and Vicky looked at each other, "How about we meet you and Mel there?" asked Jodie.
"Yeah, we'll walk there. Good exercise." said Vicky.
"Sure." replied Melissa, "See you soon!"
Christie watched as Jodie and Vicky wandered quickly up the road, talking and laughing in their typical way.
"Ha.... They truly are characters, huh." chuckled Chrissy.
Melissa wasn't paying attention, she just closed her eyes and felt the soft wind on her pretty face. As the orange and pink twilight settled down on the park, the cold winter wind blew in from the South, Melissa noticing frost forming on the grass.
"What are you thinking about?" asked Christie, her and
Mel leaning on the wooden fence at the park's outskirts.
"Stuff." was Melissa's simply response.
Chrissy nodded, casting her eyes to the river flowing past the park between the town and the tall, pine tree-covered mountains.
"I've grown a lot over the last two years." said Melissa, "Oh, not just physically, you know."
"I get ya." replied Christie.
"I discovered who I am and what I'm capable of." continued Melissa.
"Could you gaining so much weight have something to do with it?" asked Chrissy.
"Oh definitely." said Melissa, "I'm a fat girl. I always have been. I was meant to be fat. It just took me a long time to realise it."
Melissa cast her mind back through the last two years. She had doubled her weight. She had become renowned for her bum of all things. Not mention her gluttonous obsession with chocolate. And her unfortunate ability to get stuck in rather embarrassing places. And for every chocolate she had eaten, and every pair of jeans she had outgrown, Melissa had accepted that she was fat. Her bottom had practically become famous. But that's the way things had played out, and Mel was willing to accept it. Melissa has a fat bum.
"Despite your worries, you still managed to set yourself up a decent start to life. You have a job, university course, a boyfriend, great friends. And of course me, your good old buddy, Christie." said Christie with a light heart.
"That's true." replied Melissa, "Anyway, let's go watch those movies at Jodie's. I reckon we can catch Jodie and Vicky on the way back to her house."
"They can't have gotten too far." laughed Christie.
The two friends walked back to Chrissy's car. Melissa placed her arm around her good mate.
"Thanks, Christie." she smiled.
Christie gave her final words of wisdom, "Mel honey, your life has just begun. Enjoy it."
Last edited by Britt Reid; 05-09-2011 at 09:43 PM.
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 169
I would of like to know how big her butt is. Like in inches. I love this story so much. Melissa is a such a sweet girl and sounds like a very beautiful girle.
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 34
Why thank you.
As for her butt's size in inches.... I have no idea. It's something I always wanted to include, but I have no idea about what sizes would be considered fat. I know 38 inch hips are some sort of standard...
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Friday, July 12, 2013
Win tickets to Alamo's Spinal Tap beer dinner
Back in November, Alamo started trying their hand at a new sort of event: beer dinners. They kicked things off with a multi-course dinner paired with Boulevard beers and a screening of the film Strange Brew. They are continuing the successful combination of food, Boulevard and comedy on Monday, July 22nd with a new beer dinner event that will feature four courses, four Boulevard beers (Zon, 80 Acre, Reverb, and the new Pop-Up Session IPA) and a screening of This Is Spinal Tap. Full menu can be found in the image below.
During one of my recent Twitter rants about overpriced beer dinners, the theater reached out to me to see if I was interested in checking out what a beer dinner was like Alamo-style. Unfortunately, I'll be fulfilling my fatherly duties the night of the 22nd and can't make it, but I wanted to give one of the blog's readers the opportunity to check it out. So, one lucky winner will be selected to receive a pair of tickets to the Spinal Tap beer dinner. The only requirement is that you must give me an 8-page, single spaced review of the event. Or just tweet me. Whatever works.
To enter, simply comment below and tell me your favorite beer that was made in collaboration with or as an homage to a band or musician. Make sure to also include a form of contact in your comment; e-mail address, Twitter handle, whatever works.
Deadline for entries is 11:59pm on Monday, July 15th. I'll randomly select a name and announce the winner on Tuesday the 16th.
Find more information on the event and buy tickets here: http://drafthouse.com/movies/boulevard-beer-dinner-this-is-spinal-tap/kansas_city
Good luck to all who enter!
32 comments:
- @littlebitlaraJuly 12, 2013 at 11:12 AM
Gotta be Dogfish Head's "Bitches Brew"ReplyDelete
I didn't ever get my hands on any, but the Pearl Jam 20 Faithfull Ale was cool.ReplyDelete
- Andrew HicksJuly 12, 2013 at 11:19 AM
Gotta be Hop STASH IPA by Ithaca for Phish... @andrewhicks237ReplyDelete
I'm a big fan of Brother Thelonious from North Coast.ReplyDelete
- Amy PjonJuly 12, 2013 at 11:26 AM
I'm not sure drinking raspberry beer could ever be considered a "favorite" but you gotta love Abita's Purple Haze for the name alone! email@example.com
I really enjoyed Bells This one Goes to 11. @whiskeydeezReplyDelete
- AnonymousJuly 12, 2013 at 11:33 AM
Peach Porch Lounger made by New Belgium, for G Love.ReplyDelete
This beer never made it to production but MMMhop IPA inspired by the band Hanson would have been epic! @thatfiReplyDelete
@Trevor - It actually did finally make it into production, they are working with Mustang out of Oklahoma to brew. So your hopes to try it are still alive!ReplyDelete
Peach Porch Lounger was great after aging a year! I have a bottle of the Pearl Jam 20, but have yet to taste it. I fear it's gotten too old. We'll see...ReplyDelete
- AnonymousJuly 12, 2013 at 12:16 PM
Iron Maiden Trooper!ReplyDelete
21st amendment Back in Black. You know where to find me.ReplyDelete
This comment has been removed by the author.ReplyDelete
I gotta go with the Pearl Jam 20 too. I'm slightly embarrassed that I spent too much on a bottle on eBay, but I bought it mostly to have the bottle itself for nostalgia. The beer itself was unmemorable.ReplyDelete
mmmmmmmhops beeeple beeple doo bop mmmmmmmhops beeple beeple doo bopReplyDelete
Clutch by New BelgiumReplyDelete
- AnonymousJuly 12, 2013 at 4:02 PM
I would have to say Lost Abbey track 10...Bat Out Of Hell.ReplyDelete
- Mel HuffmireJuly 12, 2013 at 4:05 PM
The rich, golden Long Strange Tripel in grateful tribute by Boulevard!ReplyDelete
- Mel HuffmireJuly 12, 2013 at 4:10 PM
The rich, golden Long Strange Tripel in grateful tribute by Boulevard!ReplyDelete
Gwar's Impaled Ale from Cigar City. Never had it but it sure sounds awesome.ReplyDelete
New Belgium ClutchReplyDelete
I have gotta go with bitches brew.ReplyDelete
- AnonymousJuly 12, 2013 at 10:26 PM
toxic revolution stout by Three FloydsReplyDelete
Stillwater Lower DensReplyDelete
erasingclouds at gmail dot com
- AnonymousJuly 13, 2013 at 10:14 AM
Rye'DaTiger, Great Beer and a great song. firstname.lastname@example.com
- stephanieJuly 13, 2013 at 10:29 AM
Purple Haze by AbitaReplyDelete
- AnonymousJuly 13, 2013 at 3:56 PM
So Fresh & So Green, Green - TerrapinReplyDelete
I'm entering only so I can hang out with @GayYoda.
One by (512)ReplyDelete
Stillwater Sensory Series Lower DensReplyDelete
Definitely going with Bitches Brew.ReplyDelete
Iron Maiden "Trooper" because well it's Iron fricking Maiden.ReplyDelete
Congratulations to Jamie York, you were selected as the winner! I'll be reaching out via e-mail.ReplyDelete


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{Food blogger potluck at the park on an overcast Sunday afternoon}
About 16 local food bloggers gathered for a BBQ potluck in Edworthy Park. The weather was that cloudy overcast day where it looks as if it could start pouring rain any second. Fortunately we lucked out and the rain held off. Plus the clouds made a perfect filter, ideal conditions for taking food photos 🙂
We started off with some watermelon..we didn't have an knife so Pierre improvised and used the back of an axe.. oh yea, we're classy like that..
I brought a couple of appies including some golden watermelon, feta and basil skewers.. FINALLY an excuse to use those bamboo party picks I've had sitting in my cupboard 🙂
I also brought a platter of truffled cremini mushrooms bruschetta w/ sweet onion, fresh basil and parmesan cheese on freshly baked Wild Grainze multigrain bread..
I spread each slice of bread with some homemade basil pesto too..
I was so excited to try everyone's dishes. Wendy made some lemon squares that were to die for. Perfect balance of tart and sweet and a crumbly dense buttery crust. I loved the golden crispy edges..
Her friend brought some apple pie cheesecake squares..a crispy almond topping, apple pie filling atop a smooth cream cheese filling over a flaky pastry crust..
Pierre brought some cookies from bought at Evelyn's coffee bar in Banff. These were the BIGGEST cookies I've ever seen, they looked like giant scones! There was a seed and nut cookie, the texture was a mix between a chewy cookie and a tender biscuit.
This one was my fave, the ginger cookie with a raspberry jam filling..
As well as many others, a lemon yogurt, peanut butter chocolate chip…
He also made this gorgeous salad from lettuce, dill and pansies from his backyard, dressed with a black currant vinaigrette.
Vincci (who organized the whole event) made some homemade tzatziki, thick and creamy made with 0% Liberte greek yogurt..Mmm..
To go with some marinated chicken, cooked on her homemade grill, so clever..
Julie made this FANTASTIC garlic scape pesto potato salad with yellow and green beans. So many different flavours, now THIS is how potato salads should be..(the boy even said "..this is the BEST potato salad I've ever had" – and he's a potato-fanatic)
She also brought gluten-free quinoa flour brownies. So dense and fudgy, you couldn't tell it wasn't made without flour.
Lauren brought a gluten-free plum cake, the cake was incredibley moist and the pieces of fresh plum in each bite were bliss..
Chelsey brought champagne martinated peach and raspberries w/ ginger lemon syrup, topped with a cloud of fresh whipped cream.. Whoa.. I could have eaten like 3 of these..
The fruit was infused with the champagne, tasted just like a bellini...
I'm officially stuffed..
Comments6 Responses to "{Food blogger potluck at the park on an overcast Sunday afternoon}"
We did something similar in Ottawa with 6 food bloggers plus pals on Sunday. Love your pictures of the food. It was really nice to get to know each other a bit more in person. You probably found the same. Two of us have posted so far if you are interested in a look-see at what a grey day looks like in the nation's capital.
It was so nice to meet you! I really enjoyed the potluck and absolutely adored those watermelon skewers. Heaven :). So much fun – I can't wait to do it again!
I really am speechless. Your dishes are fabulous interesting and unique! Do you eat like this everyday?
It was great meeting you and your Boy.
TrackbacksCheck out what others are saying...
[…] a ginger crinkle cookie, I had tried this one at the food blogger BBQ when Pierre had brought them for all of us to […]
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Moms who use bouncers
I got a $50 gc to target so I thought I would buy a bouncer for Aidan's arrival. I have the papasan chair I used for Sophia and plan on using it but wanted a bouncer. I have narrowed it down to 3. Can you tell me your experiences with these three or if there was one you liked better.
Fisher Price Sensory Bouncer
Baby Einstein Discoveries Bouncer
Fisher Price Ocean Wonders
I really like the leap frog one, but it says I can only get it online
Help me girls!!!!
Re: Moms who use bouncers
I want the Einstein one!!! (sniff that I have to use the one I already own :( )
Re: Moms who use bouncers
it didnt have the best reviews. But I like the look of it. I think after reading everything on the net, Im gonna go with the Sensory one, but was hoping someone on here would have a review for me.
Re: Moms who use bouncers
I don't know anything about the others but we got the Ocean Wonders one at a consignment sale when DJ was about 4 months old and it was a LIFESAVER!!! He was so colicky and high needs...nothing kept him happy for more than 20 minutes at a time but he would play happily in that bouncy seat for an hour! Once he started crawling and cruising, he had no interest in being pinned down at all (not being held, not in the swing, Jumperoo, Exersaucer, nothing...he wanted to be all over the place) but he would still sit and play happily with the fish forever. Eventually he just got too big for it but he still wants to sit in it every time he sees it. That and his "boobies" are the two things that I think are going to cause problems when the new baby arrives... :(
Re: Moms who use bouncers
DS loves his aquarium wonders bouncer.
Re: Moms who use bouncers
I didn't have THAT Baby Einstein bouncer but I did have a BE one and I reall liked it. It had piano keys on the tray that went across it and 4 different ways you could have it play. It vibrated as well but didn't rock. I got rid of it becuase I wasn't going to have anymore babies....*dumb dumb*
Re: Moms who use bouncers
I usually buy them at consignment shops so I have no experience with the ones youl linked, but I wanted to ask why you can't use your gc online? I'm sure if you read the back of the card, it will give instructions for online shopping. Most store gcs can be used that way.
Re: Moms who use bouncers
No, I know I can use it online, but I dont want to pay the shipping charges. Im cheap..lol. Plus Im too impatient (even though the baby wont be here for another 40something days)..lol. Dh said we will go look at them in person this weekend while we are on our trip and see what they look like. Thanks for the advice.
Re: Moms who use bouncers
I have the einsitine one and love it but its true it does not really rock but it still is a great seat! well worth the money!
HTH Clarissa
Re: Moms who use bouncers
I like the FP sensory one!! It's real colorful, so it will simulate the baby's brain! :)
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- Rated R
- Drama
- 2008
- Buy the Blu-ray
All photos © Sony Pictures Classics
Reviewed by Jason Zingale
f you thought Woody Allen was the biggest paranoid hypochondriac in Hollywood, you've clearly never seen anything by Charlie Kaufman. The Academy Award-winning writer of "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" and "Being John Malkovich" might be a bit of a head case, but he's also freaking brilliant. That's the trouble behind his directorial debut, "Synecdoche, New York," a character-driven dramedy with an amazing concept that's easy to appreciate, but impossible to judge after only one viewing. Some will call it the best film of the year, and others will call it the worst, but in truth, the movie is such a mixed bag that while it does feature some pretty mind-bending material, it never attains the same greatness that his other scripts enjoyed under more experienced directors.
Philip Seymour Hoffman stars as Caden Cotard, a small-time theater director who lives with his artist wife, Adele (Catherine Keener), and daughter, Olive (Sadie Goldstein), in Schenectady, New York. His latest staging of Death of a Salesman is a big hit, but when his wife makes a permanent move to Germany with their daughter, Caden is left to obsess over a series of health concerns that he believes to be slowly killing him. When he's awarded the MacArthur genius grant, however, Caden decides to mount an experimental theater piece worthy of the fellowship's prestige. After renting a warehouse in the middle of New York City and employing hundreds of actors, Caden decides to stage an ongoing portrayal of his life. He casts current wife Claire (Michelle Williams) to play herself, and a man named Sammy Barnathan (Tom Noonan) – who just so happens to have been following Caden around for the last 20 years – as himself. Of course, now that Sammy is a part of his life, Caden must then cast an actor to play the actor, and so forth and so on until his increasingly complex play becomes an overblown production that no one will probably ever see.
The real question is whether or not that even matters. "Synecdoche, New York" has so much to say that it's almost impossible not to get something out of the movie, but it also depends on how you interpret it. Diehard fans will deconstruct every single detail of the film, but a majority of the audience will just struggle with comprehending why they're supposed to enjoy a movie that is, at its core, about death. The term synecdoche is a figure of speech in which a part is used for the whole or the whole for the part – which is to say that the character of Caden represents the entire human race, just as his fictional New York City is only meant to reflect the life of a single person. Under that theory, we're all just a bunch of depressed paranoids waiting to die. I'd like to think that there's more to the film than that, but the truth of the matter is that unless you're really perceptive, you're not going to come to any other conclusion until you've seen the movie a second time.
It always amazes me the quality of actors that Kaufman's films attract, but it's a good thing they do, because the writer's complex style of storytelling demands the very best from those who are bringing his stories to life. Philip Seymour Hoffman has built a career playing guys just like Caden, and his performance here is nothing short of spectacular. The rest of the cast is almost exclusively made up of ladies, and of that group, Samantha Morton stands out as the best of the bunch. Her character's relationship with Caden is not only the most interesting, but she's also the only one who's properly developed throughout the course of the story. Michelle Williams isn't given very much to do other than to look sad and depressed, while Catherine Keener has played the Bohemian wife so many times that the only reason her character is memorable is because she plays such an integral part in the story. Emily Watson and Diane Wiest also appear in supporting roles, but their screen time is so limited that they're unable to make a lasting impression.
"Synecdoche, New York" may be a lot like Kaufman's other films in tone, but his latest maze of paranoia makes them look like child's play in comparison. That probably has something to do with the fact that he's also directing, and as such, had much more wiggle room to embrace his inner eccentric. That doesn't mean it's necessarily for the better, however, because even though Kaufman's concept is one of his best yet, the film probably would have benefited in the hands of another director like Spike Jonze or Michel Gondry. Kaufman has so many ideas that he wants to get onto the screen that his movie becomes more and more like Caden's play the further along it gets. Thankfully, it never spills into absurdity in quite the same way, because while "Synecdoche, New York" does have its problems, the questions it poses are so much more interesting that it's well worth the headache.
Single-Disc Blu-Ray Review:
There are some movies that just aren't built to produce the kind of bonus material we're accustomed to seeing, but credit Sony Classics Pictures for putting together an impressive collection of extras for the Blu-ray release of Charlie Kaufman's directorial debut. Though not quite a making-of featurette, "In and Around Synecdoche, New York" discusses the different components of the film (from the complex script to set design and make-up), while Philip Seymour Hoffman chats about his character in more detail on "The Story of Caden Cotard." Also included is a roundtable discussion with film bloggers like Glenn Kenny and Karina Longworth ("Infectious Diseases in Cattle") and an "Inside the Actors Studio"-esque interview with Kaufman that is moderated by writer Toby Jones. It all adds up to just further intellectual babble about the film, but fans couldn't (and wouldn't) ask for more.
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Time for reflection
Published 8:00 pm, Friday, April 2, 2010
Throughout our history, there have been those who have made a sacrifice for others.
There have been individuals from all faiths, races and sex that have given something of themselves for someone else.
And as we are in the middle of this Easter weekend, we cannot help but be thankful for those who have given of themselves for the benefit of others.
We join Christians in remembering the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. And we are taking this time to also celebrate those who have done the same.
Though most sacrifices haven't been in the form of dying to save the world, they deserve celebration and thanks.
Like the sacrifice of one's time to be part of the local area, to work to better our community.
Or the giving of one's resources to promote good.
And the enlistment into service to protect others.
It's a time for reflection, and a time to learn a lesson from the sacrifice of others.
Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice. Surely, you can find something within yourself that you can give to benefit mankind. And, when you see someone who is giving of their own time or resources to help others, please let them know you appreciate their efforts.
If we all commit to a small sacrifice, we will bring the world closer to what Jesus had in mind when he made his magnificent one.


text: A boutique for Muslim women As salaamu alaikum We are currently revamping the website to bring you the latest in-store abaya, shaylas & niqaabs. Direct online shopping won't be available but you will still have the option to send a message or call about a particular item. Shipping is available and payment is accepted via PayPal or phone. Stopping in An-Noor:31, where you can enjoy a cup of tea, coffee or a bottle of water is always an option! Insha'Allaah Sorry for any inconvenience!


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LONDON, Jan 15 (Reuters) - U.S. bank Citigroup said it has appointed Linos Lekkas as head of investment banking in central Europe, Middle East and Africa (CEMEA) region as part of a regional restructuring.
Lekkas will continue as head of corporate and investment banking for central Europe, Citi said in a memo to staff on Tuesday.
Cisco Abularach will also widen his responsibilities to become head of mergers and acquisitions in CEMEA, the memo said.