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Dealing with Workplace Politics
How to influence workplace politics for better outcomes, both long- and short-term.
Written by Roxanne Brown.
There's tension in the room. What's happening here? An executive asks a question and the guest speaker answers. But then the speaker clears his throat. Or maybe he glanced to the side. Whatever he did, it was a sign to dig deeper. Maybe weakness. The rest jumped in with the inevitable attack. This had become standard. The preferred way to behave. Looking for something or someone to blame or some elusive answer to solve everything that had gone wrong over the last six months.
The woman in charge of this weekly executive check-in intervened. She took over the conversation, purposely, so they would focus on her and not the guest. Partially to protect the speaker, but mostly to get their focus on track. "Aren't we here to make decisions?" To her, the purpose of the conversation seemed pretty straightforward. But it never was. There was danger. It was palpable. Unnamed and unclaimed but real.
People remember moments like this because they are emotionally charged. These moments stand out. Everyone is in hyper-self-protection mode. It's a time to be clever. Careful. The possibility of changing the behavior of a group like this seems impossible. Just blow up the whole group and start over, that's one solution. But that's often just a fantasy. You're stuck with who you're stuck with. You can just live with it and wait for the pain to end one day. You could abandon the whole situation by finding another place to go for yourself. There are options.
Can anything be done constructively here?
What if you reimagined the whole thing? What if.....you suspended reality for a moment and imagined how you'd like this group to be? What would you imagine? How would it feel ideally in those meetings?
Having trouble with that thought? Understandable. Once you have a fear-charged memory conjured up it's hard to replace it with something ideal.
Try this...take a breath and give yourself a moment to clear out that fear. Now...think about the best experience you've ever had leading a meeting or leading a team or working with a group of senior executives. What was that like? Okay, time to write some things down -- write down all of the adjectives that come to mind. Just keep writing and writing until you run out of adjectives.
Look at what you've written then ask yourself, what made it that way? What was happening? Write down what was happening. Again, keep writing and writing.
Then ask yourself, what did you accomplish because of all that was happening? Write down what you accomplished.
Now, sit back and look at it all. You have this great experience inside you. You know what's possible because you've experienced it. It's your story, not someone else's.
Now that you're looking at what you've written and remember, ask yourself, what one or two things would I like to apply to the emotionally charged, fearful situation? What would it be like if that could happen? Picture it in your mind.
With that in mind, write down what success would look like for the current situation by completing this sentence, "I'll know we're truly working together toward successful outcomes when…" Write down as many thoughts come to mind for completing the sentence. This is what success looks like for you!
Now comes the hard part: The question to ask next is, what must be true to make this happen? This is when it's time to be really honest with yourself. What do you need to change to make this happen? How do you need to be different? How do you need to think differently about all of the players? And, who's help is critical to make this vision happen?
There are people to enlist to help you change what's happening. More often than not you'll find others want that too. If you are the leader of the group, you have a legitimate position to work from and others will be happy for your willingness to lead the group to a different place. If you aren't the leader you can still have an influence. Just your presence, how you think about all of the players and holding your vision in your mind can have a positive effect.
There's much more to do, but this is a solid start. A shift in your thinking alone will cause a shift in others. Things might start happening that surprise you. Your best bet is to be open to surprises. Look for them. Step in when they happen. Hold that vision while being open. Involve others. Pay attention to the negative but filter out what's not constructive.
We know that work is what you make of it. Of course, it's hard to remember that when you're in the middle of the day, week, year packed with work responsibilities. The question is, now that you remember, what's possible? Even more importantly, what are you going to do?
My Inspiration: Back in 2012 Daryl Conner interviewed lecturer and writer Peter Meyer. It was a fascinating discussion about the difference between using fear or attraction to bring about change. He also shared a practical, step-by-step approach to using attraction. I've been applying some form of his approach ever since. Thanks, Peter! Thanks, Daryl!
As a takeaway, use this and see our Self-Service Tools page for helpful resources.
Comments are closed.


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NZSL Toolbox
Disability specific videos covering the basics of daily life
We are building a library of video "tools" to help families, individuals and organisations acquire more relevant information relating to their disability. The Toolbox is a video guide to daily life. In our first series we collaborated with Deaf Aotearoa. Episodes are presented in New Zealand Sign Language and include everything from; international travel, how the court system works, going flatting and making it on the Marae.

subset: commoncrawl


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Add a little colour to your home – a large selection of pictures, paintings and prints. Available to take home today.
- Cardiff01443 222929
- Swansea01792 892381
Interest Free Credit
0% interest free credit is subject to acceptance. Please enquire in store for details.
Free Delivery
Free delivery on orders of £250 or more within a 50 mile radius of our stores.


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Many SQSA parents and supporters provide the practical and professional skills to deliver a full calendar of events each year for the benefit of young sailors.
Monthly meetings are held to organize regattas, training and other functions required by the Association. As often as possible, meetings are held on regatta and training weekends so as many parents as possible can attend. Otherwise, meetings are held at Darling Point Sailing Squadron in Manly at 7:30 PM on the 1st Tuesday of every month.
Check the calendar for meeting dates.
Annual General Meetings are held every March/April where all commitee positions are declared vacant and nominations for the new committee are sought.
The 2015 AGM Meeting was held in May. Official positions were filled and contacts are available here.


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Making a radio program is not as simple as doing an interview and sending it into the airwaves. Let me share some secrets…
You wouldn't believe the torrent of unacceptable vocal habits that pollutes the audio landscape. Unless of course you've had the joy of editing a WAV file.
This past week I've spent lots of time at the ABC in Southbank, Melbourne with WAV files passing before my eyes on a computer monitor. It's part of the cost of cleaning up interviews into a product fit for public consumption on a national broadcaster.
Everyone makes a program differently, but this time I made a full transcript of my interviews (which you may have read here) and then planned the program using the transcripts. But of course only a small part of hours of interviews will find its way into the final 48min program (48min 28sec to be precise!)
That's where the WAV files come in.
The audio from the interviews is in a sound file that 'looks like' the one above. After making the big cuts and pasting together all the chosen clips of sound in the right order it's time to do some finer editing. Fine editing means cutting out extraneous material:
• extra spaces and hisses and bumps including the time I knocked the microphone or kicked the table
• false starts to sentences: "I think… personally, well actually science is similar to faith…" which might lose "I think" or "personally" or "well" or "actually" or any combination or even all of the above
• heavy breathing
• lip smacking and other odd vocal behaviour: the vertical cursor bar in the WAV file above is located at one of my noisy lippy introductions to a question which will be cut out for posterity
• and the list goes on
But there's more to a cut and splice than the old days of using scissors to cut a reel-to-reel magnetic tape and Sellotape to join the clips. Most joins finish up sounding bumpy and need some fine tuning to blend into each other. And a typical paragraph of say five sentences might finish up with 25 splices, more if the speaker tends to speak slowly and in partial sentences with many 'um's and 'ah's and 'you know's.
Let me admit to being an amateur WAV splicer. When it comes time to do that finer work of smoothing out my clunky clip connections I work with a technical expert, in this case Dave Manton, musician and sound editor extraordinaire. Actually, I sit beside him and he does the work.
Then, when Dave has done his work (almost) and we have about 50 minutes of program, it's time to add some music and atmosphere (that's 'atmos' for the aficionados.) But that's another story altogether.
Alright, I see you're fascinated, so let me give you a taste of the challenges of choosing music. Imagine three people in the studio debating what music to use as background to a philosopher and a scientist discussing nature and Gothic cathedrals. You have the old hand, an expert at radio production (who warns that well worn music elicits well worn responses), the young techy (a popular musician who splits his time between Triple J and Radio National) and yours truly with a tin ear for music who likes classical favorites and even started his last program with a well worn theme from Lord of the Rings. I have to admit I'd probably use Moonlight Sonata and a bit of John Williams in every program. A challenge indeed!
This was my starting list for the Sense of Awe program we're working on (and yes, it was revised in the light of conversations with the aforementioned old hand and young techy):
• Stravinsky: "The rite of spring" first part, introduction (Bassoon solo)
• Vangelis: "Spiral" at 3 minutes in.
• Daft Punk: "Technologic"
• Pink Floyd: "Shine on you crazy diamond" especially the beginning
• Holst: "The Planets-Mars"
• Dvorak: "New World Symphony" second movement, "Going Home" melody (Oboe)
• Bloody Beetroots: "Warp"
• Aled Jones: "Piu Jesu" and "Vespera"
If you want to know the final decisions on music, you'll have to listen to the program. It goes to air on November 6th and will be available online after that at abc.net.au/rn/encounter
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I often worry that my neighbors think I'm lazy. Yes, they may see me on my hands and knees, covered with dirt, and they may see me mowing the lawn and dumping out bags of grass clippings, but more often they're likely to see me just standing in front of my plants. Looking. Staring.
This begins around the middle of March when I venture forth daily to check if anything has broken dormancy. Rummage around the clump of lady's mantle and there, by golly gee whiz, is a half-inch folded pale green leaf. Yes! The plant's alive and already on its way to blooming in a couple months. And here's a crocus. That shoot wasn't here yesterday, but now it's up at least an inch. Tomorrow, will there be a flower?
Gardening may be good for the soul, but this summer it was good for larceny.
That's right. Plants were stolen from my garden this year. Three times. I am still reeling from the shock.
Two of the plants were new — an Aralia cordata 'Sun King' that was supposed to mature into a bushy 3-foot tall yellow-leaved perennial in a shady part of the backyard, and a small cluster of 'Cherry Berry' hens and chicks (Sempervivum) that looked in a catalog photo as though they might be as red as those I had once seen at England's Sissinghurst Garden. I've been seeking something equally red for 20 years.
In the world of fashion, styles change rapidly. All of a sudden this summer, women started walking down the street with their shoulders peeking out from their sleeves. Where did that come from anyway?
In the gardening world, styles change more slowly. But change they do. During the summer as I was driving down 55th Street, I passed the new high-rise dormitory complex Jeanne Gang designed at the University of
Chicago. The architecture is striking, but what caught my eye as I whizzed past that day was the mixed plantings in front with tall goldenrods dancing in the breeze, along with grasses and hydrangeas. You wouldn't have seen anything like this 20, or even 10 years ago. There would have been lines of red geraniums and yellow marigolds for summer and more lines of mounded chrysanthemums for fall. Public garden design and landscaping have now become so much more interesting. The aesthetic has changed.
There are people who say that autumn is their favorite time of year. I'm not one of them, although God knows I've tried. Yes, I sometimes wax ecstatic over the way colors change from day to day (orange yesterday, red today – "like magic!" I exclaim), but deep down my comments are suffused with whiffs of wistfulness. Yes, there are days when I observe that October is a fabulous month in Chicagoland – clear blue skies, low pollution, temps in the 80s – what's not to like? But then I remember that all around me these plants are dying, never mind that they are coloring up the world with their last fleeting gasps.
If all has gone according to plan, our gardens are looking fabulous right about now. Yes, I still hanker after the bold and the beautiful, envisioning arbors draped with 15-foot sprays of fragrant roses and clematis like those I've seen in England. But I have no place for an arbor and many of those Anglo behemoths aren't hardy here, so I've chosen a non-fragrant behemoth that is: 'William Baffin'. If you want an ubermensch rose, this is it. 'Rubens', which regularly clambers to the rooftops and transforms even the most nondescript English house into a thing of beauty, I have high hopes this year for Clematis 'Pendragon', the 10-foot tall rosy-purple marvel that our Associate Publisher Ann Sanders says blooms non-stop in her Bolingbrook garden. Having a covetous nature, I ordered one for myself as soon as I heard her singing its praises. I'm giving it marching orders to climb to the top of my 'Emerald Green' arborvitae.
The day began with signs of gloom and doom. A new report from the National Wildlife Foundation said that monarch butterfly populations continue to decrease. Then a friend emailed a link to a New York Times story about the travails of a bee-keeping family I remember from my childhood.(1)
The Adee family lived in north central Kansas at the time, not far from my parents' farm, but their business operated in many states. Today Adee Honey Farms is the largest in the country and the mysterious colony collapse disorder that has been killing bees here and abroad is also affecting them. Last year 44 percent of the bees in the U.S. died, and the Adees lost half of their 90,000 hives.
I once knew a woman who vacuumed her rock garden. Seems a revered expert from the East Coast was coming on an inspection tour and she wanted everything perfect with nary a weed or fallen leaf in sight.
I was thinking about her as I pulled out my spent tomatoes and put away the cages this past fall. I had a reasonably successful garden in 2016, but I'm sure she would have looked askance at no end of horticultural errors and mishaps had she descended for a visit chez moi. Fortunately, she wasn't invited.
At Chicagoland Gardening we duly make our resolutions, chief among them our determination that 2017 will be the magazine's best year ever. And then we get down to business.
As in years past, we begin with a cover story on the year's new plants. Since the number of new varieties is legion, we limit ourselves to varieties that have passed the trial by fire in the well-named trial gardens at Ball Horticultural in West Chicago. Each summer we take a day to reconnoiter the grounds with Jim Nau and his aide-de-camp Katie Rotella, note the high performers, and then commission our trusty photographer Ron Capek to turn them into art.
The most memorable Christmas of my Chicago life was the year the temperature plummeted to 25 below zero and the pipes froze all over the house. Still, the car miraculously started and the family managed to get to the University of Chicago's Rockefeller Chapel for the annual pageant, surrounded by neighbors bundled up for the duration in scarves, parkas and boots. Every year one lucky middle school girl would be selected to be Mary and ride down the aisle on Mabel, a real live Sicilian donkey brought in from the suburbs. A sight not to be missed.
I always feel grumpy when people refer to gardening as a hobby, and now I know why.
This winter, garden columnist Allen Lacy died, and in The New York Times obituary there was a quote from one of his books that suddenly made clear why the hobby moniker has never sat well with me. "Gardening is not a hobby," Lacy wrote in The Inviting Garden. "There is nothing wrong with having hobbies, but most hobbies are intellectually limited and make no reference to the larger world. By contrast, being wholeheartedly involved with gardens is involvement with life itself in the deepest sense."
Decisions, decisions. What's a devoted gardener to do with brugmansia as winter approaches?
You know you've made it in the world when you have your own Wikipedia entry. There's something about the bracketed phrase ...
Who says that gardening on a former cornfield is doomed to fail? Certainly not Laverne and Pete Bohlin, whose garden is a …
In our neck of the woods, there's been little snow to speak of, but the temperatures finally dropped into the teens. And ...
Ask many skilled gardeners to name their favorite plant, and what do they reply? "The one that's in bloom right now."


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Natural comfort, Natural fit!
The ultimate in comfort and fit for your baby. The supersoft bamboozle is now made from gorgeous s-t-r-e-t-c-h-y bamboo and because there is only natural fabric next to baby's bottom this nappy is ideal for babies with sensitive skin.
Please note: You will need to use a waterproof wrap with this nappy


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The great 83-year-old Swedish director Jan Troell specializes in movies about men of great stature in furious conflict with both their countries and themselves. "Hamsun," starring Max Von Sydow as the Nobel Prize-winning Norwegian novelist and Nazi sympathizer Knut Hamsun, was perhaps the finest movie ever made about the chasm that can exist between an artist's mind and heart.
His new film, "The Last Sentence," is about the crusading Swedish journalist and newspaper editor Torgny Segerstedt (the marvelous Danish actor Jesper Christensen), who loudly decried the rise of Nazism and his own country's policy of appeasement to Hitler. It covers the years from 1933 until Segerstedt's death in 1945. What links the film to "Hamsun" is that it, too, showcases an imperiously proud and riven man, except that, unlike Knut Hamsun's, Segerstedt's politics are unimpeachable. It's his life apart from politics that is not admirable. He is, in short, a human being and not a monument.
Shot digitally in handsome black and white, "The Last Sentence" does not have the all-encompassing richness of "Hamsun" (few films do), but it's a work of consistent power and fascination. Although, like "Hamsun," it's nominally a "biopic," Troell goes way beyond the standard limitations of that genre. He confounds our expectations. We think we're going to see a rousing movie, set against a great historical backdrop, about a hero who stood up to iniquity. Instead, what we get is something far stranger: a portrait of the interior life of a man who could comprehend the fate of the world but not his own fortune. It's a big movie, but in an emotional, not a historical, sense. Oftentimes it has the hushness of a chamber drama even when the world is its stage.
Segerstedt's long-suffering Norwegian wife, Puste (Ulla Skoog), who endures his long-term affair with Maja (Pernilla August), the outspoken, morphine-addicted Jewish wife of his publisher, Axel Forssman (Björn Granath), tells her husband, "Sometimes I wish you were more like your writing." This is a severe understatement from a woman who recognizes, to her growing horror, that Segerstedt can no longer abide her. He is lost to her, a casualty of his causes and his obsessive entrancement with Maja.
Segerstedt turned to journalism after a career as a theologian, and his enemies (and some friends) accuse him of transforming politics into a holy crusade. His highhanded ways can seem insufferable and yet, when he pontificates about Hitler being "a devourer of human beings," his righteousness is impeccable. It is not only the Nazis who castigate him; so do the Swedish power brokers, who fear that his vitriol will drag Sweden into war. King Gustav V (Jan Tiselius), in a curt private meeting, tells Segerstedt he is "blinded by his hatred of Germany" and implies, without saying so, that he wants to help the Jews because of Maja. No compromise is possible for Segerstedt. For him, "evil is a fact."
Troell, who also served as co-screenwriter and co-cinematographer, includes occasional newsreel footage of the war, and the effect is abrupt and alienating. It's his attempt to create a "bigger" arena for his drama, but it only serves to point up the disjunction between the wider world conflict and Segerstedt's life as it is portrayed. The letdown of the film is that, in the end, and despite some fine work from Christensen, Troell never entirely breaks through the man's psychological armor. Segerstedt's fraught relationships with almost everyone (he loved his dogs more than his family) suggest a man intent on martyring himself as penance for having lost his religious faith years before. And yet Segerstedt is too closed off to us (and everyone else) to allow this suggestion to resonate. It works more intellectually than emotionally.
We are nevertheless left with the certainty that Segerstedt was a great man, more so than he knew. Dying, he hangs on as the war is ending until he knows that Hitler has preceded him. "How quickly I passed," he laments. "I have written in sand." Troell's movie, despite its lapses, is written in iron. Grade: B+ (Unrated.)


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It is possible to simply turn up at an easyHotel on the day and book online if we have rooms available for that night. However, it's less risky and you will get the best prices if you book in advance.
Can I turn up at the hotel without a booking?
Have more questions? Submit a request


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Classic Brazilian cuisine hits the tables of south east London/Kent at the excellent restaurant Brassett Churrascaria in Bromley.
Located just a short walk from Bromley South train station, close to the town's great shopping facilities, Brassett Churrascaria combines classic Spanish style tapas dishes as well as an authentic Brazilian steakhouse rodizio grill where a huge variety of meat dishes are on offer.
Diners will enjoy an exciting dining experience at this popular restaurant, where no one ever leaves hungry, this is particularly apparent for tastecard members, who are able to enjoy all of the exquisite fare at a fabulous discount when they call in advance with their card. A typical rodizio grill experience brings the servers straight to the table along with an abundance of food for everyone, as dinner is delivered to the table as a succession of different cooked cuts of meat and diners can choose as much or as little as they please. Dishes include gammon, pork tenderloin, pork ribs, Picanha, beef short ribs, turkey, chicken thighs, chicken wrapped in bacon and lamb amongst others whilst a variety of sides and salads are also available.
The large Brazilian flags in the window let everyone know Brassett Churrascaria's origins whilst inside, the walls are adorned with colourful imagery of Brazil. Stylish black leather seats and white linen topped tables add a touch of chic to proceedings. The atmosphere is always vibrant and fun and prices are more than reasonable at this brilliant restaurant. Whether it's for a delightful meal with the family or an intimate evening out with the significant other, all are catered for at Brassett Churrascaria.
Please note: The tastecard discount is not available on celebration days - including Valentines Day, Mothering Sunday, Father's Day, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. You must also book in advance to be entitled to the discount.


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Delivering Better Health in the Middle East
Switchboard +971 4 336 7777
More Insurance cards now have outpatient and inpatient direct billing services
Checkout the packages available at the American Hospital Dubai
Know more about our Movember event and register as a bkier!
This summer, keep the extra weight in your luggage only!
A Healthy Sleep Habits can make a big difference in your quality of life
The Cancer Care Center provides world-class cancer treatments & caring support for patients.
In our strive to provide the best healthcare possible, American Hospital Dubai has developed and implemented a Service Excellence Program across the organization.
Service Excellence is the management of the total healthcare experience. It is the provision of outstanding services to not only meet, but exceed patient and customer expectations. Our customers are not only our patients, but everyone coming in and out of our hospital. Service Excellence promotes a consistency of high level performance, driving values such as collaboration, teamwork and integrity throughout the organization.
The objective of the Service Excellence program is to create an organization wide Culture of Service Excellence by defining behaviors of high standards. Adherence to these Behaviors will not only raise the bar for services provided at the American Hospital Dubai but will also promote a better workplace. This will be accomplished by the commitment of all staff to the Service Excellence Culture.
They are: Communication, Integrity, Collaboration, Compassion, Respect and Teamwork represented by the acronym C-I-Care. The following phase of the program's development was to set standards that defined each value. The standards were then represented by a set of behaviors which all of American Hospital Dubai's staff are expected to adhere to. The behaviors are also supported by examples and techniques of the expected method of delivery.
The program is being implemented in American Hospital Dubai's processes such as policies and procedures, performance evaluations, interview tools and education sessions. Rounds are being conducted quarterly to monitor adherence to the Service Excellence Standards and Behaviors. A process for staff recognition titled "C-I-Care Recognition" has been developed to promote the positive approach the program's implementation is geared towards.
Through the Service Excellence Program, we are looking forward to providing all of our valued patients/customers with the best patient experience and services possible.
To acknowledge a staff member for his/her outstanding adherence to these values ask about our "C-I-Care Recognition" forms.


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61 - 65 High Street
United Kingdom
By utilising a wide range of video production techniques, our mission is to produce promotional videos, training videos and event videos that capture the spirit and key messages of business and organisations based in Bournemouth and surrounding areas.
With our head office only in Totton, Southampton, we're able to travel to locations around Bournemouth and Dorset with ease to produce high quality video content for your business or organisation.
We offer the widest range of video production services compared to any other corporate video production company in the Bournemouth area. No matter what requirements you have, we'll be able to handle them effectively and affordably. Our mission is to create videos that not only convey our clients' key messages but also have enough creative flair that viewers remain engaged throughout, regardless of whether the video lasts 2 minutes or 20 minutes.
Aerial videography can add creative impact to any video project with an outdoor element. Whether you require a high impact establishing shot of a location or point of interest, footage of large scale work being carried out in an outdoor environment, or high resolution video surveying of your sites or structures, our team can help.
Superimpose people and objects into scenes that may be difficult or impossible to film in reality. Our permanent and portable green screen studio solutions allow us unparalleled flexibility.
Many styles of video use interviews. Interviews are a staple of the video production process.
Animation and motion graphics can be an effective technique within many styles of video. They can be the primary storytelling tool or can supplement live action video.
At Southpoint Films we work with a team of professional animators who can bring your ideas to life. On screen motion graphics are ideal for displaying text, data or computer based information, demonstrating abstract ideas, or illustrating something that may be too expensive or impractical to show through filmed video. With 2D and 3D animation, the only limit is your imagination – and your budget!Read more
Our studio, located at our offices in Totton, Southampton, has been created as an ideal space for videos that require a quiet, controlled environment for filming. Three blacked out walls allow us to control the light in the studio, giving the best results when filming people and objects. A fourth, green wall allows us to use the studio as a functional green screen with minimum set up and fuss.
Bring your client testimonials to life with video and let your biggest fans tell the world just how good you are.
Want to see a video testimonial in action? Check out this glowing review for our own services. If this doesn't convince you, nothing will!
Time-lapse photography is an excellent technique for showing long processes in a fast and engaging way. We've used time-lapses to show everything from multi-month construction projects to 'day in the life' summaries of customer offices. Thanks to our variety of time-lapse setups, we're able to produce time-lapses that form the basis of your video or simply compliment a bigger piece.
Have your video narrated by a professional voiceover artist of any gender, age or accent. We outsource our voice-over artists to meet your requirements, ensuring that we use the most suitable voice for your project.
Need your video dubbed into another language? That's no problem either. We've worked with Spanish, French, Portuguese and even Arabic language content without any trouble.Read more
Bournemouth is not only one of the best seaside towns in Britain, but it's also an excellent hub for growing businesses who are looking at using video to innovate and push forward within their marketplace. It's one the many reasons why we love working with businesses and organisations based in the Bournemouth area.
Thinking of using video to enhance your business? Send us an outline of your needs and we'll get a quote to you within 24 hours or less.Submit a Brief


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Our birthday parties include:
• Eight (8) General Admission Tickets
• Eight (8) Tube Rentals
• Two (2) Ultimate Meal Vouchers
(each voucher valid for: Four (4) Hot Dogs, Four (4) Fountain Sodas, One (1) Souvenir "BUCKET-O-FRIES")
• Eight (8) Soft Serve Ice Cream Cone Vouchers
Buy for $329.99.
Meal Tickets must be redeemed at the Hungry Croc Restaurant and are date specific. Ice Cream Vouchers must be redeemed at Dingo's Frostee Treats. Tickets are date specific and only valid on the requested date.
Must be booked at least 24 hours in advance.
* While supplies last.


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Shots rang out during a city council meeting Monday in New Hope, Minn., sending some local politicians diving for cover and prompting another to pull out his handgun.
Two police officers were wounded when a man suddenly opened fire immediately after the swearing in of cops in the council chambers. The man, whose name has not been released, was shot and killed by police, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reported.
The gunfire erupted just outside the chambers at 7:15 p.m. and brought the meeting to an immediate halt.
That's when John Elder, a New Hope council member who also works as public information officer of the Minneapolis Police Department, shouted at his fellow council members: "Everybody get down!"
"That went right through the door," another council member said. "Somebody got shot."
Elder, now crouched behind his council seat, pulled his pistol and took aim.
The chaotic scene was caught on cable-access video and posted to YouTube.
Hennepin County Sheriff's Department Chief Deputy Mike Carlson said the two officers are in good condition and are expected to survive.
30 seconds could save your family. Navy Seal says do THIS when you have a gun pointed to your head. Click here to see viral video… (sponsored)


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Recognized as a leading advisor in the investment management, securities and related sectors, we have completed more transactions in this space than any other advisor. Across borders, market cycles and industry sub-sectors, Berkshire Global Advisors provides effective, conflict-free advisory services to CEO's and their executive teams, business owners and financial sponsors.
Our unrivaled market knowledge and relationships enable thoughtful connections for our clients to achieve growth, strategic or liquidity objectives. We help clients find and negotiate successful, long lasting partnerships.
Our expertise is delivered by a cohesive team of partners who have worked together at Berkshire Global Advisors for the majority of their careers. Our partners are seasoned sector specialists who collectively cover the broader investment management, securities and related industries.
We drive thoughtful strategic and financial partnerships that work for our clients. Our sub-sector specialization, coupled with global relationships, enables us to deliver industry-leading results.
Berkshire Global Advisors regularly publishes research covering the global investment management, securities and related industries. We look beyond short-term market observations to provide insightful, long-term analysis.


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Giving to those we love is such a soul-satisfying experience. Spending the time to consider what the perfect gift may be, finding that item or experience, and then getting to watch your loved one open it, is a remarkable feeling.
Tag: holidays
8 Magical Ways to Bask in The Joy of The Holidays With Your Family
In a world that is constantly changing, traditions provide a sense of groundedness and familiarity, especially holiday traditions! Each holiday season is ripe with traditions both old and new, for us all to enjoy with our loved ones. Truly, a tradition is something we choose and infuse with love, meaning it can be whatever you'd like!


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Available Locations
A high-intensity class designed to push your limits and take you to the next level. This is a very popular class with our clients!You don't need to be an athlete to take this class— you just need the desire to build lean, proportioned muscles using techniques often incorporated into the training routines of the world's top athletes.
Foundation Fitness BootCamp combines it's trainers backgrounds of high – level athletes, U.S. Veterans and powerlifters, into an fitness class that's intense and educational. And best of all, it's a fun class!
We are not a big box gym, we care about each and every client and we include our nutrition program as part of our already low bootcamp membership. With indoor and outdoor classes offered (availability may differ from location to location) in the morning, noon and night, four days a week, this program will take you to the next level.
Client Stories
"After the birth of my first child, I was struggling with not only carrying extra weight, but also adjusting to a new routine of going back to work, raising a family, and finding time to exercise. I was frustrated and self-conscious and felt like I couldn't stick with a workout or diet regime. I found Kevin and Foundation Fitness by searching online and saw that the location was in-between my office and home. I decided to meet and have a consultation, and I'm so grateful I went out of my comfort zone and did this! Kevin met with me to discuss my goals and did a prelim assessment and sample training session. I was hooked. I began working out with him once a week, and then was able to increase to twice a week. At the same time, we reviewed nutrition and he gave me some goals to hit as far as water, protein and calorie intake- which was easy to follow. At each session he would ask me how the diet was going and would offer suggestions. The workouts are tough- and he has a way of pushing you out of your comfort zone, instilling confidence and strength. I not only experienced weight loss in pounds and inches, but also felt stronger, happier, and more confident. Workouts are always changing and becoming more and more challenging- and I look forward to our sessions- they are a great stress relief and I love the challenge! Beyond weight loss, I wanted to get healthier- and Kevin has gotten me there. I even got pregnant again and continued our workouts together (with doctor's approval) until just weeks before my delivery. I appreciate Kevin's friendly demeanor combined with his ability to modify workouts (especially with a growing baby belly!) to keep me healthy and challenged- all at the same time. I would (and do!) recommend Kevin to anyone who is looking to make a change and invest in themselves!"
Tiffany - Fairfax VA
"I first met Lance before he became a Certified Personal Trainer, and watched him train my son as his first client. I have seen him grow as a trainer and find him a great motivator. He helps you meet your goals and has the delightful ability to push you to your limit, making you suffer, while being highly entertaining and making you look forward to more of the same! He has been a great mentor and example to my son as his Olympic style weightlifting coach. I would recommend Lance as a trainer to any person of any age. He is a pleasure to work with, is knowledgeable in the art and science of training, and is determined to ensure all his clients meet their personal goals."
Elise - Annandale


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* SEC action is 'first-best' option; FSOC is 'second-best'
* Fed official still hopes SEC will adopt money market rules
(Adds FSOC's options on money funds)
By Jonathan Spicer
PHILADELPHIA, Oct 10 (Reuters) - It would be best if the Securities and Exchange Commission finally moved forward with money market reforms instead of leaving the job to the new U.S. financial risk council, a top Federal Reserve official said on W edn esday.
Fed Governor Daniel Tarullo said it was unfortunate that the SEC, the primary regulator of the $2.6 trillion industry, has so far failed to advance new rules for the market, which since the financial crisis has been viewed as posing a systemic risk.
On Aug. 22, SEC Chairman Mary Schapiro said the regulator would not formally put forward its money market reform proposals since three of five commissioners opposed them. That left the next move to the Financial Stability Oversight Council, or FSOC.
"Each of the options open to the FSOC and the rest of its constituent agencies is decidedly a second-best alternative as compared to a change in SEC rules to remove the fixed net asset value exception, to require a capital buffer that would staunch or buffer runs, or measures of similar effect," Tarullo said at the University of Pennsylvania Law School.
Any FSOC reforms would be worse for the funds themselves, he argued, because the tools available to the council "do not fit the problem precisely and thus will not regulate at the least cost to the funds while still mitigating financial risk."
The industry says money market funds are a safe investment with attractive returns, while critics worry that they are vulnerable to runs and create a false sense of security for investors who do not realize they are not backed by federal insurance.
Schapiro has argued that a series of reforms the SEC adopted in 2010 do not go far enough to prevent runs on funds like the one experienced in 2008 when the Reserve Primary Fund "broke the buck," meaning its net asset value fell below $1 a share.
On Sept. 27, U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner called on the FSOC to formally ask the SEC to move forward with new rules. He also said the council should consider exercising other powers to regulate the money market fund industry more tightly.
The next day, Daniel Gallagher, a Republican SEC commissioner who had previously helped block the fund reforms, told Reuters he hopes the agency will consider a fresh package of reforms.
In a nod to those comments, Tarullo said: "My hope, of course, is that recent indications that other SEC commissioners are now willing to move forward with reforms will lead to the SEC adopting first-best measures in the near-term."
As the Fed's point person on financial regulation, Tarullo sits in on FSOC meetings, though Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke is the central bank's official representative on the council.
The FSOC's options include imposing restrictions on banks' and other firms' "ability to sponsor, borrow from, invest in, or provide credit to" money market funds that do not have structural protections, Tarullo said.
The council could also designate money funds as "systemically important" and thus subject to capital and liquidity rules included in the Dodd-Frank financial reform law, he said.
For non-banks in general, the FSOC is "actively considering" possible systemically important designees, Tarullo added.
(Reporting by Jonathan Spicer; Editing by Diane Craft and Dan Grebler)
((email@example.com)(+1 646 223 6253)(Reuters Messaging: email@example.com))
Keywords: USA FED/TARULLO


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100% Responsive Design
We offer 100% Responsive web design which is an intuitive feature that resizes and molds your website to mobile devices for a highly functional browsing experience.
Your business deserves customized solutions that are able to maximize profits. Network optimization, security, storage, operating environments, messaging and service provider solutions.
A market-leading cloud computing service – optimized for Small& mid-sized businesses. CodeBlue's state-of-the-art cloud services solution delivers enterprise-level, private, secure and affordable cloud computing.
We offer 100% Responsive web design which is an intuitive feature that resizes and molds your website to mobile devices for a highly functional browsing experience.
Our websites & software contain no useless features, messy codes or heavy images, only the necessary features you need with a clean eye-catching design.
Our support and maintenance team is always working to ensure that all data are stored and managed efficiently so that you website runs with no error 24X7.
We always follow standard SDLC pattern for our each and every client. No matter how big or small the project is, we never compromise with our quality.
Now-a-days, outsourcing is a very common word in IT world. Sonarbangla IT proudly presents different types of Outsource Projects. We offer E-commerce store maintenance, Data Analysis/Entry and many more.
We offers a wide range of business IT solutions, supports and services to help you get the most out of your IT equipment for your business. With our expertise we can advise you on the most suitable hardware and software.
Over the years, the business has grown through many evolution's. It is the people of Sonarbangla IT who played the most important role in the change management process for continuous improvement.


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Colored rain
Colored rain has been falling on the planet for centuries, and it can occur in a variety of hues — from reds and yellows to blacks and milky whites. In fact, in 2001, there were reports of scarlet, green, yellow, brown and black rains in southern India. While scientists determined that airborne spores from algae caused these rains, a variety of substances can create strange-colored rain.
In Europe, red rains are typically dyed by dust carried from Saharan sandstorms. Pollen can contribute to yellow rain, and dusts from coal mines have been known to cause black rain.


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The swell was rolling in under the Golden Gate Bridge. Check out the photos of the surfers at Fort Point.
© 2007 Shawn
Fort Point surfing
11 Feb This entry was written by Shawn, posted on February 11, 2007 at 9:50 pm, filed under surfing and tagged fort point, golden gate bridge, surfing. Bookmark the permalink. Follow any comments here with the RSS feed for this post. Post a comment or leave a trackback: Trackback URL.
Older: Queen Mary II visiting San Francisco
The big news today was that the Queen Mary II cruise ship was coming in to port in San Francisco. The whole city turned …
Newer: Surfing in Half Moon Bay
Some good surf at the Jetty in Half Moon Bay today.


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Are you interested in getting your Business or Product advertised to a global audience? Then why not advertise with Buka's Blog
Buka's Blog gets thousands of unique visitors per month and we're constantly growing! We would love to partner with you and help you gain more exposure.
I can publish a Sponsored Post or place Ad Units about your Business or Product, for an affordable fee.
If you are interested, you can contact me;
Email: [email protected]
Nwadike Ebuka


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~ based on an illustration by Patrick Moberg ~
Courtesy of Patrick Moberg. © 2011 All rights reserved.
[column width="47%" padding="3%"]
Today the entrepreneur can resort to better means and technologies to launch their product than ever before. A little noticed circumstance comes into play and to the aid of the entrepreneur entering the market with their product, when needed and only then.
In the pre-digital days, the entrepreneur was sold on marketing and advertising by way of campaigns: pre launch, launch post launch. A campaign had a beginning and an end without any pre-existing knowledge on how people would react to any part of it. Both, advertising media and campaign planning were static. Businesses however wanted to be known as being dynamic.
Today wer are being swamped by a never ending flood of tools and applications, suggesting a permanent promise of closeness between the people and the brand. A claim that in technical terms is being made possible and allows easy handling.
Looking back still makes us smirk, gigantic far into the future reaching campaings ruled our day, based on little more than assumptions and manipulated statistics with no way of ever pre-determining the people's reactions or fluctuations of the market situation. A marketing melt-down – that enentually becomes more obvious in the presence of Fukushima.
As early as 1800 in the very beginnnings of hard sale and direct response, practitioners such as John Powers¹ followed by Claude C. Hopkins, were rewarded their greatest successes, whenever they managed to surprise the public, make them wonder with little effort, on a small budget and frightingly frankness. All of which eventually turned into admiration more often than not.
John Powers received a call from a client one night, asking his help to prevent the bancruptsy from happening within days. Powers published an insert in the newspaper the next morning with a headline stating something the likes of: "Buy my merchandise, prevent me from having to shut down for good within days." The people were concerned and the checkouts rang a storm. For the caller it became a successful business year.
Currently American Apparel is globally fighting for survival of its hipster fashion. Customers stay away and dept is pressing. American Apparel's rather ingenious Dov Charney won't bet his company's future on empathy nor sympathy, even though he's got plenty working in his favor, however Charney does not trust it to be a powerful enough motivation and so he rather bets his and his brand's life on the old myth, that of sex sells.
With a difference, it's a hipster-flavor, contemporarily fitting sex sells, that is touching and exposes females and also men without the usual photoshop effects, resulting in a more authentic testimonial eventually returning people to their true identity. Which in turn makes the subject even more touchy, steamy.
A beginning trend in 2011, by which the entrepreneur is perfectly equipped for handling her brand communication with no agency involved:
- Your company is prepared to involve the customer in the development of your product and its communciation
- A good story has been defined for your poduct and brand and can be told continuously, whilst reflecting context and Zeitgeist
- Products and services are aimed at making the customer's life easier. [ in Germany Oral B's so called people toothbrush has allowed competitor Dr. Best to become profitable with alternative brush heads ]
- Marketing is predominately aimed at allowing the consumer to discover your product on her own terms
This is when the benefits of involving your customers in the development and communication of your product and brand, come into play. Due to the strategic use of social media, you are consequently amidst your consumers and surrounded by consumers actively involved in the history of developments, likely sharing their experience and ideas which may very well lead to resolving issues.
A little noticed circumstance finally comes into play, which is the actual determining dynamic factor, we no longer fall prey to the insanity of expecting long term campaign planning in advance. The entrepreneur moves ahead taking small steps. Listens for any occuring reaction upon which he acts accordingly and immediately. He stays flexible for whatever may happen next. [ Dell recently opened its listening center for social media in Germany. ]
Always on communications with consumer communities must endure once started [ a newer silliness wants to us to believe that a facebook- and twitter account is all there is to social media. ]. Traditional media such as tv, radio, print ads and billboard are complementing your communications, no longer are they at its center.
Long tail marketing is to communicatons what slow food is to McDonalds.
Amazingly, the tail regenerates just when we want to give up, and new learnings make themselves available when needed. A rather organic, natural way of conducting business to the better of the business as well as for the consumer.
Should a shitstorm occur, the business learns to deal with it. A new tail grows. We don't fail from making mistakes we fail from not doing.
¹"Print the news of the store," said he. "No 'catchy headings,' … no smartness, no brag, no 'fine writing,' no fooling, no foolery, no attempt at advertising, no anxiety to sell, no mercenary admiration; hang up the goods in the papers, one at a time, a few today, tomorrow the same or others."
- Illustration based on a work from Patrick Moberg—Patrick Moberg
- Entries on topic—New Advertising
- Holistically not homogenous—New Advertising 2011 [ PART I ]
- "Great Moments In Advertising — Part II: John and Albert's Excellent Adventure" by Clayton Makepeace—Copywriter's Clearinghouse
American Aparell caring is creepy Claude C. Hopkins Dell doctors can not cure themselves Dov Charney Dynamically not planning Fukushima hipster Holistically not homogenous John Powers long tail marketing Marketing Melt Down New Advertising 2011 Patrick Moberg sex sells Social Media tale of the regenerating tail


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Looking for help? You're not alone. The SSMU is committed to providing members of our community with resources and information that can help nourish your body and mind. McGill has a wealth of health and well-being initiatives that we encourage all students to take advantage of. Come check out the great things related to mental health that are happening on campus, and see how you can start your wellness journey today!
Nightline Chatline
Available Thursday to Saturday from 6pm to 3am.
McGill Students' Nightline
Non-judgmental, anonymous, and confidential active listening.
Available every night during the fall & winter semesters (including exams), from 6pm to 3am.
Call us at 514-398-6246, or message us on Chatline!
SACOMSS' DIAL Hotline
514-398-8500 (Peer Support) Hours of operation updated weekly on website.
Suicide Action Montreal (SAM)
If you need help. If you are worried about a loved one, or if you are a person bereaved by suicide: dial 1-866-APPELLE (277-3553) everywhere in Quebec.
514 723-4000 (Regional Line in Montreal) Offering 24 hours support, 7 days a week.
*If you or someone you care about is in a dangerous situation which required urgent attention, please call 9-1-1, or go to your local hospital's emergency room*
SACOMSS – Sexual Assault Center of the McGill Students' Society.
Peer Support Center – Student run initiative through the SSMU. Non-judgemental, always confidential.
McGill's Student Chapter of Jack.org – "Seeking to break down the stigma and open up the conversation surrounding mental health"
Healthy McGill – "Connects you to resources, info & support to live healthy at McGill"
McGill Mental Health Hub – "Connecting our community to support and information surrounding mental well-being"
McGill Psychiatric Services – For students who wish to see a psychiatrist (Professional help on campus).
Located in the Brown Building (West Wing) 5500
Tel: 514-398-6019
Fax: 514-398-5529
McGill Counselling Services – For students who wish to see a psychologist, counsellor or therapist (Professional help on campus).
Located in the Brown Building (East Wing) 4200
Tel: 514-398-3601
Fax: 514-398-8149
Vice-President Student Life
E-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com
Mental Health Commissioners
E-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com


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The programme:
pickup your family at 07.00am to la vang church built in 1798 in quang tri province ,then you go to the border between the north and the south country in the war vietnam with american ,02 countries in the war of vietnam.now you can see the hien luong bridge & ben hai river , many families were devided by the war, after the war they can see again & they were really happy.
Hien Luong Bridge (Hiền Lương) is a bridge over Ben Hai River, Vĩnh Linh District, Quang Tri Province, Bắc Trung Bộ, Việt Nam. This bridge is located in 17th Parallel and in Vietnam War, it was bisected between South Vietnam and North Vietnam.
you have lunch(1hour),then you go to vinh moc tunnel.
Vinh Moc (Vịnh Mốc) is a tunnel complex in Quang Tri, Vietnam. During the Vietnam War it was strategically located on the border of North Vietnam and South Vietnam. The tunnels were built to shelter people from the intense bombing of Son Trung and Son Ha communes in Vinh Linh county of Quang Tri Province in the Vietnamese Demilitarized Zone. The American forces believed the villagers of Vinh Moc were supplying food and armaments to the North Vietnemese garrison on the island of Con Co which was in turn hindering the American bombers on their way to bomb Hanoi. The idea was to force the villagers of Vinh Moc to leave the area but as is typical in Vietnam there was nowhere else to go. The villagers initially dug the tunnels to move their village 10 metres underground but the American forces designed bombs that burrowed down 10 metres. Eventually against these odds, the villagers moved the village to a depth of 30 metres. It was constructed in several stages beginning in 1966 and used until early 1972. The complex grew to include wells, kitchens, rooms for each family and spaces for healthcare. Around 60 families lived in the tunnels; as many as 17 children were born inside the tunnels.
The tunnels were a success and no villagers lost their lives. The only direct hit was from a bomb that failed to explode; the resulting hole was utilized as a ventilation shaft.
Three levels of tunnels were eventually built.
After you visit the Vinh Moc tunnel,you go back to hoi an from the tunnel.
Not including: lunch,beer & personal cost.
Address:Hoi An Old Town,Quang Nam Province,Vietnam
Tel : +84984376375 Contact us: Viber,Zalo,WhatsApp:+84905284323
Website: www.hoianphilongtours.com.vn ; www.hoianphilongtours.com


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BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. - The cowboy love story "Brokeback Mountain" led the Academy Awards field Tuesday with eight nominations, among them best picture and honors for actor Heath Ledger and director Ang Lee.
Also nominated for best picture were the Truman Capote story "Capote"; the ensemble drama "Crash"; the Edward R. Murrow chronicle "Good Night, and Good Luck"; the assassination thriller "Munich."
The Johnny Cash biography, "Walk the Line," considered a likely best picture nominee, was shut out, though Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon earned acting nominations for the film. George Clooney picked up two nominations, as supporting actor for his role as a steadfast CIA undercover agent in "Syriana" and best director for his Edward R. Murrow tale "Good Night, and Good Luck."
Along with best-actor contender Ledger, and directing nominee Lee, "Brokeback Mountain" scored nominations for Michelle Williams as supporting actress, Jake Gyllenhaal as supporting actor and Larry McMurtry and Diana Ossana for their screenplay adaptation of Annie Proulx's short story.
I haven't seen "Brokeback Mountain", "Syrianna", "Munich", "Capote", or "Crash" so I really can't comment on those films. Wow! I haven't seen really any of the Oscar films. I gotta get to a video store (if any are available on DVD yet???).
I have a feeling I'm not alone though. A lot of the films this year are more "art house" than years past. Your average middle America, flyover state, movie goer has likely not seen many of these films.
I did see "Walk The Line" and thought is was good, not great. So it not receiving an Oscar nomination is not suprising. I did think both leads (Phoenix and Witherspoon) were great though and I'm very glad they are getting recognized.
Clooney's "Good Night, and Good Luck" is crap though. Seriously, it's crap. I went to see this movie and really wanted to like it (I was one of the few who really liked his first directorial effort "Confessions of a Dangerous Mind"). But I didn't like it at all. It is a complete snooze fest. If would be better if they showed it on the History Channel as a documentary (and marketed it that way) - then I wouldn't have expected it to have actual drama, conflict, plot, story or even be remotely entertaining.
Understand please that I don't think it was a poorly made film or that it wasn't original. It was very well made and quite original (the way they used the actual news footage of McCarthy was interesting, but got old quick). It was just boring as hell.
It had great cinematography and excellent acting. And Clooney did a nice job at creating the mood of the 1950's with all the cigarette smoking, etc. But there was just no story. I was never engaged or interested in any of the characters.
In the end I think Academy voters probably liked it because of it's supposed "political message" and how a few think the story aligns with some of today's events (not true though).
Anyway, enjoy the Oscars on March 5th...
The nice thing about owning your own post house and doing your own editing is you can, well, keep editing on projects. Of course this can be a bad thing too (i.e. endless revisions), but in this case I think it's good.
I re-cut the opening sequence of the movie this morning and I like it a lot better! Not that I didn't like it before, but I just think it tells the story better now. I got inspired this weekend watching "Apocolypse Now Redux" and rushed in this morning to make the changes.
Now I can't make any more revisions! I'm officially giving the audio to the sound design guys and so the picture is 100% locked. Well, 99.75% anyway. :)
Great article on DV.com from Adam Wilt on an HD camera shootout they did with all the new sub $10K HD/HDV cameras - and with the big boy Sony Cinealta and Panasonic Varicam.
You have to register to read entire article, but it's a good one for anyone looking at these cameras: www.dv.com
Here's the article's summary per Adam:
All the 1/3" cameras clustered together more tightly than we expected. Each camera excelled at some aspect of image rendering, but all of them were more alike than different; none stood out as being clearly superior all around.
Furthermore, they all came a lot closer to the 2/3" cameras than we thought they would: while we could clearly see that the big cameras made superior images, the contrast between the 1/3" and 2/3" cameras was nowhere near what we expected to see.
DP and CineAlta operator Art Adams once characterized my Z1 pix as "half HD" for their horizontal softness, and that perception holds as I look at the 10-bit uncompressed clips: The 1/3" 1080i camera pictures are only about half as crisp as the CineAlta's. In 720p, the JVC comes close to the Varicam in raw detail, although its noise is quite a bit higher.
When you consider that none of these 1/3" cameras comes anywhere close to half the price of their 2/3" brethren, you'll see that "half HD" isn't bad for the money.
We came away convinced that any of the cameras would do a creditable job in the hands of a skilled user, and that the choice of camera should be made more on features and ergonomics than on image quality. This is not to say that people didn't pick favorites; people did. It's just that no one, not even the most partisan among us, would have claimed that any one of the cameras was unacceptable for doing serious work.
Pretty cool.
Bad sequels and remakes tortured movie audiences last year, and they provided a smorgasbord for the Razzies, an Academy Awards spoof that pays heed to the worst in Hollywood.
Read the full article (it's funny who's on the list):
Typically I'm going to only review movies that are truly independent or that are produced with new technologies such as HD video, but I saw Woody Allen's new film "Match Point" yesterday...
This was a really good film. His best in years. Not a comedy though, not at all. It's very similar to one of his earlier films (and one of my all time favorites) "Crimes and Misdemeanors".
The story follows a former tennis star Chris (played by Jonathan Rhys-Meyers in a star making role) and his affair with his brother-in-law's former fiance' Nola (played by the ever consistent and great Scarlett Johansson - has she ever been bad in any movie?).
I'm skipping the entire setup to the story and just getting to the juicy stuff (go see the movie to fully understand). Their affair starts off innocent enough - Nola has had an argument and is upset and Chris sees this and tries to comfort her and it begins - a great scene in a downpour of rain in the English countryside. From there things only get worse - or better depending on your point of view.
Chris is married and living a double life while seeing Nola. He constantly tells her he's going to leave his wife and be with her - and she believes him. But Chris has no intention of ever leaving his wife. They're trying to have a baby and plus she's loaded and so is her family - not to mention he works for his wife's father. Nola slowly unravels and starts to act irrationally calling Chris at home and on his mobile phone at all hours of the day. His wife gets suspicious, but he assures her everything is fine and he's just having problems at work. But everything is not fine. Nola has just informed him she's pregnant.
From here the story gets very dark. It's a character study in love versus lust. Nola says she's going to tell Chris' wife about the affair and the baby if he doesn't leave her immediately. Obviously this can't happen and Chris decides to take matters into his own hands. Suffice it to say, the last act in the film is a nail biter.
Woody Allen does a masterful job at making you like all the characters no matter how good or bad they are, or what evil things they do. You almost want them to get away with it - routing for no one to find out.
The main theme of the movie is "luck" - how sometimes the ball hits the top of the net and bounces forward and you win, or bounces back and you lose (there's a great shot of a tennis ball doing this in the opening of the film - but it freezes and you don't know which way it drops until the end). Hard work is important in life, but often times luck has more to do with what actually happens to people than anything else.
If you're lucky enough to have the time, you'll definitely go check out this film.
Just did a shoot for Frank Ford and Shane Estep for a movie clip that will appear on their website www.frankandshane.com. Check out the site. It's currently under construction, but they do have some content on there now. The new stuff will be uploaded soon.
Frank Ford is best known as a member of the improv comedy troupe Four Day Weekend. He also had a lead in my second feature film "Hit". Shane Estep also had a small role in "Hit" and now he and Frank have formed a comedy writing team (or at least that's what they're calling it - you be the judge). ;)
Last night was the "Day & Date" premiere of HDNet Films, 2929 Entertainment and Steven Soderbergh's new HD movie "Bubble". For those that don't know, "Day & Date" means they release the movie in theaters, on DVD and on HDNet on the same day.
I Tivo'd the movie and watched it last night after I got home from happy hour. It was probably a good thing that I had a few beers...
The movie was "interesting". Not bad-bad, but I would definitely say, not good. Some people I'm sure will HATE the movie. Especially the first half. It is very slooooooooowwwwwww.
The story follows two friends who work in a doll factory, and how each of them reacts to a new girl who is hired to work with them. That's really the entire plot for the first half of the film - and it was BORING. Now, the second half of the film did get better. Without giving away any spoilers the story turns into a murder mystery - although there really isn't much mystery.
I've heard rumors that Soderbergh used real people from the town in Ohio (where he shot the movie) as the actors. I believe it. The performances are very flat. Reminded me of the acting in college movies where you get your friends to act for free.
At times it almost felt like we were watching a documentary with these lingering shots of the characters working in the factory and discussing mundane topics like.... well, I can't actually remember!!! But trust me, they were mundane! :) Thankfully the movie's runnng time is only 75 minutes - yes that's right - only 1 hour and 15 minutes long (that's a short movie by most standards).
Now to the complimentary part of this review - Steven Soderbergh is my role model as a Hollywood director. He can jump back and forth between "Oceans 12" and small indie-style movies like "Full Frontal" and "Bubble". No other A-list director comes close to having this flexibility (or desire) that I can think of (Robert Rodriguez is close, but his "indie" efforts aren't near as experimental or risky as Soderberg's).
Soderbergh has a six picture deal with HDNet Films and 2929 Entertainment (via Mark Cuban and Todd Wagner) - each movie has a budget of $1 million and has to be shot on HD (high definition video). This is a GREAT idea! I love the fact that Cuban & Wagner are willing to roll the dice and fund these small movies. I do question however where the $1 million went on "Bubble"??? No name talent. No special effects. No exotic locations. They also shot on HD and this saves a lot of money. And Soderberg (for those that don't know) directs, shoots and edits his own movies. He uses aliases for the DP and editor credits. Of course I know that $1 million is nothing for Hollywood (catering budgets on some films), but in the indie world it's a descent chunk of change and it was not on the screen at all in "Bubble". But I digress...
I applaud Soderbergh and company for this "experiment" - not only from shooting on HD, but for the "Day & Date" release strategy. I personally think it's the wave of the future. The movie theaters are of course very resistant to this model (although Cuban has some ideas on how to make them happy with percentages of DVD sales and selling DVD's in theaters, etc.), but ultimately it's going to happen - sooner or later - and so everyone needs to embrace it (just look at the web right now with the Video iPod and Google Video taking off - people want access to the content now and at their fingertips).
So in the end I did not like "Bubble" as an entertaining piece of cinema - but I LOVE the idea behind the project and look forward to the next five HD movies from Soderbergh and company. I just hope they are better movies!!!
Let me first start by stating that I am not an engineer, or necessarily a technical expert when it comes to the video field. I consider myself very technically savvy, but not in the realm of an engineer. So, I approach technology in the video world (especially the post side of things) from a user friendly POV, a cost POV and a "does the darn thing work right" POV.
Last week I had the opportunity to demo the Panasonic 1200A HD deck. Now, I know, this is not a new deck per se, but it is to me and to a lot of other indie filmmakers, especially when it comes to using it with Avid Xpress Pro HD or Final Cut Pro HD.
I used it with Avid Xpress Pro HD 5.2.1 and it worked GREAT!!! The deck I demo'd (is that a word?) had both HD-SDI and Firewire I/O capabilities. I used the Firewire since Xpress Pro does not have SDI. So the video, audio and timecode all go down the single pipeline into the NLE.
I had heard rumors that it didn't work well with NLE's using the Firewire control - well, I'm happy to report it worked very well. In fact, I was blown away at how well it worked. I use a Sony DSR-11 DVCAM deck a lot and I thought it worked well - and it does - but the Panny deck was even smoother at finding in and out points on the tape. Often times I've found the digital decks being controlled by Firewire are a little "loose" shall we say. They will miss timecode marks, or zoom past them so far they can't find them. Not the case with this deck.
The only issue I had was going through the deep, and I mean DEEP menu. And it wasn't really an issue truth be told, it was just a lot deeper than I expected. Everything needs to be set up just right for the deck to work, and fortunately it was. I did experiment some with changing the upconvert and downconvert settings changing the DVCPRO HD signal to DVCPRO 50 - and again, it worked great.
Why did I demo the deck? Well, I'd like to buy one, but not sure it fits in the budget right now (MSRP $31,000 as outfitted with HD-SDI, etc.) - the main reason though was to recapture my HD camera originals for "Killing Down" (thank you for the demo Marc Stephens and TMTV).
I downconverted the original HD tapes to Beta SP to offline the movie (I would go to DVCAM in the future, but that was not an option at the time I did it due to costs, or I'd just stay in the native HD codec) - anyway, the audio on the Beta SP tapes is analog. So I had to get back to the original digital audio so I could give the audio post house the files to start the sound design, thus, I needed a deck to recapture the media into my Avid system. And, that's what I did and it worked like a charm.
I would highly recommend this deck. For the money is does a lot. Purchase price I mentioned above (although it's less with only Firewire I/O), and a rental rate is around $450/day depending on what market you are in.
Happy editing....
If you're into filmmaking and the technology it involves you need to check out the Creative Cow podcast on iTunes. It rocks, well, actually it talks - but you know what I mean. Subscribe to it today. It really is well done and very informative.
Creative Cow is best known for their forums (probably a hundred of them out there), but they're broadening their appeal through podcasts, and they are also launching a new magazine. Cool stuff.
Last week we did our final pick-up shot needed to complete the photography on "Killing Down". It was a stunt shot where the main character (Steven Down) dives through a window. The actor playing Steven is Matthew Tompkins. He's a very athletic person, which was a good thing, because we had him do his own stunt!
Everything went very smoothly once we got our hands on some breakaway sugar glass to put in the fake window. Being in Dallas, there is not a lot of that around. We tried (unsuccessfully) to mix and pour some of our own - but ended up calling Jack Bennett to save the day. He was an effects guy for 35 years in Texas (he's retired now), but luckily he still had some old glass in his warehouse that he was willing to sell.
Here's a shot of the window on the soundstage:
It was a "one take" shot since we really only had enough glass to construct one window and we could only afford to have one camera rolling. But, things turned out well. I'll provide a link to the behind-the-scenes video we shot during the stunt - and I'll also have the actual shot from the movie available to see in the near future.
Hope everyone's 2006 is off to a great start... mine definitely is as we are finishing up the editing on "Killing Down" and moving into the sound design and scoring phase.
If you're not familiar with my new feature film, please visit www.killingdown.com.
Met with the composer yesterday to spot the film for music cues - of course I made one small mistake - I brought the film to him on DVD with NO timecode burn-in. Why is this bad? Well, he had to use the timer on the DVD player to mark the cues! These of course will change and not be accurate in the end - so he'll have to redo the spotting session. Oh well, at least we got to go over the movie scene by scene. I'm now making a Beta SP dub of the film to give him so he can have a timecode reference that WILL MATCH the final online version of the film. I'm actually having to make the dub to TWO Beta SP tapes since the running time of the movie is 105 minutes and the longest Beta SP tape is 90 minutes. Yeah, this sucks. I could go to DVCAM, but the audio post house wants Beta SP...
Speaking of the online, well, that's another topic for a later post. Suffice it to say I'm having some challenges there regarding the matchback EDL list I've generated from my Avid Xpress Pro HD system. Briefly, I edited the movie in a 30i project (using downconverted Beta SP footage from the original Varicam HD tapes) and now I need to match that edit back to a 24p HD project. Having issues though... Xpress Pro won't accept the new EDL. I'm onlining on a DS though, and it should work there - we'll see...
Well, this is my first post. This is new for 2006 and I hope you'll continue to check out this blog often for updates on the progress of "Killing Down" and other cool info on upcoming projects, etc. Also, I'm going to post some hands-on reviews of recent HD gear I've used - decks, cameras, editing systems and the like. Stay tuned.
Who Am I?
I also created the Streamy and Webby award-winning web series PINK, which to date has been viewed online around 10 MILLION times at places like YouTube, Hulu, Koldcast and TheWB.com. And speaking of TheWB.com, I also produced and directed an online thriller for them called EXPOSED. It was released summer 2010. And most recently I created a new online sci-fi series called CONTINUUM, which is part of the online indie TV network JTS.tv - Just The Story and NOW available via VOD through indie platform Distrify.
Oh, and I don't shoot weddings. Thanks for asking though.
Blog Archive
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No matter what the matter, we have the right contact form for you. Please choose the best one from the following options. We look forward to your inquiry, request, comment, suggestion, or critique.


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Wycliff Services is a highly successful mechanical, electrical and industrial engineering company based in the UK. As the company grew, it has diversified into various market niches, including the design and manufacture of bespoke industrial filters. Wycliff approached Strafe to design and build a website detailing the service they offered and to detail the craftmanship that is involved.
Strafe designed a site inline with their current parent brand, retaining all elements to ensure brand consistency. The new site concisely explains the three main types of filtration systems they work with whilst showcasing the specialist work invovled in their manufacture. We designed Wycliff's website to be responsive, making it easy to navigate for mobile users.


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Review: Man Up
Surpisingly, demand for romantic comedies is clearly still unabated. Despite repeated insistences that the subgenre is antiquated, (witness the McConnaisance and the Reeseurgence, as two former practitioners of the rom-com rewrote the narrative as emerging from the muck). So what then, do we make of the near-universal praise for a film such as Trainwreck, which was a fairly conventional take on the genre, or on Leslye Headland's Sleeping with Other People which found an audience despite adhering to the form.
Then there is Ben Palmer's Man Up, which coincidentally premiered at this year's Tribeca Film Festival along with Sleeping with Other People, and now comes to the Magic Lantern Carlton Cinema, along with other select cinemas, about a month and a half after SWOP emerged, and the timing is definitely right. Because despite some awful clichés that the movie does not need to embrace, the film follows the format of a rom-com rather successfully.
The film's greatest strengths lie in the appeal of its leads, the charming Simon Pegg and Lake Bell, trying on an English accent, (the actress did spend some time in London, and she wears it well), as Nancy, who the conventions of the genre dictate that she is considered an old maid at the age of 34, (of course, Pegg's age is a not an issue). Despite hewing to the form, Nancy is certainly an interesting character, able to quote The Silence of the Lambs, and inspired by her sister, making lists of things to do to rectify her condition.
Thanks to a chance encounter on a train with a certain self-help book, (with the clever title Six Million People and You, which, come to think of it, may have been a better title for the film than Man Up), Nancy meets cute with Jack. Despite appearing a third into the film, Pegg's presence invigorates the film, as the cameraderie between the pair is evident. Though the film is not always sure what to do with Jack and Nancy, (or should we say "Jessica", as that chance encounter on the train leaves Jack to believe that this is her name), there is copious amounts of drinking and bowling, (and even a little reflexive dancing!) In fact, all is going well for Nancy / Jessica until her semi-scary acquaintance Sean appears one the scene, and threatens to gum up the works. Sean is played by Shakespearean actor Rory Kinnear, acting in a completely different fashion than his character in Spectre. While behaving quite like a stalker of Nancy, Sean nonetheless spills the beans about her real identity, and Jack is decidedly miffed. But while most rom-comes end around this point, Nancy still wants to continue the experience as herself, and decides to call back to her earlier scenes in the film where she obsesses over The Silence of the Lambs, and tries on a new persona to irritate Jack's ex-wife Hilary (Olivia Williams).
While the movie adheres to a hackneyed flash mob, done farm more effectively in films of a recent vintage, the film wears its influence quite well, having a bit of fun within the audience's expectations. It's a bit of a trifle, but a fun one, and Bell continues to prove that the Lake runs very deep, and that she is deserving of far more exposure in mainstream films. Perhaps it's time for the Re-Bell-ion?
[star v=3]


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Welcome to our website! As we have the ability to list over one million items on our website (our selection changes all of the time), it is not feasible for a company our size to record and playback the descriptions on every item on our website. However, if you have a disability we are here to help you. Please call our disability services phone line at (718) 805-7770 during regular business hours and one of our kind and friendly personal shoppers will help you navigate through our website, help conduct advanced searches, help you choose the item you are looking for with the specifications you are seeking, read you the specifications of any item and consult with you about the products themselves. There is no charge for the help of this personal shopper for anyone with a disability. Finally, your personal shopper will explain our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service, and help you place an order if you so desire.
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Founded in 1994, Phlox Flowers is situated on London's Southbank within walking distance of the OXO Tower and Royal Festival Hall. Having gained a reputation for stunning and striking flower arrangements, Phlox has continued to be the florist of choice for a mixture of personal and corporate clients throughout the UK.
PersonalOur personal clients choose us for their special occasions because of our beautiful fresh flowers, flare for design and high standard of service. Whatever the occasion, we pride ourselves on providing you with a fresh and striking arrangement. Please contact us or drop into the shop to see what we can offer you.
CorporateHaving provided corporate displays to regular clients such as ITV over the years, Phlox has extensive experience in catering to commercial needs. Please see our Corporate Gallery for some of our designs, or contact us to discuss your requirements further.
WeddingsSince our foundation, Phlox has been designing bridal bouquets and floral arrangements for a variety of marriage ceremonies. We understand how important and unique your wedding day is to you. From contemporary design to traditional arrangements, we offer you stylish and striking bridal bouquets, buttonholes, corsages, table centerpieces, pedestal arrangements and other decorative displays.
We consult directly with you to discuss and design your arrangements well in advance of your wedding day. In addition to ascertaining your needs and requirements, we take pleasure in advising you where necessary, with particular reference to your bridal fabrics, the location and setting of the wedding.
Gifts & CardsWe stock traditional and seasonal products, perfect to give as gifts or to complement a fresh bouquet of flowers. We appreciate well designed and good quality products, which is why each of our gifts is individually and carefully selected. From birthdays to anniversaries and religious events, we have a beautiful gift or card for your special occasion.


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|» Products
|» Toiletries Cosmetics & Medicaments
|» Oral Care Products
Oral Care Products
We are dealing in Oral Care Products for your brushing habit, which is the primary measure for a good oral hygiene. These products contain abrasive materials, which are gentle on the tooth enamel and are strong enough to assist in removing plaque from the teeth. These also include antibacterial ingredients, which reduce the endangerment of infected gums. Removing dental microorganism plaque is significantly simpler due to the antibacterial components and abrasives incorporated in most of these products. The Oral Care Products we deal in are from different brands and can be the part of your daily routine for making the mouth healthy.
Key Points :


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Five Sacred Grains Brighter Eye Cream
Known as "gold from the soil," Five Sacred Grains complex offers the ultimate in skin nourishing benefits. Pressed after soaking for 24 hours in pure coconut water, the undiluted nutrients are captured in a milky puree that energizes, brightens, and brings skin back into balance.
This brightening eye cream makes eyes look more vibrant by hydrating fine lines and crow's feet, soothing tired eyes, and illuminating the eye area to help diminish the appearance of dark circles.
- Soaked in skin-softening coconut water and consisting of Rice, Millet, Sorghum, Job's Tears, and Black Soybean, this proprietary "Five Sacred Grains" complex hydrates and softens skin to help achieve a smooth, glowing complexion.
Intended for all skin types.
Use daily, morning and evening. Apply a small amount and gently press into skin around the eyes.
Coconut, Rice, Millet, Sorghum, Job's Tears, Soybean


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Country, Diasaster, Education, establishment, Freedom, History, Human Rights, India, Influence, International Relations, Kashmir Day, Language, Media & Press, nuclear, Pakistan, Politics, Report, School, social media, Social Responsibilities, Srinagar, Technology, Terrorism, Think Tank, Warfare, Water, Women, Writing
Category: Technology
6 Posts
Company, Country, International, Technology, Telecom, Uncategorized
Apple 8
Culture, Governments, Influence, Innovation, Intelligence, International, Politics, Social Services, Technology
What is Twitter?
Airforce, Business, Country, government, Pakistan, Technology
Guns and Androids ! Pakistan Air Force making iPads to PACPAD1
World IPv6 Day
Intelligence, Internet, Technology


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The Business Group Blog was created to share and discuss information about challenges and solutions to the health care benefits issues that large employers face today and tomorrow — such as controlling health care costs, reforming the health care delivery system, and engaging employees in their health and benefits — and will provide insight into national health policy issues. We hope you find this information useful and will consider subscribing to the blog and sharing any thoughts or ideas with us at firstname.lastname@example.com.
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Tax season is here and there's no better time – or excuse – for your company to communicate with employees about the financial benefits and services available to them. Whether your company offers tax preparation, a generous 401k matching program, a student loan repayment benefit, or workshops on budgeting or financial planning, be sure to discuss the resources you offer, the advantages of engaging with them, as well as where employees can learn more.
Data show that 76% of companies currently offer programs or benefits to help employees improve their personal finances.1 Employers are taking a greater interest and role in the financial security of their employees for a number of reasons.
Displaying: 1 - 2 of 2


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No data, this is a function for sign in user.
No data, this is a function for sign in user.
Author(s):Kujo Karuna
Status: Ongoing
Alternative(s): アホリズム; 杀戮箴言aphorism; 格言; 格言aphorism; 殺戮箴言; Ahorism
Manga Summary: From: Shinnen Naraka High School, is a seemingly normal school. However, unknown to the public is the cruel truth of what really goes on in the school's halls. Rather than studying, students are forced to struggle for their very survival. And the strong bonds of friendship may be the only difference between life and death.


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With a starting price of $104,900, the Audi RS7 is not a car for poors. And with 560 horsepower, it is not a car for slows, either. Now Audi has a new RS7 they want you to pay an extra $42,000 for that's full of exclusivity and dynamism. It is called the Audi Exclusive RS 7 Dynamic Edition.
Just look at all that exclusivity and dynamism! I feel like my heart is going to thump right out of my chest. Goodness gracious.
You may be asking yourself: "What could possibly justify such a huge price increase over the base RS7, which is pretty luxurious and incredibly fast on its own?" Well congratulations, philistine. You have exposed yourself as someone with no appreciation for exclusivity and/or dynamism.
But I shall lower myself to your level and answer your question for you. When you opt for this package, you get red stitching. And red seat belts. And fancy Black Valcona leather seats. And red brake calipers! And carbon fiber aero kit and engine cover, because that's a thing you will definitely need.
You also get the optional Dynamic Ride Control for your riding and handling pleasure. That can be had on the normal RS7, sure, but that car is practically a Golf compared to this exclusive and dynamic machine.
Try not to stare directly at it. Most of you won't be able to handle the luxury. Anyone else ready to put a deposit down on this beast? I'm getting three.


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Kathy Lenniger
Kathy Lenniger was born in New York City and grew up in Connecticut. After living in New Jersey and Washington, Kathy moved to Alaska in 1975. She started her sled dog business in 1984. Kathy owns Sled Dog Adventures, where she leads guided sled dog trips into Alaska's wilderness.
Kathy Lenniger appears in the following new Jukebox projects:


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70th Birthday Wishes: Quotes and Messages
It's the birthday of your husband. It is always special for him and it should be a special day for you too. To make the day really gala for both of you we have compiled here some of the most exclusive and some of the best Birthday Quotes for Husband. All the Birthday Wishes for Husband here are exclusively written with beautiful phrases and meaningful words.
These huge collections of Birthday Wishes for Husband gives the feel of just made for each other. These are highly romantic and committed to live together forever. The messages are great as well as touchy to bring smile and happiness on the face of your husband after reading.
Choose one Happy Birthday Message for Husband from below compilation and scribble nicely on a birthday greeting card. Accompany it with a beautiful red rose and wish him a very happy birthday as the clock strikes 12 midnight. It is needless to say the night will be one of the most romantic ones and will be memorable forever.
Simply writing Happy Birthday to My Husband won't look great and so the below compilation has been worked upon to make your husband's day more special filled with words that speaks a lot about the relationship and commitment in life. The messages will win his heart once again and love will ignite further, stronger than ever.
All the Birthday Quotes for Husband and all the Birthday Wishes for Husband here great and carries in-depth meaning of a married relationship. These reveals how powerful couple you both are and how close you both are to each other. Each word seems to be made for you and your husband and each phrase defines the true love between you and your husband.


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The Devotions for Life series contains all of the devotions in the full book, Devotions for Life, but is broken up into 12 books by theme. This is perfect for someone looking for a devotional on a particular theme or someone who would like to use it as the basis for a Bible study.
These books are all available in paperback or can be downloaded on the Kindle. For orders of 6 or me, contact me and I may be able to get you a discount.
- January – God's Newness
- February – Grace and Righteousness
- March – Worship
- April – The Law of God
- May – Faith
- June – Prayer
- July – Love
- August – Spiritual Gifts
- September – Wisdom
- October – Fruit and the Harvest
- November – Thanksgiving
- December – Christ
Click each cover to read the back of the book!


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Saturday, October 15, 2016
Bob Dylan, Nobel Laureate: What's the Big Fuss?
Then, in 1992, PBS carried a 30th anniversary special, a concert featuring other famous artists performing Dylan's songs. I have to say that hearing those songs delivered by people who could really sing, totally impressed me. It felt like I was hearing them for the first time.
I've seen him perform only once, back in the early 2000's in Vancouver. Van Morrison and Joni Mitchell also performed that night, and it was an amazing evening. What struck me most about Dylan was that he was actually singing. It turns out he'd been taking some vocal training in the previous few months before the tour, and for the first time in awhile, his real voice was ringing through. He even bantered a little bit with the audience, and was quite animated as he performed, and his backing band was fabulous. You can't beat all of that.
So was I surprised that he received the Nobel prize for Literature? Well, sure I was. I never imagined the Nobel Committee slipping outside the usual stuffy, leather bounds of the literary world, and considering a songwriter for a change. But of course, there are plenty of people out there who have their noses out of joint. Heaven forbid that a songwriter/poet be considered part of the literature scene! Poof! Poof! Pout! Pout!
I would challenge any of those literature snobs to try to write a lyric.
No, seriously.
I'm not talking about pop lyrics, they're not meant to be deep or meaningful in anyway whatsoever. But have you ever read lyrics by Dylan, or Joni Mitchell or even Leonard Cohen for that matter? Many arguments abound as to whether lyrics are poetry. In my opinion, most lyrics don't come anywhere near poetry. But the above three songwriters somehow managed to come very close. You can sit and read their lyrics and somehow become transported. That is true art.
A great lyricist has such a limited amount of space to say such profound things. Not only that, but they have to consider meter, rhyme, stressing syllables, stretching vowels, alliteration, all kinds of things that a plain old literary writer doesn't really need to pay that much attention to.
And on top of all of that, you have to be awesome. And I tend to use that word sparingly, because it's overused these days. But you truly have to be awesome. It is an art form that only a few are very, very good at.
One of the reasons the Nobel Committee chose Dylan was because of his "having created new poetic expressions within the great American song tradition." I'm happy to see the Nobel gates open to include songwriters in the literature category. Apparently, the Times They Are A-Changin'.
Come gather 'round people
Wherever you roam
And admit that the waters
Around you have grown
And accept it that soon
You'll be drenched to the bone
If your time to you
Is worth savin'
Then you better start swimmin'
Or you'll sink like a stone
For the times they are a-changin'.
Come writers and critics
Who prophesize with your pen
And keep your eyes wide
The chance won't come again
And don't speak too soon
For the wheel's still in spin
And there's no tellin' who
That it's namin'
For the loser now
Will be later to win
For the times they are a-changin'.
Come senators, congressmen
Please heed the call
Don't stand in the doorway
Don't block up the hall
For he that gets hurt
Will be he who has stalled
There's a battle outside
And it is ragin'
It'll soon shake your windows
And rattle your walls
For the times they are a-changin'.
Come mothers and fathers
Throughout the land
And don't criticize what you can't understand
Your sons and your daughters
Are beyond your command
Your old road is
Rapidly agin'
Please get out of the new one
If you can't lend your hand
For the times they are a-changin'.
The line it is drawn
The curse it is cast
The slow one now
Will later be fast
As the present now
Will later be past
The order is rapidly fadin'
And the first one now
Will later be last
For the times they are a-changin'.
- Bob Dylan, 1964
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Ok brief outline;
We have a 2008 R2 and Win 7 network; the powers that be have purchased a suite of Apple PCs. I'm not an Apple user but am aware of issues around NTFS permissions being bypassed. So I want to segregate the Apple network. The Apple suppliers say they want to integrate the Apple clients into the AD domain to take advantage of server services and so users can access their home areas - fine.
They want to set up a 'golden triangle' where the OSX server manages the OSX clients and the AD server provides services like DNS, DHCP, Kebros authentication and home drive access.
So in an effort to secure the core network I thought that I may be able to set the Apple network up as a 'remote site'. Essentially within a the subnet where the Apples will reside create a DC and have that replicate through a firewall to the main domain. Apple get the services they need and I get peace of mind by being able to limit access via the firewall.
Am I barking up the wrong tree?
If this is indeed feasible can I then have the ability to map the user areas through the firewall to the primary domain?
The data will be over a 1gb link so bandwidth isn't the issue.
Many thanks in advance.


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1x01: Uno - First episode
Jimmy tries to get his job done at the courtroom. After a sudden inspirational moment, he finds a way to get potential clients
Jimmy tries to get his job done at the courtroom. After a sudden inspirational moment, he finds a way to get potential clients
Jimmy's troubles grow and grow as his personal situation does not improve. As a result of this, Chuck will face a risky situation
Jimmy wants to prove his client is innocent, even thought it causes some differences with Kim.
Jimmy creates a plan to receive new clients. However, it will not result as expected and Jimmy will have to face the consequences
When the attempts of improve his business are interrupted by danger situations, Jimmy will have to make a choice
When a tragic event from the past appears in Mike's life, he seeks for help. On the other hand, Jimmy is tested
Jimmy meets some potential new clients. On the other hand, the opportunity to cash in an old favor is now present for Jimmy
Jimmy shows Chuck that he's willing to do anything in order to win a case, even if getting his hands dirty is what it takes
Chuck tries to show Jimmy a truth difficult to receive. Meanwhile, a deal entirely depends on Mike's actions
As the consequences of the last events surface, Jimmy holds on to the possibility of reconnecting with an old friend